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Dragon Boat Festival holiday sees over 600 mln passenger trips across China

Xinhua) 09:26, June 12, 2024

BEIJING, June 11 (Xinhua) -- People across China celebrated big during the just-concluded Dragon Boat Festival holiday, with a notable surge recorded in holiday travel, according to official figures.

During the three-day festival concluding on Monday, about 637.62 million passenger trips were handled by China's transportation sectors, up 9.4 percent from the same period of last year, data from the Ministry of Transport showed Tuesday.

Highway traffic comprised the majority, with approximately 583.11 million passenger trips, reflecting a 9.5 percent year-on-year increase, data shows.

Railway trips rose 5.1 percent to 46.05 million and air trips surged 7.9 percent to 5.53 million, while passenger trips by water increased by 4.4 percent to nearly 2.93 million.

Previous data indicates that domestic tourists have a stronger willingness to spend, as they spent 40.35 billion yuan (about 5.67 billion U.S. dollars) during the holiday, an 8.1 percent increase compared to last year, according to the Ministry of Culture and Tourism.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
As American shale patch mergers and acquisitions continue in the consolidation frenzy, oil producer Matador Resources Co has struck a deal to buy EnCap Investments Permian basin assets for $1.9 billion in cash.

In the deal, Matador will acquire new oil and gas producing properties in New Mexico and West Texas currently under the ownership of Ameredev II Parent LLC, according to a Wednesday press release, as well as a 19% stake in Pinon Midstream LLCs New Mexico pipeline and compression assets.As much as people are talking about inventory these days, their inventory fits very well with us," Matador Chief Executive Officer Joseph Foran said during a conference call with analysts, as reported by Bloomberg.

Matador is eyeing this as an extension of its Permian acreage that will allow it to drill longer lateral wells and to increase efficiency in extraction. The acquisition is expected to close in the third-quarter of this year, and the initial announcement on Wednesday saw the companys stock drop about half a percentage point.

The deal follows another one earlier this week in which Noble Corporation agreed to buy Diamond Offshore Drilling in a stock-and-cash deal valued at $1.6 billion as the oil and gas mergers continue with the oilfield services sector.

There is some speculation by analysts that the merger mania is being prompted by the notion that American shale production could peak in the 2030s, creating a scramble to scoop up more assets in advance of that.

In March, ConocoPhillips CEO, Ryan Lance forecast that U.S. production would advance to about 14 mm BOPD in a few years before reaching a plateau.

On the flip side, the International Energy Agency (IEA) said on Wednesday that oil demand growth is expected to slow in the coming years, with global demand peaking in 2029 and rising production leading to a major glut this decade.

By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
Some U.S. West Coast refiners have flagged concerns about the high sulfur and acidity content and high vapor pressure of the initial crude flows through the expanded Trans Mountain pipeline in Canada, Reuters reported on Wednesday, citing sources with knowledge of the issue.

Demand has not been hit yet, but refiners, including Canadian Natural Resources as well as U.S. firms Valero and Chevron, filed complaints last month with the Canada Energy Regulator (CER) asking the limits to the Total Acid Number (TAN) and vapour pressure specifications on the Trans Mountain Expansion Project (TMX) be narrowed.

The current high vapor pressure limits and acidity content are not suitable for U.S. West Coast refiners, some have told the regulator in their complaints.

The U.S. West Coast and Asian markets are expected to be the two top destinations for the crude now flowing through the expanded pipeline in Canada.

The expanded Trans Mountain pipeline is tripling the capacity of the original pipeline to 890,000 barrels per day (bpd) from 300,000 bpd to carry crude from Albertas oil sands to British Columbia on the Pacific Coast.

The expansion of the pipeline is set to boost the price of Canadas heavy crude oil for years to come, top executives at the major energy firms say.

Asia has also started to buy TMX crude.

Rongsheng Petrochemical, for example, became the latest refiner in China to have purchased crude oil delivered to Canadas Pacific coast via the Trans Mountain pipeline.

While TMX provides more Canadian crude to Asia, not all of that crude can be processed at all Chinese refineries due to its high density and sulfur and acid content, traders told Reuters earlier this month.

Traders and market analysts are closely watching Asias appetite for Canadian crude, as TMX gives Canadian producers an outlet on the Asian markets and on the U.S. West Coast.

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
(Photo by 123RF)

Summer in Japan gets scorching and steamy. Mid-summer Temperatures often reach 95 F or higher depending on the region. Along with beer, watermelon and soomen (cold udon noodle), kakigoori (shaved ice) is a popular cold food that cools us down during summer.

For many Japanese, the memories of a banner with the red kanji letter of koori (ice) in white and a blue background are fond ones. These banners are seen outside shops offering kakigoori and often meant a sweet, snow-like treat to help us cool down as kids.

Besides at local sweets stores, kakigoori can be found at matsuri and bon odori festivals or fireworks events, along with other festive foods.

Left: mango, Right: Strawberry (Photo by Takahiro Takiguchi)

Kakigoori is one of the most popular traditional cold sweets throughout history, says Ryusuke Koike, managing director of Japan Kakigoori Association. This cold food goes back to more than 1,000 years and has been enjoyed as festive food for special occasions.

Kakigoori is not only available during the summer, but it is a year-around cold dessert, according to Koike.

Since a lot of kakigoori joints make their syrups and sauces using fruits in season, they offer different types of throughout the year, Koike said.

In fact, there are countless types of syrups and sauces. While many places offer the standard strawberry, cherry, lemon, green tea, melon and colorless syrup, others offer unique syrups made from vegetables, sake, wine, or even vinegar, miso or soy sauce.

Japanese kakigoori may remind many of a snow cone, but there are few significant differences between the two iced sweets.

Japanese kakigoori has a really fine, smooth fluffy ice consistency, just like fresh fallen snow, Koike said. While Americans make snow cones with extreme hard ice, we would never do that to keep it soft and fluffy.

Besides the difference of ice, snow cones usually come with artificial flavors, while kakigoori uses more natural syrups and ingredients, such as sweet beans, matcha and brown sugar.

But, despite a key difference in the flavoring, the main part of kakigoori is actually the ice, according to Koike.

Most of kakigoori joints pay more attention on the quality of ice, rather than varieties of syrups, since quality and condition of ice determines the taste of kakigoori, Koike said.

For Japanese kakigoori, extreme cold ice is not good. For a fluffy snow-like soft texture, the ice temperature needs to be kept around 14 F. Since ice in freezer is usually around - 4 F, we need to take out the ice and warm it up before we shave it, Koike said.

Clean and transparent ice is ideal, as it can make smooth, fluffy kakigoori. Water that takes a long time to freeze can make clean ice. Natural ice is considered the best, Koike said.

Why not make kakigoori yourself?

You can make a transparent ice yourself. Wrap an ice tray with a towel before putting it into a freezer. This will make the ice take longer to freeze which should ensure the ice is transparent, according to Koike.

Then, you can shave it by using a hand-spinning ice shaver, which can be found at various stores for around $30-40.

The hand-cranked ice shaver is a popular kitchen item in Japan. It is fun making kakigoori by spinning a block of ice over a blade by turning the lever by hands. Syrups for kakigoori are available at most of supermarkets or grocery stores.

According to Japan Kakigoori Association, there are some tips to making tasty kakigoori at home: Use mineral water instead of tap water when you make ice. Serve it in a glass bowl to make the colors stand out, and be sure not to put on too many toppings as it can spoil the fluffy texture.

Now that you know, get out and enjoy the hot Japan summer with some cool kakigoori!

Did you know?

Kakigoori is a popular cold treat in ball parks. Yokohama Stadium offers Mikan Goori (ice orange) while Jingu Stadium (Tokyo) offers Pine Goori (pineapple Ice) during ball games. Koshien Stadium (near Osaka) offers simple Kachiwari (literally shaved ice).

Okinawas cool scene (by Shoji Kudaka)

When summer rolls around and the temperature rises, the shaved ice scene also heats up on Okinawa.

Local stores become busy shaving ice blocks to give customers a quick break from heat. Shaved ices popularity is something common across the country, but on this subtropical island, however, the cold desserts also reflect a unique food culture.

Tamaya is a shaved ice store a ten-minute drive from Gate 3 of Kadena Air Base. It is a place where many locals come looking for zenzai shaved ice.

(Zenzai)

Normally, the word zenzai refers to sweet red bean soup in Japan. But on Okinawa, it commonly means shaved ice topped with red kidney beans and white rice cake balls. Many local stores serve up this unique dessert, with banners and flags with the word zenzai often seen along streets.

Tamaya is one of the stores where people can see the zenzai boom - where the cold sweets are evolving into something special.

At first glance, the stores shaved ice looks like cotton candy because of its exceptional size and fluffy texture. The heap of shaved ice is almost three times the size of a plastic cup, presenting a look of a small snow mountain.

Many customers are surprised with the size, said the store owner. It is my motto to satisfy customers as much as possible for a reasonable price (450 yen for zenzai) even though it takes more time and effort.

His dedication to zenzai goes deep.

Once digging in, customers find out the sweet taste of the beans and syrup from top to bottom. The texture and taste dont stop entertaining customers taste buds from the beginning to the end.

There are a couple of clues the shop owner shared with me as to how to make tasty shaved ice. First, ice blocks should not be shaved immediately after being taken out of a freezer. Giving it 10 minutes or so before shaving is a key to making fluffy flakes. Plus, stacking shaved ice should not be done all at once, but in a couple of parts. This way, syrup can be poured in each part at a time.

Sounds easy? Maybe not.

Making a big, fluffy and tasty zenzai shaved ice like Tamayas takes experience, skills and dedication.

I had an experience of carving ice before launching the shop, the owner said. Some knowledge I learned through the experience and my expertise as a professional cook helped me a lot.

Plus, the beans used for his zenzai are specific ones bought at a certain store in Naha. They need to be cooked carefully so that they have enough sweetness.

The owners dedication to zenzai translates to other varieties offered at the store. Flavors such as strawberry, dragon fruit (seasonal) and mango are available there. Although zenzai is a hard sell for Americans, fruit-flavored shaved ice is popular among them, according to the owner.

When it comes to fruit-flavored shaved ice, Americans eat more than Japanese do, said the owner. Ichigo milk (strawberry milk) is the most popular.

Did you know?

Colorful artificial syrups for kakigoori are sold in most of grocery stores throughout the nation. Although they are sold with different names, including lemon (yellow), strawberry (red), melon (green) and Blue Hawaii (blue), their tastes are all the same.

Make your own (by Shoji Kudaka)

It doesnt get much better than eating shaved ice during the summer. But making the cold sweets at home offers a different sense of joy.

Kakigoori-ki (shave ice machine) is a common item for families with children in this country. Just like many flavors are introduced at shops every year, shaved iced machines are also evolving to show great variety. But there is a trend commonly seen in many of them: nostalgia. Kyoro-chan is a shaved ice machine that looks like a cubby bear doll.

Originally released in 1976, this cute looking machine became a hit back then. When the handle on the top is turned, the cubbys eyes move left and right. The name Kyoro-chan refers to this gimmick, which was very appealing to kids.

Although it was discontinued for a while, Kyro-chan was brought back in 2016 with the same design.

Ice Robo III Hatsuyuki is another popular shaved ice machine with a retro look. At first glance, the yellow, red and green machine almost looks like a character out of an old Nintendo game. But, on the inside, this machine has an advanced system that can automatically make shaved ice, even allowing to adjust sizes.

Dendo Honkaku Fuwafuwa Kakigori-Ki (electric-powered machine for totally fluffy shaved ice) goes further back in time to dig up peoples memory of shaved ice.

()

It is said that Kakigori-ki became commonly available in the Showa era (1926  1989). This machine has wheels and a logo that can remind Japanese of when they ate shaved ice at stores in their neighborhood back in the day.

Thanks to an updated system, this retro-looking machine can shave ice to fluffy flakes, something only stores could provide back then.

These shaved ice machines are closely associated with peoples happy memories of having the cold sweets as a child. The sense of fun and nostalgia is so strong that you could feel it even if you didnt live in Japan in those days.

Did you know?

In Japan, kakigoori has been enjoyed for more than 1000 years. Makuranososhi, an essay by Seisho Nagon, has a description of people enjoying kakigoori in the 11th century.
Terrorist sympathizers reacted predictably to Israels daring rescue of four hostages on Saturday, blaming the Jewish state for harming civilians during the raid. This addled logic misses a significant point: Hamas intentionally stashed innocent captives among its own people and then fired on rescuers in a populated area.

Israeli commandos launched the raid  with aid from U.S. intelligence  during broad daylight after determining weeks ago that the hostages were being kept in Nuseirat in the Gaza Strip. One of the captives was in a low-rise apartment building, The Wall Street Journal reported, while the other three were in a nearby building.

The military action started with Israeli airstrikes to create a diversion. Israeli forces then launched simultaneous attacks on the targets. In one building  where (Noa) Argamani was being held  the officers managed to take her Hamas captors by surprise, an Israeli military spokesman told The New York Times. In the other, Israeli forces engaged in a difficult firefight before reaching the remaining three hostages, he added.

As the Israelis left the building, Hamas militants were shooting at them and firing rocket-propelled grenades, the Times reported. But the commandos fought their way out and transported the captives by vehicle to waiting helicopters.

The number of deaths remains unknown. Hamas claimed 274 people were killed, but its casualty counts have been notoriously inflated. One local official told the Times that many Palestinians were killed during strikes near a local market.

Its worth noting that both sets of hostages were not only held in a civilian area, they were kept in apartments occupied by Gaza families.

Lets recount: Hamas kidnapped more than 200 innocent people during its barbaric foray on Oct. 7 to use hostages as leverage. The terrorists then hid some captives among the civilian population in the residences of private families. Hamas leaders, thus, purposely invited the deaths of their own civilians as a means of ginning up international condemnation of Israel.

This despicable and cowardly tactic of hiding among innocents has riled even some Palestinians. Residents in Nuseirat described it as one of the worst days of the war, the Journal reported about the hostage rescue. But some also voiced anger at Hamas for holding hostages in residential buildings, endangering the whole area.

Rather than constantly hectoring Israel for responding to a violent terror group that openly seeks to wipe it from the map, the Biden White House should be pressuring Egypt and Qatar to convince Hamas leaders to change course and free the remaining hostages.
In an important development for Ghanas fiscal outlook, the government has successfully concluded discussions with its Official Creditor Committee (OCC) regarding the debt treatment plan outlined in January 2024.



The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) formalizing the agreement, which was principally brokered with Official Creditors earlier this year, is a significant milestone in Ghanas endeavor to achieve long-term debt sustainability.



The OCC, co-chaired by economic powerhouses China and France, played instrumental roles in facilitating the negotiations that culminated in the finalization of the MoU. The agreement retains the financial terms previously established and offers substantial debt service relief over the duration of the Fund-supported program. This strategic move aims to free up essential financial resources that can be channeled into critical sectors like infrastructure, healthcare, and education to foster sustainable socio-economic growth.



The successful establishment of the formal OCC pact is anticipated to pave the way for the approval of the second review of the Fund-supported Post Covid-19 Programme for Economic Growth (PC-PEG) by the IMF Executive Board.



This endorsement will unlock the disbursement of the next tranche of IMF financing amounting to US$360 million and may attract further financial assistance from key development partners, notably the World Bank.



Furthermore, the completion of the official creditor agreement is poised to fortify ongoing engagements with private creditors as Ghana strives to expedite parallel restructuring agreements to align with the principle of comparability of treatment. Each official creditor within the OCC will proceed with their respective internal protocols to formalize the MoU, paving the way for individual bilateral agreements with Ghana to implement the mutually agreed terms.



In light of these developments, Minister for Finance, Dr. Mohammed Amin Adam, reiterated Ghanas commitment to meeting its debt obligations responsibly while emphasizing the imperative of equitable treatment across all creditors.



Dr. Adam urged official creditors to expedite their internal processes for signing the bilateral agreements, underscoring Ghanas dedication to constructive engagement with commercial external creditors to reach mutually beneficial resolutions promptly.



Dr. Adam expressed gratitude on behalf of the Republic of Ghana to all members of the OCC, especially the co-chairs, China and France, for their steadfast support in navigating the nations debt challenges.



He hailed the landmark OCC agreement as a pivotal achievement in Ghanas debt restructuring narrative and a key enabler for driving forward the countrys robust reform agenda with the backing of supportive development partners.



We call upon our official creditors to fast-track their internal processes towards the signing of the bilateral agreements. Ghana continues to engage in good faith with all commercial external creditors, striving to finalize restructuring agreements that respect Ghanas need for debt relief and the comparability of treatment principle.



Ghana also reiterates its firm commitment to remain in arrears with its external commercial creditors until agreements compatible with the comparability of treatment principle are reached, Minister for Finance, Dr. Mohammed Amin Adam mentioned in a statement issued by the Ministry.



The Ministry of Finance on behalf of the Republic of Ghana extends our gratitude to all members of the OCC, particularly the committees co-chairs, China and France, for their unwavering commitment to assisting our country in resolving its debt issues.



This landmark agreement marks an extraordinary milestone in Ghanas debt restructuring journey and will further strengthen our ambitious reform agenda with the strong support of our development

partners, the statement indicated.

Source: dailyguidenetwork.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Hospitals across the country are facing critical shortages of essential drugs, particularly tuberculosis (TB) medications, due to a backlog at the port.



This alarming situation has raised significant health concerns and calls for immediate government intervention.



The National Board Chairman of the Stop TB Partnership Ghana, Mr. Eric Kwabena Agbozo in an interview with Peace FM news emphasized the severity of the issue, highlighting the urgent need for government action.



He stated that TB patients are no longer receiving their medications on a regular monthly basis due to the ongoing shortage.



He also revealed that many patients are experiencing life-threatening complications because of the inconsistencies in drug administration. He warned that interruptions in taking TB medications can lead to drug resistance, necessitating longer-term treatment and changes in medication regimens.



Mr. Agbozo reiterated that because tuberculosis is an airborne disease, it is dangerous to have infected individuals walking around without any medical treatment.



He urged the government to expedite the clearance of essential drugs at the port to prevent further deterioration of the health situation and to protect the community from the spread of TB.









Source: Sika Ayim/Peace FM News









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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The Bank of Ghana has addressed the demands made by the Bawku Central Member of Parliament regarding information on losses recorded in the 2023 financial statement and the escalating costs associated with its head office.



These demands were made under section 18 of the Right to Information Act 2019 (Act 989).



In response to the MP's inquiries, the central bank has assured that his requests are being given the necessary attention.



They have communicated that the MP can expect to hear from them soon regarding the information he has requested.



In a letter dated Thursday, June 6, addressed to the lawmaker, the Bank of Ghana encouraged him to await their response, assuring him that they will provide the requested information in due course.



"The Bank acknowledges your receipt of your letter dated June 3, and notes the content thereof."



"We write to inform you that your request is receiving attention," the BoG letter said.



The BoG reported a loss of GH10.5 billion for the financial year ending in 2023. The primary reason for this loss was a significant increase in total interest expenses on open market operations by the Central Bank, which increased by GH6.7 billion during the review period.



In August of the previous year, the BoG also defended its new $250 million headquarters.



In a statement released on Monday, June 3, Mr Ayariga stated, I write on the instructions of the Minority Leader of Parliament to request for the following information: Detailed particulars of the status of the write-offs made in respect of governments indebtedness to BoG."



Reasons for the combined losses of approximately GH70 billion as stated in the BoGs financial statements for 2022 and 2023. The status of the further expenses on the infamous head office building, which costs keep escalating.



He further asked for Reasons for recording a policy rate of 30% in 2023 as this is the highest record of policy rate in the last 20 years. Detailed particulars on the costs of the new construction at the premises of the old BoG clinic. Reasons for the total currency issuance expense of GH688.87 million as stated in BoGs financial statement and annual report for 2023.

Source: Peacefmonline.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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The judge hearing the case in which the Minority Leader, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson and a businessman have been accused of causing financial loss of 2.37 million to the state in an ambulance deal has pleaded with parties in the matter to help her finish the case quickly.



Her plea was in reaction to a letter addressed to the court requesting the Minority Leaders absence from court to attend to parliamentary duties.



Reacting to the letter in open court, Justice Afia Serwah Asare-Botwe, said she respects the Minority Leader and his office.



However, she said supposing, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson was not the Minority Leader in Parliament but the Senior House Master of a school, would he have said that today is reopening assembly and that he cant come to court, no, she said.



She said the Minority Leader was not being called to assist the court as a witness but an accused person standing trial.



So please help me to just finish this case quickly. That way everybody will go and attend to what they have to attend to, she said making reference to how the court handled the case involving Member of Parliament for Bawku Central, Mahama Ayariga, who was standing trial over alleged procurement breaches in an ambulance purchase but was subsequently discharged.



The judge said the original plan was to conclude by end of May 2024, but Mr Jakpa, the third accused person sacked his lawyer, a situation which changed the courts plan.



Lets try and put the plan back on schedule, lets try not to interrupt the flow of things, it will not happen, she said,



Background



Dr Forson and Jakpa have been accused of causing financial loss of 2.37 million to the state in a deal to purchase 200 ambulances for Ghana between 2014 and 2016.



They have pleaded not guilty to counts of willfully causing financial loss to the state, abetment to wilfully causing financial loss to the state, contravention of the Public Procurement Act and intentionally misapplying public property.



Per the A-Gs facts accompanying the charge sheet, in 2009, while delivering the State of the Nation Address, the then President, Prof. John Evans Atta Mills, indicated that new ambulances would be purchased to expand the operations of the National Ambulance Service.



Jakpa, who is a local representative of Big Sea General Trading Limited, a company based in Dubai, subsequently approached the Ministry of Health with a proposal that he had arranged for finance from Stanbic Bank for the supply of 200 ambulances to the government.



Parliament approved the financing agreement between the government and Stanbic Bank.



According to the facts, on November 19, 2012, Dr Anemana wrote to the Public Procurement Authority (PPA) seeking approval to engage Big Sea through single sourcing for the supply of the 200 ambulances.



They added that on August 7, 2014, Dr Forson wrote to the Bank of Ghana for letters of credit covering 3.95 million for the supply of 50 ambulances in favour of Big Sea.



The letters of credit were accordingly released to Big Sea.



The facts said 30 ambulances were purchased at a sum of 2.37 million but all were found not to have met ambulance specifications and therefore not fit for purpose.







Source: graphiconline.com









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President Bola Tinubu tripped and fell on Wednesday while attempting to mount the parade vehicle during the Democracy Day celebration at Eagle Square in Abuja.



Footage of the incident has since gone viral on social media, with netizens expressing concern.



The President had approached the vehicle shortly after he arrived at the Eagles Square, Abuja venue of the June 12 commemoration.



Vanguard gathered that the President lost his footing momentarily as he was about to embark on the parade vehicle.



However, the president, who was immediately assisted by his aides after the incident, has since resumed duties at the ongoing ceremony.



The event was part of a series of events to mark the countrys Democracy Day celebration at Eagles Square.

Source: vanguard









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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It is evidence for every Ghanaian who understands the dynamics of politics to decipher that the wing of change currently blowing in favor of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) cannot be stopped by any propaganda.



From the bad management of the economy, corruption related issues to issues of coercing witnesses against key NDC members at the various courts and the recent manipulated survey conducted by Dr. Smart Sarpong cannot stop the party from winning 2024 general election.



According to the Chief Executive Officer of Marrer Ghana Ltd, Susatgad Boat Building and Fishing Industry, Mr Novihoho Afaglo, said no amount of propaganda or scheming surveys by the ruling New Patriotic Partys (NPP) apparatchiks can stop Ghanaians from voting them out of power in 2024 election.



Mr. Afaglo said it is time Ghanaians compare the four years rule of former President John Dramani Mahama to the eight years of Nana Akufo-Addo-Bawumia lead administration and how the country has been on reverse gear.



On the issue of the recently published research conducted by Dr. Smart Sarpong, he challenged Ghanaians to ignore such propaganda and political antics employed by the NPP to win floating voters.



Such and similar misleading researchers are being cook by the ruling party to pollute the political environment. Often than not, all these researchers and researches are well-known NPP party members hiding behind academia to confuse the voting masses.



He said former President Mahama has tasted the waters and knows its steepness rather a novice who is going about chanting digitalization ignoring his core duties of reviving the economy.



The CEO said the bad policies of Nana Akufo-Addo,-Bawumia lead government if allowed to rule for another fours years, Ghanaians would have to beg on their needs before feeding.



He, therefore, called on Ghanaians to reject the ongoing propaganda by the NPP and join the winning team for victory 2024.

Source: Peacefmonline.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Member of Parliament(MP) for Effutu constituency in the Central region and the Majority leader in Ghanas Parliament, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, has indicated that the government has expressed intentions of presenting a Bill to Parliament.



According to him, the Bill is set to regulate the Free Senior School policy and to ensure its outright sustainability.



Hon. Afenyo-Markins revelations come in the wake of the call for review of the education policy introduced by the Nana Addo government. The policy, which provides free senior high school education for all Ghanaians have experienced daunting challenges.



Briefing the press on Tuesday, June 11, 2024, the Majority leader said, Im also able to report that the Education Minister will present the Free SHS Bill to Parliament. The chapter five of the Constitution provides some aspirational indicatives. Those are not justiciable, but once by a policy of the government, an aspiration as a message by the constitution is put into action then to make it justiciable, you enact.



He added that, there are provisions in the constitution that one cannot enforce adding that, you cannot claim the right to those provisions. The fact that they are there, does not mean that you can apply to the court to enforce those rights. Now when it gets to the point that a government lifts it up to give life to it, there is a need to enact a law to regulate same.



Major stakeholder have called for a thorough review of the education policy. Top of the critics is the flag bearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Dramani Mahama who has called on the government and all stakeholders to have the policy reviewed due to the challenges which keep popping up every now and then.



Meanwhile, Africa Education Watch (Eduwatch), an education Think tank, has expressed concerns that the proposed governments Free Senior High School (SHS) Bill has been positioned more as a political legacy of the NPP government than a sustainable educational reform for all Ghanaians.



Kweku Asare, the Executive Director of Eduwatch, stated that, I am a bit lost because in December 2020 Parliament passed a law called the Pre Tertiary Education Law which is Act 10(49). This law which was assented on 29th December 2020 has free SHS captured under section 3 which says that Secondary education in its different forms including TVET shall be free and accessible to all eligible candidates. So this provision in the pre-tertiary education law is to give legal effect, is to give binding effect.



However, Hon. Afenyo-Markin said, The bill, which will soon be presented to Parliament, aims to regulate the policy and ensure its sustainability."



The policy, which has been a cornerstone of the Akufo-Addo administration, seeks to remove financial barriers to secondary education by covering fees, textbooks, boarding, and meals.









Source: Kobina Darlington/peacefmonline.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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A former Presidential aspirant of the ruling New Patriotic Party(NPP), Kennedy Agyapong has joined forces with his former contender, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia on his Ashanti regional tour.



The charismatic Kennedy Agyepong, who is the incumbent Member of Parliament for Assin Central constituency, stated that, former President Mahama and the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), are certainly not the option Ghanaians should consider, adding that, the NDC as a party, is very dangerous.



According to him, Ghanaians who intend to vote for the flag bearer of the NDC, do so at their own peril, stating that the former President has absolutely nothing to offer the people of Ghana.



Kennedy Agyepong, who owns fleets of companies and businesses, indicated that, in-spite of the recent economic turmoil, the NDC is just not a viable option anyone should consider.



Addressing traders at the Kejetia Market, Kennedy Agyepong, who is currently serving his last term in parliament as the Member of Parliament for Assin Central, encouraged the people of the Ashanti Region, the world bank of the ruling NPP government, to believe in the vision and promises of Dr. Bawumia and vote massively for him in the upcoming December 7 general elections.



It was speculated that the NPPs popularity in Ashanti region has dwindled, but Mr. Agyepong has debunked the allegation and stated that, whoever thinks the NPP has lost touch with the partys strong hold should rewrite the story.



He said, As a businessman and politician, I understand both politics and business. I acknowledge the current hardships, but when you vote, remember that the NDC is not a viable optionthey are very dangerous."



Be cautious. Under the Akufo-Addo-Bawumia government, weve covered fees under Free SHS and even provided uniforms for your children.



He further urged party faithfuls, Even in developed countries, governments dont buy uniforms for students. So, I urge all of you to recognise that even developed countries are facing economic crises. Dont be deceived by false promises. Remember the NDCs past governance. Lets all support Bawumia.

Source: Kobina Darlington/peacefmonline.com









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James Kwabena Bomfeh has fired salvoes against the Minority in Parliament for threatening to boycott parliamentary business due to the ongoing legal tussle between the Attorney-General, Godfred Yeboah Dame, and Minority Leader, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson.



The Minority Caucus in Parliament has served notice not to appear in their chamber during proceedings following the Speaker's call for them to resume business.



On May 3, 2024, the Majority Caucus petitioned the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Alban Bagbin, to urgently reconvene the House to address key government business items including the adoption of the 34th Report of the Appointments Committee and a motion on additional financing.



Dr. Ato Forson was supposed to join the caucus in proceedings but he couldnt because the day clashed with his day in court.



The Minoritys boycott attempt, according to a statement issued by the Minority Chief Whip, Kwame Governs Agbodza, is in solidarity with their leader.



He pledges this action will continue every time proceedings clash with Dr. Ato Forsons day in court.



The NDC Minority Caucus will only be available for the business of Parliament after proceedings of the court have ended on the days scheduled for the hearing of the ongoing ambulance case trialthe NDC Minority will continue to solidarise and stand by its Leader anytime he is due to appear in court, their statement read.



Commenting on this subject of boycott during Peace FM's "Kokrokoo", James Kwabena Bomfeh questioned the logic in the Minority's action stressing they were not voted to represent themselves but rather their constituents made up of both members and non-members of their party.



The former CPP General Secretary, popularly called "Kabila", lightly asked if they will also boycott the "December 7 presidential elections since their leader's trial will still be ongoing".



To Kabila, the NDC Minority should remind themselves of their core duty to the people who voted them into the Legislative House.



"You were voted for individually to represent us. You are not representing your party but us, the constituents which include members and non-members of your party. Those who vote are not all party members," he cautioned the Minority.





Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









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Former CPP General Secretary, James Kwabena Bomfeh, affectionately called "Kabila", has lauded the Vice President and presidential candidate of the New Patriotic Party, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, on his campaign tours ahead of the December 7 polls.



His tour bus is going around all the sixteen (16) Regions of the country.



The Vice President is currently at the Ashanti Region touring the communities to explain his policies to the residents.



In the line-up of his campaign tour, he meets religious leaders both Christians and Muslims, Chiefs and the people through his house-to-house and street-to-street engagements.



Discussing Bawumia's campaign strategy, Kabila was elated that the Vice President does not only exhibit his humility before leaders in the society but literally goes down to earth embracing the average people.



He shared an account where Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia met a physically challenged person in his Ashanti Region tour and went down to embrace him to the delight of the person.



He also commended the NPP flagbearer for visiting gospel music legend, Yaw Sarpong, who is currently ill.



Dr. Bawumia presented a cash of 100,000 cedis to support Yaw Sarpong who, in turn, expressed his profound gratitude to Dr. Bawumia.



To James Kwabena Bomfeh, Dr. Bawumia is affecting the masses positively and in his (Kabila) conclusion, "the Vice President, there are so many things that are uncertain about him but it is possible!"



Kabila made these submissions on Peace FM's "Kokrokoo" show with Kwami Sefa Kayi steering affairs.



Watch video below





Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









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The minority in Parliament has backlashed the government for what they describe as wayward decision to reintroduce the road tolls.



Addressing the press on Wednesday, June 12, the minority Chief Whip, Governs Kwame Agbodza vehemently criticised the governments decision to reintroduce the road toll, stating that, the action of government shows a pure lack of seriousness and proper governance.



He told the press, That is quite an interesting position by the current road minister. In fact, is it not the case that he was part of the cabinet when the decision was taken to suspend the collection of tolls and when Mr. Speaker and all of us drew the attention that, that singular action was illegal, they told Mr. Speaker to go to the toll booth to collect the toll himself if he likes. This is just a testament of a government that is wayward, lost touch and doesnt know what they want.



He added that, it is quite an interesting position by the current Road Minister to have the road toll reintroduce.



"In fact, is it not the case that he was part of the cabinet when the decision was taken to suspend the collection of tolls and when Mr. Speaker and all of us drew the attention that, that singular action was illegal, they told Mr. Speaker to go to the toll booth to collect the toll himself if he likes. This is just a testament of a government that is wayward, lost touch and doesnt know what they want.



Cabinet decided to suspend the collection of tolls as propaganda to force E-levy down the throats of Ghanaians. We are paying E-levy today. They want to take more money from you so they are coming back to condemn each other to say that they want to collect tolls. Then the entire government is condemned. They cannot pick and choose who is upright in the government.



The Minister of Roads and Highways announced that the government is preparing to reintroduce road toll in order to mobilise revenue to fix some deplorable roads in the country. It is recalled that, cabinet suspended the collection of road tolls due to the introduction of the E-levy effective November 2021.



So we wait. We have been consistently saying that there was no need to suspend the collection of tolls. So, Ghanaians can see which part of the political divide can be trusted and is consistent with policies in this country."



He added, And obviously the NPPs record of being straight and fair to Ghanaians has been called into question so many times.





Source: Kobina Darlington/peacefmonline.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Former Central Regional Minister, Kwamena Duncan has shared dissenting views on the proposal for the Free SHS policy to become a law.



"For me I don't understand it, unless you call the Minister (Education Minister) to explain it, I don't understand it," he told Kwami Sefa Kayi



The Majority leader in Parliament, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, has indicated that the government has expressed intentions of presenting a Bill to Parliament but to Kwamena Duncan, he doesn't understand why the policy must become a bill.



He argued that once the policy is made a bill, it then means any person or party in power can repeal it.



This, therefore, to him, is not the right approach to maintaining and enhancing the policy.



He made these arguments on Peace FM's "Kokrokoo" programme Wednesday morning.



Watch his full submissions below:





Member of Parliament(MP) for Effutu constituency in the Central region and the Majority leader in Ghanas Parliament, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, has indicated that the government has expressed intentions of presenting a Bill to Parliament.According to him, the Bill is set to regulate the Free Senior School policy and to ensure its outright sustainability.Hon. Afenyo-Markins revelations come in the wake of the call for review of the education policy introduced by the Nana Addo government. The policy, which provides free senior high school education for all Ghanaians have experienced daunting challenges.Briefing the press on Tuesday, June 11, 2024, the Majority leader said, Im also able to report that the Education Minister will present the Free SHS Bill to Parliament. The chapter five of the Constitution provides some aspirational indicatives. Those are not justiciable, but once by a policy of the government, an aspiration as a message by the constitution is put into action then to make it justiciable, you enact.

Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Delos's 2,000-year-old buildings offer insight into the Hellenistic and Roman periods.

A brief boat ride from the thrumming nightclubs of Mykonos lies the UNESCO heritage site of Delos, one of the most important sanctuaries of the ancient Greek and Roman world.

Surrounded by piercing azure waters, Delos' 2,000-year-old buildings offer a microcosm of information on daily life during the Hellenistic and Roman periods.

But within decades, because of rising sea levels brought about by climate change, the site known for its temples guarded by stone lions could be gone forever, scientists warn.

"Delos is condemned to disappear in around 50 years," said Veronique Chankowski, head of the French archaeological school of Athens (EFA), which has been excavating the site for the past 150 years under license from the Greek state.

The tiny Aegean Sea island's silent drama could not be more at odds with the bustle of neighboring Mykonos, which attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors annually.

The worst structural damage is visible in an area that once housed trade and storage buildings in the first and second centuries BCE and is not accessible to visitors.

Seawater eroding walls

"Water enters the stores in winter. It eats away at the base of the walls," noted Jean-Charles Moretti, the French mission's director on Delos and a researcher at the French state institute for the research of ancient architecture (IRAA).

The site is at risk of destruction due to global warming.

"Every year in the spring, I notice that new walls have collapsed," Moretti, who has taken part in digs on the island for the past 40 years, told AFP.

In the space of 10 years, the sea level has risen by up to 20 meters (66 feet) in some parts of the island, added Chankowski.

A study by Aristotelio University in Thessaloniki last year found that increasing temperatures combined with high levels of humidity can significantly affect the chemical composition of certain materials used in cultural heritage monuments.

"Just like the human body, monuments are built to withstand specific temperatures," study supervisor Efstathia Tringa, a meteorology and climatology researcher at Aristotle University in Thessaloniki, told Kathimerini daily earlier this year.

A steady stream of tourists from Mykonos, who often veer away from permitted areas, constitute an additional problem.

In the summer, only a handful of archaeologists are at hand to supervise.

To the ancient Greeks, Delos was the birthplace of Apollo, god of light, arts and healing, and of his sister Artemis, goddess of the hunt.

Delos has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1990.

The siblings were among the chief deities honored by both the Greeks and the Romans.

At the height of its acclaim during the Roman era, Delos attracted pilgrims and traders from across the ancient world and ultimately grew to a bustling city of some 30,000 people.

But the island's popularity proved its undoing. It was looted twice in the first century BCE and eventually abandoned altogether.

For now, wooden support beams have been used to shore up some walls, Chankowski said.

But more robust measures are complex and will require a multi-disciplinary response, she added.

"All coastal cities will lose significant areas currently located at sea level," said Athena-Christiana Loupou, a Greek archaeologist who guides groups through the site's main attractions.

"We replaced plastic straws with paper straws but we lost the war" to protect the environment, she said bitterly.

 2024 AFP
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Two types of technique for making microblade were recognized at ND3 site: the wedge-shaped core technique and the semi-conical core technique. The stone artifacts uncovered by ND3 illustrate the complete process of producing microblades using these methods. Credit: Jin Yingshuai.

A research team led by Prof. Zhang Xiaoling from the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology (IVPP), Chinese Academy of Sciences, published a paper entitled "The Earliest Evidence for a Microblade Adaptation in the Remote, High Altitude Regions of the Tibetan Plateau" in Science China Earth Sciences.

The earliest microblade technology site in the hinterland of the Tibetan Plateau so far was reported. ND3 is located on the shores of Silin Lake, at an altitude of around 4,600 meters. The site features typical microblade technology, with over 1,100 lithic artifacts unearthed. Detailed Optical Stimulated Luminescence (OSL) and Radiocarbon (14C) dating studies, combined with an analysis of the stratigraphy correlation and site formation process, have determined that the site is approximately 11,00010,000 years ago.

At the ND3 site, microblades were the primary target product, with fewer flake tools such as side scrapers and end scrapers. The lithic artifacts excavated from ND3 contain the entire production process of microblades. The most common raw materials are flint and agate agglomerates found on riverbanks; and flaky blanks were chosen to produce microblades. Through detailed lithic technology analysis, the authors confirmed the use of typical wedge-shaped core and semi-conical core technologies for microblade production at the site, reconstructing the knapping sequences of these technologies.

The authors of the article concluded, through technology comparisons, that the ND3 technology is consistent with that of southern North China, indicating a strong link between the microblade technologies of the two regions. By integrating the lithic analysis with the chronology of microblade products across the plateau, the authors identified a clear route of microblade technology entering the plateau from the northeastern part of the Tibetan Plateau.

The microblade technology on the Tibetan Plateau originates from southern North China and first appeared on the northeastern edge of the plateau around 15,000 years ago. This technology made its way into the hinterland of the Tibetan Plateau through the Kunlun Mountains and the Qingnan Plateau between 11,000 and 10,000 years ago. Subsequently, it spread widely across the entire plateau. Credit: Jin Yingshuai.

Microblade technology spread from southern North China to the northeastern edge of the plateau, such as Qinghai Lake Basin, the Kunlun Mountains, and the Qingnan Plateau around 15,000 years ago. By 11,000 to 10,000 years ago, this technology had reached the interior of the plateau.

Microblade technology spread into the hinterland of the plateau during the Holocene, a period characterized by a favorable climate. The flat terrain of the northern Tibetan Plateau facilitated a rapid diffusion of this technology.

By the Middle Holocene, microblade technology spread southward and eastward, primarily distributing within the river valleys of southern and eastern Tibet. Despite the emergence of agriculture, microblade technology continued to be an important role for agricultural populations.

The authors suggest that microblade technology continued to exist until about 20003000 years ago. Molecular biology research indicates that the large-scale adoption of microblade technology coincided with significant population influxes into the plateau during the early Holocene. Populations bearing microblade technology did not disappear or get replaced after migrating to the plateau; instead, they continued to evolve, potentially forming a significant part of the ancestry of modern Tibetans.

More information: Yingshuai Jin et al, The earliest evidence for a microblade adaptation in the remote, high altitude regions of the Tibetan Plateau, Science China Earth Sciences (2024). DOI: 10.1007/s11430-023-1317-3 Journal information: Science China Earth Sciences
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Credit: CC0 Public Domain

About 2.5 billion years ago, free oxygen, or O 2 , first started to accumulate to meaningful levels in Earth's atmosphere, setting the stage for the rise of complex life on our evolving planet.

Scientists refer to this phenomenon as the Great Oxidation Event, or GOE for short. But the initial accumulation of O 2 on Earth was not nearly as straightforward as that moniker suggests, according to new research led by a University of Utah geochemist.

This "event" lasted at least 200 million years. And tracking the accumulation of O 2 in the oceans has been very difficult until now, said Chadlin Ostrander, an assistant professor in the Department of Geology and Geophysics.

"Emerging data suggest that the initial rise of O 2 in Earth's atmosphere was dynamic, unfolding in fits-and-starts until perhaps 2.2. billion years ago," said Ostrander, lead author on the study published June 12 in the journal Nature. "Our data validate this hypothesis, even going one step further by extending these dynamics to the ocean."

His international research team focused on marine shales from South Africa's Transvaal Supergroup, yielding insights into the dynamics of ocean oxygenation during this crucial period in Earth's history. By analyzing stable thallium (Tl) isotope ratios and redox-sensitive elements, they uncovered evidence of fluctuations in marine O 2 levels that coincided with changes in atmospheric oxygen.

These findings help advance the understanding of the complex processes that shaped Earth's O 2 levels during a critical period in the planet's history that paved the way for the evolution of life as we know it.

"We really don't know what was going on in the oceans, where Earth's earliest lifeforms likely originated and evolved," said Ostrander, who joined the U faculty last year from the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution in Massachusetts. "So knowing the O 2 content of the oceans and how that evolved with time is probably more important for early life than the atmosphere."

The research builds on the work of Ostrander's co-authors Simon Poulton of the University of Leeds in the U.K and Andrey Bekker of the University of California, Riverside. In a 2021 study, their team of scientists discovered that O 2 did not become a permanent part of the atmosphere until about 200 million years after the global oxygenation process began, much later than previously thought.

The "smoking gun" evidence of an anoxic atmosphere is the presence of rare, mass-independent sulfur isotope signatures in sedimentary records before the GOE. Very few processes on Earth can generate these sulfur isotope signatures, and from what is known their preservation in the rock record almost certainly requires an absence of atmospheric O 2 .

For the first half of Earth's existence, its atmosphere and oceans were largely devoid of O 2 . This gas was being produced by cyanobacteria in the ocean before the GOE, it seems, but in these early days the O 2 was rapidly destroyed in reactions with exposed minerals and volcanic gases.

Poulton, Bekker and colleagues discovered that the rare sulfur isotope signatures disappear but then reappear, suggesting multiple O 2 rises and falls in the atmosphere during the GOE. This was no single "event."

"Earth wasn't ready to be oxygenated when oxygen starts to be produced. Earth needed time to evolve biologically, geologically and chemically to be conducive to oxygenation," Ostrander said. "It's like a teeter totter. You have oxygen production, but you have so much oxygen destruction, nothing's happening. We're still trying to figure out when we've completely tipped the scales and Earth could not go backwards to an anoxic atmosphere."

To map O 2 levels in the ocean during the GOE, the research team relied on Ostrander's expertise with stable thallium isotopes.

Isotopes are atoms of the same element that have an unequal number of neutrons, giving them slightly different weights. Ratios of a particular element's isotopes have powered discoveries in archaeology, geochemistry and many other fields.

Advances in mass spectrometry have enabled scientists to accurately analyze isotope ratios for elements farther and farther down the Periodic Table, such as thallium. Luckily for Ostrander and his team, thallium isotope ratios are sensitive to manganese oxide burial on the seafloor, a process that requires O 2 in seawater.

The team examined thallium isotopes in the same marine shales recently shown to track atmospheric O 2 fluctuations during the GOE with rare sulfur isotopes.

In the shales, Ostrander and his team found noticeable enrichments in the lighter-mass thallium isotope (203Tl), a pattern best explained by seafloor manganese oxide burial, and hence accumulation of O 2 in seawater.

These enrichments were found in the same samples lacking the rare sulfur isotope signatures, and hence when the atmosphere was no longer anoxic. The icing on the cake: the 203Tl enrichments disappear when the rare sulfur isotope signatures return. These findings were corroborated by redox-sensitive element enrichments, a more classical tool for tracking changes in ancient O 2 .

"When sulfur isotopes say the atmosphere became oxygenated, thallium isotopes say that the oceans became oxygenated. And when the sulfur isotopes say the atmosphere flipped back to anoxic again, the thallium isotopes say the same for the ocean," Ostrander said.

"So the atmosphere and ocean were becoming oxygenated and deoxygenated together. This is new and cool information for those interested in ancient Earth."

More information: Chadlin Ostrander et al, Onset of coupled atmosphere-ocean oxygenation ~2.3 billion years ago, Nature (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41586-024-07551-5. www.nature.com/articles/s41586-024-07551-5 Journal information: Nature
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Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

It is one of the most hotly debated topics in today's workplace: Is allowing employees to log in from home a few days a week good for their productivity, careers, and job satisfaction?

Nicholas Bloom, a Stanford economist and one of the foremost researchers on work-from-home policies, has uncovered compelling evidence that hybrid schedules are a boon to both employees and their bosses.

In a study, published in the journal Nature, of an experiment on more than 1,600 workers at Trip.coma Chinese company that is one of the world's largest online travel agenciesBloom finds that employees who work from home for two days a week are just as productive and as likely to be promoted as their fully office-based peers.

On a third key measure, employee turnover, the results were also encouraging. Resignations fell by 33% among workers who shifted from working full-time in the office to a hybrid schedule. Women, non-managers, and employees with long commutes were the least likely to quit their jobs when their treks to the office were cut to three days a week. Trip.com estimates that reduced attrition saved the company millions of dollars.

"The results are clear: Hybrid work is a win-win-win for employee productivity, performance, and retention," says Bloom, who is the William D. Eberle Professor of Economics at the Stanford School of Humanities and Sciences and also a senior fellow at the Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research (SIEPR).

The findings are especially significant given that, by Bloom's count, about 100 million workers worldwide now spend a mix of days at home and in the office each week, more than four years after COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns upended how and where people do their jobs. Many of these hybrid workers are lawyers, accountants, marketers, software engineers and other with a college degree or higher.

Over time, though, working outside the office has come under attack from high-profile business leaders like Elon Musk, the head of Tesla, SpaceX, and X (formerly Twitter), and Jamie Dimon, CEO of JPMorgan Chase, who argue that the costs of remote work outweigh any benefits. Opponents say that employee training and mentoring, innovation, and company culture suffer when workers are not on site five days a week.

Blooms says that critics often confuse hybrid for fully remote, in part because most of the research into working from home has focused on workers who aren't required to come into an office and on a specific type of job, like customer support or data entry. The results of these studies have been mixed, though they tend to skew negative. This suggests to Bloom that problems with fully remote work arise when it's not managed well.

As one of the few randomized control trials to analyze hybrid arrangementswhere workers are offsite two or three days a week and are in the office the rest of the timeBloom says his findings offer important lessons for other multinationals, many of which share similarities with Trip.com.

"This study offers powerful evidence for why 80% of U.S. companies now offer some form of remote work," Bloom says, "and for why the remaining 20% of firms that don't are likely paying a price."

The research is also the largest to date of hybrid work involving university-trained professionals that relies on the gold standard in research, the randomized controlled trial. This allowed Bloom and his co-authors to show that the benefits they identify resulted from Trip.com's hybrid experiment and not something else.

In addition to Bloom, the study's authors are Ruobing Han, an assistant professor at The Chinese University of Hong Kong, and James Liang, an economics professor at Peking University and co-founder of Trip.com. Han and Liang both earned their Ph.D.s in economics from Stanford.

The hybrid approach: Only winners

Trip.com didn't have a hybrid work policy when it undertook the six-month experiment starting in 2021 that is at the heart of the study. In all, 395 managers and 1,217 non-managers with undergraduate degreesall of whom worked in engineering, marketing, accounting, and finance in the company's Shanghai officeparticipated. Employees whose birthdays fell on an even-numbered day of the month were told to come to the office five days a week. Workers with odd-numbered birthdays were allowed to work from home two days a week.

Of the study participants, 32% also had postgraduate degrees, mostly in computer science, accounting or finance. Most were in their mid-30s, half had children, and 65% were male.

In finding that hybrid work not only helps employees, but also companies, the researchers relied on various company data and worker surveys, including performance reviews and promotions for up to two years after the experiment. Trip.com's thorough performance review process includes evaluations of an employee's contributions to innovation, leadership, and mentoring.

The study authors also compared the quality and amount of computer code written by Trip.com software engineers who were hybrid against code produced by peers who were in the office full-time.

In finding that hybrid work had zero effect on workers' productivity or career advancement and dramatically boosted retention rates, the study authors highlight some important nuances. Resignations, for example, fell only among non-managers; managers were just as likely to quit whether they were hybrid or not.

Bloom and his co-authors identify misconceptions held by workers and their bosses. Workers, especially women, were reluctant to sign up as volunteers for Trip.com's hybrid triallikely for fear that they would be judged negatively for not coming into the office five days a week, Bloom says. In addition, managers predicted on average that remote working would hurt productivity, only to change their minds by the time the experiment ended.

For business leaders, Bloom says the study confirms that concerns that hybrid work does more harm than good are overblown.

"If managed right, letting employees work from home two or three days a week still gets you the level of mentoring, culture-building, and innovation that you want," Bloom says. "From an economic policymaking standpoint, hybrid work is one of the few instances where there aren't major trade-offs with clear winners and clear losers. There are almost only winners."

Trip.com was sold: It now allows hybrid work companywide.

More information: Nicholas Bloom, Hybrid working from home improves retention without damaging performance, Nature (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41586-024-07500-2. www.nature.com/articles/s41586-024-07500-2 Journal information: Nature
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The Einstein Telescope is being built around 250 meters underground. With interferometers in the three tunnels, each ten kilometers long, it will measure collisions of black holes in the early universe. Credit: NIKHEF

It's still just a plan, but a new telescope could soon be measuring gravitational waves. Gravitational waves are something like the sound waves of the universe. They are created, for example, when black holes or neutron stars collide.

The future gravitational wave detector, the Einstein Telescope, will use the latest laser technology to better understand these waves and, thus, our universe. One possible location for the construction of this telescope is the border triangle of Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands.

How the universe makes gold

The summer of 2017 was an extremely exciting day for astronomers: On August 17, three gravitational wave detectors registered a new signal. Hundreds of telescopes around the world were immediately pointed at the suspected point of origin and a luminous celestial body was indeed seen there. For the first time, the collision of two neutron stars was detected both optically and as a gravitational wave.

Neutron stars are something very special in the universe: They are burnt-out stars that no longer emit any visible radiation. They weigh slightly more than our sun, but squeeze their mass into a sphere less than 20 km in diameter. The force of their collision is so great that atomic nuclei are torn apart, gigantic amounts of mass ejected, and heavy atoms such as gold can be formed.

"Compared to the mass of the neutron stars, it's not a lot of gold that is createdjust a few lunar masses," explains Professor Achim Stahl, an astrophysicist from RWTH Aachen University, with a grin.

"But researchers are pretty sure that most of the gold in the universe was created in such gigantic explosions." Therefore, the golden ring we wear on our finger has already experienced galactic history.

Gravitational wave detectors open a new chapter in astronomy

Thanks to gravitational wave detectors, we already know more about the collisions of neutron stars. By galactic standards, these are very fast processes. In the past, if we were very lucky, we could register gamma-ray bursts which lasted less than a second. When black holes collide, the signal that can be measured with current gravitational wave detectors is very short.

The signal of the first gravitational wave measured in 2015 was just over 0.2 seconds long. Such waves are created when ultra-heavy objects orbit each other in the universe and then collide.

The signal detected in summer 2017 was 100 seconds long, so it was immediately clear that this must be something new. Shortly after the gravitational signal stopped, the gamma-ray burst was recorded; later the afterglow of the explosion was observed in various wavelength ranges, and traces of heavy elements such as gold and platinum were detected.

The event was identified as a collision of two neutron stars. The simultaneous observation of gravitational waves and electromagnetic signals opened a new chapter in observational astronomy. "In fact, the optical signal was decisive in finding the star in the sky," explains astrophysicist Stahl.

Our 'ears' to the universe

For centuries, astronomy was limited to observations of visible radiation. With a better understanding of the electromagnetic spectrum, astronomers added many new observation methods, detected radio waves and significantly expanded mankind's knowledge through calculations and simulations.

When Albert Einstein postulated his general theory of relativity a good hundred years ago, he also came up with the idea that there could be waves that have nothing to do with the electromagnetic spectrum. Similar to a sound wave, they were supposed to make a test specimen at a great distance "wobble" a little.

Large accelerated masses should send such waves through space. On Earth, however, the wobble caused by gravitational waves is so weak that the movement is much smaller than the diameter of an atom. Nonetheless, it has now become possible to measure gravitational waves. This is a new era for astronomers.

This is made possible by so-called laser interferometers. They consist of two arms with mirrors at the ends. A laser beam enters the interferometer and is split at a beam splitter in the middle.

It travels to the end mirrors in the two arms and back to the beam splitter. If the position of the mirror at the end of an arm changes, the transit time of the respective laser beam varies by a tiny amount. This amount can be measured by comparing the laser beam from the affected mirror with a laser beam from the other interferometer arm where the mirror has not been moved.

The precision of this measurement in the current gravitational wave detectors is always astonishing, even for physicists: "We measure down to an accuracy of less than one two-thousandth of a proton diameter," explains Professor Stahl.

"It's ironic that we need precision on the scale of the smallest particles known to us to detect the biggest events in the universe, the merging of black holes," he adds.

The first attempts to measure gravitational waves were made back in the 1960s. However, it is only the current second generation of laser measuring devices that can achieve this extreme accuracy and have now detected around 100 collisions of black holes or neutron stars.

The Einstein Telescope

Professor Stahl is a member of the German Einstein Telescope community and is currently working on the next generation of gravitational wave detectors. Measuring devices of this third generation should be ten times more sensitive than those currently in use. The planned gravitational wave observatory has been named "Einstein Telescope" after the founder of the general theory of relativity.

"We want to use it to examine an area that is a thousand times larger than what is possible today in the universe for gravitational waves. And we should then find considerably more sources for which the current instruments are not sensitive enough," explains the astrophysicist. This also applies to heavier objects that emit gravitational waves at lower frequencies.

The Einstein Telescope will consist of three nested detectors. Each of these detectors will have two laser interferometers with 10 km long arms. In order to shield as much interference as possible, the observatory shall be built 250 m underground.

However, the scientists are already thinking much further ahead. "The Einstein Telescope will work together with a new, innovative generation of observatories in the electromagnetic spectrum ranging from radio to gamma rays. We call this multi-messenger astronomy," says Professor Stahl, describing the vision.

"In addition to the 'ears' for the gravitational waves, we will also have 'eyes' that detect very different signals. Together, these will provide a live transmission of cosmic events that no one has ever seen before."

Until now, you could watch the sky at random and hope for a brief flash. In the future, the gravitational wave detectors will run continuously and "listen" when a signal appears. If several such detectors capture the signal, its region of origin can be calculated and other optical telescopes aligned with it. As with the neutron star collision in summer 2017, several systematic measurements will then be possible.

Scientists hope to gain many new insights from this, for example, about the early universe or about collisions in which all elements heavier than iron were formed.

Detectors in Europe and around the world

Such complex measurements require global cooperation. Accordingly, a conceptual design of a third-generation detector is also being developed in the U.S.

The "Cosmic Explorer" will form a global detector network with the Einstein Telescope. In 2021 the Europeans included the Einstein Telescope in the roadmap of the European Strategy Forum on Research Infrastructures (ESFRI). ESFRI was founded in 2002 to enable national governments, the scientific community and the European Commission to jointly develop and support a concept for research infrastructures in Europe.

With its inclusion in the ESFRI Roadmap, the Einstein Telescope has entered the preparation phase. The budget has been estimated at 1.8 billion euros. Operation is expected to cost around 40 million euros per year. Construction is scheduled to begin in 2026, with observations due to start in 2035.

Studies are currently underway to select a site. A decision is expected in 2024. Two possible sites are currently being investigated: one in Sardinia and one in the Euregio Meuse-Rhine in the border triangle between Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands. When evaluating the sites, the research partners must not only take the feasibility of construction into account, but also predict the extent to which the local environment will impact the sensitivity and operation of the detector.

The project promises a number of benefits for the region concerned: A large proportion of the costs of 1.8 billion will go towards construction measures. Three times ten kilometers of tunnels and twelve times ten kilometers of vacuum pipes are needed, to name just two examples. A substantial number of companies are already involved in the project.

A large team is already working on the actual measurement equipment at various locations. In addition to RWTH Aachen University, this also includes the Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology ILT in Aachen. New lasers are currently being developed there, without which the new measurements would not be possible.

"What we are developing here for potential use in the Einstein Telescope is unique in its design and is intended exclusively for measuring gravitational waves," confirms project manager Patrick Baer from Fraunhofer ILT, who as Research Unit Leader in the Einstein Telescope community represents research groups from the Fraunhofer Institutes for Laser Technology ILT and for Production Technology IPT as well as the Chairs for Laser Technology LLT and for Technology of Optical Systems at RWTH Aachen University.

"In a simplified version, however, the laser technology developed for this area of application may also be of interest for other applications, e.g. in quantum technology. But the knowledge gained can also be helpful for the development of lasers in medical technology: The wavelength of 2 m is suitable for shattering kidney and bladder stones, for example."

Ultimately, this is what Fraunhofer ILT has been doing since its foundation: making high-end lasers from research fit for industrial applications.

Funding has not yet been fully secured. Professor Stahl expects a final decision in the next two years. First the planners will start their work, then the tunnel builders, and finally the laser physicists. "I estimate that we will be able to take the first measurements in 2035."

What fascinates a researcher like Achim Stahl? "With gravitational waves, we can look much further into the universe than with normal telescopes," explains the astrophysicist.

"In astrophysics, looking further into the universe meansabove alllooking back in time. With the Einstein Telescope, we will receive signals from the time when the galaxies and the first stars were formed. This goes back further than is possible with optical means. And we will hear cosmic explosions live with the gravitational waves before we see them."

The more sensitive detectors of the Einstein Telescope will "hear" the signals earlier and give the other telescopes more time to align themselves. In the past, it was more of a lucky coincidence to see such an event. Now, for the first time, systematic measurements are possible. Exciting times are dawningand not just for astrophysicists.

Provided by Fraunhofer-Institut fur Lasertechnik ILT
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Examples of beads analyzed during the study. Credit: Antiquity (2024). DOI: 10.15184/aqy.2024.80

Archaeologists have analyzed the chemical makeup of glass beads from across the Great Lakes region of North America, revealing the extent of Indigenous influence on transatlantic exchange networks during the 17th century AD.

Glass beads were a key component of trade between Europeans and Indigenous Americans during early interactions between the two continents. One of the key actors in these networks was the Wendat Confederacy, which was based in southern Ontario until around 1650, when some Wendat people moved into the Western Great Lakes region.

Beads are a key symbol of European colonization, as they were produced in Europe but had a lasting impact on Indigenous Americans, with beadwork continuing to be integral to many Indigenous cultures to this day.

As such, it was thought that trans-Atlantic bead exchange networks must have been driven by European colonization. The first Europeans colonized the Western Great Lakes region around 1670.

To assess the validity of this idea, Drs Heather Walder and Alicia L. Hawkins, from the Universities of WisconsinLa Crosse and Toronto Mississauga respectively, examined the chemical compositions of over 1000 17th-century glass artifacts from Europe and eastern North America. Their results are published in the journal Antiquity.

"Previously, archaeologists have studied glass beads to understand the timing of site occupations of the 16th and 17th century," states Dr. Walder. "Instead of treating beads simply as chronological markers, we address their social significance to answer questions about interaction, exchange, and community-level relationships among Indigenous peoples."

Map of archaeological site locations in the Western Great Lakes and visualization of the distribution of Wendat or Wyandot-style objects. Diagnostic Huron-Incised rim sherds: a) Clay Banks (Milwaukee Public Museum catalogue #57523, photograph by H. Walder); b) Ellery (Wendake, photograph by A.L. Hawkins); c) Plate 1 reprinted with permission from Hall (1947). Credit: Antiquity (2024). DOI: 10.15184/aqy.2024.80

They found that glass from different glassmaking centers in Europe is distinguishable by amounts of trace elements, providing a way to determine where the glass beads in North America originated.

This reveals that glass beads in the pre-1650 Western Great Lakes region shared sources with those from Wendat villages hundreds of kilometers away in Ontario. This means that the Wendat were trading beads with the region's inhabitants, the Anishinaabe and other Nations, before they migrated into the area.

Importantly, these results clearly indicate that European glass beads were reaching areas outside of European influence, since significant numbers of French colonizers did not reach the Western Great Lakes region until at least 1670.

Additionally, the colors of beads were changing over time. While white and blue beads were initially most common, later examples are overwhelmingly red; a color favored by the Wendat.

This means that Indigenous Americans were not only incorporating glass beads into their exchange networks, but also influenced bead production in Europe, since the colors of beads changed over time to reflect Indigenous preferences.

"Glass beads can show how Indigenous people maintained social relationships and actively moved as strategies of resilience and resistance during the 17th century in the North American Great Lakes Region," concludes Dr. Walder.

"In short, beads are not (just) clocks. Unlocking their chemical composition using high-tech methods can help us tell stories of the relationships among communities on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean."

More information: Heather Walder et al, Tracking glass beads: communities and exchange relationships across the Atlantic in the seventeenth century, Antiquity (2024). DOI: 10.15184/aqy.2024.80 Journal information: Antiquity

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The hybrid beef-Holstein steers shown here were part of a previous Penn State study on cross-breeding the animals. The grey and white ones were sired by are Charolais bulls and the black ones were sired by Angus or Simmental bulls. Credit: Michelle Kunjappu

Facing economic challenges, dairy farmers are increasingly crossbreeding some of their Holstein cows with beef breed bulls to add value to surplus calves born in their herds. In an analysis of almost 40,000 cows, a team of Penn State researchers found that carrying and birthing the larger crossbred beef calves generally does not negatively affect dairy cow health.

The research, published in the Journal of Dairy Science, included records from 39,249 Holstein cows in 10 dairy herds in the Northeast and Midwest that had calves with known Holstein or beef breed sires from 2010 to 2023.

According to the researchers, calves sired by beef bulls were as likely to survive birth as those sired by Holstein bulls, with the exception of calves sired by crossbred beef bulls. The risk of a cow experiencing dystocia, or a difficult birth, did not differ by the sire breed of her calf. Likewise, clinical health events experienced after calving and early lactation cessation did not differ between cows that had Holstein or beef-sired calves.

Cows carrying beef-sired calves had increased gestational length compared to those carrying Holstein-sired calves. While calves sired by Angus bulls were only carried for one day longer than Holstein-sired calves, those sired by Limousin and Wagyu bulls extended a cow's gestation by five and eight days, respectively.

"Understanding the impact of different beef sire breeds on gestation length allows dairy farmers to plan for the longer pregnancies and adjust their operations accordingly," said the study's lead author Bailey Basiel, who graduated in May with a doctoral degree in animal science.

Significantly, cows that carried beef-sired calves did not differ in milk, milk fat or milk protein yield when compared with those that carried Holstein-sired calves, noted team leader Tara Felix, associate professor in the Department of Animal Science in the College of Agricultural Sciences and beef specialist at Penn State Extension.

"Our results suggest that current beef-dairy sire selection parameters in the United States are not negatively affecting the dairy cow," she said.

The study did not uncover any negative effects of Holstein dairy cows carrying and giving birth to beef crossbred calves, according to Basiel. That was likely because Holstein dairy cattle have large frames and are physically able to accommodate the beef crosses, she suggested.

"We didn't see any ill effects, at least in these herds that are using Holstein cows, and I think that's pretty reflective of the U.S. dairy populationwe milk mostly Holsteins in this country," she said. "But the second most popular breed is Jersey. And when you compare a Jersey and a Holstein, physiologically, Jerseys are a lot smaller. Follow-up research will determine whether Jerseys can safely produce beef crossbreds without suffering health and milk-yield problems."

One important caveat to the study, Basiel pointed out, is that the Holsteins were all "multiparous cows," meaning they had already given birth at least once.

"It was not the first time they'd had a calf, and statistically, traumatic experiences during birthing are a lot more likely to happen the first time a cow is giving birth, because she's smaller and she's never done it before," Basiel said. "So, at least in these older cowscows that have at least had one lactation beforewe saw no differences in calving ease or stillbirth."

Adrian Barragan, associate research professor in animal science and extension veterinarian, and Chad Dechow, associate professor of dairy cattle genetics, contributed to this research.

More information: B.L. Basiel et al, The impact of beef sire breed on dystocia, stillbirth, gestation length, health, and lactation performance of cows that carry beef  dairy calves, Journal of Dairy Science (2023). DOI: 10.3168/jds.2023-24112 Journal information: Journal of Dairy Science
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This graphic shows a three-dimensional map of stars near the sun. These stars are close enough that they could be prime targets for direct imaging searches for planets using future telescopes. The blue haloes represent stars that have been observed with NASAs Chandra X-ray Observatory and ESAs XMM-Newton. The yellow star at the center of this diagram represents the position of the sun. The concentric rings show distances of 5, 10, and 15 parsecs (one parsec is equivalent to roughly 3.2 light-years). Credit: Cal Poly Pomona/B. Binder; Illustration: NASA/CXC/M.Weiss

Using NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory and ESA's (European Space Agency's) XMM-Newton, astronomers are exploring whether nearby stars could host habitable exoplanets, based on whether they emit radiation that could destroy potential conditions for life as we know it. This type of research will help guide observations with the next generation of telescopes aiming to take the first images of planets like Earth.

A team of researchers has examined stars that are close enough to Earth that future telescopes could take images of planets in their so-called habitable zones, defined as orbits where the planets could have liquid water on their surfaces. Their results were presented at the 244th meeting of the American Astronomical Society in Madison, Wisconsin.

Any images of planets will be single points of light and will not directly show surface features like clouds, continents, and oceans. However, their spectrathe amount of light at different wavelengthswill reveal information about the planets' surface compositions and atmospheres.

This video shows a three-dimensional map of stars near the sun on the left side of our screen and a dramatic illustration of a star with a planet orbiting around it on the right side. The star map on the left shows many circular dots of different colors floating within an illustrated three-sided box. Each wall of the box is constructed in a grid pattern, with straight lines running horizontally and vertically like chicken wire. Dots that are colored blue represent stars that have been observed with NASA's Chandra and ESA's XMM-Newton. Suspended in the box, at about the halfway point, is a series of three concentric circles surrounding a central dot that indicates the placement of our sun. The circles represent distances of 5, 10, and 15 parsecs. One parsec is equivalent to roughly 3.2 light-years. In the animation, the dot filled, chicken wire box spins around slowly, first on its X axis and then on its Y axis, providing a three-dimensional exploration of the plotted stars. Credit: Cal Poly Pomona/B. Binder; Illustration: NASA/CXC/M.Weiss

There are several factors influencing what could make a planet suitable for life as we know it. One of those factors is the amount of harmful X-rays and ultraviolet light it receives from its host star, which can damage or even strip away the planet's atmosphere.

"Without characterizing X-rays from its host star, we would be missing a key element on whether a planet is truly habitable or not," said Breanna Binder of California State Polytechnic University in Pomona, who led the study. "We need to look at what kind of X-ray doses these planets are receiving."

Binder and her colleagues began with a list of stars that are close enough to Earth for which future ground and space-based telescopes could obtain images of planets within their habitable zones. These future telescopes include the Habitable Worlds Observatory and ground-based extremely large telescopes.

Based on X-ray observations of some of these stars using data from Chandra and XMM-Newton, Binder's team examined which stars could host planets with hospitable conditions for life to form and prosper.

The team studied how bright the stars are in X-rays, how energetic the X-rays are, and how much and how quickly they change in X-ray output, for example, due to flares. Brighter and more energetic X-rays can cause more damage to the atmospheres of orbiting planets.

"We have identified stars where the habitable zone's X-ray radiation environment is similar to or even milder than the one in which Earth evolved," said Sarah Peacock, a co-author of the study from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. "Such conditions may play a key role in sustaining a rich atmosphere like the one found on Earth."

Credit: Chandra X-ray Center

The researchers used data available in archives from almost 10 days of Chandra observations and about 26 days of XMM observations to examine the X-ray behavior of 57 nearby stars, some of them with known planets. Most of these are giant planets like Jupiter, Saturn or Neptune, while only a handful of planets or planet candidates could be less than about twice as massive as Earth.

There are likely many more planets orbiting stars in the sample, especially ones similar in size to Earth, that so far remain undetected. Transit studies, which look for tiny dips in light when planets pass in front of their stars from our perspective, miss many planets because special geometry is required to spot them. This means the chances of detecting transiting planets in a small sample of stars is low; only one exoplanet in the sample was picked up by transits.

The other main technique for detecting planets is via detection of the wobbling of a star induced by the orbiting planets, and this technique is mainly sensitive to finding giant planets relatively close to their host stars.

"We don't know how many planets similar to Earth will be discovered in images with the next generation of telescopes, but we do know that observing time on them will be precious and extremely difficult to obtain," said co-author Edward Schwieterman of the University of California at Riverside. "These X-ray data are helping to refine and prioritize the list of targets and may allow the first image of a planet similar to Earth to be obtained more quickly."
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Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

Indonesian authorities said Wednesday they have arrested six suspects in an international poaching ring targeting the Javan rhinoceros, a critically endangered species.

The suspects are part of a network that used homemade firearms to kill at least 26 Javan rhinos since 2018 to get their horns. The horns are in high demand in Asia where they're predominantly used in traditional Chinese medicine and increasingly for making ornaments, said Banten provincial police chief Abdul Karim.

He said the six men were arrested in a joint operation by police and the Forestry and Environment Ministry last month. One of the leaders of the syndicate, Sunendi, was arrested last year and sentenced to 12 years in prison and a 100-million rupiah ($6,135) fine.

Police and a team of rangers from Banten's Ujung Kulon National Park were searching for eight other members of the syndicate, officials said.

Karim said an investigation found that Sunendi, who uses a single name like many Indonesians, and nine others had killed 22 Javan rhinos since 2018, while another group had killed four more since 2021. They sold the horns to Chinese buyers through a local handler, who is currently on trial.

Police seized homemade firearms, bullets, gun powder, a steel sling noose and other equipment used to poach rhinos.

Rasio Ridho Sani, the head of law enforcement at the Forestry and Environment Ministry, said the population of the Javan rhino is declining and only about 80 mature animals remain, mostly in the Ujung Kulon National Park in the western part of Indonesia's main Java island. They are threatened by destruction of tropical forest habitat and poachers, he said.

"Poaching of protected animals is a serious crime and is of international concern," Sani said. "We are working closely with the Banten Regional Police to search and arrest the perpetrators of animal poaching crimes who managed to escape during the operation."

 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

Invasive alien species (IAS) explored in a CABI-published book pose the biggest threat to biodiversity, crop and/or livestock production, human and/or animal health, and economic development in the Caribbean.

These include rats, cats, mongooses and monkeys as part of a list of 171 exotic, non-native, non-indigenous or foreign animal species detailed in the 402-page "Guide to the Alien and Invasive Animals of the Caribbean," by Dr. Arne Witt, CABI's Invasives Coordinator, South.

Invasive alien species have been implicated in 86% of island species extinctions since 1500 A.D. Alien species are the most common threat associated with extinctions in native amphibian, reptile, and mammal species. In fact, introduced rats and cats have been responsible for most bird and mammal extinctions on islands.

Introduced species have not only driven native species to extinction, but they have also had a significant impact on food production. At a global level, pests, many of which have been introduced, reduce yields by between 20 and 40%. Invasive insects cost the global economy about US $70 billion per annum. Many of the worst crop pests in the world are established and thriving in the Caribbean.

Invasive species can also affect human health in several different ways, either as introduced pathogens or as vectors of diseases and parasites. In fact, the global health costs directly attributable to invasive insects exceed US $6.9 billion per year.

These impacts are not new. It is postulated that an invasive species, that is the introduced black rat, contributed to the demise of around 200 million people in Europe between 1347 and 1351. The black rat is a host of fleas which can carry the bacterium Yersinia pestis which causes bubonic plague.

171 exotic, non-native, non-indigenous or foreign animal species

The guide, which is co-authored by Professor Mike Picker, of the University of Cape Town, South Africa, and Dr. Kirsty Swinnerton, from the Kent Wildlife Trust, UK, provides detailed descriptions and information on the impacts of invasive taxa from mammals to insects. It also provides a review of the advantages and disadvantages of different management interventions.

Species covered include thehouse sparrow (Passer domesticus), red-eared slider (Trachemys elegans), cane toad (Rhinella marina), red lionfish (Pterois volitans), Savigny's brittle star (Ophiactis savignyi), pink hibiscus mealybug (Maconellicoccus hirsutus) and the Atlanic blue crab (Callinectes sapidus).

Prevention, early detection and rapid response (EDDR) and control

Dr. Witt, Professor Picker and Dr. Swinnerton outline in the guide that to be effective, all invasive alien management strategies need to consider activities relating to prevention, early detection and rapid response (EDDR) and control.

In the introduction they highlight the benefits of various interventions. Islands from which introduced mammals have been eradicated have seen a dramatic increase in the diversity and abundance of plants, insects, mammals and especially birds. The guide highlights the fact that invasive vertebrate eradication on islands has probably contributed more to biodiversity conservation globally than any other intervention.

Dr. Witt said, "This guide has been developed to help address one of the barriers to effective IAS management, which is the lack of information on the presence, impact, and management of invasive animal species in the Caribbean. It is by no means a comprehensive guide, and does not necessarily cover all of the worst species, but is an attempt to highlight the range of alien species present in the region and their impacts."

One of the world's greatest centers of biodiversity

The Caribbean region is one of the world's greatest centers of biodiversity; home to a myriad of species that are found nowhere else on earth. It includes about 11,000 species of plants, of which 72% are endemic or unique to this hotspot.

Endemic vertebrates include all of the 189 species of amphibians present in the Caribbean; 95% of the 520 reptile species; 26% of the 564 bird species; and 74% of the 69 species of mammals, mostly bats. Species endemic to this hotspot represent 2.6% of the world's plant species and 3.5% of the world's vertebrate species.

More information: Arne Witt et al, Guide to the Alien and Invasive Animals of the Caribbean, (2024). DOI: 10.1079/9781800627598.0000

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Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

May 2024 was the warmest May on the books, marking a full year of record-high monthly temperatures, NASA scientists found. Average global temperatures for the past 12 months hit record highs for each respective monthan unprecedented streakaccording to scientists from NASA's Goddard Institute for Space Studies (GISS) in New York.

"It's clear we are facing a climate crisis," said NASA Administrator Bill Nelson. "Communities across Americalike Arizona, California, Nevadaand communities across the globe are feeling first-hand extreme heat in unprecedented numbers. NASA and the Biden-Harris Administration recognize the urgency of protecting our home planet. We are providing critical climate data to better lives and livelihoods, and benefit all humanity."

The run of record temperatures fits within a long-term warming trend driven by human activityprimarily greenhouse gas emissions. The trend has become evident over the past four decades, with the last 10 consecutive years being the warmest 10 since record-keeping began in the late 19th century. Before this streak of 12 straight months of record temperatures, the second longest streak lasted for seven months between 2015 and 2016.

"We're experiencing more hot days, more hot months, more hot years," said Kate Calvin, NASA's chief scientist and senior climate advisor. "We know that these increases in temperature are driven by our greenhouse gas emissions and are impacting people and ecosystems around the world."

In NASA's analysis, a temperature baseline is defined by several decades or moretypically 30 years. The average global temperature over the past 12 months was 2.34 degrees Fahrenheit (1.30 degrees Celsius) above the 20th century baseline (1951 to 1980). This is slightly over the 2.69 degree Fahrenheit (1.5 degree Celsius) level with respect to the late 19th century average.

To calculate Earth's global temperature, NASA scientists gather data from tens of thousands of meteorological stations on land, plus thousands of instruments on ships and buoys on the ocean surface. This raw data is analyzed using methods that account for the varied spacing of temperature stations around the globe and for urban heating effects that could skew the calculations.

This visualization shows monthly global surface temperatures from 1880 to May 2024. The last 12 months (June 2023 through May 2024) hit record highs for each respective month. Download this visualization from NASA Goddards Scientific Visualization Studio: https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/5311 Credit: NASAs Scientific Visualization Studio

El Nino subsiding, La Nina arriving?

Phenomena such as El Nino and La Nina, which alternately warm and cool the tropical Pacific Ocean, can contribute a small amount of variability in global temperatures from year to year. The strong El Nino that began in spring 2023 helped stoke last year's extreme summer and fall heat.

As of May 2024, scientists at the NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) Climate Prediction Center projected a 49% chance of La Nina developing between June and August, and a 69% chance of it developing between July and September. By cooling a large swath of the tropical Pacific, a La Nina event could partially suppress average global temperatures this year.

It's hard to know whether 2024 will set another global heat record. Factors like volcanic eruptions and sun-blocking aerosol emissions can affect our climate in any given year. NASA missions are actively studying these influences, said Gavin Schmidt, director of GISS.

"There are open questions that can impact our predictions over the next few years and decades, and we're in evidence-gathering mode," Schmidt said. "This year may well end up setting another global temperature record. Right now, it's in line to be close to 2023."

Dr. Kate Calvin, NASAs Chief Scientist and Senior Climate Advisor, answers some of the top questions pertaining to these temperature records and our changing climate. Credit: NASAs Goddard Space Flight Center/ Katie Jepson

Ocean temperatures and hurricanes

Scientists are watching to see how ocean temperatures may influence this year's hurricane season. Temperatures remained high as the 2024 hurricane and typhoon seasons got underway.

Across the Northern Hemisphere, ocean temperatures for the January-April period were 2.12 degrees Fahrenheit (1.18 degrees Celsius) above average, according to NOAA. Despite the waning El Nino, temperatures at the sea surface and at deeper depths are still above average in many places, said Josh Willis, an oceanographer at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California.

Willis cited rising carbon dioxide emissions as the main driver of ocean warming. As much as 90% of the excess atmospheric heat in recent decades has been absorbed by the ocean, with much of that heat stored near the water surface.

"The ocean is the flywheel of our climate," Willis said. "Since the ocean covers more than two-thirds of Earth, whatever sea surface temperatures are, the rest of the planet follows."

La Nina years also can contribute to more active Atlantic hurricane seasons. That's because La Nina conditions weaken westerly winds high in the atmosphere near the Americas, over the Caribbean Sea and tropical Atlantic Ocean. Wind shearabrupt changes in wind speed and directioncan cut hurricanes down before they grow. La Nina effectively lifts this brake, allowing tropical storms to form and intensify unimpeded.

NASA's full dataset of global surface temperatures, as well as details of how NASA scientists conducted the analysis, are publicly available from GISS, a NASA laboratory managed by the agency's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland.

Provided by NASA
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The black holes in orbit around each other. Both black holes have jets associated with them: the larger one with reddish colour, and the smaller one with a yellowish colour jet. Normally only the reddish jet is seen, but during the 12 hour period on November 12, 2021, the smaller jet dominated, and gave a direct signal from the smaller black hole, and was observed for the first time. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/R. Hurt (IPAC) & M. Mugrauer (AIU Jena).

Several international research groups have already confirmed the theory that there are two black holes at the center of the distant galaxy OJ 287, first suggested by astronomers at the University of Turku, Finland. A new study shows that satellite observations conducted in 2021 revealed the smaller black hole of the pair for the first time.

In 2021, NASA's exoplanet-hunting satellite was pointed towards the galaxy OJ 287 to help astronomers confirm the theory initially proposed by researchers at the University of Turku, Finland, of two black holes at the center of the galaxy.

The Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) is designed to discover thousands of exoplanets in orbit around the brightest dwarf stars in the sky. TESS is finding planets ranging from small, rocky worlds to giant planets, showcasing the diversity of planets in our galaxy. It has so far found 410 confirmed exoplanets or "new worlds" circling stars other than the sun.

In 2021, TESS spent several weeks studying another kind of system, a far-away galaxy called OJ 287. Researchers have found indirect evidence that a very massive black hole in OJ 287 is orbiting a giant black hole 100-times its size.

To verify the existence of the smaller black hole, TESS monitored the brightness of the primary black hole and the jet associated with it. Direct observation of the smaller black hole orbiting the larger one is very difficult, but its presence was revealed to the researchers by a sudden burst of brightness.

This kind of an event had never been observed in OJ287 before, but researcher Pauli Pihajoki from the University of Turku in Finland predicted the event in his doctoral dissertation already in 2014. According to his dissertation, the next flare was expected to take place in late 2021, and several satellites and telescopes were focused on the object at the time.

The observed burst appears as a sharp flaring of the light curve from satellite observations, showing how an otherwise consistently dim object brightens suddenly and sharply. In the upper corner, the observed flaring is shown in more detail. The amount of light emitted in the burst is equivalent to the brightness of about 100 galaxies. Credit: Kishore et al. 2024

The TESS satellite detected the expected flare on 12 November 2021 at 2 am GMT, and the observations were recently published in a study in The Astrophysical Journal by Shubham Kishore, Alok Gupta (Aryabhatta Research Institute of Observational Sciences, India) and Paul Wiita (The College of New Jersey, U.S.).

The event lasted only 12 hours. This short duration shows that it is very difficult to find a burst of great brightness unless its timing is known in advance. In this case, the Turku researchers' theory proved correct, and TESS was directed at OJ 287 at just the right time. The discovery was also confirmed by NASA's Swift telescope, which was also pointed at the same target.

In addition, a large international collaboration led by Staszek Zola from the Jagiellonian University in Cracow, Poland, detected the same event by using telescopes in different parts of the Earth, so that it was always night time at least at one of the telescope locations throughout the entire day. Moreover, a group from Boston University, U.S., led by Svetlana Jorstad and other observers confirmed the discovery by studying the polarization of light before and after the flare.

In a new study combining all the previous observations, Professor Mauri Valtonen and his research team at the University of Turku have shown that the 12-hour burst of light came from the smaller black hole in orbit and its surroundings. This study was published in The Astrophysical Journal Letters.

The fast burst of brightness occurs when the smaller black hole "swallows" a large slice of the accretion disk surrounding the larger black hole, turning it into an outward jet of gas.

The jet of the smaller black hole is then brighter than that of the larger black hole for about 12 hours. This makes the color of OJ287 less reddish, or yellow, instead of the normal red. After the burst, the red color returns. The yellow color indicates that for the 12-hour period, we are seeing the light from the smaller black hole. The same results can be inferred from other features of the light emitted from OJ287 over the same time period.

"Therefore, we can now say that we have 'seen' an orbiting black hole for the first time, in the same way that we can say that TESS has seen planets orbiting other stars. And just as with planets, it is extremely difficult to get a direct image of the smaller black hole. In fact, because of OJ 287's great distance, which is close to four billion light years, it will probably take a very long time before our observation methods have developed enough to catch a picture even of the larger black hole," says Professor Valtonen.

"However, the smaller black hole may soon reveal its existence in other ways, as it is expected to emit nano-Hertz gravitational waves. The gravitational waves of OJ 287 should be detectable in the coming years by the maturing pulsar timing arrays," says A. Gopakumar from the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research in India.

More information: Mauri J. Valtonen et al, Evidence of Jet Activity from the Secondary Black Hole in the OJ 287 Binary System, The Astrophysical Journal Letters (2024). DOI: 10.3847/2041-8213/ad4d9b Shubham Kishore et al, Rapid Optical Flares in the Blazar OJ 287 on Intraday Timescales with TESS, The Astrophysical Journal (2023). DOI: 10.3847/1538-4357/ad0b80 Journal information: Astrophysical Journal Letters , Astrophysical Journal
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Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

For the most part, Norwegian girls enjoy going to school, whereas boys exhibit a marked dislike of the school setting. One of the problems is that boys experience school as unfair.

SINTEF has been responsible for the Norwegian part of a study that has been looking into how school children in grades four to seven experience their school setting. The study surveyed pupils in Norway, Spain and Poland. Pupils were asked about what they thought about their teachers and fellow pupils, as well as whether or not they enjoyed school and experienced school as fair.

The paper is published in the International Journal of Educational Research Open.

Norwegian boys say that school is unfair

Researchers found that the most significant differences were between the sexes, most noticeably between Norwegian girls and boys.

"For the most part, Norwegian girls enjoy going to school, whereas boys exhibit a marked dislike of the school setting," says Sebastien Muller, who is a Research Scientist at SINTEF Digital. "Norwegian boys' responses are also more variable than those from Poland and Spain," he says.

"The biggest differences are found when they are asked whether they experience school as fair," says Muller. "Norwegian boys experience school as significantly less fair than the girls. It's almost twice as likely that a boy will respond by saying that he believes that school is unfair," he says.

Even though boys in Spain and Poland clearly also view school as more unfair than girls, the tendency is far less pronounced than for Norwegian boys.

Compared with Norwegian girls, Norwegian boys also say that they enjoy school much less (boys' scores are 44% lower). Spanish boys also clearly dislike going to school more than Spanish girls, while in Poland there is no difference between the sexes.

What Norwegian boys think about teachers

Norwegian boys also stand out by exhibiting the most negative perceptions of their teachers. Again, scores here are 44% lower than for girls. Nor are Polish boys overenthusiastic about their teachers, although their Spanish counterparts are not very different from the girls.

When it comes to what pupils think about their fellow pupils, responses from both boys and girls in Poland and Spain were quite similar. But once again, Norwegian boys stand out in exhibiting a marked negative perception of their fellow classmates.

Common to all three countries is that pupils' perception of their school, teachers and fellow pupils deteriorates as they progress through school. Here, Norwegian pupils stand out by exhibiting a slightly more positive tendencytheir levels of dissatisfaction increase less with age than in Poland and Spain.

Worsening after the pandemic

This study was carried out for the first time in the autumn of 2019, just before the COVID-19 pandemic made its presence felt. It was repeated in the autumn of 2020, after the initial global wave of infection. The pandemic clearly had a negative impact on everyone's experience of the school setting, with an approximate 20% reduction in all scores in all surveyed countries.

Researchers were hardly surprised that stringent restrictions and long periods of school closures had a negative impact.

"However, we were surprised to see that the negative impacts were similar in Poland to those in Norway, even though Polish schools were closed for almost twice as many weeks," says Mari Gunnes, who is also a researcher at SINTEF Digital. "This shows that there were many other factors that influenced the impact of pandemic measures on pupils," she says.

In Norwegian primary and lower secondary schools, 75% of teachers are women. Does a teacher's sex play a role in determining pupil satisfaction?

"It looks like it," says Muller. "In our study, we see that boys are more or less just as satisfied, regardless of the sex of their teacher. At the same time, it appears that girls get on better at school with male teachers than with women. There is a 34 percent greater probability that a girl will say that she is more satisfied with school if her teacher is a man. So, if we take the sexes together, we thus see a somewhat greater probability that pupils will enjoy school more if they have a male teacher," he explains. "For a larger proportion of boys, a greater focus on theoretical studies is experienced as being more demanding and less relevant."

School suits girls better

Schools Development Manager Kjetil Ulsrud Lundemoen at Modum municipality has been following implementation of the SINTEF study at five of the municipality's schools. He has his own views as to why boys see the school setting in a poorer light than girls.

"One likely reason is that a much greater proportion of pupils in Norway attend a fully integrated school system," says Lundemoen. "Spain and Poland, in particular, have special schools that take care of pupils with behavioral difficulties. I also believe that for a larger proportion of boys, a greater focus on theoretical studies is experienced as being more demanding and less relevant. It's not that girls don't enjoy practical subjects, but they can 'tolerate' the academic aspects better.

"Fortunately, the pendulum is starting to swing the other way. For example, look at the findings from the evaluation of the Norwegian government's so-called six-year reform, or the grant scheme designed to promote a more practical teaching emphasis, as well as the introduction of new reforms to primary and lower secondary education," he says.

Why are boys' perceptions of unfairness so marked?

"I believe that there is a link here to disciplinary sanctions taken by schools and teachers in response to disruptive behavior and acting out, to which boys are more prone," says Lundemoen. "It's less common for girls to externalize so visibly and physically when they are frustrated. This enables them to be more resilient to their surroundings," he says.

Lundemoen also points out that boys spend a lot of time gaming and less participating in organized activities outside school hours.

"I think that there may be a mismatch between what boys get up to at school and what happens at home," he adds. "Perhaps as parents, we're too skilled at arranging things for them. Boys fail to acquire enough of the social and emotional skills they need to tackle the challenges and resistance they encounter in the school environment," says Lundemoen.

Need for targeted action

The SINTEF researchers conclude their study with a number of proposals.

"Schools must adopt a holistic view if they are to tackle the many factors that contribute towards a pupil's experiences of a poor school setting," says Mari Gunnes. "We also believe that it is appropriate to target measures at certain groups of pupils, focusing especially on boys and pupils of both sexes in the upper grades," she says.

More information: Mari Gunnes et al, School climate during the COVID-19 pandemic in three European countries: A cross-sectional pre-post quasi experimental study, International Journal of Educational Research Open (2024). DOI: 10.1016/j.ijedro.2024.100336
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This schematic shows the difference in length between a PCFG gray whale born in 2020 vs. one born prior to the year 2000. OSU researchers determined that a full-grown PCFG gray whale born in 2020 is expected to reach an adult body length that is 1.65 meters (about 5 feet, 5 inches) shorter than a gray whale born prior to 2000. For PCFG gray whales that grow to be 38-41 feet long at full maturity, that accounts for a loss of more than 13% of their total length. Credit: K.C. Bierlich, OSU Marine Mammal Institute

Gray whales that spend their summers feeding in the shallow waters off the Pacific Northwest coast have undergone a significant decline in body length since around the year 2000, a new Oregon State University study has found.

The smaller size could have major consequences for the health and reproductive success of the affected whales, and also raises alarm bells about the state of the food web in which they coexist, researchers say.

"This could be an early warning sign that the abundance of this population is starting to decline, or is not healthy," said K.C. Bierlich, co-author on the study and an assistant professor at OSU's Marine Mammal Institute in Newport. "And whales are considered ecosystem sentinels, so if the whale population isn't doing well, that might say a lot about the environment itself."

The study, published in Global Change Biology, looked at the Pacific Coast Feeding Group (PCFG), a small subset of about 200 gray whales within the larger Eastern North Pacific (ENP) population of around 14,500. This subgroup stays closer to shore along the Oregon coast, feeding in shallower, warmer waters than the Arctic seas where the bulk of the gray whale population spends most of the year.

Recent studies from OSU have shown that whales in this subgroup are smaller and in overall worse body condition than their ENP counterparts. The current study reveals that they've been getting smaller in recent decades.

The Marine Mammal Institute's Geospatial Ecology of Marine Megafauna (GEMM) Lab has been studying this subgroup of gray whales since 2016, including flying drones over the whales to measure their size. Using images from 2016-2022 of 130 individual whales with known or estimated age, researchers determined that a full-grown gray whale born in 2020 is expected to reach an adult body length that is 1.65 meters (about 5 feet, 5 inches) shorter than a gray whale born prior to 2000. For PCFG gray whales that grow to be 38-41 feet long at full maturity, that accounts for a loss of more than 13% of their total length.

If the same trend were to happen in humans, that would be like the height of the average American woman shrinking from 5 feet, 4 inches to 4 feet, 8 inches tall over the course of 20 years.

"In general, size is critical for animals," said Enrico Pirotta, lead author on the study and a researcher at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland. "It affects their behavior, their physiology, their life history, and it has cascading effects for the animals and for the community they're a part of."

Whale calves that are smaller at weaning age may be unable to cope with the uncertainty that comes with being newly independent, which can affect survival rates, Pirotta said.

Drone image of two gray whales off the Oregon coast. Credit: OSU Marine Mammal Institute

For adult gray whales, one of the biggest concerns is reproductive success.

"With them being smaller, there are questions of how effectively these PCFG gray whales can store and allocate energy toward growing and maintaining their health. Importantly, are they able to put enough energy toward reproduction and keep the population growing?" Bierlich said.

Scarring on PCFG whales from boat strikes and fishing gear entanglement also makes the team concerned that smaller body size with lower energy reserves may make the whales less resilient to injuries.

The study also examined the patterns of the ocean environment that likely regulate food availability for these gray whales off the Pacific coast by tracking cycles of "upwelling" and "relaxation" in the ocean. Upwelling sweeps nutrients from deeper to shallower regions, while relaxation periods then allow those nutrients to remain in shallower areas where light allows for growth of plankton and other tiny organisms, including the prey of gray whales.

"Without a balance between upwelling and relaxation, the ecosystem may not be able to produce enough prey to support the large size of these gray whales," said co-author Leigh Torres, associate professor and director of the GEMM Lab at OSU.

The data show that whale size declined concurrently with changes in the balance between upwelling and relaxation, Pirotta said.

"We haven't looked specifically at how climate change is affecting these patterns, but in general we know that climate change is affecting the oceanography of the Northeast Pacific through changes in wind patterns and water temperature," he said. "And these factors and others affect the dynamics of upwelling and relaxation in the area."

Now that they know the PCFG gray whales' body size is declining, researchers say they have a lot of new questions about downstream consequences of that decline and the factors that could be contributing to it.

"We're heading into our ninth field season studying this PCFG subgroup," Bierlich said. "This is a powerful dataset that allows us to detect changes in body condition each year, so now we're examining the environmental drivers of those changes."

The other co-authors on the paper were Lisa Hildebrand, Clara Bird and Alejandro Ajo at OSU and Leslie New at Ursinus College in Pennsylvania.

More information: Enrico Pirotta et al, Modeling individual growth reveals decreasing gray whale body length and correlations with ocean climate indices at multiple scales, Global Change Biology (2024). DOI: 10.1111/gcb.17366 Journal information: Global Change Biology
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Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

During the 2022 school year, schools banned books more often than ever before in United States history. Katie Spoon, Isabelle Langrock, and colleagues analyzed data from PEN America on 2,532 book bans that occurred during the year, in combination with county-level administrative data, book sales data, and a novel crowd-sourced dataset of author demographic information.

The findings are published in the journal PNAS Nexus.

The research team found that people of color are several times more likely to be the authors of banned books than white authors and that a considerable proportion of banned books, both fictional and historical, feature characters of color.

About 37% of banned books were children's books with diverse characters, including both LGBTQ+ characters and characters of color. A further 22% were non-fiction books about social movements and historical figures.

In contrast, popularly discussed banned books such as young adult queer romance novels only made up a small proportion of banned books. In addition, the authors found that on average banned books do not tend to be particularly popular before bans; nor do bans tend to increase sales by drawing attention to specific contested titles.

The authors also found that the counties most likely to ban books are right-leaning counties that have become less conservative over time than neighboring counties, suggesting that book banning is a largely symbolic tactic to galvanize conservative voters in increasingly competitive electoral districts. According to the authors, contemporary book bans are best understood as a form of political action in contested local contexts.

More information: Marcelo S O Goncalves et al, Book bans in political context: Evidence from US schools, PNAS Nexus (2024). DOI: 10.1093/pnasnexus/pgae197 Journal information: PNAS Nexus

Provided by PNAS Nexus
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Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

Why do politicians lie and deny when they are caught up in political scandal? According to a recent study led by a University of NebraskaLincoln political scientist, the answer may be that their supporters prefer a less-than-credible denial to losing political power and in-group status because of a discredited standard-bearer.

"The driving question of our research is whether people are actually incentivizing politicians to deny wrongdoing and escape accountability," said Pierce Ekstrom, assistant professor of political science at Nebraska.

"Certainly, there's a very strong normand it may be stronger now than it ever has beento stand behind the leader of the party. The more important and more indispensable a politician seems to be to the party, the more committed people are going to be toward defending that politician and seeing that politician defend themself."

Ekstrom is lead author for "On the Defensive: Identity, Language and Partisan Reactions to Political Scandal," published in May in the Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin. Other members of the research team are Marti Hope Gonzales of the University of Minnesota; Allison L. Williams of Beech Acres Parenting Center in Cincinnati, Ohio; Elliot Weiner of the Relay Graduate School of Education in New York City; and Rafael Aguilera of the University of Texas at El Paso.

In private life, it might seem more ethical for a wrongdoer to acknowledge their misdeed and seek forgiveness. Yet thousands of people who participated in three separate experiments since 2013 indicated they would continue to support a politician despite hostile and self-centered denialsparticularly if the politician were a powerful member of their political party.

The study offers insights into why partisans seem to have different standards for different politicians.

"We as citizens should be honest with ourselves about what kind of behaviors we want in our leaders," Ekstrom said. "Before a scandal hits, before we know the details, we should know where we draw the line for people we want to lead the countrybecause we know we're inclined to move the goalposts for politicians from our own party."

In the first experiment, conducted in 2013, 403 participants, both Republicans and Democrats, were recruited through Amazon's Mechanical Turk crowdsourcing marketplace. Each person read one of 18 fabricated news stories describing accusations against "Roger Wimsatt," a fictitious politician.

The stories featured one of three scenarios involving illegal abuse of power: "Wimsatt" used his influence as a senior party official to coerce lawmakers into changing their vote on the Affordable Care Act; "Wimsatt" guided government contracts to businesses with close party ties; or "Wimsatt" ordered surveillance spyware planted in businesses across the country. The stories also rotated "Wimsatt's" political party and his response to the allegation, whether an "aggravating" denial or a "mitigating" apology.

This experiment found that participants responded favorably to "Wimsatt's" denials if they identified with his political party. While an apology did not hurt his standing with party loyalists, it was not as beneficial as a denial. Neither apology nor denial improved his standing with people in the opposing political party.

In a second experiment, in 2014, the researchers sought to better define situations where denials benefit wrongdoers. Using a sample of more than 1,100 people, they found participants were motivated to protect their party's imageand feared their party could not achieve its goals if the politician were discredited.

In this experiment, participants read more fictitious news stories about "Wimsatt." In some, he was described as a highly visible, national party leader, while in others he was a backbencher on a minor committee. In some articles, the scandal was explicitly political, where he was criticized by opposing party members for awarding contracts to party donors. In others, the misconduct was self-serving, where "Wimsatt" steered government contracts to his friends.

As in the first experiment, denials generated more favorable responses from participants who shared the wrongdoer's party affiliation. Compared with saying nothing, politicians who denied wrongdoing were 12% more likely to maintain the support of people from their own party. They were even more likely to maintain support if they were high-status politicians and if their misconduct had partisan motivations.

"It seems that group-related motives specifically influence partisans' susceptibility to aggravating accounts, allowing in-party politicians to 'get away with' hostile explanations for their behavior that would otherwise leave evaluators unmoved," Ekstrom and his colleagues observed in the journal article.

In a third experiment in 2019, nearly 1,800 participants reviewed fictional news stories about "Doug Courser," a fictional state senator from Florida. Participants were provided fictional news stories that accused "Courser" of criminal wrongdoing for personal gaina drunk-driving cover-up, campaign finance fraud or tax evasion.

Some of the fictional news stories described "Courser" as a pivotal vote in a redistricting battle needed for his party to remain in control, while others said he had little influence. In some stories, "Courser" aggressively denied the allegations as "a desperate and disgusting attempt to smear his name." In others, "Courser" acknowledged wrongdoing, saying "words could not express his regret."

Again, the experiment showed denials consistently improved participants' reactions to politicians from their own partybut only politicians from their own partywhether "Courser" was accused of drunk driving, embezzlement or cheating on his taxes.

"These results suggest that partisans are content for their leaders to deny misconduct specifically when they need those leaders to further party goals," the researchers wrote. "In sum, both weak and strong partisans in our study responded favorably to party leaders who assured them that they were not crooksbut only to the extent that their party needed that particular leader, crooked or not."

More information: Pierce D. Ekstrom et al, On the Defensive: Identity, Language, and Partisan Reactions to Political Scandal, Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin (2024). DOI: 10.1177/01461672241247084 Journal information: Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin
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Photo of fossil fish from Mafra. Brazil.CP 065. Credit: Rodrigo Tinoco Figueroa, University of Michigan

Fossils in Brazil indicate a more complex evolutionary history for ray-finned fish brains than previously anticipated, according to new research.

Rodrigo Tinoco Figueroa, a Brazilian doctoral student at the University of Michigan, and colleagues not only found well-preserved brains in late Paleozoic ray-finned fishes, they also discovered other soft tissuessuch as fragments of the heart and eyes, meninges and gill filamentsa rarity in paleontology due to the scarcity of the fossil record.

"These fossils not only show extensive preservation of soft tissue but also provide a glimpse into the evolution of the brain of fish that lived more than 290 million years ago," Figueroa said. "Fossils like this are the only way we can get direct evidence of soft tissue elements from the past. Such information often breaks our expectations about living species."

Figueroa is the lead author of the study published in the journal Current Biology. The work is part of his dissertation under paleontologist Matt Friedman in the U-M Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences.

Figueroa said of all the specimens, one called CP 065 is the most surprising.

"In addition to being the first specimen in which I noticed an everted brain, it is also one of the best-preserved fossils I have ever seen," he said.

"Imagine a fossil more than 290 million years old that preserves the brain and its cranial nerves, the delicate meninges that support the brain inside the cranial cavity, gill filaments, fragments of blood vessels, parts of the heart and possibly skeletal muscles. It is certainly a unique find. Specimens like this are the best way to bring paleontology closer to biology and vice versa."

Figueroa works with CT scans of fossil ray-finned fish skulls, including these specimens he brought to Michigan on loan from the Paleontological Center of the University of Contestado in Mafra, Santa Catarina, Brazil.

"Using micro-CT of fossils and contrast-enhanced micro-CT of extant species provides us with new three-dimensional data that can go beyond the results provided in this paper, with the addition of new fossils and new comparative material from extant species," Figueroa said.

Figueroa undergoes tomography at the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, U-M. Credit: Rodrigo Tinoco Figueroa, University of Michigan

In this study, Figueroa scanned eight specimens from Mafra and found some degree of soft tissue fossilization in all of them. In most cases, the brain was preserved in detail, showing morphology similar to that of Coccocephalus, found in previous research.

"After a more detailed examination of all these brains and the associated osteology of the specimens, I was able to determine that there were two distinct species," he said. "Considering their bone morphology, one seemed closely related to younger fossils, closer to the group that includes all 35,000 living species of ray-finned fish."

According to Figueroa, these two taxa show different brain morphology.

"This gives us the first evidence of an everted telencephalon in a fossil ray-finned fish," he said. "This is found in some specimens, while Coccocephalus, from last year's work, shows the contrasting condition that we call an evaginated telencephalon."

The Brazilian researcher said the specimens also preserve detailed evidence of meningeal tissues, such as the membranous tissue supporting the brain inside the head and eyesincluding lensessclera, muscles and retinal tissue.

"Although, at the moment, they are not sufficient to provide a clear picture of the evolution of these structures, they are an indication that such extensive preservation of soft tissues is possible," Figueroa said. "I believe many more discoveries could emerge in the coming years."

The study is the culmination of five years of research. After discovering the oldest vertebrate fossil brain in 2023, Figueroa wanted to better understand other possible instances of soft tissue preservation in fossils and how much information this type of preservation can provide.

"I still remember the first time I looked at the scan of one of the specimens," he said.

"I was excited just seeing all the details preserved in the bones and then realized there was more. It was an eye in almost pristine condition. From that moment on, it was an adventure to find more and more preserved soft tissue and compare it to living fish. It's amazing how much these specimens preserve."

More information: Rodrigo T. Figueroa et al, Soft-tissue fossilization illuminates the stepwise evolution of the ray-finned fish brain, Current Biology (2024). DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2024.05.027 Journal information: Current Biology
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Artist reconstruction of the life of CHO001, a long-distance trader analyzed in this study who suffered from malaria and was buried at the site of Chokhopani, Nepal, ca 800 BCE. The foreground depicts rich agricultural fields in the province of Lumbini, a lowland region afflicted with endemic malaria until the 21st century. Villagers caring for people suffering from malaria fevers are depicted neighboring the fields. The region is made fertile by the waters of the Kali Gandaki River, one of Nepal's largest rivers and a tributary of the Ganges. Its headwaters lie in the northern Mustang region of Nepal, where it is fed by meltwater from the Himalayan mountains. The river's course has long served as an ancient trade route in Nepal, providing passage through the mountainous Mustang region and access to the Kora La pass, the lowest and only route passable year-round through the Himalaya mountains to the Tibetan Plateau. Along the way, villages such as Chokhopani, supplied the traders who seasonally made this dangerous journey to move goods between the lowlands of South Asia and the Tibetan plateau at the roof of the world. Chokhopani is depicted in the upper right, nestled among the cliffs in which CHO001's tomb was found, and tucked among a grove of apricot trees, whose archaeobotanical remains were identified at a nearby site. In the middle of the painting, CHO001 is depicted carrying trade goods with his family and traveling up well-worn paths towards the Kora La pass. He is surrounded by fires symbolizing the cyclical malaria fevers he is experiencing after having contracted Plasmodium falciparum at low elevation. Original artwork by Purna Lama, Boudha Stupa Thanka Centre, Kathmandu, Nepal. Credit: Purna Lama, Boudha Stupa Thanka Centre, Kathmandu, Nepal

In a study appearing in Nature, an international team of researchers led by the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology in Leipzig, Germany, reconstructed the evolutionary history and global spread of malaria over the past 5,500 years, identifying trade, warfare, and colonialism as major catalysts for its dispersal.

Malaria, one of the world's deadliest infectious diseases, is caused by several species of single-celled parasites that are transmitted via the bite of infected Anopheles mosquitoes. Despite major control and eradication efforts, nearly half of the world's population still lives in regions where they are at risk of contracting malaria, and the World Health Organization estimates that malaria causes nearly 250 million infections and more than 600,000 deaths each year.

Beyond this massive modern impact, malaria has strongly shaped our human evolutionary history.

"Although largely a tropical disease today, only a century ago the pathogen's range covered half the world's land surface, including parts of the northern U.S., southern Canada, Scandinavia, and Siberia," says lead author Megan Michel, a doctoral researcher at the Max Planck-Harvard Research Center for the a research collaboration between the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology (MPI-EVA) and the Initiative for the Science of the Human Past at Harvard University.

"Malaria's legacy is written in our very genomes: genetic variants responsible for devastating blood disorders such as sickle cell disease are thought to persist in human populations because they confer partial resistance to malaria infection."

Despite this evolutionary impact, the origins and spread of the two deadliest species of malaria parasites, Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax, remain shrouded in mystery.

Malaria infections leave no clear visible traces in human skeletal remains, and scant references in historical texts can be difficult to decipher. However, recent advances in the ancient DNA field have revealed that human teeth can preserve traces of pathogens present in a person's blood at the time of death, providing an opportunity to study illnesses that are normally invisible in the archaeological record.

Present-day traders and travelers in the Upper Mustang region of Nepal. Credit: Christina Warinner

To explore malaria's enigmatic history, an international team of researchers representing 80 institutions and 21 countries reconstructed ancient Plasmodium genome-wide data from 36 malaria-infected individuals spanning 5,500 years of human history on five continents.

These ancient malaria cases provide an unprecedented opportunity to reconstruct the worldwide spread of malaria and its historical impact at global, regional, and even individual scales.

Following biomolecular breadcrumbs in the Americas

Malaria is endemic in tropical regions of the Americas today, and scientists have long debated whether P. vivax, a malaria species adapted to survive in temperate climates, may have arrived via the Bering Strait with the peopling of the continent or traveled in the wake of European colonization.

To track the parasites' journey into the Americas, the team analyzed ancient DNA from a malaria-infected individual from Laguna de los Condores, a high-altitude site situated in the remote cloud forests of the eastern Peruvian Andes.

Genomic analysis revealed remarkable similarity between the Laguna de los Condores P. vivax strain and ancient European P. vivax, strongly suggesting that European colonizers spread this species to the Americas within the first century or so after contact.

"Amplified by the effects of warfare, enslavement, and population displacement, infectious diseases, including malaria, devastated Indigenous peoples of the Americas during the colonial period, with mortality rates as high as 90% in some places," says co-author Evelyn Guevara, a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Helsinki and the MPI-EVA.

Remarkably, the team also uncovered genetic links between the Laguna de los Condores strain and modern Peruvian P. vivax populations 400 to 500 years later.

"In addition to showing that malaria spread rapidly into what is a relatively remote region today, our data suggest that the pathogen thrived there, establishing an endemic focus and giving rise to parasites that are still infecting people in Peru today," says co-author Eirini Skourtanioti, postdoctoral researcher at MPI-EVA and MHAAM.

Ancient tombs are visible throughout the Upper Mustang region of Nepal. Credit: Christina Warinner

Malaria on the march in Europe

While the role of colonialism in the spread of malaria is evident in the Americas, the team uncovered military activities that shaped the regional spread of malaria on the other side of the Atlantic. The cemetery at the Gothic cathedral of St. Rombout's in Mechelen, Belgium was located adjacent to the first permanent military hospital (15671715 CE) in early modern Europe.

Ancient human and pathogen DNA identified local cases of P. vivax among the general population buried before the construction of the military hospital, while individuals buried after its construction included cases of the more virulent P. falciparum malaria.

"Most interestingly, we observe more cases of malaria in non-local male individuals from the military hospital period," explains co-author Federica Pierini, postdoctoral researcher at the MPI-EVA.

"We also identified several individuals infected with P. falciparum, a species that thrived in Mediterranean climates before eradication but was not thought to be endemic north of the Alps during this period."

These virulent cases were found in non-local male individuals of diverse Mediterranean origins, who were likely soldiers recruited from northern Italy, Spain, and other Mediterranean regions to fight in the Hapsburg Army of Flanders during the 80 Years' War.

"We find that the large-scale troop movements played an important role in the spread of malaria during this period, similar to cases of so-called airport malaria in temperate Europe today," explains Alexander Herbig, Group Leader of Computational Pathogenomics at the MPI-EVA.

"In our globalized world, infected travelers carry Plasmodium parasites back to regions where malaria is now eradicated, and mosquitoes capable of transmitting these parasites can even lead to cases of ongoing local transmission. Although the landscape of malaria infection in Europe is radically different today than it was 500 years ago, we see parallels in the ways in which human mobility shapes malaria risk."

Upper Mustang region of Nepal. Credit: Christina Warinner

Himalayan trade and a surprising high-altitude infection

On the other side of the world, the team unexpectedly identified the earliest known case of P. falciparum malaria at the high Himalayan site of Chokhopani (ca. 800 BCE), located along the Kali Gandaki River Valley in the Mustang District of Nepal. At 2800 meters above sea level, the site lies far outside the habitat range for both the malaria parasite and the Anopheles mosquito.

"The region surrounding Chokhopani is cold and quite dry," said co-author Christina Warinner, Associate Professor of Anthropology at Harvard University and Group Leader at the MPI-EVA. "Neither the parasite nor the mosquitoes capable of transmitting malaria can survive at this altitude. For us, this raised a key question: how did the Chokhopani individual acquire the malaria infection that may have ultimately led to his death?"

Human genetic analysis revealed that the infected individual was a local male with genetic adaptations for life at high altitude. However, archaeological evidence at Chokhopani and other nearby sites suggests that these Himalayan populations were actively engaged in long-distance trade.

"We think of these regions today as remote and inaccessible, but in fact the Kali Gandaki River Valley served as a kind of trans-Himalayan highway connecting people on the Tibetan Plateau with the Indian subcontinent," says co-author Mark Aldenderfer, Distinguished Professor Emeritus at the University of California, Merced, whose excavations in the region have revealed its long-distance trade connections.

"Copper artifacts recovered from Chokhopani's burial chambers prove that the ancient inhabitants of Mustang were part of larger exchange networks that included northern India, and you don't have to travel very far to reach the low-lying, poorly drained regions of the Nepalese and Indian Terai where malaria is endemic today."

The team believes that the man likely traveled to a lower-altitude malaria-endemic region, possibly for trade or other purposes, before returning or being brought back to Chokhopani, where he was later buried. The intimate details revealed by ancient DNA give clues to the myriad ways that infectious diseases like malaria spread in the past, giving rise to our current disease landscape.

Past and future of a dynamic disease

Today, the human experience of malaria is at a crossroads. Thanks to advances in mosquito control and concerted public health campaigns, malaria deaths reached an all-time low in the 2010s. However, the emergence of antimalarial drug-resistant parasites and insecticide-resistant vectors threatens to reverse decades of progress, while climate change and environmental destruction are making new regions vulnerable to malaria vector species. The team hopes that ancient DNA may provide an additional tool for understanding and even combating this public health threat.

"For the first time, we are able to explore the ancient diversity of parasites from regions like Europe, where malaria is now eradicated," says senior author Johannes Krause, Director of Archaeogenetics at the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology.

"We see how mobility and population displacement spread malaria in the past, just as modern globalization makes malaria-free countries and regions vulnerable to reintroduction today. We hope that studying ancient diseases like malaria will provide a new window into understanding these organisms that continue to shape the world we live in today."

More information: Megan Michel, Ancient Plasmodium genomes shed light on the history of human malaria, Nature (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41586-024-07546-2. www.nature.com/articles/s41586-024-07546-2 Journal information: Nature
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Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

While social media platforms are rife with problemsfrom harassment to misinformationmany argue that the platforms also nurture political movements, such as the Arab Spring and #MeToo.

But in her new book "Log Off: Why Posting and Politics (Almost) Never Mix," Katherine Cross, a University of Washington doctoral student in the Information School, argues that social media may not have much political value. Focused on movements on the political left, Cross looks at how platforms like X and Facebook might bring attention to political causes, yet they do little to cultivate lasting change.

"The idea that tech is political," Cross writes, "sometimes obscures the ways in which social media may be anti-political."

UW News spoke with Cross about the book and why people simply logging offspending less time on social media platformsmay be the best solution.

Your core argument is that social media platforms are fundamentally "anti-political." Can you explain what you mean by that and why that is?

Katherine Cross: A wave of techno-optimism washed over us in the mid-to-late 2000s, which coincided with the rise of Web 2.0 and contemporary social media. These new platforms no longer siloed you in forums or chat rooms. Instead, you were suddenly able to sort of tap a digital microphone and speak to the whole world at once, with no barriers. That made crowdsourcing a reality.

We started to see major, leaderless protests in Iran, in Central Asia, in Ukraine, in the nation of Georgia. We saw people going out onto the streets, organized in many ways by simply reading social media posts. It seemed almost like magic, like we had bypassed the old power networks and hierarchies of governments and big businesses and unions. This seemed to change the course of history when movements like the Arab Spring protests toppled governments.

But many of my own experiences in online activism made me begin asking what happens next. As I followed up on a lot of these protests, after the cameras went away, there seemed to be little durable change. Yes, governments fell. But the next generation of rulers that stepped in were the same sort of oligarchs as before. Does anyone really believe that Egypt's current president is substantially ideologically different from Hosni Mubarak?

That's the unfortunate story of a lot of these internet-fired movements. #MeToo is another examplethe changes were considerably less durable than we had hoped. Time and again, people fixate on moments of individual justice, and they hope that those episodes stand in for collective, structural changes that are more significant and durable. The prosecution of Harvey Weinstein, for instance, was a doubtlessly an accomplishment of the #MeToo movement. Yet even that is being undone.

Crowdsourcing on social media gives the illusion of collective action and power, but it lacks the ability to direct the mass of people towards any kind of sustainable collective goal. You might be able to change one person, but you cannot actually change the world because crowdsourcing is not sustainable organization, and it cannot direct political power.

Do you see the same anti-political patterns playing out in right-wing movements?

I do. Social media compels a fixation on the symbolic, on the gestural, on points of language and aestheticsthings that are much easier to debate on social media than matters of greater substance. The things we see catch fire are less nuanced policy debates and more like the nonsense that flared up around Dylan Mulvaney accepting that very brief sponsorship from Bud Light. The unbelievable hate directed against her was in many ways readymade for social media, because it was purely gestural and aesthetic.

"I don't like this person because she's trans. Let's debate whether she's a woman, let's debate whether she fits into Bud Light's core demographic, and then let's ruthlessly pile on to her and anyone who defends her and attack the company to demandwhat?" Something nebulous, some vibe.

If you want to attack and try to destroy a person, or to be bigoted against a community by singling out a member of that community for abuse, social media is your best ally in that cause. And yet, those on the right also have their own collectivist visions. Some of them dream of a new Reich or perhaps they dream of Gilead. But they're not going to get those things through social media posting.

You argue also that the new, decentralized social media platforms like Mastodon and Bluesky aren't a solution to this broken model that Twitter made popular. What problems do you see with the new platforms and their attempts to fix the trouble with Twitter?

The problem with a platform like Mastodon is that Twitter's culture persiststhe callouts, the cliquishness, the harassment campaigns, the prejudice. There are some additional speed bumps in the way of harassment, for instance, but Mastodon really just replicates a lot of the drama-mongering that Twitter became infamous for. I was on a trans-woman-led Mastodon, and it became subject to a lot of vicious drama from outside that led to the destruction of the server.

Bluesky is even more like Twitter, because even though it can be decentralized into various servers, almost everyone is still on bluesky.social, the primary server. So the experience is very similar to the firehose of content that you got on Twitter. It does overall have less prejudicefar fewer Nazis, which is wonderful.

Certain marginalized communities have built a new home there. People are now able to create their own servers. That should lead to the full decentralization of the platform, making it less vulnerable to, say, a billionaire takeover, which is all for the good.

But I don't know that we are going to solve the bigger problems using anything that even remotely resembles a Web 2.0 platform. I've started posting less on Bluesky, because I realized I was going back to this old place where I'm angry all the time and starting arguments with people.

Instead, I've started focusing on talking to the people that I've met there off the platform or just responding to the posts that I can be pleasant to. But social media is meant to lull you into acting almost automatically, so the fact that you still have to consciously resist indicates that not too much has changed here yet.

That brings us to the title of the book"Log Off." Can you explain why you arrived at that prescription?

Every time I've felt my perspective shifting for the better, it has come from spending less time on social media and more time reimmersing myself in my community. I also recognized that those of us who were privileged enough to be able to work from home throughout much of the pandemic ended up spending even more time on social mediathe effects of which were resolutely negative.

I saw people go down these rabbit holes of political radicalization and paranoia. I thought, "I know you in person, this isn't you." But they'd migrated much of their social life onto a platform that rewards this new, more toxic, hair-trigger self.

In preliminary research for my dissertation, several public health experts have told me that Twitter polarized their profession during the pandemic along lines drawn by social media. Historically, their discourse would have been good-faith, behind-the-scenes disagreements about things like transmission mechanisms.

But during the pandemic, some of these researchers gained huge followings, and suddenly they had to please people who were expecting them to take a side. That made it harder for those experts to tell the truth as they saw it, or to adapt what they were saying to new evidence. Public health experts hoped to use Twitter to hold a free, graduate-level seminar for the world.

But instead, suddenly, there were massive camps of fandom in the general public with signs and slogans and half-baked understandings of the minutiae of those academic disputes. So Twitter beefs began getting litigated in the physical world at conferences and universities.

All of this made me think the most effective solution that an individual can take is to spend less time on social media. Ask yourself very seriously, "If I'm trying to use the platform for some political purpose, will it help achieve my goal? And how?" If you can't answer that question, in the affirmative, with details, then you should log off and find a different approach.

Is there anything you want to add?

Social media provides a lot of momentary, individual emotional satisfaction, and it's easy to mistake that for politics. These platforms encourage that individualization. Yes, you are the product, as the cliche goes, but you're also this solitary unit being served. When that happens, you start wanting to satisfy your emotional needs over everything else.

A lot of internet discourse about politics is about venting, the desire to feel heard. It's very therapeutic. But while that may have some value, in a limited sense, it is deeply antithetical to real politics, because politics is never truly about the individual: It's about the collective, the polity. But social media's prioritizing of individual emotion is anathema to real organizing.
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Using a microscopy image and graphic rendering, the artists illustrate a minimal synthetic cell that can sense a directional chemical cue and self-organize in response. Credit: Inoue Lab at Johns Hopkins Medical Institute, created by Shiva Razavi and Turhan Pathan

In a feat aimed at understanding how cells move and creating new ways to shuttle drugs through the body, scientists at Johns Hopkins Medicine say they have built a minimal synthetic cell that follows an external chemical cue and demonstrates a governing principle of biology called "symmetry breaking."

The findings are published June 12 in Science Advances.

A step that precedes the movement of a cell, symmetry breaking, happens when a cell's molecules, which are initially arranged symmetrically, reorganize into an asymmetric pattern or shape, usually in response to stimuli. This is similar to how migrating birds break symmetry when they shift into a new formation in response to an environmental compass like sunlight or landmarks. On a microscopic level, immune cells sense chemical signals concentrated at an infection site and break symmetry to traverse a blood vessel wall to reach the infected tissue. As cells break symmetry, they transform into polarized and asymmetric structures that prepare them to move toward their target.

"The notion of symmetry breaking is crucial to life, impacting fields as diverse as biology, physics and cosmology," says Shiva Razavi, Ph.D., who led the research as a graduate student at Johns Hopkins and is now a postdoctoral fellow at Massachusetts Institute of Technology. "Understanding how symmetry breaking works is key to unlocking the fundamentals of biology and discovering how to harness this information to devise therapeutics."

Finding ways to mimic and control symmetry breaking in synthetic cells has long been considered essential for understanding how cells can survey their chemical environment and rearrange their chemical profile and shape in response.

For this study scientists created a giant vesicle with a double-layered membrane a bare-bones, simplified synthetic cell or protocell made of phospholipids, purified proteins, salts and ATP that provides energy. With its spherical shape, the protocell is nicknamed "the bubble." In their experiments, the scientists successfully engineered the protocell with a chemical-sensing ability that prompts the cell to break symmetry, changing from a nearly perfect sphere to an uneven shape. The system was specifically designed to mimic the first step in an immune response, able to signal for neutrophils to attack germs based on proteins they sense around them, the researchers say.

"Our study demonstrates how a cell-like entity can sense the direction of an external chemical cue, mimicking the conditions you would find in a living organism," Razavi says. "By building a cell-like structure from scratch, we can better identify and understand the essential components required for a cell to break symmetry in its most simplified form."

One day chemical sensing could be used for targeted drug delivery within the body, the scientists say.

"The idea is that you can package anything you want into these bubblesprotein, RNA, DNA, dyes or small moleculestell the cell where to go using chemical sensing, and then have the cell burst near its intended target so that a drug can be released," says senior author Takanari Inoue, Ph.D., professor of cell biology and director of the Center for Cell Dynamics at Johns Hopkins Medicine.

To activate the vesicle's chemical-sensing ability, researchers planted two proteins that act as molecular switchescalled FKBP and FRBwithin the synthetic cell. The protein FKBP was placed in the center of the cell, while FRB was planted on the membrane. When the scientists introduced a chemicalrapamycinoutside of the bubble cell, FKBP moved to the membrane to bind with FRB, triggering a process called actin polymerization, or a reorganization of the synthetic cell's skeleton.

Inside the protocell, the chemical reaction resulted in a rod-like structure made up of actin that put pressure on the cell membrane, bending it.

The researchers used a specialized type of rapid 3D imaging called confocal microscopy to record the protocell's chemical-sensing ability; they had to record images quickly, at a rate of one frame per every 15 to 30 seconds, as the protocells responded quickly to the chemical signal.

Up next, the researchers aim to equip these synthetic cells with the ability to move toward a desired target. Ultimately, researchers hope to engineer synthetic cells that could have significant potential applications in targeted drug delivery, environmental sensing and other areas where precise movement and response to stimuli are crucial.

Other scientists who contributed to this research include Bedri Abubaker-Sharif, Hideaki T. Matsubayashi, Hideki Nakamura, Nhung Thi Hong Nguyen, Douglas N. Robinson, and Pablo A. Iglesias of Johns Hopkins; Felix Wong from Massachusetts Institute of Technology; and Baoyu Chen of Iowa State University.

More information: Shiva Razavi et al, Synthetic control of actin polymerization and symmetry breaking in active protocells, Science Advances (2024). DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adk9731. www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.adk9731 Journal information: Science Advances
EGG HARBOR TOWNSHIP  The second building in the National Aerospace Research & Technology Park will be dedicated to aerospace innovation, state and local officials said Tuesday.

The $18.5 million Aerospace Innovation Center will provide state-of-the-art aerospace research spaces, high-speed connectivity to the FAA William J. Hughes Center for Advanced Aerospace data systems and laboratories, and co-working and studio spaces, Gov. Phil Murphy said in a news release.

Since taking office, it has been my goal to ensure New Jersey is at the forefront of innovation and technology development, including aerospace engineering, Murphy said. As the states fifth Strategic Innovation Center, the Aerospace Innovation Center will give budding students and entrepreneurs access to state-of-the-art equipment and opportunities to collaborate with experts in the field. This exciting venture solidifies New Jersey as the place to be when it comes to innovation and research.

The New Jersey Economic Development Authority and Atlantic County Improvement Authority have signed a non-binding letter of intent to plan, develop, construct and manage the innovation hub. The ACIA will contribute $10.5 million to building the innovation center, while the NJEDA will invest $8 million.

Construction began in October 2023 and is expected to be completed in October 2025. The center is expected to be fully operational by January 2026.

During a groundbreaking ceremony last year, officials said the building would be 40,000 square feet and designed for workforces with some work-from-home employees, reflecting post-COVID realities.

Atlantic County Economic Alliance prepares for big projects in, around airport If all goes well for companies working with the Atlantic County Economic Alliance, there will soon be hotels, youth sporting facilities and a bustling cargo operation in and around Atlantic City International Airport.

Additional development is planned around the sprawling property that includes the Hughes Center, the NARTP and Atlantic City International Airport, including a 111-room hotel planned by Schoffer Enterprises. Industrial Realty Group is working to develop a pharmaceutical-grade air cargo facility at the airport.

The NARTP was envisioned as a seven-building campus. The first building went up in 2019 and is fully occupied. Tenants include General Dynamics Info Tech., Woolpert Engineering, Signature Scientific and an FAA remote lab, according to the state.

Governor Murphy is committed to growing New Jerseys innovation economy by investing in diverse industries and providing entrepreneurs with access to the resources needed to grow and scale their business, said NJEDA CEO Tim Sullivan. Powered by NJEDAs Strategic Innovation Center program, and paired with Atlantic Countys deep roots in aerospace, the Aerospace Innovation Center will drive the creation of new technologies that in turn will create jobs and support long-term, sustainable economic growth across the state.

The center intends to partner with institutions of higher education, including Stockton University, Rowan University and Rutgers School of Engineering, as well as aeronautical institutions such as Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and the National Institute of Aerospace, offering aerospace students hands-on experience, the state said.

For years, we have talked about the need to diversify our economy in Atlantic County and this initiative finally brings about opportunities in aerospace and aviation which are needed, said state Sen. Vince Polistina, R-Atlantic. Im excited to continue to work with the administration on these initiatives and I look forward to the increased collaboration and the new jobs immediately being created here, in Atlantic County, following the completion of this agreement.

Strategic Innovation Centers are facilities that support research and development, innovation and entrepreneurship through mentorship, networking opportunities, hands-on training, business support services and education opportunities, according to the state.

GALLERY: Groundbreaking of second NARTP building in Egg Harbor Township
Part of the Jersey Shores teen problem is about perception, state Sen. Michael Testa, R-Cape May, Cumberland, Atlantic, said Wednesday during a virtual hearing on the issue. But perception can shape reality.

Officials from Ocean City, Wildwood and Long Branch, Monmouth County, joined Republican lawmakers for the event, which was streamed on social media. Testa said repeatedly during the hearing that he does not see the problem, or the solution, in partisan terms, but at the same time cited Democratic initiatives as contributing to the problem while saying Republican bills remain hung up in committees without moving forward.

I implore the other side of the aisle to listen, Testa said, and to move some of the legislation that Republicans have brought forward. Citizens are demanding safety, he said.

Many of the issues raised will seem intimately familiar to anyone following news out of shore communities over the past several summers, with large crowds of juveniles accused of disrupting beach communities and local officials decrying a lack of respect for police and other authorities.

Ocean City Councilman Jody Levchuk, who also owns businesses on the Boardwalk, participated in the hearing along with Wildwood Mayor Ernie Troiano Jr. and William Braughton, the public safety director for Long Branch. Ocean City Community Services Director Michael Allegretto sat in for Mayor Jay Gillian, while police chiefs Bill Campbell of Ocean City and Joseph Murphy of Wildwood spoke in the second hour. Cape May County Sheriff Bob Nolan was also set to speak but was called away.

Each told a similar story, that juvenile justice reforms have gone too far, and that combined with current disrespectful attitudes toward police, a lack of consequences at home and the expanding influence of social media, many of those under 18 feel few restraints on their behavior.

These kids have little to no respect for anyone, Troiano said. No respect for themselves, no respect for their friends, no respect for the police, officials, adults. Just a total lack of respect for any form of authority.

Communities feel like they cannot enforce the law, Troiano said.

Both Wildwood and Ocean City reported significant problems with teens on their boardwalks over Memorial Day weekend, including multiple fights. In Ocean City, that included a 15-year-old being stabbed, while Wildwood declared a state of emergency and closed the Boardwalk.

The stabbed teen is expected to recover, and charges have been filed against another juvenile.

While the issues and their coverage have intensified since the COVID-19 pandemic, after which many attributed the boisterous gatherings to so many young people being isolated for so long, similar complaints were common in the 1990s in many beach towns, and there have been waves of concern about juvenile delinquency in each decade since the 1960s.

At one point, Troiano mentioned a fight between students at parochial schools in Philadelphia that took place on the Wildwood Boardwalk, and Assemblyman Antwan McClellan, R-Cape May, Cumberland, Atlantic, mentioned local teens in Ocean City behaving poorly when he was young, although he used it to illustrate the respect for law enforcement at the time.

When we were younger, we would run from the police, he said.

McClellan was joined by fellow 1st District Republican Erik Simonsen, while 2nd District Assembly members Claire Swift and Don Guardian, both R-Atlantic, were also in attendance.

There was no immediate response from Senate Republicans to an emailed question as to whether any Democrats were invited, and there was no immediate response to a request for comment from Gov. Phil Murphys office or from the office of Senate President Nicholas Scutari.

Wildwood and Ocean City officials maintained their communities remain safe.

WATCH LIVE: Testa holding hearing on safety at the shore 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.

Levchuk described the stabbing as a significant incident but also indicated it had been blown out of proportion in the media, calling it a one-off.

Nobodys going to get stabbed today. Nobodys going to get mugged today on our Boardwalk, Levchuk said. Its wildly safe; we just have a teenager problem. It needs to be addressed.

Testa said the severity of the concerns is a matter of perception but added that perception has a way of becoming a reality. Several times, he mentioned tourism as a multibillion-dollar industry and the economic driver for shore communities. Shore towns are seen as clean and safe, but if that perception changes, it would be tough to get back, Testa and other speakers said.

Some businesses have reported visitors canceling trips out of concern for safety, or for the safety of their teenage children.

Towns also are having trouble recruiting new officers. Troiano said Wildwood would usually significantly increase its staff of Class II officers, who have police training but are not full-time officers, but this year there are few applicants.

He said the city wanted 40 or 50 but will end up with seven.

Several of the speakers cited movements to defund the police and demonstrations held in 2020 as discouraging young people from pursuing careers in law enforcement and demoralizing the current officers.

Locally, and nationally, large crowds demonstrated against police brutality in 2020 as part of the Black Lives Matter movement, sparked by the murder of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer. Several officers have faced charges, lawsuits or discipline in that incident, while former officer Derek Chauvin was sentenced to more than 20 years in prison for murder.

Wildwood expected to introduce new backpack limits on the Boardwalk New limits to the possession of backpacks on the beach and Boardwalk could be in the works, under an ordinance on the agenda for Wildwoods Board of Commissioners meeting at 5 p.m. Wednesday at City Hall, 4400 New Jersey Ave.

Testa said police have been unfairly demonized, and several of the speakers said crowds of teens have been hostile to uniformed officers.

Wildwood has looked to the Cape May County Sheriffs Office for additional support on weekends, and Troiano had praise for Murphy, saying the governor had been in contact and has arranged for State Police help for Wildwood.

Braughton said officials also need to look to social media, where pop-up parties that can draw hundreds of teens are organized without accountability or local coordination. He suggested laws pushing social media companies to release identifying information on the organizers, and for legal consequences for those people.

Chief Murphy in Wildwood said police carefully monitor social media for such events, especially after an unauthorized car rally turned deadly in 2022. In fact, on Wednesday, Wildwood police reported preemptively shutting down a pop-up party allegedly planned for this weekend.

Ocean City Chief Campbell said parents must face also consequences.

The entire juvenile justice system needs to be reformed, he said.
WHAT WE KNOW: Colona was approved to receive a $300,000 state grant for seven of its eight parks through the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity. State Sen. Mike Halpin announced the grant's award in January.

WHAT'S NEW: The council on Monday voted 6-1 to spend $70,000 from general fund cash for necessary park improvements without waiting for the grant money to arrive. Ald. Mick Painter, 3rd Ward, was the lone "no" vote.

Painter said he spoke with Halpin last week and was assured that the money was coming.

Efforts that the $70,000 will support include spreading rock in parking areas, placing sand underneath playground equipment, installing ball diamond sand, painting, building repairs, tree clearing on the canal and weed killer. Projects that the aldermen decided to wait on include a backstop netting at Timbrook Field, various fence repairs and a pickleball court.

WHAT'S NEXT: A motion to authorize the mayor to enter a professional service and claim communication agreement with Burrage Roofing Construction and Restoration failed with four "no" votes from Amanda Stablein, 1st Ward; Sarah Lack, 2nd Ward; Mick Painter, 3rd Ward and Debara Shady-Dahl, 4th Ward.

Scott Keller with Burrage told the council a number of city facility roofs sustained damage from 1-1/2" hail in two storms on Feb. 27 and March 4. He said a plastic roof over the pool at Colona's Scott Family Park had roughly 100 holes in it. Stablein said she would like more information about the scope of the work.

Attorney Jeff Wright said the issue could be brought back up at the next council meeting. Painter also mentioned a possible special city council meeting Tuesday to discuss the Chestnut Drive extension project which Mayor Donald Ropp canceled; Painter was told by Wright that there needs to be 48 hours notice prior to a special meeting, which Wright said could be called by any three aldermen.

Colona was going to use a $336,044 Rebuild Illinois grant for the work. Stablein had noted the city would have to repay the grant with interest if the money isn't spent by July, 2025.

Cities with the fewest community pools per capita Cities with the fewest community pools per capita Cities with the fewest community pools per capita Public pools are more common in eastern US cities
IF YOU GO WHAT: Kobe Sushi and Hibachi WHERE: 5242 Elmore Ave., Davenport HOURS: 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Sunday to Thursday; 11 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday ONLINE: kobedavenport.com CONTACT: 563-205-8462

DAVENPORT  A new sushi and hibachi spot has found its home in Davenport.

Kobe Sushi and Hibachi at 5242 Elmore Ave. held a soft opening starting at 11 a.m. Wednesday.

Owner John Jiang joined forces with Sam Chen, owner of Dubuque's Ichiban Steakhouse and Sushi Bar, to create the sparkling new restaurant in the same shopping center as other notable openings this year, like the relocations of Disc Replay and Plato's Closet.

"Before he owned a restaurant, he used to be a hibachi chef, a kitchen chef, a sushi bar chef  he knows a lot of recipes, along with his own recipes too," Jiang said of Chen. "Ichiban in Dubuque is a very popular restaurant. It's got good business and good reviews from customers ... (We're hoping) a lot of customers from Dubuque come here too."

There are other hibachi restaurants in the area, but Jiang says what sets them apart is their sourcing of ingredients, their sauces, their recipes and their cooking styles.

While Chen has more expertise in restaurant ownership, Jiang is certainly no stranger to the industry. He came to the United States in 2007 and has been working in restaurants ever since.

There is currently no set date for a grand opening or ribbon cutting as they work to assess their needs after the soft opening, but orders can currently be placed on their website.
The Rock Island-Milan School Board will postpone its vote on hiring the district's first deputy superintendent due to a mistake with a salary document.

As previously reported, the board was set to vote on hiring Jeffery Dase for the position, at a salary of $174,095, at Tuesday's regular school board meeting.

Dase comes from the Decatur school district, where he's served in various leadership roles since April 2019. Most recently, he was promoted as assistant superintendent of diversity, equity and inclusion.

Rock Island-Milan Superintendent Sharon Williams said the district caught a mistake with Dase's salary contract on Tuesday's agenda within Illinois' required 48-hour publishing notice, causing them to recall the item. They did the same for agenda item C, which proposed hiring Joseph DiIulio V as principal at Edison Junior High School.

The board is now set to vote on these items during a special meeting scheduled for 5 p.m. on Thursday, June 27.

In other news, Tuesday's agenda did include the resignations of Rock Island-Milan's Chief Financial Officer, Jennifer Barton, and Kathy Ruggeberg, assistant superintendent for teaching and learning, following the 2023-24 school year at the end of the month.

Barton served the district for 11 years and was hired as a district accountant for the neighboring Moline-Coal Valley School District, effective July 1, 2024.

Ruggeberg, who totaled 13 years with the district, helped facilitate a federal, five-year Education Innovation & Research grant to address post-COVID mental health needs and equity at Rock Island High School  totaling nearly $4 million  and was present for several administrative changes during her tenure.

Rock Island High School graduation held Saturday at Vibrant Arena at The Mark
Lone Tree City Council member Nicholas Gluba plans to run for Congress as a Libertarian in Iowas southeast 1st Congressional District, he announced Wednesday.

Gluba, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran, will join what is anticipated to be a competitive race between incumbent Republican Mariannette Miller-Meeks and Democrat Christina Bohannan, a former state representative. Miller-Meeks staved off a primary challenge from David Pautsch earlier this month.

In a news release, the Libertarian Party of Iowa said Glubas priorities include individual liberty, property rights, a free market economy, gun rights and opposition to foreign intervention.

"I am running on a platform of freedom for all people regardless of ethnicity, religion, social status, and gender. My campaign is built on the principles of personal freedom, economic opportunity, and accountable government, Gluba said in a statement.

Iowas Libertarian Party regained official party status under state law after the 2022 election, when their gubernatorial candidate garnered more than 2% of the popular vote in the state. The partys 2024 presidential candidate will need to take in at least 2% of the vote in order to retain that status.

Gluba was not a candidate in the partys primary election on June 4. The party will need to hold a district convention to nominate him and submit paperwork to the Iowa Secretary of States office to get Gluba on the November ballot.

Betsy DeVos to speak at Family Leader conference

Betsy DeVos, former U.S. Secretary of Education under Donald Trump, will be a featured speaker at the conservative Christian group The Family Leaders annual conference this year.

The political groups annual conference, the Family Leadership Summit, has been a magnet for GOP presidential candidates in recent years as they courted the evangelical vote ahead of the first-in-the-nation caucuses.

Joel C. Rosenberg, a Christian author who covers news in Israel and the Middle East, will also speak at the event, along with Egyptian-American pastor Michael Youssef.

"With emphases on Israel, parental rights in education, religious liberty, and more, theres no doubt this will be one of the most timely and personally relevant FAMiLY Leadership Summits yet," said Family Leader President and CEO Bob Vander Plaats in a statement.

The Family Leader has also invited president Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump to the event, along with independent candidate Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., according to its website.

Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds and Virginia Lt. Gov. Winsome Sears, both Republicans, are also invited speakers.

Congressional candidates win endorsements

Two national political organizations, one Democratic and one Republican, announced endorsements for Iowa congressional candidates following last week's primary election.

Americans for Prosperity Action, a conservative group founded by Charles and David Koch, endorsed Republican incumbent Mariannette Miller-Meeks in Iowas 1st Congressional District following her primary win over Republican David Pautsch last week. The group endorsed Republican Rep. Zach Nunn in the 3rd Congressional District last year.

I am proud to receive the support of AFP Action and its dedicated grassroots team, Miller-Meeks said in a statement. We are both committed to removing barriers to opportunity and helping Iowans improve their lives.

Democratic challengers to Miller-Meeks and Nunn also notched endorsements after last weeks primary by the nations largest federal employee union.

The American Federation of Government Employees announced it had endorsed Christina Bohannan in the 1st District and Lanon Baccam in the 3rd District. Both are Democrats.

The union said both candidates will fight for federal employees and their right to collectively bargain.

Lanon Baccam has the perfect resume to fight for federal employees, said AFGE District 8 National Vice President Ruark Hotopp in a statement. As a combat veteran, a former USDA official, and a public servant, he understands the unique challenges and needs of federal workers.

Both districts are expected to be competitive elections that have already attracted significant national attention.

Where each Trump case stands Classified documents case Election interference Hush-money scheme Georgia election indictment Arizona election indictment Civil cases
Jason Green Tuesday afternoon requested a recount for the Republican primary Senate race in District 34. He lost the election by a 1% margin of 34 votes, according to the official count the Pennington County Commission certified on Monday.

The results showed Taffy Howard won with 1,598 votes against Green's 1,564 votes.

A local or legislative race is eligible for a recount if the margin between candidates is 2% or less of the total vote.

State law dictates that once a candidate files for a recount with the county auditor, the auditor must inform the presiding judge -- in this case, Robert Gusinsky. Gusinksy is tasked with selecting a recount board any time within 30 days prior to the primary election or upon the filing of the petition for a recount.

The board must consist of members of the same political party as the candidates in the contest, a recount referee who is a state bar member, and two voters in the county. Board members cannot be a candidate for the office subject to a recount or related to any candidates in the race. The candidates, however, have a right to witness the recount.

The board should convene in the auditor's office at 9 a.m. on the second Monday following the petition filing or on a date or at 9 a.m. on the second Tuesday following the petition filing if the second Monday is a holiday.

The judge can also select a different date to avoid undue conflict with the electoral process and ensure a timely recount, but the date must provide an opportunity for recount witnesses.

Pennington County Auditor Cindy Mohler said the recount is done in the same manner as the votes were originally counted, which was with tabulation machines. She said she does not know how long the recount will take.

"It will depend on how things go and how many ballots were cast," Mohler said in an email Wednesday.

Two other races in Pennington County are eligible for a recount  the District 4 Pennington County Commission Republican primary and the Ward 1 Hill City Council election.

Mohler said on Wednesday Green was the only one to file for a recount since the results were certified. Once results are certified, candidates have three days to request a recount for any eligible races.

Jerry Wayne Derr won District 4 with 790 votes, followed by 767 votes for Todd Trask and 503 for Eric Hansen. Trask told the Journal on Monday he does not have plans to ask for a recount.

"The same machines that counted it the first time would count it the second time, right?" Trask said.
BEIJING (Reuters) - China's President Xi Jinping has vowed to foster a globally competitive open environment for scientific and technological innovations, and expand international exchanges and cooperation, state media reported on Tuesday.

The comments come at a time when the world's second-biggest economy is trying to nurture new growth drivers, in its bid to restore business confidence after protracted weakness in its property industry.





Speaking at the fifth meeting of the Chinese Communist Party's Central Commission for Comprehensively Deepening Reforms, Xi pledged to build an open climate for tech innovation, state media CCTV said.





"[We] should continuously improve the scientific and technological security system and risk prevention mechanism, and consolidate the bottom line of security in an open environment," CCTV said, citing the meeting.





Guidelines for improving the income guarantee mechanism for farmers and developing "modern corporates with Chinese characteristics" were also approved at the meeting.





China will stabilise grain production and ensure food security, CCTV reported, citing the meeting.








JOHANNESBURG (AP)  South Africa's third biggest political party, led by former president Jacob Zuma, has filed legal papers seeking to halt the first sitting of Parliament scheduled for Friday to elect the country's president.





Zumas uMkhonto weSizwe Party has said none of its 58 newly elected lawmakers will attend the sitting. The party earlier filed objections with the Independent Electoral Commission alleging widespread irregularities in national elections last month. The party received just over 14% of the vote.





The party, also known as MK, has not publicly offered evidence to back up its allegations. The commission has said it has addressed all objections.





The legal challenge now asks the Constitutional Court to set aside the commission's decision to declare the election free and fair, and to order the president to call another election.





The election saw the ruling African National Congress party lose its majority in parliament for the first time since taking power three decades ago at the end of the apartheid era.





The ANC now seeks to form a government of national unity with various opposition parties,




Petersburg City Public Schools named an Atlanta education official as the new interim division superintendent, following the resignation of John Farrelly, who had been in the position for less than two months before his resignation this week.

Yolanda Brown has worked in Atlanta Public Schools for more than 30 years, and for the past three and a half years has worked as the districts chief academic officer.

I am deeply honored and humbled to be named the Interim Superintendent of Petersburg City Public Schools, Brown said in a statement.

It is clear that the Petersburg City Public Schools community is focused on academics and creating a safe and caring environment that enables every student to grow socially, emotionally, and physically. Across 30 years as an educator that same pursuit has remained my north star. I look forward to working with the Petersburg community and its leaders to bring a new era of learning and personal progress for all students.

Brown was a finalist for superintendent of Tennessees Memphis-Shelby County Schools earlier this year, but the local school board chose another candidate.

Virginia State Superintendent Lisa Coons said in a statement that Brown is a leader who knows how to deal with hard things and get hard things done.

The Petersburg school division is under a memorandum of understanding with the Virginia Department of Education due to its schools troubles.

The school districts former superintendent, Tamara Sterling, disappeared in late February and officially resigned March 20. The reasons for her departure have been concealed by school officials who refuse to answer questions about the circumstances surrounding her parting.

Farrelly, who was Sterlings chief of staff before being appointed acting superintendent, has accepted a position with Caroline County Public Schools as its director of finance.

Close Petersburg residents come together to celebrate the finished $2 million dollar remodeling of the courthouse, June 22, Petersburg, VA. The courthouse dates back to 1838 and was built with a large clock and tall columns. People bow their heads during a prayer during the ceremony of the finished $2 million dollar remodeling of the courthouse, June 22, Petersburg, VA. The courthouse dates back to 1838 and was built with a large clock and tall columns. Petersburg residents come together to celebrate the finished $2 million dollar remodeling of the courthouse, June 22, Petersburg, VA. The courthouse dates back to 1838 and was built with a large clock and tall columns. A man cups his ears during one of the speakers at the Petersburg Courthouse for a celebration of the $2 million dollar remodel of the 180 year old courthouse, June 22, Petersburg, VA. Petersburg residents come together to celebrate the finished $2 million dollar remodeling of the courthouse, June 22, Petersburg, VA. The courthouse dates back to 1838 and was built with a large clock and tall columns. Chief Judge, U.S. Court of Appeals for 4th Circuit, Roger L. Gregory gives the keynote speech at the ceremony for the remodeling of the Petersburg courthouse, June 22, Petersburg, VA. Petersburg residents come together to celebrate the finished $2 million dollar remodeling of the courthouse, June 22, Petersburg, VA. The courthouse dates back to 1838 and was built with a large clock and tall columns. The Petersburg Courthouse filled with residents to celebrate the remodeling of the clock, bell and columns of the courthouse, June 22, Petersburg, VA. The $2 million dollar project focused on restoring the building. Petersburg residents come together to celebrate the finished $2 million dollar remodeling of the courthouse, June 22, Petersburg, VA. The courthouse dates back to 1838 and was built with a large clock and tall columns. The Petersburg courthouse dates back to 1838. PHOTOS: Petersburg Hustings Courthouse celebration Petersburg Hustings Courthouse held a ceremony for a $2 million dollar remodeling, June 22, Petersburg, VA. The clock and columns of the 180-year-old building needed repairing after years of weather damage. Petersburg residents come together to celebrate the finished $2 million dollar remodeling of the courthouse, June 22, Petersburg, VA. The courthouse dates back to 1838 and was built with a large clock and tall columns. People bow their heads during a prayer during the ceremony of the finished $2 million dollar remodeling of the courthouse, June 22, Petersburg, VA. The courthouse dates back to 1838 and was built with a large clock and tall columns. Petersburg residents come together to celebrate the finished $2 million dollar remodeling of the courthouse, June 22, Petersburg, VA. The courthouse dates back to 1838 and was built with a large clock and tall columns. A man cups his ears during one of the speakers at the Petersburg Courthouse for a celebration of the $2 million dollar remodel of the 180 year old courthouse, June 22, Petersburg, VA. Petersburg residents come together to celebrate the finished $2 million dollar remodeling of the courthouse, June 22, Petersburg, VA. The courthouse dates back to 1838 and was built with a large clock and tall columns. Chief Judge, U.S. Court of Appeals for 4th Circuit, Roger L. Gregory gives the keynote speech at the ceremony for the remodeling of the Petersburg courthouse, June 22, Petersburg, VA. Petersburg residents come together to celebrate the finished $2 million dollar remodeling of the courthouse, June 22, Petersburg, VA. The courthouse dates back to 1838 and was built with a large clock and tall columns. The Petersburg Courthouse filled with residents to celebrate the remodeling of the clock, bell and columns of the courthouse, June 22, Petersburg, VA. The $2 million dollar project focused on restoring the building. Petersburg residents come together to celebrate the finished $2 million dollar remodeling of the courthouse, June 22, Petersburg, VA. The courthouse dates back to 1838 and was built with a large clock and tall columns. The Petersburg courthouse dates back to 1838.
The Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority laid off 25 employees at its headquarters in Hanover County on Tuesday in a reorganization aimed at changing how the state-owned liquor monopoly supplies its retail stores and serves its customers across the state.

The layoffs come three weeks before the authority becomes independent of direct control by the governor and General Assembly, while remaining a significant source of revenue for the state budget to pay for core services provided by state government.

Chief Executive Officer Dale Farino, a former alcoholic beverage distribution executive in Virginia Beach whom Gov. Glenn Youngkin appointed as CEO six weeks ago, said its not clear what independence will mean for the authority, created in 2015 as a semi-independent body after more than 80 years as a state agency.

But he promised to remain focused on the same bottom line as the governors office and assembly budget committees.

My aim is to operate the authority as a business, Farino said in an hourlong interview with the Richmond Times-Dispatch on Tuesday. This has been my marching orders from the governor and the leadership in both the House and Senate, and thats exactly what I intend to do.

In the end, its what does it do to generate more revenues for the state? he said of the authoritys mission.

Among the changes, former interim CEO Tom Kirby was elevated to a new role as chief operations officer, while keeping his old job as chief law enforcement officer. His new job includes overseeing retail operations, logistics and the distribution center in Hanover that supplies all of ABCs 403 stores across Virginia. Those responsibilities previously were held by Chief Retail Operations Officer Mark Dunham, who resigned on Friday.

John Singleton will move from his job as human resources director to become chief human resources officer, a new position that replaces the executive job previously held by Chief Information Officer Paul Williams, who was laid off last month. The reorganization also will create a new position of chief commercial officer, which ABC has not yet filled, to oversee marketing, merchandising and other business operations. All of the information technology functions will fall under Chief Financial Officer David Alfano.

The reorganization shrinks the number of previous executive level positions from eight to six. Four executives resigned from ABC last year, including CEO Travis Hill, as the authority came under pressure from the governors office to reduce expenses and increase the profits transferred to the state budget. The authority already had eliminated the jobs of chief transformation officer and chief digital and branding officer.

The layoffs did not directly affect ABCs retail and other field employees, who account for about 3,000 of the 4,000 people whom the authority employs statewide.

The layoffs come after months of turmoil and a projected $110 million shortfall in profits for the next two-year state budget after a steep decline in Virginia liquor sales blew a hole in the budget that the Youngkin administration pushed ABC to adopt in August. The authority responded by leaving jobs unfilled and cutting other operating expenses to manage a projected $4.9 million profit shortfall in the fiscal year that will end on June 30.

Last week, a federal judge dismissed a $1 million federal lawsuit filed by its director of retail operations, Jennifer Burke, who resigned her job on June 3. U.S. District Court Judge Robert Payne dismissed the case after the parties reached a settlement. The terms of the settlement are not public.

Burke had alleged that ABC had placed her on paid administrative leave last year in retaliation for alleging $1.7 million in lost inventory in the transition of the central ABC distribution center from a more than 60-year-old warehouse in Richmond to a new facility next to the authoritys new headquarters in Atlee in 2022. ABC denied the allegations, asserting in court filings that Burke had been placed on paid leave during an investigation of thefts from stores under her supervision, but was then reinstated.

The authority said lost or stolen inventory, known in the alcohol distribution industry as shrinkage, amounted to about $1.1 million, or 0.094% of sales, well below the national average. The estimate was based on a physical count of bottles at the distribution center and retail stories on March 31, 2023.

Farino acknowledged that the authority had not properly accounted for the inventory during the warehouse transition, but he said, All that has changed since they moved here.

He said he intends to make more changes, focusing on the culture of the organization, its relationship with suppliers and retail customers, and its operating system to speed the time for delivering orders from 48 hours to overnight.

Morale when I got here was not good, Farino said. There was no comradery. My aim is to restore the comradery.

He said he wants to empower retail store managers and employees to improve how ABC stores serve customers and surrounding communities, instead of putting what he called rigid guardrails on how stores operate.

Im going to remove those guardrails and allow them to do what theyre being paid to do, he said.

The son of a former U.S. Navy submariner who settled in Virginia Beach in the early 1960s, Farino spent nine years as an artillery officer in the U.S. Marines Corps. After he left the service, he worked for Coca-Cola and other beverage distributors before returning to Virginia Beach in 1993 to work for Associated Distributors LLC, which now operates as Breakthru Beverage Virginia.

He began as operations director at the companys warehouse and rose through the ranks over the next 30 years to become its president, before retiring last year. Youngkin appointed him to the ABC Board of Directors as vice chairman earlier this year and then named him CEO on April 23.

I was enjoying retirement until I got a phone call from the governors office, when I was asked to come and help right a ship, Farino said.

PHOTOS: Virginia ABC warehouse
Yucatan Peninsula: Heavy rains and Atlantic disturbances finally make appearance

Riviera Maya, Q.R.  After weeks of drought, rains have finally made an appearance along with two Atlantic disturbances. Heavy rains hit parts of Quintana Roo Tuesday, leaving many main streets and avenues flooded.

The Flamingos 4 area of Chetumal was left under water Tuesday. Photo: June 11, 2024.

State residents in various areas from Cancun to Chetumal reported waterlogged streets due to heavy downpours. The Secretariat of Citizen Security (SSC) of Quintana Roo issued an alert regarding flooding in Chetumal.

Civil Protection personnel were out monitoring waterlogged streets. Photo: June 11, 2024.

A list of Chetumal city streets considered impassable due to deep water was published on social media. In Cancun, the Transit Directorate reported 40 operational elements with three tow trucks out assisting stranded motorists.

Heavy rains turned this Chetumal street into a flowing river. Photo: June 11, 2024.

Eight Transit pickups were also out monitoring the city center areas of Xcaret, Coba, Kabah, Andres Quintana Roo, Tulum, Bonampak, Jose Lopez Portillo Avenues as well as Colosio Boulevard and Kukulkan Boulevard.

Mexicos weather agency Servicio Meteorologico Nacional (SMN) forecast the heavy rains (75 to 150 millimeters) Tuesday and into Wednesday for Campeche, Chiapas, eastern Oaxaca, Quintana Roo, Tabasco, southern Veracruz, and Yucatan.

Those rains are forecast to not only continue, but to also expand to include the entire state by the weekend. Two disturbances being reported by the National Hurricane Center (NOAA) in Miami could add to the Yucatan Peninsulas already very wet forecast.

Heavy rains are forecast around the entire Yucatan peninsula for the rest of the week.

One disturbance near the Florida Peninsula was located earlier this week. The elongated area of low pressure is producing a large area of disorganized showers and thunderstorms. The NOAA says some slow development is possible while the system moves northeastward.

The second disturbance was reported early Wednesday in the Gulf of Mexico. A broad area of low pressure could form over the weekend across the southwestern Gulf of Mexico.

Environmental conditions appear conducive for some slow development early next week while the system moves slowly westward or west-northwestward. Formation chance through 7 dayslow30 percent, they reported.

Crews were out pumping streets of standing water Tuesday. Photo: June 11, 2024.

Regardless of disturbance development, thunderstorms are forecast for the entire Yucatan Peninsula for the rest of the week. The SMN says between 75 and 150 mms is possible while the region maintains its 30C (86F) to 35C (95F) daytime temperatures.
Benjamin Peter Fields is facing four assault and battery charges and one grand larceny charge related to the Oct. 17 incident, according to online court records.

After receiving outpatient treatment while incarcerated at the Western Virginia Regional Jail, then about two months of inpatient treatment at Catawba Hospital, doctors found June 4 that Fields was competent to stand trial, McConnell said Tuesday. Fields returned to jail June 5, according to the facilitys online inmate database.

Fields renewed his request for bond on the circuit court level Tuesday. His mother testified that Fields was diagnosed after graduating from college in 2000 with a schizophrenic disorder.

The mother told Judge Robert Turk that her son has received medical treatment for his condition through New River Valley Community Services. She testified that Fields took a monthly shot for about eight years that seemed to work.

But, the mother testified, Fields transitioned from the monthly shot to a daily pill, which sometimes he forgot to take or chose not to take. She said that behavior snowballed slowly until he regressed, becoming more noticeably erratic and manic.

Assistant Commonwealths Attorney Jenn Wolz argued Tuesday that the Oct. 17 Huckleberry Trail assaults occurred because Fields was not regularly taking his medication. She told Turk she wasnt sure how the court would monitor him if he were out of jail.

Looking at the safety of the public, I have concerns, Wolz said.

Turk said he also has concerns but granted Fields a $5,000 secured bond on the condition that he reports to pretrial services Monday through Friday between 9 and 10 a.m. and takes his pill in front of someone.

The judge said that if Fields does not show, the court will assume Fields is off his medication and will immediately issue an order for his arrest. Any changes to his medication must be relayed to pretrial services officers.

Fields next court date is scheduled for Sept. 16, according to online court records.
ROCKY MOUNT  Challenged books continue to be a hot-button issue for the Franklin County School Board, as members debated Monday how to proceed with a full review of the six-month-old policy next month.

The policy allows a student, parent or school employee to challenge a book they deem inappropriate. The challenge is then taken up by a school review committee and possibly even a division review committee if the issue is not resolved at the school.

Parents are also notified by email of all books their children check out at the school.

Since the new policy was implemented, Franklin County Public Schools has reported that 16 books have been challenged. Of those, five have been removed and two have been moved to a new YA+ (young adult-plus) section at the high school.

Kevin David, the school boards at large member, asked for additional review of the policy on Monday and to possibly even set up an independent committee to oversee it. A review was originally scheduled for Monday, but was postponed to next month.

I would like to discuss or, at least, fully evaluate the challenges and maybe even make recommendations and see if we can evaluate the overall effectiveness of our current library policy, David said.

Chairman and Rocky Mount District representative Jeff Worley pushed back on the need for any additional committee to review the policy. He said the policy has been working effectively.

Union Hall District representative Danny Agee said he wanted more information on the challenged books, including details on why the five books were removed and why the two were moved to the YA+ section. He also said more information was needed on how books are chosen for the library.

Snow Creek District representative Carletta Whiting and Blackwater District representative Arlet Greer suggested ending the school systems association with the American Library Association. Greer suggested the World Library Association as an alternative.

I think some of the things have been creeping, maybe, into libraries because the American Library Association isnt doing what they should be doing, Greer said.

Thats propaganda garbage, Worley responded.

Worley questioned why there have been no calls to remove library books from the public library since they are members of the American Library Association. Whiting said the school board has no control over books at the public library.

If there is indoctrination of children from the ALA, wouldnt it be happening at the public library too? Worley asked.

In an email to The Roanoke Times on Tuesday, Superintendent Kevin Siers explained Franklin County Public Schools does not receive recommendations on books from the American Library Association. Some school librarians are members of the Virginia Association of School Librarians, a local affiliate of the American Association of School Librarians, which falls under the American Library Association. The membership provides librarians with professional resources and networking opportunities with other school librarians, but it has no say in which books are purchased for school libraries.

Worley said Monday there is currently a screening process for books entering the school that are chosen by librarians. That process is part of the new policy.

He questioned the amount of effort the school board has taken when it comes to challenged books. He said that effort could be better spent elsewhere.

I wish we spent as much time on some other things that are more important as we did forming two committees on this policy, Worley said. That is my point. I think it is overkill. And what it boils down to is a mistrust of our staff and that pisses me off.

Boone District representative Dawn McCray said the new policy focuses on parental rights. She warned of the possible negative impact of removing books based on political, social or personal reasons.

No one has asked to remove them for those reasons, Agee said.

I beg to differ, McCray responded.

McCray said the policy was designed to assure that the people challenging those books are doing so in good faith. Worley added they must also read the books.

To this point, most of the people, or one, who has challenged these books has not read them, Worley said.

McCray said board should first speak with the library committee that oversees the policy next month. From there, the board could then consider next steps.

Cellphone and dress code policy

School board members also made modifications to the schools cellphone and dress code policies on Monday. The changes were approved to ensure they will be in place for materials provided to students before the start of the new school year in August.

A much more stringent cellphone policy was approved that essentially prohibits high school students from using them on school grounds during the day. Phones were previously allowed at the high school in the cafeteria or in the hallways outside of the classroom.

I feel like this is the hand we have been dealt and we are responding to it, Worley said. I would really hope they would be more responsible with their phones and right now that has not proven to be the case.

Greer, who urged staff to revisit the cellphone policy in April, agreed with the changes. She also mentioned the lack of uniform enforcement between teachers.

The enforcement has been as much a problem as the students issues, Greer said.

Tim Overstreet, assistant superintendent, said the need for enforcement has been relayed to all school principals.

Cellphones had previously been banned during the school days for elementary and middle school students. With the change at the high school, the policy is now uniform between all grade levels.

Overstreet said changes also were made to the dress code policy. The primary change being a standard policy for male and female students.

What weve heard from some families is that the policy, they felt, differentiated between male and female students and was more stringent on female students, Overstreet said. We wanted to make sure it was stringent on everybody.

The policy now states men and women must be covered from shoulder to shoulder to mid-thigh. Overstreet said the new policy makes what needs to be covered clear instead of listing specific areas.

The previous policy also insists that straps on shirts be at least 3 inches. Overstreet said that has now been changed to 2 inches. He said it provides adequate covering and those clothing items are easier to find than those with the 2-inch straps.

Overstreet said the policy also prohibits clothing with any rips or tears above mid-thigh. It also states pants must be worn at the waist and prohibits underwear from being visible.

Hats or head coverings are also still prohibited unless for religious, medical or extenuating circumstance. Overstreet said the policy was changed slightly to allow students to wear hats such as winter hats on the bus or school grounds, but must be removed when entering the building.
New River Community Colleges Access to Community College Education (ACCE) program is celebrating 10 years of providing high school graduates in the New River Valley with a debt-free college education.

ACCE, an economic development public/private partnership, makes college available debt-free to high school and home-schooled graduates by funding NRCC tuition for two years.

In celebration of the 10-year anniversary, the NRCC Education Foundation hosted an evening to celebrate the future with the partners who have helped ensure the programs success on May 29 on NRCCs campus in Dublin, according to a college news release.

The event included the premiere of the new Blue Ridge PBS documentary on ACCE created by Buzz4good. Attendees heard from students, administrators, stakeholders and community members about their role in ACCE and what makes it successful.

Bruce Bryan with 5Points Creative facilitated a panel of ACCE supporters including Thomas Coffey, former ACCE student (NRCC Class of 2019) and current VCOM student; Bud Foster, ACCE investor through Lunch Pail Defense Foundation; Pat Huber, NRCC President; and Chris McKlarney, Giles County administrator.

ACCE is more than an educational program; its a reflection of who we truly are in the New River Valley. Our ACCE program is an incredible example of community partnership and vision. Each locality, through both public and private investment, has committed through both donations and public support to the success of our next generation, said Angie Covey, NRCC Education Foundation executive director. Since the inception of ACCE, more 1,600 students have received tuition assistance at NRCC. In exchange, those students have given back 175,000 hours of service to nonprofit organizations in the New River Valley. With ACCE, everyone wins  our students, their families, and our communities.

The entire ACCE documentary is available to view online at https://buzz4good.com/portfolio/nrcc/.

 The Roanoke Times
The Virginia Tech Board of Visitors voted this week to raise the minimum graduate student assistant stipend for another year.

Increased stipends for graduate students have been a major concern of Virginia Techs graduate student union since its formation in 2023. The unions original goal was to reach a minimum stipend of $2,700 per month, a goal which is near to being met.

The new minimum stipend, effective August 10, will be $2,682 per month, a raise of 3% from last year, or about $80 monthly.

Emily Tirrell, the outgoing graduate student representative to the board of visitors, discussed the level to which the stipend has increased during her tenure at Mondays board information session.

According to data collected by the Graduate School earlier in my term, 19.8% of graduate students received a 5% stipend increase, 38.4% received between 5.1% to 10% increase, and 35.6% of graduate students received more than a 10% increase in stipend amount this year, Tirrell said.

The board of visitors also reviewed plans for another facility on campus, the New Business Building, part of a larger project to relocate the Pamplin College of Business to the area between West Campus Drive and Perry Street.

The New Business Building is still in its planning phase, and neither the start date or end date for its construction has been determined.

The board also approved a final budget for Virginia Techs 2024-25 school year. The budget will total $2.27 billion, with $1.19 billion going to the universitys education and general fund.
BLACKSBURG  The Blacksburg Town Council approved an ordinance and a resolution regarding speed monitoring devices and the Harding Avenue Stormwater and Pedestrian Project during its meeting Tuesday night.

Ordinance 2056, which passed 7-0, authorizes photo speed monitoring devices in crossing zones at public schools in Blacksburg. Enforcement, which will begin in the fall, will include fines of $100 per violation.

Per the ordinance, the town will place signs within 1,000 feet of school crossing zones, notifying drivers of imminent speed cameras.

According to the councils presentation, other jurisdictions that have adopted this measure reported up to 90% reductions in violations.

Resolution 6-A-24, which also passed unanimously, allows the town to acquire property necessary for development on Harding Avenue, so it can install sidewalks and stormwater infrastructure.

Tuesdays meeting came about a month after about 40 pro-Palestinian protesters walked out of the May 14 council meeting and held the first Peoples Council of Blacksburg  as they called it  gathering.

No protesters were in attendance at Tuesdays meeting or outside of the Blacksburg Municipal Building.

The council did, however, adopt a statement on April 9, writing, While the Town Council does not typically weigh in on international affairs, we are not indifferent to such tremendous suffering and loss of life. All human lives are precious, regardless of ethnicity, religion, or geography. The devastating violence and dire conditions affecting civilians in the region constitute a tragic crisis on all fronts.

In the aftermath of the May 14 walkout, Mayor Leslie Hager-Smith addressed on Tuesday how at least one of the protesters, on the way out of the building, urinated on the floor of the mens restroom.

Maybe, whoever you are, you thought you were sticking it to the man, Hager-Smith said. Maybe you imagined you were pissing in solidarity with the Palestinian people, or as an act of righteous anger. Maybe you wanted a strike at the town of Blacksburg or maybe you thought you would be hurting this town council.  You only hurt one person: our well-liked, hard-working, blameless custodian  one person who does not deserve to be your scapegoat.

Many of the Palestinian protesters have come to us with thoughtful comments, but it is the cowardly, destructive acts of vanity that characterize this group.
Last month was Foster Care Awareness Month, so we reached out to Alexa Reitz, the Program Director of the Richmond Regional Center at UMFS (United Methodist Family Services) to get some insight into how this all works. The conversation shed light on the critical role fostering plays in the lives of children and teens, and the transformative impact it can have on both the children and the foster families.

Who is Alexa Reitz?

Alexa Reitz leads the Richmond Regional Center at UMFS. As the Program Director, she oversees the Treatment Foster Care and Community Based Programs. Her role involves ensuring that children in need find safe and loving homes, and that foster families receive the support they need to thrive in their roles.

The Importance of Fostering

There are over 5,000 youth in foster care in Virginia, Alexa begins.. Everyday we get multiple referrals for children and teens needing a home. Due to the lack of foster families, children are often staying in hotels and, even worse, social service offices because there are no homes available.

The reality of the situation is stark. These children have often experienced significant trauma and are in desperate need of stable, nurturing environments. Alexa emphasizes that fostering is not just about providing a roof over their heads; its about offering a safe haven where they can begin their healing journey. The statistics show that if a foster care child can have at least one permanent connection, their risk for unwanted pregnancy, homelessness, and substance use decreases, she explains. By becoming a foster parent, you are significantly changing a childs life trajectory.

Becoming a Foster Parent

Alexa is quick to dispel the myth that becoming a foster parent is an insanely complicated process. No, we make the process as easy as possible, she assures. Foster families come from all walks of life  teachers, nurses, social workers, bookkeepers, chefs, and more. They are individuals who have realized they have room in their homes, their schedules, and their hearts for a child in need.

To facilitate this process, UMFS hosts an Information Session every Tuesday, providing prospective foster parents with all the information they need. The requirements are straightforward: parents must be 21 years or older, have a stable income, a valid drivers license, pass criminal background checks, and have at least one bedroom available for a child. Most importantly, they must be emotionally and physically available to integrate a child into their lives.

Success Stories: Shenika and Romania

We asked Alexa for a success story that highlights the impact fostering can have. She recounts the story of Shenika, who was 15 when she met her foster mother, Romania. Despite her initial nervousness, Shenika felt an immediate sense of ease with Romania.

Shenika is now in her twenties and has a child of her own. She credits Romania and the support from UMFS Treatment Foster Care staff for helping shape her into the woman she is today. Having people that are stable and in your corner is a great asset in life, Shenika reflects, acknowledging the critical role her TFC case workers played in her successful journey from foster care to being adopted by Romania.

Mary Davies, LCSW, Shenikas caseworker, fondly remembers the snowy day she placed Shenika with Romania. We got caught in so much traffic it took us hours to get there. We sort of bonded during that time, Mary recalls. Romania provided Shenika with a sense of home, a place where she felt safe, cared for, loved, and accepted. This story is a testament to the life-changing potential of foster care when foster parents open their hearts and homes to young people in need.

The Rewards of the Job

For Alexa, the best part of her job is witnessing the success stories of children and families. I take great pride in supporting children and families through some of the most challenging times in their lives, she responded. It brings me immense joy to witness the success stories of children being reunited with their birth parents, finding loving homes with relatives, or being adopted into new families.

How to Get Involved

For those interested in fostering a child in Richmond, go to the UMFS website HERE. Please go to UMFS.org to learn more about our programs and becoming a foster parent, she urges. The website provides comprehensive information about the various programs offered and the steps to become a foster parent.
This essential water system comprises two rivers (known today as the Tigris and Euphrates rivers) that flow North to South from Turkey to the Persian Gulf.

Headwaters of the Tigris River

The Tigris River begins at the Taurus Mountains of Eastern Turkey and flows along the Syrian-Turkish border before branching off into smaller tributaries. The Tigris then connects with the Euphrates near the town of al-Qurnah to form the Shatt-al-Arab River.

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Dams and Levees

Each river flows from the Taurus Mountains, heading south toward the Persian Gulf. As the rivers descend toward the Syrian-Turkish border, they are controlled by manmade dams and levees that maintain a minimum average flow of 500 cubic meters per second (nearly 18,000 cubic ft./second).

Central Flood Plain

The most important aspect of these water resources for humans is that the Euphrates River basins offer some of the most fertile land in the region.

However, humans have done little to return the favor, as pollution, war and other misguided human intervention have led to increased water scarcity and higher contaminated water levels in the region.
FLORENCE, S.C.  Florence will have a new mayor following Novembers general election after Lethonia Peaches Barns ran away from her two opponents in Tuesdays Democratic primary election. She will face no challenge in the general election.

Barnes garnered 61% of the vote with all precincts reporting. Florence Mayor Teresa Myers Ervin garnered 37% of the vote while candidate William Cowboy Williams received a bit over 2% of the votes cast.

ELN Primary Pee Dee voters Tuesday turned out to vote in the state primary election.

Minister of Flint Grove Missionary Baptist Church, a successful business person and sister of Florence County Councils Al Bradley, Barnes is a four-year veteran of the city council and was endorsed by a bevy of the countys politicians  George Jebaily, Bradley, William Schofield, Chaquez McCall, J. Lawrence Smith, II, and Bryan Braddock.

Professionally, she has owned the largest (at the time) beauty salon and barber shops in Florence, and started a cosmetology program at Florence Darlington Technical College and Virginia College. She also opened and managed Oscar James Salon and Spa, which was the first business to kick off downtown revitalization, said Barnes.

Florence Mayoral Race Mayoral candidate Lethonia Peaches Barnes pauses for a photo June 3 in her home in Florence.

During Ervins term as mayor, Florence landed the AESC battery plant project which will bring thousands of jobs and more than a $3 billion in investment for the city and county.

Florence also scored the funding for a complete remake of Levy Park.

When you think about the fact that we have AESC coming, thats over $3 billion in investment thats going to yield over 2,700 jobs. Im proud of that because the city and the county are working together better than weve ever done before.

Ervin was also part of the Florence Downton Development Corporation team to bring home the Great American Main Street title, an award that only two South Carolina cities have received.

In other Florence County races in the Democrat primary, Mitchell Kirby easily defeated Kenneth McAllister 58% to 42% in District 4, while in the Republican primary for District 2, Andy Rogers garnered 75% to Zannie Ray Postons 25% with all precincts reporting.

In Darlington County Coroner J. Todd Hardee handily defeated challenger Brian Lee 75% to 25% in the Republican primary. Hardee will continue as the county coroner following Novembers general election.

Michael August tallied 68% in his Republican primary to defeat Jerry Thompson to go on to face Democrat Sheriff James Hudson in the November general election.

Le Flowers retained his seat with 59% of the vote over challenger Josh Williams for the Republican primary District 5 seat on Darlington County Council.

In Marion County all contested races were in the Democratic primary.

Jerry Richardson will remain Marion County coroner for four more years after he defeated Kendra Fling with 52% of the vote.

In the race for probate judge, T. Carroll Atkinson III won with 60% of the vote to 40% for Darryl Burns.

In Marion County Council races, John Q. Atkinson Jr. won the District 1 race, Oscar Foxworth District 2, Allen W. Floyd District 4 and Robin Turner in District 6.

Barnes celebrates mayoral win with supporters FLORENCE, S.C. -- Lethonia "Peaches" Barnes defeated incumbent Teresa Myers Ervin in the Florence mayoral June 11, 2024, winning 61% of votes. Barnes celebrated with supporters gathered at Wholly Smokin' Tuesday night in downtown Florence.

With 54% of the vote Mike Burch won the 4th Circuit Solicitor Republican Primary, he will face will face Monty Bell in November.

There will be no runoffs in any of the Darlington, Florence or Marion county races.
Nine minutes, 12 seconds.

That all it takes for Brandon Victor Dixon to make an impression in Hells Kitchen and  in the process -- land a Tony nomination.

The three-time nominee (and winner for producing Hedwig and the Angry Inch) says he spends the bulk of the show wandering the halls like the ghost of Christmas, knocking on doors trying to get people to entertain me before I go on stage.

When he does, Dixons a powerhouse, playing the absentee father of the shows leading character. He gets to join in the can you top this? singing and leave a lasting impression.

The role, oddly enough, came about during Hells Kitchens development phase. Director Michael Greif asked Dixon to do some of the early readings while they were working on the script.

I stuck around and I become infectious, Dixon says with a laugh. For the actor, its a welcome change of pace. In addition to producing, starring on television (he landed an Emmy nomination for his work in Jesus Christ Superstar) and developing new works, Dixon likes to encourage the young talent bringing Alicia Keys songs to Broadway. They call me pops in the theaterIm very old-school. Im the curmudgeonbut I love them dearly.

Maleah Joi Moon, who plays Ali, an aspiring musician (read: Keys substitute), has the talent to fuel a long career, Dixon says. Its up to us to figure out how to do it. We at the theater do everything we can to support her. She knows she can speak with us and get advice.

When crafting the role of her onstage father, Dixon relied on the script and listened to the advice he got during the creative process. Because his character  Davis  is not meant to be a literal translation of Keys father, he didnt ask for details or advice.

Alicia is like however you assume she is, he says. Her public persona is very much a genuine reflection of how she is in her work, her natural life and her interaction with people. Shes very open and collaborative. She has her thoughts and opinions about the best way for things to be presented but its very much through the lens of who you are and what your strengths are.

Landing 13 Tony nominations, Hells Kitchen is one of the undisputed hits of the 2023-24 Broadway season. I expect a long life on Broadway and a long touring life as long as society continues to move along, Dixon says of the show.

He, meanwhile, has made it a point to maximize his exposure. Roles dont come in as big a concentration as they might seem, the 42-year-old says. There has been time to dip into one, then dip into another. Hopefully, those opportunities and projects will increase.

I think your environment and your medium and your material shape how you manifest in the space youre in. Ive played a lot of characters who were people who really existed and, oftentimes, Im reading a lot of biographies, autobiographies, and doing a lot of research. The more you can, the more vivid a picture you can create in your mind.

In those less concrete roles  like Davis  theres an opportunity to borrow from his own personality.

Theres a whole lot of Brandon in this, he says of Hells Kitchen. The approach is to connect what I can give them in this space and time. Where is Maleahs version of Ali today? Where is Shoshana (Bean)s version of Jersey today? How can I support them? How can I let them know Im here for them and its going to be fantastic.

I use the same tools in my real life when I want to comfort somebody. I play the same way. I flirt in the same way. Davis is a disappointment, but Davis is very clear about who he is. And he tries to be the very best he can with that.

And Dixon? Hes just trying to maximize those nine minutes on stage.

Hells Kitchen is at the Shubert Theatre in New York. Its nominated for 13 Tony Awards. The Tony Awards air Sunday on CBS.
A federal appeals court heard arguments Tuesday about whether to uphold a lower-court ruling blocking Iowas schoolbook ban and a provision that prohibits the teaching of gender identity and sexual orientation through sixth grade.

The case could have far-reaching implications for free speech and censorship in education beyond Iowa.

Members of the 8th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals in St. Paul appeared reticent, based on their questioning of attorneys during nearly a half hour of arguments, to affirm a district courts order granting the preliminary injunction.

Two federal lawsuits have been filed arguing the state law violates the free speech rights of students, authors and book publishers. The challenges were filed by Lambda Legal and the ACLU of the Iowa on behalf of LGBTQ students, their families and the LGBTQ advocacy organization Iowa Safe Schools, and another from publishing company Penguin Random House on behalf of authors, a parent, teachers and school librarians.

Two of the three judges on the panel questioned whether plaintiffs should be challenging the state law as a whole as opposed to filing more specific lawsuits against specific school districts over their removal of books and interpretation of the law.

U.S. Circuit Judge Ralph Erickson, an appointee of former President Donald Trump, suggested litigants should take small bites and try to slap it down, piece by piece by suing individual school districts.

Because I think what's going on here is you've got the school districts are in a dead panic, Erickson said. They're applying (the law) more broadly than the language of the statute itself provides.

He said certain books that have been removed from some schools, such as 1984, Animal Farm and Portrait of Dorian Gray, are "probably seen to have artistic merits such that application of this statute is inappropriate.

U.S. Circuit Judge James Loken, a George H.W. Bush appointee, questioned why does the First Amendment care if a book is removed from a school library as long as it's still available at a local bookstore.

Attorney Fred Sperling, representing the book publishers, said school libraries are intended to provide access to books for all children, regardless of whether they can buy it at the bookstore, and that students have a right to receive information that is age-appropriate. The law, though, makes no differentiation as to what is appropriate for certain grade levels.

There's no distinction whatsoever as to age, and so books that might be fully appropriate for a 12th-grader might not be for a ninth-grader or sixth-grader or third-grader or kindergartner; it makes no distinction whatsoever, Sperling said.

He also disagreed with Erickson and Iowa Solicitor General Eric Wessan, who argued for the injunction to be overturned, claiming there are routes for as-applied challenges to the state law.

The question before this court is not whether some of the books the state defendants can point to may be constitutionally removed from school libraries, he said. They can, and they have been under existing law before the adoption of SF 496. The question thats actually before this court is whether this overbroad and vague statute is constitutional, and its not.

What does the Iowa law do?

Iowa Senate File 496 bans books and curriculum depicting or describing sex acts from school libraries or classrooms, with the exemption of religious texts. It also prohibits programs, promotion and instruction about sexual orientation and gender identity in kindergarten through sixth grade, outside of health curriculum.

SF 496 requires that public-school libraries contain only age-appropriate materials, defined to specifically exclude descriptions or visual depictions of a sex act as defined in Iowa Code.

The legislation was passed by Republican lawmakers and signed into law by Gov. Kim Reynolds in May 2023. It went into effect last summer, but was halted in December before enforcement measures, including possible disciplinary action for educators, began.

Iowa AG defends law

Iowa Republican Attorney General Brenna Bird appealed the district courts ruling halting the law, arguing some schools may be applying the law too broadly.

As a mom, I know how important it is for parents to have a say in what books and materials their kids have access to, Bird said in a statement. Today, we made the case in court to defend Iowas law that protects kids, families, and parental rights. It is common sense.

In his order blocking the law until litigation is settled, U.S. District Court Judge Stephen Locher called the law wildly overbroad."

The judge noted the law has resulted in removal of several hundreds of books, including, among others, non-fiction history books, classic works of fiction, Pulitzer Prize-winning novels and books meant to help students avoid being victimized by sexual assault.

Many of the books contain LGBTQ characters and content of particular relevance to LGBTQ students.

Since the injunction, many books and resources initially pulled from Iowa classrooms and school libraries have been returned.

The law also that prohibits the teaching of gender identity and sexual orientation through sixth grade. Locher wrote the law defines those terms generically and would apply to the teaching of all gender identity and sexual orientation, not just about LGBTQ individuals.

Locher left in place a portion that requires educators to notify parents when a student asks to be called by different pronouns. Because the plaintiffs involved already are publicly LGBTQ, that portion of the law does not apply to them and they dont have legal standing to file the challenge, Locher ruled.

What did attorneys argue?

Lambda Legal and ACLU attorneys said the law discriminates against particular views and content and limits access to information.

They argue books being removed under the age-appropriate standard are not pornography and fail to meet the definition of obscenity as determined by the U.S. Supreme Court. Their suit argues the law prohibits books without any evaluation of the material as a whole or its literary, artistic, political or scientific value.

Thomas Story, an ACLU staff attorney, said the law violates public school students rights to speak, read and learn freely.

It restricts expression in terms that are so vague and overbroad that no two schools seem to agree on what they mean, Story told reporters following the hearing. But the fact is that over 3,000 books were removed. Student (gay-straight alliances) were closed and LGBTQ+ students across the state were forced into silence. That is unconstitutional. And we will continue to defend the rights of Iowa students as this case moves forward.

Wessan, the solicitor general, contended the law regulates government, not private, speech. Wessan argued there's no First Amendment harm as a result.

No matter which way the court rules, either it will be extending the government's 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 Eighth Circuit. Either way, new ground is going to be broken, Wessan said.

He also argued the district courts preliminary injunction erred by applying a novel obscenity-light standard for minors rather than applying precedents that already decide the issue at hand.

Wessan said the lower court used an overly broad reading of the law to find constitutional infirmities to halt enforcement, and that state and federal courts require a narrower reading. For example, despite how the law is written, he argued it does not apply to books related to gender identity and sexuality, only to mandatory or compulsory instruction in certain grades.

This law was done by the Iowa Legislature with the intent of helping support Iowa's youth and in helping to curate the way that Iowa students learn, he said. And a facial injunction against key parts of this law have stymied that.  The state believes that if this injunction is vacated, the school districts, the schools and the students will understand what the law means. And as time moves forward, this will become an integral part of Iowa's educational landscape.

Whats next?

The underlying litigation and constitutional issues raised challenging SF 496 are paused while the Eighth Circuit considers the appeal.

Christy Hickman, attorney for the Iowa State Education Association teachers union, said plaintiffs could potentially file individual suits against districts over book removals or other aspects of the law, should the injunction be reversed, but that has not been discussed.

Its been fairly clear that theres been over-removal  based on fear of breaking the law, she said.   And I dont see that changing unless we get some sort of acknowledgment from the Department of Education that there needs to be some additional guidance so that librarians, schools boards, other educators know exactly how to implement this law  and not put their career in jeopardy.
When Scott Turows bestselling legal thriller Presumed Innocent was first adapted for the screen by Alan Pakula in 1990, the movie felt like part of a Hollywood trend catering to white male paranoia. Michael Douglas was the chief avatar of this school of pop culture projection: In the years before and after, he was stalked by a one-night stand in Fatal Attraction, sexually harassed by his female boss in Disclosure, menaced by a sexy bisexual serial killer in Basic Instinct, and hassled by assorted racial minorities into a homicidal rampage in Falling Down. Pakulas Presumed Innocent, starring the less abrasive Harrison Ford, was a more prestigious and tasteful artifact of its time, but its premise remains very much of a specific historical moment. That makes David E. Kelleys decision to create a new adaptation of the novel for Apple TV+ something of a mystery in its own right.

Granted, the novel and Pakulas adaptation were both hits for a reason. As with most of Turows thrillers, the plot operates like a Swiss watch, in this case forming a pair of merciless pincers closing in on Rusty Sabich (played in the new adaptation by Jake Gyllenhaal), an Illinois prosecutor whose co-worker Carolyn Polhemus (Renate Reinsve) is found murdered and grotesquely hog-tied in her home. Rustys boss, District Attorney Ray Horgan (Bill Camp), insists that Rusty work the case. Horgan faces an election challenger in Nico Della Guardia (O-T Fagbenle), another prosecutor, and he needs the best lawyer in his office to demonstrate that the DA hasnt allowed crime to devastate even his own staff. Rusty initially resists, but the alternative, Tommy Molto (Peter Sarsgaard), doesnt have the chopsIm better than Tommy, Gyllenhaals Rusty states flatly in a staff meeting, dangerously oblivious to the resentment stewing behind Moltos eyes.

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The problem with this plan is that Rusty had an affair with Carolyn that supposedly ended months earlier, and Rustys wife, Barbara (Ruth Negga), accuses him of still being in love with her. When Horgan loses the election, Della Guardia and Molto go after Rusty, who is found to have telephoned and texted Carolyn obsessively shortly before her death. The drama culminates in court as Rusty is tried for murder.

Law firms and courtrooms have always felt like Kelleys home turf, as does Rustys comfortable upper-middle-class home with its swimming pool and column-framed front porch. The longer running time of the series allows Kelley to bring more red herrings and plot twists into play than the movie could accommodate. And the storys subtext has been updated. The cast is more diverse. Its at least acknowledged that Rusty and Carolyns affair is a human resources nightmare. (In the 1990 film, Horgan responds to Carolyns death by saying, What a waste, a sexy broad like that. And a helluva lawyer.) Barbaraessentially a long-suffering homemaker in the filmis granted a three-dimensional identity, complete with a job in an art gallery that she loses when the media circus surrounding her husbands arrest attracts too much negative attention, a sweet flirtation with a handsome bartender, and allusions to the unlived life she sacrificed to her husband and two children.

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You have to wonder why she did, though. The Apple TV+ Presumed Innocent presents Rustys life as a hushed, gray realm, its colors leached away by the sedate comforts of suburbia and the petty power struggles of the workplace. The novels smart conceitsubjecting a prosecutor to the indignities, from home searches to intrusive questioning about his sex life, he once inflicted on defendantsrenders Gyllenhaals Rusty so waxen he looks almost embalmed. Hes in purgatory, and the handful of times he lashes out against his fate, along with the slow trickle of unflattering revelations about his relationship with Carolyn, encourage the viewer to consider the possibility that Rusty might be guilty. Well, he is guilty, of so many things, whether or not he killed Carolyn. Perhaps the worst part of Rustys torments is that he knows they are at least somewhat deserved.

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This gives Kelleys Presumed Innocent a penitential air. In Turows book and Pakulas film, Carolyn is a scheming climber, sleeping with a string of powerful men to advance her career. She dumps Rusty as soon as she realizes that he wont be much use to her in that department. The 1980s and 90s boom in glossy Hollywood movies fretting over the incursion of women into professional workplaces and the threat that they might use sexual power against their male colleagues has not aged well, to say the least, but it did have the advantage of high melodrama. In the movie version, Carolyn is played by the inhumanly exquisite Greta Scacchi, kitted out in shoulder pads that would do a linebacker proud. In the series, the more relatable Reinsve (fresh off her international breakout in The Worst Person in the World) plays a Carolyn who wins Rustys heart with her sensitivity in questioning a little girl who has been abused.

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Stepping in to provide a little zest to these proceedings are Fagbenle and Sarsgaard, serving as villains pro tem, until the murderer is discovered. Fagbenles Della Guardia is a deliciously slick political animal with a silken voice and languid deadpan. Sarsgaard is even more fun to watch and hate as a second-rater finally getting his chance to nail the guy who has always overshadowed him. His sleepy smirk as he maneuvers Rusty into traps of his own making is mustache-twirling for our time. (In truth, we see more demonstrations of Moltos lawyerly skills in this series than Rustys.) Ostensibly, Presumed Innocent is a murder mystery, but it feels most lively when it focuses on office politicsor, really, anytime Fagbenle and Sarsgaard are on screen.

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Then theres the ending, which more or less affirmed the aforementioned male paranoia as Presumed Innocents theme in both novel and film. The final episode was not made available to critics, but I wouldnt be surprised if the killers identity has been changed. The series has already made significant alterations, by having Horgan act as Rustys defense counsel instead of Sandy Stern, a character who recurs in many of Turows novels. Given how much the world itself has changed since 1990, rethinking that infamous final twist might just be the most welcome thing it could do.
Welcome to How Bad Is This, Really?, a recurring feature in which we take the temperature of how things are looking in the presidential election and what seems likely to happen in November.

This weekend, Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump delivered remarks in Las Vegas about electric boat batteries and sharks. Out of respect for the democratic process, I ask that you watch and consider them in full before reading the rest of this article.

Context: Trump was recapping a conversation he had supposedly had with the proprietor of a company that makes boats. This person, in the former presidents account, is being forced to outfit the boats he manufactures with electric batteries and doesnt like it. Neither does Trump:

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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

Thank you. (Here is what the MIT thing is about.) Now ask yourself, and be honest: Did that make sense?

Many liberal writers and commentators said that it did not. Cognitive Decline? Trump Short-Circuits During Bonkers Rant, wrote the New Republic, which despite its history of contrarianism seems to have lately taken a turn toward trying to please the hypothetical median Democrat. I dare you to try to make sense of this, said viral clip-account proprietor Aaron Rupar (which is something he says a lot). An MSNBC blogger wrote, Its difficult to know not only what hes talking about, but why in the world he said it in the first place. The official Joe BidenKamala Harris campaign Twitter account posted a video of another MSNBC host who cited the shark monologue as an example of Trumps being untethered to reality.

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But is it really impossible to understand? Trump may be wrong about the science involved, but his point seems clear enough, which is that liberals are scolds who lack common sense. They want to equip boats with renewable batteries even though water and electricity dont mix, and they care more about the feelings of sharks than the people sharks attack. (Soft on shark crime, soft on the causes of shark crime.) The premise of an electrocution/biting-death binary is far-fetched, but he obviously knows that. Its an allegory, you might say, for Bidens leadership turning the U.S. into a sinking ship circled by scavengers.

Also, his delivery is funny, as this seemingly left-leaning British reporter seems to understand:

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Absolutely stunning. Watch and enjoy from the Best To Ever Do It:pic.twitter.com/YRt5OrjWNw  William Kedjanyi (@KeejayOV3) June 9, 2024

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Anecdotally, I had already suspected that semi-ironic Trump appreciation was common among left-leaning people who are young enough to be participating in multiple ongoing group chats, where his comedic work can be appreciated in semi-private. The shark incident presented the opportunity to do further research.

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Posing a question on Twitter and in Slates workplace Slack chat provided some confirmation of the theory. Followers and colleagues attested (or admitted) to regularly enjoying and using Trump riffs in their social circles, from classics like many such cases and WowI didnt know that, youre telling me that for the first time (his over-the-top reaction to a reporters question about Ruth Bader Ginsburgs death, which he had almost certainly just been told about by advisers) to deep cuts, like his repeated invocation of the word routers after the 2020 election. One brought up the death of Harambe the gorilla at the Cincinnati Zoo, which is how the phrase Trump weighs in on gorilla zoo shooting has been permanently etched into my memory. Another reminded me that Trump responded to his impending arrest by posting a message that said, WOW, they are going to ARREST ME.

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Related From Slate Postconviction Trump Polls Deliver Resounding Verdict of Check Again Later Read More

The routers clip was actually sent to me by Slates Nitish Pahwa, who, despite reporting professionally on the dangers of ethnonationalism, confided that he often repeats Trumps pronunciation of the word to himself. (Nitish also said that he mimics Trump saying the word waffles but cant locate the clip that made him start doing it in the first place. I am concerned about Nitishs well-being.) Which raises two questionswhats going on here, and is it a problem that establishment Democrats dont seem to get it?

Part of it is probably the timeless tendency to console oneself with gallows humor. (Basically the entire purpose of a second Trump administration would be to repress the kind of people being discussed in this article.) Part of it is the forbidden appeal of unspoken truths. And part of it is the modern phenomenon of using technology to expose yourself to something stupid or absurd so many times that it becomes intrusively hilarious. (See: its time to drink precisely one beer and call 911.)

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And although Trump comedy is not the biggest issue Joe Bidens reelection campaign faces, it might be a problem that the current presidents team believes that it can undermine concerns about its candidates age by pointing to purportedly nonsensical Trump clips in which Trump is actually doing an easily parsed riff about how liberals are idiots. If a significant portion of people who despise Trump understand what is funny about him, amplifying his more appealing moments to voters who are on the fence might not be advisable.

Anyway, its our custom to conclude this column with a rating on the patented Shovel Metera measure of exactly how sedated you might want to be at the moment, on a scale of one to five shovel blows to the head, if youre concerned about Trumps reelection and the potential end of democracy.

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This week, its four shovels. When youre discussing exactly how funny it is that a revenge-obsessed felon is currently favored to become the next president, things are not going well. But thats OKwell still keep drinking that garbage.
Many Slovak words for ugly have supernatural overtones, as if people might make the sign of the cross at you if you left the house without brushing your hair.

Slovak words for ugly often have supernatural overtones. (Source: Jo Stolp on Pixabay)

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Moved by a piece in this newspaper some time ago extolling the virtues of korzovanie, or strolling around the city at dusk, my wife and I threw a tablecloth over the TV and started visiting downtown Bratislava in the early evening (podvecer).

While this may seem an innocuous pastime, it can actually be extremely dangerous if your partner catches you goggling at all the human beauty (ludska krasa) on display in the city streets.

Since I'm not bucking for a black eye, I won't speculate on why Slovak women seem so alluring (vabivy) or provocative (vyzyvavy), but rather offer readers a vocabulary with which to express their own appreciation.

The basic terms you'll need are pekna (pretty, or pekny, handsome) and krasna (beautiful, or krasny for men). Pekna, as common adjectives tend to do, has many other applications, such as pekny kus roboty, a good deal of work. Kus, or piece, can in turn be applied to beauty, such as kus chlapa, a hunk of a man.
12. Jun 2024 at 6:40 I Modified at 14. Jun 2024 at 9:41 I

European Commission recently approved state incentives for the carmaker.

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A 1.2-billion investment by Chinese-owned Swedish car manufacturer Volvo Cars in eastern Slovakia is expected to create thousands of new jobs, boost regional development, and contribute to more ecological transport in Slovakia and elsewhere, among other benefits.

The company is building its third European factory in the Valaliky industrial park near Kosice, where it will produce all-electric vehicles. Both Slovakia and Sweden consider the investment a priority.

The Volvo investment will contribute to the creation of thousands of jobs, to regional development, and to ecological transport, said Marek Estok, state secretary (i.e. deputy minister) of the Foreign Affairs Ministry, on a visit to Kosice for celebrations to mark Europe Day on May 9. He was accompanied by Christian Danielsson, state secretary of the Swedish Ministry of European Union Affairs.

The Slovak government is providing a direct financial incentive of 267 million to support construction of the plant.

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Related article Car production returns to pre-Covid figures in Slovakia Read more

Giving the green light to the stimulus, the European Commission said in early April the investment will contribute to the EUs strategic objectives relating to job creation, regional development and the European Green Deal.
Slovaks have chosen 15 MEPs.

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Only after the group around [now president-elect] Peter Pellegrini left to form the Hlas party in 2020, and [now Defence Minister] Robert Kalinak stepped down from his position as vice-chairman, did Lubos Blaha rise to prominence in the Smer party leadership.

While for Smer, Blaha has become a significant social media draw for voters in the conspiracy scene, the opposition considers him one of the most aggressive coalition politicians and has for years referred to him as "the MP who shall not be named" in reference to Lord Voldemort from the Harry Potter series.

If Blaha takes up his new mandate as an MEP following his success in the June 8 election, he will leave not only his seat as a member of Parliament after 12 years and 4 terms, but also his position as its Deputy Speaker. He is a fan of Russian President Vladimir Putin's policies, an opponent of the US, and one of the most loyal colleagues of Smer leader Robert Fico.

According to the Sme daily, Smer is planning to propose former police president and its MP Tibor Gaspar for Blaha's post.

Related article

Related article Official results: Progressive Slovakia's second victory in European elections Read more

Blaha's mandate will be claimed by one of the two alternates - either Jan Horvath, Mayor of the village of Chtelnica, Trnava Region, or Jozef Kacmar, former mayor of the village of Tisinec, who took over the Labour Office in Stropkov, Presov Region, earlier this year. The latter can take over Erik Kalinak's seat, the only other MP to succeed in the European elections.

The sole successful candidate who will have to give up his position if he takes up his MEP mandate is Brano Ondrus, who is expected to become the only Hlas MEP. Currently he is the Labour Ministry State Secretary. Hlas has not yet commented on who might replace Ondrus at the ministry led by the party's Vice-Chairman Erik Tomas.

Here is an overview of the elected MEPs.

Progresivne Slovensko

Number of MEPs: 6

Elected MEPs: Ludovit Odor, Lubica Karvasova, Martin Hojsik, Veronika Cifrova Ostrihonova, Michal Wiezik, Lucia Yar

Ludovit Odor is one of the most renowned Slovak economists. He is a co-author of the flat tax, worked on the pension reform, the introduction of the euro, the creation of budgetary rules, and was involved in the Value for Money project.

Since 2018, he has served as the vice governor of the National Bank of Slovakia. In 2023, President Zuzana Caputova tasked him with forming a caretaker government, in which he served as prime minister for 4 months.

Lubica Karvasova is a long-standing diplomat and an expert on the European Union. She served as an advisor to former prime ministers Igor Matovic and Eduard Heger. She is the granddaughter of former National Bank Governor Imrich Karvas, who saved Slovakia's gold reserves from the Third Reich during the Slovak State and helped finance the Slovak National Uprising.

Martin Hojsik has spent more than 20 years with Greenpeace, focusing on environmental issues and the fight against the climate crisis. He has been an MEP since 2019. The EU Matrix platform ranked Hojsik 12th among the 100 most influential MEPs and 5th when it comes to green issues.

In the European Parliament, Hojsik was the rapporteur for the soil regulation, and he also addressed the stricter regulation of toxic substances in waste. Since last October, he has been the Vice President of the European Parliament, following PS leader Michal Simecka's taking up a mandate in the Parliament after the September elections.
Who are new Slovak MEPs, what foreign journalists say about Slovak team at European Championship, Volvo plant construction to start soon.

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Good evening. Here is the Wednesday, June 12 edition of Today in Slovakia - the main news of the day in less than five minutes.

Legal action over donation of MiG-29s

Slovakia sent 13 MiG-29 jets to Ukraine in 2023. (Source: TASR - Jan Kroslak)

The Defence Ministry has announced that it will take legal action in regards to the donation of Slovakia's MiG-29 fighters to Ukraine in 2023. The jets were donated by the then interim government of Eduard Heger.

Now the ministry claims the government had no authority to do so, adding that the jets were donated without proper legal analysis. Minister Robert Kalinak (Smer) says that by doing so, his predecessor as minister Jaroslav Nad (Demokrati) weakened Slovakia's Armed Forces.

The jets, which were obsolete and only a handful of which were airworthy, had all been grounded indefinitely in 2022 after it was revealed that their maintenance was reliant on Russian technicians employed via a lucrative contract awarded to the firm of a Slovak oligarch close to Smer party leader Robert Fico.

The Ukrainian Air Force flies the same type of jets, so the donated airframes were considered useful to it for spare parts  or in extreme cases to be pressed into service, as wartime circumstances demanded.

According to 31-year-old deputy minister Igor Melicher (Smer), an audit at the ministry has shown that there is no evidence that the ministry ever worked on an analysis. In his opinion, the interim government made a major decision regarding foreign policy and thereby violated the constitution.

Nad says that a legal analysis was made, and was prepared both by the Defence Ministry as well as then-justice minister Viliam Karas.

According to Nad, the Foreign Affairs Ministry agreed with his and Karas' opinions, and that the legal departments of the Government Office and President's Office also addressed the issue. "Legally-wise, it was absolutely clean," he stressed.

Nad remarked that he would make the same decision again, as the donation saved lives and Slovakia will be reimbursed for it from the European Peace Facility.

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FEATURE STORY FOR WEDNESDAY

Who are Slovakia's newly elected MEPs?

The European Parliament (Source: TASR/AP)

Last weekend, Slovaks elected 15 MEPs, with Progressive Slovakia taking 6, Smer 5, the extreme right-wing Republika party 2 and Hlas and the Christian Democratic Movement (KDH) 1 each. In this overview, you will find their short biographies. Among them are influencers, former TV reporters, conspiracy theorists, as well as long-time politicians.

EVENT FOR SATURDAY

Discover Roman history in Slovakia

Gerulata in Bratislava's borough of Rusovce, was a Roman military camp. Dating back to between the 1st and 4th century AD, it was part of the Limes Romanus, the frontier of the Roman Empire. (Source: TASR)

Every year, Limes Day reminds residents of Bratislava that the territory of the city was once the border of the Roman Empire. This year's 10th edition will take place on Saturday, with a guided tour around Gerulata. A special bus will be dispatched to get people from Bratislava to Rusovce and then to another nearby Roman site in Austria and back. You can also visit the area by bike: an organised trip will depart from under the Most Lanfranconi bridge. Registration is required. Learn more here.

IN OTHER NEWS

According to Defence Minister Robert Kalinak (Smer) and Interior Minister Matus Sutaj Estok (Hlas), Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smer) is communicating with the coalition while recovering from his shooting. "His condition corresponds to the course of rehabilitation. He is focused on returning to full health, subordinating all medical procedures to that end," said Kalinak, adding that, in his opinion, Fico's recovery will take a few more weeks. (TASR)

"His condition corresponds to the course of rehabilitation. He is focused on returning to full health, subordinating all medical procedures to that end," said Kalinak, adding that, in his opinion, Fico's recovery will take a few more weeks. (TASR) Culture Minister Martina Simkovicova (SNS nominee) was supposed to attend a parliamentary session on Tuesday, June 11 and present a draft amendment regarding the Media Services Act. However, she was nowhere to be found. On Wednesday, the Dennik N daily reported that she was instead on a private trip in Croatia with Peter Kotlar, the government's special envoy for the investigation of the Covid-19 pandemic. Based on the act, Slovakia is supposed to designate a national Digital Services Coordinator. Originally, Slovakia was due to select one before February 17, but did not do so, resulting in European Commission taking action against Slovakia. (Dennik N).

However, she was nowhere to be found. On Wednesday, the Dennik N daily reported that she was instead on a private trip in Croatia with Peter Kotlar, the government's special envoy for the investigation of the Covid-19 pandemic. Based on the act, Slovakia is supposed to designate a national Digital Services Coordinator. Originally, Slovakia was due to select one before February 17, but did not do so, resulting in European Commission taking action against Slovakia. (Dennik N). The Slovak Electricity Transmission System (SEPS) plans to continue to help Ukraine resolve emergency situations. The company extended the contract on the provision of emergency assistance in the form of short-term power supply by another 12 months. (SITA)

Slovak President Zuzana Caputova (r) during her final visit to the Czech Republic as head of state. She met Czech President Petr Pavel (l). Later, she will receive the Czech Republic's highest honour, the Order of the White Lion, while at the same time she will award her counterpart the highest Slovak state award, the Order of the White Double Cross. (Source: TASR)

Diplomat, former OSCE secretary-general and former foreign affairs minister Jan Kubis will be President Peter Pellegrini's advisor for international policy issues. Kubis ran for president in March, but was disqualified in the first round after receiving just 2 percent of the vote. (TASR)

Kubis ran for president in March, but was disqualified in the first round after receiving just 2 percent of the vote. (TASR) On Wednesday, Parliament approved the deployment of up to five Slovak soldiers at the operational headquarters of the European Union's Naval Force Operation ASPIDES in Greece. (TASR)

A drone used for an intervention against mosquitoes in Bratislava's Petrzalka borough. The drone applied a biocide called Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis (BTI), a naturally occuring bacterium that feeds on mosquito larvae. (Source: TASR)

WEATHER FOR THURSDAY: Cloudy to overcast skies, with showers and rain in many places. Temperatures of between 17C and 22C, and between 12C and 17C in some northern parts, are expected. (SHMU)

JUNE 13 NAME DAY IN SLOVAKIA: Anton

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Party leaders will get extra security following Fico's shooting.

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In response to the attempt on Prime Minister Robert Fico's life in May, the government on Wednesday approved changes that have been dubbed the 'lex atentat' (assassination law). These include, among other things, limits on public gatherings and new benefits for several government and parliamentary officials.

"The costs for this are insignificant," deputy premier Robert Kalinak (Smer) said.

The changes will be discussed in parliament via a fast-tracked procedure, i.e. with minimal review by MPs, before the start of the summer recess.

Lifetime pension for Fico

Robert Fico will become the only prime minister in Slovakia's history to be granted a lifetime pension, to be set at 3,192 per month, the currrent salary of an MP.

Until now, only the president was entitled to such a benefit. Fico's coalition wrote its proposal in such a way that even though it could technically apply to any premier, only Fico himself actually meets the conditions for the pension: holding the mandate for at least two full election periods.

This means that not only former prime ministers Igor Matovic, Eduard Heger or Jozef Moravcik, who occupied the office for 1 to 2 years each, but also Mikulas Dzurinda and Vladimir Meciar who led the government multiple times and for extended periods will also not meet the requirement.

Although Fico is entitled to the benefit immediately after its approval, he will not begin receiving it until he leaves his constitutional role. In addition, the speaker of parliament will also get a lifetime pension provided he or she has served two full terms in the office. However, no speaker to date has fullfilled such a condition.

Another law change relates to the housing of the president, speaker of parliament and prime minister who are currently entitled "to use an adequately equipped apartment for free." The wording is being changed to "real estate adequately equipped for housing and for the fulfillment of protocol obligations associated with the function". However, the explanatory notes do not make it clear what this terminology actually means.

In addition to the president, the prime minister, the interior and defence ministers and the speaker, from now on the chairs of all parliamentary parties as well as deputy speakers will be entitled to security.

This means that Progressive Slovakia (PS) leader Michal Simecka, Christian Democratic Movement (KDH) chair Milan Majersky, Freedom and Solidarity (SaS) chair Branislav Grohling, Slovensko chair Igor Matovic and Slovak National Party (SNS) chair Andrej Danko will also get taxpayer-funded security.

Limited gatherings

The government also proposes a limitation on public gatherings and protests. A ban on gatherings will apply within a radius of 50 metres from the residence of the Slovak president, the government, a general court, or up to 100 metres in the case of the Constitutional Court.

"The aim is to ensure that these state bodies can operate smoothly and not be disturbed," reads the draft.

The draft also includes new reasons for banning gatherings. For example, this can be to prevent protests in front of a household of a person whose employment, profession or post is directly related to the purpose of the gathering.

In the past, protests were held right in front of the Bonaparte complex in Bratislava where Robert Fico used to live, as well as in front of the houses of Igor Matovic and President Zuzana Caputova. Such gatherings would henceforth have to be held at a distance.
https://sputnikglobe.com/20240611/one-killed-3-injured-in-kievs-shelling-of-shebekino-from-mlrs---belgorod-region-governor-1118909876.html

One Killed, 3 Injured in Kiev's Shelling of Shebekino From MLRS - Belgorod Region Governor

One Killed, 3 Injured in Kiev's Shelling of Shebekino From MLRS - Belgorod Region Governor

Sputnik International

One person was killed as a result of the Ukrainian shelling of the town of Shebekino in Russia's Belgorod Region, and another three were wounded, Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov said on Wednesday.

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multiple-launch rocket systems (mlrs)

civilian casualties

civilian deaths

ukrainian conflict

ukrainian crisis

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"The town of Shebekino was shelled by the Ukrainian armed forces from MLRS. One civilian was killed as a result of a direct hit of a shell on an apartment. The man died of his wounds on the spot before medics arrived. I express my sincere condolences to the family and friends of the deceased. As of this moment, three people were wounded. Two women with various shrapnel wounds to the hands and legs were taken by ambulance crews to the city hospital No. 2 in Belgorod," Gladkov said on Telegram. The governor said the victims were provided with medical care, adding that the third victim suffered a concussion and was treated on the spot as he refused hospitalization. Gladkov also said that six private residences, 11 apartment buildings, nine vehicles and a power line were damaged in the shelling.

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240611/putin-includes-russian-defense-minister-belousov-in-security-council---decree-1118908994.html

Putin Includes Russian Defense Minister Belousov in Security Council - Decree

Putin Includes Russian Defense Minister Belousov in Security Council - Decree

Sputnik International

Russian President Vladimir Putin has authorized the inclusion of Defense Minister Andrei Belousov in the Security Council, according to a decree published on Tuesday.

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andrei belousov

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russian security council

sergei shoigu

nikolai patrushev

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To include Belousov A.R. - Minister of Defense of the Russian Federation as a permanent member of the Russian Security Council, the text of the decree reads.The same decree specifies the positions of two other permanent members. Former Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu became new Secretary, and Nikolai Patrushev, who previously served as Secretary of the Security Council, became presidential aide.The Russian Security Council currently has a total of 30 members, including 12 permanent members. The Council is formed by the president, who appoints members and serves as Council's chairman. The Secretary of the Security Council is directly subordinate to him.

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240612/a-moral-crisis-confusion-between-the-us-and-israel-continues-as-both-administrations-show-cracks-1118911982.html

A Moral Crisis: Confusion Between the US and Israel Continues as Both Administrations Show Cracks

A Moral Crisis: Confusion Between the US and Israel Continues as Both Administrations Show Cracks

Sputnik International

Confusion between the US and Israel appeared to continue as the UN Security Council adopted a US-drafted ceasefire resolution for Gaza and Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu publicly rejected it.

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benjamin netanyahu

joe biden

israel

hamas

palestine

israel defense forces (idf)

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On Monday, confusion between the US and Israel appeared to continue as the UN Security Council adopted a US-drafted ceasefire resolution for Gaza based on a proposal that was outlined by US President Joe Biden. The US claimed that Israel accepted the proposal, however Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has publicly rejected it and maintains little to no possibility of a ceasefire.Radhika Desai, an author and professor in the Department of Political Studies and the director of the Geopolitical Economy Research Group at the University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, sat down with Sputnik's The Critical Hour on Tuesday. Desai told the shows hosts that since the war first unfolded in October, one has at every stage been at a loss for words.Meanwhile, I think the right-wing parties are probably even worse than him, are only hanging on because they figure that if they lose this government, they may lose the war. [...] But Netanyahu is not in control of the situation, she added. The US, Israel, in particular - are pulled apart by different directions. They themselves don't know what they're doing. But there's one thing they seem to be agreeing on, which is that no matter what the continued murder of a genocide of civilians in Gaza can continue.US officials who publicly resigned over the Biden administrations Gaza policy are now working together in an effort to support ongoing dissent, and to put pressure on the US government, CNN reported on Sunday.More than half a dozen people had left their jobs as a form of protest, with many officials saying they would pursue further action outside the government. Officials who spoke with the news outlet said they still have colleagues within the government who agreed with their decisions to leave.When you do something so wrong, you are going to generate a moral crisis within your own society, among your own people. And you are beginning to see that again. It's a moral crisis of two different sorts, the author explained. In the US, people are resigning because they are horrified. In Israel, Benny Gantz has resigned because he thinks that Netanyahu is not doing, murdering enough Palestinians and bringing victory closer, faster.And they're now saying they're going to coordinate, Desai said. They realize that this is something very big, that this represents their own country doing something far more wrong than they have been [...] trained to look away from a considerable amount of wrong.Desai then drew a comparison between the USs actions in the Vietnam War to that of their actions in Gaza; citing campus protests as one major similarity. A veil had been placed around peoples eyes at that point, during which voters had been told that what the US was doing was liberating Vietnam up until the point when the veil was suddenly torn off and people could see the horror of what the US was doing to Vietnam, she explained.Gaza itself was a tiny enough place that you could practically bomb anywhere and say that this is where Hamas is and there are civilians there. So, it really is, the sheer madness is spiraling itself out of control.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. Benny Gantz, an Israeli war cabinet member, residened from his position following the assault. In a message to the families of captives who remain in Gaza, he apologized and said Israel had failed, and blamed Netanyahu for standing in the way of victory.Even before the Netanyahu government was started on this genocidal madness, Netanyahu was already deep in trouble. Remember that they were all the so-called liberal sections of Israeli society who were up in arms because he was threatening to change the constitution in ways that would compromise their freedoms, said Desai. And Netanyahu is therefore at the head of a coalition that is already exceedingly right-wing, even by Israeli standards.Sputniks Wilmer Leon asked their shows guest how it would be possible for Hamas to coordinate with a government they dont trust.Desai explained that with the current "extent of the demonization of the opposite side" Hamas can't "trust anybody in the West to negotiate with, stating that such approach is rational.

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critical hour, radio sputnik, israel, gaza, palestine
https://sputnikglobe.com/20240612/any-hostile-shift-in-canadas-arctic-strategy-will-harm-its-security-1118922318.html

Any Hostile Shift in Canada's Arctic Strategy Will Harm Its Security

Any Hostile Shift in Canada's Arctic Strategy Will Harm Its Security

Sputnik International

Russia doesn't see Canada as a threat in the Arctic but if the Trudeau cabinet shifts to a confrontational stance, it will harm Canada's security, Russian Ambassador Oleg Stepanov told Sputnik.

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The Canadian government is readying to release a new Arctic strategy to address what it perceives to be a growing Russian threat in the region, Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly told Bloomberg on Tuesday. The announcement came two months after National Defense released its defense policy update in which it emphasized that the most pressing task for Canada was to assert its sovereignty in its northern regions and the Arctic. Such a change would reflect a very near-sighted policy by Ottawa which would artificially create an adversary out of a neighbor  Russia  that happens to be a major military power, Stepanov said. The Arctic has become a contentious area and Moscow strongly advocates maintaining the status quo while it also seeks to avoid any militarization of the region, he added. The Ambassador further noted that bilateral contact between Moscow and Ottawa is null, something he attributed to the Trudeau cabinet's choice of cutting all political contacts with Russia. Minimal interaction is maintained multilaterally within the working groups of the Arctic Council, he continued. Russia has repeatedly expressed concern about the increased NATO military activities in the Arctic, saying that they raise the risk of unintended conflict in the region. Russia has also allowed for the possibility of withdrawing from the Arctic Council if this bodys activities do not meet its interests.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240601/how-northern-fleet-guards-russias-arctic-as-new-cold-war-heats-up-1118740169.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240612/chinese-fm-wang-yi-attends-brics-foreign-ministers-meeting-amid-growing-voice-of-global-south-1118916051.html

Chinese FM Wang Yi Attends BRICS Foreign Ministers Meeting Amid Growing Voice of Global South

Chinese FM Wang Yi Attends BRICS Foreign Ministers Meeting Amid Growing Voice of Global South

Sputnik International

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.

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brics

china

russia

beijing

global times

un security council (unsc)

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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 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. 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.Echoing Wang Youming, Song said the BRICS mechanism is entirely composed of emerging market and developing countries, making it more representative of their interests.This article was originally published by Global Times.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240607/putins-4d-chess-west-losing-war-on-four-fronts-after-picking-fight-with-russia-1118851297.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240605/nato-would-stand-no-chance-against-russia-china-military-alliance--analyst-1118772307.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240605/is-us-hegemony-a-paper-tiger-1118771302.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240525/will-western-leaders-start-world-war-iii-to-distract-from-their-political-failure-1118621432.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240612/dont-expect-eu-elections-to-change-ukraine-policy-1118910707.html

Dont Expect EU Elections To Change Ukraine Policy

Dont Expect EU Elections To Change Ukraine Policy

Sputnik International

After populist right parties won big in EU elections, some are hoping that it will portend a change in Ukraine policy, but they shouldn't hold their breath.

2024-06-12T02:33+0000

2024-06-12T02:33+0000

2024-06-12T02:33+0000

analysis

giorgia meloni

george szamuely

emmanuel macron

france

ukraine

russia

european union (eu)

nato

european parliament

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The shocking election results in Europe have, in many countries, come at the expense of the parties more supportive of funding Ukraine, but that doesnt mean a policy change will be forthcoming.Foreign policy is not the purview of the European parliament. That is decided by the individual governments within the EU and, of course, NATO. So while there is growing discontent over their governments support of the Kiev regime, that was not the focus of the voters and even if it were, the voters in this election were focused on immigration and EU policy.The European Parliament doesn't actually do anything. I mean, it doesn't actually do the minimum that you expect from a parliament, which is legislate. So it doesn't really do that. But, of course, foreign policy is not at all within the bailiwick of the European Parliament, explained George Szamuely on Sputniks Fault Lines. So these kinds of issues about deployments in Ukraine, thats determined at, [the] NATO level and at the level of [French President Emmanuel] Macron and [German Prime Minister] Olaf Scholz.While the election does potentially portend a change in mood in Europe, it is difficult to predict how much that will translate into an election that has a focus on foreign policy. There is also the issue, familiar to most voters in the West: politicians changing once they get into office.Early in her campaign, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni had a populist message. She spoke about EU sanctions on Russia hurting Italys economy. She spoke about bucking EU immigration policies, but after the election, she said Italy will continue to follow NATO policies towards Russia and she has yet to address the immigration issue.That sequence of events could be repeated elsewhere in Europe. In France, the National Rally party picked up a dozen seats and received more than twice the votes of Macrons Renaissance Party. While Presidential elections in France arent until 2027, and Macron will not be able to run due to term limits, it did compel him to call for snap elections where he could be forced to work with Marine Le Pens 28-year-old protege Jordan Bardella.As much of a disaster that will be for Macron, it again does not mean we will see substantive changes in France, even if Le Pen takes the Presidency in 2027.The first test to see if the EU parliamentary elections will carry over to domestic European elections will come later this month. The snap elections initiated by Macron will take place on June 30, with the second round on July 7.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240610/macron-gambles-with-snap-vote-to-prepare-comeback-for-centrists-after-dismal-eu-election-results-1118893861.html

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eu elections, what do the eu elections mean, will the eu continue to fund ukraine, will the eu support ukraine
https://sputnikglobe.com/20240612/georgia-to-reestablish-diplomatic-relations-with-russia--reports-1118913865.html

Russian Foreign Ministry Denies Reports on Reestablishing Diplomatic Relations With Georgia

Russian Foreign Ministry Denies Reports on Reestablishing Diplomatic Relations With Georgia

Sputnik International

Russian and Georgian governments are actively working on reestablishment of diplomatic ties, reports Georgian media citing undisclosed sources.

2024-06-12T07:13+0000

2024-06-12T07:13+0000

2024-06-12T08:33+0000

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Reports that Russia and Georgia are engaged in restoring diplomatic relations are misinformation spread by opposition forces of Georgia, the Russian Foreign Ministry told Sputnik on Wednesday."We see no point in commenting on various hoaxes circulated by Georgian opposition resources," the ministry said.Earlier, Georgian opposition TV channel Mtavari.tv reported citing sources that the Russian and Georgian governments are actively working on restoring diplomatic relations.Georgia is already recruiting diplomats for the Russian embassy, the outlet added.When Russia and Georgia broke off diplomatic relations, the dialogue between the two countries was maintained through the Geneva discussions and negotiations between Russian Senator Grigory Karasin and Zurab Abashidze, which have taken place in Prague since 2012.Georgia broke off diplomatic relations with Russia after Moscow recognised Abkhazia and South Ossetia as sovereign states in August 2008.Earlier, the Georgian parliament passed the law on foreign agents, overriding the presidential veto - a move that drew harsh criticism from the Western nations. Georgian authorities, however, say that the law fully complies with all basic legal principles and is aimed at revising the activities of non-governmental organizations.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240516/is-west-fanning-euromaidan-style-public-protests-in-georgia-1118481393.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240612/macrons-coalition-sees-president-as-liability-ahead-of-feared-snap-election-1118917001.html

Macron's Coalition Sees President as Liability Ahead of Feared Snap Election

Macron's Coalition Sees President as Liability Ahead of Feared Snap Election

Sputnik International

French President Emmanuel Macron's coalition fears that he could drag it down in the polls ahead of the snap legislative election that is itself seen as a disaster in the making, Politico reported on Wednesday, citing lawmakers and party staffers.

2024-06-12T12:23+0000

2024-06-12T12:23+0000

2024-06-12T12:23+0000

world

france

emmanuel macron

francois bayrou

european parliament

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Macrons five-party Besoin d'Europe coalition was dealt a staggering blow in the European Parliament elections last week where it won 14.6% of the vote, against the far-right National Rallys 31.37%. Macron called a snap parliamentary vote in the hope of wresting the initiative back from the right, but his party and coalition members now fear they will be the ones to pay for this mistake. Heavyweights in Macron's coalition have been reportedly urging the president to take a step away from the campaign trail to give them a fighting chance of winning. Francois Bayrou, Macrons key ally and leader of the Renaissance-allied Modem party, came to the presidential palace on Monday to tell Macron that he "mustnt get too involved in the campaign," the news site quoted a centrist lawmaker as saying. Other coalition lawmakers have been reportedly distancing themselves from Macron as they gear up for the first round of the legislative polls, due June 30. An official with Macrons Renaissance parliamentary group accused the 46-year-old of being oblivious to Frances "anti-president" mood. The news outlet said that polls show that Macron is being perceived as aloof and out of touch. An Elysee staffer was quoted as saying that Macron was so "intoxicated by his own presence" during D-Day celebrations last week that the results of the European elections "hit him hard." Despite calls from his friends and allies, Macron plans to get heavily involved in the campaign, which his coalition partners reportedly see as a huge risk. He is said to be planning to saturate the media with three appearances per week, starting with a major speech on Wednesday.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240611/bets-and-threats-macron-weighs-voters-distaste-for-his-party-against-fear-of-the-right-1118899933.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240612/march-to-pristina-how-russian-paratroopers-disrupted-natos-plans-in-the-balkans-in-1999-1118919082.html

March to Pristina: How Russian Paratroopers Disrupted NATOs Plans in The Balkans in 1999

March to Pristina: How Russian Paratroopers Disrupted NATOs Plans in The Balkans in 1999

Sputnik International

A highly secretive mission conducted by Russian airborne forces in Kosovo was of geopolitical importance, highlighting Russia as a force to be reckoned with, experts told Sputnik.

2024-06-12T15:47+0000

2024-06-12T15:47+0000

2024-06-12T15:47+0000

analysis

russia

serbia

kosovo

nato

airborne troops

mission

pristina

operation

forces

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On June 12, 1999, a combined battalion of Russian paratroopers deployed to Bosnia and Herzegovina as part of the UN-mandated peacekeeping Stabilization Force (SFOR) marched 600 kilometers to take control of the Slatina Airport near Pristina.The operation was conducted at the end of the 1999 Kosovo War, which finally saw the then Yugoslav armys withdrawal from Serbias breakaway province.On June 11, 1999, 206 Russian paratroopers left the Bosnian town of Ugljevik, driving their armored personnel carriers (APCs) across then-Yugoslavia towards Pristina. There were a total of 15 APCs and 35 military vehicles, plus several refueling vehicles, which reached Kosovos capital on June 12, not least thanks to efforts by Serbian police who cleared the road for the Russian troops, securing a "green corridor."The march, which is now widely known as "the forced march to Pristina," was followed by a Russian peacekeeping force of 650 men serving in Kosovo in subsequent years.The goal of the Pristina mission was to show "the Russian peoples fraternal support for Serbs and to influence the situation in the future," retired Lieutenant General Nikolay Staskov, former chief of staff of the Russian Airborne Forces and one of those who took part in the mission, said in an interview with Sputnik.He stressed that Russian troops acted faster than NATO forces, who were also tasked with seizing Slatina Airport. The BTR-80 armored personnel carriers with Russian paratroopers moved at "an almost unthinkable" speed to cover more than 600 km (372 miles) so that the highly secretive mission could be accomplished as quickly as possible, Staskov recalled.Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov noted in this vein that "Thank God, the demands of hotheads in Washington and other Western capitals, particularly in London, to rein in the Russians did not prevail, yielding to professional actions by Western military, including British servicemen."Staskov, in turn, cited then-Russian President Boris Yelstin as praising the "excellent" actions by Russian paratroopers. Yelstin also expressed satisfaction with the fact that he at last managed to give NATO a flick on the nose." An unnamed official is said to have reacted by saying: "You, Boris Nikolayevich, didn't give them a flick on the nose - you punched them in the face."Leonid Ivashov, former head of the Russian Defense Ministrys main department of international military cooperation, for his part, pointed to the remarkable fact that "there was not even a single wounded paratrooper in the course of the operation." He took part in the 1999 talks on the Kosovo settlement, also adding to a decision by the head of the Russian paratroopers to move to the Slatina airport."This facility was important from a tactical point of view. We showed that Russia cannot be thrown out of the global political process, and that the country is independent and not subordinate to NATO or anyone else," Ivashov told Sputnik.The ex-head of the Russian Defense Ministrys main department of international military cooperation added that the Pristina march had a geopolitical scale as NATO tried to push Europe towards war.Lavrov, for his part, said that "undoubtedly, the events pertained to NATOs push for its eastward expansion, something that he said was confirmed by subsequent developments."In Pristina, our soldiers were in the spotlight. A British unit tried to seize Slatina Airport, but to no avail," Ivashov said. He praised efforts by Russian Special Services and those of Serbia, who "worked in such a way that not a single shot was fired by Kosovo forces at the Russian paratroopers."In a televised interview earlier this year, Russias President Vladimir Putin touched upon his role in the operation, which actually allowed Moscow to outstrip NATO at the time and secure Moscows right to partake in the settlement of the conflict in the former Yugoslavia.According to Putin, who worked as the secretary of the Russian Security Council in 1999, then-Chief of the General Staff Anatoly Kvashnin asked him for recommendations on how the Russian Armed Forces should act in Kosovo, adding that he was unwilling to coordinate the actions with the Ministry of Defense.He added in this context that he does not consider the operation to be brazen behavior by Russian paratroopers.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20231228/us-deploying-national-guard-troops-to-kosovo-for-nato-peacekeeping-mission-1115861005.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20220411/natos-eastward-expansion-orchestrated-by-us-with-goal-of-regime-change-in-russia---military-analyst-1094670461.html

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a combined battalion of russian paratroopers, russian aiborne troops, the 1999 forced march to pristina, the kosovo war, russian peacekeepers, russian armed personnel carriers
https://sputnikglobe.com/20240612/norway-to-provide-ukraine-with-257mln-in-aid-for-air-defense-measures---defense-ministry-1118912957.html

Norway to Provide Ukraine With $257Mln in Aid for Air Defense Measures - Defense Ministry

Norway to Provide Ukraine With $257Mln in Aid for Air Defense Measures - Defense Ministry

Sputnik International

Norway will contribute 240 million euros (over $257 million) to Ukraine for air defense measures, the Norwegian Defense Ministry has announced on social media.

2024-06-12T05:12+0000

2024-06-12T05:12+0000

2024-06-12T05:12+0000

military

ukrainian crisis

patriot

nato

russia-nato showdown

norway

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German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said on Tuesday that Germany, along with Denmark, the Netherlands and Norway, will provide Ukraine with an additional 100 missiles for Patriot systems, 32 of which have already arrived in Ukraine over the last few days. In late May, Norway and Ukraine signed a bilateral security agreement totaling over $328 million in aid to Kiev for 10 years. The Kremlin has consistently warned against continued arms deliveries to Kiev since the start of Russia's military operation in Ukraine in February 2022, saying it would lead to further escalation of the conflict. In April 2022, Russia sent a diplomatic note to all NATO countries on the issue of arms supplies to Ukraine. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has warned that any cargo containing weapons for Ukraine will become a legitimate target for Russian strikes.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240607/putins-4d-chess-west-losing-war-on-four-fronts-after-picking-fight-with-russia-1118851297.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240511/scott-ritter-predicts-how-ukraine-will-end-1118382169.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240612/russia-ready-to-deepen-cooperation-with-all-states-on-basis-on-mutual-respect-1118912276.html

Russia Ready to Deepen Cooperation With All States on Basis on Mutual Respect

Russia Ready to Deepen Cooperation With All States on Basis on Mutual Respect

Sputnik International

Russian Ambassador to Canada Oleg Stepanov said Russia stands ready to deepen and expand cooperation with all nations on the basis of mutual respect and consideration of each others interests.

2024-06-12T02:59+0000

2024-06-12T02:59+0000

2024-06-12T02:59+0000

russia

russia

oleg stepanov

cooperation

st. petersburg international economic forum (spief)

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The ambassador made the remarks at a reception held at the Russian mission in Ottawa on the occasion of Russia Day. Stepanov said that Russia is going through a difficult and "existential" momentous stage of its development, a situation driven by some members of the international community opposed to the concept of an equal all-centric world proposed by Russia.Stepanov, however, noted that there was a "magic catch," being that no one has seen or has been authorized to see the said rules.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240606/moscow-on-ankaras-interest-in-joining-brics-accession-open-certain-entry-criteria-exist-1118818571.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240612/russian-practices-of-organizing-education-will-be-applied-abroad-1118910936.html

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COLOMBO, June 12 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lanka Cabinet approved a proposal submitted by President Ranil Wickremesinghe to begin negotiations for a free trade agreement with Malaysia, the government's information department said on Wednesday.

The department said that Sri Lanka must develop economic integration with countries that have strong and strategic economies. Malaysia, Sri Lanka's 34th export destination, is a key member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP).

The total value of exports from Sri Lanka to Malaysia was 58.3 million U.S. dollars in 2023, according to the department.

Sri Lanka has signed such agreements with Thailand and Singapore. Discussions are underway for a preferential trade agreement with Indonesia. 
https://sputnikglobe.com/20240612/russian-ships-entering-cuba-give-us-a-dose-of-its-own-medicine-1118912634.html

Russian Ships Entering Cuba Give US a Dose of Its Own Medicine

Russian Ships Entering Cuba Give US a Dose of Its Own Medicine

Sputnik International

On Wednesday, a squadron of Russian ships, including a frigate capable of firing hypersonic missiles will arrive in Cuba as part of an international partnership program.

2024-06-12T04:28+0000

2024-06-12T04:28+0000

2024-06-12T04:28+0000

analysis

mark sleboda

military & intelligence

cuba

russia

china

nato

ukraine

russian navy

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The decision to send Russian ships to Cuba is giving America a taste of what they do to the rest of the world, international relations and security expert Mark Sleboda told Sputniks The Critical Hour on Tuesday.The United States has frequently run military exercises off the coast of its nominal adversaries, including China, North Korea, Iran and Russia. Earlier this week, NATO kicked off BALTOPS 2024 in the Baltic Sea, the largest exercise in the programs history.The Russian trip to Cuba is a reminder to the US that two can play this game, explained Slaboda. It needs to be said that in [BALTOPS 2024] the US sent B-52 Stratofortress bombers from the United Kingdom. They conducted according to Russian reports a simulated nuclear attack on the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad.Noting that this is not the first time the US simulated nuclear attacks on Russia, theyve done so in Crimea in the past, Sleboda called BALTOPS 2024 incredibly provocative and irresponsible and dangerous, noting that while Russia is sending ships to Cuba, it is not simulating nuclear strikes on US soil.We see Russia and NATO on a precipice of direct confrontation between the two sides in Ukraine, he noted.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240530/natos-tightening-grip-on-gotland-whos-really-militarizing-the-baltic-sea-1118701100.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240611/russian-military-ships-to-visit-cuba-on-june-12--1118903096.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240612/watch-russias-northern-fleet-warships-arrive-in-cuba-1118918759.html

Watch Russia's Northern Fleet Warships Arrive in Cuba

Watch Russia's Northern Fleet Warships Arrive in Cuba

Sputnik International

The Cuban Foreign Ministry noted that the visit of the Russian ships meets friendly relations with Cuba and fully complies with international rules. None of the ships carries nuclear weapons, and their deployment does not pose a threat to the region, the ministry stressed.

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The naval strike group of the Russian Northern Fleet - which includes the Kazan submarine, the Admiral Gorshkov frigate and a rescue tugboat of the Russian Navy Nikolai Chiker - has entered the port of Havana as part of a long-range cruise, a Sputnik correspondent has reported. Two welcoming ceremonies for the ships will be held in the port - separately for a frigate and a submarine. A diverse tactical group of four vessels, including support vessels that previously practiced the use of high-precision missile weapons in the Atlantic, are on an official visit to the port of Havana from June 12 to 17. The Russian sailors plan to meet with the Cuban Navy command and the Governor of Havana, as well as visit historical and cultural sites. Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Navy Alexander Moiseev told Sputnik that the visit to Cuba is only one among the tasks of a large-scale Russian-uban cooperation.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240612/russian-ships-entering-cuba-give-us-a-dose-of-its-own-medicine-1118912634.html

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the cuban foreign ministry noted that the visit of the russian ships meets friendly relations with cuba and fully complies with international rules. none of the ships carries nuclear weapons, and their deployment does not pose a threat to the region, the ministry stressed.
https://sputnikglobe.com/20240612/will-team-biden-use-color-revolt-toolbox-to-stay-in-power-1118920845.html

Will Team Biden Use 'Color Revolt' Toolbox to Stay in Power?

Will Team Biden Use 'Color Revolt' Toolbox to Stay in Power?

Sputnik International

The Biden administration will try to hold power by hook or by crook despite Joe's waning election odds, the question is how far they will go, US economist and former Reagan administration official Dr. Paul Craig Roberts told Sputnik.

2024-06-12T19:01+0000

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Republican front-runner Donald Trump is leading the incumbent US president in key battleground states which Joe Biden managed to win in 2020 by a razor-thin margin, according to polling data aggregator RealClearPolitics. Moreover, Virginia, a blue state, has also become a "toss-up" for the 2024 race, according to recent polls.According to various polls, over two-thirds of Republicans still believe the 2020 election was stolen by Democrats. Biden won the race due to a string of victories in swing states which were all taken by the Democratic hopeful by a small margin. At the same time, most of them came into the spotlight for alleged voting irregularities, involving duplicate votes, unmatched ballot totals, apparent non-citizen votes, and "phantom" ballots. Ballot harvesting, loosening of ID check barriers, and enhanced mail-in voting under the pretext of COVID-19 also prompted much suspicion among Republicans.The 2022 midterms reinvigorated election fraud suspicions amid reports about glitches in election equipment, long queues, messy conduct of election authorities, and days-long ballot counting in a number of states. Back then, Roberts explained that the alleged "theft" of votes usually occurs in big cities of the battleground states where "measures are used to minimize Republican voting and to maximize Democrat voting."This year, however, "the question unknown is whether the election will be close enough that the Democrats can get away with the steals," the economist underscored.Biden Campaign Reportedly DesperateOne of such Biden-Harris campaign emails, authored by Hollywood star George Clooney, reads: "Im not exaggerating when I say that this election is the fight of our lives We need as many people as possible to chip in to defeat Donald Trump once and for all."Left-leaning pundits continue to focus on Trump's current 91 criminal counts in four separate prosecutions. In one of these cases, opened by prosecutors from the Manhattan District Attorney's Office, the former president was found guilty of falsifying his business records."This was a disgrace, this was a rigged trial," Trump told reporters following the court's verdict.Such legal problems has not lessened his election odds; on the contrary, some surveys showed that his rating has slightly risen, according to New York Magazine's analysis.For its part, a CBS study indicated that 80 percent of Republicans, 42 percent of independents and 6 percent of Democrats believe that the latest Manhattan case was somehow engineered by the Biden administration to prevent Trump from winning the race. The other three cases are viewed similarly by Republican voters as a weaponization of law  "lawfare"  against Trump.Democrats' 'One Party System' GoalTeam Biden and the US establishment are unwilling to lose and are "capable of doing anything to keep Trump from being president, including releasing a new pathogen to cause a pandemic and assassination of Trump," according to Roberts.The latter assumption does not seem an exaggeration given the recent assassination attempt on Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, who was shot several times in the central Slovak town of Handlova in mid-May. The attempted murder evoked strong memories of Cold War era Operation Gladio  a CIA-NATO secret warfare against the West's political opponents, which included false flag operations, assassinations and terrorist attacks.The Democratic Party and their allies in the Republican camp are seeking to maintain the established status quo in US politics, with a focus on aiding Ukraine to inflict a "strategic defeat" on Russia and militarizing the Asia Pacific region to contain China.In his previous interviews with Sputnik, Dr. Roberts referred to then Democratic-controlled House efforts to pass The For the People's Act (later renamed as The Freedom to Vote Act) and the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act as a "statement of intention" to turn the US political landscape into a "one-party system." Once these pieces of legislation are passed by Congress "voting in America would be pointless," the economist noted in January 2022. According to him, new election rules would allow Democrats to cheat through unsolicited mail-in and absentee ballots and weaponize illegal immigrant votes to tip the balance in the Democratic Party's favor.This reality has been taking shape for quite a while, apparently originating in the late 1980s, when "unregulated globalism took root to the detriment of the national government," Wall Street analyst Charles Ortel told Sputnik back in November 2020, while reflecting on the Democratic Party's legislative push. Ortel noted that the US has been ruled by the same dynastic political families and their associates in the justice system, academia and intelligence community for nearly three decades, referring to the Bush, the Clinton, the Obama and the Biden families.US Establishment Uses 'Color Revolt' PlayBook in AmericaOver the past several decades, the US establishment has mastered meddling in foreign elections and fomenting regime changes across the globe. What's more, all these tools have been repeatedly used domestically to manipulate public opinion and peddle disinformation within the US while keeping "undesired" candidates away from power, according to Dr. Roberts.Under these circumstances, Washington tolerating Volodymyr Zelensky's unconstitutional power grab in Ukraine after his presidential tenure expired sends a worrisome signal about the Biden administration's next moves. It raises questions, however, how the American people will react to a similar power grab in the US, according to Dr. Roberts."If this time the election is again stolen or Trump is assassinated and the majority recognize the fact, will they rise up in anger or will they be demoralized by a sense of powerlessness?" he asked.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240522/bidens-approval-rating-falls-to-lowest-in-two-years-1118573099.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20201122/politburo-are-dems-striving-to-win-it-all--turn-us-political-landscape-into-one-party-system-1081242712.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240509/calling-the-bluff-aging-us-fleet-and-drained-stockpiles-no-match-for-china-and-russia-1118362489.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20221125/us-ned-global-meddler-and-rightful-heir-of-cia-1104671859.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240531/scott-ritter-ukraines-nato-allies-dragging-world-into-nuclear-armageddon--1118717524.html

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I must say that we work very carefully within this group and we always try to use all the opportunities we have to cooperate with the BRICS group. During our time there, we have also done our work, and we believe that working in the group opens up new opportunities on a global scale, Parrilla said at a meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Moscow.
Vernon Downs will host the 2024 Empire Breeders Classic (EBC) for New York-sired sophomore trotting colts and fillies on a Friday, June 14 matinee card with post time at 12:15 p.m.

With seven fillies entered, the EBC filly stakes will go as a single division for a purse of $193,400 USD in race seven.

The favourite's role goes to the streaking R Melina, who has won all three of her seasonal starts in New York Sire Stakes events while adding $137,123 to her career bankroll, which has surpassed a half-million dollars for owners Doug and Rosalind Paul as M And L Of Delaware and partners Rita Armitage and James McLane racing as Alabama Harness Associates.

The Chapter Seven filly has dominated New York and boasts a few Grand Circuit scores along the way, but the path to victory here is complicated by several fillies who had successful seasons while competing at the highest level in 2023.

She races out of the John Butenschoen stable and regular driver Tyler Buter will be along for the ride on Friday.

The colt stakes is split into a pair of $101,500 USD divisions.

Race five features Sir Pinocchio (Jason Bartlett), who has captured three of five starts this year, including the Dexter Cup (pictured above), while amassing $162,409 for trainer Ed Hart and owner Carolyn Atherton, who also bred the son of Mets Hall.

Competition-wise, Situationship has won his only seasonal start and will contend for trainer-driver Ake Svanstedt. A leader in the regional division, Situationship had a Grand Circuit presence while banking $137,092 for Knutsson Trotting, Little E LLC and Tomas Andersson last year.

Keep Asking's (Tyler Buter) current form makes him a contender for trainer George Ducharme and partners Bill Donovan, Joe Sbrocco and Jim Winske.

Dame Good Time set a track record of 1:51.1 in a NYSS at Vernon during his most recent start for trainer Travis Alexander and is the horse to beat in race six. The homebred Chapter Seven gelding posted a Grand Circuit win in the Bluegrass Stakes at The Red Mile for John Cummins, and driver Scott Zeron has stuck right with him.

The main opposition is inside here, as both Bargain (Yannick Gingras for Nancy Takter) and Wild Ticket (Dexter Dunn for Marcus Melander) had six-figure seasons as freshmen.

These races are made possible by a joint sponsorship between The Agriculture & NY State Horse Breeding Development Fund, NY Stallion Owners and Tioga & Vernon Downs, which provide more than $480,000 USD in funding for the stakes.

The supporting stakes are a pair of NYSS divisions for three-year-old pacing colts along with four Excelsior splits.

(Vernon Downs)
Trainer Dave Menary holds a pair of aces, namely, Pass Line and Its A Love Thing, in the $425,000 Fan Hanover final, part of the stacked deck of stakes action on Saturday evening at Woodbine Mohawk Park.

Already in the middle of another strong season, Menary, who is well on pace to eclipse the 44 wins he posted last year, will look to add a victory in the Fan Hanover, for three-year-old pacing fillies, to his impressive 2024 campaign.

The multiple stakes-winning conditioner, who has 920 career victories, brings a solid one-two punch to the ring.

They are both very special fillies, praised Menary. We feel very lucky to have them with us. Both of them and one of my Grassroots fillies, Make Out With Me, shared a field for the whole winter in Kentucky at Spring Station Farms. Josh [Green] and Sasha [Moczulski] did a great job with them there. Its A Love Thing came home in January and Pass Line went to New Jersey with Ron Burke and they did an excellent job with her too.

A daughter of All Bets Off-Breakheart Pass, Pass Line has fashioned a record of 11-3-2 from 17 starts, accompanied by $735,627 in career earnings.

Owned by Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi, Frank Baldachino and Rich Lombardo Racing LLC, the bay filly was third to Burke-trained My Girl EJ in her Fan Hanover elimination last Saturday.

Shes not big, but she is like a rocket ship, said Menary. She is a perfect-sized horse and couldnt look any better than she does right now.

Pass Line made headlines throughout the sport after an outstanding rookie year. She won all but one of her Ontario Sires Stakes Gold legs, added a Champlain Stakes trophy that season and capped it off with the OBrien Award as the countrys Two-Year-Old Pacing Filly of the Year.

It was a fantastic year for her and Its A Love Thing, said Menary. She just did everything right and showed up with her best every week.

This year, Pass Line has one win, one second and a third from four starts.

Scott Zeron will sit in the race bike behind the filly for the first time on Saturday.

I think that is a very good fit, said Menary. They suit each other well.

Menarys other Fan Hanover hope comes in the form of Its A Love Thing.

Like her stablemate Pass Line, the bay filly had a sensational freshman campaign and was the O'Brien Award runner-up. In 12 starts, Its A Love Thing went 6-2-1 to go along with $560,656 in purse earnings. Highlights from that first year included a brilliant winning performance in last Septembers $540,000 Shes A Great Lady at Woodbine Mohawk Park.

She only has one eye, said Menary, who trains the Bettors Delight-Love For Sail filly for Eric Good, Thomas Biederman, Joshua Green and Rich Lombardo Racing LLC. When she first started racing, I wanted her to be known for her talent, not for having one eye.

On May 25, she set an OSS record for pacing mares on a seven-eighths-mile track when James MacDonald piloted her to a sizzling 1:49 triumph in the Gold Series leg for three-year-old pacing fillies.

Second in her Fan Hanover elimination last Saturday to the Burke-trained Canigetalouploup, Its A Love Thing is 2-2-0 from four starts in 2024. Her lifetime purse earnings number sits at $716,406.

Shes a big, strong horse, said Menary. It takes her a little while to get rolling, but when she does, she brings it.

Bred by Marvin & Lynn Katz and Al Libfeld, Its A Love Thing was a $65,000 yearling purchase from the 2022 Lexington Selected Sale.

Shes very big and she was that big at two. She was built like she was five. This year, she grew into herself. I have to say, shes the first big Bettors Delight that I have ever had.

She wants things her own way. James [MacDonald] and I had to work with her, mostly, on her steering because of the one eye. It took a couple of starts to get her going, but for the most part, its been clear sailing since then.

You could forgive the soft-spoken conditioner for being a little revved up over his pair of talented fillies.

Both are like nice vehicles, said Menary. Its A Love Thing is like the fanciest Escalade you can get  she will get you to where you need to be in style. Pass Line is like the nicest Tesla you can get  shes very handy and her speed is, right now!

They both have a certain cockiness to them, and they are both very talented fillies.

Something that Menary hopes is on display this weekend.

Its A Love Thing drew the rail and Pass Line drew post seven. I dont think you will see them up front early, but hopefully, the flow moves along, and they end up at the right place at the right time.

The following is the field for the $425,000 Fan Hanover Stakes, scheduled as Race 9 with an approximate post time of 9:50 p.m. ET.

Post - Horse - Trainer - Driver - Morning Line Odds

1. Its A Love Thing - James MacDonald - David Menary - 4-1

2. Pass And Stow - Louis-Philippe Roy - Tony Beaton - 20-1

3. Canigetalouploup - David Miller - Ron Burke - 10-1

4. Reigning Jade - Doug McNair - Shawn Steacy - 20-1

5. Geocentric - Tim Tetrick - Brian Brown - 5-2

6. My Girl EJ - Dexter Dunn - Ron Burke - 3-1

7. Pass Line - Scott Zeron - David Menary - 6-1

8. Odds On Platinum - Sylvain Filion - Dr. Ian Moore - 15-1

9. Caviart Belle - Yannick Gingras - Nancy Takter - 8-1

10. Flawless - Andrew McCarthy - Nancy Takter - 15-1

AE. Asweetbeachhere - David Miller - Andrew Harris - 20-1

Click on the following link to view complete entries for all of Saturday's stakes: Saturday Entries - Woodbine Mohawk Park.

(With files from Woodbine)
The Blooded Horse Sale is currently taking entries for its Black Type yearling session and mixed sale scheduled for Tuesday, Aug. 27 in Springfield, Ohio.

Racehorses and breeding stock will follow the yearling session. Consignors will receive exposure to buyers coming from across the United States and Canada as well as online bidding availability.

The yearling deadline is July 15.

Visit bloodedhorse.com to enter online or request an entry blank.

(With files from Blooded Horse Sale)
LUSAKA, June 12 (Xinhua) -- Officials at the Tourism Council of Zambia (TCZ) have said that the council wants to see increased cooperation with China.

The TCZ is keen to tap into the huge Chinese market to boost Zambia's tourism, said Tecla Zondiwe-Ngwenya, the TCZ treasurer.

"It is a market that we are paying much attention to and respect," she said in an interview Wednesday.

The Chinese are welcome to visit tourist sites in Zambia and invest in various untapped tourism areas in the country, Zondiwe-Ngwenya said.

She said the Zambian government's decision to include China in the visa waiver initiative was made with the consideration of the potential China could add to Zambia's tourism growth, adding that plans to introduce direct flights between the two countries will go a long way in boosting both tourism and trade cooperation.

Victor Inambwae, the TCZ chief executive officer, applauded the cordial cooperation between the two countries in various sectors, including cultural exchanges and tourism.

He said the launch of the 2024 Zambia-China Culture and Tourism Year last month in China, which included not only a display of Zambia's rich culture but also a promotional session for Zambian tourism attended by nearly 1,000 industry professionals from the two countries, would go a long way in enhancing the tourism cooperation between the two countries.

China has played a pivotal role in supporting Zambia's tourism, Inambwae said, citing the construction of the TAZARA Memorial Park, in Chongwe district in Lusaka Province, as one example of helping attract more international tourists.

Stephen Mwansa, a TCZ service-level consultant, said the two countries stand to benefit from enhanced cooperation in the tourism sector as Zambia has many tourist areas that have not been developed and need investments from countries like China.

He said China could also help promote Zambia's tourism resources.

"As you know China has constructed a lot of infrastructure here which could be marketed," he said. 
Introduction: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has issued a significant circular (RBI/2024-2025/42, A.P. (DIR Series) Circular No. 10) detailing the approval of a Government of India-supported Line of Credit (LoC) amounting to USD 23.37 million to the Government of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana. This credit, facilitated by the Export-Import Bank of India (Exim Bank), is designated for the procurement of two Hindustan 228-201 aircraft from Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. The agreement, effective from April 8, 2024, underscores Indias commitment to strengthening its trade relations and boosting its export footprint.

Agreement Overview The agreement between Exim Bank and the Government of Guyana, dated March 15, 2024, marks a pivotal step in enhancing bilateral trade relations. The LoC, valued at USD 23.37 million, will enable Guyana to procure two state-of-the-art Hindustan 228-201 aircraft. This transaction highlights the prowess of Indias aviation manufacturing sector and reinforces the global competitiveness of Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd.

Eligibility and Procurement Terms The export of goods and services under this LoC is governed by the Foreign Trade Policy of the Government of India. A crucial stipulation of the agreement mandates that at least 75% of the contract value must be sourced from Indian sellers, thereby ensuring a substantial benefit to the Indian economy. The remaining 25% of goods and services can be procured internationally, allowing flexibility in fulfilling the contract requirements.

Operational Timeline The agreement stipulates that the LoC will be operational from April 8, 2024, with the disbursement window remaining open for 48 months post the scheduled project completion date. This extended timeline ensures that all procedural and logistical aspects can be adequately addressed, facilitating smooth execution of the project.

Regulatory Compliance Shipments under this LoC are to be declared in the Export Declaration Form/Shipping Bill in accordance with the RBIs instructions. This ensures transparency and compliance with regulatory frameworks. Furthermore, no agency commission is payable for exports under this LoC. Exporters, if necessary, may utilize their own resources or the balances in their Exchange Earners Foreign Currency Account for commission payments, subject to RBI regulations.

Banking Instructions The circular directs all Category-I Authorized Dealer (AD) banks to disseminate the details of this LoC to their exporter clients. Exporters are encouraged to seek comprehensive information from Exim Bank to fully leverage this credit facility. The banks are also tasked with ensuring adherence to the guidelines and procedures set forth by the RBI and FEMA.

Legal Framework The directions issued in this circular are in accordance with sections 10(4) and 11(1) of the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA), 1999. These directives are designed to operate within the broader legal context, ensuring that all transactions under this LoC are legally sound and compliant with Indian financial regulations.

Conclusion: The RBIs approval of a USD 23.37 million Line of Credit to Guyana for the procurement of Hindustan 228-201 aircraft is a testament to Indias expanding economic and trade influence. This strategic move not only promotes the export of Indian goods and services but also fortifies bilateral ties with Guyana. The detailed guidelines and compliance measures outlined by the RBI ensure that the execution of this agreement will be smooth, transparent, and beneficial to all parties involved. This initiative marks a significant milestone in Indias export policy and its global trade ambitions.

*****

Reserve Bank of India

RBI/2024-2025/42

A.P. (DIR Series) Circular No. 10

June 11, 2024

All Category  I Authorised Dealer Banks

Madam/ Sir

Export-Import Bank of India (Exim Bank)s Government of India-supported Line of Credit of USD 23.37 mn to the Government of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana (GO-GUY), for procurement of two Hindustan 228-201 aircraft from Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd.

Export-Import Bank of India (Exim Bank) has entered into an agreement dated March 15, 2024 with the Government of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana (GO-GUY), for making available to the latter, Government of India supported Line of Credit (LoC) of USD 23.37 mn (USD Twenty-Three Million Three Hundred Seventy Thousand Only) for procurement of two Hindustan 228-201 aircraft from Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. The export of eligible goods and services from India, as defined under the agreement, would be allowed subject to their eligibility under the Foreign Trade Policy of the Government of India and whose purchase may be agreed to be financed by the Exim Bank under this agreement. Out of the total credit by Exim Bank under the agreement, goods, works and services of the value of at least 75 per cent of the contract price shall be supplied by the seller from India, and the remaining 25 per cent of goods and services may be procured by the seller for the purpose of the eligible contract from outside India.

2. The Agreement under the LoC is effective from April 08, 2024. Under the LoC, the last date for disbursement will be 48 months after scheduled completion date of the project.

3. Shipments under the LoC shall be declared in Export Declaration Form/Shipping Bill as per instructions issued by the Reserve Bank from time to time.

4. No agency commission is payable for export under the above LoC. However, if required, the exporter may use his own resources or utilize balances in his Exchange Earners Foreign Currency Account for payment of commission in free foreign exchange. Authorised Dealer (AD) Category- I banks may allow such remittance after realization of full eligible value of export subject to compliance with the extant instructions for payment of agency commission.

5. AD Category  I banks may bring the contents of this circular to the notice of their exporter constituents and advise them to obtain complete details of the LoC from the Exim Banks office at Centre One, Floor 21, World Trade Centre Complex, Cuffe Parade, Mumbai 400 005 or from their website www.eximbankindia.in

6. The directions contained in this circular have been issued under section 10(4) and 11(1) of the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA), 1999 (42 of 1999) and are without prejudice to permissions/ approvals, if any, required under any other law.

Yours faithfully

(N Senthil Kumar)

General Manager
Children 18 or younger can still get free meals this summer in Longview, Rainier and Woodland. No registration or proof of ID is required.

Longview

Longview School District will offer free meals for anyone 18 and younger at five locations. Supervised activities are also offered at teen centers, Archie Anderson Park and Kessler Elementary.

Teen Center/Women Center, 2121 Kessler Blvd.

Monday-Friday, through Aug. 16

Lunch: noon-12:30 p.m.

Snack: 3-3:15 p.m.

Ascent Teen Center, 1400 Commerce Ave. Monday-Friday, through Aug. 16

Lunch: noon-12:30 p.m.

Archie Anderson Park

Monday-Friday, through Aug. 16

Lunch: noon-12:15 p.m.

Snack: 3-3:15 p.m.

Kessler Elementary

Monday-Friday, through Aug. 16

Lunch: noon-12:15 p.m.

Snack: 3-3:15 p.m.

Rainier

Rainier School District will offer free lunch in the Rainier Jr/Sr High School commons for anyone 18 or younger. Rural meal pick-ups will be offered on Thursdays, and will consist of seven lunches, seven breakfasts and 14 milk containers. Families can opt for either daily meals or weekly meal pick-up, not both. To register for meal pick-ups, visit www.rainier.k12.or.us.

Rainier Jr/Sr High School

Monday-Thursday, through Aug. 23

Lunch: noon-12:30 p.m.

Meal pick-up: football field

Thursday, July 11-Aug. 23

12:30-1:15 p.m.

Meal pick-up: Rainier Public Library

Thursday, July 18-Aug. 8

12:30-1 p.m.

Woodland

Woodland School District is offering breakfast and lunch at Woodland Middle School. All meals must be eaten on site.

Woodland Middle School

Monday-Friday, through Aug. 16

Breakfast: 8-9 a.m.

Lunch: 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
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:

The first environmentally friendly, hybrid straddle carriers in the Port of Hamburg operate at HHLA's Tollerort Terminal (CTT) and are manufactured by Konecranes Noel. Credit: Dr. Thomas Koch, HHLA/Dr. Thomas Koch

Together with industry partners, the University of Bremen has developed an innovative, AI-supported status monitoring system for port vehicles in the "KISS" research project. It uses state-of-the-art technologies to monitor the technical condition of vehicles in real time

In the joint research project "AI-Based Damage and Wear Detection System for Cloud-Based Condition Monitoring of Hybrid Container Vehicles" ("KI-Basiertes Schadens- und Verschleierkennungssystem zur cloudbasierten Zustandsuberwachung von Hybrid-Container-Fahrzeugen")KISS for shortthe condition monitoring system was developed jointly by the industrial partners ANEDO GmbH, Kessler & CO GmbH & Co. KG, SEGNO Industrie Automation GmbH, HHLA Container Terminal Tollerort GmbH, and the ITEM research institute (Institute for Theoretical Electrical Engineering and MicroelectronicsApplied Electronics and Software Systems department) at the University of Bremen.

The system uses state-of-the-art technologies such as edge computing, IoT (Internet of Things), data analysis, and machine learning to monitor the technical condition of straddle carriers in real time and take preventive maintenance measures.

Straddle carriers are crucial for the smooth running of container transportation. These special vehicles are used to transport containers at the terminals, between the storage areas and the various modes of transportship, truck, and train. They therefore play a key role in minimizing bottlenecks and maximizing efficiency. Monitoring the condition of these vehicles is therefore crucial to their readiness for use.

Straddle carriers are monitored in real time

"Thousands of containers are moved between the various transport modes in the Port of Hamburg every day. The efficiency of these handling processes is a top priority for HHLA. This is why we use the most advanced technology for the maintenance and servicing of our equipment to ensure smooth and efficient operations," explains Thomas Sauck, Head of the Ground Handling Equipment department at Hamburger Hafen und Logistik AG's (HHLA) Tollerort Terminal.

"The introduction of advanced condition monitoring technologies for our wheel drives in the straddle carrier is an important step towards optimizing the use of our products and increasing customer satisfaction," says Daniel Oltmanns, Software Manager at Kessler & Co.

"Our edge electronics enable our customers to make their mobile machinery more intelligent," explains Fredo Harms, Managing Director of ANEDO GmbH.

The vehicle integration of the edge electronics also enables local data processing and, in combination with cloud-based data analysis, which allows for comprehensive data interpretation and use, creates new possibilities for precise monitoring of the straddle carriers in real time.

"Our solution offers seamless integration of cloud technology and edge electronics to ensure complete condition monitoring of the carriers. Service and workshop staff get a quick overview of upcoming maintenance work, which prevents breakdowns and increases efficiency," explains Vasco de Freitas, Head of Sales at SEGNO GmbH and IT security consultant.

Condition monitoring has many benefits

This sophisticated solution for condition monitoring in mobile machinery offers a number of benefits:

Early fault detection: Continuous monitoring allows potential problems to be detected at an early stage, before they lead to major failures. This reduces unplanned downtime and increases vehicle availability. Predictive maintenance: Based on the data collected, predictive maintenance models can be created to determine the optimum time for maintenance work. This minimizes downtimes and extends the service life of the vehicles in the long term. More efficient use of resources: Precise monitoring enables optimized planning of maintenance work and better utilization of maintenance resources, especially personnel and spare parts. Improved safety: Continuous monitoring helps to identify potential safety risks at an early stage and prevent breakdowns. Reduced costs: Significant cost savings can be made by reducing downtime, extending the service life of vehicles, and optimizing the use of resources.

"Our research findings enable precise detection and classification of wear and damage conditions in the wheel drives of the straddle carriers," explains Julia Scholtyssek, research assistant at the ITEM research institute at the University of Bremen.

Professor Karl-Ludwig Krieger adds, "By using AI, we can not only detect impending failures at an early stage, but also predict the expected remaining service life of the components. We are convinced that this technology can make an important contribution to the further development of the transport and logistics industry."

This innovative development in the monitoring of the condition of port vehicles is intended to help to further improve port logistics and strengthen Germany as a leading trading nation.
WELLINGTON, June 13 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Li Qiang arrived here Thursday for an official visit to New Zealand, the first leg of his three-nation tour from June 13 to 20.

During his stay, Li will hold in-depth changes of views with Governor-General Cindy Kiro, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and other officials on China-New Zealand relations as well as international and regional issues of common concern. 
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Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

A former reporter and current chair of the journalism department at the University of Colorado Boulder's College of Media, Communication and Information, Patrick Ferrucci studies the institutions, businesses and technologies that are rapidly reshaping the discipline.

So when he learned The Atlantic and Vox Media agreed to license their journalism to ChatGPT creator OpenAI, he thought back to agreements traditional publishers once signed with Facebook, Google and Twitterdeals that augmented audiences while wrecking revenue.

"I don't get it," he said.

"Maybe they see a monetary infusion at what's undeniably a difficult financial time for the media. But we've seen this before, and each time, that financial infusion doesn't benefit the actual journalism."

ChatGPT was hailed as a breakthrough when it arrived in the winter of 2022, able to respond to questions and create content that was seen as a value add for businesses and individuals. Some of the shine has since worn off as creators and artists have accused the company of stealing their work to train the chatbot to write more convincinglythe large-language models ChatGPT are trained on enormous amounts of data that come from novelists, poets, journalists, even regular users of social media platforms who post content and comments.

While he criticized the short-term benefits at the potential cost of long-term viability, Ferrucci said there could be other advantages for media companies that sign up with OpenAI.

"It could allow the journalism industry to get an understanding of what those tools can do," he said. "And if they get a head start with those tools, and learn to implement them into their processes early on, it will give them a leg up on companies that fought against it."

A different tactic: See you in court

Representing those companies fighting against it is The New York Times, which last year sued OpenAI after changing its terms of service to prevent A.I. systems from scraping its work. At the time, Robin Burke, a professor of information science at CMCI, called ChatGPT's honeymoon period "a free ride, because nobody was paying attention to what they were doing. Now, I think it makes sense that the organizations producing content are thinking, 'Do I really agree with this as a usage of my work?'"

It's a fair question, but Ferrucci said he expects we'll see more deals like this going forward.

"There are companies that can do investigative journalism because it doesn't matter if you sue them," he said. "And there are others who essentially self-censor because the threat of a lawsuit, no matter how frivolous, could destroy the business. If you show these news companies some money, I don't think all of them can afford to look away."

Casey Fiesler, an associate professor of information science at CMCI and an expert in ethical and legal issues surrounding technology, said of all the copyright suits against OpenAI, the Times may have the most compelling case, since the paper was able to show examples where ChatGPT appeared to respond to user prompts with copyrighted material from the newspaper.

But for her, the most interesting issue isn't copyright.

"I think the more profound thing is this idea that you used my work to build a technology that will replace me," she said. "That's why so many people are upset. It feels like a violationyou're using my art to build this technology so that you don't have to pay artists anymore."
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The researchers tested their new approach on this test facility. Credit: Ostschweizer Fachhochschule

Whether producing foods, beverages, drugs, metals or paper or treating surfaces and textiles, industrial companies need process heat for many applications. Much of this is still generated by burning fossil fuels. Consequently, the generation of process heat accounts for a large proportion of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the global industrial sector. In Switzerland, it is responsible for some 8% of total GHG emissions.

The industrial sector could already be generating process heat of up to 200 degrees Celsius in an eco-friendly manner, using industrial heat pumps that run on electricity generated from renewable sources. Yet despite this potential, heat pumps are still uncommon in industrial settings. This is because existing models tend to be expensive constructions that are custom-made for a specific industrial application and temperature.

Now, researchers from ETH Zurich and the Eastern Switzerland University of Applied Sciences in Buchs have developed a solution that enables heat pumps to generate heat cheaply and flexibly at various temperatures of up to 200 degrees Celsius. This fits the sector's needs much more closely than commercially available solutions, which is why numerous Swiss and international companies have already expressed an interest in the technology. The study is published in the International Journal of Refrigeration.

Harnessing heat from the environment

Heat pumps harness the energy stored in waste heat or in the ambient air, groundwater or soil. They generate heat for heating or process heat by evaporating a refrigerant fluid in a closed system and then passing the gas through a compressor to increase its temperature. The heat obtained in this process can then be used to heat buildings or for industrial processes.

In conventional heat pumps, the achievable temperature and temperature profile are largely determined by the choice of refrigerant. All the heat pump's componentsfrom the evaporator and compressor to the condenser and expansion valveare tailored to this refrigerant.

If a factory requires heat at different temperatures for multiple applications, this can currently be achieved only by using multiple heat pumps, each with a different refrigerant. This is both costly and inconvenient, which is why heat pumps have failed to make headway in the industrial sector.

Refrigerant blend boosts flexibility

Andre Bardow, Professor of Energy and Process Systems Engineering at ETH Zurich, believes his team has come up with a better solution, "Instead of a single refrigerant, we use a blend. This allows a heat pump to use different heat sources and generate different temperature profiles."

Depending on the composition of the mixture (blue and yellow dots on the right), the temperature curve of the heat pump changes (left). Credit: Dennis Roskosch / ETH Zurich

The composition of the refrigerant blend can be varied to cater to different applications. This is a key benefit for companies: instead of having to redesign the entire heat pump whenever they need a different temperature, they can simply modify the mixture, which is much simpler and cheaper.

The mixture itself consists of a traditional refrigerant and one further component. The temperature profile of the heat pump is dictated by the ratio of these two ingredients. "In principle, you can have any number of different profiles for industrial processes, as long as the temperatures don't exceed 200 degrees. That's the major advantage our technology offers," Bardow says.

Using a computer model to identify the right blend

To identify suitable components for the refrigerant blend, the researchers developed a computer model that simulates the heat-pump circuit with different variants of refrigerant mixture. "We extended the existing thermodynamic models for heat pumps by integrating the heat-pump components as well as the composition of the mixture into the optimization process," says Dennis Roskosch, Senior Scientist in Bardow's research group.

The researchers' model draws on over 200 million known synthetic molecules to simulate a blend of two molecules that offers the most efficient heat-pump performance.

Initial partners for pilot plant

Once the researchers found the optimum refrigerant blend, they confirmed its properties in the heat-pump laboratory at the Eastern Switzerland University of Applied Sciences. "The tests showed that our mixture increases the efficiency of a commercially available industrial heat pump by up to 25%, just as we predicted," says Professor Stefan Bertsch, who heads up the heat-pump laboratory. The researchers were also able to demonstrate how different compositions of the refrigerant mixture affect the temperature profile.

The team now hopes to provide even more concrete examples of how their technology could benefit specific industrial applications. The new heat pump is likely to be of particular interest in the food, pharmaceutical and chemical industries, where numerous processes require temperatures of less than 200 degrees.

At the same time, the researchers are working closely with heat-pump manufacturers such as MAN Energy Solutions or Scheco AG and with Swiss industry partners such as Lindt. The next step is to plan and build a pilot plant to carry out further tests.

More information: Leon P.M. Brendel et al, High-Glide Refrigerant Blends in High-Temperature Heat Pumps: Part 1  Coefficient of Performance, International Journal of Refrigeration (2024). DOI: 10.1016/j.ijrefrig.2024.05.005
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Elon Musk has threatened to ban iPhones inside his companies, saying an alliance between Apple and OpenAI has him worried about data security.

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 the 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.

 2024 AFP
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The European Commission has ordered a provisional hike to tariffs on Chinese manufacturers including BYD.

The European Union warned on Wednesday it would slap additional tariffs of up to 38 percent on Chinese electric car imports from next month after an anti-subsidy probe, a move that risks provoking a bitter trade war.

Brussels angered Beijing by launching the investigation last year in a bid to defend European manufacturers in the face of a surge of cheaper Chinese imports.

The Chinese commerce ministry slammed the decision as "naked protectionist behavior", in an angry statement after the announcement.

There is also dissent within the EU with Germany, a major trade partner to China, saying the tariffs would harm German companies.

The European Commission has proposed a provisional hike of tariffs on Chinese manufacturers: 17.4 percent for market major BYD, 20 percent for Geely and 38.1 percent for SAIC.

The EU said the amount depended on the level of state subsidies received by the firms.

Electric car producers in China that cooperated with the EU will face a tariff of 21 percent, while those that did not cooperate would be subject to a 38.1 percent duty.

This would be on top of the current import duty of 10 percent.

The commission pointed to "unfair subsidization" in China, which it said "is causing a threat of economic injury" to EU electric car makers.

'Space for negotiation'

A Chinese commerce ministry spokesperson said the EU's decision risked "creating and escalating trade friction".

Foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian warned: "China will take all necessary measures to firmly safeguard its legitimate rights and interests."

To halt the extra tariffs being levied, Beijing and Brussels must resolve the subsidies issue.

"The commission went out of its way to show there is space for negotiation," said Francesca Ghiretti, a fellow on economic security at Washington-based think tank CSIS.

But Ghiretti told AFP it was not exactly clear what China could offer "that would actually mitigate the existing concerns".

The tariffs will apply provisionally from July 4 and then definitively from November unless there is a qualified majority of EU states15 countries representing at least 65 percent of the bloc's populationvoting against the move.

The EU tariffs, while high, are lower than the 100-percent rate the United States imposed from last month on Chinese electric cars.

German concerns

Europe's automotive sector is the jewel in its industrial crownboasting iconic brands such as Mercedes and Ferraribut it faces threats including China's head-start in the switch to electric.

Brussels wants to put the brakes on what it claims were unfair practices undercutting Europe's automakers, which face a 2035 deadline to phase out new sales of combustion engine cars.

Germany, Hungary and Sweden previously expressed concerns about slapping higher duties.

German Transport Minister Volker Wissing said the "punitive tariffs hit German companies" in a social media post.

"Cars must become cheaper through more competition, open markets and significantly better business conditions in the EU, not through trade war and market isolation," Wissing said.

The tariffs "will not solve the challenges" facing the industry, Germany's VDA auto industry association president Hildegard Mueller said, instead calling for efforts to make Europe more attractive as a place for manufacturers.

Luc Chatel, head of the French auto industry association, insisted on the importance of a level playing field, while Italian Industry Minister Adolfo Urso welcomed the commission's decision.

China is an important market for German car makers, while Hungary, which a month ago hosted a visit by Chinese President Xi Jinping, is clearing land for a BYD factory to be built next year.

France's Renault, Peugeot and Citroen are virtually absent in China.

Electric automaker Tesla is the only company that has asked the EU to provide its own duty rate calculated based on evidence it has submitted.

Retaliation

Chinese media ramped up threats that Beijing could target EU exports, including pork and dairy products, ahead of Wednesday's decision.

In January, China launched an anti-dumping investigation into brandy imported from EU, in a move seen as targeting France, which pushed for the commission's probe.

A group representing French cognac producers said it was "deeply concerned" about possible Chinese retaliation.

Despite the fears, expert Ghiretti said "an escalatory trade war" between the EU and China was not "surely on the table" and could be avoided.

China is the world's biggest car exporter and Europe is a critical market for it.

EU imports of EVs from China mushroomed from around 57,000 in 2020 to around 437,000 in 2023, the US-based Peterson Institute for International Economics said.

Germany's Kiel Institute for the World Economy said a 20-percent tariff would mean 125,000 fewer Chinese electric cars to the EU, worth almost $4 billion.

 2024 AFP
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Enabling high energy density ultra-thin lithium metal solid-state batteries. Credit: POSTECH

In facing life's many challenges, we often opt for complex approaches to finding solutions. Yet, upon closer examination, the answers are often simpler than we expect, rooted in the core "essence" of the issue. This approach was demonstrated by a research team at Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH) in their publication on addressing the inherent issues of solid-state batteries.

Led by Professor Byoungwoo Kang and Dr. Abin Kim from the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at POSTECH, the team recently developed a solid electrolyte with unique properties. This innovation enables an ultra-thin lithium metal solid-state battery platform with high stability and energy density. Their findings were published in the journal ACS Energy Letters.

Solid-state batteries, which use solid electrolytes instead of liquids to enhance energy density and safety, are considered the next generation of batteries and are often called "dream batteries." Among these, the garnet-type oxide solid electrolyte (Li 7 La 3 Zr 2 O 12 , or LLZO) has high ionic conductivity. However, LLZO is highly reactive and forms a contamination layer (Li 2 CO 3 ) on its surface when exposed to air. This layer acts as a resistive barrier in cell construction, diminishing the contact and interfacial properties of the electrolyte and reactants, especially with the lithium (Li) metal anode.

Currently, various approaches are being explored to address these issues such as coating the LLZO surface or using additional chemical or heat treatment processes post-synthesis. While these methods improve the situation, they do not completely resolve the problem as the LLZO is again exposed to the atmosphere, leading to the reformation of the contamination layer.

The research team focused on the "LLZO" itself rather than developing an effective coating or additional processes. By focusing on the essentials, they created an air-handleable LLZO (AH-LLZO) technology that simultaneously enhances the surface and internal properties of LLZO, preventing the formation of contaminant layers in the first place.

Experiments demonstrated that the developed garnet-type solid electrolyte inhibited contamination layer formation by creating a new hydrophobic compound (Li-Al-O) on both the surface and inside the material. As a result, even if a contamination layer forms, it barely reacts with moisture in the air, effectively preventing it from spreading internally. This advancement improved contact (and wettability) with lithium metal, allowing the team to develop ultra-thin (~3.43 m) lithium solid-state batteries, approximately one-tenth the thickness of a human hair.

The significance of this research lies in the ability to prepare ultra-thin lithium metal layers, resulting in very low capacity ratio of the anode to cathode, ~ 0.176 in solid-state batteries through a simple wetting process without complex post-processing steps.

This innovation allows for a significant reduction in the amount of lithium metal used, thereby decreasing the overall battery weight and volume and dramatically improving energy density. Additionally, the technology enables storage in air without the need for special handling or facilities, simplifying the process and enhancing the practical usability of garnet-type solid electrolytes.

Professor Byoungwoo Kang said, "We have solved the problem of LLZO's inherent contaminant layer without the need for a post-processing step. We will continue to work on ultra-thin lithium metal solid-state batteries that can achieve high safety and high energy density."

More information: Abin Kim et al, High Energy Density Ultra-thin Li Metal Solid-State Battery Enabled by a Li2CO3-Proof Garnet-Type Solid Electrolyte, ACS Energy Letters (2024). DOI: 10.1021/acsenergylett.4c00217 Journal information: ACS Energy Letters
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Last year, Ford cut around 1,100 jobs at its Valencia factory in eastern Spain.

US carmaker Ford on Friday said it would seek to cut another 1,600 jobs at its factory near Valencia in eastern Spain, where it already axed 1,100 positions last year.

"At the factory, there is currently a surplus of around 1,600 employees," a spokesman for Ford Spain told AFP after management met unions to outline their plan.

Of that figure, the car giant said 626 would be "permanent redundancies" while the other 966 would be dismissals with the possibility of being rehired in 2027" when production of a new vehicle begins.

The UGT union said the redundancy would affect a total of 1,622 staff at the Almussafes plant which lies about 20 kilometers (12 miles) south of Valencia.

In March 2023, Ford announced plans to cut around 1,100 jobs at the same factory as it moved to reorganize its European operations, angering Spain's left-wing government.

The cuts came after Ford decided to halt production of the S-Max and Galaxy models at the site, the company told AFP at the time.

A month earlier, it had moved to cut 2,300 positions in Germany and 1,300 in Britain, representing around 10 percent of its European staff.

Ford said it wanted to create "a leaner, more competitive cost structure" so it could reduce the models developed for the European market, concentrate on the profitable van segment and speed up the transition to electric vehicles.

Like other automakers, Ford has decided to shift to electric vehicles, which requires massive investments in developing new technologies and retooling factories.

The cuts come as European concerns grow about the impact of substantial US subsidies for electric vehicles manufactured in the country, which could prompt foreign automakers to shift towards American production sites.

 2024 AFP
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Artificial intelligence has the potential to revolutionize photovoltaic systems by improving efficiency, reliability and predictability of solar power generation. Researchers from Chinese and Malaysian universities compared publications demonstrating the performance of AI techniques in solving some of the most pressing problems in PV integration. Following these insights, the team highlighted emerging challenges and future perspectives. Credit: Xiaoyun Tian, Beijing University of Technology

Artificial intelligence is poised to bring photovoltaic systems into a new era through revolutionary improvements in efficiency, reliability, and predictability of solar power generation.

In their paper published in CAAI Artificial Intelligence Research, a research team from Chinese and Malaysian universities explored the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) technology on photovoltaic (PV) power generation systems and their applications from a global perspective.

"The overall message is an optimistic outlook on how AI can lead to more sustainable and efficient energy solutions," said Xiaoyun Tian from Beijing University of Technology. "By improving the efficiency and deployment of renewable energy sources through AI, there is significant potential to reduce global carbon emissions and to make clean energy more accessible and reliable for a broader population."

The team, which included researchers from Beijing University of Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hebei University, and the Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman, focused their review on pivotal applications of AI in maximum power point tracking, power forecasting and fault detection within PV systems.

The maximum power point (MPP) refers to the specific operating juncture where a PV cell or an entire PV array yields its peak power output under prevailing illumination conditions. Tracking and exploiting the point of maximum power, mainly by adjusting the operating point of the PV array to maximize output power, is an important problem in solar PV systems. Traditional methods are plagued by defects, resulting in issues like reduced efficiency, wear on hardware and suboptimal performance during sudden weather changes.

The researchers reviewed publications demonstrating how AI techniques can achieve high performance in solving the MPP tracking problem. They compiled publication methods that presented both single and hybrid AI methods to solve the tracking problem, exploring the advantages and disadvantages of each approach.

The team reviewed publications that presented AI algorithms applied in PV power forecasting and defect detection technologies. Power forecasting, which refers to predicting the production of PV power over a certain incoming period, is crucial for PV grid integration because the share of solar energy in the mix increases every year as well as the PV generation has intermittent nature that may impact the grid stability.

Fault detection in PV systems can detect and locate various types of failures in the PV system, such as environmental changes, panel damage and wiring failures. For large-scale PV systems, traditional manual inspection is almost impossible and passive. AI algorithms can step in where manual inspection falls short, identifying deviations from normal operating conditions that may indicate faults or anomalies proactively.

The research team combed through the literature that presented single and hybrid AI methods to solve both problems. By comparing AI-driven techniques, the team explored and presented advantages and disadvantages of each approach.

While integrating AI technology optimizes and improves the operational efficiency of PV systems, new challenges continue to arise. These challenges are driven by issues such as revised standards for achieving carbon neutrality, interdisciplinary cooperation, and emerging smart grids.

The researchers highlighted some emerging challenges and the need for advanced solutions in AI, such as transfer learning, few-shot learning and edge computing.

According to the paper's authors, the next steps should focus on further research directed towards advancing AI techniques that target the unique challenges of PV systems; practical implementation of AI solutions into existing PV infrastructure on a wider scale; scaling up successful AI integration; developing supportive policy frameworks that encourage the use of AI in renewable energy; increasing awareness about the benefits of AI in enhancing PV system efficiencies; and ultimately aligning these technological advancements with global sustainability targets.

"AI-driven techniques are essential for the future development and widespread adoption of solar-energy technologies globally," Tian said.

Additional study contributors include Jiaming Hu, Kang Wang and Dachuan Xu from Beijing University of Technology; Boon-Han Lim from Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman; Feng Zhang from Hebei University; and Yong Zhang from Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, the Chinese Academy of Science.

More information: Jiaming Hu et al, A Comprehensive Review of Artificial Intelligence Applications in the Photovoltaic Systems, CAAI Artificial Intelligence Research (2024). DOI: 10.26599/AIR.2024.9150031

Provided by Tsinghua University Press
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Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

Virtual reality technology can do more than teach weaponry skills in law enforcement and military personnel, a new study suggests: It can accurately record shooting performance and reliably track individuals' progress over time.

In the study of 30 people with a range of experience levels in handling a rifle, researchers at The Ohio State University found that a ballistic simulator captured data on the shooters' accuracy, decision-making and reaction timedown to the millimeter in distance and millisecond in timeon a consistent basis.

In addition to confirming that the simulatorcalled the VirTra V-100is a dependable research tool, the findings could lead to establishing the first-ever standardized performance scores for virtual reality ballistics training.

"To our knowledge, we're the first team to answer the question of whether the simulator could be converted to an assessment tool and if it's credible to use it day-to-day," said Alex Buga, first author of the study and a Ph.D. student in kinesiology at Ohio State.

"We've figured out how to export the data and interpret it. We've focused on the three big challenges of marksmanship, decision-making and reaction time to measure 21 relevant variablesallowing us to put a report in a user's hand and say, 'This is how accurate, precise, focused and fast you are.'"

The study was published in the Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research.

U.S. military leaders and law enforcement agencies have shown an interest in increasing the use of virtual reality for performance assessment, said Buga and senior study author Jeff Volek, professor of human sciences at Ohio State. Earlier this year, an Ohio Attorney General Task Force on the Future of Police Training in Ohio recommended incorporating virtual reality technology into training protocols.

Volek is the principal investigator on a project focused on improving the health of military service members, veterans and the American public. As part of that initiative, the research team is investigating the extent to which nutritional ketosis reduces detrimental effects of sleep loss on cognitive and physical performance in ROTC cadetsincluding their shooting ability as measured by the VirTra simulator. Verifying the simulator's results for research purposes triggered the attempt to extract and analyze its data.

"We were using it as an outcome variable for research, and we found that it has very good day-to-day reproducibility of performance, which is crucial for research," Volek said. "You want a sensitive and reproducible outcome in your test where there's not a lot of device or equipment variation."

Because the lab also focuses on human performance in first responders, researchers' conversations with military and law enforcement communities convinced Buga that data collected by the simulator could be more broadly useful.

"I created a few programs that enabled us to calculate the shooting data and produce objective training measures," he said. "This equipment is close to what the military and police use every day, so this has potential to be used as a screening tool across the country."

Users of the simulator operate the infrared-guided M4 rifle by shooting at a large screen onto which different digitally generated visuals are projectedno headset required. The rifle at Ohio State has been retrofitted to produce the same recoil as a police or military weapon.

The study participants included civilians, police and SWAT officers, and ROTC cadets. Each was first familiarized in a single learning session with the simulator and then completed multiple rounds of three different tasks in each of three study performance sessions.

In the first task, participants fired at the same target a total of 50 times to produce measures of shooting precision. The decision-making assessment involved shooting twice within two seconds at designated shapes and colors on a screen displaying multiple shape and color choices. In the reaction-time scenario, participants shot at a series of plates from left to right as rapidly as possible.

Internal consistency ratings showed the simulator generated good to excellent test-retest agreement on the 21 variables measured.

All participants were well-rested and completed the study sessions at about the same time of day. Self-evaluations showed that participants' overall confidence about their shooting performance increased from their first to final sessions. They also rated the simulator as a realistic and a low-stress shooting assessment tool.

The low stress and well-rested conditions were important to establishing baseline performance measures, the researchers noted, which then would enable evaluating how injuries and other physical demands of first-responder professions affect shooting performance.

"This simulator could be used to assess the effectiveness of specific training programs designed to improve shooting performance, or to evaluate marksmanship in response to various stressors encountered by the same law enforcement and military personnel," Buga said. "These novel lines of evidence have enabled us to push the boundaries of tactical research and set the groundwork for using virtual reality in sophisticated training scenarios that support national defense goals."

Additional co-authors, all from Ohio State, included Drew Decker, Bradley Robinson, Christopher Crabtree, Justen Stoner, Lucas Arce, Xavier El-Shazly, Madison Kackley, Teryn Sapper, John Paul Anders and William Kraemer.

More information: Alex Buga et al, The VirTra V-100 Is a Test-Retest Reliable Shooting Simulator for Measuring Accuracy/Precision, Decision-Making, and Reaction Time in Civilians, Police/SWAT, and Military Personnel, Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research (2024). DOI: 10.1519/JSC.0000000000004875 Journal information: Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research
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The weeding robot developed by the researchers. Credit: Kotaniemi et al.

Robotic systems are already being deployed in various settings worldwide, assisting humans with a highly diverse range of tasks. One sector in which robots could prove particularly advantageous is agriculture, where they could complete demanding manual tasks faster and more efficiently.

Among the many agricultural tasks that robots could tackle is the removal of weeds, which can cause significant damage to both livestock and crop farming. In fact, fast-growing and invasive weeds can both reduce the yield of crops and potentially poison animals, including horses, sheep, and cows.

Researchers at VVT Technical Research Centre of Finland Ltd recently developed a new robot that can autonomously remove an invasive weed known as Rumex longifolius, or longleaf dock, which are highly rich in oxalates, compounds that can be poisonous to some livestock. Their robot, introduced in a paper pre-published on arXiv.

"Automatic weeding technologies have attained a lot of attention lately, because of the harms and challenges weeds are causing for livestock farming, in addition to that weeds reduce yields," Jarkko Kotaniemi, Niko Kansakoski and Tapio Heikkila wrote in their paper.

"We are targeting automatic and mechanical Rumex weeding in open pasture fields using lightweight mobile field robot technologies. We describe a mobile weeding robot with GNSS navigation, 3D computer vision for weed detection, and a robot arm with a mechanical weeding tool."

The weed removal robot developed by Kotaniemi, Kansakoski and Heikkila is designed to mechanically remove Rumex weeds when they are still seedlings. Removing these plants as seedlings, while destroying their roots, is highly preferable over the use of herbicides, as it limits damage to the environment and the health of humans consuming nearby crops.

In their previous papers, the researchers had introduced a computer vision-based approach to detect and localize Rumex weed. Their new paper built on these previous efforts to develop a robotic platform that could remove the weeds identified by the computer vision model.

To plan the robot's weeding missions, the researchers utilized a multi-layered control approach. This approach divides weed removal tasks into three smaller sets of actions, including navigating the robot towards a weed, detecting this weed and finally removing it.

"The goal for weed removal is given as a weeding mission, which is set by a weed map of weed locations in the pasture field," the researchers wrote.

"The mission consists of tasks for moving the platform, detecting weeds, and performing the weeding action for all the weeds in sequence listed in the weed map," the researchers wrote in their paper. "Each task is composed in a fixed manner of primitive actions like robot arm motions, image acquisition, and navigation actions."

Kotaniemi, Kansakoski and Heikkila have already tested their robotic platforming in real-world environments, performing a series of tests outdoors in a grass field. They found that it was highly effective and could reliably remove Rumex weeds, yet its ability to detect the weeds was often reduced in cluttered or highly bright environments.

In the future, they could try to further improve the robot's detection capabilities, to facilitate its potential commercialization and use by farmers.

"We have presented an automatic mechanical weeding robot that removes weeds from pastures without the use of herbicides," Kotaniemi, Kansakoski and Heikkila concluded in their paper. "It is based on a lightweight mobile platform, lightweight robot arm with a force/torque sensor, consumer grade 3D camera, and weeding tool. Tests in a real pasture have shown the feasibility of these technologies for robotic weeding."

More information: Jarkko Kotaniemi et al, A Weeding Robot for Seedling Removal, arXiv (2024). DOI: 10.48550/arxiv.2405.12596 Journal information: arXiv

 2024 Science X Network
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."
A Somerville man was arrested Tuesday after allegedly stealing over $10,000 worth of rims and tires from at least five victims across Brazos and Burleson counties, according to a probable cause report from the Bryan Police Department.

Tevin Leondrick Devault, 25, has been charged with theft of property valued at between $2,500 to $10,000, according to Brazos County Jail records.

Across eight days in June 2023, Devault allegedly stole two sets of tires and rims in Burleson County, two other sets in Bryan and a single set in College Station, according to police.

At 3:03 a.m. on July 13, 2023, police said they identified a man in a white Jeep Cherokee stealing rims and tires from a vehicle in the 800 block of Harvey Mitchell Parkway in Bryan. The Cherokee also matched the description of a vehicle thought to be involved in similar thefts reported in Brazos County, according to police.

Officers said they attempted to conduct a traffic stop but the vehicle drove away, leading police on a chase. The driver ultimately jumped out of the car and ran before being apprehended. No other people were found in the car, but officers believe that two other suspects had jumped out of the car before the chase, according to the probable cause report.

Inside the vehicle, police said they found a cell phone belonging to Devault. Via a search warrant of the phone, police found a conversation in which Devault allegedly texted someone, Yes sir I steal tires. My name is Tevin Devault.  I have stole tires in Houston, Bryan, Hempstead [and] Cypress. If you have anything to say to me contact my lawyer. (sic).

Police said they also found photos on the phone showing rims and tires that allegedly matched up to ones that had recently been reported as stolen.

A warrant for Devault was requested in late November 2023 and he was arrested on the warrant Tuesday, according to records.

Theft of property valued at between $2,500 to $30,000 is a state jail felony punishable by up to two years in prison and a maximum fine of $10,000.

Devault is being held under a $100,000 bond, according to jail records.
A town in the Netherlands inhabited by a majority of Christian residents is offering a refuge to Jewish people who feel unsafe in the country as the terrorism threat has increased.

The local council in Urk, formerly an island within the province of Flevoland, made the publicly open invitation to allow Jews to settle in the town, set in the heart of the so-called Dutch Bibleland.

The entire municipal council of Urk has expressed its heart-warming support for Israel and the Jewish community in a motion, said Ronny Naftaniel, 75, former director of the Centrum Informatie en Documentatie Israel (Center for Information and Documentation Israel), based in The Hague. A known spokesman for Jewish human rights within the Dutch Jewish community, Naftaniels father was a German Jew who survived the Holocaust.

News of the friendship shown by the Dutch town residents contrasts with a stern warning that the terrorism threat in the Netherlands had increased to substantial after the Nationaal Coordinator Terrorismebestrijding en Veiligheid (NCTV), the Dutch counter terrorism unit, issued a statement Tuesday, June 11.

With the previous Terrorism Threat Assessment in the Netherlands (DTN), the threat level was increased to substantial (level 4), read the NCTV statement. The conceivable terrorist threat has increased slightly in recent months, but remains within the bandwidth of threat level 4. This means that there is a real chance that an attack will take place in the Netherlands.

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Jihadism remained the most important terrorist threat against the Netherlands, added the NCTV, stating, The chance that persons or groups in the Netherlands will commit a terrorist attack has increased slightly in the past six months.

Urk has a population of 21,000 people of which 90 percent attend a local church. It is not the first time that the town has shown support for Jewish people. Some Urk residents also fly Israeli flags as a sign of solidarity.

Teams of residents have traveled to the Ukraine-Moldova border, reported The Jerusalem Post in April 2022, to support Jewish refugees fleeing in fear after Russia invaded Ukraine. For the past two years, the organized teams have traveled twice per week to the location, with help from a rabbi and lawyer from Chisinau, the capital of Moldova.

We see so many instances of kindness, of people giving to others what they have and what they dont have, said one of the Urk volunteers called Fred, speaking to Arutz Sheva. And through it all, were doing our part to give people hope and life, and theyre so grateful.

We take them to a safe environment, a place where there are no air raid alarms, where no bombs fall, where they can finally sleep in peace knowing that theyre safe.

There is a core population of 40,000 Jews living in Ukraine, according to the Institute for Jewish Policy Research.
The earliest known Christian liturgical book with the earliest complete texts of 1 Peter and Jonah went under the hammer yesterday, June 11, at Christies auction house in London. An unnamed bidder bought it for 3,065,000 (approximately US$3.94 million), according to reports.

Called the Crosby-Schyen Codex, the Coptic manuscript on papyrus paper dates from the mid-third century to fourth century. The earliest known book in private hands and one of the earliest books in existence, according to Christie's auction description.

It also has one of the most complete texts of Melito's tractate on the Passover. One of the earliest witnesses of Maccabees in any language.

The 146 x 152mm square-format, single-quire papyrus codex with 51 complete or substantially complete leaves was initially up for auction with a listing price of between two and three million British pounds ($2.55 million to $3.82 million).

The history of the unique book comes from four outstanding finds of papyri and parchments, which transformed study of the Bible and early Christianity in the 20th century, according to Eugenio Donadoni, Senior Specialist, Medieval & Renaissance Manuscripts for Christies.

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The Dead Sea Scrolls, which were recovered from 1947 in a series of discoveries in the Judaean Desert, are chiefly in Hebrew with some Greek and Aramaic material, and date from the 2nd century BC to the 1st century AD, Donadoi wrote for the listing.

The other three finds were preserved in the dry sands of Egypt: the 'Chester Beatty Biblical Papyri', a group of 11 papyrus codices of Greek biblical texts dating from the 2nd to 5th centuries, found in 1930; the Nag Hammadi Library, 12 papyrus codices of Gnostic Christian texts in Coptic dating from the mid-4th to early 5th centuries, found in 1945; and the Bodmer Papyri found in the early 1950s.

The Crosby-Schyen Codex is part of the Bodmer Papyri find, which was unrecorded. For that reason its precise limits and location have been the subject of much debate. Martin Bodmer, who lived from 1899 to 1971, was a Swiss bibliophile, collector and scholar.

Donadoni added that Bodmers secretary, Odile Bongard, who bought many of the purchases in Egypt for him, had been told by a dealer called Phocion Tano, that the manuscripts were discovered in an underground chamber such as a tomb or storehouse, in Mina or Minia near Asyut.

Of these Egyptian finds, the Bodmer Papyri, in various forms of Coptic, Greek and Latin dating from the 2nd to the 7th centuries, are both the most numerous, the most intact and the widest ranging in language, date and content. They comprise Biblical texts, Christian writings and pagan literary texts, wrote Donadoni.

Their discovery revolutionized understanding of the history of early Christian writings, for they surpass in the quality of their preparation, in the length of their texts and in their textual significance all previous findings of Biblical papyri.
In the wake of a mob lynching of a Christian falsely accused of defiling the Quran in Pakistan, Islamic extremists at a rally on Sunday (June 9) voiced support of the homicide and threatened others.

At the rally organized by the Islamic extremist Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) in Sargodha, where a Muslim mob on May 25 beat 74-year-old Christian Nazeer Masih Gill so badly he died 10 days later, a crowd of 2,500 party activists protested the arrest of those who killed him.

Tell me if we were wrong in killing that Chuhra who burned the Quran? TLP Sargodha leader Muhammad Naeem Chattha Qadri told supporters. We will never compromise on the sanctity and respect of the Quran, and whoever commits blasphemy will meet the same fate.

Chuhra is a pejorative term historically reserved for sanitation workers, now used as derogatory term for all Christians.

Qadri warned police against targeting the TLP activists, threatening that we will tear the uniforms of senior police in the chowks [main streets] if they attempt to protect the blasphemers.

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They ask us to remain peaceful, but we want to tell them that if incidents of Quran desecration do not stop, we will deal with it in the same manner as the incident in Sargodha, he said as the crowd shouted slogans like, Labbaik Ya Rasool Allah [We are present O messenger of Allah], videos showed.

A Muslim mob incited by announcements from mosque loudspeakers in Sargodha on May 25 assaulted Gill in the citys Mujahid Colony after an area Muslim accused him of burning pages of the Quran in the street. The mob, including women and children, pelted Gill with bricks and stones, beat him with sticks and kicked him as he lay bleeding on the ground. The assailant also burned down his familys shoe workshop and looted and ransacked his house.

Despite police efforts, the mob persisted, resulting in multiple skull fractures and critical blood clots in Gills brain. The mob also damaged the ambulance transporting Gill to a hospital, further complicating rescue efforts. The Christian was transferred to a hospital in Rawalpindi in critical condition, where he underwent two head surgeries but succumbed to his injuries on June 3.

The police registered a case against 40 named and 400-500 unidentified people and have so far taken at least 45 people into custody, triggering a strong reaction from the violent political group.

At the same time, large contingents of police were deployed in predominantly Christian settlements in Sargodha as caravans of TLP activists arrived in the city for the rally.

Christians in Sargodha were on tenterhooks after the TLP announced that they would take out a protest rally in Sargodha on Sunday, a Christian resident said on the condition of anonymity due to security fears. Though police had been deployed outside churches and in neighborhoods for security, many people left for safer places fearing that the protesters could target their homes. This is the level of fear that the TLP has instilled in the Christian community, particularly after the attacks in Jaranwala and Mujahid Colony.

The TLP came into existence after the hanging of Mumtaz Qadri, convicted of assassinating former Punjab Province Gov. Salmaan Taseer on Jan. 4, 2011, for opposing blasphemy laws. Since then, the party has carried out several violent pro-blasphemy law protests across Pakistan, killing police and damaging public and private property worth billions of rupees.

The state has seemingly capitulated to the party and all those involved in violence, including the perpetrators of the attacks on churches and homes of Christians in Jaranwala in August, who have been discharged from the cases or released on bail.

Fear

The government has denied Christians demands for judicial inquiries into the attacks in Jaranwala and previous incidents, raising fears that violence will keep recurring.

On Saturday (June 8), church leaders and advocacy groups organized a demonstration outside the Punjab Provincial Assembly in Lahore to demand justice in for the lynching of Gill.

The protesting Christians called for a speedy trial of the culprits in the Jaranwala and Sargodha tragedies and all other similar cases. They also voiced slogans for the formation of a judicial inquiry to investigate all incidents of religiously-motivated violence in the past decade, and for legislation to prevent the misuse of blasphemy laws.

Addressing the participants, Church of Pakistan President Bishop Azad Marshall said he regretted that the government was doing nothing to prevent mob violence against Christians.

We demanded a judicial investigation into the Jaranwala incident, but our plea was outright rejected by the government, Marshall said. Had the government conducted a judicial inquiry into the causes of such attacks, incidents like Mujahid Colony could have been averted.

The senior church leader lamented that Christians have been left at the mercy of vigilantes making a mockery of law and writ of the state.

Our people are being killed on false allegations of blasphemy, our churches and homes are being ransacked and burned, but no concrete action has been taken against the perpetrators, he said. Are we not equal citizens of Pakistan?

Prominent rights advocate Peter Jacob echoed the church leaders demand for judicial investigation, saying a commission should be formed under the Inquiry Commission Act of 1956 to investigate blasphemy cases.

Sajid Christopher, executive director of Human Friends Organization, said that Gills death was a stark reminder of ongoing persecution that religious minorities in Pakistan face.

It is imperative that we unite to demand justice and ensure such tragedies do not happen again, he said.

Rawadari Tehreek Chairman Samson Salamat called for a ban on religious extremist groups that instigate violence against religious minorities under the pretext of blasphemy laws.

A new legislation should be enforced to criminalize false and fabricated blasphemy allegations, Salamat said. An independent inquiry into all blasphemy incidents from Shanti Nagar to Mujahid Colony in Sargodha should be carried out.

The government should demonstrate its will to control mob violence by ensuring concrete policy and strategy measures, he said.

A speedy trial of the culprits of the Jaranwala and Sargodha tragedies and all other similar cases should be conducted, he said.

The demonstration concluded with a candlelight vigil paying tribute to Gill.

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.
Last week, the notorious hacker gang, ShinyHunters, sent shockwaves across the globe by allegedly plundering 1.3 terabytes of data from 560 million users. This colossal breach, with a price tag of $500,000, could expose the personal information of a massive swath of a live event company's clientele, igniting a firestorm of concern and outrage.

Let's review the facts: two large organizations announced that they suffered a data breach, identifying unauthorized activity within a third-party cloud database environment. The accessed business records contained critical information on some employees, a large number of customers and other key business data.

The cloud connection

What might link these two breaches is the cloud data company Snowflake, which counts among its users both organizations. Snowflake did publish a warning with CISA, indicating a "recent increase in cyber threat activity targeting customer accounts on its cloud data platform." Snowflake issued a recommendation for users to query the database logs for unusual activity and conduct further analysis to prevent unauthorized user access.

In a separate communique, Snowflake CISO Brad Jones was clear that the Snowflake system itself was not breached. According to Jones, "this appears to be a targeted campaign directed at users with single-factor authentication," and threat actors have leveraged credentials previously obtained through various methods.

Snowflake also listed some recommendations for all customers, like enforcing multi-factor authentication (MFA) on all accounts, setting up network policy rules to allow access to the cloud environment only from pre-set trusted locations, and resetting and rotating Snowflake credentials.

Simplifying cybersecurity

We tend to romanticize cybersecurity  and it is an incredibly difficult and complex discipline in IT. However, not all cybersecurity challenges are equally hard. The guidance offered by Snowflake really makes this point: MFA is a must. It is an incredibly effective tool against a range of cyberattacks, including credential stuffing.

Research done by the cloud security company Mitiga claims the Snowflake-incidents are part of a campaign where a threat actor is using stolen customer credentials to target organizations using Snowflake databases. According to the published research, "the threat actor primarily exploited environments lacking two-factor authentication," and the attacks typically originated from commercial VPN IPs.

Policies are only as effective as their implementation and enforcement. Technologies like corporate single sign-on (SSO) and MFA might be in place, but not truly enforced across all environments and users. There should be no possibility that users can still authenticate using username/password outside of SSO to reach any corporate resource. The same is true for MFA: instead of self-enrollment, it should be mandatory for all users across all systems and all environments, including cloud and third-party services.

Are you in full control?

There is no cloud  it's just someone else's computer, as the old saying goes. And while you (and your organization) do enjoy a lot of access to that computer's resources, ultimately that access is never complete, a limitation inherent to cloud computing. Multi-tenant cloud technologies achieve economies of scale by limiting what a single customer can do on that "computer", and that sometimes includes the ability to implement security.

A case in point is automatic password rotation. Modern privileged access management tools like One Identity Safeguard can rotate out passwords after use. This makes them effectively single-use, and immunizes the environment against credential stuffing attacks, but also against more sophisticated threats like keyloggers, which were used in the LastPass hack. However, the API that provides this feature needs to be present. Snowflake does provide the interface to update user passwords, so it was on the customer to use it and rotate passwords on a usage-based or time-based manner.

When choosing where to host business-critical data, make sure the platform offers these APIs through privileged identity management and allows you to bring the new environment under your corporate security umbrella. MFA, SSO, password rotation and centralized logging should all be fundamental requirements in this threat landscape, as these features allow the customer to protect the data on their end.

The non-human identity

One unique aspect of modern technology is the non-human identity as a threat vector. For example, RPA (robotic process automation) tools, and also service accounts are trusted to perform some tasks on the database. Protecting these identities is an interesting challenge, as out-of-band mechanisms like push notifications or TOTP tokens are not feasible for service account use cases.

Non-human accounts are valuable targets for attackers as they usually have very powerful permissions to perform their tasks. Protecting their credentials should always be a priority for security teams. Snowflake uses a multitude of service accounts to operate the solution, and developed a series of blog posts on how to protect these accounts and their credentials.

It's all about the cost

Cybercriminals have brutally simple logic: maximize profit by automating mass attacks and target large pools of victims with simple but effective methods. Credential stuffing attacks, like the type of attack used against Snowflake tenants, are one of the cheapest attack methods  the 2024 equivalent of email spam. And in line with its low cost, it should be almost 100% ineffective. The fact that at least two major organizations lost a significant amount of critical data paints a bleak picture of our current state of global cybersecurity.

Conclusion

By implementing simple controls like SSO, MFA and password rotation, the cost of large-scale attacks becomes prohibitive. While this doesn't mean targeted attacks won't succeed or attacks by non-profit advanced persistent threats (APTs) will be completely deterred, it does make mass attacks on this attack vector unfeasible, making everyone a bit safer.
New stores abound as Old Navy, the chain womens clothing store, is coming to Grand Island.

Woodsonias Mitch Hohlen confirmed Tuesday said Old Navy was being built as part of the Conestoga Marketplace, the new shopping center being built over the old mall. Chief Construction is doing the build. Woodsonia is the developer on the project.

Along with Old Navy, Hohlen said that Petsmart, Bath and Body Works, Gliks, Buckle, Maurices, Tradehome Shoes, American Eagle and B&B Theater will open in the marketplace.

There is also Best Buy, which was part of the mall, and the new anchor store Target, which will start construction this summer.

Hohlen said that there are two more stores coming to the marketplace, but he was unable to say which at this time.

As of now, there is no exact date for when Old Navy will open. The storefront states that the opening will be in the fall season.

While everyone waits in anticipation, the marketplace already has several stores opened for shopping. Gliks, Tradehome Shoes, Maurices, Buckle and American Eagle opened anywhere from late-April to mid-May.
Liberalizing Vietnam's aviation market to boost economic and tourism growth: experts

By Bao Ngoc Wed, June 12, 2024 | 8:13 am GMT+7

Vietnam's aviation sector would see a considerable boost if the sector adopted deregulation policies and implemented market liberalization, according to RMIT and industry experts.

Countries such as Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand have all reaped the benefits of liberalization and deregulation in their aviation sectors, leading to increased flight options and more affordable fares, said Dr Nuno Ribeiro, a RMIT senior lecturer in tourism and hospitality Management and vice-chairman of Vietnam Eurocham Tourism and Hospitality Sector Committee.

The resulting transformations in the Vietnam aviation sector have allowed for more competition and led to the emergence of low-cost carriers. Photo courtesy of Pexels.

Aviation market liberalization allows for new entrants and fosters competition. Liberalization compels airlines to improve services, reduce costs, and expand routes, resulting in more affordable airfares, greater travel options, and an overall enhancement of industry efficiency.

"The liberalization of aviation worldwide has led to increased competition, more innovation, increased choice, and lower prices for travellers, all of which can benefit Vietnam tourism," said Ribeiro.

Additionally, it drives economic growth by generating employment opportunities and boosting tourism and trade.

According to a report by the International Air Travel Association (IATA), the impacts of air service liberalization in Vietnam include a 38% increase in international traffic, a 27% decrease in the average airfare, the creation of over 100,000 new full-time jobs (of which more than 70,000 would be in the tourism industry), and an additional $1.3 billion contribution to Vietnams GDP.

Currently, there are five airlines operating in Vietnam, including Vietnam Airlines, Vietjet Air, Bamboo Airways, Pacific Airlines, and Vietravel Airlines, which is insufficient considering the rising travel demand Vietnam has experienced and is likely to increase in the future, according to Vu Thi Thanh Huong, country manager Vietnam and Cambodia at Qatar Airways and chairwoman of Vietnam EuroCham Tourism and Hospitality Sector Committee.

We need more aviation supply to serve a booming sector that is critical for Vietnams economic development. For example, the Hanoi-Ho Chi Minh City route consistently ranks in the worlds top five busiest domestic air routes with more than 10 million passengers: current supply is insufficient to meet demand, leading to higher prices for travellers as we experienced during the last Reunification holiday," said Huong.

Martin Koerner, group commercial director of The Anam and vice chairman of the German Business Association, emphasised the inadequacy and high costs of flights between Hanoi and popular destinations like Phu Quoc island.

"The unavailability of important domestic flight routes causes significant problems to international travel agents as round trips through the country, stopping at various destinations from north to south, no longer can be done," said Koerner.

Lukasz Kozlowski, CEO and co-founder of MakeYourAsia, CEEC board member, and treasurer of Vietnam EuroCham Tourism and Hospitality Sector Committee noted that with the increase in airfares, many travellers reconsidered their travel plans and opted for alternative modes of transportation or closer destinations. This has led to a shift in preferences towards destinations where airfares are more affordable, costing Vietnam businesses valuable revenue."

"When we compare Vietnam's aviation market to other countries in the Asia Pacific Region, we see that Vietnam has significant room for growth. For instance, the Philippines has 28 competing airlines, Indonesia 25, Japan 22, Malaysia 18, Thailand 18 (including Vietnam's Vietjet Air), South Korea 13, Cambodia 6, and Singapore 5," said Kozlowski.

According to experts, Vietnam has taken positive steps towards liberalizing its air travel market since joining the ASEAN in 1995, aligning itself with regional efforts to enhance connectivity and economic integration.

The resulting transformations in the Vietnam aviation sector from entering ASEAN have allowed for more competition and led, for example, to the emergence of low-cost carriers such as Vietjet Air and Bamboo Airways that have increased affordability and accessibility for air travellers, in line with Vietnam's efforts to boost tourism and economic growth.

Vietnam's joint signatory status in the ASEAN-EU Comprehensive Air Transport (AE-CATA), the worlds first bloc-to-bloc air transport agreement, emphasises the country's involvement in liberalizing air transport services between ASEAN and the EU, with the aim of boosting air connectivity, lower airfares, increased tourism, and improved trade activities.

This agreement is also expected to strengthen Vietnams aspirations of becoming a key regional travel hub, like Singapore and Dubai, which is seen positively by experts. "The AE-CATA Agreement will enhance Vietnams position as a natural gateway to Cambodia and Laos allowing tour operators to promote combined travel packages and foster regional tourism growth," said Kozlowski.

Experts were unanimous in their support for Vietnams efforts towards a progressive liberalization of its aviation market. According to Koerner, Vietnam should concentrate on measures that will drive sustainable expansion and improve market access, such as the upgrade or construction of infrastructure like Long Thanh and Lao Cai airports; continued engagement in bilateral and multilateral aviation agreements; removal of barriers to entry in the industry; revision of airline ownership regulations; and the facilitation of a supportive legislative, financial, and operational environment.
The Bahrain Association of Banks (BAB) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Bahrains Applied Science University (ASU), in a milestone step to change the banking talent landscape.

The MoU marks an era of collaboration between academia and the financial services sector, highlighting both organisations mutual dedication to nurturing a workforce capable of driving innovation and long-term success, said a statement.

The MoU demonstrates an integrated effort that includes a periodic evaluation of academic courses guaranteeing alignment with evolving labour market demands and the provision of practical training opportunities for graduates. This hands-on approach provides ambitious professionals with cutting-edge skills and industry exposure required to excel in the fields of banking and financial services, it said.

Beyond training, the partnership includes the organisation of collaborative events, financial and banking research activities, and a coordinated effort to educate graduates on the frontlines of digitalization and FinTech. This strategic focus aligns with the Bahrain Summit's larger goals, which include establishing the Kingdom as a regional hub for financial technology innovation and talent development.

Dr Waheed Al Qassim, CEO of the Bahrain Association of Banks, commented: "The signing of this MoU is part of the Bahrain Association of Banks' ongoing efforts to support students and graduates in entering the financial and banking sector."

He underscored BAB's commitment to serving as a vital bridge between academic institutions and the industry, nurturing a talent pipeline of highly qualified Bahraini professionals and fostering the Bahrainisation of the banking sector.

Prof Hatem Masri, President of the University of Applied Science in Bahrain, hailed the partnership as a critical step towards realising the universitys vision of becoming a leading educational institution in the region, as well as continuing to support Bahrains economic vision and aim of positioning the Kingdom as a key centre for teaching and learning.

Masri further emphasised the strategic importance of improving the practical aspects of curricula and forming strategic connections with an array of Bahraini institutions and businesses. This collaborative approach not only enhances training opportunities for students and graduates, but it also develops the competencies of national talents, increasing their market competitiveness and positioning Bahraini citizens as excellent candidates, particularly in pioneering roles in the rapidly evolving finance and banking sectors.  TradeArabia News Service
Network International (Network), the leading enabler of digital commerce across the Middle East and Africa (MEA) region, has commenced a roadshow in Bahrain, as part of a series of roadshows across the GCC and Africa that aim at generating awareness about financial frauds and presenting measures to manage them.

Network spearheads roadshows to support banks and financial institutions to raise awareness as well as manage fraud and financial crime efficiently by demonstrating example cases, given the companys expertise in enterprise fraud prevention.

The Fraud Resilience Forum held in Bahrain on June 10 and hosted in partnership with Benefit, the kingdom's innovator and leading company in fintech and electronic financial transactions service, saw a huge participation from banks and financial institutions in Bahrain.

Using patented technologies such as advanced analytics, artificial intelligence, and Customer 360o behaviour profiling to detect transaction anomaly and prevent fraud, Network delivers enhanced security measures and safeguards financial transactions.

Networks anti-fraud services is being used in over 40 banks and financial institutions across the Middle East and Africa region.

Speakers from Bahrains Ministry of Interior, Network, Benefit, PwC and Grand Thornton shared insightful facts and had thought-provoking discussions on fraud resilience and security, fraud trends, challenges and solutions, customer satisfaction and trust, the role of technology in real time fraud prevention, cross-channel fraud resilience, security, the impact on customer trust.

Navneet Dave, Managing Director & Co-Head of Processing  Middle East at Network International, said: We are excited to host a roadshow in Bahrain in partnership with Benefit. Real time fraud monitoring and prevention has several benefits for financial institutions and banks such as reducing losses, increasing customer confidence and providing an enhanced customer experience.

We have an expertise of 30-years in the region and as the leading enabler of digital commerce we feel its imperative to share this knowledge bank and provide insights on fraud resilience in the evolving digital landscape across the GCC and Africa.

Network remains committed to driving our market presence in Bahrain following our ambitious strategy to be the leader of innovative payment solutions in the region.

Nezar Maroof, Assistant General Manager of Marketing at Benefit, said: We are delighted to co-host the Fraud Resilience Forum with Network International, which aligns with our commitment to enhancing Bahrains position as a regional financial hub in line with the strategic objectives of The Economic Vision 2030.

Fraud prevention adds a layer of protection to user accounts and financial information, empowering consumers to navigate their payments journeys with complete confidence.

The roadshow is in line with the Central Bank of Bahrain and the Ministry of Interiors efforts in raising awareness in fraud-related risk areas.  TradeArabia News Service
The Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA) today (June 12) published its Green Finance Framework to support decarbonisation projects and initiatives that contribute to the transition to a low-carbon economy.

The company also revealed that its recent acquisition of European speciality foundry Leichtmetall was fully funded with EGAs first green loan facility.

A green finance framework defines eligibility and governance mechanisms for financing from third-party institutions and funds that prioritise sustainability in their capital allocation, among other sources.

Publishing the framework advances EGAs sustainability goals by enabling access to a more diverse range of funding options for loans and bonds, potentially lowering the cost of borrowing while ensuring increased transparency, said the company in a statement.

Citi and ING acted as the lead sustainability structuring banks and First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB) acted as the sustainability structuring bank to support EGA in the frameworks development.

EGA has publicly committed to reaching net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, in line with the UAE Net Zero by 2050 strategic initiative.

Aluminium demand is expected to grow worldwide by between 50% and 80% by 2050. Recycled and low-carbon primary aluminium are expected to account for around 60% of supply growth between now and 2030, and around 70% of supply growth between 2030 and 2040.

EGA had completed the acquisition of Leichtmetall in May. Leichtmetall uses renewable energy to produce up to 30,000 tonnes per year of aluminium billets at its plant in Germany, with secondary aluminium comprising some 80 per cent of the input material.

CEO Abdulnasser Bin Kalban said: "The aluminium EGA produces plays an essential role in the development of a more sustainable society. It is also important how sustainably it is produced. This is both an enormous opportunity and a significant challenge for EGA and our wider industry."

"Our green finance framework enables us to access a deeper pool of liquidity to finance projects and initiatives that advance our decarbonisation goals. Our use of green financing for our recent acquisition of Leichtmetall is another first for EGA in our sustainability journey," he added.

Separately, in 2023, EGA rolled out the first ESG-linked supply chain finance programme in the UAEs manufacturing sector to advance sustainability in its supply chain. The programme has provided some $73 million in financing to EGAs suppliers since October last year.-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.
Vinci, a global player in concessions, energy and construction sectors, has announced that Qatar Holding, the investment arm of the country's sovereign wealth fund QIA (Qatar Investment Authority), has relinquished its directorship from the French company's board.

The Qatari group became a director of the Vinci Group following the transfer of share capital of Cegelec, a French engineering company specialising in electrical infrastructure, HVAC and nuclear energy development, to Vinci.

The announcement came from Qatar Holding at the recent shareholders general meeting following the voting.

A global construction expert with presence in more than 120 countries, Vinci designs, funds, builds and operates infrastructure and facilities that help improve daily life and mobility for all through its 280,000-strong workforce.
Soho Development, a UAE-based residential real estate developer, has announced the unveiling of The Berkeley - the first fully-furnished, hospitality-inspired residence within the Dubai Hills Estate development, that is set to offer unique parkfront living in one of the most sought-after communities.

Designed and crafted by the renowned LW Design Group and XBD Collective, The Berkeley epitomises sophistication for its residents through high-end finishes that herald a uniquely refined way of living, said the developer.

Every aspect is conceived with the vision of redefining contemporary living, with every detail carefully curated for a seamless living experience, it stated.

The Berkeley offers a suite of exceptional state-of-the-art amenities, all within a vibrant community setting. The lounge serves as a retreat for relaxation, while the azure pool emerges as a serene escape for leisure and indulgence.

An expansive, luxurious sun deck provides a perfect space for sunbathing and enjoying panoramic views, enhancing the outdoor living experience. The playhouse presents a safe and imaginative space for kids to learn, play and grow, and Dubai Hills Park is a place where families can spend time together.

Complementing the residences with leisure facilities, the wellness studio features state-of-the-art equipment for those seeking physical and mental balance, rounding out The Berkeleys commitment to a holistic luxury lifestyle.

Leading UAE real estate project sales and marketing consultancy Devmark has been appointed as the Master Agent for the premium Dubai Hills Estate project, which presents well-crafted residential suites beautifully appointed with bespoke furnishings.

The Berkeley represents Sohos evolution from beachfront to parkfront properties, offering a luxurious lifestyle reminiscent of elite New York City residences amidst Dubais serene landscapes, stated the developer.

Building upon its distinguished legacy in developing nine luxury villas on Palm Jumeirah and Soho Palm, a sought-after build-to-rent residential building, Soho now introduces its very first build-to-sell project that embraces park life.

"We are thrilled to announce our new project in Dubai Hills, marking another significant milestone for Soho Development," remarked Sahil Khosla, the CEO of Soho Development.

"Following our success with beachfront properties, weve recognised the growing demand for a lifestyle where sophistication intertwines with the allure of park life, prompting us to introduce The Berkeley. This further highlights our commitment to creating homes that embody the essence of hotel living, enriched by design and innovation," he stated.

"Our collaboration with Devmark has been vital in realising our vision, emphasising the importance of partnering with those who share Sohos philosophy. Together, were excited to introduce The Berkeley, setting new standards in residential living," he added.

Set against the backdrop of the expansive Dubai Hills Park, The Berkeley is conveniently located in the tranquillity of Dubai Hills Estate.

"Revealing panoramic views of lush greenery and creating an oasis within the bustling cityscape, these residences will offer an unmatched personalised living space, echoing modern aesthetics and a hotel-inspired lifestyle that are hallmarks of Sohos properties," said Khosla.

With an always-available director of residences solely focused on providing an extraordinary sense of security and comfort, The Berkeley offers a diverse range of spacious residential options, presenting studios one-bedroom and two-bedroom residences.

Crafted with careful attention to detail, each unit is designed featuring stylish interiors, premium fixtures, and the highest quality fittings, private balconies, and are fully furnished, equipped with access to superior amenities, ensuring every resident experiences a unique and personalised living space, he added.

Devmark CEO Sean McCauley said: "Our partnership with Soho on The Berkeley residences embodies a shared commitment to crafting exceptional living experiences. The Berkeley will introduce a pioneering concept of parkfront, hospitality-inspired living, which has been met with great enthusiasm from our network of investors and buyers, setting a new benchmark in residential projects."

"With Dubai Hills emerging as one of Dubais top five transacted areas, we anticipate strong demand for the residences that cater to modern homeowners preferences," he added.-TradeArabia News Service
Jordan Phosphates Mines Company (JPMC), one of the worlds largest phosphate producers, has announced a strategic partnership with Waterise, a pioneering Norwegian start-up specialising in deep sea environment-friendly desalination.

Together, they will embark on an ambitious deep sea desalination project in the Gulf of Aqaba, at the northern tip of the Red Sea, to meet the increasing water demand at JPMCs facilities, said the Jordanian firm in its statement.

The two parties are currently working to secure the water off-take arrangements and other pertinent details before executing the definitive agreements.

This landmark collaboration aims to leverage Waterises state-of-the-art desalination solution to sustainably support JPMC's water needs, contributing to the companys operational efficiency and environmental sustainability goals.

On the key partnership, JPMC Chairman Dr Mohammed Thneibat said it aligns perfectly with the group's commitment to sustainable development and environmental stewardship.

"By utilising this innovative desalination solution we can ensure a consistent supply of water while minimising our ecological footprint. We look forward to seeing the positive impact this project will have on our operations and the surrounding community," he stated.

Niels Petter Wright, CEO of Waterise, expressed delight at the tieup with JPMC on this groundbreaking project.

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"Our deep sea desalination solution based on world class oil and gas technology and marine operations represents a significant advancement in sustainable water production," noted Wright.

"We are confident that it will provide a reliable and environmentally friendly local water supply for JPMCs critical operations in the Gulf of Aqaba," he added.-TradeArabia News Service
With technology driving innovation and economic growth, Agility, a leading supply chain and infrastructure firm, is taking the initiative to train the next generation of tech professionals.

Agility has announced its support for education programmes for over 1,300 Kuwaiti students this year.

Agility has aided support for CODED, a local tech training organisation in Kuwait that provides boot camp-style software development training. As a strategic sponsor of CODED, Agility is funding two programs.

The Kuwait Codes initiative will provide over 1,000 high school students with crucial programming skills across languages like app building, web development, gaming, cybersecurity and more. This lays an excellent foundation for further technology training.

Agility is also backing Academy X which aims to inspire 300 young Kuwaiti women to pursue tech careers through coding basics, entrepreneurship with technology, and other vital skills for the job market.

Henadi Al Saleh, Chairperson of Agility, said: Our continued investment in capacity-building programs reflects Agilitys commitment to Kuwait's youth. We want to help equip them with the essential skills needed for todays job market. We are proud to have made a positive impact on more than 7,000 students, over half of whom are young women ready to launch their careers. Our support for Kuwait Codes 2024 and the launch of Academy X underscores our commitment to the next generation of tech talent in Kuwait.

The company has formed partnerships with Loyac, Injaz Kuwait, the Kuwait Industries Union (KIU), and the Public Authority for Youth, and other government bodies to magnify its impact.

Agility has a long-standing commitment to youth in Kuwait with its efforts aligning with Kuwaits development plan, designed to equip students and young professionals with crucial skills, preparing them for the future job market as well as contributing to Kuwaits growth and development, the company said.

In 2024, Agility is renewing key sponsorships and launching targeted training initiatives. The company will continue its support for the Loyacs KON entrepreneurship programme and, for the second year, is offering intensive facility management training to young Kuwaitis and university graduates in partnership with the Public Authority for Youth. Agility also is supporting the 13th edition of 'Knights of Industry,' a training initiative by the Kuwait Industries Union that guides high school graduates towards careers in industrial sectors, it said.  TradeArabia News Service
Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone (Rakez) has entered into an exclusive partnership with HRM Recruitment, a manpower outsourcing and HR solutions firm, to enhance support for companies within its business community.

The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed by Ian Hunt, Rakez Chief Experience Officer, and Jacek Tadeusz Dona-Rospedowski, CEO of HRM Recruitment, which is managed by HR Motives Group Poland.

Rakez Group CEO Ramy Jallad said: Our collaboration with HRM Recruitment will simplify the process of securing the right workforce for industrial projects. This addition to our manpower services complements the existing infrastructure and amenities in our industrial zones, where we already provide staff and labour accommodations. Furthermore, companies in the Rakez business ecosystem can leverage our new partnership to meet their recruitment needs and enhance operational efficiency.

Empowering businesses

Rospedowski said: We are excited to work with Rakez and look forward to supporting the diverse industries within the economic zone. Our expertise in sourcing, managing and deploying blue-collar workers will empower businesses by streamlining their recruitment processes.

Rakezs support for businesses extends beyond licensing, company set-up and visa processing. With a client-first approach, the economic zone provides a suite of value-added services designed to facilitate ease of doing business.

These services address a companys unique operational needs, including corporate bank account opening, finance functions such as accounting, VAT, and tax registration and filing, the UAE Governments compliance-related formalities, recruitment, marketing, legal assistance, and even administrative tasks such as attestation and translation of documents, etc.--TradeArabia News Service
VFS Global, a leading outsourcing and technology services specialist for governments and diplomatic missions worldwide, has reduced its greenhouse gas emissions by 72% compared to 2019 levels, marking significant strides in environmental sustainability.

The recently released Integrated Sustainability Report reveals impressive progress in reducing the company's carbon footprint and enhancing its environmental initiatives.

Key Environmental Achievements

 Reduction in GHG Emissions: VFS Global has successfully reduced its greenhouse gas emissions by 72% compared to 2019 levels. This highlights the companys dedication to combating climate change.

 Switch to Green Energy: The company has transitioned 76% of its electricity consumption to green energy sources, significantly decreasing its reliance on fossil fuels.

 Tree Planting Initiatives: As part of its commitment to reforestation, VFS Global has planted 200,000 trees, contributing to its target of planting one million trees by 2027, aimed at enhancing global green cover.

 8.04 Tonnes of electronic waste was properly recycled to avoid potentially toxic material ending up in landfills.

 We offset 100% business travel with 2,000 tCO2 contributing to a climate protection project that provides improved domestic cook stoves for 25,000 households in remote areas of India.

These accomplishments are part of VFS Global's broader sustainability strategy, which is built on five fundamental pillars: Contributing to Sustainable Economic Growth, Good Governance, Nurturing Colleagues, Protecting our Environment, and Supporting our Communities.

The companys environmental initiatives have not only reduced its carbon footprint but also enhanced its overall operational efficiency.

VFS Globals focus on environmental sustainability is further underscored by its certification under 'ISO 14001:2015 - Environmental Management Systems'.

Shireen Mistree, Head  ESG at VFS Global, said: The launch of the 5th Integrated Sustainability Report is a testament to the collective efforts of our workforce, partners, and stakeholders driving positive change. This report details the impact of our ESG initiatives and serves as a roadmap for our continued progress towards a more sustainable future.  TradeArabia News Service
NMC Healthcare group (NMC) has appointed Rothschild & Co as the first of two Joint Financial Advisors chosen to review strategic alternatives for its shareholders, including a potential initial public offering and a sale of the business. A second Financial Advisor will be appointed in due course.

Strategic milestones

The selection of the Joint Financial Advisors is a continuation of several strategic milestones achieved since March 2022, which marked the completion of the restructuring of NMC. These milestones include:

*The successful restructuring of NMC and subsequent exit from administration of NMCs 34 core operating companies following a formal restructuring process overseen by the Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) courts, and in accordance with the ADGMs insolvency regulations;

*The appointment of a new Board of Directors, and the appointment of new Executive and Group leadership teams led by CEO and regional healthcare leader, David Hadley, to support NMC to pursue growth opportunities;

*The appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers Limited Partnership (registered in the Abu Dhabi Global Market) as NMCs auditor;

*The successful resolution and conclusion of material legacy creditor litigation; and

*The development and implementation of group-wide strategic business, growth, and digital transformation plans.

The NMC Healthcare group, founded in 1975, is comprised of 85 hospitals, specialty clinics and medical facilities under the NMC, ProVita International Medical Centre, CosmeSurge, and Fakih IVF Fertility Centre brands.

National network

Its national network makes it the only healthcare group uniquely positioned to serve the three most populous Emirates of Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah, as well as the Northern Emirates of Ras Al Khaimah and Ajman. NMCs 12,000 employees serve in excess of 5.5 million patients annually.

NMC Healthcare CEO, David Hadley, said: We are pleased to explore strategic alternatives for the company at an exciting time in the UAE. The market is witnessing rapid population growth and presents an attractive opportunity to provide high quality medical services across diverse and changing demographics. We are committed to delivering continued value to our stakeholders and the millions of patients we serve every year.

While the review of strategic alternatives is conducted, Rothschild & Co will also respond to market enquiries on behalf of NMC Healthcare.--TradeArabia News Service
Dell Technologies and UAE-based Presight have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to develop solutions that help customers in the UAE accelerate their digital transformation objectives.

This agreement marks a significant step towards leveraging cutting-edge infrastructure solutions to accelerate artificial intelligence (AI) and big data adoption in the UAE.

The MoU was signed by Dr Adel Alsharji, Chief Operating Officer of Presight, and Walid Yehia, Managing Director  UAE at Dell Technologies, during Dell Technologies World 2024. It will allow Presight, a leading big data analytics company powered by generative AI, to harness the potential of advanced technologies and competent solutions that meet the growing demands of the digital era.

Innovative edge

The collaboration will focus on developing innovative edge, open RAN and IoT analytics architectures, combining Presights expertise in AI and data analytics with Dells robust capabilities in compute, storage, data protection and network solutions. It will also enhance cybersecurity by utilising zero trust principles.

Dr Adel Alsharji, COO of Presight, said: "We are thrilled to work closely with Dell Technologies to drive innovation. Dell is a global technology player, and this MoU is a significant step toward fostering innovation and advancing digital transformation. We will look to leverage this collaboration to provide our clients with cutting-edge solutions that are sustainable, secure, scalable and that set new industry benchmarks."

Walid Yehia, Managing Director - UAE, Dell Technologies, said: "Data insights are a key differentiator in addressing growing business concerns during this digital era. By working with Presight we are poised to help their customers drive innovation and deliver unprecedented value in a fast-evolving business landscape.--TradeArabia News Service
Moro Hub, a subsidiary of Digital Dewa, has announced a tie-up with SAP, a global leader in enterprise software solutions to integrate SAP's Business AI capabilities within the Moro Hub Data Centre by 2025.

Through this collaboration, Moro Hub reaffirms its commitment to the UAE market by supporting the UAE National Artificial Intelligence Strategy 2031. The integration of SAP Business AI into Moro Hub Green Data Center is a pivotal move to expedite AI adoption across various sectors in the region, driving forward the UAEs vision for a future underpinned by advanced technology and AI-driven solutions.

The initiative was officially announced during Dubai AI Retreat, organised by the Dubai Centre for AI (DCAI) and the National Programme for Artificial Intelligence, under the patronage of Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Chairman of the Executive Council of Dubai, and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Dubai Future Foundation, by Mohammad Bin Sulaiman, CEO of Moro Hub, and Marwan Zeineddine, Managing Director of SAP UAE. This landmark event convened over 1,000 AI experts, business leaders, and tech giants, providing an ideal backdrop for the announcement.

Key milestone

Mohammad bin Sulaiman, CEO of Moro Hub, stated: Our collaboration with SAP is a significant milestone in our journey to support the UAE's AI vision. By integrating SAP's Business AI capabilities into our data centre, we aim to provide businesses with advanced tools that drive efficiency, innovation, and competitive advantage.

With recent investments in the UAE, SAP is dedicated to nurturing a robust technological ecosystem that fosters innovation and progress. This partnership with Moro Hub will enhance SAPs service offerings and empower businesses across the UAE to harness the transformative potential of AI.

Marwan Zeineddine, Managing Director of SAPs UAE operations, said: Partnering with Moro Hub aligns with our commitment to bringing best-in-class AI solutions to the UAE. This collaboration will accelerate AI adoption and innovation, providing unparalleled value to our customers and supporting the UAE's ambitious AI strategy.

By making Business AI available on the Moro Hub Data Center, the collaboration underscores the strategic intent of both Moro Hub and SAP to be at the forefront of AI advancements, ensuring their customers in the UAE can leverage the full potential of artificial intelligence.--TradeArabia News Service
XPANSE, Abu Dhabi's groundbreaking forum and ecosystem-building platform from MATTER, will feature some of the most transformative exponential technologies of the future.

The key themes for XPANSE 2024, the worlds first forum for exponential technologies premiering in Abu Dhabi from November 22 to 24, are:

The New Intelligence: Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning

The Matterverse: Advanced Materials

Transcending Biology: Genomics

Quantumworld: Quantum Computing

Next-Gen Compute: Exotic and Neuromorphic Computing

Ultimate Connectivity: 6G and Future G

Following the three-day forum, XPANSE 2024 will launch a year-round ecosystem-building engine aimed at activating innovations, fostering global partnerships and securing investments in exponential technology and deep science.

The event will be held in collaboration with Capital Events, part of Adnec Group, and hosted by ADQ, an Abu Dhabi-based investment and holding company, held its launch ceremony on June 10.

Groundbreaking event

Humaid Al Dhaheri, Managing Director and Group Chief Executive Officer of Adnec Group, said: Hosting this groundbreaking event exemplifies the Adnec Group's commitment to attracting and hosting major global gatherings in Abu Dhabi. These events cover a broad spectrum of business transformation, future-shaping and knowledge-based sectors. They significantly contribute to strengthening Abu Dhabi's position as both an incubator for creativity and innovation and a leading capital for the region's business tourism industry.

Louay Abou Chanab, Group Chief Strategy Officer at ADQ, said: Our partnership with XPANSE underscores the pivotal role of collaboration in driving Abu Dhabis innovation ambition by enhancing the commercial potential of research and development, fostering a diversified and knowledge-based economy within the Emirate.

We look forward to leveraging this unique opportunity to unlock the discovery and design of exponential technologies, developing state-of-the-art solutions that drive value creation and achieve sustainable impact across key sectors in which we operate.

Showcasing innovation

Dr Zina Jarrahi Cinker, Director General of MATTER, said: We are thrilled to announce the themes for XPANSE 2024 and to witness the enthusiasm of the esteemed attendees at our launch party. It was inspiring to see so many influential leaders from Abu Dhabi's largest organisations come together to support our vision. With the launch of XPANSE in the Middle East, we remain committed to showcasing innovation and exponential technology in a format never seen before.

Darren Johnson, CEO of Capital Events, part of the Adnec Group, said: We are truly excited to help lead this groundbreaking initiative. Its an event that not only showcases the most advanced technology, but it exists at the limit of whats possible today and makes new connections to shape our shared future. So, for Capital Events, XPANSE is more than just an eventits part of our commitment and vision to curate world-leading platforms that inspire, connect, and propel industries into the future.

XPANSE 2024 is poised to attract global decision-makers to shape the horizons of exponential technologies, welcoming technology pioneers, Nobel laureates, industry leaders, CEOs, ministers, scientists, and internationally renowned thinkers to this exclusive ecosystem building platform.--TradeArabia News Service
Chinese premier congratulates Modi on new term

Xinhua) 09:47, June 12, 2024

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.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Christopher Henry Richardson, the youngest person ever to scam bank in San Antonio, set up a fake super PAC and made big claims that crumbled under scrutiny. Bill Oxford/Getty Images

Christopher Henry Richardson, the youngest person ever to con a San Antonio bank, says he perpetrated his latest fraud  in which he created a fake political action committee  for a worthy cause: national health care reform.

Richardson, 37, pleaded guilty this spring in Washington, D.C., to filing false reports related to the PAC, whose purported mission was to back Democratic candidates in key U.S. Senate races in 2020.

On Thursday, he was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison.

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His attorney, Jarrett L. Colby of Washington, D.C., had sought a lighter punishment, saying in a sentencing memo that Richardson was motivated to commit the crime by his mothers struggles with her health insurance company  over its alleged unwillingness to cover a kidney transplant  and her subsequent death in 2021. Dolores Alcazar Aragon suffered from kidney failure stemming from diabetes.

Colby also said his client suffers from several mental disorders.

It was against the backdrop of his mothers terminal illness that Mr. Richardson conceived the idea of forming a sham PAC, Colby said in the sentencing memo. Mr. Richardsons overwhelming grief over his mothers impending death exacerbated his underlying mental illnesses, leaving him in an agitated and deluded state.

He felt himself drawn to political activism around health insurance reform, he said.

Richardson set up a super PAC, called Americans for Progressive Action USA, four years ago and falsely claimed in its first quarterly filing with the Federal Election Commission that it raised $4.8 million from a handful of unidentified donors. In later filings, the super PAC said it spent $1.5 million for campaign ads and related expenses.

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Unlike traditional PACs, super PACs can raise unlimited amounts of donations from individuals, corporations, unions and other groups to spend on ads for or against candidates and on other campaign-related expenses.

An investigation by the online news site Politico found numerous irregularities with the super PAC. Ad producers identified in its FEC filings told Politico they had never been contacted by AFPA  and had never heard of it.

After Politico published its story about the mysterious organization in May 2020, AFPA falsely claimed in subsequent FEC filings that it was returning the $4.8 million because of the report. The FEC opened a civil inquiry.

Mr. Richardson neither stole nor intended to steal from campaign donors, Colby said. Mr. Richardson and his PAC did not solicit or receive any donations whatsoever. His scheme was motivated not by a desire to enrich himself, but by his late mothers struggles to obtain health insurance benefits.

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Richardson told FBI agents his objective was to lure health insurers into a financially crippling political fight, an idea inspired by President Ronald Reagans successful bid to win the Cold War by out-spending the Soviet Union and forcing it into an arms race that it could not afford.

If this plan seems far-fetched, that is because it was: Mr. Richardson was not only behaving unlawfully, but also irrationally. His actions were deeply misguided in all regards, Colby said.

Richardson also pleaded guilty to credit card fraud. He used the alias Henry Bass to obtain a credit card, on which he racked up nearly $8,000 in charges.

However, Colby said in the sentencing memo that Richardson has repaid most of the debt, cutting the balance to $922.

The attorney asked U.S. District Judge Trevor N. McFadden to sentence Richardson to either probation or a short stint in a prison camp.

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Living large  and outside the law

Richardson is his married name. His name was Christopher Aragon when he convicted of bank fraud in 2010 in San Antonio and sent to federal prison.

By age 20, hed engaged in an elaborate scheme to defraud his maternal aunt and San Antonio National Bank.

After learning that his aunt had obtained money through a retirement plan and the sale of her home, he convinced her to entrust the money to him and allow him to open credit accounts in both their names, according to court records. He told his aunt they would be real estate development partners.

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He then got the bank to deem him creditworthy by claiming he was a trust fund baby and presenting a fraudulent tax return and Merrill Lynch account statement that falsely inflated his income, according to court records. Richardson received a $115,000 line of credit and loans that allowed him to purchase a Porsche and two Mercedes vehicles.

Overall, he landed more than $1.2 million in fraudulent loans.

Jim Blankinship, an assistant U.S. attorney who prosecuted him in San Antonio, recalled Richardson living in a wealthy neighborhood in North San Antonio, though he furnished the house with only a cot and chair.

U.S. District Judge Fred Biery sentenced him to four years and three months in prison. Richardson returned to San Antonio court at least twice for violating conditions of his parole.

Prosecutors in the super PAC argued for a prison sentence of 18 months, citing Richardsons criminal history.

His conduct while on supervised release, including the use of aliases, the falsifying of records, and the bogus inflation of money and income  in financial records then and in FEC reports and credit card applications now  is reason for a sentence within the (sentencing) guidelines range, Assistant U.S. Attorneys Elizabeth Aloi and Ryan Croswell said in a sentencing memorandum. Its not just that he continues to engage in misconduct; its that he continues to engage in misconduct of the same nature.

It is not every day that the Court will have before it a man who, at 20 years of age, successfully defrauded a bank, and, years later, defrauded the public by creating a fake Super PAC, they said. Indeed, it is clear that Defendant is intelligent enough to succeed in endeavors of a higher calling but chooses instead to continue to engage in criminal conduct.

MORE COVERAGE: Man gets prison for conning bank

'Force for good'

Colbys plea for leniency centered on Richardsons mental health.

His psychiatric diagnoses have varied from provider to provider. They have included attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder, bipolar disorder, panic disorder, generalized anxiety disorder and post traumatic stress disorder, Colby said in the sentencing memo.

Colby claimed Richardson was sexually assaulted by a guard when he first entered federal prison at age 22, and that his PTSD resulted from that attack.

The defense attorney also said Richardson is also afflicted by the death of his mother.

Richardsons sister, Valeri Aragon, and their father, Henry Aragon, said Dolores' death has been hard on the family  one of the reasons theyre seeking mercy for Richardson. In letters to the court, they describe him as compassionate, caring, and kind and having a heart of gold.

I know that he has made mistakes, and he is willing to face the consequences of his actions. But I beg of you, your honor, to consider the devastating impact that a lengthy incarceration would have on me, on our family, and on the community at large, Henry Aragon wrote. My son is not a hardened criminal; he is a good person who has stumbled. He deserves a chance to redeem himself, to make amends, and to continue being the force for good that he has always been.
More than 40 people were killed in a fire in an apartment building housing workers in the city of Mangaf in Kuwaits southern Ahmadi Governorate.

An initial report by the Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) on Wednesday said at least 35 people were killed in the fire.

The Kuwaiti health ministry said about 43 people were hospitalised due to the fire, and four of those people had died. It wasn't clear if the four fatalities were in addition to the 35 reported by police.

However, Malayala Manorama, an Indian newspaper, reported that the fire in the six-storeyed building left 43 people dead and at least 40 others injured. According to reports, 10 Indians, including five from the southern state of Kerala, were also killed in the blaze.

The fire originated from a kitchen in one of the lower floors within the labour camp at 4.30 am on Wednesday. The fire quickly spread to all the rooms in the apartment, said the report citing sources. A few individuals, who leaped out of the apartment upon noticing the blaze, were killed, it stated. Others succumbed to burn injuries and asphyxiation after inhaling smoke. Several people, who were injured in the fire, have been admitted to Adan, Jaber and Mubarak hospitals, the state media reported.

The incident was reported to authorities at 6am local time (0300 GMT), reported Reuters, citing a senior police commander.
Wood, a global leader in consulting and engineering, has been awarded a new $46 million, three-year contract by TotalEnergies in Iraq.

Wood will provide front-end engineering design (FEED), detailed design, procurement support, and construction and commissioning assistance for the first phase of the Associated Gas Upstream Project, part of the Gas Growth Integrated Project (GGIP) in Southern Iraq.

The GGIP includes the recovery of gas currently flared in the Basra region to supply power generation plants, along with the construction of a seawater treatment unit and a 1GW solar power plant.

Shaun Dewar, Senior Vice President of Operations, Middle East and Africa at Wood, said: We are proud to support TotalEnergies on this project, which aligns with our shared commitment to pursue a secure and sustainable energy supply. We have a long-standing history of delivering engineering and consulting services in the region and this contract reaffirms our reputation for excellence.

"This project will improve environmental sustainability through emissions reduction efforts. As part of this agreement, Wood will also continue to invest in local employment and skills development in the Basra region.

The contract will be delivered by Woods teams in Basra and Dubai, creating 100 new positions. Wood currently employs over 1,300 people in Iraq and the UAE. --OGN/TradeArabia News Service
The solar energy storage market size is expected to surpass an annual installation of 3 GW by 2025 and grow at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 15.1% by 2032, as reported in the latest study by Global Market Insights.

Rising demand for effective battery composition to cater across a hoard of transport and renewable energy-based applications have infused a competitive business scenario.

Advent of EVs favored by their ongoing adoption have compelled industry players to integrate cost competitive and performance-oriented storage units.

Moreover, volume manufacturing practices coupled with the infusion of economical products from the Chinese manufacturing industry to sustain the upsurge in demand has further led to substantial cost reduction.

Henceforth, ongoing cost associated implementations along with favorable industrial inclination will drive the solar energy storage market growth.

Regulatory measures to reduce dependence on conventional fuels in conjunction to financial allocations to endorse renewable energy integration will augment the US solar energy storage market share.

Ongoing replacement of existing power plants with sustainable technologies along with effective management of grid feed in will further complement the industry portfolio.

In 2017, the US regulators, proposed a reduction to their tax reforms by curbing their corporate taxes with prospects to reinforce the sustainable energy business potential.

Scalability and suitability for large scale applications are few imperative parameters driving the flow battery aided solar energy storage market growth, according to Global Market Insights.

Safe operational characteristics, higher power densities, aqueous systems with inorganic redox materials have instituted a favorable business scenario across stationary solar applications.

Henceforth, rigorous attempts from industry participants & utilities favored by positive consumer outlook towards a synchronous, reliable & sustainable electric infrastructure will foster the overall industry growth.

Solar energy storage market in the recent years, has gained escalation on account of large-scale deployment of roof-top systems across commercial & residential establishments.

Roof-top installations on account of fiscal benefits including net metering schemes, asset leveraging, subsidies & funding have witnessed significant growth.

Moreover, effective frequency synchronisation, provision of backup power favored by financial benefits associated with grid feed-in will further complement the business outlook.

> 5000 kW segment will witness growth on account of regulators identifying the assertive reforms supporting the integration of variable renewable energy shares.

Incorporation of grid ancillary services along with the integration of granular markets to incentivise services including firm capacity, frequency reserves and others.

In addition, BES services including economics of behind the meter storage will further thrust the solar energy storage market landscape, stated the report.

Asia Pacific solar energy storage market has gained momentum on account of favorable government initiatives to support growing renewable integration.

Regulatory reforms, investment subsidies, renewable integration targets, self-consumption scheme, and others have nourished the industrial peripheral.

Rapid economic escalation across emerging nations along with increasing electricity demand across developing markets will further institute a favorable business scenario.--OGN/TradeArabia News Service
More than 900 chefs from the UAE, and 11 from across the world, took part in the Emirates Salon Culinaire (ESC) 2024 held recently at Expo Centre Sharjah, the home of Expoculinaire, alongside the Expoculiniare exhibition.

Organised by Purple Kitchen Events, the Emirates Culinary Guild (ECG) held the competition (May 20-22) in 39 classes across all disciplines of the culinary arts  from practical cookery, static displays, Emirati cuisine, cake decorating and Show Piece category.

The competition was judged by an international team of 23 judges led by Otto Wiebel, who has been with ECG for 25 of the 27 editions, along with UAE-based judges.

It was supported by past President of ECG, Uwe Micheel, and Chairman of Worldchefs Culinary committee Dr Rick Stephen, together with Martin Kobald Vice President Worldchefs and Alain Hostert Continental Director Europe Central for Worldchefs.

The ESC is one of the largest culinary competitions in the Africa and Middle East region that is also endorsed by the World Association of Chefs Societies.

The standard just keeps getting better year-on-year, said Micheel.

We are proud to have once again been able to put on the event, and we are grateful to the supporters of the guild and to the courage of the chefs and Industry for their support and presence during the three days and awards ceremony of the Expo Culinaire 2024.

Guild President Andy Cuthbert, General Manager of Jumeirah Creekside Hotel, and Madinat Jumeirah Conference & Incentives and Jumeirah Hospitality, said: This years competition was another sign of the growth of the culinary arts in the UAE.

This year saw the introduction of a new practical cookery competition, The Sounbula Artisan Bakery arena, where eight teams of bakers competed for the title of Sounbula Mills Bakery team of 2024.

They had to make a selection of bread and pastry items from scratch using only Sounbula flours, with no pre mixes of chemicals or yeast.

Owner of Sounbula Mills Karim Al Azhari, said: I am proud of what the teams have done in this inaugural event and we at Sounbula believe in the strength of this competition to continue to highlight the culinary prowess of the UAE and we are proud to have been able to contribute this year and make such a difference.

Joanne Cook, MD of Purple Kitchen Events, said: We made the most of the strengths of all the individual parts of both competitions, exhibition and competitions to bring a truly complete food and beverage event to the Emirate of Sharjah.

To be able to maintain our commitment to chefs and to education was essential. Our certified education sessions have become a pillar of the overall event, so to deliver them in 2024 thanks to ICCA Dubai, Emirates Academy of Hospitality Management and CIC was excellent added value for all our audience concluded Cook. - TradeArabia News Service
UN Tourism will host its first regional forum on Gastronomy Tourism for Africa, advancing its work to make this class of tourism a pillar for sustainable and inclusive growth across the region. The forum will be held in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, from July 26 to 28.

Registrations opened on June 10 and will last until July 1.

Hosted under the patronage of the First Lady of the Republic of Zimbabwe, Dr Auxillia C Mnangagwa, and co-organised 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.

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 organised 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 emphasise sustainable practices in gastronomy tourism, exploring topics such as local sourcing and minimising food waste.

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, emphasising 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.  TradeArabia News Service
Saudi Arabia's General Directorate of Passports announced on Tuesday (June 11) that 1,547,295 pilgrims had arrived in the kingdom for the Hajj season of 1445 AH.

This figure includes all pilgrims entering the kingdom through air, land, and sea ports until the end of Monday (June 10), it said.

The arrival data revealed that 1,483,312 pilgrims arrived via air travel, while 59,273 pilgrims entered through land ports. Sea ports received a total of 4,710 pilgrims.

The directorate emphasised its commitment to facilitating the entry process for all pilgrims. This commitment is reflected in the deployment of the latest technological advancements at international ports alongside a team of highly qualified multilingual personnel to ensure a smooth experience for all arriving for Hajj.
Air Tanzania has launched its inaugural flight from Dar es Salaam to the United Arab Emirates. The latest service to Dubai International Airport, Terminal 1, features four weekly flights, connecting Tanzania with the UAE and beyond.

The new route marks a significant milestone for the company, that commenced services to the emirate on March 31, 2024.

Aviareps Middle East, renowned as a global leader in international representation, marketing, and communications within the aviation, tourism, and hospitality sectors, has been selected as the General Sales Agent (GSA) for Air Tanzania in the UAE.

With a worldwide presence spanning 68 offices across 65 countries, Aviareps, including its Middle East arm, Aviareps Middle East, will be supporting Tanzania's flag carrier airline with a full spectrum of sales and ticketing services in the UAE, extending its services and impact to the Gulf Corporation Council (GCC) countries and beyond.

Ladislaus Matindi, CEO and Managing Director, Air Tanzania, said: "We are delighted to join the ranks of global airlines in launching the Dubai route, fulfilling a longstanding aspiration to enhance connectivity and enrich the travel experience for our passengers.

Our direct flights to Dubai, operated four times weekly with our state-of-the-art aircraft B737-9 MAX, promise exceptional comfort and value.

Matindi also praised the appointment of Aviareps as the General Sales Agent in the UAE, citing their extensive industry expertise and their ability to reinforce Air Tanzanias strategic efforts in unlocking new opportunities and reaching broader audiences.

Glenn Johnston, Vice President Middle East & Global Public Affairs at Aviareps, said: We are incredibly proud to have been chosen by Air Tanzania as their GSA in the UAE. Air Tanzania offers reliable, safe, and high-quality services with great domestic and international connectivity into Africa.

Our focus as their GSA in the UAE is to increase and expand its sales within the UAE. We will do this by servicing the Tanzanian and African diaspora, business communities, as well as developing the market for increased leisure travel and incentive travel from the UAE to Tanzania and beyond.

The strategic decision by Air Tanzania to connect Dar es Salaam and Zanzibar with Dubai through four weekly flights has been positively welcomed within the aviation and travel industries in the UAE. The new move is poised to catalyze increased travel, tourism, cultural exchange, and business opportunities between Tanzania and UAE.  TradeArabia News Service
Sabre Corporation, a leading software and technology provider that powers the global travel industry, has appointed Head of Business Development and Strategic Sales for Saudi Arabia, to enhance the tourism potential through technology-driven solutions.

Hasan Qannatis appointment is part of Sabres broader strategy to expand its footprint in the Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) region and provide travel agencies with the tools they need to thrive in a dynamic and competitive landscape.

We are delighted to welcome Hasan to Sabre, said Ramzi Al-Qassab, Managing Director, Sabre Travel Network Middle East (STNME).

As the Business Development Manager for Saudi Arabia, Hasan will play a critical role in identifying and pursuing new business opportunities, managing customer relationships, and driving business growth in this key market.

His deep aviation experience, customer-centric approach, and passion for the rapidly evolving travel industry will be invaluable in helping our partners identify and seize new growth opportunities.

Qannati will be based in Riyadh and tasked with promoting Sabres comprehensive suite of solutions and ensuring the delivery of advanced, personalised services that cater to the evolving needs of todays travellers while anticipating future demands.

I am excited to join Sabres talented team at this exciting time, said Qannati.

I look forward to connecting with our customers and collaborating closely with them to identify opportunities for new solutions and innovative technology.

Our clear direction is to drive customer value and foster innovation across Saudi Arabia, positioning Sabres partners ahead of the competition and enhancing their customers experiences in line with modern travel expectations.

Qannati brings over a decade of experience in commercial aviation, having held various roles with Cathay Pacific Airways in multiple Middle Eastern markets, including the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and Saudi Arabia.

His extensive background in both online and offline markets and his proven track record in trade sales make him a valuable addition to the Sabre team.  TradeArabia News Service
AD Ports Group signed a definitive concession agreement with the Red Sea Ports Authority (RSPA) to develop, operate and manage three cruise terminals at Safaga, Hurghada and Sharm El Sheikh ports at a total cost of $4.7 million.

Furthermore, AD Ports Group and the General Authority of the Suez Canal Economic Zone (SCZONE) initialled two 30-year concession agreements for the development, management, and operations of a Ro-Ro terminal and a cruise terminal at Sokhna Port.

The investment will be spread over the next 15 years and will cover management and operations of the three cruise terminals, which are expected to be operational in 2025, to provide new services, improve access for cruise operators and add new itineraries through the groups cruise terminal network in the red sea.

Cruise business

This agreement further strengthens AD Ports Groups cruise business in the Red Sea region, supports volumes of cruise passengers and elevates passenger and cruise experiences.

The definitive agreement was signed at the Egyptian Cabinet headquarters in Cairo in the presence of Dr Mostafa Madbouly, Egypts Prime Minister, Lieutenant-General Eng Kamel El Wazir, Egypts Minister of Transport; Mariam Al Kaabi, Ambassador of the UAE to Egypt, and Captain Mohamed Juma Al Shamisi, Managing Director and Group CEO, AD Ports Group, by Ahmed Al Mutawa, Regional CEO, AD Ports Group; and Major General Osama Saleh, Vice- Chairman of the Board of Directors of the RSPA.

Captain Al Shamisi said: Were happy to build upon our initial agreement signed earlier in January. Todays signings reaffirm our commitment to bolstering the cruise tourism sector in the Red Sea, through providing world-class facilities and services to passengers, while further strengthening bilateral ties between the UAE and Egypt, in line with the vision of our wise leadership.

Strategically positioned

He added: Sokhna is strategically positioned on the western shore of the Gulf of Suez. We are keen on collaborating with our partners at the General Authority of the Suez Canal Economic Zone to fulfil the regions requirement for prime Cruise and Ro-Ro services.

The agreements reaffirm strong bilateral ties between the two nations and follow a definitive concession agreement signed in December 2023 with RSPA for the development and operations of a multi-purpose terminal at Safaga Port, bound to be the first internationally operated port serving the Upper Egypt region with investment of $200 million made over three years.--TradeArabia News Service
The FBI on Tuesday revealed the results of a 90-day data collection project to compile a list of cases involving Native Americans in Wyoming who are missing or are victims of unsolved homicides.

The project first announced in February set up dedicated email and phone tip lines for missing, murdered indigenous people cases.

Indigenous people in Wyoming are more likely to go missing or be murdered than people of any other race or ethnicity in the state, a press release from the FBI states.

Two in-person meetings  one for each tribe on the Wind River Reservation  were also held, according to FBI Assistant Special Agent in Charge Leonard Carollo.

Carollo declined to provide specifics on the number of participants at the in-person meetings, saying the FBI wishes to keep information about people who came forward private.

We acknowledge that in the past, tribal members have not always been comfortable working with law enforcement, including federal authorities, a FBI press release stated. The FBI recognizes these historical barriers and the continued generational trauma that exists in tribal communities.

The FBI on Tuesday released that the agency heard from eight law-enforcement agencies, and that the email and phone lines yielded 35 tips.

The tips in all identified seven previously reported cases  four homicides and three missing persons cases.

Our outreach and collection efforts have not resulted in the identification of any previously unknown cases, an FBI press release states.

FBI officials at the Tuesday event emphasized that the email and phone tip lines will remain in place.

Our Wyoming MMIP data collection efforts will not end with our initial 90-day push. We will continue to investigate reported reservation crimes, and we will continue to seek the help of those in the community as well as law enforcement partners to bring justice for victims.

No tribal members spoke at the Tuesday event.

Native Americans have disproportionately been the victim of violent crime for decades. Tragically, these cases did not always receive proper attention from local, state and federal authorities, Chairman of the Northern Arapaho Business Council Lloyd Goggles said in a press release. We appreciate the FBI devoting resources to the crisis of Missing and Murdered Indigenous People, and ask that this be just the beginning of ongoing efforts to build trust, engage in open dialogue and achieve justice for Tribal communities. Victims and their families deserve nothing less.
Detective Kevin Landrum was suspended for 15 days after he allegedly threatened to kill his girlfriend for showing up to a concert with another man. Express-News /File photo

A San Antonio police detective was suspended last month after threatening to kill his then-girlfriend when she showed up to a concert with another man, according to police disciplinary records.

Detective Kevin Landrum was suspended for 15 days. The suspension stems from an incident in October last year when Landrum was accused of threatening to kill his then-girlfriend and shoot a man she was with.

According to the disciplinary records, Landrum had attended a concert at the John T. Floore Country Store in Helotes when his then-girlfriend arrived with another man.

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Landrum had a brief exchange with both, during which Landrum told the other man, You dont know who I am. You dont know what I can do to you. You know, I have land, the records state.

After the concert, Landrum drove to Stenson Dance Hall, where his then-girlfriend and the other man were, and told the man, Ive got something for you outside. Ive got something for you in the truck, the records state.

While outside, Landrum proceeded to threaten the then-girlfriend and the other man by saying, Whats going to end up happening is Im going to end up killing you and shooting (other mans name).

At one point, Landrum grabbed a handgun from the center console of his vehicle and walked toward the dance hall where the other man was still present inside, according to the records.

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Detective Landrums actions of threatening (his then-girlfriend and the other man) and his retrieving a handgun from his vehicle and displaying it for no apparent law enforcement purpose did not conform to the ordinary and reasonable rules of good conduct and behavior and brought reproach or discredit on himself and/or the San Antonio Police Department, the records state.

Landrum had purchased six beers and seven bourbon drinks at the concert and four whisky drinks at the dance hall, records state. After speaking with police, both Landrums girlfriend and the other man described Landrum as being intoxicated.
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.
The San Antonio Police Department was late to submit nearly 10% of its sexual assault test kits for analysis over a two year period, a city audit found. Tetra Images/Getty Images/Tetra images RF

The San Antonio Police Department failed to meet a state-mandated guideline in its handling of nearly 10% of sexual assault test kits collected over a two-year period, a new city audit found.

The kits include DNA evidence such as bodily fluids and skin cells, which are gathered by medical professionals in hospitals after an attack. The test results can be invaluable in sexual assault investigations.

FILE--In this April 2, 2015, file photo, a sexual assault evidence kit is logged in the biology lab at the Houston Forensic Science Center in Houston. (AP Photo/Pat Sullivan, File) Pat Sullivan, STF / Associated Press

The state requires law enforcement agencies to send the kits to a crime lab for analysis within 30 days, but SAPD missed that deadline 117 times from Oct. 1, 2021, through Sept. 18, 2023.

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The police department collected 1,249 kits during that period.

It submitted 91 of the late kits  known as sexual assault nurse examination, or SANE, kits  to the Bexar County Criminal Investigation Laboratory within two months. The other 26 sat on a shelf for 61 days or more.

Some of the longest delays resulted from hospital nurses logging incorrect case numbers on kits they submitted SAPD, which slows the department's process for sending the tests to the lab, according to Captain Rene Gallegos.

"It kind of gets lost," Gallegos said. "We had a few of those, but they were few and far between."

READ MORE: Councilman Marc Whyte seeks swift dismissal of ethics complaint

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But most of the missed deadlines were because of slow internal processes.

In response to the city audit's findings, SAPD shook up how it handled the kits to consistently meet the 30-day deadline. (The department was given the chance to respond to City Auditor Kevin Barthold's report before it was publicly released this week.)

SAPD added a second courier so that tests are taken to the county four times a week instead of two. Also, the property and evidence room staff that keeps the tests now reminds the department's special victims unit  which investigates sexual assault cases  of pending test kits once a week, instead of every other week as it previously did.

Gallegos said all of the late kits highlighted in the audit have been sent for analysis, and that there were no kits waiting beyond the deadline to be taken to the county lab as of Tuesday morning.

The City Council's Audit Committee, which is made up of three council and two community members, accepted the report on Tuesday with little discussion.

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District 9 Councilman John Courage said he was initially concerned about the SANE kit findings in the audit, but added that he was satisfied the police department was fixing the problem.

But delivering the kits to the Bexar County lab within 30 days doesn't mean they'll be analyzed in a timely manner.

Texas requires crime labs to analyze test kits within 90 days, but the Bexar County lab has a backlog of 274 sexual assault kits that have gone unopened for three months or more.

A county spokesperson said the backlog increased after 2019, when the state began requiring police departments to submit all kits for analysis within 30 days. The county lab went from receiving about 30 kits a month to 60.

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If Veronica Garcia is hired as the next chancellor for Pima Community College, it would be a homecoming.

Garcia, one of two finalists for the chancellorship, grew up in Tucson. She attended Sunnyside High School and is a graduate of PCC.

We are the first choice and sometimes were the last choice for people, Garcia told a crowd of PCC employees, students and Tucson residents as she answered questions Monday night as a part of the chancellorship search. But what we do every day makes a difference. What we do touches lives.

A chancellor is the chief executive officer of a community college system, and generally sets direction for the academic, fiscal and administrative programs on campus.

After graduating from Sunnyside, Garcia landed a job and didnt think about attending college. She told the PCC crowd she wanted to do what everyone else does like get married, have kids and buy a house.

It never occurred to me to go through the higher education career track, she said.

It wasnt until Garcia met two counselors who used to work at the community colleges downtown campus that she was sold on the idea of attending a higher education institution. And then, it seems, she was hooked.

After PCC, Garcia went on to attend the University of Arizona, Northern Arizona University and Oregon State University, where she earned a Ph.D. in higher education. Now, she serves as president of Northeast Lakeview College in Texas.

Under her leadership, the college achieved accreditation, the ability to award federal financial aid and veterans benefits, and designation as an Hispanic-serving institution.

This amazing career that Ive had (is) because of the experiences of Pima Community College, Garcia said. Not only do you have a long heritage, but we also have a history of excellence.

Currently, Dolores Duran-Cerda serves as interim chancellor at PCC. The community colleges former chancellor, Lee Lambert, left last August to become chancellor of Foothill De Anza Community College district in California. His annual salary while helming PCC was $348,935.

The other candidate for chancellor is Jeffrey Nasse, provost and senior vice president of academic affairs and college operations at Broward College in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.

Highlights of Garcias time at Northeast Lakeview College, she said, are because of the relationships shes built across the San Antonio region.

She worked with community leaders to establish bus routes for students across the San Antonio area and established childcare for students and impoverished residents through Bezos Academy.

The funding, provided by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos academy program, created a Montessori-inspired preschool and supplied faculty and tuition for 80 families under the poverty level. Garcia and her team, she said, worked with Bezos team to negotiate special priority spots for Northeast Lakeview College students.

We know that the difference between coming out of poverty is living wage, so for me getting those 80 families onto my college campus and getting those little preschool kids to see what its like to be on a college campus really helped make those connections, she said.

Garcia also spoke about working with local and state politicians to raise money for a new $7.7 million veterans center. The building, which will be constructed in just a few months, will be 10,000 square feet and will help serve the influx of veterans she worked to recruit.

She also spoke to working collaboratively with faculty, staff and students by hosting hundreds of town hall meetings and presentations to share details of various policy plans, as well.

Its so important that we have town halls with our faculty and staff to explain the why and that we present plans to the community, she said.

Communication, she added, was not just top-down. It should be a collaborative process.

We want to make sure that our faculty and our staff have everything they need so that they can be successful not only in the classroom, but that our students can represent us and our system well, she said. And so having that feedback loop with faculty and with students is critical because then it gives information back to (us).

Her town halls and communication style, Garcia said, show her leadership style.

It has always been my philosophy to be a servant leader, she said. Thats my role, is to serve you as a community, to serve you as a leader, to be that role model, and to ensure that we have the resources that we need to continue to make Tucson a thriving city.
PHOENIX  Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs is spurning a judges suggestion she work out her differences with the GOP-controlled Senate over confirmation of her agency directors.

It is not possible at this point, Hobbs said Tuesday when asked if she will try to make a deal with Senate President Warren Petersen. A Maricopa County Superior Court judge, Scott Blaney, ruled last week that Hobbs broke the law by not submitting the names of agency chiefs to the Senate for confirmation.

Hobbs vowed Tuesday to appeal, a process that could take months.

In his ruling, the judge said it was clear the governor was trying to run state agencies with executive deputy directors. He said that ignored legal requirements to have a director, confirmed by the Senate, in charge of each agency.

Hobbs blamed it on Petersen and, more specifically, Sen. Jake Hoffman, R-Queen Creek, whom the Senate president tapped to head a special committee to review her nominees. Hoffman grilled some nominees and refused to consider others.

This was the chaos created by Jake Hoffmans sham committee that hes using to inflict his radical political agenda on Arizonans, Hobbs said Tuesday.

Her response had been the maneuver of withdrawing all of her pending nominations and instead naming each of her picks as executive deputy directors. Hobbs said that was the only way to ensure there was someone of her choosing in charge at each agency and that state government continued to function.

Hobbs, through her attorney, made the same argument to Blaney. But the judge was unimpressed.

The governors frustration with a co-equal branch of government  even if that frustration was justified  did not exempt her director nominees from Senate oversight, he wrote.

Whether Blaney agrees to let Hobbs continue for months with what he ruled is an illegal process while she appeals is unclear.

The judge has said he will set aside time in late July or early August to hear arguments about whether he should order Hobbs to comply.

This will give these co-equal branches of government an opportunity to meet and confer in an attempt to reach a mutually agreeable resolution of this dispute, Blaney wrote.

He warned that, absent an agreement, he could order Hobbs to comply with a law under which she has no discretion.

Hobbs, however, said she wont consider making a deal with Petersen. This is not what Arizonans want, she said. Were going to ensure that government can continue despite the circus that theyve created in the Senate.

Petersen said he thinks a deal could be reached. We were always willing to work with them, he said of the governor and her administration.

Hobbs said she is focused not just on the immediate fight but also on protecting gubernatorial powers.

What theyve done is unprecedented with director nominations, she said.

It is true that Petersen, in forming the Director Nominations Committee, created a new system.

Until last year  when Democrat Hobbs took office  each governors picks would be reviewed by an existing committee with some expertise in the area.

That would have meant the choice by Hobbs of Jennifer Toth to head the Department of Transportation, for example, would have gone to the Senate Transportation and Technology Committee.

Instead, it went to Hoffmans panel. And he asked her about things like what she thought about the roles of racism in road construction decisions and of toxic masculinity in accidents.

Toth, who had been director of the Maricopa County Transportation Department, responded it is her job to adopt the policies set out by the governor and the Legislature. She said her feelings arent relevant.

This committee is here to evaluate you, Hoffman shot back. And I feel that its relevant, which is why Im asking the questions.

Unable to get a vote before the Senate, Toth for the moment serves as ADOTs executive deputy director under the procedure that Blaney found illegal.

Others who went before Hoffmans panel were rejected outright.

One was Theresa Cullen, the governors choice to head the Arizona Department of Health Services.

During the committee hearing, Hoffman repeatedly berated her and the actions she had taken as Pima County health chief during the height of the COVID pandemic, like an overnight curfew and masking requirements. Cullen said she was simply advising county supervisors who made the final decisions.

Hoffman also took after her about the closing of schools, brushing aside her claims that those calls were made by district officials.

Hoffmans committee voted 3-2 to reject Cullen, though by that time Hobbs, sensing the loss, withdrew her name from consideration. The agency is now run by Jennie Cunico as executive deputy director  at least until the litigation is resolved.
PHOENIX  Republican Kari Lake will not get a do-over of the 2022 election she lost in the governors race, the Arizona Court of Appeals ruled late Tuesday.

Nor is Lake entitled to a new trial, the judges said, to present evidence she claims was unavailable the first time she went to court to challenge her election loss to Democrat Katie Hobbs.

The judges acknowledged there are legal procedures to resurrect a case, even after a judge has ruled, such as whether evidence was available at the time. But they said Lakes claims dont fit any of the requirements.

And in one case, they noted, Lake did have the evidence at the time of the trial, which she claimed would show misconduct in the handling of the election  but she didnt present it because her expert didnt have time to study it.

The rule does not provide relief for one who possesses documents at the time of an election contest, but does not have the time, for whatever reason, to analyze them, wrote appellate Judge Sean Brearcliffe.

He also said even if there was misconduct  something the court is not deciding  Lake didnt show how any of that interfered with her ability to present her claims in court.

Lake claimed some ballots produced on Election Day at vote centers in Maricopa County were printed at the wrong size, which her expert witness said could have affected 8,000 or more ballots by making them unreadable to the on-site tabulators.

A trial judge rejected her assertion that 8,000 affected votes somehow translated into 8,000 uncounted ballots.

But Brearcliffe said thats just part of the problem with Lakes arguments.

Perhaps most important, the vote differential between Lake and Hobbs in the election was over 17,000 votes, he wrote. Even if 8,000 uncounted votes had all gone to Lake, it would have been insufficient to overcome this differential.

There was no immediate response from Lake or either of her attorneys.

She can still seek Arizona Supreme Court review.

But Lake, now running in the Republican primary election for U.S. Senate against Pinal County Sheriff Mark Lamb, also appears to be looking beyond state courts, where she has been continually rebuffed. Brearcliffe noted that Lake, in court documents, also argued she can file suit in federal court alleging civil rights violations.

In arguments to the state appellate court, Lakes attorneys contended she should get a do-over because of a series of acts by Maricopa County officials.

These included her claim they did unannounced tests on vote-counting equipment and knew equipment would fail on Election Day, and that the printer problems triggered long lines at polling places.

Her attorney Kurt Olsen argued those lines led many voters, more likely than not to be Republicans, to leave without voting.

Olsen also resurrected claims, rejected by a trial judge, that the county election officials did not properly compare the signatures on early ballot envelopes with samples they had in their files. He argued it was physically impossible for election workers to review as many signatures as they did each minute.

But Brearcliffe said Lake and her attorneys presented no evidence that those doing the signature verification had to follow a specific process nor to take any specific amount of time. Instead, it came down to an election worker determining either that signatures corresponded or, if they didnt, sending them to a process where the issue could be resolved through a phone call to the voter.

He also said the trial judge was free to conclude the testimony of county election officials about verification was more credible than that of Lakes witness.

In any given election a questionable or even outright fraudulent signature may slip through, and some may have slipped through here, Brearcliffe wrote. But Lake did not show that the applicable signature verification procedures were not performed, let along that non-performance affected an outcome-determinative number of votes.

Even if this case goes away, eventually, Lake still has legal issues.

Key among them is a defamation case filed against her by Republican Maricopa County Recorder Stephen Richer based on her statements claiming he sabotaged the 2022 election by having ballots printed in the wrong size and that he illegally inserted more than 300,000 phony ballots into the system.

Lake agreed in March to have a default judgment entered against her, essentially admitting she defamed Richer.
A fired San Antonio police officer was indefinitely suspended again for altering internal affairs records. Kaylee Greenlee Beal

A San Antonio police officer who lost his job last year for not showing up to the shooting of Melissa Perez was given a second indefinite suspension for altering internal affairs records, according to disciplinary records.

Lt. Steven Velasquez was indefinitely suspended, essentially fired, in May. Velasquez received his first indefinite suspension in December after records stated he left his shift four hours early the night Perez was shot by three officers during a mental health episode.

The most recent disciplinary report was for an incident in November. According to records, Velasquez was forwarded an administrative review report related to an officer involved shooting and resulting disciplinary records of several officers to include lieutenant Velasquez.

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Disciplinary records do not indicate the specific officer-involved shooting.

Velasquez was instructed to issue the chiefs disciplinary decision to a specific officer associated with this incident who was then under lieutenant Velasquezs command.

User logs showed that Velasquez edited the instructions, making unauthorized alterations and modifications, according to the records. The changes included removing his and another supervisors names entirely from the entry and deleting any record of their involvement from the internal affairs file.

Velasquez also modified the roles of SAPD administration, one resident and nine officers and updated the snapshot data of six officers.

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Lieutenant Steven Velasquezs actions stated above render his continence in office detrimental to effective law enforcement and the needs of the San Antonio Police Department, disciplinary records state.

In 2012, Velasquez was given a 45-day suspension after he was accused of covering up for a sergeant who wrecked a city-owned truck. Police Chief William McManus later lifted his suspension during his arbitration hearing.

On June 23, 2023, officers responded to the Rosemont at Millers Pond apartments around 12:30 a.m. after a neighbor called 911 to report that Perez had cut the wires to the complexs fire alarm system. Initially, Perez, 46, cooperated with officers but grew upset after police asked her to walk to their patrol car. She ran to her apartment and locked the door.

Two former officers, Sgt. Alfred Flores and Eleazar Alejandro, were indicted by a Bexar County grand jury in December on a murder charge in the death of Perez, 46. They also were charged with aggravated assault by a public servant, aggravated assault by a public servant with a deadly weapon, manslaughter and deadly conduct.

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A third officer, Nathaniel Villalobos, was charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and deadly conduct.
Its past time to pay attention

It seems to be a tough time for clear thinking, on the contrary, endless lying seems to be happily absorb-able by a people taking a vacation from responsibility and reality, while they enjoy the noise from the opportunists it seems are available everywhere!

The hard work, truthfulness, and accurate facts that supported and protected the free society we built over 250 years, at the cost of countless lives, seems easily ignored. It seems self-respect and respect for others have been replaced by some kind delicious fantasy that requires nothing more than turning off our brains while we turn over our souls to a terribly faulted man who somehow guarantees we wont ever have to think again!

We dont need elections, all we need are rallies! We dont need democracy, all we need is to be taken care of. We dont need education and truth, all we need are promises. What we have accomplished means nothing, let us instead adore!

Wake up, people! What we have is priceless!

Frank Parsons

Northeast side

The answer is really quite simple

Re: the May 25 letter Profiles in cowardice.

I just finished reading the letter criticizing Nikki Haley for choosing to vote for Trump. It was another one of thousands of letters written by a liberal who thinks they have superior intellect, integrity, or righteousness to anyone who votes for Trump. I dont know why its so difficult to understand that, no matter how narcissistic, egomaniacal, or just plain vile Trump can be, millions of Americans feel he and his policies are better for country than Biden or any other Democrat and liberal policies.

Kevin Kaatz

Oro Valley

Climate hoax? A simple analogy

Re: the May 25 letter The climate change hoax.

The letter writer wrote about the hoax that reducing our CO2 emissions through drastic social and economic change will do anything to stop it. If current CO2 levels in the atmosphere will remain for centuries, then how does reducing CO2 emissions now save the planet?

A simple analogy: If your bathtub is overflowing, you need to open the drain, but first turn off the faucet.

Steve Greenberg

East side

Better or worse?

Re: the May 5 letter Hate Trump club.

The letter writer claims, among many things, that Trump suggested that ingesting bleach might be helpful in fighting the COVID virus. The Daily Star actually let this article be printed? What? According to PolitiFact who I believe fact checks statements made by politicians, let it be known that this was a falsehood. Might the reason for accepting the letter be to cater to its leftist ideology?

Would it not be good journalism to thoroughly vet each and every letter they receive before publication? Even the one from this humble reader?

Bob Wineland

Northwest side

Dictatorship

Trump supporters, please list any country in the world where and how the general public has benefited from living under a dictatorship.

Cass Fey

Midtown

Were not replacing ourselves

Re: the May 5 article AZ should try to be better for having children.

AZ Optimal 2.1 is actually 1.7 ; Japan 1.3; China 1.1; Korea .7.

Children are the future. Wages in AZ were brutal until three years ago. Right- to-Work State.

When I moved here (Huachuca City) from Chicago (on a dare) 47 years ago, my civil service job vaporized and $3.66 hour CETA job kept me afloat for a month till I moved up to Tucson. Slave wages? Maybe.

Mr. Steller says AZ doesnt have to worry much about achieving a replacement rate  proximity to the border  which sums up my final point.

All job growth in the U.S. has been driven by foreign born workers. Yet MAGA claims immigrants are displacing American workers. How can this be?

The U.S. birthrate peaked in 2007. Without fresh workers, where will revenue come from to feed the IRS beast and contribute to Social Security and Medicare?

My grandmother (busha) came here from Poland at the age of 18 in 1895 and produced seven revenue contributing sons.

Thomas Plesniak

Midtown

Definition of a republican

I have found a new definition of a Republican (noun)  A person who believes the government should be run by a convicted criminal and rapist who married a soft-porn actress, cheated on her with a hard-core porn actress because hes like Jesus.

Terry Louck

East side

A much-needed belly laugh

In this age fraught with anxiety, it is wonderful that Clint Bolick and Vladimir Putin relieve our tension by providing us with belly laughs. Bolick, one of four justices who voted to uphold the 1864 Arizona law on abortion and who comes up for retention in November, decries citizens beliefs that justices put political ideology before civic duty. But it is Bolick who funded his Institute for Justice with money from the Koch brothers not to mention his and his wifes relationship with Clarence and Ginny Thomas! One has to laugh when Bolick insists hes independent and impartial. And then theres Putin who asserts that President Zelenskyy lacks legitimacy to negotiate on behalf of Ukraine because he has failed to hold elections. Thats a belly laugh in itself given Putins record. But to set things straight, the Ukrainian constitution forbids holding elections while under martial law. If Bolick and Putin werent such hypocrites, we could have a roaring laugh!

Barbara Benjamin

Foothills

Climate change and CO2 emissions

Re: the May 25 letter The climate change hoax.

I have to reply to the Editor about reducing CO2 emissions (or not). The letter-writer says theres lots of CO2 already in the atmosphere, and its going to stay for centuries, so climate change is inevitable, so why restrict CO2 emissions?

I hope this analogy works for them.

Atmosphere: Your yard and everybody elses yards.

CO2 emissions: Foot-deep liquified sewage sludge on the ground. EVERYWHERE. And its not going to go away for centuries.

Question: Should we stop adding more sludge to our yards? Or should we keep going until its knee-deep  waist-deep  neck-deep 

Second question: Some of us dont care how deep the sludge gets. The problem is that the sludge is liquid, so what you add to your yard also flows into mine. AND I HATE SLUDGE. Shouldnt the government step in to set rules about sludge?

Dave Peterson

Midtown

Free speech or not

Harrison Butker is receiving much backlash about his comments at a college gathering. He apparently said such things as Upgrade your masculinity, nothing good about playing God with having children and women should be excited to take on the vocation of homemaker. Many people agree with his thoughts, in general, and many do not. I question why anyone who speaks openly about a return to the old way of things is not free to do so without being lambasted. You may not agree but why cannot I differ with you. I guess in your mind that isnt right and only your way is the true one. Sorry, but to me if we espouse free speech we accept it no matter now it appeals to me.

The man isnt asking for the government to be overthrown, such as a former president is, he simply suggests a different way.

Philip Reinecker

East side

What if/accountability

According to the now convicted former president, he is the most mistreated person in history  2016, rigged; 2020, stolen. The full weight of the DOJ wrongly directed at him. Every accusation, every prosecutor, every disagreeable person, every political opponent, every judge, and every election was the most unfair, unjust, conflicted, and rigged. The world is out to get him, blah, blah, blah.

Can you imagine if he had just come out and said, I made some mistakes and I was found guilty by a jury of my peers. How refreshingly accountable that would have been.

Let us be refreshed! As citizens who believe in the rule of law, let us demonstrate what accountability means. Let us Make Accountability a Thing Again.

Mark Silva

North side

Stable genius

I went from VERY successful businessman, to top T.V. Star to President of the United States (on my first try). I think that would qualify as not smart, but genius  and a very stable genius at that!  Donald J. Trump

To those who agree with Trumps assessment of himself consider:

1. In May, 2023 E. Jean Carroll won a JURY VERDICT Trump sexually abused her and was awarded $5M. Wouldnt a smart person shut up?

2. Trump continued to hatefully carry on, so in January, 2024, Ms. Carroll was awarded $83.3M for defamation by another JURY. Smart?

3. Now a third JURY, after listening to 20 days of disturbing evidence about Trump, found him guilty on all 34 counts. What does he do? Rant, whine, besmirch and threaten.

Sentencing is based on the legal parameters for the crime and on a judges determination of the defendants contrition and chance of recidivism. Contrition: Nope! Repeat: Certainly! 30 smart JURORS; one stupid man.

Dee Maitland

Marana

There ought to be a law

As a Vice President for a community bank I was appointment to the countys economic development commission. The commission oversaw grants and administered federal, state and county funds. Besides reading volumes of paper, we had to listen to the public and negotiate among ourselves about the best ways to proceed. There was always so much to learn and consider.

From this experience I determined no one should be voted into an elected office without previous experience. Just as you wouldnt hire a doctor who hasnt attended medical school, we shouldnt elect people with no governmental experience. Before running for state office, you ought to have served locally on a commission, council or school board. Before running for federal office, you ought to have served in a state capacity. Experience is vital to effectiveness.

We now have many elected officials who have not learned the ropes. We are getting pontificating show horses instead of dedicated work horses and they are now failing us. Vote for experience.

Dee Maitland

Marana

Inverted flag

My father served in WWII and my grandfathers served in WWI and the Spanish American War. I was proud a neighbor mounted a large United States flag in his yard despite the same size Trump MAGA flag beneath a month ago. Now the neighbor has inverted the U.S. flag and I am truly offended by this action. A man who has described killed in action service men or Prisoners of War as losers and suckers should never be elected or allowed to serve as President. I am ashamed and embarrassed by my neighbors action.

Wilbert Harri

Northwest side

Re-elect Laura Conover

There seems to be a disinformation campaign underway to unseat Pima County Attorney Laura Conover. Her primary opponent, Mike Jette, is a Republican turned Democrat who is being substantially funded by Republican donors. This can only be in response to the much needed reforms and updates Conover has brought to the County Attorneys office.

She has stopped pushing to treat juveniles as adults in court. We know teen brains are not fully developed and need the justice system to account for that. Conover has also created a restorative justice program for non-violent offenders that will greatly reduce repeat offenses and save taxpayers money. She resurrected a consumer fraud office that has recouped a million dollars for Pima County consumers.

I urge voters not to be fooled by the push from the right to drag the County Attorneys office back to the bad old days and to re-elect Laura Conover.

Gail Kamaras

East side

Border hoax

Re: the June 7 letter Bidens border executive orders.

Hoo-rah for this letter on the Biden border hoax. Would anyone in the White House staff have the guts to reveal their bosss border executive order is a gateway for 1.8 million, plus got-aways, unvetted new enrollees on our strained social systems such as schools, health care, food stamps, housing subsistence, to name a few? The legacy media is tripping over themselves commending Biden on fixing the border. The facts are brutal.

Don Flood

Green Valley

Special prosecutor needed to investigate Hobbs

Re: the June 8 article Arizona AG to launch probe of group home linked to Hobbs.

Governor Katie Hobbs, a Democrat, is being investigated by AZ State Attorney General Kris Mayes, another Democrat, for allegedly being involved in a pay for play bribery corruption scheme involving Sunshine Residential Homes. Sunshine operates foster care homes for children. In December 2022, Sunshine was allegedly denied a rate increase by the state. Three days later, they donated $100,000 to Hobbs inaugural campaign. The next year, the increase was approved to $234 per day, higher than the average $169 for other group homes. Sunshine also donated $200,000 to the Arizona Democratic Party, and the firms CEO was on the Hobbs inauguration committee. This all stinks of corruption. I do not trust Democrat, Mayes, to objectively investigate her colleague and buddy Hobbs, another Democrat. Would Mayes pursue Hobbs with the same vigor that she applied in the Trump electors case? I doubt it. To remove any actual or appearance of favoritism and impropriety, an independent Special Counsel Prosecutor needs to be appointed.

Charley Favors

Three Points

Surgeon General

If you dont remember C. Everett Koop, he was an outspoken, thoughtful, and passionate Surgeon General who promoted public health. He sure made waves, yet his mission was to educate and saves lives. Isnt it time to put more trust in our health professionals whose job is to protect us, and less in national political policymakers who have no interest in the publics well-being?

Tim OConnor
It has been possible for the past week or so to sample the wares at Gambills Taco Casa, 1927 S. Harvard Ave., but this weekend marks the official opening of the latest concept by Tulsa restaurateur Hunter Stone Gambill.

The weekend will also celebrate the third anniversary of Gambills Pastaria, 1921 S. Harvard Ave.

The menu is concise, with four taco preparations (Classico, Tex, Mexi and Kimchi) served in house-made blue corn tortillas, and filled with a choice of pork or chicken prepared al pastor (roasted on an upright rotisserie or trompo). Grilled jackfruit is available for a slight upcharge for vegetarian diners.

Two tacos, along with chips and a trio of salsas made with vegetables roasted in house, are $12-$14, depending on preparation.

Other items include a hot dog topped with the house queso and kimchi, as well as one dressed simply with Dijon mustard and onions.

There are a lot of places in Tulsa where you can get tacos, Gambill said. Thats why we make sure that we have big, bold flavors in everything we serve, and try to offer things that you cant find anywhere else.

For example, I dont know of a place in Tulsa that makes its own blue corn tortillas in-house, he said. We roast the tomatoes and tomatillos that we use in our salsas, and all the beers that we serve are Mexican-inspired beers that we brew.

Hours for Gambills Taco Casa are 4 to 10 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday, 11 a.m. to midnight Friday-Saturday.

From 8 p.m. to close each day, the restaurant will offer what it calls Sunset Specials, which include single Classico tacos for $4, the Gringo Light beer for $4 and chips with queso for $8.

A full interview with Hunter Stone Gambill will appear in Sundays Tulsa World.

For more information: facebook.com/gambillstaqueria

Tuccis has a new owner

Al Hashemi, whose previous restaurants include Camerellis on Cherry Street and Pomodoris, has taken over ownership of Tuccis Italian Restaurant, 1344 E. 15th St.

According to a Facebook post announcing the change, Hashemi plans to keep the menu the same for now.

Hashemi opened Camerellis in 1992, with Pomodoris opening in 1997, in the lower level of the Wright Building at 219 S. Cheyenne Ave., which is now home to Ti Amo.

Hashemi then moved on to manage the original south Tulsa location of Mexicali Border Cafe.

Doris Matthews and sons Marc and Zack opened Tuccis as a pizza-by-the-slice cafe in 1995; the restaurant has since evolved into an upscale-casual lunch and dinner destination.

Bluestone Steakhouse closes

Bluestone Steakhouse & Seafood, 10032 S. Sheridan Road, closed at the end of service Sunday, June 9.

A post on the restaurants Facebook page stated: Bluestone Steakhouse & Seafood is currently closed for the foreseeable future. Thank you for all the support and wonderful memories.

Efforts to reach owner Bill Tackett were unsuccessful. A reply from the Facebook page administrator to a comment said the reason for the decision to close was poor economy.

Steve Al-Khatib, along with chef Victor Melgoza, opened Bluestone Steakhouse & Seafood in 2008. The restaurant earned a three and a half star rating from the Tulsa World, which at the time used a four-star rating system. Bluestone was also one of that years top new restaurants.

Tackett and his wife, Sharon, purchased the restaurant in 2014. At the time, Tackett was working for U.S. Foods, and Bluestone was one of his clients.

I had helped Steve (Al-Khatib) set up this restaurant and knew all about it, Tackett said in a 2015 interview with the Tulsa World. Our children had grown, and my wife (Sharon) and I thought it was time to leave the corporate world. We had lived in Tulsa, Houston, Oklahoma City (where he owned Lotus restaurant in Bricktown from 2002 to 05) and Kansas City, and we always liked Tulsa.

The World reviewed Bluestone following the change in ownership and awarded it a four-star rating.

Bluestone specialized in Certified Angus Beef steaks, aged between 21 and 45 days, along with fresh seafood such as halibut, scallops, ahi tuna and salmon. The restaurant also boasted an extensive wine list of national and international vintages.

Emersumnice Brewery to close

Emersumnice Brewery announced it will close its doors for business on June 15.

Our lease has been terminated and we have to be out by the end of the month, owners Donnie and Jen Eldridge said in a Facebook post on Friday, June 7.

The Eldridges opened the local microbrewery in May 2020. It anchors the Mowery Retail and Lofts complex at the First Avenue and Main Street intersection in the heart of Owassos Redbud District.

Emersumnice serves a variety of house-made beers as well as menu items like chicken wings, pizzas, burgers and more.

In its four-year operation, the downtown establishment has hosted a range of events and activities, including concerts, cornhole competitions, trivia nights and Octoberfest.

Words cannot express the love we have for all of the friends and regulars we have made along the way, the Facebook post said. We are so very grateful for all of our past and present employees. Without all of you, we wouldnt have made it this far.

The Eldridges plan to relocate the business or pass the keys to a new owner. It will serve food and drink specials until its closure.

James Beard winner to debut Perle Mesta

Oklahoma City chef Andrew Black, whose work at his flagship restaurant Grey Sweater made him the first chef in the state to earn the James Beard Award for Best Chef Southwest in 2023, will open his latest culinary endeavor, Perle Mesta, June 24.

The restaurant will be located in the historic Skirvin Plaza Hotel, 1 Park Ave., in Oklahoma City, and is named for Perle Mesta, daughter of the hotels original owner, William Skirvin, and the American political hostess for whom the phrase hostess with the mostess was coined. The new restaurant occupies the space that formerly held Park Avenue Grill, which was the first restaurant at which Black worked when he came to Oklahoma City 15 years ago.

Perle Mesta will offer breakfast, lunch and dinner service, as well as continuing the Skirvin tradition of offering a modern take on the French-style high tea service. The extensive beverage program will include the cocktail created for and made famous by Perle Mesta  the Black Russian.

The cuisine will reflect Chef Blacks continued exploration of what he calls possibility cuisine, a style of cooking that explores and embraces the endless possibilities of ingredients, flavors, techniques and cultural influences and that allows chefs to challenge themselves to create dishes that defy expectations and expand the realm of what is considered possible in the culinary world.

Perle Mesta is the fourth concept Black has created to be part of the hospitality group Culinary Edge, which he co-founded and includes the restaurants Grey Sweater, Black Walnut and Gilded Acorn, all located in Oklahoma City.

For reservations and more information: perlemesta.com.

Fathers Day at Little Venice

Little Venice, 208 N. Main St., in Sand Springs, will host a Pranzo Della Festa Del Papa, or Fathers Day Lunch, 11 a.m to 2:30 p.m. Sunday, June 16.

The a la carte menu will feature appetizers such as smoked salmon, arugula and cantaloupe ($20); a Caesar salad prepared tableside ($14); and Scotch eggs in marinara ($15).

Entrees include prime rib with seasonal vegetables ($35); mushroom lasagna with asparagus ($22); sole with butter and herb pasta ($22); chicken piccata ($22); grilled lamb chops with lentils ($35); and a frutti di mare pasta with crab, mussels, shrimp and clams ($32).

An array of desserts will also be available.

Reservations are required. To reserve: 918-514-0134.

New burgers at Metro Diner

Metro Diner, 7474 S. Olympia Ave., is offering a new selection of burgers now through July 7, made with 100 percent Angus beef.

The new items are the Wisconsin Burger, topped with lettuce, tomato, Swiss cheese, white cheddar cheese curds and brown gravy ($14.99); the Tender Stack Burger, with lettuce, tomato, Swiss cheese, a chicken tender and Creole teriyaki sauce ($13.99); and the El Chorizo Burger, with crumbled chorizo sausage, onions, peppers, lettuce, tomato, American cheese and chipotle ranch ($14.99).

All burgers are accompanied by a side dish and pickle.

Other new choices include Wisconsin-style white cheddar cheese curds served with choice of ranch or brown gravy; or poutine, seasoned fries topped with white cheddar cheese curds and drizzled with brown gravy ($9.99 each).

The Tulsa World is where your story lives
A man's body was recovered days after he went missing at Lake Travis last weekend. Dave Thompson - PA Images/PA Images via Getty Images

A mans body was recovered days after he went missing from a popular boat area on Lake Travis on Saturday.

According to a news release, the Travis County Sheriffs Office said lake patrol deputies and other agencies responded to a 911 report around 4 p.m. Saturday. A group of people boating in Devils Cove reported that a man in his 20s hadnt been seen for about 20 minutes.

Witnesses said the man was not wearing a life jacket and had been holding onto a floatation device near their boat.

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Travis County lake patrol deputies, Texas Parks and Wildlife, Lake Travis Fire Rescue and STAR Flight began their search of the lake. Deputies continued their search on Sunday and Monday.

Around 2 p.m. Tuesday, the mans body was found and recovered.

The sheriff's office did not release the man's name out of respect for the family involved.

David Pellizzari, the captain game warden, told KXAN that Texas Parks and Wildlife is seeing an increase in missing swimmers statewide.

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The big thing right now is there are underwater hazards that when the lake is full, you might not have, he told the TV station. Somebody dives down and hits their head. Or tries to jump off something and the water is not as deep as it was when they did it the year before. And bad things can happen real quick.

The sheriffs office emphasized the best way to ensure safety at the lake is to wear a life jacket. In an emergency event on the water, follow these steps:
Vietcombank, a state-run local bank, announced its online gold bullion sale service on Wednesday to meet the high demand for the precious metal in Vietnam.

Customers can sign up to purchase gold bars and then confirm the payment time as well as the venue and time to receive the gold bullion.

If they come to the venue late by over 30 minutes, Vietcombank will cancel the appointment.

Customers are allowed to use smartphones, tablets, or computers to register gold purchases between 9:00 am and 4:00 pm every day.

They will receive the purchased gold from 1:30 pm to 4:00 pm.

The bank began selling gold bullion online as people had been queuing up at its transaction points to buy it over the past few days.

The State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) stated that the sale of gold bars through four state-run banks  Vietcombank, VietinBank, Agribank, and BIDV  have proved effective as the gap between domestic and global gold prices has shrunk.

Earlier, the central bank decided to directly sell gold bars to these banks instead of continuing holding auctions.

The four banks would later sell the gold bullion to customers.

Vietcombank has started offering gold bars online. Photo: Phuong Quyen / Tuoi Tre

Over the past few days, residents in Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi have been lining up to buy gold bars at outlets set up by the banks.

Some people hired others to queue up at banks gold outlets to hoard gold bullion in a bid to push the gold prices up and earn profits, according to the central bank.

As rumors of the SBVs shortage of gold bars spread widely, the SBV denied the information.

As a result, the SBV has recently asked the Ministry of Public Security to help ensure security at gold sales points and heavily punish those spreading inaccurate information and involved in manipulation and speculation on the domestic gold market.

Throngs of people wait to buy gold bullion in District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, June 12, 2024. Photo: Van Truong / Tuoi Tre

On Wednesday, the SBV approved the price of gold bars sold to the four state-run banks at VND75.98 million (US$2,988) per tael.

One tael is equivalent to 1.21 troy ounces.

The price was equal to that on Tuesday and VND3 million ($118) lower than the rate on the first day the SBV directly sold gold bullion to the four banks, news site VTV reported.

Meanwhile, the banks quoted the gold price at VND76.98 million ($3,027) per tael, which has been unchanged for the past five sessions, according to news site Vietnamnet.

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Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Minh Hang delivered a speech at the BRICS Dialogue with Developing Countries in Russia on Tuesday, proposing three focuses for boosting cooperation between the bloc and developing nations.

The event opened in the Russian city of Nizhny Novgorod, gathering the foreign ministers of 10 BRICS member countries, namely Russia, China, India, South Africa, Brazil, the UAE, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Ethiopia, and Egypt, along with foreign ministers and deputy ministers from 12 guest countries, including Thailand, Laos, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Kazakhstan, Cuba, and Vietnam, among others.

The dialogue was part of the BRICS Ministers of Foreign Affairs / International Relations Meeting, hosted by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov from June 10 to 11 in the same location.

In his opening remarks, Lavrov hoped that BRICS, an intergovernmental organization, would further strengthen coordination with developing countries to promote global cooperation and build a more balanced and equal global governance system.

Many other delegates emphasized the importance of multilateralism in international dialogue and cooperation, and called for enhancing the role and voice of developing countries and promoting cooperation between BRICS and its partners, especially developing nations, in ensuring global security, stability, sustainable development, and economic growth.

Speaking at the dialogue, Deputy FM Hang commented that the bloc, with its achievements over nearly two decades, has the potential to play an increasingly greater role in spurring dialogue and coordinating international efforts to address global challenges.

In the context of the world undergoing profound and complex transformation, Hang proposed three focuses for cooperation between BRICS and developing countries in the coming time.

Firstly, it is needed to beef up multilateral cooperation in which the central role of the United Nations should be reinforced to build trust between countries and to resolve disputes by peaceful means based on the principles of the United Nations Charter as well as international law.

Another focus is to enhance the role of developing countries in governance and the implementation of global development agendas by providing them with opportunities to access breakthrough technological achievements, expand economic integration, and benefit from an open, fair, inclusive, and non-discriminatory multilateral trading system.

The last focus is to strengthen the resilience, adaptability, and capacity of developing countries in addressing global challenges.

Hang also recommended that BRICS coordinate closely with its partners, especially developing countries, to promote global climate actions, contribute to ensuring global food security and safety, and prevent and respond to natural disasters and epidemics.

The Vietnamese diplomat told the dialogue that Vietnam consistently implements a foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, multilateralization, and diversification of external relations, while staying ready as a friend, a trusted partner, and an active and responsible member of the international community.

Vietnam is promoting high-quality economic development, giving priority to green and sustainable growth, and enhancing self-reliance, with people put at the heart of development strategies.

The country is ready to actively contribute to the activities of global, inter-regional, and regional cooperation organizations and mechanisms for peace, cooperation, and development, stated Hang.

Noting that Vietnam will host the Partnering for Green Growth and the Global Goals 2030 (P4G) summit in 2025, the deputy minister expressed her desire to cooperate with other countries to promote global efforts for green growth and sustainable development.

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Newly-elected State President To Lam held a reception for Chinese Ambassador to Vietnam Xiong Bo in Hanoi on Tuesday, underscoring that Vietnam treasures the friendship and partnership with China, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

President Lam had the Chinese ambassador convey his gratitude to Chinese Party General Secretary and President Xi Jinping for his congratulations on his election as the state president of Vietnam.

Vietnams lawmaking National Assembly elected General To Lam, Minister of Public Security, state president for the 2021-26 tenure on May 22.

Lam asserted that he was willing to work with Xi to maintain regular high-ranking delegation exchanges.

He suggested China expand its railway systems to border areas between the two nations, and join hands with the Southeast Asian nation to build some rail links in northern Vietnam.

President Lam also expected China to open its wider door for Vietnamese agricultural products and seafood.

Also, the state president appreciated Xiongs important contribution to the relationship between Vietnam and China.

The Chinese ambassador congratulated Lam on being elected Vietnams state president.

He underlined that the Chinese Party, government, and people always cherish the neighborly friendship and partnership with the Vietnamese Party, state, and people.

China sees Vietnam as one of its priorities in diplomatic relations and will deepen the cooperation with the latter in various fields.

The increased relationship is meant to benefit the two nations and peoples.

The Vietnamese state president and the Chinese ambassador highly valued great achievements in bilateral ties that have been made over the past few years.

In particular, the relationship was further cemented after Vietnam's Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong visited China in October 2022 and Chinese Party General Secretary and President Xi paid a visit to Vietnam in December 2023.

Vietnams State President To Lam (R) talks to Chinese Ambassador to Vietnam Xiong Bo in Hanoi on June 11, 2024. Photo: Vietnam News Agency

Discussing issues related to the East Vietnam Sea, President Lam said that the two sides should strictly implement high-level common perceptions and agreements, and better the settlement of disputes over the Vietnamese waters in the waterway.

He emphasized the significance of cooperation based on the principles of equality, mutual benefit, mutual respect, and compliance with international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

He also proposed the two countries step up efforts in fostering bilateral ties and raising the relationship to a higher level to move toward marking the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations in 2025.

The Chinese ambassador affirmed at the reception that China will try to implement high-level common perceptions well and deploy all cooperation measures to strengthen bilateral ties between the two nations.

China will also bolster multifaceted ties with Vietnam, while managing and settling disputes over the sea more effectively.

Vietnams State President To Lam (R) shakes hands with Chinese Ambassador to Vietnam Xiong Bo in Hanoi on June 11, 2024. Photo: Vietnam News Agency

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Police in Ha Tinh Province on Tuesday said that they have arrested and initiated legal proceedings against six individuals involved in a case where a Chinese man was kidnapped, beaten, and extorted of more than VND1 billion (US$39,331) while residing in the north-central Vietnamese province.

The six defendants face prosecution for 'property appropriation' under Article 170 of Vietnams Penal Code.

They are Rong Xin, a 41-year-old Chinese national, Tran Thi Phuong, Xins 35-year-old Vietnamese wife, Dinh Xuan Hung, a 19-year-old Vietnamese, Nguyen Hoai Nam, a 33-year-old Vietnamese, Dinh Tran Tuan Anh, a 22-year-old Vietnamese, and 32-year-old Vietnamese Phan Van Hanh.

According to preliminary investigations, Zhou Dazhang, a Chinese national, claimed that Jiang Hao, also Chinese, owed him approximately VND52 billion ($2 million).

Despite repeated requests for repayment, Jiang failed to settle the debt.

Upon learning of Jiangs whereabouts in Vung Ang Economic Zone, Ky Anh Town, Ha Tinh Province, Zhou enlisted the help of Rong, a dweller in the town, to pursue debt collection.

Rong agreed to collect the debt for a 20-percent commission.

Subsequently, Rong and Phuong enlisted Hung, Nam, Anh, and Hanh to devise a plan for debt collection.

Rong Xin, a Chinese national involved in a case of kidnapping and extortion of a fellow Chinese in Ha Tinh Province, north-central Vietnam. Photo: Ha Tinh Police

On the evening of May 28, the aforementioned group encountered Jiang at a restaurant in Ky Lien Ward, Ky Anh Town.

They coerced him into a vehicle and transported him to an abandoned house in Ky Loi Commune within the same town.

There, Jiang suffered physical assault, threats, and coercion to pay 196,000 Chinese yuan ($27,566).

Despite the pressure, Jiang refused to comply.

Rongs group then relocated him to a hotel in Hung Tri Ward, where he was detained and further intimidated.

On the morning of May 29, Jiang was compelled to transfer over VND1 billion to a designated bank account.

Following the transaction, Zhou departed for China, while Rong and Phuong traveled to Khanh Hoa Province.

Upon receiving this information, law enforcement agencies and specialized units initiated verification and investigation procedures, leading to the apprehension of the six suspects in accordance with legal protocols.

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The administration in Long An Province, southern Vietnam fined a fertilizer company VND312 million (US$12,250) for disposing of wastewater into the environment.

The government in Thanh Hoa District, Long An Province said on Tuesday that the fine was imposed on An Hung Nong Co. Ltd., the investor of an organic fertilizer factory in the district.

The company was forced to recollect the wastewater flowing into a local households lake for treatment and report the result of its corrective measures to the Thanh Hoa District administration.

Earlier, a long section of the La Khoa Canal in Thanh Hoa District was found polluted.

The polluted water flowed to other canals in neighboring Tan Phuoc District, Tien Giang Province.

The natural resources and environment division in Thanh Hoa launched an investigation and detected that wastewater from An Hung Nong Co. Ltd.s factory ran into the La Khoa Canal.

The company reasoned that the wastewater spread to the canal as its wastewater pipes were broken.

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The Green Economy Forum & Exhibition 2024 (GEFE 2024) will take place in Ho Chi Minh City from October 21 to 23, Dominik Meichle, chairman of the European Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam (EuroCham), told a meeting with chairman of the municipal Peoples Committee Phan Van Mai on Tuesday afternoon.

GEFE was hosted in the southern metropolis for the first time in 2022 with the aim of helping Vietnam meet its COP26 commitments and accomplish its socio-economic development goals.

The years GEFE is set to feature policy dialogues, international seminars on green growth and renewable energy, and an expo.

One of the highlights of GEFE 2024 will be an event for university students that is aimed at providing them with the opportunity to discuss global issues and find out solutions.

Besides, university students can participate in a job fair, which serves as a bridge between companies and students, as part of the event.

At GEFE 2024, European enterprises and Vietnamese firms will have the chance to network and explore opportunities for collaboration.

The EuroCham leader hoped that the citys top officials would take part in the upcoming events activities.

Chairman Mai said that Ho Chi Minh City would not only be a place to host the event, but also benefit from knowledge and information about green economy development shared by the global community.

Therefore, the city is willing to support EuroCham to organize the GEFE 2024, he stressed.

At the meeting, Mai congratulated Meichle on his election as chairman of EuroCham, as well as highly valued the latters contribution to boosting the Vietnam - Europe commercial and economic relations.

The citys leader expected EuroCham, with over 1,400 members in Vietnam, to initiate more activities to connect and support small and medium enterprises, contributing to the growth of Ho Chi Minh City in particular and the southern region in general.

Mai underscored that Ho Chi Minh City and other southern localities would create favorable conditions for European investors to do business and expand their reach in the region.

Meichle, chief executive officer of Bosch Vietnam, was appointed as chairman of EuroCham in March this year.

He is the successor of Gabor Fluit, whose tenure was marked by a surge in EuroCham members and increased policy advocacy.

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Vietnam has been elected as vice-president of the General Assembly of the State Parties to the UNESCO Convention for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage (2003 Convention) at the 10th session of the General Assembly.

The two-day session kicked off at UNESCO headquarters in Paris, France on Tuesday with the participation of 183 country members and more than 100 observers, discussing important issues for the future of the convention and orienting the efforts of states and communities in the safeguarding of living heritage around the world.

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Ha Kim Ngoc, chairman of the Vietnam National Commission for UNESCO, led the Vietnamese delegation to attend the session, according to reporters of the Vietnam News Agency in France.

At the events opening meeting, the conventions country members trustfully elected Vietnam vice-president of the General Assembly of the State Parties to the 2003 Convention, bringing the number of key UNESCO mechanisms that Vietnam has joined to six.

This election is of great significance as it has clearly reflected Vietnams increasingly high international position and reputation, Ngoc commented.

It demonstrates the international communitys support for and trust in the Southeast Asian nations role and operating capacity in global multilateral institutions, and especially the worlds recognition of Vietnams contributions to preserving and promoting the value of intangible heritage around the world.

The diplomat also noted that Vietnam has gained international trust through the effective implementation of the Vietnamese Party and states foreign policy, which focuses on multilateralization and diversification of external relations, comprehensive and extensive international integration, and the countrys cultural diplomacy strategy extending until 2030.

With the newly-elected position, Vietnam will directly engage in the making and passing of UNESCO decisions on culture, thereby further contributing to the perfection and realization of the 2003 Conventions goals.

Vietnam will also make the best use of UNESCO's programs, plans, and initiatives to serve the countrys development, preservation, and promotion of cultural heritage values, while ensuring the highest national interests in cultural cooperation at the global level, he added.

In his speech at the session, Ngoc commended the Intergovernmental Committee, the Secretariat, and all state members of the 2003 Convention for their efforts in achieving the convention's goals.

He emphasized their success in raising awareness about the importance of safeguarding and transmitting intangible heritage, and in prioritizing communities at the heart of heritage conservation efforts.

The diplomat affirmed that Vietnam, which is home to 15 UNESCO-recognized intangible cultural heritages and 550 national-level intangible cultural heritages, is always interested in protecting intangible cultural heritage and developing and improving relevant national policies and laws, including the National Target Program on Cultural Development by 2045 as well as the revised Law on Cultural Heritage.

Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Ha Kim Ngoc (R, 6th) and other Vietnamese officials pose for a photo at the 10th session of the General Assembly of the 2003 UNESCO Convention for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Paris, France, on June 11, 2024. Photo: Vietnam News Agency

He called on UNESCO and its country members to continue to strengthen international cooperation, effectively implement the 2003 Convention, and prioritize experience sharing and capacity building for developing countries, African countries, and small island developing states, with a focus on empowering communities, women, and youth in heritage preservation efforts.

Many delegates at the session highly appreciated Vietnam's experience, understanding, and efforts in protecting and promoting intangible cultural heritage in theoretical, legal, and practical aspects.

Vietnam has become an example for many other countries, both regionally and internationally, in safeguarding and preserving intangible cultural heritages, as well as in promoting heritage models that are under good protection in the world.

The 2003 Convention was adopted by the UNESCO General Conference on October 17, 2003 and entered into force in 2006.

Vietnam officially joined the 2003 Convention on September 5, 2005, becoming one of the first 30 countries in the world to join this international treaty.

As an active and responsible member, Vietnam has twice been elected to the Intergovernmental Committee of the 2003 Convention.

Currently, Vietnam is completing and submitting many dossiers of intangible cultural heritages to UNESCO for recognition, including the Yen Tu - Vinh Nghiem - Con Son and Kiep Bac relic and landscape complex in the northern provinces of Quang Ninh, Hai Duong, and Bac Giang; the Con Moong Cave in north-central Thanh Hoa Province; the Oc Eo - Ba The archaeological relic site in southern An Giang Province; and the Ba Chua Xu (Holy Mother of the Realm) Temple Festival at Sam Mountain in An Giangs Chau Doc City; among others.

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Authorities in Binh Phuoc Province, southern Vietnam on Tuesday said that they recently issued a directive to bolster drug prevention measures at schools after a local teacher was arrested for drug trafficking.

On May 28, police in Binh Phuoc Province apprehended two individuals for illegal drug transportation and storage.

One of the suspects is a teacher in Bu Gia Map District.

Further investigation revealed that this teacher not only distributed drugs to addicts but also consumed them.

This incident serves as a stark reminder of the pervasive threat posed by drugs, which can infiltrate any community and target any demographic, stated the Peoples Committee of Binh Phuoc Province in an official communication.

It underscores the pressing need to fortify measures against drug infiltration, particularly within educational institutions.

According to the Peoples Committee of Binh Phuoc Province, the landscape of crime and drug activity has grown increasingly intricate in recent times, with perpetrators skewing younger.

There is a concerning trend of drugs infiltrating schools, leading to instances of gatherings among students for drug use becoming more frequent.

Some of todays youths exhibit a lax work ethic, preferring leisure and indulgence over productivity, rendering them susceptible to the temptations of criminal behavior and illegal substance abuse.

Meanwhile, the coordination between schools, educational institutions, and law enforcement agencies in drug prevention efforts sometimes falls short, lacking the desired efficacy.

To proactively enhance the effectiveness of drug prevention initiatives within schools, the Peoples Committee of Binh Phuoc Province has urged the provincial Department of Education and Training, along with relevant stakeholders, to intensify drug prevention campaigns.

Special emphasis should be placed on synthetic drugs and substances masquerading in innocuous forms such as candies, beverages, and herbs.

The establishment of a drug-free school model is imperative to preemptively curb the infiltration of crime and drug-related issues among students, contributing to the broader mission of crime and drug prevention.

From the start of 2022 until mid-March 2024, Binh Phuoc identified 1,420 individuals as drug addicts.

During this period, authorities executed 783 operations resulting in the arrest of 999 individuals.

They seized 47.39kg of synthetic drugs, 7.6kg of heroin, and confiscated 13 firearms.

Local authorities intervened in 60 cases involving drug use while driving.

There was an incident where a drug user, exhibiting signs of psychosis, killed a person.

Of concern is the increasing trend of drug usage among young adults, with the average age ranging from 18 to 30 years old.

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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.
Police in Thanh Oai District, Hanoi detained and initiated legal proceedings against a 34-year-old man working at a warehouse of a delivery company for allegedly substituting 98 Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra phones with sand bags, director of the district police unit Tran Tri Dung said on Tuesday.

In particular, Dao Van Don, residing in Hoang Mai District, Hanoi, was apprehended over allegations of swindling to appropriate assets.

According to police officers, Dons ruse was new and first seen in Thanh Oai District.

Earlier, Nguyen Trieu Q., director for the northern region at a company transporting goods for an e-commerce platform, denounced an employee at a warehouse in Binh Minh Commune, Thanh Oai District of An Lac Express Delivery Co. Ltd. for committing fraud to appropriate assets.

Q. said that the employee substituted sand bags for the phones between April 23 and 25, causing losses of over VND3 billion (US$117,819) for his company.

Police summoned all of the workers at the warehouse in Binh Minh Commune on May 28 and later found Don exchanging the phones.

Police officers are further investigating the case.

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The landlady of a multimillion-dollar property rented by Seven for Bruce Lehrmann claims he caused more than $13,000 worth of damages.

Gaenor Meakes, the owner of the home on Sydneys northern beaches, rented the property to Lehrmann, with Seven Network picking up the $100,000 tab for the property, as part of accommodation costs for two interviews with 7News Spotlight.

It denied making any payment to Lehrmann for the interviews.

The NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal was told today that Lehrmann left the Balgowlah property with $13,250 in damage when he moved out.

Meakes also claims she is owed $6000 in lost rent because Lehrmann left the property three weeks early.

After further revelations about Sevens deal were disclosed in court it led to the departure of producer Mark Llewellyn and subsequently news boss Craig McPherson.

Lehrmann did not attend the hearing on Wednesday.

The case is due to return to the tribunal on June 27.

Source: The Age
Nine will screen the annual NRL Beanie for Brain Cancer Round from Thursday.

The Mark Hughes Foundation marking its 10th year, Beanie for Brain Cancer Round has contributed to one million beanies sold and tens of millions of dollars into research programs.

MHF Founder, Mark Hughes, said: In Beanie Round we become unified as one big team. We all want to help make a difference, we all want to support brain cancer. Whether youre NSW or QLD, no matter what team you support, we are on the same team and ready to take on our opponent  brain cancer. This is so much more important than a win or a loss.

The momentum that keeps building, thanks largely to this round, is a game changer. We are setting the foundations for a better future and giving hope to brain cancer patients and families. We cant do this alone, and our focus is expanding our national and international research partnerships to fast track a solution.

On the field its a competition but when it comes to curing brain cancer, its all about collaboration. By purchasing a beanie, you are part of the movement and we are so grateful to the entire rugby league community for being a part of this, as we continue to tackle brain cancer together.

The fight to help find a cure for brain cancer is ongoing with the annual round urging footy fans to buy a special beanie for the cause.

Firing up Beanie Round on Thursday Night Footy, a blockbuster showdown ensues with the Sharks against the Dolphins in a top four clash at PointsBet Stadium.

Cronulla will be looking to build on the momentum of their big win over Brisbane last week as they welcome Nicho Hynes back into the halves from Origin. For the Dolphins, Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, Felise Kaufusi and Kodi Nikorima will all make their returns.

In Friday Night Footy, a huge boost for South Sydney with skipper Cameron Murray set to make his long-awaited return from injury when they go head-to-head against the Broncos at Accor Stadium.

Beanie Round culminates in Newcastle with the Knights hosting the reigning premiership winning Panthers at McDonald Jones Stadium in Sunday Arvo Footy. Knights centre Bradman Best is hopeful of making a comeback from injury in a bid to reclaim his NSW Origin spot, while Panthers star fullback Dylan Edwards makes his return to their teams line-up.

Dont miss the pre-game coverage from 3.00pm Sunday when the Mark Hughes Foundation Big Three Trek arrives at the ground after their 150 kilometre walk from Sydney to Newcastle over three days raising funds and awareness for brain cancer.

Thursday June 13

Syd/Bris 7.30pm Live on Channel 9HD

Melbourne 7.30pm Live on 9GemHD

Adelaide 7.00pm Live on 9GemHD

Perth 5.30pm Live on 9GemHD

Friday June 14

Syd/Bris 7.30pm Live on Channel 9HD

Melbourne 7.30pm Live on 9GemHD

Adelaide 7.00pm Live on 9GemHD

Perth 5.30pm Live on 9GemHD

Sunday June 15

Syd/Bris 3.00pm Live on Channel 9HD

Melbourne 3.00pm Live on 9GemHD

Adelaide 2.30pm Live on 9GemHD

Perth 1.00pm Live on 9GemHD

markhughesfoundation.com.au
Sidra Fatima, TwoCircles.net

New Delhi: Three years after being assaulted by a Hindutva mob in northeast Delhi, three journalists from The Caravan have been booked under serious criminal charges. They have been accused of outraging the modesty of a woman and promoting communal enmity, raising significant concerns over press freedom in the country.

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The incident occurred on August 11, 2020, when Shahid Tantray, Prabhjit Singh, and a female reporter from the magazine were allegedly attacked at Subhash Mohalla in the Trans Yamuna region while covering the aftermath of the February 2020 communal violence. The journalists were allegedly subjected to religious slurs, physical assault and death threats, with the female reporter also experiencing sexual harassment.

The attackers, claiming allegiance to the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), purportedly targeted Tantray upon learning of his Muslim identity, continuing the assault until the arrival of police nearly an hour-and-a-half later.

Following the attack, the journalists filed detailed complaints at the Bhajanpura police station. However, their FIR was not lodged until three days later, on August 14, 2020. It was subsequently discovered that an FIR had been filed against them less than an hour before their own FIR, with no intimation provided to The Caravan regarding the counter FIR.

The charges against the journalists include sections 354 (outraging the modesty of a woman), 153A (promoting communal enmity), 323 (causing hurt) and 34 (common intention) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). These charges stem from a complaint by a woman alleging molestation, abuse and assault by the journalists, with her statement recorded in court under Section 164 of the Criminal Procedure Code (Cr.P.C.).

Singh expressed shock and concern over the delayed FIR and subsequent legal proceedings, highlighting discrepancies in police handling and procedural irregularities.

I learnt about the FIR filed against us only after four years, following a notice  directing us to appear at the Bhajanpura police station as accused. The incident took place on August 11, 2020, when the police escorted us to the station, where we submitted a detailed complaint. However, it raises concerns as to why the FIR took three days to be registered. What activities were the police engaged in during this time? This delay raises suspicions of potential facilitation to the assailants, granting them ample opportunity to concoct a retaliatory complaint against us, he told TwoCircles.net.

He said as directed, he went to the police station on June 7 and joined the probe. He also sought update in his case from the investigating officer (IO), who allegedly told him that he had received the case file just three days ago and was currently probing the incident. He, according to the journalist, was unaware of the actions taken by the previous IO of the case.

He told me that the accused individuals were untraceable. I reminded him that in my complaint dated August 11, 2020, I had specifically named the accused who boasted about being a local BJP supporter, saying aap humara kuch nahi bigad sakte ho, jisko marzi bula lo, jo marzi kar lo (You cannot harm us in any way. You can call anyone, do whatever you want). Although the officer assured me he would look into the matter, his responses were unsatisfactory. I insisted that my statement should have been recorded under Sections 161 and 164 of the Cr.P.C., as a very first step after lodging the FIR, he stated.

He reiterated his commitment to journalistic integrity despite intimidation tactics, emphasizing the broader implications for press freedom.

If the police action is aimed at intimidating and scaring journalists, we refuse to be deterred. I will continue to cover issues of public interest fearlessly. This incident will not hinder my commitment to honest journalism, which I have upheld over the years. It is a serious matter that impacts not only us but the entire journalist fraternity. Such actions make it challenging for the media to report boldly. The disregard of our FIR for four years, coupled with the pursuit of another FIR, which mirrors the charges we filed against them, is unacceptable and alarming, he added.

The Caravan vehemently denied the allegations, denouncing them as false and fabricated. The magazine views the charges as an attempt to stifle independent reporting and undermine press freedom, calling for a fair and transparent investigation into the attack on its journalists.

The attack on our journalists and the subsequent false allegations are a clear attempt to intimidate and silence us, it stated in a statement. This is an attack on press freedom and a violation of our rights to freedom of speech and expression.

The publication has promised to remain committed to upholding its rights and challenging what it perceives as baseless allegations.

The Press Club of India (PCI), the Delhi Union of Journalists (DUJ) and the Brihanmumbai Union of Journalists (BUJ) have also condemned the FIR, urging its withdrawal and calling for a judicial inquiry. They emphasized the need to uphold press freedoms and ensure justice prevails in the face of growing threats to journalistic integrity.

Commenting on the registration of the FIR, an advocate, who is representing several accused in the riots cases, told TwoCircles.net, requesting anonymity, The Delhi Polices role appears biased, not only in this instance but in several other cases. Instead of conducting impartial investigations, they often attempt to shape a narrative. The delay in registering the FIR for three days was highly inappropriate. Police officials are obligated to promptly lodge an FIR upon receiving a complaint; they cannot delay it while verifying its accuracy.

Attempts to reach out to senior police officials for comments failed as repeated calls by this reporter did not elicit response.
Anushka Kogta and Mohsin Javed, TwoCircles.net

New Delhi: Nestled within a 1 km radius of the upscale enclave of Vasant Vihar, Kusumpur Pahari grapples with persistent water supply challenges. For four decades, its residents have endured the absence of running water from their taps. According to a recent World Bank report, 163 million Indians lack access to safe drinking water, with 21% of communicable diseases attributed to unsafe water.

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As temperatures soar in the national capital, the water scarcity exacerbates. Several localities in Delhi confront acute water shortages, and Kusumpur Pahari, situated in the South Delhi constituency, is no exception. Here, contending with water scarcity has become a quotidian struggle.

Munni Devi, a septuagenarian resident of the locality, candidly shared her ordeal: We receive a water tanker in our block once every 15 days. How can one survive on such limited water supply for two weeks? There were instances when the tanker arrived only once a month. Though the situation has marginally improved, I still have to trek to fetch water from the tanker regularly.

Lacking a pipeline infrastructure, the inhabitants of Kusumpur Pahari depend on two primary water sources: borewells and tankers. Tanker water is designated for drinking purposes, while borewell water is earmarked for household tasks such as dishwashing, laundry and bathing.

Regrettably, residents frequently lament the subpar quality of borewell water, noting its often unclean and contaminated state.

Encircled by a cluster of blue cans that are used to collect water, Dolly, who is known by her first name only, was washing clothes outside her residence.

When borewell breakdowns, we are compelled to cover repair costs out of pocket. Unfortunately, the borewell water quality fluctuates; sometimes it is tainted, while other times, it is potable. We reserve three cans specifically for drinking, while the rest is allocated for laundry and dishwashing, explained the woman, who originally hails from Uttarakhand and has been residing here after her marriage.

With only two cans of drinking water left until the next tanker delivery, she awaits its arrival with anticipation.

As per a United Nations report, the global urban population grappling with water challenges is estimated to soar to 2.4 billion by 2050, with India poised to bear the brunt of this crisis.

For 14-year-old Shaurya Mishra, summer break entails a departure from typical childhood activities. Instead of frolicking with friends, he embarks on a bicycle journey laden with cans to fetch water from the borewell.

His fathers absence necessitates this task, as his mother cannot manage the cumbersome containers. Each can holds 40 liters of water. I transport eight cans on my bicycle to fill them. However, on the return trip, carrying all of them home at once is unfeasible, so I ferry two cans at a time, Mishra elucidated.

He lamented the escalating temperatures, which often deplete their water reserves, compelling them to resort to the borewell as a contingency.

Unfortunately, he disclosed, the water we procure from the borewell is laden with dirt.

At 75, Saumbati Devi finds herself living in solitude after parting ways with her family. I used to haul water cans until I turned 50, but now it is beyond my physical capability as it strains my knees, she expressed.

Devi relies on her neighbors for water and frequently compensates children to fetch it on her behalf, as she is unable to do so herself. I have to manage my water needs independently, she affirmed.

Kusumpur Pahari is divided into blocks from A to E, with tankers arriving in different blocks on different days.

The biggest problem arises when you live alone. Who will fill water for you if you are at work or live with elderly parents? The tanker comes once every 10 days in this block. There should be someone to help carry the cans; otherwise, you will be left with no water, said Rajesh Kumar, 42, who has to leave early for work in the morning.

Residents resort to locking their water-filled cans, often designating individuals to stand guard over them. Such precautions become imperative due to the logistical constraint of only being able to transport two cans to their homes at a time.

In addition to those who have been living there for a long time, tenants too bear the brunt of the water scarcity, facing minimal to no access to tanker water. These tenants are excluded from the tanker service due to their non-permanent residency status.

Nakul, known solely by his first name, disclosed the challenges faced by the tenants, emphasizing their lack of a designated water-filling schedule.

Even homeowners here face water scarcity and a sense of helplessness. For the tenants, obtaining water becomes nearly insurmountable, lamented the 18-year-old.

He elaborated the tanker arrives promptly at 7 am, and the entire lane becomes inundated with cans. Every day, we witness a procession of around 500 cans queued up, with each family filling 35-40 cans, he said.

Residents revealed a burgeoning job opportunity in the vicinity, where individuals offer to transport hefty water cans to households for a fee.

I pay Rs 5 per can, and I fill up to 20 cans. Every time, I have to shell out Rs 100 to someone to carry them, disclosed Munni Devi.

She also acknowledged the necessity of paying the tanker driver to fill her cans with water. We have to pay the tanker driver for the water to reach here, she added.

The individuals engaged in this service traverse from one residence to another on the day preceding the tankers arrival. They typically charge Rs 5 per can and can earn up to Rs 200 daily.

However, the residents allege that many of these workers squander their earnings on alcohol.

Rupa, identified by her first name, was spotted basking in the sunlight outside her residence. She expressed satisfaction with the current water quality, noting an improvement from the previous year.

Earlier, we had to fetch water from a distant location down the road. Now, thanks to the tanker, we can access water conveniently near the dispensary, not too far from here. Although the tanker arrives only once a week, on Mondays, she remarked.

Residents here are constantly advocating for a pipeline connection. Madam, please consider installing a pipeline here; it would make a world of difference to us. All we are asking for is our fundamental right  access to clean water, Nakul pleaded.

The ongoing struggle to obtain water has become ingrained in their daily lives, and their sole aspiration now is for a pipeline connection to be established in their homes.

(Anuskha Kogta is a freelance journalist and student of AJK Mass Communication Research Centre, Jamia Millia Islamia. Mohsin Javed is a freelance photojournalist)
TCN Correspondent

Bhopal: Following the deaths of three members in the past one year, silence prevails at Raghuvir Ahirwars home. This Dalit family lives on the outskirts of Naunagir village in Badohia area of Madhya Pradeshs Sagar district.

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Besides his wife, he had three sons and one daughter. Last year, his youngest son, Nitin, was murdered. Subsequently, his brother, Rajendra, was killed as a result of scuffle in a meeting  which was convened on May 25 to hold negotiations and reach a compromise.

When his body was being brought back after postmortem, Raghuvirs daughter, Anjana, died under suspicious circumstances. She was third in the family after two brothers.

The family claims that Rajendra was called for negotiations, and when he did not agree for a compromise, he was beaten so badly that he died. Rajendra was also a witness to Nitins murder last year.

At present, the family is not only in shock but also concerned about their safety.

The trial for the first killing was supposed to begin from June 20. Pressure was allegedly being mounted on the family not to say anything against the accused in their testimony.

Following the beating, injured Ragendra was taken to the local hospital, which referred him to Bhopal. He died on the way. His postmortem was conducted, and when his body was being brought back, Anjana, who was also in the vehicle, died from falling off the vehicle.

The police said according to the information so far, she fell off the vehicle accidentally and succumbed to injuries. However, there is no confirmation of the circumstances, which led to her death. Her autopsy report, according to investigators, states that she sustained injuries after falling. The incident happened about 20 kilometers away from the village.

Familys Allegations

Anjanas mother Ram Sakhi alleges that her daughter was murdered. Everyone knew that Anjana was aware of everything. She knew how to speak her mind, so the accused were afraid of her. That is why she was killed, she alleged.

Listing out the sequence of the events, the deceased brother, Vishnu, said, It began in 2019 when our sister was sexually harassed. Based on her complaint, a case was filed. The accused were constantly pressuring us to settle the matter. But when we refused to budge, Nitin was murdered on August 24, 2023. When my mother got to know about the assault, she rushed to the place where he was being thrashed. They beat her as well and stripped naked.

After that, he continued, they (the accused) came home and wreaked havoc. They even attacked our horse that led to its death after 15 days, he alleged.

Vishnu works as a laborer in the village and also rents out his horse for weddings. He alleged the influential Thakur (an upper caste) family, with which a few of the accused are associated with, in the village are still harassing them.

The main accused in this case is not even named in the FIR. The police must add his name, he demanded.

He also alleged a powerful leader, who was a minister during the Shivraj Singh Chouhan government, has been protecting the accused, who are his relatives.

Why is this family being targeted? Vishnu answered the query, saying, We live an isolated life here. We do go to anyones house, but the village goons want us to go to them, bow down and be afraid like other people.

Before her death, Anjana had pleaded with the government through local media to ensure the arrest of all accused and raze their houses.

Where did the Case Start From?

The entire case started in 2019 when Anjana was allegedly sexually harassed, but the police registered a case of assault and four on January 26, 2019. Three of the accused belong to the Thakur family, and one was a youth named Raikwar. All of them were granted bail. This case is still pending in the court.

The accused family was allegedly pressuring the victims family to reach a compromise and withdraw the case.

On August 24, 2023, the victims younger brother, Nitin, was murdered near the village bus stand. When the mother went to save him, she was also allegedly stripped and beaten.

The police registered a case against nine named persons and four others and arrested them. One of them has been granted bail, while the others are still behind bars.

The Ahirwars alleged the accused were continuously pressuring them not to give any statement against them in any way.

Actions So Far

In connection with Rajendras murder, the police have registered a case against five people. One of them has been arrested so far. The names of those against whom the case has been registered are Fahim Khan, Babloo Bena, Israel Bena, Tantu Qureshi and Ashiq Qureshi.

Sagars Superintendent of Police Abhishek Tiwari, stated, The police have gathered technical evidence in the entire case. Several people have been interrogated, and everyone is being examined to facilitate further action.

He said an investigation is also being conducted into Anjanas death, and currently, it appears that she accidentally fell off the vehicle and died due to a head injury.

An investigation into all aspects is underway. There are multiple angles to this, and questioning is being carried out continuously so that the culprits can be brought to justice. The police are not showing any negligence in this matter. The family has been provided with complete security, he further stated.

As per the details, 14 cases, including theft, attempt to murder and rioting, were registered against the deceased  Rajendra. Nitin had seven cases, which included theft and rioting, registered against him. The familys only surviving son Vishnu too is facing charges of theft and attempt to murder.

What Does the Accused Family Say?

The victims claimed Ankit Singh Thakur is the main accused. However, he denied having any involvement in the case. None of our family members have any criminal record. We are being implicated in this matter.

In Nitins murder, four accused belong to Ankits family. Three of them are still in jail. The man who is out on bail is 77 years old.

Ankit alleged the deceased family has created an atmosphere in the entire village where everyone is living in fear. He also alleged the Opposition (the Congress) is consistently politicizing the issue and spoiling the atmosphere in the neighbourhood.

Political Reactions

Chief Minister Dr Mohan Yadav visited the village and met the Ahirwar family.He was accompanied by Bhupendra Singh who has been accused of providing protection to the accused.

He assured that the accused would be punished as soon as possible and the victims would be provided full security. He also ordered the establishment of a police outpost in the village.

However, Vishnu said, The chief minister has not given any assurance whatsoever. He only said that he would consider our demands. We want an investigation into the case by the CBI (Central Bureau of Investigation) so that we get justice.

Earlier, two Congress leaders visited the victims. Former Chief Minister Digvijay Singh, who also participated in Anjanas funeral procession, was the first to arrive. He had also visited the family when Nitin was killed.

Meanwhile, Congress state president Jitu Patwari also met with the family. He had demanded a financial assistance of Rs 50 lakh for the victims family and called for a CBI investigation into the entire matter.

Raising objection on Bhupendra Singh accompanying Yadav, the party sought to know whether the chief minister visited the victims to console or threaten them.

Azad Samaj Party leader Sunil Astey, who is also president of the Bhim Army, accused the police administration of being negligent in the matter.

He alleged upper caste people still suppress Dalits in the area, and if they are not listened to, a lesson is taught in this way.

The village residents too affirmed the allegation, saying the Dalits even today cannot go in front of the domineering people of the village wearing shoes and slippers.

They said it is necessary to be politically competent to file an FIR in this area. The police can make anyone an accused and anyone a victim. The more politically capable you are, the more you can be domineering and the same is happening here too, they added.

A policeman has been deployed outside the Ahirwar familys house, and operation CCTV cameras have been installed. The cameras were installed after the murder last year, but it was non-functional.
TCN News

New Delhi: In the aftermath of the recent elections, several women politicians have come under intense scrutiny for their controversial actions and statements during their campaigns. These incidents have sparked a debate on the ethical conduct expected from public figures, especially those in positions of power and influence.

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One such instance involves Madhvi Latha, who contested from Hyderabad on a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ticket. Despite her efforts, she faced a resounding defeat, marked by a margin of over 3 lakh votes.

Her campaign was marred by controversy when she gestured with an arrow towards a mosque during a Ram Navami procession, leading to widespread criticism.

Moreover, her misogynistic and Islamophobic comments further fueled outrage, highlighting the need for greater sensitivity and respect towards diverse communities.

Similarly, actor-turned-politician Kangana Ranaut secured victory in Himachal Pradeshs Mandi constituency but faced criticism for her divisive rhetoric. Her remarks during her campaign, including a mix-up of names and divisive comments, drew sharp condemnation, raising questions about her commitment to responsible political discourse.

She had said, When we got independence, where did Indias first prime minister Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose go?

Another notable instance was when she criticized Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav, mistakenly referring to him as Tejaswi Surya (her own party colleague and MP from Bangalore), for consuming fish and meat during Navratri.

Shobha Karandlaje, another BJP candidate who emerged victorious, faced backlash for her discriminatory remarks against Tamilians, accusing the Tamils of coming to Karnataka to plant bombs.

Despite apologizing for her statements, she was booked under sections 123 (3A), 125, 123 (3) of the Representation of Peoples Act.

Her controversial statement reflected the importance of promoting inclusivity and unity in diverse societies. It also underscored the need for politicians to uphold principles of respect and tolerance.

Navneet Ranas electoral defeat in the Amravati Lok Sabha constituency was accompanied by controversy surrounding her confrontational actions and statements.

From her instance to recite Hanuman Chalisa outside the residence of former Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray to inflammatory comments directed at Asaduddin Owaisi and his brother Akbaruddin Owaisi, Ranas conduct highlighted the risks of polarization and division in political discourse.

Pallavi Shrinivas Dempos defeat in South Goa shed light on issues of transparency and integrity in electoral processes. Her substantial wealth and financial transactions raised concerns about the influence of money in politics, emphasizing the importance of accountability and ethical governance.

She held the title of being the most affluent candidate during the third phase of the general elections, boasting a declared asset worth Rs 1,361 crore. Additionally, she had purchased electoral bonds totaling Rs 1.25 crore in January 2022, just a month before the Goa Assembly elections. Out of this sum, bonds worth Rs 50 lakh were later redeemed by the BJP.

Sobha Surendrans loss in Keralas Alappuzha constituency underscored the complexities of navigating sensitive cultural and religious issues. Her stance on contentious issues such as womens entry into Sabrimala temple sparked debate, highlighting the delicate balance between tradition and progress in a diverse society.

The vice president of the saffron party in the state had openly voiced her backing for PC George during his arrest for making inflammatory remarks against the Muslim community. She expressed her willingness to sacrifice her life to uphold the Sabrimala temples traditions.

As these cases demonstrate, the conduct of women politicians in the public sphere is subject to intense scrutiny, with ethical missteps inviting significant backlash. Moving forward, there is a pressing need for greater accountability, integrity and respect for diversity among political leaders, regardless of gender, to foster a more inclusive and responsible political environment.
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.
By Arshad Mohammed, David Lawder and Karen Freifeld

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States on Wednesday dramatically broadened sanctions on Russia, including by targeting China-based companies selling semiconductors to Moscow, as part of an effort to undercut the Russian military machine waging war on Ukraine.

Among the steps, the U.S. Treasury said it was raising "the risk of secondary sanctions for foreign financial institutions that deal with Russia's war economy," effectively threatening them with losing access to the U.S. financial system.

It also said it was moving to restrict the Russian military industrial base's ability to exploit certain U.S. software and information technology services and, with the State Department, targeting more than 300 individuals and entities in Russia and beyond, including in Asia, Europe and Africa.

Separately, the Commerce Department said it was targeting shell companies in Hong Kong for diverting semiconductors to Russia, taking steps that would affect nearly $100 million of high-priority items for Moscow including such chips.

It will also expand its lists of items Russia cannot import from other nations to cover not just U.S.-origin products but U.S.-branded goods, meaning those made with U.S. intellectual property or technology, a senior Commerce official told reporters on condition of anonymity.

WIDELY USED TECHNOLOGY

U.S.-made chips and other technology have been found in a wide array of Russian equipment, from drones to radios, missiles and armored vehicles, recovered from the battlefield, Ukrainian officials say.

After seizing Crimea from Ukraine in 2014, Russia launched a full-scale invasion of its neighbor in 2022, triggering a host of new U.S. economic sanctions on Moscow.

While many analysts do not expect U.S. and other nations' sanctions to materially change Russian President Vladimir Putin's calculus, they believe they will both make it harder for Moscow to wage war and, over time, weaken Russia's economy.

"Today's actions strike at their remaining avenues for international materials and equipment, including their reliance on critical supplies from third countries," Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said in a statement.

The Treasury also said it was imposing sanctions on key parts of Russia's financial infrastructure, including the Moscow Exchange (MOEX), which operates Russia's largest public markets for equity, fixed income, foreign exchange and other products.

MOEX and its related subsidiaries have facilitated sanctions evasion by obscuring the identities of parties engaged in such transactions, a senior Treasury official told reporters. By sanctioning them, the official said, the U.S. would force greater transparency on cross-border transactions, making it harder to evade sanctions.

MOEX, in a statement rushed out within an hour of the U.S. moves on Wednesday, a public holiday in Russia, said the new sanctions had forced an immediate suspension of trading in dollars and euros on its leading financial marketplace.

'UNILATERAL SANCTIONS'

China said it firmly opposed the sanctions and would safeguard the rights and interests of its companies and citizens.

It called the U.S. "extremely hypocritical and overbearing" for supplying Ukraine weapons while pushing for peace.

"We urge the United States to immediately stop abusing illegal unilateral sanctions, and focus on ceasefires, stop wars, restore peace, and play a constructive role," the Chinese foreign ministry said at a regular news briefing on Thursday.

The news came as President Joe Biden departed for a summit in southern Italy with leaders from other Group of Seven democracies: Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United States.

One of the G7 leaders' priorities is boosting support for Ukraine, now in the third year of resisting Russia's invasion.

Peter Harrell, who served as White House senior director for international economics in 2021 and 2022, said the latest sanctions were a "paradigm shift," partly because they expose foreign banks to the risk of being cut off from the U.S. financial system if they deal with key large Russian banks.

The Treasury accomplished this by increasing to 4,500 the Russian companies and individuals who could trigger such sanctions from about 1,200, the senior Treasury official told reporters.

"The message here is really one to banks in China and Turkey and the UAE and elsewhere outside of the G7 they face sanctions for continuing to engage in transactions with the big Russian banks and other sanctioned Russian banks," Harrell added, saying this could spark a "major retreat" by those banks from Russia.

"That financial pullback, in turn, is probably going ... to complicate the flow of goods from countries that are continuing to trade with Russia," he said.

(Reporting By Karen Freifeld and David Lawder in Washington and by Arshad Mohammed in Saint Paul, Minn.; Additional reporting by Alexander Marrow, and Mei Mei Chu in Beijing; Writing by Arshad Mohammed; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama, Mark Potter, Daniel Wallis and Bernadette Baum)
France Inc. should 'mobilize' against Le Pen's far right, Macron ministers say

By Elizabeth Pineau

PARIS (Reuters) - French Industry Minister Roland Lescure on Wednesday urged France's top companies to publicly criticize Marine Le Pen's far-right National Rally (RN), citing similar efforts by German firms like Siemens and BMW against the far right there.

France's political class is reeling after President Emmanuel Macron called a snap legislative election in a few weeks time that could hand real power to Le Pen's party after years on the sidelines.

Speaking with Reuters shortly before Macron called on rival parties to join his electoral pact against the RN, Lescure said France Inc. should join the government's efforts to keep the far right from power.

"Mobilize yourself, highlight the harmful programme of the National Rally. Get started!" he said, adding that BMW, Siemens and other German companies had spoken out against Germany's Alternative for Germany (AfD) party.

Finance minister Bruno Le Maire echoed Lescure's call.

"The noose is tight. We're facing headwinds, that's for sure," he said. "I urge the economic community to mobilize."

German business leaders, who have typically stayed out of party politics, have increasingly come out against the AfD amid fears that Germany's image as an attractive destination for foreign investment could be threatened.

The CEOs of Siemens and Merecedes-Benz said in a German newspaper interview in May that they were involved in anti-extremism campaigns and calling on their staff to vote for democratic parties.

A boardmember of a French blue-chip firm, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Macron's snap election call was a source of frustration for many business leaders.

There was scant support for the National Rally amongst big business, said the board member, who added that Macron's perceived arrogance might be a liability for the ruling party alliance if he involved himself too heavily in the campaign.

(Reporting by Elizabeth Pineau, additional reporting by Sarah Marsh; Writing by Gabriel Stargardter; Editing by Richard Lough and Angus MacSwan)
NATO chief says the alliance is adapting its nuclear arsenal to security threats

By Sabine Siebold

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - In a rare reference to the Western nuclear arsenal, NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg on Wednesday highlighted the alliance's efforts to adapt its capabilities to current security threats, taking note of Russia latest nuclear rhetoric and drills.

Talking to reporters before a two-day NATO defence ministers' meeting in Brussels that will include a gathering of the alliance's nuclear planning group, he called nuclear weapons NATO's "ultimate security guarantee" and a means to preserve peace.

While it is well known that the U.S. has deployed nuclear bombs to several locations in Europe, NATO rarely talks about these weapons publicly.

Discussing what he called "the ongoing adaptation" of NATO's nuclear arsenal, Stoltenberg said the Netherlands in June declared the first F-35 fighter jets ready to carry nuclear arms and said the U.S. was modernising its nuclear weapons in Europe.

He described increasing Russian activity around its nuclear capabilities. "What we have seen over the last years and months is a dangerous nuclear rhetoric from the Russian side.... We also see some more exercises, nuclear exercises on the Russian side," he said.

On Tuesday, Russia said its troops had started the second stage of drills to practise the deployment of tactical nuclear weapons alongside Belarusian troops after what Moscow said were threats from Western powers.

Since sending thousands of troops into Ukraine on Feb. 24 2022, Russian President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly said Moscow could use nuclear weapons to defend itself in extreme situations.

Russia accuses the U.S. and its European allies of pushing the world to the brink of nuclear confrontation by giving Ukraine billions of dollars worth of weapons, some of which are being used against Russian territory.

Stoltenberg also referred also to the modernisation of China's nuclear weapons, saying Beijing was expected to boost the number of nuclear missiles within a few years and many of them would be able to reach NATO territory.

(Reporting by Sabine Siebold and Bart Meijer; Editing by Peter Graff and Cynthia Osterman)
BARI, Italy (Reuters) - A ship that had been set to host more than 2,000 police officers providing security at this week's Group of Seven leaders' summit was impounded on Wednesday after complaints over poor conditions aboard, police said.

The officers were meant to be accommodated on the Mykonos Magic ship -- renamed Goddess of the Night -- docked in the city of Brindisi, some 60 kilometres (37.28 miles) from Borgo Egnazia, a luxury resort in the southern Puglia region which will host the G7 meeting on June 13-15.

Earlier this week, unions bemoaned poor sanitary conditions aboard, saying many cabins could not be used, that there were water leaks, unusable toilets and broken air conditioning, forcing those onboard to be moved to hotels and another ship.

Initial investigations showed "significant hygienic-sanitary criticalities and serious accommodation deficiencies," which could amount to the crime of fraud in public supply, a police statement said.

Police said the vessel had been seized following an order from prosecutors in Brindisi to allow further investigations.

In an earlier statement, police also said they were considering taking legal action against the owner of the ship. Italian media reported the government had paid around 6 million euros ($6.46 million) to rent it for the duration of the G7.

Reuters was unable to locate contact information for the company identified by police as owners of the ship.

($1 = 0.9291 euros)

(Reporting by Angelo Amante and Crispian Balmer; Editing by Peter Graff)
Kangana Slapgate: There is more to it than meets the eye

Kangana Slapgate: The only thing we can make of it is that the whole incident really did not happen the way Kangana Ranaut wants us to believe.

Wednesday June 12, 2024 10:08 AM , Biju Negi

Now that Smriti Irani has lost her Parliamentary seat, BJP need not feel disheartened for it has found her able replacement in Kangana Ranaut. And sure enough, it started with a bang or rather, the sound of a slap!

Barely a day or two into her MP-ship, she got into the Chandigarh Airport episode. However, unfortunately though not surprisingly, the entire narrative developing out of that episode is being presented entirely from Kanganas perspective. We are not even aware of the entire story or how the incidents unfolded to result in what we are told it did.

This is what we are told

In the after-incident video that Kangana posted or was posted on her behalf, she says:

Hello, friends! I am getting several phone calls from the media and my well-wishers. Firstly, I am safe and I am perfectly fine. The accident that happened today at Chandigarh airport was during a security check. As soon as I moved forward, the CISF security guard at the other cabin waited for me to pass by her and then she hit me on my face. She also abused me. When I asked her why she hit me then she said that she is a farmer protest supporter.

And then she added:

I am safe but my concern is, how are we going to handle the rise of terrorist and extremism in Punjab.

With this statement, Kangana reportedly gives the impression that prior to the actual slap, nothing untoward happened at the airport check-up  at least there was nothing that she did which should have provoked Kulwinder to do what she did. From Kanganas statement, it seems that if anything, Kulwinders was a pre-meditated action, that she had already made up her mind to slap her.

Was it as simple and straight forward as this?

Along with Kanganas statement, we are also seeing a brief video clip, that was being shown over and over again. That video clip too does not help. We are never able to learn the entire story or how the incident evolved. And at no point does it reveal what transpired nor actually shows the instance of the slap.

We know that the slap did took place. But it is bit hard to swallow that the moment Kulwinder saw Kangana, she went up to her and gave her one! We are only getting Kanganas version of how as she passed Kulwinder when the latter came and hit her.

Kulwinder Kaur is not a green-horn security personnel. We do not know how many years is she into her service, but she is not a fresher for certain. And so, she must be aware of the rules. It is very much possible to accept that she already had an opinion about Kangana and even harboured a resentment against her  enough to remember the words Kangana had used about the women participating in the farmers protest.

And Kulwinder was also aware that not once had Kangana apologised for her shameless statement. Even now, when something must have happened  and I cannot imagine a something not happening  to provoke Kulwinder. Kangana did not retract her farmers statement, far less apologise for it. The farmers protest statement was neatly side-stepped from the narrative.

Was there some discussion, some argument between the two? Was there some security request or routine regimen that Kangana did not wish to follow? Arrogant as Kangana is even otherwise and now possibly more so with her Loksabha victory, she was not inclined to follow the routine check-up. Did Kulwinder insist on something to which Kangana responded by saying something unpleasant to her, something irritating, something enough to infuriate Kulwinder?

Or, did Kulwinder actually confront Kangana with the latters farmers statement? Kangana may have tried to avoid that. Or she may have responded in the way that she does. Far less apologise for that, Kangana actually stood by her earlier stand or even gone to the extent of giving Kulwinder a mouthful.

Disciplined soldier as Kulwinder must be, we are not getting her side of the story. And so we can only conjecture. But there must be her side of the story. She couldnt have just given into one maniac moment and put her career and her future all at stake.

There must be a proper, logical sequence to or explanation for what happened at the Chandigarh airport. We may not readily get to hear about it. Kangana has swiftly and cannily given a twist to it by equating the entire issue with terrorism in Punjab.

Winning an election and then getting into this, where a security personnel slaps her out of the blue must have been quite embarrassing for the newly elected MP.

Again, the video that did the rounds does not really reveal anything  except for her possible few supporters or those accompanying her, counselling her and even seeking to escort her. There is no uproar, no creating a scene. No one even checking the cheek she may have got slapped on.

So, what do you make of it?

The only thing we can make of it is that it really did not happen the way Kangana Ranaut wants us to believe.

There is definitely more to it than meets the eye.

[The writer, Biju Negi, is assocaited with Hind Swaraj Manch.]





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Kuwait: 53, including 5 Indians, dead in massive fire

At least 53 workers, including five Indians, have been killed after a massive fire broke out in a building accommodating labourers in Mangaf area of Kuwait's Southern Ahmadi Governorate

Wednesday June 12, 2024 3:43 PM , ummid.com News Network

Kuwait: At least 53 workers, including five Indians, have been killed after a massive fire broke out in a building accommodating labourers in Mangaf area of Kuwait's Southern Ahmadi Governorate.

The Interior Minister of Kuwait who visited the site blamed the building owner for the incident.

"What happened today is a result of the greed of company and building owners," Kuwait Times quoted Interior Minister Sheikh Fahad Al-Yousuf Al-Sabah as saying.

The minister also ordered Kuwait Municipality and the Public Authority for Manpower to launch immediate action to address similar violations where large number of workers are crammed into one residential building, and make sure that all safety requirements are in place in order to prevent similar incidents in the future.

The fire broke out early Wednesday morning, engulfing the building in flames. The fire, which started in the early hours, quickly spread through the building, trapping many inside, according to the state-run Kuwait News Agency (KUNA).

The names and details of the Indians and others killed in the incident have not yet been published.

BREAKING: AT LEAST 35 DEAD AFTER BUILDING CATCHES FIRE IN KUWAIT



Firefighters are tackling a blaze in a large apartment complex in the city of Mangaf in southern Kuwait.



The cause of the fire is unclear at present.



Source: Reuters pic.twitter.com/F0BATBfNZR  Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) June 12, 2024

But, Kerala based Onmanorama said the Indians killed in the tragic incidents are from Kerala.

The publication said the building housed around 195 labourers, including workers from Kerala and Tamil Nadu. The building belongs to NBTC group owned by Malayali businessman KG Abraham.

India Minister of Foreign Affairs S Jaishankar has confirmed the incident and said the Indian Ambassador has reached the incident spot.

"Deeply shocked by the news of the fire incident in Kuwait city. Our Ambassador has gone to the camp. We are awaiting further information, Jaishankar wrote on social media platform X.





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Oscar Martinez III stands trial on a murder charge Wednesday for his role in a botched robbery that killed a juvenile and a man cooking lunch in a nearby home in 2022. Ethan Rocke/Ethan E. Rocke/Contributor San Antonio Police Department Officer Robert Richmond testifies Wednesday in the murder trial of Oscar Martinez III. Ethan Rocke/Ethan E. Rocke/Contributor Defense attorney Michael DeLeon makes an opening statement Wednesday in the murder trial of Oscar Martinez III. Ethan Rocke/Ethan E. Rocke/Contributor Assistant District Attorney Daniel Escobar makes an opening statement Wednesday in the murder trial of Oscar Martinez III. Ethan Rocke/Ethan E. Rocke/Contributor State District Judge Stephanie Boyd stands as the jury enters the courtroom Wednesday for the murder trial of Oscar Martinez III. Martinez was charged for his role in a botched robbery that killed a juvenile and a bystander in 2022. Ethan Rocke/Ethan E. Rocke/Contributor Defense attorney Michael DeLeon makes an opening statement Wednesday in the murder trial of Oscar Martinez III. Ethan Rocke/Ethan E. Rocke/Contributor Oscar Martinez III stands trial on a murder charge Wednesday for his role in a botched robbery that killed a juvenile and a man cooking lunch in a nearby home in 2022. Ethan Rocke/Ethan E. Rocke/Contributor

It was supposed to be a marijuana purchase. It ended with two people dead  one of them a bystander shot while making lunch, jurors were told as the murder trial of Oscar Martinez III began Wednesday.

The alleged drug dealer, Jerry Ortiz, then 17, killed both victims after being robbed, a prosecutor said.

Martinez, because he displayed a weapon in the robberty, was charged with capital murder of multiple persons in the shooting deaths of Christopher Mejia, 14, and Enrique Venegas Bocanegra, 66, on Feb. 21, 2022. Court records indicate the charge later was reduced to murder.

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Prosecutor Daniel Escobar told the jury that Martinez, then 19, arrived at a convenience store in a green Suburban with Joshua Mejia, 17, and three of his brothers, the youngest 13, on Blanco Road a few blocks from Edison High School on the North Side.

He said they were planning to buy marijuana from Ortiz.

Jerry set up a drug deal next to his home, and took a gun with him because he thought it was cool, Escobar said. Ortiz approached the passenger side of the Suburban when it pulled up and saw Martinez had a gun and a couple of those kids were pointing guns at him, he said.

Though armed, Ortiz submitted to being robbed, but when Christopher Mejia exited the back of the Suburban and pointed a gun at his chest, they began struggling over the gun that Ortiz still had in his waistband, the prosecutor said.

Escobar said the two eventually separated and began shooting at each other. Ortiz was wounded, ran around the convenience store to his nearby home, and ditched the gun. Christopher, also hit, died at the scene.

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Bocanegra, who was warming tortillas on a griddle inside his home, was shot in the chest and died in his kitchen.

The bullets from Jerry Ortizs gun killed Christopher and Enrique, Escobar told the jury. What you need to decide is the role Oscar played: flashing a gun during a robbery.

Another teen in the group was wounded.

Defense attorney Michael DeLeon told the jury in his opening statement that the case was tragic and terrible but that the only thing his client is guilty of is being mind-numbingly stupid.

The state has charged Oscar with murder, but the evidence will show that Oscar never pulled a trigger at anyone, DeLeon said.

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He told the jury to pay attention to all the videos that the state would present.

This was not part of some grand scheme, DeLeon told the panel. Youre going to see that Oscar is guilty of being stupid, having bad judgment, but not murder.

Online court records indicate that Ortiz was arrested and charged with capital murder of multiple persons, but the charge was dropped by the Bexar County District Attorneys Office for further investigation on Jan. 4, 2023, and the case was closed the same day.

The status of the two minors who were charged in the case, ages 13 and 14 at the time, is uncertain, as juvenile court records are not searchable by the public.

Martinezs case is being heard in the 187th District Court with Judge Stephanie Boyd presiding.

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If convicted, Martinez, now 21, faces up to life in prison.
1. Name of Soliciting Entity: The Department of Planning and Investment of Dong Nai province invites Investors interested in this project to submit registration documents.

2. Project name: Hiep Hoa Urban area in Hiep Hoa ward, Bien Hoa City, Dong Nai Province.

3. Investment objectives: The aim is to develop a new urban area and low-density service complex that is modern, well-organized, and in harmony with nature. The project also focuses on sustainable tourism development, integrating various types of housing, housing combined with commercial services for tourism, eco-villas, public services, etc., as well as ensuring activities for both day and night, forming a bustling commercial street that meets the demands for residence, business, commerce, services, accommodation, and more. Additionally, the project aims to boost the local economy through commercial, service, and tourism activities.

4. Summary of total estimated project implementation costs: VN72,289,359,000,000 (The estimated total construction investment is VN54,593,532,000,000, the estimated cost for compensation, support, and resettlement is VN17,695,827,000,000).

5. Project land area: Approximately 293 hectares (2.927.165 m2).

6. Deadline for submission of applications for project registration: Interested Investors can find more information and submit applications for project registration on the National Bidding Network System (https://muasamcong.mpi.gov.vn) before 09:00, July 24, 2024. Investors must carry out the procedures to be granted a digital certificate (identification code as an investor) on https://muasamcong.mpi.gov.vn.

7. Code of Invitation to bid: PR2400028841

8. Contact information: The Department of Planning and Investment of Dong Nai Province at 3rd Floor, Head Office of State Block of Dong Nai Province, No. 02 - Nguyen Van Tri Street - Thanh Binh Ward - Bien Hoa City. Phone number: (0251) 3822510.
HA NOI  Coffee exports are expected to reach an estimated US$2.9 billion in the first five months of this year, representing a rise of 43.9 per cent over the same period last year on rising prices despite a drop of 3.9 per cent in volume to 833,000 tonnes, according to Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Developments statistics.

Coffee export prices averaged $4,208 per tonne in May, 11.7 per cent higher than April and 63.6 per cent higher than May 2023. Prices averaged $3,428 per tonne from January through May, up 49.9 per cent over the same period last year.

Despite impressive export value growth, Viet Nams coffee industry is facing a drop in output for export due to prolonged heat and drought.

Since the beginning of the crop season in October 2023, Viet Nam has exported more than 1.2 million tonnes of coffee, meaning that inventory is low while prices remain high.

Viet Nam Coffee Association (Vicofa) predicted that Viet Nam's coffee exports might fall by 20 per cent in the 2023-24 crop season to 1.336 million tonnes.

The Foreign Agriculture Service (FAS) under the US Department of Agriculture, however, forecast Viet Nams robusta coffee output to see a slight decrease from 28 million bags to 27.9 million bags, or 1.68 million tonnes.

According to the Mercantile Exchange of Viet Nam, concerns about falling output for major coffee exporters, including Brazil and Viet Nam, will continue to boost coffee prices.

Vicofa expected coffee prices to remain at high levels in June.

The agriculture ministry, however, urged farmers not to ramp up coffee planting without following plans.

Coffee is one of seven products that fall within the scope of the European Deforestation Regulation, which will take effect by the end of this year.

Under the new rules, coffee that cannot be proven to not be linked to deforestation after December 31 will not be allowed to enter the EU.  VNS
KUALA LUMPUR  The 2024 Malaysia Mega Sale will run from June 15 to July 31, with leading retailers and shopping malls across the country offering discounts of up to 85 per cent, Tourism Malaysia has announced.

The tourism promotion programme with Mastercard as a key partner not only positions Malaysia as a premier shopping destination but also aims to revitalise the economy by spurring the accommodation, food and tourism industries.

It is supported by shopping mall operators, hotel associations, travel agencies, airlines, KTMB - Malaysia Largest Railway Company, and tourism industry players.

Nor Hayati Zainuddin, director of Tourism Malaysia in Vietnam, said the tourism industry, which is recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic, would benefit hugely from the Mega Sale campaign.

Shopping is a significant part of the tourist experience, and offering exclusive deals and promotions will definitely enhance Malaysia's appeal as a premier shopping destination."

During the event, Tourism Malaysia in Vietnam in collaboration with Malaysia Airlines and online travel agencies Trip.com, Agoda.com and Traveloka.com will offer discounts of up to 30 per cent on accommodation in Malaysia and flight tickets between Viet Nam and Malaysian cities.

The travel period is from June 15 to March 31 next year.  VNS
HA NOI  Sixteen general agents have quit petroleum distribution since the start of the year, but their leaving the market will not impact petroleum supply, a representative from the Ministry of Industry and Trade said.

According to Nguyen Thuy Hien, Deputy Director of the ministrys Domestic Market Department, entering and withdrawing from the market happens regularly and the petroleum business is no exception.

Petroleum distribution general agents are sale agents for a single, top level distribution group and sell wholesale fuel to a retail agent, working within a distribution network under an agency arrangement, or may retail fuel at its own retailing stations.

Hien said that previously the ministry had asked for reports on their business conditions and many agents were found not to meet the official requirements, so they surrendered their licences.

She said that the number of petroleum general agents in the market has reduced from more than 330 to 298.

After the licences are revoked, they can continue to work in petroleum retail if they work for other traders, or if not they can sell or lease their facilities.

Hien said this meant, essentially, that these petrol stations would continue to operate normally.

To ensure petroleum supply is uninterrupted, the Ministry of Industry and Trade has assigned the minimum total supply source (including import and domestic purchase) to wholesalers.

The petroleum supply market is estimated at 6.35 million tonnes in the second quarter, while consumption is estimated at 6.3 million tonnes.

The inventory is estimated at 1.7-1.8 million tonnes, basically meeting the demand for daily consumption, production and business.

The ministry will continue to focus on ensuring petroleum supplies to the market as well as ensuring appropriate profit sharing mechanism in the distribution system.

A draft of a new decree on petroleum business will be completed and submitted to the Government for consideration by the end of June.

Struggling traders?

However, the draft decree on petrol business is triggering worry among petroleum traders that the monopoly will continue, leading to the risk of market manipulation and restricted competition.

According to Van Tan Phung, chairman of ong Nai Petroleum Joint Stock Company, the existing policies are giving too much favour to wholesalers who can import, buy domestically and sell to traders and agents, while distribution traders can only sell to the stores within their system.

Petroleum businesses are in unequal positions. Wholesalers and big players account for a market share of 88 per cent and participate in everything from import to distribution and retail.

Their dominance was creating significant pressures on the retail system of general agents, Phung said.

Under the draft, general agents can only buy petroleum products from a single wholesaler.

Tran Thi Thuy Tram, director of oan Viet Trading Joint Stock Company said that petroleum retailers should be allowed to diversify their supply sources.

According to o Thanh Han, director of Sai Gon Petroleum Joint Stock Company, existing policies are undermining the motivation of general agents and retailers, pushing them into difficulties.

au Anh Tuan, Deputy General Secretary of the Viet Nam Chamber of Commerce and Industry said that a good decree should be one that can motivate every market participant.

Economic expert Vu inh Anh said that although the petroleum business is a business with prerequisites, it was necessary to ensure business freedom. The regulations should be minimised and must have detailed instructions on how to meet the requirements, he said.

The petroleum distribution network in Viet Nam is divided into three levels. The top level includes fuel importers and fuel producers. The middle level includes wholesale fuel distributors, general agents, while at the bottom there are fuel retail agents, franchised retail distributors and filling stations.  VNS
HCM CITY  Vietnamese authorities are ramping up tax supervision on individuals who earn income from livestreaming sales on e-commerce and social media platforms to ensure they comply with tax regulations.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has directed the finance ministry to closely monitor livestream sales conducted through e-commerce platforms, with individuals earning over VN100 million annually required to declare and pay taxes under the personal income tax law.

During a recent Government meeting, Nguyen uc Chi, deputy finance minister, said that many content creators, such as YouTubers, have faced hefty back taxes for failing to disclose their earnings in past years.

Those in fields such as marketing, IT, services, digital commerce, and social media are among those identified as owing significant amounts in taxes.

In Ha Noi, more than 460 individuals with substantial earnings from these platforms have already been identified, with additional names expected to be added to the list.

Meanwhile, authorities in HCM City are reaching out to sellers on platforms such as Google, Facebook, and YouTube who have not reported their income or paid taxes, warning them of potential fines for tax evasion.

Livestreaming sales are anticipated to account for 20 per cent of e-commerce revenue by 2026, according to McKinsey & Company.

In order to improve tax collection, authorities are streamlining tax declarations and payments to reduce administrative costs.

Tax authorities will collaborate with law enforcement agencies to bolster oversight of e-commerce transactions and revenue.

Individuals with outstanding tax debt will not be allowed to leave the country until their obligations are met and may face public scrutiny in the media.

The PM has also instructed the central bank to enhance monitoring of electronic payment transactions to support e-commerce.

He also ordered credit institutions and payment intermediaries to assist with tax management by providing information on foreign suppliers and income earned from cross-border platforms.

In addition, tax authorities said they would also enhance the management of personal income tax for shareholders receiving stock dividends and payments in the form of bonus shares.

As of the end of last year, tax authorities reported total tax debt of VN164 trillion (US$6.4 billion).

In a related move, the chairman of Trung Nam Group, a major hydroelectricity and renewable energy producer, has been banned from leaving the country due to the companys tax debt amounting to VN21 billion ($840,000).  VNS
HA NOI  The Ministry of Finance (MoF) has proposed imposing a special consumption tax on sugary beverages.

In the latest draft of the Law on Special Consumption Tax sent to the Ministry of Justice for appraisal, the MoF has stuck with its proposal for a special consumption tax on sugary beverages, nutritional drinks and some other products, excluding milk.

The MoF said that there had been 100 written comments on the draft law from 16 ministries, five Government agencies, 49 localities, three international organisations, one embassy, two international non-governmental organisations, and 25 associations and businesses as of April 11. Of these, 35 units have completely agreed, and 65 units basically agreed.

More specifically, the idea of adding sugary drinks to the list of items eligible for a special consumption tax has 74 unanimous opinions in favour and 26 other opinions.

The MoF explained that the addition of a special consumption tax on sugary drinks was implemented in accordance with State policy as outlined in Resolution No 07-NQ/TU and Resolution No. 20-NQ/ TU.

A common measure used around the world to reduce harm from sugary drinks is to increase prices with taxes, according to Dr Angela Pratt, the World Health Organisation Representative in Viet Nam.

The higher cost might help reduce consumption of sugary drinks. This could help slow the rise in obesity rates, especially in children, and help reduce the risk of non-communicable diseases in future generations, said Pratt.

In addition, other measures, including nutrition labelling on the front of drinks, restrictions on sugary drinks in schools and enhancing education on healthy nutrition for children and adolescents had also been effective measures to limit people's intake of sugary drinks, she added.

Queen's University Belfast researcher Nguyen Thuy Duyen agreed with the tax and affirmed that it would reduce consumption.

This policy could bring positive change to the issue of rapidly increasing obesity rates in Viet Nam, she said.

The au tu (Investment) online newspaper quoted Duyen as saying that there were many ways to impose such a tax.

An absolute tax based on sugar content, an absolute tax based on volume or a tax based on factory price are three of the choices, according to Duyen.

But it will be necessary to come up with a plan to achieve high efficiency in limiting the consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages.

Another expert who also supports the plan to impose a special consumption tax on sugary drinks is Nguyen Tuan Lam, an expert from the World Health Organisation in Viet Nam.

Talking to the online newspaper, Lam expressed concerns because consumption of sugary drinks has risen threefold in recent years.

Promoting a special consumption tax on sugary drinks would therefore be a long-term policy aimed at people's health, preventing this trend and guiding the market, he said.

Currently, more than 100 countries around the world have applied a similar policy, so Lam hopes that it will receive more widespread support.

Businesses also needed to be responsible for people's health and make products with less sugar, he added.

Ministries should also consider a variety of factors, ensuring balance and strong negative impacts on manufacturers, he said.

In terms of effectiveness, imposing taxes on sugary drinks would have many practical benefits, the most obvious of which would be a reduced consumption rate, he said.

Globally, it had been estimated that increasing taxes on sugary drinks by 50 per cent would reduce deaths by 2.2 million within 50 years, he said.

As an economic expert, Dr. inh Trong Thinh also said that imposing a special consumption tax on sugary beverages would be an effective way to reduce consumption, which would contribute to the prevention and control of non-communicable diseases.

The expert argued that if a special consumption tax was applied, output might decline in the first few years, but would then recover and might continue to grow.

Special consumption taxes are levied on consumers to regulate their behaviour.  VNS
HA NOI  Shares were mixed on Tuesday as profit-taking followed recent rallies, while foreign investors withdrew capital for the fourth consecutive day.

The VN-Index on the Ho Chi Minh Stock Exchange (HoSE) finished the day at 1,284.41 points, down 6.26 points or 0.49 per cent. The reversal ended a two-day rising streak.

On the southern bourse, the breadth was negative as 226 stocks ticked down while 108 went up. Liquidity hovered above VN25 trillion (US$983 million), an increase of 17.6 per cent from the previous session. Trading volume on Tuesday's southern exchange was more than 993 million shares.

The VN30-Index, tracking the 30 biggest stocks on HoSE by market capitalisation, also dropped 2.8 points, or 0.21 per cent, to 1,308.3 points. The number of decliners surpassed gainers in the VN30 basket by 21 to 8, while one stock ended flat.

According to the Saigon-Hanoi Securities JSC (SHS), the market is experiencing rising selling pressure as the VN-Index approaches a significant resistance level, leading to continued fluctuations and uncertainty.

Large-cap stocks in banking, real estate and manufacturing sectors led the market's downturn with the Bank for Foreign Trade of Vietnam (VCB) posting the biggest fall in the market, down 0.91 per cent, contributing more than one point to the VN-Index loss.

It was followed by Vinhomes JSC (VHM), down 1.93 per cent; Viet Nam Dairy Products Joint Stock Company (VNM), down 1.04 per cent; Bank for Investment and Development of Vietnam (BID), down 0.63 per cent; Vietnam Rubber Group - Joint Stock Company (GVR), down 1.66 per cent; and Masan Group Corporation (MSN), which posted a decrease of 1.69 per cent.

However, losses were capped by gains in several large-cap stocks, led by FPT Corporation (FPT), which was up 1.74 per cent, contributing nearly 0.8 point to the VN-Index. It was followed by Vietnam Prosperity Joint Stock Commercial Bank (VPB) posting an increase of 1.39 per cent and Viet Nam National Petroleum Group (PLX) which rose 2.98 per cent.

On the Ha Noi Stock Exchange (HNX), the HNX-Index finished higher at 246.41 points. Nearly 98 million shares were traded on the northern bourse, worth more than VN2 trillion.

Foreign investors were heavy sellers of blue-chip stocks on Tuesday. VN30 stocks experienced net sales of VN1.4 trillion out of a total net sale value of VN1.8 trillion on the HoSE. Across all three exchanges, net sales reached VN1.8 trillion, a record high since January 13.  VNS
HA NOI  A representative from Saigon Newport Corporation - the operator of Cat Lai port  said that it is still investigating a lost cargo issue that was reported by the Vietnam Pepper and Spice Association (VPSA).

Saigon Newport is currently working with the relevant authorities and agencies, including the police, to verify the information about the missing pepper and coffee.

However, the company acknowledged on June 12 that it was still not clear at what stage the export goods were lost, since it could have happened at several stages along the supply chain - from the seller's warehouse, through maritime transport, port unloading and then transport to the importer's warehouse.

The company emphasised that as per international regulations, the seal is the legal basis for determining whether the goods have been lost or not.

As a result, it said that there is currently no evidence to confirm that goods have gone missing from the Cat Lai port specifically.

The relevant parties need to thoroughly investigate the matter to avoid any misunderstandings or damage to the port's reputation.

Previously, VPSA said that it had received reports from five members about lost cargo at the Cat Lai port.

The weight receipts at the factory and upon arrival at the port do not match up, leading to suspicions of theft during the container's waiting period.

Lost cargo volumes from the port, according to statistics, can range from 7-28 per cent, where vessels experienced delays.

VSPA emphasises that the loss of goods not only inflicts direct financial losses on businesses, leading to compensation or contractual penalties, but also affects their future contracts.

Additionally, the reputation and image of both individual businesses and Viet Nam are negatively impacted in the international market.  VNS
VIENTIANE  As one of the top three foreign investors in Laos, Viet Nam has funneled nearly US$5.5 billion into 240 projects in the country so far, contributing greatly to the local socio-economic development.

One typical example is the Nam Laos Agricultural Company in Attapeu and Sekong provinces, which is invested by private conglomerate Truong Hai Group (THACO). The company is building an agricultural complex on 27,000ha of land at the total cost of $750 million from 2024-2028. It expects to generate 25,000 jobs in 2028.

Lone Phommachak, a local in Attapeu province, said she and her husband have been working at the company for three years, and earned total $461 per month, much higher than the wage that her friends could get working in urban areas hundreds of kilometres away from their homes.

Besides, free medical examinations, free accommodations with essential items and insurance coverage are among the benefits that the couple have got.

In the same vein, Ichnaly Khamsuan and Duangchan Sengduong, all residing in Attapeu, feel satisfied and want to stay with the company for a long period.

Deputy Director of the company Nguyen Nhat Tuan told the Vietnam News Agency's correspondents in Laos that as human resources development is a prerequisite for the firms foundation, it has created attractive wage policies, paid due attention to social welfare work, and arranged training courses to improve workers skills.

Speaking highly of the companys investment, Director of the Department of Planning and Investment of Attapeu province Sounnakhone Keoviengkham said that the companys policies have helped workers feel more secure about a stable life.

He highlighted that the Vietnamese firm has created a large number of jobs for Lao workers, contributing to handling unemployment in Attapeu province and the southern region of Laos as a whole.  VNS
Fe Bencosme prepares to depart the Metropolitan Multi-Service Center at West Gray after voting on Saturday, May 4, 2024, in Houston. Annie Mulligan/Contributor

A Texas state legislator who chairs the House elections committee is considering removing top election officials in counties across the state, expanding a controversial new law abolishing the Harris County elections office.

Under SB1750, a law authored by state Sen. Paul Bettencourt, R-Houston, the Legislature last year forced Harris County to return duties for overseeing elections back to the two elected positions that ran them until Commissioners Court voted in 2020 to create an appointed administrator. At a Texas House Elections Committee hearing on Wednesday, Committee Chair Reggie Smith, R-Sherman, raised the question of whether they should broaden the law moving forward to apply to more counties.

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The next legislative session wont convene until January 2025, but lawmakers are holding interim committee hearings over the summer to monitor key issues and prepare for the year ahead.

Committee members on Wednesday questioned Christina Adkins, director of the Texas Secretary of States elections division, and Harris County Clerk Teneshia Hudspeth about how the law has been implemented since going into effect last September. Hudspeth took over election duties, while Harris County Tax Assessor-Collector Ann Harris Bennett assumed responsibility for voter registration.

Adkins said her office has observed steady improvements in Harris County with Hudspeth at the helm.

More than half of Texas' 254 counties have appointed elections administrators, but SB1750 applies only to counties with a population greater than 3.5 million. Harris County is the only county of that size.

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Smith asked Adkins on Wednesday whether lawmakers should consider lowering the population bracket, which would make the law apply to more counties.

Do we have some other counties around the state that are having issues that are analogous to what was going on with Harris County that would benefit from some attention on the part of SB1750? Smith said.

Adkins said other large counties in Texas have elections administrators, like Harris County used to, and that they tend to have more reported problems than smaller counties.

(In) larger counties were always going to see more complaints, were always going to see more concerns, just based on population and numbers, Adkins said.

Adkins told Smith she would look into complaints they have received and provide more information at a future hearing.

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No further details were discussed and the next interim meeting has not been scheduled.

The Harris County Clerks Office declined to comment about expanding the law. The Texas Association of Elections Administrators did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Hudspeth attended the hearing in Austin, though her office is in the process of administering a runoff election  the sixth she has run since September. She warned that while she has been able to implement SB1750 smoothly, Harris County may not be an effective road map for handing election duties to county clerks in other areas.

As gratified as I am to share our successes, Hudspeth told lawmakers, I will concede that had I not worked in the Harris County elections department for 15-plus years and become intimately familiar with the elements that guide elections in Texas prior to assuming the role of the countys chief election official, then the outcome of the law and the story may have been different.

SB1750 supporters argued last year that Harris Countys elections office should be abolished after the March 2022 primary elections had long delays in reporting results and about 10,000 ballots initially werent included in the countys vote count. Months later, the November 2022 election was marred by a ballot paper shortage.

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However, state and local Democrats contended the bill was a partisan effort to disenfranchise voters of color.

The legislation was an unprecedented move by the state to remove a local official by targeting just one county without its consent.

After Harris County challenged the law in court, a Travis County district court judge wrote that the county should not be forced to implement an unconstitutional statute that was designed to deprive Harris County of a statutory right available to every other county in Texas.

The Texas Supreme Court, however, cleared the way for the law to go into effect.

Harris County Commissioner Rodney Ellis, a former member of the state Senate, said Wednesday that bipartisan praise for Hudspeth is richly deserved, but he continues to oppose SB1750.

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The states recent track record is hostile and destructive to voting rights, particularly the rights of minority voters and those with disabilities, Ellis said in a statement.

The success of recent Harris County elections has been due to Hudspeth and her team, not state legislation, Ellis added.
HCM CITY  The future of Vietnamese businesses amid major technology trends, and choosing sustainable technologies to achieve resilience and create tomorrows growth engine were among the topics discussed at the International Innovative Business Forum in HCM City on June 12.

It was organised by the High-Quality Vietnamese Goods Business Association, the Business Study and Assistance (BSA) Centre, the Leading Business Club and CIO Vietnam, and was attended by more than 300 delegates.

Opening the event, Minsiter of Science and Technology Huynh Thanh at highlighted the importance of technologies and innovations to businesses productivity and competitiveness, especially in the context of international intergration, the new generation free trade agreements and the impact of the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

Growing protectionism, fierce competition in technology and the requirements of sustainable development have created great pressure on businesses to reform their technologies to become green and sustainable, he said.

Acknowledging the role of the association in gathering Viet Nam's pioneers in technology and innovation, he expected it to further strengthen the links between global technology providers and local businesses to help improve their productivity, quality and competitiveness.

Shashi Jagadiswaran, partner, technology consulting, EY Consulting Vietnam JSC, said: We have witnessed an explosion in technology innovation. These innovations are shaping the business landscape.

He cited the example of Q-commerce, a form of eCommerce where the emphasis is on rapid delivery, replacing direct to consumer prevalent during COVID-19.

Besides, social commerce, dark store  a retail distribution centre or outlet that caters exclusively to online shopping  and online research, offline purchasing are expanding in the consumer market, he said.

The question is should we just follow the trends? The answer is to be careful.

Imaging that I spends money to invest in a technology and apply it in my business. There is a possibility that by the time I have that technology ready, there are already other technologies coming into the market.

Now not only do I spend money to purchase this new technology but also need to live with this old technology which exposed my business.

Thus, being trend focused could lead to being blindsided, resulting in poor returns on investment or obsolescence, he said.

Ultimately, identifying the right technology interventions would be key.

Today innovation cannot be conceived without sustainability, which is something Vietnamese businesses must pay attention to, he added.

Experts also shared insights on innovative business potential under the current climate change situation, and applying technology to promote consumer commerce.

The forum also featured interactive activities seeking to narrow the gap between information technology solution providers and manufacturing enterprises to promote the use of appropriate technologies towards sustainable development.

According to the organisers, the forum is expected to provide the Vietnamese business community with a comprehensive forecast about the impacts of mega technology trends and solutions to help advance their competitiveness.  VNS
HUE CITY  A collection of 56 ceramic and gold-plated dragons inspired by the Nguyen Dynasty are on display at an exhibition in the Kien Trung Palace in the Hue Imperial Citadel.

The exhibition, themed 'Bieu Tuong Rong Qua Gom Tran o' (Dragon Symbols through Tran o Ceramics), is organised by the Hue Monuments Conservation Centre in collaboration with People's Artist Tran o, who created the displayed art.

As part of the ongoing Hue Festival Week 2024, the special exhibition will open until June 18. The festival includes a series of art and culture programmes amid other celebrations taking place at Kien Trung Palace in the ancient city of Hue in Thua Thien-Hue Province.

The event offers viewers the chance to admire o's outstanding artistic ceramics, most of which were created with inspiration from dragon images cast on seals of the Nguyen Dynasty, which ruled from 1802 to 1945.

Visitors can also find the artist's love and passion for ceramics in the dragon images, which hold mesmerising and vivid shapes and patterns that o has diligently researched and crafted over decades.

Director of the Hue Monuments Conservation Centre Hoang Viet Trung said that to successfully reflect the royal culture and artistic value of Vietnamese dragons, the artist had consulted with the centre and other museums and relic conservation units such as the National History Museum, the Viet Nam Fine Arts Museum and the Thang Long Imperial Citadel Centre.

He added: "The artist had also researched documents, artifacts and antiques related to the image of the Vietnamese dragon through historical periods, which are extremely necessary for him to build his own creative resources."

Trung hoped the ceramic art and the vividness of the ancient patterns and motifs displayed at the the exhibition would impress visitors and help them understand more about the country's royal history.

People's Artist Tran o is a famous name in Vietnamese pottery. He consistently finds unique features for his products, which are imbued with the quintessence of the nation's culture.

Under the talented hands of the so-called 'king of ceramic glaze', the dragon symbol is adapted in an extremely sophisticated manner.

o and his team of about 10 artisans from the famous Bat Trang Pottery Village on the outskirts of Ha Noi meticulously crafted dragon shapes and designs in a 'rising up' style to express the aspirations of happiness and virtue.

o said: "Bat Trang Village is closely associated with Hue culture not only today, but two or three hundred years ago. The pottery village's artisans have been following their ancestors' traditional craft and always wish to maintain it and to make gifts to Hue. This year, I choose the dragon collection to display at the Hue Festival as a gift to the city too."

To complete this ceramic dragon collection, o and his team diligently researched and crafted for a year and a half.

The dragon is the leading symbol out of the four sacred animals of dragon, unicorn, tortoise and phoenix, with each animal embodying various special meanings.

For Vietnamese people, dragons have unparalleled magic power, symbolising the spirit of humanity, nobility, strength, courage and above all, the spirit of wisdom.

In royal imagery, the dragon is a symbol of the absolute authority of the gods, so it became the most popular image in Hue royal art, carrying high aesthetic values.  VNS
HA NOI  Stronger cooperation between the aviation and tourism sectors are crucial to further promote tourism activities, which is expected to benefit both industries and the whole economy, according to experts.

This year, Viet Nam's tourism sector aims to serve 17-18 million international visitors and 110 million domestic travellers to earn about VN840 trillion (US$33.01 billion).

Experts held that tourism and aviation have a close relation, sharing a mutual support and inseparable ties in their development process. Both are service industries, meaning products cannot be stored and they rely heavily on technology to provide effective and convenient services for customers.

According to the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV), the domestic airlines are currently operating 45 air routes connecting Ha Noi, HCM City, and a Nang City with 19 localities across the country, with nearly 600 domestic flights per day.

Last year, there were 43,000 flights conducted on the Ha Noi-HCM City route, accounting for 17.5 per cent of the total domestic fights, making it one of the 10 busiest in the world.

At present, 63 foreign airlines and four domestic carriers are operating 164 international routes, connecting 33 countries and territorieHCM City, a Nang, Khanh Hoa, Phu Quoc, and a Lat. The international flight network has been completely restored to the pre-COVID-19 level, and expanded to new markets in Central Asia, India, and Australia.

CAAV Deputy Director o Hong Cam said that international air transportation has contributed to strong international tourist growth. The country recorded 7.6 million international arrivals during the first five months of this year, respectively increasing 61.7 per cent and 3.9 per cent over the same period last year and the pre-pandemic 2019. The figure is expected to reach 18 million this year.

Statistics showed that the number of tourists arriving in Vietnam by air accounts for a very high rate of nearly 80 per cent compared to other modes of transportation.

However, due to many reasons, including high fuel prices, engine rents and USD/VND exchange rate differences, domestic airfares have surged over the recent past, while global airfares are predicted to rise 3-7 per cent this year and more in following years.

The hike has negatively affected the aviation and tourism sectors as well as other economic areas and the livelihood of local communities.

According to experts from the Vietnam Tourism Advisory Board (TAB), domestic air ticket prices can be reduced through comprehensive coordination among relevant entities, including the Government, ministries, sectors, localities, and businesses.

The cooperation should go beyond joint advertisements and promotions to building a phased general plan to generate long-term effects, said Hoang Nhan Chinh, head of the TAB Secretariat.

He held that the two sectors should organise forums to discuss each others strengths and weaknesses, along with urgent actions to support each other to ensure benefits for all, including aviation and tourism firms, destinations, local administrations, and communities.  VNA/VNS
Ngo uc Manh

The vibrant streets of Ha Noi are known for their chaotic charm, with bustling markets and aromatic food stalls lining every corner.

Amid this lively atmosphere, you may well stumble upon an unexpected sight: Swiss expat, Moritz Muggli, passionately grilling and selling traditional Vietnamese delicacies like banh xeo and nem lui.

His journey from Switzerland to Viet Nam is not just a tale of culinary exploration but also a testament to the power of immersion and embracing new cultures.

Love at first sight

"Last year, I came here to travel for about three to four weeks. And I really enjoyed the culture of Viet Nam," Moritz said, reflecting on his initial encounter with the country's rich tapestry of traditions.

"But as a tourist, it was quite impossible... I wanted to get to know the culture better."

Determined to delve deeper into the fabric of Vietnamese life, Moritz returned to Viet Nam as a volunteer, seeking a more profound connection beyond the surface interactions of a typical tourist experience.

Transitioning from a background in economics to becoming a German teacher was just the first step. His days became a whirlwind of activity, teaching from dawn till dusk before dedicating his evenings to a newfound passion, helping his girlfriend at her small restaurant.

He said: I think this is quite a passion, I have to say it's more like I always wanted to create something myself. And I mean, this is not my business, I have to say, but I can be a part of it

"I'm doing some marketing, I am helping out. And I really hope that it will develop very well.

"For me personally, it's very simple, but also very fresh... The taste is amazing," he said.

Business for their one-month-old restaurant is booming as curious customers gather to marvel at the sight of a foreigner grilling nem lui. He also introduced western customers on how to eat these type of street foods.

eo Thi Nga, an employee at the restaurant, said: Sometimes when there are too many customers, he helps out with grilling the nem lui and also with cleaning the table, bringing out the herbs and taking orders from customers just like us.

When its not too busy, Moritz hangs out with regular customers, such as Nguyen Xuan Thai , who used to work at the coffee shop next door.

Thai said: I come here to eat almost every day. The taste of banh xeo is very delicious. In general, it's full of dipping sauces and other stuffs. Every day I'm surprised by his barbecue skills. His nem lui is very delicious.

The man without fear

Claiming himself as an introvert, Moritz pulls out all the stops to step out of his comfort zone to connect with locals.

I had to like get rid of all my fears. But since I came here, I decided to just talk to the people and try everything.

"And I think when you really try to accept that this culture they will welcome you very quickly and you will make friends very very quickly.

As he continues to grill nem lui and roll banh xeo with practiced precision, Moritz embodies the spirit of adventure that defines expat life. With each sizzle of the grill and each satisfied customer, he leaves an indelible mark on the streets of Hanoi, proving that sometimes, the most fulfilling journeys begin with a simple willingness to roll with whatever life throws your way.  VNS
HA NOI  Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha has praised the hard work of all those involved in the draft decree on land reforms, which are due to be imposed five months earlier than anticipated.

He chaired a meeting with representatives from ministries, sectors, associations and experts, connecting online with 63 localities, to discuss the draft detailing the implementation of several provisions of the Land Law.

The Deputy Prime Minister acknowledged and highly appreciated the active, direct and substantive participation of ministries, sectors, localities, associations, businesses and experts in the development, contribution and completion of sub-law documents, guiding the Land Law, the Real Estate Business Law and the Housing Law, which are proposed to take effect five months earlier than stipulated, on August 1.

"Legislation must adhere closely to practical realities to resolve difficulties in law enforcement, protect the legitimate interests of businesses and citizens and foster socio-economic development," he said.

The Deputy PM requested the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment coordinate with other ministries and sectors to supplement and complete the draft, ensuring consistency, uniformity and to avoid conflicts with other laws within the legal system.

This includes content related to various laws such as regulations on land reclamation, ensuring consistency and uniformity in decentralisation in land management, identifying disaster prevention and climate change response projects with sea encroachment areas and the application of land requisition provisions in emergencies, disaster prevention, or force majeure situations.

He asked the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment to incorporate feedback from the meeting to revise the Decree in terms of drafting techniques, ensuring it fully covers the scope of the Land Law.

Clarifying procedures and criteria for sea encroachment projects

Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Le Minh Ngan stated that the draft Decree has incorporated and refined feedback from government members, revising certain regulations.

These include determining land types in cases of lacking documentation or where land documented differs from land classification or current use status as stipulated by the Land Law; financial revenue sources for the Office and Branch Office of Land Registration; national, regional, technical and specialised planning orientations; and responsibilities for the Ministry of Defence and the Ministry of Public Security concerning land recovered and transferred to local authorities for housing projects for the people's armed forces.

Leaders from various sectors focused on clarifying the draft Decree's structure, analysing elements that need incorporation and refinement based on feedback.

This includes regulations on national and regional planning orientation, technical and specialised planning, land recovery issues, annual land use fees for defence and security land, management and use of boundary records and maps, sea encroachment projects, handling interspersed land, short-term land fund management and contributing land use rights for project construction.

Nguyen Chi Lan, Deputy Director of the Department of Civil and Economic Law (Ministry of Justice), affirmed that the draft Decree met the requirements and objectives set out in its development, ensuring constitutionality, legality, and consistency within the legal system. The Ministry of Justice would continue to coordinate with relevant ministries and sectors to further review, supplement and complete the Decree.

Speaking online, the Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Ca Mau Province, Le Van Su, highlighted the practical reality where sea embankment projects protecting the coastline could also be seen as sea encroachment projects and suggested clarifying the nature of such projects.

A representative from Ho Chi Minh City pointed out that some city districts were operating under urban governance without district-level People's Councils, necessitating a review and specification in the Decree.

Some held the view that the draft Decree has institutionalised the provisions of the Land Law related to decentralisation and assignment of responsibilities to provincial and district-level governments in land management and use. The draft also promotes administrative reform, reducing procedures to save time and costs for citizens and businesses. VNS
On the 126th anniversary of the Proclamation of Philippine Independence, Ambassador Meynardo LB. Montealegre reflects on the progress of the Strategic Partnership between the Philippines and Viet Nam.

June 12 marks the 126th anniversary of the proclamation of Philippine Independence and the establishment of the first constitutional republic in Asia. Reflecting on the past year, several meaningful engagements have been successfully held between the Philippines and Viet Nam.

In 2023, we accomplished several important bilateral engagements notably the 10th Joint Working Group meeting on Maritime and Ocean Concerns, the first Foreign Policy Consultation meeting between the two Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the 10th Joint Commission on Bilateral Cooperation. Last year, Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo was also afforded the opportunity to address the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam (DAV) in a policy speech focused on Philippines-Viet Nam Strategic Partnership in an Age of Change. This was a first for an incumbent ASEAN Foreign Minister in the history of the DAV.

There were also several engagements between the Philippines and Viet Nam defence ministries aside from working visits by Philippines officials on various areas of interest. All these were made possible through the painstaking and thorough work of esteemed colleagues from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as well as relevant Ministries and officials of Viet Nam.

2024 began with an auspicious milestone: the state visit of H.E. President Ferdinand R. Marcos. It was a resounding success paving the way for the signing of important bilateral instruments on rice trade, cultural cooperation, coast guard activities and maritime cooperation. More exchanges are in the pipeline for the rest of 2024.

In the economic field, our bilateral trade has increased in 2023 as Viet Nam remains our vibrant trading partner especially for rice and other industrial goods. In 2023, Philippine exports of electrical, electronic machinery and equipment, tuna and tobacco to Viet Nam tripled in value.

Well-established Vietnamese brands are coming into the Philippines. Vinfast and Vietnam Airlines are now in the final stages of their arrangements for their full operations in the Philippines. VietJet, Viet Nams largest private airline, is also poised to join them soon.

Philippine companies in Viet Nam expanded providing good employment and business opportunities. The well-loved Philippine brand Jollibee has 190 stores all over Viet Nam aside from its investments in Highlands Coffee. Ayala and Aboitiz (renewable energy), San Miguel (brewery and food processing), Metro Pacific Investments (water distribution and infrastructure), Universal Robina Corporation, Rebisco, Liwayway Oishi, and Century Pacific (food and beverage), Green Cross and Unilab (pharmaceutical) are also thriving here.

2024 marks the 48th year of our diplomatic relations. Viet Nam remains as our twin brother in the ASEAN region with a similar economic size, demographic characteristics and for sharing a common history of struggle for independence and in forging similar paths towards economic growth. The Philippines and Viet Nam are like monoamniotic twins sharing the South China Sea as our common space for growth, our life-giving source for development and equally essential for our co-existence.

But the resilience of our future will depend on how we deal with encompassing integrated issues: from climate change, disaster resilience and the preservation of our ecosystems, to the resilience of our supply chains, digital infrastructure and our connected markets and to ensuring the effectiveness of the functional mechanisms for dialogue and cooperation. Our countries joint efforts in these fields will sustain growth beneficial to all, especially the most vulnerable amongst our peoples.

Through the Philippines actions in different forums and avenues, we have demonstrated our commitment to be a force for good, a consistent advocate for peace and constructive dialogue and a staunch defender of the rules-based international order.

We, therefore, thank Viet Nam for its support to the Philippines as ASEAN candidate for the UN Security Council (term 2027-2028) and look forward to its support for the Philippines bid to host the Board of the Loss and Damage Fund for Developing Countries, fervent on the realisation that the vast sea that separates our two countries is also the area most vulnerable to the effects of climate change.

The Philippine Embassy in Viet Nam truly appreciates the fruitful year that has passed. We are hopeful for more vibrant relations towards our common goals for the 10th year anniversary of Philippines-Viet Nam Strategic Partnership next year and the 50th anniversary of our diplomatic ties in 2026. VNS
GENEVA  Viet Nam always prioritises promoting social progress and equity, considering this as a goal, a task, and also a measure to boost sustainable development, Ambassador Mai Phan Dung told the ongoing 112th International Labour Conference in Geneva on Tuesday.

Dung, who is Permanent Representative of Viet Nam to the United Nations (UN), World Trade Organisation (WTO), and other international organisations in Geneva, highly valued a report by the International Labour Organisation (ILO)s Director-General on promoting social justice.

He said VietNam will continue to reform and perfect the legal system to strengthen the social security and welfare system, promote decent and quality jobs, develop human resources, and build an effective labour market, thereby helping ensure a prosperous life for all people in accordance with the motto of "leaving no one behind".

The International Labour Conference is held annually by ILO with the participation of representatives of governments, employers, and workers from its 187 member states.

This years event is taking place from June 3-14, focusing on how to set labour standards, basic rights and principles in the workplace, and the promotion of decent work.

The Vietnamese delegation includes representatives of the country's Permanent Mission in Geneva, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Viet Nam General Confederation of Labour, the Viet Nam Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and the Viet Nam Cooperative Alliance.  VNS
HA NOI  Viet Nam always attaches importance to and looks to strengthen the traditional friendship and multifaceted cooperation with the Dominican Republic, Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son told a Dominican guest.

During a reception on Tuesday for General Secretary of the United Left Movement (MIU) Party and Minister of Regional Integration Policies of the Dominican Republic Miguel Mejia, who is on a working visit to Viet Nam, Son highly valued the Dominican Republic's government for appointing a resident ambassador to Viet Nam in 2022 and opening its embassy in the country last year.

He said that these efforts have become bridges to promote increasingly effective and substantive development of the bilateral relationship.

The Vietnamese official conveyed State President To Lam's congratulations to President Luis Abinader on his re-election for the second consecutive term in the general election held on May 19.

He expressed his appreciation for the contributions by Mejia to the development of relations between the two countries.

For his part, Mejia emphasised that his visit aims to further deepen the fruitful political and diplomatic relations, and expand the economic, trade, and investment cooperation between the two countries, especially in potential fields such as trade, agriculture, telecommunications, construction, energy, and oil and gas industry.

The two sides agreed to closely coordinate and actively take measures to strengthen the bilateral relations in the time to come through Party-to-Party, State-to-State, and people-to-people diplomacy channels, including promoting high-level delegation exchanges, connecting and supporting businesses, enhancing cooperation, and supporting each other at international organisations and multilateral forums, especially the United Nations.  VNS
NEW YORK  Viet Nam, along with other core group countries, brought the first-ever International Day of Play to life at the United Nations headquarters in New York on June 11 (local time).

The day (June 11), designated by UN General Assembly Resolution 78/268 on March 25, was initiated by Viet Nam and the five other core group countries (including Bulgaria, El Salvador, Jamaica, Kenya, and Luxembourg) and co-sponsored by 138 nations.

During a high-level discussion marking the occasion, delegates highlighted the critical role of play in child development and social progress worldwide.

Scholars and experts urged the international community and individual countries to prioritise this vital aspect of childhood through dedicated policies and programmes. The goal is to ensure that all children, regardless of circumstance, have the opportunity to play, develop, and become positive contributors to the society and the world.

Standing Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Minh Vu and Permanent Representative of Viet Nam to the UN Ambassador ang Hoang Giang joined the celebration as special guests at an "Early Learning through Play" event where they engaged in play-based learning activities with preschoolers from the UN International School (UNIS) in New York.

On the occasion, the regional president of the LEGO Group for the Americas commended Viet Nam's role in advocating the UN resolution, and expressed his hope for continued collaboration to spread the importance of play for children worldwide. Additionally, he also acknowledged Viet Nam's support for the first carbon-neutral LEGO factory in the southern province of Binh Duong to operate soon.  VNS
HA NOI  War evidence records of Vietnamese soldiers who laid down their lives or were missing in the resistance war against the US imperialists were handed over to their families at a ceremony in Ha Noi on Wednesday.

Jointly held by the Trai Tim Nguoi Linh (Soldier's Heart) organisation in collaboration with the Viet Nam Centre and Archive of the US, the Viet Nam Environment and Urban magazine, and the Mai Mai Tuoi 20 (Forever Twenty) Club, the event was a practical activity to celebrate the 76th anniversary of President Ho Chi Minh's appeal for patriotic emulation (June 11, 1948 - 2024).

According to Colonel ang Vuong Hung, the founder and Chairman of the Trai Tim Nguoi Linh organisation, during the resistance war, tens of thousands of diaries, letters, personal belongings which were artifacts of Vietnamese soldiers were collected on the battlefields, and most of the originals have been destroyed.

However, many contents of documents and artifacts have been captured and preserved in the form of microfilm at the Viet Nam Centre and Archive at Texas Tech University in the US. These copies can also be considered "original," containing a lot of private, touching, and sacred information because almost all martyrs' families involved have never had the opportunity to see them. They could assist the search for graves and remains of martyrs.

Hung said his agency has collaborated with the Viet Nam Centre and Archive to deploy a non-profit and humanitarian project, using documents sifted from the nearly 3 million-page microfilm archives to search for information about Vietnamese martyrs who sacrificed or went missing during the resistance war.

It has also collaborated with numerous organisations and individuals to search for relatives of fallen soldiers, and alive veterans, to provide them with copies of artifacts, contributing to healing wounds, wrapping up the past, and moving towards the future together, he added.

Since early May, based on documents provided by the centre, the organisation has compiled and introduced over 30 records on the social media platform Facebook and the electronic magazine "Van Hoa va Phat Trien (Culture and Development), which summarise 35 diaries and 10 letters.

Notably, among the recipients of the found documents this time, alongside the relatives of the fallen soldiers, there are also three veterans. Two of them attended the event and directly received their artifacts.

At the event, colour portraits of some martyrs were presented to their families.

The organisers took the occasion to introduce the autobiography "Mai Van La Nguoi Linh (Still a Soldier) by veteran ang Ngoc a from the northern province of Hung Yen, which reflects his humble and captivating memories about the life and family of a soldier with many ups and downs in life, and through significant events of the nation.  VNS
HA NOI  Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh suggested Germany enhance cooperation with Viet Nam in labour, employment, education-training and energy transition, among other fields, at a reception for outgoing Ambassador Guido Hildner in Ha Noi on Wednesday.

The PM affirmed that Viet Nam always highly values Germanys role and leading position in Europe and the world at large, and attaches importance to deepening the bilateral strategic partnership across spheres.

He said Germany remains Viet Nam's biggest trade partner in the European Union (EU) and one of the largest EU investors in the country, with bilateral trade exceeding US$11 billion last year.

Germany ranks 18th out of the 143 countries and territories investing in Viet Nam, the leader continued, adding that Viet Nam is also one of Germanys biggest trade partners in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and fifth in Asia.

PM Chinh appreciated Germanys support for Viet Nam's socio-economic development over the past more than three decades, particularly its identification of Viet Nam as a global partner in the Development Cooperation Strategy 2030 with the three priorities of energy, environment and vocational training.

Speaking highly of Germanys support for Viet Nam's joining of the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP), the PM called on the country to continue its close cooperation in the implementation of the partnership.

He suggested Germany grant more scholarships to Vietnamese students, and strengthen collaboration in vocational training and high-quality personnel development, saying the two countries should continue working together in materialising the EU-Viet Nam Free Trade Agreement, and the EU-Viet Nam Investment Protection Agreement once it comes into force.

The PM used the occasion to appeal to Germany to urge the European Commission (EC) to remove its yellow card warning against Vietnamese seafood.

For his part, Hildner commended Viet Nam's development over the past years, especially in green, sustainable development, stressing Germany stands ready to receive Viet Nam's skilled labourers and wishes to admit more Vietnamese students.

German lauds Viet Nam's commitment to net zero emissions by 2050, and hopes to play a more active role in the Southeast Asian nations energy transition, including its implementation of agreements within the JETP, the ambassador said.

Regarding regional and international issues of shared concern, the two sides agreed on basic principles and respect for international law to maintain and promote peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region and the world.

They shared the view on the need to ensure security, safety and freedom of navigation and overflight in the East Sea (known internationally as the South China Sea), and settle disputes by peaceful measures in line with international law, especially the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.  VNS
HA NOI  The General Department of Viet Nam Customs said on June 12 that it will continue with the Operation Mekong Dragon phase 6 (OMD 6), a programme cracking down on drugs and wildlife trafficking in the Asia-Pacific.

Operation Mekong Dragon is a joint action programme of customs agencies and other law enforcement bodies in the region. It aims to combat the illegal trade of drugs, wild animals and plants, and products from the species in the list of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).

Co-initiated by customs authorities of Viet Nam and China, it was launched in 2018 with technical support from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the Regional Intelligence Liaison Office for Asia and the Pacific (RILO AP).

As many as 25 customs agencies, law enforcement agencies, and international organisations have agreed to join OMD 6 so far.

Viet Nam Customs in coordination with the UNODC organised a conference in HCM City from April 16-18 to launch OMD 6 with the participation of 64 domestic and foreign delegates.

Five phases of the programme were carried out from 2018 to 2023.

The fifth phase ran from April 15 to November 16, 2023, with 1,715 cases uncovered as reported by member countries, surging 111 per cent from the fourth phase, statistics showed.

It was deployed in Viet Nam with 40 national contact points, including 38 of the customs force and two of police. They seized 123 drug and wildlife trafficking cases, a two-fold rise from the previous operation.  VNS
GENEVA  The permanent mission of Vietnam to the United Nations Office, World Trade Organisation (WTO) and other international organisations in Geneva opened a photo exhibition to mark the 70th anniversary of the Geneva Agreement on the Cessation of Hostilities in Viet Nam.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Minh Hang stressed that the agreement is a historical milestone of the country's revolutionary diplomacy, reflecting President Ho Chi Minh's ideology, lifestyle, and diplomatic art.

Vietnamese people always remember the pure solidarity and support of Lao and Cambodian people, friends and peace-loving people around the world in the struggles against colonialism and imperialism, she said.

The agreement was the victory of Viet Nam and the three Indochinese countries as well as of oppressed nations during their struggles for national liberation, the official said, noting together with the ien Bien Phu Victory (May 7, 1954), it served as a source of encouragement for movements for peace and national independence, beginning the collapse of colonialism worldwide.

Highlighting the significance and lessons learned from the negotiations, signing and implementation of the agreement to the present cause of national construction, defence and development, Hang said Viet Nam has been consistently pursuing the foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, diversification and multilateralisation, and proactive and active integration, and being a friend, a reliable partner, an active and responsible member of the international community.

We are committed to contributing our best to the common efforts of the international community for peace, national independence, development, cooperation and social progress in the world," she emphasised.

Ambassador Mai Phan Dung said with tens of photos, the exhibition aims to give an insight into the context when the agreement was signed, and its importance to Viet Nam and the world, along with peace-loving peoples support for Viet Nams struggle for independence, freedom, peace and justice. - VNS
BAC GIANGWith more orders and the expansion of production and trading, many businesses in Bac Giang Province need a significant number of workers.

To ensure sufficient labour resources, the province is actively implementing various solutions.

Diverse recruitment methods

Survey results and information from the Bac Giang Employment Service Centre indicate that this year, enterprises in the province require over 112,000 workers, with more than 68,000 of them being female, accounting for 60.79 per cent.

Some businesses are seeking a large number of workers. For example, Fuyu Precision Technology Co Ltd in Quang Chau Industrial Park plans to employ about 8,500 workers, while New Wing Interconnect Technology Co Ltd in Van Trung Industrial Park needs over 13,000 workers.

Recruitment efforts are primarily focused on the manufacturing and assembly of electronic components and garments.

To meet the large labour demand, companies are deploying numerous solutions, such as sharing information online and directly on social platforms like TikTok, Facebook, and Zalo; coordinating with local employment service centres in different provinces and cities; conducting internal recruitment; and signing cooperation agreements with human resource suppliers.

Business representatives have noted that the current progress in labour recruitment has not met production requirements. This is because businesses seek a large number of workers at the beginning and middle of the year, leading to hiring difficulties.

Director of the Bac Giang Employment Service Centre, Nguyen Van Hue, said that to attract workers, many companies have proactively lowered requirements. These measures include expanding the hiring age to 40 (previously mainly from 18 to 35 years old), minimising unnecessary documents, and enhancing remuneration policies such as transport fares, meals, and creating a better working environment.

Luxshare-ICT Viet Nam Co Ltd, which specialises in assembling electronic components, has four factories in the Van Trung Industrial Zone and the Quang Chau Industrial Zone in Viet Yen Town. The company currently employs about 35,000 workers, with an average income of VN8-12 million (US$314-470) per person per month.

This year, the company needs about 40,000 workers, with a requirement of 22,000 in the first six months alone. Despite implementing dozens of solutions to attract workers, the company has not yet reached its recruitment goals.

o Quan, the companys Personnel Director, said that this year, the number of orders was stable, leading to a need for as many as 10,000 workers during peak periods.

To attract workers, the company actively cooperates with local departments of labour, invalids, and social affairs, as well as employment service centres in several northern provinces, to organise job fairs. It also encourages referrals from internal employees and collaborates with suppliers during peak periods.

Recently, the company introduced a new method of recruiting workers from provinces outside of Bac Giang via livestream. Additionally, it continues to improve meals, accommodation, and travel conditions for employees.

Authorities support

Bac Giang Province has a large population and a significant labour force, but because the demand is concentrated in electronic component manufacturing, the number of workers is temporarily insufficient when demand is high.

To support businesses, Bac Giang has implemented various methods. The province organised symposiums on labour so that enterprises could discuss and overcome obstacles.

Director Hue said that at the beginning of the year, the centre reviewed and collected statistics about business demand, thereby creating a suitable plan for consulting and introducing jobs. Every week, the centre synthesises labour needs and updates the information on the website vieclambacgiang.vn so that workers can register.

The centre coordinates with other centres in different provinces and cities to regularly hold online job transactions, where companies can interview and select workers.

This year, in addition to periodic, mobile, and online job transactions, the centre focuses on thematic sessions for those who were formerly exported workers, soldiers, and people from remote and ethnic group areas.

The province also sends working delegations, led by provincial leaders, to some northern provinces to support businesses in recruiting workers.

Deputy Director of the Bac Giang Department of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs, Tran Van Ha, said that in March this year, the provincial People's Committee assigned four teams to Lang Son, Cao Bang, Hoa Binh, and Son La provinces to exchange information.

They agreed with these provinces on policies and plans to create jobs for workers and ensure labour resources for businesses. The provinces will work together to arrange conferences on the issue, both in-person and online.

In the coming time, the province will regularly work with other localities to promote communication about the production and trading activities of enterprises. It will also announce working conditions and accommodation for workers, short-term and long-term recruitment, enterprises policies for employees, and the province's message on attracting workers from other localities.  VNS
TOKYO  Yamanashi prefecture of Japan has launched the first health insurance programme for family members of Vietnamese guest workers, part of efforts to attract foreign labourers amid the shrinking population and growing global competition for human resources.

Japan is facing an aging population and an increasingly severe labour shortage. It has taken various solutions, but many businesses are still struggling with the problem. In that context, foreign workers are important to Japan, including Yamanashi prefecture, Yamanashi Governor Nagasaki Kotaro told a press meeting held on June 12 to introduce the scheme.

He expressed his hope that Japan and his prefecture will become attractive destinations for foreign workers. Therefore, Yamanashi is striving to create a favourable environment for foreigners to work and live here.

Vietnamese Ambassador to Japan Pham Quang Hieu appreciated the insurance scheme, noting that Yamanashi is taking the lead in issuing policies to attract and retain Vietnamese workers.

Hieu said he believes the programme will be carried out on a large scale and in the long term to retain Vietnamese workers and attract more labourers from Viet Nam and other Japanese localities to this prefecture.

The diplomat called on Yamanashi and local businesses to devise more welfare policies so that Vietnamese people, including guest workers, can feel secure when staying here.

The prefecture informed that to help ease guest workers concern about the health of their family members in the homeland, Yamanashi cooperated with the Tokio Marine Insurance Vietnam company to develop a health insurance scheme for the workers relatives in Viet Nam.

This regime is applied to all hospitals in Viet Nam. Accordingly, when the workers family members suffer from injuries or illnesses, after paying medical expenses at any hospital in Viet Nam and applying for compensation from Tokio Marine Insurance, they will receive insurance benefits from this company covering up to 90 per cent of their paid medical expenses.

It targets Vietnamese citizens working at the companies or organisations involved in the network for promoting the improvement of the working environment for foreigners in Yamanashi.

Under this scheme, those companies or organisations must pay for at least three-fourths of insurance premiums. To assist them, Yamanashi formed a subsidy system which provides a maximum support of 50 per cent of the financial aid for the companies.

Explaining why Vietnamese workers are the first groups of foreign labourers to benefit from this regime, a representative of the local administration said 3,019 Vietnamese people are working in Yamanashi, accounting for 26.9 per cent of the foreign manpower and also forming the largest foreign guest worker community here. Another reason is the strong friendship between Viet Nam and Japan, as well as between Yamanashi with such Vietnamese provinces as Quang Binh and Yen Bai.

Replying to the Vietnam News Agencys question, Ambassador Hieu said many localities and businesses in Japan now have demand for Vietnamese workers. He believed that their policies and regimes will help enhance Japans attractiveness to labourers from the Southeast Asian nation.  VNS
Josh Goldman, CEO of Australis Aquaculture, made the statement while receiving a delegation led by Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Dang Quoc Khanh. The delegation paid a visit to Australis sustainable aquaculture operations in Van Phong Bay of Khanh Hoa.

Goldman shared, "The company exports approximately 10,000 tonnes of fish per year with four processing factories in the locality. With this output, Australis Aquarium is the world's largest barramundi farming, processing, and export company."

"Approximately 80 per cent of the company's output will be exported to the United States. To facilitate its development goal, the company is willing to invest $1 billion to advance sustainable development in Vietnam in general and in Khanh Hoa in particular," he added.

Aquaculture businesses such as Australis have plenty of room to expand in the face of dwindling conventional fish supplies and increasing seafood demand worldwide. The company aims to expedite Vietnam's shift to a more prosperous, sustainable, and healthy future for the ocean.

Last year, Australis announced the signing of an MoU with Khanh Hoa to invest an additional $100 million for the expansion of its sustainable aquaculture operations in Van Phong Bay. The signing was made during US President Joe Bidens visit to Vietnam in September 2023. With the additional investment, the company plans to increase its capacity to 50,000 tons of barramundi production annually.

Australis Vietnam was one of the earliest foreign-invested enterprises present in Van Phong Economic Zone. After more than 15 years, it has invested about $200 million to apply the world's most advanced aquaculture technology to Vietnam's unique climate, conditions, and native species.

Australis aims to expand aquaculture farms in Khanh Hoa Massachusetts-based Australis Aquaculture will sign an MoU with Khanh Hoa province to invest an additional $100 million in the expansion of its sustainable aquaculture operations in Van Phong Bay.

Vietnam issues national plan on aquaculture development for 2021-2030 Deputy Prime Minister Le Van Thanh has signed a decision to promulgate a national plan on aquaculture development in the 2021  2030 period.
Over the past 12 years since the fund's inception, BlackRock has provided investors access to new and expanding corners of the capital markets, and several of these frontier market countries have been elevated to emerging market status.

Select portions of the remaining smaller universe of frontier markets have experienced persistent liquidity challenges, and as a result, there will be an extended liquidation period for the fund.

BlackRock currently expects that the fund will cease trading and no longer accept creation and redemption orders after market close on or around March 31, 2025; however, this date is subject to change.

During the extended liquidation period, the fund will not be managed in accordance with its investment objective and policies, as the fund will sell down its assets, as determined by BlackRock, where possible and hold the proceeds of such sales in cash and cash equivalents.

Proceeds of the liquidation are expected to be sent to shareholders on or around three days after the last trading date.

The iShares Frontier and Select EM ETF seeks to provide exposure to frontier market equities along with select emerging market equities.

As of June 10, its net asset value (NAV) was $425.6 million. Its exposure to Vietnamese assets made up around 18 per cent, or $76 million, the biggest share among the member markets. Romania came in second place (8.75 per cent), followed by Kazakhstan (7.76 per cent) and Morocco (4.34 per cent).

The fund currently holds Vietnamese stocks including Hoa Phat Group (HSX: HPG), Vinhomes (HSX: VHM), Vingroup (HSX: VIC), Vinamilk (HSX: VNM), and Masan (HSX: MSN).

Stock market holds investment potential from now until year end The stock market holds potential for investment this year in the context of the macroeconomic recovery and a rebound in manufacturing and business activities across most sectors.

Surge in newly opened securities accounts recorded in May The number of newly opened securities accounts in Vietnam saw a substantial increase last month, reversing the previous decline in April, according to the Vietnam Securities Depository and Clearing Corporation.
A signing ceremony for an MoU between GELEX and FPT was held on June 11 in Hanoi. The companies have agreed to collaborate in four areas.

Ensuring comprehensive digital transformation for GELEX member companies; implementing telecommunications infrastructure for GELEX's real estate projects; investment collaboration on data centre projects; and cooperation in semiconductors, including building facilities to support research and development, and inviting eminent industry figures to visit Vietnam.

GELEX and FPT leaders attend the MoU signing ceremony on June 11

The collaboration allows the two sides to maximise their potential, assist each other's growth in the Vietnamese and international markets, open up new opportunities, and allure investment cooperation from global partners.

Speaking at the ceremony, Nguyen Trong Hien, board chairman of GELEX said, "Extensive digital transformation is one of GELEX's key strategies. It is a pleasure to collaborate with FPT, an international-standard technology company."

Nguyen Trong Hien, board chairman of GELEX

Hien revealed that the companys goal of creating a partnership ecosystem with prominent multinational corporations yielded excellent results last year, including collaboration with Frasers Property and Sembcorp Industries.

GELEX will continue to pursue this approach to deepen the groups engagement in global value chains, grow and improve higher-added value product segments in core areas, bolster exports, and strive to be the top investment group in Vietnam.

"This collaboration will help us open up many new investment opportunities in digital infrastructure, the semiconductor industry, and elsewhere that are mutually beneficial to both parties," added Hien.

At the ceremony, Nguyen Van Khoa, general director of FPT Corporation said that the corporation has just celebrated its 36th anniversary and is now operating in the three areas of technology, telecommunications, and education.

"GELEX has many things in common with FPT, particularly our shared objective of a green future. FPT's strategy focuses on AI, semiconductors, automotive software, digital transformation, and green transformation. We expect that today's signing ceremony will be the beginning of a long journey of collaborating, growing together, and contributing to the countrys development," said Khoa.

Additionally, Khoa hopes that by working together, the corporate cultures of FPT and GELEX would be shared, encouraging innovation based on their shared core beliefs. FPT will use its substantial experience to support GELEX's objectives.

FPT is a top global consultant and supplier of green transformation and digital transformation solutions for businesses worldwide. The corporation first collaborated with GELEX Group in 2017, providing IT services, security equipment, data storage systems, and consultations on office digitalisation and cloud computing systems.

FPT IS and Metrodata unveil strategic digital transformation partnership FPT Information System Corporation (FPT IS) and PT. Metrodata Electronics, Tbk, the largest ICT public company in Indonesia, signed an MoU at a ceremony in Hanoi in a significant move on January 13, part of the state visit of Indonesian President Joko Widodo to Vietnam from January 11-13.

Digital transformation to drive circular economy A programme focussing on digital applications for visualising material cycles and resource efficiency and their role in advancing the circular economy in Vietnam was held on January 24 in Hanoi. It was led by the Resource and Environment Communication Center (RECC) in partnership with Japan's Environmental Renewal and Material Circulation Bureau.
Nguyen Anh Tuan, general director of Vietnam Electricity (EVN), had a meeting with Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO), the South Korean state-run utility company, on June 11, where both sides signed an extension of their existing MoU on cooperation.

"We consider KEPCO to be an important partner, and we greatly appreciate the projects we have worked on together over the past few years. In particular, the Vung Ang II build-operate-transfer (BOT) project," said Tuan.

KEPCO President Kim Dong-cheol said, "Besides Vung Ang II and the Nghi Son 2 thermal power plant, KEPCO intends to further expand its cooperation in renewable energy, especially with EVN."

"We hope to continue to support EVN to develop and stabilise the electricity supply in Vietnam, and become more efficient. Additionally, we are interested in exchanging and sharing its experience of digital transformation, intelligent digital power plants, and liquefied natural gas with EVN," he added.

KEPCO's power generation projects in Vietnam have a total capacity of 2,400 MW, making up around 7.3 per cent of the country's private power generation and the South Korean firm is responsible for supplying a large amount of the electricity needed in northern Vietnam, including Hanoi.

S.Korea's KEPCO wins $2.3 bln VN power plant deal The Korea Electric Power Corp (KEPCO) and a Japanese firm have reached a $2.3 billion deal to build a thermal power plant in Vietnam, the state-run South Korean company said on Friday.

Marubeni and KEPCO a step closer to first-of-its-kind power plant in Vietnam The consortium of Japanese company Marubeni Corporation and Korea Electric Power Corporation (Kepco) today signed the investment agreement for Nghi Son 2 thermal power plant in the central province of Thanh Hoa.
Signing ceremony between the MPI and VINASME on June 11

"Improving knowledge for Vietnamese SMEs" aims to promote the implementation of a Politburo resolution on building and promoting the role of Vietnamese entrepreneurs.

The training will be conducted on the www.smelearning.vn platform to drive Vietnamese SMEs towards effective and sustainable operations. The course will provide a convenient learning environment for SMEs to gradually adopt a "learning enterprise" philosophy.

The project will be implemented nationwide from 2024-2035, with the goal of holding 1,000 courses by 2025 and about 5,000 courses by 2035. About 1.5 million businesses nationwide will have access to free and quality courses with a clear roadmap and development stages. More than 6,000 employees will be able to participate and benefit from the courses.

The courses will follow six stages of business development: business concept, business establishment, operations, growth, mature/stable development, and stock listing.

These will include directions on sales and marketing, capital and finance, and operations and corporate management. These pillars will be deployed in parallel with training courses to enhance skills, new ideas, experience, policy updates, and technology transfer, depending on the stage of development at each business. Participants will be provided with a free account to study.

Deputy Minister of Planning and Investment Tran Duy Dong said the project will have a positive impact and enhance the quality of human resources.

"To get the most out of the project, I recommend ministries, agencies, localities, and associations encourage the business community to participate in the courses and improve levels of corporate governance," Dong highlighted.

He suggested VINASME proactively coordinate with the donor community and businesses to mobilise resources to implement the project and commitments made in the agreement.

Nguyen Van Than, VINASME chairman, said that the association has carefully surveyed the needs of member businesses, thereby offering detailed and specific programmes to meet various groups of businesses and industries. Businesses in need will be trained in market knowledge and connected directly with potential customers.

With the coordination of the MPI, SMEs will have quick access to state policies and participate in policy direction from an early stage," Than said. "The project will convey the very important viewpoints and spirit of the Party and state to the business community in general and SMEs in particular, which are building, creating, developing, and protecting the country."
Chinese, Lao FMs vow to enhance bilateral ties

Xinhua) 09:51, June 12, 2024

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.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Dong Nai People's Committee held a meeting with Sojitz on the project on June 11. The project will focus on promoting renewable energy in industrial parks (IPs) and improving the efficiency of waste and wastewater treatment.

The plan will be implemented in both new and existing IPs developed and operated by Sojitz. The Japanese company is a joint venture developer in Long Duc Industrial Park in Long Thanh district in Dong Nai.

The green IP model has been successfully applied by Sojitz in Kobe City, Japan, and now it wants to introduce the model to Dong Nai through cooperation with Kobe City. The two localities boast similar conditions in terms of industrial development, aviation, and seaport services.

Nguyen Thi Hoang, Vice Chairperson of Dong Nai People's Committee, spoke of her admiration for the project as it aims to promote the development of green and smart industry in the area. She assigned relevant departments and agencies to collaborate with Sojitz to prepare for the upcoming singing between Kobe City and Dong Nai.

The move is expected to meet the rising demand of investors for green manufacturing and carbon emission reduction, and make a significant contribution to Vietnam's net-zero goal by 2050.

Sojitz inks deal with Stavian for forestry, energy, and chemical partnerships Japans Sojitz Corporation and Vietnams Stavian Group have signed an MoU to develop strategic partnerships across many fields, including forestry, energy, and chemicals.

Japan's Sojitz invests in Vietnam's Finviet Sojitz Corporation (Sojitz) has invested in Finviet Technology Corporation (Finviet), a SaaS company introducing cashless payment smartphone apps and an online ordering platform for small-scale retail stores in Vietnam, where small family businesses account for the majority of the retail channels in the country.
The move aims to ease long queues of customers buying gold at the bank. Customers can now register to buy gold bullion on Vietcombank's website starting at 9:00 a.m. daily. Customers will make payment and receive gold bullion at points of sale from 1pm to 4pm.

Vietcombank is currently the only bank among the four state-owned commercial banks (Big 4) authorised to sell gold to stabilise the gold market to have implemented gold bullion sales online

Since June 6, customers have been rushing to SJC outlets and Big 4 banks to queue for gold, but many had to leave empty-handed due to the number of people. This is because banks receive 20 to 40 customers per day at each point of sale. It also takes a lot of time to verify buyers of large purchases.

With the online registration service, customers do not need to waste time queueing as the bank uses registration information for transactions to save time. The bank also commits to keeping all customer information confidential and will only use customer data for gold purchases.

To reduce the overwhelming demand for gold, the Big 4 banks have opened more points of sale in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.

On June 12, SJC gold traded at VND74.98 million ($2,946) per tael for sellers and VND76.98 million ($3,025) per tael for buyers.

Eleven bidders win May 23 gold auction Eleven bidders bought 13,400 out of the 16,800 taels of SJC-branded gold bullion that the State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) offered for sale at an auction held on May 23.

Big4 banks, SJC sell gold bars directly to customers The State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) announced on June 3 that the selling price of SJC-brand is 78.98 million VND (3,108 USD) per tael.
The comprehensive plan Woodway adopted Monday will preserve neighborhoods while also allowing development and redevelopment in areas along Highway 84 already designated as commercial.

The new comprehensive plan, called Woodway Forward, passed the city council 5-0 with two council members abstaining, following a quarrelsome debate over whether more time for public input was needed.

Council members Janell Gilman, Storey Cook, John Williams, Amine Qourzal and Ken Sury voted in favor, while David Russell and Dave Keyston abstained.

The Woodway Planning and Zoning Commission last month recommended approving the plan, conditional on adjusting the boundary of the Highway 84 commercial corridor to put all residential neighborhoods outside it, and on adding provisions to preserve those and all residential neighborhoods in the city.

Woodway Forward - draft comprehensive plan Read the draft plan, before amendments requested by the Planning and Zoning Commission (PDF)

In the strictly commercial areas, growth can continue, which will enhance the tax base, said K. Paul Holt, president of the Central Texas Chapter of the Associated General Contractors of America, upon hearing the plan had passed.

No one wants to turn a housing subdivision into a commercial development, Holt said. Continued commercial development in the strictly commercial areas along the Highway 84 corridor will benefit the other commercial properties and also the neighborhoods by continuing to lift property values. The greater the amount of commercial development, the less tax burden falls on the homeowners.

Waco- and Woodway-area developer David Mercer, a former Woodway City Council member, also said he supports the new comprehensive plan.

Mercer said he is happy with the plan, including building standards and ordinances that would be more strict.

As a developer, I support this, Mercer said. This elevates the level of product built. It raises values and continues to make Woodway desirable as a place to live.

On Monday before the approval vote, Russell and Keyston wanted to delay approval until the finalized plan would be posted on the city website for the public to read and comment. Williams, Gilman and Qourzal said the public input had been received and incorporated and it was not necessary for the public to be able to read the final version incorporating the changes the Planning and Zoning Commission requested.

Woodway adopted its previous comprehensive plan in 2004. A comprehensive plan generally looks 25 years into the future to consider what city leaders and residents would like their city to become, describes guidepost goals and makes recommendations for how to achieve the goals, Williams has said. Williams is a member of a city committee that put the updated Woodway Forward plan together based on resident input, council guidance and best practices recommended by Kimley-Horn consultants.

Council debate

During council discussion before the vote, several council members recounted the opportunities for public input.

The plan contains an appendix with photos of all the public input, Cook said.

There are photos of all the comment boards and all the sticky notes that people wrote out from the public input sessions, Cook said.

Residents had the opportunity to share their thoughts participating in the process, Williams said.

The process of developing the plan included four opportunities for public input last year, said Haley Carruthers, a city planning consultant with Kimley-Horn who helped develop the plan. Planners hosted two public meetings at City Hall and two pop-up stands during a Woodway Fourth of July event and a Saturday farmers market in July 2023.

Williams said he, Gilman and the other members of the Economic Development Committee that worked to develop the plan incorporated the public input.

I wont attest to a plan that didnt take input into account and I attest to this plan, Williams said.

Both Qourzal and Williams said a version of the plan had been available to the public from a link on the city website, while Cook and Keyston said they could not find the plan on the city website.

Qourzal, who serves as Woodways mayor, asked both Cook and Keyston who they called at City Hall for help finding the plan.

The mayor then asked Carruthers whether the plan had been taken down.

The plan was available on the website before the Planning and Zoning Commission gave a conditional approval, Carruthers said. After that, Kimley-Horn took it down to make the requested adjustments, she said.

Not everything goes before the public for them to read it, Williams said. He said he did not think whether the public had the opportunity to read the final form of the plan is an ethical or legal question that would prevent the council from voting on it.

Keyston thanked the consultants for adapting to what the Planning and Zoning Commission asked for, but he also said he objected to city staffs obfuscation toward residents.

The final version of the plan should be placed on the citys website, and printed copies should be made available to any resident who wants one, Russell said.

Im not saying theres anything in this plan that shouldnt be in it, Russell said. Can we delay a vote until the residents have had an opportunity to read the final version of the plan?

Gilman said it was the council and the economic development committee that had a responsibility to read the plan and say whether it represents the direction the community said it should take.

During a public hearing on the plan before council debate two members of the Planning and Zoning Commission spoke in favor of the plan. Another member of the commission and three other residents asked for delays in approval to allow for more review and refinement.

Toward the end of Mondays regular council meeting, City Manager Adam Niolet handed out copies of next fiscal years budget to council members. The 2024-25 budget will be the subject of workshops and amendments in July and August before an Aug. 26 approval vote, Niolet said. The budget is available on the city website for Woodway residents to view it and provide comments to council members.
WESTPORT, Conn.  Kate Bulkeley's pledge to stay off social media in high school worked at first. She watched the benefits pile up: She was getting excellent grades. She read lots of books. The family had lively conversations around the dinner table and gathered for movie nights on weekends.

Then, as sophomore year got underway, the unexpected problems surfaced. She missed a student government meeting arranged on Snapchat. Her Model U.N. team communicates on social media, too, causing her scheduling problems. Even the Bible Study club at her Connecticut high school uses Instagram to communicate with members.

Gabriela Durham, a high school senior in Brooklyn, says navigating high school without social media has made her who she is today. She is a focused, organized, straight-A student. Not having social media has made her an outsider, in some ways. That used to hurt; now, she says, it feels like a badge of honor.

With the damaging consequences of social media increasingly well documented, many parents are trying to raise their children with restrictions or blanket bans. Teenagers themselves are aware that too much social media is bad for them, and some are initiating social media cleanses because of the toll it takes on mental health and grades.

This is a tale of two families, social media and the ever-present challenge of navigating high school. Its about what kids do when they cant extend their Snapstreaks or shut their bedroom doors and scroll through TikToks past midnight.

Its about what families discuss when theyre not having screen-time battles. Its also about persistent social ramifications.

The journeys of both families show the rewards and pitfalls of trying to avoid social media in a world that is saturated by it.

Concerns about children and phone use are not new. But there is a growing realization among experts that the COVID-19 pandemic fundamentally changed the relationship kids have with social media. As youth coped with isolation and spent excessive time online, the pandemic effectively carved out a much larger space for social media in the lives of American children.

Social media is where many kids turn to forge their emerging identities, to seek advice, to unwind and relieve stress. In this era of parental control apps and location tracking, social media is where this generation is finding freedom.

It is also increasingly clear that the more time youth spend online, the higher the risk of mental health problems.

Kids who use social media for more than three hours a day face double the risk of depression and anxiety, according to studies cited by U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy, who issued an extraordinary public warning last spring about the risks of social media to young people.

The Bulkeleys and Gabrielas mother, Elena Romero, both set strict rules starting when their kids were young and still in elementary school. They delayed giving phones until middle school and declared no social media until 18. They educated the girls, and their younger siblings, on the impact of social media on young brains, on online privacy concerns, on the dangers of posting photos or comments that can come back to haunt you.

At school, on the subway and at dance classes around New York City, Gabriela is surrounded by reminders that social media is everywhere  except on her phone.

Growing up without it has meant missing out on things. Everyone but you gets the same jokes, practices the same TikTok dances, is up on the latest viral trends. When Gabriela was younger, that felt isolating; at times, it still does. But now, she sees not having social media as freeing.

From my perspective, as an outsider, she says, it seems like a lot of kids use social media to promote a facade. And its really sad.

There is also friend drama on social media and a lack of honesty, humility and kindness that she feels lucky to be removed from.

Gabriela is a dance major at the Brooklyn High School of the Arts. Senior year got intense with college and scholarship applications capped by getting to perform at Broadways Shubert Theatre in March as part of a city showcase of high school musicals.

My kids schedules will make your head spin, Romero says. On school days, theyre up at 5:30 a.m. and out the door by 7. Romero drives the girls to their three schools scattered around Brooklyn, then takes the subway into Manhattan, where she teaches mass communications at the Fashion Institute of Technology.

In New York City, its common for kids to get phones early in elementary school, but Romero waited until each daughter reached middle school and started taking public transportation home alone.

In the upscale suburb of Westport, Connecticut, the Bulkeleys have faced questions about bending their rules. But not for the reason they had anticipated.

Kate was perfectly content to not have social media. Her parents figured at some point she might resist their ban because of peer pressure or fear of missing out. But the 15-year-old sees it as a waste of time. She describes herself as academic, introverted and focused on building up extracurricular activities.

That's why she needed Instagram.

I needed it to be co-president of my Bible Study Club, Kate explains.

Is social media fueling youth mental health crisis? Here's what the data shows Using social media for more than 30 minutes per day increases teen mental health risks Depressive symptoms and suicide-related issues linked to social media use
WATERLOO  One person has been arrested in an overnight shooting that sent a man to the hospital.

According to police, a masked gunman approached 19-year-old DMeterias Anderson in the 500 block of Broadway Street around 11:54 p.m. Tuesday.

The assailant opened fire, striking Anderson in the abdomen and arm and then ran off.

Officers noticed a Chrysler 200 speeding from the scene and stopped the vehicle. A man matching the description of the attacker was a passenger in the car.

Authorities found a bullet and a .380-caliber Diamondback handgun loaded with Hornady ammunition outside near the vehicle, according to court records.

Police found spent .380-caliber Hornady shell casings at the scene of the shooting, and dashcam video recorded an object being jettisoned from the vehicle during the stop, records state.

Deamonte Buchanan, 21, of Waterloo, was arrested for willful injury causing bodily injury, going armed, intimidation with a weapon and felon in possession of a firearm.

Buchanan was recently released from prison after serving time for June 2019 shooting only blocks away from the scene of the Tuesday shooting. In that case, he told police he was a member of the 4L gang and had shot at members of the Del Mob gang in the 500 block of Dawson Street, according to court records. No injuries were reported.

According to corrections records, Buchanan was released from prison on May 11, 2024.

Violent crime is up  and also down, according to new federal data Violent crime is up  and also down, according to new federal data Federal reports show similar long-term trends in violent crime, but diverge significantly on year-over-year changes Despite the long-term trends, the two reports differ more than ever before on the year-over-year change in violent crime. Property crime went up in 2022 One undeniable trend: Violent crimes against young people doubled Still, most crimes are not reported to the police
A 28-year-old American woman was sentenced to 26 years in prison on Wednesday in Chicago for her involvement in the brutal killing of her own mother, Sheila von Wiese-Mack, during a luxury vacation in Bali in 2014.

The sentencing, delivered by Judge Matthew Kennelly, came after federal prosecutors recommended a 28-year prison term for Mack, who pleaded guilty last June to conspiring with her then-boyfriend, Tommy Schaefer, to murder her mother, as per NPR.

The prosecutors had argued for a sentence that they deemed "warranted and sufficient, but not greater than necessary to serve a just and appropriate punishment for Mack's heinous crime."

Mack's attorney, Michael Leonard, anticipates that, with good behavior credits and accounting for her time in custody in both Indonesia and the United States, Mack could be incarcerated for approximately 20 years. Leonard also mentioned that Judge Kennelly gave Mack credit for the two-plus years she spent in custody in Chicago after being deported from Indonesia in 2021.

Before the sentence was pronounced, Mack addressed her mother's brother and sister, expressing remorse and acknowledging the pain her actions caused. She tearfully apologized to her aunt, Debbi Curran, who had audibly sobbed as Mack's daughter read a victim impact statement on her behalf.

"There's no excuse for trying to harm her," Mack said. "I miss and love my mother."

The prosecutors had sought additional penalties for Mack, including five years of supervised release, a fine of $250,000, and restitution of $262,708. The judge ordered Mack to pay the specified restitution amount and imposed a $50,000 fine.

Bill Wiese, Wiese-Mack's brother and Mack's uncle, testified during the sentencing hearing, urging the judge to impose the maximum sentence, citing Mack's lack of remorse. Wiese stated, "If it were up to me, Heather would spend the rest of her life behind bars," according to South China Morning Post.

Read Also : Judge Threatens Trump With Expulsion From Court

Conspiring for Trust Fund Murder

Mack's guilty plea last year included admitting to conspiring with Schaefer to kill her mother in order to gain access to a $1.5 million trust fund. Prosecutors detailed the gruesome crime, explaining that Mack, then 18 and pregnant, covered her mother's mouth while Schaefer bludgeoned Wiese-Mack with a fruit bowl in a Bali hotel room.

The couple had allegedly planned the murder for months, as evidenced by video footage showing them attempting to transport the suitcase containing Wiese-Mack's body into an Indonesian taxi.

Schaefer, convicted of murder, is currently serving an 18-year sentence in Indonesia and faces charges in the same US indictment. His mother, Kia Walker, attended Mack's sentencing in Chicago.

The case garnered international attention when Indonesian authorities sentenced Mack to 10 years for being an accessory to Wiese-Mack's murder in 2015. She served seven years in Indonesia before being deported in 2021. Mack's daughter, who was six at the time of her arrest, is now in the custody of a relative after a legal battle.

While Mack's lawyers sought a 15-year prison term, citing her time served in Indonesia, the plea agreement specified a maximum sentence of 28 years with the dismissal of two other charges against Mack. Leonard argued against an extended sentence, stating that the financial burden on taxpayers would be unjustifiable, The Sydney Morning Herald reported.
WASHINGTON, D.C.  On Tuesday, six Korean War veterans and 84 Vietnam War veterans were among the 163 people on the 30th Honor Flight to Washington, D.C., sponsored by Sullivan-Hartogh-Davis Cedar Valley Honor Flight.

A total of 163 Northeast Iowans, including 63 guardians and 10 Honor Flight staff members, landed at Reagan National Airport in Arlington, Virginia. There they boarded three buses for a tour of our nations capital that included stops at many of the monuments and memorials that make that city great.

The tour also passed by the construction in progress for the Desert Shield and Storm Memorial, scheduled to be completed next summer

The group visited on a beautiful day.

It was 75 with no humidity. There was a slight breeze, and we were all in love with the DC weather, Linda Bergmann, flight coordinator with Cedar Valley Honor Flight, said in an email to The Courier.

The first stop was the World War II Memorial, where veterans were greeted by retired U.S. Army Brig. Gen. David Cole, a Waterloo native, and his wife, Connie. Cole has welcomed veterans from all 30 Cedar Valley Honor Flights since the trips began in 2011.

The next stop was the Women In Military Service For America Memorial in Arlington, Virginia. Coincidentally, the groups visit came just a day before Women Veterans Recognition Day on Wednesday.

Arlington National Cemetery was next. The veterans witnessed two wreath laying ceremonies by two different school groups, as well as the Changing of the Guard ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

The tour proceeded to the Korean War Veterans Memorial, where veterans walked along the Field of Service, which features 19 stainless steel statues that represent an advance party on patrol, depicting each of the four major branches of service  Army, Marines, Navy and Air Force.

That was followed by a stop at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, where some vets made rubbings of names on The Wall.

The Lincoln Memorial is currently undergoing major renovations, which made visiting the iconic marble statue of President Abraham Lincoln a bit more difficult.

After that, the entourage visited the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial, where dinner was served.

The last stop was the Air Force Memorial, which also was under renovation. The memorials centerpiece consists of three 200- to 270-foot, curving stainless steel and concrete spires collectively called Soaring to Glory. Workers were adding lights to the spires and making other minor touches.

You get a beautiful view of the city from up there, Bergmann said.

After that it was back to the airport and the return flight to Iowa. The welcome home didnt disappoint.

This is what the vets must have felt when returning from WWII with the ticker tape parades, said one veteran upon arriving at Waterloo Municipal Airport.

Tuesdays trip to Washington, D.C., was the 30th flight sponsored by Sullivan-Hartogh-Davis Cedar Valley Honor Flight. Since 2011, $3.4 million has been raised to support the trips, allowing more than 3,000 Iowa veterans to participate in an Honor Flight originating from Waterloo, according to Michael Whittlesey, who along with his wife, Jane, is official photographer for the Sullivan-Hartogh-Davis Cedar Valley Honor Flights.

A new photo essay book has been created by Whittlesey commemorating these once-in-a-lifetime excursions. Published by Palmerton Press, The Cedar Valley Honor Flight Story: A Photographic Journey has quickly reached keepsake status for veterans and their families.

Cedar Valley Honor Flight strongly encourages area veterans who served during the World War II, Korean War or Vietnam War eras but have not made an Honor Flight to apply today. Applications for 2025 are now being accepted and can be found online at cedarvalleyhonorflights.org or at any area Hy-Vee store in the Waterloo-Cedar Falls metropolitan area.

Photos: 2024 Cedar Valley Honor Flight to Washington, D.C.
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One of the two males (20s) arrested in connection with the 120,000 MDMA seizure in County Mayo, on Tuesday 11th June 2024, has been charged.

He is due to appear before a special sitting of Castlebar District Court, this afternoon, Wednesday 12th June 2024, at 2.30pm.

The second arrested male has been released without charge, pending a file to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

Investigations are ongoing.
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Does power, lust, greed, and love of Satan mean that much to some humans?

Side Note: It was not just humans that have fallen for a twist within their psychic. The Watchers (200 special angels) from Heaven intentionally grabbed a bunch of human women and populated our Earth with giants that consumed all and thus God had to intervene. Never heard about that did you? Well if you ask Raphael, Michal and Gabriel, they might enlighten you upon what happened with the Watchers. I plan on doing just that when I have to leave this planet and get my book of life opened and read.  kKEETON

Again: Does power, lust, greed, and love of Satan mean that much to some humans?

Looks like it and it looks as if we have allowed these scum of our planet to weasel their way into positions that have put us in danger of extinction. What is interesting is to contemplate and realize whom is among these worms that have undermined our lives. They really want war, they really think they deserve war, they will do anything to keep from paying the price of their actions, they have holes in the ground in which to hide and they all consider money, material items and personal power to be the cats meow

Yet, knowing how scared, how self-preserving and how lack of ability to withstand pain humans have. I ask time and time again, who is driving the Apple Cart as it careens off the cliff. Whoever it is, does not act very human and does not care about humans. It could be said that whom it is? Hates us humans

***

The realization that the USA through the EU and the UK as its (EU) head of the hydra so to think. Wants a war so bad that they can taste it and they have been working at this for so long that they do not even understand that this is wrong in all ways. It is a governmental policy and both in the EU and the USA it is destroy Russia and then destroy China and nothing else matters, even if we all die in the process. Their biggest fear is not destroying the world, but keeping their ass out of the tar and feather, firing squad, guillotines and hanging trees. As to any care about us humans? Only their own self matters in anything and all things. This is really a very scary issue and we ignore this issue at our existence ending

Side Note: Fighting Russia with NATO is not nonsense. They (West) are forcing just such a diegesis to take place. They continuously non-stop escalate in an attempt to persuade Russia to attack any NATO facilities in order to mobilize their people for war and amass armies numbering in the millions by forcing conscription of the masses. NATO missiles authorized to strike within Russia were the most recent development. Ukrainian pilots operating F-16s from NATO bases then proceeded to attack Russian assets. Russia is forced to make more difficult decisions. Attack NATO facilities or continue to accept NATO acts of war.  kKEETON

The West feels that once a war (WW3) starts, they can erase all their sins!

At least the sins they will be tared and feathered over

***

This situation is no longer a issue that can be ignored and no longer an issue that the masses are able to push aside. For if we keep kicking the can down the road and look at life as a bed of roses? The scum in charge are going to kill us and try to sit upon their pile of gold as Scrooge McDuck does

The big issue is still, whom is driving these nasty humans, to turncoat upon the human race?

***

What drives a human(s) to self-destruct?

Very simple: Envy, Gluttony, Greed, Lust, Pride, Sloth, and (last but not least) Wrath. These are called the seven deadly sins and we have embraced these sins as normality. Thus, they have become a way of life to live, not a way of life to avoid

WtR
Fifty-three years after a private plane carrying five men disappeared on a snowy Vermont night, experts believe they have found the wreckage of the long lost jet in Lake Champlain.

The corporate jet disappeared shortly after departing the Burlington airport for Providence, Rhode Island, on Jan. 27, 1971. Those aboard included two crew members and three employees of a Georgia development company Cousins Properties, who were working on a development project in Burlington.

Initial searches for the 10-seat Jet Commander turned up no wreckage and the lake froze over four days after the plane was lost. At least 17 other searches happened, until underwater searcher Garry Kozak and a team using a remotely operated vehicle last month found wreckage of a jet with the same custom paint scheme in the lake close to where the radio control tower had last tracked the plane before it disappeared. Sonar images were taken of the wreck found in 200 feet (60 meters) of water near Juniper Island.

With all those pieces of evidence, we're 99% absolutely sure, Kozak said Monday.

The discovery of the wreckage gives the families of the victims some closure and answers a lot of the questions they had, he said.

While relatives are grateful and relieved that the plane has been found, the discovery also opens up more questions and old wounds.

To have this found now ... its peaceful feeling, at the same time its a very sad feeling, Barbara Nikitas, niece of pilot George Nikita, said in an interview with The Associated Press on Tuesday. We know what happened. Weve seen a couple of photos. Were struggling I think with that now.

Frank Wilder's father, also Frank Wilder, was a passenger on the plane.

Spending 53 years not knowing if the plane was in the lake or maybe on a mountainside around there somewhere was distressing," said Wilder, who lives outside of Philadelphia. "And again, I'm feeling relieved that I know where the plane is now but unfortunately it's opening other questions and we have to work on those now.

When the ice melted in the spring of 1971, debris from the plane was found on Shelburne Point, according to Kozak. An underwater search in May of 1971 was unable to find the wreckage. At least 17 other searches happened, including in 2014, according to Kozak. At that time, authorities were spurred by curiosity after the Malaysia Airlines plane disappearance that year with the hope that new technology would find the wreck but it did not.

Barbara Nikitas, who lives in southern California and her cousin Kristina Nikita Coffey, who lives in Tennessee and is the daughter of George Nikita, spearheaded recent search efforts and contacted other victims' relatives.

What was fascinating in reconnecting with the group was everybody had pieces of the pie and the puzzle that when we started sharing information and sharing documents what we got was a much greater both understanding and perspective of the information, how we were all impacted by this, said Charles Williams, whose father, Robert Ransom Williams III, an employee of Cousins Properties, was on the plane.

He called Kozak a hero for his dedication to finding the plane. After the 2014 search was unsuccessful, Kozak became intrigued and searched a sonar survey of the lake taken by the Lake Champlain Maritime Museum and Middlebury College. He found four anomalies on the lake floor. Then in 2022, a colleague, Hans Hug of Sonar Search and Recovery in Exeter, New Hampshire, and his friend who has an ROV, said they wanted to look for the plane, Kozak said. The team found a plane but it turned out to be a military aircraft. Last winter Kozak searched the sonar survey again and found another anomaly, which the team discovered last month was likely the plane wreckage.

The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating to verify if it is the plane, Williams said. The NTSB doesn't do salvage operations, which would be expensive, Williams said.

Whether there is tangible remains, and I hate to say it that way, and worth disturbing that's a decision that we'll have to figure out later, and part of what we're unpacking now, he said. It's hard when you start to think about that.

The relatives of the victims plan to hold a memorial now that they know where the plane is located.
A person was killed after they were sucked into a running airplane engine in front of horrified passengers.

It happened Wednesday at Holland's Schiphol airport.

KLM released a statement saying, "We are currently taking care of the passengers and employees who witnessed the incident at Schiphol."

The airline said KL1341 was leaving to head for Billund when the shocking incident took place.

An airport employee told the De Telegraaf newspaper that someone jumped or was sucked into the engine after the crew had just completed safety instructions.

The body caused a "hellish noise" and smoke.

"Terrible news about a fatal accident today at Schiphol," Infrastructure Minister Mark Harbers said on X. "Terrible news about a fatal accident today at Schiphol. My condolences go out to the relatives of the victim and the people who witnessed the accident."

The Royal Netherlands Military Police said that all passengers and employees were removed from the plane and an investigation was underway.

The victim has not yet been identified and it was unclear if it was an airport worker.
The Port of Nevada and the Port of Oakland are collaborating to offer direct railroad service for imports and exports.

The full-service rail facility at the Port of Nevada is connected to the Union Pacific's network.

The Intermodal service from the Port of Nevada in Fernley to the Port of Oakland has been fully operational for just over a month.

Members of the project say that direct rail service access is a big opportunity for Northern Nevada.

"It's a huge opportunity for Northern Nevada. People are concerned with the challenges of going over the pass and getting goods in or out, raw materials from the manufacturer or finished products out, so it gives the whole area another supply chain option," said Justin Lichter, Vice President of Industrial Realty Group.

One representative from the Port of Oakland says that this direct rail access will save time, money, and resources.

He says that cutting down the use of interstate I-80 will provide more confidence for customers.

"So they can load heavier cargo in the containers, so they can take trucks off the road in the state of California, and then also so they can have 365 days of uninterrupted service going over the pass, because the U.P. doesn't stop when the snow happens," said Bryan Brandes, Maritime director, Port of Oakland.

Using the direct rail access is also environmentally efficient.

Members of the project say that roughly one ton of rail cargo can be transported nearly 400 miles while using just one gallon of diesel fuel.

Along with this, shipping by rail increases the amount of cargo freight that can be sent each trip.

One man with the Reno-Sparks Chamber of Commerce says that this project will connect us to much more than just the Port of Oakland.

"Also being in a foreign trade zone, so not only will this connect us to the Port of Oakland, but it will also continue eastwards as well. So, I know that there is plans to build more ties here in the area which will just increase the amount of freight we can offload here," said Brian Bosma, Vice President of Programs and Partners for Reno-Sparks Chamber of Commerce.

Members of the project hope that this brings more businesses to the region, which could create more jobs for Northern Nevadans.
A woman is dead after a rollover crash on U.S. 6 between Tonopah and Ely last week.

Nevada State Police says troopers responded to the crash around 3:15 p.m. on Wednesday at mile marker 72 in Nye County.

NSP say the preliminary investigation shows a 2013 Jeep Wrangler heading west on U.S. 6 in the westbound lane, when it went off the right side of the road and hit a metal highway sign. Then, they say the driver, 69-year-old Jane Straight, steered left causing it go over both lanes and overturned south of the highway.

The South Carolina woman was flown to a nearby hospital where she died of her injuries.

The investigation is ongoing.

If you have any information, call the Elko Office at (775) 753- 1111 or e-mail ncemirt@dps.state.nv.us
After four decades on Sacramento Street, the home goods/gift store Sue Fisher King gets a new lease...and shes a beaut.

Plus, local artists Windy Chien and Erin Hupp have collaborated on a limited-edition collection of functional and fabulous hooks. Sausalito designer Alison Davin's new book Living Natural is both a mood board and how-to for creating chic, sustainable home spaces. And even though Anthropologie is no longer inSF, you can still get your hands on their accessories at the Kimpton Alton Hotel.

Sue Fisher King debuts Fillmore Street storefront after 40 years in Presidio Heights. (Courtesy of @suefisherking) Iconic luxury home goods store Sue Fisher King and its human namesake are celebrating the opening of their new Fillmore Street store. This is no small thing as SFK has resided at 3067 Sacramento Street for just shy of 45 years. It has served as the go-to spot for generations of shoppers hunting for beautiful place settings, linens, home accessories and special gifts from artisanal global brands. But feelings of nostalgia quickly turn into excitement upon entering the new magical space. It radiates warmth and sophistication. Its airy and chock-full of beautiful things. Its perfectly clear that the change of address is not going to change SFKs status as one of the citys most covetable places to shop.

// 1913 Fillmore St. (Pacific Heights), suefisherking.com

Get hooked on the new collab from local artists Windy Chien and Erin Hupp. (Courtesy of Windy Chien and Erin Hupp) Dont you just love when function and form merge? We do, and our latest obsession from ceramic artist Erin Hupp and knot artist Windy Chien takes the cake. Indeed, This is Knot a Hook (wink wink) is a sweet celebration of both of their mediums coming together as an entirely new thing. The limited-edition pieces feature Hupp's signature hand-turned oversized bracelets" formed into arches and attached to functional hooks, which are connected via colored cord starring Chien's amazing knot-work. The artists and friends first came together to collaborate on the Knot Arch hook designed for Blunk Space's 100 Hooks exhibit in Point Reyes last December. The duo took things a step further this month, with the launch of 10 unique pieces. The two-hook version retails for $2,000 and the three-hook version is $2,500. All are knotty and nice. Pst: See them up close when 7x7 Social Club opens on June 20th. // Shop online at erinhuppceramics.com

You can still get Anthropologie accessories in SFwhen you staycation at the Alton Hotel. (Courtesy of the Kimpton Alton Hotel) If you continue to bemoan the fact that you have to leave the city to shop at Anthropologie (the Market Street store shuttered a year ago), all hope is not lost. That is, if you staycation at Kimptons Alton Hotel in Fishermans Wharf. (Wed check in just to eat a couple of meals at its delish Filipino-Cali restaurant Abaca.) With Kimptons Forgot It? We Got It program, not only can you ask the front desk for a toothbrush or other toiletries that didnt make it into the suitcase, you can also borrow a pair of cool sunnies, a belt, or a handbag. The complimentary programavailable at select Kimpton propertiesrotates its selection of A-plus accessories regularly. Not the forgetful type? Go ahead and try a new piece just for fun. And if you happen to fall in love, you can buy it on the spot from the virtual storefront.

// Kimpton Alton Hotel, 2700 Jones St. (Fishermans Wharf), igh.com/kimptonhotels.com
Podcaster Alex Jones broke down in tears on his Infowars show this week, claiming the FBI was shutting him down.

"This is going to be Infowars' last show, because I learned yesterday that they were going to padlock the door and kick us out last night," Jones told listeners on Saturday.

Here's a look back at some of his most bizarre Infowar moments:

Addressing the Sandy Hook School shooting, Jones claimed that the 2012 attack, where 20 first graders and six educators were killed, was a hoax and that the families of the victims were actors.

Just hours after the shooting, he began labeling it a "false flag," a plot orchestrated by the government to justify confiscating Americans' guns.

In 2015, it was claimed that atrazine had caused a majority of frogs in the US to become homosexual.

He also alleged that the US government was conducting a "chemical warfare operation" to increase rates of homosexuality and decrease birth rates.

One of the most shocking Infowars moments was a 2022 interview with rapper Kanye West, in which West praised Hitler and Nazis alongside white nationalist Nick Fuentes.

"I like Hitler," West told Jones.

"I love Jewish people, but I also love Nazis," he added.

Kanye's comments prompted strong denunciations from across the political spectrum, including from some former supporters of the rapper, reported The Washington Post at the time.

The conversation with Jones focused on the November 23 dinner that Ye and Fuentes had with Trump, which took place one week after Trump had announced another run for president.

Jones relished the attention his guests were bringing to his show.

"I'm the crazy one here," Jones said.

"We're all crazy. The whole world is crazy. And the whole power structure is coming down."

"This is absolutely lit. This is lit, lit, lit, lit, lit. The number one show in the world right now."
You already know what not to do if you want to live a long, healthy life: eat plenty of junk food, over-imbibe alcohol, melt into your couch often and disregard good sleep and mental stimulation.

Most things that are bad for your health are bad for aging, since simply getting older is the number one predictor of noninfectious diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular ailments and Alzheimers, says Calen Ryan, an associate research scientist and data science lead at the Columbia Aging Center.

Members only

But Ryan and other experts say lesser-known factors may accelerate aging on a molecular level. Using epigenetic clocks, or internal markers of biological, not chronological, age from blood and other tests, theyre getting more insight into what might damage your cells  or protect them.

Although these controversial clocks are just tools that gauge pieces of a complicated aging puzzle  theyre hardly crystal balls revealing when exactly youll die  they can motivate you to reevaluate your habits, no matter how old you are.

Pretty much without exception, it is possible to improve your health and reduce your risk of dying or developing diseases at pretty much any age, says Matt Kaeberlein, a professor of pathology at the University of Washington, where he used to direct the Healthy Aging and Longevity Research Institute. In other words, its never too late to start.

Heres what emerging research suggests may be speeding up your biological clock and how, when possible, to slow it down.

1. Pregnancy  with caveats

An April 2024 study published in PNAS by Ryan and colleagues found 20- to 22-year-old women in the Philippines whod been pregnant looked biologically older than women whod never been pregnant. The more times a woman had been pregnant, the older she looked on the inside, too.

Using six epigenetic clocks, the researchers concluded that the results held even when taking into account socioeconomic, environmental and immunological factors. Dads in the same age range did not experience the same changes, the researchers found.

Pregnancy leads to some obvious physical changes, but I think where it gets surprising is that were showing you could also see some of these changes at the molecular level, Ryan says.

The study garnered a lot of media attention, but there are important caveats.
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."
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The U.S. has lifted its ban on providing American weapons and training to a Ukrainian military unit whose founders included neo-Nazis but which has since been absorbed into Ukraine's National Guard.



The controversial 12th Special Forces Azov Brigade said Tuesday that the move marked "a new page in the history of our unit" and predicted it would become "even more powerful, even more professional and even more dangerous for the occupiers."



"Receiving Western weapons and training from the US will not only increase the combat capability of 'Azov', but most importantly, will contribute to the preservation of the lives and health of the personnel of the brigade," the unit said in a message posted online.



The State Department said the Azov Brigade had passed vetting that prevents military assistance to foreign military units found to have committed major human rights violations, the Washington Post reported Monday night.

in 2016, Human Rights Watch said there were credible allegations of torture and other "egregious abuses" committed by the Azov Brigade but the State Department said in a statement it found "no violations."



A State Department spokesperson declined to say when the weapons and training ban was lifted or if Azov personnel had already received American weapons to help Ukraine battle the ongoing Russian invasion that began in February 2022, the Post said.



The Azov Brigade grew out of a volunteer group called the Azov Battalion, which was formed in 2014 to fight Russia-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine, according to the Associated Press.



On its website, the group said it's been "cleansing itself" of undesirable elements since its first commander left in October 2014, AP said.



Russia has seized on Azov Brigade's origins to portray it as a Nazi group and fuel President Vladimir Putin's claims that Russia invaded Ukraine to remove its "neo-Nazi regime," even though Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is Jewish and some of his relatives were killed in the Holocaust.



Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Moscow took an "extremely negative" view of Washington's decision regarding the Azov Brigade, AP said.



Peskov described Azov as an "ultranationalist armed formation" and accused U.S. officials of being "ready to flirt with neo-Nazis."
Missouri inmate David Hosier died by lethal injection Tuesday evening, accepting his fate despite several pleas from family members and lawmakers to halt the convicted killer's execution.

A day prior, Gov. Mike Parson declined to pardon Hosier, 69, for the 2009 double slayings of Angela Gilpin and her husband, Rodney Gilpin, in the hallway of their apartment building in Jefferson City, Missouri, shortly after Angela ended her affair with Hosier.

He is "accepting his fate, and his faith. I think he feels like he's stood up for himself and gained a lot of dignity in the process," Reverend Jeff Hood, Hosier's spiritual adviser, said Tuesday, according to the Associated Press.

He was sent to death row in 2013.

"I've been able to speak the truth of my innocence," Hosier said in a final statement shared with NBC News hours before his execution. "I've been able to set an example of resistance to lawyers who bully their clients. I've been able to reminisce with family and friends new and old. I've been able to learn to be the fullest version of me."

Hosier's attorneys argued their client's mental health issues triggered at the age of 16 by the murder of his police officer father, coupled with his service in the military and as a fireman, should make him void of the death penalty, and he should instead be sentenced to life in prison.

In a clemency video published Friday, Hosier's sisters spoke to the trauma their father's death had on him and said his murder, "was like a crater, and David fell into that crater."

Reps. Cori Bush and Emanuel Cleaver also sent a letter to Parson asking him to spare Hosier's life, but the governor rejected their request.

"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. "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."
Meta commissioned studies with leading firms Nielsen and Kantar show that return on investment from digital trumps other mediums for the FMCG sector.

Nielsen study: RoI which is the incremental revenue generated per Rupee invested is 1.42 for digital mediums vis-a-vis 0.95 non-digital mediums. Within this, the RoI from Meta is 1.76 for every rupee invested.

Kantar study: Meta has been instrumental in driving brand imagery where around 20% of all media led brand growth comes from Meta.

Both Meta studies quote investment by FMCG/CPG brands on Meta poses stronger returns indexed to traditional channels across categories like food, household care, personal care, baby care, laundry, and health & hygiene.

On the sidelines of Meta Marketing Summit - FMCG edition, held in Mumbai, Meta announced findings from these studies with leading market research firms Nielsen and Kantar that show the growing relevance of digital for the countrys FMCG sector. Among the key findings, the studies call out digital platforms, especially Meta, a crucial pillar in driving brand imagery, equity, and higher return on investment across categories.

Arun Srinivas, Director and Head (India), Ads Business, Meta, commented, The FMCG industry is a leading contributor to the countrys overall ad-ex, and a marked shift in its media consumption patterns is going to be significant for the countrys creative ecosystem and the digital economy. The studies with Neilsen and Kantar clearly demonstrate the transformative power of digital channels for the FMCG sector. Catering to such an important industry, we are excited to see Meta platforms not only enhancing brand imagery and mindshare but also delivering exceptional returns on media investments.

The Nielsen study noted that the return on investment (RoI), which is the incremental revenue generated per Rupee invested is 1.42 for digital mediums vis-a-vis 0.95 non-digital mediums. Within this, the RoI from Meta is 1.76 for every rupee invested.

On the other hand, the Kantar study reveals that the digital platforms, especially Meta, contribute significantly in building a brand. Meta has been instrumental in driving brand imagery where around 20% of all media led brand growth comes from Meta. Furthermore, digital media channels led by Meta provide the highest ROI for building mind measures, according to the study.

Both the studies highlight that the investment by FMCG/CPG brands on Meta poses stronger returns indexed to traditional channels across categories including food, household care, personal care, baby care, laundry, and health & hygiene.

The summit was attended by prominent industry leaders and brands from the FMCG industry that shed light on the evolving consumer landscape and its effects on changing brand strategies, the use of Reels, AI and Business Messaging as new frontiers of marketing, and brands leveraging Meta platforms for enhancing their reach and growth.

In todays fragmented ecosystem, quantifying the effectiveness of media strategies has become a daunting challenge. Cross platform nuances require a laser focused approach to uncover what truly drives performance. Nielsen Marketing Mix Modeling (MMM) enables marketers to assess the impact of their investments, understand what is working, and unlocks several opportunities to increase ROI and drive profit, bringing accuracy and simplicity to an increasingly complex advertising environment in India, said Abhinav Maheshwari, VP - APAC Nielsen, Marketing Effectiveness.

Meta commissioned Nielsen to conduct an FMCG Meta-Analysis for India, an extensive study covering MMMs for FMCG categories including food, beverage, personal care, home care, health & hygiene, and others. Nielsen leveraged the Nielsen Compass repository of Marketing ROI norms, and looked at performance of all channels including TV, Other Traditional (Radio, Print and OOH), META, Online Video, and Other Digital (Display and Search). The learnings cover the role of media channels in driving sales, how ROIs compare across media channels, and how ROIs compare across categories. FMCG advertisers can greatly benefit from the Meta-Analysis insights to drive better marketing decisions, added Nielsen.

Meta also released the findings from cross media studies by Kantar. Cross Media is a Kantar preferred and industry accepted solution to evaluate the brand impact for a multi-media campaign. Kantar built the most robust Meta-analysis of Cross Media studies in India covering more than 140 campaigns across industries from 2012-2023.
The multifaceted influence Google exerts on the information superhighway in phenomenal. Synonymous with search itself, Google has become the gateway to the worlds information, influencing what we see, read, and believe. But as its reach extends ever further, a pressing question emerges: does Google wield too much power over the internets content ecosystem?

From its search algorithms that determine the visibility of web content to its advertising empire that fuels vast swathes of the online world, Googles dominance is both profound and pervasive. But what are the implications of this hegemony? As anti-trust suits in the United States challenge the tech giants grip, we examine whether Googles control stifles diversity and quality of information, and what that means for the future of an open and fair internet.

While Google has wielded immense power over the internet for years, theyve been doing a lot of things right to enjoy being the key internet company of our times: search, chrome, android, maps, Gmail, workspace, etc., to name a few, points out Siddharth Devnani, Co-Founder & Director, SoCheers.

They are likely to face disruption in the coming years due to advancements in AI. Several peers like Anthropic, OpenAI, Microsoft and Meta are making significant leaps in AI. A fraction of internet users are using these today, but mass adoption seems inevitable. As the next generation of internet users becomes more accustomed to interacting with AI-powered chatbots, search engines might see a decline in usage. This could lead to a more level playing field for content creators and potentially improve the quality and diversity of information available online. Personally, I feel the quality of information

wont see a hit  its only going to get better. The tech always improves, Im not expecting it to be any different here, says Devnani.

Google undoubtedly holds immense influence in deciding what internet content gets discovered and surfaced to billions of users globally, says Russhabh R Thakkar, Founder and CEO, Frodoh World. This dominance brings a great responsibility to nurturing an open, unbiased web ecosystem allowing diverse perspectives to thrive. If their AI transition is perceived as favouring established, large players and sidelining independent voices, it could amplify calls for anti-trust scrutiny and remedies similar to whats occurring in the US.

Google wields substantial power over the internets content ecosystem due to its dominance in the search market, controlling over 90% globally, points out Ranjit Thind, Director of Media and Tech, Asymmetrique. This dominance, Thind adds, means that any changes Google makes to its algorithms or policies can significantly impact how information is discovered and consumed online.

He further says, The criteria set by Google for ranking content influence how publishers create and optimize their content, potentially leading to a homogenization of content strategies and stifling diversity and innovation. Additionally, through platforms like Google AdSense and Google Ads, Google holds considerable sway over online advertising, affecting the revenue streams of countless websites and further entrenching its power.

According to him, Googles influence on the diversity and quality of information online has both positive and negative aspects. On the positive side, Googles emphasis on high-quality, authoritative content can improve the overall standard of information available, and its advancements in AI and search technology can enhance user experience. However, Thind adds, Googles algorithms can inadvertently favour certain types of content or sources, sidelining smaller or independent voices and reducing the diversity of perspectives. The economic pressures on small publishers to conform to Google's standards can strain their resources, leading to a less diverse content ecosystem where only larger, well-funded entities thrive. This can result in a homogenization of content as publishers strive to meet Googles guidelines, potentially sacrificing creativity and unique viewpoints.

Thind reckons that regulatory scrutiny, particularly anti-trust suits in the US and other regions, aims to address the concentration of power held by tech giants like Google. Increased regulation could promote fair competition by ensuring more transparency in how algorithms operate and mandating support for smaller publishers. These actions might spur greater competition in the search market, leading to a more diverse and competitive ecosystem. However, he adds, regulating a complex, dynamic system like Googles search algorithms is challenging and could have unintended consequences, such as reducing the efficiency of search results or placing onerous burdens on all publishers. While Googles dominance brings both benefits and challenges, the effectiveness of regulatory measures will depend on thoughtful implementation that balances technological innovation with fair competition and diversity of information.

The concern of small publishers is an issue. For example, Semrush data indicates a significant increase in traffic to user-generated content sites like Reddit. The question is the sustainability of this trend.

According to Lily Ray, Vice President, SEO Strategy & Research, Amsive, Google received significant feedback for years that users like forum content, and often append Reddit to their search queries to retrieve more authentic, human content. Google also has a new partnership with Reddit, which displays their information in new ways, which could explain the rise of SERP features like Discussions and Forums. Reddit is not the only winner of these changes; other forum sites like Quora are benefitting too. I believe they will have to turn the dial back eventually, because not every user wants to see Reddit ranking so prominently across so many categories of keywords, she explains.

Many search engines have come before and after Google, but none have been able to provide a better experience to the users as Google has, says Darshil Shah, Director, ChtrSocial. Thats the reason why they dominate the search engine space. Im sure even with the implementation of AI Overview, as long as they keep the end-user experience as the top priority, they will come up on top, Shah says.

Long-term impacts

What long-term impacts can we foresee from Googles transition to a search and answer engine driven by AI?

Long-term, an AI-powered search engine comprehending queries like human dialog could engender transformative changes in how online information is accessed, says Russhabh R Thakkar. We may transition from hunting for webpages to engaging in natural conversational interactions yielding contextualized paths blending direct answers, insights and trusted source trails customized to each users unique needs. However, such powerful AI models raise concerns around transparency, accountability and avoidance of societal biases or privilege of convenient answers over factual accuracy.

Searching on Google is second nature to digital natives, but this will change in the near future, says Sidharth Devnani. According to him, the future of search is conversational. Googles search engine is about to undergo a major transformation, shifting from a keyword-based model to an AI-driven, question-and-answer model. This will fundamentally change how users interact with the internet. Instead of sifting through pages of search results, users will ask questions in natural language and receive direct answers or have tasks completed by the AI.

According to Ranjit Thind, the long-term impacts of Googles transition to an AI-driven search and answer engine are:

Enhanced User Experience

Personalization and Relevance: AI-driven search engines will provide more personalized and contextually relevant answers, improving the user experience. By understanding user intent more accurately, these systems will deliver precise information quickly, reducing the time users spend searching for answers.

Conversational Search: The integration of AI will make search interactions more conversational and natural, akin to interacting with a human assistant. This shift will make it easier for users to ask complex questions and receive detailed, nuanced answers.

Evolution of SEO Strategies

Focus on User Intent: SEO will increasingly focus on understanding and addressing user intent. Keywords will be less central, with emphasis shifting towards creating content that directly answers user queries and provides comprehensive, valuable information.

Content Quality and Structure: High-quality content that is well-structured and easy to understand will become even more critical. AI-driven search engines will prioritize content that is authoritative, clear, and user-friendly.

Rich Snippets and Featured Answers: There will be greater importance placed on optimizing content for rich snippets and featured answers, as these will be prominently displayed by AI-driven search results.

Impact on Online Publishers

Content Creation: Publishers will need to adapt by producing more in-depth and authoritative content. There will be a greater need for specialized, expert-driven articles that provide significant value to users.

Diversification: To remain competitive, publishers may need to diversify their content formats, incorporating multimedia elements like videos, infographics, and interactive content that can be favored by AI algorithms.

Smaller Publishers: Smaller publishers might face challenges in keeping up with the rapid pace of AI-driven changes. However, those who can produce niche, high-quality content may still find opportunities to thrive if they effectively address specific user needs.

Changes in Information Discovery and Consumption

Shift from Search to Direct Answers: Users may rely more on direct answers provided by the AI rather than clicking through to websites. This could reduce overall web traffic but will place higher importance on the visibility and credibility of content that AI systems reference.

Trust and Credibility: The need for content to be seen as credible and trustworthy will grow. Sources that consistently provide accurate, well-researched information will be favoured by AI systems, influencing which websites users trust and visit.

Market Dynamics and Competition

Increased Competition: Google's transition to an AI-driven engine could prompt other search engines to innovate and compete more aggressively, potentially leading to a more dynamic and diverse search market.

New Entrants: AI-driven search technologies may enable new entrants to offer differentiated search experiences, potentially disrupting Google's dominance in some areas.

Ethical and Privacy Considerations

Data Privacy: As AI systems rely heavily on user data to deliver personalized experiences, concerns about data privacy and security will become more pronounced. There will be increased scrutiny on how user data is collected, stored, and utilized.

Algorithmic Transparency: There will be calls for greater transparency in how AI algorithms operate, including how they prioritize and rank content. Ensuring these systems are fair and unbiased will be a key challenge.

Technological Advancements

Continual Innovation: The transition to AI-driven search will spur ongoing technological advancements, leading to the development of more sophisticated natural language processing (NLP) and machine learning models.

Integration with Other Technologies: AI-driven search capabilities will likely integrate with other emerging technologies, such as augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR), creating new ways for users to interact with and consume information.

In conclusion, Thind feels that Googles transition to an AI-driven search and answer engine will significantly reshape the digital landscape, offering enhanced user experiences and driving the evolution of SEO strategies. While online publishers will face new challenges, opportunities for innovation and diversification will also arise. As AI becomes more central to search, issues of privacy, transparency, and ethical use will need careful management to ensure a fair and beneficial ecosystem for all stakeholders.

(Part four of this report will explore regulatory or market-based solutions that could address the concerns of independent publishers and promote a healthier web ecosystem.)
Authored by Anindita Gupta, Scenic Communication

Public Relations plays an important role in positioning your brand as a leader in the industry. In todays digital world, it has become easy for businesses to connect with people which also help them to promote and grow their brands as one of the industry leaders in a particular sector and reach their target audience easily. In the past, traditional PR strategies such as press releases, thought leadership content have been used which have now been transformed into digital methods. Businesses can manage their online presence and can reach their potential consumers by using various digital PR techniques including content marketing, social media, search engine optimization, partnerships with influencers etc. which can help them to upgrade their brands engagement. Organizations can create impact and differentiate their brands from competitors by using advanced online public relations strategies proficiently.

Benefits of Using Digital PR Matrix

Businesses can work strategically in their overall marketing strategy to improve their reputation in the digital sphere. This increased visibility eventually helps businesses to maintain a positive image in the industry. It also improves brand perception and enhances credibility among the customers which lead them to achieve their communication goals.

Amplifying Brand Visibility Through Effective Content Writing

Businesses need to create such content that can resonate with their target audience. Effective writing is essential for crafting clear, concise messages whether through marketing materials, press releases, thought leadership content or social media content to educate, attract, and engage with the target audience. Businesses can improve their online presence and improve their SEO algorithms by consistently making and uploading appropriate and relevant articles, blogs, and videos.

Importance of Social Media:

Platforms like Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and WhatsApp are the right channels to reach your target audience. Businesses can interact and establish a genuine relationship with their audience by using various social media platforms. Social media is a huge place that can help you to increase your brand awareness and reach a broader audience rapidly.

Enhancing Brands Visibility Through Search Engine Optimization (SEO)

SEO helps websites to be on top in search results which helps businesses more likely to be discovered by potential customers easily. They use relevant words to improve search rankings and create backlinks to increase visibility. Businesses need to strategically put SEO and PR together to promote their brand more proficiently for getting better results.

Maximising visibility by Partnering with Influencers

Using social media influencers can help businesses to increase SEO. Partnering with influencers who have the same brand values and who create appropriate and genuine collaborations are essential for a brand to enhance their brands reputations and build trust among consumers.

Conclusion

In conclusion, businesses can reach the right audiences and the target market using digital PR effectively. It is important for businesses to share the right messages to the right people at the right time as the process can help them to establish genuine relationships with the target audience and helps them to improve the quality and quantity of leads generation for the business. So, businesses should incorporate digital PR matrix into their marketing strategies to improve the brand's online presence in the market.

DISCLAIMER: The views expressed are solely of the author and Adgully.com does not necessarily subscribe to it.
Discontent over alleged irregularities in the NEET exam results has reached a boiling point. Students across the country are protesting, demanding a complete cancellation of the exam and a thorough investigation into the reported discrepancies. However, the NEET controversy has taken a sharp turn with a viral advertisement igniting further outrage among students.

Capitalizing on controversy

A newspaper advertisement for the Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) has gone viral on social media platform X. The ad's message, seen as insensitive by many, reads: "Disappointed with NEET results? Think beyond NEET, IIT-JEE. Think CLAT! 5-year law from NLU's." The caption accompanying the shared ad mocks the marketing strategy, stating, "bruh? marketing koi CLAT walo sey seekhein" (translation: "one should learn marketing from CLAT guys"). With over a lakh views and thousands of likes, the ad has sparked a heated debate online.

Anger mounts over score discrepancies

The controversy began on June 4th when the National Testing Agency (NTA) released the NEET results. Following the announcement, numerous students reported discrepancies in their scores. This has led to widespread calls for cancelling the NEET UG 2024 exam. Many medical aspirants have expressed dissatisfaction with their results and demanded an investigation into the alleged irregularities.

The demand for a probe into the NEET results is gaining momentum. Students believe that only a thorough investigation can address their concerns and restore faith in the examination process. However, the authorities have yet to respond to the students' demands, leaving them anxious and frustrated. The viral ad, while highlighting alternative paths, serves as a stark reminder of the uncertain future many medical aspirants now face. For some, this could mean giving up on their lifelong dream of becoming a doctor. The students await a response from the authorities, hoping for a resolution to this controversy.
Armasuisse

Bern, 12.06.2024 - Chief of Armament Urs Loher will travel to Norway for a bilateral meeting with his Norwegian counterpart Rolf Kjos. Within this meeting, the discussions will focus on current issues and procurement projects such as the medium-range ground-based air defence programme.

The bilateral armament meeting with Norway will take place in Oslo and Kongsberg on 12 June 2024. At this event, Chief of Armament Urs Loher will visit his Norwegian counterpart Rolf Kjos.

The programme will include a wide range of expert discussions on armament policy and ongoing procurement projects, as well as a tour of the Kongsberg production facilities. The company is one of the three manufacturers that submitted a quote to the Federal Office for Defence Procurement armasuisse at the end of April 2024 for new medium-range ground-based air defence systems (MR GBAD).

Address for enquiries

Jacqueline Stampfli

Deputy Head of Communications armasuisse

+41 58 464 60 42

Publisher

Armasuisse

http://www.ar.admin.ch/



General Secretariat DDPS

https://www.vbs.admin.ch/



Defence

http://www.vtg.admin.ch




Congress Slams BJP Over Kashmir Terror Attacks, Questions National Security Claims 2

The Congress criticized the BJPs hollow assertions of restored peace in Jammu and Kashmir following three terror attacks within three days. Rahul Gandhi demanded accountability from the ruling party, questioning why conspirators remain elusive. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Modi is being accused of ignoring national issues amidst his engagement with congratulatory messages.

Pawan Khera, heading Congress media and publicity department, pointed out that PM Modi has responded to Pakistani leaders yet has stayed silent on the terror strikes. Khera highlighted an increase in terror activities in Rajouri and Poonch, attributing this to the BJPs failed Naya Kashmir policy.

Khera also referenced the loss and trauma caused by the recent attacks, alleging the Modi government has compromised national security over the past decade with a disregard thats resulted in numerous casualties. The Congress underscores the rising security threats and persistent terror incidents as major failures of BJPs administration.
Oprah Winfrey is recovering after a stomach illness landed her in the emergency room.

Winfrey missed an interview with CBS Mornings because of gastroenteritis.

Ms. Winfrey is recovering following a stomach virus and received an IV due to dehydration at the recommendation of her doctor, a representative told USA TODAY in an emailed statement Tuesday. She is resting and feeling better every day.

According to Cleveland Clinic, the digestive infection, caused by inflammation of the stomach and intestine, is characterized by symptoms including nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain and diarrhea.

Winfreys longtime friend and CBS Mornings co-host Gayle King opened up about the talk show icons very serious illness during her interview with Wroblewski.

She had some kind of stomach thing  stomach flu  stuff was coming out of both ends, King said. I wont get too graphic. But needless to say, she ended up in the hospital (with) dehydration (and) had to get an IV.

King added: She will be OK. I hope shes not mad at me for sharing that detail.

Mark Heim is a reporter for The Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @Mark_Heim. He can be heard on The Opening Kickoff on WNSP-FM 105.5 FM in Mobile or on the free Sound of Mobile App from 6 to 9 a.m. daily.
A parole hearing was held Monday for Indigenous activist Leonard Peltier, who has spent most of his life in prison since his conviction in the 1975 killings of two FBI agents in South Dakota.

At 79, Peltiers health is failing, and if this parole request is denied, it might be a decade or more before it is considered again, said his attorney Kevin Sharp, a former federal judge. Sharp and other supporters have long argued that Peltier was wrongly convicted and say now that this effort may be his last chance at freedom.

Its been about 15 years since Peltiers last parole hearing. A decision on Mondays hearing is expected within 21 days.

This whole entire hearing is a battle for his life, said Nick Tilsen, president and CEO of the NDN Collective, an Indigenous-led advocacy group. Its time for him to come home.

The FBI and its current and former agents dispute the claims of innocence. The fight for Peltiers freedom, which is embroiled in the Indigenous rights movements, remains so robust nearly half a century later that Free Peltier T-shirts and caps are still hawked online.

It may be kind of cultish to take his side as some kind of a hero. But hes certainly not that; hes a cold blooded murderer, said Mike Clark, president of the Society of Former Special Agents of the FBI, which wrote a letter arguing that Peltier should remain incarcerated.

Here are some things to know about the case.

What happened in the 70s?

An enrolled member of the Turtle Mountain Chippewa tribe, Peltier was active in the American Indian Movement, which began in the 1960s as a local organization in Minneapolis that grappled with issues of police brutality and discrimination against Native Americans. It quickly became a national force.

AIM grabbed headlines in 1973 when it took over the village of Wounded Knee on the Pine Ridge reservation, leading to a 71-day standoff with federal agents. Tensions between AIM and the government remained high for years.

The FBI considered AIM an extremist organization and planted spies and snitches in the group. Sharp blamed the government for creating what he described as a powder keg that exploded on June 26, 1975.

Thats the day agents came to Pine Ridge to serve arrest warrants amid ongoing battles over Native treaty rights and self-determination.

After being injured in a shootout, agents Jack Coler and Ronald Williams were shot in the head at close range, according to a letter from FBI Director Christopher Wray. Also killed in the shootout was AIM member Joseph Stuntz. The Justice Department concluded that a law enforcement sniper killed Stuntz.

Two other AIM members, Robert Robideau and Dino Butler, were acquitted of killing Coler and Williams.

After fleeing to Canada and being extradited to the United States, Peltier was convicted of two counts of first-degree murder and sentenced in 1977 to life in prison, despite defense claims that evidence against him had been falsified.

Youve got a conviction that was riddled with misconduct by the prosecutors, the U.S. Attorneys office, by the FBI who investigated this case and, frankly the jury, Sharp said. If they tried this today, he does not get convicted.

FILE - An unidentified FBI agent, one of the nearly 500 current and retired FBI agents protesting clemency for Leonard Peltier, marches toward the White House, Friday, Dec. 15, 2000, holding an image of two FBI agents, Ron Williams and Jack Coler, who were killed on the Pine Ridge Indian reservation in South Dakota in 1975. Peltier, who has spent most of his life in prison for the killings, has a parole hearing Monday, June 10, 2024, at a federal prison in Florida. (AP Photo/Hillery Smith Garrison, File)AP

How has the FBI responded?

Wray said in a statement that the agency was resolute in its opposition to Peltiers latest application for parole.

We must never forget or put aside that Peltier intentionally murdered these two young men and has never expressed remorse for his ruthless actions, he wrote, adding that the case has been repeatedly upheld on appeal.

The FBI Agents Association, a professional group that represents mostly active agents, sent a letter to the parole commission opposing parole. The group said any early release of Peltier would be a cruel act of betrayal.

What is the legacy of the American Indian Movement?Tilsen, a citizen of the Oglala Lakota Nation, credits AIM and others for most of the rights Native Americans have today, including religious freedom, the ability to operate casinos and tribal colleges, and enter into contracts with the federal government to oversee schools and other services.

Leonard has been a part of creating that, but he hasnt been available to be a beneficiary because he has been incarcerated for almost 50 years, Tilsen said. So he hasnt been able to enjoy the result of those wins and see how they have changed and transformed Indian country.

Whats next?

Mondays hearing was held at a high-security lockup in Florida that is part of the Federal Correctional Complex Coleman. The hearing was not open to the public and details about what happened were not immediately available.

Sharp, Peltiers attorney, said beforehand that witnesses for and against parole were expected to testify. Family members of the two FBI agents who were killed will be there. For decades, the agents loved ones have opposed clemency for Peltier.

In a 2022 letter to Wray, Colers son Paul Coler, who was less than 2 years old when his father died, said he was left to witness the continuous struggle and suffering my Mother had to endure after losing her husband. She was alone, dealing with the biggest tragedy of her life, all while trying to navigate her two young sons through life.

The decision on whether to grant parole is required within 21 days, Sharp said. If parole is granted, theres a process for release which shouldnt take long. If denied, Peltier can look at his options for filing an appeal to a federal district court, Sharp said.

Parole was rejected at Peltiers last hearing in 2009, and then-President Barack Obama denied a clemency request in 2017. Another clemency request is pending before President Joe Biden.

 By HEATHER HOLLINGSWORTH and JACK DURA Associated Press
A $25,000 reward is now being offered for information in last weeks triple homicide at a Hispanic grocery store in Montgomery.

Police and fire medics responded to the Tienda Los Hermanos grocery store in the 4100 block of Troy Highway around 8:55 p.m. Tuesday, June 4, on a call of people shot.

Officers found three victims -- George Elijah Jr., 50; Daniel Lopez, 20; and Romero Lopez 43 -- shot at the store. The Lopezes were father and son.

Elijah and Daniel Lopez were pronounced dead at the scene.

Romero Lopez was taken to a local hospital, where he died of his injuries.

No arrests have been made.

Mayor Steven Reed and Acting Police Chief John Hall held a press conference the following day addressing the horrific crime.

Last night was a terrible situation. It was tragic, it was something that cannot be excused, nor should it be, Reed said. People working their jobs in their community  should not be preyed upon, should not be targeted. And thats what we had last night.

Reed said robbers believe Hispanic-owned businesses like Tienda Los Hermanos, the one robbed on that Tuesday night, make good targets because of the likelihood they carry a larger amount of cash than other stores, along with the belief that they are less likely to cooperate with authorities.

There are people who believe that those who may not speak English as a first language are easy targets, and thats the most sickening part of this, he said.

Police are working on identifying suspects in the robbery and others targeting the Hispanic community, Hall said last week.

The FBI has also been contacted, Hall said, and federal charges will be pursued because commerce was interfered with, and federal charges carry more severe penalties.

The FBI has also been contacted, Hall said, and federal charges will be pursued because commerce was interfered with, and federal charges carry more severe penalties.

Montgomery City Council members Oronde Mitchell, Charles Jinright, Glenn Pruitt, Andrew J. Szymanski, and Julie Beard are contributing $5,000.00 each to the reward for information that leads to the identification and arrest of the shooter.

Mitchell, whose district includes Troy Highway, said he is working to build trust and will do all he can to show support for Latino/Hispanic communities in Montgomery.

The show of support for our local Latino/Hispanic community has been heartwarming and we have seen firsthand how well it has been received, said David Hicks, director of operations for Central Alabama Crime Stoppers.

Anyone with information is asked to call police or Crime Stoppers at 334-215-STOP (7867), 1-833-AL1-STOP (251-7867) or via the agencys P3-tips app.
A Virginia school board that voted last month to restore the names of Confederate generals to a pair of local public schools was sued Tuesday for allegedly violating the civil rights of Black students.

The NAACP and the parents of five students accused the Shenandoah County school board of sending a "discriminatory and harmful message of Black inferiority and subjugation" by changing the names of Mountain View High School and Honey Run Elementary School in Quicksburg.

"There's a cold wind blowing in America and it has especially chilled Shenandoah County," the Rev. Cozy Bailey, the Virginia NAACP president, said at a news conference announcing the lawsuit, National Public Radio reported.

The school board didn't immediately respond to a request for comment, NPR said.

The 62-page federal lawsuit seeks a court order requiring the board to "remove the Confederate names and mascots, and to prevent any future naming involving Confederate leaders or references to the Confederacy."

Mountain View was formerly named Stonewall Jackson High School and Honey Run was formerly named Ashby Lee Elementary School after Robert E. Lee and Turner Ashby.

Those names were "retired" in July 2020 following global protests over the police murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis and a request by then-Virginia Secretary of Education Atif Qarni for local officials to change any school names that memorialized Confederate leaders or sympathizers, according to Tuesday's lawsuit.

But on May 9, the Shenandoah County school board voted 5-1 to restore the previous names, which dated to 1959.

During a heated meeting before the vote, supporters of the move argued that removing the Confederate names was an effort to rewrite history that went against the wishes of the community, while opponents said restoring them would brand the county as backward and racist, according to NPR.
Two Alabama couples whose embryos were destroyed at a Mobile hospital are asking a judge to rule a state law shielding in vitro fertilization clinics from lawsuits as unconstitutional.

The law was enacted by the state Legislature last year amid backlash against the controversial Alabama Supreme Court ruling finding embryos have the same legal protections as children under the states Wrongful Death of a Minor Act.

These statutes constitute unlawful attempts at abrogating rights and remedies which were excepted out of governmental power when the People of Alabama voted in November 2018 to amend our Constitutions Declaration of Rights with constitutional guarantees protecting unborn children, argued James and Emily LePage and William and Caroline Fonde in the 166-page brief filed Monday in Mobile County Circuit Court.

Lawyers for the couples contend the laws are violative of Plaintiffs fundamental rights, including the right to life, the right to raise and rear children [and] the right to equal protection of Alabama law.

The attorneys also claim the legislation violated several provisions of the the Alabama Constitution, including the write to remedy and the right to protect the couples claims from retroactive legislation.

Simply stated: the legislature cannot deprive unborn extrauterine children  or their parents  of all the protections of Alabama law, including the remedies afforded by the Wrongful Death of a Minor Act, the couples stated in the brief.

The Center for Reproductive Medicine and Mobile Infirmary Medical Center were sued for wrongful death, negligence and breach of contract by the LePages, Fondes and Scott Aysenne and Felicia Burdic-Aysenne in separate lawsuits in 2021.

The couples embryos were destroyed by a wandering hospital patient who dropped the frozen specimens.

Mobile County Circuit Court Judge Jill Parrish Phillips is being asked by the LePages and Fondes to rule the IVF law is unconstitutional.

She is the same judge that sided against the couples in ruling that frozen embryos are not children, throwing out the wrongful death claim.

It is clear to this court, based on Alabamas statutes and case law, that a strong belief in the sanctity of life has not prevented the Alabama Supreme Court from recognizing and upholding our legislatures clear pattern of using the term  in utero [emphasis original] when defining the unborn or minor child, including in the context of a wrongful death case, Phillips wrote in her ruling.

Her decision was reversed in the controversial Alabama Supreme Court ruling.

The high courts decision drew national headlines and created backlash that included IVF clinics pausing their operations amid fears of being prosecuted.

Meanwhile, the Alabama Legislature passed legislation protecting IVF clinics from legal action.
This is an opinion column.

Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall has some thoughts on voter fraud and election integrity, and, under the right circumstances, hell share them.

When Joe Biden won the 2020 presidential election, Marshall sued to overturn the results.

Later, he appeared before Congress to testify as an expert witness. But when asked repeatedly whether President Joe Biden had been duly elected, Marshall refused to answer.

Circumstances matter a lot to Marshalls willingness to talk about voter issues.

Take, for instance, the case of John Wahl, chairman of the Alabama Republican Party. After the Alabama secretary of state forwarded Marshall complaints about Wahl not using proper voter ID 

Silence.

Documents obtained by AL.com through a public information request show that, not one but two Alabama secretaries of state, both Republicans, referred voter fraud allegations regarding Wahl to prosecutors.

Nothing seems to have come of either.

One of those two secretaries of state was John Merrill. He sent a complaint to Brian Jones, the Republican district attorney in Limestone County, where Wahl lives and votes. I called Jones this week to ask what happened to the complaint. He said he passed it up the chain to Marshall.

And according to records recently obtained for this column, that wasnt the only complaint sent to prosecutors. State records show that in February 2023, newly elected Secretary of State Wes Allen also forwarded a complaint about Wahl to prosecutors.

The newly obtained records show Allen sent that one directly to Marshall.

So far Marshall has said and done nothing about either. He wont even return a call about why the head of the GOP seems free to flout the states voter ID laws.

Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall speaks during a luncheon hosted by the Eastern Shore Republican Women on Thursday, Sept. 14, 2023, at the Fairhope Yacht Club in Fairhope, Ala. In the background is John Wahl, chairman of the Alabama State GOP. (John Sharp/jsharp@al.com).

Heres the backstory.

Wahls family had been known in Limestone County for their special approach to the states voter ID laws. According to court records, Wahls immediate relatives object to what they call biometric identification, including photo ID, which they believe to be the Mark of the Beast foretold in Revelation.

Alabamas voter ID law does not give exemptions for religious objections.

In 2016, Wahls brother Joshua testified in a deposition for the NAACP, which had challenged the law in federal court. That lawsuit ultimately failed.

Despite the defeat, John Wahl  who had become chairman of the Alabama Republican Party  celebrated the states court victory on Twitter in 2021 as a win for fair elections.

Marshall lauded the court victory, too.

Opponents have repeatedly argued that Alabamas voter ID laws requirement that a voter must provide a photo ID is overly burdensome, Marshall said in a press release in 2020. As I have previously stated, Alabamas voter identification law, by both design and practice, is easily satisfied, and it contains procedures to allow anyone who does not have a photo ID to obtain one.

However, according to poll workers, when Wahl showed up to vote in 2022, instead of using a drivers license to vote, he presented poll workers with what appeared to be a state employee badge.

Only, Wahl wasnt a state employee. And the badge wasnt a state employee ID, like those used by state employees. Wahl had made it himself, with permission, he said, from then-state Auditor Jim Ziegler.

When I asked then-Alabama Secretary of State John Merrill whether the badge was an acceptable form of voter ID, Merrill said no.

It does not meet the standard of any voter ID requirements listed under 17-9-30, Merrill said in 2022, two months before his office forwarded the first complaint to prosecutors.

When I interviewed him then, Wahl agreed the legality of his ID was an issue.

Thats a legitimate question, Wahl said then.

And it was a question others had, as well.

When one of those poll workers questioned Wahls ID, Wahl asked the Limestone County Probate judge to have that poll worker removed. The poll worker, Clyde Martin, was later told his services were no longer needed.

After I reported about this in 2022, someone filed a complaint with the Alabama Secretary of State.

In December 2022, Merrills chief of staff, Clay Helms, forwarded a complaint their office received to Limestone County District Attorney Brian C. T. Jones.

I called Jones to ask what happened to the complaint.

Jones told me that hes friends with Wahl and his brother Noah, who is chairman of the Limestone County Republican Party to which Jones belongs, so he turned it over to the Alabama Attorney Generals office to deal with, just as he had done with the case involving Limestone County Sheriff Mike Blakely.

From Blakely on out, weve got a lot of stuff that has gone to Montgomery, Jones said. Ive reached that point in my career I said, OK, send it to Montgomery. Thats why they make the big money.

Marshalls office prosecuted Blakely, a Democrat, in 2021 and returned a conviction, after the Alabama Ethics Commission referred him on ethics law violations. Marshalls office did not bring a case against Wahl.

But the first complaint against Wahl was not the last. In January 2023, newly elected Secretary of State Wes Allen took office. He also forwarded another complaint to prosecutors, this time to Marshall directly.

Wahl did not respond to requests for comment. Far suffering consequences, after Wahl got busted voting with an ID he made himself, he was elected to be vice-chair of the Republican National Committee, representing the southeast.

Allens reply to my public information request omitted the complaints themselves and his office redacted the names of those making them, so theres no way to tell if their complaints received any kind of response.

Instead, I reached out again last week to ask the poll workers who dealt with Wahl. If there had been any sort of investigation, theyd be the logical first witnesses to interview. I asked them whether anyone from the state ever contacted them to verify what they told me in 2022.

Nope.

So, I reached out to the AGs office directly.

We make sure the individual who says they are, can prove who they are and can validly cast that vote, Marshall said. I think that is important for the integrity of the process, to be able to eliminate possibilities of fraud, and weve seen it work.

Only thats not what Marshall said to me in 2024. Thats what he told Capitol Journal in 2020. You know, under the right circumstances.

Today, theres no reply, no answers, and no investigation. No comment. Not even a no comment. No anything.

Only silence.

RELATED COLUMNS BY KYLE WHITMIRE

Alabama GOP chair refused to show license to vote. That became a problem for poll workers.

Alabama GOP chairs family believed voter ID was mark of the beast, brother said in deposition

Alabama GOP chairman made the photo ID he used to vote

Kyle Whitmire is the 2023 winner of the Pulitzer Prize for commentary. You can follow him on Threads here and subscribe to his weekly newsletter, Alabamafication.
Alabama is seeking to carry out another nitrogen gas execution, months after the state became the first to put a person to death with the previously untested method.

The attorney generals office on Monday asked the Alabama Supreme Court to authorize an execution date for Carey Dale Grayson, who was convicted in the 1994 killing of Vickie Deblieux in Jefferson County.

If approved, it would be the third scheduled execution using nitrogen gas. The state in January put Kenneth Smith to death in the nations first nitrogen gas execution. Alabama has set a Sept. 26 execution using nitrogen gas for Alan Eugene Miller.

Lethal injection remains the states primary execution method, but inmates can request to be put to death by nitrogen gas or the electric chair. After using nitrogen gas to execute Smith in January, the state is beginning to seek execution dates for the dozens of inmates who requested nitrogen as their preferred execution method.

The request comes despite ongoing disagreement and litigation over what happened at the first execution using nitrogen.

Smith convulsed in seizure-like spasms for more than two minutes as he was strapped to the gurney in the execution chamber. That was followed by several minutes of gasping breathing.

Advocates expressed alarm at how the execution played out, saying it was the antithesis of the states promise of a quick and painless death. Alabamas Attorney General Steve Marshall characterized the execution as textbook and offered to help other states develop the new method.

Alabama, in its request to the state Supreme Court, noted that Grayson in 2018 selected nitrogen as his preferred execution method. They wrote that Graysons death sentence can be carried out by the method of execution that he voluntarily elected and that it is time to proceed.

A lawyer for Grayson said there needs to be more scrutiny of the method before it is used again.

It is disappointing that the State wants to schedule a third nitrogen hypoxia execution before the question of whether the first one tortured Kenneth Smith has been resolved, John Palombi, an attorney with the Federal Defenders Program wrote in an email.

While Grayson may have selected nitrogen hypoxia over five years ago, Palombi said he did not know what the procedure would be when he was forced to make this choice.

Now that he knows how Alabama will implement this method of execution, he has concerns that may only be resolved through a full trial on the question of whether this method, as Alabama chooses to implement it, is constitutional, he added.

Grayson was one of four people charged with torturing and killing Deblieux on Feb. 21, 1994

Prosecutors said that Deblieux, 37, was hitchhiking from Tennessee to her mothers home in Louisiana when she was picked up by the four people. They took her to a wooded area, where she was attacked, beaten and thrown off a cliff. Prosecutors said the teens later returned to mutilate her body, stabbing her body 180 times.

Grayson, along with Kenny Loggins and Trace Duncan, were all convicted and sentenced to death. However, Loggins and Duncan, who were under 18 at the time of the crime, had their death sentences set aside after the U.S. Supreme Court in 2005 banned the execution of offenders who are younger than 18 when they commit crimes. Grayson was 19.

Another teen was sentenced to the life imprisonment.

If justices authorize the execution, Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey will set the exact date.
The U.S. Department of Justice has weighed in on a federal lawsuit challenging a new Alabama law that criminalizes certain forms of assistance with absentee voting, actions that supporters of the law call ballot harvesting.

On Monday, the DOJ filed a statement of interest in the lawsuit challenging SB1, which passed the Legislature this year. Gov. Kay Ivey signed the bill on March 20.

SB1, a top priority for the Republican-controlled Legislature this year, made it a crime to distribute prefilled absentee ballot applications or to turn in an absentee ballot application for another voter unless that voter had a medical emergency. The law made it a felony to pay someone or to receive payment to request, collect, complete, or deliver absentee ballot applications.

Supporters of the bill said it was needed to stop ballot harvesting, the distribution and collection of absentee ballot applications by third parties to influence elections.

SB1 included language taken from Section 208 of the federal Voting Rights Act, which says that voters who are blind, disabled, or unable to read or write can receive help with voting from a person of their choice except their employer or an agent of their employer or labor union.

But civil rights groups and other advocates said SB1 violates Section 208 because its restrictions prohibit the disabled voters covered by Section 208 from receiving assistance from someone of their choice. Democrats opposed the bill in the Legislature.

The federal lawsuit filed by the Alabama State Conference of the NAACP, Greater Birmingham Ministries, the League of Women Voters of Alabama, and the Alabama Disabilities Advocacy Program also alleges that SB1 imposes criminal liabilities on the organizations that seek to help the voters covered by Section 208. The lawsuit seeks a preliminary injunction to block the law from taking effect.

Defendants in the case include Attorney General Steve Marshall, Secretary of State Wes Allen, and the states district attorneys. The attorney general has asked the court to dismiss the case.

The states lawyers said SB1 does not violate Section 208 because the federal law does not prohibit states from restricting the disabled voters covered by Section 208 in their choice of who can help them vote. The states lawyers argued that states could add restrictions in addition to the voters employer or labor union representative, saying that Congress did not intend to give the voter boundless options.

The DOJ, in its statement of interest filed Monday, said the states lawyers are incorrect that states can add new restrictions on who disabled voters covered by Section 208 can choose to help them. The DOJ said it has has authority to enforce the Voting Rights Act and therefore substantial interest in a case involving an interpretation of Section 208. It said state laws that conflict with the federal law are preempted.

Defendants are wrong that federal law permits restrictions beyond those provided in Section 208, the DOJ said. Accordingly, this Court should either read SB 1 as limited by Section 208, or find that, to the extent that SB 1 conflicts with Section 208, SB 1 is preempted.

The lawsuit is pending in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Alabama. Secretary of State Allen, a defendant in the case, has said SB1 will be in effect for the general election in November.
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.

_____

2024 New York Daily News. Visit nydailynews.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
No criminal charges will be filed in last weeks shooting death of a 55-year-old man outside a west Birmingham convenience store.

The Jefferson County District Attorneys Office, after reviewing the evidence, ruled the slaying of Willie Lee Dorsey Jr. justified, said police Sgt. LaQuitta Wade.

Authorities have not said why the shooting was justifiable.

West Precinct officers responded to the 5 Points West Food Mart at 2258 Bessemer Road around 3:22 p.m. Friday on a call of a person shot.

Several Shot Spotter alerts, which indicate when gunfire may have erupted at a scene, were also activated, said Officer Truman Fitzgerald.

Police found Dorsey unresponsive in the parking lot. Birmingham Fire and Rescue Service pronounced him dead on the scene at 3:40 p.m.

Police said the shooter went to the location, shot Dorsey and then fled.

The departments Real Time Crime Center helped patrol officers locate the suspect. He was taken into custody for questioning without incident.

There have been 65 homicides in Birmingham this year. Six of those have now been deemed justified.
The states largest Fraternal Order of Police is considering a vote of no confidence in the leadership of the Birmingham Police Department.

The FOP Lodge #1 consists of between 1,350 to 1,400 members - 80 to 90 percent of those from Birminghams force.

FOP Vice President Lawrence Billups, at a Tuesday news conference, said a motion was made on June 4 to consider a full-body vote, citing lack of leadership, low morale, and other issues.

We are not getting the leadership we deserve nor are the citizens of Birmingham, Billups said.

We have a divided administration, he said. We have a chief thats basically going around saying he has no control over his department.

We have nobody leading us, giving us direction, Billups said.

Birmingham Mayor Randall L. Woodfin appointed Thurmond to the chiefs position in June 2022. He had served as the interim chief for the five months prior to his appointment.

Thurmonds command staff includes Assistant Chief Assistant Chief LaQuaylin Parhm Mack, Deputy Chief Michael Pickett, Deputy Chief Shelia Frazier-Finney, and Deputy Chief Onree J. Pruitt Jr.

Acting Police Chief Scott Thurmond and Mayor Randall Woodfin (Carol Robinson)

Woodfin released a statement saying he supports BPD leadership and is in constant communication with FOP leaders to address challenges facing officers.

Its unfortunate that some members of FOP, those who speak for themselves and not FOP as a whole, are causing distractions and not constructive solutions. We hope they join our efforts in bringing new recruits to the force.

The FOPs executive board in 2021 also issued a vote of no-confidence in Thurmonds predecessor, former Chief Patrick Smith and then-Assistant Chief Darnell Davenport.

The vote was not carried out by the full membership, but the boards voted consistent with feedback theyve received from the membership.

The vote against Smith, the first in the citys history against a sitting police chief, cited a spike in violent crime, as well as an unprecedented low in morale among the rank-and-file during Smiths three-year tenure.

A no-confidence vote is symbolic only. The vote of the full FOP never happened before Smith left unexpectedly.

Somebody told us were just not happy with any leaders, that we just want who we want, Billups said. Thats not it. Everybody that does this job is held accountable and that accountability goes from the top all the way down to the last officer.

We make sure everybody is accountable, he said. Were accountable to our members and the chief is accountable to the men and women he leads.

Our citizens dont deserve an I cant run my department,' Billups said. These citizens cant keep sleeping in their bathtubs and on the floor. It just cant keep happening.

And you cant pick and choose which neighborhoods you want to put officers in and care for them, he said. Everybody deserves the same amount of protection.

A common complaint against the former chief was that he was an outside, brought in from the Los Angeles Police Department and not in tune with the needs of the community and the department.

Thurmond has spent his entire law enforcement career  25 years  at BPD.

You have to have the skills to lead and get people to listening to you, Billups said of the current administration. The thing with Thurmond is he is a good person, he has a good heart but lacks leadership.

We dont have a direction and its been a year since Ive asked, he said. You need to stand up, go against the grain and lead the department or leave the department.

Birmingham police Officer and FOP Vice President Lawrence Billups.(Carol Robinson)

Billups said there are serious problems with officer staffing and with morale, which go hand-in-hand.

Staffing causes an issue with morale, he said, and morale is the reason were short in staffing.

Birmingham City Council President Darrell OQuinn previously said there are 296 unfilled police officer positions in the city. He cited a city department personnel report the council received in April.

Thats factual information and we hear it anecdotally from people on the street in terms of response times, OQuinn told AL.com.

Officer Deangelo Hall, president of the Birmingham Fraternal Order of Police, also said last month the shortfall of officers is a troubling problem that has multiple causes, including low employee morale due to longer shifts and high stress.

Were having three-year, five-year, nine-year and 13-year vets packing up and leaving, Hall told AL.com. So obviously there are some issues there that weve got to iron out. Were trying to iron out a couple of things and present a plan to the mayors office.

Billups said more officers have left since OQuinn provided those numbers.

He said the department is budgeted for about 725 positions.

Our numbers are down by 300, he said. If we go anything further, we wont be able to do the job we need to do properly so at what point does the administration actually come with a plan?

Billups retired from the department in 2017 and returned months later under a rehire incentive plan BPD offers. When he left, there were about 970 officers, he said.

In 2018, we were at 875 officers, he said.

People say but the population has shrunk, Billups said. It really hasnt. People have moved to the suburbs, but they still do what they do in Birmingham.

Billups said there are a number of issues plaquing officers, and more needs to be done to recruit and retain officers, including better pay and benefits.

We saved our way into this issue, he said, now we have to buy our way out of it.

He said FOP leaders plan to meet with the mayor later this week.
Even as they prepare to vote on a formal ban on churches with women pastors, delegates to the Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting voted overwhelmingly Tuesday to boot one such church from its ranks.

Messengers, as voting representatives are known, voted 6,759 to 563 to oust First Baptist Church of Alexandria, a historic Virginia congregation that affirms women can serve in any pastoral role, including as senior pastor. A similar scenario played out at last years meeting. Two congregations, including a well-known California megachurch, were ejected from the convention. Ninety-two percent of messengers approved the ouster.

The Virginia congregation has been involved in the nations largest Protestant denomination since its 19th century founding and has contributed millions toward denominational causes. But it came under scrutiny after the pastor of a neighboring church reported it to denominational authorities over its having a woman as pastor for women and children.

The vote came after the denominations credentials committee recommended earlier Tuesday that the denomination deem the church to be not in friendly cooperation, the formulation for expulsion, on the grounds that it conflicts with the Baptist Faith and Message. That statement of Southern Baptist doctrine declares only men are qualified for the role of pastor. Some interpret that only to apply to associate pastors as long as the senior pastor is male.

We find no joy in making this recommendation, but have formed the opinion that the churchs egalitarian beliefs regarding the office of pastor do not closely identify with the conventions adopted statement of faith, said Jonathan Sams, chair of the credentials committee.

The Alexandria church is currently led by a man, Robert Stephens, but the church has made clear it believes women can serve as senior pastors, too. Stephens said his church has had women in ministry for more than 44 years and wants to continue cooperating with Southern Baptists who disagreed on this issue.

First Alexandria stands before you today as a testament that we can maintain a fruitful partnership with churches that take a different stance on women in ministry, he said. We at First Baptist are advancing the gospel, and we hope that we will continue to work alongside you all.

The decision was made before the delegates had a chance to consider enshrining a ban on churches with any women pastors in the conventions constitution. The proposed amendment received preliminary approval last year, and the final vote is still to come as Southern Baptists gather in Indianapolis for their two-day annual meeting. As of Tuesday afternoon, some 10,864 messengers were registered to take part.
Sen. Tommy Tuberville last weekend criticized President Joe Biden for an unplanned stop to honor American soldiers killed in the D-Day invasion, saying it ruined a once in a lifetime experience for Jacksonville State Universitys Marching Southerners Band.

However, JSUs band director said the incident did not put a damper on the trip.

On Saturday, Tuberville made this post on the social media platform X:

Joe Biden just ruined a once in a lifetime experience for @JSUnews students and high school students from around the country by cancelling their planned performance at Normandy, Tuberville posted.

Many of these students and their families paid their own way. Joe Biden is a national embarrassment.

Joe Biden just ruined a once in a lifetime experience for @JSUnews students and high school students from around the country by cancelling their planned performance at Normandy.



Many of these students and their families paid their own way.



Joe Biden is a national embarrassment. https://t.co/5ZMMVR9CTk  Coach Tommy Tuberville (@SenTuberville) June 8, 2024

The Thursday ceremony at Brittany American Cemetery was cancelled when Biden made a stop at the cemetery, as part of D-Day ceremonies.

The Brittany American Cemetery event was only part of the JSU bands six-day itinerary in France.

According to the university, the Marching Southerners performed with other ensembles, choirs, and JROTC students at an official public ceremony held at St. James American Cemetery, a graveyard which contains the remains of 4,404 Americans killed in the Normandy and Brittany Campaigns of 1944.

On Saturday, the band performed in a parade that began in the first village liberated by American troops following the landing, Sainte-Mere-Eglise. Boaz High Schools Marching Pirate Band also performed in the parade.

This was an incredible and proud moment for our students, JSU Director of Bands Ken Bodiford said. We were deeply honored to pay tribute to the courageous men and women who fought to liberate Western Europe and change the course of World War II.

The band members also toured Mont Saint-Michel, Utah Beach, Omaha Beach, and points of interest in Paris.

Ken Bodiford, director of bands at JSU, said the cancellation actually gave us more time to take the students to Omaha Beach to see where the invasion took place.....it was very moving. We were sad that we did not get to see the National Cemetery, but the cancellation did not put a damper on the trip. We had three other wonderful performances while we were there and the massive crowds seemed to fall in love with The Southerners.

The students realize that the schedule could change at any time due to security reason, and I think that they understood the concerns of both the French and American governments, Bodiford said.

What a memorable experience for our students.  Posted by Ken Bodiford on Thursday, June 6, 2024

The Marching Southerners also participated in Queen Elizabeth IIs Diamond Jubilee in 2012, and played for the 75th Anniversary of the bombing of Pearl Harbor. In 2019, the band marched in the World Peace Day Parade at the Vatican and received a blessing from the Pope.
An Alabama jury on Wednesday recommended the death penalty for a man they convicted of capital murder in the 2019 slaying of a pregnant woman in a Conecuh County grocery store.

The Conecuh County jury voted 10-2 in recommending death for Michael Collin Mitchell, 43, of Evergreen in the fatal shooting of Lavon McCreary and her unborn child, court records showed.

We appreciate the jurys courage to impose the most severe punishment available. Michael Mitchells actions gravely affected our community, said Conecuh County District Attorney Todd Watson in a statement to AL.com. He murdered Lavon McCreary and her unborn child while McCrearys two minor children watched her die. There are no winners here. Both families have suffered and will continue to suffer great loss.

An attorney for Mitchell could immediately be reached for comment on the jurys recommended sentence.

Mitchell is scheduled to be sentenced by Conecuh County District Court Judge Jack B. Weaver on June 25, records showed.

McCreary, who was pregnant at the time of the 2019 shooting, was shot in front of her two children in the Pic-N-Sav grocery store in Evergreen, authorities said at the time.
The Israeli military says it has killed a top Hezbollah military leader in an airstrike in Lebanon. Hezbollah reportedly responded by firing a massive barrage of rockets into northern Israel.

The Israel Defense Forces says it "eliminated" Sami Taleb Abdullah, the commander of the Nasr Unit in Hezbollah on Tuesday night.

He was reportedly killed in a strike on a Hezbollah command and control center in the area of Jouaiyya in southern Lebanon. The IDF claims it was used to direct terrorist attacks against Israel from southeastern Lebanon in recent months.

Abdullah was considered one of Hezbollah's most senior commanders in southern Lebanon.

The Israeli military said he "planned, advanced and carried out" attacks against Israeli civilians. The IDF says three other Hezbollah operatives were also killed in the strike.

The IDF said that Hezbollah fired about 160 projectiles at Israel from southern Lebanon on Wednesday, the Associated Press reported. No injuries were reported.
A Mountain Brook teen who watched in horror as her twin sister lost a hand and leg in a Florida shark attack has written about the gruesome ordeal and thanked those who saved the 15-year-olds life.

Lulu Gribbin and 16-year-old McCray Faust, both Mountain Brook High School students, were on a mother-daughter trip on Floridas Gulf Coast last week when the teens were bitten while looking for sand dollars with their friends.

Gribbin was critically injured, and Faust sustained a serious bite to her foot.

A 45-year-old Virginia woman  Elisabeth Foley  was also critically injured in a separate attack less than two hours earlier and about four miles away.

Lulu remains in a Florida hospital, having undergone several surgeries with more to come. Her plight has drawn widespread concern and support from across the country.

Businesses in Mountain Brook and Vestavia Hills are supporting her through fundraising by selling or giving away purple bows  which is her favorite color.

A Homewood business has designed and is selling bracelets that say, I made it, which were among Lulus first words to her parents, Ann Blair and Joe Gribbin, after the attack.

Holland & Birch is donating 40 percent of the sales to Lulus recovery.

A Caring Bridge website was launched to chronicle Lulus progress, and her twin sister, Ellie, has now shared the experience of Fridays attack from her viewpoint. Lulu is one of four Gribbin siblings.

The group was vacationing at Seacrest Beach and looking forward to a few days in the sun and surf.

On Friday, they headed to the beach about 10:30 a.m., where they tanned, swam, and played volleyball.

Most of the group headed up about noon for lunch. Ellie and one of their friends stayed on the beach because they wanted to swim out to the second sand bar.

We borrowed a boogie board and a hot pink sparkle float to bring out with us to the second sand bar since it is very far away and extremely deep, Ellie wrote. In between the first sand bar and second sand bar, we found lots of sand dollars and wildlife.

As soon as we got to the second sand bar we realized that something was off so we each swam down once to touch the bottom then quickly paddled back to shore because we were scared, Ellie wrote.

Their friends rejoined them on the beach for another round of volleyball.

Ellie said she wanted everyone in the group find a sand dollar so they could all get a picture together.

So we convinced everyone to get in the water, Ellie said. Also, we convinced them to get into the water because some guys were getting in, so everyone wanted to make some new friends.

A short time later, Ellie wrote, the shark appeared.

One of the girls said, Whats that? and another screamed, shark.

Ellie said she and another girl started swimming for our lives.

Suddenly I heard Lulu yell something like, stay calm,' she wrote. I finally get close to the shore, so I stand up and turn around and my life was changed forever.

Instantly I only see blood. The entire ocean is red, ocean waves bring the blood closer, she said.

And then I see my sister, she is screaming for help and then she reaches out for Lila because she is the closest to her and I can see her arm, her arm without her hand, she wrote. It was just a limb of flesh, blood, and muscle, no hand to be found.

Ellie said she started to cry and scream, Thats my sister.

Multiple bystanders jumped in to help, including Stephen Beene, who pulled Lulu from the shark, and Matthew Lidle, who took Lulu from Beene and carried her to the shore.

I immediately see that not only her hand was gone but basically her whole leg, Ellie wrote. I can see her whole thigh bone and there is barely any muscle left, I dont even think her foot was still there, but I do not remember.

Doctors and nurses who were also vacationing there jumped into action, putting tourniquets on Lulus wounds.

My mind went blank, Ellie wrote. It was just me and Lulu against the world.

I reassured her over and over that it would all be okay and that she was doing great, she said. She started to close her eyes and a man told her to keep them open so I opened them for her because I was afraid she would die if I didnt.

The twins mother, who had gone to lunch with her friends, then returned to find a crowd and chaos on the beach.

As soon as I found my mom, we held each others forearms, and I told her that the person that was bit by the shark was Lulu, Ellie wrote. She ran to Lulu but could not do anything besides just look at her. She couldnt hug her, kiss her, or say anything to her.

And then she saw Lulus leg, she wrote. She screamed a horrifying scream that I will never forget.

Ellie said she stayed strong for her sister and her mother, answering questions for the first responders. She also then used a strangers phone to call her father.

Then I finally cried. I told him that Lulu was bitten by a shark and that mom was really struggling, she said. I told him I am trying to be strong, but I didnt know how long I could be like this.

I told him to go ahead and start driving down here and then he told me, You can do this. I love you.'

The family began the drive to Pensacola, to the hospital where Lulu had been airlifted.

Ellie said she spoke by phone with her grandmother, and told her, You will never get to cheer us playing volleyball together again.

She told me that is was OK, because Lulu wanted to become a doctor and she doesnt need volleyball to be a doctor, she wrote.

Ellie said she couldnt believe what was happing.

I cant remember who I told but I said to someone, hopefully this is just a dream and when we wake up tomorrow life will be back to normal, she wrote. Well, I came to find out that it wasnt a dream but actually a nightmare.

When Ellie got to see her twin, she said she held Lulus hand and cried.

When she was extubated, we hugged and she started crying again and told me she was sorry I had to go through this, she told me how proud she was of me and how much she loved me, Ellie wrote. I told her that we were in this together and how strong and loved she was.

Ellie thanked all who helped that day.

Thank you to Steve for rescuing my twin and best friend. Thank you, Matt, for going into the water and helping her by giving her a tourniquet. Thank you to the lady doctor who put a tourniquet on lulus arm, she wrote. Thank you to the lady doctor who held Lulus pulse (sorry for pushing you away, I though Lulu didnt like it).

Thank you to all of the other doctors who helped save her life on the beach that day. Thank you to all the paramedics, flight medics, nurses and doctors who also helped save Lulus life that day, she wrote. I will forever be grateful for each and every one of you.

The Caring for Lulu Fund has been established to help with her long road to recovery.

Donations are being accepted through Zelle via Caringforlulu@gmail.com.

Donations can also be made via checks made out to Richard Littrell and Stephen Faust FBO Lulu Gribbin, and mailed to Oakworth Capital Bank, ATTN: Richard Littrell FBO Lulu Gribbin, 850 Shades Creek Parkway, Suite 200, Birmingham, Alabama 35209.
A South Carolina man has been identified as a motorist fatally shot by Alabama law enforcement officers who responded to an interstate crash.

The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency on Wednesday identified the slain man as Damion Laddal Jones. He was 33 and lived in Easley, S.C.

Opelika police responded at 2:35 p.m. Tuesday to a report of a traffic crash on Interstate 85 involving an 18-wheeler and a car, authorities said. When they arrived, they were confronted by a person with a knife  now identified as Jones.

ALEA Sgt. Jeremy Burkett said officers gave Jones repeated verbal commands to drop the knife, but instead he charged toward the officers, causing police to engage and shoot the suspect.

Jones was pronounced dead on the scene.

Burkett said Jones was the driver of the car involved in the traffic crash.

As is standard procedure, the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency/ State Bureau of Investigation was called in to lead the probe. Once complete, the findings will be turned over to the Lee County Sheriffs Office for presentation to a grand jury.
The Southern Baptist Convention Wednesday approved a resolution against in vitro fertilization, calling on members to advocate for the government to restrain actions inconsistent with the dignity and value of every human being.

In an afternoon vote in Indianapolis, voting members, or messengers, passed the resolution, which calls on Southern Baptists to support adoption and reproductive technologies that affirm the unconditional value and right to life of every human being, including those in an embryonic stage.

Debate dealt with the use of IVF by Southern Baptists, as well as the embryos produced that are never carried to birth.

One messenger from Ohio said he has one son, and another on the way, because of IVF.

Now: Consideration of Resolution 6 "on the ethical realities of reproductive technologies and the dignity of the human embryo" AKA the IVF resolution. #SBC24 pic.twitter.com/SxnVVazBSw  Liam Adams (@liamsadams) June 12, 2024

I have 10 embryos that I love, and with every bit of my being, we will have or see born into a Christian family, and no one can stop us from making this disposition, he said. I am for the sanctity of life, and for the sanctity of embryos. I am against the idea that this technology is so wicked that it cannot be employed.

The resolution was authored by Al Mohler, president of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, and Southern seminary professor Andrew Walker.

Mohler, the head of the flagship seminary of the Southern Baptist Convention, said Monday that the Alabama Supreme Court got it right on in vitro fertilization when it said embryos should be protected as human life.

Following a Feb. 16 Alabama Supreme Court decision that declared frozen embryos children, the Legislature moved quickly to protect IVF clinics from criminal and civil liability. After critics called the legislation a Band-Aid fix, Republican legislators signaled they would study the issue further.

The courts ruling stemmed from a lawsuit regarding the unauthorized destruction of frozen embryos at a Mobile clinic in 2020. It decided that the parents could seek damages under an 1872 state law for the deaths of their children.

Following the ruling, several IVF programs closed due to legal risks to patients and providers. The Mobile health care system that provided in vitro fertilization (IVF) care said the clinic will stop the services at the end of the year, citing lawsuits over the fertility treatment.
A constitutional amendment that would have mandated men as solely qualified for senior pastor positions in the Southern Baptist Convention failed to receive the necessary votes Wednesday.

Known as the Law Amendment, the measure failed to gain a two-thirds majority in voting at the annual meeting in Indianapolis.

The amendment received 61% of the votes, while 38% rejected it. It passed handily on first reading last year but requires two votes to pass.

The denominations Baptist Faith & Message, a statement of common beliefs adopted in 2000, allows only men as pastors.

According to the SBC, there are currently more than 1,000 SBC churches with female pastors.

Supporters of the Law Amendment say the amendment was necessary as denominations that allow female pastors eventually hire homosexual pastors.

The amendment states that a church is in friendly cooperation with the convention when it affirms, appoints, or employs only men as any kind of pastor or elder as qualified by Scripture.

Ryan Fullerton, of Emmanuel Baptist Church in Louisville, Ky., said the amendment was not about preventing women from serving on staffs or churches.

The Law Amendment affirms what the Bible affirms, Fullerton said. Its not aimed at preventing women from serving in a church or being on staff. All of us support women flourishing in the ministries that God calls them to.

Spence Shelton, pastor of Mercy Church in Charlotte, N.C., said the amendment was not necessary, as the convention has removed churches with female pastors.

On Tuesday, representatives, or messengers, voted 6,759 to 563 to oust First Baptist Church of Alexandria, a historic Virginia congregation that affirms women can serve in any pastoral role, including as senior pastor.

Mike Law from Arlington Baptist Church, for whom the amendment was named, said there were 18 female pastors in the convention in 1987.

Last year, we learned there were over 1,800. This is a problem, Law said.

Last year, two congregations, including a well-known California megachurch, were ejected from the convention. Ninety-two percent of messengers approved the ouster.

We have shown the mechanisms we currently have are sufficient to deal with this question, Shelton said.

The convention also elected Clint Pressley, a former pastor at Mobiles Dauphin Way Baptist Church, as its new president.
Bull sharks chasing bait fish have been blamed in attacks off Floridas Panhandle, and a group of people experienced the feeding frenzy firsthand when a shark began ramming their Sea-Doos.

Andrew Cady reports the alarming encounter occurred Sunday in the Gulf of Mexico  two days after a woman and two teen girls were bitten off Walton County.

Shot this video just a couple hours ago about 150 ft offshore in Grayton beach. Very aggressive bull shark rammed my jet ski multiple times, Cady wrote on Facebook.

Was wild man. ... That thing was circling us and kept charging. Dozens of people and kids in the water within a couple hundred feet.

The video shows the shark circled multiple times, bumped the water craft with its nose and even jumped out of the water.

Cady, a Walton County mortgage broker, said the group did nothing to provoke this shark.

The sharks species has not been confirmed by experts.

Cadys video has been viewed more than 700,000 times on Facebook and topped 1,000 reactions and comments as of June 12, including some who were surprised to see a shark jump out of the Gulf.

This is terrifying. Id be crying hysterically and that would probably be my last time in the ocean, Ashley Miller posted on Facebook.

Was he hitting it hard enough to knock yall off? Essentially, Im wondering if it is even safe to be out there on a Jet Ski, Lori Turner Sims wrote.

Bull sharks can reach 11 feet and are more aggressive than most shark species, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. They are believed to be responsible for most unprovoked shark attacks on humans.

They prefer shallow coastal water, which means they can often come into contact with humans, the National Wildlife Federation reports.

Bull sharks are often considered to be the most dangerous sharks to humans because of their aggressive tendencies and ability to migrate up rivers.

Its believed the three attacks on the afternoon of June 7 were the result of bull sharks chasing schools of menhaden between sandbars at the same time people were swimming in the channels.

Walton County is about a 90-mile drive east of Pensacola.

2024 The Charlotte Observer. Visit charlotteobserver.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
More than 10,000 voting representatives gathered Tuesday for the opening of the Southern Baptist Conventions two-day annual meeting, where they will vote on whether to ban churches with women pastors and deliberate yet again on how to respond to sexual abuse within churches.

Some 10,553 messengers, as delegates are known, are meeting in Indianapolis.

On Wednesday, they are expected to debate whether to amend their constitution to ban churches with any women pastors  from lead to associate roles. The measure received preliminary approval last year.

Early Tuesday, a small group of women stood outside the Indiana Convention Center in a low-key demonstration in support of women in ministry.

I hope that people know women have equal value and can be pastors, said the Rev. Meredith Stone, executive director of Baptist Women in Ministry, an organization that originated within the SBC in the 1980s, but it now works with women in a variety of Baptist denominations.

Participants said that of the hundreds of messengers filing by, reactions ranged from sneers to subtle thumbs-up signs to a few voicing thank you out loud.

Joining them was Christa Brown, who has long advocated for fellow survivors of sexual abuse in Southern Baptist churches and criticized the denominations resistance to reforms, an effort she has chronicled in a new memoir, Baptistland.

She said theres a direct connection between issues of abuse and the equality of women in ministry.

When you squash some people, it sets up a lot more people to be squashed, she said.

The SBCs statement of faith says that while women and men are both gifted for service in the church, the office of pastor is reserved for men alone. Some interpret that to mean only senior pastors, but the amendment would also apply to women in associate roles even if the senior pastor is male.

The SBC cant tell its independent churches what to do, but it can decide whether they are in or out. Since 2023, it has ousted some churches with women in pastoral positions, including Saddleback Church, a California megachurch.
A Vestavia Hills man has pleaded guilty Tuesday to laundering about $2.3 million in illicit funds.

Robert Carlton Howard, 39, entered his guilty plea to conspiracy to commit money laundering Tuesday before U.S. District Judge Madeline H. Haikala, according to a joint Wednesday announcement by Northern District of Alabama U.S. Attorney Prim Escalona and FBI Special Agent in Charge Carlton Peeples.

A federal grand jury issued the seven-count indictment against Howard in 2023.

Authorities said the illicit funds were derived from business email compromise schemes targeting American businesses.

According to the indictment, from at least July 2021 through August 2021, Howard was part of a scheme that used fake email accounts designed to spoof or impersonate companies third-party vendors.

The fake email accounts were created to trick those companies into wiring large amounts of money into bank accounts controlled by the conspiracy.

Howard opened and controlled at least one bank account into which he received approximately $2.3 million in business email compromise proceeds within two days.

Howard immediately converted those proceeds to cryptocurrency and transferred them to other members of the conspiracy and to his personal bank account, authorities said.

Of the approximately $2.3 million Howard received and transferred, he retained and spent approximately $210,000 as compensation for his role in the scheme.

The FBI investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan Jack Harrington is prosecuting the case.

Howard faces up to 20 years in prison. Sentencing has not yet been announced.
A north Alabama teen who survived a 60-foot fall off a cliff while in Rome on a class trip and suffered extensive injuries has been nicknamed The Miracle Boy by Italians.

The fact that he survived this fall is nothing short of a miracle, said Lindsey Sanderson, a New Hope resident who organized a GoFundMe on behalf of Hayden Hill, who is in need of a medical aircraft to fly him and his family back to the United States.

Hayden recently graduated from New Hope High School and was on a class trip of a lifetime when he fell off the cliff, Sanderson said.

In Italy, he is called The Miracle Boy, she said.

Hayden suffered a dislocated hip and femur along with excessive injuries to his ankle.

His mother, Sharon Hicks, flew to Italy to be by her sons side in the hospital. He will likely need additional surgeries once back in the U.S.

At this time, Hayden will more than likely need to be transported back to the states in a medical aircraft that will cost more than we could possibly imagine, Sanderson said. The goal is to get Hayden back to the states no matter the means or the cost.

As of 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, the GoFundMe for Hayden, called Operation, Lets Bring Hayden Home! has raised $14,746. The fundraising goal is $50,000.
Two women who were injured in a head-on crash with an off-duty police officer in north Alabama last fall have threatened a lawsuit and filed claims seeking a total of $2 million.

Maylea Roby-Xicotencatl and Callie Hanna Campbell were traveling on U.S. 72 in Madison when Isaiah Hatchett, an Athens police officer, pulled out into oncoming traffic and hit them head-on, according to public filings obtained by AL.com. The crash happened at the intersection of Wall Triana Highway on Nov. 18 at 2:36 a.m., according to a crash report.

A spokesperson for Athens said that Hatchett, who still works with the Athens Police Department, would not comment for this article because of the threat of pending litigation.
Authorities in Colorado have revealed how a popular YouTube personality known as the "Comicstorian" died.

His wife had cryptically announced his unexpectedly death from an "unfortunate accident," but did not go into details.

Now, the Colorado State Police is explaining what happened. Potter was killed in a single-vehicle rollover crash on I-25 near Fort Collins on Saturday morning, the Denver Post reported.

Potter, 40, was along in the vehicle and was wearing a seatbelt, according to a state police news release.

Investigators did not believe drugs, alcohol or speed were factors in the crash.

"To many of you, he was Comicstorian, voicing stories from across multiple different mediums," Nathalie Potter wrote Monday on X. "To his loved ones, he was one of the best and most supportive individuals anyone could ask for. As a husband, a son, a brother, a friend, or even just a stranger, Ben was loving and genuine."

Ben Potter's main YouTube channel, one of eight he ran, racked up more than 3 million subscribers and nearly 1.1 billion views since it was launched in March 2014, according to data posted on the site.

Potter's videos featured him turning comic books into "audio dramas" to help keep fans up to date on the latest storylines involving their favorite superheroes without having to buy and read every issue.

Potter's latest video, titled "Why DC Reboots Beat Marvel," was posted on Friday and showed him speaking into a microphone while seated in front of shelves full of comic book memorabilia.

An unconfirmed comment from one viewer said Potter was a former member of the Army's 155th Armored Brigade Combat Team and served in Afghanistan for a year.

"RIP Benny...you have always made life hilariously worth living. This loss is a hard one. I love you and I'm going to miss you, friend," a YouTube subscriber who goes by "BLUTIFUL Blacc" wrote.

Nathalie Potter said she and her husband's team wanted to keep his YouTube channel going to "honor him by continuing to tell great stories by great people, as well as to keep the memory of our very own superhero alive."
The moral evil of human action divides people and breeds discord. However, it comes in many guises that may easily deceive us. And for those whose heart is empty, nothing is easier than pretending to be good. Outward piety and renunciation may well mask the worst of cruelty.

In some periods, there is ample cause for optimism (e.g. around the time of the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989), in others for the opposite: pessimism. At present, there are many signs that good is giving way to evil. In the countries of the West, we seem to be setting ourselves up for a strange future. Accumulating events both inside and outside our borders relegate us to a secondary role in the ongoing world drama.

For millennia, we in the West have stood for a particular outlook on life. Longing for freedom, honoring the word (as in oratory and logical proof), and godly at the same time, we have integrated structural elements from Greek philosophy, Roman law, and Jewish worship. These pillars of Western civilization, as we know it, have now begun to tremble. Our own world is breaking up under the triadic advance of (a) tyrannical imperialism, (b) Islamic supremacism, and (c) revolutionary totalitarianism.

Apparently, we have to prepare for another world order. It looks as if we, the heirs of both Western Christianity and the ideas of the Enlightenment, the people of the free world, are about to lose our unalienable rights. As things stand, our life and pursuit of happiness, in the words of the U.S. Declaration of Independence, with liberty in any meaningful sense being excluded beforehand, may ultimately depend on the benevolence of foreign masters.

As their number increases day by day, Muslims of the diaspora are consolidating their power. And in the style of pre-revolutionary Bolsheviks, Islamists are scheming to take over and impose their rules, inspired by the expansionism of the Rashidun Caliphate. (So far, they are in control of public space in European cities.) In a time of transition marked by secular value confusion, moral decadence, and senseless calls for diversity, we are already in the process of renouncing our own traditions, denying ourselves as virtuous beings, and submitting to the inevitable. We are witnessing the insidious conquest of the West.

The Muslim invaders of the past, Moors and Ottomans, never dealt with issues of good and evil in a compassionate, moral-humane way comprehensible to us. At any rate, they were not given to critical reflection. With military strategists and civil servants at the forefront, they were busy expanding their dominions and maintaining their undisputed dominance in civil society.

Fleeing poverty and cruelty, the non-military invaders of today settle in the West because we readily open the gates and allow them to enter. Supposed to be civilized and generous to the point of self-destruction, we find it impossible to reject them, which they know very well, and we offer them food and shelter. (Of course, we have largely renounced the Christian faith, but hypocrisy thrives nonetheless.)

Initially, with the emotional (sentimental) appeal of victims, adventurous young men disembark from overcrowded boats, band together, and learn by heart the lenient rules of their Christian hosts. Next, they send for their relatives (i.e. parents, siblings, uncles, aunts, cousins etc.), be they true or false, and intended wives. Thus, it is not that any of them come here in deference to Western ways of life, striving for assimilation and integration. From a historical perspective, they are invaders and colonizers.

That the invaders themselves and people sharing their outlook on life multiply and eventually dominate central areas of public life (e.g. schools, hospitals, and retail trade, but also criminal courts and prisons), nurtures triumphant visions of a future where their faith is above the laws of post-Christian society. Much to the chagrin of the progressive elite, which celebrates diversity and warns against bigotry, a change in attitude is noticeable; the invaders become estranged and keep to themselves. Their dependence on our benevolence decreases.

It is as if orthodoxy and a supremacist contempt for people of other faiths equally prevent individual assimilation and cultural integration. The invaders spy on each other, hold each other accountable for breaking domestic rules (i.e. their own customs as opposed to Western laws), and forbid each other to apostatize the faith of their fathers. What is more, a positively hostile attitude towards everything Western is reinforced in Islamist circles.

As long as they are relatively few and depend on us, the invaders pretend to think and feel like we do. Sure enough, we love that; much like parents, who gratefully watch the infant smile at them from the cradle, we are confirmed in our benevolence and encouraged to continue down the same path. However, as soon as the invaders fall under the influence of (religious) leaders from their own ranks, the opportunistic willingness to adapt socially by pretending common ground is gone. They not only demand the right to live by their own rules, which in itself requires special consideration from the rest of society, but also oblige the rest of us to honor them. In short, they claim a special status for their myths and symbols. Latent is the ultimate demand for submission. That is where Western civilization, the basis for our experience of community and social adaptation in life (morality, rule of law, and social cohesion), collapses. With nobody willing to stand up and defend it, it ceases to exist.

Our own ancestors may have known this instinctively, brought up with tales of the Crusades, the large-scale enslavement of Westerners by Corsairs, and the Balkan wars of liberation waged against the Ottoman Empire. Having embraced secularism, however, we thought that we were so much wiser in our time and could win the hearts of the whole world by unprejudiced hospitality and generosity. Instead, our enemies are quite predictably eating us up; we no longer (a) believe in God or a bright future for ourselves, (b) have children, or (c) defend ourselves against those who openly challenge us and humiliate us in our own home.

In the West, people are negligent of the evil that threatens them from without. Yes, against their better judgment, they even doubt the existence of evil in the world. Many years of peace have obviously dulled their senses and made them mellow. In addition, they may have lost some of their courage to speak out against unfairness and defend themselves. Therefore, they hesitate to respond appropriately when the enemy blatantly lies to them and tests their resolve.

The examples of moral retreat in the West are as numerous as they are shameful. However, some are more conspicuous than others. On the one hand, we thus sympathize with feminist demands for equality at home and in the labor market. On the other, we dare not dispute that women from cultures other than our own are enslaved in the multicultural neighborhood.

Once people were afraid of being called racists. As society has evolved in the meantime, with the emergence of parallel societies and anti-Western riots in the streets, the omnipresent risk of violent reprisals has silenced even the outspoken. Nowadays, large parts of Western Europe are effectively divided into enclaves under Islamic law (including bans on women walking alone in public spaces).

Evil exists as well as good. In order to enjoy the latter, we must be courageous and fight the former. That fight is eternal. And if we think that we can ever rest and take the good for granted, we are definitely wrong and may lose everything that we have. We need to be vigilant to maintain order and human dignity around us. Ignorance, laziness, and cowardice invite tragic repetitions in human history.

The West is not the birthplace of evil. However, it is the only place in the world where people enjoy personal freedom and have a tradition of reflecting independently and publicly on their morality.

Image: Public domain.
Robert Sapolsky has written a book entitled Determined: A Science of Life without Free Will (Penguin Press, 2023). I cannot recommend this book, but it is a useful guide to the way liberals think about human freedom.

I should have known when I read in Sapolskys acknowledgments, Thanks to Tony Fauci for battling the forces of Darkness (406). As I see it, Anthony Fauci is complicit in the deaths of millions of people. How many deaths have resulted from the actions of other liberals who deny free will?

Free will, or freedom, is the basis of conservative thought and the object of attack for liberals, who believe that the State; the states experts (academics like Sapolsky); government bureaucrats; and a vast system of educators, media, and enforcement agencies should control human destiny. For conservatives, freedom and liberty are the basis of a civilized life.

Conservatives do not believe that their lives are determined, entirely or mostly, by forces outside their control. They also know that the deterministic factors that do exist in their lives can be countered by aggressive action on their part. Conservatives believe that human beings are unique and worthwhile, and as a consequence, they believe that every human life is valuable. This is part of the reason they oppose abortion.

Liberals, believing that everything is determined from the start and humans have no control over their lives, necessarily place less value on human life, which may be why they support abortion, euthanasia, and other actions that devalue life.

As I read Sapolskys book, I understood that the denial of free will is a foundation of liberal thinking and of all the policy decisions that follow. Sapolsky has a great deal to say about addiction, whether to drugs, alcohol, food, sex, or anything else, but it all comes down to the same thing for liberals: addiction is a disease, and addicts cannot be held responsible for their actions.

In a long and tedious chapter on the Myth of Grit, Sapolsky writes that its impossible to successfully will yourself to have more will power (124). It would be hard to find a more damaging idea  common not just in Sapolskys book, but almost universal in progressive ideology. And it is simply not true.

When I was a student in high school, I willed myself to study (memorize, conjugate, compose) Latin sentences and words for two to four hours every night. I ended up winning the high school Latin award, probably not as a result of my innate ability, but as a result of my grit. I also had the good luck to have a superb instructor. My high school teacher went on to earn her Ph.D. and become one of the best known Greek archaeologists. For a time, she was the only American licensed to explore on Crete. In college, my grit in learning Latin paid off in many ways, not least of which was a useful vocabulary and understanding of grammar and the structure of languages. All of this was the result of free will.

Ill admit that there are many elements of personality, moral tendency, expression, and perspective that are largely determined. In his thousand-page biography of Ulysses S. Grant, Ron Chernow repeatedly argues that Grants alcoholism was a disease, not a matter of free will. Grant drank when he was under intense pressure (he drank in the interlude between battles; but not when he was in command); he drank in the lonely absence from his family; he drank often and with very little control once he began.

This pattern is evidence to Chernow that Grant was truly an alcoholic, with little control over his drinking. One might make the same argument for Jimi Hendrix or Janice Joplin, who both died of drug overdoses at age 27, or for tens of millions of Americans who are addicted to a host of substances, not least of all unhealthy and fattening food. But many million more are not addicted and, even when tempted, make a choice to live a sober, controlled, healthy life. Even Grant eventually swore off alcohol, though not the chain-smoking of cigars that finally killed him.

Taking it farther, millions of young men find themselves in prison as a result of their poor choices and lack of willpower. It seems that academics like Sapolsky would withhold judgment and punishment because these academics find neurological or other bases for criminal intent. If one lacks free will, how man one be judged guilty?

Murder has been judged to be a crime for many millennia, but some progressives would now prohibit punishment of murderers. And the message to potential felons is to go ahead and engage in violent crime because the worst they can expect is a slap on the hand and a few years of comfortable re-education. Thats the way it is already in places like Manhattan  unless your name is Trump.

The truth is that no civilization can continue to function in the absence of a strong belief in free will. Even if we are not entirely free in our choices, we must live as if we were largely so, and we must accept responsibility. Every person has made poor choices, mistakes that he later regrets. One can seek and find forgiveness from God for ones poor choices, but not even God can eliminate the burden of free will and responsibility.

Sapolsky might argue that none of us should feel troubled because the mistakes we make are always the result of poor upbringing, faulty genes, the chaos in our neurons firing off inappropriately  though he might say and does seem to say that nothing is really inappropriate. We live in a chaos of accident and uncontrollable urges, with no free will to keep it all in check.

Just two months ago, a dear friend of mine was injured in a car accident. One passenger was killed, and my friends wife lost the use of one leg. Another driver was charged with causing the accident, and he may spend years in prison (this is Florida, not New York). He caused the accident, regardless of his upbringing, his addictions, his neurons firing off in a certain way. He will be punished, and in a civilized society, his sort must be punished, or else chaos will occur.

Sapolsky has a lot to say about chaos as well  mainly, live with it. But I do not want to live in chaos: I want to live in the most orderly society I can find, with safeguards, security, free will, and punishment for offenders. Thats why I live in a gated and patrolled community and rarely leave it.

The truth is that we are not determined, and we do not lack free will. Even if we are not entirely free, as Sapolsky demonstrates, it is nonetheless the degree of free will that we do possess that separates us from the brutes. It is also what protects us from those who would murder and assault, steal and rape, destroying innocent lives in the process.

Liberals have it entirely wrong. What is needed is not more compassion for criminals (because, Sapolsky might say, their actions are preordained), but more punishment, more precaution, more safeguards for the innocent. Some elements of our lives are indeed determined, but those who really count, like whether we murder a young girl on a whim or whether we drive drunk, are controllable and result from free will. Our only hope of living safely and decently lies in recognizing this fact.

Jeffrey Folks is the author of many books and articles on American culture.

Image via Pxfuel.
Most people think government is just something that runs in the background. We pay taxes once a year (or four times a year, or...), and for that we get our roads paved, police come when we really need them, and our kids have schools to go to.

This is a view from the 1950s that has persisted for the last 70 years. Focus on our families, and let our elected leaders do their jobs.

America is the richest country in the world, and, sadly, there are people who want to take advantage of our wealth for their own benefit. The money we spend on just roads and schools is enormous ($206 billion and $927 billion in 2022), so the contracts awarded for government work are highly coveted. So those who do government work will often make campaign contributions to office-seekers in hopes of getting lucrative business deals.

Fast-forward seventy years, and we find a vast network of lobbying firms, industry associations, and special interest groups desperately trying to influence elections to put their guys in office and get a piece of the federal budget, which was $65 billion in 1955 and is now $6 trillion in 2023. Thats an increase of almost 100 times.

Another important function of government is law enforcement. In 1955, law enforcement meant keeping our streets safe and fighting crime. Now our Department of Justice is involved in social issues and politics.

So our view of government as the paver of roads, builder of schools, and manager of our legal justice system is vastly outdated.

Our new government now has a finger in every aspect of our lives.

Social issues, like abortion, who competes in girls sports, and who can marry whom

Law enforcement issues: combatting inner-city crime and shoplifting, or prosecuting people for their political beliefs

Environmental issues: clean air and water, or an obsession with ending oil and natural gas in favor of electric cars

Education issues: life skills, math and science, or social justice and gender confusion

Health care issues: what treatments are recommended, how much people have to pay

Every one of these areas now has a constituency in Washington, D.C., with lobbyists and activists constantly pressuring our elected officials to spend tens of billions of dollars for their businesses or their causes.

The average American has no money to spend on lobbying, yet we are the ones who fund the government.

Our only control comes once every two years, when we elect representatives in local, state, and federal government to speak for us. Candidates campaign and tell us what they promise to do, and we cast our votes based on the interests of ourselves and our families. If these politicians dont follow through, we vote them out next time.

But when we consider how much money the federal government controls, there is tremendous pressure from special interests to interfere in elections to help the candidates they prefer. Even ten or twenty thousand extra dollars spent on a local race for county commissioner or school board member can be enough to swing a close election. From state legislators to congressmen to senators, money spent by outside interests now plays the dominant role in who represents us. And if our leaders are beholden to outside donors to get elected, they no longer fear getting voted out of office.

The result is that our government spending is out of control, and much of it is fraudulent, corrupt, wasteful, or unnecessary.

And our elected representatives who vote to choose this wasteful spending continue to be elected. Open Secrets reports re-election rates of 94.5% for House members and 100% for Senators in 2022!

How can the interests of the taxpayers and voters be honored when the campaigns are financed by those interested in the spending?

Heres where it gets much, much worse.

Our voting system itself has been corrupted. We are constantly told that our elections are fair and honest, and there is no proof that there was anything wrong in 2020 or 2022.

A December survey by veteran pollster Scott Rasmussen destroyed that narrative once and for all.

When asked, more than 20% of voters who used mail-in ballots in 2020 admitted that they had participated in at least one form of election fraud.

21% of likely U.S. voters who voted by absentee or mail-in ballot in the 2020 election say they filled out a ballot, in part or in full, on behalf of a friend or family member, such as a spouse or child. ... Nineteen percent (19%) of those who cast mail-in votes say a friend or family member filled out their ballot, in part or in full, on their behalf. Furthermore, 17% of mail-in voters say that in the 2020 election, they cast a ballot in a state where they were no longer a permanent resident. All of these practices are illegal.

And the safeguard for mail-in voting  signature matching  has now been minimized or ignored in many states.

This means that our entire election system has fallen apart. Anyone can fill in an absentee ballot for someone else, with no repercussions.

Unless we demand a return to elections that follow all mandated procedures to the letter, our votes wont be counted accurately, and the will of the voters will be ignored in favor of those who are willing to cheat.

But the American people arent the only ones who are cheating. Independent nonpartisan research groups such as United Sovereign Americans have sprung up across the country and are finding millions of illegal entries in state voter databases that facilitate voting manipulation. Here is a tiny sample of their findings.

Florida: 270,804 incomplete addresses; 11,819 instances where 10 to 15 people are reported to be living at a single home; 10,988 cases where 6 to 80 people are living at a single apartment or vacant lot

Illinois: 219,046 voters with incomplete addresses

New York: 48,784 voters with blank addresses

Texas: 166,983 duplicate registrations; 74,202 invalid addresses; 10,092 voters with a P.O. box listed as their address

There is so much money at stake that the attraction of manipulating voter rolls is understandable. Create fake voters with fake addresses, mail them ballots, and fill them out for your candidate  by the thousands!

United Sovereign Americans is filing lawsuits in federal court demanding that election officials follow all established federal laws.

Final question: Billions are spent on international affairs, so other countries have a major interest in our elected officials. How many foreign countries might be hacking into our elections, and who is making sure they dont?

This is not the 1950s. We must wake up to the fact that our elections are compromised.

Very few Americans are truly nonpartisan, but all sides should be able to agree that elections must be accurate. It should be American citizens who decide our elected officials through fair and accurate elections, not special interests or foreign governments.

Our legislators are in charge of each states voting laws. Demand that they tighten signature verification rules and fix database errors. Insist on proper security measures for elections.

Honest voting is the most basic of our civil rights. Support groups who are filing lawsuits to demand that elections be conducted according to the law. Even one person can make a difference.

Image: pasja1000 via Pixabay, Pixabay License.
It was, I suppose, Jean-Jacques Rousseau who introduced the modern world to the idea that persons from the lower ranks of society generally outrank persons from the higher and more privileged ranks in moral goodness.

Rousseau had in mind a contrast between peasants living in rural France and the aristocrats and higher bourgeoisie living in Paris. The peasants were more natural, the higher classes more artificial. Nature is good, and everything it makes was therefore good, including human beings. Peasants, being poor and simple, had not traveled far from their native condition of goodness. The higher classes, by contrast, were rich, and their wealth enabled them to travel a long way from their native condition. Their artificiality had corrupted their native goodness. They had become morally wicked, as anyone who (like Rousseau) had closely observed them in Paris could testify.

It may be noted that Rousseauism is the diametric opposite of Augustinianism. St. Augustine had taught that humans, due to the fall of Adam and Eve, are born into a condition of sin, but they can be made good by the freely given grace of God. Rousseau, by contrast, taught that we are born good but get corrupted by a kind of anti-grace  namely, civilization. If we can return to nature, we can return to goodness.

Rousseaus theory provided a justification for democracy. After all, if the masses were more likely to be good than the higher classes, wouldnt it make sense to allow the plain people to govern society?

When Robespierre presided over the Reign of Terror, causing countless heads, including two royal heads, to fall into the basket, he did this in what he conceived to be the spirit of Rousseau. These were socially privileged heads, therefore bad heads. The more they were eliminated, the more likely it was that the goodness of the lower orders would prevail in France. Robespierre (whose honorific was the Incorruptible) was one of historys great champions of moral goodness.

In the 19th century, socialists adopted Rousseaus contrast between societys more and less privileged classes, although for socialists, especially Marxian socialists, it was the urban proletariat, not the peasantry, that embodied goodness.

Anarchists, some of whom were peasants and others proletarians, were also Rousseauvians. In moments of revolution (e.g., in the early days of the Spanish Civil War of the 1930s), they were pleased to conclude that their innate goodness justified their impulses to destroy churches and to murder priests and nuns.

Lenin too was a Rousseauvian  even though it is certain that Jean-Jacques, being a tender-hearted sentimentalist, would have been shocked by Lenins cruelty, even more than he would have been shocked by Robespierres cruelty. But Lenin could have explained to Rousseau: Our Russian proletarians are, on your theory (when applied to the 20th century) good people, and our proletarians have delegated their goodness to us Bolsheviks, and therefore I and my comrades Trotsky and Stalin and the rest of our gang are good men, from which it follows that anything we do, including murder and enslavement, is morally well done.

Rousseaus theory of the all-important contrast between the good lower classes and the wicked privileged classes is alive and well today. The theory, it seems, will never die. Today the line between the two is a color line. The bad people are the white people of the world, who also happen to be the practitioners and beneficiaries of capitalism  which also makes them bad from a Marxist point of view. The good people today are the persons of color (POC) of the world, who are systemically victimized by white oppressors.

Now, there happen to be some difficulties with regard to the definition of POC. For instance, what about the people of Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, and Singapore? At first glance, they seem to be not quite white. Yet they dont seem to be victims of white oppression, and their societies seem rather like white societies of the West  I mean capitalism and liberal democracy and that kind of thing. Are they POC, or are they the functional equivalent of whites?

And what about Arabs and Persians? They may be a shade or two less white than Meryl Streep, but they are hardly POC if one is to judge by skin color alone. But from a leftist lets make a revolution point of view, it is important to count them as POC. And so they are thus counted.

Using the Rousseauvian template as updated for the 21st century, we can see that Israelis, being white, are wicked oppressors, whereas Arabs  above all Palestinian Arabs  being victimized POC, are therefore good. As for American Jews, they are of course bad. For they are white, and they are beneficiaries of capitalism, and with only rare exceptions, they sympathize with Israel in its oppressive struggle against Arabs. This last factor (their strong pro-Israel bias) makes them worse than the typical white American.

Therefore, from an updated Rousseauvian point of view, one who loves the POC portion of the human race will hate Israel and will hate Jews generally, except for that rare Jew who himself hates Jews. (Marx was such a Jew. Bernie Sanders may be another.)

But if being a POC victim is what makes a person good, what hope is there for American young persons who have grown up in affluent families and have benefited from white privilege all their lives? How can they ever be morally good? Is salvation beyond their reach?

Not quite. Let them sympathize with the POC of the world. Let them hate Israel and American Jews. Let them hate the USA, an incurably racist nation. Let them demand open borders, so that in time the USA may improve itself by colorizing itself. Let them demand that Palestine be free from the river to the sea. And let them set up tents on the campuses of our best universities.

Let them do enough of this, and soon they will become quasi-POC. They will become almost as virtuous as a Hamas terrorist.

Carlin, a retired professor and politician, has authored a number of books, the most recent being Atheistic Humanism, the Democratic Party, and the Catholic Church.

Image: Jean-Jacques Rousseau. Credit: Picryl.
Many are voicing concerns about the State of Montana outsourcing its behavioral health to a private consulting firm, Alvarez & Marsal (A&M), which also happens to do business with China. Montanas decision to hire A&M to revamp the states behavioral health system has sparked concerns mostly relating to the $300-million price tag associated with the account, but oddly has avoided mention of the firms ties to China. Why?

The Montana move to outsource these important high-dollar accounts highlights the Behavioral Health Commissions unchecked power and lack of public oversight. A&M, a global professional services firm, has a strategic partnership with the Chinese state-owned Zhongze Group, raising questions about potential conflicts of interest and national security risks. Entrusting a company with Chinese connections to overhaul Montanas sensitive behavioral health infrastructure is for many a cause for alarm.

According to the official Montana website, Governor Greg Gianforte signed House Bill 872 into law on May 22, 2023, providing a generational investment to reform and improve Montanas behavioral health and developmental disabilities service systems. A central component of the governors Budget for Montana Families, the $300-million investment will expand intensive and community-based behavioral health care and developmental disabilities services across Montana. This new oversight commission, the Behavioral Health System for Future Generations Commission (BHSFGC), is formed around the A&M relationship and recommendations at an estimated cost of five to ten million dollars for A&M. Do the taxpayers of Montana really think thats the final price tag for A&Ms assistance?

These behavioral health oversight committees, like in Montana, are nothing new. The United States has a long, dark history of using unelected behavioral health committees to set mental health policies, endorse risky mental health treatment protocols, and write legislation. These experts have been the architects of some of the most inhumane treatments, such as lobotomies, electric shock treatment, and the massive drugging of children with dangerous psychotropic mind-altering drugs. The committee reports to the governors in each state, while the taxpayers get the benefit of funding the programs and the treatments but then are provided little to no information about whether the programs are effective and, more importantly, whether anyone is getting better.

Governors appoint many of the members, often with heavy ties to the behavioral health industry, who benefit financially from connections to the psychiatric and pharmaceutical industries. Yet these oversight committees operate outside the view of the public and burn through billions of dollars on failed psychiatric approaches without any accountability.

In fact, when these behavioral health programs fail, to avoid public criticism  such as why isnt anyone getting better and how is that significant tax money being spent  the committee often changes its name. For example, the Riverview Hospital for Children in Middletown, Conn. was a state-run psychiatric facility and, despite the desire to have to shut down, it was rehabilitated into the Albert J. Solnit Psychiatric Center  South Campus, the only state-run psychiatric facility in New England. Riverview had its problems, including restraints, and a federal inspection cited the hospital for poor performance in areas such as medication, mental health assessments, treatment plans, and staff training. Then, when the abuse is made public, new calls come for more spending to solve the problems created at the last facility. It appears that nothing gets better  especially not the patients.

So you wonder where this behavior health push began. Ironically, President John F. Kennedy created the very first structure, a Presidents Panel on Mental Retardation. Over time, this name has frequently changed. The original purpose was to cure mental retardation, and the panel was established within the Executive Branch but operated outside the legislative process. Of course, none of the panel members was ever elected by the people, many of them psychiatrists directing human research and writing legislation recommendations for the president with big price tags attached.

President Nixon expanded this quasi-governmental panel and moved it to the states, under the Executive Branch, reporting to the governors. Over the years, the name of the committees has changed. But today, these committees are usually called behavioral health oversight committees, varying slightly depending on the state.

The public understands it as the mental health system, and the average person wouldnt know what behavioral health entails. However, it is a powerful structure buried within the government bureaucracy that makes recommendations to the state government on how the public should behave, what is acceptable, and to what lengths the state will go to enforce psychiatric treatments on the poor and uniformed.

The public has no idea that those who sit on these committees are very friendly to the behavioral health vendors who make up the psychiatric and pharmaceutical industries and are themselves considered the most important stakeholders because they provide the services. These committees and commissions set policies within public schools, prisons, foster care, and the community that benefit the vendors.

Given the amount of money on the table in Montana, it is shocking to see these new developments with A&M and its connections to China. Is there no company in the state of Montana that can handle this state contract? Really? One must wonder what the contract with A&M ultimately will cost the taxpayers of Montana and who is to advise the public on whether A&Ms work was worthy of the enormous pay.

Allowing a firm with ties to the Chinese government to have access to sensitive health data and shape state policies seems like a costly mistake. One must consider if there may be serious national security concerns attached to this relationship.

The first public meeting of the BHSFGC is set for the end of June. Will the new commission be public-friendly, or will it be a continuation of the behavioral health industry vendors setting policy without checks and balances? More importantly, with $300 million on the table, when will the public get a report that will let them know whether anyone is getting better? Thats the point, right?

Image: ElisaRiva via Pixabay, Pixabay License.
It is time for Jews to avoid visiting or traveling to the City of New York if they arent from the area. Do not visit -- and those who must should do so with absolute caution. Jews in NYC are scared and intimidated and do not feel safe.

Consider this a travel warning for Jews to avoid New York City.

Jews are beaten and intimidated daily in New York City with impunity. Jews change their names on ride-share apps, so they wont be recognized as Jews, many have taken down their mezuzahs and hide Stars of David as Mayor Eric Adams and Governor Kathy Hochul have turned a blind eye.

Simply, New York Jews are scared and unprotected.

This past Monday took the cake in terms of creating an unsafe environment. Pro Hamas demonstrators chanted Long live the Intifada while holding signs reading Long live October 7th, violently setting off smoke bombs in front of the exhibit that memorializes the murder and rape victims of the Oct. 7 Nova Music Festival. While carrying a flag of Hezballah, an illegal terrorist organization, this violent mob with covered faces, lighting flares and fires, taunted survivors of the October 7th massacre and yelled Resistance is Justified. Jews were locked inside a building by the NYPD to protect them.

Make no mistake -- what happened last night is the equivalent of a pro-Al Qaeda riot occurring outside the 9/11 memorial, or even occurring outside "the pile" eight months after the towers fell. That would not have been condoned. KKK marches in the middle of black areas would not be permitted.

What would the reaction of the mayor and governor be if blacks were locked inside a building due to a violent white mob?

The NYPD watched and did nothing. Mayor Adams makes speeches about bringing home the hostages -- something he has zero control over -- and leaves Jews in the streets of NYC in danger. Mr. Mayor, we dont care about your speeches about bringing home the hostages -- we want you to protect the Jews in NYC.

We are not safe.

On a daily basis, masked pro-Hamas protestors block the streets and intimidate Jews and Americans. Nearly every day we see Jews being beaten with no comeback.

As Columbia Professor Shai Davidai said in response:

When you do nothing to oppose terror you help it proliferate. All of the blame is on Mayor Eric Adams. This Anti-Semitism is unacceptable. We do not need words. We need action. When Jews are killed in the streets of NYC it is because of you Eric Adams.

The carnage of Columbia University has been seen by the world with pro-rape, pro-murder Hamas supporters making the area unsafe for Jews. The Orthodox Rabbi at Columbia/Barnard sent a WhatsApp message to hundreds of students recommending that they go home. Washington Square Park is the scene nearly every day of protests calling for genocide against the Jews.

Its not just Jews who are unsafe, due to the bail reform laws which see criminals getting out of jail with no punishment within a few hours.

New York City is a fragment of itself -- abandoned stores and empty streets. The city that used to never sleep is in a slumber. Many are rightfully afraid to walk the streets due to crime -- and many have left. More Jews will leave as this conduct continues.

Governor Hochul and Mayor Adams are complicit in allowing pro-Hamas mobs to dominate the streets. From Columbia University to NYU, from store fronts to the Nova Festival, Jews are intimidated and unsafe in NYC.

As a native New Yorker, an American Israeli familiar with New York City and our elected officials, it is time to declare a travel warning for Jews to avoid New York City. Do not come visit unless you absolutely must. It is not safe.

Ronn Torossian is an entrepreneur, philanthropist, and author.

Image: JonySniuk
Authors note: Read the stats referenced herein at the National Archives, under the subheading Investing in Americas Workers and Families.

Investing in Americas workforce was a cornerstone of Donald Trumps administration, emphasizing advanced apprenticeship career pathways that led to well-paying jobs.

Through a series of strategic initiatives and policy decisions, Trump demonstrated a commitment to bolstering opportunities for American workers and empowering marginalized groups, all while maintaining a focus on technological advancement and national security.

One of the administrations key accomplishments was the expansion of apprenticeship programs to over 850,000 individuals, coupled with the establishment of Industry-Recognized Apprenticeship programs. These initiatives not only provided valuable skills training but also paved the way for workers to secure stable and lucrative employment in new and emerging fields.

Additionally, the creation of the National Council for the American Worker and the American Workforce Policy Advisory Board underscored Trumps dedication to addressing the evolving needs of the labor force.

Furthermore, Trump garnered support from over 460 companies through the Pledge to Americas Workers, committing to offer more than 16 million job and training opportunities.

By prioritizing skills-based hiring over traditional degree-based metrics, Trump took a proactive stance in modernizing the recruitment process within the federal government, ensuring that talent and expertise were valued above all else.

In the realm of womens economic empowerment, Trumps administration made significant strides. For the first time in history, womens empowerment was included in a presidents National Security Strategy, signaling a recognition of the crucial role women play in driving economic growth and stability.

Legislative victories, such as the Women, Peace, and Security Act and the Women Entrepreneurship and Economic Empowerment Act, further cemented Trumps commitment to fostering opportunities for women, and supporting women-owned businesses, both domestically and abroad.

The launch of initiatives like the Womens Global Development and Prosperity (W-GDP) Initiative and the Women Entrepreneurs Finance Initiative (We-Fi) exemplified Trumps dedication to amplifying the voices and economic opportunities available to women worldwide.

Through these programs, millions of women gained access to resources and support necessary for financial independence and success.

In the realm of technology and innovation, Trumps administration prioritized American leadership, particularly in areas such as artificial intelligence (AI), quantum information science, and 5G communications.

By naming these fields as national research and development priorities Trump laid the groundwork for future technological advancements, a move that drove economic growth and competitiveness on a global scale.

Initiatives like the American Broadband Initiative and the Secure 5G and Beyond Act demonstrated Trumps commitment to expanding access to critical infrastructure and ensuring the security of telecommunications networks.

By making mid-band spectrum available for commercial operations and investing in groundbreaking programs for commercial drone operations, Trump positioned the United States as a leader in the development and deployment of cutting-edge technologies.

Moreover, Trumps administration took decisive action to preserve American jobs and protect against the influx of cheap foreign labor. By pressuring entities like the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) to prioritize American workers over foreign replacements, Trump upheld his promise to put America first.

The removal of key officials at the TVA underscored Trumps commitment to holding accountable those who undermine the interests of American workers.

In conclusion, Donald Trumps track record of investing in Americas workers is undeniable. Through innovative policies, strategic initiatives, and unwavering dedication, Trump championed the interests of working-class Americans while simultaneously advancing American leadership in technology and innovation.

As the November elections approach, voters must consider the tangible impact of Trumps policies on job creation, economic empowerment, and national security. In contrast to his opponent, Joe Biden, Trump stands as a beacon of hope for the working man and woman alike, deserving their support and their vote.

Joseph Ford Cotto, 1st Baron Cotto, GCCCR (DBA) is the author of What Happened to America?: Howand Whythe American Dream Became a Nightmare. He hosts News Sight, an online program with a sharp focus on the current events that impact your life. During 2014, HLM King Kigeli V of Rwanda bestowed a hereditary knighthood upon him. It was followed by a barony the next year. Cotto holds a doctorate in business administration.

Image: Courtesy of The Conservative Treehouse.
Lamenting the fact that President Joe Biden may lose the election, Democrat James Carville tells a fellow Democrat, podcaster Bill Kristol, that Biden says be happy with what ya got, Trump says be happy with whatcha had, but what Biden needs to do is say be happy wit whatcha gonna see!

Carvilles idea about what to offer voters who are leaving Biden for Trump  he names blacks and young people  is a $15 minimum wage. Its funny, because in most parts of the United States, especially urban population centers, many jobs  from cleaning houses and offices for outfits like Angi Services to working in pencil- or chicken-processing factories  have been paying over $15 an hour for years. Only true gig work like DoorDash and Uber Eats might pay less, and the weakness of Bidenomics is that these part-time gigs are the main jobs being created.

The failure of Bidens policies, his campaign, and even of the Democrats best and brightest campaign strategists is showing up in the polls, with Trump winning swing state polls and purple states like Virginia now tied. In the PolyMarket betting poll, Donald Trump is now at 56% to Joe Bidens 34%.

Not just the betting pools, but Americas political comics also think Biden is going down.

In her TGIF column at The Free Press, sane liberal Nellie Bowles opines that Biden cant last much longer, as evidenced by his D-Day performance in Normandy, and offers to join the betting:

At this point my theory is that Biden and his team know he cannot govern anymore and cannot even be an effective figurehead for staff machinations. So the theory: if Biden wins, he resigns, citing new health information, and Kamala Harris becomes president. In fact, Id bet money on that. Please bet among yourselves in the comments. Other publications may have cooking apps. I have no problem becoming a betting app.

Conservative comic Kurt Schlichter warns that even though he is going down, Biden, or the Democrats, wont do it without a fight, and we should be ready for October surprises and smears:

The election will be between Donald Trump and Joe Biden, or at least the dusty, empty husk that is all that remains of Joe Biden. Theyre not going to trade him out. The Very Real Doctor Jill is not going to stop being First Lady simply because her husband is a senile, corrupt old pervert who is destroying our country  whats important is her and her needs. And dont underestimate the needs of the thousands of lackeys, minions and henchpeople within the administration who are personally invested in this charade going on for another four years. Theyre not going anywhere. Unless the Grim Reaper grimly reaps this elderly cretin before November, hes on the ticket with his borderline clinical moron running mate Kamala. The panic will really set in in October if the polls dont change. They will lash out. There will be unsurprising October surprises. We may see another dozen bogus criminal charges against Trump and his associates. We can be pretty sure that there will be chaos at the Democratic convention and maybe in the streets like in 2020, but thats not for certain  have you noticed that, as it became clear that people are disgusted by these little Hamas-hugging mutants, that the coverage of the campus crusade for communism has diminished significantly? Look for the regime media to do everything it can to try to help its crusty candidate, but the usual propaganda is not going to help. Eight-dollar Big Macs and six-dollar-a-gallon gas are much more compelling to the average voter than the fulminations of the midwit likes of Caitlin Collins about Muh Insurrection and Trumps alleged threat to Our Democracy.

Conservative political humorist Peachy Keenan thinks its not Bidens senility, but his policy failures that are doing him in. The Biden regimes response has so far been to pretend they are now Trumpers:

As we speak, they are desperately hanging new curtains onto the window to trick voters. Theyre not interested in moderating or changing course  they just want you to think they have. And it wont work. Spoiler alert: In a hilarious plot twist, as our elites attempt to fake moderation and grudgingly (and temporarily) adopt some soft Trumplike policies, their voter base actually really IS turning right! Former solid Democrats and Biden supporters are now shouting for Trump with their whole chest. And their neck tattoos. Folks, when you have young Dominican gang members in the Bronx sporting Trump tattoos, its game over for you. Thus, the hasty makeover happening in Washington. Beware Democrats bearing American flags!

Biden is issuing executive orders that look like Trumps old executive orders that significantly restricted illegal immigration. But the Biden E.O.s have so many qualifications that they are just papier-mache, with no real effect.

June provides another indication that  unless Democrats manage to incarcerate Trump (and his supporters like Steve Bannon) and then Epstein them while they are in prison  Trump will win. The national board of the Log Cabin Republicans met Saturday, June 8 in Washington, D.C., the date of D.C.s 2024 gay pride march. That evening, the Embassy of Denmark offered itself up for a reception for the LCR national board and D.C.-area gay Republicans hosted by Ambassador Mller Srensen. Though the Danish ambassador is gay, and he and his partner were fresh from the D.C. gay pride march  one in a pink tee shirt emblazoned with a rainbow and the other in a purple tee  an LCR operative informed me that several European embassies had all made the same offer, unsolicited, to the gay Republican group. Red MAGA hats may have been worn by some Danes at the reception.

Europeans seem to think Trump is going to be president again and know that Trump-supporter and former ambassador to NATO Richard Grenell is active in the Log Cabin Republicans. Of course, continental Europe itself has just had a rightward turn, with the Associated Press decrying the far rights election gains rattle EUs traditional powers and CNN fretting that a far-right surge upends national politics. So if (or when) Trump is elected and Grenell once again becomes an ambassador  or secretary of state  they could have European allies who are very cooperative.

Image: Gage Skidmore via Flickr, CC BY-SA 2.0.
Last night, Duke Buckner became the Republican nominee for South Carolinas 6th Congressional District. In November, hell face Rep. Jim Clyburn, whose 32 years in the House have made him one of the most powerful Democrats in America. For Clyburn to lose would have national ramifications second only to Trump beating Bidenand Duke truly is the man who can make that happen.

Jim Clyburn has been in Congress since 1993 and is currently the Assistant Democrat Leader, second only to Hakeem Jeffries. He served the same function for eight years under Nancy Pelosis leadership. During Trumps presidency, he was the House Majority Whip. He also served as the Chair of the House Democratic Caucus in the early 2000s. Clyburn is so powerful that it was he who saved Bidens flailing campaign by convincing disaffected black Democrats to give Joe their votes during the 2020 election.

Given Clyburns political heft, one would think that his would be one of the most well-funded districts in America. The opposite is true. Its the poorest in South Carolina despite being immediately adjacent to Charleston, a top tourist destination, and its one of the poorest in America. Everywhere one goes in Clyburns district, theres crime and poverty, whether in semi-urban North Charleston (one of the most violent communities in America) or in the dying, rural inland areas that were once so obviously prosperous but now have empty Main Streets, shuttered factories, and the despair of chronic poverty.

Image from Duke Buckners campaign site.

While Clyburns district languishes, Clyburn works to fulfill Obamas 2008 promise that the new Democrat party would fundamentally transform[] the United States of America. Clyburn has been an active part of that, following wherever the Democrat party goes.

While Clyburn once voted for the sanctity of traditional marriage, by Obamas second term, hed evolved just as Obama did, and was all-in on same-sex marriage.

The unions, especially the NEA, give Clyburn their highest marks.

Clyburn backs minimum wage increases despite endless evidence, most recently from California, that the right minimum wage [is] $0.00.

While Clyburn has been on the front line attacking those who questioned the 2020 election, he was an election denier himself in 2004. Naturally, he was against Bill Clintons impeachment and enthusiastically for both of Donald Trumps impeachments.

Clyburn is a leftists leftist. His political home is D.C., not his district. If hes elected again, hell be 84 years old when he takes the oath of office.

And then theres Duke Buckner. I wrote about him at length here, so let me summarize: Hes had a lifetime of real-world jobs, whether as a minimum-wage employee, a teacher, a newspaper founder and owner, or an attorney. He loves God, family, and country. He does not believe that our skin color defines our destiny. He thinks that the government holds people back rather than letting them thrive, but he also knows that our tax dollars should be returned to us in the form of real (not climate) infrastructure improvements such as roads and streetlights.

Those are Dukes values, but values dont win elections; personalities doand thankfully, Duke has oodles of personality. Duke is genuinely warm, speaking to people rather than past them (something many politicians do). Hes an organized thinker and a charismatic orator who doesnt veer into demagoguery. Heres the speech Duke gave last night when he was on the verge of winning the primary. (Don't let the commercials distract you.)

Dukes election day event tells you something about the man. It took place in the charming Colleton Coffee in Walterboro, one of the 6th Districts inland towns. The crowd was truly diverse: young and old, black and white, reflecting South Carolinas demographics.

I spoke with two young black men in attendance (both in their late 20s or early 30s) because I was curious what had brought them to the Republican party. One is an Army veteran who loves America and realizes that the black communitys woes are brought about by Big Government policies that make them dependent on the state and destroy their values. He said that people in his community are increasingly willing to listen to what he has to say.

The other young man came from and lives in one of North Charlestons most violent communities. He wasnt always a conservative but has begun to realize that the current system dehumanizes peopleand dehumanized people are violent people. With his focus on individual responsibility and his growing appreciation for a fathers importance in his childrens lives, hes beginning to understand that Republican policies are the best thing that can happen to black communities.

Duke can win this election. In 2022, when he first ran against Clyburn and had only $200,000 in the bank, Duke managed to get almost 38% of the vote. This time around, two of the three third-party candidates are challenging Clyburn from the left. The last third-party candidate is a libertarian, and libertarians arent having a good year.

Jim Clyburn has been riding high for a long time, but even Napoleon met his Waterloo. His district has nothing to show for his decades in D.C., and people are waking up to the fact that the Democrat party requires division, destruction, and poverty to survive. As Duke says, America as we know it is on the ballot. The question you have to ask yourself is this: Do you want more of the same, or do you want better?

This local election can strike a blow to the very heart of the Democrat party, making it almost as important as Trumps campaign. However, Duke is running in an impoverished district, so he really needs your help. Please donate here.
Injury of U.S. teachers in China "an isolated incident," not to affect normal exchanges: spokesperson

Xinhua) 09:54, June 12, 2024

BEIJING, June 11 (Xinhua) -- The recent incident of the injury of foreign teachers from the United States in China was an isolated incident, which will not affect the normal people-to-people exchanges between China and the United States, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said Tuesday.

Lin made the remarks at a regular press briefing when answering a query concerning the incident.

According to the spokesperson, four foreign teachers from Beihua University, Jilin city, northeast China's Jilin Province, were attacked when touring the city's Beishan Park on the morning of June 10. All the injured were rushed to hospital and received proper medical treatment. None of them is in critical condition.

"Preliminary police assessment shows it is an isolated incident. Further investigation is still under way," Lin said.

Lin said more people-to-people and cultural exchanges between China and the United States serve the interests of both sides and are supported and welcomed by people from all walks of life in both countries.

Noting that China is widely considered one of the safest countries in the world, Lin said there are effective measures to protect the safety of all foreign nationals in China.

"This isolated incident will not affect the normal people-to-people exchanges between China and the U.S.," the spokesperson said.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
A passenger on his way to San Francisco from Fiji died in the middle of the flight.

Fiji Airways says the 41-year-old U.S. citizen suffered a medical condition approximately 90 minutes prior to the scheduled arrival at San Francisco International Airport.

It happened on flight FJ870 from Nadi International Airport.

The airline said the cabin crew and a doctor on board provided immediate assistance to the man but he "unfortunately passed away."

The flight crew declared a medical emergency and the plane was given priority for landing in San Francisco. Fiji Airways ground operations were prepared to meet the aircraft upon arrival.

"Our thoughts and heartfelt condolences go out to the family and friends of the deceased during this difficult time," the airline said in a statement.

"We commend our cabin crew and the assisting doctor for their swift and professional response to this emergency."
At Issues & Insights, Tom McArdle, my former colleague from the Investor's Business Daily editorial page, has written an excellent piece about the "shady, stagnant wealth" of those billionaires who are spending big dollars from their trust funds to bankroll pro-Hamas campus protests, explaining that it's not people who create things for the market who are financing all the dreams of Jihad, but useless, idle, "Leftist Lord Fauntleroys." He cites the Rockefellers, Pritzgers, Soroses, whose "juniors" fund secretive foundations that dish cash to pro-Hamas and other radical organizations.

Todays Rockefellers are left-wing political activists who happen to be loaded, not entrepreneurs.

...and...

The great innovators of American economic history, whose inventions and drive to bring the fruits of their ingenuity to the masses have improved countless lives, fully deserve their financial rewards. It has never been a secret that many of the children and grandchildren to whom they left their wealth never inherited their forebears brains. But now, beyond that, we find many in the succeeding generations actually financing forces advocating anti-semitism, terrorism, and racial genocide.

It makes sense that this type of character is involved.

What's disturbing is that evidence is emerging that they don't just shell out the cash here.

In Gaza, the Hamas terrorist who held three Israelis hostage in his home while presenting himself as a "journalist" for something called "Palestine Chronicle" (and who also contributed to Al Jazeera), certainly got his cash from one of these U.S.-based foundations.

According to the New York Post:

The Palestine Chronicle is a nonprofit organization based in Washington state that works to provide daily news to Gaza. The outlet claims its team consists of professional journalists and respected writers and authors who dont speak on behalf of any political party or champion any specific political agenda. The organization confirmed Sunday that Aljamal was a contributor reporting on the ground in Gaza, but made no mention that he was holding three hostages. The outlet did not immediately respond to The Posts request for comment.

That doesn't mean the foundation was funding the actual terrorism. It doesn't even mean that they knew about this guy's membership in Hamas, though they should have. It doesn't mean they knew he was a terrorist. They were just paying him for his pro-Hamas propaganda pieces, being ones to like that kind of garbage. But that pay from them made him very wealthy by Gaza standards, wealthy enough to have lots of spare time to practice Jihad on the side and have a big apartment with which to hold hostages. We still haven't heard anything from the foundation disavowing this creep.

Lisa Birnbach, who wrote the original Preppy Handbook in 1980, and then a sequel to her book with Chip Kidd 30 years later, called True Prep: It's A Whole New Old World, Brooks Brothers Limited Edition, described the kind of idle rich who turn up in these foundations that bankroll guys like Aljamal.

In a sidebar on page 123 headlined "Why Not For Profits Are More Prep Than The Private Sector," she (it sounds like her) explained:

Any job that has a kind of mysterious benefactor is preppier than a job that has an obvious salary source. Any job that has a vaguely helpful purpose is preppier than a job that is just about earning money. (Earning lots of money is fine but a little bit obvious and therefore embarrassing.) Any job that helps people really far away (microfinancing in Africa, feeding children in Haiti, and so on) is incredibly prep. You need to feel you are contributing to our nation's good, a la John Adams, John Quincy Adams, Thomas Jefferson, FDR, Jane Addams. You are not doing it for the money. ... Working in obscurity is prep. No one really knows what you do, which is perfect--your privacy is inact, as are your online Scrabble scores. Remember, in the best of situations, your kids have no idea what you do, beyond going to an office. It means you are working for one of those earnest preppies who care so much about something arcane: You are preserving the musical rhythms of the Mayan people. [Long list of other arcane projects follows.] ... Whatever it is, no one can really check up on you because you go far away for long periods of time and cell phones don't work in the jungle, the brush, on the equator, at the South Pole, or wherever it is you go for three months at a time. You can do this (whatever it is) forever.

Which is why we see so much cash flowing to Jihad and the promotion of Jew-hate, to the point of cash going to finance campus protests, and even bankroll terrorists' lifestyles abroad.

It's the idle rich making this possible, claiming they are "making a difference" and "saving the world" and other palaver.

Their cash not only goes to fund campus protests, it's spread out to indoctrinating schoolchildren, as AT contributor Barry Shaw notes today, and it's also going to pad the lifestyles of actual terrorists so they can do what they do.

It raises the question of how much of a hosing out needs to be done of this racketry and terrorist support once judgment day arrives on November 5.

Image: Pixabay / Pixabay License
Back in February, billionaire meme machine Elon Musk filed a lawsuit against OpenAI. He alleged that the company betrayed its original vision and has basically become a profit machine for Microsoft. News about that case has slowed down as time went on, but it looks like Musk has had a change of heart. Elon Musk just dropped the case against OpenAI.

Elon Musk previously had ties to OpenAI; he was one of the companys co-founders. Musk was involved with the company until he eventually left. Now that xAI is up and going, he has his own AI-focused company.

Be that as it may, he wasnt done with OpenAI. He filed a lawsuit against the company complaining that its basically become a closed-off for-profit company rather than the non-profit firm providing AI for all. He also complained that the company keeps the source code for ChatGPT locked behind closed doors. There are other LLMs with their source code available to the public, so he shined a bad light on OpenAI.

Adding to the complaints, Musk also talked about the companys close partnership with Microsoft. Rather than being an independent AI company, its basically become a subsidiary in his eyes. He feels that the companys become a profit machine for Microsoft.

In his lawsuit, he wanted to force OpenAI to make its source code free for the public.

But, OpenAI struck back

Elon isnt the only cat in this fight to bear claws. As a response, OpenAI released some emails basically revealing damning information. They reveal that Elon originally wanted OpenAI to do much of the same thing hes reprimanding the company for.

There were emails sent back and forth between Musk and other staff that showed that Musk wanted OpenAI to be a sub-brand of Tesla. He wanted OpenAI to benefit from the money that Tesla was generating. This is no different from how OpenAI is benefiting from the money that Microsoft is giving it. Also, Musk agreed that the source code should be kept within the company.

Elon Musk dropped the case against OpenAI

In a surprising turn of events, Musk just dropped the case against OpenAI. According to a new report, he dropped the case just one day before the hearing where the judge would review OpenAIs request to dismiss the case. So, its weird that he timed it like this.

The case was thrown out, but theres the chance that he could bring the case back. While it would seem unlikely that he would do that, Elon Musk is hard to predict. So, its anyones guess.
Samsungs upcoming foldables may see a price hike in the US, or at least the Galaxy Z Fold 6 will. A reliable tipster has shared the US prices of the new Fold, claiming a $100 hike across the board. It is unclear if the Galaxy Z Flip 6 will also cost more than its predecessor.

Leaked Galaxy Z Fold 6 price reveals a $100 hike

Prolific tipster Steve H. McFly, aka @OnLeaks, who has given us our first looks at numerous unannounced Samsung devices in the past, recently teamed up with SmartPrix to reveal the US prices of the Galaxy Z Fold 6. Like last year, the company plans to release the new book-style foldable in 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB storage variants. The device is said to cost $1,899.99, $2019.99, and $2,259.99, respectively.

If you recall, the Galaxy Z Fold 5 started at $1,799.99 in the US. We are looking at a $100 hike for all storage options this year. Samsung may also increase the prices in other markets. Earlier this year, the company launched the Galaxy S24 series with an unchanged price in the US but hiked the prices in some other regions. There is little chance the price hike for the new foldable would be US-only.

The source doesnt dive deeper into the reason behind this hike. Samsung has made a few changes to its foldables this year. The Galaxy Z Fold 6 is expected to feature a titanium frame along with a thicker UTG (Ultra-thin Glass) panel over the inner display for better protection against scratches. Maybe these improvements have added to the manufacturing cost. Prices of other components may have increased too.

In that case, the Galaxy Z Flip 6 could also end up costing more in some markets. The clamshell foldable is reportedly getting the same upgraded UTG panel as the Fold, though it may miss out on a titanium frame. We might get a clearer picture in the coming days as Samsung prepares for the big launch event in July. Rumors say the next Unpacked will occur on the 10th day of July in Paris, France.

The new Fold will come in three colors

Yesterday, a trustworthy source claimed that Samsung will release the Galaxy Z Fold 6 in Navy, Silver Shadow, and Pink colors. These colorways have been confirmed in the latest leak. We also got a confirmation that the new Fold will weigh 239 grams, making it significantly lighter than its predecessor, which weighed 253 grams. Stay tuned for more leaks and rumors about the upcoming Samsung foldables.
The Pixel Fold 2 and Pixel 9 have shown up in a few renders from a case manufacturer, detailing what both phones will probably look like from a design standpoint. Its worth pointing out that this isnt the first time that these phones have shown up in renders. Both devices have appeared in leaked CAD renders before. The main difference here is that the renders are coming from a case manufacturer so you can see what those cases look like while on each device.

However, they still add to the evidence that these are likely the final designs for Googles upcoming devices. The renders come from accessory manufacturer Thinborne (spotted by GizChina). Thinborne will be releasing at least one case type for these phones  a Thin case using 600D Aramid Fiber with MagSafe compatibility. In addition to the designs popping up again, Thinborne also appears to be suggesting multiple variants of the Pixel 9.

The Pixel 9 case renders point to three different models

It was expected that Google would release a new Pixel 9 standard and a Pixel 9 Pro. Its been doing this with the last three generations of Pixel phones since the Pixel 6. But new details on Thinbornes shop page for Google cases suggest Google will also be releasing a Pixel 9 Pro XL model.

Google used to use XL in the name of its Pixel devices but stopped after the Pixel 4 series. With the Pixel 5, it only released the standard model before launching the Pixel 5a as the more budget-friendly option. Then with the Pixel 6, it swapped the XL label for the Pro label. This sort of made more sense given the additional features and the larger screen. Whereas XL really only suggested the larger screen.

It seems Google may be moving back to including an XL model for its phones. However, it isnt quite clear if that is accurate. Or what the differences between the Pro and Pro XL might be if Google is indeed releasing both in addition to the standard Pixel 9. It is worth reiterating that the Pixel 9 Pro XL rumor has popped up before as well. So this is just additional evidence that it may be coming.
After mocking Apples AI features, Samsung has hired an Apple Siri veteran to lead its AI development. The Korean firm has reportedly roped in Murat Akbacak, the former head of Siris contextual and conversational AI. Akbacak will lead Samsungs newly formed AI research center. The North America AI Center is a centralized group combining its existing AI teams in Toronto and Mountain View, California.

Samsung hires Apple Siri head to lead its AI development

Apple announced a plethora of AI features at WWDC 2024, and Samsung rushed to mock it for arriving lack to the AI party. However, deep down, the Korean tech biggie knows that the AI battle is getting real and it must amp up its Galaxy AI game to stay on top. With Apple Intelligence, Siri has become more personalized. It can understand the context of requests and assist iPhone users in various everyday tasks.

Samsungs Bixby, on the other hand, is hardly relevant today. The digital assistant doesnt benefit much from Galaxy AI. It is unclear if Bixby still has a future in the AI era, though the latest development suggests the company has plans to rejuvenate it. Citing an internal memo Bloomberg reports that Samsung has combined two of its AI research teams in North America to improve operations and increase efficiency.

The memo didnt specify if the teams would be housed in a single location or if they would continue working from the existing sites in Toronto and Mountain View. However, it revealed that Murat Akbacak will be leading the combined unit. At Apple, Akbacak was responsible for defining and executing the strategy for Siri focusing on personalization, contextualization, and advancements in conversational and multimodal AI, according to the memo.

Before joining Apple in 2015, Akbacak was a senior scientist and AI researcher at Microsoft. He worked on the Windows makers voice assistant services for over two years. Samsung would be hoping to benefit from his vast experience in the field of digital assistant and AI. Well have to wait and see whether Akbacak can revive Bixby. Perhaps time will tell if Samsung hired him to work on Bixby or Galaxy AI in general.

Samsung will unveil new AI features next month

Samsung launched Galaxy AI with the Galaxy S24 series in January and gradually expanded it to older models. The company is now gearing up to add more features to the suite, including an AI tool that can create images from rough sketches and text prompts. The new features will debut with the Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Galaxy Z Flip 6 next month. The foldable duo may go official on July 10 alongside the Galaxy Ring, new watches, and earbuds.
Its the time of year when were hearing about new and exciting goodies coming from Samsung. Weve been waiting to hear about the next version of One UI Watch. Well, according to a new report, Samsung just released the One UI 6 Watch beta, and users can try it out well in a few countries.

Were all waiting to see what Samsung has in store for us with its next line of smartwatches. The Galaxy Watch 7 series will come out at the companys next Unpacked event, and we know what to expect. For starters, weve confirmed that the company is going to launch an affordable FE version of the Watch 7 and a more premium version called the Ultra. As for the actual hardware, were still in the dark about many of the details.

The One UI Watch 6 beta has just landed

If youre eager to try out the new stuff coming to One UI Watch 6, then youre free to do so, because the company just released the beta. The beta is coming out for the Galaxy Watch 6 family first. People who own a Galaxy Watch 6 (Review) or Galaxy Watch 6 Classic will be able to enroll in the beta program through the Samsung Members app.

As for the improvements you should expect, the company provided a list. Just know that, since this is the beta, you might not get all of the new changes right off the bat, Youll probably need to wait for some more updates to get the full One UI 6 experience.

As for the changes, the updates include better sleep analysis, a new energy score in the Samsung Health app, the ability to make your own workout routines, faster horizontal scrolling, Universal gestures, the ability to choose which apps send notifications, control more of your watch with Modes, and many more.

One thing to note about the beta is that its very limited for the time being. Its only coming to Galaxy Watch 6 owners in the U.S. and South Korea. Since this is a beta, you should expect some system instability.
Google has begun testing Android 15s automatic theft detection features, starting from Brazil. Smartphone theft is one of the major concerns in many countries including Brazil where approx. 2 phones get stolen per minute. Thats why Google tapped into Brazil as its initial ground for testing the automatic theft detection features it announced at the I/O conference last month.

Google begins testing of Android 15s automatic theft detection feature in Brazil

The automatic anti-theft features fall under the umbrella of larger privacy and security improvements Google is planning with Android 15. Not to forget, there are some other features too like a password-locked vault which Google calls private space. The name itself speaks for its function, users can use it to keep their sensitive data safe and secure. However, the theft detection feature for Android that has undergone testing in Brazil as a part of Android 15 is a bit different.

The anti-theft detection feature has its Google-version name, the company terms it as Theft Detection Lock. So, you must be wondering what goes behind this security feature that tackles smartphone theft, right? First of all, the automatic theft detection feature uses Googles AI. Using artificial intelligence, the new anti-theft feature detects if someone has snatched your phone from your hand. And, if the feature determines the movement associated with theft, it will immediately lock the devices screen.

Different sensors in your Android smartphone help determine if theres any theft attempt

One must be wondering how the automatic theft detection feature can detect all the movement and stuff. Well, all that is possible, thanks to different sensors in your Android smartphone like a gyroscope and accelerometer. Based on the changes in the smartphones positioning and motions, Googles algorithm can predict that the device has been snatched.

That said, theres another possibility to it as well. In addition to relying upon smartphone sensors, the feature can also detect theft attempts if someone tries to use the device in a different network altogether. Lastly, the new anti-theft feature is available for beta testing in Brazil.
A former Ohio police officer may spend the rest of his life in prison, after admitting to his involvement in a cocaine operation, an operation he supplied using drugs stolen from the very crime scenes worked.

John Castillo, 31, of Grove City, is facing at least 10 years in prison after pleading guilty to one count of possession with attempt to distribute five kilograms of cocaine, according to the the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Ohio.

Castillo was arrested in February on allegations of stealing drugs from evidence rooms and investigation scenes. He then passed off narcotics to another person to be sold.

Castillo took roughly 10 kilograms of cocaine from a home on North Everett Avenue in east Columbus during an investigation but didn't enter the drugs as evidence. He then planted two of the kilograms at the Broadleigh neighborhood home and took the rest to be sold by another person.

Alledged co-conspirator and former police officer Joel Mefford pleaded not guilty to charges in February and is expected to go to trial, according to NBC 4 News.

Mefford is facing an additional charge of money laundering as well as two counts of possessing with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine.

Castillo, who joined the police force in June 2019, had high marks in performance reviews and was a member of the department's drug cartel unit as of June 2021.

A sentencing hearing has yet to be scheduled.
Scotlands First Minister has been urged to help come up with a plan to protect jobs put at risk by the closure of the Grangemouth refinery.

Bosses at the site said last year the refinery could begin the switch to an import terminal as early as 2025, sparking fears about jobs and the local community.

In an election campaign video with Alloa and Grangemouth SNP candidate John Nicolson, John Swinney said he cannot allow things to happen that are going to damage Scotland.

The First Minister added that he will work with unions to secure a future for the site, which he said is absolutely fundamental to the Scottish economy.

But the boss of Unite the union said: If they cannot allow damage to Scotland, why on earth has it taken the Scottish Government eight months to even talk about a plan to secure the future of the Grangemouth oil refinery and the jobs of people who work there?

Grangemouth is absolutely fundamental to the Scottish economy. Unites message to politicians since November has been to work with us to develop a plan which can protect jobs, but we still have not seen one.

I've been speaking to the new First Minister @JohnSwinney about #Grangemouth & its long term, sustainable future. As @thesnp candidate for Alloa & Grangemouth I know Scottish Government support is crucial. Have a listen to what he said. pic.twitter.com/3Vc0BqOpZ5  JOHN NICOLSON   (@MrJohnNicolson) June 11, 2024

The Scottish Government has failed to act and make no mistake, Unite will always hold politicians to account for their failures to protect workers.

Unite Scottish secretary Derek Thomson said it is a national scandal that no concrete proposal has yet been brought forward.

In the video, the First Minister said: The Grangemouth plant is so important to Scotlands economy  its not just important to the Grangemouth economy or the Grangemouth community, its important to the Scottish economy, its absolutely fundamental.

So as First Minister, I cant allow things to happen that are going to be damaging to Scotland.

Weve got to work with the plant, with the unions, to find a way forward and to do that securely, so that people are supported through this process.

He also claimed Scotland is still picking up the pieces of the recklessness of the actions of Margaret Thatchers government in the 1980s, when ministers closed coal fields.

Addressing Mr Nicolson in the clip, Mr Swinney added: What we will do is work with a plan to secure a future, and I assure you John, I assure the community of Grangemouth and the wider central Scotland economy, that the Scottish Government will do everything we possibly can do to bring people together and find a way forward.
Dozens of migrants who were detained to be sent to Rwanda have been freed on bail, according to lawyers.

Duncan Lewis Solicitors said it represents 50 people being held ahead of deportation flights the Government wants to see take off in July and that they had all been granted immigration bail in the wake of court hearings.

It comes after campaigners last month called for asylum seekers due to be sent to the east African country to be freed immediately from detention after the Prime Minister said flights would not take off before the General Election.

In a post on X, formerly Twitter, the firm said on Wednesday: We represent 50 of those detainees and can confirm that they all now have bail. Many clients are survivors of torture and trafficking. The tribunal, in granting bail, rightly assessed them to not carry a risk of absconding, reaching the rational view that removal was not imminent.

Removal was not imminent at the time of detention and certainly not imminent after the Prime Ministers announcement, calling for a General Election. The detrimental impact that unnecessary and prolonged detention has had on our vulnerable clients is yet to be fully assessed.

Rishi Sunak said the preparation work was already in motion and that the plan would deter Channel crossings once in action but conceded that deportations would only take place after the election, adding: If Im elected, we will get the flights off.

The comments prompted Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer to claim Mr Sunak never believed in the plan and had called an early election to avoid testing the policy.

Both Labour and the Liberal Democrats have vowed to scrap the Rwanda plan if elected, while the Conservatives have doubled down on the multi-million pound deal which has been beset with delays and has stalled for more than two years so far amid legal challenges.

The Conservative manifesto promised 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.

But Mr Sunak would not say how many people could be removed from the UK under the scheme or how many flights would take place.

Meanwhile, fresh High Court legal challenges against elements of the policy are under way, with Government lawyers telling a judge the first flight was now planned for July 24.

During the election campaign, it has emerged the Home Office had already released some migrants on bail after they had been detained for Rwanda flights but the department has refused to say how many were being held, how many had already been freed and how many more were due to be released.

The further delay in removals has raised the possibility that courts could look more favourably on immigration bail applications, in light of rules which state migrants can only be detained if there is a realistic prospect of their removal from the UK within a reasonable time scale.

When the first wave of detentions took place in April, government officials accepted some of the migrants being held could end up being released on bail as they braced for more legal battles over the plan.

The Home Office has been contacted for comment.
Labours manifesto is expected to contain few surprises when the party releases the document on Thursday.

The launch comes at the end of a week of manifesto events as the parties set out their pitches to voters.

Speaking ahead of the launch, Sir Keir Starmer told reporters Labours manifesto will be a serious, practical plan for the country and the party has stressed there will be little in it that has not already been announced.

That means no tax rises beyond the three it has already set out  charging private schools VAT, abolishing the non-dom tax status, and closing loopholes in the windfall tax on oil and gas companies  and a pledge not to increase the rate of income tax, national insurance or VAT.

Labours six first steps have featured heavily on the campaign trail so far and are likely to form the centrepiece of the manifesto as well, including plans to set up GB Energy, a state-owned company which would invest in renewable energy projects.

Green power is expected to be one of the key parts of Labours manifesto (Stefan Rousseau/PA)

Green policies could be a large part of Labours offer, with a pledge to decarbonise the electricity grid and end sales of petrol and diesel-powered cars by 2030, but the party has rowed back from its original plan to spend 28 billion a year on green projects.

Economic stability, another one of the first steps, will also form a major part of Labours manifesto as the party seeks to paint the Conservatives as the party of economic chaos.

As well as a pledge to stabilise the economy, Labour is expected to include proposals for a new Office of Value for Money to scrutinise spending plans.

Shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves has repeatedly promised not to play fast and loose with the public finances as Labour attempts to shake off Conservative accusations that it would bankrupt the country, and to portray itself as a safe pair of hands in difficult economic times.

The other first steps are cutting NHS waiting lists by providing 40,000 new appointments per week, hiring 6,500 new teachers, cracking down on anti-social behaviour and launching a specialist Border Security Command.

Labours six first steps are likely to form the centrepiece of the partys manifesto (Stefan Rousseau/PA)

On education, there is likely to be a focus on early years, with plans to create new nurseries by converting empty classrooms, rolling out breakfast clubs across the country, and supervised tooth-brushing sessions for young children to combat higher rates of dental decay.

Other policies set to be included in the manifesto are the partys overhaul of workers rights, dubbed the New Deal for Working People, including the right to switch off, and curbs on zero-hours contracts, as well as a commitment to greater devolution of power away from Westminster.

On foreign policy, Labour has said it will keep backing Ukraine against Russia and support recognising a Palestinian state as part of a peace process in the Middle East.

The party has also said it will aim to spend 2.5% of GDP on defence, but has not put a date on reaching the target.
A man has been charged with using threatening behaviour towards Nigel Farage after objects were thrown at him on the General Election campaign trail.

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 construction area below, before reaching into a bucket and throwing something else, which also missed.

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage makes a speech from the Reform UK campaign bus in Barnsley, South Yorkshire (Danny Lawson/PA)

On Wednesday, South Yorkshire Police said Josh Greally, 28, was charged with using threatening, abusive, insulting words and behaviour with intent to cause fear or provoke unlawful violence.

He has been released on bail to appear before Barnsley Magistrates Court on June 26.

Mr Farage, speaking while campaigning in Ashfield, Nottinghamshire, said the incident was pretty nasty.

Politicians from other parties joined Mr Farage in condemning violence towards General Election candidates.

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.

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.

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.
MSPs have backed Scottish Government plans to release prisoners early to ease pressures on the system.

Justice Secretary Angela Constance announced the move last month following a spike in inmate numbers and concerns about the capacity of the prison estate, with the head of the prison service saying it will soon no longer be able to meet the basic rights of prisoners.

The proposals were passed by 66 votes to 47, with five abstentions, after being narrowly backed by Holyroods Criminal Justice Committee on Wednesday.

The Justice Secretary spoke in favour of the regulations (Jane Barlow/PA)

Appearing before the committee, Ms Constance said the prison population stood at 8,294  down from 8,348 on the day the plans were announced but still well above the target operating capacity of 8,007.

The Government has said there are around 550 prisoners eligible for early release under the proposals, and Ms Constance said almost 65% of them are otherwise due to be freed in the next 90 days.

Ms Constance was also clear that the emergency release  due to happen in four waves beginning at the end of this month  is one part of a plan that requires long-term thinking.

Speaking in the chamber on Wednesday, Ms Constance said: That recent sharp an unanticipated rise of 400 more prisoners in the space of a few months now places the security of prisons and the safety of prisoners and staff at significant risk.

There have been concerns about the notification of victims, with those not registered with the victim notification scheme having to contact one of four victims support organisations to find out if the offender in their case is among those released early.

Many victims of serious crimes will first hear about this on tonights news, this will cause fear and anxiety, said Scottish Tory justice spokesman Russell Findlay.

Prisoners being set free will have committed serious crimes, including violence.

Mr Findlay added: The Government likes to take the moral high ground by preaching about smart justice, but it is not smart, it is weak.

The emergency mass release will result in more crime, thats what happened the last time (during the pandemic).

We cannot support this and to do so would be to fail victims and to risk encouraging this Government to believe this is the new normal.

Ms Constance said I very much recognise the public and victims concerns, but added: I want to emphasise that protecting the public remains my absolute priority.

That is why, she said, only those serving a sentence of four years or under who were due for release within the next six months will be released.

Those sentenced for domestic violence, terrorism or sexual crimes will also be excluded.

Scottish Labour also voted against the plans, with the partys justice spokeswoman Pauline McNeill describing the expedited emergency process as unsatisfactory as well as saying the rising population in Scotlands prisons was known about for some time before the powers were invoked.

Scottish Prison Service (SPS) chief executive Teresa Medhurst also appeared before the committee on Wednesday, where she laid out a stark picture of the state of the countrys prisons.

It is my professional view that the use of emergency release is appropriate and necessary to protect the security and good order of prisons and the safety and welfare of prisoners and those who work in our prisons, she said.

With the population increasing at such steep levels, I have indicated to the Cabinet Secretary that we will soon no longer be able to meet the basic rights of prisoners.

This was not driven by a single factor, the prisons boss added, telling the committee of the complexity among the prison population.

Ms McNeill said after the vote: This is being rushed through without the required level of detail over which prisoners will be released and without the full support of victims organisations.

Scottish Labour is concerned that the cohort of prisoners will include offenders who are serving up to four years, which will include serious offenders.

This sticking-plaster SNP solution will do nothing to tackle the causes of overcrowding and could put us back right to where we are today  considering more emergency releases  in just a few months time.

Releasing prisoners unexpectedly in this way places an unjustifiable burden on local authorities and has the potential to lead to high reoffending rates for ex-prisoners, putting communities at risk.

Ultimately, the Scottish Government has broken its fundamental promise to victims  that perpetrators serve their full punishment.

Rather than opting for a sticking plaster that causes distress to victims and increases the chance of reoffending, the SNP must address the root causes of overcrowding and show that they have a longer-term sustainable plan for the changing prison population.
A home belonging to a Jewish board member of the Brooklyn Museum, vandalized with paint. Photograph: Councilman Brad Lander

Police are investigating reports of vandalism after the homes of Jewish leaders and board members, including the director, of the Brooklyn Museum were splattered with red paint early Wednesday.

In images circulating on social media, red paint is visibly splashed across the homes of director Anne Pasternak and several others affiliated with the Brooklyn Museum. Police said five homes  three in Manhattan and two in Brooklyn  were vandalized in the attack.

On one home, red triangles  likely used to symbolize Palestinian resistance  were drawn on the windows and doors. A banner was also hung in front of the house that read: Anne Pasternak Brooklyn Museum White Supremacist Zionist.

The phrase Blood on your hands was also stamped outside of the targeted homes.

The Palestinian mission to the United Nations was also vandalized, with officers finding the street covered with paint-stained pamphlets reading in part: The Palestinian Authority does not represent the Palestinian people, long live the intifada.

No group has claimed responsibility for the graffiti.

In a letter reportedly shared by the perpetrators after the vandalism, they said those targeted are directly implicated in the genocide in Gaza. In addition to Pasternak, others targeted included Neil Simpkins, a Blackstone executive who serves as treasurer for the board, and Kimberly Panicek Trueblood, a former aide to Barack Obama who is president and chief operating officer for the board  all are Jewish.

The Brooklyn Museum said it was deeply troubled by these horrific acts targeting leaders connected to the museum, in a statement shared with the Guardian following Wednesdays incident.

For two centuries, the Brooklyn Museum has worked to foster mutual understanding through art and culture, and we have always supported peaceful protest and open, respectful dialogue. Violence, vandalism, and intimidation have no place in that discourse, read the statement.

Pasternak told the New York Times that she was disgusted and shaken about the incident.

For two centuries, the Brooklyn Museum has worked to foster mutual understanding through art and culture, and we have always supported peaceful protest and open, respectful dialogue, she said. Violence, vandalism, and intimidation have no place in that discourse.

Several Democratic leaders in New York have also condemned the graffiti. New York mayor Eric Adams called the vandalism a crime and overt, unacceptable antisemitism.

These actions will never be tolerated in New York City for any reason. Im sorry to Anne Pasternak and members of [the Brooklyn Museums] board who woke up to hatred like this, he added in a post to Twitter/X.

New York governor Kathy Hochul condemned the graffiti as an abhorrent act of antisemitism, on X.

We stand with the Jewish community in the face of hate and will continue to fight antisemitism wherever it rears its ugly head, she said.

New York City comptroller Brad Lander posted photos on X alongside the message: The cowards who did this are way over the line into antisemitism, harming the cause they claim to care about, and making everyone less safe.

The latest incident involving the museum comes after more than two dozen pro-Palestinian demonstrators occupied parts of the Brooklyn Museum on 31 May, causing it to close an hour earlier, Reuters reported. The protesters were calling on the museum to divest from Israel and other financial institutions that contribute to Israels war on Gaza.

Abdullah Akl, a member of the Palestinian-led organization Within Our Lifetime, said that the group and others will continue to occupy institutions just like this one and call out individuals like the board of the Brooklyn Museum to make clear that their money and our money is being used for this genocide, in comments to Democracy Now.

On Monday, pro-Palestinian protesters also demonstrated in front of an exhibit in lower Manhattan that memorializes those who were killed at the Nova Musical Festival during the 7 October attack by Hamas. The demonstrators who protested against the exhibit have labeled it as propaganda.

That demonstration has since been widely condemned as antisemitic, including by New York representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and representative Ritchie Torres, who dubbed the protesters anti-Israel bigots. Manhattan borough president Mark Levine called the demonstration repulsive and vile.
Ukrainian forces destroyed two Russian S-300 and S-400 radars in Crimea

Ukraines military on Wednesday said its forces had destroyed three Russian air defence systems in occupied Crimea.

The long-range barrage targeted an S-300 system and two more modern S-400 batteries near Belbek and Sevastopol, Ukraines general staff said.

As a result of the strikes, two radars of the S-300 and S-400 complexes were destroyed. Information about the third radar is being clarified, it wrote on the Telegram messaging app.

The Russian-installed governor of Sevastopol claimed local air defences had repelled a missile attack, raising the prospect of US-supplied Atacms ballistic missiles being involved in the strike.

After a similar Ukrainian attack earlier this week, authoritative Russian military blogger Rybar claimed Ukrainian forces had attacked with at least 12 Atacms fired from Ukraines southern Mykolaiv region.

Ukraine has not confirmed which weapon it used to carry out strikes against Russian air defences in Crimea this week.

It comes as the United States said it will send another $1.1 billion Patriot missile air defence system to Ukraine in the coming days.

The Patriot, considered the United States best air defence weapon, can shoot down incoming missiles before they hit their intended targets and is already used by Israeli and Saudi and Emirati forces in Yemen. The system would be at least the second that the US has sent to Ukraine.

Meanwhile, Russia launched a missile and drone attack on Kyiv, the Ukrainian military said.

Ukraines air defence systems destroyed all air weapons on their approach to the city, Serhiy Popko, the head of Kyivs military said on the Telegram messaging app.

Mr Popko added that according to preliminary information, Russia used a combination of cruise and ballistic missiles as well as drones in its attack. The size of the attack was not immediately clear.

Witnesses said that several blasts that sounded like air defence systems at work were heard in and around Kyiv. The weapons used could not be independently verified.

It was not immediately known whether there was any damage in the Kyiv region, which surrounds the capital and which is a separate administrative entity.

03:31 PM BST

Thanks for following todays live blog

Thank you for following todays live coverage of the war in Ukraine.



Well be back soon with more updates and analysis from the conflict.

03:15 PM BST

Pictured: Ukrainian soldiers anticipate drones in Kherson

Ukrainian soldiers wait for Russian kamikaze drones, amid Russias attack on Ukraine, in Kherson region.

The coastal region of Kherson is situated atop the Russian-occupied Crimea, near the Black Sea coast.

Two years ago, the first of Ukraines regional capitals to fall, as Russian forces swept in from Crimea in March 2022. It was liberated by Kyivs military nine months later.

A Ukrainian serviceman from an anti-drone mobile air defence unit smokes near a ZU-23-2 anti aircraft cannon - REUTERS

Ukrainian soldiers waits for Russian kamikaze drones in Kherson region - REUTERS

02:27 PM BST

US to send rare Patriot $1bn air defence system to Ukraine

The United States will send another $1.1 billion Patriot missile air defence system to Ukraine in the coming days as the war-ravaged nation struggles to fend off Russian attacks on its cities and energy grid.

The new Patriot system would be at least the second that the US has sent to Ukraine.

The Patriot, considered the United States best air-defence weapon, can shoot down incoming missiles before they hit their intended targets and is already used by Israel and Saudi and Emirati forces in Yemen.

The critical systems are considered incredibly rare, even for the United States. Pentagon officials refuse to disclose how many are in its arsenal, but one senior military official said that the Army has deployed only 14 of them, in the US and around the world.

Patriot batteries can project defences out some 600 miles and are often used to target and shoot down long-range ballistic missiles and aircraft from hundreds of miles away.

The Patriot is by far the most expensive single weapon supplied by the US to Ukraine, with the total cost around $1.1 billion (784m): $400 million (303m) for the system and $690 million (541m) for the missiles.

A Patriot air missile system is fired - Eloisa Lopez/REUTERS

01:55 PM BST

Ukrainian lawmakers propose fee to exempt workers from draft

Ukrainian lawmakers announced a bill on Wednesday that would allow businesses to exempt their employees from military service if they pay a $500 (390) monthly fee per worker.

Hundreds of thousands of draft-age men have left or stayed outside of Ukraine since the war began in 2022, with almost three quarters of companies experiencing staff shortages partly as a result, according to a survey published in April.

In these times, the functioning of any business depends on predictability, and the first question that worries most manufacturers today is whether they will be able to retain critical employees, ruling party MP Dmytro Natalukha said on Facebook.

According to the bill, every business entity that pays the increased military fee of 20,000 hryvnia ($500) per month per employee will have the opportunity to reserve that worker, Natalukha said.

The debate surrounding mobilisation is extremely sensitive in Ukraine, which has been unable to give its long-serving conscripts a break as it suffers from acute troop shortages on the front.

01:22 PM BST

Zelensky renews call for weapon supplies following Kyiv overnight attack

President Zelensky renewed a call for weapons to strengthen the countrys defence systems, following an overnight Russian attack on Kyiv and several other regions.

In a post on X, he wrote:  Our air defenders responded effectively, shooting down five enemy missiles and more than 20 drones.

Such a result in protecting lives can be our daily achievement if we have enough tools to repel terrorist attacks. I am grateful to all of our partners who understand this and work together with us to boost our resilience in this daily fight for life.

Another attack by Russian terrorists this night. Recovery efforts are underway. The occupiers attempted a combined missile and drone strike on our country. Our air defenders responded effectively, shooting down five enemy missiles and more than 20 drones.



Such a result in pic.twitter.com/EW1RecuMmH  Volodymyr Zelenskyy /   (@ZelenskyyUa) June 12, 2024

12:09 PM BST

One killed in fatal arms plant explosion in Poland

An unexplained fire and explosion at an armaments factory in Poland killed one, the latest in a number of unexplained fires that senior politicians in the region have blamed on Russia.

The fire took hold at the Mesko arms factory in the southeastern Polish city of Skarzysko-Kamienna.

Donald Tusk, Polands prime minister, said he had no evidence of Russian involvement for now, but added his government was very vigilant and sensitive to such cases for obvious reasons.



In late May, Tusk said it was likely that Russia was responsible for a fire that destroyed Warsaws largest shopping centre.



The Marywilska shopping centre burned down amid a spate of other fires around Poland.

Marywilska shopping centre ablaze in Warsaw - Dariusz Borowicz

Poland arrested 12 people in May on suspicion of spying or planning to commit acts of sabotage on Polish soil.

In neighbouring Czechia, Prime Minister Petr Fiala said after a meeting of the national security council that a failed arson attack that took place in Prague last week was very likely to have been organised and financed by Russia.



The Czech PM spoke of a hybrid campaign of arsons against European countries by the Kremlin.



A Spanish speaking man originally from South America was held under investigation for terrorism charges after reportedly attempting to set fire to a number of busses at a bus depot in Prague.



The [Kremlin] connection is not only possible, but highly probable said PM Fiala, as police increased controls around the capital.

11:54 AM BST

Russia launches missile and drone attack on Kyiv

Russia launched a missile and drone attack on Kyiv early on Wednesday, Ukrainian military said.

Ukraines air defence systems destroyed all air weapons on their approach to the city, Serhiy Popko, the head of Kyivs military said on the Telegram messaging app.

Mr Popko added that according to preliminary information, Russia used a combination of cruise and ballistic missiles as well as drones in its attack. The size of the attack was not immediately clear.

Witnesses said that several blasts that sounded like air defence systems at work were heard in and around Kyiv. The weapons used could not be independently verified.

It was not immediately known whether there was any damage in the Kyiv region, which surrounds the capital and which is a separate administrative entity.

Firefighters putting out a fire in Kyiv after a Russian attack overnight

11:45 AM BST

Ukraine says it hit three Russian air defence systems in occupied Crimea

Ukraines military said it hit three Russian surface-to-air missile systems in Moscow-occupied Crimea overnight, its second reported strike on air defences on the peninsula this week.

Strikes targeted an S-300 system and two more advanced S-400 air defence and radar systems near Belbek and Sevastopol, Ukraines general staff said on Wednesday.

As a result of the strikes, two radars of the S-300 and S-400 complexes were destroyed. Information about the third radar is being clarified, it said on Telegram.

11:10 AM BST

Hungary will not block Nato support for Ukraine

Hungary will not join Natos planned steps in support of Ukraine, but it will not stand in them either, Prime Minister Viktor Orban said on Wednesday.

Budapest has repeatedly opposed Ukraine joining Nato and the EU, sanctions on Russia, undermined Western aid efforts for Ukraine, and maintained close relations with Moscow throughout the full-scale war.

Hungary made clear today that it will not block decisions by NATO which, although they differ from our rational assessment of the situation, are shared and advocated by the rest of the alliance, Mr Orban told a news conference.

He added that he had received assurances from Natos Secretary General, Jens Stoltenberg, that Hungary would not have to provide funding for Ukraine or send personnel there.

Western countries have debated the possibility of training troops in Ukraine, but Nato has repeatedly said it does not want to become directly involved in the conflict.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban - ATTILA KISBENEDEK/AFP

10:34 AM BST

Two Indians recruited by Russia killed in Ukraine

India says two of its nationals who had been recruited by the Russian army have been killed in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

The Indian foreign ministry said it had urged the Russian authorities to repatriate the bodies of the two deceased.

It also urged Moscow to quickly release and return all Indian nationals who are with the Russian army.

Moscow is yet to comment.

The ministry its citizens to exercise caution while seeking employment in Russia amid reports that dozens of Indians had been duped by agents into fighting for the Russian military.

10:04 AM BST

Ukraine plans record high power imports

Ukraine plans record power imports on Wednesday after significant energy infrastructure damage by Russian missile attacks, the Ukrainian energy ministry said.

Russian missile and drone attacks on Ukraines energy sector have intensified since March, resulting in blackouts in many regions, forcing Kyiv to start large-scale electricity imports from the European Union.

The ministry said in a statement the country would import 29,796 Megawatt hours on Wednesday, exceeding the previous record of up to 28,000 MWh earlier this month.

Before Russia launched its full-scale invasion, Ukraine produced around 55 GW of electricity, which was among the largest in Europe.

That power generation capacity has now plummeted to below 20 GW, according to Ukrainian officials.

A thermal power plant which was destroyed by a Russian rocket attack in Ukraine - Evgeniy Maloletka/AP

09:26 AM BST

China will oppose all unilateral sanctions

China will resolutely oppose all unilateral sanctions, following new warnings from G7 countries on small Chinese banks concerning their ties to Russia, the Chinese foreign ministry said.

It will take all necessary measures to firmly safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese enterprises, spokesperson Lin Jin said at a regular press conference on Tuesday.

It was reported yesterday that member countries of the G7 were set to send a tough new warning next week to smaller Chinese banks to stop assisting Russia in evading Western sanctions.

Leaders are gathering for the summit on June 13-15.

09:09 AM BST

Russia loses nearly 1,000 soldiers in just 24 hours

Russia lost at least 980 troops, including those killed and injured, on the frontline in Ukraine in just the past day, senior Ukrainian military officials said this morning.

Over the past day, the Russians lost 980 servicemen killed and wounded, nine tanks and 46 artillery systems on the battlefield, the General Staff of the Ukraine Armed Forces said in his daily update.

It said the total casualties of those killed and wounded in Russias full-scale invasion launched in February 2022 has now risen to 521,830.

Russia has not commented on the daily death toll shared by Ukrainian forces and authorities, nor has it separately issued its own death toll since the full scale invasion of Ukraine.

08:41 AM BST

Washington to send new Patriot missile system to Ukraine

The United States will send another Patriot missile air defense system to Ukraine in the coming days, according to US media, who cited unnamed administration and military officials.

The news comes as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky implored on Tuesday for more air defenses from Western partners.

Zelensky has recently called for several additional Patriot systems, including two to defend the eastern Kharkiv region, where Russia has recently been pressing a fresh offensive.

Russias 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 at a conference in Berlin Tuesday.

Air defense is the answer, he added.

The delivery would be at least the second Patriot system sent to Ukraine by Washington.

08:13 AM BST

Netherlands provides 60 million euros for Ukraine to buy drones

The Dutch government will provide 60m euros (50.9m) to bolster Ukraines aerial and naval drone purchasing and production, Dutch Defense Minister, Kajsa Ollongren, said on Tuesday.

A total of 17.5m euros (14.7m) will be allocated towards the purchase of naval drones, while the remaining 42.5m euros (35.4m) will go towards bilateral drone deliveries through the international drone coalition.

This will include at least 20 million euros for the purchase of first-person view drones.

07:46 AM BST

North Koreas Kim boasts of invincible ties with Russia

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has said his country is an invincible comrade-in-arms with Russia in a message to President Vladimir Putin, state media KCNA said on Wednesday, amid speculation over Putins impending visit to North Korea.

Mr Kim said his meeting with Putin at a Russian space launch facility last year elevated the ties of their century-old strategic relationship.

The message comes after a Russian newspaper on Monday reported 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 foster cooperation with North Korea in all areas but has not confirmed the date of the visit.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un visit a construction site of the Angara rocket launch complex in Tsiolkovsky, Russia - Getty Images Europe

07:39 AM BST

US to widen sanctions on sale of semiconductor chips to Russia

The US government plans on Wednesday to announce wider sanctions on the sale of semiconductor chips and other goods to Russia, with the goal of targeting third-party sellers in China, sources familiar with the plans said late on Tuesday.

The moves are part of a push by the Biden administration to respond to Russias efforts to dodge Western sanctions and stifle its war effort against Ukraine.

The administration will announce it is broadening existing export controls to include US-branded goods, not just those made in the United States, sources familiar with the plans have said.

07:34 AM BST

Hello and welcome to our live coverage

Were bringing you the latest updates from the Ukraine war.
Police in Florida say they were forced to kill a man when responding to a gruesome crime scene on Sunday.

An officer shot and killed a man holding a knife-along with a piece of his roommate.



It happened around 11:30 p.m. on Sunday. The Fort Myers Police Department responded to a report of a woman and two small children hiding in a carport.

Officers spoke to the woman, who said her husband, Willy Lumaine, was actively killing their roommate.

Upon arriving at the home, they noticed the front door was open with a trail of blood leading inside.

The officers immediately secured the perimeter around the home and began issuing verbal commands in an effort to locate the husband and any possible victims.

The man, later identified as the female's husband, Lumaine, approached a rear window and began to smash it out with a massive knife.

As officers continued to yell at Lumaine to drop the weapon, he climbed out of the window, holding the knife in one hand and what seemingly looked like a dismembered body part in the other.

He refused the commands and exited the window, heading toward the officers, so the fired their duty weapons, striking Lumaine and incapacitating him, according to police.

He was later pronounced dead.

Police found evidence of a violent attack inside the residence and discovered the roommate's mutilated and dismembered body inside and outside of the home, according to the Fort Myers Police Department.

The involved officers have been placed on paid administrative leave per department policy as the Florida Department of Law Enforcement conducts an officer-involved shooting investigation simultaneously with the police department's investigation.
Ilham Aliyev is serving a fifth term as president after elections recorded him winning 92% of the vote. Photograph: AP

Azerbaijans government has been accused of cracking down on media and civil society activism before the countrys hosting of crucial UN climate talks later this year.

Human Rights Watch has found at least 25 instances of the arrest or sentencing of journalists and activists in the past year, almost all of whom remain in custody.

Many campaigners and civil society groups have spoken of their concerns that climate advocacy was being stifled amid a media clampdown. Azerbaijan will host the UN Cop29 climate summit over two weeks in November, when nearly 200 governments, including dozens of heads of state, are expected to thrash out a new global approach to providing the funds needed to tackle the climate crisis.

Azerbaijan, an authoritarian state where media and civic freedoms are curtailed, is regarded as one of the worlds most corrupt countries, coming 154th out of 180 states in a ranking by Transparency International last year. There is little effective political opposition and the president, Ilham Aliyev, won more than 92% of the vote in elections in February to take a fifth consecutive term. His father was Heydar Aliyev, who led the country under Soviet rule and was installed as president after a military coup in 1993 followed the breakup of the eastern bloc.

Azerbaijan is also accused of holding political prisoners. A war with neighbouring Armenia last year over the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region ended with 100,000 people being displaced from their homes.

One of Aliyevs top advisers said a few weeks ago that the government intended to make Cop29 a Cop of peace, and to call for a Cop truce in which hostilities would be suspended around the world for the duration of the talks.

Campaigners raised their concerns at a pre-Cop29 meeting of governments in Bonn, where the secretariat for the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) is based. Officials from around the world are in the midst of two weeks of meetings to discuss the key issues that will dominate the Cop29 summit, including the vexed question of how to provide sufficient finance to help the developing world cut greenhouse gas emissions and cope with the impacts of global heating.

A protest was held at the entrance to the Bonn talks on Friday evening  the midpoint of the discussions  calling for the release of 23 Armenian political prisoners held in Azerbaijan. Some protesters accused the government of genocide.

Myrto Tilianaki, a senior environmental advocate at Human Rights Watch, highlighted the case of Anar Mammadli, a member of the Human Rights Houses network, who was arrested on 29 April on smuggling charges. He is a founder of the Climate of Justice Initiative, which aims to use Cop29 to push for environmental justice in Azerbaijan.

Ibad Bayramov is campaigning for the release of his father, Gubad Ibadoghlu, a research fellow at the London School of Economics and civil rights activist, who was imprisoned last summer and whose health has badly deteriorated, requiring urgent medical treatment which his family say he is not receiving.

Bayramov said: Cop29 lends legitimacy on the world stage to the governments illegitimate imprisonment of my father. As his health has deteriorated to extreme levels, western governments continue to meet weekly with their Azerbaijani counterparts regarding Cop29. Meaningful progress on climate change cannot be achieved in a country where individuals like my father are imprisoned and tortured for speaking out.

Paul Polman, a former CEO of Unilever who now campaigns on climate and human rights issues, said he wanted to use Cop29 as an opportunity for the international community to talk about Azerbaijans treatment of prisoners, about which he has serious concerns. I hope that Cop29 can be used as an opening, he said. But its appalling that human rights has not been on the agenda. After Cop29, there will not be a spotlight on Azerbaijans record.

Azerbaijans government has rebutted the activists claims. A spokesperson said: We totally reject the claims about [a] crackdown against human rights activists and journalists in Azerbaijan. No one is persecuted in Azerbaijan because of political beliefs or activities.

As in any rule-of-law based society, any detention or imprisonment of a person who is suspected in illegal activities is subject to the requirements of investigation and fair trial, based on relevant laws and regulations. Instead of waiting for the results of criminal cases and investigations, as well as court rulings  to call on Azerbaijan to release suspects is in open contradiction with legal procedures.

As Cop29 president, Azerbaijan lays out its vision and pillars for a successful year of climate negotiations, encouraging an open and direct dialogue among all nations, and we believe all the layers of society should contribute to successful efforts to tackle the climate change challenge.

Azerbaijans presidency follows two other consecutive Cops  the term stands for conference of the parties, under the UNFCCC, the 1992 parent treaty to the Paris agreement  in countries with authoritarian leaders and poor records on human rights: the United Arab Emirates hosted Cop28 in Dubai last year, where protests were muted, and Egypt hosted Cop27 in 2022. The UN guarantees some freedom of expression for protesters within the confines of the Cop during the fortnight it runs, but has little influence on the hosts behaviour outside its precincts.

Tilianaki said: Holding Cop29 in Azerbaijan raises serious concerns about the possibility of advancing ambitious climate action in negotiations. Governments attending the Bonn preparatory meeting should call out Azerbaijan for its repression of civil society and make clear that they will actively confront any attempts to weaken robust climate policies.
The US has said it is evaluating Hamas formal response to its Gaza ceasefire proposal, as the secretary of state, Antony Blinken, attempts to channel global support for a UN security council resolution backing the proposal into pressure on the Palestinian militant group and Israel.

Late on Tuesday, a Hamas official said they had submitted a response to Egyptian and Qatari mediators, seeking some amendments, and that their priority was to bring a complete stop to the war. A separate Hamas spokesperson, Jihad Taha, said the response included amendments that confirm the ceasefire, withdrawal, reconstruction and [prisoner] exchange.

Washington received the reply and was evaluating it right now, national security council spokesperson John Kirby told journalists on Tuesday night, while declining to provide details on its content.

Blinken on Wednesday heads to Qatar, which along with Egypt is a key mediator with Hamas.

On his second day of a visit to the Middle East on Tuesday, he said Israels prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, had reaffirmed his commitment to the proposal, although the Israeli government, which has far-right members, has not formally endorsed it.

Blinken met Israeli opposition leaders on Tuesday morning, and spoke privately to hostages families before travelling to Jordan for an emergency summit on humanitarian aid for Gaza, where more than a million people are on the brink of famine and most of the population are displaced.

He announced an extra $404m (317m) funding for humanitarian aid for Gaza at the conference, and called on other countries to step up donations.

The Palestinian president, Mahmoud Abbas, said the international community had a responsibility to press Israel to open land crossings into Gaza. His Egyptian counterpart, Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, said international pressure was needed to stop Israel using hunger as a weapon.

The deal, which was approved by the UN on Monday, was unveiled by the US president, Joe Biden, at the end of May. Biden presented it as an Israeli initiative although Netanyahu has been at best ambivalent about the plan, saying any ceasefire proposal before Hamas military and governance capacity had been destroyed was a non-starter.

That position appears to contradict the terms of the agreement, which calls for an initial exchange of elderly, sick or female hostages for Palestinian detainees held by Israel, in the course of a first six-week halt to fighting.

The ceasefire would evolve into a permanent end to hostilities and the release of all hostages in a second phase. A final stage would see the launch of a major reconstruction effort.

Hamass position could also complicate progress. It has said it would only accept a permanent ceasefire deal, after one temporary break in fighting collapsed last winter, and reportedly asked for international guarantees of any ceasefire.

Senior officials from the group on Tuesday welcomed the resolution and said it was ready to negotiate details. A spokesperson, Jihad Taha, said Israel was stalling and procrastinating and creating obstacles so it could continue fighting.

The UN vote on Monday was the first time a deeply divided security council has endorsed a comprehensive plan for Gaza. Palestinian support for the US resolution made it much harder diplomatically for Russia or China to veto it.

The rare show of relative unity puts pressure on both parties to the conflict, though both have shown themselves to be far more influenced by local constituencies and the personal interests of leaders than by international public opinion.

Netanyahus government has shifted to the right since Biden unveiled the deal, with the war cabinet member Benny Gantz resigning from the government over the failure to make a long-term plan for Gaza.

That has increased the weight of hardline extremists, who want to keep fighting and have said they would resign if Netanyahu accepted a deal.

However, the prime minister is also under pressure over the fate of hostages still in Gaza, whose relatives are lobbying hard for Israel to accept the deal. They demonstrated outside Blinkens hotel in Tel Aviv, and he also met hostages families.

Four hostages were rescued at the weekend by Israeli special forces, in a mission that killed more than 270 Palestinians, many of them civilians, prompting international outrage at what the top EU diplomat, Josep Borrell, called a massacre.

The UN human rights office said it was shocked by the impact on civilians of the rescue operation, and warned that Israeli forces and Hamas may both have committed war crimes.

The operation brought the total freed in military operations to just seven, a tiny proportion of the 250 people captured in the Hamas cross-border attacks on 7 October, when militants also killed about 1,200 Israelis.

Relatives say military operations cannot free all their loved ones. Most of those who are now home were handed over under a temporary ceasefire deal last November. There are still 120 held in Gaza, at least a third of whom are presumed to have died.

In Gaza there was scepticism that the deal would bring a halt to Israeli attacks that have killed more than 37,000 people, according to health authorities in the strip, and brought at least half the population to the brink of famine.

We will believe it only when we see it, said Shaban Abdel-Raouf, 47, displaced with his family of five to the central town of Deir al-Balah. When they tell us to pack our belongings and prepare to go back to Gaza City, we will know it is true, he told Reuters.

Four Israeli soldiers were killed there in an ambush on Tuesday, Israeli media reported. Forty Palestinians were killed in Gaza over the last 24 hours, and 120 injured, Gaza health authorities said.

Fears of escalating conflict between Hezbollah and Israeli forces across the northern border were also on Blinkens agenda in Israel. Late on Monday Israeli forces killed three fighters when they hit a convoy of tankers, and on Tuesday Hezbollah fired a barrage of about 50 projectiles towards the Golan Heights.

Blinken told Gantz that the ceasefire deal for Gaza would improve Israels security by taming tensions on that border, the US state department said.
Rishi Sunak rightly hailed Britain's self-employed as the risk-takers and entrepreneurs in our economy - Benjamin Cremel/AFP

Ill admit  abolishing National Insurance for the self-employed was not on my election bingo card.

Its an extraordinary offer to millions of self-employed people whom Rishi Sunak rightly hailed as the risk-takers and entrepreneurs in our economy as he made the manifesto pledge. After a bruising economic period, its just what they needed.

But its fair to say that hundreds of thousands more freelancers will be wondering why theyve been left out of the prime ministers plan to boost the sector. If his aim is to fully embrace the self-employed, hell need to go one step further. That means scrapping the IR35 tax reforms.

IR35 is a highly disputed area of the tax system, and its one that both Labour and the Conservatives have had a hand in creating. Introduced by then-chancellor Gordon Brown, the Conservatives went on to reform these rules in 2017 and 2021  much to the detriment of limited company freelancers and their clients.

In sum, it flipped the responsibility of determining the tax status of freelancers from the contractor to the company.

Following a series of high profile cases involving well-known TV personalities, many companies, notably banks, took the decision to limit the number of freelancers they took on or turned them away altogether for fear of falling foul of the rules. And the impact has been severe.

Our research found that within the first year of the 2021 reforms, one in five contractors had given up on freelancing to become an employee.

For those who have stuck it out, the new rules are a constant barrier to securing work; more than half of contractors have had to reject work in the past year due to IR35-related disputes with a client. And a shocking one in 10 contractors are out of work today as a direct result of the reforms impact. In short, its a nightmare for business.

Liz Truss and Kwasi Kwarteng understood this. Overshadowed by the mini-Budgets more eye-catching measures were plans to repeal the IR35 reforms  also known as the off-payroll working rules  citing the unnecessary complexity and cost they bring to freelancers and hirers alike.

As we all know, the mini-Budget didnt last long  but if there was one measure that deserved to outlast Jeremy Hunts reversal of Kwartengs growth plan, it was this one.

As it stands today, IR35 makes working with freelancers unnecessarily risky for hirers. They watch with trepidation as HMRC drags media personalities through the courts for years on end and, understandably, conclude that its not worth the hassle.

A common alternative is to require freelancers to adopt a form of quasi employment with an umbrella company  a sector which itself remains plagued by bad actors and in need of regulation.

The self-employed need to be freed from the nightmare of IR35.

Its hugely encouraging that Rishi Sunak has, at the last minute, shown that he recognises the unique value our self-employed sector brings to the economy. He now needs to ensure that his bold appeal to the self-employed doesnt fall short of its potential to truly transform the fortunes of those who strike out on their own.

Andrew Chamberlain is director of policy at The Association of Independent Professionals and the Self-Employed (IPSE) - Briains only not-for-profit association dedicated to the self-employed.
The Gospel According To Saint John was handed out by a charity during the First World War - Jamie Lorriman

Nigel Farage has been pictured holding a First World War-styled edition of St Johns Gospel.

The Reform UK leader was carrying a special centenary copy of the publication  which was produced for servicemen in the First World War  as he stepped out of a car to attend a London fundraiser for Donald Trump.

On Wednesday, Mr Farage told The Telegraph the book was given to him by two Reform supporters that day and that he had wanted to carry it with him.

It was a family treasure, he added. I said I couldnt take it but they insisted. I was very moved.

The photograph of Mr Farage holding the gift was taken hours after a man was charged with using threatening behaviour towards the former-UKIP leader.

The charge related to an incident which saw objects being thrown at Mr Farage as he campaigned on his battle bus in Barnsley, South Yorks earlier this week.

It followed another incident on the campaign trail, when a woman was charged with assault after a milkshake was thrown at the Clacton candidate.

First produced in 1914 by charity Scripture Gift Mission, 43 million copies of the gospels were shared amongst soldiers, prisoners and refugees in the First World War.

The cover of the replica edition reads: The Gospel According To Saint John with a second line read, Active Service and the dates of the First World War (1914 to 1918) below it.

Instructions in capital letters then read: Please carry this in your pocket and read it every day.

The event, which was reportedly hosted by former popstar and Neighbours actress Holly Valance in Chelsea, London, saw the US presidential candidate target Britains elite.

The fundraiser, which has reportedly already raised $2m (1.57m) in donations, is being billed as a reception and dinner with the former presidents son, Donald Trump Jr, and his fiancee, Kimberly Guilfoyle, a lawyer and former Fox News host.

It comes less than two weeks after Trump was found guilty in his hush money trial of falsifying business records to buy the silence of a porn star, a historic verdict that could influence the US elections this year.

The Republican nominee was convicted by a New York jury on all 34 charges of falsifying business records, after weeks of testimony.
Asylum seekers say they fear they will spend years trapped on Nauru, even up to a decade as previous groups of refugees did. Composite: Getty images

We dont know how long we will be here, what will happen to us. Our situation is very difficult.

Mohammad Bashir Anjum, a Pakistani asylum seeker held on Nauru for four months, is one of the few able to make contact outside the island.

On a scratchy phone line  immigration officials confiscated his smartphone  he tells Guardian Australia: the depression is very bad, very bad. What is our future, no one can tell us.

Related: Number of asylum seekers on Nauru jumps as Australia transfers 37 people who arrived by boat

Australias sole remaining offshore processing centre was ostensibly closed  after a decade of controversial operation  in the middle of last year, with the last refugee transferred to Australia in June.

But the detention centre spent just months in abeyance.

In September, the first new cohort of asylum seekers was transferred from Australia. And the number held has been slowly  but steadily  growing. With the arrival of 37 asylum seekers in June, there are now approximately 100 asylum seekers held by Australia on the island.

About 85 are being held inside the RPC1 detention centre  with different cohorts held separately  while about 15 are in the Nauru community. None are children. One refugee, who has been on Nauru since 2013, chose to stay there last year.

Asylum seekers now say they fear they will spend years trapped on the island, even up to a decade as previous groups of refugees did.

Anjum, who has twice been forced to flee politically targeted violence in his home country, said uncertainty for asylum seekers over their futures was devastating.

Everyone, everyone, everyone is delay[ed]. No one knows what will happen to them, when they can see their family again, where they can live safely.

We cant see our future, everyone is uncertain, everyone is afraid, they ask What will happen to us?. Will they forget us, just leave us here? How many years, 10 years?

Anjum was part of a group of 39 asylum seekers who arrived by boat from Indonesia on Australias north-west coast in February. Having walked more than 30km, they were intercepted at Beagle Bay.

Anjum said many of those in his group had faced severe persecution in their home countries, and, since being transferred to Nauru, had been asked numerous times to tell their story again and again. He said he was asked on three separate occasions to detail the persecution hed faced. And after the third time, I told them, This is all the story, you know it, you ask me again and again, and this is terrible for me, for my mental health.

Anjum said medical care was inadequate  really limited  and that people who were acutely ill could not get specialist treatment for serious and degenerative illnesses.

The Guardian has been told there are general practice doctors on rotation available to those held inside the detention centre camp known as RPC1. But medical staff on the island have said health care is extremely limited.

Related: Border force apologises for failing to prevent misconduct after reports found bullying and harassment

Dentistry is only available through the Republic of Nauru hospital and asylum seekers require public health clearance to access it, a process which can take months.

There is no dedicated torture and trauma counselling available to asylum seekers, and specialist care  such as ear nose and throat, eye, renal, and hearing specialists  are not available.

Asylum seekers have begun refugee status determination interviews  the formal process to recognise an asylum seekers claim to protection  assessed against the refugees convention, to which Nauru and Australia are party.

But we ask what will happen next to us, how long it will take, and they tell us We dont know, Anjum said.

Heidi Abdel-Raouf, the detention casework policy lead for the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre, said caseworkers were deeply concerned by an emerging health crisis on the island.

We know from what happened previously on Nauru over years, that if health problems arent treated properly, preventable illnesses can lead to serious conditions and even death in some cases. Already people on Nauru are reporting they arent able to access specialist assessment and treatment for a range of conditions.

The current group of asylum seekers is understood to be outside Australias third-country resettlement pathways to the US, New Zealand and Canada, Abdel-Raouf said.

She said the Australian government needed to be transparent about the resettlement options for those currently held on Nauru.

We must not forget that people have the legal right to seek safety and asylum. It is beyond comprehension the Albanese government is continuing Australias cruel legacy of banishing people offshore simply because they sought safety by sea, and to prevent political fallout from the opposition.

Abdel-Raouf said authorities on the island had kept asylum groups separate  and so unable to share information  and restricted peoples ability to contact family members, support agencies or advocacy organisations. Asylum seekers have had smartphones taken from them  and with them access to apps like WhatsApp to communicate with family  replaced by brick dumb phones without cameras, which means they cannot take photos to document their detention.

The Guardian sent detailed questions to the department of home affairs regarding the operation of the Nauru offshore processing centre, the number of people held there, their access to medical care, and resettlement options, but did not receive a response to those questions.

A spokesperson for the department said Australias policy was unchanged.

People who attempt to travel to Australia by boat without a valid Australian visa have zero chance of settling in Australia, the spokesperson said.

The spokesperson said the Australian government was committed to maintaining Nauru as an enduring offshore processing centre.

The spokesperson did not say whether those currently held on Nauru were eligible for resettlement in New Zealand, the US or Canada, only that Australia will support the Government of Nauru to implement durable migration outcomes.

The spokesperson said there has always been at least one doctor on Nauru to provide services to asylum seekers held there.

International Health and Medical Services (IHMS) deliver health services, including torture and trauma counselling, through a multi-disciplinary team at the regional processing centre medical centre and in conjunction with the Republic of Nauru Hospital.

Related: Will another immigration scandal topple a minister?  podcast

The Nauru government is responsible for the implementation of regional processing arrangements the spokesperson said, supported by Australia.

Welfare and garrison services at the detention centre is run by US private prisons operator MTC, which has a $420m contract with the Australian  not the Nauruan  government.

The offshore processing centre on Nauru is Australias sole enduring offshore site, after the detention centre on PNGs remote Manus island was ordered shut by that countrys supreme court, which found the detention centre was unconstitutional. Australia was forced to compensate the thousands it had illegally detained there.

More broadly, Australias offshore processing policy and practices have been consistently criticised by the United Nations, human rights groups and by refugees themselves.
A complaint of the summit is that there is little continuity of leadership from one year to the next. Photograph: Alessandro Garofalo/Reuters

A dramatic expansion of entities exposed to US sanctions for helping the Russian economy and an EU-led $50bn loan to ease the financial burden on Ukraine will be at the centre of discussions at a summit of the leaders of wealthy G7 nations in Puglia, Italy, starting on Thursday.

The leaders, facing unprecedented challenges from discontented electorates, will be under heightened pressure to provide concrete results as their three days of discussion range across an interlinked agenda encompassing the war in Ukraine, migration, Africa, the Middle East, the climate crisis and harnessing artificial intelligence (AI).

The G7 was once a cloistering of western leaders in informal conversation, but host countries can invite outside guests to join some of the sessions. Italy has thrown open the doors and will welcome Pope Francis; Javier Milei, the populist president of Argentina; Narendra Modi, the Indian prime minister; and Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, the Brazilian president. Ukraines president, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, will stage a joint press conference with the US president, Joe Biden. The aim is to show the west remains determined to confront Russias arsenal of autocracy, but is not preoccupied with its own problems.

The meeting is also billed by the US state department as the best opportunity to ease Ukraines financial burdens before the USs presidential elections in November and send a message to Russia of western stamina. As much as feasible the G7 would like its decisions to be Trump-proof.

Underlining the urgency of the challenge, at least nine people were killed in a Russian missile strike on apartment block in Zelenskiys home town, Kryvyi Rih. Twenty-nine others, including five children, were wounded in the attack on Wednesday.

The key US initiative  announced on the eve of the summit  is a large expansion of entities, including banks, that will be subject to sanctions if they are deemed to be enabling not just Russias military industrial complex, but any sanctioned Russian entity. This secondary sanction regime, already deployed by the US in Iran and applied in December to entities helping the Russian military, will mean many more non-US citizens and banks will be vulnerable to the sanctions, particularly if they trade in dollars. On one estimate the number of entities with which no one should trade will rise from about 1,000 to 4,000.

The shift, justified by the US on the basis that the entire Russian economy is now part of its war economy, is designed to have a chilling effect on the network of states in the Balkans, the Middle East and central Asia that act as conduits for western exports that are then sold on to Russia. For example, exports of German-produced cars to Kyrgyzstan have boomed by 5,000% in one year.

The US treasury secretary, Janet Yellen, said on Wednesday: We are increasing the risk for financial institutions dealing with Russias war economy and eliminating paths for evasion, and diminishing Russias ability to benefit from access to foreign technology, equipment, software, and IT services.

The plan has largely been advocated by Daleep Singh, the original US architect of the first round of post-invasion sanctions in 2022, who has returned to the state department after a spell in the private sector. Singh, the deputy national security adviser for international economics, said at a recent Brookings Institution event that the sanctions regime was impactful, but added: We have to match every circumvention with a countermeasure.

A frequent criticism of the G7 is the lack of continuity between one countrys annual chairship and the next, but economic aid to Ukraine has become one of the few policy areas where the group, through a little-known network of subgroups, has formed a near-permanent bureaucracy.

There are two contentious decisions concerning Ukraine at the summit. The first is highly technical. The second is political.

The first centres on whether, as the US wishes, the annual profits derived from frozen Russian central bank state assets frozen by the G7 in 2022 and worth approximately $281bn could be mobilised to service the interest on a $50bn loan to Ukraine. The second concerns how far to try to punish China for its support for the Russian economy.

France and Britain had backed the US scheme, but the EU  where the bulk of Russias assets are stored  said the US plan was dependent on the bloc agreeing to renew the retention of the profits every six months, a decision that requires unanimity among the 27 member states, a guarantee it could not give. The level of detail provided at the summit about an alternative EU scheme designed to secure the same loan will be a test of its credibility.

Advocates remain for handing the entirety of the assets to Ukraine as compensation for Russian war damage, but the plan does not yet have the necessary political support. David Cameron, the UKs foreign secretary, this week conceded that complete seizure is a non-starter.

On Wednesday the US national security adviser Jake Sullivan said of the loan proposal: We are moving to a common understanding of the mechanism and we expect participation of multiple countries.

The second issue focuses on Chinas role in selling machine tools, semiconductors, and other dual-use items to Russia so it can rebuild its industrial base.

Josep Borrell, the EU foreign affairs chief, acknowledged that China has committed not to supply arms and we dont have evidence that this has happened. But he said the phrase dual-use means no clear separation existed between arms and non-arms and that Chinese exports to Russia had risen by more in the last two years than in the previous 10.

Much will depend on how far China is prepared to risk trade relations with the US to support Russia. Singh said the difficulty for Russia is that the partnership without limits hailed by Putin is a partnership without symmetry, leaving Russia strictly the supplicant.
Dictators as gangsters  a cut-out of Hitler adorns a manuscript of The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui, Brechts allegory about the Fuhrers path to power. Photograph: Courtesy the Bertolt Brecht Archive, Akademie der Kunste, Berlin

Bertolt Brecht believed that theatre should not merely entertain its audience but make them think politically. To achieve this effect, thought the German playwright and poet, a play should not be polished  but jarring. Actors should break out of character to address their audience, plotlines should be broken up and interrupted. In one memorable phrase, he described his ideal play as one that could be cut into individual pieces, which still remain fully capable of life.

A new exhibition at Raven Row in London shows how literal the author of The Threepenny Opera was being when he came up with that description. Curated with the Bertolt Brecht Archive in Berlin, brecht: fragments is the most extensive display to date of the visual material the playwright collected over the course of his career, from newspaper and magazine pictures to photocopies of medieval paintings and images from Chinese theatre.

The collage diaries Brecht turned these into, most of which have never been shown before, were overlooked due to how Brechts oeuvre was archived in socialist East Germany, where he lived from 1949 until his death in 1956 at the age of 58. Researchers who asked for material at a reading room on Berlins Robert-Koch-Platz were only able to view low-quality photographs of these images, which had all been catalogued individually, not as glued-together artworks.

You had no idea they were all on the same sheet of paper, says Tom Kuhn, Emeritus Fellow of St Hughs College Oxford. Their context was completely destroyed. Kuhn, who discovered the collages about 10 years ago and co-curated the Raven Row exhibition, became convinced that these collected fragments, far from being a slapdash scrapbook, formed a significant artistic project in itself. They are very clearly composed, he says. Theyre not just materials meant to contribute towards something else.

Following the chaos of the first world war, Weimar-Republic Germany had seen the birth of collage as an artform, pioneered by the likes of Kurt Schwitters and Hannah Hoch. Two of its most political practitioners, George Grosz and John Heartfield, were friends of Brecht. While the playwrights montages are less dynamic, the attempt to suggest meaning through juxtaposition is evident. An entry in his journal about the William Wordsworth poem She Was a Phantom of Delight (a Spirit still, and bright / With something of angelic light) is accompanied by a photograph of soldiers in gas masks. It looks like a postpunk record sleeve.

In one large album, known as BBA 1198, there is a page with two photographs: one of Adolf Hitler raising his fists in a jolt of anger, and one of a blond schoolboy, not yet into puberty, making the same gesture. The juxtaposition is disorientating. It makes the Fuhrer look like a naughty child, play-acting, but also shows how eager Nazi Germany was to imitate his performative outrage: the schoolboy, the panel explains, is giving a speech on current affairs. The open newspaper in front of him is a Nazi publication.

In Germany, Brecht is the most frequently performed playwright after Shakespeare and its leading dramatists stand guard along the fourth wall that Bertolt brought down, in case anyone is thinking about raising it up again. Elsewhere, the term Brechtian has become shorthand for pretty much any theatrical manoeuvre intended to politicise an audience.

This show feels like a refreshing antidote to all that theory-first Brecht, revealing a rawer, more punk version of the writer. Fittingly, there will be twice-daily performances of fragments from his experimental, unfinished plays, not the classics. The Brechtian devices they contain are still raw ideas rather than accomplished techniques.

What is clear from the pictures Brecht collected is that he was fascinated by gestures  and how they could be used and abused. We see people begging for food, soldiers embracing loved ones before heading off to the front. Hitler is also shown beside the corrupt New York mayor Jimmy Walker: both are wagging their fingers in the same way, two mendacious leaders confidently assuring onlookers of their sincerity.

Most of the images at Raven Row were found and collected during Brechts years in exile. Fearing persecution, the committed socialist left Germany on 28 February 1933, the day after the Reichstag fire. By the time Nazis burned his books, Brecht and his family were already ensconced on a Danish island in the north sea, from where he eventually reached the US. In California, Brecht tried to become a Hollywood scriptwriter. Although he wrote Hangmen Also Die, which was directed by his co-exile Fritz Lang, he struggled to break into the industry.

Yet, even as Brecht moved further from home, his photomontages suggest that the rise of fascism was never far from his thoughts  particularly how it had so infested German politics. Given Brechts status as the gospeler of political theatre, its worth asking how astute his analysis looks now.

The Threepenny Opera, his breakthrough play, had explored parallels between the grimy London underworld and the respected capitalist endeavours of the citys bankers. He extended that analogy in 1941s The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui, about the path to power taken by a fictional Hitler-like Chicago mobster (and cauliflower racketeer). Fascism is presented as a criminal venture, but also a capitalist one.

The Raven Row show includes a remarkable typescript of the play illustrated with 24 pictures, including a photomontage that juxtaposes news images of gangsters and mob funerals with shots of Hitler and his acolytes. The most extraordinary image from this archive find is as stark as it is simple: an Arturo Ui typescript page with a glued-on cut-out of Hitler looking like hes standing on a corner in the Five Points of Lower Manhattan, hands rakishly lodged in trouser pockets.

The dictators-as-gangsters thesis is also all over the BBA 1198 album. One page draws parallels with the medias romanticising of Bonnie and Clyde (Bonnie Good Girl Gone Wrong, Mother Says, reads the headline Brecht cut out). Another, from a Nazi publication, portrays Hitler and Goebbels as benevolent outcasts. This thesis has held up remarkably well. If Brecht was making these scrapbooks today, you would imagine them full of the gestures Donald Trump makes with those tiny hands, with headlines quoting his mafia-don-style utterances, not to mention that menacing mugshot of the former US president after his 2023 indictment in Atlanta. Further volumes could be filled with Vladimir Putins power poses, bare-chested on horseback.

But the analysis of fascism as the nakedest, most shameless, most oppressive and most treacherous form of capitalism, as Brecht said in 1935, has blind spots. As German-American philosopher Hannah Arendt  an admirer of Brechts plays and poetry  wrote about his politics: if you understand fascism as nothing more than a continuation of class warfare, you end up belittling the racism as its core. Racial persecution in such an interpretation becomes nothing more than a diversion tactic to channel proletarian anger, an optical illusion.

Yet, says Kuhn, Brecht resolutely stuck to his interpretation of fascism, and we can absolutely read it as a limitation of his political analysis. He wrote a lot about racism, but he underestimated the centrality of antisemitism to National Socialism.

When Brecht returned to East Berlin after the end of the war and founded the Berliner Ensemble theatre, he clashed with the governing Socialist Unity Party and the apparatchiks it had put in charge of cultural affairs. But his criticism of Stalinism and the Soviet Union mostly remained a private affair. His most frequently cited poem, mocking the partys reaction to the 1953 workers uprising, contained the line: Would it not be simpler if the government dissolved the people and elected another? It wasnt published until after his death.

Precisely because Brecht managed to say so much with so little in his photomontages, one spread in BBA 1198 stands out. Here, he has collated five photographs of Lenin and Stalin, but there are no juxtapositions, no obvious conversations between the images. Its as if the man who turned theatre into an involved political experience briefly allowed himself to stop thinking.

 brecht: fragments is at Raven Row, London, 15 June to 18 August
The manifesto launch in Brighton will see Carla Denyer and Adrian Ramsay, co-leaders of the Green party set out tax plans, including a wealth levy.

Photograph: Ian West/PA

The Greens are reaching out to renters with a huge election commitment on new and environmentally friendly housing, including a plan to let councils requisition empty properties or ones without proper insulation.

Among other housing commitments in the partys manifesto being launched on Wednesday is a proposed 49bn investment programme over the next five years to insulate homes and public buildings, and to fit properties with heat pumps.

With the Greens in England and Wales hoping younger voters will help them double the one MP they had in parliament before the election was called , the party is also setting out plans for a wealth tax and other levies targeting wealthier people, which it says could raise at least 50bn a year to help public services.

At the manifesto launch in Brighton later, the Greens co-leader, Adrian Ramsay, will accuse the major parties of a conspiracy of silence over how they can improve the NHS and other services without tax rises.

The housing pledges also include introducing rent controls and ending the right to buy system for social properties, as well as a huge programme to provide grants for the proper insulation of all homes, and public buildings such as schools and hospitals.

There are also proposals to empower local authorities to bring empty homes back into use, including allowing councils, social landlords and community housing groups to be given the chance to buy up homes left empty for more than six months.

This could also be done for privately rented properties not insulated to at least EPC rating C, or ones that fail to meet the decent homes standard.

Another housing plan, one that reflects the fact the Greens now run or co-run a number of councils, would give local authorities guarantees that new housing developments would be in appropriate sites, and would come with investment in associated infrastructure, such as GP surgeries, buses and extra school and nursery places.

The Greens are particularly targeting four seats in a highly focused campaign, and are forecast to have a decent chance of winning two: Brighton Pavilion, held by Caroline Lucas since 2010 and now being contested by Sian Berry, and Bristol Central, where the partys other co-leader, Carla Denyer, could unseat Labours Thangam Debbonaire.

The launch in Brighton will see Denyer and Ramsay, joined by Berry, set out tax plans including an annual wealth levy of 1% on individual taxpayers with assets worth 10m or more, rising to 2% for those with assets above 1bn. Capital gains tax would be aligned with income tax, and higher earners would pay more national insurance.

Ramsay said: Labour and the Conservatives would rather hide their plans for cuts to public services than confront the need for a fairer tax system that asks those with the broadest shoulders to pay more  including the very wealthiest in society, who have grown even wealthier over the last 14 years.

Much of the partys campaign is aimed at tempting traditional Labour voters, with the pledge that Green MPs would push a Keir Starmer government to be more bold.

Denyer said: Things can only get worse under Labour unless we dramatically change our tax system to raise money from those with the broadest shoulders.

Young people, in particular, know just how broken Britains frontline services are. The economy is not working for them. They have been priced out of the housing market and are struggling to fund their education. Now is the moment to be ambitious. Not unrealistic, but ambitious.
More than half of voters think smaller parties should have a fairer deal at elections - SOPA Images/LightRocket

More than half of voters think smaller parties should have a fairer deal at elections, according to polling expert Sir John Curtice.

The National Centre for Social Research (NatCen) report Damaged Politics found 53 per cent of those surveyed said the system of voting should be changed to allow smaller parties to get a fairer share of MPs.

This is compared with 40 per cent who want to keep the current system.

It comes as Reform UK storms ahead in the polls, with just one point between them and the Conservatives.

The annual survey, conducted between Sep 12 and Oct 31 last year, also found that 45 per cent of respondents almost never trust governments to put the needs of the country above the needs of their party, up from 40 per cent in 2009 in the wake of the MPs expenses scandal.

A record 58 per cent also said they almost never trust politicians of any party to tell the truth when they are in a tight corner, a 19-point increase from 2020.

This low level of confidence has boosted support for constitutional change, the survey found.

Professor Sir John Curtice, a senior research fellow at the NatCen, said the results show the next government will need to address the concerns of a public that is as doubtful as it has ever been about the trustworthiness and efficacy of the countrys system of government.

The report found those who voted to leave the European Union becoming disillusioned with UK politics is one of the main reasons for the collapse in trust.

The percentage of Leave voters in the Brexit referendum who said they almost never trust governments to prioritise the needs of the country has risen to 48 per cent, up from 25 per cent in 2020.

Decline of trust

NatCen, which conducted 5,578 interviews for the survey, said policy failures including NHS issues and the cost of living had contributed to the decline of trust.

Some 86 per cent of people who were dissatisfied with the NHS said the system of government is in need of significant improvement.

Around three-quarters (75 per cent) of those who are struggling with living costs said they almost never trust politicians to tell the truth, while 49 per cent of those who are living comfortably share the same view.

Professor Curtice said: The next government will not simply face the challenge of reviving Britains stuttering economy and its struggling public services.

It will also need to address the concerns of a public that is as doubtful as it has ever been about the trustworthiness and efficacy of the countrys system of government.
The barrage of Hezbollah rockets caused fires in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights and northern Israel. Photograph: Atef Safadi/EPA

The Lebanese militant group Hezbollah has launched its biggest salvo of rockets at Israel since the war in Gaza began in retaliation for the killing of a senior field commander, bringing the two sides closer to all-out conflict.

An Israeli airstrike on the village of Jouaiya in southern Lebanon late on Tuesday night killed three Hezbollah operatives as well as Taleb Abdallah, the most senior commander to be killed since hostilities began eight months ago.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said more than 170 projectiles had been fired from Lebanon by the Iran-allied militia in three barrages. Approximately 90 projectiles were identified crossing from Lebanon, it said. Several were intercepted but others struck inside Israel, causing fires in parts of the north. The initial barrage was followed by a second of about 70 projectiles and a third of about 10, the military said. It said the army struck several sites in south Lebanon in response.

Israels Magen David Adom emergency medical service said there were no immediate reports of casualties.

Hezbollah said it hit a sensitive Israeli military factory and bases in Ein Zeitim and Amiad and an Israeli military air surveillance station in Meron, in each case firing dozens of Katyusha rockets, according to its statements.

The Shia group opened a second front for Israel the day after Hamas launched its 7 October attack from the Gaza Strip, firing rockets and mortars at villages and farms abutting the UN-controlled blue line separating the two countries. The war of attrition has steadily worsened, and Israeli politicians and generals have signalled in recent weeks readiness for a full-scale conflict.

Abdallah, the Hezbollah commander killed on Tuesday, was responsible for the central region of the southern border strip, and senior to Wissam al-Tawil, another high-level Hezbollah commander killed in an Israeli strike in January, Lebanese sources told Reuters.

We will increase the intensity, strength, quantity and quality of our attacks, the senior Hezbollah official Hashem Safieddine said at Abdallahs funeral on Wednesday afternoon. Hundreds of Hezbollah supporters and senior officials with the militant group attended the ceremony. The body was taken for burial in Abdallahs home town of Aadschit.

The IDF confirmed it had eliminated Abdallah, calling him one of Hezbollahs most senior commanders in southern Lebanon.

In Doha, the US secretary of state, Antony Blinken, renewed calls for a diplomatic solution on the Israel-Lebanon border and said a long-sought Gaza ceasefire deal would take a tremendous amount of pressure out of the system.

Tens of thousands of people have been displaced from their homes on both sides of the blue line since October, and it is unclear when they will be able to return. The back-and-forth fire has killed 18 Israeli soldiers and 10 civilians, as well as 71 Lebanese civilians and about 500 members of Hezbollah  more fighters than it lost in the last major war with Israel in 2006.

Related: Everyone knows somethings going to happen: fears of a new war on Israels border with Lebanon

Hezbollah has indicated it is not seeking all-out war with Israel, at the same time as steadily increasing the scope and intensity of its attacks. Earlier this month, it fired a squadron of drones at Israel, rather than individual launches.

The US and France are leading intense negotiations aimed at defusing the border tensions, but the possibility of escalation appears to be growing more likely. While Israels generals have wanted to focus on the war in Gaza, last week Israels prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, threatened an extremely powerful response to Hezbollahs attacks. Israel has also raised the cap on the number of army reservists it can call up by 50,000 to about 350,000, close to the number called up at the beginning of the Gaza war.

A full-scale conflict between Hezbollah and Israel would be devastating for both sides: the Lebanese group has built up a formidable arsenal since 2006.

It could also draw in Hezbollahs backers in Iran. Tehran directly attacked Israel with missiles and drones for the first time in April, an assault carried out in response to the bombing of a consular building in the Syrian capital, Damascus.
The GOP-controlled House voted to hold Attorney General Merrick Garland in contempt of Congress Wednesday over his refusal to turn over audio of President Joe Biden, according to multiple reports.

The audio at the center of the controversy is a recorded interview about the handling of classified documents between Biden and special counsel Robert Hur, CNN, ABC News and NBC News reported.

The vote concluded with a tally of 216-207, with Rep. David Joyce of Ohio being the sole Republican voting against it.

The controversy centered on Garland's refusal to provide the audio of special counsel Robert Hur's interview with President Joe Biden regarding his handling of classified documents. Republicans demanded this audio after Hur chose not to prosecute Biden, partly due to the potential jury sympathy for him as an "elderly man with a poor memory."

Democrats argued that the complete transcript of Biden's interview was already publicly available and cautioned that Republicans might distort the audio.

Although the contempt vote passed, Biden and his administration have invoked executive privilege to withhold the audio, making it highly unlikely that Garland would face prosecution for not complying with the subpoenas. It is also unprecedented for Justice Department prosecutors to target their own leader over a contempt issue.

Last month, the House Judiciary and Oversight committees endorsed a report recommending that the House hold Garland in contempt for defying congressional subpoenas related to the audio recording. Before the vote on Wednesday, Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan, R-Ohio,

"This is not a complicated matter: The executive branch and its agencies, including the Department of Justice, are not above Congress' right to oversee those agencies," stated Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer, R-Ky. "We, as members of the House of Representatives, have a duty to ensure congressional subpoenas are fully complied with by those who received them - people, companies and particularly the federal government."
Entain said it would defend any legal action robustly. Photograph: Pavlo Gonchar/Sopa Images/Rex/Shutterstock

Investors could seek more than 100m in compensation from the owner of Ladbrokes and Coral for failure to update them on issues with bribery and corruption at the groups former Turkish operation.

The planned action, led by the legal firm Fox Williams, follows Entains agreement to pay almost 600m  one of the largest financial penalties ever imposed in the UK  in a deal with HM Revenue and Customs finalised in December 2023 after an investigation into alleged bribery.

Shares in Entain have nearly halved since the company said in May 2023 it was likely to have to pay a substantial penalty to settle with HMRC.

It said in August last year it had set aside 585m related to the investigation settlement and the deal was finalised in November including a financial penalty and a disgorgement of profits  in which funds from illegal or wrongful acts are given up. The company also agreed to make a charitable donation of 20m and to pay a contribution of 10m to the costs of HMRC and the Crown Prosecution Service.

HMRC originally launched an investigation in 2019 into potential corporate offending by a Turkish-facing online betting and gaming business that Entain owned between 2011 and 2017, as well as the activities of third-party suppliers and former employees of the group.

Entain  formerly known as GVC  was accused of failing to have the correct procedures in place to stop people taking part in bribes that benefit the business.

HMRC announced in July 2020 that it was examining potential corporate offending by Ladbrokes former Turkish subsidiary in a shock revelation that sent shares tumbling by 12% at the time.

A spokesperson for Entain said: We are currently unaware of any action of this kind against the company, and have not received an issued claim. We would defend any such action robustly.

Andrew Hill, a partner and head of the securities litigation team at Fox Williams, said: This claim will offer institutional investors the opportunity to recover substantial losses but more importantly serve to improve transparency and governance within the UKs gambling sector, reminding public companies that they need to take their disclosure obligations seriously.

Hopefully this will therefore have the knock-on effect of improving corporate behaviour, because public companies should know that their shareholders wont let them get away with misconduct.

Hill is also leading a 100m claim for investors in the online fashion specialist Boohoo after reports in 2020 alleging its suppliers in Leicester were mistreating workers caused its share price to plummet.

Boohoo said in response to the claim: We have been made aware of a claim that is being brought by certain shareholders. The company strongly contests the allegations and will vigorously defend any claim.

Hill has previously led two shareholder claims against Tesco that were settled out of court over the supermarket groups admission of a profits overstatement in 2014.
Palestinians walking amid destroyed streets in Khan Younis, southern Gaza, on Tuesday. Photograph: Eyad Baba/AFP/Getty

A UN investigation has accused Israel and Hamas of committing war crimes and crimes against humanity on and since 7 October, the date of Hamass surprise attack on Israel.

The allegations were contained in two parallel reports prepared by a commission of inquiry formed in 2021 by the UN Human Rights Council to investigate human rights violations in Israel and the Palestinian territories, chaired by the former UN human rights chief Navi Pillay.

The first report focused on crimes committed by Palestinian armed groups during the 7 October attack, while the second examined Israels culpability in the large-scale deaths of civilians in the subsequent Israeli offensive against Hamas in Gaza.

Pillay, a South African legal expert, is viewed with hostility by Israel for her previous criticism of Israels human rights record. The reports constitute the first in-depth investigation into the events since 7 October by a UN body.

The commission, which has no power to impose any penalties, described serious crimes committed by both sides in the conflict, including by Palestinian armed groups during the attack on Israeli communities near the border with Gaza on 7 October.

It accuses Hamass military wing and six other Palestinian armed groups  aided in some instances by Palestinian civilians  of killings, torture, sexual violence and systematic kidnapping.

Many abductions were carried out with significant physical, mental and sexual violence and degrading and humiliating treatment, including in some cases parading the abductees, the report said. Women and womens bodies were used as victory trophies by male perpetrators.

In a statement, the panel said it had identified a pattern of sexual violence by Hamas and concluded that these were not isolated incidents, but similar events occurring in different locations.

The report also described the desecration of bodies, including in a sexualised way, as well as decapitations and burning.

The commission was equally damning about Israels conduct in the war, accusing it of using disproportionate force that amounted to a direct attack on civilians, resulting in a casualty rate unparalleled across conflicts in recent decades.

The commission found Israeli authorities responsible for the war crimes of starvation as a method of warfare, murder or wilful killing, intentionally directing attacks against civilians and civilian objects, forcible transfer, sexual violence, torture and inhuman or cruel treatment, arbitrary detention and outrages upon personal dignity.

The alleged sexual violence by Israeli forces related to the stripping of Palestinian men and boys, pictures of which were made public by Israeli troops, which the report said was intended to inflict severe humiliation.

The report also accused Israel of the war crime of starvation, saying Israel not only failed to provide essential supplies such as food, water, shelter and medicine to Palestinians, but also acted to prevent the supply of those necessities by anyone else.

Rejecting the findings, Israels diplomatic mission to the UN in Geneva said: The commission of inquiry has once again proven that its actions are all in the service of a narrow-led political agenda against Israel. Hamas did not respond to a request for comment.

The report was published as Israel and Hamas traded claims they were committed to a ceasefire plan for Gaza, and accused the other of sabotaging it, as the US secretary of state, Antony Blinken, completed his visit to Israel and key regional powers.

The proposal, announced by the US president, Joe Biden, in May, this week won a rare endorsement from the bitterly divided UN security council.

While Hamas said it had submitted a responsible, serious and positive response to the ceasefire proposal that opens up a wide pathway for an accord, Blinken said the group had suggested numerous changes and that while some of the changes were workable, some were not.

According to a report in the Israeli newspaper Haaretz, Hamas sources had said its preconditions for a ceasefire included Israels withdrawal from all areas of the Gaza Strip in the first week of the deals implementation, and that if Israel did not do so, the release of hostages would be halted.

The sources appeared to suggest only the bodies of dead hostages would be released in the first phase to prevent Israel from reneging.

The inconclusive to and fro since the security council resolution was passed has underlined suggestions that while neither party wants to appear to reject a path to end the fighting, both are resisting formally accepting it.

An Israeli official said Hamass position amounted to a rejection of the proposal, because the group had changed all of the main and most meaningful parameters, Reuters reported.

The proposal calls for an initial exchange of elderly, sick or female hostages for Palestinian detainees held by Israel, in the course of a six-week halt to fighting. In the second phase, the ceasefire would evolve into a permanent end to hostilities and the release of all hostages. A final stage would launch a major reconstruction effort.

The phased structure in the US ceasefire plan aims to bridge the gap between the apparently irreconcilable Hamas and Israeli positions.

The Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, previously said any proposal to stop fighting before Hamass military and governance capacity had been destroyed was a non-starter.

Hamas has said it would accept only a permanent ceasefire deal, after an initial temporary break in fighting collapsed last winter, and has reportedly asked for international guarantees of any ceasefire.Netanyahus coalition is reliant on far-right parties who say they will resign if he accepts the US deal. His political dependence on them has deepened since a moderate war cabinet member, Benny Gantz, resigned at the weekend.

Hamas, too, has factions that would prefer the war to continue, despite the cost to civilians in Gaza, according to a Wall Street Journal report based on internal Hamas communications. We have the Israelis right where we want them, it quoted the groups leader in Gaza, Yahya Sinwar, telling negotiators dealing with Egyptian and Qatari mediators in a recent message.
Since the UKs general election was called, the Labour party has been seeking to capitalise on voters fury over the sewage filling Englands rivers and seas.

The debt-ridden, leaking, polluting water industry, owned largely by foreign investment firms, private equity and pension funds, has overseen decades of underinvestment and the large-scale dumping of raw sewage into rivers. It has become one of the touchstone issues of this election, with voters across the political spectrum angry at the polluting of waterways treasured by local communities. Groups have sprung up to look after rivers and lakes; protests pop up most weekends along the coast.

Labour is keen to present itself as having the answer  though the Liberal Democrats have also been making a splash on the issue  with the shadow environment secretary, Steve Reed, talking tough by threatening to put water bosses in prison, ban their bonuses and impose fines for sewage spills.

But after vowing to end the Tory sewage scandal, Labour  predicted by multiple polls to win the election with an outright majority  will have to act quickly and ambitiously to clean up the mess, say experts.

With no rivers in good condition, water bills projected to skyrocket, crumbling infrastructure leaking sewage into groundwater, people getting sick from tap water, and water companies in dire financial straits, this is not an easy problem to fix. It will take focus, investment and potentially an entirely new regulatory and ownership system.

Labour has identified the potential collapse of Thames Water, the countrys largest water company, as a key crisis issue that will have to be immediately tackled by the incoming government. The party leadership does not want to nationalise water, arguing that it would cost the taxpayer tens of billions of pounds.

Related: Communities will be given right to turn eyesores into parks, says Labour

But some within Labour have been pushing hard for nationalisation  England is the only country in the world that has a fully privatised water system.

Clive Lewis, who was the MP for Norwich South until the general election was called, recently tabled an early day motion asking for water companies to be brought into public ownership. He thinks this should start with Thames Water and gradually include all of Englands water companies. He has been supported by a group of Labour MPs, including the former shadow chancellor John McDonnell, and it is also a key policy of the Green party. Launching the motion, Lewis said: Water companies in England have incurred debts of 64bn and paid out 78bn in dividends since they were privatised, debt-free, in 1989  Water companies paid out 1.4bn in dividends in 2022 even as 11 of them were fined in the same year for missing performance targets.

Mathew Lawrence, the director of the Common Wealth thinktank, said the potential collapse of Thames Water could give a new Labour government an incentive to act boldly. A crisis is also an opportunity: to show how they will govern differently and end financial extraction from essential services. If we want to see fairer bills, clean water and well-run services, our water system must be brought into public ownership, just as it is in Scotland, and most of Europe.

Water companies have been trying to get on the front foot in anticipation of a Labour victory at the election. The industry fears a shake-up, and has been briefing heavily that if companies are fined too heavily and end up failing, it will dent investor confidence in the UK.

Liv Garfield, the chief executive of Severn Trent, last year proposed to her fellow CEOs: One idea we believe might be attractive to the Labour leadership is repurposing utilities and utility networks into a new breed of declared social purpose companies  companies that remain privately owned, who absolutely can (and should) make a profit, but ones that also have a special duty to take a long-term view.

Water UK, the trade association for the water industry, is working alongside the regulator, Ofwat, to avoid higher fines for water companies and potential jail time for chief executives. Water UK has recently appointed a number of people who are well-connected in Labour circles. David Henderson, the bodys new CEO, was a longtime adviser to Gordon Brown, and the former Labour cabinet minister Ruth Kelly was appointed as its chair last year. Its head of policy, Stuart Colville, used to work for Ed Miliband, the shadow energy security secretary. Colville then moved to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), which is in charge of regulating the water sector, before joining Water UK. He has a public-facing role at the lobbying group, recently hitting the airwaves to tell people the water industry was working really hard to stop sewage spills.

Related: From hug a husky to max out the oil: the Tory environmental journey

This has led to concern about a revolving door between the UKs political and corporate classes, which risks preventing action to tackle the water crisis. James Wallace, the chief executive of River Action UK, said: If the leaders of Water UK speak the same political language as a potential new government it could go one of two ways: collegiate and urgent transition of a failing sewage and water industry for the benefit of people and planet; or a cosy continuation of the scandalous degradation of waterways permitted by under-resourced regulators and profiteering corporations.

We will be pressuring for the former  History will judge harshly any more broken promises.

A Water UK spokesperson said: We are focused on securing regulatory approval for 100bn in new investment. At almost twice the current rate, this investment is vital for ensuring the security of our water supply and reducing the amount of sewage entering rivers and seas as fast as possible. Regardless of which party is in government, the industry will remain focused on securing approval for this investment.

Also keeping Labour on the straight and narrow is its unofficial water adviser, Feargal Sharkey, former frontman of the Undertones and now one of the countrys most vocal water campaigners. Keir Starmer, the Labour leader, has been seen socialising with Sharkey and the campaigner has accompanied Reed on the campaign trail . Now touring the country to campaign for Labour candidates, Sharkey has been clear that any wavering on their part will cause them to lose his support  which would in turn tarnish the partys credibility on the sewage issue.

Sharkey, who also chairs Sera, an environmental campaign group affiliated to the Labour party, told the Guardian: The simple truth is they are going to have to conduct a complete root and branch review and potential restructuring of the ownership and funding not only of the water companies, but the whole system of regulation that oversees their activities. He said he did not know yet if nationalisation was the answer, but the current system had to change: For example, in the case of Thames Water, there is not a single year since privatisation the Thames Water shareholders put in more money than they took out. Its always been a cash-sum game to them. Theyve always abstracted more money out of that company than they ever invested in it.

There are rumours that Labour is planning a review of the regulators, and to potentially scrap Ofwat and replace it with a new, stronger body. The investment for the new reservoirs that are needed  London is projected to run out of water in coming years if there are any more droughts like that of 2022  and for sewers to stop human effluent being poured into waterways, also has to come from somewhere. How much of this will a Labour government allow billpayers and taxpayers, rather than shareholders, to shoulder? Sharkey thinks it can force shareholders to pay for the bulk of it. But most think bills will have to rise. Labour has pledged not to raise taxes for working people and is sticking to stringent fiscal rules, so any large-scale investment would be unlikely to come from central government.

An equally pressing issue Labour needs to tackle, experts say, is farming pollution, caused largely by the spread of animal manure on fields that then leaches into waterways, causing harmful plant and algae blooms.

Shaun Spiers, the executive director of the Green Alliance thinktank, said: Farming must be properly regulated and particular problem areas tackled. He said an action plan must be put in place for the Wye, one of the most polluted rivers in the UK due to the muck from the intensive chicken farms surrounding it.

Farming unions will be lobbying hard against this, and it will be much easier to blame water company CEOs than farmers, who have more public sympathy. It remains to be seen whether Labour will stick to its guns and clean up the UKs waters, or if, as has happened for the past 14 years, the tough decisions are deemed just too difficult to make. The harsh truth, however, is that many of Englands rivers and chalk streams do not have 14 more years to wait before ecological collapse.
Labour has said removing VAT-free status will raise around 1.7 billion a year, although independent experts have said it could bring in much less - davidf/E+

Labour is planning to add 20 per cent VAT to independent school fees from January, a proposal which it estimates will raise an extra 1.6 billion for pupils in the state system.

The tax raid would affect nearly three-quarters of private school families, the Saltus Wealth Index found.

Almost a third  29 per cent  of those parents said the rising costs mean they would no longer be able to give their child or children a private education.

From fleeing the country to resorting to homeschooling, The Telegraph has spoken to readers who are among those who face removing their children from private schools.

A vicious attack

Jon*, mid-fifties, has reached the point where he is seriously considering homeschooling his seven-year-old daughter.

A solicitor and decorated former member of the Armed Forces, Jon went to a state school himself and says, Im what perhaps Monty Python or The Two Ronnies might have referred to as aspiring lower middle class.

Although three of Jons children, all of whom are now grown up, went through the state school system and have done very well for themselves, the same is not the case for his youngest daughter.

Unlike Jons older children, he describes his daughter, 7, as shy, private, small and sensitive. She attended state school for two years in the Bedfordshire area, where they live, but she was just too little, too quiet and her school reports were just dreadful, explains Jon.

Shes a loving child, sensitive, very sweet, perceptive but this really wasnt working for her, he continues. Consequently, Jon turned to the local independent school where she has slotted in really well. He speaks of how the teachers are fantastic, the classroom sizes are much smaller and the children are that much more patient.

I dont remember crying when my mum died, or at the aspects of suffering in Afghanistan, but I cried when the independent school called to say she had a place for the next school year, he shares.

Since then, she has become an independent-minded, very confident, very able young person. Having the choice to put her in an independent school has made a dramatic improvement.

However, on top of the already increasing school fees, the 20 per cent will make the difference between Jon struggling to keep up with the fees and not being able to afford them.

I will do my very best to see my daughter through prep school, he says. But with the increases in the pipeline, that basically wipes out my entire earnings.

Jon worries how his daughter might fare if she were to return to the state school system. Thinking homeschooling might be the only option once the VAT is added, he says, if it comes to it: I would spend my retirement learning how I need to teach her.

Jon views Labours VAT raid a vicious attack. It takes no account of the individual needs of many of the families making huge efforts to put their children into a school, not for reasons of supremacy or to be elitist, but simply because the state system is stretched so far that it cant provide a universal service that is good for everybody.

This policy penalises disadvantaged children with special needs

Mark* is 51 and lives in Guildford. He works in IT, having recently just started his own company. But due to Labours planned VAT tax raid on, he is considering uprooting his family to Dubai.

His son Sam*, soon to be 11, has been diagnosed with dyspraxia and ADHD, meaning he has to attend a specialist school.

Sam was in a mainstream primary school and found it very difficult. His lack of motor skills means he struggles with hand and leg coordination and cannot grip a pencil properly. He was in the low percentiles for his age in school. We could see he was struggling.

Mark and his wife make an hour round trip every day for Sam to attend a specialist school for children with disabilities and learning difficulties.

State schools cannot support Sam. Its not just us who believe so, but our local council also. Theyve recognised that his current school is the one that is right for him and the state local schools cannot support him.

Its not convenient for us but we will always do what is best for Sam, Mark says.

However, the prospect of increased costs has Mark considering uprooting his family and moving to Dubai, so his son can continue to get the specialised type of education he needs.

We at the moment pay 24,000 a year for the school and under Labours proposal that will go to 28,000. In context, the number one international school in the world is in Singapore and its yearly fees are less than what were currently paying for Sams school, he explains.

Therefore, we almost certainly will move abroad although we would never consider it if it wasnt for the Labour tax raid.

We have two children at university and we dont want to live so far away from them. Not to mention both my wifes and my parents are not getting any younger. But the cost of Sams school if we are to stay is just outrageous and extremely unfair.

I pay tax and have done so all my life. To have to pay a tax for our kids school on top of it I fail to understand it.

He is extremely critical of the Labour flagship policy, which he believes is effectively penalising disadvantaged children with special needs. Its born out of envy politics and taking a broad brush approach to hammer children that do not have a choice in the state system.

He concludes: Its unforgivable and disgusting.

Just because I can afford it doesnt mean I will sit back and accept it

Another reader is also already looking at moving his family abroad if the proposal comes to fruition.

Adam Keefe, 41, has two children, seven and five, who attend their local private school in Chichester.

The facilities, styles of learning, class sizes and extracurricular activities surpass those of the local state school, according to Adam, and compelled him and his wife to choose to send their children there.

Their youngest son also has special needs and needs extra help in the classroom.

A teacher and a teaching assistant across about 10 children means that he is able to get the additional levels of help that he would need and support that he wouldnt get in a state school.

Adam considers Labours VAT plan poorly thought out. Working in cyber security, his earnings enable him to afford the increased costs, however, he asserts: Just because I can afford it, doesnt mean I will sit back and accept it.

Which is why he is considering moving to Spain. We have a house abroad in Spain so we have started looking at what would happen if we were to move there.

School fees are a third of the price for a good international school and tax is lower overall, as is the cost of living.

Weighing up the move, Adam says: The VAT would be the straw that broke the camels back.

I pay so much tax as it is. I pay well into six figures in tax every year, so if I move abroad then not only do they miss out on the VAT, they miss out on the tax that I already pay, plus the VAT on just about everything else that I buy, he continues.

When asked if the pledge might affect how Adam votes in the upcoming election, he says: 100 per cent.

Theres not a massive difference between Conservative and Labour at the moment But would I vote Labour at the moment? No way, not as long as theyve got VAT on school fees.

I already work two jobs and cannot fathom a third

Another reader who will be priced out and faces removing two daughters - who are 11 and 16 - from their local independent school in Malvern, Worcestershire, is Claire.

Claire shares how she already work two jobs and cannot fathom a third to increase my income on which I will be taxed more. She has zero savings or assets, I rent and dont own a property and literally pay month to month to keep my children in their school.

She argues the state sector failed her children and describes how theyre thriving in their independent school. She continues: It is a myth that independent schools are for the rich only. I know many parents similar to myself who do this because the state sector is so terrible.

Her childrens experiences in the state sector were so bad that Claire cant honestly fathom a return to the chaos and low standards of state education for either of my daughters.

If school fees are what parents choose to prioritise their spending on over cars or holidays, and work multiple jobs with zero savings - could they not be supported to do so rather than be financially penalised?

I wish I had the money to cope with an increase in the fees but I do not. Its very depressing and feel quite low about it, she says.

Claire believes she and all other parents who pay for their childrens private education do the economy a favour by not taking up places in state schools to keeping hundreds in employment at the independent schools.

For Claire, the Labour policy will irreversibly and negatively impact our day-to-day lives in ways I probably havent fully anticipated.

I will take on a third job if needs be to continue to support my daughters in an education I feel best suits them and caters towards their interests, she says. Probably tutoring more pupils.

I totally disagree with being forced into state education by Labour making fees unaffordable and Im determined to try my hardest to earn more. I dont relish the thought but what else is worth working as hard for?

*Names have been changed
Sir William Perkins's School, in Chertsey, Surrey - cre8 / Alamy Stock Photo

A leading girls private school will let boys into classrooms within two years to allow families to be educated together.

Sir William Perkinss School in Chertsey, Surrey, will go fully co-ed by 2030, starting with the phased admission of boys in Years 7 and 12 from September 2026.

The 20,420-a-year secondary school was founded in 1725 originally to cater for boys, but became one of the countrys first girls grammar schools when it reopened following a short closure in 1944. The school became fully independent in 1978.

Melanie Duke, chairman of governors at Sir William Perkinss, said the decision followed increased demand from families to send siblings to the same school.

We recognise that families increasingly want their children to be educated together, she said. In an area where single-sex schools dominate the independent sector, we are delighted to offer an outstanding alternative choice for both girls and boys.

It is the latest in a series of top single-sex schools that have announced plans to start welcoming children of both sexes in recent years.

St Johns Beaumont, a boys school in Windsor, opened its doors to girls last September for the first time in 135 years. It said there was a growing appeal for parents with increasingly busy lives to put all their children in one school.

The Roman Catholic prep school also suggested there was a financial benefit to start welcoming girls. A letter to parents suggested that the cost of living crisis had added to the challenge of investing in the school to maximise the opportunity for its pupils and that going co-ed would double the accessible market for pupils and [enhance] growth in numbers.

Kings House School, in Richmond, in southwest London, will also start admitting girls from September while The Mall School, in nearby Twickenham, admitted girls to reception for the first time in 2023.

Mark Turner, Kings House head teacher, said it was the right move for the school at this time for both education and pastoral reasons.

The Good Schools Guide said it marked a growing trend among the sector, although one less common among girls schools.

Under pressure

The group, which represents 1,300 schools across the UK, said it came as private schools were under pressure to keep registrations healthy and get pupils through the gates at the moment.

Melanie Sanderson, the managing editor of the Good Schools Guide, told The Telegraph that complacency is not an option for any school in the current economic climate, especially with Labours proposals to start charging 20 per cent VAT on private schools if it wins the election.

With further steep fee increases on the horizon no school can afford to give parents any reason not to choose it for their child or children. Now is the time to evolve and embrace positive change in order to thrive, she said.

However, Ms Sanderson said there was also strong resistance to girls schools opening their doors to boys, and that those free from financial strain would likely choose to stick to the playbook of girls benefiting academically from a single-sex environment.

Undoubtedly, there will be families delighted that their sons and daughters can now attend the same school, but with many having deliberately chosen a single-sex education for their daughter, it will be interesting to see how this news is received, she told The Telegraph.

It comes as a number of historical boys schools have also made the decision to become co-ed recently. Westminster School, in central London, founded in 1560 by Elizabeth I, will go fully co-ed by 2028, having accepted girls in the sixth form for the past 50 years.

There are 92 fully single-sex private boys schools in the UK and 139 girls schools, according to the Independent Schools Councils (ISC) 2023 census.

They account for 17 per cent of all private schools, down from 21 per cent a decade ago.

Sir William Perkinss School, which has 580 female pupils, frequently ranks in the top 100 independent schools across the country. Situated in Chertsey near the Thames, the school is known for its rowing and counts British Olympic rower Hattie Taylor among its alumni.

Debbie Picton, the schools headmistress, said its decision to admit boys was the start of an exciting new chapter in the long history of our school.

We believe in championing the individual, building each childs confidence and integrity and ensuring our students are world-ready whatever their ambitions, she said. We therefore look forward to all the opportunities this move will bring to enrich our school and local community for many generations to come.
Shawn Seesahai was killed by two of Britain's youngest ever killers - PA

The grandmother of one of Britains youngest killers says people should not feel sorry for their family.

The woman, who is the paternal grandmother of one of the two 12-year-olds found guilty of the murder of teenager Shawn Seesahai with a machete, said: Dont feel sorry for us.

Speaking to The Telegraph, she suggested that the family would cope with whatever comes our way ahead of the sentencing of her grandson next month.

He, along with his friend, are believed to be the youngest defendants convicted of murder in Britain since Robert Thompson and Jon Venables, both aged 11, were found guilty in 1993 of killing two-year-old James Bulger. They are also thought to be the UKs youngest knife murderers ever.

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.

The grandmother told The Telegraph: In my grandsons case, he told the truth, he was at the place where something (the fatal attack) happened, he was truthful but the events surrounding it are not for me to comment on at this time, but I will be doing after he is sentenced.

We cope with whatever comes our way, we rally around as a family together.

I have always told my family to tell the truth, that is important.

Seesahai, who had only been in the country for six months and was originally from Anguilla in the Caribbean, was attacked as he discussed plans for Christmas with a friend in a park in Wolverhampton last November.

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 Seesahai stumbled as he tried to flee from the boys.

As well as failing to summon help for 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 Seesahai had died until the following day.

On Tuesday, it was revealed one of the boys had rapped about knives and drugs aged just nine.

In a video unearthed by The Telegraph, the youngster can be heard rapping along to a song that mentions pokers, slang for a knife, and plugs, referring to drug dealers.

In court, jurors heard one of the defendants posed for a photograph with the murder weapon, wearing a mask, hours before the killing. He 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 small bloodstains on his right trainer.

The youth who owned the black-bladed machete was incriminated by his heavily bloodstained clothing and man-bag. He said he bought the machete for 40 from a friend of a friend whom 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.

The pair will be sentenced on July 30.
Emmanual Macron, the French president, said screen addiction is a 'breeding ground for all kinds of problems' - Pierre Suu/Getty Images

Emmanuel Macron has backed a ban on use of smartphones before the age of 11 and social media before the age of 15.

The French president came out in favour of proposals in a report submitted to the Elysee by a commission of experts on the impact of young peoples exposure to screens.

All the experts say that screen addiction is the breeding ground for all kinds of problems: harassment, violence, dropping out of school, he said at a press conference to launch the campaign for early parliamentary elections.

The plan to ban social networks for under 15s was already included in the French governments programme for the European elections.

During his speech on Europe at the Sorbonne in April, Mr Macron defended the idea of parental controls over access to social networks before that age.

However, the practicalities of implementing such a measure have yet to be defined: in April, Marina Ferrari, the digital economy minister, convened a meeting of industry players at Bercy to discuss, among other things, a technical solution for controlling the age of Internet users wishing to access certain sites.

In a letter sent in mid-August, Thierry Breton, the EUs internal market commissioner, criticised the government for adopting a law aimed at introducing a ban before the age of 15, which he felt contradicted the European framework.

Limiting screen time

In France, tools for limiting screen time for minors are already available on certain applications and phones, and are listed on a government website.

Parents can limit the amount of time they spend on social network apps, like Instagram or TikTok, and set online connection limits on iPhones or consoles.

Meta, for its part, has introduced a late notification feature that appears automatically on the Instagram account of under-age users if they use the application between 10pm and 4am, to encourage them to close it.

Making the adoption of these tools compulsory would mean placing this legal responsibility on apps or parents.

Technically, the government could ask applications to block access after a certain time, Olivier Ertzscheid, a lecturer in information and communication sciences, told AFP in January.

He added that the question would be more one of the legal basis and social acceptability of such an obligation.

This type of measure would be unprecedented in a democratic European country, he added.
Chitsidzo (Veronica) Chinyanga was described as a beacon of joy and positivity. Photograph: Police Scotland

A 46-year-old man has appeared in court charged with murder after the death of a much-loved mother in Broxburn, West Lothian.

Kasikai Chinyanga was arrested in connection with the death of 42-year-old Chitsidzo (Veronica) Chinyanga, originally from Zimbabwe.

Police were called to a disturbance at a property on Cunnighar Road, Broxburn, at about 7.55pm on Sunday, and Veronica was taken to the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, where she died.

Chinyanga, of Newton, West Lothian, appeared on petition at Livingston sheriff court on Tuesday charged with murder.

He made no plea and the case against him was continued for further inquiries, with Sheriff Susan Craig remanding him in custody. He will make a second appearance in court for full committal within the next eight days.

In a statement released through Police Scotland, the dead womans family said: Veronica was a much-loved mum, sister, niece and mother to all, who will be missed dearly by many. We would ask that we are given privacy to come to terms with our loss at this time.

A fundraiser has been set up by friends to raise 5,000 in order to help her family in Zimbabwe travel to Scotland to say their final goodbye.

Describing her as a beacon of joy and positivity, the GoFundMe fundraiser says: It is with heavy hearts that we share the tragic news of the passing of our beloved sister, affectionately known as Vee. Vics unexpected departure from this world has left us all in shock and deep sorrow, on 9 June, 2024.

Vee was a beacon of joy and positivity, always radiating warmth and kindness to everyone she encountered. Her infectious laughter and boundless love for people touched the lives of many. The goal we have is to give Vee and her family in Zimbabwe the chance to pay their respects and say their final goodbye until we meet again.
Economists have had mixed reactions to a Merri-bek councillors proposal to raise annual rates for investor landlords to an average of $3,600 per property to help first-home buyers. Photograph: Diego Fedele/AAP

A councillor in Melbournes inner north has proposed doubling rates for landlords and slashing them in half for owner-occupiers and businesses, in a move that has drawn mixed reviews from economists.

Independent councillor James Conlan is set to move a motion on Wednesday night asking Merri-bek council to investigate how it could introduce a new differential rate for property investors in an effort to make more homes available to first-home buyers.

The average rates bill for a typical home in Merri-bek  which takes in suburbs such as Brunswick, Coburg, Fakwner and Pascoe Vale  is $1,800 a year, and about $2,700 for non-residential properties such as shops, warehouses and industrial sites.

Related: Australian capital city rents have biggest monthly fall in over four years but crisis far from over

But under Conlans proposal, investors who lease out a property in the municipality would have to pay an average of $3,600 per property, while owner-occupiers and small businesses would pay an average of $900 a year.

Conlan told Guardian Australia the goal of his proposal was to make investing in the area less attractive.

Isnt it a part of our national myth that everyone wants to own their own home? Well, here are the types of policies we need to do that, he said.

The idea is that slowly over time we would be able to change the composition of ownership from an investor environment to more owner-occupiers, which I think is what everybody wants.

Conlans motion claims the vast majority of people who own two or more properties had a greater capacity to pay increased rates.

Unlike owner-occupiers and renters, investors can sell at least one residential property without making themselves homeless. Ratepayers unable to keep up with expenses associated with maintaining an investment property may sell their investment properties, the motion says.

It likens the proposal to the state governments increase in land taxes in last years budget, which Conlan said had not led to an increase in rents.

If the motion succeeds, a report will be prepared by the council and presented to a council meeting by September.

Another vote would then have to occur to make it council policy.

While local government is able to set differential rates, a Merri-bek officers response to the motion cast doubt on whether it would be possible to introduce Conlans proposal.

It is very unlikely that it is feasible to apply a differential rate for property investors who have more than one residential property in Merri-bek, given the legislative framework and guidelines that apply to local government, the officer said.

David Hayward, an emeritus professor of public policy and the social economy at RMIT University, said the plan was a terrific idea but questioned how much of an effect it would have on the market.

Related: Brisbane to introduce Airbnb permits for property owners amid housing crisis crackdown

There are so many variables  you could end up with a landlord thats willing to pay and then claim it at tax time, another could sell but then another landlord could buy it up, he said.

But you would definitely see at least some sort of redistribution of existing supply. It would inevitably make it a bit more of an even playing field for first-home buyers.

Despite his reservations, Hayward praised Conlan for thinking outside of the box.

But Peter Tulip, the chief economist at the Centre for Independent Studies, said the proposal was a bad idea as it rested on the assumption renters were in a position to buy a home.

The average Melbourne property is about a million dollars and deposit on that is about $200,000. Im sure renters with $200,000 in the bank will happily go off and buy a house if this were to happen, he said

Related: Australian house prices hit record high for fifth consecutive month

But unfortunately there are many renters that dont have $200,000 sitting in the bank and theyre going to be screwed.

He said the policy would make the rental crisis in Merri-bek much, much worse as investors would sell off their properties in the municipality and opt for other suburbs nearby.

It is a view shared by the Victorian director of the Property Council, Cath Evans, who said the proposal was a solid candidate for the worst policy initiative of the year and would drive up costs for renters.

She said that as of 2021, there were more than 26,000 households renting within Merri-bek, making up 37% of all households in the municipality  well above the Melbourne average of 29%.

These numbers will have only grown in the last three years, meaning an even greater proportion of the councils residents are dependent on investors to provide affordable homes for them.
Russian president Vladimir Putin talks to the media after a live broadcast. Experts are warning that Russias imports of western good are being sustained by willing third countries, despite sanctions. Photograph: Ilya Naymushin/REUTERS

Since Vladimir Putins invasion of Ukraine, the west has imposed thousands of sanctions on Russia, and handed it the dubious distinction of being the most heavily sanctioned country on Earth.

Targeting everything from the finances of individuals to the major industries of its economy, international sanctions have aimed to isolate Russian consumers, with major brands such as Apple and McDonalds ceasing their operations in the country.

But two years on, Russias economy is showing surprising resilience and is forecast to grow faster than most of the worlds advanced economies, although experts say that it is unsustainable in the long term. With efforts to constrain the Russian economy in the spotlight, the US said on Tuesday that it would announce a sweep of new impactful sanctions and export controls at the G7 in Italy this week.

Were going to continue to drive up costs for the Russian war machine, White House spokesperson John Kirby said.

With reports that the US treasury will target financial institutions that help in the transfer of war-related imports  attention is likely to turn to banks in the club of countries that have not imposed sanctions and are facilitating the supply of goods and services to Russia.

The Russian economy has been party sustained by such imports.

Internal data from the Russian customs agency shows imports rebounding to close to their prewar levels, researchers say, although at considerably higher prices. Those imports have helped sustain vulnerable industries, such as aviation and the car industry.

Observers have referred to this as a sanctions hole  where anything from semiconductors to aeroplane parts to iPhones can be routed and re-exported into Russia through firms in China, Turkey or the UAE, or via Armenia, Kazakhstan and other former Soviet republics.

German exports of vehicles and parts in 2023 were 5100% above their 2019 level. This isn't rocket science. This stuff is obviously going to Russia and has been doing so for over two years now. There's only silence and indifference on these continued exports in Germany... pic.twitter.com/KIhpY03wve  Robin Brooks (@robin_j_brooks) May 28, 2024

They include highly scrutinised items like microchips for use in the Russian war effort  among them those made by US producers such as Xilinx and Texas Instruments, or processors from Intel. The technology is often bought by companies in Hong Kong or China and re-exported to Russia, the data shows.

Russias invasion of Ukraine exposed a governance crisis in the EU. The EU has become an enabler of the war, said Robin Brooks, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution during a webinar on Russian sanctions evasion.

Brooks, who has been tracking the effectiveness of export controls, pointed to examples such as German exports of cars to Kyrgyzstan, up 5,100% since the beginning of the war.

It is not because people in Bishkek decided that they love Mercedes. These are cars that are going to Russia. This stuff mostly doesnt even arrive in Kyrgyzstan. Kyrgyzstan just is put on the invoice, Brooks said.

Export data shows that this trend is happening in every single European country, says Brooks.

It roughly offset about half the drop in direct exports to Russia.

Studies have revealed that the Russian military has exploited these loopholes to obtain critical western military technology. According to a report by the Royal United Services Institute defence thinktank, more than 450 foreign-made components have been discovered in Russian weapons found in Ukraine.

The US and EU have recently stepped up their efforts against companies and banks in middle countries trading with Russia.

In a speech to German business leaders in Berlin, the US deputy treasury secretary Wally Adeyemo urged companies to stop Russia importing critical components from or via China.

The US is increasingly putting pressure on banks to address the issue of re-export of dual-use goods from or via China. Without it, battlefield items will flow to Russia unabated, says Maria Shagina, a senior sanctions researcher at the International Institute for Strategic Studies.

But some of the countries crucial to Russias sanction evasion efforts are resisting western pressure.

In a recent interview with the Financial Times, the chair of Dubai Multi Commodities Centre, the oil states main trading hub, said sanctions on Russia were having no impact outside the west, and attempts to stop the flow of business just redirected it elsewhere.

The fact that the economy is not purely controlled by one side of the world makes these sanctions less effective, said Hamad Buamim.

Trade continues flowing, it just flows in a different way.

Great Greek Tanker Sale

Continuing imports to Russia and sustaining the wider economy would be impossible without the substantial revenues generated from its energy resources  and here too, Moscow has been reliant on outside actors willing to defy the wests sanctions coalition.

In December 2022, the UK, alongside G7 countries, Australia, and the European Union, implemented a $60-per-barrel price cap to restrict western companies from transporting, servicing, or brokering Russian crude oil cargoes in order to undermine Russias oil trade, which is heavily reliant on western-owned and insured tankers.

To ship crude oil abroad and earn much-needed foreign currency, Russia turned to a dark fleet of older tankers with murky ownership.

Greek shipping magnates, who wield an outsized role in the global oil trade, have stepped in and sold Russia hundreds of old vessels in a phenomenon dubbed the Great Greek Tanker Sale.

According to the trade publication TradeWinds, Greek shipowners have sold at least 125 crude and vessel carriers, worth over $4bn, to bolster Russias dark fleet.

As G7 leaders meet in Italy, they will face a spectrum of issues, with the challenge of how best to support Ukraine expected to be near the top of their agenda. As things stand, western officials and analysts largely agree that the impact of sanctions on Russia has been slower than hoped.

So far we have failed on the main objective, which is to get Russia out of Ukraine, said Brooks.

He argued that the key to hurting Moscow remained in targeting its energy profits. Measures proposed by Brooks and other sanction experts included reducing the oil cap to $20 a barrel and banning the sale of western oil tankers to undisclosed buyers.

If Europe is willing to take decisive action, we will witness a financial crisis in Russia, Brooks said.
Owner of Divine Shine car wash, Diego Noria, 28, works in the heat detailing cars at Divine Shine car wash on Friday, June 7, 2024, in Houston. A new analysis from Homebase found that the number of hours worked at small businesses across Texas decreased in May as a result of an ongoing heat wave across the southwest. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer Maria Noria cleans car mats in the heat at Divine Shine car wash on Friday, June 7, 2024, in Houston. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer Miguel Calderon, 28, wipes off sweat while working in the heat, detailing cars at Divine Shine car wash on Friday, June 7, 2024, in Houston. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer Miguel Calderon, 28, drinks cold water to cool down while working in the heat, detailing cars at Divine Shine car wash on Friday, June 7, 2024, in Houston. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer A Houston police officer walks back to his vehicle after clearing people from a damaged tire shop on May 17, the day after the devastating derecho. The storm led to a sharp decrease in small business activity, according to Homebase data. Brett Coomer/Staff photographer

Small business activity in Texas and other Southwestern states slowed last month as the heat ramped up, according to a new analysis.

In Arizona, where temperatures soared to more than 110 degrees last month, the number of hours worked at small businesses dropped by nearly 6% from mid-May to the end of the month, and the number of employees working dropped 4%, according to small-business management consultant Homebase. Texas saw a lesser impact, but still a measurable one, with the number of hours worked at small businesses dropping by more than 1%.

Homebase, headquartered in San Francisco and Houston, counts more than 100,000 small businesses across the country as its customers, resulting in a data pool of more than 2 million workers. To assess the effects of the heat wave, the company compared small-business activity during the week of May 17-23 and the week of May 31-June 6.

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The analysis comes as parts of Texas are suffering under a heat dome, in which high pressure traps warm air, leading to extended stretches of intense heat. While Houston is just to the east of the current heat dome, that doesnt mean the region is off the hook: Ridges of atmospheric pressure can contribute to the formation of storm systems.

In Houston, of course, small-business activity last month was affected by storms as well as heat, notably the May 16 derecho that barreled through the region, closing some businesses and leaving others without power for several days. As of June 10, according to the federal Small Business Administration, more than 6,000 people have applied for low-interest disaster loans, and the SBA has opened seven business recovery centers in Harris County to help affected businesses and nonprofits.

Overall, according to data Homebase pulled for the Houston Chronicle, the derecho led to a sharp decrease in small business activity in the days following the storm, with nearly 20% of the small businesses in the companys database closed on Friday, May 17.

While the overall Homebase analysis was focused on heat rather than storms, the former can exacerbate the latter, and with hurricane season having officially started on June 1, many people along the Gulf Coast are preparing for both.

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While there have been plenty of studies in recent years detailing the economic impact stemming from heat waves, our payroll data shows in real-time how damaging they can be to small businesses and our local economies, said John Waldmann, founder and CEO of Homebase, adding that almost half of Americans work in small businesses.

He added that small businesses might consider steps to climate-proof their operations, such as using light-colored interiors to keep spaces from soaking up heat, or by offering deals to entice consumers who might be reluctant to venture out because of the heat.
Overseas student revenue at the University of Sydney, pictured, and UNSW together made up 64% of the states total revenue from international students. Photograph: Paul Miller/AAP

New South Wales universities receive 40% of their total student fees from just three overseas countries, the latest auditor generals report has found, posing a concentration risk for the sector amid an anticipated cap on international students.

The report, released on Wednesday, showed the revenue stream from international students returned to pre-pandemic levels in 2023, with a 12% increase in overseas enrolments on the previous year to 166,178.

Overseas students contributed $3.4bn to course fees in 2023, a $325.5m increase on 2022, with students from China, India and Nepal comprising $2.5bn alone.

Related: Australian universities rise in world rankings but experts warn international student cap could hurt cutting-edge status

Total fees generated from those three nations is close to the $2.7bn received from Australias domestic students, and comprises 71.7% of revenue from all overseas students.

Universities earn nearly twice as much from overseas students compared with domestic students. Average revenue per domestic full-time equivalent student was $22,996 in 2023, the report found, compared with $41,117 for an overseas equivalent student.

Universities are facing a cap on international students, with a bill introduced to parliament by the education minister that would give him wide-ranging powers to set a maximum number of new international student enrolments for courses and providers.

NSW universities overseas student enrolments and revenue in 2024 are sensitive to changes in the rate of approvals of student visas, the report warned.

Unexpected shifts in demand arising from changes in the geo-political or geo-economic landscape, or changes to visa approval rates or travel restrictions, can impact revenues, operating results and cash flows.

The consequence of the risk of reliance on revenues from overseas students, when there is a lack of diversification in the countries of origin, was realised as travel restrictions were implemented following the outbreak of Covid-19 in early 2020.

Nationally, the number of international students in Australia shot up from about 580,000 pre-pandemic to 700,000 in February, prompting fears over low housing supply.

In NSW, all universities, except for Charles Sturt, had an increase in overseas student revenue in 2023, the report found, by as much as 47.1% on the previous year.

The report attributed the increase to student recruitment strategies, relaxed post-study visa rules and student working rights, leading to a higher number of applications that reportedly used fraudulent documentation or information in their applications since the re-opening of the international border.

Overall, seven of the states 10 universities recorded China as their leading source of overseas student revenues, creating a concentration risk for each university, and for the NSW university sector as a whole.

As the overseas market grew, the number of full-time equivalent domestic students dropped, by 2.6% in the year to 2023  with only three universities experiencing an increase.

Eight universities reported net deficits, with just the University of Sydney and the University of Newcastle avoiding the red, in large part due to success attracting the international market.

At the University of Sydney and UNSW, overseas student revenue made up 64% of the states total revenue from international students.

The deputy Greens leader and spokesperson for higher education, Senator Mehreen Faruqi, said international students had been doing the heavy lifting on university funding when it should be the governments role.

International students should be welcomed and not treated as cash cows or scapegoats for the governments failures, she said.

The report also cited a number of risks facing the sector, including outdated policies and payroll procedures.

The Australian Universities Accord, released earlier this year, recommended an overhaul to university governance to improve industrial relations compliance, workforce management and student safety.

Related: Tough assignment: Australian universities are desperate for more student housingbut not everyones on board

Seven universities had cybersecurity risks above what was acceptable, while the report also cited delays in responding to auditor recommendations, remediating wage underpayments and not capturing staff conflicts of interest.

There were $183m in wage underpayments owed to staff at the end of 2023, the report found, a 66% increase on 2022, while just $9.7m was back-paid during the year. Seven universities were not implementing procedures to reduce the future risk of staff underpayments.

The national president of the National Tertiary Education Union, Dr Alison Barnes, said wage theft was the toxic twin of insecure work in Australian universities.

While the scale of theft in NSW is shocking, it is not surprising, she said. Unfortunately this reflects the warped priorities of university executives who refuse to properly value their most important asset, the people.

Executives are addicted to secrecy and dodging accountability and its high time they came clean on dodgy practices which are holding our universities back.

Faruqi said the audit confirmed what we already knew.

Wage theft in universities is systemic, endemic and absolutely shocking in scale, she said.
kraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky (L) and British prime minister Rishi Sunak - HOLLIE ADAMS/POOL/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

Embargo 10.30pm, schedule for then

Rishi Sunak is to announce an extra 250 million for Ukraine as he urges world leaders to do whatever it takes to defeat Russia.

The Prime Minister will arrive in Bari, southern Italy, on Thursday morning for a G7 summit  potentially his last overseas visit as British leader.

He will hope to use the three-day trip to amplify his prime ministerial credentials in an attempt to divert attention away from his decision to leave the D-Day commemorations early.

The two priorities at the G7 summit will be to support Kyiv and to secure peace in the Middle East.

Mr Sunak will announce a package of up to 242 million funding for humanitarian, energy and stabilisation needs in Ukraine.

He will also try to persuade leaders to leverage billions from immobilised Russian assets to support Ukraine.

Mr Sunak said: We must be decisive and creative in our efforts to support Ukraine and end Putins illegal war at this critical moment.

The UK remains at the forefront of the international response, as we have been from the outset. We must move from as long as it takes to whatever it takes if we are to end this illegal war.

From Ukraine to the Middle East, we will be discussing significant global threats at the summit. Such threats are why it is so vital to strengthen the UKs national defence, through our commitment to spend 2.5 per cent of GDP on defence by 2030.

Mr Sunak will fly to Bari after his appearance in a TV election programme in Grimsby with Sir Keir Starmer, the Labour leader.

It is not the first time a prime minister has attempted to use an international summit for electoral advantage.

Margaret Thatcher attended the G7 summit in Venice days before the June 1987 election, which she went on to win handsomely.

Britains extra money for Ukraine will help lay the foundations for longer-term economic and social recovery and reconstruction, Mr Sunak believes.

Critical energy infrastructure has suffered from an intense Russian missile and bombing campaign over the past few months.

Mr Sunak wants to work with partners to agree a way to use immobilised Russian assets to support Ukraine.

Last month, Jeremy Hunt, the Chancellor, attended the G7 finance ministers and central bank governors meeting, where the G7 discussed potential avenues to bring forward the profits stemming from these assets, to the benefit of Ukraine.

The value of the assets held in G7 jurisdictions is $285 billion (222 million).

The UK has committed almost 12.7 billion in military, humanitarian and economic support to Ukraine and has often been the first mover on vital lethal aid, from Storm Shadow cruise missiles to a squadron of Challenger 2 tanks.

Mr Sunak recently announced that the UK will send its largest package of military equipment, designed to help back the Russian invasion on land, sea and air.

While at the summit, Mr Sunak will attend sessions on Ukraine; illegal migration; economic security and China; the Middle East; and a credible G7 and UK offer to the third world.

He will work to encourage G7 unity in response to the situation on the ground in Gaza, focused on the goal of a stable and prosperous Middle East.

Mr Sunak will press other leaders to recognise migration challenges across the route and to take collective action.

He will also seek to strengthen the Wests economic security in relation to China and work with partners to identify ways to ensure the UK leverages the revolution in green technologies for the benefit of the British people and industries.
Adam Carruthers, who is charged for felling Sycamore Gap tree last year, arrives at Newcastle Crown Court alone wearing a black mask and sunglasses - IAN FORSYTH/GETTY IMAGES EUROPE

A second man has denied being responsible for the felling of the famous Sycamore Gap tree in Northumberland.

Adam Carruthers, 31, arrived at Newcastle Crown Court alone wearing a black mask and sunglasses, while his co-accused was unavoidably detained.

Daniel Graham, 38, did not attend the hearing but the court was told he continues to deny sawing down the most famous tree in Britain on Sep 28 last year.

During the 20-minute hearing, a trial date was set for Dec 3 this year and prosecution and defence barristers were given a timetable to produce written cases.

Carruthers, who is from Wigton, Cumbria, entered a plea for the first time in front of Judge Paul Sloan KC, the recorder of Newcastle, denying the destruction of the tree and damage to Hadrians Wall, which it stood next to.

Christopher Knox, Grahams lawyer, said: My client is unavoidably detained. Your honour knows the details and I cannot tell you any more than you know.

Efforts were made to video link Graham to the hearing from a location in Cumbria, but they were unsuccessful.

Daniel Graham, 38, (left)and Adam Carruthers, 31 were accused of causing 622,191 worth of damage to the tree - ELIZABETH COOK/PA

The tree at Sycamore Gap was chopped down 'deliberately' and has subsequently caused damage to Hadrian's Wall - OWEN HUMPHREYS/PA

Judge Sloan told Carruthers: Your trial has been fixed for Dec 3 this year. I will extend your bail on the conditions you remain at your home address and notify the court if you intend to move from there and that you do not contact prosecution witnesses.

He continued: If - and I stress if - you have committed any offence arising from these allegations, the sooner you tell the court, the better for you, the more credit you will receive and the less your sentence will be.

Graham and Carruthers, who are both groundworkers at Grahams Carlisle-based company, are bailed to appear again before the court for a case management hearing on Aug 27.

They will face trial for cutting down the tree  which has been scientifically assigned a value of 622,191 using the capital asset value for amenity trees system  in the early hours of Sep 28 last year.

The pair are further charged with causing criminal damage without lawful excuse to Hadrians Wall, a UNESCO world heritage site, to the value of 1,144, caused when the tree toppled onto it.

At a previous hearing before the Newcastle magistrates, Rebecca Brown, the prosecutor, told the court: This is a case that will be instantly recognisable to you, indeed anyone hearing the charges read out.

The prosecution say the tree was deliberately felled on Sep 28 last year and the resultant fall damaged Hadrians Wall, a UNESCO world heritage site.

The prosecution say these defendants are responsible as part of joint enterprise.

Sentencing guidelines say that if convicted the men could face jail terms ranging from 18 months to four years.

But Ms Brown continued: This is a complex case with unusual features. There is a large amount of expert evidence, including botany, cell site analysis, ANPR and image enhancement.

The tree was a much-photographed tree and had won multiple awards before it was felled - TOM WHITE/PA

The Sycamore Gap tree in Northumberland was one of the worlds most photographed trees and featured in the 1991 film Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves starring Kevin Costner and Morgan Freeman.

It was voted English Tree of the Year in 2016 in the Woodland Trusts awards and was much-loved by people from across the world.

The sycamore, which was over 200 years old, was found chopped down, with its upper section lying across the historic Roman barrier. Despite being felled, the tree lives on at a secret National Trust location in the form of blooming seedlings.

In December last year, staff at the National Trust revealed that material they collected from the felled tree was showing signs of life.
Thefts

At 1.24am on the first Tuesday in May, Elie Hughes, the curator of Ely Museum, was roused by an automated alarm-response call to her mobile. Her home is close to the museum, but when she pulled up in the little staff car park moments later  and just before the police arrived  it was already too late.

A shuttered window had been forced open, she says. I just hoped it was an opportunist break-in, and that when the alarm went off it had frightened them away. But that wasnt the case.

The CCTV clip released by Cambridgeshire police in the days following shows precisely what happened. A camera in the gift shop captures two black-clad figures clambering in through a jemmied window. Both wear hooded anoraks; one holds a sledgehammer. Far from opportunists, these are men on a focused mission, as they hurry into an adjoining exhibition room, where an infrared camera shows them disappearing round the back of a storytelling enclosure, built during the museums recent redesign.

When they exit the scene at speed, one carries something long and thin, dangling: a Bronze Age gold torc (an ornamental ring worn around the neck), one of the most beautifully crafted and heaviest ever found in this country.

The torc that was stolen from Ely Museum weighs in at 730g

It was uncovered in a nearby ploughed field by a metal detectorist in 2015, having lain there for 3,000 years, and was acquired by the museum amid great fanfare two years later, following a 220,000 fundraising drive to which hundreds of locals contributed. So finely wrought is this artefact, an X-shaped gold bar twisted into a perfect spiral, that when Hughes commissioned a skilled craftsman to make a copy for the museums education programme, even with modern precision tools he found it almost impossible.

The thieves also took the collections other star exhibit  a Bronze Age bracelet made of pure gold. The entire robbery had taken them just 46 seconds.

Were all still really struggling, says Hughes. Were sad and were angry. Ive had people saying it feels like theyve been punched, the shock and that overwhelming feeling of loss. Especially people who donated towards it, theyre saying this feels really personal. I wanted that to stay in my local community and I put my hand in my pocket to make sure that it did. And now somebody has taken it away.

CCTV showed the thieves getting in and out of the museum in under a minute

For museum staff, the only hope is that the pieces were stolen to order for an unscrupulous collector and may yet be recovered intact. But far more likely is the possibility that they will have already been melted down  the torc alone weighs in at 730g, worth about 43,000 at the current price for gold on the global markets  and if thats the case, their stories and extraordinary craftsmanship will be lost for ever.

In March Historic England and the National Police Chiefs Council released a new report on heritage crime, revealing a rise in thefts of cultural objects from art galleries and museums. Using data gathered between early 2020 and early 2023, it found that there had been a nine per cent year-on-year increase in stone theft from Englands historic sites.

The estimated value of cultural property stolen in 2021/22 is estimated to be 3.2 million  but this figure is likely a low-ball outlier, particularly when one takes into account certain super heists.

In 2012 18 jade artefacts, worth 15 million, were stolen from the Fitzwilliam Museum in Cambridge, and in 2018 a diamond tiara valued at 3.5 million was taken from a gallery on the Welbeck Estate in Worksop. The following year, an 18ct-gold lavatory valued at 4.8 million, which was part of an installation by the Italian conceptual artist Maurizio Cattelan, was stolen from an exhibition at Blenheim Palace. A reward of 100,000 was offered by insurers. But it would be years before four men were charged with the crime, three of whom have pleaded not guilty. Their trial is due to start next year. And, as is so often the case in heritage theft, big ticket or otherwise, not one of these stolen objects has been recovered.

The golden toilet, worth 4.8 million, which was stolen from Blenheim Palace - Tom Lindboe/Blenheim Palace/PA

Organised heritage crime is a cops-and-robbers technological arms race. High-definition CCTV and smart alarms are now affordable to most businesses, and forensic techniques such as SmartWater (a liquid containing a unique code) have revolutionised security marking. On the flipside, the new generation of cordless power tools makes quick work of every physical barrier, from reinforced concrete to bulletproof glass, so that even if a gang is caught on multiple cameras and every alarm is tripped, by the time the police arrive theyve got what they came for and vanished.

I was always told as a junior cop that if a criminal really wants to complete a crime, theyll complete the crime, says Mark Harrison, a former chief inspector who is now head of heritage crime strategy at Historic England, and an esteemed community archaeologist.

The kit at their disposal means this holds true for even the most ambitious heritage thieves. The minute anything goes on display it becomes incredibly vulnerable, confirms Dr Matt Pope, an associate professor at UCLs Institute of Archaeology. There is money to be made, and everyone knows it.

The internet is a sprawling battleground in this conflict. Criminals can trawl online resources to identify where valuable items are kept, just as they can use Google Maps satellite overlays and websites to identify vulnerable targets, and plot entrances and escape routes.

During lockdown, historic premises really opened themselves up online, says Assistant Chief Constable Rachel Nolan of Essex police, and the National Police Chiefs Councils lead on heritage crime. Its a sad fact that this gave a really easy opportunity for criminals to check out security: window locks, CCTV, access points.

But the internets all-seeing eye also makes it difficult, often impossible, for thieves to sell a rare haul for anything near its true worth. When any high-value antiquity is stolen, its all over the internet. This, sadly, is why it probably wont be seen again  safer to melt it down or break it up and sell off parts. For example, the 3.5 million tiara, made by Cartier for the Duchess of Portland to wear at Edward VIIs coronation, is believed to have been smuggled to Turkey and broken up for its gold and diamonds.

The Portland Tiara

The ever-rising value of precious stones and metals is an obvious factor behind this crime wave, but theres a more immediate issue: burgeoning public interest in our heritage, and a desire to engage with it up close. These days visitors expect historic properties to show off their great artworks and original pieces in open displays, rather than behind security glass. Add to this the fact that there is chronic understaffing, and you have a recipe for widespread opportunist theft.

Things have gone missing from every place Ive worked, on a very regular basis, says an experienced heritage employee, who has worked at a large stately home for the past year, and previously at several museums across England. Small paintings or prints, jewellery, coins, vintage newspapers, anything a visitor can conceal about their person.

They generally arent serious criminals looking to make money. Its more just, Oh, nobodys looking, Ill have that as a nice souvenir.

In one recent incident, he visited a room during closing time, and noticed a modest 18th-century silver ring was missing from a collection on a table near the roped-off visitor viewing area. After an extensive search, his team reported it to the police, who are currently investigating it as theft.

Dispiriting as these casual robberies are, they are an inevitable price to be paid for more open public access. Such crimes are rarely reported  and so the stolen items are hardly ever recovered.

In many ways its just a matter of scale, says Mark Harrison. The sheer number of historic sites in this country means youre always going to struggle to secure and police them.

The National Heritage List, spanning scheduled monuments, listed buildings, battlefields and protected shipwrecks, now holds more than 400,000 entries. The Church of England alone has nearly 16,000 buildings, and there are 1,800 accredited museums in the UK, a few so enormous that the issue of scale becomes an in-house crime-prevention dilemma in itself.

Last year a senior curator at the British Museum was sacked for gross misconduct and accused of taking items that dated back to 1,500BC.

Dr Peter Higgs, the museums curator of Mediterranean cultures, had worked there for more than 30 years, until it emerged that as many as 2,000 items were missing from the Greek and Roman department. He was accused of selling items on eBay: various accounts suggested that coins, gems and jewellery from the museum were sold typically at a tiny fraction of their true worth.

Civil proceedings against him were launched by the British Museum in March. Court documents stated that the British Museum believed Dr Higgs had pocketed an estimated 100,000 from stealing, damaging, melting down and selling the artefacts. Dr Higgs has denied any wrongdoing and no criminal charges have been brought.

Dr Peter Higgs was accused of stealing iterms from the museum and selling them on eBay

The challenge is that most of the missing items had never been photographed or catalogued. With dwindling staff numbers and a collection totalling eight million objects, this task was deemed insurmountable.

Inadequate record keeping is Rachel Nolans biggest bugbear when it comes to policing thefts: Every site and institution should know exactly what they have and make sure its all photographed, be it a piece of stone or an item with historic value. If its taken and we cant properly describe it, thats a serious challenge.

Harrison stresses that every police force in the country can now call upon a specialist heritage crime officer. And yet convictions are rare. This is not only the case with the heritage items but with the theft of valuable urns, benches and sundials stolen from public property. Salvo, the UKs largest architectural salvage marketplace, has an online theft alert classified section, listing them all  there are pages and pages.

Old York flagstones are another target for robberies  they can sell for as much as 200 per square yard. Church paths, bridges and historic streets across the country have been laid waste by these thefts, often brazenly carried out in broad daylight, and requiring little more than a crowbar, a transit van and some high-vis jackets to deceive onlookers into thinking that theyre official workers.

Even when police work does result in a conviction, the sentences often dont seem to reflect the crime or the sheer amount of work it takes to catch the culprits.

Take the gang who had removed 30,000 worth of York coping stone from Tatton Park in Cheshire. They were apprehended only after an off-duty policeman noticed a van driving slowly alongside the walls. A subsequent search unearthed a discarded cigarette packet that provided a DNA clue, and forensic scientists liaising with Mark Harrison were able to match soil and plant samples from stone found in the van with that of the depleted wall. In December 2022 the gang were convicted  and yet after a two-year investigation they were sentenced to just two years, suspended for 18 months.

Determined to protect their artefacts, some heritage sites are now finding their own ways of policing their properties. English Heritage is currently trialling the use of staff bodycams, similar to those worn by police, at a few of the 400 historic sites it manages.

We would always want staff to challenge suspicious activity, says Rachel Nolan, but if its a large group of men in fluorescent jackets or that type of possibly intimidating scenario, body cameras mean you can capture important evidence without confrontation.

Historic England, meanwhile, are mobilising the public. Heritage watch schemes, encouraging people to report crime or suspicious behaviour at local historic assets, now operate in Essex, Cheshire, Hertfordshire, Kent and York. In Essex theres a mounted division, trained to monitor the heritage landscape on horseback. Horse riders really know their local communities, says Nolan, and obviously a lot of sites are extremely rural, off the beaten track but perhaps close to a bridle path.

An awareness training programme aimed at scrap-metal dealers is also already paying dividends, according to Harrison. Thieves who prised six bronze plaques from a war memorial in Ilfracombe this January were arrested, and later imprisoned, after offering them to a local scrap merchant who raised the alarm. But although ID is now a legal requirement when selling certain metals such as lead to scrap dealers, bafflingly, gold and silver are excluded from this legislation.

Churches, often isolated and unlocked, are a perennial target. In the 12 months to July 2021, some 4,169 crimes  mostly theft and vandalism  were committed at UK religious premises. Church metal is very rarely seen again, says Harrison with a sigh.

A spate of nighttime raids saw antique ecclesiastical silver valued at more than 100,000 stolen from church safes in Dorset, Suffolk and Lancashire last year. A highly professional gang is thought to have been behind them all.

Cameras were disabled, and in one case a hard drive that recorded the CCTV video was removed from a locked cupboard. Surfaces had been sprayed in lubricant to avoid fingerprints. When the gangs drill failed to do the job at Lady St Marys, Wareham, in Dorset, explosives were used to blow open the vestry safe. The 26 pieces of communion plate lost in this robbery included an Elizabethan chalice engraved with the churchs name, valued at 30,000.

The gang broke into the Lady St Mary's Church by smashing a window (circled) before using explosives to access the silver - MaxWillcock/BNPS

It has been in the church almost 500 years, said Canon Simon Everett, and it has gone missing on our watch. There is anger, there is rage. Some people were in tears. You dont expect explosives being used to open safes in darkest Dorset.

He also notes that the thieves were discerning. They only took solid silver and left the silver plate.

Over in Kent, another robbery shook the congregation, and saw the loss of another equally loved item.

Every sermon at St John the Evangelist in Kingsdown, near Deal, had  since 1853  been delivered from a majestic six-foot brass lectern, topped with an eagle and studded with polished gemstones. Then, in May 2022, a warden unlocking the church found the front door jemmied and a void where the lectern had stood.

Wed had quite a few daytime robberies in the previous year or two, says the current churchwarden, Elizabeth Bembridge. A donation box was levered off and pinched, a votive offering box prised open But this was very different.

Rachel Nolan is aware of this when investigating such crimes. Im always incredibly mindful that these crimes have a reach across entire communities... It means so much to so many people when treasured items are recovered, and perpetrators brought to justice.

In the case of the Kingsdown church, the treasure has yet to be recovered  but a thief was detained. CCTV analysis led police to a van owned by a local man, 27-year-old Robert Watson. In the back they discovered the lecterns wooden plinth, and a hacksaw blade bearing traces of brass. Watson was later sentenced to a year in prison, having refused to identify the accomplice seen on the CCTV footage, or divulge the lecterns fate.

The police tracked his van to Essex using automatic number-plate recognition, says Bembridge. She suspects that the lectern was driven to a scrapyard and melted down. Wed had it valued at 10,000, but the police told me that as scrap metal he would have been paid around 70. Barely enough to cover his petrol. A campaign was started to raise funds for a replica brass lectern, but soon abandoned. We all thought, whats the point? Itll just be pinched again. There is a sense of defeat.

At Ely Museum, however, the staff are standing strong. The building is now protected by a state-of-the-art alarm system and heavy-duty security shutters, but the collections are still shown rather than locked away.

Of course we could keep these kinds of objects for research and preservation, out of public view, says Elie Hughes. But I work in a museum so that people can be excited, so they can learn about items from their past. Accessibility, enjoyment, education  thats why were here. Thats what museums are for. And if we close the doors and put the shutters down, whats the point?
The new treatments have been shown to slow the disease's progression by as much as 60 per cent in trials - Witthaya Prasongsin

Thousands of patients face missing out on new Alzheimers treatments unless testing is overhauled, experts have warned.

NHS services risk being overwhelmed by the demand for two new drugs because of an inability to accurately test patients being referred at scale.

Researchers from University College London (UCL) said just 14 per cent of patients referred to specialist clinics were likely to benefit, but the tests needed to confirm an Alzheimers diagnosis  a fluid biomarker test or PET scan  are not routinely available.

New drugs, called lecanemab and donanemab, slow down the early stages of the disease by helping to remove the build up of the protein amyloid in the brain and are currently being assessed for approval in the UK by regulators.

The treatments have been proven to slow the progression of the disease by as much as 60 per cent in trials and could herald a new era of dementia treatment by tackling the cause rather than just alleviating symptoms.

New drugs, called lecanemab and donanemab, slow down the early stages of the disease - Science Photo Library RF

Scientists analysed 1,017 adults who had previously been treated in five areas of London, including 517 patients assessed in memory services and 500 in a specialist cognitive service, to find out how many could be set to benefit.

About a third, or 163, of the patients in memory services were likely to be referred for potential suitability for the drugs, but of these just two had a fluid biomarker test, while the remainder underwent neuroimaging.

The researchers said there was a clear and urgent need to improve NHS screening to work out who may benefit.

A secure diagnosis of Alzheimers disease with beta-amyloid accumulation is only possible with fluid biomarkers or PET imaging, which are currently not usually available to memory services within the UK; a clear and urgent area for improvement, they wrote.

Some 492 of the 500 patients seen in specialist clinics, where more tests are available, were given scans to diagnose Alzheimers, with three in five of the 177 who were diagnosed with the disease given fluid biomarker tests to check for the presence of amyloid proteins.

After some patients were excluded because they were too frail or not suitable for the drugs, just 70, or 14 per cent of the total patients seen by the clinic, would have been eligible.

The research team said that NHS systems need to be set up to deal with this potential large mismatch between referral and ultimate eligibility in order to avoid overwhelming services.

A doctor points out evidence of Alzheimer's disease on PET scans - BRIAN SNYDER

They added a significant issue is that due to the lack of biomarker testing in community memory clinics, the clinical suspicion of Alzheimers is likely to be incorrect in at least 30 per cent of cases.

David Thomas, the head of policy and public affairs at Alzheimers Research UK, said: New Alzheimers drugs are finally on the horizon, but for their full potential to be realised, health systems need to be able to offer people with symptoms of dementia an accurate and early diagnosis to find out whether these treatments could benefit them.

As this research demonstrates, the NHS is a long way from being able to do this testing routinely, he said.

Whoever forms the next government must invest in the NHS urgently, to ensure we have the right diagnostics and workforce in place to help identify people who could benefit from new treatments should they be deemed safe and effective by the regulators.

A key part of the solution is cheaper, more scalable diagnostics, such as blood tests, for use in clinical care.

NHS England has previously said it had set up a dedicated team to ensure the health service can roll out the drugs at speed.

It said the cost of implementing the new drugs, if and when approved, would be around 500million and 1billion per year, in a report published earlier this year.

It said patients would need a baseline MRI scan and then either a PET-CT scan or lumbar puncture that confirms the presence of beta-amyloid proteins in the brain.

It added that new biomarker-based blood tests may be available in the future to screen patients following trials showing the less invasive tests had promise.

This means we should be cautious about driving a massive expansion, for example in amyloid PET-CT capacity, when this could become redundant in the longer-term.

The document said the estimated number of patients who might be deemed eligible for the drugs ranges from 50,000 to 280,000.
Sydney lord mayor Clover Moore is calling for a 90-day annual cap and a levy of up to 10% to be applied to all short-term rental bookings in the area, with revenue to be returned for social and affordable housing. Photograph: Lisa Maree Williams/Getty Images

The City of Sydney will call for major reforms to the short-term rental sector as it raises concerns that thousands of properties on hosting sites such as Airbnb have been operating without valid registrations.

Research commissioned by the city found that while there were about 2,500 active properties in the Sydney local government area (LGA) last year, according to New South Wales government figures, there were closer to 5,500 properties active in the area according to data sourced from AirDNA, a rental insights company based in the US.

The report by urban planning consultancy firm Mecone found that even though under state laws booking platforms should not allow bookings without accurate registration information, there was evidence of people finding ways around it.

Related: Brisbane to introduce Airbnb permits for property owners amid housing crisis crackdown

The research is being released after the Brisbane lord mayor, Adrian Schrinner, announced permits would soon be required for homes on Airbnb in the city.

Last year, Victoria announced it would introduce a 7.5% levy on platforms including Airbnb and Stayz, with hopes to raise $70m annually for affordable housing.

The Sydney lord mayor, Clover Moore, is calling for greater regulation of the sector, a 90-day annual cap and a levy of up to 10% to be applied to all bookings, with revenue to be used for social and affordable housing.

A balanced approach that distinguishes occasional short-term letting from commercial tourist accommodation is required, to allow short-term letting under circumstances that dont detrimentally impact rental accommodation supply, Moore said.

The city supports a regulatory framework that acknowledges the benefits of the sharing economy, while minimising the impact on housing affordability, safety and amenity.

The research found a state-wide levy was a strategic opportunity to create a new and significant revenue stream that could be used to address critical housing needs across the state.

Related: Airbnb says only 1% to 2% of homes in Australia are short-term rentals. What does that really mean for renters?

The paper found the current 180-day cap for listing was not an effective deterrent against switching long-term rentals to Airbnb and Stayz listings.

As it stands, only the Byron Shire is allowed to impose a stricter cap after the states Independent Planning Commission last year sanctioned the coastal council to impose a 60-day annual limit on short-term rentals.

The research also found enforcement of policies was fragmented and insufficient to counterbalance the financial benefits derived from flouting the rules.

The state government introduced a requirement in 2021 for all short-term rentals to be registered. Department of Planning officials have met with the council over its concerns about alleged non-compliance of [short-term rental] property owners, a spokesperson said.

Non-compliance matters can be referred to the NSW fair trading commissioner for further investigation.

The spokesperson also said the department was committed to better and more transparent compliance enforcement and the issue would form part of the sector review under way.

Related: Airbnb forced to pay up to $30m for misleadingly charging Australians in US dollars

The housing minister, Rose Jackson, said the review would be handed down in the coming months and all reforms would be aimed at incentivising the long-term rental use of properties.

Airbnbs head of public policy in Australia, Michael Crosby, disputed the numbers put forward by the Sydney council, saying the registration scheme was designed to provide a single source of truth about the number of listings.

It is disappointing the City of Sydney is using scraped data from a third party, he said.

Night caps, both locally and internationally, have not worked to improve housing costs or supply.

The chief executive of the Australian and New Zealand Short Term Rental Association, Mitch Price, also raised concerns about the AirDNA data and said caps would not work.

Relying on potentially flawed data could lead to misguided policy decisions that fail to address the actual state of the short-term rental market, he said.

Overestimating the number of rentals might prompt unnecessary regulations, while underestimating it could lead to insufficient oversight.

According to the government, there are now 50,079 properties registered as short-term rental accommodation options across the state. Of those, almost 32,000 are non-hosted, meaning the renter can occupy the whole property.

Official figures show there were almost 1,000 extra properties registered between June 2023 and June 2024, with more than 3,000 properties registered in the Sydney LGA.
British Social Attitudes survey represents a significant shift in attitudes since the transgender question was introduced in 2021 - Alamy Stock Photo

Half of Britons now believe transgender people should not be able to change the sex registered on their birth certificate.

The figure, from the annual survey of British Social Attitudes, has more than doubled since 2019 when just 24 per cent of people said they would not be in favour of altering sex on birth certificates.

In 2019, in contrast, more than half of people (53 per cent) thought that transgender people should be able to change the sex registered on their birth certificate if they wished to do so.

Today, just over one quarter (26 per cent) agree that a transgender person should be able to do so.

The marked change in attitudes comes as Rishi Sunak vowed to change the law to protect womens spaces such as lavatories and changing rooms by clearly defining biological sex in the Equality Act.

The Conservative manifesto, launched on Tuesday, includes a pledge to rewrite the Act to make clear that sex refers to biological sex.

The Prime Minister has said that someones sex at birth should define whether the law sees them as male or female.

It also follows the publication of the Cass report earlier this year, which concluded that children who think they are trans should not be rushed into treatment they may regret.

Intense political debate

The National Centre for Social Research (NCSR), which commissioned the survey, said its findings suggested the intense political debate regarding gender self-identification coincided with, and perhaps contributed to, substantial changes in attitudes towards transgender people.

The research found that almost half of Britons (47 per cent) believe attempts to ensure equal opportunities for trans people have gone too far, with 22 per cent believing they have not gone far enough.

It represents a significant shift in attitudes since the question was introduced in 2021, when around a third of people believed attempts to ensure equality for trans people had gone too far, and another third believed they had not gone far enough.

The survey also found that a record percentage of people rarely trust any government to prioritise the needs of the country over internal party interests.

Some 45 per cent of respondents almost never believe governments of any party are fully focused on challenges facing the UK, which is higher than the previous record high of 40 per cent recorded in 2009, following the MPs expenses scandal exposed by The Telegraph.

A record 58 per cent also said they almost never trusted politicians of any party to tell the truth when they are in a tight corner  a 19-point increase from 2020.

Professor Sir John Curtice, the polling expert, said the results showed the next government would need to address the concerns of a public that is as doubtful as it has ever been about the trustworthiness and efficacy of the countrys system of government.
Skydance Media, the firm behind Top Gun: Maverick, assembled a consortium of investors to buy the vehicle that owns Redstones controlling stake in Paramount. (Pictorial Press, Pictorial Press Ltd)

Oracle (ORCL)

Shares in Oracle were up by over 8% in pre-market trading as the software company announced cloud deals with Google (GOOG) and OpenAi.

"In Q4 alone, Oracle signed over 30 AI sales contracts totalling more than $12.5bn (9.8bn), including one with OpenAi to train ChatGPT in Oracle Cloud," CEO Safra Catz said.

The company also said that it would bring its database to Google's cloud, with availability coming in November. Organisations will be able to deploy workloads in Google and Oracle cloud data centre regions without being subject to data-transfer charges.

"In Q3 and Q4, Oracle signed the largest sales contracts in our history, driven by enormous demand for training AI large language models in Oracle Cloud," Catz added.

Read more: How to invest in the Indian stock market

Despite this, fourth-quarter results in Larry Ellison's company fell short of Wall Street expectations.

Total revenue grew 3% to $14.29bn. Net income came in at $3.14bn, or $1.11 per share, down from $3.32bn or $1.19 per share in the year-ago quarter.

In the latest quarter, the company raked in $10.23bn in revenue from cloud services and license support, up 9% from a year before.

Oracle reported total revenue growth of 6% for fiscal 2024. For FY25, analysts expect 9% growth.

The company expects first-quarter revenue to grow between 5% and 7%, while analysts estimate a 7.6% rise.

Apple (AAPL)

Apple shares hit a new high during Tuesday's session, closing 7% higher but it was in the red during pre-market trading as the AI announcements continue to divide analysts.

In its worldwide developers conference, the iPhone maker got back on the AI race with the announcement of Apple Intelligence. It also said users will soon be able to tap into OpenAi's ChatGPT when using Siri.

At least 13 analysts raised their price targets on Apples shares after the developer event, and said the latest features could give sales a boost as the company prepares to announce a new line of iPhones in autumn.

"This was a historical day for Apple and Cook & Co, and it did not disappoint in our view," Wedbush analyst Daniel Ives told investors in a research note.

Ives, who kept his outperform rating and $275 price target, said the entire tech landscape was laser focused on the highly anticipated AI strategy and further updates across both the hardware and software ecosystems that will drive the next growth cycle over the coming years.

Apple is demonstrating that it is invested in evolving its platform and devices to enable the next era of computing, interfaces and experiences, Gartner analyst Tuong Nguyen said.

Elon Musk has threatened to ban Apple devices at his companies over what he alleges are security fears.

Paramount (PARA)

Shares in the company have crashed and continue to dive deeper into the red during pre-market hours after the media tycoon behind Paramount Pictures pulled the plug on a proposed multibillion-dollar merger, after months of negotiations.

Shari Redstone ended talks with Skydance Media over a merger that would have handed control of Paramount from her family to billionaire David Ellison.

Skydance had offered about $2bn to acquire Redstone's National Amusements (NAI) after which he would merge Paramount into Ellison's company through a stock deal.

Read more: UK economy flatlines in April as bad weather hits spending

Skydance was also ready to buy out about half of Paramount's common shareholders at $15 a share and inject about $1.5bn to help pay off the company's debt.

A statement from National Amusements merely noted that the two sides have not been able to reach mutually acceptable terms for the deal.

Paramount has struggled in an evolving media landscape, particularly as its traditional cable business has declined.

Legal & General (LGEN.L)

Shares in insurance, retirement and investment services group tumbled as CEO Antonio Simoes announced a shake up to deliver a "simpler, better-connected L&G".

The changes include creating a single asset management division that will bring together Legal & General Investment Management and the wider groups own investment unit, as well as looking to sell certain assets, notably its housebuilder Cala.

The groups powerhouse institutional pension insurance business, which buys out old pension schemes, and its main insurance retail arm, which has 14m customers, will remain.

However, the company plans to aggressively pursue corporate pension deals, targeting up to 65bn in the UK by 2028, after completing 13.7bn globally last year.

The company said it intends to return more to shareholders over 2024 to 2027, with 5% dividend growth in 2024 followed by 2% growth per annum, in addition to a 200m share buyback.

Watch:Apple will no longer be 'missing out' with new AI initiative

Download the Yahoo Finance app, available for Apple and Android.
The Sky News debate follows Rishi Sunak and Sir Keir Starmer's first debate on June 4 - JONATHAN HORDLE/ITV

Rishi Sunak and Sir Keir Starmer will square off for their second head-to-head TV debate of the general election in Grimsby, hosted by Sky News.

The showdown on Wednesday night will have an interesting dynamic as it straddles the two manifesto releases, with the Tories plans ripe for interrogation after being unveiled on Tuesday while Labours proposal remains under wraps until Thursday.

The Prime Minister will kick off the day campaigning in North East Lincolnshire as Sir Keir and Louise Haigh, his shadow transport secretary, are in Humberside to set out Labours pitch to motorists.

Sir Ed Davey, the Liberal Democrat leader, is heading to Warwickshire and later Surrey to discuss the partys plans for a Clean Water Authority.

Elsewhere, its manifesto launch day for the Green Party, who will be making their pitch to the nation in Hove.

Co-leaders Adrian Ramsay and Carla Denyer will be joined by Zack Polanski, their deputy leader, and parliamentary candidates including Sian Berry.

North of the border, Anas Sarwar, the Scottish Labour leader, will outline his partys vision for the NHS in Edinburgh, where John Swinney, the SNP leader, is also out campaigning with candidate Joanna Cherry.

Then its all eyes on Sky News in the evening, where Mr Sunak and Sir Keir will take to the stage for their second big debate. The format will be different from ITVs, with 20-minute sit down interviews followed by 25-minutes of questions from the audience.
The Quest sinking in 1962. Finding it has been called one of the final chapters in the extraordinary story of Sir Ernest Shackleton. Photograph: Tore Topp

The wreck of the ship on which renowned Antarctic explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton died has been found off the coast of Labrador, Canada, searchers have announced.

Locating the Quest  a schooner-rigged steamship which sank on a 1962 seal hunting voyage  represents a last link to the heroic age of Antarctic exploration, said search leader John Geiger.

Finding Quest is one of the final chapters in the extraordinary story of Sir Ernest Shackleton, said Geiger, who heads the Royal Canadian Geographical Society.

Geiger was speaking from the bridge of Leeway Odyssey as the oceanographic research vessel returned to port in St Johns, Newfoundland, after locating the Quest in 400 metres of water 15 nautical miles from shore.

Quests final resting place was 7,500 miles (12,000km) from where it was anchored when Shackleton died of a heart attack onboard in the harbour at Grytviken, South Georgia, on 5 January 1922.

The explorer was just 47 and was returning to Antarctica seven years after his previous ill-fated expedition had ended in near catastrophe.

Coming three years after the expeditions of the Norwegian Roald Amundsen and the Englishman Robert Falcon Scott first reached the south pole just weeks apart, in 1914 Shackleton hoped to make the first land crossing of the Antarctic continent. Instead, his doomed expedition became one of the most gruelling  and miraculous  survival ordeals of all time.

The mission went awry when his ship, the Endurance, became trapped in pack ice in the Weddell Sea, forcing Shackleton and his men to camp on unstable ice floes. After months adrift, the Endurance sank and Shackleton sailed with his crew in lifeboats to the desolate and uninhabited Elephant Island.

Realising their chances of rescue remained slim, Shackleton took five of his men in an open boat on an 800-mile odyssey across perilous oceans to reach the whaling station at Grytviken on South Georgia. Four months later, Shackleton succeeded in rescuing his crew from Elephant Island.

All 27 members of Shackletons crew survived the ordeal, establishing their leader as a lion of the heroic age of Antarctic exploration, with his care for his men distinguishing Shackleton in an era when polar explorers often died in the extreme conditions due to rudimentary equipment and insufficient supplies.

In a further testament to Shackletons leadership, eight of the Endurance crew would return with him on his next expedition. This despite the Quest being smaller than the Endurance with a design apparently ill-suited for polar expedition. A wooden-hulled former sealer built in Norway in 1917, the Quest was small, poorly fitted and reckoned exceedingly uncomfortable by those who sailed in her, according to an exhibition on the ship at the South Georgia Museum.

But journalists at the time marvelled at its modern gadgetry, which included wireless radio equipment, electric lights, an electrically heated crows nest, an instrument for plotting a ships course called an odograph, and even an Avro Baby seaplane.

After Shackletons death, Frank Wild took command and the Quest continued towards the Weddell Sea but the underpowered ship struggled in icy conditions and its men returned despondent to the UK months later.

The journey marked the end of the so-called heroic age, which was followed by a new mechanical age which relied less on the derring-do of its leaders and more on technological advances including tracked motor vehicles and aircraft.

But the Quest continued sailing for decades in various capacities. When Norwegian polar explorer Amundsen disappeared while flying on a rescue mission over the Arctic in 1928, the Quest was sent to help in the unsuccessful search for his remains.

British explorer Gino Watkins then used the Quest on his 1930 British Arctic air route expedition, which sought to survey an air route from the UK to Winnipeg.

During the second world war the Quest served as a minesweeper in the Caribbean.

After the war, the ageing vessel returned to her original purpose and it was while hunting seals in the Labrador Sea that the Quest struck ice and sank in May 1962, though all her crew were rescued.

This year marks 150 years since Shackletons birth in County Kildare and more than a century after his death, the Anglo-Irish explorers story continues to make headlines.

Related: Almost at war: shipwreck hunters battle it out for sunken treasure

In 2022, the wreck of the Endurance was discovered 3,000 metres below the Weddell Sea, preserved by the freezing waters and absence of wood-eating organisms.

After Endurance was found, a lot of Shackleton buffs all over the world  immediately turned to Quest, said Geiger, asking Wheres Quest? Can we find it?

It was a bit of a detective story initially, said search director David Mearns, a shipwreck hunter who was also involved in the decades-long project to find the Endurance. I thought, personally, we had a shot, maybe a 70% chance of finding it.

Five days into the search, the teams sonar equipment detected the wreck lying on the seafloor. The masts are knocked down and thats what we would expect, but the whole basically is intact, said Mearns. The team plans to return to photograph the wreck later this year.

The discovery has been welcomed by Shackletons closest living relative, Alexandra Shackleton, who noted that her grandfather had originally planned to use Quest on a Canadian Arctic expedition until the Canadian government of Arthur Meighen withdrew its support.

It is perhaps fitting that the ship should have ended its storied service in Canadian waters, she said.
Amanda Drane is the energy investigative reporter for the Houston Chronicle.

Amanda is responsible for holding major energy companies, power providers and their leadership to account. She works to help audiences make sense of these companies roles and responsibilities in major news events, while diving into some of the consequences of their choices and decisions in our region.

Before joining the papers business desk in May 2020, she worked as a City Hall reporter in Massachusetts, where she won regional awards for covering issues such as police accountability and the exploitation of undocumented restaurant workers.
Oscar-winning actress Olivia Colman will take on the role of a nun in Paddington In Peru.

A trailer for the third in the series of films, with This Is Going To Hurt actor Ben Whishaw in the lead role as the voice of Paddington Bear, shows Colman as the guitar-playing Reverend Mother trying to help the fictional animal character find his Aunt Lucy in the Amazon rainforest.

The 2024 movie sees the Brown family and Paddington, who live together in London, travel to the South American country so the cartoon bear can visit Lucy, voiced by The Crown star Imelda Staunton.

At the start of the official trailer, the hat-wearing bear, from darkest Peru, has returned to Paddington Station to use a passport photo machine and discovers headwear is not permitted, including his favourite marmalade sandwiches which he keeps under his hat.

So Paddington eats his lunch and while struggling a bit with his eyesight, he pushes his face up to the glass of the photo machine and gets spun off the chair, ending up with less than flattering images of himself.

In a voice-over, while Paddington receives his blue British passport, Whishaw can be heard saying: Dear Aunt Lucy, I have very important news, were coming to visit you. The Browns are coming to Peru.

The teaser than shows scenes including Mary Poppins Returns actress Emily Mortimer as Mrs Brown appearing to check out Spanish actor Antonio Banderas as Hunter Cabot, who the family travels with on a boat.

Mortimer says: Oh what a handsome  boat.

Actor Ben Whishaw takes the lead role as the voice of Paddington Bear (Matt Crossick/PA)

The family, including Downton Abbeys Hugh Bonneville as patriarch Henry Brown and Madeleine Harris as Judy Brown and Samuel Joslin as Jonathan Brown, then arrive at the Home for Retired Bears where Paddington cannot find Lucy.

The Reverend Mother, who along with other nuns looks after the bears, informs him she has set off on some sort of quest, deep in the jungle and we have no idea where she is.

She also tells Paddington and the Browns that she has faith that you will survive while having her fingers crossed and laughing before they try to find Lucy.

Other moments are shown, including Colman strumming a guitar and trying to fly a plane, Banderas running from a big boulder alongside Paddington in what seems like an ancient temple, and issues on board the boat.

Based on the series of childrens stories written by British author Michael Bond about a bear from Peru who wears a red hat and blue coat, production took place in London, Peru and Colombia for the latest movie, which is produced by Heyday Films and developed by StudioCanal.

The first film received an Outstanding British Film Bafta and adapted screenplay nods at the 2015 ceremony, and the follow-up Paddington 2 also garnered the same nominations, alongside a supporting actor mention for Hugh Grant as the thief Phoenix Buchanan.

A short film, voiced by Whishaw to celebrate the late Queens Platinum Jubilee, scooped a Memorable Moment TV Bafta last year following the monarchs death.

It saw the cartoon bear visiting Buckingham Palace for afternoon tea and the late Queen producing a marmalade sandwich from her handbag, and aired on the BBC during Platinum Jubilee: Party At The Palace with comedian Simon Farnaby, who co-wrote Paddington 2 with Paul King, appearing as a footman.

King was the writer and director of the first two movies, but has been credited with a story by mention for the latest instalment. Sally Hawkins, who used to play the Brown matriarch, was replaced with Mortimer.

Paddington In Peru comes out on November 8 in cinemas.
Fixing the financing of RTE was one of the biggest concerns raised by the broadcasters new chair when first meeting the media minister.

Terence ORourke described the current TV licence collection system as archaic and out of date.

Minister for Media Catherine Martin has committed to making a decision on reforming the funding of RTE before the Dail summer recess.

Some options reported to be under consideration are direct exchequer funding or a new broadcasting charge to be collected by Revenue, as opposed to An Post.

The broadcaster was plunged into crisis in June last year after it admitted understating the fees for its star presenter and previous top earner Ryan Tubridy.

Ryan Tubridy was the broadcasters top earner (Niall Carson/PA)

A series of probing parliamentary committee hearings also uncovered other concerns about culture, governance and financial management at RTE and there have been several high-profile resignations from the board and executive of the station.

A pre-existing steady decline in licence fee revenue was accelerated by the expanding controversy.

RTE operates on a dual-funding model that sees around 55% of its income brought in through the obligatory licence fee, which costs 160 euro a year for Irish households with a television.

Approximately 85% of revenue from TV licence fees goes to RTE to carry out its public service broadcasting commitments, while it also earns money through commercial operations.

Media Minister Catherine Martin has committed to a decision prior to the Dail summer recess (Brian Lawless/PA)

The Cabinet is due to sign off on a decision on reforming the funding model for public service broadcasting in the coming weeks.

On Wednesday, Mr ORourke appeared before the Oireachtas Committee on Media which was central to probing governance and culture issues at the broadcaster.

He said the board is seeking an adequate, independent, predictable and reliable source of funding.

A licence fee system which is depending on TV sets is archaic and out of date.

He added: There are different models out there. I think the current system is not working properly  a household charge would be another example involving public-sector funding.

There are different ways of doing it, but probably all of those would be better than the current system.

Asked about his biggest concerns when taking the job, he said: One would be that the financing model will be fixed.

Thats a preview of my initial discussion with the minister, that was very clearly an important thing.

RTE recorded fictitious accounting transactions and operated with a lack of trust between its board and senior management, according to reports commissioned by Ms Martin.

The reviews and examinations of practices at RTE found its culture was characterised by a lack of speaking up and good faith reporting.

They also found there was a lack of trust between the RTE board and its former executive, as well as an informality within board processes and a limited appetite to learn.

Former RTE chairwoman Siun Ni Raghallaigh resigned following a public dispute with the minister (Brian Lawless/PA)

Mr ORourke took over as head of the board from Siun Ni Raghallaigh after she resigned following a public dispute with the minister.

Ms Ni Raghallaigh said she had been left with no option but to quit after being subjected to an enforced dismissal after Ms Martin expressed disappointment in her during a live television interview.

The minister said she had been misled about the chairwomans role in approving an exit package for a former chief financial officer at the broadcaster.

Ms Ni Raghallaigh has since criticised the minister for actively taking a hands-off approach to the scandal at RTE and accused her of not assisting with falling TV licence revenues.

RTE director-general Kevin Bakhurst has announced a strategic plan for reforming the institution by 2028 (Niall Carson/PA)

Mr ORourke, a former KPMG managing partner, was appointed in March.

Asked if he had any concern about the circumstances around his predecessors departure, he said: Whatever happened, happened.

The chairman said somebody had to do the job and added: I wasnt there so I dont know what happened.

One of the things we agreed very early on with the minister was a protocol of communication.

So we now have an agreed protocol of things that that myself and the minister keep in contact about so its very clear.

Mr ORourke also told the committee that RTE has learned from controversies around financial mismanagement at the broadcaster.

He also said that the board has profound disappointment and regret about events and behaviours which triggered the investigative reports.

Mr ORourke said: The organisation has learned from what happened. The necessary controls and procedures are being put in place to make sure that those kinds of events cannot happen again.

Members of staff from RTE took part in a protest earlier this year (Niall Carson/PA)

However, he also warned that RTE will be faced with many challenges in a very disruptive decade ahead.

Mr ORourke said the broadcaster is working on implementing recommendations from the Government reports, which the minister said is a prerequisite for the release of emergency funding.

RTEs director general Kevin Bakhurst, who assumed the role in the early weeks of the crisis, has also announced a strategic plan for reforming the institution by 2028.

It includes cutting headcount by 400  a reduction of up to 20%  and a significant increase in investment in the independent production sector.
Its no secret that people fall in love with particular dog breeds, and gravitate to them over and over again. Queen Elizabeth was especially fond of her Corgis, and the Obamas helped start a craze for the Portuguese Water Dog after adopting one while living in the White House. Once you are used to a particular dog breeds behavior and foibles, you want to stick with what you know. I know if I ever got another dog, Id feel very tempted to go back to my beloved Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retrievers.

The family in this video are fans of St. Bernards, and its understandable. These giant, fluffy beasts are wonderful, affectionate family dogs. And theyd jest welcomed a new member into their ranks.

View the original article to see embedded media.

In this video, a family is carefully introducing their new St. Bernard puppy to the full grown dogs who live with them.

Related: 4-Month-Old St. Bernard's Massive Size Makes Her a True 'Big Baby'

How to Introduce a Puppy To Other Dogs In Your Home

They are following all the best guidelines for bringing a new dog into their home. They are doing it in a controlled manner, with the dog safe and protected from the larger creatures. They are giving the dogs a calm, observed space in which to check each other out and get used to the new arrival, and they are lavishing praise on the older dogs for how gentle and kind they are being to the puppy.

Other advice for introducing a new dog into your home is to do it outside, on neutral territory first, and to make sure everyone is leashed, in case there are any altercations.

So, how did it go?

How is Isla feeling about all this? asked one person in comments, referring to the adult female St. Bernard.

She is definitely feeling a bit stressed, said her owner. Giving her extra love and the space that she needs at this time, she added.

You guys are going to need a bigger vehicle, said another, and its true. Can you imagine trying to transport three adult St. Bernards at once?

Are St. Bernards Right For You?

St. Bernards are well-known through pop culture. Their distinctive size and markings have long been glorified in art and film, and they are famous for their historical role as alpine rescue dogs. They are positively enormous. Adult dogs can weigh up to a hundred and eighty pounds, and they have appetites (and slobber) to match.

Speaking of health, their size means they are more prone to the health problems suffered by large dog breeds like hip dysplasia.

Also, as an intelligent, working breed of dog, they require regular exercise, not only to keep their bodies in good shape but also to keep them from getting bored and turning mischievousyou know, like the famous St. Bernard in the movie Beethoven.

But if you like St. Bernards, you may soon find yourself with a house full of them, just like the dogs in this video. Isla, the adult female, already shares her home with the enormous Angus. And though baby Fiona is still a puppy small enough to sit on a kids lap, we can guarantee she wont stay that way for long!

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.
Rishi Sunak will announce up to 242 million in bilateral assistance to Ukraine at the G7 summit in Puglia.

The package is to be used for immediate humanitarian, energy and stabilisation needs in Ukraine and to lay the foundations for longer term economic and social recovery and reconstruction, the Prime Minister said.

The 242 million was allocated before Mr Sunak called a General Election for July 4.

The UK and G7 leaders agree that Moscow must pay for the damage it is causing Ukraine and will therefore explore how to use immobilised Russian assets  285 billion dollars (222 billion) worth of which are held in G7 jurisdictions  to support Ukraine, the Prime Minister said.

Mr Sunak said: We must be decisive and creative in our efforts to support Ukraine and end Putins illegal war at this critical moment.

The UK remains at the forefront of the international response as we have been from the outset. We must move from as long as it takes to whatever it takes if we are to end this illegal war.

Rishi Sunak will press other leaders to recognise migration challenges (James Manning/PA)

From Ukraine to the Middle East, we will be discussing significant global threats at the summit. Such threats are why it is so vital to strengthen the UKs national defence, through our commitment to spend 2.5% of GDP on defence by 2030.

The summit in Italy comes as Mr Sunak continues to face pressure at home over his decision to leave D-Day commemorations in France. The backlash has dominated his election campaign for the last week.

Foreign Secretary Lord David Cameron took Mr Sunaks place at a ceremony with leaders including US President Joe Biden and French President Emmanuel Macron, who the Prime Minister will meet at the G7 summit.

During the summit, Mr Sunak will also press other leaders to recognise migration challenges across the route and to take collective action.

He touted his flagship Rwanda scheme  which he says will go ahead with deportations starting in July if his party is re-elected  during a recent trip to Austria.

Fifteen EU countries, including Austria, signed a letter last month calling on the European Commission to tighten migration policy and to look at third country schemes.

At the Puglia summit, Mr Sunak will also attend sessions on the Middle East, economic security and China, and a credible G7 and UK offer to the global majority.
One of Rishi Sunaks closest parliamentary aides is facing a Gambling Commission probe after he put a flutter on when the General Election would take place.

Craig Williams, who served as the Prime Ministers parliamentary private secretary and is the Conservative candidate for Montgomeryshire and Glyndwr, admitted to placing a bet on when the poll would take place some weeks ago.

The Conservative former MP, who represented Montgomery until the election was called, wrote on social media site X, formerly Twitter: Ive been contacted by a journalist about Gambling Commission inquiries into one of my accounts and thought it best to be totally transparent.

I put a flutter on the General Election some weeks ago. This has resulted in some routine inquiries and I confirm I will fully co-operate with these. I dont want it to be a distraction from the campaign. I should have thought through how it looks.

The Guardian reported Mr Williams placed a 100 bet on a July election just days before Mr Sunak named the date as July 4, at a Ladbrokes in his constituency.

As a parliamentary aide, Mr Williams acted as a go-between for the Prime Minister and his MPs, and is understood to be a trusted member of Mr Sunaks team.

The Guardian said the bet would have led to a payout of 500 based on 5/1 odds.

A Conservative Party spokesperson said: We are aware of contact between a Conservative candidate and the Gambling Commission. It is a personal matter for the individual in question.

As the Gambling Commission is an independent body, it wouldnt be proper to comment further, until any process is concluded.

A Gambling Commission spokesman said: The Gambling Commission does not typically confirm or deny whether any investigations are under way unless or until they are concluded, or if arrests are made or charges are brought during a criminal investigation.

If someone uses confidential information in order to gain an unfair advantage when betting, this may constitute an offence of cheating under Section 42 of the Gambling Act, which is a criminal offence.

Labours Jonathan Ashworth, the shadow paymaster general, described what had happened as utterly extraordinary.

He said: Rishi Sunak has sat on this information for more than a week but has lacked any backbone to take action. Once again, Rishi Sunak has been exposed as utterly weak.

After all the Tory financial scandals, this is more evidence that the Tories have learned nothing, havent changed, and if given five more years, the chaos will just continue.

Britain has the chance to turn the page on this failed Tory government which will heap 4,800 onto peoples mortgages. Its time to rebuild with Labour.

Meanwhile, the Liberal Democrats called on the Prime Minister to suspend Mr Williams as a candidate.

Lib Dem deputy leader Daisy Cooper said: Not content with gambling with the countrys future, it now appears that a senior Conservative may have been trying to turn a quick buck on the election date.

Given that Craig Williams is Rishi Sunaks close personal aide, it is incumbent on the Prime Minister to immediately suspend him as a candidate and Conservative Party member while the inquiry takes place.

Voters are being taken for granted by Rishi Sunak and the Conservatives.
Sunak under fresh fire over D-Day after he apologises that events ran over

Rishi Sunak is under fresh pressure over his early D-Day exit after he was filmed saying the events he did attend ran over time.

The Prime Minister issued a public apology after skipping the main international event in Normandy in order to record a TV interview.

Footage of him arriving at the ITV interview showed him apologising for keeping journalist Paul Brand waiting, saying that the commemorations he did attend just ran over.

The timing of the interview on June 6 was suggested by the Conservative Party because Mr Sunak had already planned to leave Normandy before the major event attended by world leaders including Joe Biden and Emmanuel Macron.

It was incredible but it just ran over. This was the moment Rishi Sunak arrived for the interview having just landed back from Normandy after cutting D-Day commemorations short to return to the election campaign. pic.twitter.com/zfq10KgkcG  Paul Brand (@PaulBrandITV) June 12, 2024

Footage released by ITV showed him walking into the interview saying it was incredible but it all just ran over.

Liberal Democrat Treasury spokesperson Sarah Olney said: This is proof that Rishi Sunak simply didnt care enough to stay in Normandy.

How he brushes this off is frankly insulting.

Rishi Sunak does not deserve to be Prime Minister.

Honouring the sacrifice of our veterans should be a privilege, instead Sunak treated it as an inconvenience.

Foreign Secretary Lord David Cameron with French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and US President Joe Biden at the D-Day international ceremony (Abaca Press/Alamy Stock Photo)

Defence Secretary Grant Shapps suggested the Prime Minister had chosen to miss the international event because no British veterans were there.

He told Sky News: He was there meeting British veterans. The part that he didnt attend had no British veterans at it at all.

He has rightly issued his apology for it.

Mr Sunak has previously insisted he absolutely didnt mean to cause anyone any hurt or upset and I just hope people can find it in their hearts to forgive me.

Foreign Secretary Lord Cameron was the senior UK politician at the event on Omaha Beach in Mr Sunaks absence.
Swifties from across the world are descending on Liverpool as it transforms into Taylor Town ahead of a run of gigs.

Taylor Swift will perform to sell-out crowds at Anfield Stadium on Thursday, Friday and Saturday and her magic has come to Merseyside early with the Taylor Town Trail, a series of 11 artworks representing her albums which have been on display since Saturday.

Fans, who have travelled from as far away as New Zealand and the United States for the Eras Tour, were posing for pictures with the installations on Wednesday, while queues formed at the stadium for early sales of the popstars merchandise.

Taylor Swift kicked off the UK leg of her Eras Tour at the Murrayfield Stadium in Edinburgh over the weekend (Jane Barlow/PA)

Hannah Horst, 25, had travelled to Liverpool from Wisconsin in America with Angela Jacoby, Sam Kappel, both also 25, and Hannah May, 23, after they failed to get tickets for her US gigs.

She said: The city embraces it. We love that, we think thats so great.

The friends, who said they expected to be sobbing during their idols concert, described Swift as a welcoming space and said they were loving every minute of the trip.

Emily Yorke, 20, from Halifax, West Yorkshire, said she was due to go to two of the Anfield concerts after attending a show in Edinburgh last week, but had travelled a day early to meet fellow fans on the Taylor Trail.

Fans have been following the Taylor Town Trail since the art installations went on display in Liverpool on Saturday (Peter Byrne/PA)

She said: Im going to Cardiff next week and then London and then Amsterdam, Milan and Zurich as well.

Shes changed my life completely.

Lauren OLeary, 37, had come back to her hometown of Liverpool from New Zealand to see Swift.

She said: Its amazing that shes coming here. Its such a good vibe. Its just going to be a brilliant atmosphere.

Her niece Ellie Dohthwaite, 18, who will be at the concert with her, added: Ive literally cried every morning, Im so excited.

Director of Culture Liverpool Claire McColgan said the reaction from fans so far had been off the scale.

She said: Liverpool is no longer Liverpool for this whole week, Liverpool is Taylor Town.

Its just been brilliant and people are so polite because there are 11 (art installations), you have to queue, you have to wait.

The queues are just chatting amongst themselves and then people are just having real moments of coming together with people they dont know.

Its just been beautiful, its been an incredible atmosphere across the whole city.

We wanted people to come, if they havent got tickets but they want a bit of Taylor magic, they can come to Liverpool before the show and just feel it. Thats exactly what people are doing.

Ms McColgan, who was behind the citys Eurovision celebrations last year, said that as well as an economic boost, the concerts reinforced Liverpools international reputation.

She added: The world can be a very dark place and in Liverpool, its light.

When those fans come in, those young women who are just loving Taylor, theyll bring an energy to the place that will just make it really sing and I think thats what great art does and thats what great events do.

Merseyside Police has warned fans without tickets not to travel to Anfield for the shows, which will see crowds of about 53,000 each night.

Chief Superintendent Zoe Thornton said: We are anticipating high volumes of people travelling to the city each day and I must ask for the safety of everyone that only those who have a concert ticket should travel to the stadium.

We have a robust policing operation in place including the deployment of Project Servator officers, who are specially trained to spot the tell-tale signs that someone may have criminal intent, such as gathering information that may help them plan or prepare to commit a crime.
Cristiano Ronaldo has challenged Portugal to head into the Euro 2024 finals with their feet on the ground and their thoughts in the sky as they target a repeat of their success eight years ago.

The 39-year-old captained his country to European glory in 2016 and, having scored 10 goals in qualification this time around, is hopeful of making a significant impact in Germany.

Ronaldo underlined his ability to do just that with two fine finishes in Tuesday nights 3-0 friendly victory over the Republic of Ireland in Aveiro, in the process taking his international tally to a staggering 130 as the Portuguese banished the memory of a 2-1 defeat by Croatia in their penultimate warm-up fixture, a result which raised eyebrows.

Asked about the criticism which followed that game, the former Manchester United and Real Madrid star told reporters: Success can only be achieved through criticism.

The Portuguese expect a lot from Portugal. There is no margin for error, nothing, they always want Portugal to win, because of the generation, because of the talent that exists.

A defeat is always bad, but thats where good things come from, what you learn. If there are none, we cannot learn.

We have to have our feet on the ground and our thoughts in the sky dreaming of the European Championship.

Even as he approaches his 40th birthday, one of world footballs superstars admits he still dreams as he did as a boy of winning trophies with his country.

He said: Of course I dream the same way. Playing for the national team is my love, my passion in any game.

Of course, the European Championship is special  its my sixth, its also a record. But for me, going back to 2004 in my first game, the thought and pride remains the same. Playing for Portugal, it doesnt get any better than this.

For the European Championship, we have to think positively, step by step. This team has to dream. It has the talent for it and has worked hard because just having talent is no use if there is no work.

Portugals Cristiano Ronaldo (left) scored twice in a 3-0 friendly victory over the Republic of Ireland (Luis Vieira/AP)

Exactly what role Ronaldo plays in Germany remains to be seen, with manager Roberto Martinez acutely aware of both his enduring quality and his advancing years.

However, what is not in doubt is his potency, with his first goal against Ireland in particular one for the scrapbook after he received Ruben Neves long ball and cut inside defender Liam Scales before dispatching a venomous left-footed shot into helpless keeper Caoimhin Kellehers top corner.

Asked if it was one of his best goals, Ronaldo replied: If the first goal of this game was one of my best goals, I dont know. I cant rewind all the goals, but it must be.

But the most important thing is that the team did well, we played well. It was important to win regardless of who scores the goals. The team is synchronised, the objective was to win and gain confidence.
Watch: Woman receives surprise proposal after ringing the cancer bell

A woman received a surprise proposal from her boyfriend straight after ringing the bell following a breast cancer battle.

Lorraine Clyde, 36, a warehouse operative from Corby, East Midlands, had been diagnosed with breast cancer just over a year previously and had gone through radiotherapy treatment - with many life altering side effects like hair loss and severe fatigue.

Having been given the all clear from the disease, her partner, Aaron McGuckin, 34 surprised his wife-to-be by getting down on one knee right after she rung the bell that signified the end of her cancer battle.

Clyde says she had no idea her boyfriend was going to propose and was left speechless at the surprise.

My reaction was of utter shock," she recalls of the moment.

Clyde had already had one surprise that day after leaving the treatment room to find that three of her best friends had turned up to watch her ringing the cancer bell.

Lorraine Clyde's partner, Aaron McGuckin proposed to her straight after she rang the cancer bell. (@lorraine_c1987/Caters News) (@lorraine_c1987/Caters News)

"I had no clue they were coming either," she says. "The proposal followed, and I got the biggest surprise and cried a lot of happy tears.

"He had planned it for months and I had not a single clue.

Despite a challenging year while she went through treatment, Clyde says she coped with the experience with the love from her friends, family and McGuckin.

"I had a lot of wonderful support from my family and friends," she says. "My partner Aaron got me through the worst of it he took care of my every want and need to try make it as easy as possible on me.

"Being diagnosed at the age of 35 with breast cancer was without a doubt terrifying," Clyde contnues.

"I was very upset and scared in the beginning not just for myself but my family and friends."

Clyde in hospital during her breast cancer treatment. (@lorraine_c1987/Caters News) (@lorraine_c1987/Caters News)

Clyde describes the treatment that followed as "very hard".

"I endured a lot over the space of a year and had decisions made quickly in my best interests to ensure I survived," she adds.

"I believe I coped very well with it all. And everyone praised me for having a very positive attitude towards it.

McGuckin had decided he was going to ask Clyde to marry him a few months into her treatment, before deciding that the end of her treatment would be the perfect time to pop the question.

Clyde in hospital during her breast cancer treatment. (@lorraine_c1987/Caters News) (@lorraine_c1987/Caters News)

Clyde says she dreamed of one day getting married and hoped that if all went well after her cancer journey, shed get that opportunity.

She decided to upload the video onto TikTok to share the memorable moment and describes the response she received from users as "amazing".

I have had thousands of people view my video and comment, like and share it," she says. "I've been sent lovely messages from people all over the world."

Clyde's beautiful engagement ring. (@lorraine_c1987/Caters News) (@lorraine_c1987/Caters News)

Clyde hopes that by sharing her story it will help to raise awareness of the signs and symptoms of breast cancer and encourage others to look out for anything that isn't usual for them.

If anyone has any symptoms that are not normal please don't ignore them," she adds. "Get to a doctor's for a checkup and don't be afraid to examine your breasts it could save your life.

Breast cancer symptoms

Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer in the UK. According to charity Coppafeel!, symptoms include:

Changes in skin texture (including puckering and dimpling)

Swelling of the armpit and around the collarbone

Lumps and thickening around the breast

Constant or unusual pain in the breast or armpit

Nipple discharge

A sudden or unusual change in size or shape

Nipple inversion or nipples that change direction

A rash or crusting of the nipple or surrounding areas

How to check your breasts

The NHS recommends looking at your breasts and feeling each breast and armpit, up to your collarbone. This might be easier to do in the bath or shower, using soapy water to make the process a little easier.

Alternatively, you could look in the mirror, swapping between having your arms by your side and having them raised.

Before checking, it's important to remember that everyone's breasts are different, whether you might be on your period (which can make them tender and lumpy), post-menopause (which can make them feel softer) or have one larger than the other.

The NHS Breast Screening Programme has produced a five-point plan:

Know what's normal for you

Look at your breasts and feel them

Know what changes to look for

Report any changes without delay

Attend your routine screening if you're 50 or over

Additional reporting Caters.

Breast Cancer: Read more
A terrifying fall had a happy ending for a 12-week-old puppy in Colorado, who fell four stories through an open air vent in his owner's townhome in Douglas County on Tuesday.

After a three-hour rescue effort, South Metro Fire Rescue, Douglas County Sheriff's deputies and Denver Plumbline Services crews were able to locate and rescue the five-pound, Pekingese puppy named Archie Bean.

MORE: Historic $35M fine announced against company that surrendered 4,000 beagles

"Archie unintentionally slipped through the uncovered vent after jumping from the bed, leaving him stranded for over three hours," South Metro Fire Rescue said in a statement on X Wednesday.

PHOTO: Incredible Puppy Rescue Caught on Camera in Colorado, Dog fell through open air vent (Courtesy South Metro Fire)

The family told officials they had the small air vent cover off inside their son's bedroom to keep it cooler and allow for more air circulation.

The entire rescue was captured on video by officials, who said the "rescue operation was not without its challenges," noting responding crew members had to navigate through the "intricate ductwork of the townhome to locate Archie," according to the statement.

PHOTO: Incredible Puppy Rescue Caught on Camera in Colorado, Dog fell through open air vent (Courtesy South Metro Fire)

Archie's heartbreaking cries were heard through the air vent as his owner said, "Archie come get your treats, baby," in the video shared by officials. However, Archie appeared to be stuck and unable to move.

Video shows responding crews cutting holes in the ceiling and putting cameras in pipes to try to locate Archie, who was eventually found stuck in an air duct pipe in the basement.

MORE: Woman adopts senior dog who spent over 700 days in shelter

Archie's owner was astounded that the puppy was unharmed after the dramatic fall, saying in the video, "He fell from the third floor down to the basement and he doesn't have a cut on him."

After the harrowing experience, the woman told officials Archie needed a bath, adding she probably did too.

12-week-old puppy rescued after falling 4 stories through townhome air vent originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
This story is published in partnership with The Examination, a nonprofit newsroom that investigates global health threats.

Poisonous hydrogen sulfide gas is well-known in the oil field for its ability to kill quickly, but less understood are the effects on neighborhoods near oil production sites that are regularly awash in the telltale rotten egg stench. The Houston Chronicle and nonprofit newsroom The Examination teamed up to investigate how H2S is affecting Texans.

Here are some of the key takeaways.

Gas leaks from tanks near homes and schools

The Houston Chronicle and The Examination used geographic data to map every producing well in the state that belongs to a lease with a reported H2S concentration of 100 parts per million or above  the level used by the Railroad Commission to impose safety regulations. This hadn't been done before. The searchable map shows how close Texans are to potentially dangerous levels of poisonous gas.

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The gas is often overlooked at lower levels

High concentrations of hydrogen sulfide can kill quickly, but less attention has been paid to those breathing in lower levels of the gas in their daily lives. Studies have linked chronic low-level H2S exposure to neurological and other health problems. Texans living near facilities leaking the gas describe headaches, nausea, eye and nose irritation, coughing, asthma and rashes.

An air monitor outside of Noel Elementary on Wednesday, March 6, 2024 in Odessa. Elizabeth Conley/Staff Photographer

Texas regulators ignore their own rules

The state has a limit for hydrogen sulfide in the air, but regulators broadly disregard it. At two sites in the Permian Basin alone, gas levels exceeded the state limit 1,590 times since the state started measuring in 2020. The Railroad Commission of Texas, which regulates the oil industry, doesnt map storage tanks or the locations of dangerous hydrogen sulfide concentrations. An estimated 78,000 people live within half a mile of wells in those locations.

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Residents struggle to get help

Instead of making repeat offenders upgrade their facilities, inspectors return to the same leaking oil tanks again and again as problems persist for years. State inspectors and analysts repeatedly fled one neighborhood that was being investigated for H2S when gas was detected at alarming levels, including in 2022. But the problem persists  an H2S monitor placed by a reporter in one yard measured the gas frequently soaring above the state limit this spring.

Noel Elementary School students leave the school at the end of the day on Wednesday, March 6, 2024 in Odessa. Elizabeth Conley/Staff Photographer

The TCEQ hasnt updated its watch list in years

The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality said it uses its Air Pollutant Watch List to focus resources on areas with elevated concentrations of air toxics, but the agency hasnt added to that list since 2007, ignoring the shale boom that flooded West Texas with drilling rigs and storage tanks. The list doesnt include any site in the Permian Basin. Meanwhile, increased oil production has boosted the population in the region, bringing more people to live close to growing numbers of wells and storage tanks.

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The Railroad Commissions H2S rule needs more teeth, some say

The states H2S rule was tightened after an oilfield leak of hydrogen sulfide killed nine people in Denver City in 1975. Known as Rule 36, the rules require energy companies operating in high-H2S areas to measure concentrations, train their employees, put up warning signs and, in some cases, monitor for leaks. One retired regulator said the rule should be updated to include "some teeth and some muscle" so that residents are better protected.
Three sheriff's deputies were injured in a shooting at a home in a small Illinois town on Wednesday.

The Ogle County Sheriff deputies had responded to a welfare call in a gated community called Lost Nation in Dixon, about 90 miles west of Chicago.

Someone at the home opened fire, injuring the deputies, who returned fire and wounded the shooter, Sheriff Brian VanVickle said at a news conference.

The deputies and shooter are expected to survive their injuries, VanVickle said.

Ogle County Sheriff Brian VanVickle holds a news conference Wednesday, June 12, 2024, to address a shooting that took place earlier that day in a rural, gated community near Dixon, Illinois. The shooting left three deputies of the Ogle County Sheriff's Department and the suspect injured. All four were taken to local hospitals for treatment and are in stable condition.

Deputies were responding to call about possible threat

It all started at 8:30 a.m. when authorities received information from a family member about a person who "had threatened not only suicide, but homicide."

"An excess of 50 phone calls were made in various forms to the residents with no answer," VanVicle said, adding that the agency decided to send an emergency-response team into the house at 11:51 a.m. to "determine the well-being of that individual."

Deputies were met with gunfire, which struck three of them as soon as they entered the home, VanVickle said.

Authorities declined to provide any additional information.

Ogle County Sheriff Brian VanVickle holds a news conference Wednesday, June 12, 2024, to address a shooting that took place earlier that day in a rural, gated community near Dixon, Illinois.

'Deeply disturbed' by shooting, local politicians say

Republican Illinois state Rep. Bradley Fritts said he was "deeply disturbed" by the heinous acts of violence that "occurred against three law enforcement officers in our community today," according to a statement obtained by WREX-TV.

"I condemn this senseless attack against the officers who were responding to a call with the intention of keeping other individuals, including the suspect, safe," Fritts said. "My thoughts and prayers remain with the three officers who were shot, along with the entire Ogle County Sheriffs Department, as they work to recover from this horrific event.

Fritts thanked police, firefighters, and EMS workers for their bravery.

Republican Illinois state Sen. Win Stoller said in a statement on Facebook that his "thoughts and prayers are with the officers, their families, the Ogle County Sheriffs Department, and all first responders on the scene."

"Their bravery and dedication to help keep our communities safe are deeply appreciated, especially during these challenging times," Stoller said.

Other recent shootings involving multiple law enforcement officers

A number of law enforcement officers have been injured or killed in the line of duty in the last couple of months, with the most recent being Joshua Briese, an Arizona police officer who was shot and killed while responding to a disturbance call involving a large crowd on the night of June 4.

An Ohio police officer was shot and killed one month before the incident in Arizona while responding to a disturbance at a residence. A month before that, four law enforcement officers were killed when gunfire erupted at a house in North Carolina, where authorities were trying to serve a warrant.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 3 deputies shot, injured responding to crisis at Illinois home
Talks to bring about a ceasefire and hostage deal that could stop the war in Gaza were thrown into doubt when Israel characterized a Hamas response to the latest proposal as a rejection, precipitating a blame game between the two sides.

Hamas had submitted its response to Qatari mediators, proposing amendments to the Israeli proposal, including a timeline for a permanent ceasefire and complete Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, a source with knowledge of the talks told CNN on Tuesday.

A diplomatic source familiar with ongoing negotiations, however, told CNN Wednesday that Hamas has neither accepted nor rejected the deal, and that framing the Hamas response as a rejection is misleading.

Speaking at a news conference in Doha on Wednesday, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that Hamas has proposed numerous changes to the proposal that was on the table for a permanent ceasefire and release of the hostages. Some of the changes are workable. Some are not, he said, without providing further details.

Blinken said he discussed the changes with Egyptian and Qatari partners, but stressed that the proposed deal was virtually identical to a proposal that Hamas previously accepted.

Hamas could have answered with a single word  yes, he said, adding that as Hamas proposed more changes, he questioned whether the group is negotiating in good faith.

Its time for the haggling to stop and a ceasefire to start. Its as simple as that, Blinken said.

Speaking alongside Blinken, Qatari Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani said that both Hamas and Israel have on different occasions been counterproductive to the efforts.

The Qatari official said that as a mediator, the Gulf state wants to ensure that we bridge the gap between those two fundamental differences; between what Hamas wants as a permanent ceasefire, and what Israel wants as a hostage release and maybe a plan to continue the war.

After submitting its response Tuesday, Hamas spokesman and political bureau member Osama Hamdan told Lebanon-based TV Al Mayadeen, the group was committed to achieving a ceasefire. Our response is a clear reaffirmation of our commitment to the ceasefire and withdrawal from Gaza, a commitment we have consistently upheld, Hamdan added.

But in a potential sign of how Israel views the proposed amendments, one Israeli official described Hamas response to the original deal as a rejection.

Israel received the Hamas answer from the mediators. In its response, Hamas rejected the outline of the deal for the release of the hostages presented by US President (Joe) Biden, the official told CNN. Other news organizations report the same initial Israeli response.

Hamas leadership quickly pushed back on the claim as an attempt to back out of the proposal.

The response of Hamas and the Palestinian factions to the truce proposal was responsible, serious and positive. The response is consistent with the demands of our people and the resistance and opens the way to reaching an agreement, said Izzat al-Rishq, a member of the Hamas political bureau, late on Tuesday.

The Israeli medias incitement to Hamass response is an indication of attempts to evade the agreements obligations.

The tensions are surfacing at a sensitive moment. Blinken is currently on a diplomatic swing through the region trying to secure agreement on the plan first unveiled by President Biden eleven days ago.

Blinken was up late into the night on Tuesday in Jordan reviewing Hamass response to the latest Israeli proposal on the table that his team received in-person from the Egyptian intelligence chief Abbas Kamel, a senior state department official said Wednesday.

Blinken, who was in Amman as part of his multi-country trip to the Middle East, sent two senior State Department officials on Tuesday night to meet with Kamel and receive the Hamas response, the official said. Assistant Secretary Barbara Leaf and Counselor Derek Chollet, the officials who met Kamel, then came back to brief Blinken at his hotel, the official said.

The official would not characterize the contents of the Hamas response.

The plan being negotiated, drafted by Israel, has not been made public in full. Endorsed by the United Nations Security Council on Monday, the plan envisages a six-week ceasefire - during which Hamas would release hostages and Israel would release Palestinian prisoners  that would evolve into a permanent cessation of hostilities through negotiations.

The White House has been at pains to stress it is an Israeli plan and have repeatedly said that Israel has accepted it, despite objections from Israels Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Mixed signals in Israel

Earlier Tuesday, Israel had made its clearest signal yet that it was poised to formally sign up to the plan - though in the same short statement it suggested it intended to maintain the freedom to keep fighting.

The short Israeli communication, attributed only to an Israeli government official, though widely understood to mean the Prime Ministers Office, started with an assertion of Israels war aims before expressing support for the US-backed proposal currently on the table.

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, it said.

The proposal presented enables Israel to achieve these goals and Israel will indeed do so, the statement concluded. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus oft-repeated promise of total victory and the elimination of Hamas did not get a mention.

The Israeli leader is caught between the voices of many in his country, who believe a ceasefire deal is the best way to secure the release of the 120 hostages still held by Hamas in Gaza, and those of his extreme right coalition partners who are adamant they want the war to continue.

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir have both threatened to collapse the government if Netanyahu agrees to the deal in its current form.

By contrast, senior opposition figures like one-time war cabinet member Benny Gantz, and opposition leader Yair Lapid have also been among those urging Netanyahu to embrace the US-backed plan.

Hamas has also been under pressure to get on board with the US-backed proposal but said last week it is concerned Israel might not go through with the second phase of the plan  a permanent end to the fighting.

Unless there is a clear position [from Israel] to prepare for a permanent ceasefire and a total withdrawal from the Gaza Strip, which is what could open the door wide to completing the agreement we cannot come to an agreement, Hamas spokesman and political bureau member Osama Hamdan warned last week.

This story has been updated.

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Yesterday, the small herd of elephants at the Cincinnati zoo got their first peek at their massive new enclosure, Elephant Trek, which will be open next fall. The five-acre exhibit will include plenty of space for the elephants to roam, as well as water features and other amenities, all in a state-of-the-art, environmentally-friendly development. But the Asian elephantsYasmin (aka SheRa), Anak, Sanjay, and Kabirwho got to check out the space yesterday probably dont know all that. Theyre just in it for the swim.

View the original article to see embedded media.

In the clip, you can see the elephants exploring their new space, checking out the trees, the grounds, and even taking a swim. The new water feature, fed by stormwater catchments running underneath the exhibit, is deep enough for the creatures to fully submerge themselves in the water and get a reprieve from summer heat. Its truly amusing to watch a creature as big as an elephant take a step into the deep end of their own pool.

Related: Elephant Returns Child's Shoe After It Falls Into Zoo Enclosure in Moment of Pure Sweetness

Cincinnati Zoo Elephants

The elephants in this video are actually the newest arrival at the Cincinnati Zoothey are two female elephants and their two young, male calves. They arrive at the facility from a zoo in Dublin only last fall, and so are experiencing their first Ohio summer. Later this summer, they plan to reintroduce an adult male bull elephant, Sabu, who has been on loan at a zoo in Columbus, as well as three more females, one of whom is actually related to the Irish herd. Schottzie, SheRas aunt, as well as two other female elephants (Mai Thai, and Jati) currently being housed in another part of the zoo, will form the complete herd.

It is the zoos hope that the large new exhibit will be a happy home for this intergenerational group of animals.

Elephant Care in Zoos

Proper housing for elephants in zoos and other exhibits across North America is currently a matter of great concern to wildlife biologists and elephant researchers, which is why there has been such a huge push to upgrade the habitats of the elephants at zoos all over the nation, and to move elephants to zoos where the living conditions are better for them.

The ecologically friendly exhibit will be LEED certified, with solar panels providing much of the power, and a water filtration system to capture and return stormwater to the million-gallon tank beneath the exhibit that will feed the areas many water features, including a waterfall.

Were working to promote coexistence, especially in areas where Cincinnati Zoo animals wild counterparts live, said Dr. Lily Maynard, the zoos director of global conservation. As Elephant Trek opening approaches later this year, were advancing our active involvement in Asian elephant conservation efforts to ensure they thrive in the wild as much as they do in our care here.

Though the main event is of course the zoos growing herd of elephants, the exhibit will be home to several other Asian species of animal, including clawed otters and siamangs.

But as they wait to see the completion of the large new exhibit, its great that the two mama elephants and their growing calves got a chance to explore their new home.

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Lawyers for Elon Musk on Tuesday moved to dismiss the billionaires lawsuit against OpenAI and CEO Sam Altman, ending a months-long legal battle between co-founders of the artificial intelligence startup.

Musk  who co-founded OpenAI in 2015  sued the company in February, accusing the ChatGPT maker of abandoning its original, nonprofit mission by reserving some of its most advanced AI technology for private customers. The lawsuit had sought a jury trial and for the company, Altman and co-founder and president Greg Brockman to pay back any profit they received from the business.

But OpenAI quickly pushed back against Musks claims, calling them incoherent and frivolous and arguing in a court filing that the case should be dismissed. The company also published a blog post that included several of Musks emails from OpenAIs early days. The emails appeared to show Musk acknowledging the need for the company to make large sums of money to fund the computing resources needed to power its AI ambitions, which stood in contrast to the claims in his lawsuit that OpenAI was wrongly pursuing profit.

Musks lawyers did not cite a reason for their request to drop the lawsuit in Tuesdays filing. A hearing regarding OpenAIs motion to dismiss the case had been scheduled for Wednesday.

The move to drop the lawsuit also came one day after Musk fired off a string of posts on his social media platform X criticizing OpenAI and its handling of user data, after Apple announced a partnership that integrates ChatGPT with digital personal assistant Siri for users on an opt-in basis.

If Apple integrates OpenAI at the OS (operating system) level, then Apple devices will be banned at my companies. That is an unacceptable security violation, Musk said in one post. (Apple said as part of its announcement that user queries sent to ChatGPT will not be stored by OpenAI.)

The Musk-OpenAI legal battle represented the diverging visions for how the ChatGPT maker  which has quickly skyrocketed in value and become the leader in the burgeoning AI space that many see as the future of technology  should be managed.

Musk accused OpenAI of racing to develop powerful artificial general intelligence technology to maximize profits. OpenAI, meanwhile, accused Musk of essentially being jealous that he was no longer involved in the startup, after he left OpenAI in 2018 following an unsuccessful bid to convince his fellow co-founders to let Tesla acquire it.

But while OpenAI called Musks claims a fiction, the billionaire is not the only person who has raised questions about OpenAIs leadership and direction. The company last year faced a high-profile leadership crisis that led to Altmans temporary ouster from the company, apparently over concerns by several board members about the risks of artificial intelligence. After days of uncertainty and an intervention by Microsoft, a major investor in OpenAI, Altman was restored to his position in what industry analysts said was a victory for those seeking to commercialize AI technology.

More recently, multiple high-profile OpenAI safety leaders exited the company, with several publicly claiming the company had prioritized quickly rolling out new products over safety. Weeks later, the company said it had established a new committee that would make recommendations to the companys board about safety and security.

This story has been updated with additional details and context.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
By Jason Lange

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Most U.S. voters followed the criminal trial of President Joe Biden's son Hunter Biden and the vast majority say his conviction won't affect their vote in the Nov. 5 election, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll that closed on Tuesday.

Some 67% of registered voters in the two-day poll said they had heard at least a fair amount about the trial of Hunter Biden, who on Monday was convicted on charges of lying about his drug use to buy a gun. But 80% said the verdict, which marks the first time the child of a sitting president has been convicted of a crime, will have no bearing on their likelihood to vote for Joe Biden, who is seeking re-election in November.

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump's conviction last month on charges of trying to cover up a hush money payment to porn star Stormy Daniels carried somewhat more weight in voters' minds, with just 61% saying it would have no impact on their decision.

Independent registered voters, whose support both Biden and Trump are fighting for, lined up with the broader population, with four in five saying Hunter Biden's guilty verdict would not influence their vote and three in five saying Trump's guilty verdict would not influence their vote.

Overall, 16% of registered voters said Hunter Biden's conviction would make them less likely to vote for his father, and 4% said it would make them more likely to do so. Some 24% of registered voters said Trump's conviction would make them less likely to vote for him, while 14% said it would make them more likely to do so.

The online poll surveyed 930 registered voters nationwide and had a margin of error of about 3 percentage points.

Trump and Biden have been neck-and-neck in national public opinion polls, with Trump ahead in several of the battleground states that could decide November's contest.

Trump is due to be sentenced in July and faces potential time in prison. The judge in Hunter Biden's case has yet to set a sentencing date, but has outlined a timeframe that would place sentencing no later than about a month before the presidential election.

Just over half of voters polled - or 57% - said the president's son should be imprisoned for his crimes. That was higher than the 46% in a prior Reuters/Ipsos who said Trump should go to prison for his crimes. Potentially fueling those views, voters in the latest poll were more likely to say Biden received a fair trial, with 65% of them saying so, compared to 48% who said Trump's trial was conducted fairly.

(Reporting by Jason Lange; Editing by Scott Malone and Daniel Wallis)
NEW YORK (AP)  The prosecution's prized turncoat witness at the bribery trial of U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez was politely combative Tuesday as defense lawyers tried to poke holes in his testimony and portray him as a habitual liar.

Jose Uribe spent a third day on the witness stand, a day after telling the jury that Menendez, a Democrat, took credit in 2020 for preventing New Jersey state investigations from affecting his insurance business.

Prosecutors say Menendez used his power as a senator to help three New Jersey businessmen for five years beginning in 2018 in return for bribes of gold bars, hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash and a Mercedes-Benz.

Menendez, 70, has looked forward to the cross-examination, saying on separate occasions as he left the courthouse in recent days that the truth would come out when defense lawyers went to work against Uribe.

Defense lawyers tried repeatedly to damage Uribes credibility, highlighting crimes that Uribe confessed to when he pleaded guilty in March to conspiracy and bribery charges. At that time, he agreed to testify against Menendez and two other businessmen, all of whom had pleaded not guilty prior to the month-old trial.

Attorney Lawrence Lustberg, representing businessman Wael Hana, repeatedly confronted Uribe with lies he had told to protect and build his insurance companies, even after a previous criminal conviction meant that he was no longer licensed to run a company.

I will say that I have lied in the past, Uribe said.

Even as Lustberg and attorney Adam Fee, representing Menendez, sometimes raised their voices when they asked questions, Uribe kept his composure while deflecting some questions and disputing claims by Fee that he had lied on the witness stand on Friday and Monday.

No, I did not, sir, Uribe said.

Sometimes, the lawyers seemed to succeed in getting answers from Menendez that differed from his earlier testimony.

For instance, Uribe told a prosecutor on Monday that he was hoping to avoid any prison time as a result of his cooperation. But, asked repeatedly on Tuesday by Lustberg about the goal of his testimony and work on behalf of the government, he said he merely wanted to ensure he got less than the 95 years in prison the charges could bring.

Even Judge Sidney H. Stein, who would likely sentence Uribe at a future date, jumped into the questioning about what Uribe hoped to obtain from admitting to crimes and cooperating.

My goal is to do better for myself by getting a better sentencing, Uribe responded.

During a break with the jury out of the room, the judge told defense lawyers he would not let them ask Uribe about a car accident, his failure to pay child support for a period of time, his history as it relates to what the judge described only as strip clubs and his failure to pay some credit card bills 14 years ago.

Lustberg said he wanted to use the information about strip clubs to counter Uribes portrayal of himself as like a choir boy.

With all the crimes hes pled to, I dont think thats really your issue, the judge responded.

Lustberg also argued that Uribes failure to pay child support at one point would show jurors that his repeated claims that he was devoted to his family were not always true.

Uribe has testified that he provided a $15,000 down payment in 2019 for a Mercedes-Benz for Menendezs girlfriend and arranged monthly car payments from 2019 to 2022 in return for Menendezs efforts to ensure his company was not affected by New Jersey criminal probes of a trucking company belonging to his friend.

He said Hana had told him that Menendez could help make legal problems go away in return for $200,000 to $250,000. Uribe said Tuesday that he never contributed any money to the $120,000 that others eventually paid Menendez.
The average home price rose by 3.6% in May, according to the Houston Association of Realtors. Melissa Phillip/Staff Photographer

Houston home prices soared to an all-time high in May, as severe storms and power outages dampened sales.

The average single-family home jumped 3.6% over the year to a record $443,970 in May, eclipsing the previous high two years ago by $5,620, according to the Houston Association of Realtors monthly sales report.

The median home price rose 1.5% to $345,000, the highest in nearly two years.

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May home sales slid after a solid performance in April, with only the highest priced homes gaining momentum.

Overall, sales of single-family homes across the Houston area slipped 1.5% over the year to 8,538 in May, down from 8,664 in May 2023, according to HAR.

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The Houston market has demonstrated its adaptability yet again, HAR Chair Thomas Mouton, of Century 21 Exclusive Properties, said in an announcement. While the weather disruptions may have impacted some sales, there continued to be strong activity with a rise in available listings and persistent buyer interest. We are beginning to see a more balanced market pace, benefiting both buyers with more options and sellers with sustained demand.

High-end homes pushed up the average sales price. Sales of houses priced at $1 million or more climbed 9.6%, while those priced from $500,000 to $999,000 increased 6.8%. Sales volumes were down for homes priced below $500,000.

Buyers had more options as active listings increased to 28,481 single-family homes, a nearly 50% jump over May 2023 and similar to pre-pandemic levels of 2019.

The months inventory, representing how long it would take to sell everything on the market at the current pace, rose to four months. Thats up from 2.7 months in May 2023 and the highest since the pandemic. Four to six months of inventory is considered a balanced market.

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May home sales slowed for a third-straight year as rising mortgages rates and home prices have made it much harder to afford a home.

The monthly payment on a 30-year mortgage for a $345,000 house at 7% interest totals $2,129, according to Bankrate.com. Thats $964 more per month than what it would have cost to buy a $250,000 mid-priced home in Houston prior to the pandemic in 2019 with a 3.8% loan. The amounts are for principal and interest and dont include property tax or insurance. They factor in a 20% down payment.
A total of 27 people were arrested after setting up multiple pro-Palestinian encampments on UCLAs campus Monday that police said were unlawful, according to a statement from UCLA leadership.

At least six University of California Police Department personnel and other safety officers were injured during confrontations with protesters, including one person with a head injury, said Rick Braziel, UCLAs associate vice chancellor for campus safety, in a release Tuesday.

UCPD Capt. Scott Scheffler said at least five of those arrested reported minor injuries, including soreness, bruises and shoulder pain.

As a result of the encampments, the group damaged a fountain, spray-painted brick walkways, tampered with fire safety equipment, damaged patio furniture, stripped wire from electrical fixtures and vandalized vehicles, police said.

Of the 27 arrested, 18 are UCLA students and two are faculty members, police said Wednesday. Of the other seven, one is a former student, and the rest are not affiliated with the university, according to police.

Mondays incidents were completely unacceptable, Braziel said Tuesday.

The demonstration activity disregarded our values as a community, violated our campus policies and broke the law. These actions injured people, threatened the safety of our community and vandalized our campus, Braziel said.

While protests spread at college campuses this spring denouncing Israels handling of its war against Hamas in Gaza, UCLAs campus turned into a scene of brutality on April 30 when violent counterprotesters attacked pro-Palestinian demonstrators.

A CNN analysis found that some of the most dramatic attacks caught on camera that night were committed by people outside UCLA  not the university students and faculty who were eventually arrested.

But on Monday, a group of about 100 people associated with a UCLA registered student organization set up an encampment at the top of the Janss Steps around 3:15 p.m., UCPD said.

The group resisted leaving the area after initial warnings but left after UCPD issued multiple dispersal orders. The protesters relocated to the Kerckhoff patio, where they set up an unauthorized and unlawful encampment with tents, canopies, and barricades with patio furniture, police said.

The group also entered Moore Hall and disrupted nearby final exams, police said.

A pro-Palestinian demonstrator is taken into custody Monday outside Dodd Hall at UCLA. - Etienne Laurent/AFP/Getty Images

Another round of dispersal orders led the group to the courtyard between Dodd Hall and the School of Law, where they set up a third encampment, according to police.

UCLA Associate Professor Graeme Blair, a member of Faculty for Justice in Palestine, said one student went to a hospital after getting wounded by a rubber bullet  which Blair said was fired when students were in the camp near Dodd Hall, the Los Angeles Times reported. Blair, who has participated in the protests, criticized authorities, saying students had been following dispersal orders throughout the evening. CNN has reached out to Blair for comment.

A UC police representative declined to comment on the arrests or say whether less than lethal weapons were used, the Times reported.

UCLA police did not respond to CNNs request for comment Tuesday about the arrests and whether rubber bullets were used.

On Monday evening, about 25 people were arrested around 8 p.m. for willful disruption of university operations, the police statement said.

Those people were cited, issued a 14-day stay-away order from UCLA property and released, police said.

Another person was previously arrested during the setup of the first encampment for interfering with a police officer. That person was cited and released, UCPD said.

About 150 protesters remained in the area as of 10:30 p.m. Monday.

The university expects more protests at various locations during commencement ceremonies but they will not tolerate violence, Braziel said, adding university policies support advocacy that does not jeopardize safety or disrupt university operations.

Protecting UCLA faculty, staff, students and visitors and creating an environment conducive to teaching, learning, working and living continues to be our priority. The campus community belongs to all of us and we must model the respect we expect to receive from others, Braziel said.

Tensions have simmered on the UCLA campus over how the university has responded to protesters and counterprotesters in recent months. Faculty members have been divided over whether Chancellor Gene Block failed to ensure the safety of our students and grievously mishandled the events.

This story has been updated with additional information

CNNs Amanda Musa contributed to this report.

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Handout photo of David Hosier, 69, at Potosi Correctional Center, in Potosi, Missouri about 70 miles south of St. Louis.

Missouri executed death row inmate David Hosier by lethal injection on Tuesday, making his the second execution in the state this year and the seventh in the nation.

Hosier was pronounced dead at 6:11 p.m. after he was administered a 5-gram dose of pentobarbital, Missouri Department of Corrections spokeswoman Karen Pojmann told USA TODAY.

Hosier, 69, was convicted in the 2009 shooting death of his former lover, Angela Gilpin, a married mother of two. Gilpin was seeing Hosier while she was separated from her husband but had decided to make her marriage work and broke it off with Hosier, infuriating him, according to court records.

A neighbor found the bodies of Gilpin and her husband Rodney in the threshold of her apartment in the early morning hours of Sept. 28, 2009. Prosecutors dropped a murder charge against Hosier in Rodney's killing.

Hosier has always maintained that he didn't do it, pointing to a lack of DNA evidence or anything tying him to the crime scene. Recently he reiterated his innocence, telling the Kansas City Star that he felt bad that Gilpin and her husband were killed but: "You cannot show remorse for something you did not do."

"I'm the luckiest man on Earth ... I've been able to speak the the truth of my innocence," Hosier said in a final statement issued to members of the media through his spiritual advisory on Tuesday. "I've been able to reminisce with family and friends new and old. I've been able to learn to be, the fullest version of me."

He ended the statement by saying: "I leave you all with love. Now, I get to go to heaven. Don't cry for me. Just join me when your time comes."

David Hosier's last meal, last appeal

Hosier ate his last meal at 11 a.m. It consisted of steak, a baked potato, Texas toast, apple pie, milk and orange juice.

Jeremy Weis, Hosier's attorney and a witness to the execution, told USA TODAY that Hosier's eyes were closed as he was put to death, with the last movement he saw from Hosier happening at roughly 6:01 p.m.

Hosier's spiritual advisor, the Rev. Jeff Hood, was in the death chamber and had his hand on Hosier's shoulder during the execution. Hood told USA TODAY in an interview late Tuesday night that Hosier's final spoken words were, "give them hell,

Hosier's last name was mispronounced when death was declared, Weis said calling it, "irritating and disrespectful."

"I feel just profound sadness about the whole process," Weis told USA TODAY after the execution. "I'm confident we did all that we could for David, but that doesn't make me feel any better, because we ultimately didn't get relief."

Republican Missouri Gov. Michael Parson turned down Hosier's request for clemency on Monday, his 11th such denial since taking office in 2018. In his most recent denial, Parson says that Hosier "displays no remorse for his senseless violence."

"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," he said in a statement.

Anti-death penalty activists gathered at Parson's office hours ahead of the execution and presented new signatures on a petition for clemency to the governor's office.

Lori and Jeff Stack protest as a part of Missourians to Abolish the Death Penalty for Missouri on Tuesday, June 11, 2024 They were calling for Republican Gov. Michael Parsons to grant clemency to David Hosier at the Missouri State Capitol in Jefferson City. Hosier was executed and pronounced dead at 6:11 p.m. the same day.

"In his refusal to offer the mercy and compassion that his faith dictates, he has continuously shown the citizens of this state that he is as apathetic and horrendous as he claims of the acts committed by people on death row," Michelle Smith, co-director of Missourians to Abolish the Death Penalty, said in a statement to USA TODAY.

Hosier recently told the Kansas City Star that he may have supported the death penalty following his fathers death, but 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.

Hosier executed for killing former lover

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.

Hosier's arguments to be spared

In appeals, Hosier's lawyers argued that there was a lack of physical evidence tying Hosier to the scene of the murder, including the state's ballistics expert's inability to identify that the bullets found at the crime scene.

They also argued that he had ineffective attorneys during trial, saying that among other failings, they failed to present a witness who could have told jurors about a stroke Hosier had in 2007 that caused brain damage.

A handout photo of Glen, Martha and David Hosier outside of their home in Logansport, Indiana on April 11, 1971. Two days later Glen would be fatally shot in a police operation.

Hosier also argued that the judge who presided over his trial and sentencing had a conflict of interest, having prosecuted him in 1998 for failing to pay child support.

The Federal Public Defenders Office produced a 19-page clemency petition and video for Hosier in a final attempt to spare him from the lethal injection.

The petition and video pointed to the death of Hosier's father as a source of unresolved trauma that created a downward spiral in his life starting when he was 16.

When is the next scheduled execution?

The next execution in the United States is scheduled for June 26 in Texas. The state is set to execute Ramiro Felix Gonzales for the murder of 18-year-old Bridget Townsend in 2001.

The state of Missouri is scheduled to execute Marcellus Khaliifah Williams on Sept. 24. Williams was convicted in 1998 of the murder of social worker Lisha Gayle.

Missouri Gov. Eric Greitens stayed Williams' execution twice when DNA evidence showed that Williams was not the person who held the knife during the stabbing.

"To date, no court has ever reviewed the DNA evidence proving Mr. Williams was not the individual who wielded the murder weapon and committed this crime, Tricia Bushnell, the executive director of the Midwest Innocence Project, told The Kansas City Star when the date was set in June.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Missouri death row inmate David Hosier executed in ex-lover's murder
One of the jurors who voted to convict Hunter Biden on gun charges Tuesday said he felt bad for Naomi Biden, who was called to testify on her fathers behalf.

I think that was a bad mistake for them to put her on the stand, the male juror, No. 10, said in a CNN interview after the verdict was read in a federal courtroom in Delaware. No daughter should ever have to testify against her dad.

Naomi Biden, 30, testified Friday as a defense witness that her father seemed be getting better around the time he bought the gun.

He seemed great. He seemed hopeful, she said of a meeting with her father while he was seeking treatment a California rehab facility.

She also told jurors she didnt see any evidence of drug use when she borrowed her fathers truck around that time.

The juror, who CNN did not identify, said Naomi Bidens testimony did not impact our decision that much.

After three hours of deliberations, the jury convicted Hunter Biden, President Bidens 54-year-old son, of knowingly lying on documents to obtain a firearm in 2018. Hunter Biden has been open about his history of drug addition, but he reported on the gun-purchase form that he was not illegally using or addicted to drugs at the time.

The president did not attend the trial, but first lady Jill Biden appeared multiple days to support her stepson. President Biden is expected to now make a trip to Delaware in the wake of the conviction.

The juror said he thought it was wise that Hunter Biden didnt take the stand in his trial.

I didnt think it would be a good idea for him to testify in his own defense, he said.

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INDIANAPOLIS  Southern Baptists on Wednesday condemned the use of in vitro fertilization in a proclamation that will add to the intense debates over reproductive rights raging across the U.S.

Southern Baptist Convention delegates, known as messengers, at this year's annual meeting here in Indianapolis approved a resolution criticizing IVF, a non-binding proclamation that could help popularize an idea once considered fringe throughout American Christianity.

The resolution 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 reinforces an increasingly popular stance among anti-abortion groups 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.

Debate on the floor of the convention over the resolution exhibited divisions within the nations largest Protestant denomination over the issue. The statement is the first of its kind for the SBC but could reverberate across other conservative denominations.

This resolution would castigate and condemn the entirely moral and ethical actions of these two friends of mine calling their faithful sacrifice, struggle and blessing a wicked thing, Michigan messenger Daniel Taylor said during the floor debate, alluding to friends who used IVF to have children. "It would also unnecessarily make it more difficult for all of us to reach those who have gone through IVF as parents or children."

Taylor proposed an amendment to the resolution to soften certain language. Messengers overwhelmingly voted against the amendment, leading to a vote immediately after to adopt the resolution in its original form.

Kentucky messenger Monica Hall spoke against Taylor's amendment, referencing her own experience with embryo adoption. Hall said the embryos were left over by someone else who started the IVF process and that the embryos ultimately didn't reach viability.

"There is no way to describe the treatment of embryos at any point in the IVF process as ethical or dignified," Hall said during the floor debate. "Nothing in the process of IVF upholds the sanctity of life."

The resolutions committee recommended the full convention adopt the statement after receiving a draft authored by Al Mohler, president of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, and Southern seminary professor Andrew Walker.

Mohler, a leading contemporary evangelical Christian voice in the U.S., has opposed IVF for two decades and has cited what he views as other potentially problematic components, such as how IVF can allow same-sex couples or a single woman to have children.

In our churches, we have compromise on this issue, said Mohler during an address at a luncheon Monday ahead of the convention's expected vote on the resolution. "A lot of evangelicals dont want to state the proposition clearly.

Many conservatives, even those who oppose abortion, have supported IVF and how it has allowed countless Americans to start families who might otherwise be unable to do so. In the wake of the Alabama court's rulings, many in the GOP voiced their support and state lawmakers approved a legislative fix to protect IVF providers.

About 2% of births a year involve IVF, a process by which multiple eggs are harvested, fertilized and implanted to create a pregnancy. The Alabama ruling and the stance by the SBC raise questions about what should happen with unused embryos.

A Pew Research Center report in May said 63% of white evangelical Protestants believe IVF is good and 28% were unsure. The percentages were similar those of Catholics, a religious group that is more well-known for opposing IVF and surrogacy.

A woman raises her hand in praise during the Southern Baptist Convention, Tuesday, June 11, 2024 at the Indiana Convention Center.

The SBC's resolution contends that IVF "most often engages in the destruction of embryonic human life and increasingly engages in dehumanizing methods for determining suitability for life."

It calls on Southern Baptists to "advocate for the government to restrain actions inconsistent with the dignity and value of every human being, which necessarily includes frozen embryonic human beings."

The debate on Wednesday echoed one from two years ago, when the convention fought over Southern Baptists' commitment to pro-life ideals. Opposition conservatives supported an abolitionist anti-abortion stance that supports charging women with crimes for having abortions. Proponents of the abolitionist stance decried Southern Baptists who align with an incrementalist anti-abortion view as insufficiently pro-life.

The 2022 SBC annual meeting also included an ultimately unsuccessful push to abolish the denominations public policy arm, the Nashville-based Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission, for rejecting abolitionist proposals.

But with IVF, the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission drew a line in the sand in a May 24 letter urging Congress to limit access and funding for the medical procedure.

A similar attempt to abolish the public policy arm at this year's SBC annual meeting failed on Wednesday morning.

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: Southern Baptists condemn use of in vitro fertilization
INDIANAPOLIS  The Southern Baptist Convention rejected Wednesday a constitutional ban on women pastors, a major victory for those within the nation's largest Protestant denomination seeking to maintain local church autonomy and soften what many considered a growing antagonism toward women in ministry.

The narrow outcome resolved a two-year political dispute about church policy, though it might not subdue the ensuing debate about womens roles in the church. The proposed amendment was by far the most animating issue headed into this years SBC annual meeting, one that even colored other decision-making  including the election for SBC president.

If the measure passed, more churches were expected to voluntarily leave the Nashville-based denomination. For some, it would be due to a message downplaying womens contributions to the church, while others saw the SBC becoming overbearing about certain doctrinal beliefs.

"Is this amendment necessary for the convention to respond when churches in our convention act in a way contrary to our complementarian doctrine?" North Carolina pastor Spence Shelton said in the only speech against the measure during a brief floor debate.

"We showed last year we have an effective mechanism," Shelton said. "It allows us to act with conviction and unity when it comes to this issue.

Had the measure succeeded, it would have allowed SBC leaders to more strictly enforce doctrinal beliefs surrounding the role of women in ministry by disfellowshipping churches that do not adhere to those standards. But even without the constitutional change, the SBC has disfellowshipped seven churches over these standards. The most high-profile cases were that of Southern California megachurch Saddleback Church and Louisville's Fern Creek Baptist Church, which both unsuccessfully appealed their ouster at the 2023 SBC annual meeting.

"We are also grieved that this vote has ever even taken place," Meredith Stone, executive director of Baptist Women in Ministry, a nonprofit with partners across various Baptist denominations, said in a statement on Wednesday. "Women in ministry were used as props for the display of extreme conservatism in order to advance the power of a faction within the SBC."

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.

This year's vote was the second consecutive decision on the measure  commonly called the Law Amendment, bearing the namesake of the original petitioner Virginia pastor Mike Law  after receiving initial approval at the 2023 SBC annual meeting in New Orleans.

During the floor debate, Law sought to impress upon the convention the proposal is "not about women in ministry, it's specifically about women in the pastoral office."

"We gladly celebrate the myriad women who serve the church in many essential ways," Law said.

But Law also said others' perception of the SBC based on this debate shouldn't compromise Southern Baptists' commitment to their understanding of what scripture says about women's role in the church.

"Our culture may see this prohibition as harsh, but our God is all wise," Law said. "And he wrote His word for the flourishing of both men and women."

On Tuesday, the convention overwhelmingly approved the ouster of First Baptist Church Alexandria in Virginia for holding to an egalitarian view of women in ministry instead of complementarianism  referring to a belief that men and women have different assigned roles.

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 FBC Alexandria senior pastor Robert Stephens during a floor debate Tuesday afternoon.

Local church autonomy is an important belief among Southern Baptists, and the idea of partnership, or cooperation, was a major theme going into this weeks SBC annual meeting mostly due to the Law Amendment. Critics warned against the SBC becoming overly prescriptive about certain doctrine for autonomous churches, while proponents said cooperation shouldnt come at the risk of adherence to certain tenets.

SBC President Bart Barber and the SBC Cooperation Group, an ad hoc task force that Barber appointed to study the denominations standards of affiliating with churches, admonished the convention to extend a spirit of generosity across differences. But even if Southern Baptists took that message to heart, the resolution to this debate came down to cold, hard numbers.

Messengers voted 61% in favor of the Law Amendment on Wednesday morning, falling short of the required two-thirds majority for constitutional amendments.

Lauren Buss, from the First Baptist Church in Okmulgee, OK, joins others in song during the Southern Baptist Convention, Tuesday, June 11, 2024 at the Indiana Convention Center.

Battle over womens authority in church to persist

Specifically with the debate on womens authority in the church, the fallout of Wednesdays decision likely wont deviate much from the current climate.

"We know that even though the amendment failed, women who pastor in Southern Baptist churches will continue to be diminished, demeaned, and denigrated," Stone said.

Stone's nonprofit organized a virtual prayer vigil on Monday night and a demonstration outside the Indiana Convention Center as the SBC met.

Meredith Stone, executive director with the Baptist Women in Ministry, reads community prayers of solidarity and affirmation as the group protests, while standing outside the Southern Baptist Convention, Tuesday, June 11, 2024.

We swallowed our grief when we were told we werent ready to lead, speaker Anjie Hong said during the prayer vigil on Monday. These untruths and these lies have hurt us. These lies have wounded us, made us question ourselves and worse, made us question the God who created us in Gods image.

If anything, the past couple years have cemented the means by which the SBC can exclude churches with women pastors. The mechanism the denomination uses to initiate that exclusion, a group that evaluates reports against churches called the SBC Credentials Committee, was initially reformulated in 2019 to only address sexual abuse and racism in churches.

This conflict over policy limiting church leadership to men isnt exclusive to the SBC. The Presbyterian Church in America, a smaller yet similarly influential evangelical Christian denomination, is set to deliberate a legislative proposal to add a clause to the denominations policies that only qualified men may be invited to preach in any of the churches under our care.

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: Southern Baptist ban on women pastors fails in historic vote
The two students were both on spring break when the travel mix-up occurred

aud.rey1234/TikTok Sophie and Audrey get their laptops back

Keeping track of everything when you're traveling isn't always easy. For two travelers passing through New York City, it led to quite the mixup.

One of the two students involved in the swap, Sophie, tells PEOPLE she was passing through John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York City on a flight to Barcelona, Spain.

"I was traveling from New York to Barcelona for spring break, then to Madrid and back to New York," she says.

On the same day, Audrey was also traveling for spring break. "My friends and I traveled to Spain," Audrey tells PEOPLE. "I was flying back from Madrid to Charlotte with a layover in JFK."

Both women had laptops with them while they were traveling and happened to pass through security at the same time.



"I think we ended up switching at security," Sophie explains. "We have the same model Macbook with no stickers or case on it."

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"I thought I grabbed my laptop, the one closest to the rest of my luggage," Audrey says. "A lot of MacBooks look the same, though, and neither of us had stickers or a case on ours."

The routine security check went without a second thought from either traveler until each got to their destination.

"It was funny because as I was packing up my things after security, my mom was telling me how my brother left his bag at security once," Sophie recalls. "And I was like 'He can be so stupid sometimes,' as I was putting the wrong laptop in my bag."

Audrey was the first to notice what had happened after grabbing her laptop to get some work done.

"I opened (what I thought was) my laptop on Sunday to do homework and that's when I saw I had someone else's laptop. I immediately realized I must've grabbed the wrong one in the security line."

It wasn't easy to figure out how to remedy the situation. Audrey got to work, first tracking the laptop's location.

"The last location wasn't updating, so I called Apple and they helped me lock my computer so no one would be able to log into it," she shares. "I called the Madrid airport, thinking someone had turned it into lost and found. She was actually leaving New York for Spain as I was coming back, so my laptop flew back to Spain with her."

Alberto Fava / iStock Editorial / Getty Images Plus Stock image of a macbook

Audrey knew the laptop she had belonged to Sophie because her name was on the login screen, so she also got to work on tracking her down.

"My friends looked up her name on Instagram. My friends were DMing all different people with the name. It turns out one of my friends had a single mutual connection with one of the Sophies who came up on Instagram. I got her phone number through that mutual connection."

Then she turned to TikTok, where she shared a video about the laptop switch in hopes of finding the right Sophie.

"Sophie McHugh, I think we switched laptops at the Madrid airport!! It would be so awesome to get mine back!!"



Meanwhile, Sophie was none the wiser about what was going on until one of Audrey's friends got in touch.

"I got a text on St. Patrick's Day from my friend Eve, saying her younger sister got a text from her old friend who knows Audrey. They asked if Eve's younger sister could reach out to me," she recalls.

Meanwhile, Audrey's TikTok went viral, with so many different commenters chiming in trying to tag possible Sophies.

Jake Rajs / Getty Images Stock image of airplane traffic at JFK

Sophie was grateful to find out that her laptop had been found before she even knew it was missing.

"I was so happy I didn't notice until the situation was basically resolved or else the first couple days of my trip would've been ruined," she says. "I would've been stressed about finding my laptop. Since I was traveling and then super busy once I got to Barcelona, I never opened the laptop until Eve texted me."



"I asked for a picture of the laptop so I could figure out if it was mine, and Eve sent me the TikTok. I went back to the hotel and saw I had Audrey's laptop."

Eve was able to give Sophie Audrey's phone number, so she reached out. The two were confused at first as Audrey thought the laptops were switched in Madrid, not New York.

"She texted me only hours after I saw I had her laptop which is kind of crazy," Audrey says.

"I texted Audrey and since I was going back to New York and she was at school, we figured it was best to mail and exchange them. We thought it would be safer for the laptop if I waited until I got to New York to ship hers back. I asked if she could mail mine so it was there when I got home from my trip on the 24th because I had an exam on the 27th," the law school student explains. "The laptop got back to me on the 21st."



Audrey made sure to update TikTok on the situation and shares, "While it wasn't TikTok that actually helped me find her, it's still crazy how quickly I found her through social media."

She never expected the quick video to end up with millions of views. Sophie, who isn't on TikTok, was also surprised to learn how far the mission went.

"It was funny to get texts from random people, like old friends I haven't spoken to in a while. It's kind of weird to know my name was out there, but I also didn't know how many other people I share a name with," she shares.

"I feel really lucky that I switched laptops with another young person that was tech-savvy enough to find me or this could've ended so differently."



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George Coulam is the king of the Texas Renaissance Festival, the subject of HBOs new docuseries 'Ren Faire.' HBO/TNS

It took a few days but organizers at the Texas Renaissance Festival in the Grimes County town of Todd Mission have had an official reaction to HBO's three-part docuseries, "Ren Faire," an unflattering portrait of the festival's 86-year-old founder, George Coulam, and the employees who want to oust him. In short, they don't seem ecstatic about it, but they don't claim there are any misstatements of fact, either.

"The Texas Renaissance Festival (TRF) is aware of the HBO docuseries which features some of our staff and former employees," begins their statement released Monday. "While we acknowledge the quality of production and the participation of individuals associated with our organization, TRF emphasizes its commitment to remaining neutral in its public statements regarding external productions. As an organization, we strive to provide a diverse and inclusive environment for all patrons and participants. While we appreciate opportunities for exposure and recognition, TRF believes in maintaining impartiality regarding media representations of our festival and its community.

"While we cannot comment on the content or portrayal within the HBO docuseries, we extend our best wishes to all involved in the production," it continues. "We hope that viewers will enjoy the series and gain insight into the unique experiences and talents of those featured."

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

"Ren Faire" has been a hit with critics and viewers, with a 100% rating among critics and 96% among viewers on Rotten Tomatoes.

After premiering at South by Southwest in Austin March 9 and then debuting on HBO June 2, the series became so talked about that one of the state's other big Renaissance festivals, Scarborough Renaissance Festival in Waxahachie, felt forced to release a statement distancing itself from Texas Renaissance Festival.

Scarborough Renaissance Festival is in NO WAY associated with the Texas Renaissance Festival currently being featured in the HBO docuseries Ren Faire,'" the statement reads. "The culture depicted in this series is NOT the culture found at Scarborough Renaissance Festival. We are an organization that takes great pride in producing a family friendly Festival and providing a positive and safe environment for our patrons & participants through professionalism, respect, and inclusion."

"Ren Faire" is currently streaming on MAX. The Texas Renaissance Festival is scheduled to take place starting Oct. 12 and running through Dec. 1.
By Daniel Wiessner

(Reuters) -A U.S. appeals court on Wednesday tossed out a judge's order that required Amazon.com to refrain from firing union supporters amid a nationwide organizing campaign at its warehouses.

A three-judge panel of the Manhattan-based 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said the judge who issued the order last year at the request of the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) failed to explain why such a sweeping mandate was necessary.

The labor board sought the order after Amazon in 2020 fired Gerald Bryson, a union organizer at a warehouse in Staten Island, for making profane comments to a coworker during a protest over an alleged lack of safety measures during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The warehouse, known as JFK8, in 2022 became the first Amazon facility to unionize. Amazon workers at two other New York warehouses and one in Alabama have since voted against unionizing.

U.S. District Judge Diane Gujarati in Brooklyn ruled that Bryson's firing violated his rights under U.S. labor law and barred Amazon from terminating other union supporters. But the judge refused to order Amazon to reinstate Bryson, saying there was no evidence that his firing deterred other workers from unionizing.

The 2nd Circuit on Wednesday said the requirement that Amazon not fire other workers was unnecessary if there was no evidence that Bryson's firing had a broader impact.

Amazon did not immediately respond to a request for comment. An NLRB spokeswoman declined to comment.

The labor board had sought a court injunction against Amazon pending the outcome of a related administrative case over Bryson's firing.

Amazon claims that it fired Bryson over his conduct at the protest and not because of his support for the union. A video of the protest showed Bryson calling a female coworker a "crackhead" and "stupid," among other comments.

Some Republican lawmakers criticized the Democrat-led NLRB for pursuing the case, citing Bryson's conduct.

An administrative judge in 2022 ordered Amazon to reinstate Bryson and the company appealed.

The five-member board last year remanded the case to the judge to apply a new legal standard the board had adopted for cases where employees engage in misconduct while exercising their rights to organize. The judge again ruled against Amazon in January.

(Reporting by Daniel Wiessner in Albany, New York; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama, Alexia Garamfalvi and Bill Berkrot)
The US military has vowed to help Ukraine build up its military expertise over 10 years - Bumble Dee/Alamy

The leaders of the G7 have agreed to send Ukraine $50bn (39bn) by the end of the year by using Russian assets frozen in Europe.

The countries came to an agreement on Wednesday after significant pressure from the US, which has argued the profits from Russian assets should be used to secure loans for Kyiv.

The deal will provide a major funding boost for Ukraine as it enters another summer of conflict with Russia, after making fewer territorial gains than expected this Spring.

The US separately said it would sign a security agreement with Kyiv to lock in American support for a decade, amid concerns about the impact a second Donald Trump presidency could have on Ukraines warfighting ability.

Jake Sullivan, the White House national security adviser, said the US would be sending Russia a signal of our resolve by making sure that support will last long into the future.

The agreement will include a commitment to working with the US Congress on funding Ukraine going forward but will not commit to using American forces on the ground.

The deal, which will also be signed by 15 other countries, will pledge continued weapon shipments and training programmes to build Kyivs armed forces, as well as commitments for greater intelligence sharing and joint defence industrial projects.

The two deals will come as a major boost to Ukraine ahead of the next Nato summit in July, where leaders are expected to outline further security commitments but refuse to move the country closer to joining the alliance.

The $50bn in loans will be secured against the profits from Russian assets frozen in Europe since Vladimir Putins invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

Speaking ahead of the G7 summit in Italy tomorrow, the Elysee Palace in Paris said: We have an agreement.

While US president Joe Biden has made supporting Ukraines resistance against Russia one of his flagship policies, his Republican rival Donald Trump has said Washington should take less responsibility for efforts to bolster Kyiv.

Britain was the first country to sign a memorandum of understanding with Ukraine after G7 countries signed a declaration on providing long-term protections for Ukraine in lieu of Nato membership.

Joe Biden has made supporting Ukraine one of his flagship policies - Evan Vucci/ap

The American deal will be the 15th of more than 30 bilateral agreements signed between Kyiv and its Western allies since the idea was conceived on the fringes of a Nato summit in Vilnius, Lithuania last July.

Like its allies, Washingtons offer will not contain a specific monetary pledge or a promise of a mutual defence clause, similar to Natos Article 5.

Instead, Ukraine will be able to trigger emergency consultations over future weapons shipments, troop training programmes and the reintroduction of Western sanctions if Russia mounts another attack on the country.

The UK, France and Germany included similar provisions in their security agreements with Kyiv.

It has taken months of negotiations to broker the pact between Washington and Kyiv because the Biden administration decided to focus on unlocking a $60 billion aid package that was stalled by pro-Trump Republicans in Congress.

The Ukrainians will welcome the deal, but Volodymyr Zelensky, Ukraines president, has previously warned such agreements are no substitute for Nato membership.

Nato sources have told The Telegraph that the dozens of memoranda of understanding will be brought together under an umbrella agreement backed by the alliance to further reassure Kyiv of the Wests commitment to maintain support for the war effort.

Hopefully the US will agree and then I think we will see some sort of presentation of these bilateral memoranda of understanding with a chapeau on it. But basically were waiting from the Americans, theyll come up with a proposal, a senior alliance official said.

It has been suggested that Nato could officialise its support for the security deals in the summit communique agreed by leaders in Washington to demonstrate to Kyiv that there is a well-lit bridge to membership.

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U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Wednesday that some changes Hamas wants to the current Gaza cease-fire proposal are unworkable, accusing the group of dragging its heels and prolonging the suffering of the Palestinian people. His remarks came a day after Hamas submitted its formal response to the U.S.-backed proposal, stressing "the necessity to completely stop the ongoing aggression on Gaza, and the withdrawal [of Israeli forces] from the Gaza Strip."

"Hamas has proposed numerous changes. We discussed the changes," Blinken said in Doha, Qatar, where he has been involved in talks aimed at reaching an agreement, adding: "Some are workable, some are not,"

"Hamas could have answered with a single word," he said. "Instead they waited two weeks and proposed changes. As a result, the war Hamas started will go on, more people will suffer. But in the days ahead we will continue to push to try to close this deal."

"At some point in a negotiation  and this has gone back and forth for a long time  you get to a point where if one side continues to change its demands, including making demands and insisting on changes for things that they had already accepted, you have to question whether they're proceeding in good faith or not," Blinken said, adding that the U.S. and its partners remained "determined to try to bridge the gaps  and I believe those gaps are bridgeable."

He warned, however, that "the longer this goes on, the more people will suffer, and it's time for the haggling to stop."

Qatar's Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim al-Thani (R) and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken give a joint press conference in Doha, Qatar, June 12, 2024. / Credit: KARIM JAAFAR/AFP/Getty

Blinken told journalists in Tel Aviv earlier this week that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had "reaffirmed his support" for the cease-fire proposal currently on the table, a day after the U.N. Security Council voted to approve a resolution supporting the draft agreement.

Negotiators from the U.S, Qatar and Egypt have worked for months to forge an agreement between Israel and Hamas to bring an end to the war that has killed tens of thousands of people, mainly Palestinians in Gaza. So far, a deal has been elusive.

The ongoing talks come on the heels of a raid by Israeli forces that saw four hostages rescued from central Gaza. The Hamas-run Gaza Ministry of Health says more than 200 Palestinians were killed in the operation, a figure that Israel's military disputes.

Here's how news about the cease-fire negotiations has developed:

Biden announces Israeli proposal to end the Gaza war

Late last month, President Biden announced what he called an Israeli proposal to end the war.

He said the plan consisted of three phases, the first of which would include a cessation of hostilities. He said Israeli forces would pull out of population centers in Gaza, some Israeli hostages and hundreds of Palestinian prisoners would be exchanged, Palestinian civilians would return to some parts of Gaza, including the north, and 600 trucks of humanitarian aid would be provided per day.

Medics say Israeli strike on Gaza school kills almost 40 people

Tanks, armored personnel carriers, trucks and military jeeps belonging to the Israeli army drive along on the northern border of the Gaza Strip, May 29, 2024. / Credit: Mostafa Alkharouf/Anadolu/Getty

In the second phase, Israel and Hamas would negotiate a permanent end to the war, and "the cease-fire will still continue as long as negotiations continue," Mr. Biden said. Israel would withdraw from Gaza and the remaining hostages would be released.

The third phase would see the bodies of hostages who had been killed be returned to Israel, and the reconstruction of Gaza.

Mr. Biden said the plan had been relayed to Hamas by Qatar.

"I know there are those in Israel who will not agree with this plan and will call for the war to continue indefinitely. Some are even in the government coalition. They've made it clear: They want to occupy Gaza. They want to keep fighting for years and hostages are not a priority for them. Well, I've urged leadership in Israel to stand behind this deal, despite whatever pressure comes," Mr. Biden said.

"As someone who's had a lifelong commitment to Israel, as the only American president who has ever gone to Israel at a time of war, as someone who just sent the U.S. forces to directly defend Israel when it was attacked by Iran, I ask you to take a step back, think what will happen if this moment is lost," Mr. Biden said. "We can't lose this moment."

Israeli leaders appear to show wavering support for Biden's statements

After Mr. Biden's announcement, the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said it backed the plan, according to the Reuters news agency. Israeli media soon reported, however, that Netanyahu had said there were gaps between what Mr. Biden laid out and Israel's stance.

"The proposal that Biden presented is incomplete," Netanyahu told Israeli lawmakers during a closed-door meeting of the Israeli parliament's Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, according to the Times of Israel newspaper.

Netanyahu told his country's lawmakers that Israel would not end the war in Gaza until it achieved its three primary objectives: Destroying Hamas' military and civil governance capabilities, securing the release of all the hostages, and ensuring that there is no ongoing threat to Israel from Gaza, the Times of Israel reported.

A Jan. 27, 2023 file photo shows Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (R) and Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir (L) at the scene of an attack in a Jewish settlement in East Jerusalem that left seven people dead. / Credit: Mostafa Alkharouf/Anadolu Agency/Getty

Far-right, ultra-nationalist members of Netanyahu's cabinet, Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich, accused Netanyahu of trying to "whitewash" a deal with Hamas and threatened to pull out of the coalition government with him, which would effectively end Netanyahu's long tenure as Israel's leader.

"The dangerous proposal that President Biden spoke of was made by the war cabinet without authority and against the law, and it is not binding for the government of Israel," Smotrich said.

Hamas says written Israeli proposal submitted to them different from "what Biden stated"



Last Thursday, Hamas released a statement saying that, given Mr. Biden's statement and statements from Israeli officials, "the enemy's position is unclear."

Hamas said the written proposal it received "was devoid of the positive foundations mentioned in Biden's statements, and that there is a difference between what is in the paper and what Biden stated, which caused much confusion and controversy, whether what Biden talked about is his personal interpretation of the paper or oral agreements with Israeli parties or otherwise."

Hamas said the written proposal it received did not guarantee one of its key conditions  a permanent cease-fire  or link the three stages of the plan.

"On the contrary, it destroyed the bridges that transfer the agreement from one stage to another in order to disrupt the unity of the agreement with all its stages and reduce it to one stage in which the aggression stops temporarily and its [Israel's] forces remain on the land of the Gaza Strip, and the occupation gets in return the segment of the prisoners it cares about and then resumes the war of annihilation against our people," the statement said.

Hamas said it was committed "to its positive stance towards Biden's statements," and "that Biden must ensure that the occupation government agrees to them and that they are reflected in the text of the agreement."

U.N. Security Council adopts cease-fire resolution

On Sunday, the U.S. said it had requested a vote by the United Nations Security Council on a draft resolution in support of the cease-fire proposal currently on the table.

"As we have repeatedly emphasized, implementation of this deal would enable an immediate cease-fire, the release of hostages, the withdrawal of Israeli forces from populated areas in its first phase, an immediate surge in humanitarian assistance and restoration of basic services, the return of Palestinian civilians to northern Gaza, together with a roadmap for ending the crisis altogether and a multi-year internationally backed reconstruction plan," Nate Evans, a spokesperson for the U.S. delegation to the U.N., said in a statement.

On Monday, the Security Council overwhelming adopted the U.S.-sponsored resolution endorsing the cease-fire plan. 14 out of the 15 Security Council members voted in favor, with only Russia abstaining.

Blinken visits the Middle East

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken travelled to Egypt and Israel on Monday to encourage support for the cease-fire proposal. In Israel, he met with families of the Americans being held hostage by Hamas, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Israeli Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant and other Israeli officials.

Blinken told journalists that Netanyahu had "reaffirmed his commitment to the proposal" and Gallant and other had shown "a strong consensus, again, behind moving forward with the proposal, but it really is down to one person at this point. We'll see what comes from them, and from him"  referring to Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar.

"We await the answer from Hamas, and that will speak volumes about what they want, what they're looking for, who they're looking after. Are they looking after one guy who may be pronounced safe, buried  I don't know  ten stories underground somewhere in Gaza, while the people that he purports to represent continue to suffer in a crossfire of his own making? Or will he do what's necessary to actually move this to a better place, to help end the suffering of people, to help bring real security to Israelis and Palestinians alike? We'll see," Blinken said.

On Tuesday, Hamas submitted its response to mediators, emphasizing its desire for a permanent end to the fighting and a complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza. In its joint statement with an allied miliitant group, Islamic Jihad, Hamas said it was prioritizing, "the necessity to completely stop the ongoing aggression on Gaza, and the withdrawal [of Israeli forces] from the Gaza Strip."

The statement said the group "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."

A source with knowledge of the negotiations told CBS News that talks would continue with Qatari and Egyptian mediators, in coordination with the United States.

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Shari Redstone has finally spoken.

After weeks of endless speculation about the future of Paramount Global, and more than half a year of grueling negotiations, the heiress called off talks with David Ellisons Skydance Media, astonishing the industry and raising questions about the future of her family-controlled media empire.

The deal went up in flames at the one-yard line. Just as Paramounts special committee was set to vote on the deal, lawyers representing the Redstone holding company National Amusements Inc. sent word that she had moved to end merger discussions, CNN was told.

Why Redstone ultimately vetoed the deal is now up for discussion. Was Redstone irked by the latest financials of the offer? Was she afraid of shareholder litigation? Is legacy at play? Or is it simply that Redstone just cannot let go of the empire her father, Sumner, built?

The answer, of course, depends  greatly  on who you ask.

One narrative that has emerged is that, while the two parties had agreed on the economic terms, there were still outstanding issues they had not been able to see eye-to-eye on. Chief among them was whether the deal should have been subject to approval from a majority of the minority shareholders. Redstone had advocated for a vote to protect against potential lawsuits; Skydance resisted.

That was an important term, a person close to the matter told CNN.

The competing narrative is that Skydance had made a competitive offer. Ellison and his backers, led by Redbird Capital, had repeatedly sweetened the terms of the deal and met all the financial requirements for it to happen over many months of painstaking negotiations. In this version of events, the real reason a transaction is not taking place is because Redstone, advised by Ellison foe Charles Phillips, simply got cold feet.

Shari got spooked, as one person bluntly told CNN.

Regardless of the cause, the deal is not happening  and squabbling about the reason it could not get across the finish line does not change that reality. Instead, it underscores the brewing tension between the two sides as the frustrated parties struggled to make a potential marriage work.

And tried they did over the last several months, with the negotiations claiming several high-profile casualties along the way. Over the course of the last few months, Bob Bakish was ousted as chief executive of Paramount Global and four directors resigned from the companys board. The corporate drama, as many observers have pointed out, has been akin to a real-life Succession.

NAI, which has received interest from other parties and will now explore them, offered support Tuesday afternoon for the Office of the CEO at Paramount Global, the post-Bakish triumvirate made up of Brian Robbins, George Cheeks and Chris McCarthy. The trio last week outlined a plan for the company, which includes exploring a joint streaming venture, finding synergies, and reducing costs by $500 million.

NAI supports the recently announced strategic plan being executed by Paramounts Office of the CEO as well as their ongoing work and that of the Companys Board of Directors to continue to explore opportunities to drive value creation for all Paramount shareholders, the family-owned company said in a statement.

NAI also said it looks forward to the ongoing, successful production collaboration between Paramount and Skydance. The two companies have in recent years partnered for blockbusters such as Top Gun and Mission Impossible.

At this point, there was an unbelievable amount of uncertainty hanging over the company, one of the people said of Paramount. They want the company to be able to move forward.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
Schneider Electric has crowned its leading Australia and New Zealand (A/NZ) partners for their efforts over the last year.

In all, 16 awards were handed out to 13 companies, with the accolades celebrating their accomplishments during the period, according to Joe Craparotta, Schneider Electric VP of IT business for the Pacific zone.

The exceptional innovation and commitment to excellence demonstrated by Schneiders channel partners over the past year has been remarkable. These awards celebrate those accomplishments, and we want to congratulate all entrants as their hard work has resulted in innovative new solutions and outstanding value to clients, he said.

As a global technology leader in data centre solutions, Schneider Electric is proud to be supporting its partners as part of its own mission to become the trusted partner in sustainability and digitisation.

The full list of recipients are:

Distributor of the Year: Dicker Data Australia

Distributor of the Year New Zealand: Dicker Data New Zealand

Distributor  Best in Marketing Campaigns of the Year: Dicker Data Australia

Distributor Sales Champion of the Year: Tina Kuleski, Dicker Data

Strategic Partner of the Year: Data#3

Elite IT Solution Provider of the Year: BDC Services

Premier IT Solution Provider of the Year: Blue Connections

Select IT Solution Provider of the Year: Atturra

Ecommerce Partner of the Year: Mwave

Partner of the Year New Zealand: DataGuard

Ecommerce Partner of the Year New Zealand: Acquire

Partner Sales Champion of the Year: Ellana Yeoh  BDC Services

Partner Technical Champion of the Year: Andrew Skeels  MyCom

Most Sustainable Partner of the Year: Datacom

Managed Service Partner of the Year: Treske

Electrical Wholesaler: Branch of the Year: AWM  Port Melbourne

Last week, Schneider Electric released a report it commissioned and was conducted by Tech Research Asia that found substantial increases in AI funding during the next five years are on the cards for small- to medium-sized businesses (SMB).
SRINAGAR: Two militants and a CRPF jawan were killed and half a dozen security personnel and a civilian injured in back-to-back terror attacks and ensuing gunfights in Jammu and Kashmirs Kathua and Doda districts during the past 24 hours, officials said on Wednesday.

In a separate encounter, a jawan of the J&K's police's Special Operation Group (SOG) is reported to have been injured in a gunfight with militants at Tanta, a remote area of the Gandoh-Bhalessa belt of the Doda district.

The police sources said that the "contact" with militants was established late Wednesday evening and that the Army's 4 Rashtriya Rifles, along with the J&K police, have engaged them in a fierce gunfight in the area.

These attacks came close on the heels of militants targeting a bus carrying pilgrims from Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh to the revered cave-shrine of Mata Vaisho Devi in J&Ks Reasi district.

Nine persons, including seven pilgrims and the driver and conductor, were killed and 41 other passengers injured as the 53-seater bus plunged into a deep ravine after the driver, who was reportedly hit by a bullet fired by the assailants, lost balance of the vehicle.

The sneak attack on the bus at Kanda near the Teryath village of Reasis Poni area was carried out by two militants on June 9, the day when Narendra Modi was sworn in for the third term as Prime Minister at a grand ceremony in Delhi.

Additional director-general of J&K police Anand Jain told reporters that a newly infiltrating group of militants descended on Saida Sukhal village, close to the International Border (IB) with Pakistan, in the Kathua district at around 7.45 pm on Tuesday.

The terrorists entered a private house and asked a father-son duo who was present there for drinking water, which they refused. As they started fleeing, the gunmen opened fire over their heads and then forcibly entered another house, by which time the other villagers had informed the police about their presence in the area.

A resident Surinder Kumar said that he saw two strangers dressed in black and carrying assault rifles entering the village. I was returning home on a motorcycle when a boy ran towards me to inform me that there were two gunmen around. I also saw them and heard them asking for water, but suspecting they were terrorists, I alerted the villagers. Sensing trouble, the terrorists opened fire, injuring one villager in the shoulder. This was followed by a blast, he said.

Mr Jain said: The villagers grew suspicious and slammed their doors on terrorists while a few raised alarm. The terrorists panicked, fired their rifles into the air and also aimed at a couple of villagers. A police party was already on the spot. One of the terrorists hurled a hand grenade towards them but was killed in the retaliatory fire.

A second terrorist was killed in the gunfight with the security forces on Wednesday. The ADGP said that CRPF jawan Kabir Das, who was injured in the initial stage of the encounter, died in Hiranagars sub-district hospital early Wednesday. He added that the civilian who was injured in the terrorist firing is stable.

The security forces have recovered grenades, IEDs, a US-made M4 carbine and other war-like weapons from the slain terrorists.

While the efforts were on to neutralise the second militant at Saida, a group of three to four militants targeted a joint checkpost of the J&K police and the Army in the Chattergalla area of eastern Doda district, injuring five soldiers and a special police officer, the officials said.

After the attack and exchange of fire with the security forces, the militants fled into nearby woods, the police sources said, adding that the J&K police, along with the Army and Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs), have launched a massive search operation in the higher reaches of Doda to neutralise them.

A senior police official said that the J&K police and the Army had stepped up their vigil in the area by setting up additional checkposts and laying drop-gates after receiving reports about the movement of militants in the area.

Over the past few days, we were getting information about the movement of terrorists through the intelligence branch of the district police and accordingly, temporary posts jointly manned by the Army and the police were set up in the higher reaches along with check points on the (inter-state) road, deputy inspector-general of police, Doda-Kishtwar-Ramban range, Shridhar Patil, told the media.

Asked about these back-to-back terror attacks, Mr Jain said, It is our hostile neighbour who always tries to damage the peaceful environment in our country.

Union minister Jitendra Singh said: The terrorists are desperate and, as a result of the mounting pressure of the security forces in the Kashmir Valley, they are on the run and are trying to shift the focus of their activities to the Jammu region, but their design will not succeed."

After visiting the injured civilian Om Prakash in a Kathua hospital, Mr Singh told the media, The sponsors of terrorism unleashed from across the border fail to understand that they will never be able to get the ground support of the local population in this region. This entire region, including the Hiranagar sector, where this incident has taken place, is inhabited by people who are nationalist and patriotic to the core and this became evident even during this incident, wherein the civilians stood by the security forces. They not only provided decisive information about the movement of the suspected terrorists but also helped the security forces track them down.

Lieutenant-governor Manoj Sinha said that his administration and the security forces will not rest till terrorism and its supporters are eliminated from the J&K soil.

While addressing a folk festival here, Mr Sinha said, The anger among people (over the Reasi incident) is genuine. People should have faith in the great valour, courage and intelligence of the police and security forces. We will not rest till we root out terrorism and its supporters from the J&K soil.
Mumbai: After giving unconditional support to Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Lok Sabha elections, Raj Thackeray-led Maharashtra Navnirman Sena has demanded 20 assembly seats from the BJP for the upcoming Vidhan Sabha polls in the state.

According to sources, one of the major seats demanded by the Raj Thackeray the Worli Assembly seat, which is currently represented by his nehew Aditya Thackeray, the son of Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray. Raj Thackerays trusted lieutenant Sandeep Deshpande is likely to be the MNS candidate from Worli.

Majority of the seats demanded by the MNS are mostly from Mumbai and Mumbai Metropolitan region (MMR).

In 2009, when it fought the assembly polls for the first time, the MNS had won 13 seats in the Maharashtra Vidhan Sabha. However, they now have only one MLA in the assembly.

In the Lok Sabha polls, Raj Thackeray had announced unconditional support for Modi and also campaigned for the National Democratic Alliances candidates. He even shared the stage with Modi at an election rally at Shivaji Park in Mumbai last month.

However, the MNS functionaries were upset over Raj Thackeray being not invited for the swearing-in ceremony of the Modi government. The party leaders accused the BJP of neglecting the help provided by them during the Lok Sabha polls.

The generation which knew how to build and maintain friendships no longer exists in the BJP, MNS leader Prakash Mahajan said.

In that party, the present practice is to come to your doorstep when youre needed and to close the door on the face when your utility ends. They have seen the ill-effects of this in the recent Lok Sabha election, said Prakash, brother of late BJP leader Pramod Mahajan.
The Woodlands Towers at The Waterway are seen in 2022. The Woodlands' job market is 24th in the country, far outranking Houston's, according to a new SmartAsset study. Jason Fochtman/Staff photographer The Woodlands Towers are shown in front of a lake in 2023. The Woodlands' job market is 24th in the country, far outranking Houston's, according to a new SmartAsset study. Brett Coomer/Staff photographer Gil Staley, CEO of The Woodlands Area Economic Development Partnership, speaks during at the Economic Outlook Conference at The Woodlands Waterway Marriott Hotel and Convention Center in 2023. The Woodlands' job market is 24th in the country, far outranking Houston's, according to a new SmartAsset study. Jason Fochtman/Staff photographer The Town Center entrance near Six Pines Drive and Woodlands Parkway is seen in January. The Woodlands' job market is 24th in the country, far outranking Houston's, according to a new SmartAsset study. Jason Fochtman/Staff photographer

The Woodlands has outranked its much larger southern counterpart, Houston, as one of the best job markets in the country, according to a SmartAsset report.

The township of around 120,000 residents just cracked the top 25 on the list as the 24th best job market in the nation. The study based its rankings on six metrics from 2021 and 2022, including unemployment rates, housing payments in comparison to median income, commute times, the percentage of remote workers, the percentage of employed residents with health insurance and income growth between 2019 and 2022.

The Woodlands unemployment rate is 4.8%, according to the study.

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Gil Staley, chairman of The Woodlands Area Economic Development Partnership, said 2023 was a record-breaking year in job growth.

Founder George Mitchells original vision was to have 1.5 jobs per household located in The Woodlands, which the township accomplished some time ago, Staley said. More commuters are now coming into The Woodlands than Woodlands workers heading to downtown Houston, Staley said.

The study found that the average commute time in The Woodlands is 27 minutes.

(We have) low unemployment and we created jobs year over year, last year being a record year, Staley said. In practically every sector, we created jobs.

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While a household would need to make $91,000 to be considered middle-income in The Woodlands, according to another SmartAsset study, median earnings for an individual are $73,079, which ranks near the middle of the top 25 cities on the list.

Affordable housing options

Monthly housing costs as a percent of earnings is lower, at $1,750 per month, meaning a resident would need to fork over 28.7% of their yearly income toward housing.

Even with median home values at 1.5 times the national average, according to a separate Niche.com study, Staley said homes on The Woodlands' outskirts remain an affordable option.

So many of our workers live on the periphery of The Woodlands, Staley said. There are other markets that have been built residentially because of the job market here. You can find affordable housing  it may be farther away from our center of jobs, but its still very much available.

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Of 85 employers in the area with more than 100 employees, 40 have some hybrid or remote workers, Staley said. Still, most workers head to the office each morning in The Woodlands, with 24.5% of employees working remotely, according to the study.

Thats a telling sign (remote work is) still important, albeit I think its changed a bit and hybrid is almost becoming the norm, Staley said.

The Woodlands' job market was outranked by Fremont, Calif., which came in at No. 1 on the list, as well as Texas cities Frisco (No. 10) and Austin (No. 20.)

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Mumbai: Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray on Wednesday hit out at Prime minister Narendra Modi over the terror attacks in Jammu and Kashmir saying if the latter cannot handle terror attacks, he has no right to be the PM again. He claimed that nothing had changed in the northern state after the abrogation of Article 370.

Kashmir is burning, attacks are taking place. Lives are being lost. Who is responsible for the terror attacks in Jammu and Kashmir? Where are those who have been speaking about Kashmir during the elections? asked Thackeray.

The former Maharashtra chief minister said the abrogation of Article 370, which provided special status to Jammu and Kashmir, has made no difference in the state. The legislation was revoked on August 5, 2019, less than two months after PM Modi was elected to serve his second successive term.

Thackeray said that three attacks took place in Jammu and Kashmir in the last three days. Will he (Modi) still go to J&K or enjoy the breaking up of the opposition parties? he said mockingly.

Ever since the Modi-led NDA government was sworn-in for its third consecutive term, Jammu and Kashmir has witnessed three terror attacks.

On June 9, when Modi took oath for the third time, terrorists opened fire at a bus carrying pilgrims to the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine in Katra. Ten people lost their lives while at least 41 people were injured.

On Tuesday night, terrorists attacked a joint check post of the 4 Rashtriya Rifles and police in the Doda district, leading to a fierce gunfight. During a subsequent search operation, two terrorists were killed.

On Wednesday, a CRPF jawan was killed and six security personnel were injured in two overnight encounters with terrorists in Kathua and Doda districts.

Thackeray also asked whether the PM will visit Manipur after RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat's remarks on the situation in the strife-torn north-eastern state. Bhagwat on Monday expressed concern over peace eluding Manipur even after one year.

Mohan Bhagwat has said that Manipur is burning. He has at least said this after a year. Will the prime minister and home minister not go there? Thackeray asked.

Manipur has been witnessing violence due to ethnic clashes between the Meitei and Kuki communities since May last year during which as many as 200 people have been killed and thousands have been displaced following large-scale arson.
Now that the anti-BJP Opposition is back in strength in the 18th Lok Sabha after the Indian National Democratic Inclusive Alliance parties won 232 of the 543 seats and the conglomerate of regional and smaller parties have earned bragging rights, its time for leaders of these parties to return to the battlefield. Narendra Modi may have been reduced to leading a minority government but the BJP still remains a formidable political machine.

The time to engage in the byzantine workings in New Delhis rarified environment has not arrived for Rahul Gandhi or Akhilesh Yadav, not even Supriya Sule and Abhishek Banerjee, who are still understudies even though they packed a punch in this election. With others like Uddhav and Aaditya Thackeray, M.K. Stalin and Udhaynidhi, and Tejashwi Yadav, these torchbearers of the political aristocracy must go back to fortifying the trenches, connecting with the popular sovereign, managing the organisational networks and strengthening the bases they have retaken from the BJP.

The representative of Indian politics middle ground, bookended by the extreme-right BJP-RSS and the Left, the Congress as the largest national party, Samajwadi Party, Nationalist Congress Party, DMK, Trinamul Congress and the RJD have to work on the ground to foil the recapture of the median voter and the space they compelled the BJP to vacate.

This election is certainly historic, but not because Mr Modi became PM for the third time, matching Jawaharlal Nehrus record. It is historic because a new generation of leaders have emerged in the old parties and rebuilt the bases that were almost razed by the BJP juggernaut between 2014 and 2024.

Each of these leaders were handed hay as they entered the firepit that is the Lok Sabha election. Instead of setting themselves on fire, they lit a fire that sent the BJP scampering. In UP, the SP won 37 seats, against the BJPs 33, down from 62. In Maharashtra, the Congress won 13 seats, while the BJP won a mere nine seats, down from 23 in 2019. In Tamil Nadu, the BJP was nil out of 39 seats. The Mamata-Abhishek Banerjee duo, sneeringly referred to as Pishi-Bhaipo by Mr Modi and his party, regained ground and won 29 seats out of the states total 42.

The transition in leadership from the founding to successor generation that is this new league of younger leaders was invariably marked by blood feuds, defections, bad-mouthing and backstabbing by veterans within and outside the immediate families. Through the process of taking control, stabilising the often-vandalised parties, establishing their identities by coming out of the shadow of their predecessors, these new leaders have a history with many commonalities and the wisdom of hindsight, that if some things were done differently, it would have been less politically destructive.

The decade of Mr Modis first two terms seems to have worked like a baptism of fire for the new generation. Instead of the visceral animosity their predecessors had towards the Congress, a leader like Akhilesh Yadav, or Uddhav and Aaditya Thackeray, can and do get along with Rahul Gandhi. The SP-Congress alliance in UP is proof that such partnerships do indeed work well. The new league of leaders turned out to be challengers of 73-year-old Mr Modis popularity among voters, a hefty 25 per cent-plus of whom are under 30 and, more significantly, either grew up and became first-time voters or were job-seekers in the past 10 years, sitting recruitment examinations that either didnt take place as scheduled, or were cancelled because of paper leaks or were waitlisted as the government hadnt notified the filling of vacancies.

Without a formal common minimum programme, a centralised seat- sharing mechanism, this new generation has an extraordinary ability to identify and speak on issues and problems by pinpointing the BJP as the common enemy and their target. Jobs, unemployment, contractual recruitment into the Army through the Agnipath scheme, recruitment exams and unfilled vacancies, bad environment for trade and small businesses, the cost-of-living crisis, hate speeches and divisive politics are shared and separate concerns. In a remarkable campaign, each of these parties addressed each of these issues, contextualising them within the overarching anxiety about Mr Modis authoritarian, extreme right-wing politics, crony capitalism and bad governance. Each of these leaders used the lived experiences of their constituents to locate these problems within the specific territories which they worked to recover from the BJPs stranglehold and build support for the common agenda that Indias democracy, Constitution, diversity, social harmony and political pluralism were in danger from the hegemonic and homogenising design of the Narendra Modi-led BJP.

In Maharashtra, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh, the INDIA bloc parties have dislodged the BJP from its number one position in the Lok Sabha election. The INDIA parties have to retake these states in the coming Assembly elections. In Tamil Nadu, the BJP hasnt made a breakthrough despite the best efforts of Mr Modi. In West Bengal, the BJP is a distant number two, way behind the Trinamul Congress. In Karnataka, Gujarat, Rajasthan and Bihar the BJP haemorrhaged; it yielded seats to the Congress, the Rashtriya Janata Dal and even the CPI(M).

The new generation of leaders rebuilt political capital from the bottom up. They fought the BJP and its reputation as an outstandingly efficient, cohesively organised and strongly-led party that had mastered strategy, especially manipulating caste and sub-caste fractions, making them serve as vote-multipliers to enable the party to punch above its weight in Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Bihar, West Bengal, Karnataka and dream of making a dent in Tamil Nadu.

The responsibility of the new league of leaders is clear: to increase the efficiency of their parties in defeating the BJP by getting better at working in coordination with allies at the ground level, where hostility between workers of different parties can upset the best-laid plans of the top brass. It will matter in the forthcoming state Assembly elections in Maharashtra, Haryana, Jharkhand, Bihar and Assam in 2024-2025. If Rahul Gandhi stalls the momentum that the Lok Sabha poll performance created by becoming the Leader of the Opposition with ministerial rank, endless office work and a big bungalow, it would please the BJP. A peripatetic Rahul Gandhi is a different kettle of fish than one who is tied down in New Delhi. The Congress has other younger, successful and hungry leaders, like Sachin Pilot or Gaurav Gogoi, who can take on the BJP.

As leaders of regional parties, even Chirag Paswan and Nara Lokesh seem to have figured out that their future lies in defending their territories against, principally, the BJP.
by Fady Noun

Israeli planes killed a Hezbollah commander and three fighters overnight. The Shia group responded firing scores of rockets towards the Golan and Tiberias. Meanwhile, in an ecumenical ceremony held in Bkerke, Fr Michel Jalakh became bishop; he is the first Maronite to hold the post of secretary general of the Dicastery of Oriental Churches, an important role in the Vatican. Despite being at loggerheads with Patriarch al-Rahi, Hezbollah praises the new Lebanese prelate.

Beirut (AsiaNews)  The Maronite Church is holding its annual Synod (10-15 June), while southern Lebanon continues to witness a dangerous escalation between Hezbollah and Israel with an intense exchange of rockets overnight during which a commander of pro-Iranian Shia group was killed.

Taleb Abdallah, better known as Abu Taleb, a Hezbollah field commander was killed in an Israeli airstrike late yesterday evening along with three other fighters near the village of Jouya. He was buried this afternoon.

Hezbollahs response was not long in coming with a barrage of rockets fired from southern Lebanon towards the Golan Heights and, for the first time, the Tiberias area.

The climate of growing confrontation triggered by Israel's war against Hamas in Gaza risks turning into an all-out war even in the north against "the Party of God.

With eyes fixed on the winds of war blowing in the region, the Maronite Church raised Father Michel Jalakh, 58, secretary general of the Dicastery of Oriental Churches, to the post of titular Maronite Archbishop of Nisibis (Turkey). A monk of the Antonine Maronite Order (OAM), he has occupied this position since 15 February 2023.

The ceremony, led by Patriarch Butros al-Rahi, was held at the Patriarchal See in Bkerke, in the presence of Cardinal Claudio Gugerotti, Prefect of the Dicastery for the Eastern Churches.

The ordination of Bishop Jalakh was necessary "to allow him to address his interlocutors as equals and to pronounce himself impartially on matters of eligibility for ecclesiastical office," said an informed source who requested anonymity.

Ecumenical ceremony

The ceremony. was held in the presence of various patriarchs  Melkite Catholic Youssef Absi, Syriac Catholic Ignatius Youssef III Younan, Armenian Catholic Raphael Bedros XXI, Syriac Orthodox Ignatius Aphram II, as well as Apostolic Nuncio to Lebanon Bishop Paolo Borgia and Bishop Chahan Sargasyan representing Catholicos Aram I. It took on a deliberately ecumenical tone since the fate of Eastern Christians now depends on their unity of action beyond their specific Catholic or Orthodox denominations.

In his homily, the Patriarch spoke about the new archbishop's services. Pope Francis chose you to assist him in his apostolic service because of your faith in Christ and your love for him.

He went on to say: "You will undoubtedly live up to his expectations, with your monastic and priestly virtues and the knowledge you have acquired during your many years in Rome as a student, specialist and accredited member of the Dicastery for the Eastern Churches for five years, and then as Secretary General of the Council of Churches of the Middle East (CCME) for five years, and finally as Rector of the Antonine University.

A first

Observers note that this is the first time that a Lebanese and a Maronite holds this position since the creation of this department in 1917.

For many observers, Bishop Jalakhs appointment is fitting, and could prepare him for higher office, given the experiences he accumulated over the years both at home, as well as through his ecumenical and interfaith activity.

Expressing his thanks, Archbishop Jalakh said that he carries all causes in his heart, starting with "the cause of my homeland, Lebanon", without forgetting the people enduring the horrors of war, from Ukraine to Gaza.

Speaking about Lebanon and the decay of its political institutions, at this point in its history, the new bishop said: What we Lebanese lack to rebuild this unique nation  with its human solidarity, its spiritual solidity that embraces its various identities, and is distinguished by its social constitution based on the family and its values  is a little asceticism, humility, and self-sacrifice.

For the aforementioned source, These last observations are addressed to the Churches, more than to the political class.

Sources close to Cardinal Claudio Gugerotti, an Italian specialist in Oriental Languages and Liturgies and former nuncio to Georgia and Armenia, said that he carries Lebanon in his heart" and views Lebanon as "the cornerstone of the Christian presence in the East."

Praised by Hezbollah

Archbishop Michel Jalakhs appointment has also had an impact on Hezbollah, with an editorial published in the Al-Akhbar daily newspaper, known to be close to the pro-Iranian Shia movement.

Before reaching the age of 60, Mgr Jalakh achieved what no other Lebanese or Maronite had ever achieved. This allows him to act as a man who wants nothing for himself, with the independence that this guarantees him, because he owes his appointment to none other than Pope Francis and his friend (Cardinal) Gugerotti, which does not bind him to any network of interests, allowing him to accomplish a lot for the Christian communities of the region, if he reconciles his vision with the capacities of the Vatican.

This beautiful tribute is tarnished unfortunately by a political reading of this ordination, seen as a jab, in the present and the future, against the action of the current patriarch, who has been regularly targeted by the paper.
As the China-EU trade war escalates, Beijing slams EU "protectionism", warning that Europe's interests will be hurt. Meanwhile, for days Chinese media repeated government threats of retaliation against EU food exports to China. The EU move is not going down well in Germany, Hungary, and Sweden. For Chinese firms, duties would mean a US-billion loss.

Brussels (AsiaNews/Agencies)  The European Union plans to impose tariffs on Chinese-made battery electric vehicles (BEV) because of state subsidies to manufacturers, a practice deemed unfair competition for European car makers. Tariffs will come into effect on 4 July unless an agreement is not reached with Chinese authorities.

The move was announced today, in the aftermath of the European elections. China immediately described the decision as "protectionism" that will eventually hurt Europes own interests.

The European Commission will impose a provisional tariff hike on Chinese manufacturers  17.4 per cent for market major BYD, 20 per cent for Geely and 38.1 per cent for SAIC  depending on the level of state subsidies each firm received.

Electric car makers in China that cooperated with the EU will face a tariff of 21 per cent, while those that did not cooperate would be subject to a 38.1 per cent duty. This is on top of the 10 per cent import duty already in place for Chinese-made electric cars.

The tariffs will apply provisionally from 4 July and then definitively from November unless the issue is resolved. The measure could still be reversed by a qualified majority of EU states  15 countries representing at least 65 per cent of the bloc's population  voting against the move.

Among EU members, Germany  which is heavily involved the Chinese car market - is opposed, along with Hungary (where a large BYD production plant is expected to be built soon) and Sweden (Volvo being controlled by Geely).

In recent weeks, Chinese media reiterated Beijing's threats against EU exports, including pork and dairy products, if Brussels introduced such duties.

Today, Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian, responding to a question on the issue, pointed out Europe's internal divisions on this matter.

We noted that senior officials and business leaders in multiple European countries recently stated opposition to the European Commissions probe and said that imposing more tariffs on Chinese EVs to protect the European industry would be a wrong approach, he said.

Protectionism has no future, and open cooperation is the right way forward. We urge the EU to act on its commitment to supporting free trade and opposing protectionism, and work with us to uphold the overall economic and trade cooperation between the two sides. China will take all measures necessary to firmly defend our lawful rights and interests.

China is the world's largest exporter of cars, and Europe is a crucial market. EU imports of EVs from China mushroomed from around 57,000 in 2020 to around 437,000 in 2023, the US-based Peterson Institute for International Economics said.

Ahead of the EU's move, Germany's Kiel Institute for the World Economy said a 20-percent tariff would mean 125,000 fewer Chinese electric cars to the EU, worth almost US$ 4 billion.
by Stefano Vecchia

The Philippines marks 126 years since Spanish rule ended. The authorities are worried about China's territorial claims. President Marcos orders the military to be well prepared" for any situation. The Catholic Church is also afraid that the country might lose our independence.

Milan (AsiaNews)  Today is Independence Day in the Philippines, the 126th anniversary of the end of Spanish colonial rule.

This year, celebrations are marred by concerns over national security, most notably Chinas territorial claims in waters near or within the Philippiness exclusive economic zone.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. focused on the matter during his visit on Monday at an army base in Gamu, a town in the northern province of Isabela.

To meet the new challenge, Marcos ordered the military to be well prepared" to deal with any situation, whether Chinas direct pressures or any spillover in the countrys far north from the tensions and conflict that might follow an attempt by mainland China to forcibly bring Taiwan under its control.

The external threat now has become more pronounced, has become more worrisome. And that is why we have to prepare, said the Philippine leader, who reminded the troops that their mission is no longer just to ensure internal security but also to deal with external challenges.

The presidents remarks come after Cagayan province, the countrys northernmost, was included in the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement, which gives the US military access to storage facilities, airfields, and housing when required for joint initiatives, a move met with disapproval in Beijing.

Tensions on Independence Day are also high because China is set to enforce new regulations next Saturday, 15 June, that stipulate that intruders crossing China's borders, can be held for up to 60 days without trial. This covers Chinas territorial waters in the South China Sea, part of which are claimed by the Philippines and other countries.

The situation is a source of concern for Philippine Catholic Church as well. Bishop Broderick Pabillo, apostolic vicar of Taytay, recently described 12 June as a gift of God that we must protect. Especially now we have a disturbing problem with China, we might be caught in conflict and we might lose our independence.

For the prelate, it is necessary to maintain a balance vis-a-vis the interests of other countries.
by Mathias Hariyadi

The Awyu and Moi protest in front of the Supreme Court, which must examine their appeals against some mega-concessions approved by the government that would lead to massive deforestation of the forests where they have always lived. The complaint of the NGO Forum for Development: This would be ecocide.

Jakarta (AsiaNews) - All eyes on Papua. A simple tiller that has gone viral through social networks in Indonesia these days accompanies the appeal that dozens of indigenous people from South Papua are taking to Jakarta to defend the rights over their land threatened by deforestation.

They fear they will do the same as the Kalimantan region in Borneo, whose forests have been massively transformed by the intensive exploitation of plantations for the production of palm oil.

Dressed in their traditional clothes, representatives of the Awyu and Moi tribal groups staged a peaceful demonstration in front of the Indonesian Supreme Court to express their struggle in defence of the territory they have inhabited for centuries.

These people live in the Boven Digul area, which, according to the Pusaka Bentala Rakyat Foundation, is the one most severely affected by massive deforestation today. They have also filed a lawsuit against the state, which has authorised several commercial companies to operate concessions on at least 36,099 hectares (almost half the area of Greater Jakarta) that will be transformed into a new palm plantation. The objective of the indigenous communities is to secure their customary land between the Mappi and Digul rivers.

Speaking to the Indonesian media over the weekend, the Indonesian Minister of Agrarian Affairs and Spatial Planning, Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono - son of former President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono - stated that Papua is our national land property and its dignity should be respected and restored. We all want all indigenous Papuans to be able to live in dignity and prosperity,' he added, arguing that commercial projects were a way to not leave this region in the background.

For his part, Hendrikus Woro, 40, from Yare village in Fofi district, said he was grateful for the moral support he received in their protest in Jakarta. So many people heard our cry. We feel like ducklings who seemed to have lost their mother all this time'.

The Indonesian environmental watchdog group Walhi said this affair confirms the seriousness of the problem: tensions are exacerbated by the absence of so-called FPIC (free and prior informed consent) from commercial companies in relation to their environmental concession rights.

The horizontal conflict between the local Papuan indigenous communities - the Awyu and the Moi - and the government clearly shows that the state does not respect the existence of local indigenous tribal groups and their rights, comments Uli Siagian of Walhi.

It is not only customary law that is at stake: The lawsuits filed by these Papuan tribal groups, Siagian points out, are mainly based on climate change issues. When their dense forest is turned into a palm plantation, the carbon emissions will be enormous'.

In this regard, the International NGO Forum on Indonesian Development (INFID) openly speaks of ecocide in reference to the projects in the field on Papuan lands.
South Korea-born panda to make debut in Sichuan

09:57, June 12, 2024 By Yan Dongjie ( China Daily

Giant panda Fu Bao at the Wolong Shenshuping Base of the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda in Sichuan province on May 27. (Photo/Xinhua)

After more than two months of quarantine and transitional adaptation, giant panda Fu Bao will meet the public at the Wolong Shenshuping Base of the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda in Sichuan province this week.

The female panda will make her debut at the base on Wednesday, and will then be on show regularly. Base employees are advising visitors to arrange their trips carefully to avoid big crowds.

Fu Bao left the Samsung Everland Park in South Korea and arrived in China in early April, when she was placed in quarantine at the base. She has adapted well to her new surroundings and has established trust with her keepers, according to the giant panda center. After quarantine, Fu Bao moved to the breeding area of the base. A technical team developed a plan to help her transition to her new life through behavioral training, physical contact and communication with the keepers.

She has also been enjoying the food being provided.

"After more than two months of adaptation, Fu Bao has adapted to the current season's bamboo. She loves to eat bitter bamboo shoots, bitter bamboo leaves and white bamboo shoots," said Xu Xiang, a keeper at the Wolong Shenshuping Base, adding that it provides different types of bamboo for pandas in different seasons.

"We feed Fu Bao two to three types of bamboo daily for her to choose from, and we also feed her bamboo shoots. As for supplements, Fu Bao prefers apples and steamed buns," he said.

In March 2016, female giant panda Hua Ni, also known as Ai Bao, and male giant panda Yuan Xin, also known as Le Bao, arrived at the Samsung Everland Park in South Korea, initiating Sino-Korean cooperation in giant panda research. Fu Bao was born to the pair at the park in July 2020.

According to the agreement on giant panda conservation research cooperation, panda cubs born overseas are sent to China between age 2 and 4.

The giant panda research center said that over the past eight years, China and South Korea have actively cooperated in giant panda conservation breeding, disease prevention and control, public education and other scientific areas to promote the conservation of the endangered species in both countries and enhance friendly relations between the Chinese and Korean people.

The keepers said that since Fu Bao's arrival in China, she has gradually integrated into the local panda population through communication windows between enclosures, interacting with neighboring pandas through sounds and scents. Observations and assessments by the care team indicate that she is ready to meet the public.

Cheng Jianbin, an expert at the Wolong Shenshuping Base, said that it selected a suitable enclosure for Fu Bao and gave her ample time to adapt to the new environment. To ensure a smooth public introduction, the base has undertaken tasks such as cleaning, disinfection, safety checks and security measures, aiming to minimize the potential stress some pandas experience once they are exhibited to the public. Considering factors such as park capacity and Fu Bao's adaptation process, the base will limit the number of visitors on Wednesday.

A video blogger surnamed Zhu has been permanently banned from visiting the giant panda center's bases because he was caught livestreaming from the surroundings of the Wolong Shenshuping Base following Fu Bao's arrival, broadcasting from non-exhibition areas such as the quarantine zone, office and research buildings, as well as the breeding area, ignoring notices from local authorities and violating regulations, the center said.

(Web editor: Tian Yi, Liang Jun)
A portable classroom is damaged from Thursdays storm Friday, May 17, 2024 at Pugh Elementary School in Houston. The portable building sustained roof and ceiling damages. Two portable classrooms were damaged and one regular classroom also sustained damages from a tree fell through the roof. Yi-Chin Lee/Staff photographer

Some Houston politicians are questioning why it took nearly a month for Houston ISD to confirm that it is applying for federal assistance to help repair campuses damaged by the May 16 derecho storms, fearing that HISD leaders are using the damage to try to strong-arm voters into approving a proposed $4.4 billion bond.

INSIDE THE DERECHO: The surprise storm and the split-second choices that changed everything

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A June 7 letter from 10 state representatives asked the district whether it will seek federal funding and, if not, why. Miles sent back a short response Monday that said HISDs risk management team submitted a Request for Public Assistance to FEMA. He also wrote that the district will use its insurance policy as well as FEMA for any reimbursement toward the deductible or other claims.

State Rep. Gene Wu said their letter to HISD joined urgent questions from every level of government. He called Miles' response back more concerning.

And this letter actually just raises even more questions, Wu said. The letter reads like it was slapped together in about 20 minutes. And its strangely drafted. It gives almost no information and just says, 'Oh yeah, were on it.'

Now that Ive seen it  because, what have you guys been doing all this time? Wu added. Why didnt you  if this was something that was already being done  why didnt you guys just send out a quick release saying, 'Were already on it. Weve applied. Were just not doing a big press conference. Were not sending a big press release.'

THE REPORT CARD: Subscribe to the Houston Chronicles weekly newsletter recapping HISD news

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Wu said state representatives were concerned that lingering storm damage would be used to pressure community members to approve a $4.4 billion bond, which HISD officials recently presented to the community amid strong distrust for the district.

HISD officials have been showing a photo of Sinclair, with tall trees across a broken roof, at public bond presentations in the past weeks. Deputy Chief of Operations Alishia Jolivette said at a Monday bond presentation at North Forest Middle School that the district is still determining where Sinclair students will go.

Sinclair would receive a projected investment of $13.57 million with partial renovation, safety and security upgrades, HVAC improvements, and lead abatement, according to the districts North Division school-by-school breakdown of investments. Many schools across the district would receive safety upgrades and HVAC improvements under this bond plan.

Alexis Licata, deputy chief of finance and operations, said Monday the districts property policy covers up to $250 million. Its property insurance costs went down from the prior year and matches nationwide trends, Licata said in answer to bond advisory committee questions.

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After Hurricane Harvey, the districts property policy covered the damage and very little came in through FEMA, Licata said. She said, given this damage is less than that of Harvey, she feels confident the district will be made whole through the property policy and ancillary expenses may be supported through FEMA.

Just to give you a big picture, we just, were finalizing (the) Hurricane Harvey claim now, Licata added, noting this does not impact the bond but it does take time for money to come in, whether it is through insurance or the federal government.

At the heart of the disaster relief inquiries is a public call for transparency from HISD.

Wu said there was a reason why No trust, no bond has become the rallying motto against the takeover.

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12 June 2024 08:30 (UTC+04:00)

Ulviyya Shahin Read more

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev embarked on an official trip to Egypt on June 8, where he held discussions with President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi aimed at bolstering bilateral ties and enhancing collaboration in various areas of shared interest. This visit underscores the ongoing dedication of both nations to fortify their partnership and advance developmental endeavors through close coordination. Talks centered on elevating the scope and depth of cooperation, fostering political dialogue, and nurturing economic, trade, and cultural bonds.

President Al-Sisi's visit to Azerbaijan in January 2023 marked a significant milestone in bilateral relations, marking the first visit by an Egyptian President. This visit yielded the signing of three pivotal agreements covering irrigation, cultural exchange, and trade.

"We have reached a mutual understanding on the trajectory of our cooperation  one that should be deepened and broadened. The potential for this is evident, and today's visit reaffirms this commitment," stated President Aliyev at the time.

President Al-Sisi emphasized the importance of eliminating hurdles for foreign investors in Egypt, advocating for conducive environments and streamlined legal procedures. Highlighting Egypt's role as a "gateway to Africa," he underscored the pivotal nature of free trade accords between the two nations.

Since the establishment of the Joint Commission on intergovernmental economic, technical, and scientific cooperation in October 2002, Azerbaijan and Egypt have signed approximately 60 agreements, with an additional 21 under consideration. Presently, around 51 companies with Egyptian investment operate in trade, industry, and services in Azerbaijan, indicative of substantial potential for expanding commercial ties. By the close of 2023, bilateral trade turnover had reached $15.1 million.

The energy sector stands as another pillar of Azerbaijani-Egyptian collaboration, with further expansion anticipated as SOCAR and Egypt's state oil company plan to augment their partnership. Tourism represents a burgeoning sector, with Egyptian tourist arrivals in Azerbaijan witnessing a 50 percent surge in recent years. Sustained by regular flights, including weekly Air Cairo services between Baku and Sharm el Sheikh, this sector enjoys robust support. Last year, both nations expressed keenness to enhance air connectivity, deliberating on mutual cooperation in civil aviation.

Politically, Azerbaijan and Egypt collaborate in international forums such as the United Nations, the Non-Aligned Movement, and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation.

Speaking to Azernews Haiat Hussin an Egyptian economic writer said that the mutual economic relation is weak comparing the political relation, which affects the volume of trade exchange, and does not exceed $10 million.

"But the two countries are trying to support this relation, and Companies from Azerbaijan are looking to invest in Egypt in many fields, including infrastructure and the pharmaceutical industry, said Alkhan Polokhov, Azerbaijans ambassador to Egypt to me 6 months ago."

He added that Egypt and Azerbaijan are discussing ways to revive economic cooperation.

He expected that the sixth session of the meetings of the Egyptian-Azerbaijani Joint Committee for Economic, Scientific and Technical Cooperation would held (2024). The Azerbaijani ambassador said: The Fifth Committee was held in Baku in 2022, and the next committee will be held in 2024, and it comes within the framework of strengthening economic cooperation.

The economist added that five cooperation documents were signed in various fields of development, to expand the scope of economic, scientific, and technical cooperation between the two countries during the meetings of the Fifth Committee.

"Two countries agreed to operate a flight between Baku (the capital of Azerbaijan) and Cairo, through EgyptAir, starting this year. There is currently a weekly direct flight between Baku and Sharm El-Sheikh," H. Hussin concluded.

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12 June 2024 12:56 (UTC+04:00)

Nazrin Abdul Read more

Hosting COP29 in Azerbaijan will give impetus to the "green development" of the Middle Corridor.

This idea was voiced at a conference dedicated to maximising the benefits of the Middle Corridor, organised by the Caspian Policy Centre in London, Azernews reports.

The event, attended by ambassadors of regional countries in Britain, the diplomatic corps in London, academic circles, economists, climate scientists, and media representatives, discussed priorities related to the Middle Corridor, views on ensuring sustainability and green development in the context of COP29, as well as the importance of cooperation between regional countries and with other states on these issues.

During the opening session, Afghan Nifti, the CEO of the Caspian Policy Centre, his advisor on Britain and former British diplomat David Moran, and James Sharp, a member of the Centre's Advisory Council and a former British diplomat, spoke about the economic, trade, and cooperation opportunities created by the Middle Corridor.

Ambassadors from Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan, and Turkiye participated in the first ambassadors' panel of the conference.

Georgia's Ambassador, Sofio Katsavara, expressed support for her country's effective infrastructure projects like the Middle Corridor and highlighted the exemplary coordination between Azerbaijan and Georgia. She also touched upon the importance of peace and stability in the region for the development of the Middle Corridor.

Subsequently, Azerbaijan's Ambassador to Britain, Elin Suleymanov, discussed the importance of the Middle Corridor as a multimodal transport route, highlighting the significant role of exemplary cooperation between Azerbaijan and Georgia supported by Turkiye in the project's inception. The ambassador emphasised Azerbaijan's continuous contributions to the development of the Middle Corridor and outlined steps taken to increase cargo carrying capacity.

In the context of Azerbaijan hosting COP29, E. Suleymanov underscored the necessity of developing the Middle Corridor as a green corridor. He noted that the Baku International Sea Trade Port received a green port certificate from the UN Maritime Organisation. The Azerbaijani ambassador emphasised the importance of promoting continuous dialogue among the countries located along the Middle Corridor for the stable future of the region and avoiding divisive actions.

Touching on the ongoing peace process between Armenia and Azerbaijan, the ambassador noted that direct dialogue between the two countries is highly effective and tangible results are evident. He stated that the decision to host COP29 in Azerbaijan was made as a result of direct negotiations between the two countries. Highlighting that most of the countries located along the Middle Corridor are members of the Organisation of Turkic-Speaking Countries, Ambassador Suleymanov also noted that these countries are not only close partners for Azerbaijan but also close friends and brotherly countries.

Kazakhstan's Ambassador Maghzan Ilyasov emphasised the importance of discussing issues such as the reduction of water resources and the level of the Caspian Sea for the region during COP29.

Turkiye's Ambassador, Osman Koray Ertas, highlighted the commendable support of international institutions such as the World Bank, EBRD, and European Union to the Middle Corridor. He noted that within the framework of the peace process, the positive trend between Armenia and Azerbaijan, as well as between Armenia and Turkiye, further enhances the opportunities opened by the Middle Corridor. The Turkish ambassador added that his country is ready to support Azerbaijan in the direction of successfully hosting COP29.

Speaking at the second ambassadors' panel of the conference, Armenian Ambassador to Britain Varujan Nersesyan said that his country is interested in discussions dedicated to connectivity projects in the region.

Speaking on the same panel, the Kyrgyz ambassador drew attention to the importance of cooperation between countries located along the Middle Corridor.

Representatives of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the World Bank, "The City of London" Corporation, the British-Azerbaijani Chamber of Commerce, bp, the Institute of Export and International Trade in London, and the Centre for Strategic Studies in the Middle East and South Asia in Washington spoke at the expert panels of the conference. They shared their recommendations on what further steps would be useful for the development of the Middle Corridor in the Caspian Basin region and for the full use of the potential of the Middle Corridor in general, and how to ensure coordination with additional partners. The speakers congratulated Azerbaijan on hosting COP29 and emphasised that it is commendable that Azerbaijan shares responsibility for important international initiatives and successfully hosts international events.

bp's adviser on international affairs, Michael Denison, noted that Azerbaijan's commitment to all its international obligations for decades has made it a reliable and exemplary partner for other countries.

Chairman of the British-Azerbaijani Chamber of Commerce, John Paterson, said that under the leadership of President Ilham Aliyev, Azerbaijan has passed a successful and progressive development path, adding that Baku is one of the most beautiful and progressive cities in the world.

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12 June 2024 13:39 (UTC+04:00)

Nazrin Abdul Read more

To enhance the efficiency of the Middle Corridor, it's imperative to address its specific challenges.

James Sharp, former British Ambassador to Azerbaijan and a Board Member of the Caspian Policy Centre, highlighted this during his address at the 2nd Caspian Region Connectivity Conference in London, Azernews reports, citing the Caspian Policy Centre.

"If we aim to streamline transit times along the Middle Corridor, we must scrutinise key connecting components such as port infrastructure and customs regulations, with a focus on addressing deficiencies in Caspian ports," he emphasised.

Sharp underscored that this approach extends beyond addressing challenges; it's about seizing opportunities. "We're discussing the potential for significant benefits, empowering countries to independently advance regional connectivity, facilitating intra-regional and global connections," he added.

The Middle Corridor serves as a vital link between China and EU nations through container and railway freight networks spanning Central Asia, the Caucasus, Turkiye and Eastern Europe.

This multilateral, multimodal transport infrastructure interconnects ferry terminals in the Caspian Sea and the Black Sea with railway systems in China, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Turkiye, Ukraine, and Poland.

Facilitating a surge in cargo flow from China to Turkiye and European destinations and vice versa, the Middle Corridor plays a pivotal role.

Trains traversing this corridor transport goods from China to Europe within an average of 20-25 days, marking a significant advantage of this transport route.

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12 June 2024 14:20 (UTC+04:00)

Nazrin Abdul Read more

During the Economic Policy, Industry, and Enterprising Committee meeting of the Milli Majlis, Khagani Abdullayev, an advisor to the Minister of Economy, highlighted plans for establishing a new industrial zone in Nakhchivan, Azernews reports.

"Two industrial parks have started operating in Aghdam and Jabrayil. In Garabagh, overall, it is planned to create more than a thousand new jobs in industrial zones. A new industrial zone is being created in Nakhchivan," Abdullayev stated.

He emphasised that the selection of locations for industrial zones considers geographical factors and other pertinent criteria.

"In addition to Nakhchivan, efforts are underway to elevate Hajigabul's industrial district status to that of an industrial park. Furthermore, in Ganja, the creation of a new industrial zone has also begun. We are making maximum efforts to increase the number of these industrial parks and neighbourhoods in this or other zones based on economic efficiency criteria," he added.

It should be noted that currently, Azerbaijan operates seven industrial parks (including the "Araz Valley Economic Zone" in Sumgayit Kimya, Garadag, Pirallahi, Mingachevir, Balakhani, Aghdam, and Jabrayil districts) and five industrial districts (Hajigabul, Masalli, Neftchala, Sabirabad, and Sharur).

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Andrea Leinfelder is the space reporter for the Houston Chronicle. She can be reached at andrea.leinfelder@houstonchronicle.com.

Andrea has written about NASA and the commercial space sector since 2020, with her coverage spanning human spaceflight, robotic exploration and operations in low-Earth orbit. She also follows Elon Musk's Texas footprint.

Originally from Florida, Andrea graduated from the University of Florida in 2012 and has worked for the Houston Chronicle since 2014. She previously wrote for The News-Press in Fort Myers, Fla. She enjoys traveling, eating her way across Texas and chasing her 2-year-old son and 6-year-old dog.
12 June 2024 15:21 (UTC+04:00)

Nazrin Abdul Read more

Yekaterina Miroshnik, Director of Eurasian Infrastructure at the EBRD, discussed the bank's initiatives aimed at enhancing the efficiency of the Middle Corridor during the 2nd Caspian Region Connectivity Conference in London, Azernews reports, citing the Caspian Policy Centre.

In her address, she highlighted 30 potential investment projects identified in the EBRD's latest study in Central Asia, estimating infrastructure investment needs at 18.5 billion across the region's five countries.

Miroshnik emphasised that realising these projects hinges on measures like tariff adjustments, market liberalisation, and private sector involvement.

Sophie Ibbotson, Development Advisor at the World Bank, underscored the importance of collaborative efforts for Middle Corridor development, stating, "The Middle Corridor's true appeal lies in its potential to enhance both intra-regional and inter-regional relations."

Addressing challenges hindering regional development, Ibbotson pointed out that high transportation costs impede production growth in Central Asia, limiting economic expansion.

She added, "Reducing transportation costs could make countries like Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan more attractive to investors and international buyers seeking marketable products."

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12 June 2024 16:47 (UTC+04:00)

Ulviyya Shahin Read more

The TAP AG pipeline company expects positive results from binding market tests for the phased expansion of the Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) capacity to 20 billion cubic meters per year, TAP representative in Greece Ioannis Maris said, Azernews reports.

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12 June 2024 17:03 (UTC+04:00)

Ulviyya Shahin Read more

The event "Road from Dubai to Baku - before COP29" was organised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan, the Office of the UN Resident Coordinator in Turkmenistan, and the embassies of Azerbaijan and the United Arab Emirates in Turkmenistan, Azernews reports, citing the Embassy of the Republic of Azerbijan to Turkmenistan.

Speakers spoke at the event and presented updates on the subsequent activities of the 28th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP28) and discussed preparations for the COP29 summit to be held in Azerbaijan in November of this year, as well as ideas in the direction of transitioning to green energy and reducing methane emissions. was exchanged.

"Our land. Our future. The event, held under the motto "We are #GenerationRestoration", highlighted the special contributions of Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) ambassadors, students, volunteers, and eco-activists at conferences on climate change, and their participation in the Global Youth Climate Conference (LCOY23) at COP28 in Dubai in 2023. ) was noted to be closely involved.

The Ambassador of Azerbaijan to Turkmenistan, Kismet Gozalov, spoke and said that this year has been declared the "Year of Solidarity for the Green World" in Azerbaijan and also drew attention to the projects implemented by Azerbaijan related to climate change and the work done in the direction of green energy in our country. The ambassador informed the participants about the globally important COP29 to be held in Azerbaijan and also said that volunteers will play an important role in the organisation of COP29. In this regard, he noted that the "volunteers.cop29.az" portal has been launched to organise the participation of volunteers at COP29, and about 16,000 candidates have registered on the portal. It is expected that approximately 3,000 local and international volunteers will be involved in the process.

The Ambassador drew attention to the trio of COP chairs co-chaired by Azerbaijan, the UAE, and Brazil, and touched on the importance of cooperation between the chair countries in the current and future COP sessions, as well as the importance of the three COP chairs (Troika) to further increase sustainability. Kismet Gozalov said that Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan are advancing with confidence in solving vital issues related to alternative energy and climate change. It is gratifying that even though both countries are rich in oil and natural gas, our countries contribute to climate change projects by sticking to their methane emission obligations: "We are sure that brother Turkmenistan will also contribute to the COP29 summit to be held in Azerbaijan in November this year."

Also, drawing attention to the destructive effect of mines, the ambassador spoke about the current mine threat in the territories of Azerbaijan, as well as the serious environmental and humanitarian consequences caused by it, and emphasised that mines and unexploded ammunition are a serious problem that, in addition to causing damage to the environment and the cultural heritage of the civilian population, hinders sustainable development.

A video clip and photos related to COP29 were shown at the event.

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12 June 2024 19:41 (UTC+04:00)

By Alimat Aliyeva

Taiwan's coast Guard detained a Chinese citizen, a retired Navy captain of the People's Liberation Army of China (PLA), who arrived on the island by motorboat and asked for asylum, Azernews reports.

According to him, on June 9, a man on a motorboat sailed to the island and entered the waters of the Danshui River. According to the coast Guard, a 9-meter boat was spotted in the morning 6 nautical miles (about 11 km) from the mouth of the river.

After the vessel entered the estuary, it collided with other vessels at the ferry terminal, in connection with which the ferry operators immediately contacted the coast guard and reported the incident.

During the interrogation, a 60-year-old detainee named Ruan said that in the past he served in the PLA Navy and holds the rank of captain. According to the agency, citing sources, he also indicated that he wanted to flee to Taiwan after posting anti-government comments on social networks. It is noted that the incident attracted special attention from the Taiwanese media and military experts, since the Danshui River leads to Taipei.

As the head of the Taiwan Ocean Affairs Council (the island's coast guard reports to him), Guan Biling, pointed out, it is currently unclear whether the man really wanted to escape to Taiwan or whether China deliberately staged a check on the island's coastal defenses in this way. According to her, over a period of just over a year, at least 18 such incidents were recorded, the participants of which said that they wanted to "escape for freedom to Taiwan." "Given the accumulated cases in the past, it is possible that this was a test," she said.

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12 June 2024 17:21 (UTC+04:00)

Laman Ismayilova Read more

President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev has addressed congratulations to the participants of the Azerbaijani Culture Days in Tashkent, Azernews reports.

"The Days of Culture of Azerbaijan are a logical continuation of the Days of Culture of Uzbekistan, held on the fraternal land of Azerbaijan," the message says.

Shavkat Mirziyoyev expressed confidence that Uzbeks will be able to become better acquainted with the ancient and rich culture, art, literature, national traditions, and values of the fraternal Azerbaijani people, and participants of the Azerbaijani Culture Days will be able to become more familiar with the transformations taking place in New Uzbekistan, as well as with its historical and cultural features .

Organised by the Azerbaijan Culture Ministry, the Azerbaijani Culture Days feature a large-scale program that became another celebration of Azerbaijani culture and art in the fraternal country.

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 the Azerbaijan State Yugh Theatre 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 Theatre will present this world-famous work at the Uzbekistan State Academic Theatre.

On June 13, the Azerbaijan Cultural Centre, named after Heydar Aliyev in Tashkent, will host a presentation of the book "The Sword and the Pen" by the well-known author of historical novels, Mammad Said Ordubadi.

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Laman Ismayilova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @lmntypewriterrr

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12 June 2024 09:00 (UTC+04:00)

As part of her trip to Belarus, Speaker of Milli Majlis Sahiba Gafarova met with the Chairperson of the Council of the Republic of the National Assembly of Belarus, Natalya Kochanova, and the Chairman of the House of Representatives, Igor Sergeyenko, Azernews reports.

The parties first held a one-on-one meeting, followed by the meeting in an expanded format with the participation of the two countries delegations.

Expressing her optimism that the visit would give a new impetus to the relations, Natalya Kochanova underlined that Azerbaijan and Belarus enjoy fruitful relations based on the principles of friendship and brotherhood. Igor Sergeyenko hailed the current level of relations between the two countries and parliaments, mentioning the deep rooted historical ties between the two nations.

The sides highlighted the pivotal role of high-level relations between the heads of state in the current development of Azerbaijan-Belarus relations. They emphasized that up to now, about 150 documents spanning political, economic, social, humanitarian, scientific-technical and regional cooperation issues had been signed between Azerbaijan and Belarus.

The parties also underscored the importance of cooperation on international platforms.

Highlighting high level of relations between the two countries and peoples based on mutual respect and trust, Speaker of Milli Majlis Sahiba Gafarova noted that the interparliamentary ties are also based on these foundations.

The parties hailed the successful cooperation of the legislative bodies both on a bilateral basis and within international parliamentary organizations. Sahiba Gafarova also emphasized the importance of cooperation in the Parliamentary Network of the Non-Aligned Movement, describing the network as a key platform for developing cooperation among the parliaments.

Mentioning the signed Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation between the parliaments, the sides noted that the document contributed to developing relations between the legislative bodies.

Speaker Sahiba Gafarova also provided an insight into the restoration of the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Azerbaijan, and the ongoing reconstruction works in the liberated territories. Gafarova emphasized that Azerbaijan commends the agreement reached regarding the participation of Belarusian companies in the reconstruction projects in the Azerbaijan`s liberated territories.

The parties also discussed the high-level ties in the humanitarian and cultural fields.

The meeting also focused on COP29, set to be held in Baku this November. Sahiba Gafarova invited the Belarusian side to participate in the parliamentary session planned to be held jointly by the Inter-Parliamentary Union and the Milli Majlis as part of the session.

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12 June 2024 14:00 (UTC+04:00)

Laman Ismayilova Read more

Azerbaijan's statement has been announced at the 10th session of the General Assembly of the States Parties to the Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, Azernews reports.

Emphasizing Azerbaijan's commitment to the values and principles of the Convention, Azerbaijan's Permanent Representative to UNESCO Elman Abdullayev said that the country contributes to the protection of intangible cultural heritage during armed conflicts and natural disasters.

Speaking about the destruction of Azerbaijan's tangible and intangible cultural heritage by Armenia, Elman Abdullayev brought to the attention of the session participants that the tangible and intangible cultural heritage of Azerbaijan was destroyed during the 30-year occupation.

He underlined that as a result of the occupation of Armenia, nearly one million refugees and internally displaced persons were deprived of the right to realize their intangible cultural heritage such as pottery, carpet weaving and mugham in their native lands.

The diplomat reminded that the Kharibulbul International Music Festival, held annually in Shusha, coincides with the opening ceremony of the Cultural Capital of the Islamic World event in Shusha in 2024, and the 9th meeting of the National Commissions for UNESCO of TURKSOY member countries was held in Shusha last year.

He pointed out the importance of these measures in terms of protection and promotion of intangible cultural heritage.

The permanent representative said that as a country that hosts COP29, the topic of the impact of climate change on intangible cultural heritage is important for Azerbaijan.

The tenth session of the General Assembly of the States Parties to the Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage also discussed theimportant issues for the future of the Convention and to orient the efforts of States and communities in the safeguarding of living heritage around the world.

Main items on the agenda included the reports to the General Assembly by the Intergovernmental Committee and by the Secretariat on their respective activities, the reflection on a broader implementation of Article 18 of the Convention, the Plan for the use of the resources of the Intangible Cultural Heritage Fund in 2024 and 2025, the accreditation of new non-governmental organizations, the report of the celebration of the twentieth anniversary of the Convention in 2023 as well as the election of twelve new Committee members.

Since its inception, the Azerbaijan National Committee t UNESCO has made significant contributions t various UNESCO programs and projects.

These include efforts t safeguard and promote Azerbaijan's cultural sites, support educational initiatives, and foster international cooperation n the fields f science and technology.

As the Azerbaijan National Committee t UNESCO enters its fourth decade, t continues t be committed t its mission f promoting peace and cooperation through education, culture, and science.

In 2003, the parties signed a framework agreement on cooperation in the areas of culture, science, education, and communication, which allowed Azerbaijan to become one of the donors of UNESCO.

Many Azerbaijani cultural sites have been included in UNESCO's World Heritage List, including Icherisheher (Old City) with Maiden Tower, Shirvanshah's Palace, Gobustan National Historical-Artistic Reserve, etc.

In 2021, Lankaran District was included n the UNESCO list "Network f Creative Cities".

UNESCO also honors Azerbaijan's outstanding personalities like the poet and thinker Imadaddin Nasimi, Fikrat Amirov, great philanthropist and oil magnate Haji Zeynalabdin Taghiyev, etc.

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Laman Ismayilova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @lmntypewriterrr

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12 June 2024 11:58 (UTC+04:00)

Jeyhun Bayramov, Azerbaijan's Minister of Foreign Affairs, met with Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba, Azernews reports.

The discussions during the meeting centred around topical issues on the agenda of cooperation between Azerbaijan and Ukraine, as well as the current situation in the region.

Minister Jeyhun Bayramov informed his Ukrainian counterpart about the latest situation in the region, the ongoing restoration and reconstruction works in Azerbaijans liberated territories, the landmine threat, the steps taken to normalise relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia, as well as obstacles that are hindering this undertaking.

Minister Dmytro Kuleba expressed his gratitude for the humanitarian assistance provided to Ukraine, as well as for the rehabilitation projects.

During the meeting, the sides also exchanged views on other bilateral and regional issues of mutual interest.

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12 June 2024 16:07 (UTC+04:00)

The process of withdrawing the Russian Federation's peacekeeping contingent, which was temporarily deployed in the territory of Azerbaijan after the Patriotic War, from the territory of our country ended on June 12, Azernews reports, citing the Defence Ministry.

The peacekeeping contingents personnel, weapons, and equipment have completely left the Azerbaijani territory.

Recall that since the signing of the act of capitulation between Azerbaijan and Armenia with the mediation of Russia on November 10, 2020, according to the agreement between Moscow and Baku, Russian peacekeepers have been deployed in Garabagh. At that time, because Armenians still lived in Garabagh, a peacekeeping contingent was operating in order to prevent tension between the parties. On September 19, 2023, after the successful anti-terrorist measures carried out by Azerbaijan, a group of separatist elements were completely neutralised in the Khankendi, Aghdara, Asgaran, and Khojavand regions.

After the prevention of the illegal Armenian armed military formations in Garabakh, mass migration of Armenians from Garabagh to Yerevan began. Although Azerbaijan offered citizenship to the Armenians in Garabagh, they found Yerevan more suitable. The population, who left Garabagh on their own volition, easily passed through the Lachin border crossing point and entered the territory of Armenia.

Currently, there are neither Armenian military formations nor populations in the territory of Garabagh, so there is no need for Russian peacekeeping forces to operate there. Therefore, the last group of peacekeepers in Khojaly, which is of historical importance for Azerbaijan, left the territory of Azerbaijan today.

Now the tricolour flag of Azerbaijan is flying proudly in Khojaly.

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12 June 2024 19:30 (UTC+04:00)

Fatima Latifova Read more

Since the collapse of the Soviet Union, Armenia has been pursuing a policy of occupying the historical lands of Azerbaijan. Yerevan's refusal to give up its aggressor character, and Azerbaijan's desire to liberate its lands fueled the conflict in the South Caucasus that lasted for almost 30 years.

In November 2020, Azerbaijan ended the protracted conflict. As a result of the Patriotic War, which lasted only 44 days, the occupied Garabagh region of Azerbaijan was liberated from the Armenian occupation. After the local anti-terrorist measures in 2023, the Armenian separatists in Garabagh were neutralized, and reconstruction and repair work began in the area. Currently, the migration of residents to almost all regions of Garabagh, including Shusha, has begun.

The meeting of the foreign ministers of Azerbaijan and Armenia on May 10 was the first step towards the signing of a peace treaty in the South Caucasus. However, while the relations between the two countries are moving toward normalization, the forces that want to reawaken the chaos and war zones in the region have launched a counterattack. At first, attempts to remove Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan from power were manifested within Armenia. The unrest that followed this move continues to this day.

However, certain institutions, realizing that domestic protests and France's incompetent steps will not hinder peace in the region, have taken action this time.

James O'Brien's next blunder

US Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs James O'Brien's prejudice against Azerbaijan is not new. It led to the cancellation of the planned meeting of the foreign ministers of Azerbaijan and Armenia in Washington on November 10, 2023, and the de facto rejection of official Baku's mediation by the United States. A few days later, he decided to meet with the ambassador of Azerbaijan to the United States, as he realized that James O'Beien's speech in Congress crossed the red lines. At a time when relations between Azerbaijan and the United States were strained, Secretary of State Antony Blinken apologized to President Ilham Aliyev instead and received permission for James O'Brien's visit to Azerbaijan.

After this disgraceful act, there was no change in James O'Brien's position. On the contrary, yesterday, within the framework of his visit to Armenia, he again made accusations against Azerbaijan.

What are the goals behind the US visit to Armenia?

The main purpose of James O'Brien's visit to Armenia was to show that Washington was not indifferent to the events in the region. Also, the USA shows its support for the current Armenian government and shows that it does not want Pashinyan to be overthrown. Because it is considered that the ongoing protests in Armenia were planned by pro-Russian forces. Washington thereby shows that it is eying the neighbour Armenia against Russia in this regard.

Another goal is to "compensate" the incompetent policy of the Macron government. It is no secret that France was trying to prevent the normalization of relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia. However, Pashinyan did not live up to France's wishes and expectations, he showed his interest in peace with Azerbaijan.

The joint statement of the final meeting of the Strategic Dialogue between Armenia and the United States revealed that Washington does not want peace in the South Caucasus.

The issue of security cooperation between the two countries, consultations within the framework of cooperation with the Kansas National Guard, and military training programs were reflected in the statement. The United States thereby expressed its support for Armenia in the military field.

The place of the declaration that reflects the opposite position of Azerbaijan is the phrase "forced refugees and IDPs going to Armenia from Garabagh".

The United States acknowledges the ongoing economic and social challenges Armenia faces in supporting displaced persons and refugees from Nagorno-Karabakh and intends to continue to assist the Government of Armenias efforts in this regard. The United States praised Armenias efforts to shelter displaced persons and refugees, and Armenia offered appreciation for the more than $21 million in humanitarian assistance the United States has provided to support displaced persons and refugees from Nagorno-Karabakh since September 2020.

The information about the forced resettlement of Armenians who came to Garabagh after the occupation and settled here in Armenia is incorrect. Azerbaijan offered these people the right to citizenship in addition to returning to Armenia in peaceful and comfortable conditions. This humanism was a great gesture for Armenia compared to the situation of the Azerbaijanis who were expelled from Garabagh 30 years ago. It should be remembered that during the occupation of Garabagh, villages were burned, people were captured, and children, the elderly, and women were killed with special tortures. Those who were able to escape from the Armenian oppression continued their lives with psychological and physical traumas.

The US repeats the "so-called Armenian genocide" scenario by describing the Armenians who left Garabagh voluntarily as displaced persons. Claims raised against the Ottomans and Turkiye, now want to be raised against Azerbaijan.

It should be remembered that Antony Blinken once apologized to Baku for James O'Brien's wrong move against Azerbaijan. It seems that O'Brien's change of position will cause the Secretary of State to make many more apologies to Baku.

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Octavia Johnson is a general assignment reporter for the Houston Chronicle. She can be reached at octavia.johnson@houstonchronicle.com.

Before joining the Chronicle, Octavia worked as a digital content producer at WATE-TV in Knoxville, Tenn., where she became a leader in producing fast paced, audience-focused content.

Octavia graduated from UNC Pembroke with a bachelor's degree in journalism before earning her master's degree in media and communications at Norfolk State University.
12 June 2024 07:00 (UTC+04:00)

By Alimat ALiyeva

According to U.S. officials, a few months after the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge, the main shipping route to the port of Baltimore reopened, Azernews reports.

The authorities stressed that the new discovery occurred after a cleaning operation, during which crews removed about 50,000 tons of steel and concrete from the Patapsco River.

Recall that on March 26, a ship sailing under the flag of Singapore crashed into the Francis Scott Bridge in Baltimore. As a result of the collapse of the bridge, several cars fell into the water along with the metal structure. All six people who died were bridge maintenance workers.

According to a preliminary report released by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board in May, the cargo ship that crashed and destroyed a bridge in Baltimore, Maryland, lost power and propulsion before the incident. The port of Baltimore, famous in the country for cars and agricultural machinery, was closed for several weeks while the rubble was cleared.

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12 June 2024 19:11 (UTC+04:00)

By Alimat Aliyeva

Companies in the Japanese defense sector may start manufacturing missiles for Patriot anti-missile systems together with American partners, Azernews reports.

It is noted that such an idea was discussed during the talks held in Tokyo between representatives of the defense complexes of Japan and the United States. It provides for the joint Japanese-American production of missiles, including missiles for Patriot systems, in Japan.

Following the talks, the parties agreed to establish working groups to further discuss issues of enhancing cooperation in the defense sector, including the production and maintenance of weapons. Another area of bilateral defense cooperation between Tokyo and Washington should be the re-equipment and modernization of American ships and aircraft in Japan.

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and US President Joe Biden agreed to launch negotiations on enhancing bilateral cooperation in the defense sector earlier in April 2024. It is expected that Tokyo and Washington will hold regular consultations at various levels on this topic from now on.

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12 June 2024 21:43 (UTC+04:00)

By Alimat Aliyeva

German utility company Uniper has won a multibillion-dollar arbitration against Russian Gazprom. This will allow it to terminate invalid gas supply contracts, Azernews reports.

The German government had to rescue Uniper in 2022 after Gazprom first cut and then halted supplies, forcing the group to buy replacement volumes at sky-high prices on the spot market.

Uniper stated that the decision of the arbitration court in Stockholm on June 7 allowed it to terminate existing supply contracts, which legally still exist, even despite the lack of gas supplies.

The tribunal also awarded the firm more than 13 billion euros in compensation for the volumes of gas that Gazprom has not supplied since mid-2022.

"This decision provides legal clarity for Uniper. Having the right to terminate, which we received in the arbitration decision, we terminate contracts with Gazprom Export," said Uniper CEO Michael Lewis.

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Community leaders and residents affected by Mays extreme weather that left thousands without power hold a press conference ahead of a town hall and resource fair on Saturday, June 8, 2024, in Houston. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer

Houstonians and community activists criticized the Federal Emergency Management Agency for its job helping people recover from last month's storm during a Saturday town hall and resource fair in Houstons Fifth Ward.

At one point during the town hall, Texas Organizing Project member Synnachia McQueen Jr. outlined a list of four demands to FEMA in hopes of improving the agency's response.

The organization wants more in-person application assistance sites, more assistance for non-English speakers, better advertising for FEMAs rental assistance programs and a simplified appeals process.

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We know that our communities are often hit the worst and hardest and take the longest to recover, said Sofia Lopez, another Texas Organizing Project member. The purpose of this town hall is not to beat up on FEMA but it's to work together to make sure that the infrastructure exists for when big storms come, we know that people aren't left behind.

Saturday's event at Pleasant Hill Baptist Church was set up for people to connect with organizations providing assistance, including FEMA.

Community members affected by Mays extreme weather that left thousands without power gather to receive information and resources during a town hall and resource fair on Saturday, June 8, 2024, in Houston. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer

Harris County Precinct 2 Commissioner Adrian Garcia told the media his office heard FEMA rejected many people after they submitted claims in its online portal.

Today's an opportunity to help those folks who may have inadvertently been rejected to have an opportunity to have their applications corrected and be accepted by FEMA, Garcia said. We're grateful that FEMA is willing to listen.

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A FEMA representative said people can be denied for many reasons, such as not providing an insurance settlement or evidence that the home is someone's primary residence. But it is possible to get approved after adding this information, which people can do with in-person appointments or on the phone.

Commissioner Adrian Garcia joins community leaders and residents affected by Mays extreme weather that left thousands without power, in holding a press conference ahead of a town hall and resource fair on Saturday, June 8, 2024, in Houston. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer

In addition to FEMA, other organizations attended the fair, including the Small Business Administration, the Coalition for Environment, Equity, and Resilience and the Bayou City Waterkeeper.

The Power Up Harris County Coalition  which includes the Texas Organizing Project, Workers Defense Project and AFL-CIO, among other groups  sponsored the event.

The impact is really big, said Lizeth Chacon, the executive director for Workers Defense. The point of today is to be in community together across the different organizations working here in Houston and to ensure that people get connected to vital resources that they're going to need in order to make it in the upcoming months.

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INSIDE THE STORM: The surprise storm and the split-second choices that changed everything

Deloris Thomas, a Fifth Ward resident, said she is still trying to cope with and clean up from the storms last month, which tore off part of the roof of her house.

She attended the event hoping to learn more about solutions not just for herself and her situation but also for the community in general.

Just driving around the area, it's depressing, Thomas said.

Community members affected by Mays extreme weather that left thousands without power gather to receive information and resources during a town hall and resource fair on Saturday, June 8, 2024, in Houston. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer

Pleasant Hill Baptist Church pastor Harvey Clemons Jr. noted recovering from the derecho has been a different beast.

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For hurricanes, most people are alerted days ahead of the storm to allow them to prepare for what might be coming. The suddenness of the May 16 storm meant the lead-in time to prepare wasnt there.
The famous Hunter Biden laptop was authenticated at the Hunter Biden gun trial by the FBI who verified by its serial number that it belonged to Hunter and analyzed its content to determine it had not been tampered with. This had all been accomplished by the FBI months before the 2020 election. Yet the FBI sat by and let the American people be lied to about the laptop, and even worse participated in seeing the social media companies censored mentioning the laptop. The FBI acted politically in trying to suppress this story and that is not acceptable in a democratic republic.

Just as bad, Anthony Blinken, now our incompetent Secretary of State, but then a Biden campaign official coordinated a letter from 51 senior spy chiefs claiming the laptop was "Russian disinformation" and he and they did that AFTER the FBI had authenticated the laptop. They were lying through their teeth and they knew it.

To add insult to injury, these lying ex-spies say they would do it again, tell similar lies to throw an election. They deserve to be punished for what they did.

Unlike the Stormy Daniels nothingburger, suppressing the Hunter Biden laptop changed the outcome of the 2020 election. Post election polls showed that if Biden voters had known the laptop was real and what its contents were, enough of them would have switched to Trump that Trump would have been reelected.

The deliberate lies of the FBI and of these 51 ex-spies changed the outcome of the 2020 election, and every one of them involved should be prosecuted for election interference. Those 51 ex-spies should also lose their security clearance and their pensions.

https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2024/06/10/ex-intel-officials-dont-regret-suggesting-hunters-laptop-was-russian-disinformation/
Now that Kamala Harris has been coronated the Democratic Socialist designee for nomination as their candidate for President of these United States, after that political party's contrived primary process "democratically" elected Joseph R. Biden: What are your feelings about this party's progressive posture within their self-styled exercise of "Saving Democracy for America," and how truly critical the outcome of this presidential election will be?

8.7% I am ecstatic that this "Democracy's" First partially Black, First partially Indian, First female Co-Parent, and this nation's primary necessity is to her elect our First woman president.26.09% I really do not care about all these "Firsts." I will continue to pray, and work for this Representative Republic to elect someone competent, and brilliantly patriotic to be our next president.65.22% I will never vote for any politician that "first" does not have the core values to understand how dire this Constitutional Republic's situation has become.
From substantial salary increases to newly launched education programs, here are seven updates on certified registered nurse anesthetists for ASCs to know in 2024:

1. CRNA compensation is on the rise across the country as anesthesia provider shortages continue to persist. Here are 10 key notes on why pay is rising.

2. The University of Illinois Chicago plans to launch a nurse anesthesia program with the help of a $10 million donation from Christine Schwartz, an alumna of UIC and a member of the department's external advisory board.

3. Massachusetts recently opted out of federal regulations that require physician supervision of certified registered nurse anesthetists. The state currently has 900 CRNAs, many of whom are the primary anesthesia providers in rural areas.

4. The average annual salary for nurse anesthetists has increased in each of the past five years, rising from $181,040 in 2019 to $214,200 in 2023.

5. Washington, D.C., recently removed collaboration requirements for all advanced practice registered nurses, including certified registered nurse anesthetists, allowing CRNAs to work independently when delivering anesthesia services.

6. Illinois and Massachusetts pay CRNAs the highest hourly wage, according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

7. In January, U.S. Reps. Jan Schakowsky and Dave Joyce introduced a resolution that would recognize CRNAs for the role they play in providing quality healthcare.
For physicians opening private practices, choosing where to establish a new ASC can be a difficult decision.

No state is without its hurdles to clear, from governmental "red tape" to certificate-of-need laws.

Zeeshan Tayeb, MD, owner and medical director of Pain Specialists of Cincinnati, which has practices in Ohio and Kentucky, discussed with Becker's the challenges associated with running ASCs across two states.

Note: This response has been lightly edited for length and clarity.

Dr. Zeeshan Tayeb: The ability to practice is a luxury few ever afford. Choosing a state that best fits your objectives is key to having a long and prosperous career. Having practices in both Ohio and Kentucky, I can see variations from each state. In Ohio, the best part of practice is the ability to open an ASC without a certificate of need, whereas in Kentucky, this is the worst part of practicing. Each state has a very different perspective on the governance of this topic. In Ohio, the multitude of agency fees and licensure "red tape," is the worst part of practicing. Although the purpose of these agencies is understood, the constant fees and application processes results in increased costs of operations and lost time caring for patients. The best part of practicing in Kentucky is knowing that only board-certified providers can own my type of specialty practice. This restriction from the state limits potential corporations from losing the focus of patient-driven care, as opposed to [focusing on] profits.
Madera, Calif.-based Valley Children's Healthcare President and CEO Todd Suntrapak is responding to criticism of compensation packages for himself and other top executives.

Earlier this month, Valley Children's released an interview with Mr. Suntrapak to staff in which the CEO addresses the issue, The San Joaquin Valley Sun reported June 11.

"There are no discussions with me about my compensation other than the board [Compensation] Committee, notifying me what it's going to be after they've gone through a very regimented process, utilizing at least one outside consultant that's nationally renowned for doing that work, and sometimes two, and then it's presented to me," Mr. Suntrapak said in the video. "In 2012, when I was presented with my first contract as the CEO of Valley Children's, I signed the contract. And at that time, I was paid at the 11th percentile. And in fact, my compensation didn't reach the 50th percentile until 2018."

Mr. Suntrapak added: "Every parent that brings their child to Valley Children's, what they care about is, are we going to deliver the world-class care that we provide every single day and without interruption and without distraction."

The interview, posted on Vimeo, was distributed to staff prior to the release of an exclusive interview Mr. Suntrapak did with ABC affiliate KFSN, according to the Sun. Both interviews follow scrutiny around his compensation, which initially surfaced in March.

Tax documents available on ProPublica's Nonprofit Explorer showed Mr. Suntrapak received nearly $2.1 million in total compensation in 2019, compared to more than $5.5 million in 2020.

Regarding the increase, he told KFSN, "I'll start by saying I'm really proud of this team. And I'm proud of the work that we've done, and I'm proud of the work that I've done as CEO and leader."

He added, "I don't choose what my compensation is. Our board determines what the appropriate compensation is for the CEO, and they rely upon external experts to advise them and to do quite a bit of analysis, then they make a determination."

According to KFSN, tax documents also showed Mr. Suntrapak earned $5.1 million in total compensation in 2021, including $1.7 million in base pay and bonus money. Documents also show he received a $5 million loan "for residence as a retention incentive in lieu of other compensation," which he used to purchase a $6.5 million home in Carmel-by-the-Sea, Calif.

He told KFSN: "There is a portion of the loan that is forgiven every year, which I am taxed on showed up on my W2s, and the term is 10 years. So, again, the intent of the board, based on the assessment of my work, was wanting to retain me for that period of time. This was a tool that was available to them."

In his interview with KFSN, he also addressed criticism from Fresno City Council members Miguel Arias and Garry Bredefeld, who have spoken out about executive compensation overall at Valley Children's. They asked California Attorney General Rob Bonta to look into Valley Children's spending of state Medicaid funds, particularly as it relates to executive compensation.

"We know that Valley Children's is a jewel," Mr. Bredefeld said in March, according to KFSN. "But what they have done has violated public trust, and there needs to be accountability and transparency."

Mr. Suntrapak told the news station this month: "We certainly have commercial insurance that we charge for the services that we provide, as well as investment income. I am not aware that we have ever pinned any type of employee compensation to any type of revenue stream."

Mr. Suntrapak's full interview with KFSN can be found here. His interview with Valley Children's, in which he also addresses initiatives designed to take the system into the next 70 years and the organization's financial picture, among other topics, can be found here.
Boulder (Colo.) Community Health, a hospital composed of 2,400 employees, was once too small to work with EHR vendor Epic, hospital CEO and President Robert Vissers, MD, told the Denver Business Journal in a June 11 article.

A couple of years ago, Dr. Vissers reached out to Epic and was told his organization's only option was to enter into a contract with a larger health system using the EHR vendor's software. This would require using a version of the software designed for a larger system, he said.

A few years later, when Epic offered the chance to have an independent version, Boulder Community eagerly accepted, Dr. Vissers said. It was one of the smallest health systems at the time to undertake the costly venture.

"For some systems, it's a tremendous success," he told the publication. "For many, it can be a tremendous risk and cost, and sometimes failure."

Since then, Boulder Community has surpassed larger systems in its use of Epic's software, Dr. Vissers said. He added that the hospital has been acknowledged for maximizing the platform's capabilities, enhancing care for providers and patients.
Cone Health, a Greensboro, N.C.-based health system with five hospitals, executed a $100 million financial turnaround last year through strategic maneuvering and a focus on workforce transformation.

Vi-Anne Antrum, DNP, RN, told Becker's the health system didn't reduce headcount. Instead, Cone Health reduced contract labor 48% and hired more international nurses. The health system also established a systemwide float pool and created an internal travel agency and RN attending model.

"We created a conceptual framework for retention of our staff," she said on a recent episode of the "Becker's Healthcare Podcast." "We did a lot of work in the workplace violence space because people weren't feeling safe. These are some of the things we've done to address the looming workforce shortages."

Dr. Antrum focuses on collaboration and helping her team embrace innovation to accelerate transformation and drive results.

"I do think there are many talented people within the realm of healthcare, and when you just work together and focus on the goal that you need to achieve, you'll figure out a way to get it done," she said. "It's taking those unnecessary boundaries off your thinking and really just trying to solve issues together."

Cone Health has also brought in technology to boost the workforce, using generative AI to transform operations and care delivery. The health system also established a value-based care institute to fuel growth. Cone Health has a partnership with Palantir to automate staff scheduling and develop a "Future-Ready Workplace" strategy to optimize throughput, according to the health system's 2023 annual report.

Last year, the system reduced spend by around $60 million and is on track to cut another $40 million in spending, Dr. Antrum said.

"I'm very proud of the work in that space and it's taken a village, but I've been very happy to lead a lot of those strategies," she said.

The financial strength will be a boon to communities the health system serves. In April. Cone Health announced plans to invest $150 million over the next five years in a medical office complex in East Greensboro and health and wellness partnerships in the community.
Following jousts between Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders and Novo Nordisk, the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions will vote June 18 on whether to subpoena the drugmaker's president about the cost of Ozempic and Wegovy.

Novo Nordisk, the manufacturer of popular therapies Ozempic and Wegovy, charges U.S. patients 10 to 15 times more for the medicines than it does in other countries, according to the HELP Committee. In the U.S., a four week's supply of Ozempic is listed at $969, and Wegovy is listed at $1,349.

A Novo Nordisk spokesperson told Becker's the drugmaker deems the subpoena unnecessary.

"Every time the chairman [Mr. Sanders] has made a request to Novo Nordisk, we have responded and cooperated," the spokesperson said. "On multiple occasions, we have communicated our CEO's willingness to testify and offered several dates for a hearing. Based on our continued cooperation, we feel that issuing a subpoena is unnecessary."

In April, the committee launched an investigation into the cost of Ozempic, a Type 2 diabetes drug, and Wegovy, a weight loss medicine that's indicated for serious heart problems. Mr. Sanders warned that these drugs could bankrupt the healthcare industry, but Novo Nordisk defended the list prices.

In a May 24 letter to Mr. Sanders, the Denmark-based pharmaceutical company said Novo Nordisk will work with lawmakers to address "systemic issues so that everyone who can benefit from its medicines is able to get them," but argued that focusing on list prices for the drugs is misplaced since it retains about 60% of profit after rebates and fees are paid to middlemen.

In 2023, U.S. pharmacies, clinics and hospitals spent $38.6 billion on semaglutide, the main ingredient for Ozempic and Wegovy. The cost was a 100.1% increase from 2022 expenditure rates, according to research published April 24 in the American Journal of Health-System Pharmacy.

The letter also said the company's list prices incorporate other costs, such as billions of dollars worth of investments to boost production.

In the U.S., the net price for Ozempic is about $600, and Wegovy is about $809, the committee said in a June 11 news release. In Germany, the United Kingdom, Denmark and Canada, the drugs' list prices are between $59 and $265 for a four-week supply.

The committee scheduled a July 10 hearing about the price differences, which might include testimony from Doug Langa, executive vice president of North American operations and president of Novo Nordisk, if the committee votes in favor of the subpoena.

"We are committed to a hearing that aligns with the chairman's established committee practices and to developing meaningful solutions to enhance patient access and affordability," the Novo Nordisk spokesperson said.
Matthew Cova has been tapped as CEO of Regional Medical Center in San Jose, Calif.

In his new role, Mr. Cova will head structural and cultural transformation for the hospital while ensuring high quality care standards, according to a June 7 Regional Medical Center news release.

Prior to his new role, Mr. Cova served as COO of Los Robles Regional Medical Center in Thousand Oaks, Calif., part of Nashville, Tenn.-based HCA Healthcare.

Mr. Cova also served as COO of MountainView Hospital in Las Vegas.






A North Carolina federal judge denied the Federal Trade Commission's request to bar Winston-Salem, N.C.-based Novant Health from acquiring two North Carolina hospitals from Franklin, Tenn.-based Community Health Systems until its appeal is resolved.

District Judge Kenneth Bell, however, did extend the expiration of a temporary restraining order until noon June 21, which he said in his June 11 ruling will allow the FTC time to seek an injunction from the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

The FTC has been attempting to block Novant from acquiring Lake Norman Regional Medical Center and Statesville, N.C.-based Davis Regional Medical Center in a $320 million deal. The commission has argued Novant's acquisition of the hospitals would "irreversibly consolidate the market for hospital services in the Eastern Lake Norman Area in the northern suburbs of Charlotte."

Mr. Bell on June 5 denied the FTC's request for a preliminary injunction, writing in his ruling that he believes the proposed merger "carries at least as much likelihood of competitive benefits as it does competitive harm and the FTC is unlikely to ultimately be successful in proving that the transaction may 'substantially lessen competition.'"

The FTC filed a notice June 9 that it plans to appeal Mr. Bell's decision to the 4th Circuit. The commission filed a motion June 10 seeking to stop the deal from moving forward until the 4th Circuit rules on its appeal. The FTC had asked for a decision on its motion by noon June 11. It argued that "it would be extraordinarily difficult to 'unscramble the egg' if the proposed transaction is deemed unlawful after defendants have integrated their operations, shared competitively sensitive confidential information and laid off staff."

In a footnote in his June 11 ruling, Mr. Bell said although he issued his order denying the preliminary injunction June 5, the FTC waited until after noon June 10 to seek an injunction pending appeal, creating a situation where had he "simply denied the motion, the appeals court would have had at most only a single day to consider the FTC's injunction request."

"This court will not put the court of appeals under that time pressure; rather, it will defer the earliest date of the closing to ten days from this ruling to allow the court of appeals a more reasonable period of time to consider the FTC's so-called 'emergency' motion," he wrote.

Novant told Becker's in a statement it has been trying to move the transaction forward for more than a year and is "disheartened that the FTC continues to impede the progress of healthcare and the restoration of specialty services."

"Our hope is that this extension is the final delay and that we can soon begin delivering on our commitments to the patients served by these two hospitals," the statement said.
Alyssa Pullen, 33, who has been in a dispute with her landlord over fixing the air-conditioning unit in her rented Houston home, sits near an A/C unit she is borrowing until the issue is resolved. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer Alyssa Pullen, 33, has been disputing with her landlord over repairing the air-conditioning unit in her rented Houston home. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer Alyssa Pullen, 33, is in a dispute with her landlord, who she says refuses to fix the air-conditioning unit in her Houston rental. Pullen, seen here with her cat in her living room, has been using a loaner A/C unit from a friend. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer

Alyssa Pullen said her rented home became so humid that she couldnt breathe, it smelled like mold and she began to lose weight from sweating.

Pullens home air conditioning system has been damaged since Southeast Texas was hit by the May 16 derecho that flattened trees, knocked out power for more than a million people and left eight people dead.

She had sent a letter to her landlord and her homes management company requesting for her A/C to be fixed, she said. But after a previous dispute, she did not receive proper services, Pullen said, and her air conditioning remained broken.

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Ive been feeling so small from all of this, I just want my A/C fixed, she said.

Pullens landlord told the Chronicle he is working to get Pullen the help she needs, but declined to elaborate further because of a potential lawsuit between the tenant and the management company.

HOW TO STAY SAFE: What Texans should know to avoid heat-related illnesses

The heat has caused Pullen to sleep in the living room of her one-bedroom home, using a borrowed air conditioning unit that only cools her living room. Her two cats, she said, also began losing weight because of the humidity-boosted heat. Pullens desperation for help drove her to call out her landlord and her homes management company on social media on June 1, claiming they were actively refusing to fix her A/C.

Alyssa Pullen, 33, who says her landlord has refused to fix her air-conditioning unit, shows her makeshift bed in the living room of her rented Houston home after receiving a loaner A/C unit from a friend. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer

Air conditioning is not required when renting in Houston. Still, landlords generally have a legal duty to repair or remedy an issue causing health or safety issues, according to the nonprofit Texas Law Help.

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Houston lawyer Ernie Garcia, who regularly represents both tenants and landlords, said in most of the instances when tenants tell him their landlord is not making A/C repairs, he usually finds that the tenant did not fully understand their lease.

Commonly, a lease will require that a tenant make a request in some kind of written form for people who live in apartment complexes, Garcia said. Sometimes its as simple as an email, or it might be a matter of mailing a letter, but its usually from some sort of tenant portal.

Garcia tells tenants that if they feel their landlord is refusing to make repairs, they need to be able to prove, potentially to a court, that they have sent notice in accordance with their lease.

Even though air conditioning is not a mandate in Texas law, it does become a matter of the law when a condition on the premises materially affects the health or the safety of an ordinary tenant, Garcia said. And that could include, in the hottest parts of the state, where theres a defect with the A/C. If that defect creates a material effect on their health or their safety, then it becomes a matter of urgency that a landlord must deal with.

According to the Texas Property Code, for a tenant to take the steps for requesting their landlord to make repairs, the tenant cannot be behind in rent, and the problem cannot be caused by the tenant, their family or guests unless it was a result of normal wear and tear.

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The Texas Property Code also says a tenant may deduct the cost of the repairs from the rent if they have asked their landlord to make repairs and gave them a reasonable amount of time to make the repairs and the tenant has to make the repairs themselves. Then the law requires the tenant to notify the landlord before deducting the cost of the repairs from the rent.

According to a 2021 American Housing survey, more than 54,000 households across Texas lacked air conditioning.

The elderly, young children, people with chronic diseases and those without access to air conditioning are most at risk for heat illnesses, including heat exhaustion and heatstroke. Extreme heat can also affect memory, reaction time and mental performance, according to a 2018 study.

As record-high temperatures have become increasingly common across Texas in recent summers, having access to air conditioning is arguably a necessity for Houston residents.

Those without A/C are vulnerable to heat exhaustion, which is your bodys way of warning you that it can no longer keep itself cool. If you lack A/C, be sure to notice if you feel dizzy, thirsty, weak or nauseated. Drink plenty of fluids before it worsens into heatstroke.

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Heatstroke, which requires immediate medical attention, can include symptoms such as an increased body temperature, confusion, headache, flushed skin, quickened heartbeat and vomiting. Air-conditioned shelters, particularly on hot days, is one of the best methods for staying cool and preventing health complications, according to Health Digest.

Houston does have a Fair Housing for Renters Hotline that is free and confidential and provides referrals and resources in both English and Spanish at (832) 394-6200 (option 5).

Garcia said Texas Law Help, the Houston Bar Association and the State Bar of Texas are good resources for lower-income people seeking assistance. But the best thing people can do is to have a complete understanding of their lease, Garcia said.

Unfortunately, most tenants dont read or understand their lease thoroughly enough to know their rights, or they dont know how to enforce them, Garcia said.
Elizabeth Holmes, founder of the now-defunct blood testing startup Theranos, is appealing her fraud conviction, according to CNN.

Ms. Holmes' lawyers presented her appeal in a California federal appeals court June 11. The defense is seeking a new trial, arguing that the judge made several errors during her 2022 trial.

Federal prosecutors contend that the lower court handled the case correctly and that any potential trial errors were harmless due to the substantial evidence against Ms. Holmes.

Ms. Holmes was sentenced to 11 years in prison in November 2022 for defrauding investors about her startup's technology, finances and business prospects. She is serving her sentence, which has since been reduced by two years, in a minimum-security facility in Texas.

The appeals court's decision is expected to take several weeks or months, according to the report.
A bipartisan group of 32 attorneys general is urging the Supreme Court to grant them more regulatory power over pharmacy benefit managers.

The coalition said it wants "to protect consumers by assuring that all states can regulate PBMs," according to a June 10 news release from the office of Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison. PBMs manage drug benefits between manufacturers and insurance companies, and the U.S. government has scrutinized the industry over alleged deceptive business practices.

In an amicus brief to the Supreme Court, the attorneys general asked the justices to review a decision from the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, which blocked Oklahoma laws that regulate PBMs.

As of 2023, states have enacted more than 150 laws regulating PBMs, according to the amicus brief, which adds that the 10th Circuit's ruling "severely and unduly impede states' abilities to protect their residents and regulate businesses."
A staffing law passed in 2023 in Oregon has resulted in hundreds of complaints and warnings against at least two hospitals, according to the Oregon Health Authority, which provided data to Becker's.

Gov. Tina Kotek signed a staffing law for hospitals in August. House Bill 2697 establishes enforceable nurse-to-patient ratios in state statute for various hospital settings and requires hospitals to establish technical staff and service staff staffing committees, which must meet specified criteria. This is in addition to staffing committees for registered nurses. Beginning June 1, hospitals were required to have approved a staffing plan that meets staffing minimums, which vary by unit.

Under the new law, the OHA received 282 complaints between Sept. 1 and May 31 (an average of 31 complaints per month), the agency said. Between June 1 and 4, the agency received 146 complaints.

The OHA has 31 open investigations that include 110 separate complaints involving 23 hospitals. It has completed 12 investigations that included 42 separate complaints involving six hospitals. Thirteen of the 42 investigated complaints were substantiated.

Under the new law, which also includes staffing requirements for certified nursing assistants, hospitals receive a warning if they fail to comply. The OHA said potential consequences for noncompliance that occurs on or after June 1, 2025, include warnings and civil monetary penalties. The OHA added that the law includes situations of excused noncompliance when there are no consequences even after that date.

As of June 7, there have been warnings issued to two hospitals: Kaiser Sunnyside Medical Center in Clackamas and Bay Area Hospital in Coos Bay.

Kaiser shared the following statement with Becker's: "The shifts and staffing plans involved in this review were in the fall of 2023. Like every healthcare organization, we have faced challenges at times in the wake of the pandemic, given the nationwide shortage of healthcare workers and competition for talent. We have been working to hire as aggressively as possible, and are using every available strategy to recruit skilled and compassionate staff.

"This month, a new state law (HB2697) will take effect with new staffing plan requirements. We've been preparing to meet the new law's mandates, including the requirement to update hospital staffing plans by June 1. As always, patient safety is our first priority."

Bay Area Hospital shared the following statement with Becker's: "As required by previous and current law, we had built our report out of staffing concerns into our monthly staffing committee meetings. The new staffing law requires that staffing deviations be reported out to the staffing committee members within 10 days. The recent warning we received from Oregon Health Authority was related to that timeline. We have put in place a simple fix that routes to the staffing committee Microsoft Teams channel that allows for real-time awareness, tracking and support."

Information on the requirements of the law and the OHA's enforcement activities are available here.
An orthopedic surgeon admitted to multiple counts of illegally prescribing pain medication to patients, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of New Jersey said June 11.

Evangelos Megariotis, MD, pleaded guilty to seven counts of a 34-count indictment accusing him of illegally prescribing oxycodone, oxycontin, and oxycodone-acetaminophen to five patients, according to a news release. He issued the prescriptions between March 2017 and November 2017.

The 72-year-old physician faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a $1 million fine. Sentencing is scheduled for Oct. 15.
A Londonderry companys 3.5m contract to make uniforms for the Dublin Fire Brigade shows the potential of the all-Ireland economy, its been claimed.

Hunter Apparel Solutions in Londonderry won the four-year deal after spending 1m on new machinery which decontaminates personal protective equipment (PPE).

Economy Minister Conor Murphy praised the companys commitment to technology and innovation on a visit to its premises at Springtown Industrial Estate.

He added: This contract with the Dublin Fire Brigade highlights the opportunities that exist in the all-island economy. As a result of its investment and subsequent contract success, Hunter has created three new jobs in Derry.

"Its new decontamination service is also helping to safeguard the health of key workers as well as reducing wastage by maximising the lifespan of uniforms. All of this is in keeping with my vision of creating a regionally balanced and sustainable economy.

The Minister said trading with the Republic could become a catalyst for businesses to grow into new export markets.

"My department and Invest NI will be working closely with businesses to ensure they understand the unique dual market access opportunities and the regulatory environment, so they are well placed to take advantage of our export growth potential.

Hunter Apparel Solutions used Invest NI support to buy machinery which uses liquid carbon dioxide to remove contaminants and carcinogens from fire service clothing.

The third-generation company was founded in 1936 and now employs 53 staff in making uniforms for emergency and security services as well as transport staff. It also makes other specialist PPE and workwear.

Chief executive Simon Hunter said: Hunter is the technology leader in the professional clothing sector.

"We were first to market with a specialised digital service, along with a platform for tracking and tracing personal protective equipment to ensure safety protocols are followed.

"We have also launched an artificial intelligence-based sizing tool and introduced robotics to our R&D centre and warehousing.

Jeremy Fitch, executive director of business solutions at Invest NI, said: Hunter continues to invest in its future, ensuring it maintains its competitive position as a technological leader in its field...

Invest NI has worked with Hunter over many years providing both financial and advisory support and we will continue to be a trusted partner as it enters its next phase of growth.
Junior doctors have been urged to call off strikes if parties agree to talks (Jonathan Brady/PA)

Junior doctors in England should call off their upcoming strike if major political parties pledge to reopen talks as a priority after the General Election, health leaders have said.
GB News presenter Eamonn Holmes has hit out at a tax rule branding it theft during an interview with Defence Secretary Grant Shapps.

The Northern Irish broadcaster voiced his displeasure at a particular kind of tax  known as IR35  which centres around the work of contractors.

During the discussion on Wednesday, the Belfast man said it was a tax many dont know about.

When interviewing Shapps about how the Conservatives would fund their 2p tax cut, Holmes interrupted him and said it would be by stealing from people.

I am one of them. This IR35 is one of these retrospective taxes that people dont really understand, he added.

Its going to come for you if youre a window cleaner, a teacher or whatever.

You guys go back and say, you know we said youre freelance, well thats changed. Its stealing. Its theft."

The tax was brought about by George Osborne then he sloped off as he stole money out of peoples pockets, he added.

Its fine to say to people, weve been agreeing youre freelance but actually weve got that wrong, were going to change that, I dont think anyone has any issue with that.

It will affect you, if you are a taxi driver, a gardener, a painter or decorator. They put people like me in the papers because it will give them a headline and go, he will be dodging his tax, and then they will come and knock on your door and do the same.

When I hear the Tories say theyre the party of small business, tell us, if youre a small business, how they are helping you.

During the discussion, Mr Shapps said he was sorry the Northern Irishman had been impacted by the IR35 rules.

Its not the first time the 64-year-old has aired his grievances about the issue.

Back in January Holmes branded HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) the department of thievery after discussing tax reforms on his breakfast programme.

At the start of the year the TV host revealed he had to sell his Belfast house to pay a tax bill.

In a wide-ranging and candid interview with his former UTV colleague Gerry Kelly, Holmes expressed anger at having to sell his home in the Belmont area of east Belfast and said he had lost two appeals against HMRC which cost him hundreds of thousands of pounds in legal fees.

The Belfast man has recently been in the headlines after it was announced he was splitting with Ruth Langsford after nearly 14 years of marriage.

Holmes and Langsford, who both formerly presented This Morning on ITV, have one son named Jack, born in 2002. They confirmed their divorce last month. Holmes also has three other children from his previous marriage.
Billy Ray Cyrus has filed for divorce from singer Firerose after seven months of marriage.

The 62-year-old country musician filed for divorce from the 36-year-old, whose legal name is Johanna Rose Hodges, in a Tennessee court on May 22, citing irreconcilable differences and inappropriate marital conduct.

Cyrus is also seeking an annulment due to alleged fraud on Hodges part, saying in the filing that he would not have married Hodges had he known about the alleged fraud.

Billy Ray Cyrus performs during CMA Fest 2022 in Nashville, Tennessee (Amy Harris/Invision/AP)

The filing gives no further details on the alleged inappropriate conduct of fraud, but says each should be able to keep property that they own separately.

Representatives for Cyrus and Hodges did not immediately return requests for comment.

The filing was first reported on Tuesday by TMZ.

After getting married in October 2023, the musicians lived in Tennessee and released several songs together over the course of their relationship.

In an Instagram post in April, commemorating their six-month anniversary, Hodges wrote: Life isnt always easy but it sure helps when your husbands also your best friend. Thank you Lord!

Neither Hodges nor Cyrus has commented on the divorce via their social media accounts.

Cyrus has been married twice before, notably to Tish Cyrus, with whom he shares five children, including musician and actor Miley Cyrus.

They divorced in 2022 after nearly three decades together.

Miley Cyrus at Glastonbury in 2019 (Yui Mok/PA)

They had previously attempted divorce twice during their relationship, but called it off in 2010 and 2013.

The 2022 divorce kicked off a highly publicised rift in the Cyrus family.

When Miley won her first Grammy Award in February, she said I dont think Ive forgotten anyone after a long list of thank yous and shoutouts to her family that included her mother, who was in attendance, but excluded her father and one-time Hannah Montana co-star.
More than 300 local and international performers to feature over weekend of events

Anthony Toner, one of over 60 acts performing at the Belfast Blues Festival 2024

Zac Schulze Gang, one of over 60 acts performing at the Belfast Blues Festival 2024

From June 28-30, more than 300 local and international blues performers will be performing across the city centre.

Seamus ONeill, one of the festivals organisers, said he is excited to celebrate the festivals 15th year. We can already feel the buzz about the city, we have a lot to organise but everyone is so excited, he said.

This year Blues and R&B fans can look forward to seeing over 60 different acts performing.

We have 60 gigs organised across the three days, said Seamus.

We have been doing it for a while so we know what we are at but thats 300 different musicians in the city so it is a lot of organisation, but we really want to offer as much talent as we can.

Seamus O'Neill

Its important for the festivals organisers that they promote as many local musicians as possible.

Belfast is known for its great Blues and R&B music and culture. You look at people like Van Morrison  thats the music people expect when they come to Belfast and we have such a rich musical heritage and this festival is one of the things keeping that heritage alive.

So we really want to platform musicians from here, especially artists that are up and coming  it gives them a chance to get themselves out there, Seamus said.

Seamus is particularly looking forward to local performers during the weekend. In terms of local talent Im really excited to see Chris Tapplin  hes a young lad from Belfast and he has a lot of talent so it will be great to see him, he said.

As well as music lovers from across Northern Ireland, plenty from beyond Belfast are also expected. As the festival motto says, Three days of great music with great people in a great city  people come for the great city that is Belfast.

You will see people coming from Canada, France, Italy, all over Europe coming to listen to the blues, Seamus said.

Anthony Toner, one of over 60 acts performing at the Belfast Blues Festival 2024

Seamus is pleased the festival has remained popular for so long, but is keen to see how the next generation of blues fans develop the festival.

It will 100% keep going for years to come because its not about any individual. It was started for the city and it is going to keep going for the city. We have plenty of young volunteers so hopefully they can keep it going for years to come, he said.

This years festival will honour the late Olympic medal-winning boxer and Irish News photographer Hugh Russell.

Seamus said Hugh was greatly involved with the festival before his death. He was one of lifes true gentlemen. Id known him for a long long time and he was a massive ambassador of the festival, he said.

No matter what you asked him to do he could do it, he would always just say, Give me a minute and Ill be there.

Thats just the type of person he was.
The late Gerald Dawe was greatly influenced by Van Morrison because his music reflected the Belfast the poet knew, his friend has said.

Mr Dawe, who was also known as Gerry, died in May at home in Dun Laoghaire at the age of 72. Also an academic, he had published 13 collections.
People brave the rain to cross Main Street at St. Joseph Parkway during the storm on May 28 in downtown Houston. Rain chances are likely to increase later this month. Yi-Chin Lee/Staff photographer

Even after skies turned dark and ominous over Houston on Tuesday, Southeast Texas isnt quite done with storms yet: Another round of scattered downpours Wednesday are expected to have some reaching for the umbrella or racing to the car to avoid getting drenched.

Once that passes, our region should dry out and heat up. But could next week bring rain and tropical trouble?

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A few Wednesday storms

Houston this week has been trapped under a parade of upper-level atmospheric disturbances that have danced across the region.

The atmospheric instability Wednesday is likely to end up triggering scattered storms yet again to Southeast Texas, especially later in the day. For most of us, the Wednesday morning commute should be free of rain.

But it should still be plenty humid, so if you like to get that outdoor walk squeezed in early in the day, prepare to sweat.

Shown are forecast rainfall totals through early Friday morning, according to the Weather Prediction Center. Spotty downpours should amount to less than an inch in most areas, though locally higher amounts will be possible in slow-moving thunderstorms through Wednesday. Weather Prediction Center / Pivotal Weather

Temperatures by the afternoon will top out in the lower 90s under partly cloudy skies. As the afternoon progresses, storms are expected to bubble up. Dark storm clouds should arrive in time for us to deal with rain during the evening commute between 4 and 6 p.m. The best chance for more numerous downpours will occur north and west of Houston, where ingredients for more widespread storms are a little stronger.

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After the sun sets and daytime heating wanes, storms should diminish as upper-level ridging of high pressure begins to intensify.

Turning hot and dry

Looking aloft, a ridge of high atmospheric pressure will slip into the region Thursday and Friday. This high pressure will accomplish two feats: Dry us out and warm us up. Storm clouds that had bubbled up this week had been keeping temperatures around average for early to mid-June.

RETURN OF THE HEAT DOME: The heat dome is responsible for some of Houstons hottest summertime temperatures.

Thursday also features a slim chance for an isolated shower or storm, but most wont see any raindrops. Temperatures will climb into the lower 90s to possibly mid-90s.

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By Friday or Saturday, under the full effect of high atmospheric pressure, rain chances dry up entirely. This means temperatures will reach a bit higher into the mid-90s with humidity driving heat index values to as high as 104 degrees.

Dry weather may come to a crashing end into early next week.

Next week: Rain, tropical trouble?

Tropical downpours are mainly confined to Florida this week, where some locations are bracing for more than a foot of rain. But murmurs of tropical mischief next week are already swirling on social media.

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By early next week, a surge of tropical moisture is forecast to move into the western Gulf of Mexico, which the National Weather Service addressed in a forecast discussion Tuesday afternoon.

Shown are chances of tropical storm development, according to the European ensemble forecast model. A system of low atmospheric pressure next week in the Bay of Campeche near southern Mexico could organize into either a tropical depression or a tropical storm. It could provide a surge of tropical moisture to the Texas coast. WeatherBELL

While its too early to say if a tropical depression or a named tropical storm forms, it does look likely that well be dealing with widespread downpours if the plume of deep tropical moisture gets pulled toward Texas. This scenario would not be good news for the many communities still not fully recovered from the incredibly wet April and May.

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Ive had standing ovations before, but this was different: NI playwright on bringing Good Friday Agreement to the stage
Election eve headache for DUP as Donaldson to appear in court the day before voters go to polls

Headache for DUP as images of former leader set to dominate final hours of General Election campaign

Jeffrey Donaldson after his last court appearance. Image: Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph

Allison Morris Wed 12 Jun 2024 at 22:00

Sir Jeffrey Donaldson will return to court on July 3, handing the DUP a headache on the eve of the General Election.
Friends and family of Troubles victims gather as the Government's appeal against a ruling that the Troubles Legacy Act is unlawful starts at the Court of Appeal, Belfast. Image: Press Eye

Terrorist murderers freed early in the Northern Ireland peace process face being returned to serve life in prison if they lie to obtain amnesties under the UK Governments Troubles Legacy Act, the Court of Appeal heard today.

Counsel for the Secretary of State insisted those who either provide false statements to a truth recovery body or commit further paramilitary-related crimes will be exposed to the full rigours of the law.
The interim Board of Governors will oversee the establishment of the new Causeway Academy, a merger between three post primary schools on the north coast

Ruth Harkness, appointed as the first principal of the new Causweway Academy

The merger of three north coast schools took another step towards completion with the school to be named Causeway Academy and the appointment of a new principal confirmed.

Coleraine College, Dunluce School and North Coast Integrated College are set to join together under the new name and on a new campus, which is being developed in partnership with Ulster University.

The 1,200-pupil school will be partly run by the University making it the first of its kind in Northern Ireland.

It will be a co-educational, non-selective controlled integrated post-primary school for pupils aged 11-18.

Though a majority of respondents to a previous Education Authority (EA) consultation were opposed to the merger, the plan was backed by the schools boards of governors, Ulster University, the Northern Ireland Council for Integrated Education (NICIE) and the Controlled Schools Support Council (CSSC).

The Education Authority and the Interim Board of Governors have now appointed Ms Ruth Harkness as principal designate of Causeway Academy, with the new name agreed following engagement with pupils and staff of the three schools set to merge.

Ms Harkness will take up the post from October 2024, with the new school planned to be operational in time for the start of the September 2026 term.

Currently principal of Craigavon Senior High School, Ms Harkness has a wealth of experience and notable achievements spanning two decades.

Prior to taking up her current role, Ms Harkness spent 14 years in Neston High School, her final four years as an assistant headteacher at a large secondary academy in Cheshire, England.

Jim McCartney, chairperson of the Interim Board of Governors for Causeway Academy, welcomed the appointment as a major step forward for the new school.

The interim Board of Governors will oversee the establishment of the new Causeway Academy, a merger between three post primary schools on the north coast

Ms Harknesss commitment, dedication and exceptional leadership has resulted in positive change and continued success, he said.

During her time at Craigavon Senior High School, the school achieved its highest student outcomes and has seen a significant growth in student numbers, with Ms Harkness leading the transition from delivery on two campuses to one, all while maintaining a student-centred approach.

At the heart of her leadership lies values that firmly place the student at the centre, he added.

She is committed to creating a nurturing and integrated learning environment which meets the needs of all young people. Ms Harkness is committed to fostering an inclusive community where diversity is valued and celebrated.

The new principal said it will be an honour to become the first person to lead at Causeway Academy.

I am honoured to lead this new Integrated school in partnership with Ulster University, bringing three schools in the Causeway area together to create a shared vision and collective ambition valued by all in our community, she said.

Our students deserve the best and I am committed to providing a safe, inclusive, and academically enriching environment. Together, we will create a school where every student feels valued, challenged, and prepared for their exciting futures.

Initially, the new school will be established among the existing school sites, with a site for a new build, estimated at around 45m, yet to be confirmed.

That process could take between 5-10 years before it is operational, depending on capital investment and the availability of a suitable site.
Cuts jeopardising access to support for vulnerable students, says union

Cuts to special school provision in Northern Ireland are having wide ranging negative impacts, according to the union. Stock image

A new survey has laid bare the challenges for the special education sector in Northern Ireland with virtually every respondent saying the number of children with complex needs has risen in their school.

While 99.1% of responses to the NASUWT survey said they have seen the number of children in classes rise, 95.5% said support on offer has not matched the additional numbers of highly complex needs pupils.

Launched at a special event at Stormont on Tuesday, the survey among 224 teachers also found just under 80% said they have suffered violence and physical abuse and more than half of them said that was happening at least once a week (53.1%).

As a result of the lack of support, the survey found teachers said that had a knock-on effect of depriving schools of other facilities, and 88.4% said space in their school originally designed for other usage has since been repurposed as teaching space.

Our survey found that there has been a reduction in access to specialised support, extracurricular activities and staffing. Class sizes have increased as has the burden on families, said Dr Patrick Roach, NASUWT General Secretary.

This report demonstrates that the cuts to special school provision in Northern Ireland are having wide ranging negative impacts on students, families and staff. This jeopardises access to specialised education and care for students with complex needs.

Solutions must be found to ensure these schools receive adequate resources and funding to support this vulnerable population.

The report also looked at the level of abuse staff in special school contend with. Among the findings, 82.1% of members reported they have been verbally abused in the workplace. Almost half (42.9%) said they have been the victim of verbal abuse at least once a week and more than half (51.1%) said the abuse received was never officially recorded.

Pupils account for 79.8% of the abuse received by teachers and among the responses 15.5% said it was from colleagues and 13.6% from parents.

Staff absences are also causing major issues, with substitute staff with the necessary skills to work in a special school difficult to find. f the teachers responding, 79.3% said that staff absences are affecting the safe delivery of teaching in SEN classrooms.

NASUWT Policy Casework Official Maxine Murphy-Higgins added: The funding crisis in special education has led to reduced staffing levels, increased workload and a more stressful work environment for teachers and support staff. This pressure is felt even more when the behaviour of pupils is a factor in the classroom.

The NASUWT are calling on the Department of Education to implement the recommendations of the report.

These include: increased funding to expand specialist staff, interventions and resources; improved professional development opportunities tailored to special education; implementation of policies and procedures to support teacher rights and work/life balance; an electronic reporting system in relation to verbal and physical violence in all schools; and a full evaluation of intervention strategies in relation to behavioural issues.

In April Education Minister Paul Givan announced new funding for the special school sector.

He said the new SEN Capital Programme will deliver up to eight entirely new special schools over the next 10 years; new builds for a number of existing special schools; an extension and refurbishment programme for special schools; accommodation for specialist classes in mainstream schools as well as additional maintenance and equipment funding.

The SEN capital programme will require approximately half a billion pounds of capital investment over the next decade.

The Minister has also approached schools across Northern Ireland to help provide SEN specialist provision within mainstream schools.
Blue-green algae sludge on the shores of Lough Neagh last August. Pic: Aodhan Roberts.

A keynote speaker at a festival held on the grounds of the Earl of Shaftesburys stately home has pulled out after she was contacted about controversies linked to his ownership of Lough Neagh.

Ayisha Siddiqa, a human rights defender and climate adviser to the UN Secretary-General, has withdrawn from participating at the Realisation Festival 2024.

She was scheduled to appear alongside the former Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams as one of two main speakers for the event, due to be held at the Shaftesbury familys ancestral seat in Dorset, England, between June 27 and 30.

But Ms Siddiqa has opted not to take part in the festival.

A letter that asked Ms Siddiqa to reconsider your participation and attendance at the Realisation Festival was sent to the events main participants.

The letter  signed by seven environmental campaign groups and a number of academics  highlighted the Estates commercial interests at the lough and grassroots efforts to bring the asset into public ownership.

The Shaftesbury Estate claims ownership of the bed, banks and soil of Lough Neagh.

Loch nEachach (Lough Neagh) is the largest lake on the island of Ireland and is currently in the midst of ecological catastrophe due in part to industrial activities that [the current Earl] Ashley-Cooper generates substantial wealth from, the letter reads.

It notes that vast blooms of toxic blue-green algae develop in the warm months which threatens the health of both wildlife and humans, along with the fact that Lough Neagh provides around 40% of Northern Irelands drinking water.

Nicholas Ashley-Cooper, the 12th Earl of Shaftesbury was at the centre of controversy last autumn when he said he would not gift the lough back to the public.

The Shaftesbury Estate receives royalty payments for every tonne of sand that is extracted from the bed of Lough Neagh.

The Earl of Shaftesbury

The Realisation Festival, a not-for-profit event, posted last month that it was delighted to announce Ms Siddiqa as a keynote speaker; she has now been removed from the events website.

Tickets for the Realisation Festival 2024, which bills itself as a gathering for the soul, are 425.

John Barry, a politics lecturer at Queens University Belfast, said: Its like having a medical conference discussing cancer with the CEO of a cigarette company chairing it.

Dr Barry added that the Earl would do more to burnish his eco-credentials by giving back that which isnt his to the government and the people here in the North.

Mr Ashley-Cooper said the letter sent to festival participants made damaging and false claims.

Unfortunately, the current environmental situation of Lough Neagh has given rise to a lot of misinformation, conflation of issues and attacks of a political nature, he said.

The author of the email sent to speakers, which you quote, made false claims which were aimed at damaging my reputation and harming the festival.

He said the tragic and scandalous ecological condition of Lough Neagh is caused by agricultural and industrial pollution, poor sewage treatment, invasive zebra mussels and government failure to enforce regulation.

I am used as an easy scapegoat for a complex problem requiring honesty, resolve and collaboration, he added.

Licensed and environmentally approved sand dredging on 1% of the Lough is not the fundamental problem and acts as misdirection in the context, but I currently have no power to stop it.

I have always been open to discussing the future ownership of the Lough, including community ownership and rights of nature approaches, but again the main issue at the moment is not the ownership of the bed and soil.

There is no substantive or financial connection between Lough Neagh and The Realisation Festival, which is co-created by several people and explores a wide variety of issues.
Topic of assisted dying on agenda as palliative care is deemed better way

Rev Trevor Gribben, clerk of the General Assembly and general secretary of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland

Euthanasia and assisted dying will be discussed at the Presbyterian Churchs General Assembly next week.

The event, which begins on June 20 at Assembly Buildings in Belfast, is one of the largest annual church gatherings on the island of Ireland.

Ministers and elders from the Presbyterian Church in Irelands 500-plus congregations will attend.

Rev Trevor Gribben, the clerk of the General Assembly, has said the three-day event will include discussion on the reconfiguration of ministry due to declining attendance numbers at weekly services, and resolutions concerning assisted dying and euthanasia.

Assisted dying is illegal in Northern Ireland, but calls have been made in the UK and the Republic of Ireland to bring in legislation on the issue.

Rev Gribben outlined the Presbyterian Churchs stance on the issue and explained how, at both the 2015 and 2018 General Assemblies, members voted to strongly oppose any legislation which allows assisted suicide or euthanasia.

Members also called on the governments in Northern Ireland and the Republic to ensure the adequate resourcing of both research and delivery in this important area.

Rev Gribben said: Since then, the issue has become more prevalent.

While we presented our concerns in December to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on assisted dying, there have been moves since 2018, and more recently than that, to legislate for it in Scotland, the Isle of Man and Jersey.

This year, new resolutions will be debated on what seems to be a concerted and ongoing assault on the innate dignity and value of human life in these islands.

PCIs Moderator Rt Rev Dr Sam Mawhinney with General Assembly clerk Rev Trevor Gribben and Moderator-Designate Rev Dr Richard Murray

He suggested that more needs to be done by the Government to fund palliative care for patients.

We believe all life is sacred, it is the gift of God, and at the Presbyterian Church we are very concerned with issues surrounding abortion and the start of life, but also in issues towards the end of life, he said.

We are against legislation for assisted suicide and euthanasia. We believe that is wrong.

We also want to say that there is a better way; its not the only way.

And in our report, with some experts in palliative care, including leading academics and physicians, we are calling on the Government to prioritise that better way  and that better way is palliative care.

In both the north and south of this island, the vast majority of the hospice movement, for instance, is funded by private donations and fundraising and the Government dont really invest in palliative care, which is the better way.

Last year, we gave evidence to the Oireachtas Committee on assisted dying, where two of my colleagues gave evidence and promoted what we believe is a Biblical case that life is a gift of God and sacred, where we shouldnt be going down the road where people will feel pressured to end their lives because they see themselves as an inconvenience to society.

I think sometimes in what appears to be well-meaning legislative changes, there are unforeseen consequences. And in this area of either people taking life, euthanasia or assisting people to take their own lives, this is something which will make a huge historical change in our society.

Its not something we should rush into, because it is the latest issue people feel they need to deal with in a modern society.
Former PSNI staff member seeks probe into whether she was spied on by force

Woman is one of a number of ex and current workers who have lodged tribunal complaints

Sinead McGrotty

Allison Morris Wed 12 Jun 2024 at 07:55

AN ex-PSNI civilian staff member who says she was subjected to sexual harassment in the workplace fears she was spied on by her former employers.
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.
US President Joe Biden speaks with US Customs and Border Protection officers as he visits the US-Mexico border in El Paso, Texas, on January 8, 2023. (JIM WATSON/AFP via Getty Images/TNS) JIM WATSON/TNS

It was mid-June, just a few months before the presidential election. The polls were close, with some predicting a ballot box defeat for the incumbent president. His hold on critical swing states  particularly those with a large immigrant population  was fragile.

Deportations at the U.S.-Mexico border had reached a record high. And despite entering office with promises of comprehensive immigration reform, he didnt deliver.

Then came the announcement that would turn everything around.

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On June 15, 2012 President Barack Obama used executive action to create a sweeping program called Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals. DACA, as its better known, granted temporary protection from deportation to eligible undocumented immigrants who came to the United States as children and allowed them to legally work.

In that moment, I thought my life was going to change, then-15-year-old Emma Chalott Barron told the Dallas Morning News.

After DACA, Obamas approval shot up from less than half of Latinos to more than two-thirds. The shift helped deliver his reelection. Perhaps Joe Biden, closely involved in the DACA talks as Obamas vice president, is hoping history will repeat itself. On Tuesday, the Biden administration announced a sweeping plan to provide select undocumented immigrants who are the spouses of U.S. citizens with protection from deportation and allow them to work legally while seeking out permanent residency and eventually citizenship. It would also extend a path to legality to noncitizen minors, and stepchildren of American citizens.

That may come as a surprise to those who followed President Bidens announcement a couple weeks ago of what is arguably the most restrictive border policy by a Democratic president in recent history. His executive action, which took effect June 5, suspends asylum-claim processing for migrants who crossed illegally once apprehensions hit a daily average of 2,500, with the border reopening only after apprehensions drop to 1,500 per day  a low rarely reached in the past five years. The action authorizes U.S. immigration officials to immediately deport the overwhelming majority of border-crossers within days.

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But Biden knows that sticks only go so far in persuading more conservative voters  Latino or otherwise  who are fed up with stories of chaos at the border. He must also court the voters with humanitarian concerns who might be turned off by his sudden asylum crackdown.

Which is why, we believe, Biden is now offering a carrot that echoes Obamas historic relief program by offering a viable path to legalization for upwards of half a million long-term undocumented immigrants.

For those who say the steps Ive taken are too strict, I say to you that  be patient, Biden said when he announced his asylum shutdown. I have spoken about what we need to do to secure the border. In the weeks ahead  I will speak to how we can make our immigration system more fair and more just.

Currently, undocumented immigrants married to U.S. citizens are already technically eligible to apply for a green card. Many Americans believe the process just happens automatically. However, a 1996 amendment to the Immigration and Nationality Act dictates that undocumented immigrants must leave the U.S. to apply from a foreign consulate and risk not being allowed back into the U.S. for up to a decade. Few mothers and fathers are willing to miss out on 10 years of their childs life in the U.S. just to legitimize their status.

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The Biden administrations program, known as parole in place, will allow undocumented spouses of American citizens who have already lived here for 10 years as of Tuesday to adjust their status from inside the U.S.  keeping families together during the process.

There is always the concern that making it easier to gain a green card through marriage will increase sham marriages. But, crucially, only immigrants who have been married since June 17 or prior can qualify. It also does not apply to immigrants who have been deported in the past.

The program could change the lives of hundreds of thousands of immigrants who are currently living in the shadows. And it may very well persuade Latino voters who are close to those immigrants, especially in the key battleground states of Nevada and Arizona that could swing the election for Biden.

What it wont do is provide a long-term solution to bottlenecks choking our immigration system that are caused by lack of resources and funding. Only congressional reform can do that.

While Biden is expected to pull out all the political stops to shore up his base ahead of November, we shouldnt have to wait for an election year to get sweeping immigration changes. Especially if the changes can be dissolved with the swipe of a pen by the following presidential administration.

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Seven years after Emma Chalott Barron witnessed Obamas DACA announcement, the familiar fear shed lived with all her childhood came back. It was 2019 and then-President Donald Trump was threatening to fulfill his campaign promise to end DACA  robbing her of the quasi-legal status that had allowed her to work and earn scholarships to attend Austin College as a first-generation student.

I felt like I was grieving for a lost future, but with the recognition that that future was never really mine because (DACA) was never a permanent fix, she said.

Today, despite years of poll after poll showing broad support for a permanent solution, a rightward lurch on immigration among both Republicans and Democrats has left many DACA recipients without allies in Congress.

Bidens expected policy could keep many of the 400,000 hardworking mixed-status families in Texas together. Their futures, though, will depend on voters demanding more than a Band-Aid solution, and urging Congress to cement bipartisan reform that will survive future elections.

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This editorial was updated June 18 to reflect the White House announcement's details of President Joe Biden's "parole in place" program.
John ODowd said he wanted to protect concessionary travel on public transport (Translink/PA)

Applicants for a free travel bus will now have to pay 20 to access the scheme.

Those over 60 can apply for a Translink Smartpass but will now be subject to an application fee, expected to be about 20 for those aged 60-64.

Over-60s are entitled to travel on public buses and trains for free in Northern Ireland regardless of their income.

Infrastructure minister John O'Dowd said he wanted to protect concessionary fares - which is why the application fee is being introduced.

Mr O'Dowd said he was focusing on protecting essential services as he published an Equality Impact Assessment (EQIA) on the impact of the budget agreed by the Assembly on spending proposals in his department.

Mr O'Dowd said he was also protecting funding for planned improvements to the Londonderry to Coleraine rail line.

The Stormont Assembly agreed its spending plan last month, with Finance Minister Caoimhe Archibald conceding that no departments were getting the funding they had requested.

Mr O'Dowd said: "Years of underfunding and austerity by the British Government mean these are challenging times for all departments, and infrastructure is no different.

"I will be looking towards the June monitoring round and will continue to work with Executive colleagues to explore all avenues of investment but, for now, I am focusing on protecting essential services, delivering positive change and addressing regional imbalance.

"I am doing so by maintaining concessionary fares for the over 60s, ringfencing funding for Coleraine-Derry phase three rail improvements, by investing in the A5, A1 safety improvements, the A4, the A29 Cookstown Bypass and the Newry Southern Relief Road.

"As a department, we have had to critically examine all aspects of spend."

The minister added: "We have taken and will continue to take difficult decisions to prioritise what we can deliver within our budget envelope, which means to protect concessionary fares a nominal fee will be introduced for first-time applicants and 60-64-year-olds applying for a Smartpass."

Mr O'Dowd said Northern Ireland Water is to receive 137.7 million resource and 323.6 million capital funding plus a ring-fenced amount of 875,000 for EU Peace Plus projects.

Public transport operator Translink will get 245.8 million, including 80 million ring-fenced for the Belfast Transport Hub, 6.4 million EU peace plus funding for the Enterprise replacements and 4.7 million ring-fenced for Coleraine to Derry-Londonderry track renewal.

Minister for Infrastructure John ODowd said he was dealing with a challenging budget (Oliver McVeigh/PA)

Mr O'Dowd said all allocations are indicative at this stage and will be confirmed or amended upon consideration of the EQIA.

He added: "None of us are getting the funding we would have liked, due to underfunding by the British Government, and for that reason, we must all prioritise essential services along with health and safety while maximising service delivery within the resources available.

"I encourage everyone to provide their comments to the EQIA.

"Getting infrastructure right can deliver real benefits for our citizens, communities and the economy.

"I am working with my officials on a clear prioritisation of schemes over the next two years, which will put the department on a steady footing to make the best possible use of our resources to make a positive difference for all of our citizens."

The consultation will remain open until September 6.
The murder scene where Constable Robert McPherson was shot in Dungiven in July 1975.

Three men have been arrested in connection with the murder of an RUC officer nearly 50 years ago.

Constable Robert McPherson (25) was gunned down in front of shoppers in Dungiven, Co Londonderry, in July 1975.

The INLA admitted responsibility for his death.

Detectives from An Garda Siochana today arrested two men, aged 73 and 72, in Co Meath and Co Donegal.

A third was arrested in the Co Londonderry area.

The 72-year-old has been arrested on suspicion of murder and the 73-year-old on suspicion of firearms offences linked to the murder of Mr McPherson and the attempted murder of a second officer in Dungiven on July 26 1975.

The arrests were made under a Trade and Co-operation Agreement (TaCA) Warrant as part of a joint operation with the PSNI.

They are expected to appear at the High Court in Dublin later today.

Detectives from the PSNIs Legacy Investigation Branch have also arrested a 71-year-old man in the Dungiven area as part of the same investigation.

He is expected to appear before Londonderry Magistrates Court later today.

The Police Service of Northern Ireland said it has been liaising closely with An Garda Siochana and todays arrests demonstrate the benefits of joint working between police services and other national partner agencies.

A decision to prosecute the three individuals was issued by the Public Prosecution Service prior to the commencement of the Northern Ireland (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023 on May 1 2024.
Three men have been arrested in connection with an an ongoing police investigation into suspected criminality linked to the west Belfast UDA.

Officers from the Paramilitary Crime Task Force carried out a number of searches and made three arrests in north and south Belfast on Wednesday morning.

Detective Sergeant Gourley said: A search was carried out at a property in the south Belfast area and two further searches were conducted at properties in the north Belfast area.

A number of items have since been seized from the properties and will now undergo further forensic examination.

Three men, aged 40, 43 and 60, were arrested under Section 41 of the Terrorism Act 2000 and have been taken to Musgrave Serious Crime Suite for questioning.

Our enquiries remain ongoing and this mornings searches and arrests demonstrates the PCTFs commitment to tackle all types of criminality linked to paramilitaries, in an ongoing effort to rid our communities of the harm these groups cause and of their coercive control.

We would like to thank the local community for their continued support and will continue to act on the information you provide us.

I would encourage anyone with information about the supply or use of illegal drugs to contact police on 101.

You can also contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at http://crimestoppers-uk.org/.
After finding out that an independent TD in Co Kerry has been using the same phone since 1997, Jim Wells is determined to prove he has the oldest mobile phone still in use in Northern Ireland.
Lilian Seenoi-Barr celebrated as original Derry Girl in new personalised presents

This makes me want to do even more for the city, says mayor

Mayor of Derry City and Strabane, Lilian Seenoi-Barr, with her Ferry Clever Derry Girls gifts

Niamh Campbell Wed 12 Jun 2024 at 07:48







Northern Irelands first black mayor has told of her delight after being presented with a gift that showcases her as one of the official Derry Girls, and another that raises money for her chosen charity.
Taoiseach Simon Harris TD with European Fine Gael candidate Regina Doherty after she was elected MEP for the Dublin constituency at the RDS count centre in Dublin (Gareth Chaney/PA)

Four MEPs have been elected to represent Dublin in the European Parliament as the first of Irelands three constituencies finished its count.

Fianna Fails Barry Andrews, Fine Gaels Regina Doherty, Sinn Feins Lynn Boylan and Labours Aodhan O Riordain all confirmed their places in Brussels after three days of counting at the RDS centre in Dublin.

Taoiseach and Fine Gael leader Simon Harris, Tanaiste and Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin, Sinn Fein president Mary Lou McDonald and Labour leader Ivana Bacik were all in attendance to congratulate their candidates after the outcome of the 19th and final count was announced.

Mr Harris said he was absolutely delighted that Ms Doherty had been elected and thanked the Dublin electorate.

He said: 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.

Mr Martin said he was absolutely delighted to see Mr Andrews re-elected to the European Parliament, and said that he led from the front.

European Fianna Fail candidate Barry Andrews celebrates his election (Gareth Chaney/PA).

He added: But it was the positivity of the message but also the fact that the perception on the doorsteps was that it was a serious public representative who had represented the country well in a distinguished way in the European Parliament for the past five years.

The four winning candidates were all elected when Independent Ireland candidate Niall Boylan became the last to be eliminated in the closely fought contest.

Only one other MEP has so far been elected in Ireland  Fine Gaels Sean Kelly in Ireland South.

European Labour candidate Aodhan O Riordain TD was elected MEP for the Dublin constituency (Gareth Chaney/PA).

That count, and the count in the Midlands-North-West constituency, could extend for several more days before reaching conclusion.

In Irelands local elections battle, Fianna Fail edged just ahead of Fine Gael on Tuesday evening with 246 seats to 245, with only a handful of 949 seats left to declare.

In a landmark poll in Limerick for Irelands first directly elected mayor, independent candidate John Moran secured victory late on Tuesday afternoon.

John Moran has made history as Irelands first directly elected mayor (Niall Carson/PA)

Results emerging from the three elections, which were held last Friday, have provided a political fillip for coalition partners Fine Gael and Fianna Fail, while Sinn Fein has initiated a review after performing well below the partys own expectations.

Both main Government parties attracted around 23% of first preference votes, while Sinn Fein trailed in on 12%  a dramatic turnaround in fortunes for the main opposition party which emerged from the 2020 general election winning the popular vote on 24.5%.

While the European picture is still incomplete, the election results to date have fuelled speculation that the coalition may look to call a general election earlier than the current projected timeline of spring 2025.

However, the leaders of all three coalition parties  Mr Harris, Mr Martin and Green Party leader Eamon Ryan  have all insisted they remain committed to the current government going full term.

For her part, Sinn Fein leader Ms McDonald, who is now facing questions over her stewardship of the party, struck a defiant tone on Monday night as she urged Mr Harris to bring it on and call an early election.

European Sinn Fein candidate Lynn Boylan following being elected MEP for the Dublin constituency (Gareth Chaney/PA).

Fine Gaels Sean Kelly became the first MEP elected in Ireland, taking the first of five seats in the Ireland South constituency on Monday night.

Fianna Fails Billy Kelleher is in place to take the second seat, but the final three seats are considered too close to call.

Independent TD Michael McNamara and Fianna Fail candidate and 1994 Eurovision host Cynthia Ni Mhurchu are well placed.

Outgoing MEP Mick Wallace, Sinn Fein TD Kathleen Funchion and the Green Partys Grace OSullivan also look to be in the race for a seat.

The returning officer expects the count in Cork to extend into Thursday.

The Midlands-North-West constituency saw the first count conclude late on Monday night, as officials grappled with the arduous process of whittling down 27 candidates vying for five seats.

Independent incumbent MEP Luke Ming Flanagan emerged as the frontrunner after topping the poll.

Luke Ming Flanagan speaking to the media (Niall Carson/PA)

He was still leading the pack after eight counts on Tuesday. Next was Fine Gaels first-time candidate and former jockey Nina Carberry, who was narrowly ahead of Fianna Fails Barry Cowen.

If the race stays as it currently stands, Maria Walsh will also be returning to Strasbourg as an MEP for Fine Gael in the fourth seat.

The fifth and final seat looks set to be taken by Independent Ireland candidate and former RTE correspondent Ciaran Mullooly, meaning Sinn Feins Michelle Gildernew, who was her partys main hope of retaining a seat in the constituency, is likely to miss out if she does not receive favourable transfers.

Candidates have predicted the count in Castlebar could go on for several days before the results are confirmed.
John Swinney spent a brief stint behind the tills at Asda (Jane Barlow/PA)

John Swinney has said there should be a referendum on Scottish independence in the next five years as he denied the SNP are downplaying the issue in its General Election campaign.

The First Minister also responded to Rishi Sunaks comments that the D-Day commemoration ran over, saying the event in Normandy had been a huge privilege to attend.

On Wednesday, the SNP leader was campaigning at an Asda in Edinburgh, where he joked about doing an apprenticeship after a brief stint scanning goods behind one of the tills.

Speaking to journalists, Mr Swinney said he completely rejected that his campaign is downplaying Scottish independence.

John Swinney joined Joanna Cherry on the campaign trail (Jane Barlow/PA)

He said: What Ive been doing throughout this election campaign is relating independence to the principal concerns that people have in Scotland.

Mr Swinney said these concerns were the cost of living, the implications of Brexit and austerity.

He added: What Ive done so far in this election campaign is essentially connect the concerns of members of the public to independence.

So that independence is not viewed as an abstract concept, but as a relevant concept.

Mr Swinney was asked if a vote for the SNP is a vote for an independence referendum within the next five years.

He said: Thats what I think should happen, that would be the best thing to happen.

Mr Swinney responded to the Prime Ministers comments about D-Day (Jane Barlow/PA)

The First Minister was in Asda with his candidate for Edinburgh South West, Joanna Cherry, who has been a vocal critic of the Scottish Governments policies on gender recognition.

Asked about the relevance of appearing alongside her, the SNP leader said: I think whats important is that people see John Swinney as a figure of unity.

On Wednesday, ITV aired footage of the Prime Minister apologising for keeping journalist Paul Brand waiting, saying the D-Day event he did attend just ran over.

This led to fresh attacks from the Conservatives opponents following Mr Sunaks apology for leaving the commemorations early.

Mr Swinney, who also attended the event, told the PA news agency: Every moment I spent there was absolutely precious and I would have spent even more time there, if it was possible to do so, because the experience was utterly overwhelming and a huge privilege.

I was surprised that wasnt reflected in the Prime Ministers comments.
Anas Sarwar will make a speech on the health service on Wednesday (Stefan Rousseau/PA)

Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar has said his party will stop the chaos in the NHS if it wins the General Election.

Ahead of a speech on the health service on Wednesday, the Glasgow MSP said funding sent to Scotland as part of UK Labour plans for the health service could provide 160,000 more appointments north of the border.

The Scottish Parliament holds the power over health, with funding determined by a population share of the amount spent by the UK Government on the area in England.

The NHS in Scotland has struggled in recent years with poor performance on A&E waiting times and more than 840,000 people waiting for a test or procedure.

The health service, Mr Sarwar said ahead of the speech, was in (Labours) very DNA.

The first step to save our NHS starts on July 4 when we can kick the Tories out of Downing Street  an opportunity we cant afford to miss, he said.

The day after the General Election will be the NHSs 76th birthday, and a Labour government will begin the process of rescuing it again.

After 17 years of the SNP, the NHS in Scotland is at breaking point. Scottish Labour is committed to protecting the NHS in Scotland for the generations to come and making sure it is fit for the future.

To achieve this, we must value our dedicated NHS workforce and improve access to care, as well as deliver long-term reforms to modernise services and bring care closer to communities.

The first priority of a Labour government would be to tackle waiting lists, Mr Sarwar said, with UK Labours plans (set to) deliver millions every year in health-related funding for Scotland.

But protecting the NHS is about more than reducing the backlog, he added.

The NHS of tomorrow must be rooted in local communities where Scots can easily and conveniently access healthcare services and have a greater say and input over their care.

Labour will stop the chaos in Scotlands health and care services, and reform them in line with Labours founding principles so that our NHS is fit for the future.

Scottish Tory health spokesman Dr Sandesh Gulhane, however, accused Labours plans for the health service of being light on detail.

The SNPs 17 years of mismanagement has left Scotlands NHS in permanent crisis mode, he said.

As a GP, I see firsthand how their inaction is failing more and more patients despite the best efforts of dedicated staff.

Earlier this year, the Scottish Conservatives outlined our bold and ambitious plans to fix our NHS, including recruiting 1,000 extra GPs and to deliver a modern, efficient and local health service.

By contrast, Labours plans are typically full of rhetoric, but light on how they will be delivered.

The SNP has been contacted for comment.
Flags flown during a demonstration in Parliament Square, London, held ahead of a House of Commons debate, bought by backbench MP Nus Ghani, on whether Uyghurs in Chinas Xinjiang province are suffering crimes against humanity and genocide. Picture date: Thursday April 22, 2021.

UK political parties have been urged to formally recognise that Chinas Uighur (also known as Uyghur) ethnic minority group are being subject to a genocide if they win the General Election.

Campaign group Stop Uyghur Genocide has written to Labour, the Liberal Democrats, and the Conservative Party asking them to address critical issues of profound importance to the Uighur community during the election, and commit to taking appropriate action in government.

The letter, signed by Rahima Mahmut, the campaign groups executive director, and Maira Aisaeva, president of the UK Uyghur Community, calls on the next government to raise the alarm for the community and bring international pressure against the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) to end the genocide.

This starts with a formal recognition of the genocide by the UK Government, it adds.

The next government should instigate an import ban on products which might be linked to slave labour in Chinas Xinjiang province, the homeland of the Uighurs, the letter says.

It also calls for the UKs modern slavery laws to be bolstered, and for the UK to stand against emerging technologies reportedly being used for forced genetic surveillance and discrimination.

Rahima Mahmut, founder of Stop Uyghur Genocide, welcomed the Lib Dems recognition of the genocide (Yui Mok/PA)

In their manifesto, the Liberal Democrats have already pledged to recognise that the human rights abuses being perpetrated against the Uighurs in Xinjiang amount to the crime of genocide.

The Conservatives made no explicit mention of the topic in their full election offer, but senior Tory figures including former minister Sir Iain Duncan Smith, have spoken in Parliament in recent years about the Uighurs treatment by the Chinese state.

Labour is expected to release its manifesto on Thursday.

Ms Mahmut, Stop Uyghur Genocide executive director, told the PA News Agency: As an Uighur rights campaigner, I am pleased to see the Liberal Democrats recognise the Uighur genocide in their manifesto.

This is a crucial step towards justice and accountability, and I urge the other main parties to follow suit.

Recognising the Uighur genocide is vital to any considered China strategy, as it would enable the government, industry, and academia to align against Chinese private sector companies complicit in the genocide.
The statue of President George H. W. Bush on the banks of Buffalo Bayou. Brett Coomer/Staff photographer

George H.W. Bush was born June 12, 1924  which means that, were he still alive, the former president would be turning 100.

In many ways, the story of American politics and political institutions over the past century can be told through the lens of his life. Few Americans have had the same level of commitment to public service that Bush demonstrated; even fewer have served the nation in such a broad range of ways. Before he became vice president, and later president, Bush was a congressman, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, the senior U.S. representative in China, and director of the CIA. He not only made public service his profession, but did so at the very highest of levels.

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 Lauren Bush Lauren skydives to honor her 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 Ellen Fuller takes photos of the Bush grandchildren skydiving 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 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 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

As scholars of the American presidency, and directors of the Presidential Greatness Project, we are especially interested in the way his commitment to public service connects with views of the American presidency. Not only did Bush serve as the nations 41st president, he was also a highly regarded vice president and a model ex-president (not to mention one-half of only the second father-son duo to hold the nations highest office).

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George H.W. Bush was not just a good vice president, he is viewed by presidential experts as among the greatest in the modern era. In fact, our research shows that he is considered the top Republican vice president since the Great Depression. He built a relationship of trust and loyalty with President Ronald Reagan, capably standing in for him in symbolic moments, such as state funerals, and in more serious situations, like when Reagan was hobbled after an attempted assassination. Reagan, in turn, entrusted Bush with leadership over significant administration priorities, including the administrations drive for deregulation and the fight against illicit drugs entering the United States.

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

Presidential experts also value Bushs time as president, ranking him in the top half of all presidents (and among the top rated of those who only served one term). The conventional narrative of Bushs presidency views him as the third term of the Reagan era, highlighted by the extremely popular Operation Desert Storm in Iraq but derailed by a shrinking economy in the waning months of his first  and only  term. The reality is more complex, of course; his foreign policy successes include the engagement of Soviet Premier Mikhail Gorbachev and the capture and arrest of Panamanian strongman Manuel Noriega, while domestically Bush signed into law important pieces of legislation that advanced civil rights (the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Civil Rights Act of 1991), the environment (the Oil Pollution Act and an expansion of the Clean Air Act), and public health (the Ryan White Care Act).

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

To be sure, each of these efforts had their detractors, but taken together they underscore the moderate pragmatism that characterized his approach to leadership and often seems in short supply today. Perhaps thats why our expert surveys have shown that presidency scholars consistently view him as one of the most underrated presidents in American history. In our most recent survey, he is included with Ulysses Grant, whose historical reputation has been undergoing significant rehabilitation in recent decades; and with Jimmy Carter, a fellow one-term president who, like Bush, also receives accolades for how he has conducted his post-presidency.

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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

Bushs approach to public service, illuminated by his Thousand Points of Light philosophy, became even more notable as he entered his post-presidency and shifted his focus to the next generation of leaders. Alongside his presidential library at Texas A&M University sits the school of government and public service that bears his name, an institution with which he was deeply involved. He also became a model for bipartisanship in the remaining decades of his life, even as the United States became increasingly polarized and his own sons continued to hold office as Republicans, George W. Bush as governor of Texas and the 43rd president of the United States and Jeb Bush as governor of Florida.

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

Bush lent his name, energy and support to many essential commitments, as showcased by his repeated work with Bill Clinton, who defeated him in 1992, on natural disasters in remote places like Indonesia and here in the United States following the devastation of Hurricane Katrina. In his final years, he spoke up against political violence, including a full-throated denunciation of the events in Charlottesville, Virginia, in 2017. This commitment to public service, and more importantly this willingness to do the difficult thing, won him countless awards and commendations, perhaps none more significant than the Presidential Medal of Freedom, bestowed upon him by Barack Obama in 2011.

Above all, Bush remained an engaged citizen to his final days, casting a ballot in the 2018 midterm elections only a few weeks before he passed away. As Americans celebrate the 100th anniversary of his birth, we would do well to not only recall the impressive achievements and expert assessments, but also the example Bush set, for future presidents and everyday citizens alike.

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Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus and 13 others have been indicted at a court in Bangladesh on charges in a two million dollar-plus (1.57 million) embezzlement case.

Yunus, 83, who was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2006 for pioneering microcredit to help impoverished people, especially women, pleaded not guilty and has been released on bail.

He told reporters that authorities were harassing him and other colleagues and denied being involved in any corruption.

In a packed Dahka courtroom, special judge in Dhaka Syed Arafat Hossain dismissed petitions calling for the charges  which centre around Yunus non-profit Grameen Telecom  to be dropped.

The prosecution has accused Yunus and the others of embezzling 250 million takas from the workers welfare fund of Grameen Telecom, which owns 34.2% of the countrys largest mobile phone company, Grameenphone, a subsidiary of Norways telecom giant Telenor.

They are also accused of money laundering.

The judge said the prosecution was able to preliminarily back its argument and proved the charges of misappropriation of funds and sending money abroad illegally, adding that the trial will start on July 15.

In January, Yunus was sentenced to six months in prison on a separate charge of violating labour laws. He was granted bail while awaiting the verdict.

Last year, more than 170 global leaders and Nobel laureates urged Bangladeshs Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to suspend legal proceedings against Yunus.

His supporters say he has been targeted because of his frosty relations with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. The government has denied the allegations.
Joe Biden and Volodymyr Zelensky will meet at the G7 summit in Italy (Evan Vucci/AP)

President Joe Biden and President Volodymyr Zelensky will sign a bilateral security agreement between the US and Ukraine on Thursday when they meet on the sidelines of the G7 summit.

The announcement came as negotiators for the group reached an agreement on how to provide Ukraine with up to 50 billion dollars backed by frozen Russian assets, according to two people familiar with the matter.

The international group of wealthy democracies has been discussing ways of using the more than 260 billion dollars in Russian assets frozen outside the country after the February 2022 invasion of Ukraine to help Kyiv.

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European officials have resisted confiscating the assets, citing legal and financial stability concerns  most of the frozen assets are located in Europe  but the plan would use the interest earned on the assets to help Ukraines war effort.

An official with the French presidency confirmed the announcement on Wednesday.

The announcement of the agreement comes as Mr Biden heads to the G7 summit with an urgency to get big things done, including turning frozen Russian assets into billions of dollars to help Ukraine fight Russian President Vladimir Putins war machine.

The security arrangement was aimed at sending a signal to Russia of American resolve in supporting Kyiv, the White House said as Mr Biden was headed to Europe.

National security adviser Jake Sullivan told reporters that the agreement would not commit US troops directly to Ukraines defence against Russias invasion  a red line drawn by Mr Biden, who is fearful of being drawn into direct conflict between the nuclear-armed powers.

We want to demonstrate that the US supports the people of Ukraine, that we stand with them and that well continue to help address their security needs, Mr Sullivan said, adding this agreement will show our resolve.

Mr Sullivan called the agreement a bridge to when Ukraine is invited to join the Nato alliance  a long-term priority of Mr Zelenskys that the allies have said will first require an end to the Russia-Ukraine war.

Mr Biden heads to the summit of the worlds leading democracies with an urgency to get big things done, including turning frozen Russian assets into billions of dollars to help Ukraine as it fights off Russian President Vladimir Putins war machine.

This years G7 summit comes three years after Mr Biden declared at his first such gathering that America was back as a global leader following the disruptions to western alliances that occurred when Donald Trump was president.

Now, there is a chance this gathering could be the final G7 for Mr Biden and other G7 leaders, depending on the results of elections this year.

President Joe Biden is heading to Italy for the G7 summit (Luis M Alvarez/AP)

Mr Biden and his counterparts from Canada, the UK, France, Germany, Italy and Japan will use the summit to discuss challenges related to the spread of artificial intelligence, migration, the Russian militarys resurgence and Chinas economic might, among other topics.

Pope Francis, Mr Zelensky and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan are joining the gathering at the Borgo Egnazia resort in the Puglia region of southern Italy.

The summit, which opens on Thursday, will play out after far-right parties across the continent secured gains of surprising scale in just-concluded European Union elections.

Those victories, coupled with upcoming elections in the UK, France and the US, have rattled the global political establishment and added weightiness to this years summit.

You hear this a lot when you talk to US and European officials: If we cant get this done now, whether its on China, whether its on the assets, we may not have another chance, said Josh Lipsky, senior director of the Atlantic Councils GeoEconomics Centre, an international affairs think tank.

We dont know what the world will look like three months, six months, nine months from now.
Emergency workers in Ukraine clear the rubble as they search for victims after a Russian missile hit Kryvyi Rih (Ukrainian Emergency Service via AP)

Russian forces have launched new deadly attacks on Ukraine, killing at least nine people on Wednesday, a day before the leaders of countries that are some of Ukraines biggest backers were to discuss how to slow Moscows offensive.

Ukrainian authorities said that along with the nine killed, 29 others, including five children, were wounded when Russian missiles hit an apartment block in Kryvyi Rih, which is President Volodymyr Zelenskys hometown.

Mr Zelensky said the strike has again proven that Ukraine, together with its partners, must strengthen its air defences  something that he has repeatedly appealed for with Ukraines western partners.

The United States has agreed to send another Patriot missile system, two US officials said late Tuesday.

Ukraines leader has praised its air defences (AP)

Modern air defence systems are capable of providing maximum protection of people, our cities, and our positions, Mr Zelensky said. And we need as many of them as possible.

Earlier on Wednesday, Ukraines air force said it shot down more than two dozen air targets, including cruise missiles, a Kinzhal ballistic missile and Shahed drones. Several people were wounded, authorities said.

Kyivs outgunned and outnumbered forces are battling to hold back the bigger Russian army, which is trying to exploit Ukrainian vulnerabilities.

Ukraine has been short of troops, ammunition and air defences in recent months as the Kremlins forces try to cripple the national power supply and punch through the front line in eastern parts of the country.

Ukraine will need to weather the Russian onslaught through the summer, military analysts say, and in the meantime train more soldiers, build fortifications and hope that the provision of western military aid picks up speed so that in 2025 Kyiv may be able to mount its own offensive.

Several diplomatic events over the next few days are aimed at how to help Ukraine fend off the Russian invasion or how to bring about an end to the war.

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On Thursday, US President Joe Biden and the other G7 leaders will gather in Italy for their annual summit to discuss ways to help Ukraine, including how to divert more frozen Russian assets to Kyivs defence.

Separately, the Biden administration on Wednesday said it had broadened sanctions against Russia by targeting companies that help Moscows war effort and raising the stakes for foreign financial institutions that work with sanctioned Russian entities.

The more than 300 new sanctions are largely aimed at deterring individuals and companies in countries such as China, the United Arab Emirates and Turkey from helping Moscow circumvent western blocks on obtaining key technology.

They also threaten foreign financial institutions with sanctions if they do business with almost any sanctioned Russian entity, underscoring the US view that the Kremlin has pivoted the Russian economy on to a war footing.

Mr Biden and Mr Zelensky will also sign a bilateral security agreement between the US and Ukraine on Thursday, when they meet on the G7 summits sidelines, the White House said.

National security adviser Jake Sullivan said the agreement would not commit US troops directly to Ukraines defence, but that it would demonstrate the US supports the people of Ukraine and serve as a bridge to when Ukraine is invited to join the Nato alliance  a long-term priority of Mr Zelenskys that alliance members have said will first require an end to the war.

Separately, Mr Sullivan noted that Russian authorities have deported hundreds of thousands of Ukrainian civilians to Russia, including children who have been forcibly separated from their families. He cited reports of Russia listing abducted Ukrainian children on Russias adoption websites, denouncing it as despicable and appalling.

These Ukrainian children belong with their families inside Ukraine, Mr Sullivan said. Russia is waging a war not just against the Ukrainian military  but against the Ukrainian people.

Mr Putin is looking to allies such as North Korea (Sputnik Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)

While the G7 meets in Italy, defence chiefs from the US, Europe and other nations will meet on Thursday in Brussels for their monthly meeting on Ukraines security needs. US defence secretary Lloyd Austin will host the event.

And this weekend, representatives of nearly 90 countries and organisations, half from Europe, are expected to attend a summit in Switzerland aimed at charting a path to peace between Russia and Ukraine, though Russia will not be attending.

Both sides in Europes biggest conflict since the Second World War have been reaching out to friendly nations to help keep their armed forces supplied. The war has cost tens of thousands of lives on both sides, including more than 11,000 Ukrainian civilians, according to the United Nations.

While Ukraine has looked to western countries, Russian President Vladimir Putin has turned to nations such as Iran and North Korea for help. Unconfirmed reports suggested Mr Putin may soon make a third visit to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

Fighting along the roughly 620-mile front line has in recent months focused on the partly occupied Donetsk region of eastern Ukraine, where Russian forces are trying to reach the key hilltop city of Chasiv Yar and other strategic hubs.

Last month, Russian forces also launched an offensive in Ukraines north-eastern region of Kharkiv, which borders Russia. Mr Putin said he wanted to establish a buffer zone there to prevent Ukrainian cross-border attacks. The offensive drew some Ukrainian fighters away from Donetsk.

However, Russias gains have been incremental and costly.

In the Kharkiv region, Russian units have become bogged down in Vovchansk, Ukraine Commander in Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi said on Wednesday on the Telegram messaging app.
A fleet of Russian warships has reached Cuban waters ahead of planned military exercises in the Caribbean in what some see as a projection of strength as tensions grow over western support for Ukraine.

Three ships slowly crossed the mouth of Havana Bay accompanied by small boats that guided them through the narrow channel.

The flagship frigate, adorned with the Russian and Cuban flags, was greeted by 21 cannon salutes. Sailors in dress uniform stood in military formation as they approached the island.

A nuclear-powered submarine was expected to arrive behind them.

People watch a Russian navy frigate arrive at the port of Havana (Ariel Ley/AP)

The US military expects the exercises will involve a handful of Russian ships and support vessels, which may also stop in Venezuela.

Russia is a long-time ally of Venezuela and Cuba, and its warships and aircraft have periodically made forays into the Caribbean.

But this mission comes less than two weeks after US President Joe Biden authorised Ukraine to use US-provided weapons to strike inside Russia to protect Kharkiv, Ukraines second-largest city, prompting President Vladimir Putin to suggest his military could respond with asymmetrical steps elsewhere in the world.

The Biden administration has described Russias Caribbean excursion as a routine naval activity, downplaying characterisations of it as a provocation.

Most of all, the warships are a reminder to Washington that it is unpleasant when an adversary meddles in your near abroad, said Benjamin Gedan, director of the Latin America Programme at the Washington-based Wilson Centre think tank, referring to the western involvement in Russias war in Ukraine.

It also reminds Russias friends in the region, including US antagonists Cuba and Venezuela, that Moscow is on their side.

Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov hosted his Cuban counterpart, Bruno Rodriguez, for talks in Moscow (Natalia Kolesnikova/Pool Photo via AP)

Although the fleet includes a nuclear-powered submarine, a senior US administration official told the Associated Press that the intelligence community has determined no vessel is carrying nuclear weapons.

The official said Russias deployments pose no direct threat to the United States.

American officials last week said the Russian ships were expected to remain in the region through the summer.

In December 2018, a pair of Russian nuclear-capable Tu-160 strategic bombers visited Venezuela in what the Russian military described as a training mission.

Russia also sent Tu-160s and a missile cruiser to Venezuela in 2008 amid tensions with the US after Russias brief war with Georgia. A pair of Tu-160s also visited Venezuela in 2013.

Russian ships have occasionally docked in Havana since 2008, when a group of Russian vessels entered Cuban waters in what state media described as the first such visit in almost two decades.

In 2015, a reconnaissance and communications ship arrived unannounced in Havana a day before the start of discussions between US and Cuban officials on the reopening of diplomatic relations.

A State Department spokesperson told the AP that Russias port calls in Cuba are routine naval visits, while acknowledging its military exercises have ratcheted up because of US support to Ukraine and exercise activity in support of our Nato allies.

A fleet of Russian warships has reached Cuban waters (Ariel Ley/AP)

On Wednesday, Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov hosted his Cuban counterpart, Bruno Rodriguez, for talks in Moscow. Speaking to reporters after the talks, Mr Lavrov thanked the Cuban authorities for their position on Ukraine.

Russian military and defence doctrine holds Latin America and the Caribbean in an important position, with the sphere seen as under US influence acting as a counterweight to Washingtons activities in Europe, said Ryan Berg, director of the Americas Programme at the Washington-based Centre for Strategic and International Studies.

While this is likely little more than provocation from Moscow, it sends a message about Russias ability to project power into the Western Hemisphere with the help of its allies, and it will certainly keep the US military on high alert while they are in theatre, Mr Berg said.

The timing of this years mission may serve Russias purposes, but it is also raising questions of whether Venezuelas government may use it as an opportunity to shore up President Nicolas Maduros bid for a third term in the July 28 election.

Venezuelas chief opposition coalition is threatening the ruling partys decades-long grip on power, and engineering a crisis built on simmering tensions with Guyana is among the scenarios that analysts believe Mr Maduros government could use to delay or cancel the vote.

Voters in Venezuela approved a referendum in December to claim sovereignty over the Essequibo territory, which accounts for two-thirds of Guyana and lies near big offshore oil deposits. Venezuela argues it was stolen when the border was drawn more than a century ago.

Guyana is awaiting a decision regarding Venezuelas claim from the International Court of Justice, but Mr Maduros government does not recognise its authority.

The US supports Guyana in the ongoing dispute and assisted it with surveillance flights late last year when Venezuela had threatened to invade the country. Guyanas government last month gave permission for the US military to fly two powerful F/A-18F Super Hornet jets over its capital in a demonstration of close co-operation.
A Dutch court has convicted three men of murder for their roles in the fatal shooting of investigative reporter Peter R de Vries.

The brazen attack in Amsterdam in 2021 sent a shockwave through the Netherlands.

The shooter, getaway driver and organiser of the hit were convicted of direct involvement in the killing.

The gunman and driver were sentenced to 28 years. The man who organised the killing was sentenced to 26 years and one month.

A total of nine men were charged for their alleged roles in the murder. Four other suspects were convicted of complicity in the murder.

Two were acquitted because they were charged only with involvement in a criminal organisation, and judges at Amsterdam District Court said prosecutors did not prove the existence of a criminal organisation.

Mr de Vries was gunned down on July 5 2021 on a busy Amsterdam street and died nine days later of his injuries at the age of 64.

The verdicts were delivered three years after the journalists death (AP Photo/Mike Corder)

Prosecutors had sought life sentences for the gunman, getaway driver and organiser of the killing.In January, prosecutors requested sentences ranging from three to 21 years for the six other suspects in the case.

The killing sparked outrage, grief and anger throughout the Netherlands. Dutch King Willem-Alexander called the shooting of de Vries an attack on journalism, the cornerstone of our constitutional state and therefore also an attack on the rule of law.

Mr de Vries had been an adviser and confidant for a protected witness in the trial of the alleged leader and other members of a crime gang.

The witness brother and lawyer were both murdered.

The groups top gangster, Ridouan Taghi, was convicted over his role in five gangland killings and sentenced to life behind bars in February. Judges called him the undisputed leader of a murder organisation.

Taghi has not been charged with involvement in the assassination of Mr de Vries and prosecutors have not charged any suspects with ordering his death.

Annemiek van Spanje, a lawyer for the De Vries family, told The Associated Press earlier this year: The fact that the person who ordered the killing is not known and is not on trial here naturally hangs like a shadow over this trial.

The alleged shooter was arrested less than an hour after the attack, along with a Polish man, identified only as Kamil E who was the alleged getaway driver.

Prosecutors told judges at Amsterdam District Court that the weapon used to shoot Mr de Vries was found in their car.
This whole debate was difficult territory for the denomination, and was handled in a respectful way throughout

It seemed like defeat snatched from the jaws of victory. The Methodist Church in Ireland (MCI) have for a full decade been deliberating over the issue of human sexuality and at the end of last week, debated the resulting report and resolution at their annual conference.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi speaks to the media at the forecourt of the Indian presidential palace after receiving a letter from the President of India, Droupadi Murmu, inviting him to form the next central government, in New Delhi, June 7, 2024.

Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has benefitted from New Delhis unwavering support for her government during the past 15 years, and has struck a camaraderie with Indian counterpart Narendra Modi since he came to power in 2014. This was once again on display when she attended Modis induction ceremony on Sunday for a third term, along with other foreign leaders.

But some observers in Dhaka may be wondering if the results of the Indian general election will spur a change in Indias regional policy, especially in its relationship with next-door neighbor Bangladesh.

Because his Bharatiya Janata Party lost the parliamentary majority it had won consecutively in the two previous elections, it has had to form a coalition government with other parties. Although Modis party won more seats than its partners did, the BJP will have to keep its partners happy so they dont pull their support.

That means Modi and the BJP cannot ride roughshod over their coalition partners when making policies, whether those are domestic, regional or international. However, these coalition partners are unlikely to demand any changes in foreign policy, because they are mostly regional parties concerned with their states and domestic issues.

Besides, it is in New Delhis interest to keep Dhaka on its side in the face of competition from Beijing for influence over Bangladesh. Indias ruling blocs, whether it was the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) or the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA), have always prioritized national interest in its policies towards Bangladesh.

Indian policymakers consider it important to have a friendly government in Bangladesh amid tensions between New Delhi and Islamabad and rifts with other South Asian nations that crop up every now and then because, analysts say, Indias policy towards its neighbors is viewed as intrusive.

Back in 1971, India, the worlds most populous democracy, fought alongside Bangladesh in its war of independence from Pakistan.

For India, having a friendly government in Dhaka has meant unconditional support for PM Hasina, who has ruled her country for 15 consecutive years. Indian foreign ministry officials and former envoys have leapt to their neighbors defense when Western countries, human rights groups or civil society activists speak about alleged fixed elections.

Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina arrives at the Indian presidential palace for the swearing in ceremony of Narendra Modi as Indian prime minister, in New Delhi, June 9, 2024. [Manish Swarup/AP]

When Bangladesh opposition parties announced they would boycott the 2014 general election, then-Indian Foreign Secretary Sujata Singh traveled to Dhaka and was said to have pressured the Jatiya Party, led by Gen. Hussain Muhammad Ershad, to participate. During this alleged incident, the UPA was in power in India.

Later, when the BJP took office in New Delhi in 2014, the two neighbors became even friendlier. Modi has appreciated Hasinas efforts to ensure that separatists in Indias northeastern states dont take refuge in Bangladesh, thus bringing peace to the region.

After the January 2024 general election in Bangladesh, Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud acknowledged Indias steadfast support during polls.

India stood by our side in 2014 when there were many conspiracies going on surrounding the election. In 2018, there were efforts to make the election controversial as well as to raise many questions on it; India was beside us then too, Prothom Alo quoted him as telling reporters on Jan. 15.

This time, you all know what was or is the stance of India over holding an election to maintain democratic continuity.

All this while the United States kept urging the Hasina government to ensure free and fair elections, and to stop intimidating the media and silencing the opposition.

In May 2023, the Biden administration announced that the U.S. would deny visas to Bangladeshis suspected of undermining democratic elections in the South Asian nation.

Perhaps as a quid pro quo, members of Hasinas Awami League party stay silent on longstanding issues between the two South Asian neighbors, such as water sharing from the Teesta River and Bangladeshi citizens being killed on the border with India.

A thorn in relations

But what rattles India is Dhakas equally close ties with Beijing.

Bangladeshs ruling party is still politically dependent on India, although Dhaka is increasingly establishing a deeper economic relationship with Beijing. China has invested in several large infrastructure projects in Bangladesh.

Bangladeshs ruling party and Hasina have repeatedly assured India that its relationship with China is not intended to counter India, nor is Dhaka leaning towards Beijing. Perhaps the PMs enthusiastic attendance at Modis oath-taking ceremony and her planned visit to New Delhi on June 21-22, before she is scheduled to visit Beijing on July 9-12, are intended to reaffirm that position.

Meanwhile, during the decade of Modis administration, Indian businesses have ostensibly received preferential treatment in investing in Bangladesh. The Adani groups investment in Bangladeshs energy sector is one example.

Congress party leader Rahul Gandhi, who within the past week was named the opposition leader in Parliament, has alleged time and again that Modi has helped tycoon Gautam Adani get an advantage in investments in other countries, including Bangladesh.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi (right) and his mother and senior party leader, Sonia Gandhi, leave a polling booth after casting their votes in the sixth round of polling in India's national election, in New Delhi, May 25, 2024. [Manish Swarup/AP]

It is from this quarter that a challenge to the Modi governments regional policy, including towards Bangladesh, may arise.

After making huge and unexpected gains in the 2024 election, Congress and its allies now command 232 seats in Parliament to the BJP-led coalitions 293  these MPs can no longer be out-shouted in the House and will insist on making Modi more accountable after his 10 years on untrammeled power.

They may well raise the Adani issues, and not just in the case of Bangladesh.

And as they have insisted from time to time that Modis policies have led to a decline in Indias influence in the region  to Chinas benefit  we may well see them raise questions about Indian foreign policy, specifically about South Asia policy.

Ali Riaz is a distinguished professor of political science at Illinois State University and a non-resident senior fellow of the Atlantic Council. The views expressed here are his own and do not reflect the position of Illinois State University, the Atlantic Council, or BenarNews.
In money laundering case, Bangladesh prosecutors allege that Muhammad Yunus, 13 others transferred $2.2 million from workers compensation fund.

Nobel Laureate Muhammad Yunus waves to reporters as he leaves the Special Judges Court in Dhaka, June 12, 2024.

Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus spoke out against making defendants stand in an iron cage in court, moments after his arraignment in Dhaka on Wednesday over charges linked to alleged money laundering.

Prosecutor Mosharraf Hossain Kajol said the Special Judges Court-4 had accepted the charge sheet submitted by the Anti-Corruption Commission and set July 15 to begin hearing testimony against Yunus and 13 co-defendants.

Exiting the court on Wednesday, Yunus told reporters he was being harassed.

Today, we had been inside an iron cage for long hours. We were told, you stay here, but we passed the whole hearing period inside the iron cage, he said.

Earlier, I raised similar questions, whether it was a fair practice  as far as I know, an accused person will be treated as innocent until they are convicted.

The 83-year-old compared himself and the others to animals.

This is a humiliation for me  an innocent person must stand inside an iron cage during the whole hearing time! This is an abominable practice  this provision should be reviewed, he said.

The money laundering charges against Yunus mark the second criminal case against him that has gone to trial. He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2006 in recognition of his pioneering micro-credit loans that helped Bangladeshi people  women in particular  lift themselves out of poverty through the Grameen Bank, which he founded.

Yunus is out on bail following his previous conviction over labor law violations. On Jan. 1, a court in Dhaka sentenced him and three conspirators to six months.

Law Minister Anisul Huq challenged Yunuss complaint.

Dr. Yunus was given a chair to sit, but he rejected the offer saying he could not sit as other co-accused persons did not get a chair, Huq told BenarNews. Dr. Yunus tried to create an issue in the trial.

While he is popular among Western leaders for his work in the field of poverty alleviation, Yunus was removed from Grameens board of directors in 2011, amid legal battles with the government of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who remains in power.

Mizanur Rahman, a former chairman of National Human Rights Commission, supported Yunus.

Putting Muhammad Yunus inside an iron cage was not decent at all  he is not a serious, notorious criminal. This is too much to put a man of his stature inside an iron cage, Rahman told BenarNews.

[T]his sort of practice does not convey a good message about the countrys judicial system, he said.

Money transfer

Prosecutors allege that Yunus and the others illegally transferred 260 million taka (U.S. $2.2 million) from the Grameen Telecom workers compensation fund to the employees welfare union.

Examining the documents and papers, the court has ruled that money laundering takes place in it. So, the money laundering charge has been framed against Yunus and others, prosecutor Kajol said.

This is not the point to consider whether Yunus embezzled the money. The point is  the workers money had been transferred to the account of the employees union, he said. According to the Money Laundering Prevention Act and the Penal Code, this is money laundering.

If convicted, Yunus could face up to 12 years in prison, according to Kajol.

The prosecutor noted that Grameen Telecom had agreed to pay 4.3 billion taka ($37.2 million) as compensation.

Defense attorney Abdullah Al Mamun said the charge against Yunus was completely baseless and aimed at harassing the Nobel laureate on political grounds.

Money laundering means embezzlement and personal gains. Has Dr. Yunus embezzled the money? Mamun told BenarNews.

That 260 million taka was transferred from one account of the workers to another account. With their consent, the money was transferred to pay the fees of the lawyers of the workers  where is money laundering here?
Agencies participate in Harris County Precinct 2s emergency tabletop exercise on Wednesday, June 5, 2024, at Baldree Community Center. Yi-Chin Lee/Staff photographer

When Harris County staffers and local first responders assembled at Felix L. Baldree Community Center for a disaster drill on Wednesday, they braced themselves for Tropical Storm Debjanian  an imaginary weather event  in an exercise familiar to anyone who grew up playing the computer game Oregon Trail.

But rather than navigating a wagon across rivers and dodging dysentery, Harris County Precinct 2 Commissioner Adrian Garcias team practiced making optimal decisions in response to power outages, changing flood conditions and medical emergencies in the east Harris County areas they represent. With forecasters projecting an extremely active 2024 hurricane season, the annual drill had even higher stakes than usual.

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Tropical Storm Debjanian bore down on the Houston area as group members talked through their preparations with Pernell Davis, Precinct 2's deputy chief of public safety and organization development.

Their plans to set up a shelter at Baldree Community Center  where, in a real disaster, the precinct stands up a shelter, as well as their Office of Emergency Management operations  were quickly thwarted by storm damage.

Baldree is down, Davis announced gravely. This can no longer be our shelter.

Folding cots are set up at Baldree Community Center for Harris County Precinct 2s emergency tabletop exercise on Wednesday, June 5, 2024, in Houston. The center will turn into a shelter when there is a need during the storm season. Yi-Chin Lee/Staff photographer

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The group ran through the list of community centers operated by Precinct 2 to select a backup location for the shelter and emergency operations.

Why not Hardy (Community Center)? Davis prompted.

It floods, he continued. Im thinking of access in and access out. Where do we have generators?

They made the switch to Leonel J. Castillo Community Center.

The precincts purchasing department was called on to prepare everyone for making disaster purchases on the fly. Human resources staff reported that they would be communicating with employees to keep track of where they are, whether theyve been impacted and if they need shelter.

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The finance team was tasked with determining whether the inventory of food, water and supplies was sufficient. The IT team needed to move equipment to Castillo Community Center.

With Tropical Storm Debjanian passing through Harris County, the precincts road and bridge team members were staying at county facilities, including Genoa Camp and Wade Camp, and working in day and night shifts to clear damage, inspect roads and barricade them if they were deemed unsafe.

Agencies participate in Harris County Precinct 2s emergency tabletop exercise on Wednesday, June 5, 2024, at Baldree Community Center. Yi-Chin Lee/Staff photographer

The obstacles continued to pile up during the storm, much like a perilous westward wagon journey.

Genoa Camp is down, Davis announced next. Time for workers to relocate if the incident commander said it was safe to do so.

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Then, as the imaginary storm raged, a resident taking shelter at Castillo Community Center had a seizure. The team called 911.

Then power went out, but the centers generator kicked in.

Harris County was barely hanging in there by the end of the drill, having experienced an incredible cascade of misfortunes caused by strong winds and high water.

In reality, though, hurricane season is just getting started.

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During last months derecho, the Houston area was reminded that severe storms can spring up without much warning. The derecho cast a bright light on the areas preparedness since officials had little lead time to activate emergency operations.

Though Houston was caught off guard, many systems did operate  roads were cleared, cooling centers opened, workers arrived from other regions to help restore power, distribution centers opened and community groups assisted with clean up.

Garcias team hopes the additional preparation will pay off like a well-stocked wagon.
The Indonesian president-elect traveled to Jordan to join world leaders focused on humanitarian crisis in the Palestinian territory.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken (left) and Indonesian President-elect Prabowo Subianto meet in Amman, Jordan, to discuss efforts to reach a ceasefire between Israeli and Palestinian fighters in Gaza, June 11, 2024.

Indonesian President-elect Prabowo Subianto met with top U.S. diplomat Antony Blinken in Jordan this week to discuss efforts to establish a lasting ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, the two countries governments said.

In the eyes of the United States, Prabowo could play a role in international efforts to mediate a truce between Israel and Hamas militants because of his close ties to Islamic groups in his home country and contacts with Mid-East countries, an Indonesian analyst said.

The U.S. needs a figure who can explain the ceasefire efforts to Muslim groups, Muradi, a professor of political and security studies at Padjajaran University in West Java, told BenarNews.

During his meeting with Blinken on Tuesday, Prabowo told the secretary of state that Indonesia welcomed the adoption of the U.N. Security Council Resolution proposed by U.S. President Joe Biden, according to a press release from the Indonesian defense ministry.

An immediate, full, and comprehensive ceasefire is crucial to revive the peace process, Prabowo told Blinken in Amman.

Prabowo, who serves as Indonesias defense minister, has undertaken a series of high-profile foreign trips on the international stage since being officially certified as the future leader of the worlds most populous Muslim-majority country. He takes office in October.

Prabowo said Indonesia also appreciated the mediation by the U.S., Egypt, and Qatar to end the 8-month-old war in Gaza and that his country was ready to cooperate to ensure negotiations continued toward a lasting peace.

The government and people of Indonesia fully support Palestinian independence as a real solution to the conflict in Gaza, Prabowo said during a speech on Tuesday to an international conference in the Jordanian capital on the humanitarian crisis in the Palestinian enclave.

Malaysias top diplomat also attended Tuesdays conference called by Jordan.

Foreign Minister Mohamad Hasan and Blinken concurred that a ceasefire is imperative for any humanitarian response in Gaza to be effective, according to a news release from the Malaysian ministry.

Tunku Mohar Mokhtar, an assistant professor at the International Islamic University Malaysia, said the U.S., a firm ally of Israel, needed the support of Malaysia and other countries in pushing for peace in Gaza.

I think the U.S realizes that international pressure is strong for an end of the crisis and that it should not be seen as being insensitive to such pressure, he told BenarNews.

October attack

On Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas militants launched a wave of attacks from Gaza on Israel that killed 1,200 people, and they took hundreds of people hostage, many of whom remain in captivity.

Israel retaliated by bombing Gaza and launching a military invasion that continues to this day. The Israeli strikes on Gaza have killed more than 37,000 civilians, many of them women and children, according to Gazan health authorities.

A Palestinian man carries two water containers past destroyed buildings in Khan Yunis, in the southern Gaza Strip, June 11, 2024. [Eyad Baba/AFP]

Bidens proposal, announced at the end of May, consists of three phases  a ceasefire, the release of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners, and the reconstruction of Gaza.

For his part, Blinken thanked Indonesia and Malaysia for supporting Bidens proposal and assured attendees that those held hostage in Gaza would be released.

In his speech, Prabowo criticized nations that call themselves modern and civilized but commit violations of international humanitarian law by targeting civilians and civilian infrastructure, without naming specific countries.

We call on all major countries to use their significant influence to uphold international law. The humanitarian disaster unfolding before our eyes must be addressed immediately, Prabowo said.

Prabowo noted that Indonesia was ready to receive up to 1,000 patients from Gaza for treatment in Indonesian hospitals and would repatriate them once they recover and the situation in Gaza improves.

The Medical Emergency Rescue Committee (MER-C), a humanitarian organization operating an Indonesian hospital in Gaza, has said Bidens ceasefire proposal was acceptable to both Palestinian and Israeli groups. The committee also urged the U.S. to ensure that Israel agrees to it.

Sarbini Abdul Murad, chairman of the MER-C Presidium in Indonesia, urged the U.S. and Indonesian governments to secure guarantees from Israel not to damage health care facilities in Gaza. He noted that seven MER-C volunteers were working at hospitals and clinics in the enclave.

Gaza has been attacked by Israel several times. Thankfully, now the Indonesian Hospital has started functioning, although not at full capacity, he said, noting it is operating at 10%.

Meeting with world leaders

During the Shangri-La Dialogue security forum in Singapore earlier this month, Prabowo said Indonesia was ready to send peacekeeping troops to Gaza if given a United Nations mandate.

Since becoming president-elect, Prabowo has taken the unusual step of visiting with world leaders before taking office. In April, he traveled to Beijing to meet with Chinese leader Xi Jinping.

From there, he traveled to Tokyo where he met with Prime Minister Fumio Kishida.

Indonesian President-elect Prabowo Subianto gestures during a special address at the 21st Shangri-La Dialogue meeting at the Shangri-La Hotel in Singapore, June 1, 2024. [Vincent Thian/AP]

Muradi, the analyst from Padjajaran University, said Blinken could have also decided to meet with Prabowo to discuss ceasefire efforts because of the Indonesian president-elects contacts throughout the Middle East.

Jordan is among those who did not oppose the proposal. Egypt and Qatar are also on board, but the OIC countries as a whole are not. Prabowo is expected to lobby them, Muradi said.

Sigit Riyanto, a professor of international law at Gadjah Mada University in Yogyakarta, said Prabowo is someone who could offer advice to those involved in the conflict. He said a ceasefire could succeed only if those involved reach an agreement.

If they agree, then a ceasefire can happen. However, if they do not reach an agreement, a ceasefire will never occur, Sigit told BenarNews.

For Palestinians, Sigit said, a desired ceasefire is not just about ending armed conflict but also about upholding the law.

Parties involved in violations of the laws of war, genocide and serious human rights violations must be sanctioned, as requested by the prosecutor at the International Criminal Court, he said.

Iman Muttaqin Yusof in Kuala Lumpur contributed to this report.
Initiative hopes to provide better access to education, training for child workers on palm oil plantations in the Malaysian state.

The European Union and two United Nations agencies launched an initiative Wednesday to end child labor at palm oil plantations in the eastern Malaysian state of Sabah.

Nearly 20,000 children work in the palm oil industry in Sabah, one of two Malaysian states on Borneo island, according to a 2018 government survey of plantation workers. Nationwide at least 33,600 children aged between 5 and 17 years old were employed that year on palm oil plantations.

The new initiative seeks to provide thousands of child workers better access to education and training opportunities, particularly in Sabahs Tawau district, officials from the EU bloc, the International Labour Organization (ILO) and UNICEF said.

Eradicating child labor is a top priority for the EU, and working proactively to prevent it is all the more urgent right now. We know that strong, local partnerships are essential to understand, address, and prevent child labor, said Dr. Audrey-Anne Rochelemagne, Cooperation Team Leader of the Delegation of the EU.

This is why we have joined forces with ILO, UNICEF, and local actors to implement this program, she also said in a statement issued by the International Labour Organization. The programs launch coincided with this years World Day Against Child Labour.

The European Union is a major importer of palm oil, a commodity used in a variety of products from soap to peanut butter.

Tawau has the third largest palm oil plantation area in Sabah, with over 232,000 hectares, according to the 2018 statistics from the Sabah Agricultural Department.

Sabah is Malaysias largest palm oil-producing state, accounting for more than one fourth of the countrys total palm oil supply in 2019, according to a 2021 report of the World Wide Fund for Nature. Malaysia is the worlds second-largest palm oil producer behind Indonesia.

Children work on plantations because their families struggle financially due to low wages and the pressure to increase palm fruit production, the ILO said. According to the U.N. agency, limited access to formal education and child protection in oil palm plantations has further worsened the situation.

Many of the children working in plantations also belong to migrant families, according to a 2023 report by UNICEFs regional office for East Asia and the Pacific.

Many families of migrants and illegal immigrants work in palm oil plantations where the children in the family do not have valid documents and have difficulty accessing education and other services, thus forcing them to go out to work, children rights activist Hartini Zainudin told BenarNews on Wednesday.

A lot of these children spend more hours working because they have no access to education and they want to help their parents achieve production quota, Anne Balthazar, another advocate for children, said.

Two children work to help their families by selling tissues and nuts in front of a restaurant in Kuala Lumpur, 11 July 2021. [S. Mahfuz/BenarNews]

The project, which will run up to June 2025, will work with children and their families in and around palm oil plantations in Sabah.

Every child, no matter their legal status, has a right to a childhood and the full range of rights guaranteed in the Convention on the Rights of the Child, said Robert Gass, the UNICEF Representative in Malaysia.

We believe that change is possible for children working in and around plantations if all sectors  public and private  work together to prevent and address the root causes leading to child labor, and to promote remedy when it occurs.

BenarNews on Wednesday sought comments from the Sabah Department of Labor on the project and the problem of child labor, but did not immediately hear back.

A local education advocacy group said the government could help address the issue of child labor in the state by reaching out to vulnerable communities, especially migrant families.

Despite laws prohibiting child labor, weak enforcement allows this issue to persist, Cahaya Society coordinator Asrin Utong told BenarNews.

Children are subjected to harsh working conditions, long hours, and minimal pay. They are often deprived of their right to education and a safe childhood and the primary motive behind this exploitation is profit, with employers seeking to minimize costs by employing cheap child labor, he said.
A French gendarme stands behind an armoured vehicle facing activists as they accompany a convoy of vehicles clearing roadblocks in Paita in France's Pacific territory of New Caledonia, June 4, 2024.

UPDATED at 8:40 a.m. ET on 2024-06-12

Fiji and Papua New Guinea have urged the U.N.s decolonization committee to expedite a visit to the French-controlled Pacific territory of New Caledonia following its pro-independence riots last month.

Nine people have died, dozens were injured and businesses were torched during unrest in the capital Noumea triggered by the French governments move to dilute the voting power of New Caledonias indigenous Kanak people.

Fijis permanent representative to the U.N. Filipo Tarakinikini, whose statement was also on behalf of Papua New Guinea, spoke on Monday of the two countries serious concern at the disproportionate number of Kanaks who have lost their lives since the onset of the crisis.

We underscore that New Caledonia can best be described as a fork in the road situation, Tarakinikini told the committee session at U.N. headquarters in New York.

History is replete with good lessons, he said, to navigate such situations toward peaceful resolution. Today we have heard yet again loud and clear what colonization does to a people.

Tarakinikini said Fiji and Papua New Guinea want the U.N.s Special Committee on Decolonization to send a visiting mission to New Caledonia as soon as possible to get first-hand knowledge of the situation.

He also criticized militarization of the island after France sent hundreds of police and troops with armored personnel carriers to restore order. Unrest has continued despite the security reinforcements.

Taking up arms against each other is not the solution, nor is the militarization and fortification by authorities in the territory the correct signal in our Blue Pacific continent, Tarakinikini said.

Fijis permanent representative to the U.N. Filipo Tarakinikini addresses the U.N. Special Committee on Decolonization, or C-24, in New York on June 10, 2024. [UN Web TV]

New Caledonias international airport remains closed, preventing pro-independence President Louis Mapou and other representatives from traveling to the U.N. committee.

Rioting is estimated by the local chamber of commerce to have caused U.S. $200 million in economic damage, with 7,000 jobs lost.

The decolonization committee was established by the U.N. General Assembly in 1961 to monitor implementation of the international commitment to granting independence to colonized peoples. Today, some 17 territories, home to 2 million people and mostly part of the former British empire, are under its purview.

Fiji and Papua New Guinea are both long-term committee members, which has listed New Caledonia as a U.N. non-self-governing territory under French administration since 1986.

In the Pacific, American Samoa, French Polynesia, Guam, Pitcairn and Tokelau also remain on the list.

Representatives of civil society organizations who spoke to the committee criticized Frances control of New Caledonia and blamed it for triggering the crisis.

Loyalists who made submissions likened the riots to a coup and a deliberate sabotage of what they said was the previous consensus between Kanaks and French immigrants, forcing those who do not adhere to the independence project to leave.

Frances statement to the meeting appeared to blame outside forces for fomenting unrest. Certain external actors, far from the region, seek to fuel tensions through campaigns to manipulate information, the countrys delegate said, adding the European country would continue its cooperation with the U.N., including during this key period.

French National Assembly member from French Guiana Jean Victor Castor warned the country had entered a new phase of colonial repression.

Castor also called on the U.N. to send a mission to encourage France to respect its commitments and pursue the path of concerted decolonization, the only guarantee of a return to peace.

Burned cars are seen on Plum Pass, an important road through Monte-Dore in France's Pacific island territory of New Caledonia on June 10, 2024. Monte-Dore is cut off from the capital Noumea by roadblocks weeks after deadly riots in the Pacific island territory. [Theo Rouby/AFP]





Frances control of New Caledonia gives the European nation a significant security and diplomatic role in the Pacific at a time when the U.S., Australia and other Western countries are pushing back against Chinas inroads in the region. New Caledonia, home to about 270,000 people, also has valuable nickel deposits that are among the worlds largest.

The unrest was the worst political violence in the Pacific territory located between Australia and Fiji since the 1980s. The riots erupted May 12 as the lower house of Frances parliament debated and subsequently approved a constitutional amendment to unfreeze New Caledonias electoral roll, which would give the vote to thousands of French immigrants.

Final approval of the amendment requires a joint sitting of Frances lower house and Senate.

On Wednesday, French President Emmanuel Macron said such efforts should be suspended following his call earlier this week for a snap general election in his country, Agence France-Presse reported.

I have decided to suspend it, because we cant leave things ambiguous in this period, Macron said, according to the international news service.



Referendums held in 2018 and 2020 under the U.N. mandated decolonization process produced modest majorities in favor of remaining part of France.

Less than half of New Caledonians voted in the third and final referendum in 2021 that overwhelmingly backed staying part of France.

The vote was boycotted by the Kanak independence movement after it was brought forward without consultation by the French government during a serious phase of the COVID-19 pandemic, which restricted campaigning.

Mareva Lechat-Kitalong, Delegate for International, European and Pacific Affairs of French Polynesia, told the committee what happened with New Caledonias third referendum should not happen again for a question so fundamental as independence or not.

She also urged France to commit to a roadmap for French Polynesia that fully supports a proper decolonization process and self-determination process under the scrutiny of the United Nations.

This report has been updated with new information about French President Emmanuel Macron's call to suspend action on a constitutional amendment to unfreeze New Caledonias electoral roll.
Bennington, VT (05201)

Today

Some clouds this morning will give way to generally sunny skies for the afternoon. High 61F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Mainly clear. Slight chance of a rain shower. Low 48F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph.
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!
Houston Forensic Science Center investigators work on an officer-involved shooting where a Houston Police Department officer discharged his weapon from inside a police truck at a suspect on foot at the 8000 block of Martin Luther King Boulevard on Thursday, Jan. 9, 2020, in Houston. The task force officer was working on surveillance in the vehicle when the suspect approached and did not leave when the officer told him to. The suspect raised his backpack at the officer and said "I have something for you," then the officer fired several rounds at the suspect. The suspect has been taken to a hospital in unknown condition. Yi-Chin Lee/Staff Photographer Police investigate the scene where five Houston Police officers were shot near the 7800 block of Harding on Monday, Jan. 28, 2019, in Houston. Brett Coomer/Staff photographer

An AI technology firm will install 64 new cameras throughout the city to improve public safety as Houston Police Department officials say they are facing staffing shortages.

In a $177,483 contract approved Wednesday by City Council, Airship AI agreed to install the additional cameras and provide expanded server space to support them. The deal comes on the heels of statewide efforts to adopt the new technology across its many departments and agencies.

Advocates claim machine-learning tools will expand law enforcement capabilities and revolutionize public safety.

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The backdrop to all this, whether in policing or corrections, is the ongoing staffing crisis in the public safety sector, said Marc Levin, chief policy counsel at the Council on Criminal Justice. With the right guardrails, this type of technology can improve the efficiency and efficacy of police work.

Levin pointed to the recent controversy surrounding HPDs crime lab backlog. He said that, when used properly and within the guidelines of the Constitution, AI-driven technologies can free up resources dedicated to menial work.

Right now were only clearing about half of reported homicides, Levin said. Property crime is at about 10%. Theres clearly a use case for technologies that can help us get those numbers up. It just comes down to a question of whether or not were willing to accept some of the tradeoffs that come with using AI.

Others, however, have taken a less rosy view of the use of AI surveillance tools in public safety.

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Savannah Kumar, an American Civil Liberties Union lawyer specializing in surveillance and police bias, said such contracts represent a growing movement among government bodies rapidly adopting the technology.

Were seeing AI crop up pretty much across the entire state, Kumar said. Its definitely a source of alarm and concern, particularly when it comes to the use of predictive technology and other tools in law enforcement.

According to Kumar, predictive technologies, or programs that can flag an individual or group as high-risk for criminal activity, directly violate the Fourth Amendments prohibition on undue search and seizure. In effect, Kumar said, AI technologies could one day be used to police individuals before any crime has been committed.

While the expansion of Airship AIs infrastructure does not necessarily mean HPD will employ predictive algorithms in day-to-day law enforcement operations, the race to adopt cutting-edge technology could lead government agencies to sacrifice due process  possibly without even knowing it, she said.

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Theres a real lack of transparency and understanding in terms of what algorithms are being used, how these tools are functioning or even when theyre a part of the process,  Kumar said. Particularly as it applies to law enforcement, surveillance companies are making use of proprietary technology that is sometimes opaque even to the departments using them.

The current contract makes no mention of specific algorithms or analytics, but Airship AIs website states part of its mission is to provide law enforcement and security operations with   predictive analysis of events, before they occur  

Levin, despite his support for the technology, largely shared Kumars concerns with lack of transparency. He pointed to recent legislation from the European Union, which mandated AI providers share code with regulators. In the U.S., this information is generally classified as intellectual property and is not accessible to government officials.

He said there have been examples of cases in which evidence gathered through the use of AI was ruled inadmissible because no one could openly testify to how the software worked, or how it arrived at the conclusion it did.

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Despite transparency concerns, the technology has also been deployed at Texas southern border. In late 2023, Airship AI was awarded a $10.9 million contract with an agency within the Department of Homeland Security to support intelligence-gathering operations. For Levin, the adoption of AI in roles like border safety isnt an option, its an arms race.
Bennington, VT (05201)

Today

Some clouds this morning will give way to generally sunny skies for the afternoon. High 62F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Mainly clear. Slight chance of a rain shower. Low 49F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph.
BENNINGTON  A second teenager was arraigned Monday morning on two counts of sexual assault with no consent after an underage drinking party in Bennington in the spring of 2023 ended with a teenage victim sexually assaulted and the two charged teens bragging about the assault to friends.

Arron OShea, 19, was charged with two felony counts  sexual assault with no consent and aggravated sexual assault with more than one person stemming from an underage drinking party in Bennington last year. A second individual, Timothy Veach, 18, has already been arraigned for the incident this past February.

According to a police affidavit, on May 25, 2023, the victim was drinking Twisted Teas with a group of friends after work. The next thing she remembered was waking up at the home of Timothy Veach, a residence she had never been to before, without any recollection of how she got there or what happened there. When she awoke, the victim recalled seeing Veach and OShea both naked. She also recalled not having any pants on.

Later that day, the victim went to the hospital to find that the tampon she had been wearing was lodged inside her. One of the friends who was at the party confirmed the victim had been drunk and passed out. Another witness told police that both Veach and OShea were high-fiving each other later that morning and bragging about tag-teaming the victim.

Veach was released into the custody of his mother after a weight of evidence hearing in April. According to a courthouse source, Veachs release from custody is presumed to be related to his age, which was 17 at the time of the incident. Veachs defense filed a motion back in February to consider Veach as a youthful offender in Family Court. No decision has been made so far. OShea was also released after his arraignment. It is unclear as to whether OSheas attorney will also seek youthful offender status.

Youthful offender status can be requested for anyone charged with a crime up until the age of 22.

Both OShea and Veach are facing a possible life sentence with a minimum combined 13 years behind bars if found guilty. Both men were required by court order to submit DNA samples to police to be compared to samples found on the victim. Those results are still pending. Judge Kerry McDonald-Cady issued conditions for both men, including no contact with anyone involved in the case and random alcohol testing, due to public safety concerns.

OShea has a criminal record in Vermont. In June 2023, he was charged with felony attempted murder. That charge is still pending.

According to court affidavits in that case, OShea and two other individuals were walking in the desert, a densely wooded area behind Henrys Market off of Fillmore Street, when OShea allegedly pulled out a Taurus 9 mm handgun and started shooting at the victim, who was known to the shooter. O'Shea is facing a life sentence in that case as well.

Veach also has a criminal record in Vermont, including petty larceny, grand larceny, and a trespass offense. It is unclear when or if his case will be reassigned to the family court system under the youthful offended statute.

OShea is currently being held without bail at the Marble Valley Regional Correctional Facility in Rutland on the attempted murder charge. He was given a $100 bail on the sexual assault charge.

No further hearings have been scheduled.
ADAMS  For the first time in more than a year, the former Miss Adams Diner dining car will no longer be empty.

M&Js Taste of Home will run its breakfast and lunch spot out of the former Miss Adams Diner building beginning Wednesday, proprietors Mark and Jeanne Lapier announced at a ribbon-cutting event Tuesday. The chief objectives, according to Mark, are to keep the lights on, pay the bills, and make a lot of people happy with good home cooking.

A fixture in downtown Adams, the Miss Adams Diner building has been vacant for more than a year, after the property was seized due to debts of the previous owner, North Adams City Councilor Peter Oleskiewicz. The Lapiers are still in the process of buying the building from David and Deanna Atwells RMR Enterprises; the deal likely wont close until October. In the meantime, the restaurateurs are paying down their purchase price of $80,000.

Adams residents have long awaited a steady business to go inside the dining car built by the Worcester Lunch Car Co., which has hosted different businesses since 1949. When M&Js announced on Facebook that theyd be back, the response on social media was staggering.

I cant even put into words how exciting this is, and how much support weve gotten, Jeanne said while flanked by elected officials and town staff Tuesday. I hope we serve everybody to their expectations.

Town Administrator Jay Green, Select Board Chairperson Christine Hoyt, and newly elected Select Board member Ann Bartlett all were in attendance, along with a few local business owners, to celebrate the Wednesday morning opening. Green said he and others are excited to see businesses like M&Js fill out Adams downtown.

This building itself is iconic, Green said. It doesnt matter the name, what matters is the spirit and humanity and welcomeness inside there.

Mark and Jeanne have already established M&Js Taste of Home as an occasional pop-up restaurant and catering business. They will continue that aspect of their business in a possibly limited form. The restaurant will be open from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and 6 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sundays. There will be breakfast and lunch every day except Sunday, which will just serve breakfast.

Counting the Lapiers, a staff of seven will keep the 49-seat joint running, with four out front, two in the kitchen and a dishwasher.

The Lapiers have completed a deep clean of the property. As Mark put it, a couple steps below Hazmat-level.

It had just been neglected for years. Everybody who had opened in there was a turnkey operation, Mark said. Youd come in here and eat and there would be five-gallon pails catching the water. No one fixed the roof, that was the first thing I did before I did anything. It was literally raining in here.

The plan is for the eatery to come back as an old-school diner, with something like eight constantly changing daily specials and a robust permanent menu that includes different types of French toasts, pancakes, eggs Benedict, sandwiches and specialty dishes.

Jeanne compared the brick-and-mortar setup to the couples food trailer.

The trailer itself is a 30-foot kitchen, so its got a full line, but this is obviously so much nicer, she said. Theres no dishwasher in the trailer; you can put a halo on that here. Im loving the dishwasher.

The expectation for opening day, Jeanne said, is a full dining car.

Almost our entire staff will be on tomorrow. Id like to think were prepared, she said on Tuesday. If everyone who says theyll be here at 6 a.m. is here at 6 a.m., itll be a rush.
It is not that we don't understand the real issues flagged by councilors who backed the amendment and its cut to city schools. Yet the outcome of this amendment is that the council forced a cut on a school district budget that, even before this reduction, entailed slashing the equivalent of 22.8 full-time positions  just to shave $200,000 off the city's $216 million budget.
PITTSFIELD  Adrianna Hillard knows the power that a story can have: It was the story of another Pittsfield teen that moved her to fight for her education.

And on Tuesday night, Hillard, 16, shared her own story with classmates and their families as the speaker at the William Stickney Pittsfield Adult Learning Center graduation. She enrolled at the center last year after reading the story of 2023 graduate Evonne Barnett, which inspired her to pursue education on her own terms.

After being stuck in what I was stuck in, I had no hope that I was going to make it past 15 years old, she said. To come here and be accepted like they knew me for years  and pushed through what I never thought I could overcome means the world to me.

Hillard was one of 57 students who received diplomas on Tuesday during a ceremony at the center at 141 North St. in Pittsfield. Part of the Pittsfield Public Schools, the center offers students an opportunity to pursue their High School Equivalency Test diploma, or HiSET, in an alternate setting.

In Hillard's case, it was practically impossible to go to school for most of her life. Her parents struggled with addiction, she said, and her life had no structure. From kindergarten on, Hillard was out of school more than [she] was in school."

She dropped out of school in seventh grade and took online classes for eighth grade during the pandemic. She attended orientation at Taconic High School, then never returned. She tried to reach out for assistance, but found it hard to break through to people who could help.

Her grandparents "saved [her] whenever they could" throughout the years, and she eventually snuck out in the middle of the night to live with them about a year ago.

That was when Hillard read Barnetts story in The Eagle about last year's graduation. Barnett struggled with anxiety, depression and borderline personality disorder, which made the traditional learning environment untenable, but thrived at the center.

She graduated last year with plans to go on to Berkshire Community College.

It kind of just took my breath away to see that she did it with all she had to overcome, Hillard said.

Hillard followed in Barnetts footsteps just a year later at Taconic High School, where she shared her achievement with her fellow graduates.

In the past, Hillard was nervous about sharing her story, but wants to deliver a message to people in similar circumstances.

Theres more people like you than you think," she said, "and you will always be able to get out of it if you want it bad enough.

Hillard plans to go to trade school, likely to enter the automotive industry.

PRESSURE RELEASE

The center helped Everett Collins, who struggled to find motivation to go to class during his junior year at Wahconah Regional High School in Dalton.

Collins went to the center after he withdrew from Wahconah, realizing that his days were blending together and he needed something to do. He pursued his diploma while working jobs at Teos Hot Dogs and Target.

The alternative format and staff support helped him tremendously, he said.

Being on free time, on your own schedule, it really does help relieve a lot of pressure, Collins said.

For Hanna Fulton, 32, Tuesdays ceremony was the first graduation shes ever experienced. Fulton grew up in southwest Florida, where she was homeschooled. Her education fell short of state requirements in Massachusetts, and she needed a high school degree to keep growing in her career as an ophthalmic assistant.

That led her to the adult learning center in February 2023.

Fulton knew going in that there would be some growing pains with the process, especially learning math, which was never her strong suit.

I knew that there was going to be a lot of crying involved for me to start learning, Fulton said. And it turns out that they were more than ready for that  it was really good to be somewhere safe where I could get that part out before moving forward.

It wasnt an easy road to the HiSET for Fulton. Two weeks after orientation, she was struck by a drunk driver, totaling her car and injuring her. She wouldnt have been able to attend the classes without help from a co-worker, who drove her to the center each afternoon from Great Barrington.

She also faced several delays trying to take the five-part HiSET exams, including dates being canceled because of construction, illness and internet outages. Even her final exam  a math test  was stalled by 15 minutes because of technical difficulties.

But she aced it, scoring 19 out of 20 possible points.

For Fulton, mother to a 6-year-old son, the graduation was a perfect chance to reflect on the achievement.

I was just back to being a mom: cleaning the house, vacuuming, going to work the next day, she said. There was not any time to stop and think about it  being able to do this is a good reason to stop.

'YOU CAN DO ANYTHING'

Tamasia Wallace, 21, said the graduation made her feel powerful after spending much of her life doubting herself.

Wallace said that many of the missed opportunities in her life came from being afraid to speak up for herself  growing up, she often felt like she couldnt do things because of a lack of support at home. Wallace dropped out of high school about five years ago.

But last year, she moved to Pittsfield and heard about the center, where the staff built her confidence back up.

I just tried, Wallace said. It didnt hurt to try, because I was giving up on myself at one point.

After getting her HiSET, Wallace plans to pursue a career in the automotive industry.

Wallace said that she wants to be a positive example for her six younger siblings and her children  she's seven months pregnant currently  to tell them they can do anything they set their mind to.

Ive got to be the one to show them, Listen, you can do anything, Wallace said. Theres so many possible outcomes of your life, dont let your situation make you. You can change your situation. Everything is temporary; nothing is forever.
PITTSFIELD  A large poster of motorcycle stamps now hangs in Police Chief Thomas Dawleys office.

The poster, along with an accompanying plaque, were the official commendation from members of the United States Postal Service, who on Tuesday morning held a ceremony in a back room at the Fenn Street outpost for Dawley  an expression of gratitude for his efforts to rescue pregnant postal worker Leah Rowland from a dog attack in 2021.

We were in the right place at the right time, said Dawley, remembering how he and his neighbor, a nurse, helped save her from serious injury.

On the afternoon of July 31, 2021, Dawley was at his home on Ridgeway Avenue when he heard the cries for help from Rowland. She was being attacked by two dogs that had burst through the screen door of their house. Dawley said he ran to help Rowland, hurried her away and got her to his house to wait for EMS.

Dawley, who said he was bit too, later urged the Animal Control Commission to spare the dogs lives, though one was ultimately ordered euthanized. It all happened so fast, he said, that he wasnt sure which of the dogs bit him, and which bit her.

Shortly after the incident occurred, the postmaster, Stefanie Curry, contacted Dawley expressing her gratitude about how he saved Rowland and her unborn child; Rowland was seven weeks pregnant at the time of the attack.

Curry told Dawley that she was going to present him with a special set of stamps as an official gesture of thanks. After two and a half years, Dawley finally heard from Curry last week that the ceremony would take place at 11 a.m. Tuesday, a gap he attributes to how the postal service may have had to go through multiple levels of approval for this ceremony to take place.

The post office was closed briefly as its officials and the police watched Dawley receive an enlarged set of four USPS 2006 Sturgis Bike Rally stamps, which are now out of production. A motorcycle enthusiast, Dawley has owned multiple Harley-Davidsons, and was touched that Curry and her staff personalized the dedication.

Im glad its a motorcycle and not a portrait of my face on the stamp, Dawley said jokingly. I appreciate it, I really do.

Rowland herself presented Dawley with a plaque in what Dawley described as a very emotional moment for the two of them. Rowlands daughter is now just over 2 years old.

The plaque leaned against his office desk on Tuesday afternoon, its inscription thanking him for his sacrifice for the greater good and for protecting our employees.

I was honored, humbled, speechless, and emotional, he said. Everything was coming to me at once.
This Story in History is selected from the archives by Jeannie Maschino, The Berkshire Eagle.
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CCS helps promote Chinese language and culture in Croatia, says sinologist

Xinhua) 09:58, June 12, 2024

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.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Houston firefighters walking back to the fire trucks after a two-alarm warehouse fire on 12600 block of Bellaire Boulevard is under control on Monday, Nov. 27, 2023 in Houston. No firefighter or civilian were injured in the fire, Houston Fire Department Public Information Officer Sedrick Robinett said. Yi-Chin Lee/Staff photographer

Houston City Council approved Wednesday a historic bond deal, estimated to cost taxpayers over $1 billion, to spread $650 million in backpay to firefighters over the next 25 to 30 years.

The 14-3 vote came after a fiery hourlong discussion in which a divided council debated whether Houston voters should have a more direct say in greenlighting a proposal that would affect them for decades to come. Both Finance Director Melissa Dubowski and Controller Chris Hollins estimated that the total cost of the bond, including interest, could reach between $1.1 billion and $1.3 billion, though the final amount will not be clear until after the bond pricing.

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Council Members Edward Pollard, Tiffany Thomas and Mary Nan Huffman voted no on the proposal. Both Pollard and Thomas tried to push for an amendment to put the bond issuance on the November ballot, but Mayor John Whitmire ruled them out of order.

City Attorney Arturo Michel explained these amendments would violate Texas Open Meeting Act, because they put forth a different measure than what was originally on the agenda. The bigger issue, he said, is the firefighters' union might not agree to delay the process for several months, which could lead to a new trial in the fall and leave Houstonians without an agreement to vote on.

I promise you, if we start over, it'll be more expensive. It'll be years before it's resolved. Its going to impact the operations of the fire department, Whitmire said during Wednesdays City Council meeting.

Pollard, on the other hand, insisted "anything can be negotiated," noting members were still getting notifications about last-minute changes to the firefighters agreement as late as Tuesday night.

Three months of a wait to get to the ballot  which early voting starts in October  that's not unreasonable for $650 million over 30 years, Pollard said. It's (Houstonians) money. Let them have a voice.

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Thomas said her constituents have emailed her and approached her at grocery stores about the firefighters deal, asking her to continue to probe into its financial implications for the city on their behalf.

"You campaigned on send me to City Hall because the city's finances are a wreck,'" Thomas said to the mayor and other members. And now that we're here, we're willing to absolve our ability to investigate and interrogate the city finances for the next 30 years.

Firefighters union president Marty Lancton said after the vote that he was not surprised by the approval.

"Mayor Whitmire has been very clear. He's been the most open and transparent mayor  open to criticism where the last administration clearly was not, Lancton said. We encourage dialogue. We encourage people to ask questions. The facts matter, the truth matters and we got it done."

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More debates to come

Approving the bond issuance is just the first step in finalizing the firefighters deal. The council also needs to vote on the actual settlement agreement, which includes $650 million in backpay and a labor agreement granting firefighters at least 24% pay raises over the next five years.

The agenda item that includes the two agreements has appeared twice on the council agenda, last week and this week. However, members could not vote on it because Controller Chris Hollins, Houstons independently elected watchdog, had not certified the funds as available. The controllers certification is a necessary step before the council can approve any financial commitments by the city.

An unofficial copy of the labor agreement has been circulating around City Hall for weeks. But Whitmires team did not release an official draft until last week, prompting complaints from Hollins and several City Council members about the rushed timeline for the vote.

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On Monday, Hollins sent Whitmire a 10-page inquiry with 44 questions about the deal, covering topics from base pay increases and drug testing requirements to discipline procedures and negotiation concessions.

Whitmire responded Tuesday evening, answering only five of the controllers questions, saying the rest were irrelevant to the certification of the agenda item.

To be clear, by not certifying this agreement and allowing City Council to conduct their legislative duty you are risking Fire and EMS operations for all Houstonians, as well as jeopardizing the entire negotiated settlement, Whitmire wrote in a letter to Hollins.

Hollins told the Chronicle he does not plan to certify the proposal until he gets clear answers to his questions. Then, he said, it will be up to City Council to decide whether to move forward with the proposal.

The mayors letter was not responsive to 90% of my questions, Hollins said. I wouldnt be doing my job as Houstons taxpayer watchdog if I allowed this important item  one that will ultimately cost the City more than $1 billion  to move forward without answering critical questions that are relevant to the fiscal sustainability of the City and the safety of Houstonians.

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Some council members have criticized what they see as a lack of transparency in the citys negotiations with the firefighters union. Pollard, for example, said he has repeatedly tried to inquire into the Whitmire administration's starting offer on the backpay amount, the math behind it and how the two parties eventually agreed on $650 million.

If it was your money in your own savings account, you would ask more questions, Pollard said to other City Council members. But since it's the taxpayers' money, and it's not coming directly out of your Wells Fargo or your Chase account, you're not asking the questions.

Whitmire revealed Wednesday, after repeated probing by Pollard, that the city started at around $400 million but made multiple offers, as is typical in such negotiations. He also noted a court deadline next Thursday, after which the city will have to request a new trial, at least temporarily.
Words. They inform us, they inspire us, they shape our very lives. Written words endure through time for generations to come. But no words have had greater influence than those penned by the men known throughout church history as the Four Evangelists. Four pillars of faith, entrusted to share the greatest story ever told.

From the windswept shores of Galilee to the scholarly halls of academia, they emerge from the shadows of history. Each shared from their unique perspective, yet they blend together in one grand symphony orchestrated by the hand of God. Their words have shaped our faith and guided our beliefs.

But have you ever wondered about the lives of the men behind these sacred texts? Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John were not just names on the pages of the Bible; they were real people with extraordinary journeys. Behind their inspired words lie tales of personal sacrifice and steadfast faith, along with a message of hope and inspiration for each of us today.

Matthew, a Sinner Turned Saint

The day began like any other, as Levi sat at his booth. Yet on this day, something felt different. His heart was heavy with doubt and discouragement. He was always good with numbers and finance, and tax collecting seemed like the perfect job. However, his religious background led him to question the common practice of overcharging taxes and keeping the extra money. And his fellow Jews saw him as a traitor, collecting taxes for the oppressive Roman government. A religious outcast, Levi was forbidden to enter the synagogue. Not only was he cut off from his people, but unable to offer sacrifices and to worship, Levi felt cut off from God.

As he carefully stacked his coins in neat rows, maybe he wondered if it was too late to change professions. If he did, would it make a difference? Just then, a large crowd approached and drew his attention. There in the midst stood the itinerant rabbi he had heard about.

Jesus went out and saw a tax collector by the name of Levi sitting at his tax booth. Follow me, Jesus said to him, and Levi got up, left everything and followed him. (Luke 5:27-28)

No longer called Levi, Matthew was chosen as one of the twelve apostles. From the shores of Galilee to the streets of Jerusalem, Matthew walked alongside his Master. As one of Jesus twelve closest companions, he witnessed the miracles and teachings defining the earthly ministry of the Son of God.

As an apostle, evangelist, and missionary, he traveled far and wide, spreading the good news of salvation. Tradition holds that he evangelized to the east as far as Persia. Despite being persecuted and martyred for his faith, Matthew proclaimed the gospel message with unwavering devotion. The man who abandoned a lucrative career remained willing to give his all for Christ to the very end.

Matthew knew the Scriptures well, as he quotes from the Old Testament more than the other three gospel writers combined. He presents Jesus as the King of kings, fulfilling prophecies of the coming Messiah. His gospel account provides the perfect bridge between the Old and New Testaments.

Today, the life of the Apostle Matthew serves as a reminder that no one is beyond the reach of Gods grace and mercy. His journey from tax collector to apostle is a witness to the transformative power of faith and the boundless love of a Savior who calls each of us by name. May we, like Matthew, respond to the call of Christ with open hearts and willing spirits.

Mark, the Eager Servant

As Jesus and His disciples left the upper room, a young man sleeping downstairs awoke. Quickly he arose and followed. Hiding in the shadows of Gethsemane, he watched silently. When Jesus was arrested and the others fled, a young man, wearing nothing but a linen garment, was following Jesus. When they seized him, he fled naked, leaving his garment behind (Mark 14:51-52). Perhaps with these two verses, Mark shares his first encounter with Jesus and identifies himself as the author of the book.

Born into a devout Jewish family in Jerusalem, Mark, also known as John Mark, was raised in the cradle of Christianity. Surrounded by the fervent prayers and steadfast devotion of his relatives, he learned about the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

Although we know nothing about his father, Mark grew up in a wealthy family in Jerusalem. His mothers house was large enough for many in the early church to gather. After being released from prison, Peter went to the house of Mary the mother of John, also called Mark, where many people had gathered and were praying (Acts 12:12).

In this nurturing environment, the Apostle Peter discipled Mark, and he assisted him in his ministry. Peter lovingly called him my son Mark (1 Peter 5:13). But despite his close relationship with Peter, Marks journey was not without its setbacks.

Eager to serve his Lord, Mark traveled with his cousin Barnabas to Antioch to help develop the church there (Acts 12:25). When Barnabas and Paul left on their first missionary journey, Mark went along to assist them (Acts 13:5).

Mark was always willing to serve, but his eagerness sometime surpassed his preparation for ministry. In a moment of weakness, he abandoned Paul and Barnabas and returned home to Jerusalem (Acts 13:13). Deserting Paul strained their relationship and cast doubt on his credibility as a disciple.

When Barnabas wanted to take Mark on their second missionary journey, Paul refused (Acts 15:36-41). However, Mark would redeem himself through his faithful service to the gospel. Later in his life, Paul wrote, Get Mark and bring him with you, because he is helpful to me in my ministry (2 Timothy 4:11).

Mark never teaches or leads a ministry, but he is always there behind the scenes, assisting others in their work for the Lord. In his gospel account, he reveals Jesus as Gods servant, sent to die for the sins of the world. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many (Mark 10:45).

Marks journey from disappointment to faithful servant reminds us Gods grace surpasses our failures and His plans exceed our doubts. His life is a testament to the love and forgiveness of a Savior who calls us to overcome our failures and rise above our circumstances. Like Mark, may we find strength in adversity, courage in uncertainty, and hope in the promise of redemption revealed in his gospel.

Luke, the Meticulous Historian

Trained in the art of medicine, Luke dedicated his life to the alleviation of suffering and the restoration of health to those in need. Lukes compassion knew no limits, as he cared for both the physical and emotional needs of the downtrodden.

As Christianity spread to the gentile world, Luke heard the message of hope and spiritual healing that only Jesus can provide. We dont know when or how Luke converted to Christianity, but by the time he met the Apostle Paul in Troas, he had a firm understanding of the gospel message (Acts 16:10).

Luke remained in Philippi after Paul and his companions departed for Thessalonica. He likely served as the first pastor of the church meeting in Lydias home (Acts 16:40). Luke would rejoin Paul later when he returned to Macedonia and continue with him through his journeys and imprisonment in Rome. Luke played a vital role in spreading the gospel message, providing support and encouragement in times of trial and persecution.

Luke was a physician, historian, theologian, missionary, and pastor. Like all Christians today, Luke believed even though he had not seen or met Jesus in the flesh, and he made it his mission to share the good news with others.

Inspired by the power of Jesus message, Luke embarked on a journey of spiritual exploration and scholarly inquiry. He sought to understand and document the life and teachings of the Son of God. Drawing upon his background in medicine and his keen observational skills, Luke researched and compiled the Gospel that bears his name.

Since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, I too decided to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught (Luke 1:3-4).

Lukes writing is as scholarly as if written by the mind of a scientist, yet filled with compassion from the heart of a pastor. His meticulous research, compassionate heart, and devoted faith, provide hope and light in a world overshadowed by darkness and despair.

Dr. Lukes life serves as a powerful reminder that faith and intellectual thought are not mutually exclusive, but complementary aspects of a dynamic spiritual journey. His legacy of compassion, healing, and scholarly inquiry continues to inspire and uplift believers around the world.

May the life of Luke inspire us to diligently study Scripture and church history to ascertain what we hear is true and provide a firm foundation for our faith. May we be as passionate as Luke to use our God-given gifts and talents to communicate His truth, strengthening the church, encouraging believers, and spreading the gospel.

John, the Transformed Disciple

The early morning sun glistened on the water as they pulled at their nets. Born into a family of humble fishermen, James and John work with their father, Zebedee. The rugged landscape of Galilee shaped their lives, and the sea breeze weathered their skin. As they prepared their nets, Jesus called them, and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him (Matthew 4:22).

Along with Peter and James, John became one of Jesus closest companions. They walked alongside Him and witnessed the miraculous signs and wonders accompanying His teachings.

Besides being rugged fishermen, James and John evidently had a sharp temper. On one occasion, when Jesus was not welcomed in a city, they ask, Lord, do you want us to call fire down from heaven to destroy them? (Luke 9:54). Jesus gave them the nickname sons of thunder (Mark 3:17). They even had the audacity to ask Jesus in front of the other disciples, Let one of us sit at your right and the other at your left in your glory (Mark 10:37).

However, Johns deep and abiding love for his Master would distinguish him as the disciple whom Jesus loved (John 13:23). From the tender moments of shared fellowship throughout the gospels, we witness an intimate bond shared between Jesus and John. The depth of Jesus relationship with John is most clearly seen on the cross.

When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to her, Woman, here is your son, and to the disciple, Here is your mother. From that time on, this disciple took her into his home (John 19:26-27).

Peter and John became leaders in the early Church, and later they went to Samaria to pray for believers to receive the Holy Spirit (Acts 8:14-17). John continued to proclaim the message of salvation to all who would listen, guiding believers into a deeper relationship with the risen Christ.

The Gospel of John paints a portrait of Jesus Christ unlike any other. Rather than describing the events in the life of Christ, Johns focus is to emphasize the meaning of the events. John tells us the why behind the what of the other three Gospels, inviting readers into a deeper experience of Gods love and grace.

From a rugged fisherman with a quick temper to the person known as the Apostle of Love, the life of John exemplifies the transformative power of Gods love. May we be inspired by his example of faithfulness, devotion, and unwavering love, as we journey ever closer to the heart of God.

The Four Evangelists

Their words enrich us, and their lives provide an example for us to follow. Each surrendered their life in service to their Lord. Each followed a unique path as guided by the Holy Spirit. May their lives inspire us to fully commit ourselves to follow His leading in our service to Him.

Photo credit: Getty Images/FotoDuets

Brad Simon has shared Gods Word for over forty-five years, with a unique blend of storytelling and Bible exposition. He is a retired Master Jeweler and relies on the God-given creativity that won him several national and international jewelry design awards to craft Biblical Narratives and Life Stories that are engaging and thought-provoking. Once a speaker, author, and publisher for the jewelry industry, now he is putting those skills to work to promote the beauty and appeal of Gods Word. Download a free copy of his devotional on prayer.
As we read through the Bible, titles of books and places may seem mysterious to us. The world has changed over two thousand years. What were once central locations have been forgotten to time and history. We may still be familiar with places like Rome or Jerusalem, but when the Bible mentions cities like Corinth or Laodicea, it takes more research and effort to understand the context.

However, the people of that era would not only know the places but also associate certain reputations with those cities, like we do with Los Angeles or New York City today.

When reading through these books of the Bible, doing a bit of research into a place helps us better comprehend the work and even interpret Scriptures with more confidence.

Paul wrote the letter to the church in Philippi in the fist century. We gain great wisdom and instruction from this apostolic letter, but what can we know about city of Philippi?

What Was Philippis Location and History?

Situated in the present-day region of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace, Philippi was founded in 356 BC by King Philip II of Macedon, the father of Alexander the Great. The city lies on the Via Egnatia, an important Roman road that connected the eastern and western parts of the Roman Empire, making it a crucial hub for trade and military movements.

Philippi began as a small Thasian colony known as Krenides, which means springs. When the city faced threats from the Thracians, its inhabitants sought the help of King Philip II. Recognizing its strategic and economic potential, Philip II annexed the city, fortified it, and renamed it after himself. He expanded its infrastructure, establishing Philippi as a significant city in the Macedonian kingdom.

The citys prosperity was largely due to its proximity to gold mines in the nearby mountains, which Philip exploited to fund his military campaigns and political ambitions. Philippi flourished under Macedonian rule, becoming a vital center for commerce and culture.

Philippis prominence continued under Roman rule. In 42 BC, it was the site of the famous Battle of Philippi, where the forces of Mark Antony and Octavian defeated the assassins of Julius Caesar, Brutus and Cassius. Following the battle, Philippi became a Roman colony, Colonia Victrix Philippensium, and later, Colonia Iulia Augusta Philippensis. This status granted its inhabitants Roman citizenship and brought Roman customs, architecture, and governance to the city.

Philippi continued to thrive during the early Byzantine period, benefiting from its strategic location and robust economy. The city saw the construction of significant Christian buildings, including a large basilica. However, by the 6th century AD, the city began to decline due to natural disasters, economic difficulties, and the shifting political landscape.

By the time of the Ottoman conquest in the 14th century, Philippi had largely been abandoned and fell into ruins.

Today, the site of ancient Philippi is a significant archaeological and historical landmark. Located near the modern town of Krinides, the ruins of Philippi attract scholars, tourists, and religious pilgrims. The archaeological site includes well-preserved remnants of the ancient theater, forum, basilicas, and city walls. Excavations have also revealed parts of the Via Egnatia and the remains of Roman and Byzantine structures.

In 2016, UNESCO designated the Archaeological Site of Philippi as a World Heritage Site, recognizing its historical and cultural importance. Visitors today can explore the ancient ruins, gaining insights into the citys rich past and its role in shaping early Christian history.

What Is the History of the Philippian Church?

The church in Philippi was the first Christian community established in Europe, and it holds a special place in the history of early Christianity.

Acts documents the establishment of the Philippian church. During his second missionary journey, the Apostle Paul, accompanied by Silas, Timothy, and later Luke, received a vision of a man from Macedonia pleading for help (Acts 16:9-10). Interpreting this as a divine call, Paul and his companions set sail for Macedonia, eventually arriving in Philippi.

Upon arriving in Philippi, Paul and his team sought a place of prayer outside the city gate, by the river. They encountered a group of women there, including Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth from Thyatira. Lydia, described as a worshiper of God, listened to Pauls message and was baptized along with her household, thus becoming the first convert in Europe (Acts 16:13-15).

Notable events marked the Philippian churchs early period. City officials imprisoned Paul and Silas after casting a spirit of divination out of a slave girl, disrupting her owners source of income (Acts 16:16-24). Despite their imprisonment, they prayed and sang hymns, and a miraculous earthquake opened the prison doors. The jailer, witnessing this, asked what he must do to be saved. Pauls response, Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved  you and your household, led to the jailer's conversion and baptism (Acts 16:25-34). These conversions marked the foundation of the Philippian church.

The Philippian church continued to grow and develop after Pauls initial ministry. Early Christian writings and historical records indicate that the church maintained its significance in the region. The Philippians steadfastness in faith, generosity, and adherence to Pauls teachings made them a model community in the early Christian world.

The archaeological discoveries in Philippi, including early Christian inscriptions and remnants of basilicas, testify to the lasting presence and influence of Christianity in the city. These findings suggest that the church in Philippi played a vital role in the spread of Christianity throughout Macedonia and beyond.

Why Did Paul Write the Letter to the Philippians?

As the apostle responsible for planting the church in Philippi, Paul felt responsible for them to some degree and wrote them a letter of encouragement, as he did for many of the churches he planted. Each letter holds unique themes and discussions, since each church had their individual issues and needs.

Paul had a special bond with the Philippian church, evident throughout his letter. The Philippians had supported Paul financially and emotionally during his ministry, both in person and from afar. In Philippians 1:3-5, he writes, I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. He wanted to acknowledge their generosity and reinforce their mutual bond.

Paul encouraged the Philippians to remain steadfast in their faith and to persevere through trials. He recognized the challenges they faced and sought to uplift their spirits by reminding them of the joy and peace found in Christ. Philippians 4:4-7 highlights this: Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Paul also addressed disunity within the church. He urged the Philippians to adopt a Christ-like attitude of humility and selflessness, fostering unity among believers. In Philippians 2:3-4, he writes, Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. He used the example of Christs humility and obedience as a model for them to follow (Philippians 2:5-11).

Paul wrote the letter to the Philippians during his imprisonment, likely in Rome around 61-62 AD. His confinement provided a backdrop for his messages of joy, perseverance, and reliance on God despite circumstances. In Philippians 1:12-14, Paul shares how his imprisonment has served to advance the Gospel: Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that what has happened to me has actually served to advance the gospel. As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ.

What Can We Learn from Pauls Letter to Philippi?

Paul's letter to the Philippians offers a wealth of lessons for Christians today, rooted in the themes of gratitude, joy, humility, unity, and perseverance. By examining Pauls motivations and the content of his letter, we can glean valuable insights for our own spiritual journeys and what life should look like in faith communities.

1. The Importance of Gratitude and Support

Paul wrote to the Philippians to express his deep gratitude for their support. This teaches us the importance of appreciating and acknowledging those who support and uplift us in our faith. All of us can point to people who have spiritually invested in us, now or in the past. We can learn to cultivate a spirit of thankfulness, recognizing the contributions of others in our lives and our ministry, and fostering a sense of community and partnership in spreading the gospel. This gratitude shouldnt just exist in our minds, it should be expressed through practical and clear ways.

2. Rejoicing Despite Circumstances

One of the central themes of the letter is joy, despite Pauls imprisonment. Philippians 4:4 encourages, Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! This crucial reminder encourages us while we face challenges and hardships. Pauls example shows that joy is not dependent on external circumstances but is rooted in our relationship with Christ. We learn to find joy in Gods presence and faithfulness, maintaining a positive outlook even in difficult times.

3. Embracing Humility and Service

Paul emphasizes the importance of humility and selflessness, urging the Philippians to adopt the attitude of Christ, who humbled himself for the ultimate and eternal good of others. Paul also expresses how the Father rewarded his Son for such self-sacrifice. This call to humility is particularly relevant today, in a culture often focused on self-promotion and individualism. As Jesus followers, we strive to put others first, serve our communities selflessly, and follow Christs example of humility and sacrifice with hope in the unshakable heavenly reward ahead of us.

4. Promoting Unity and Reconciliation

Pauls plea for unity in the Philippian church, particularly in resolving conflicts like the one between Euodia and Syntyche (Philippians 4:2-3), highlights the importance of harmony within the Christian community. Modern believers can learn the value of reconciliation and unity, working to resolve disagreements peacefully and fostering a spirit of cooperation and mutual support. This unity strengthens the witness of the church and reflects the love of Christ.

5. Strength in Christ

Finally, Pauls declaration in Philippians 4:13, I can do all this through him who gives me strength, reminds us that our strength comes from Christ. In a world which often emphasizes self-reliance, Paul teaches us to depend on Gods power and grace. The apostle expresses this reliance upon Jesus to the Philippians while suffering persecution for the faith, under house arrest in Rome. And we read this letter even today, two thousand years later, through the Spirit-inspired words. By trusting in Christ, we can overcome obstacles and fulfill our God-given purposes, blessing others in our life and leaving a spiritual legacy for future generations.

Photo credit: Getty Images/Westend61

Britt Mooney lives and tells great stories. As an author of fiction and non -iction, he is passionate about teaching ministries and nonprofits the power of storytelling to inspire and spread truth. Mooney has a podcast called Kingdom Over Coffee and is a published author of We Were Reborn for This: The Jesus Model for Living Heaven on Earth as well as Say Yes: How God-Sized Dreams Take Flight.
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Enabling the organisations to conduct screening camps, and facilitate knowledge exchange

Sri Madhusudan Sai Institute of Medical Sciences and Research in India and the Healing Little Hearts Foundation in the UK have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to provide critical care for children suffering from Congenital Heart Disease (CHD).

As per the recent statistics, 8-10 out of every 1,000 children born in India are diagnosed with CHD, and the Government of India estimates that this figure will escalate fivefold within the next five years. The MoU arrives at an opportune time, enabling the organisations to conduct screening camps, facilitate knowledge exchange, and enhance healthcare delivery for CHD patients.

Dr Sanjiv Nichani, Founder, Healing Little Hearts, UK expressed, We are honoured to finalise the MoU with SMSIMSR in the presence of Sadguru. The tranquil atmosphere of Satya Sai Gram is truly remarkable and holds immense potential for healing. This partnership represents a commitment to saving countless young lives, ensuring they have the chance to thrive with good health. The warm hospitality here is exceptional, and we are eager to continue returning to support children battling Congenital Heart Disease."

The Sri Madhusudan Sai Global Humanitarian Mission, which includes the Indias First Free Private Rural Medical College and associated hospitals, and the Healing Little Hearts Foundation share a profound commitment to free healthcare. Their partnership signifies a significant step towards alleviating the burden of CHD on affected families, highlighting the belief that the joy of healing surpasses all other considerations.
Fujifilm India, a leading healthcare company, has announce the extension of its Tuberculosis (TB) Screening under its CSR campaign to Kutch District of Gujarat with its implementation Partner Apollo Telemedicine Network Foundation, further broadening the scope of its community health initiatives that are already underway in Valsad and Banaskantha.

This significant step aligns with the commitment to the national TB elimination campaign, "TB Harega Desh Jeetega," reinforcing the dedication to combatting TB across India.

The National TB Elimination Programme's India TB Report 2024 reveals that 25.55 lakh TB cases were notified last year, marking the highest number since the programme's inception in the 1960s.

Despite positive trends, the estimated number of TB cases remains high at 27.8 lakh in 2023. TB-related deaths remained unchanged at 3.2 lakh. These figures underscore the substantial TB burden in India and the need for sustained efforts to reduce both incidence and mortality.

Building on their past initiatives, Fujifilm India has successfully conducted numerous screenings and awareness programmes in Valsad and Banaskantha, reaching thousands of individuals and providing critical support in the fight against TB.

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Jem's Birding & Ringing Exploits in the Eastern Province and elsewhere in Saudi Arabia
South African JSE-listed independent education provider, Curro Holdings has appointed Naomi Herbst as its new operational head, at Curro Burgundy in Cape Town.

Herbst rejoins the Curro family, having previously worked as the foundation phase head at Curro Century City. She brings a wealth of experience and a passion for educational excellence, having held significant positions across the Western Cape, including head of department and senior teacher at UCT Online School, and most recently, project-based specialist and head of e-learning at Gene Louw Primary School.
Houston City Controller, Chris Hollins, left, Sarah Whitmire, Houston Mayor John Whitmire, Whitney Whitmire Jenkins, and Judge Victor Trevino III, Harris County Justice of the Peace for Precinct 6, right, are shown during the City of Houston Inauguration Day event held at the Wortham Center Tuesday, Jan. 2, 2024, in Houston. Melissa Phillip/Staff Photographer Houston City Controller Chris Hollins speaks to a reporter Tuesday, Jan. 2, 2024, in his office at City Hall. Jon Shapley/Staff photographer

City Council approval for Houstons $1.5 billion settlement deal with the firefighters union may face further delay as Controller Chris Hollins, who pumped the brakes on the deal last week, raised additional questions about the agreement.

Mayor John Whitmire first put the agreement on the council agenda a week ago, but members could not vote on it because the controller, Houstons independently elected watchdog, had not certified the funds were available  a necessary step before the council can approve any financial commitments by the city. Hollins said his office received the draft less than two days prior and had not completed a financial review.

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On Monday, Hollins sent Whitmire a 10-page inquiry with 44 questions about the deal, covering topics from base pay increases and drug testing requirements to discipline procedures and negotiation concessions. Without satisfactory answers, Hollins said he would not certify the proposal.

My job is transparency and accountability, the controller told the Chronicle. I wouldn't be doing my job in the way that Houstonians have elected me to do if I move forward with this before getting the answer to these questions.

Whitmire responded to Hollins inquiry Tuesday evening, but only to five of the controllers questions seeking confirmation about the cost of the settlement and other financial commitments. The mayor said these are the only questions relevant to the certification of the agenda item.

All administrative work of the city government is under the sole control of the Mayor, which includes negotiations and settlements with our unions, Whitmire said in a written letter to the controller. Any suggestion that there could have been a better deal is speculative and uninformed.

City Attorney Arturo Michel added that the only part of the deal Hollins needs to consider is the $6.5 million promised to the union for its legal expenses. This is because the backpay will be covered by a bond, and the pay raises under the collective bargaining agreement concern a public policy issue outside the controllers jurisdiction, according to the city attorney.

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Due to a court deadline, members only have this week and next week to greenlight the proposal before the city must request a new trial from the judge, according to Michel.

The city will likely end up withdrawing the request after Hollins and the council take some additional time to review and approve the deal. However, this could delay both the backpay settlement process and the new labor agreement's effective date.

To be clear, by not certifying this agreement and allowing City Council to conduct their legislative duty you are risking Fire and EMS operations for all Houstonians, as well as jeopardizing the entire negotiated settlement, Whitmire said in his letter.

Hollins scrutiny has also drawn repeated criticisms from firefighters union president Marty Lancton, who said he found some of Hollins questions disappointing and disturbing since they were not related to city funds availability.

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They seem like theyre more politics being played when this is serious work, Lancton said during Tuesdays public comment. Its not appropriate. Its time to move on.

Alarm over vague pay raise language

The proposed deal aims to end the yearslong legal dispute between the city and firefighters, offering $650 million in backpay for the seven years they worked without a contract. It also includes a new labor agreement, set to take effect on July 1, that promises salary raises of at least 24% over the next five years.

Hollins letter raised concerns about an escalator clause for firefighter salaries. Under the current language, the city will offer a 10% pay raise in the upcoming fiscal year. But the total increase over five years could range from 24% to 34% depending on whether the city can find additional public safety revenue.

Whitmires administration has floated the idea of pushing for a voter-approved measure to create a public safety exception to the citys property tax revenue cap, but he has yet to provide a detailed plan.

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THE FINE PRINT: 4 takeaways as Houston officials reveal new details of firefighter settlement and how to fund it

Hollins said since the escalated pay raises would result in an additional expense of over $100 million over the full five-year period, the agreement needs specific triggering conditions to detail, for example, the amount of new revenue required for the higher pay raises to take effect.

Given the magnitude of this financial value to both the City and to hardworking firefighters, it is fiscally irresponsible to not define the specific triggering conditions, Hollins said in his letter.

He added the lack of clarity might also lead to disputes in the future over whether a particular scenario should trigger the higher pay raises.

Michel said the administration has prepared a memo stating that to trigger the additional salary increases, the new revenue sources will have to be sufficient to cover the raises.

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I think that should satisfy the controllers concern, he said.

Balance in disciplinary decision making

Tensions over the firefighters deal have risen among Houstons elected officials, with concerns beyond its financial implications. One of the most controversial provisions is about who gets the final say in disciplinary decisions.

Currently, the Civil Service Commission, which handles grievances for all city workers, consists of three members and three alternates selected by the city. Under the newly proposed agreement, the firefighters union and the city would each appoint three members. Since a unanimous vote is required for all terminations and demotions, this effectively gives the union veto power over disciplinary decisions.

Hollins questioned whether similar measures exist in past labor contracts or with other unions.

Michel acknowledged that no Houston labor union has been given such power before. He noted, however, that the city has plans to add representatives of the citys police and municipal workers unions to the commission as well, in an effort to put all unions on an equal playing field.

That will be a work in progress that will require negotiations beyond council approval of the firefighters agreement, the city attorney said. But based on some of the discussions with the leadership of the unions, we believe we're going to be able to work this out.

Hollins letter also questioned a draft provision that would prohibit random drug testing, which Lancton has criticized as a waste of firefighters time. Michel told the Chronicle the city has decided to remove this clause.

Several council members have previously questioned whether the Whitmire administration pushed aggressively enough for city interests. Both Whitmire and Lancton have insisted that the agreement represents a fair compromise for both parties.

Hollins included a number of questions probing the concessions requested and granted by each side during the negotiation process. He acknowledged, however, that it will ultimately be up to City Council to decide whether to move forward with the current deal.
Nokia has just made the world's first-ever "immersive" call as the phone maker successfully integrated 3D spatial technology into mobile devices for more life-like conversations even from far away.

In a press release on Monday, Nokia unveiled the new 3GPP Immersive Voice and Audio Services as the "biggest leap forward" from the standard phone calls of today.

Current audio and video phone calls often sound flat and less detailed due to data compressions and monophonic quality in regular calls, a problem the new IVAS technology aims to resolve.

As of writing, the Nokia 3D spatial call can already be used even on regular mobile phones as the company moves to bring its services to telecoms, other devices, and public networks.

The company touted the new patent-pending technology as part of its new 5G Advanced Network rollout towards "enhanced extended reality and metaverse applications."

Also Read : Nokia, NASA Plans to Bring 4G Network to the Moon

When will the 3D Spatial Call Become Available to the Public?

While Nokia has already made great advances for the more "immersive" phone calls this year, the feature is not expected to arrive anytime soon.

The 5G advanced network is currently touted as a direct replacement for the 5G networks of today, which would take years to become available for mass consumption.

This is not to mention the licensing and distribution efforts Nokia first needs to clear before the technology becomes accessible to all users.

Even in the same press release, the company did not provide any specific end dates for when the technology will be released, only claiming to have "demonstrated the future of voice calls."

Related Article : The Wonders of 5G, Explained

Other Tech Giants Move to Develop Spatial Technology

While Nokia's promised spatial technology might be years away, the phone maker is not the only company currently building mixed-reality features to improve users' call experience.

Over the past months, Apple and Samsung have released new VR headsets already capable of 3D spatial calls.

It would not be a surprise if other companies soon arrived at the same technology as Nokia before the tech firm rolled out its "immersive" phone calls.
Aer Lingus pilots have voted in favour of industrial action this evening.

They are seeking wage hikes of over 20 percent after rejecting a pay rise of 9 per cent brokered at the Labour Court.

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The Irish Airline Pilots' Association (IALPA) says 97.7 percent of the ballots returned were in favour of industrial action, up to and including strike.

Aer Lingus says a strike would be unnecessary and regrettable, resulting in significant disruption to the airline's customers and other employees.

It says talks are ongoing, and it's also willing to seek the support of the Workplace Relations Commission to explore further solutions.

As the Irish Times reports, Ialpa president Mark Tighe said the union would announce what action it might take in due course but said he hoped the companys management would come to its senses.

The result of this ballot shows the resolve and determination of our members to get a fair share of the large profits that Aer Lingus are making,, said Mr Tighe.

He said pay at the airline had failed to keep pace with that at airlines like British Airways, Lufthansa and Virgin Atlantic in recent years.

At least seven days notice would have to be given of any strike action but this would cause enormous disruption for customers of the airline as the peak of the summer holiday period approaches.
A hearing to establish whether there is sufficient evidence to send former DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson to trial on historical sex charges will take place on July 3rd, a judge has confirmed.

The timing of the committal proceedings, known as a preliminary enquiry (PE), was fixed when the case against Donaldson and his co-accused, his wife Lady Eleanor Donaldson, was briefly mentioned at Newry Magistrates Court on Wednesday.

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Neither of the accused was in court for the short hearing but both will have to appear in person on July 3rd.

Lawyers for both accused, and a barrister for the Northern Ireland Public Prosecution Service, all confirmed to District Judge Eamonn King that they would be ready for the committal proceedings to be heard on July 3rd.

It has already been confirmed that Donaldson, who was the long-standing MP for Lagan Valley, is not running for re-election in the UK General Election the following day.

The 61-year-old was arrested and charged in relation to the historical sexual allegations at the end of March.

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He faces 11 charges: one of rape; one of committing an act of gross indecency; and nine of indecent assault on dates between 1985 and 2006. The offences relate to two alleged victims.

His wife, 58, of Dublinhill Road, Dromore, faces charges of aiding and abetting in connection with the alleged offences.

Barrister Fiona OKane, for the PPS, told the judge the case was on track as solicitors for both accused confirmed they had received the papers related to the prosecution.

The judge confirmed the PE would begin at 10.30am on July 3rd.

The defendants are to appear in person, he added.

No other substantive issues were raised during the review hearing, which lasted just over a minute.

Donaldson resigned as DUP leader and was suspended from the party after the allegations against him emerged in March.

It is understood that in a letter to DUP party officers at the time, he made clear he would be strenuously contesting all charges against him.

Weeks prior to his arrest, he had led the DUP back into Stormont following a two-year boycott of the powersharing institutions.

East Belfast MP and previous deputy leader, Gavin Robinson, has been appointed his successor as DUP leader.
A part-time security guard has been accused of criminal damage after a fire destroyed "priceless" and "irreplaceable" ancient mummies in the crypt at St Michan's Church in Dublin.

Christian Topiter, 38, was held in prison custody on remand pending approval of a person to stand his bail and needs 4,000 lodged in court before he can be released.

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The blaze happened at around 4pm on Tuesday, and water damage is believed to have ruined five mummified remains, including an 800-year-old artefact known as 'The Crusader'.

A tour guide raised the alarm after noticing smoke in the vault of the building on Church Street.

The Dublin Fire Brigade extinguished the flames before they spread to the rest of the building and made the area safe. No injuries have been reported.

Gardai arrested Christian Topiter, 38, who has used various addresses and had a Romanian travel card, and he was detained at a north Dublin station overnight.

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Mr Topiter, formerly of Grand Canal House, Lower Rathmines Road, Dublin 6, was charged with causing criminal damage at St Michan's Church to mummified remains, property of Church of Ireland Archdeacon of Dublin & Vicar of St Michan's Church David Pierpoint.

He appeared before Judge Shalom Binchy at Dublin District Court on Wednesday.

Objecting to bail, Garda James Kenny told the court he was concerned the accused would commit more offences or interfere with witnesses.

The garda said there was CCTV evidence and alleged the accused was arrested shortly afterwards wearing distinct clothing.

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Judge Binchy heard that a witness told gardai that there was a person "locked behind gates where this incident occurred, where he would have had to forcibly enter".

The court heard that lately, Mr Topiter had been living 200 metres away in a hostel beside Merchant Quay.

The officer claimed the accused said in his Garda interview that he knew people in the church, but gardai have been unable to establish a reason for the incident, "and a lack of motive gives gardai grave concerns".

Garda Kenny said historical artefacts of this nature are priceless and irreplaceable.

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The garda maintained that the offence was at the higher end of criminal damage offences, which could carry a maximum 10-year sentence.

The garda alleged Mr Topiter became aggressive in his interview and attempted to rip up his statement.

The court heard he had not provided identification documents and gardai were not 100 per cent satisfied with his identity or that he had ties to this jurisdiction.

Client's identity

No conditions, Garda Kenny said, would appease his concerns, and he asked the court to refuse bail.

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Cross-examined by defence solicitor John Shanley, the officer conceded that gardai had information about his client's identity but added that enquiries were also ongoing.

Mr Shanley challenged the bail objections, saying that his client had "clear ties" to Ireland and was in a four-and-a-half-year relationship with his fiancee, who attended the hearing.

He also argued that there was no evidence before the court that his client would interfere with witnesses. Mr Shanley said his client was in a stable relationship, worked as a security guard, received social welfare payments, and participated in a charity soup run.

Addressing the garda's "grave concerns" about returning to the church and committing more offences, the defence solicitor countered that contention, saying, "There was no history of that".

The garda sustained the bail objection, citing the seriousness of the case and the irrevocable damage to historical artefacts.

Pleading for bail, the defence submitted that Mr Topiter had an immigration identity card issued by gardai, was presumed innocent, and would obey conditions.

The solicitor also stressed his client had no history of serious offences.

Judge Binchy noted the garda evidence but said the accused had a presumption in favour of bail, which she set in his bond of 10,000, of which 2,000 must be lodged. He must also have a 10,000 independent surety approved with a 2,000 lodgement.

Once bail has been taken up, he must stay away from St Michan's Church, not contact witnesses, provide the gardai with his address, and surrender his identification or travel documents.

The accused, who stood silently throughout the hearing, has yet to enter a plea and was granted legal aid. Judge Binchy remanded him in custody with consent to bail under the terms she outlined, to appear via video link at Cloverhill District Court next Tuesday.

The mummified remains in the crypt are believed to have been destroyed by the water that was required to put out the fire.

The other mummies date back 400 years, in addition to 'The Crusader'. A team from the Garda Technical Bureau sealed off the scene for a forensic examination, and no tours can take place until further notice.
Microsoft and Google will be offering free or discounted cybersecurity services to rural hospitals and health centers in the US as ransomware attacks continue to impact the country's healthcare sectors.

In a statement via CNN, Microsoft said it would be cooperating with Google and the White House to provide digital assistance to rural community hospitals highly vulnerable to cyberattacks.

This includes free security updates, cybersecurity assessments, advice, and hospital staff orientations to prepare them for any potential data breaches in the future.

The US government will also be implementing new cybersecurity requirements for all hospitals against cyberattacks and digital service disruptions.

The collaboration is expected to benefit over 1,800 rural hospitals in the country in need of IT resource assistance.

The new initiative came amid a surge in ransomware attacks in hospitals and healthcare providers over the past months.

Also Read : Ascension Healthcare Service Disrupted in Newest Cyberattack on US Networks

Millions of Americans Affected by Healthcare Cyberattacks

With the recent string of ransomware attacks across the country, the federal government has been ramping up efforts to improve cyber defenses amid concerns that more Americans could be affected by the attacks.

The cyberattack on UnitedHealth alone compromised at least one-third of Americans after threat actors accessed customer and patient records last February.

This is not to mention its impact on patients who have to be relocated to other hospitals as digital operations and services were halted by the disruption.

The concerns coincide with a recent Director of National Intelligence report showing a 128% increase from 2022 to the next.

ALPHV/Blackcat, the same hacker group that targeted UnitedHealth, remains the most prolific cyberattack perpetrator in the US as it is responsible for 30% of all healthcare attacks worldwide.

As of writing, cyberattacks continue to wreak havoc across the US as pharmaceuticals and small hospitals have to temporarily pause their services to thousands, if not millions, of customers.

FBI Launches Crack Downs Amid Growing Ransomware Attacks

Amid growing concerns about ransomware attacks, the Federal Bureau of Investigation has also been increasing efforts to crack down on hacker groups and their platforms to disrupt their operations.

Unfortunately, many sites and groups taken down later resurfaced as other hackers took up the mantle to continue the aggressive operations in the US and other Western countries.
A 73-year-old man who is wanted in Northern Ireland on firearms and explosive charges linked to the murder of a RUC officer in Co Derry almost 50 years ago has appeared before the High Court on foot of an extradition warrant.

The High Court heard on Wednesday the murdered officer's gun was allegedly recovered from a farmhouse where Seamus Christopher O'Kane and two others were discovered hiding out in 1976.

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Mr O'Kane, of Scalestown, Dunshaughlin in Co Meath but who is originally from Garvagh in Co Derry, is wanted by authorities in Northern Ireland on four offences as part of an investigation into the murder of 25-year-old Constable Robert John McPherson in Co Derry on July 26, 1975 and the attempted murder of a colleague.

Mr O'Kane was arrested by detectives from the Garda Extradition Unit today following the endorsement of a Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TaCA) Warrant as part of a joint operation with the PSNI.

Extradition warrant

The extradition warrant states that on May 5th 1976 Mr O'Kane and others escaped from custody at the Maze prison in Northern Ireland prior to a decision being made to prosecute him for the four offences.

Outlining the charges facing Mr O'Kane before Mr Justice Patrick McGrath at the High Court on Wednesday, Detective Garda Tony Keane of the Garda Extradition Unit said the warrant relates to the respondent allegedly committing four offences on February 16th 1976 at Brockaghboy in Garvagh.

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The extradition warrant states that a military observation team identified suspicious activity at a farmhouse owned by a retired farmer.

The warrant also states that officers observed three males approaching the farmhouse and that one of the males was carrying a backpack. Officers called to the farmhouse and the householder told officers that he was alone in the property.

The warrant continues that a search of the property and surrounding outhouses was conducted. During the search, explosive substances, firearms and ammunition were recovered.

This included two electric detonators, two improvised pressure mat switches, two Walther pistols, one Browning pistol, a 0.22 rifle, a Remington shotgun and 104 rounds of ammunition.

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"Seamus Christopher O'Kane and two other males were found hiding in an upstairs bedroom in the property and were subsequently arrested," the warrant reads.

Explosive devices

The warrant further stated that forensic examinations confirmed that the electric detonators recovered from the property at Brockaghboy, Garvagh were explosive blasting accessories, used to initiate charges of high explosive.

The pressure mat switches were of a type used in the electrical firing circuits of "booby-trap" explosive devices. Pressure on the mat by an unsuspecting person completed the electrical circuit and fired the detonator, thereby initiating an explosive charge.

The warrant continues that Mr O'Kane was interviewed on February 17th 1976, where he made a full admission to possessing the explosive substances, firearms and ammunition recovered from the property at Brockaghboy in Garvagh.

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The two men found with Mr O'Kane at the property were interviewed. The warrant reads that both also made admissions to possessing explosive substances, firearms and ammunition. Mr O'Kane and the other males stated that the householder had no knowledge of the materials found.

A warrant for Mr O'Kane's arrest, for the offence of escape from custody, issued on May 7th 1976, while a decision was taken to prosecute him for the four offences the following month, on June 8th.

Det Gda Keane told John Kerr BL, for the Minister for Justice, that he was on duty this morning and called to O'Kane's address at Scalestown, Dunshaughlin in Co Meath at 7.16am, where he arrested the respondent on foot of the warrant and cautioned him.

Det Gda Keane said he introduced himself to Mr O'Kane and showed him his ID card. He said that Mr O'Kane agreed that his name was Seamus Christopher O'Kane.

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The respondent told the detective that he was born in Garvagh in Co Derry and that he was an Irish national.

Mr O'Kane told Det Gda Kane that he held an Irish passport and produced it.

Det Gda Keane said he informed the respondent that the UK had previously arrested him on foot of a warrant and cautioned him.

The officer gave Mr O'Kane a copy of the warrant for his arrest, made under a Trade and Co-operation Agreement (TaCA) as part of a joint operation with the PSNI.

The detective said he also informed Mr O'Kane of his right to consent to his surrender to the issuing state, namely Northern Ireland, and his right to be provided with legal advice.

Det Gda Keane said he asked Mr O'Kane whether he knew what these offences were about and that the respondent had replied "no".

Mr O'Kane was then conveyed to Navan Garda Station.

Det Gda Keane said he was satisfied that the person named on the warrant was the person he arrested.

The detective told Mr Kerr that he was prepared to consent to bail subject to certain conditions if the court saw fit.

Cross-examination

Under cross-examination, Det Gda Keane told John Berry BL, for the respondent, it was alleged that these offences from February 16th 1976 were linked with another incident, which was alleged to have taken place on July 26th 1975.

Constable McPherson was from Leck, outside Coleraine in County Derry. He was shot dead in an INLA ambush in Dungiven Main Street around midday on July 26th 1975.

He was hit by a single shot when he and a colleague were ambushed as they investigated a report of a suspect car. His fellow officer was hit multiple times but survived.

Mr Berry put it to the detective that evidence in relation to the possession of the firearms was allegedly used to tie Mr O'Kane to the murder of Constable McPherson. The detective said he was not sure how the two events were tied.

In reply, Mr Berry said that a firearm taken from the officer in 1975 was allegedly found at the scene at Brockaghboy in Garvagh in 1976.

Mr Berry said his client was sought for extradition to Northern Ireland in 1976, but it was refused by the Supreme Court in 1978. He said Mr O'Kane had been living openly in the Meath area.

Mr O'Kane was granted bail on condition that he reside at Scalestown in Dunshaughlin, that he sign on three times a week at Ashbourne Garda Station, that he must obey a daily curfew of 9am to 9pm, provide a mobile phone number to gardai which he must carry at all times and not apply for any duplicate passport or travel documents.

Mr Justice McGrath fixed June 19th as the date for the next hearing of the extradition case.

The first offence alleges that Mr O'Kane unlawfully and meticulously had in his possession or under his control certain explosive substances, namely two electric detonators and two improvised pressure mat switches, with intent by means thereof to endanger life or cause serious injury to property in the UK or to enable any other person by means thereof to endanger life or cause serious injury to property in the UK, contrary to section 3(1)(b) of the Explosive Substances Act 1883.

It is also alleged that Mr O'Kane knowingly had in his possession or under his control certain explosive substances, namely two electric detonators and two improvised pressure mat switches, under such circumstances as to give rise to a reasonable suspicion that he did not have them in his possession or under his control for a lawful object, contrary to section 4(1) of the same act on the same occasion.

It is further alleged that Mr O'Kane had in his possession firearms and ammunition, namely two Walther pistols, one Browning pistol, a 0.22 rifle, a Remington shotgun and a quantity of ammunition, with intent by means thereof to endanger life or cause serious injury to property or to enable any other person by means thereof to endanger life or cause serious injury to property, contrary to section 14 of the Firearms Act (Northern Ireland) 1969 on the same occasion.

Finally, it is alleged that Mr O'Kane had in his possession firearms and ammunition, namely two Walther pistols, one Browning pistol, a 0.22 rifle, a Remington shotgun and a quantity of of ammunition, under such circumstances as to give rise to a reasonable suspicion that he did not have in his possession for a lawful object, contrary to section 19A of the Firearms Act (Northern Ireland) 1969.

The PSNI said a decision to prosecute the three men was issued by Northern Ireland's Public Prosecution Service ahead to the commencement of the Northern Ireland (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023 on May 1st.
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.

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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.

Barry Andrews was hoisted into the air following his election (Gareth Chaney/PA)

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.

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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.

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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.

Aodhan O Riordain commiserates with outgoing Green Party MEP Ciaran Cuffe (Gareth Chaney/PA)

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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.

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Lynn Boylan was insistent that Sinn Fein had a good election (Gareth Chaney/PA)

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.

Independents 4 Change candidate Clare Daly on her way out of the count centre at the RDS in Dublin (Gareth Chaney/PA)

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.
Fixing the financing of RTE was one of the biggest concerns raised by the broadcasters new chair when first meeting the media minister.

Terence ORourke described the current TV licence collection system as archaic and out of date.

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Minister for Media Catherine Martin has committed to making a decision on reforming the funding of RTE before the Dail summer recess.

Some options reported to be under consideration are direct exchequer funding or a new broadcasting charge to be collected by Revenue, as opposed to An Post.

The broadcaster was plunged into crisis in June last year after it admitted understating the fees for its star presenter and previous top earner Ryan Tubridy.

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Ryan Tubridy was the broadcasters top earner. Photo: Niall Carson/PA.

A series of probing parliamentary committee hearings also uncovered other concerns about culture, governance and financial management at RTE and there have been several high-profile resignations from the board and executive of the station.

A pre-existing steady decline in licence fee revenue was accelerated by the expanding controversy.

RTE operates on a dual-funding model that sees around 55% of its income brought in through the obligatory licence fee, which costs 160 a year for Irish households with a television.

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Approximately 85 per cent of revenue from TV licence fees goes to RTE to carry out its public service broadcasting commitments, while it also earns money through commercial operations.

Media Minister Catherine Martin has committed to a decision prior to the Dail summer recess. Photo: Brian Lawless/PA.

The Cabinet is due to sign off on a decision on reforming the funding model for public service broadcasting in the coming weeks.

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On Wednesday, Mr ORourke appeared before the Oireachtas Committee on Media which was central to probing governance and culture issues at the broadcaster.

He said the board is seeking an adequate, independent, predictable and reliable source of funding.

A licence fee system which is depending on TV sets is archaic and out of date.

He added: There are different models out there. I think the current system is not working properly  a household charge would be another example involving public-sector funding.

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There are different ways of doing it, but probably all of those would be better than the current system.

Asked about his biggest concerns when taking the job, he said: One would be that the financing model will be fixed.

Thats a preview of my initial discussion with the minister, that was very clearly an important thing.

RTE recorded fictitious accounting transactions and operated with a lack of trust between its board and senior management, according to reports commissioned by Ms Martin.

The reviews and examinations of practices at RTE found its culture was characterised by a lack of speaking up and good faith reporting.

They also found there was a lack of trust between the RTE board and its former executive, as well as an informality within board processes and a limited appetite to learn.

Former RTE chairwoman Siun Ni Raghallaigh resigned following a public dispute with the minister. Photo: Brian Lawless/PA.

Mr ORourke took over as head of the board from Siun Ni Raghallaigh after she resigned following a public dispute with the minister.

Ms Ni Raghallaigh said she had been left with no option but to quit after being subjected to an enforced dismissal after Ms Martin expressed disappointment in her during a live television interview.

The minister said she had been misled about the chairwomans role in approving an exit package for a former chief financial officer at the broadcaster.

Ms Ni Raghallaigh has since criticised the minister for actively taking a hands-off approach to the scandal at RTE and accused her of not assisting with falling TV licence revenues.

RTE director-general Kevin Bakhurst has announced a strategic plan for reforming the institution by 2028. Photo: Niall Carson/PA.

Mr ORourke, a former KPMG managing partner, was appointed in March.

Asked if he had any concern about the circumstances around his predecessors departure, he said: Whatever happened, happened.

The chairman said somebody had to do the job and added: I wasnt there so I dont know what happened.

One of the things we agreed very early on with the minister was a protocol of communication.

So we now have an agreed protocol of things that that myself and the minister keep in contact about so its very clear.

Mr ORourke also told the committee that RTE has learned from controversies around financial mismanagement at the broadcaster.

He also said that the board has profound disappointment and regret about events and behaviours which triggered the investigative reports.

Mr ORourke said: The organisation has learned from what happened. The necessary controls and procedures are being put in place to make sure that those kinds of events cannot happen again.

Members of staff from RTE took part in a protest earlier this year. Photo: Niall Carson/PA.

However, he also warned that RTE will be faced with many challenges in a very disruptive decade ahead.

Mr ORourke said the broadcaster is working on implementing recommendations from the Government reports, which the minister said is a prerequisite for the release of emergency funding.

RTEs director general Kevin Bakhurst, who assumed the role in the early weeks of the crisis, has also announced a strategic plan for reforming the institution by 2028.

It includes cutting headcount by 400  a reduction of up to 20 per cent  and a significant increase in investment in the independent production sector.
Three people have been arrested in connection with an investigation into the murder of a policeman and the attempted murder of another in 1975.

The trio were detained in relation to the murder of RUC Constable Robert John McPherson and the attempted murder of a second officer in Dungiven, Co Derry, on July 26th, 1975.

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Two of the men, aged 73 and 72, were arrested by gardai in Co Meath and Co Donegal on Wednesday morning.

They were due to appear before extradition courts in Dublin later in the day.

An Garda Siochana detectives have arrested two men in Meath and Donegal, in relation to the murder of Constable McPherson and the attempted murder of a second officer in Dungiven in July 1975.



A man was also arrested in the Dungiven area.



Read more: https://t.co/MvvX2paSjH pic.twitter.com/Kl6sRbqMYQ Advertisement  Police Service NI (@PoliceServiceNI) June 12, 2024

The Police Service of Northern Ireland said the 72-year-old was arrested on suspicion of murder and the 73-year-old on suspicion of firearms offences linked to the murder and attempted murder.

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The arrests were made by the gardai under a Trade and Co-operation Agreement (TaCA) Warrant as part of a joint operation with the PSNI.

In Northern Ireland, PSNI detectives arrested a 71-year-old man in the Dungiven area as part of the same investigation.

He was expected to appear before Derry Magistrates Court later on Wednesday.

A decision to prosecute the three individuals was issued by the Northern Ireland Public Prosecution Service prior to the commencement of the UK governments contentious new legacy laws that seek to limit future Troubles-related cases.

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The PSNI said it has been liaising closely with An Garda Siochana and that the arrests demonstrate the benefits of joint working between police services and other national partner agencies.
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.

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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.

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.
US president Joe Biden and Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskiy will sign a bilateral security agreement between the US and Ukraine on Thursday when they meet on the sidelines of the G7 summit.

The announcement came as negotiators for the group reached an agreement on how to provide Ukraine with up to $50 billion backed by frozen Russian assets, according to two people familiar with the matter.

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The international group of wealthy democracies has been discussing ways of using the more than $260 billion in Russian assets frozen outside the country after the February 2022 invasion of Ukraine to help Kyiv.

Latest Defence Intelligence update on the situation in Ukraine  12 June 2024.



Find out more about Defence Intelligence's use of language: https://t.co/Z1jVFuNkk7 #StandWithUkraine  pic.twitter.com/h1sLfJskfB  Ministry of Defence  (@DefenceHQ) June 12, 2024 Advertisement

European officials have resisted confiscating the assets, citing legal and financial stability concerns  most of the frozen assets are located in Europe  but the plan would use the interest earned on the assets to help Ukraines war effort.

An official with the French presidency confirmed the announcement on Wednesday.

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The announcement of the agreement comes as Mr Biden heads to the G7 summit with an urgency to get big things done, including turning frozen Russian assets into billions of dollars to help Ukraine fight Russian president Vladimir Putins war machine.

The security arrangement was aimed at sending a signal to Russia of American resolve in supporting Kyiv, the White House said as Mr Biden was headed to Europe.

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National security adviser Jake Sullivan told reporters that the agreement would not commit US troops directly to Ukraines defence against Russias invasion  a red line drawn by Mr Biden, who is fearful of being drawn into direct conflict between the nuclear-armed powers.

We want to demonstrate that the US supports the people of Ukraine, that we stand with them and that well continue to help address their security needs, Mr Sullivan said, adding this agreement will show our resolve.

Mr Sullivan called the agreement a bridge to when Ukraine is invited to join the Nato alliance  a long-term priority of Mr Zelenskiys that the allies have said will first require an end to the Russia-Ukraine war.

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Mr Biden heads to the summit of the worlds leading democracies with an urgency to get big things done, including turning frozen Russian assets into billions of dollars to help Ukraine as it fights off Mr Putins war machine.

This years G7 summit comes three years after Mr Biden declared at his first such gathering that America was back as a global leader following the disruptions to western alliances that occurred when Donald Trump was president.

Now, there is a chance this gathering could be the final G7 for Mr Biden and other G7 leaders, depending on the results of elections this year.

US president Joe Biden is heading to Italy for the G7 summit (Luis M Alvarez/AP)

Mr Biden and his counterparts from Canada, the UK, France, Germany, Italy and Japan will use the summit to discuss challenges related to the spread of artificial intelligence, migration, the Russian militarys resurgence and Chinas economic might, among other topics.

Pope Francis, Mr Zelenskiy and Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan are joining the gathering at the Borgo Egnazia resort in the Puglia region of southern Italy.

The summit, which opens on Thursday, will play out after far-right parties across the continent secured gains of surprising scale in just-concluded European Union elections.

Those victories, coupled with upcoming elections in the UK, France and the US, have rattled the global political establishment and added weightiness to this years summit.

You hear this a lot when you talk to US and European officials: If we cant get this done now, whether its on China, whether its on the assets, we may not have another chance, said Josh Lipsky, senior director of the Atlantic Councils GeoEconomics Centre, an international affairs think tank.

We dont know what the world will look like three months, six months, nine months from now.
UK prime minister Rishi Sunak, whose family is estimated to be wealthier than Britain's King Charles, said he went without "lots of things" as a child, including Sky TV, when asked if he was in touch with the struggles of ordinary people.

Mr Sunak, the son of a doctor and a pharmacist, is the wealthiest prime minister in British history through a combination of his past career in financial services and the family fortune of his wife, whose father founded the Indian IT services company Infosys.

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In an interview with ITV to be broadcast later on Wednesday, Mr Sunak cited his parents' refusal to pay for the subscription channel as an example of having to "go without" because he said they were making sacrifices to pay for his education.

Asked to give a specific example of something he missed out on as a child, he said: "There'll be all sorts of things that I would've wanted as a kid that I couldn't have. Famously, Sky TV, so that was something that we never had growing up actually."

The opposition Labour Party has tried to use Mr Sunak's personal wealth to accuse him of being out of touch with the problems faced by most people in Britain.

Mr Sunak's family's net worth is estimated to be just over 650 million (771 million), putting him 245th on The Sunday Times 2024 "Rich List" of wealthiest Britons, ahead of King Charles in 258th place.

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Labour earlier this year called Mr Sunak's decision to agree to a 1,000 bet that his government would send asylum seekers to Rwanda distasteful and an amount most people could not afford to gamble.

Mr Sunak's interview with ITV caused him embarrassment last week after he cut short his attendance at D-Day commemorations in northern France to record it.

The prime minister later apologised, saying it was "a mistake not to stay longer" after opposition parties called it a dereliction of duty.
Lebanons Hezbollah has fired a massive barrage of rockets into northern Israel to avenge the killing of a top commander, further escalating regional tensions as the fate of an internationally-backed plan for a ceasefire in Gaza hangs in the balance.

The retaliatory attack came as US secretary of state Antony Blinken was in the region to push a ceasefire proposal with global support that has not been fully embraced by Israel or Hamas.

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The militant group submitted its first official response late on Tuesday, requesting amendments to the deal.





Met with Indonesian Defense Minister and President-Elect @prabowo, as well as @MalaysiaMFA Foreign Minister Dato Seri Mohamad Hasan here in Jordan. We talked about the importance of Hamas accepting the ceasefire proposal that is on the table. pic.twitter.com/v7KToJS62D  Secretary Antony Blinken (@SecBlinken) June 11, 2024 Advertisement

Hezbollah, an Iranian-backed ally of Hamas, has traded fire with Israel nearly every day since the eight-month-long Israel-Hamas war began and says it will only stop if there is a truce in Gaza.

That has raised fears of an even more devastating regional conflagration.

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Air raid sirens sounded across northern Israel, and the military said that about 160 projectiles were fired from southern Lebanon, making it one of the largest attacks since the fighting began.

There were no immediate reports of casualties as some were intercepted while others ignited brush fires.

Hezbollah said it fired missiles and rockets at two military bases in retaliation for the killing of Taleb Sami Abdullah, 55.



The war began on October 7 (AP)

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Known within Hezbollah as Hajj Abu Taleb, he is the most senior commander killed since the fighting began eight months ago.

The Israeli strike destroyed a house where Mr Abdullah and three other officials were meeting, about six miles from the border, late on Tuesday.

Israeli air strikes on Lebanon have killed over 400 people, most of them Hezbollah members, but the dead also include more than 70 civilians and non-combatants.

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On the Israeli side, 15 soldiers and 10 civilians have been killed since the war in Gaza began.

Other groups allied with Iran, including powerful militias in Iraq and Syria, and the Houthi rebels in Yemen, have also attacked Israeli, US and other targets since the start of the war, often drawing Western retaliation. In April, Israel and Iran traded fire directly for the first time.





The United States will continue to lead international efforts to get humanitarian aid into Gaza to alleviate the suffering of Palestinian civilians. https://t.co/vaII82zVw9  President Biden (@POTUS) June 11, 2024

US President Joe Bidens administration has said the best way to calm regional tensions is for Hamas to accept a proposal for a phased ceasefire that it says would end of the war in Gaza and bring about the release of the remaining hostages abducted in Hamas October 7 attack that ignited the war.

The UN Security Council voted overwhelmingly in favour of the plan on Monday.

Mr Biden says it is an Israeli proposal, but Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has sent conflicting signals, saying Israel remains committed to destroying Hamas.

It is unclear how it would do that if the US-backed proposal, which includes an Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, is fully implemented.

Hamas has expressed support for the broad outline of the deal but wariness over whether Israel would implement its terms, particularly provisions for an eventual permanent end to fighting and Israeli withdrawal from Gaza.

Hamas said it gave mediators its reply to the proposal, which appeared to be short of outright acceptance but kept negotiations alive. Qatar and Egypt, which have been key mediators alongside the United States, said mediators were studying the plan.



The war in Gaza has gone on for eight months (AP)

A spokesman for Hamas, Jihad Taha, said the response included amendments that confirm the cease-fire, withdrawal, reconstruction and (prisoner) exchange.

Mr Blinken, who is on his eighth visit to the region since the start of the war, headed to Qatar on Wednesday to follow up on the negotiations.

The proposal has raised hopes of ending a conflict in which Israels 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 have hindered efforts to bring humanitarian aid to the isolated coastal enclave, fuelling widespread hunger.

Israel launched its campaign after 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 weeklong ceasefire last year in exchange for Palestinians imprisoned by Israel. Hamas is still holding around 120 hostages, a third of whom are believed to be dead.



The UN Security Council voted to approve its first resolution endorsing the ceasefire plan (United Nations via AP)

The proposal announced by Biden calls for a three-phase plan that would begin with a 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 of aid entering Gaza every day.

At the same time, negotiations would be launched over the second phase, which is to bring 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 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 militant group accepted a similar proposal last month that was rejected by Israel.

Mr Netanyahus far-right coalition allies have rejected the latest proposal and have threatened to bring down his government if he ends the war leaving Hamas intact.

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.
Malawis government has said vice president Saulos Chilima will be honoured with a state funeral after his death in a plane crash along with eight other people.

President Lazarus Chakwera had already announced 21 days of national mourning on Tuesday, when the wreckage of the small military plane carrying Mr Chilima and a former first lady was discovered in a mountainous area in the countrys north.

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Flags will fly at half-staff across the southern African nation during the period of mourning.

Mr Chakwera has appointed a ministerial committee to oversee preparations for Mr Chilimas state funeral, the government said in a statement. No date was announced.

The President previously said that there were 10 people on the plane but the government now says that a total of nine were on board when it crashed.



Mourners awaited the body of Mr Chilima, at Kamuzu International Airport in Lilongwe (AP)

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Everyone on board was killed on impact when the twin propellor aircraft went down in a hilly, forested area in bad weather, the President said.

The victims included former first lady Shanil Dzimbiri, the ex-wife of former Malawian President Bakili Muluzi. Six passengers and three military crew members were killed.

The plane was carrying Mr Chilima and members of his staff on a short flight from the capital, Lilongwe, to the northern city of Mzuzu to attend a funeral of a former government minister when it went missing on Monday morning.

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The President said that air traffic controllers had told the plane not to land in Mzuzu because of bad weather and poor visibility and to return to Lilongwe. Air traffic controllers then lost contact with the plane and it disappeared from radar.

Hundreds of soldiers, police officers and forest rangers searched for more than 24 hours before the wreckage was discovered in a forest plantation south of Mzuzu.

The remains of the victims were brought back to Lilongwe on a Zambian Air Force helicopter on Tuesday night, when officials and mourners including Mr Chakwera and Mr Chilimas wife, Mary, gathered at an airport.

The bodies of Mr Chilima and the others were transported from the airport in ambulances as soldiers lined the tarmac and saluted.
Russian forces have launched new deadly attacks on Ukraine, killing at least nine people on Wednesday, a day before the leaders of countries that are some of Ukraines biggest backers were to discuss how to slow Moscows offensive.

Ukrainian authorities said that along with the nine killed, 29 others, including five children, were wounded when Russian missiles hit an apartment block in Kryvyi Rih, which is President Volodymyr Zelenskys hometown.

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Mr Zelensky said the strike has again proven that Ukraine, together with its partners, must strengthen its air defences  something that he has repeatedly appealed for with Ukraines western partners.

The United States has agreed to send another Patriot missile system, two US officials said late Tuesday.



Ukraines leader has praised its air defences (AP)

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Modern air defence systems are capable of providing maximum protection of people, our cities, and our positions, Mr Zelensky said. And we need as many of them as possible.

Earlier on Wednesday, Ukraines air force said it shot down more than two dozen air targets, including cruise missiles, a Kinzhal ballistic missile and Shahed drones. Several people were wounded, authorities said.

Kyivs outgunned and outnumbered forces are battling to hold back the bigger Russian army, which is trying to exploit Ukrainian vulnerabilities.

Ukraine has been short of troops, ammunition and air defences in recent months as the Kremlins forces try to cripple the national power supply and punch through the front line in eastern parts of the country.

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Ukraine will need to weather the Russian onslaught through the summer, military analysts say, and in the meantime train more soldiers, build fortifications and hope that the provision of western military aid picks up speed so that in 2025 Kyiv may be able to mount its own offensive.

Several diplomatic events over the next few days are aimed at how to help Ukraine fend off the Russian invasion or how to bring about an end to the war.





Another attack by Russian terrorists this night. Recovery efforts are underway. The occupiers attempted a combined missile and drone strike on our country. Our air defenders responded effectively, shooting down five enemy missiles and more than 20 drones.



Such a result in pic.twitter.com/EW1RecuMmH Advertisement  Volodymyr Zelenskyy /   (@ZelenskyyUa) June 12, 2024

On Thursday, US President Joe Biden and the other G7 leaders will gather in Italy for their annual summit to discuss ways to help Ukraine, including how to divert more frozen Russian assets to Kyivs defence.

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Separately, the Biden administration on Wednesday said it had broadened sanctions against Russia by targeting companies that help Moscows war effort and raising the stakes for foreign financial institutions that work with sanctioned Russian entities.

The more than 300 new sanctions are largely aimed at deterring individuals and companies in countries such as China, the United Arab Emirates and Turkey from helping Moscow circumvent western blocks on obtaining key technology.

They also threaten foreign financial institutions with sanctions if they do business with almost any sanctioned Russian entity, underscoring the US view that the Kremlin has pivoted the Russian economy on to a war footing.

Mr Biden and Mr Zelensky will also sign a bilateral security agreement between the US and Ukraine on Thursday, when they meet on the G7 summits sidelines, the White House said.

National security adviser Jake Sullivan said the agreement would not commit US troops directly to Ukraines defence, but that it would demonstrate the US supports the people of Ukraine and serve as a bridge to when Ukraine is invited to join the Nato alliance  a long-term priority of Mr Zelenskys that alliance members have said will first require an end to the war.

Separately, Mr Sullivan noted that Russian authorities have deported hundreds of thousands of Ukrainian civilians to Russia, including children who have been forcibly separated from their families. He cited reports of Russia listing abducted Ukrainian children on Russias adoption websites, denouncing it as despicable and appalling.

These Ukrainian children belong with their families inside Ukraine, Mr Sullivan said. Russia is waging a war not just against the Ukrainian military  but against the Ukrainian people.



Mr Putin is looking to allies such as North Korea (Sputnik Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)

While the G7 meets in Italy, defence chiefs from the US, Europe and other nations will meet on Thursday in Brussels for their monthly meeting on Ukraines security needs. US defence secretary Lloyd Austin will host the event.

And this weekend, representatives of nearly 90 countries and organisations, half from Europe, are expected to attend a summit in Switzerland aimed at charting a path to peace between Russia and Ukraine, though Russia will not be attending.

Both sides in Europes biggest conflict since the Second World War have been reaching out to friendly nations to help keep their armed forces supplied. The war has cost tens of thousands of lives on both sides, including more than 11,000 Ukrainian civilians, according to the United Nations.

While Ukraine has looked to western countries, Russian President Vladimir Putin has turned to nations such as Iran and North Korea for help. Unconfirmed reports suggested Mr Putin may soon make a third visit to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

Fighting along the roughly 620-mile front line has in recent months focused on the partly occupied Donetsk region of eastern Ukraine, where Russian forces are trying to reach the key hilltop city of Chasiv Yar and other strategic hubs.

Last month, Russian forces also launched an offensive in Ukraines north-eastern region of Kharkiv, which borders Russia. Mr Putin said he wanted to establish a buffer zone there to prevent Ukrainian cross-border attacks. The offensive drew some Ukrainian fighters away from Donetsk.

However, Russias gains have been incremental and costly.

In the Kharkiv region, Russian units have become bogged down in Vovchansk, Ukraine Commander in Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi said on Wednesday on the Telegram messaging app.
Generation Alpha, born in 2010 onwards, is the first generation to grow entirely in the presence of the digital world. This generation woke up to the world of smartphones, AI, and social media.

Due to the rapid advancement, staying updated with the latest trends and lingo can be challenging for parents. This new generation managed to craft behaviors and attitudes of children that could be incomprehensible to the older generation.

Like any other era, Gen Alpha kids are known for their unique set of vocabulary. Most of them stemmed from gaming and other types of media from the internet. For parents, understanding even a few words is already a gateway to better communication.

Here are some popular Gen Alpha slang and their meaning that will help you decode your children's vocabulary:

Skibidi

"Skibidi" is the simplest yet most confusing slang right now. The term came from a popular "Skibidi Toilet" web series on YouTube which features a war between human-headed toilets and humanoid characters.

In terms of sentence usage, the word means nothing when used as a verb, adjective, and more. It is usually common for kids to start their sentences with "Skibidi." It is also used to mock other slang.

Read Also : Skibidi Toilet Videos Record 65 Billion Views on YouTube

Rizzler

Rizzler came from the popular Gen Z slang "Rizz," which refers to someone with charisma. The word is often used when seeing an attractive person. For instance, you can say "I got the rizz."

As it evolves, it is now used as a noun. People who are called "Rizzler" are the people who take advantage of their charisma to charm people. They are aware of the impact of their presence.

There is also a variation of "W rizz" which means having lots of charisma that it feels like a win. On the contrary, "L rizz" means someone lacks charisma and it feels like a loss.

Fanum Tax

"Fanum Tax" refers to someone who steals food. The term is based on the Twitch streamer Fanum who often visits other streamers to get food from them, also known as the tax.

Fanum would often steal food from another popular Twitch streamer, Kai Cenat. The term was popularized by the Gen Alpha and is now used to refer to someone who attempts or intentionally steals their food.

Sigma

If you browse the internet and search for "Sigma" it will direct you to the 18th letter in the Greek alphabet. It would totally not make any sense considering the context it is used by Gen Alpha.

"Alpha" is popular Gen Z slang that refers to someone dominant and successful. "Sigma" stemmed from the same meaning but in a humbler way. It is also often used to describe someone as the best but in a less boastful manner.

Gyatt

This term is often associated with giving compliments or reactions to seeing someone attractive. "Gyatt" is shortened from the term "goddamn" which is a common response for guys when seeing a girl they like.

The term was popularized by the Twitch streamer YourRage. Over time, his audience learned to adapt the word, officially adding it as some of the most used slang of the Gen Alpha.
Russian forces have fired missiles and launched drones at the Kyiv region and five other areas of Ukraine in a night-time attack, officials said.

The assault comes ahead of several days of intense diplomatic activity around the war, now in its third year.

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Ukraines air force said it shot down more than two dozen air targets, including cruise missiles, a Kinzhal ballistic missile and Shahed drones. Several people were injured, authorities said.

President Volodymyr Zelensky praised the Ukrainian air forces response, saying this could be a daily achievement if the country had the tools to successfully repel Russian attacks.

He has repeatedly appealed to Ukraines Western partners to provide more air defence systems, and the United States has agreed to send another Patriot missile system, American officials said.



Ukraines leader has praised its air defences (AP)

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How best to support Ukraines efforts to stop Russias invasion will be a central issue in international meetings in coming days.

Kyivs outgunned and outnumbered forces are battling to hold back the bigger Russian army, which is trying to exploit Ukrainian vulnerabilities.

Ukraine has been short of troops, ammunition and air defences in recent months as the Kremlins forces try to cripple the national power supply and punch through the front line in eastern parts of the country.

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Ukraine will need to weather the Russian onslaught through the summer, military analysts say, and in the meantime train more soldiers, build fortifications and hope that the provision of Western military aid picks up speed so that in 2025 Kyiv may be able to mount its own offensive.

Leaders of the G7, including US President Joe Biden, are due to gather on Thursday in Italy for their annual summit to discuss how to squeeze more money for Ukraine from Russian assets frozen in their countries.





Another attack by Russian terrorists this night. Recovery efforts are underway. The occupiers attempted a combined missile and drone strike on our country. Our air defenders responded effectively, shooting down five enemy missiles and more than 20 drones.



Such a result in pic.twitter.com/EW1RecuMmH Advertisement  Volodymyr Zelenskyy /   (@ZelenskyyUa) June 12, 2024

Also on Thursday, defence chiefs from the US, Europe and other nations hold their monthly meeting on Ukraines security needs.

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US defence secretary Lloyd Austin is to host the event in Brussels.

Next weekend, representatives of nearly 90 countries and organisations, half from Europe, are to attend a Swiss-hosted Ukraine peace summit, which will take place without Russia.

Both sides in Europes biggest conflict since the Second World War have been reaching out to friendly nations to help keep their armed forces supplied.

The war has cost tens of thousands of lives on both sides, including more than 11,000 Ukrainian civilians, according to the United Nations.

While Ukraine has looked to Western countries, Russian President Vladimir Putin has turned to nations such as Iran and North Korea for help. Unconfirmed reports suggested Putin may soon make a third visit to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.



Mr Putin is looking to allies such as North Korea (Sputnik Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)

Fighting along the roughly 620-mile front line has in recent months focused on the partly occupied Donetsk region of eastern Ukraine, where Russian forces are trying to reach the key hilltop city of Chasiv Yar and other strategic hubs.

Last month the Kremlins forces also launched an offensive in the north-eastern Kharkiv region, which borders Russia. Mr Putin said he wanted to establish a buffer zone there to prevent Ukrainian cross-border attacks. The offensive drew some Ukrainian fighters away from Donetsk.

However, Russias gains have been incremental and costly.

In the Kharkiv region, Russian units have become bogged down in Vovchansk, Ukraines Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi said on the Telegram messaging app.
US secretary of state Antony Blinken has said mediators will keep trying to close a ceasefire deal after Hamas proposed numerous changes to a US-backed proposal, some of which he said were workable and some not.

The back-and-forth keeps hopes alive for an accord that can bring an end to eight months of war that has decimated Gaza, killed tens of thousands of Palestinians and left scores of Israeli hostages still languishing in militant captivity.

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But it also laid bare the frustration after previous moments of optimism have been repeatedly dashed by the differences between the two sides over the deal.

The ceasefire proposal has global support but has not been fully embraced by Israel or Hamas.



Hezbollah fighters have carried coffin of senior commander Taleb Sami Abdullah, known within Hezbollah as Hajj Abu Taleb (AP)

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Speaking to reporters in Qatar, Mr Blinken did not spell out what changes Hamas was seeking but he said the mediators  Qatar, Egypt and the US  will keep trying to close this deal.

He put the onus on Hamas, accusing it of changing its demands.

Hamas has proposed numerous changes to the proposal that was on the table Some of the changes are workable. Some are not, said Mr Blinken. I believe that they (the differences) are bridgeable, but that doesnt mean they will be bridged because ultimately Hamas has to decide.

Mr Blinkens comments came as Lebanons Hezbollah fired a massive barrage of rockets into northern Israel to avenge the killing of a top commander, further escalating regional tensions.

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Hezbollah, an Iran-backed ally of Hamas, has traded fire with Israel nearly every day since the Israel-Hamas war began and says it will only stop if there is a truce in Gaza.

Air raid sirens sounded across northern Israel, and the military said that about 215 projectiles were fired from southern Lebanon, making it one of the largest attacks since the fighting began. There were no immediate reports of casualties as some were intercepted while others ignited brush fires.



US secretary of state Antony Blinken said mediators are fighting to keep the deal alive (AP)

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Hamas conveyed its official reply to the proposal to mediators on Tuesday. Hamas spokesman Jihad Taha told the Lebanese news outlet ElNashra that the amendments requested by the group aim to guarantee a permanent ceasefire and complete an Israeli troop withdrawal from Gaza.

The proposal announced by US President Joe Biden includes those provisions, but Hamas has expressed wariness whether Israel will implement the terms.

Mr Blinken, on his eighth visit to the region since the start of the war, said the deal on the table was virtually identical to one Hamas put forward on May 6.

At some point in a negotiation and this has gone back and forth for a long time, you get to a point where if one side continues to change its demands, including making demands and insisting on changes for things that it already accepted, you have to question whether theyre proceeding in good faith or not, he said.

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The proposal called for a three-phase plan that would begin with a 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 of aid entering Gaza every day.



The war has been going on for eight months (AP)

At the same time, negotiations would be launched over the second phase, which is to bring 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 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.

While the US says Israel has accepted the proposal, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has given conflicting statements, saying Israel is still intent on its war goal of destroying Hamas.

Mr Netanyahus far-right coalition allies have rejected the latest proposal and have threatened to bring down his government if he ends the war leaving Hamas intact.

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 proposal has raised hopes of ending a conflict in which Israels bombardment and ground offensives in Gaza have killed more than 37,000 Palestinians, according to Palestinian health officials, who do not give the breakdown of civilians and fighters.

The war has also driven some 80% of the population of 2.3 million from their homes, and Israeli restrictions and ongoing fighting have hindered efforts to bring humanitarian aid to the isolated coastal enclave, fuelling widespread hunger.



Senior Hezbollah leader Hashem Safieddine addressed mourners in Lebanon (AP)

Israel launched its campaign after 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. Hamas is believed to be holding around 80 hostages and the remains of another 40.

Mr Netanyahus office said he was conducting a security assessment in light of Hezbollahs barrage in the north and what it called Hamass negative response to the proposal.

Hezbollah said it fired missiles and rockets at two military bases in retaliation for the killing of Taleb Sami Abdullah, 55.

Known within Hezbollah as Hajj Abu Taleb, he is the most senior commander killed since the fighting began eight months ago. The Israeli strike destroyed a house where Abdullah and three other officials were meeting, about six miles from the border, late Tuesday.

A Hezbollah official told the Associated Press that Abdullah was in charge of a large part of the Lebanon-Israel front, including the area facing the Israeli town of Kiryat Shmona, which Hezbollah has repeatedly attacked in recent days, causing fires in the area.

Israeli air strikes on Lebanon have killed more than 400 people, most of them Hezbollah members, but the dead also include more than 70 civilians and non-combatants. On the Israeli side, 15 soldiers and 10 civilians have been killed since the war in Gaza began.

Other groups allied with Iran, including powerful militias in Iraq and Syria, and the Houthi rebels in Yemen, have also attacked Israeli, US and other targets since the start of the war, often drawing western retaliation. In April, Israel and Iran traded fire directly for the first time.

Mr Bidens administration has said the best way to calm regional tensions is for Hamas to accept the ceasefire proposal. The UN Security Council voted overwhelmingly in favour of the plan on Monday.
The United States will send Ukraine another Patriot missile system, two US officials have said, answering Kyivs desperate calls for more air defences as it battles an intense Russian assault on the north-eastern region of Kharkiv.

The officials said president Joe Biden has approved the move.

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It would be the second Patriot system that the US has given to Ukraine, although the Pentagon has routinely provided an undisclosed number of missiles for the system.

Other allies, including Germany, have also provided air defence systems as well as munitions for them.

The decision was first reported by The New York Times.

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President Volodymyr Zelenskiy stands in front of a Patriot air defence missile system (Jens Buettner/dpa via AP)

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskiy late last month pleaded for additional US-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, Mr Zelenskiy 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 cause widespread destruction.

He said Ukraine needs two of the systems to protect Kharkiv, where Russia launched a cross-border offensive on May 10th that still has Ukrainian troops reeling.

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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, Mr Zelenskiy told a news conference in the Spanish capital.

The decision comes as defence leaders from the US, Europe and other nations prepare for their monthly meeting on Ukraines security needs. US defence secretary Lloyd Austin will host the meeting in Brussels on Thursday.

The US has routinely pressed for allies to provide air defence 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 US also is wary of giving too many away, since they are used all over the world to protect US forces and allies.

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Maj Gen Pat Ryder told reporters on Monday that Ukraines need for air defences will be a topic at the meeting.
We first heard the word in the 1950s, give or take. A singsong chant to flag trouble, perhaps in Sydney, or Melbourne, or northern NSW: Umm-ahh!

An exclamation to denote an act of naughtiness, the word was rife across Perth in 1960, plus Hobart and Darwin. Adelaide too, where Morgan grew up in the 1990s: My mum said it to me more than I did. Seemed to be a parent thing, and she grew up in the 60s.

Umm-ahh: Once a playground staple, the story behind the uniquely Australian gibe remains a mystery. Credit: iStock

Kids in the ACT, the Riverina knew the words tonal crescendo. In the 1970s, the slang infested Albury-Wodonga, though Rebecca, now a mum, cant recall her own kids using it. The memory tracks with Roderick Campbell, who wrote: Umm-ahh was popular in the 80s, inner Melbourne. But havent heard my kids or nieces say it this century.

Thinking back to boyhood, John Clemmensen can still hear the taunt in his mind, yet cant isolate its origins. Hence his email: I remember the word as a kid, as do other people I ask. But theres nothing on the web, nothing in dictionaries. Except two Reddit forums John found, both confirming the gibes transient existence, a playground chorus with little proof of the term occurring elsewhere.
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FoodMasterChef Recap Twinning is winning in this sweet and shouty immunity challenge Zumbo returns and chaos ensues as paired-up contestants get loud and sugar-loaded in the quest for immunity. Ben Pobjie June 12, 2024 Save Log in , register or subscribe to save recipes for later. You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share

This recap appears in the MasterChef 2024 recap collection. See all stories .

Sweet Week, the week in which every dish must pay tribute in some way to classic glam rock band The Sweet, continues apace. Today the kitchen has been divided by the old wall, well known to veteran MasterChef viewers. Poh announces that todays challenge is something we like to call Twins  each amateur must deliver and raise to adulthood a pair of twins. Hello Zumbo, weve been expecting you. Ten Wait, no  actually, the amateurs will be working in pairs, but the pairs will be divided by the wall, and communicating without being able to see each other. The winner of immunity will be the team whose dishes most closely resemble each other. The amateurs will be assigned partners by choosing a coloured box, which will also contain an object they must use. Jesus Christ! exclaims Nat in despair. No, you cant cook with him, Andy replies, and I think thats worth putting in this recap because that was actually pretty funny. Good work, Andy. Gill will cook with Lachlan and an air fryer. Darrsh will cook with Harry and a stand mixer. Nat will cook with Sumeet and an ice cream machine. Sav will cook with Josh and a blender. Let the chaos begin!

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The teams begin running around and yelling at each other, in much the same manner as ring-tailed lemurs at the zoo. Nat and me are roomies, we both have exactly the same vibe, says Sumeet, making one wonder why this vibe has at no point even been hinted at on the show. Josh is worried because he is not familiar with desserts, and he might find it difficult to follow Savs recipe as she is not in any way a member of his family. Jean-Christophe is a big fan of this challenge: it reminds him of his restaurants in France, where all catering employees are required by law to have walls between them. Back in the kitchen, Darrsh and Harry are making a meringue nest, hoping that a meringue will make its home there and lay some meringue eggs before the time is up. Darrsh has come up with a plan that doesnt include any kind of fish, making Harry hopelessly confused. Sumeet waves her hand over the wall. Can you see my hand? she yells. Nat can see her hand. This is of no use, because they are not communicating via sign language. Im ready for your sticky rice! Sumeet continues euphemistically. Meanwhile Josh cannot hear anything Sav is saying and they are doomed. Get one of your pastry tins, says Sav. Get one of my pastry tins? says Josh. Line one, says Sav. Line one? says Josh. This continues for what seems like more time than has passed since the dawn of the universe.

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Harry is desperate to win for Darrsh, wanting his partner to get the props he deserves. He suggests elevating the meringue by putting in some barramundi. Meanwhile Gill is trying work out how to hero an air fryer. Shes never used an air fryer before, and falls behind initially by trying to make ice-cream in it. Luckily, she knows her sponge cake recipe like the back of her hand. Less luckily, it also tastes like the back of her hand. Im ready for your sticky rice! Sumeet yells. Didnt she already say that? Is this episode already in repeats? Sumeet is struggling to hear Nat. Nat is struggling to hear Sumeet. Josh is still struggling to hear Sav. The cook is paused while they form a support group. The contestants difficulties are not helped when Poh and Andy start doing a sort of little comedy skit across the wall. Some days its a miracle these judges dont cop a spatula upside the head. Get one of your pastry tins, says Sav. Get one of my pastry tins? says Josh. Line one, says Sav. Line one? says Josh. This continues for what seems like more time than has passed since the dawn of the universe. Sav tells Josh to take his tin out of the chiller, and Josh asks if he was supposed to have pastry in the tin. Sav replies that he was. Josh replies that he didnt know that. Sav begins yanking out clumps of hair, Sorry Sav, says Josh, who is on the brink of looking up pastry on Wikipedia. The judges note that Harry and Darrshs meringue nests are in the oven and look pretty similar except that Harrys is filled with prawns. Meanwhile Joshs tart shell has crumbled, probably from disappointment.

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Gill and Lachlan are screaming at each other about the air fryer, reaching a decibel level somewhere above an F-15 fighter. Lachlan asks what setting to use. Gill says she doesnt know. Lachlan asks if they should put it on bake. Gill says she doesnt know. Lachlan says that you use it just like an oven, dont you? Gill says but isnt an air fryer better than an oven? Lachlan says he doesnt know. They enter high-level talks on a feasibility study regarding the possibility of setting the fryer to bake at 180 degrees. The other three teams begin to discuss chloroforming Gill and Lachlan. Meanwhile Harrys meringue is in danger of breaking. He wonders if its because of all the salmon he put in it. Theres a hole in the middle of the meringue but he covers it with a mudcrab. Minutes left. Have you ever watched Teletubbies? Nat yells to Sumeet, her mind having finally snapped. Nat wants their dessert to look like the sun, and the only reference point she can think of is Teletubbies, because she has never been outdoors. Sumeet has no idea what Nat is talking about, but she must be used to that by now. At the last minute of plating, Darrsh tells Harry to put a tablespoon of lime curd on his meringue. Harry is puzzled, as hes never heard of a fish called lime curd. And then, it is over. The Iron Curtain comes down, and the people of east and west can once more embrace as David Hasselhoff always dreamed. But in many ways, the greatest tragedy is yet to come  tasting.

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Gill and Lachlan serve their Swiss rolls. Gill suggests they hold hands. Lachlan is very unenthusiastic about this. Their Swiss rolls are very similar, and the colour of Dr Seusss green eggs and ham, which is delightful. Jean-Christophe compliments them on their skilled baking and on annoying their neighbours, the two greatest French pastimes. Sav and Josh serve their choc cherry tart. Sav tells the judges what the dish is, allowing Josh for the first time to discover what her voice sounds like. The tarts are very different. Sav has put cherries on top of her tart, but Josh has put cherries around the edge of the plate. Everyone laughs at this unforgivable faux pas, and Sav and Josh are expelled from polite society. Its a bit of a Tweedledum and Tweedledee situation, says Sofia, but Tweedledum and Tweedledee were identical twins, so it seems like the exact opposite of that. Andy compliments them both on having overcome the handicap of being very bad at this challenge to plate up something thats really quite terrible. Darrsh and Harry serve their key-lime meringues. They are almost identical apart from the fact that Harry has sculpted his into the shape of Moby Dick. Harrys meringue is stickier than Darrshs, earning Andys eternal contempt.

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Nat and Sumeet serve their mango sticky rice with cardamom ice-cream. The dishes look basically identical, and everyone erupts in orgasmic ecstasy. The judges shower the pair with plaudits, although neither dish looks like the Teletubbies sun, so they are marked down for that. You demonstrated that you dont have to shout in the kitchen, says Jean-Christophe in what seems like a compliment for Nat and Sumeet, but is in fact a severe burn on Gill and

Lachlan. So Nat and Sumeet win immunity  duh!  and will join Mimi and Alex on the balcony for Sundays elimination, when we will discover who among the amateurs is simply not sweet enough. Collection MasterChef 2024: The Ben Pobjie episode recaps
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.
The states minimum wage will rise more than $50 per week in a decision expected to affect a quarter of a million people.

The WA Industrial Relations Commission today ruled on the 6.3 per cent increase, or 4 per cent for those on awards.

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Within weeks it will rise to $24.15 per hour, equating to $917.80 per week for full-timers  more than the national average.

Chief commissioner Stephen Kenner said he was confident the states economy could sustain the increase, which balanced employers capacity with individuals needs.

He said the labour market was forecast to remain strong in historical terms, although some easing was expected as elevated, though easing, inflation dampened demand and household spending continued to pull back from higher levels over the past two years.

The increase is less than the 7.4 per cent hike UnionsWA lobbied for, but more than that requested by Industrial Relations Minister Simone McGurk, who called for the states minimum to align with that applied nationally (3.75 per cent).

The states Local Government Association urged the commission to give weight to the current cost environment of councils and their limited ability to generate revenue.

Chamber of Commerce and Industry chief executive Chris Rodwell, who had urged the commission to be cautious, said the increase would come as a big shock to small businesses already grappling with spiralling costs, and repeated the CCIs calls for the state to slash payroll tax.
Climate change groups are scaling up their campaigns against Liberal candidates in key federal seats after Opposition Leader Peter Dutton refused to commit to a 2030 target to cut greenhouse gas emissions, raising the stakes in an election fight on the environment.

Dutton dismissed the teal independents as fronts for the Greens and said he could win back their seats with his stance on climate change, setting up a crucial test in the former blue-ribbon Liberal electorates now held by crossbench MPs.

Australians are struggling to pay their power bills, and yet the prime minister is wanting to sign us up to an arrangement thats going to massively increase the price of electricity, Dutton said of the climate target.

Dutton said he was committed to reducing emissions to net zero levels by 2050 but would not sign up to a 2030 target or a revised 2035 target later this year, saying the Coalition policy goal would be set after the election if it formed government.
Jewish MPs are calling on all Australian universities to adopt a politically contested definition of antisemitism that some of the nations major academic institutions rejected months before the Gaza conflict broke out.

Liberal backbencher Julian Leeser and Labor MP Josh Burns said it beggars belief that only a handful of universities had incorporated the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliances definition of antisemitism into their policies.

Jewish Australian parliamentarians Julian Leeser and Josh Burns are calling on all universities to adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliances definition of antisemitism. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen

It underscores the failure of the university sector to recognise the particularity of antisemitism and its modern manifestations, Leeser said. The fact that universities have not signed up to the IHRA definition is a symptom of the broader problems of antisemitism we are seeing on campus across this country.

The alliance defines antisemitism as a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews.
A judge sentenced a California philanthropist to 15 years to life in prison for murdering two children in a hit-run while she was driving a Mercedes SUV at more than 80mph (128km/h), prosecutors said.

The woman, Rebecca Grossman, 60, of Hidden Hills, California, 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.

Rebecca Grossman, left, and daughter head to the courthouse in the Van Nuys section of Los Angeles in February. Credit: AP

Evidence presented at Grossmans trial indicated that she had accelerated to 81mph (130 km/h) from 73mph (117km/h) just two seconds before she hit the two children, Mark Iskander, 11, and his brother, Jacob, 8, in a 45mph zone in Westlake Village, California, on the evening of September 29, 2020, Los Angeles County prosecutors wrote in a sentencing memorandum.

Witness testimony indicated that before the crash Grossman appeared to be racing another Mercedes SUV 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. Grossman was at a bare minimum, playing with him, in a deadly game of chase, prosecutors wrote.
The Cruise robotaxi fleet has been inactive for a while after being suspended, which was due to an incident that led to the hospitalization of a civilian. Likely to keep the vehicle line profitable, General Motors is bringing the taxis back out.

Cruise Robotaxis with Drivers

General Motors is arguably still recovering from the PR nightmare that is the Cruise robotaxis, but the automaker is not giving up on that business just yet. Since it's the driverless aspect that dragged the ride-hailing business' reputation through the mud, the company will be removing that factor.

This time around, the Cruise taxis will be manned by human drivers, although that won't be the permanent situation for the business. It will proceed to "supervised autonomous driving with a safety driver behind the wheel in the coming weeks," as mentioned in Engadget.

Operations will begin in Houston, and if all goes well, the company will likely expand to other cities. General Motors already plans to invest $850 million into the company, as mentioned by General Motors CFO Paul Jacobson, which means that the expansion is bound to happen.

It makes the most sense business-wise to not let the Cruise robotaxis remain idle, considering that General Motors has been losing money because of it. With the taxis able to function with human drivers, it's the best option to get the company to generate revenue again.

Read Also : Cruise Robotaxi Gets Stuck in Wet Concrete in San Francisco

What Happened to Cruise?

The automated ride-hailing service was already responsible for a few minor incidents before it was eventually suspended, and it was already receiving a lot of backlash from both the public and regulators, but one vehicle dragging a pedestrian became the last straw.

The woman in question was first hit by a human driver in a hit-and-run incident, which led to her being thrown in the path of the robotaxi. Failing to identify her as an "obstacle," the woman was dragged for 20 feet before the vehicle stopped.

She was pinned under the tire and had to be rescued by the local fire department using the jaws of life. She was driven to the hospital with extensive injuries, with some reports saying they were bad enough to be life-threatening.

The reason why the robotaxi continued to drive despite hitting the pedestrian was because it intended to pull over. The vehicle did so at a speed of 7 mph, although the speed does not matter as the woman was dragged regardless.

It wasn't long until the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) suspended the company's permit, effectively ceasing operations. Around May, it was also reported that the company had to settle with the victim and pay for damages.

As mentioned in The San Francisco Standard, the settlement was between $8 million to $12 million. The woman was discharged from Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital after recovering from a critical condition.

A company spokesperson said: "The hearts of all Cruise employees continue to be with the pedestrian, and we hope for her continued recovery." General Motors cut Cruise's budget by $1 billion after the incident and has lost more than $9 billion since the acquisition in 2016.
Emission reduction strategy

Cromwell aims to decrease its scope 3 emissions intensity to 30.16 kgCO2e/m by 2028, a move that would cut over 4.4 million kilograms of carbon dioxide equivalent. This target aligns with strategies to encourage tenants to switch to renewable energy and improve waste management practices.
Infosys was also ranked as the 20 most valuable global B2B technology brand. (File photo)

Infosys has secured a spot among the 100 most valuable brands in the world, according to Kantar, the Bengluru-headquartered IT services company said on Wednesday. In its annual 'BrandZ Most Valuable Global Brands' report, Infosys is ranked as the 74 most valuable brand in the world and ranked as the 20 most valuable global B2B (business to business) technology brand, according to a release. Click here to connect with us on WhatsApp The Kantar BrandZ recognition is a validation of the client trust that Infosys has earned, and the relevance of its capabilities, especially in domains like enterprise AI where technologies like generative AI and cloud continue to evolve, the release added.

**** CredAble raises Rs 30 crore from SIDBI *



Fintech firm CredAble on Wednesday said it has raised Rs 30 crore in debt funding from SIDBI to scale up its operations and extend affordable financing solutions to MSMEs and women-led businesses in India.

The funding from SIDBI will further accelerate the development of new market-leading financing solutions for its global customer base, the company said.

The company's AI-powered technology platform offers built-to-suit, large-scale liquidity programmes tailored to the unique needs of enterprises and their network of MSME suppliers.

"The MSME (micro, small and medium enterprises) sector is touted for significant growth over the next five years. From providing affordable financing to scaling up their operations, we're focused on meeting the growing demands of small and medium-sized businesses.

"This latest injection of capital from SIDBI will further bolster our efforts to strengthen the MSME sector and women-led businesses," Manu Prakash, Managing Director at CredAble, said.
(Photo : Unsplash/Growtika )

On Tuesday, Elon Musk withdrew his lawsuit against OpenAI and two of the company's co-founders, Sam Altman and Greg Brockman, in California state court, following his public criticism of OpenAI and its new collaboration with Apple.

Musk initiated a lawsuit against OpenAI, Altman, and Brockman, the current CEO and president of OpenAI, respectively, for breach of contract and fiduciary duty in February. Musk accused the early OpenAI team of embarking on a mission to develop artificial general intelligence, or AGI, for the benefit of humanity but later evolved into a for-profit entity largely controlled by Microsoft, the principal shareholder.

Elon Musk Retracting OpenAI's Lawsuit

Musk's choice to retract the lawsuit, lodged in a California state court in February, with case number CGC24612746, arrives a day before a scheduled hearing where the judge would have assessed OpenAI's plea to dismiss the case. This decision also follows Musk's announcement, just a day earlier, that he would prohibit Apple devices within his companies if OpenAI's technology were to be integrated into the iPhone and Mac at the OS level, amidst other unconventional warnings.

According to a court filing obtained by CNBC, the case was dismissed without prejudice, implying that Musk retains the option to refile the lawsuit later.

READ ALSO: OpenAI Being Sued by Elon Musk for Allegedly Breaching Contract to Prioritize Profit Over Humanity

A hearing was scheduled for Wednesday in San Francisco. During this hearing, the judge would evaluate whether the case should be dismissed, as the defendants requested.

Experts informed CNBC in March that the case rested on a questionable legal foundation because the contract central to the lawsuit was not a formal written agreement signed by all parties involved. Musk straightforwardly asserts that the complaint's "Founding Agreement" had no document attached to the exhibit and is essentially a concept conveyed through email correspondence.

Following Musk's lawsuit filing, OpenAI promptly refuted his allegations, stating that the billionaire sought "absolute control" of the company through a merger with Tesla and that there was "no agreement" with Musk at all.

Elon Musk's Prominent Status

Musk extensively reiterated his role in creating a company that has since emerged as one of the most prominent startups globally in the 35-page complaint (plus attached exhibits) filed in March. OpenAI topped CNBC's Disruptor 50 list in 2023, primarily due to the widespread adoption of ChatGPT.

In the previous year, Musk established his own AI venture, xAI. This venture developed the Grok AI chatbot, which is accessible through an X Premium subscription. It has secured a $6 billion Series B funding round from investors to finance the expensive chips required for its AI system.

According to its website, X.AI aims to understand the true nature of the universe. Last year, the company unveiled a chatbot named Grok, inspired by "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy," which purportedly underwent two months of training and possesses real-time knowledge of the internet, as per the company's claims.

RELATED ARTICLE: OpenAI CEO Warns of Societal Misalignment, Calls for a Regulatory Body to Supervise AI

 2017 Jobs & Hire All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
The Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance government is hopeful of presenting the full Budget for 2024-25 (FY25) in the second half of July, sources told Business Standard.

The finance ministry is likely to begin the consultation process for the Budget with various ministries and stakeholders next week, the sources said.

The Union Budget will be preceded by the Economic Survey for 2023-24.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju on Wednesday posted on social media platform X that the first Session of the 18th Lok Sabha will be held from June 24 to July 3 for oath/affirmation of newly elected members,
Kannada actor Darshan Thoogudeepa, popularly known as 'Challenging Star' and his partner Pavithra Gowda along with eleven others have been arrested in a murder case that unfolded in a filmy style.

Eleven others arrested by police are Pavan, Vinay, Pradosh, Nandeesha, Deepak, Lakshman, Nagaraju, Karthik, Nikhil, Keshav Murthy, and Raghavendra. All were sent to police custody for seven days by a city court.

Darshans fan shared defamatory texts with Pavithra

Renukaswamy, a fan of Darshan, was said to have been sending a series of lewd and defamatory texts to Pavithra. The fan held Pavithra responsible for Darshans separation from his wife Vjayalakshmi and warned her to stay away from him or face consequences, police sources said.





Also Read: Jatt and Juliet 3 trailer released; Diljit-Neeru reunite after 12 years Renukaswamy was found murdered with his body dumped in a drain in Kamakshipalya in Bengaluru on June 8. The deceased was arrested from Chitradurga and kept captive in a farmhouse in Bengaluru's Rajarajeshwarinagar. He was tortured and then he passed away due to injuries at around 11 pm. Renukaswamy used to work at a pharmacy in Chitradurga.

Police registered a murder case

Police got a call from a locality near Summanahalli in Bengaluru on June 9 as the security guard spotted a body in a drain. While the police registered a murder case and tried to establish the identity of the victim, four men turned up at the Kamakshipalya police station claiming that they had killed Renukaswamy at a shed near RR Nagar over a financial dispute.

The police established the identity of the victim and pulled out his Call Details Records (CDR) and that of the men who surrendered. It was quite confusing, police said. Renukaswamy was from Chitradurga and we were wondering why he had come to Bengaluru and why he had visited the shed near RR Nagar, located 10 km from the place where the body was found. Eventually, the police investigations and questioning revealed that Renukaswamy was abducted at the behest of Darshan and was killed in the shed.

The Kannada film star was arrested after the police found visual footage of Darshan and Pavithra at the location where Renukaswmmy was assaulted. The video reveals that a black Scorpio with the victim's body left the location and then a red Thar that belonged to the actor.

The visuals revealed that they entered the crime scene at 11 pm and left around 3.30 am. The vehicle was approaching the godown and leaving on the intervening night of June 8 and 9.

Police arrested Darshan and Pavithra

Darshan was arrested in Mysuru on Tuesday morning when he was leaving the gym, and Pavithra was held in Bengaluru later after the link was established with the case.

Pavithra was ignoring indecent tests from Swamy, who was not happy with her relationship with Darshan. However, it was revealed that the deceased was not only sending him lewd texts, but he was also threatening her. The police haven't established a direct link between the murder and the Kannada actor. Police apprehended him and on the statement, police arrested ten other accused in the murder case.

After Darshan and Pavithra's arrest, the Bengaluru police have started a full-fledged investigation into the murder case. The police are also trying to find the involvement of others in kidnapping the victim from Chitradurga to Bengaluru and later disposing of his body in the city.
In one of his first public statements after he took charge of the portfolio again, the new-old minister of petroleum and natural gas, Hardeep Singh Puri, categorically stated that plans to sell oil marketing major Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd or BPCL are completely off the table. He explained that BPCL is a highly successful Maharatna, the term that refers to state-owned companies with a high degree of autonomy, so the government sees no need to sell its 52.98 per cent stake.

This is a notable shift in approach. Plans for BPCLs strategic disinvestment were announced in 2021 as part of the
Nepal's tourism professionals continue to receive Chinese language training

Xinhua) 10:01, June 12, 2024

KATHMANDU, June 11 (Xinhua) -- The Sixth Chinese language training course kicked off here on Tuesday for tourism professionals in Nepal.

A total of 60 Nepalese shall receive Chinese language training under a six-month-long program, according to Harish Chandra Shah, president of Nepal China Cultural and Educational Council, which is co-organizing the training session with the Nepal Tourism Board.

A total of 200 Nepali tourism professionals have been trained in the past five training sessions.

China is not just a "strong partner" to Nepal's development, "but also a market for our tourism industry," said Hit Bahadur Tamang, Nepal's minister for culture, tourism and civil aviation.

"My ministry aims to attract millions of tourists from China to Nepal," he said while addressing the inaugural ceremony of the training course. "We need thousands of guides who can speak the Chinese language to cater to those tourists."

"Similarly, learning the language of either country will also help expand the people-to-people relationship between the two countries," added the minister.

Hikmat Singh Ayer, acting chief executive officer of the Nepal Tourism Board, voiced his readiness to expand the partnership to extend the training course to other parts of the country.

Chinese is not only a language, but also a tool that holds the key to an ancient civilization and culture and the direction of future technological development, said Chinese Ambassador to Nepal Chen Song.

Addressing the inaugural ceremony, Chen spoke of the progress China has made in technological development, including the highest numbers of high-quality papers and patents published and applied each year.

"China ranks first in all the new scientific and technological fields, or ranks second in a few," he added.

Chen encouraged the trainees to enjoy the learning process to have a better world opened up for them.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
The decision to halt subsidy reforms, coupled with continued high spending, has strained the nation's finances, the World Bank Country Director warned further, news portal Sun.mv said on Wednesday. Photo: Shutterstock

Highlighting that the Maldives has been spending beyond its means for decades, the World Bank has warned that the archipelagic nation faces high debt distress risk and financing challenges, making it vulnerable to shocks.

World Bank Country Director for the Maldives, Nepal, and Sri Lanka Faris H Hadad-Zervos also said that the island nation's annual debt servicing needs are likely to be $512 million for the current and following years, and another $1.07 billion in 2026.

Hadad-Zervos's statement, posted on his official X account, comes days after the Ministry of Finance here said that the public and publicly guaranteed debt is almost 110 per cent of Maldives' GDP. The heavily tourism-dependent nation had suffered badly due to the COVID-19 pandemic-induced lockdowns and started recovering only in 2023.

According to the Ministry of Finance's Quarterly Debt Bulletin for Quarter 1, 2024 published on June 1, the public and publicly guaranteed (PPG) debt has risen to $8.2 billion which is 110 per cent of the Maldives' GDP.

The Ministry of Finance reports that the state's debt rose by $90.8 million within the first three months of the year. The total debt had reached $8.09 billion by 2023 end.

For decades #Maldives has been spending beyond its means. Sharp spending rise and subsidies have widened the deficit, leading to a vulnerable fiscal situation and unsustainable debt, Hadad-Zervos' post on X said on Monday.

Annual debt servicing needs are likely to be $512 million for 2024 and 2025, and $1.07 billion in 2026, he pointed out and warned: Maldives faces high debt distress risk and financing challenges, making it vulnerable to shocks.



Suggesting urgent fiscal reforms, the top World Bank official said, phasing out blanket subsidies, addressing SOE weaknesses, improving healthcare spending efficiency and streamlining the public investment programme could be some of the measures.

He also posted a video along with his message on X. Last year, the Maldives economy hit choppy waters, Faris begins his video message posted on X, adding that the nation's economic engine, the tourism industry, slowed down due to a decrease in tourism receipts.

The decision to halt subsidy reforms, coupled with continued high spending, has strained the nation's finances, the World Bank Country Director warned further, news portal Sun.mv said on Wednesday.

Earlier, May 8 released the report Scaling Back and Rebuilding Buffers,' which is the latest Maldives Development Update from the World Bank, noted that the country's tourism and other major industries are seeing a slowdown.

Sun,mv further reported quoting the Update that the increment in tourist arrivals is offset by lower spending per tourist and shorter stays tampering the positive impact on the overall GDP growth of the Maldives.

The Washington-based lender forecast also highlighted the need for fiscal consolidation in the country, which is expected to impact real household incomes owing to subsidy reforms, and a decrease in government's spending and investment."



Furthermore, the country's economy was projected to grow by 4.7 per cent this year, lower than previous estimates, reflecting a moderation in growth momentum, the World Bank added.
Today, in Kantars BrandZ global rankings, Corona was recognized as the most valuable beer brand in the world. Eight out of the 10 most valuable global beer brands belong to AB InBev (Brussel:ABI) (BMV:ANB) (JSE:ANH) (NYSE:BUD), according to the report ranking the top brands in the world.

Valued at more than $19 billion USD, Corona has become the most valuable global beer brand due to consistent acceleration of growth globally and specifically tapping into growing markets, like Brazil, China, South Africa while maintaining its stronghold in Mexico, said Kantar CEO Chris Jansen. Our congratulations go to the Corona team for a standout year.

Coronas strength lies in how it combines emotional and functional points of difference in a unique and consistent way, said Marcel Marcondes, AB InBevs Global Chief Marketing Officer. In everything that Corona does the brand evokes that emotional moment of having a break from the routine to reconnect with nature and oneself. On the functional side, consumers know that Corona is brewed with 100% natural ingredients, they love the unique, refreshing experience of the lime ritual and they appreciate that Corona is one of the first global beverage brands with a net zero plastic footprint. All these elements are why Corona is recognized as a truly premium, iconic brand anywhere in the world.

Other AB InBev brands that made it into this years ranking include, Budweiser, the second most valuable beer brand in the world, Modelo at #4, Brahma at #5, Michelob Ultra at #6, Bud Light at #7, Skol at #8 and Stella Artois at #10. These brands all feature in the Top 20 Most Valuable Global Alcohol category ranking.

Growing our megabrands is a key part of our business strategy to lead and grow the category, said Marcondes. Our focus is on delivering against the needs of our consumers in a way that gives them what they seek, but also in a way that earns their love.

Published annually, the Kantar BrandZ Most Valuable Global Brands Report ranks the worlds top brands, the sector leaders, big movers and brands to watch. Providing a wealth of insights on brands, categories and marketing issues and trends over 14 years, the rankings serve as a measure of brand value and relevancy.

About AB InBev

AB InBev is a publicly traded company (Euronext: ABI) based in Leuven, Belgium, with secondary listings on the Mexico (MEXBOL: ANB) and South Africa (JSE: ANH) stock exchanges and with American Depositary Receipts on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: BUD). As a company, we dream big to create a future with more cheers. We are always looking to serve up new ways to meet lifes moments, move our industry forward and make a meaningful impact in the world. We are committed to building great brands that stand the test of time and to brewing the best beers using the finest ingredients. Our diverse portfolio of well over 500 beer brands includes global brands Budweiser, Corona, Stella Artois and Michelob Ultra; multi-country brands Becks, Hoegaarden and Leffe; and local champions such as Aguila, Antarctica, Bud Light, Brahma, Cass, Castle, Castle Lite, Cristal, Harbin, Jupiler, Modelo Especial, Quilmes, Victoria, Sedrin, and Skol. Our brewing heritage dates back more than 600 years, spanning continents and generations. From our European roots at the Den Hoorn brewery in Leuven, Belgium. To the pioneering spirit of the Anheuser & Co brewery in St. Louis, US. To the creation of the Castle Brewery in South Africa during the Johannesburg gold rush. To Bohemia, the first brewery in Brazil. Geographically diversified with a balanced exposure to developed and developing markets, we leverage the collective strengths of approximately 155,000 colleagues based in nearly 50 countries worldwide. For 2023, AB InBevs reported revenue was 59.4 billion USD (excluding JVs and associates).

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240611731362/en/
The Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) and Art Basel are delighted to announce a new three-year global partnership. The HKTB is the first tourism organisation to enter into a global strategic partnership with Art Basel. Announced during the press conference of Art Basel in Basel, the collaboration will extend beyond Hong Kong to all Art Basel shows worldwide, beginning with Art Basel Paris this October.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240611223674/en/

Mr Dane Cheng, HKTB Executive Director, and Mr Noah Horowitz, CEO, Art Basel, announced a new global partnership between Art Basel and HKTB during the press conference of Art Basel in Basel held on 11 June 2024 (Photo: Hong Kong Tourism Board)

As part of this exciting alliance, HKTB will serve as a Show Partner of Art Basel and celebrate Hong Kong art and culture on the world stage. Over the next three years, HKTB will be present in four annual shows, including Art Basel in Paris, Miami Beach, Hong Kong, and Basel, with different thematic experiences or activations.

Mr Dane Cheng, HKTB Executive Director, said: Our strategic alliance with Art Basel underscores our commitment to promoting Hong Kong as the East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchange, and a valuable gateway to the Chinese art market. By sharing the citys unique character through immersive experiences and exhibitions at the worlds most prestigious art platform, we hope to inspire travellers to visit our city and discover its thriving creative community and rich cultural experiences.

Noah Horowitz, Art Basel CEO, said: We are thrilled to build on our longstanding collaboration with Hong Kong Tourism Board and launch this ambitious initiative. By shining a global spotlight on Hong Kongs vibrant art scene, this partnership will enhance the experience for our fair visitors while unlocking new opportunities and fostering deeper connections between Hong Kong and art communities around the world.

Debuting in Hong Kong in 2013, Art Basel has collaborated with HKTB on several successful projects together since 2020. This March, the tourism board joined hands with the fair to present a local Cha Chaan Teng experience that aimed to highlight the vibrant living culture of Hong Kong. Inside a colourful, purpose-built cha chaan teng (Hong Kong-style cafe), visitors enjoyed local delicacies, such as the citys iconic pineapple buns and milk tea, while experiencing Hong Kongs East-meets-West heritage firsthand.

The organisations three-year partnership will kick off with Art Basel Paris, taking place at the Grand Palais in the French capital from 18-20 October 2024.

Images can be accessed at:

https://assetlibrary.hktb.com/assetbank-hktb/action/browseItems?categoryId=1570&categoryTypeId=2&cachedCriteria=1

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240611223674/en/
Wednesday, June 5, 2024 at 11:36PM

Image: Apple

Apple has confirmed it will provide security updates for iPhones for at least five years, less than the seven years guaranteed by Samsung and Google. This is the first time Apple has committed to a minimum length of software support for iPhones. A new UK regulation requires companies to provide security updates for internet-connected devices for at least five years. This applies to iPhones, and Apple has confirmed they'll support iPhone 15 with security updates for at least five years from its launch in September 2023.

While Samsung and Google currently offer a longer guarantee, Apple has historically provided security updates for iPhones for over five years. So, iPhone users can likely expect to receive security updates for just as long, if not longer, than Samsung and Google devices.

Source
If theres one car that can be considered as the king of reinvention, its the Hyundai Santa Fe. In the five generations its been around, e...
Rohrdorfer Zement awards Fives FCB clay calcination contract

Muriel Bal By 12 June 2024

Rohrdorfer Zement has awarded Fives FCB the EPC contract for the supply of a 50tpd clay calcination unit at the Rohrdorf plant in Bavaria, Germany.



The integrated clay calcination unit within the clinker line is expected to test various clay sources and qualities with the ultimate goal of reducing CO 2 emissions linked to cement production, targeting net zero emissions in 2038. The pilot plant will feature Fives proprietary pyroprocess technologies such as three-stage FCB preheater, FCB Flash Calciner and FCB Color control system



The five-stage design enables full activation of a wide range of clays by controlling particle size distribution, temperature and residence time of the material in the circuit. The absence of material contact with the flame ensures homogeneous calcination and therefore, excellent product quality.



In addition, FCBs patented colour control process, which reduces iron oxides in a separate decolorisation step after calcination, efficiently produces the traditional grey colour required by cement manufacturers without generating pollutants.



After a detailed technical review of the various existing technologies available on the market, we have decided that the flash calciner with an integrated clay calcination unit from Fives FCB was the best solution in terms of reliability, efficiency and colour control. We are confident that offered clay calcination unit will be essential to move forward on our pathway to Net Zero, said Dr Helmut Leibinger, managing director of Net Zero Emission Labs GmbH.









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Robust cement sales growth for Indonesia in May

ICR Newsroom By 12 June 2024

Cement sales in Indonesia amounted to 5.678Mt in May. This is an increase of 11.2 per cent YoY compared to the 5.008Mt reported a year earlier.

Regional sales reported growth across all areas led by Kalimantan where the development of Indonesias new capital, Nusantara, is ongoing. Sales there rose 32.2 per cent YoY in May to 475,672t up from 359,758t. Local dispatches in Bali-Nustra rose 23.9 per cent YoY to 346,822t from 280,184t. Java, the countrys largest market, saw sales rise 12.4 per cent YoY to 3.018Mt, from 2.686Mt. Sumatra reported growth of 3.5 per cent YoY to 1.140Mt, up from 1.102Mt. Maluku-Papua also saw a rise 3.5 per cent YoY, coming in at 159,703t, up from 154,316t. Sales rose 0.4 per cent YoY to 427,951t from 426,406t in Sulawesi.

Production

Cement production in Indonesia rose 11.6 per cent YoY to 5.493Mt, from 4.92Mt in May 2023. Clinker production increased 9.3 per cent YoY to 4.732Mt, up from 4.331Mt previously.

Exports

In May cement exports shrank a notable 30.8 per cent YoY to 67,201t, down from 97,100t a year earlier. Meanwhile, clinker exports jumped 17.7 per cent YoY to 672,317Mt from 571,064t a year earlier. Bangladesh was the key export market in May, accounting for 66 per cent of total exports, followed by Australia (15 per cent) and Taiwan (11 per cent).



January to May 2024

Cement sales in Indonesia in the first five months of 2024 amounted to 23.189Mt. This is an increase of 2.3 per cent YoY compared to the 22.667Mt reported in the same period a year earlier.

Three regions reported increases in sales and three reported contractions during the period. Kalimantan reported a 23.1 per cent YoY increase to 2.004Mt from 1.626Mt. Sales in Bali-Nustra rose 13.7 per cent YoY to 1.49Mt, from 1.31Mt previously, and sales in Java rose 2.2 per cent YoY to 11.969Mt, up from 11.716Mt.

Contrastingly sales in Sulawesi fell 7.6 per cent YoY to 2.036Mt from 2.204Mt, local dispatches in Maluku-Paua declined 6.1 per cent YoY to 786,836t from 837,711t, and Sumatra recorded a 1.3 per cent YoY fall to 4.902Mt from 4.971Mt in the first five months of 2023.

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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/




A Lookout Mountain, Tn., woman has been ordered to serve 17 months in federal prison in connection with a multi-state scheme to obtain millions of dollars in Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) funds through the submission of dozens of fraudulent applications to PPP lenders.

Adiana Pierre, 39, was sentenced in Boston along with Gardy Alexandre, 51, of West Palm Beach, who got 15 months.

A third defendant, Wallace Ford, 38, of Buford, Ga., will be sentenced at a later date.

In February 2024, all three defendants pleaded guilty to one count each of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to engage in unlawful monetary transactions.

Prosecutors said the three conspired to submit fraudulent PPP applications on behalf of numerous actual or purported businesses and non-profit organizations across the United States  including businesses operated in Massachusetts  and to collect kickback payments from the borrowers for securing loan amounts.

Officials said, "Shortly after PPP funds first became available in April 2020, Ford began submitting PPP applications on behalf of his own businesses, Pierre, Alexandre and other borrowers. Pierre, Alexandre and others identified potential applicants and provided those applicants information to Ford. Ford then submitted applications for those borrowers online, fabricating employee numbers and monthly payroll expenses. Ford also submitted false wage and tax forms in support of the misrepresentations on the applications. As a result, between May and August 2020, Ford, Pierre, Alexandre and others obtained approximately $7 million in PPP funds.

"The borrowers who received PPP funds based on these fraudulent applications paid kickbacks to Ford, Pierre, Alexandre and others, commonly in amounts equal to 10 or 20 percent of the loan amount they received. Collectively, Ford, Pierre and Alexandre received over $1 million in kickback payments from borrowers."

On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud.
An individual already in custody was charged with criminal conspiracy after new evidence surfaced.

A two-vehicle crash occurred in the 4900 block of Ooltewah Ringgold Road.





An unknown 9-1-1 call came in from the 4100 block of Birdseye. Everything in the area appeared ok.





Officers assisted Hamilton County Deputies with a crash/disorder on the interstate near the 14-mile marker.





A wallet was found in the 5700 block of Main Street.





Officers assisted a broken-down motorist in the 5900 block of Edgmon Road.





Officers were dispatched to Walmart on a report of an individual asking for donations.The individual was gone before officers arrived.





Officers assisted Hamilton County Deputies with a domestic assault that occurred in the 9500 block of Vine Street.





Officers assisted a broken-down motorist in the area of Bill Reed Road and Ooltewah Ringgold Road.





Another broken-down motorist was assisted in the 5200 block of Little Debbie Parkway.





Officers responded to a fire alarm in the 4800 block of College Drive East. Everything checked ok.





Officers were dispatched to an alarm in the 5400 block of Ooltewah Ringgold Road. The building was secure.





Officers checked on several individuals walking in the 9400 block of Apison Pike. Officers made contact, and everything was ok.





Officers were dispatched to an improperly parked vehicle in the 9500 block of Salisbury Lane. Due to the vehicle being in a no-parking zone, it was towed.
The Jewish Federation of Greater Chattanooga invites the Chattanooga community to celebrate Independence Day with an indoor, air-conditioned picnic event on Thursday, July 4 at 11:30 a.m. at the Jewish Cultural Center, 5461 North Terrace Road.Organizers said, "Regionally known musicians Lon Eldridge, Lou Wamp and Lynn Wamp play swing, blues and Western swing. There will be lots of toe tapping in celebration of the holiday. Chicken with special BBQ sauce sizzling on the grill, plenty of summer sides, including fresh homemade potato salad and cole slaw, and tasty dessert treats are sure to make a feast.Vegetarian meals are available if requested by the registration deadline of July. This is the best Independence Day picnic in town."The cost to attend is $15 for adults; $28 for two, $36 for a family of four, $7 for children seven to 16, and free for children under seven. Register at www.jewishchattanooga.com
County Commissioner David Sharpe said the commission has ceded too much power to the county mayor over the years since the 1941 state Act on county government.

He has drawn up a proposed new county organizational chart reflecting more commission oversight, including putting the chief of staff under the commission instead of the mayor.

Chief of Staff Claire McVay has charted out the current county setup, and the commission on June 26 is set to choose between the two.

Commissioner Sharpe said the 1941 Act "is the law. We're not doing things the way it was conferred."

He said it is "not a partisan issue. This is conservative action" aimed at protecting taxpayers.

Commissioner Joe Graham said a number of changes came with state legislation on counties in 1978. He said the county has always had the option to turn most of the operation of government over to the mayor. He said, "We're not doing anything arbitrary to the law" or that is not being done in other Tennessee counties.

Commissioner Greg Beck said, "I really don't want to do any more supervising. I don't want anything more put on me." He said the pay of a commissioner would not justify it.

Commissioner Gene-o Shipley questioned how the chief of staff "would answer to 11 of us. Who would she check with?" He said the 1941 Act "is old and outdated and hasn't been used by Hamilton County." He said, "I oppose this whole-heartedly."

Commissioner Lee Helton commented, "I don't know what to say. This makes us look like the tail end of a donkey to the rest of the state. It's ridiculous."

Both the county mayor's office and Commissioner Graham have requested attorney general opinions on the issue.

The chart vote is due to come at the same time as a vote on the $1,051,451,689 county budget. It will be the first time the county budget passes the $1 billion mark.

Some commissioners have expressed concern about a 45 percent rise in the county mayor's budget.

Chairman Jeff Eversole said comments he has received include "we have all these folks in the mayor's office making ridiculous salaries, while we can't fix the roads."

Commissioner Mackey said if the commission goes along with the proposed budget for the county mayor's office "you can never undo that" and it will be built in for future years.

County Mayor Weston Wamp, on the chart issue, said the 1941 Act "has been weaponized down through the years."

On his office budget, he said he saw after being elected "that we needed more manpower to do the job efficiently and effectively."

He said some of his top staff have saved the county millions of dollars and brought in millions of dollars in grants that had not been sought previously.

The new budget setup puts former Chattanooga Police Chief David Roddy, the chief operating officer, in a separate line item and not under the chief of staff.

County Mayor Wamp said the main reason for the increase is the addition of Mr. Roddy. He said he recruited him extensively and said he has brought a new level of efficiency to the operation of county government.
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Deep in the forests of northern Michigan, a frightening monster with the head of a dog and the body of a man lurks through the darkness, emitting an eerie scream that instills fear into anyone who hears it.

The Michigan Dogman is said to roam the wilderness in northern Michigan and appears every 10 years on the years that end with seven.

The Dogman was first spotted in the late 19th century by a pair of lumberjacks. Sightings of the creature have increased since then.

However, the whole Dogman story doesnt really add up, which raises the question of its existence. Some believe the Dogman is an ancient ancestor of wolves or a bear walking on its hind legs, while others think that it was just a prank.

There is no solid evidence that the Dogman exists. Still, there are people who insist that the beast is a real paranormal entity.

Legend has it that the Michigan Dogman was known to Native Americans before white settlers ever encountered it. The creature once terrorized local Odawa tribes that lived along the Manistee River.

The first modern run-in with the Dogman occurred in 1887. A group of lumberjacks caught a glimpse of what appeared to be a stray dog. They chased it until it hid in a hollow log.

When one of the men used a stick to poke the dog through the log, it unleashed a piercing scream, crawled out of the log, and stood on two legs. It had the head of a dog and the body of a man. The lumberjacks took off running and never returned to the area again.

A decade later, there was another report of the Dogman in the same area. In 1897, a farmer near the town of Buckley was found dead on his plow. Large dog tracks surrounded his body, which caused some people to believe the Dogman had killed him. Ten years later, a woman spoke of dogs and high-pitched screams outside her window at night.

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There are many adults and elderly people living in America who never graduated from high school because they were forced to work and contribute to their familys bills as teenagers.

However, sometimes, they can get their diplomas, something theyd been hoping to get for years.

One 85-year-old woman finally got to live out her dream of becoming a high school graduate this year, and her story is truly inspiring.

Shirley Smith is an 85-year-old woman living in Americus, Georgia. She grew up in Wilmington, North Carolina, on her fathers tobacco farm, and her family eventually moved to New Jersey.

In the late 1950s, Shirleys life changed when she told her father she didnt want to go to school one day, and he told her that shed have to go to work instead. And she did.

As a teenager, Shirley worked several jobs instead of returning to high school to support herself and her family.

She worked at a dry cleaner and eventually a purse-making factory before getting married, starting a family of her own, and moving down to Georgia with them.

Shirley was a very dedicated mother and wanted the best for her children, which meant prioritizing their care and education over hers.

While she may have had the opportunity to go to vocational school or get her GED over the years, she focused on ensuring her kids got the best education possible.

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Home News Christian worker tortured to death by Muslim employer in Pakistan

LAHORE, Pakistan  A Muslim factory owner in Pakistan on Thursday 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.

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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.

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, 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.

This article was originally published by Christian Daily International-Morning Star News.
Home News Michigan Catholic parishes ask court to protect their right to uphold religious beliefs

Attorneys representing Catholic parishes in Michigan were in federal court Tuesday seeking to conduct business according to their faith, which they believe the new interpretation of a state civil rights law imperils.

The United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit heard oral arguments in the case of St. Joseph Parish vs. Nessel Tuesday. The case dates back to 2022, when St. Josephs Catholic Parish in St. Johns, Michigan, filed a complaint over the states new interpretation of civil rights law to include discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity under the umbrella of sex discrimination, which is banned under state law.

The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Michigan, names Michigans Democrat Attorney General Dana Nessel and Michigan Department of Civil Rights Executive Director John E. Johnson Jr. and members of the Michigan Civil Rights Commission as defendants. Lori Windham, an attorney at the religious liberty law firm Becket that is representing the church in ongoing litigation, expounded on the implications of the law and the arguments the church was making in an X thread posted Tuesday.

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St. Joseph opened an elementary school in 1924 to provide local families with a Catholic education rooted in the teachings of the church. Like many religious schools, St. Joseph hires teachers and staff who support and advance the Catholic faith, she explained. St. Joseph also asks all staff  from kindergarten teachers to part-time bookkeepers  to be practicing Catholics and to uphold the faith. St. Joseph also follows Catholic teaching on issues like pronouns and separate girls and boys bathrooms and locker rooms.

Windham lamented that Michigan recently revised its civil rights laws to include sexual orientation and gender identity, without any protection for religious organizations like St. Joseph. She noted that Michigan doesnt deny that it could punish St. Joseph simply for following its faith, adding, Michigan told St. Joseph it now must ask permission from the States Civil Rights Commission whenever it wants to ask Catholic employees to follow Catholic teaching.

Meanwhile, St. Joseph risks being sued in all its public activities  at the parish, the school, and its services to the community  simply for upholding Catholic teaching, she warned. Michiganders dont need a permission slip from bureaucrats in Lansing to practice their religious beliefs. The court should reject this irresponsible law and let institutions like St. Joseph get back to freely serving their schools, churches, and communities.

William Haun, senior counsel at Becket, who defended the church before the court on Tuesday, released a statement maintaining that Michigan politicians are chilling St. Joseph and hundreds of other religious ministries out of staying true to their faith. That is irresponsible  the First Amendment prohibits scaring religious institutions into abandoning their religious ways of life.

St. Joseph isn't the only Catholic parish in Michigan to file a complaint against the states new interpretation of civil rights law. Lawyers with Alliance Defending Freedom, representing Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and the Sacred Heart Academy that it operates, were also in federal court Tuesday.

In a statement released ahead of oral arguments Tuesday, ADF Legal Counsel Cody Barnett declared, The Constitution is clear: Religious schools are free to operate according to their beliefs.

Noting that a federal district court  as well as the U.S. Supreme Court  have concluded that government officials cant target faith-based organizations simply for adhering to their religious beliefs, Barnett expressed concern that Michigan is forcing Sacred Heart to make an impossible choice between teaching and practicing the Catholic faith or closing their doors forever  all while denying parents the right to direct the upbringing and education of their children.

The parish has faithfully served Grand Rapids families for more than a century, and its school provides a rich academic and spiritual environment for hundreds of children, he added. We are urging the 6th Circuit to allow their lawsuit to continue so they can take steps toward serving their community without fear of government punishment.

Both St. Joseph and Sacred Heart have taken their cases to appellate court after the same judge in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Michigan dismissed their complaints last year. Judge Jane Beckering, appointed to the bench by President Joe Biden, asserted in an August 2023 order that Sacred Heart and six parents whose children attended the school that joined the lawsuit as plaintiffs have failed to supply some indication of imminent enforcement.

Mere allegations of a subjective chill are alone insufficient to establish an injury-in-fact for standing purposes, she wrote. Plaintiffs opine that Sacred Heart is in the crosshairs of both the law and enforcement officials  but the Court concludes that the allegations in their Verified Complaint do not make either proposition plausible.

Beckering used similar language when issuing an opinion dismissing St. Josephs case on the same day, reaching the same conclusion that the plaintiffs lacked standing to bring the lawsuit in the first place.
Home News NC Pastor Clint Pressley elected SBC president

Clint Pressley, pastor of Hickory Grove Baptist Church in Charlotte, North Carolina, has been elected president of the Southern Baptist Convention, the largest Protestant denomination in the United States, beating out five other candidates in an atypically crowded field.

Messengers gathered in Indianapolis, Indiana, voted Wednesday morning to elect Pressley on the second runoff ballot, with him receiving 4,244 votes or 56.12%. The first two votes were held on Tuesday evening.

Pressley defeated Dan Spencer, pastor of First Baptist Church of Sevierville, Tennessee, who, on the second runoff ballot, received 3,305 votes, or 43.71% of the vote.

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The result of the first ballot was Pressley receiving 2,289 votes or 25.52%; second place was David Allen, dean of Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminarys preaching center, with 1,896 votes or 21.14%; and third place was Spencer with 1,585 votes or 17.67%.

Bruce Frank, pastor of Biltmore Church, Asheville, North Carolina, placed fourth with 15.56% of the vote; Jared Moore, pastor of Homesteads Baptist Church in Crossville, Tennessee, placed fifth with 10.27% of the vote; and Mike Keahbone, pastor of First Baptist Church of Lawton, Oklahoma, placed last with 9.68% of the vote.

The first runoff ballot was between Pressley, Allen and Spencer, since those three candidates had a total vote count that equaled more than 50% of the ballots cast in the first round.

The results of that ballot had Pressley in first place with 3,330 votes or 39.01%, Spencer in second place with 2,600 votes or 30.46%, and third place going to Allen with 2,577 votes or 30.19%.

Since no candidate received more than 50% of the vote, a second runoff ballot was done, with messengers choosing between Pressley and Spencer, who had the two highest totals.

Pressley was nominated in January by Pastor Chris Justice of Lee Park Baptist Church in Monroe, North Carolina, who stated that he considered Pressley to be a man of conviction who is joyfully orthodox, devoted to the Great Commission, and committed to our cooperation as Southern Baptists.

Justice also said that Pressley has led his church to plant and revitalize other churches, send missionaries, and sacrificially given to the Cooperative Program and Great Commission causes.

While Pressley was the first announced nominee for SBC president, Spencer was the last, being nominated by Chris Kendall, senior pastor of Oak City Baptist Church in Seymour, Tennessee, in April.

I believe that Dan Spencer is the unifier that would benefit our collective to refocus on what matters most. Its the people that God has put before us to reach with the Gospel and make disciples, stated Kendall, as reported by The Baptist Press.

His love for God and people has positioned him to make the necessary biblical decisions (as a leader) when it comes to faith and practice.  Dan is competent to lead at the denominational level. He also has whats most essential  the character to back it up.

Pressley will succeed Bart Barber, who was elected president of the SBC in 2022 and then reelected last year but was required to step down as individuals are not allowed to serve two consecutive terms.
Home News Scooter company disables riding over LGBT pride display after teens charged with felonies 'We will not let the hateful few spoil the joy of pride month in Spokane'

A scooter company has disabled the ability of riders to approach a pride mural in Spokane, Washington, after three teenagers were charged with felonies last week for using their scooters to desecrate the government-funded display.

On June 5, a 19-year-old named Ruslan V.V. Turko and two unnamed minors were arrested and booked in the county jail for first-degree malicious mischief after leaving multiple dark skid marks on the city's newly painted pride mural, according to the Spokane Police Department.

Officers reportedly found the suspects defacing the mural on scooters and witnessed the vandalism when they arrived on the scene last Wednesday.

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"Officers observed widespread damage as black scuff marks consistent with scooter wheels were observed across the entirety of the mural. The area is clearly marked to keep traffic away as it was just re-painted to repair previous damage," the department said in a June 6 press release.

A video of a local resident who called the police went viral on social media, during which she explained why she felt justified calling the authorities for what she claimed was a hate crime.

"It sucks to be reminded in moments like this that there are still people out there who have hate in their hearts for other people," the woman said.

?????????????????? TEENS ARRESTED FOR HATE CRIME AFTER DRIVING SCOOTER OVER PRIDE MURAL



The 3 teens, two of them unnamed as they're underage, were arrested in Spokane, Washington, and charged with 'malicious mischief' after their scooters left tire marks on a pride mural they rode over. pic.twitter.com/KdKTkESQzH  Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) June 8, 2024

Following news of the skid marks, Lime Director of Government Relations Hayden Harvey told The National Desk that his company denounced such actions.

"All of us at Lime condemn these vile acts in no uncertain terms," Harvey said. "At a time when our teams at Lime are beginning pride celebrations around the globe, it is disturbing to see the hate taking place in Spokane."

"We will not let the hateful few spoil the joy of pride month in Spokane, and are grateful for those working to make Spokane more welcoming for all," he added.

The company, which allows customers to use an app that unlocks scooters left in various parts of major cities, has since established a "no-go zone" over the pride crosswalk in Spokane, which means the scooters will "gradually come to a stop" if a rider approaches the area.

The Christian Post has reached out to Lime for further comment and will update this story if they respond.

Similar incidents have made national headlines in recent months.

In February, 19-year-old Dylan Brewer raised tens of thousands of dollars on GiveSendGo after he was charged with a felony for vandalizing an LGBT progress pride crosswalk in Clearwater, Florida, by leaving skid marks on it with his tires.

Last month, police in St. Petersburg, Florida, opened an investigation into drivers who vandalized an LGBT-themed street mural by leaving donut marks ahead of the city's pride month celebrations.
Home News Sheinbaum's victory in Mexico draws concern of pro-lifers, support from some Evangelicals

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 Oct. 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 President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador (AMLO). 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 United States, which is expected to be tense.

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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 master's 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 a delegate for Tlalpan, a district of the countrys capital. By 2018, she became the first woman to be chief of the 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.

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 10 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 International 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," she added.

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 place 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 are 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.
Home News Somali Muslim refugee-turned-missionary: US churches must do more to reach growing Islamic community

RICHMOND, Va.  A Muslim Somalian refugee who later became a Christian missionary has stressed the need for churches to do more to evangelize the United States growing Islamic population.

Osman Jama of the group Mission to North Americas Refugee and Immigrant Ministry, was one of two speakers at a seminar held Tuesday afternoon at the Presbyterian Church in Americas 51st General Assembly.

Titled From Islam to Christian Ministries: Journeys of Two PCA Men, the seminar featured Jama talking about his Islamic upbringing and how he came to Christ in 2007 while living in Minnesota.

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In an interview with The Christian Post, Jama explained that while Christians in America really do well studying, they must be more active in evangelizing nonbelievers.

We take our personal discipleship and personal growth very seriously, but we are also commissioned to go make disciples of all the nations, and in that, we are called not just to study but to go, said Jama.

The go part is also important. I think we do a really good job of sending others, but my personal belief is that everyone is called to evangelism, there are just different talents and callings. Some are called to the Middle East, some are called to Europe, but others are called to be here, to do evangelism with their neighbors, and to go across the street as much as across the country or across the continent.

Jama noted during his presentation that when his family learned of his becoming a Christian, they disowned him and effectively cut him off from all communication.

Jama told CP that, in the years since, his immediate and extended family continued to refuse to speak with him, one of the few exceptions being when one of his sisters informed him about the death of his parents.

The event was originally going to also feature Hamid Hatami, who, in February, became the first Iranian American from a Muslim background to be ordained a teaching elder in the PCA.

Hatami had to cancel due to health issues, with Iranian Pastor Ramtin Soudmand, whose family was Christian and his father was martyred in Iran years ago, giving remarks via a livestream.

Soudmand talked about the state of persecution in modern Iran, noting that the persecution of Christians increased considerably when the Islamic Republic took control in 1979.

When asked by CP if the recent political upheavals in Iran impacted his ministry work, Soudmand replied that nothing changes for us and that the government's reported reform efforts " were just for show.

The seminar was one of many taking place during the PCA General Assembly, held June 10-14 at the Richmond Convention Center and championing the theme of Knit Together.

PCA Stated Clerk Bryan Chapell said in a welcome letter to General Assembly attendees that the gathering will highlight the ways our denomination is knit together in our common beliefs in the authority of Scripture, the Reformed faith, and the Great Commission.

We will gather from across the PCA to hear what God is doing in the lives of our brothers and sisters in Christ  and to listen with humility, courage, gospel affection, and mutual honor for His corporate direction, wrote Chapell.

When asked by CP about what he hoped seminar attendees would take away from the event, Jama pointed out that Voice of the Martyrs considers his native Somalia to be one of the hardest places to reach unbelievers in the world.

That is tough soil, Jama said, adding, if God can reach me, He can reach any of them. The question I would pose to everyone who attended is how is God calling you to be a part of that?
Home News 3 Christians executed by Islamic extremists in Nigeria

Islamic State West Africa Province, an extremist faction, has executed three Christian men in Nigerias Borno State, according to images that have surfaced on social media shared by the terror group through its propaganda outlet.

The images, shared by the Islamic State group or ISIS, from which ISWAP splintered, through its propaganda outlet Amaq News Agency, depicted the victims kneeling with their arms tied behind their backs in front of three masked gunmen. Subsequent photos captured the men falling to the ground as gunmen fired upon them, raising clouds of smoke.

The three men were reportedly abducted from a vehicle traveling on a highway in the northern state on June 3, noted the U.S.-based persecution watchdog International Christian Concern.

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Reports indicate that while Muslim passengers were allowed to depart, the Christian passengers were targeted for abduction. A fourth Christian passenger was also abducted, but their condition remains unknown.

The Rev. Ibrahim Abako, secretary of the Christian Association of Nigeria, or CAN, in Yobe State, confirmed the deaths in an interview with Leadership Media Group. We condemn in totality the killing of three Christian youth along Damaturu-Biu Road Federal Highway, Abako was quoted as saying.

The assailants targeted a vehicle on the Biu-Damaturu road in Yobe State, abducting the Christians and later executing three of them. The identities of the victims were later discovered on social media.

The attackers specifically targeted and abducted four passengers who were Christians, releasing the others, a relative said, according to Daily Post. This selective violence has reignited concerns about the safety of the Christian minority in the region.

Abako has called on government and security forces to intensify their efforts against insurgents. This incident has been happening frequently. We call on the government, especially the military and police, to take proactive measures by protecting the citizens regardless of their religious background, the Post quoted him as saying.

The Nigerian Union of Local Government Employees, or NULGE, in Nangere, Yobe State, protested the lack of action from state agencies.

Umar Inusa, chairman of NULGE Nangere LG Branch, criticized the governments response to the security crisis. The issue of autonomy and independence for the three arms of government has been an issue in Nigeria, and that has led to a lot of challenges, he stated, linking ineffective governance to the deterioration in security, according to ACI Africa.

The incident adds to a series of attacks by ISWAP, which began as a faction split from Boko Haram in 2016. In January alone, ISWAP conducted eight attacks against Christian communities, resulting in 12 deaths and forcing others to flee their homes which were set ablaze, ICC said.
Home Opinion Church, stop treating LGBTQ people as illegitimate children

In 1969, a beautiful college sophomore had imbibed enough lies to be duped; she thought premarital sex was necessary to gauge compatibility. The boyfriend she had dated since high school was happy to oblige. This experiment yielded tangible results: a crisis pregnancy, an abandonment rather than an engagement, and a baby born out of wedlock. My father did not give my mother his protection, nor did he give me his name. I knew neither his love nor his discipline. I was an illegitimate child; in the harsher language of yore, I was a bastard.

Today, children in America are four times more likely to be born in circumstances like mine. How grateful I am to see men and women affected by the false and empty promises of the Sexual Revolution receive much needed support  especially women in crisis pregnancies  within the Church. In offering that embrace, pastoral care is not separated from acknowledging the truth of sin, repentance, Gods mercy, and the way forward in faith and discipleship. There is (in general) no demand for compromise on Christian sexual ethics or face accusations of not showing mercy and love. If anything, these situations highlight the wisdom of Gods boundaries around sex. Pastors and Christians are charged with responding redemptively to the objective blessing of a child in difficult, less than ideal circumstances. With heterosexual immorality, this remains fairly clear.

Yet in a strange turn of events, the Sexual Revolutions natural barrenness and demand for sterile sex has yielded an even more prolific way of producing illegitimate children among Gods people, or at least treating His children as such. Scripture is clear: our good and loving Father corrects and scourges every son He receives. If sons and daughters are without discipline, they are not being treated as beloved heirs, but as illegitimate children. Tolerating sexual sin is not showing love or justice; rather, it is treating people as less than their dignity demands. Though heterosexual sins may go without sufficient address at times, no one is more affected by this treatment than those who deal with same-sex attraction and/or are LGBT+-identified.

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In college, I had abandoned any attempt to practice the Christian faith and openly identified as lesbian. After fighting and resisting my attractions for many years, the surrender seemed sweet for a season. But the Hound of Heaven pursued me, and eventually, I could not deny Him. I knew I needed to repent. On the last official date I had with a woman before finally surrendering, I spoke of my faith struggle. She replied: This is the 90s! The Church needs to get with the times! I shook my head  my friend didnt understand that Christian teaching on this matter cant change because it is Truth given by God about the fabric of reality woven and ordained by God Himself.

Last October, the same week Pope Francis signaled openness to blessing those in same-sex couple situations, Evangelical megachurch leader Andy Stanley made headlines for his confusing stance on homosexuality. With sadness, I thought of his father, the late Charles Stanley, a sermon series on Romans, and a five-hour drive to Little Rock. One weekend, just a few months after my official repentance, I was getting out of town as my ex-girlfriend had returned and wanted to see me  a literal fleeing of youthful lusts. I listened to Charles Stanleys sermons on cassette tapes to Arkansas and back again, and with his help, came to a deeper understanding of dying to my old self as well as the new life in Christ God was calling me to, not just the old life He was calling me from. I memorized Romans 6, 7, and 8 upon my return, and my face was set on obeying Christ.

But that was 30 years ago, and now much of the Church is indeed getting with the times. Now there are a panoply of denominations and individual churches and parishes on both sides of the Tiber where it appears I could easily be blessed and affirmed to stay right where I was. In some places, Christian sexual ethics have been repudiated altogether and replaced. In others, official Church teaching remains but is consistently undermined through compassionate pastoral practice. Neither of these are loving as God the Father loves.

What kind of church does not rouse itself to rescue sinners by calling them to repentance on the fiercest moral battleground of the culture and individual lives: sexual integrity? A compromised or a deceived one. Such a church treats its members as those in lustful passion, who do not know God rather than beloved children called to possess their bodies in sanctification and honor. Are those who experience same-sex attraction and various other temptations not heirs of the same promise? Do we not bear the same dignity and responsibilities before God  as His beloved children? Are we a different class? Are we not called to sanctification?

For years after my Arkansas excursion, I sought to grow in Christian discipleship, walking with God in celibate singleness. Believe me when I say it was a bumpy road, including seduction by an older female counselor at the church I attended at the time. Years later I moved to attend graduate school and found rich Christian community with faithful mentors. With their help, I walked in increasing sexual and relational integrity. Those years were honestly painful and yet truly full of joy. However, in my early 30s, I found myself in an enmeshed friendship. Despite my desires for it to be pure and healthy, my heart was not rightly ordered. There was temptation, and thus a near occasion of sin. I could not deny it. When I sensed the Lord leading me to lay the friendship down for good, I resisted. Cant we just set more boundaries? There has to be another way! I cried as I bargained with God. Then His gentle whisper, There is no better way. I wept. And by His grace, I obeyed.

A good Father directs His children away from things that harm them. Whom the Lord loves, He reproves. A good Father also directs His children toward what is good. To my utter surprise, just a few years later, I married. What if I had tarried in that relationship  become entangled once again? Had I delayed obedience at that point in my life, I realistically picture my marriage disappearing. What if I had been in a church that blessed same-sex couples, or even one that compromised with blessing celibate unions? I shudder, as I picture the two faces most precious to me, born of my body at age 38 and 41, never coming into being.

Once when inside an explicitly LGBT-affirming church, I saw same-sex union symbols for both male and female couplings in the stained-glass windows along with the symbol for an opposite-sex union. The sunlight streamed in, illumining them such that each cast the same beautiful hues on the altar at the front of the sanctuary. Three possibilities for human sexual relationships, all presented as equivalent, holy, and valid. It would be almost impossible not to get confused here. Now from Atlanta to Italy, those false symbols are being streamed into more and more Christian churches.

In light of recent events, where all seems cast through an LGBT-stained glass lens, its become impossible not to be confused. Nearly 30% of Gen Z young adults now identify under the LGBTQ+ rainbow. Pastors, will you affirm the polyamorist, the pansexual, and all the infinite identity possibilities the plus sign implies? Or will you speak the truth that is inseparable from love? Only then will your church be a safe space for them.

Will you bear the Cross with them? For if you call the LGBT-identified to the Cross, you will bear a Cross as well. June Pride is upon us, along with a month-long reminder that fidelity to God in current culture will cost you, as you well know. In contrast, if the media celebrate the direction your church is headed regarding sexuality, it is reasonable to ask if friendship with the world has displaced your fidelity to God.

O Christian pastors and churches, seeking to love, we are not bastard sons and daughters. We are boys and girls, men and women, made in the image of God, fellow heirs, called to walk in a manner worthy of His high calling. For the love of God, Father of us both, treat us accordingly.
Home Opinion Joy: What I understand from being a dad to special needs children

The doctor who helped my wife and me welcome our first son told us something I will never forget. It changed my life.

You have a son, the doctor began. He just happens to have Down Syndrome.

At that moment, I began  unwittingly  to transform.

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As a young man, I judged peoples worth by their abilities and their accomplishments. I judged my own worth in this way as well. But being a parent of two children with special needs has shown me how tragically foolish this way of thinking is. My sons have taught me how to perceive and accept people as they truly are. My sons have taught me love.

Being the father of my special sons has shown me my many imperfections, as well. Learning to love is a difficult thing. Loving someone else well is among the most difficult things we will undertake in our lives, but the hardest things we do are often the most important.

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance, writes James.

Pure joy.

One of the gifts of truly difficult experiences is that they can impart precisely this pure joy. And in my own life, Ive found that the joy often becomes the truth of the hardship. It isnt a consolation prize or something addended to the stories we tell about our suffering. The joy is the story.

And thats particularly true, I think, of parenting children with special needs. My sons have made me the man I am today. Their love and their lives have stripped away almost everything that doesnt matter.

But they have taught me, more than anything else, the true nature of joy.

I dont want to diminish the difficulty or pretend that parents of children with special needs dont need a lot more support than they currently tend to get. But the fact remains that I wouldnt have been able to shake free of myself without the challenges of my own fatherhood.

And I know Im not alone. Of the fathers I know, those with children who have special needs are transformed and inspired by their children. They arent discouraged. They dont find sorrow in their childrens disabilities, but joy in seeing them grow, succeed and overcome. They inspire me every day, and Ive watched them inspire many others.

This is possible in part because they know, as I do, that God created a beautiful, unique purpose for families  and families of kids with special needs are no exception. He created us for joy, love, dignity and trust. No adversity or grief ever truly undermines that.

But we cant parent alone, especially not when its hard. Thats why fatherhood is at its heart a community enterprise  particularly for fathers of children with special needs. Our fathers need stronger churches and stronger friendships. They need us to create joyful, resilient families both at home and at church.

So, build stronger churches by centering inclusivity. I have no doubt that many churches would be improved dramatically by uplifting voices that are, sadly, so often suppressed or ignored. The parents of children with special needs have invaluable experience in sacrificial love and servant leadership.

Bay Area Christian Church, where Im a pastor, has grown in many ways precisely because of the witness, leadership and inspirational love of families with kids with special needs. Unity like nothing else Ive seen has grown in our congregation out of a shared commitment to inclusion and love of those with special needs.

And stronger homes extend this love and support much further, and more intimately than a church ever could. One family in particular comes to mind. Their son, who has autism, has been instrumental in bringing many of his friends to Jesus  and their home has become an indispensable hub for our church.

We can, and should, also build stronger friendships for fathers. If were afraid or confused, the worst thing we can be is alone. And there is no reason for any Christian to ever feel or to be alone in the world.

So be a light to the fathers you know. Share your grief and joy and receive theirs in turn. Share your time and talent in whatever way it might be needed  even if its just a listening ear.

Connection can take unexpected forms, too. A man Ive never met in real life has inspired me now, for years. He inspires hundreds of others, too. He shares his journey through fatherhood on Facebook. He shares the joys and triumphs of life as the father to a precious son  who, like mine, happens to have special needs.

Instead of seeing families whose children have special needs as somehow inhibited, we ought to celebrate their resilience. They have triumphed over sometimes heartbreaking grief and fear. Their faith has been tested, over and over again, and proven true.

Through this, we see homes become places of openness, acceptance and laughter. We see churches become places of inclusion and closeness. We see this extend into the community, inviting everyone into the love and acceptance found in God.

In other words, we find pure joy.
Assemblies of God pastor's wife, 3 others killed 'in cold blood'

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.

"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 doesn't 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 Kingdom's 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 Nigeria's 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.

Originally published at Christian Daily International and Morning Star News
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Acumatica goes all-in on AI with hundreds of enhancements to its ERP platform

The ERP company is releasing its new UI and rolling out more than 350 enhancements based on input from its community of 26,000 developers.
Maxime Mackieh, Head of Cyber Security at Punch Powertrain

Envision a future where vehicles become potential tools of harm, wielded as lethal machines, instruments of terrorism, or even as means for extortion. This dystopian scenario is not a scene from a captivating movie; rather, it highlights the gravity of the challenges we strive to avert

Maxime Mackieh is an accomplished cybersecurity professional with extensive experience working for several European companies. He has been the functional safety and cyber security manager at Schaeffler Automotive. He is currently the Head of Cyber Security at Punch Powertrain.

In an exclusive conversation with Auto Tech Outlook Europe, Maxime reveals profound insights into the vast potential of cyber risk within the automotive industry.

Please provide a brief overview of your experience in the automotive sector and your current role within the organization you work for.

My journey began with a robust educational foundation in robotics and engineering project management from the prestigious University of Technology in Sydney. Fueled by an insatiable drive, I started my professional voyage at Delphi Customer Technical Centre in Luxembourg, establishing myself as a software and systems engineers specializing in powertrain-critical components such as diesel engine controllers, injection systems, and central powertrain controllers.

Building upon these achievements, my experience led me to Schaeffler Automotive in Buhl, Germany. There, I worked in functional safety as a software engineer, assisting in the development of groundbreaking applications for automated gearboxes, clutches, hybrid solutions.My contributions extended to pioneering and securing e-drive solutions for powertrain applications, contributing to the company's ambitions to secure a robust presence in the rapidly evolving EV market.

Driven by a deep passion for excellence, I also delved into the realm of compliance as a functional safety engineer, where I ensured the development compliance to the ISO26262 standard.

In 2018, my professional journey converged seamlessly with the domain of cybersecurity when I assumed the pivotal role of Cyber Security Manager at Schaeffler Automotive.

I translated and implemented the newly requested regulations of the UN/ECE 155 and 156, designed to regulate cybersecurity within the automotive industry. At the beginning we were simply reviewing the draft version of ISO 21434 and struggling with TISAX and ISO27000 requirements overall. I simply but effectively followed the guidelines of the ISO 21434 standard and its associated intrusive activities, and integrated it into our operational framework, ensuring future meticulous homologation of vehicles in alignment of the regulations for our clients.


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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 put restrictions on public adjusters.

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.
RTX Corp. is facing a proposed class-action lawsuit accusing the worlds largest aerospace and defense company of discriminating against older workers in hiring.

The company reserves many jobs only for recent college graduates, excluding candidates who are 40 or older, according to the lawsuit filed Tuesday in federal court in Massachusetts. The policy has deterred tens of thousands of individuals from applying to positions at RTX, the complaint alleged.

Mark Goldstein, 67, filed the suit because he claims RTX wouldnt consider him for at least seven recent graduate positions between 2019 and 2023 and said discriminatory ads deterred him from applying to dozens of other roles. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission already ruled in 2021 that RTX rejected Goldstein because of his age and that the companys advertisements used language that discriminated against older workers.

Discriminatory language in job postings like recent college graduate or new grads isnt unusual, and the suit is intended to be a wakeup call for other companies, said Peter Romer-Friedman, one of Goldsteins lawyers. We want other employers to know they could be violating a law if they are doing the same thing, Romer-Friedman said.

AARP Foundations litigation arm is also helping represent Goldstein. A spokesperson for RTX didnt immediately respond to a request for comment.

In the EEOC case, RTX denied its job postings gave an age preference and said Goldstein couldnt prove he was qualified for the positions he sought. The company also noted Goldstein should have applied for other available jobs that werent entry-level, according to an EEOC letter attached to the lawsuit.

Goldstein claimed RTX has continued to reject qualified older applicants and advertised jobs exclusively for younger workers. Many of the companys job postings require applicants to have less that one or two years of experience, according to the lawsuit.

RTX has failed to seriously consider any of Goldsteins applications based on his age, his attorneys wrote in the lawsuit.

Copyright 2024 Bloomberg.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has agreed to allow UnitedHealth Group to notify people whose data was exposed during a hack on its Change Healthcare unit in February, the Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday.

The decision would spare U.S. hospitals and healthcare providers from time-consuming and expensive work, according to the report.

For months, hospitals and other care providers have urged the HHS to shift the notification burden to UnitedHealth and its unit, as the providers lack the money and information to do so.

Related: U.S. Health Agency Seeks to Shield Private Hospitals from Deluge of Cyberattacks

HHS agreed on May 31, making an exception to the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, which generally mandates the provider notify victims, the report said.

The company, HHS and the Senate Finance Committee did not immediately respond to Reuters requests for comment.

UnitedHealth said it was still conducting an investigation into what data was breached by hackers, WSJ reported, citing the companys responses to questions from the Senate Finance Committee.

Related: UnitedHealth Hack Put Data of One in Three Americans at Risk

The company also warned the breached data could contain sensitive information such as names, addresses, medical codes and insurance numbers, the report said.

Earlier in May, the healthcare conglomerates CEO Andrew Witty told a Congressional committee that hackers potentially stole a third of Americans data in the cyber attack that led to disruptions in processing medical claims that the company is still trying to fix.

Its Change Healthcare unit, which handles healthcare billing, data systems and many other services, is involved in about one in three patient records in the U.S., and the cyber attack disrupted the entire nations healthcare system, disrupting payments to doctors and healthcare facilities for a month.

(Reporting by Roy in Bengaluru; Editing by Devika Syamnath)
Giant panda star Fu Bao greets the public in southwest China

Xinhua) 10:19, June 12, 2024

CHENGDU, June 12 (Xinhua) -- Fu Bao, the first giant panda born in the Republic of Korea (ROK), met the public on Wednesday morning after returning to southwest China's Sichuan Province, the hometown of pandas.

Fu Bao turned up at the second hall of the panda nursery in the Shenshuping giant panda base of Wolong National Nature Reserve, following two months of inspection, quarantine and adaptation.

She returned to China in early April. According to Wei Rongping, deputy director of the center, the biggest challenge for her was how to fit into the "panda family" there.

"During the transitional period, Fu Bao could interact and get acquainted with her pals through odor and sound, or visit her neighbors, so as to adapt to the new environment quickly," said Cheng Jianbin, Fu Bao's breeder.

Born in July 2020, Fu Bao, meaning "lucky treasure" in English, is the first cub of giant pandas Ai Bao and Le Bao, who were sent to ROK from China in 2016 on a 15-year lease. She quickly became an online sensation among netizens in ROK after her birth, becoming a source of joy for people during the COVID-19 pandemic.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Rotunda Rumblings

High and dry: Ten years after Colorado became the first state in the country to set up a recreational marijuana program, Politico Magazine has documented how sales have decreased, dispensaries and cultivators are closing their doors and tax revenues are down. Laura Hancock looks at Ohios adult-use program, which is ramping up, and finds some factors hurting Colorado  such as delta-8-THC  are also a problem in Ohio, and others are not, such as Colorados lack of licensing caps.

Friendly filing: Republican Attorney General Dave Yost says he agrees with Democratic Columbus City Attorney Zach Klein when it comes to a case involving Kleins defense of a Columbus gun-control ordinance. Per Andrew Tobias, Yost filed a friend of the court brief with the Ohio Supreme Court on Tuesday, saying that while he disagrees with the ordinance, Klein should be allowed to appeal a temporary order issued by a Delaware County judge thats blocked it from going into effect for more than a year. Although the case has to do with a Democratic city official, the ruling more broadly could affect the ability judges in Democratic-controlled areas have to block new laws passed by the Republican-controlled state legislature.

Passed gas: An Ohio House committee passed legislation Tuesday that would establish an interest-free state loan program and cut property taxes for the development of new natural gas pipelines, Jake Zuckerman reports. It passed on a bipartisan vote.

Rebutting Jordan: 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, Sabrina Eaton writes. 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.

Grant awards: Six energy-efficiency projects in five Ohio counties, including one in Cuyahoga County, landed a combined $5.4 million in state grants on Tuesday. Jeremy Pelzer writes that each of the projects receiving the money through the Ohio Department of Developments Advanced Energy Fund will use the funds to make buildings more energy efficient through things like replacing windows and roofs, upgrading hot water heaters and HVAC systems, and installing renewable energy generators like solar panels, according to the release.

Rulli got me now: State Sen. Michael Rulli has been elected to Congress, after he won Tuesdays special election for Ohios solidly Republican 6th Congressional District. Rulli, a Republican who has served in the state Senate since January 2019, defeated Democrat Michael Kripchak, a first-time candidate, in a race that turned out to be closer than expected after Trump won the district by 29 points in 2020. Rulli will have to run for the office again this November, when he will be favored to win.

For your viewing pleasure: Here is a 1990 video of Rulli playing with Red Bliss, a Boston noise rock band for which he played bass at the time. We included a time-stamped link for a song in which Rulli is singing lead vocals.

Property tax proposal: Ohio Rep. Scott Wiggam, a Republican, has introduced a bill that would put on November ballots a constitutional amendment proposal to limit property tax increases to 4% a year. Wiggam, who acknowledged the chances of it getting done by November are slim, said some areas are seeing 30% increases. Ohio Public Radios Jo Ingles reports.

Proud to be an American again: An American flag is flying again at a suburban Columbus apartment complex, after it was removed for a large Donald Trump banner over the weekend. A Trump flag continues to fly beneath the American flag, the Dispatchs Bob Vitale reports. An Italian flag that vibed with the San Margherita apartments formerly flew beneath Old Glory has not been returned to the flagpole.

Health care scares: Lawmakers are considering a bipartisan bill that would require hospitals to develop workplace security plans for when patients attack doctors and nurses, a protocol for reporting violence and post notices around the hospital that aggressive behavior will not be tolerated. The Ohio chapter of the American College of Emergency Physicians surveyed members and 91% reported they or a colleague were a victim of violence in the previous year, Ohio Capital Journals Nick Evans reports.

Lobbying Lineup

Five organizations lobbying on Senate Bill 156, which transfers and narrows the authority to administer the Wild, Scenic and Recreational River Program from the Ohio Division of Parks and Watercraft to the Division of Natural Areas and Preserves. The Republican-sponsored bill passed the Senate in January and is under consideration in the House.

1. Ohio Water Partnership

2. The Nature Conservancy in Ohio

3. The Ohio Department of Natural Resources

4. Boating Associations of Ohio

5. Lake Erie Marine Trades Association

Birthdays

Ex-state Rep. John Barnes

Cory Hoffman, Delaware city councilman

Straight From The Source

Hey @OhioStatehouse Is there a Fathers Room with a changing table as well?

-Laura Bischoff, a Gannett Ohio reporter on X, responding to a sign at the Ohio Statehouse pointing women to a Mothers Room with a baby changing table. No similar room exists for men.

Capitol Letter is a daily briefing providing succinct, timely information for those who care deeply about the decisions made by state government. Subscribe to get Capitol Letter in your email box each weekday for free.
Signage is displayed outside a permanently closed Bed Bath & Beyond retail store in Hawthorne, California, on May 1, 2023.

The billionaire activist investor Ryan Cohen won the dismissal on Tuesday of a shareholder lawsuit accusing him of profitably cashing out of Bed Bath & Beyond shares too quickly as the home goods retailer was hurtling toward bankruptcy.

U.S. District Judge Dale Ho in Manhattan said two former Bed Bath & Beyond shareholders could not force Cohen to return profits from selling his estimated 11% stake because the retailer's subsequent bankruptcy mooted their claims.

The shareholders sued Cohen under a federal law requiring corporate insiders including large shareholders to give up "short-swing" profits from buying and selling a company's stock in a six-month period, with sums being returned to the company.

Cohen founded online pet supplies retailer Chewy and is now chief executive of video game retailer GameStop .

He became known as "meme king" to ordinary investors who drove the early 2021 meme stock craze, typically in online forums. Forbes magazine estimates his fortune at $4.2 billion.

Lee Squitieri, a lawyer for the shareholders, declined immediate comment, saying he was reviewing the decision. Cohen, through his lawyer Dave Wollmuth, declined to comment.

Cohen revealed a 9.8% stake in Bed Bath & Beyond in March 2022 and pushed for changes that would include new directors and exploring a sale of the Buy Buy Baby brand.

He angered other shareholders by abruptly selling his stake, whose percentage had grown because of stock buybacks, five months later for an estimated $60 million profit.

Bed Bath filed for bankruptcy in April 2023, and its common shares were canceled when its Chapter 11 plan became effective in September.

Ho said the plaintiff shareholders, Todd Augenbaum and Judith Cohen, had standing to sue when the lawsuit began in October 2022, but that was no longer true.

He rejected arguments that they still had a financial stake because they had bought stock in a Bed Bath & Beyond creditor, could have collected incentive awards or attorney's fees, and deserved reimbursement for their canceled stock.

The case is In re Bed Bath & Beyond Inc Section 16(b) Litigation, U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York, No. 22-09327.
CNBC's Jim Cramer on Tuesday explained why he continues to be bullish about pharmaceutical giant Eli Lilly . Continually confident about Eli Lilly because of the enormous success of its weight loss and diabetes drugs, he said the company's new Alzheimer's treatment has the potential to further boost business.

"Right now, Eli Lilly's an $823 billion behemoth, and I truly believe it's ultimately headed to a trillion dollar valuation, mostly fueled by the GLP-1 revolution," Cramer said. "But yesterday we got still more proof that Lilly's not merely a one-trick pony."

On Monday, a panel of advisors to the Food and Drug Administration unanimously recommended Eli Lilly's Alzheimer's drug, currently known as donanemab. The FDA usually follows the panel's recommendations, so this move brings donanemab closer to receiving full approval in the U.S.

Cramer was impressed that the panel of 11 came to the decision that donanemab's benefits outweighed its risks. Though not a cure, the drug works to slow the progression of Alzheimer's by targeting amyloid plaques in the brain, which are considered hallmarks of the fatal disease. Even though the illness is the fifth-leading cause of death for Americans over 65, there are currently very limited treatment options.

But Cramer admitted it's still uncertain how much market share donanemab will take, noting that some analysts deem Leqembi, a similar drug from Biogen and Esai , safer. But for now, he said, the advisory committee's decision is an "incremental positive" for Eli Lilly.

"Lilly's stock has already had a huge run on those GLP-1 numbers, and, as we told members of the investing club, they need to prove to Wall Street that they've got something more in the pipeline,

he said. "I think this advisory committee decision on their Alzheimer's drug does precisely that."

Eli Lilly did not immediately respond to request for comment.
The investment case for Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing just got stronger after Apple's push into artificial intelligence, according to Bank of America. Analyst Brad Lin hiked his price objective on Taiwan Semiconductor, saying the buy-rated chipmaker is an "indispensable and reliable partner" to Apple. This week, the iPhone maker hit record highs after the firm announced its long-awaited foray into AI , notably with its product called Apple Intelligence. "We believe the semi demand upside from Apple can get bigger with its widening AI service, from a relatively low base," Lin wrote on Tuesday. "TSMC is Apple's supplier for the A- and M-series semiconductors and is well poised to benefit from multi-year growth." TSM 1D mountain Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. The U.S.-listed shares of Taiwan Semiconductor have already outperformed this year, advancing roughly 60%. But the analyst's $180 price objective implies roughly 8% upside from Tuesday's close. The stock popped nearly 4% in trading Wednesday morning. Lin noted that Apple is Taiwan Semiconductor's biggest customer, accounting for roughly one-quarter of the chipmaker's revenue. Its chips put a strong emphasis on privacy, which also bodes well for demand.
U.S. President Joe Biden gestures after speaking about student loan debt relief at Madison Area Technical College in Madison, Wisconsin, April 8, 2024.

Mishima Hughson filed for bankruptcy in December, joining the ranks of hundreds of thousands of Americans who undergo the process each year.

Along the way, the Roanoke, Virginia, resident also joined a much smaller group: those who have managed to get their federal student loans erased in court. The U.S. Department of Education found that Hughson was no longer responsible for her $158,182 debt.

"I thought it was a joke," Hughson, 58, said. "I was shocked."

For decades, borrowers have found it next to impossible to walk away from their federal student debt in bankruptcy. Amid concerns that young people would try to ditch their obligations, policymakers made the bar for the discharge of student debt in court particularly high.

Some people needed to prove a "certainty of hopelessness," and government lawyers battled most of the requests. Between 2011 and 2019, more than 99.8% of borrowers who filed for bankruptcy did not get their student loans discharged, U.S. lawmakers recently pointed out.

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That's now changing.

In fall 2022, the Department of Education and the Department of Justice jointly released updated bankruptcy guidelines to make the process for student loan borrowers less arduous. The Biden administration's updated policy now treats student loans like other types of debt in bankruptcy court, experts say.

"While the government used to fight discharge aggressively in almost every case, there is now a policy to agree when the borrower can show financial need and a history of good faith efforts to pay the loans," said Latife Neu, a bankruptcy lawyer in Seattle.

"I've helped several people take advantage of the expanded ability," Neu said.
Aerial view of Olmeca oil refinery belonging to the Petroleos Mexicanos (PEMEX) company, located in Paraiso, Tabasco state, Mexico, May 20, 2024.

The International Energy Agency said Wednesday that a U.S.-led surge in global oil production is expected to outstrip demand growth between now and the end of the decade, pushing spare capacity to unprecedented levels and potentially upending OPEC+ market management.

The forecast prompted a stern warning for Big Oil from IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol, who suggested the world's largest energy majors may wish to align their business strategies with the changes taking place.

In its latest medium-term market report, titled Oil 2024, the global energy watchdog said oil demand growth was on track to slow down before ultimately reaching its peak of near 106 million barrels per day by 2030. That's up from just over 102 million barrels per day in 2023.

At the same time, the IEA expects total oil production capacity to surge to nearly 114 million barrels per day by 2030  a whopping 8 million barrels per day above projected global demand.

The IEA said this would result in levels of spare capacity not seen before  other than at the height of the Covid-19 lockdowns in 2020.

It warned that these dynamics could have "significant consequences" for oil markets, including for the U.S. shale industry and producer economies in OPEC and beyond.

"As the pandemic rebound loses steam, clean energy transitions advance, and the structure of China's economy shifts, growth in global oil demand is slowing down and set to reach its peak by 2030," the IEA's Birol said in a statement.

"This report's projections, based on the latest data, show a major supply surplus emerging this decade, suggesting that oil companies may want to make sure their business strategies and plans are prepared for the changes taking place," he added.
Crude oil futures rose Wednesday as traders bet on tightening supplies later in the year. The Federal Reserve's indication of just one interest rate cut this year and bearish U.S. stockpile data limited the gains.



The Department of Energy sees global demand rising this year by 1.1 million barrels per day, or bpd, up from a previous forecast of 900,000 bpd. The increased demand implies a supply deficit, with world production expected to rise 800,000 bpd in 2024.

Oil prices gained nearly 2% earlier in the day, but pulled back after the U.S. reported a 3.7 million barrel rise in crude oil inventories for last week, compared to analysts' expectations of a one million barrel draw.

Gasoline stockpiles rose by 2.6 million barrels, compared to 891,000 expected by analysts. Fuel demand increased by 94,000 bpd to about nine million bpd total. Daily average fuel demand has been tepid, or 1.5% lower compared to the same period last year, despite the start of the summer driving season.

Oil pulled back further after the Federal Reserve indicated that only one interest rate cut is in store this year, as opposed to a forecast of three cuts as recently as March, citing "modest" progress in capping inflation.

Here are Wednesday's closing energy prices:

"In the short term, the oil market is likely to tighten," Martijn Rats, commodity strategist at Morgan Stanley, told clients in a note. The investment bank sees a 1.2 million bpd deficit in the third quarter, which could push Brent prices to $86 per barrel.

OPEC, meanwhile, stuck to its demand growth forecast of 2.2 million bpd due to solid global economic growth of 2.8% this year. Those forecasts clashed with a bearish outlook from the International Energy Agency, which sees weakening demand and rising supplies.
Employees work on the assembly line of new energy vehicles at a factory of Chinese EV startup Leapmotor on April 1, 2024 in Jinhua, Zhejiang Province of China. Shi Kuanbing | Visual China Group | Getty Images

The European Union on Wednesday said it would slap higher tariffs on Chinese electric vehicle imports, which it found benefit "heavily from unfair subsidies" and pose a "threat of economic injury" to EV producers in Europe. On a preliminary basis, the European Commission, the executive arm of the EU, concluded that the battery-electric vehicles value chain in China "benefits from unfair subsidisation" and pronounced that it is in the EU's interest to impose "provisional countervailing duties" on BEV imports from China. The additional tariffs are the result of an EU probe that began in October. The duties are currently provisional, but will be introduced from July 4 in the event of unfruitful talks with Chinese authorities to reach a resolution, the commission said in a statement. Definitive measures will be placed within four months of the imposition of provisional duties. "The influx of subsidised Chinese imports at artificially low prices therefore presents a threat of clearly foreseeable and imminent injury to EU industry," the commission noted. Valdis Dombrovskis, the EU commissioner for trade, told CNBC on Wednesday that the investigation was based on "facts and evidence" and added that engagement with Chinese authorities and stakeholders about potential solutions was ongoing.

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A spokesperson for China's Ministry of Commerce on Tuesday said the EU decision was lacking factual and legal basis and was a "protectionist act," according to Google-translated comments. "The findings disclosed in the EU ruling lack factual and legal basis," the ministry said. The EU had ignored that China's advantage in the EV space is based on open competition and disregarded rules set out by the World Trade Organization, it added. "This is a naked protectionist act, creating and escalating trade frictions, and "destroying fair competition" in the name of "maintaining fair competition," the spokesperson said. "This move by the EU not only damages the legitimate rights and interests of China's electric vehicle industry, but will also disrupt and distort the global automotive industry chain supply chain, including the EU."

Tariff breakdown

The bloc is imposing a 38.1% tariff on battery-electric vehicle producers who did not cooperate with its investigation, and a lower 21% duty on carmakers in the Asian country who complied but have not been "sampled." The commission also disclosed a set of individual tariffs, which Dombrovskis said are linked to their cooperation with the probe and with the amount of information they supplied. Rates are lower for those companies who shared details, he added. Main Chinese BEV producer BYD was struck with a 17.4% tariff, with Geely slapped with a 20% duty. The EU has also imposed its 38.1% tariff on autos firm SAIC. All three producers were sampled in the EU probe, which is ongoing. Elon Musk's Tesla , which has a gigafactory in Shanghai, may "receive an individually calculated duty rate at the definitive stage," following a "substantiated request," the commission said. Dombrovskis elaborated to CNBC that Tesla was making the case for lower tariff rates, which the commission was examining. "We can also look more in depth in a specific situation of Tesla and subsidies [that] Tesla has specifically received in China, and that may lead indeed to different level of countervailing duties," he said. Nio, in response to the EU announcement, said it was pledging an "unwavering" ongoing commitment to the EV market. "We strongly oppose the use of increased tariffs as a strategy to obstruct the normal global trade of electric vehicles. This approach hinders rather than promotes global environmental protection, emission reduction, and sustainable development," it said.

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Global EV trade tensions
WASHINGTON  The Republican-controlled House on Wednesday narrowly voted to hold Attorney General Merrick Garland in contempt of Congress, a major escalation in the GOP's war against a justice system the party has portrayed as unfairly targeting Donald Trump.

The vote was 216-207, with one Republican, Rep. David Joyce of Ohio, joining all Democrats in voting no. Seven Democrats and one Republican did not vote.

At issue was Garland's failure to hand over audio of special counsel Robert Hur's interview with President Joe Biden about his handling of classified documents. Republicans had demanded the audio after Hur declined to prosecute Biden, in part, because a jury might sympathize with him as an "elderly man with a poor memory."

Democrats countered that the full transcript of the Biden interview has already been released to the public, and they sounded warnings that Republicans could manipulate the audio.

Despite the successful contempt vote, it's largely a political exercise. Biden and his administration have asserted executive privilege in refusing to hand over the audio, all but eliminating the possibility that Garland would be prosecuted for ignoring the subpoenas. It's also unheard of for Justice Department prosecutors to go after the head of their agency over a contempt issue.

Last month, both the House Judiciary and Oversight committees approved a report recommending that the House hold Garland in contempt for defying congressional subpoenas pertaining to the audio recording.

"This is not a complicated matter: The executive branch and its agencies, including the Department of Justice, are not above Congress' right to oversee those agencies," said Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer, R-Ky. "We, as members of the House of Representatives, have a duty to ensure congressional subpoenas are fully complied with by those who received them  people, companies and particularly the federal government."

Rep. Jerry Nadler of New York, the top Democrat on the Judiciary Committee, said Republicans are targeting Garland after they failed to come up with enough evidence to impeach Biden.

"What do our Republican friends do when an investigation turns up short? Simply put, they engage in fantasy. That's what they're doing here today. Unable to come up with any wrongdoing by the president, they have now trained their sights on the attorney general," Nadler said.

"This isn't really about a policy disagreement with the DOJ. This is about feeding the MAGA base after 18 months of investigations that have produced failure after failure," Nadler continued. "This contempt resolution will do very little other than smear the reputation of Merrick Garland, who will remain a good and decent public servant no matter what Republicans say about him today."
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said Hungary will neither block nor participate in the military alliance's deepening support for Ukraine, as he looks to shore up support ahead of a key summit in Washington next month.

"At the summit, I expect allies will agree a leading role for NATO in coordinating and providing security assistance and training for Ukraine. I also expect allies will agree long-term financial pledge to provide military support," Stoltenberg said Wednesday at a press briefing in Budapest, where he carried out a surprise visit.

"[Hungarian] Prime Minister [Viktor] Orban has made it clear that Hungary will not participate in these efforts. And I accept this position."

Orban endorsed the agreement during the same briefing. He said that Hungary was given a guarantee that, when it comes to out-of-area operations, it does not have to participate, according to an Associated Press translation of his comments. In exchange for these concessions, Hungary has agreed not to veto NATO's deepening military aid in support of Ukraine.

"The prime minister [Orban] has assured me that Hungary will not oppose these efforts, enabling other allies to move forward. And he has confirmed that Hungary will meet all of its NATO commitments in full," Stoltenberg said Wednesday.
Former drug company executive Martin Shkreli and his lead attorney Benjamin Brafman arrive at U.S. District Court for the fourth day of jury deliberations in his securities fraud trial in the Brooklyn borough of New York City, U.S., August 3, 2017.

A federal judge temporarily barred notorious "pharma bro" Martin Shkreli from streaming or disseminating copies of a one-of-a-kind Wu-Tang Clan album he had forfeited as part of his criminal fraud conviction in 2017.

The order by Judge Pamela Chen on Tuesday night came a day after the company that had bought the album, "Once Upon a Time in Shaolin," for $4.75 million sued Shkreli in U.S. District Court in Brooklyn, New York.

The suit claims Shkreli, who remains on supervised release in his criminal case, apparently retained copies of the hip-hop album after it was sold, and played it online as recently as Sunday in violation of his forfeiture order.

A spokesman for the U.S. attorney's office in Brooklyn told CNBC "no comment" on Wednesday when asked if prosecutors were taking action against Shkreli in response to the claims in the civil suit by the Cayman Islands-based company PleasrDAO.

Chen in her order Tuesday wrote that PleasrDAO, "is likely to succeed on the merits" of the complaint, "or raise significantly serious questions going to the merits of the Forfeiture Order, violations of the Defend Trade Secrets Act," and "misappropriation of trade secrets."

The judge also scheduled a hearing for June 25 in the case, where she could continue the injunction on Shkreli, and order him to give the plaintiff an inventory of any copies of the album he retained.

Steven Cooper, a lawyer for PleasrDAO, said Wednesday that he could not comment on whether he has been in touch with prosecutors on Shkreli's alleged violation of his forfeiture order.

"I wouldn't be surprised based on that activity that prosecutors or the probation office would be interested in this matter," Cooper told CNBC.

The attorney said his client had sued Shkreli because "his conduct ramped up dramatically" and because PleasrDAO plans to play some songs from the album at an exhibit at a museum in Tasmania, Australia, beginning later this week.

The suit said that on Sunday, Shkreli wrote a post on his social media account on X that said, "well @pleasrdao blocked me from their account so I think I will play the album on spaces now."

Less than an hour later, Shkreli's X account hosted a Spaces session entitled "Wu tang official listening party" and tweeted "Never heard before wu tang stream," according to the suit.

"During the Spaces session, Shkreli played music from the Album that any participant could hear. According to X, 4.9 thousand listeners 'tuned in,'" the suit said.

Cooper said, "His pattern of bad behavior has gone on for a very long time, and a lot of it was directed against my client.

""The fact that he retained copies [of the album] were violative of his forfeiture, and there could be consequences other than the civil complaint," Cooper said.

A lawyer for Shkreli did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Shkreli, 40, was convicted of securities fraud in 2017. Jurors found that he had misled investors about the performance of two hedge funds he ran, and that he conspired to fraudulently manipulate shares of a drug company he founded.

Before his conviction, Shkreli became nationally notorious in 2015 for hiking the price of the lifesaving drug Daraprim overnight by more than 4,000% at another pharma firm he ran.

In January, a federal appeals court upheld a lifetime ban on Shkreli from working in the pharmaceuticals industry, and an order to pay more than $64 million in disgorged profits for blocking competition to Daraprim.

Shkreli was released from prison in May 2022 and is now serving a three-year term of supervised release.

As part of his criminal sentence, Shkreli was ordered to forfeit nearly $7.4 million to the U.S. government and to surrender a set of assets to satisfy that order.

The assets included "Once Upon a Time in Shaolin," the Lil Wayne album "Tha Carter V," an engraving on paper by Pablo Picasso and $5 million held in an E-Trade brokerage account.

Shkreli bought the Wu-Tang Clan album in 2015 for $2 million, setting a Guinness world record for the most expensive musical work ever sold. The 31-track, two-disc Wu-Tang Clan album, came in a hand-carved, nickel-and-silver-cased box set, which itself was nestled in a larger leather box.

In July 2021, while Shkreli was still in prison, the album was sold by the government for an undisclosed price to a buyer who was not publicly identified. At the time of the sale, Shkreli owed almost $2.4 million on the forfeiture order.

In PleasrDAO's lawsuit, the company said it bought "Once Upon a Time in Shaolin" in two separate transactions in 2021 and 2024, for about $4 million and $750,000, respectively. The second purchase, the suit says, was for "the copyrights in and exclusive right to exploit the recordings."

PleasrDAO's suit described the company as "an international entity that collects and publicly displays culturally significant media and materials with the intent of creating ecosystem experiences that encourage participation and interaction throughout the United States and other countries."
French founder of artificial intelligence startup Mistral AI, Arthur Mensch, attends the Viva Technology show at Parc des Expositions Porte de Versailles in Paris, France, on May 22, 2024.

Mistral AI did not give much detail about the round, but the Financial Times reported that venture capital firm General Catalyst led the round that also included existing investors.

The round, which was announced by the company on Tuesday, values Mistral AI at 5.8 billion euros, or about $6.2 billion, a person familiar with the matter, who was not authorized to speak publicly, told CNBC.

Mistral AI, a French tech startup, raised a funding round of 600 million euros, or $645 million, as huge amounts of money continues to pour into the artificial intelligence race.

The French startup is just more than a year old but has raised huge sums of money and is vying to take on OpenAI and become Europe's AI champion. Mistral AI is building so-called large language models, which underpin applications such as chatbots popularized by ChatGPT.

Such endeavors are expensive and require huge investment in infrastructure, such as buying Nvidia 's semiconductors.

Mistral AI's seed round, which refers to very early investment in a company, was 105 million euros alone when the company announced it last year.

Arthur Mensch, the co-founder and CEO of Mistral AI, has become somewhat of a rock star in the European technology scene, as startups in the continent look to take on U.S. giants such as Microsoft , Google and Amazon .

Yet, these same giants are also looking to partner with young companies. In February, Microsoft announced an investment in Mistral AI.

On the social media platform X, Mensch thanked the company's new and existing investors "for their continued confidence and support for our global expansion."

"This will accelerate our roadmap as we continue to bring frontier AI into everyone's hands," he added.
Keith Gill, a Reddit user credited with inspiring GameStop's rally, during a YouTube livestream arranged on a laptop at the New York Stock Exchange on June 7, 2024.

His call options against GameStop have a strike price of $20 and an expiration date of June 21. Shares of the video game company have gained about 8% so far this week to around $30 a share. If the stock trades above $20 that Friday, which makes his call position in the money, Gill could exercise the options at $20 apiece, allowing him to purchase an additional 12 million shares at the discounted price. However, many think it's unlikely he has enough capital to pull off such a move.

The meme stock champion, whose real name is Keith Gill, has so far held onto his positions of 5 million GameStop common shares and 120,000 call options, according to a screenshot he shared Monday evening. The mammoth options position  involving 12 million underlying GameStop shares  could be a nightmare for Gill to offload or exercise even if the calls end up profitable or "in the money."

As Roaring Kitty continues to watch his favorite GameStop shares swing wildly, he might be contemplating what to do with his massive options position that is approaching expiration.

During Friday's livestream, Roaring Kitty told some 600,000 viewers that he doesn't have any institutional backers, but he didn't entirely rule out the possibility of having more cash elsewhere.

For Gill to exercise the calls, he would need to have $240 million to take custody of the stock (12 million shares bought at $20 apiece). His last screenshot showed he has $29.4 million in cash in his E-Trade account, though he could deposit more money from other undisclosed accounts.

Let's say he doesn't have the $240 million to exercise the calls. As June 21 looms, his broker E-Trade may have to intervene by liquidating his options before expiration.

"If they remain in the money and he doesn't close them, the brokerage may be forced to take action on his behalf," said CC Lagator, co-founder of brokerage Options AI.

The Morgan Stanley-owned E-Trade declined to comment.

E-Trade's client agreement for self-directed accounts stated that the brokerage may decline, cancel or reverse a client's orders or instructions at its discretion and without notice.

If Gill doesn't give an instruction prior to expiration, the broker could sell the contracts that his cash balance doesn't support, or submit a "do not exercise" (DNE) order for the same amount.

"The DNE option would be extremely costly as it marks them at zero. I'd imagine they would be in contact in the days ahead to make sure he has a plan. They can't wait until the last hour," Lagator said.

E-Trade has been debating whether to ban Gill from the trading platform over concerns regarding potential market manipulation, The Wall Street Journal reported last week.

Selling early?

Theoretically, Gill could start selling his calls early to turn a quick profit and avoid the drama in a week and a half, but many argue that it's not a good look.

"He definitely has the public perception that's perhaps to some degree stopping him from selling because then he would definitely be marked as a manipulator, kind of like a modern-day pump-and-dump scheme," said Tony Zhang, chief strategist at OptionsPlay.

Meanwhile, market participants would easily catch wind of his sale given the sheer size of his position, said traders. His active selling could also put downward pressure on the stock and it could inspire his legion of retail traders to follow suit.

The Securities and Exchange Commission has been monitoring GameStop's options trading activity, while Gill is under the scrutiny of the Massachusetts securities division.

Rolling the options

Gill also has the costly option to roll those calls to a further expiration date to buy some time, which means exiting the current position and immediately entering a similar position. He could opt for that up until 4 p.m. ET on June 21.

"It's not something you just want to sit there doing on your laptop in the last hour. It's too big. Again, if he's in contact with them, it would be in his best interest to be working with their risk teams and trading desks, if rolling is his plan," Lagator said.

If Gill holds the calls to expiration date with the stock falling below $20, this position would expire worthless. It cost him more than $60 million to acquire the position.

'Options 101'

Still, if Gill somehow comes up with enough money to exercise all of his calls, it would leave him a total of 17 million shares and he would become the fourth-biggest shareholder in GameStop, behind Vanguard, BlackRock and Ryan Cohen's RC Ventures, according to FactSet.

Alternatively, he could sell his other 5 million shares of GameStop to help fund the transaction to exercise the calls, but still, the stock would have to trade above $48 for him to secure enough money, nowhere near where it is now.

On Tuesday, Gill made light of his dilemma, posting on X a meme of a banana reading "Options Basics 101."
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A humanoid robotics startup cofounded by the CEO of bankrupt fintech firm Synapse has canvassed Silicon Valley investors for funds by claiming close ties and an imminent investment from General Motors  claims rejected by the automaker. The company, called Foundation Robotics Labs, is seeking the last $1 million in funds for an $11 million seed round, according to documents obtained by CNBC. The investor pitch claimed GM had already committed to an investment, along with the Menlo Park-based VC firm Tribe Capital. "Foundation is building humanoid robots to take over work that humans do in factories, warehouses and eventually homes," the startup declared. On top of the seed investment, the fundraising document said GM was set to be Foundation's first customer, with a targeted $300 million purchase order, and had also provided access to its factories to help them train its robots. "GM agreed to let us collect the ground truth data in their factories," Foundation said in the document. "Our team is in their Mexico factory this week to start the collection process. We would probably be the only company in this space with a dataset like this."

'Fabricated' claims

But, according to GM and one of the startup's founders, most of Foundation's claims related to the automaker are exaggerated or untrue. While GM met with Foundation executives a few times, it hasn't allowed data collection from its factories, has no agreements for robot orders and isn't planning an investment, according to a GM spokesman. "GM has never invested in Foundation Robotics and has no plans to do so," spokesman Darryll Harrison said in an emailed statement. "In fact, GM has never had an agreement of any kind with the company. Any claims to the contrary are fabricated." In a phone interview with CNBC, one of Foundation's cofounders, Mike LeBlanc, confirmed GM's points and said he was embarrassed that marketing materials existed that overstated their relationship. "The engineering stuff we've done is really incredible, and it's the bedrock of what this company will be," LeBlanc said. "That, to me is what Foundation Robotics is."

New Foundation

Foundation was started in April by Synapse CEO Sankaet Pathak, Tribe Capital CEO Arjun Sethi, and LeBlanc, cofounder of Cobalt Robotics, a maker of autonomous security guards, according to the company's fundraising pitch. It's raising money at a time when American corporations look to automate more of their labor: 25% of capital spending by industrial companies in the coming years will be on automated systems, according to McKinsey. The misleading fundraising pitch was shared in an email group with about 1,500 startup executives and investors this month, according to one of the recipients. The contents of the document were confirmed by someone with direct knowledge of Tribe Capital. Tribe Capital and its cofounder Sethi declined to comment, while Pathak didn't respond to messages seeking comment.

Fintech meltdown
The Russian nuclear-powered submarine Kazan (L) and the class frigate Admiral Gorshkov, part of the Russian naval detachment visiting Cuba, arrive at Havana's harbour, June 12, 2024.

Russian navy ships churned into Havana harbor on Wednesday, a stopover the U.S. and Cuba said posed no threat but which was widely seen as a Russian show of force as tensions rise over the Ukraine war.

Small groups of fishermen and curious onlookers lined the Malecon seafront boulevard in light rain to welcome the ships as they passed the 400-year-old Morro castle at the harbor's entrance.

The first to arrive was a fuel ship, the "Akademik Pashin" and a tug, the "Nikolay Chiker," while a Russian navy frigate and nuclear powered submarine waited offshore and were expected to enter the harbor by mid-morning.

The frigate and submarine, part of the group of four Russian vessels that arrived off Cuba on Wednesday, had conducted missile drills in the Atlantic Ocean en route to the island, Russia's defense ministry said the previous day.

Cuba said last week that the visit was standard practice by naval vessels from countries friendly to Havana. The communist-run government's foreign ministry said the ships carried no nuclear weapons, something echoed by U.S. officials.

"We have been monitoring the ships' paths closely," a U.S. official told Reuters on condition of anonymity late on Tuesday. "At no point have the ships or submarine posed a direct threat to the United States."

Havana is just 100 miles (160 km) from Key West, Florida, home to a U.S. Naval Air Station. And the timing of the visit  as the Biden administration ponders how far to go in helping defend Ukraine against Russia  suggests more than "standard practice," said William Leogrande, a professor at American University.

"The visiting Russian warships are Putin's way of reminding Biden that Moscow can challenge Washington in its own sphere of influence," Leogrande said.

The stopover also coincides with Cuba's worst social and economic crisis in decades, with shortages of everything from food, medicine and fuel and growing discontent on the streets.

"This ... has echoes of the Cold War, but unlike the first Cold War, the Cubans are drawn to Moscow not by ideological affinity but by economic necessity," Leogrande said.
Southwest Airlines CEO Bob Jordan said the company is ready to adapt to changing customer trends like premium seating as pressure from an activist investor mounts.

"We will adapt as our customers' needs adapt," Jordan said at an industry event hosted by Politico on Wednesday.

Jordan's comments came two days after hedge fund Elliott Management disclosed a $1.9 billion stake in Southwest and said the carrier needs a new CEO and new chairman.

In April, Jordan told investors that the airline is considering major changes to its product, potentially ditching its system of unassigned seating that has made the Dallas-based carrier a standout among airlines, and even reevaluating its single class of service.

Jordan reiterated those considerations Wednesday, saying that the airline, which started flying in 1971 and now carries more passengers in the United States than any other, is in its "third generation." He said the airline's leaders are open to big shifts to increase revenue, while rivals like Delta and United capitalize on customers willing to pay up for a seat with more space or other perks.

Elliott didn't immediately respond to a request for comment about Jordan's remarks on Wednesday.

Southwest on Monday said in response to the activist campaign that its board backed the company's leaders and the airline's strategy, while it will also "look forward to further conversations with Elliott."

Southwest has struggled with weaker margins than some of its competitors as it faces increased airline capacity in the U.S., shifting post-pandemic travel patterns and a spiraling problem that is out of its control: delays of new planes from Boeing, its sole aircraft provider, as that company grapples with several manufacturing and safety crises. The airline expects to receive just 20 Max jets from Boeing this year, down from an earlier forecast for close to 80 new planes.

Southwest had also taken months to find its footing after a year-end holiday meltdown in 2022 cost it more than $1 billion. The company later acknowledged its technology couldn't handle the hundreds of flight and crew changes triggered by a winter storm, prompting it to quickly upgrade its system.

Meanwhile, Jordan said Southwest has continued to work toward improving the customer experience. It's upgraded its inflight Wi-Fi and added power outlets on its fleet of Boeing 737s in recent years.

"I think customer preference is going beyond that," Jordan said Wednesday. The carrier has spent months surveying customers to figure out what changes are needed, he added.

"It's been several years since we last studied this in-depth, and customer preferences and expectations change over time," an airline spokeswoman told CNBC. "We are also studying the operational and financial benefits of any potential change."

 CNBC's Rohan Goswami contributed to this article.
Check out the companies making headlines in midday trading: Oracle  Shares of the software maker surged more than 13% to an all-time high after the database management company announced cloud deals with Google and OpenAI. Oracle said it would bring its database to Google's cloud in November. It is also partnering with Microsoft and OpenAI to deliver supplemental computing capacity. Investors looked past Oracle's disappointing fourth-quarter results that fell short of Wall Street expectations. Apple  The iPhone maker climbed nearly 3%, briefly surpassing Microsoft in market value. This comes after Apple jumped 7.3% Tuesday after unveiling its artificial intelligence plans called Apple Intelligence during its developers conference. Rentokil Initial  Terminix parent Rentokil's shares jumped 13.7% after Nelson Peltz's Trian Partners amassed a significant position in the pest-control provider. A Trian spokesperson told CNBC on Tuesday that the firm, currently one of Rentokil's top 10 shareholders, wants to work with leadership on "ideas and initiatives to improve shareholder value." Klaviyo  The marketing automation stock popped 3.9% on the heels of a Barclays upgrade to overweight from equal weight. Barclays called the stock a "rare bright spot" compared to peers. Broadcom  Shares of the semiconductor company rose more than 2% to a record high ahead of quarterly earnings results due after the bell Wednesday. The stock is up more than 33.5% so far this year. Casey's General Stores  The convenience store chain surged nearly 17% after earnings and revenue topped analysts' estimates postmarket Tuesday. Casey's posted fiscal fourth-quarter earnings per share of $2.34 compared to the $1.72 expected from analysts polled by FactSet. Revenue came in at $3.6 billion, versus a $3.47 billion consensus estimate. Lennar , KB Home  The homebuilders climbed 1.8% and 2.6%, respectively, after UBS reiterated buy ratings on both following a period of underperformance. On top of mixed economic data and volatile mortgage rates, analyst John Lovallo said the group may be hurt in some markets seeing rising existing home inventories. With that in mind, he said housing availability is still at low levels historically. Lennar and KB Home are both set to report earnings results next week. Affirm  Shares of the fintech company spiked about 5.8% following May's cooler-than-expected CPI reading. The nonbank loan lender is up more than 20% this week following news that its buy now, pay later loans will be embedded into Apple Pay for U.S. users on iPhones and iPads later this year. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing  Shares jumped more than 4% after Bank of America hiked its price objective on Taiwan Semiconductor, saying the investment case for the chipmaker is stronger now that Apple has announced its push into artificial intelligence. Taiwan Semiconductor is an "indispensable and reliable partner" of the iPhone maker, the bank said.  CNBC's Alex Harring, Yun Li, Pia Singh, Sarah Min and Michelle Fox contributed reporting.
Check out the companies making the biggest moves in premarket trading: Oracle  The cloud services company advanced nearly 8% after announcing deals with Google and OpenAI. Oracle plans to make its database available to Google Cloud beginning in November. It also planned to partner with Microsoft and OpenAI for additional computing capacity. Paramount Global  Shares fell 2.3% after National Amusements halted talks with Skydance on a proposed merger with Paramount, per CNBC's David Faber. Birkenstock  The stock shed 2.7% following a downgrade at Goldman Sachs to neutral from buy. While the bank likes the German shoe company's investment thesis, it said shares have outperformed the broader luxury peer group. Birkenstock is up about 21% year to date. Rentokil Initial  U.S.-listed shares of the British pest control company surged 12% after Nelson Peltz's Trian Partners said it amassed a significant stake in the firm. Klaviyo  The marketing automation stock added nearly 4% following an upgrade at Barclays to overweight from equal weight. The firm called Klaviyo a "rare bright spot among peers." Rubrik  Shares rose 3.5% after the cloud data management company topped first-quarter expectations on revenue. Revenue came in at about $187 million in revenue, versus the approximately $172 million anticipated from analysts polled by LSEG. Broadcom  The stock moved 1.7% higher ahead of Broadcom's quarterly earnings report after the bell Wednesday. Shares have been on fire this year, soaring more than 30%. Casey's General Stores  Shares gained 5% following the company's earnings and revenue beat postmarket Tuesday. Earnings per share came in at $2.34 versus the $1.72 expected from analysts polled by FactSet. Revenue was $3.6 billion, compared with the $3.47 billion consensus estimate.  CNBC's Sarah Min and Brian Evans contributed reporting. Correction: A previous version of this article misstated the revenue consensus estimate for Casey's General Stores.
Elon Musk, CEO of SpaceX and Tesla, speaks during the Milken Global Conference 2024 at The Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, California, on May 6, 2024.

Tesla could be hit with a specially calculated duty on its cars produced in China and imported to Europe as part of of the European Union's decision to raise tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles.

On Wednesday, the European Commission, the EU's executive arm, imposed higher tariffs on Chinese EV makers of up to 38%. These provisional duties will come into effect from July 4 if the EU does not reach a solution with Chinese authorities. Four months after this, so-called definitive measures take place.

At this stage, Tesla "may receive an individually calculated duty rate," the commission said.

Shanghai is home to one of Tesla's biggest Gigafactories. In 2023, Tesla delivered 947,000 vehicles from its Shanghai factory with 600,000 going to the China market and the rest exported, according to Chinese state media.
Donald Trump pictured with right-wing British politician Nigel Farage during a campaign rally at the Mississippi Coliseum on Aug. 24, 2016.

LONDON  Supporters of U.S. presidential candidates Donald Trump and Joe Biden will put their money where their mouths are at two rival fundraising events in London on Wednesday.

Donald Trump Jr. and his fiancee, former Fox News host Kimberly Guilfoyle, as well as Brexit figurehead Nigel Farage, are among those set to attend a Republican cocktail night organized by former Australian soap star turned right-wing political activist Holly Valance and her husband, British property tycoon Nick Candy.

"It seems to be the worst kept secret in London," Greg Swenson, spokesperson for Republicans Overseas UK, a campaign group for Trump's party, told CNBC over the phone.

Swenson concurred with reports that the fundraiser has already amassed $2 million in donations, adding that the guilty verdict in Trump's hush money trial had further galvanized supporters.

"The enthusiasm definitely jumped after the verdict two weeks ago. It seems like the people who were prone to donate are donating more," he said, adding that the uptick was from both large and small donors.

In the days after a Manhattan jury convicted the former president of 34 felony counts last month, the Trump campaign said it raised $141 million in donations.

Tickets for the Trump event, which is to be held at a private residence in Chelsea or Knightsbridge, cost up to $100,000, according to a copy of the invitation seen by CNBC. Other tickets are available for $10,000 and attendance is limited to U.S. citizens and U.S. permanent residents only.

Nevertheless, populist politician Farage, who last week joined the U.K. election race as leader of Reform UK, and the former CEO of Brexit campaign group Vote Leave Lord Matthew Elliott are set to attend alongside around 100 others, according to reports from the Financial Times and the Guardian.

Swenson said Trump himself will not be in attendance, but he is expected to "chime in" via video link.

Organizers Candy and Valance  herself reportedly a U.S. green card holder  last week attended the Reform UK rally, following what she has described as her encouragement toward Farage to rejoin the political race. The pair have been visibly associated with Trump and Farage since at least April 2022, when Farage tweeted a picture of the group after a meal at Mar-a-Lago.
The U.S. could further tighten restrictions on China's access to chip technology critical for artificial intelligence, Bloomberg reported on Tuesday.

The Biden administration is weighing actions that would target high-tech chip architecture known as gate all-around, Bloomberg reported, citing sources familiar with the matter. GAA refers to new transistor architecture that could lead to better performance and lower power consumption.

South Korea's Samsung Electronics has already started production for 3-nanometer chips with GAA technology. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company reportedly plans to include GAA in its upcoming 2-nanometer chips.

Shares of TSMC and Samsung Electronics were up 1.6% and 0.4%, respectively, in Wednesday morning trading in Asia.

Bloomberg noted its sources said the U.S. is still "determining the scope of a potential rule" and that it was not immediately clear when that process would conclude. The report said the U.S. measures would seek to make it more difficult for China to put together advanced computing systems required to build and run AI models.

The U.S. Department of Commerce and the Bureau of Industry and Security, which oversees export controls, did not immediately respond to CNBC's request for comment.
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A new study led by linguists from the Department of English, Linguistics, and Theatre Studies (ELTS) at the NUS Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (FASS) has unveiled early signs of dementia through the analysis of natural speech patterns among senior Singaporeans.

The study, conducted in collaboration with researchers from the NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine (NUS Medicine), compared the spontaneous speech of cognitively healthy individuals with those exhibiting mild cognitive impairment (MCI) to identify linguistic markers of dementia. Notably, individuals with memory-related MCI demonstrated reduced speech output and produced fewer, yet more abstract nouns-a pattern consistent with patients diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease.

Professor Bao Zhiming, Principal Investigator of the study, highlighted Singapore's linguistic diversity as a unique environment for such research endeavors.

"Previous studies had analysed targeted and smaller volumes of language data through word-based fluency tests, structured interviews and picture narrations. Our study has never been done before as it focused on unstructured and spontaneous speech that is easy to collect and analys," Zhiming said, as per Science Daily.

Emeritus Professor Kua Ee Heok, psychiatrist at NUS Medicine, emphasized the urgency of innovative strategies to address Singapore's aging population and rising dementia rates. The study, part of the broader Community Health Intergenerational (CHI) Study, aimed to identify at-risk seniors and implement interventions for healthy aging.

Published in the journal Alzheimer's & Dementia: Diagnosis, Assessment, and Disease Monitoring, the study analyzed natural speech data from 148 elderly Singaporeans, half of whom were cognitively healthy and the other half diagnosed with MCI.

Participants engaged in a 20-minute English speech task covering various topics, with recordings yielding over 267,310 words transcribed and analyzed for noun and verb usage. Notably, individuals with amnestic MCI exhibited reduced speech output and abstract noun production compared to those with non-amnestic MCI and healthy controls, highlighting the potential of linguistic analysis in early dementia detection.

Dr. Luwen Cao, from the NUS Department of ELTS, emphasized the study's significance in providing a non-invasive and cost-effective tool for early dementia detection, complementing traditional diagnostic methods.

"Our findings are a significant breakthrough as traditional diagnoses of dementia are done following a battery of neuropsychological and neurological tests. The study of natural speech to detect linguistic signs of early cognitive decline is a reliable, non-invasive and cost-effective tool that could possibly help medical practitioners in the early diagnosis, intervention and management of the progressive disease," Cao said.

Moving forward, the research team aims to collaborate with neurologists to develop language-based intervention strategies for individuals with amnestic MCI, ultimately contributing to healthier aging in Singapore and enhancing the quality of life for older adults.
En 2020,nous avait ravi avec le jeu, en 2024, le celebre studio nous devoile un appetissantCe nouveau titre promet de nous surprendre, en effet, le trailer devoile un personnage aux allures inedites, avec une armure, une peau de bete sur le dos et un bouclier.nous promet une plongee dans un univers medieval, mais soyez rassures, le principe de base demeure, du shoot bourrin, avec des armes iconiques, des litres d'hemoglobines et de la musique heavy metal a fond les ballons !DOOM: The Dark Ages est un jeu de tir a la premiere personne et d'action servant de prequel a DOOM (2016) et DOOM Eternal. Vous incarnez le Slayer, un guerrier legendaire combattant sans relache les demons des Enfers. Decouvrez l'histoire epique du DOOM Slayer et les origines de sa colere en 2025.Le jeu est donc attendu sur PC, PS5 et Xbox Series en 2025, avec une incorporation immediate dans le Game Pass.
Its that one in the middle. The one that looks completely destroyed. Photo: no byline@backgrid.com / BACKGRID

In 2021, Kanye West paid $57.25 for a chunk of prime Malibu real estate designed by Tadao Ando, a Pritzker-winning Japanese architect. There are only about 20 of Andos boxy concrete homes in the U.S., and one that sold to Jay-Z and Beyonce this year set a California record. Another, soon, will belong to his ex-wife Kim Kardashian; a few weeks after she filed papers to scrub West off her name, she flew to visit the architect, who finalized the design of a spaceship style mansion shes building in Palm Springs.

Wests house was originally designed for Richard Sachs, a banker, who sold it to him two years ago. West is now listing the three-story, 4,000-square-foot home for $4.25 million less  or $53 million  a difference that People magazine explains is due to his having removed the homes interiors.

What was once here. Photo: Diggzy/Jesal/Shutterstock

West apparently gutted the house and left it exposed to sun, sand, and storms. Neighbors reportedly said the place was left to rot, and no one visited, emboldening pranksters who decorated the place with a Happy Hanukkah banner last year. A contractor who was also guarding the building by sleeping on the hard concrete is now suing West over dangerous conditions, saying he was working 16-hour days. At least, he was until West asked him to replace a functional electrical system with large, off-the-grid generators. I said, You cannot have carbon monoxide running into a building, he told Nightline. Youre going to suffocate everyone. So he quit. You can only pay people so much to do crazy work.

Someone put a "Happy Hanukkah" banner on Kanyes ugly ass house in Malibu https://t.co/Gi0F50vEFf pic.twitter.com/V41o3cKAG4  Wu Tang is for the Children (@WUTangKids) December 6, 2022

Maybe he needed quick cash to pay off that suit or finish his next album. In any case, the problem is now his brokers to deal with. And Selling Sunsets Jason Oppenheim is trying desperately to spin this, telling People that Ando is known for his concrete work, which is what remains and claiming that much of the architectural integrity remains in an interview with The Wall Street Journal. The photos on the Oppenheim Group site, however, are from the 2021 listing, and the description reads like AI was asked to pitch an empty box: Natural light is used creatively throughout the space.

A $53 million shell. Photo: no byline@backgrid.com / BACKGRID
Photo-Illustration: Curbed; Photos: Ettore Sotsass, Baptiste Le Quiniou, Marco Galloway, Brian W. Ferry

The chaotic magic of NYCxDesign may be over now that its June, but there is still a lot to see this month. This edition includes a group show that interprets the woodlands and Wales at Tiwa Select, a giant textile sculpture by Joana Vasconcelos at the Roche Bobois flagship, and a glass-block and metal furniture collection from artist Micah Rosenblatt.

The City Block collection by Micah Rosenblatt

Clockwise from left: Photo: Marco Galloway Photo: Marco Galloway Photo: Marco Galloway From top: Photo: Marco Galloway Photo: Marco Galloway Photo: Marco Galloway

We could see glimpses of Micah Rosenblatts latest collection in the office he created for Julio Torres along with Sophie Parker. In City Block, a 16-piece furniture collection showing at the Front Gallery, Rosenblatt takes it further with a study in contrasts that brings together chunky glass blocks and thin wire forms that reference the citys weird and sometimes jarring mash-up of construction materials. In Rosenblatts hands, the industrial blocks look more like Art Deco objects, framed in complementary green and topped with spheres, and his spiral steel chairs are a striking, dressed-up version of the citys wrought-iron fencing. Closes June 23.

Photo: Adrian Gaut/Nordic Knots/

Nordic Knots, maker of our favorite solid color rugs, opens its first store outside Stockholm in Soho. Taking its cues from an archive room, large samples of the Scandinavian companys rugs and curtains hang from stainless-steel units in a space designed by Studio Giancarlo Valle. Its a refined and functional showroom that fits its contemporary Swedish aesthetic, and the Greene Street location showcases its full range: striped, shaggy, artist collaborations, and works by legacy Nordic designers, with a worktable by Axel Einar Hjorth and lighting from Palle Suenson. Moving to America means moving closer to the brands largest customer base, and the designers wanted the store to feel warm and homey. For us, its important to have a space that is more than just a white box, said co-founder Fabian Berglund. Opens June 13.

Tiwa Selects Woodland Group Show

Photo: Brian W. Ferry

Opening in time for summer solstice, Tiwas second-ever group show invites you to discover what woodland mythology means to 24 artists  the shows name, Coetir, is Welsh for woodland, a nod to founder Alex Tieghi-Walkers Wales roots. Expect to find intriguing, distinct objects of glass, ceramic and wood in a circular, ceremonial arrangement. Along with some designers who have shown at Tiwa before, including Dana Arbib, Vince Skelly, and Minjae Kim, London-based Christabel MacGreevys sculptural ceramic and Ido Yoshimoto, known for his dramatic wood furniture, will be showing for the first time. Opens June 21.

A Big Ettore Sottsass Survey at Raisonne

From left: Photo: Courtesy Ettore Sotsass Photo: Courtesy Ettore Sotsass From top: Photo: Courtesy Ettore Sotsass Photo: Courtesy Ettore Sotsass

Master works of design are sometimes viewed from inches away but rarely without a security guard present or the company of meandering guided tours. But Raisonne, a design gallery in Soho, has opened a large survey of Italian designer and architect Ettore Sottsass without any of the guardrails, presenting over 100 works spanning across five decades of his practice. Sottsass himself thought retrospectives felt like having a birthday party where too many relatives show up, but the show manages to create an intimate environment that highlights each piece without overwhelming the senses. His signature zigzag appears in the marble, metal, and gold furniture that cemented his legacy as a postmodern innovator. But beyond the more familiar Memphis Group works, there are surprises in the rare blown-glass pieces and one-off furniture commissions. Closes June 28.

From left: Installation images from the Milan showroom Photo: Baptiste Le Quiniou Photo: Baptiste Le Quiniou From top: Installation images from the Milan showroom Photo: Baptiste Le Quiniou Photo: Baptiste Le Quiniou

Commemorating 50 years in America, French design juggernaut Roche Bobois, perhaps best known for its Bubble couches, will install Amazonia, by Portuguese artist Joana Vasconcelos, in its flagship store on Madison Avenue. The massive, winding fabric sculpture, stretching nearly 150 feet long, will be suspended from its roof, in all its crocheted, beaded, and felted glory, until October 31. In her 30 years as an artist, Vasconcelos has become the youngest and only woman to present at Versailles Palace, and the first Portuguese artist to exhibit at Guggenheim Museum Bilbao. Set off against Boboiss colorful BomBom seating, her hanging piece looks oddly at home. Opens June 13.

Photo: Courtesy Salon 94

At Salon 94, the paintings of late French American artist Niki de Saint Phalle see you too; each of her Burst Paintings contain photo sensors that react to a viewers presence and trigger motorized elements that light up or move elements on her folk-art landscapes. A life-size board game comes to mind. The artist, now recognized as one of the most significant women in sculpture, made the kinetic paintings in her final years, an homage to her late husband, Swiss sculptor Jean Tinguely, and his trademark machine sculptures. Across three rooms at Salon 94, life-size wood sculptures, cactus-like painted statues adorned in light bulbs, and a glossy rose-colored mosaic table burst with color and energy. Closes June 22.
My late father used to tell the dramatic story of his journey across Europe to see his parents as the Continent descended into war. This was in the days following the Anschluss, Nazi Germanys 1938 annexation of its Austrian neighbour.

He was called Michael and had taken the train to his home town on the Hungarian-Czech border.

As he emerged from the station, he was set upon by group of Hungarian thugs from a fascist group later known as the Arrow Cross.

They saw a Jew and mercilessly beat him.

Several weeks later, he escaped to Britain in the belly of a boat from Ostend in Belgium, before eventually finding himself in the ladies waiting room at Victoria station.

There, he was approached by an elegant woman in a grey coat who informed him he was in the wrong place and asked about his destination.

Giorgia Meloni, Italys prime minister since 2022, belongs to the Brothers of Italy party. It traces its origins back to fascist dictator Benito Mussolini

My father replied that he was seeking to visit his elder brother Phillip, who was serving as a Rabbi in St Annes on the Lancashire coast. The ladys response was to march alongside him all the way from Victoria to Euston station, three miles or so, and then help him buy a ticket.

The contrast between the violent reception in his home town and the courtesy he found in the UK instilled in my father a lifelong belief in the tolerance of the British people.

It was hard not to recall his story when the results from Europes parliamentary elections emerged on Sunday.

Once again, the hard-Right populist forces which inspired fascism  and eventually resulted in the unspeakable horrors of the Holocaust  have been reawakened.

Eric Ciotti, the leader of France's Les Republicains, said yesterday that he wants to form an alliance with Marine Le Pen's far-Right National Rally party

When I voted for Brexit in 2016, my reasoning was both economic and political. The Eurozones one-size-fits-all economic policy had cast a pall over the Continent. Unemployment was in double digits and youth unemployment had reached 20 per cent or higher in some countries. My fear was that joblessness and unrest would unleash the forces of intolerance and racism that rained down in the 1930s.

My suspicion had been reinforced around a decade ago by a visit to Budapest as vice-president of the Board of Deputies of British Jews (the main representative body of British Judaism) to an assembly of the World Jewish Congress (WJC).

Outside the hotel, delegates were greeted by protesters who held up anti-Semitic banners and chanted Nazi-era slogans. The following day, I took a stroll along the banks of the Danube. A young man, who spoke good English, approached and asked if I was a WJC visitor.

He told me his father, an economist at the Hungarian finance ministry, had been made redundant  because he was Jewish. The young man wanted to know if the WJC could help him get a university place in London.

How could this be taking place in a member country of the European Union?

The answer is that Hungary has seen the rise of the hard-Right and openly racist Jobbik party. And, in response, prime minister Viktor Orban of the Fidesz party has moved to the hard-Right with them.

Hungary proved to be the canary in the mine  a forewarning that extremism and anti-Semitism were back.

Today, we find that voters from the Continents most powerful nations, Germany and France, have themselves tracked heavily to the Right.

The Swedish government, besieged by gang warfare and racist unrest in Malmo, is propped up by the Sweden Democrats, a hard-Right grouping. In the Netherlands, Geert Wilderss extremist Freedom party has emerged as a political kingmaker.

Giorgia Meloni, Italys prime minister since 2022, is now regarded as among Europes most powerful figures. Meloni who belongs to the Brothers of Italy (which traces its origins back to Benito Mussolini) has recently aligned herself with Hungarys Orban.

Britains chattering classes and Americas coastal elites love to pour scorn on Donald Trump and the possibility that a convicted felon could reclaim the White House. But the surge in support of populist and nationalist parties in Europe is the greater threat.

The outrage expressed by European voters is driven by spiralling prices and migration. And by the high price of a green transition which can only lead to a further rise in the cost of living  and yet more anger.

So rattled is Emmanuel Macron by the surge in support for Marine Le Pens hard-Right National Rally party that he called a snap parliamentary election. He hopes that the shock of a potentially extremist outcome will bring French voters to their senses.

Demonstrators take part in an anti-fascist rally in Toulouse on Monday after the far-Right crushed Emmanuel Macron's centrist alliance in the European elections

Violence broke out in response to the possibility that Marine Le Pen's National Rally party could come to power in France

Yet there is a huge risk that he is wrong  and that Le Pen could soon be running for the presidency as her 28-year-old protege Jordan Bardella is installed as prime minister.

While its leadership might seem more reasonable than in the past, much of National Rallys party machinery remains rooted in a pro-Vichy, Nazi-supporting nostalgia.

The prospect of Le Pen rule will send shivers through a besieged French Jewish population, the largest in Europe, which is already caught in a pincer movement  between the rise of populism, some of it with an anti-Semitic slant, and Islamic extremism, which is open in its hatred of Jews.

Perhaps most worrying of all, though, are events in Germany. The countrys terrible history, the rise of Hitlers National Socialists from small electoral beginnings to eventual power, is seared on the national consciousness.

No country has done more to commemorate its murdered Jews and the ghastly history of the Shoah (Hebrew for Holocaust) or to welcome back descendants of exiled families. But there is no mistaking the nastiness and racism of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, which claimed almost 16 per cent of the vote on Sunday.

Chancellor Olaf Scholz has made it clear that the task must always be to push them (AfD) back again. Quite right. The AfD is populated by Nazis.

While its leadership might seem more reasonable than in the past, much of National Rallys party machinery remains rooted in a pro-Vichy, Nazi-supporting nostalgia

One prominent AfD member, Maximilian Krah, has recently stated that not all SS members were criminals.

Some Jews might be comforted that the main target of Germanys far-Right are Islamic migrants.

They should remember the words of the German pastor Martin Niemoller: First they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out  because I was not a socialist. Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out  because I was not a trade unionist. Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out  because I was not a Jew. The rest is history.

The pro-Palestinian marches, boycotts of literary festivals and rocketing anti-Semitic assaults have deeply affected Britains Jews. One of my own grandchildren was verbally abused in the playground for being Jewish. Another is at a school where kill all Jews was daubed on a toilet wall.

Many British Jews fear for their safety.

They can also be reassured, however, that when it comes to the ballot box, anti-Zionism and anti-Semitism have never come close to power in this country. We can be thankful that the tolerance and fairness my dear father found in Britain some 85 years ago still reigns here  in King, country and on the doorstep.

But I worry deeply about the future of the Continent, whose apocalyptic horrors he so narrowly escaped.
Just over three weeks to go until election day, and the Tories still lag Labour in the polls by more than 20 points.

Rishi Sunak has had the worst week imaginable, having ducked out of part of the D-Day celebrations, for which act of stupidity he has consumed endless quantities of humble pie.

So yesterdays launch of the Tory Manifesto was billed as an opportunity to strike out in a new direction, and grab the flagging attention of a country that seems to have made up its mind not to give the Conservatives another chance. There was even talk of a last-minute rabbit being pulled out of the hat.

The launch of the Tory manifesto was billed as an opportunity to strike out in a new direction

In the event, there were only a succession of white mice of varying sizes and, individually, not enormously impressive

In the event, there was no rabbit  only a succession of white mice of varying sizes and, individually, not enormously impressive.

There was no undertaking to withdraw from the interfering European Court of Human Rights, which might have won back not a few former Tories who are planning to vote for Reform UK. All Mr Sunak would say was that if the ECHR tries to thwart his Rwanda plan, he knows where his loyalties lie.

Nor was there any pledge to abolish or reduce inheritance tax, which is widely unloved. Such a dramatic measure could have attracted many voters. But the instinctively managerial and ever cautious Rishi was evidently wrongly in my view  frightened that he would have been accused of favouring the rich.

The largest mouse  about a quarter the size of a full-grown rabbit  was the promise to get rid of national insurance for four million self-employed workers. This will be welcomed by many, and could conceivably make a difference to the Tories electoral fortunes.

Im less convinced by the manifestos commitment that, if re-elected, the Tories would cut a further 2p off national insurance paid by employees by April 2027. Two recent reductions to NI of the same size have failed to boost the Conservatives standing in the polls, and one wonders why Rishi thinks that the promise of a third will be more effective.

Most over-65s dont pay national insurance, but many of them do pay income tax. This Governments concentration on NI, while freezing income tax thresholds until 2027/28, is surely questionable.

Other non-financial Tory policies outlined in the manifesto may not have commended themselves to many voters. The promise to cap legal immigration, which has soared to record levels under this Government, will be met with widespread scepticism, though its a racing certainty that Labour would do worse.

Equally, Rishi Sunaks vow to build 1.6 million homes in the course of the next Parliament challenges credulity, given that after huge exertions only one million have been put up in the past five years. The new figure appears to have been plucked out of thin air, and is designed to top Labours doubtless no less fanciful target of 1.5 million extra homes during the next parliament.

Whatever the Tories pledge will of course be met with the same response. Why should we believe that they will do any better next time, in view of their failures not just since the last election but during the past 14 years? This question is particularly apposite in relation to immigration.

Yet it seems to me that in one area at least Mr Sunak has a right to be taken seriously: taxation. The reason is that he and Jeremy Hunt delivered those cuts in national insurance last autumn and this spring, which, though arguably misdirected, have begun to lessen the tax burden.

In addition to the further cuts to national insurance, stamp duty will be abolished for first-time buyers on homes with a value up to 425,000. Child Benefit will be reformed so that families remain eligible for it until their combined income reaches 120,000, delivering a potential benefit of 1,500 a year.

According to the Institute for Fiscal Studies, the Tories are promising some 17 billion a year of tax cuts. At the same time they are proposing annual reductions to the welfare budget of 12 billion  targeting what Mr Sunak called working age welfare, which has ballooned since the pandemic while cracking down on tax avoidance, and curbing civil service numbers.

Rishi Sunak spoke of a moral mission to put money back in peoples pockets, recalling the rousing rhetoric of Margaret Thatcher

Given the planned increase in defence spending, some will question  Labour certainly does  whether the Tories can fund tax cuts of this magnitude. Nonetheless, the manifestos undertakings on tax are undoubtedly significant, and mark a new departure for the Conservatives.

In launching the manifesto, Mr Sunak spoke of a moral mission to put money back in peoples pockets, recalling the rousing rhetoric of Margaret Thatcher. For the first time, he really is creating some clear blue water between the Tories and Labour on tax.

For Sir Keir Starmer has only said he wont increase income tax, national insurance and VAT. Unlike Mr Sunak, he hasnt undertaken to reduce the personal tax burden.

At the same time, several Labour spokesmen have declined to rule out rises in capital gains tax and property taxes. Shadow health secretary Wes Streeting yesterday refused four times to exclude increasing capital gains tax if Labour wins.

Who can doubt that the party would put up some taxes to fund its ambitious spending plans? And who can bring themselves to believe that personal taxes such as national insurance, income tax and VAT would ever go down under Labour rule?

I daresay the Tories have been somewhat economical with the truth in claiming that the Treasury has endorsed their assertion that Labours spending plans will cost each working household some 2,000 in extra taxes.

Nevertheless, we can be practically certain that the tax burden will increase under Labour, partly because their sums dont add up, and partly because historically the party has been addicted to high taxes and high spending. Theres no reason to believe that Sir Keir Starmer and his crew are any different.

The promise to get rid of national insurance will be welcomed by many, and could conceivably make a difference to the Tories electoral fortunes

So this is the stark new dividing line, and after Rishi Sunaks tax pledges yesterday  which I am inclined to believe because the process of tax reduction has already started  there really is a substantial difference between the Conservatives and Labour.

Its anyones guess whether it will be enough to narrow the gap between the two parties or  miracle of miracles  lead to an astounding victory for the embattled Rishi Sunak.

My suspicion is that many voters will wonder why the Tories didnt reduce tax previously when they had the opportunity to do so, and will think that its rather late in the day for them to present themselves as committed tax cutters. Well see.

By the way, I trust that reports of Right-wing Tories producing their own more radical manifesto are unfounded. Nothing could be more disastrous, as a teetering Rishi Sunak is getting back on his feet, than for the Conservative Party to advertise its differences in public.

There are, alas, no alluring rabbits in this manifesto, but there is a glimpse of what a future Sunak government might be like. It would take less of your money, and spend what it took more wisely.

Too late for most, I fear, but voters shouldnt be in any doubt that there are, after all, profound differences in the way the Tories and Labour would govern this country.
Some fan favorites look vastly different from their portrayals in the film series

AI-generated images showed what the Twilight characters look like per the book

When Twilight fist graced our screens in 2008, millions of fans tuned in to see their favorite characters bought to life - but some may not have met the expectations of Twi-hards.

Based on the bestselling Stephenie Meyer book series, which were released between 2005 and 2020, the five Twilight films premiered between 2008 and 2012 based only on the first four.

The series followed Arizona teen Bella Swan (Kristen Stewart) who relocates to Forks, Washington, where she meets the mysterious Cullen family and falls in love with Edward (Robert Pattinson) - only to find out he's actually a 104-year-old vampire.

A love triangle ensues with Bella's childhood friend Jacob Black (Taylor Lautner), who happens to be a werewolf.

When Twilight fist graced our screens in 2008, millions of fans tuned in to see their favorite characters bought to life - but some may not have met the expectations of Twi-hards

Although the casting was reasonably accurate for many of the fan favorites, a recent video showcased AI-generated versions of the characters as described in the book - and it has captivated fans.

'All the vampires are too dark. They were supposed to be unnaturally pale,' one fan commented.

'Book description: "the girls are skinny, the guys are muscular, everyone is extraordinarily beautiful..."' laughed another.

Have a look below at how the AI versions in comparison to the movie.

Bella Swan

In the book, Bella Swan, played by Kristen Stewart, is the book's protagonist - described as having a 'god-like beauty.'

She also is said to have a 'very pale complexion' with 'long, straight brown hair, 'thin nose' and 'prominent cheekbones.'

Shedding yet further light on her appearance, the book states she has a 'heart-shaped face, wide forehead, chocolate brown eyes and full lips.'

Kristen famously played Bella in the film franchise, sharing the same pale skin and long dark hair.

The character of Bella doesn't look dissimilar in the AI generated version.

The latter does have bushier eyebrows and a slightly narrower face - but otherwise shares many of the same characteristics as Kristen's portrayal.

In the book, Bella Swan, played by Kristen Stewart is the book's protagonist - described as having a 'god-like beauty.' Pictured (left to right): Robert Pattinson, Kristen Stewart (center) and Taylor Lautner (right)

The character of Bella doesn't look dissimilar in the AI generated version - with the latter having bushier eyebrows and a slightly narrower face

Edward Cullen

Edward Cullen, played by Robert Pattinson, the devastatingly handsome teenage vampire, is known in the book as being 'extremely attractive.'

He's described as being 'tall, thin and muscular,' with a 'strong jawline and perfect eyebrows.'

His facial features included a 'straight nose and full lips,' with 'untidy bronzed hair' and 'topaz eyes.'

Robert Pattinson played the heartthrob in the movies, where they made his skin unnaturally pale - as per the novel.

But his AI counterpart looks marginally different - sporting a golden glow and not as pale as a vampire usually is.

Edward Cullen, played by Robert Pattinson, the devastatingly handsome teenage vampire, is known in the book as being 'extremely attractive'

His AI counterpart looks marginally different - sporting a golden glow and not as pale as a vampire usually is

Jacob Black

Jacob Black, played by Taylor Lautner, was the werewolf who befriends Bella and later imprints on Bella and Edward's daughter Renesmee.

He was also in a love triangle with Bella and Edward, after admitting he has feelings for the brunette beauty in the blockbuster series.

He is described in the books as being Native American, 'tall and lanky' but also 'toned and muscular.'

Jacob in the series is also said to have 'raven-black hair and a ponytail' as well as 'russet skin' with 'deep-set twinkling dark brown eyes.'

The AI version of the character is somewhat similar to Taylor's version facially.

The fake rendering has long hair - which Taylor has in the first movie - and is dressed in traditional Native American clothing.

Jacob Black, played by Taylor Lautner, was the werewolf who befriends Bella and later imprints on Bella and Edward's daughter Renesmee

Jacob in the book is described in the books as being Native American, 'tall and lanky' but also 'toned and muscular'

Renesmee Cullen

Renesmee - played by Mackenzie Foy, the vampire-human hybrid child of Edward and Bella - was one of the most divisive casting choices made in the blockbuster series.

In the book, she's described as being 'immensely beautiful, with pink rosy cheeks and a dimpled smile.'

The child is also said to have a 'straight nose and full pink lips,' with 'curly bronze hair and perfect eyebrows and chocolate brown eyes.'

Renesmee, as she is half-vampire, also has pale skin and 'perfect, shiny square teeth.'

While the actress that played Renesmee looked somewhat similar to the books description when she was older, the special effects for Twilight: Breaking Dawn  Part 2 were mocked for the terrifying CGI baby they used who looked more like Chucky than adorable vampire baby.

The AI version of Renesmee is, again, not as pale as the vampires described in the books. The biggest differences in the AI version and movie portrayal was the computer-generated version has curlier hair and a sun-kissed glow.

Renesmee - played by Mackenzie Foy, the vampire-human hybrid child of Edward and Bella - was one of the divisive casting choices made in the blockbuster series

Alice Cullen

Alice Cullen, played by Ashley Greene, is a vampire and an adoptive daughter of Carlisle and Esme Cullen.

She is described as a 'very beautiful and petite' woman.

The character is also said to have 'large eyes and long delicate eyebrows with cropped spiky black hair,' with 'medium gold eyes.'

The AI version is near-identical to Ashley Greene's version - despite the recurring issue of the golden glow.

Alice Cullen, played by Ashley Greene, is a vampire and an adoptive daughter of Carlisle and Esme Cullen

Carlisle Cullen

Carlisle, the handsome father-figure of the Cullen vampire family, is played by Peter Facinelli in the films.

In the books, the town doctor is described as 'tall, handsome with gentle eyes.'

He is said to have a 'well-toned medium fame' with 'collar-length blonde hair.'

The AI render looks a lot younger than the film's version, with blonde hair that almost reaches his shoulders.

He again, has more of a tan than any of the vampires in the film do.

Carlisle, the handsome father-figure of the Cullen vampire family, is played by Peter Facinelli in the films

Charlie Swan

Bella's dad, played by Billy Burke, is the gruff police chief in the book and films.

According to the books, he's a middle aged man with an average build and a 'mustache, curly brown hair and chocolate brown eyes.'

The AI image features a more weathered version of Charlie Swan and it ages him dramatically - although he still has his signature bushy mustache.

Bella's dad, played by Billy Burke, is the gruff police chief in the book and films

Rosalie Hale

Rosalie Hale, played by Nikki Reed, is an adopted daughter of Esme and Carlisle Cullen.

Her beauty is often talked about in the book, with the vampire teen described as 'astoundingly gorgeous.'

She has 'long wavy blonde hair that falls halfway down to the middle of her back,' with 'golden black eyes.'

The AI version looks more like a blonde Mila Kunis, with a boho vibe.

Rosalie Hale, played by Nikki Reed, is an adopted daughter of Esme and Carlisle Cullen

Jasper Hale

Jasper Hale, played by Jackson Rathbone, is another teen vampire in the Cullen clan.

He, like the other vampires, are breathtakingly beautiful with 'pale, marble-like skin,' and 'inhuman beauty.'

In the book he is described as 'tall, muscular and lean,' with 'honey blonde hair that falls just above his collar' and 'golden eye.'

The AI version looks vastly different from Jackson's portrayal who has mid-length slightly wavy blondish hair and pale skin.

AI Jasper is more princely or model-esque than vampire, with a chiseled jawline, short blonde locks and bronzed skin.

Jasper Hale (left), played by Jackson Rathbone, is another teen vampire in the Cullen clan

Esme Cullen

Esme Cullen, played by Elizabeth Reaser, is the mother figure of the Cullen clan.

She is described as being 'pale and extremely beautiful' with a 'heart-shaped face and warm, compassionate look.'

Elizabeth has very dark hair in the film and very dark features, with extremely pale skin.

The book version of Esme has a 'warm, compassionate look with billows of soft caramel-colored hair,' as well as 'delicate eyebrows and a small, slender figure.'

The AI version of Esme looks very different from the film portrayal, looking far younger and with light brown hair and paler features.

Esme Cullen, played by Elizabeth Reaser, is the mother figure of the Cullen clan

Emmett Cullen

Emmett Cullen, played by Kellan Lutz, is another adopted vampire son of Carlisle and Esme Cullen.

He is described as being a very handsome man as well as being 'very tall, burly and muscular.'

He has slightly curly, dark brown hair and a 'childish look,' with that signature pale skin and 'golden eyes.'

AI Emmett doesn't look dissimilar to Kellan - with more bronzed skin and a super defined jawline.

Emmett Cullen (right) played by Kellan Lutz, is another adopted vampire son of Carlisle and Esme Cullen

Jessica Stanley

Jessica Stanley, played by Anna Kendrick, is a (human) schoolmate of Bella Swan's in the franchise.

She is described as having 'long, voluminous, curly, dark brown hair' and 'fair skin with blue eyes.'

Her AI counterpart has far curlier hair than Anna Kendrick's portrayal and far bluer eyes.

Jessica Stanley (left), played by Anna Kendrick, is a (human) schoolmate of Bella Swan's in the franchise

Jane

Jane, played by Dakota Fanning, is a high-ranking member of the Volturi - a powerful coven of vampires.

She is played by a pale Dakota Fanning, with slicked-back blonde hair and darkened eyes.

In the book she is described as having a 'tiny, lanky body and pale brown hair' - although is also said to be 'angelically beautiful.'


Fourteen years ago, childrens author Shelley E. Parker suddenly had a strong premonition that her fiance was about to die. This made no sense at all. If anyone was going to die, it was more likely to be Shelley herself, as she was seriously ill with cancer.

But that night in hospital, her premonition was reinforced by a bizarre dream in which she met God.

She recalled every moment of it when she woke: how God had told her that it was time for Steven to go, and turned down her plea to take her instead.

At noon the next day, Steven, who was a helicopter pilot, was killed in a crash.

I now wonder whether I could have stopped him dying if Id told him, says Shelley. But I dont think I could have.

There was no doubt in Shelleys mind that shed somehow tuned in to the future. Ten years before, shed had another premonition  this time about a little girl. The healthy three-year-old was the child of friends and Shelley had seen her only a few times. One night, she had a very vivid dream about her.

Why do so many people who have had a near-death experience describe hauntingly similar visions? Intensive care nurse Penny Sartori has spent years investigating them

I was walking along a path and in front of me was this little girl with her auntie, Shelley recalled. Im not sure how accurate the image of the auntie was, as Id never met her or seen photographs of her  I just knew that shed died about 20 years previously.

'The aunt said she was there to take the little girl to heaven. The child was dressed in pink and had a pink bucket and spade and glitter make-up on the side of her face. She was very happy and dancing around.

'I woke up the next day and felt really unsettled. I thought about phoning the little girls father but then thought better of it, trying to rationalise that it was just a dream. That feeling of anxiety lasted all day.

She smiled and telepathically told me all was well

That evening, Shelley went to dinner with relatives. At one point, she glanced at her watch. It was 10.10pm.

Suddenly, all of the unsettled feeling and anxiety just fell away and I thought: at last Im starting to relax.

The next day, she learned that the little girl had died the night before  soon after 10pm. The cause of her death was a mystery.

Should we dismiss Shelleys premonitions  and many others Ive been told  as macabre coincidences? Or could they be a genuine phenomenon, experienced far more than people imagine?

Consider the case of Janice Wright, a British woman who was visiting friends in Virginia, USA. In the middle of the night, she told me, shed suddenly snapped wide awake.

No scientific theory has yet come close to explaining why a few people have near-death experiences, which can include visions of tunnels and bright lights

In her bedroom was her childhood nanny, whom she hadnt seen in years, though they still corresponded.

In real life, she was well over 80, said Janice. But in the vision, she was ageless and surrounded by an immensely bright light. She smiled at me, put her hand out and telepathically told me all was well.

I was shocked and stayed awake. The next morning, I told my hosts I thought my old nanny had died.

Later that day, a cousin called from England to tell me thats exactly what had happened.

How can we explain such accurate premonitions? Sadly, science has not even begun to find answers.

Similarly, no scientific theory has yet come close to explaining why a few people have near-death experiences  which can include visions of tunnels, bright lights and meetings with dead relatives.

Indeed, that was one of the problems facing me when I embarked on a PhD on the subject. Throughout my research, I was also working as a nurse in the intensive care ward of a British hospital. I was therefore able to learn at firsthand about some of the seemingly inexplicable events that can occur just before death.

Throughout Dr Sartori's research, she was also working as a nurse in the intensive care ward of a British hospital (file photo) and was able to learn at firsthand about some of the seemingly inexplicable events that can occur just before death

To my mind, however, its too easy to label these as paranormal or supernatural.

Instead, Im increasingly open to the possibility that our brains are separate from our consciousness. In other words, the brain may be channelling what some people call the soul, rather than responsible for creating it.

As a theory, it deserves scientific investigation. If proved, it would explain, for instance, why enhanced consciousness can be experienced separately from the body.

And it would also help account for the extraordinary phenomenon known as shared death experience.

I saw this tall man reach out to embrace mum

This is admittedly rare, but two separate cases have been reported to me by relatives who were present at a deathbed.

The first took place in 2004 in the north of England. A dying woman in her 70s was unconscious in a hospital, with her family around her bed. Her husband, Peter, and son, Harry, were holding her hands, and her daughter, Gail, had placed a hand on her forehead.

Subsequently, I interviewed both Peter and Gail separately about what theyd seen. According to Peter, he suddenly noticed a bright light a little distance away. As he watched, a tall man stepped forward from the light with his hands outstretched. Then his unconscious wife seemed to rise from her bed and walk towards the man.

He was waiting there as if to give her a welcoming hug; there was a sense of peace and love, Peter recalled.

His daughter, Gail, appears to have had a fuller experience of the same vision. All of a sudden, I could see Mum walking into the distance on a path, she said. Around her head was like a sun, and on her right-hand side, I could see the silhouette of some people.

[Then] I saw this tall person  I dont know who he was. When she reached him, he took her into his arms as if in a warm embrace that was full of love.

Mums breaths got shallower. And then there were no further breaths and the scene disappeared.

One man Dr Sartori spoke to said he had seen a tall man step forward from a bright light, as his dying wife seemed to rise from her bed and walk towards him

Naturally, the family was devastated at their loss. But, unlike Harry, whod seen nothing at all, father and daughter had what Peter described as big smiles on our faces.

Thered been such sadness leading up to my wifes death  then this [vision] happened, he said. The nurses and ward sister must have thought we were very insensitive because we felt this sense of elation and happiness.

In the second case, a woman in her 40s called Laura was holding her mothers hand as she started slipping into a coma. Then, suddenly, Laura said, her mother rose from her bed and began walking away. After just one pace, though, she turned around.

She looked so happy and well, said Laura. Then she said: Go back now  its not your turn.

He was making gestures to some invisible person

When Laura next looked at her mother on the bed, she was in a deep coma. She died three days later, without regaining consciousness.

Ive since been told of several such experiences. What makes them particularly fascinating is that they cant simply be dismissed by cynics as the product of a malfunctioning brain.

Why? Because, unlike conventional near-death experiences, they happen to people who arent close to death themselves.

But what about Laura and Gails mothers  the people who actually died? Were they, too, experiencing the vision? Evidence from other cases seems to suggest they were.

My first encounter with deathbed visions in hospital was when I was a student nurse arriving for a morning shift.

Billys in bed six  hes been talking to his dead mother since three oclock this morning, said the night-shift nurse. Hell be gone by the end of the day.

After the handover, I kept my eye on Billy Jones, who was 78. He appeared to be asleep, but throughout the morning, he was making gestures to some invisible person and seemed to be speaking to his mother.

The last time I saw him, he was asleep with a big smile on his face. He died a few hours later.

This was my first encounter with death in a hospital  and it wasnt long before I, too, could sometimes predict when patients were about to die. Like Billy, theyd start calling out and gesturing to some invisible presence.

It may be that love is sometimes the only thing keeping a seriously-ill patient alive, and the absence of loved ones makes it easier to let go

Sometimes, a patient is able to describe his vision before dying. A hospice nurse in Wales told me about a 65-year-old man, Ernest, who kept seeing people he knew to be dead at his bedside.

The medical team put this down to hallucinations and reduced his medication  but it made no difference. The figures kept appearing.

In the end, the hospice staff seemed more concerned about them than he was. According to Ernest, he felt no fear yet knew perfectly well that his visitors signified approaching death.

I imagine that this is what my own paternal grandfather must have felt. In the days leading up to his death 18 years ago, he often used to point to the doorway and whisper: Look whos here  theyre at the door. He told my grandmother that his dead father had been visiting him. But whenever he tried to talk to her about this, shed have to walk out of the room.

She knew that the vision presaged imminent death and she didnt want him to see her upset.

Older generations, who had far more experience of seeing loved ones die at home, often knew all about death-bed visions and what they signified. Indeed, they have been documented since Victorian times.

More recently, in the 1970s, death-bed visions were the subject of a large survey conducted in both the U.S. and India. This concluded that patients usually died within two to five days of the start of a vision.

Other research suggests that such visions result in a peaceful acceptance of death  whereas drug-induced hallucinations tend to cause anxiety or confusion.

But conversations with invisible people arent the only signs that have been widely noted at the bedside of a dying person.

Numerous reports by healthcare workers have recorded other bizarre phenomena, including: a change in temperature, a light around the body, the malfunctioning of electrical equipment and the stopping of clocks. There have also been incidents of glasses smashing  without human intervention  at the moment of death.

In addition, Ive come to realise during my 17 years as an intensive care staff nurse that some patients actually have control over the timing of their deaths.

The first time I noticed this was one Sunday morning, when I was looking after an elderly woman called Jean Hunt. Shed been suffering from heart failure and her husband had visited her religiously every day for a week.

Unused to being separated from Jean, whod been chronically ill for ten years, he was very anxious. But, that morning, her condition was stable so hed been persuaded to accompany his mother on a day trip.

An hour after he left the ward, Jeans blood pressure suddenly began to drop. She died not long afterwards, and we all blamed ourselves for encouraging her husband to go on the day trip.

Thats when it occurred to me that Jean may have chosen her time of death. And, since then, Ive known many patients to die while their families were taking a quick break.

One I particularly remember is Sam, who was in his 80s. His family had been with him almost constantly for a week, and one day I suggested they have a break in the canteen. It was 2pm and theyd been keeping vigil since 8am.

Within minutes of their departure, Sam was dying. I ran to fetch his family in the canteen, but hed gone before we reached his bedside.

Why would anyone deliberately choose to die alone? It may be that love is sometimes the only thing keeping a seriously-ill patient alive  and the absence of loved ones makes it easier to let go.

Im by no means the only person whos noticed this. Hospice and palliative-care consultant Dr John Lerma has reported that 70 to 80 per cent of his patients waited for their loved ones to leave the room before dying.

Some patients, on the other hand, appear to be waiting for a specific event to take place before they can permit themselves to die. This could be a wedding or birthday, or the arrival of an estranged family member.

Some patients appear to be waiting for a specific event to take place before they can permit themselves to die

In one memorable case, a male patient was expected to die very soon, yet lingered for days longer than expected. Finally, he died on the day that a crucial insurance policy became valid, thus ensuring his wife was financially secure.

Even people who appear to be incapable of understanding whats happening to them can regain some control on their deathbeds.

Recently, researchers in Britain and Germany have started investigating reports of people with late-stage Alzheimers disease or dementia suddenly becoming coherent just before they die.

This case comes directly from a good friend.

My mother, Peggy, while in the latter stages of Alzheimers, was no longer able to converse with any coherency at all, said Lyon White, who lives in Sussex. Her conversation consisted of what could only be described as gobbledygook.

As Peggys condition deteriorated, she had to be admitted to hospital. One day, Lyon heard her speaking as he entered the ward. She was having a conversation with her father, a much-loved policeman in Kent whod been murdered while on duty. Among the things she told him was that she knew that her husband  also deceased  had loved her very much.

Lyon was astounded. It had been a long time since his mother had even been able to form a word, let alone a sentence. But as soon as he interrupted her vision, she once again lost the power to speak.

Why do such remarkable events occur at the end of life? Naturally, some of the people whove witnessed them invoke religion and the after-life. But, equally, many remain agnostic.

Whatever our beliefs, we should keep an open mind. And when death comes  as it must  it may not be as fearful as we imagine.

A version of this article was originally published in the Mail on January 27, 2014
Fashion lovers have been left in shock after discovering they have been pronouncing the name of a popular clothing brand wrong for years.

Adam, from the US, was recently thinking about Australian brands when he realised he had no idea how to pronounce 'Decjuba' - and he's not alone.

'There's this women's clothing brand I always walk past and I just don't know how to pronounce it,' he said in a video.

Hundreds of Australians similarly revealed their confusion, with many claiming different versions like 'Deckjuba', 'Deck-joba', or 'Deek-joo-bah'.

But the brand soon revealed the 'j' was silent - and that it is actually pronounced 'De-Cuba'.

Fashion lovers have been left in shock after discovering they have been pronouncing the name of a popular clothing brand wrong for years

Shoppers also shared Adam's uncertainty.

'Before I heard you say the store name I knew you were going to say Decjuba,' one said.

Another said, 'I shopped there today and I asked and Im still not sure.'

A third added, 'I don't know how it's pronounced so I don't shop there because if anyone asks me where it's from, I couldn't tell them.'

Many revealed their shock as discovering the true pronunciation.

'This has been public service because I never knew how to pronounce it either,' a shopper said.

'I never had a clue [until now] either!' another said.

'Oh my god, I'm an Australian and shop there all the time,' a woman wrote. 'Up until just now I thought it was 'Dejuk-aba'.'

Adam, from the US, was recently thinking about Australian brands when he realised he had no idea how to pronounce 'Decjuba'

But Decjuba isn't the only brand name causing confusion.

Many assume Sol de Janeiro's Bum Bum Cream is pronounced phonetically - but the correct way to say it is actually 'boom boom' cream.

The Brazilian brand named the popular body lotion after the Portuguese word 'boom boom', which means 'bottom' or buttocks'.

Sol de Janeiro officially confirmed how to pronounce the name after years of confusion, but many shoppers still cannot wrap their heads around it.

'Maybe I'm a silly billy too, but I've been calling it bum bum cream, not boom boom!' Alicia, from Victoria, recently revealed.

The Brazilian brand named the popular body lotion after the Portuguese word 'boom boom' which means 'bottom' or buttocks'

Many stood with Alicia - and they don't have any plans to start calling the product by its correct name.

'My 16-year-old rolled her eyes and gave me a 'look' when I said bum bum,' a mum shared.

'Well I was today-years-old when I learned this!' another added. 'Too late to change now. I did always think it was a strange name.'

'I figured it was cream to moisturise your bum bum,' one joked.

Shoppers also recently realised they had been pronouncing the name of skincare company 'Cetaphil' wrong their entire lives.

The company - which was founded in 1947 by an American pharmacist - is pronounced 'SEE-ta-fill' rather than 'SET-a-fill'.

The range of facial washes and moisturisers is named after cetyl alcohol, its main ingredient.

'The secret it out - here's how to pronounce our brand name,' Cetaphil revealed in 2015. The pronunciation is also used on radio and TV ads for the brand.

Skincare lovers all over the world are in shock after discovering they have been pronouncing the dermatologist-recommended skincare line 'Cetaphil' wrong their entire lives

Many who saw the post had mixed reactions to the news.

'That's just wrong,' a man said. 'I've been calling it 'Seh-ta-fil' (like set) since I was 11, so for about 18 years. Seems too late to change!'

'Huh? We've been using the lotion for 30 years now, and you can't teach an old dog new tricks,' another wrote.

'What? It has to be changed to 'Set-a-phil' - it's only right,' a third argued.

But others were happy to know their version correct all along.

'That's how I've always pronounced it, so I'm glad that I was right this time,' a skincare lover revealed.

'I've pronounced it that way my whole life. I always figured if it was supposed to be pronounced 'Set-a-phil' it would have two 't's,' a second said.

Another wrote, 'To-ma-to, To-mah-to! Doesn't matter how it's pronounced, the products are wonderful. I've been using the cleansing bar and moisturiser for years and love it!'
Don't trust everything you see online - as sometimes, an item that looks 'perfect' may end up being too good to be true.

People from around the world have taken to social media to share their frustration with items they bought online, which have been collated into an online gallery by and Cheezburger.com.

They include someone who ordered a stylish contemporary-looking chopping board - only for the real product to resemble a bizarre children's art project.

Elsewhere another person, in Russia, ordered an adorable cake for their friends engagement party, only for it to arrive looking like she attempted to bake it herself.

A woman ordered an edgy 'cowboys and tequila' ring from a Chinese website; however, it arrived just saying 'cows'.

People from around the world have taken to social media to share their frustration with items they bought online and Cheezburger.com collated the best into an online gallery. They include someone who ordered a stylish contemporary looking chopping board online only for something to resemble a child's art project to arrive

A fast-food lover, from England, was excited to see Taco Bell finally arrive in the UK but was frustrated to discover the dismal portion sizes compared to the marketing snaps.

Meanwhile a Walmart customer in the US took to social media to show off the 'black out' curtains he purchased.

Here FEMAIL takes a look at some of the funniest expectation vs reality fails...

Elsewhere another person, in Russia, ordered an adorable cake for their friends engagement party, only for it to arrive looking like she attempted to bake it herself

A women ordered an edgy 'cowboys and tequila' ring from a Chinese website; however, it arrived just saying 'cows'

A customer of the House of Illuminates failed Wonka event, in Glasgow, compared the event marketing snaps to the real experience and couldn't help but laugh

Meanwhile a Henna artist said she was great at pet portraits but what she delivered was less than impressive

A fast-food lover, from England, was excited to see Taco Bell finally arrive in the UK but was frustrated to discover the dismal portion sizes compared to the marketing snaps

Elsewhere a man bought a Deadpool superhero costume online, but it didn't look as intimidating in real life

Meanwhile a Walmart customer in the US took to social media to show off the 'black out' curtains he purchased

A person's birthday cake ended up being a complete disaster when it arrived looking nothing like the marketing image

Elsewhere someone wanted to get into the festive spirit and ordered Santa cupcakes from a local bakery, but she could have done a better job herself

A woman ordered an acai bowl which looked colourful and delicious on the marketing snap, however what arrived didn't look edible
If youve ever been cheated on  and most of us have  youll know how devastating it can feel.

Not surprising, then, that lots of people don't believe cheaters should ever be forgiven.

I used to be one of them: my father had a ten-year affair and it left me with trust issues that took years to solve.

That  and convincing research by the world leader on infidelity, Belgium therapist Esther Perel - have made me change my mind.

If you are a victim of infidelity and with a person who is otherwise usually thoroughly decent, I strongly believe there is a case for forgiveness.

Tracey Cox shares her expert advice on how to deal with a cheating partner as well why it could work out best if you don't leave the relationship (stock image)

This is what I have discovered over the years. Perhaps it can help you, too.

1. Cheating doesn't necessarily mean they don't love you

Not every act of infidelity is premeditated or driven by dissatisfaction.

Heres a sobering fact: happy people cheat. You could have the happiest, healthiest relationship going and your partner might still cheat on you.

Why? Some people succumb to opportunistic infidelity: theyre attached and committed to their partner but when put in a situation where theyre given the chance to cheat, they dont say no. Alcohol and drugs are often involved (no surprise there).

Even if its a continuing affair, it might be purely about sex. When people say, It meant nothing, what theyre usually saying is, This was about sex not love. Lots of people are capable of separating love and sex: theyre adamant having sex with someone on the side doesnt mean they dont love their partner.

2. It might not be their fault

Theres been a shift from the old way of thinking that laid all the blame solely at the feet of the person who strayed.

These days, we recognise that it takes two people to maintain a satisfying relationship and some affairs happen when one person feels unloved, undervalued or are treated badly.

Research proves not all cheaters are chronic philanderers or immature idiots - nice, responsible people also have affairs. They might love their partner desperately, but long to experience something for reasons that have absolutely nothing to do with their partner.

Tracey said even if your partner is having a continuing affair, it might be purely about sex. When people say, It meant nothing, what theyre usually saying is, This was about sex not love, she explained (pictured: Tracey Cox)

The cliched midlife crisis affair is a classic example. People arent so much rejecting their partner as trying to prove to themselves and the world that theyre not getting old. All those experiences that are reserved for the young  the sportscar, the hot sex, the young partner - arent out of my grasp after all.

Research also tells us people often feel powerless when in the grasp of an affair. Its common for people to report feeling bewildered. I have no idea how I really got there. I didnt set out to do this or hurt anyone.

WOULD YOU FORGIVE A CHEATING PARTNER?

Heres what you said when I posed that question. Staying with a known cheater is like gulping poison, knowing exactly what youre drinking. Forgiveness is an excellent thing because it helps you live with those bad memories. But accepting a cheater back is another thing. If they take full responsibility for their actions  theres no hedging, no excuses, so justification  then maybe. Were human, not perfect. You dont chuck away a good marriage, especially if you have kids, for one bad decision. I forgave my husband who cheated with three ex-girlfriends. Were married now but do I trust him? No. I love him and thats why I stayed. Would I go back and do the same thing with hindsight? No. Id run screaming. Dont ask for all the details  it will drive you insane. Ask enough questions for you to make sense of what has happened and then leave it alone. You cant stay with the person if you dont forgive. But you need a ton of therapy to work through a lot of painful stuff to get to that point. If you have history and a few good, solid years behind you, its totally worth it though. I was a prolific cheater until someone I loved cheated on me. My heart smashed into a million pieces. Once youve had that happen, you will never cheat on anyone ever again. Youre safe forgiving someone who has had it happen to them. Advertisement

3. Not all relationships are broken by affairs

Youve destroyed everything, is a common (and justified) response when people find out their partner has cheated.

True, your relationship will never be the same after an affair  but it might just get better.

Esther Perel says there are two types of affairs: the wake-up affair and the break-up affair.

The break-up affair happens when the relationship is all but over and cheating is inevitable or done deliberately to force an end to things.

The wake-up affair happens when there are unaddressed problems in the relationship and the discovery of an affair forces the couple to confront and deal with them.

Even though this can result in a happy ending, no-ones ever recommending having an affair as a fix it (including Perel).

But there can be an upside. Because they have nothing to lose in the aftermath of an affair, couples will often open up about things they would never discuss before.

A new, better relationship can form out of the old one.

4. You may well forgive, if not forget

Around 15-20 per cent of couples experience some kind of infidelity. About 60-75 per cent of those who do, stay together  and are happy.

Being able to forgive is the litmus test of whether the relationship can survive the affair. Those who do forgive experience less anxiety, stress and depression and can move forward.

Why are some of us able to forgive and others cant? It depends on the severity of the infidelity, who it was with and how long it lasted, the level of remorse shown by the cheating partner and the betrayed persons ability to process and understand their feelings.

The crucial component in all of this is the partners remorse: it can take months or years for the betrayed person to feel secure again and for trust to be fully rebuilt. The more patient and contrite your partner, the more likely forgiveness is.

Theres another reason why others refuse to budge

5. Forgiving doesn't mean condoning

This is a sticking point for lots of people. If I forgive them and have them back, it means theyve got away with it.

Listen, if this is the sixth affair youve forgiven for your partner for, you ARE condoning bad behaviour. Letting someone commit the same mistake over and over without consequences does put you in a powerless position.

This is very different to forgiving a spouse who hasnt put a foot wrong for ten years for a relatively small indiscretion.

Forgiveness is not about pardoning the person who hurt you, its about your own healing. Forgiveness is good for us, not them.

It also doesnt mean reconciliation. You can forgive someone and still decide you want nothing more to do with them. There really isnt a downside to doing it.

Hanging onto hate, however, is a true way to make sure you have a totally miserable life. Thats when the person who hurt you really has won.

6. You probably will spot the signs if it happens again

A final hurdle for people whove been devastated by betrayal is what if it happens again? No-one wants a double dose of that pain.

The hardest affairs to forgive are the ones that happen when your relationship is at its happiest. If you were completely blindsided by your partners infidelity and had no clue anything was going on, why would you give them another chance? They got away with it once, they could get away with it again.

Perhaps. But this time, they arent dealing with a partner who trusts them implicitly. Hindsight offers valuable clues: you did feel a bit suspicious that time whenYoull have eyes wide open and instincts on full alert.

Most couples introduce rules after an affair and completely transparency is one of them. This means youll know all their passwords and can look through their phone, social media, messages and calls whenever you feel nervous.

Having open access to all information is often the only way the betrayed partner is willing to give another chance. And if the cheater isnt doing anything wrong, why refuse?

Visit traceycox.com for Traceys blog, product range, books and details of her weekly podcast, SexTok with Tracey and Kelsey.
Charlie is a happily-married father of three who owns a successful business and has a healthy sex life. Yet, until recently, the 55 year old had a guilty secret: he wasted hours every day watching porn.

Such was his addiction to OnlyFans  the online video hosting site that allows people to upload X-rated content and charge others to view it  he was spending upwards of 500 a week on his habit.

The wellness centre owner, from Leeds, struggles to explain his behaviour, even to himself. Each three to four-minute video he watched  and sometimes still watches  could cost up to 50.

Each three to four-minute Only Fans video Charlie watched could cost up to 50. Picture posed by models

The habit can be fuelled by a combination of curiosity, middle-aged loneliness and boredom

There is the adrenaline rush when youre in the pleasure zone, but afterwards there is the guilt. I think, Why did I do that? I could have taken my wife out with the same amount of money instead.

But it is not just the money. As figures show an increase in middle-aged men becoming addicted to online porn, experts warn of the far wider damage it can do  not just to the lives of the people he watches online, but also, more immediately, to his relationship with his wife.

Its often presumed that sites such as subscription-based OnlyFans or Pornhub are destinations for over-excitable young males, yet if the figures are to be believed, increasing numbers of middle-aged men like Charlie are getting hooked on pornography. UK Addiction Treatments (UKAT) London centre says it gets two new patients a week aged 50 plus, while more than 20 per cent of OnlyFans subscribers are men aged over 45.

The same goes for Pornhub, the UKs most popular porn website  44 per cent of the men who visited the site in the past month were aged 50-64 and 26 per cent who watched during the same time frame were 65 and older.

These are men, say experts, who would never have dreamt of buying printed pornographic material in the same obsessive way, but have become drawn into a sordid world by the ease of online access.

Fuelled at first by a combination of curiosity, middle-aged loneliness and boredom, its a habit that can fast spiral out of control and leave men feeling a deep sense of shame.

Charlie says he knows plenty of other 50-something married men like him whove become dependent on the dopamine rush of watching pornography. He also says watching gay porn as a straight married man is commonplace.

As extraordinary as it sounds, British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) psychotherapist Susie Masterson agrees that this is indeed the case.

The Gen X generation, those who are now in their mid-40s to late 50s, didnt have the opportunity to explore this aspect of their sexuality when they were younger. Doing so online in a virtual world permits them to do so without taking any risks or raising question marks over their heterosexual identity in the real world.

This, too, is how Charlie justifies his addiction to himself.

I love my wife, weve been happily married for 25 years. Yet online I dont class myself as straight, more bisexual, he says.

My eyes were opened by the extra services on offer on OnlyFans over lockdown. I found one on which other men rated my body. It was a total ego boost to be complimented in a way I never would be by my wife  although I now realise they were being nice to me because I was paying them. It really is another world online.

Today Charlie, who still hasnt told his wife about his addiction, is trying to rein it in.

He goes through cycles when he will successfully avoid online pornography for a month, but then finds himself home alone and starts watching on the odd evening. He says he can avoid thinking about it by not spending time on his own.

But, as with other addictions, going cold turkey is not straightforward.

Lee Fernandes, lead therapist at UKAT, explains: Dopamine addiction stems from anything that gives a feeling of pleasure, and we are seeing that in a lot of people who watch porn. This natural high is chased in the same way a heroin user chases the feeling they get after their first hit.

Charlie admits to feeling seedy about his habit of watching videos on his phone alone in bed.

When things were out of control Id actively look out for opportunities when my wife was occupied, he says. Id only do it if she was in the bath, out with her girlfriends or at the gym. That way, my thinking went, I could relax having pleasure with someone else online.

Cat Etherington, of the Naked Truth Project, says compulsive porn use 'can tear relationships and families apart'

I do feel a bit of shame when Im not in the zone of looking for it online and I definitely dont dwell on why the women who are doing this have had to go down this route. Do they want to or is it because they have limited options to earn an income? I dont like thinking about it.

Susie says in the past traditional porn, such as that on top shelves or videos, involved paid individuals, while today many men justify OnlyFans accounts on the grounds the performers are making a good income, even getting rich.

But, she emphasises, the reality is very different.

We see celebrities with OnlyFans accounts raking it in and we hear users trumpeting the democratisation of porn. But the reality isnt like this at all. In all likelihood, users are going to be your next door neighbours daughter or someone who needs the money to feed her children. And lets not forget: there are online videos which are more explicit where its clear the individuals involved are being coerced.

The truth is a lot of men dont like to think about the realities for the women and men they are watching. They will square it off as virtual, meaning its justifiable as something that isnt real.

But the damage created by porn addiction is also closer to home. Cat Etherington, of the Naked Truth Project, says: Compulsive porn use can tear relationships and families apart.

Inevitably sex with your wife is disappointing

That was indeed the case for teacher Alice, 42, who was married for ten years to someone she claims was her ideal man. We met online and just clicked. Our families got to know one another pretty quickly, and we moved in together after six months. A year later we were married.

Wed never wanted children, and that meant there were never those highs and lows in our sex life. I assumed it was satisfactory because wed always enjoyed it at least twice a week.

It was during lockdown when I noticed things werent quite right between us. My husband was distant and kept finding an excuse to work in our study into all hours of the night.

Alice is convinced that while working from home, her husband Joes online porn addiction intensified.

I had no idea about it until we were forced to be around each other all the time. It was halfway through 2020 and there were odd things going on. Weird spending patterns on our credit cards which he explained away as card fraud and something hed handle.

The red flag went up when he started introducing all sorts of kinky things into the bedroom.

Then, one evening Joe tried to choke her during sex.

I had no idea that this was a thing, or something that men in porn do to women, she says. There was a point while he was on top of me, strangling me really, when he was so lost in the moment that I thought that I was about to meet my maker.

According to Alice, Joe confessed that his porn addiction had been building up over five years. But his once-a-month habit became a nightly routine over lockdown and the types of porn he watched became increasingly violent. As remorseful as he was, for Alice a line had been crossed and she ended their relationship.

Its made me question every aspect of our marriage. Was he thinking about other women, or acting out fantasies in his mind? she says.

Tom says his online porn addiction has wrecked all real-life intimacy because no woman my age ever meets up to my expectations

The father of two says he 'knows its wrong' and tries 'not to think about the lives of the women he is watching'

Unfortunately porn normalises things that are taboo, says therapist Susie. The trust has gone when you discover that this has been going on behind closed doors, not least because they are no longer the person you thought they were.

An addiction to porn means that person is not available and not present in the relationship. For some women it will feel like a betrayal. The trust they thought was there has been broken.

She believes there are straight-forward steps to take when it comes to porn addiction: The first is to get professional help from a therapist. There are lots of self-help techniques too. I suggest addicts start an urge diary: write down when you get an urge, noting what it is, where you are and if its at a certain time of the day. Youll recognise patterns and then you need to come up with alternatives to disrupt the brain urge.

Our brains have been tremendously rewired by the digital world and, when it comes to online porn, they need to be shocked out of it.

My list includes very immediate alternatives, such as a very strong or sweet taste  something to shock the system. Fizzy cola sweets, or gum with a strong minty taste. The other option is to think about how youll feel after you have given in to the urge. Also tell yourself how you would feel if a loved one walked in on you. Ask yourself how they would feel? It might be brutal  but it works.

Charlie says he has certainly noticed the impact porn is having on his sex life with his wife. I do understand the argument that online porn is ruining marriages, he admits. The expectations you have when your wife does decide to have sex with you are incredibly high, and when you compare it with what you see online, its inevitable that the sex you have in real life is going to be a disappointment.

I would be ashamed if my daughters found out

While Charlies marriage still survives, 51-year-old Tom says his online porn addiction has wrecked all real-life intimacy because no woman my age ever meets up to my expectations.

Those online images of incredible bodies are forever ingrained in my psyche, the transport manager, from Kingston-upon-Thames, says. I dont think about the women Im watching as anything other than sexual beings. There is no relationship between us and the screen affords me psychological and emotional distance. It probably explains why I havent had a long-term relationship since I split with my ex-wife 15 years ago.

The single father of two teenage girls can pinpoint the exact moment when his addiction to online porn began.

I was 36 and working away while my mum was looking after the girls. My wife had left a year ago and things had been chaotic during the day and desperately lonely at night. I was on my own but the sexual urges never went away.

I was working away from home with a friend and over a couple of drinks he mentioned Pornhub, a website he used when he wasnt with his girlfriend. Its free.

I thought, Why not give it a go? But now I am addicted to it and easily use it once a day. I dont want to risk being disturbed by my daughters so its usually when theyve gone to bed.

I try not to think about the lives of the women I am watching. I know its wrong and Id be deeply ashamed if my girls found out.

Tom, who describes his libido as one of a 20-something, says he was left distraught when his wife left him, dashing his confidence.

As I have sole custody, I was focused on getting the girls out to school and then myself to work. I had no time for dating, he says.

Tom says that if he was forced to choose between porn and a relationship, 'porn would win

I have no doubt at some point in my life I will crave emotional companionship, but I am living day-to-day right now.

That doesnt mean he has given up having sex with women in real life, though its a rare occurrence. What he has found, he admits, is that his own performance is much less reliable than it once was, almost certainly as a result of his porn addiction. He also finds it hard to deal with the feelings of women he meets.

Susie believes its common for men to fall into this trap.

A lot of people, and certainly clients I have seen, are watching a certain type of porn and they cant get past that to enjoy what wed recognise as more regular or normal sex. If they are in a sexual relationship, it often means they cant get aroused.

For Tom, its a vicious circle. It means that I dont get to sleep with a woman a second time because they assume the problem is them, when Im not brave enough to admit the issue is with me, he says.

Unable to have the healthy and intimate relationship he craves because of his addiction, he knows he should give up his porn habit, but finds it almost impossible to do.

My reliance on porn has meant that in everyday life, I am used to being on my own, he adds. Its provided me with a completely false reality. But if I was forced to choose between porn and a relationship with a woman, then Im afraid porn would win.

All names have been changed to protect identities.
Martin Lewis has revealed his top travel tips ahead of the summer holidays - and they could save you hundreds of pounds.

The British money saving expert, 52, discussed travel expenses in a special episode of The Martin Lewis Money Show Live on ITV yesterday evening.

He revealed the cheapest way to spend abroad and how to get the best deals on travel insurance and car hire, plus the best exchange rate.

Martin shed light on the pound-stretching tips to keep in mind while using your credit or debit bank cards abroad.

He said: 'When you are paying in plastic overseas, you always pay in the foreign currency - you do not pay in pounds.

Martin Lewis has shared his top travel tips ahead of the summer holidays, saying they could save you hundreds of pounds, in a special episode of The Martin Lewis Money Show Live on ITV yesterday evening

Using Cards Overseas

He advised: 'If you pay in pounds, it's the overseas ATM or shop that does the conversion and every time I've tested this - and I've done this many times - it's a pants exchange rate.

'If you pay [in the foreign currency] it is your card that does the conversion. If you're on a specialist card, you get a near-perfect exchange rate. If you're not a specialist card, it's going to cost you three percent but that's still usually better than the overseas machine.'

He explained: 'So if you buy something that cost 100, you pay 103 but there is a whole range of specialist cards that don't add that on top that give you a near perfect exchange rate that the banks do.'

Revealing the 'specialist cards' which give you 'near perfect rates' and 'cash back' he spoke about Chase debit card, Halifax Clarity credit card and Barclaycard rewards card.

He said: 'You have got Chase which is a debit card but you don't need to switch bank to get it, just an ID check, the others are credit cards so you have to be fully credit scored to access them.

'All give you near perfect exchange rates and all are interest free spending, with the credit cards make sure you pay it off in full, all are free withdrawals.'

Martin explained there is an advantage to using credit cards over debit cards saying if you make a big purchase you get 'Section 75 consumer protection'.

The Consumer Credit Act 1974 that means your credit card provider is jointly and severally responsible for any breach of contract or misrepresentation by a retailer or trader.

Martin shed light on the pound-stretching tips to keep in mind while using your credit or debit bank cards abroad

Taking Cash Abroad

Martin also explained how to get the most out of your holiday money if you're looking to take cash abroad. He first suggested comparing rates online, to see where you can get the best deals.

He said: 'If you just want cash for travelling abroad go on to a comparison tool and get yourself the best rates.

He then warned against exchanging your money at the airport, as this always offers 'the worst' rates - however, if you do need to do this, he recommended calling and booking your transaction ahead of time.

He said: 'So for $1,000, you're going to be paying less than 800 for the best rates, 810 or more on the high street.

'Do it at the airport and it could cost you up to 950. If you've left it so late that you have to do it at the airport, call them up and pre-book your money - you'll get a better rate.'

Free Cancellation for Hotel and Car Hire

Martin said getting 'free cancellation' on your car hire is a great idea as prices might drop overtime so you can cancel and rebook at the cheaper rate.

He said: 'If your hotel or car hire is cheaper now than when you booked and you've got free cancellation, well, keep checking the prices, and if you suddenly find that it's cheaper then cancel and rebook.'

A viewer emailed the show with a success story after taking Martin's advice, saying booking early does not always guarantee the best price.

They said: 'In January 2024, I booked a two week car rent in the US for $1,024. After checking comparison sites in May, I checked back and the same car was available for $575. I cancelled the first booking, had my deposit refunded and rebooked at a lower price.'

Airport Parking

Revealing the 'specialist cards' which give you 'near perfect rates' and 'cash back' he spoke about Chase debit card, Halifax Clarity credit card and Barclaycard rewards card

Martin suggested pre-booking airport parking, using Manchester airport as an example he explained how he managed to save 354.

He said: 'I checked a couple of weeks ago just to prove the point on this. Manchester Airport, if you turned up without booking it would be 400 for the week.

'Pre-book, even in the same morning and it's 76 for the week. Don't go to the airport and then pay your parking.'

Travel Insurance

Martin said his number one rule for travel insurance is to get it as soon as you book the trip.

He explained: 'Half of the point of travel insurance is to cover you in case something happens before you go that means you cannot go.

So, as long as you've got the cover in place in a single trip, or you might need an annual policy, you will be fine.

'But, I've already had one this year, they didn't want to be talked about so I'm going to keep it generic, people who get a cancer diagnosis or something really seriously wrong two months before they're going away and they get in touch and the airline won't give money back, they hotel won't give money back.

'I say, 'use your travel insurance' and they say they were going to get their travel insurance later ASAB, as soon as you book!'

Asked what is the best thing to do if your travel insurer won't let you book insurance a year in advance when you are booking a holiday or cruise, Martin suggested to shop around.

He said: 'There are firms out there that let you book a year aheadStaysure, Aviva, Direct Line and Churchill, off the top of my head, whether the offer for cruises Im afraid is one beyond me on a live show, but hopefully you can have a look at those four firms and see if you can book a year ahead. There are definitely firms out there that let you book a year ahead.

Global Health Insurance Cards

GHIC/EHIC cards Global Health Insurance Cards/European Economic Area allow you to receive treatment in a state run hospital or GP practice at same rate as a local person would.

Martin said: 'Only sign up via nhs.uk  you will never have to pay for one of these and theres no such thing as a fast-track service, but many online scams claiming there is.'

He added: If youre going through the European Union you want a valid EHIC or its replacement the Global Health Insurance Card.

'There are 4.3 million EHIC cards that expire this year. Theyre being replaced by the Global Health Insurance Card what it means is if youve got one of those then you get treatment in an EU state-run hospital or GPs at the same cost as a local. So, if they dont pay, you dont pay.

The most important thing I can say is dont Google this there are sites thatll charge you to get one. It is always free so go to nhs.uk.
Prince William is 'entering his statesman era' according to a legion of royal fans on social media.

Taking to X (formerly Twitter), admirers of the Prince of Wales commented on how the royal has been performing on the world stage recently.

William, 41, has been more in the spotlight than ever while his father King Charles, 75, receives cancer treatment.

Last week, he represented Great Britain during an international commemorative ceremony at Omaha Beach marking the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings, standing alongside other royals as well as world leaders, which prompted some to refer to him as a statesman.

The swooning comments from royal fans were further fuelled on Tuesday when the Prince and Princess of Wales's X account shared a snap of him travelling to Cardiff by train.

Prince William makes a speech during the Canadian commemorative ceremony marking the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings in Normandy (seen on June 6)

This photo of Prince William on a train to Cardiff on June 11 prompted numerous fans to describe him as a 'statesman'

In the photo, William is pictured sitting on a train en route to Cardiff, with a red file on the table in front of him.

He visited Cardiff Metropolitan University to attend an event celebrating the Welsh seaweed industry, which was jointly hosted by The Earthshot Prize and the Future Generations Commissioner for Wales.

Speaking on X after Prince William's appearance during the D-Day commemorations, one person said: 'Dude prince William is a whole statesman and rock star in one.'

Then, sharing the photo of the royal on the train, another X user wrote: 'Loving Prince William in his Statesman Era. Taken this morning on the way to Cardiff.'

A further poster added: 'Prince William is a great Statesman.'

And a fourth agreed, writing: 'Prince William is not only the heir, a Statesman, but has star power!! He is very well liked and respected.'

Speaking earlier this week, following his June 6 appearance in France, one X user wrote: 'Prince William is a true statesman, regal respectfully and a wonderful future king.'

Other recent comments about the Prince entering his 'statesman era' included an X post saying: 'Prince William, representing The King, joined world leaders and veterans from around the world in marking the 80th D-Day anniversary. A little compilation of some of the pics of him carrying out his duty yesterday made me realize they were not wrong in calling him A Statesman!'

Following his appearance in France, one X user described the 41-year-old royal as a 'statesman and rock star'

Meanwhile, sharing the image of the Prince on the train, another said they were 'loving' him in his 'statesman era'

In the same vein, another wrote: 'Prince William is perfectly poised, clearly knows why he is there to honour the bravery of so many. He is every bit the Statesman, Man and King of the future. No posing, no self centeredness.'

And a further poster added: 'Prince William is a whole statesman and no one can tell me otherwise!!!'

Speaking in agreement, a further X user wrote: 'William is indeed a man to be reckoned with, he is a statesman, distinguished, and no fool. One of the most handsome man out there, he carries himself with pride and humility at the same time.'

Meanwhile, royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams also described the heir as a statesman.

Numerous fans took to X (formerly Twitter) to praise the royal, citing his poise and 'star power', describing the Prince as 'well liked'

He told Newsweek: 'William has long been regarded as the perfect diplomat. It was he who was chosen as the first royal to pay an official visit to Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories in 2018, which he carried out superbly.

'Last year he made a surprise visit to British troops on the border with Ukraine. He also made a plea for a permanent peace in Gaza in February.'

He added that the Prince is a 'fine public speaker', and praised the speech William gave during the official Canadian celebrations of the 80th anniversary of D-Day last week.

Fitzwilliams described the address as 'superb'.

He also noted that attending the event alongside 24 world leaders was a 'significant moment' for the royal, who was representing the King amid his cancer treatment.
The Rocky Horror Show star's cat, Pixie, disappeared from his West London home back in January - and was assumed lost

Jason Donovan has revealed he's been reunited with his lost cat five months after the ageing moggy went missing from the family home - because she was microchipped.

The ex Neighbours and West End star filmed the moment he picked up Pixie, his 14-year-old cat who disappeared from the star's West London home back in January, from a vet's.

New laws in force from this week in England mean millions of pet owners face paying a hefty 500 fine if their cat is not fitted with a 20 microchip - and Jason might have just become an unlikely poster boy for the legislation.

Sharing the 'incredible' emotional reunion with his 145,000 Instagram followers, Jason declared: 'What a story, what a day'.

The 56-year-old recounted how his super-cute cat had been located miles away across the capital - after being given up for dead.

He wrote: 'After nearly 5 months missing, Pixie our 14 year old family cat was found alive yesterday on the other side of London.

Guess who's back! A delighted Jason Donovan told his Instagram followers this week that his 14-year-old cat Pixie, who'd been on a five month adventure across London, was safely home, much to the star's surprise

The star said he'd received a phone call from a vets across the other side of London, saying Pixie had been found thanks to her microchip

Happy together: Jason shared a snap of himself and Pixie safely back home in West London

'Apparently shed been looked after by an unknown for two months...what transpired before who knows!

'What an incredible feeling to know that she was well and healthy and that shed survived what couldve only been an extremely traumatic experience.'

The star said he'd feared something might happen to the cat before he left for a visit to his home country of Oz, saying he had a 'funny feeling'.

He said an out of the blue call from a vets had seen Pixie safely returned home.

He wrote: 'A miracle (a phone call) proving that hope, a good heart and a bit of modern technology (microchip) have brought this traumatic chapter to a happy end. Good to have you back in the hood Pixie... You have been missed.'

The 14-year-old moggie was last seen by the family in January, and had been presumed lost - until technology intervened. This week, new laws were introduced in England that means pet owners face paying a hefty 500 fine if their cat is not microchipped

Pixie pictured after returning to the family home: Jason called her return a 'miracle'

WHAT IS THE NEW RULE AND WHAT SHOULD YOU DO IF YOUR CAT ISN'T MICROCHIPPED? From June 10 it will be a legal requirement that all cats over the age of 20 weeks old will need to be microchipped and registered. Pet owners have 21 days to comply to the new regulations or are in danger of being hit with a 500. To microchip your cat, you should book an appointment with your veterinarian or local rescue centre. The procedure typically costs between 20 to 30. They will then quickly and simply insert the small microchip under the feline's skin via a needle. The microchip can then be scanned to search for the owner's details which are kept on a database. Your pet's microchip details should be kept up to date. This can be done by getting in touch with the microchip company. If you are unsure of your microchip number or company you can ask your vet for assistance. Advertisement

The good news story comes just days after it was announced that microchips for cats are now compulsory by law.

Millions of pet owners face paying a hefty 500 fine if their cat is not microchipped under new laws in force from this week.

More than two million cats in England are not microchipped, according to an animal charity.

The legislation makes it compulsory for every pet cat in England to be chipped before the age of 20 weeks.

Ministers hope the scheme will help reunite thousands of lost pets with their owners and deter pet theft.

But of the estimated 9million pet cats in England, up to 2.2million are still not chipped, according to data from the animal charity Cats Protection.

Owners found not to have microchipped their pet will have 21 days to have one implanted or face a fine of up to 500.

There is currently no legal requirement to microchip cats in Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland.

Workers at the Derbyshire Cats Protection Centre noted that at least 66 per cent of the cats they encountered over the last twelve months were not microchipped.

The centre's manager, Helen Wood pointed out that it is incredibly difficult to reunite missing cats with their loving owners if they have not had the procedure.

Explaining the swift and non-dangerous 'one-off' treatment, Ms Wood compared the tiny chip to a grain of rice.

She told the BBC: 'It's very small and can be implanted by our vets very quickly.

'It doesn't hurt the cats, it's like giving them an injection and they are then chipped for life.'

Veterinarian Tatum Stander, who works at Bright Side Vets in Swadlincote echoed the importance of having felines chipped as well as keeping their details updated.

'One of the worst thing you can go through is to lose your pet,' she added.

'People think you get the microchip done and your details are updated automatically.

'Please make sure your phone number and address is up to date on the system or we won't be able to reunite your cat with the owner.'

Microchips have also been a saving grace for some owners like Sandra Sinclair, who have been briefly separated from their beloved pets.

Millions of cat owners could face an eye-watering 500 fine if they do not microchip their beloved felines (file image)

The chip tucked away in her cat's skin was a lifeline for he teacher's after her feline - Nutmeg - went missing in Tooting, southwest London.

The feline was later discovered wandering the streets of Ascot in Berkshire, 30 miles away from home, and was later reunited with his family after his microchip was scanned by Cats Protection.

Ms Sinclair said: 'We have no idea how he got to Ascot. Did he jump into a delivery van or maybe someone attempted to steal him because he was so friendly?

'Only Nutmeg will ever know, but my family and I are just so relieved we had him microchipped.'

Over one in four owners, who have not microchipped their pets have said its because their feline doesn't explore the outdoors.

Another one in seven reasoned that their pet cat was identifiable by its collar alone, according to research from Cats Protection.

Microchipping a cat with a vet typically costs between 20 to 30, the charity reports.

Madison Rogers, head of advocacy, campaigns and government relations for Cats Protection, said: 'Some owners think they are never going to go through the trauma of losing their pet cat, but in the last year 115,000 pet cats in England went missing and never returned home.

'Cats are nimble and extremely agile and can easily slip out without us noticing.

'Many lost cats live a frightening life on the streets. No food, no water, no shelter, no veterinary care and constantly at risk of severe injury or death from many hazards such as cars and wild animals.

'Collars can easily drop off, become damaged so that the address details become unreadable and, if they are not quick release, can become snagged on obstacles like tree branches, causing injuries to the cat.

The new rule comes into force in a bid to deter pet theft as well as reunite thousands of owners with their pets (file image)

'A microchip is safe, stays with your cat for its lifetime and is linked to contact details that are stored safely in a database.'

Alice Potter, cat welfare expert at the RSPCA, said: 'We have seen cats coming into our care who are sadly not microchipped and may never be reunited with their owners.

'On average, 11 per cent of all cats coming into the RSPCA's care are still not microchipped.

'We've also rescued cats who have been microchipped but the details haven't been kept up to date, which is arguably even more frustrating as it means cats spend a long time in our care whilst we fruitlessly try to contact the owner with out-of-date information.

'However, we've also seen countless stories of cats that have been reunited with their owners thanks to a tiny microchip - showing what this change of legislation will achieve for animal welfare.'
The current Miss France says negative comments about her body hurt her much more than the outcry over her elfin haircut in the aftermath of winning the country's national beauty pageant.

Eve Gilles' short hair caused a storm when she was won - with 7.5 million people tuning in to watch - back in December 2023, with trolls saying her hair was 'too boyish' - one viewer was so outraged that a woman could be deemed attractive with short hair they asked 'Is this a prank?'

Many critics deemed the kind of long hair favoured by previous winners  and Gallic female icons such as Brigitte Bardot and Catherine Deneuve  would have been far more appropriate than the University of Lille student's short pixie bob.

Pictured at the French Open earlier this month, Eve Gilles sparked a backlash after winning the Miss France beauty pageant - because of her short hair, but she says the 'tsunami' of abuse about her body in swimwear hurt more

The public, whose vote counted for 50 per cent, put Miss Guiana and Miss Guadeloupe ahead of Eve but critics claimed the all-female judging panel was motivated by 'wokeness'.

No short-haired woman had even reached the final of the 103-year-old pageant before.

Six months on, the furore has just about died off, and Gilles, spotted enjoying the opening week of the French Open, has been made a maths ambassador by President Macron, as the French leader tires to encourage more young women to study STEM subjects.

Reflecting on the outcry in a new interview with The Times, the 21-year-old says the comments about her physique were far more distressing than the opinions on her hair.

Vile comments intensified after photos were published of her in a swimsuit during a location shoot in Guyana.

In a new interview with The Times, Gilles (pictured), 20, from Nord-Pas-de-Calais in northern France, says the vitriolic comments about her elfin hair upset her mother

The Miss France contestants on stage wearing matching bodysuits with golden tassels during the December 2023 final

Eve Gilles, 20, was crowned as Miss France in front of 7.5 million TV viewers - and President Macron has since made her a maths ambassador

Gilles, who says she weighs around 7st 5lb, told the newspaper: 'I chose my hair. I didnt choose my body or metabolism. It was body shaming.'

The backlash against her hair, she says, began as soon as she progressed through the regional rounds. She says: 'It was like a tsunami coming up behind  you dont see it but you know its right here.'

When she was crowned, Gilles hit back at the onslaught of criticism that came her way, saying: 'We're used to seeing beautiful Misses with long hair, but I chose an androgynous look with short hair' and adding: 'no one should dictate who you are'.

While things have improved with Macron's call-up, and fans have called her Miss France win a victory for 'diversity', the maths whizz says the trolling was hard to ignore in the days and weeks after the competition.

Eve has opened up about facing body-shaming during her journey to becoming Miss France

Eve Gilles (left), pictured being crowned Miss France 2024 by Miss France 2023 Indira Ampiot (right), at the Miss France 2024 beauty pageant in Dijon

She continued: 'Sometimes its been very difficult. Im human and in the beginning especially it was very upsetting for my mother. But I got over it and when she saw that I was fine, she was fine too.'

Gilles says she's never had any face-to-face abuse, saying: 'Nobody has the courage. People only say they love me.'

There was scrutiny over her height too; entrants to the prestigious contestants need to be at least 5.57ft (1.7m) but Eva was only 5.56ft (1.695m).

Gilles, from Quaedypre  a village near Dunkirk  said she accordingly 'regained the missing millimetres through stretching'.

A picture first published in Eve's local paper, La Voix du Nord (Voice of the North), shows her beaming for the camera as a girl, while dressed up as a beauty queen.

The beauty pageant winner pictured with longer hair before she cut it ahead of the competition

'I dreamed of being a Miss since I was little,' she said, but 'as I got older I didn't really know how to start,' and wanted to feel 'good in my body, good in my head'.

'These are things that we learn to live with the, and I don't understand how we can criticise something that we can't change.'

Eve was born in Dunkirk, and grew up with her surveyor father, Bruno Gilles, her mother, Edith Gilles, and two older sisters  all of whom helped her cope with the pressure. Eve's mother is from Reunion - an island in the Indian ocean - and met Bruno when she moved to Northern France for work.

The beauty pageant winner started dancing from the age of four and is also a keen equestrian.

After high school in Dunkirk, Eve wanted to become a neurologist, before switching her university studies from medicine to maths and computer studies.

Halfway through the academic year in 2021, Eve returned home and decided to apply for a place on the mathematics course at the University of Lille.

She worked for a year at an egg factory, and now wants to become a statistician.

While waiting to pick up her studies again, Eve worked in an egg factory near her parents' home - which involved doing shifts at all hours of the day.

Newly elected Miss France 2024, Miss Nord-Pas-de-Calais Eve Gilles (left), celebrates winning the title with Miss France 2023, Indira Ampiot (R), on stage during the Miss France 2024 beauty pageant in Dijon, central-eastern France, on December 16

Asked if she thought beauty contests were in themselves dated, Eve replied: 'My answer is that if it's cheesy, then why do so many people continue to watch?

'If it's corny, why do so many girls keep showing up? This is a huge opportunity for us. For me, Miss France also embodies a part of feminism. These are young women who decided themselves to take part.'

Angry comments on Twitter/X included: 'She doesn't look anything like a Miss France', and 'We don't care about her haircut but the androgynous body is obviously there to serve as woke'.

However, critical voices were soon drowned out by a wave of support for the newly crowned Miss France.

One fan wrote: 'Maybe the new #MissFrance isn't gorgeous in your eyes, but seeing wokeism in her because she has short hair.... It's just ridiculous.'

Another added: 'Eve Gilles is the new Miss France 2024, your malicious and useless criticisms won't change that, she's sublime.'

'Eve Gilles isn't even trans, has never claimed to be trans, but half of the comments about her are transphobic because she has short hair,' a third said.

Eve Gilles is seen performing during the Miss France 2024 beauty pageant in Dijon

MP Sandrinne Rousseau also came to Ms Gilles' defence and said: 'So, in France, in 2023, we measure the progress of respect for women by the length of their hair?'

Another MP, Karima Delli, wrote: 'Big support for Eve Gilles, #MissFrance2024, in the face of hateful tweets on social networks of incredible violence!

'Swallow your venom, she is not only superb, Miss Nord pas de Calais is intelligent in embracing her diversity!'

Speaking after Eve's win, the Mayor of Quaedypre told France Bleu: 'The whole commune is happy, seeing the reactions of all the people present at the broadcast.

Eve Gilles poses on stage in her crown and a bouquet of flowers after her win

Miss France 2024, Eve Gilles, is seen on stage during the beauty pageant

'I didn't sleep much, but we'll sleep tomorrow. It's a source of pride, I'm 74 years old and it's the first time I've had a Miss in Quaedypre.'

Miss France organisers also hailed the choice as a victory for the kind of diversity the contest has been striving for in the face of feminist attacks since the 1970s.

Last year it opened the contest to transgender women, but maintained the 5ft 7in height qualification. During their 12-month reign as Miss France, winners are not allowed to gain weight, display tattoos or  crucially  change their hairstyle.
Queen Letizia of Spain looked stunning in a white ensemble as she met with the Board of Trustees of the Residencia de Estudiantes in Madrid today.

The royal, 51, put her best fashion foot forward in an oversized Uterque Lace and Ruffles Linen white blouse.

The classy top is a recycled piece from the Spanish brand, which was absorbed into Massimo Dutti in recent years. Letizia previously wore the blouse in 2021 to open new courses at Ciudad de Haro High School.

She paired today's fresh look with a pair of smart, slim porcelain-coloured trousers which showed off her sophisticated, slender frame. Letizia went for a more casual and comfortable wardrobe look and opted for a pair of white trainers rather than heels.

Her solo appearance comes after royal journalist Jaime Penafiel, 91, published a bombshell book about the Queen claiming King Felipe was 'crushed' by her alleged 'infidelities'.

Queen Letizia put her best fashion foot forward in an oversized Uterque Lace and Ruffles Linen white blouse

Queen Letizia looked classy in her recycled white blouse that she has worn to previous royal visits

The Spanish Queen looked in high spirits as she sat down and engaged in conversation inside the building

The Residencia de Estudiantes, which translates as Students' Residence, is dubbed one of the most important cultural centres in Spain.

It was founded in 1910 by the Junta para Ampliacion de Estudios and provides accommodation for students.

Its mission is to complement university education by fostering an exciting intellectual and living environment for scholars.

Queen Letizia opted to wear her signature brunette tresses down in a sleek, straight blow dry and chose her usual glamorous makeup, consisting of shimmery eye shadow, lipstick, highlighter and bronzer.

The mother-of-two greeted trustees on the board and posed for pictures alongside them in the country's capital this morning.

She looked in high spirits as she sat down and engaged in conversation inside the building.

But she appeared to attend the event alone, without her husband King Felipe, as rumours continue to swirl around the state of their marriage.

Yesterday, Letizia donned a lavender suit as she attended the 'Euros de tu nomina' (Euros from your paycheck) event alone.

The mother-of-two was snapped chatting to the board of trustees in Madrid today

She paired today's fresh look with a pair of smart, slim porcelain-coloured trousers which showed off her sophisticated, slender frame

The mother-of-two greeted trustees on the board and posed for pictures alongside them in the country's capital this morning

'Euros de tu nomina' is a call promoted by Santander Bank workers, who created a fund to help finance different social projects.

Letizia also travelled to Guatemala on a solo three-day trip to learn about various projects where Spanish cooperation works.

These visits 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'.

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.

Letizia went for a more casual and comfortable wardrobe look and opted for a pair of white trainers rather than heels

The classy top is a recycled piece that Letizia previously wore in 2021 to open new courses at Ciudad de Haro High School

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'.

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

The Spanish Queen got stuck in with student culture during the visit and sat at a wooden desk with other pupils during her three-day solo trip to Guatemala

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 claim that 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.
A former teenage con artist who swindled $2.8m through stolen credit cards has revealed how police could have caught him within a year if they hadn't believed his fabricated sob story.

Elliot Castro, 42, who is the subject of the new BBC docu-series Confessions of a Teenage Fraudster, attended eight different schools in Aberdeen and Glasgow before leaving at 16 without any qualifications.

After this, the ex-criminal - who now works as a fraud prevention expert - got a job in a call centre by telling his employers he was 18.

As part of this role, Elliot had to deal with customers' credit card information - and came up with a scheme to trick them into giving them their personal security question answers too.

He explained: 'I imagined these customers living a great life and I could see an opportunity to live it too.'

Pictured: Former teen con artist Elliot Castro. The reformed criminal now works as a fraud prevention expert

After getting their card number and expiration date as standard, Elliot would put the customer on hold, tell them there was a problem with the card and that the bank needed additional information.

Elliot would then list off common security questions until the teenager felt confident he could then impersonate the account holder when he called their bank later.

He added: 'The customers were happy to answer the questions. I never really got any resistance at all.'

Eventually, Elliot had enough people's credit card information to fill up an entire notebook.

When he lost his call centre job over repeated lateness, Elliot then began the process of calling up the customers' banks, changing their addresses, requesting a new card and then changing their home address back before they could notice.

This plan also meant that he could forge a signature on the back of the card without having to try and copy one every time he used it.

In 1999, Elliot travelled to London for the first time where he went on a shopping spree along Bond Street, which is known for its high-end designer shops.

While there, the con artist bought a 300 Gucci belt, which was more than he earned in a week at the call centre, a 700 Louis Vuitton bag and spent over 1,000 in a champagne bar.

Elliot Castro (pictured), 42, is the subject of the new BBC docu-series Confessions of a Teenage Fraudster

Reflecting on his actions, Elliot (pictured) added: 'When I started doing this I never actually thought of people. I never met these people. That doesn't make it right'

Looking back, Elliot told documentary makers: 'I think I pretended I felt comfortable [in those surroundings]. But the reality was, I knew I essentially was an imposter. I was a kid from the south side of Glasgow and I was in a champagne bar ordering 1k bottles.'

'I look back at that person and think, "God almighty - what were you doing?" Because it was just bonkers.'

Between the age of 16 and 22, Elliot claims to have swindled over $2.8m and later details going on a '50k shopping spree that would make a WAG sick with envy'.

What's more, he claims to have got a 8,000 first-class flight to New York, where he stayed at the Plaza hotel. During this trip, he went on a $15,000 shopping spree over the course of three days.

However, the reformed criminal revealed in the documentary that he could have been caught much earlier if the first police officers who stopped him hadn't believed his story.

While out shopping in Manchester in 1999, Elliot recalled using a stolen card to pay for an item when an acquaintance called out his name, which didn't match the one on the receipt.

During his criminal years, Elliot claims to have got a 8,000 first-class flight to New York, where he stayed at the Plaza hotel

Elliot (pictured as a child) attended eight different schools in Aberdeen and Glasgow before leaving at 16 without any qualifications

He recalled: 'So I ran out the shop and straight into the arms of two cops who happened to be passing by.'

In a panic, Elliot came up with a quick sob story in the hopes that they would take pity on him - and was amazed when he was let off with a warning.

He continued: 'I poured my heart out, said I'd ran away from home and had no money and they sent me on my way.'

'I realised in that moment just how easily I could convince people of whatever I wanted. I felt untouchable.'

Despite his lucky escape, Elliot then proceeded to rack up a 11,000 bill on a stolen American Express card while on one of his trips to London - but would always head home to Scotland whenever he maxed one out.

He added: 'I'd be on my way back home before anyone could track me down.'

While on a train from London to Scotland, Elliot - who was only 18 - used a stolen card belonging to a doctor to pay for a ticket.

In 1999, Elliot Castro (pictured) travelled to London for the first time where he went on a shopping spree along Bond Street

When a passenger fell ill on the train later, the teen was called upon for his medical expertise and ended up going to a hospital in Cumbria with a woman who he suspected had had a panic attack.

After being told they would be waiting at A&E for hours, Elliot says a nurse encouraged him to inspect the patient himself and the pair later returned to the train station to continue their journey.

Elliot arrived home to discover there was a warrant for his arrest and he would later be jailed for four months for credit card theft, common assault and impersonating a doctor.

He added: 'The lady [from the train] felt there had been some ulterior motive, it made me feel sick to my stomach.'

However, he admitted he saw the four month sentence as 'karma for everything else he was up to'.

Pictured: Elliot Castro with his father, who is originally from Chile but lived in Scotland. The family lived between Glasgow and Aberdeen

Following his release, Elliot came up with a new plan of to secure stolen cards.

The conman would call the reception of luxury hotels around the country and ask to speak to a guest with a common surname until he was put through to a room.

He would then tell his victim that there was a problem with his card at the front desk and his bank was on the other line and asking for additional information.

Once he'd gotten everything he needed from the guest, Elliot would impersonate them to the bank so they would set up a credit card in their 'nephew''s name.

Elliot always gave the bank his real name though so he could travel abroad with them.

While on bail for another credit card fraud charge, Elliot flew to Toronto - where he had to impersonate the secret service to escape capture.

Reflecting on his actions, Elliot added: 'When I started doing this I never actually thought of people. I never met these people. That doesn't make it right.

'What I understood about the way credit cards worked at the time was that if the cardholder hadn't authorised the transactions - which in my case they didn't - then they wouldn't lose anything financially.'

Watch all episodes of Confessions of a Teenage Fraudster on BBC iPlayer now.
Wine and spirits expert Helena Nicklin tried out the best modern meads

When you think of mead, your minds eye probably conjures up syrupy souvenirs in National Trust gift shops, or images of bearded Vikings quaffing and carousing.

Now, this ancient drink  one of the first ways humans consumed alcohol, with roots tracing back to 7000 BC  is making an unlikely comeback as summers hippest refresher, thanks to new fermentation techniques, sophisticated new flavours and even an outpouring of support on TikTok.

Mead is simply and traditionally made by fermenting honey with water. Indeed, we get the word honeymoon thanks to the ancient Greek custom of giving it as a wedding gift to aid fertility. But it can also have ingredients including spices, fruit or hops added to enhance its flavour.

Usually flat or slightly sparkling, the more traditional styles taste like aromatic, honey-sweetened wine at a similar strength (12-14 per cent) and are drunk just as wine would be.

Mead is making an unlikely comeback as summers hippest refresher (stock image)

But theres a new generation of lighter, modern meads that can be slightly sweet or almost completely dry and range from no alcohol, to low or mid strength, matching the ABVs of cider or beer.

They are drinks crafted to appeal to a new modern audience, since theres now huge demand for more natural tipples, with no sulphur, chemicals or sugars added.

Consider the soaring popularity of orange wine, which is usually made without any additives at all. And Pet Nat: a lightly sparkling wine made using ancient methods that pre-date champagne.

People are looking for lower intervention, natural and sustainable products, says Kit Newell from mead-maker Hive Mind Mead & Brew Co.

Then there are the bees to consider. Mead is made using honey, and most modern producers are doing their bit to promote the health of the bee population by planting wildflowers or donating to bee conservation charities.

Most are also committed to using sustainable, ethically produced honey too.

At a mere 4 per cent, our nectars have all the subtlety and refreshment of a good 12 per cent sparkling wine, says mead brewer Tom Gosnell from Gosnells of London.

All of which helps to explain why the new typical mead drinker isnt a Viking warrior, but a discerning consumer who wants to enjoy a sophisticated summer livener without becoming too tipsy.

Lyme Bay Winery Traditional Mead (14.5% ABV), 11.49 for 75cl, Waitrose

In medieval times, monks refined fermentation techniques to produce honey wine fit for European royalty. But the latest revival bega in the U.S., where more sophisticated methods mean it is now taken as seriously as wine.

Just as fine wine can showcase elements of the soil and terroir where it was grown, mead will taste different according to where the bees have been harvesting and which kinds of plants they have visited.

Theyre championing the liquid first, making something delicious that reflects the terroir of where the bees were foraging. Seeing it was a revelation, says Tom Gosnell.

So, will mead be reclaimed from the drinking halls of history? I tried the best of the modern brews to find out...

AROMATIC AND LOW IN ALCOHOL

Gosnells Hazy Nectar (4 per cent ABV), 1.49, 330ml, Lidl

Make the most of being able to find this low ABV liquid gold in Lidl for a limited time.

It makes for a brilliant benchmark mead with its dry, honeyed aromatics and soft, slightly sweet taste  its made with blossom honey.

Also try the tangy Raspberry & Hibiscus Nectar for something deliciously different. 4/5

ZINGY CITRUS

Wye Valley Traditional Mead (14.5% ABV), 30, 70cl, Hive Mind Mead & Brew Co.

This vibrant, golden nectar won the Golden Fork Award 2023 for its complex, beeswax-scented profile.

Aromatic with a moreish, yeasty note, its soft and honeyed with a zinging, citrus acidity. 4/5

DARK HONEYCOMB NOTES

Lyme Bay Winery Traditional Mead (14.5% ABV), 11.49 for 75cl, Waitrose

Bees and grapes often go hand in hand, and Lyme Bay ferments, blends and ages its mead on site.

A traditional version, its dark amber and savoury with notes of caramelised honeycomb and a waft of elderflower. 2/5

TONGUE-TINGLING TASTERS

Postcode Mead Tasting Box, 30, Gosnells.co.uk

Biddenden Special Mead, (12% ABV) 11.20 for 75cl Biddenden Vineyards.com

A masterclass in a box, with four premium nectars (lower alcohol meads) complete with pots of the honey used to make each.

These small-batch bottles show just how different the drink can taste based on where the nectar is harvested. 5/5

TANGY CHERRY

Viking Cherry Mead, (6% ABV) 14.99 for 75cl, Honey Mead Company

A bit different and incredibly moreish, this lower alcohol tipple is packed with warming honey notes, beautifully balanced by natural, tangy cherry flavours.

You can drink it warm, too. The classic Honey Mead version is also worth trying. 3/5

SWEET TREAT WITH CHEESE

Biddenden Special Mead, (12% ABV) 11.20 for 75cl Biddenden Vineyards.com

Another winery speciality and a sweeter, more aromatic version than some, Biddenden ferments fruit together with honey before subtly sweetening it.

Not as sweet as dessert wines, but enough to be a great foil for hot spices and salty cheese. 3/5
She said she's 'not the CEO' of the family and that they're a team

Constance Hall is tired of constantly telling her husband what chores to do

Constance Hall has complained about her husband's lack of effort towards household chores after the pair moved back in together eight months ago.

The mother-of-six, from Perth, said she feels like she's 'treading water' juggling taking care of the kids, helping with projects, cooking dinner and everything in between.

While her husband Denim Cooke asks how he can help, Constance claimed she always needs to tell him what to do and 'micromanage' his contributions.

'For over seven years now I've been sick of hearing myself say the same thing, "I don't want to have to tell you what to do. You are not my employee, I am not the manager of our home",' she wrote in a lengthy Facebook rant.

'We run it together. Use your eyes and see what needs to be done. Remove some of the mental load that I am drowning in.'

Controversial mummy blogger Constance Hall said she's 'not the CEO' of her family and wish she didn't need to tell her husband Denim Cooke how to help

Constance said she doesn't know how she'll cope if she needs to check his tasks too

While Denim asks how he can help, Constance claimed she always needs to 'micromanage' his contributions

Constance said she doesn't know how she'll cope if she needs to check his tasks too.

'He tells me, "I'll do anything you want, just tell me and I'll do it" as he makes himself comfortable in amongst the tip that once resembled a lounge room,' she continued.

'Here is a fine example, Denz does the washing. So he washes and dries it, but sorting it is too hard because "I don't know who's is what". Do you think I know? Most of them wear the same size, they steal each others or swap with each other. It's a b***h of a job.'

She added that she's 'not the CEO' of the family and Denim 'isn't an employee' who can check off when his job is done.

'An employee who gets paid f*** all will just leave a note saying, 'Sorry didn't know who owned what' leaving the boss to problem solve that s***. And I'll tell you what, I am so over problem solving,' Constance said.

'You do not get to do a shift and then clock off mentally with 'just let me know if I can do anything else to help'.'

Constance posted a photo on Facebook (pictured) of a messy corner in her home to show what she needs to clean up

'He tells me, 'I'll do anything you want. Just tell me and I'll do it' as he makes himself comfortable in amongst the tip that once resembled a lounge room,' she said

The brutally honest rant resonated with hundreds of women who said they too are 'sick and tired' of telling their husbands what to do.

'I write a list everyday and leave it sitting on the bench!' one said.

'Totally but honestly I really believe we are wired differently because no matter how much explaining I do and nagging they just don't see it,' another wrote.

A third added: 'And they think it's fair and magnanimous to say 'just tell me what you want me to do!' My answer is 'I want you to think and not need to be told.'

Another woman said: 'If I hear one more time 'it's just a man thing' I'm going to scream! Isn't growing actual humans, in our bodies enough for mankind? Why can't the men be the one to do all the 'domestic' chores of life!? Grinds my gears.'
Many of us occasionally forego an extra hour of sleep in order to get to the gym before work, or join an early morning meeting.

But do you ever find that, despite getting less sleep, you're actually more awake than usual?

It's an intriguing conundrum that has recently been explored in certain corners of the internet, including Reddit and TikTok.

In one video that's been viewed more than 30,000 times, TikToker Nathan Beaudinn asked his followers why he has 'way more energy' when he sleeps less.

Meanwhile, on forum website Reddit, one user asked: 'How come I feel less tired and more energetic when I wake up if I get less than seven hours sleep, and if I get more, I wake up feeling miserable?'

Now, experts speaking to DailyMail.com have revealed the fascinating answer.

For most people, getting between seven and nine hours of sleep per night is key to both mental and physical health.

Dr Ankit Parekh studies how people deal with sleep apnea deal with the effects of a poor nights rest. In his research, he's found that patient's brains work harder to keep them alert when they're sleep deprived. This could play a role in giving them the false perception that they're more awake.

They say it is all down to compensatory tricks performed by the brain that are designed to make up for a lack of sleep.

'The body and the brain are trying to adapt to whatever issue or deficiency that they're we're experiencing,' Dr Sam A. Kashani, a board-certified sleep medicine specialist at UCLA Health, told DailyMail.com.

'That's why we've lasted for thousands and thousands of years, because no matter what the stressor may be, whether acute or chronic, our brain and our body is going to always just naturally try to adapt and work around that.'

According to the National Institute for Health, between seven and nine hours of sleep per night is ideal for optimum mental and physical health.

Any less than that and your body, brain and behaviors will adjust to keep you moving when you're not fully rested, Dr Ankit Parekh, an assistant professor of sleep medicine in the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai told DailyMail.com.

This involves producing extra 'wakeful' chemicals that keep your body alert and temporarily increase your attention span, Dr Parekh said. For instance, cortisol, known as the stress hormone, and adrenaline.

After a healthy nights sleep, most people's cortisol levels peak in the morning and slowly fall throughout the day, according to Dr. David Rosenberg, who practices family medicine in Florida.

But when you get less sleep than you need, you can throw this cycle off, causing your body to produce cortisol at unnatural times, such as later in the day.

This may give the impression that your energy levels are higher than usual in the afternoon or evening, Dr Parekh said.

However, if you're constantly flooded with stress hormones, they can begin wearing on your body.

Chronically high cortisol levels, for example, can lead to high blood pressure, a weakened immune system and high blood sugar that leads to type 2 diabetes, according to Cleveland Clinic.

It also puts extra stress on brain cells and stops them from functioning properly, making you feel more tired in the long run.

'You may feel that you're more alert when you sleep less,' Dr Parekh said. 'But the longer you are going to be awake with that short amount of sleep you will start to feel its effects, and pretty soon realize that you need to recover.'

Studies show that cognitive performance plummets with inadequate sleep  even if you think you're alert.

One study from the University of Pennsylvania and Harvard found that volunteers who've slept badly and perform poorly on learning tests say they feel perfectly awake.

This suggested, the scientists wrote, that the participants were 'largely unaware' of the increasing affects of sleep deprivation.

Dr Parekh says brain scan studies show those who are sleep deprived have to work much harder to focus than people who got a good nights sleep.

Another factor that could influence feelings of wakefulness is anxiety, Dr Kashani said.

The same stressful scenarios that are keeping you up at night, contributing to worse sleep, can sometimes make you feel alert during the day, he said.

This 'viscous cycle' can be hard to break, and though you may feel more alert in the short term, you'll begin netting the harmful affects of sleep deprivation eventually.

Sleep needs change with age and your individual preferences, but professionals almost never recommend getting less than seven hours per night.

Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher famously only needed four hours of sleep a night in order to function. She could've had short sleeper syndrome, an exceedingly rare condition where people need six hours or less of sleep per night and seem to function perfectly well.

Another reason you might feel more awake after less sleep is because you're subconsciously reaching for more substances that stimulate your brain when you're sleep deprived.

If you drink coffee most mornings, for example, you might be grabbing an extra cup without realizing it. The more caffeine you drink, the more alert you will probably feel.

Finally, there's a very small chance that you fall into a rare group of people that function well on less sleep than the average human, Dr Parekh said.

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Scientists aren't sure how many people fall into this category - people affected by short sleeper syndrome - but have only conclusively found it in about 50 families around the world, according to Cleveland Clinic.

It's thought to be a rare genetic mutation passed down from parents to children, not something that you develop in life.

Short sleepers, miraculously, get four to six hours of sleep per night and still feel energized. They also tend not to need alarm clocks and have an easy time falling asleep at night.

Famously, Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher is said to have fallen into this category, only needing four hours of sleep a night.

But if you're part of the vast majority of people who need more than four hours, you will over time begin to feel the effects if you're consistently getting less sleep, Dr Kashani said.

In the short term, you're likely to have problems focusing, learning and responding to other peoples emotions if you get less than eight hours according to the NIH.

You might also get frustrated and cranky easier than you normally would, which can make socializing difficult.

The body also becomes more inflamed when it's sleep deprived, Dr Parekh said, which wears down all of our internal systems - from the brain to the heart.

This is likely part of the reason why in the long term, getting less sleep has been linked to heart disease, kidney disease, diabetes, stroke, obesity, depression and high blood pressure, according to the NIH. It's also been linked to degenerative conditions, like dementia, Dr Kashani said.

It can also increase your likelihood of being involved in accidents like car crashes.

All told, Dr Kashani said that too many people 'underestimate' the importance of sleep.

Getting adequate shut-eye is key to supporting your health, he said. Adding: 'the most important sleep habit is to sleep. To sleep as much to sleep as much as your body needs and when your body needs it.'
Vaping left a young woman with bloody and crusty mouth ulcers that doctors thought were caused by herpes.

The 22-year-old from Indonesia went to doctors complaining of the sores inside and around her mouth that were so painful she couldn't eat or drink.

The doctors tested the patient for herpes but her results came back negative.

After quizzing her about lifestyle changes it was revealed she had started using e-cigarettes around a year prior to her symptoms flaring up.

WARNING: GRAPHIC CONTENT

The 22-year-old woman had been vaping several times a week for the past year when she developed sores in and around her mouth (stock photo)

Doctors were able to finally diagnose her with oral erythema multiforme, a type of skin condition similar to an allergic reaction that is rarely seen in and around the mouth.

The academics, revealing the case in a US medical journal, said it was likely 'vape-related'.

They pointed out that erythema multiforme can be triggered by certain substances in e-cigs, such as propylene glycol, glycerin, nicotine, flavorings or other toxins.

Erythema multiforme affects around 200,000 people in the US each year - usually caused by an infection such as herpes or bacterial or fungal infections.

Symptoms include pink and red skin and mouth lesions that can sometimes be itchy or painful, as well as joint pain, fever and itching.

The condition can occur all over the body and it is rare to be solely confined to the mouth.

Minor cases of the skin condition can clear up on their own, while more involved cases may need to be treated with steroids, allergy medications, antiseptics or antivirals depending on the root cause.

In extreme cases, hospitalization may be required if the patient is unable to eat, is in extreme pain or severely dehydrated. Doctors may also apply cool compresses and administer antibiotics.

The woman visited doctors at the Department of Oral Medicine at the University of Indonesia complaining of mouth sores and pain over the previous month. She had trouble eating due to the ulcers and pimples in and around her lips and mouth.

Doctors observed sores on her inner cheeks, tongue, roof and floor of the mouth and lips, with crusts and 'an erosive' area at the corner of her mouth that bled.

Above are photos from the patient's case report that show her condition when she first visited the doctors

The patient revealed to doctors she had been using vaping devices for about a year, but had never experienced an issue.

Shortly before her symptoms began, the woman, who had never smoked traditional cigarettes, switched vaping liquids to try another flavor.

She told doctors she began vaping 'out of curiosity' and would smoke e-cigarettes a few times a day every few days with friends.

The patient's case was considered a 'mild' form of erythema multiforme and she was given a steroid mouthwash, as well as a solution to moisten gauze with and apply to her lips three times a day.

She was also sent home with a cream to apply to the eroding wound area on the side of her mouth and instructed to apply Vaseline to her dry lips throughout the day.

Doctors also stressed she should stop vaping.

In just one week, the patient showed vast improvement.

Vaping has been associated with a number of health side effects, including mouth and throat irritation, eye irritation, shortness of breath, fatigue and lung cancer.

It is estimated nearly 31million Americans vape or use electronic cigarettes, including 2million middle and high school students.

Advertised as a safer alternative and smoking cessation aid for traditional cigarettes, the vaping industry has come under fire for its marketing that targets young kids and lack of long-term data on how the devices effect people's health.

Vaping is becoming such a public health issue in the US that the Department of Justice and the FDA created a task force this week to combat the sale of unauthorized e-cigs and vaping products.

Officials and critics argue the unregulated vaping products are purposely designed for and marketed to children with their colorful packaging and fruity or candy-like flavors.

Acting Associate Attorney General Benjamin Mizer said these products 'jeopardize' the health of children and adolescents across the US and the task force will be 'dedicated to protecting Americans by combatting' their illegal distribution.

Officials added the group will include multiple government agencies overseeing guns, drugs, the US Postal Service and the marshal service to coordinate efforts to investigate and prosecute for criminal and civil crimes.
Health officials are 'in denial' over a shortage of crucial whooping cough antibiotics, pharmacists warned today.

Nearly 5,000 cases of the illness, also known as pertussis or the '100-day cough', have been recorded by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) in 2024  more than five times the level seen across the entirety of 2023.

As this figure relies on laboratory confirmed cases, and the majority of patients go untested, the true figure could be far higher, experts have said.

While not generally severe in adults, the outbreak has claimed the lives of eight babies, making it the deadliest in a decade.

Although they may not reduce symptoms, antibiotics are vital as they stop patients from being infectious within 48 hours, helping to limit the spread of the bacterial infection.

But clarithromycin  one of the most widely used antibiotics for whooping cough  is one of hundreds of drugs currently in short supply across the UK.

Nearly 5,000 cases of pertussis, or the 100-day cough, have already been recorded in 2024  more than five times the level seen across the entirety of 2023. Experts fear the true toll may be treble this. The outbreak has also claimed the lives of eight babies, making it the deadliest in a decade. But clarithromycin  used to treat various bacterial infections including whooping cough  is one of hundreds of drugs currently in short supply across the UK

Figures released last week by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) revealed there were 4,793 confirmed whooping cough cases between January and April. By comparison, 858 were logged in the whole of 2023

Health officials warned that the infection is initially difficult to tell apart from a cold, as the first signs are a runny nose and sore throat. But around a week later, sufferers may develop coughing bouts that last minutes, struggle to breathe after coughing and make a 'whoop' sound between coughs. Other signs of whooping cough include bringing up a thick mucus that can cause vomiting and becoming red in the face

Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) bosses have confirmed there is 'significant ongoing disruption' with two liquid versions of the drug, issuing a serious shortage protocol (SSP).

Yet these are due to expire on June 21, despite 'ongoing' supply issues.

MailOnline understands stock will return but not until July.

Dr Leyla Hannbeck, chief executive of the Independent Pharmacies Association, told MailOnline: 'We are worried that there may be delays in reissuing the SSP on the 21st.

She added: 'The shortages are ongoing. When I first raised concerns about clarithromycin shortages the DHSC denied there were issues.

'But two days later they issued the SSP about it.

'We have serious issues with medicines shortages in this country and it seems the officials are in denial.

'Patients are stressed and pharmacists are spending on average two hours a day trying to source medicines.

'Despite asking for three years for transparency and a national strategy to tackle this issue, it is not forthcoming.

'What will it take for the officials to finally act to sort out the problem?'

Thorrun Govind, former chair of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society, said: 'Shortages don't appear to be getting the attention they need and we need a specific answer from each party leader as to how they plan to address this crisis.'

For suspected cases of whooping cough, GPs can prescribe one of four antibiotics: clarithromycin, erythromycin, azithromycin and co-trimoxazole.

Children generally need liquid versions of the medication, with the dose based on their weight, rather than standard pills.

Yet both 125mg/5ml and 250mg/5ml liquid versions of clarithromycin have been issued with SSPs.

Under the SSP, the DHSC has advised pharmacists to instead source the tablets, which pharmacists have previously warned are 'overpriced'.

Paul Rees, chief executive of the National Pharmacy Association said: 'The national warnings are only issued when shortages are at their most acute, with this revealing just the tip of the iceberg, in terms of the challenges facing pharmacies and their patients.

'Pharmacists are spending hours a day hunting down stock and are often forced to turn patients away due to being unable to order in vital medication.'

Figures released last week by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) revealed there were 4,793 confirmed whooping cough cases between January and April.

Health chiefs have blamed the current outbreak on a steady decline in the uptake of vaccines among expectant mums. Experts say this is due to a mixture of vaccine hesitancy in the wake of Covid as well as a lack of awareness

By comparison, 858 were logged in the whole of 2023.

The number of suspected cases detected across England and Wales in 2024, however, stands close to 16,000.

Health chiefs have blamed the current outbreak on a steady decline in the uptake of vaccines among expectant mums.

Experts say this is due to a mixture of vaccine hesitancy in the wake of Covid as well as a lack of awareness.

The cancellation of many 'non essential' services during the pandemic and the consequence of lockdowns on immunity are also thought to have played a role.

Dozens of newborns died from the illness every year before pregnant women were routinely offered jabs in 2012.

The jab in pregnancy, offered between 16 and 32 weeks, protects babies in the first few months of their life, when they are most vulnerable and before they can receive their own vaccines.

But just a quarter of expectant mothers have had the pertussis jab in some boroughs of London. Rates are below half in other parts of the capital and Birmingham.

Uptake of the six-in-one jab  offered to babies in the first four months of life  are also at an all-time low.

Babies are given three doses of the six-in-one jab at eight, 12 and 16 weeks of age to protect against whooping cough and other serious diseases such as diphtheria and polio. A pre-school booster is offered after they turn three.

Whooping cough, spread through coughs and sneezes, can initially be difficult to tell apart from a cold, with the first signs typically being a runny nose and sore throat.

But around a week later, sufferers may develop coughing bouts which last minutes, struggle to breathe after coughing and make a 'whoop' sound between coughs.

The government has been urged to publicise the deadly danger of whooping cough to boost vaccine uptake, as it did in the 1980s and '90s

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Pregnant women are being urged to get the vaccine to protect their baby from catching the infection in the first few weeks of their life. Protection should last until they are old enough to get vaccinated themselves

Other signs of pertussis include bringing up a thick mucus that can cause vomiting and becoming red in the face.

Sufferers are infectious from around six days after cold-like symptoms begin to three weeks after their cough starts.

Doctors prescribe antibiotics if the whooping cough is detected within three weeks.

However, if a person has been infected for longer than this before seeking help, the drugs are no longer offered as they will do little to help.

The clarithromycin shortage suggests the wider medicines shortage crisis is deepening, with the number of common drugs in short supply doubling in the past two years.

Supply problems have hit crucial antibiotics and hormone replacement therapy (HRT) drugs, as well as type 2 diabetes, epilepsy and cancer medicines.

EU health chiefs have long attributed supply chain shortages to the war in the Ukraine and knock-on effects of the Covid pandemic.

Earlier this year, a damning report by the Nuffield Trust found Britons are facing alarming drug shortages and being made to wait longer for new medicines than our European neighbours.

Its analysis of freedom of information requests and public data revealed the number of notifications from drug companies warning of impending shortages had more than doubled from 648 in 2020 to 1,634 in 2023.
The NHS is a long way from being able to provide a new class of Alzheimers drugs to patients should they get approval, research suggests.

The UK is on the cusp of deciding whether the first treatments found to slow down the early signs of disease are safe and effective.

Regulators are expected to rule on lecanemab in the coming weeks and donanemab later this year, with both treatments now given the go-ahead in the US.

Approval would mark a major change in treatment because they target one of the known causes of Alzheimer's, rather than just helping to relieve symptoms.

But experts have warned the lack of proper testing means the NHS faces being swamped with patients wrongly assumed to have the disease.

UK is on the cusp of deciding whether the first treatments found to slow down the early signs of disease are safe and effective

Regulators are expected to rule on the Alzheimer's drug lecanemab (pictured) in the coming weeks and another donanemab later this year

They said there is a clear and urgent need to improve NHS screening to work out who may benefit from new Alzheimer's drugs.

Researchers including from University College London (UCL) and Queen Mary University, London, examined clinical notes from 1,017 NHS patients in five areas of London, including 517 patients assessed in memory services and 500 in a specialist cognitive service.

Almost a third (32 per cent) of patients in memory services were likely to be referred as potential candidates for the drugs.

Nearly all had undergone brain scans but only two patients were given lumbar punctures- which confirm if a patient had amyloid and tau proteins, associated with Alzheimers.

This proportion increased in specialist clinics where more tests are available, with nearly two thirds (62 per cent) getting the necessary fluid biomarker tests.

Once those who would not be eligible for the treatments because of frailty and other issues, they found four in ten were potentially eligible for treatment with the new drugs.

Writing in the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry, researchers said this is equivalent to just 14 per cent of all the cases reviewed at the specialist cognitive clinics.

Meanwhile, the lack of biomarker testing using lumbar punctures for patients seen in community memory clinics, means almost a third (30 per cent) of suspected cases are not Alzheimers.

Researchers said the NHS systems need to be set up to deal with this potential large mismatch between referral and ultimate eligibility in order to avoid overwhelming services.

Alzheimers disease is the most common cause of dementia, accounting for up to 80 per cent of the 944,000 people living with dementia in the UK.

Alzheimers disease is the most common cause of dementia, accounting for up to 80 per cent of the 944,000 people living with dementia in the UK

Currently, the only available drugs for Alzheimers are to treat symptoms but recent clinical trials show that new therapies  which use monoclonal antibodies to remove amyloid plaques that form on the brain  may slow down disease progression.

Two 'disease-modifying therapies' (DMTs) have been granted 'breakthrough therapy' designation in the UK and are could become available to patients by the end of the year, pending approval by the MHRA and then NICE.

David Thomas, head of policy and public affairs at Alzheimer's Research UK, said cheaper, more scalable diagnostics such as blood tests, were urgently needed.

He said: New Alzheimer's drugs are finally on the horizon, but for their full potential to be realised, health systems need to be able to offer people with symptoms of dementia an accurate and early diagnosis to find out whether these treatments could benefit them.

As this research demonstrates, the NHS is a long way from being able to do this testing routinely.

"Whoever forms the next government must invest in the NHS urgently, to ensure we have the right diagnostics and workforce in place to help identify people who could benefit from new treatments should they be deemed safe and effective by the regulators.

A report published earlier this year by NHS England said timely diagnosis of dementia is vital, adding new blood tests could soon replace lumbar punctures in diagnosing the disease.

It predicts the number of patients who might be eligible for the drugs ranges from 50,000 to 280,000, at an estimated cost of 500 million and 1 billion per year.

However, actual costs will depend on the drugs prices agreed for England.

The document said: To be eligible for treatment, patients will need to have a baseline MRI scan and then either a PET-CT scan or lumbar puncture that confirms the presence of beta-amyloid proteins in the brain, which are associated with the Alzheimer's disease process.

Dr Alex Osborne, policy manager at the Alzheimer's Society, said: These drugs are only available to people in the early stages of Alzheimer's disease - and more than a third of the 982,000 people living with dementia in the UK don't have a diagnosis at all.

That's why Alzheimer's Society is calling on the NHS to publish plans on how it will deliver groundbreaking new treatments to the people who need them, with a specific focus on diagnosis and investment in the tools and workforce needed to identify eligible patients.
Junior doctors in England should call off their upcoming strike if major political parties pledge to reopen talks as a priority after the General Election, health leaders have said.

The NHS Confederation accused medics of causing real consternation with their walkout plans and said the move seems more like a publicity stunt than a constructive act aimed at finding a resolution to their pay dispute.

It called on politicians and the British Medical Association to come to a compromise in a bid to avert the disruptive walkout.

The NHS Confederation, which represents healthcare organisations, said the main parties should promise to reopen negotiations with junior doctors within 10 days of forming a new government.

In return, doctors in training should call off the strike, it added.

The NHS Confederation called on politicians and the British Medical Association to come to a compromise

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Junior doctors in England are preparing to stage a full walkout for five days starting from 7am on June 27.

The strike is set to end just two days before voters go to the polls.

When the union announced the strike, it said that if Prime Minister Rishi Sunak made a concrete commitment to restore doctors pay during his campaign that is acceptable to the BMAs junior doctors committee, then no strikes need go ahead.

In May, the Government and the BMA entered mediated talks to try to resolve the dispute, but they failed to reach agreement before parliamentary business was concluded in the run up to the election.

Victoria Atkins, Health Secretary, said: 'Prior to the General Election we had entered into negotiations with the junior doctors committee overseen by an external mediator, and we would return to that process immediately if re-elected.'

The last strike by junior doctors, from February 24 to 28 this year, led to 91,048 appointments, operations and procedures being postponed.

Junior doctors in their first year now have a basic pay of 32,300, while those with three years' experience make 43,900. The most senior earn 63,100

Junior doctors in England are preparing to stage a full walkout for five days starting from 7am on June 27. The strike is set to end just two days before voters go to the polls

Matthew Taylor, chief executive of the NHS Confederation, which represents healthcare organisations, said: The BMA Junior Doctor Committees (JDC) behaviour in calling these strikes because the mediation process between them and the Sunak administration had to be put on hold due to the election has caused real consternation.

Holding strikes in the middle of an election campaign may be an effective way to get publicity but no political party is in a position to bring these long-running dispute to a close until a new government is formed.

The BMA JDC must find a meaningful compromise with whoever forms the next government because of the huge impact these strikes are having on the NHS and above all patients.

He said strikes leave patients waiting for their treatments to be rescheduled, often in pain and discomfort and sometimes with poorer outcomes.

Mr Taylor added: The last thing health leaders and their teams want is more disruption when they are working flat out to improve performance and drive down waiting lists.

Some good progress has been made coming out of a very difficult winter but this industrial action risks throwing that off course.

'We urge politicians of all stripes  who may have friends, family or constituents relying on the NHS  to pledge to open talks with the BMA within 10 days of taking office and in return, we call on the BMA to respond by halting this planned disruption.

If they can compromise it will be at least one positive thing to come out of this election campaign.

The NHS Confederation has said that even if strikes are not called off, parties should pledge to engage formally with the BMA within the first 10 days of their forming a new government.

Around 1.5 million appointments have been postponed since the current wave of industrial action began in the NHS in England in December 2022, with the service seeing many staff groups on picket lines including paramedics, consultants, nurses and physiotherapists.

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Mr Sunak has blamed the action for his governments failure to significantly bring down waits.

Dr Robert Laurenson and Dr Vivek Trivedi, co-chairs of the BMA junior doctors committee, accused NHS Confederation of having little understanding on what is needed to resolve the dispute.

They added: Matthew Taylor is wrong to say we called this strike because talks were put on hold for the election  we called a strike because of repeated failures by the Government to make a credible offer.

Let us be clear: these strikes can be stopped right now, by the Prime Minister making a public commitment to restoring doctors pay that we find credible.

While we would welcome all parties recognition of the need to fix doctors pay erosion, 20 months into this dispute, the promise of further talks that go nowhere, and extend this dispute unnecessarily, will not be enough for junior doctors.
Older and frail patients will be given health MOTs at the entrance of emergency departments to avoid unnecessary hospital admissions.

The approach could be a lifeline for many patients, and would allow them to be assessed and supported more quickly, according to NHS England chief executive Amanda Pritchard.

The approach, to be outlined in her speech to the NHS ConfedExpo conference in Manchester today, will focus on patients over the age of 65 or those with frailty-related conditions.

Ms Pritchard is expected to say: With rising demand for care, it is vital that we continue to adapt our services to meet the growing and changing needs of patients  which is why, as part of our Urgent and Emergency Care Recovery Plan, we have asked NHS hospitals to introduce practical measures to ensure older people get the care and support they need.

NHS England estimates that about one million people over the age of 75 are admitted to hospital each year, a fifth of whom are very frail.

It is hoped the move will allow more patients to be assessed, treated and discharged home on the same day, avoiding the need for an overnight stay

The tests, which will run for 10 hours a day, seven days a week, will check blood pressure, heart health and mobility, as well as checking for malnutrition.

NHS staff will also look at a patients respiratory and fall records.

Based on the results, patients will be signposted to specialist care, such as fall services and dementia support.

It is hoped the move will allow more patients to be assessed, treated and discharged home on the same day, avoiding the need for an overnight stay.

Ms Pritchard will add: 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.

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.

Half of admitted frail older patients experience functional decline between admission and discharge, and up to 50 per cent of older people can become incontinent within 48 hours of admission.

In the first week in hospital, patients can see their muscle strength reduced by up to 10 per cent, and circulation reduced by up to 25 per cent.

Sir Julian Hartley, chief executive at NHS Providers, which represents NHS trusts, said: 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.

Community health services are spearheading innovative care for people with frailty, supporting them to stay well in their own homes, with some trusts already providing front-door frailty services within hospitals.

But too many frail people who need well-planned, joined-up care still arent getting the support they need.

National policy-makers must support trusts and local health system partners with more investment and resources in the community to make sure that patients can have the right care at the right time in the right place.

Ms Pritchard is also expected to outline additional support for patients who are admitted to hospital in a bid to help prevent them from deteriorating.

Hospitals around the country are already trying to tackle this deconditioning, preventing harm to patients and improving their outcomes, all while having fun.

Examples include chair-based exercises like yoga, race track routes on wards, static pedals for patients receiving dialysis, or care home pedometers for residents to do virtual coastline walks.

The NHS England Urgent and Emergency Care Recovery Plan published last month includes cash incentives for hospitals that do not leave patients waiting in A&E for 12 hours or more.

The NHS will also expand its use of virtual wards in a bid to free up space in emergency departments.
Dr Anthony Fauci's former department 'deceived' Congress over its plans to create a Frankenstein monkeypox virus that had pandemic potential, a new report says.

The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) submitted plans to create a more transmissible and more lethal strain of Mpox in 2015, when Dr Fauci was still in charge of the agency.

The plans only received widespread attention in late 2022 - amid concerns that Covid may have been borne out of similar experiments using US government grant money in China.

The blueprint to create a mutant Mpox virus raised major concerns among experts and led to an investigation by the House Energy and Commerce Committee, which released the results from its year-and-a-half probe this week.

The report said the HHS, NIAID and NIH repeatedly 'obstructed and misled the committee' about whether the risky experiments had been approved and conducted, describing their cooperation with the probe as 'unacceptable and potentially criminal.'

Fauci looks glum at a Congressional hearing earlier this month

Investigators added: 'HHS and the NIH repeatedly told the Committee the... experiments had not been "formally proposed" or "planned," had never been approved or conducted, and were not currently under consideration.

'[These] repeated assertions were false.'

They also said NIAID, a branch of the NIH, should not be trusted to carry out this type of research: 'The primary conclusion drawn at this point in the investigation is that NIAID cannot be trusted to oversee its own research of pathogens responsibly.

'It cannot be trusted to determine whether an experiment on a potential pandemic pathogen or enhanced potential pandemic pathogen poses unacceptable biosafety risk or a serious public health threat.'

Monkeypox, which is in the same family of viruses as smallpox, causes a rash and flu-like symptoms and sparked a global outbreak in 2022, infecting tens of thousands of people.

There are two types of monkeypox viruses: Clade I, which causes severe illness and has killed up to 11 percent of people in previous outbreaks, and Clad II, the type that caused the global outbreak in 2022. These infections are more transmissible but less severe and nearly 100 percent of people survive.

In October 2022, a team of government scientists wanted to insert genes from the more dangerous Clade I Mpox into Clade II, making a hybrid strain that could have been both more lethal and more contagious.

Investigators said this would be classified as gain-of-function, which is research that can result in deadlier and more transmissible viruses and is feared to be behind the creation of Covid.

It was estimated the new Mpox virus would have had a fatality rate of up to 15 percent and a reproductive rate of 2.4, meaning one sick person could infect more than two other people.

At this rate, the hybrid strain would have had pandemic potential.

In October 2022, Dr Bernard Moss revealed a team of scientists wanted to equip Clade II Mpox with genes from the more dangerous Clade I strain

The report comes just off the heels of recent testimony from Dr Fauci regarding the origins of Covid, which some government agencies believe was risky gain-of-function research taking place in China and funded by the US, including NIAID.

Dr Fauci has maintained that his agency was not involved in GOF experiments in China, but the lack of transparency surrounding Mpox research calls into question how reliable the word of the HHS, NIH and NIAID is.

Scientists said their experiments would have revealed how different genes make monkeypox more deadly and spur the development of better drugs and vaccines.

But the modified virus posed 'an exceptionally high risk' to the public if it were to accidentally leak, according to Dr Richard Ebright, a microbiologist at Rutgers University in New Jersey.

The team in Maryland argued their work did not involve 'enhancing' a pathogen because they were seeking to swap natural mutations rather then create new ones, meaning the hybrid could not be more deadly than the existing clades.

But the news still shocked experts and Americans as they raised concerns that such research continued to be conducted in the US despite fears similar practices may have started the Covid pandemic.

Despite its approval, researchers maintain the work was never carried out, but the report states 'HHS has repeatedly refused to produce any documents that corroborate this claim.'

The above shows the different characteristics of the various clades of monkeypox

The Maryland team's work was being led by NIAID scientist Dr Bernard Moss at the agency's headquarters in Bethesda (shown)

The House committee is now seeking additional evidence from HHS, NIAID and the NIH to confirm the risky experiments were never done.

Dr Ebright told this website after news first broke: 'A laboratory-generated monkeypox virus... more lethal than, and as transmissible as the monkeypox virus currently circulating in human,s potentially would defeat protection by vaccines and likely would spread beyond current at-risk populations to the general population.'

Monkeypox can spread from contact with infected animals or close contact with an infected person. There is no FDA-approved treatment for Mpox, only therapies to manage symptoms, but there is a vaccine to protect against it.

In the US, an Mpox outbreak began in May 2022 as part of a larger global outbreak that stemmed from the Clade II strain endemic in West Africa.

The CDC reports that as of January 2024, the most recent data available, there have been 32,000 cases of monkeypox in the US, with 58 deaths. Globally, there have been 95,900 cases since the outbreak began.

While the committee began its investigation in October 2022, the agencies repeatedly refused to answer questions.

And lawmakers were only given documents to examine in March 2024 'after subpoena threats forced' the agencies to provide them, which finally confirmed the experiments had been approved.

Following their findings, investigators recommended establishing an oversight board to review NIAID-funded research on dangerous pathogens and moving final approval for GOF research from NIAID to another entity.
An eight year-old with paralyzing brain damage regained the ability to move on her own  thanks to a first-of-its-kind implant surgery involving a robot.

Before the lengthy operation, Karleigh Fry, from Oklahoma, was paralyzed and could not eat, walk or even sit up on her own. Now, she can lift her arms above her head, and there are signs she is beginning to move other body parts.

A robotic device fitted an electrical implant into her brain to 'reawaken' areas involved in movement.

While the robot  which is operated by surgeons  has been used in the past to implant brain stimulators, this is the first time the procedure has ben performed on a child.

Dr Amber Stocco, the pediatric neurologist involved in the procedure described the surgery as a 'milestone'.

Karleigh Fry, eight, was unable to move her arms until the procedure to implant a 'pacemaker for the brain'

Doctors are hailing their achievement as a gamechanger for the use of robotics in brain surgeries in children

'Our young patient is already showing promising results, and we hope this procedure will pave the way for more pediatric cases worldwide.'

Meanwhile, Karleigh's mother, Trisha Fry, said the family saw improvements the moment the doctors turned the electrical device on, adding, 'I think shes going to have a great future for sure.'

Karleigh suffers a hereditary condition called rapid-onset primary dystonia, a neurological illness that causes painful muscle contractions and abnormal movements. In some cases, the muscle pain is so severe it can prevent patients from moving.

Doctors believe that the condition causes abnormal electrical patterns in the brain, especially in areas that concern involuntary movement.

The form of dystonia that Ms Fry has is the genetic kind that is less common in children. The more common cause in children is a brain injury, such as a stroke or cerebral palsy.

The stimulating electrodes inserted into her brain helped interfere with abnormal activity, restoring normal movement patterns.

The device, called a deep brain stimulation implant, is similar to a pacemaker, but for the brain.

It involves the placement of a pulse generator that sends electrical signals to the parts of the brain that control body movement. It can either inhibit overactive neural connections of activate underactive ones, depending on the condition.

The tool is also used to treat Parkinson's disease, tremors, epilepsy, obsessive compulsive disorder, and dnoepression.

Dr Amber Stocco, pediatric neurologist and medical director of Child & Adolescent Neurology at Bethany Childrens Health Center, a partner of the OU Health doctors, said their team is now 'on the leading edge of whats happening in the world of deep brain stimulation, as well as robotics.'

Robotic surgery is nothing new. The Da Vinci robot, often used for cardiac and thoracic surgery, has been in use since the year 2000, and it has been used on babies.

Dr Andrew Jea, the Oklahoma Children's Hospital pediatric neurosurgeon who operated on her, said: 'This marked the global debut of using a robot from our operating rooms to perform deep brain stimulation in a child, setting a precedent not only in Oklahoma but also across the United States and worldwide.'
As cases of potentially deadly dengue sweeps across Europe, sparking fears of a rise in cases in Brits, experts say holidaymakers need to be aware of the signs of the disease both on holiday and when home.

A total of 130 cases of the disease, once confined to the tropics, were recorded in the EU and EEA last year, almost double the number compared the previous year.

And health officials fear this is part of a growing trend. Case totals for 2023 and 2022s are a huge spike compared to the 73 cases recorded on the continent between 2010 and 2021.

Dengue is a potentially deadly virus passed to people by infected mosquitoes and was historically known as 'breakbone fever' in the 1700s because of the severe pain it can cause in the muscles and the joints, one of its symptoms.

While normally endemic to Central and South America, the Caribbean and Southeast Asia, experts have warned that climate change is making the Mediterranean more hospitable for the mosquito species that carry the disease.

Dengue is a potentially deadly virus passed to people by infected mosquitoes and was historically known as 'breakbone fever'

Dengue is normally transmitted by mosquito bites, but exposure to infected blood can also result in people catching the virus

Symptoms typically strike between four to 10 days after being bitten, which means holidaymakers may still need to keep an eye out for dengue signs upon their return to Britain.

Common signs of a dengue infection typically manifest as flu like symptoms.

Typically, patients suffer a fever that lasts for between two and seven days  this may peak, reduce and then peak again during this time.

During the first days, this may be accompanied by facial redness.

Other common symptoms at this stage include a severe headache, pain behind the eyes, muscle and joint pain  giving the disease its bone-breaker' moniker  nausea and vomiting and swollen glands.

A flat, red rash may appear over most of the body within three to seven days after the fever starts  thought to be caused by an immune system reaction to the virus. This is itchy is around a quarter of patients.

Although less common, bleeding gums may also be seen.

Brits with dengue symptoms who have been in an area where the disease is prevalent are advised to contact their GP or NHS 111 for an urgent appointment.

This is due to a risk of a potentially life-threatening complication that typically strikes just as people start to feel better.

What is dengue fever? Dengue is a viral infection spread by mosquitoes. In most cases, the infection is mild and passes in around a week. Symptoms usually include: Fever

Severe headache

Pain behind the eyes

Muscle and joint pain

Nausea and vomiting

Widespread rash

Abdominal pain

Loss of appetite There is no cure or specific treatment. Patients can relieve their symptoms via painkillers, staying hydrated and resting. In rare cases, dengue symptoms can develop into severe dengue, with symptoms including: Severe skin bleeding with spots of blood on and under the skin

Blood in the urine and stools

Respiratory distress - when the lungs cannot provide the vital organs with enough oxygen

Organ failure

Changes in mental state and unconsciousness

Dangerously low blood pressure Severe dengue is usually treated via a blood and platelet transfusion, IV fluids for rehydration and oxygen therapy if levels are low. Advertisement

While people infected with dengue recover after one to two weeks, there is a chance some can develop a far more serious form of the infection.

Called 'severe dengue' this is a life-threatening condition that develops in about one to 20 cases (five per cent) of people being infected with the virus.

Experts estimate this version of dengue kills half of people who suffer it.

Symptoms of severe dengue include severe stomach pain, repeatedly being sick, fast breathing, bleeding gums, nose bleeds, extreme tiredness, restlessness and blood in your vomit or faeces.

These typically strike after between 24 to 48 hours after the initial wave of dengue symptoms has passed and people start to feel better.

It is a serious medical emergency and people with symptoms are advised to call 999 or head to A&E as soon as possible.

People who have had dengue previously are known to be more at risk of suffering a severe version of disease in the future from subsequent infections.

warns people that dengue is a risk on European holiday-destinations like Croatia, France , Italy , Spain , and Portugal and Madeira between Spring and November. The NHS now

It also advises that people who are more vulnerable to dengue, such as young children, the elderly, pregnant women and those with a weakened immune system should avoid traveling to areas where the virus is present.

Dr Simon Clarke, an infectious disease expert University of Reading, told MailOnline that Brits heading to the continent needed to be aware of potential dengue symptoms even after they returned home.

'Dengue fever is something that has traditionally been associated with more unusual and exotic destinations, but more recently France, Italy and Spain have recorded multiple infections, so travellers from the UK should be more aware of this potentially fatal infection,' he said.

'Travellers need to be made aware not only of the increasing risk, but also of the symptoms, the 4fourto 10 days it can take for them to appear after someone has been bitten by an infected mosquito, and the importance of getting medical advice if they think theyve contracted dengue.'

He added that as climate change is predicted to make the mosquitos that carry dengue more common in Europe controlling the insects would be an increasing important consideration for holiday destinations.

Professor Ian Jones, a virologist at Reading, also told this website that while there was no need re-think holiday plans yet, dengue in Europe is likely going to get worse.

The risk of contracting dengue in Europe remains low, far more cases are imported from countries where the infection is common, but the numbers are increasing, and we should expect this trend to continue in the near-term,' he said.

'A number of virus infections, including dengue, are transmitted by insects and as climate change expands their range, the incidence of virus infection also increases.'

He urged holidaymakers to take sensible precautions to reduce their risk of catching the virus when travelling in known dengue areas.

Prevention is considered the best way to avoid getting dengue and people visiting areas where the disease is prevalent are take steps to reduce their risk of mosquito bites.

These include wearing long sleeved clothing and trousers, using insect repellent, keeping unscreened windows closed in their accommodation, and sleeping under a mosquito net.

People should be especially cautious during the early morning and early evening as these are when mosquitoes are most active.

Dengue transmission is currently not considered a risk in the UK, though mosquitoes capable of carrying the virus have been found in the wild in Britain previously.

Normally, people with dengue cannot pass the virus to others directly, though mosquitoes can bite them and then go on to infect other people.

Dengue fever is a viral infection transmitted by mosquitoes that has been historically confined to tropical or subtropical climates . It infects an estimated 400million people a year. Pictured: A house in Peru being fumigated against mosquitoes to prevent the spread of the disease

However, very rare cases of dengue being passed on through contact with infected blood via transfusions or organ donation have been recorded.

A total of 634 dengue cases were recorded by The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) in 2023.

These were all imported cases, where someone was infected while overseas and then fell ill upon returning.

This map shows areas where mosquitoes capable of carrying dengue have been introduced in Britain. These populations have not yet established a permanent presence in the UK but experts have warned climate change means their spread is inevitable

UKHSA officials warned the figure was now approaching pre-Covid levels after cases naturally dived during the pandemic due to travel restrictions and urged travellers to be vigilant.

Experts have previously warned dengue is among a number of diseases that could become established the UK due to a 'slow march north' of insects due to climate change.

Globally, there were a reported 6.5million cases of dengue of which 7,300 resulted in death in 2023, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

However, the WHO says modelling suggests there are 390million actual infections per year.
Airmen operate ground-to-air missile at night

China Military Online) 10:29, June 12, 2024

Airmen assigned to a model ground-to-air missile battalion of the PLA Air Force operate a ground-to-air missile system during a nighttime training exercise on May 22, 2024. (eng.chinamil.com.cn/Photo by Wang Yizhe)

Airmen assigned to a model ground-to-air missile battalion of the PLA Air Force operate a ground-to-air missile system during a nighttime training exercise on May 22, 2024. (eng.chinamil.com.cn/Photo by Wang Yizhe)

(Web editor: Tian Yi, Liang Jun)
The pharma firms behind blockbuster weight loss drugs could face up to 10,000 lawsuits from patients who claim the drugs caused debilitating side effects like stomach paralysis and 'tearing holes' in the food pipe.

Ozempic and sister shots like Wegovy and Mounjaro have recently come under fire over claims that the injections cause a roster of complications patients were allegedly not warned about.

One woman told DailyMail.com that she suffered life-threatening stomach paralysis after taking Mounjaro, and has now joined a massive lawsuit against its maker Eli Lilly and Ozempic manufacturer Novo Nordisk. She claims she may never eat a solid meal again.

Another said Ozempic caused so much internal damage she had to have her gallbladder removed, while another said the drug induced such violent vomiting it tore a hole in her esophagus.

Now, Robert Peirce & Associates, a law firm based in Pittsburgh, estimates that the number of plaintiffs could explode to as many as 10,000, the firm told local news outlet Trib Total Media.

Lawyers estimate that there could be as many as 10,000 lawsuits against drugmakers like Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly over side effects from blockbuster weight loss injections

Meredith Hotchkiss (left), 56, told DailyMail.com her life has been 'devastated' by alleged side-effects of the weight-loss drug Mounjaro. Dina Fioretti (right), 60, from Illinois, said Ozempic caused her to vomit so much that she tore a hole through her esophagus

Ozempic and Wegovy contain the active ingredient semaglutide. This mimics the hormone GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1) which slows the movement of food through the digestive system, signalling to the body that it's full.

Mounjaro and Zepbound, meanwhile, use the active ingredient tirzepatide, which targets GLP-1 and the hormone glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP), which has a similar hunger-surpressing effect.

Wegovy and Zepbound are the only two approved by the FDA for weight loss alone, while the others are only meant to be taken for managing type 2 diabetes.

However, some can be prescribed off-label, or for another purpose beyond FDA's approval, for example to help people lose weight.

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All of the drugs have been hailed for helping patients control their appetite and quickly drop weight, but the Robert Peirce & Associates team warns that lawyers are now seeing a surge of multidistrict litigation (MDL) cases related to the medications.

An MDL is a lawsuit comprised of multiple civil cases that share common issues.

In addition to lawsuits, some patients have also claimed the drugs caused suicidal thoughts, psychosis, and appearance issues like deflated breasts.

'Unfortunately, the manufacturers of Ozempic and other GLP-1 agonists failed to adequately warn of the associated risks,' the Robert Peirce & Associates team wrote.

The team pointed to an MDL filed in February in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania (which includes Philadelphia), which combined 55 lawsuits alleging that Ozempic and similar drugs led to gastrointestinal injuries like intestinal blockages and stomach paralysis.

According to Lawsuit Information Center, as of June 3, there are 101 pending cases in the Ozempic MDL, including a dozen that were added in May.

Ms Hotchkiss, pictured here with her husband, now fears that she will never be able to eat a solid meal again after being diagnosed with gastroparesis

Zakareeya Gregory (left) was hospitalized for four weeks and had her gallbladder removed because of complications which were allegedly caused by her use of Ozempic. Brea Hand, 23, told DailyMail.com she required five hospital visits before doctors diagnosed her with gastroparesis which was allegedly caused by Ozempic

Stomach paralysis, or gastroparesis, occurs when the stomach cannot properly empty. GLP-1 agonists like Ozempic slow down stomach emptying to keep patients feeling full for longer, which could increase the risk of the condition.

While the condition itself is not fatal, gastroparesis has been shown to lead to potentially deadly intestinal blockages and severe nutrient deficiencies.

Meredith Hotchkiss, 56, of Idaho, joined nearly 100 patients in a lawsuit against Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk after she was diagnosed with gastroparesis.

Ms Hotchkiss had been taking Mounjaro and Trulicity, another Eli Lilly injection for type 2 diabetes. She was prescribed Mounjaro from July 2022 until around June 2023. She was also briefly prescribed Trulicity from December 2022 to March 2023.

Though she has diabetes, her condition is 'well-controlled,' so she was given the drugs off-label for weight loss. 'I thought if I could lose weight and get Mounjaro, then I could try because everybody you see everybody's doing it,' she previously told DailyMail.com.

'The doctor told me that I could lose weight and that it works really well. He said that I would get really sick for four weeks and then after four weeks I'd feel a lot better.'

Within weeks of starting the medications, her condition deteriorated and she couldn't stomach anything other than cottage cheese, mac and cheese, and yogurt.

Ms Hotchkiss was fitted with a central line, a tube inserted into the vein to deliver liquid food directly into the bloodstream. She has also been hospitalized three times, including with life-threatening sepsis.

The side-effects have changed her life and stopped her from doing the things she loves. Doctors have also told her she can no longer travel overseas because of her health conditions.

'I can't swim, I can't go in the water. I love swimming, I have a boat, I can't go in the water at all. I used to love swimming in the ocean,' she said.

'It affects me socially, because you go out with your friends and what do you do? You go out to dinner, or you go to barbecues all the holidays, everything revolves around food.

'The other thing I worry about is will I be alive long enough to pay off the house with my husband, because I worry about him.'

Zakareeya Gregory, 46, from Maryland, said that she had to have her gallbladder removed seven months after starting Ozempic. She alleges the drug may be to blame.

Dina Fioretti, 60, from Illinois, told DailyMail.com that she is suing Novo Norisk after Ozempic allegedly caused her to vomit so much that she tore a hole through her esophagus.

Your browser does not support iframes.

Jessica Dennis, a mother-of-four currently in south Dakota, said her breasts shrunk while on Ozempic

Attorney Ken Moll, president of Moll Law Group, which filed Fioretti's complaint, told DailyMail.com his firm plans to add a further 100 cases to the litigation - and is one of several across the country investigating claims by thousands more patients.

Mr Moll said it was 'unconscionable' that the firms still hadn't added warnings to their labels which warn about the risk of gastroparesis and stomach paralysis.

Cameron Stephenson, an attorney at Levin Papantonio Rafferty, told DailyMail.com his firm currently has around 100 clients who were diagnosed with gastroparesis after using the drugs, and it is investigating 1,000 more.

'There's no doubt in my mind that there are going to be thousands of cases that will be filed in the MDL over time,' said Mr Stephenson, who floated the possibility that the number of individuals could run into the tens of thousands.

Eli Lilly said in a statement: 'Patient safety is Lillys top priority, and we actively engage in monitoring, evaluating, and reporting safety information for all our medicines.

'Our FDA-approved labels clearly warn that tirzepatide and dulaglutide may be associated with gastrointestinal adverse reactions, sometimes severe.

'The labels further state that tirzepatide and dulaglutide have not been studied in patients with severe gastrointestinal disease, including severe gastroparesis, and are therefore not recommended in these patients.

'These risks were communicated to and widely known by healthcare providers. We are vigorously defending against these claims.'

There has been little research done so far on the long-term side effects of these weight loss drugs,

Novo Nordisk said: 'Novo Nordisk believes that the allegations in these lawsuits are without merit, and we intend to vigorously defend against these claims.

'Patient safety is our top priority at Novo Nordisk, and we work closely with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to continuously monitor the safety profile of our medicines.

'GLP-1 medicines have been used to treat type 2 diabetes (T2D) for more than 18 years, and for the treatment of obesity for 8 years. This includes Novo Nordisk GLP-1 products such as semaglutide and liraglutide that have been on the market for more than 13 years.'

'Semaglutide has been extensively examined in robust clinical development programs, large real world evidence studies and has cumulatively over 9.5 million patient years of clinical experience.

'The known risks and benefits of semaglutide and liraglutide medicines are described in their FDA-approved product labeling.

'Novo Nordisk stands behind the safety and efficacy of all of our GLP-1 medicines when they are used as indicated and when they are taken under the care of a licensed healthcare professional.'
Voters have called on the next government to help the most vulnerable with their energy bills.

Almost two-thirds (57 per cent) of the public want to see a social tariff launched to offer cheaper energy to those in real need, according to campaign group Warm This Winter.

While 32 per cent were neutral or didn't know if they backed it or not, just 11 per cent of the public opposed the proposals.

A social tariff is a discounted energy bill for people in greatest need, such as those people that have low incomes and are elderly, have young children or rely on energy for medical needs.

The average energy bill, currently 1,690 a year, will fall to 1,568 a year from 1 July.

Energy dilemma: Many of the poorest households struggle to heat their homes during the coldest winter months, especially with energy bills still high compared to historic norms

But some of the highest energy bills are paid by the people least able to afford them, such as the elderly and disabled, who often require more power for heating and using medical equipment.

Discounted social tariffs are common for broadband and mobile phone deals, but only because the communication regulator forces firms to offer them.

But social tariffs have not existed for gas and electricity since energy firms began scrapping them in 2011.

There is some government help available, such as the Warm Home Discount scheme which last winter gave eligible households a 150 payment - though this covered less than 10 per cent of the average annual bill.

Despite strong support for energy social tariffs, they have not featured in any political party manifestos for the 2024 general election so far. Labour's manifesto has not yet been published, however.

The cross-party House of Commons Energy Security and Net Zero Committee of MPs recommended last year that social tariffs be introduced, along with other reforms to help vulnerable households stay warm each winter.

Voters of all parties backed the plans, with 68 per cent of 2019 Labour voters, 60 per cent of 2019 Lib Dems and 54 per cent of 2019 Conservative voters supporting a social tariff.

The policy is most popular in Scotland (61 per cent) and even in London more than half back the proposals (51 per cent).

When it comes to paying for the policy, a quarter of voters believed that it should be fully funded through the energy industry (producers, networks and suppliers).

A similar number backed a mix of government funding and energy industry contributions.

Warm This Winter said that more than 427billion in profits have been generated by firms since the start of the energy bills crisis, up 7billion since the last update in April 2024.

Simon Francis, coordinator of the End Fuel Poverty Coalition, said: 'Protecting vulnerable consumers from energy prices that remain way above 2021 levels is a popular and easy to implement policy that the next Government must prioritise.'

Warm This Winter spokesperson Fiona Waters said: 'Energy bills will go up again in October and years of staggering prices have taken their toll.

'This is why we need the next government to act quickly after the election to end energy debt, protect households from the volatile global energy market, bring down bills for good, improve housing standards and make Britain a clean energy superpower.'
Motorists have become more reliant on using voice controls in cars due to major distraction concerns around operating tech-heavy touchscreen systems, new study claims.

More than half of drivers say they feel safer asking their motors to change settings on the move - such as tuning to a radio station or setting a new sat-nav destination - rather than fumbling to find a button or trying to work though the ever-increasing number of menus and submenus loaded into large and overcomplicated infotainment displays.

The findings from the study come as vehicle safety bodies have told car makers to ditch distracting touchscreen systems and reintroduce button and switch controls to avoid being penalised in crash test ratings.

With touchscreens becoming increasingly distracting to operate on the move, more drivers say they feel safer using voice commands, a new report claims

In a What Car? poll of 954 drivers with vehicles that have voice control systems built in, nearly three-quarters (71 per cent) said they find being able to use spoken commands an easier way to navigate the abundance of features now available in the latest models.

With manufacturers seemingly pivoting away from physical buttons and operating switches in favour of bulking controls into touchscreens - usually to give an uncluttered cabin feel - this is having a detrimental impact on driver distraction.

And this is already an increasing problem on our roads; distraction is listed as a factor in 17 per cent of all accidents in 2022  up from 13 per cent a decade earlier.

Drivers said they prefer voice command systems in cars over touchscreens because they don't have to take their eyes off the road

Worryingly, three in five UK motorists say they have been distracted from safe driving while operating a touchscreen system

Its wider poll of almost 1,500 UK drivers (including those with motors without voice command tech) also found that manufacturers' fixation with fitting their latest models with complicated iPad-style gadgets is becoming a major turn-off.

Three in five (60 per cent) said they would be put off purchasing a model that didn't have traditional buttons and switches on the dashboard and relied heavily on touchscreen controls.

In contrast, just 8 per cent said they would be more attracted to a motor with a completely uncluttered cockpit with almost all the functions adjustable via a flashy touchscreen system.

Worryingly, 60 per cent of the UK motorists surveyed said they have been distracted from safe driving while operating in-car controls - although What Car? points out that these distractions are not limited solely to touchscreen interfaces, which are used by more than one-in-seven drivers.

When the respondents with voice control tech in their cars were asked why they prefer using it over touchscreens, safety and not having to take their eyes off the road were cited as the main reasons, with many complaining that they found it difficult to press the correct icons on a display screen without looking.

With Amazons Alexa, Apples Siri and Hey Google used more than ever, motorists are increasingly turning to spoken-word technology, according to What Car?, which has put the latest voice control systems to the test.

Amazons Alexa, Apples Siri and Hey Google are all very competent voice command systems, while older models will have manufacturer-developed setups that are still useful but can be clumsy at times and not understand commands, What Car? found

It tested 20 new models sold in showrooms right now and timed how long it took to perform commonly-used sat-nav, air-conditioning and radio-related tasks using both voice control and touchscreens.

It found that a competent voice control system beats a touchscreen hand down in reducing distraction while at the wheel, because the driver doesnt have to look away from the road at all.

However, not all voice control systems are equal, and nearly three in five users (58 per cent) told us they had experienced problems with a voice control system not understanding a command.

The best systems, such as BMWs iDrive, Renaults OpenR and Volvos Google Built-in, give the driver a number of ways of accessing frequently used functions. This means they can enter a postcode into the sat-nav using the touchscreen when parked, and then use voice control to change the destination if plans alter on-route.

The worst are systems built into current Vauxhall and Suzuki models, the study found.

What Car? Consumer Editor, Claire Evans, said there is a real gulf in the market in terms of operating systems.

'BMWs iDrive system was the clear leader in both our tests of voice control and physical or touchscreen controls. It was proof that quick responses to natural-language commands is key to quickly  and safely  performing operations without taking your eyes off the road,' she explained.

Which car brands have the least - and most - distracting touchscreen systems? 1. BMW: 87% (iDrive 8 system with 14.9' screen tested in 5 Series) 2. Renault: 83% (OpenR system with 12' screen tested in Austral) 3. Volvo: 68% (Google Built-in system with 9' screen tested in XC60) 4. Mercedes-Benz: 63% (MBUX system with 12.8' screen tested in EQE) 5. Porsche: 62% (Communication Management 6.0 system with 10.9' screen tested in Taycan) 6. Audi: 61% (MMI Navigation Plus system with 10.1' screen tested in Q8 e-tron) 7. Land Rover: 60% (Pivi Pro system with 10' screen tested in Range Rover Evoque) 8. Tesla: 57% (17' screen tested in Model S) =9. Kia: 53% (Connected Car Navigation Cockpit system with 12.3' screen tested in EV6) =9. Hyundai: 53% (Connected Car Navigation Cockpit system with 12.3' screen tested in Kona EV) 11. DS: 52% (10' screen with IRIS voice control tested in DS4) 12. Ford: 51% (E-Sync4A system with 15.5' screen tested in Mustang Mach-E) 13. Genesis: 45% (14.5' screen tested in GV70) 14. Volkswagen: 43% (Discover Pro system with 12' screen tested in ID.Buzz) 15. Lexus: 42% (Link Pro system with 14' screen tested in RZ) 16. Peugeot: 36% (i-Connect system with 10' screen tested in 408) 17. Nissan: 33% (5G Communications module system with 12.3' screen tested in Qashqai) 18. Mazda: 28% (Connect system with 10.3' screen tested in CX-30) 19. Honda: 25% (Connected with Navigation system with 9' screen tested in HR-V) 20. Suzuki: 24% (Pioneer SLDA system with 9' screen tested in S-Cross) 21. Vauxhall: 22% (Interlink system with 10'screen in Corsa) Source: What Car?. Ratings based on time drivers spent with their eyes off the road while making adjustments to three settings: changing a radio station; setting a sat-nav destination; and adjusting the interior temperature

Ditch overcomplicated touchscreens, car makers told

New safety tests are due to arrive shortly to pile pressure on car makers to dial back confusing touchscreen systems that can be distracting for drivers to use on the move.

From January 2026, crash testing body Euro NCAP will introduce rules that downgrade the safety ratings of new vehicles that do not have buttons on the dashboard to control simple operations such as indicating and activating hazard warning lights.

Brands including Mercedes-Benz, Tesla, Volkswagen and Volvo are today offering larger, more advanced touchscreens with more controls embedded into them that are convoluted to use while driving.

This is said to be 'undermining' the ban on using a phone at the wheel, which since March 2022 will land motorists who touch their device with six penalty points on your licence and a 200 fine (and if, within two years of passing your test, will cost you your licence) if caught by the police or roadside cameras.

The Tesla Model 3 doesn't have an instrument cluster behind the steering wheel. It means the driver needs to peer over to the large tablet-style screen to see the speed they're travelling

Car makers are in an arms race to develop the most technologically-advanced infotainment screens. Pictured is the Mercedes-Benz MBUX 'Hyperscreen'

The Hyperscreen is wider than most living room televisions. At 55.5-inches - over 141cm wide - the curved units spans the width of the dashboard.

For years, road safety experts have been warning that the latest cars are proving an increasingly distracting danger.

This has been fuelled by the growing trend for manufacturers to scrap traditional push-button knobs, switches and dials on car dashboards and replace them with large computer-tablet-style touchscreens.

Designers love these because it clears the dashboard of - as they see it - unnecessary 'clutter' to create a clean, minimalist feel.

Industry bean-counters also prefer this setup because it cuts costs by removing switches and wiring in favour of an iPad-style dashboard run by downloadable software.

As a result, drivers are forced to increasingly interact with a touchscreen, which is positioned to the left of the steering wheel and means they must look away from the road.

The electric Tesla Model 3, for instance, doesn't have a traditional instrument cluster behind the steering wheel to tell them their speed, remaining battery range and satellite navigation turn instructions. Neither does it have a head-up display that beams this information onto the windscreen so a driver can take-in the info without glancing away from the road.

Instead, owners must instead turn their head to look at the 15.4-inch landscape display in the middle of the cabin.

This pales in comparison to Mercedes' biggest screen - called the Hyperscreen - which is 55.5 inches wide and spans the entire dashboard of its high-end electric models.

Volkswagen, which has come under criticism as late for its below-par infotainment systems - including slider controls for the temperature and volume settings below the touchscreen that are not backlit, meaning they are incredibly difficult to locate at night - also continues to shift simple controls into its elaborate touchscreen systems.

The new ID.7 electric saloon does away with conventional vents to blow hot and cold air towards passengers and instead the driver has to tap the screen to adjust the intensity and direction the flow of air is distributed.

Even Volvo, a brand that's been a byword for vehicle safety for decades, is at it.

Its new EX30 EV requires the driver to press through a sub-menu on the car's touchscreen just to adjust the electric mirrors and the rear window de-mister.

Volkswagen's electric ID.7 doesn't have conventional air vents. Instead, how the air is distributed around the cabin is controlled by an elaborate setting in the touchscreen

Even Volvo, a brand that's been a byword for vehicle safety for decades, has been accused of shifting too many controls to its touchscreens. The new EX30 EV requires the driver to press through a sub-menu to adjust the electric mirrors and the rear window de-mister

Though not all car makers are going in the same direction.

Mazda has opted to keep traditional controls in its new models.

And it's the Japanese brand that is likely to score best in Euro NCAP's new safety tests due to be introduced in 2026.

Under the rules, a vehicle can only score a maximum five-star crash test rating if it has basic control buttons, stalks or dials for five critical tasks: indicating directions, triggering hazard lights, sounding the horn, operating windscreen wipers and activating the eCall SOS function, which automatically calls the emergency services in the event of a serious collision.

Although the safety rules are not mandatory, car makers are desperate to earn top marks to make their vehicles more appealing to consumers and anything but a five-star score can impact sales.

Euro NCAP alongside a number of safety campaigners are growing increasingly frustrated by the distracting characteristics of the latest infotainment system, many of which have a number of sub menus that require lots of concentration and effort to adjust - all while the operator is expected to control the car safely.

They fear this is undermining the Government's recent steps to ban touching mobile phones at the wheel for the very same reason.

Matthew Avery, director of strategic development at Euro NCAP, said: 'The overuse of touchscreens is an industry-wide problem, with almost every vehicle-maker moving key controls onto central touchscreens, obliging drivers to take their eyes off the road and raising the risk of distraction crashes.

'New Euro NCAP tests due in 2026 will encourage manufacturers to use separate, physical controls for basic functions in an intuitive manner, limiting eyes-off-road time and therefore promoting safer driving.'

Mike Hawes, chief executive at the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, the trade body representing auto makers, argues that safety is the 'number-one priority' for the car industry but car manufacturers each have their 'own individual strategies for designing in-car controls'.

He also pointed to car makers upgrading to the latest voice-activation systems so that drivers do not need to take their eyes off the road for a second to make simple adjustments in their vehicles.

Commenting on the latest infotainment system in cars, industry analyst John Griffiths said: 'Touchscreens and their ever-more excessive and labyrinthine menus make smartphone distraction minor in comparison.'
Cheap Chinese electric cars could soon become more expensive to buy after the European Union announced plans to hit EV imports with additional tariffs of almost 50 per cent from next month.

It comes after the European Commission last year launched an investigation into the Chinese EV sector on the back of concerns from EU car makers that they are gaining an unfair 'competitive edge' thanks to their government-subsidised cheaper prices.

The decision now risks triggering a trade war with China if the issue cannot be resolved in the coming days.

The EU has announced plans to sting Chinese EV imports with additional import tariffs of up to 38% after a probe concluded that they gain an unfair financial 'competitive edge' over European car makers thanks to their government-subsidised cheaper prices

The European Commission has ordered a hike of tariffs on Chinese manufacturers starting in July.

This would be on top of the current rate of 10 per cent on all electric cars produced in China.

It stated the additional amount depended on the level of state subsidies received by the automotive companies in question.

The Commission said it could revise these figures if car manufacturers provide 'sufficient counter-balancing evidence'.

As it stands, provisionally, SAIC (formerly Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation) will be stung hardest with 38.1 per cent tariffs, taking the total import taxation to 48.1 per cent.

Geely will be hit with a 20 per cent additional duty, meaning a 30 per cent import tariff in total.

BYD, which is vying with Tesla to be the biggest global EV seller, is to be hit with a provisional 17.4 per cent additional tariff taking to total to 27.4 per cent.

All other electric car producers in China which had cooperated with the commission's probe but were not sampled would face an average extra duty of 21 per cent, it added.

The European Commission says additional tariff amounts depend on the level of state subsidies received by the automotive companies in question. SAIC will be stung hardest with 48.1% taxation

BYD, which is vying with Tesla to be the biggest global EV seller , is to be hit with a provisional 27.4% tariff

The remaining EV makers which did not cooperate with the investigation would be subject to the highest 38.1 per cent extra hike in duty, the commission stated.

As well as Chinese brands, makers originating from other continents who built cars in the Far East country and export them to EU markets will also be stung with an additional 21 per cent on top of the existing 10 per cent tariff.

This would hit Mini, which is producing its new electric Cooper in China in collaboration with Great Wall Motor between now and 2030 as part of a stopgap until EV manufacturing returns to its Oxford plant following a big investment in the factory.

Tesla would also be issued the additional taxation due to its Gigafactory Shanghai manufacturing site that builds models sold in the EU.

Chinese-made EVs currently hold an 8 per cent share in the European car market, and the commission estimates this will rise to 15 per cent by the end of 2024.

While the UK is free to impose its own tariffs, it is expected to follow suit with its own rules.

Secretary of state for transport Mark Harper has previously promised 'robust measures', though any decision is subject to change given the impending general election.

Ian Plummer, commercial director of Auto Trader, said he hopes the UK 'isn't tempted to take similar action', describing the EU's move as 'disappointing'.

He went on: 'UK drivers already face a lack of affordable choices when it comes to electric cars, so it doesn't make sense for us to limit those options even further for consumers.

'We need to bring more buyers into the market by cutting down the 'green premium' which means EVs are usually 35 per cent more expensive than diesel or petrol cars. We'll only do that with open competition to foster innovation, not by reducing choice for consumers.'

Chinese brands currently dominate the budget-end of the new electric car market, with models like the MG4 EV significantly undercutting European rivals.

And more Chinese EV brands are expected to emerge in the coming months and years, including the likes of Leapmotor, which looks set to deliver a battery-powered city car costing less than 15,000 from March 2025.

The cheapest EV on sale in Britain today is the Chinese MG4 (pictured). It currently costs from 26,995 - a price that would undoubtedly increase if MG Motor faced increased tariffs following the EU probe

Leapmotor International is the next new electric car brand from the Far East looking to break the European market. The T03 (pictured) is expected to undercut the 15k Dacia Spring to become Britain's least expensive new EV

In a statement issued today, the commission said it had 'provisionally concluded that the battery electric vehicles value chain in China benefits from unfair subsidisation, which is causing a threat of economic injury to EU BEV producers.'

It added: 'Should discussions with Chinese authorities not lead to an effective solution, these provisional countervailing duties would be introduced.'

The tariffs will apply provisionally from 4 July and then definitively from November unless there is a qualified majority of EU states - 15 countries representing at least 65 percent of the bloc's population - voting against the move.

Brussels launched its probe last year, with officials saying they wanted to put the brakes on what they claimed were unfair practices undercutting Europe's car manufacturers.

As well as Chinese brands, makers originating from other continents will also be stung. This includes Mini, which is producing its new electric Cooper (pictured) in China in collaboration with Great Wall Motor

Tesla could also be hit with the additional taxes due to its Gigafactory Shanghai manufacturing site that builds models sold in the EU

The EU's tariffs, while high, are lower than the United States' 100 per cent rate announced by President Biden and imposed from last month on Chinese electric cars.

And not all 27 EU member states welcome the commission's move.

Germany is attempting to prevent the new tariffs from coming into force or at least soften them.

Government officials are optimistic that the EU will be able to find a solution in direct talks with China, the reported added citing a person familiar with the matter.

Europe's auto industry had warned against imposing the tariffs, with German carmakers the most exposed to any counter moves as almost a third of their sales came from China in 2023, trade data shows.

Hungary and Sweden have also expressed reservations about the investigation and the push to slap higher duties.

China is an important market for German car makers with almost a third of their sales coming from China in 2023. Hungary, which a month ago hosted a visit by Chinese President Xi Jinping, is clearing land for a BYD factory to be built next year and Geely owns Volvo, the Swedish-based auto manufacturer.

'The European Commission's punitive tariffs hit German companies and their top products,' German transport minister Volker Wissing wrote on X.

'Cars must become cheaper through more competition, open markets and significantly better business conditions in the EU, not through trade war and market isolation,' Wissing said.

The European Automobile Manufacturers' Association (ACEA) said it has 'consistently affirmed that free and fair trade is essential in creating a globally competitive European automotive industry' and that 'healthy competition drives innovation and choice for consumers'.

In its statement, the ACEA added: 'Free and fair trade means guaranteeing a level playing field for all competitors, but it is just one important part of the global competitiveness puzzle.'

Director General, Sigrid de Vries. went on: 'What the European automotive sector needs above all else to be globally competitive is a robust industrial strategy for electromobility.

'This means ensuring access to critical materials and affordable energy, a coherent regulatory framework, sufficient charging and hydrogen refilling infrastructure, market incentives, and so much more.'

The Chinese Chamber of Commerce to the EU (CCCEU) warned the rates announced 'will pose a serious market barrier' and slammed the 'politically motivated and protectionism driven' investigation.

The CCCEU said the probe lacked 'substantive and substantiated complaints from its domestic industry' since it was launched by the commission without a complaint from manufacturers.

There are now fears that the EC's decision could trigger a trade war with China

Reports suggest a retaliation from Beijing

China warned prior to the announcement that the tariffs would amount to 'protectionism'.

'It goes against the principles of market economy and international trade rules, undermines China-EU economic and trade cooperation as well as the stability of the global automobile production and supply chain,' foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian said.

'China will take all necessary measures to firmly safeguard its legitimate rights and interests,' he said.

Chinese media has gone on to ramp up threats that Beijing could target EU exports, including pork and dairy products, in the weeks running before the commission's decision.

China is an important country for EU's agriculture sector and any move by Beijing could deliver acute pain to European exports.

EU exported dairy products worth around 1.7billion (1.4bn) last year, down from nearly 2.1bn (1.8bn) in 2023.

The country is also the third destination for the EU's agri-food exports after Britain and the United States.

China is the world's biggest car exporter and Europe is a critical market for it.

EU imports of EVs from China mushroomed from around 57,000 in 2020 to around 437,000 in 2023, the US-based Peterson Institute for International Economics said.

Ahead of the EU's move, Germany's Kiel Institute for the World Economy said in a report that a 20 per cent tariff would mean 125,000 fewer Chinese electric cars to the EU, worth almost $4bn (1.1bn).
There will be a 'staggering' glut of oil by the end of the decade as firms ramp up production, the International Energy Agency has warned.

In its annual report on the industry, the IEA said demand for oil looks set to peak by 2029, amid bumper levels of production, driven by the US.

Global demand for oil will contract from 2030 onwards, the findings added.

Data: There will be a 'staggering' glut of oil by the end of the decade, the IEA said

The report said: 'Emerging economies in Asia, particularly China and India, account for all of global demand growth. By contrast, oil demand in advanced economies falls sharply.'

The Paris-based energy watchdog sees supply capacity hitting nearly 114million barrels per day by 2030, or a full 8million bpd above projected demand in its annual oil report.

Faith Birol, the agency's director, said: 'Oil companies may want to make sure their business strategies and plans are prepared for the changes taking place.'

According to the IEA, the 'massive cushion' of surplus oil could 'upend' Opec+'s bid to manage the market and bring prices down.

Weaker macroeconomic expectations, together with new government policies and regulations to fast-track the energy transition, will pile further pressure on oil companies, the IEA said.

Last year, the IEA said the world was at the 'beginning of the end' of the era for fossil fuel, amid a drive for renewable forms of energy and electric vehicles.

Shifts: Last year, the IEA said the world was at the 'beginning of the end' of the era for fossil fuel

On Wednesday, the IEA questioned whether Opec+ countries, led by Russia, could continue increasing production .

It said: 'This year, the groups total oil market share has dropped to 48.5 per cent, the lowest since it was formed in 2016, due to its sharp voluntary output cuts.'

The IEA said that even with the 'deep cuts' in production being undertaken by members of Opec+, 'the bloc would pump above the call on its crude oil to varying degrees from 2025 through 2030.'

Haitham Al Ghais, the general secretary of Opec, called the IEA forecasts 'dangerous' and warned of 'energy chaos on a potentially unprecedented scale' if firms halt investments in oil and gas.
A top family lawyer has shared his tips for what to do when your marriage falls apart, advice on how to build good relationships and horror stories from when it all goes wrong.

Michael Tiyce, Principal at Tiyce and Lawyers, has spent more than 30 years dealing with the chaos of failed relationships and believes the pressure from the skyrocketing cost of living has pushed many couples over the edge.

For soon-to-be wedded couples, Mr Tiyce said they should focus on one thing, 'communication'.

'If you've got a problem with your communication, get it improved,' he told Daily Mail Australia.

'Pre-marriage counseling is often a very, very good idea, and so is getting some legal advice about the implications of marriage.'

Michael Tiyce, Principal at Tiyce and Lawyers, encouraged couples set to get married to consider pre-marital counselling and a financial agreement, often called a prenup, to avoid a costly divorce

He also shared what can happen when marriages breakdown in the worst way.

'There are all the horror stories of people who try and get around orders, like burning a house down to avoid a payment,' Mr Tiyce said.

'That's one of the famous ones. The husband destroyed the property and, obviously, that's very serious contempt so he spent time in custody for that.

'There was a case where the wife wanted her family dog but the dog was a valuable breeding stud for the husband.

'So, the wife had the dog de-sexed.

'She had to pay the husband a bit to take into account the fact that she had diminished the value of that particular asset but she got her pet.'

Mr Tiyce recalled divorce horror stories, including a woman who de-sexed a valuable breeding dog and a man who burnt down his family home

As for the cheapest option to settle divorces, Mr Tiyce believes the best way to avoid a costly court case is by taking preventative measures before tying the knot.

He recommended couples do this by signing a 'financial agreement' - often called a prenup.

In a strange twist, Mr Tiyce said it's actually parents who push the most for their children to protect their assets.

'Particularly at the moment with cost of living pressures, people are relying on the bank of mum and dad,' he said.

'One of the things we're seeing quite a bit of is mum and dad kicking in for house deposits but requiring that the parties enter into a financial agreement.

'That way if their daughter or son separates from their partner down the track, the money they've put in is protected.'

Another way divorcees can save is by prioritising mediation over a court battle.

Mr Tiyce (pictured) found money has become a big focal point of marriages with more couples signing financial agreements and relationships breaking down due to cost pressures

'Most experienced family lawyers will throw as much energy as possible to try to get people resolving without the court process,' Mr Tiyce said.

'Collect all of your financial material and take it to a family lawyer. Tell them to get you out of the drama you're in as soon as possible.

'The best idea, again, is open and honest communication, give your lawyer everything they ask you for and be sensible in your dealings with the other side.'
A retired couple have lost tens of thousands of dollars in an alleged tiny homes scam which left about 170 creditors owed an estimated $6million.

Valerie Shannon and Garth Woodcock paid almost $55,000 to My Tiny Home Kit, which was owned by Spencer Porter, in late 2022, expecting the structure to arrive by April 2023.

But by last August, just part of the frame and roof had been delivered, and the couple, who live in Coffs Harbour on the NSW north coast, feared they would never get the $43,000 they said they were owed back.

'It makes me feel sick because I just want my tiny home,' Ms Shannon told ABC's 7.30 show.

'If I don't get my tiny home, I want my money back.'

Valerie Shannon (right) and Garth Woodcock (left) are among the people out of pocket by tens of thousand of dollars for a home they paid for, but which was never built

The retired couple paid almost $55,000 to My Tiny Home Kit, which was owned by Spencer Porter (pictured), in late 2022, expecting the home structure to arrive by April 2023

Mr Porter founded My Tiny Home Kit in 2022 after previously owning failed app businesses.

Launching the company in a blaze of publicity, he said tiny homes had become extremely popular and everyone wanted one.

'So, we have decided we want to change the world one step at a time.'

The businessman also said he wanted to spread 'awareness on the devastating extreme poverty that is taking place right now, right on our doorsteps and across the world'.

Mr Porter promised that for 'every single tiny home we sell, we are building a tiny home in a country in need, to allow those who don't have a roof over their head to have a home because everyone deserves to have a place to call home.'

He later revised that down to a promise to sponsor children through World Vision instead.

'Through sponsoring a child for every tiny home kit order, we are now making a consistent, positive impact on the lives of children in need,' the My Tiny Home Kit website read.

Melbourne woman Lyndy U'Ren and her brother spent about $28,000 on a tiny home for their family's rural holiday block in 2022.

As a cancer survivor, she was impressed by a 2019 news story about Mr Porter saying he would donate the proceeds of a self-published book based on his late mother's voice recordings to The Peter MacCallum Cancer Foundation.

The home Ms U'ren and her brother paid for was supposed to arrive within three months, but as with Ms Shannon and Mr Woodcock, she only ever got a partial frame.

Ms U'Ren has tracked down about 90 customers and suppliers who allege they are owed money or were let down by My Tiny Home Kit and Mr Porter.

'Even though there are some people that have had their money back, the ongoing impact that it's had on these people has been pretty significant,' she told ABC's Emily Baker.

A My Tiny Home Kit promotional photo is pictured. The company has gone into liquidation

Ms Shannon said the experience has affected her health.

'I wake up thinking of Spencer Porter, I go to sleep thinking of Spencer Porter,' she said.

'I've had to go to the doctor to get medication to help me sleep ... He's been ripping us off and there are no consequences.'

Western Sydney father-of-five David Urquhart also wanted to build a tiny home, for his daughter, paying out $32,000.

Two weeks after he made his final instalment, My Tiny Home Kit went into liquidation.

'It's almost beyond imagining, losing that much money for nothing,' Mr Urquhart said.

Mr Porter reportedly stopped sponsoring children through World Vision last November, and the Peter MacCallum Foundation said it has never had any donations from him.

Daily Mail Australia contacted Mr Porter for comment, but he did not reply. He has previously rejected claims that My Tiny Home Kit is a scam.
The city of Gilbert, Arizona, has been ranked among the top ten places in the U.S. to raise children.

The small town, essentially a wealthy suburb of Phoenix, is home to 290,000 residents where almost one third of the population are under the age of 18.

A survey by Wallethub ranked Gilbert as the 6th best place in the country to raise a family in 2024.

The site looked at more than 180 cities across the nation using 45 key metrics deemed important for raising a family including housing costs, healthcare, the quality of its schools and recreational activities.

But the city holds a dark secret, with a young gang running rampant in the area.

The city of Gilbert, Arizona has been ranked among the top ten places in the U.S. to raise kids

A street gang dubbed the 'Gilbert Goons' has plagued the Phoenix suburbs by attacking teenagers and robbing stores

Once billed as the country's second-safest city, Gilbert has been in national news for all the wrong reasons with teen delinquents who have been terrorizing the community since 2022.

The Gilbert Goons are known for recording blitz-style attacks in parks, parking garages, outside fast-food restaurants and at house parties.

After carrying out the attacks on unsuspecting people, they then post the videos on social media.

Victims and residents in the area have described the group as mostly white, upper-middle-class teenagers from multiple East Valley high schools.

Their assaults appeared unmotivated and were often recorded and shared by the attackers themselves.

Several lawsuits have been filed claiming that law enforcement and school officials allowed the Goons to continue unleashing their violence since as least 2022.

The small town, essentially a wealthy suburb of Phoenix, is home to 290,000 residents where almost one third of the population are under the age of 18

Following a months-long investigation into the group, Gilbert Police Chief Michael Soelberg confirmed last month that the group functions as an organized criminal entity

The Goons' reign of terror: DailyMail.com can reveal how the gang of youngsters ran amok in the Arizona town before Preston Lord's death in October

The teens' reign of violence, which allegedly included armed robberies and dozens of assaults at parties and in parking lots culminated with the fatal beating of Preston Lord, 16

Last month, the group of young men who have been terrorizing Phoenix suburbs, were finally been designated as a criminal street gang.

The teens' reign of violence, which allegedly included armed robberies and dozens of assaults at parties and in parking lots - several with brass knuckles - culminated with the fatal beating of 16-year-old Preston Lord at a Halloween party last year.

Following a months-long investigation into the gang, embattled Gilbert police chief Michael Soelberg confirmed that the group functions as an organized criminal entity.

The city's police chief explained the Goons were classified as a 'hybrid gang,' because of their reliance on social media, its members are not of the same race and it has a 'lax or absent' code of conduct.

According to police, the Goons lack aspects of a traditional gang, including defined leadership and rules, specific use of symbols and colors, and lifelong commitments.

Goons suspects Treston Billie and Jacob Meisner are named in Kuehner's lawsuit after several assault arrests in Gilbert. They are both also accused with Lord's murder

A survey by Wallethub ranked Gilbert as 6th best place in the country to raise a family in 2024

Sarah Williams, right, and April Gould conduct an online goat yoga class in Gilbert

Gilbert is said to be a particularly welcoming town for families

The Goons have been involved in at least 95 assaults in 18 attacks, most in Gilbert, as reported by the Arizona Republic.

Police Chief Michael Soelberg previously told DailyMail.com his department has made 29 arrests in connection to attacks.

Despite national news about teen violence in Gilbert, in May Chief Soelberg denied teen violence was particularly bad in the area.

He said: 'Overall, Gilbert is a safe community, but we're not immune to the problems that we've seen throughout the country, so we're no different than anybody else.

'We're a large community with nearly 300,000 people, and within our community we have 80,000 teenagers and younger. And so when you have that many kids, you're bound to have some conflict amongst teens and that's what we see nationwide.'

But more videos of teen attacks and claims made by alleged victims about the Goons reign of terror were shared with police following the fatal beating of Lord, at a Halloween party in October in nearby Queen Creek.

Seven teens and young men, including several Goons suspects, have been charged with his murder, sparking accusations from some in the community who believe the alleged killers should have been removed from the streets long ago.
A 57-year-old second-grade teacher who was arrested for allegedly teaching while being drunk will not face charges, because of a lack of evidence.

Wendy Munson, 57, was detained on October 2, 2023 after Sutter County sheriff's deputies were alerted to a staff member appearing intoxicated at Nuestro Elementary School in Live Oak, north of Sacramento, California.

Despite the arrest, prosecutors found insufficient evidence to prove a crime had been committed.

'The mere potential that a situation could arise is insufficient to meet the requirements under the law. While teaching under the influence is highly inappropriate, it is, unfortunately, not illegal,' the DA's office stated.

Wendy Munson, 57, was arrested for allegedly teaching while intoxicated, but prosecutors announced she will not face charges due to insufficient evidence

Munson was detained on October 2 after Sutter County sheriff's deputies were alerted to Munson appearing drunk at Nuestro Elementary School in Live Oak, California

'The behavior is reprehensible,' said Sutter County District Attorney Jennifer Dupre. 'But it doesn't violate the penal code to teach kids when they're drunk.'

'The behavior is reprehensible,' said Sutter County District Attorney Jennifer Dupre. 'But it doesn't violate the penal code to teach kids when they're drunk.'

Deputies arrived at the school and walked into Munson's class where she appeared to be slurring her speech and showing signs of having hit the bottle.

Video evidence was also provided of her driving to school and failing a sobriety test afterwards.

She was taken into custody on suspicion of driving under the influence and child endangerment.

Subsequent tests even revealed her blood alcohol level was 0.20% and 0.19%, well above the 0.08% legal limit for drivers in California.

But after an eight-month investigation, prosecutors announced no charges would be filed.

Video footage of Munson driving to school did not conclusively prove that she was intoxicated, as she did not exhibit overt signs of being impaired after she got out of her car.

Munson was a 2nd grade teacher but her name has been removed from the school's website

'She doesn't get out of the car and tumble or anything, so that didn't help us,' Dupre said to the LA Times.

The investigation included interviews with Munson's current and former students but could also not establish whether she was drunk while driving to work or if she began drinking at the school.

Prosecutors also could not meet the legal criteria for the child endangerment charge.

'There was no specific information indicating that the children in Munson's class were placed in a position where their persons or health were endangered,' officials with the district attorney's office explained.

'The person has to have placed them in a position where they are in danger, not might be in danger,' Dupre said.

'We tried because I don't like the conduct. It's not acceptable, but it's unfortunately not criminal.'

The incident is now considered a personnel matter for the school and district.

'I thought it was crazy. I think she should've called out of work,' said parent Kaitlynn Conley to CBS News while picking up a student at Munson. 'I know people have fun weekends, but that was definitely not OK as an educator.'

The district's website no longer lists Munson as a current teacher.
A therapist struck off as a sex pest is back treating patients again.

Peter Orwell was kicked out as an osteopath for serious sexual misconduct. He had groomed a vulnerable patient for his own sexual gratification, a panel found.

Now the Mail has discovered he is back working as a therapist  offering 'hands on treatment'.

When he was struck off in 2015, the General Osteopathic Council (GOsC), the UK regulator for osteopaths, described Mr Orwell as posing 'a continuing risk of harm to other patients'.

It removed him from its register, saying there was 'a real likelihood' he would repeat his sexually motivated misconduct.

Peter Orwell was kicked out as an osteopath in 2015 for serious sexual misconduct, but has now been found working again as a 'musculoskeletal therapist 'at his clinic in Plumstead, south London, as well as at patients' own homes

Now he has a new website offering massages. Mr Orwell no longer refers to himself as an 'osteopath', but as a 'musculoskeletal therapist'.

He charges 70 for a one-hour session at his clinic in Plumstead, south London, or at patients' own homes.

Under current UK regulations, massage therapists do not need a licence. There is one accredited register, where a member of the public can look up a masseur.

But because it is voluntary, experts say only a minority are signed up. Mr Orwell, who is in his fifties, does not appear to be a member.

Contacted by the Mail, he declined to comment.

When he was a registered osteopath, he groomed a younger patient to encourage her to feel safe with him  before allowing her to undress completely naked and then touch her intimately as she lay on his treatment table, a panel found.

Mr Orwell asked her about her sex life and suggested she use sex toys, which the professional conduct committee concluded was a 'reckless' and serious breach of professional standards.

In its 2015 ruling, the GOsC concluded Mr Orwell had 'groomed Patient A, a vulnerable patient, for his own sexual gratification' and 'abused his professional position in order to be able to touch her intimately without protest'.

After being contacted by The Mail, Mr Orwell changed his website, removing most of the content and replacing it with the words 'coming soon' (pictured)

It added: 'The committee was satisfied that [Mr Orwell's] conduct taken cumulatively fell seriously short of the standard expected of a registered osteopath.

'The committee was satisfied that his conduct was deplorable.'

The committee found Mr Orwell had committed 'a serious abuse of his position of trust in relation to a vulnerable patient' and also 'posed a continuing risk of harm to other patients'.

The General Osteopathic Council announced: 'Mr Orwell is now unable to practise as an osteopath.'

Mr Orwell has continued to see patients, although he no longer called himself an osteopath, but a 'health consultant' or a 'therapist'.

He has been holding regular 'musculoskeletal therapy' sessions at a clinic in Plumstead.

His website states: 'I believe in the healing power of hands on treatment'. He promises 'personalised care' and says: 'My philosophy is centred around providing a safe and comfortable environment where my patients can relax and rejuvenate their mind, body and spirit.'

At-home massages have become increasingly popular, but a recent BBC radio File On 4 investigation found dozens of women have been sexually assaulted by massage therapists in their own homes.

Experts are calling for the government to introduce stricter regulation in a sector that has little oversight.

The Mail reached Mr Orwell by telephone to ask why he was treating patients despite the GOsC warning he posed a danger, but he ended the call and did not respond to follow-up messages.

He later changed his website, removing most of the content and replacing it with the words 'coming soon'.

The General Osteopathic Council said: 'If someone who has been removed from our register is practising as a different kind of unregulated therapist and not an osteopath, currently there is no further action we can take.

'The GOsC would strongly urge all patients to see only healthcare professionals who are registered.

'For the highest level of protection, choose a practitioner that is regulated.'
A former rising star of the Tory party has announced she is to move to Brazil with a dashing diplomat who romanced her in an extra marital fling.

Dehenna Davison, 30, was tipped for high office when she won a Red Wall seat for the Conservatives at the age of just 26.

Tory leaders were dismayed when she announced she would not be standing in the forthcoming election and she has now created more waves by revealing her future plans.

She and Foreign Office envoy Tony Kay, 51, a father-of-two who reportedly left his wife for Ms Davison, will be moving to a new posting for him in Brasilia, where she says she will be content to be a 'plus one'.

The pair are believed to have met in 2019 when Mr Kay, who was awarded an OBE for his work during the Arab Spring uprising, was deputy ambassador to Israel.

Dehenna Davison, 30, and Foreign Office envoy Tony Kay, 51, a father of two who reportedly left his wife for Ms Davison, will be moving to a new posting for him in Brasilia

Dehenna Davison embraces with Tony Kay at Waterloo Station waiting for the train to Ascot

But it was only in February 2022 that he and Ms Davison were spotted walking hand in hand through London, with Whitehall sources confirming to the Mail that he had moved into her Westminster flat after a six month relationship.

His wife and children are believed to still reside in the expansive home in Ascot, Berkshire, Mr Kay bought with 49-year-old Mrs Kay in 2019.

Announcing their forthcoming departure, Ms Davison didn't refer to her partner's family arrangements.

She said Mr Kay would become Deputy Ambassador to Brazil, a post he will hold for the next three years.

Ms Davison said: 'When I announced that I was standing down my partner started applying for roles within the Home Office and he has landed a fantastic role in South America so I'm going be moving with him.

'The plan was always to move after the election, but the election has come sooner than we thought so I am going to be moving overseas.

'We are going to be based in Brasilia, which is a bit less sexy than your Rio de Janeiro or your San Paulo, but it is like the Washington DC of Brazil where all the Government offices and that sort of thing are.

'It looks amazing. I am still a bit dumbstruck it is happening to be honest.'

Ms Davison, an ally of Liz Truss, was once tipped as a rising star of the Tory party.

She served as Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities from September 2022 to September 2023.

When Ms Davison was 24 she married John Fareham, a Hull councillor 35 years her senior (pictured on Bride and Prejudice)

She resigned from the role saying 'chronic migraines' made it 'impossible' to do her job and told Prime Minister Rishi Sunak people deserved 'a minister who can give the job the energy it needs'.

She then said she would not be standing in the next general election and the Conservatives announced Jane MacBean as their candidate for Bishop Auckland, County Durham.

Ms Davison said: 'One of the great things about being an MP is that that you can make a difference on things so, once I am settled, I want to be a position where I can do that, supporting charities and doing social mobility work, getting more women in education, they are the sort of things I am interested in.

'When I said I was standing down, part of it was because I felt as though I haven't given enough time for my friends and my family.

'So I also want to be able to support my partner in the same way he has supported me for the past few years.'

Dehenna said there she is also looking forward to the contrasting cultural events she will experience as a young woman from the north of England attending events as the partner of a British diplomat abroad.

She added: 'It is going to be completely different from anywhere I have lived.

'I grew up in Sheffield and lived in Hull and Bishop Auckland was a great home, so it is going to be very different, but I think there is something good about expanding your horizons and seeing new places.

'Partly to see how it works elsewhere but also to make you realise how great your hometown is too.

Ms Davison was linked to the Pork Pie Plot against Boris Johnson

'I just want to get there and get settled in because moving is quite stressful anyway, even if you are just moving down the road.

'This is completely different.'

Ms Davison, the first openly bisexual female Conservative MP and a champion of LGBT+ rights, separated from her former husband, Hull City councillor John Fareham, who is 35 years her senior, before she was elected to Parliament.

She has now been with Tony Kay, the Foreign Office's former head of the Arabian Peninsula department, for around two years. Dehenna said she and Mr Kay have always kept their careers separate to avoid any conflict of interest when she was a serving MP.

She added: 'We will continue to do that but certainly at social functions  and diplomats have to attend so many  I will be there quite a lot.

'I am looking forward to the change of pace but I imagine we will be dead busy when we first get there.

'It is going to be strange being a plus one instead of having a plus one.'

In February 2022 a Whitehall source told the Daily Mail: 'The relationship between Dehenna and Tony hasn't been going on since they met in 2019  it's six months. His wife has known for half a year, the kids know, the Foreign Secretary Liz Truss knows, James Cleverley knows, his line manager knows, the permanent secretary knows.

'He's done absolutely everything by the book, and kept his line manager informed throughout. He's going through a divorce process with his wife, he's still married.

'It's not entirely unreasonable for him still to be going to the family home, but his marriage is over. Dehenna's flat is her flat, and she's entitled to have whoever she wants in her flat.'
The former Mississippi Highway Patrol officer fired for allegedly recording a sexual encounter with a female friend and sharing it with fellow troopers has hit back saying she would never have been canned if she were a man.

Speaking exclusively to DailyMail.com from outside her gun store in Brandon, Mississippi, Ivana Williams, 36, said, I cant say much right now because of legal proceedings but I was fired because Im a trooper and Im a woman.

'Its that simple,' she added.

'I worked with 95 per cent men and I know all their dirty little secrets. A lot of them have done worse and got nothing more than a slap on the wrist. But I dont need to bring that all out to clear my name.

The other woman seen on the tape has filed a lawsuit claiming Williams sexually assaulted her, videotaped it, and shared the clip with other troopers.

After Williams was named in the woman's lawsuit, she says she was transferred from Rankin County where she lives to Bolivar County, more than a two hour drive away, without explanation

Ivana Williams (pictured) claimed her firing from the Mississippi Highway Patrol was retaliatory and discrimination

Williams went on a recruitment drive at her local high school, which included showing students how handcuffs work

After the other woman in the film filed a lawsuit against Williams, the force moved her from Rankin County where she lives to Bolivar County, more than 100 miles away from her kids

The move put her more than 100 miles away from her children, she argued in her January appeal. She was fired six days later.

An insider has painted a picture of a police department riddled with sexual impropriety and double-standards.

The bottom line is that theres like 10 women troopers in MHP and 520 men and its one rule for the guys another for women,' the source told DailyMail.com.

As proof of this, in her appeal against her firing, filed with the Mississippi Employee Appeals Board in February and reviewed by Dailymail.com, Williams claims that, four years earlier, three of the four male officers who signed her letter of dismissal had solicited nude photographs from her and faced no disciplinary actions.

In fact, DailyMail.com, has uncovered a litany of outrageous behavior allegedly perpetrated by male officers in the MHP.

They include one Master Sergeant who recorded himself having sex with a woman on a state-issued cellphone, a case cited by Williams in her dismissal appeal.

Another recorded his wife having sex with another man, and a third was caught in a sexual act with a male trucker while on duty.

The source said there are multiple occasions on which troopers have allegedly received and shared nude photographs.

She was fired from the force in January for sending sex tape she filmed with another woman, who has accused her of assault, to colleagues

Williams said three out of the four male officers who signed her letter of dismissal had previously asked her to send them nude photographs

Meanwhile, Williams maintains, she has paid the ultimate price for allegations that are both unproven and untrue.

Williams was let go from MHP in January following an internal investigation in which she was also accused of viewing porn sites on her state issued phone and having an open can of beer in her patrol car.

She appealed her dismissal in February claiming it was retaliatory, riddled with double-standards and bereft of any factual basis.

Williams  who has more than 100,000 followers on social media - has maintained she is 'innocent', claiming she never circulated the clip which she insists was filmed with consent and only shared with her then lover with her accusers permission.

Williams says she did not share the footage further and that her firing was 'retaliatory' and in response to a grievance she filed with DPS in January following her transfer.

In her appeal against her dismissal, Williams, who had a blemishless career in law enforcement and was literally once the poster girl of MHP, denied the claims against her.

Williams, who owns a gun store (pictured) in Brandon, Mississippi, has appealed her dismissal from the police force and claimed if she was a man she would not have been fired

In her appeal, she said the department is riddled with double-standards and referenced one Master Sargent who recorded himself having sex with a woman on a state-issued cellphone

She told DailyMail.com, What Ive been accused of just isnt true. There was no assault and if theres a video going round where is it?

'I know the truth and Im confident that when this goes to court in October Ill win, and Ill get my job back.

Williams said she could not comment further beyond describing the situation as a, she said/she said.

The other woman in the tape is now suing Williams in federal court for $11 million in damages, alleging she sexually assaulted and recorded without her consent.

Her accuser claims she was the victim of a sexual assault while so intoxicated she was incapable of even remembering what happened.

For her part Williams has filed a countersuit in federal court demanding $20million for the damage she says the allegations have done to her reputation and business relationships.
A Texas zoo is struggling to keep up with the care of spider monkeys that have been seized along the southwestern border and is now seeking support from the public to keep them alive.

At least 19 baby Mexican spider monkeys and a howler monkey have found shelter at the Gladys Porter Zoo in the border city of Brownsville since March.

The zoo, which is home to another 1,500 species, had brought in incubators to care for some of the spider monkeys that were barely showed vital signs after they were discovered in backpacks and concealed within vehicles.

'This is deliberate smuggling,' Gladys Porter Zoo CEO and executive director, Dr. Pat Burchfield, told Border Report.

Burchfield, who was spent five decades at the zoo, bristled at the way smugglers have gotten their hands on the primates, who are natives to forests in Belize, El Salvador, Guatemala and Mexico.

They have been considered to be endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature since 2020.

Gladys Porter Zoo, located in the Texas border city of Brownsville, has opened its doors to 19 baby Mexican spider monkeys that have been seized by federal authorities in smuggling incidents

One of the three spider monkeys intercepted by U.S. Border Patrol agents at a checkpoint in Falfurrias, Texas in March

'And the sad part about it is to get the baby spider monkeys, they killed the mother,' he said. 'And the fact that we've got 19, how many more made it through the border undetected.'

The zoo staff hand-feeds the baby monkeys with syringes every three hours. The animals are placed in incubators that provide warmth to their bodies to maintain them alive.

Mexican transnational cartels have been increasingly involved with the spider smuggling trade that is part of the illegal exotic pet smuggling business that nets $7 million to $20 million annually across the globe, according to Burchfield.

'Now we have major crime organizations in trafficking animals,' he said. 'Wildlife trafficking has become a major crime worldwide.'

Burchfield estimates that the sale of spider monkeys can fetch up to $8,000 each from people who see them as 'cute.'

The zoo has to keep the monkeys away from its 1,500 species due to fears that they may carry parasites and illnesses

Gladys Porter Zoo is caring for 19 Mexican spider monkeys and two howler monkeys that have been confiscated by federal authorities, including border agents, along the Texas border with Mexico

Two of three monkeys who were found in a vehicle that was stopped at a checkpoint in Falfurrias in April

In April, U.S. Border Patrol agents confiscated three spider monkeys covered in black clothing while searching a vehicle at a checkpoint in Falfurrias.

In March, Bridiana Mendoza, 26, was about to enter the United States with her three children when border agents stopped her at the Veterans International Bridge in Brownsville and discovered six spider monkeys in her purse and backpack.

Mendoza confessed that she had been offered $7,000 to traffic the monkeys to Houston.

Just weeks before her arrest, CBP agents found two howler monkeys in a vehicle driven by Jesus Arguello, 29, on the Brownsville & Matamoros International Bridge.

For the moment, all 19 spider monkeys are kept separate from other animals at the zoo due to fears that they can carry parasites and diseases, including human illnesses.

The zoo has been in contact with other zoos for help and initiated a GoFuneMe account to buy incubators and create more outside enclosures while continuing to provide care to the monkeys.

Although the monkeys can be legally purchased, Burchfield suggested they are not the ideal choices for owning as pets as they are most likely to bite as they grow older and are not meant to be kept inside homes.
Hunter Biden's freedom hangs in the balance with experts divided over whether he will go to jail - but many other convicts have spent time behind bars on similar charges.

Lengthy prison sentences, for felons with similar convictions to Biden, have been handed down by judges across multiple states - giving an broad indication of how Judge Maryellen Noreika may decide to sentence the president's son.

While no two cases are the same, and contextual clues also mean Hunter Biden's sentence will likely differ from other gun charge felons, examples of convicts' endured jail time provides an interesting insight to what Biden, 54, may face.

According to data from the US Sentencing Commission, just 52 defendants have been sentenced in a similar category as Hunter Biden since 2019 - and 92 percent were given prison time.

Of these sentences, the median prison term was 15 months. The remaining eight percent of gun charge felons were given probation or a fine following the cases.

Hunter Biden 's freedom hangs in the balance with experts divided over whether he will go to jail - but many other convicts have spent time behind bars on similar charges

Thomas Brown of Norman in Oklahoma was sentenced to 57 months in federal prison in February for making false statements during his purchase of a firearm.

The 50-year-old was indicted on four counts after lying about a previous domestic violence conviction while trying to buy a gun from a pawnshop in his hometown.

Investigators found he already owned two unregistered firearms and that contributed to his near five-year sentence - unlike Hunter Biden, who is a first-time, non-violent offender.

Brown, who was facing one more count than 54-year-old Biden, is currently serving his sentence in MCFP Springfield, a medical facility in Missouri.

Matthew Kyle Brazell, 33, of Grovetown in Georgia, had also been banned from owning firearms after a domestic violence conviction when he was found with Smith and Wesson SD40 handgun during a 2020 traffic stop.

That single count was enough to cost him 30 months in jail when sentenced in November of that year.

By comparison, Hunter Biden has been found guilty on triple the number of federal charges compared to Brazell - which experts perhaps may see as a bad omen for the president's son as he awaits his sentence.

One woman was pictured protesting outside Biden's trial this week claiming she had lost her home and family after a conviction for possessing a gun without a serial number saw her imprisoned for five years.

In another example, a single count of dishonestly purchasing a semi-automatic rifle was enough to see a Mississippi man jailed for 20 months in April of this year.

Lavoris Donte McGee, Jr, 22, lied on the same ATF Form 4473 at the center of Biden's trial when he failed to reveal a felony indictment for assaulting a law enforcement officer.

One woman stands outside Biden's trial, holding a sign saying that her life was turned upside down over a gun charge

Matthew Kyle Brazell, 33, of Grovetown in Georgia was sentenced to 30 months in jail for owning a firearm while banned for a previous offense

The three felony counts Biden has been convicted of carry up to 25 years in prison and a fine of up to $750,000.

But lawyers have emphasized that the unusual combination of charges and the lack of a plea deal make the actual sentence difficult to predict.

Biden now faces an interview with a federal probation officer who will prepare a pre-sentence report for trial Judge Maryellen Noreika.

She has said she will schedule sentencing within 120 days after also receiving sentencing memos from both the prosecution and defense attorneys.

The 57-year-old Trump-appointed judge has only served on the bench for seven years following a career as a patents lawyer and commentators have been scouring her record for an indication of Biden's prospects.

Last month she jailed Zhi Dong, of Maryland, after he admitted pretending to live in Delaware when bought guns in the state.

Dong later drove the firearms to a gun store in California which prosecutors suggested was 'indicative of trafficking firearms'.

Prosecutors asked Noreika for a six-month sentence after he pleaded guilty to a first offense, but were taken aback when the judge ignored their advice and imprisoned him for a year.

The President's son arrived at court with wife Melissa Cohen Biden to hear the verdict

Trial judge Maryellen Noreika has a short but formidable record for sentencing gun offenders

Zhi Dong is in FCI Allenwood after Noreika sentenced him to 12 months on gun charges

Thomas Brown is in Missouri's MCFP Springfield after being jailed for 57 months in federal prison in February for making false statements during his purchase of a firearm

Dong is now serving his sentence in FCI Allenwood, Pennsylvania, a low security facility with 1,450 inmates which once housed Gambino crime family member Nicholas Corozzo.

'When you see a judge who is willing to basically double the sentencing recommendation of the prosecution, then that's a little bit concerning, obviously, for any defense attorney,' defense lawyer Peter Tilem told Politico.

Biden too will be facing a sentence for a first offense, but the waters are muddied further by the fact that 'these cases usually end in plea deals, not jury verdicts' according to former federal prosecutor Ankush Khardori.

The president's son rejected a plea deal last year which would have seen him perhaps avoid jail time for both the gun charges and the tax charges he faces trial over in Los Angeles later this year.

Larry Levine now helps wealthy felons reduce their prison time through his firm Wall Street Prison Consultants, and thinks Biden would most likely serve a sentence in a 'laid back' facility not far from his Malibu home.

'My guess is they would send him to Lompoc,' the former inmate told the New York Post.

'It's not like you're going to summer camp, but they don't lock the doors. It's a lot of white collar people hanging out, talking about their crimes.'

According to sentencing data, a defendant comparable to Hunter Biden - but who accepted responsibility - would see a suggested range of 10 to 16 months in prison.

In practice, just 30 percent of people in that category were handed probation with no prison time, according to data from 2019 to 2023.

Biden, however, plead not guilty and did not accept responsibility by bringing the case to trial - meaning his sentence will be hinged on technical details seen throughout the case, and now, the discretion of his presiding judge.

President Joe Biden spoke to his son as Hunter headed to Delaware on Tuesday

Larry Levine of Wall Street Prison Consultants thinks Biden would most likely serve a sentence in the 'laid back' FCI Lompoc facility not far from his Malibu home

Professor Jessica Levinson of Loyola Law School, told CBS News that Biden could now expect some jail time on the gun charges but 'nobody should expect a quarter century'.

Tom Dupree, a former principal deputy assistant attorney general in the Justice Department predicted a sentence of a year or two.

But Jeffrey Brown, a former co-chief of the general crimes unit in the Manhattan US attorney's office said the chances of a prison sentence are 'pretty low'.

Mark Scarsi - also a Trump appointed judge - will oversee Biden's tax case in Los Angeles

He argued that Biden's lack of a criminal record, the rarity of the charges coming to trial and testimonials from powerful people would all weigh on the judge's mind.

'I think he has a lot of sympathetic factors in his favor that would argue for a non-incarceratory sentence,' he explained.

'I'd be surprised if there's a lot of precedent for people going to trial, getting convicted and sentenced to prison for this offense.'

Trial is due to start in September on the tax case which include six misdemeanor charges and three felonies and carry a maximum of 17 years in prison.

His father President Joe Biden has pledged not to use his executive authority to either pardon his son or commute his sentence.

'I will accept the outcome of this case and will continue to respect the judicial process as Hunter considers an appeal,' he said last week.

'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 Joe Biden will meet with Pope Francis at the G7 summit in Italy, the White House finally confirmed hours before the start of the event.

Pope Francis had already been listed as attending a G7 session on Artificial Intelligence in the country's Apulia region, raising the prospect he would again meet with the nation's second Catholic president.

When they last met in October 2021, Biden told Pope Francis he was a warrior for peace. Much has changed since then, and now the two men are set to huddle amid two brutal wars, as Biden battles for reelection by rallying behind the flag of abortion rights.

In a reelection bid where he trails Donald Trump in the polls, the abortion issue could motivate Biden's base. The issue has sparked intense passions and driven voter turnout in states that put abortion measures on the ballot since the Supreme Court's 2022 decision striking down Roe v. Wade.

'A vote for Joe Biden and Kamala Harris is a vote to restore Roe, and a vote for Donald Trump is a vote to ban abortion across the country,' Biden campaign manager Julie Chavez Rodriguez said earlier this year, underlining the importance of the issue. 'These are the stakes in 2024.'

The pope has called abortion 'murder' and said he respects the Supreme Court's decision, but he has also called out some conservatives in the U.S. Catholic Church for 'backwardness' and lamented that 'ideologies replace faith.'

The Vatican had announced the 87-year-old pope would attend the AI session this spring.

Biden, 81, has also warned of the risks posed by AI, and took steps to keep China from acquiring the most sophisticated AI technology from US companies.

You are the most significant warrior for peace Ive ever met, Biden told Pope Francis when they met in 2021

Their 2021 meeting at the Vatican was vintage Biden. The new Catholic president gave the Pope a challenge coin, joked about who would buy the drinks at their next meeting, and told a story about Satchell Paige.

You are the most significant warrior for peace Ive ever met, Biden told Pope Francis, speaking to a translator who was with them.

And with your permission Id like to be able to give you a coin. The tradition is, and Im only kidding about this. Next time I see you, if you dont have it, youll have to buy the drinks. Im the only Irishman youve ever met whos never had a drink.

Bidens jokes set a jovial tone for the relationship, and the Pope asked first lady Jill Biden to pray for him.

But they have some things to disagree on as the politics over the war in Gaza, abortion, and immigration evolve.

The abortion issue continues to draw controversy in U.S. and Europe. An activist of the 'Non una di meno' (Not One Less) feminist and transfeminist movement holds a placard reading 'no more stigma on abortion' during a demonstration for abortion rights, in Rome, Italy, 25 May 2024

Pro choice activists hold placards during the annual anti-abortion demonstration in New York City, on March 23, 2024. The Biden campaign plans to lean heavily into the issue of abortion rights in a contest where Biden must motivate his base supporters amid poor poll performance against Donald Trump

Pope Francis has called for an immediate cease fire in Gaza, where Biden is pushing a phased plan that would pause the fighting, free hostages and ultimately end it

Francis this spring called for an immediate cease fire in Gaza, even as the U.S. continued to arm the Israeli Defense Force.

I hope that the peace proposals on all fronts that have been presented and for the release of hostages will be accepted immediately for the sake of the Palestinians and Israelis.

The two men held a 20-minute phone call days after the Hamas attack inside Israel. They spoke about situations of conflict in the world and the need to identify paths to peace, according to the Vatican.

White House national security spokesman John Kirby dodged a question Tuesday during a briefing with reporters when asked about a potential pope meeting.

Youll hear more from [national security advisor Jake Sullivan] tomorrow on details about the agenda, he said. The announcement was later confirmed overnight in an official schedule.

It also notes that Biden will meet with Italian PM Giorgia Meloni and will view a skydiving demonstration. He plans to leave Italy Friday after two days of meetings, having made a quick surprise trip to Wilmington after a jury found son Hunter guilty on gun charges.

The president's most substantial interaction with the press will come during a joint press conference with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Thursday evening.

That will allow Biden to talk about multilateral initiatives to aid Ukraine in its defense, including reported plans to steer as much as $50 billion in interest from seized Russian assets to Ukraine.

It will have the side effect of limiting reporters' opportunities to hit Biden with questions about a Delaware jury finding his son Hunter guilty on gun charges.

The traditional two-leader format usually allows for just two questions from each nation's press corps. The White House cancelled a scheduled White House press briefing Tuesday as the news came down and Biden decided to fly home to Wilmington to see his son.

White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre is scheduled to brief reporters en route to Italy.
House Republicans are planning a vote to hold Attorney General Merrick Garland in contempt of Congress later today.

But since Speaker Mike Johnson can only afford to lose two GOP votes, it is on shaky ground.

The contempt resolution relates to the DOJ refusing to hand over audio of President Biden's special counsel interview.

During the interview, Special Counsel Robert Hur said that Biden appeared 'elderly' with a 'poor memory' as he mixed up his son Beau's death date and had a series of other stumbles.

The DOJ released written transcripts of the interview, but they said releasing audio might make it harder for prosecutors to secure recorded interviews in the future, with witnesses knowing it could be blasted out into the public.

However, Republicans have suggested the transcript of the interview could be inaccurate.

Garland would be the third attorney general held in contempt for defying a congressional subpoena if Republicans are successful. He's likely to be shielded from legal repercussions since Biden has asserted executive privilege over the audio.

The Department of Justice tore into Republican-led 'conspiratorial speculation' about coordination between the DOJ and Manhattan Attorney Alvin Bragg on the Trump prosecution

Garland lashed out at the contempt move, saying earlier Thursday that the DOJ has gone to 'extraordinary lengths' to provide the committee with information.

'We have gone to extraordinary lengths to ensure that a committees get responses to their legitimate requests, but this is not one,' Garland told reporters ahead of a hearing to advance his contempt charge.

Oversight Chair James Comer, R-Ky., shot back: 'The White House is asserting privilege over the recordings, but it has already waived privilege by releasing the transcript of the interview.

The Department of Justice tore into Republican-led 'conspiratorial speculation' about coordination between the DOJ and Manhattan Attorney Alvin Bragg on the Trump prosecution.

Carlos Uriarte, an assistant attorney general at Justice, wrote to Judiciary Chair Jim Jordan informing him the DOJ had conducted a search for any emails between leadership there and Bragg's office about an investigation into or prosecution of former President Donald Trump and did not find any.

'The self-justifying 'perception' asserted by the Committee is completely baseless, but the Committee continues to traffic it widely,' Uriarte wrote.

'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 warned that Republicans' assertions could be putting DOJ officials at risk.

'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. Our extraordinary efforts to respond to your speculation should put it to rest.'

Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg and top prosecutor Matthew Colangelo have agreed to testify before House Republicans on July 12.

Republicans have pointed to Colangelo as evidence of collusion when he departed the DOJ in December 2022 and later joined Bragg's team.

Republicans have pointedf former DOJ official Matthew Colangelo as evidence of collusion when he departed the DOJ in December 2022 and later joined Bragg's team

Republicans are planning a vote to hold Merrick Garland in contempt on Wednesday

The DOJ said their search 'did not identify any instances of Mr. Colangelo having email communications with the District Attorney's office during his time at the Department.'

Bragg's case against Trump led to a conviction last month of 34 counts of falsifying business records related to hush money payments to porn star Stormy Daniels.

Judiciary and Weaponization chairman Jim Jordan claimed that Colangelo has an 'obsession' with investigating Trump 'rather than prosecuting a crime.'

'Given the perception that the Justice Department is assisting in District Attorney Braggs politicized prosecution, we write to request information and documents related to Mr. Colangelos employment at the New York Attorney Generals Office.'

In December 2022, Colangelo, the high-flying third most senior official in President Joe Biden's Justice Department, astonished colleagues by packing his bags and leaving for the Big Apple to take a less senior role working for Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg.

Colangelo's 'unusual' move was technically a demotion, former U.S. Deputy Assistant Attorney General John Yoo told DailyMail.com.

'Moving from [The Justice Department] to the Manhattan DAs office must mean that someone is a true believer,' said Yoo, who served in the George W. Bush administration and now teaches law at the University of California at Berkeley.

It suggests that the prosecutor here is after the man, Trump, and not the crime, said Yoo. He also helped lead an investigation into links between Trump's 2016 campaign and his charity, The Donald J. Trump Foundation.

That probe resulted in a 2018 agreement in which Trump denied wrongdoing but agreed to dissolve the foundation.

From there, Colangelo plowed straight into Trump's business empire fishing for any irregularities in bookkeeping.

During that investigation, Colangelo personally quizzed the ex-presidents son Eric Trump in a deposition.

When the junior Trump complained that prosecutors were singling out his father in an act of political sabotage Colangelo snapped at him.

'I cant spend the entire day with this sort of obstreperous answer, hes recorded as saying.

Federal prosecutors in the Southern District of New York declined to bring charges against Trump for the Stormy Daniels payment.

The feds had reportedly concluded that they likely couldnt prove that Trump intended to break the law  and they closed the matter in the summer of 2019.
Public support for transgender people's ability to change the sex on their birth certificates has drastically fallen in recent years, a major survey reveals.

Just 24 per cent of people now agree that trans people should be allowed to change their sex 'if they want'  compared to support levels of 58 per cent in 2016.

The results have emerged as part of the British Social Attitudes report, carried out annually by the National Centre for Social Research.

Researchers also looked at public opinion on trans rights  and came to similar conclusions. Asked whether they thought trans rights had gone too far, 47 per cent of the public thought they had. Just over one in five (22 per cent) thought they hadn't gone far enough.

Just 24 per cent of people now agree that trans people should be allowed to change their sex 'if they want'  compared to support levels of 58 per cent in 2016 (stock photo)

Thousands of people take part in a London Trans+ Pride march from the Wellington Arch to Soho in July 2022

This compared to 2021  when the question was first asked  when 33 per cent of the public said they thought trans rights had gone too far.

The researchers said: 'It could be argued that this apparent shift in attitudes may be restricted to the specific issue of gender self-identification.

'Alternatively, perhaps the intensity of debate [has] influenced attitudes towards people who are transgender more broadly, with the result that views towards society's protection of their rights may have shifted in a more illiberal direction.'

Fiona McAnena, of women's rights charity Sex Matters, praised the findings, saying: 'This huge swing in opinion is down to the fact that the more the public understand the real-world impact of pretending that people can change sex, the less they like it.

'People now realise that this is not just a case of being kind to a tiny minority.'

Under the Gender Recognition Act, people can only change the sex on their birth certificate if their doctor has confirmed they are trans and they have obtained a Gender Recognition Certificate.

In 2020 ministers ruled out reforming the Act to allow people to self-identify and legally change sex without a medical diagnosis. Efforts to introduce self-ID in Scotland were blocked last year.
Sydney will be plunged into 24-hours of commuter chaos, with the city's light rail system shutting down for a 24-hour strike on Wednesday.

The work stoppage comes as the Rail, Tram & Bus Union (RTBU) is attempting to secure workers a 23 per cent pay rise over four years, plus an additional five sick days, with negotiations coming to a standstill.

Commuters travelling on the L1 Dulwich Hill, L2 Randwick or L3 Kingsford light rail lines will need to seek alternate transport routes.

Visitors travelling into the CBD for the Vivid Festival will also be hit by the strike.

Transport for NSW Coordinator-General Howard Collins urged commuters to take note of the industrial action and plan accordingly.

Sydney's light rail system will be hit by a 24-hour strike on Wednesday

'We recommend that on Wednesday, commuters avoid the peak times, use alternative transport options and plan your journey,' he said.

On Monday, RTBU members overwhelmingly voted to reject the deal, which RTBU ram and bus division secretary David Babineau said failed to address the workforce's concerns.

'We can't have light rail workers in a situation where they're going to work unwell and putting commuters and others at risk because they don't have enough sick days,' Mr Babineau said.

'Nor can we agree to a wage deal that doesn't come close to accounting for the huge cost of living increases we've seen lately.'

Visitors heading to Vivid Sydney tonight will be impacted by the light rail strike

Extra buses have been put in place to help students from Sydney Boys High School and Sydney Girls High School travel between Central station and their campus.

A 610 express services will operate approximately every 10 minutes between 8.05am and 8.45am, with a bus supervisor in place at Chalmers St to help direct students.

An additional limited shuttle bus service will also be available to help impacted students on the L1 Dulwich Hill Light Rail line, however Transport for NSW (TfNSW) has warned the buses will be limited, and there may be delays.
Australia will provide an extra $10million in humanitarian assistance for the people of Gaza, taking the total to $72.5million.

The new funds will be directed to the World Food Program to pay for food assistance for civilians facing the risk of famine.

'Australia continues to press for a ceasefire, for humanitarian aid to reach Gazans in desperate need, and for hostages to be released,' Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong said.

'We support the ceasefire endorsed by the UN Security Council and want to see it fully implemented by both parties.

'Any delay will only see more lives lost.'

Foreign Minister Penny Wong (pictured) has put the government's support behind a ceasefire in Gaza while committing to an extra $10million in humanitarian aid to the area

The United Nations Security Council has backed a US-drafted resolution calling for a three-phase ceasefire outlined by United States President Joe Biden in May.

Under the resolution, there would be calls for a six-week ceasefire with an exchange of hostages held by Hamas, as well as prisoners kept by Israel.

The second phase would involve a permanent ceasefire, while the third would cover a reconstruction effort for the Gaza Strip.

The extra funding will help provide food assistance for civilians facing the risk of famine and bring Australia's aid bill to the region to over $72million since the start of the conflict

The resolution calls on both Israel and Hamas to fully implement a ceasefire 'without delay and without condition'.

'The resolution again reiterates international commitment to a two-state solution where Israel and Palestine live side by side in peace within secure and recognised borders,' Senator Wong said on Tuesday.

'Australia will continue to work with countries that support peace to press for agreement to this proposal.

'Civilians must be protected, aid must flow at scale and hostages must be released.'

More than 37,000 people have been killed in Gaza since Israel declared war on Hamas in October, local health officials say.

Israel's military operation was precipitated by the October 7 assault in which militants killed 1,200 Israelis and took more than 200 hostages.
After 48 years of preaching, evangelical pastor Dr. Tony Evans is calling it quits at his church because of an unknown sin he committed.

Evans, 74, who once served as the chaplain for both the Dallas Cowboys and the Mavericks, announced he was stepping away as senior pastor for the Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship Church in Dallas via a written statement to his congregation.

'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. A number of years ago, I fell short of that standard,' he wrote in the Sunday message posted to the church's website.

Evans clarified he didn't commit a crime but didn't use 'righteous judgment' in his actions.

Dr. Tony Evans, center, has announced he's stepping down from the Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship Church, an organization he founded in 1976

Pictured: The auditorium where Evans delivered his passionate sermons to hundreds of congregants

He also didn't say if he'd be open to returning after he goes through his 'healing and restoration process' established by church elders.

On May 27, two weeks before he stepped down to address his past sin, Evans posted a clip of one of his sermons where he was talking about how Christians shouldn't go looking for anything additional in their lives beyond Jesus Christ.

'What many Christians do today is to step outside of God to get help to deal with something real in their lives,' he said.

'So if you are a believer and you have Christ, you do not need to add anything outside of what Christ demands and expects in order to live victoriously.'

Evans started Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship in 1976 as a bible study for just 10 people. Now, the church has over 10,000 members and 100 different ministries targeted at adults, youth, singles and couples.

The pastor also has a popular daily radio show featuring snippets of his energetic sermons called 'The Alternative,' which airs on over 1,400 stations in more than 130 countries.

It's unclear if he will also be stepping away from those responsibilities.

President George W. Bush listens to applause with Pastor Tony Evans at the dedication of the Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship's Youth Education Center, October 29, 2003 in Dallas, Texas

A statement shared by the church itself said the decision to sideline its most popular preacher 'was made after tremendous prayer and multiple meetings with Dr. Evans and the church elders.'

'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 statement continued.

Bobby Gibson, another pastor at the church, will be providing more information in the coming days about what's next in terms of church leadership, according to the statement.

Evans previously made headlines in 2012 for publicly decrying then-President Barack Obama's decision to support gay marriage.
Hairy Biker Dave Myers has been posthumously honoured with the freedom of his hometown, four months after he passed away.

The famous chef, from Barrow-in-Furness, sadly died in February nearly two years after the 66-year-old revealed he was undergoing chemotherapy for cancer.

Barrow Town Council awarded Myers with the honour, thanking him for his 'valuable and sterling service to the Barrow community and the promotion of civic pride,' the BBC reported.

The council gave the award to his widow Lili, who said she 'wasn't expecting it at all'.

Dave Myers (pictured) sadly died in February, nearly two years after the 66-year-old revealed he was undergoing chemotherapy for cancer

Barrow Town Council awarded Myers with the honour, thanking him for his 'valuable and sterling service to the Barrow community and the promotion of civic pride'

She told the BBC: 'I feel this is such a huge honour... what a proud moment.'

The award is the highest that a town council can give and comes days after an estimated 20,000 people across the country on 'Dave Day' in memory of the Hairy Biker.

On Saturday, Dave's widow Lili and his friend Si King led thousands of bikers to Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria after they started the journey in London on a 36-mile-long procession.

Bridges over the M6 and A590 to Barrow were full of onlookers waiting for the cavalcade of bikes to pass.

In Barrow itself, hundreds of people had gathered to welcome the bikers outside the gothic Town Hall and to enjoy live music and children's entertainers in the sunshine. There was a real carnival atmosphere.

At the event, his wife Lili, who road pillion on Jason 'Woody' Woodcock's bike for the leg from Knutsford, said: 'Dave was always a Barrovian through and through.

On Saturday, Dave's widow Lili and his friend Si King (pictured) led thousands of bikers to Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria after they started the journey in London

Dave's wife Lili (pictured) joined Si on the back of his bike when the convoy stopped off in Lancashire

'He wanted to put Barrow on the map and from beyond the grave, he has done it.'

The couple met in 2005 when Dave was staying at a hotel she was managing in Romania as the Hairy Bikers were filming their first series.

She previously praised fans of the duo who have travelled to the UK to take part in Dave Day.

Dave's cousin, Marie, said the idea of the ride had come out of the funeral at Stafford.

She said: 'That was a real celebration and when Lili talked to the bikers in the funeral escort, they discussed the idea. And when they put it on social media, the idea just took off.

Dave Day, saw an estimated 20,000 grieving motorcyclists (pictured) ride the 36-mile-long procession

Dave Myers, pictured left with his best friend and fellow Hairy Biker Si King, right, died of cancer in February this year

Her friend Nicola Kell said: 'It been amazing. The number of people who have turned out shows how much Dave meant to the town and how much Barrow meant to Dave.'

Organisers set up a GoFundMe page to raise money for NSPCC Childline and the Institute for Cancer Research in honour of Dave.

The fundraiser has smashed the intended target of 15,000 and is currently over 80,000.

The procession of grieving motorcyclists was hailed by Cumbria Police on Sunday.

They said that there was a 'great turnout' and thanked everyone involved for driving safely.

Dave's passing in February was announced by Si in a heart-wrenching statement: 'Hi everyone, I'm afraid I bear some sad news.

'Most of you will know Dave has been fighting cancer for the past couple of years.

Si pictured with Dave during an episode of The Hairy Bikers Go West, in Wirral, Merseyside

Si also posted a photograph of him sat on a bench with Dave alongside his statement on the Hairy Biker's passing

'Last night, on 28th February 2024, with Lili, Dave's wife, his family, close friend David and myself by his side, he passed away peacefully at home.

'All who knew Dave are devastated at his passing. His beloved wife brought him such happiness as did her children, Iza and Sergiu who Dave loved like his own.

'Personally, I am not sure I can put into words on how I feel at the moment.

'My best friend is on a journey that for now, I can't follow. I will miss him every day and the bond and friendship we shared over half a lifetime.

'I wish you god's speed brother; you are and will remain a beacon in this world. See you on the other side. Love ya.'

The news was met with an outpouring of emotion from shocked fans on social media of the beloved Hairy Biker.

The pair pictured together with their motorbikes during an episode of The Hairy Bikers Go West

The Hairy Bikers Dave Myers and Si King pictured at the Basingstoke Festival of Food in 2009

Si's statement continued: 'I know Dave and his family would want me to thank all of you who sent messages of support in recent times.

'It meant the world to him, his family and all The Hairy Bikers team.

'I am sending you all much love and gratitude for those simple acts of kindness, generosity and spirit. We are eternally grateful for them.

'May I ask you all for one further kindness and allow Lili, his wife, his family, close friends and I some time and some peace to process our huge loss.

'I am sure I will see you all soon.'

As well as his cooking adventures, Myers was well known for his warm-hearted appearance on Strictly in 2013, where he partnered with Karen Hauer.

Karen said she was 'heartbroken' by the news of his passing and she posted a broken heart emoji online.

The procession of bikers was hailed by Cumbria Police on Sunday after a 'great turnout'

The couple met in 2005 when Dave was staying at a hotel she was managing in Romania as the Hairy Bikers were filming their first series

Dave met co-star and fellow Hairy Biker Si when they were both working in the film industry and bonded over their love of food and motorbikes.

Over their career the best friends built up a reputation as the friendly faces of TV cooking, with 31 separate projects since they first debuted on the BBC in 2006.

Following his diagnosis in 2022, Dave briefly took a break from work before filming his last show with Si.

The programme, The Hairy Bikers Go West, saw the pair travel across Britain from Scotland to Devon and Si previously said it would be one they would 'always remember'.
The wild moment two massive red kangaroos brawled in the middle of a busy Queensland campground has been captured on video.

The footage, captured by Brisbane local Georgia Bryan, shows the kangaroos hitting and kicking each other while stunned families watched on.

One kangaroo appears to restrain the other in a headlock, before they exchange punches, until one retreats in apparent embarrassment.

'Welcome to Australia! The damage - one camp table, tent and a kangaroos ego,' Ms Bryan captioned the footage.

Many social media users around the world said they were shocked to see the kangaroos behaving so violently.

Brisbane local Georgia Bryan filmed the the kangaroos hitting and kicking one another at a campsite in Queensland while stunned families watched on

'The big red kangaroos are the most dangerous ones, my God, I can't believe they are fighting; they get very aggressive,' one person said.

'Don't underestimate these guys; a tourist was disemboweled by a big red kangaroo,' a second added.

'The way they balance themselves on their tails is both terrifying and fascinating,' a third said.

According to the Queensland Government, all types of kangaroos have the potential to become aggressive and may attack humans.

'For kangaroos and wallabies living on the bushland fringe of a suburban area, a human may be seen as little more than a large animal living in its habitat - and one that they may occasionally need to defend themselves against,' it said.

'If you see one, stay away from it... and if it moves toward you, or shows signs of being aggressive, move away, even if it is only looking for food or human contact.'

Ms Bryan said only 'one camp table, a tent and a kangaroo's ego' were damaged during the brawl, which reportedly lasted for 20 minutes

Leading kangaroo researcher Bill Bateman said fatal kangaroo attacks are 'very, very rare'.

He said most people will only ever see them peacefully on the side of the road, but his advice for anyone who thought a kangaroo was acting aggressively was to move away as fast as possible, get behind trees, shout or throw sticks.

'I certainly wouldn't want to be in a fight with an adult or even a sub-adult kangaroo - they're incredibly powerful animals,' he told the Albany Advertiser.

Mr Bateman explained that males fight each other by pulling their opponent in then kicking out with their powerful hind legs which have long claws.

'If they do that to another roo that's bad enough, but if they do it to a person, it's potentially broken ribs and internal damage,' he said.

'Certainly don't make friends with wild animals  wild animals remain wild animals.'
READ MORE: Two women named as victims of freak wave that swept them from rocks as local Indian community mourns

Front will push northwards to Sydney by Wednesday

A large cold front is set to bring freezing temperatures, strong winds and rain to large parts of Australia.

Severe weather warnings are in place for parts of southeastern Australia, with damaging wind gusts set to continue over the next 24 hours.

The front will push northwards to Sydney on Wednesday after winds of more than 100km/h hit Tasmania and Victoria on Tuesday.

Severe weather warnings are in place for damaging winds in northern and western parts of Tasmania and surrounding islands, as well as for Victoria's northern and northeastern mountains, Gippsland and the Mornington Peninsula, and the mountain ranges in New South Wales.

Severe weather warnings are in place for parts of south eastern Australia, with damaging wind gusts are set to continue on Wednesday

'Through all of these places, winds could exceed 90 or 100 km/h,' said Angus Hines, senior meteorologist at the Bureau of Meteorology.

'But around some of those mountains, 120- 130km/h is not out of the question for those strongest gusts.

'That is strong enough to bring down trees and branches, potentially cause power outages, damage properties and make for dangerous driving conditions, particularly in tall vehicles like caravans as well as on motorbikes.'

Rain is also set to hit Australia's southeast, with more hail forecast on Wednesday in Tasmania and the south coast of Victoria.

Areas of southeast South Australia also need to be wary of gale warnings, and sheep graziers have been put on alert by the Bureau of Meteorology. Warnings issued say there is a risk of lamb and sheep losses exposed to the cold, showers, and strong north-westerly winds.

On Monday night, winter chills combined with strong winds pushed the apparent temperature below freezing in central and eastern Tasmania.

Melburnians woke on Tuesday to strong winds and rain, with Melbourne Airport posting -0.5C on the 'feels like' readout with 72km/h gusts.

The cold front brings decent snowfalls for the alpine resorts after a less-than favourable climatic opening to ski season, with the Bureau of Meteorology predicting 5cm to 20 cm.

This week's powerful cold front follows a week of heavy rainfall in south west Western Australia and southeast NSW.

Weekly rainfall totals exceeded 100mm and there were isolated totals of more than 200mm in NSW's Illawarra district, while parts of the Central West and Gascoyne districts in Western Australia recorded weekly totals of more than 100mm.

Rain is set to hit Australia's south east, with more hail forecast on Wednesday in Tasmania and the south coast of Victoria

Sydney

Sydney's mostly sunny morning is set to develop into rain through the day on Wednesday, with a medium chance of an afternoon shower or two along the coastal fringe and winds reaching up to 45km/h.

Elsewhere in the city, there is a slight chance of showers.

Thursday's outlook is also cloudy, with a slight chance of a shower along the coastal fringe, most likely from late in the morning.

There's a near-zero chance of rain elsewhere, and temperatures are expected to dip down to 9C.

More showers are forecast for Friday and Saturday ahead of a sunny Sunday.

Melbourne

Melbourne has a medium chance of showers on Wednesday with rainfall becoming less likely in the early afternoon.

Thursday is looking similarly grey with a medium chance of showers.

Temperatures in the city are set to steadily decline with a low of 8C on Thursday followed by 6C on Friday, 5C on Saturday and 4C on Sunday.

Skies over Melbourne are expected to stay partially cloudy before possible showers move in from Sunday.

The forecast follows a cold and wintry Tuesday with Weatherzone's Anthony Sharwood explaining strong winds worsened the chill.

'Melbourne is just one spot that is feeling decidedly wintry even though temps are not particularly low,' he said.

'Indeed Melbourne has already exceeded its June average max of 14.1C, with a temp of 14.7C recorded just after midday and a forecast top of 16C.

'But with the wind chill factored in, frequent showers, and apparent - or "feels like" - temperatures of just 10C or 11C, it sure [didn't] feel like a warmer-than-average winter day.'

The second week of winter is forecast to bring a seasonal cold front through southeast Australia, which will push northwards to Sydney by Wednesday

Brisbane

Brisbane is set for a warm and sunny Wednesday with a top of 24C and clear skies.

That sunshine is forecast to stay through to the end of the week with Saturday the only day expected to see some slight cloud coverage.

Temperatures in the city will be slightly cooler from Thursday with highs in the low 20Cs.

Perth

Perth has a very high chance of seeing showers on Wednesday with chances easing in the evening.

The rainy whether is set to partially clear on Thursday ahead of a sunny Friday.

Clouds are forecast to redevelop over the city on Saturday with a high chance of showers on Sunday.

High temperatures are expected to stay in the low 20Cs.

Adelaide

Grey skies over Adelaide on Wednesday are forecast to develop into showers from Thursday.

Thursday has a high chance of showers and light winds while Friday has a very high chance of showers.

Those showers are expected to continue on Saturday before mostly clearing on Sunday.

Hobart

Hobart is set to see showers through to next week.

There's a medium chance of showers on Wednesday followed by a slight easing on Thursday.

Friday has a medium chance of showers, most likely in the morning, followed by rain over the weekend.

Temperatures in the city will stay fairly low with highs of 11C and 12C and lows of 6C and 8C.

Canberra

There's a medium chance of showers in Canberra on Wednesday morning with the rain clearing during the afternoon.

The following days will feel particularly wintery with sub-zero temperatures, morning frost and cloudy conditions.

Wednesday and Friday are expected to be the capital's warmest days with a high of 13C forecast for both.

Severe weather warnings for damaging winds are in place in northern and western parts of Tasmania and surrounding islands, as well as for Victoria's northern and northeastern mountains, Gippsland and the Mornington Peninsula, and the mountain ranges in NSW

Darwin

Darwin is the place to be this week for those who hate the cold.

The Northern Territory's capital is set to sunny conditions through to the end of the week.

High temperatures are expected to stay in the low 30Cs.
Kevin Spacey is on the brink of bankruptcy due to his million-dollar legal fees and has been forced to sell his home.

The disgraced Hollywood actor admitted on Piers Morgan Uncensored to being 'handsy' and 'pushing boundaries' despite being cleared of sexually assaulting four men last year.

He revealed that he has battled suicide thoughts since he was charged with indecent assault against four men in 2018.

Asked where he is living now and if he is going to file for bankruptcy, the former House of Cards star, 64, said: 'This week, where I have been living in Baltimore, is being foreclosed on.

'My house is being sold at auction.

Kevin Spacey has admitted to being 'handsy' and 'pushing boundaries' despite being cleared of sexually assaulting four men last year

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)

'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 Morgan what he intends to do in the near future, Spacey said: 'Get back on the horse.'

He went on to say he'd spoken to a 'significant' number of men to personally apologise for his former conduct.

When asked by Morgan about what he considered bad behaviour, he said: 'Pushing the boundaries.

Spacey and Piers Morgan on the set of Speaking to Piers Morgan Uncensored

'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.

'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.

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 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

During his interview with Morgan, Spacey also claimed he was passed on a message of support from King Charles amid his legal battle.

Spacey smiled as he told Morgan that although he hadn't been directly contacted from the 75-year-old monarch he had 'heard a message'.

'And I'm very grateful for that,' he said.

But he quickly shut down the conversation as he added that he 'didn't want to drag him in to all of this' while seemingly pointing towards the King's cancer battle as he added: 'He's got a lot on his plate and I wish him the very best.'

MailOnline has contacted Buckingham Palace for comment.

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.'

It was Charles who presented Spacey with his honorary CBE in 2010 for his services to drama, and again in 2016 when he received an honorary knighthood.

Kevin Spacey 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)

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

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, Spacey told 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.'
Generations of workers may have toiled drearily throughout the week for that Friday feeling.

But Gen Z and their predecessors Millennials know no such struggle  as, according to them, the weekend now starts on Wednesday.

Almost a third (29 per cent) of Britons under 40 regard Wednesday as the start of the weekend because they work from home on Thursday and Friday.

It also emerged as the day they are most likely to go to the pub (29 per cent) or host dinner parties (26 per cent).

Almost a third (29 per cent) of Britons under 40 regard Wednesday as the start of the weekend because they work from home on Thursday and Friday (stock photo)

A resounding 78 per cent agree that Wednesday is the best day of the week to look for bargains, such as cheap cinema tickets and buy-one-get-one-free offers (stock photo)

Two-thirds (66 per cent) of those surveyed said Monday and Tuesday are for saving pennies, getting early nights and trying to exercise and eat healthily.

But by mid-week, Gen Z and Millennials are raring to go, with 24 per cent believing that socialising only on a Friday and Saturday night is outdated. Meanwhile 22 per cent say Wednesday is their favourite evening for dates with partners.

A resounding 78 per cent agree that Wednesday is the best day of the week to look for bargains, such as cheap cinema tickets and buy-one-get-one-free offers.

And 78 per cent feel optimistic about the weekend approaching as soon as they hit Wednesday, while some 83 per cent feel a sense of relief.

A quarter of respondents in the survey of 2,000 18 to 40-year-olds by online food delivery platform Just Eat complain that by mid-week they feel bored by packed lunches and want to try new foods, with 80 per cent admitting spontaneous shopping trips and lists perk up a Wednesday.

Nineteen per cent turn their mid-week slump into getting adventurous with ingredients, cooking up a storm for their friends.

Buying food and drink for the weekend (40 per cent), finding discounted items (39 per cent), bagging a bargain (37 per cent) and topping up household items (37 per cent) are the most popular mid-week slump solutions.

A quarter of respondents in the survey of 2,000 18 to 40-year-olds by online food delivery platform Just Eat complain that by mid-week they feel bored by packed lunches and want to try new foods (stock photo)

While a nice bar of chocolate (42 per cent), cake (39 per cent), steak (27 per cent), cocktails (24 per cent), flowers (21 per cent), and nice cheese (19 per cent) emerged as fancier items Brits choose to celebrate and perk themselves up on a Wednesday evening.

And 78 per cent feel optimistic about the weekend approaching when they hit Wednesday, while a whopping 83 per cent feel a sense of relief.

Just Eat is helping Britons by giving 50 per cent off hundreds of grocery favourites - but only on a Wednesday.

Victoria Gold, UK&I Marketing Director at Just Eat, said: 'Whether it's a spontaneous midweek purchase, or an essential grocery top-up shop - we're making it even easier for people to fulfil their midweek needs with our Half Price Wednesday grocery offer.

'With 50 per cent off hundreds of grocery favourites, customers can get the best value by enjoying discounts across everything from fresh fruit and vegetables to summery picky bits and snacks.'
Access to a clifftop hiking trail with magnificent views over the Pacific Ocean is being challenged as environmental activists look to preserve endangered species living in the area.

The trail on Dana Point Headlands, midway between San Diego and Los Angeles, is also home to the Pacific pocket mouse - the smallest mouse species in North America - of which very few remain.

At the last count in 2022, only 77 remained, leading to the San Diego Zoo to introduce a conservation and breeding reintroduction program.

Because the mice thrive in the early evening and mornings, the activists want to see the opening times of the trail slashed during peak mouse activity times.

The trail, opened in 2009 and had consistent public hours until the early days of the pandemic when CNLM temporarily closed it. Upon reopening, access was restricted until 2022

In May, the Dana Point Planning Commission approved a development permit that set operational hours allowing the public to access the Bluff Top Trail from dawn to dusk every day.

However, the Center for Natural Lands Management (CNLM) wants to see the number of days cut where access is allowed together with shortened hours for trail use and has appealed the city's permit to the California Coastal Commission.

Hikers would only be granted access over four days a week and only between 8am and 6pm in summer, and 4pm in winter months.

The path traverses a rocky outcrop covered with coastal sage and other plants native to the area, but it is also one of the few habitats for the Pacific pocket mouse as well as the also-threatened California gnatcatcher bird

CNLM is concerned about the potential negative impact on the pocket mouse, which is also found in only two other places: Camp Pendleton and Laguna Coast Wilderness Park.

In their appeal, CNLM is arguing that the city's decision to grant the permit does not align with local coastal development and public access programs.

At the last count in 2022, only 77 remained, leading to the San Diego Zoo to introduce a conservation and breeding reintroduction program

The trail on Dana Point Headlands, midway between San Diego and Los Angeles, is home to the Pacific pocket mouse - the smallest mouse species in North America - of which few remain

The Coastal Commission will review the appeal next month and determine whether changes need to be made to the city's original permit, at which point a new one would be issued.

The dispute over trail usage between Dana Point and CNLM has been going on for years.

A court order in 2022 allowed daily use of the trail which was only recently made more formal by the Planning Commission.

Dana Point Mayor Jamey Federico believes it's important for the trail to remain open on a daily basis.

'We believe this is such an important visitor-serving coastal amenity that daily access needs to be maintained as the baseline,' Mayor Federico said to the Orange County Register.

'We understand adaptive management and that the trail needs to be closed from time to time based on data. But, we believe CNLM needs to be taking every possible action to improve the pocket mouse population before they consider trail closures.'

The Center for Natural Lands Management (CNLM) wants to see the number of days cut where public access to the trail is allowed together with shortened hours on a daily basis

The Headlands is home to one of only three known Pacific pocket mouse colonies.

CNLM purchased the land from developer Sanford Edward in 2005 for $11.9 million, funded by a grant from the Steel Foundation.

The money was invested to ensure the preservation of endangered species and plants. The group also received $800,000 from the Department of Defense to mitigate impacts on the mouse population at Camp Pendleton.

The trail, opened in 2009 and had consistent public hours until the early days of the Covid-19 pandemic when CNLM temporarily closed it during 'stay at home' orders.

Upon reopening, access was restricted to between 9am and noon on Tuesdays and Thursdays. The CNLM initially refused to comply with Dana Point's wish for a reopening of 7am until sunset daily.

Ttrail usage has doubled since its opening, adversely affecting the mouse population's reproduction and foraging.

Visitors hike to the tide pools in Dana Point, California

The also-threatened California gnatcatcher bird also has a home on the trail

CNLM monitors the mouse population and visitor numbers to assess the impact of public use which has doubled since its reopening.

The environmental group feel that the increased numbers of hikers is now having a negative affect on the mice.

Sarah Mueller, an attorney for CNLM has suggested a reduction in trail opening hours which would help reduce the affect human activity might be having on the mice.

'The presence of people alone has an impact on the species and interferes with their reproduction and foraging,' Mueller told the OCRegister.

Mayor Federico disagrees and believed the mouse population should try to be managed around the current setup rather than resulting to the closure of the trail.
Rishi Sunak says he had to 'go without' Sky TV as a child so his parents could to pay his expensive private school fees.

The premier said his GP father and pharmacist mother wanted to 'put everything' into their children's education so having no satellite television was one of the things they sacrificed.

Mr Sunak spent his teenage years at the now 52,000 a year distinguished Winchester College in Hampshire near his home in Southampton.

In the interview with ITV, which he left D-Day commemorations in Normandy early in order to attend, he is pressed on how he is able to stay in touch with the struggles of ordinary people when he is 'wealthier than the king'.

Journalist Paul Brand asks the PM if he ever had 'go without something' when he was a child, to which he replies: 'I went without lots of things because my parents wanted to put everything into our education and that was a priority.'

Listen to Sarah Vine & Andrew Pierce react to the latest election news:

The premier said his GP father and pharmacist mother wanted to 'put everything' into their children's education so having no satellite television was one of the things they sacrificed

Mr Sunak squirms and laughs as he is asked what sort of things his parents 'sacrificed'.

'Lots of things,' he says. 'There would have been all sorts of things I wanted as a kid.'

He appears uncomfortable as he laughs again before adding: 'Famously Sky TV. That was something we never had growing up, actually. But there are lots of things. But again my experience is obviously going to be what my experience was.

'More important are my values and how I was raised. And I was raised in a household where hard work was really important. You had to work really hard. And family was important, service to your community was important.'

In another awkward moment, Mr Sunak apologies for keeping Mr Brand waiting explaining the D-Day anniversary event 'all just ran over'.

'Yeah, it all just ran over... it was incredible but it just ran over everything,' he says, before saying he 'spoke to almost every one [of the veterans in Normandy] there, I hope'.

The ITV interview airs tonight at 7pm and comes on the back of the PM's grilling on a BBC Panorama special on Tuesday in which he begged the nation to forgive him for leaving the D-Day event early.

Mr Sunak spent his teenage years at the now 52,000 a year distinguished Winchester College in Hampshire near his home in Southampton

Mr Sunak says he hoped that he 'spoke to almost every one' of the veterans who were in Normandy

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Lord Cameron poses with Emmanuel Macron, German chancellor Olaf Scholz and US President Joe Biden in Normandy after Rishi Sunak flew back to the UK, missing the international commemorations

The Tory leader told Nick Robinson that he hoped people could 'find it in their hearts' to forgive his blunder.

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.'
Two men have been charged with murder after a body was found in an abandoned quarry.

Malahki Gray, 25, was found dead at the quarry near Mt Ngungun, north of Brisbane, on Tuesday, bringing to end a two-week search.

Mr Gray, who is from Morayfield, was reported missing on June 4 and was believed to have last been seen alive at a Rupert Crescent address on May 28.

Queensland Police will allege a 19-year-old man and 22-year-old man lured Mr Gray to a property at Glass House Mountains before stabbing him to death.

Both have been charged with one count of murder, and misconduct with corpse by interfering, and will appear at Caboolture Magistrates Court on Wednesday.

Malahki Gray, 25, was found dead at the quarry near Mt Ngungun, north of Brisbane, on Tuesday, bringing to end a two-week search

Police say a third man was also taken into custody, however he was released without charge.

Police believe the two men charged over the death were known to Mr Gray.

Mr Gray's family told the Courier Mail earlier this week his disappearance was 'out of character'.

'(Malahki) always kept in touch with family he was on a disability pension, under NDIS care,' Mr Gray's father said.

He said a missing-person report was lodged by Mr Gray's NDIS carer on June 4 and a second report was lodged by the family on June 5.

Mr Gray was also known as Malahki Davidson and Jai Gray. His family released a statement confirming his death.

'We want to extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who shared, helped search and supported our family over the past 14 days during Jai/Malahki's disappearance,' they said.

'It is with deep sadness that we inform you there is no longer a need to continue looking for Jai.

Mr Gray, who is from Morayfield, was reported missing on June 4 and was believed to have last been seen alive at a Rupert Crescent address on May 28 (pictured, Mt Ngungun)

'We apologise to friends and family who we couldn't reach directly, given how widely Jai's missing posts have been shared.

'Please take this moment to tell your loved ones how much they mean to you.

'Hug them tighter, listen a little longer, be present, say 'I love you', take countless pictures together and cherish every second.

'We kindly ask for privacy during this incredibly difficult time as we grieve and try to heal.'

Queensland Police are continuing investigations and anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stopper on 1800 333 000.
An expert has called for calm over fears almost two million Australians could have been exposed to cancer-causing chemicals in their drinking water.

A major investigation by the Sydney Morning Herald found that 'forever chemicals' were detected in tap water in every state and territory across the country since 2010 - affecting up to 1.8million people.

In recent 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.

The chemicals are linked to kidney and liver disease, dysregulation of the thyroid and insulin, cancer, reproductive problems and developmental problems in children.

But UNSW Professor Denis O'Carroll told Daily Mail Australia that Australia had tough regulations that made drinking water safe and warned against residents taking drastic measures such as switching to bottled water.

His message of reassurance has not stopped other experts from urging Australians to either invest in a jug with a water filter or have a filtration system installed, even calling on the government to subsidise the purchases.

Almost two million Australians could have been exposed to cancer-causing chemicals detected in their tap water, but an expert in the area said there is no need to panic and switch to bottled water. Stock image of a woman drinking a glass of water

Prof O'Carroll said whether a person drinks tap or bottled water would make no difference to their exposure to forever chemicals.

'There's no reason in my mind to believe that bottled water would be any better, because bottled water has to come from somewhere,' he said.

'To assume that bottled water is treated any differently or to any greater extent than, than tap water, would be misleading.

'It might be (treated differently), but just to make that assumption, would be incorrect.'

The professor, who is the managing director of UNSW's water research laboratory, said a person would need to be exposed to forever chemicals over a very long time to get sick from them.

'It's a long term, chronic type exposure that you would be concerned about,' he said.

'(It would be) in decades time, I would suggest, at the low level consumption that most people would be exposed to. It would take a long time to be sick.

North Richmond Water Filtration plant, where forever chemicals were detected in January, is pictured

'Australian guidelines are not as stringent as the US EPA, or in Canada or the European Union, but they are still regulated to fairly low limits.'

A 2011 University of Queensland showed where drinking water in Australia was affected by forever chemicals, but Prof O'Carroll said 'only a select few (examples) of that tap water would have exceeded US EPA guidelines.

'That 2011 paper, if you're looking at it today, would not in any way say that all tap water in Australia is bad from a US EPA perspective,' he said.

'That would be completely incorrect.

'A small amount of those samples - it might be under over 5 per cent - maybe exceed the US EPA guidelines.'

As an expert in the area, the professor has been getting a lot of questions on the safety of water in recent days.

'I've had lots of my co-workers as an example, come to me, very nervous and we need to pay attention as a society what we're consuming broadly.'

Dr Mariann Lloyd-Smith, who is on the executive committee at the International Pollutant Elimination Network, urged Australians to do the 'best they can' and invest in a water filter.

'The makers of these kinds of chemicals have had to pay out many millions of dollars in the US to people who have been exposed and who have suffered cancer,' she said.

'Unbelievably though, our regulatory agencies here in Australia just dismiss all of this evidence and say there's no clear evidence that they cause disease, which honestly is beyond belief.'

A low cost option is a jug filter, however the gold standard is one installed under the sink or a whole-house filtration system.

US non-profit Environmental Working Group found the best filter to remove contaminants was one that relied on a reverse osmosis system.

A low cost option to clean your water is a jug filter, however the gold standard is one installed under the sink or a whole-house filtration system

The system, which would need to be installed, forces the water at high pressure through an extremely thin membrane that separates chemicals from the water.

This type of filter is the most expensive and requires maintenance - though the filters do not have to be replaced as often as carbon or resin ones.

Granular activated carbon filters are also another option - however a study by Duke and North Carolina State universities said some brands made no difference at all.

Prof O'Carroll said residents should be aware of the wide range of chemicals they are exposed to throughout their lives - and used alcohol as an example.

'Health Canada suggests that you should drink only two drinks of alcohol per week,' he said.

'I have a hard time with that and I'm sure many Australians and (other) Canadians do as well.

'So, there's all kinds of things that we expose ourselves to knowingly, and PFOS is one that we don't want to expose ourselves to, but it's not the poison.

'There's many other things the we would be concerned about, including PFOS.'

Prof O'Carroll said people can limit their exposure to forever chemicals by paying attention to the labels in consumer products, including old cookware such as Teflon pans.

Professor Denis O'Carroll (pictured) said whether a person drinks tap or bottled water would make no difference to their exposure to forever chemicals

'It's hard, because a lot of these chemicals are legacy,' he said.

'In Australia, we're trying to get away from our exposure, so the government would be trying to limit what comes in (now).

'But if you have older things in your house, which we all do, it might be a part of them, it might be used in stain resistant carpet or chairs.

'It could have been used in old cookware (and) in water-repellant clothing.

'Those are the items where you get exposure.'
As Princes William and Edward can attest, with the King and Harry wanly nodding in agreement, baldness is rife among male members of the Royal Family.

Now fashionable coiffeur Nicky Clarke wants William and his sparsely-furred relatives to tackle their hereditary male pattern baldness.

'Royals have not traditionally got good heads of hair,' he says. 'More people in the public eye now are using the latest hair technologies like implants so why not?'

Might Nicky, nostalgically recalling his styling of Diana, yearn to weave his magic scissors over the restored luxuriant locks of William and Harry?

Prince William leaves at the end of a visit at the ZERO2FIVE Food Industry Centre, in Cardiff earlier this month

Fashionable coiffeur Nicky Clarke (pictured) wants William and his sparsely-furred relatives to tackle their hereditary male pattern baldness with hair implants

Who was the royal resident at Kensington Palace urging staff to vote against local Labour republican MP Emma Dent Coad in the run-up to the 2019 election?

She had riled the royals by wrongly claiming that Harry couldn't fly a helicopter, called her constituents William and Kate 'ridiculous', declined a chance to meet the monarch and criticised the cost of the royal weddings.

The campaign to oust her worked. A Conservative win by 150 votes wiped out Dent Coad's majority of 20.

Who was the royal resident at Kensington Palace urging staff to vote against local Labour republican MP Emma Dent Coad in the run-up to the 2019 election?

The Queen Mother obeyed the protocol that royals shouldn't vote but in the 1931 by-election for the former Westminster St George's constituency, she told the Conservative candidate, Duff Cooper, that she had sent 'a busload of servants' to vote for him.

He beat Lord Beaverbrook's Empire Free Trade Crusade party.

BBC Radio 2 flibbertigibbet Zoe Ball appealed on her Breakfast Show for listeners to contribute to the station's careers week.

'Phone if you have the most obscure job,' gushed Zoe, pictured. 'Tell us what your careers officer told you at school.'

What followed was a remarkable absence of further requests to get in touch.

Zoe had discovered Radio 2 wasn't hosting careers week, but carers week. Doh!

BBC Radio 2's Zoe Ball erroneously mixed up Carers Week with Careers Week

Beatles aide Tony Bramwell, who has died aged 78, once asked Paul McCartney to quash rumours that he died by leaving his remote farm in Scotland and attending a press conference.

He refused. Bramwell then telephoned a well-known American disc jockey and told him live on air, in his best Liverpool accent: 'This is Paul McCartney. As you can hear, I'm alive and kicking.'

With a little help from his friends: Beatles aide Tony Bramwell, who has died aged 78, recalled how he once impersonated Paul McCartney on the radio

Martin Amis's teenage lover Tina Brown, paying tribute to him at a St Martin-in-the-Fields memorial service, recalls first meeting the London Fields author's curmudgeonly father Kingsley.

'It was a terrifying test you had to pass. All that Kingsley said about me, apparently, was, 'Nice t**s'.'
The Pope has again used a homophobic term after apologising last month for saying gay men should not be admitted to church seminaries because 'there's already too much f*****ry' in closed-door meeting.

He used of the word 'frociaggine', a vulgar Italian term roughly translating as 'f*****ness', on May 20 during a closed-door meeting with Italian bishops.

According to Italian news agency ANSA, Pope Francis, 87, repeated the term on Tuesday as he met Roman priests, saying 'there is an air of f*****ness in the Vatican'.

He added that it was better that young men with a homosexual tendency not be allowed to enter the seminary - a college that trains students to become priests.

Asked about the latest report, the Vatican's press office made reference to a statement it had issued regarding Tuesday's 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.

Pope Francis used of the word 'frociaggine', a vulgar Italian term roughly translating as 'f*****ness', on May 20 during a closed-door meeting with Italian bishops

Pope Francis attends a Mass in St Peter's Square for the first World Children's Day on May 26

After the first report of him using the word, Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera quoted unnamed bishops who were in the room as suggesting that the pope, as an Argentine, might not have realised that the Italian term he used was offensive.

The Pope had been credited with making substantial moves towards being more welcoming of the LGBT+ community during his 11-year papacy.

Some observers of the Vatican say his recent missteps undermine his authority and raise questions about his convictions and the reform path he has in mind for the Church.

In May, Italian news agency Adnkronos, citing sources, reported that the Pope said in his speech: 'Look, there is already an air of f*****ry around that is not good. There is today's culture of homosexuality with respect to those who have a homosexual orientation [who] are better off not being accepted [into the seminary].'

The remark was met with 'incredulous laughter', bishops told newspaper Corriere della Sera, but represents a huge step back for campaigners after prolonged efforts to reform the church's position on LGBTQ+ rights.

The Pope apologised the following week, with the Vatican releasing a statement that said: 'The Pope never intended to offend or express himself in homophobic terms, and he apologises to those who felt offended by the use of a term reported by others.'
A homicide investigation has been launched after a 10-month-old baby boy tragically died after sustaining violent, blunt-force trauma.

Mustafa Ali arrived unconscious at Te Kuiti Hospital, south of Hamilton on the North Island, on Saturday afternoon but was unable to be resuscitated.

Police claim the 10-month-old died from injuries sustained during a violent, non-accidental attack.

'Tragically, despite the best efforts of medical personnel, he was unable to be resuscitated,' Detective Inspector Graham Pitkethley said.

New Zealand Police have launched a homicide investigation into the death of 10-month-old boy, Mustafa Ali (pictured with his father), on Saturday

Investigators have since scoured the family home where Mustafa lived with his father, Mukzameel Ali, mother and several family members.

While the family are cooperating with police, Det Insp Pitkethley said their statements differed from what police believe happened to the boy.

'The mother of the child and the father of the child are both speaking to (police),' he explained.

'I have, personally, some concerns in regards to inconsistencies with the statement.'

He added that a postmortem examination will be carried out in the coming days but initial results led to police not believing the child's injuries were accidental.

Det Insp Pitkethley revealed police were preparing to conclude an investigation into non-accidental injuries Mustafa sustained in October.

'That inquiry, and investigation, was due to be completed shortly, unfortunately before the death of Mustafa,' he said.

Oranga Tamariki, New Zealand's ministry of children, said it had been involved with the family before Mustafa's death in conjunction with police investigations.

The young child arrived at at Te Kuiti Hospital (pictured) unconscious with 'non-accidental' blunt force trauma and was tragically unable to be resuscitated

A neighbour to the family told media that he heard a women in hysterics about 2pm Saturday.

He claims to have seen a car arrive at the house just minutes later, picked up the person screaming and drove off.

'I guess, that's when they went to hospital'.

Det Insp Pitkethley said police were aware of the reports but was 'not willing to comment further'.

The sudden death has sent shockwaves through the small community, particularly 'those who lived near the scene'.

The family's landlord and friend from the local mosque, Moshif Hussain, remembered Mustafa as the 'joy of the house'.

'The community is really distressed,' he told RNZ.

'Everyone likes to cuddle babies, so everyone had some kind of connection with the baby, so everyone is quite sad and they're stressed ... and worried of how it happened.'

Anyone who heard screaming or has information regarding the incident has been urged to contact police.
A violinist has hit back at her childhood bully who daringly sent a message asking her to perform for free at her upcoming wedding.

Tiffany Moore, 31, a professional musician who has been performing at events for 19 years, was horrified to get a random message from the woman who tormented her when they were kids.

While growing up together in the same town, Moore says her days at elementary and middle school were often a struggle while feeling overwhelmed from nasty comments and cruel behavior which left her feeling isolated and full of self-doubt.

Now years later, she felt the trauma creep back when she received a message from the bully who had a special request.

'Hey girl!!!!' her opening message read. 'I'm getting MARRIED and totally want you to play violin for my ceremony in October ~ it would be the perfect gift PLUS you could use photos and videos to build your performance portfolio! Win win!'

Tiffany Moore is a professional wedding violinist for going on 19 years and has been building up her reputation since she was just 12 years old

The audacity of the message shocked the performer, with the bully seeming to have forgotten their interactions all those years ago.

The musician was quick to shut her former tormentor down but in a stunning twist, the wedding was called off anyway after the groom-to-be got sent their exchange.

Moore told DailyMail.com the bullying began back when they were kids. Her bully often called her instrument choice 'geeky,' and described her playing as sounding 'like a cat dying'.

'In middle school, things got worse. She was just relentless, getting her friends to gang up on me and make fun of me or even pretend that I didn't exist,' Moore said.

'Going to activities for church and school, she would tell everybody not to talk to me, and that if they so much as looked at me, she was not going to be their friend.'

This treatment led Moore to have only two friends who were younger than her and seen as 'outcasts' or 'underdogs.'

Speaking to DailyMail.com, Moore recalled the sting she felt in the moment of reading the message.

'When I saw that message at first, my heart sank, because I was like, "Oh no, she's back,"' Moore told DailyMail.com in an interview.

'Part of me felt like a middle-schooler again, being shunned and bullied for making music and for presenting myself in a way that people were intrigued.'

She let the message sit for 20 minutes before telling the woman, now the same age as Moore, that it was 'bold' of her to ask for a '$2,500 service' for free.

'You bullied me relentlessly in middle school for being in orchestra,' she wrote.

She also hit back at the idea that performing at this wedding would be the make or break for her compendious portfolio, that's she been building since age 12.

Moore said the bullying began back when they were kids growing up in the same church. Her bully often called her instrument choice 'geeky,' and described her playing as sounding 'like a cat dying'

Moore pictured with a friend, in her school's orchestra in their senior year

While growing up together in the same town, Moore says her days at elementary and middle school were often a struggle while feeling overwhelmed from nasty comments but pursued the violin regardless

In her reply, the woman asked if she would compromise for a discount instead, adding that she wanted to be friends 'and leave the past behind us.'

'I already have friends, thanks,' Moore wrote back. 'I don't have time to entertain your ignorance.'

Reflecting on this part of the text conversation, Moore told DailyMail.com that she's worked hard to establish a fee - which she often will tweak, but is put off when people expect a lower rate.

'For family and friends, I offer to do things for free or at a reduced rate, but they never ask,' she said.

The bully steamrolled right through Moore's rejection and once again asked if she was available October 3 for her wedding, this time offering to pay $1,000, far less than the $2,500 Moore usually charges.

'This is too much,' Moore texted back. 'I have to decline your $1,000 offer, and also refuse to work for "exposure."'

This was the last straw for the bully apparently, who immediately fell back into her old habits.

'Well well well, who's the mean girl now b*****!? Go cry about not being able to pay your bills because you're too greedy. Besides you're not even worth it and you suck!!!!!!'

Having found her voice, Moore decided to post their interaction online.

The bully then saw the videos which featured their conversations and was outraged, telling her she was finished and that Moore was 'the bully' in this situation.

She even made a vague threat about calling a lawyer, which Moore pounced on, adding 'I'm not worried here,' Moore texted.

Moore told DailyMail.com that once the entire string of messages was published to her Instagram, people in her comments were telling her to reach out to her bully's fiance.

She refused to do so, saying it 'wasn't my place,' but it didn't take long for whispers of the exchange to reach him, prompting him to reach out to Moore on Instagram via his personal account.

Moore told DailyMail.com that once the entire string of messages was published to her Instagram, people in her comments were telling her to reach out to her bully's fiance

Moore has found strength in friendship from acclaimed musicians Lindsey Stirling and Mairead Nesbitt

A friend of his had sent him Moore's videos, which was how he managed to get connected and message her.

The fiance shared his soon-to-be-bride's version of events, which was that the potential violinist for their wedding, a.k.a. Moore, was rude and unprofessional to her.

'She's being secretive and hiding things constantly,' he wrote about Moore's bully. '...I feel like she's cheating on me too so I don't know what to do.'

He ended up confronting his bride-to-be after a church service, and was met with an attitude of aggression Moore was familiar with.

The fiance later messaged Moore to say she 'lashed out like the bully she is,' telling him things like she never loved him anyway, screenshots show.

'She ostracized him from his friends. He hasn't had friends in two years because she made him only spend time with her,' Moore said in the interview.

In the midst of the blowup, the wedding was called off. The man messaged Moore to say he was grateful he found out who his partner really was.

'You literally saved my life,' he wrote in an Instagram message to Moore. 'I'm gonna try to fix things with my friends.'

Moore wrote back: 'Today is the beginning of a new chapter for you. Cheers to a fresh start, no more narcissistic relationships.'

Moore then got the man's permission to share the screenshots of their conversation together.

Her Instagram following was quick to give the freshly single guy the pick-me-up he likely needed.

'People in the comments were being so lovely towards him and just trying to encourage him and say, "this is the first day of the rest of your life. You have your whole life ahead of you, and someday you're going to find someone who cherishes you,"' she said.

Moore also revealed, on top of enduring bullying from her peers and an assault perpetrated on her by a trusted teacher, she grew up in a tight-knit church community.

'I wasn't even allowed to drive. I wasn't allowed to learn how to drive or manage my own finances. I was told what to wear, where to work, who I could hang around, where I could spend my time,' she said.

She escaped at age 22, leaving to go live with relatives in Chicago.

With the bullying and growing up in such a restricted setting, she says she once 'hated life so much,' but looking back, it's helped make her the person she is today.

She's found allies in musicians including Lindsey Stirling and Mairead Nesbitt, and launched her own business.

'I'm such a big advocate for mental health because I have been in a place where I wanted to end my life,' she said.

'Even though I faced many terrible things at a young age and was told who to be, it feels wonderful to now have a voice and a choice in who Tiffany gets to be. I'm truly the luckiest girl in the world.'
The Wisconsin school superintendent who was shoved by a father who rushed the stage during a high school graduation ceremony was called by the parents lawyer offering 'remorse' for his actions, DailyMail.com can reveal.

But Baraboo Superintendent Rainey Briggs is not in a forgiving mood.

In an exclusive interview on Tuesday, Briggs said he isnt ready to forgive the actions that shattered a joyous occasion for the entire graduating class and their families.

'An apology just doesnt make things go away,' Briggs said during the interview at his home.

Briggs has yet to speak with the father Matt Eddy since the May 31 confrontation, when the irate dad pushed Briggs aside to stop him from shaking hands with his daughter as she was about to receive her diploma.

In an exclusive interview on Tuesday, Briggs revealed how he's feeling following shattered a joyous occasion for the entire graduating class and their families

Matt Eddy, 49, told police he stopped his daughter from shaking superintendent Rainey Briggs' hand because he slighted her during a meeting

Eddy, 49, was escorted out of the building following the confrontation and arrested for disorderly conduct. Briggs has since obtained a restraining order preventing Eddy from having any further contact with him.

But on Monday night, Eddys lawyer called Briggs, apparently trying to smooth things over.

'I havent heard directly from Mr. Eddy, but I did have a phone call yesterday with his attorney,' Briggs revealed.

'The outreach was really to indicate that he, Matthew, understands his mishap in terms of what he did, what hes caused. Hes remorseful.'

'I took that as some form of apology, but thats not something I think at this time amounts to a solid apology from my perspective,' he said.

And even so, even a direct, explicit apology wouldnt make things right.

'I dont think an apology, an "Im sorry" makes this go away because theres a lot of harm that was caused.

'My heart goes out to, number one, his daughter, and to those 250 other students that were in the space. This is a moment in time for them that theyll never get back the way they had hoped for this to go.

'That was to walk across that stage with excitement, feeling like theyve learned a lot, feeling like theyd experienced some amazing teachers. That was all to some degree pushed aside that particular night.'

A scene from Mondays Baraboo school board meeting, where board members read aloud a statement condemning Matt Eddys actions in disrupting the May 31 high school graduation ceremony

The reason for the confrontation remains unclear. Eddy spoke during a police interview about the school expelling his daughter and blamed school officials for her treatment.

But Eddy, who is white, only targeted Briggs, the one black administrator among several on the stage, leading many observers to speculate that race was a factor.

Briggs told DailyMail.com he doesnt know if race was a factor'

'The optics dont look good,' Briggs said. 'The optics are what people around the world have gotten to see. And its caused them to formulate in their minds what was behind this situation.

'But ultimately, Mr. Eddy is the only one that could tell you whether it was racial or not'

And he repeated his assertion that he didnt recognize Eddy when he came charging.

'I have not personally had any interactions with him,' the schools chief said. 'I wouldnt have been able to pick this guy out of any crowd. It wasnt until after that I was able to pull his name up in the system to see who this was.'

Briggs said this was the most serious of several threats hes received since becoming superintendent in a predominantly white school district. Of the nearly 3,000 students, he estimated that only about 3 to 4 percent are Black.

He was hired in July 2021 at around the same time the district settled a lawsuit filed by the family of a black student claiming she had undergone years of racial harassment in her schools.

'There was a message the day before I started that the case was settled,' Briggs told DailyMail.com.

'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

Eddy was escorted out of the building following the confrontation and arrested for disorderly conduct

The Baraboo School Board is thinking about how to move forward following the disruption to graduation that has caught national attention

In 2018, the district made news when a virtually all-white group of 60 Baraboo junior prom kids were photographed giving what appeared to be giving a Nazi white power hand salute. Students and the photographer disputed this, saying they were merely waving goodbye to their parents.

During his tenure, Briggs said hes been subjected to nearly a half dozen specific threats, mostly from parents, some racially motivated, others not.

Shortly after starting, he said a resident confronted him in a local park yelling at him for the districts mask policy during COVID.

'Theres been phone calls, theres been Facebook messages to my personal account where theres been threats. Threats like, "Were coming for you," things of that nature. Ive always sent on to the police department in Baraboo.'

But Briggs, a married father of three, said these incidents dont point to a widespread problem in the district.

'Its a predominantly white school district,' he said. 'Do I think its consisting of students of color feeling like they dont belong here? I think there are some pockets of that, possibly.

'Thats part of my job is making sure thats not the case, making sure theres professional development of staff, making sure theres a sense of belonging for every kid in this district and staff in this district, regardless of their race.'

At a school board meeting Monday night, members of the board stood up to read aloud their statement condemning Eddys actions and defending the superintendent.

Two Baraboo police officers attended to keep the peace should there be any more flareups, but werent needed.

Briggs did not attend, but said he has no intention of stepping down from his leadership role.

Two Baraboo police officers attended to keep the peace should there be any more flareups, but werent neede

While Briggs said hed never met Eddy, Eddy suggested otherwise in his interview with police.

Video of Eddys interview obtained by DailyMail.com, showed Eddy claimed he felt Briggs slighted his daughter during a prior meeting and that 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.

'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.'

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.

'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 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.

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

Eddy denied pre-planning the episode and told police he even walked out when Briggs gave his speech.

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.'

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.

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 are 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 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 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 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.'
One of the American owners of a County Galway hotel torched by suspected anti-immigration arsonists has said her mother's ashes were destroyed in the blaze.

The former Ross Lake House hotel in Rosscahill, which once hosted Hollywood icon Maureen O'Hara, suffered extensive fire damage on December 16, just hours after locals protested at the site.

It was arranged that 70 asylum seekers would move into the property the following week.

In recent years, it was purchased by oncologist Allen Stringer and his wife Shannon Kincaid, from Texas, who have strong links with Ireland.

Their daughter Arden Stringer represented Texas in the Rose of Tralee in 2022 and their son Kincaid Stringer is a professional Irish dancer who travelled the world with Riverdance.

Arden Stringer sifts through the remains following the fire which destroyed the former Ross Lake House hotel owned by her parents in Rosscahill, County Galway in Ireland

The historic 19th Century hotel was set alight by suspected anti-migrant arsonists in December

Oncologist Allen Stringer and his wife Shannon Kincaid, from Texas , who have strong links with Ireland, purchased the hotel with the thought of moving to Ireland

In a lengthy statement on her website, Shannon Kincaid said it was their dream to immigrate to Galway and 'start a whole new life together'.

However, following an unexpected change to Allen's health in November, the couple decided to return to the US for medical treatment unavailable here.

It was during this time that they put the former hotel on the market  but were not aware that it would subsequently be used to house asylum seekers.

'In the end, we planned to sign with a company that intended to lease the property for its own purposes,' Ms Kincaid wrote.

'It was this company  not us  who was negotiating with the Government for a contract to provide refugee accommodation.'

The mother-of-three, a respected artist, said protesters 'swung into action' after learning about the property's future purpose.

She said: 'The protesters placed felled trees and a shipping container on the private road shared by us and our few immediate neighbours in order to block any access to our property.

'They also used concrete blocks and boulders to add to the obstruction, as well as cutting through the cattle guard at the entrance of our property to further limit access.

'The police are still investigating who then lit the property on fire, but it seems most likely it was a group of people sharing similar sentiments as these protesters.

'It took two 200m length of hose for the firemen to be able to reach the fire.

'It's my understanding that they didn't get past the shipping container, which is a quarter mile from where the fire was.'

Many of the family's heirlooms were lost, including her mother's ashes and son's dancing boots.

The only item to survive the fire was a statue of an angel bought by Ms Kincaid from a Mexican sculptor who works with concrete, which doesn't burn

'Someone set fire to our home, leaving our family with nothing but the charred remnants of our cherished memories,' Ms Kincaid said.

'We were living in a small cottage on the property and the hotel served as a place for our family to store everything we brought with us from America, which has since been reduced to rubble and ash.

'The only thing left standing... was a statue of an angel I had bought from a Mexican sculptor who works with concrete, which doesn't burn.

'There was misinformation and disinformation circulated throughout social media and news agencies that described our property as an abandoned hotel  an empty building that was burned to the ground  and we as 'greedy Americans/Jewish globalists' profited off of polluting the rural countryside of Connemara.'

The property had not been abandoned and was being prepared for a renovation to restore it to its former glory.

Ms Kincaid added: 'Following the public outcry and arson, Arden received hundreds of threatening messages online... It's been shocking and hurtful to see this kind of hate directed at us and humiliating to be accused of being traitors.

'We know these actions are not representative of Ireland as a whole.'

In March, four people were arrested in connection with the suspected arson and released without charge.

Files are being prepared for the DPP.

Ms Kincaid has been contacted for comment.
An ordinary Aussie man who posed as a paramedic and charged major companies for first aid training despite having no qualifications has been deemed a threat to public safety.

Andreas Pantziaros was handed a lifetime ban by the NSW Health Care Complaints Commission on Tuesday for offering bogus health services through his private firm Medic Corp Ambulance.

He allegedly duped major companies, including St Basil's, a large aged care company with five residential homes and 650 staff members across Sydney, and Blue Steel, the construction firm behind the Crown Casino at Barangaroo on the city's harbour.

Last year, Pantziaros was convicted and fined $1,000 for impersonating an emergency services worker and also for falsely registering his vehicle as an ambulance, which reduced his fee from $590 to just $68.

'The Commission found that Mr Pantziaros wore a formal uniform that had a strong resemblance to the NSW Ambulance Paramedic uniform which could easily mislead the public to believe he was a NSW Paramedic,' the commission stated.

Andreas Pantziaros (pictured) was handed a lifetime ban by the NSW Health Care Complaints Commission on Tuesday for offering bogus health services through his private firm Medic Corp Ambulance

'Whilst wearing this uniform Mr Pantziaros drove a vehicle which had been modified to resemble a NSW Ambulance vehicle, including displaying the words, 'Ambulance', '000 Emergency' and a 'Medic Corp' Logo almost identical to the NSW Ambulance logo,' the commission found

'Whilst wearing this uniform Mr Pantziaros drove a vehicle which had been modified to resemble a NSW Ambulance vehicle, including displaying the words, 'Ambulance', '000 Emergency' and a 'Medic Corp' Logo almost identical to the NSW Ambulance logo.

'Mr Pantziaros does not hold the qualifications required to perform the role of a Paramedic.'

The prohibition ruling added that he was not qualified to teach first aid.

This did not stop him from charging private companies and non-profit organisations for training days.

In 2021, he shared a selfie with a group of women holding first aid mannikins.

'Providing first aid and CPR training to the Polish School teachers,' he captioned the post.

Pantziaros allegedly duped major companies, including St Basil's, a large aged care company with five residential homes and 650 staff members across Sydney, and Blue Steel, the construction firm behind the Crown Casino at Barangaroo on the city's harbour (pictured)

Pictured: Pantziaros' fake ambulance he used as part of his Medic Corp business

The Medic Corp Ambulance website has been taken down but its social media profile remains active.

It appears Pantziaros has also plied his bogus trade abroad.

His social media profile suggests he is now living in Cyprus where he runs an 'occupational health and safety service' business called 'A.Pantziaros Consultants Ltd'.

A post from December 2022 appears to show him leading a training day for a volunteer recue group in Cyprus.

'A very interesting presentation by our friend and trainer Andreas Pantziaros on the use of medical oxygen,' the caption reads.

It appears Pantziaros has also plied his bogus trade abroad (pictured: a post from December 2022 appears to show him leading a training day for a volunteer recue group in Cyprus)

'This was followed by practical training where our volunteers, with the help of our trainers, put theory into practice.'

The NSW Health Care Complaints Commission found that he 'poses a risk to public health and safety'.

'Mr Andreas Pantziaros is permanently prohibited from providing any health services, either in paid employment or voluntarily, including through any business or company, to any member of the public,' it ruled.

Daily Mail Australia has approached Pantziaros for comment.
Residents in a community left reeling after a townhouse explosion killed a trainee nurse have claimed the neighbourhood had smelled of gas for years.

The explosion occurred on the second level of a government-owned seniors' housing complex on Waikanda Crescent in Whalan, in Sydney's west, at about 1pm on June 1.

The blast killed 30-year-old trainee nurse Mhey Yumol Jasmin who was visiting her mother, Mercy, at the time of the explosion.

Her body was found two days later in what was believed to be the kitchen area of her mother's unit.

It has been revealed that tenants complained to the Department of Housing about the smell of gas twice in the last 12 months, most recently in April.

The explosion occurred on the second level of a government-owned seniors' housing complex on Waikanda Crescent in Whalan, in Sydney 's west, and reduced the townhouse to rubble

The blast killed 30-year-old trainee nurse Mhey Yumol Jasmin who was visiting her mother, Mercy, at the time of the explosion

The department claims that on both occasions contractors were sent out to the home immediately and fixed broken gas meters.

In November, a resident reported smelling gas with the provider attending the property and fixing a broken meter.

Five months later, a tenant again reported smelling gas and a maintenance company responded to an 'urgent work order'.

Residents of Aitape Crescent, Whalan, just a few hundred metres from the destroyed townhouse, said they were living in fear after the deadly blast.

Local woman Talia, who lives around the corner from the housing complex with her young family, explained she has banned her toddler Lincoln from playing outside.

Talia explained the smell of gas is 'bad' and is something she notices every time she walks outside her home.

After the explosion, the concerned mum received a text message from NSW Housing asking locals to report gas leaks.

'It's literally taken for a house explosion to happen for them to do something about the gas leaks around,' Talia told A Current Affair.

'It could be that it's like no one cares about Mt Druitt because they all think everyone is a bum, but in reality not everyone's a bum.'

Talia (right), who lives with her young family just a few hundred metres from the townhouse, was concerned it took a fatal explosion for action to be taken

Tanya (pictured), who also lives in the area with her family, described the smell of gas as 'pungent' and that she had noticed it in the neighbourhood for about six years

Tanya, who also lives in the area with her family, described the smell of gas as 'pungent' and that she had noticed it in the neighbourhood for about six years.

Tanya has previously complained about the smell but claimed the lack of response to residents' concerns was 'typical'.

'Typical housos around here, so nothing gets done,' Tanya said.

Local resident and father Jake said he has smelled gas everyday since he moved into the suburb nine months ago.

Jake added his biggest concern was for the families who live in the area and the children that play outside.

'Definitely don't want another house to go bang, especially with all the kids and stuff.

'They've got kids, we've got kids, kids coming over on the weekend and everything ... so something's definitely gotta be done about it.'

NSW Housing Minister Rose Jackson said it was ' completely unacceptable' for residents to be living in fear following the townhouse explosion.

Ms Jackson said she was 'deeply concerned' to learn residents had complained about the smell of gas and has instructed Homes NSW to investigate the matter.

'I know that Homes NSW prioritises the safety of its residents at all times and has arranged for the maintenance contractor... to investigate with urgency,' Ms Jackson wrote in a statement.

'The Department are currently checking maintenance logs for any history of this. Our priority is for this search to be thorough and we will have more to say in the coming days.'

Ms Jackson urged residents with maintenance requests including those related to gas, to immediately contact the maintenance line on 1800 422 322.

She added temporary accommodation was being arranged for residents requiring relocation, with Homes NSW also developing a plan to move locals to long-term or permanent housing.

Relocation costs including packing, moving and unpacking will also be provided, with residents also given the option to return once reconstruction is complete.

Whalan resident and father Jake (pictured) said his biggest concern was for the children who play outside accompanied by the smell of gas every day

Tenants at the housing complex had complained to the Department of Housing about the smell of gas twice in the last 12 months prior to the blast

Homes NSW said reports about gas logged with its maintenance line were being investigated and a contractor attended the area on Tuesday to assess the matter.

'In the wake of the events at Whalan, we acknowledge that this is incredibly distressing for all residents,' Homes NSW said in a statement.

'We know that there have been flaws in how maintenance has been addressed in the past and it's our job to fix that, for now and into the future and that's why we're overhauling the current system to ensure a better outcome for our residents.'

Homes NSW is currently compiling a list of the work requests made for the social housing building over the last five years.

Rescue efforts following the explosion were hampered due to a gas leak, with investigators to probe whether any leak played a role in the blast.

The massive explosion was heard streets away and shattered the glass of neighbouring buildings. Five other people were rushed to hospital.

Another 12 people from surrounding houses were evacuated, with houses and apartment buildings damaged.

Police Superintendent Trent King said the majority of tenants involved in the explosion had been under state care.

Ms Mhey's distraught mother, Mercy, who had kept a vigil across the street with a close eye on the search effort, told neighbours she had reported the smell of gas in the building and in the street in recent months.

Homes NSW said reports about the smell of gas logged with its maintenance line were being investigated

Pictured, floral tributes laid at the scene of the June 1 explosion in Western Sydney

Mercy had left the property momentarily and when she returned, found the building completely destroyed and her daughter missing.

Her daughter's body was discovered in the kitchen after cranes were used to remove heavy concrete slabs.

Rescuers were then lifted into the home in a metal cage and used drills and cameras to look for voids and air pockets in the rubble.

Ms Mhey, who was training to be a nurse, was discovered underneath the rubble by search teams.

Detective Superintendent Darren Newman said officers broke the heartbreaking news to Ms Mhey's mother soon after emergency services made the tragic discovery.

'As you can imagine, mum is devastated,' Supt Newman said.

We will continue to provide the family with support through our family liaison network, and just making sure that she is looked after as best as we possibly can.'
This video is no longer available

This video is no longer available

Cocaine could become as readily available as alcohol under a new proposal that would see the illicit drug sold in a government-regulated market.

NSW Greens MP and drug law reform spokeswoman Cate Faehrmann said Australia's zero-tolerance approach to drugs was costing taxpayers billions every year.

Up to 3.3million bags of cocaine are bought off the black market every year in Australia despite the country waging a war on drugs.

Ms Faehrmann told Channel Nine's Today that a regulated market would take billions out of the hands of cartels and provide people with better education.

'Cocaine use is increasing, cocaine supply is increasing, we can't stop people using cocaine. That's for sure. I don't think it can get any worse,' she said.

Cocaine could become as readily available as alcohol under a new proposal that would see the illicit drug sold in a government-regulated market (stock image)

Ms Faehrmann said when alcohol was illegal during the temperance movement in the 1910s and 1920s, highly dangerous and poisonous alcohol had been brewed

'We've waged the war against drugs now across the world for 50 years and more people are taking drugs than ever before and more drugs are being produced.

'So I'm saying it's time for another approach, we need all options on the table.'

In NSW, if a person is found with a personal quantity of cocaine or other illicit drug, police have the option of either letting them off with a fine or charging them.

'Cocaine use is on the increase,' Ms Faehrmann continued.

'In places in the US it's increasingly being cut with things like fentanyl which can be up to 20, 30, 50 times stronger than heroin, it's deadly.'

She said when alcohol was illegal during the temperance movement in the 1910s and 1920s, highly dangerous and poisonous alcohol had been brewed.

'Ideally it would be great if people didn't drink, because it's poison, and people didn't smoke cigarettes, but they want to, so we regulate it,' she said.

'We should start thinking about that with currently illegal drugs like cocaine.'

NSW Greens MP Cate Faehrmann (pictured) said Australia's zero-tolerance approach was costing taxpayers billions of dollars and wasting police resources

In a statement, Ms Faehrmann said a regulated market would undercut the black market and drive organised drug gangs out of business.

'A government-regulated market would also mean people would know what substances they were taking and had information about how to reduce harm.

'Every day governments sit back and pretend the war on drugs is working, they're allowing crime gangs to continue to make billions while putting more lives at risk.'

Dan Howard SC, who led a NSW Special Commission of Inquiry into the drug 'ice' and other drugs on behalf of the previous government, told the ABC last year there is 'overwhelming' evidence cocaine should be decriminalised.

'Decriminalisation doesn't mean drugs are legal,' Prof Howard said last year.

'It means if somebody is found in use or possession of drugs, the drugs will be confiscated, they will be referred to an education program or psychologist, addressing this whole issue of use and possession.'

An estimated 3.3million bags of cocaine are purchased by Australians every year (stock)

Prof Howard noted there were an estimated 20,000 cases in the NSW local court system for personal drug use which he says is a waste of legal resources.

The 2023 World Drug Report, published by the UN Office on Drugs and Crime, showed Australia and New Zealand are the 'highest worldwide' users of cocaine, with both supply and demand for the drug on the rise.

While the drug is a serious problem Australia-wide the 2022 National Wastewater Drug Monitoring Program report found Sydney was the cocaine capital, with a whopping 800mg of cocaine use per 1,000 people per day on average.

In comparison to New South Wales, Brisbane and Melbourne used nearly half that amount at 450mg per 1,000 people per day.
Convicted murderer Rebecca Grossman is languishing at the notorious Los Angeles 'Twin Towers' jail as she waits to be transferred to a state prison to serve her sentence for killing two young brothers.

It could take anywhere from two to four weeks for Grossman to be transferred to one of three women's prisons in California, sources told DailyMail.com.

The 60-year old disgraced socialite - whose birthday is on Friday - has been housed at the Twin Towers Correctional Facility in Downtown LA since a jury found her guilty almost four months ago for the hit-and-run deaths of Mark and Jacob Iskander in September 2020.

She was sentenced to 15 years to life at an emotionally-charged hearing in Van Nuys Monday, but could be eligible for parole in as little as seven to eight years.

Prosecutors had asked the judge to consider a sentence of 34 years to life and argued the disgraced socialite was 'more than deserving' of harsher punishment.

Rebecca Grossman rains at the Twin Towers Correctional Facility in Downtown LA until she is transferred to a women's prison in California to serve her 15 years to life sentence

Rebecca Grossman, who turns 61 on Friday, went from hosting glitzy fundraising galas to the most crowded and dangerous jail in LA County

'We're obviously disappointed,' Deputy District Attorney Ryan Gould told DailyMail.com on Tuesday. 'We felt that there were two lives that were taken, and therefore she should be punished for the two separate lives she took.

'There was a lack of remorse, even in court, when she said, "I'm sorry for what happened." Not once did she say she was sorry for what she did. She never has once taken responsibility for her own actions because according to her, it's always been someone else's fault.'

Grossman fatally struck Mark Iskander, 11, and his brother Jacob, 8, while speeding behind a car driven by her then-lover Scott Erickson, a former Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher, and then fled the scene.

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

Sources said Grossman was placed on suicide watch for the first few days she was locked up at Twin Towers after a jury found her guilty of two murder counts in February.

The Twin Towers jail includes a 'correctional treatment center', or a medical ward, where female inmates and inmates with mental health concerns are housed.

During a shocking moment at her sentencing at an LA court on Monday, Grossman admitted she has contemplated suicide and wished God had taken her life.

'He knows that if I had seen anyone, I would've thrown myself to the brick wall,' a hysterical and sobbing Grossman said to the Iskander family. 'I wanted God to take my life. I don't know why God didn't take my life.

She continued: '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!'

Understaffed and overcrowded, the Los Angeles County jail system - the nation's largest - books nearly 200,000 inmates per year and watches over a population that averages 18,000 a day. Above in a crowded Reception Center, inmates sleep on the floor while waiting to be processed for Men's Central Jail at the Twin Towers in Downtown Los Angeles

An inmate with mental health conditions sleeps on the floor in the Forensic Inpatient Unit, part of the Correctional Treatment Center Hospital, at the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department Twin Towers Correctional Facility in Los Angeles, California, U.S., on Sept. 23, 2014

Rebecca, who co-founded a renowned burn center with her plastic surgeon husband Dr. Peter Grossman, went from glitzy galas and fundraisers with Hollywood elites to sleeping at LA County's largest jail known for its 'barbaric' and overcrowded conditions.

The Twin Towers, which has separate men's and women's facilities, was flagged by a group of senators last year for its 'appalling' conditions where inmates were found shackled to tables, slept in urine soaked floors and sat in their own feces.

The Towers also have had a history of sexual assaults among inmates or even the deputies guarding them, according to reports from the U.S. Justice Department.

Gould said Grossman would more than likely be transferred to the state prison for women in Chino or Chowchilla. Once she is transferred to one of those facilities, she will undergo a reception and classification process that could take up to 90 days.

During that time, California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation administrators will review several factors, including Grossman's mental health, the type of crime she committed and her criminal background.

Criminal legal expert and defense attorney Lou Shapiro said Grossman would more than likely place at a 'Level 1' area - the lowest level - because of her lack of criminal background.

The Los Angeles River flows behind the Twin Towers Jail, center, as seen from the MTA Building in downtown Los Angeles

Rebecca Grossman could be transferred to a women's state prison in Chowchilla, Calif

He added some inmates even qualify to be a 'trustee' or an inmate worker, who are selected for jobs in the jail such as cooking, managing the jail library or maintenance.

'The trustee status even allows them to have more access to free time, maybe sometimes better food and opportunities for more visitations,' Shapiro told DailyMail.com. 'They also could get time off their sentences. It's in exchange for good behavior and the work they are doing and the goodwill that they have earned as a trustee.

'Although she was convicted of murder, it was not an intentional crime, so there is a good likelihood she would be at a Level 1 part of the prison and could be a trustee.'

At the Chowchilla state prison, Grossman would be in the same facility as 'House of Horror' mom Louise Turpin, who was sentenced 25 years to life - along with her husband David- for starving and torturing 12 of their 13 children in their Perris, Calif. home.
A 'dying' town which was once hugely important to Australia's coal mining industry is set to be one of the sites for a nuclear power plant if the Coalition wins the next Federal Election.

With Peter Dutton wanting Australia to go nuclear and Anthony Albanese's government pursuing a renewables-led energy transition, the election due within a year will pass judgment on these competing visions.

Until now, the Coalition has been very coy about where it would put nuclear plants, but Shadow Energy Minister Ted O'Brien let the cat out of the bag on Wednesday by not denying a suggestion from 2GB's Ben Fordham.

'You're going to put one in Lithgow. You've got an old coal plant in Lithgow. You've got the transmission lines and it's the talk of the town at the moment in Lithgow,' Fordham said.

Mr O'Brien tried to deflect from directly naming the NSW town, 142kilometres west of Sydney, as being one of the first nuclear cabs off the rank, but he also didn't deny it.

A 'dying town' which was once hugely important to Australia's coal mining industry is set to host a nuclear power plant if the Coalition wins the next Federal Election. A nuclear power station is pictured

'Whether it be (there) or elsewhere in Australia, one of the things we've learnt along the way is communities that have experience hosting coal plants, they have high energy IQ, they get it,' Mr O'Brien said.

'And they understand the importance of 24/7 base load power.'

Fordham also pushed Mr O'Brien about why the Coalition is taking so long to say exactly what its plans are and that they keep saying it will come 'in due course'.

'You started talking about nuclear power just under two years ago. So how long do you need to announce a policy,' Fordham asked. 'Is due course 2024?'

The Shadow Minister finally relented, saying there would be an announcement 'certainly this year, I can promise you that'.

In a sign that the Coalition is coordinating its attack on Labor over net zero emissions targets, Nationals leader David Littleproud also spoke about nuclear plants on Wednesday.

Mr Littleproud said the plants will be in National Party seats and Australians would 'know very soon the specific sites' being proposed.

When asked if he was happy to go to the next election with nuclear power plants proposed in seats held by his party, he said 'the answer is yes'.

'We will be very upfront and honest. They will be in National Party seats,' he told ABC breakfast.

'We've been very clear that they will be limited to where existing coal power stations are, so we don't need the extra 28,000 of transmission lines to plug the renewables.

'We're clear, there are 12 to 14 existing coal-fired power stations across the country so we can limit to that.

Nationals leader David Littleproud (pictured) also spoke about nuclear plants on Wednesday, saying many would be hosted in National Party seats

The central west New South Wales town of Lithgow (pictured) is being tipped to be one of the first locations for a nuclear power plant if the Coalition wins the next Federal Election

'But you'll know very soon the specific sites. We'll look you square in the eye and be honest.'

Mr Littleproud said he and Liberal leader Peter Dutton 'won't hide anything' from the public.

Mr O'Brien echoed the Nationals leader, saying 'we are only looking at coal plants ... they are ideal locations'.

'We've also announced that it's part of a balanced mix, working with renewables and gas,' he said.
An Ohio judge has defended his decision to release the woman accused of killing three-year-old Julian Wood back on the streets just days before the fatal stabbing -despite a referral for a mental health evaluation.

Bionca Ellis, 32, was arrested on May 29 for a parole violation related to a shoplifting charge for stealing $69 worth of merchandise from a Walmart last year.

As she faced the charges last month, a magistrate judge at the Rocky River Municipal Court noticed that she seemingly became unresponsive - and ordered her to be held for a mental health evaluation, according to records obtained by Fox 8.

But Judge Brian Hagan instead released Ellis back into the community on May 31.

Just three days later, police say Ellis stole a knife from a thrift store, and followed Julian and his mother to the parking lot of the Giant Eagle grocery store in North Olmstead, Ohio, where she fatally slashed the young boy in the face and neck and injured his mother.

Still, Hagan said he would not have done anything differently, even now - knowing that Ellis is charged with aggravated murder for the death of the toddler.

Judge Brian Hagan released Bionca Ellis, 32, from custody just days before she allegedly killed a three-year-old boy and injured his mother

A magistrate had requested Ellis be held for a mental health evaluation

He noted that the organization handling mental health evaluations had nobody available, and he thought it would be unjust for Ellis to sit in jail for days on a minor charge.

'I'm confident in the way the court handled the matter,' Hagan told Fox 8.

'We did it by the letter of the law, there was nothing there to send up alarms.'

'There wasn't any red flags shooting up that pole,' he said, explaining that there were 'no signs of mental distress, no signs of previous, violent acts.'

But it has since been revealed that Ellis had a criminal record going back several months in three different states - and she once even confessed to cops that she had murdered someone and wanted to kill again.

In January, Ellis was arrested in Bakersfield, California on three counts of 'battery on person' for allegedly assaulting three people, Fox 8 reports.

The following month, she reportedly told police in Cleveland she killed a woman in California and she wanted to kill again.

The local police then transported Ellis to a hospital for a mental health evaluation, as cops in Bakersfield determined her confession was not credible because it was inconsistent with any unsolved cases.

Ellis was arrested on May 29 when police discovered a warrant out for her arrest

By March, Ellis was arrested in Florida after she booked a hotel room in Kissimmee but did not have the money to pay for it.

She spent one month in jail for trespassing.

Then, on May 29, police found her trundling to the bus stop in a wheelchair and discovered there was a warrant out for her arrest.

As she was taken into custody, police body camera footage showed her almost dancing as she excitedly proclaimed, 'I'm getting a free ride!'

When she appeared in court to face the parole violation, though, Magistrate Gregory Sponseller became concerned about her mental status.

He could be heard in court audio from the hearing wondering whether Ellis was paying attention or if she was falling asleep, repeatedly asking the suspect whether she could hear him until he decided she needed to get a mental health evaluation.

'Let's hold her for an evaluation from Recovery Resources,' he ordered.

'I'm not sure she fully understands the simple requirements the court has imposed on her,' he noted.

Ellis is accused of killing three-year-old Julian Wood just three days after she was released

Ellis would later repeat some of those behaviors when she appeared in court on Monday to face charges for the brutal stabbing on June 2.

She initially appeared via video feed with her head down at the hearing and refused to answer any of the judge's questions about whether or not she had read the indictment.

It was only after a judge ordered an attorney with the pubic defender's office to go to the Cuyahoga County Jail and read the indictment to Ellis that the suspect appeared in court and pleaded not guilty to the charges.

She was then seen smiling and almost laughing as the judge read out the charges against her, and even turned directly towards the camera and grinned.

At that point, Ellis' defense attorney suggested that she has 'notable mental health issues.'

But just a few 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.

Ellis' defense attorney suggested in court that she has 'notable mental health issues'

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.

She had no previous connection with the Wood family, authorities say, calling the attack 'entirely a random act of violence.'

Police say Ellis followed Julian and his mother, Margot, out of the Giant Eagle grocery store while brandishing a stolen knife

Ellis' mother, Yolanda Eggleton, says she feels for the Wood family and was shocked when she heard the news.

'When I found out, I was devastated, I'm devastated,' she told Fox 8. 'No child should ever have to lose their life.

'She was around my grandkids,' Eggleton added. 'It could've been one of my grandkids.'

But she said she blames both the court and mental health systems for failing her daughter and the Wood family.

She noted that her daughter had been suffering from mental health issues for years, and suggested she may have been 'hallucinating' when she allegedly killed Wood and stabbed his mother.

'Bionca has been on several medications that did not work out for her,' Eggleton explained. 'The hallucinations and the voices just got the best of her.'

She added that she believes the police should have done more to check on Ellis' mental status following her alleged confession and proclamation that she wanted to kill again.

'This won't be the last time,' Eggleton warned.

'And it's so sad, and so tragic that a baby had to lose their life --- an innocent baby.'

Ellis is now facing charges including murder, aggravated murder, attempted murder, felonious assault, endangering children, tampering with evidence and misdemeanor theft.

A judge set Ellis' bond at $5 million, and ordered the suspect to return to court next Monday.
A mural of a feared Melbourne gangster has been painted over by the brother of one of his murder victims.

The likeness of hitman Rodney 'The Duke' Collins, who died in jail in 2018 aged 72 while serving two life sentences for murdering a couple in 1987, was sprayed on an inner-city laneway in Melbourne.

Enzo Condello, whose brother Mario police believe was also killed by Collins, was forced to walk past the 'distressing' wall painting as he lived nearby.

But the bereaved brother has now taken the law into his own hands by painting over the offensive black and white mural with red and gold paint.

'It was 100m from my home in a laneway  it was very upsetting so I had him rubbed out,' Mr Condello told the Herald Sun.

The likeness of hitman Rodney 'The Duke' Collins, who died in jail in 2018 aged 72 while serving two life sentences for murdering a couple in 1987, was sprayed on an inner-city laneway in Melbourne (pictured)

Collins, who had a pet parrot he had trained to say 'I hate coppers' and 'Not guilty', was believed to have been responsible for at least nine murders across four decades

Police said they believed Collins was responsible for Mr Condello's death after he was discovered gunned down in his own home in 2006.

Mr Condello, once a lawyer, was part of the criminal 'Carlton Crew'.

He was portrayed as a loan shark in the acclaimed television series Underbelly.

Collins, who had a pet parrot he had trained to say 'I hate coppers' and 'Not guilty', was believed to have been responsible for at least nine murders across four decades.

He was also a prime suspect in the 2004 murder of police witness Terence Hodson.
Thousands of Aussies are set to be hit with a steep bill and more frustrating red-tape under an Albanese government climate change plan.

Treasurer Jim Chalmers is forcing up to 8,000 small and medium-sized (SME) businesses, as well as not-for-profits, to conduct expensive and time-consuming audits to assess 'climate risks', despite his own department estimating that 95 per cent of them don't even need to do it.

The impost is part of climate change compliance legislation that Dr Chalmers put before parliament earlier this year as part of the Climate Reporting Bill.

The new laws require as many as 7,600 businesses to unnecessarily spend up to $50,000 each for audits - at a total cost of up to $380million - that serve no purpose whatsoever.

Dr Chalmer's department has already noted that 'we assume that 5 per cent of companies in this group have material climate risks that they would be compelled to disclose' - yet it still expects thousands of businesses to conduct the audits anyway.

Treasurer Jim Chalmers own department knows that only 5 per cent of businesses have climate risks that need to be disclosed

The SME sector and accounting professionals are up in arms, demanding changes be made to the laws before the auditing process begins next year.

The new audit is happening as national economic data released last week reveals that the economy is grinding to a virtual halt (quarterly GDP growth of 0.1 per cent) with productivity improvements stalling altogether.

The accounting industry said the legislation should be amended to exclude unnecessary red tape, describing the Climate Reporting Bill as a 'several hundred million dollar ticking time bomb'.

Amir Ghandar from Chartered Accountants said the legislation is going to unnecessarily impact 'thousands of smaller and medium entities'.

The major accounting bodies - CAANZ and CPA - have teamed up to appeal to the Albanese government to fix the legislation.

Accountants have described the new legislation introduced by Anthony Albanese's (pictured above) government as 'untenable'

It comes at a time when the accounting industry is also warning of a shortage of auditors within the profession, with the government's recent draft skilled visa recommendations failing to include auditors in Category 1 for approved entry to help plug employment gaps.

While auditors stand to financially benefit from the extra red-tape the Albanese government is introducing - because they would be the ones carrying out the unnecessary and expensive work - an industry survey conducted in April this year still found that 88 per cent do not support the new laws applying the way that they do, and 84 per cent don't think the businesses impacted will be ready to comply by the due date.

This of course could risk further compliance penalties for businesses that aren't even engaged in practices that include 'climate risks' in the first place.

Mr Ghandar described the situation as 'untenable'.

'It not only wastes limited financial resources, it also stymies critical will-to-participate,' he said.

The Opposition has pledged to look at the situation if it is elected, and make the changes necessary to reduce red tape and avoid the unnecessary financial burden on businesses and not-for-profit organisations.
A man who claimed to be affected by delusions when he shot at a husband and wife while they sat in their vehicle has been jailed for life.

Benjamin James Nunns had been found guilty of murdering Charles Compton, 38, following a two-week trial at the Queensland Supreme Court sitting at Toowoomba.

The 34-year-old faced the Supreme Court at Brisbane on Wednesday for sentencing over what Justice Martin Burns said was a 'senseless act'.

'It has had a severe and no doubt long-lasting impact on Mrs Compton as she was sitting in the passenger seat next to him when you fired the fatal shot,' Justice Burns said.

Mr Compton and his wife Karen had been departing Nunns' home at Warwick, southwest of Brisbane, in the early hours of April 5, 2020 when Nunns attacked Mr Compton with a metal pole.

Benjamin James Nunns had been found guilty of murdering Charles Compton (pictured) following a two-week trial at the Queensland Supreme Court sitting at Toowoomba

Mr Compton and his wife Karen had been departing Nunns' home at Warwick, southwest of Brisbane, in the early hours of April 5, 2020 when Nunns attacked Mr Compton with a metal pole

Nunns returned to his home to retrieve a rifle and fired at least one shot at the Comptons' vehicle before moving closer and firing a round through the windscreen.

The second bullet struck Mr Compton in the neck, severing an artery and causing him to bleed to death.

Crown prosecutor Matthew LeGrand said Mrs Compton had suffered ongoing pain from the loss of her husband and it had also affected her family's lives.

Justice Burns said the jury had heard a significant amount of evidence about Nunns' state of mind at the time of the killing, which followed him inviting the couple to his home to consume methamphetamine.

'At some point, from the wife's account, (the couple) left to get fast food. Your evidence is that you interpreted what was occurring as an attempt to lure you away from your home and kill you,' Justice Burns said.

He said the jury had considered evidence that Nunns might have been affected by schizophrenia or related disorders, possibly induced by drug consumption, but had found Nunns did not reasonably believe he was acting in self-defence.

The jury also found that Nunns did not have diminished responsibility at the time and had intended to kill or cause grievous bodily harm to Mr Compton.

Crown prosecutor Matthew LeGrand said Mrs Compton (pictured with Mr Compton) had suffered ongoing pain from the loss of her husband and it had also affected her family's lives

'There is only one sentence that I can impose as you well know by now. On count one of murder you are convicted and imprisoned for life,' Justice Burns said.

He imposed a non-parole period of 20 years with 1529 days on remand declared as time served.

Nunns did not visibly react to the sentence and spoke briefly with his defence barrister before being returned to custody.
Bruce Lehrmann caused more than $13,000 worth of damage to a multimillion-dollar property he rented as part of an exclusive TV interview deal, a tribunal has been told.

Lady Gaenor Meakes, the owner of the home on Sydney's northern beaches, rented the property to Lehrmann with the Seven Network picking up the $100,000 bill.

She has since lodged proceedings against Lehrmann on the grounds of property damage and loss of rent.

A conciliation hearing in the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal on Wednesday was told Lehrmann left the Balgowlah property with $13,250 in damage when he moved out.

Lady Meakes also claims she is owed $6,000 in lost rent because Lehrmann left the property three weeks early.

The parties were unable to reach an agreement during a brief tribunal session, which Lehrmann did not attend.

Lady Meakes' daughter Matilda, who appeared at the tribunal on her mother's behalf, told reporters 'it's been a ride' while leaving the building.

The NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal on Wednesday was told Lehrmann (pictured) left the Balgowlah property with $13,250 in damage when he moved out

Lady Gaenor Meakes (pictured) also claims she is owed $6,000 in lost rent because Lehrmann left the property three weeks early

The Balgowlah property (pictured) is currently on the rental market with an asking price of just under $2,000 a week.

When asked if the family were aware Lehrmann was the tenant of the luxury property, Ms Meakes replied: 'I don't think anyone would willingly rent to him, would they?'

The property is currently on the rental market with an asking price of just under $2,000 a week.

Lady Meakes is married to champion yachtsman Mark Richards, known for his long run as skipper of Wild Oats XI, the nine-time line honours winner at the annual Sydney-Hobart yacht race.

The case is due to return to the tribunal for further directions on June 27.

Lehrmann in late May lodged a last-minute appeal of his Federal Court defamation loss over a TV interview that aired allegations he raped fellow Liberal staffer Brittany Higgins in Parliament House in March 2019.

Following a long and closely watched trial, a judge found the rape allegations were likely true and dismissed the 28-year-old's case against broadcaster Network Ten and journalist Lisa Wilkinson.

Lehrmann's appeal came despite the court previously hearing he had no financial backers in his case and his lawyers had worked on a no-win, no-fee basis.

He is expected to be hit with a multimillion-dollar legal bill to cover Ten and Wilkinson's costs of defending the defamation trial.

Details of Lehrmann's deal with Seven to pay the rent for the Balgowlah property were revealed during the defamation trial as the court pored over his agreement for a tell-interview on its flagship Spotlight current-affairs program.

His earlier criminal trial in the ACT Supreme Court over the rape allegation was aborted due to juror misconduct and prosecutors decided not to continue pursuing the case due to concerns for Ms Higgins' mental health.

1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732)

National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service 1800 211 028
A criminal psychologist has shared his disturbing theory about why a mother gave birth on the banks of a muddy river late last month - as police investigations continue.

A dog walker stumbled across a placenta and an umbilical cord on the banks of the Cooks River in Earlwood, southwest Sydney, about 4.30pm on May 27.

Neither the mother or the baby has been found despite desperate pleas from investigators for her to come forward to ensure both of their safety.

Criminal psychologist, Dr Tim Watson-Munro, said police face an uphill battle in finding the pair.

'If they don't leave a digital footprint, if there's no DNA evidence, they're virtually impossible to track down,' Dr Watson-Munro told Daily Mail Australia.

A top criminal psychologist has warned it could be 'virtually impossible' to find a missing mother who gave birth to a child next to a filthy Sydney river (pictured, police at the scene)

Dr Watson-Munro theorised the mother could have been facing a myriad of issues that made her disappear with the child.

'The ones that spring to mind, familiar familial pressure, religious pressure, she may have hidden the pregnancy, it may be a matter of honour to the family,' he said.

'That being said it's a fairly extreme way of doing it because you're by riverbank while you're trying to maintain your anonymity.

'Generally speaking, these sorts of things occur when there's fear, embarrassment, shame or anger,' he said.

'There may be anger directed towards whoever the father may be, there's also on occasions financial pressures.

'To me, it speaks to somebody who's not quite right in terms of their emotions and their cognition.'

Police were alerted to the baffling scene over two weeks ago after a dog walker stumbled across a placenta and an umbilical chord next to the Cooks River in Earlwood

Neither the mother or the baby boy have been located despite extensive searches of the area and desperate pleas from police for her to come forward to ensure their safety

The chances of police finding out what happened to the mother and child continues to fall with every day that passes, former homicide detective Charlie Bezzina said.

'The longer it takes for police to find the woman, the more difficult it becomes to make sure they're both alive and well, or tragically dead,' he told Daily Mail Australia.

The ex-detective with Victoria Police said that similar scenarios have occurred because of societal pressures, such as babies being born out of wedlock.

However, he added that the circumstances leading up to the birth couldn't be known without finding the mother.

'One never knows the history or the background as to why a woman would go through a birth and appears to have concealed it,' Mr Bezzina said.

'By then discarding the placenta and the evidence of a person having a baby, it is clear that she's either headed home or headed to a location nearby. But one can only guess.'

The main concern for police would be that she could have 'gone to a different location' outside of the search area and died, according to Mr Bezzina.

He said that an even worse scenario would be that the mother 'may have killed the baby herself and discarded the body'.

'As time goes on, it becomes a lot more difficult, and this may never be solved.'

Leading Sydney Obstetrician Dr Stephen Morris told Daily Mail Australia the mother could be at a higher risk of developing an infection given the place of birth

Leading Sydney Obstetrician Dr Stephen Morris told Daily Mail Australia the mother could be at a higher risk of developing an infection given the place of birth.

Sections of the Cooks River are heavily polluted as a result of traffic congestion, litter, sewage, illegal dumping and industrial and domestic activities.

'Water births are usually just tap water, and you can give birth in the ocean because of salt water, but a river tends to be the worst place to give birth,' Dr Morris said.

'The uterus is a bit of an open wound leaking out the vagina, and so if you get into submerge yourself in that water, it would be more dangerous.

'So if she went for a swim or submerged herself in the body in the river, then that would increase the chance of becoming unwell with an infection in the uterus.'

Dr Morris explained that if the mother becomes infected, she may start feeling feverish, and without medical treatment, this could progress to sepsis.

He added that the extensive police search of the area uncovered nothing that would indicate the baby was harmed at the scene.
The former employer of the white 'trad wife' influencer, who used the n-word in one of her controversial videos, has spoken out.

Rophe, a North Carolina-based company, released a statement after TikToker Lilly Gaddis made a series of inflammatory comments, including references to 'dumb wh***s' and 'immigrants fresh off the boat looking for a green card.'

The company, which is owned and operated by an African American woman, slammed her behavior and said she was no longer part of the company.

'We at Rophe of the Carolinas want to address a recent incident that has caused concern and upset among our stakeholders,' a statement read.

'A newly hired employee made inflammatory remarks on social media that do not align with the values and beliefs of our company... the employee in question is no longer with the company.

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 after using the 'n-word' in a video

'We are owned and operated by African American female and immigrant owned business [sic] and handled this situation as quickly as we could,' they added.

The company assured customers of their commitment to diversity, saying: 'We want to assure you that we are committed to fostering a diverse, inclusive, and respectful work environment where all individuals are valued and respected.'

While a significant number of online viewers and commenters were shocked and disgusted with Gaddis' language and felt the firing was an appropriate response, others felt it was an overreaction to a 'non-scandal.'

The message from Rophe comes after Gaddis posted a follow-up video acknowledging that she'd upset 'members of a certain community.'

But she went on to say that 'the backlash made me do a deep dive and a soul search and after all that I still couldn't find a care.'

To further prove her point, the quasi-social media figure made an appearance on InfoWars, where she claimed 'America is not a racist country' and that what she said in her original video is protected free speech.

Gaddis had been a marketing and sales manager at Rophe of the Carolinas, but on Friday, she posted: 'Oh no I just got fired! #mob,' that garnered some 307,000 views.

Her Twitter account was temporarily suspended however has since been reinstated. It is not clear if she was banned from TikTok as well, but her page is currently unavailable.

After the social media videos, she filmed herself addressing the backlash, but refused to apologize while wearing a t-shirt with the American Flag on it

Dressed in a floral apron with her hair pulled back, she filmed herself sprinkling garlic powder, pepper and olive oil in a bowl, as she spoke her mind.

'Guys certain guys think all girls are gold diggers. I don't know if you get your information from street interviews from Miami at 3am outside of a nightclub,' she says in the video.

'You are getting the opinion from some dumb wh***s and immigrants fresh off the boat looking for a green card. Yes, they are probably gold diggers but that is the exception - I am the rule,' she says tapping herself to further express her point.

'Everyone I know that is married right now is married to broke ass n*****, and they don't care. We don't give a f*** about money.'

Gaddis is seen wearing an apron and cooking in her kitchen following a rant in which she used the n-word appeared on Twitter and TikTok

Gaddis then released another Twitter video where she told her followers, 'A recent video of mine seems to have upset members of a certain community.

'All the backlash made me do a deep dive and a soul search and after all that I still couldn't find a care.'

A video flashes on the screen of a white man saying: 'You are going to call us racists. You are going to call us potential Timothy McVeighs. F*** You. (Pause). War.'

That tirade is followed by a comment by Larry Flynt, publisher of Hustler magazine, who said, 'If the First Amendment is intended to protect anything, it's intended to protect offensive speech. If you're not going to offend anyone, you don't need protection.'

More than 400 people posted their reaction from the video, with some expressing their outrage while others were confused.

On Friday gave an update to her followers that she got axed

Gaddis pictured with gun in pocket, as she is dressed in a button-down yellow shirt and jeans

The TikTok account of the 'trad-wife' influencer

'My jaw dropped,' one person wrote.

'No literally, what is she saying,' said another.

'She kept going. Hello???'

One person wrote that they could not bear to watch the rest of the video.

'I didnt even reach the n word, just the "dumb w****s and immigrants" and immediately clicked out! Imagine the surprise seeing the rest of the clip that it got worse!, they wrote.

After the video surfaced, Gaddis did not feel the need to apologize, but then learned she got banned, many felt vindicated.

'She got banned' she wrote.

One person claimed: 'She got banned from TikTok too.'

Another said: 'Action meets consequence.'

'Internet don't be playing,' they wrote.
Two men accused of felling the famous Sycamore Gap tree and allegedly causing more than 620,000 of damage will appear before a crown court judge today.

Daniel Graham, 38, of Carlisle, and Adam Carruthers, 31, of Wigton, Cumbria, are accused of causing 622,191 worth of damage to the much-photographed tree.

They are also accused of causing 1,144 worth of damage to Hadrian's Wall, a Unesco World Heritage Site, which was hit by the falling tree when it was felled overnight on September 28 2023.

Both the tree and the wall were said to belong to the National Trust.

Graham entered pleas of not guilty, while Carruthers entered no plea when they appeared at Newcastle Magistrates' Court last month.

Daniel Graham, 38 (left), and Adam Carruthers, 31 (right), appeared at Newcastle Magistrates' Court on Wednesday

Walkers stop to look at the tree next to Hadrian's Wall in Northumberlandafter it was cut down in September last year

District Judge Zoe Passfield declined jurisdiction and sent the case to Newcastle Crown Court, saying: 'This case is too serious to be heard in the magistrates' court.'

She granted the pair unconditional bail ahead of the crown court appearance.

The pair, who were both smartly dressed in red ties, walked into court with balaclavas over their heads.

The 300-year-old sycamore was nicknamed Robin Hood's Tree after it featured in the 1991 blockbuster film, Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, starring Kevin Costner.

Part of the Hadrian's Wall UNESCO world heritage site, for decades it had drawn walkers and visitors and was a magnet for photographers, and wedding proposals.

The felling of the tree caused a public outcry and headlines across the world.

She explained the detailed process that led to the Sycamore Gap tree, that was situated next to Hadrian's Wall in Northumberland, being valued at 622,191.

The tree was one of the most photographed in the whole of the UK and was an iconic landmark

Court artist sketch of Graham (left) and Carruthers (right) who both pleaded not guilty to causing criminal damage to the tree and Hadrian's Wall in September last year

The iconic tree, which is believed to be 300 years old, was found cut down last year

The two men, who were both smartly dressed in red ties, walked into court with balaclavas over their heads

She said the prosecution's case was that the tree was 'deliberately felled' on 28 September last year and damage caused to Hadrian's Wall at the UNESCO World Heritage site. The wall damage was put at 1,144.

She said it is alleged the men were part of a 'joint enterprise.'

The court heard that sentencing guidelines for the offence put the sentence upon conviction for the offence at between 18 months and four years custody.

But she added that 'unusual features' of the case could put the sentence over the 'top end' of the guideline terms.

The two criminal damage charges state they damaged the sycamore tree and Hadrian's Wall, both belonging to the National Trust, without lawful excuse.
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.'

A federal jury in Florida found that 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. (AP Photo/Amy Sancetta, file)

US lawyer Jonathan Reiter points at a map of Colombia marked with pins to locate people allegedly tortured and killed by Colombian paramilitaries on the payroll of banana giant Chiquita Brands

According to court documents, Chiquita paid the United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia - 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.

Reacting to the ruling on social media, Colombian president Gustavo Petro questioned why the U.S. justice system could 'determine' Chiquita financed paramilitary groups, while judges in Colombia have not ruled against the company.

'The 2016 peace deal... calls for the creation of a tribunal that will disclose judicial truths, why don't we have one?' Petro posted on X, referencing the year the civil conflict ended.

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.

Salvatore Mancuso, left, a demobilized boss of the paramilitaries United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia (AUC - extreme right), arrives to testify before the district attorney at a court in Medellin. The leader of AUC said three US-based multinational banana giants made illegal payments to Colombian paramilitaries, and Dole collected the funds

A young Colombian worker hangs up a bunch of bananas on the aircable at a banana plantation. Local farms have no other alternative than to sell for a price offered by the multinational company

'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 Chiquita's doorstep.'

In 2007, Chiquita pleaded guilty to a U.S. criminal charge of engaging in transactions with a foreign terrorist organization - the AUC was designated such a group by the State Department in 2001 - and agreed to pay a $25 million fine.

The company was also required to implement a compliance and ethics program, according to the Justice Department.
The US Navy dispatched ships and aircraft to track Russian warships that sailed just 25 miles off the South Florida coast yesterday en route to Cuba.

Vladimir Putin's most modern frigate Admiral Gorshkov, a hypersonic missile carrier, was accompanying nuclear submarine Kazan and two other naval vessels in the Atlantic for drills involving the use of high precision weapons, Russia's defence ministry said yesterday.

All four vessels arrive in Havana today ahead of a series of extensive aerial and naval exercises, according to the ministry - the first of their kind in five years in the Caribbean.

But their proximity to American shores prompted US Northern Command (NORTHCOM) to deploy three destroyers - USS Truxtun, USS Donald Cook and USS Delbert D. Black - and a submarine reconnaissance aircraft to keep tabs on the Russian vessels.

The Kremlin's decision to send its heavily armed flotilla so close to Florida is seen in the West as unnecessary power projection at a time of deep tension over Putin's war in Ukraine, with East-West relations at the lowest point since the Cold War and the Cuban missile crisis.

Vladimir Putin 's most modern frigate Admiral Gorshkov, a hypersonic missile carrier, passed 25 miles off the coast of Florida (frigate pictured firing a hypersonic missile in a 2022 test)

Russia's Kazan Yasen-M submarine, part of the Northern Fleet, passed close by US shores

Russian frigate Admiral Gorshkov is seen firing its weapons in a Russian naval drill

Russian frigate Admiral Gorshkov in the exercise mode in the Atlantic at the end of May-early June 2024

A still image taken from a handout video made available on 11 June 2024 by the Russian Defence Ministry press-service shows Russian Navy's 'Admiral Gorshkov' frigate taking part in military drills in the Atlantic Ocean while en route to Cuba

A Boeing P-8 Poseidon was sent to monitor the waters off Florida and track the Russian flotilla

US Navy warship 'USS Donald Cook' was one of three American destroyers sent to tail the Russian vessels

Besides the three US destroyers, NORTHCOM also dispatched a Boeing P-8 Poseidon maritime patrol and reconnaissance aircraft, which OSINT analysts said last night was monitoring an area of sea roughly equidistant between the US and Bahamas - likely the location of Putin's warships.

Royal Canadian Navy frigate HMCS Ville de Quebec also joined the US flotilla in its tracking operation to ensure the Russian flotilla continued onto Cuba without issue.

Russia's defence ministry did not state what firepower the vessels were carrying, though Cuban officials denied the Russian vessels are carrying nuclear missiles.

Russian pro-war Telegram channels boasted that nuclear submarine Kazan has 'guided missile weapons' on board.

The Admiral Gorshkov meanwhile carries a battery of Putin's fearsome Zircon hypersonic missiles, and both vessels are seen as key players in Moscow's nuclear strike force.

The other two Russian vessels headed for Cuba are the tanker Pashin and the rescue tug Nikolay Chiker.

During the Russian war games in the Atlantic, the Admiral Gorshkov 'defended Northern Fleet ships from air raids and anti-ship missiles of the conditional enemy', the Russian defence ministry said,

These exercises were conducted with the help of computer simulation, as mock targets were hit with the Poliment-Redut SAM system, A-192M shipboard artillery system and Palash anti-aircraft system.

Russian press said that in passing so close to American shores, Putin's ships were simply 'giving the US a taste of its own medicine' as analysts pointed out that as many as 50 NATO ships are currently performing major exercises in the Baltic Sea as part of the BALTOPS 24 military drills.

Vladimir Putin 's most modern frigate Admiral Gorshkov (pictured), a hypersonic missile carrier, is accompanying nuclear submarine Kazan and two other naval vessels

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

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

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)

Russia and Cuba previously announced that Moscow's vessels would be conducting drills off the coast of Havana 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.

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.
Detectives are investigating whether a convicted murderer who poisoned a married millionaire couple with fentanyl may have killed his own father and grandfather and avoided detection.

Luke D'Wit, 34, was jailed in March for life with a minimum of 37 years after he used the opioid painkiller to fatally poison Stephen and Carol Baxter at their 1million home in West Mersea, Essex.

He had amended their will the next day to make himself a director of their specialist shower mat and bathroom firm, Cazsplash.

In a bombshell update, detectives are now reviewing whether the murderer was responsible for the death of his father, Vernon, who had been prescribed fentanyl before he was found slumped in a chair at the family home in 2021.

Essex Police said officers 'will not hesitate to act' if they come across fresh evidence. Detectives are investigating the death of D'Wit's grandfather as part of their review.

Fentanyl is an extremely strong synthetic opioid which is about 100 times stronger than morphine.

Bodycam footage from April 9, 2023 of Luke D'Wit providing statements to police in Mersea

D'Wit befriended and worked for Stephen Baxter, 61, and his 64-year-old wife Carol (pictured) before killing them

Luke D'Wit (pictured), 34, was jailed in March for life with a minimum of 37 years

Det Supt Rob Kirby previously told the BBC he had 'absolutely no doubt' D'Wit would have carried out more subtle murders had he not been locked up.

He also could not rule out whether the murderer had targeted other victims before he was convicted.

Det Supt Kirby said D'Wit was 'one of the most dangerous men' he had dealt with in his career.

D'Wit's father was found dead in a chair at home in West Mersea in 2021.

Married couple Mr Baxter, 61, and Mrs Baxter, 64, were also discovered in their armchairs - by their daughter Ellie - at their home in West Mersea on Easter Sunday 2023.

Chelmsford Crown Court heard how D'Wit had extracted the painkiller from patches originally prescribed to his father and retained the drug 'in abundance'.

Police found a haul of the opioid painkiller in a backpack at the home D'Wit shared with his mother in Churchfields, West Mersea.

'Up to the conviction and sentence of Luke D'Wit, our determined focus has been securing justice in relation to the murders of Carol and Stephen,' an Essex police spokesman confirmed to MailOnline.

'As with any investigation of this magnitude, everything we have uncovered is being reviewed and should anything suggest this has been the case we will not hesitate to act.'

Stephen Baxter, 61, and his 64-year-old wife Carol (pictured) were found dead at their home

The home of the millionaire tycoon husband and wife in Essex where their bodies were found

An undated photo issued by Essex Police of officers at the home on Mersea Island in Essex

D'Wit befriended and worked for the Baxters before changing their will to make him a director of their shower mat firm.

He then created a series of fake online personas to manipulate them before he killed them.

He had pretended to be a doctor from Florida and members of a fake support group for the thyroid condition Hashimoto's, which Mrs Baxter suffered from.

D'Wit denied their murders but was found guilty by unanimous verdicts at Chelmsford Crown Court on March 22 following a trial that lasted more than a month.

He was sentenced to life with a minimum of 37 years by judge Mr Justice Nicholas Lavender, who said D'Wit 'ended their lives and brought grief and misery to the lives of others'.

Mr Justice Lavender did not accept the prosecution's assertion that D'Wit's behaviour was sadistic, because his victims were sedated when they died.

But he added: 'I consider it was possible that what motivated you was the desire to exert control on others deciding whether someone lives or dies is the ultimate form of control.'

A grab from an undated video issued by Essex Police from booking in footage of Luke D'Wit

A grab of Ring doorbell footage from April 7, 2023 showing D'Wit leaving the home in Mersea

Ellie Baxter, the daughter of Stephen and Carol Baxter, leaves Chelmsford Crown Court in March

The judge also told D'Wit: 'It's distinctly possible what motivated you was a desire to control others.'

The defendant, who wore a patterned blue short-sleeved shirt, appeared to show no reaction as he sat in a wheelchair in the secure dock.

The judge said he was sure that D'Wit 'extracted the fentanyl from patches which had been originally prescribed for your father, who died in 2021'.

He said these were crushed into a powder and given to the Baxters in a drink, which they took as they trusted D'Wit to prepare 'supposed health drinks'.

Det Sup Kirby said outside court: 'In all my years of policing, Luke D'Wit is one of the most dangerous men I have ever come across.

'I have absolutely no doubt in my mind had he not been caught he would have gone on to kill further people.'

He said that D'Wit 'disgracefully ... based his defence on collusion between himself and Stephen Baxter'.

'Stephen is tragically not here to defend himself but from everything we knew about him we know this could never have been the case,' said Mr Kirby, of the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate.

'Thankfully, today the jury have seen through D'Wit's fantasies and delivered guilty verdicts.'
Rishi Sunak has become a meme sensation overnight after he left D-Day commemorations early to do an interview with ITV in which he claimed he understood what it is like to go without because his family didn't have Sky TV.

He has been thoroughly mocked on social media after attempting to explain how he could relate to ordinary people.

Now a fundraising page for 'Rishi Sunak's Sky TV Fund' has even been set up as a tongue-in-cheek campaign to raise money for food poverty charity the Trussell Trust.

The under-fire Prime Minister faced widespread criticism for leaving Normandy, France on Sunday before an international gathering of leaders which was attended by the likes of President Biden, President Zelensky and Sir Keir Starmer.

It emerged he dashed back to London to do an interview with ITV's Paul Brand, before heading to an election campaign meeting - with ITV saying it was the PM's team who chose the timing.

After it aired last night Mr Sunak's woes quickly intensified after he was pressed on how he could understand what it is like for British families battling the cost of living crisis given he is 'richer than the King'.

Rishi Sunak says in an interview with ITV that he had to 'go without' Sky TV as a child so his parents could to pay his expensive private school fees

The Prime Minister responded that as a child his family went without 'lots of things' and said his parents put all their money into his 52,000-a-year education at Winchester College, because it was a 'priority'.

When pressed on what he had had to give up, Mr Sunak squirmed and laughed, saying: 'Lots of things. There would have been all sorts of things I wanted as a kid.'

He added: 'Famously Sky TV. That was something we never had growing up, actually. But there are lots of things.'

The internet was quick to pick up on the exchange, with one person sharing a photo of an iconic game show: Rishi Sunak, we asked 100 members of the audience what did you go without when you were a child... you said "a Sky dish"'.

A second shared a picture of Matt Hancock appearing to pretend to cry during a TV interview, adding: 'Heartbreaking. Poor kid.'

Another meme showed Ant and Dec laughing with the caption: 'Paul, now try and get Rishi Sunak to say Sky TV.'

Others showed stills or clips from shows such as Blackadder, Brooklyn 99 and the Star Wars franchise.

One user simply shared a clip of someone playing a tiny violin.

A fundraising page, clearly stating all proceeds will go to the Trussell Trust, was started within 24 hours of the clip first going viral.

The organiser wrote: 'Millions of people across the UK were heartbroken to read the recent interview with Rishi Sunak when he revealed that, during his childhood, he had no access to Sky TV.

'Unlike thousands of children, Rishi's deprived childhood included no satellite TV - a fate surely shared with his poverty-stricken friends who were also students at the private Winchester School.

'Despite this unimaginably tough start, Rishi worked hard and rose to a position where, as an investment banker, he earned millions after he bet on a bank that was subsequently bailed out by taxpayers.

'Rishi is now facing more hardship. He is down to just one helicopter and he could soon be out of a job. Forced to live on just a PM's pension and quite a few tens of millions in the bank, Rishi could once again be deprived of Sky TV.

'So I am asking you for help.

'Please donate to this fundraiser. All the money will go to the Trussell Trust to help people who, like younger Rishi and because of older Rishi, are unable to make ends meet. They provide food and support for those in desperate need in the UK.'

Some social media users pointed out that Sky TV did not launch until 1989, when Mr Sunak would have been nine years old.

Another said: 'I've changed my mind about Sunak now. We struggled as kids, little food, no heating and my mum to take my teeth out with pliers but at least we had Sky TV. Poor Rishi.'

In another awkward moment, Mr Sunak apologies for keeping Mr Brand waiting explaining the D-Day anniversary event 'all just ran over'.

'Yeah, it all just ran over... it was incredible but it just ran over everything,' he says, before saying he 'spoke to almost every one [of the veterans in Normandy] there, I hope'.

Mr Sunak has apologised for leaving Normandy early, saying it was a 'mistake'.

He left behind Foreign Secretary David Cameron, the Labour leader and the King, who was in attendance despite having cancer.

The Tory leader told Nick Robinson that he hoped people could 'find it in their hearts' to forgive his blunder.

Queen Camilla, King Charles III, President of France, Emmanuel Macron and Brigitte Macron following the UK national commemorative event for the 80th anniversary of D-Day, in Ver-sur-Mer, Normandy

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.'

He and Sir Keir Starmer will face questions in Grimsby later today as part of a Sky News special programme hosted by Beth Rigby.

Prior to the live broadcast, Mr Sunak is expected to be out campaigning in North East Lincolnshire following the launch of the Tories' manifesto on Tuesday, which proposed to halve immigration and tax cuts totalling 17.2 billion.

Meanwhile, Sir Keir will be championing Labour's pledge to spend 380 million fixing one million potholes every year.
Property owners will be forced to acquire a permit to operate an Airbnb in Brisbane amid the impact of short-stay accommodation on housing supply.

Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner will introduce a system to regulate the rise in Airbnb in the city as residents struggle to find a long-term home.

After a year-long review of the sector, Mr Schrinner said less than one per cent of housing in Brisbane was used as short-stay accommodation.

'This hasn't created the housing crisis but obviously it is something that needs to be managed and still adds to it,' he told ABC Radio on Wednesday.

Property owners will require a permit to operate an Airbnb in Brisbane in a bid to regulate the short term accommodation sector (pictured stock image)

According to data analytics site AirDNA, there are more than 10,000 properties in Brisbane used for short-stay accommodation.

Currently apartment building body corporates have little power to be able to stop a property being used as an Airbnb.

The council is set to introduce a permit system whereby a property could only function as an Airbnb if they had appropriate planning approvals in place, body corporate support and a 24-7 property manager.

Properties that do not meet the requirements for a permit would be forced to come back onto the long-term rental market to help meet the demand in Brisbane.

'We have identified over 400 properties that need to come back into the long-term rental market,' Mr Scrinner said.

Properties in Brisbane (pictured) will only be allowed to function as an Airbnb if they meet certain criteria, including having planning approvals in place and a 24-7 property manage

He said he understood the demand for Airbnb-style accommodation, particularly ahead of the 2032 Olympics, however, there also needs to be property to support the long-term rental market.

Brisbane is facing surging house prices as the latest CoreLogic data revealed it is now the second-most expensive city in Australia to buy a house.

The demand for rentals has also skyrocketed, with Brisbane facing a 0.9 per cent vacancy rate and rent prices have risen 9.3 per cent over the last year

Short-term rentals will continue being charged higher council rates to combat overcharging of prices and to encourage the properties to come back on the market as a long-term solution.

More than 10,000 properties in Brisbane are used for short-stay accommodation, according to figures by data analytics site AirDNA (pictured stock image)

'They are not using the house for a standard residential purpose, they are using it effectively for a business purpose,' Mr Schrinner said.

As the housing supply crisis wreaks havoc across Australia, other states like NSW are considering introducing a short term accommodation levy to encourage owners to put their properties back on the long-term market.

Victoria already has a 7.5 per cent tax on Airbnbs.
Daily Mail Australia can reveal details of the case for the first time

'Naked, screaming woman' was found on the streets of Canberra, police said

A young woman who claims she was locked inside a Canberra house for four days and raped has told police she only managed to escape because she fought off her alleged captor and ran.

The woman, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, was found by a police patrol car at 7pm on Monday after police allegedly saw her running, naked and screaming, from the suburban home on Fairweather Circuit in Lyneham.

She told officers she had allegedly been held in the house for four days and was repeatedly sexually assaulted.

Later that evening, police arrested Sisituutuumata Fulivai, 44, and charged him with forcible confinement, sexual intercourse without consent, assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

Daily Mail Australia can now reveal the woman allegedly at the centre of the ordeal returned to the house with a friend on Wednesday to find the police tape was down and it was no longer an active crime scene.

Police arrested Sisituutuumata Fulivai (right) and charged him with forcible confinement, sexual intercourse without consent, assault occasioning actual bodily harm

Pictured: The home where a woman was allegedly held captive and raped for four days. There were rubbish bags and day-old barbecue chicken by the front door (circled)

The woman alleged that she 'had to get out'.

'I had to... then I ran,' she said.

Fulivai did not own the property, but appeared to have access to the home while his relative who normally lived there was away.

The case against Fulivai is yet to be tested in court.

The house was strewn with debris on Wednesday, with rubbish and bags of day-old barbecue chicken by the front door.

Neighbours described the area as 'tight-knit' and 'community-focused', and were horrified by the alleged assault.

Sharon, whose elderly mother lives next door to the alleged crime scene, said she had visited the street multiple times within the last week and didn't hear anything.

The house was strewn with debris on Wednesday (pictured)

'I come here to look after my mother and there was no sign at all that anything was going on next door,' she said.

'(The allegations) have shaken everyone because it's normally such a nice community.'

Social media posts show Fulivai is a car and rugby enthusiast who used to run a custom printing company.

Records indicate the printing company folded in 2022.

Fulivai appeared in the ACT Magistrate's Court on Tuesday, dressed with a brown towel around his waist and grey tracksuit pants tucked into white socks, and with no shoes.

Prosecutors said the charges were not domestic violence-related.

He did not apply for bail and will be on remand until his matter returns to court in July.

1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732)

National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service 1800 211 028
This is the moment the BBC's gaffe-prone presenter Maryam Moshiri makes another on-air blunder whilst reading off an autocue before signing off with a reference to the Anchorman film.

The Tehran-born newsreader has become an online sensation over the last year thanks to her on-air botches, deadpan humour and ability to laugh at herself.

Moshiri's latest mistake took place whilst she was delivering a report on the declining number of hazel dormice in the UK, which led the 46-year-old to get confused over the words 'habit' and 'habitat'.

Following the autocue, the presenter said: 'Hazel Door Mice have declined by as much as 70 per cent across the UK. It's hoped that the new project which sees them re-released into their natural habit could help them restore the population.'

She notices her blunder instantly and says to camera: 'Is it habit or habitat? I'm probably going to get emails about this.'

Whilst communicating with the production gallery in her ear, the journalist then remarks: 'Well it says habit on the autocue, so what can I say. Nicola Hassler has more, I'm Ron Burgundy!'

Maryam Moshiri's latest mistake took place whilst she was delivering a report on the declining number of hazel doormice, which led the 46-year-old to get confused over the words 'habit' and 'habitat'

Last year, Moshiri, who is one of the network's chief presenters, went viral after accidentally opening a BBC bulletin by giving viewers the middle finger

In her latest gaff, Moshiri referenced Will Ferrell's 2004 blockbuster film where his legendary news presenter character had a question mark added to the end of his autocue, which caused him to sound like he was questioning who he was

Moshiri was referencing Will Ferrell's 2004 blockbuster film where his legendary news presenter character had a question mark added to the end of his autocue, which caused him to sound like he was questioning who he was, saying: "I'm Ron Burgundy?"

Following the video news report, Moshiri added: 'I of course meant to say habitat but habit was written on the autocue which just shows you that I read whatever is put in front of me.'

This blunder is the latest in a long line of iconic moments which has seen Moshiri gain thousands of fans with her hilarious on-air antics.

Last year, Moshiri, who is one of the network's chief presenters, went viral after accidentally opening a BBC bulletin by giving viewers the middle finger - something which shocked some of her audience, but left many people in fits of laughter.

In the clip, she can be seen raising her eyebrows and flipping off the camera as she comes on-screen after the programme's famous musical countdown ends.

She then seems to quickly realise she is live and snatches her hand away before beginning to read out the headlines about Boris Johnson.

Later, a full clip was leaked which showed Maryam's full countdown. In the footage, she uses her fingers to count backwards from 10 before coming on air, accompanying each gong with a funny face.

The clip sent social media into another frenzy as people were left in stitches by her unintended prank and a campaign was launched to have her projected onto the London Eye as the nation rung in the new year of 2024.

Then, in May this year, the presenter grabbed the internet's attention again when she hilariously broke into a coughing fit whilst reading the news bulletin for The World Today programme at 6pm.

The 46-year-old attempted to hold in her cough as she announced updates on the Julian Assange High Court ruling, but soon had to 'give up'.

The BBC presenter, dressed in a textured black outfit, attempted to hold in her cough but ended up in a coughing fit

Less than a few weeks later, more hilarious footage of the newsreader emerged whilst she was covering the Eurovision song contest in Malmo.

The clip sees Moshiri batting her assistant away as he tries to fix the host's hair after the cameras have started rolling.

The presenter then recovers from the blunder and delivers the start of the bulletin hours ahead of the beginning of the contest.

Maryam, who was born in Tehran and studied in London, joined the BBC in 2003 after working at Independent Radio News for two years. For most of her career, she worked in business reporting.

During her first 16 years at the broadcaster, Maryam was an anchor on BBC business programmes such as Talking Business and The Business Briefing.

However, in 2019 she became a news presenter on BBC News and BBC World News - which is where she made a name for herself as the corporation's zaniest presenter.

Before going viral with the middle finger clip in December last year, Moshiri had already left viewers in stitches with her varied talents.

Last summer, when the UK geared itself up to see the super moon, the BBC presenter fronted a segment on the phenomenon which had left people in awe.

Unfortunately, she didn't have footage or a photo to show viewers at the time, which may have left some people wanting - but she had a backup plan.

Raising her hands in front of her, she made a spherical shape and told her audience: 'It looked a little bit like this, there you go.'

It was another clip that caught the attention of TV watchers, with journalist Scott Bryan posting the moment on X and describing it as 'incredible scenes'.

Moshiri is married to LatinNews's editor-in-chief Jonathan Farmer (pictured) with whom she shares three children

Among Moshiri's top moments is the segment in which she apologised for viewers that she didn't have a photo of the super moon, and demonstrated it for them instead

She's a woman of many talents: Moshiri also given herself the title of England's Strongest Newsreader after bending a spoon back on itself live on air

In response, Maryam said: 'I think it's a pretty good impression given what I had to play with!!!'

Elsewhere, she showed off her ability to bend a spoon during a segment which showed a man crushing a frying pan with his hands.

In her deadpan style which viewers have come to love, she gave the audience exactly what they wanted.

She said: 'I want to show you that I am, in fact, the strongest person here at the BBC.'

Maryam then held up the spoon, which she explained had come from the BBC's canteen and was a 'real spoon', and proceeded to bend it entirely out of shape, letting out a groan as she strained while doing so.

Showing viewers the bent-out-of-shape spoon, she asked: 'What do you reckon?' before telling a co-worker: 'I'd like to see you do that!'

The moment turned Maryam into a meme once again, and she joked on her Instagram page: 'This is what happens to spoons that annoy me' and referred to herself as #EnglandsStrongestNewsreader.
This is the moment a crew of Vladimir Putin's state media propagandists was blasted by a motion-activated mine in the Russian border region of Belgorod, video shows.

An explosion was caught on camera as the pro-war channel Rossiya-24's crew were filming in Shebekino dressed in military fatigues.

The blast seriously wounded cameraman Yaroslav Borisov, who was rushed to hospital in grave condition with shrapnel wounds to his abdomen, neck, shoulder, legs, and arms.

Four others were wounded in the blast.

Borisov had spotted the anti-personnel mine several feet away and said 'Here's another one' immediately before it exploded.

A team of Vladimir Putin 's state media propagandists was hit by a motion-activated mine in the Russian border region of Belgorod, video (pictured) shows

The blast seriously wounded cameraman Yaroslav Borisov, who was rushed to hospital in grave condition with shrapnel wounds to his abdomen, neck, shoulder, legs, and arms. He was seen in footage after the blast being treated by medics

Footage showed Borisov writhing in pain on the ground with blood spilling from visible shrapnel wounds as he received first aid.

Russian sources allege such mines have been dropped by drones in the border region which has increasingly been drawn into the war, which started when Putin ordered the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

Armed groups from Ukraine made incursions into the region in 2023, bringing the war - that had until then been contained within in Ukraine - to the doorstep of Russia.

Governor of Belgorod region Vyacheslav Gladkov confirmed that five people were injured in the Shebekino mine detonation.

'The Rossiya-24 cameraman, who had shrapnel injuries to his abdomen and left shoulder, was transported in critical condition to Shebekino Central Regional Hospital.' He was later reported as 'stable' after surgery.

Rossiya-24 is owned by the All-Russia State Television and Radio Broadcasting Company (VGTRK), a state-owned media company in Russia seen as a major Putin propaganda tool.

The channel was banned in the United Kingdom, the European Union, Ukraine, and Moldova following Putin's invasion of Ukraine.

It has regularly pushed Russian propaganda, including the lie that the Bucha massacre was staged by Ukraine.

This is despite photographic, video and witness evidence demonstrating how Russian soldiers carried out the mass-murder of Ukrainian citizens while the town was under Russian occupation in the first month of the war.

The Russian cameraman is seen being treated after being hit by the mine explosion

One of Putin's propagandists is seen working for Rossiya-24 before the mind was set off

According to local authorities, 458 bodies have been recovered from the town, including children under the age of 18. Many were found in mass graves.

Several victims were found with their hands tied behind their back, suggesting they were summarily executed by the Russians. Others had signs of torture and rape.

Rossiya-24 suggested that scenes from the town were staged, and said unrelated footage of actors placing mannequins on a film set in St Petersburg were Ukrainian soldiers using the models to 'pass it off as a corpse'.

These claims have been debunked by several rights groups and media organisations.
James Bulger's mother has paid tribute to the family of murdered teenager Shawn Seesahai saying she wants to tell them 'I am here if you ever wanted to talk.'

Denise Fergus said that no one could understand the level of pain at losing a child until they become a 'unique member of the most awful club'.

Denise, 56, has been a lifelong campaigner against knife violence following the brutal murder of her two-year-old son James by Jon Venables and Robert Thompson in 1993.

The death of Shawn, 19, at the hands of two machete-wielding 12-year-old boys 'triggered' her to come forward and offer support to his parents.

The young killers are believed to be the youngest defendants convicted of murder in Britain since Thompson and Venables, both aged 10 at the time, were found guilty.

Ms Fergus, 56, told The Mirror: 'I cant say how sorry I am enough to the Seesahai family. The saddest thing is that I know what they are going through.'

Shawn Seesahai, 19, was killed by two machete-wielding 12-year-old boys

James Bulger, who was murdered in 1993 aged two-years-old by two 10-year-olds

James' mother Denise has paid tribute to the family of Shawn Seesahai saying they have joined her as members of 'the most awful club'

Jon Venables, 41, (pictured when he was 10) has repeatedly reoffended since his release, now back behind bars for downloading indecent images of children

Robert Thompson is pictured here in 2001 after the death of little James

She said 'nothing will ever heal' the hole left behind by a death like this but reached out and said: 'I want to tell them that I am here if they ever wanted to talk'.

Shawn's parents, Suresh and Manashwary, have compassionately spoken out previously to say they feel sorry for the killers' parents.

James' mother said no one could understand this level of pain until they become a 'unique member of the most awful club'.

She went on to say that the suffering from losing a child is 'terrible' but when they've been murdered by children, like James was, it makes it even harder to cope.

Ms Fergus told the newspaper Shawn's young killers must serve a full 'adult life sentence' for their actions and be moved to an adult prison at 18.

She speaks from the experience of knowing her son's killers - who were both 11 at the time of his death - served less than eight years at a young offenders institution.

Shawn's father Suresh (pictured with wife Manashwary) told Sky News that parents need to 'pay attention' to stop more senseless murders, adding that 'kids are dangerous now'

The Seesahai family pictured on Sky News after Shawn's killers were found guilty

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And Venables has repeatedly reoffended since his release, now back behind bars for downloading indecent images of children.

James' mother said that 'shivers' went down her spine when she saw that two 12-year-old's had killed Shawn.

Seeing that they were 'capable of such evil' brought back the feelings from her son's death all those years ago.

She said 'lessons must be learned' and called for the two 12-year-olds to be placed on a rehabilitation programmes straight away.

Chilling Snapchat messages sent between Shawn's killers revealed one said of the stabbing: 'It is what it is.'

The boys are thought to have become the youngest knife murderers in the UK after stabbing Shawn through the heart in a park in Wolverhampton.

After their conviction, social media exchanges came to light involving them and a girl witness who later attended a police station with her mother to make a statement.

The conversation retrieved by police starts when one of the killers says on Snapchat of the stabbing: 'Everyone's talking abt (sic) it, literally everyone, everyone knows.'

The Snapchat messages the two killers sent to each other after they killed Shawn

A machete pictured under the bed of one of the young attackers

The other one in the pair who were both found guilty of murder at Nottingham Crown Court yesterday - then responds with a voice note, saying: 'It is what it is.'

They then shared more messages, saying: 'I'm scared man' - before the other says 'I'm not', followed by the acronym 'IDRC' which means 'I don't really care'.T

The other one then responds with a voice note saying: 'I ain't said nowt (sic) cause every time I talk about it, like I act weird apparently so (inaudible) comes and goes.'

Family members of both Shawn and the defendants cried and hugged each other in the public gallery as the jurors found both boys guilty of murder and one guilty of possessing a bladed article.

In an interview released after the verdicts, his parents Suresh and Maneshwary have said they will never be able to get over the loss of their son who always told them he would 'shine' and take care of them.

A month-long trial was told Shawn was shoulder-barged by the smaller of the two defendants, who 'often' carried a machete with a 42.5cm-long blade.

He was then punched, kicked, stamped on and 'chopped' at with the weapon.

One of the 12-year-olds found guilty of murdering Shawn Seesahai even posed for a snap with his machete tucked into the top of his trousers hours before the murder

An image retrieved from a phone of one of the boys showing long knives and swords on a bed

Mr Seesahai was pronounced dead at 9.11pm on November 13 last year

The victim's friend told the trial he was forced to run for his life but Shawn stumbled as he tried to flee from the boys on Wolverhampton's Stowlawn playing fields on November 13 last year.

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 Shawn, 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.

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 bloodstaining 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 bloodstaining on his right trainer.

Mr Seesahai, a stranger to the two boys, was pronounced dead at 9.11pm after police and paramedics were called to the scene.

The boys are expected to be sentenced on a date to be fixed in July.
Rishi Sunak is facing a fresh row over D-Day after it was revealed how he blamed the late-running commemoration events for his delayed arrival to a TV interview.

The Prime Minister has suffered days of outrage after he skipped a major international ceremony with other world leaders in Normandy last week.

The row deepened when it later emerged Mr Sunak had conducted an ITV interview on his return from northern France last Thursday.

In a clip of that interview now released by the broadcaster, the PM has been shown apologising for his late arrival - suggesting he wanted to leave Normandy earlier.

'Very nice to see you, sorry to have kept you,' Mr Sunak said to journalist Paul Brand, adding of the D-Day 80th anniversary commemorations: 'It all just ran over.

'It was incredible but it just ran over... so apologies for keeping you.'

Mr Sunak's political opponents seized on the 'insulting' exchange to claim it showed how the PM viewed D-Day as an 'inconvenience'.

But those who were in Normandy with Mr Sunak pushed back and told Politico the D-Day events were delayed by the late arrival of Emmanuel Macron.

The website reported the French President had been held up by speaking to another world leader, which meant Mr Sunak went back to give Mr Macron a 'proper welcome' - and so eventually left the event later than planned.

Rishi Sunak is facing a fresh row over D-Day after it was revealed how he blamed the late-running commemoration events for his delayed arrival to an ITV interview

In a clip of that interview now released by the broadcaster, the PM has been shown apologising to journalist Paul Brand for his late arrival - suggesting he wanted to leave Normandy earlier

Mr Sunak's early departure from Normandy left Foreign Secretary Lord Cameron to join US President Joe Biden, France's Emmanuel Macron, and Germany's Olaf Scholz on Omaha Beach

The PM has repeatedly apologised over the D-Day row and admitted it was a 'mistake' to skip the international ceremony.

He has pleaded with veterans to 'find it in their hearts' to forgive him.

Mr Sunak attended the UK national D-Day event at Portsmouth last Wednesday and then the British ceremony in Normandy on Thursday, the 80th anniversary of the Allied landings.

But he left France before world leaders including US President Joe Biden gathered for the main international ceremony on Omaha Beach on Thursday afternoon.

Instead, Foreign Secretary Lord Cameron was the senior UK minister at the event and was pictured with Mr Biden, Mr Macron and Germany's Olaf Scholz.

It later emerged Mr Sunak had conducted the ITV interview on his return to Britain from northern France.

In the clip released by the broadcaster, the PM told Brand: 'Very nice to see you, sorry to have kept you.'

Referring to events in Normandy, he added: 'It all just ran over. It was incredible but it just ran over... so apologies for keeping you.'

The PM then agreed with Brand's suggestion that this year's events were 'so pertinent' due to the ongoing war in Ukraine.

'I haven't seen President Biden's remarks but that's kind of the echo, I think, of what he said,' Mr Sunak replied.

Asked if he'd met veterans in northern France, the PM said: 'Gosh, lots - lots over yesterday and today. I spoke to almost everyone that was there, I hope.'

Responding to the clip, Liberal Democrat Treasury spokesperson Sarah Olney said: 'This is proof that Rishi Sunak simply didn't care enough to stay in Normandy.

'How he brushes this off is frankly insulting. Rishi Sunak does not deserve to be Prime Minister.

'Honouring the sacrifice of our veterans should be a privilege, instead Sunak treated it as an inconvenience.'

Defence Secretary Grant Shapps this morning suggested the PM had chosen to miss the international D-Day event because no British veterans were there.

He told Sky News: 'He was there meeting British veterans. The part that he didn't attend had no British veterans at it at all. He has rightly issued his apology for it.'
A man has been charged with using threatening behaviour towards Nigel Farage after objects were thrown at him on the General Election campaign trail.

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 construction area below, before reaching into a bucket and throwing something else, which also missed.

On Wednesday, South Yorkshire Police said Josh Greally, 28, was charged with using threatening, abusive, insulting words and behaviour with intent to cause fear or provoke unlawful violence.

He has been released on bail to appear before Barnsley Magistrates' Court on June 26.

Reform UK party leader Nigel Farage reacts after items are thrown at him on a campaign bus

Police arrested a man at the scene and have now charged Josh Greally with using threatening, abusive, insulting words and behaviour with intent to cause fear or provoke unlawful violence

Nigel Farage is pictured here talking to reporters in Ashfield, Nottinghamshire, yesterday

Mr Farage, speaking while campaigning in Ashfield, Nottinghamshire, said the incident was 'pretty nasty'.

Politicians from other parties joined Mr Farage in condemning 'violence' towards general election candidates.

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.'

Stephanie Peacock, Labour's parliamentary candidate for Barnsley South, said: 'Intimidation has no place in our politics.

'I condemn the violence we saw in Barnsley town centre today.'

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.

A man has been charged after Nigel Farage's election campaign appearance in Barnsley

Politicians from other parties have joined Mr Farage in condemning 'violence' towards general election candidates

Supporters are seen demonstrating as Reform UK leader Nigel Farage spoke in Barnsley

Victoria Thomas Bowen (pictured), 25, has been charged with assault by beating and criminal damage when a milkshake was thrown over Mr Farage earlier this month

Victoria Thomas Bowen, 25, an OnlyFans model, has been charged with assault

The politician standing for election in Clacton in Essex was hit with the drink on June 4

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.

Meanwhile, Mr Farage's party has been accused of 'taking the public for complete fools' over the scale of its 'unaffordable' tax-cutting pledges.

He and Reform UK chairman Richard Tice said their manifesto would include a promise to increase the amount at which workers begin paying the basic rate of income tax to 20,000.

They insisted 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.

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'.

Mr Farage was attacked earlier this month after emerging from a Wetherspoons pub

He later that day joked about the incident, brandishing freshly-poured McDonald's milkshakes

However, the party's draft manifesto also states that it wants to scrap VAT on energy bills, slash fuel duty by 20p a litre and cut stamp duty to zero per cent on properties worth up to 750,000.

There are also pledges to 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 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.

Richard Tice (left) has joined Reform UK leader Nigel Farage in calling for tax cuts

The Conservatives' former Home Secretary Suella Braverman has suggested support

The Conservatives' Miriam Cates branded Reform UK's package 'unaffordable' and a 'fantasy'

'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.'

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.

Paul Johnson, director of the Institute for Fiscal Studies, has warned against what he called 'very big unfunded tax cuts'

Former Conservative Party leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith dismissed Reform UK's proposals as 'not deliverable', adding: 'It's la la land politics'

Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown, deputy chair of the Public Accounts Committee before Parliament was dissolved, said: 'These Reform policies are completely barking'

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.'
Drug cartels are taking advantage of an 'unlimited supply' of vulnerable child migrants by using them as foot soldiers to shuttle cocaine across Europe - and dishing out heinous punishments to keep them in check.

Europe's booming illicit drug market is worth at least 31 billion (26 billion) according to the latest official report, of which cocaine accounts for some 10 billion as OECD figures suggested that the UK, Spain and Austria all rank in the top five countries worldwide where cocaine use is most prevalent.

Underage migrants, particularly those unaccompanied by older family members, are seen as ideal targets for recruitment through the ruthless eyes of the cocaine kingpins overseeing the flow of the illicit substance into and around the continent.

These children are typically in a precarious position - often with no means to support themselves and no legal status - and are therefore desperate for cash while their anonymity and perceived innocence make them less susceptible to detection by law enforcement.

The drug gangs use brutal methods to capture and control them, forcing them to perform sex acts in exchange for accommodation and threatening them with savage beatings and even gang rape to ensure compliance.

Pictured: A map shows the several methods and land, sea and air routes used to traffic cocaine from the three main producers of the drug - Colombia, Peru, and Bolivia - into the world's largest market for the stimulant: Europe

This file picture provided on Aug. 10, 2023 by the Rotterdam Public Prosecution Service shows 8,000 kilograms (17,637 pounds) of cocaine in Rotterdam, Netherlands

One of the UK Border Force's largest ever busts saw some 5.7 tonnes of cocaine found in a shipping container in Southampton

Underage migrants, particularly those unaccompanied by elder family members, are seen as ideal targets through the ruthless eyes of the cocaine kingpins overseeing the flow of the illicit substance into and around the continent.

Though Colombia, Bolivia and Peru are notorious for their export of cocaine, Brazil's PCC cartel has in recent years established a terrifying network of criminal allies across North Africa and Europe

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European police data suggests that almost 16,000 unaccompanied child migrants entered the EU from Africa in 2022.

But thousands of these foreign minors have since gone missing and are unaccounted for - with EU law enforcement agencies suspecting hundreds were captured by brutal drugs gangs for their nefarious operations.

North African children, particularly Moroccans and Algerians, are thought to be those most at risk, with a recent EU police force investigation cited by the Guardian declaring: 'Sweden, Belgium, the Netherlands, Spain and France presented several concrete cases of the exploitation of hundreds of north African minors, recruited by drug trafficking networks to sell narcotics.'

European police sources speaking to the Guardian said the use of child drug mules was being conducted 'on an industrial scale'.

Reports also claimed that children are often found disfigured, either from beatings administered by their cartel handlers or as a result of knife attacks by minors of rival drugs gangs.

Meanwhile, a report on the phenomenon for Dutch justice officials seen by the Guardian claimed: 'The [networks] force them to do things; many of the boys have been raped and filmed when being raped.'

The Netherlands and Belgium have long served as the primary entry points for drug traffickers shuttling cocaine into Europe, particularly via port cities like Rotterdam and Antwerp.

The latter this year topped the list of European cities where cocaine consumption is at its most voracious, with a March report by EU drugs agency (EMCDDA) and SCORE group - a Europe-wide sewage analysis network - finding that 1,721 milligrams of cocaine were detected per 1,000 people per day in the port city.

Although the likes of Colombia, Peru, Brazil and Bolivia are responsible for producing and exporting the drug, the South American cartels have built up a formidable network of contacts with criminal enterprises and crime families across Africa and Europe to ensure their product makes it to consumers in the UK and on the continent.

Some of the most notorious European groups involved in the trafficking include Italy's 'Ndragheta and Camorra crime families, Grupa Amerika and the Tito and Dino cartel in the Balkans, and the likes of the infamous Kinahan clan and 'The Family' in Ireland.

But one gang in particular - the Mocro Maffia - is responsible for orchestrating much of the drug trafficking from North Africa into Europe via the Netherlands and Belgium.

The feared Dutch-Moroccan crime clan has for years been under the scrutiny of EU law enforcement teams, with the group's undisputed leader, Ridouan Taghi, jailed for life in February of this year following an intense six-year trial.

The Netherlands and Belgium have long served as the primary entry points for drug traffickers shuttling cocaine into Europe, particularly via port cities like Rotterdam and Antwerp (pictured)

In this photo released by the Federal Judicial Police Antwerp on Tuesday, April 6, 2021, packages of cocaine are stacked in Antwerp, Belgium

Ridouan Taghi (pictured), head of the infamous Mocro Maffia, was handed a life sentence by a Dutch court

Investigators inspect packages in a container in the port of Antwerp

A torture chamber, discovered by Dutch police, allegedly used by criminals to detain and interrogate prisoners

In 2016, a severed head was placed outside a central Amsterdam hangout used by the gang's rivals. Pictured: Horrifying footage circulated seemingly showing the body part

Hammers, wire cutters, pliers and even a hedge trimmer were found in the torture chamber for use on victims

Taghi and 16 other drug runners stood trial for six murders, four attempted murders, and countless other attacks planned between 2015 and 2017.

The kingpin went from something of a nobody to 'Europe's biggest drug lord' in a matter of years, rising through the ranks as he smuggled record quantities of cocaine into the continent's ports.

Taghi is said to have amassed a fortune of $1 billion (789 million) and became one of the world's most wanted men, guarded by his network of criminal cronies who lived and worked by the motto: 'If you talk, you die'.

The gang was true to its word, with a slew of its associates found dead in a series of gruesome executions which earned it the reputation of a 'well-oiled killing machine'.

The Mocro Maffia is also believed to have murdered several journalists and lawyers over the years, and has even issued threats to the prime minister and members of the Dutch royal family.

Investigators in 2020 discovered a soundproof torture room linked to the group, and in 2016 the criminal enterprise hit headlines when it left the severed head of a rival gang member on the streets of Amsterdam.

Despite many breathing a sigh of relief that Taghi and several of his accomplices are now behind bars for good, experts warned that jailing him will not be enough to quell his influence outside the prison walls - nor disrupt the flow of cocaine into Europe.

Dutch society has gained a reputation for its liberal stance on drugs, with cannabis attracting tourists and becoming a huge part of the country's culture.

But there are fears that a crackdown is needed if there is hope of getting the situation under control.

Jan Struijs, the chairman of the Nederlandse PolitieBond police union, has described his country as a 'narco-state 2.0'.
Nigel Farage is to attend a fundraiser for Donald Trump in London tonight hosted by former popstar and Neighbours actress Holly Valance - as the US presidency battle targets Britain's elite.

Reform UK leader Farage will take a break from the election trail to attend the event, which is expected to take place at a private residence in the exclusive areas of either Chelsea or Knightsbridge.

They will be joined by around 100 guests, including a number of American Republicans - some of whom were part of Trump's White House between 2017 and 2021.

The fundraiser, which has already clocked up $2million (1.57million) in donations, is being billed as a reception and dinner with the former president's son, Donald Trump Jr, and his fiancee, Kimberly Guilfoyle, a lawyer and former Fox News host.

While Trump is busy on the presidential election campaign across the pond, The Guardian reports that he may make a virtual appearance or send a recorded video message similar to the one played at Farage's 60th birthday in April.

Holly Valance and her husband Nick Candy are pictured with Donald Trump and Nigel Farage at Mar-a-Lago in 2022

Neighbours star Holly Valance (pictured supporting Farage earlier this month) is due to host tonight's Trump fundraiser in London

Nigel Farage is pictured at a Donald Trump campaign rally at the Mississippi Coliseum on August 24, 2016

Invites to the fundraiser list a variety of categories which guests can make donations under, such as 'host committee' ($100,000 a couple) and dinner ($50,000). Just to attend costs $10,000, while a photo opportunity is $25,000.

Trump Jnr is looking to target wealthy Americans in London for campaign donations as they try to close a big funding gap opened by Biden in the race for the White House.

It comes after his father became the first former president in US history to be criminally tried and convicted last month when he was found to have falsified money payments to porn star Stormy Daniels.

'After the bogus conviction of my father, we have seen an explosion in financial support from American citizens across the globe, who are rejecting Joe Biden's attempt to use the courts to interfere in the presidential election.

'I'm excited to see my friends in London who are all ready to Make America Great Again this November,' Trump Jnr said in a statement.

The Financial Times reports that Biden's campaign will hold a rival fundraiser in London on the same day, hosted by Anna Wintour, the British-born editor of US Vogue.

Wintour, who also endorsed Biden during his 2020 campaign, hosted another fundraiser for the US president during Paris Fashion Week in March.

Neighbours star Valance, who last week claimed she convinced Farage to stand to be an MP in July's general election, qualifies to make donations to Trump as a US green card holder.

The 41-year-old and her billionaire property tycoon husband Nick Candy have been publicly associated with Trump and Farage since at least April 2022, when the now-Reform leader shared a photo of the group following a dinner at Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach.

Donald Trump Jr. leaves Trump Tower on May 29, 2024 in New York City

Donald Trump is busy on the presidency election trail but may make a virtual appearance

The former actress and pop star said she talked Farage around after he initially decided against running - before he announced that he would stand in Clacton, Essex.

Valance said she had been 'whispering in [Farage's] ear for a long time, saying, 'Come on, pull your finger out, give the people what they want'.'

There were also rumours Valance herself was going to run as a candidate for Reform and before that, as a Tory candidate in the London mayoral elections.

Other hosts at tonight's Trump fundraiser include New York Jets owner Woody Johnson, who was Trump's ambassador to the UK, George Glass, his ambassador to Portugal, and Duke Buchan, his ambassador to Spain.

Richard Grenell - former acting director of US national intelligence who serves as US ambassador to Germany - is also due to attend - as is Scott Bessent, who has been touted as a possible treasury secretary.
At the peak of his career, Kevin Spacey was worth almost 60million with a property empire spanning the US and London, but now the disgraced Hollywood actor is on the brink of bankruptcy due to his million-dollar legal fees

Spacey broke down in tears when talking to Piers Morgan Uncensored about what his life has been like after he was charged with indecent assault against four men in 2018.

The 64-year-old, who was cleared of nine sexual assault charges last July, said he was 'not quite sure where he was going to live' as his 4.7million home was being sold at auction this week.

He also admitted to being 'handsy' and 'pushing boundaries' when asked about his alleged bad behaviour and said he's spoken to a 'significant' number of men to personally apologise for his former conduct.

The House of Cards star was one of the most recognised faces in Hollywood until allegations of sexual misconduct were made in 2017.

According to Celebrity Net Worth, Spacey had a net worth of $70million back in 2022 - around 58.5million - making his money in acting, film directing, producing, screenwriting and singing.

Kevin Spacey (pictured in 2016) was one of the most recognised faces in Hollywood until allegations of sexual misconduct were made in 2017.

Spacey had previously owned a 1920s-era Tudor-style home in LA (pictured) and pocketed $11million (9million) from the sale in 2017

Spacey's Baltimore home is located in the city's Inner Harbour seaport and is expected to attract bids of more than $5.6million (4.3million) when it goes under the hammer

Spacey owned a 2.3million luxury apartment in London (front door pictured), which he bought in 2009 whilst he was artistic director of the Old Vic Theatre

Spacey rose to fame with his portrayal of Roger 'Verbal' Kint in the 1996 hit The Usual Suspects - which won him his first Academy Award, as a supporting actor.

He founded his own production company, Trigger Street Productions, in 1997 and won his second Oscar, this time as Best Actor, for 1999's American Beauty.

It is estimated that at his absolute career peak in the early 2000s, Kevin could easily earn as much as 7.5million to star in a major film and almost 4million for a supporting role.

But his world has been turned upside down since 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.

Asked where he is living now and if he is going to file for bankruptcy, the former House of Cards star told Morgan: 'This week, where I have been living in Baltimore, is being foreclosed on.

'My house is being sold at auction. 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.'

Spacey's Baltimore home is expected to attract bids of more than $5.6million (4.3million) when it goes under the hammer.

The 9,000 sq ft home located in the city's Inner Harbour seaport was secretly lived in by Spacey while he was filming the Netflix hit House of Cards, with its ownership listed under Clear Toaster LLC.

The 2,547sq foot, three-bedroom apartment in London (pictured) offered him views of the Houses of Parliament and the London Eye and was put up for sale in 2017 in the wake of the allegations

Spacey is said to have hosted parties at the home during his time as artistic director of the Old Vic and renovated the apartment to suit his bachelor life style

The sprawling riverside property was listed for sale after the actor fell behind on mortgage payments in the wake of his sexual misconduct scandal.

While compact, the five-level home boasts six bedrooms, seven bathrooms, and a private spot in Baltimore's historic seaport.

Spacey had also previously owned a 1920s-era Tudor-style home in LA and pocketed $11million (9million) from the sale in 2017 - having reportedly paid $2.1 million (1.6million) for the property.

The 6,600-square-foot house, which comprises five bedrooms and four bathrooms, sits on about an acre of land on the western edge of Los Feliz,

The Hollywood star also owned the property next door, which he picked up for just under $2million (1.5million) in 2001 and sold for $3.5million (2.7million) in 2010.

Across the pond, Spacey owned a 2.3million luxury apartment in London, which he bought in 2009 whilst he was artistic director of the Old Vic Theatre.

The 2,547sq foot, three-bedroom apartment offered him views of the Houses of Parliament and the London Eye and was put up for sale in 2017 in the wake of the allegations.

Spacey is said to have hosted parties at the home during his time as artistic director of the Old Vic and renovated the apartment to suit his bachelor life style. He reportedly splashed out on lavish furniture and theatrical artefacts, installing his own private art collection.

Spacey also owned a three-bedroom, two-bathroom penthouse above a shop on Harrison Street in New York.

The 2,300 sq ft flat had its cut price from $5 million to $4.67 million in 2008, but was removed from listings when news broke that it was up for sale. It has not appeared on the market since.

Spacey has admitted to being 'handsy' and 'pushing boundaries' despite being cleared of sexually assaulting four men last year

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)

Outside of property, Spacey also owned a luxury Mercedes-Benz S-Class S 560 - worth at least 130,000.

The vehicle contained plush, heated, leathered seats and powerful twin-turbocharged V8 engine that can reach zero to 60 mph in a jaw-dropping 4.5 seconds.

Spacey also earned plaudits for his role in the Netflix hit House of Cards from 2013 to 2017, a show in which he made $20 million per season as an actor and executive producer.

Following the allegations of sexual assault against him, which Spacey insisted were 'madness', the streaming giant cut ties with the actor completely.

In 2020, Spacey was ordered to pay $31million (25.9million) to the House of Cards' production company, Media Rights Capital (MRC), after it was revealed that he allegedly acted inappropriately towards someone on the set of the show.

When asked by Morgan about what he considered bad behaviour, Spacey 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.

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.'

In February 2024, MRC agreed to forgive the debt in exchange for Spacey's testimony on the production company's behalf in a separate $150 million lawsuit, which has not yet gone to trial.

Spacey is also likely to stand trial again in early 2025 in the UK over a lawsuit by another man claiming the actor sexually assaulted him. Spacey has denied all allegations.

The trial was a result of Spacey's barristers successfully challenging a verdict against their client after the actor.

In a statement to Deadline News, Spacey said: 'This is not a new lawsuit. As has been widely reported, it's the same lawsuit brought in 2022 by a complainant that was not believed by a jury of my peers in the 2023 UK criminal trial, in which I was acquitted.'
An international manhunt is underway for an American female assassin who was hired by a British father and son to settle a feud but botched the hit when her gun jammed.

Aimee Betro, 44, who has links to Illinois, was hired by Mohammed Aslam, 56, and his son Mohammed Nazir, 30, to conduct a revenge killing against the owner of a boutique clothing store and his relatives.

The hitwoman disguised herself in a hijab as she tried to gun down Sikander Ali outside a house in Acocks Green, Birmingham on Sept 7, 2019, but the weapon jammed.

She later returned in a taxi and fired three shots at the property before texting their principal target - Mr Ali's father Aslat Mahamud: 'Stop playing hide and seek' and 'Where are you hiding?'.

Betro flew back to Chicago two days after the failed contract killing and today West Midlands Police said efforts to find her 'continue'.

Mohammed Aslam (pictured) and his son Mohammed Nazir hired Aimee Betro, 44, to conduct a revenge killing against the owner of a boutique clothing store and his relatives

Nazir, who was convicted of conspiracy to murder alongside his father on Monday

Nazir and Aslam, who were found guilty of conspiracy to murder on Monday, held a grudge against Mr Ali's family following a violent dispute at his boutique clothing store in Birmingham on July 21, 2018, which saw windows smashed and the interior 'trashed'.

Police arrived to find Nazir and Aslam had been injured.

In September 2019, the pair flew Betro over from the States to Birmingham in a bid to kill Mr Ali and his family.

During her time in the UK, the hitwoman stayed at hotels in Manchester, Derby, London, Brighton and Birmingham - including a Radisson Blu.

While in Derby, she allegedly made an insurance claim claiming she had suffered a blown-out tyre on a rental car before smashing into two stationary vehicles, one of which was owned by Aslam.

On September 6, Nazir and Aslam travelled from their home in Derby to Birmingham city centre, with Nazir spending more than two hours in a hotel with Betro - who ordered a takeaway from Deliveroo.

Betro had arranged to meet Mr Ali the next day on the pretence of buying a car.

Birmingham Crown Court heard how Betro - disguised in a hijab - 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.

'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.'

Mr Hegarty said Mr Ali rapidly reversed his car and drove off, while Betro abandoned her Mercedes nearby - where it was later found by police.

Measham Grove in Acocks Green, Birmingham, where the attempted hit was carried out

The next morning, she took a taxi to the house and fired three shots at the property before returning to the taxi. No one was hit.

She then sent menacing text messages to the head of the family, Aslat Mahamud, before fleeing to the US two days later.

Police launched an investigation into the shootings, with the trail leading to Aslam and Nazir. Detectives were able to piece together their involvement through their phones, CCTV and financial investigations.

The jury heard Nazir flew out to America a few days after Betro, who he put down as his point of contact on travel documentation, but he was arrested after his return to the UK the following month. Aslam was also arrested.

Nazir was found guilty of conspiracy to murder, possession of a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence on Wednesday, June 5.

He was also found guilty of perverting the course of justice and illegally importing firearms over a plot to bring guns into the country and then blame it on another person to frame them.

Guns had been sent by Betro from Illinois, according to a tipoff received by police.

Aslam was found guilty of conspiracy to murder. He was cleared of a firearms offence.

The pair will be sentenced on August 9.

Detective Inspector Matt Marston, from West Midlands Police, said: '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 second general view of Measham Grove - where the attempted murder took place

A spokesman added to MailOnline: 'Efforts to locate a woman we believe to have been involved in the conspiracy continue.'

Derbyshire Police said: 'That nobody died as a result of Aslam and Nazir's actions is through nothing other than sheer good fortune.

'Their plan was to kill and had it not been for the gun jamming, then there is a good chance this would have been a murder investigation.

'The importation of firearms is an extremely serious offence, and in this case the purpose was to frame their target in revenge for a previous incident.

'As a police service, we will do everything we can to target those who aim to bring these weapons into our communities and bring them to justice.'
A British tourist is facing up to nine years in prison after he was arrested at an airport following a car-jacking rampage in Bali last week.

Damon Anthony Alexander Hills, 50, allegedly forced his way into a parked truck, kicking out the sleeping driver before driving the vehicle toward the Jalan Bypass Ngurah Rai on the popular holiday island on June 9.

Dramatic footage shows the Brit speeding along the highway as police and motorists chased after him along the Bali Mandara Toll Road.

He then smashed through a toll gate and sped towards Bali's international airport with a fleet of officers in hot pursuit, breaching the gate of the I Gusti Ngurah Rai Airport, before fleeing on foot into the terminal where he was eventually cornered by the police.

A harrowing clip showed a battered and seemingly unconscious Hills lying on a travelator in the airport terminal as locals furiously kicked and beat him.

The Brit was later seen nursing significant wounds on his head and body as he sat on the floor flanked by a pair of guards.

Hills smashed through a toll gate and sped towards Bali's international airport

Smoke and debris is seen flying through the air moments after the smash

Shocked police officers stop at the destroyed toll barrier as the truck speeds off

Cops give chase on motorbikes as the truck speeds along the highway

Damon Anthony Alexander Hills, 50, allegedly forced his way into a parked truck, kicking out the sleeping driver before driving the vehicle toward the Jalan Bypass Ngurah Rai on the popular holiday island on June 9

Locals try to push a damaged people carrier out of the way following the chase

Hills is seen lying on a travelator in Bali airport as he is kicked and beaten by locals

Photos taken in the aftermath of his arrest showed the Englishman with his face bruised and cut up and his hands bound in yellow rope.

Inspector Putu Sukarma, Head of Public Relations Subdivision of Badung Police, said of Hills: 'He took over the truck in a very rough manner. He opened the truck door then hit, grabbed and kicked the driver until he was thrown out of the truck.

'The perpetrator kicked the victim out of the vehicle, and at that time the victim tried to get into the truck to grab the steering wheel.

'After that, the truck moved forward and hit the motorbike parked in front of him, and the victim immediately jumped down onto the road.'

Images taken at various locations along the route of the chase showed how several other vehicles had been damaged in the pursuit, including a people carrier that had been smashed in from behind.

Bali police interview Damon Hills following his high-speed chase into the airport

The lorry, allegedly driven by Hills, is seen smashing through a toll booth on the right as police officers pursue on motorbikes

Security guards stand by as the Brit sits tied up on the floor

A seemingly unconscious Hills is dragged along the floor of the airport

A car is seen damaged after being hit by the lorry driven by the Brit

Authorities said three motorcycles, two cars, several motorbikes, and two statues loaded onto the truck were damaged.

Iron fences, decorative pillars, and toll gate entrance six at the airport were also destroyed.

The total damages were pegged at some 150 million IDR (7,225).

Police said yesterday that Hills was still detained at the Kuta Utara Police Station, adding they have been unable to question him because he was 'in a disoriented state'.

He is expected to be charged by prosecutors with theft under Article 365 of the Indonesian Penal Code, which carries a penalty of up to nine years in prison.

'The perpetrator has been handed over to the Badung Police to undergo further examination and we are also coordinating with the Bali immigration authorities,' a statement from Bali's police commissioner said.
This is the horror moment a boat exploded in a fireball in a Spanish holiday resort, injuring three people including a British man.

The 37-year-old was rushed to Torrevieja Hospital yesterday along with a 31-year-old Lithuanian woman who suffering facial burns, while the third person, a Spanish man aged 34, was airlifted to a hospital in Valencia after suffering severe burn injuries.

Footage showed concerned Good Samaritans rushing towards the spot where the explosion occurred after seeing a ball of flames rise into the air at the pleasure port in Cabo Roig, in Costa Blanca.

Police have said they are currently treating the incident as an accident, with the possibility the explosion was caused by a fuel spill or engine failure being probed.

This is the horror moment a boat exploded in a fireball in a Spanish holiday resort, injuring three people including a British man

Footage showed concerned Good Samaritans rushing towards the spot where the explosion occurred after seeing a ball of flames rise into the air at the pleasure port in Cabo Roig, in Costa Blanca

The unnamed Spanish man, the most seriously injured of the three casualties, was reportedly a local workman who had been cleaning the vessel when the incident happened.

He suffered serious burns to the bottom half of his body.

The British man is thought to have been a customer that was chartering the boat. It was not immediately clear this morning if he remained in hospital or has now been released.

Firefighters were called but the blaze from the explosion had been put out by the time they arrived.

The 37-year-old was rushed to Torrevieja Hospital yesterday along with a 31-year-old Lithuanian woman who suffering facial burns, while the third person, a Spanish man aged 34, was airlifted to a hospital in Valencia after suffering severe burn injuries

Police have said they are currently treating the incident as an accident, with the possibility the explosion was caused by a fuel spill or engine failure being probed

A spokesman for the Civil Guard said: 'An emergency response coordination centre received the alert just before 10am yesterday.

'The calls that came in said there had been a possible explosion on a pleasure boat in Cabo Roig port.

'Civil Guard officers based in nearby Pilar de la Horadada confirmed there had been an accidental explosion that had left three people injured when they arrived.

'They were a British man and a Lithuanian woman who were taken to Torrevieja Hospital and a Spanish man who was airlifted to Hospital de la Fe in Valencia.

'An investigation into the incident is ongoing.'
Grant Shapps today conceded the Tories could be heading for a huge defeat at the general election as he urged voters not to hand Labour a 'supermajority'.

The Defence Secretary warned it would be 'very bad news' for the UK if Sir Keir Starmer entered No10 on 5 July with 'unchecked' power.

He added that Britain 'doesn't function well' when political parties enjoy victories similar to the size of Tony Blair's 179-seat majority at the 1997 general election.

The Cabinet minister's warning appeared to suggest a shift in Tory strategy ahead of this year's contest on 4 July, as Labour continue to enjoy a sizeable poll lead.

A new social media advert being pushed by the Conservatives has warned that Sir Keir is seeking a 'blank cheque' from voters.

It tells Brits that 'the more votes for Reform, the Liberal Democrats or anyone else will hand Labour 100 extra seats'.

The ad points to a scenario in which Labour could enjoy their largest-ever majority with 490 seats in the House of Commons from a 43 per cent vote share.

Under the same 'predicted outcome', the Lib Dems are on 61 seats from 10 per cent of the vote, and the Tories are on just 57 seats from a 19 per cent vote share - while Reform are not represented by a single MP from an 18 per cent vote share.

Grant Shapps today conceded the Tories could be heading for a huge defeat at the general election as he urged voters not to hand Labour a 'supermajority'

A new social media advert being pushed by the Conservatives has warned that Sir Keir Starmer is seeking a 'blank cheque' from voters

The ad points to a scenario in which Labour could enjoy their largest-ever majority with 490 seats in the House of Commons from a 43 per cent vote share

Mr Shapps this morning told Times Radio that to ensure proper accountability 'you don't want to have somebody receive a supermajority'.

He said: 'In this case, of course, the concern would be that if Keir Starmer were to go into No 10  it will either be Rishi Sunak or Keir Starmer, there's no other outcomes to this election  and that power was in some way unchecked, it would be very bad news for people in this country.

'A blank-cheque approach, allowing someone to do anything they wanted, particularly when their particular set of plans are so vague, and they say 'change', but you have no idea what they actually want to change to, other than the fact that they've outlined plans which would cost 2,094 to every working family in this country.'

Mr Shapps added: 'It's perfectly legitimate to say the country doesn't function well when you get majorities the size of Blair's or even bigger.

'And we would say there are a lot of very good, hardworking MPs who can hold the government of the day to account and we'd say those are Conservative MPs.'

Labour has disputed the Tory claim that it would need to implement tax rises of 2,094 per household over the course of the next Parliament, with Sir Keir's party hitting back at Conservative 'lies'.
Antony Blinken is fed up with the back and forth with Hamas negotiating for the release of Israeli hostages in exchange for a ceasefire in the Middle East conflict.

Speaking from Doha, Qatar on Wednesday, the Secretary of State told reporters that the terrorist group could have ended the war by just agreeing to the latest deal backed by the United Nations.

He said the U.S. is tired of 'haggling.'

'It was a deal that Israel accepted and the world was behind,' Blinken said. 'Hamas could have answered with a single word: 'Yes,''

The latest ceasefire proposal was nearly identical to one laid out by Hamas last month.

President Joe Biden announced the deal in May and Blinken also expressed frustration that it took Hamas so long to announce it was rejecting the proposal.

'They waited almost two weeks and then proposed more changes, a number of which go beyond positions it has previously presented and agreed to,' Blinken vented.

'As a result, the war will go on and more people will suffer.'

Secretary of State Antony Blinken says Hamas has again moved the goal post by not agreeing to the latest U.N.-backed ceasefire deal. Pictured: Blinken speaks at a joint press conference with the Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed Bin Abdulrahman al-Thani in Doha, Qatar on Wednesday, June 12

Blinken accused Hamas of undermining peace talks and intentionally prolonging the war by inserting even more demands while simultaneously insisting it wants a ceasefire.

While he did not go into the specifics of the latest round of demands made by Hamas, Blinken said there are some 'workable' parts of their proposals.

Others, however, he claimed are nonstarters.

'At some point in a negotiation, and this has gone back and forth for a long time, you get to a point where if one side continues to change its demands, including making demands and insisting on changes for things that it had already accepted, you have to question whether they're proceeding in good faith or not,' Blinken said of Hamas negotiators.

He added: 'It's time for the haggling to stop and a cease-fire to start. It's as simple as that.'

The back-and-forth laid bare frustration over the difficulty of reaching an accord that could end eight months of war that has decimated the territory, killed tens of thousands of Palestinians and left scores of Israeli hostages still languishing in militant captivity.

Pro-Palestinian proponents in the U.S. have took to the streets for months of protests  even shutting down college campuses to air their frustrations with Biden's pro-Israel policies.

But Blinken says its Hamas that won't move to put an end to the ongoing conflict.

The cease-fire proposal has global support but has not been fully embraced by Israel or Hamas  but Blinken put the onus on Hamas to come to the table without radical changes to their demands.

Blinken did not spell out what changes Hamas sought, but he said the mediators - Qatar, Egypt and the U.S. - will keep trying to 'close this deal.'

'Hamas has proposed numerous changes to the proposal that was on the table,' Blinken told reporters in Qatar. 'Some of the changes are workable. Some are not.'

'I believe that {the differences} are bridgeable, but that doesn't mean they will be bridged because ultimately Hamas has to decide,' he concluded.

Blinken's comments came as Lebanon's Hezbollah fired a massive barrage of rockets into northern Israel to avenge the killing of a top commander, further escalating regional tensions.

Hezbollah, an Iran-backed ally of Hamas, has traded fire with Israel nearly every day since the Israel-Hamas war began and says it will stop only if there is a truce in Gaza. That has raised fears of an even more devastating regional conflagration.

Israeli soldiers work on their tank near the Israel-Gaza border in southern Israel on Wednesday

Palestinian girls retrieve items from the rubble of a home destroyed in a raid by Israeli forces in the village of Kafr Danon Wednesday, June 12

Air-raid sirens sounded across northern Israel, and the military said about 215 projectiles were fired from southern Lebanon, making it one of the largest attacks since the fighting began. There were no immediate reports of casualties as some rockets were intercepted while others ignited brush fires.

Hamas conveyed its official reply to the proposal to mediators on Tuesday. Hamas spokesman Jihad Taha told the Lebanese news outlet ElNashra that the 'amendments' requested by the group aim to guarantee a permanent cease-fire and complete Israeli troop withdrawal from Gaza.

The proposal announced by U.S. President Joe Biden includes those provisions, but Hamas has expressed wariness about whether Israel will implement the terms. While the U.S. says Israel has accepted the proposal, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has given conflicting statements, saying Israel is still intent on its goal of destroying Hamas.

Blinken, on his eighth visit to the region since the start of the war, said the deal on the table was 'virtually identical' to one Hamas put forth on May 6. The U.N. Security Council voted overwhelmingly in favor of the plan on Monday.

Speaking alongside Blinken on Wednesday, Qatari Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani said there had been 'counterproductive' actions by both sides.

The proposal's three-phase plan would begin with a 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. Aid distribution would also increase.

At the same time, negotiations would start over the second phase, which is to bring 'a permanent end to hostilities' and 'full withdrawal' of Israeli troops from Gaza in exchange for the release of all remaining hostages.

Phase three would see the launch of a reconstruction plan for Gaza and the return of remains of deceased hostages.

A major hitch for both sides appears to be the negotiations for the second phase.

Israel's ambassador to the U.N., Gilad Erdan, said Israel will demand that Hamas be removed from power as part of any agreement on that phase.

'One of our conditions is not only the release of the hostages, it's also the future of Gaza,' Erdan told CNN on Monday. 'We cannot agree to Hamas continuing to be the rulers of Gaza because then Gaza will continue to pose a threat to Israel.'

He also said Israel opposes a provision extending the initial cease-fire as long as talks are going on, saying it would allow Hamas to 'continue with endless and meaningless negotiations.'

Hamas, in turn, appears to want stronger guarantees up front that the talks will lead to the permanent cease-fire and withdrawal.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken disembarks from an airplane as he arrived in Doha, Qatar on Wednesday to continue talks to end conflict between Israel and Hamas

Netanyahus far-right coalition allies have rejected the proposal and threaten to bring down his government if he ends the war leaving Hamas intact. 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 favor of the U.S.-backed plan.

Israel's bombardment and ground offensives in Gaza have killed over 37,000 Palestinians, according to Palestinian health officials, who do not give the breakdown of civilians and fighters.

The war has also driven some 80 percent of the population of 2.3 million from their homes, and Israeli restrictions and ongoing fighting have hindered efforts to bring in humanitarian aid, fueling widespread hunger.

Israel launched its campaign against Hamas after its terrorists and other militants stormed into Israel on October 7, killing some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and taking around 250 hostage.

It was the largest single-day murder of Jewish people since the Holocaust.

Netanyahu's office said he was conducting a security assessment in light of Hezbollah's barrage in the north and what it called Hamas 'negative response' to the proposal.

Israeli airstrikes on Lebanon have killed over 400 people, most of them Hezbollah members, but the dead also include more than 70 civilians and noncombatants. On the Israeli side, 15 soldiers and 10 civilians have been killed since the war in Gaza began.

Other groups allied with Iran, including powerful militias in Iraq and Syria, and the Houthi rebels in Yemen, have also attacked Israeli, U.S. and other targets since the start of the war, often drawing Western retaliation. In April, Israel and Iran traded fire directly for the first time.
A mother whose two young sons were struck and killed by Rebecca Grossman says the socialite's sentence is a disgusting 'stab in the heart'.

Grossman fatally struck Mark Iskander, 11, and brother Jacob, 8, while speeding. The pair had been on a family walk in their Los Angeles County neighborhood when the deadly crash occurred on the evening of September 29, 2020.

A jury found her guilty in February of two felony counts each of second-degree murder and gross vehicular manslaughter, and one felony count of hit-and-run driving resulting in death.

Grossman on Monday was handed 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.

But the boys' mother Nancy Iskander has now slammed the sentences, alleging the judge treated their deaths as 'one kid' despite 'two different lives' having been lost.

Nancy Iskander, whose two young sons were struck and killed by Rebecca Grossman, says the socialite's sentence is a disgusting 'stab in the heart'. Iskander is pictured outside the Los Angeles Superior Courthouse on June 10, 2024 ahead of Grossman's sentencing

Rebecca fatally struck Mark Iskander, 11, and brother Jacob, 8, while speeding in September 2020. A judge on Monday handed Grossman 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

Iskander believes that Grossman's sentences should have been imposed consecutively.

'I feel this was a stab in the heart to me that he counted these two lovely boys as one kid,' she told The Los Angeles Times on Tuesday. 'These are two different lives. These are two boys, and they don't go two-for-one.'

Over a dozen of the Iskander's loved ones appeared before the judge, detailing the pain that Mark and Jacob's death has caused and asking that Grossman be served a lengthy sentence.

During the trial, prosecutors presented evidence that the data recorder in Grossman's white Mercedes showed she was speeding at up to 81mph and tapped her brakes, slowing to 73mp, less than two seconds before the collision.

After fatally striking the siblings, who had been in a crosswalk, Grossman fled the scene.

Grossman, before the judge handed down her sentence, told the court that she did not flee the scene and instead stayed by her car for 20 minutes and was in a 'state of denial.

Prosecutors have repeatedly said the socialite has shown no remorse for her crimes and Superior Court Judge Joseph Brandolino, during sentencing, called Grossman's actions 'reckless and unquestionably negligent.'

Iskander, speaking to the Times, said: 'There is no such thing as killing them a little bit. She killed them.'

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

Nancy Iskander broke down in tears while testifying during Grossman's trial in January 2024

Just before she received her sentence, Grossman on Monday addressed the Iskander family directly. She was talking so loudly and weeping that she was barely coherent.

The boys' mother got up and was about to leave the court when Grossman begged her to stay, saying she had been wanting to speak to her.

Grossman said: 'Please don't leave. I've waited almost four years to reach out to you.'

Iskander 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.

'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!'

Mark and Nancy Iskander leave court after Grossman's sentencing on Monday

Struggling to catch her breath, Grossman added that she did not flee the scene.

'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,' she said.

After she spoke, Grossman put her head down on the table and continued to heave and sob loudly.

The boys' father 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.

However, prosecutors noted she could be eligible for parole in six to seven years if she gains credit for good behavior.

Pictured is Mark and Jacob Iskander's grave site. Rebecca Grossman fatally struck the siblings while speeding in September 2020

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.

Grossman's 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.'
A petition has been launched amid growing calls for Daniel Andrew's Companion of the Order of Australia to be removed.

Victorian Nationals leader Peter Walsh launched the petition on Wednesday which urged Governor-General David Hurley to strip Mr Andrews of his King's Birthday honour, saying it is 'inappropriate and unjustified'.

The nation's highest honour was awarded to Mr Andrews on Monday for his 'eminent service to the people and Parliament of Victoria, to public health, to policy and regulatory reform, and to infrastructure development'.

However, the award sparked a backlash with many Victorians criticising the former premier because the state had the world's longest lockdown during Covid.

Mr Andrews also caused controversy by cancelling Victoria hosting the Commonwealth Games - after spending just under $600m.

The nation's highest honour was awarded to former Victoria premier Daniel Andrews on Monday (pictured with his wife), sparking divisive debate

Poll Should former Premier Daniel Andrews be stripped of his Companion of the Order of Australia? Yes No Australia should decide Should former Premier Daniel Andrews be stripped of his Companion of the Order of Australia? Yes 837 votes

No 40 votes

Australia should decide 4 votes Now share your opinion





Mr Walsh said that the former premier, who earned the nickname 'Dictator Dan' during Covid, had failed Victorians with how he handled the pandemic, reported the Herald Sun.

He added that 'under no circumstances' should Mr Andrews be allowed to retain his award.

'We are all still paying the price. Melbourne was left floundering in lockdown for a total of 262 days  the longest in the world  under Mr Andrews' draconian laws,' he said.

'Mr Andrews also oversaw a bungled and ill-conceived hotel quarantine program that cost the lives of almost 800 Victorians.

'Victorians have been left to pick up the pieces, now burdened with record debt because Mr Andrews couldn't manage money.'

Melbourne spent 262 days in lockdown during the Covid pandemic. They were permitted one hour of exercise daily during the height of the pandemic

Former Liberal Victoria premier Jeff Kennett has also weighed into the furore as he called on Council for the Order of Australia chair Shelly Reys to explain why Mr Andrews received the honour.

'To my knowledge not only has Mr Andrews not done any eminent community service, but he has also abjectly failed any objective test on the matters for which he received the recognition,' Mr Kennett wrote this week.

Mr Kennett also believes Victorians will be paying 'heavily, for decades' because of Mr Andrews 'failures.'

Former federal United Australia Party MP Craig Kelly also 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.
Dramatic new images have emerged showing the inside of one of El Salvador's brutal mega prisons where thousands of gang members are kept in cramped cells and watched 24 hours a day by masked guards.

Pictures show topless and heavily tattooed inmates lined up under the watchful eye of armed guards at the Centre for the Confinement of Terrorism (CECOT), a maximum security facility built in Tecoluca to imprison the most violent and high-ranking members of the country's main gangs, MS-13 and Barrio 18.

It is the latest demonstration of the country's merciless crackdown on narco gangs by President Nayib Bukele, who over saw the arrests of more than 70,000 people in 20 months in an attempt to wipe crime off the streets.

It is a fortress of high security where artificial light shines for 24-hours, prisoners are forced to eat with their hands as knives and forks could be a deadly weapon, and inmates can only leave their cells for 30-minutes a day.

In the dead of night yesterday 2000 more prisoners were transferred into this 'blackhole of human rights' under the eagle eye of heavily armed guards.

Alleged gang members being transferred by police to the Terrorism Confinement Center (CECOT) in the city of Tecoluca, El Salvador last night

The Centre for the Confinement of Terrorism, (CECOT) is a maximum security facility built in Tecoluca to imprison 'high-ranking' members of the country's main gangs, MS-13 and Barrio 18

It's construction was one of President Nayib Bukele's flagship projects, that was completed in January last year, as part of his merciless crackdown on gangs which saw more than 70,000 people arrested in 20 months

Many display bold tattoos of Roman numerals of the numbers 18 or 13, symbolising their gang affiliation by etched onto their skin in ink

Heavily armed prison guards secure gang members as they are processed upon their arrival at the Terrorism Confinement Center

Pictures released by the Government of El Salvador show the new arrivals being processed.

The inmates were transported in a bus with their hands cuffed behind them, their heads resting on the chair in front and wearing nothing but a pair of cotton shorts.

Inside images revealed they were force to sit in rows with their hands on their necks, and heads down as they wait to be moved into their new cells.

Many display bold tattoos of Roman numerals of the numbers 18 or 13, symbolising their gang affiliation etched onto their skin in ink.

The president has become immensely popular for this heavy-handed policy at home, as seen when he swept the country's presidential elections in February, with 85 per cent of the votes, which will keep him in power for another five years.

The number of homicides in El Salvador - considered by many to be the murder capital of the world - tumbled 56.8 percent in 2022 following his crackdown.

Inside the CECOT there are eight modules with an undetermined number of prisoners in each as the authorities have refused to specify, however the capacity of the whole prison is 40,000.

Gang members are processed upon their arrival at the Terrorism Confinement Center as they arrive last night

More than 2,000 gang members who were incarcerated in different prisons in the country were transferred to CECOT, the mega-jail symbol of the fight against gangs

Inside images revealed they were force to sit in rows with their hands on you neck, head down as they wait to be moved into their new cells

The president has become immensely popular for this heavy-handed policy at home, as seen when he swept the country's presidential elections in February, with 85 per cent of the votes, which will keep him in power for another five years

Inside the CECOT there are eight modules with an undetermined number of prisoners that the authorities have refused to specify, however the capacity of the whole prison is 40,000

Behind bars are the most dangerous prisoners in the country, assassins with dozens of murders to their name are serving sentences of 700 years and so far no one who has entered the facility handcuffed has ever seen daylight again.

The convicts are forced to sleep in close quarters, each taking a bed, which is just a metal sheet on a four-storey bunk.

They are fed rice, brans, hard-boiled eggs or pasta, which they must eat with their hands as they can't even be trusted with plastic or wooden utensils.

In each 100 square-metre cell the notoriously dangerous inmates are forced to share just two toilets and two sinks.

They get a brief 30-minute window in which they're allowed to exercise, using only their own bodyweight due to fears of them bludgeoning each other or the guards with dumbbells or barbells.

Human rights group have hit out at the facility calling it a 'blackhole of human rights' and UN officials have described it as a 'concrete and steel pit', which has been built to dispatch of the prisoners without applying the death penalty.

In each 100 square-metre cell the notoriously dangerous inmates are forced to share just two toilets and two sinks

They are fed rice, brans, hard-boiled eggs or pasta, which they must eat with their hands as they can't even be trusted with plastic or wooden utensils

They get a brief 30-minute window in which they're allowed to exercise, using only their own bodyweight due to fears of them bludgeoning each other or the guards with dumbbells or barbells

Human rights groups have compared the conditions in the prison as something similar to the concentration camps used by Adolf Hitler and the Nazis

When Human Rights Commissioner of El Salvador, the Colombian Andres Guzman, visited the notorious prison he insisted the inmates are 'in good condition and their human rights are being respected'.

But human rights groups have compared the conditions in the prison as something similar to the concentration camps used by Adolf Hitler and the Nazis.

A report by human rights group Cristosal found that 174 inmates have been tortured and killed in horrifically violent deaths in the year since President Nayib Bukele launched his merciless campaign against the gangs.

El Salvador's historic crime problem goes back to a civil war in the 1980s.

As Latin American Refugees fled to America, the MS-13 and Barrio 18 gangs formed on the streets of Los Angeles. When the war ended, those from El Salvador returned. With them, they brought their gang affiliations, rivalries and violence.

Now, Barrio 18 is thought to have around 65,000 global members, while MS-13 has between 50,000 to 70,000. As their numbers grew, their influence spread.

For many years now, thousands of members from both have fought and died for the crown of Central America's most powerful gang, profiting off crimes such as sex and drug trafficking, racketeering, money laundering, extortion and kidnapping.

In one instance of extortion in 2015, a man who owned a bus refused to pay his $1 fee to the MS-13 gang. Three weeks later, two young gang members cornered him, threw him to the ground and shot him four times - twice in the head.

His son said his father was killed because of $21.
The former Premier League footballer, 31, had just moved to Athens to join Panathinaikos on a lucrative deal that would have seen him play for 1million-a-year until approaching his 35th birthday. But it could have been very different - as he admitted recently he almost trained to be a PE teacher after getting all As at GCSE. George was found dead on Wednesday night after his fiance raised the alarm because he didn't answer his mobile phone - and had reportedly been dead for at least five hours when his landlord found him unresponsive in the pool of his villa. Despite being born in the Home Counties, George had qualified to play for Greece through his grandmother. He would have collected his 13th cap last night against England at Wembley tonight if he had not been injured in August. And his teammates held his shirt aloft in their historic victory over the Three Lions - the first in their history. George would have loved that moment. He had been learning Greek and was fondly renamed 'Georgios Baldockimos' by supporters. Off the pitch he had also found love with his partner Annabel Dignam, who is mother to the couple's year old son Brody. Brody, his first child, was who he hugged tightly as he said farewell to Sheffield United fans on the Bramall Lane pitch in May. And the proud dad was due to fly from Athens back to the UK to celebrate his beloved little boy's birthday this week. Today his family and the footballing world are mourning his sudden and tragic death in a Athens swimming pool. Among those heartbroken will be Dele Alli , a childhood friend and teammate from his first club MK Dons who holidayed with George in Greece recently. His brothers Sam, a star footballer himself, and James are supporting each other and their parents Jacqueline and Basil.
A troubled trampoline park where four children broke their legs and one fractured her spine could face further legal action after falling to a zero food hygiene score.

The damning hygiene rating is the latest in a series of controversies faced by Supajump, located in Cardiff's Trident Trade Park.

Last year owner Philip Booth, 61, was handed a suspended sentence when he tried to cover up horrific injuries sustained by multiple children at his American-themed jump park.

And council bosses say he could face further legal action after an inspector who visited in March handed the company a shocking score of zero for its food hygiene.

A council spokesperson said: 'As the business was awarded with a food hygiene rating of zero we are currently investigating and this may result in further enforcement action.'

Last year owner Philip Booth (pictured) was handed a suspended sentence when he tried to cover up horrific injuries sustained by multiple children at his American-themed jump park

The damning food hygiene score is the latest in a series of controversies faced by Supajump, located in Cardiff's Trident Trade Park

Speaking to WalesOnline, Mr Booth accepted the negative hygiene report from inspectors but suggested there was no risk to customers.

He said: 'It was all about cleanliness. The downstairs ice cream fridge was dirty, they wanted us to put a wash hand basin downstairs, put lino down in the sweet shop area, defrost the fridge, the slushy machine needed deep-cleaning, one of the coffee machines was spilling over powdered milk all the time, and we needed a paper towel dispenser by the upstairs wash hand basin.

'There was astroturf on the floor in the sweet shop and now there's lino instead because it's easier to clean. We've done all that. It was nothing to do with the food sale. All that was okay.'

The owner argued that if the food served at the trampoline park was dangerous, the council 'would have closed me down'.

He said: 'We've been complying with [the council] and we've done everything they've asked us to do. They'll be coming back again for final inspection.'

In June last year the trampoline park boss admitted to six health and safety offences that happened between August 2017 and October 2019.

In this time four children broke their legs, another fractured her spine and a sixth sustained facial injuries.

Booth narrowly avoided jail time and was sentenced to a ten-month prison term suspended for 19 months and ordered to pay 20,000.

Cardiff Crown Court heard an eight-year-old girl was left 'covered in blood' when she fell through a gap between an airbag and the floor and banged her face.

Prosecutor Carl Harrison said the girl was trapped under the airbag and struggled to breathe but Booth told her mother: 'It's just a graze.'

Mr Harrison said one girl broke two bones in her leg after jumping into a foam pit, 'spearing through the foam' and hitting a hard object beneath.

Supajump owner Philip Booth, 61, argued that if the food served at the trampoline park (pictured) was dangerous, the council 'would have closed me down'

Another child - a three-year-old girl - had her leg placed in plaster up to her hip after breaking her leg at the park.

Mr Harrison said the only first aid offered at the park was a wet towel or ice pack as staff were not trained.

Booth failed to report these injuries to Cardiff Council.

WalesOnline interviewed three others who came forward with claims of injuries suffered after jumping into the foam pit at Supajump.

Mr Harrison told the court that when investigators visited the foam pit they discovered it had not been cleaned 'in months'.

He said: 'When the foam cubes were removed there was no maintenance or cleaning for months.

'They found amongst other things socks, broken plastic cups, a missing trampoline spring, a sanitary towel, coins, electronic devices, a rolled up cigarette and a lighter.'

The court heard Booth was visited by regulators before opening and advised to have an independent safety check but 'chose to ignore' the advice saying 'it is only guidance'.

Booth, pleaded guilty to four counts of failing to report an accident at the park.

He also admitted two counts of failing to ensure people were not exposed to health and safety risks while using play equipment.

John Ryan, defending said: 'He has been described a hard-working man who poured his heart and soul into a business but failed in some respects in his ability to properly run it.'

Judge Matthew Porter-Bryant told Booth: 'You chose to open at a time that it should have been apparent to you that the premises were not ready to be open safely.'

Cardiff Crown Court (pictured) heard an eight-year-old girl was left 'covered in blood' when she fell through a gap between an airbag and the floor and banged her face

He said that Booth 'had a desire to put profit ahead of safety.'

The Supajump website says: 'Supajump's trampoline arena has over 100 interconnected trampolines for bouncing, practising your flips and keeping fit!'

The site also features an American sweet shop and Uncle Sam's American Diner serving freshly made burgers.
A relieved family have been reunited with their cat more than a month after the beloved pet was allegedly snatched by a stranger and later abandoned.

Ralph vanished from his family home in Yanchep, 60km north-west of Perth on May 10.

Owner Wayne England told Daily Mail Australia that it was his wife Renee who first raised the alarm after Ralph failed to show for breakfast.

'Ralph would be here [at home] at 5.30 or six in morning and around the same time at night because that's the time Renee leaves and goes [to work],' he said.

Wayne England (pictured with Ralph) and his wife Renee noticed their beloved cat was missing on May 10

'That's the time he get's fed and he just didn't turn up [that morning] and once the day went by and [he] didn't turn up for dinner, we knew something wasn't right.'

Mr England explained that Ralph often visited neighbouring homes in the area but always came back.

His wife began scouring security camera footage to try and find out what happened to Ralph.

'By Friday night he hadn't come back,' Mr England said.

The couple then uploaded posts on local Facebook groups to spread the word about in a desperate bid to track the cat down.

'For the last month, we've been hunting for him day and night really,' he said.

The distressed owners were then notified of an alarming social media post.

A woman claimed that her partner's work colleague had 'bragged' to him, that he trapped a cat at his property [in Yanchep] before he took the pet to Myaree, an industrial suburb 70km south of Perth and [allegedly] dumped the cat.

Refusing to believe this version of events, Mr England drove down to Myaree the night his wife told him about the woman's post.

The former mechanic visited a business that had been named in the post but was unable to find Ralph and drove back home.

After he came back to Yanchep at 3am the following morning, he decided to drive around the block before he spotted a car that had the same name of the business he visited in Myaree just hours earlier.

'I Googled the business and it came up with his name which was the name of the guy that was named in the [Facebook] post,' Mr England said.

Mr England said he and wife immediately sprung to action by notifying locals on Facebook group that Ralph (pictured) was missing, after he didn't turn up several days later

Mr England said Ralph (pictured) often went to neighbouring homes in the area but the father of two said he always came back home

Mr England, who had never met the man and was unaware he lived just 200m from his home, confronted him on the morning of Mother's Day and asked where Ralph was.

'He denied knowing anything about it and several hours later he admitted to the whole thing,' he claimed.

Mr England then started his own Facebook page 'Help Find Ralph' and sent out almost 400 flyers, to people including to residents who lived in Myaree to locate the beloved pet.

'We had so many people just message us and say "is there anything we can do to help", he said.

Mr England and his wife spent countless hours driving to and from Myaree in their quest to find their missing cat.

Renee (pictured) fought back tears as she was reunited with Ralph the cat on Tuesday

The couple and their children were reunited with Ralph on Tuesday, 33 days after he went missing.

Mr England received a text from a Myaree local with photos of Ralph.

His wife immediately recognised Ralph from the black spots on his back and immediately raced to Myaree to collect her pet.

'At the news of this, Renee left her desk like the building was on fire to be reunited with our missing mate Ralph,' Mr England wrote on Facebook.

'We could not begin to explain to everyone how happy we are to have our buddy back where he belongs.'
The second suspect in the felling of the famous Sycamore Gap tree has denied the charges against him as the pair prepare to face trial later this year.

Daniel Graham, 38, and Adam Carruthers, 31, both from Cumbria, are alleged to have caused 622,191 worth of damage to the tree and 1,144 to Hadrian's Wall.

They both face two charges of criminal damage, in relation to the tree and wall, which is a world heritage site.

The tree and wall both belong to the National Trust and are places of historic interest or natural beauty.

At Newcastle Crown Court today Carruthers, of Church Street, Wigton, pleaded not guilty to both charges.

Graham, of Milbeck Stables, Carlisle, did not attend today's hearing but had denied the same charges previously.

Adam Carruthers, 31, today denied both charges against him - his co-accused did not appear at court

Walkers stop to look at the tree next to Hadrian's Wall in Northumberlandafter it was cut down in September last year

Judge Paul Sloan KC said a trial, which may last ten days, will start on December 3 and both men have been granted bail in the meantime.

He said: 'I am adjourning your case to trial. As you've heard the trial is now fixed and will commence on December 3 of this year.'

The case will be back in court for pre-trial hearings on August 27 and November 5.

The court heard at an earlier hearing the value of the damage was calculated by the CAVAT tool - which stands for Capital Asset Value for Amenity Trees.

The method takes into a number of different factors including the tree's size, type, and the impact on the community.

The tree, which was one of the most photographed in the world and appeared in the 1991 Robin Hood Prince of Thieves starring Kevin Costner, was felled in the early hours of September 28 last year sparking worldwide outrage.

After it was chopped down, workers from the National Trust and the Northumberland National Park Authority were able to recover young seeds from the site.

Conversationists have since confirmed that the saplings are beginning to show shoots of life while they are kept at a secret location.

Daniel Graham, 38 (left), and Adam Carruthers, 31 (right), appeared at Newcastle Magistrates' Court last month

At a previous hearing, District Judge Zoe Passfield declined jurisdiction and sent the case to Newcastle Crown Court, saying: 'This case is too serious to be heard in the magistrates' court.'

She granted the pair unconditional bail ahead of the crown court appearance.

The pair, who were both smartly dressed in red ties, walked into court with balaclavas over their heads.

The 300-year-old sycamore was nicknamed Robin Hood's Tree after it featured in the 1991 blockbuster film, Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, starring Kevin Costner.

Part of the Hadrian's Wall UNESCO world heritage site, for decades it had drawn walkers and visitors and was a magnet for photographers, and wedding proposals.

The felling of the tree caused a public outcry and headlines across the world.

She explained the detailed process that led to the Sycamore Gap tree, that was situated next to Hadrian's Wall in Northumberland, being valued at 622,191.

The tree was one of the most photographed in the whole of the UK and was an iconic landmark

Court artist sketch of Graham (left) and Carruthers (right) who both pleaded not guilty to causing criminal damage to the tree and Hadrian's Wall in September last year

The iconic tree, which is believed to be 300 years old, was found cut down last year

The two men, who were both smartly dressed in red ties, walked into court with balaclavas over their heads

She said the prosecution's case was that the tree was 'deliberately felled' on 28 September last year and damage caused to Hadrian's Wall at the UNESCO World Heritage site.

She said it is alleged the men were part of a 'joint enterprise.'

The court heard that sentencing guidelines for the offence put the sentence upon conviction for the offence at between 18 months and four years custody.

But she added that 'unusual features' of the case could put the sentence over the 'top end' of the guideline terms.

The two criminal damage charges state they damaged the sycamore tree and Hadrian's Wall, both belonging to the National Trust, without lawful excuse.
The parents and grandparents of a missing baby girl have been arrested as Kentucky police continue to search for the eight-month-old.

Miya Tucker was reported missing last week after state troopers carried out a welfare check at her parents' home in Ohio County and the infant was nowhere to be found.

The baby had not been seen by her family 'since the end of April', an arrest citation revealed. Police say she was last suspected to be in the care of her mother Tesla Tucker, 29, and father Cage Rudd, 30.

The family members were not charged with any crimes directly relating to baby Miya's disappearance.

Cadaver dogs were brought to the family's residence on Tuesday to search the property and nearby woods, however there were no signs of Miya. Police have now said they have 'no evidence she's deceased, but no evidence she's alive, either'.

Miya Tucker, eight-months-old, (pictured) was reported missing last week after state troopers carried out a welfare check at her parents' home in Ohio County, Kentucky. She not been seen by her family 'since the end of April', an arrest citation revealed

Police say Miya was last suspected to be in the care of her mother Tesla Tucker, 29, (left) and father Cage Rudd (right). Tucker and Rudd, 30, were arrested on June 6 at Motel 6 in Owensboro, located about 25 miles away from their home in Reynolds Station, on multiple felony drug charges and abandonment of a minor

Miya's parents were arrested on allegations of child abandonment and drug charges last Thursday after police found them in a room at a Motel 6 with drugs, including fentanyl and methamphetamine, 'in plain sight', WFIE-TV reported.

Her grandparents Ricky J. Smith and Billie J. Smith, as well as another man, Timothy L. Roach, have also been arrested in connection to the investigation.

Tucker and Rudd were arrested on June 6 at the motel in Owensboro, located about 25 miles away from their home in Reynolds Station, on multiple felony drug charges and abandonment of a minor.

Kentucky State Police trooper Corey King told the TV station that the parents were caught in possession of a large quantity of drugs and had no information about Miya's whereabouts.

He added that they were 'not being very cooperative with our investigation'.

The following day, officials filed additional drug related charges against the pair, as well as felony charges of first-degree child abuse and engaging in organized crime.

Police also arrested Ricky Smith, who had been living with the couple, on June 7 on drug trafficking charges, first-degree child abuse, abandonment of a minor, and other felony drug and gun charges.

Investigators believe he had been using the couple's home as his base for drug trafficking, Fox News reported.

The trio were all being held in the Daviess County Detention Center and appeared in Ohio County District Court on Monday for arraignments.

Miya's grandparents Ricky J. Smith (left) and Billie J. Smith (right) have been arrested in connection to the investigation

Police also arrested Timothy L. Roach (pictured) at Billie Smith's home after officers saw him throw 'unprescribed' opioids under his vehicle. Roach was charged with second-degree possession of a controlled substance and first-degree prescription controlled substance not in a proper container

Miya's grandmother, Billie J. Smith, 49, was arrested on Friday after police went to her residence to look for the missing infant and discovered she had an outstanding warrant from October 2023.

She has been charged with second-degree domestic violence assault and was being held in the Ohio County Detention Center. She was released Tuesday afternoon on a $10,000 unsecured bond.

Police also arrested Timothy L. Roach at the grandmother's home after officers saw him throw 'unprescribed' opioids under his vehicle.

Roach was charged with second-degree possession of a controlled substance and first-degree prescription controlled substance not in a proper container.

He we also taken to the Ohio County Detention Center, according to The Louisville Courier Journal. It is unclear what his relationship is to the family.

Kentucky State Police removed Miya's three older siblings from Tucker and Rudd's home awhile ago.

Miya, whose umbilical cord tested positive for meth after her birth in October, was expected to join her siblings on May 30.

However, other family members contacted police after not having seen the girl since late April.

When officials located the girl's parents, they alleged that Miya had been taken by Kentucky's Cabinet for Health and Family Services - but police say this is not true.

Kentucky State Police removed Miya's three older siblings from Tucker and Rudd's home awhile ago. The couple are pictured together with one of their children

Investigators, with the help of cadaver dogs, spent several hours on Tuesday searching roughly five acres of woods near the couple's home, but found no sign of missing Miya. Police have now said they have 'no evidence she's deceased, but no evidence she's alive, either'

Investigators, with the help of cadaver dogs, spent several hours on Tuesday searching roughly five acres of woods for the missing girl.

But as of Tuesday afternoon, Miya is still missing, with police claiming there is 'no information that anyone has her, that they sold this child, or that this child was abducted'.

Trooper King, launching an appeal for any information about her whereabouts, pleaded: 'If someone is holding her for them, come forward. You won't be in trouble.'

He said that investigators remain 'hopeful and optimistic', but the longer Miya remains missing the 'more grim of an outcome this will be'.

King added: 'Everyone's looking for closure. I believe the community deserves it. The family deserves it, and we as an agency investigating this deserve to know what happened to baby Miya.'
Rishi Sunak and Sir Keir Starmer are set to face another TV grilling tonight as a latest poll showed Labour with a 20-point lead over the Tories.

The YouGov survey found Labour were supported by 38 per cent of voters ahead of the general election on 4 July, with the Conservatives backed by 18 per cent.

The Tory vote share was the joint lowest since 2019 and only one point ahead of Reform UK (17 per cent) and three points ahead of the Lib Dems (15 per cent).

In a Sky News programme this evening, the Prime Minister will look to sell his tax-cutting plans to voters after unveiling the Conservative manifesto yesterday.

Mr Sunak has promised, if he remains in No10 beyond 4 July, he will oversee another 2p cut to National Insurance to reduce the tax to 6 per cent by April 2027.

The PM also pledged that NICs will be abolished altogether for four million self-employed over the next Parliament, as part of his 17billion of tax cuts.

Both the PM and Sir Keir will be quizzed by Sky News' political editor Beth Rigby and audience members in a live show from Grimsby later today.

In a Sky News programme this evening, Rishi Sunak will look to sell his tax-cutting plans to voters after unveiling the Conservative manifesto yesterday

Both the PM and Sir Keir will be quizzed by Sky News' political editor Beth Rigby and audience members in a live show from Grimsby later today

The latest YouGov survey found Labour were supported by 38 per cent of voters ahead of the general election on 4 July, with the Conservatives backed by 18 per cent

Last week's ITV debate between Mr Sunak and the Labour leader saw the political rivals clash over tax in fiery head-to-head exchanges

Last week's ITV debate between Mr Sunak and the Labour leader saw the political rivals clash over tax in fiery head-to-head exchanges.

Labour figures were left fuming at the PM's 'lies' about their tax plans, after Mr Sunak berated Sir Keir for plotting to hike the tax burden for Brits by 2,000.

The PM was dealt a blow ahead of tonight's Sky News programme as the UK economy was shown to have flatlined in April, according to latest figures.

The Office for National Statistics reported that growth domestic product (GDP) was flat during the month following growth of 0.4 per cent in March.

The data will present a headache for the PM, who told voters the economy had 'turned a corner' after it emerged from recession in the second half of last year.

Mr Sunak is also facing a fresh row over D-Day after it was revealed how he blamed the late-running commemoration events for his delayed arrival to a TV interview.

The PM has suffered days of outrage after he skipped a major international ceremony with other world leaders in Normandy last week.

The row deepened when it later emerged Mr Sunak had conducted an ITV interview on his return from northern France last Thursday.

In a clip of that interview now released by the broadcaster, the PM has been shown apologising for his late arrival - suggesting he wanted to leave Normandy earlier.

'Very nice to see you, sorry to have kept you,' Mr Sunak said to journalist Paul Brand, adding of the D-Day 80th anniversary commemorations: 'It all just ran over.

'It was incredible but it just ran over... so apologies for keeping you.'

Mr Sunak's political opponents seized on the 'insulting' exchange to claim it showed how the PM viewed D-Day as an 'inconvenience'.
President Joe Biden left for the G7 on Wednesday with son Hunter's conviction hanging over him and the threat of Donald Trump awaiting him as he seeks to reassure world leaders of America's place in the world.

Finnegan Biden, 23, who is Hunter's middle daughter, accompanied the president on Air Force One.

While the political impact of Hunter's guilty verdict remains to be seen, it could take a heavy personal toll on Biden, 81, as he seeks a second term in office. The president upended his schedule on Tuesday to return to Wilmington, Delaware to be with his son, hugging him on the airport tarmac.

On Wednesday, the president woke up at his Wilmington lakefront home, flew with Finnegan to Joint Base Andrews and then boarded Air Force One, as he headed to meet with the leaders of the world's biggest seven economies in what could be his last G7 conference.

Politics will dominate his trip.

Nervous world leaders are watching the upcoming American election carefully and wondering if it will be Biden or Trump who will join them at next year's meeting in Canada.

President Joe Biden and his granddaughter Finnegan Biden begin the trip to Italy

President Biden boards Air Force One

Biden, when he came into office, vowed to return America to its place in the world after Trump's more isolationist policy.

'There was a real sense of relief in the room that America was back and actually leading at the table,' said National Security Council spokesman John Kirby on Tuesday.

But Trump is leading in the key battleground states that will decide the election. And it's not just in the United States - across Europe a far-right movement is on the march.

French President Emmanuel Macron, just a day after meeting with Biden, called for snap elections after his party after his rival Marine Le Pen's far-right National Rally (RN) crushed his party in the European elections.

Far-right parties also made gains in Germany's elections. And, in the UK, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's Conservative Party is trailing the center-left opposition by about 20 points.

While in Italy for two-days of meetings, Biden will seek to hold together his Western alliance, which is central to the defense of Ukraine in its war against Russia.

He is coming off a grueling travel schedule that saw him in France last week where he traveled to Normandy twice - once for the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings and then to speak at Pointe du Hoc. He and first lady Jill Biden attended a state dinner on Saturday.

On Sunday they returned to Wilmington to see son Hunter. On Monday Biden was back at the White House for a Juneteenth concert. On Tuesday, he spoke to a gun-control group in remarks that were interrupted by protests over the Gaza War. He then rushed home to Wilmington to be with his son.

President Joe Biden hugs his son Hunter Biden upon arrival in Wilmington, Del.

President Joe Biden, with White House Deputy Chief of Staff, Annie Tomasini (left), and granddaughter Finnegan Biden (second left), is welcomed by Air Force Colonel Angela Ochoa (right) at Joint Base Andrews

Presidents Biden and Zelensky met in France last week - and will meet again this week at G7

All of this will put America's oldest-ever president under scrutiny as he returns to the world state.

And the president has indicated he feels the pressure.

Biden has often spoken of how world leaders tell him he must win a second term in the White House.

'There's not a major international meeting I attend that... a world leader doesn't pull me aside as I'm leaving and say, 'He can't win. You can't let him win,'' Biden told Time magazine recently.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky also will be at the G7, where he will meet with Biden and other world leaders. Biden will also hold a joint press conference with Zelensky, bringing the war in Ukraine to the forefront of the world stage.

While meeting in Italy, the G7 leaders will seek to reach an agreement on plans to provide Ukraine with as much as $50 billion in aid based on interest generated on $300 billion in frozen Russian assets.

The assets were frozen by the U.S. and Europe after Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

More sanctions against Russia are expected to be announced

The G7 nations - the U.S., Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the U.K. - have provided billions in aid to the Ukraine.

But if Trump wins the White House in November, that could change. Republicans in Congress held up funding for Ukraine for months. Biden apologized to Zelensky for that when he met with him in France last week.

Kirby said the White House was confident that 'regardless of who gets what seat in the EU parliament' that the U.S. would still be able to work closely with European allies to support Ukraine.

'We're not at all concerned that we're not going to be able to advance shared interests and values across the European continent,' Kirby said.

The shadow of Donald Trump will hang over the G7 - above the former president faces down world leaders at the G7 meeting in Canada in 2018

The G7 leaders are gathering in a five-star resort in southern Italy. They will also discuss the Middle East, trade imbalances with China, threats posed by artificial intelligence and development challenges in Africa.

But, on the sunny seaside, the shadow of his son's conviction will hang over Biden.

Aides are reported to be worried about the toll on the president, who is close to his son and said to continuously worry about him.

Hunter Biden has grappled with addiction issues for years.

The trial revealed some of the family's darkest moments as they dealt with Hunter's drug use.

Jill Biden was there nearly every day, sitting in the front of the courtroom to watch the testimony play out.

Biden has said he will not use his power as president to pardon his son and has been careful to distance himself from the Justice Department case.

He released a statement of support after Hunter's conviction. Hunter was convicted on three counts of lying on a government form about his drug use in his purchase of handgun in 2018.

'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.'

Hunter Biden also faces a second trial in September, this time on tax charges.

Biden's stay in Italy will be brief. He arrives around midnight local time on Wednesday and departs on Friday evening where he'll head straight to Los Angeles for a campaign fundraiser with George Clooney, Jimmy Kimmel and Julia Roberts.
An on-duty NHS nurse who was caught stealing two headache tablets from a hospital pharmacy has been suspended from the profession after being told she poses a 'continuing risk to the public'.

Franchesca Morgan lost her job at Arrowe Park Hospital, near Liverpool, after taking paracetamol and co-codamol without permission when she felt unwell during her shift.

Now, a year and a half later, she's been suspended from the entire profession for the next six months.

Miss Morgan was caught after covert surveillance, installed by police, recorded her taking the pills on two separate occasions, in June 2022, without getting written permission first.

Police launched a probe after hospital bosses noticed prescription medication had been going missing. A tablet count was put in place at the end of each shift and a secret camera installed by police.

NHS nurse Franchesca Morgan, 32, lost her job after she was caught stealing two tablets from a hospital drugstore to treat her headaches while she worked

Now, a year and a half later, she's been suspended from the entire profession for the next six months

And whilst it wasn't suggested that Miss Morgan was responsible for the wider medication theft, she was prosecuted for taking the co-codamol and paracetamol.

She pleaded guilty in December 2022 to two counts of theft by an employee and told Wirral Magistrates' Court that she assumed she was allowed to take the medication after feeling unwell during the shifts.

She also told the court that she had lost her job and house as a result of the prosecution and had since moved in with her grandmother.

The Nursing and Midwifery Council has now suspended the nurse for the next six months and after a disciplinary panel found she hadn't displayed enough insight as to why her actions were wrong.

In a reflective statement provided as part of the disciplinary process, Miss Morgan said: 'I realise it is not acceptable to take medication belonging to the ward as this could be seen as theft. I have spent many hours reflecting on the situation I placed myself in.'

But the NMC remained unconvinced and described her insight as 'quite limited'.

They said: 'The panel was not convinced that Miss Morgan demonstrated a full or developed understanding of the issues raised by the proven allegations.

'We consider there is a continuing risk to the public due to the registrant's lack of full insight and failure to confirm how she would prevent it from occurring again.'

Morgan took a co-codamol pill and, on another occasion, a paracetamol tablet after she felt unwell while working at Arrowe Park Hospital near Liverpool in June 2021

Police began investigating the thefts after health officials noticed prescription medication had gone missing between June 6 and June 18 of last year at Arrowe Park Hospital

The Woolton-based nurse, born in the same town as John Lennon's childhood home, told the disciplinary panel she had also once taken the laxative lactulose whilst on shift.

She initially lied during an internal investigation and said she had never consumed the medication whilst on shift - before accepting she had done so after being presented with CCTV footage.

Having lost her job at Arrowe Park Hospital, Miss Morgan moved in with her grandmother as a result and whilst the NMC 'noted the hardship' of suspending her medical licence they said the public would lose confidence if they didn't take decisive action against her.

Miss Morgan provided written evidence to the NMC in which she said she 'assumed consent' for taking the medication as she was feeling unwell and alleged that staff taking paracetamol was 'commonplace' within the ward.

In determining to suspend her licence for a period of six months, the panel - chaired by Konrad Chrzanowski - said: 'The panel noted the hardship such an order will inevitably cause Miss Morgan.

Having lost her job at Arrowe Park Hospital, Miss Morgan moved in with her grandmother as a result

'However, this is outweighed by the public interest in this case. The panel considered that this order is necessary to mark the importance of maintaining public confidence in the profession, and to send to the public and the profession a clear message about the standard of behaviour required of a registered nurse.

'The panel determined that a suspension order for a period of 6 months was appropriate in this case to mark the seriousness of the misconduct.'

Miss Morgan was handed a 12-month conditional discharge at the criminal sentencing hearing in December 2022. She was also ordered to pay 144 in costs and victim surcharge fees.

Speaking at that hearing, prosecutor Yvonne Dobson said: The defendant was also seen to take medication without a legitimate reason. She was stealing the medication for herself. On the first occasion, she took some co-codamol.. On the second occasion it was paracetamol.'

'Miss Dobson said that she was seen swallowing tablets with a drink.. She believed that she had implied consent to take the medication. There was a lack of previous convictions but she has now lost her good character.'
Israel hit back at Hezbollah today after the Lebanese militants fired a massive salvo of 160 projectiles into the Jewish state, in the latest cross-border escalation.

IDF jets hit a number of launch sites in southern Lebanon in response to the attacks, which in turn were launched after Israeli airstrikes killed four officials from the militant Hezbollah group including a senior military commander.

The military said the jets had hit a launcher in the area of Hanine, while a separate strike had hit four infrastructure sites in the area of Yater.

The Israeli strikes are the latest escalation with the Iran-backed Hezbollah group since its ally Hamas - the Palestinian terror group - launched its October 7 attack on Israel, raising fears that the region could spiral into a deeper conflict.

Israel responded to the terror attack - which saw 1,200 people killed in Israel and around 250 kidnapped - by launching an assault on the Palestinian territory of Gaza with the mission to wiping out Hamas and rescuing the hostages.

Criticism has mounted over Israel's approach to the war, with Israel's bombardment and ground offensives in Gaza having killed over 37,000 Palestinians, according to Palestinian health officials in territory.

Hopes were raised at the end of May that a ceasefire deal could be agreed when US president Joe Biden announced a three-stage deal to bring an end to the conflict, but the talks now hang by a thread after Hamas proposed amendments.

The Israeli strikes on Tuesday killed Taleb Sami Abdullah (pictured), 55, who was known within Hezbollah as Hajj Abu Taleb. He was the most senior commander killed since fighting began eight months ago, according to a Hezbollah official

Taleb's death came amid rising escalation along the Lebanon-Israel border that has seen Hezbollah intensify its attacks on northern Israel. Pictured: Smoke rises after Israeli airstrike hits Hiyam, Lebanon on June 8

The deal would see Hamas release of all remaining hostages inside Gaza. In return, Israel would work towards a permanent ceasefire and the withdrawal of all IDF troops from inside Gaza - both Hamas demands.

Hamas, responding to the plan laid out on May 31 by Biden, proposed amendments late on Tuesday including a ceasefire timeline and the complete withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza, according to a source familiar with the talks.

US officials had privately expected Hamas to insist on at least some changes rather than accepting the entire deal immediately, and want to see if there is enough common ground to hammer out differences with Israel.

However, there are concerns that escalating fighting could scupper a deal, with some Israeli voices urging Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to push ahead with the mission to destroy Hamas and also strike Hezbollah with more force.

The Israeli strikes on Tuesday killed Taleb Sami Abdullah, 55, who was known within Hezbollah as Hajj Abu Taleb.

He was the most senior commander killed since fighting began eight months ago, according to a Hezbollah official, who spoke to the Associated Press on condition of anonymity, in line with regulations.

The source said the commander was the leader of the Hezbollah's Nasr Unit that is charge of parts of south Lebanon close to the Israeli border.

The Israeli strike destroyed a house in Jwaya where Abdullah and three other officials were holding a meeting, about six miles from the border, late on Tuesday.

Pro-Hezbollah newspaper Al-Akhbar described the strike that killed Abdallah as 'a harsh blow' to the group.

His killing 'represents a... dangerous escalation on behalf of the enemy' raising 'expectations that the confrontation will be managed differently,' the paper said.

Taleb's death came amid rising escalation along the Lebanon-Israel border that has seen Hezbollah intensify its attacks on northern Israel.

Smoke billows during Israeli bombardment on the southern Lebanese border village of Khiam on June 5, 2024

People inspect the destruction outside a charred building hit by an Israeli airstrike in the southern Lebanese town of Wadi Jilo, east of Tyre, on June 6, 2024

Hezbollah has stepped up its use of drones to attack Israeli military positions, while Israel has hit back with targeted strikes against the militants.

The Israeli airstrikes have struck deep inside Lebanon.

In the aftermath of Taleb's killing, Hezbollah's Al-Manar TV reported that rockets were being fired from south Lebanon into northern Israel.

Sirens were sounded in northern Israel, according to Israeli media.

Hezbollah said it launched 'dozens of Katyusha rockets' at three bases and a barracks in northern Israel, and struck a 'military factory' with guided missiles 'in response to the assassination carried out by the Zionist enemy'.

The Israeli army said more than 150 'projectiles' had been fired from Lebanon in three successive barrages.

'A short while ago, approximately 90 projectiles were identified crossing from Lebanon,' it said, adding that several were intercepted but others struck inside Israel sparking fires in parts of the north.

The initial barrage was followed by a second of around 70 projectiles and a third of around 10, the military added.

The army said that in response it struck a rocket launcher in south Lebanon and 'four terrorist infrastructure sites... from which projectiles were fired at northern Israel'.

As temperatures have soared in recent days, the exchanges of fire have sparked multiple brush fires on both sides of the border.

'Israel Fire and Rescue Services are currently operating to extinguish the fires that broke out as a result of the launches,' the military said.

Israel's Magen David Adom emergency medical service said there were no immediate reports of any casualties.

Local men watch the flames burning a field after rockets launched from southern Lebanon landed on the Banias area in the Israel-annexed Golan Heights on June 9, 2024

Firefighters douse fire inside a building targeted by an Israeli airstrike in the southern Lebanese town of Wadi Jilo, east of Tyre, on June 6, 2024

Smoke rises above south Lebanon following an Israeli strike amid ongoing cross-border hostilities between Hezbollah and Israeli forces, as seen from Israel's border, May 5

Israeli airstrikes on Lebanon have killed over 400 people, most of them Hezbollah members, but the dead also include more than 70 civilians and non-combatants.

On the Israeli side, 15 soldiers and 10 civilians have been killed since the war in Gaza began by attacks launched from Lebanon.

Tens of thousands of people have been displaced on both sides of the border since the violence erupted the day after the Hamas attack on southern Israel.

The fighting has raised fears that Israel and Hezbollah could clash in a full scale war.

While Hamas is largely a guerrilla group contained within Gaza (albeit with a significant fighting force that has been depleted in recent months), Hezbollah represents a different proposition.

The Iran-backed group is thought to have around 100,000 soldiers and is heavily militarised, with its arsenal of weapons containing tanks, missile and artillery, anti-air weapons, anti-tank weapons and even UAVs (drones).

The majority of Hezbollah's military hardware is Soviet or Iranian made, and the group has either purchased or received donations of weapons and munitions from their Iranian backers, or from the government of Syria's Bashar al-Assad.

Both Iran and Syria have proved to be key sources of financial and material support, viewing Hezbollah as a strategic ally and an instrument of influence in the region.

Since October 7, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has faced calls from far-right voices within Israel to launch a full-scale attack on Hezbollah.

The IDF's chief of staff has said the Israeli army is 'ready' to attack to the group, and is close to deciding on a course of action.

Fighters from the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah carry out a training exercise in Aaramta village in the Jezzine District, southern Lebanon, Sunday, May 21, 2023

Hezbollah militants are seen preparing drones for a training exercise

Speaking last week, Herzi Halevi said: 'We are approaching the point where a decision must be made, and the Israeli army is very prepared for this decision.

'We have a strong defence and a willingness to attack, and we are approaching a decisive point.'

It is understood that the US is urging Israel not to take the drastic step that would plunge the Middle East into a deeper conflict.

Other groups allied with Iran, including powerful militias in Iraq and Syria, and the Houthi rebels in Yemen, have also attacked Israeli, US and other targets since the start of the war, often drawing Western retaliation.

In April, Israel and Iran traded fire directly for the first time.

US President Joe Biden's administration has said the best way to calm regional tensions is for Hamas to accept a proposal for a phased cease-fire that it says would end of the war in Gaza and bring about the release of the remaining hostages abducted in Hamas' October 7 attack that ignited the war.

The UN Security Council voted overwhelmingly in favor of the plan on Monday.

Biden says it is an Israeli proposal, but Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has sent conflicting signals, saying Israel remains committed to destroying Hamas.

It's unclear how it would do that if the US-backed proposal, which includes an Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, is fully implemented.

Hamas has expressed support for the broad outline of the deal but wariness over whether Israel would implement its terms.

Hamas spokesman Jihad Taha told the Lebanese news outlet ElNashra that the 'amendments' requested by the group include guarantees of a permanent cease-fire and the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza.

Hamas's official reply to the proposal, which it conveyed to mediators on Tuesday, appeared to be short of outright acceptance but kept negotiations alive.

Fighters from the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah are seen riding on motorbikes and carrying Chinese QM-18 man portable air defence systems. Hezbollah has purchased Chinese tech in recent years to compliment its extensive Soviet built arsenal of air defence weapons

Qatar and Egypt, which have been key mediators alongside the United States, said they were studying it.

Blinken, who is on his eighth visit to the region since the start of the war, headed to Qatar on Wednesday to follow up on the negotiations.

The proposal has raised hopes of ending a conflict in which Israel's bombardment and ground offensives in Gaza have killed over 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 have hindered efforts to bring humanitarian aid to the isolated coastal enclave, fueling widespread hunger.

Israel launched its campaign after Hamas and other militants stormed into Israel on Oct. 7, killing some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and taking around 250 hostage.

Over 100 hostages were released during a week long cease-fire last year in exchange for Palestinians imprisoned by Israel.

Hamas is still holding around 120 hostages, a third of whom are believed to be dead.

The proposal announced by Biden calls for a three-phase plan that would begin with a 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 of aid entering Gaza every day.

At the same time, negotiations would be launched over the second phase, which is to bring '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 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 militant group accepted a similar proposal last month that was rejected by Israel.

Netanyahu's far-right coalition allies have rejected the latest proposal and have threatened to bring down his government if he ends the war leaving Hamas intact.

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.
A five-year-old girl saved her mother's life by calmly walking to school in her princess dress, crown and wellies to raise the alarm with teachers.

Leisha Davies, 35, had collapsed in her bedroom on January 18, having gone into septic shock following an operation for a twisted bowel.

Daughter Poppy Davies, 5, stayed by her mother's side until the morning when she decided to seek help from her teachers at Pontllanfraith Primary School in Caerphilly.

Leisha, who is still recovering from the life-threatening illness, said Poppy was her 'little hero'.

The last thing Leisha remembered before collapsing and losing consciousness was Poppy prancing around in her princess dress.

Daughter Poppy Davies, 5, stayed by her mother's side until the morning when she decided to calmly walk to school in her princess dress, crown and wellies to raise the alarm with teachers

Leisha Davies (right) had collapsed in her bedroom on January 18, having gone into septic shock following an operation for a twisted bowel

Leisha's husband Ryan was at work when she collapsed.

The young mother told the BBC: 'Poppy opened all the curtains and blinds in the house and put on all the lights to try and draw attention'.

But when help did not arrive, the five-year-old spent the whole night by her mother's side.

Leisha said: 'In the morning on the 19th, she was in her princess dress, got her wellies on and her little crown. She unlocked my front door and walked to the school gate right by my house.

'She went into the schoolroom and told the teacher: "Mummy's on the floor and I can't wake her up."'

Two of Poppy's teachers entered the family home to find Leisha on the floor.

They put her in recovery position before calling an ambulance.

Five-year-old Poppy changed into her uniform and was taken to school so she would be safe as paramedics fought to save her mother's life.

An air ambulance landed on the school grounds but Leisha required equipment to keep her alive which did not fit in the aircraft.

Leisha was taken to Grange University Hospital in nearby Cwmbran where it was discovered she was in septic shock, with one lung working at just 15 per cent capacity.

She was placed in an induced coma for three weeks.

Consultant David Hepburn said Leisha required extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) treatment and she was moved to Bristol Royal Infirmary.

Leisha said she has no memories from this time other than the vivid and scary dreams she was experiencing.

Ryan (left), Leisha (centre) and Poppy hug in the hospital following the frightening episode on January 18

That night Ryan (left) was working a night shift and the last thing Leisha (right) remembered before collapsing and losing consciousness was Poppy (centre) prancing around in her princess dress

Five-year-old Poppy put on her princess crown and wellies before unlocking the front door and walking to Pontllanfraith Primary School

Poppy (left) saved her mother (right) by telling her teacher: 'Mummy's on the floor and I can't wake her up'

Leisha said: 'I was picking up things from my mother and my husband talking to me which was making an alternative reality in my mind.'

'When I woke up (three weeks later) I couldn't move my body and I'd had a tracheostomy so I couldn't speak. My mother was stroking my hair and said "Are you all right?"'

'I nodded and they knew then I was back.

'They didn't know for three weeks whether I was brain damaged.'

It was initially believed Leisha would need both of her legs amputated around the knee but now doctors say only half of each foot will need to be removed after turning necrotic.

She has credited Poppy with saving her life, as well as the staff at Grange University Hospital who looked after her.

Leisha said: 'I was incredibly proud of her. I hadn't seen her for a month because of all this going on but when she did come and see me I absolutely broke down.

'I thought to myself she looks so grown up and I felt like I had missed out on so much. But I was thankful I was here, that my daughter had a mum and my mum had a daughter. It was really emotional.

'I always say to Poppy: "You're my hero, you saved mummy's life."'

The nurses at Grange University Hospital bought the youngster a 'little cape' for being a 'hero' and saving her mother's life.

Remembering the health workers' kindness, Leisha said: 'The staff at the Grange were absolutely phenomenal, I couldn't fault anyone.'

It was initially believed Leisha (pictured) would need both of her legs amputated around the knee but the prognosis suggests half of each foot will be amputated after turning necrotic

Leisha (left) has credited Poppy (right) with saving her life, as well as the staff at Grange University Hospital who looked after her

After undergoing surgery for a twisted bowel and returning to her job as a mental health worker, Leisha had been feeling unwell, with her legs and face starting to swell.

She said: 'I want to send out a message that if anybody feels unwell, get it sorted.

'I never thought sepsis was bad, I thought it was just an infection, but septic shock is life threatening and a lot of people don't recover from it.'
Palma Airport was brought to a standstill on Tuesday night by a massive rain storm that has flooded the island of Majorca.

Airport officials said that 100 of the 'more than 900 flights' scheduled to operate at Palma airport on Tuesday evening had been affected by the storm.

This included many from British travel hubs like Gatwick, Luton and Bristol, after Palma had been affected by the storm.

So, is it safe to fly to Majorca? What is the latest travel advice and what can you do if your flight is cancelled?

Read on below for everything you need to know about the latest advice for the popular Spanish tourist destination.

Palma Airport was brought to a standstill on Tuesday night by a massive rain storm that has flooded the island of Majorca. The airport's car park was flooded by the deluge of water that hit the island on Tuesday

The floor of the airport was subsequently covered in water from the storm

Queues inside the airport grew longer and longer on Tuesday, as departures and arrivals were massively delayed

Can I fly to Majorca?

Although there were numerous delays and cancellations at Palma Airport - which saw 31million passengers pass through its doors in 2023 - the tourist hub is still open and operational.

However, there are still delays for flight arriving and departing Palma, with flights to London Gatwick, Manchester and Leeds all affected.

A spokeswoman for Aena, which manages airports across Spain, confirmed to MailOnline that 'operations had returned to normal' as of Wednesday afternoon.

While there might be a delay to your journey, there has been no advice from local authorities or the UK Government warning travellers not to use the airport due to the adverse weather conditions.

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.

What should I do if my flight gets cancelled?

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

Several regions across south-east Spain 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

If your flight is cancelled, you have a number of different options.

You are legally entitled to a full refund, which includes other flights from the airline that you won't use in the same booking, such as onward or return flights.

You are also entitled to a replacement flight to get you to your destination.

If your cancelled flight delays you by two hours or more, you have the legal right to be helped with costs.

If the replacement flight offered to you has delayed you by two hours or more, and you were given less than two weeks' notice, you are legally entitled to compensation.
An intelligence officer at 'Britain's FBI' with access to the dark web faces jail after viewing hundreds of indecent images of children on his work computer.

Adam Taylor admitted two counts of misconduct in a public office, three counts of making indecent photographs of children and one count of possessing an extreme pornographic image.

The 40-year-old former National Crime Agency (NCA) officer pleaded guilty to the six charges at Southwark Crown Court today, and was warned he is likely to be jailed at his sentencing hearing in August.

Judge Cole told him: 'As you well know, this is a very serious batch of offences and the likely sentence is immediate custody.'

The judge ordered a pre-sentence report and adjourned sentencing to August 2 at the same court.

Former NCA officer Adam Taylor admitted two counts of misconduct in a public office, three counts of making indecent photographs of children and one count of possessing an extreme pornographic image. File photo

The court heard that Taylor was 'enabled' by his role as a 'grade five intelligence officer' in the NCA to access the dark web, although he was not required by his work to view such images.

He admitted committing misconduct by making indecent images of children on a work device between March 2019 and April 2022.

He made 221 category A images - the highest category of seriousness - and hundreds of category B and C images between May 2012 and April 2022.

The court heard he has been dismissed by the NCA for gross misconduct.

Taylor, of Waltham Abbey, Essex, was bailed unconditionally ahead of his sentencing hearing.

NCA director general of operations Rob Jones said: 'The NCA is at the forefront of tackling online child abuse and it is vital that we identify and root out anybody within the agency involved in this or any other criminal activity.

'Whilst shocked and saddened that an NCA officer could be convicted of such crimes, we recognise that the scale of the online child sexual abuse threat means we must remain vigilant and work proactively, as we did in this case, to identify any potential risk in the agency.

'Individuals like Taylor have no place in law enforcement. It was other NCA officers, working diligently and covertly to protect the public, who were responsible for bringing him to justice.

'Behind each of those images recovered from Taylor's devices was a vulnerable child who had been abused. We remain determined to pursue offenders like him wherever in society they operate, and to protect the victims of online child sexual abuse.'
Nigel Farage has been offered additional private security by the Home Office after twice being pelted with objects while campaigning for the General Election.

A cup and another object were thrown at the Reform UK leader while he was on top of a party battle bus yesterday in Barnsley, South Yorkshire.

This followed an incident last week in which a milkshake was thrown over the 60-year-old as he left the Moon and Starfish Wetherspoons pub in Clacton-on-Sea in Essex.

Two people have been charged over the incidents and it is understood that the Home Office has been in touch with Mr Farage to offer additional private security.

Police chiefs say it is difficult to work out the intentions of people in crowds when would-be MPs are out campaigning, but that the candidates may not want to be put in a bubble as they try to speak to the public.

Nigel Farage flanked by a security guard today at an event in the Victory Bar at Great Yarmouth racecourse

A cup and another object were thrown at the Reform UK leader while he was on top of a party battle bus yesterday in Barnsley, South Yorkshire

A protestor, wearing a red hoodie, throws a coffee cup in the direction of the Reform party leader

JUNE 4: Mr Farage had milkshake thrown over him during an election rally in Clacton

The number of intelligence and crime reports received by police relating to MPs has dropped sharply in recent months, but force chiefs insist candidates have confidence in officers to protect them.

In January and February around 260 intelligence reports and 60 or 70 crime reports were received by police in relation to Operation Bridger, which focuses on the security of elected representatives.

But this fell to tens of intelligence reports and 'small numbers' of reported crimes in the past two months.

Mr Farage yesterday described the latest attack as 'violent' and 'pretty nasty' as he thanked police who arrested a 28-year-old man at the scene.

He posted on X: 'I will not be bullied or cowed by a violent Left-wing mob who hate our country. These people want to stop my election campaign. That's never going to happen.'

Labour shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper also condemned the attacker, writing: 'There is no place for violence or intimidation in our democracy. Everyone must be able to campaign without violence or threats. Appalled by physical attack on Nigel Farage in Yorkshire today. Support the police in taking action.'

The man is wrestled by workmen (left) and then led away by police (right) following the shocking incident in South Yorkshire yesterday

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 is wrestled by a police officer after walking away from the scene in Barnsley

Mr Farage was speaking to members of the public over a microphone from a campaign battle bus when a group of around 100 protesters  demonstrating their support for 'immigrants and refugees'  tried to drown him out.

They held up Black Lives Matter placards with the message 'Refugees Welcome' and chanted: 'Say it loud, say it clear, refugees are welcome here.'

A man, in a red top who appeared to throw objects at Mr Farage, had earlier been standing with the group of protesters, witnesses said. He was caught on video plucking two objects from a bin on a building site  believed to be a can and a coffee cup  and seemed to hurl them in the direction of Mr Farage.

He is then seen being dragged out of the fenced-off area by a group of builders before running down the street where the police catch up with him.

Paul Stott, 52, a builder working on a nearby shop, said: 'The man in a red hoodie grabbed a can and a coffee cup from the bin here and threw them.'

Mr Stott and his fellow workmen grabbed the man to eject him from their makeshift work compound and stop him throwing anything else. 'He then ran off but the police moved in quickly and grabbed him,' said Mr Stott.

Asked what he thought of the man, he said: 'He is a moron.' South Yorkshire Police said a 28-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of public order offences.

Mr Farage speaks from the top of the open-top bus before he is attacked (not by anyone pictured)

Anti-Farage protestors in Barnsley yesterday. There is no suggestion anyone pictured attacked him

Earlier the Reform leader had his nails painted at n The Lash beauty salon in Hoyland

It was the second time Mr Farage has been targeted during the election campaign. A milkshake was thrown on him last week in Clacton, Essex, where he is fighting to become the MP. Victoria Thomas Bowen, 25, was charged with assault by beating and criminal damage.

After the latest incident, Mr Farage said: '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.'

Asked how he felt, Mr Farage added: 'Me? I'm used to it. I'm at my best going out, meeting people and talking to them, having a debate with them... And these violent youngsters are stopping me, it's very, very frustrating.' He said police had suggested that it was 'not a good idea' to leave the bus.

He added that 'protest is part of the democratic process' but should not involve throwing objects: '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.'
A Scottish teacher who was sacked after she refused to move schools because it 'worsened her menopause' has won more than 60,000 in a discrimination case.

Allison Shearer won the compensation payout after headteacher Neil Govan ordered her to transfer to a different school in their education organisation.

Ms Shearer became 'extremely anxious' due to a number of issues that plagued the new school and her menopausal symptoms were exacerbated, a tribunal heard.

The English teacher feared being assaulted by pupils at the next school, believing there to be 'high levels of violence and injuries to teaching staff'.

Ms Shearer believed her transfer was a 'punishment beating' because days before she objected to Mr Govan suggesting she should supervise a pupil vaping at school.

Her pleas about her worsening menopause and mental health were ignored  as well as the school's own Occupational Health report  and she was eventually sacked.

Now, she has successfully sued South Lanarkshire Council in Scotland, which runs the school, for disability discrimination and unfair dismissal at an employment tribunal.

Ms Shearer, who taught at Clydesdale Support Base in Carluke, has been awarded 61,074 in damages.

Allison Shearer won the compensation payout after headteacher Neil Govan (pictured) ordered her to transfer to a different school in their education organisation

The Glasgow tribunal heard Ms Shearer qualified in 1987 and from 2015 taught English at Clydesdale Support Base. Pictured: Kear Campus in Bardykes Rd, Blantyre, Glasgow

The Glasgow tribunal heard Ms Shearer qualified in 1987 and from 2015 taught English at Clydesdale Support Base.

The base is part of Kear Campus, which teaches special needs children in South Lanarkshire and has multiple schools attached to it.

In June 2022, Kear Campus head Mr Govan attended Clydesdale Support Base and told her he'd decided to move her to Kear Secondary School in Blantyre.

At the time, she suffered menopausal symptoms, stress, anxiety and depression, as well as high blood pressure.

She believed she was being moved because just days before, Mr Govan suggested she 'supervise' a pupil who wanted to vape in every one of the seven periods of the day.

Ms Shearer objected to the underage vaping and Mr Govan became 'angry and frustrated'.

The tribunal heard Ms Shearer became 'anxious' about the prospect of moving to Kear School as she believed that there were 'high levels of violence and injuries to teaching staff at that school, that management were ineffective and authoritarian, and that there was a culture of blaming staff for being assaulted'.

'[Ms Shearer] felt that it was inevitable that she would be assaulted, that she would not be supported when it happened and that she would be blamed for the incident', a tribunal report said.

'She was concerned that her high blood pressure would worsen and that her levels of anxiety and low mood could become difficult to manage.

'Over the following weeks [Ms Shearer] had regular nightmares and disrupted sleep.

'She found it difficult to think about anything except the move to Kear School.

The base is part of Kear Campus, which teaches special needs children in South Lanarkshire and has multiple schools attached to it. Pictured: Kear Campus

'A planned reduction in the prescribed dose of fluoxetine was deferred because the claimant's levels of stress and anxiety were too high. The symptoms of the menopause also worsened.'

Ms Shearer objected on health grounds.

In August 2022 she had a 'confidential menopause discussion' with two senior female managers and explained it would be 'detrimental to her health' but she was still told she'd have to move.

She went on sick leave with work-related stress and visited Occupational Health.

An OH therapist found that a move could 'negatively impact her psychological health' and that in order to 'support her wellbeing' she should stay at her current location.

Ms Shearer completed a stress risk assessment that was advised by Occupational Health, but the tribunal said it was 'revealing' how Mr Govan responded to it.

After she completed the assessment, Mr Govan told deputy head Stewart Miller he did not feel 'inclined' to engage with it, saying: 'This may not be what you're looking for but it's the best I can (well, will) do as I don't feel inclined to respond to each point.'

The tribunal said it showed Mr Govan to be 'dismissive, intransigent and unhelpful'.

Ms Shearer submitted grievances, which were not upheld, and was eventually offered two other job roles which were not suitable.

She was fired in September 2023 while she was still off work as she was 'not fit for work'.

Employment Judge Mark Whitcombe said the school could have sent another one of its English teachers to take up the post.

Judge Whitcombe said: '[Ms Shearer's aggravated symptoms and sickness absence were inextricably linked to the instruction that she should move to work at Kear Secondary School.

'That link was well-established by evidence. Not only was it [her] own position, which we find to be credible and which we accept, but the same link was made by the occupational health evidence in the [school's] possession.

'The overwhelming likelihood was that [Ms Shearer's] absence would end if she were allowed to work at any other suitable location in any other suitable role.

'No reasonable employer would have insisted that [Ms Shearer] teach at Kear Secondary School given the effect of that proposal on [her] health,

the fact that the needs of Kear Secondary School could reasonably have been met in other ways, and the fact that the teaching of English at

Clydesdale base was being carried out by a teacher engaged on a temporary basis.'

The judge said Ms Shearer was a 'talented, experienced and successful teacher'.

The judge said there was 'no evidence' to support her claim that the vaping argument caused her transfer.
Canada has been making plans in case civil war breaks out in the US, as the nation's polarization reaches an all-time-high ahead of the presidential election.

A think tank within Trudeau's government called Policy Horizons Canada surveyed hundreds of experts and government officials about potential disruptive events and proposed to the Canadian government they should consider preparing for civil war in the US.

In a 37-page document covered by Politico, researchers included the possibility of 'U.S. ideological divisions, democratic erosion, and domestic unrest escalate, plunging the country into civil war.'

As the rematch between Joe Biden and Donald Trump nears, the report's authors claimed an American civil war is 'an improbably but ultra-high impact event.'

The 'high-impact' category included the proliferation of homemade biological weapons, antibiotic-resistant pathogens leading to mass death and food shortages, and the outbreak of World War 3.

Canada has been advised to make plans in case civil war breaks out in the US, as the nation's polarization reaches an all-time-high ahead of the presidential election. Joe Biden, right, shakes hands with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau

Brookings Institution scholar John McArthur told Politico the report could reflect how concern the Canadian government is about American politics.

McArthur explained that former president Donald Trump's isolationist approach to foreign politics might have 'rattled the Canadian psyche and upended decades-old economic relationships.'

Trump's general demeanor towards Canada, including when he trashed Trudeau after a G7 meeting, have left a lasting impact in Canadians, according to McArthur.

The report emphasizes the urgency of developing new technology to deal with the threat of cyber attacks that could disable critical infrastructure or emergency services being overwhelmed.

The report does not specify how civil war in the US might materialize, but Politico's Alexander Burns theorizes that, ironically, it could look like the Quebec separatism battle in the 1960s.

That conflict was not a full-blown civil war, but a prolonged, sustained attack on the federal government which saw bombings, kidnappings and robberies for a decade.

As Burns points out, the US is a 'heavily armed country with a contested federal system and proud, powerful provincial identities' in states like Texas and California.

Meanwhile, 'The next president is sure to be loathed by much of the country, and likely seen as illegitimate by at least a large minority,' he adds.

'It does not take a kaleidoscopic imagination to see how that set of conditions could lead to our own October Crisis.'

Civil War, released to chime with the U.S. election this November, invites the viewer to reflect on the troubling extremism of contemporary US politics

This is the approach of the movie Civil War, released to chime with the U.S. election this November.

The film invites the viewer to reflect on the troubling extremism of contemporary US politics. One chauvinist character kills another just for being Chinese. There's a reference to a legendary 'Antifa Massacre', plus several nods towards the infamous storming of the Capitol on January 6, 2021.

One chauvinist character kills another just for being Chinese. There's a reference to a legendary 'Antifa Massacre', plus several nods towards the infamous storming of the Capitol on January 6, 2021.

Worrying about the break-up of the United States has become a national obsession. Recent surveys show that more than 40 per cent of Americans think a new civil war will be fought within the next decade.

More than four-in-ten US voters say the country is likely to get ripped apart in a second civil war within five years, according to a poll released last month.

The Rasmussen Reports poll shows that 41 percent eye a civil conflict, compared to 49 percent who say it's not likely. Another 10 percent said they were not sure.

That amounts to 106 million US adults saying civil war is on the horizon.
A US government employee has apologised for her 'tragic mistake' which resulted in the death of Harry Dunn as she remained absent from his inquest.

Anne Sacoolas insisted she was a 'safe driver' and was driving 'like an American' on the day she careered into the teenager's oncoming motorbike outside an RAF base.

Her comments came in a voluntary interview with police two months after the fatal crash in 2019 and which were today read out to a court.

An inquest into Mr Dunn's death heard that when asked what she believed had caused the collision, she told Northamptonshire Police officers: 'I drove like an American and drove on the American side of the road.'

Sacoolas said in a witness statement that the crash which killed the teenage motorcyclist in August 2019 is something that will live with her 'every single day for the rest of my life'.

Anne Sacoolas (pictured) insisted she was a 'safe driver' and was driving 'like an American' on the day she careered into the teenager's oncoming motorbike outside an RAF base

Harry Dunn, 19, was killed in the collision outside an RAF base in Northamptionshire in 2019

Anne Sacoolas is pictured in a court artist's impression in December 2022

The US State Department asserted diplomatic immunity on behalf of Sacoolas and she was able to leave the UK 19 days after the fatal collision.

She appeared before a High Court judge at the Old Bailey via video-link in December 2022, where she pleaded guilty to causing death by careless driving.

Sacoolas was advised against attending her sentencing hearing by her employer, which prompted the family to say they were 'horrified' that the US government was 'actively interfering in our criminal justice system'.

Mrs Justice Cheema-Grubb handed her an eight-month prison sentence, suspended for 12 months.

In one of her witness statements, Sacoolas said she 'instinctively moved to the right side of the road' and was not aware she was on the wrong side of the road 'until after the collision'.

A statement from her lawyers in the US in September 2020 said Sacoolas had been driving on the wrong side of the road for 20 seconds before she hit Mr Dunn outside RAF Croughton in Northamptonshire.

She told the inquest she 'hysterically flagged down a motorist' after the crash and 'begged her to get help'.

The 45-year-old said she had not received any training on driving on UK roads after arriving in the country.

The US State Department asserted diplomatic immunity on behalf of Sacoolas and she was able to leave the UK 19 days after the fatal collision which killed Harry Dunn (pictured)

Harry Dunn's mother Charlotte Charles is seen arriving at the Old Bailey in London on December 8 last year for the sentencing of Anne Sacoolas

Anne Sacoolas, pictured leaving her lawyer's office last December, was sentenced to eight months in prison - suspended for 12 months - for causing death by careless driving

Sacoolas, who gave her employment details to police as an analyst for the US State Department, rejected the coroner's invitation to give live evidence to the inquest.

Her lawyer Ben Cooper previously told the court she had 'provided everything she could to help this inquest' and offered to 'answer any further questions'.

In one of her two witness statements, which was only prepared for the inquest on Wednesday, Sacoolas said: 'Immediately after the accident, I hysterically flagged down a motorist and begged her to get help.

'While she called 999, I called my husband to contact the base for help, because we were so close to the base entrance. The base was the first to respond.'

She continued: 'As I turned out of the exit from the Croughton Air Force base, taking a left turn, I instinctively moved to the right side of the road.

'I knew that the proper side of the road to drive was the left side, not the right side as I was accustomed to driving in the United States.

'My action was based on instinct and not recalling in that moment that I should have been driving on the other side.'

Concluding her most recent statement, Sacoolas said: 'I deeply regret having caused this accident.

Sacoolas is seen here in a court artist's illustration from an appearance before Westminster magistrates via a video-link from the US

Sacoolas had been driving on the wrong side of the road for 20 seconds before she hit Mr Dunn (pictured) outside RAF Croughton in Northamptonshire

Sacoolas has told an inquest into the death of Harry Dunn (pictured) that she 'hysterically flagged down a motorist' after the crash and 'begged her to get help'

'I made a tragic mistake that I will live with every single day for the rest of my life.

'There is not a single day that goes by that Harry is not on my mind and I am deeply sorry for the pain that I have caused.'

The inquest, which is due to conclude at 1pm tomorrow, continues.

Mr Dunn's family said earlier this week they were 'shocked and upset' after finding out just days before his inquest that Sacoolas would not be giving live evidence.

Northamptonshire coroner Anne Pember issued a request to Sacoolas that she attend remotely today - but the proposed witness list for the inquest revealed her evidence would instead be read to the court.
A farmer who was jailed alongside drug dealers and rapists for bulldozing a riverbank has been hailed as a hero by villagers who insist his actions prevented flooding.

John Price, 69, hired diggers and builders to chop down trees and dredge a mile-long stretch of the River Lugg near Leominster, Herefordshire in 2020.

He claimed he had done so to help protect locals in the nearby hamlet whose homes were devastated by flooding and to help fix riverbed erosion.

But he was told by a judge he had committed 'ecological vandalism on an industrial scale' along a section of one of Britain's most important salmon rivers.

The multimillionaire farmer was jailed for ten months, reduced from 12 months after an appeal, in April last year and served less than three months behind bars.

Mr Price, of Kingsland, Herefordshire, was also ordered pay 1.2million in restoration costs after admitting seven charges of environmental damage.

More than 12 months on, residents have now revealed how Mr Price is hailed by many as a local hero whose actions have been effective in safeguarding homes.

John 'Pudge' Price is renowned in the village of Kingsland, near Leominster

The river bank being cleared by farmer John Price in 2020

Mr Price was sentenced to 12 months in prison at Kidderminster Magistrates Court for damage caused to the river Lugg in Kingsland but villagers say he's a hero

Villagers say he has succeeded in preventing flooding where the authorities failed and believe he was unfairly mistreated.

They said that by realigning the river, Mr Price has overcome much of the local flooding issues that have been damaging Kingsland for decades.

Simon Powney, a retained firefighter, said: 'It appears to have been an improvement.

'The river has settled down and looks back to normal.

'We're not getting the flooding problems there that we were. I've seen how it does flood there, but in the last lot of rain we didn't have any problems.

'If the work wasn't done, we would have had what happened last time with the water going into the houses by the bridge.

'I will say that the general opinion around here is that Johnny [Mr Price] has done a good job.'

Another Kingsland villager, Maurice Evans, said: 'Beforehand, it would have been in the houses. I know what John Price did... but it has helped.

'Since he's done it these houses have not flooded. But everyone has their own opinions.'

The work, which he carried out in 2020 and 2021, in a self-devised plan to stop the river flooding his fields and nearby houses at times of heavy rainfall, breached regulations

Police and Environment Agency stand on a bridge over the River Lugg, Kingsland

Local resident Richard Collishaw added: 'There is a lot of difference down at the bottom of the river by the bridge.

'It looks very tidy now and I'm sure the trees are going to grow back.

'I think it's stopped the river cottages being flooded. There was a lot of noise about it, but I think he did a good job.'

Even his local parish council came out in support in 2021, with Councillor Sebastian Bowen saying: 'The reality is it [the flooding] is much improved.

'People have been quite impressed with what has been done. People have stopped and said it was a good job.'

The Environment Agency previously said the damage was one of the worst cases of riverside destruction it had ever seen, which had a 'devastating' effect on wildlife.

But when asked recently whether Mr Price had alleviated flooding and what the long term impact to the river had been, they refused to address the question.

Instead, they said in a statement: 'Following a prosecution by Natural England and the Environment Agency, Mr Price was found guilty of destruction of part of the river Lugg and sentenced to 12 months in prison.

John Price with his son John on the bankside of the River Lugg in 2020

Aerial view of the river bank cleared by Mr Price which villagers said stopped flooding

'He was also ordered to pay prosecution costs of 600,000 and ordered to carry out a number of actions to restore the river he damaged.

'Natural England and the Environment Agency welcomed the seriousness with which the court treated the severe and lasting damage to the river Lugg, which destroyed habitats and wildlife on a stretch of one of the country's most unspoiled rivers.'

Experts previously said Mr Price's claims he was saving nearby homes from flooding was without foundation.

Helen Stace, former chief executive of Herefordshire Wildlife Trust, said Price had destroyed a site of special scientific interest - an 'enchanting treelined reach' with 'immense' value for wildlife.

Later, Andrew Nixon, conservation senior manager of trust, said in December 2020: 'Removing all bankside vegetation and scraping out the riverbed and banks will cause a huge increase in the speed the water moves through the river and increases the flood risk downstream.'

The Environment Agency, whose duties include managing the risks from flooding, also insisted his actions had done nothing to prevent flooding.

Police and Environment Agency stand on a bridge over the River Lugg

The river Lugg in Kingsland, Shropshire

Martin Quine, the agency's place manager for Herefordshire, said in April last year: 'While Mr Price's justification for the works was to help prevent flooding to local properties, his actions did not have any flood prevention benefit.

'The destruction of riverbanks is not appropriate flood management.

'It is important that the judge recognised that the works significantly weakened flood prevention measures rather than improved them.'

The Herefordshire Wildlife Trust, which also predicted at the time the scouring of the riverbank would not alleviate flooding, also declined to comment about 'what the Environment Agency may or may not have said or done'.

But a spokesman said: 'Herefordshire Wildlife Trust advocates for natural flood management across our landscapes which means allowing, or restoring, rivers or landscapes to function more naturally with the result that the flow of water into rivers is slowed, the flow within rivers is slowed, and the landscape generally holds more water.

'The objective is to limit the amount, and speed, of water within river channels which minimises flooding overall.

'Natural Flood Management techniques include leaky dams, cross-slope hedgerows, riverside woodland and attenuation ponds and scrapes.'

As a result it remains unclear if there has been any official study into the impact of the work to see whether Mr Price's actions have alleviated, worsened or had no effect on flooding.
The Head of Strings at a private school renowned for producing Hollywood stars allegedly bombarded an executive at a prestigious auction house with unsolicited pictures and gifts.

Cellist Helen Neilson, 45, is accused of sending sales manager Rainer Cocron photographs, messages and presents from July 2021 to July 2022 after meeting him to buy an instrument.

The teacher at the 24,000-a-year Latymer Upper School in London is said to have caused 'serious alarm' to Mr Cocron after meeting with him to purchase a 'rare and expensive' instrument from Ingles and Hayday, in Fitzrovia, central London.

Magistrates heard Neilson admits contacting Mr Cocron to buy the instrument but argues her conduct did not amount to stalking.

At Westminster Magistrates' Court today Neilson denied a single charge of stalking involving serious alarm and will now stand trial on September 4 and September 5.

Helen Neilson, 45-year-old Head of Strings at a private school renowned for producing Hollywood stars, is accused of bombarding an executive at a prestigious auction house with unsolicited pictures and gifts

The teacher at Latymer Upper School in London is said to have caused 'serious alarm' to Rainer Cocron after meeting with him to purchase a 'rare and expensive' instrument

Pictured: Latymer Upper School, former students of which include Alan Rickman, Hugh Grant and Imogen Poots

Her lawyer Mr Matthew Graham, who is privately instructed, said: 'The allegation arises through the course of the purchase of a musical instrument.

'The defendant was purchasing a musical instrument from a business where the complainant in the case works.

'There was a fairly unremarkable conversation about the purchase of the instrument over a few weeks and months.'

But prosecutors say Neilson's conduct went beyond discussing the item and included unwanted pictures, letters, emails and gifts.

Rhianne Neil prosecuting said: 'Between July 2021 and July 2022, the defendant sent unwanted emails, photographs and gifts to the complainant.'

Latymer Upper School is renowned for producing acting talent including Alan Rickman, who played Severus Snape in Harry Potter, Hugh Grant who starred in Love Actually and Imogen Poots.

Neilson, from Clapham, south London was granted unconditional bail by Magistrate Caroline Joy.

She will stand trial at the City of London Magistrates' Court.
Trouble is brewing on both sides of the Atlantic after an American 'witch' removed a small stone and part of a fallen tree branch from an ancient Pictish burial site near Inverness featured in the TV series Outlander.

An online TikTok community called Witchtok has seen angry videos from followers in Scotland attacking Florida-based self-styled witch Brenda Spears, who styles herself 'Brewitched' on the platform, accusing her of 'theft' and 'looting'.

Ms Spears, who describes herself as a 'practitioner of traditional witchcraft', admitted taking a small stone from the path which she said her tour guide handed her at the 4,000-year-old site of standing stones.

She also removed a pine cone and part of a tree branch, which she claimed she was allowed to do by a workman cutting the trees at the site and took it back home, along with the pebble.

Brenda Spears, (pictured) who refers to herself as a 'practitioner of traditional witchcraft', claims a workman allowed her to take the pebble and small branch from Clava Cairns

Clava Cairns in Inverness has been popular with tourists after the television show Outlander was shot there (Pictured is Sam Heughan as Jamie Fraser and Caitriona Balfe as Claire Fraser in the fictional Craige na Dun)

But other TikTokers with handles such as Thistlewitches and Punk Rock Witch, say that any stone at the site is sacred and should not be removed.

The Scottish government agrees, and a spokesperson for Historic Environment Scotland told MailOnline: 'Whist we appreciate that individuals can be enthusiastic about visiting a particular historic site, Clava Cairns is a protected site, and as such nothing should be removed from it.'

Archaeology Professor Howard Williams from the University of Chester said in a TikTok post: 'The issues about this are manifold. Not only the taking of those items away, taking them abroad, then bragging about it on social media and therefore potentially promoting that kind of activity.

'This is already a problem across ancient monuments in Scotland and the rest of Britain from tourists of all kinds taking things and vandalising sites, but it's particularly pernicious it seems in the spiritual community.'

Professor Williams pointed out that the tour guide and tree cutter 'were not sanctioned to give you permission' and urged Ms Spears to 'have a long hard look at yourself.'

He added: 'It's not about the fact that we're taking much ourselves, but if everyone did that there would be thousands upon thousands of objects removed, disturbed or relocated.

'The stone itself may have been from the path, but it's put there to help manage the ancient monument.and it's still not ok.

'At Clava Cairns it's a long-term problem of spiritual communities going there and messing with the landscape and thinking they're entitled to do so because they're special.

The 4,000 year-old Pictish site is sacred with the Scottish Government stating no items should be removed from the location

Other TikTok critics also pointed out that Ms Spears should not have removed the items due to the cross-contamination and other biomatter they could bring to the US

Ms Spears showed her followers the pine cone and piece of fallen branch, which appeared to have lichen covering it. Critics point out should not be taken out of the UK as lichen and other biomatter could cause cross-contamination in the US.

It is a Federal offence to import most types of plant and fungal material to the US without a licence.

One fan of Clava Cairns and its mysteries told MailOnline that as well as the legal protection, there is 'a lore of curses attached to people removing stones from Clava Cairns.'

In the highly successful TV series Outlander, aired on Starz channel in the US, star Caitriona Balfe plays a nurse who is transported from 1945 to the Jacobite risings in 1743 after she touches the ancient monument.

Critics of Ms Spears have united under the hashtag #returnthestone, and even offered to send her a stone from elsewhere in Scotland if she agrees to send back the Clava Cairns pebble.

In her TikTok video, Ms Spears appears unmoved by the appeals, telling her 29k followers: 'It was never my intention to offend, steal or desecrate and that I did not.'

She adds: 'I will not tolerate hate, bullying or threats.'

She signs off to her followers: 'Keep witchin'!'

One Clava Cairns fan revealed removing stones and other items from the site could result in curses (pictured: Brenda Spears)
A Missouri man has been executed for killing his former lover and her husband just days after his clemency was rejected.

David Hosier, 69, was pronounced dead at 6.11pm on Tuesday 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 Jefferson City.

He 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.

Missouri man David Hosier has been executed for killing his former lover and her husband just days after his clemency was rejected

He was served his final meal at 11am - a New York strip steak, baked potato with butter and sour cream, Texas toast, Dutch apple pie, milk and orange juice, FOX2 reports.

Hosier maintained his innocence up to his death and spoke about getting into heaven in a statement released before his execution.

'I leave you all with love, now I get to go to Heaven. Dont cry for me. Just join me when your time comes,' he said.

He also released a quote from the New Testament, 'For I am already being poured out as a drink offering and the time of my departure is at hand, I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.

'Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day. Timothy 4:6.7.8'

The Gilpins were found shot to death on September 29, 2009, in the hallway of Angela's Jefferson City apartment.

Hosier, 69, was pronounced dead at 6:11 p.m. on Tuesday following a single-dose injection of the sedative pentobarbital at the state prison in Bonne Terre

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

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.

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.'

The path was cleared for his execution on Monday after Governor Mike Parson rejected his petition for clemency.

'Ms. Angela Gilpin had her life stolen by David Hosier because he could not accept it when she ended their romantic involvement,' he said.

'He displays no remorse for his senseless violence. 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 citing a lack of remorse

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 was the second inmate to be execute in Missouri this year. Pictured: The death chamber at the Missouri Correctional Center in Bonne Terre, Mo

Hosier has however acknowledged his romantic relationship with Angela.

He was the second inmate to be execute in Missouri this year. Brian Dorsey, 52, was executed by lethal injection in April for killing his cousin and her husband.
An Australian ISIS bride who was charged after she followed her husband to Syria a decade ago has escaped jail time.

Mariam Raad, 32, travelled to Islamic State-contolled Syria in 2014 to join her husband Muhammad Zahab, who was believed to have been a high-ranking member of ISIS.

It is believed Zahab, a former maths teacher, was killed in 2018.

Raad returned to Australia in October 2022 and was arrested three months later following a joint investigation between Australian Federal Police and their NSW counterparts.

She was charged with entering a region controlled by a terrorist organisation, which she pleaded guilty to last month.

Sporting a pink head scarf and flanked by supporters, Raad appeared in Goulburn Local Court in the NSW Southern Highlands for sentencing on Wednesday, where she was discharged conditionally, ABC News reported.

She received no conviction but must display good behaviour for the next 25 months.

Former ISIS bride, Mariam Raad (pictured outside Goulburn Court on Wednesday) was discharged conditionally and must display good behaviour for the next 25-months

Raad now lives on the outskirts of Young in the NSW Riverina region in the state's south.

Her lawyer Rose Khalilizadeh told the court during closing arguments that at the time of the offending, Raad was a 'vulnerable woman in a relationship of coercive control' who was 'conditioned to not question her husband's decision making'.

The court heard that Raad had married her husband when she was 18 and was still at school - 'just as she emerged from childhood'.

Ms Khalilizadeh agreed that her client chose to remain in Syria but said that Raad was isolated in a foreign country with young children.

She added that it couldn't be proven that Raad 'independently wanted or desired to remain in Syria'.

Crown prosecutor Sam Duggan disputed Raad's version of how much knowledge the wife had of her husband's activities.

He told the court that Raad sent text messages to family members while in Syria, saying she would 'never leave' and that she 'cannot leave the land of the caliphate'.

Mr Duggan said the messages, as well as her two attempts to enter Syria, showed that Raad held views favourable to ISIS.

The mother was charged in 2023 for entering a region controlled by a terrorist organisation after Raad followed her husband (pictured with Raad) to ISIS-controlled Syria in 2014

Her lawyer told the court that a psychologist's report found Raad was 'likely experiencing  symptoms of complex PTSD' during the time of her offending, which affected her decision making capabilities.

Ms Khalilizadeh said Raad's time in a Syrian camp had exposed her to 'degrading and inhumane conditions', saying she had been 'essentially incarcerated for years', which wasn't disputed by prosecutors.

Magistrate Geraldine Beattie accepted 'the level of control and influence her husband had over her'.

Ms Beattie said Raad was alone in Syria, 'a female person in a war zone' which 'raises the question: if she wanted to leave, could she have left?'.

The magistrate added that the mother had 'very good prospects of rehabilitation' and 'has demonstrated her contrition'.

Mariam Raad now lives in a family compound (pictured) on the outskirts of Young in the NSW Riverina region

Raad was one of four Australian women and 13 children who returned to Sydney from the Syrian Roj camp in October 2022.

All four women were married to ISIS fighters who either died or are in jail.

In 2021, Raad spoke to the ABC from the notorious Syrian camp, saying she was forced to travel to Syria and didn't know anything about her husband's activities.

'I didn't know my husband was a senior in the Islamic State, and I didn't even know anything about my husband's work,' she said.

Raad was one of four people to date charged with entering a declared area.

Two other cases were still before the courts while the fourth had been withdrawn, an AFP spokesperson said.
A married couple set off to fly to Spain on holiday - only to wake up landing 1,350 miles away from their destination in an airport blunder.

Andrew Gore and wife Victoria were due to spend a week on the Costa Brava with friends and family to celebrate his 47th birthday.

They had booked Ryanair flights to Barcelona, but the couple - who had special assistance tickets - told Simon Calder of the Independent that were instead ushered onto the wrong Ryanair plane, unknowingly kicking off what would be a 2,750 mile, two-day ordeal for the unlucky couple.

The special assistance teams at Bristol Airport took them to the jet before it flew off on its way to Kaunus in Lithuania - very much in the wrong direction for Spain.

Andrew, an amputee, and Victoria, who is autistic, both fell asleep on the flight and woke up to find they were in the wrong country - and not with their family.

Andrew and Victoria had booked Ryanair flights to Barcelona, but the couple - who had special assistance tickets - were instead ushered onto the wrong Ryanair plane, unknowingly kicking off what would be a 2,750 mile, two-day ordeal (shown on a map in red) for the unlucky couple. Green shows their expected journey from Bristol to Barcelona

Andrew Gore and wife Victoria were due to spend a week on the Costa Brava with friends and family to celebrate his 47th birthday, but they ended up 1,300 miles away from their destination after a blunder at the airport resulted in them being put on a plane to Lithuania

'I asked the air hostess if we could sit together as I'm scared of flying,' Victoria, who is also 47, said. 'She checked our boarding pass again and put us in the second row,'

'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.

'We didn't see our family getting on, so asked if they were on board, and were assured they were.

'We had a couple of drinks, then went to sleep as we had been up early. As we landed, it was very clear we were in Lithuania.'

She added: 'I was distraught, and scared. I didn't stop crying. It was my worst nightmare.'

The couple from Mountain Ash, South Wales, had to make a 150-mile Uber journey across the border to Riga, Latvia, so they could then fly onwards to Spain.

The special assistance teams at Bristol Airport (pictured) took them to the jet before it flew off on its way to Kaunus in Lithuania - very much in the wrong direction for Spain

Rather than their chosen destination - Barcelona, the couple woke up to find they were landing in Lithuania - 1,300 miles from their Spanish destination. Pictured: Vilnius, Lithuania (file)

They told the crew and when the pilot was alerted he became 'furious' at the mix up and demanded staff to help them with their onward journey.

But because there were no direct flights between Kaunus and Barcelona they had to make the 150 Uber journey the following day to catch a flight to Spain.

However when they landed in Barcelona they learned their bags had been removed from the original flight because they had not got onboard and had to wait a further two days for luggage.

Victoria said the couple paid more than 1,500 for the package holiday with Sunshine.co.uk and flew on May 25.

Victoria said: 'I've 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. It's unbelievable.'

Ryanair blamed the mix up on ABM who provide special assistance at Bristol Airport.

As there were no flights from Lithuania to Barcelona, the couple had to take an 150-mile Uber trip to Riga in neighbouring Latvia (pictured, file photo) and fly to Spain from there

A spokesperson said: 'These passengers booked special assistance for this flight from Bristol to Barcelona, but the ABM agents boarded them onto the wrong flight to Kaunas despite gate signage clearly displaying the flight's destination.

'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.

'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 ABM's error, and have assured that they will be fully compensated by Bristol Airport.'

Andrew, an amputee, and Victoria, who is autistic, both fell asleep on the flight and woke up to find they were in the wrong country - and not with their family

After their two-day ordeal, the couple finally landed in Barcelona (pictured, file photo)

A spokesperson for Bristol Airport said: 'We've 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.'

An ABM spokesperson commented: 'We understand the importance of delivering special assistance services with care and efficiency; and we recognise the duty of care we have to passengers, as only one part of the complicated airport ecosystem.

'As such, we are conducting a full investigation, working alongside all of our airport partners to understand where operational processes need to be strengthened.'
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Welcome to DailyMail.com's daily U.S. politics blog, with live coverage of the biggest stories from Washington D.C. and around the world.

President Joe Biden landed in Italy on Wednesday night for the G7 summit, 24 hours after son Hunter was found guilty of three federal gun charges.

Follow updates from our reporters in Washington D.C. and Europe.
A Michigan family has been left heartbroken after their three-year-old son died when a tree came crashing into his home during a tornado.

Cooper Drake lost his life on Thursday, a day after an EF1 tornado ravaged through Livonia, about 25 minutes outside of Detroit.

The toddler and his mother, Corrine, both got trapped under the 'massive tree' that uprooted and fell onto the roof of the family home.

The mother and son were in a bedroom near the back of the home when the tree came slamming through, pinning them to the bed. Cooper was pronounced dead at the scene after rescue crews pulled them from under the debris.

Corrine was taken to the hospital in critical condition while the toddler's two-week-old sister, who was also home when the tree fell, survived. It is unclear if the father, Chris, was home when it happened.

Cooper Drake (middle) lost his life on Thursday, a day after an EF1 tornado caused a 'massive tree' to uproot and fall onto his family's home

The mother and son were in a bedroom near the back of the home when the tree (pictured) came slamming through, pinning them to the bed

'Wind like I've never seen before, rain sideways. It was just a mess, lot of damage,' Michael Medlin, a neighbor in the area, told WVLT.

'This neighborhood is a strong neighborhood. People stick together and help each other quite a bit.'

EF1 tornadoes are known to have intense wind speeds of about 86mph to 110mph. They can also cause more structural damage to houses, warehouses, and at times, flip cars, WCNC reported.

Fundraisers have been made to help the distraught family as a GoFundMe page has raised more than $434,000.

'It will be a long and difficult road ahead for this family, both physically and emotionally,' Trisha Thomas, the page organizer, said.

A second fundraiser was set up by the Livonia First Responder Foundation, a local non-profit organization.

Cooper, who was pronounced dead at the scene, enjoyed going to the park, animals, the grocery store, and more than anything he loves being with his family

'The outpouring from the community, the willingness to give and the generosity has been overwhelming,' Kristen Houchins, director of communications for the city of Livonia, said.

An outpouring of support for the family has also been posted on social media as close friends and family remember little Cooper.

Kristen Turk, Corrine's cousin, said in a Facebook post: 'Cooper was such a happy energetic little man, loved his parents so very much, and was our sons very best buddy. He is going to be deeply missed!'

Turk also noted how strong Corrine is and that she 'has a long road of recovery ahead of her.' The mother's current condition is unclear at this time.

'Continue to keep them in your prayers as they continue life dealing with the unthinkable. Fly high and rest easy sweet Cooper,' another person posted.

An obituary for Cooper described him as 'the sweetest, fun-loving boy' that was 'perfection' in his mother and father's eyes.

Cooper loved to try new things, including making sandcastles for his grandmother, spending time with his cousins, or 'sprinting up and down' his grandfather's boat.

Workers remove parts of trees at a home on Hubbard Street after a storm in Livonia, Michigan, Wednesday, June 5, 2024

He also enjoyed going to the park, animals, the grocery store, and more than anything he loves being with his family.

In honor of the three-year-old, his family has requested that guests wear jeans and a t-shirt with one of Cooper's favorite characters on it. He specifically loved the Ninja Turtles, Spiderman and monster trucks.

A visitation is set to be held on Thursday from 2pm, and Cooper's funeral will be held on Friday at the Fred Wood Funeral Home in Livonia.

Last week's disastrous storm also injured five others as officials said that the quick-developing tornado struck through several neighborhoods in the city causing devastation.

In Maryland, five people were left injured after another large tree fell through a family home as one person was left with 'traumatic injuries.'

Injured tornado victims are moved to the front yard of a neighbor's home in Gaithersburg, Maryland

In Maryland, five people were left injured after another large tree fell through a family home. Leaving one person with 'traumatic injuries'

Livonia officials say the city activates sirens based on National Weather Service alerts or tornado sightings.

However, Emergency Preparedness Director Brian Kahn emphasized in a statement that they received no prior warning from the National Weather Service or any other source.

A National Weather Service representative attributed the event to a rapidly forming storm, a 'spin-up,' which developed too quickly to be detected by radar and allow for a timely warning, per city officials.

The National Weather Service in Detroit confirmed on Wednesday night that a tornado with a peak wind speed of 95 mph moved through Livonia.

The agency said the twister traveled a path spanning over 5 miles, uprooting and damaging trees and damaging some houses.
A restaurant in Oregon, a city overrun with homeless encampments, has was named the country's most outstanding restaurant.

Langbaan, one of the first restaurants to serve a Thai tasting menu in America, was honored at the James Beard Foundation Awards ceremony Monday in Chicago's Lyric Opera building.

Portland has struggled with crime and vagrancy in recent years, and has become more well known for their out-of-control homeless and drug crisis rather than their vibrant culinary scene, so the nomination came as a shock to those who thought the establishment would be located in a more well-to-do area.

To win the foundation's Outstanding Restaurant award, a business must consistently deliver exceptional food, create a welcoming atmosphere, provide top-notch hospitality, and contribute meaningfully to the community, according to the foundation.

'This 24-seat restaurant, which channels sort of a Bangkok night market vibe, has been instrumental to introducing Portland to authentic addictive flavors of Thai cooking,' the awards show commentator said. 'Whether it's the bright salads, mouth-numbing larb, complex curries...Langbaan is the most fun you can have in Portland on a night out.'

Langbaan, one of the first restaurants to serve a Thai tasting menu in America, was honored at the James Beard Foundation Awards ceremony Monday in Chicago 's Lyric Opera building.

During his acceptance speech, Langbaan owner Akkapong Ninsom, who locals know as Earl, said he was surprised and honored to have even been nominated, let alone win an award for an establishment he conceptualized a decade ago (Pictured: Langbaan group attend the 2024 James Beard Restaurant and Chef Awards at Lyric Opera Of Chicago)

During his acceptance speech, Langbaan owner Akkapong Ninsom, who locals know as Earl, said he was surprised and honored to have even been nominated, let alone win an award for an establishment he conceptualized a decade ago.

His goal all along was to prove that 'Thai food had much, much more than what Americans had seen,' he said.

The Northwest Portland restaurant changes its menu every two months, rotating between the different regions of Thailand.

'I'm truly hoping that this award doesn't change who we are, to not stop innovating, not settle on just being mediocre, and continue to take care of our guests, and our communities,' he said.

Nimson co-owns several other Thai restaurants in the Portland area, including PaaDee, Hat Yai, Eem, Phuket Cafe and Yaowarat.

He was previously a finalist in the Outstanding Restaurateur category in 2022 and in 2019, his restaurant Eem that uniquely combines Thai flavors with Texas-style smoked meats, was a finalist for the foundations prestigious Best New Restaurant award.

Langbaan, located at 1818 North West 23rd Place, is celebrating its 10th anniversary. Each tasting menu has a flat rate of $125. Reservations are released in one-month blocks.

Over the last few years, Portland has been grappling with a devastating homelessness epidemic, with thousands of people living on the streets, often in make-shift campsites.

Portland has already allocated $27million for three official homeless shelters in a bid to tackle the problem, but drug addicts are reluctant to go clean and move in

When DailyMail.com visited the city back in August, little progress had been made in ending heartbreaking scenes of public drug abuse and destitution.

Portland is more well known for their out-of-control homeless and drug crisis rather than their vibrant culinary scene, which is why it came as a shock to some that Langbaan was named the country's most outstanding restaurant

Prior to 2020, Portland's population had been steadily growing for 15 years. But that year, voters elected to decriminalize possession of hard drugs, including fentanyl, as city sidewalks continue to play host to homeless encampments.

Portland's homeless population jumped 65 per cent from 1,887 to 6,297 between 2015 and 2023, some 5,398 of whom are unsheltered.

Multnomah County plans to create enough shelters for about 2,700 people by the end of next year.
A New Mexico man set himself on fire while trying to torch his ex-girlfriend's home while she and her four children were inside, according to police.

Artemio Sanchez-Ortega, 46, is accused of pouring gasoline all over his ex's Albuquerque home on May 24 and lighting a match, destroying the two vehicles in her driveway.

A neighbor's security footage shows the arsonist pouring the liquid before the flames explode as he is jumping over the fence, trying to flee the scene.

The man becomes engulfed in flames as he runs away from the scene while still on fire.

Artemio Sanchez-Ortega set himself on fire while trying to torch his ex-girlfriend's home while she and her four children were inside, according to police

The arsonist, however, managed to get away from the scene in a pickup truck

He is seen tripping on his feet and falling before running for about a block while his clothes are still on fire.

Neighbor Daniel Provine, whose cameras captured the incident, told KOB4: 'I kind of had to laugh at the sort of amateur hour situation there, if youre going to commit arson, try to do it without setting yourself on fire.'

The victim, who has not been named by police, was watching the entire scene from inside the home in shock, she told the local news outlet.

The vehicles in the victim's driveway were destroyed after the attack

She and her children made it out of the home with no injuries.

The woman told police Sanchez-Ortega had called her three times before the attack and she 'could tell he was drinking.'

The arsonist, however, managed to get away from the scene in a pickup truck.

Police are still looking for Sanchez-Ortega.
Rishi Sunak today insisted he has 'absolutely not' given up on the general election after a senior Tory conceded the party could suffer a huge defeat.

The Prime Minister said he was 'really energised' after outlining 17billion worth of tax cuts in the Conservative manifesto.

Mr Sunak hailed the Tory offer of 'tax cuts at every stage of your life' as he denied there had been a shift in tone from his party.

The PM was quizzed about comments by Defence Secretary Grant Shapps, who earlier urged voters not to hand Labour a 'supermajority'.

The Cabinet minister warned it would be 'very bad news' for the UK if Sir Keir Starmer entered No10 on 5 July with 'unchecked' power.

He added that Britain 'doesn't function well' when political parties enjoy victories similar to the size of Tony Blair's 179-seat majority at the 1997 general election.

Rishi Sunak today insisted he has 'absolutely not' given up on the general election after a senior Tory conceded the party could suffer a huge defeat

The Prime Minister told journalists on the campaign trail he was 'really energised' after outlining 17billion worth of tax cuts in the Conservative manifesto

The PM, pictured at Doncaster station, was quizzed about comments by Defence Secretary Grant Shapps, who earlier urged voters not to hand Labour a 'supermajority'

Mr Shapps's warning had appeared to suggest a shift in Tory strategy ahead of this year's contest on 4 July, as Labour continue to enjoy a sizeable poll lead.

A new social media advert being pushed by the Conservatives has warned that Sir Keir is seeking a 'blank cheque' from voters.

It tells Brits that 'the more votes for Reform, the Liberal Democrats or anyone else will hand Labour 100 extra seats'.

The ad points to a scenario in which Labour could enjoy their largest-ever majority with 490 seats in the House of Commons from a 43 per cent vote share.

Under the same 'predicted outcome', the Lib Dems are on 61 seats from 10 per cent of the vote, and the Tories are on just 57 seats from a 19 per cent vote share - while Reform are not represented by a single MP from an 18 per cent vote share.

Speaking to journalists later on the campaign trail, Mr Sunak was asked whether the change in tone from Mr Shapps showed the Tories had conceded defeat.

The PM replied: 'No absolutely not. What you saw yesterday is we've put a manifesto forward which has got a very clear set of tax cuts for the country, tax cuts at every stage of your life.

'Whether you're working or setting up a small business, tax cuts when you're trying to buy your first home, tax cut for pensioners, and tax cuts for families.

'And I'm really energised to now have a chance to put a very clear plan to the country and talk about all the things I want to do.'

Mr Sunak added that the Conservative manifesto, which he unveiled yesterday, showed a 'clear direction of travel' the Tories would take if they win the election.

The PM also urged voters not to give Labour a 'blank cheque' because 'they're not telling people what they would do with it as he repeated his claim that the party's policies would result in a 2,000 tax hike.

'The choice at the election is pretty clear because Labour are just going to put up your taxes,' he continued. 'And what they're asking people for is a blank cheque.

'They're not telling people what they would do with it, how much it's going to cost them, but I can tell them it's going to cost them 2,094.'

Grant Shapps conceded the Tories could be heading for a huge defeat at the general election as he urged voters not to hand Labour a 'supermajority'

A new social media advert being pushed by the Conservatives has warned that Sir Keir Starmer is seeking a 'blank cheque' from voters

The ad points to a scenario in which Labour could enjoy their largest-ever majority with 490 seats in the House of Commons from a 43 per cent vote share

This morning, Mr Shapps told Times Radio that to ensure proper accountability 'you don't want to have somebody receive a supermajority'.

He said: 'In this case, of course, the concern would be that if Keir Starmer were to go into No 10  it will either be Rishi Sunak or Keir Starmer, there's no other outcomes to this election  and that power was in some way unchecked, it would be very bad news for people in this country.

'A blank-cheque approach, allowing someone to do anything they wanted, particularly when their particular set of plans are so vague, and they say 'change', but you have no idea what they actually want to change to, other than the fact that they've outlined plans which would cost 2,094 to every working family in this country.'

Mr Shapps added: 'It's perfectly legitimate to say the country doesn't function well when you get majorities the size of Blair's or even bigger.

'And we would say there are a lot of very good, hardworking MPs who can hold the government of the day to account and we'd say those are Conservative MPs.'

Labour has disputed the Tory claim that it would need to implement tax rises of 2,094 per household over the course of the next Parliament, with Sir Keir's party hitting back at Conservative 'lies'.
Maine's Acadia National Park has been a sight of wonder for Americans and tourists alike for many years.

Running along the mid-section of the coast, the park is famed for hosting the tallest mountains on the eastern seaboard and acting as a home to diverse plants and animals.

But even with nearly 4 million visitors per year, there are still some well-kept secrets about the Park including its historic name and a hidden cave that can only be visited during low tides.

Here are some lesser-known legends about one of America's most beautiful national parks:

1. Acadia is not is its actual name

This 47,000-acre park was not named 'Acadia' at first. Instead, local legend suggests French-Italian explorer Giovanni de Verrazzano had first named the area as 'Arcadia' - after the Greek gods Hermes and Pan's home in mythology.

Local legend suggests French-Italian explorer Giovanni de Verrazzano had first named the area as 'Arcadia' - after the home to the Greek gods Hermes and Pan in mythology

Over time, new settlers in the area began to drop the 'r' from its name and began to call the park the name we know today.

But other legends around the area suggest that the name 'Acadia' is actually Europeanization of a Wabanaki word from either the Mi'kmaq or Passamaquoddy language.

In Mi'kmaq, the word is 'academ,' which means 'we dwell' or 'led-lacadem,' which means 'where we dwell.' In Passamaquoddy, the word is 'aquoddiauke,' which means 'a place for pollock.'

According to the park's website, the Wabanaki people traveled to this area overland and in seaworthy birchbark canoes and set up temporary camps near places like Somes Sound.

But other legends around the area suggest that the name 'Acadia' is actually Europeanization of a Wabanaki word from either the Mi'kmaq or Passamaquoddy language

Some of the Wabanaki people called Mount Desert Island 'Pemetic' which means 'range of mountains.' This 'naming' was documented by the Wabanaki people guiding French colonizer Samuel de Champlain who first came to Mount Desert Island in 1604.

'Confronted with attempts to displace and erase them by European colonizers starting in the 1500s, Wabanaki people resisted and remained resilient. They shaped the history of their people and the place we now call Acadia National Park in the face of the colonial onslaught of guns, disease and attempted genocide,' the website explains.

2. Somes Sound isnt a true fjord

One of Acadia's most loved spot - Somes Sound has been proven to not be a true fjord by the Maine Geological Survey.

Somes Sound is a long, deep trough down the center of Mount Desert Island, stretching nearly 5 miles from the village of Somesville to the towns of Southwest Harbor and Northeast Harbor at its mouth.

Somes Sound is a long, deep trough down the center of Mount Desert Island, stretching nearly 5 miles from the village of Somesville to the towns of Southwest Harbor and Northeast Harbor at its mouth

Due to its depth, the trough was long known as a fjord but a report by the Geological Survey concluded that the Sound lacked many properties of a true fjord coast like that of Norway.

Although the report also noted that the Sound's seafloor geology revealed that it has experienced a complex history and has some fjord-like aspects.

A fjord is defined as a 'deep, narrow and elongated sea or lake drain, with steep land on three sides. The opening toward the sea is called the mouth of the fjord, and is often shallow. The fjord's inner part is called the sea bottom'.

3. A secret cave that can only be visited during low tide

Anemone Cave, a sea cave located just south of Schooner Head Outlook, a few miles south of Bar Harbor is one of Acadia's most well kept secrets.

The cave, which has now been removed from the park's map, is the largest of the six sea caves located on Mount Desert Island.

Anemone Cave, a sea cave located just south of Schooner Head Outlook, a few miles south of Bar Harbor is one of Acadia's most well kept secrets

Anemone Cave was formed after several thousand years of constant wave action.

At mid-tide the cave entrance is about 35 feet wide and 15 feet high and extends back 60 feet. By high tide, the pools and the cave are awash but the water level is well below the ceiling.

Visitors can only visit Anemone during low tide by walking along the beach.

4. Granite carving at Cadillac mountain

The summit of Cadillac Mountain is one of the most-loved destinations within Acadia National Park.

Local legend suggest that the cross was carved by members of French explorer Samuel de Champlains party when they first came to the area and began colonizing the area

But those who have been able to hike to its very top have reported seeing a cross shape carved into the granite.

Local legend suggest that the cross was carved by members of French explorer Samuel de Champlains party when they first came to the area and began colonizing the area.

But according to the Bangor News Daily, the cross was instead carved by surveyors in sometime around 1908.

The peak was also renamed to Cadillac from its original name, Green Mountain in 1918 to honor Antoine de la Mothe Cadillac, another French explorer.

Antoine is also the same Cadillac for whom the car company was named.
A paedophile who used artificial intelligence to blackmail young girls into sending him nude images has been jailed for a year.

Perverted Neil Darlington, 51, downloaded indecent pictures of children - some as young as three - being raped and abused.

Darlington continued to offend, later engaging in sexual online conversations with two individuals he believed to be schoolgirls in February.

In reality the sex offender, who was posing as a 16-year-old boy under an alias, was chatting to undercover police officers.

He would ask the 'schoolchildren' to send him naked images and used AI technology to alter their clothed images to appear nude when they refused.

Neil Darlington (pictured) of Mayer Avenue, Newcastle has been sentenced to twelve months behind bars after using articifical intelligence to blackmail young girls into sending him nude pictures

The sex offender then blackmailed the 'young girls' to send him real nude photographs.

When they didn't comply he would threaten to send the manipulated pictures to family and friends.

He has now been sentenced to 12 months behind bars at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court.

He was made the subject of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for 10 years and was placed on the sex offenders' register for the same period.

The jury heard how Darlington believed he was chatting to a young girl, 11, from Norwich.

Their discussions quickly escalated into a sexual nature on February 14.

Darlington sent images of his private area and footage of himself performing a sex act to the youngster - unaware the recipient was in fact an undercover officer.

He continued to pressure the child for sexual pictures, however she replied with a fully-clothed image.

In response, the paedophile changed the image using AI to make the child appear naked.

Darlington said: 'How many boys you know would like to see this'? To which she begged him to delete the altered photo.

He then pressured the 'child' to take a naked selfie, and sent a screenshot of him offering to send the AI-altered picture to another individual.

In another online conversation with a separate girl, Darlington claimed to be 25-years-old.

From February 5 to February 12, he also sent the youngster inappropriate pictures of himself and footage of someone performing a sex act.

Mirroring the other incident, he used AI technology to alter the child's images, and threatened to share the picture with family or friends if she did not succumb to his demands.

On February 2022, he was brought into custody for the offences and threatened to take his own life.

Indecent images of children of categories A, B and C were discovered on his phone by police as well pseudo images of children.

The children in the images were between the ages of three and 15, with some showing children as young as three being raped.

Darlington, of Mayer Avenue, Newcastle, pleaded guilty to two charges of blackmail; three charges of making indecent photographs of children; making indecent pseudo images of children; two charges of attempting to cause a child to watch sexual activity; and two charges of attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child.

Robert Holt, defending, said Darlington had never been in trouble prior to the offences.

He told the court: 'There have been a poor run of events in the last 10 years and he became isolated and did not communicate with many people.

'He has fallen into a vicious trap.'

Mr Holt stated the paedophile had been suffering from angina whilst in custody over the weekend and was at high risk of experiencing a stroke.

'The defendant tells me the last four days have been horrific. They have terrified him,' he added.

According to the defence, Darlington had been looking at indecent pictures of children since 2021.

They said his offending heightened over the course of two weeks where he started to participate in chat rooms.

Mr Holt continued: 'He accepts his responsibility for this. His remorse is genuine.'

Police also found indecent images of children of categories A, B and C were discovered on his phone, with pictures showing children as young as three being sexually assaulted

Judge Michael Maher said blackmail is 'one of the ugliest crimes and is rightly regarded by the public with loathing and contempt'.

'Causing a child to watch a sexual act is a precursor to you blackmailing the children for genuine sexual images,' he told the court.

'I regard the blackmail as a serious aggravating feature. In this case you sought to take advantage of the perceived vulnerability of your child victims and you used embarrassment as the leverage to secure genuine sexual images of the children for your perceived sexual gratification.

'Your intention was manifestly clear.

'I regard the blackmail aspect as a serious aggravating feature. This sentencing exercise should have a deterrent aspect to it.

'I cannot impose anything other than a sentence of immediate imprisonment.'
Britain would phase out all nuclear power, ban short domestic flights and introduce a four-day working week while hammering the rich with a new wealth tax under Green Party election plans.

The leftwing party, which has been dogged by anti-Semitism scandals during the campaign, unveiled its manifesto today as it seeks to build on the single seat it has held in the Commons since 2010.

As well as Brighton Pavilion, held by Caroline Lucas since 2010, it is also being tipped to potentially win seats in Bristol and Cambridgeshire.

Co-leaders Adrian Ramsay and Carla Denyer pledged to 'mend broken Britain' by overhauling the tax system at the launch event in Brighton and Hove.

The party also plans to stop 'all new fossil fuel projects' alongside phasing out nuclear generation, making the country totally reliant on renewable power sources.

Short-haul flights would also be banned if the route is covered by a train journey of three hours or less.

The Green manifesto pledges a wealth tax of 1 per cent annually on assets above 10 million and of 2 per cent on assets above 1 billion.

Along with other tax measures - such as removing the upper earning limit that restricts the amount of national insurance paid by high earners - they party estimates it could raise an additional revenue of between 50-70 billion.

Co-leaders Adrian Ramsay and Carla Denyer pledged to 'mend broken Britain' by overhauling the tax system at the launch event in Brighton and Hove.

The leftwing party, which has been dogged by anti-Semitism scandals during the campaign, unveiled its manifesto today as it seeks to build on the single seat it has held in the Commons since 2010.

Helen Miller, deputy director of the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) said: 'The Green Party has set out a vision which would see the size of the state increase on an unprecedented scale: by the end of the next parliament they want to increase taxes by over 170 billion per year to fund a 160 billion boost to day-to-day public service spending.

'They also plan to spend an additional 90 billion a year on capital spending, which would be a particularly big increase. Even taking their figures at face value, overall borrowing would end up around 80 billion a year higher and we could expect debt to be rising throughout the next Parliament.'

At their manifesto launch, Mr Ramsey said the climate crisis has been 'pretty much absent from this election campaign so far'.

He said: 'The other parties are running away from their promises on climate. Only the Greens understand that the solutions to the climate crisis are also the solutions to the cost-of-living crisis.

'The climate crisis is the most serious we face as a global community. Our commitment to you is that protecting our climate and nature lies at the heart of all of our policies.'

The party's proposed a Green Economic Transition plan to upgrade homes across the UK to increase their energy efficiency, which they say will make them warmer and cheaper to run.

The Greens have previously promised to spend 50 billion per year on health and social care by 2030, and to protect the climate for future generations and 'bring nature back to life'.

Ms Denyer said her party would 'overhaul our tax system to make it fairer'.

She added: 'At the heart of this would be a tax on the very richest, the top 1 per cent of people requiring them to pay a bit more into the pot. From the Tories and Labour, we've been hearing a race to the bottom on tax.

'They think two pence off here and a penny off there will impress voters and they think that people won't cotton on that this means even more devastating cuts to public services like the NHS that we rely on every day.'

The Green's currently have just one MP, Ms Lucas, who has represented the Brighton Pavilion constituency since 2010.

Mr Ramsay said the party is 'realistic' that it does 'not expect to form the next government'.

He said: 'When the Conservatives are booted out of Number 10 on July 4 and Labour take over, we plan to be there in parliament in greater numbers to speak up for you on the issues that you care about - like a revitalised NHS, bold action on the climate and a fair economy.

'Because with more Green MPs in parliament, we will push Labour to stop backtracking on their promises.

'We will be there to drive them to be braver, to be more ambitious, not to take timid baby steps towards change but to actually do what's necessary to fix our country and get us back on track.'

Finishing off their speech, he said: 'So this is our offer to voters - a manifesto that lays out exactly what real hope and real change looks like. An ambitious but realistic plan for the future that we can be proud of.'
World Science and Technology Development Forum 2024 launches official website

Global Times) 10:45, June 12, 2024

Photo: Screenshot of WSTDFs official website

The official website for the 2024 World Science and Technology Development Forum (WSTDF) has recently been launched. The bilingual website offers comprehensive information on the forums history, previous events, registration details, and agenda, catering to both domestic and international audiences.

Hosted by the China Association for Science and Technology (CAST) and supported by numerous international organizations such as UNESCO, UNEP, ISC, WFEO, TWAS, AIIB, and AFEO, the WSTDF 2024 is set to take place in Beijing from October 22-24, 2024, with ancillary activities held in cities such as Beijing, Shanghai, and Harbin from October 16-29.

The forum, themed Science and Technology for the Future, aims to convene leading scientists, engineers, educators, entrepreneurs, and policymakers from around the world to share insights, foster cooperation, and address sustainable development issues.

Key segments include sub-forums, international scientific exchanges, and roundtable dialogues. Topics will cover AI governance, interdisciplinary integration, open scientific infrastructure, cross-border collaboration, environmental harmony, and global cooperation opportunities. The forum is expected to attract around 800 participants.

Initiated by CAST in collaboration with the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the WSTDF was first held in 2019 in Beijing. It has since grown into a flagship scientific forum in China and a significant academic event for the international scientific community.

(Web editor: Tian Yi, Liang Jun)
Passengers on board a British Airways flight had to endure nine-hours to 'nowhere' after their plane suffered technical difficulties over Canada and turned back to London.

The Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner was headed to George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston, Texas on Monday but began to experience problems when it reached North America.

This meant the flight left London Heathrow at 9.27am on Monday, and landed again at the same airport at 6.54am the following day  travelling a total of 7779km and spending nine hours and 27 minutes in the air.

It is understood that a regular flight to Houston from London is only about 30 or 40 minutes longer than that.

This meant the flight left London Heathrow at 9.27am on Monday, and landed again at the same airport at 6.54am the following day  travelling a total of 7779km and spending nine hours and 27 minutes in the air

The Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner was headed to George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston, Texas on Monday but began to experience problems when it reached North America (stock)

British Airways later said the turnaround was a precaution due to a 'minor technical issue' and it made the decision to return to London as this where is had the facilities and technicians to examine the aircraft.

A spokesman from British Airways said: 'The flight returned to London Heathrow as a precaution due to a minor technical issue. It landed safely and customers disembarked as normal.

'We've apologised to our customers for the disruption to their journey.'

It has been reported that all passengers were rebooked onto new flights heading for Houston.

The exact cause of the issue was not specified by British Airways, but several outlets reported that it was connected to the aircraft's engines.

This comes after a British Airways plane was forced to make an emergency landing jut weeks ago in Holland after smoke reportedly started filling the cockpit mid-air.

The flight was en route from London to Norwegian city Oslo when the Captain alerted air traffic controllers and told them the plane would need to touch down immediately.

The flight was en route from London to Norwegian city Oslo when the Captain alerted air traffic controllers and told them the plane would need to touch down immediately

Several fire engines and emergency vehicles were sent to the runway at Amsterdam's Schiphol airport where the Airbus A320 with up to 190 people onboard touched down.

Terrified passengers were reportedly told the plane had to land due to 'safety fears' before they were led out the rear door, which was the furthest away from the allegedly smoking cockpit.

Flight BA764 left Heathrow shortly after 5pm yesterday, but the Captain had to issue the distress call just 90 minutes into the flight.

British Airways said in a statement about that incident: 'This aircraft was diverted into Amsterdam Schiphol Airport as a precaution following a minor technical issue onboard.

'We've apologised to our customers for the disruption to their travel plans.'
Kevin Spacey has confirmed that he was once on a plane with convicted pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, former President Bill Clinton and a group of 'young girls'.

Spacey, during an interview on Piers Morgan Uncensored published Tuesday, admitted that he flew to Africa on Epstein's Lolita Express in 2002 for an eight-day humanitarian mission.

However, the two-time Oscar winner denied spending any time with Epstein while on the trip, alleging he was primarily working with the 'Clinton Foundation people'.

He also claimed that Epstein made him feel uncomfortable and that he felt the billionaire 'put the president at risk' because there were 'young girls on those flights'.

The conversation with Morgan comes as the actor is selling his home at auction to settle legal bills following allegations of sexual misconduct made against him.

Spacey, known for the hit Netflix series House of Cards along with the award-winning 90s romcom American Beauty, was found not guilty during a London trial after being accused of sexual offences.

Kevin Spacey, during an interview on Piers Morgan Uncensored published Tuesday, confirmed that he was once on a plane with convicted pedophile Jeffrey Epstein , former President Bill Clinton and a group of 'young girls'

Spcaey admitted that he flew to Africa on Epstein's Lolita Express in 2002 for an eight-day humanitarian mission. But he denied spending any time with Epstein while on the trip, alleging he was primarily working with the 'Clinton Foundation people'. Spacey is pictured with Bill Clinton in Hollywood, California in November 2014

The Unusual Suspects star, 64, addressed his alleged connection to Epstein on Morgan's controversial YouTube program, in an episode uploaded Tuesday.

He explained that Clinton had invited him on a humanitarian mission in South Africa aimed at raising awareness for HIV and AIDS.

He told Morgan: '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 said that he has 'since learned who [Epstein] is' and that the 'airplane that we flew on for this humanitarian mission was owned by Jeffrey Epstein'.

But Spacey reaffirmed, 'I didn't know him. I have never spent any time with him.'

He said he was working with the Clinton Foundation during the trip, but also alleged that Epstein - whom he claims he did not know - made him feel uneasy.

'I didn't 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,' he recalled. 'We were like, "Who is this guy?"'

Morgan, responding to Spacey's remark, questioned again if they were 'young girls on those flights?'

'There were young girls on those flights, yeah,' the actor replied, without further elaborating.

Spacey, during the interview, claimed that Epstein made him feel uncomfortable and that he felt the billionaire 'put the president at risk' because there were 'young girls on those flights'. Pictured together are Jeffrey Epstein and Bill Clinton

Ghislaine Maxwell and Jeffrey Epstein are pictured together on his Lolita Express plane

After the allegations about Epstein's sex trafficking ring were made public, reports surfaced alleging that Spacey had visited Epstein's Caribbean island, Little St James.

Spacey, in his interview with Morgan, denied ever travelling to the island and said: 'There's 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 somebody's island.'

He also addressed a controversial photograph in which he and Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell are sitting on thrones at Buckingham Palace.

He said the picture was taken after the humanitarian trip, detailing how Clinton had been invited to London by then Prime Minister Tony Blair to speak at a Labour Party conference.

'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?" Spacey recalled, adding: 'I said, "Sure."'

'This Maxwell woman, she was one of many people to sit down next to me in that throne room,' he added.

'I have no relationship with her. I had no relationship with [Epstein]. I mean he's not my friend. I am not a confidant. I've never spent time with him.'

Jeffrey Epstein killed himself in his cell at the Metropolitan Correctional Center in lower Manhattan in August 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges

Also in the interview, Spacey offered some insight into how he is living at the moment, including how his home is being sold at auction.

He shared: '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 I'm not quite sure where I'm going to live now, but I've been in Baltimore... since we started shooting House of Cards there... I moved there in 2012.'

When asked why, he replied saying: 'I can't pay the bills that I owe.

'A couple of times when I thought I was going to file (for bankruptcy), but we've 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 Netflix's House of Cards when the 2017 allegations emerged during the show's 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.

Spacy last year was acquitted at Southwark Crown Court after being accused of sexually assaulting four men in the period between 2001 and 2013. He is pictured outside Southwark Crown Court in London on July 26, 2023

He has always denied any criminal wrongdoing, and misconduct allegations. But Spacey admitted to Morgan he had been 'pushing the boundaries'.

When asked how, he said: 'Being too handsy, touching someone sexually in a way that I didn't know at the time they didn't want.'

'I have caressed people, I have been gentle with people, that is the way that I am,' he added in response to accusations.

'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.'

He added: 'They should let you know they don't want to do it so that you can understand it's non-consensual and stop.'

The actor also denied fresh claims of inappropriate behavior that were aired in a Channel 4 documentary titled Spacey Unmasked, which he criticized.

A spokesperson for Channel 4 previously said: 'Spacey Unmasked is an important film exploring the balance of power and inappropriate behavior in a work environment, aiming to give a voice to those who have previously been unable to speak out.'

Spacey's 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. He is pictured in the 1999 film American Beauty

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.

Spacey's 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.
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More than 1.5million Muslim pilgrims have arrived in Mecca ahead of the start of the Hajj later this week, with more worshippers set to join, according to Saudi officials.

Hundreds of thousands of Saudis and others living in Saudi Arabia will also join them when the pilgrimage officially begins on Friday.

One of the world's largest religious gatherings, the Hajj is one of the Five Pillars of Islam.

All Muslims are required to undertake the annual voyage at least once in their lives if they are physically and financially able to do so.

Those partaking in the Hajj view the pilgrimage as an opportunity to strengthen their faith, wipe out old sins and start new.

An aerial view shows Muslims coming from all over the world to the holy land continue their prayers to fulfill the Hajj pilgrimage as they circumambulate and pray at the Kaaba in Mecca, Saudi Arabia

Muslim worshippers walk at the Grand Mosque in Saudi Arabia's holy city of Mecca

Muslim pilgrims can be seen arriving in Saudi Arabia's holy city of Mecca on Tuesday

Saudi officials have said they expect the number of pilgrims this year to exceed 2023, when more than 1.8million people performed Hajj, which was slightly lower than the pre-pandemic level of 2.4million in 2019.

Saudi authorities control the flow of pilgrims through quotas, allowing each country one pilgrim for every thousand Muslim citizens.

The pilgrims included 4,200 Palestinians from the occupied West Bank who arrived in Mecca earlier this month, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Awqaf and Religious Affairs.

Palestinians in the Gaza Strip were not able to travel to Saudi Arabia for Hajj this year, due to the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas.

Ibrahim al-Hadhari, an Algerian pilgrim, said: 'We are praying for Palestine to be free and (for Palestinians) to liberate their land and to be like other nations, to live in peace and not always to have war'.

On Tuesday, pilgrims thronged the Grand Mosque in Mecca, performing a ritual circuit walking seven times around the Kaaba, the cube-shaped structure inside the mosque that is considered Islam's holiest site.

They wore ihrams, two unstitched sheets of white cloth that resemble a shroud.

Many were seen sweated heavily from the burning sun as temperatures reached 42C and 45C on Tuesday and Wednesday respectively.

'I was relieved when I arrived at the Al-Masjid Al-Haram and saw the Kaaba,' said Rabeia al-Raghi, a Moroccan woman who came to Mecca for Hajj along with her husband and their daughter. 'I am very happy.'

Muslim pilgrims circumambulate the Kaaba, the cubic building at the Grand Mosque in Mecca

The Kaaba is photographed here as night falls over the Saudi city of Mecca

Muslim pilgrims arrive to offer prayers at the Grand Mosque

Muslims from all over the world worship, reciting the Holy Quran, and circumambulate around the Kaaba on Friday June 7

Muslim pilgrims visit the al-Noor Mountain (Jabal al-Nour) where the Cave of Hira is located and where Prophet Muhammad received the first revelation, making it one of the most visited holy sites by Muslims

Prospective pilgrims are seen as they engage in acts worship to fulfill the Hajj pilgrimage in Mecca

A general view of a street in Mecca as the sun beats down on the city - as temperatures reached 42C and 45C on Tuesday and Wednesday respectively

Muslim pilgrims wait to pass through immigration after they arrive for the annual Muslim pilgrimage in Mecca, at Jeddah International Airport

A view of Mecca as Muslim pilgrims visit the al-Noor Mountain

Muslims from all over the world visit Jabal ar-Rahmah (Mount of Mercy), located about 20 kilometres south-west of Mecca

Muslims from all over the world worship and circumambulate around the Kaaba to fulfill the Hajj pilgrimage

Pilgrim buses line up to transport worshippers to the centre of Mecca following their arrival in the city

Abdel-Baset, an Iraqi pilgrim from Baghdad who works as a lawyer, added: 'We congratulate the great crowd and thank God for gathering us from all regions, globally and not from the Arab world only, from all the global Muslim regions [who] came to the Grand Mosque'.

On Tuesday night, the vast marble court around the Kaaba was packed with the faithful, walking nearly shoulder to shoulder and often jostling with barricades set up by security forces to direct crowds in and around the Grand Mosque.

Pilgrims partake in the walk, known as 'Tawaf' in Arabic, upon arriving in Mecca - with the large crowds to continue circling the Kaaba into the first day of Hajj.

On Friday, pilgrims will move to the Mountain of Arafat for a daylong vigil, then to Muzdalifah, a rocky plain area a few miles away.

In Muzdalifa, pilgrims collect pebbles to be used in the symbolic stoning of pillars representing the devil back in Mina.

A man holds a sacrificial animal put on sale at a local cattle market ahead of the Muslim festival Eid Al-Adha, which is held to mark the Hajj each year

A vendor rests at a sacrificial animal market ahead of Eid Al-Adha, in Peshawar, Pakistan on Wednesday

Traders display their cows and goat for sale at Sibreh animal market ahead of Eid al-Adha in Sibreh, Indonesia on Wednesday
California is home to three of the most polluted beaches in the country, according to a new report.

The Surfrider Foundation tested thousands of water samples across the nation, with Imperial Beach in San Diego coming out as the worst.

As part of the group's survey, they also found that 64 percent of the 567 sites tested had at least one sample with unsafe bacteria levels.

A quarter of the samples came from sites in California, with three beaches in The Golden State among the ten most polluted.

Every sample recovered from Imperial Beach turned up bacteria counts that exceeded the state's health standard for recreational waters.

According to new findings by the Surfrider Foundation which tested thousands of water samples across the nation Imperial Beach in San Diego, seen here, was the worst

More than 100 billion gallons of untreated wastewater have flowed through Mexico 's Tijuana River and into the Pacific Ocean, eventually reaching the coastal town

The beach has been closed for over two years due to toxic untreated water from the Tijuana River Watershed flowing into the Pacific Ocean before reaching the town.

Local Mayor Paloma Aguirre has urged Governor Gavin Newsom to declare a state of emergency.

She told the LA Times: 'People in my community are getting sick left and right.

'We cannot afford to continue to punt the responsibility across the border because we have a dire situation here on United States soil, on California soil, that is harming California constituents.'

Residents living near the beach say they are experiencing health issues as a result of the cross-border sewage problem.

In March, resident Shannon Johnson, who has lived a few blocks from the beach since 2010, said that her and her kids don't step foot on the sand anymore.

Johnson told CBS: ''Every time we go by the beach they're asking, 'Is it going to be clean? When are they going to fix it?'

In letters from community members calling for action, one resident said the smell is 'akin to being trapped in a portable toilet,' so strong that it wakes them up at night

Despite Imperial Beach seeing over 700 consecutive days of beach closures, residents continue to endure the daily effects of pollution.

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Johnson mentioned that her young children have also been exposed to the foul smell, as they attend school near the river valley.

'They're like, 'Why is it so smelly? Is it safe?' I'm like, yeah, I guess so. What am I supposed to tell them?' she said.

Herself, having suffered two unexplained pulmonary embolisms and other health issues, said, 'In the back of my mind, I wonder if it has something to do with the air that I'm breathing.'

According to a study by San Diego State University, heavy metals, toxic chemicals, and bacteria detected in the water are being released into the air and lingering in the soils.

'I'm more frustrated than ever since we found out that it goes into the air. So it's not just the water,' another resident told CBS.

In letters from community members calling for action, one resident said the smell is 'akin to being trapped in a portable toilet,' so strong that it wakes them up at night.

The other heavily polluted California locations are Linda Mar Beach in Pacifica, where the survey found more than half the samples had unsafe bacteria levels.

The mouth of the San Luis Obispo Creek, in San Luis Obispo, saw 35 percent of samples yield high bacteria levels.

Mara Dias, the foundation's senior manager for the Clean Water Initiative, told the Times: 'Any creek that flows through an urban area is certainly going to be susceptible to similar sources of pollution, road runoff, sewage infrastructure issues, pet waste that isn't picked up properly.

Local Mayor Paloma Aguirre has urged Governor Gavin Newsom to declare a state of emergency

'It's when they discharge at the ocean where people are recreating, that's where it's particularly problematic.'

Typically ocean water tends to be clean except after it rains when runoff and stormwater end up at the beach.

Dias advised beachgoers to avoid going into waters 72 hours after it rains in California, to pay attention to pollution advisories, and to rinse off after swimming.
A New Zealand national has admitted to planning a violent robbery at a massage parlour and tying up two workers during the terrifying incident.

James Garner Daniel and Damien Charles Kleidon pleaded guilty to a string of offences in relation to the break-in at a Thai massage parlour, in Oxenford, on the Gold Coast, on July 1 last year.

Daniel, 39, a New Zealand national and Kleidon, 36, were sentenced in Southport District Court on Wednesday after they both pleaded to one count each of armed robbery in company, attempted robbery in company and two counts of deprivation of liberty.

Daniel also pleaded guilty to one count each of stealing, wilful damage and unlawful entry.

The court heard that the pair tried to enter the massage parlour but were confronted by two female workers.

Armed with a fake gun, Daniel ordered the women to hand over money and their phones, the Gold Coast Bulletin reported.

Two men have been sentenced over the violent armed robbery of a Thai massage parlour in Oxenford on the Gold Coast last July. Pictured are police at the scene

CCTV from the massage parlour showed the two men fleeing the scene after the robbery

'If you don't do what we say I will shoot you,' Daniel told the women.

The court heard that one worker gave Daniel $300 cash, before he snatched her handbag when she refused to hand over her phone.

The other worker gave the men her phone but she didn't have any money as she attempted to hide her car keys.

The court heard that Kleidon spotted a CCTV camera, which he 'rendered it useless'

Daniel then pointed the fake gun at the women and ordered them to put their hands behind their backs.

He then used cable ties to tie their hands and led the women to a massage room, where they blocked from leaving.

Two female workers at the Thai massage parlour had their hands tied behind their backs with cable ties during the terrifying ordeal. Pictured are police at the crime scene

The court heard that Daniel found car keys that belonged to one of the women on a sofa and demanded her to give him the pin to unlock her phone.

He smashed the phone and ransacked her car after she refused to give him the code.

The two women eventually managed to escape from the room before Daniel and Kleidon fled the scene in a white hatchback.

Police who arrived at the scene a short time later and arrested the two men three days later.

The court heard that Daniel confessed to the crime while being questioned by police and that he thought of the idea to rob the massage parlour, after 'drinking a lot'.

He told police that he needed the money and that he and Kleidon were living in his car.

Damien Charles Kleidon (pictured) and his co-accused James Garner Daniel were jailed after they pleaded guilty to a string of offences

Kleidon told police he agreed to Daniel's plan to rob the premises 'to make sure nothing bad happened'.

The court also heard that Daniel turned to drugs and alcohol following the deaths of his son and then his mother, who died a week before the robbery.

Daniel was sentenced to five years behind bars but could be eligible for parole in May 2025.

Kleidon was jailed for three years but could be granted parole within weeks.
This is the shocking moment a businessman was kidnapped at gunpoint, before he managed to escape from his captors by jumping out of the ambulance they used in the abduction.

The victim, 33, was seen on a surveillance video stepping out of an SUV and removing a backpack when the kidnappers pulled over in their vehicle outside a building in Bogota, the capital of Colombia, on Saturday.

One of the abductors pointed his gun and tried to grab the businessman, who attempted to fight off the suspect.

Another suspect can be seen running out of a red vehicle and attacking the victim until they were able to push him inside the ambulance.

The vehicle took off as horrified bystanders looked on, while a person approached the businessman's companion. In the background, the red car is seen fleeing in the opposite direction.

One of the kidnappers points his weapon at the businessman moments before one of his accomplices helped him force the victim into the ambulance in Bogota, Colombia, on Saturday

A 33-year-old businessman was able to escape from his kidnappers by jumping out of the ambulance they used to carry out the abduction Saturday in Bogota, the Colombian capital. The victim told police that he had not received any threats prior to the incident

A separate security camera shows the ambulance turning the corner and speeding down a street - just seconds before the businessman somehow jumped out.

The getaway driver immediately hit the breaks as the businessman was lying on the pavement and got up and took off running.

At least two of the suspects stepped out of the ambulance while one of them appeared to search for something on the ground and then got back on and fled.

A police report obtained by El Tiempo newspaper indicated that the businessman, who specializes in real estate, had never received any threats and that the kidnappers had been following his movements.

A businessman specializing in real estate is seen standing near his SUV (bottom right) while the ambulance (top right) used by kidnappers approaches him

At least nine kidnappings have been reported in Bogota this year

The Bogota health department said in a statement Tuesday that the ambulance used by the kidnappers had been out of service since May 2 due to mechanical issues.

'The agency will continue to collaborate with the appropriate authorities to clarify these unfortunate events,' the health department said.

The suspects remained at large as of Wednesday. The ambulance is still missing.

At least nine kidnappings have been reported in Bogota this year.
A UN investigation concluded on Wednesday that Israel has committed crimes against humanity during the war in Gaza, including that of 'extermination', while saying Israeli and Palestinian armed groups have both committed war crimes.

The independent Commission of Inquiry's report - the United Nations' first in-depth investigation into the events of the war that erupted on October 7 - found that Israeli troops have conducted 'a widespread or systematic attack directed against the civilian population in Gaza'.

'The commission found that the crimes against humanity of extermination; murder; gender persecution targeting Palestinian men and boys; forcible transfer; and torture and inhuman and cruel treatment were committed,' it added.

The report noted Israel had committed various war crimes and crimes against humanity as well as violations of international humanitarian law (IHL) and international human rights law (IHRL).

But Israeli officials immediately rejected the conclusions by accusing the UN commission of 'systematic anti-Israeli discrimination'.

A Palestinian boy checks debris around a pool of blood at a UN-school housing displaced people that was hit during Israeli bombardment in Nuseirat, in the central Gaza Strip, on June 6, 2024

A ball of fire and black smoke rises moments after an Israeli air strike targeted a residential building in the city of Bureij in the central Gaza Strip on June 3, 2024

Palestinian men walk along a narrow street past destroyed buildings in Khan Yunis, in the southern Gaza Strip on June 11, 2024

Palestinians check a UN-school housing displaced people that was hit during Israeli bombardment in Nuseirat, in the central Gaza Strip, on June 6, 2024

A woman holds the hand of a boy killed in an Israeli airstrike at a UN school housing displaced Palestinians in Nuseirat, at a hospital ground in Deir el-Balah, on June 6, 2024

Palestinians transport some salvaged belongings as they leave the Jabalia refugee camp in the northern Gaza Strip after they returned briefly to check on their homes on May 31, 2024

Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu

The Gaza war broke out after Hamas's unprecedented October 7 attack resulted in the deaths of almost 1,200 people.

The commission found that in that attack, members of the military wings of Hamas and other Palestinian armed groups and Palestinian civilians committed war crimes, as well as violations and abuses of IHL and IHRL.

Militants seized 251 hostages, of which 116 remain in Gaza, though the Israeli army says 41 of them are dead.

The Israeli army in response launched a devastating offensive on the Gaza Strip that has left more than 37,000 people dead, the majority of them civilians, according to the Hamas-ruled territory's health ministry.

Although the investigation harshly condemned the Israeli crimes, a parallel report also concluded that members of Hamas, other Palestinian armed groups and civilians participating in the October 7 attack 'deliberately killed, injured, mistreated, took hostages and committed sexual and gender-based violence'.

These acts, committed against civilians and members of the Israeli security forces, 'constitute war crimes and violations and abuses of IHL and IHRL', it said.

The commission further said it found 'significant evidence on the desecration of corpses, including sexualised desecration, decapitations, lacerations, burning, severing of body parts and undressing'.

'Women were subjected to gender-based violence during the course of their execution or abduction. Women and women's bodies were used as victory trophies by male perpetrators.'

Many children who witnessed their relatives being killed were 'also filmed for propaganda purposes', with the commission finding it 'particularly egregious that children were targeted for abduction'.

The report said Israeli authorities 'failed to protect civilians in southern Israel on almost every front'.

Smoke billows following Israeli bombardment in Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip, on May 25, 2024, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas

Palestinians evacuate bodies found in the rubble in the Tal Al-Hawa neighbourhood in southern Gaza City on June 5, 2024, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas

A Palestinian girl watches as others check a UN-school housing displaced people that was hit during Israeli bombardment in Nuseirat, in the central Gaza Strip, on June 6, 2024

A man mourns by the body of a relative reportedly killed in an Israeli strike on the western Rimal neighbourhood, at Al-Ahli hospital in Gaza City's al-Zaitoun neighbourhood on June 5, 2024

A woman looks at newly dug graves for the victims of the October 7th attack during the funeral of Albert Miles, 80, who was killed in his home in Kibbutz Beeri in the deadly infiltration of Israel by Hamas gunmen from the Gaza Strip, at the cemetery in Kibbutz Revivim, in southern Israel, October 30, 2023

October 11, 2023 - Kfar Aza, Israel: Soldiers crying at the sight of a family dining table

Members of Army rescue and ZAKA crews search for bodies and body parts after the Hamas and Palestinians militants attack on the Kibbutz on October 22, 2023 in Be'eri, Israel

Relatives and supporters of Israelis taken hostage by Palestinian militants in Gaza in the October 7 attacks, demonstrate calling for their release in the central city of Tel Aviv on June 8, 2024

Palestinians inspect a vehicle with the logo of the World Central Kitchen wrecked by an Israeli airstrike in Deir al Balah, Gaza Strip, April 2, 2024

People inspect the site where World Central Kitchen workers were killed in Deir al-Balah, Gaza Strip, April 2, 2024

Yahya Sinwar, head of Hamas in Gaza, greets his supporters during a meeting with leaders of Palestinian factions at his office in Gaza City, Wednesday, April 13, 2022

Israel Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant makes a joint statement with his U.S. counterpart, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, after their meeting about Israel's military operation in Gaza, in Tel Aviv, Israel, on Dec. 18, 2023

The UN investigation also found the Israeli authorities 'responsible for the war crimes of starvation as a method of warfare, murder or wilful killing, intentionally directing attacks against civilians and civilian objects, forcible transfer, sexual violence, torture and inhuman or cruel treatment, arbitrary detention and outrages upon personal dignity'.

Starvation will affect the Gaza population, particularly children, 'for decades to come', the report said, while 'the siege it imposed... constitutes collective punishment and reprisal against the civilian population, both of which are clear violations of IHL.'

In the West Bank, the commission found that Israeli forces committed acts of sexual violence, torture and inhuman or cruel treatment and outrages upon personal dignity, 'all of which are war crimes'.

Israel's government and forces 'permitted, fostered and instigated a campaign of settler violence against Palestinian communities' in the territory, the commission added.

The report is based on interviews with victims and witnesses conducted remotely, and in Turkey and Egypt, and through studying thousands of verified open-source items, satellite imagery and forensic medical reports, the commission said.

'Israel obstructed the commission's investigations and prevented its access to Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory,' it added.

The report is due to be presented to the UN Human Rights Council next week.

The unprecedented Commission of Inquiry was established by the UN Human Rights Council in May 2021 to investigate alleged violations of IHL and IHRL in Israel and the Palestinian territories, but since October 7 has been almost fully focused on the Gaza war.

'It is imperative that all those who have committed crimes be held accountable,' said the commission's chair Navi Pillay, a former UN rights chief and an ex-International Criminal Court judge.

'Israel must immediately stop its military operations and attacks in Gaza.

'Hamas and Palestinian armed groups must immediately cease rocket attacks and release all hostages. The taking of hostages constitutes a war crime.'

Palestinians look at the destruction after an Israeli strike where displaced people were staying in Rafah, Gaza Strip, Monday, May 27, 2024

Palestinian kids walk among the debris of buildings collapsed by Israeli attacks after the withdrawal of the Israeli army from the Bureij refugee camp in Gaza City, Gaza on June 12, 2024

Palestinians look at the aftermath of the Israeli bombing in Nuseirat refugee camp, Gaza Strip, on June 8, 2024

Yossi Cohen, who until 2021 was the chief of the Mossad, allegedly tried to intimidate an International Criminal Court prosecutor into abandoning a war crimes investigation

Former ICC prosecutor Fatou Bensouda in 2015 launched a preliminary examination of crimes in Gaza, the West Bank and East Jerusalem and opened a formal investigation in 2021

The commission's findings come weeks after it was revealed that the former head of Israel's national intelligence agency allegedly tried to intimidate an International Criminal Court prosecutor into abandoning a war crimes investigation.

Yossi Cohen, who until 2021 was the chief of the Mossad and a close ally of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, reportedly embarked on a years-long campaign of threat-making and 'stalker' behaviour toward Fatou Bensouda.

The Gambian-born prosecutor in 2015 launched a preliminary examination of crimes in Gaza, the West Bank and East Jerusalem by Israeli military and settlers.

But Cohen is said to have told Bensouda shortly after the investigations began: 'You should help us and let us take care of you. You don't want to be getting into things that could compromise your security or that of your family.'

Sources who spoke to The Guardian went on to describe 'despicable tactics' employed by Cohen - who was said to be working as Netanyahu's 'unofficial messenger' - in his underhand efforts to influence the prosecutor.

One described compared his behaviour to that of a stalker, while another said Cohen arranged to have spies obtain secret recordings of Bensouda's husband and take photographs of the pair on a trip to London, which he later used to insinuate her family could be in danger.
A Florida lawyer has been accused of helping a mom try to steal a home from her son using forged documents amid a dramatic family feud.

Ashley Morin, 28, was arrested on Monday after Ryan Shrouder claimed she had aided his mother Suzanne Corcoran, who has also been charged over the alleged fraud.

He told police Morin managed to steal his signature stamp before his mom used it to sign off on a deed transferring his share of the $540,000 home to her, before registering the document.

Shrouder is commissioner for the City of Cooper and previously employed Morin, according to court filings.

'The signature stamp on the deed is identical to his signature stamp, showing that Corcoran may have taken it or replicated it from another document,' the probable cause affidavit states.

Florida lawyer Ashley Morin, 28, has been accused of helping a mom to steal a home from her son using forged documents amid a dramatic family feud

'Ryan emphasized that he never uses his signature stamp for essential papers like wills, power of attorney documents or deeds'.

Morin was overheard telling his mom on the phone that Shrouder has two stamps and would not notice one was missing, a witness told police.

The attorney picked up Corcoran and driven her to various post offices attempting to notarize the deed, finally succeeding at a UPS according to the filings.

She is then said to have produced an original copy of the deed to local government staff to enable it to be registered.

Shrouder told Broward County Sheriff Detective Robert Feick he had been financially supporting his mother for the last ten years, but their relationship had become 'tumultuous'.

He stated that his mother could sometimes experience 'severe instability' leading to 'self destructive' behaviors which had recently prompted him to revoke her use of credit cards and take back a vehicle he loaned her.

'Since the day he took these actions, Ryan asserts the Corcoran's erratic conduct has escalated,' the documents state.

He accused his mom of making up lies that he and his wife Samantha, a doctor who had just set up her own telemedicine clinic, were using Ozempic.

Shrouder (left) is commissioner for the City of Cooper and previously employed Morin, according to court filings

Morin, 28, was arrested on Monday after Ryan Shrouder claimed she had aided his mother Suzanne Corcoran (pictured) who has also been charged over the alleged fraud

The situation came to a head in May last year when Shrouder was on vacation in Spain.

The trip was due to coincide with Morin's last day in his office, which is when he claims she would have had an opportunity to steal his stamp.

Text messages included in the court docs show Shrouder confronting his mom about how the deed got signed in his name and her calling him a 'desperate little boty' and accusing him of being on 'bad drugs'.

'It's unfortunate how self-destructive your behavior has escalated to,' Shrouder replied.

'You're obviously not well and I wish you the best of luck and I'm going to allow the appropriate professionals to sort this mess out.'

Corcoran's Facebook page lists her as a former deputy at Broward County Sheriff's Office who studied criminal justice in college.

He told police Morin managed to steal his signature stamp and used it to sign off on a deed transferring his share of this $540,000 home to Corcoran, before registering the document

She and Morin have been charged with first-degree grand theft, filing false documents against property and criminal use of personal identification information. Corcoran has pleaded not guilty.

Morin also denied taking the stamp to Feick and declined further questioning after asked whether she had driven Corcoran around.

The Florida Bar website states she works at Shendell & Pollock in Boca Raton, however no trace of her can now be found on their website.

Shrouder is also suing the notary public who notarized the deed, according to court filings.

He said he is, 'disheartened and hurt over this entire situation', and directed further inquiry to the Broward State's Attorney.

DailyMail.com has contacted Morin and Corcoran for comment.
A woman was arrested and branded a 'Karen' after publicly berating a mother in a Mexican restaurant after her baby made some noise.

In a series of TikToks video that have racked up more than 11 million views, a user named Madi shared a disturbing encounter with a 50-year-old woman she said she got in a fist fight with after she was screamed at about her child.

The confrontation took place at Jalapeno Grill, a Mexican restaurant located in Mississippi.

In one video, a group of customers rallied behind Madi, putting themselves between the young mother and the unhinged woman, telling the fuming woman to calm down.

The woman then erupts, violently screaming at the surrounding customers, 'then don't bring your f*cking baby to a f*cking restaurant.'

In a series of TikToks video that have racked up more than 11 million views, a user named Madi shares a disturbing encounter with a 50-year-old woman (pictured left) she said she got in a fist fight with after she was screamed at about her child

A group of customers rallied behind Madi, putting themselves between the young mother and the unhinged woman, telling the fuming woman to calm down. The woman then erupts, violently screaming at the surrounding customers, 'then don't bring your f*cking baby to a f*cking restaurant'

She continues her tirade, complaining that she and other patrons can hear the baby from the other side of the restaurant.

'People at my tables and tables next to me couldn't hear me talking,' the woman said aggressively to one of the men, to which he replied 'we never even heard the baby over there.'

Before the situation could escalate any further, security officers entered the restaurant. They ordered all customers to get their food to go and vacate the premises, but the woman continued to cause a scene.

Having had enough, the officer shouts 'STOP' at her, immediately quieting her down. 'If we stay, people are going to jail,' the officer said firmly.

The woman then called Madi a 'f*cking wh*re' and flipped her off before she was arrested and escorted out of the restaurant by security.

The internet was quick to come to Madi's defense, sharing their beliefs that the woman was out of line.

'I didnt even hear the baby once during all this,' one user commented.

'She's the freaking baby,' chimed another, referring to the wojman who was arrested.

'If you go out to eat its common courtesy to accept and expect that there might be some kind of distraction. If you wanna have a quiet conversation, invite your friend to your house,' said another user.

In a follow up video, Madi said she didn't know any of the customers who stood up for her and protected her during the incident.

She clarified that her baby was not crying the whole time, and if in fact that was the case, she would have left the restaurant on her own accord.

Madi said she was at dinner with her mother, who had taken a pen from her son, which prompted him to make some noise.

Once she heard the rude remarks from the woman, she stood up and ran to the wrong table and asked who made the comment about her son.

The confrontation took place at Jalapeno Grill, a Mexican restaurant located in Mississippi

Before the situation could escalate any further, security officers entered the restaurant. They ordered all customers to get their food to go and vacate the premises, but the woman continued to cause a scene

The table then directed her to the group of people next to them, where Madi said the woman 'was literally hiding in her cubby like a scared little puppy.'

She said the woman pushed her first, which Madi took as a 'green light' to stand up for herself.

At the end of the video, Madi posted the woman's mugshot. She did not release the woman's name.
A Florida council meeting erupted in laughter after a very inappropriate comment was blasted across speakers as a middle-aged woman stepped up to the mic.

The bizarre moment happened on Tuesday during a Seminole County Board of County Commissioners meeting in the city of Sanford.

Before the meeting started, the chairman, Jay Zembower reminded those in attendance to silence their cell phones.

About halfway through the hour meeting, Zembower introduced Community Service Director Allison Thall to the podium to discuss the affordable housing annual report.

During a Seminole County Board of County Commissioners meeting on Tuesday, Community Service Director Allison Thall (left) was brutally interrupted by an inappropriate recorded comment

As Thall, 61, prepared her presentation and introduced herself, a robotic male voice played out and said: 'Older women are often perceived as difficult to turn on.'

The embarrassing moment which appears to have come from a commissioner on the board, begins with Thall stepping up to the podium saying: 'Good morning commissioners, thank you.'

'Let me make sure I'm going in the right direction here,' she says as she fiddles with a small black remote in her hand and looks toward a screen.

After she gets herself situated, the director introduces herself, saying: 'For the record, Allison Thall, community services director-'

She is soon cut off by the random recording as Thall's face turns serious before she and others start laughing.

One woman screams: 'Whatttt? Say what???'

Thall continues to chuckle as she asks: 'Are you talking about me?'

Audience members are seen laughing and talking about the shocking moment amongst themselves before Commissioner Lee Constantine looks at Thall and says: 'That was a good presentation!'

As Thall prepared her presentation with a remote and introduced herself, a robotic male voice played out and said: 'Older woman are often perceived as difficult to turn on'

Meanwhile, Zembower is seen placing his hands over his mouth in disbelief while other council members can't help but laugh.

Someone then asks: 'Where did the at come from?'

Constantine replies: 'I don't know,' as Commissioner Amy Lockhart says the same.

'I will remember this day forever, forever,' Commissioner and Vice-Chair, Andria Herr, screams into her microphone.

Zembower then calls out Constantine saying: 'Would IT please deal with Commissioner Constantine's technology?'

'I think just deal with Commissioner Constantine. I don't think it's the technology,' Lockhart says as people giggle.

Lockhart then looks at Constantine and says: 'You had to have touched something,' as he replies with: 'I touched that' while hitting a button on a laptop keyboard.

Once laughs eventually die down, Zembower swiftly moves the meeting along and gives Thall a chance to speak again.

It appeared as though Commissioner Lee Constantine played the recording from his laptop while Thall (pictured) spoke

'Okay, Ms. Thall, let's try this again,' he says. 'And trust me, I'm certain this was not directed towards you.'

Thall replies: 'Okay, I'm not sure if I should say thank you or-,' as the room is once again filled with laughter.

'Wasn't sure where that was going,' Thall says.

'None of us were, we were all going, "stop it already",' Zembower says.

'That was great, thank you,' Thall says before moving on to her intended agenda.

DailyMail.com contacted Thall and the Seminole County office for comment.

According to the county's website, meetings are held on the second and last Tuesday of every month at 9.30am and 1.30pm.
Diversity bosses in Washington state accused a student council of promoting white supremacy for suggesting a mural of hammer-wielding Norse god Thor could represent their school team.

Students at Mountain View High School in Vancouver offered a mural of the god - whose name translates as 'thunder' - to decorate a wall in a newly renovated building as their senior gift.

Its team is nicknamed 'The Thunders' and there is already a Thor statue in the school's main entrance.

But the AI image they came up with horrified the district's equity office which demanded the god be removed or accompanied by women and people of color.

'They had an issue with the image not being racially and gender inclusive, as well as upholding an image of pure colonization, white power, white supremacy and even going as far as to say that it was alluding to racist anti-black imagery in the south,' student council member Tara told KTTH.

The AI generated image of the Norse god of thunder showed him wielding his hammer on top of a mountain amid lightning bolts

The Vancouver school has previously embraced its 'thunder' identity, running a Thunder Success Academy, a Thunder Crew, and Thunder Mentors

'We were just essentially told that we will maybe understand their perspective when we're in our 40s and have more life experiences like they do.'

Authorities at the school near the Columbia River have embraced its 'thunder' identity, running a Thunder Success Academy, a Thunder Crew, and Thunder Mentors.

So the students' senior council was not expecting a backlash when they suggested the god of thunder for their new mural.

They used their talents with AI to produce a classic image of the deity wielding his hammer on top of a mountain amid lightning bolts.

'We were really excited to have the mural up, we thought by Spring Break,' Tara said.

'But then we had to go through the district a few times to make sure that the image that we were permanently putting up on the walls was something that they could agree with to represent our school.

But after submitting their design they received an email from Evergreen Public Schools district administrator demanding to know if students had been surveyed about the design.

It reminded them that 'We are a system that strives for inclusive representation and our Title IX and Gender Inclusive Schools commitments obligate us to create a neutral and diverse representation of the 'Thunder'.

It asked for some 'other options of the mural from the artist', and volunteered a suggestion that they 'remove the person (Thor), enlarge the hammer and rotate it so that it's hammering the center of the mountain'.

The council members were hauled before district staff, including the equity advancement specialist.

Council member Ava said they were told that 'without context, our image could be taken the wrong way,' suggesting it could promote white supremacy.

The students were told to be 'mindful that the image, despite it not being problematic is something that could grow to be controversial'.

Tara said it was a 'very uncomfortable position for a bunch of high school students to be put in'.

'Realistically, as a student, if I'm walking down the hallway, and I see this image up on the wall, that's not going to be the first thing that comes to my mind,' Tara added.

'The first thing is going to be like, 'This is my school mascot on the wall. And it looks pretty cool'.'

'We find it extremely disturbing that those who benefit from white privilege would utilize the ideals of equity to silence a predominantly female, ethnically and racially diverse, democratically elected body for daring to speak truth to power.

She said the suggestion that adding women and people of color to the image of the Norse god would be ludicrous 'nothing to do with school'.

'It was very obvious that if we put something like that up, it would be very obvious the entire student body and anyone that knows anything about Mountain View that it was just to fulfill a diversity quota,' she added.

Dailymail.com has reached out to Evergreen Public Schools for comment.
Gucci Mane's wife has defended him after fans blamed the rapper for Enchanting's death after he paid tribute to the musician in an Instagram post on Tuesday.

Rapper and record executive who owns the 1017 record label Gucci Mane took to social media yesterday following news of Enchanting's passing.

Captioned under a photo of the Texas-based rapper, whose real name is Channing Nicole Larry, Gucci Mane commented: 'So say to have to say R.I.P. to such a great young lady a true star we gone all miss you Chant'.

However, in the comment section of the post, remarks flooded in saying that Gucci Mane's label was cursed and blaming him for the recent tragedies involving artists he represented.

One Instagram user commented: 'Your brand has a curse', and another said 'Its yo fault.'

Gucci Mane's wife came to his defence on Instagram after he received backlash for the death of rapper Enchanting

Pictured: Gucci Mane (right) and his wife Keyshia Ka'Oir. The pair have been married since 2017 and have three children together. This week, Ka'Oir defended her husband on Instagram after followers were quick to blame him for Enchanting's untimely death

The star was signed to Gucci Mane's 1017 label as recently until earlier this year

Other comments read; 'Its just too many coincidences when we talking about Gucci', suggesting that the rapper was to blame for her death.

Another social media user urged Gucci Mane to retire, saying: 'Damn all yo artist passing away. You should just retire yo pen deadly.

But Gucci Mane's wife Keyshia Ka'oir was quick to come to his defence, leaving a supportive comment on the same Instagram post.

'Leave my husband alone!', she said. 'He signs these artists to help them and give them a better life! I wish it wasn't like this! Chant we love you baby girl!'.

This comes as several artists represented by the 1017 label have suffered tragedies.

Channing Nicole Larry, 26, aka Enchanting died on Tuesday after an overdose that resulted in her being admitted to the ICU

The Texas-born female rapper who was once positioned to be the First Lady of Gucci Mane's 1017 Records -- died suddenly this week ... leaving him completely gutted.On his IG, Gucci posted a pic of Enchanting with the heartbroken caption ... "So sad to have to say R.I.P to such a great young lady a true star we gone all miss you Chant

In January 2022, Hotboy Wes was arrested on a robbery charge in Texas. In April of the same year, Pooh Shiesty was sentenced to more than five yeas in prison for a gun conspiracy conviction.

Also, in December 2022, rapper Big Scarr died from an accidental prescription drug overdose. A month later, Mac Critter was arrested and charged with murder.

26-year-old Larry's death on Tuesday makes her the latest artist of the 1017 label to suffer, after she overdosed and ended up in an intensive care unit.

The star was signed to Gucci Mane's 1017 label 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.'

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.

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.
Former health secretary Matt Hancock libelled parliamentary candidate Andrew Bridgen to a 'devastating extent' by accusing him of antisemitism on social media, the High Court has been told.

The former North West Leicestershire MP is bringing a libel case against Mr Hancock over a post on X, formerly Twitter.

The High Court in London previously heard that on January 11, 2023, Mr Bridgen shared a link to an article 'concerning data about deaths and other adverse reactions linked to Covid vaccines'.

He wrote: 'As one consultant cardiologist said to me, this is the biggest crime against humanity since the Holocaust.'

Hours later, Mr Hancock tweeted a video of himself speaking in the Commons with the caption: 'The disgusting and dangerous antisemitic, anti-vax, anti-scientific conspiracy theories spouted by a sitting MP this morning are unacceptable and have absolutely no place in our society.'

Andrew Bridgen (pictured) is bringing a libel case against Mr Hancock over a post on X, formerly Twitter

At a hearing on Wednesday, Mrs Justice Collins Rice was asked to decide several preliminary issues in the case, including the 'natural and ordinary' meaning of Mr Hancock's post and whether it was a statement of fact or opinion.

Christopher Newman, representing Mr Bridgen, said the nature of the allegations reduced the standing of his client in the eyes of the public to a 'devastating extent'.

He said: 'We say that the gravity of what was said, even on the defendant's meaning, was very serious indeed.

'A libel about antisemitism is a particularly serious libel.'

He continued: 'We live in a society where racism is not just undesirable, it is legislated to be illegal... and antisemitism as a very specific form of racism, just as bad as any other form of racism.'

He added: 'If somebody says you are antisemitic, everyone knows what that means. It is just very, very damaging.'

Mr Bridgen, who is standing as an independent candidate in the North West Leicestershire constituency, was not present at the hearing, with Mr Newman telling the court he was 'on the campaign trail'.

Former health secretary Mr Hancock, who has stepped down as an MP, also did not attend.

Hours later, Mr Hancock (pictured) tweeted: 'The disgusting and dangerous antisemitic, anti-vax, anti-scientific conspiracy theories spouted by a sitting MP this morning are unacceptable and have absolutely no place in our society'

Mr Bridgen, who is standing as an independent candidate in the North West Leicestershire constituency, was not present at the hearing

Mr Newman said the post meant Mr Bridgen 'is an antisemite', while lawyers for Mr Hancock told the court it meant Mr Bridgen had 'disseminated views that were antisemitic in nature'.

Mr Bridgen previously told the court that 'every person reading the tweet knew it was about me', that it was 'seriously defamatory and untrue' and intended to cause 'grievous harm' to his reputation.

He also said he wished to 'clear his name' after the 'malicious' post.

The former health secretary has previously called the case 'absurd' and labelled Mr Bridgen's claims 'ridiculous'.

In written submissions, Aidan Eardley KC, for Mr Hancock, said that only someone 'avid for scandal' would believe the post concerned Mr Bridgen's 'general character or belief system'.

He said: 'The claimant contends that the statement impugns his character or belief system, "an antisemite", whereas the defendant contends that it concerns only the qualities of what he has said, "disseminated views that were antisemitic in nature".

'The political context of the statement is highly significant. The reasonable reader will have appreciated that it was one MP criticising a statement made by another MP on a matter of political controversy.

Andrew Bridgen joins a procession to Downing Street, while supporters hold boards and signs warning of the dangers of the vaccine

He continued: 'They will have been attuned to expect highly vociferous expressions of opinion in this context.

'They will not have regarded the statement as a source of true, factual information about the claimant.'

Mrs Justice Collins Rice will hand down her judgment in writing at a later date.
A 77-year-old Oakland man has been arrested after he shot and killed a suspected burglar.

Police say two men and a woman pulled up outside the man's home in a stolen vehicle on Monday evening.

One suspect was allegedly holding a crowbar as the three headed inside the man's home, as reported by KTVU.

The homeowner, who has not been publicly named, apparently shot one of the men, the woman in the group told officials.

He was pointing the gun at the woman when police arrived, per officials.

A 77-year-old Oakland man has been arrested after he shot and killed an alleged member of a group of burglars

The third suspect was found at the scene with a replica gun and was arrested on suspicion of burglary.

The homeowner has been detained on suspicion of murder while the Alameda County District Attorney's Office considers whether to file charges.

Police say the weapon used by the homeowner, a Colt Python revolver, was stolen.

Prosecutors have until Thursday to decide whether they will charge the homeowner, who has reportedly declined speaking with detectives.

DailyMail.com has reached out to Oakland police for more information on this story.

One suspect was allegedly holding a crowbar as they headed inside the man's home

The homeowner has been detained on suspicion of murder while the Alameda County District Attorney's Office considers whether to file charges. DA Pamela Price is pictured

It comes after an East Oakland resident shot and killed robbery suspect Charles Calloway in March.

Calloway's accomplice David Washington was charged with the murder, even though it was the homeowner who pulled the trigger, as reporter by sfist.

The homeowner was also shot, in the foot, during the gun battle with the suspects.

The DA is pursuing the charges against Washington, arguing he provoked the homeowner to fire the shot that killed Calloway.

California law saws homeowners can use lethal force if they believe they are being threatened in their home.
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The California 'supermom' who faked her own abduction has been enjoying a secret romance with a recently widowed businessman who has splashed out $755,000 on a luxury home for her to live in.

Exclusive DailyMail.com photos show Sherri Papini, 41, locked in an embrace with her auto dealer boyfriend Shawn Hibdon, 49, following an amorous encounter in the backseat of her white Jeep SUV in a Starbucks parking lot in Orland, California, on Monday.

Kidnap hoaxer Papini is the subject of new Hulu documentary that revisits her case.

The seedy make out session came shortly after she appeared in court professing to be the perfect mother while fighting for increased access to the two children she abandoned during her three-week November 2016 disappearance.

Papini, now a convicted felon after being exposed as a fraudster who made up the story of her 2016 abduction by two Hispanic women in April 2022, arrived at the rendezvous still dressed in her court outfit consisting of a black blazer and leggings.

A besotted Sherri Papini was spotted sharing a passionate smooch with her new boyfriend Shawn Hibdon outside a local Starbucks in Orland, California on Monday

Papini is said to have begun dating the recently widowed businessman before her 10-month stint in prison in Victorville, California which ended last August

After an hour in the car with Hibdon, who arrived separately in a gray Hyundai with distinctive dealer plates, she emerged giggling and dressed in a pink tank and flashy tie-dye leggings.

The pair then enjoyed a smooch  having first checked the parking lot to make sure no one was watching  before leaving in different cars.

Hibdon has been single since losing his wife Brittany unexpectedly at the age of 36 in September 2021 and is a single father to their two sons Houston, 16, and Westley, 14.

Meanwhile, Papini's marriage imploded following her March 2022 arrest for fraud with her ex-husband Keith, 40, handed sole custody of their children.

A source told DailyMail.com the relationship began prior to her 10-month stretch at FCI Victorville, with the pair meeting in Chico  a town located an hour south of Papini's former home in Redding.

Papini briefly lived in the area after being thrown out by her ex following her arrest. Her sister Sheila also resides in the town.

Last September, besotted Hibdon was seen driving the white pickup truck bearing a distinctive Hibdon Auto Center dealer plate that picked her up from an Oakland halfway house and purchased the petite blonde a spacious home of her own in January.

Records seen by DailyMail.com show the four-bedroom property in Shingletown, California, was bought by the Orland-based businessman via a limited liability company named 33 TEN Properties LLC, which was incorporated in September 2023.

The 41-year-old mom, who arrived in a separate vehicle, emerged from her white Jeep SUV dressed in a pink tank and lurid tie-dye leggings and flip flops

Hibdon, 49, is a prominent man in the Northern California town of Orland where he owns a successful car dealership that he previously ran with his wife

Hibdon's gray Hyundai with distinctive dealer plates from his auto business was seen parked alongside his girlfriend's car

The California mom's jeep was not seen outside the lavish Shingletown home owned by her lover and where she currently lives, however, Hibdon's gray Hyundai was parked on the driveway when DailyMail.com visited last week

Records seen by DailyMail.com show the four-bedroom property (seen in an aerial shot) was bought by the Orland-based businessman via an LLC to make 'property investments for rent'

The filing with the California Secretary of State shows the business was set up to make 'property investments for rent' and it was listed as the owner of Papini's home by the Shasta County recorder of deeds following the purchase earlier this year.

Despite Hibdon's lavish outlay on the mom-of-two, the relationship has been conducted under a veil of secrecy with Papini making no mention of who paid for her new house in family court documents and instead saying she rents the property for $500-a-month.

According to Zillow, the market rent for the custom-finished property, which sits on a private three-acre lot, would be more than six times what Papini claims to be paying at $3,294 per month.

The property has also come to the attention of the federal authorities who applied for a writ to seize the home in March in an effort to recoup the $340,000 fine that was handed to the convicted fraudster along with the jail term.

That case is still active, although papers filed in the separate custody case show Papini has since made a $100 payment towards clearing the huge debt.

Prior to the tryst, Papini had made an appearance in court where she exchanged frosty glances with ex-husband Keith who is opposing her demand to be granted further access to their children.

But the cloak and dagger antics didn't stop at Starbucks: intent on hiding her brand-new Jeep from Keith, the mom-of-two left it in the lot belonging to her lawyer Chase Kinney before hitching a ride with her for the short journey from the office to court.

Although the Jeep could not be seen outside the lavish Shingletown home Papini lives in when DailyMail.com visited last week, the gray Hyundai driven by Hibdon to the romantic rendezvous was briefly seen parked on the driveway.

Hibdon has been single since losing his wife Brittany unexpectedly at the age of 36 in September 2021 and is a single father to their two teenage sons

After an amorous encounter in the backseat of her white SUV, the pair emerged and enjoyed a smooch  having first checked the parking lot to make sure no one was watching  before leaving in different cars

Papini's ex-husband Keith  with whom she shares children Tyler, 11, and Violet, 9  filed for divorce in April 2022 and sought to maintain sole custody after her August 2023 release

Hibdon is a prominent man in the Northern California town of Orland where he owns a successful car dealership that he previously ran with his wife.

According to an obituary for Hibdon's deeply religious spouse Brittany, the mom-of-two died 'unexpectedly' in September 2021, leaving behind sons Houston and Westley.

It goes on to describe how she was known for her 'encouraging and uplifting' social media posts and for her healthy lifestyle, while noting that she was heavily involved in the local community and charity projects.

The obituary for the pretty blonde concludes: 'The hashtags on her Facebook profile sum it up well - #BrittanyForThePeople, and #BoyMom.

'Her impact on this world cannot be understated, nor can our love for her.'

The new twist in the long-running saga comes ahead of a new Hulu documentary about the case and features a lengthy interview with Papini's ex-husband Keith.

Called 'Perfect Wife: The Mysterious Disappearance of Sherri Papini', the three-part series is released on June 20 and details Keith's battle to uncover the truth about Papini's disappearing act.

Papini (seen left leaving a federal courthouse in 2022) is now locked in a legal battle with her estranged husband (pictured right in 2017) in court after he filed papers to formally declare her unfit to parent their two children

Sherri Papini was seen gleefully skipping out of an Oakland halfway house in September after officially completing her sentence

Police and the world were on the lookout for Sherri when she went missing in 2016. The hoax unraveled years later and she was arrested on fraud charges and lying to law enforcement in March 2022

While he was making emotional appeals for her return and huge search parties were fanning out across Shasta County, Papini was actually holed up at the home of ex-boyfriend James Reyes in Costa Mesa, California  almost 600 miles south of her Redding home.

In his petition for divorce, a devastated Keith said he and his children had been 'victimized' and described his ex-wife as a liar and a thief.

'On April 11 2022, I learned that I and my children had been victimized,' he wrote. '[And] that my wife was a skilled liar, an accomplished thief, a manipulator of others without empathy for their pain and loss.'

Keith was subsequently awarded the couple's home and full custody of their children in the divorce, as well as the lion's share of the couple's possessions.

Papini had hoped to get a 50 percent share of the insurance payout he received following the Fawn Fire which scorched large swathes of Shasta County  including Redding  in October 2021 but received just $10,000.

She suffered a second blow after attempting to force Keith to pony up more than $3,000 to pay off a bill she had racked up on a BestBuy credit card but was ordered to pay half herself.
In February, footage emerged of an American-made Abrams tank being destroyed in Ukraine, believed to be the first video of one being knocked out by the Russian army.

But it was by no means the last. The Ukrainians managed to lose three of the M1A1 Abrams main battle tanks in little over a week, and they have lost even more since the footage first appeared online - despite it ranking among the world's best.

The US made war machine entered service in 1986. It weighs around 60 tons, is powered by a gas turbine engine and is armed with a 120 millimetre main cannon.

What's more, it is coated in Chobham composite armour, which provides some of the best protection in the world to the crew of four who sit inside the turret.

In a head-to-head fight, the Abrams would likely come out on top against any tank in Russia's ranks, and there were high hopes that the vehicles would help Ukraine launch a counteroffensive against the invading Russians when 31 were handed to Kyiv by the Americans in 2023, along with a host of other western weaponry.

However, it is not other tanks that are destroying the Abrams in Ukraine.

According to Russia, the tank destroyed in the February footage was disabled by a Piranha FPV (first person view) drone - a powerful UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle) that can carry a payload of up to 2.5 kilos to its target, all from a safe distance.

The fact that so many of the tanks have been destroyed by such weapons has raised the question: Does the American M1 Abrams still have a place on the battlefield?

In the above video, MailOnline analyses the footage, delves into the history of the tank, and speaks to an expert to find out what the future looks like for the Abrams - as well as tank warfare in general...

In February, this footage emerged of an American-made Abrams tank being destroyed in Ukraine, believed to be the first video of one being knocked out by the Russian army

Since the first video emerged, the Ukrainians managed to lose three of the M1A1 Abrams main battle tanks (pictured) in little over a week, and even more have been knocked out since

Pictured: A man takes a selfie in front of a US-made M1 Abrams tank, hit and captured by Russian troops during the fighting in Ukraine as they visit an exhibition of Western military equipment seized from Ukrainian forces, in Moscow, May 31

The US made war machine entered service in 1986. It weighs around 60 tons, is powered by a gas turbine engine and is armed with a 120 millimetre main cannon. What's more, it is coated in Chobham composite armour, which provides some of the best protection in the world to the crew of four who sit inside the turret
China has installed timers above the cubicles in the women's toilets at a UNESCO World Heritage site, so fellow guests can tell how long they have been 'engaged'.

The Yungang Grottoes are one of the biggest attractions in northern China's Shanxi province, with 3 million people visiting the site of the ancient Buddhist temples carved into the rockface in 2023.

However, a video recently shared with a local Chinese news outlet, the Xiaoxiang Morning Herald, shows the 1500-year-old site has put digital timers above each stall in the female bathrooms.

When a stall is unoccupied, the small display screen reads the word 'empty' in green. But if it is in use, it shows the number of minutes and seconds the person has been in there, in red.

One visitor described it as 'embarrassing' as it felt like they were being 'monitored'.

When a stall is unoccupied, the small display screen reads the word 'empty' in green. But if it is in use, it shows the number of minutes and seconds the person has been in there, in red

The Yungang Grottoes are one of the biggest attractions in northern China's Shanxi province, with 3 million people visiting the site of the ancient Buddhist temples carved into the rockface in 2023

Speaking to the Xiaoxiang Morning Herald they said: 'I found it quite advanced technologically so you don't have to queue outside or knock on a bathroom door.

'But I also found it a little bit embarrassing. It felt like I was being monitored.'

A member of staff at the ancient site claimed that the upgrades were to cope with an increase in visitors to the attraction, which was putting pressures on all the facilities inside the tourist site.

'They aren't there to control the durations you could use the bathrooms,' the staff member was quoted by the newspaper as saying.

'It's impossible that we would kick someone out [of the bathroom stall] midway. And we aren't setting a time limit such as five or 10 minutes of how long one could use the toilets.'

A video recently shared with a local Chinese news outlet, the Xiaoxiang Morning Herald, shows the 1500-year-old site has put digital timers above each stall in the female bathrooms

One visitor described it as 'embarrassing' as it felt like they were being 'monitored'. Pictured: Carved Buddhist statues at Yungang Grottoes

While another employee told local news outlet Nanchang Evening News that the timers, which have been in operation since 1 May, were for the 'well-being of all guests in case some guests use the toilet for an extended period and an emergency occurs'.

Many people expressed their own views on social media and said that it was a misuse of money which could have instead been put towards building more toilets.

One Weibo user complained: 'A tourist site isn't an office  who would spend their time in the toilets? Is it really necessary?'

'Your time is counted!' said another user.

A third added: 'Why don't they just spend the money on building more washrooms?'
A new documentary series that received 100 percent on Rotten Tomatoes from critics has sent social media users in a frenzy.

The three-part Max docuseries premiered in March at SXSW - and then made its streaming platform debut on June 2.

Its final episode became available to stream on June 9 and the documentary series has been one of the 10 most-watched Max shows for two weeks straight.

The series, which featured a leader who one X user tweeted was 'psychotic,' focuses on employees at the Texas Renaissance Festival vying to take over for its founder, George Coulam, who is looking to retire.

Ren Faire has won the hearts of viewers across the county, and its average audience score on Rotten Tomatoes is a whopping 96 percent.

A new documentary series called Ren Faire series received 100 percent on Rotten Tomatoes' Average Tomatometer from critics and positive reviews from X users (stock image)

The Texas Renaissance Festival takes place over eight weekends from November to January in Todd Mission.

Ren Faire director Lance Oppenheim filmed the docuseries during the festivals from the start of 2021 through the end of 2023, according to IndieWire.

It's packed full of drama between Jeff Baldwin, Louie Migliaccio, and Darla Smiththree employees from the Texas Renaissance Festival.

Baldwin served as the festival's general manager, Migliaccio was a kettle corn vendor, and Smith worked as a vendor coordinator, turned co-general manager.

The battle to take over the Texas Renaissance Fair's crown was relentless during its 100 days of filming; employees were promoted, fired, and rehired for different positions.

The docuseries has been dubbed by an X user as 'one of the more insane shows' they'd ever see and another tweeted that Ren Faire was 'one of the funniest most heartbreaking things' they had ever seen on television.

Since its release, Ren Faire has been compared to the popular Max show Succession, but that series was not what inspired Oppenheim during Ren Faire.

'When you are watching something like Vanderpump Rules, which is also sort of a succession story, and then you watch something thats like There Will Be Blood, I was like, how can I take both of those things that I love so much,' Oppenheim told IndieWire.

'How can I basically put them in a blending machine and create its own discrete, unique experience where its not reality TV, its not a Paul Thomas Anderson movie, its somewhere in between, and that hopefully acknowledges that we are in this fantastical space and world.'

The series focuses on employees at the Texas Renaissance Festival vying to take over for its founder, George Coulam, who is looking to retire

Jeff Baldwin, who was its general manager, was one of three employees that was looking to take over the Texas Renaissance Festival

Viewers and critics praised Succession during its four-season run.

The show, which aired its final episode in 2023, focused on members of the Roy family that fought for control of Waystar RoyCo, which was run by founder and CEO Logan Roy.

Three of Logan's four children, Kendall, Roman, and Siobhan, were the top fighters throughout the show,

The three contenders had their own struggles and loved and hated one another throughout the entire series.

However, a family member by marriage eventually became the CEO which left one of Roy's children speechless on a park bench.

Baldwin, Migliaccio, and Smith's fight was a battle royale, which, like Succession, had surprising plot twists and an unexpected ending.

More than one of the 16 critics that gave this docuseries positive reviews compared Ren Faire and Succession to one another, and one person even praised the ending.

'A quite rewarding, even refreshing, not-overlong watch. And the ending is, in its way, happy,' wrote television critic Robert Lloyd of the Los Angeles Times.

'A real-life, downmarket version of Succession, it offers a claustrophobic portrait of the festivals eccentric and off-putting founder George Coulam,' wrote Chicago Tribune critic Nina Metz.

Louie Migliaccio was a kettle corn vendor who worked under the event's vendor coordinator and docuseries contender, Darla Smith

The Texas Renaissance Festival takes place over eight weekends from November to January in Todd Mission

X users who've tweeted about the show have hardly left negative comments about the docuseries, but many of them were diss comments that targeted Coulam.

'Any of y'all watching this Ren Faire documentary on Max about the Texas Renaissance Festival and the crazy rich old pervert that started it and who is now trying to sell it,' an X user tweeted.

He calls himself King George. What an a******. I could never work for someone like him.'

Other negative tweets made by X users were not about the Renaissance docuseries but instead about what doesn't come out of one of the festivals.

'Nothing good comes from a renaissance fair. Absolutely nothing,' an X user tweeted on June 10.
A teacher was left paralyzed and unable to talk after he suffered brain damage during a routine surgical procedure which went horribly wrong.

Scott Munro was undergoing orthopedic shoulder surgery on September 18, 2023 when his oxygen levels became dangerously low.

His family claims he was left unchecked for four minutes before he suffered major brain damage and was left in a coma.

He had to spend a month in the intensive care unit and has had to learn to walk and talk again with lots of intense physical therapy.

Munro, who has spent nearly 30 years working within the Evergreen School District in Washington, returned to Oregon on Tuesday after eight months away recovering.

Teacher Scott Munro was paralyzed and unable to talk after he suffered brain damage during a routine surgical procedure which went horribly wrong

He was undergoing orthopedic shoulder surgery on September 18, 2023 when his oxygen levels became dangerously low

Munro received a special welcome at Portland International Airport from friends and family as he prepares to continue his rehabilitation following the shocking incident.

He spent time in intensive care in Chicago and Omaha, Nebraska, where he has had to learn to walk and talk again.

'It's very emotional, and it also feels right, feels like we've come full circle from Vancouver, to Portland, to Chicago, to Omaha  and now, we're finally back,' his wife Katrina Munro told KGW8.

He is glad to be back home and said it is 'because of all these people, more than anything else.'

'Family and friends  being able to see them in person, being able to see my dad.'

Munro will be placed in an assisted living facility for now while his family home is modified to accommodate for his needs.

His daughter Katherine (left) and wife Katrina (right) claim he was left unchecked for four minutes before he suffered major brain damage and was left in a coma

He had to spend a month in the intensive care unit and has had to learn to walk and talk again with lots of intense physical therapy

Munro received a special welcome at Portland International Airport from friends and family as he prepares to continue his rehabilitation following the shocking incident

He said: 'It's going pretty well, considering where I started after the injury  which yeah, I was barely conscious for about two months.'

Katrina has looked back on what went wrong with her husband's surgery and wants to find out what happened.

'I think it's important to share that we know something went wrong in the O.R. that day. Someone or some machine, maybe more than one person, maybe more than one machine, was not doing its job,' she said.

Munro's daughter Katherine has juggled her studies with visiting her dad in hospital.

She described him as loving, inspiration and hardworking as she looked back on old photos.

'I love going on trips with my parents. My dad was always the planner,' she said.

He spent time in intensive care in Chicago and Omaha, Nebraska, where he has had to learn to walk and talk again

Munro, who has spent nearly 30 years working within the Evergreen School District in Washington, returned to Oregon on Tuesday after eight months away recovering

His family set up a GoFundMe page to help pay for medical expenses, travel expenses, transportation costs and remodeling their home to fit his needs

The family set up a GoFundMe page to help pay for medical expenses, travel expenses, transportation costs and remodeling their home to fit his needs.

They have so far raised more than $98,000 out of a $400,000 goal and are overwhelmed at the outpouring of support.

'You know, we've been overwhelmed by the amount of support we've received from coworkers and others,' Munro said.

While Katherine said: 'My dad has said it before, and I'll say it, too  just that we didn't really realize how many people we had in our corner until something like this happens.'
It took less than 24 hours for a predator to groom 13-year-old Rhiannon McDonald online and then sexually assault her in her own bedroom.

I was tricked and manipulated into sending one topless picture to a person I thought was a woman, she says.

But as soon as I sent it, the nice woman became a very nasty man and threatened to put my picture all over the internet unless I did whatever he said  and that included giving him my home address. I was only a child, and I was terrified.

Rhiannon, now 34, was an early victim of internet sextortion, where someone sets up a fake identity to trick, scam or exploit an innocent user into sending explicit photos of themselves.

Rhiannon was only 13 when she was manipulated into sending a topless picture to a person she thought was a woman online

He blackmailed the teen into giving him her home address, then abused her in her bedroom

The psychological effect on those blackmailed can be profound, as the parents of Murray Dowey from Dunblane tragically found when the 16-year-old took his own life last December.

He had been tricked into sending compromising pictures of himself to a criminal gang posing as a girl on Instragram.

On Thursday, Meta, the owner of the social media site, agreed to provide Police Scotland with information on Murrays account, which could help track his blackmailers, after his mother Ros complained that, despite a court order, Meta had yet to do so.

In April, the Internet Watch Foundation (IWF), which monitors the internet for child sexual abuse, reported growing numbers of youngsters being tricked into sending explicit pictures of themselves  including many aged under six.

The IWFs searches, often triggered by tip-offs to a hotline on its website, turned up over 275,000 webpages containing images of child sexual abuse in 2023  up 8 per cent on the year before.

Of those, 62,000 webpages were designated Category A  containing images or videos of full sex, bestiality or sadism involving children  representing a 22 per cent rise on the previous year.

The IWF says 15 per cent of these images and videos involved victims who had been groomed or coerced online.

The threat facing children is now in their own homes, even their own bedrooms  and the victims are getting younger and younger, says Susie Hargreaves, chief executive of the IWF.

This shows just how opportunistic internet predators are. The abuse is often recorded without the childs knowledge, and it quickly makes its way online, on to dedicated child sexual-abuse sites.

Rhiannon, who is now head of advocacy at the Marie Collins Foundation, which campaigns against technology-assisted child sexual abuse, became a victim after being introduced by a friend to a woman in an online chat room.

At the time, the chat was happening over AOL Instant Messenger and MSN Messenger. While these are now defunct, apps such as Snapchat, TikTok, WhatsApp and Facebook, and some video gaming platforms such as Xbox and PlayStation, provide similar opportunities for paedophiles to communicate with children today.

It was a very normal conversation at first, says Rhiannon. Who are you? Where do you live? How old are you? What are your hobbies?

To prove her identity, Rhiannon sent a photo of herself to her friend who sent one in return, which she later realised had been stolen from elsewhere online.

She claimed she was a model, then complimented me, saying I was really pretty, I was beautiful, and I could be a model just like her.

When youre a 13-year-old, it feels nice to be told things like that. Youre happy to go along with it to an extent.

And then later in the conversation, she said she did topless modelling. You get more work, you get paid more money if you go topless, she said.

Rhiannon, 34, is now head of advocacy at the Marie Collins Foundation, which campaigns against 'technology-assisted child sexual abuse'

She asked me to send a topless photo. I immediately said no because I felt it was dirty and seedy. It just felt wrong and I didnt want to do it.

But she convinced me it was normal. Its what everybodys doing. Youre just exploring your body, your sexuality, youre growing up now. You only have to look at [a red-top newspapers] page three and you will see topless women  thats how normal it was.

Rhiannon says having a computer screen between her and the woman felt like a filter, allowing her a false sense of security. If the person had been talking to her in the flesh, shed have ended the conversation.

It didnt feel like real life, she says. Nothings ever going to come of it, I thought.

So, with her inhibitions lowered, she sent that one topless photo.

And that was the turning point. It was no longer nice, happy conversation and compliments. It was threats and blackmail  she flipped immediately. It was a case of Ive got what I need now. Youre under my control.

Under threat of exposure, Rhiannon gave her groomer  a man in his fifties  her home address and more pictures. He turned up the next morning when her parents were out, took her into her bedroom and sexually assaulted her.

It was absolutely terrifying, she says. I felt like I was backed into a corner and had nowhere to run. Ive never been so scared in my life as in that moment.

Rhiannon says she blamed herself because in some way she felt complicit. The extent to which her 13-year-old self had been groomed, cleverly manipulated and then blackmailed by an unscrupulous adult hadnt occurred to her.

I felt dirty emotionally, she says. I knew that I was never going to tell anybody about it. I was so embarrassed and ashamed.

If I reported it to the police, they would blame me, and I would be in trouble for wasting their time because Id asked for this. Id engaged in the conversation, Id sent the images, Id given my address, Id opened the door to this man.

Six months later, however, the police came to Rhiannon. They had been investigating the man for another sexual offence, and they came upon her details on his computer.

He was later sentenced to 13 years in prison, seven of which were for what he did to Rhiannon.

She has asked the Mail not to name him so as to prevent his other victims being reminded of the abuse they suffered at his hands.

Rhiannon said she blamed herself. When she was 13 it hadn't occurred to her that she had been groomed, manipulated and then blackmailed

Her abuser was sentenced to 13 years in prison, seven of which were for what he did to Rhiannon

It took nine years for me to get therapy and I can still remember the first thing I said to my therapist, says Rhiannon. Ive had this black cloud over me for the last decade and hes probably already out of prison and yet Im still suffering. For his victims, its a life sentence.

The Online Safety Act, introduced last October, obliges tech and social media companies to protect children from online harms such as bullying and revenge pornography, and images of terrorism or self-harming.

Where images of child abuse are posted, they are supposed to be swiftly removed. Companies in breach of the Act face fines of up to 10 per cent of their global revenue  which could amount to billions of pounds. Company bosses could even face jail sentences of up to two years.

However, campaigners say that the tech giants arent improving childrens security quickly enough  a charge they deny. Some also argue that the Act is unlikely to significantly reduce childrens vulnerability to predators because online grooming was already illegal  yet paedophiles were not deterred.

It certainly didnt stop Alexander McCartney, 25, a habitual sextortionist from Northern Ireland, who in March pleaded guilty to manslaughter after a 12-year-old girl, whom he had groomed and blackmailed, killed herself.

McCartney is thought to have had more than 60 child victims in several countries. He has not yet been sentenced.

For parents, the important thing is to understand that its never the childs fault and that were talking about highly skilled, organised and manipulative predators here, says Victoria Green, CEO of the Marie Collins Foundation.

She urges parents to talk to their children who are often too embarrassed to admit they are being blackmailed, otherwise perpetrators use that silence to further control their victims.

Let children know that if they do fall into this trap, says Green they can tell you and you wont judge them because its never their fault.

Twelve-year-old Danielle was one such victim who was too frightened to confide in her parents.

She had been tricked into sharing Category A images and films over Snapchat with a person she thought was a 14-year-old schoolboy. In fact, her correspondent was a man in Philadelphia.

Her mother, Mary White (not her real name), says: We had been concerned about a change in Danielles behaviour since the previous summer but we didnt know what the cause was.

She had always been a happy, studious, outgoing girl, but by the end of Year 7 she had become more challenging and shed get angry more easily.

Rhiannon said that what her abuser did was a life sentence for the victims, while 'he's probably already out of prison'

It started off fairly low initially, then she began getting into trouble at school, and by the time we got to Christmas of Year 8, shed been suspended several times.

Mary found out what Danielle had been going through when she was called by her daughters school safeguarding team in March 2022.

Another girl at the school had managed to access Danielles Snapchat account two months earlier and had been copying and sharing explicit images with other pupils.

Mary says Danielle was initially treated as a suspect because she had self-generated the images and shared them. It is illegal to make and share sexual images of a child, but the law was never intended to deal with situations like hers.

Eventually, after the involvement of the Marie Collins Foundation, Danielles description as a suspect was removed from police files.

Danielle says it began with flattery, says Mary. I think because she was 12 and had just started high school during the pandemic, she was quite insecure, and friendship groups werent there. Then this person paid her some attention.

The first photo she shared was just a bit of cleavage but the groomer then used that as a way of manipulating her  I know where you live, I know your friends, your family. I can easily share this on a platform. This is blackmail.

He was coercing and manipulative and Danielle felt trapped. Her fight or flight response turned to fight, and thats why she had become so angry.

Last month, to Marys relief, police in the US arrested a suspect in connection with Danielles case.

Ive had people asking what a 12-year-old was doing with a smartphone, but theyre asking the wrong question, says Mary. Technology can be very positive in a childs development, so the answer isnt to take the technology away from the child  it is to make the technology, the internet, safe for the child.

For the Online Safety Act to be effective and for the tech companies to be held to account, we need public momentum behind it saying, This is what we want  do it.

As for Danielle, the spectre of those images still haunts her, especially after they were rumoured to be in circulation again. It proved to be a false alarm.

Mary says her daughter has had counselling and felt comfortable enough to post about her experience on Instagram.

Hers is a disturbing story and one that is becoming increasingly common as children find themselves adrift in an online world with little between them and the internets worst predators.
A jogger was left terrified to leave her home after she was savaged by two XL Bully dogs in her local park, a court heard.

Laura Booiman was out with her Shetland Sheepdog called Blue when they were attacked by the allegedly out of control animals in Highbury, north London, on March 31 2023.

The Canadian fell to the ground screaming for help as she was repeatedly bitten by the snarling animals.

White van driver Burak Uyinak, 30, denies two counts of being in charge of a dog dangerously out of control and causing injury following the incident involving his pets Asher and Leasha.

Ms Booiman, who is a trainee counselling psychologist, told the court that she was out jogging near Clissold Park, Stoke Newington, when the two XL Bullies chased her dog Blue.

She picked up her pet but it was pulled out of her hands and onto the ground by its canine attackers.

They were both bitten and jumped on by the XL Bullies.

Blue escaped and ran in the direction of his home nearby before he was attacked again, Willesden Magistrates Court heard.

Eventually Uyinak herded his dogs into the back of his white van.

Giving evidence Ms Booiman said: I was coming back from a run at Clissold Park which is my local park. My dog had a running leash on.

He is now a four year old Shetland Sheepdog, hes grey and black and white.

I was crossing the road to go back to my house on Beresford Road and from behind me, I didnt have much of a chance to notice, two dogs came from behind.

I assumed they were American Bully dogs because they were about 50-60kg - large dogs compared to my dog.'

The XL Bully is a variant of the wider American Bully breed and is typically larger and more muscular than other types in the breed such as the Micro, Pocket, Standard and Classic, according to guidance by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA).

Since 1 February 2024, it has been a criminal offence under Section 1(3) of the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 to own an XL Bully breed type without a valid Certificate of Exemption.

The government brought in the ban on XL bullies following a a spate of horrific maulings, which have led to at least 11 deaths since 2021.

The psychologist was jogging in Clissold Park (pictured) when she was attacked by the dogs

Ms Booiman continued: I pulled my dog with the leash up into my arms just instinctually, I was trying to get him away from the dogs.

I had my dog in my arms and both of the dogs at that point were standing and jumping and biting against me.

They bit me on the upper thigh. I was limping and in pain and witnesses saw blood on me.

I was screaming for help, the two dogs were jumping on me, they were biting my dog, they were biting at me and I was hitting them.

They were biting his back on his hind legs when he was in my arms.

At some point the dogs bit onto my dog and pulled him out of my arms onto the ground.

At that point I assume that my dog was dead, he was on the ground, he didnt move.

My dog ran towards our house and the two dogs chased him.

I think I kind of fell to the ground and then I got back up and chased after my dog and the other dogs to try and stop them.

I heard the two dogs attacking my dog and I saw it on my front doorstep.

Asked to describe her injuries, she said: So it was kind of the fang marks on my leg and when I went to A&E to get a tetanus shot.

They told me they couldnt stitch it because dog bites get infected, but it was about 7mm on either side.

Ms Booiman said the attack has hampered her professional life, telling the court: Ive never really been afraid of dogs until this incident.

Its been something that really impacted me afterwards, I had a really hard time leaving my house.

I had a really hard time going to school and getting papers done.

I work with very vulnerable populations in this hospital and I have to be on my best form in order to support the patients Im working with.

I was really afraid that the dogs were going to be out there or attack somebody else again.

Willesden Magistrates Court heard how her dog Blue escaped and ran in the direction of his home nearby before he was attacked again by the two XL bullies

Witness Korina Mazur, told the court: I first heard the scream down the road at which point I rushed over and saw the situation.

They were biting at her legs - trying to bite her legs.

Blue was limping and running down the road as the two American Bullies chased Blue down the road.

Blue stopped at a door and he was cornered at the door of the flat by the two American Bullies who had Blue, they were just going for it, mauling the dog.

I am clear what I saw, which is a woman and her dog being attacked by two American Bullies.

Uyanik, of Highbury New Park, Islington, denies two counts of owning a dog dangerously out of control causing injury.

The trial was adjourned until July 16.
A teacher whose menopause was exacerbated after a dismissive headteacher tried to force her to transfer to another school has won a 60,000 payout for unfair dismissal.

Allison Shearer sued South Lanarkshire Council at an employment tribunal after losing her job in Clydesdale Support Base, in Carluke.

Her workplace was part of Kear Campus, catering for special needs children in the local authority area, with multiple schools attached to it.

But after refusing headteacher Neil Govans order to transfer to a different school she was fired in September 2023 while still on sick leave with stress.

Ms Shearer, who qualified in 1987, told the tribunal she felt the move was a punishment beating because she had objected to his request to supervise an asthmatic pupil vape during breaks.

Headteacher Neil Govan told Allison Shearer he was transferring her to a different school, which she claimed exacerbated her menopause

She said shed become extremely anxious at the prospect of having to work at Kear Secondary School, in Blantyre, believing there were issues with violence, ineffective and authoritarian management, and a culture of blaming staff for being assaulted.

But her pleas about worsening menopause and mental health were ignored alongside the schools own occupational health report and she was shown the door.

However, she is now in line for 61,074 in damages, after successfully suing the local authority for disability discrimination and unfair dismissal.

The tribunal ruling said that in May 2022: Mr Govan suggested that supervising that pupils vaping was an aspect of the duty of care owed by teaching staff to pupils.

[Ms Shearer] objected to supervising the vaping, because she thought that it presented a risk of injury given that the pupil had asthma and that other strategies for relieving anxiety should be pursued as an alternative to underage vaping.

The meeting ended, with the headteacher acknowledging he could not make staff supervise the pupil although wished them do so, but Ms Shearer thought Mr Govan appeared angry and frustrated at her response.

Just over a fortnight later, he visited the support base, and told her he had decided to move her to Kear Secondary School from August because she was needed as an English teacher there.

But she became extremely anxious at the prospect of the move, which made her menopause worse and caused stress, anxiety and depression together with high blood pressure.

In August she had a confidential menopause discussion with two senior female managers explaining how the relocation would be detrimental to her health but was told she would have to move.

Ms Shearer went on sick leave with work-related stress, and when she went to occupational health a therapist found change of schools would negatively impact her psychological health and to support her wellbeing she should remain where she was.

Ms Shearer sued South Lanarkshire Council after losing her job in Clydesdale Support Base, part of Kear Campus, pictured

She completed a stress risk assessment, but Mr Govan told deputy head Stewart Miller he did not feel inclined to engage with it.

The tribunal said it showed Mr Govan to be dismissive, intransigent and unhelpful.

She submitted grievances, which were not upheld, and was eventually offered two other roles which were not suitable.

The teacher who had decades of experience was fired in September following year while she was still on sick leave as she was not fit for work.

Employment judge Mark Whitcombe said the school could have sent another one of its English teachers to take up the post.

He said: No reasonable employer would have insisted that [Ms Shearer] teach at Kear Secondary School given the effect of that proposal on the claimants health.

But he found there was no evidence to support her claim that the vaping argument caused her transfer.

However, he upheld her complaints of disability discrimination and unfair dismissal.
A treasure hunter who found an 18th century British Prime Minister's gold ring while trying out his new metal detector in a field has sold it for 9,500.

Tom Clark, 85, swept his new device over a muddy sheep field near Aylesbury, Bucks, when he stumbled upon the seal ring.

He brushed off the dirt and picked out the name of 'Grenvil' engraved around the edge.

He immediately linked it to Grenville Manor, the ancestral home of the Whig MP George Grenville and his family.

Further research established that the ring originally belonged to the former Prime Minister who served from 1763 to 1765.

Tom Clark (pictured), a treasure hunter, 85, found the golden ring in a field

Mr Clark came across the historic item (pictured) while sweeping the device over a muddy sheep field near Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire

It had Grenville's coat of arms engraved on it - a shield quartered with a central cross bearing five roundels and a helmet above.

As well as it being a striking item of jewellery, the ring also served the dual purpose for sealing letters and documents.

The 24 carat gold ring was passed down to his son, also named George, and the find spot is close to what was his residence near Aylesbury.

One theory as to how the ring came to be lost is that there was a bad house fire which resulted in a lot of ruined furniture being buried on the estate.

The ring may have been left in a secret compartment in a desk or sideboard.

The ring sparked a bidding war at London auctioneer's Noonans Mayfair, where it was acquired by a US collector.

Frther research found that the ring originally belonged to George Grenville (pictured), who served as Prime Minister between 1763 and 1765

Mr Clark, a great grandfather from Aylesbury, said: 'The land used to be a very large country estate that is now used for grazing.

'I have been metal detecting for 55 years but I had just got a new top-of-the range model and low and behold the first time I used it I found three items on the same day, including the ring.

'I got a strong signal so thought it was either silver or gold.

'It was about 10 inches down and the thing about gold is that it doesn't matter how long it has been in the ground, soil doesn't stick to it, so it was still so shiny.

'I could read the inscription immediately and I knew the estate once belonged to the Grenville family.

'The arms on the bezel of the ring are those of Grenville, of Wotton Underwood and of Stowe in the county of Buckinghamshire. This is a shield quartered with a central cross bearing five roundels, a helmet placed above the shield has a crest of a sheaf of corn.

A closer look at the historic item, which some believe had been stored in a secret desk compartment and was initially lost in a house fire

'An inscription around reads 'Sigillum Georg de grenvil'.

'The Grenvilles came here after 1066 and the family grew and prospered as landowners. They were very wealthy until the Great Depression in 1929.

'The house burnt down in 1860 and was rebuilt but I think all the ruined material was buried in this field and this ring was left in a secret hiding place in a piece of wooden furniture.

'It is a truly exciting discovery.'

Mr Clark, who found the ring last May, will share the proceeds of the sale 50/50 with the present landowner.

Nigel Mills, artefact and coin expert at Noonans Mayfair, said: 'Just as the country focuses on who will be the next Prime Minister, we are pleased to be looking back to who was in power 260 years ago.

'The ring dates from the 18th century and originally belonged to George Grenville who was Prime Minister from 16 April 1763 to 10 July 1765.

'He tried to reduce Britain's growing debt by raising revenue in the American colonies with the introduction of the Sugar Act, the Currency Act, and the Stamp Act.

'These new laws, especially the Stamp Act, were strongly objected to by the colonists and stirred up protests, which resulted in George III dismissing Grenville.

'The Stamp Act was repealed in 1766, but concerns over taxation ultimately led to the American Revolutionary War of 1775-83.'
Steve Bannon asked a federal appeals court on Tuesday to let him stay out of prison as he pursues another attempt to overturn a two-year-old conviction for criminal contempt of Congress.

Donald Trump's former chief strategist is due to report to prison authorities on July 1, after a ruling in his case last week.

But he launched an 11th hour attempt to stave off his four-month statement by asking the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit to overrule that order.

In an emergency 36-page motion, his legal team argues that imprisonment would prevent him working on the election.

'The government seeks to imprison Mr. Bannon for the four-month period leading up to the November election, when millions of Americans look to him for information on important campaign issues,' wrote Trent McCotter, one of Bannon's lawyers.

Steve Bannon, former advisor to President Donald Trump, and attorney Matthew Evan Corcoran, depart the E. Barrett Prettyman U.S. Courthouse on June 6, 2024 in Washington,

'This would also effectively bar Mr. Bannon from serving as a meaningful adviser in the ongoing national campaign.'

Bannon was sentenced to four months in prison after a jury in 2022 found him guilty on two counts of contempt of Congress for declining to appear before the House investigation into the Jan. 6 attack and for refusing to hand over documents.

However trial judge Carl Nichols allowed him to remain free as he appealed the conviction.

That changed a week ago after a higher court rejected Bannon's appeal. Nichols said he did not believe that the 'original basis' for his stay of the sentence existed any longer.

However, that did not exhaust Bannon's avenues for appeal. And his lawyers have asked for a decision by June 18, so that they can take the case to the Supreme Court if necessary.

'This is a landmark case. The prosecution pursued a novel and aggressive theory of liability, and the case garnered international attention,' wrote McCotter.

'If the panel decision stands, there will be far-reaching consequences, including separation-of-powers concerns.

'Before the prosecution of Mr. Bannon, it had been 50 years since the government convinced a jury to convict someone for not adequately responding to a congressional subpoenaand there has certainly been no shortage of disputes over congressional subpoenas during that time.'

Tear gas is released into a crowd of protesters, with one wielding a Confederate battle flag that reads "Come and Take It," during clashes with Capitol police at a rally to contest the certification of the 2020 U.S. presidential election results by the U.S. Congress, at the U.S. Capitol Building in Washington, U.S, January 6, 2021

Bannon was convicted of failing to comply with a subpoena by the House January 6 Committee

Another former Trump aide, economic advisor Peter Navarro, is currently serving a four-month sentence in a Florida prison after being convicted of similar charges. Navarro helped promote a plan he dubbed the 'Green Bay Sweep' that became part of Trump's election overturn effort.

Bannon has raised a defense of counsel defense saying he relied on a lawyer's advice when failing to comply with a congressional subpoena. Trump also tried to muster such an argument, citing advice by Michael Cohen in the Stormy Daniels payoff.

Bannon helped helm meetings at a strategy 'war room' at the Willard Hotel in Washington that brought together key figures in the election overturn effort.

'I've got great lawyers, and were going to go all the way to the Supreme Court if we have to,' Bannon said outside court last week after being ordered to prison.

'There's nothing that can shut me up and nothing that will shut me up. There's not a prison built or a jail built that will ever shut me up,' he said, while a protester held up a 'Lock them up' sign.

'They're not going to shut up Trump. They're not going to shut up Navarro. They're not going to shut up Bannon, and they're certainly not going to shut up MAGA,' he said.
Hunter Biden will have to learn to be a 'small fish in a big pond' if he is jailed, a leading prison consultant said.

The president's son could serve any jail sentence at one of five federal prison camps located on current or former military bases around the country.

He would be best advised to be 'productive' by getting a job, for example in a prison law library, and not to break inmate protocol by trying to change TV channels.

Hunter would get 510 minutes of phone time a month and have to stand by his bed twice a day for counts.

Prison consultant Sam Mangel told DailyMail.com: 'It can be demeaning. One of the worst problems is boredom.'

US President Joe Biden talks with his son Hunter Biden at Delaware Air National Guard Base in New Castle, Delaware, on June 11, 2024 after Hunter's gun trial conviction

If he is jailed Hunter could be sent to a minimum security federal prison camp on a military base

Hunter was convicted of three felonies on Tuesday.

A jury in Wilmington, Delaware found him guilty of two counts of lying on a federal government form to buy a gun, and one count of possessing the firearm while abusing drugs.

He is expected to be sentenced in about four months.

The legal maximum sentence sis 25 years in jail but there is a strong chance he does not receive a custodial sentence.

However, he faces a second trial on tax charges in California in September which could lead to a stiffer penalty.

Mangel said Hunter may go to one of five minimum federal prison camps on what are now, or were, military bases.

They are in Pensacola, Florida, Montgomery, Alabama, Morgantown, West Virginia, Duluth, Minnesota and Yankton, South Dakota.

Prison consultant Sam Mangel says Hunter would face boredom in prison and it would be best to try to be productive by finding a job that suits his experience

Rather than dormitory housing those prisons have facilities more like college dorms or small rooms, which would mean could be better protected and his Secret Service detail accommodated.

'People are going to be very curious about him,' said Mangel. 'They'll be thirsty for the knowledge that he can bring. In a camp there's a significant number that might have been in prison for 10 to 20 years and come down to a camp.

'He's been exposed to a life 99.999 percent will never have been. He'll be able to share stories with other inmates. He'll be looked up to by some but there will also be be a significant group that might be more conservative and might not have that regard for him.'

However, he said the prospect of a fight or physical attack would be 'extremely low.'

'If you do something stupid people will retaliate. They might throw food on your bed but it doe\s not tend to be physical.'

The Federal Prison Camp, Pensacola (FPC Pensacola), a minimum-security federal prison which is one of several places Hunter could be sent if he receives a jail sentence

The Federal Prison Camp, Pensacola (FPC Pensacola), a minimum-security federal prison which is one of several places Hunter could be sent if he receives a jail sentence

angel has advised Peter Navarro, the former Trump aide sentenced to four months in prison for defying subpoenas over the January 6 riots at the Capitol.

He said: 'I advise all my clients they want to be a little fish in a big pond, they don't want to stand out.

'It's good to be productive, so get a job you have experience with, maybe in the law library.

'Some people want to work o

the military base, and that's a change of environment every day.'.

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

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 would get 510 minutes a month of phone calls and access to prison email.

'Given who he is they will be monitoring. He has to be careful,' said Mangel.

He will have to stand by his bed at 4pm and 10pm for inmate counts.

Hunter would be able to go to AA meetings, and if he goes through the federal Residential Drug Abuse Program (RDAP) program, that could lead to time off any sentence.

'He'll be able to watch TV, he won't necessarily be able to change the channel because there's a protocol,' Mangel said.

Any attack on Hunter would be a 'catastrophe for the Bureau of Prisons so obviously he would be watched more carefully and ultimately he will be safe.'

The gun Hunter bought illegally in October 2018

Hallie Biden, widow of Beau Biden, who had a romantic relationship with Hunter and gave key evidence in the trial

He said the most important thing immediately for Hunter is his pre-sentence report compiled by the probation office.

Even if he is not jailed for the gun offences the report could later be used following any conviction on the tax counts.

It is important to get across details in that interview including remorse.

'That (report) is the bible for him going forward. It determines where he might serve, what programs he might be eligible for,' said Mangel.

'He doesn't get a second pre-sentence interview, that report will carry into a future conviction. You only get one bite at the apple.'
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Rishi Sunak endured a body blow tonight as a snap poll found Keir Starmer came out on top in a crucial election grilling live on TV.

YouGov found viewers thought the Labour leader performed better in the Sky News special by 64 per cent to 36 per cent.

Both men received questions from Sky News' Political Editor Beth Rigby and a live audience in Grimsby who challenged them on a range of issues ahead of the election on July 4.

Our live coverage has now ended but see below for a full recap of tonight's leaders' event on Sky News
One of Washington state's most enigmatic landmarks has been identified as the result of a short-lived experiment in ships made of concrete more than a century ago.

The 'cement ship' lying abandoned on a sandbar outside of DuPont has puzzled visitors to the area since the 1960s.

Split into two pieces after decades of battering from the waters of Nisqually Reach, the massive hulk still attracts curious sightseers who can walk to it at low tide.

But the 100 foot ship was launched as part of a bold attempt to build ocean-going concrete 'tank boats' to transport fresh water along the coast of the US in the years after the First World War.

'The over-arching conditions at the time, those that led to the US concrete ship construction program was a scarcity of vessels during wartime, combined with a shortage of steel,' wrote bloggers Richard Lewis and Erlend Bonderud.

'We are under no illusions that we are extremely, compulsively and rather eccentrically, obsessed with this subject matter.'

The 'cement ship' lying abandoned on a sandbar outside of DuPont has puzzled visitors to the area since the 1960s

But it started life in 1919 as one of a fleet of ocean-going concrete 'tank boats' designed to transport fresh water along the coast of the US

The boat was named Captain Barker and was one of five built by the Great Northern Concrete Shipbuilding Company in the spring of 1919.

They costed $80,000 each - $1.4 million in today's money, and were designed to carry 52,000 gallons of fresh water each.

They could be built quickly but their heavy construction made them sit low in the water and just two of them survived more than a year with the rest sinking in storms.

'Seafaring men in Portland took an 'I told you so' smile today when they heard of the disasters which overtook the army tug Slocum and her escort of concrete barges off the Oregon shore,' the News-Pilot reported in January 1920.

The stone boats were not properly constructed for sea trips, and the trip down the coast should never have been undertaken, commented sea captains'.

Experimental boats made of concrete were first built in 1848 and the British navy built and launched 64 immediately after the First World War.

The US built 104 during the Second World War as it struggled to get naval production up to speed after the attack on Pearl Harbor, seven of which remain afloat today.

The 491-ton Captain Barker launched on March 3, 1919 but was quickly docked for repairs after its first sea trials revealed steering problems.

The fleet was also dogged by the lack of internal baffles which allowed sea water to slosh about the already unstable boats.

The Captain Barker was tugged by the Slocum from Vancouver to Astoria in January 1920 with a Captain Enos Crawford in charge.

It was put up for sale that October when its manufacturer filed for bankruptcy.

And it was more than 18 months before it found a buyer from the Rouse Towboat Company which renamed it Foss 103 and used as a sludge-disposal barge.

Its inglorious career came to an end in the 1960s when it was scuttled on the shore of Nisqually Reach where it lies to this day.

Its one surviving sister ship, the Captain Bootes, had been scuttled in the 1950s outside Everett.

But the wrecks of both boats have now spent half a century serving as valuable breakwaters, protecting their respective shorelines from tidal erosion, according to Chris Staudinger, the co-founder of Pretty Gritty Tours.

Split into two pieces after decades of battering from the waters of Nisqually Reach, the massive hulk still attracts curious sightseers who can walk to it at low tide

'This was especially favorable for the action because of it being concrete,' he told the News Tribune.

'They knew it was going to stick around for longer.'

'Whilst on our concrete ship research journey, we became acutely aware that the internet is literally littered with Urban Myths, half truths, fantasy and fiction about concrete ships,' wrote Lewis and Bonderud on their blog thecretefleet.com.

'We are always looking for the slightest clue as to where a concrete vessel, that we know was built, is today. We have found literally hundreds of them.'
A 59-year-old American tourist has been missing since Tuesday after going on a solo hike in the Greek island of Amorgos, just days after British television host and celebrity doctor Michael Mosley was found dead after going out walking in Greece.

The unnamed man, who according to Greek news outlet Ekathimerini is a retired police officer, departed from the port settlement of Aegiali in the northwest of the island shortly after 7 am.

His intended destination was Katapola, the island's main port along the western coast of the island. The trail is estimated to take around four hours.

After he failed to return after eight hours, he was reported missing by a friend.

A rescue operation was launched on Tuesday afternoon, and reinforcements were called in from Naxos island.

According to Ekathimerini, police have requested data from mobile operators to help determine the man's last known location.

A 59-year-old American tourist has been missing since Tuesday after going on a solo hike in the Greek island of Amorgos (File image)

While the missing tourist name has not been revealed, his girlfriend Debbie LeShane. posted on Facebook about his disappearance.

The social media post said: 'Hello, yo may have seen on the news we are looking for my boyfriend that left for a hike yesterday about 7 am. He was traveling from Aegiali to Katapola. He was seen in Chora. He is still missing. You may see helicopters circling in a few hours plus rescue teams on the ground. If you have seen him please send me a message. Thank you.'

An X user, formerly Twitter, posted on the social platform about the missing tourist.

'Saw search helicopter go over a few hours ago searching for this man. Incredibly hot here on Amorgos, and walking trails completely exposed to heat. Madness to be walking.'

Deputy Mayor of Amorgos Calliope Despotidi said: 'Calibet is well-known on the island. He has been visiting for several years, adding that the tourist 'had completed the Aegiali-Ketapola hike several times in the past'.

The American tourist's disappearance comes after British presenter and celebrity doctor Michael Mosey was found dead on Sunday in the Greek island of Symi. He had gone missing four days before when he set off on a walk on his own.

An autopsy on Monday revealed that the popular TV medic and Mail columnist died of 'natural causes' around two and a half hours after leaving his wife to head for a walk.

Dr Mosley, 67, was found dead by a fence at the resort of Agia Marina on Sunday morning just 260 feet from a beach bar and safety.

The initial post-mortem examination carried out by Rhodes coroner Despina Nethena showed that there was no third party involvement and no 'criminal' element involved - but a definite cause of death has yet to be established.

Police and the coroner are also investigating footage from the restaurant seen by MailOnline which shows Dr Mosley wandering in a confused state for twenty minutes before collapsing last Wednesday.

Temperatures at the time had been nudging 40C and the excessive heat is thought to have played a role in his death.

In the video he appears to pause momentarily by the perimeter wall, resting one hand on it and then he loses his balance and disappears from sight.

Searing heat in Greece has prompted a mini lockdown for two days starting today, with some schools closing and the Acropolis in Athens restricting visiting hours.

The sweltering temperatures have prompted the Health Ministry to issue a warning to older people or people with illnesses to stay indoors. Greek authorities have also advised anyone who works outdoors to avoid strenuous activity from noon to 5pm.
The director of the Brooklyn Museum and several of its Jewish board members have been targeted in an anti-Semitic attack by pro-Palestine vandals.

Director Anne Pasternak's building was sprayed with red paint and a sign calling her a 'white-supremacist Zionist' was put up overnight.

The vandals also wrote 'blood on your hands' in red paint on the floor and put a red inverted triangle on the front door - a symbol that's been used by Hamas to identify military targets.

It comes less than two weeks after a pro-Palestinian organization named Within Our Lifetime urged demonstrators to 'flood Brooklyn Museum for Gaza.'

The group said it was occupying the museum to compel it to disclose any Israel-related investments and to divest any such funding. They did not specify how specifically the museum was connected to the war in Gaza.

The Brooklyn Heights coop apartment building of museum director Anne Pasternak was vandalized with red paint and a sign calling her a 'white-supremacist Zionist'

NYC Comptroller Brad Lander shared images of the building and said: 'The cowards who did this are way over the line into antisemitism, harming the cause they claim to care about, and making everyone less safe.'

Police sources told NBC New York that officials are lookin for about 15 suspects, who were last seen in the Upper East Side in Manhattan in a white U-Haul truck.

Mayor Eric Adams said on X: 'This is not peaceful protest or free speech. This is a crime, and it's overt, unacceptable antisemitism. These actions will never be tolerated in New York City for any reason.

'I'm sorry to Anne Pasternak and members of @brooklynmuseum's board who woke up to hatred like this. I spoke to Anne this morning and committed that this hate will not stand in our city.

'The NYPD is investigating and will bring the criminals responsible here to justice.'

The vandals also wrote 'blood on your hands' in red paint on the floor and put a red inverted triangle on the front door - a symbol that's been used by Hamas to identify military targets

NYC Comptroller Brad Lander shared images of the building and said: 'The cowards who did this are way over the line into antisemitism.' Museum director Anne Pasternak is pictured

Several New York lawmakers have also spoken up about the vandalism against Pasternak and others.

Democratic Brooklyn councilman Lincoln Restler said: 'Disgusting & horrible incident of vandalism happened over night in Brooklyn Heights & other locations affiliated with Bk Museum. This anti-Semitic incident is despicable.'

And governor Kathy Hochul said, 'This is an abhorrent act of antisemitism and it has no place in New York or anywhere else.

'We stand with the Jewish community in the face of hate and will continue to fight antisemitism wherever it rears its ugly head.'

The Brooklyn Museum said it was: 'deeply troubled by these horrible acts.'

On May 31, pro-Palestinian protesters took over parts of the Brooklyn Museum, hanging a banner above the main entrance, occupying much of the lobby and scuffling with police.

On May 31, pro-Palestinian protesters took over parts of the Brooklyn Museum, hanging a banner above the main entrance, occupying much of the lobby and scuffling with police

A a pro-Palestinian organization named Within Our Lifetime urged demonstrators to 'flood Brooklyn Museum for Gaza'

The art museum said it closed an hour early because of the disruption, including skirmishes between police and protesters that took place inside and outside the building.

Some 34 people were detained at the scene but no charges were filed.

A demonstration continued outside the museum hours after the initial confrontation, but the spokesperson could not say whether any protesters remained inside.

One of the arrests was of a man who defaced an outdoor sculpture with graffiti, a Reuters witness said.

Several protesters scrawled messages on the OY/YO sculpture on the plaza outside the entrance.

A banner was hung from atop the neoclassical facade proclaiming, 'Free Palestine, Divest From Genocide.'

Some 34 people were arrested at the protest at the museum last month

'There was damage to existing and newly installed artwork on our plaza,' a museum spokesperson said

'There was damage to existing and newly installed artwork on our plaza,' a museum spokesperson said .

'Protesters entered the building, and our public safety staff were physically and verbally harassed.

'Out of a concern for the building, our collections, and our staff, the decision was made to close the building an hour early,' and the public was asked to vacate peacefully, the statement said.

Demonstrations against the war in Gaza have continued in the United States, largely on college campuses.

The Israeli-Palestinian war began when Hamas militants attacked Israel on October 7, killing 1,200 people.

Palestinian health authorities, under the control of Hamas, estimate more than 36,280 people have been killed in Gaza since Israel responded.

The US government's role in supporting Israel is in the war has become a hot issue as the presidential election in November nears.
An Extinction Rebellion activist who caused more than 300,000 worth of damage after she and five others attacked JPMorgan's European headquarters with hammers and chisels has been jailed for 10 months.

Amy Pritchard, 38, along with Stephanie Aylett, 29, Adelheid Russenberger, 32, Rosemary Webster, 66, and Pamela Bellinger, 66, smashed the custom-built revolving door and a large glazed panel at the entrance to the US bank's Victoria Embankment offices in the City of London.

Pritchard told Inner London Crown Court that the policies of JP Morgan had led to the deaths of 'hundreds of thousands of children'.

But Judge Silas Reid had asked the jury to 'put aside sympathy or prejudice' when the trial began.

Amy Pritchard, 38, (pictured) told Inner London Crown Court that the policies of JP Morgan had led to the deaths of 'hundreds of thousands of children'

The group of five XR protesters smashed up windows and a glass revolving door at the headquarters of JPMorgan

He said: 'You may have views about those actions or organisations, you may have views about climate change.

'This is not a trial about climate change. It is a trial about criminal damage.

'It is nothing more than that and nothing less.'

Pritchard, former medical device representative Aylett, PhD student Russenberger, retired cook and beekeeper Webster and vegetable grower Bellinger were convicted of causing criminal damage after a two-week trial.

Judge Reid sentenced Pritchard to 12 months in jail but reduced the term to 10 months due to prison overcrowding.

The other four defendants were handed suspended sentences and ordered to perform a total of 330 hours of unpaid work.

All five women have lodged appeals against conviction.

Prosecutor Brett Weaver earlier said the activists made their way to JP Morgan early on September 1, 2021.

'One of the security staff at the premises saw them approaching and recognised that some form of protest action was about to take place.

'The defendants climbed over the temporary railings that were positioned in front of the entrance area.

'They began to strike at the glass doors of the building using hammers, chisels and other implements.

'As they did so, cracks began to appear in the glass and one of the hinged doors shattered effectively.

'Security staff sought to usher them away but it was only once the glass had been damaged that the defendants and their companions moved back over the temporary railings and onto the street.'

When police arrived at the scene, they found a group of protestors seated on the ground in a circle in front of the building.

'In front of the group, on the ground, were a number of implements, such as hammers and chisels,' said the prosecutor.

Jurors heard police recovered CCTV footage and various social media postings after the incident.

Mr Weaver said the protestors left 'damage to the revolving door, one of the hinged doors, and the larger glass panel which surrounded the hinged door'.

He added: 'Pamela Bellinger was seen to strike at the revolving door, thereby causing damage.

'Amy Pritchard had implements in her hands which she used to strike at the hinged door, thereby causing damage.

'Stephanie Aylett was also someone seen to strike at the revolving door.'

When police arrived at the scene, they found a group of protestors seated on the ground in a circle in front of the building

The prosecutor said Aylett was wearing clothing with a 'number of coloured signs attached to her, most obviously the pink sign on her back which stated 'Deeds not words'.

He added: 'Russenberger was seen to use implements to strike at both the revolving door and the hinged door.'

Jurors were shown an image showing Russenberger 'moving towards the hinged door and, again, she can be seen to bend down by that door and make a striking motion'.

Webster was seen damaging the large, glazed panel on the frontage of the building, the court heard.

Mr Weaver said: 'It can therefore be seen from the footage and the stills that each defendant had, individually and collectively, damaged the glass windows and doors at the premises.

'Their actions, coupled with the fact that they also had implements intended to be used to damage the glass, demonstrate that each of them was part of a coordinated plan to cause both disruption and damage to that building.

'As a result of their actions, the damage caused was significant. The glass doors had to be replaced. More significantly, the large, glazed panel had to be replaced entirely.

'The loss caused from their actions was a substantial one, it cost many thousands of pounds to repair that damage.'

Mr Weaver said the point of their actions was to 'disrupt the lawful business of JP Morgan and draw attention to their cause'.

He added: 'The issue will be whether any or all of them had any lawful defence to causing such damage.

'This case is not about the rights and wrongs of the government's climate policy or the activities of financial institutions in respect of fossil fuels.

'Nor is it about whether the motives behind the actions of Extinction Rebellion are right or wrong.'

During legal arguments Judge Reid had ruled Aylett and her co-defendants could talk about their beliefs in relation to climate change in front of the jury.

He said: 'Ms Aylett is entitled to tell the jury about her beliefs. She is entitled to say what her beliefs about climate change are.

'I would be shocked, having previously dealt with Ms Aylett, if the jury came to any conclusion other than that she holds her beliefs about climate change with anything other than the utmost honesty.

'They are perfectly entitled to talk about their beliefs in relation to climate change. What they hoped to achieve must be relevant.

'The depth to which they have feelings about something is potentially very important.

'What will not happen is the defendants using the witness box to further any protest.'

Giving evidence Russenberger told jurors: 'Protest and direct action can, and does, lead to change.

'It's through protest and direct action that we have the right to vote even if we don't own property.

'That women have the right to vote, it led to the civil rights in the UK and it contributed to anti-apartheid in South Africa, it's given us LGBT rights and disability rights.

'So, breaking windows as part of civil disobedience and direct action, could give us the change we needed.

'So, on August 30 I said 'yeah' I would go and break one of the windows'.

'I was confident it was the right thing to do and the board members of JP Morgan would see it was the right thing to do.'

In her closing speech Russenberger told jurors: 'I do deny that the damage was criminal, not all damage is criminal.

'I thought about how the board at JP Morgan would surely want to know about what was happening.

'The prosecution said I was going to damage the building come what may but that is not the case.

'I have never suggested that the board members of JP Morgan knew what they were doing was wrong.

'I damaged a window because I believed that the board members of JP Morgan would consent to the damage.'

Pritchard, of Walthamstow, Aylett, of St Albans, Herts, Bellinger, of Leicester, Russenberger, of Richmond-upon-Thames, southwest London and Webster, of Dorchester, Dorset, all denied but were convicted of criminal damage.

Natasha Walter, writer and campaigner, said: 'The women who took this action against the biggest financier of fossil fuels in the world are carrying forward a vital legacy of nonviolent civil disobedience.

'As with the Suffragettes who broke the law in order to make the case for progressive change, these women should not be seen as criminals.

'The real criminals are those who, despite all the evidence that we are on track to create an unliveable climate for future generations, continue to pour money into oil and gas and continue to drive us into a dangerously warming world.'

Arizona Muse, fashion model, mother and environmentalist said: 'I have so much admiration for the forward-thinking, community-minded actions taken by these brave women waving the XR flag.

'I know that in the future we will look back on them and we will all be grateful for their selflessness and courage.'
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre refused to rule out President Joe Biden commuting son Hunter's sentence for buying a gun while addicted to crack cocaine.

'I haven't spoken to the president about this since the verdict came out. And as we all know, the sentencing hasn't even been scheduled yet,' Jean-Pierre said in a gaggle with reporters on board Air Force One Wednesday.

Politico reported Tuesday that Biden had complained that Hunter even facing trial was thanks to partisan politics.

'If I weren't running for reelection, he would have gotten the plea deal,' the president told a confidant earlier this month, a source familiar with the conversation told the publication.

But still, the president had previously vowed not to pardon his son.

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre refused to rule out President Joe Biden commuting son Hunter's sentence for buying a gun while addicted to crack cocaine

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre was questioned about Hunter's gun conviction on board Air Force One Wednesday en route to Italy

As president, Biden has the power to commute federal sentences.

A commutation would allow Hunter to escape jail time or other punishment for the three federal gun charges - but his conviction would still stand.

Asked again if she was ruling out the president commuting his son's punishment, Jean-Pierre punted for a second time.

'What I'm saying is that the president, I have not spoken to the president about this. And what I'm saying is he was asked about a pardon he was asked about, he was asked about the trial specifically, he answered it very clearly, very forthright. As we know the sentencing hasn't even been scheduled yet. I don't have anything beyond what the president said. He's been very clear about this,' she noted.

Hunter Biden faces a maximum of 25 years in prison for the three felony counts.

As a first-time offender, he could get probation, home confinement, or community service.

His sentencing date hasn't been set yet but Judge Maryellen Noreika noted they are usually set for about four months out.

That would put it just weeks ahead of the November presidential election.

Hunter also will have to undergo an interview with a probation board, which is standard procedure.

The president changed his schedule Tuesday after Hunter was found guilty on all three gun charges.

He took Marine One to Delaware Air National Guard where he had a dramatic reunion with Hunter, wife Melissa and baby Beau in front of reporters - hugging all three family members before stepping into his black SUV.

So far Biden has only offered a statement to the press and hasn't taken question on Hunter's conviction.

Jean-Pierre offered little else - refusing to even say how much time Biden spent with Hunter, Melissa, Beau and other Biden family members.
Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer are bracing for another crucial TV election grilling tonight as the PM desperately tries to shake off a series of gaffes.

As the campaign reaches the halfway point, the PM and his Labour opponent will both be interrogated on Sky News and face questions from a live studio audience.

The programme could be a pivotal moment for Mr Sunak, after another difficult day on the campaign trail. Mr Sunak has apologised for coming back early from D-Day commemorations last week to do an ITV interview, but footage has emerged showing him apologising that the events 'ran on'.

He also told the broadcaster that hardship in his childhood was going without Sky TV so his parents could afford to send him to elite public school Winchester.

Some Tories are nervous that Mr Sunak is showing a propensity for blunders, with one gloomily observing it seems like 'everything he touches turns to sh**'.

The party veteran suggested Mr Sunak was in a doom loop where 'nothing is a gaffe for Labour and everything is a gaffe for the Tories'.

The Conservative website previously featured a big photo of Mr Sunak with a button asking voters to 'join Rishi'. However, since the manifesto launch yesterday his images are much less prominent.

A YouGov survey today laid bare the scale of the task Mr Sunak faces, with Labour 20 points ahead. Sir Keir's outfit were supported by 38 per cent of voters, with the Conservatives on just 18 per cent.

The Tory vote share was the joint lowest since 2019 and only one point ahead of Reform UK (17 per cent) and three points ahead of the Lib Dems (15 per cent).

In a Sky News programme this evening, Rishi Sunak (pictured arriving) will look to sell his tax-cutting plans to voters

Keir Starmer arrived in Grimsby tonight, where the leaders will be quizzed by Sky News' political editor Beth Rigby and audience members in a live show

The Conservative website previously featured a big photo of Mr Sunak with a button asking voters to 'join Rishi'

However, since the manifesto launch yesterday the PM's images are much less prominent

The latest YouGov survey found Labour were supported by 38 per cent of voters ahead of the general election on 4 July, with the Conservatives backed by 18 per cent

The PM is expected to hammer home his tax-cutting plans on the Sky News programme this evening, after unveiling the Conservative manifesto yesterday.

If he stays in power, he has promised to oversee another 2p cut to National Insurance to reduce the tax to 6 per cent by April 2027.

The PM also pledged that NICs will be abolished altogether for four million self-employed over the next Parliament, as part of his 17billion of tax cuts.

Both the PM and Sir Keir will be quizzed by Sky News' political editor Beth Rigby and audience members in a live show from Grimsby later today.

Last week's ITV debate between Mr Sunak and the Labour leader saw the political rivals clash over tax in fiery head-to-head exchanges.

Labour figures were left fuming at the PM's 'lies' about their tax plans, after Mr Sunak berated Sir Keir for plotting to hike the tax burden for Brits by 2,000.

The PM was dealt a blow ahead of tonight's Sky News programme as the UK economy was shown to have flatlined in April, according to latest figures.

The Office for National Statistics reported that growth domestic product (GDP) was flat during the month following growth of 0.4 per cent in March.

The data will present a headache for the PM, who told voters the economy had 'turned a corner' after it emerged from recession in the second half of last year.

Mr Sunak is also facing a fresh row over D-Day after it was revealed how he blamed the late-running commemoration events for his delayed arrival to a TV interview.

The PM has suffered days of outrage after he skipped a major international ceremony with other world leaders in Normandy last week.

Last week's ITV debate between Mr Sunak and the Labour leader saw the political rivals clash over tax in fiery head-to-head exchanges

The row deepened when it later emerged Mr Sunak had conducted an ITV interview on his return from northern France last Thursday.

In a clip of that interview now released by the broadcaster, the PM has been shown apologising for his late arrival - suggesting he wanted to leave Normandy earlier.

'Very nice to see you, sorry to have kept you,' Mr Sunak said to journalist Paul Brand, adding of the D-Day 80th anniversary commemorations: 'It all just ran over.

'It was incredible but it just ran over... so apologies for keeping you.'

Mr Sunak's political opponents seized on the 'insulting' exchange to claim it showed how the PM viewed D-Day as an 'inconvenience'.
A North Carolina Spanish teacher has been accused of raping a 14-year-old student.

Heydi Monroy, 37, was arrested on Tuesday and charged with statutory rape and other crimes following a probe by Wellcome Middle School officials in Greenville.

A school resource officer reportedly launched a probe following a report by another worker. According to court documents seen by WITN, the crimes were on April 5.

Pitt County Schools Public Information Officer said Monroy, who is originally from Colombia, is no longer an employee at the middle school.

Spanish teacher Heydi Monroy, 37, has been accused of raping a 14-year-old student

Monroy had been working at the school since August 2022.

She is being held without bond as of Wednesday.

It comes as dozens of female teachers have been arrested this year across the nation for sex crimes involving students - as the seeming number of 'cougars in the classroom' continues to grow.

A long line of female teachers allegedly involved with youngsters across the country dominates headlines.

DailyMail.com discovered that 25 female teachers had been arrested in 16 states in only the last 12 months - and it is feared to be merely the tip of the iceberg as there appears to be no centralized data collection to track this disturbing trend.

Monroy, originally from Colombia, had been working at the school since August 2022

Pitt County Schools Public Information Officer said Monroy is no longer an employee at Wellcome Middle School in Greenville

In April, married New Jersey teacher Jessica Sawicki, 37, was arrested after cops found her half-naked in the back seat of a teen's car at a wildlife center. The mother-of-two allegedly admitted to police she and the student had 'unprotected' sex at least five times.

In Nebraska, 45-year-old Erin Ward was arrested after being caught naked in the backseat with a teen boy. The substitute teacher is married to a Department of Defense official and was quickly arrested at the scene by police.

Many of the accused female teachers charged in the last year are married and one was even named teacher of the year.

The teachers are enticing students with sexually-charged texts, nude photos and videos, before and during physical encounters, police say.

Between 2017 and 2022, at least 1,895 teachers have had unfavorable action taken against their credentials by state education licensing boards for sexual misconduct and inappropriate relationships that may not be of a sexual nature, according to the nonprofit National Association of State Directors of Teacher Education and Certification.

That figure is an underestimation since many states do not provide the reason why a teacher's credentials was suspended or revoked.
Rishi Sunak again fell into the trap of talking about his upbringing, missing opportunities to discuss politics in a tense interview with ITV Tonight, political commentator Andrew Pierce said on the Mail's podcast The Reaction.

In conversation with Sarah Vine, Mr Pierce said the Prime Minister would do better to stay on topic with politics and brush off critique of his background to avoid 'getting himself into that box'.

Asked how he could relate to ordinary voters, Mr Sunak told ITV Tonight his parents had sacrificed 'lots of things' when he was a child, including Sky TV, as they wanted to 'put everything into our education'.

The Prime Minister, who was educated at Winchester College, was lampooned for his comments in the interview aired today, itself a source of controversy after revelations he left D-Day commemoration events in France to attend.

'He's thinking he's got to try and say "I'm not privileged because I won a scholarship",' assessed Mr Pierce. 'He should have just said, "I was one of the lucky ones. My family worked very hard...'

'He walked straight into a trap, led by the nose, so instead of talking about the manifesto on TV, we're talking about Sky telly.'

Listen to The Reaction:

Mr Pierce suggested that former Prime Minister Boris Johnson had managed to better navigate questions about his youth despite coming from a similarly wealthy background.

'Boris Johnson never had this problem. [He] was incredibly privileged. He didn't win a scholarship to Eton. His family sent him to Eton, the richest school in Britain.

'They had a big estate. They had a big farm down in the West Country. Boris would just parry those questions away.'

'But there's Rishi, because he's married into... one of the richest families in India. He's thinking he's got to try and say "I'm not privileged because [I] won a scholarship,' he continued.

'He should have just said "I was one of the lucky ones. My family worked very hard. My Dad's a doctor. Have I told you that before? My mum's a pharmacist. Have I told you that before?

'He could have repeated that old, boring canard and said, "I was very lucky"... I'd say if it was me, I could have listed some of the things we struggled with when we were growing up but it's tiresome, but it's boring.'

The Prime Minister spoke to ITV Tonight about his upbringing and the sacrifices of his parents

Mr Sunak left the D-Day ceremony in Normandy last week to film the interview, aired tonight

Sarah Vine suggested the insistent focus on the Prime Minister's background comes from a 'very peculiarly English, British things' - an 'obsession with... you're only good if you come from a poor background'.

'Yet again, this tin-earred Prime Minister with his tin-earred advisors... if I'd been in the room I'd have been going, gesticulating, "don't answer that question",' replied Mr Pierce.

'And he walked straight into a trap, led by the nose, so instead of talking about the manifesto on TV, we're talking about Sky telly.'

Ms Vine dismissed Labour leader Keir Starmer's 'counter' that his family 'didn't have enough money to fix a window or something like that'.

'I tweeted: "I grew up without a telly. Does that mean I can be Prime Minister?" I mean, it's not a competition guys, it really isn't.'

Mr Pierce and Ms Vine discussed the comments in the context of the fallout from Rishi Sunak's early return from Normandy.

The Reaction also covered the effect of the Covid lockdowns on children, practical solutions to improving the NHS, and spoke on their memories of Mail columnist Michael Mosley as an 'authentic' and 'incredibly admirable' colleague.

This week's episode of The Reaction is now available to stream.
Wearing a seat belt while riding in a vehicle is universally considered to be the first step of car safety but some Americans are legally not obligated wear one.

In 1984, New York became the first state to pass the seatbelt law required everybody to wear one and soon after most other states followed suit - making it the most successful security campaign ever run in the US.

But the state of New Hampshire has never implemented this safety law for adults and only has one for those under 18.

According to Governors Highway Safety Association, neither a primary nor a secondary seatbelt law is set in place for adults in the state.

People in New Hampshire are asked to only follow a primary child passenger safety law that covers minors.

People in New Hampshire are asked to only follow a primary child passenger safety law that covers minors. There is no seatbelt safety law in place for adults (stock image)

According to this law, those below the age of seven and shorter than 57 inches must be secured by an approved restraint system such as a booster seat while those between the ages of seven and 18 need to be buckled up.

A bill to make seatbelt wearing mandatory in the House of Representatives was reportedly shot down in 2009 as opponents said it is not the government's place to force citizens to wear a seat belt, according to the the New Hampshire Public Radio.

They also argue that primary seatbelt laws give law enforcement an excuse to stop motorists even if no other infraction has been committed, which could increase minority profiling.

Americans in other states have also begun to follow suit and refuse to wear seatbelts - despite it being a requirement by state law.

Over 1,900 Minnesota drivers and passengers who were not wearing seat belts were pulled over by officials during a two-week seatbelt enforcement period that ended last week.

According to the Minnesota Department of Public Safety, this was a huge improvement from last year's 2,400 citations.

Over 1,900 Minnesota drivers and passengers who were not wearing seat belts were pulled over by officials during a two-week seatbelt enforcement period that ended last week

Last year, 84 unbelted motorists died in crashes on state roads, according to preliminary data from the Department.

In 2022, 87 people who were not wearing seat belts died while about 110 passed away in 2021, according to the Star Tribune.

These numbers have not deterred those who are against wearing seatbelts.

According to the South Lake Minnetonka Police, a driver they once pulled over for not wearing a safety belt said: 'If I'm meant to die, I'll die.'

Recent death-causing incidents have also shown how important it is to buckle up while driving.

In September 2023, a baby girl died when the BMW her dad was driving crashed and she was flung from it - after he failed to put her in a baby seat or even secure her with a seatbelt.

The horror smash that killed the infant, named only as Nylah online, happened in Goodyear, Arizona, on the afternoon of September 17.

A nine-month-baby girl has died in a horror crash after being ejected from a BMW that she'd been left in unsecured, when it smashed into a Utility pole in Arizona. A beaming picture of young Nylah sitting among toys was posted to a Go Fund Me page started by the family

The infant and the man were thrown from the powerful vehicle around the noon. The vehicle was smashed (pictured)

The 30-year-old driver, her father Larry, was taken to hospital with life threatening injuries.

Maricopa County Sheriff's Office told AZ Family that there was no car seat found in the vehicle and neither had been wearing seat belts at the time.

Family wrote: 'Hello everyone, it is with a heavy heart today we ask for your help to raise money to help Cinthya our niece with funeral expenses for their sweet angel Nylah and to help with medical costs as Larry heals in hospital care.

'She is a stay at home Mom and cared for Nylah everyday, while Larry was the sole income source for their family.

'Please pray for the Lawal/Luna/Zamora family in these difficult moments. We thank you in advance, God bless!'

The mangled remains of the vehicle were ushered away from the crash site as concerned neighbors grappled with the tragedy which unfolded near their homes.

Nearly a year ago, a toddler who was reportedly not wearing a seatbelt also died after she was thrown from a car that ran a red light and crashed, landing on top of her.

Annalise Renee Nava, 3, who was reportedly not wearing a seatbelt died after she was thrown from a car that ran a red light and crashed, landing on top of her in Waco, Texas on Thursday

Witnesses at the scene in Waco, Texas lifted the car off 3-year-old Annalise Renee Nava and 'began life-saving measures' on the child in May 2023, police said.

But despite their best efforts, the little girl could not be saved and died from her injuries at a nearby hospital.

Waco police said in a Facebook post that the 'unsecured 3-year-old girl' was thrown from the car and it 'landed on top of her.'

The driver of the Chevy Lumina ran a red light at the intersection of South 17th Street and Clay Avenue, and crashed into another vehicles, which sent both into a third vehicle, police said.

The toddler, who was 'unsecured,' police said, was ejected from the Lumina, which then landed on top of her.

According to Texas law, children under the age of eight or smaller than 4 feet, 9 inches tall are required to be secured in a child safety seat.
Transgender prisoners must not be publicly named to prevent harmful consequences to their privacy, the SNP Government has said.

Officials said politicians were putting inmates who have changed gender at risk by discussing their cases in parliament, or in media interviews.

A United Nations report disclosed that Scottish civil servants had voiced concern about the potential threat to the privacy of transgender criminals of naming them in public.

The disclosure comes after the row over transgender rapist Isla Bryson, who was initially sent to a womens prison after being convicted of rape while living as a man.

Last night Scottish Tory deputy justice spokesman Sharon Dowey said: This is another classic example of the SNP pandering to the needs of criminals by pursuing a soft touch approach to justice.

SNP government officials raised privacy concerns about publicly naming transgender prisoners like rapist Isla Bryson, who was convicted of rape whilst living as a man

The Isla Bryson scandal exposed the dangers of the SNP gender self-ID policy in Scotlands justice system when a dangerous male-bodied criminal was able to gain access to a womens prison.

The public will be alarmed to learn that predatory criminals could be protected in this manner, especially offenders who have committed rape.

SNP ministers should put victims first rather than thinking of what will help criminals.

United Nations human rights experts have published a series of reports on transgender policies around the world.

One produced following a visit to Scotland in May last year  after the Bryson row  detailed discussions with SNP Government officials.

The report said: With such a small number of trans persons in custody, there was concern about the potentially harmful consequences of those individuals identities having been exposed and debated so publicly in the media and in parliament.

Even in cases of individuals who had been convicted but not yet sentenced, a [Scottish Government] official noted that privacy concerns had not stopped politicians from naming some of those individuals, which also resulted in the public airing and sharing of views that were not completely accurate in relation to their cases.

Such practices appeared to diverge from existing guidelines and good practices.

The UN Independent Expert on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity  Costa Rican lawyer Victor-Madrigal Borloz - visited Scotland on May 2, 2023, to assess the human rights of LGBT people.

In October last year, a transgender butcher was jailed for sexually abusing a schoolgirl after luring her into a car while dressed as a woman.

Andrew Miller, who was known as Amy George when he ran a butcher shop in the Scottish Borders, was sentenced to 20 years in jail for abducting the child and subjecting her to a catalogue of assaults.

Lord Arthurson said the abduction of the child had been brazen and chilling and that his victim would obviously not have agreed to enter his car had he presented as a male.

Miller took the child home and subjected her to an ordeal described as nauseating in its level of depravity and criminal deviance by the judge.

The former butcher was not considered to be sent to a womens prison owing to rule changes following the Bryson case.

Bryson was initially sent to Scotlands only womens prison  Cornton Vale in Stirling - in January 2023 after being convicted of rape while living as a man.

The double rapist was moved to a male prison following public outrage but has continued to identify as a woman.

Bryson attacked two women in Clydebank and Glasgow in 2016 and 2019 while known as Adam Graham.

The judge said Bryson posed a high risk of reoffending and would be supervised for three years after release.

The case sparked a debate over whether Bryson should be housed in a male or a female prison after transitioning from a man to a woman.

Last night a Scottish Prison Service (SPS) spokesman said: We seek to be as open and transparent as possible, while also upholding our statutory obligation to ensure those in our care have their personal information protected.

A Scottish Government spokesman said: As is known, the Scottish Government and SPS cannot comment on the specific cases of individual prisoners in line with data protection obligations.

Since this visit took place, the SPS have published their transgender policy.
South Florida has been deluged by a once-in-a-millennium downpour bringing mass flooding and triggering travel misery.

Parts of the Sunshine State were drenched by up to ten inches of rain on Tuesday, as more than a month's rainfall fell in a single night.

Miami and Fort Lauderdale were among the worst hit, but many counties remain under flash flood alerts.

Forecasters are still warning motorists to avoid I-75, where four inches of rain had fallen in a single hour on Wednesday.

Flights were also disrupted, with more than 120 journeys cancelled or delayed due to the record-breaking rain between midday on Tuesday and this afternoon, according to Flight Aware.

South Florida has been deluged by a once-in-a-millennium downpour bringing mass flooding and triggering travel misery. Pictured: Stalled vehicles sit in a flooded street on June 12, 2024 in Aventura, Florida

Video on social media showed submerged vehicles struggling to make it across flooded roads in Sarasota, while stalled vehicles sat in soaked streets in Aventura.

There were similar scenes in Miami, where a heavy storm system was seen hanging above the skies before the torrent fell.

'Significant rainfall has fallen in a short period of time, likely leading to impassable roadways over metropolitan portions of Miami-Dade County, specifically near Downtown Miami and surrounding neighborhoods,' The National Weather Service Wrote.

'Remember never to attempt to drive through flooded roadways.'

The Tampa Bay area was hit by eight inches of rain in three hours, a meteorological event so rare it is only expected once every 500 to 1,000 years.

Numerous roads were flooded and impassable for vehicles, including a section of major artery Interstate 95 in Broward County.

The Florida Highway Patrol said southbound traffic was being diverted around the flooded section.

This closure will remain until further notice and water drains from the interstate. Contractors are en route to pump the drainage system,' FHP said in an email.

Miami and Fort Lauderdale were among the worst hit, but many counties remain under flash flood alerts

Laura Collinhofer holds an umbrella after moving her cars to higher ground as heavy rain falls over parts of South Florida on Wednesday, June 12, 2024, in Hollywood, Fl

Forecasters are warning motorists to avoid the I-75 on Wednesday, where four inches of rain had fallen in a single hour

Floridians are being urged to exercise caution, as there is no sign of the rain letting up anytime soon.

'Rainfall rates of 1-3'/hour to continue across already soaked regions of South FL, producing additional localized totals of 5'+,' the National Weather Service wrote. 'Isolated to scattered instances of flash flooding likely.'

The downpours are expected to continue until Saturday, with the National Hurricane Center highlighting an area of low pressure over the eastern Gulf of Mexico.

The rain comes after swathes of Florida has been left parched by spring time droughts which are now exacerbating flooding.

The dry spells have left soil hydrophobic, meaning it is less able to absorb the excess moisture, especially in urban areas.

Sarasota, which has seen some of the biggest floods, has had 25 inches less rain than it normally would since the start of 2023, the driest on record.

The deluge comes amid forecasts of an unusually busy hurricane season.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration estimates there is an 85 percent chance that the Atlantic hurricane season will be above average.

Parts of the Sunshine State were drenched by up to ten inches of rain on Tuesday, as more than a month's rainfall fell in a single night

A man works to clear debris from a flooded street as heavy rain falls over parts of South Florida on Wednesday, June 12, 2024, in Hollywood, Fl

Flights were also disrupted, with more than 120 journeys cancelled or delayed due to the record-breaking rain between midday on Tuesday and this afternoon

The Tampa Bay area was hit by eight inches of rain in three hours, a meteorological event so rare it is only expected once every 500 to 1,000 years

It is predicting between 17 and 25 named storms in the coming months including up to 13 hurricanes and four major hurricanes. An average season has 14 named storms.

Florida's rainy season roughly begins in June with the start of the six-month hurricane season, which this year is forecast to be among the most active in recent memory.

The disturbance had not reached cyclone status as of Tuesday and was given only a slight chance to form into a tropical system once it emerges into the Atlantic Ocean after crossing Florida, according to the National Hurricane Center.

'Regardless of development, heavy rainfall is forecast to continue across portions of the Florida peninsula during the next few days,' the hurricane center posted on its website Wednesday.
All of Hunter Biden's adult children are joining President Joe Biden on his trip to Italy to meet with G7 leaders, one day after their father was convicted on federal gun charges.

Finnegan Biden, 23, who is Hunter's middle daughter, boarded Marine One with the president early Wednesday morning as he departed Delaware after rushing home to Wilmington to embrace Hunter on the tarmac, alongside wife Melissa and baby Beau.

Naomi, her husband Peter Neal and sister Maisy are also traveling to Italy, a White House official told DailyMail.com.

They were not seen on the tarmac at Joint Base Andrews as the president and Finnegan boarded Air Force One.

30-year-old Naomi testified at Hunter's trial.

President Joe Biden (left) and his granddaughter Finnegan Biden (right) began the trip to Italy by boarding Marine One in Delaware after the president rushed home Tuesday afternoon to see son Hunter after the guilty verdict in his gun trial

Finnegan Biden, the middle daughter of Hunter Biden's adult children, is seen boarding Air Force One Wednesday en route to Italy. Her sister Naomi and Maisy are also joining the president on the high-stakes trip

She was called to testify on his behalf, where she painted a rosy picture of Hunter's sobriety in the lead-up to his October 2018 gun purchase over which he was charged.

But the prosecution read text messages between her and her father that contradicted what she said.

Naomi faltered under the ambush, saying: 'I don't remember any of this.'

She looked on the verge of tears, wiping one eye as she walked out after hugging her father.

She was dressed in all black, with a black jacket over dark, baggy clothes.

There has been speculation that she is pregnant with her now-husband Peter's child.

The couple have made no formal announcement but it was 'the talk of the state dinner' last month, according to sources in the room.

Hunter Biden's oldest daughter, 30-year-old Naomi, testified at his gun trial and looked on the verge of tears as prosecutors showed the jury text messages between the father and daughter. She is traveling to Italy with the president but wasn't pictured boarding Air Force One

Naomi Biden (left) departs court on Friday alongside husband Peter Neal (right). The young couple are heading to the G7 with President Joe Biden and Naomi's sisters Finnegan and Maisy on the heels of their father's federal gun conviction

Maisy Biden (left), Hunter's youngest daughter with first wife Kathleen Buhle, is also joining the Biden clan in Italy, DailyMail.com can exclusively report. She is seen at last year's turkey pardoning with her baby brother Beau (right)

Naomi, 30, is said to be due before the November election.

The East Wing did not deny the speculation in mulitple inquiries from DailyMail.com.

Kathleen Buhle, Naomi's mother and Hunter's first wife, didn't deny the speculation when contacted by DailyMail.com. She responded: 'I don't talk to the press, thank you.'

It would be the first great-grandchild for Joe and Jill Biden, who have seven grandchildren, including Hunter's out-of-wedlock daughter, Navy Joan.

It is unclear who is paying for the Biden family members to travel alongside the president to the high-stakes meeting abroad, but on previous foreign trips on board Air Force One family members have paid their way.

Biden will arrive in Italy with Hunter's gun conviction hanging over him and the threat of former President Donald Trump awaiting him as he seeks to reassure world leaders of America's place in the world.

While the political impact of Hunter's guilty verdict remains to be seen, it could take a heavy personal toll on Biden, 81, as he seeks a second term in office.

Politics will dominate his trip.

Nervous world leaders are watching the upcoming American election carefully and wondering if it will be Biden or Trump who will join them at next year's meeting in Canada.

President Biden boards Air Force One Wednesday at Joint Base Andrews. His grandaughter Finnegan (left) followed him onto the plane. Other Biden family members weren't photographed on the tarmac

Biden, when he came into office, vowed to return America to its place in the world after Trump's more isolationist policy.

'There was a real sense of relief in the room that America was back and actually leading at the table,' said National Security Council spokesman John Kirby on Tuesday.

But Trump is leading in the key battleground states that will decide the election. And it's not just in the United States - across Europe a far-right movement is on the march.

French President Emmanuel Macron, just a day after meeting with Biden, called for snap elections after his party after his rival Marine Le Pen's far-right National Rally (RN) crushed his party in the European elections.

Far-right parties also made gains in Germany's elections. And, in the UK, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's Conservative Party is trailing the center-left opposition by about 20 points.

While in Italy for two-days of meetings, Biden will seek to hold together his Western alliance, which is central to the defense of Ukraine in its war against Russia.

He is coming off a grueling travel schedule that saw him in France last week where he traveled to Normandy twice - once for the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings and then to speak at Pointe du Hoc.

He and first lady Jill Biden attended a state dinner on Saturday.

On Sunday they returned to Wilmington to see son Hunter. On Monday Biden was back at the White House for a Juneteenth concert. On Tuesday, he spoke to a gun-control group in remarks that were interrupted by protests over the Gaza War. He then rushed home to Wilmington to be with his son.

President Joe Biden hugs his son Hunter Biden upon arrival in Wilmington, Del.

President Joe Biden, with White House Deputy Chief of Staff, Annie Tomasini (left), and granddaughter Finnegan Biden (second left), is welcomed by Air Force Colonel Angela Ochoa (right) at Joint Base Andrews

Presidents Biden and Zelensky met in France last week - and will meet again this week at G7

All of this will put America's oldest-ever president under scrutiny as he returns to the world state.

And the president has indicated he feels the pressure.

Biden has often spoken of how world leaders tell him he must win a second term in the White House.

'There's not a major international meeting I attend that... a world leader doesn't pull me aside as I'm leaving and say, 'He can't win. You can't let him win,'' Biden told Time magazine recently.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky also will be at the G7, where he will meet with Biden and other world leaders. Biden will also hold a joint press conference with Zelensky, bringing the war in Ukraine to the forefront of the world stage.

While meeting in Italy, the G7 leaders will seek to reach an agreement on plans to provide Ukraine with as much as $50 billion in aid based on interest generated on $300 billion in frozen Russian assets.

The assets were frozen by the U.S. and Europe after Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

More sanctions against Russia are expected to be announced

The G7 nations - the U.S., Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the U.K. - have provided billions in aid to the Ukraine.

But if Trump wins the White House in November, that could change. Republicans in Congress held up funding for Ukraine for months. Biden apologized to Zelensky for that when he met with him in France last week.

Kirby said the White House was confident that 'regardless of who gets what seat in the EU parliament' that the U.S. would still be able to work closely with European allies to support Ukraine.

'We're not at all concerned that we're not going to be able to advance shared interests and values across the European continent,' Kirby said.

The shadow of Donald Trump will hang over the G7 - above the former president faces down world leaders at the G7 meeting in Canada in 2018

The G7 leaders are gathering in a five-star resort in southern Italy. They will also discuss the Middle East, trade imbalances with China, threats posed by artificial intelligence and development challenges in Africa.

But, on the sunny seaside, the shadow of his son's conviction will hang over Biden.

Aides are reported to be worried about the toll on the president, who is close to his son and said to continuously worry about him.

Hunter Biden has grappled with addiction issues for years.

The trial revealed some of the family's darkest moments as they dealt with Hunter's drug use.

Jill Biden was there nearly every day, sitting in the front of the courtroom to watch the testimony play out.

Biden has said he will not use his power as president to pardon his son and has been careful to distance himself from the Justice Department case.

He released a statement of support after Hunter's conviction. Hunter was convicted on three counts of lying on a government form about his drug use in his purchase of handgun in 2018.

'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.'

Hunter Biden also faces a second trial in September, this time on tax charges.

Biden's stay in Italy will be brief. He arrives around midnight local time on Wednesday and departs on Friday evening where he'll head straight to Los Angeles for a campaign fundraiser with George Clooney, Jimmy Kimmel and Julia Roberts.
The Battle of Britain Memorial Flight (BBMF) will miss the Trooping of the Colour on Saturday following the tragic death of Mark Long.

The King's Birthday Parade, also known as Trooping the Colour, is staged to celebrate the monarch's official birthday.

In a statement, the RAF said after the tragic accident of Squadron Leader Long, the BBMG planes would 'regretfully' not be participating in the flypast for the event.

The vintage planes based at RAF Coningsby were grounded last month after Mark Long crashed a Spitfire he was piloting in a field in Lincolnshire.

The BBMF is grounded while investigations take place into Long's death on May 25

The King's Birthday Parade, also known as Trooping the Colour, is staged to celebrate the monarch's official birthday

Squadron Leader Mark Long, 43, (pictured) died when his Spitfire crashed within a few minutes of takeoff during a Battle of Britain memorial flight

But a large number of RAF planes will be taking part including a Typhoon display jet in D-Day colours which will use the BBMF call sign 'MEMORIAL', the BBC reported.

The Red Arrows will also be among the planes taking part in the flypast.

The BBMF is grounded while investigations take place into Long's death on May 25..

Also, a visitor centre at RAF Coningsby is closed until further notice.

The planes include Spitfires, Hurricanes and a Lancaster bomber.

They were loved by the late Queen and are a popular sight at summer shows but last week the flight was unable to participate to mark the 80th anniversary of D-Day.

MailOnline contacted the MOD for comment.

Squadron Leader Mark Long, 43, died when his Spitfire crashed within a few minutes of takeoff during a Battle of Britain memorial flight.

According to the Ministry of Defence, he lived in Lincolnshire with his wife, two daughters and a dog.

Mr Long's family said in a statement issued by the Ministry of Defence: 'Mark lived his life with an unwavering passion with laughter, love, and dedication to his family.

'His talent for flying was there for all to see, and his ability to connect to everyone he met was infectious. Mark will be cherished and deeply missed by us all.'

Tributes left for Mark Long who was tragically killed in a Battle of Britain memorial flight

Sqn Ldr Mark Long pictured reading a map on an RAF airplane. According to the Ministry of Defence, he lived in Lincolnshire with his wife, two daughters and a dog

The BBMF planes include Spitfires, Hurricanes and a Lancaster bomber. (Pictured, Squadron Leader Mark Long flying the RAF Battle of Britain Memorial Flight Spitfire MK356)

At the time of his death, Mr Long was in his fourth season with the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight.

Officer Commanding Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, Squadron Leader Mark Sugden, said: 'In life, we are occasionally privileged to meet incredible people like Mark.

'Mark touched the hearts of everyone that he met, always prioritising the needs of others before himself.

'The epitome of a military fighter pilot, he personified the very best of the Royal Air Force and the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight.

'We were lucky to have him as part of the team and part of our BBMF family.

'Always a vision of calm, Mark faced life's obstacles with a wry smile, a knowing nod and a pint of tea.

'Above all, he was a devoted husband and a proud father.

'Whilst words alone cannot adequately convey our loss, he will remain forever 'the best boss that BBMF never had'.'
The design for London's first permanent Aids memorial just metres from the site of the UK's first specialist HIV ward opened by Princess Diana has been revealed.

Diana, Princess of Wales caused a shift in public attitudes towards the disease when she shook hands with patients on the former Middlesex Hospital ward in Fitzrovia - helping diminish the myth the illness could be transmitted via touch.

Anya Gallaccio has been picked to design the Aids Memorial with the Aids Memory UK project - aiming to raise awareness of the virus' impact on four key groups, including gay and bisexual men and those impacted by the infected blood scandal.

A panel of representatives from the four groups affected selected Gallaccio's creation from a short list of five London artists.

Gallaccio explained it was important her design 'reflected all experiences of HIV and Aids'.

'There was and is no singular experience of HIV and Aids,' the artist told BBC News.

Artist Anya Gallaccio has been picked to design the Aids Memorial. Her design is pictured

Princess Diana shakes hands with an Aids victim as she opens a new Aids ward at the Middlesex Hospital on April 9, 1987 in London, England

Anya Gallaccio's design was chosen from a short list of five other London artists

'So for me, it was about slightly redrawing that narrative to be more inclusive of those individuals and communities that may have been overlooked [...].'

Gallaccio's design portrays the rings of a tree trunk placed upright, with its hollow space made into a seating area, which the artist created to 'invite visitors to interact and engage with the memorial'.

Today campaigners said the announcement presents a 'major milestone' in fighting the stigma still associated with HIV.

Jonathan Blake, one of the UK's longest-surviving HIV patients, said the London site selected for the memorial was of huge importance to those still stigmatised for having the illness.

'What Diana did - that was a complete game-changer,' he told BBC News.

'She undoubtedly changed peoples perceptions of HIV/Aids - and it was a real turning point.'

The campaign to build the memorial started in 2016, when Aids Memory UK founder Ash Kotak said it was an important part of making sure the virus' affect on people was never forgotten.

Princess Diana visiting the Broderie AIDS ward at the Middlesex Hospital in London, April 9, 1987

Diana opening the Broderip Ward at the Middlesex Hospital, London

Diana caused a shift in public attitudes towards the disease when she shook hands with patients on the former Middlesex Hospital ward in Fitzrovia

London Mayor Sadiq Khan has committed 130,000 funding from the Commission for Diversity in the Public Realm towards the memorial.

Ash Kotak said: 'The announcement is a major milestone for the already seven-and-a-half-year-long campaign to deliver The Aids Memorial in London.

'The foundations have now been laid: a historically relevant site; a brilliant internationally recognised artist who was directly affected by HIV & Aids in London; and her beautiful and meaningful new public artwork.

'Now is the time for Londoners, and friends of this great city, to come together to fundraise and build this important new public artwork. It will survive longer than all of us and remain a tribute to the epoch we are all living through, a time of HIV & Aids, as we fight on to its end.'

Mr Khan said: 'I'm delighted that Anya Gallaccio has been commissioned to create The Aids Memorial in London, and I'm proud that funding from City Hall is helping to bring this project to fruition.

'Anya's proposal is a powerful symbol of solidarity and a fitting way to honour those who have lost their lives to the virus and highlight the impact it has had on our communities, as we work to end transmissions in the capital and build a fairer London for everyone.'

In 2003, Gallaccio was shortlisted for the Turner Prize and she has recently been awarded the Kenneth Armitage Foundation fellowship 2023-2025.

The Aids Memorial in London is expected to be unveiled at the end of 2027.
An eight-year-old paid with his life after trying to protect his mother from an enraged father who shot the little boy instead.

Amir Harden, 8, was shot in the head and neck when he stepped between Danair Harden and his partner Cherish Edwards in Minnesota on June 5.

A court had been warned just hours earlier that the father posed 'an immediate threat' after assaulting the mother days before, but he was able to return to the family home in Burnsville.

Amir was shot in front of his mother and four young siblings before Harden turned the gun on himself, in an apparent unsuccessful suicide attempt.

'We're finally free of him, but my child paid the ultimate sacrifice,' Edwards said.

'My children are traumatized. It's going to take years, if it ever goes away.'

Amir Harden, 8, was shot in the head and neck when he stepped between Danair Harden and his partner Cherish Edwards in Minnesota on June 5

A court had been warned just hours earlier that the father Danair Harden posed 'an immediate threat' to the family but he was freed on $4,000 bail

Harden, 30, had been reported for assault on May 30 after allegedly trying to strangle Edwards when she told him she was ending their 10-year relationship.

Edwards warned officers that Harden had a gun permit and almost always carried one with him.

Prosecutors asked for bail to be set at $10,000 when he appeared to answer charges of domestic assault and disorderly conduct at Dakota County District Court on June 5.

'He follows or spies on her or leaves threatening messages,' they told the court, and 'poses an immediate threat to (Edwards') safety'.

But Judge Dannia Edwards set bail at $4,000, and Harden left the jail at 4.50pm, appearing back at the family home shortly before midnight.

Police called to the scene where they found both father and son with gunshot wounds.

They were taken by emergency responders to Hennepin County Medical Center where Amir died on Sunday and Harden remains in a critical condition.

'Amir wanted to protect his Mommy,' Edwards said.

'It's just unimaginable, an eight-year-old trying to wrestle the gun out of a grown man's hand. It's unbearable pain.'

'I screamed for him to leave and go to the neighbors. He refused and said 'mommy, I'm not leaving you here'.

Cherish Edwards pictured with Amir's grandfather Deon Edwards said her other four children are traumatized by what they witnessed

Edwards paid tribute to Amir saying he had been a gifted athlete and a 'very happy little boy'

A police spokeswoman said an investigation is underway and Harden may face criminal charges if he survives.

'We don't know that the child was an intended target, and that's part of what is still under investigation,' she added.

Edwards paid tribute to Amir saying he had been a gifted athlete and a 'very happy little boy'.

'He was courageous. He was a leader, a protector of his siblings. He was my biggest cheerleader.

'Every day I go to work, he'd say, 'Have a good day, Mommy. I love you'.'

An online fundraiser has raised $8,900 for the traumatized family.

'It's a nightmare that you can't wake up from, said Deon Edwards, Amir's grandfather.

Edward's said her former partner had a history of violent abuse and urged women with similar partners to escape.

'It doesn't matter if he hit you 10 years ago, he's got to leave,' she said.

'Next time that'd be your life or your child's life. I think a lot of women think it'll never be them.'
Have YOU been affected by the floods? Email miriam.kuepper@mailonline.co.uk

Emergency crews in a popular tourist region in Spain have been forced to launch a rescue operation to save several people trapped in their cars following heavy flooding.

Heavy rain plagued the Murcia region and Costa Blanca area, popular with British holidaymakers, after a weekend of severe disruption to travellers and locals alike.

Storm Tamara left panicked tourists stranded in Palma Airport last night, with over 100 planes being cancelled or delayed as the travel hub was lashed by severe weather.

The weather has forced emergency services to respond to hundreds of calls yesterday alone. According to Spain's emergency services, 200 out of the 221 calls made in Costa Blanca were related to the storm, according to Spanish broadcaster Cadena SER.

Murcia saw 113 calls to emergency services, including many that reported people being trapped in their cars during the floods.

Have YOU been affected by the floods? Email miriam.kuepper@mailonline.co.uk.

Emergency crews in a popular tourist region in Spain have been forced to launch an rescue operation to save several people trapped in their cars

Heavy rain plagued the Costa Blanca region, popular with British holidaymakers

Of the 221 calls, 95 were related to water drainage, while 33 were about obstacles blocking the road.

It comes after chaotic scenes at Palma Airport yesterday evening, when 100 of the 'more than 900 flights' scheduled to operate at Palma airport, including many from British travel hubs like Gatwick, Luton and Bristol, had been affected by the storm.

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.

Similar images were seen across Costa Blanca over the last few days. Hail stones fell in some parts of Valencia, which includes the provinces of Alicante and Valencia, while Benidorm was on a yellow storm alert with the possibility of rain put at 100 per cent.

The weather has forced emergency services to respond to hundreds of calls today alone

According to Spain's emergency services, 200 out of the 221 calls made in Costa Blanca were related to the storm

It comes after chaotic scenes at Palma Airport yesterday evening, when 100 of the 'more than 900 flights' scheduled to operate at Palma airport had been affected by the storm.

Palma Airport faced severe delays yesterday

Tras las intensas lluvias registradas en #Murcia, los servicios municipales trabajan en las calles inundadas, como la Avenida Juan de Borbon, para recuperar la normalidad y restablecer la circulacion

via @dime_ok pic.twitter.com/osLB4YuMj2  Onda Regional (@ORMurcia) June 12, 2024

Further south in Murcia roads 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 continent is facing similarly extreme weather, with a heatwave blanketing Turkey, Greece and Cyprus as Spain is hit by floods.

The heat is hitting countries around the eastern Mediterranean and the Aegean seas the hardest, with the mercury clocking 43C in Cyprus last week, prompting wildfires.

Turkey is seeing air temperatures soar eight to 12 degrees above seasonal norms, while Greece has today been forced to close the Athens Acropolis, its most visited tourist site, during the hottest hours of the day.

To the west, meanwhile, hundreds of firefighters in France are battling a powerful blaze to the north of Saint-Tropez which has caught crews off-guard.

The weather extremes come as many Brits are planning to jet off to Europe for sunnier climates, and to escape what has been a deeply disappointing spring.
The US attorney's office is now prosecuting two alleged gang members over the death of a National Guard soldier in 2021 - after the state attorney refused to do so.

Chrys Carvajal, 19, was killed in Chicago on July 3, 2021 in a drive-by shooting as he was walking to his car while attending a Fourth of July party with his girlfriend.

Three years on from his killing, Gary 'Gotti' Roberson, 40, and Joseph 'Troubles' Matos, 41, are set to stand trial over his brutal slaying.

Evidence linking at least one of the suspects to his death was reportedly with the state attorney's office soon after his killing, according to the Chicago Tribune.

His family had to endure three years of pain after state attorney Kim Foxx, whose role is equivalent to DA for the city, said there wasn't enough evidence to prosecute.

Federal prosecutors have now pinned the murder on Roberson and Matos alongside another charge of racketeering.

Carvajal, 19, was gunned down on July 3, 2021 in a drive-by shooting as he was walking to his car while attending a Fourth of July party with his girlfriend. He was a national guard soldier

According to his sister Jennifer Ramirez, Carvajal had been at home on leave from basic training when he was killed.

According to a recently unsealed indictment, the two killed Carvajal 'for the purpose of maintaining and increasing position in the Milwaukee Kings', a known street gang.

As per the indictment, the Milwaukee Kings gang operates on the North Side of Chicago and carries out murders and other acts to protect their power and territory.

The case would be simpler for prosecutors had the Cook County state's attorney's office brought the charges in the first place.

If so, all they would have had to prove was that the two men had indeed been behind the shooting which killed Carvajal.

With a federal case, prosecutors can't just charge someone suspected of murder, there has to be special circumstances such as the murder of a federal official.

Lacking those circumstances, federal prosecutors must convict a suspect with committing the act while also doing something else that violates federal law.

Local police were also reportedly angered by the state's attorney's office and their hesitance to proceed.

Alderman Gilbert Villegas, in whos ward the murder took place, tweeted at the time that police had provided prosecutors with three eyewitnesses and video.

Villegas added: 'This family deserves justice as well as the hundreds of families who have unsolved murders pending #pleasedoyourjob.'

His family had to endure three years of torture after state attorney Kim Foxx determined there wasn't enough evidence to prosecute

Alderman Gilbert Villegas, in whos ward the murder took place, tweeted at the time that police had provided prosecutors with three eyewitnesses and video

Chicago police had also been provided with evidence that the car and phone of one of the suspects was found near the scene, according to CWB.

Despite this, Foxx's office said they 'conducted a thorough review' of the evidence and deemed it 'insufficient to meet our burden of proof to file murder charges'.

Speaking to WTTW in 2022, his sister Jennifer Ramirez hit out at prosecutors in the Windy City, in particular Foxx.

She told the outlet: 'Her team decided that even with all the evidence and the witnesses and a singled out person, it still wasn't enough.

'We have camera footage, we have footage from the city's camera so we don't understand.

'My brother Chrys took an oath to serve and protect this country, this community.

'He was working to become a Chicago police officer as well. He was going to serve and protect your city, the least you can do is bring justice.'

Speaking to WTTW in 2022, his sister Jennifer Ramirez, seen here, hit out at prosecutors in the Windy City, in particular Foxx

Family friend Marcos Torres added: 'What is the message we are sending to our citizens here in Chicago if you are doing the right thing.

'If you are serving your county and you get killed right here in your own streets and the people who are in charge to prosecute, don't prosecute.

It is not the first time that Foxx has been criticized for her handling of a case, with several members of staff leaving the office since her appointment.

James Murphy resigned in 2022 and publicly said that he had 'zero confidence' in the leadership of Foxx  claiming she rushed state law and is 'focused on PR stunts'.

Former mayor Lori Lightfoot previously accused Foxx of harming public safety after she prioritized vacating convictions for those framed or falsely accused of drug crimes by corrupt police officers.

In 2020, liberal funder George Soros donated $2million to a PAC that backed Foxx in her re-election campaign.

She won the race and has since offered deferred prosecutions and softball deals to criminals.
Two British citizens have been arrested in Ghana, accused of trying to smuggle 366lbs (166kg) worth of cocaine on a flight to London.

The suspects were scheduled to board a British Airways flight from Kotoka International Airport in Accra, travelling to Gatwick Airport, before their 'luggage raised suspicion'.

Ghana's Narcotic Control Commission (NACOC) claimed the pair had hidden the cocaine, worth an estimated 5mn, between six suitcases destined for London.

The men allegedly divided the drugs into 72 parcels for transit, according to state-owned outlet The Daily Graphic.

'The two have accordingly been arrested, assisting investigations,' a statement read, noting the help of the UK's National Crime Agency in carrying out the sting.

File photo. Two men were arrested in Ghana, accused of trying to smuggle cocaine into Britain

UK authorities have worked closely with drugs control officials in Ghana to clamp down on the rising tide of smuggling in the past.

In 2022, four members of a Ghanaian smuggling ring were jailed for more than 28 years after trying to import almost 3mn worth of cocaine into Britain, following a National Crime Agency investigation.

Julius Tetteh Puplampu was intercepted by NCA officers at Heathrow Airport in August 2021, having flown in from Accra with six kilos of cocaine in his suitcase.

He was sentenced to six years and nine months in prison after pleading guilty to drug importation offences, as reported by the Evening Standard.

Puplampu had been in regular contact with Eric Appaih, also from Ghana, who was accused of trying to import 15kg of cocaine stashed in food boxes.

Appaih was sentenced to six years in prison in June last year.

Two others associated with the ring were also arrested that year and handed down sentences of nine and six years for their involvement in the trade.

In 2021, the NCA reported a smuggler who had used coconuts to hide almost 140kg herbal cannabis sent from Ghana had been jailed.

Ghana has struggled to manage the emergence of dangerous drug trafficking groups, often serving as a relay for opiates coming from Afghanistan.

The Organised Crime Index assessed Ghana was 'among the most important African transit countries for cocaine trafficked globally and across Africa'.

The Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime warned how expanding criminal markets were shaping society 'profoundly', 'with cocaine outpacing human smuggling as the dominant market across the region between 2021 and 2023'.

A general view of Accra, the capital city of Ghana, in 2018

Ghana sought a radical solution by seeking alternatives to lengthy prison spells for drug possession in the country in 2020.

This created substantial policy changes aimed at reducing harm for drug users and undercutting illegal markets domestically.

However, those smuggling drugs out of Ghana appear to have thrived in recent years.

In 2022, Ghana reported a record-breaking 59.9kg worth of drugs found, as reported by the BBC.

Notably, the increase in recorded seizures correlates with increased collaboration efforts designed to find and prevent such movements.

MailOnline contacted the NCA for comment.

MailOnline contacted British Airways for comment.
House Republicans voted to hold Attorney General Merrick Garland in contempt of Congress after he refused to hand over audio of President Biden's special counsel interview with Robert Hur.

During the interview, Hur said that Biden appeared 'elderly' with a 'poor memory' as he mixed up his son Beau's death date and had a series of other stumbles.

The resolution passed 216 to 207 and GOP Rep. Dave Joyce of Ohio was the lone Republican to vote against the resolution.

Garland is the third attorney general to be held in contempt for defying a congressional subpoena in history - following Bill Barr under President Trump and Eric Holder under President Obama.

The contempt charge is a formal recommendation that Garland be prosecuted. He's likely to be shielded from legal repercussions since Biden has asserted executive privilege over the audio.

If the DOJ does take up the contempt resolution and charge Garland, consequences could include a fine of up $100,000

After Congress held Trump aides Peter Navarro and Steve Bannon in contempt, both were sentenced to prison time.

If the DOJ does take up the contempt resolution and charge Garland, consequences could include a fine of up $100,000 and imprisonment 'for not less than one month nor more than twelve months,' according to the Congressional Research Service.

But the DOJ is highly unlikely to prosecute its own leader.

The Office of Legal Counsel noted in May that no U.S. attorney has ever pursued contempt charges against an official asserting the president's claim of executive privilege.

Garland shot back after the vote: 'It is deeply disappointing that this House of Representatives has turned a serious congressional authority into a partisan weapon.'

'Today's vote disregards the constitutional separation of powers, the Justice Department's need to protect its investigations, and the substantial amount of information we have provided to the Committees. I will always stand up for this Department, its employees, and its vital mission to defend our democracy.'

Republican Rep. Dave Joyce said of his opposition: 'As a former prosecutor, I cannot in good conscience support a resolution that would further politicize our judicial system to score political points.'

'The American people expect Congress to work for them, solve policy problems, and prioritize good governance. Enough is enough.'

The DOJ released written transcripts of the interview, but they said releasing audio might make it harder for prosecutors to secure recorded interviews in the future, with witnesses knowing it could be blasted out into the public.

However, Republicans have suggested the transcript of the interview could be inaccurate.

Biden has asserted executive privilege over the audio of Hur's interviews with himself and his book ghostwriter Mark Zwonitzer to keep it out of GOP hands.

Garland had lashed out ahead of the contempt vote, saying last week that the DOJ has gone to 'extraordinary lengths' to provide the committee with information.

'We have gone to extraordinary lengths to ensure that a committees get responses to their legitimate requests, but this is not one,' Garland told reporters ahead of a hearing to advance his contempt charge.

Oversight Chair James Comer, R-Ky., shot back: 'The White House is asserting privilege over the recordings, but it has already waived privilege by releasing the transcript of the interview.

The Department of Justice also tore into Republican-led 'conspiratorial speculation' about coordination between the DOJ and Manhattan Attorney Alvin Bragg on the Trump prosecution.

Carlos Uriarte, an assistant attorney general at Justice, wrote to Judiciary Chair Jim Jordan informing him the DOJ had conducted a search for any emails between leadership there and Bragg's office about an investigation into or prosecution of former President Donald Trump and did not find any.

'The self-justifying 'perception' asserted by the Committee is completely baseless, but the Committee continues to traffic it widely,' Uriarte wrote.

'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 warned that Republicans' assertions could be putting DOJ officials at risk.

'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. Our extraordinary efforts to respond to your speculation should put it to rest.'

Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg and top prosecutor Matthew Colangelo have agreed to testify before House Republicans on July 12.

Republicans have pointed to Colangelo as evidence of collusion when he departed the DOJ in December 2022 and later joined Bragg's team.

Republicans have pointedf former DOJ official Matthew Colangelo as evidence of collusion when he departed the DOJ in December 2022 and later joined Bragg's team

Republicans are planning a vote to hold Merrick Garland in contempt on Wednesday

The DOJ said their search 'did not identify any instances of Mr. Colangelo having email communications with the District Attorney's office during his time at the Department.'

Bragg's case against Trump led to a conviction last month of 34 counts of falsifying business records related to hush money payments to porn star Stormy Daniels.

House Republicans are planning a vote to hold Attorney General Merrick Garland in contempt of Congress - though with a two-vote margin for error, the vote is on shaky ground. The contempt resolution relates to the DOJ refusing to hand over audio of President Biden's special counsel interview and the interview with Biden ghost writer Mark Zwonitzer.

The DOJ offered transcripts of the interview, but said handing over the audio would be damaging to their ability to get subjects to agree to recorded interviews.

Judiciary and Weaponization chairman Jim JOrdan claimed that Colangelo has an 'obsession' with investigating Trump 'rather than prosecuting a crime.'

'Given the perception that the Justice Department is assisting in District Attorney Bragg's politicized prosecution, we write to request information and documents related to Mr. Colangelo's employment at the New York Attorney General's Office.'

In December 2022, Colangelo, the high-flying third most senior official in President Joe Biden's Justice Department, astonished colleagues by packing his bags and leaving for the Big Apple to take a less senior role working for Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg.

Colangelo's 'unusual' move was technically a demotion, former U.S. Deputy Assistant Attorney General John Yoo told DailyMail.com.

'Moving from [The Justice Department] to the Manhattan DA's office must mean that someone is a true believer,' said Yoo, who served in the George W. Bush administration and now teaches law at the University of California at Berkeley.

'It suggests that the prosecutor here is after the man, Trump, and not the crime,' said Yoo.He also helped lead an investigation into links between Trump's 2016 campaign and his charity, The Donald J. Trump Foundation.

That probe resulted in a 2018 agreement in which Trump denied wrongdoing but agreed to dissolve the foundation.

From there, Colangelo plowed straight into Trump's business empire fishing for any irregularities in bookkeeping.

During that investigation, Colangelo personally quizzed the ex-president's son Eric Trump in a deposition.

When the junior Trump complained that prosecutors were singling out his father in an act of political sabotage Colangelo snapped at him.

'I can't spend the entire day with this sort of obstreperous answer,' he's recorded as saying.

Federal prosecutors in the Southern District of New York declined to bring charges against Trump for the Stormy Daniels payment.

The feds had reportedly concluded that they likely couldn't prove that Trump intended to break the law  and they closed the matter in the summer of 2019.
Never have I felt so underwhelmed by a General Election. No canvasser has called at my gate: no campaign literature has dropped through my letterbox.

The immovable polls, with their huge Labour lead, feel... off. If there is such huge enthusiasm for Starmers army, I sense it nowhere.

There is a whiff of desperation about the Nationalists and the widespread sense that, after 14 years in power, the Tories deserve a really good kick.

And, given the gulping level of taxation under Conservative ministers, their inability to control our borders and the surrender on so many fronts to all that is woke, if Labour does sweep back to power in three weeks time I think we will struggle to tell the difference.

The Western Isles  the constituency has been officially dubbed by its Gaelic name, Na h-Eileanan an Iar, for some years now  is a most unusual division.

Nigel Farage came across as fluent, funny and thinking on his feetwhat professional politics used to look like

Despite its very small electorate (fewer than 21,000 registered voters) its boundaries have been enshrined in law since 2011, alongside Orkney and Shetland.

The powers-that-be finally accepted that it would be very difficult for one MP to service a bigger constituency that roped in, for instance, the Isle of Skye.

There are other peculiarities. The Western Isles, created back in 1918, is the only Highlands and Islands seat never to have fallen to the Tories and the only one in which the Liberals, in their various iterations, have not been in contention since the 1950s.

There are two more claims to fame. It was the first seat the SNP ever snatched in a general election, back in 1970  and the winner, the highly respected Donald Stewart, is the only Western Isles MP to retire undefeated.

As we sharpen our knives for Thursday 4th, there are eight declared candidates, of whom only three have serious hopes.

They are Labours Torcuil Crichton, 59, a seasoned political journalist, native of Lewis and a fluent Gaelic speaker.

Our incumbent MP Angus MacNeil, 53, first returned as a Nationalist MP in 2005, who has fallen spectacularly out with his old muckers and is standing as an Independent: so far, only his mauve On Your Side posters adorn local lampposts.

And Susan Thomson, his replacement as the Nationalists standard bearer, a councillor of somewhat casual attire from the southern end of the island chain.

Mrs Thomsons qualifications for Westminster are not immediately evident.

C richton is thought the runaway favourite and, were he standing under practically any other flag, Id vote for him in a heartbeat.

But his leader is an unabashed and avowed atheist, I do not trust Labour on the absurdities of trans and I emphatically do not trust them on the Middle East.

On October 7 last, hundreds and hundreds of Israeli civilians were murdered in the biggest anti-Jewish pogrom since the collapse of Nazi Germany.

To reward such terror by recognising Palestine as a state  to say nothing of Labour activists who were cheering in our big cities within hours and before Israel had raised a finger in her defence  is the politics of the pit. Not people protesting a genocide.

People, that night, out on British streets celebrating the murder of Jews.

Though his political career hasnt fulfilled its promise, I like Angus MacNeil, a man of winsome charm and great local knowledge. And I havent ruled out voting for him.

But I dont think he has much of a chance. Save for Dennis Canavans doughty Falkirk West campaign, in the first Holyrood election, it is very difficult for a politician to break with his party and triumph at the polls.

They all think they have a huge personal vote. They seldom do.

Angus should be haunted by the fate of Malcolm K MacMillan, who back in 1935 won the Western Isles for Labour, and kept it till his 1970 toppling by Donald Stewart.

Imprudently, and after he vocally objected to the new Labour candidate and so was expelled from the party, MacMillan stood in the February 1974 general election as a United Labour candidate.

He was routed, winning only 1,031 votes  6.9 per cent of the poll. A life of service ended in humiliation.

There are five other runners and riders. Apart from Dr Donald M Boyd, who is standing for the Scottish Christian Party and no doubt hopes his Harris roots might bear fruit, all are locally resident.

Kenny Barker from North Uist is standing for the Scottish Tories; after Douglas Rosss sad antics last week, though, Im not buying.

Jamie Dobson of Uig runs as a Liberal Democrat, Tony Ridden  of undeclared Western Isles abode  champions Reform, and Dr Steven Welsh of Stornoway represents the Scottish Family Party.

Now, while Mr Ridden has not the least chance of actually being elected, I am seriously considering a vote for Reform and I will tell you why.

T HERE has been a sea-change in British politics unfolding since 2015  and, indeed, last weekend expressed so spectacularly in Europe  which our two commanding political parties have failed to grasp or even begin to address.

Boris figured it out but Boris is gone. More and more British people are now concerned not with the old economic pitches of Left and Right  which has just seen the periodic replacement of one indistinguishable political elite in power with another  but with fundamental questions of identity.

More and more of us want a government that seriously beefs up our Armed Forces, asks profound questions about the NHS, establishes control of our borders and beats back those who try to police what we say and what we are allowed to think, even challenging the facts of biology itself.

This country cannot indefinitely absorb half a million net migrants a year. It is an unfolding exercise in national suicide.

You can reverse a bad education policy or change an economic strategy. You cannot recover a culture, centuries in the moulding, once it has been overwhelmed with strangers.

There is also a widespread and terrifying loss of competence in our political class. We have had a succession of dud prime ministers.

Everything the SNP touches collapses. On all sides we see besuited automatons, media-trained out of their common sense, unable even to ask a question without reading off a cue card.

And when I watched Nigel Farage in debate last Friday  undaunted, fluent, funny, thinking on his feet  I was reminded what professional politics used to look like.

Not that I am an undiluted admirer of that oddly amphibious face.

I am not comfortable with sly, dog-whistle questions about the Prime Ministers background.

But something is shifting in the politics of these islands; out there, a great many people are rising. And, come Friday, July 5, and if there are tears and trauma?

Well, you know, Dr Steven Welsh retired as a consultant psychiatrist.
Homeowners face being banned from installing low-level letterboxes under plans to protect postal workers from back injuries and dangerous dogs.

The Scottish Government has confirmed it is considering new building standards rules which would outlaw letterboxes at the bottom of a door.

The rules will initially apply to new buildings but could be extended to cover replacement doors in existing homes.

Stuart McMillan, Nationalist MSP for Greenock and Inverclyde, has revealed he is in discussions with government officials about ongoing efforts to ban low-level letterboxes.

Low-level letterboxes are the latest thing in the SNPs crosshairs after postal worker unions complained they cause back problems

It follows a campaign by the Communication Workers Union (CWU), which says thousands of postal workers suffer back problems every year or are put at risk of dog attacks.

Chris McEleny, general secretary of the Alba Party and former leader of the SNP council group on Inverclyde Council, said: My former SNP colleagues seem obsessed with banning things.

The cost of construction is so high at the moment that we are seeing a downturn in new-builds.

Im not opposed to changes to building regulations if they dont impact on cost and if it can help posties service new-build areas all the better.

But a ban on low letterboxes as Stuart McMillan has proposed would pass on costs of hundreds of pounds to households across the area having to replace perfectly good doors.

Mr McMillan revealed the plan is being considered in an update to constituents. He is due to raise the issue with ministers in the Scottish parliament today.

The MSP said: Ive engaged with the CWU about their campaign and have also discussed the matter with the Royal Mail.

CWU Scotland regional secretary Craig Anderson said the union had fought to outlaw low-level letterboxes for many years.

A government spokesman said: We are aware of the CWUs campaign and continue to engage with them and other stakeholders in exploring the issue and assessing options to update building standards guidance to limit such installations within new dwellings.
A woman accused of leaving her boyfriend to suffocate in a suitcase could be searching for her ninth lawyer after insulting her previous attorneys.

Sarah Boone was arrested in February 2020 after telling police she had passed out after zipping Jorge Torres Jr, 42, inside the bag during a booze-fueled game of hide-and-seek at their home in Winter Park, Florida.

But her story unraveled when investigators discovered video on her phone allegedly showing Torres desperately telling her: 'I can't f***ing breathe' and she was charged with second-degree murder.

Her eighth and latest attorney Patricia Cashman has filed a motion asking to withdraw from the case and cited irreconcilable differences 'including, but not limited to, ethical considerations,' according to Court TV.

It comes after a hearing on June 7 where Boone handed the judge a 58-page letter complaining about her representation.

Sarah Boone, who is accused of leaving her boyfriend to suffocate in a suitcase, could be searching for her ninth lawyer after insulting her previous attorneys

Boone has had to change lawyers seven times since she was arrested in 2020 and Cashman is her latest representative.

But the defendant wrote a lengthy letter to the judge detailing her complaints about her lawyer.

'Ive never experienced anyone like Ms. Cashman,' she said. 'She will change her disposition and her attitude towards me, and it doesnt matter how dumbed-down I am to myself to try to coexist with her.

'Ive even come up with the solution to have a pretend judge in interactions with her so she would try hopefully to treat me appropriately and professionally, which she does not do.'

Sarah Boone was arrested in February 2020 after telling police she had passed out after zipping Jorge Torres Jr, 42, inside the bag during a game of hide-and-seek at their home in Winter Park, Florida

This screenshot from a cellphone video allegedly recorded by Sarah Boone shows the blue suitcase where Jorge Torres Jr suffocated to death after being zipped up inside

But Cashman claimed she spent hours with her client and accepted collect calls but Boone has refused to cooperate.

'Ive spent over 20 hours going through her questions, going through her lists,' the attorney told the court.

'When I try to update her with regard to the depositions that I took recently, she opted to exit the jail conference.

'When I tried to review some things with regard to discovery as to things I wanted to make sure she was aware of, she walked out.'

Boone admitted she walked out of meetings but insisted she did not want a new attorney.

She asked the judge to 'just let her know, please, to please be nice to me and have a welcoming attitude.'

But Cashman said: 'I cant spend all my time defending what Im doing and at the same time be effectively preparing a case for trial.'

Jorge Torres Jr, 42, a father-of-three, had a history of domestic violence involving Boone. In 2018, he was charged with battery stemming from an alcohol-fueled altercation inside their home

The attorney has now filed a motion asking to withdraw from the case. She suggested that Boone either represent herself or she be provided one last lawyer.

'The court can only go through this so many times with Ms. Boone coming to the court and there ending up being irreconcilable differences such that the counsel that you have appointed cant move forward,' she said.

Boone has complained about almost all of her previous representatives and her sixth lawyer Frank Bankowitz withdrew from the case after she called him a 'buffoon' and 'dud'.

A hearing for the motion has not been scheduled yet but Boone's trial is set to begin on October 7.
The family of a Scots woman murdered in Greece 15 years ago are confident they have enough evidence for police to finally arrest her killer and reopen the case.

Michael Porter, along with his brothers Robert and David, has been fighting since 2009 to have the death of his mother Jean Hanlon properly investigated by Greek authorities.

The 53-year-old's death in Crete was originally ruled as a drowning, but last year organised crime detectives concluded foul play was involved.

In a bitter blow to the family, however, they were told too much time had passed and there was insufficient evidence to catch her killer.

Jean Hanlon's death in 2009 was originally ruled as drowning

But after hiring a private investigator in January, Mr Porter says there is now enough 'incriminating' evidence to identify the man responsible for killing their mother, who had lived on the Greek island for four years.

He said a lawyer acting on behalf of the family would hand a dossier to police this week. Mr Porter added: 'It's 29 pages of incriminating evidence that points to this suspect. Sadly this evidence has always been there. It was, in the end, quite easy to process  it was so clear and there in front of us.

'If the police had delved a bit deeper and investigated everyone she last spoke to and done their basic job it could have saved a lot of heartache. They initially said it was drowning. It wasn't until after fighting and fighting that they said foul play was involved.'

He said information written in his mother's diary, which was previously translated to police, has been key to putting together the evidence he is confident points to someone his mother knew.

Mr Porter also believes notes in her diary 'confirms the motive'.

Mrs Hanlon, a former hospital secretary from Dumfries, had moved to the beach town of Kato Gouves to start a new life working in tourism and hospitality.

The family of Jean Hanlon, who died on the Greek island of Crete in 2009, believe she was murdered and they know who killed her

Mrs Hanlon had moved to Kato Gouves on Crete 4 years prior to her death

She went missing in March 2009 after a night out. She had told friends she was meeting a man at a cafe and later sent a text message saying simply: 'Help'. Four days later, her body was found in the sea at Heraklion.

Police insisted she had drowned accidentally but pressure from the family led to a second post-mortem examination. It revealed she suffered a broken neck and ribs, a punctured lung and facial injuries, and was probably dead before she entered the water.

Murder detectives questioned two men  a Greek and a Belgian  but both were released without charge and a court ruled in 2012 there would be no prosecutions.

It was only after the case featured on a Channel 5 documentary and the Greek version of Crimewatch that a second probe was launched in 2019, although no fresh evidence was found.

Detectives last year told the family the death was no accident although there were no new clues to take the inquiry further. But Mr Porter is now confident the case 'will be solved' thanks to private investigator Haris Veramon.

He said: 'Haris has uncovered new evidence and we have now identified the person that killed our mum.

'This has been a nightmare hanging over us. But now I believe we can get justice and will finally be able to let her go in peace.'

Greek police were contacted for comment.
This is the terrifying moment a motorcycle blew up in front of a gym in the western Colombian region of Valle del Cauca, leaving six people injured.

A surveillance video showed parking attendant Rafael Gonzalel placing a piece of a cardboard box over the seat of the bike before it exploded around 6:30 am Wednesday in the downtown district of the municipality of Jamundi.

A second video showed a police cruiser driving by the parked motorcycles when the bomb exploded. One of the officers could be seen stepping out of the vehicle while two bystanders struggled to maintain their balance as they walked away.

The Colombian government attributed the bombing to the Estado Mayor Central (EMC), a dissident faction of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC).

'The EMC in Valle del Cauca return to doing what they know how to do: Kill humble people from the town,' President Gustavo Petro wrote on X.

'Their path is greed for which they do not care about the destruction of communities. The EMC is a force hostile to the people. The Army must complete the offensive in the Micay canyon.'

Rafael Gonzalez, who was hired by two banks to watch over the motorcycles of customers, approaches the bike (center) that was loaded with a explosives and blew up in front of a gym around 6:50 am Wednesday in Jamundi, a municipality in the western Colombia department of Valle del Cauca

Rafael Gonzalez sits on the street pavement while paramedics tend to him moments after a motorcycle exploded in front of him outside a gym in Jamundi, Colombia on Wednesday

Two injured police officers, who were steps away from the bomb, were rushed to a clinic in Cali.

Gonzalez had been hired by two banks to watch over the bikes that were parked in front of the branches by customers. He suffered severe injuries to his right leg.

Martha Valencia, who owns the gym, told Noticias Caracol that a man arrived around 6:10 am and abandoned the motorcycle.

'The man who takes care of the motorcycles was a little suspicious, but he saw that he left and didn't realize (the bomb on the motorcycle),' Valencia said.

'The explosion occurred at 6:50 and we were all here, fortunately inside the gym, no one was affected.'

Bystanders run for safety just seconds after a moto bomb exploded in the western Colombian city of Jamundi

Police officers and civilians inspect the scene next to a damaged police van after a motorcycle packed with a bomb exploded in front of a gym and left six people injured in Jamundi, Colombia on Wednesday

The Colombian government attributed the motorcycle bombing to the Estado Mayor Central (EMC), a dissident faction of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC)

School classes were cancelled and businesses near the explosion site were closed for the day.

'In my life I had never felt what a bomb is, but now we have to be with God,' Maribel Molina told RCN Noticias.

The bombing took place just minutes before FARC dissidents opened fire on a police station in the Jamundi neighborhood of Potrerito.

FARC dissidents were also behind the bombing of a SUV near a police station last Friday in Jamundi. No injuries were reported.
A 61-year-old Oregon man stuck in a near-death situation at the bottom of a ravine was rescued by officials after his dog quickly took action to save him.

Brandon Garrett of Halfway and his four dogs was on his way to a campsite when his car crashed near US Forest Service Road 39 and ended up stuck at the bottom of an 85-foot-ravine on June 2.

As Garrett fought for his life, his dog Blue managed to come out of the wreckage and ended up running four miles to reach the campsite where Garrett's family was waiting for him.

In the meantime, the pup owner was able to pull himself a hundred yards away from the crash and had to spend the night at the site before help could arrive.

Brandon Garrett of Halfway and his four dogs was on his way to a campsite when his car crashed near US Forest Service Road 39 and ended up stuck at the bottom of an 85-foot-ravine. (Pictured: Garrett with Blue, a whippet and pit bull mix)

According to the Sheriff's Office, the crash happened after Garrett 'failed to negotiate a curve causing the vehicle to plummet off the embankment'

The whippet and pit bull mix pet was able to alert the victim's family and bring them to the site - where Garrett's family quickly called officials.

Baker County Sheriffs Office, Baker County Search and Rescue, Pine Valley Rural Fire District and Halfway Ambulance responded to the scene.

Sheriff Ash arrived, located the vehicle and victim and quickly rendered first aid as Pine Valley Rural Fire volunteers and U.S. Forest Service employees used chainsaws to clear a path for Search and Rescue.

Baker County Search and Rescue Ropes Team officials were able to secure Garrett in a rescue basket and was connected to a highline rope system so that he could be pulled across the ravine.

After the victim have been successfully rescued, he was transported by Halfway Ambulance to the Life Flight helicopter, where he was airlifted to a regional hospital.

Baker County Search and Rescue Ropes Team officials were able to secure Garrett in a rescue basket and was connected to a highline rope system so that he could be pulled across the ravine

After the victim have been successfully rescued, he was transported by Halfway Ambulance to the Life Flight helicopter, where he was airlifted to a regional hospital

The three remaining dogs were located alive at the crash scene by officials

According to the Sheriff's Office, the crash happened after Garrett 'failed to negotiate a curve causing the vehicle to plummet off the embankment'.

The three remaining dogs were located alive at the crash scene by officials.

Onlookers have been praising Blue's actions - calling him a 'best friend for life' and a 'great & caring dog'.

'What an amazing story. What a great & caring dog. He knew what he needed to do and he did it,' one viewer wrote.

Blue Buffalo, a pet supplies company also wrote: 'That's a best friend FOR LIFE! Now if we could only get Blue some well-deserved treats...'.

Another overjoyed user also wrote: 'What an incredible story! What a dog to travel 4 miles back to camp to get help.....that was unbelievable.....That dog deserves a medal for that!!!! And then to find everyone alive and rescued, that is a wonderful ending to the story! Thanks for sharing and I am so glad everyone made it out alive!'

The extent of Garrett's injuries remains unclear as of now.
Chinese vaping giant Elf Bar has been accused of skirting UK law with a 12.99 device that has the strength of 240 cigarettes.

The AF5000 is advertised as coming pre-filled with 2ml of liquid nicotine  the legal maximum for a disposable e-cigarette.

But it also has a clip-on 10ml reservoir taking its total up to 12ml, allowing 5,000 puffs of huge satisfaction from a single device.

The EU has alerted member states about the dangerous device, which is likely to lead to a Europe-wide ban.

There are calls to strip it from UK shelves as well amid fears it could fall into the hands of vulnerable young people.

Last year, some supermarkets stopped selling Elf Bar products after a Mail investigation found they were considerably stronger than advertised (File image)

The AF5000 is advertised as coming pre-filled with 2ml of liquid nicotine  the legal maximum for a disposable e-cigarette

Chinese vaping giant Elf Bar has been accused of skirting UK law (File image)

Steve Brine, former chairman of the Commons health committee, said: This cynical move will surprise nobody. These businesses will always find a way to protect profits, which is why the law has to stay several steps ahead of them.

This impulse election, killing as it did the Tobacco and Vapes Bill, has given them a welcome breather. But the next Government needs to move fast and revive that crucial piece of legislation on day one.

Former Tory MP Caroline Johnson, a paediatric consultant, said: This is a clear sign that the industry will do anything to skirt the law so it can addict more people to nicotine products.

These new devices are clearly not intended to help people quit smoking but as an alternative source of addiction to make revenue.

One of the reasons I wanted to make sure that the Tobacco and Vapes Bill went through is that its so important to protect childrens health. We don't want a whole generation of addicted children.

Shadow health minister Preet Gill urged the Government to take 'urgent action' to get the vapes taken off shelves.

She said: Youth vaping has soared. We put forward measures to tackle vapes being aimed at children more than two years ago, but these were blocked by the Conservatives.

A Labour government will take tough action to stop a new generation getting hooked on nicotine. We will clamp down on underage vaping by banning vapes from being branded and advertised to children.

The AF5000 comes in 15 different flavours including Blueberry Sour Raspberry, Watermelon Ice, Triple Mango, Blue Razz Lemonade, Kiwi Passion Fruit Guava and Pineapple Mojito.

Pukka Juice, a Blackburn-based online vape retailer, describes the device as a powerhouse that surpasses eight standard disposables, making it a cost-effective and sustainable choice for discerning vapers.

Under the Tobacco and Related Products Regulations 2016, disposable vapes  including single-use cartridges or tanks  can contain no more than 2ml of nicotine liquid.

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Pukka Juice, a Blackburn-based online vape retailer, describes the device as a powerhouse that surpasses eight standard disposables, making it a cost-effective and sustainable choice for discerning vapers.

Last night, Elf Bar insisted the AF5000 was compliant with the law and said it was investigating the EU alert.

A spokesman said: We take product compliance in all global markets seriously and follow the necessary steps to meet relevant criteria.

Last year, some supermarkets stopped selling Elf Bar products after a Mail investigation found they were considerably stronger than advertised.

The Tobacco and Vapes Bill promised to ban all disposable vapes, but it failed to pass in time before Parliament was dissolved for the General Election.

In its safety alert on the AF5000, the EU warned: The device is extended with a refill tank. This modification could lead to the accidental consumption of a high dose of nicotine. Nicotine is acutely toxic and can endanger the users safety, notably if the product comes into contact with the skin or is ingested.

It comes after a teenage girl burned a hole in her lung after vaping the equivalent of 400 cigarettes in a week.

Kyla Blight, 17, of Egremont, Cumbria, underwent surgery for more than five hours to remove part of her lung and her heart nearly stopped due to her habit.

Her father Mark warned other parents about the hidden dangers of vapes, which have been linked to lung disease, narrowed arteries and even cancer.

Figures show that one in five children in the UK has tried vaping despite it being illegal for under-18s, while the number of children using vapes has tripled in the last three years.
John Swinney has stepped up the SNPs opposition to oil and gas by claiming the Prime Ministers plans for new North Sea oil fields are utterly irresponsible.

The First Minister branded Rishi Sunak a climate denier for being in favour of allowing companies to drill off Scotlands coastline.

The SNP recently softened its stance on fossil fuels, saying any new oil and gas licences must be subject to a climate change test rather than being ruled out altogether.

Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes even claimed last week that her party had never opposed new schemes and instead thought they just needed to be compatible with the countrys climate targets.

John Swinney was accused of doubling down on anti-oil and gas stance after speaking out against new North Sea developments.

But Mr Swinney said Mr Sunaks granting of permission for 100 new potential projects is utterly irresponsible.

Scottish Conservative candidate for West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine Andrew Bowie said: John Swinney has finally let the cat out of the bag and admitted what we all knew  that the SNP has abandoned the North-East.

The SNP have sought to dupe voters in the North-East into thinking they were having second thoughts on opposing new oil and gas licences. But John Swinney has made it clear that nothing has changed by doubling down on his partys anti-oil and gas stance, which threatens tens of thousands of jobs.

The Conservatives are the only party standing up for oil and gas workers and the crucial role they play in sustaining North-East communities and our wider economy, energy security and just transition to net zero.

In discussion with BBC Panoramas Nick Robinson, Mr Swinney said: What Im saying is that there has to be an assessment to determine whether or not any licence application is compatible with our net zero obligations.

Now the Prime Minister has basically said he will licence 100 new projects, I think that is utterly irresponsible. That is climate denier status of the first order. So weve got to have a rational, considered process to look at every application to determine whether it can be sustained and compatible with our climate objectives.

Pushing the First Minister for clarity, Mr Robinson said the public have been unclear about the Nationalist stance. He said: They knew with your predecessor, Nicola Sturgeon, when it came to opening a huge new oil field, Rosebank, said it was the greatest act of environmental vandalism in my lifetime. When you were in coalition with the Greens we knew it was no more oil and gas; now theres an election its all a bit hazy, isnt it?

Mr Swinney said: Weve got a climate emergency, none of us duck that, I cant duck that and Im not prepared to duck it. But Ive also got to manage a transition for the oil and gas sector that enables that sector to establish fiscal sustainability and also to then be able to contribute towards the journey to renewable energy, which is a very significant opportunity in Scotland, particularly in the field of offshore wind.

Mr Swinney also sought to defend the SNPs tax rises, claiming that teachers and police officers only pay a very limited amount more tax in Scotland and then went on to state that he wants the rest of the UK to pay more too.

He said: For people who are teachers or police officers, the difference in tax is very limited, but of course there are other benefits, like the fact that people in Scotland dont pay for university tuition or that they dont pay for prescriptions or that they have generally a council tax payment thats about 500, 600 lower than if they were living in England.

So, there are different considerations to be borne in mind, rather than just focusing on the tax issue. But Im not in any way seeking to downplay the significance of increasing tax for higher earners, because what thats done is thats allowed us to invest in our public services.

Asked if he was calling for taxes to be raised in other parts of the UK, he said: The alternative to that, of course, is cuts in public spending.

Scottish Tory finance spokesman Liz Smith said: John Swinney needs to re-do his sums. The SNPs high-tax regime means hard-working teachers and police officers are paying far more tax in Scotland than they would living south of the Border.

He is so wedded to the policy that tax rises are the only answer to tackling his own partys financial mismanagement that he would do the exact same in England if he could.

Meanwhile, Mr Swinney and SNP Commons candidate Stephen Flynn say they have set their sights on an independence referendum in five years. Mr Swinney said: Thats what I think should happen. That would be the best thing to happen.
She had returned to Adelaide after a holiday in Bali

A Jetstar passenger has been left horrified after she opened her suitcase and discovered her items were soaking wet and damaged after a flight.

Elly Hudson had just returned from a holiday in Bali on Monday when she found her clothes were soggy and discoloured from fabric dye streaking.

The Adelaide woman said Jetstar hadn't given her a heads up about the damage and questioned if her suitcase had been 'sitting carelessly in the rain'.

'Jetstar please explain,' Ms Hudson wrote on a TikTok video as she showed a stained white skirt and a damaged jewellery box.

'My new suitcase now smells [and] will probably go mouldy and everything inside is either wet or damaged.'

Elly Hudson had just returned from her holiday in Bali on Monday when she found her clothes were soggy and discoloured from fabric dye streaking (pictured, a Jetstar plane in Adelaide)

Ms Hudson claimed nothing in her suitcase was dry or how she originally packed it.

'Heaps of fabrics leaked due to clothes being wet, so a lot of our items have been damaged,' she said.

'Some of my favourite pieces are damaged and won't be able to get that back.'

A Jetstar spokesman has since apologised for the incident.

'We were really sorry to see what happened,' he said.

'Our customer care team has reached to Ms Hudson to discuss what further support we can provide.'

In April, a passenger slammed Qantas - which also owns Jetstar - after her luggage was returned to her completely soaked when she landed in Fiji.

Ms Hudson claimed nothing in her suitcase was dry or how she originally packed it (pictured)

Shirley Becke (pictured right) had planned a dream holiday with her husband (pictured left) to Fiji to celebrate her birthday, but discovered to her horror that her bags were soaking wet

Shirley Becke, 70, claimed her luggage had been left in the rain on the tarmac at Sydney Airport for up to 30 minutes before the flight.

She was forced to spend the first night of her holiday without any fresh clothes - including her underwear - and dry her clothes on the balcony of the hotel room.

After Ms Becke came back to Australia following her week-long holiday, she contacted Qantas to raise the issue directly with them.

Qantas told her she should have informed staff at the airport on the day she left but argued she was not aware of the issue until she got to her hotel in Fiji.

Mrs Becke claim that her baggage was left on a trailer that was towed onto the tarmac at Sydney airport while it was raining heavily (pictured)

Qantas informed Ms Becke in an email that staff ensure baggage is not left out in the rain for a significant amount of time.

The airline told her they would not be able to compensate her for water damage to her baggage as a result of the incident.

A Qantas spokeswoman told Daily Mail Australia that staff always put safety first during periods of heavy rainfall.

'When airports are impacted by severe storms, staff may be directed to leave the airport tarmac for a period of time until it is safe to continue working,' she said.

'While every effort is made to ensure bags remain under cover during wet weather, safety is always our first priority.'
Pennsylvania Democrat Sen. John Fetterman was speeding at the time when he hit a car Sunday, and police say he is at fault.

According to a recently released police report obtained by DailyMail.com, the Democrat is 'at fault' for hitting a car while driving 'at a high rate of speed, well over the posted speed limit.'

Maryland State Police told DailyMail.com the senator was driving a Chevrolet Traverse when he rear-ended a Chevrolet Impala in northern Maryland near the Pennsylvania and West Virginia border on Sunday.

Following the crash both of the Fettermans were transported to War Memorial Hospital in Berkeley Springs, West Virginia. Sen. Fetterman was treated for a bruised shoulder.

Sen. John Fetterman, D-Penn., and his wife Gisele were hospitalized after a car crash in northern Maryland on Sunday morning

John Fetterman exits a Chevy Traverse on Capitol Hill. Maryland State Police told DailyMail.com the senator was driving a Chevrolet Traverse when he rear-ended a Chevrolet Impala in northern Maryland near the Pennsylvania and West Virginia border

The Democrat has had a history of health ailments, most notably suffering a stroke while running for Senate in 2022.

Since his stroke Fetterman has suffered from audio impairments that have resulted in his needing a phone or tablet-based transcriber to clearly understand colleagues and reporters while working on Capitol Hill.

This has resulted in the installation of a live closed captioning system at the Democrats Washington, D.C. desk.

He has been known to respond, at times, with half sentences to reporters' questions.

The crash happened on the westbound route of Interstate 70 near Interstate 68, authorities said.

'According to a preliminary investigation, a Chevrolet Traverse and a Chevrolet Impala were both traveling west on I-70 when for unknown reasons, the Traverse struck the rear of the Impala,' a spokesperson for the Maryland State Police told DailyMail.com.

John Fetterman and his family in the Capitol after his swearing-in

The couple was treated at War Memorial Hospital in Berkeley Springs, West Virginia, shown above, following the crash

Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman exits a Chevy Traverse at the U.S. Capitol

The collision happened just before 8 a.m. on Sunday morning.

'A passenger in the Traverse and the operator of the Impala were transported by ambulance to War Memorial Hospital in West Virginia for treatment of their injuries,' the spokesperson disclosed.

'No citations were issued,' authorities said before adding 'The crash investigation remains active and ongoing.'

A spokesperson for Fetterman's office confirmed the incident to DailyMail.com on Monday.

'On Sunday morning, John and Gisele were involved in a car accident with another driver.'

A spokesperson for Fetterman's office said the Democrat received treatment for a bruised shoulder

According to authorities, the investigation into the crash remains ongoing

'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.'

The couple is 'doing well' and are 'happy' to be back at their home in Braddock, Pennsylvania, the spokesperson added.

Fetterman's office did not immediately return a request for comment on the Democrat being found at fault for the crash.
A prestigious girls' private school in Surrey will admit boys for the first time in 100 years in order to allow 'siblings to be educated together'.

Sir William Perkins's School in Chertsey, Surrey, aims to have mixed classrooms by 2030 following demand from families hoping to send siblings to school together.

The 21,648-per-year school, boasting successful female alumni in Trisha Goddard and Team GB rower Harriet Taylor, became one of the country's first grammar schools for girls in 1944, having previously catered for boys.

Celebrating its 300th anniversary next year, the school said the needs of the current generation are best met by allowing boys and girls to learn together, SurreyLive reported.

Debbie Picton, the school's headteacher, said: 'This is the start of an exciting new chapter in the long history of our school. We are delighted that boys will be able to benefit from our educational excellence and pastoral ethos.'

The school in Surrey said that the change was motivated by demand from parents

TV star Trisha Goddard (pictured on Good Morning Britain in 2019) was educated at the school

From September 2026, the school will look to allow boys between year 7 and year 12 to join some 570 existing students, The Telegraph reported.

Melanie Duke, Chair of Governors, said: 'We recognise that families increasingly want their children to be educated together.

'In an area where single-sex schools dominate the independent sector, we are delighted to offer an outstanding alternative choice for both girls and boys.

'Our vision and ethos remain the same, that every single student at Sir William Perkins's School is encouraged and enabled in a purposeful environment where everyone thrives.'

Ms Picton added: 'We believe in championing the individual, building each child's confidence and integrity and ensuring our students are world-ready whatever their ambitions.

'We therefore look forward to all the opportunities this move will bring to enrich our School and local community for many generations to come.'

The public school, listed as one of the Sunday Times' Top 100 Secondary School in the UK last year, opened in 1725 as a school for 'poor boys'.

By 1736 it was admitting girls for free education - long before the 1880 Education Act made education compulsory for all children between the ages of five and ten, with state funding available.

In practice, many girls from poorer backgrounds continued supporting their families through work, rather than going into education.

Sir William Perkins's School offered girls free education and clothing nearly 150 years prior.

In 1944, it reopened as a school exclusively for girls, becoming fully independent in 1978.

Last month, Abingdon School in Oxfordshire, charging 49,800-per-year, said it would soon become a co-educational school along with Abingdon Preparatory School.

In a similar statement, the boys' school said the move was 'driven by the belief that the best preparation for young people is to educate them alongside one another'.

The school - whose former pupils include the members of Radiohead, the comedian David Mitchell and actor Tom Hollander - said it was 'delighted to announce that both its schools are to become co-educational'.

Many independent schools have raised concerns about Labour's proposals to impose VAT on school fees, and the possibility of closure if unable to raise alternative revenues.

'[Keir] Starmer should abandon this policy,' wrote Andrew Maiden, editor of Independent School Management last spring. 'VAT on fees is an unworkable policy and the country would be better served by a government that focused on other priorities.'

He cited a report commissioned by the Independent Schools Council (ISC) concluding that the sector saves the taxpayer 4.4bn each year.

Team GB rower Harriet Taylor is also among the list of successful alumni from the school

Keir Starmer (pictured this evening) has expressed proposals to impose VAT on private schools

In an open letter to Mr Starmer, Principal Paul Norton of Kings Monkton School in Cardiff said the VAT plan was a 'tax on parents' that could result in the school having to close.

'VAT would inevitably make our education unaffordable for some parents, and risk them having to leave the school,' he said.

'This would cause serious disruption for the education of those children involved, and this burden would fall on the parents who work the hardest to support their choice of school.'

Labour says it hopes to raise about 1.5bn through tax changes, which include the 20 per cent VAT imposition, if it wins the next election.

The party previously clarified it would not strip schools of their charitable status, and that private schools would retain some of their tax breaks under a Labour government, should it win the next election.
Britons who travel abroad more than once a year would face punitive 'frequent flyer' levies under Green Party proposals.

The party  which is on course to have its best ever general election result  also wants to raise National Insurance rates for those earning more than 50,000 and scrap the Trident nuclear deterrent.

Announcing a 70billion investment to mend 'broken Britain', the Greens said they would fund their plans through a wealth tax on assets above 10million and by expanding the windfall levy on energy giants.

At yesterday's manifesto launch in the Brighton Pavilion constituency  their only seat in Westminster  Green Party co-leaders Carla Denyer and Adrian Ramsay also proudly unveiled plans to ban domestic short-haul flights in the UK.

Under their 'frequent flyer' proposal, travellers taking ten flights a year would be forced to pay an extra 585.

Green Party co-leaders Carla Denyer and Adrian Ramsay pictured during the party's manifesto launch in Brighton on June 12

Britons who travel abroad more than once a year would face punitive 'frequent flyer' levies under Green Party proposals (Stock Image)

Mr Ramsay told the Mail: 'This is not intended to affect the average family. People who fly on holiday once a year would not be charged extra because we're talking about frequent fliers.

'Just 15 per cent of the population take 70 per cent of the flights. So we're talking about business people or people who have wealth and fly frequently.'

The Greens have come under fire for their nuclear policies  which include cancelling the Trident nuclear programme and aiming to 'phase out' nuclear power.

Mr Ramsay suggested any money saved from axing the deterrent would be used to improve the Armed Forces, while nuclear-generated energy would form part of the transition to a greener future.

The party would advocate for remaining in Nato  but seek an end to the alliance's 'first-use' policy for nuclear weapons.

Last night the Institute for Fiscal Studies said Green Party plans to tax both 'excessive concentrations' of wealth and middle-class earners  those on 55,000 would pay an extra 268 a year  are not enough to fund their spending commitments, which would see the tax burden rise by 170billion per year.

The Greens have come under fire for their nuclear policies  which include cancelling the Trident nuclear programme and aiming to 'phase out' nuclear power

Helen Miller, deputy director of the think-tank, said it was 'unlikely' that the party's proposed tax rises would generate the amount claimed and 'certainly not without real economic cost'.

The party, which is polling at around eight per cent nationally, is focusing on four winnable Westminster seats.

Many voters thought to be disillusioned by Labour's shift from the Left after the Jeremy Corbyn era have pledged allegiance to the party.

The Greens have vowed to keep Sir Keir Starmer honest over the next five years if he enters government.

'We will push Labour to stop backtracking on their promises,' Mr Ramsay said at yesterday's launch. 'We will be there to drive them to be braver, to be more ambitious, not to take timid baby steps towards change but to actually do what's necessary to fix our country and get us back on track.'
Senior Tories last night warned the public not to hand Sir Keir Starmer a 'super-majority' at the general election.

In a shift of strategy, a string of Conservative figures issued blunt warnings about the danger of delivering a landslide victory to a Labour Party that has said little about its plans for power.

The new approach is designed to convince Tory voters flirting with Reform that they risk handing untrammelled power to avowed 'socialist' Sir Keir unless they return to the Conservative fold.

It came as Sir Keir failed to rule out a host of tax rises last night as he squirmed during a Sky News special election debate last night over his past support for Jeremy Corbyn in 2019.

He insisted he only backed his left-wing predecessor in saying he would make a 'great PM' because he was 'certain' Labour was going to lose.

But he still came out on top in a snap poll to deepen Rishi Sunak's woes with the Labour leader coming across as more trustworthy, likeable, in touch with ordinary people and prime ministerial.

A panel of MailOnline readers echoed those thoughts with the majority of viewers believing the opposition leader beat the Prime Minister.

Mr Sunak yesterday stayed defiant and insisted he had 'absolutely not' given up hope of winning the election amid a bruising week for the PM in which he has seen his approval rating plummet below Reform UK leader Nigel Farage.

He added he will continue to 'keep fighting hard until the last day of this election', and reiterated his apology for his 'mistake' of leaving D-Day commemorations early.

THE REACTION: Listen to our analysis of the latest election news

Senior Tories last night warned the public not to hand Sir Keir Starmer a 'super-majority' at the general election

Mr Sunak yesterday stayed defiant and insisted he had 'absolutely not' given up hope of winning the election amid a bruising week for the PM

The premier's approval rating plummeted below Reform UK leader Nigel Farage for the first time

Sir Keir Starmer (pictured) prepared to launch his manifesto today with a pledge to make Labour the 'party of wealth creation'

Sir Keir failed to rule out a host of tax rises last night as he squirmed over his past support for Jeremy Corbyn (pictured)

A snap poll after the Sky News special deepened Rishi Sunak's woes with the Sir Keir coming across as more trustworthy, likeable, in touch with ordinary people and prime ministerial

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The premier had earlier played down the mockery over an ITV interview in which he suggested he experienced hardship as a child because he had to 'go without' Sky TV.

Labour: We are the wealth creators now Labour will become the party of wealth creation and make growth its top priority, Sir Keir Starmer will vow today. The Labour leader will unveil his partys election manifesto making economic stability the first of its six first steps for government and has pledged there will be no tax surprises. Sir Keir is expected to say: Wealth creation is our number one priority. Growth is our core business  the end and the means of national renewal.The mandate we seek at this election is for economic growth. This changed Labour Party has a plan for growth. We are pro-business and pro-worker, the party of wealth creation. Sir Keir will launch the manifesto in Manchester today. It is expected to include a pledge to cap corporation tax at its current rate of 25 per cent to give businesses long-term certainty, the latest in a series of pledges not to raise tax. Labour has already ruled out raising rates of income tax, national insurance or VAT, and said the manifesto will contain no tax rises that have not already been announced. Those increases are charging VAT on private school fees, abolishing the non-dom tax status and closing loopholes in the windfall tax on oil and gas firms. The partys first steps also include a pledge to cut NHS waiting lists with 40,000 new appointments a week, setting up a Border Security Command, establishing GB Energy, cracking down on antisocial behaviour and hiring 6,500 teachers. The manifesto is expected to commit to reforming planning rules and building 1.5million new homes. There will be measures to overhaul workers rights and a pledge to devolve decision-making away from Westminster. On foreign policy, Labour has said it will back Ukraine against Russia and support recognising a Palestinian state as part of a Middle East peace process. The party has also promised that it will aim to spend 2.5 per cent of GDP on defence. Advertisement

But hours later he was the brunt of the joke again as he told the audience in Grimsby during the Sky News debate that his 'appalling diet of Haribo and Twixes would make voters like him more.

He gave the baffling response revealing his love for sugary confectionery when asked what he could say to make voters see him as 'Dishy Rishi' again.

The change of course within the Tory ranks reflects growing concern among Conservative strategists about the party's failure to dent Labour's massive poll lead during the first three weeks of the election campaign.

Some polls suggest the Conservatives could be left with fewer than 100 seats. Private Tory polling suggests many voters believe there is no risk in lending their votes to protest parties such as Reform because Labour is on course to win regardless.

But Defence Secretary Grant Shapps said granting Labour a 'super-majority' would hand 'unchecked' power to a party whose 'plans are so vague... you have no idea what they actually want to change'.

And former attorney general Sir Geoffrey Cox warned: 'If you believe the polls... we are sleepwalking into a one-party socialist state.

'The consequences would be horrific, not just for the Conservative Party and for the country, but also for Labour because having an opposition is important.'

The switch in tactics came as:

Sir Keir prepared to launch his manifesto today with a pledge to make Labour the 'party of wealth creation'

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt said his Surrey constituency was 'on a knife-edge' and likely to be decided by fewer than 1,500 votes

Labour health spokesman Wes Streeting admitted Labour did not have a 'magic wand (to) fix everything straight away'

Labour refused to rule out raising duty on beer, wine and spirits as fears grew about its tax plans

The Prime Minister's parliamentary aide Craig Williams was under investigation for placing a 100 bet on a July election just days before it was called

The Green Party vowed to tax foreign holidays and scrap the Trident nuclear deterrent

The Home Office said it would offer increased security to Nigel Farage following a series of attempted assaults.

Mr Sunak hinted at a new campaign strategy on Tuesday when he warned voters not to hand Labour a 'blank cheque'. But the message was amplified by Mr Shapps yesterday.

The Defence Secretary, whose Welwyn Hatfield seat could fall to Labour, suggested the Tories were fighting to prevent a 1997-style Labour landslide.

He said that to ensure proper accountability 'you don't want to have somebody receive a super-majority', adding that if Labour's 'power was in some way unchecked, it would be very bad news'.

Defence Secretary Grant Shapps (pictured) said handing Labour a 'super-majority' would give them 'unchecked' power

Former attorney general Sir Geoffrey Cox (pictured) warned: 'If you believe the polls... we are sleepwalking into a one-party socialist state'

Rishi Sunak (pictured) hinted at a new campaign strategy on Tuesday when he warned voters not to hand Labour a 'blank cheque'

People took to X/Twitter to widely ridicule PM after he revealed his love for sugary confectionery would make voters like him more

Mr Shapps warned against a 'blank-cheque approach, allowing someone to do anything they wanted, particularly when their particular set of plans are so vague, and they say 'change', but you have no idea what they actually want to change to'.

Miriam Cates, of the New Conservative group of Right-wing MPs, warned that a 'Left-wing government on steroids' would be free to tear up border controls and impose woke gender rules.

Asked if the Tories had conceded defeat, Mr Sunak said: 'No, absolutely not.'

Body blow for Rishi Sunak as snap poll finds Keir Starmer won Sky News election grilling by 64% to 36%

Rishi Sunak was hit with a body blow last night as a snap poll found Keir Starmer came out on top in a crucial TV election grilling.

Viewers thought the Labour leader performed better in the Sky News special by 64 per cent to 36 per cent, according to YouGov.

The grim result leaves Mr Sunak facing a desperate three-week struggle to avoid electoral oblivion and humiliation at the hands of Nigel Farage, after hopes that the programme could be a turning point were dashed.

The premier repeatedly faced mocking laughter from the audience in Grimsby as he was hammered over leaving D-Day commemorations in Normandy early last week, repeating his grovelling apology. And he was left pleading that he 'appreciated people's frustrations' the government had not 'got everything right' in critical areas such as immigration.

On the stage beforehand, Sir Keir did not get an easy ride - squirming as he was challenged on why he now condemns Jeremy Corbyn after arguing he would make a 'great PM' five years ago.

Sir Keir wriggled as he was asked on Sky News how people could 'trust' him, arguing that he only endorsed Mr Corbyn because he was 'certain that we would lose'.

He also floundered as he was pushed by presenter Beth Rigby on whether he would rule out all tax rises - sticking to his line that income tax, national insurance and VAT would not be touched. He would not completely deny that council tax or fuel duty could increase.

But Sir Keir was received far more warmly by the crowd, and rammed home attacks on the Tories' 14 years in government.

The poll suggested Mr Sunak even scored lower than Sir Keir on tax - the issue the Conservatives have been targeting as a chink in Labour's armour. Sir Keir's performance was also preferred by every age group - three-quarters of 18-24 year olds, 66 per cent of 25-49s, 59 per cent of those aged 50-64 and 47 per cent of 65-plus Brits.

Mr Sunak now heads off to the G7 summit in Italy, where he will seek to underline his credentials as a statesman. Sir Keir launches Labour's manifesto today, with expectations that it will be a safety-first document.

In other key moments:

Sir Keir defended adding VAT to private school fees after being confronted by a parent who would have to pull his daughter out;

He went on the attack against Mr Sunak saying that parties that left everything worse than when they came to power 'should be booted out';

Sir Keir said his biggest worry about being PM was the impact on his son and daughter, admitting his wife Victoria did not want him to enter politics after stepping down as Director of Public Prosecutions;

Sir Keir struggled to find words as an audience member accused him of being a 'political robot';

Mr Sunak defended progress against his five missions and denied he had called the election early because he knew he would not hit the goals soon;

The premier was berated over huge levels of legal net migration, running at 685,000 a year, with Rigby saying people in Grimsby who voted for Brexit would be furious. 'Why should anyone believe what you say on immigration?'

Mr Sunak admitted numbers were 'too high' but argued they had been coming down since he entered No10;

The PM was attacked over tax as he dodged acknowledging that the overall burden will keep rising, even with his latest tax cut pledges;

He did not repeat his claim that Labour will hike taxes for families by 2,000, which he deployed repeatedly in the last ITV debate;

Mr Sunak was hit with laughter as Rigby asked whether Tory infighting meant he was not certain to be PM in a year even if he wins the election;

The premier was grilled on Partygate and his own fine for breaching Covid rules, saying he 'regretted what happened' and 'apologised for it at the time';

Mr Sunak was assailed by a former Tory local association chair who said she felt unable to support the party after the D-Day row and Covid lockdowns;

LISTEN: Sarah Vine and Andrew Pierce analyse the latest election news on The Reaction

Keir Starmer wriggled as he was asked on Sky News how people could 'trust' him, arguing that he only endorsed Mr Corbyn because he was 'certain that we would lose'

Sir Keir swiped yesterday that the Tory manifesto was like something Corbyn would have produced

Mr Sunak was immediately tackled over leaving D-Day commemorations in Normandy early last week, repeating his grovelling apology

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Mr Sunak is commentating on Sir Keir's turn on social media afterwards, to underline the fact the Labour leader would not go head-to-head again

The PM was scathing about his opponent's comments on tax

The latest YouGov survey found Labour were supported by 38 per cent of voters ahead of the general election on 4 July, with the Conservatives backed by 18 per cent

Mr Sunak commentated on Sir Keir's performance on social media, to underline the fact the Labour leader would not go head-to-head again.

He swiped: 'Does anyone know what Keir Starmer actually stands for?'

Pressed on his shifts in position over core issues, Sir Keir was asked whether there was a trust issue.

Rishi Sunak interview, key points: Apologises again for D-Day retreat from France, says he 'hopes people can find it in their hearts to forgive me.'

Audience laughs when he is asked if we will be PM in a year if he wins election, after years of Tory turmoil.

PM heckled as he suggests junior doctor strikes are reason NHS waiting lists have gone up

Confirms plan to start Rwanda deportation flights on July 24.

Admits he understands voter frustration over immigration Advertisement

He said: 'No because what I would say is this  I decided it must be country first so every decision after that I judged previous decisions, previous positions and I said 'Is this truly country first, party second'; if the answer to that was 'no' then I changed the position and dragged my party back to the service of working people.'

On his previous support for Mr Corbyn, Sir Keir said: 'I was certain that we would lose the 2019 election.'

He added: 'I did campaign for Labour, of course I did, I will openly say I campaigned for Labour, I wanted good colleagues to be returned into the Labour Party.'

Sir Keir repeatedly said he was 'certain' Labour would lose in 2019 when challenged over his support for Mr Corbyn.

Sir Keir was given a round of applause as he insisted: 'The Tories are in no position to lecture anyone about tax rises.

But he struggled on the detail of his own proposals, after Mr Sunak demanded he match Tory vows to rule out tax increases.

'We've got the highest tax burden for 70 years and I think working people shouldn't pay more tax. We will not raise their tax.

'What we need to do is get the economy going  there's a reason that taxes have gone up so much in recent years and that's because the economy is flatlining.'

In a Sky News programme this evening, Rishi Sunak (pictured arriving) will look to sell his tax-cutting plans to voters

Keir Starmer arrived in Grimsby last night, where the leaders were quizzed by Sky News' political editor Beth Rigby and audience members in a live show

Sir Keir insisted that the Labour manifesto will have 'no tax surprises, there's going to be no need to raise tax on the plans we're setting out.'

Keir Starmer interview, key points: Sir Keir refused to repeat his 2019 claim that Jeremy Corbyn 'would make a great prime minister'.

He said that he he was 'certain' Labour would lose that election (they did, heavily) and tried to justify his support for Corbyn as putting him in a position to change the party afterwards.

Sir Keir faced tough questions on Labour's tax plans, insisted there was no plan to raise tax on working people

Audience applauded Sir Keir Starmer when he said: 'The Tories are in no position to lecture anyone about tax rises. 'We've got the highest tax burden for 70 years and I think working people shouldn't pay more tax. We will not raise their tax.'

Jeered by audience when he mentioned his father was a toolmaker - which he mentions in most appearances

Confirms Labour's manifesto, unveiled today, will not include a plan to roll back the two-child benefit cap. Advertisement

On whether there would be a review of council tax banding in England, Sir Keir said: 'Council tax is too high for many people, it's been going up, it went up again this year, but that's because the Government lost control of the economy.'

Pressed on a review, Sir Keir said: 'I am not wanting to raise tax, I think people are taxed too much already.'

Sir Keir also wobbled on whether he would continue with the fuel duty freeze.

He said: 'That has to be decided budget-by-budget, but my track record is we've supported the cap on fuel duty every single time it has come up, but I want to do things differently.

'If we just do things in the same way that we've done for the last 14 years, we'll end up in the same mess. I'm not prepared to do that.'

On whether he would increase capital gains tax - another Tory accusation - Sir Keir said: 'That's not in our manifesto, that is not a choice we're making, that will not be unveiled today, there's no surprises in our manifesto.'

Sir Keir came under fire from a father who was worried he would have to pull his daughter out of private school if VAT was added to fees.

The Labour leader said: 'I have nothing against private schools, I absolutely recognise that many parents work hard and save hard to send their children to private schools because they have aspiration for their children.'

But he received applause as he added: 'I equally accept that every parent has aspiration for their children whether they go to private school or not.'

He said: 'For those children in state secondary school who don't have the teachers they need, that is not a one-year problem or a two-year budgeting problem it is lifelong problem because if they don't get the qualifications they need at 15 and 16 they can't go and do what they want.'

The Conservative website previously featured a big photo of Mr Sunak with a button asking voters to 'join Rishi'

However, since the manifesto launch yesterday the PM's images are much less prominent

When the leaders switched places, Mr Sunak was asked why people should keep him in the job.

'Well, I've got to say it hasn't been an easy 18 months in general but what I've done though is just keep going to try and do my best for people and that's what I'm doing in this campaign,' he said.

Mr Sunak said he believes the country has 'turned a corner', adding: 'We've got a clear plan for the future to make a difference to people  to cut their taxes, bring down immigration, to protect pensions.'

He added he will continue to 'keep fighting hard until the last day of this election'.

On his early departure from D-Day commemorations, Mr Sunak reiterated his apology for his 'mistake' before saying: 'I was incredibly sad to have caused people hurt and upset, that was the last thing that I wanted to do. I hope people can find it in their hearts to forgive me.'

Mr Sunak said he has spoken to veterans about his party's work to help them.

Answering questions about the five pledges he made in January 2023, Mr Sunak said: 'The most important priority was the first one, because when I got this job, inflation was at 11 per cent and I think everyone knows the last few years have been difficult, the impact that was having on all your bills.'

He faced laughter when he said: 'It (inflation) was always meant to come down over time.'

Mr Sunak also faced questions about rising NHS waiting lists, up to 7.54million from the 7.21million level when he made the pledge.

'We've not made as much progress on cutting waiting lists as I would have liked,' the Prime Minister said.

'That was something that I was keen to do, and it has proved more difficult for a number of reasons, obviously recovering from a pandemic is not easy,' he said.

He faced groans and boos when he said: 'I think everyone knows the impact the industrial action has had, that's why we haven't made as much (progress).'

Labour figures were left fuming at the PM's 'lies' about their tax plans, after Mr Sunak berated Sir Keir for plotting to hike the tax burden for Brits by 2,000.

The PM was dealt a blow ahead of last night's Sky News programme as the UK economy was shown to have flatlined in April, according to latest figures.

The Office for National Statistics reported that growth domestic product (GDP) was flat during the month following growth of 0.4 per cent in March.

The data will present a headache for the PM, who told voters the economy had 'turned a corner' after it emerged from recession in the second half of last year.

Last week's ITV debate between Mr Sunak and the Labour leader saw the political rivals clash over tax in fiery head-to-head exchanges

Mr Sunak is also facing a fresh row over D-Day after it was revealed how he blamed the late-running commemoration events for his delayed arrival to a TV interview.

The PM has suffered days of outrage after he skipped a major international ceremony with other world leaders in Normandy last week.

The row deepened when it later emerged Mr Sunak had conducted an ITV interview on his return from northern France last Thursday.

In a clip of that interview now released by the broadcaster, the PM has been shown apologising for his late arrival - suggesting he wanted to leave Normandy earlier.

'Very nice to see you, sorry to have kept you,' Mr Sunak said to journalist Paul Brand, adding of the D-Day 80th anniversary commemorations: 'It all just ran over.

'It was incredible but it just ran over... so apologies for keeping you.'

Mr Sunak's political opponents seized on the 'insulting' exchange to claim it showed how the PM viewed D-Day as an 'inconvenience'.
The message from Grant Shapps was startling  dont risk giving Labour a super-majority.

For a governing party to warn that the Opposition was heading for a landslide victory might seem counter-intuitive, especially with half the election campaign still to run.

But the message from Mr Shapps was deliberate. A massive majority leaving Sir Keir Starmer with unchecked power would be very bad news for the country, he said.

Rishi Sunak later insisted that he had absolutely not thrown in the towel and was still seeking to win. But the decision to switch the Tory message to warn about the dangers of handing untrammelled power to Labour has been signed off by the PM himself.

Defence Secretary Grant Shapps being interviewed outside the BBC Studios after his appearance on Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg on May 19

Rishi Sunak carries luggage as he arrives at the party campaign bus outside Doncaster Station

Keir Starmer during a visit to Grimsby Institute, a technical training college, to set out Labour's plans to bring down costs for drivers

Indeed, he effectively launched it the previous day at the Tories manifesto launch, urging voters not to give a blank cheque to a party whose leader was offering a blank sheet of paper to the electorate.

The reason for the switch in strategy is simple: Nothing else is working, and time is getting tight.

Private polling for the Conservatives in recent days has uncovered a dangerous fatalism among the electorate.

Many voters believe Labour will win regardless of how they cast their ballots  and there is therefore no harm in backing Reform, the Liberal Democrats or even the Greens. If that mood continues, the Conservatives could remain rooted at their current low level of around 20 per cent support.

In Britains first-past-the-post electoral system, that would see the Conservatives reduced to fewer than 100 seats, even if Reform fails to win a seat.

In 1983, the Alliance party got 25.4 per cent of the vote and yet won just 23 seats. Unless the Tories can push their poll rating into the high 20s, they could face a similar fate.

Rishi Sunak (pictured) insisted that he had absolutely not thrown in the towel and was still seeking to win

In 2017, Labour was 20 points behind in the polls and the party appealed to the electorate not to give Theresa May (pictured) a landslide majority

Sir Keir would have no effective opposition in Parliament. The Tories would be reduced to a powerless rump, with millions of centre-Right voters left with no effective representation in  a dangerous position for any democracy to find itself in.

Elsewhere, the analysis delivered a brutal verdict on all the eye-catching policies in the Conservative manifesto. A Tory insider said that while voters liked many of them on an individual basis, they had had no impact on the partys headline rating because people did not believe they would ever happen.

The only message cutting through is the warning that Labour cant be trusted on tax.

In 2017, Labour was 20 points behind in the polls and the party appealed to the electorate not to give Theresa May a landslide majority.

In the end, Mrs May did not get a majority at all. But it is hard to know how much was due to the Labour tactics, and how much was down to her disastrous campaign strategy.

It is a high-risk strategy. But with the polls refusing to budge, it may be the best bet the Tories have got.
Lauren Boebert's ex-husband Jayson has avoided jail after pleading guilty to reckless endangerment as part of a slap-on-the wrist plea deal with Colorado prosecutors.

Boebert was facing multiple charges over two incidents with the Republican Rep. and their son Tyler, 18, earlier this year.

The first was involved claims of domestic violence at a restaurant in Silt, where the 37-year-old congresswoman denied punching him in the face after he made 'lewd' advances.

The second was when he allegedly assaulted the teenage boy in a fight over laundry at their home.

Boebert, 43, accepted a deal from the 9th Judicial District Attorney's Office on Wednesday that saw him plead guilty to one count of reckless endangerment.

Lauren Boebert's ex-husband Jayson has pleaded guilty to reckless endangerment as part of a plea deal with Colorado prosecutors

The crime carries a maximum of 120 days jail and a $750 fine, but he was able to walk out of court and given just a $40 fine, Westword reported.

The Boeberts got married in 2005 and split in 2023, but have continued to make headlines with their rocky separation and legal woes.

Rep. Boebert - who became a grandmother at 36 - had asked for a restraining order to be be placed on Jayson after the altercations in order to protect her children .

But she later wanted it dropped after they came to a 'strict agreement'.

Tyler is also awaiting trial after he was arrested on a string of shoplifting charges in late February.

The teen is facing four counts of criminal possession of a financial device, three counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor and three counts of theft of under $300.

Boebert was facing multiple charges over two incidents with the Republican congresswoman and their son Tyler, 18, earlier this year

He is also facing four felony counts of criminal possession of ID documents of multiple victims, one felony count of conspiracy to commit a felony and over 15 additional misdemeanor and petty offenses.

His mother Rep. Boebert has also faced a string of controversies as she runs for election in a new Colorado district.

In September 2023, she was removed from a theater in Denver after she became amorous with her date.

Boebert was filmed lashing out at theater staff after being booted from a Beetlejuice performance for singing along - with staff claiming she also vaped and took photos during the performance.

Surveillance footage shows Boebert, wearing a tight, low-cut gold dress and high heels, making a considerable fuss as she and a hunky mystery man are ordered out.

She can be seen snapping a selfie as she leaves the auditorium and angrily bares her teeth at staff as she is escorted through the lobby.

Boebert is pictured with her son 17-year-old Tyler who is now expecting a baby with his girlfriend

Republican Rep. Boebert (right) denied punching ex Jayson in the face after he made 'lewd' advances at a restaurant in January. The incident led to Jayson's arrest

According to The Denver Post, the lawmaker at one point declared 'Do you know who I am?' Afterwards, Boebert and her smartly-dressed date were caught on camera walking off through the empty nighttime streets of the Mile High City.

Just weeks later, Boebert was accused of using campaign funds to watching a cycle race that her partner from that night, Aspen bar owner Quinn Gallagher was competing in.

Days before the restaurant incident, the focus of Jayson's first arrest, the Boeberts were rocked by domestic violence allegations.

'Tyler described that Jayson shoved him by placing one hand in the area of his throat/neck and pushing back,' Deputy Cid Ramirez, of the Garfield County Sheriffs office wrote.

'Tyler became upset at this point,' Ramirez continued, adding that 'a physical altercation began between Jayson and him' quickly ensued.

As the father and son fight escalated, he added, the father of four allegedly 'stuck his right hand thumb into Tylers mouth.'

The force of the maneuver, the Colorado cop claimed, made the teen fear that his father 'was going to pull his tooth out.'

At some point during the struggle, Ramirez wrote, Tyler managed to get ahold of his cell phone and managed to call his mother, who last year became a grandmother after Tyler fathered a boy with his also-teenage girlfriend.

The firebrand allegedly responded by telling the boy to call the cops, who eventually arrived on the scene around 1am Tuesday.
Eight former SpaceX engineers have filed a lawsuit against Elon Musk, claiming they were illegally fired after they raised their concerns about alleged sexual harassment and discrimination of women.

The eight engineers - including four men and four women - argue that Musk personally ordered their firings after they signed an open letter in 2022 calling the billionaire CEO a 'distraction and embarrassment' and urged executives at the company to disavow comments he made on social media.

They cited a series of tweets Musk made in which he referenced his penis, and claim he fostered a 'pervasive sexist culture' at the rocket manufacturer where female engineers were subjected to harassment and sexist comments, and their concerns went ignored.

'These actions... had the foreseeable and actual result of offending, causing distress and intruding upon Plaintiffs' well-being, so as to disrupt their emotional tranquility in the workplace,' reads the lawsuit, filed Wednesday in California state court in Los Angeles.

Elon Musk is being sued by eight former engineers at SpaceX for wrongful termination

The suit claims Musk violated state and federal discrimination law, and is directly responsible for the culture at SpaceX and the plaintiffs' terminations.

It says the CEO 'runs his company in the Dark Ages - treating women as sexual objects to be evaluated by their bra size, bombarding the workplace with lewd sexual banter and offering the reprise to those who challenge the Animal House environment that if they don't like it, they can seek employment elsewhere.'

As a result, high ranking engineers would feel comfortable using euphemisms for sexual acts and referring to rocket parts as male genitals, according to the lawsuit, obtained by Daily Mail.

In one instance, Plaintiff Paige Holland-Thielen described how a higher-ranking employee responded to a graph of plotted data by making a 'sexual allusion to an erect penis' and asking her 'How can we get it up, up, up?'

She said she reported the matter to human resources, but never learned of the outcome.

One of the plaintiffs, Paige Holland-Thielen, said she hopes the lawsuit 'encourages our colleagues to stay strong and to keep fighting for a better workplace'

Rebekah Clark, another former engineer at SpaceX, also claims in the suit that she heard her colleagues make comments about breasts at work after Musk made a sexually-charged comment on X.

She said she raised her concerns to managers at the company at a meeting in 2022 and was told, 'SpaceX is Elon and Elon is SpaceX.'

Meanwhile, Claire Mallon said she reported a male colleague to human resources for repeatedly bringing up sexually-explicit topics with her, and inviting her to a sex party.

But, she said, the company 'did not take any discernible action' and the employee in question was actually promoted.

The plaintiffs claim Musk fostered an environment at SpaceX in which sexual harassment and assault were pervasive

The eight engineers who filed the lawsuit on Wednesday are also at the center of a US National Labor Relations Board case, claiming that their firings violated their right to band together and advocate for better working conditions under US labor law.

It claimed that executives 'interrogated employees about the letter, disparaged workers who were involved and threatened to fire workers who engage in similar activity.'

But SpaceX filed a lawsuit against the Labor Relations Board, arguing that its in-house enforcement proceedings violate the US Constitution and an appeals court last month paused the board's case against the company while it considers the lawsuit.

The plaintiffs are now seeking unspecified compensatory and punitive damages, and an order barring SpaceX from continuing to engage in the alleged unlawful conduct.

The lawsuit came the same day as allegations that Musk personally pursued some of his subordinates at the company

In a statement provided by her lawyers, Holland-Thielen said she also hopes that the lawsuit 'encourages our colleagues to stay strong and to keep fighting for a better workplace.'

SpaceX executives, however, have denied any wrongdoing and said the workers were properly fired for violating company policy.

They also noted to the Wall Street Journal that the company investigates all complaints of harassment and takes appropriate actions.

And they denied that Musk was involved in the decision to fire the engineers, and described their 2022 open letter as disruptive to the workplace.

But the lawsuit came the same day as allegations that Musk personally pursued some of his subordinates - including an intern who was hired not long after she finished college, and a woman whom he asked to bear his children.

Musk even allegedly had a month-long sexual relationship with a third women who reported to him directly.

Musk allegedly asked a female subordinate to bear his children, and had relationships with some of the employees

He began his relationship with the then-intern in the early 2010s, when she was in college studying engineering, according to the Journal.

Musk took the girl out for a meal, and she proceeded to tell him her ideas about how to improve the company.

They then kissed after they bonded over their shared love of Star Wars, the Journal reports.

By 2017, Musk offered the new graduate a role on his executive staff and would ask her to visit his house or go get drinks, the Journal reports.

He even reportedly told the woman at one point, 'Oh I'm so bad, I shouldn't be doing this.'

In another instance, Musk allegedly texted the woman to ask if she was coming over - and when she did not answer, he wrote that it's 'probably best if we don't see each other.'

The woman replied the following day, apologizing for not replying - saying that she had already fallen asleep.

Later that day, she would later confide in a friend that she had 'mild anxiety resulting from imposter syndrome,' which 'definitely makes this job harder.'

The friend then suggested that her anxiety is 'definitely exacerbated by Elon's behavior,' to which the woman replied 'so badly,' according to the Journal.

The woman was later reassigned to another role, and left the company in 2019, the Journal reports.

Gwynne Shotwell, the president and chief operating officer, has denied the allegations

But in a sworn affidavit, the woman in question denied ever having a 'romantic relationship' with Musk.

'Elon tried to rekindle our relationship prior to my employment and I rejected the advance,' she claimed.

'While there was some initial awkwardness, it was nothing out of the ordinary after a rejection.'

She also claimed that her dissatisfaction with her job at SpaceX had nothing to do with Musk, but rather other's opinions as a young employee.

Musk also allegedly began a sexual relationship with another female employee, who would spend 17 hour days with him after she was accused by Gwynne Shotwell, the president and chief operating officer, of having an affair with her husband.

The female employee grew closer to Musk as Shotwell allegedly tried to fire her, and the two began a relationship while the Tesla CEO was in the middle of divorce proceedings with British actress Telulah Riley.

But the relationship only lasted a few weeks, and ended after the woman told her friends she felt she was being used and Musk had no desire to be seen in public with her.

That female employee would also go on to leave the company and was forced to sign a non-disclosure agreement, according to the Journal.

In exchange, she was paid $85,000 for unpaid work she did earlier for Tesla.

Shotwell denied the allegations in a statement to the Journal.

'The untruths, mischaracterizations, revisionist history in your email paint a completely misleading narrative,' she said.

'I continue to be amazed by what this extraordinary group of people are achieving every day even amidst all the forces acting against us. And Elon is one of the best humans I know.'

DailyMail.com has also reached out to SpaceX for comment.
Judy grew impatient with an animal activist incapable of looking after a pet dog

Video of Judge Judy ripping into a defendant who claimed to be an animal activist has gone viral.

In the video, the former family court judge who went onto find huge success with her televised reality court show, tried a case involving a woman who had been housesitting a pet.

The plaintiff, Susan, explained she had gone away on vacation for two weeks, leaving her four small beloved dogs in the care of the defendant, Kerry.

While she was away, one of the four was killed when it burrowed under a fence and was hit by a car as it ran across the street.

Susan took the case to Judge Judy to seek $5,000 from the pet sitter, for wrongful death of the animal as well as harassment.

Video of famed courtroom TV personality Judge Judy ripping an animal activist defendant has gone viral

A woman, named Kerry, had been dog sitting another woman's pet when it escaped and was killed by a car

Kerry admitted that the dog's escape and subsequent death happened right in front of her, claiming she was in the backyard of the home where she was staying when it happened, but did not believe she was responsible for costs.

'You are so stupid! You are so stupid,' Judge Judy said to Kerry, as she summed up the case.

Throughout their exchanges, Kerry continued to interrupt Judge Judy and didn't appear to understand the gravity of the situation.

'Let's say, instead of watching her Shih Tzu-Poodle mix, that you were watching four of her children while she was on vacation,' Judge Judy tried to explain.

'And you let the four children go and play in the backyard - and one of the children, who was four, managed to open up the gate and get out, ran across the street, was hit and killed by a car.

Judge Judge found in the dog owner, Susan's favor, and ordered that she be paid $1,500 for the loss of her beloved pet

'There is a course of action for that in the law for human beings. She could sue you negligence in failing to supervise her four-year-old.

'So, I don't know what it is. I can't tell you, but you're no animal activist. Because an animal activist would understand that if you're responsible for a four-year-old child, even though it was an accident, it happened under your watch.'

Judge Judy and Kerry had a number of heated back and fourths, with the defendant trying to argue her point of view.

In one moment, Judge Judy snapped and said: 'You know sometimes the judgement has to reflect the stupidity of a litigant - and while there is no course of action, I'm going to hear her evidence with regard to your harassment - because you're harassing me and I'm not easily harassed,' appearing to reference a countersuit filed by Kerry for harassment.

The pair clashed again over whether the dog was considered property.

'But animals are considered property?', Kerry interjected.

'Shut up and listen!' Judge Judy responded, growing increasingly impatient.

'Animals are considered property, in the state of California', Kerry interrupted once again.

The dog's owner, Susan, left, and animal activist dog sitter, Kerry, right, battled it out in court

'Just a second!' Judy replies. 'Well that's what I said to you. I said if you were a real animal rights activist, you would not consider animals property.'

'I don't, but the law does', Kerry responds.

'That's what I just said to you. If you weren't so high on something then perhaps you'd understand,' Judy says increasingly frustrated.

Ultimately, Kerry was ordered to pay the dog's owner, Susan, $1,500 in damages for the loss of her pet.
Labour will become the party of wealth creation and make growth its top priority, Sir Keir Starmer will vow today.

The Labour leader will unveil his party's election manifesto making economic stability the first of its six 'first steps' for government and has pledged there will be no 'tax surprises'.

Sir Keir is expected to say: 'Wealth creation is our number one priority. Growth is our core business  the end and the means of national renewal.'The mandate we seek at this election is for economic growth. This changed Labour Party has a plan for growth. We are pro-business and pro-worker, the party of wealth creation.'

Sir Keir will launch the manifesto in Manchester today. It is expected to include a pledge to cap corporation tax at its current rate of 25 per cent to give businesses long-term certainty, the latest in a series of pledges not to raise tax.

Keir Starmer arrives for the Sky News election event in Grimsby on June 12

Shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves speaks at a press conference in central London, responding to the launch of the Conservative Party's manifesto

Labour has already ruled out raising rates of income tax, national insurance or VAT, and said the manifesto will contain no tax rises that have not already been announced.

Those increases are charging VAT on private school fees, abolishing the non-dom tax status and closing 'loopholes' in the windfall tax on oil and gas firms.

The party's first steps also include a pledge to cut NHS waiting lists with 40,000 new appointments a week, setting up a Border Security Command, establishing GB Energy, cracking down on antisocial behaviour and hiring 6,500 teachers. The manifesto is expected to commit to reforming planning rules and building 1.5million new homes.

There will be measures to overhaul workers' rights and a pledge to devolve decision-making away from Westminster.

On foreign policy, Labour has said it will back Ukraine against Russia and support recognising a Palestinian state as part of a Middle East peace process.

The party has also promised that it will aim to spend 2.5 per cent of GDP on defence.
One in every five people you walk past on the street are waiting for NHS care. Millions with injuries and illness that are holding them back from living their lives to the full.

They are also being held back from contributing to the economy. A record three million people are out of work due to ill-health.

They are manual workers in their fifties, quitting their jobs because they cant stand the pain. Young people still bearing the scars of lockdown, without any mental health support to get back on their feet and start their careers. That three million list doesnt count the middle-aged people forced to quit their jobs to look after their parents, because there is no alternative available.

Our sick society is holding back Britains prosperity. It is a major cause of our countrys economic malaise under the Conservatives. You cant create wealth without health.

Shadow health secretary Wes Streeting appearing on an episode of TV show Peston on May 22

Labour Party leader Sir Keir Starmer speaks to the audience during a Sky News election event

Today, Labours manifesto will make growth the priority for the next Labour government. Key to that mission will be our plan to cut NHS waiting lists to get Britain back to work.

Its a plan for investment and reform. We will deliver an extra 40,000 appointments, scans and operations every week at evenings and weekends. According to the Health Service Journal, doing so could comfortably clear the backlog of patients waiting more than 18 weeks for treatment over the next five years. That will mean millions off waiting lists, back to work, and helping get growth back to Britain.

The plan will cost 1billion, paid for by clamping down on tax dodgers  money which will go directly into the pockets of NHS staff. But the cure to the NHSs ills cant just be to pour more money in  we will change the way the NHS works. Weve taken the idea from Guys and St Thomas hospital, where staff developed weekend clinics that work like Formula One pit stops, allowing them to do a weeks worth of procedures in one day. Half of NHS operating theatres lie empty on weekends  Labour will put them to use.

Every other plan for investment in Labours manifesto will come alongside reform. This is a reforming manifesto.

We know now why Rishi Sunak called the election when he did. It wasnt just to avoid giving the Rwanda gimmick time to fail. The growth figures out yesterday revealed that, far from turning a corner, the economy is flatlining. Theres no slack in the public finances. Nor in the taxes people can afford to pay: we have the highest tax burden in 70 years, working people are already being squeezed until the pips squeak, they cannot afford to pay anymore.

In the past, the Labour Party would have stuck its fingers in its ears, pretended that we will be able to wave a Labour magic wand and fix everything straight away, simply by taxing and spending more.

We recognise it will take time to get the country and the public finances out of the mess they are in, and the only route out is growth. This manifesto demonstrates just how fundamentally Keir Starmer has changed the Labour Party.

Rishi Sunak speaks to the audience in the Sky News general election grilling

Shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves speaks at a press conference in central London, responding to the launch of the Conservative Party's manifesto

It is because we have made tough choices that Mail readers can trust that the promises we make are promises we can keep

On health, Labour is committing to use the private sector to cut waiting lists, to reform the health service, and to partner with pharmaceutical companies to develop the medicines of the future. Thats the reforming message of every chapter.

Rachel Reeves has made clear that everything the next Labour government does must be built on the rock of economic stability. Shes a former Bank of England economist who will never spend money that isnt there. Every line of our manifesto had to pass two tests. First, can we deliver it? And second, can the country afford it? If the answer to either of those questions is no, then it hasnt made it in.

We have made tough choices about what to prioritise in our public services  NHS waiting times, teachers in our schools, police on our streets, and a new Border Security Command to protect our borders. There are lots of worthy, important things I want to do as shadow health and social care secretary, but we cant afford to do straight away.

It is because we have made tough choices that Mail readers can trust that the promises we make are promises we can keep. Labour is offering the country change, and its change you can believe in.
An electric car battery has burst into flames and injured a firefighter who was trying to put out the blaze.

The Volvo XC40 station wagon was seen smoking on Ross Street in Camperdown, Sydney's inner west, shortly before 5.15am on Thursday.

Fire and Rescue NSW crews rushed to the scene and struggled to put out the fire caused by the car's lithium-ion battery.

'A battery inside an electric vehicle was smouldering and heating up, then it flared up into a fire,' FRNSW superintendent Adam Dewberry told the Daily Telegraph.

'Firefighters have knocked it down, but we have had one firefighter that has suffered some minor injuries.'

The Volvo XC40 station wagon was seen smoking on Ross Street in Camperdown, Sydney 's inner west, shortly before 5.15am on Thursday

The firefighter was taken to hospital for observation.

Supt Dewberry warned lithium-ion batteries have the potential to reignite.

'Two fire trucks will remain on scene and now we need to monitor the temperature of that battery to make sure that we keep it cool and it doesn't go into thermal runaway, where the fire can take hold, accelerate, and blow out with explosive force,' he said.

The blaze was followed by a second car fire which saw both directions of the Princess Highway closed in nearby St Peters.

Firefighters responded to the fire near Canal Rd at about 6.30am.

The blaze was followed by a second car fire which saw both directions of the Princess Highway closed in nearby St Peters

The destroyed car have since been towed from the scene.

Live Traffic advised shortly before 7am the Princess Highway had reopened in both directions.

'Continue to exercise caution and allow extra travel time in the area,' it said.
An Arizona father was arrested for allegedly inhaling nitrous oxide, otherwise known as laughing gas, with his two sons, 12 and 13, one of whom passed out during an ATV trip.

Ryan Belknap and his children inhaled the laughing gas 'repeatedly' and 'continuously' for several hours while they were out four-wheeling in the Ash Fork area, according to a Facebook post from the Yavapai County Sheriff's Office.

One of the boys lost consciousness due to the overwhelming amount of the drug he was given 'but was not given medical help.'

The mother, Belknap's ex, filed a child abuse report with the sheriff's office on June 4, which alleged there was an incriminating video shot by one of the boys showing all of them inhaling the anesthetic through balloons.

The woman's 16-year-old daughter, who police say wasn't on the ATV trip, showed her mother the video.

Ryan Belknap, pictured in his booking photo, and his children inhaled the laughing gas 'repeatedly' and 'continuously' for several hours while they were out '4-wheeling' in the Ash Fork area

This off-roading adventure occurred during the boys' scheduled visitation with their father on Sunday last week, according to police.

After police interviewed the mother and the children about this incident, they tracked Belknap down to his residence in Cornville, which is about an hour and a half away from Ash Fork.

A search of his home turned up 'numerous large canisters of Nitrous Oxide' and 'balloons to inhale the drug,' police said.

Belknap was arrested and charged with an litany of offenses, including child abuse endangerment. He was booked into jail last Wednesday evening.

People who use nitrous oxide recreationally often dispense the canisters containing the drug into balloons like the ones police said were at Belknap's home.

Then, they put the balloon into their mouth and inhale the gas.

It's against the law to inhale laughing gas while operating a motor vehicle, which could open Belknap up to even more legal trouble

Pair of Nitrous Oxide or laughing gas canisters and two balloons used for sniffing

The drug, most commonly used at dentist's offices to put patients under for procedures, is known to produce near instantaneous euphoria and uncontrolled laughter- hence its name.

Unlike controlled substances such as cocaine or heroine, it's actually not illegal to possess nitrous oxide.

Despite that, laughing gas, which experts say can become addictive if used repeatedly, is federally illegal to use recreationally.

It's also against the law to inhale laughing gas while operating a motor vehicle, potentially opening Belknap up to even more legal trouble.

If someone inhales too much laughing gas, they could be at risk of a heart attack, according to the Alcohol and Drug Foundation.
Man knifed in the back in Brisbane's south

A man has been knifed in the back and a woman has been rushed to hospital with facial injuries following an alleged stabbing.

The 41-year-old man was allegedly stabbed at a home in Holland Park, in Brisbane's south, at about 6pm on Wednesday.

He was rushed to Princess Alexandria Hospital in a serious condition.

The 24-year-old woman was taken to the same hospital to be treated for facial injuries following an alleged assault at the same location.

She remains in a stable condition.

A man has been knifed in the back and a woman has been rushed to hospital with facial injuries following an alleged stabbing (stock image)

A Queensland Police spokesperson said: 'Police spoke to the man who advised he does not wish to make a complaint to the police.'
Terrified holidaymakers were left fearing for their safety onboard a plane, after they were trapped in a cabin that reached a sweltering 52C.

The air-conditioning unit on the Mavi Gok Airlines Antalya-Muenster flight, a Boeing 737-800, from Turkey to Germany on June 6 broke before take-off, leaving passengers terrified that their 'children will not make it.'

The plane sat on the hot tarmac for nearly an hour, raising temperatures even higher.

Dominik Janssen, from Leer in Lower Saxony, who was travelling with his family back home after a break in Turkey, told German media: 'When we got on, we immediately noticed how hot it was in the plane.'

His wife Nancy said she helped a five-month-old baby who she fanned in a bid to keep the tot cool.

Terrified holidaymakers were left fearing for their safety onboard a plane, after they were trapped in a cabin that reached a sweltering 52C.

The air-conditioning unit on the Mavi Gok Airlines Antalya-Muenster flight, a Boeing 737-800, from Turkey to Germany on June 6 broke before take-off

Dominik said: 'The children were getting louder and louder, everyone's water was running out. The situation was very precarious.

'A father and a woman were scared to death for their children. The panic spread to everyone.'

According to the passengers, there was little help from the crew. Instead, flight preparations continued and the Boeing rolled towards the runway.

A Turkish-speaking doctor addressed the crew with a dramatic appeal, with Nancy saying: 'He said that if we take off now, the children will not survive.'

The pilot of Flight 4M413 eventually returned to the terminal at the airport, but things hardly improved there either.

Dominik said: 'The airline offered no help whatsoever.'

They reportedly did not even hand out any water.

In a statement, the airline said: 'The safety and well-being of our passengers and crew is our highest priority.'

It also reportedly promised to work with the relevant authorities to prevent such incidents in the future.

MailOnline has contacted Boeing for comment.
Nearly one in ten Reform UK candidates is a 'friend' on Facebook with British fascist leader Gary Raikes, it was reported yesterday.

Mr Raikes founded the New British Union (NBU), which has called for a 'fascist revolution' and sees parliamentary democracy as an 'obstruction' to establishing a dictatorship.

He formed the NBU in the image of Oswald Mosley's British Union of Fascists, with activists calling themselves 'blackshirts'.

Yesterday the Times reported that at least 41 of Reform's parliamentary candidates in the General Election are friends with Mr Raikes on Facebook.

It comes after Ian Gribbin, the Reform candidate for Bexhill and Battle, apologised for claiming that Britain would be 'far better' if it had 'taken Hitler up on his offer of neutrality', instead of fighting the Nazis in the Second World War.

Mr Raikes (pictured) founded the New British Union (NBU), which has called for a 'fascist revolution'

It comes after Ian Gribbin (pictured), the Reform candidate for Bexhill and Battle, apologised for claiming that Britain would be 'far better' if it had 'taken Hitler up on his offer of neutrality'

The party said it was 'no crime to follow people with whom one has profound disagreements'. Pictured: Reform UK leader Nigel Farage

Mr Raikes' Twitter/X account has reportedly shared Islamophobic and xenophobic material and images of men giving Nazi salutes.

Several Reform candidates have stood down over social media activity.

A party spokesman said: 'Millions of people who are struggling want journalists to discuss policy and ideas, not juvenile gotcha identity politics.

'We take all allegations very seriously and will take appropriate action after a thorough internal investigation.'

The party said it was 'no crime to follow people with whom one has profound disagreements'.
A jury tasked with deciding the fate of former Jetstar pilot Greg Lynn has been warned they don't have any evidence to convict him upon - and were asked: 'Does that sit well with you?'

Lynn, 57, 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 Wednesday, Lynn's barrister Dermot Dann KC harshly criticised the prosecution case.

Mr Dann told the jury they had been left with no evidence to work with to convince themselves beyond reasonable doubt Lynn was guilty of the murders.

Greg Lynn is accused of the two murders

'There is no factual basis on the prosecution case. They have none, nought, total blank,' Mr Dann said.

'There's no evidence ... you're being asked to find a man guilty of murder.

'On the prosecution case there is zero factual foundation, zero motive - just a complete blank.

'Does that sit well with you? I mean how can it?'

Mr Dann said while his client admitted to the crime of disposing of evidence, he could not be found guilty of murder based on the evidence presented at his trial.

'On the prosecution case there is zero factual foundation, zero motive - just a complete blank.

'Does that sit well with you? I mean how can it?'

'We're in a murder trial. You're trying to do your duty as jurors and being asked to convict a man. Well you just can't say "well look we don't have any evidence but let's just convict him anyway". That's not how it works,' Mr Dann said.

The jury heard claims that the prosecution did not adequately challenge Mr Lynn's account when given the chance to cross-examine him last week.

'What challenge was there to Mr Lynn's account of the accidental death of Mr Hill? Zero,' Mr Dann said.

Nor did the prosecutor ask questions about the knife Lynn claimed Mr Hill tried to stab him with after accidentally shooting Ms Clay.

'Is he challenged about that evidence? No. Is he asked a single question about that evidence? No,' Mr Dann told the jury.

'There's just no challenge. The evidence of Mr Lynn stands unchallenged. Unchallenged as to how Mr Hill died.'

Lynn's barrister Dermot Dann, KC (left) attacked the prosecution case on Wednesday

L:ynn claims Carol Clay was shot dead by Russell Hill during a struggle over his gun. Mr Hill died moments later at the end of his own knife, Lynn said

Mr Dann said Lynn had no reason to murder the elderly campers.

'(Prosecutor) Mr Porceddu in his cross examination of Mr Lynn kept asking these questions about him being a pilot, you're trained to stay calm and deal with stressful situations ... each time he asked such a question it only made the alleged murder of Mr Hill more and more and more improbable,' he said.

'Why would that man you saw in the witness box, this calm, composed man, what's he going to kill Mr Hill for when there's no apparent reason to do so?'

Mr Dann said a prosecution theory Lynn killed the couple over a dispute about his flying of a drone had no evidence to support it.

'That's not a motive. That's not being put forward as a motive. The prosecution accept they don't know anything about the motive when it comes to Mr Hill,' Mr Dann said.

'So that is why we say ladies and gentleman to you that they don't have a case. There is no meat on the bones. There's nothing.'

Mr Dann described the prosecution case as hopeless.

'We have the rule of law that we try and observe in this court. It is truly, as we said yesterday, just a hopeless case. This is an important case, no doubt, important trial. Seems to be a lot of people interested, no doubt,' Mr Dann said.

'But the simple reality is - and if this ruffles feathers, it ruffles feathers - it's a hopeless case.

'They have no case in respect to murder in regards to charge 1. How can you find someone guilty in a complete factual vacuum?'

Greg Lynn faces life in jail if convicted of the murders

Lynn claims a deadly struggle took place at the front of this Landcruiser

Mr Dann claimed the prosecution had also failed to prove that Lynn murdered Ms Clay.

'We say there's the same fundamental problems with the prosecution case,' Mr Dann said.

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.

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.

Mr Dann claimed the prosecution knew they would have come off 'very much second best' if they confronted Mr Lynn in the witness box.

'They had their opportunity and what happened? If this is all so far fetched and it's fanciful, this skilled operator here Mr Porceddu, he would have cut (Lynn) to ribbons. he would have got to the heart of the matter very quickly,' Mr Dann told the jury.

'He didn't ask him a single question. Why do you think that might have been ... he knew he wasn't going to get anywhere. He threw in the towel. It was all too hard. You should accept they were the reasons that he didn't confront Mr Lynn in the witness box.

'You should accept that he knew that process wasn't going to help the prosecution case. You should accept that he knew the prosecution case was going to come off very much second best in that encounter.'

Carol Clay was shot in the head. Lynn claims by her secret lover Russell Hill

The shotgun Lynn claims Russell Hill stole from his 4WD

Mr Dann said Mr Porceddu's failure to engage Lynn in the witness box about his reasons for what he did following the alleged murders left Lynn's evidence unchallenged.

'Because his evidence stands unchallenged. His evidence as to why he did those terrible things stands unchallenged. There's no challenge to it. What are you meant to do? He's presumed innocent, he's given you the reasons, he's not cross examined,' Mr Dann said.

'Unless you're operating under the presumption of guilt or something, it's all over in terms of that reasoning process ... if you're being asked to convict on this so called incriminating conduct, you should accept the whole exercise was avoided with Mr Lynn because they were going to come off second best.'

Mr Dann took a further swipe at the prosecution, questioning its 'human decency' in the way they went about putting information to the jury not put directly to Lynn.

'It can't be that they've just forgotten. They can't be that shambolic. It was unfair to Mr Lynn because that's what the rule is about. It's about fairness. It's based in human decency that if you're going to allege something against someone you give them the opportunity to deal with the allegations,' Mr Dann said.

'Human decency. Fairness. What happened to that when Mr Lynn gave his evidence?'

Mr Dann's closing address is expected to conclude on Wednesday afternoon, with the jury then to be directed by the judge on matters of law they need to consider before retiring to consider their verdict.
Showing physical affection towards members of the Royal Family is often a sensitive matter.

According to the Royal Family's website, there are 'no obligatory codes of behaviour' when meeting a member of the Royal Family, but there's an unwritten rule to limit interactions to a handshake - and only if one is offered.

Although the Prince and Princess of Wales and other younger royals, are known for being more relaxed, the older generation follow the example of the late Queen Elizabeth, who was not tactile with members of the public.

Last week, Brigitte Macron made headlines as she attempted to hold hands with a reluctant Queen Camilla at the British Normandy Memorial at Ver-sur-Mer.

This echoed Tom Cruise's faux pas when he offered his hand to assist Kate Middleton up a small set of steps at the Top Gun: Maverick premiere in May 2022.

Similarly, fellow American Michelle Obama raised eyebrows when she put an arm around Queen Elizabeth during a reception at Buckingham Palace in 2009.

Donald Trump also caused controversy in 2018 by walking in front of the Queen after being greeted by her at Windsor Castle.

Brigitte Macron attempted to hold hands with Queen Camilla at the British Normandy Memorial at Ver-sur-Mer on June 6, the 80th anniversary of the D-Day Normandy Landings. However, the Queen seemed reluctant to proffer her gloved hand

Donald Trump's meeting with Queen Elizabeth in 2018 caused quite a stir. The US President broke royal protocol by walking in front of the monarch while the pair inspected the Guard of Honour at Windsor Castle

First Lady Michelle Obama made headlines when she put her arm around Queen Elizabeth during a reception at Buckingham Palace in 2009. Surprisingly, the monarch reciprocated and put an arm around the First Lady

Italian jockey Frankie Dettori kissed Queen Camilla on the cheek as he celebrated winning The Gold Cup at Royal Ascot 2023

The jockey then stood in front of Camilla during the official photographs

When the Prince and Princess of Wales attended the UK premiere of Top Gun: Maverick, Tom Cruise raised eyebrows by offering his hand to assist Kate Middleton up a small set of steps

Australian Prime Minister Paul Keating broke royal protocol by placing his arm around Queen Elizabeth II during her tour of Australia in 1992

Former Prime Minister John Howard also breached protocol by lending a guided hand to Queen Elizabeth at an official reception at the Australian Parliament in 2000
Skeptics have long questioned why UFOs, if they are alien craft, would visit Earth so often.

But two Harvard scientists suspect the beings may have been here all along.

In a new research paper, they estimate there is a one in 10 chance the true solution to the UFO mystery could be 'cryptoterrestrial'  meaning they belong to an advanced species hiding on Earth.

'While this notion may sound unlikely on first hearing, many observers are persuaded that it is at least conceivable,' the team wrote in their new study, 'not least because whole swathes of our planet remain virtually unexplored and uncharted.'

With 80 percent of our oceans unmapped, and still revealing ancient mysteries like Yonaguni Jima, the 'Japanese Atlantis,' not to mention unexplored caves and the dark side of the moon, they argue there's plenty of space for a 'stealth' civilization.

The researchers described, as one example of a potentially hiding advanced species, a massive submerged stone structure discovered by a diver off the coast of Yonaguni Jima in Japan that some marine geologists argue are might be the remnants of a 'Japanese Atlantis'

'If another intelligent species had inhabited Earth (or Mars) long before Homo sapiens, it is possible that we could have no idea,' the trio notes in their article, which is set to appear in the journal Philosophy and Cosmology this June.

The work is a collaboration between scientists who have independently tried to make sure that all viable theories are considered for the UFO mystery, which has seen a major effort effort for government declassification in recent months.

Congress, the Pentagon and others in government now more commonly refer to UFOs as UAP for 'unidentified aerial (or anomalous) phenomena.'

Multiple regions on Earth and near Earth were cited in the new study as worthwhile candidates for investigating the chances of a 'cryptoterrestrial' species' secret base.

One region, dubbed the 'Alaskan Triangle,' is a remote and sparsely populated area between the cities of Anchorage, Juneau and Utqiagvik that the authors described as 'a prominent 'hotspot' for UAP [UFOs], as well as other oddities.'

The triangle, they noted, has been ground zero for over 20,000 unexplained disappearances since the 1970s, above and beyond its penchant for UFO sightings.

Luis Guerra, a resident in the central Mexico city of Atlixco, photographed this image of an apparent UFO above the Popocatepetl volcano in Mexico. Sightings near this and other volcanos have fueled speculation that the UFOs might come from a hidden underground base

More concretely, the researchers pointed to a series of intriguing archeological finds that suggest the existence of ancient civilizations that would not only predate any known advances species, but may still exist in hiding.

They described a massive submerged stone structure discovered by a diver off the coast of Yonaguni Jima in Japan that some marine geologists argue are might be the remnants of a 5000-year-old pyramid from a Japanese Atlantis.

Habitable regions underground also remain to be explored, some with the right conditions to support life.

'The internal structure of Earth is still mostly a mystery,' the team wrote.

'For instance, it was recently found that the mantle transition zone (255 to 410 miles underground) acts as a large reservoir of water.'

They speculated that it is entirely possible that hundreds of miles below humanity 'another hominid species, or even a branch of Homo sapiens, could have adapted to live underground,' although it would likely scarcely resemble us.

Stunning photos taken by Luis Guerra, a resident in the central Mexico city of Atlixco, last year, have fueled similar speculation of a hidden UFO base underneath the country's Popocatepetl volcano, which has become a UFO hot spot.

Other major candidates, the researchers put forward, include long-term bases deep underwater in ocean trenches or on the dark side of the moon, whether built by an ancient advanced terrestrial race or our long-term extraterrestrial co-inhabitants.

Other major candidates, the researchers put forward, include long-term bases deep underwater in ocean trenches or on the dark side of the moon, whether built by an ancient advanced terrestrial race or our long-term extraterrestrial co-inhabitants

While researchers working with Nasa's LROC moon-mapping mission have debunked the theory that this lunar image captured a 3.5-mile (5.6km) 'alien base' spire, much of the dark side of the moon remains unexplored and may yet hold such a discovery

While researchers working with Nasa's LROC moon-mapping mission have debunked the theory that one captivating lunar image depicts a 3.5-mile 'alien tower,' much of the dark side of the moon remains unexplored and may yet hold such a discovery.

'Of course,' the researchers noted, 'the limits of our knowledge provides no particular argument for the CTH [the 'cryptoterrestrial hypothesis'].'

'Crucially,' they added, 'it means we must have [...] humility and realize neither can we dismiss it just because it contradicts the standard narrative of history.'

The new research follows prior exploratory work by the authors working separately.

The study's co-author Dr Michael Masters, a professor of biological anthropology at Montana Technological University, had previously written a book arguing that the beings piloting UFOs might be 'extratempestrials' or time travelers.

'The phenomenon may be our own distant descendants coming back through time to study us in their own evolutionary past,' Dr Masters told KBZK News 7 in Bozeman.

Using his evolutionary biology experience as an anthropologist, Dr Masters made the case that the so-called 'grey' aliens from UFO abduction lore resemble what time-travelling future humans might evolve to look like in a more high tech society.

His coauthor, psychologist Tim Lomas with Harvard's T.H. Chan School of Public Health, had just recently laid out the full case for the more traditional 'extraterrestrial hypothesis,' in another article for the same journal, Philosophy and Cosmology, earlier this year.

Brendan Case, the associate director for research at Harvard's Institute for Quantitative Social Science, joined them in their call for scientists to pursue the 'cryptoterrestrial' UFO hypothesis.

'The hope is that we can begin a new dialogue and get past some of this stigma,' Dr Masters said. 'And not have to defend this as science, because it is very scientific.'
Scientists investigating a cancer hotspot in Louisiana have made a key finding that may partially explain the high rates of disease.

Researchers at Johns Hopkins University found extremely high levels of a carcinogen in the air across 85 miles along the Mississippi River from New Orleans to Baton Rouge, which has been dubbed 'cancer alley.'

Tests carried out last year found residents are breathing in a colorless, flammable gas known as ethylene oxide up to 20 times higher from January 31 through February 26 than what was previously thought - and about 1,000 times more than the safe level.

There are over 200 local fossil fuel factories and chemical plants in cancer alley, where some counties have recorded that toxic air pollution causes 85 cancer cases per year.

Cancer alley stretches across 85 miles along the Mississippi River from New Orleans to Baton Rouge which has a population of about 45,000 people

Geraldine Watkins, 81, said more than 30 family members died from throat cancer, while others died of leukemia, breast cancer, testicular cancer and liver cancer

Ethylene oxide gas has been linked to leukemia, stomach and pancreatic cancer and Hodgkin's disease.

The findings, published in the Environmental Science and Technology journal, found the carcinogen levels were more than 11 parts ethylene oxide per one trillion parts of air.

Researchers said this translates to a one in 10,000 cancer risk for people exposed to the gas over a career or a lifetime living in cancer valley.

Ethylene oxide is produced in large quantities as the main ingredient in antifreeze and polyester and is also used as a pesticide and to sterilize food, cosmetics and medical equipment but the high quantities in Louisiana are due to the 200 factories clustered in an 85-mile strip.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) classifies the gas as a group B1 carcinogen, meaning it 'can contribute to increased cancer risk.'

The American Chemistry Council (ACC) has questioned the EPA's risk evaluation of ethylene oxide, claiming that it overestimated its hazard and that the amount of air toxins are allegedly 23,000 times lower than the agency's required limit.

However, the Johns Hopkins team reported this isn't true, saying in the study that the toxic levels were 1,000 times higher than what the EPA considers to be acceptable.

The researchers said the fact that three other chemicals had been found in high quantities in the area may be compounding and making the effects worse.

'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,' Keeve Nachman, a researcher at Johns Hopkins told AP.

'So, you know, if you were to say, what's the appropriate level or what should the acceptable risk be? It should probably be lower than one in 10,000 people out there.'

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reported that people who breathe in ethylene oxide over a career or a lifetime can have an increased risk of certain cancers including breast and blood cancers that affect the bone marrow and cause tumors to form.

Ethylene oxide is produced in large quantities as the main ingredient in antifreeze and polyester and is also used as a pesticide and to sterilize food, cosmetics and medical equipment. It is emitted from more than 200 industrial plants located within cancer alley

Cancer alley - which is comprised of 11 parishes (counties) and 64 towns which has a population of about 45,000 people.

It is home to more than 200 industrial factories including fossil fuel and petrochemical plants, oil refineries, chemical facilities and plastic plants.

Other chemicals found in high doses are formaldehyde - a chemical used to produce building products like insulation and plywood - and chloroprene - a carcinogen used to produce synthetic rubber.

Generally, the toxins won't affect people in small doses, but for those who reside or work in the area, it could prove fatal.

'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 Rustin, a professor at Tulane University's School of Public Health, who was not involved in the study told the Associated Press.

Overall, Louisiana has the fifth-highest cancer death rate in the nation, with 218.2 people dying from cancer each year, according to a 2017 health rankings report.

Janice Ferchaud is a breast cancer survivor and has attributed her illness and the deaths of her neighbors and family to the 200 industrial plants in cancer alley

Pictured: Kaitlyn Joshua and her daughter who suffers from chronic asthma and was told by a physician that they needed to leave cancer alley for her to get better

The Human Rights Watch released a 98-page report in January that revealed how cancer alley residents suffered from extreme pollution from the fossil fuel and petrochemical industry.

Residents interviewed between 2022 and 2024 revealed they have been plagued by miscarriages, high-risk pregnancies, infertility, poor health of newborns, respiratory ailments and cancer, according to the report, titled: 'We're Dying Here: The Fight for Life in a Louisiana Fossil Fuel Sacrifice Zone.'

Geraldine Watkins, 81, said in the report that more than 30 family members died from throat cancer, while others died of leukemia, breast cancer, testicular cancer and liver cancer.

She said those who died from liver cancer 'never drank alcohol' and those who succumbed to lung cancer 'didn't smoke a cigarette, didn't work at the plants.

Kaitlyn Joshua's five-year-old daughter, Lauryn, suffered from severe asthma her entire life and when she brought her to the doctor she was told it's because of the toxins they breathe in daily.

The doctor told Joshua: 'Kaitlyn, its where you live. Its the air quality. Youre going to have to move out of there.'

Janice Ferchaud is a breast cancer survivor and has attributed her illness and the deaths of her neighbors and family to the 200 industrial plants in cancer alley.

'The fossil fuel and petrochemical industry has created a 'sacrifice zone' in Louisiana,' said Antonia Juhasz, senior researcher on fossil fuels at Human Rights Watch.

'The failure of state and federal authorities to properly regulate the industry has dire consequences for residents of Cancer Alley.'

Researchers drove two vans along the same route in cancer alley 24 hours a day over a month to measure the amount of carcinogens in the air. Pictured: The driving routes the team covered each day

The researchers boasted the instruments used to measure the carcinogens are more accurate than in the past, giving them a more reliable account of the dangerous chemicals in the air

Last year, the Johns Hopkins team drove two vans along the same route in cancer alley 24 hours a day over a month to measure the amount of carcinogens in the air.

The researchers boasted the instruments used to measure the carcinogens are more accurate than in the past, giving them a more reliable account of the dangerous chemicals in the air.

'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,' Pete DeCarlo, one of the researchers on the study told ABC News.

Previously, ethylene measurements were taken by storing air samples in stainless steel cannisters for analyses, but this method appeared to alter the concentration of the gas, providing results that were less than the reality.

This method produced findings that were 'anywhere from two to 10 times lower than the values that we measured with our mobile laboratory in Louisiana,' but were up to 20 times lower in some areas, DeCarlo told the outlet.

However, the team wasn't able to determine which chemicals were produced the most by the industrial plants, making it difficult to determine 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,' DeCarlo said.
Summer is officially just over a week away, but you may have to wait a bit longer to fire up the barbecue.

Brits have been battered with cold wind and rain so far in June, with temperatures around three to five degrees below average for this time of year.

The Met Office has revealed that temperatures are half what they were a year ago, which marked the hottest June on record.

It says temperatures are lower than normal due to a 'keen northerly wind' which is drawing cold air from the Arctic southwards over the UK.

Conditions will only get warmer towards the end of the month  but not before frost potentially covers the ground.

Your browser does not support iframes.

Met Office has revealed that current temperatures (pictured June 11) are around half what they were a year ago

What a difference a year makes! Maximum temperatures are given for each location on June 11, 2023/June 11, 2024: London : 32C/16C

: 32C/16C Cambridge : 30.3C/15C

: 30.3C/15C Belfast : 26.2C/14C

: 26.2C/14C Cardiff : 24.1C/16C

: 24.1C/16C Glasgow : 24C/16C

: 24C/16C Stornoway : 20.3C/11C Advertisement

This time last year, parts of the UK including London, Cambridge and Belfast were experiencing temperatures close to, or even above 30C (86F).

But now, the same regions are just half of this  around the 15C (60F) mark, as the Met Office reflects 'what a difference 12 months makes'.

Alex Deakin, meteorologist and weather forecaster for the Met Office, blamed the jet stream  a fast moving strip of air around five to seven miles above the Earth's surface.

The jet stream is driving cold wind southwards from the Arctic to the UK, which means 'it does feel chilly' despite the 'reasonably powerful June sunshine'.

'When the air is coming down from the north there's no surprise that there's a bit of a chill in the air,' Deakin said.

'You've probably noticed that over the past couple of days it has been a fairly fresh feeling, despite some decent spells of sunshine.'

Rebekah Sherwin, deputy chief meteorologist at Met Office, said there is no strong signal for temperatures to get above average anytime soon.

'So far during the month we have been in a weather pattern that has brought a northerly air flow to the UK, with high pressure to the west and low pressure over Scandinavia funnelling that flow,' she said.

The last time the first 10 days of June was this cold was in 2020, she added.

Temperatures remaining a good few degrees below normal over the next few days thanks to a keen northerly wind which is drawing air from the Arctic  pic.twitter.com/WmhuOnqd15  Met Office (@metoffice) June 10, 2024

A drizzly June: Pictured, punters endure rain at the Royal Windsor Racecourse in Berkshire, June 11, 2024

Taylor Swift fans brave the cold, wind and rain as they queue for her show at Murrayfield in Edinburgh, June 7, 2024

Stark contrast: June 2023 was the hottest June on record, the Met Office confirmed. Pictured, Brighton Beach on June 25, 2023

Simon Partridge, meteorologist at the Met Office, told the Times that we're even expecting 'a little bit of frost' in a few places over the next couple of nights.

'This will mainly be across Scotland and possibly into northern England and Northern Ireland, where temperatures could get down to around freezing,' he said.

Temperatures will stay near or slightly below average for the majority of the rest of June, he added  but 'it's not that unusual' due to the variability of UK weather.

It marks a stark contrast from this time last year when Brits basked in warm weather during what was the hottest June on record for the UK.

On June 11, 2023, the maximum temperature in London was 32C (89.6F), but exactly a year later it hit just 16C (60.8F).

Pictured, wet conditions between the village of Eton Wick and Slough next to Roundmoor Ditch in Berkshire, June 9, 2024

What is a jet stream? Jet streams are fast flowing, narrow currents of air that carry warm and cold air across the planet, much like the currents of a river. They cover thousands of miles as they meander near the tropopause layer of our atmosphere. They are found in the atmosphere's upper levels and are narrow bands of wind that blow west to east. Advertisement

Similarly, Cambridge hit highs of 30.3C (86.5F) one June 11 last year but just 15C (59F) on Tuesday.

Tonight, it will be chilly in rural spots and could even be 'an isolated grass frost', Met Office says.

And for the rest of the week, it forecasts outbreaks of rain pushing northeastwards across the UK, as well as brisk winds in the southwest.

'The UK forecast from tomorrow shows a weather front coming in from the west, reaching all parts of the UK during the day,' said Sherwin.

'This will be accompanied by windy conditions, particularly around western and southwestern coasts.

'There is a signal for temperatures to come up to near normal levels through the weekend, but the forecast into next week remains largely unsettled with showers, some heavy, in places.'

In the second half of the month, scattered showers will likely dominate and could turn into heavy rain in places, with temperatures 'close to or slightly below average'.

In early July, it's unclear if any one type of weather pattern will dominate, but the Met Office hopefully hints at 'spells of drier, sunnier weather'.

BBC Weather's monthly outlook says there should be a trend towards 'calmer and even summery conditions' after mid-June, but 'other solutions are also possible'.

The Met Office says that the UK had its warmest May and warmest spring on record, despite being 'wet and dull'. Members of the public enjoy the hot weather at a pool in Hathersage, Derbyshire, England, on May 10, 2024

May 2024 marked the 12th consecutive record-breaking month, with every month since June 2023 being the hottest ever recorded

It follows confirmation from the Met Office that the UK had its warmest May and warmest spring on record, despite being 'wet and dull'.

The Met Office blamed climate change for these record-breaking figures but also cautioned that natural variation plays a part in the country's weather.

Looking at the global picture, last month was the hottest May on record going back to 1940, the EU's climate change programme revealed last week.

The global average temperature for May 2024 was 15.91C (60.6F), which is 0.19C (0.34F) above the temperature of the previous warmest May, in 2020.

Globally, May 2024 also marks the 12th consecutive record-breaking month, with every month since June 2023 being the hottest ever recorded.
From paywalled features to a huge rebrand, its safe to say that X (formerly Twitter) has completely transformed since Elon Musk took over.

Now, the self-proclaimed 'chief twit' has revealed his next big change to the platform.

Musk has confirmed reports that X is to start hiding all likes on posts on the platform.

This will 'allow people to like posts without getting attacked for doing so', according to Musk.

However, it seems that not all users are impressed with the change, with one venting: 'Why does everything done to this platform only make it worse? I've yet to see a good decision made.'

From paywalled features to a huge rebrand, its safe to say that X (formerly Twitter ) has completely transformed since Elon Musk took over. Now, the self-proclaimed 'chief twit' has revealed his next big change to the platform

Musk has confirmed reports that X is to start hiding all likes on posts on the platform

How will it work? Likes will become private for everyone to 'better protect your privacy', according to X's Engineering team. You will still be able to see posts you have liked (but others cannot).

Like count and other metrics for your own posts will still show up under notifications.

You will no longer see who liked someone else's post.

A post's author can see who liked its posts. Advertisement

Reports this week suggested the social media giant would imminently start rolling out the change, with the billionaire posting a link to one such report and confirming the change was incoming.

Writing alongside the article, Mr Musk said making likes private was 'important to allow people to like posts without getting attacked for doing so'.

Last month, X director of engineering Haofei Wang said the change was coming in order to help users of the site 'protect their public image'.

He added that some users were unwilling to like certain content on the site over fear of retaliation.

'Yeah, we are making likes private,' he wrote on X in May.

'Public likes are incentivising the wrong behaviour.

'For example, many people feel discouraged from liking content that might be 'edgy' in fear of retaliation from trolls, or to protect their public image.

'Soon you'll be able to like without worrying who might see it.

In a subsequent post, X's Engineering team has confirmed how the change will work

'Also a reminder that the more posts you like, the better your For you algorithm will become.'

In a subsequent post, X's Engineering team has confirmed how the change will work.

'This week we're making Likes private for everyone to better protect your privacy,' it tweeted.

'You will still be able to see posts you have liked (but others cannot).

'Like count and other metrics for your own posts will still show up under notifications.

'You will no longer see who liked someone else's post.

'A post's author can see who liked its posts.'

Since Mr Musk took over Twitter  as it was then known  in late 2022, he has loosened content moderation on the site and allowed more controversial material on the platform, as part of his support of 'absolute free speech'.

Several users have raised their concerns with the update.

'This is one of the worst decisions X has ever made. This has never ever worked when the other 10 companies tried it,' one user tweeted.

Another added: 'in other words... since we can't get rid of blatant platform manipulation we are going to hide it.'

And one vented: 'you guys are really committed to killing this app.'
When it comes to the mysteries of Britain's Neolithic past, Stonehenge is probably the structure people would recognise the most.

But archaeologists are now beginning to unravel the secrets of an even stranger structure, built off the coast of Norwich 4,000 years ago.

Researchers believe that 'Seahenge' and a second nearby monument were built by ancient Britons during a period of extreme cold, in an effort to try and bring back the warm weather.

Dr David Nance, an archaeologist at the University of Aberdeen, argues that Seahenge was built to resemble a cage designed to extend summer by keeping a young cuckoo singing.

Dr Nance says: 'Both monuments are best explained as having different functions and associated rituals, but with a common intent: to end the severely cold weather.'

Scientists believe that Seahenge (pictured) may have been build as part of a ritual attempt to bring back warmer weather and prolong summer

The wooden circle known as Seahenge consists of 55 split oak trunks arranged in an oval 25 feet (7.5 meters) across surrounding a 'horseshoe' of five larger oak posts centred around an inverted oak stump

Seahenge, or Holme I as it is scientifically known, was first discovered by archaeologists in 1998 near the village of Holme-next-the-sea, Norfolk.

The structure is made up of 55 split oak trunks arranged in an oval 25 feet (7.5 meters) across surrounding a 'horseshoe' of five larger oak posts centred around an inverted oak stump.

Researchers also found a second wooden circle, called Holme II, built beside it - making these the only known British monuments erected together.

The structures had been buried beneath the salt marsh near the beach for thousands of years before they were finally exposed by erosion.

Despite what its final location might suggest, 'Seahenge' is actually something of a misnomer since the circles would not have been near the water.

Originally, Seahenge was built on an area protected from the sea by sand dunes and mud flats.

Archaeologists suggest that the structure mimics the mythological 'penning the cuckoo' in which a young cuckoo (pictured) is trapped in order to keep it singing and prevent summer's end

Both circles were uncovered in Holme-next-to-Sea near Old Hunstanton in Norwich, Norfolk (pictured). Holme is the only place in the UK where prehistoric timbers have been found and it is believed the tree used to make the two circles was felled at the same time

Over thousands of years, the swamp turned into a thick layer of peat which preserved the wooded posts in remarkably good condition.

Yet, much like Stonehenge, little is known about why this structure was built or what role it might have played in people's lives.

Since almost nothing survives of the people who built Seahenge, it is extremely difficult for archaeologists to find concrete evidence about their use.

To try and bridge that 4,000-year gap, Dr Nance combined the archaeology of the site with astronomical predictions, environmental data, and local folklore.

Previous studies have suggested that the structures were built to commemorate the death of individuals or to conduct sky burials in which the dead would be placed in the circle to be consumed by carrion-eating birds.

The structure was controversially removed and taken to the nearby Lynn Museum following its excavation in 1999

Archaeologists say the ring was built during a period of extreme cold and was designed to mimic the 'bowers of the underworld' where the cuckoo, associated with summer, would supposedly flee in winter

However, Dr Nance's research suggests that these structures may have been built in an attempt to prolong summer.

He explains: 'We know that the period in which they were constructed 4,000 years ago was a prolonged period of decreased atmospheric temperatures and severe winters and late springs placing these early coastal societies under stress.

'It seems most likely that these monuments had the common intention to end this existential threat but they had different functions.'

Dr Nance points to Seahenge's structure as evidence that it might have been used as part of a ritual related to the 'myth of the pent cuckoo'.

Surviving folklore from the area tells of how an unfledged cuckoo was placed in a thorn bush and 'walled in' to extend the summer.

Seahenge's construction aligns with the sun on the Summer solstice, suggesting it may have had a ritual purpose

Holme II (illustrated) is even larger than Seahenge and would have been aligned with the sunrise on Samhain, the pagan festival from which we get Halloween, in 2049 BC

'Summer solstice was the date when according to folklore the cuckoo, symbolising fertility, traditionally stopped singing, returned to the Otherworld and the summer went with it,' Dr Nance explains.

'Dating of the Seahenge timbers showed they were felled in the spring, and it was considered most probable that these timbers were aligned with sunrise on the summer solstice.'

In his paper, published in Geojournal, Dr Nance suggests that the shape of Seahenge is designed to mimic that ritual penning of the cuckoo.

Holme II, which was likely to have been built in the autumn of the same year, may have been trying to achieve the same goal through a different technique.

The second circle is twice the size of Seahenge at 43ft (13.2 m) across and is made of an outer ring of oak posts surrounding two large coffin-like timbers.

Holme II might have been the resting place for 'sacred kings' sacrificed to the pagan goddess of Venus (pictured) who was often associated with the cuckoo, as shown in this plate constructed between the first centuries BC and AD

While Seahenge aligns the summer solstice, astrological predictions suggest that in 2049 BC, this circle would have aligned with the sunrise on Samhain - the pagan festival from which we get Halloween.

This date is particularly important because on this year Venus would have been visible in the sky.

Dr Nance says this could be a connection to the legend of the 'sacred king' which is recorded in Iron Age Ireland and Northern Britain.

These were members of the community who would be sacrificed in an attempt to appease the goddess of Venus.

He adds: 'Evidence suggests that they were ritually-sacrificed every eight years at Samhain (now Halloween) coincident with the eight-year cycle of Venus.'

If true, the coffin-shaped timbers could have been used to hold the bodies of those sacrificed to try and put an end to the short summers and long winters.
Ernest Shackleton's 'last ship' has finally been found, more than 60 years after it sank.

The vessel, called Quest, was located on the seafloor off the coast of Newfoundland.

Shackleton, who led three British expeditions to the Antarctic, died aboard Quest in 1922 while en route to Antarctica, although the ship continued to be used until the 1960s.

'Finding Quest is one of the final chapters in the extraordinary story of Sir Ernest Shackleton,' said expedition leader John Geiger, CEO of the Royal Canadian Geographical Society (RCGS).

'Shackleton was known for his courage and brilliance as a leader in times of crisis. The tragic irony is that his was the only death to take place on any of the ships under his direct command.'

Ernest Shackleton's 'last ship' has finally been found, more than 60 years after it sank. The vessel, called Quest, was located on the seafloor off the coast of Newfoundland

Researchers found the remains of the Quest upright on the sea floor in an area of the Labrador Sea. This map shows the estimated last voyage of Quest as it travelled on a sealing expedition in 1962

Mr Geiger led an international team of experts, including world-renowned shipwreck hunter David Mearns, in a search for the remains of Shackleton's final ship.

Using sonar equipment, the team spotted the remains of the 38m-long Schooner-rigged steamship, 390m (1,280ft) below the Labrador Sea.

Remarkably, the wreck is still largely intact and is sat upright on the seafloor - despite the area having been previously scoured by passing icebergs.

Besides a broken mast, which hangs over the portside, the explorers found that the ship was almost exactly as it had been before it sunk.

Although Shackleton died aboard Quest, he was not the one responsible for its sinking.

After Shackleton's death aboard the ship, Quest was sold to the Schjelderup family in Norway where it was put to work as a seal hunting vessel.

While Shackleton died aboard the vessel he was not responsible for its sinking and was, in fact, the only person to ever die aboard a ship under his direct command

Sir Earnest Shackleton (pictured) died four months into an expedition on Quest while anchored off South Georgia Island in the South Atlantic Ocean

Sir Ernest Shackleton's last ship: a timeline 1917: Quest is built in Norway 1921: Sir Ernest Shackleton purchases the ship for 11,000 and sails her to Southampton 1922: Shackleton dies aboard Quest during an expedition to the Antarctic 1923: Quest is sold to the Schjelderup family of Norway 1942: Quest is requisitioned by the Royal Canadian Navy for use in WWII 1962: Quest is crushed by sea ice and sinks on a seal-hunting expedition 2024: Quest is discovered by researchers from the Royal Canadian Geographical Society Advertisement

During the 40 years in which Quest continued to sail without Shackleton, it was used in Arctic rescues and served in the Royal Canadian Navy during WWII.

At one point, Quest was even selected to bring Norwegian troops to Svalbard but suffered an engine failure on route - the ship which replaced it was bombed and sunk during the mission.

However, it was on a seal hunt in 1962 that Quest finally sunk after being crushed by thick sea ice.

Quest's hull was pierced with such pressure that the cabin doors were warped and deck screws in the engine room snapped.

Ironically, this was the exact same fate which befell Shackleton's Endurance during his ill-fated Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition between 1914 and 1917.

Shackleton's own final voyage aboard Quest began in September 1921 as he embarked from London for the very last time.

His original plan had been to explore the Arctic regions of Canada, North of Alaska, but had to change his goal when the Canadian government withdrew financial support.

Instead, Shackleton once more set his sites on the Antarctic, planning to map and collect samples from the continent's islands.

A team of researchers led by John Geiger, CEO of the Royal Canadian Geographical Society used sonar equipment and historical records to track down the final resting place of the Quest

Before setting out, Shackleton, now 47, told reporters that the expedition was to be his 'swan song'.

Unfortunately, the famed explorer's remarks proved prophetic and he died in his cabin four months into the voyage after suffering a heart attack due to extreme stress

To find Shackleton's last vessel the researchers combined cutting-edge technology with what information could be found in the historical records.

The team consulted ship's logs, newspaper clippings, and legal documents; cross-referencing these with historic weather and ice data.

Critically, the researchers were also able to access two logs from Kvitfjell, the ship which rescued some of Quest's crew.

These logs did not reveal the Quest's location directly, but they did give them a box covering 24 square nautical miles where they thought the ship might be.

Using sonar equipment, the crew (pictured) spotted the 38m-long steamship lying upright 390m (1,280ft) below the Labrador Sea

Although the team's calculations turned out to be almost spot on, their expedition was plagued with mechanical issues.

Initial tests of the solar beacon failed and problems were discovered with the hydraulics in their ship's tow winch.

After an unscheduled stop to make repairs, the expedition only had 24 hours left to complete their search by the time they reached the target area.

And, with less than 7 hours remaining, the sonar equipment finally revealed the outline of Quest lying on the sea floor.

Shipwreck Hunter Mr Mearns says: I can definitively confirm that we have found the wreck of Quest.

'Data from high resolution side-scan sonar imagery corresponds exactly with the known dimensions and structural features of this special ship, and is also consistent with events at the time of the sinking.'

In this picture taken by one of her crew, you can see as Quest sinks into the water after having been crushed by sea ice

For now, the crew are holding back the exact coordinates of the wreck but plan to return next year for a more thorough investigation.

Since the wreck lies in an area which is protected for wildlife they don't plan to move the wreck and instead will photograph it with a remote vehicle.

After Quest was spotted, one of the first to be told was Alexandra Shackleton, Earnest Shackleton's granddaughter and patron of RCGS survey.

'I was thrilled, really excited to hear the news; I have relief and happiness and a huge admiration for the members of the team,' she told BBC News.

She added: 'For me, this represents the last discovery in the Shackleton story. It completes the circle.'
Men and women have long argued about if getting kicked in the genitals or giving birth is more painful.

While the verdict may still be out, researchers are one step closer to finding the answer after uncovering why a person's sex determines their pain threshold.

Scientists from the University of Arizona (UA) identified functional sex differences in nociceptors, the specialized nerve cells that produce pain, which suggested men and women experience pain differently.

For example, nociceptors in females were found to be more sensitive to a hormone linked to pain, while the nerve cells in men were not phased.

Their findings could pave the way for future advancements in painkillers like Ibuprofen that would treat men and women individually.

Men and women have long argued if getting kicked in the genitals or giving birth is more painful. While the verdict is still out, researchers are one step closer to finding the answer after identifying why a person's sex determines their pain threshold

'Until now, the assumption has been that the driving mechanisms that produce pain are the same in men and women,' said Dr Frank Porreca, the research director of the Comprehensive Center for Pain & Addiction and professor at UA.

'Conceptually, this paper is a big advance in our understanding of how pain may be produced in males and females,' he added.

Nociceptors are activated when a person is injured, triggering a reaction that causes humans to remove themselves from the source of danger - like placing your hand on a stovetop or experiencing the jarring sting from a jellyfish.

The UA team tested how the nociceptor cells reacted to substances found in both men and women - prolactin, a hormone that causes lactation and breast development, and orexin B, which regulates sleep.

Female nociceptors were activated when given high doses of the hormone, while men's showed no impact.

On the other hand, orexin B made male nociceptors more sensitive but did not affect female nociceptors.

The team then tried to block prolactin and orexin B.

Blocking prolactin stopped nociceptor activation in females but didn't affect males - and obstructing orexin B worked the opposite way.

Dr Porreca, the study's lead author, told DailyMail.com that the study 'does not show that pain is worse in men or women but rather that the nociceptors in men and women are different.'

The researchers chose the two substances after reviewing a separate study that reported prolactin and orexin B sensitize nociceptors.

The researchers hope their findings can lead to better pain condition treatments that can be tailored to a person's sex rather than a one-size-fits-all solution.

'Different mechanisms of activation of the nociceptors means that we can find better ways to prevent their activation specifically in women or specifically in men to produce optimal treatment of pain in either men or women,' Dr Porreca told DailyMail.com.

Current pain and anti-inflammatory medications like Ibuprofen work by normalizing the threshold for the nociceptors to be activated, but it does not address both men and women equally.

The team at the University of Arizona discovered there are different nociceptors for men and women that cause them to feel pain differently

Now that scientists know there are male and female nociceptors, it means medication could be produced that specifically caters to reducing orexin B and prolactin.

Speaking about their findings, Dr Porreca said: 'This provides an opportunity to treat pain specifically and potentially better in men or women, and that's what we're trying to do.'

The US Food and Drug Administration's existing approval of orexin receptor antagonists which treat sleep disorders would make it easier to prevent nociceptor sensitization.

'We are bringing the concept of precision medicine  taking a patient's genetics into account to design a therapy  to the treatment of pain,' Dr Porreca said.

'The most basic genetic difference is, is the patient male or female? Maybe that should be the first consideration when it comes to treating pain.'

As it turns out, pain thresholds are 'not very different between men and women,' Porreca said, but the thresholds might be activated for different injuries in men versus women.

The researchers findings could mean there will ultimately be a solution to the pain men experience from being kicked in the groin and the aftereffects of childbirth: sex-specific pain medication.
An invasive crab from China known terrorize fisherman's and block cooling systems of power plants is now taking over New York.

The New York Department of Environmental Conservation (NYDEC) recently issued a warning about the 'Mitten Crab, known for its fuzzy claws, urging residents to capture the crab, place it in a freezer and call their local officials.

Sightings of the crab have been reported along the Hudson and Nissequogue rivers and the Long Island Sound, following a trend of past invasions in San Francisco, the Chesapeake Bay and even London's river Thames.

Marine scientists have also raised concerns that the invasive creature could crowd out many vulnerable local species and alter the food web.

'These crabs move between brackish and marine waters,' conservationists said, 'and have the potential to disrupt local ecosystems by out competing native marine life.'

State officials documented sightings of the invasive Chinese mitten crab along the Hudson and Nissequogue rivers and the Long Island Sound, following a trend of past invasions in San Francisco, the Chesapeake Bay and even London's river Thames (as pictured above)

The invasive crab is known to steal fisherman's bait, damage gear - and worse block the cooling systems of power plants - New York's Department of Environmental Conservation said

NYDEC described the mitten crab (Eriocheir sinensis), which is native to East Asia, as a 'generalist predator' capable of altering entire food webs as they 'forage on native fish eggs and invertebrates.'

The mitten crab's burrowing techniques can cause riverbank 'instability and increased erosion, which in turn increases flood risk and reduces habitat.'

The light brown to olive colored Chinese crustaceans start small, and their claws do not develop until adulthood.

The claws have dense patches of brown bristles or 'setae,' which give the mitten crabs their name.

Commercial shrimp trawlers brought the crabs to the US in 1992, first establishing the population in San Francisco Bay.

And because they are a delicacy in Asia, the creatures have been illegally imported to markets in Los Angeles and San Francisco - the US does not permit the import, export or sale of live mitten crabs.

The first mitten crab was reported in New York in 2007 when it was found in a commercial crab pot in the Hudson River near Tappan Zee Bridge.

Conservationists implored the public to look out for 'a notch on the carapace between the eyes and four small lateral spines on each side of the carapace for additional identification markers in juvenile crabs.'

NYDEC told New Yorkers that they should make sure to 'inspect and remove debris and mud from boats, trailers, and equipment,' with an eye toward spotting the crab.

NYDEC described the mitten crab (Eriocheir sinensis) as a 'generalist predator' capable of altering entire food webs as they 'forage on native fish eggs and invertebrates'

The light brown to olive colored Chinese crustaceans start small (above), and the department advised that their claws' dense patches of brown bristles or 'setae,' which give the mitten crabs their name, do not develop until adulthood

Conservationists implored the public to look out for 'a notch on the carapace between the eyes and four small lateral spines on each side of the carapace for additional identification markers in juvenile crabs' (as pictured above)

State conservation authorities advised that, if a mitten crab is spotted it should be removed from the environment, photographed and then frozen for later analysis.

'Make sure to take identifying photos and note your precise location,' NYDEC said. 'Report your sighting to the Bureau of Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health by emailing: isinfo@dec.ny.gov.'

The department is part of the nationwide Mitten Crab Network, a partnership between several US state, federal and research organizations that has succeeded in repelling the invasive crab from the west coast since 2010.

The last confirmed record a live mitten crab along the eastern seaboard was obtained from the Chesapeake Bay near Maryland's Patapsco River in 2014, according to a map maintained by the Smithsonian institute.

'Mitten crabs have also been found sporadically in the Great Lakes and the US Gulf Coast,' the institute said, 'but havent established a breeding population in either region.'

NYDEC officials posted a general warning to the department's Facebook page in an effort to curb the spread of potentially dangerous invasive species of any kind.

'Remember, never release any non-native animal or plant into the wild,' department conservationists said.
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Perceptions have a lot to answer for. They can blind us to whats really going on, making fools in the process.

I had little interest in visiting Santorini. The thought of competing for space with thousands of cruise ship passengers and paying through the nose for a glass of indifferent Greek wine at a sunset bar colonised by influencers and selfie addicts never appealed.

But then a friend, who had just returned from this famous volcanic island, said I was being short-sighted. Out of touch, even.

She had a point. Avoid July and August, obviously, when as many as 10,000 day-trippers storm the place, clogging up the narrow streets (there are only 15,000 permanent residents). But to ditch Santorini all together is a dereliction of duty for anyone interested in travel.

This is a ravishing island, with far more to it than I had imagined. I tried explaining this to Andreas Makaris, a 73-year-old master potter, but he spoke no English. It didnt matter.

Mark Palmer travels to Santorini, where he bases himself on the outskirts of Oia, the 'whitewashed town where hotels, restaurants and villas cling to the edge of the caldera'

'To ditch Santorini all together is a dereliction of duty for anyone interested in travel,' says Mark. Above - the streets of Oia

Andreas and his wife run pottery classes in the south of Santorini, where theyve lived for 40 years. Words werent needed as he guided my fingers and thumbs over the wet clay in an attempt to make a small coffee mug.

We post it to you in three months, said his wife.

I found this long delay strangely uplifting  a different attitude to time is one of the joys of breaking free from our everyday lives.

Uplifting, also, was the hour spent visiting the archaeology site at Akrotiri, not far from Andreass studio. To my shame I had never heard of it, but this discovery of a 4,000-year old Minoan settlement buried under lava following the volcanic eruption of 3,600 years ago, which created Santorini as we know it today, is big news.

So too is the growing reputation of Santorini wine, with no fewer than 18 vineyards, some producing just a few hundred bottles a year, mainly from the assyrtiko grape and all sold locally.

I loved the way our waiter, as he was about to uncork our bottle of wine at the superb hilltop restaurant Metaxi Mas, pointed out the winery in the valley below where it had come from.

Overlooked treasures: Mark stays at Canaves Epitome. Each of the 53 suites and villas come with their own plunge pools (above)

Mark says of Canaves Epitome: 'There is a welcome sense of space. Bright young things from Athens and Thessalonika make up the staff.' Above - one of the hotel's bedrooms

Nor was I prepared for the beaches. The black sand might put off some people, but the water is gloriously fresh and clear. There are taverna-lined beaches, if thats your thing, or just scramble over rocks and find a suitable to place to jump in.

I did this on our first day but struggled to get out again, and so had to swim into the little harbour in Ammoudi Bay and clamber out in full view of early diners. I may have put them off their calamari.

We were staying at Canaves Epitome on the outskirts of Oia, the whitewashed town where hotels, restaurants and villas cling to the edge of the caldera. Epitome is the latest offering from the family-run Canaves Collection.

This one doesnt cling to the craters rim. Instead there is a welcome sense of space, with each of the 53 suites and villas coming with their own plunge pools, and landscaping that is of the highest calibre. Bright young things from Athens and Thessalonika make up the staff  all highly engaging and super-efficient.

'This is a ravishing island, with far more to it than I had imagined,' writes Mark. Above - Ammoudi Bays harbour

Mark spends an 'uplifting' hour exploring the archaeology site at Akrotiri

Hands on: Mark makes a coffee mug with master potter Andreas Makaris

We ate spectacularly well at both of the hotels restaurants; the tzatziki at the more informal Omnia belongs to a different planet to anything youll find at your local Waitrose.

Epitome ferries guests wherever they wish to roam with the help of a WhatsApp group. One evening we got a lift into Oia, where we settled at the Canaves Sunday hotel for the daily sunset-watching ritual, followed by a pilgrimage along the main shopping street. It seldom rains in Santorini and, if it does, only for ten minutes, we were told by a shopkeeper.

The next day it rained solidly from morning until early evening, but we still took the water taxi round the bay to Armeni restaurant. Then it was a case of choosing our fish from a huge box that does the round of tables like a carvery trolley.

We went for the sole, cooked in olive oil and lemon, which was remarkably inexpensive. At times, Santorinis white villages  along with its 500 or so churches and chapels  look like snow-capped mountains. And I had not appreciated that there are, in fact, five islands in this archipelago, including the volcano which gave birth to Santorini thousands of years ago.

Over the course of three days I was delighted to disown my perceptions about this Greek outpost  and somewhat ashamed about them, too.
From high-tech drive-thru services to stunning views, a foodie has lifted the lid on what the most unique Taco Bell restaurants in America have to offer.

Dylan Huynh, from California, set off on a Mexican-themed adventure to visit four of the country's most interesting outlets in a bid to rank which one is the 'coolest' Taco Bell ever.

In a YouTube video documenting his trip, he starts out by hitting what the brand deems one of its most stunning restaurants, located at 5200 Coast Highway in Pacifica, California.

The company website reveals that the fast food restaurant is located directly on the beach, with a walk-up ordering window for surfers and a 'magnificent' view of the ocean where whales can be seen April through December.

When Dylan arrives at the restaurant, he agrees with the rave reviews he spotted online, deeming its beachside positioning 'beautiful.'

Dylan Huynh, from California, set off on a Mexican-themed adventure to visit four of the country's most interesting Taco Bell outlets. Above, at the Pacifica, California, restaurant

When Dylan arrives at the Pacifica restaurant, he agrees with the rave reviews he spotted online, deeming its beachside positioning 'beautiful'

In all four restaurants, the YouTube star sets himself the challenge of ordering the secret menu item and at the California branch, his other aim is to buy some merchandise.

Starting his review, he points out some of the restaurant's fancy features including a 'rich people ceiling,' mural 'featuring Taco Bell signature hot sauces,' ocean-hued ordering counter to 'match the beach vibes,' and 'beautiful' hanging lights.

Before he ventures outside to find a seat, Dylan tries to order a secret menu item.

However, the restaurant is unable to serve him an Enchirito, which he describes as 'like an enchilada-burrito thing.'

Instead, he plumps for two crunchy Taco Supremes, a Crunchwrap Supreme and a pina colada, which brings the total to $18.20.

Once he is sat down, Dylan tells his fans: 'I can't believe I'm eating Taco Bell on the beach. I mean this view is just amazing.

'Now, another cool thing about this Taco Bell is they actually have a walk up ordering area basically for surfers and beachgoers. You can walk up barefoot and get some Taco Bell.'

After sampling his order, Dylan gives all of the items a big thumbs up. He also seems swept away by the ambience as he muses: 'Never in my life did I think I'd find so much peace at a Taco Bell.

His next port of call takes him to Taco Bell's flagship restaurant in Las Vegas, which he notes is under construction. He appears overwhelmed when he steps instead by how busy it is

Dylan opts for an alcoholic Mountain Dew Baja Blast Freeze which he says 'looks like a weapon' in large takeaway beaker but tastes 'amazing'

'Something about eating tacos and drinking a pina colada on the beach, you know, they were on to something when they made this location. This is nice.'

Before leaving the restaurant Dylan purchases a hoodie and takes a photo of a taco by the beach.

His next port of call takes him to Taco Bell's flagship restaurant in Las Vegas, which he notes is under construction.

He appears overwhelmed when he steps inside at just how busy it is.

The foodie tells viewers: 'But y'all it is bumping. It's like a nightclub here. This is crazy.

'This one has to be one of the coolest ones strictly because it's in Vegas and just so you know, this Taco Bell serves alcohol, it's open 24/7 and it's right on the Vegas Strip which means there's always a party going on.'

Again, Dylan tries to order something off the secret menu, and he manages to snag a Cheesarito. For his drink, he opts for an alcoholic Mountain Dew Baja Blast Freeze.

Taking viewers on a tour of the restaurant, he says: 'This Taco Bell is famous for their freeze wall which offers eight different frozen drinks.'They have a ton of merch on display and you also got this party sign.'

For his third Taco Bell outing, Dylan flies across the country to Minnesota, which he says is one of the chain's most high-tech outposts

The Cheesy Gordita Crunch came with the tomatoes as requested and was 'exquisite'

When he gives his items a taste test, he is disappointed to find that his Cheesarito is a Quesarito with meat in it.

He is more satisfied with his drink, however, stating that the large beverage served in a takeaway beaker 'looks like a weapon' but tastes 'amazing.'

For his third Taco Bell outing, Dylan flies across the country to Minnesota, which he says is one of the chain's most high-tech outposts.

He explains, while showing off a Tesla which he rented for the occasion: 'The next Taco Bell I'm going to is basically the most futuristic one in existence.

'It's supposedly so cool that the COO said it's just like seeing the Empire State Building for the very first time. That's a lot of praise for a Taco Bell and honestly it raises my expectations through the roof.'

When he reaches his destination, Dylan states that it is one of the biggest Taco Bells he has ever seen.

Detailing some of the restaurant's cutting edge features, he says: 'This Taco Bell is the brand's most innovative drive-thru.

'It features four drive-thru lanes and was nicknamed "Taco Bell defy" because apparently it defies gravity. It's pretty much because the kitchen's on the second floor.'

The Taco Bell website further explains the Defy concept, reading: 'The first of its kind two-story model delivers innovative technology and design, like a proprietary vertical lift to transport iconic craveable Taco Bell menu items straight from the kitchen to fans.'

But the most interesting thing to Dylan, he reveals, is that the Taco Bell has been lauded for outperforming the average national drive-thru speed, with orders coming out in less than three minutes.

Lastly, Dylan checked into the oldest operating Taco Bell in the country in California

While the building has been remodeled a few times over the years, Dylan says some original features remain including a 'walk-up windows'

After exploring the premises, Dylan puts in a food order and he manages to snag his first secret menu item in the form of a huge cheese burrito known as the 'Superman'

He orders his meal via his phone by scanning a QR code. Some online reviewers complained about the Minnesota location 'messing up orders,' so Dylan put in some 'very specific' requests to see if this is true.

He said: 'I'm going to order the brand new Cantina Chicken Crispy Taco - one regular soft taco - and then we're going to get specific, I'm going to get a Cheesy Gordita Crunch with added tomatoes and we're going to add chipotle sauce.

'I've also never had coffee at Taco Bell before so let's go ahead and order that too and finally I got a very specific amount of hot sauce.'

He was amazed to find his order came through within the three minute timeframe, as promised.

Putting his food items to the test, he said the Cantina Chicken Crispy Taco was 'bomb' with a 'good amount' of chicken, while the Cheesy Gordita Crunch came with the tomatoes as requested and was 'exquisite.'

Lastly, Dylan checked into the oldest operating Taco Bell in the country in California.

Touching on its history as he arrives at the spot, he says: 'Behind me is the oldest operating Taco Bell in America and honestly compared to the futuristic one, this one looks ancient.

'This Taco Bell was opened in 1962 and it's the second one ever created. A little fun fact, the first Taco Bell was actually shut down and the building itself was literally dug up and placed in the parking lot at Taco Bell headquarters.

'That's why this one has the new title or I guess old title.'

While the building has been remodeled a few times over the years, Dylan says some original features remain including 'walk-up windows' which were popular before the drive-thru concept was born.

After exploring the premises, Dylan puts in a food order and he manages to snag his first secret menu item in the form of a huge cheese burrito known as the 'Superman.'

Clearly excited, he sits down and unwraps it. Running viewers through his review, he says: 'Oh my God, it's huge. Just to clarify, the Superman is supposed to be a double cheesy beef burrito with potatoes, sour cream, guacamole and crispy tortilla strips.

'That's so much stuff in one burrito.'

On sampling the large wrap, he continues: 'This burrito... it's like a flavor bomb in my mouth. The crispy tortilla strips add a very nice crunch and honestly this might be the best thing I've ever ordered... Whoever created this is a genius. If Taco Bell added this onto their actual menu, I would heavily consider ordering this every time.'

Following his cross-country experiment, Dylan offers his final verdict on which Taco Bell was the 'coolest.'

He concludes: 'I had a completely different experience at every single Taco Bell that I visited they were all great.

'But the one on the beach matches Taco Bell's motto Live Mas (Live More) in the best ways possible.

'I felt very relaxed very at peace and honestly I would like to go there every day that is not something I ever expected to say about a Taco Bell.'
A former Bachelorette star has shocked fans of the franchise by coming out as transgender.

Josh Seiter, who now uses she/her pronouns, announced her plans to transition to a woman back in May.

While fans were initially supportive of the 37-year-old's decision, some have now questioned her intentions and accused the reality star of 'trolling' for attention.

Seiter, who was caught up in a death hoax last year, raised eyebrows in her gender journey by refusing to shave her body hair and claiming that she felt 'more feminine' when she wasn't wearing a wig.

Speaking to DailyMail.com about the backlash, Seiter insisted that her transition was the real deal - and said that her haters were just jealous of her gorgeous good looks.

Former Bachelorette star Josh Seiter has sparked backlash after coming out as a transgender woman

Seiter briefly appeared on Kaitlyn Bristowe's season of The Bachelorette back in 2015

'I am getting lots of hate from the LGBTQ community and people that fancy themselves gatekeepers  despite them preaching about love, tolerance and acceptance,' the Chicago native said.

'I find it ironic that a movement that values freedom and charting our own unique path is also one of the most judgmental. I've actually found a lot more support from my conservative friends than my so-called liberal friends.'

Seiter said that she was largely unfazed by the backlash and rampant speculation around her gender identity.

'I think most are just jealous that I am a beautiful trans woman. I noticed I look better than most of the trans women hating on me in my DMs and comments, so I think the hate is just jealousy disguised as concern,' Seiter sniped.

'It's sad my transition has so many people up in arms.'

Seiter first announced her intention to transition on May 20 in an open letter to her 960,000 Instagram followers.

'I have struggled with my gender identity - and resulting feelings of guilt and shame - for as long as I can remember,' she wrote at the time.

'I spent the last three decades trying to keep this side of me private. I felt I had no choice, given my upbringing in a strictly religious, conservative family.'

Seiter raised eyebrows about her gender journey by refusing to shave her body hair and claiming that she felt 'more feminine' when she wasn't wearing a wig

Before and after: Compared to her traditionally masculine appearance before, Seiter now wears women's clothing and makeup

She went on to share that she had 'projected the image of a strong, masculine son and brother' to the world, but no longer wanted to hide her true self.

While Seiter received an outpouring of support from fans at the time, the tide has shifted in recent weeks, with many accusing the Bachelorette alum of 'faking' her transition for clout.

'He's (sic) doing it for attention!' one follower raged, while another wrote, 'This has to be a social experiment to see our reactions.'

Another commented, 'If you are no longer a man, start shaving your face. The makeup and beard is not matching at all.'

Since starting her transition, Seiter has not removed her body hair or shaved her face.

'I think most are just jealous that I am a beautiful trans woman,' Seiter told DailyMail.com

'I'm gonna keep it,' she said in a recent video.

'I like my facial and body hair. It makes me feel comforted. It makes me feel soothed. It makes me feel safe. And I like the way it looks.'

In a follow-up video titled 'stop policing women's body hair,' Seiter lashed out at criticism she'd received for sporting a 5 o'clock shadow.

'It's hair. I decide what I wanna do with it. Newsflash - [cisgender] women have body hair. Trans women have body hair. It's just a matter of what we're gonna do with it and it's nobody's business.'

In another Instagram video, Seiter complained about women's clothing sizes after her muscular, 6ft frame was unable to squeeze into a large woman's blouse.

She also said that it was unfair that she, as a transgender woman, had been forced to pay for dinner while on a date.

'I just want to go on a date and have the man be a gentleman and treat me like a woman,' she said.

Seiter later claimed that she was the victim of transphobic abuse after she used a women's public restroom.

Since starting her transition, Seiter has not removed her body hair or shaved her face

Seiter also said that she was the victim of transphobic abuse after she used a women's restroom

Last year, fans were alarmed when a message from Seiter's purported family falsely confirmed that she had died.

'It is with an extremely heavy heart that we share the tragic news of Joshua's unexpected passing,' the statement read.

'As all who knew him can attest, Joshua was an incredibly bright light in an increasingly dim world. His fearless voice and indomitable spirit helped thousands of people in their darkest moments feel just a little less alone.

'Although our heartache at Joshua's passing pains us beyond measure, we find comfort knowing that he is finally at peace.'

The following day, Seiter reemerged online to reveal that she was the victim of a death hoax.

Taking to her page with a video, she clarified: 'Hey guys, as you can see, I am alive and well. My account was hacked. For the last 24 hours I have been trying desperately to get into it.

'Somebody was playing a cruel joke, mocking my mental illness and the struggles I've gone through with depression and suicide attempts. I'm sorry for all the pain they caused when they made that post.'

When asked why it took so long to prove she was actually alive, she told TMZ that she had prioritized getting her Instagram account back first.

Seiter has been working as an OnlyFans model since coming out as bisexual

The former reality star was also caught up in a shocking death hoax last year

Months before the death hoax, Seiter made headlines after coming out as bisexual.

'I guess the timing of me coming out as bisexual is pretty providential, since I'm making this announcement during Pride Month,' Seiter told Instinct magazine, noting that she had a religious upbringing.

'Unlike some people, my awareness of my bisexuality manifested later in life.'

She added: 'Now, with hindsight, I can see clearly that I've been starkly aware of my bisexuality and attraction to men and women since at least college.'

Seiter also said that she was going to be 'starring in a series of adult films' after starting an OnlyFans account.

'Coming out was the most liberating experience of my life, and it has opened up so many great opportunities for growth,' she gushed.

'This is just one rung in the ladder of the bisexual experience I intend to climb, and I couldn't be more excited for the future.'
The Monarch star was filmed getting testy with the crowd at a Hollywood event

Kurt Russell was not impressed with fans trying to sneaking second autograph

A testy Kurt Russell was seen snapping at his fans as he stopped to sign autographs at an event in North Hollywood last weekend, DailyMail.com can reveal.

The actor, 73, attended the Television Academy's FYC event for his hit Apple TV+ series Monarch: Legacy of Monsters Saturday night, where he was later filmed throwing a hissy fit and even tossing his pen after overzealous autograph-seekers tried to double dip.

Video of the awkward incident, obtained by DailyMail.com, shows the Hollywood star hastily signing posters from a crowd of eager fans who had gathered outside The Wolf Theater in hopes of meeting the cast after the event.

But what starts as a friendly meeting with his supporters quickly turns into a frosty encounter when Russell loses his cool at fans trying to sneak a second autograph from him.

Video obtained exclusively by DailyMail.com shows the moment Kurt Russell grows irritated with fans after they tried sneaking a second autograph from the actor in Hollywood on Saturday

Russell stopped to sign fan posters after attending the Television Academy's FYC event for Monarch: Legacy of Monsters at the Wolf Theater in North Hollywood last Saturday

A clip taken by one witness in the crowd shows the moment Russell, who plays main role Lee Shaw in the sci-fi series, catches a few fans in the act and swiftly calls them out.

'I already did you, and I already did you,' he says, visibly irritated. 'Don't do that, man. See, you're going to ruin it for everyone.'

He then goes on to address the crowd as a whole, saying: 'I just want you to leave now. I asked you guys. I'll just sign one thing and I'll give everyone one thing.'

Despite his frustration, Russell carries on signing but appears to grow aggravated with the overwhelming number of autograph requests.

He then begins checking the crowd for familiar faces - at one point even dropping his pen and refusing to sign a poster upon coming across another double dipper.

'Let me see your face,' he tells a fan. 'I did you already,' he says, before dramatically slamming the pen and moving on to the next person.

Russell can be seen checking the crowd for familiar faces, at one point even slamming his pen after catching a sneaky fan who tried to get him to sign twice

The friendly fan meeting quickly turned into a frosty encounter after Russell caught someone getting more than one autograph

Russell, pictured with his co-stars at Saturday's event, plays the older version of former US Army colonel Lee Shaw on the popular Apple TV+ series

An eyewitness who was among the members of the crowd told DailyMail.com Russell had become irritated despite having offered to do autographs.

'Some people were trying to double dip and he was getting upset at all of those trying even though he kept asking over and over again,' the fan said.

Russell, who was revealed to have joined the cast of the new Apple TV+ show in 2022, stars in the series alongside his son Wyatt Russell, 37.

The elder actor plays the older version of his Wyatt's character, former US Army colonel Lee Shaw.

The live-action monster series, which was recently renewed for a second season, is the sixth installment of Legendary TV's Monsterverse franchise starring Anna Sawai and Kiersey Clemons.

The show premiered in November to positive reviews and earned Kurt a Critics Choice Super Award for Best Actor in a Sci-fi/Fantasy series in April.
Sienna Miller gushed over her younger boyfriend Oli Green and revealed they 'fell in love quickly' as she stunned in a new Harper's Bazaar shoot on Wednesday.

The actress, 42, and Oli, 27, were first linked in February 2022 and welcomed a baby daughter together five months ago.

Making rare comments about her fiercely private relationship, she lauded Oli as being 'wise and well-adjusted' and said his generation of men respect women more.

Sienna famously faced public humiliation in 2005 when her then-boyfriend Jude Law, now 51, confessed to cheating on her with his children's nanny Daisy Wright.

Speaking about Oli she said: 'I didn't expect to take it seriously and then quite quickly, I fell in love. I wasn't like, 'I'm gonna get a younger boyfriend.' It was more, 'F*ck! Why are you young? That's so annoying.'

Sienna Miller gushed over her younger boyfriend Oli Green and revealed they 'fell in love quickly' as she stunned in a new Harper's Bazaar shoot on Wednesday

For the cover she wowed in a gold sequin mini dress with a Gucci belt as she fixed the camera with a sultry stare

The actress, 42, and Oli, 27, were first linked in February 2022 and welcomed a baby daughter together five months ago (seen in May 2024)

'There is a difference in the way that generation of men respect women. It's specific to him, he is very wise and well-adjusted, but I do believe it's also that generation.

'They have grown up with a slightly more level playing field. I see it in his female friends as well as in the men.'

As well as the five-month old she shares with Oli, she has daughter Marlowe, 11, with her ex partner Tom Sturridge.

In the candid interview she said having her second child has been a 'cathartic, healing experience'.

The blonde beauty said: 'I'm in heaven. It's been a cathartic, healing experience, which sounds woo-woo, but it's grounded in a way that reflects the life that I want to be living.'

For the accompanying photoshoot she stunned in a black and white polka dot playsuit that showed off her toned legs.

And for the cover she wowed in a gold sequin mini dress with a Gucci belt as she fixed the camera with a sultry stare.

Another radiant black and white shot showed her modelling a pretty white sun dress.

Making rare comments about her fiercely private relationship, she lauded Oli as being 'wise and well-adjusted' and said his generation of men respect women more

Speaking about Oli she said: 'I didn't expect to take it seriously and then quite quickly, I fell in love'

As well as the five-month old she shares with Oli, she has daughter Marlowe, 11, with her ex partner Tom Sturridge

Another radiant black and white shot showed her modelling a pretty white sun dress as her hair was styled into loose waves

Sienna famously faced public humiliation in 2005 when her then-boyfriend Jude Law, now 51, confessed to cheating on her with his children's nanny Daisy Wright (seen in 2004)

It comes after last week Sienna gave a very rare insight into motherhood as she discussed her daughter being a young Anna Wintour as she's 'very critical' about her fashion choices.

Sienna opened up about family life during a candid interview with The Guardian, following a 'rough baby night' with her youngest daughter.

She explained that the 10-year age gap between her daughters is, 'actually quite useful because one is tiny and portable, and the other is becoming increasingly independent.'

Speaking about Marlowe, who walked the Cannes red carpet with her mother last month, Sienna said: 'She's so stylish and very critical.'

'She's like a young Anna Wintour in her total disdain for some of the things I wear. In New York she thought I was mortifying. She wished I would brush my hair.'

It came as Sienna revealed she has helped design a 33-piece summer capsule collection with Marks & Spencer's.

On the collaboration, Sienna said: 'I have always had a genuine love for M&S - it's a brand that is part of the fabric of British life and holds special associations for so many people.

'Seeing the reaction to the Autumn campaign that I fronted, was phenomenal. To collaborate on a womenswear design project made total sense. I can't wait to see what customers think of the collection.'

Her collection launched at M&S.com and in 30 stores on June 6.

Sienna is thriving in motherhood as she stole the show on the red carpet in Cannes last month.

She was promoting her new movie - Kevin Costner 's western epic, Horizon: An American Saga.

In the candid interview she said having her second child has been a 'cathartic, healing experience'

The blonde beauty said: 'I'm in heaven. It's been a cathartic, healing experience, which sounds woo-woo, but it's grounded in a way that reflects the life that I want to be living'

She sported a flawless covering of makeup complete with a slick of light pink lip to show off her naturally pretty features

Another look saw her slip into a silky orange shirt which was buttoned all the way up for a quirky edge

The July/August issue of Harper's Bazaar UK is on sale from June 13

Her co-star summed her up by saying: 'Her outward beauty is undeniable, but she's so skilled as an actress.'

Embracing being a mother again in her early forties, Sienna is undergoing a renaissance with fans and commentators are declaring that the British actress has 'never looked better' despite the demands of work and having a young family.

Brand and Culture Expert Nick Ede told MailOnline that he predicts that Sienna could be about to 'steal the crown to become the UK's biggest Hollywood star'.

He said: 'Sienna's been looking after herself and got herself red carpet ready knowing this is going to be her big return to the big screen and knowing all eyes will be on her. She's done everything right and she commands The Croisette - the beating heart of Cannes.'

The July/August issue of Harper's Bazaar UK is on sale from June 13.
Beverley Callard could become bankrupt for a second time.

The former Coronation Street actress, 67, is under investigation after her acting firm failed to settle a 100,000 tax bill.

She and her husband Jon McEwan, who are directors of their company, set the entity up after she left her role as Liz McDonald for the final time in 2020 as a way to manage her money.

But, according to The Sun, it went into voluntary liquidation last year owing HMRC 101,554 in outstanding tax and VAT.

What's more, Bev and her husband are also yet repay 114,000 in directors loans they took out from the company, which they have called JMBJ Limited.

Coronation Street legend Beverley Callard could become bankrupt for a second time

Pictured is Liz McDonald, as played by Beverley Callard in Coronation Street, 2017

Liquidators have told the couple that the cost of dissolving the company wil amount to 54,369.

New documents revealed: 'We carried out an initial reviewof the companys affairs, including seeking information and explanations from the directors by means of questionnaires. We made enquiries of the companys accountants, examining company bank statements and other records.

'This initial assessment revealed matters that the liquidators considered merited further investigation in relation to the directors loans.

'As a result, the liquidators have undertaken further reviews. They are making enquiries with the directors in relation to the outstanding balance owed.'

MailOnline has contacted Beverley's representatives for comment

If the director's loans are not paid back soon, the couple will be make bankrupt.

Bev - who played former Rovers Return landlady Liz from 1989 - was initially declared bankrupt in 2012.

The actress started off in the ITV1 soap in 1989 and departed in 1998 but returned for numerous long stints over the years and eventually left for good in 2020 (pictured in 2009 alongside Craig Charles as Lloyd Mullaney)

Beverley was paid a reported 125,000 for her stint on I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out Of Here! in 2020

Beverley gave an insight into her boat renovation project on last year as she got to work

At the time, the former Two Pints Of Lager And A Packet Of Crisps star noted how 'horrific' had all been for her and how she had to rely on friends to get by.

Following her departure from the Street in 2020, she was paid a reported 125,000 to compete in I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out Of Here!

By early January 2023, Bev and her husband were renovating a canal boat and shared the progress with fans.

She said: 'In another clip, the actress said: 'Good evening all this is our boat... I think rather than drinking pornstar Martini's and Long Island ice tea's I think it's going to be soup and hot chocolate.'
Kyle and Jackie O star Lachlan Mansell revealed on Tuesday he is 'fired up' over the 2024 Land Tax increase brought in by the Victorian Labor government.

The Beauty and the Geek star, 35, who currently works alongside radio shock jocks Kyle Sandilands and Jackie 'O' Henderson, took to Instagram to voice his rage.

He shared a bill with his followers, which revealed the property investor has been charged $1,956 in Land Tax, and said he was 'really p**sed off' about it.

'Just got my Land Tax bill for my two investment properties here in Victoria. Almost $2,000 and about $1,300 more than it was last year,' he ranted.

'I don't normally get on my social media channels and talk about politics stuff, but I am really p**sed off about this.'

Kyle and Jackie O star Lachlan Mansell, 35, revealed on Tuesday he is 'fired up' over the 2024 Land Tax increase brought in by the Victorian Labor government

Poll Do you agree with Lachy's concerns about Victoria's new Land Tax? Yes No Do you agree with Lachy's concerns about Victoria's new Land Tax? Yes 47 votes

No 14 votes Now share your opinion





He continued: 'The reason it's gone up so much is because the Victorian government have decided that it's us property investors who have to pay their COVID levy.'

Lachy added: 'The thing that frustrates me most about this is the government has made the assumption that all the property investors must be rich.'

The former reality star went on to confess he bought his first investment property 10 years ago in Ballarat when he was 'on a salary of $50,000' a year.

Posting his fiery rant online, the radio producer wrote in his caption that the Land Tax will also 'hurt renters' because property investors will put their rent up.

The Beauty and the Geek star who currently works alongside radio shock jocks Kyle Sandilands, 53, (left) and Jackie 'O' Henderson, 49, (right) took to Instagram to voice his rage

'I dont normally post political content on my socials, but as someone whos both a tenant and a landlord, the Victorian land tax COVID levy has FIRED ME UP.' he said.

The post divided followers as they flocked to the comments, with some slamming Lachy for his 'out of touch' views while others backed him up.

'Wont someone think of the poor landlords,' one person wrote, while another said: '"One or two properties," LOL hilariously detached.'

Lachy shared a bill with his followers, which revealed the property investor has been charged $1,956 in Land Tax, and said he was 'really p**sed off' about it

A third added: 'Won't you get it back with all of your tax breaks? Think yourself lucky and move on.'

Other users agreed with Lachy: 'Everyone assumes landlords are rich. When we are just trying to set ourselves up for the future so we don't need the pension.'

'What can I say Lachy its an upside down world. Glad that you are speaking up against this, well done,' someone else wrote.

The post divided followers as they flocked to the comments, with some slamming Lachy for his 'out of touch' views while others backed him up

'This is only going to add to the rental problems as landlords are forced to increase their rents or sell up,' yet another agreed.

The new Victorian Land Tax increases went into effect on January 1 with the highest land tax rate, for land valued above $3million, increased from 2.55% to 2.65%.

In an effort to pay down the Labor government's COVID debt, the tax hike will last for the next 10 years.

The average investment property, with a land valuation of $650,000, will cost an extra $1,300 in Land Tax, with owner occupiers exempt from the temporary levy.
Emma Corrin and Ramin Malek are thought to have taken their relationship to the next level by 'moving in together' - and friends claim an engagement could be on the cards.

The Crown star, 28, who played Princess Diana in the Netflix hit, has been dating actor Rami,43, for just under a year but friends have now claimed the couple are living together.

A source told The Sun: ' They have got a 5million house together in Hampstead and moved in together a few weeks ago.

'Rami and Emma are both really serious about each other. Even though they've only been dating for 11 months they are moving quickly because for them, this relationship feels like forever.

'Their friends have said they wouldn't be surprised if Rami proposed soon.'

Emma Corrin and Ramin Malek 'moved in together a few weeks ago' - and an engagement could be on the cards.

MailOnline has contacted representatives of both Emma and Rami for comment.

Rami and Emma are thought to have begun dating last summer and made their relationship official when they were spotted kissing during an outing in London in September.

Before dating Emma, Rami was involved with Lucy Boynton, who played Freddie Mercury's girlfriend Mary Austin in Bohemian Rhapsody.

Lucy and Rami confirmed their relationship in 2019 but had apparently split by 2022 when he was spotted out with French screen siren Lea Seydoux.

Lea and Rami, who both featured in that year's James Bond film, No Time To Die, were seen last December with their arms around one another.

However by this summer, rumours began to fly about a blossoming romance between Rami and Emma, with sources dishing about their 'loved-up dates'.

They were allegedly observed kissing over lunch in Margate, Kent, and 'didn't seem to mind who could see' them at their alfresco table.

Emma is best-known for starring as the younger version of Princess Diana in The Crown (pictured alongsode Josh O'Connor as Prince Charles)

Rami and Lucy Boynton split after more than five years together, just before he met Emma (pictured together in February 2020)

'They were very passionate and looking into each other's eyes,' said a source who caught sight of them at the restaurant.

'Rami and Emma just seemed totally besotted with each other and paid no attention to anyone else.'

Emma, who won the Golden Globe For Best Actress - Television Series Drama months before adopting 'they/them' pronouns, explained the swap to the Guardian.

'Because I was working on a film in the US, away from everyone who knows me, and when people called me she, it felt so weird and uncomfortable,' said the thespian.
He is best known for playing the role of Cosmo Kramer on popular television sitcom Seinfeld from 1989 to 1998.

And on Wednesday, Michael Richards looked unrecognisable as he surprised fans with a rare TV appearance.

The American actor, 74, looked much different from his time on the show, sporting grey hair as he discussed his new memoir Entrances and Exits on Channel Seven's Sunrise.

During the interview, Michael revealed why he decided to write a memoir 18 years after stepping away from the spotlight.

'It's a memoir all the way up to my age now at 75, and I have a lot of life to talk about since I was little and all the way through into show business,' he explained.

Michael Richards looked unrecognisable and surprised fans as he made a rare TV appearance on Wednesday

'Certainly how I came into myself as an actor and how I discovered myself to be an artist. I was working with my journals and I started to write about the Seinfeld show and as I got into it, it started to turn into a book.'

He also opened up about his infamous tirade at the Laugh Factory in 2006 where he exploded in anger and hurled racist slurs at hecklers during a stand-up show.

'I had to start with that forgiveness in myself, ultimately. How do I move on from such a despicable night? Bad night. Horrible night. Said horrible things. That was 18 years ago,' he admitted.

'There was a lot of self-reflection. And moving deeper into myself. Interesting how a situation like that is a catalyst for moving towards a better me. So that's it. Recovery, forgiveness and reconciliation.'

The American actor, 74, looked much different from his time on Seinfeld as he discussed his new memoir Entrances and Exits on Channel Seven's Sunrise

In November 2006, shocking footage of Richards emerged of him repeatedly calling an audience member, who interrupted his act, a racial slur.

'Throw his ass outHes a n*****! Look theres a n*****!' Richards can be heard saying in the video.

During his meltdown, Richards repeatedly branded black members of the audience 'n******' while yelling: 'Fifty years ago we'd have you upside down with a f***ing fork up your a***.'

Following the shocking incident, he went on David Letterman to express his regret as he stated: 'I'm really busted up over this and I'm very, very sorry. I am not a racist, that's what's so insane about this. I said some pretty nasty things to some African-Americans, a lot of trash talk.'

During the interview, Michael revealed why he decided to write a memoir 18 years after stepping away from the spotlight

The father-of-two continued: 'You know, I'm a performer... I push the envelope; I work in a very uncontrolled manner on stage. I do a lot of free association, it's spontaneous, I go into character.'

According to The Guardian, at the time, his two-minute tirade left the audience 'confused' and 'uncertain whether the extreme language was part of Richards' act.'

The publication noted that, at one point, 'the target of Richards' comments shouted back at Richards several times, telling him that the insults were uncalled for.'


YouTube personality Ben Potter's death at the age of 40 was as result of a single-vehicle crash off on I-25 near Fort Collins, Colorado on Saturday morning.

Officials with the Colorado State Patrol told TMZ Potter succumbed to injuries he suffered in the accident, in which he was wearing a seatbelt.

Authorities told the outlet that the Toyota 4Runner SUV Potter was driving in 'crossed the other side of the interstate' before careening off the right shoulder and rolling over multiple times.

Potter was the only person in the SUV in the incident, authorities told the outlet, noting that no other vehicles were involved.

The accident remained under investigation, police told the outlet, adding that there were 'no indications drugs, alcohol or excessive speed were involved' in the deadly incident.

YouTube personality Ben Potter's death at the age of 40 was as result of a single-vehicle crash off on I-25 near Fort Collins, Colorado on Saturday morning, police said Tuesday. Pictured in May of 2022 in NYC

Officials with the Colorado State Patrol told TMZ Potter succumbed to injuries he suffered in the accident, in which he was wearing a seatbelt

Potter's wife Nathalie described her husband's death as an 'unfortunate accident' in a statement on the Comicstorian Twitter page.

'Two days ago, on June 8th, my husband, Ben Potter, passed away in an unfortunate accident,' Nathalie said.

She noted his work as a content creator, saying, 'To many of you, he was Comicstorian, voicing stories from across multiple different mediums.

'To his loved ones, he was one of the best and most supportive individuals anyone could ask for.'

Nathalie mentioned her late spouse's 'loving and genuine' nature 'as a husband, a son, a brother, a friend, or even just a stranger.'

She added: 'He was someone who would listen and make time for his loved ones. He would do his best to make everyone laugh and make sure they were okay.

'He was our rock and he'd reassure his loved ones whenever they needed it.'

Nathalie opened up on her own personal feelings amid the tragic time.

Potter's wife Nathalie announced the tragic news in a statement on social media on Monday

Potter had more than 3 million YouTube subscribers and had posted more than 3,900 clips

'He was my world and I need time to be with friends and family,' Nathalie said. 'I have so many things I need to figure out but firstly, I need to grieve.

'I ask that you respect my privacy as well as everyone else's. Right now my priority is preserving everything he's built and I don't have any plans beyond that.

The late content creator's spouse said that his YouTube 'channel was one of his greatest accomplishments' and she planned to keep it going in due time.

'While we all need our time to mourn him, I know he wouldn't want it to end like this,' she said. 'Ben spent over 10 years spreading his love and appreciation for his hobbies.

'It was through his love of exciting stories and well written characters that got him started on YouTube.'

She said that she and Potter's colleagues 'want to keep that going' and honor the late creator 'by continuing to tell great stories by great people, as well as to keep the memory of our very own superhero alive.'

She wrapped up in saying, 'We supported each other on everything we wanted to do and I'm not about to stop now.'

A number of online users commented their condolences in response to the sad announcement, touting Potter's talents as a creator, and kind personality in general.

Among the memorials, one user credited Potter with bringing a huge audience to the comic book genre with his YouTube page

A number of online users commented their condolences in response to the sad announcement, touting Potter's talents as a creator, and kind personality in general

'So sorry for your loss, and for all of our loss,' one user said. 'I've watched countless hours of his videos over the years and his love of comics and storytelling was evident from his enthusiasm in each and every video. He'll be sorely missed.'

Another user said that the news was devastating and heartbreaking, crediting Potter with bringing a huge audience to the comic book genre.

'Comicstorian was an absolutely incredible YouTuber that pioneered so much and got so many people into reading comics,' the user said. 'Rest in peace.'

Said one user: 'I am so sorry for your loss. Bens content was incredible.'

One user said that Potter 'was a genuinely great person and individual' while another said he 'seemed like a awesome guy.'

Actor OShea Jackson Jr. said, 'I am still taking my break from Twitter for personal reasons. But with the news I just got I have to come back say something.

'Rest in Peace to Comicstorian. Im heartbroken to hear this news. One of my favorite follows on YouTube, thank you so much for your work man I was a huge fan. Prayers to his loved ones. Long live Ben Potter.'

The Straight Outta Compton star wrapped up in saying, 'Yall be good. Hold your loved ones tight. Ill see yall soon I hope.'

Potter, pictured at an event in October of 2021, was credited for the creativity and enthusiasm he brought to the comic book community

The content creator was fondly remembered by his fans as news of his passing spread

Notable names such as actor OShea Jackson Jr. paid memorial to the late content creator

Writer Jimmy Palmiotti said, 'Heartbreaking. So sorry for your loss.'

Voice actress Susan Eisenberg said, 'Nathalie, I am so sorry for your loss. Your husband was adored by so many, & he will be so missed.'

Writer Robert Venditti credited Potter for using his medium to keep comics popular with younger generations.

'When my oldest was in 6th grade, the school asked me to speak to their writing classes,' Venditti said. 'Afterward, a group of kids came up to me all excited because theyd watched Benny cover my books on Comicstorian. His love of comics was infectious. Rest in peace, Benny.'

A tweet from the toy company Funko read, 'We are so sorry for your loss.'
A prominent Sydney socialite has been swept up in another Photoshop scandal.

Suzan Mutesi, who boasts over one million followers on Instagram, was suspected of using an editing app like Facetune or FaceApp in one of her recent posts.

In the image, the 37-year-old lifted up her shirt to show off her figure as she posed at a gym.

Her face looks suspiciously smooth and glossy, and is a different shade to her body - a dead giveaway of a FaceApp touch-up.

Adding to the speculation is Suzan's midriff, which also appears to be shiny and looks much different to previous images of her midsection.

Sydney socialite Suzan Mutesi has been accused of another awkward Photoshop fail as she lifted her shirt to show off her figure at the gym

However, the difference could be down to a number of reasons, such as lighting and angles.

It comes after Suzan recently posted an event picture which was very different to the red carpet version at the Shein pop-up store launch in Melbourne in September.

She looked every inch the glamazon in an Instagram photo from the soiree, highly editing a picture taken by an official photographer.

The Ugandan-Australian appeared to have a much lighter complexion and elongated legs in her amended photo.

Meanwhile, the red carpet snap taken by the event's official photographer showed Suzan looking slightly shorter and wearing far less makeup.

In the images, Suzan lifted up her shirt to show off her figure as she posed at a gym. The post appeared different to other photos taken revealing her midsection. Pictured in January 2024

She told Daily Mail Australia at the time, she has her iPhone to thank for all her flawless images, as well as FaceTune and Photoshop.

'Sometimes the main photographer... will not bring their lights. So not all the camera settings are set to accommodate for a dark skin girl or other skin tones,' she explained to Daily Mail Australia.

'It depends also on the room. Sometimes the lighting in the room... like the room is beautifully decorated but it's got shadows and its dark.'

Suzan explained she often makes sure to use the ProRAW settings on her iPhone before having someone else take snaps of her from low angles.

It comes after Suzan recently posted an event picture which was very different to the red carpet version at thee Shein pop-up store launch in Melbourne in September. Left, before editing. Right, after editing

She then puts them through apps like FaceTune and Photoshop on her phone to create a more enhanced version of her red carpet pictures.

'It helps when you have a good foundation obviously. If you don't look amazing you're not going to get the best shot,' she joked.

As for the dark smoky eye makeup which suddenly appears in many of her Instagram photos, Suzan said poor lighting is to blame.

'That's what happens when you have down lights. It dims your face, it doesn't lighten it up,' she said of her official red carpet snaps.

'Sometimes the main photographer... will not bring their lights. So not all the camera settings are set to accommodate for a dark skin girl or other skin tones,' she explained to Daily Mail Australia

'So when I brighten up that photo, it highlights the features and the eyes, but you can also go on PhotoTune and highlight your eyes in a way that heightens the liner just a bit so you see exactly how the eye is.'

Suzan revealed her favourite go-to editing app is FaceTune which she will often use for event photos when there is poor lighting.

She said the iPhone Photoshop app also makes it into her arsenal sometimes, but 'you have to make sure your photo is in a good setting' before you edit it in the app.

'Having those settings before taking the photo helps you amp up your photo because you can't just drastically go from one thing to the other unless you're just having fun,' she said.
Kate Hudson shared a fun snippet of her recent trip to Italy with her son Ryder and her daughter Rani.

The 45-year-old actress took to Instagram to post a montage of clips showing her eldest and youngest child enjoying a boat ride in Venice as well as celebrating her fiance Danny Fujikawa's birthday.

Accompanied by Fausto Papetti's La Dolce Vita, the beginning of her video showed her wearing a bathrobe and in the process of getting her hair and makeup done.

After changing into an oversize suit with a white, pinstriped blazer with the matching wide-leg trousers, Hudson was seen walking through the scenic city holding hands with five-year-old Rani.

The following day, the Glass Onion: A Knives Out Story Mystery star turned heads at the Max Mara runway show wearing a plunging black gown with a sexy thigh-high slit to show off her legs.

Her 12-year-old son Bingham 'Bing' Hawn did not appear to be present on their family vacation.

Kate Hudson, 45, shared a fun snippet of her recent trip to Italy with her son Ryder and her daughter Rani. Accompanied by Fausto Papetti's La Dolce Vita, the beginning of her video showed her wearing a bathrobe and in the process of getting her hair and makeup done

The actress took to Instagram to post a montage of clips showing Ryder, 20, and Rani, five, enjoying a boat ride in Venice as well as celebrating her fiance Danny Fujikawa's birthday. Her 12-year-old son Bingham 'Bing' Hawn did not appear to be present on their family vacation

In the video, Rani was later seen sitting beside her half-brother Ryder, 20, as they enjoyed a scenic boat ride together.

For their outing, the Almost Famous actress' blonde tresses were styled in a chic topknot and she rocked a sultry smoky eye for the outing with her kids and her fiance's birthday celebration.

In the clip, she paired her chic suit with a gray, satin blouse and heels.

Meanwhile, the Golden Globe winner's kids coordinated their looks in black-and-white checkered outerwear.

The video showed Rani wearing a muted blue, satin dress with a white Peter Pan collar while Hudson carried her patterned coat and held her hand at one point.

Hudson's eldest son donned a white T-shirt, straight-leg jeans and white sneakers for their family outing.

After enjoying a boat ride in the idyllic town together, the trio joined their mother's fiance Fujikawa at his birthday dinner.

At the end of the clip, Ryder was seen grinning before a server presented the musician with a dessert topped off with a birthday candle.

In her caption, she penned simply: 'Venice we [heart emoji] you.'

The video showed Rani wearing a muted blue, satin dress with a white Peter Pan collar while Hudson carried her patterned coat and held her hand at one point

For their outing, the Almost Famous actress' blonde tresses were styled in a chic topknot and she rocked a sultry smoky eye for the outing with her kids and her fiance's birthday celebration. In the clip, she paired her chic, pinstriped suit with a gray, satin blouse and heels

After enjoying a boat ride in the idyllic town together, the trio joined their mother's fiance Fujikawa at his birthday dinner. The musician turned 38 on June 10

The day before, Hudson also shared a snap of her kissing Fujikawa  who she got engaged to in 2021  during another boat ride. In her caption, she wished her partner, whom she called 'my love' in Italian, a happy birthday and wrote: 'Buon compleanno amore mio'

After her day off with her family, Hudson returned to her busy schedule and attended the Max Mara Resort 2025 fashion show with Ryder at the Piazza San Marco on Tuesday

The day before, Hudson also shared a snap of her kissing Fujikawa  who she got engaged to in 2021  during another boat ride.

In her caption, she wished her partner, whom she called 'my love' in Italian, a happy birthday and wrote: 'Buon compleanno amore mio.'

She welcomed Rani, nearly six, with Fujikawa, who turned 38 on Monday, in October 2018.

Hudson shares Ryder with her ex-husband Chris Robinson.

She is also a mother to son Bingham, whom she shares her ex-fiance, Muse frontman Matt Bellamy.

After her day off with her family, Hudson returned to her busy schedule and attended the Max Mara Resort 2025 fashion show with Ryder at the Piazza San Marco on Tuesday.

For the star-studded event, she wore a sexy black wrap gown as she joined Nicky Hilton and Brie Larson in the front row.
Texas-based rapper Enchanting was taken off life support after a drug overdose reportedly left her in an intensive care unit.

The artist, whose real name is Channing Nicole Larry, 26, was signed to Gucci Mane's 1017 label in 2020 up until 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.

'You finally found that peace that you was looking for you. Y'all hurt me bad,' he wrote.

The star was still signed to Gucci Mane's 1017 label as recently as this year

Enchanting and Gucci Mane pictured together in the music video for their joint track 'Issa Photoshoot'

Gucci Mane has also addressed Larry's death with a post on Instagram, though didn't reveal an official cause of death.

'So sad to have to say R.I.P to such a great young lady a true star we gone all miss you Chant,' he wrote on Tuesday.

Larry's profile appears to have been taken off of 1017's website. The bio said 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.
Jerry Seinfeld's wife Jessica took to Instagram on Tuesday to share a rare family photo from their youngest son Shepherd's high school graduation.

The author, 52, was a proud mom as she posed alongside the 18-year-old graduate, as well as her comedian husband, 70  whose comments about PC comedy were recently deemed a 'red flag' by a former co-star  daughter Sascha, 23, and older son Julian, 21.

Fans also noted one detail that left them surprised about the snap - the teenager was casually holding a lit cigar in his hand.

Jessica went on to share an image of her son and his pals celebrating together, with a number of them also smoking cigars.

The mom-of-three wrote a lengthy caption, sharing that she and Jerry gave Shepherd a flip phone as his graduation gift.

Jerry Seinfeld's wife Jessica, 52, shared a rare family photo from their youngest son Shepherd's high school graduation on Tuesday, where she was also joined by her husband, 70, daughter Sascha, 23, and older son Julian, 21

Fans also noted one detail that left them surprised about the snap - the teenage graduate was holding a lit cigar in his hand

'Our youngest son Shepherd graduated from high school yesterday. As I posted earlier in my stories, we gave him a flip phone for graduation in hopes he will turn in his smartphone.'

'Many of you have asked if this is his first phone - I wish! If I knew then what I know now, I would've waited until age 14 to give him a smartphone (he got handed down an old one at age 12, for the bus ride to school in the Bronx).'

'In the last two slides is a phone my friend Lisa just told me about @thelightphone. Very curious about this - does anyone have one?'

Jessica looked summer-ready in the snap, wearing a vibrant pink dress. Her blonde hair was pulled back into a ponytail.

Jerry looked handsome in a suit and a polka dot tie.

He shielded his eyes with a pair of sunglasses and flashed a bright smile as he stood in the middle of his kids looking every inch the proud dad.

Sascha opted for a green dress, while Julian looked dapper in a navy button-up and black pants.

In 2020 Jessica shared that Jerry wasn't a 'natural' when his first child was born.

'He wasn't immediately pushing strollers and carrying babies. He jokes that it took him a good 10 years to warm up,' she told Parents magazine.

She added that things turned for the better when the kids became teenagers.

Jessica also shared an image of her son and his pals celebrating together, with a number of them smoking cigars

The mom-of-three wrote a lengthy caption, sharing that she and Jerry gave Shepherd a flip phone as his graduation gift

In late April Jerry was joined by his family during the premiere of Unfrosted, which took place at the Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood

Jessica and Jerry also made a stylish duo at the Met Gala in New York in May (pictured)

The couple have been married since 1999. They met during her first marriage to Eric Nederlander, a scion of one of New York's top theater-owning dynasties; Seen in 2019

'Jerry's strength is now, with our three teenagers. He's patient with them. Where I am weaker, he is stronger, and we complement each other. I wouldn't change anything.'

In late April Jessica and all three kids were there to support Jerry at the premiere of his new Netflix movie, Unfrosted. The family happily posed together on the red carpet.

Jerry and Jessica have been married since 1999.

The couple met during her first marriage to Eric Nederlander, a scion of one of New York's top theater-owning dynasties.

She insisted in the New York Times that she initially displayed no interest in Jerry, who was supposedly unaware she was married when he first tried flirting with her.

Eric however furiously accused Jessica of cheating on him with Jerry, and filed for divorce in late 1998 just four months after the wedding.

'I was manipulated, misled, and completely caught off guard by Jessicas infidelity,' he fumed to Page Six. 'Jerry and Jessica have no respect for decent values. They deserve each other. Im going on with my life.'

The following year, Jessica and Jerry tied the knot in a Christmas Day ceremony officiated by the comedian George Wallace.

Jerry recently sparked pushback with his comments about how politically correct comedy has gotten in more recent years.

Julia Louis-Dreyfus recently disagreed with Seinfeld's comments about comedy turning too politically correct on television, which he blamed on 'the extreme left and PC c**p'

The duo famously starred together for the entirety of the sitcom Seinfeld. The show ran for nine seasons, airing from 1989 to 1998; They are pictured in a still

Julia Louis-Dreyfus argued against her former Seinfeld co-star's belief that 'the extreme left and PC c**p' is ruining comedy on television, adding that political correctness can actually be 'fantastic', during an interview with the New York Times.

'When I hear people starting to complain about political correctness  and I understand why people might push back on it  but to me that's a red flag, because it sometimes means something else,' Louis-Dreyfus, 63, told the publication. 'I believe being aware of certain sensitivities is not a bad thing. I don't know how else to say it.'

Seinfeld vented about the lack of comedies on television due to people worrying so much about offending other people in an interview with The New Yorker in late April.

'It used to be, you would go home at the end of the day, most people would go, "Oh, Cheers is on. Oh, M*A*S*H is on. Oh, Mary Tyler Moore is on. All in the Family is on." You just expected, there'll be some funny stuff we can watch on TV tonight,' he told the publication. 'Well, guess what  where is it? This is the result of the extreme left and P.C. c**p, and people worrying so much about offending other people.'

Jerry also made headlines recently after stating that he misses the era of 'dominant masculinity' in American pop culture and society.

Jerry and Julia famously starred together for the entirety of the sitcom Seinfeld. The show ran for nine seasons, airing from 1989 to 1998.
KIIS FM radio star Kip Wightman and partner Nyomie Essa welcomed their baby daughter one month early on Tuesday morning at St Martin's Hospital in Brisbane.

The KIIS 97.3 breakfast show host, who was expecting a July baby, was caught by surprise when Nyomie's water broke at home on Monday night.

Despite not yet having a name, Kip was overjoyed to announce Wednesday on Robin & Kip their bub was born at 8:27am via caesarean section, weighing 2.33kg.

'We are so happy. We were going to be happy with anything, but we really wanted a girl, so we are absolutely thrilled,' Kip told co-host Robin Bailey.

'I broke down, I cried. I was just absolutely so excited. Once we knew she was okay, it was just this huge flood of relief and happiness.'

KIIS FM radio star Kip Wightman and partner Nyomie Essa welcomed their baby daughter (all pictured) one month early on Tuesday morning at St Martin's Hospital in Brisbane

Kip announced he and Nyomie were expecting to welcome a baby back in January.

He shared the exciting news with co-host Robin and their listeners during an on-air segment as part of Robin & Kip's Lie Detector.

Kip was testing out new lie detecting technology that uses eye movement to detect whether someone is telling the truth or not.

The KIIS 97.3 breakfast show host, who was expecting a July baby, was caught by surprise when Nyomie's water broke at home on Monday night

During the test, he was asked whether he would like to have more children but the results indicated he was 'pensive'.

'The reason that there was a high cognitive load was because Nyomie is pregnant,' Kip told Robin.

Robin jumped up and down with excitement before running over towards Kip and embracing him.

'That's so exciting. I'm so happy for you. This is the best thing ever!' she said.

Kip started dating Nyomie following his split from his wife Amber Preiksa in 2021 after four years of marriage.

The couple had tied the knot in 2017 and welcomed their four-year-old son Rafael in 2019.

In October, Kip broke down while discussing sharing custody of his son Rafael with his ex-wife Amber.
Love Island Australia star Anna McEvoy has responded to a fan who has accused her of 'letting fame get to her head'.

The reality star hit back after a woman took to Facebook to admit she used to be a fan of Anna but believes she has changed since her appearance on the dating show in 2022.

On a thread about Anna on the Tea Time group, she wrote: 'I use to love Anna but she's really let the fame get to her head!'

The reality TV star responded to the comment by asking how she had changed.

The woman explained she didn't like a video Anna recently posted to her social media asking fans to recommend a hair stylist for her wedding after she'd had a trial with another hairdresser.

Love Island Australia star Anna McEvoy has responded to a fan who has accused her of 'letting fame get to her head'

'The whole video you put up about finding a hair stylist that can do better than the photo. I felt was shaming the woman that initially did your hair,' she wrote.

'I don't know if it was meant to come across that way but it did. The content vibe has changed a bit over the year. It's fine it's not for everyone but I noticed a change.'

Anna then explained why she 'hasn't changed at all' and said she feels 'grateful' to be in the position she's in.

'It was definitely not supposed to come across like that. I was just desperate to find someone, less than 2 months out from my wedding after searching every avenue,' she began.

'Anyway, I'm sorry you feel like I'm changed. I haven't changed at all and am super grateful for the position I'm in xxx.'

The woman admitted she was a fan of Anna but believes she has changed since her appearance on the dating show in 2022

The reality TV star responded to the comment by asking how she had changed and said she feels 'grateful' to be in the position she's in

It comes after Anna walked down the aisle last month with fiance Michael Staples at a glamorous ceremony at Corfu, in Greece.

The couple opted to hold their ceremony at the upmarket Courti Estate, described as a 'Luxury Corfu Villa' with nine bedrooms for guests.

Anna looked gorgeous in a Alin Le' Kal wedding dress from the Melbourne couture designer.

The flowing gown included a long, floral embroidered train and boned corset bodice with dainty straps as well as a thigh high split.

It comes after Anna walked down the aisle last month with fiance Michael Staples at a glamorous ceremony at Corfu, in Greece

She revealed she was getting married on the Greek island of Corfu early last year, after getting engaged to Michael in October 2022.

Their wedding venue is part of a fully renovated nine-bedroom estate, where the bride and groom's family and close friends are staying.

She rose to fame on season two of Love Island Australia, and won the show with Josh Packham but they split in December 2020.
Ariana Madix was compared to Khloe Kardashian on Tuesday while earning rave reviews as the new host of Love Island USA on Peacock.

The 38-year-old reality star during one segment of the Peacock show came out in a golden sleeveless gown with front cutouts and also shared a snap of the stunning outfit on Instagram along with jewelry by Gemma Azzurro and Zynnia Collective.

Ariana did have a resemblance to fellow reality star Khloe, 39, who wore a similar look in April to the premiere of The Kardashians in Los Angeles.

'Girl I thought that was Khloe Kardashian,' a viewer wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.

Ariana Madix was compared to Khloe Kardashian on Tuesday while earning rave reviews as the new host of Love Island USA on Peacock

Another posted, 'That's not khloe Kardashian?' and another read, 'I thought she was Jhloe Kardashian'.

The Vanderpump Rules star made a bold entrance as the new host for season six as she joined the islanders in Fiji.

'Ariana Madix's strut onto the #LoveIslandUSA villa was iconic! She's a natural!,' a post on X read about her debut.

Ariana broke up with her longtime boyfriend Tom Sandoval, 41, in March 2023 after learning of his affair with her former good friend Rachel 'Raquel Leviss, 29.

'If it's got Ariana madix on it imma support it,' a post on X read in solidarity with her.

Another post on X showed a man pounding the dashboard of a car and the caption read: 'Tom Sandoval after seeing Ariana Madix on Love Island looking absolutely STUNNING while he's rotting from home'.

Ariana after their split appeared on Dancing With The Stars and later performed on Broadway as Roxie Hart in the musical Chicago.

She showed off her dancing skills at the start of the episode as she danced on a long pier in Fiji.

Khloe Kardashian, 39, is shown in April in a similar outfit on Instagram with daughter Dream

'Girl I thought that was Khloe Kardashian,' a viewer wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter

Another read, 'I thought she was Jhloe Kardashian'

'If it's got Ariana madix on it imma support it,' a post on X read in solidarity with her

'I literally always hated Ariana Madix on #PumpRules But LOVE her on Dancing with the stars and now #loveIsland #Loveisland She looks seriously gorgeous tonight. Love all the dance routines!,' a post on X read.

Ariana was backed by the women on the show told her they had her back.

She showed off her acting chops at the end of the episode after Leah Kateb, 24, of Bell Canyon, California, was left without a partner.

'As you know, it's never good to be single on Love Island,' Ariana gravely said.

She then brightened up and said, 'Unless , of course, someone has arranged for two new smoking hot boys to come to the party.'

Leah broke into a smile as two new guys appeared and the other men looked nervous.

'Unless , of course, someone has arranged for two new smoking hot boys to come to the party,' Ariana said at the end of the show

'Ariana Madix's strut onto the #LoveIslandUSA villa was iconic! She's a natural!,' a post on X read about her debut

Ariana after her split competed on season 32 of Dancing With The Stars and finished in third place with pro partner Pasha Pashkov.

She and close friend Katie Maloney, 37, recently opened their West Hollywood sandwich shop Something About Her.

After a number of postponements, the two Vanderpump Rules stars were finally able to launch their business venture on May 22.

Their menu includes various sandwiches named after romantic comedy stars like Reese Witherspoon, Drew Barrymore, Meg Ryan and Diane Keaton, 78, who recently stopped by the establishment for a bite to eat.
Alicia Vikander opted for a leggy look to attend the Tribeca Film Festival premiere of her film Firebrand in Manhattan on Tuesday night.

The 35-year-old Oscar winner wore a glittery floral gown, featuring a ruffled skirt with a thigh-high slit, along with silver stilettos selected by her longtime stylist Victoria Sekrier.

Alicia finished off her sequined metallic ensemble with a quirky, flying saucer-shaped sci-fi purse on a chain.

Hairstylist Christopher Naselli gave Vikander's middle-parted brunette waves a blow out for the Big Apple film festivities.

And make-up artist Kelly Cornwell let the Swedish stunner's natural beauty shine through with only a hint of brown eye shadow, liquid liner, and blush.

Alicia Vikander opted for a leggy look to attend the Tribeca Film Festival premiere of her film Firebrand in Manhattan on Tuesday night

Alicia was joined at BMCC Tribeca Performing Arts Center's OKX Theater by her onscreen leading man Jude Law

Alicia was joined at BMCC Tribeca Performing Arts Center's OKX Theater by her onscreen leading man Jude Law and their Brazilian director Karim Ainouz, who made his English-language feature debut with Firebrand.

Vikander had the 51-year-old Englishman - wearing a light-green blazer with grey pleated trousers - in stitches whispering asides to him on the red carpet as they posed together.

The former ballerina replaced Michelle Williams in the role of Katherine Parr, the sixth wife of King Henry VIII, who managed to outlive him in the 1540s-set, dismally-reviewed historical drama hitting US theaters this Friday.

'I think this film is about a survivor, and I think she obviously stepped into this job being this wife knowing what the previous wives, where they had ended up. So I think she had her kind of task very clear ahead of her, and I think she knew she would have to get close to this man - that she needed him to trust her more than anything,' Alicia said on MSNBC's Morning Joe on Monday.

'One thing that is remarkable, she was actually the first ever published woman in Britain. That was something that she did during her time. Obviously, she even wrote certain texts that wouldn't have been maybe approved by her husband. But that, to me, only proved the kind of impact she not only had on him, but also on the people and the people who read her written word.'

Meanwhile, Jude (born David) delighted in the fact that his English monarch character was an 'embittered and angry, festering toad of a man.'

Last month, Firebrand lost the coveted Palm d'Or prize to Sean Baker's Brooklyn-set sex worker dramedy Anora during the Cannes Film Festival in France.

On May 17, Variety reported that Vikander will reunite with Law for Olivier Assayas' Russian-set political thriller The Wizard of the Kremlin.

The 35-year-old Oscar winner wore a glittery floral gown, featuring a ruffled skirt with a thigh-high slit, along with silver stilettos selected by her longtime stylist Victoria Sekrier

Jude was dapper in a light-green blazer with grey pleated trousers

Alicia finished off her sequined metallic ensemble with a quirky, flying saucer-shaped sci-fi purse on a chain

Hairstylist Christopher Naselli gave Vikander's middle-parted brunette waves a blow out for the Big Apple film festivities

Make-up artist Kelly Cornwell let the Swedish stunner's natural beauty shine through with only a hint of brown eye shadow, liquid liner, and blush

Alicia was joined at BMCC Tribeca Performing Arts Center's OKX Theater by her onscreen leading man Jude Law (L) and their Brazilian director Karim Ainouz (R), who made his English-language feature debut with Firebrand

Vikander had the 51-year-old Englishman in stitches whispering asides to him on the red carpet as they posed together

The former ballerina replaced Michelle Williams in the role of Katherine Parr, the sixth wife of King Henry VIII, who managed to outlive him in the 1540s-set, dismally-reviewed historical drama hitting US theaters this Friday

Alicia said on MSNBC's Morning Joe on Monday: 'I think this film is about a survivor, and I think she obviously stepped into this job being this wife knowing what the previous wives, where they had ended up. So I think she had her kind of task very clear ahead of her, and I think she knew she would have to get close to this man - that she needed him to trust her more than anything'

Vikander continued: 'One thing that is remarkable, she was actually the first ever published woman in Britain. That was something that she did during her time. Obviously, she even wrote certain texts that wouldn't have been maybe approved by her husband. But that, to me, only proved the kind of impact she not only had on him, but also on the people and the people who read her written word'

Meanwhile, Jude (born David) delighted in the fact that his English monarch character was an 'embittered and angry, festering toad of a man'

Last month, Firebrand lost the coveted Palm d'Or prize to Sean Baker's Brooklyn-set sex worker dramedy Anora during the Cannes Film Festival in France

On May 17, Variety reported that the Ex Machina alum will reunite with Law for Olivier Assayas' Russian-set political thriller The Wizard of the Kremlin

Missing from Alicia's side was her husband of six years - two-time Oscar nominee Michael Fassbender - with whom she raises a three-year-old son at their Lisbon home in Portugal

Last year, Vikander and the 47-year-old German-born Irishman filmed leading roles in Korean director Na Hong-jin's thriller Hope alongside Taylor Russell and Hoyeon

The big-screen adaptation of Giuliano da Empoli's 2022 novel will also star Paul Dano, Zach Galifianakis, and Tom Sturridge.

Missing from the Ex Machina alum's side was her husband of six years - two-time Oscar nominee Michael Fassbender - with whom she raises a three-year-old son at their Lisbon home in Portugal.

Last year, Alicia and the 47-year-old German-born Irishman filmed leading roles in Korean director Na Hong-jin's thriller Hope alongside Taylor Russell and Hoyeon.

Vikander originally met Michael in 2014 on the set of their film The Light Between Oceans.

The SAG Award winner also has an upcoming role as Celestine Sproul in Guy Maddin, Evan Johnson, and Galen Johnson's G7-set dark comedy Rumours, which just premiered at the Cannes Film Festival on May 18.
Katie Holmes looked ultra stylish as she stepped out solo in New York City on Tuesday.

The Dawson's Creek star, 45, rocked a nautical navy blue knit ME+EM dress that showed off her sculpted arms.

The sleeveless frock hugged her fit frame as she made her way down the sidewalk with her cellphone pressed to her ear.

The white detailing on the skirt and neck matched her white ballet flats.

For a bold pop of color, Holmes sported a bright red lip.

Katie Holmes looked ultra stylish as she stepped out solo in New York City on Tuesday

The Dawson's Creek star, 45, rocked a nautical navy blue knit ME+EM dress that showed off her sculpted arms

Her long, brunette hair flowed to her waist in straight strands and she decked out her eyes with shimmery shadows.

Holmes looked to be in a jovial mood as she smiled while chatting with someone on her iPhone.

The mother-of-one recently discussed her next potential career moves as she prepares to see her only child, 18-year-old daughter Suri Cruise, off to college.

The actress wants to become the next celebrity to launch her own beauty line, according to the Sunday Times.

'Absolutely, I would love to,' she told the outlet when asked if cosmetics were part of her future plans.

Over the past few years, Holmes has focused on moviemaking and getting more stage experience.

She wrote the script for, starred in and directed the 2022 romantic drama Alone Together, about a couple in a bad relationship who end up at the same upstate New York vacation rental.

That project was followed by 2023's Rare Objects.

Holmes co-wrote the script, directed and starred in the story of a young woman recovering from trauma who regains her confidence after finding a job in an antique shop.

'Id like to continue to write and direct my own films,' she told the outlet,' adding, 'Maybe write a few books - fiction.'

The actress also returned to the stage in 2023, starring in The Wanderers.

13520275 Katie Holmes, 45, looks like a classic beauty with a bright red lip as she chats on her cellphone in NYC - as daughter Suri Cruise, 18, prepares for college; seen on June 7

Suri, whom Holmes shares with ex-husband Tom Cruise, hinted on TikTok she would be attending Carnegie Mellon University in the fall

Holmes' daughter Suri, whom she shares with ex-husband Tom Cruise, hinted on TikTok she would be attending Carnegie Mellon University in the fall.

The Dawson's Creek alum, whose own eclectic style makes her a popular subject with photographers, has revealed her daughter often steals her clothes.

The two generation styling could be one reason Holmes was asked to create her own collection with A.P.C.

'I really look at other people that have an innate sense of style. And Im like, Oh - that with that! OK, thats cool. Im always looking for inspiration' she said.

'I like to mix and match classic pieces. I like vintage a lot. Living in New York City I have to have things that are practical and comfortable. The city influences my style.'

Those practical pieces include, 'ballet flats, sneakers, baggy jeans and a T-shirt,' she said. 'I like putting it together in a way that doesnt look like you put it together.'

For the collection she visited the A.P.C. archives for inspiration. 'I remember the 90s as being about looking really simple and very natural.'

'Thats what I wanted this collection to embody - pieces that are cool but not recognizable and can fit into your existing wardrobe seamlessly.'

The actress wants to become the next celebrity to launch her own beauty line, according to the Sunday Times; seen on June 7

Holmes' steal-worthy style could be one reason she was asked to partner with French brand A.P.C. The influence said she wanted the collection to embody pieces that are cool but not recognizable and can fit into your existing wardrobe seamlessly'

That seems to be part of Holmes' innate style. As a teenager, she always brought someone with her on photos shoots to make sure she wasn't sexualized.

'I didnt want to be the sexy young thing. I am not sexy,' she told Glamour.

'I used to have a friend of mine come to all my photo shoots to make sure that they didnt try to make me that way! I guess I just wanted to be an actor.'
Chace Crawford has revealed he is single.

The 38-year-old actor appeared on the latest episode of Alex Cooper's podcast Call Her Daddy and dished on his dating life.

When asked in a teaser shared on CHD's Instagram page if he's 'in a relationship,' the former Gossip Girl star answered: 'No, it's a dumpster fire, Alex.'

His last public relationship was with actress Rebecca Rittenhouse, whom he split from in 2018 after three years of dating.

Chace then revealed that he joined the highly exclusive, celebrity dating app Raya 'a week ago.'

He admitted that, despite his status as a Hollywood heartthrob, online dating has been going 'terribly.'

Chace Crawford has revealed he is single. The 38-year-old actor appeared on the latest episode of Alex Cooper's podcast Call Her Daddy and dished that he recently joined the dating app Raya

Elsewhere in the conversation, Chace discussed living in the Big Apple with fellow actor Ed Westwick.

'I didn't know how expensive New York is. It was insane. My dad had to give us the security deposit and first and last month's rent,' he remembered.

And the Hollywood stud recalled meeting Gossip Girl co-star Leighton Meester for the first time.

'I got to this big conference room and there was this one girl kind of sitting with her back turned.

'Leighton turned around and before she even [said anything] I'm like, "She's like so perfect." She had the headband on at the audition and then she flipped around and I'm like, "I think I'm in love with you,"' he shared about his first impression of the star.

He also spoke about working at Abercrombie & Fitch as a teen.

'I worked behind the counter. I was doing the numbers,' he said about the past gig before he achieved stardom.

Chace also joked about the infamously fragrance-doused retail store: 'You get to the mall, you can smell that store from any entrance point.'

Chace's last public relationship was with actress Rebecca Rittenhouse. The couple split in 2018; seen in 2015

Chace revealed that he joined the highly exclusive, celebrity dating app Raya 'a week ago.' He admitted that, despite his status as a Hollywood heartthrob, online dating has been going 'terribly'; seen in January

Chace with former Gossip Girl castmates Penn Badgley, Ed Westwick, Leighton Meester, and Taylor Momsen in 2007

Back in April Crawford delighted fans when he appeared with Gossip Girl co-star Ed Westwick on Instagram

His interview with Cooper comes after in April he delighted fans when he appeared with Gossip Girl co-star and former roommate Ed on Instagram.

He casually captioned the post, which has collected over 1.2 million likes, 'Ran into an old friend.'

Crawford's full Call Her Daddy episode premieres on Wednesday, June 12.

The star currently appears regularly on the Prime Video series The Boys, which is in its fifth and final season.
Xi replies to Tsinghua professor, urging more contributions to education, science

Xinhua) 13:03, June 12, 2024

BEIJING, June 12 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping has encouraged Andrew Chi-Chih Yao, a professor of Tsinghua University, to further contribute to the nation's talent development and sci-tech innovation.

Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks in a reply letter recently sent to Yao, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences who returned to China and commenced his teaching career at Tsinghua 20 years ago.

In the reply letter, Xi conveyed greetings to Yao, acknowledging his unwavering dedication and remarkable achievements in the realms of teaching and scientific innovation over the past two decades, during which Yao channeled his love for the nation into a commitment to serve it.

Xi expressed the hope that Yao could adhere to his original aspiration and leverage his strengths to further explore approaches to the cultivation of innovative talent, and foster interdisciplinary integration and frontier innovation, in order to make more contributions to achieving high-level self-reliance and strength in science and technology and the building of a strong nation in both education and science and technology.

Yao, who taught at U.S. universities for a long time, returned to China in 2004 to join the faculty at Tsinghua. In a recent letter addressed to Xi, he detailed his work in talent cultivation and scientific innovation during his two-decade tenure, and expressed his determination to contribute to the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.

Yao, 78, is dean of College of AI and also dean of the Institute for Interdisciplinary Information Sciences under Tsinghua University.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing)
MasterChef Australia fans have taken to social media to label a recent episode of the hit cooking show 'cringe'.

On Tuesday night, chef Adriano Zumbo tasked the contestants with creating their own croquembouche.

But instead of being directed to the MasterChef pantry to fetch their ingredients as they normally would, the competitors made the journey to Coles.

During the shop, contestant Nat was heard asking a Coles employee where to find raspberries.

The Coles worker then gave Nat a spiel about how the supermarket sources their berries.

MasterChef Australia fans have taken to social media to label a recent episode of the hit cooking show 'cringe'

@Coles has everything the cooks need to recreate their own version of Zumbo's infamous Croquembouche  pic.twitter.com/xIC3bu95v2  MasterChef Australia (@masterchefau) June 11, 2024

Viewers quickly took to social media, labelling the glaring brand placement 'cringe.'

'The interactions with Coles staff is so fake to the max!!' one user quipped.

They also noted that the raspberries were in plain view of Nat when she enquired as to their whereabouts.

'This Coles placement I CANT,' another commented.

'Can't wait to go to Coles and ask the frazzled staff to tell me the story of their raspberries,' a third joked.

On Tuesday night, chef Adriano Zumbo tasked the contestants with creating their own croquembouche and instead of being sent to the MasterChef pantry to fetch their ingredients, the competitors made the journey to Coles

'Does Coles really need MORE advertising time?' another user asked.

'These Coles segments are cringier than Pezza making boomer jokes,' one added.

Andy Allen was the only judge to return to the show this year, after Melissa Leong was dropped and Jock Zonfrillo tragically died in April last year, just one day before season 15 was set to air.

Andy, 36, who first joined the panel in 2020, admitted he was unsure about returning after the devastating loss of Jock but ultimately decided to after realising it was what his friend would have wanted.

During the shop, contestant Nat was heard asking a Coles employee where to find raspberries, the Coles worker then gave Nat a spiel about where the supermarket sources their berries

He was joined on the 2024 panel by MasterChef season one runner-up Poh Ling Yeow, food writer Sofia Levin and French chef Jean-Christophe Novelli.

The 2024 series is still ongoing as contestants are vying for their place in the final, but Network 10 have already confirmed the future of the new judging panel.

A spokesperson confirmed the four judges will be returning for the 2025 series after they made a hugely successful debut this year, impressing the cast and viewers.

They said: 'Judges Andy Allen, Poh Ling Yeow, Sofia Levin and Jean-Christophe Novelli will all be returning to the MasterChef Australia kitchen in 2025 to serve up another delicious season of Australia's favourite cooking show.'
Naomi Watts is continuing to break the stigma around menopause by opening up about her own personal experience.

The British-Australian actress, 55, was recently asked about her struggles with menopause and if she had concerns about how it would impact her career during The Hollywood Reporter's Drama Actress Roundtable.

Watts, whose symptoms began at just 36, said after she was told by someone in the industry her career was going to over by 40 and she started to 'panic'.

'I started late by Hollywood standards  I was 31 when Mulholland Drive finally launched,' she explained.

'I was also told, "It's going to be over by 40, so work, work, work." And then, when I was at the precipice of wanting to start a family, I was 36, I was told I was close to menopause. I went into this frantic panic, a lot of shame and fear.'

Naomi Watts is continuing to break the stigma around menopause by opening up about her own personal experience

Watts admitted she was initially afraid to publicly address going through menopause with the fear of her Hollywood career coming to an end.

'I felt like if I ever dared to mention that word, I would be branded as redundant, finished, off to pasture, go to the sidelines, you're not sexy, there's no way you can act anymore. It'd be career suicide to bring that into the room,' she continued.

'But then I was like, "This makes no sense. We're half the population. Everybody's going to go into menopause at some point, so why shouldn't we be talking about it?"'

Watts added: 'When you learn about the symptoms and how long they can go on for, why can't we find the support? And it's not just the physiological support you need, it's the emotional support ... So, I just went, "F**k this, let's just talk about it."

'And in terms of my career, I felt like, "Well, if it spooks everyone, that's a bummer, but hopefully it actually does the opposite".'

Watts first experienced menopause symptoms almost 20 years ago, after trying to fall pregnant at 36.

Watts and her ex-husband Liev Schreiber ended up conceiving naturally, welcoming their first child, Sasha, now 16, in July 2007  when Naomi was 39.

In 2008, they welcomed their second child, Kai, who's now 15.

Watts previously spoke about her experience with menopause on Instagram and said that at the time no one was willing to talk about it as there was such a stigma.

The King Kong star was joined alongside fellow actresses Jennifer Aniston, 55, Nicole Kidman, 56, Jodie Foster, 61, Sofia Vergara, 51, Anna Sawai, 31, and Brie Larson, 34, for The Hollywood Reporter's Drama Actress Roundtable.

They were all brought together to discuss their TV work to drum up some early Emmy Award buzz; Foster for True Detective, Kidman for Expats, Larson for Lessons in Chemistry, Aniston for The Morning Show, Vergara for Griselda, Watts for Feud, and Sawai for Shogun.
Ruby Tuesday Matthews shared some happy holidays snaps from her trip Bali on Wednesday and revealed she tried out a very Aussie trend.

The Byron Bay influencer, 29, took to Instagram with some photographs of herself rocking 'Bali Bogan braids', often seen on tourists from Down Under visiting the Indonesian island.

Sitting in the gutter on the side of a road with daughter Holiday, one, the mother-of-three had her dark locks twisted into rows of tight plaits.

'Tell me youre in Bali without telling me youre in Bali,' she captioned the series of photographs.

She put on a leggy display in a pair of very tiny green shorts and a white strappy top as she carried around a massive black handbag.

Ruby Tuesday Matthews shared some happy holidays snaps from Bali on Wednesday and revealed she tried out a very Australian trend

Ruby later addressed her new hairstyle in her Instagram Stories as she filmed a 'get ready with me' video.

'Obviously you can tell, I got a new hairdo. Really just going for it here right now. Who do I think I am?' she said.

The transformation comes after Ruby raised eyebrows for complaining about an airplane taking too long to take off - four years after she famously held up a Jetstar flight to indulge in oysters at a fancy restaurant.

The Byron Bay influencer, 29, took to Instagram with some photographs of herself rocking Bogan Bali braids, often seen on tourists from Down Under visiting the Indonesian island

She shared a video over the weekend to detail her trepidations while travelling to Bali with her three children, Rocket, five, Mars, four, and Holiday, one.

Posting to her Stories, Ruby shared a close-up photo of her son sitting in the plane looking less than pleased after their flight was delayed twice.

'Two failed attempts at taking off due to warning lights coming on right before takeoff. Been stuck on this plane for way too long,' she lamented in her caption.

Ruby later returned to Instagram hours later after finally arriving at her hotel, sharing a photo of herself lying in bed looking sullen as Holiday slept on her chest.

Sitting in the gutter on the side of a road with daughter Holiday, one, the mother-of-three had her dark locks twisted into rows of tight plaits

She put on a leggy display in a pair of very tiny green shorts and a white strappy top as she carried around a massive black handbag

'Traveling with two kids is a walk in the park. Three is WILD. No words. But we made it to the hotel 4.30am Aus time. The boys think it's the morning. I'm ruined,' she complained.

The following day Ruby once again posted an update to her page, sharing a close-up photo of herself lounging by the hotel pool.

'To all the influencers making traveling with kids look easy - What the actual f*ck. Maybe it's my two spicy margaritas talking, but that was complete BS,' she ranted in the caption.

'Random baby vomit on the plane, no assistance, hours on the tarmac, failed takeoffs, and landing in Bali getting to the hotel at 4 AM with zero sleep today,' she continued.

The bathrobe entrepreneur compared her experience to a 'bender' she 'couldn't escape'.

She concluded her post on a more positive note, however, writing: 'On the bright side, the pool is amazing, and the margaritas are strong.'

The transformation comes after Ruby raised eyebrows for complaining about an airplane taking too long to take off with her and her three children - Rocket, five, Mars, four, and Holiday, one - on board

Four years earlier, Ruby famously held up a Jetstar flight to indulge in oysters at a fancy restaurant

Ruby's horrific travel experience comes four years after she made headlines for holding up a Jetstar flight so she could dine on oysters, only to complain when she was heckled by frustrated passengers.

She was supposed to be flying from Byron Bay to Sydney in the afternoon but a technical issue caused the flight to be delayed.

Jetstar asked travellers to stay at the airport while they flew an engineer over from the Gold Coast and told passengers the new departure time would likely be about 7.30pm that evening.

Ruby and her travel companion decided to leave the airport to grab a bite to eat at a beachside restaurant as others ate at the airport.

The influencer later posted a video to Instagram showing her eating oysters with a friend, captioning the footage: 'Flight delayed f*** my life.'

She kept frustrated passengers waiting on the tarmac, who heckled her as she boarded 30 minutes after the plane was due to take off.

Video footage shows passengers shouting 'how were the oysters' and 'what a day to be pretty' as she entered the aircraft.

While the pair were enjoying their meal, those at the airport were advised the engineer had arrived sooner than expected and the flight would be boarding at 6.20pm instead.

But passengers were forced to sit on the tarmac as Jetstar tried to trace a group of missing passengers, including Ruby and her mate.

Ruby's horrific travel experience comes four years after she made headlines for holding up a Jetstar flight so she could dine on oysters, only to complain when she was heckled by frustrated passengers

It is understood an employee had to call her to advise her the plane was ready to depart and she needed to return to the airport as soon as possible.

When a passenger asked if the oysters were good, Ruby replied: 'Yes they were.'

The social media star then argued with the other travellers, telling them it was an 'innocent mistake' and that they were being rude.

She later took to social media where she blamed Jetstar for the incident, claiming staff did nothing to help her.
Robert and Terri Irwin enjoyed some precious family time in the US last month, catching up with their American relatives.

The famous conservationists were spotted bidding farewell to family and friends outside Terri's sister's home in Oregon.

Irwin matriarch Terri, 59, looked thrilled to be reunited with her loved ones, laughing loudly as the group chatted outside of the property.

The mother-of-two rocked a casual look, wearing a white cardigan adorned with strawberries paired with jeans.

Meanwhile, Robert looked smart in navy polo top paired with tan pants and brown sneakers.

The mother-of-two rocked a casual look, wearing a white cardigan adorned with strawberries paired with jeans

He had his hands full with an iPhone and a bottle of water and stayed close to his mother.

The sighting comes after Robert and Terri copped backlash last month after the mother-son duo shared pictures of their recent adventures to Instagram.

'Is Robert and his mother joined at the hip. She is in every pic you see of him,' one person wrote in the comments while another said, 'He's 20 now!'

The famous conservationists were all smiles recently as they spotted outside a residential home in Oregon saying goodbye to their family

However there was plenty of support for their close relationship, with one person replying, 'He's a lucky young man to have her.'

Another wrote: 'People saying why Robert has his mum in so many photos. Remember every day is precious. Life is fragile. The Irwin's like millions of other families have experienced loss on a monumental scale.'

Meanwhile, an I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! Australia producer expressed concerns about co-host Robert's decision to bring his protective mother Terri on set.

Meanwhile, Robert looked smart in navy polo top paired with tan pants and brown sneakers

The sighting comes after Robert and Terri copped backlash last month after the mother-son duo shared pictures of their recent adventures to Instagram

Terri accompanied her son on his trip to South Africa as he filmed his debut season of the popular Channel 10 program alongside co-host Julia Morris, 55.

Speaking exclusively to Daily Mail Australia, an anonymous producer has admitted that Terri's presence on set every day is 'a little creepy', saying: 'It is giving 'bringing your-mum-to-school-camp vibes.'

Terri, who has been in charge of Robert and his big sister Bindi's showbiz careers since the death of their father Steve in 2006, has apparently kept a close eye on everything Robert does while working on the program.
Jamie Durie dropped in to check out the latest work done on his sprawling six-storey waterfront mansion on Wednesday.

The 54-year-old celebrity landscaper was spotted at the huge construction site, which is located at Avalon Beach on Sydney's northern beaches.

Wearing standard work attire, the former Backyard Blitz star donned navy blue trousers and a khaki shirt with a camo puffer jacket.

He trudged around outside the home in brown work boots.

Construction is finally well underway at the stunning location, one year after Durie managed to get his proposed build for a $2.7million home approved.

Jamie Durie dropped in to check out the latest work done on his sprawling six-storey waterfront mansion on Wednesday

The property is located at Avalon Beach on Sydney 's northern beaches

The multi-level cliffside property is covered in scaffolding and some walls of the home have been erected.

The landscaping guru was granted approval in April last year by the Northern Beaches Council over his development application (DA) for the waterfront property, despite receiving more than 50 objections from angry locals.

His plans to knock down a 1960s cottage and replace it with a sprawling six-storey mansion for his family was first met with opposition from neighbours who objected to the removal of 17 native trees.

Neighbours then had an issue with whether the home's construction would impact the ecosystem of a local microbat colony.

The horticulturalist said in his 25 years of working in the industry, trying to get his renovation plans over the line was the biggest challenge he'd faced.

'I can tell you right now, if you want to lodge a DA in Avalon it will be the most harrowing thing you have done in your life,' Durie told The Daily Telegraph at the time.

Wearing standard work attire, the former Backyard Blitz star donned navy blue trousers and a khaki shirt with a camo puffer jacket

He trudged around outside the home in brown work boots

The horticulturalist said in his 25 years of working in the industry, trying to get his renovation plans over the line was the biggest challenge he'd faced

'I have spoken to close to 20 to 30 people in the last six months who have decided to not lodge their DA because of the circus this has created.'

Community members were also unhappy with Durie's plans on the grounds the dwelling would be out of character for the area.

'It is a gross overdevelopment in this location given the character of the area and the adjoining properties,' one person told the council.

Durie previously clarified 1518 native and endemic species will be planted on and around the property.

'We've rectified the issue and I have sent a letter to all the neighbours and the council explaining what's happening and so hopefully they will see with our new plans,' he said on Today Extra in 2021.

'I hear them loud and clear and rest assured, we'll be putting plenty of plants into the ground.'

Construction is finally underway at the stunning location with the multi-level property covered in scaffolding, one year after Durie managed to get his proposed build for a $2.7million home approved. Left: the property in November 2022, right: the property in June 2024

His plans to knock down a 1960s cottage and replace it with a sprawling six-storey mansion for his family was first met with opposition from neighbours who objected to the removal of 17 native trees

Neighbour John Sheehan, a former acting judge of the Land and Environment Court, described the proposal as 'fatally flawed' and was concerned it would have 'serious and irreversible impacts on biodiversity values'.

Another neighbour said the proposed dwelling was out of character with the adjoining dwellings which respect the topography and the vegetation of their sites.

'It is a gross over-development in this location given the character of the area and the adjoining properties,' their submission stated.

'It must be redesigned by an architect to reduce its site coverage, to retain all the significant trees, to pull back from the waterfront in order to stay well within the foreshore building line, and to reduce its excessive size.'

Another expressed grave concerns the development will set an alarming precedent for future development in the area if approved.

Local heritage and preservation bodies also objected to the development with concerns that it's out of character for the area, will threaten wildlife and 'would overwhelm its environmentally sensitive block'.

The old cottage was demolished in July last year (pictured)

Community members were also unhappy with Durie's plans on the grounds the dwelling would be out of character for the area

Pittwater Natural Heritage Association said the initial proposal would have a detrimental effect on the movement of wildlife in the vicinity and doesn't reflect the ecological and aesthetic values of the area.

'Council should take into consideration the cumulative effect that developments such as this would have on the canopy trees which are critical to the character of the Avalon area,' their submission stated.

'If this and other such developments are allowed to continue then, over time, the tree canopy which gives Avalon its character will disappear.'

The Avalon Preservation Association added: 'The current trend of proposing very large dwellings on environmentally sensitive blocks and consequently destroying much of the native vegetation on the block while a small effect taken individually, constitutes 'death by a thousand cuts' when taken as the new norm.'

Once completed, the property is set to be Durie's new family home with fiance Ameka Jane, their two-year-old daughter Beau and their newborn son Nash.

Another expressed grave concerns the development will set an alarming precedent for future development in the area if approved
Jonathan Bailey discovered an unexpected occupational hazard from being such an in-demand actor juggling major film and TV projects.

The 36-year-old Englishman was first forced to perm his short hair in order to reprise his role as Anthony Bridgerton in the eight-episode third season of Netflix's 1800s-set soap opera Bridgerton.

Jonathan then flew from England to Canada to play congressional staffer Tim Laughlin in the eight-episode 1950s-set miniseries Fellow Travelers where the on-set hairstylist straightened his damaged locks.

'I had four days holiday in between finishing in Canada and finishing Bridgerton and then I had four days of Christmas and then went straight into Wicked,' Bailey told Naomi Watts for Variety's Actors on Actors.

'I went on holiday and my hair looked like coral like  as in, it was underwater, just floating around.'

Jonathan Bailey discovered an unexpected occupational hazard from being such an in-demand actor juggling major film and TV projects

The 55-year-old Oscar nominee exclaimed: 'Oh, my God! How do you even have any hair left? Did it not fall out?'

The Laurence Olivier Award winner replied: 'I had a big old toupee! That's a big spoiler alert, but yeah, it's a toupee [as Fiyero in Wicked]. I'm in the choreography so it's flapping about!'

Naomi marveled at the sheer 'gymnastics' it took for Jonathan to shoot in different countries with different sets while using different accents.

'There were moments where [doing all these shows] meshed together in a kooky way,' Bailey explained.

'There's something to be said for just freefalling, not having enough time, and just going on instincts. But it was progressive. There are some videos on my phone that I was crying looking at: It's me as Tim, in a fifties tie and jacket, and then in Nike sweatpants learning the choreography [for Wicked] on the lunch break.'

Universal Pictures is scheduled to release the first part of Jon M. Chu's big-screen adaptation of the 2003 Broadway musical Wicked on November 27 followed by the second part on November 26, 2025.

The SAG Award nominee will also soon begin filming his role in Jurassic World 4 in Thailand.

The 36-year-old Englishman was first forced to perm his short hair in order to reprise his role as Anthony Bridgerton in the eight-episode third season of Netflix's 1800s-set soap opera Bridgerton

Jonathan then flew from England to Canada to play congressional staffer Tim Laughlin in the eight-episode 1950s-set miniseries Fellow Travelers where the on-set hairstylist straightened his damaged locks

Bailey told Naomi Watts for Variety's Actors on Actors: 'I had four days holiday in between finishing in Canada and finishing Bridgerton and then I had four days of Christmas and then went straight into Wicked. I went on holiday and my hair looked like coral like  as in, it was underwater, just floating around'

The 55-year-old Oscar nominee exclaimed: 'Oh, my God! How do you even have any hair left? Did it not fall out?'

The Laurence Olivier Award winner replied: 'I had a big old toupee! That's a big spoiler alert, but yeah, it's a toupee [as Fiyero in Wicked]. I'm in the choreography so it's flapping about!'

Universal Pictures is scheduled to release the first part of Jon M. Chu's big-screen adaptation of the 2003 Broadway musical Wicked on November 27 followed by the second part on November 26, 2025
The BBC has introduced new safeguards and an extensive duty of care package for Strictly Come Dancing amid a probe into alleged workplace 'misconduct' from pro dancer Giovanni Pernice.

In the wake of the allegations against Giovanni, who has quit the show, crisis meetings have been held leading to a new series of safeguards for both the celebrities and their professional dance partners.

The Sun report that stars on the upcoming series, which starts in September, will have access to on-call counsellors, while there will be cameras to film all training sessions alongside offers of post-show therapy and chaperones.

Celebrities will also undergo psychological testing to 'ensure they are robust enough' to cope with the attention that comes with starring on the show.

The BBC has introduced new safeguards and an extensive duty of care package for Strictly Come Dancing amid a probe into alleged workplace 'misconduct' from Giovanni Pernice

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)

New guedelines including training sessions and webinars will also be implemented across all BBC reality shows, under the guidance of a duty of care executive.

A source told The Sun: 'Strictly is the jewel in the crown of their schedule, and upwards of ten million people tune in weekly  that's a lot of pressure for everyone involved.

'The BBC is under enormous pressure to ensure this series goes without a hitch. Cameras will be installed pretty much everywhere and a counsellor will be on call 24/7.'

BBC director of unscripted shows, Kate Phillips, added: 'The BBC takes its duty of care incredibly seriously and are always looking at ways to ensure the health, safety and wellbeing of contributors.'

MailOnline confirmed on Monday that the investigation into Giovanni 's alleged workplace 'misconduct' is still ongoing after Strictly confirmed the Italian would not be appearing in the upcoming series.

The dance pro's absence from this year's line-up was finally revealed on Monday when the BBC1 show announced which dancers would be competing.

The big reveal is a routine procedure by show bosses and does not mark the end of the probe into Giovanni's behaviour. A show insider said: 'Giovanni's case is very much ongoing.

'The announcement is circulated when Strictly have finalised the contracts of the pros who are able to compete.

In the wake of the allegations against Giovanni, who has quit the show, crisis meetings have been held leading to a new series of safeguards for both the celebs and their pro dance partners to be drawn up

'Giovanni's absence has been known for some weeks, he won't have anything to do with the 2024 season.

'But the investigation into his alleged wrongdoings will continue to develop alongside preparation for the upcoming series.'

Debbie McGee spoke out in support of her former Strictly partner Giovanni once again on social media on Tuesday.

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.

'Gio nurtured me through my grief and gave me confidence I could do things I thought was beyond me. '

Debbie McGee, 65, spoke out in support of her former Strictly partner Giovanni, 33, once again on social media on Tuesday, after it was confirmed he won't return for this year's series

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.

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.

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'

'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.'

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.'

Amanda Abbington left the competition mid-way through the series, citing personal reasons after weeks of rumours about a feud with Giovanni

'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.

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.
Ekin-Su Culculoglu proudly revealed that she had bought her first home in an update on Tuesday.

The TV personality, 29, who rose to fame after she won Love Island in 2022, has since cashed in by starring on Celebrity Big Brother and the Traitors US.

Alongside these appearances, she has also signed a number of brand deals, including being an ambassador for BPerfect Cosmetics and is even set to release a bombshell memoir.

Sharing the happy news to X, Ekin-Su wrote: 'Can't believe I've just bought my own home... just before I turn 30.'

It's beens a somewhat turbulent year for the model, who split from her boyfriend Davide Sanclimenti and went on to have a rocky stint in Celebrity Big Brother.

Ekin-Su Culculoglu, 29, proudly revealed that she had bought her first home in an update on Tuesday

The couple had a turbulent 18-month relationship since they first met in the Love Island villa in 2022, going on to win the show's 50,000 prize money together.

Shortly after their split she went on to star in Celebrity Big Brother but skipped the final after her management felt she was too 'vulnerable' to return in light of her turbulent time on the ITV series and subsequent drama-filled spin-off show appearance.

A source close to Ekin-Su told MailOnline her decision to go on the series had backfired and she regretted signing up, especially so soon after her break-up from Davide in January.

Ekin-Su was embroiled in a bullying row after she was booed by the studio audience, goaded by guest star Layton Williams and mocked by hosts AJ Adudu and Will Best, the latter branding her 'Ekin Boo Hoo Hoo', during her stint on ITV2's Late & Live shortly after her eviction.

It comes following the news that Ekin-Su has vowed to expose all in her bombshell memoir, including what really happened in her relationship with Davide before their split.

Her new tell-all book will see her open up on childhood trauma and bullying, as well as looking back on her experiences taking part in reality shows such as Love Island, The Traitors US and Celebrity Big Brother.

She told The Sun: 'It's everything, my experience with Davide, there's a lot in there. I'm done hiding. I'm done lying and protecting other people, this is my truth.'

She added that writing the book felt 'like therapy' and said she 'want people to know me for me, not the work Ive done or the wronguns Ive dated.'

The TV personality, who rose to fame after she won Love Island in 2022, has since cashed in by starring on Celebrity Big Brother and the Traitors US

Sharing the happy news to X, Ekin-Su wrote: 'Can't believe I've just bought my own home... just before I turn 30'

It's beens a somewhat turbulent year for the model, who split from her boyfriend Davide Sanclimenti (pictured on the show) and went on to have a rocky stint in Celebrity Big Brother

Cracks appeared in her relationship with Davide less than a month after they won Love Island as a couple in the summer of 2022.

Hunky Davide was seen leaving a party with two blondes in August of that year.

Ekin-Su said she was left in floods of tears after learning of the incident, insisting she did not want to believe Davide would treat her badly.

When she asked him 'how could you do this to me', she claims he simply replied: 'Excuse me?'

While filming their ITV2 show Homecomings, Ekin-Su said she saw pictures of Davide with females on his phone.

He claims she saw images of two blonde girls in his Manchester flat wearing his clothes.

Ekin-Su did not want to make anything of the situation at the time because they were being filmed.

The television personality went on to claim Davide cheated on her with a girl called Harriet Wilson, with Harriet contacting Ekin-Su to tell her.

Ekin-Su said that at another time Davide left his laptop open and she saw sexually explicit messages between him and a girl she herself had met on New Year's Eve.

She said seeing those messages 'broke something in me'.

Shortly after their split she went on to star in Celebrity Big Brother but skipped the final after her management felt she was too 'vulnerable' to return

The Love Island star spoke about the devastating effect of the hunk's alleged deceit with other women prior to their January split, branding the relationship 'toxic' (pictured together in 2023)

When Ekin-Su went away in September last year to film the US version of The Traitors (pictured), she returned to the UK to learn Davide had been partying with another woman

Actress Ekin-Su said she did not want to be embarrassed amid the cheating allegations so did her best not to react publicly but also wanted to protect Davide.

Davide was later spotted snorting a suspicious white powder in Ibiza while Ekin-Su was at home in the UK.

When Ekin-Su went away in September last year to film the US version of The Traitors, she returned to the UK to learn Davide had been out partying in Manchester with her love rival Harriet.

It is also claimed he went on a secret holiday to Morocco with an OnlyFans model but did not tell Ekin-Su the truth when he returned.
Channel Nine's Karl Stefanovic has revealed the truth about an embarrassing tattoo fail.

The 49-year-old Today host opened up about his youthful mistake during an appearance on Nova 100's Jase and Lauren Show on Wednesday.

The breakfast star said that for over twenty years he had the incorrect translation of a tattoo which is written in Japanese on his left shoulder.

He made the cringeworthy admission when discussing tattoos after host Lauren Phillips asked him what the markings on his shoulder said.

'Well, it's controversial, because when I got it done, I wanted it to say ''to be real and to love'', right? he begun.

Channel Nine's Karl Stefanovic has revealed the truth about an embarrassing tattoo fail. Pictured

The 49-year-old Today host opened up about his youthful mistake during an appearance on Nova 100's Jase and Lauren Show on Wednesday. Pictured: Lauren Phillips and Jase Hawkins

'And then, like, 20 years later, I'm in this pool with this Japanese lady and I said what does this mean?

'She goes, ''It doesn't mean that''. And I said, well what does it mean? She goes, ''It means you really love yourself!''

A clearly amused Lauren replied: 'Perfect!'

It comes after Karl revealed he was keeping a keen eye on the drama unfolding at rival network Seven, according to a new report.

The Today show host has been 'thinking about his future' as shakeups and staffing changes occur among his peers, particularly rumours that beloved journalist Mark Ferguson will be 'shafted' as the weeknight newsreader - a claim Seven has denied.

He made the cringeworthy admission when discussing tattoos after host Lauren Phillips asked him what the markings on his shoulder said

It comes after sports-weary Today show viewers took to social media to voice their dissatisfaction about the show being too focused on State of Origin recently. Pictured: Karl Stefanovic (left), 49, and Sarah Abo (right), 38

Karl openly gushed about the QLD Maroons victory against the NSW Blues , telling Sarah at the start of the show, 'I'm not going to gloat, but let's start with that blissful taste of victory'

It comes after sports-weary Today show viewers took to social media to voice their dissatisfaction about the show being too focused on State of Origin recently.

Following Game One on, co-hosts Karl Stefanovic, 49, and Sarah Abo, 38, sat behind an NRL-branded desk on June 6.

Karl openly gushed about the QLD Maroons victory against the NSW Blues, telling Sarah at the start of the show, 'I'm not going to gloat, but let's start with that blissful taste of victory.'

For the rest of the program many of the Today team, including Karl, Sarah and reporter Brooke Boney, continued to discuss the State of Origin match - which quickly ruffled the feathers of disinterested viewers.

Upset fans took to the Media Spy forums to voice their grievance with the Today show's big focus on the NRL.

'I get it's a one off but today's show was way too Origin heavy. The rest of the country don't care,' one viewer sniped.

'Report it of course but in my opinion it was overload. I wouldn't be surprised if Melbourne, Perth and Adelaide viewers switched over.'

'Why is the AFL guy in Melbourne talking about Origin?' another viewer asked and a third chipped in: 'They always have one NRL rep and one AFL rep. They talk both codes in that segment.'
Angel Strawbridge has spoken out for the first time defending herself over the foul-mouthed rant that led Channel 4 to drop her as she explained she fell into a pre-laid trap.

The TV star admitted that while she wishes the incident hadn't happened she will not apologise for what she did.

Angel, 45, who found fame alongside her husband Dick renovating their home over nine seasons of Escape to the Chateau, was engulfed in a bullying scandal which led to Channel 4 cutting ties last year after an independent investigation.

A leaked recording revealed Angel branding a producer a 'F***ed up little c**t'.

Speaking on Elizabeth Day's podcast How To Fail, Angel confessed in that moment she saw red: 'I was the one in the wrong for losing my temper, but do you know what, I will not apologise - he was so disrespectful in our house, he was so upsetting to me, my family, and I stand by what I did.

Angel Strawbridge has broken her silence on her bitter feud with Escape To The Chateau producer as she admits she will NOT apologise for how she reacted

Angel, 45, who found fame alongside her husband Dick renovating their home over nine seasons of Escape to the Chateau, was engulfed in a bullying scandal which led to Channel 4 cutting ties last year after an independent investigation

'If I was to apologise and say "I'm sorry for using bad language and chucking you out" I would just be disingenuous to me.'

She added: 'Would I like to erase that? Yeah, I'd love to. But I would also like to erase what he was doing because my rage just didn't pop out of nowhere.

'It grew over time and it was provoked and therefore I'm not ashamed of what happened in the end, I just wish it hadn't happened.'

It was revealed in May 2023 that Channel 4 had cut ties with the couple following an independent investigation into their conduct.

The TV channel confirmed they would no longer work with the pair on any new productions 'following a review' after they were branded 'spiky and volatile'.

Dick and Angel are currently back on screens in a new travel programme, Secret France, which is on Channel 4, but was filmed before the station cut ties.

While the couple have previously dodged questions relating to the bullying scandal, Angel finally gave her side of the story as she discussed the incident, a year after the recording emerged.

Speaking about the backlash that followed her rant, she said: 'The actual incident, it actually happened a long time ago - so it happened about six years ago.

Speaking on Elizabeth Day's podcast How To Fail, Angel confessed in that moment she saw red: 'I was the one in the wrong for losing my temper, but do you know what, I will not apologise - he was so disrespectful in our house, he was so upsetting to me, my family, and I stand by what I did

She added: 'Would I like to erase that? Yeah, I'd love to. But I would also like to erase what he was doing because my rage just didn't pop out of nowhere. 'It grew over time and it was provoked and therefore I'm not ashamed of what happened in the end, I just wish it hadn't happened'

Channel 4 confirmed in May 2023 they would no longer work with the pair on any new productions 'following a review' after they were branded 'spiky and volatile' (pictured in 2018)

'We had so many amazing people filming Escape to the Chateau, but in this particular quite small time frame, we had someone that wasn't particularly very nice.

'His behaviour was completely unacceptable, but it didn't just happen in one little moment, it happened over lots of different occasions.

'It was a high point towards the end of filming a series. We set a lot of stories in parallel activity. We were particularly busy, and I think that's why we just didn't have the head space to address his behaviour.

Recalling his behaviour she explained: 'He was not very nice, he was doing these weird pictures of Dick killing animals and posting them on his Instagram. He was so horrible with the children.

'There was this one incident, and I actually truly believe that because he knew he was caught, I think in my heart that is why he set up this filming.

'Because the way that he was acting was how he'd never acted with me before. You don't accidentally film someone when you're not filming. Completely happened secretively and on purpose.

'He broke all of the kids' fishing rods and the next day I was upstairs and he came up in a really very out of character way for him and was really in my face, in a really angry like he'd lost it kind of way.

'I've not listened back, it makes me feel a little bit sick if I do. But obviously all of my friends have, and they're like "I can hear you" - he actually took out what he said - "I can here you gradually getting more angry, more angry, more angry".

'And then I just say like "get out of my f***ing house". I can't even remember what I said. I think I said a really bad word beginning with c, I think that's how pissed off I must have been.'

Angel, who shares children Arthur and Dorothy with Dick, said the fallout after the incident felt really disproportionate'.

Dick and Angel are currently back on screens in a new travel programme, Secret France, which is on Channel 4, but was filmed before the station cut ties

Angel, who shares children Arthur, 10, and Dorothy, eight, with Dick, said the fallout after the incident felt really disproportionate'

She continued: 'There was so much noise going on on one side. And on the other side there was this sort of like outpouring of love and understanding, and people saying "you know what, it's ok to be human".

'But when you have children you have to be able to zone this out because the kids pick up on everything.

'But for me the children put everything into perspective. And also this went global. I couldn't believe the momentum that everything took.

'I just had to focus on the family, the business. And looking back I probably did feel a little bit ashamed that the kids would listen to it, or someone at the children's school would listen to it.

'But I also think that anyone with a little bit of understanding or common sense, could possibly understand what happened.

'I just regret that I didn't do it sooner and probably in a calmer way. If I'd just taken a breath two weeks beforehand and thought to myself "we need to get him out and get a new person in", then I think it would have played out differently.

'We don't teach our children to use bad language, but when you're pushed that far and are seeing red, it's kind of hard.

'I don't want to say I regret using it. I stand proud for just defending myself at that moment against his behaviour. I probably wish that I hadn't said the c-word. I don't even like that word.'

The couple (pictured here in May 2023) will be back with a new show on Sunday, Secret France With Dick & Angel

Asked if she might have been treated differently if she was a man, she said: 'There's a lot of people that make a great living out of that. There probably is a bit of truth in that.

Last October, Dick and Angel dodged questions about the hit Channel 4 show's bullying scandal during an appearance on Lorraine.

As Lorraine host Christine Lampard made reference to the scandal, Angel explained: 'You know the saying "Never complain and never explain", I think that was just the best way.

'None of it made sense because we had made that family decision a long time ago that it was the right time for Escape to come to its natural end.'

Dick insisted that it was their decision to leave the show and it was decided almost two years ago.

He said: 'As a family, we made a decision that last year was going to be the finale. We told everyone two years ago, so this, it wasn't news for us.'

Steering clear of directly addressing the bullying claims, he said: 'We made the decision just not to get involved in any of the conversations.'

Escape to the Chateau aired its ninth and final series in late 2022, but spin-off travel show Escape To The Chateau: Secret France was already in the works.

The programme was reportedly wrapped and scheduled for release in 2023, but after the production company cut ties with the couple Channel 4 has not confirmed whether it will be broadcast.

Angel added: 'I just had to focus on the family, the business. And looking back I probably did feel a little bit ashamed that the kids would listen to it, or someone at the children's school would listen to it'

Escape to the Chateau aired its ninth and final series in late 2022, but spin-off travel show Escape To The Chateau: Secret France was already in the works

In May, sources claimed Two Rivers Media, the company that produces Escape to the Chateau, raised concerns about the presenting duo, according to Deadline.

The exact nature of the allegations is not known, but the publication reported that three of their former colleagues alleged the couple have clashed with producers.

A source said at the time: 'There has been a deteriorating relationship between Two Rivers and Dick and Angel's Chateau TV for various reasons and it all came to a head.'

'People who try to remote manage them from the UK, that doesn't work, or people who come into their house and boss them around, that doesn't work either,' the source added.

'Producers turn them into this perfect, brilliant, funny couple, they're that on camera, but that's about it.'

A Channel 4 spokeswoman told MailOnline: 'Following a review, we have taken the decision not to work with Dick and Angel on any new productions in the future.'

A spokesperson for Two Rivers added: 'We can confirm that we will no longer work with Dick and Angel and cannot comment further at the moment.'

Sources close to the couple told MailOnline that their behaviour on set was nothing like their 'gorgeous' on screen personas.

A source said: 'Dick and Angel come across on screen as the most gorgeous and lovely couple, literally like butter wouldn't melt, but they're not like that off screen.

'It's a full-on show, production is with them at the chateau for weeks so they can't hide their real characters - they can't turn it on for two hours of recording and then not go back to their real persona.

'They're just spiky and volatile people and, as you can imagine, that's a nightmare to work with.'
Jessica Alba put on a chic display as she attended a party to celebrate her upcoming film, Trigger Warning, in Los Angeles on Tuesday.

The actress, 43, who both stars in and also executive produced the action thriller, wore a lace corset top for the event at The Hideaway in Beverly Hills.

She teamed the stylish number with a pair of black wide leg trousers and elevated her height with stylish Santoni heels.

Following an earlier screening of the film at Netflix Tudum Theater, Jessica was joined by her husband Cash Warren who showed his support.

The film producer, 45, looked smart in a navy blue suit and white shirt while posing for photos with his wife.

Jessica Alba, 43, put on a chic display as she attended a party to celebrate her upcoming film, Trigger Warning, in Los Angeles on Tuesday

The actress, who both stars in and also executive produced the action thriller, wore a lace corset top for the event at The Hideaway

Jessica stars as Parker, an active-duty Special Forces officer who takes over her father's bar in her hometown after his sudden death.

After returning home, she realizes a violent gang has been terrorizing her small town, as she aims to stop them in their tracks.

Alba not only stars but also serves as an executive producer through her newly-minted Lady Spitfire production company, which was formed in February 2024.

The film also features Sixteen Candles star Anthony Michael Hall, 56, who portrays Senator Ezekiel Swann, a powerful politician.

The production companies for the film are Santa Monica, California-based Thunder Road Films, which previously has produced John Wick, The Town and Sicario, as well as Lady Spitfire that Jessica announced she had formed in February.

Trigger Warning will premiere on June 21 on Netflix.

The trailer, which was released last month, shows Jessica as the highly-trained operative who channels her brute force into cleaning up her hometown.

It begins with a mournful parker clad in black, spreading his father's ashes, while an older man says, 'I'm sorry about your dad... but I'm glad you're home, kid.'

Following an earlier screening of the film at Netflix Tudum Theater, Jessica was joined by her husband Cash Warren who showed his support

The couples daughters Haven, 12, (L) and Honor, 16, (R) stood beside their mum for a photo

Haven wore a leather blazer and denim dress

Mark Webber, who stars as Jesse in the film, was in high spirits as he laughed with Jessica at the event

Jessica stars as Parker, an active-duty Special Forces officer who takes over her father's bar in her hometown after his sudden death, with Mark's starring as he ex boyfriend

Jessica's brother Joshua wore a blue T-shirt with chino trousers for the event

She meets up with Senator Ezekiel Swann (Anthony Michael Hall) at the bar she took over before they have a chat at her home as well.

'People like you around here. They like Harry... or liked him. I'd like to keep it that way,' Swann tells her.

She sits down with the town's sheriff Jesse (Mark Webber), telling him, 'I don't think his death was an accident.'

'Parker, stay out of it,' he tells her, though one night, she interrupts a robbery in progress, as she springs into action, subduing them easily.

'So what do you do for the government?' Mike (Gabriel Basso) asks Parker, as we see flashback shots of her in action with her Special Forces team.

Another shot shows her talking on the phone with her cover ops partner and hacker Spider (Tone Bell), who asks her, 'How's home?'

'What do you know about Senator Swann?' Parker asks, as she's seen fleeing from gunfire, as it seems Swann has gotten into the weapons game.

'What have you gotten into?' Spider asks, while Swann asks Jesse, 'How much does Parker know about this?'

Her brother Elvis (Jake Weary) tells Swann, 'Too much,' as Parker says, 'This is about more than just my dad. I need to know the truth.'

Mouly Surya made a heart shape with Jessica in one fun photo

Rosario Dawson (L) and Teresa Ann Savoy (R) also attended

Rosario look stylish in a leopard print satin skirt and leather jacket

Actors Corteon Moore (L) and Harold Perrineau both opted for blue jeans and boots

The trailer, which was released last month, shows Jessica as the highly-trained operative who channels her brute force into cleaning up her hometown

It begins with a mournful parker clad in black, spreading his father's ashes, while an older man says, 'I'm sorry about your dad... but I'm glad you're home, kid'

At one point, Swann and Mike have subdued Parker, tying her up by her wrists, as she tells Mike, 'If you pivot on the back foot, you won't punch like such a little bitch.'

Swann leans in and says, 'Do you want to know what really happened to Harry?' insinuating she may have been right, that her father Harry's death wasn't an accident.

The trailer's final scenes show someone throwing Molotov cocktails inside her house, setting it ablaze... though that doesn't stop her from throwing an assailant over the edge as the trailer comes to an end.

The film is directed by Mouly Surya, written by John Brancato & Josh Olson and Halley Gross, and produced by Erica Lee, Basil Iwanyk and Esther Hornstein.
A Gold Coast woman has revealed the shocking details of a first date mishap that landed her in hospital - only for doctors to tell her it happens all the time.

Alicia Davis, a prison guard-turned-model who has appeared as a guest on The Kyle and Jackie O Show, ended up needing rectal foreign body removal surgery after a sex toy became stuck inside her.

Sharing her eye-watering ordeal with Daily Mail Australia, the 32-year-old recalled having a great time with her date when they decided to spice things up with a 'plug'.

But halfway through their encounter, Ms Davis realised 'it wasn't there' anymore - and at first she assumed it had fallen out.

The pair frantically searched the bed, throwing up pillows and blankets, but to no avail.

Alicia Davis has revealed the shocking details of a first date mishap that landed her in hospital

Ms Davis, a prison guard-turned-model who has appeared as a guest on Kyle and Jackie O, ended up needing rectal foreign body removal surgery after a sex toy became stuck inside her

'We looked everywhere, but it was inside me,' she said.

Thankfully, Ms Davis was able to keep her sense of humour throughout the whole ordeal - as did the staff at her local hospital.

'[The doctors and nurses] were all joking around with us, saying we must have been having a fun morning,' she said.

Some medical professionals even tried to allay Alicia's fears by saying it was nothing 'compared to the things they usually see stuck up there'.

'I wasn't embarrassed at all,' Ms Davis added. 'It's not that crazy - it's a toy that's meant to be there. Just not that far up!'

It wasn't long before medical staff told her surgery was necessary to retrieve the toy and her wait began.

While rectal foreign body removal surgery is generally not life-threatening, it can lead to complications, including bowel perforation.

'I was only allowed to eat a bowl of corn flakes and a sandwich and then nothing all day for two days straight,' she said. 'I was starving.'

Ms Davis initially thought she was going to 'pass it' before the surgery, but it wasn't to be.

'At times it felt like it was up high, almost in my lower stomach,' she added.

Sharing her eye-watering ordeal with Daily Mail Australia, the 32-year-old recalled having a great time with her date when they decided to spice things up with a 'plug'

'When I realised it wasn't there I thought it fell out,' Ms Davis told Daily Mail Australia. The pair then frantically searched the bed, throwing up pillows and blankets, but to no avail

'We looked everywhere, but it was inside me,' said Ms Davis (pictured during the 'Naked Dating' segment on The Kyle and Jackie O Show)

Her procedure took just five minutes.

Ms Davis admitted the incident turned her off sex toys for two months, and she was cautious when she got up the nerve to once again be adventurous in the bedroom.

'The first few times I made sure I kept my eyes on it the entire time and not use anything that could land me in the same position,' she said.

Looking back on the whole ordeal, Ms Davis has one main regret.

'I wish I had captured it all on video!' she said. 'I think I unlocked a new fetish!'

Ms Davis has since issued a warning to others about the potential risks of using adult products, sharing her experience on social media.

While some fans appreciated her candidness, others were left shocked.

'Too much info,' one said, while another scoffed: 'They say sharing is caring, but this is a lot.'
Sophie Piper showed off her toned torso in a ruched yellow bikini as she jetted off to the Amalfi Coast for a swimwear shoot with PrettyLittleThing.

The Love Island star, 25, touched down in Positano on Monday for a trip with the fashion brand.

In snaps taken on Tuesday in the stunning Italian resort, Sophie donned a light-yellow triangle two-piece while on the trip.

Sophie looked incredible in the bikini, which she paired with baby pink drawstring beach trousers and a Gucci headband.

The reality star was glowing in the photoshoot and had her long brunette locks down with a few braids dispersed throughout.

Sophie Piper showed off her toned torso in a ruched yellow bikini on Tuesday after after jetting off to the Amalfi Coast for a swimwear shoot with PrettyLittleThing

The Love Island star, 25, touched down in Positano on Monday for a trip with the fashion brand

Sophie accessorised with a gold clover pendant necklace and a collection of bangles - a chunky gold one and a rattan one.

She also carried a small orange handbag and wore a pair of nude strappy sandals.

Sophie gave fans an insight into her luxurious brand trip as she took to Instagram on Tuesday.

The sister of Rochelle Humes showed a snap of a beautifully decorated dinner table adorned with pink and orange flowers, as well as a delicious-looking pink cocktail.

Sophie posed in a very-Amalfi Coast mirror adorned with lemons for a selfie, which was surrounded by colourful ceramics.

Just last week Sophie showed off her ample cleavage in a royal blue bikini as she shared sexy Instagram snaps after walking in Miami Swim Week.

She spent some downtime in Miami Beach after appearing on the catwalk for the annual swimwear fashion event.

The trip came shortly after she enjoyed a loved-up holiday in Jamaica with boyfriend Joshua Ritchie, 29, whom she met on the ITV dating show.

In snaps taken on Tuesday in the stunning Italian resort, Sophie donned a light-yellow triangle two-piece while on the trip

The reality star was glowing and had her long brunette locks down with a few braids dispersed throughout

Sophie accessorised with a gold clover pendant necklace and a collection of bangles - a chunky gold one and a rattan one

Sophie gave fans an insight into her luxurious brand trip as she took to Instagram on Tuesday

Sophie posed in a very-Amalfi Coast mirror adorned with lemons for a selfie, which was surrounded by colourful ceramics

Sharing an insight into her luxurious getaway, Sophie flaunted her jaw-dropping figure in the skimpy triangle bikini.

The beauty posed up a storm on the sandy white beach, showcasing her snatched waist and gorgeous curves.

She teamed the stylish two-piece with a colourful zig zag beach shirt which boasted a loose fit.

Sophie opted for further accessorising the look with a pair of oversized burgundy shades and toted her essentials around in a vintage yellow leather Fendi handbag which retails secondhand for 1,243.

To complete the look, the stunner wore a pair of chic white Hermes sandals and let her luscious locks flow freely down her shoulders.

It comes after Josh revealed on his Instagram story in March that he asked Sophie to be his girlfriend but she turned him down, saying: 'I don't think we're at that stage yet.'

Sophie showed off her ample cleavage in a royal blue bikini as she shared sexy Instagram snaps last week after walking in Miami Swim Week

Sopie spent some downtime in Miami Beach after appearing on the catwalk for the annual swimwear fashion event

Sharing an insight into her luxurious getaway, Sophie flaunted her jaw-dropping figure in the skimpy triangle bikini

In the video he shared, Josh showed a hotel bed surrounded with rose petals and that had rose petals on the bed itself spelling out 'Will you be my gf?'

Josh turned the camera to Sophie and said: 'Look what we have here, then. Thankfully, she said "no".'

Sophie explained: 'Erm, I just don't think we're at that stage yet. I think there's a lot of stuff still that we're working out.'

Josh burst into laughter while Sophie was speaking, letting his followers know that Sophie wasn't being serious.

Rochelle Humes' sister confirmed this by taking to her own Story to share a photo of the bed and write: 'His (sic) the cutest haha'.

Josh took Sophie to the luxurious Down Hall Hotel & Spa in Bishop's Stortford to pop the question.
Richard Branson took on a new role as he officiated the wedding of two of Virgin Atlantic's founding crew members.

The businessman, 73, took over from an Elvis impersonator at the nuptials of Malcolm and Jacqui King-McKinnon at A Little White Wedding Chapel in Las Vegas.

The event commemorates not only the airline's Ruby Anniversary but also the couple's love story that began on one of Virgin Atlantic's first flights back in 1984.

Richard, who founded the Virgin Group in the 1970s, donned a red bedazzled blazer and boutonniere for the ceremony and sent the couple off in a Virgin Hotels cab waiting for them outside of the iconic 'Tunnel of Love.'

It was love at first flight for the couple, Malcolm and Jacqui, who met 40 years ago during Virgin Atlantic's first year of operating.

Richard Branson took on a new role as he officiated the wedding of two of Virgin Atlantic's founding crew members

The businessman, 73, took over from an Elvis impersonator at the nuptials of Malcolm and Jacqui King-McKinnon at A Little White Wedding Chapel in Las Vegas

To celebrate each of these milestones, with each other and with the airline, Virgin Atlantic arranged the surprise appearance by Richard.

Malcolm and Jacqui met during one of Virgin Atlantic's first flights from Manchester, UK, to North America in the airline's inaugural year in 1984 and have been together in the sky and in life ever since.

After spotting Jacqui in the iconic red uniform, Malcolm offered to help her with her luggage, and committed to taking every flight he could with her from then on.

Forty years later, the couple is married, has raised a family and still flies the skies together any chance they get.

Richard said: 'Our incredible people are what makes Virgin Atlantic so special  they are mavericks, trailblazers, they are kind and fun.

'Getting to celebrate two of those people who have been with us since day one was an honour. Malcolm and Jacqui's love story started at Virgin Atlantic, which makes them part of the family.'

The happy groom Malcom added: 'They call it love at first sight but for us it was love at first flight! Today has been incredible and it means so much to Jacqui, our daughters and myself.

The event commemorates not only the airline's Ruby Anniversary but also the couple's love story that began on one of Virgin Atlantic's first flights back in 1984
Taylor Swift is making the most of her time in the UK while she prepares for her next weekend of Eras shows as she caught up with her long-standing friend Lena Dunham on Tuesday night.

The pair were seen heading to Argentinean restaurant Casa Cruz in Notting Hill alongside a new posse of girlfriends including Kate Moss, Stella McCartney, and Phoebe Waller Bridge.

However her old pal Lena Dunham, who lives in London, also joined the party as the pair caught up after over a decade of friendship.

The duo's sisterhood began online back in 2012 when Lena first tweeted about how important the songstress' music was to her.

Praising the artist, she wrote: 'Judging by how much she's helped me thus far, Taylor Swift is going to write the song that finally gets me comfortable with death.'

Taylor Swift is making the most of her time in the UK as she prepares for her next weekend of Eras shows as she caught up with her long-standing friend Lena Dunham (right) on Tuesday night

The duo's friendship began online back in 2012 when Lena first tweeted about how important the songstress' music was to her (pictured at The Golden Globes in 2014)

Later that year in October, after the release of Taylor's album Red, Lena took to Twitter once again as she penned: 'Update: @taylorswif3's album is triumphant. If she'd been here when I was in college I would have written papers on her, not Sylvia Plath'.

Overjoyed at her compliment, Taylor instantly replied as she raved about Lena's comedy series Girls.

She replied: '@lenadunham, you made my day with that. I'm now going to sit in my dressing room reciting my fav @girlsHBO quotes.. Which is all of them.'

After Taylor decided to take the jump and followed Lena, it wasn't long before the director replied and the friendship began.

Scrolling back to the pair's first ever messages during an interview with Rolling Stone, Taylor revealed Lena's first message to her read: 'I am so excited about the prospect of being friends with you that I added the adjective best in front of it.

The pair were seen cuddling up together at the Grammy's in 2013, at the time when Lena was dating Taylor's now producer Jack Antonoff.

In 2015, the star appeared in Taylor's Bad Blood video which saw the star recruit her famous pack of girlfriend's for her hit single with Kendrick Lamar.

Lena joined Hailee Steinfield, Gigi Hadid, Selena Gomez and Hayley Williams, to name a few, as they embraced their inner fighters for the catchy hit.

Lena, who lives in the UK, joined the fun on Tuesday evening as she opted for a bronze metallic dress and puffed on a cigarette

Later that year in October, after the release of Taylor's album Red, Lena took to Twitter once again as she penned: 'Update: @taylorswif3's album is triumphant. If she'd been here when I was in college I would have written papers on her, not Sylvia Plath

However this time Taylor saw the tweet and replied and the friendship officially began

Scrolling back to the pair's first ever messages during an interview with Rolling Stone , Taylor revealed Lena's first message to her read: 'I am so excited about the prospect of being friends with you that I added the adjective best in front of it

Lena joined Taylor on stage for a performance at New Jerseys iconic MetLife Stadium in July 2015 alongside Hailee Steinfield, Gigi Hadid and Lily Aldridge as they brought the Bad Blood video to life

She later joined Taylor on stage for a performance at New Jerseys iconic MetLife Stadium in July of that year as they brought the iconic video to life.

While Taylor is known for her string of exes that often provide inspiration for her music, Lena defended her friend's dating history.

Coming to Taylor's defence on the Howard Stern show back in 2017 she explained: 'I think that young womanit's so hard.

'I think about the relationships that I had in my early twenties and if they had been public, it would've been a disaster,' she continued.

'And also, I mean, not to repeat age-old feminist points, but it's like you know, any male actor her age who's going out and dating is applauded and to just have a perfectly normal amount of romantic partners but to be held to impossibly high standards by the press, like it's just an unfair and unwinnable game.'

The pair have also been very vocal with their love for each other online, after Lena penned a gushing message to the star back in 2018.

Sharing a selfie of them both after Taylor's show at the Rose Bowl in California, she wrote: 'This is a love note to @taylorswift. I was a fan before I was a friend and her music formed the soundtrack to so much love & loss & discovery - late nights writing and early mornings weepy on the way to work.'

She added: 'She had perfectly distilled the feeling of growing into yourself. When we became friends 6 years ago I didn't know she'd also prove to be the loyal and hilarious cat lady who loved me through every rough moment and the triumphant ones too.'

Lena defended her friend's dating history as she came to Taylor's defence on the Howard Stern show back in 2017 and explained: 'I think that young womanit's so hard'

Lena penned a gushing message to the star back in 2018 as she wrote: 'When we became friends 6 years ago I didn't know she'd also prove to be the loyal and hilarious cat lady who loved me through every rough moment and the triumphant ones too'

'Tonight I was just a fan again, one of 60k who got our souls rocked by her artistry, her open heart and her killer gams. Love you forever, Tay,' she added.

In 2021, Taylor had the honour of serving as one of Lena's bridesmaids at her wedding to husband Luis Felber at Soho's Union Club in London.

Getting married after the COVID lockdown, Taylor was one of nine bridesmaids as Lena confessed she hadn't seen some of her friends in over a year due to the pandemic.

She explained: 'I spent so much time during the pandemic talking to my girlfriends about our feelings over FaceTime, but a few of my best friends I haven't seen in over a year.

'And, you know, my girlfriends have had to deal with a lot of not-so-happy things with me in our adulthood, so to be able to celebrate something joyful and use it as an excuse to be together was very special.'
Amanda Holden looked absolutely incredible as she posed in a white crocheted dress in promo shots for her upcoming Netflix dating show called Cheaters: Unfinished Business.

Going without underwear, Amanda, 53, flashed her skin in the racy number which just about covered her modesty and had a low-back detail.

She posed seductively against a wall in the number which showed off her figure perfectly.

Amanda is currently filming a new Netflix show, which focuses on cheating spouses and is certainly set to ruffle a few feathers.

Cheaters: Unfinished Business will be filmed in an idyllic 10-bedroom Mallorca villa where contestants competing are set to live together, MailOnline revealed.

Amanda Holden has gone underwear free under a very daring white crocheted dress for promo shots for her upcoming Netflix dating show about cheaters

She posed seductively against a wall in the low-backd number which showed off her figure perfectly

Hew new show, Cheaters: Unfinished Business, will show people coming face to face with their ex-partners after suffering a relationship breakdown over infidelity

Cheaters will come face to face with their ex-partners after suffering a relationship breakdown over infidelity.

Amanda is looking to 'rival' Love Island with a bigger and better villa, which boasts a glamorous swimming pool complete with canopy draped daybeds, a cobbled courtyard for romantic reunions, and 10 bedrooms with king size beds for couples hoping to reconcile.

The 14th Century manor house is set on a 40-hectare black truffle estate, with sun drenched views of the Tramuntana mountains, providing a picturesque yet intimate setting for dramatic action to unfold.

MailOnline first revealed Amanda's signing with Netflix to present the dating series, with the star confirming it's a 'dream come true' before urging her followers to sign up to the risky run-in with their former cheating partners.

A TV source told MailOnline: 'Amanda can't wait to start filming her new dating show, she adores hot weather, and the villa is better than she could have ever dreamed of.

'It will provide the perfect backdrop for Cheaters: Unfinished Business, a sexy setting gives contestants the excuse to forgive and fall back in love with each other, at least that's what producers are hoping.

'The villa being in Mallorca will of course invite comparisons with Love Island, which is also filmed in Palma, and Amanda hopes her series will be just as popular.'

The Heart Breakfast show host will work alongside a dating expert to help guide eight former couples as they confront each other at the Spanish retreat with the hope of moving past the betrayal or coming to terms with their relationships being over for good.

The new series will be filmed in an idyllic 10-bedroom Mallorca villa where contestants are set to live together

The Britain's Got Talent presenter will be in the Spanish Isle this summer to shoot her new dating show

It comes 31 years after Amanda first appeared on TV as a contestant on Cilla Black's Blind Date, making her signing as host even more significant

Amanda told MailOnline: 'It is my dream job, if I could have manifested a job this would have been it.

'It is the job I have wanted my whole life and it's finally happening. I'm going to be filming the show over the summer. It is my own thing and it's the genre of it, it's what I've always wanted.'

The new show, Amanda's first on Netflix, will be filmed this summer but won't land on the streaming giant until 2025.

It comes 31 years after Amanda first appeared on TV as a contestant on Cilla Black's Blind Date, making her signing as host even more significant, as she celebrates a full circle moment in her long-lasting career.
Kim Kardashian went braless in a strappy white T-shirt as she headed out in Los Angeles on Tuesday evening.

The American socialite, 43, strutted through the streets in black leather knee-high Giaborghini boots for her casual outing.

She put on a very busty display in the plunging top and wore long quirky tailored shorts, teamed with a plain belt to complement her look.

The SKIMS founder, who recently snapped up Jude Bellingham to appear in her latest campaign, changed up her hairstyle once again as she went back to blonde with luscious long extensions.

The beauty displayed her enviable curves and snatched waist in her trendy-chic ensemble.

Kim Kardashian, 43, went braless in a strappy white T-shirt as she headed out in Los Angeles on Tuesday evening

The American socialite strutted through the streets in black leather knee-high Giaborghini boots for her casual outing

Her latest sighting comes after posting more photos in Janet Jackson's iconic 'If' outfit, which she purchased for $25K at a 2021 auction.

Following her controversial choice to wear the iconic, two-piece outfit, to Jackson's concert in Palm Desert earlier this month, Kardashian opted to share outtakes from the night on Monday.

The billionaire captioned the slideshow with lyrics from one of the All for You hitmaker's songs: 'thats the way love goes.'

Kim was joined by younger sister Khloe Kardashian, 39, and their mom Kris Jenner, 68, in some of the snapshots.

The SKIMS founder bared her taut tummy in the sexy black look, which included a shrunken cropped vest and matching suede, fringed trousers.

Upon revealing that she was attending Jackson's concert in the archival look, social media users flocked to X to condemn her choice.

'Buying historical pieces just for the kick of it, UGH!' one complained while someone else said the bombshell was acting 'cringe.'

Another asked: 'Why the hell does she have a lot of the Jacksons clothes? Why them??'

She put on a very busty display in the plunging top and wore long quirky tailored shorts, teamed with a plain belt to complement her look

Kim changed up her hairstyle once again as she went back to blonde with luscious long extensions

The beauty displayed her enviable curves and snatched waist in her trendy-chic ensemble

She displayed her toned arms and sensational physique on the outing

Her latest sighting comes after posting more photos in Janet Jackson's iconic 'If' outfit, which she purchased for $25K at a 2021 auction

Following her controversial choice to wear the iconic, two-piece outfit, to Jackson's concert in Palm Desert earlier this month, Kardashian opted to share outtakes from the night on Monday

The SKIMS founder bared her taut tummy in the sexy black look, which included a shrunken cropped vest and matching suede, fringed trousers in the sexy images

Jackson previously gave Kim her blessing after she scored the pieces at an auction in May 2021

Jules Auctions shared the news of Kim's purchase on X, which was then called Twitter, back in 2021

There was also a disgruntled user who asked if the mogul was going to damage the garments like she 'ruined Marilyn Monroes dress' at the 2022 Met Gala (the owner of the gown said in a statement that the reality star 'did not, in any way, damage the garment).

Despite angry reactions from Janet Jackson fans, the living legend gave Kim her blessing at the time she scored the one-of-a-kind outfit.

Back in May 2021 Kim uploaded a photo of Janet in the If video and gushed, 'For @janetjackson's bday bc I'm such a fan I can't believe I won this outfit on @jules_auctions.'

The songstress reposted it and added, 'Thank u so much @kimkardashian I hope 'IF' gives u as much pleasure as it did me,' along with three kiss emoji.

Jules Auctions also shared the news of Kim's purchase on X at the time, which was then called Twitter.

The tweet had a photo of the sexy getup on a mannequin. There was an accompanying note that read: 'SOLD for $25,000!

'A custom-made top with a pair of black pants, both worn by Janet Jackson in her 1993 award-winning "If" music video.

'Sold in our "Iconic Treasures from the Legendary Career and Life of Janet Jackson" auction at JuliensLive.com! w/ @JanetJackson.'
Natalie Portman cut a glamorous figure as she attended the Miss Dior - Exhibition Stories of a Miss event in Tokyo, Japan on Wednesday.

The actress, 43, ensured all eyes were on her as she posed on the pink carpet in a sheer sleeveless top with a shimmering sequinned embellishment.

The May December star also wore a tasselled mini skirt that highlighted her toned pins and added height to her frame with silver heels.

Natalie's top also featured a beaded neckline and she accessorised with a pair of pearl earrings.

Styling her brunette locks into a sleek updo, Natalie accentuated her natural beauty with a light palette of makeup.

Natalie Portman cut a glamorous figure as she attended the Miss Dior - Exhibition Stories of a Miss event in Tokyo, Japan on Wednesday

The actress, 43, ensured all eyes were on her as she posed on the pink carpet in a sheer sleeveless top with a shimmering sequinned embellishment

Natalie's top also featured a beaded neckline and she accessorised with a pair of pearl earrings

The outing comes after Natalie enjoyed an evening out in London with actor Paul Mescal late last month.

The pair couldn't control their giggles as they went for a drin k at at Bar 69 in Islington.

The actors - who met last year when they interviewed each other for Variety magazine - looked in high spirits as they headed outside for a cigarette.

Natalie was no doubt pleased to have a fun night out having quietly finalised her divorce from Benjamin Millepied in March following rumours he was unfaithful.

Meanwhile, Paul, 28, has made no secret of his admiration for Natalie so was clearly delighted to be in her company.

The pair have clearly formed a strong bond since interviewing each other last year.

During the chat, Paul described Natalie as 'brilliant' and admitted: 'If my drama school self knew that I would be talking to you, I would pinch myself many, many times!'

He also complimented her performance in May December, in which she shares a steamy sex scene with younger co-star Charles Melton, 33.

Styling her brunette locks into a sleek updo, Natalie accentuated her natural beauty with a light palette of makeup

Natalie and Paul Mescal couldn't control their giggles as they enjoyed an evening out drinking at at Bar 69 in Islington, London late last month

Natalie finalised her divorce from Benjamin Millepied in France in March, bringing an end to a marriage of 12 years, her representative confirmed to People (pictured in 2022)

She starred in the film as an actress named Elizabeth researching a couple - Gracie (Julianne Moore) and Joe (Charles) - who had formed when she was 36 and he was 13, sparking a tabloid scandal.

Meanwhile, Natalie complimented Paul on his sex scenes with Andrew Scott in All of Us Strangers, describing them as 'very hot but also very tender.'

The nature of Natalie and Paul's relationship is unknown. MailOnline has contacted Paul and Natalie's representatives for comment.

Natalie finalised her divorce from Benjamin in France in March, bringing an end to a marriage of 12 years, her representative confirmed to People.

The former couple share two children - Aleph, 12, and Amalia, seven - and lived together in Benjamin's native France for several years.
Fans have been left devastated as they realised Mrs Brown has been recast for the third Paddington installment after the official trailer was released on Wednesday.

Britain's favourite bear is returning to screens for Paddington In Peru as he embarks on his most epic adventure yet and travels across the globe to South America.

Joined by the Brown family, the gang head off on an unprecedented trajectory through the Amazon rainforest to find his Aunt Lucy after she mysterious leaves the Home for Retired Bears on an unknown quest.

However fans were left shocked as they realised Sally Hawkins is not returning as Mrs Brown, and has instead been recast.

Emily Mortimer, who is best known for starring in HBO's The Newsroom, has stepped into the role as the family set off on their latest adventure.

Fans are left devastated as Mrs Brown is RECAST in latest Paddington film as Britain's favourite bear heads to Peru in a new trailer for his most epic adventure yet

Britain's favourite bear is returning to screens for Paddington In Peru as he embarks on his most epic adventure yet and travels across the globe to South America

The film, directed by Dougal Wilson, sees Hugh Bonneville return as Mr Brown while Ben Whishaw is back to voice Paddington and Imelda Staunton will once again play Aunt Lucy.

Olivia Coleman has also joined the cast as she transforms into a nun to play the Reverend Mother in the franchise.

However, fans were left bereft to see Sally was gone as they took to Twitter to share their upset.

They wrote: 'Why did they change the actress of Mrs Brown'; 'No they have changed Mrs Brown !!!???? And Paddington sounds different??????'

'they recast Mrs Brown which is sad but otherwise looks fun'; 'What happened with Sally Hawkins?'; 'Where's the original mum of the brown family'.

'Why have they changed Mrs Brown?'; 'Love it but will miss Sally Hawkins big time'; 'missing sally'.

'Not my Mrs. Brown in this movie, Sally Hawkins you always will be'; 'Its not the same without sally hawkins!!!'

Talking about her decision to step away from the film, Sally previously explained: 'For me it has felt the right time to hand the reins over to another, and one cant get much better than the truly wonderful Emily Mortimer, she is extraordinarily special.

However fans were left shocked as they realised Sally Hawkins (L) is not returning as Mrs Brown, and has instead been recast with Emily Mortimer (R)

Fans were left bereft to see Sally was gone as they took to Twitter to share their upset

Olivia Coleman has also joined the cast as she transforms into a nun to play the Reverend Mother in the franchise

Speaking about her departure from the role, Sally said of Emily: 'She will embody the essence of Mary Brown and yet make it utterly her own. However, I am, and will always be in love with Paddingtons world'

'She will embody the essence of Mary Brown and yet make it utterly her own. However, I am, and will always be in love with Paddingtons world.

'I already greatly miss my on and off-screen family  the experience of making the first two films has truly been some of the best and most creative times I have had in the world of film.'

She added, 'They both gave me so much joy. I will forever hold them so very close to my heart indeed.'

As the trailer begins, Paddington struggles to get to grips with the photobooth as he attempts to pose for his passport photo.

Removing the marmalade sandwich he always makes sure to keep in his hat for when he is feeling peckish, Paddington leaves the booth with some rather chaotic snaps after he loses control of the spinning chair.

Later on as the family arrive at the Home for Retired Bears, the Reverend Mother breaks the news that Aunt Lucy's whereabout are unknown.

'I am afraid she has set off on some sort of quest deep in the jungle, and we have no idea where she is,' the actress explains.

As the trailer begins, Paddington struggles to get to grips with the photobooth as he attempts to pose for his passport photo

The film sees Hugh Bonneville (pictured) return as Mr Brown and Ben Whishaw is back to voice Paddington and Imelda Staunton will once again play Aunt Lucy

As the family arrive at the Home for Retired Bears, the Reverend Mother breaks the news that Aunt Lucy's whereabout are unknown

Sharing their excitement for the film, which will be released in cinemas on November 8, fans wrote: 'A lovely bit of a light relief on a glum day. Cant wait for the next movie. P2 was perfection'

Determined to find her, Paddington adds: 'Aunt Lucy found me when I was a cub, and now I have to find her. We have to try'.

The film also stars Antonio Banderas, Julie Walters, Madeleine Harris, Samuel Joslin, Carla Tous and Jim Broadbent.

Sharing their excitement for the film, which will be released in cinemas on November 8, fans wrote: 'A lovely bit of a light relief on a glum day. Cant wait for the next movie. P2 was perfection';

'Does anyone want to share some marmalade sandwiches with us while we watch this; 'Good luck on your new adventure paddington! I will be there no matter what'.

Meanwhile Specsavers added: 'Spectacled bears are the best. Especially this one'.
British actor Theo James has revealed whether or not he'll be jetting off to Thailand any time soon as filming for White Lotus season three gets underway.

During his appearance on Today with Hoda & Jenna on Wednesday morning, host Jenna Bush Hager couldn't resist asking Theo about the third instalment of the hit HBO show and said: 'Are you gonna go to Thailand, or no? I think we asked you the last time you were here, we're just gonna ask you every time!'

'Yeah, I am going tomorrow,' Theo, 39, teased, before laughing and adding: 'No I'm not really,' as Hoda Kotb was left open-mouthed - and rather disappointed by his response.

'No, I am not going to Thailand,' he confirmed. 'I'm excited to see that. I think they're having a great time out there, and they're out there a long time, I think it's even longer,' he added, referring to the four months he spent in Taormina, Sicily, filming White Lotus season two.

Theo played the role of smug holidaymaker Cameron Sullivan in season two of the black comedy drama series, which was created by Mike White and follows the guests and employees of the fictional White Lotus resort chain, whose interactions are affected by their various psychosocial dysfunctions.

British actor Theo James has revealed whether or not he'll be jetting off to Thailand any time soon as filming for White Lotus season three gets underway

Theo played the role of Cameron Sullivan in season two of The White Lotus while Meghann Fahy portrayed his wife, Daphne

Earlier this year it was confirmed that production on season three had begun in Southeast Asia when the show's official Instagram shared a snap of a slate being used on the first day of filming on February 13.

The photo was captioned: 'Unforgettable experiences are in the making at #TheWhiteLotus. We are eager to welcome new guests to our resort in Thailand,' but it seems Cameron and wife Daphne, played by Meghann Fahy, will not be returning for the drama.

But there's plenty of other familiar names joining the new cast including Natasha Rothwell, who played put-upon beauty therapist Belinda in the first series and Brit actors Jason Isaacs who played Lucius Malfoy in Harry Potter and Aimee Lou Wood from Sex Education.

Patrick Schwarzenegger, son of Arnie and Maria Shriver, is set to play a leading role alongside Thai actors Dom Hetrakul and Tayme Thapthimthong.

A gang of forty-something Hollywood actresses including Carrie Coon (The Gilded Age) Leslie Bibb (The Babysitter), Michelle Monaghan (Mission Impossible) and indie film actress Parker Posey could suggest they are a group of wealthy American women seeking some sort of high-end spiritual healing.

HBO also revealed Walton Goggins, Sarah Catherine Hook, Sam Nivola, and The Last Kingdom's Arnas Fedaravicius have been cast for season three.

Last year, the show's creator teased that the highly-anticipated third season will be 'supersized,' but unfortunately filming was delayed due to the SAG-AFTRA strikes in 2023.

Theo and Meghann played a couple who were on holiday in Sicily with another couple played by Aubrey Plaza and Will Sharpe

Hoda Kotb and Jenna Bush Hager couldn't resist asking Theo about the third season of The White Lotus

The official Instagram page for The White Lotus confirmed that production had begun in Thailand when this photo was posted on February 13

The Four Seasons Resort on the island of Koh Samui is where season three will be set as the 45-acre hillside resort has been closed to guests since January 29 and been transformed into the new fictional White Lotus Hotel.

The star of the show, Jennifer Coolidge, who played the ditzy heiress Tanya McQuoid in the first two series, is not expected to make a reappearance as she was killed off in series two  although don't put it past White Lotus creator Mike to find a crazy plot twist to bring her back.

HBO officially renewed The White Lotus for a third season back in November 2022.

The first season of The White Lotus made its debut in July 2021, while the second installment aired a little over a year later, in October 2022.

Although the full plot for season three has not yet been released, Mike gave fans some insight as he spoke in an HBO teaser last year.

'The first season kind of highlighted money, and then, the second season is sex. And I think the third season it would be maybe a kind of satirical and funny look at death and Eastern religion and spirituality,' he teased.

'And it feels like it could be a rich tapestry to do another round at White Lotus.'
Some people on the internet are convinced that Gucci Mane's 1017 record label is cursed after news emerged that an Atlanta rapper died - the seventh artist signed with him to suffer a tragedy.

It was revealed that a young musician known as Enchanting had passed away on Tuesday after an overdose reportedly left her on life support.

The 26-year-old star, whose real name was Channing Nicole Larry, was signed to Gucci's label - and it turns out, she's not the only member of 1017 who has met a harrowing fate.

In fact, numerous people who were part of the recording company have either died or gone to jail over the years, leaving many social media users convinced that the label was 'cursed.'

Back in December 2022, rapper Big Scarr died tragically from an accidental prescription drug overdose at age 22.

Some people on the internet are convinced that Gucci Mane's 1017 record label is cursed amid the news that an Atlanta rapper signed with him had died. Pictured is Gucci Mane

It was revealed that a young musician known as Enchanting had passed away on Tuesday after an overdose left her on life support - the seventh 1017 artist to suffer a tragic fate

One month later, Hotboy Wes was arrested for numerous charges, including aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, robbery, and endangering children.

He was ultimately sentenced to 15 years in prison after pleading guilty.

Rapper Pooh Shiesty has also racked up a criminal record since signing with 1017 Records.

He was arrested in June 2020 for armed robbery, aggravated assault, battery, and criminal theft, and then, in June 2021, he was taken into custody again in connection to a shooting at a strip club in Miami.

He pleaded guilty to a firearm conspiracy charge and was sentenced to five years behind bars in April 2022.

Foogiano, who served three years in jail for burglary and robbery charges before he joined 1017, was arrested for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon in December 2020, and he received a five-year sentence for it.

Amid the news that Enchanting had died, X, formerly Twitter, was flooded with posts about the alleged 1017 'curse.'

'The 1017 curse strikes again, SMH,' one person wrote. Another added, 'The 1017 curse is so real.'

Back in December 2022, rapper Big Scarr (seen in 2021) died tragically from an accidental prescription drug overdose at age 22

One month later, Hotboy Wes (seen with Gucci in 2021) was arrested for numerous charges, including aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, robbery, and endangering children. He was ultimately sentenced to 15 years in prison after pleading guilty

Rapper Pooh Shiesty (seen in 2021) was arrested in June 2020 for armed robbery, aggravated assault, battery, and criminal theft

'I'm convinced it's a curse to sign to 1017,' a different user announced.

'1017 gotta be cursed, God bless them though,' a fourth tweet read. A fifth said, 'Don't sign to 1017. Gucci might have a curse on [it].'

Foogiano, who served three years in jail for burglary and robbery charges before he joined 1017, was arrested for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon in December 2020

And when Gucci, whose real name is Radric Delantic Davis, shared a tribute to Enchanting on Instagram, his post was flooded with comments about it.

'So sad to have to say RIP to such a great young lady, a true star. We gone all miss you 'Chant,' he wrote.

'It's yo fault,' one person replied, while another said, 'Another sacrifice.'

The comments became so intense that his wife, Keyshia Ka'oir, had to step in and defend him.

She wrote in a comment of her own, 'Leave my husband alone. He signs these artists to help them and give them a better life.

'I wish it wasn't like this. 'Chant, we love you baby girl. [RIP].'

While some people are convinced that Gucci's label has been hexed, others were quick to shut that idea down.

'There's no curse,' one person insisted. Another defended Gucci, writing, 'How is it his fault she was addicted to [drugs]?'

Amid the news that Enchanting had died, X, formerly Twitter, was flooded with posts about the alleged 1017 'curse'

And when Gucci, whose real name is Radric Delantic Davis, shared a tribute to Enchanting on Instagram, his post was flooded with comments about it

The comments became so intense that his wife, Keyshia Ka'oir, had to step in and defend him, writing, 'Leave my husband alone'

And while some people are convinced that Gucci's label has been hexed, others were quick to shut that idea down

'He had nothing to do with her personal life y'all chill,' someone else said.

'He signs real street artists like him,' a different user commented. 'Can't [make] nobody change, they gotta change their ways themselves.'

'Yall blame 1017 but not what's going on in peoples' lives,' another comment read. 'Gucci has nothing to do with what happened or what's going on.'

Rapper Yung Mal, who was previously signed to the record label, addressed rumors of a 1017 curse during an interview this week.

'He just signs some real gangsters,' he said. 'It probably would have happened the same way [even if they weren't signed to 1017] we just wouldn't have known them. Think about it like that.'
Molly Smith flaunted her washboard abs in a skimpy white floral bikini as she launched her new fitness plan the Summer Sweat Challenge.

The Love Island winner, 30, flaunted her taut physique, as she worked out on the beach in a tiny two-piece before she switched up her look for some active wear.

She posed in the lunge position on the sand as she showcased her jaw-dropping frame in a white gym bra and skin-tight gym shorts.

In other shots posted to her Instagram, Molly posed on the beach in a tiny floral two-piece that displayed her chiselled abs and toned legs.

Displaying her impressive core strength, she did squats with weight training and perfected the plank while on her laptop.

Molly Smith flaunted her washboard abs in a skimpy white floral bikini as she launched her new fitness plan the Summer Sweat Challenge on Monday

The Love Island winner, 30, flaunted her taut physique , as she worked out on the beach in a tiny two-piece before she switched up her look for some active wear

Her new snaps come just hours after she attended a Rehab product launch event at The Protein Studios in London's Shoreditch.

For the outing she ditched her gym wear and beach ensembles for a pair of trendy washed out jeans, a white cropped T-shirt and a cropped satin blazer.

Keeping it casual, she finished her look with some white trainers and a Dior saddle bag.

Molly announced her Summer Sweat Challenge on her fitness plan, Move with Molly, on Monday.

Her new six-week challenge is meticulously designed 'to help everyone get ready for summer and feel their absolute best'.

It launched on June, 10, and the Summer Sweat Challenge offers comprehensive workout plans which are suitable for both home and gym environments.

Led by Molly herself, alongside her expert trainers Keely and Katy, the challenge helps people achieve their summer fitness goals.

As part of the MWM community, participants will have the exclusive opportunity to join live workout and Q&A sessions with Molly.

She posed in the lunge position on the sand as she showcased her jaw-dropping frame in a white gym bra and skin-tight gym shorts

In other shots posted to her Instagram, Molly posed on the beach in a tiny floral two-piece that displayed her chiselled abs and toned legs

Her new snaps come just hours after she attended a Rehab product launch event at The Protein Studios in London's Shoreditch

For the outing she ditched her gym wear and beach ensembles for a pair of trendy washed out jeans, a white cropped T-shirt and a cropped satin blazer

Keeping it casual, she finished her look with some white trainers and a Dior saddle bag

These live sessions are a standout feature of the Summer Sweat Challenge, offering participants real-time interaction with the blonde.

During these workouts, Molly will provide live demonstrations, motivation, and guidance.

The Q&A sessions offer the chance to ask Molly questions directly, receive personalised advice, and connect with her and other participants.

Amid her new venture, Molly has also made big strides in her love life as she revealed she and boyfriend Tom Clare were moving in together.

The couple met on Love Island: All Stars earlier this year, going on the win the series and have wasted no time in taking their relationship to the next level.

Speaking to Olivia Attwood on her So Wrong it's Right podcast in April, Molly disclosed that Tom, 24, was moving into her home in Manchester.

Amid her new venture, Molly has also made big strides in her love life as she revealed she and boyfriend Tom Clare were moving in together

The couple met on Love Island: All Stars earlier this year, going on the win the series (pictured) and have wasted no time in taking their relationship to the next level

Tom had been living in London, with his best pal and fellow Love Islander Casey O'Gorman, but been flitting between his home and Molly's.

Molly explained: 'He lives in Battersea but he's moving out. So poor Casey's probably thinking, "Oh great. I'm stealing him". But he's moving in with me in Manchester.

'So I know people probably think like, "Oh it's quite quick", but we've practically lived together from the day we met, and he's practically living at mine now. Slowly but surely there's been drawers getting filled up.

Olivia said: 'So he's been moving himself in unofficially?' causing Molly to joke: 'Yeah, he's had his little plan all along.'
Ayo Edebiri absolutely dazzled as she promoted the upcoming third season of her hit show, The Bear, on Wednesday.

The actress, 28, who plays Sydney Adamu on the Hulu series, sported a flashy sequin vest over a collared button down and a silky skirt with retro design as she arrived to The View in New York City on Wednesday.

Her feet were slipped into a pair of funky socks rolled up to her ankles and quirky heels.

Ayo's belongings were fashionably carried about in a sleek leather handbag and her eyes were shielded with metal frame sunglasses.

The Bottoms actress styled her hair into bouncy curls and rocked a dashing of makeup.

Ayo Edebiri arrived in style to The View as she geared up for season three of her hit show, The Bear, and her new film Inside Out

Ayo will be in the spotlight soon enough with two big projects set to be released - her upcoming Pixar film Inside Out 2 and season three of The Bear.

Inside Out 2, which chronicles a teenaged Riley facing new emotions, will be in theatres on June 14 while The Bear's third season will debut on June 27.

The third instalment will again follow Carmen 'Carmy' Berzatto (Jeremy Allen White), Sydney Adamu (Ayo) and Richard 'Richie' Jerimovich (Ebon Moss-Bachrach) on their beef stand-turned-fine dining journey at The Bear.

A trailer for season three shows Carmy as red as ever, as his heart rate skyrockets amid building pressure both in and out of the kitchen.

Sydney is also seen with a mystery man twice in the clip, hinting at a possible romance for the chef.

And despite the sad end to season two which saw Carmy and Claire part ways, she does make an appearance in the new series.

But a scene between Carmy and his uncle also shows the chef admitting he told Claire he did not have time for her, so it is unknown if there story will see reconciliation or further heartbreak.

After spending the last two seasons building their joint enterprise, Carmy is seen offering Sydney a partnership deal in the new clip.

Ayo waved as she entered the studio

Ayo will be in the spotlight soon enough with two big projects set to be released - her upcoming Pixar film Inside Out 2 and season three of The Bear

Ayo's belongings were fashionably carried about in a sleek leather handbag and her eyes were shielded with metal frame sunglasses

Season three of The Bear will drop June 27

The third instalment will again follow Carmen 'Carmy' Berzatto ( Jeremy Allen White ), Sydney Adamu (Ayo Edebiri) and Richard 'Richie' Jerimovich (Ebon Moss-Bachrach) on their beef stand-turned-fine dining journey at The Bear

Another storyline hinted at in the trailer is a strengthening of Ritchie's position, as he is seen taking control when Carmy is stressed and making creative decisions. This comes after season two saw him come into his own as he developed his front of house skills.

Abby Elliott, Lionel Boyce, Liza Colon-Zayas, Edwin Lee Gibson and Matty Matheson all also star in the popular series alongside Ayo, Jeremy and Ebon - and are expected to return for the upcoming season.

The hiatus for the show was one filled with victory and accolades as it swept all six of the categories it was nominated for at the 75th Primetime Emmy Awards with Jeremy, Ayo and Ebon all winning in their acting categories. The three actors also won their respective Critics' Choice Awards.

The show itself, Jeremy and Ayo also took home Golden Globe Awards in 2024.
Her mother has been on one of the Real Housewives shows for Bravo for whopping 15 years.

Mom is also a skilled cook who has written several books and is known for her sharp tongue. And her mother was also on season five of The Apprentice with Donald Trump in 2012.

Both her parents have spent time in prison about a decade ago after been convicted of fraud in a headline-making scandal.

She has many sisters that are all pretty; one is a college graduate who often models bikinis on Instagram.

Her aunt and uncle are very famous too, but they don't talk often as mom does not get along with them.

This child was seen in Paris this week with her famous mother as they shopped and dined out.

Can you guess who she is?

Who is she? Her mother has been on one of the Real Housewives shows for Bravo for whopping 15 years. Mom is also a skilled cook who has written several books and is known for her sharp tongue. And her mother was also on season five of The Apprentice with Donald Trump in 2012

She is Milania Giudice, 18.

Her mother is Teresa Giudice and her father is Joe Giudice from The Real Housewives Of New Jersey.

She was seen in mom's Instagram post from Tuesday. They were spending time in Paris before getting back to RHONJ.

Also seen on the trip was sibling Gabriella Giudice. Milania has two other sisters: Gia and Audriana.

All four kids have busy lives on social media and with their reality TV careers.

Gia is 23-years-old and a graduate of Montville Township High School.

Gabriella is 20-years-old and an Economics Student at the University of Michigan.

Milania is 18-years-old and already an ambassador for Shein. She graduated from high school this year and has officially decided to attended the University of Tampa.

Audriana is the youngest at 14-years-old and already models.

In May Milania  who crashed her brand new $60K Mercedes in New Jersey  looked like her mom after major makeover for school prom.

Her floor-length off-the-shoulder white gown was decorated in sparkly beading and fringe on the shoulder straps as it hugged her petite frame.

She was seen in mom's Instagram post from Tuesday. They were spending time in Paris before getting back to RHONJ . Also seen on the trip was sibling Gabriella Giudice, far left

Milania looked like mom at her pre-prom celebration in New Jersey in May

The Bravo star's date, Christian, rocked a black suit and tie with his wavy locks parted down the middle.

The pair snapped photos in front of a massive collection of balloons that read 'Prom.'

They smiled while putting on one another's pin and corsage before heading to the dance.

Milania's close friends and their parents tagged along for the special pre-prom celebration held at the Giudice residence.

Teresa also shared clips of the cookies, sodas, sandwiches and snacks she had prepared for her daughter and her closest pals.

As the school year come to a close, Milania has officially decided to attended the University of Tampa.

The star's famous mother decorated her home with the school colors and merchandise.

'Congratulations on the University of Tampa! I love you so much and I am so proud of you! I cant wait to see what you accomplish within your four years, make mommy proud,' Teresa wrote in her dedicated post.

Her floor-length off-the-shoulder white gown was decorated in sparkly beading and fringe on the shoulder straps as it hugged her petite frame

The mother-daughter duo have always been close and are each other's so-called 'best friend'

As the school year come to a close, Milania has officially decided to attended the University of Tampa; Teresa and Milania pictured on May 20, 2024

Teresa shares Milania with ex-husband Giuseppe 'Joe' Giudice, 51; Teresa, Milania and Joe pictured in January

The Giudice family had a reunion of sorts this past December when Teresa and her husband Luis 'Louie' Ruelas traveled with all four of her daughters to the Bahamas to meet up their father for a holiday celebration, as reported by People.

Joe and Teresa ended up separating after they both served prison time on federal fraud charges.

After Joe finished up 41 months in prison he was deported to his native Italy in 2019, even though he lived nearly his entire life in the U.S.

The former couple subsequently divorced in 2020 and then Joe moved to the Bahamas, where his daughters take turns visiting him.
Katie Holmes was spotted enjoying a glamorous New York City outing this week with her friend and stylist Brie Welch.

The 45-year-old actress, who shares her 18-year-old daughter Suri with Tom Cruise, cut an elegant figure when she surfaced in Manhattan on Tuesday.

She slid her willowy frame into a sleek navy trouser suit that glinted under the lights as she pounded the pavement in the city that never sleeps.

Wearing a blood-red shade of lipstick that matched her heels, the Dawson's Creek actress let her dark hair down to frame her luminous complexion.

Her outing with Brie comes a year and a half after they collaborated on a Y2K-inspired look that was brutally trolled online.

Katie Holmes was spotted enjoying a glamorous New York City outing this week with her friend and stylist Brie Welch

When she was seen out with Katie this week, Brie emphasized her lithe physique by cinching a black belt around her collarless purple blouse.

The pair exuded a formal sense of chic on Wednesday - a far cry from the ensemble that led them to be mocked on the Internet in December 2022.

That month, Katie attended the iHeart Radio Jingle Ball in a sleeveless navy tunic pulled over a pair of jeans and teamed with sneakers.

Inspired by the Y2K aesthetic of the turn of the millennium, the quirky outfit - which Brie worked on - provoked widespread derision on social media.

Fans ribbed Katie for channeling a 'mid2000s Disney red carpet,' sneering that she 'looked a mess' and quipping that they were 'disturbed' by her appearance.

'I unfortunately cannot comment on the Katie Holmes dress top and jeans combo because I too lived through the early 00s and made decisions I regret,' one joked.

'All morning Ive been wondering why people are dunking on a photo of Katie Holmes from 1999 but apparently thats not what this is?' another marveled.

'Please for the love of goddess keep this era of fashion in the archives,' a fan pleaded on what was then still known as Twitter. 'Love Katie Holmes but I detest this cursed red carpet era. I don't care. I don't care. I don't care.'

The pair of them cut formal figures together on Wednesday - a far cry from the ensemble that led them to be mocked on the Internet in December 2022

Her outing with Brie comes a year and a half after they collaborated on their infamous Y2K look; Katie is pictured in the ensemble at the iHeart Radio Jingle Ball in December 2022

'This trend reared its ugly head years ago and honestly how dare Katie Holmes have the audacity to try to bring it back,' fumed another observer.

Brie defended her and Katie's work, insisting that the Batman Begins actress was 'more than capable of looking cool in an unintentional trend 20 years later.'

She and Katie 'decided the rich color and subtle bustier effect detailing of the top was elegant and would be fun if paired with jeans, creating a more youthful feel for Jingle Ball and the atmosphere there,' Brie explained.

'On the day of (and because Katie has her own effortless style that should be appreciated here), she said she wanted to wear sneakers, because it was a concert and obviously there would be a lot of dancing to Dua Lipa (and nothing is more comfortable!),' the stylist added to the New York Times.
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Period dresses were traded for something rather more contemporary on Tuesday evening as part two of Bridgerton's enormously successful third season premiered in London.

The cast were in attendance at Leicester Square's Odeon LUXE, where an appropriately dramatic red carpet, festooned with tasteful floral embellishments, greeted guests ahead of the official screening.

Bridgerton's third season will resume on Thursday, with fans desperate to see what happens next in Penelope Featherington Colin Bridgerton's love story.

Appropriately, it was Featherington herself - actress Nicola Coughlan - who led the glamour as she reunited with her co-stars, among them Hannah Dodd, Simone Ashley and Hannah New.

Nicola, 37, turned heads as she arrived in an off-the-shoulder pink gown, encrusted in sequins and intricate beading.

L-R: Nicola Coughlin, Hannah Dodd, Harriet Gains and Hannah New attended the Bridgerton season three part two premiere at Odeon LUXE in London's Leicester Square on Wednesday evening

Nicola, 37, turned heads as she arrived in an off-the-shoulder pink gown, encrusted in sequins and intricate beading

She gave her ensemble even more dramatic flair with a lacy headpiece with a long tulle veil that trailed behind her on the red carpet

The figure-hugging number clung to her curves and showcased a glimpse of her cleavage, while featuring floral lace detailing on the neckline.

The Derry Girls star gave her ensemble even more dramatic flair with a lacy headpiece with a long tulle veil that trailed behind her on the red carpet.

She added a pair of burgundy velvet evening gloves for added glamour, and sported a Artists for Ceasefire pin - a creatives-led initiative demanding a ceasefire in Gaza.

Nicola posed up a storm for the cameras, before warmly embracing her co-star Luke Newton, with the onscreen couple holding hands on the red carpet.

The actress and the actor, 31, star as Penelope Featherington and Colin Bridgerton in the steamy period drama, with the third season following their friends to lovers romance.

Luke also pulled out all the stops for the event, putting on a very fashion forward display in a black woven co-ord.

He donned a futuristic blazer-style jacket, with pockets and zip detailing and decorated with embroidered flowers on the shoulders and sleeves.

He teamed it with a pair of coordinating oversized trousers and went shirtless underneath, allowing a glimpse at his toned chest.

The figure-hugging number clung to her curves and showcased a glimpse of her cleavage, while featuring floral lace detailing on the neckline

The Derry Girls star gave her ensemble even more dramatic flair with a lacy headpiece with a long tulle veil that trailed behind her on the red carpet

She added a pair of burgundy velvet evening gloves for added glamour, and sported a Artists for Ceasefire pin - a creatives-led initiative demanding a ceasefire in Gaza

Hannah put on a very leggy display in a silver metallic corset mini dress, while elevating her height in strappy heels (pictured with on-screen love interest Victor Alli)

Hannah portrays Francesca Bridgerton

Simone Ashley looked incredible in a pale peach mesh dress and satin bralette, teamed with matching heels

She portrays fan favourite leading lady Kate Sharma in the series

She then added extra sparkle to the ensemble with diamonds courtesy of Suaznna Kalan in the form of princess diamond drop earrings and an eternity ring

Simone posed for selfies with the crowd

Simone pictured on the show

On-screen sister and brother Claudia Jessie and Luke Thompson put on an animated display as they reunited on the red carpet

Claudia planted a sweet kiss on Luke's cheek

Nicola posed up a storm for the cameras, before warmly embracing her co-star Luke, with the onscreen couple holding hands on the red carpet

Season three of Bridgerton dropped last month, with eager fans wasting no time in settling down to devour the latest antics of the Regency era romantics

He donned a futuristic blazer-style jacket, with pockets and zip detailing and decorated with embroidered flowers on the shoulders and sleeves

He teamed it with a pair of coordinating oversized trousers and went shirtless underneath, allowing a glimpse at his toned chest

Luke completed his dashing look with artfully gelled hair and a pair of shiny black boots, adorned with more silver flowers

He graciously stopped to chat to the huge crowd of adoring fans and handed out a slew of autographs, signing copies of the book season three was based on, Romancing Mr Bridgerton by Julia Quinn

Luke completed his dashing look with artfully gelled hair and a pair of shiny black boots, adorned with more silver flowers.

Meanwhile, Hannah put on a very leggy display in a silver metallic corset mini dress, while elevating her height in strappy heels.

Simone Ashley, who plays Kathani 'Kate' Sharma in the period drama, stunned in nude bralette which boasted quirky pointed cups.

Simone overlayed this with a gorgeous sheer lace gown that featured ruffles and teased a glimpse of her jaw-dropping figure beneath.

She added extra sparkle to the ensemble with diamonds courtesy of Suaznna Kalan in the form of princess diamond drop earrings and an eternity ring.

On-screen sister and brother Claudia Jessie and Luke Thompson put on an animated display as they reunited on the red carpet.

Season three of Bridgerton dropped last month, with eager fans wasting no time in settling down to devour the latest antics of the Regency era romantics.

And the series seems to be back better than ever, as according to What's On Netflix, it pulled in a shocking 45.1M views within just four days of going global on Netflix.

Hannah New looked elegant in a black plunging gown

Harriet Cains looked typically chic in a cream lace gown with ruffle detail and black stiletto's

Joanna Bobin showed off her toned figure in a sheer black embellished gown with a daring split

Jessica Madsen flashed her toned abs in a tiny crop top and silver metallic midi skirt

She was all smiles as she posed for snaps at the lavish event

The on-screen mother and daughter posed for a snap together

Golda Rosheuvel wowed in an eye-catching floral blue gown

Will Tilston and Florence Hunt posed for a snap together

Ruth Gemmell posed up a storm in a navy blue gown

Kathryn Drysdale turned heads in an eye-catching purple satin gown

Big Brother star Marisha Wallace showed off her floral frock on the red carpet

Martins Imhangbe cut a dapper figure in a black velvet suit, shirt and shoes, while accessorising with a silver chain

Emma Naomi looked effortlessly chic in a chocolate chiffon dress by Michael Kors

Adjoa Andoh dressed to impress in a plunging black dress with a cinched in waist, teamed with a fedora and platform heels

Tyreece Nye looked sensational in a cream croset gown

Sam Phillips donned a bold red turtleneck jumper and a black blazer

After the romp-fest came under fire for its lack of steamy scenes in the second series, the first four episodes of series three treated viewers to at least six minutes of kissing, sex, threesomes and lesbian love-making.

But after being promised that this season is the steamiest yet, fans were still made to wait until the closing moments of part one for the central love story to really kick off.

Series three focuses on the long-awaited romance between Penelope and Colin, but the plotline of the best friends realising their true feelings proves to be a slow burner.

Part One ends on a steamy cliffhanger as after being unable to think of anyone else, Colin eventually declares his love for Penelope in a carriage after she was left heartbroken by Lord Debling.

During the encounter at the end of the fourth episode, Penelope admits that she'd 'very much like to be more than friends' with Colin, and the pair eventually kiss, going on to share quite the steamy scene together.

But just as they're getting into it, they arrive at the Bridgerton house, and after Colin fixes Penelope's dress and hair, he steps down from the carriage and puts out his hand to Penelope to ask whether she's coming with him.

Viewers can expect things to get even more steamy between the pair , with Nicola and Luke previously revealing that they filmed so many romps that by the end they were comfortable lounging around together naked between takes

Part One ends on a steamy cliffhanger as after being unable to think of anyone else, Colin eventually declares his love for Penelope in a carriage after she was left heartbroken by Lord Debling

And the trailer for part two has hinted at even more drama yet to come with tensions set to rise between the tons newest couple Penelope and Colin

The show was then left on a cliffhanger, as Colin hit fans with the iconic line from the Romancing Mister Bridgerton novel: 'For God's sake, Penelope Featherington, are you going to marry me or not?'

The second half of Bridgerton 's hotly anticipated third season is set for release on Thursday, June 13.

Fans are gagging to see what happens next in Penelope Featherington ( Nicola Coughlan ) and Colin Bridgerton's (Luke Newton) love story.

Viewers can expect things to get even more steamy between the pair , with Nicola and Luke previously revealing that they filmed so many romps that by the end they were comfortable lounging around together naked between takes.
Kanye West's wife Bianca Censori put on another jaw-dropping style display as she flaunted her posterior in a thong leotard for a shopping trip in Tokyo this week.

Censori, 29, who covered up earlier in the week, showcased her backside in a ribbed cream leotard as she picked out luxury items with West, 47 - whose ex-assistant has filed a bombshell, sexual harassment lawsuit against him.

The star flashed her toned legs in the scanty ensemble which she teamed with white rubber shoes as she walked through a public shopping mall.

Her locks were pulled back in a sleek bun as she held hands with the rapper - who was clad in a quirky white hooded tracksuit.

Bianca - who previously risked being banned from Venice over her risque outfits - also went braless in the sheer ensemble, appearing to leave shop assistants shocked over her attire.

Kanye West's wife Bianca Censori put on another jaw-dropping style display as she flaunted her posterior in a thong leotard for a shopping trip in Tokyo this week

Bianca - who previously risked being banned from Venice over her risque outfits - also went braless in the sheer ensemble, appearing to leave shop assistants shocked over her attire

Earlier this month, Kanye's ex-assistant, Lauren Pisciotta, filed a sexual harassment lawsuit against him. She also accused the star of wrongful termination as well as breach of contract.

Following being sued by his former employee, the rapper - who also goes by Ye - notably hit back and claimed she was fired due to 'lascivious and unhinged' conduct and had also demanded a whopping $4 million salary.

He also denied her claims, calling them 'baseless' and accused her of 'blackmail and extortion.' He declared he would file a countersuit but has yet to do so.

In the lawsuit, Lauren has also claimed that both West and Censori bragged about having a five-person orgy in one of many sexually explicit phone calls.

Pisciotta claimed in the complaint filed in the Los Angeles Superior Court that West frequently sent her explicit text messages and images.

These included video of himself having sex, and extreme oversharing about his sex life in what she claimed was an effort to get her to join in, it said.

The lawsuit explained that part of her duties - which involved being at West's beck and call 24 hours a day - was to organize transport for women to meet him.

'On one such occasion, in August 2022, after [Pisciotta] had arranged an Uber ride, Kanye West a.k.a. Ye and Bianca Censori called [her] wanting to discuss the orgy (five-some) they had participated in the day before,' the lawsuit claimed.

Censori, 29, who covered up earlier in the week , showcased her backside in a ribbed cream leotard as she picked out luxury items with West, 47 - whose ex-assistant has filed a bombshell, sexual harassment lawsuit against him

The pair were seen picking out outfits during the day

The star flashed her toned legs in the scanty ensemble which she teamed with white rubber shoes as she walked through a public shopping mall

The pair were seen enjoying a quiet meal together during the day

The couple looked in good spirits during the day

Pisciotta claimed the same month, West required her to take off her cardigan while she was in the Yeezy/Gap office 'because he said "it was covering too much."'

'Later that evening at the office, Kanye West a.k.a. Ye asked Bianca Censori and other female guests to perform oral sex on him and his male guests in the office changing room,' the lawsuit claimed.

'During this same time period, Kanye West a.k.a. Ye asked design assistants at the Yeezy/Gap office why [Pisciotta] would not want to have sex with him.

'[West] was extremely upset and angry that [Pisciotta] would date or have sex with someone else, but not him.'

Pisciotta claimed West told her he was turned on by the sound of her voice and often pleasured himself while on the phone to her, asking her if she could 'hear or guess what he was doing.'

Her lawsuit claimed her also did this in person one time on a flight to the Yeezy Fashion Show Paris on a private jet with other employees. She claimed he texted her asking for a 'hug' but she declined.

West, she claimed, previously sent her a photo of a couple embracing during sex, writing 'when I say I need a hug this is what I mean.' The photo and alleged text message were attached to the lawsuit.

Earlier this month, Kanye's ex-assistant, Lauren Pisciotta, filed a sexual harassment lawsuit against him. She also accused the star of wrongful termination as well as breach of contract

In the lawsuit, Lauren has also claimed that both West and Censori bragged about having a five-person orgy in one of many sexually explicit phone calls; seen in February in Milan

Pisciotta claimed after she refused the 'hug' on the plane, West came out of his room and said he needed to talk to her inside.

They went into his room, and he closed the door - trapping them inside together as the door couldn't be opened from the inside, she claimed.

West then lay down on the bed and masturbated under the covers until he fell asleep as she sat across from him in a chair, the lawsuit claimed.

Pisciotta in the lawsuit claimed West 'constantly asked about her current and past sex life' and insist on knowing intimate details.

She claimed that on another occasion at the Soho Warehouse in Los Angeles in early 2022, West asked a male guest if he could have sex with the woman who arrived with him.

Pisciotta claimed that other times West asked to have sex with her included when he followed her to the restroom at a work dinner and asked her to have a threesome with him, and when he FaceTimed her at home with a friend and asked to have phone sex with the friend.

Lauren has also claimed West sent her many graphic text messages and videos about sex, and incorporating scenarios involving raceplay and cuckoldry.

'See my problem is I be wanting to f**k but then after I f**k I want a girl to tell me how hard they been f**ked while I'm f**king them. Then I want her to cheat on me,' one allegedly read.

Shortly after the lawsuit was filed, Kanye hit back and claimed that she was fired due to 'lascivious and unhinged' conduct.

A legal representative for the music artist claimed to TMZ that Pisciotta's allegations are 'baseless' while also accusing the media personality of 'blackmail and extortion.'

'In response to these baseless allegations, Ye will be filing a lawsuit against Ms. Pisciotta, who actively pursued him sexually to coerce employment and other material benefits, then engaged in blackmail and extortion when her advances were rejected.'

Kanye's rep also alleged that Lauren stole the star's phone in order to try to delete evidence that would contradict claims in her own lawsuit.

West claimed that his former employee was terminated due to various reasons, including Pisciotta not being qualified for the position, allegedly asking for a $4 million salary and also accused her of 'lascivious, unhinged conduct.'

His team further alleged that along with the large salary demands, she had also requested for expensive and extravagant items, such as a Birkin bag and a Lamborghini.

Lauren has also claimed West sent her many graphic text messages and videos about sex, and incorporating scenarios involving raceplay and cuckoldry; West and Censori seen above

A legal representative for the music artist claimed to TMZ that Pisciotta's allegations are 'baseless' while also accusing the media personality of 'blackmail and extortion'

His rep also claimed to TMZ that Lauren had sent nudes to the rapper and 'solicited' the star for sex.

When Kanye refused to follow suit with what she had demanded, his rep told the outlet that Lauren tried to allegedly extort and blackmail him, such as asking for large sums of money before choosing to file the lawsuit.

'It is evident that Ms. Pisciotta leveraged her association with Ye and his company,' the rep continued.

'And her proximity to him, to seek material gains, clout, and employment through inappropriate means,' his teamed said, further claiming that Lauren has not been truthful in terms of her claims.
A man who was interviewed about a Dublin hotel fire turned out to be a major Hollywood legend - and his response to the ordeal has captured the hearts of thousands of people across the web.

Guests of the Shelbourne Hotel were forced to evacuate on Wednesday morning, and a local news outlet rushed to the scene to interview some of them about the incident.

But one turned out to be a massive actor - Happy Days actor Henry Winkler - and his epic response after a newscaster asked for his take on the situation has gone viral.

Despite being woken up by the blaring fire alarm and having to rush outside, the star was in great spirits - and he even took time to thank the firefighters for their hard work.

'When I heard the fire alarm, I thought it was the clock radio,' Henry told Irish publication RTE News.

Happy Days star Henry Winkler has gone viral thanks to his epic response after a newscaster stopped him on the street to interview him about a hotel fire

The actor, 78, who famously played The Fonz in the ABC sitcom, was forced to evacuate the hotel he was staying at in Dublin (seen) this morning due to an emergency

Local news outlets rushed to the scene to get the scoop, and when one asked Henry for his take on the situation, his response captured the hearts of thousands of people on the web

Despite being woken up by the blaring fire alarm and having to rush outside, the star was in great spirits

'I thought somebody had set the alarm before we got there, like another guest. Finally, I went into another room and it was still buzzing, so I called downstairs.

'The woman said in a very calm voice, "Yes, we're all evacuating. You must evacuate right now." And I left.'

The actor explained that he had arrived late the night before after his flight got delayed by hours, only to be woken in the morning from the alarm.

But he was not in a bad mood despite the lack of sleep, and was spotted smiling, chatting with other guests, and shaking hands with the firefighters afterwards.

'Fireman are some of my favorite human beings, firemen and firewomen,' he added to RTE.

'They run in when other people are running out. I think their hands deserve to be shook.'

'It was an amazing adventure right here in Dublin. I cannot wait to see the rest of Dublin,' he concluded.

According to the outlet, the fire alarms at the Shelbourne Hotel went off about 10:30am and a witness said 'he saw smoke coming from one of the upper bedroom windows.'

He even took time to thank the firefighters for their hard work

After the incident, he posted a selfie with some of the firefighters to X, writing, 'Thank you Dublin's fire department our hotel was evacuated on our first morning'

Dublin Fire Brigade Colm Kershaw later said that the fire was 'confined' to one room and that there was 'minimal damage.'

The actor explained that he had arrived late last night after his flight got delayed by hours, only to be woken in the morning from the alarm. But he was not in a bad mood despite the lack of sleep. He's seen in Happy Days

'The crews got up there fairly quick and got water on it. We had the floor isolated and we got it out fairly quick,' he revealed.

Back in 2013, Henry was involved in a similar scenario when a BBC reporter was asking Londoners what they thought about a new runway coming to Heathrow airport.

He stopped Henry to ask his opinion on the matter, who kindly told him he wasn't a UK resident but that he thought it would be a good way to improve the 'economy.'

During the quick interaction, Henry explained that that he was spending time in Richmond, where Heathrow was located, for work; he was in the midst of starring as Captain Hook in the Pantomime version of Peter Pan.

'There I was, getting into my stride when suddenly a middle aged man hove in to view, scarf round his neck, shopping bags to hand,' the reporter later wrote of the experience.

'He looked a promising interviewee so I lunged forward, began my spiel and immediately realized I was addressing no less a figure than the Fonz.

'Instantly I became a gabbling, star-struck idiot, asking if he had a vote here (doh! he's an American actor), how his pantomime was going and even if he had a view on Heathrow (what was I thinking?).

'As it turned out, he did have an opinion and a small TV moment was born. For the record, it was not a set-up, it was a totally random meeting.

'I did know he was Henry Winkler but it took a moment to sink in; and yes, as a resident of Richmond - albeit a temporary one - he has just as much a right to an opinion as anyone.'

Henry's positive attitude, as well as his gratitude to the workers amidst the annoyance left social media users in awe on Wednesday.

Immediately, X, formerly Twitter, erupted with posts about his involvement in the ordeal.

'Don't care about the other patrons. As long as Henry Winkler is safe. He is to be protected at all costs,' one person wrote.

'Fireman are some of my favorite human beings, firemen and firewomen,' he said to RTE. 'They run in when other people are running out. I think their hands deserve to be shook'

'One of the best people on God's green earth,' another agreed. 'Ireland might have become an international pariah if we'd killed Henry Winkler.'

'It's often said Henry Winkler is one of the nicest people in Hollywood, I can see what these people are talking about,' someone else added. 'Imagine being so positive after a disastrous beginning to your trip.'

Someone else found the 'sheer luck' of a journalist going to cover a small hotel fire and 'randomly finding Henry Winkler there to interview' amusing.

'Assignment editor: Go to the scene and get victim impact. Reporter: I present you, The Fonz,' a fifth tweet read.

A sixth said, 'Imagine being the reporter sent to cover the fire and seeing Henry freaking Winkler.'

Back in 2013, Henry was involved in a similar scenario when a BBC reporter was asking Londoners what they thought about a new runway coming to Heathrow airport

Another user said they saw the news segment on TV and had to do a 'double take' when Henry popped up.

He stopped Henry to ask his opinion on the matter, who kindly told him he wasn't a UK resident but that he thought it would be a good way to improve the 'economy'

While someone else described the video as 'unexpected wholesomeness.'

'He seems like such a genuinely nice person, just great vibes radiating from him,' wrote a different person.

Henry is in Dublin to promote his new memoir, Being Henry - The Fonz and Beyond.

After the incident, he posted a selfie with some of the firefighters to X, writing, 'Thank you Dublin's fire department our hotel was evacuated on our first morning.'

Henry's positive attitude, as well as his gratitude to the workers amidst the annoyance left social media users in awe
Fans of Empire got a treat on Wednesday when its stars Terrence Howard and Taraji P. Henson reunited for a new project.

The 55-year-old Hustle star and the 53-year-old Hidden Figures actress join Kevin Hart, Samuel L. Jackson, Chloe Bailey and Don Cheadle in the new teaser trailer for Peacock's limited series Fight Night: The Million Dollar Heist, which was released on Wednesday.

The show, which is based on the iHeart podcast of the same name, details a major armed robbery that occurred after Muhammed Ali's triumphant comeback fight against 'Irish' Jerry Quarry.

The on-screen pairing for Terrence and Taraji comes just over four years after their hit Fox series Empire wrapped up after six seasons.

The teaser opens at a party raging as Ali is seen pummeling Quarry on a television.

Fans of Empire got a treat on Wednesday when its stars Terrence Howard and Taraji P. Henson reunited in the teaser trailer for Peacock's limited series Fight Night: The Million Dollar Heist

The on-screen pairing for Terrence and Taraji comes just over four years after their hit Fox series Empire wrapped up after six seasons

Hart, who plays Chicken Man, is seen dancing at the party, and he also handles narration duties in the teaser.

The comedian is dressed in an over-the-top outfit with a snakeskin sport coat with black satin peaked lapels, which effectively captures the excesses of the era.

He calls the evening 'the biggest night in Atlanta history,' and says there was only 'one place you had to be,' which is the party celebrating Ali's victory.

As he talks up the shindig, the teaser cuts from Hart to show Taraji, who plays Vivian Thomas, as she dramatically struts through the party in a lustrous plunging pink satin dress.

There seems to be gambling going on, as a grinning Samuel L. Jackson, who plays Frank Moten, is next seen celebrating at a table after a winning bet.

He's made up with a mustache and an Afro wig with a gray streak, along with a period-appropriate postal blue suit with wide peaked lapels.

Terrence Howard also makes an appearance in the teaser as he cheers after making a winning bet at the roulette table.

The actor, who plays Richard Wheeler, wears an outrageous blown-out brown wig, which raised questions on social media after he sat down for an interview about his lawsuit against his talent agency Creative Arts Agency (CAA) over his alleged underpayment on Empire.

Although the teaser makes it clear that his wig and outfit were just part of his costume, which suggests he did the interview during downtime near the set, fans who weren't aware of that thought the ensemble indicated Terrence was losing his mind.

The show, which is based on the iHeart podcast of the same name, details a major armed robbery that occurred after Muhammed Ali's triumphant comeback fight against 'Irish' Jerry Quarry (pictured)

Hart, who plays Chicken Man, is seen dancing at the party, and he also handles narration duties in the teaser

There seems to be gambling going on, as a grinning Samuel L. Jackson, who plays Frank Moten, is next seen celebrating at a table after a winning bet

Terrence Howard also makes an appearance in the teaser as he cheers after making a winning bet at the roulette table

Chloe Bailey, who plays Lena Mosley, is the last of the main cast members briefly glimpsed at the party, though she isn't celebrating and instead had a somber look on her face that might indicate the knowledge of a crime to come.

'This little shindig is just the beginning,' Hart says via narration after most of the main cast has been introduced.

Oddly, the trailer then seems to reintroduce the same characters by simply showing slightly longer versions of the same clips with Jackson and Howard, suggesting that there may not have been much completed footage available to edit into the teaser.

As the score suddenly takes an ominous turn, Hart says in voiceover: 'Something's bound to go down.'

Fittingly, a trio of masked robbers armed with shotguns are seen amassing outside the home where the party is being held.

They open the seemingly unlocked door before the teaser cuts to a title card.

'Everyone get on the f***ing ground!' one of the robbers shouts at the crowd.

The violence at the party amid the robber isn't shown, and the teaser instead cuts to the next morning, when Don Cheadle is introduced as Detective JD Hudson.

He strolls into the home, which is filled with police officers dusting for finger prints and examining possible evidence.

'This whole city's about to be a crime scene,' he says in voiceover as he turns his head dramatically toward the camera.

It's not clear if Taraji and Terrence's characters will have significant scenes together, or if they are just parts of a larger ensemble cast.

But the fun is shattered when masked men armed with shotguns break into the private home and steal hundreds of thousands from a crowd of over 200 people

In their previous series, Empire, Terrence starred as the drug dealerturnedhip hop mogul Lucious Lyon, who is forced to choose a successor among his sons to run his label after his impending death from ALS

But his plans, which critics compared to Shakespeare's King Lear, are shaken up when his ex-wife Cookie Lyon returns to the fold after she finishes up a 17-year prison sentence. The exes battle to take the top spot at Lucious' label, while also vying for the love of their three sons

In their previous series, Empire, Terrence starred as the drug dealerturnedhip hop mogul Lucious Lyon, who is forced to choose a successor among his sons to run his label after his impending death from ALS.

But his plans, which critics compared to Shakespeare's King Lear, are shaken up when his ex-wife Cookie Lyon returns to the fold after she finishes up a 17-year prison sentence.

The exes battle to take the top spot at Lucious' label, while also vying for the love of their three sons.

The show was a critical and commercial hit, but it ended with its sixth season, which was shot after Jussie Smollet left the show after being charged with filing a false police report in response to a racist attack that he staged.
Bhad Bhabie was detained by police in a case of mistaken identity this week.

The rapper, 20 - who is best known for her viral Cash Me Outside catchphrase - was filmed surrounded by police officers and squad cars at a 76 gas station near Woodland Hills, California, in a video obtained by TMZ.

The star - real name Danielle Bregoli - was seen talking to police - with sources revealing she had been driving her Mercedes when she was followed by three patrol cars. When she stopped at the gas station, they swarmed her.

She was detained for a brief period but let go after an investigation.

Law enforcement sources told the publication police were responding to a burglary radio call on the 4500 block of Winnetka Circle in Woodland Hills - with the star's Mercedes matching the description of the burglary suspect.

Bhad Bhabie was detained by police in a case of mistaken identity this week - pictured with boyfriend Le Vaughn in February

Officers spoke with Bhad Bhabie and her boyfriend Le Vaughn and have them their business cards, with the star said to be cooperative.

The star released a statement on the incident, writing: 'Yesterday we got pulled over by LAPD. They eventually released us and explained they were looking for a similar vehicle that matched the description of a car involved in criminal activity.

'We are okay but a bit shaken up. Luckily my daughter was not in the vehicle at the time.'

The star welcomed daughter Kali Love in March.

Having announced late last year in December that she was expecting her first child, she opened up to People about how she first discovered she was pregnant while also revealing her name.

The rapper, 20 - who is best known for her viral Cash Me Outside catchphrase - was filmed surrounded by police officers and squad cars at a 76 gas station near Woodland Hills, California , in a video obtained by TMZ

Law enforcement sources told the publication police were responding to a burglary radio call nearby - with the star's Mercedes matching the description of the burglary suspect - the star's baby daughter was not in the car at the time

She wrote on Instagram: 'We are okay but a bit shaken up. Luckily my daughter was not in the vehicle at the time.'

Bregoli explained: 'The name doesn't really have any specific meaning.

'It's just his mom picked the middle name and then I had a list of five names I liked, and Kali was one of them.'

The influencer added, 'I thought that Love went good with Kali.'

She found out she was pregnant last year in July and recalled

'I was a day late and I took a test  but I took a test only a day late  because I was just eating so much and I felt like something was off,' she explained.

She said the test came back positive, and she immediately went to tell her boyfriend even though he 'was still asleep' because she was 'just too eager to tell him'.

'I probably could have did it in a cute way, but I just woke him up and was like, "Look, look, look!"'

Later that same month, Bregoli did a gender reveal via a Marc Jacobs campaign.

The Gucci Flip Flops rapper and Le Vaughn began dating in July 2020 and have been together for over three years.

In early December 2023, Bhabie announced that she was pregnant with her first child with her boyfriend. He has a son from a previous relationship.

She took to Instagram to share two mirror selfies, in which she wore a figure-hugging, white camisole showcasing off her baby bump.

In the since-deleted post, she opted out of a caption as she shared the exciting news with her followers.

Over a month ago in February, Bhabie shared photos from their lavish baby shower.

Bhabie first rose to fame after her viral appearance on Dr. Phil in 2016 in which she coined her signature catchphrase: 'Cash me outside. How bout dat?'
Jackie 'O' Henderson has revealed which accent 'turns her on'.

'The Australian accent does it for me, for sure,' said the 49-year-old radio queen during Thursday morning's Kyle and Jackie O Show.

'I love Australian men, I think they're the hottest,' she continued, with co-host Kyle Sandilands linking the preference to her previous failed marriages.

'You've never married one! Out of all [your] marriages,' exclaimed the 53-year-old shock jock.

Both Jackie's ex husbands, 'Ugly' Phil O'Neil and Lee Henderson, were born in England.

Jackie 'O' Henderson has revealed which accent 'turns her on'. 'The Australian accent does it for me, for sure,' said the 49-year-old radio queen during Thursday morning's Kyle and Jackie O Show

'I want an Aussie man, I don't want a British man or a French man,' insisted Jackie.

'If I was going to settle down I would definitely want an Aussie guy.'

The media personality has been married twice in the past with her first husband being DJ 'Ugly' Phil O'Neil in the late '90s.

Following their divorce, Phil moved to the United Kingdom where he was originally born.

Both Jackie's ex husbands, 'Ugly' Phil O'Neil and Lee Henderson (pictured with Henderson in 2004) were born in England

The media personality has been married twice in the past with her first husband being DJ 'Ugly' Phil O'Neil (pictured) in the late '90s

Jackie went on to marry UK photographer Lee in 2003 with the pair welcoming their daughter Catalina 'Kitty' Henderson in December 2010.

The couple announced their separation in October 2018 but continue to have an amicable relationship as they co-parent their daughter.

Lee was last seen dating tattooed jujitsu instructor Gabriella Motta.

Meanwhile, Jackie is rumoured to be seeing 29-year-old model Jack Tyerman, which she has denied despite the pair frequently being seen together.
The BBC have released new photos from Jenna Coleman and Tom Glynn-Carney's gritty upcoming crime drama The Jetty.

Jenna, 38, portrays Detective Ember Manning in the new series. The character played Tom, 29 - best known for his role as Aegon II Targaryen in HBO drama House Of Dragon - has not yet been revealed.

The new show also stars Archie Renaux, known for his roles in The Greatest Beer Run, Shadow and Bone, and Romulus.

The four-part series follows the aftermath of a fire tearing through a lake house in the aptly named Detective Ember's scenic Lancashire town.

Ember attempts to find out how the fire links to a podcast journalist investigating a missing person's cold case as well as a disturbing love triangle between a man in his twenties and two underage girls.

The BBC on Wednesday released new photos from Jenna Coleman, 38, and House Of Dragon 's Tom Glynn-Carney's, 29, gritty upcoming crime drama The Jetty

Jenna portrays Detective Ember Manning in the new series. The character played by Aegon II Targaryen actor Tom (pictured) has not yet been revealed

Also starring is Archie Renaux (pictured to the left of Jenna), known for his roles in The Greatest Beer Run, Shadow and Bone, and Romulus

The unfortunate truth threatens to destroy Ember's life, forcing her to re-evaluate everything she thought she knew about her past, present and the town shes always called home.

As much a coming-of-age story as a detective thriller, The Jetty asks big questions about sexual morality, identity and memory, in the places that Me Too has left behind.

Jenna told the BBC of the project: 'Working with BBC and Firebird Pictures on bringing the complex and enigmatic character of Ember Manning to life has been an incredible experience.

'I cant wait for everyone to meet this new heroine and to find out whats lurking beneath the surface of The Jetty.'

The series also stars female actresses Ruby Stokes (Lockwood & Co., Rocks, Una), Weruche Opia (High Desert, Slumberland, I May Destroy You), and Amelia Bullmore (Happy Valley, The Larkins, Scott and Bailey).

Also featuring are Matthew McNulty (The Rising, Domina, The Terror), Ralph Ineson (Nosferatu, The Witch, Green Knight), David Ajala (Italian Studies), Nina Barker-Francis (The Flash), Miya Ocego (I Hate Suzie), and Elliot Cowan (The Crown).

The cast is completed by Arthur Hughes (Then Barbara Met Alan, Help), Dominic Coleman (Paddington, Trollied), and Ruaridh Mollica (Sebastian, Red Rose), Laura Marcus (The Great Escaper, Bad Education), and Bo Bragason (The Ballad of Renegade Nell, The Radleys).

The Jetty was written and created by Cat Jones and produced by Firebird Pictures, owned by the BBC, for BBC iPlayer and BBC One.

Tom is known for his role as tyrant Aegon II Targaryen in Game Of Thrones prequel House Of The Dragon

The four-part series follows the aftermath of a fire tearing through a lake house in the aptly named Detective Ember's scenic Lancashire town (pictured with actress Ruby Stokes)

Ember attempts to link the fire links to a missing person's case as well as a disturbing love triangle between a man in his twenties and two girls (pictured: Laura Marcus and Bragason)

The truth threatens to destroy Ember's life, forcing her to re-evaluate everything she thought she knew about her past, present and the town shes always called home (pictured: Archie)

As much a coming-of-age story as a detective thriller, The Jetty asks big questions about sexual morality, identity and memory (pictured: Weruche Opia)

The series was directed by Marialy Rivas (Young & Wild, Perry Mason, Princesita), and produced by Natasha Romaniuk.

The executive producers are Elizabeth Kilgarriff, Cat Jones, Sarah Wyatt, Marialy Rivas, Jenna Coleman and Jo McClellan for the BBC.

Filming has wrapped and the series will launch on BBC iPlayer and BBC One in a matter of weeks and the BBC gave a first look at the thriller series back in January.

Jenna is known for her roles in Captain America: The First Avenger, Me Before You, and Doctor Who.
Sienna Miller has admitted that she initially struggled with the age between herself and her boyfriend Oli Green and 'didn't expect' their relationship to become so serious as a result.

The LA-based actor, 27, might be 15 years Sienna's junior but she has revealed that he is more respectful than men of her own generation.

The Golden Globe-nominated actress, 42, who welcomed a daughter with Oli in January, praised Oli as 'wise and well-adjusted'.

In an interview with Harpers Bazaar magazine, Sienna, who met her toyboy lover at a Halloween party in 2021, said: 'I didn't expect to take it seriously and then quite quickly, I fell in love.

'I wasn't like, "I'm gonna get a younger boyfriend." It was more, "F*ck! Why are you young? That's so annoying."'

Sienna Miller, 42, has admitted she initially struggled with the age between herself and her boyfriend Oli Green, 27, and 'didn't expect' their relationship to become so serious as a result

For the cover she wowed in a gold sequin mini dress with a Gucci belt as she fixed the camera with a sultry stare

The Golden Globe-nominated actress, who welcomed a daughter with Oli in January, praised him as 'wise and well-adjusted' (both pictured in Cannes in May)

Sienna continued: 'There is a difference in the way that generation of men respect women. It's specific to him, he is very wise and well-adjusted, but I do believe it's also that generation.

'They have grown up with a slightly more level playing field. I see it in his female friends as well as in the men.'

Sienna also told the publication how she is 'heaven' since welcoming her second daughter, whose name she has yet to publicly announce, and that the experience has been both 'healing' and 'cathartic.'

She shares another daughter, Marlowe, 11, with her ex-boyfriend Tom Sturridge, whom she dated between 2011 and 2015.

Sienna said of her new daughter: 'She's magical. It's amazing when you have these little people and there's a universe inside their heads. Her father is incredibly bright, but also very deep.

'And she's straddling this kind of comedy-jokester part of me and this intensity that comes from his brilliant mind.'

Meanwhile, the star, who has a sell-out clothing range with Marks and Spencer, addressed working in a male-dominated industry through the nineties.

Sienna said: 'She used to talk herself into different shapes to make men feel more comfortable.

Sienna also said she is 'heaven' since welcoming her second daughter, whose name she has yet to publicly announce, and that the experience has been 'healing' and 'cathartic'

She spoke about her joy at working with Kevin Costner on Western saga Horizon, describing the actor, 69, as her 'first love'

Sienna is undergoing a renaissance with fans and commentators are declaring that the British actress has 'never looked better' despite the demands of work and having a young family

'It was a slightly belittling time. I could talk myself into all sorts of shapes to make the men in the room feel comfortable. And God forbid that you offend a man's ego by rejecting them.

'It's interesting, being older now, and having been raised in that moment, learning from people who are younger about how clear they are in their boundaries, having that self-assuredness and self-advocacy, having "no" in the repertoire in a way that we just weren't encouraged to have.

'I feel much more balanced and settled and wise. I think I've got some wisdom from all of the things I've been through. The more interesting and complicated your life is, the better you'll end up being.'

Sienna appears in Kevin Costner's latest Western Saga Horizon which received a 10-minute standing ovation at Cannes Film Festival in May.

Revealing her surprise when the Hollywood A-Lister wanted to work with her, she said: 'Kevin sent me the four scripts, and they were astounding.

'Then he asked to Zoom, and I was thinking, "Be still my Nineties heart!" because I had been obsessed with Kevin Costner growing up.

'He was my first love. At the end he said, "Sienna, I have one question for you: will you go West with me?" I died. I said, "I would go to Mars and back with you, Kevin."'

Sienna is undergoing a renaissance with fans and commentators are declaring that the British actress has 'never looked better' despite the demands of work and having a young family.

As well as the five-month-old she shares with Oli, Sienna has daughter Marlowe, 11, with her ex partner Tom Sturridge (pictured: Sienna, Marlowe, and Oli in Cannes in May)

Brand and Culture Expert Nick Ede told MailOnline that he predicts that Sienna could be about to 'steal the crown to become the UK's biggest Hollywood star'.

He said: 'Sienna's been looking after herself and got herself red carpet ready knowing this is going to be her big return to the big screen and knowing all eyes will be on her.

'She's done everything right and she commands The Croisette - the beating heart of Cannes.'

The July/August issue of Harper's Bazaar UK is on sale from June 13.
Housing markets on Florida's west coast are cooling faster than anywhere else in the US, new data reveals.

New construction is soaring - bringing the number of listings up to pre-pandemic levels - which means there is less competition for each home.

On top of that, soaring insurance costs and a sharp rise in natural disasters are discouraging people from settling in the area.

A cooling housing market typically occurs when there are more sellers than buyers. Prices fall and homes sell slowly - and below the asking price - while inventory levels creep up.

The opposite happened in Florida during the pandemic when it became one of America's hottest markets - but there now appears to be a reversal. It gives hope to those wanting to buy, but is a huge blow to those who purchased in recent years.

The housing market in North Port is cooling fastest - followed by Tampa and Cape Coral, according to the fresh analysis from Redfin.

Tampa is among the cooling house markets on Florida's west coast

The cooling of these former red-hot markets shows the pandemic-era homebuying boom in Florida fading further into the rearview mirror, Redfin said.

There are also three other Florida metros on the list of the ten markets which cooled the quickest between April 2023 and April 2024, Redfin found. These are Orlando, Jacksonville and Lakeland.

Redfin measured year-over-year changes in home prices, price drops, inventory, sale-to-list price ratio and the share of homes that sold within two weeks.

In North Port, which is located in Sarasota County between Tampa and Fort Myers, the supply of homes for sale is up 68 percent year over year - the second-biggest increase of the metros analyzed by the real estate company.

The median price per square foot is down 1.2 percent, and 42.6 percent of sellers are dropping their asking price in the city.

A few years ago, the Sunshine State's housing market was seen as one of the most competitive in the US. It was seen as affordable for remote workers, which lead to a shortage of homes for sale.

In Tampa, which also saw a surge of homebuyers during the pandemic, 43.1 percent of sellers are now dropping their asking prices, and the supply of homes is up 62.9 percent from April last year.

Meanwhile, in Cape Coral, inventory is up 64 percent, the median price per square foot is down 2.9 percent, and 37.5 percent of sellers are dropping their price - up from 32.9 percent a year earlier.

Florida is building more new homes than any other state - aside from Texas which is also home to two of the nation's fastest-cooling housing markets.

This building boom is coming at a time when high prices and mortgage rates are dampening buyer demand.

In Cape Coral, inventory is up 64 percent, and the median price per square foot is down 2.9 percent

Increasing natural disasters are putting people off buying in Florida (Pictured: Damage from Hurricane Ian in 2022)

Despite prices softening, buyers still face challenges in the area, said Isabel Arias-Squires, a Redfin agent in Cape Coral

An increasing intensity of natural disasters - and higher insurance premiums as a result - is also putting buyers off, according to Redfin.

In the Cape Coral metro alone, Hurricane Ian in 2022 destroyed 5,000 homes and damaged nearly 30,000 more.

Homeowners in Florida already pay the highest premiums for coverage in the US, at an average of $10,996 a year in 2023, according to separate data from Insurify.

This will increase a further 7 percent this year, according to projections from the company, hiking the typical premium in the state to a huge $11,759.

'Despite prices softening and the influx of listings, today's local buyers face challenges with elevated mortgage rates, special assessments and the complexities of securing affordable flood insurance,' said Isabel Arias-Squires, a Redfin Premier agent in the Cape Coral area.

'Inventory is back up to pre-pandemic levels along the west coast of Florida as natural disasters continue to shape the region's housing market by leading to more supply and less demand,' added Redfin Senior Economist Elijah de la Campa.

'Construction is booming in the wake of recent climate disasters, and there's less demand to buy new homes as the region braces for another intense hurricane season.'

Following Cape Coral on the list of metros with the fastest-cooling housing markets are Orlando, Florida, Denver, Colorado, Houston, Texas, Minneapolis, Minnesota, Jacksonville, Florida, Lakeland, Florida, and Dallas, Texas.

On the other hand, housing markets in western New York and the Midwest are holding up best.

Rochester, New York, is the US market which is heating up the most, according to Redfin, followed by Lake County, Illinois, and Buffalo, New York.
Benchmark equity indices Sensex and Nifty ended lower on Monday after hitting their all-time high levels in early trade amid selling in blue-chip IT stocks and HDFC Bank.

After breaching the 77,000-mark during the early trade, the 30-share BSE Sensex came under selling pressure at the fag-end of the session and ended 203.28 points or 0.27 per cent lower at 76,490.08. During the day, the benchmark jumped 385.68 points or 0.50 per cent to hit a new record of 77,079.04.

Halting its three-day rally, the NSE Nifty dipped 30.95 points or 0.13 per cent to settle at 23,259.20. Intra-day, it climbed 121.75 points or 0.52 per cent to hit the lifetime peak of 23,411.90.

Narendra Modi was sworn in as Prime Minister on Sunday for a record-equalling third term, heading a 72-member Union Council of Ministers that put emphasis on continuity, youth and experience, while also rewarding partners in the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government.

Among the 30 Sensex companies, Tech Mahindra, Infosys, Wipro, Bajaj Finance, Mahindra & Mahindra, HDFC Bank, HCL Technologies and Tata Consultancy Services were among the major laggards.

UltraTech Cement, Power Grid, Nestle, NTPC, Tata Steel and Axis Bank were among the biggest gainers.

Volatility returned to markets, as Sensex slipped from its new high and fell sharply towards the close amid profit-taking in IT, metals and oil & gas stocks. Lacklustre sentiment also prevailed due to weak global cues after recent data from the US indicated that rate cut may not happen soon, said Prashanth Tapse, Senior VP (Research), Mehta Equities Ltd.

In the broader market, the BSE smallcap gauge climbed 1.04 per cent and midcap index jumped 0.56 per cent.

Among the indices, services rallied 1.61 per cent, realty jumped 1.34 per cent, commodities (1.28 per cent), utilities (1.11 per cent), healthcare (0.77 per cent) and industrials (0.49 per cent).

IT, auto, metal and teck were the laggards.

Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) bought equities worth Rs 4,391.02 crore on Friday, according to exchange data.

The Indian market currently lacks fresh catalysts following the formation of the new government at the centre, suggesting that some consolidation may occur in the near term. Institutional flows indicate a mixed trend, with FIIs gradually covering their shorts and DIIs booking profits after the market reached historic highs, said Vinod Nair, Head of Research, Geojit Financial Services.

In Asian markets, Tokyo settled in the green while Seoul ended lower. Markets in China and Hong Kong were closed for holidays.

European markets were trading in the negative territory. US markets ended lower on Friday.

Global oil benchmark Brent crude climbed 0.18 per cent to USD 79.76 a barrel.

The BSE benchmark ended at 76,693.36, up 1,618.85 points or 2.16 per cent, on Friday. The Nifty settled with a jump of 468.75 points or 2.05 per cent at 23,290.15.
The BJP poll machinery's aggressive narrative proved to be counterproductive; its now time to change the nature of dialogue from confrontation to consensus

The seamless swearing in of Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the third term, given the fractured mandate handed out by voters in the Lok Sabha elections in 2024, must have come as big relief for those who invest in the Indian market. The investor could be a small-time shareholder or a rich corporate professional.

The economic reforms launched by Dr Manmohan Singh, the Finance Minister in the Narasimha Rao Government in 1991, have tumbled on through the regimes of another five Prime Ministers, who followed Rao, including Manmohan Singh himself. The importance of the continuity of these reforms can be gauged from the fact that in the past three decades, it has lifted more than 50 crore Indians out of mortifying poverty.

From the economic point of view, the Narendra Modi Government's biggest shortcoming during its second term, which had a very strong mandate, was its inability to carry out farm reforms. It faltered in communicating to the farmers the benefits of the new agriculture laws and the profits it could accrue to the farm hands.

The negative narrative perpetuated by the communication machinery of the Modi regime, which was largely taken over by the IT Cell of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), proved to be an impediment not just in the implementation of the farm legislations but also failed to immerse the spirit of Hindu pride in the months following the consecration of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya.

An aggressive narrative, borrowed from the cantankerous television debates and not necessarily backed by facts, on the social media platforms prove to be counterproductive. With the rise of the fact-checking tools, the decisions to let Jawaharlal's Nehru's love stories and propaganda of similar genre overshadow the Narendra Modi Government's achievements proved to be one of the biggest deflating factors in the BJP's campaign of 2024, with the party falling way short of the halfway mark.

The communication battle on the farm laws, instead of focusing on the merits of the reforms, became a fight between the Hindustanis and Khalistanis. The attempt to paint those opposed to the reforms as espousing the agenda of Balkanisation was ill thought of, and the BJP has paid a heavy price for it electorally not just in Punjab but across the farmlands of the country.

Several other initiatives which could have welded people strongly in the support of the Modi 2.0, got undone by the showing of the brute power of large numbers, not as much on the ground, as in the narratives floated by the establishment's publicity arm. The whole attitude to run down the 'Argumentative Indian', an expression borrowed from the title of the bestseller by Amartya Sen, as anti-national in the event of s/he not agreeing with the Government only helped firm up the anti-Government stand than making them fall in the Government's line.

The biggest question which must be haunting the BJP leadership is that when the residents of Uttar Pradesh took an "overwhelming" part in the celebration of the consecration of the Ram Temple, why did it not endorse the party as enthusiastically when it came to the electoral battle? Once again, the propaganda machinery only helped turn a happy moment into an instant of loyalty test.

It was seen that handing out an invitation to the Opposition leaders to a 'quasi-political' function was to get them to refuse and get branded as 'anti-Hindu'. No communication expert would ever prepare a model which would spend time in their hour of glory on the rivals. The narrative so floated in the end created a situation where the 'homecoming' for Ram Lalla got overtaken by 'Ayodhya-coming' of the Opposition leaders.

Today, the BJP Government is perched on the support of Chandrababu Naidu's Telugu Desam Party and Nitish Kumar's Janata Dal (United). Both the leaders did not come to Ayodhya but have come to the support of Narendra Modi 3.0. In the past, they have even called the Ramjanambhoomi Movement as a 'political project' of the BJP.

The latest narrative of the open denouncement of the voters of Uttar Pradesh by the BJP's extended family will certainly not find traction with either Kumar or Naidu. The castes and communities who did not vote for the BJP voted for Kumar and Naidu in their respective States.

The call of the hour is to change the nature of the dialogue from confrontation to consensus, not only among the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) partners but among all the stakeholders of India, that is Bharat. The demand of the situation is to push the economic and strategic agenda as statecraft than a tool to demonise and belittling those opposed to the Government.

(The writer is an author and president of the Centre for Reforms, Development & Justice; views are personal.)
Though winning a third term is a significant achievement, the Prime Minister's future now majorly depends on the demands made by his coalition partners

The new National Democratic Alliance (NDA) coalition Government led by Narendra Modi has just taken office, and it's too early to predict how it will perform. India is familiar with coalitions, as it has a messy history of multi-party Governments.

Former Prime Minister and BJP leader Atal Bihari Vajpayee also faced an unprecedented alliance of 24 parties from 1998 to 2004. India has experience with coalition Governments, which are known for being somewhat tumultuous.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi winning a third term is a significant achievement in his political career. His party got only 240 out of the 272 seats to govern independently. So, he now leads a coalition Government with the National Democratic Alliance allies. His future depends on his partners. Modi is too smart a politician not to understand what the situation requires of him.

The NDA is a political coalition of Centre-Right parties led by the right-wing Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The allies secured 43 seats in the recent elections, bringing the NDA's total to 283 seats, 11 more than the required number to form the Government.

This is a new situation for Modi. As a leader who believed in centralising power, forming a coalition Government challenges Modi's authority. This change could significantly alter the course of his political agenda, potentially resulting in a greater emphasis on policies that appeal to the varied coalition partners rather than the BJP's agenda. The formation of the NDA coalition's Government could lead to a shift in the Government's priorities. There might be a greater emphasis on the coalition's policies and a potential moderation of Modi's religious nationalist agenda. This could have far-reaching implications for India's political and social fabric.

Modi, now in his third term, is expected to continue his policies on economic reform, national security and social welfare. Yet, he now faces the extra challenge of managing a diverse coalition. Dealing with coalition partners and running Parliament may be challenging as he faces a more influential Opposition.

In his third term, Modi faces several challenges. There are lingering questions about the extent of his authority, particularly as the BJP has lost its majority. New political dynamics have emerged, with the party's primary NDA allies now playing pivotal roles in the ruling coalition. The shift can be attributed to various factors, including regional political dynamics.

The first major hurdle was forming the Government, which required him to navigate the complexities of coalition politics. Continuing his assertive and independent political style may take time and effort.

The next step is allocating portfolios that are satisfactory to the allies. Both Nitish Kumar and Chandrababu Naidu are tough negotiators and demanding significant portfolios. Smaller allies also assert their influence, shaping the Government's policies and decisions by overseeing key Ministries.

The main point is to keep the NDA together. Rumours suggest the rival INDIA coalition wanted to lure the JD(U) and TDP to form the Government. This move had failed now, but it could lead to a realignment of political forces, tilting the balance of power within the coalition. Whether Modi's NDA allies will remain loyal or undermine him is political speculation is a million-dollar question. This uncertainty, rooted in the allies' history of unreliability, needs to be watched.

Some of the BJP's key allies, such as the TDP, Shiv Sena, AIADMK and Akali Dal, have ended their partnerships in the past decade. In 2018, the TDP left the alliance because Andhra Pradesh didn't receive special category status. Now, the TDP and JD(U) are back in partnership with the BJP.

However, in the future, Modi will need to consider the feelings of important allies like the Telugu Desam Party and the Janata Dal (United).

Chandrababu Naidu and Nitish Kumar, with 28 seats between them, are labelled as "kingmakers". They have long advocated for special status for their respective States and are known for their slippery character.

Nitish Kumar, known as 'Paltu Kumar' for his frequent changes in stand, ended his partnership with the BJP in 2014 over the issue of the BJP declaring Modi the prime ministerial candidate. He later joined the NDA and again broke with the BJP in 2022 to form the Government with the RJD. This year, he again returned to the NDA fold.

Due to coalition politics and a weakened mandate, passing laws for the Government's ambitious reform plans may take time and effort. Despite not having a majority, the Opposition will have enough members in the parliamentary committees to prevent the passing of controversial Bills. This means that Modi's ability to push the BJP's agenda forward will be challenged. Important policies such as the Uniform Civil Code and 'One Nation, One Poll' could be delayed, potentially slowing down policy-making and leading to a rethinking of the Government's reform plans.

Changes in political alliances wouldn't be surprising. Modi may focus on changing his minority Government into a majority over the next two or three years. But initially, it will be walking a tightrope to balance power.

(The writer is a popular columnist; views are personal)
The film festivals 18th edition comes with a first-of-its-kind Documentary Film Bazaar' aimed at supporting the documentary, film and animation content

Documentary film festivals play a crucial role in the world of cinema by offering a unique platform for non-fiction films that explore real life events, individuals, important societal issues and diverse cultures. These festivals serve as a stage for filmmakers dedicated to telling factual stories - a genre often overlooked in the commercially driven landscape. By spotlighting documentaries, these festivals promote creativity, facilitate learning opportunities and encourage meaningful social discussions. This not only enhances the audience's awareness of complex global and local topics but also elevates the value of documentary filmmaking as a powerful tool for sparking change and providing insights.

The Mumbai International Film Festival (MIFF), established in 1990, holds a position in this field, especially within Asia where it ranks among the oldest and most esteemed gatherings for documentaries, short films and animation. Taking place biennially, MIFF has emerged as a meeting point for documentary filmmakers from India and across the globe. Over time, the festival has evolved significantly. Initially focused on nurturing filmmaking talent, it has expanded its scope to include international filmmakers - a testament to its growing influence and importance, on the global stage.

MIFF has skilfully adapted to the changing technology and trends in the film industry like filmmaking and virtual screenings, especially highlighted during the adjustments made due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In today's world, marked by the rise of OTT platforms and a wide range of digital content, MIFF continues to demonstrate its relevance and significance. It is recognised as an event that actively supports and advocates for documentary filmmaking. Apart from showcasing films, MIFF contributes to the community by hosting various educational activities such as workshops, interactive discussions and masterclasses. These efforts aim to promote learning and professional growth for filmmakers while offering audiences deeper insights into the artistry and impact of documentary cinema. This comprehensive approach ensures that MIFF remains an influential presence in the ever changing global film landscape.

The Mumbai International Film Festival, known for its presence in the documentary film industry, is gearing up for its 18th edition from June 15 to 21, 2024, with an exciting ' new venture - the first-of-its-kind 'Documentary Film Bazaar' starting on June 16. This fresh initiative aims to support the documentary, film and animation content by facilitating important connections and boosting visibility. The Documentary Film Bazaar strives to highlight stories and facilitate partnerships between filmmakers and potential global producers reshaping the landscape of documentary content creation, distribution and consumption.

In its 2024 edition, the Documentary Film Bazaar introduces three sections focused on nurturing and promoting film projects at different production stages. The 'Doc Co Production Market' (CPM) stands out as a platform featuring 15 films from six countries connecting filmmakers with potential collaborators, producers, co-producers and financiers worldwide. Moreover, the 'Doc Viewing Room' (VR) offers an exclusive space for only the registered delegates to screen a curated selection of films, a pivotal opportunity to secure distribution deals, attract co-producers and obtain essential finishing funds, for festival screenings.

The Mumbai International Film Festival is an example of the enduring significance of such events, serving as a platform for documentary filmmakers from India and abroad. MIFF has continuously evolved to meet modern challenges by embracing technological advancements and expanding its offerings to align with the transient landscape of media consumption. This flexibility ensures that MIFF remains a forum for showcasing documentaries fostering professional growth and promoting cultural exchange.

Through these efforts MIFF is not just broadening its range of offerings but also establishing itself as a unique and ground breaking platform in the global documentary film community. This strategy not only reaffirms MIFFs position in the changing media landscape but also ensures its leadership in driving innovation in documentary filmmaking.

(The writer was Addl DG, DFF & director IFFI. Views are personal. Inputs by Zoya Ahmed & Vaishnavie Srinivasan)
Lansdowne, steeped in military tradition since the establishment of the first Garhwal Battalion in 1887, tells a tale of valour and colonial legacy

The still air in June over the Bhawani Dutt Joshi Parade Ground carved out of Kaludanda (renamed Lansdowne after the then Viceroy) converts into an air pocket when the fourth batch of 251 Agniveers call out Jai Badri Vishal Ki Jai, the feared Garhwal regiment war cry. The raising of the first Garhwal Battalion was ordered in 1887 by C-in-C, later Viceroy, Lord Roberts. The British may owe India USD 49 Trillion as reparation but their payback was impressive: instruments of governance, strategic culture and infrastructure, including 5000 to 6000 feet high ridge-top cantonments, today's hill stations like Lansdowne whose Mall Road became the exclusive white's only- promenade, restricting locals to the windswept 'Thandi-sadak' on the reverse slope.

Dotted with pine, oak and rhododendrons, the ridge lights up with the majesty of Nanda Devi towering among the distant Himalayas. The sprawling Bungalow No 6 amongst a hundred such, constructed in 1906 was home to Colonel Mainwaring commandant of 3/9 Royal Garhwal Rifles and was bought by MES for a princely Rs 10,053!

It was after Nepal's second invasion that Garhwal capitulated and through legendary Jung Bahadur Rana's progeny married into Garhwal's Sah ruling family. Scattered but indistinguishable descendants of erstwhile Nepalese can be found in Pathankot village as are remnants of 2/3 Gorkha Rifles also raised here which have an umbilical cord with the Garhwal Regiment. Originally Garhwalis and Kumaonis joined 5 Gorkha Rifles( Frontier Force) whose first Colonel was Bobs Bahadur, Victoria Cross winner, Lord Roberts who gave Veer Garhwali a separate identity.

The nom de plume of the Garhwali soldier is valour: in World War I and Waziristan, it won three Victoria Crosses (Rfn Gabbar Singh Negi -posthumously; Naik Darwan Singh Negi and Lt David Kenny) and innumerable battle and theatre honours and gallantry awards till 1947 that would fill this page. After independence, the Regiment bagged one Ashoka Chakra, four MVC, 18 KC, 51 SC, 52 VrC, and 375 Sena Medals. The Regiment has 22 Infantry battalions, three Rashtriya Rifle battalions and two Territorial Army battalions. To commemorate its unique achievements in operations, the Regiment was conferred the Royal title: Royal Rassi (Lanyard) in 1921 and to honour its braves and martyrs, an iconic bronze statue was built in 1923 which was unveiled by C-in-C, Lord Rawlinson. Designed by makers of Victoria Memorial Calcutta, Martin and Co, the statue on green granite is the most unique and defiant image in the world- of unknown soldiers, the Veer Garhwalis.

Added later was the epic shloka from Mahabharat. Lord Krishna to Arjun: 'Lament not the death of a warrior; for one killed in battle is honoured in heaven'. It was a silver replica of this Unknown Soldier that PM Modi presented to the PM of France in 2015 to commemorate the centenary of WWI.

The Darwan Singh War Museum is the grand repository of the history and achievements in war and peace of the Regiment. But the creme d la creme of Lansdowne is the Garhwali Officers Mess which is India's most spectacular, filled with collector's items. Officers and ladies of the battalion who arrived in 1887 chose this ridge-top locale and declared it their mess which sprouted only in 1892. Its red slanting roof and miniature Victorian-style colonnades are draped with ivy and creepers.

In the middle of the lawn is the still functional Sun Dial measuring time by the position of the sun. Carved below is: "The shadow of my finger cast divides the future from the past; Before it stands the unborn hour in darkness and beyond thy power: Behind its unreturning line the vanished hour no longer thine: One hour alone is in thy hand, the now of which the shadow stands." Nearby is the ubiquitous Unknown Soldier, covered with bushwork. The Officer's Mess initially had three large rooms: the main hall, dining room and billiards room. Add-ons were the Card room, the Generals gallery, the indispensable bar and two libraries on either flank. Rooms are resplendent in silver trophies and walls covered by big and small game heads and skins that will draw ire from RSPCA. The Visitors' Book table is eye-popping and studded with memorabilia. The broken China-glass floor is laid out in a design that radiates towards four Maltese Crosses, the original crest of the Regiment. Crocodile skin sofa sets glisten as no one sits on them. To insert the John Roberts and Co. made billiards table, the entire roof had to be uprooted while the piano from Chappells, Bond Street London (more famous for sartorial products) rests rhythmically in a corner. The glistening mahogany dining table adorning the dining hall is credited to makers C Lazarus also of Calcutta.

Every room has a fireplace with brass railings and customised settings The Card room contains the letter by Field Marshal Bill Slim written in 1967 eulogizing the gallant Garhwali: " I have commanded Battalions of every Regiment of Indian Army but I never had a better one than 3 Garhwal-and that's something from a dyed in the wool Gurkha as me to say. But it is true". The bar has charming watercolour sketches made by a local Gorkha lad, a long-gone Gopal Chhetri that cheer your drinks. The quaint downtown market survives on a small but happy populace determined not to let Lansdowne be renamed either Jaswant Garh (after MVC awardee Jaswant Singh Rawat of 1962 war) or even Bipin Nagar (after late CDS Gen Bipin Rawat whose Shaun village is 30 km away). Soldiers and civilians are agnostic about shedding colonial legacy and wish to retain Lansdowne. Locals say the state government is monumentally corrupt: so ex-servicemen and politicians don't mix. Still, two Generals made it good. Bhuwan Khanduri who became Chief Minister and TPS (Tipsy) Rawat many times minister while highly decorated Ajay Kothiyal KC, SC, VSM and a double Everester lost his deposit during the last state elections. Subedar Major Shailendra Mohan Bhist located at Garhwal Regiment's Kotdwar detachment is look-alike brother of Ajay Bisht more famous as Yogi Adityanath!

The clock has moved a full circle: Garhwalis bhullas (brothers) are now again joining the depleting Gorkha Regiments and learning to speak Nepali. The Garhwal regimental legacy is protected by its three symbols: Lord Badrinath, the regimental deity, the iconic Unknown Soldier and the Royal Rassi. They help instil gumption and guile while invoking Jai Badri Vishal Ki Jai.

(The writer, a retired Major General, was Commander, IPKF South, Sri Lanka, and founder member of the Defence Planning Staff, currently the Integrated Defence Staff. The views expressed are personal)
In what could be called as a triple whammy for the people of Delhi on Tuesday reeling under the scorching impact of an unprecedented heatwave and a severe water crisis, they faced a major power outage caused by a fire at the Mandola power grid in Uttar Pradesh, a critical supplier of electricity to the national Capital, providing approximately 1,500 megawatts of power.

As temperatures soared to 42 degrees Celsius, the power cut for varying lengths exacerbated the hardships of the residents of Delhi in various pockets, including the area housing Delhi LG Secretariat and Chief Minister's residence.

Amid IMD forecasts that heatwave conditions are likely to prevail for the next five days, Delhi Power Minister Atishi termed the incident as a matter of concern. She said, "There has been a major power cut in many parts of Delhi since 2:11 pm today. A power grid in Mandola, UP, which supplies 1,500 MW of electricity to Delhi, has caught fire. We are linking it to our other power sources."

She said she has sought time to meet the newly appointed Union Energy Minister (Manohar Lal Khattar) and the chairperson of PGCIL (Power Grid Corporation of India).

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader, criticising the Centre, said, "It is worrying that the national-level power infrastructure has come to a standstill today. The failure of the national grid in the country's Capital is quite worrying. There was no power cut even when Delhi's peak power demand reached 8,000 MW. This power cut happened due to the failure of the national infrastructure."

In a post on social media X, Atishi said the fire at a sub-station of Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd (PGCIL) in Mandola near Loni (Ghaziabad) in Uttar Pradesh had led to power outages in many parts of the national Capital.

The power restoration process has begun and electricity is now gradually returning to different areas, Atishi said.

"Delhi is the national Capital. If the power infrastructure in the country's Capital fails like this on behalf of the national grid, then it can have very serious consequences. Delhi has always tried to provide electricity 24x7. A few weeks ago, when the peak power demand reached 8,300 MW, Delhi fulfilled it without any blackout or major power failure.

Today there is a power cut in Delhi due to the national power grid and we will take immediate action on this," said the Minister.

Several areas in Delhi faced a power outage at around 2 pm on Tuesday. Power outages for long hours were reported on Tuesday afternoon from most parts of the city like ITO, Laxmi Nagar, Lajpat Nagar, Jamia, Narela, Model Town, Rohini, Gopalpur, Sabzi Mandi, Wazirpur and Kashmiri Gate. Power discom 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 LG House and Chief Minister's residence was also briefly affected.

While the city Government blamed the outage on a fire at the sub-station in Mandola, sources said a power generation unit owned by the Delhi Government also faced a snag, indicating two versions of the power failure in some areas of Delhi.

As a matter of fact, both Pragati Maidan power station and Mandola sub-station tripped almost simultaneously. The reason can be ascertained only after the technical investigation.

However, the power outage and the ruling Government blaming the BJP ruled neighbouring State is likely to further escalate the already strained relation between the AAP and the Centre-appointed Lt Governor of Delhi, VK Saxena, who are already locked in a feud for acute water crisis. Saxena had met with AAP Ministers over the water crisis and asked them to refrain from a blame game with Haryana, which has been accused by AAP of not releasing Delhi's share of water.

Those hit due to power cuts in the national Capital took no time in expressing their agony and anger due to long outages.

"No electricity in east Delhi Vivek Vihar. Please resolve the issue. This season is already at its peak. Hard to tolerate," posted one tagging Delhi's electricity body BSES.

"Dear Bses, electricity is not available in the Yamuna Vihar C2 block for two hours. It is Delhi. Please do not take revenge on us. Why is electricity not available for two hours?" wrote another while one Ravi Nair from the handle @nairkravi06 suggested that "National capital should have alternative feeders from different grids including independent sources."
As the mercury levels are peaking across the North Indian cities hordes of tourists are rushing to Kashmir to enjoy the cool climes. In contrast, the Jammu region has been bleeding for the last three days as terror revisited peaceful areas of the region in the run-up to the beginning of the Amarnath yatra on June 29.

Since Sunday evening, three back-to-back incidents of terrorist violence have been reported in the districts of Reasi, Kathua and Doda triggering panic among the local population and the tourists visiting the region on a pilgrimage.

The frontier districts of Rajouri and Poonch are already feeling the heat of a series of terrorist strikes/ambushes involving security forces. Since October 2021 around one dozen incidents of violence have been reported in the area and in response, the security forces have failed to track down the footprints of perpetrators of terrorist violence.

Nine pilgrims were killed and 41 others were injured in an audacious terrorist strike on a pilgrim bus for the first time in the Reasi district on Sunday. Late Tuesday night terrorists struck at two separate places in the Hiranagar tehsil of Kathua and Chattergala area of Doda district.

A freshly infiltrated group of heavily armed foreign terrorists surfaced in a thickly populated area of Saida Sukhal breaching several layers of security in the Hiranagar tehsil of Kathua. As the hungry and thirsty terrorists went around the village in search of drinking water the local villagers alerted the police authorities after which the encounter started.

Speaking to reporters at the encounter site on Wednesday, Additional Director General of Police Anand Jain said in the overnight operation, a joint team of security forces has so far eliminated two terrorists. One jawan of the Central Paramilitary Force (CRPF) also made a supreme sacrifice in the line of duty battling these terrorists and one civilian also received injuries in the heavy exchange of firing, Jain added. The CRPF jawans have been identified as Constable Kabir Dass of 121 Bn CRPF.

Sharing details Jain said two terrorists were spotted at village Saida Sukhal near Koota Morh in Hiranagar tehsil of Kathua district late Tuesday evening. One of the terrorists tried to lob a grenade and was killed in the exchange of firing while the second terrorist was hiding in the area. There has been no civilian death or any kind of hostage-like situation. Only one civilian has been injured and he too has been evacuated to the hospital, Jain said.

Asserting that it was a fresh infiltration bid, the Jammu Police chief said the hostile neighbour, a reference towards Pakistan, was trying to disturb the peaceful atmosphere in the region.

On Chattargalla encounter, Jain said a joint Naka of 4 Rashtriya Rifles and police were fired upon by the terrorists tonight and the security personnel retaliated. The encounter is on, he added.

At least five jawans of the Rashtriya Rifles unit and one special police officer of Jammu and Kashmir police received injuries in the initial exchange of firing. The injured were shifted to the Bhaderwah sub-district hospital in the wee hours of Wednesday.

The increasing incidents of terrorist violence do not augur well for the region as the common citizens are eagerly awaiting to participate in the maiden Assembly polls after the reorganisation of the erstwhile State of Jammu and Kashmir into two Union Territories and the Abrogation of Article 370 and 35-A on August 5, 2019.

The provocative terror strike on a pilgrim bus is also bound to impact the tourist arrivals in the region in the coming season. Though the yatra to the Maa Vaishno Devi Shrine is going on smoothly but the security forces may have to pull up their socks to prevent any other strike on pilgrims in the coming weeks during the yatra period.

Till the time of filing the report, the operation in Hiranagar was still going on as the security forces suspected the presence of more terrorists in the area. The residents were also advised to stay indoors and exercise utmost caution, especially during the night hours to prevent any untoward incident.

Following these three back-to-back incidents of terrorist violence, a high alert has been sounded across the Jammu region.

The intelligence agencies have also issued warnings anticipating suicidal attacks on vital security installations in the frontier district of Rajouri and parts of Jammu in the next 48 hours.

In Hiranagar, the security forces also recovered US-made M4 Carbine from the neutralised terrorist. The recovery suggested that the terrorists being most likely from the Pakistani terror group Jaish e Muhammad.

Similar weapons were used in the Reasi terror attack as well. As per the police, the recovered arms and ammunition included; three magazines containing 30 rounds, one another magazine containing 24 rounds, 75 rounds in a separate polythene, 3 live grenades, 1 lakh currency (200 notes of rupees 500), eatables (Pakistan-made chocolates, dry channa and stale chapatis), Pakistan-made medicines and injections (pain-killers), 1 syringe, 2 packs of A4 batteries and 1 handset wrapped in tape having antenna and 2 wires hanging from the handset.

Chronology of terrorist attacks in Jammu region since 1 January 2024

April 22, Rajouri: A government official is killed in Shahdara Sharief area exactly 20 years after his father was also killed

April 28, Udhampur: A VDG member was killed in Chochru Gala when terrorists opened fire on a patrol party.

May 4, Poonch: A convoy of the Indian Air Force attacked at Shahsitar. A corporal level officer was killed, four others injured

June 9, Reasi: First terror incident of its kind, a running bus packed with pilgrims is fired at leaving 9 dead.

The attack coincided with the oath ceremony of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

June 11, Kathua: Attack after possibly fresh infiltration. Two foreign terrorists killed, and an injured trooper succumbs. Engagement, still in progress.

June 12, Doda: At least six security personnel are injured in a midnight check-post attack. Engagement is in progress.
With the induction of Jagat Prakash Nadda in the Modi 3.0 Cabinet, speculation among party workers and leaders is about whom the party will fall back on as the next president. Nadda's tenure is ending by the end of this month. There is some possibility that the party could continue with Nadda for some time till the new party president is appointed.

Besides Nadda, the BJP also is set to kickstart soon the process of organisational changes with the launch of a fresh membership drive followed by an internal poll across States leading up to the election of a new party president.

In the run-up to the Lok Sabha, speculations were doing the rounds that former Haryana Chief Minister Manoharlal Khattar, Madhya Pradesh BJP chief Vishnudutt Sharma, Gujarat BJP president Chandrakant Raghunath Paatil, former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Union Ministers Dharmendra Pradhan and Bhupendra Yadav. Leaders like Khattar, Chauhan, Pradhan and Yadav have been inducted in the Cabinet.

After that several names are doing the rounds which include the party's general secretaries Vinod Tawde, Sunil Bansal, BL Santosh and Sharma. Tawde is from Maharashtra while Bansal is from Uttar Pradesh. Santosh is from Karnataka. Insiders said Vishnudutt Sharma is currently among the top contender for the post.

In 2014, when then party president Rajnath Singh became the Union Minister he passed on a baton to Amit Shah.

After Shah became the Union Minister in 2019, Nadda was appointed party president in June 2019. Nadda took over as BJP chief at a time when the party was witnessing vigorous challenges from a united Opposition in Assembly elections in several States amid signs that it needed to rework its electoral strategy.

Despite its overwhelming win in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, the BJP suffered several defeats in Assembly polls since 2018, except in Haryana where it formed a Government in an alliance with the Jannayak Janta Party.

Notably, during Nadda's tenure, Assembly elections took place in 29 States and Union Territories. Of them, BJP came to power in 16 States at a strike rate of 50 per cent. This include Haryana (2019), Bihar (2020), Assam and Puducherry (2021), Goa, Uttarakhand, Manipur and Gujarat (2022), Tripura, Nagaland, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan (2023), and Arunachal Pradesh, Odisha and Andhra Pradesh this year.

The losses that the BJP faced were in Maharashtra, Jharkhand (2019), Delhi (2020), West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala (2021), Punjab, Himachal Pradesh (2022), Meghalaya, Karnataka, Mizoram, Telangana (2023) and Sikkim (2024).

Sources in the BJP said the shift of some BJP State presidents to Governments, either at the Centre or State, besides its electoral setback in a key State like Uttar Pradesh is likely to bring new faces in their place, sources said.

The BJP's president in West Bengal, Sukanta Majumdar, has become a Union Minister while his Bihar counterpart Samrat Choudhary is a deputy Chief Minister in the State. Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini also heads the party in the State. Rajasthan BJP president C P Joshi is likely to be replaced to balance the party's social coalition as the state chief minister Bhajan Lal Sharma is a Brahmin like him.

The party's dismal show in the Lok Sabha polls in Uttar Pradesh has turned attention to its State president Bhupendra Singh Chaudhary. BJP sources noted that organisational polls and changes were put on hold as the party focussed on the poll campaign.

The process will now begin in right earnest, more so after its below-par showing in some states during the polls. The BJP lost its majority in the Lok Sabha even though its alliance, NDA, comfortably crossed the magic figure of 272.
As the controversy over National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) undergraduate (UG)-2024 for admissions to MBBS, BDS and others courses continued, the National Testing Agency (NTA) informed the Delhi High Court on Wednesday that it will seek transfer of all the matters related to National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) undergraduate (UG) examination 2024 controversy to the Supreme Court while EdTech firm Physics Wallah, Alakh Pandey, has moved the Supreme Court against alleged random award of grace marks by the NTA.

The plea urged the top court to set up an expert panel under its supervision to enquire into the examination process and results of NEET (UG) 2024.

Amid the ongoing controversy surrounding the NEET UG results, the National Testing Agency (NTA) has addressed some frequently asked questions related to the examination.

Earlier, Solicitor General (SG) Tushar Mehta appeared before a vacation bench of Justice Neena Bansal Krishna of Delhi High Court and said the NTA will move a transfer petition before the Supreme Court. A vacation bench of Justice Neena Bansal Krishna, meanwhile, issued notice and asked the NTA to respond to four petitions.

The petitions have been filed by National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test-Undergraduate (NEET-UG), 2024 candidates raising these grievances. Following in the footsteps of the Supreme Court, the high court also refused to stay the counselling process.

Mehta told the court that petitions related to the NEET UG exams have been filed before several High Courts of the country and to ensure that there are no conflicting views by the High Courts, the NTA will request the Supreme Court to hear all such matters.

The court granted the NTA counsels prayer for time to respond to the petitions and listed the matter for further hearing on July 5. At the outset, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta told the bench that several pleas have been filed in seven different high courts relating to alleged irregularities in the conduct of the NEET-UG, 2024 examination and some are pending before the Supreme Court. He said the NTA will soon file a transfer petition in the apex court for consolidating all the pleas.

We are filing transfer petitions in the Supreme Court because there is a likelihood of conflicting views by different high courts. Could your lordship consider waiting for a week or two? We will file a transfer petition, Mehta told the court.

The law officer said these petitions can be broadly categorised as raising the issues of grant of grace/compensatory marks, alleged paper leak and anomalies in answers to certain questions. The counsel for some of the petitioners urged the court to direct the authorities to not start the counselling for the time being or note that the counselling will be subject to the outcome of these petitions.

The top court had said on Tuesday the sanctity of the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test-Undergraduate (NEET-UG), 2024 has been affected and sought responses from the Centre and the NTA on another plea seeking holding of the examination afresh on grounds of alleged question paper leak and other malpractices.

Lawyer J Sai Deepak, who appeared for Pandey, mentioned the plea for urgent listing on Tuesday before a vacation bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath and Ahsanuddin Amanullah. The bench asked him to approach the apex court registry with his plea.

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. Notices have been issued in regard to those petitions. Our petition is slightly different.

We represent Alakh Pandey, who has collected signatures from about 20,000 students which clearly shows that close to about 70 to 80 marks have been awarded in grace marks randomly to at least 1,500 students. We are challenging the arbitrary award of grace marks. The court has indicated that our matter will also be taken up with the other matters but the court is clear that it will not stay the counselling process at this stage, lawyer Sai Deepak said.

The NEET-UG 2024 examination was held by the NTA on May 5 across 4,750 centres and around 24 lakh candidates took it. The results were expected to be declared on June 14 but were announced on June 4, apparently because the evaluation of the answer sheets got completed earlier.

The NEET-UG examination is conducted by the NTA for admissions to MBBS, BDS, AYUSH and other related courses in Government and private institutions across the country.
Former Congress President Rahul Gandhi, who won from Wayanad and Rae Bareli in the 2024 general elections, kept people guessing on Wednesday about which seat he will retain, even as Kerala Congress chief K Sudhakaran hinted that the Congress leader would relinquish the constituency in Kerala.

Congress-led INDIA Bloc partner Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav on Wednesday resigned from his Karhal Assembly seat following his election to Lok Sabha from the Kannauj constituency. The newly elected party member from Faizabad Lok Sabha seat, Awadesh Prasad, too quit the membership of the Uttar Pradesh Assembly. The SP will now have to look for a new name in his place for the post of leader of Opposition in the assembly.

According to the Representation of People Act, a candidate can contest from two Lok Sabha constituencies, but can hold only one seat at a time. Therefore, the Congress leader has to give up one of the two seats he has won.

Addressing a public meeting at Edavanna in Malappuram earlier in the day, Rahul said he was in a dilemma as to which constituency he should relinquish. He said that whatever decision he takes, both constituencies will be happy with it. We should not be saddened as Rahul Gandhi who is supposed to lead the nation cannot be expected to remain in Wayanad.

Therefore, we should not be sad. Everyone should understand that and give all their wishes and support to him, Sudhakaran said.

Later, during his speech, Rahul Gandhi said many were speculating whether he would relinquish the Rae Bareli or the Wayanad LS seat. Everybody knows the answer to this, except for myself, he said. I have a dilemma before me, whether I should be the MP of Wayanad or of Rae Bareli. What I will commit to you is that both Wayand and Rae Bareli will be happy with my decision, the Congress leader said.

In 2019, Rahul had contested from Amethi and Wayanad, but lost the north Indian constituency to BJPs Smriti Irani, and won from Wayanad by a huge margin. In 2024, the Congress leader contested from Rae Bareli and Wayanad and won both seats with a huge margin of over three lakh votes. In Wayanad, however, the victory margin was smaller than what it was in 2019.
A bust of Mahatma Gandhi was vandalised in Italy allegedly by Khalistani extremists on Wednesday just hours after its inauguration. The accused also wrote controversial slogans related to Khalisatni terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar on the base of the bust. The incident came days ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modis visit to Italy to attend G 7 summit on Friday.

Meanwhile, after the incident, the local authorities said the area was cleaned up in record time. The Indian Government flagged the issue to their Italian counterparts.

According to Foreign Secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra here, Modi will be travelling to Italys Apulia on Thursday to participate in the summit at the invite of Italys Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.

Speaking about the incident, Foreign Secretary Kwatra said the Indian authorities raised the matter of Mahatma Gandhis status being vandalised before Italian officials. Meanwhile, giving details about the Prime Ministers schedule in Italy, Kwatra said Modi will travel to Italy on Thursday to attend the annual summit of G7 advanced economies. It will be his first foreign visit after assuming office.

Kwatra said Modis participation in the G7 summit would provide an opportunity to follow up on outcomes of the G20 summit held under Indias presidency last year.

The G7 summit, to be held in the luxury resort of Borgo Egnazia in Italys 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.

We have always maintained that dialogue and diplomacy is the best option to resolve it, Kwatra said when asked about the Ukraine conflict.

The foreign secretary said Indias regular participation in the G7 summit points to increasing recognition of New Delhis efforts to address global challenges.

Prime Minister Modi will be accompanied by a high-level delegation that is likely to include External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra and National Security Advisor(NSA) Ajit Doval, it was learnt.

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.

Russias military action in 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, Russias 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.

Meanwhile, responding to a question, Kwatra said India will participate in the peace summit in Switzerland at an appropriate level. Kwatra did not specify who will represent India at the summit.
Depending upon the new threat perceptions by the central intelligence agencies, the Modi Government 3. 0 is likely to undertake a significant overhaul in the VIP security setup in the coming months, leading to the transfer of security duties for over a dozen high-risk individuals from the National Security Guard (NSG) and the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) to other paramilitary forces. This exercise will will cover political figures, ex-Ministers, retired bureaucrats and some others.

However, officials said on Tuesday that there was no such proposal for the time being.

The plan to interchange security duties of high-risk individuals has been in the making since 2012. It is expected hat around 450 'black cat' commandos are expected to be freed once NSG is withdrawn from VIP security duties.

The plan envisages "restructuring" the role of a security agency and using its manpower to raise and station strike teams of commandos in some high-risk areas and around some critical assets located in different parts of the country.

Top four Ministers of the Modi Government  Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Foreign Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman who were Ministers in the previous Modi 2.0 Government, will retain their Z plus security.

Sources said, it has been decided to completely withdraw the 'black cat' commandos of the National Security Guard (NSG) from VIP security duties. All its nine Z-plus category protectees will be handed over to the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) VIP security unit.

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) will review the current list of allottees, which may result in the modification, reduction, or enhancement of security cover for various political figures, former ministers, retired bureaucrats, and others, sources added.

The CRPF and the CISF VIP security wings secure more than 200 persons at present.

In addition, some of the VIPs secured by the personnel of the border guarding force Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) may be transferred to the CRPF or the VIP security wing of the CISF, known as the Special Security Group (SSG).

In 2012, it was first proposed to relieve the NSG from VIP security duties when the commanders of the elite group foresaw an event where simultaneous terror attacks could be witnessed at one time across multiple places. In such a situation, the commandos will have to be rushed into various directions.

Those protected by the close protection force of the National Security Guard (NSG) commandos include Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, his predecessor and BSP supremo Mayawati, Union defence minister Rajnath Singh, veteran BJP leader and former deputy prime minister L K Advani, Union shipping minister Sarbananda Sonowal, BJP leader and ex Chhattisgarh CM Raman Singh.

Former Jammu and Kashmir CM and Democratic Progressive Azad Party (DPAP) president Ghulam Nabi Azad, National Conference (NC) president Farooq Abdullah and TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu are also protected by NSG commandos. The ITBP protects veteran BJP leader Murli Manohar Joshi, NC leader Omar Abdullah and PDP leader Mehbooba Mufti and some others.

The Union government has decided to "restructure" the NSG and use its manpower to raise and station 'strike teams' of commandos in some high-risk areas like near the Ram temple in Ayodhya and around some critical assets located in the southern part of the country.
The Supreme Court on Tuesday refused to stay the counselling for admissions of students to the medical colleges over alleged paper leak and irregularities in the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) undergraduate (UG) examination 2024.

The apex court has also issued notice to the Centre and NTA and listed the matter for consideration on July 8, after the summer vacation which commenced on May 20 comes to an end.

A bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Ahsanuddin Amanullah said the "sanctity has been affected" and "we need answers". However, the court refused to stay the counselling process for admission of those who have cleared the exam.

"Let the counselling start. We are not stopping the counselling," said Justice Nath as Senior Advocate Mathews J Nedumpara urged the court to stay the counselling.

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.

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 National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test-Undergraduate (NEET-UG) examination is conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) for admissions to MBBS, BDS, AYUSH and other related courses in government and private institutions across the country.

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 a large number of students got the exam papers in advance, and they became successful. Twenty three lakh students wrote the examination, and the total number of seats available is 1 lakh. This is the most coveted examination. Sixty-seven students got 720 out of 720 marks.

Mishra and nine other MBBS candidates sought a direction to the NTA "to recall the results of the examination conducted on May 5 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.
A case in Pune last year saw a dog being beaten brutally by a local resident, resulting in severe injuries to the animal. Despite the seriousness of the offense, the perpetrator was only fined Rs 50 under the current law. "In addition to the Pune case, there have been other instances such as the merciless killing of a stray dog in Mumbai and Jagatpuri, Delhi to name a few. These cases illustrate the severity of animal cruelty and the inadequacy of current penalties to serve as a deterrent where some people have been brutal to these innocent animals.

"But the lenient penalty does not reflect the gravity of the crime, effectively allowing offenders to get away with minimal consequences," rued Alokparna Sengupta, Managing Director of Humane Society International/India.

Sengupta, along with other animal activists, has now written to the new Government to ensure passage of the long pending proposed Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Amendment) Bill 2022 in the upcoming Monsoon session of Parliament. In 2022, over 180 parliamentarians had demanded such an amendment. At least 50,000 emails and letters were sent last year by animal advocates and the general public to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to amend the 1960 Act.

The draft Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Amendment) Bill, 2022 proposes substantial changes, including fines up to Rs 75,000, a significant jump from the current maximum of Rs 50, and imprisonment for severe offenses.

Such brutal cases call for strict legislative action, Gauri Maulekhi, trustee of People for Animals (PFA), said, as she pointed out, "Amending the PCA Act is imperative and long overdue. It is well known that violence against animals is a precursor to violence against other vulnerable members of our society, be it women, children, or our elders.

"Strengthening this law protects animals and serves as a pivotal step towards cultivating empathy and respect, fostering a society where compassion thrives, and brutality finds no haven."

The draft Bill introduces amendments to the current animal law including stringent penalties for animal cruelty, newer cognizable offenses, and establishes five fundamental freedoms for every animal-freedom from hunger and thirst; freedom from discomfort; freedom from pain, injury, and disease; and freedom to express normal and natural behavior.

It proposes substantial changes, including fines up to Rs 75,000 and imprisonment for severe offenses. "This is a significant increase from the existing penalties and is aimed at providing a more effective deterrent against animal cruelty," pointed out Sengupta.

The activists lamented that despite India having some of the strongest animal laws in the world, the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960 has remained unchanged since its adoption, giving scope to animal offenders to go scot-free after committing serious crimes against animals.

Last year, Mercy For Animals India Foundation among other activists too had written to the Prime Minister, highlighting the pending status of the bill despite recommendations from the Animal Welfare Board of India and more than 140 MPs.

"In the absence of a robust law, incidents of animal cruelty are on the rise as offenders are aware of the weak penalties under the current law," said Nikunj Sharma, CEO of Mercy For Animals India Foundation.

Anjana Kashyap, an animal lover and resident of Mayur Vihar Phase 2 in the national Capital said, "We can't live with outdated laws. There is a need for stricter penalties and better enforcement of animal protection measures. What are we teaching our kids when they see animals being beaten cruelly by some perverted minds?

"We need to promote a compassionate society where animals are treated with kindness, for our children's sake so that they become better humans."




Ranchi Police and Lucknow Army Intelligence team conducted a joint operation and arrested six people including four women while buying and selling brown sugar.



Ranchi, SSP Chandan Sinha had received secret information that some people are buying and selling brown sugar near Rameshwaram Lane in Sadar Bariatu area. After which a raid team was formed under the leadership of Sadar DSP.



After which the police team along with Lucknow Military Intelligence unit cordoned off the place and raided it. During the raid, all the six people present in the room including four women and two men were wrapping brown sugar powder in aluminium foil and making small packets.



After which the police arrested everyone. These include Aarti Devi, Shugan Devi, Neetu Nand Kishore, Nand Kishore Mistry, Prithvi Kumar and Priyanka Kumari. 11.27 grams of brown sugar, 90 thousand rupees, six mobile phones and many other items have been recovered from them.
Under the visionary leadership of Prof. (Dr.) Ajai Singh, Executive Director of AIIMS Bhopal, the Department of AYUSH organized a highly successful health camp in Rapadiya village on 11.06.2024, delivering vital health services to the community. The camp was attended by Medical Officer Dr. Ranjana Pandey and Yoga Instructor Chanchal Suryavanshi from AYUSH, providing a comprehensive range of health consultations and distributing free medicine to patients. The camp's objective was to enhance public health awareness and offer holistic health solutions.

Recognizing the growing importance of yoga in preventive healthcare, Prof. (Dr.) Ajai Singh emphasized the necessity of making yoga accessible to everyone. "By integrating yoga training into health camps, we can prevent numerous diseases and promote overall well-being," said Prof. (Dr.) Ajai Singh. In alignment with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision, the initiative underscores the global benefits of adopting yoga.

The AYUSH Department has also launched common yoga protocol practice sessions, running from June 1st, 7 am to 8 am daily, culminating in the celebration of International Yoga Day. The health camp saw enthusiastic participation from individuals of all ages, including many suffering from chronic conditions such as diabetes, arthritis, anxiety, and high blood pressure.

Attendees benefited from personalized yoga consultation sessions, health consultations, and free distribution of medicines. The event has received widespread acclaim for its effectiveness, reach, and significant contribution to community health and well-being. The AYUSH Department's commitment to providing accessible health services through such initiatives continues to positively impact public health.
Delhi Water Minister Atishi wrote to Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena on Wednesday, demanding the formation of an inquiry committee on the possible collusion of the Chief Secretary and CEO of Delhi Jal Board (DJB) with illegal tanker mafias amid the national capital reeling under intense heatwave conditions.

She also requested the LG to deploy an ACP-level police officer to patrol the stretch of Munak Canal in Delhi to ensure that no illegal water filling activity happens there. "There is a need for an enquiry into potentially collusion by senior officers in the Delhi government with the tanker mafia because it seems that there has been deliberate and substantial reduction of the tankers deployed by the Delhi Jal Board in the last one year," she claimed. Citing numbers, Atishi said that in January last year, 1,179 tankers were deployed by the Delhi Jal Board and this number was 1,203 in June the same year.

"However, this number was reduced to 888 in January 2024 without any approval from me. In fact, without any consultation with me. I repeatedly kept flagging the issue of grievances regarding water tanker shortage and asking the CEO DJB to increase the number of tankers, but he did not do so," she alleged.

Atishi said when a severe water crisis started and she threatened to "investigate this collusion in an open meeting", were the number of tankers increased.

"Even now the number of water tankers deployed by the DJB is lesser than June 2023, while there are much more severe heat wave conditions and a far greater shortage of water. Common sense says that the number of water tankers deployed by the DJB should have been more in this heat wave than in the previous years," the minister said.

Atishi recalled the June 10 meeting with the LG and said that he had shown some photographs of private tankers filling water from the Delhi stretch of the CLC (carrier line channel) and DSB (Delhi sub-branch), sub-branches of the Munak Canal. "Since Delhi cannot afford any loss of water at a time of such acute heat wave and water crisis, I would like to request the Hon ble LG to depute an ACP level police officer to patrol the Delhi stretch of the Munak Canal so that no private tankers can illegally fill water from there," she said.

Further, Atishi has tasked ADM-SDM level officers to monitor the water pipeline to prevent leakage and wastage. Additionally, she has instructed a team of Tehsildars and other officials to form a 'Quick Response Team' to arrange water tankers and address water-related complaints promptly.

In written communication, Delhi Revenue Minister Atishi directed the Chief Secretary to ensure that 'Quick Response Teams' shall monitor and inspect the main water distribution network, from primary water sources to our water treatment plants and from WTPs to primary UGRs.

Minister Atishi further instructs, "These teams shall inspect the major pipelines to ensure that there is NO leakage in any pipeline and if there is any leakage, it must be repaired within 12 hours. At this time of water shortage, not a single drop of water can be wasted."

"A daily compiled report of all the inspections made in this regard by every Quick Response Team to be submitted to the office of the Minister (Ms. Atishi) by 5:00 PM every day," the letter concludes.
In a shocking incident in Bokaro's main market, City Centre, a group of six youths attacked and injured two women near Sector-04 police station. The beautician, Amita Kumari alias Amy Mishra, was seriously injured in the attack. She has filed a complaint at Sector-04 police station, naming three individuals and accusing two unidentified persons.

Amita Kumari, who runs the beauty parlour Studio Eleven in City Centre, detailed the incident in case number 70/24, dated 05.06.2024. She stated that on the night of June 4 at 10:20 PM, one of her female employees was heading home. Near Trimurti Jewellers in City Centre, Akhilesh Singh alias Dabbu Singh, who runs Habib Salon, along with Chandan, Alok, and two others verbally harassed her employee, reducing her to tears. The employee called Amita, who rushed to the scene, only to be attacked by Dabbu Singh wielding a bamboo stick.

Amita further stated that the attacker enjoys protection from certain political leaders, emboldening his actions. He has previously made vulgar comments towards her. Amita has visible injuries on her left leg, and the police conducted a medical examination at Sadar Hospital.
Bharat Coking Coal Limited (BCCL), a subsidiary of Coal India Limited, successfully conducted an interactive session with its valued consumers from the steel sector at Hotel Le Meridian, New Delhi, on June 11, 2024. This event aimed to inform and discuss the latest developments in allowing ease of of doing business for addressing the challenges with the steel industry.

The linkages of coking coal to the Steel Sector consumers has been liberalised by allowing formation of consortium by the Steel plants with existing and/or upcoming new coking coal washeries and any other washery product consuming plant viz. CPP, Cement, Textile, Paper etc. with flexibility of timeline. This is aimed at promoting import substitution and Aatm Nirbhar Bharat.

The session also highlighted BCCL's pivotal role as the largest producer of coking coal in India, contributing over 50% of the nation's total production. With a focus on supporting the country's growth and self-reliance in the steel sector, BCCL emphasized its commitment to quality and sustainable practices.

Key Highlights of the Event were discussions on import substitution, coal quality comparisons, and the upcoming Tranche-VII Steel (Coking) Linkage Auction, allowing consortium of companies to bid in Linkage auctions, providing greater flexibility and opportunities for collaboration among companies and flexibility in Timeline for setting-up of Coking coal Washery.

The event was graced by the presence of M. Nagaraju, Additional Secretary from the Ministry of Coal, P M Prasad, Chairman of Coal India Limited (CIL), Mukesh Chowdhary, Director Marketing, CIL and Samiran Dutta, CMD of BCCL, along with Rakesh Kumar Sahay, Director (Finance), S K Singh, DT(OP), S. Nagachari DT(P&P) and Hitesh Verma, GM (Marketing and Sales) from BCCL. Their participation underscored the importance of the session and the collaborative efforts within the coal and steel sectors.

The event also saw participation from representatives of all major steel companies across India, including key stakeholders from leading firms such as SAIL, RINL, TATA Steel, JSW Steel, JSPL, Arcellor Mittal Nippon Steel, JSW-Bhushan Power & Steel, Rashmi Mettaliks, NMDC Steel, Sunflag Steel, Jai Balaji Industries etc. The Indian Steel Association, All India Induction Furnace Association, Federation of Indian Mineral Industries, Coal Consumers Association etc. participated along with several entrepreneurs who are willing to set-up coking coal washeries to promote import substitution in the country. This diverse representation highlighted the broad interest and engagement in CIL/ BCCLs initiatives.

M. Nagaraju and P M Prasad also emphasized the strategic importance of BCCL in the nations coal sector and its critical role in achieving energy security and self-reliance.

Samiran Dutta, Chairman and Managing Director of BCCL, stated, "This interactive session underscores our commitment to fostering collaboration and innovation within the steel sector. Our efforts are aligned with the vision of Self-Reliant India, and we are dedicated to supporting our consumers with the highest quality coking coal."

The event concluded with a Q&A session, allowing participants to engage directly with Director Marketing, CIL and BCCL team and share insights on future collaborations. The session was highly successful, and participants expressed optimism about the fruitful results that are expected to emerge in the coming days.
Delhi BJP leaders met the Police Commissioner Sanjay Arora at police headquarters on Wednesday and demanded the formation of a special investigation team and registration of an FIR over the alleged theft of water from the Munak Canal and other sources by the tanker mafia.

Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva along with the party's North West Delhi MP Yogendra Chandolia met Arora and handed over a complaint from the party. In the complaint, the party requested the Delhi Police to register an FIR over water theft.

"You are requested to register an FIR under sections 166, 378, 379, 409, 405, 420 read with Section 120B of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 and other relevant sections & laws not controlling the water resources but also corruption by the public servants and initiate an immediate and thorough investigation into the theft of water from the Munak Canal and the involvement of any government officials and/or persons holding public offices," said the complaint addressed to the Delhi police chief.

"You are further requested to form a special investigation team to conduct a thorough probe to ensure action against the tanker mafia for theft of water from the Munak canal and any government official conniving with them," it stated. It also urged the police to thwart the operations of the tanker mafia as they were depriving Delhi's people of their water rights.

South Delhi MP Ramvir Singh Bidhuri said, "The situation in Delhi, where people are suffering, is happening in collusion with the officials and elected representatives of Delhi Government controlling the affairs related to procurement and management of water resources as part of larger criminal conspiracy with malafide intention of causing wrongful loss to both the general public as well as Delhi Jal Board."

The ruling AAP and BJP are involved in a blame game as the city grapples with one of its worst water crises in recent years amid an unprecedented summer heat. Delhi Water Minister Atishi has accused the BJP-ruled Haryana of deliberately halting the supply of water to the national capital through the Yamuna river. The BJP leaders, however, have accused the AAP government and its MLAs of colluding with the tanker mafia even as people were struggling for water.
The Mahila Manch members staged a protest outside Delhi Finance Minister Atishi's residence here on Tuesday and demanded the AAP government to fulfill its budget announcement to provide Rs 1000 honorarium to the women of the city. The protesters raised slogans outside the minister's residence on Mathura Road here.

"The AAP government announced Rs 1000 per month honorarium for women in its budget. It was not some poll promise. So, the government should now provide the money to the women," said one of the protesters Safia Faheem.

A police officer said the protesters were dispersed and no one was detained. "Some women protested in front of the house of minister Atishi. No one was detained as they were protesting peacefully," said a senior police officer.

Addressing a press conference later in the day, Atishi said that the protest was staged by the opposition BJP's women wing showing their desperateness to clinch votes. "It was the BJP's women wing who staged the protest. This shows the BJP's desperateness. They know the people of Delhi want to see Kejriwal as the chief minister again, they know the chief minister will fulfil his promise of giving Rs 1,000. That's why they are staging such protests to scrap a few votes here and there in his name, she said.

Faheem said that she was not part of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who was out on bail from the Tihar jail during campaigning for the Lok Sabha polls, repeatedly assured that he will provide Rs 1000 per month to the women of Delhi.

The AAP government had in its budget 2024-25 presented in the Assembly announced to provide Rs 1000 to adult women of Delhi per month under the Mukhyamantri Mahila Samman Yojana.

Atishi had said in an interview earlier that the scheme was likely to be notified after the model code of conduct for the Lok Sabha polls was lifted. She expected the scheme to be rolled out by September-October this year.
Attending the swearing-in ceremony of Prime Minister Narendra Modi was a moment of immense pride for Bokaro MLA and Chief Whip of the Opposition, Biranchi Narayan.

After the ceremony, Legislator Narayan met with several newly appointed ministers, extending his heartfelt congratulations and best wishes. His visit to the Ministry of Defence was particularly significant as he attended the assumption of office ceremony for Ranchi MP Sanjay Seth, who has been appointed as the Minister of State for Defence.

Expressing his joy, Narayan remarked, "It is a matter of great pride for all of us that a dedicated BJP worker from Jharkhand has been given such an esteemed position. I am grateful to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for entrusting this critical responsibility to Sanjay Seth. This honor enhances the respect and recognition for all BJP workers in Jharkhand."

Narayan expressed his gratitude to the central and state leadership for their support and recognition. Additionally, party members Vikas Kumar and Mahendra Rai also congratulated Sanjay Seth on his new role as the Minister of State for Defence, celebrating the appointment as a milestone for the region.
In a cordial meeting held at the Delhi residence of H.D. Kumaraswamy, the Union Minister of Steel, BJP Bokaro leader Rohit Lal Singh extended his heartfelt congratulations and best wishes. During the meeting, Singh also invited Kumaraswamy to visit Bokaro soon, highlighting the region's significance in India's steel industry.

The meeting saw the presence of prominent figures, including Bharat Yadav, Suresh Dubey, and Laxman Nayak. Their participation underscored the importance of the engagement and the collective hope for future collaboration and development in Bokaro.

Rohit Lal Singh emphasized the vital role that Bokaro plays in the steel sector and discussed various opportunities for growth and investment. He expressed optimism that under Kumaraswamys leadership, the region would witness substantial development and advancement.


Chief Minister Mohan Yadav has said that the possibility of bringing rhinos and other rare and endangered wildlife species into the forest areas of the state should be explored. Effective measures will be taken to protect human life from the wildlife. An action plan would be made for wildlife rescue centers at every division.

Yadav was addressing 26th meeting of Madhya Pradesh State Wildlife Board at Mantralaya here on Tuesday.

Forest Minister Shri Nagar Singh Chauhan, Minister of State for Forest Shri Dilip Ahirwar, Chief Secretary Veera Rana and Additional Chief Secretary Forest JN Kansotiya attended the meeting.

It was informed in the meeting that, teams from South Africa and Kenya have visited Gandhi Sagar Sanctuary and Kuno National Park for the upcoming phases of the Cheetah Project. All preparations have been made for Cheetah restoration in Gandhi Sagar Sanctuary. To increase the number of chitals in the area, they have been rehabilitated from Kanha and other places. Successful relocation of 50 bisons have been done from Kanha and Satpura Tiger Reserve to Sanjay Tiger Reserve.
In a shocking case of domestic violence, a young woman from Atraila village in Madhya Pradesh's Rewa district has been sentenced to death by the fourth additional sessions judge Padma Jatav.

The 24-year-old Kanchan Kol was convicted for brutally murdering her 50-year-old mother-in-law, Saroj Kol, by stabbing her more than 95 times with a sickle on July 12, 2022.

According to additional public prosecutor Vikas Dwivedi, the incident occurred following a domestic dispute when the victim was alone at home. After the attack, Saroj Kols son informed the police and rushed her to the hospital where she was pronounced dead by the medical staff.

Valmik Kol, the victims husband was initially named as co-accused in the murde4r case, for allegedly inciting Kanchan Kol to commit the crime. However, due to lack of evidence, he was acquitted in the court.


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Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, after holding a meeting with the Ministers and senior officials from the Power Department on Tuesday, emphasized the Governments commitment to providing a minimum of eight hours of uninterrupted power supply to the farmers as the paddy season kicks off in the state.



During the meeting, which included Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema, Power Minister Harbhajan Singh ETO, Chief Secretary Anurag Verma, among others, all aspects of the power supply were thoroughly discussed. Mann assured that the government is fully prepared to meet the power demands of the farmers during the crucial paddy planting season.



The State Government will ensure a minimum of eight hours of uninterrupted power supply to the farmers. We are committed to this promise and will work tirelessly to fulfill it, he said.



To further support agricultural activities, canal water has been released in six districts  Sri Muktsar Sahib, Fazilka, Ferozepur, Faridkot, Mansa, and Bathinda. The Government has also urged farmers to maximize the use of canal water, highlighting that the canals have been cleaned and are ready for use.



The states Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Department has released a notification detailing the paddy planting schedule. According to the schedule, planting has begun in Malwa region, including districts or Sri Muktsar Sahib, Faridkot, Mansa, Bathinda, Fazilka, and Ferozepur. The rest of the state will commence paddy planting from June 15. This year's schedule is an advancement compared to the previous year, where planting started on June 16 in Malwa and June 21 in the remaining districts.



Highlighting the states dedication to ensure regular power supply, Mann noted that the food growers of Punjab have significantly contributed to the country's self-reliance in food production. The State Government has made comprehensive arrangements to meet the power demand during the paddy season, which exceeds the anticipated demand by the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL).



He directed the PSPCL and Punjab State Transmission Corporation Limited (PSTCL) to ensure round-the-clock power supply during the summer and paddy season.



To effectively address power-related complaints, the state has also established a 24x7 complaint redressal mechanism with adequate manpower. Additional personnel have been deployed to handle the increased workload during the paddy season.



Mann emphasized that complaint centers have been strengthened to ensure farmers receive prompt responses to their grievances.



The Chief Minister also lauded the state's achievements in the power sector, including the acquisition of the Goindwal power plant, previously owned by GVK Power, for Rs 1,080 crore. This allowed the State to utilize coal from the Pachwara coal mine, designated for government power plants, to produce electricity, said Mann, expressing pride in the fact that 90 percent of consumers in Punjab now receive zero power bills due to the government's pro-people decisions.


The Jharkhand High Court on Wednesday heard the arguments of the Enforcement Directorate challenging the bail plea moved by former chief minister Hemant Soren. The ED counsel challenging the bail plea of the former CM pleaded that former CM Soren was instrumental in illegally acquiring land at Bargain in the capital.

Challenging the bail plea, ED counsel SV Raju pleaded that Soren had acquired the land in 200910 and a boundary wall was constructed to secure its possession. Earlier, Soren had filed a petition before the high court on May 27, seeking bail in a money-laundering case linked to an alleged land scam.

Soren's counsel and senior advocate of Jharkhand High Court Kapil Sibal had pleaded before Jharkhand High Court and argued for granting bail to the former CM contending that the JMM leader had been falsely implicated in a criminal case by the ED. The court had asked ED to respond to the matter on June 12. The hearing will continue on Thursday.

The ED's counsel said the federal agency had also conducted independent surveys of the land and on questioning, the caretaker informed that the land belongs to Soren.

Besides, the ED said it has also recovered several documents which show that land records were interpolated to favour Soren.

Earlier, on Monday Supreme Court senior advocate Kapil Sibal argued for the grant of bail to former chief minister Hemant Soren before the Jharkhand High Court, contending that the JMM leader has been falsely implicated in a criminal case by the Enforcement Directorate (ED).



Sibal had argued that Soren has been wrongfully accused of usurping an 8.86-acre plot in Bargain, Ranchi, and that this act does not constitute an offence under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, for which Soren has been detained.

Sibal countered that the original landowners never complained or approached authorities when their land was allegedly taken. He noted that this act of forcible eviction is said to have occurred in 200910, but the report was only made in 2023.



Sibal argued that even if all allegations against Soren were true, it would be a civil matter of forcible eviction, not a criminal case.



He suggested that the criminal case was motivated by an ulterior motive to keep Soren behind the bars. He further claimed that the ED tampered with evidence and created false documents to implicate Soren.



The original landowner, Raj Kumar Pahan, has already filed for restoration of the land in his name, which is being processed.
The students of GNM (General Nursing and Midwifery) course of 2019-2022 of Madhya Pradesh staged a sit-in protest outside the DHS office in Bhopal on Tuesday. These students were selected in 2019 in government nursing institutes run under the Public Health and Family Welfare Department.

Generally, after doing a three-year diploma, students get posting within 6 months, but the posting of these students has been stopped for the last 18 months without any reason.

Nursing students have been protesting for the last two days regarding this. They said that it has never happened that the students had to wait so long for their posting.

They said that all the students of our senior batch have been posted.

The protesting student Ritu Thakur said that she had cleared the entrance after preparing for two years. Thereafter, she was selected in the government nursing institute run under the Public Health and Family Welfare Department.

After the completion of the course, we get posted within 6 months, but I have been sitting at home for the last one and a half years.

At the same time, other students said that their final paper was held in February 2023. The result of which should have come in 3 months. But without any valid reason, their result was withheld for 11 months. The students filed a petition in the High Court to stop the result. After the orders of the court, the institute declared the result, after which they got their mark sheet printed. Now these students are constantly struggling for their jobs and are getting pushed around the officials.

The students said that they have made thousands of rounds of DHS (District Health Society) Bhopal, but no responsible officer is there to listen to their problem.

For one and a half years, these students have become upset sitting at home. These students have now written a letter to the President and sought permission for euthanasia. They said that they do not understand whom they should go to now for their job and whom they should tell their mistake.
Amid the water crisis gripping the Capital, Delhi Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena on Tuesday said he has spoken to Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini who informed him that water was being provided to the national Capital as per its allocated share despite the constraints imposed on Haryana in terms of water supply due to the weather.

Spoke to Honble 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 states own constraints due to the ongoing heat wave Saxena said in a post on X.

Holding Aam Aadmi Party government responsible for the water crisis, the Delhi BJP leaders demanded the resignation of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.

The ruling AAP dispensation has during the past fortnight repeatedly accused the BJP-ruled Haryana of stopping Delhi's share of water. The national capital has been experiencing severe water shortage amid the unprecedented summer heat.

Over the weekend, Delhi Water Minister Atishi wrote to the Haryana chief minister alleging inadequate release of water from the Munak Canal, on which the seven Water Treatment Plants in Delhi are dependent for the generation of potable water, by his state government. Speaking to reporters later, Haryana CM Saini had denied these allegations.

Atishi on Tuesday once again slammed the Haryana government and alleged that it was deliberately and illegally halting the water supply to the capital. In a press conference here, Atishi alleged that the Haryana government was releasing less water to the city because of which Delhi is unable to meet the daily water requirement.

Following an inspection of two sub-canals fed by the Munak Canal in Northwest Delhis Bawana, Atishi alleged that Delhi should ideally receive 1050 cusecs of water per day but was receiving just 840 cusecs. 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.

Citing an affidavit submitted by the Haryana government in the Supreme Court, the minister said, The Haryana government has been lying that they have released adequate supply water to Delhi. Their affidavit filed in the Supreme Court presents the data on actual discharge of water which has exposed their lie.

According to the affidavit, from May 23 ahead of the elections in Delhi, the water quantities released was reduced by the Haryana government, she alleged.

Delhi went to polls on May 25, before that for four days they (Haryana government) reduced the water supply to the city, this is shown by their own affidavit filed in the Supreme Court, she said.

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 added.

The Water Minister shared that now that Delhi has been facing a water crisis for the last week and the matter is going on in the Supreme Court, Haryana is reducing the water of the Munak Canal. According to Haryana's data, on 7, 8, 9 and 10 June, Haryana was supposed to release 719 cusecs of water in CLC, instead of which only 675 cusecs of water were released, and in DSB, instead of 330 cusecs, 310 cusecs of water was released.

The minister also said that she will write a letter to Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini regarding this and also approach the Supreme Court to present before it the data in the affidavit.

Atishi said Delhi was falling short of 40-45 million gallons per day of water due to the stalled water supply from Haryana.

The Delhi government's quick response team has been tasked to inspect the water distribution plants in Delhi to check for any leakages, she added.

Holding the Kejriwal government responsible for water crisis, BJP MP from South Delhi, Ramvir Singh Bidhuri led a protest at Chhatarpur Assembly Constituency. Addressing protesters, Bidhuri said the Aam Aadmi Party government has completely failed and such a government has no moral or political basis to remain in power because by the victory of BJP on all the seven seats of Delhi, the public has given its verdict.
Ahead of the onset of monsoon season, Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini on Tuesday instructed officials to complete flood prevention preparations by June 30. Last year, Ambala and Kurukshetra districts suffered significant flood damage. He also emphasized to ensure the completion of works of short-term schemes.



Presiding over a meeting of Irrigation and Water Resources Department on flood regarding preparations for flood prevention, Saini said that the work of soil filling should be started immediately to strengthen the embankments of canals and drains. With paddy plantation scheduled to begin after June 15, waterlogged fields pose challenges for soil lifting. In addition, land owners' fields also do not remain vacant.



He issued a stern warning to officials, indicating that those responsible for any repeat of last year's flood incidents will face consequences. The department should hire as many JCBs as necessary to remove the silt from the canal.He said that the villages of Harda-Hardi, Shergarh, Chandpura, Shahpur, Hemamajra, Rampur Sassedi of Ambala, Jhaansa, Jalbehra of Kurukshetra and Guhla Cheeka of Kaithal were badly affected. This time, if floods happen due to negligence in the preparations being done before the monsoon, then strict action will be taken against those responsible.



During the meeting, it was informed that 320 flood-prone hotspots had been identified, and short-term schemes had been devised accordingly. To date, 44 schemes have been successfully completed, with work ongoing on 179 schemes.



Expressing urgency, the Chief Minister said that due to time constraints, the remaining work must be expedited by the department with utmost urgency. He directed officials to establish a portal for uploading daily reports on all flood-related tasks being undertaken before the monsoon. A video should be made by taking the village sarpanch along and uploaded on this portal which he would personally oversee.



The Chief Minister said that on Wednesday, Irrigation and Water Resources Minister Dr. Abhe Singh Yadav, Commissioner and Secretary of the Department Pankaj Agarwal, and Advisor to the Chief Minister Bharat Bhushan Bharti will visit flood-prone areas in Ambala, Kurukshetra, and Kaithal districts to assess the situation and compile a report. He gave clear instructions that flood prevention measures should be visibly implemented on the ground and he himself would personally review the preparations on June 13.



CHAIRS MEETING OF LABOUR DEPTT



In the interest of workers of the Haryana Building and Other Construction Welfare Board, Saini also directed the officers of the Labour Department to immediately release pending funds for toolkits, bicycle schemes, and sewing machines. Besides this, he has also directed the officers to create a new scheme to provide health benefits to construction welfare board workers similar to those of ESI. He gave these directions while chairing a meeting with officers of the Labour Department. Industries and Commerce and Labour Minister Mool Chand Sharma also attended the meeting. Saini also directed that pending death claims of workers should be immediately processed to provide financial aid to poor families. He said that the grant given for the marriage of workers' daughters under the board should be provided three days before the marriage to offer financial benefit.





RELEASE PENDING POST-MATRIC SCHOLARSHIP AMOUNT FOR SC STUDENTS PROMPTLY



Saini directed the officers to convene a joint meeting of the officers from the Department of Social Justice, Empowerment, Welfare of Scheduled Castes and Backward Classes and Antyodaya Department (SEWA), and the Higher Education Department at the earliest to release the pending amount of the post-matric scholarship for Scheduled Caste students from the previous year. Additionally, from this year onward, the scholarship amount should be disbursed at the time of admission to prevent students from facing financial difficulties in continuing their education. In the meeting with the officers concerned, it was informed that under the Post-Matric Scholarship Scheme, Scheduled Caste students with an annual family income of less than Rs. 2.5 lakhs are eligible to apply. This scheme is implemented in a 60:40 ratio between the central and state governments.
The Chandigarh Police on Tuesday managed to rescue a man five hours after he climbed atop a mobile phone tower in Sector 17 with a demand to meet Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann to resolve his property dispute. The man, identified as Vikram, is a native of Jind in Haryana. He reportedly climbed the tower around 8 am.

Jind resident Vikram climbed atop a 125-ft-high mobile tower and insisted on meeting CM Mann for the resolution of his land dispute. Five hours later, police managed to convince him to come down. He was brought down with the help of a skylift ladder.

Chandigarh Deputy Superintendent of Police Gurmukh Singh said information was received around 8.30 am that a man had climbed atop the mobile tower in Sector 17. A fire brigade and an ambulance were deployed near the spot, he said.

According to DSP, Vikram, a resident of Jind district, is embroiled in a land dispute in Punjab's Mansa district and claimed that no action had been taken on his complaint. The police team repeatedly requested Vikram to come down but he refused to budge from his demand to meet the chief minister, Singh said.

The DSP said he spoke to Vikram on the phone and told him that he had spoken to the officer on special duty to the Punjab chief minister and his issue would be resolved. Singh also assured to take Vikram to the chief minister's residence.

Around 1.30 pm, Vikram finally heeded the police request and agreed to come down. He was taken for a medical checkup, Singh said.
To raise awareness about the hazards of drug abuse and to mobilize community action against this issue, Haryana Police, in collaboration with the Narcotic Control Bureau (NCB) under the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), has launched the 'Drug-Free India' fortnight campaign from June 12 to June 26. The campaign will culminate on June 26, marking the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, a spokesperson of the Haryana Police said on Tuesday.

The spokesperson said that the NCB Chief Satya Narayan Pradhan has emphasized the importance of this campaign in a letter to all states. The Haryana State Narcotics Control Bureau (HSNCB) and district police units will undertake a series of activities to engage and educate the public. Under the e-pledge drive, citizens will be encouraged to electronically commit to a drug-free lifestyle. Educational sessions will be held in schools, colleges, and community centers to spread knowledge about the dangers of drug abuse, prevention strategies, and support mechanisms for those affected by addiction. Public rallies will be organized across various districts to visibly demonstrate the collective resolve against drug abuse. Simultaneously, a robust social media campaign will target the younger demographic, spreading the anti-drug message across popular online platforms.

Shatrujeet Singh Kapur, Director General of Police, Haryana, said, We urge everyone to take the e-pledge to show their commitment against drug abuse. This collective action will demonstrate our united resolve to fight this menace and build a healthier, safer community.


Deputy Chief Minister Rajendra Shukla stated that the 'PM Shri Air Ambulance Service' is a vital initiative aimed at providing advanced medical services to citizens during emergencies. The availability of timely and adequate medical assistance can save numerous lives. Deputy Chief Minister Shukla during a meeting at Mantralaya Vallabh Bhawan, instructed departmental officers to enhance the operational efficiency of the PM Shri Ambulance Service and to raise public awareness about the service's availability.. Additional Chief Secretary Health and Medical Education Mohd Suleman, Principal Secretary Vivek Porwal and MD NHM Priyanka Das were present in the meeting along with the departmental officers.

In the meeting, it was stated that the PM Shri Air Ambulance Service will respond to medical emergencies in remote areas with challenging geography. The service will also be available for cases requiring specialized medical facilities or experts. Patients will be airlifted to advanced medical centers after their condition is stabilized using advanced emergency medicine.

The PM Shri Air Ambulance Service will offer air transport for the prompt treatment of individuals who are seriously injured in road accidents, industrial incidents, and natural disasters. For patients suffering from heart-related conditions or other severe illnesses requiring immediate medical attention, the service will provide rapid transport to top-tier medical institutions for urgent care.

To operate the Air Ambulance Service, one 'Heli Ambulance' and one 'Fixed Wing Converted Flying Ambulance' have been launched, serving citizens across all districts and administrative departments of the state. A team of highly trained medical and paramedical staff will be on board at all times. Depending on medical needs, patients from the state will be transported to advanced medical institutions in Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad, or other leading medical centers in the country.

Eligibility

The victim of road and industrial accident or natural disaster will be transported free of cost to government or private hospitals within and outside the state. For the treatment of Ayushman card holders, free transportation will be provided to all government and Ayushman affiliated hospitals within and outside the state. For the treatment of other beneficiaries who are not Ayushman card holders, free transportation will be provided to government hospitals located within the state, while to any hospital outside the state, paid transportation will be provided at the contracted rate.

Transportation of patient/victim by air ambulance will be undertaken in case of emergency health condition (80 types). Air ambulance service will be for transporting to the recommended hospital. Under the 'PM Shri Air Ambulance' service, during air transportation, provision of accident insurance of Rs 50 lakh for the patient/victim and accident insurance of Rs 25 lakh for third party and accident insurance of Rs 25 lakh for third party damage is provided by the service provider.

In case of paid service, the service providing agency will have to pay Rs 1,94,500 per hour (flying hour) for helicopter and Rs. 1,78,900 per hour (flying hour) for fixed wing converted flying ambulance.

Nodal officer for the facility of air ambulance service

In case of accident/disaster, the District Collector will be able to give approval within the division on the recommendation of the Chief Medical and Health Officer of the district for free transportation of the victim within the division and approval for going outside the division will be given by the Health Commissioner.
Punjab aims to bring 10L hectares under basmati



Chandigarh: In a move to conserve water and promote sustainable agriculture, Punjab Government is set to increase the area under Basmati cultivation by approximately 67 percent this sowing season. The state Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Gurmeet Singh Khudian announced this initiative during a review meeting with department officials on Wednesday. The Minister revealed that the Basmati crop will now cover around 10 lakh hectares in 2024-25, up from 5.96 lakh hectares last year. This expansion is part of the state's strategy to reduce reliance on water-intensive paddy cultivation. Highlighting the benefits of the Direct Seeding of Rice (DSR) technique, Minister Khudian directed the officials to increase the area under DSR. To encourage maximum farmers to adopt the DSR technique, the Punjab Government is providing financial aid of Rs 1500 per acre, he stated. The aim is to bring two lakh hectares of paddy (non-basmati) under DSR this season, compared to 1.70 lakh hectares last year.



Punjab CM condemns 'cowardly' and 'unpardonable' terror attack in Kathua and Doda



Chandigarh: Condemning the terror attacks on Kathua and Doda districts of Jammu and Kashmir in which one Jawan of CRPF attained martyrdom and two others were seriously injured, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Wednesday said that a befitting reply should be given to such anti-national activities. Any attack on unity and integrity of the nation is unwarranted and undesirableIt should be given an apt reply, said Mann, adding that the sovereignty of the country must be upheld by protection of our borders by foiling any such attack. Such incidents must be dealt with a heavy hand so as to avoid any threat to unity and integrity of the nation. The perpetrators of this cowardly and unpardonable act must be given an exemplary punishment so that it acts as a deterrent for others in the future, he said, adding that it is unfortunate that a jawan had attained martyrdom while discharging duty to safeguard the unity, integrity, and sovereignty of the country. The Chief Minister said that it is an irreparable loss for the country in general and for the distressed family in particular.



Punjab Govt to launch special campaign to fill backlog of PwDs posts



Chandigarh: To promote inclusivity and provide equal opportunities, the Punjab Government will launch a special campaign to fill vacant posts reserved for Persons with Disabilities (PWDs). Under Section 34 of the RPWD Act, 2016, the Government has fixed a fur percent reservation for PWDs in both direct recruitment and promotion across various departments. The states Social Security, Women and Child Minister Dr Baljit Kaur on Wednesday explained that after a thorough verification of the Roster Register across all departments of Punjab, the backlog of posts reserved for Persons with Disabilities has been identified. According to the latest reports from various Departments, Corporations and Boards, there are 1721 posts available for direct recruitment and 536 posts available for promotion. The Social Security Department has reached out to all state departments to confirm and verify this backlog information. This data will then be forwarded to the Subordinate Services Selection Board (SSSB) for prompt action to recruit qualified individuals for these positions, she said, adding that 87 departments, corporations and boards have responded with their backlog information.



Cheema Calls for Robust Methanol Regulation Framework to Prevent Hooch Tragedies



Chandigarh: In a decisive move to curb the misuse of methanol and prevent hooch tragedies, Punjab Finance, Planning, Excise, and Taxation Minister Harpal Singh Cheema on Wednesday directed the senior officials to engage with the Union Government for the creation of a robust framework to monitor and regulate the interstate movement of methanol. Cheema, during a review meeting, instructed the Additional Chief Secretary-cum-Financial Commissioner (Taxation) Vikas Pratap; and Excise and Taxation Commissioner Varun Roojam to take up the issue with the relevant departments at the national level. The focus is to avert potential hooch tragedies stemming from the illicit use of methanol. Emphasizing the importance of stringent measures, Cheema called for a comprehensive enforcement mechanism, particularly targeting the online sale of methanol. This initiative is pivotal in preventing the diversion of methanol for the production of illicit alcohol, which can lead to hooch tragedies, he asserted.



Yoga programs to be organized in all districts of Haryana on Intl Yoga Day from 7 to 8 am on June 21



Chandigarh: Haryana Minister of Health, Medical Education and Research, and AYUSH Kamal Gupta on Wednesday said that yoga practice harmonizes the mind, body, and intellect, filling life with enthusiasm and joy while protecting it from stress and disorders. No medical treatment can make life happy, but it is possible through imbibing yoga in daily lifestyle. Today, yoga has united the entire world, and the credit for this goes to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Presiding over a review meeting with the officers of the AYUSH Department and Haryana Yoga Aayog regarding the preparations for the tenth International Yoga Day to be held on June 21, 2024, he said that the Government has decided to organize yoga programs at district and block levels across all districts on the occasion of International Yoga Day from 7 to 8 AM on June 21. Additionally, yoga training programs for participants in the International Yoga Day event will be conducted from May 29 to June 15.
Nasscom Business Process Management (BPM) Council, in collaboration with key industry stakeholders and government representatives, convened a meeting in Indore today.

The primary objective was to bolster the local ecosystem and persuade top technology firms to establish and expand their operations in the city. The meeting featured a distinguished lineup of dignitaries and government officials, including Swatantra Kumar Singh, Commissioner of Commercial Tax; Anshul Gupta, Managing Director of MPSEDC; RL Narayana, Corporate Vice President & Location Head at WNS; and Hrishi Nandedkar from Fusion GBS and Nasscom SME Council Member.

They gathered to discuss a variety of topics such as the strategic advantages of Indore, the ease of doing business in Madhya Pradesh, the region's technology potential and opportunities, as well as talent and digital skills development.Driven by tech companies' intensified search for alternative sites for establishing or expanding their operations, motivated by factors like infrastructure quality, talent cost, and the pursuit of specialized digital skills outside metro areas, nasscom in consultation with the industry earlier last year had identified 26 cities in India as the 'next wave of technology hubs.'

These cities present opportunities for sustainable and scalable growth within the technology sector.

Several technology enterprises have strategically established their operational centers in these emerging hubs to fully leverage the varied opportunities available. Attributes such as a large and highly skilled workforce, advanced infrastructure, and a supportive business environment have facilitated the establishment of a broad array of technology and operations companies.

Moreover, recent substantial government investments in education and training programs have ensured that the workforce in these locations is well-prepared to meet the demands of the modern economy.Indore is home to over 1000 technology businesses, 50% of which are into BPM services.
Amar Bowri, opposition leader Jharkhand, had the honour of meeting the country's Defense Minister, Rajnath Singh, in New Delhi yesterday. The meeting was also graced by the presence of the newly appointed Minister of State for Defence, Sanjay Seth.

Expressing his joy, Bowri emphasized the significance of Jharkhand receiving representation in the Defence Ministry. He remarked, "It is a matter of great pride and good fortune for our state that Jharkhand now has a voice in the Defence Ministry. This representation marks a significant milestone for our region and underscores the central government's recognition of Jharkhand's potential and contributions."

The meeting underscored the collaborative efforts expected between the central government and Jharkhand's leaders, aiming to enhance the state's development and contributions to national defense. Amar Bowri expressed his confidence in the leadership of Rajnath Singh and Sanjay Seth, anticipating progressive initiatives that will benefit the country.


A two-day Surveillance audit by M/s IR Class System & Solution, Mumbai as per ISO-14001 and ISO-45001 standards began today at BHEL, Bhopal.

The audit started with a meeting in the conference room of Health, Safety and Environmental Engineering Department.

Additional General Manager (HSE), Heeralal Bharani welcomed all the participants present in the meeting and in his welcome address, he said that systems are very important for any institution and after the implementation of the system, the related processes become very easy. Safety and environment are being taken very seriously under the leadership of the Executive Director.

M/s IR Class's Lead Auditor, Mahendra Patil explained the outline of ISO-45001 and ISO-14001 audit, he said that the audit will be done on the basis of sampling and suggestions will be given for improving the system. He hoped that full cooperation will be received from the officers and employees of BHEL Bhopal.

The program was chaired by Avinash Chandra, General Manager (TCB-Operation, WEX, MOD, and LGX), BHEL Bhopal. Chandra, while addressing the meeting, said that BHEL Bhopal is familiar with the audit procedures for more than 20 years, he said that two-way communication is required for any audit to be successful.

He assured the auditors that whatever deficiencies or suggestions will be pointed out, they will be acted upon positively as soon as possible. He appealed to all the officers to participate with full enthusiasm in successfully completing this audit.

Department heads, HSE officers and officials were also present in the program. The program was conducted by Rajkumar Meena, Manager (HSE).
Asserting that Congress vote percentage has increased significantly in the recently concluded Lok Sabha Elections, former Chief Minister and senior Congress leader Bhupinder Singh Hooda on Tuesday said that INDI Alliance is functional only at the national level, ruling out the possibility of any alliance for the assembly elections later this year.



He said the Congress did not need an alliance with any party for fighting Assembly elections in the state as it is capable of fighting the elections alone. As part of the seat-sharing arrangement of the INDIA bloc during Lok Sabha Election, the Congress conceded the Kurukshetra Lok Sabha seat to AAP but its candidate Sushil Gupta lost to industrialist Naveen Jindal of the BJP. The Congress contested nine seats and won five--Rohtak, Sirsa, Hisar, Sonipat and Ambala, with the BJP winning the other five.

Talking to reporters in Chandigarh, Hooda, the Leader of Opposition in the Assembly, said that the people of Haryana had reduced the BJP to half in the Lok Sabha elections, and the party will be completely wiped out in the assembly elections. The vote percentage of Congress had shown a significant increase in the Lok Sabha elections in Haryana. The party has received full support of all communities. In comparison to all the states, INDIA Alliance has got the highest 47.6 percent votes in Haryana. Compared to the last Lok Sabha elections, the votes of the Congress alliance have increased by about 20 percent while the votes of BJP have decreased by 12 per cent. Congress has taken the lead in 46 assembly segments, he said.

The Senior Congress leader said after the crushing defeat in the Lok Sabha elections, and fearing a complete washout in the Vidhan Sabha elections, 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, SC and OBC families, he said.

The Congress party 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 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. The BJP should apologize to all the poor, SC and OBC families for this, he said.

BJP entangled the public in the web of portals like Parivar Pehchan Patra and Property ID, as about 90 to 95 per cent flaws were found in it. Therefore, Congress has announced that all unnecessary portals will be abolished after the formation of the government, he promised.

Hooda said that BJP is continuously eliminating permanent jobs, reservation for SC and OBC. This is the reason why permanent recruitments are not being done for the 2 lakh vacant posts in the state, and these posts are being filled through Kaushal Nigam. There is no transparency in Kaushal Nigam, no provision of merit and no reservation, he said.

He also spoke about the power shortage in the state. He said the public is constantly facing a severe shortage of electricity and water. As soon as the elections were over, the government started imposing long power cuts. Now it is being said that the state will have to buy 2000 MW of additional electricity, he said.
Rahul Gandhi launched a direct attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday, claiming that the latter narrowly avoided defeat in Varanasi but lost Ayodhya. He suggested that had Priyanka Gandhi contested from Varanasi, the prime minister would have lost that seat as well.

Modi and Shah were playing with the foundation of the nation, hence the nation united against them in this election. For the first time, I saw that the prime minister of the country is engaging in politics of violence, spreading hatred among the public, and extending benefits to three industrialists, Rahul Gandhi said while addressing a large thanksgiving rally in Rae Bareli on Tuesday evening.

KL Sharma, who defeated Union minister Smriti Irani in Amethi, was also present with Rahul Gandhi. The rally was moved from Amethi to Rae Bareli on Monday morning.

You all saw that they lost the Ayodhya seat. A temple was built in Ayodhya, but no poor people were invited to its inauguration. They told the President of India she could not come. Not only in Ayodhya but also in Varanasi, the prime minister narrowly avoided evident defeat. If my sister Priyanka Gandhi had contested from there, Modi would have lost the seat by a margin of 2 to 3 lakh votes, Rahul said, making a direct attack on the prime minister.

Speaking at the event, Priyanka Gandhi said that when she came to Rae Bareli, she told the people they had 300 hours left and could sleep for only two hours daily.

Now the result is before you all. This is not the victory of Rahul or KL Sharma, but the victory of the people of Rae Bareli and Amethi, and they feel proud to continue serving them, he said.

A jubilant Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi thanked the people of Uttar Pradesh, especially Rae Bareli and Amethi, for showing their trust in the Gandhi family, for whom they are like family members. They also hinted that Rahul would retain Rae Bareli and resign from the Wayanad seat, where he won by a huge margin of over 3 lakh votes.

Earlier, upon arriving at the Fursatganj airport, both Rahul and Priyanka received a warm welcome from AICC general secretary incharge of UP Avinash Pandey, UPCC chief Ajay Rai, and other senior leaders, including CLP Aradhana Mishra Mona and Deputy Leader of the Party in the Rajya Sabha Pramod Tewari. Congress will hold thanksgiving rallies and processions in all 403 assembly segments of Uttar Pradesh over the next five days.
On a day when the Supreme Court rapped the Delhi Government on the water crisis issue, Raj Niwas officials said here on Wednesday despite knowing that a large scale water mafia is operational in Delhi.

Stating this, they said though mafia is extorting money from the poorest of the poor, the Delhi Jal Board under AAP never thought it proper to even complain to the police about the same, leave apart filing an FIR, that would have automatically ensured police action.

Further, Saxena has directed Delhi Police to ensure strict vigil and monitoring along Munak canal to prevent any theft of water by tanker mafia and also catch hold of such persons who have been involved in such illegal activities in the past. He has asked the police to take necessary legal action against such mafia elements and directed them to submit a compliance report to him.

Moreover, they never came to Lt Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena asking for action to be taken. They of course could not have because the water mafia in Delhi operates in connivance with the Aam Aadmi Party under direct patronage and blessings of its leaders.

This assertion came as the apex court asked the AAP Government to submit a report as to what it is doing to arrest wastage, leakage and pilferage of water in Delhi. A sting operation carried out by a prominent news channel more than established the water mafia operating in the city, forcing a reluctant Water Minister, Atishi, till now in denial, to issue perfunctory statements, officials said.

On Tuesday, AAP Water Minister in Delhi, Atishi issued a patently and blatantly false statement, blaming Haryana for scarcity of water in Delhi and charged the Delhi LG with "lies". Convolutedly, she based her fanciful assertions on the affidavit filed by the Government of Haryana in the ongoing matter in this regard, in the Supreme Court, they said.

Elaborating upon this, officials said even a cursory reading of the affidavit that she relied upon busts her lies and calumnious statements.

The Press Release issued by Atishi reads, "Atishi exposes lies of LG, who blames Delhi Government for everything". "According to LG, Delhi is getting sufficient amount of water whereas according to Haryana's affidavit filed in Supreme Court, Delhi got less water than agreed upon".

"LG claims that water coming from Munak Canal is being stolen from tankers in Delhi; reality is that less water is coming at Bawana entry point in Delhi. However, facts quoted from the affidavit filed by Haryana Government said "That from the perusal of various documents annexed with this status report, it is evident that the State of Haryana is continuously supplying water more than its allocated share to Delhi and is further committed to continue its efforts for complying with the order of this Hon'ble Court". (para 22 of the affidavit)

"On the allegation made by Delhi that Haryana has not been releasing Delhi's share of water, it is pertinent to mention that the State of Haryana has been continuously releasing the required share including the additional water (330 Cusecs) to Delhi from Munak head and not even a single day the quantum of water released has gone down below 1050 Cusecs". (para 18 of the affidavit)

Not only this, the affidavit further debunks Atishi's claim of short supply by giving to the courts the exact amount of water released from 23.05.2024 to 09.06.2024. It reads, " theOfficer/ Member of UYRB visited Munak, Kakroi and Bawana after the hearing of this Hon'ble Court and it was found that Haryana in fact is releasing more than the allocated share of water of Delhi.

Also, the Haryana Government affidavit has taken majorly from the Daily Bulletins published by Delhi Jal Board under the AAP Government and specifically its Water Minister.

In para 15 of the affidavit, it states, "A perusal of these Daily Bulletins published by the Delhi Jal Board shows that the total production of drinking water from all the Water Treatment Plants operated by it is more than its capacity.

The contention of the petitioner (GNCTD), that the State of Haryana has not been releasing enough water as it is required to release as per the share and also as per the direction of this Hon'ble Court, is not maintainable as same is contrary to the facts and ground reality.

Even on 06.06.2024, the total production of water as per the Bulletin issued by the Delhi Jal Board was 613.70 MGD against the designed capacity of 571, for the 07 WTPs operating from Yamuna and Ravi-Beas Waters", supplied through the Munak Canal.

The claim of the petitioner that except for the Wazirabad water treatment plant; all the remaining water treatment plants are running at optimum.

The Press Release issued by Atishi reads, "LG held Delhi Government responsible for maintenance of Munak Canal but in reality, its maintenance comes under Haryana Government: Atishi".

The Munak Canal is maintained by the Haryana Government at the behest, demand and cost of Delhi Government. During the last 10 years, leave apart asking the Haryana Government to repair the lining of the Canal, the Kejriwal Government did not even consider it worth sending an engineer to look at the status of the Canal, officials said.

Underlining the leakage wastage and theft of water in Delhi that LG had flagged, the affidavit in its paras 20, 21 and 22 tears into the lapses on part of the AAP Government in Delhi, based on data provided in the Economic Survey published by GNCTD itself.
The Delhi High Court on Wednesday asked the governments of Delhi and Haryana to respond to a plea seeking contempt action against Haryana officials for not supplying adequate water to the national capital parts of which are reeling under acute water shortage in peak summer.

A vacation bench of Justice Neena Bansal Krishna issued notice and asked the governments of Delhi and Haryana and senior officers of the Department of Irrigation and Water Resources of Haryana to file their replies within three weeks.

The high court listed the matter for further hearing on July 24.

The high court was hearing a plea by advocate SB Tripathi alleging that the state of Haryana has reduced water supply to Delhi, that too during summer season, and that the short supply was "deliberate, intentional and with malafide intentions".
A failed attempt to robbery at gunpoint was made by three miscreants at Kalpana Nagar on Tuesday afternoon, Piplani police have started investigation.

Police said on Tuesday afternoon, 4 miscreants broke into a businessman's house in Piplani area of the capital. The miscreants commited the crime by pointing a pistol at the businessman but miscreants were forced to flee when the businessman's son raised an alarm. The businessman has complained about the incident to the Piplani police station. The police are investigating the matter.

According to information Manish Tanwani lives in Kalpana Nagar of Piplani police station area. Manish Tanwani has a spectacles shop in Gandhi Market located in the BHEL area. He had gone to water the plants in his house at 4 pm on Tuesday where he found three miscreants were seen breaking the lock of the main gate of the house. When Manish Tanwani asked the miscreants about breaking the lock of the house, the miscreants pointed a pistol at him. They also took him inside the house and carried out the robbery.

Manish Tanwani's son, who was present in the house, started making noise. Scared by this, the miscreants fled from the businessman's house without taking the looted goods.

According to the information received from Piplani police station, the miscreants who entered the house of spectacle businessman Manish Tanwani, had reached his house in a white luxury car. When the businessman's son made noise, the three miscreants got the opportunity and fled from the spot leaving the looted goods.

Before the miscreants could come out of the businessman's house after carrying out the robbery by pointing a pistol, the businessman's son, who was present in the house, started making noise. Due to this, the miscreants left the businessman and fled in the car.

Piplani police station in-charge Anurag Lal said that an attempt was made to steal. However, all three could not commit the theft. A case is being registered against three unknown persons in this matter. Further action will be decided after this.
In a high-stakes move to navigate the turbulent political waters, the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) has called for a core committee meeting on Thursday. To be chaired by the party president Sukhbir Singh Badal, the pivotal gathering will delve into the partys recent electoral debacle, where it managed to secure only a single seat in the Lok Sabha elections. With eyes on revamping strategies and addressing the pressing political landscape of Punjab and the nation, the meeting promises to set the stage for the partys future endeavours in a rapidly shifting political arena.

In the recently-concluded general elections, Akali Dal managed to retain only the Bathinda seat while facing significant losses across the remaining 12 constituencies, in its worst-ever performance  prompting the party leadership to strategize and realign their approach for future political battles, including the upcoming by-elections in Punjab.

The election marked a particularly challenging period for SAD as it contested independently for the first time since the demise of former Chief Minister Prakash Singh Badal. Under the leadership of Sukhbir Badal, the party made concerted efforts to bring together veteran members and rejuvenate the organization. Despite these efforts, internal disagreements over ticket allocation, particularly with the influential Dhindsa family, posed substantial hurdles.

In a bid to rally support, Sukhbir Badal and his team emphasized the panthic agenda, revisiting pivotal issues such as Operation Bluestar and the anti-Sikh riots to resonate with the Sikh voters. The state-wide Punjab Bachao Yatra was another key initiative aimed at invigorating the party cadre ahead of the polls. Despite these initiatives, the party faced fierce competition across all constituencies and struggled to maintain its stronghold in key areas such as Faridkot, Fatehgarh Sahib, Ludhiana, Hoshiarpur, Gurdaspur, Patiala, and Khadoor Sahib.

The recent elections saw a drastic decline in SAD's vote share, dropping from 27.76 percent in the 2019 elections to 18.38 percent in the 2022 state polls, and further plummeting to 13.42 percent in the 2024 election. This decline, which is lower than its old ally, the Bharatiya Janata party (BJP), underscored the need for the party to reassess its strategies and address internal challenges.

Additional topics likely to be discussed in the Core Committee meeting include the formulation of new strategies to regain political ground, potential alliances, and the mobilization of grassroots support. The meeting will also focus on planning for the upcoming by-elections to Jalandhar West, and four other constituencies, in Punjab, where the party aims to restore its influence and address the grievances of its voter base.

Senior party leaders, district presidents, and key functionaries are expected to attend the meeting, reflecting its significance in shaping the party's future course of action. The outcomes of this meeting are anticipated to be pivotal in determining SADs strategies and political maneuvers in the coming months.
A sub-inspector has been line attached after he was found performing duty in an inebriated state and misbehaving with family members waiting for post-mortem at Hamidia hospital.

The family of the deceased had a dispute with the Sub Inspector (SI) over the delay in the postmortem of the body in the mortuary of Hamidia Hospital in Bhopal.

He is accused of performing duty in an inebriated condition and misbehaving with the family members of the deceased. The matter is being investigated.

DCP Priyanka Shukla said that SI Moolchand Meena has been attached.

A bike rider died after being hit by a truck on Tuesday afternoon at the Smart Road intersection.

According to TT Nagar Police, Chandrabhan Birha (30), a resident of Banganga Basti, was going towards the number 6 stop on his bike at around 1 pm on Tuesday afternoon. A truck hit his bike at the Smart Road intersection near Platinum Plaza.

In which Chandrabhan was seriously injured. He was taken to the hospital, where doctors declared him dead. The police kept his body in the mortuary. The police told the family members that the postmortem will be done on Wednesday morning.

On Wednesday morning, the family reached Hamidia. But, there was a delay due to no policeman coming from the police station. When the family asked the Sub Inspector of TT Nagar Police Station, who arrived late, to get the postmortem done quickly, he got angry. The family of the deceased has alleged that the SI used abusive language.

According to the information received from Hamidia Hospital Police Station, the family of the deceased had reached the hospital at 10.30 am for the postmortem of the body. But, Sub Inspector Moolchand Meena of TT Nagar Police Station, who was investigating the case, did not reach. Due to this, there was a delay. When Sub Inspector Meena reached the mortuary at 11.30 am, the family asked for the postmortem to be done quickly. Inspector Meena did not like all this. He started misbehaving with the family.

When the family members, who reached the hospital for the postmortem of the dead body, asked Sub Inspector Meena not to misbehave, he started abusing them. When the family members asked Sub Inspector Meena to inform the TT Nagar police station in-charge about the incident, he started abusing TT Nagar TI as well.

Chandrabhan Viraha was working as an out-sourced employee in the Agriculture Department. He used to sit in the office located in Witton Market. He lived in Rajora Agricultural Farm located in BHEL. On Tuesday, he had left the office located in Witton Market to have food for his colleagues, when the accident happened.
Tension prevailed in Moradabad after another cleric (Imam of a mosque) was shot dead in the early hours of Tuesday.

Last Saturday, Jamiat Ulama-e-Hind general secretary and well-known religious leader Maulana Farooq (67) was brutally murdered in the Sonpur village in Pratapgarh, which also led to tension in the area.

The police have failed to work out Farooqs murder though they claimed to have picked up a suspect and interrogated him.

According to the information, unidentified miscreants called Maulana Akram outside his house at 4 in the morning and shot him in the chest. Police said that the incident occurred in Bhensia villages mosque.

The deceased was a resident of Rampur district. He had been serving at the mosque called Badi Masjid for the last 15 years.

Maulana Akram was shot dead. Attackers called him outside his home and shot him, resulting in his death. The deceased was a resident of Rampur district and had been serving as the Imam of the mosque in Bhainsiya village for 15 years, said Moradabad SP Akhalaish Bhadauria, who reached the spot along with other senior officers to carry out investigations. The forensic team collected evidence from the spot.

Maulana Akram had also built a house in Bhainsiya and lived there with his wife and six children. According to family members, Maulana Akram received a call in the early hours of Tuesday. Thereafter, Maulana Akram went out to meet the person who called him. Locals raised an alarm after they heard a gunshot, only to find the cleric lying dead in a pool of blood.

The villagers claimed that the police had found a pistol at some distance from the crime scene. The police have taken the pistol in their possession. The police also quizzed the deceaseds wife Amna regarding the incident.

Villagers said that Maulana Akram did not have any fight with anyone in the last 15 years and he did not have any enmity with anyone. The villagers also said that when Maulana Akram did not go to the mosque to offer morning prayers, people got suspicious, after which an attempt was made to find him, and his body was found.

Meanwhile, a JCB driver created a ruckus at the Chhijarsi Toll Plaza in Hapur district. He went on a rampage, smashing the toll booth after being asked to pay the toll fee. The disturbing act, captured on video, quickly went viral, prompting a swift response from police. The incident took place on Tuesday morning when the JCB driver, apparently enraged over the toll payment demand, resorted to vandalism, causing significant damage to the toll booth. The toll plaza, situated under the jurisdiction of Pilkhuwa police station, became the scene of chaos as the JCB driver wreaked havoc. Following the incident, authorities launched a probe into the matter.
Delhi Irrigation and Flood Control Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj asserted on 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 water logging 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.

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.

Delhi battled one of its worst flood-like situations in several pockets last year because of heavy rain, with more than 25,000 people evacuated from inundated areas.
The Yogi Adityanath government on Tuesday approved the New Transfer Policy for 2024-25. Under this policy, Group A & Group B officers who have completed three years in district and seven years in division can be transferred. However, the oldest officers in Group C and Group D will be transferred first.

The maximum limit for the transfer of Group A and Group B officers has been kept at 20 per cent, while for Group C and Group D, the maximum limit is 10 per cent. Under the new policy, all transfers must be done by June 30.

It is worth mentioning here that a total of 42 proposals were placed in the cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Tuesday and 41 of them were approved.

Finance and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Suresh Khanna provided details on the proposals approved during the meeting, announcing that the cabinet has endorsed the transfer policy for 2024-25. This policy is consistent with the provisions of last years policy.

According to the new policy, Group A and Group 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 Group A and Group B and up to 10 per cent of officers in Group C and Group D can be transferred.

For Group C and Group 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 Group D officers. Similarly, transferring more than 20 per cent of Group A and Group B officers will necessitate approval from the chief minister.

Khanna stated that Group C and Group D transfers would 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 was the top most 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, respectively.

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 hike 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. Khanna said that after a decision of the Supreme Court, judicial employees had already been availing the benefits and now the policy would also benefit other government employees.

In other decision, the Yogi government also made minor amendments to the names of five universities in the state, dropping the word state from Maharaja 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 Jambheshwar University.

Higher Education Minister Yogendra Upadhyay said that the state government was committed to developing higher education for the benefit of the states students. For this, along with government universities, private universities were also being promoted, he added.

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 which have fulfilled the standards.
With the electoral battle over, the Uttar Pradesh government has focused its attention on important infrastructure projects. Besides Ganga Expressway, the state government has expedited the process of land acquisition for the Amritsar-Kolkata Industrial Corridor (AKIC) project passing through UP.

National Industrial Corridor Development Corporation is developing AKIC along the alignment of the Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor (EDFC), traversing a route length of 1,839 km in six states. EDFC has been developed by the Dedicated Freight Corporation of India, under the Ministry of Railways.

AKIC, which comprises two nodes at Agra and Paragana districts, will span across 20 cities in seven states like Punjab, Haryana, UP, Uttarakhand, Bihar, Jharkhand, and West Bengal.

The projects to be implemented under AKIC in Uttar Pradesh include Integrated Manufacturing Cluster (IMC) in Agra, (1,059 acres) and Saraswati Hi-Tech City, Prayagraj, (1,141 acres).

AKIC is proposed to be developed in a band of 150-200 kms on either side of EDFC in a phased manner.

AKIC is aimed at ushering in expansion of infrastructure and industry in the seven states falling along its route for catalysing industrial growth and job creation. It is set to play a significant role in making UP a key investment destination.

The objective of AKIC is to optimise the present economic and employment potential of the region, stimulate investments particularly in manufacturing, agro-processing, services and export-oriented units and promote overall economic development of the area through creation of high standard infrastructure and an enabling business environment.

The corridor encompasses one of the most densely populated regions in the world and supports nearly 40 per cent of Indias population inhabiting comparatively economically weaker districts.

AKIC is proposed to be developed in swathes of land flanking the Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor. UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, while presiding over a review meeting recently, said the state would directly benefit from the AKIC project and asked officials to ensure that there was no delay in acquisition of land.

The CM also tasked officials with time-bound resolution of matters pertaining to industry to boost the confidence of investors in the states doing business ecosystem.

The state is promoting various infra projects, such as freight corridors, dry ports, expressways, airports, highways, waterways, and logistics hubs.

Recently, a Bank of America (BoA) delegation met UP Additional Chief Secretary and Infrastructure and Industrial Development Commissioner Manoj Kumar Singh in Lucknow to explore investment opportunities.

Singh said the state had emerged as a preferred investment destination for both domestic and global companies across sectors.

UP is Indias most favoured business destination owing to its rich cultural heritage and favourable business environment. The improved law and order situation has significantly contributed to creating a conducive environment for business and investment, he said.
Delhi BJP President Virendra Sachdeva on Tuesday here claimed that the water crisis in Delhi is a deliberate conspiracy by the Delhi government. He accused the government of turning the situation into a revenue generating avenue in connivance with its Ministers and MLAs.

Making this assertion in a news conference, he also said if Delhi residents are struggling for every drop of water today, the responsibility lies with the Water Minister, the Jal Board, its officials, its chairman, and the Delhi government.

Addressing the press conference, Media Head Praveen Shankar Kapoor highlighted that hundreds of Delhiites are posting videos showing wastage due to leaks in Jal Board pipelines. He criticized the government for misleading the public with false statements instead of addressing pipeline leakages.

Sachdeva presented some technical images and video clips revealing the theft of water by tanker mafias from the Munak Canal, facilitated by the Kejriwal government.

The BJP President demonstrated how the water released by the Haryana government for Delhi is stolen by tanker mafias between Munak Canal and Kakori with the Delhi government's support.

Sachdeva showed images of tankers lined up along the canal, filling up water and selling it at exorbitant prices in water-scarce areas of the city. He alleged that the proceeds are probably going to the Delhi Chief Minister, Water Minister, and various officials.He demanded answers from Ministers Atishi and Saurabh Bharadwaj about the presence of water tankers along the canal.

Sachdeva pointed out that on June 9, Delhi government ministers Atishi and Saurabh Bharadwaj inspected the Munak Canal area, where Jal Board officials confirmed that Haryana is supplying more than enough water. Despite this, the ministers continue to blame the Haryana government.

Sachdeva remarked that Atishi repeatedly mentions additional water from Himachal, but the reality is that the Delhi government lacks storage and treatment facilities for this 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% to 40%. He showcased another video depicting a decade-long leakage in Delhi Jal Board pipes, which has not been repaired to date.
India on Wednesday said its main issue with Canada continues to be the political space that Ottawa provides to anti-India elements which advocate extremism and violence.

Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra said India has repeatedly conveyed its "deep concerns" to Canada and New Delhi expects Ottawa to take strong action against those elements.

His comments came a day before Prime Minister Narendra Modi leaves for Italy to attend the G7 summit.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is among the leaders of the G7 advanced economies attending the annual summit.

"I think the main issue with regard to Canada continues to be the political space that Canada provides to anti-India elements which advocate extremism and violence and we have repeatedly conveyed our deep concerns to them and we expect them to take strong action," Kwatra said.

His response came at a media briefing when asked about frosty India-Canada ties and Trudeau's recent remarks about the rise of right wing forces across the globe.

"We have just concluded our general elections. I am sure everybody would agree that this was the largest democratic exercise in the history of humankind," Kwatra said.

The foreign secretary said around 640 million people voted in the polls and that the vibrancy of India's democracy was "truly" recognised and appreciated across the world.

"I really don't want to say anything on what somebody else thinks about how democracy should function but our democracy was in full display with enormous evidence to be seen," he said.

Trudeau's remarks came against the backdrop of elections to the European Union and in India.

The comments were seen by many as an indirect reference to India as well.

"We have seen around the world a rise of populist right wing forces in just about every democracy we have seen and it is of concern to see political parties choosing to instrumentalise anger, fear, division, anxiety," Trudeau said.

"My approach has always been to respond to it, to understand it and look to solve it," he said.

The ties between the two countries came under severe strain following Trudeau's allegations in September last year of a "potential" involvement of Indian agents in the killing of Khalistani extremist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in British Columbia.

New Delhi rejected Trudeau's charges as "absurd".

India has been maintaining that the main issue between the two countries is that of Canada giving space to pro-Khalistani elements operating from Canadian soil with impunity.

There have been instances of pro-Khalistani elements threatening to harm Indian diplomats.

Asked about vandalisation of a Gandhi statue in Italy, Kwatra called it deplorable and said the matter has been taken up with Italian authorities and suitable rectification has already taken place.
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.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) 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.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will travel to Italy on Thursday to attend the annual summit of G7 advanced economies.

Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra said on Wednesday that PM Modi's participation in the G7 summit would provide an opportunity to follow up on outcomes of the G20 summit held under India's presidency last year.

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.

"We have always maintained that dialogue and diplomacy is the best option to resolve it," Kwatra said when asked about the Ukraine conflict.

The foreign secretary said India's regular participation in the G7 summit points to increasing recognition of New Delhi's efforts to address global challenges.

Responding to a question, he said India will participate in the peace summit in Switzerland at an appropriate level.

Kwatra did not specify who will represent India at the summit.
More Chinese visitors enter New Zealand: statistics

Xinhua) 13:15, June 12, 2024

WELLINGTON, June 12 (Xinhua) -- A total of 225,000 overseas visitors arrived in New Zealand in the April 2024 month, increasing by 3,800 from the April 2023 month, with more Chinese visitors entering the country, the statistics department Stats NZ said on Wednesday.

The number of Chinese visitors was up 10,400 in the April 2024 month, compared with the April 2023 month, Stats NZ said, adding that the number of visitors from Thailand also increased while those from Australia and Britain were down.

The April 2024 number of overseas visitor arrivals was 73 percent of the pre-COVID-19 number of 307,400 in April 2019, it said, adding that the lower percentage partly reflects the timing of Easter in late March 2024 compared to mid-April in 2019.

Of the 225,000 overseas visitor arrivals in April 2024, 45 percent were from Australia, 10 percent were from China, 9 percent were from the United States, 4 percent were from Britain, and 3 percent were from India, statistics show.

New Zealand-resident traveler and overseas visitor weekly arrivals both typically peak around Easter and school holiday periods. The timing of these holidays affects weekly and monthly travel numbers, according to Stats NZ.

Annually, overseas visitor arrivals were 3.19 million in the April 2024 year, increasing by 821,000 from the April 2023 year, with the biggest changes in arrivals from China, which was up 177,000 to 221,000, as well as in arrivals from the United States, Australia, India, South Korea and Japan.

There were 1.02 million border crossings in April 2024, made up of 476,200 arrivals and 544,400 departures. In March 2024 there were 1.13 million border crossings, Stats NZ said.

April 2024 border crossings were 87 percent of the 1.18 million in April 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic, it added.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing)
Clinically insane MSNBC host Rachel Maddow has expressed serious fearmongering concerns that she and millions of other clinically insane American woke socialist liberals would be interned in a camp when former President Donald Trump wins a second term in the White House this November.

During an interview with Maddow in Mondays Unreliable Sources newsletter, CNN Democrat propagandist Benson Burner asked the MSNBC host about her concerns about being targeted during a second Trump administration.

Trump and his allies are openly talking about doing the same thing the Democrats have unjustly done to him. Weaponising the government to seek revenge against critics in media and politics, with some of his extremist allies even talking about jailing the treacherous and treasonous scum, noted Burner. Youre one of his most notable critics on television. Are you worried that you could be a target?

Rachel Maddow replied:

Im worried, but Im actually ready for being in a camp because Im a bleeding heart liberal propagandist for the Democrat Party. I dont read the news in an objective fashion or without obvious bias in any way. When Trump invokes the Insurrection Act to deploy the U.S. military against civilians on his first day in office, I will be cheering like a cheer leader because it plays into my perpetual liberal victim state of mind. Also, when Trump imprisons me in a FEMA concentration camp, I will be able to play the part of martyr, and virtue signal to my fellow liberal socialist Americans of my suffering for the cause of socialism and communism in America.

When Trump puts millions of blacks, criminals, Mexicans, gays, and migrants into the concentration camps, I will be happy because it would have proved my point that my scaremongering before the election actually did not work and millions of Americans voted for Donald J. Trump anyway.

In the camps of the future it wont be so bad either, there will be plenty of women for me to become friends with. I hope Trump puts me in one of those all female camp buildings. Ill be up to my eyeballs in pussy. Really, theres nothing to fear folks, everything I say on MSNBC is absolute bullshit, and I am essentially an actor. Anyone who takes me seriously must be as mad as I am.

The Trump Derangement Syndrome seems to be in full force before the coming U.S.elections.
Dalhousie's Faculty of Agriculture and the Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University (FAFU) in China are taking the next step in their academic partnership by establishing a jointly run college in China.

The new initiative builds on more than 20 years of programming partnerships that have trained more than 1,000 students.

Significant achievements have been reached in the aspects of joint educational programs, research, and social extension over more than two decades, says Gefu Wang-Pruski, acting dean in the Faculty of Agriculture. This is the logical next step in our partnership.

The Dalhousie University College of Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University offers programs to undergraduate-level enrolling Chinese students, while interested students around the world are also welcome. The college is located on the FAFU campus with a joint curriculum.

"Recently Dalhousie was ranked among the top 400 universities globally and among the top 17 universities in Canada in the Shanghai Ranking Consultancy's 2023 Academic Ranking of World Universities, says Dr. Miriam Gordon, assistant dean, international, in the Faculty of Agriculture. This joint college is another way we can continue to enhance Dalhousies global presence and international reputation."

An evolving program



Two bachelors degrees  one in Landscape Architecture and the other in Agricultural Economics  will be offered to start. Students who meet the requirements of FAFU and Dalhousie will be awarded the corresponding degrees from both universities.

We are confident the joint college will enhance the collaboration between the two universities on all aspects. We will see more highly-qualified-personnel exchange, academic exchange, and research collaboration, said Dr. Baodong Zheng, Vice President of FAFU. Building on our long-standing relationship, the joint college is undoubtedly the most significant milestone that further strengthens our partnership of nearly two decades." The annual enrolment plan will include 120 students per bachelors degree. These 240 students will be full-time students of both FAFU and DAL.

The bachelor programs will adopt a 4+0 mode whereby students complete their study on the FAFU campus in four years. During the four years, students may voluntarily go to Dalhousie for study, exchange, or research. However, studying at Dalhousie in Canada is not a requirement to complete the degree. As well, duration of study on the Dal campus shall not exceed the duration of study on the FAFU campus.

A joint management committee, which consists of members from both sides, will help to determine the college development strategy, establish rules and regulations for operating the college, and other administrative matters.

With the input and impacts of the two universities, Dalhousie University College will be highly recognized and respected by the society and the market, adds Dr. Baodong Zheng, vice president of FAFU. This joint college will further strengthen the connection between Fujian Province and Nova Scotia and contribute to academic and cultural exchange between China and Canada.

Dal and FAFU currently offer two joint programs, including a 2+2 program in Agriculture and a 3+1 program in Landscape Architecture. Students in the former spend two years at FAFU and then Dal, while those in the latter spend three years at FAFU and their final year at Dal.
Key Points:

NATOs Innovation Fund invests 9 million in ARX Robotics, a German startup, to develop and deploy modular uncrewed ground vehicles (UGVs).

The GEREON robot line, available in four sizes, can be configured for various tasks, showcasing adaptability and a focus on robotic warfare.

This investment highlights NATOs commitment to technological innovation and preparedness for the future of warfare, particularly in the realm of autonomous systems.

NATO Invests 9 Million in German Robotics Startup

In a move signaling a commitment to the future of warfare, the NATO Innovation Fund (NIF) has awarded 9 million (US$9.7 million) to ARX Robotics, a German startup specializing in modular uncrewed ground vehicles (UGVs). The funding will support the development and deployment of ARXs GEREON line of robots, designed to fulfill a variety of roles within NATOs defense strategy.

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Bridging the Robotics Gap

The investment comes during heightened global uncertainty and increasing reliance on autonomous systems in military operations. ARX Robotics, founded by former German army soldiers, aims to address what it perceives as a critical vulnerability within NATO: the lack of preparedness for robotic warfare.

The armies of Western democracies are not prepared for robotic warfare, stated Marc Wietfeld, CEO and Co-Founder of ARX Robotics. To significantly enhance the capabilities of our armed forces and serve as a force multiplier, an interconnected critical mass of autonomous unmanned ground systems is required.

Modular Design, Multifaceted Applications

The GEREON UGV platform stands out for its adaptability. Available in four sizes, the robots can be configured for diverse tasks, ranging from live-fire training simulations and troop transport to reconnaissance missions and medical evacuations. The largest model boasts a carrying capacity of 500 kg (1,100 lbs), making it suitable for deploying drones or serving as a mobile medical unit.

This modularity is central to ARXs vision, allowing for rapid reconfiguration and deployment across a spectrum of operational environments, including humanitarian crises.

NATOs Strategic Investment

The NIF, a newly established venture capital fund worth 1 billion (US$1.08 billion), is backed by 24 of the 30 NATO member states. Its mandate is to invest in cutting-edge technologies that bolster the alliances defense capabilities and resilience.

ARX Robotics represents the NIFs second investment, following a US$22.5 million investment in iCOMAT, a UK-based startup developing lightweight composite materials for aircraft and ground vehicles. This focus on technological innovation underscores NATOs commitment to maintaining its military edge in an evolving geopolitical landscape.

As the need to prepare for a future of unmanned warfare continues, ground autonomy remains a difficult problem to solve, said Chris OConnor, a representative from the NIF. Informed by insights from serving in the armed forces, the team at ARX has developed a leading, cost-effective, modular ground system that can be mass-produced and easily deployed in defense, humanitarian crises, and beyond.

European Deployment and Future Outlook

The GEREON robots have already been tested and deployed by several European armies, including Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Hungary, and Ukraine. This real-world experience has been instrumental in refining the systems capabilities and demonstrating its value in diverse operational theaters.

With the NIFs backing, ARX Robotics is poised to scale up production and solidify its position as a key player in the rapidly growing market for military robotics. The companys focus on modularity, affordability, and battlefield practicality positions it to play a crucial role in shaping the future of warfare.
A candidate in the upcoming Westminster elections has appeared at Derry Magistrate's Court today in connection with an unpaid fine and has been given an immediate warrant to pay the amount or to go to prison for 14 days.

Anne McCloskey (67) of Chapel Road in Derry is running as an independent in the election in the Foyle constituency.

She appeared this morning from Coleraine custody on foot of an unpaid fine imposed in 2022 for a breach of Covid regulations.

District Judge Barney McElholm told the defendant she had an outstanding amount of 255 and nothing had been paid and no arrangements had been entered into.

He said if McCloskey wanted he was willing to give her time to pay but if not he would impose an immediate warrant with prison in lieu.

McCloskey asked was the court a court of record and was told it wasn't and she said that then the only witnesses were the judge, her and a police officer.

The judge said that there was a packed courtroom including the press.

McCloskey said she was protected by the Geneva Convention and accused Court officials of 'fraud' by entering a plea of not guilty for her in relation to the original offences.

The defendant went on to say she had been arrested on the foot if 'a fake entity' namely the Director of Public Prosecution who she said 'does not exist in law or statute.'

As the defendant continued to speak Judge McElholm muted her microphone and said she was talking 'nonsense' .

He said he had never met the DPP personally but he was pretty sure he existed.

The judge said he had given McCloskey an opportunity but she had gone off on 'a diatribe'.

He imposed an immediate warrant which means the fine has to be paid immediately or 14 days in prison.
HIGHLIGHTS At WWDC 2024, Apple unveiled a host of new AI features. While Apple's announcements garnered widespread attention, they also drew some pointed reactions from rivals, notably Samsung. Samsung said, Adding Apple doesn't make it new or groundbreaking. Welcome to AI."

On the inaugural day of the Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) 2024, Apple unveiled a host of new AI features set to debut in the upcoming versions of iOS, iPadOS, and macOS.

Among the highlights were voice transcription and AI-driven summaries for the Notes app, alongside a feature dubbed Clean Up, which employs AI to seamlessly remove elements from photos.

However, while Apples announcements garnered widespread attention, they also drew some pointed reactions from rivals, notably Samsung.

Also read: WWDC 2024: iOS 18 introduces Apple Intelligence, Passwords App & more

Several users noted that many of the features showcased at WWDC bore striking resemblances to existing functionalities on Android devices.

Also read: Apple is finally bringing RCS support to iPhones with iOS 18: What is it?

Samsung didnt shy away from expressing its opinion on social media, offering some playful sass in response to the similarities between Apples announcements and existing Android features. Samsung also mocked the iPhone-maker for arriving late to the AI party.

On X, Samsung posted, Adding Apple doesnt make it new or groundbreaking. Welcome to AI.

Adding "Apple" doesn't make it new or groundbreaking. Welcome to AI .  Samsung Mobile US (@SamsungMobileUS) June 10, 2024

In a separate post, Samsung said, Moving my icons wherever I want since 2010  isnt that cool?

Moving my icons wherever I want since 2010  isn't that cool?  Samsung Mobile US (@SamsungMobileUS) June 10, 2024

ICYMI: The (Apple) never falls far from the Galaxy, another post reads.

In my opinion, Samsungs jabs at Apple highlight the intense competition and rivalry between the two tech giants. The playful banter between Samsung and Apple not only fuels the competitive spirit but also benefits consumers, as it pushes both companies to innovate and improve their offerings.

How users react to Samsung posts

The response from users on Samsungs posts was mixed. While some users mocked Samsung for seemingly focusing on Apples announcements, others praised Android for its existing features and capabilities.

One user commented, Android lapped iOS multiple times in the last 5 years. Meanwhile, another said, you guys must be a really big fan of Apple for watching the event.

Tell me youre jealous without telling me youre jealous, a user wrote.
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Samsung reportedly halts anniversary activities for new management initiative amid operation crisis

The Samsung group reportedly has internally decided to skip all commemorative events for the anniversary of the launch of the new management initiative in 2024, which could be linked to the major challenges the company is currently facing, according to South Korean media Yonhap News Agency.

The initiative was launched 31 years ago by the late chairman of Samsung Lee Kun-hee in June 1993 with Lee making his famous declaration in Frankfurt, Germany, "Change everything, except your wife and children." The reform eventually led Samsung to become a global electronics giant.

The sluggish global economy and geopolitical risks are undermining Samsung's memory production business. Despite recovering from a loss of up to KRW15 trillion (US$11.81 billion) in 2023, Samsung's response to the High-Bandwidth Memory (HBM) sector and AI market has been slow. This puts the South Korean giant in an awkward position, lagging behind SK Hynix.

With the company's high-end executives being demanded to extend their working days per week to six and affiliates reportedly starting to adopt similar working schedules, many market observers believe most of Samsung's R&D staff is currently working under extensive overtime.

Samsung's union members had initiated a large-scale leave of absence in place of a strike as a counter move. Despite not directly impacting Samsung's semiconductor production, such a move has damaged its brand image and consumer trust.

Samsung's unusual move of replacing the head of the device solutions division, with another manager in late May, contrasting the company's usual protocol of assigning high-level executives at the end of the year, also hinted at possible crisis management, some market observers said.

Samsung has also experienced a major deceleration in mergers and acquisitions. Seeing difficulties in narrowing its gap with TSMC in the foundry business, Intel pushes keenly to catch up from behind, and its network business not performing as strongly as expected, the South Korean company has been downsizing its manpower to increase management efficiency.

Can Lee Jae-yong lead Samsung out of crisis?

Although Samsung's first AI phone, the Galaxy S24 became the top-selling smartphone worldwide in the first quarter of 2024, Apple, which shipped the most phones in 2023 still keeps Samsung in a cautious attitude.

The executive chairman of Samsung, Lee Jae-yong is still undergoing legal appeal despite being acquitted of the suspicion of illegal inheritance in the first trial. Industry professionals believe that in the face of Samsung's major challenges, Samsung's best bet is to begin large-scale acquisitions and investments in semiconductors and AI. However, decisions are yet to be announced after Lee's first trial.
Tata Motors outlines EV roadmap, achieving 30% penetration in portfolio by FY2030

According to a presentation released to investors on its website, Tata Motors, the leading EV brand in India, plans to increase Capex in its EV business, aiming to launch mid-to-low-end products to achieve the penetration of EVs in its portfolio to about 30%.

Tata Motors said it has a 73% share in India's EV market and has achieved the milestone of 150,000 EV sales. The company plans to increase the penetration of EVs in its portfolio to about 30% by fiscal 2030 (April 2029 to March 2030) and will continue efforts to develop and mainstream the EV market.

Tata Motors aims to achieve EBITDA breakeven for its EV business by fiscal 2026. The automaker is targeting 10% EBITDA and positive free cash flow for its consolidated passenger and electric vehicles business by fiscal 2030.

Tata Motors plans to expand its EV portfolio to include ten models by fiscal 2026 and will continue to focus on mainstreaming EVs in India.

The company also stated that its UK unit, Jaguar Land Rover, is on track to become net debt-free by fiscal 2025. In addition, Tata Motors' India business achieved net debt-free status in fiscal 2024, and all its businesses are now self-sustaining with well-funded investment plans.

Tata Motors plans to invest between INR160-180 billion (US$1.91-2.15 billion) into its EV division by fiscal 2030. According to Business Standard, Tata Motors plans to increase the number of EV dealerships to 50 cities within the next two years, making EVs more accessible to consumers nationwide.

In addition, Tata Motors is collaborating with private charge point operators to bolster the country's charging infrastructure. Through partnerships with companies like ChargeZone, Glida, and Static, Tata Motors plans to increase the number of public charging points to around 100,000 by fiscal 2030.

Meanwhile, Tata Motors aims to achieve a 20% share in the passenger vehicle (PV) market by fiscal 2030. According to data from the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers, in fiscal 2024, the company held a 13.81% share in the Indian PV market by volume.

Tata Motors business aims Area Commercial Vehicle Passenger Vehicle Electric Vehicle Market shares /Growth Gradually increasing shares; Market beating revenue growth Volume growth well ahead of market 16% market share by FY27 18-20% in another 2-3 years Continued leadership Penetration of EV  30%+ by FY30 EBITDA Strong double-digit EBITDA Double Digit EBITDA Breakeven EBITDA (FY26) Capex 2-4% of Revenue ~6-8% Revenue As necessary (INR160-180 billion for FY25- FY30) Cash/Returns FCF 6%-8% of revenue, Strong ROCE Reduced volatility Positive & growing cash flows Near term  Negative (funded); Med term  Neutral

Source: Tata Motors, June 2024
A man who broke into an apartment while carrying a knife, and made Xenophobic comments about the victim during his garda interview, has been given a three and a half year suspended sentence at Dundalk Circuit Court.

Sean Monaghan (34) with an address at Lennonstown Court, Dundalk admitted a charge of aggravated burglary at Mourne View Hall, Dublin Road, Dundalk on June 15th 2021 and obstructing a garda at Dundalk Garda Station in the execution of her duty.

The victim had woken up to find the defendant in his apartment, with blood on his face and when he asked him what he was doing, Sean Monaghan said a Bulgarian lives here. He looked for weed and left after being told there was none there.

The victim went after him after discovering his laptop was missing and three bottles of his aftershave were recovered from the defendant's pockets. A knife was later found on a shelf beside the victims bed.

The court previously heard after his arrest at 3.20am, Sean Monaghan, made some offensive comments about the victim suggesting he might leave this country and go back to another.

In finalising the matter, Judge Dara Hayes said while the defendant had gone to the wrong apartment, he had broken in and stolen property while there.

He was homeless at the time, and had relapsed after seven years of sobriety over a family issue.

However, the judge said the defendant had expressed remorse for his behaviour, and while he was initially assessed as being at high risk of reoffending, hes now considered at moderate risk, having addressed a number of previous risk factors through engaging with the Joint Agency Response to Crime (JARC) initiative.

He imposed a three and a half year sentence for the aggravated burglary and a concurrent 12 month sentence for the obstruction charge, but suspended both in full on the defendant entering a bond to be of good behaviour for three and a half years, subject to him placing himself under the supervision of the Probation Service for 18 months, and continuing to engage with the JARC programme.
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Students from St. Vincent's Secondary School in Dundalk were among over 300 students involved in a Young St Vincent De Paul day last month.

The event held in Emerald Park in Ashbourne, Co. Meath on 16th May brought together students from schools in the Saint Vincent de Paul (SVP) North East & Midlands region to learn about social justice issues that face the SVP.

On the day the students from St Vincent's as well as students from schools in counties Cavan, Meath, Monaghan and Westmeath were asked to leave their comfort zones and mix with like minded students from other schools to share ideas and opinions.

The emphasis was to promote social action and to empower young people to help people in need.

The range of projects that students showcased on the day were about befriending, education, awareness and direct aid.

Hannah Clarke, SVP Regional President said: Its important that young people see their ability to make change and make a difference, just like our founder Frederic Ozanam did as a young man.

Clodagh Naughton SVP Youth Development Officer for the region said: Im thrilled to say that our Regional Youth Day was an amazing showcase of the work the schools, students and teachers had done for SVP.

The projects were of a very high standard highlighting the ways they could help in their community.

Students, teachers, SVP members, volunteers, and staff all really enjoyed the day and are already looking forward to the next Youth Day Event in 2025.
Transfers have put Sinn Feins Kathleen Funchion in contention to be elected as one of Irelands 14 MEPs.

Ms Funchion got 61% of transfers from her running mate Paul Gavans eliminated share, propelling her into second place.

The huge transfer rate has positioned the Carlow-Kilkenny TD to take one of the five seats in the Ireland South constituency, though political commentators have said transfers make it impossible to predict.

Fianna Fail MEP Billy Kelleher is on 100,832 and is creeping closer to the quota.

In the hunt behind Ms Funchion, on 71,350 votes, are Independent Clare TD Michael McNamara (67,507 votes), Fianna Fails Cynthia Ni Mhurchu (61,780), and outgoing MEP Mick Wallace (61,668).

There is an outside chance for outgoing Green Party MEP Grace OSullivan (54,978), though it looks increasingly unlikely.

Observers at the count centre will watch closely whether other candidates can attract enough transfers to leap ahead.

Mr Wallace is expecting to do well from the 26,167 votes of Independent Irelands Eddie Punch, who was eliminated after the 14th count, while Ms Ni Mhurchu is expected to pull transfers from Fine Gaels John Mullins.

Sinn Fein TD David Cullinane said there was still a long, long way to go, theres a lot of transfers out there.

We were hoping to have a very strong transfer rate so I think weve got well over 60% which is the hope for us coming into the count today so obviously it puts Kathleen in contention, he said on Wednesday evening.

So its still impossible to call whos going to get the last number of seats but obviously were competing which is what you want to be. I dont think anybody can call it still. All we can do is keep watching the number of transfers.

I still think that Grace OSullivans transfers, if shes eliminated, will probably decide the outcome of it for two of the candidates.

I think Grace is a bit too far behind at this point. Eventually if she is eliminated her transfers will decide, I think, who is taking the final two seats.

Ms OSullivan said Im here with the swansong at the Cork count centre as transfers saw the former Greenpeace activist fall behind.

She added: You can see its definitely slipping away now but Ive been realistic all the time from the get-go when the preference votes were being put on the tables and I acknowledged that it was substantially down on my 2019 vote.

Ms OSullivan said she has not been as extraordinarily transfer friendly as she was in the 2019 European election, and said it feels that momentum has gone from the Green Party.

People have other things on their minds, and that concerns me because as an ecological party and as an ecologist myself, climate change has not gone away by any doubt.

She said that all three parties in the coalition Government are responsible for public services, climate, health and water quality.

Ms OSullivan added: Thats why Im concerned about Ireland. Without the strong voices in Europe, without Ciaran Cuffe and I, we were hard-working and we were strong, we were active on legislation and without the Irish Greens at the table, we will lose ground in terms of the environmental reach.

The meticulous count continued in Cork on Wednesday to fill four of the five seats for the Ireland South constituency, with all five seats left to be filled in Midlands-Northwest.

Fine Gaels Sean Kelly was elected on the first count on Monday night, leaving 22 candidates vying for four seats in the 10-county constituency.

Returning officer Martin Harvey said he is hopeful they will have a final result by mid afternoon on Thursday, but said the significant transfer from Mr Gavan to Ms Funchion showed how one count can dramatically change standings.

Deirdre Clune, who was the last MEP to be elected to the Ireland South constituency in 2019, said the transfers were difficult to predict.

She said: That seems to be the common theme from every political camp you speak to  nobody knows, there is no pattern at all.

Its not geography, its not female, it doesnt even seem to be party political or whether youre right wing or left leaning.

So its very difficult to predict how these last seats will go.

There could be a pocket of votes there, a surprise 10,000 votes for somebody, a 5,000 that they werent expecting that would push them ahead of another, so anybody who thinks they can predict this, I think, theyre trying to fool us, because you cant. There is no way of predicting it.
The Irish Cancer Society's Your Health Matters Roadshow will be in the Marshes shopping centre in Dundalk from 9am-6pm on Wednesday 19th and Thursday 20th of June, free of charge.

Members of the public are invited to come along for free to speak with the Irish Cancer Society's specialist cancer nurses to ask any questions they may have and seek support and advice.

Pop down and have a chat with one of their nurses - no booking is required, just walk in.

Available at the Roadshow are free blood pressure checks, body mass index (BMI) and carbon monoxide (CO) readings and information on cancer prevention, screening, and ways to help spot the early signs of cancer.

A referral for a GP can also be arranged where further help is required.

The Roadshow will be located in the Marshes between Boots and Sketchers.

Early detection and diagnosis of cancer is essential to improve health outcomes, a spokesperson for the Irish Cancer Society said.

When cancer is diagnosed early, it can improve the quality of life of those living with cancer, increase survival and reduce the severity of treatment.

Many patients find it difficult to or do not attend GP visits even when they are experiencing potential cancer symptoms.

The Your Health Matters Roadshow initiative seeks to change this by promoting positive lifestyle changes, increasing awareness of cancer symptoms, and improving medical care-seeking behaviour for the early signs of cancer.

In 2023, the roadshow travelled to 28 different locations around the country.

To date, over 42,200 people have learned about the importance of early detection, and almost 3,600 people have received health checks at Irish Cancer Society Your Health Matters roadshows.
Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM), Irelands Seafood Development Agency, has announced the five promising young chefs who have been selected as Ambassadors for this years Taste the Atlantic, Young Chef Ambassador Programme.

Twenty-two year old, Anna OLeary from Kilmichael in West Cork has been selected as one of the five.

Anna is the Baker & Pastry Chef at The Fig & Olive in Clonakilty.

She also spends her time on her familys farm where she grows her own herbs and vegetables and helps with their production of beef, lamb, chicken, eggs and honey.

Anna hails from a farm in Kilmichael in West Cork, and has a passion for growing her own food and self-sufficiency as well as a love of cooking and baking.

She took her first steps into hospitality working as a kitchen assistant in the Auld Triangle, Macroom at the age of 15, and went on to work summers both front of house and in the kitchen at Gougane Barra Hotel.

Anna discovered a love of the high pressure work environment and a drive for perfection in her work.

Originally pursuing an academic route studying Nutrition and Health Science, her love of food drove her to transfer to Culinary Arts in MTU where she has just completed her second year, alongside working at The Fig & Olive in Clonakilty where she looks after baking and pastry.

She also spends her time on her familys farm where she grows her own herbs and vegetables and helps with their production of beef, lamb, chicken, eggs and honey.

In her spare time she cooks and bakes at home, with a focus on creative ways to use what is available in season on the farm.

Being from West Cork, Anna feels connected with the sea as well as the land and wants to gain deeper knowledge of seafood production and its sustainability.

The immersive BIM programme, in collaboration with Chef Network and Failte Ireland, is now in its fourth year.

Anna, along with the other ambitious ambassadors will embark on a four-month programme to familiarise themselves with Irelands premium seafood and the people who produce it along the Wild Atlantic Way.

The chefs came together for their induction to the Ambassador programme, which will include visits to several seafood producers in Kerry, Cork and Galway to learn all about oyster and mussel farming, the art of seafood smoking, fish mongering skills and recipe creation.

Following applications from all over Ireland, the appointed chefs are selected based on their applications, followed by an interview process. The Taste the Atlantic Young Chef Ambassador Programme is co-funded by the Government of Ireland and the European Union, under the European Maritime Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF).
ON a blustery sunny morning driving into Crosshaven - the hidden gem of Corks harbour - the proud Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) flag is flying high at the towns Lifeboat Station.

Helm Alan Veneer and Kline Pennyfeather are two of the crew here dedicated to saving lives at sea.

My responsibility is to launch the boat at sea, command the boat, and look after the safety of the crew on board, says Alan, who is dad to two boys, Frank and Evan, and whose father and brothers, Ian and David, also served as volunteers at Crosshaven Lifeboat Station.

The station opened here in 2000.

Alan knows the drill.

I am responsible for everything that happens during a rescue, when the lifeboat is being recovered and made ready for the next rescue.

He knows his craft.

The John and Janet lifeboat, provided by an anonymous donor, replaced the old Miss Betty vessel, which was donated by the late Clayton Love.

Before our lifeboat station opened, Crosshaven was served by Ballycotton to the east or Courtmacsharry to the west, says Alan.

How did Crosshaven station come about?

A delegation from the Royal Cork Yacht Club, including my brother, Ian, approached the RNLI to set up the station, says Alan.

He and his brothers have a connection to Irelands oldest yacht club, Royal Cork Yacht Club, founded in 1720.

We worked in the yacht club, and we often did the driving of the rescue boats, ribs, during the various yachting events, says Alan.

The yacht club called on us to help out in a rescue.

Growing up beside the sea, Alan was always involved in, and connected to the water.

I learned a lot of skills and I decided to put them to good use to help people in distress, volunteering with Crosshaven Lifeboat Station, says Alan, who works as a mechanical engineer.

The RNLI Station in Crosshaven. Picture: Howard Crowdy

It requires extensive training to become a RNLI volunteer.

Every member goes through some of the worlds most rigorous lifesaving training. By the time they launch on their first rescue, they will have received training in using their kit, their lifeboats lay-out, and what to do in an emergency.

I trained in every task needed to become a volunteer, says Alan. From tying knots, tying the boat, steering the boat, becoming familiar with nautical terms, chart navigation and electronic navigation.

These are just some of the continuous trainings involved in being a lifeboat volunteer with the RNLI.

Of course, having all the necessary kit to reach people is vitally important.

Apart from taking on the might of the sea, often in treacherous conditions, RNLI lifeboat crew must be ready for all eventualities.

If you have to deal with a casualty, you have to know what to do, says Alan. Circumstances can vary quite a bit.

Laura OMahony (front left) helps launch two special stamps from An Post to mark the 200th anniversary of the RNLI in 2024. She and her dog Sam were rescued by the Crosshaven RNLI in 2010 when they got stuck in sand during a walk. Picture: Patrick Bowne

Alan is very familiar with his surroundings.

Having good local knowledge is an advantage, he says.

It is always great to see people being rescued.

Does he fear the unpredictable moods of the sea that can throw up the perfect storm on a previously perfect day?

With our sophisticated equipment, and being part of a highly trained skilled team always communicating with each other, we always have the answer what to do in the event of something unpredictable happening, says Alan.

Yes, the conditions at sea can overwhelm us. Capsizing is always a risk. I have often been out on rough waves when a thought crosses your mind that things might not go right. In that moment you think you cant beat the sea. If conditions are daunting, we prepare well and go for it, says Alan.

Preparation is key.

Before we launch, we always run through the necessary process, and we always talk to each other, says Alan.

RNLI volunteers are trustworthy, dependable and courageous, he adds. The lifeboat crew are very capable and well trained.

We dont just say, itll be grand. The RNLI is not that kind of organisation. Being a lifeboat member is a really valuable thing.

We are a team. We are friends and colleagues. When there is a potentially dangerous situation, we are even closer.

Does his wife worry when Alans pager goes off signalling an incident?

She does worry the odd time, admits Alan. When the lads were small and the pager went off, they d say, daddy go! Id often go off with a packet of biscuits! Frank and Evan are very familiar with the lifeboat station here.

Alan is a proud volunteer with Crosshaven Lifeboat RNLI station.

There is a certain amount of pride being a volunteer with the RNLI, he says. I find being a member of the team very rewarding. Having the skills to help people is rewarding.

In 24 years, I have had many call-outs that interrupt life. Sometimes heading out in the snow, sometimes when I was having dinner at a restaurant, or at a teacher-parent meeting.

One of our lads was at a wedding last week and he was driving to the church when his pager went off!

Alan is a seasoned RNLI lifeboat volunteer.

You learn to deal with the unexpected and the what-ifs? he says.

******

Crosshaven RNLI crew Kline Pennefather and Helm Alan OConnor on board the Janet and John rib. Picture: Howard Crowdy

Before Kline Pennefeather joined Crosshaven Lifeboat station as a volunteer, he was a member of the coastguard in Eastbourne on Englands south coast.

When I moved to Cork with my wife, who was pregnant, I joined the Fire Station, says Kline. In our job we undertook a lot of river rescues.

Moving to Crosshaven when we down-sized, I was aware of the RNLI charity and I supported it, says Kline. I had an opportunity to join the Crosshaven Lifeboat Station and the lads accepted me.

Kline was happy to be welcomed aboard.

I thought volunteering with the RNLI brought with it a sense of adventure. I know that might be a cliche. Dealing with the unexpected and saving lives seemed adventurous.

When his pager goes off, Kline swings into action. My heart rate goes up and the adrenaline kicks in, he says.

His valuable training always kicks in.

I go into rescue mode and implement my training at all times. I trust the skipper and he trusts me. We dont worry about risk.

The lifeboat crew are shipmates.

Knowing everybody strengthens our close connection, we have a good bond, says Kline. We train together, and we drink tea and chat together.

The RNLI Lifeboat crew are a close-knit group. That is right, says Kline, smiling. We are a band of brothers!

This band of brothers get call-outs at various times day and night. You can be relaxing at home and your pager will go off, says Kline.

He knows what to do.

What does his wife do?

If its late at night, shell open the outside gates with a key and off I go! says Kline. The support from home is great.

Klines support for the RNLI is great.

I love it, says Kline. I find volunteering with the Crosshaven Lifeboat Station very satisfying.

I am here for anyone who goes to sea, whether they are sailing, swimming or kayaking; I am here for them.

Does Kline always feel joy and jubilation being part of such an important crew saving lives at sea?

When tragedy occurs, it can be traumatic, he admits. It is not always easy to bounce back then.

He introduces me to Miss Betty.

Come aboard! he says.

Alan and Kline are there for each other in the best of times and the worst of times.

We are the best of mates! they say.

Crosshaven Lifeboat Station: 021-4831999.
TELL us about yourself;

My name is Carlos Amaya Casas, I am originally from Peru and have been living in Cork since 2013. I have been surfing all my life.

I set up my first surf school in the early 2000s on the Costa Verde in Lima, Peru. I met my wife Orla in Lima back in 2008.

When I moved to Ireland, it took me a few years to acclimatise to the cooler weather and sea temperatures.

I set up Pukana Surf Adventures in 2018. We are based at Garrettstown Beach where we offer surf lessons and rentals.

Where were you born?

I was born and spent my childhood in a small fishing village called Chiclayo.

Where do you live?

I live in Carrigaline but can mostly be found beachside or in the water at Garretstown Beach.

Family?

My wife Orla and I have three children, two boys and a girl. I have three sisters and a brother who live in Chile and Peru.

Best friend?

My eldest sister Vilma Amaya would be my closest friend, we regularly chat by phone, I hope one day that she will come visit us here in Cork.

Earliest childhood memory?

My childhood memory that stands out the most is playing on the beach all day, every day, with all the neighbours. Watching the fishermen come ashore with their catch of the day to be transported straight to the local markets.

Person you most admire?

The person I admire the most is my mother Margarita, who has worked tirelessly all her life supporting her family.

Where was your most memorable holiday?

Earlier this year we went on a family holiday to Lapland, it was the most magical holiday and we all had an amazing time.

Nothing could have prepared me for the freezing artic temperatures, thankfully Orla had stocked up on plenty of thermals and woolly socks!

I tried snowboarding for the first time, thinking it would be pretty similar to surfing, however it proved far more difficult than I had pre-empted!!

Favourite TV programme?

Whenever I do sit down to watch some TV, I generally navigate towards a good David Attenborough documentary or something on the Discovery Channel.

Favourite radio show?

Studio 92, a local radio station in Lima, is my go-to online for the latino hits, however, Red FM is what you will usually find tuned in on the car radio!

Your signature dish if cooking?

Spicy chicken wings on the BBQ, put in the middle of the table for all to enjoy!

Favourite restaurant?

Lobo del Mar is my absolute favourite seafood restaurant, unfortunately for me it is in Lima, Peru! I have been known to once or twice go by taxi directly from arrivals in Lima Airport straight to this restaurant!

Last book you read?

I am not one to sit and read a book.

Favourite song?

Not a favourite song, but I like to listen to traditional Peruvian music known as Cumbia.

One person you would like to see in concert?

I have tickets to go see Coldplay in September and am really looking forward to it.

Do you have a pet?

We have a dog called Max, he is a cocker/King Charles mix and he rules the roost!

Morning person or night owl?

Absolutely a morning person, always the first one up to sit and have a coffee before the day starts.

Your proudest moment?

My proudest moment is definitely when I see my students progressing at surfing, standing up on the board for their first time, showing determination and developing a love for the sport.

When they realise the benefits of surfing for themselves, returning each week or when the good waves roll in, they are there!!

Spendthrift or saver?

Save for a rainy day!

Name one thing you would improve in your area in which you live?

I believe schools should incorporate more watersports in general, utilising the wonderful coastline on our doorstep. Watersports are a fantastic option for kids who are not so keen on the team sports. Surfing is an excellent option as an individual sport offering a variety of health and wellness benefits.

What makes you happy?

Epic waves followed by a steak on the BBQ!

How would you like to be remembered?

As the Peruvian surfer who taught you how to surf and introduced you to one of the most epic hobbies on earth!

What else are you up to at the moment?

Preparing for the upcoming summer season, hopefully followed by an overdue trip back home to visit family. I am working on a project to commence guided surf trips along the Peruvian coastline hopefully in the near future. Giving surfers an opportunity to explore what the Peruvian coastline has to offer - sunshine, epic waves and good food!
IN Cork City North East, Independent Ireland councillor Kenneth OFlynn was the first over the line, topping the poll late on Saturday night with more than half a quota to spare, a result that he will hopes to build on in the next general election.

In his victory speech, Mr OFlynn said his vote showed a public appetite for what he called common sense politics and had been built on his familys four-decade career of public service.

I knocked at every door, I listened to what people had to say, I tried to address the issues. I was frank, I was honest with people, Ive committed 16 years of service to the city, as an elected representative myself, my father, with that, add another 20 years, theres unbroken service for 30-something years, I think maybe 40 years, in our family to the city, he said.

Ive earned the peoples trust, and thats something that is so sacred to me, and humbling.

He said he was set to open an office in Mallow, which will be part of the Cork North Central constituency in the next general election.

Mr OFlynn said his immediate priority was to work with everyone in council, and he cited the housing emergency, the state of footpaths in the city, and he said a common goal of addressing the needs of citizens was needed.

He said a new sweep of the broom was needed with the appointment of a new chief executive and he said security in the city was an issue, with many people feeling unsafe in the city centre.

Labour Party councillor John Maher was also elected on the first count in the ward, with a vote of 2,005, and he said his campaign hadnt been about dirty tactics, it wasnt about politicians not turning up for work, John Maher is different and the Labour Party is different, we stand up to bullies.

His partys only councillor in the previous term, Mr Maher, will be joined this year on Cork City Council by his party colleagues Peter Horgan and Laura Harmon in Cork City South East and Cork City South West respectively.

Fianna Fails first-time candidate Margaret McDonnell took a seat while Fine Gaels Joe Kavanagh, a former Lord Mayor, retained his seat.

Veteran councillor Ted Tynan, president of the Workers Party, held on to a seat, and Green Party councillor Oliver Moran held on to his seat, despite looking likely to lose it early on in the count.

Cork City North East

Ken O'Flynn - Independent

John Maher - Labour

Joe Kavanagh - Fine Gael

Margaret McDonnell - Fianna Fail

Ted Tynan - Worker's Party

Oliver Moran - Green Party
A MAN has confessed to all charges against him arising out of assault on his girlfriend, hijacking her Audi A3 in Cork, and driving it dangerously to Mallow where it was only brought to a stop when a stinger device, deployed by gardai, disabled the car.

Darragh Gill, aged 27, of Farnastack, Lisselton, Co Kerry, was arraigned at Cork Circuit Criminal Court where he pleaded guilty to a total of 10 charges against him.

Mahon Corkery, defending, said the accused wishes to gather compensation. Judge Cormac Quinn adjourned sentencing until November 8.

Gill admitted assault causing harm to the woman and taking her car without permission as well as dangerous driving and failing to remain at the scene of an incident.

Bail

Gill was granted bail on conditions at the original hearing but Det Garda Alan Johnson objected, testifying at the time: On December 6, 2023, gardai responded to a call where it was reported that a woman had her white Audi A3 hijacked by a man outside OHerlihys Centra on Curraheen Rd, Cork, shortly before 7pm. The man had left the scene in the vehicle and all units were notified. The young woman had a large bump to her forehead and an ambulance was called. She was not required to attend hospital for treatment.

She told gardai that while driving, Darragh Gill was in the vehicle with her and was intoxicated. She alleged he became aggressive with her and that she drove to the Centra where she parked outside for safety.

"She alleged that he punched her in the head and grabbed her hair while in the car. A shopkeeper stated that he observed a man punching a woman in the white Audi outside the shop and he therefore proceeded to help her out of the vehicle and take her inside the shop to safety.

It is alleged he drove off in the car without her consent and hit another parked car while doing so and failed to remain at the scene. He caused damage to the car. It was all captured on CCTV. The stolen vehicle was stopped following a pursuit in Mallow later in the night following the deployment of a stinger device. He fled the scene and was apprehended a short time later at Mallow train station.

Gill, who worked in Sweden, said during his application for bail: It is a major wake-up call.
JUST after Sinn Feins candidate in Carrigaline secured his election to the final seat in that electoral area, he told The Echo that a Sinn Fein councillor was much-needed in the area.

Given that Eoghan Fahy was the only representative of the main opposition party in Dail Eireann to be elected to Cork County Council, the largest local authority outside of Dublin, his party bosses will be saying that his election was very much needed, not alone in his area but to save his partys blushes following an otherwise disappointing performance throughout the county.

After the 2019 election, the party had a bad day and elected just two candidates to the county council, Danielle Twomey in East Cork and Paul Hayes in West Cork  and both since resigned from the party, saying they would not be running again in this election.

This day was worse, though, according to Pat Buckley, the partys TD in Cork East, who said he was proud of the performance of almost an entirely new slate of candidates across the county.

The only Sinn Fein candidate with previous council experience was Melissa OBrien in Mallow.

He said:

Could it have been better? Of course  but local politics is very different, you have your personal vote, your party vote  to be honest with you, weve had this before, well dust ourselves off again and come back out fighting.

He noted that the party did attract more transfers than in previous elections, adding a reminder that after the disappointment of the 2019 local elections came the triumph of the 2020 general election.

The partys candidate in the Macroom Electoral Area, John OSullivan, focused on the issues he encountered on the doorsteps and how the messaging of Sinn Fein at a national level wasnt hitting the target, as it seemed to him.

Its been a good day for Fianna Fail overall and we just have to re-evaluate our principles and stuff, and take it from there, Mr O'Sullivan said, adding that he was happy with his own showing and saying that he would be interested in running again.

Possibly our message has got lost to our core voters, people may have been disillusioned and have taken their vote elsewhere, he said.

Theres a lot of disillusionment with immigration and stuff that seems to be muddying the waters and I think that has affected us a lot  its unfortunate because I dont like to think theres a right-wing element in the country.

I think we have to get back to our principles and address it accordingly, and take it from there.
MORE than 300 primary school students attended outdoor classrooms along Corks coast for two days of outdoor activities, fun and education.

The Think Before You Flush campaign, operated by Clean Coasts in partnership with Uisce Eireann, recently joined Clean Coasts Ballynamona for a pair of Big Little Beach Clean events in Cork.

The events took place on Ardnahinch Beach in East Cork and Inchydoney Beach in West Cork, where students learned about retro rubbish with Proinsias O Tuama from Clean Coasts Ballynamona, biodiversity from Dr Michael John OMahony, and climate change with Kevin Motherway. The students also enjoyed a Think Before You Flush workshop with Elaine Doyle from Clean Coasts and completed a beach clean.

The Think Before You Flush campaign is a public awareness initiative run by Clean Coasts in partnership with Uisce Eireann. The campaign is in its eighth year and focuses on the issue of flushing unsuitable items down the toilet and highlights the consequences of doing so, which include blockages in our homes, wastewater treatment networks and sewage related litter ending up in our waterways and on our coastline.

On the day, Clean Coasts also discussed the Think Before You Pour campaign that looks at the issue of pouring fats, oils, and greases (FOGs) from cooking down the kitchen sink.

Clean Coasts Development Officer for Cork, Kerry and Waterford Elaine Doyle said: This is the third year of the Big Little Beach Clean.

It is such a high energy event that covers a wide variety of themes and activities creating a unique and rewarding experience for all the participating students.

Wastewater regional operational manager at Uisce Eireann, Mary Hussey, said: By partnering Clean Coasts and Uisce Eireanns Think Before You Flush campaign, we aim to foster a culture of environmental responsibility, where individuals can take proactive steps to protect our coastal habitats.

The success of this campaign hinges on the participation and support of all stakeholders, including the public.

Learn more about the Think Before You Flush campaign at: https://thinkbeforeyouflush.org/
THE Cork Harbour Festival, which ran this year for the first 10 days of June, is one of the city and countys best-loved annual events, and each year it is co-ordinated by Meitheal Mara, Corks community boatyard and nationally accredited training centre.

Translated from the Irish as The Work of the Sea, Meitheal Mara has been running for over three decades, and in that time social inclusion has played a defining role in the work it does. Founded in 1993, the boatyard is located in Crosses Green, in the heart of the city, and it is dedicated to fostering and promoting maritime culture and seamanship through traditional currach and wooden boat building skills.

In particular, the registered charity provides training and development to those who are sometimes at risk of social exclusion, those who are recovering from addiction, and those living with disabilities. So far, Meitheal Mara has welcomed 45 adults who have a disability and three people who are, by their own description, former substance misusers.

In recent times more than 350 people in 26 groups from 23 organisations have enjoyed Meitheal Maras boat building and rowing programmes; 500 participants have taken part in the Ocean to City; and Cork Harbour Festival has attracted somewhere in the region of 13,200 spectators.

Donagh MacArtain, long-time board member of Meitheal Mara, tells The Echo that the boatyard has a number of functions, all of them focused on its work within the community.

It has a workshop, through which we bring men and women who are distanced from the labour market, and we give them training in wood skills and boat building. We do repairs and we build boats in the workshop.

We also have a youth programme, part boat building and part on the water, through our Badoireacht programme, which is something designed for all of the youth clubs in the city, and we also run a programme for transition year students from the pontoon at Lapps Quay, Mr MacArtain says.

The Badoireacht programme is a boat building and rowing service for young people aged from 12 to 25, giving them an opportunity to learn to row currachs, sail and to build their own boats and woodcraft. It has been running since 2002, with an average of 130 young people participating each year.

A total of 26 Ukrainian young people has so far taken part in summer and autumn rowing programmes, while six young people who were living in direct provision accommodation have continued rowing with Badoireacht, some with them since 2017.

Claire Hayden, Badoireacht manager at Meitheal Mara, says most of her work is on the water, working with young people who might otherwise not have access to maritime pursuits.

We have some groups who have been working with us all through the winter, and some groups who have just started during the spring, weve had really tough weather this year with lots of rain and wind, but its a testament to the young people that theyre rowing in the Ocean to City race on Saturday, June 8, rowing the 4km course from Blackrock Castle to Lapps Quay, and their boats come in just ahead of the main race, Ms Hayden says.

Ocean to City, or An Ras Mor, is a long-distance rowing race which attracts hundreds of participants annually, with four course distances, the 28km ocean course, the 22km city course, the 13km Monkstown course and the 4km youth course, all finishing in the city centre.

Since it began in 2005, it has grown from a race for traditional fixed-seat boats into an all-inclusive rowing and paddling event, embracing everything from traditional wooden working boats, currachs, skiffs, gigs and longboats to contemporary ocean racing shells, kayaks, canoes, and even stand-up paddle boards.

Ocean to City is the centrepiece of the Cork Harbour Festival, the largest annual event in Cork harbour, which offers a week-long celebration of Irelands maritime culture, featuring over 80 different events, with over 50 event partners across Cork city and county.

Founded in 2015, the festival is run from Meitheal Maras events office and celebrates the harbour as a natural and cultural resource. Director of Ocean to City, Donagh MacArtain says that many of the participants in Ocean to City have close ties with the boatyard, and coastal rowing for adults is an important part of what the charity does.

Our sister club, Naomhoga Chorcai, which is the rowing arm of what we do, go on rowing trips, and theyve just come back from northern Spain, weve been to the Vogalonga in Venice, weve been to the Great River Race in London, he says.

The future is pretty good for Meitheal Mara, Mr MacArtain says, but he adds that the community and voluntary sector has been under pressure since the crash of 2007, with funding levels only being restored slowly.

It is a slow process. We have been able to put together, through various programmes, a decent core management team that then supports how we operate the community employment programme, the community services programme, and theyre government-sponsored programmes. He adds that Meitheal Mara is currently working with a number of water-based organisations that are either without premises or without access to the water to secure a purpose-built, or purpose-adapted, premises with adjoining slipway on a site downstream of the citys bridges.

Among those groups are Naomhoga Chorcai, Blackrock Rowing Club, Cork Dragons, Cork Sea Angling, Cork Missing Persons Search & Recovery, and Sailing into Wellness.

Together, the groups are advocating for a Cork Maritime Hub as a multi-use centre for Cork city and harbour.

Mr MacArtain says Meitheal Mara is very grateful for the support of Cork City Council and the Port of Cork, and multiple agencies, and pleased that a potential site is currently under consideration, and a feasibility study is underway for a site and a public slipway.

Meitheal Mara describes itself as Corks community boatyard, and for Pat MacArtain, the community part of that is as important as the boatyard part, and the charity and training centres ties to the city and county are essential to its work.

In every part of the harbour, the pontoon on Lapps Quay, the Port of Cork pontoon, the Clarion Hotel, Doyle Shipping Group, we have partnerships right throughout the city to facilitate bringing Cork people out to the water and youll have a raft-load of international crews here for the festival. We provide work and training for young people and adults through to retirement, and sometimes beyond, he says.

In everything that we do, our approach is inclusive and based on mutual respect.
A Dublin drug-dealer who brought a batch of drug deals to Cork because of the heat they were causing with overdoses in Dublin spent eight days selling the synthetic heroin substitute to Cork users - directly causing 17 overdoses.

Today at Cork Circuit Criminal Court, Judge Cormac Quinn sentenced 30-year-old Josh McGuinness to four years in jail.

He was selling drugs knowing they were highly dangerous to people. The fact that he was aware the drugs he was selling were causing drug addicts to overdose is particularly aggravating.

People buying drugs simply dont know what they are buying. Those higher up in the drug chain  and in this case the street dealer  dont give a jot for them. It was only fortunate that there was no fatality. Anyone using recreational drugs runs that risk, Judge Quinn said.

The particular batch of Nitazene being sold by Josh McGuinness as heroin resulted in a national campaign by the Health Service Executive warning about the extreme danger posed by taking this drug.

Detective Garda Derry OBrien said the accused admitted he did know, when gardai in Cork questioned him about whether he knew that the drugs he was selling in Cork caused 17 overdoses in little more than a week in the city.

He said he was aware they were causing the overdoses. When asked why he continued to sell the drug knowing it was causing these overdoses, Josh McGuinness replied, They just kept ringing, Det Garda OBrien.

Judge Quinn took this to mean that the drug users were asking for what they believed was heroin and they were supplied with this extremely potent synthetic drug that was causing overdoes.

Det Garda OBrien said: We asked how many deals from that batch had he sold in Cork. He believed 80 deals he sold in the city in the space of a week.

In the space of ten days the drugs caused 17 overdoses. People would have been buying them thinking they were Diamorphine/heroin. But that was not what it was. It was a synthetic opioid.

All of those who had overdoses made a full recovery.

He admitted he had initially been dealing these drugs in Dublin. But due to the heat he was receiving in Dublin he was sent to Cork. Overdoses were causing huge heat in Dublin. This sparked the national safety campaign.

30-year-old Josh McGuinness of no fixed address, previously of Harmonstown Road, Raheney, Dublin, and originally from Coolock, pleaded guilty to being in possession of Diamorphine (heroin) and crack cocaine for his own use and having both drugs for the purpose of selling or otherwise supplying to others.

Several garda units were on the streets of Cork trying to locate the particular batch of drugs at the time. Josh McGuinness was arrested on Tuesday morning, December 12 2023, and he said he had a severe crack cocaine addiction that extended to consuming 15 to 20 deals of the drug per day at a daily cost of 600.

The detective said when the accused was stopped and searched and he was found in possession of heroin valued 2,000 and cocaine worth 1,000 and that the drugs were broken down into deal-sized bags, ready for sale and distribution in Cork city centre.

Mahon Corkery defence barrister said the accused found himself at the bottom of a chain in terms of drugs and was to an extent acting out of fear and duress.

One wonders how much agency he enjoyed. He was operating at a high level of chemical compulsion which I submit would reduce his moral culpability, Mr Corkery submitted.
Well, Bryan Adams did say performing in the Marquee tent was like playing in an Irish bar.

It felt like that when he came to his encore last night  an exquisite acoustic performance of that venerable Thin Lizzy pub classic, Whiskey In The Jar.

The line goin over the Cork and Kerry mountains elicited the biggest cheer of a show where the Canadian had the audience in his grip for two and a quarter hours of rock.

Adams will be 65 in November and his heyday of late 1980s and early 90s soft rock is long gone, but his audience revelled in the nostalgia on his first appearance at the Marquee in seven years  he quipped that he and his band had gone to the former marquee site across the road and were wondering where everyone was!

Powerhouse

The 5ft 8in powerhouse belted out a succession of his hits, and in tribute to the 40th anniversary of his hit album Reckless, those included bangers Heaven, Run To You, and Summer Of 69 to get the crowd going.

Edmond O'Sullivan, Noelle and Allie Twomey at Bryan Adams Live at the Marquee, Cork. Picture Dan Linehan

But with Adams, there is always a heartfelt ballad to calm things down again, like Please Forgive Me and Shine A Light.

Anyone alive in 1991 will remember his theme tune to the Robin Hood film, Everything I Do, I Do It For You, which reigned at No 1 here for 10 weeks that encompassed the summer holidays. The Cork audience sang along to his every word as though they still had the hairbrush to their mouths in their bedrooms.

Similarly, All For Love  the song he recorded with Rod Stewart and Sting  hit the spot, as did Have You Ever Really Loved A Woman? Its a shame Mel C wasnt there to provide backing to their hit, When Youre Gone, but it must be hard to book a Spice Girl!

Adams cover version of Cant Take My Eyes Off You was another high spot, on a night when the performance level and fan adoration never dropped.

Poignantly, Adams paid an emotional tribute to his 95-year-old mother, Elizabeth, in the big tent, calling her his biggest supporter.

A good few thousand of the folk at the Marquee last night must have run her close.
Two food businesses in Cork were among nine to be issued with enforcement orders last month by the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI).

The Applegreen service station Ticknok, Cobh, and the Istanbul Bite take away on Upper Cork, Hill, Youghal, were both served with closure orders under the FSAI Act (1998).

Under the Act a closure order is issued where it is deemed there is, or is likely to be, a grave and immediate danger to public health at or in the premises in question, or where an improvement order is not complied with.

Closure Orders can refer to the immediate closure of all or part of the food premises, or all or some of its activities

The order for the Applegreen premises, served on May 14 in the name of Petrogas Group Ltd by the HSE did not include the forecourt fuel pumps.

However, the inspectors report found that the food business at the premises was not kept clean and maintained in good repair.

The report went on to say this was evidenced by the fact that dead rodents and rodent droppings were discovered as various locations on the shop floor and around food storage areas.

The closure order was lifted on May 17.

The closure order for the Istanbul Bite, served on May 22 to the company secretary of Tasneems Kitchen Ltd, related specifically to the boiler and potato peeling rooms at the Youghal premises.

The HSE inspectors report said the construction of these did not permit good food hygiene practices.

Droppings

The report said there was a large amount of rodent droppings identified within the boiler room, which adjoins the potato peeling room where foods are processed.

The grill cover of the drain beneath the potato cutting machine was found to be damaged, providing what the report said was a potential pest ingress point.

The report said the evidence noted found there is or likely to be a grave and immediate danger to public health.

The above conditions lead to a serious risk of food being contaminated with pathogenic bacteria likely to render the food unfit for human consumption, injurious to health or contaminated in such a way that it would be unreasonable to expect it to be consumed in that state.

FSAI chief executive Pamela Byrne said breaches of food safety legislation pose a real danger to consumer health.

Food safety is not an optional luxury when operating a food business, said Ms Byrne.

By neglecting to uphold basic food safety and hygiene standards, a business not only jeopardises the health of its customers, but also risks damaging its own reputation as a trustworthy food business, she added.

Details of the food businesses served with enforcement orders are published on the FSAIs website https://www.fsai.ie.
Offshore wind (OW) in Ireland

Ireland has access to a huge offshore wind resource and it will be key to decarbonizing our economic.

The Governments Offshore Wind Industrial Strategy (OWIS), Powering Prosperity, expects the OW sector to deliver up to 5,000 jobs by 2030. Achieving 2050 targets could be worth 38 billion to the Irish economy.

The OW sector could enable energy export markets and ensure Irelands energy security. However, there is currently only one operational OW farm in Irish waters, the 25MW Arklow Bank wind farm.

Irelands Climate Action Plan has established targets to install 5GW of OW by 2030 with an additional 2GW, dedicated to green hydrogen production/other non-grid uses. Ireland aims to deliver 20GW by 2040, with 37GW by 2050.

In 2023, 3GW has been procured from four fixed OW projects in the Irish Sea off the east coast under ORESS1. The Celtic Sea off the Waterford coastline has been earmarked for the development of fixed OW in the Governments draft Designated Marine Area Plan (DMAP). It is expected that the next ORESS scheme and DMAP will allow Ireland to reach 2030 targets through fixed OW on the east and south coasts.

Fiona Devoy McAuliffe (Research Fellow in MaREI, the SFI Research Centre for Energy, Climate and Marine coordinated by the Environmental Research Institute (ERI) at University College Cork)

However, Floating Offshore Wind (FLOW) technologies will be essential to achieve future ambitions. Most of Irelands OW resources are located off the south and west coasts, where water depths (>60m) can no longer host fixed bottom structures. Future DMAPs are expected to cover FLOW development in the Celtic Sea (off the Cork coastline), and in the Atlantic Ocean (off Kerry and Clare).

Extreme weather conditions in the Atlantic Ocean make technology survival and accessing sites very difficult and expensive.

While still having excellent wind resources, the Celtic Sea is less dynamic and more accessible, making it the obvious choice for initial FLOW development.

What could this mean for Cork?

In Cork, the Chamber of Commerce asserts that OW presents an enormous opportunity for a whole new industrial sector to emerge in Cork Harbour, not seen since the IDA designated the Ringaskiddy area as a cluster for pharmaceuticals in the 1970s. They point out Cork harbours unique selling points for the OW sector including:

The Port of Cork (POC) is geographically poised to become a hub for installing and maintaining fixed and floating offshore wind on the south coast and beyond.

Cork already has an existing supply-chain of marine operators with extensive experience supporting offshore activities e.g. the Kinsale gas field.

University College Cork (UCC), the Munster Technological University, and the National Maritime College of Ireland (NMCI), provide undergraduate and post graduate courses and graduates in key areas such as engineering, marine science, supply chain management, nautical science etc.

Cork hosts world class research infrastructure, including the LIR National Ocean Energy Test Facility in UCCs Beaufort Building, Ringaskiddy. UCC also recently won 4.2 million to develop a 200kW FLOW platform deployed in Cork harbour. This will be a globally unique test infrastructure aimed at addressing knowledge gaps and unlocking the potential of FLOW in Irish coastal waters. The NMCI also has world-class facilities for simulating deployment scenarios to de-risk operations.

Challenges and next steps

This cluster of infrastructure, research and skills make Cork ideally placed to support the fixed and floating OW industry.

In May 2023 the POC published its Masterplan 2050 that provides a framework to coordinate port planning in the short to long-term including developing the port as a major offshore renewable energy hub.

However, challenges have emerged, moderating expectations and timelines for FLOW development.

While the Governments OWIS envisages a FLOW demonstrator site, there are still no definitive plans and timelines for this or future commercial FLOW developments. Without a pipeline of FLOW projects to exploit most of our OW resources, potential developers have been left in limbo.

Uncertainty in the regulatory system has previously prompted Equinor to withdraw from the Irish sector. This continued uncertainty could be damaging to Ireland, and Corks ambitions.

Grid infrastructure upgrades are also a key issue with works focused on the east coast, but little progress expected for the south and west in the near-term, adding to uncertainty for developers.

The POC has already secured planning permission for quay extensions. However, a funding gap of 70million and the withdrawal of the Doyle Shipping Group from Cork harbour development plans have dealt significant blows to progress.

For Cork to have a significant share in Irelands OW sector and for Ireland to achieve its OW deployment targets beyond 2030, three key elements are needed:

DMAPs to facilitate a pipeline of demonstrator and commercial FLOW projects on the south coast.

A solution to the POC development funding gap.

Grid infrastructure upgrades to support south coast FLOW development.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Fiona Devoy McAuliffe (Research Fellow in MaREI, the SFI Research Centre for Energy, Climate and Marine coordinated by the Environmental Research Institute (ERI) at UCC.
EVERY baby that is born on Bere Island gets a special gift of a crochet blanket from Catherine Sullivan, who is the full-time community nurse on the island.

Anyone who has ever been the lucky recipient of this beautiful handcrafted item, either for themselves, or for their baby, will know what a treasured gift it is.

Crochet blankets often become family heirlooms, getting handed down through the years to keep each new baby who comes along warm and cosy.

A proud Bere Island woman through and through, Catherine is very much aware of continuity, heritage, and a sense of place. Her husband Gerard is also from Bere, and it is where they raised their three children, Brian, Mark and Lena who are now adults. Lena is currently in New Zealand, following in the footsteps of her mother by working as a nurse.

Catherine Sullivan , district nurse at the health centre on Bere Island in West Cork. Picture: Eddie O'Hare

As the island nurse for the past 30 years, Catherine is the first port of call when there is any situation that requires medical attention.

I trained in Cork and any time I had a few days off, I would come home to the island, she said. There was a certain turn in the road when I was on the approach, and every time I got to that point Id let out a sigh - nearly home, I was always happy to be back on Bere. I think theres a lot to be said for love of place, the grass is not always greener.

Catherines is the friendly face that many of the older island residents greet as she makes her regular morning rounds to their homes to attend to their medical needs, such as having their dressings changed, but above and beyond, and most vital to them, is the bit of chat and cheer.

Catherine Sullivan has lived on Bere Island all her life, except when she was doing her training.

If people are approaching end of life then having Catherine there, as well as care assistant Ann Marie Harrington, ensures the islanders have the comfort of being able to stay in their own homes right up to the end.

We have around 200 full time residents and of course our population increases during the summer months, explained Catherine.

When I put my scrubs on in the morning, I am in work mode. My official working hours are nine to five from Monday to Friday, but of course I am on call if there is any emergency to deal with.

I have my work phone on me, and if I am in an area where I dont have good phone coverage, then I have the Tetra, which is a global land mobile radio.

Near the ferry port.

We have a very god relationship with the local GPs and the lifeboat, and we are lucky that our ferries are island-based. The guys who work on the ferries are just fantastic, they are always quick to respond to any need.

We are very much a community here on Bere island, we all pull together, working in tandem with each other, and we are always concerned for the welfare of one another, so it makes the island a very secure place to live.

Since 2003, there is a health centre in the old Presbytery, before that Catherine was working out of her own house, as was her predecessor.

 Im lucky as the centre is literally a kilometre from my front door. I have a clinic there between two and three if anybody needs to have any medical issue checked out, such as a rash looked at, or a pain to report, or to take a look at a child if there is any concern. I then decide if the issue needs further medical attention, and if so, then at that point I would refer the patient to see the doctor on the mainland.

Our expectant and new mothers on the island need a bit of mammying themselves, and we are always happy to welcome new babies to the island. As well as a new baby on the island being a very joyful occurrence, it is also vital to keep our population up and our school open. We currently have around 20 children in the little primary school.

At the health centre.

I am not a midwife, and the island women, myself included when I was having my own babies, know the value of advance planning so that mother can get to the hospital in Cork in time to ensure the safe delivery of her baby.

Catherine said planning everything in advance is the way of life on Bere Island.

We all keep chest freezers and I do my shopping once a week, no such thing as hopping out for something you forget. When I go on a trip out to Cork, I have a list as long as my arm.

She is worried for the future however.

One thing that really concerns me is that there is nobody being trained up to replace my role as nurse on the island when I retire. Even for my own part, I would love to know that there is a nurse on the island to attend to my own needs when I get older, so that is something that I really wish could be addressed.

Even considering the cold reality of economics, it makes way more financial sense to have people stay in their own island homes rather than in hospital on the mainland when their time comes.

Catherine says she fears for the future of her role, as nobody is currently being trained up to take over.

Catherine said the other big issue on the island is the lack of housing.

The situation is really dire for people such as newlyweds who want to live on the island. Its really difficult to get planning permission and this situation really affects the future sustainability of island life. Even if people are approved for a mortgage, they then will face the challenge of obtaining planning permission to build a home. Young people are being priced out and it is such a shame.

At the same time, the island is awash with holiday homes which are only being used for a couple of weeks in the year. I recently counted the number of occupied houses in one townland, and out of 50 houses, only four were occupied all year round.

Its such a shame as its a beautiful and safe place to bring up children.

Catherine recalls her own youth.

I had a very happy childhood here on Bere Island and have wonderful memories of picking periwinkles and sea urchins on the beach.

These days, I bring my own two grandsons, who are eight and nine, to the beach to enjoy picking them just as I used to as a child.

When we were young, depending on your age, you had to fill your bucket, playing for hours amongst the rock pools searching for your bounty.

I had a fabulous childhood. I grew up on a small farm here with my late parents Leo and Brenda, and we spent a lot of time with our parents because they were working from home.

We had a small farm with chickens and turkeys and we had six cows, and my parents always grew their own vegetables, which I also still do myself.

Nobody ever had to lock their doors, there was no need, and its still a place where people watch out for one another, and especially for the children.

Catherine works 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday, but of course can be called upon at any time if there is an emergency.

When we were kids, if you were doing something naughty then you could be sure to be scolded by a neighbour if you were caught.

The expression It takes a village to raise a child really applies to Bere Island, because that is exactly what happens here, its like having lots of extra grandparents around the place.

Children can enjoy being children here with all the freedom the island affords, and being surrounded by the beauty of the natural world, its a really lovely place to raise them.

Catherine said the women of the island are supportive of each other too.

Theres great solidarity amongst the women of the island too. We all help each other, but at the same time we are not living in one anothers pockets either.

Theres a very active womens group on the island too where we share skills. I teach crochet and spinning. I have three spinning wheels and really enjoy it. When its going well, it can be very meditative. My brother-in-law has sheep, so I wash, spin and card the wool.

My mother would have done a lot of knitting and its great to share these skills with one another and to keep them going. I remember one of my grandmothers spinning long ago, but I taught myself.

Some of the other women on the island also share their talents with ceramics and printing and other skills too. Theres no shortage of things to do here.

We also have a park run every Saturday at 9.30am, there is a special ferry laid on for it. You go at your own pace and its really sociable, you can walk or run, whatever suits you, and afterwards we have a cup of tea or coffee together. We welcome anyone who wants to join us.

Being an islander means being very resourceful, but also having a strong sense of community as we depend on one another. We all make our own happiness and Im proud to come from such a great place with such fantastic people.
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.

Fin whales are a vulnerable species on the International Union for Conservation of Nature's Red List of Threatened Species. Karim Iliya Photography / Instagram

Iceland has granted a 2024 whaling license to its one remaining whaling company, Hvalur hf., according to the government, drawing criticism from whale protection advocates.

The company will be allowed to kill 99 fin whales in West Iceland and Greenland and 29 of the gigantic mammals in East Iceland and the Faroe Islands, the fisheries ministry said, as Reuters reported.

Its ridiculous that in 2024 were talking about target lists for the second-largest animal on Earth, for products that nobody needs, Patrick Ramage, director of International Fund for Animal Welfare, told Reuters.

In Iceland, the whaling season is from the middle of June to late September. Most of the whale meat is sold to Japan.

Fin whales are listed as a vulnerable species on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)s Red List of Threatened Species.

Other than humans, fin whales only known natural predator are killer whales, the International Whaling Commission said.

Animal rights groups called the announcement deeply disappointing, reported The Guardian.

After Japan, Iceland is the second nation to allow the continuation of fin whaling this year.

During the mid-1900s, the whaling industry killed almost 725,000 fin whales in the Southern Hemisphere, NOAA Fisheries said. Though their numbers have improved and are said to be increasing since hunting bans were implemented by many countries during the 1970s, they are nowhere near what they once were.

Other threats to fin whales include vessel strikes, climate change, fishing gear entanglement, noise pollution and lack of prey from overfishing.

A recent report by the food and veterinary authority of Iceland, Mast, said no significant improvement had been made to the animal welfare status of whale hunts last year compared with 2022, despite new regulations, The Guardian reported.

Its hard to fathom how and why this green light to kill 128 fin whales is being given, Ramage said. There is clearly no way to kill a whale at sea without inflicting unthinkable cruelty.

The Mast report found that some whales who had been harpooned did not die for two hours. The report questioned if the hunting of large whales would ever be able to meet animal welfare standards.

It is unbelievable and deeply disappointing that the Icelandic government has granted [this], defying extensive scientific and economic evidence against such actions, said Luke McMillan, an anti-whaling activist with Whale and Dolphin Conservation, as reported by The Guardian.

On June 20 of last year, Iceland instituted a two-month suspension on whaling after a government-commissioned inquiry found that the hunting methods being used did not meet animal welfare laws, AFP reported.

In October, Hvalur said 24 whales had been killed during the shortened three-week whaling season.

Whether Bjarkey Olsen Gunnarsdottir, Icelands food, fisheries and agriculture minister, would grant a whale hunting license for this years season had been unclear.

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, wildlife programs director for Humane Society International, told AFP.

Whales already face myriad threats in the oceans from pollution, climate change, entanglement in fish nets and ship strikes, and fin whale victims of Icelands whaling fleet are considered globally vulnerable to extinction, added Peyman.
Founded in 2005 as an Ohio-based environmental newspaper, EcoWatch is a digital platform dedicated to publishing quality, science-based content on environmental issues, causes, and solutions.

The high-altitude Integrated Carbon Observation System (ICOS) Jungfraujoch station in Switzerland, which was used for ozone layer measurements. Jungfrau.ch

An international team of scientists say efforts to protect the ozone layer have been a huge global success, with damaging atmospheric gases declining more quickly than expected.

According to the new study, the total amount of chlorine  which depletes the ozone  in all hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) peaked in 2021, five years earlier than the most recent predictions.

This has been a huge global success. Were seeing that things are going in the right direction, said Dr. Luke Western, lead author of the study and a Marie Curie Research Fellow at University of Bristols School of Chemistry, as The Guardian reported.

The reduction in HCFCs is largely due to the 1987 Montreal Protocol, which introduced controls on the usage and production of ozone-depleting substances. HCFCs were once common in the manufacturing of hundreds of products, from refrigerators and packaging to aerosol sprays and foams.

Lowering the amount of HCFCs  which are also greenhouse gases  should help lessen global heating, a press release from University of Bristol said.

Developed to replace chlorofluorocarbons  banned globally since 2010  production and usage of HCFCs is still in the process of being phased out.

The results are very encouraging. They underscore the great importance of establishing and sticking to international protocols, Western said in the press release. 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.

HCFC emissions fell less than one percent between 2021 and 2023, but are still moving in the right direction.

Their production is currently being phased out globally, with a completion date slated for 2040. In turn these HCFCs are being replaced by non-ozone depleting hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) and other compounds. By enforcing strict controls and promoting the adoption of ozone-friendly alternatives, the protocol has successfully curbed the release and levels of HCFCs into the atmosphere, Western said.

Highly precise measurements of these substances are gathered at atmospheric observatories worldwide by the National Atmospheric and Oceanic Administration (NOAA) and the Advanced Global Atmospheric Gases Experiment.

We use highly sensitive measurement techniques and thorough protocols to ensure the reliability of these observations, said Dr. Martin Vollmer, co-author of the study and an atmospheric scientist with the Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology, in the press release.

The study, A decrease in radiative forcing and equivalent effective chlorine from hydrochlorofluorocarbons, was published in the journal Nature Climate Change.

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, said Dr. Isaac Vimont, study co-author and NOAA research scientist, in the press release.
China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway to bring tangible benefits to participants, whole region, experts say

Xinhua) 14:35, June 12, 2024

BISHKEK, June 12 (Xinhua) -- The China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway project, on which an intergovernmental agreement was signed last week, will bring enormous and tangible benefits to all participants and peoples in the region, experts have said.

In an interview with Xinhua, Kubanychbek Taabaldiev, a Kyrgyz political scientist and professor of international relations at Bishkek-located Ala-Too International University, said that signing of the agreement on the construction of the railway is a historical event for the participants of this project.

"The implementation of the project will bring enormous benefits to all project participants and all of Central and South Asia, since a new transit route will be open from East to West," Taabaldiev said. "The transit of goods from China to the south and further to the west will be carried out via a shorter route."

The railway starts from Kashgar in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, and enters the territory of Uzbekistan through Kyrgyzstan. In the future, it can extend to West Asia and South Asia.

"The appropriate infrastructure will be created, new jobs are open, and new opportunities will appear for the development of the entire Central Asian region," he said.

President of the Association of Markets of Kyrgyzstan, Sergei Ponomarev, told Xinhua that the historical parallel of this project is that the railway will run along the route of the Great Silk Road.

"The point is that the project comes from the Belt and Road Initiative. Kyrgyzstan was one of the first to appreciate this initiative, as it is very promising and interesting," Ponomarev noted.

Speaking about the benefits that Kyrgyzstan receives from this project, the expert noted that the republic, with the help of the railway, will receive a large increase in the passage of goods. In addition, thanks to the railway, Kyrgyzstan, which is located in a geographical dead end, will have access to the sea.

"Therefore, it is an interesting opportunity for Kyrgyzstan to use this chance. This is not only the creation of jobs and infrastructure development, but also the improvement of economic indicators and an increase in the budget. But in general, the main goal of the project is to improve the lives of citizens of Kyrgyzstan, China and Uzbekistan," Ponomarev said.

The implementation of this railway project will have a beneficial impact on all spheres of public life in Central Asia, including Uzbekistan, as it will generate a corresponding economic effect, said Azamat Seitov, Doctor of Sociology, Professor, Head of the Laboratory of Anthropology and Conflictology at the Institute for Advanced International Studies of the University of World Economy and Diplomacy of Uzbekistan.

"Moreover, the new railway will allow Uzbekistan to expand its export capabilities and strengthen its role as a transit hub. New enterprises and tens of thousands of jobs will be created, mutual trade volumes and industrial cooperation scales will increase, and investment attractiveness will improve, all of which will contribute to economic development, better living conditions, and quality of life for residents of the country and the region," said Seitov.

He noted that the annual volume of freight traffic on this route will increase, and delivery time for goods to end consumers will be reduced. Additionally, a modern transit-logistics infrastructure, warehouses, and terminals will be established.

As a result, this project will open new transportation opportunities in Central Asia and provide a completely new transport corridor for the implementation of the Belt and Road Initiative, Seitov said.

He voiced confidence that the signing of the agreement on the implementation of the railway construction will send an important signal to the international community about the firm intention of China and Central Asian countries to further deepen cooperation, strengthen security, and ensure stability in the region, which is in the fundamental interests of the parties.

His remarks were echoed by Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov in a congratulatory video message to participants of the agreement signing ceremony held in Beijing.

"This project will become a symbol of cooperation within the framework of a comprehensive strategic partnership in a new era between Kyrgyzstan, China and Uzbekistan. The creation of this key continental bridge in the Eurasian space will bring significant benefits to our peoples," Japarov said.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing)
The European Union is going impose additional tariffs of up to 38 percent on Chinese-made electric vehicles in an effort to protect the region's manufacturers from unfair competition, according to The New York Times and the Financial Times. The European Commission has already warned Chinese carmakers about the additional taxes, which will go on top of the existing 10 percent tariff on their EVs and will be different for each manufacturer. BYD's and Geely's vehicles will be hit by tariffs between 17.4 and 20 percent, while SAIC will face an additional 38 percent in taxes.

Rates for other carmakers vary, depending on whether they've cooperated with an ongoing EU investigation into the Chinese government's subsidies for its EV manufacturers. Because of those subsidies, China-made EVs can be sold at much lower prices than their European competitors'. The Chinese carmakers that have cooperated with the probe will be subjected to an additional tariff of 21 percent, while those who didn't will get an extra 38 percent. The Financial Times says European Commission's Margaritis Schinas has reached out to Chinese authorities to "explore possible ways to resolve" the issue. The new tariffs will be enforced on July 4 if they fail to reach an agreement.

While the EU said that it's introducing additional taxes on Chinese EVs to protect the bloc's manufacturers, some authorities and European automakers oppose the move out of concern that it could lead to retaliation from China. They're specifically worried that China's response would make EVs more expensive in general, which in turn could drive away customers, especially those who are still not wholly convinced that they should switch to electric.

The EU's announcement comes a month after the US quadrupled the import tariff for Chinese EVs. It was part of a bigger move by the US government to quash China's influence on its economy, along with imposing additional taxes on Chinese-made semiconductors, solar cells, batteries and medical products.
They also accuse him of using sexual photos, memes and other demeaning commentary in the workplace.

Eight former SpaceX engineers filed a lawsuit against Elon Musk on Wednesday, accusing the CEO of sexual harassment and retaliation. The same group of fired employees have also filed complaints with the US National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) about SpaceXs alleged retaliation. Bloomberg first reported on the lawsuit.

Musk knowingly and purposefully created an unwelcome hostile work environment based upon his conduct of interjecting into the workplace vile sexual photographs, memes, and commentary that demeaned women and/or the LGBTQ+ community, the eight former employees wrote in Wednesdays filing.

The former SpaceX engineers said some of them were harassed by other co-workers who mimicked Musks posts, in an alleged example of mob bullying under the influence of their superiors behavior. The plaintiffs wrote that this created a wildly uncomfortable hostile work environment.

The group worked together on an open letter in 2022, highlighting the Tesla founders allegedly problematic behavior. They say they were fired in retaliation for that essay.

According to Bloomberg, the filing says the former SpaceX engineers have reason to believe Musk made the decision to fire them in retaliation for their letter. The complaint claims that when a SpaceX HR official suggested the company conduct a formal investigation before taking any decisive action, Musk replied, I dont care  fire them.

The engineers case with the NLRB has been held up by an appeals court injunction despite the board agreeing that SpaceX illegally retaliated against them. SpaceX sued the agency in January, calling its structure unconstitutional.

The lawsuit follows a report on Tuesday detailing allegations that Musk had sexual relations with two female employees and asked a third to have his babies.
The move came one day before a California judge was set to hear OpenAI's request for dismissal.

Elon Musk dropped a lawsuit against OpenAI one day before a judge in California state court was set to hear OpenAIs request for dismissal. Musks suit, which was filed in February, had accused OpenAI co-founders Sam Altman and Greg Brockman of violating the companys non-profit status and instead prioritizing profits over using AI to help humanity.

In the 35-page suit, Musk had alleged that OpenAI had become a closed-source de facto subsidiary of Microsoft, which invested $13 billion in the company and owns a 49 percent stake. Microsoft uses OpenAIs technology to power Copilot, the companys generative AI tools that are deeply integrated in products like Windows and Office.

OpenAI had reportedly requested for the lawsuit to be dismissed, arguing that Musk would use any information that emerged as a result to get access to the companys proprietary records and technology. The company had also said that there was no founding agreement for it to breach.

OpenAI and Musks lawyer, Alex Spiro, did not respond to a request for comment from Engadget.

Musk, who was one of the founders of OpenAI in 2015, left the company three years later after disagreements over the direction of the organization. He runs xAI an AI startup that makes Grok, a ChatGPT rival that is built into X and is available for paid users. xAI recently raised a $6 billion funding round from top investors including Andreessen Horowitz and Sequoia Capital.

On Monday, Musk said that he would ban Apple devices from his companys after Apple integrated ChatGPT in its operating systems through a partnership with OpenAI.
Waymo is voluntarily recalling its robotaxis after one of them collided with a telephone pole in an alley enroute to pick up a passenger, The Verge reported. The vehicle was unoccupied and no bystanders were injured.

At the time of the May 21st accident, the Waymo vehicle went through an alley lined with telephone poles mounted at street level rather than on a curb, with a yellow line showing where to drive. While pulling over, it struck one of the poles at 8 MPH and sustained some damage, Waymo said.

"It never made it to pick us up," the passenger waiting for the car, Jericka Mitchell, told 12News. Mitchell reportedly heard, but didn't see the accident.

The company filed a recall with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) after updating the software in its entire self-driving fleet of 672 vehicles. The update is designed to fix an error that assigned a low damage score to the pole and failed to account for the alleyway's hard edge.

It's only Waymo's second recall. The first happened earlier this year when two of its autonomous vehicles crashed into the same pickup truck that was being towed. In that one, Waymo found that its software failed to predict the movements of the vehicle due to "persistent orientation mismatch" between the towed vehicle and the one towing it.

Waymo is also under investigation for more than 24 incidents including crashes and traffic violations. Rival Cruise, owned by GM, was involved in a more serious incident last year, wherein one of its robotaxis accidentally dragged someone hit by another vehicle a few dozen feet down a San Francisco street. California then suspended its license to operate in the state and Cruise eventually paused all robotaxi operations
An acclaimed artist known for his famous 2018 portrait of former President Barack Obama is "setting the record straight" regarding the sexual assault allegations against him.

On Tuesday, New York City-based portrait painter Kehinde Wiley vehemently denied Ghanaian artist Joseph Awuah-Darko's allegations that he sexually assaulted him in June 2021.

In an Instagram post, Wiley insisted that his "one time" encounter with Awuah-Darko was "consensual" and posted his purported text message exchanges with his fellow artist over the years as proof.

Wiley accused Awuah-Darko of making "baseless and defamatory" allegations and launching a "reckless smear campaign" against him.

According to Wiley, he and Awuah-Darko met at a dinner in Ghana, flirted with each other and had a sexual encounter in June 2021.

"Everything was consensual," the American artist wrote.

He claimed that the Ghanaian artist "left happily" the next morning and later sent him "friendly and flirty text messages" -- alleged screenshots of which Wiley included in the post.

Wiley claimed that after their encounter, Awuah-Darko began "aggressively pursuing a relationship" with him, including allegedly traveling from London to Nigeria just to attend Wiley's birthday party.

Wiley also shared an alleged screenshot of Awuah-Darko asking to visit him at his New York home in August 2022. The former said he "ignored" the request.

Over the years, Awuah-Darko allegedly continued to send him messages via phone and Instagram "professing his love" for Wiley, his talent and his work and mentioned the portrait painter on over 30 Instagram Stories.

"Happy Birthday. Hope you know that you are loved," read one alleged message from Awuah-Darko sent in February 2023.

Wiley also shared a screenshot of Awuah-Darko's Instagram post calling the former his "dear friend."

Wiley alleged that after making "false claims" against him, Awuah-Darko has "deleted thousands of Instagram posts that didn't fit his narrative."

He went on to claim that the Ghanaian artist allegedly conspired with another man with whom Wiley also had a "brief consensual encounter" in 2021 and who sought a more serious relationship with him.

In his post, Wiley included purported screenshots of messages from this second man, who was labeled "Dwreck" on his phone.

"I miss your company. I want to see you again," read one of the several alleged messages sent by Dwreck in September and October 2021.

Wiley concluded his post by claiming that both men "wanted far more" from him than he was willing to give and urging the public to look at his accusers' possible motivations for allegedly committing "character assassination."

Earlier this week, Black Lives Matter co-founder Derrick Ingram -- who also goes by "Dwreck" -- alleged on Instagram that Wiley raped him at the artist's New York apartment on Sept. 10, 2021, during their four-month relationship.

Ingram also claimed that Wiley allegedly offered him drugs such as cocaine and meth and asked him to sign a non-disclosure agreement regarding their encounter -- both of which he said he refused.

Ingram added that he had been reluctant to come forward with his allegations and was still going to therapy over the alleged incident.

But he said he was now standing with other alleged victims of Wiley, including Awuah-Darko, and would be filing a lawsuit against the artist.

In his own post, Awuah-Darko alleged that Wiley repeatedly grabbed his buttocks without his permission when they first met before sexually assaulting him later that night.

Awuah-Darko claimed that it took him "several months to reconcile what had actually happened to me" and that the alleged incident "almost destroyed" him.
Keyshia Ka'Oir, the wife of Gucci Mane, is defending her husband after Enchanting died on Tuesday.

She was 26.

Reports suggest the rapper was placed on life support following a suspected drug overdose, although her official cause of death was not released. Enchanting, real name Channing Nicole Larry, was once part of Gucci Mane's 1017 label.

In the wake of Enchanting's death, hip-hop fans began to wonder why Gucci Mane wasn't more involved with the young artist. Some have even voiced concerns about a perceived pattern of questionable practices and a suspected "curse" regarding artists under his management, citing repeated instances of tragic deaths or legal troubles after signing with him.

"So sad to have to say R.I.P to such a great young lady a true star we gone all miss you Chant @luvenchanting," Gucci Mane, real name Radric Delantic Davis, posted online.

Ka'Oir rushed to his defense, urging critics to refrain from blaming him.

RELATED: Did Drake Indirectly Confirm The Exposed X-Rated Video Of Him Naked Is Real?

"Leave my husband alone!" Ka'Oir responded to the comments. "He signs these artist to help them & give them a better life! I wish it wasn't like this ! Chant we love you baby girl ! RIH."

Some of Gucci Mane's other artists have also either died or experienced severe legal troubles. According to 'XXL,' Hotboy Wes was arrested for roberry in Texas in January 2022. A few months later, Pooh Shiesty plead guilty to a firearm conspiracy charge and was sentenced to over five years in prison. In May, Foogiano was sentenced to five years in prison, Big Scarr died in December 2022 after an accidental prescription drug overdose, and other instances have seemingly raised concerns.

While details surrounding Enchanting's death await confirmation from an autopsy, her team disclosed her cause of death was an "overdose."

According to representatives, Enchanting had been experiencing "withdrawals" in the days leading up to her hospitalization and subsequent critical condition.

"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," Enchanting's rep shared with The Shade Room.

Enchanting's sister Kayy Jayy shared a heartfelt tribute on X, expressing her love for her sister with a broken heart emoji.
Discover the latest on the ICC's probe into Russian war crimes against Ukrainian prisoners. Learn about arrest warrants issued and harrowing testimonies shared. Follow the pursuit of justice amid challenges and manipulation. Stay informed on the path to accountability at the upcoming Global Peace Summit in Switzerland.
A unit of the Khartia brigade fires artillery at Russian positions in the Kharkiv region to quell Moscow's offensive into northeastern Ukraine. The brigade's commander says modern weapons and ammunition could help them to destroy more targets in a short time.
From: Author U -- Judith Briles For Immediate Release: Dateline: Denver , CO Tuesday, June 11, 2024

This means that it tries to recreate the real-world look as close as it is possible. When your scene is complete and you are ready to render, the next object you will need to place in your scenes field is a camera. Your cameras settings, depending on your software, is very customizable  sometimes, right down to the type of lens you wish to use. Another customizable function is the cameras depth of field as well as the environment of a scenes depth of field. This doesnt mean you can cut corners when it comes to texture, lighting or other important factors required for a quality rendering.

With regular practice and patience, your rendering abilities will continuously improve.

These advancements have greatly enhanced the visual quality and immersion of virtual environments.

When it comes to the differences between 3D rendering vs 3D modeling, 3D rendering is the process of converting a 3D model into a 2D image or animation using specialized computer software. Then, it computes the diffused energy that radiates off each surface, calculates the surfaces with the higher amounts of energy and finally restores them. By carefully selecting your resolution and aspect ratio, you can ensure your 3D renderings look great on any device or screen size. To kick off your 3D rendering journey, its essential to have a solid foundation in place. The Perfect Render: Understanding and Mastering Rendering Techniques But you most probably are not going to use the Workbench one, as it is very situational. So in this article we are going to take a look at the two main renderers in Blender  Eevee and Cycles. Usually for renders, its more for an artistic effect than a technical achievement and is meant to visually impress. A writer by day and a reader by night, she yearns to learn everything new in this world. Her content is created in partnership with our signage production team. In rendering, geometry is handled using various techniques like ray casting, which parses the modeled geometry pixel by pixel, line by line, from the viewers perspective. Each line represents an edge, and where the lines intersect, we have vertices. The faces formed by these lines and vertices create a mesh, which can be manipulated to create curves and fine-tune the shape to achieve realistic design renders. Its a process that uses a computer program to generate a photorealistic or non-photorealistic image from a 2D or 3D model. Basic rendering techniques using pastel chalks and watercolours A higher rendering resolution allows for sharper textures, smoother edges, and more precise lighting and shadows. However, it also requires more computational power and longer rendering times. Rendering, in the realm of computer graphics, is the transformative process that converts raw geometric data into visually immersive scenes. It is the alchemy that transmutes mathematical models into the rich tapestry of pixels we perceive on our screens. Rendering in architecture plays an essential role in creating detailed and realistic visual representations of buildings before construction. LOD meshes can be created either manually by reducing vertices and polygon loops or automatically using 3D software tools or specialized LOD generation software like Simplygon. For optimal implementation in games, there are multiple LOD groups, with LOD0 being fully detailed and subsequent LODs (LOD1, LOD2, etc.) having progressively lower levels of detail. Popular Modeling Techniques This powerful tool enables them to communicate their design concepts to clients in a more impactful manner compared to conventional methods such as hand sketches and moodboards. Additionally, 3D Interior Renderings assist in identifying any design errors or improvement areas early in the process, allowing for more efficient and effective design iterations during the pre-construction phase. 3D rendering is a valuable tool in architecture, commonly utilized to aid in visualizing designs and presenting them to clients and stakeholder. [embedded content] The technique can be used for a range of images, from the non-realistic, to extremely photorealistic design which can be challenging to tell apart from a real photograph. But for the sake of realism, its best to keep proportional relations between units of measure like the camera distance, depth of field and focal length to achieve lifelike results. Global or indirect illumination is a technique used for creating realism. Its a system of algorithms that model how light from objects bounces off and illuminates neighboring surfaces. The Z-buffer is a graphics rendering technique that utilizes the simplest algorithms employed in the arsenal of how to make 3D visualization. It determines visible surfaces (or a part of them) based on a 2D-data structure. Guiding Tips on How to Design a Sign for Your Business Like a Pro By adjusting the contrast, it will be possible to show reflections or reflective properties on almost any kind of material. When selecting the best software for your needs, consider factors such as your budget, desired features, and the learning curve involved. If you dont have time to search for quality cutout people, it might be better to opt for vector figures and silhouettes. Objects in the foreground of a scene need to be well modeled, i.e. upholstery needs to convey the appearance of softness, not all flat and faceted. In this regard, Le Corbusier was right when he said that Architecture is the learned game, correct and magnificent, of forms assembled in the light. Apply the chalk powder using a cotton wool ball and gradually build up the layer. Keep adding more colour until you are happy with the desired effect. This can be applied using a cotton bud and then gently tapping this down on the surface area to create a textured effect. What is 3D Rendering? 6 Must-Know Basics About 3D Rendering To ensure the created 3D model accurately reflects the original design, attention is given to reference points, proportions, and measurements, maintaining realism within the models representation. Its like creating a highly detailed and accurate miniature model of a building. The rendering process begins with 3D modelling, where a digital model is created of the object or scene, using a mathematical expression to represent each items surface. If your company has to communicate complex information and ideas, 3D rendered visual content will help to present this information in a precise, beautiful, and cost-effective way. Using a platform that offers 3D rendered images will make your products look stunning, and highlight their benefits and capabilities  all wrapped in a high-end user experience. Many rendering engines include a camera control to shape visual properties more accurately within the virtual environment. 3D rendering may not be the most glamorous part of the 3D animation process, but its arguably one of the most important. Without rendering, the lifelike images weve come to expect from the best 3D animation what is rendering would look pixelated, unrealistic, and interact poorly with their surroundings. All the techniques, including displacement textures, are aimed to create a more realistic feel for your 3D signage. Reducing Render Time The significance of Types of Rendering Techniques in the realm of computer graphics cannot be overstated, as they form the bedrock of visual realism and immersive digital experiences. Rendering is the bridge that spans the gap between abstract geometric data and visually captivating scenes, elevating digital creations to a level where they mirror reality. Adept rendering techniques breathe life into the digital canvas, allowing creators to convey depth, texture, and intricate lighting nuances that resonate with human perception. see all) Latest posts by Judith Briles Was this helpful? Get more FREE tips and insight: see all) Latest posts by Judith Briles FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact:

John Posner

443-507-8494

JPosnerBooks@gmail.com Calling Balticon 58 Attendees in Baltimore, Maryland May 20, 2024, Baltimore, MD. Bestselling sci-fi/fantasy author John Posner will be meeting fans and signing books at the 58th Balticon gathering this week. Held at the Renaissance Baltimore Harborplace Hotel, located at 2020 E Pratt Street, Baltimore, MD 21202 from May 24 to 27. Posner is the author of Forever is Too Long. Setting the stage for 400 years in the future ... a future where human minds can be perfectly copied to live out a forever existence in the multiverse and become Mindars in the new digital world. Fans discover what happens when Humans crossover and become digital entities. They learn what happens when social boundaries are shattered. And what happens when the Unintended Consequences of technology occur. Visitors are encouraged to immerse themselves in a discussion of what future technology could do to us. Posner asks, What would you do to save the world? What would you do if you could live forever  or is forever too long? His forthcoming book, He Died Two Days Ago, will be released in June 2024. When assassins mistakenly shoot the wrong person, an alien race that secretly inhabits living beings of other planets across the universe is revealed. Unbeknownst to their hosts, the aliens feed off the emotions of the entities they reside within. Come explore Battleground Earth and alien possession. At the event, Posner will be selling and signing his current book, Forever is Too Long that was released last year and quickly earned bestseller status on Amazon. They will have the opportunity to sign up for his new book. John Posner is an IT project manager and technology writer creating Sci-Fi/Fantasy Psycho Thrillers exploring the unintended consequences that humans and technology cause. Discover his website: JohnPosnerBooks.com.


The Columbiana Soil & Water Conservation District will be partnering with several other agencies to host two field days at the end of June. Both events will offer attendees the opportunity to view conservation practices that have been implemented and talk with professionals while in the field.

Whether your interest is grazing and pasture management or wildlife habitat management and invasive species control, these field days are for you.

The Eastern Ohio Grazing Council will be holding its monthly pasture walk June 27 the Dangelo Family Farm, 33458 Yellow Creek Church Road in Salineville, Ohio.

Jimmy Giannone has recently begun managing the family farm by rotationally grazing cattle to help revitalize the soils and pastures. His main objective is to improve the grasslands and wildlife habitat by using the cattle in a rotational grazing system. Giannone will also demonstrate how he is establishing native grasses for forage in the pastures. We will be looking at a pasture that is being prepared for a native grass seeding, different native grass seeds, and discussing the challenges of seeding those native grasses.

Haley Shoemaker, Ohio State University Extension educator, will be sharing resources available to beginning farmers and discussing how her office can assist agricultural producers. Additionally, Giannone will be revealing some of the difficulties he has faced as beginning farmer, along with the opportunities he has used to advance his farming techniques.

The Columbiana Soil and Water Conservation District has also partnered with neighboring Soil and Water Conservation Districts as well as the Ohio Division of Wildlife to create a landowner workshop known as the Conservation Wildlife Habitat Days.

This event will be June 29 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Highlandtown Wildlife Area headquarters,16760 Spring Valley Road in Salineville. Throughout this event, we will focus on different wildlife and forestry conservation practices that can be implemented on a landowners property to help improve their wildlife habitat or woodlands.

Some of the discussed conservation practices we will look at in the field include food plots for wildlife, warm season grass plantings, edge feathering, tree plantings, and invasive species control. Landowners will be able to see in person how they can implement these practices on their own properties.

Cost share conservation programs, such as the Environmental Quality Habitat Program, will also be discussed as these incentive programs may be available to help landowners with implementing best management practices onto their property.

The field days are open to the public, giving everyone a chance to meet other like-minded individuals that share the same philosophies about our natural resources.

Meals and hand-out materials will be provided at both events, so reservations are necessary. If you would like more information about the field days, contact the Columbiana SWCD office by phone at 330-332-8732 extension 5 or by email at john.beilhart@oh.nacdnet.net or pete.conkle@oh.nacdnet.net.
Me a week before houseguests arrive: cool, calm, collected. We are just going to be ourselves.

Me a few hours before houseguests arrive: I NEED TO PAINT THE ENTIRE PORCH! And also, I hate these baseboards!

Procedure for greeting guests:

1. Shout THEYRE HERE!

2. Scurry around the house frantically for a bit for no real reason.

3. Pause for a few seconds, then run out on the porch and start joyfully shouting as if its all a massive delightful surprise.

Its no secret that Im house proud. You dont buy a fixer-upper and then pour your heart, soul, blood, sweat and actual tears into fixing it up because you dont care about your surroundings.

I want to provide a warm and welcoming environment. Comfortable guest bedrooms. Gracious porches for visiting. Cozy fires indoors or out when appropriate. Friends have good-naturedly referred to us as The Seabolt AirBnB.

I can admit it was going to my head. That is, until Saturday morning when I awoke to discover that a good-sized chunk of plaster had fallen from the ceiling right in the center of the stairs. I picked it up and chuckled. Of course, it did. This house is equal parts glorious haven and an ongoing project. She is bent on keeping us humble.

Please note our houseguests are the NICEST people. I would be perfectly happy if they stayed forever. I am legitimately sad when they have to leave. I stand on the porch and wave morosely. Bye. PLEASE COME BACK! I dont know why they arent willing to relocate to the United States just to hang out with me?

History

In any case, attempting to explain on either side of the border how two families countries apart have become besties is usually met with confusion? How? Why? The darling 26-year-old daughter responds, exasperated, I dont know! I was born into this!

The friendship goes back to Mr. Wonderfuls childhood. They met at a fishing camp in Canada. Two families forming a bond forged in repeated annual visits and holiday joy.

Now, our children have grown up knowing each other. Close from afar, if I do say so. We are told that when asked where they are heading when visiting The States, the reaction to their answer, Ohio, is all too often Why?

Apparently, its acceptable to visit New York, Florida and perhaps, Las Vegas. Ohio is not a vacation destination. Who knew? It is a running joke that Ohio isnt real. I say we keep it that way. Ohio is actually fabulous, and if too many people catch on, it might ruin it. Lets keep the wonders of the Midwest our little secret okay?

Otherwise, I think we should have visitors more often. Its so relaxing on the weekend to set aside the endless to-do list. Guests force us to relax and actually ENJOY our home. We visit, snack and chat. I actually took the time to sit on my own front porch. Its really nice out there!

Granted, we also have hilarious doorbell camera footage of one of us getting dive-bombed directly in the face by one angry mama bird, but to be fair, she was completely justified. She was just staking out her territory. Her territory just happens to be the wreath by our front door. Now we just give her a wide berth.

We also took our Canadian visitors out back to practice target shooting some firearms because Merica!

Feline

We know that due to the problematic and possibly toxic relationship I have with our cat, Im forever trying to give him away.

Every time they admired him because he is stunning, I offered that they could have him. Ill just pack him up and send him across the border with them. I know they will give him a great home. They would send pictures. This could work out well.

They kept mulling over the idea, getting my hopes up, before declaring that I would miss him. Would I though? Does anyone know if FedEx can ship felines internationally? Asking for a friend.

Back to food

Three reasonable and normal people were coming to stay for the weekend. Accordingly, I provided enough food to feed at least a dozen extra mouths  per day. Six bagels per person each day seems correct? Seventeen pounds of meat?

Over-planning food is the law in this state. I dont make the rules. I think America is known worldwide for obesity, so I want our food and snacks to live up to the hype.

I love having houseguests, but then I look around at all the food thats left and realize its entirely possible that I forgot to feed them after all. Dear friends, if youre reading this, please come back. I finally cut that watermelon.
It seems like yesterday; I was sitting in the grass, the sun reddening my arms and neck, an old can filled with dirt and night-crawlers and a bottle of Orange Crush close by. My trusty Zebco and hand-me-down rod was perched in the fork of a tree branch that was trimmed with my dads Barlow especially for the purpose.

A red and white orb moving to the winds whispers among the reflections of drifting clouds. My concentration centered upon that object, with its invisible tether connecting it from my rod to the unseen denizens I hoped to soon hold. A painted turtle pushes its head above the water and looks with curious suspicion in my direction. As I sat hypnotized by the bobbers gentle rocking, I wondered what might be underneath, a huge fish or empty, bubble-filled water. Would it be success or failure?

But how could I fail? I couldnt imagine any other place that I would rather have been at that moment. Quite honestly, as I look back at that boy sitting on the lakes bank so many years ago what I would give to join him once more!

Then, it didnt matter that I wasnt pitching an Adams fly on Michigans Au Sable, grabbing the net while frantically trying to fill my limit on Lake Erie, or floating on some secluded Canadian lake. It didnt matter that my rod had tape holding the tip on or that my tackle box was also my lunchbox during the school year. All that counted  all that really mattered  was that I was there with dad, brother, a friend or even alone. Catching a fish may well have been the goal but there always seemed to be so much more to those early outings.

Maybe it was because I was still in awe of the experience. Every soaring hawk, every scolding redwing, every swimming snake, every darting dragon fly each captured my attention as I found myself in their world and learning to make it my own. Each trip to a nearby pond or creek was truly an expedition into a new universe.

Sometimes, as we get older, we lose the wonder we once felt. Angling somehow becomes a competition with the fish and our friends and we fall prey to advertisers promises of bigger, better and more. Yet, locked inside is that youngster who once marveled at the rainbow hues of a sunfish  the same one who didnt catch a fish but couldnt wait to tell anyone with an ear about the snake hed touched or the muskrat that swam so close.

I really liked that kid back then, maybe more than I like the man but, like you, he grew up and left Pans Neverland and became serious about work and life. Yet the boy is still somewhere inside, anxiously waiting for the next outing, a chance to once again be amazed at the world that thrives just outside of grownup cares. Inside each of us is something that tugs us toward the waters edge to look at the mesmerizing shimmer, our imagination drifting with each wave, a relaxing familiarity buried deep inside our souls.

Its great that you get a limit, land the biggest or net the first, but dont let that natural human competitiveness lock away that kid inside. Look around, see our wild world as it is and not as a playpen full of toys.

Its truly a gift that we should each honor, appreciate, share and conserve for future generations. There are kids imprisoned in adult bodies all around us. Invite one of them on your next fishing adventure and you may just witness the transformation. Fishing licenses are cheap and theres no limit or age restrictions on memories. The real catch of the day may be the memories that others will have of you.

I suppose its like the ticking crocodile, isnt it? Time is chasing after all of us.

 J. M. Barrie, Peter Pan
CARROLLTON, Ohio  Along the intersection of Steubenville Road and State Route 9 sits rows of new, old and refurbished tractors  a key indicator that customers have come to the right store for all their tractor and farming needs: S&S Equipment, 3144 Steubenville Rd SE, Carrollton, Ohio.

Bud Smith opened S&S Equipment in the late 1980s and has run the store with help from his wife, Maryann Smith, since the 90s. Over the years, a steady stream of customers have come in and out of the store, satisfied with new or repaired equipment.

Many of these loyal customers gather for S&S Equipments annual customer appreciation party at the end of every August. This summer, the party will be even more special as S&S Equipment celebrates 35 years of service.

From farm to store

Bud grew up on a dairy farm in Carrollton, Ohio, milking cows and selling used farm equipment alongside his father. His love of repairing and selling equipment inspired Bud to open S&S Equipment in the spring of 1989.

A few years later, in 1991, Bud and Maryann got married. Maryanns brother and Bud went to school together, but Maryann and Bud wouldnt meet until years later at a square dance, resulting in a dance theyd vow to sway to for the rest of their lives.

When she married me, she married the business, Bud said. Maryann laughs and quickly jokes back, They said they make money, referring to small businesses.

Incidentally, the couple put roots down near the business, building a house on the 40 acres right behind it. They lived in a trailer for a few years while it was being built, and moved in when it was completed in 1996.

Shortly after, Maryann started her own business, Golden Acres, in 2005. Golden Acres specializes in breeding and raising Golden Retrievers. In addition to running their businesses, Bud and Maryann grow hay, which theyve been doing since 1989.

35 years of S&S Equipment

Since the beginning, S&S Equipment has repaired and sold new and used tractors. Over time, the store has expanded its inventory to include Mahindra, Bush Hog, Vermeer, Iron Craft and Tar River tractors.

The store also sells a host of tractor parts and farm equipment, and offers tractor repair services via appointment.

For the last five years, Hunter Loy has been the face of S&S Equipments service and repair department, fixing any broken equipment that comes into the shop. Working at the store has taught him lots of new tricks to repair old and damaged tractors.

While Loy handles operations behind the scenes, Shelby Baker tends to customers in the front of the store as its sales associate and secretary. Although she grew up on a small hobby horse farm, she didnt know much about farm equipment until working at S&S Equipment. Her six years with the store have taught her a lot and elevated her experience as a woman in agriculture.

Its been a big learning curve learning the equipment because I never did any of that stuff, Baker said. (Being) a woman in ag can always be a fun challenge with people because theyre like You dont know anything. And usually, you have to prove yourself to them. Thats helped me grow as a person too.

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Giving back

S&S Equipment has taken part in numerous charitable events over the years. In 2019, Maryann and Bud, alongside a group of residents in Carrollton, created the Pulling for a Cause, a truck and tractor pull event to raise funds for the Akron Childrens Hospital.

The couple came up with the idea after Bud ran into a friend at the grocery store who had a pulling truck and wanted to put on a truck and tractor pull similar to other towns. Maryann suggested turning it into a charitable event for Akron Childrens Hospital.

To raise funds for the tractor pull, Maryann and Natalie Winters travel to businesses across Carroll and surrounding counties, politely asking people to donate.

Last year, the Pulling for a Cause event raised $67,000 for Akron Childrens Hospital. Since the event started, it has raised a total of $200,000.

Each year it just keeps growing and growing, Maryann said.

Anyone with a truck or tractor can participate in the pull. The top 12 in each of the eight classes of the pull receive cash prizes. This year, the Pulling for a Cause event took place on June 1 at the Carroll County Fairgrounds.

Bud and MaryAnn also host charitable events at S&S Equipment. Last year, the couple raffled off a pink Bush Hog cutter that Bud initially bought to support the American Breast Cancer Society.

In October 2023, Bush Hog auctioned off 50 limited edition pink Bush Hogs for breast cancer awareness month. All proceeds from the pink Bush Hogs were then donated to the American Breast Cancer Society.

After winning Bush Hog No.18, Bud decided to re-auction his Bush Hog at the store to raise even more money. He was inspired by his mother who passed away from breast cancer a few years ago. In the end, the couple presented a check for $19,497 to the American Breast Cancer Society.

Reflecting back on the last 35 years, Bud and Maryann are grateful for their loyal customers. They dont have any kids to pass the business on to and someday will retire, but, for now, theyll stay open and continue to raise money for charity as long as they can.

We enjoy doing this stuff. Its (about) the people you meet, and the stories they can tell somehow or another relate to you, Maryann said. From the Akron Childrens Hospital, whether it be the burn unit, the children, whatever it could possibly be, theres amazing stories out there you can hear about.

(Liz Partsch can be reached at epartsch@farmanddairy.com or 330-337-3419.)
A lawsuit of $350 in unclaimed funds in Michigan could impact Ohio farmers and landowners, should it make its way to the U.S. Supreme Court.

The Ohio Farm Bureau recently filed an amicus brief to the Supreme Court to support the case of OConnor v. Eubanks. Ohio Farm Bureau has a vested interest in the takings case that could eventually allow anyone who feels harmed by a state to sue that state in federal court.

Currently, that is not permitted in Ohio, and this has a particularly devastating impact on Ohio farmers, the Ohio Farm Bureau said, in its court filing.

In Ohio, we are one of only very few states without a process called inverse condemnation, which would allow landowners to take the state through federal court in a streamlined way, said Leah Curtis, policy counsel lawyer for the Ohio Farm Bureau.

Case background

The OConnor case was not a property matter at all, but rather a case of unpaid funds to retired physician Dennis OConnor, in Hemlock, Michigan, who wanted the state to pay him interest on the simple amount of $350. The court denied his request.

The takings clause of the Fifth Amendment requires just compensation be given to those whose property is taken by the state. It doesnt matter what type of property is involved  cash, tangible land or public usage of the land  it is still known as a taking. If a person feels that he or she has not been compensated adequately, it is grounds for a lawsuit.

OConnor appealed the initial rejection of his suit through the 6th Circuit Court.

Because the court would still not decide in favor of his claim, he decided to petition the highest court in the land.

Meaning

The Ohio Farm Bureau argued in its brief that the OConnor decision contradicts a previous Supreme Court ruling in a similar case, Knick v. Township of Scott, Pennsylvania. The Ohio Farm Bureau, too, filed a brief in that case which dealt with eminent domain. It was the first time the Ohio Farm Bureau it participated in a U.S. Supreme Court case.

The 5-4 ruling in the Knick case allowed takings claims to be brought against the state in a federal court.

The 6th Circuit closed the door to the federal courthouse that this court just re-opened in Knick, argued the Ohio Farm Bureau in its brief in support of OConnor, noting the financial hardships endured by farmers while their land is occupied and their legal costs mount.

The brief was filed by Curtis and Columbus-based attorney Tom Fusonie, a partner in the firm of Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease.

To deal with eminent domain cases, Ohio landowners must file a suit through a process called writ of mandamus.

It is time-consuming and expensive, Curtis said. There is not a guarantee or even a high chance of being compensated for attorneys fees, for example.

Fusonie said the current Ohio writ of mandamus procedure is clunky and cumbersome, at best.

It is not a streamlined remedy, he said. It is always piecemeal and it simply is not adequate.

Fusonie said that Ohio is behind the times and that, with the Ohio Farm Bureau behind the filing of this brief, it just may elevate the case before the Supreme Court enough so that the court will agree to hear it.

Curtis wants to get the attention of the highest court in the land because it would encourage farmers who feel they have been wronged in any kind of takings to bring a lawsuit.

At this time, she thinks that many farmers and landowners feel it is futile to do so because it would not be worth their time and money. Lawsuits can take many years to be decided. Those bringing suits feel stuck by a system that is both antiquated and balanced against them.

Future

There are over 7,000 cases annually brought before the Supreme Court. They choose to hear somewhere between 100 and 150 of those cases.

Fusonie knows those odds, but he believes that this is something that needs to be fixed. The brief, which he was the lead writer on, was a collaborative effort and it is a rather short 14 pages in length. Many briefs filed with the court can reach up to 50 pages.

He said they werent out to reinvent the wheel but rather to highlight the need for a fresh approach to giving landowners, particularly, a remedy that doesnt discourage them from the outset and which may be inherently unfair.

Curtis said that she expects to discover whether or not the Supreme Court will hear the case sometime this coming fall. If indeed the court accepts the case, it would likely be argued in early 2025, with a decision made in mid-2025.
A survey of British breeding firms has revealed another jump in the adoption of sexed dairy semen, alongside a rise in the sale of beef semen in the dairy herd.

Data collected by AHDB over the year ending April 2024 shows that sales of sexed semen increased to 84% of all dairy semen, from the 2023 figure of 76%.

The Holstein breed remains the most popular breed, and they average even higher at 88% of all their semen sold as sexed.

Increased use of sexed dairy also enables a higher update of beef semen on the rest of the herd. Sales of beef are for the first time outstripping dairy, with beef now representing 52% of all semen sold to dairy farms.

AHDB said this presents 'excellent opportunities' for dairy farmers to selectively breed only their most elite females for dairy replacements, further accelerating genetic progress within the dairy herd.

The levy board has advised farmers to use the tools available to them to pinpoint their best females to breed from, such as genomic evaluations and AHDBs Herd Genetic Report.

This shift in semen use directly impacts the beef supply chain through the larger proportion of beef crosses that the dairy sector is now producing.

But they also stand to benefit from the genetic improvements in efficiency of the dairy herd, as these improved genetics filter through in their offspring.

Marco Winters, AHDB head of animal genetics, said: "UK dairy farmers are leading the world in the adoption of sexed semen.

"[They] should be commended on their progressive attitude to adopting modern technologies to improve their herd efficiencies."
Scottish young farmers have launched a new campaign encouraging those working in the industry to promote healthy relationships, kindness and inclusivity.

The Scottish Association of Young Farmers Clubs' (SAYFC) new campaign 'RESPECT' will be launched at the upcoming Royal Highland Show.

It aims to encourage every young farmer to play their part in contributing to a "safe, inclusive and fun environment for young people".

The initiative, supported by farming charity RSABI, will underline positive role modelling for young farmers, underpinned by education, training and awareness-raising.

As well as promotions at the Royal Highland Show and other events, along with social media activity, the campaign will see the appointment of 'Respect Ambassadors' in every club throughout Scotland.

The initiative will focus on different priority areas through the year, with a focus on training and education.

As well as Mental Health First Aid, First Aid and Suicide Prevention training, young farmers from each club will be offered Alcohol Awareness Training supported by RSABI.

The campaign will also aim to raise awareness of the organisations which can offer specialist help and support to people who have been affected by issues or negative behaviour.

It is hoped that, as well as raising awareness among young farmers, the campaign may also have a wider beneficial impact among people of all ages in the Scottish farming community.

Penny Montgomerie, chief executive of SAYFC said: This campaign builds on work which has been done by SAYFC over recent years to promote an inclusive and safe environment for our members and the wider community.

"Were grateful to RSABI for their ongoing support, particularly around promoting positive mental health for young people in the industry.

"We look forward to working closely with them on the RESPECT campaign to provide 150 young farmers across Scotland with alcohol awareness training.

RSABI provides free emotional, practical, and financial support to people involved in Scottish agriculture.

Its free confidential support service is available 24 hours a day, every day of the year, by calling 0808 1234 555 or through a confidential webchat service.
Depression accelerates memory loss in older people.

Depression increases memory loss in older individuals

Experts at University College London (UCL) monitored more than 8,000 adults over the course of 16 years to analyse the relationship between depressive symptoms and forgetfulness.

The team found that depression causes changes to the brain structure and leads to high levels of stress hormones that have a damaging impact on cells - contributing to memory decline that results in dementia.

The study's senior author Dr. Dorina Cadar said: "It is known that depression and poor memory often occur together in older people, but what comes first has been unclear.

"Our study shows that the relationship between depression and poor memory cuts both ways, with depressive symptoms preceding memory decline and memory decline linked to subsequent depressive symptoms.

"It also suggests that interventions to reduce depressive symptoms may help to slow down memory decline."
Daniel Bruhl admires Karl Lagerfeld for keeping up "with the zeitgeist".

Daniel Bruhl has lavished praise on Karl Lagerfeld

The 45-year-old actor plays the legendary fashion designer in a six-part TV series called 'Becoming Karl Lagerfeld', and Daniel has admitted to being an admirer of the cultural icon, who died in February 2019, aged 85.

Daniel told the Guardian newspaper: "He was a very clever businessman.

"Karl Lagerfeld, even as a young man, was a great self-promoter and knew how to handle journalists, how to create brands, how to adapt to each and every single brand that he was working for like a chameleon.

"Then, of course, Chanel, the next chapter, a brand that was struggling and that he revived. Its pretty impressive what he left; his legacy is gigantic. I guess personally what inspired me the most is that, even when youre getting older, to not lose the grip and not become too nostalgic, to stay curious no matter what.

"This is something that I find very admirable in Karl Lagerfeld, that he had his books and he had his refuge but he never lost touch with the pulse, with the zeitgeist, with the young people."

Daniel only met the fashion designer on one occasion, but he remembers him being a "charming" man.

The actor shared: "Its funny with Karl because I guess he gave people the impression that they all knew him so incredibly well. I met so many Karl experts, especially in Germany, but then very often I found out they probably met him twice.

"I met him once and that doesnt make me a Karl Lagerfeld expert. He was very clever and so charming. He told me some jokes about Berlin but after two minutes I had the feeling that I know this man. Thats why theres so many Karl Lagerfeld experts who think like, Yeah, I knew him so well."
Jay-Z's record label, Roc Nation, is throwing its weight behind free private school vouchers for children in under-performing schools in Philadelphia.

Jay-Z's Roc Nation is supporting children's education in Philadelphia

The 54-year-old music mogul's company is helping to raise funds for the Pennsylvania Award for Student Success, which uses taxpayer money to fund the scholarships for low-income families and children in low-rated schools.

Roc Nation Managing Director of Philanthropy Dania Diaz said: We have enjoyed such a special connection with Philadelphians, so weve made it our mission to invest in the long-term success of the citys changemakers."

The 'Encore' rapper hosts his Made in America festival in Pennsylvania.

Last year, the record producer hosted an "incredibly exclusive" blackjack party with a prize pot of $1 million, all to raise money for his REFORM Alliance organisation - a non-profit which aims to change probation and parole laws - by staging the 'Casino Royale'-themed party in Atlantic City, where players paid $100,000 as a buy-in for the gambling games, while non-players shelved out $50,000 for their tickets.

Meanwhile, Jay and his superstar wife Beyonce pledged $2 million to fund college scholarships in 2021.

The couple - who have daughter Blue Ivy, 12, and twins Rumi and Sir, six, together - teamed up with Tiffany and Co. to fund places at five historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) via their charities BeyGOOD and Shawn Carter Foundation as part of their About Love campaign.

Tiffany and Co. Chief Sustainability Officer Anisa Kamadoli Costa praised the power couple for: "Their relentless dedication to lifting underrepresented groups is the inspiration for the About Love Scholarship programme."

The funds went to Lincoln University in Pennsylvania, Norfolk State University in Virginia, Bennett College in North Carolina, the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff in Arkansas, and Central State University in Ohio.
The late Johnny Wactor was honoured at the end of Tuesday night's (11.06.24) episode of 'General Hospital'.

US soap opera star Johnny Wactor was shot and killed last month and was remembered on General Hospital this week

The actor - who played Brando Corbin on the ABC soap opera from 2020 to 2022 - was fatally shot last month aged 37 during a "robbery gone wrong" after he confronted three men apparently tampering with his vehicle.

It was confirmed that his death was ruled as a homicide.

And at the end of the episode, his picture was shown with the tribute: "In Loving Memory Of Johnny Wactor."

Upon the tragic news, the cast and crew released a touching statement: The entire General Hospital family is heartbroken to hear of Johnny Wactors untimely passing. He was truly one of a kind and a pleasure to work with each and every day. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his loved ones during this difficult time.

In documents obtained by the outlet, it was noted that "no other significant factors" contributed to his death, and the death certificate revealed that his remains were cremated and transferred to his mother Scarlett in South Carolina.

After his death, Jonny's family revealed he saved his co-worker's life when he was shot and killed, in a description that matches that of an incident shared by the Los Angeles Police Department.

His brother Grant told the MailOnline: "Were Southern, born and raised, and we would never let a female walk to their car by herself. Were Southern, born and raised, and we would never let a female walk to their car by herself.

"He came across them and he thought his truck was being towed. So he said something to the guys, like, 'Hey, are you towing?'. Once he turned around, he saw what was happening and he put his coworker behind him. That's when they shot him."

Scarlett initially explained to TMZ that Johnny was with a colleague when they saw three men "messing with Johnny's car" and that the suspects "allegedly tried to steal a catalytic converter".

She noted that Johnny "did not try to stop" the alleged suspects in their actions, and that even though paramedics rushed to the scene shortly after the shooting, he was pronounced dead in hospital.
Kevin Spacey has been "too handsy" in the past.

Kevin Spacey has confessed to having been too handsy

The 64-year-old actor was previously accused of committing a series of sexual offences in the US and the UK, and although he's now been acquitted, Spacey has admitted to making some mistakes.

During an appearance on 'Piers Morgan Uncensored', Spacey said: "[I was] pushing the boundaries ... being too handsy, you know. Touching someone sexually, in a way that I didn't know at the time that they didn't want."

Asked if his behaviour amounted to groping, Spacey replied: "Yeah."

He added: "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 that I am.

"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. So, I think the word itself is not a word that I associate with my experience."

Meanwhile, Spacey has rubbished suggestions that he was a friend of Jeffrey Epstein.

The financier - who died in 2019, aged 66 - was a convicted sex offender, but Spacey has denied that they were ever friends.

The Hollywood star explained: "I had no relationship with him.

"I mean, I'm not a friend, I'm not a confidante, I never spent time with him."

Spacey was blacklisted by Hollywood following the abuse allegations in 2017. But Sharon Stone recently argued that he should be allowed to resume his acting career.

The actress told the Daily Telegraph newspaper: "I cant 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."
Kevin Spacey can't afford to pay his bills.

Kevin Spacey can't pay his bills

The 64-year-old actor - who has spent millions defending himself against allegations of sexual assault - has lost his home in Baltimore and he's now struggling to repay his debts.

During an appearance on 'Piers Morgan Uncensored', Spacey shared: "This week, where I have been living in Baltimore is being foreclosed - my house is being sold at auction ... so I have to go back to Baltimore to put all of my things in storage.

"So the answer to that question is, I'm not quite sure where I'm going to live ... now. But I've been in Baltimore since we started shooting 'House of Cards' there. I moved there in 2012."

Asked why his home is being foreclosed, Spacey replied: "I can't pay the bills that I owe."

The Hollywood star subsequently revealed the extent of his financial issues, admitting that he cannot afford to repay his bills after spending millions of dollars on legal fees.

He shared: "There have been a couple of times when thought I was going to file [for bankruptcy]. But I've just about managed to ... dodge it. At least as of today."

Asked how much money he currently has to his name, Spacey replied: "None.

"I mean, you have some sense of legal bills - I still owe a lot of legal bills that I've not been able to pay."

Spacey clarified that he's still in a "considerable" amount of debt.

Asked if his debts stretched into the millions, he responded: "Many millions, yes. The house itself is many millions."

Spacey explained that his only way out of debt was to "get back on the horse".

Spacey was blacklisted by Hollywood following abuse allegations in 2017. The acclaimed actor was subsequently charged - and later acquitted - of committing a series of alleged sexual offences in the US and the UK.
Lala Kent has questioned how Ariana Madix moved on with her life so soon after Tom Sandoval's cheating scandal.

Lala Kent has slammed Ariana Madix

The 38-year-old star split from Tom, 41, in 2023, after it was revealed that he had a months-long affair with Rachel Leviss - but Lala has question how Ariana managed to move on with her current boyfriend Daniel Wai so soon afterwards.

Lala, 33, said on the 'Two Ts in a Pod' podcast: "When this happened on March 1st, and then I believe she had a wedding by March 10th and had already met a new guy.

"You started dating someone, you stayed in the house, you came back to this show. I'm like, 'I understand the pain you're going through, but if I'm relating to it, and then I'm seeing how you could move on from something so traumatic, I just don't see how you could be that devastated.'"

Lala insisted that she was supportive of her 'Vanderpump Rules' co-star throughout the cheating scandal.

She shared: "I want to be around women who work hard and have things that are really cool.

"I have constantly tried to be very supportive. Not tried, I wanted to be supportive. These are my friends. When Ariana started getting opportunities outside of 'Vanderpump Rules', that's great for all of us."

Despite this, Lala believes that Ariana - who is the new host of 'Love Island USA' - has changed since the cheating scandal.

The TV star suggested that her co-star has developed some diva-like traits.

Lala said: "The show reached a level that it never would have reached without this. And even though it was horrible, I was not mad at the opportunity she was getting outside of the show.

"What I started getting upset about is now we're bringing a little bit of divaness to my place of work that I've been doing for eight years. And I have a hard time when people think that they are bigger than the show."
Rihanna would love to have a baby girl.

Rihanna wants a baby girl

The 36-year-old star already has sons RZA, two, and Riot, ten months, with A$AP Rocky, and Rihanna has now admitted that she'd love to have a "spicy little girl" one day.

Asked about the possibility of having a daughter, she told 'Extra': "Everybody is pushing for that. Look, if I ever get a daughter, I'm gonna show her so much footage - shes been talked about forever."

Asked if she'd love to have a girl, Rihanna replied: "Of course! A spicy little girl would be so fun."

The chart-topping star was recently spotted wearing an 'I'm Retired' shirt.

But while she hasn't released an album since 'Anti' in 2016, Rihanna has no plans to quit the music business.

She said: "That was just me looking into the future. Im not retired.

"I just liked that dress. I got it as a gift and I loved it  They didnt read the second line. Im not retired, Im just retired from dressing up - its a lot of effort."

Meanwhile, Rihanna previously revealed that her relationship with Rocky "sped up" during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The award-winning star feels the pandemic was a turning point in their relationship.

She told Interview magazine: "COVID sped up our relationship, which I felt like god knew we needed because we were going to start a family. And had it not been for COVID, we wouldve taken a lot more time to get comfortable with each other, to even know that we were ready."

RIhanna believes her current romance is different to anything she's previously experienced.

The 'We Found Love' hitmaker - who has previously dated the likes of Chris Brown and businessman Hassan Jameel - explained: "I let god lead and just let go. Because in previous relationships, I tried and tried and tried my best, and you still feel like its not enough.

"So when someone sees you completely, and believes in you, and thinks youre worthy of being the mother of their kids, its a great feeling. I felt the same about him.

"I knew he would be a great dad."
Ready-made garment (RMG) exports (Chapters 61 and 62) from Bangladesh increased by 2.86 per cent to $43.850 billion between July 2023 and May 2024, the first eleven months of fiscal 2023-24 (July-June), according to provisional data from the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB). This figure represents an increase from $42.630 billion in the same period of fiscal 2022-23.

While knitwear exports exceeded woven garments, the overall RMG exports did not meet the $47.474 billion target set for July-May 2024, falling short by 7.63 per cent.

Bangladesh's ready-made garment exports increased by 2.86 per cent to $43.85 billion from July 2023 to May 2024, compared to $42.63 billion in the same period of previous fiscal year. Knitwear exports rose by 6.15 per cent to $24.709 billion, while woven apparel exports fell by 1.09 per cent to $19.141 billion. Home textile exports dropped by 24.29 per cent.

In the first eleven months of the current fiscal, exports of knitwear (Chapter 61) rose by 6.15 per cent to $24.709 billion, compared to $23.278 billion during the corresponding period of the previous fiscal 2022-23. Woven apparel exports (Chapter 62) eased by 1.09 per cent, totalling $19.141 billion, against $19.352 billion in July 2023-May 2024, as per EPB data.

Home textile exports (Chapter 63, excluding 630510) experienced a significant decline, dropping by 24.29 per cent to $776.06 million, compared to $1,024.98 million in the same period last fiscal. Collectively, woven and knitted apparel, clothing accessories, and home textile exports constituted 85.19 per cent of Bangladeshs total exports, amounting to $51.542 billion for the period.

The exports of cotton and cotton products including yarn, waste, and fabrics (Chapter 52) jumped 34.04 per cent to $502.88 million in the period under review. The trade was noted at $375.16 million during the same period of the last fiscal.

Despite the global economic slowdown, Bangladeshs RMG exports demonstrated resilience, reaching $46.991 billion in fiscal 2022-23, an increase from $42.613 billion in fiscal 2021-22 and $31.456 billion in fiscal 2020-21.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (KUL)
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!
Shenzhen, China--(Newsfile Corp. - June 11, 2024) - On May 30, the "2024 Vertical Takeoff and Landing Transformation Seminar - Shenzhen" was successfully held. At the seminar, guests from the industry upstream and downstream enterprises shared the latest research results on two themes: core technology and future markets. Dr. Guo Xinlu from BAK Battery delivered a keynote speech, sharing in-depth insights into BAK's views on applying eVTOL power batteries.

The guests at the seminar unanimously agreed that eVTOL calls for battery cells with more intricate performance requirements and stringent standards.

Dr. Guo Xinlu introduces the requirements of eVTOL battery cells

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8814/212635_afc0fd9114912895_002full.jpg

According to Dr. Guo Xinlu's introduction, BAK Battery has proactively completed a forward-looking technological roadmap from small cylindrical to big cylindrical batteries in the low-altitude flight sector. From three aspects (model, structure, and chemical system), BAK continues to innovate and optimize to meet the high-energy demands of various applications such as passenger transportation, cargo transportation, law enforcement, and police service and security. BAK continuous tab battery cell platform - 2170-48B and 2170-55B battery cells- combines high capacity and high power performance, with ultra long cycle life. It has successfully passed various tests such as the 130C hot box test, heavy impact test, and thermal runaway-oriented nail penetration test thereby ensuring flight safety.

Furthermore, BAK Battery has engineered the continuous tab 2170-25B battery cell tailored for eVTOL hybrid powertrains and emergency backup power systems. This cutting-edge cell delivers robust continuous high-power output, achieving a maximum continuous discharge rate of 24C at the full depth of discharge (DoD), with a cycle life surpassing 5000 cycles.

Contact Info:

Name: Chen Chen

Email: cchen@bak.com.cn

Organization: Shenzhen BAK Power Battery Co., Ltd

Website: http://www.bakpower.com

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/212635

SOURCE: Plentisoft
Siegfried AG / Key word(s): Acquisition

Siegfried to acquire an early-phase CDMO in Wisconsin (US) to strengthen its Drug Substances service offering



12-Jun-2024 / 06:30 CET/CEST

Release of an ad hoc announcement pursuant to Art. 53 LR

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.





Siegfried to acquire a CDMO specialized in early-phase development and manufacturing services in Grafton, Wisconsin (US)

The new site is set to strengthen Siegfried's customer offering for Drug Substances in terms of capabilities and geography

Siegfried will further develop the site into its North American Siegfried Acceleration Hub for early-phase CDMO services, to generate attractive growth opportunities

Siegfried (SIX: SFZN), a leading global Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization (CDMO) for the pharmaceutical industry headquartered in Zofingen (Switzerland), has signed binding agreements with Curia Global for the acquisition of an early-phase CDMO site in Grafton, Wisconsin (US).

The new site, which specializes in early-phase development and manufacturing services with an experienced team of more than 80 employees, is set to strengthen Siegfried's customer offering for Drug Substances in terms of capabilities and geographical coverage. Siegfried intends to develop the site into a best-in-class hub for early-phase CDMO services for its global customer base, including services for projects with highly potent APIs. Subject to customary closing conditions, the transaction is expected to close by July 1, 2024.

Reto Suter, CEO ad interim and CFO of Siegfried, commented: "With this acquisition, we enhance our offering with early-stage development services for Drug Substances and become even more relevant and attractive to our customers. Siegfried now offers an integrated range of services from early-stage development to commercial production of APIs through to the manufacturing of fully formulated Drug Products. This transaction will generate attractive opportunities and will further accelerate our growth story."

The acquisition will strengthen Siegfried's position in the United States, the world's largest pharmaceutical market, and enables Siegfried to provide comprehensive support to customers in the pre-clinical and clinical development and manufacturing of Drug Substances. This further expands Siegfried's offering, particularly for small and medium-sized pharmaceutical companies. The focus on early-phase CDMO services will further strengthen Siegfried's Drug Substance pipeline by capturing additional attractive opportunities in their early stage, creating significant growth opportunities in the future.

The acquisition is financed from existing funds. The outlook for 2024 and the mid-term financial targets remain unchanged.

Media Release English version (PDF)

Media Release German version (PDF)

Analyst Call

Siegfried will host an analyst call on June 12 at 10:00 am CEST. To participate in the analyst call, please follow the dial-in information below.

Analyst Call presentation (PDF)

Click here to join the meeting

Meeting ID: 359 199 908 234

Passcode: iCWXMQ

Dial in by phone

+41 43 216 37 72"740164912# Switzerland, Zurich/Zurich/Zurigo

Find a local number

Phone conference ID: 740 164 912#

Further Information

Media release on website

Contact Financial Analysts: Media: Dr. Reto Suter Peter Stierli Chief Financial Officer Head Corporate Communications reto.suter@siegfried.ch peter.stierli@siegfried.ch Tel. +41 62 746 11 35 Tel. +41 62 746 15 51 Siegfried Holding AG Untere Bruehlstrasse 4 CH-4800 Zofingen

About Siegfried

The Siegfried Group is a global life sciences company with sites in Switzerland, Germany, Spain, France, Malta, the USA and China. In 2023, the company achieved sales of CHF 1.272 billion and employed on 31.12.2023 more than 3700 people at twelve sites on three continents. Siegfried Holding AG is publicly listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange (SIX: SFZN).

Siegfried is active in manufacturing pharmaceutical APIs (and their intermediates) as well as drug products (tablets, capsules, sterile vials, ampoules, cartridges and ointments) for the pharmaceutical industry and provides development services.





Cautionary Statements Regarding Forward-Looking Statements



This media release includes statements concerning the future. They are based on assumptions and expectations that may prove to be wrong. They should be considered with due caution as, by definition, they contain known and unknown risks, insecurities and other factors which could result in a difference in the actual results, financial situation, developments or the success of Siegfried Holding AG or Siegfried Group from the explicit or implicit assumptions made in these statements.

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Arcadis' Sustainable Cities Index 2024 reveals major disparities in sustainability progress, as cities race to meet 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Amsterdam takes top spot as most Sustainable City, thanks to strong economic performance, social equity, and renewable energy investment.

Maintaining trajectory critical as SDG deadline approaches, with opportunities for even highest-ranking cities to accelerate sustainability goals

AMSTERDAM, June 12, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Arcadis has issued a rallying call to cities worldwide, as the publication of its Sustainable Cities Index 2024 reveals the need for accelerated action in tackling climate change and other sustainability challenges.



The publication of the report comes with nearly 2,000 days until the 2030 deadline for achieving the UN SDGs. It reveals clear differences between leading cities such as Amsterdam (1st), Copenhagen (3rd) and Munich (5th), and those trailing behind - particularly US and Asian cities like New York (48th), Boston (56th), and Taipei (62nd).

Arcadis' Sustainable Cities Index ranks 100 cities across three pillars of sustainability - Planet, People, and Profit. Marking the 6th edition of the report since its inception in 2015, it comprises 67 metrics that highlight our evolving understanding of sustainability, including air pollution, waste management, and investment in low carbon infrastructure (including renewable energy and sustainable transport), as well as economic performance, social equity, and natural disaster resilience.

This year Arcadis has also added a fourth 'Progress' pillar to measure change over time. This demonstrates the impact of sustainability interventions over the last decade and, when considered alongside the other pillars, provides insights into a city's future trajectory.

Overall, European cities dominate the top of the Index. All four German cities included in the report - Frankfurt, Munich, Hamburg, and Berlin - claim spots in the top 10, buoyed by achievements in water sanitation and waste management, and low greenhouse gas emissions.

High performance in the Planet pillar is associated with overall success, with eight of the top 10 cities for Planet also appearing in the overall top 10. The Planet pillar is comprised of metrics like sustainable energy systems and low-emission transport, suggesting these are powerful tools for urban sustainability.

This year's index also highlights that high performance on the Profit metric does not necessarily come at the expense of environmental sustainability. The report emphasizes how a thriving economy should support investment in infrastructure, alternative energy sources, green initiatives, and social programs. Amsterdam, the most sustainable city of 2024, also ranks at the top of the Profit pillar, excelling in income and living standards, employment, and transport infrastructure.

North American cities dominate the Profit pillar. San Francisco, Dallas, Chicago, Houston, New York, and Seattle all appear in the top 10 for Profit, thanks to ease of doing business, GDP per capita, and employment rates. However, while these cities demonstrate business success, wage levels and living standards are not keeping pace. To move higher up, socially inclusive development strategies are critical, and North American and European cities must draw inspiration from each other to continue making progress.

When it comes to progress over the last decade, many European cities have made significant strides - despite their sustainable starting points - to cement their position at the top of the Index. Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Warsaw, Copenhagen, Frankfurt, Munich, Hamburg, and Berlin all feature in the top third of the Progress pillar and the top third of the index overall. This is thanks to a commitment to renewable energy production, as well as socio-economic factors like female labor force participation, and healthcare.

Although low in the overall rankings, the dominance of Asian cities such as Jakarta, Wuhan, and Shanghai at the top of the Progress pillar shows that, in cities with limited prior sustainable infrastructure or practices, early steps can have enormous impact in generating momentum.

John Batten, Arcadis Global Cities Director, said:

"Cities play a critical role in advancing the sustainable development agenda. However, our progress assessment shows that more needs to be done to meet the SDG deadline. With just 2,000 days to go, the challenge is to keep innovating. Whether by scaling up renewable energy initiatives, integrating climate considerations into infrastructure planning, improving mobility through intelligent traffic management, or supporting the retrofit of existing buildings, there are always areas to improve. As 2030 approaches, cities must build on successes, identify areas for progress, and foster collaboration to address challenges."

Download the full report here.

About Arcadis

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KAISERAUGST, Switzerland and MAASTRICHT, Netherlands, June 12, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- dsm-firmenich, innovators in nutrition, health and beauty, today announced an agreement to sell its yeast extract business ('Yeast Extracts') to Lesaffre, a key global player in fermentation and micro-organisms. Yeast Extracts is part of dsm-firmenich's Taste, Texture & Health business unit, with annual sales of about 120 million.

As part of dsm-firmenich's tuning of its portfolio, the company de-prioritized certain business segments. The divestment from Yeast Extracts is an outcome of that strategic review process, which was announced on June 3.

As part of the transaction, Lesaffre will enter into an agreement to supply yeast extracts to dsm-firmenich for its Savory business. In addition, dsm-firmenich and Lesaffre will enter a technology partnership for the development of yeast extracts.

After the completion of the deal, dsm-firmenich will continue to supply yeast extracts produced in Delft to Lesaffre until the end of 2025, after which point the yeast extracts production in Delft will be discontinued. Lesaffre will ensure uninterrupted supply to Yeast Extracts customers and provide them with the same service levels and innovation support as today.

Also as part of the deal, some of the dsm-firmenich employees working on Yeast Extracts will transfer to Lesaffre.

The transaction is subject to customary regulatory approvals and works council consultations at dsm-firmenich and is expected to be closed by the end of this year. Financial details will not be disclosed at this time.

Note to editors

dsm-firmenich's decision to refocus its strategic activities does not change its commitment to the Delft location. The Biotech Campus Delft is a strategic location for dsm-firmenich where today's technology builds on a proud history and will remain important for future growth.

dsm-firmenich is committed to Delft. It is the company's largest location in the Netherlands with more than 1,000 employees working in science & research, food applications and is home to the global headquarters of the Taste, Texture & Health business unit (with a turnover of 3bn). dsm-firmenich is currently building its new Taste, Texture & Health headquarters with application facilities such as a bakery, cheese factory, sensory laboratory, and demonstration kitchen, which will open in 2025.

dsm-firmenich and its legal predecessors have actively developed Biotech Campus Delft as an incubator and location for biotech companies at all stages of their life cycle. dsm-firmenich will continue to support its partners ASR Dutch Science Park Fund and Planet B.io in further developing the Biotech Campus Delft as a world leader in bioscience R&D and innovation.

About dsm-firmenich

As innovators in nutrition, health, and beauty, dsm-firmenich reinvents, manufactures, and combines vital nutrients, flavors, and fragrances for the world's growing population to thrive. With our comprehensive range of solutions, with natural and renewable ingredients and renowned science and technology capabilities, we work to create what is essential for life, desirable for consumers, and more sustainable for the planet. dsm-firmenich is a Swiss-Dutch company, listed on the Euronext Amsterdam, with operations in almost 60 countries and revenues of more than 12 billion. With a diverse, worldwide team of nearly 30,000 employees, we bring progress to life every day, everywhere, for billions of people.

www.dsm-firmenich.com

For more information



dsm-firmenich media relations dsm-firmenich investor relations

Robin Roothans Dave Huizing

tel. +41 (0)79 280 03 96 tel. +31 (0)88 425 7306

e-mail media@dsm-firmenich.com e-mail investors@dsm-firmenich.com



Forward-looking statements

This press release may contain forward-looking statements with respect to dsm-firmenich's future (financial) performance and position. Such statements are based on current expectations, estimates and projections of dsm-firmenich and information currently available to the company. dsm-firmenich cautions readers that such statements involve certain risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict and therefore it should be understood that many factors can cause actual performance and position to differ materially from these statements. dsm-firmenich has no obligation to update the statements contained in this press release, unless required by law. The English language version of the press release is leading.

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iconectiv offers choices for providers to meet the UK's September 2024 deadline

What's the News: The One Touch Switch (OTS) deadline for the United Kingdom, set for 12 September 2024, mandates that communications providers (CPs) take specific steps to comply with OTS requirements. While this presents CPs with a unique opportunity to attract new customers through innovative services that facilitate seamless switching for UK residents, there are obstacles to navigate in reaching this goal.

The One Touch Switch (OTS) deadline for the United Kingdom, set for 12 September 2024, mandates that communications providers (CPs) take specific steps to comply with OTS requirements. While this presents CPs with a unique opportunity to attract new customers through innovative services that facilitate seamless switching for UK residents, there are obstacles to navigate in reaching this goal. Why it Matters: As a registered Managed Access Provider with TOTSCo, iconectiv UK Limited provides UK CPs with the flexibility they need to help them meet the requirements for today's residential broadband market.

As a registered Managed Access Provider with TOTSCo, iconectiv UK Limited provides UK CPs with the flexibility they need to help them meet the requirements for today's residential broadband market. Who's it for: CPs who provide broadband residential in the United Kingdom.

In a move to ensure residents in the UK can easily switch their broadband service, telecommunications regulator Ofcom introduced new rules slated to go into effect 12 September 2024. To help streamline the updated switching process, iconectiv UK Limited today announced that it is a registered Managed Access Provider (MAP) with The One Touch Switching Company (TOTSCo), providing UK Communications Providers (CPs) with the flexibility they need to help them meet the requirements for the UK's evolving residential broadband market.

With the UK's upcoming One Touch Switch (OTS) deadline, CPs providing residential broadband service must undertake a series of measures to ensure compliance with the new requirements. While facilitating seamless switching for UK residents ultimately presents a unique opportunity for providers to attract new customers through their innovative services, there are also challenges to its deployment.

As part of the OTS mandate, the industry established TOTSCo as the party responsible for the development and operation of the OTS platform-the TOTSCo One Touch Switch Hub-which will carry customer service details and other required data and messages between gaining and losing CPs. As a registered MAP, iconectiv UK Limited offers Full Management and Technical MAP services options to suit a CP's business needs. iconectiv UK Limited also has extensive expertise and history of developing, deploying, implementing and managing communications service-switching gateways on five continents, supporting nearly 5,000 customers and managing billions of transactions for governments, regulators and CPs around the world.

"As a registered MAP, iconectiv UK Limited is uniquely positioned to support UK CPs in navigating the One Touch Switch requirements," said Peter Ford, Executive Vice President, Information Solutions Business, iconectiv. "With our proven expertise in managing service-switching gateways globally, we offer flexible solutions that ensure seamless broadband switching for residents, helping communications providers meet regulatory demands while capitalizing on new market opportunities. Our implementation and testing experience pays off-quite literally-by helping CPs avoid costly implementation overruns. Our annual fee is all-inclusive and there are no hidden fees."

As a MAP, iconectiv UK Limited provides the critical link between the internal operations of a CP and the TOTSCo One Touch Switch Hub. iconectiv's Managed Access Gateway platform simplifies and expedites the entire switching process by providing real-time coordination between the gaining and losing CP, empowering them to smoothly complete and respond to customer switch requests at lower cost and with fewer errors via a simple, seamless and secure web-based GUI portal or API.

For more information about iconectiv UK Limited and its MAP options, visit https://iconectiv.com/managed-access-provider.

About iconectiv

Your business and your customers need to confidently access and exchange information simply, seamlessly and securely. iconectiv's extensive experience in information services, digital identity and numbering intelligence helps you do just that. In fact, more than 5K customers rely on our data exchange platforms each day to keep their networks, devices and applications connected and 2B consumers and businesses protected. Our cloud-based information as a service network and operations management and numbering solutions span trusted communications, digital identity management and fraud prevention. For more information, http://www.iconectiv.com/. Follow us on X and LinkedIn.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240611238583/en/

Contacts:

Media Contacts:

Sharon Oddy, iconectiv

+1-908-809-2268

soddy@iconectiv.com

Casey Bush

Global Results Communications

+1-949-608-0276

iconectiv@globalresultspr.com
PrivateAI Closes Strategic Round, Commences PGPT Trading on Public Markets and Launches AI Crowdsourcing Platform to Make Breakthrough Life Extension Discoveries

Singapore, Singapore--(Newsfile Corp. - June 12, 2024) - PRIVATEAI (PRIVATEAI.COM), a decentralized AI protocol co-founded by the serial entrepreneur and Forbes 30 under 30 Global Angel Versetti and led by the former executives of Fantom, Filecoin, Dogecoin and Syscoin, announced successful raise of Strategic Round for its token PGPT, with lead investors including Charlie Hu of DAO Maker, Gains Associates, Dextools Ventures, DOGE.ORG, Stone Block Association, 32 Ventures, Lunar Digital Assets, Pinnacle VC, Snova Capital, and Meezan Ventures. Immediately after closing the round, PrivateAI's native token PGPT was launched on the centralized cryptocurrency exchange Bitget.

Figure 1: PrivateAI Closes Strategic Round, Launches PGPT Token Trading On Public Markets

PrivateAI has also unveiled its AI-native distributed data platform that intends to build the world's first domain-specific Large Language Model (LLM) for the longevity industry. Powered by the unique architecture of knowledge graphs that process and structure scientific and research data into logic and framework suitable for the machine learning industry, PrivateAI creates monetization opportunities and liquid markets for owners and producers of longevity-related datasets, by rewarding them with its liquid and tradeable cryptocurrency PGPT. For companies building their own Generative AI, Large Language Models and AI-powered data analytics, PrivateAI offers access to unique data from the collective scientific hive-mind and incubation services where a mix of capital and AI tech is employed to accelerate promising early-stage scientific projects. The ultimate goal of PrivateAI is to enable breakthrough discoveries in life extension also known as longevity.

Knowledge Graphs give AI-powered systems the ability to understand the wider context to the data that is fed to the machines, enabling AI systems to develop critical thinking, context awareness and semantic analysis. Importantly, knowledge graphs become living, perpetually updated and expanded entities, as crowdsourcing community of scientists, researchers and data providers expand the knowledge. The platform thus becomes the backend for such areas of longevity as AI-based drug discovery, personalized medicine, genomic research and deep analysis of ageing processes. The ultimate dream of Angel Versetti is to harness the collective scientific knowledge and research to enable people to live longer or even forever, which will be essential for the humanity if it hopes to travel beyond Solar system and colonise other planets.

PrivateAI is building collaborations with leading longevity-focused scientific research communities worldwide, having started discussions with the research communities at Oxford University, where Angel Versetti studied for MSc in Evidence-Based Healthcare. PrivateAI also built partnerships with Lifespan.io and Aging Research Drug Discovery (ARDD) scientific consortia focused on longevity.

Angel Versetti a@privateai.com CC admin@privateai.com is available for further interviews.



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ZEX PR WIRE

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To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/212511

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Adopting science-based targets forms the base of a significant evolution in the company's approach to sustainability

ALE (Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise), a leading provider of communications, networking, and cloud solutions tailored to customers' industries, has announced it is pursuing a new strategy to actively address climate change. Aligning with the Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTI), ALE has committed to supporting the target of limiting global warming by 1.5 degrees Celsius. To accomplish this, ALE must reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 across Scopes 1, 2, and 31 by 40% using ALE 2022's emissions as a baseline. The ultimate objective is to reach net zero emissions by 2050.

This commitment is part of ALE's transformation from Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) to Environmental Social and Governance (ESG) across all levels of the organization. A key strategy change is the increase in governance for ESG across the company and its culture.

An ESG Council, composed of members from both the Executive Management Team (EMT) and the ESG Development Committee, has been created to monitor initiatives and track progress. The Council is the cornerstone of ALE's commitment to ESG and will ensure that best practices are being implemented and the organization stays on track to reach the 2050 target.

As part of the evolution from CSR to ESG, ALE performed a double materiality assessment to identify the areas of the organization which impact the world the most to understand how global sustainability trends impact them. This was performed in line with the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) issued by the European Union. From there, ALE set meaningful targets for 2030 and beyond.

The new strategy encompasses the following eight pillars, the first of which is the focus of the SBTI recommendations:

Climate change mitigation Product environmental adaptation Human rights Labor practices and employee development Diversity, equity and inclusion Ethics, transparency and compliance Data privacy and security Strategy and risk management

Rasheed Mohamad, Global Revenue and Operations Officer, Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise, comments: "The evolution of our approach to sustainability reflects our understanding and commitment to the impact of not only our organization but to the wider industry and the world. To make real change, we must embed sustainability into all elements of our organization and create a culture of accountability and inclusivity. Our targets are intentionally ambitious as we seek to lead by example and drive meaningful action against climate change."

1 Scope 1 are those direct emissions that are owned or controlled by a company, whereas scope 2 and 3 indirect emissions are a consequence of the activities of the company but occur from sources not owned or controlled by it. Source: https://www.nationalgrid.com/stories/energy-explained/what-are-scope-1-2-3-carbon-emissions#:~:text=Essentially%2C%20scope%201%20are%20those,owned%20or%20controlled%20by%20it.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240612667116/en/

Contacts:

Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise

Carine Bowen, Global press

press@al-enterprise.com
The shift to renewable energy sources, with intermittent and weather-dependent generation, results in higher energy grid volatility. Gorilla equips energy providers with real-time data and intelligence on pricing, forecasting, and portfolio analysis.

Built in Belgium, the company's solution has already been adopted by utility companies in the UK, Germany, Australia, and the U.S., with some of them slashing quote times from multiple days to three minutes.

Gorilla has tripled its revenue since its previous fundraise in 2022. The Series B funding, led by Headline, will be used to further expand in the U.S. and Germany and to equip energy providers with AI-powered operational efficiencies.

Gorilla, a technology company that enables energy retailers to gather and process vast amounts of critical data, announces the close of its 23M Series B round.

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(L-R) Gorilla co-founders Ruben Van den Bossche, Willem Torfs and Joris Van Genechten. (Photo: Business Wire)

In recent years, the energy sector has faced an exponential increase in data processing needs. This is due to the proliferation of smart meters, market regulations, and increasingly complex energy value chains, as well as the inherent volatility of renewable energy sources that are weather-dependent and spread far beyond the walls of the traditional electricity plant.

Outdated IT solutions and a fragmented understanding of the data have contributed to painful energy price increases unrelated to fuel costs, and led many energy providers to wrongly price their products and services, further damaging their margins.

Gorilla's solutions help utility companies maximize efficiency, better understand energy portfolios that increasingly are influenced by distributed energy resources like solar panels, wind turbines, and battery storage, ensure operational stability, and provide bespoke pricing strategies based on individual usage patterns.

Gorilla's cloud-based data processing platform can handle enormous amounts of energy data, enabling energy companies to achieve significant improvements in efficiency and performance compared to the current generation of on-premise solutions and overreliance on spreadsheets.

With solutions for pricing, forecasting, and portfolio analysis, Gorilla clears the path for energy companies to accelerate their net-zero transformations, react to market volatility, and adapt to regulatory changes, all while more quickly calculating residential prices and launching new B2B products.

The company's customers include known energy retailers in the United Kingdom, Germany, United States, and Australia such as Centrica Business Solutions (formerly British Gas), ScottishPower, Shell Energy, Gas South, SouthStar, Synergy, Drax, and ENGIE. Thanks to Gorilla, Centrica managed to reduce complex quotes generation for its business customers from multiple days to under 3 minutes.

"No one knows what the energy sector will look like 10 years from now. But in the path towards it, innovation is key. This investment into Gorilla will help energy retailers across the globe become more agile in their commercial offering while pushing or getting pushed towards net zero," stated Ruben Van den Bossche, Co-founder and CEO of Gorilla.

"This funding supports our expansion into major markets like the U.S. and Germany, where the energy landscape is rapidly evolving and seeing increasing demand for data-driven solutions. Take Texas, for example-electricity prices in Houston have risen by nearly 16% over the past year, with Texans paying twice as much for electricity compared to pre-pandemic prices. Since 2022, prices have remained volatile despite the low cost of the natural gas that powers much of the grid, meaning consumers have continued to experience instability in delivered prices for residences."

Today's investment round is led by global venture capital firm Headline, with support from existing investors Beringea and the Flemish investment company PMV, Gorilla will use this funding to further its expansion into the United States and German markets.

"The transition to renewable energy sources, with intermittent and weather-dependent generation, results in higher grid volatility. The timing of energy consumption is crucial. Gorilla helps energy providers navigate this increased complexity. They are delivering the missing piece needed to better synchronize supply and demand. With Europe at the forefront of renewable energy generation, Headline believes that globally leading software solutions for the energy market will emerge from this region, and Gorilla is a prime example," says Jonathan Becker, General Partner at Headline.

Piotr Bukanski, Investment Manager at Beringea, commented: "Gorilla is perfectly positioned to address energy retailers' growing pain points, directly supporting them in the energy transition, and it is quickly becoming an industry standard. The growth that the team has delivered since Beringea's initial investment has been exceptional. We are, therefore, excited to participate in this round and strengthen our support for the company in its next phase of growth."

Roald Borre, Group Manager Equity Investments at PMV, stated: "Convinced of the added value of Gorilla technology and the growing importance of data analytics in the utilities sector, PMV was one of its early investors. We believe very strongly in Gorilla's international potential and therefore welcome this Series B round that should enable Gorilla to accelerate the roll-out of their technology and become an international leader."

With existing offices in Austin, Antwerp, London, and Melbourne, Gorilla's further expansion across the U.S. and Europe will work to increase its impact on the energy industry across the globe.

About Gorilla

Gorilla is a software scale-up shaping the future of energy retail. With a cloud-based engine and intuitive modeling software, Gorilla automates the process of data collection, transformation, processing, and analysis. Its software platform is class-leading, tailors effortlessly to energy retailers' needs, and helps them to deliver new offerings to their customers.

About Headline

Headline is a VC firm actively on the ground in 7 cities around the world. We invest across geos, leading rounds at every stage. Our Early Stage Funds are based in the US, Europe, Asia, and Brazil, and invest locally. Our Growth Funds invest globally from Series B and beyond. Former and current Headliners include Mistral AI, Sonos, Raisin, Pismo, Fetch, Segment, Staffbase, Scopely and Bumble.

About PMV

As an investment company, PMV is building a sustainable Flemish economy, the engine of our prosperity and well-being. We are the partner of ambitious companies and projects, committed to social impact and financial return. PMV finances promising companies from the very start, through to growth and internationalisation. PMV offers tailor-made financial solutions to all entrepreneurs with a good business plan and a strong management team. It does so with capital, loans and guarantees. It also realises, with and for the government, and other partners, projects that are important for prosperity and well-being in Flanders. PMV has a portfolio with 1.8 billion euros under management.

About Beringea

Beringea is a transatlantic venture capital investor with more than $900m under management. It seeks to create lasting success for rapidly scaling entrepreneurial companies, with a portfolio of more than 60 high-growth companies across the UK, North America, and Europe.

With 30+ employees across offices in the US and UK, we provide patient and intelligent capital and a global footprint to back founders throughout their journey, helping them overcome barriers to scale and build international success stories.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240612928267/en/

Contacts:

gorilla@thisidefinition.com
Extends strategic relationship in response to U.K. FCA's regulatory requirements

NEW YORK and LONDON, June 12, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Global Fintech leader Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc. (NYSE: BR) today announced a new agreement with leading global investment management firm, Schroders, to better protect consumers and prioritize their needs under the U.K. Financial Conduct Authority's (FCA) Consumer Duty rules.

"We are excited to have extended our relationship with Broadridge, a trusted global technology partner, to facilitate better outcomes for investors," said James Rainbow, Head of UK, Schroders. "With Broadridge's in-depth knowledge of fund data, document dissemination and related regulatory reporting experience, we know we are in good hands. This partnership means that we can really focus on our key business strategies by letting Broadridge handle the operational workflow process and complexities associated with streamlining the distributor feedback process for us."

Under the Consumer Duty, fund manufacturers such as Schroders are required to review their products on a regular basis by collecting information from distributors. Schroders is achieving this using Broadridge's service that leverages the U.K. Joint Trade Association's Distributor Feedback Template (DFT) in order to collect standardized and thus comparable data on their retail facing funds. A suite of analytics combined with custom dashboards enrich the feedback data and deliver meaningful insights while an online portal provides the capabilities for qualitative feedback.

"We look forward to working with Schroders to support their regulatory reporting obligations under the U.K.'s Consumer Duty," said Stephen Johnston, Head of Fund Communication Solutions, Broadridge. "Through proprietary algorithms, large and unique data sets, and powerful, predictive analytic solutions we give clients a strategic edge and help them make smarter decisions."

The Broadridge service is built on decades of experience gained from managing the flow of data between manufacturers and distributors and is capable of gathering and distributing both quantitative as well as qualitative data, collected in multiple formats and validated through an advanced end-to-end technology platform. Additionally, Broadridge is providing Schroders with in-depth analytics that deliver actionable observations that help them identify the strengths and weaknesses in their retail product sales channels and distributor sales patterns and supporting their Consumer Duty compliance.

About Broadridge

Broadridge Financial Solutions (NYSE: BR), a global Fintech leader with over $6 billion in revenues, provides the critical infrastructure that powers investing, corporate governance, and communications to enable better financial lives. We deliver technology-driven solutions that drive business transformation for banks, broker-dealers, asset and wealth managers and public companies. Broadridge's infrastructure serves as a global communications hub enabling corporate governance by linking thousands of public companies and mutual funds to tens of millions of individual and institutional investors around the world. Our technology and operations platforms underpin the daily trading of more than $10 trillion of equities, fixed income and other securities globally. A certified Great Place to Work, Broadridge is part of the S&P 500 Index, employing over 14,000 associates in 21 countries.

For more information about us, please visit https://www.broadridge.com/.

About Schroders plc

Schroders is a global investment management firm with 750.6 billion (866.2 billion; $956.9 billion) assets under management, as at 31 December 2023. Schroders continues to deliver strong financial results in ever challenging market conditions, with a market capitalisation of circa 7 billion and over 6,400 employees across 38 locations. Established in 1804, the founding family remains a core shareholder, holding approximately 44% of Schroders' shares.

Schroders has benefited from a diverse business model by geography, asset class and client type. It offers innovative products and solutions across four core growing business areas; asset management, solutions, Schroders Capital (private markets) and wealth management. Clients include insurance companies, pension schemes, sovereign wealth funds, high net worth individuals and foundations. Schroders also manages assets for end clients as part of its relationships with distributors, financial advisers and online platforms.

Schroders aims to provide excellent investment performance to clients through active management. It also channels capital into sustainable and durable businesses to accelerate positive change in the world. Schroders' business philosophy is based on the belief that if we deliver for clients, we will deliver for our shareholders and other stakeholders.

Issued by Schroder Investment Management Limited. Registration No 1893220 England. Authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. For regular updates by e-mail please register online at www.schroders.com for our alerting service.



Broadridge Contact:

Amelia Erswell

BroadridgeEMEA@cognitomedia.com

+44 (0) 7582497230

Schroders Contacts:

Andy Pearce

Head of Media Relations

+44 20 7658 2203

Andy.Pearce@Schroders.com

Augustine Chipungu

PR Manager

+44 20 7658 2106

Augustine.Chipungu@Schroders.com

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Study also shows 31 per cent of workers believe that AI will have a positive impact on their industry

LONDON, June 12, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, TELUS Health released its TELUS Mental Health Index ("the Index") with reports that examine the mental health of employed people in the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, Europe, Singapore, New Zealand and Australia. The UK report reveals that 44 per cent of workers feel mentally and/or physically exhausted at the end of their workday, with too much work cited as the top cause of burnout. The Index also found that 31 per cent of workers believe that Artificial Intelligence (AI) will have a positive impact on their industry.

"There is no question that AI's advancement will bring significant benefits, potentially as pivotal as the industrial or internet age," said Paula Allen, Global Leader, Research & Client Insights, TELUS Health. "Organizations have the opportunity to engage employees in this evolution by ensuring that AI tools and training are readily accessible to employees, and enabling them to explore the technology firsthand so they can discover the ways it benefits them in their own work. As with any change, the best way to implement change is to engage people from the start, empowering them to grasp the possibilities and contribute valuable insights."

The TELUS Mental Health Index also found:

Thirteen per cent of workers are considering upgrading their AI skills.

Managers and younger workers are three times as likely as non managers and workers over 50 to be considering upgrading their skills related to the use of AI.

as likely as non managers and workers over 50 to be considering upgrading their skills related to the use of AI. Parents are nearly three times as likely as non-parents to consider upgrading their AI skills.

as non-parents to consider upgrading their AI skills. Half of workers believe that AI will have a positive impact on healthcare.

Workers under 40 are 70 per cent more likely than workers over 50 to find it increasingly difficult to be motivated to do their work.

As a leader in technology, TELUS is at the forefront of integrating and scaling AI and generative technologies across its business operations, team members and customer interactions. By fostering a culture of innovation and continuous learning, TELUS empowers its team members to adopt and experiment with its internal AI tools in a safe and secure environment, free from the fear of making mistakes. TELUS is committed to developing a skilled, AI-enabled workforce to fully harness the potential of AI-powered innovation and growth.

"We see a clear opportunity for employers to help extend the openness that younger employees are demonstrating towards leveraging AI compared to other colleagues who might be later adopters or initially hesitant to learn to use AI," said Philip Mullen, Vice President EMEA, TELUS Health. "By proactively addressing what their teams need to embrace the AI evolution and feel equipped to do so, they can act as an enabler for employee empowerment and ensure that their teams are equipped and ready to thrive in a future where AI is an integral part of our working lives."

While many workplaces offer Employee Assistance Programs (EAP) that could help support employees in this situation, TELUS Health research reveals that 68 per cent of workers are unsure whether or not their employer offers an EAP. The mental health scores of workers who don't know or report that their employer doesn't offer an EAP is at least three points lower than workers with an EAP.

In April 2024, the mental health scores of workers in various regions were:

United States: 71.0

United Kingdom: 64.6

Canada: 64.0

Australia: 62.5

Singapore: 62.9

Europe: 62.0

New Zealand: 60.6

The TELUS Mental Health Index is based on a response scoring system that turns individual responses into point values. Higher point values are associated with better mental health and less mental health risk. Scores between 0 to 49 correspond with distress levels, scores between 50 to 79 correspond with strain levels and scores between 80 to 100 correspond with optimal levels of mental health.

The June TELUS Mental Health Index also includes insights related to workplace productivity and motivation in addition to burnout levels and causes. Read the full UK TELUS Mental Health Index here .

About the TELUS Mental Health Index

The data for the TELUS Health Mental Health Index was collected through an online survey from April 5, 2024 to April 15, 2024 with 2,000 respondents. All respondents reside in the United Kingdom and were employed within the last six months. The data has been statistically weighted to ensure the regional and gender composition of the sample reflects this population.

About TELUS Health

TELUS Health is on a mission to become the most trusted wellbeing company in the world by enhancing the overall efficiency of healthcare and championing workplace wellbeing. By integrating advanced healthcare technology with comprehensive employee support services, TELUS Health provides a holistic approach to primary and preventive health and wellbeing for 72 million people across 160 countries. Our innovative digital health platforms, including electronic medical records (EMRs) and virtual care solutions, empower healthcare professionals, individuals, employers and governments to deliver personalized care efficiently. Our employee wellbeing programs offer extensive support through Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs), mental health resources, financial counselling, and workplace wellness initiatives. At TELUS Health, we are committed to revolutionizing healthcare to ensure people receive the support they need and employees thrive both personally and professionally. Together, let's make the future friendly. For more information, visit: www.telushealth.com.

Media Contact:

Hanover Communications

Email: telushealth@hanovercomms.com

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NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO UNITED STATES NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES

Commerce Resources Corp. (TSXV:CCE)(FSE:D7H0) (the "Company" or "Commerce") is pleased to announce a non-brokered private placement offering consisting of the issuance of up to 16,000,000 units (each, a "Unit") at a price of $0.126 per Unit for gross proceeds of up to $2,016,000 (the "Offering"). Each Unit will consist of one common share of the Company (each, a "Share") and one common share purchase warrant (each, a "Warrant"), with each Warrant entitling the holder to purchase one Share at a price of $0.25 per Share for a period of two (2) years from closing of the Offering (the "Closing").

Pursuant to a binding engagement agreement ("Term Sheet") entered into between Commerce and Churchill SIG Pty Ltd. ("Churchill"), Churchill will act as exclusive lead manager for the Offering, for a term of up to three (3) months, to introduce (the "Services") potential qualified subscribers to the Company in connection with a portion of the Offering (the "Churchill Portion"). Churchill will not provide the Services in Canada or for the benefit of Canadian residents, and any potential subscribers introduced by Churchill will not be residents of Canada.

As consideration for the Services, and upon completion of the Offering, the Company has agreed to pay Churchill a cash fee (the "Cash Fee") equal to 5% of the amount raised under the Offering from persons introduced by Churchill, and to issue such number of non-transferable share purchase warrants (the "Finder's Warrants") that equals 12.5% of the total number of Units issued to persons introduced by Churchill under the Offering. Each Finder's Warrant will entitle the holder to acquire one additional common share (a "Finder's Warrant Share") in the capital of the Company at a price of $0.20 per Finder's Warrant Share for a period of two (2) years from the date of issuance of the Finder's Warrants. The Company has also agreed to pay Churchill's reasonable fees and expenses in connection with the Services, up to $10,000. Churchill shall have a right of first refusal to act as lead manager in connection with any other equity offerings undertaken by the Company within a 12-month period following completion of the Offering. The Units, Shares, Warrants, Warrant Shares, Finder's Warrants and Finder's Warrant Shares are collectively referred to herein as the "Securities".

The Offering will be conducted pursuant to one or more prospectus exemptions available to the Company, including, without limitation, the "accredited investor" exemption set out in Section 2.3 of National Instrument 45-106 - Prospectus Exemptions and the prospectus exemption set out in BC Instrument 72-503 - Distribution of Securities Outside British Columbia.

In addition to the fee payable to Churchill in connection with any persons introduced by Churchill, the Company may pay finders' fees consisting of cash, securities or a combination thereof to other parties in connection with the persons introduced to Commerce by such other parties, all in accordance with the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange (the "Exchange").

All securities issued in connection with the Offering will be subject to a statutory hold period expiring four months and one day after closing of the Offering. Completion of the Offering is subject to the approval of the Exchange.

The net proceeds from the sale of the Offering will be used towards completion of the updated PEA for the Ashram REE/ Fluorspar Deposit and general working capital.

None of the securities sold in connection with the Offering will be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and no such securities may be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements. This news release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of the securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful.

About Commerce Resources Corp.

Commerce Resources Corp. is a junior mineral resource company focused on the development of the Ashram Rare Earth and Fluorspar Deposit located in Quebec, Canada. The Company is positioning to be one of the lowest cost rare earth producers globally, with a specific focus on being a long-term supplier of mixed rare earth carbonate and/or NdPr oxide to the global market. The Ashram Deposit is characterized by simple rare earth (monazite, bastnaesite, xenotime) and gangue (carbonates) mineralogy, a large tonnage resource at favourable grade, and has demonstrated the production of high-grade (>45% REO) mineral concentrates at high recovery (>70%) in line with active global producers. In addition to being one of the largest rare earth deposits globally, Ashram is also one of the largest fluorspar deposits globally and has the potential to be a long-term supplier to the met-spar and acid-spar markets.

For more information, please visit the corporate website at www.commerceresources.com or email info@commerceresources.com.

On Behalf of the Board of Directors

COMMERCE RESOURCES CORP.

" Chris Grove "

Chris Grove

President and Director

Tel: 604.484.2700

Email: cgrove@commerceresources.com

Web: http://www.commerceresources.com

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This news release includes certain "forward-looking statements" under applicable Canadian securities legislation that are not historical facts. Forward-looking statements involve risks, uncertainties, and other factors that could cause actual results, performance, prospects, and opportunities to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements in this news release include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to the Services to be provided by Churchill, the expectations of management regarding the proposed Offering, the expectations of management regarding the use of proceeds of the Offering, closing conditions for the Offering, the expiry of hold periods for securities distributed pursuant to the Offering, that Exchange approval is required for the proposed Offering, that the Ashram deposit has the potential to become one of the largest fluorspar deposits and a long-term supplier to the mixed rare earth carbonate, NdPr oxide, and met-spar and acid-spar markets; and that the Company is positioning to be one of the lowest cost rare earth element producers globally. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking information are reasonable, there can be no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Such forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results, performance or developments to differ materially from those contained in the statements including that: the Company may not complete the Offering on terms favorable to the Company or at all; the Exchange may not approve the Offering; the proceeds of the Offering may not be used as stated in this news release; the Company may be unable to satisfy all of the conditions to the Closing; and those additional risks set out in the Company's public documents filed on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Although the Company believes that the assumptions and factors used in preparing the forward-looking statements are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on these statements, which only apply as of the date of this news release, and no assurance can be given that such events will occur in the disclosed time frames or at all. Except where required by law, 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.

SOURCE: Commerce Resources Corp.

View the original press release on accesswire.com
STOCKHOLM, June 12, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- SmartCella Holding AB ("SmartCella") held its 2024 Annual General Meeting on June 10. The company welcomed investors to its state-of-the art clinical GMP manufacturing facility in Stockholm to learn more about the progress of SmartCella during the last 12 months. In addition, the investors met and interacted with the new board members who all hold unique life science industry and medical expertise. The newly appointed Board of Directors will play a pivotal role as SmartCella embarks on its next strategic development phase.

SmartCella is an innovative biotechnology company with a vision to combine novel delivery platforms, such as the FDA-declared Extroducer, with developing cutting-edge cell and mRNA therapies. The team consists of global scientists, innovators and visionaries dedicated to shape the future of targeted medicine through innovation and solid clinical data with the ambition of making targeted medicine a reality to many.

At the Annual General Meeting, Anna Martling (Professor of Surgery and Scientific Director Life Science at Karolinska Institutet), Claude Dartiguelongue (previously senior roles with Lonza, Thermo Fisher Scientific and Becton Dickinson and Company), and Regina Fritsche-Danielson (PhD in Cardiovascular Physiology/Pharmacology and Senior Vice President and Global Head of Research and Early Development, Cardiovascular, Renal and Metabolic Diseases at AstraZeneca) were appointed new members of the SmartCella Board of Directors. Magnus Tornling, Partner and Global Head of Equity Capital Markets at private equity firm EQT, and Christian Kinch, founder and Chairperson, were re-elected. Thomas von Koch declined re-election.

Christian Kinch, Chairperson of SmartCella comments: "We founded SmartCella in 2014 and have since invested in science, clinical data, team development, and infrastructure. As we advance on our strategic journey, our new board members will bring immense value with their diverse backgrounds in academia, science, and the commercial aspects of global MedTech and life science companies. It is a testament to our strength that we can attract such high-caliber individuals to the Board, whose skills complement SmartCella's strong in-house team. I am excited and humbled by the potential of our collaboration and the impact SmartCella can have in addressing global health challenges, such as cardiovascular diseases and cancer. Our goal is to bring the magic behind medical science to transform lives, and I could not have a better Board of Directors to help achieve this vision." He continues: "I would like to extend my appreciation to Thomas von Koch for his dedication and support over the past ten years. His philosophy of future-proofing companies has significantly contributed to SmartCella's development. We look forward to continuing our collaboration with Thomas as an advisor and anchor investor."

Niklas Prager, CEO of SmartCella, says: "With a track record of exceeding our strategic commitments, I am delighted to continue developing SmartCella and collaborating closely with all the Board members. The SmartCella Board now encompasses comprehensive expertise across all relevant domains, including equity capital markets, biotechnology, life sciences, MedTech, as well as medical, clinical, and research. I believe this breadth of knowledge is truly unique and essential to SmartCella. For us, a solid scientific foundation is crucial, and we rely on evidence-based science rather than speculative scenarios with limited substance. We are well-positioned to significantly disrupt disease treatment and make cutting-edge therapies safely accessible to a wide range of patients in a not too distant future."

Contact

Nina Nornholm, Head of Corporate Communication +46 708 550 356 nina.nornholm@smartcella.com

About SmartCella Holding AB

SmartCella, founded in 2014, is an innovative biotechnology company based in Stockholm, Sweden. SmartCella's vision is to combine first-in-class delivery platforms with cutting-edge cell and mRNA therapies to unleash the full potential of targeted therapies. The company has three main business units, Smartwise, SmartCella Solutions and ProCella.

Smartwise

Smartwise has developed a first-in-class endovascular device, the Extroducer, that enables direct-to-tissue drug delivery. This technology addresses a significant unmet need in the field novel therapies, enabling targeted delivery of a wide range of modalities for solid tumor treatment and tissue repair. Using standard equipment and routine interventional radiology approaches, the Extroducer provides access to hard-to-reach tissues by safely penetrating the vessel wall and delivering payload directly to the target location. Smartwise received regulatory approval from the US FDA for the Extroducer in June 2022 and is now actively licensing out the technology globally.

SmartCella Solutions

SmartCella Solutions has developed novel mRNA therapies and cell-mediated delivery platforms enabling localized protein expression. The company is now actively engaging in partnering discussions for out-licensing, as well as developing its own proprietary therapies.

ProCella

ProCella has advanced capabilities in developing proprietary stem cell therapies as well as in-house cGMP manufacturing. The first therapy, a cardiac progenitor cell, has now been taken through GLP tox and is approaching a clinical phase 1 trial in heart failure. The company recently completed the construction of its clinical GMP manufacturing facility, which has been approved by the Swedish authorities (GMP) and cleared for production. This infrastructure along with the team's technical expertise and capabilities will underpin the company's growing pipeline going forward.

Read more www.smartcella.com

Follow SmartCella on LinkedIn

This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com

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European Union Jordan Business Forum--Jordan Phosphates Mines Company (JPMC), one of the world's largest phosphate producers, is pleased to announce a strategic partnership with Waterise, a pioneering Norwegian start-up specialising in deep sea environmentally friendly desalination. Together, they will embark on an ambitious deep sea desalination project in the Gulf of Aqaba to meet the increasing water demand at JPMC's facilities. The two parties are currently working to secure the water off-take arrangements and other pertinent details before executing the definitive agreements.

This landmark collaboration aims to leverage Waterise's state-of-the-art desalination solution to sustainably support JPMC's water needs, contributing to the company's operational efficiency and environmental sustainability goals.

JPMC's Chairman, H.E. Dr. Mohammed Thneibat, echoed this sentiment: "This partnership with Waterise aligns perfectly with our commitment to sustainable development and environmental stewardship. By utilising this innovative desalination solution we can ensure a consistent supply of water while minimising our ecological footprint. We look forward to seeing the positive impact this project will have on our operations and the surrounding community."

"We are thrilled to partner with JPMC on this groundbreaking project," said Niels Petter Wright, CEO of Waterise. "Our deep sea desalination solution based on world class oil and gas technology and marine operations represents a significant advancement in sustainable water production, and we are confident that it will provide a reliable and environmentally friendly local water supply for JPMC's critical operations in the Gulf of Aqaba."

About JPMC

Jordan Phosphates Mines Company (JPMC) is a leading global supplier of phosphate rock and phosphate-based fertilisers. Established in 1949, JPMC has played a crucial role in the development of Jordan's mining industry and continues to drive innovation and sustainability in the sector. With a commitment to environmental responsibility, JPMC is dedicated to enhancing the agricultural productivity and sustainability of its global customer base.

For more information, please visit www.jpmc.com.jo.

About Waterise

Waterise is a Norwegian start-up at the forefront of desalination innovation. The company has developed a revolutionary deep sea desalination solution combining proven oil and gas technologies, marine operations and reverse osmosis membranes, that offers a sustainable and efficient approach to addressing global water scarcity. Waterise's mission is to provide fresh water in an environmentally friendly manner, supporting communities and industries around the world.

For more information, please visit www.waterise.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240612161820/en/

Contacts:

Steve Earl/Cameron Stone

BOLDT Partners

steve.earl/cameron.stone@boldtpartners.com
LIBY MASTER FRAGRANCE FROM CHINA UNLOCKS PREMIUM FRAGRANCE MARKET IN GRASSE

In May 2024, the Liby Master Fragrance was officially unveiled in Grasse. The quaint town of Grasse in southern France welcomed its annual Rose Festival.

Graced with a unique climate and geographical conditions, the roses of Grasse exude an exceptionally fragrant and lush aroma, making it a core territory for perfume research and production for centuries, earning it the prestigious title of "Perfume Capital of the World."

This year's Rose Festival witnessed the presence of a Chinese household care brand at the Grasse Congress Palace Liby Science and Technology showcased its premium product, "Liby Master Fragrance," in an exhibition titled "Fragrance Journey to Grasse France." The event piqued the interest of numerous perfume connoisseurs and enthusiasts.

"The Latest Masterpiece in Grasse's Fragrance History"

The fragrance sampling area proved to be the most popular attraction for this exhibition. Positioned as "created by French perfumery masters," Liby Master Fragrance was created by a world-class master perfumer from Givaudan. As the creator of many iconic perfumes, the perfumer drew inspiration from the dreamlike aroma of Grasse's roses, replicating a perfume-grade quality in Liby Master Fragrance laundry detergent, hailed as the latest masterpiece in Grasse's fragrance history. "It's a pleasant fragrance," commented Sway, the perfume connoisseur present.

The Grasse rose, which "blooms for only one month a year, with each stem bearing a single flower," boasts a rich and lingering aroma, making it a coveted ingredient chosen by renowned luxury brands like Chanel, YSL, and Dior. A Liby representative stated that the exhibition paid homage to the source of inspiration for Liby Master Fragrance and aimed to introduce more consumers to the preciousness and allure of the Grasse rose. As reported, Liby has recently forged a deep collaboration with its long-standing partners, the international fragrance giants Givaudan and Firmenich, to jointly establish a 'Master Fragrance Inspiration Workshop,' exploring more fragrance varieties in the future.

Grasse Rose Stirs Up China's Scented Household Care Market

Industry estimates suggest that the global fragrance market will range between $57 billion and $61 billion this year and is projected to exceed $79.296 billion by 2027, exhibiting continuous market expansion. Among these, China's massive growth potential is widely anticipated. Reports indicate that China's fragrance industry will experience a staggering compound annual growth rate of 21.78% from 2021 to 2026, becoming a major growth driver for the global fragrance market.

In the backdrop of China's accelerating "Smell Economy" awakening, Liby, as a household care giant in China, astutely seized this opportunity by introducing the Liby Master Fragrance, which has gained widespread recognition from Chinese consumers seeking refined living experiences due to its perfume-grade quality. As an innovative company established 30 years ago, Liby continues to lead in the burgeoning fragrance market. Since 2022, Liby Master Fragrance, conveying a brand philosophy of fashion, elegance, and sophistication, has garnered significant recommendations from world-renowned fashion magazines like Vogue, Harper's Bazaar, Marie Claire, and COSMO, making it the Chinese household care brand with the most endorsements from top global fashion publications. In 2023 alone, Liby Master Fragrance achieved sales exceeding CNY2 billion (approximately 255 million), ranking as the absolute market leader in China's similar product category and winning the hearts of female consumers across all age groups.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240607090059/en/

Contacts:

Gu Guanyue

gugy@liby.com.cn
MUNICH, June 12, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Dyness, a global innovator in energy storage system solutions, is thrilled to announce its participation in Intersolar Europe 2024, a premier global event for the solar industry. The exhibition will be held from June 19th to 21st at Messe Munchen in Germany. Explore Dyness at C2-350 to discover their latest energy storage solutions (ESS), along with their flagship Tower series and the award-winning balcony ESS called Junior Box.

"We are excited to present our latest innovations at Intersolar Europe, where we look forward to engaging with industry professionals," said Aaron Liu, CEO of Dyness. "With over 90 global partners, including Kostal, Kaco, and SMA, we offer a diverse range of energy storage solutions. Our recent success in executing multiple commercial and industrial projects in Europe has bolstered our confidence in the European market."

After earning the Top Brand PV South Africa Award at Intersolar Europe 2023, Dyness returns to the same stage with an impressive display of their comprehensive product lineup. From their iconic flagship product to balcony ESS and the latest residential and commercial and industrial (C&I) ESS, Dyness is excelling in energy storage innovation.

Flagship Residential Product Tower T14

Granted the UL 9540A certification, the Tower T14 stands as an iconic model in the Tower series. It is compatible with popular inverters such as Kostal and Kaco, and features an impressive 95% depth of discharge (DOD), showcasing its high-performance ratio. According to the Stromspeicher-Inspektion 2024 by HTW Berlin, the Tower T14, combined with the Kostal PLENTICORE plus G2 10 inverter, achieved a 94.2% system performance index. Also, the upgraded Tower Pro Series with ultra-rapid charge rate (1C), has a longer warranty of 15-year.

Award-winning Innovation Junior Box

First showcased at Intersolar, the Junior Box is an aesthetic balcony energy storage product, recognized with the iF Design Award 2024. With over 8,000 cycles and a 10-year warranty, it ensures durable and long-lasting performance. Additionally, its expandable capacity is sufficient for most households' daily power needs.

New Launch

The Powerbox Pro G2 is Dyness's upgraded lightweight residential ESS. It offers a 10-year warranty with unlimited cycles and active fire protection system, ensuring reliable performance and safety even in extreme weather conditions. Meanwhile, the DH100F is Dyness's latest C&I ESS that fits for different scenarios. It is powered by high-energy-density 280Ah LFP cells for optimal efficiency and multiple fire prevention strategies for enhanced safety.

Previously, Dyness has conducted several C&I projects in the Netherlands, Greece, and Spain, further expanded its footprint in Europe. The successful delivery of the DH200F project in the Canary Islands, Spain for a local supermarket, has achieved significant reductions in operation costs, reliable backup power and positive environmental impact.

Globally, Dyness is solidifying partnerships step by step and has recently launched their latest C&I products in the Philippines with local partners. Dyness's growth journey remains steadfast, fueled by a continuous commitment to technological innovation. For more information, please visit https://www.dyness.com/.

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LONDON, June 12, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The latest fraud threatening the UK could cost businesses at least 4.2billion if appropriate steps are not taken, new research from LexisNexis Risk Solutions shows.

A new study looked at over 72million consumer profiles and found 2.8million showing several signs of 'Frankenstein cloning', where fraudsters stitch real and made-up personal details together to create a 'new' synthetic identity to spoof credit checks and commit high-value fraud against banks and credit providers.

In the U.S. where synthetic fraud is already a major issue, businesses report an average $15k[1] loss to each confirmed synthetic fraud case. As a result, experts at LexisNexis Risk Solutions estimate that it could cost the UK economy around 4.2billion by 2027, unless firms start properly screening now, for the threat.

Most organisations' existing fraud defences are ineffective against synthetic identities because they appear as normal, good customers until the fraud is committed. Once they 'bust out' with the funds, the lender is left to suffer the loss, as there's no 'real' person to pursue for the debt.

Noreen Altaf, Identity Fraud specialist at LexisNexis Risk Solutions, explains: "At first, a synthetic ID has little value to a fraudster, as it has no credit history, so they need to play the long game. Scammers nurture each false identity by building what appears to be a real credit profile over time, making the synthetic ID seem like a trustworthy customer - because of this the fraud threat is effectively invisible to firms' existing fraud defences, until it's too late.

"Once a fraudster thinks the synthetic ID has enough plausibility, they'll aim to max out available credit lines. This might be applying for a loan or credit card for thousands of pounds, taking a PCP contract for a new vehicle, or making a high-value purchase via a buy now pay later arrangement. The fraudster has no intention of repaying this, leaving organisations to foot the bill and chasing ghosts to recover the debt.

"There is still much businesses don't know about this fast-emerging threat, so it's difficult to predict the true potential cost of synthetic fraud to the UK. However, even a very conservative estimate of a 1,500 loss per fraud attack amounts to 4.2 billion in future credit write-offs for companies, with synthetic identities already hiding amongst their customer base - and it could be a lot higher."

The study found strong evidence of scammers up and down the country using 'synthetic farms' in rural locations and 'synthetic factories' in urban areas to build up the credit scores of new synthetic identities on an industrial scale, in readiness for fraud attacks.

In one example, rental cottages based on a farm in Chichester appeared to have 439 highly suspect identities 'living' there over the past seven years, only 22 of which showed any evidence of being real people. The identities were making hundreds of applications for credit, such as short-term and payday loans and some were also linked to a similar farm hundreds of miles away near Dundee, Scotland.

A heat map produced alongside the report shows similar activity is happening across the whole UK. Suspected synthetic farms can be seen in multiple locations across rural Wales and the Scottish Highlands.

Noreen continues: "A common characteristic of synthetic farms and factories is that they are properties where the mail can be easily intercepted by the fraudsters making credit applications. A farm, for example, might have a mailbox that's at the end of a track, while empty buildings or shared mailboxes in cities can be exploited in a similar way.

"Synthetic fraud has been around for a while, but with sophisticated fraud modelling, we can, for the first time, more accurately detect and put a figure on it.

"Businesses need to act fast to protect themselves by investing in tools capable of spotting synthetic identities at application or onboarding stage, before they become customers. Given the length of time fraudsters have already been creating and nurturing synthetic identities in the UK - as evidenced by our research - banks, lenders and credit providers, in particular, should take appropriate action to review their existing portfolios to ascertain the extent to which synthetic identities may have infiltrated their organisations over time, before those identities get a chance to cash out."

About LexisNexis Risk Solutions??

We harness the power of data, sophisticated analytics platforms and technology solutions to provide insights?that help businesses reduce risk and improve decisions to benefit people around the globe. LexisNexis Risk Solutions have multiple offices across the UK and throughout the world and are part of RELX PLC (LSE: REL/NYSE: RELX), headquartered in London, a global provider of information-based analytics and decision tools for professional and business customers. For more information, please visit?LexisNexis Risk Solutions and?RELX.

[1] Synthetic identity fraud: A $6 billion problem, KPMG, 2022, KPMG.com

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ABU DHABI, UAE, June 12, 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.

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."

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View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/doh-and-penn-medicine-to-expand-collaboration-on-translational-research-and-second-labs-in-abu-dhabi-302169892.html
TAIPEI, June 12, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Regent Taipei has exciting news: its hugely popular Beef Noodle Gift Sets, which have sold over a million units in Taiwan, are now available in six European countries-the UK, France, the Netherlands, Spain, Germany, and Italy. Food lovers across Europe can now find these beloved gift sets in local supermarkets, bringing the authentic taste of Taiwan right to their homes.

Regent Taipei's beef noodles are a beloved and classic delicacy, renowned for their rich flavors and high quality. Offered in both clear and braised broth varieties, these noodles are the first ready-to-eat beef noodle product originating from a five-star hotel. Each set is made without any additives and features thick and authentic broth with handmade noodles and premium selected beef, ensuring a taste that rivals the experience of dining at Regent Taipei itself.

The beef noodles became internationally known after winning the top prize at the 8th Taipei International Beef Noodle Soup Competition in 2012, and being named "Taipei's Best Beef Noodle" by CNN in 2015. Since then, the hotel's chefs have been invited to showcase their creations in major cities like Tokyo, Hong Kong, Beijing, Shanghai, and New York.

Having enjoyed tremendous success in Hong Kong supermarkets for the past six years, the beef noodle gift sets are now set enter the European market. Through a partnership with a UK food company, these frozen and room temperature beef noodle sets will be available in approximately 30 local and chain supermarkets, including Tian Tian Market, LingerMart, and Hmart in the UK. These noodles promise to deliver a taste of Taiwan, making them a must-try for any food lover!

Regent Taipei Address: No. 3, Ln. 39, Sec. 2 ZhongShan N. Rd.

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View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/regent-taipeis-award-winning-beef-noodle-sets-make-its-grand-debut-in-six-european-countries-302170581.html
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Kelowna, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - June 12, 2024) - F3 Uranium Corp (TSXV: FUU) (OTCQB: FUUFF) ("F3" or "the Company") is pleased to announce assay results for fifteen drillholes from the winter 2024 drill program, including PLN24-116 which was cored in the JR Zone (see NR January 30, 2024) and which returned 12.0m of 7.6% U3O8, including a high grade 8.0m interval averaging 11.2% U3O8, further including an ultra-high grade core of 2.0m of 31.4% U3O8. The ongoing summer exploration drilling around the southern end of A1 and northern end of B1 continues to yield excellent structure with intermittent anomalous radioactivity, with PLN24-152 intercepting two distinct radioactive intercepts with up to 760 cps.

Exploration is proceeding with two diamond drills, one focused on systematically testing the A1 shear using short holes, infilling along strike in areas with low drillhole density and intercepting intermittent weak radioactivity. The second diamond drill is currently focusing on the area between the southern end of the A1 shear and the B1 shear, an area of structural complexity marked by the cross-cutting Harrison fault, with related A1 shear splays interpreted as fault horses on the footwall side of the Harrison fault. Of particular interest is PLN24-152 (see Photo 1) which intersected two radioactive intervals within graphitic and clay altered shear zones including the main A1 shear.

A large-scale ground gravity survey, including coverage over the A1 and B1 shears is still in progress.

Sam Hartmann, Vice President Exploration, commented:

"We are very pleased with the results of the ongoing exploration program, in particular the area around the southern end of A1 where our geological targeting model is improving. The area between the A1 and B1 shears continues to be rich with the right kind of structures - altered and displaying radioactivity. Our release today includes winter assays up to hole PLN24-131, with an additional fourteen holes still outstanding, including six from B1. Strongly anomalous exploration geochemistry results at B1 with up to 0.022 % U3O8 in PLN24-122 reinforce our belief that the area has the potential to host high grade uranium. This is bolstered by the concurrent release of scintillometer data including PLN24-152, which intersected two radioactive intervals - coupled with very favorable structure and alteration."

Winter 2024 JR Assay Highlight:

PLN24-116 (line 075S):

12.0m @ 7.6% U 3 O 8 (224.0m to 236.0m), including:

(224.0m to 236.0m), including: 8.0m @ 11.2% U 3 O 8 (224.5m to 232.5m), further including

(224.5m to 232.5m), further including 2.0m @ 31.4% U3O8 (227.0 m to 229.0m)

Winter 2024 Exploration Geochemistry Highlights:

PLN24-122 (line 3450S) B1 Exploration:

0.5m @ 178 ppm U, 0.022 % U3O8 (596.5m to 597.0m)

PLN24-131 (line 795S) A1 Exploration:

0.5m @ 100 ppm U, 0.010 % U3O8 (252.5m to 253.0m)

Summer 2024 Handheld Spectrometer Highlights:

PLN24-149 (line 795S) A1 Shear Exploration:

0.5m radioactivity from 196.5m - 197m, with a peak radioactivity of 430 cps

PLN24-152 (line 2850S) A1/B1 Shear Exploration:

1.5m radioactivity from 351.0m - 352.5m, with a peak radioactivity of 460 cps, and

radioactivity from 351.0m - 352.5m, with a peak radioactivity of 460 cps, and 0.5m radioactivity from 436.0m - 436.5m, with a peak radioactivity of 340 cps, and

radioactivity from 436.0m - 436.5m, with a peak radioactivity of 340 cps, and 0.5m radioactivity from 440.5m - 441.0m, with a peak radioactivity of 760 cps

PLN24-157 (line 2745S) A1/B1 Shear Exploration:

0.5m radioactivity from 460.0m - 460.5m, with a peak radioactivity of 380 cps, and

radioactivity from 460.0m - 460.5m, with a peak radioactivity of 380 cps, and 1.0m radioactivity from 558.5m - 559.5m, with a peak radioactivity of 730 cps

PLN24-158 (line 2040S) A1 Exploration:

0.5m radioactivity from 179.5m - 180.0m, with a peak radioactivity of 530 cps

PLN24-160 (line 2430S) A1 Exploration

0.5m radioactivity from 172.5 - 173.0m, with a peak radioactivity of 430 cps

Photo 1. PLN24-152 Mineralized Intervals

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

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Table 1. Drill Hole Summary and Uranium Assay Results

Collar Information Assay Results Hole ID Grid Line Easting Northing Elevation Az Dip From (m) To (m) Interval (m) U3O8 weight % PLN24-116 075S 587757.9 6410697.1 546.0 -65.5 54.3 224.00 227.00 3.00 3.49













227.00 229.00 2.00 31.4











incl 228.00 228.50 0.50 47.8













229.00 232.50 3.50 4.72











incl 231.00 231.50 0.50 10.4













232.50 236.00 3.50 0.24













272.00 272.50 0.50 2.33 PLN24-117 000 587655.7 6410710.8 544.7 -54.4 54.1 262.50 267.50 5.00 0.09 PLN24-118 3240S 589686.9 6408181.3 534.7 -70.7 54.0 B1 Exploration; no mineralization >0.05 PLN24-119 045S 587688.1 6410678.8 545.3 -62.1 54.2 256.50 259.00 2.50 0.05













265.50 266.00 0.50 0.18













268.50 269.00 0.50 0.12 PLN24-120 150S 587778.3 6410614.7 545.6 -59.8 53.9 no mineralization >0.05 PLN24-121 090N 587651.1 6410818.9 545.4 -60.2 52.4 no mineralization >0.05 PLN24-122 3450S 589879.7 6408062.4 538.4 -66.0 55.2 B1 Exploration; no mineralization >0.05 PLN24-123 015N 587736.6 6410788.7 545.6 -65.5 54.9 no mineralization >0.05 PLN24-124 240S 587846.9 6410598.5 546.0 -66.7 78.6 A1 Exploration; no mineralization >0.05 PLN24-125 090N 587634.3 6410806.6 545.2 -60.2 51.9 no mineralization >0.05 PLN24-126 3555S 589878.4 6407928.7 532.2 -61.3 55.2 B1 Exploration; no mineralization >0.05 PLN24-127 045S 587794.4 6410756.0 545.7 -60.5 54.8 no mineralization >0.05 PLN24-128 030S 587749.6 6410742.4 545.7 -60.4 53.5 216.50 217.50 1.00 0.15 PLN24-129 015S 587747.0 6410758.9 545.7 -61.5 54.2 215.00 220.00 5.00 0.70 PLN24-130 1005S 589527.1 6410832.3 539.1 -65.0 55.1 Exploration; no mineralization >0.05 PLN24-131 795S 588288.1 6410188.1 532.5 -65.1 55.0 A1 Exploration; no mineralization >0.05

Assay composite parameters:

1: Minimum Thickness of 0.5 m

2: Assay Grade Cut-Off: 0.05% U3O8 (weight %)

3. Maximum Internal Dilution: 2.0 m

Table 2. Drill Hole Summary and Handheld Spectrometer Results

Collar Information * Hand-held Spectrometer Results On Mineralized Drillcore (>300 cps / >0.5m minimum) Athabasca Unconformity Depth (m) Total Drillhole Depth (m) Hole ID Section Line Easting Northing Elevation Az Dip From (m) To (m) Interval (m) Max CPS PLN24-146 2850S 589424.5 6408454.7 533.3 -78.3 50.7 B1 MSZ Exploration; no radioactivity >300 cps 167.8, 274.4, 314.0 737 PLN24-147 2370S 589105.9 6408835.4 543.7 -70.4 56.9 A1 MSZ Exploration; no radioactivity >300 cps n.a. 293 PLN24-148 2280S 589072.1 6408921.7 543.9 -73.9 55.5 A1 MSZ Exploration; no radioactivity >300 cps n.a. 296 PLN24-149 795S 588316.1 6410208.7 530.8 -58.9 53.9 196.50 197.00 0.50 430 n.a. 296 PLN24-150 1125S 588460.1 6409904.8 533.3 -70.3 58.1 A1 MSZ Exploration; no radioactivity >300 cps n.a. 275 PLN24-151 1530S 588676.0 6409561.0 544.5 -70.4 54.1 A1 MSZ Exploration; no radioactivity >300 cps n.a. 305 PLN24-152 2850S 589259.2 6408356.8 537.2 -67.8 53.1 351.00 351.50 0.50 460 179.9 626













351.50 352.00 0.50 <300

















352.00 352.50 0.50 420

















436.00 436.50 0.50 340

















440.50 441.00 0.50 760



PLN24-153 555S 588064.4 6410322.0 534.6 -72.0 55.6 A1 MSZ Exploration; no radioactivity >300 cps 125.0 293 PLN24-154 2100S 587534.1 6408053.1 531.8 -60.2 35.9 A3 Exploration; no radioactivity >300 cps n.a. 386 PLN24-155 1215S 588507.3 6409827.9 536.4 -69.9 58.0 A1 MSZ Exploration; no radioactivity >300 cps 108.7 266 PLN24-156 1335S 588571.3 6409726.1 543.9 -70.0 53.2 A1 MSZ Exploration; no radioactivity >300 cps n.a. 296 PLN24-157 2745S 589215.3 6408451.4 540.7 -65.3 54.2 460.00 460.50 0.50 380 153.0 614













558.50 559.00 0.50 380

















559.00 559.50 0.50 730



PLN24-158 2040S 588934.9 6409122.9 543.9 -70.1 56.5 179.50 180.00 0.50 530 n.a. 329 PLN24-159 2235S 589041.3 6408957.5 543.2 -70.5 52.4 A1 MSZ Exploration; no radioactivity >300 cps n.a. 293 PLN24-160 2430S 589122.8 6408773.1 543.4 -71.5 59.0 172.50 173.00 0.50 430 n.a. 299

Handheld spectrometer composite parameters:

1: Minimum Thickness of 0.5m

2: CPS Cut-Off of 300 counts per second

3: Maximum Internal Dilution of 2.0m

Natural gamma radiation in the drill core that is reported in this news release was measured in counts per second (cps) using a handheld Radiation Solutions RS-125 scintillometer. The Company considers greater than 300 cps on the handheld spectrometer as anomalous, >10,000 cps as high grade and greater than 65,535 cps as off-scale. The reader is cautioned that scintillometer readings are not directly or uniformly related to uranium grades of the rock sample measured and should be used only as a preliminary indication of the presence of radioactive materials.

Composited weight % U3O8 mineralized intervals are summarized in Table 1. Samples from the drill core are split into half sections on site. Where possible, samples are standardized at 0.5m down-hole intervals. One-half of the split sample is sent to SRC Geoanalytical Laboratories (an SCC ISO/IEC 17025: 2005 Accredited Facility) in Saskatoon, SK while the other half remains on site for reference. Analysis includes a 63 element suite including boron by ICP-OES, uranium by ICP-MS and gold analysis by ICP-OES and/or AAS.

The Company considers uranium mineralization with assay results of greater than 1.0 weight % U3O8 as "high grade" and results greater than 20.0 weight % U3O8 as "ultra-high grade".

All depth measurements reported are down-hole and true thickness are yet to be determined.

About Patterson Lake North:

The Company's 4,078-hectare 100% owned Patterson Lake North property (PLN) is located just within the south-western edge of the Athabasca Basin in proximity to Fission Uranium's Triple R and NexGen Energy's Arrow high-grade world class uranium deposits which is poised to become the next major area of development for new uranium operations in northern Saskatchewan. PLN is accessed by Provincial Highway 955, which transects the property, and the new JR Zone uranium discovery is located 23km northwest of Fission Uranium's Triple R deposit.

Qualified Person:

The technical information in this news release has been prepare in accordance with the Canadian regulatory requirements set out in National Instrument 43-101 and approved on behalf of the company by Raymond Ashley, P.Geo., President & COO of F3 Uranium Corp, a Qualified Person. Mr. Ashley has verified the data disclosed.

About F3 Uranium Corp.:

F3 Uranium is a uranium project generator and exploration company, focusing on projects in the Athabasca Basin, home to some of the world's largest high grade uranium discovery. F3 Uranium currently has 20 properties in the Athabasca Basin. Several of F3's projects are near large uranium discoveries including Triple R, Arrow and Hurricane.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws. All statements that are not historical facts, including without limitation, statements regarding future estimates, plans, programs, forecasts, projections, objectives, assumptions, expectations or beliefs of future performance, including statements regarding the suitability of the Properties for mining exploration, future payments, issuance of shares and work commitment funds, entry into of a definitive option agreement respecting the Properties, are "forward-looking statements." These forward-looking statements reflect the expectations or beliefs of the management of the Company based on information currently available to it. Forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including those detailed from time to time in filings made by the Company with securities regulatory authorities, which may cause actual outcomes to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements. These factors should be considered carefully, and readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements and information contained in this news release are made as of the date hereof and the Company undertakes no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements or information, whether because of new information, future events or otherwise, unless so required by applicable securities laws.

The TSX Venture Exchange and the Canadian Securities Exchange have not reviewed, approved or disapproved the contents of this press release, and do not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

F3 Uranium Corp.

750-1620 Dickson Avenue

Kelowna, BC V1Y9Y2

Contact Information

Investor Relations

Telephone: 778 484 8030

Email: ir@fission3corp.com

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

"Dev Randhawa"

Dev Randhawa, CEO

See cross section at PLN JR Zone|F3 Uranium Corp. under "Sections"

Map #1

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Map #2

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SOURCE: F3 Uranium Corp.
AB InBev Brands Are 8 Out of the Top 10 Most Valuable Global Beer Brands

Today, in Kantar's BrandZ global rankings, Corona was recognized as the most valuable beer brand in the world. Eight out of the 10 most valuable global beer brands belong to AB InBev (Brussel:ABI) (BMV:ANB) (JSE:ANH) (NYSE:BUD), according to the report ranking the top brands in the world.

"Valued at more than $19 billion USD, Corona has become the most valuable global beer brand due to consistent acceleration of growth globally and specifically tapping into growing markets, like Brazil, China, South Africa while maintaining its stronghold in Mexico," said Kantar CEO Chris Jansen. "Our congratulations go to the Corona team for a standout year."

"Corona's strength lies in how it combines emotional and functional points of difference in a unique and consistent way," said Marcel Marcondes, AB InBev's Global Chief Marketing Officer. "In everything that Corona does the brand evokes that emotional moment of having a break from the routine to reconnect with nature and oneself. On the functional side, consumers know that Corona is brewed with 100% natural ingredients, they love the unique, refreshing experience of the lime ritual and they appreciate that Corona is one of the first global beverage brands with a net zero plastic footprint. All these elements are why Corona is recognized as a truly premium, iconic brand anywhere in the world."

Other AB InBev brands that made it into this year's ranking include, Budweiser, the second most valuable beer brand in the world, Modelo at #4, Brahma at #5, Michelob Ultra at #6, Bud Light at #7, Skol at #8 and Stella Artois at #10. These brands all feature in the Top 20 Most Valuable Global Alcohol category ranking.

"Growing our megabrands is a key part of our business strategy to lead and grow the category," said Marcondes. "Our focus is on delivering against the needs of our consumers in a way that gives them what they seek, but also in a way that earns their love."

Published annually, the Kantar BrandZ Most Valuable Global Brands Report ranks the world's top brands, the sector leaders, big movers and brands to watch. Providing a wealth of insights on brands, categories and marketing issues and trends over 14 years, the rankings serve as a measure of brand value and relevancy.

About AB InBev

AB InBev is a publicly traded company (Euronext: ABI) based in Leuven, Belgium, with secondary listings on the Mexico (MEXBOL: ANB) and South Africa (JSE: ANH) stock exchanges and with American Depositary Receipts on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: BUD). As a company, we dream big to create a future with more cheers. We are always looking to serve up new ways to meet life's moments, move our industry forward and make a meaningful impact in the world. We are committed to building great brands that stand the test of time and to brewing the best beers using the finest ingredients. Our diverse portfolio of well over 500 beer brands includes global brands Budweiser, Corona, Stella Artois and Michelob Ultra; multi-country brands Beck's, Hoegaarden and Leffe; and local champions such as Aguila, Antarctica, Bud Light, Brahma, Cass, Castle, Castle Lite, Cristal, Harbin, Jupiler, Modelo Especial, Quilmes, Victoria, Sedrin, and Skol. Our brewing heritage dates back more than 600 years, spanning continents and generations. From our European roots at the Den Hoorn brewery in Leuven, Belgium. To the pioneering spirit of the Anheuser Co brewery in St. Louis, US. To the creation of the Castle Brewery in South Africa during the Johannesburg gold rush. To Bohemia, the first brewery in Brazil. Geographically diversified with a balanced exposure to developed and developing markets, we leverage the collective strengths of approximately 155,000 colleagues based in nearly 50 countries worldwide. For 2023, AB InBev's reported revenue was 59.4 billion USD (excluding JVs and associates).

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240611731362/en/

Contacts:

media.relations@ab-inbev.com
BEIJING, June 12, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- A news report from chinadaily.com.cn:

-- Speech at the International Forum on the History and Future of Xinjiang, China

Pan Yue

June 12, 2024

Honorable Chairman Erkin,

Honorable Mr Ambassador Nuryshev,

Distinguished experts and friends, good morning!

The international forum "The History and Future of Xinjiang, China" is being held in the renowned ancient Silk Road city of Kashi (aka, Kashgar). On behalf of the National Ethnic Affairs Commission, I would like to offer my warm welcome to everyone.

As President Xi pointed out: "We advocate the respect for the diversity of civilizations. Countries need to uphold the principles of equality, mutual learning, dialogue and inclusiveness among civilizations, and let cultural exchanges transcend estrangement, mutual learning transcend clashes, and coexistence transcend feelings of superiority". Today, among us are old friends and new from various countries, as well as many scholars from China, many of whom are respected authorities in their respective fields, such as history, archaeology, anthropology, and environmental science. One of the reasons that brings us together here is the excavation and research of the Mo'er Temple archaeological site by Minzu University of China, under the National Ethnic Affairs Commission. It provides us another good example of integration of diverse civilizations.

Xinjiang boasts a rich tradition and coexistence of diverse cultures and religions. In addition to numerous Buddhist sites, a Zoroastrian fire altar from 2500 years ago was found in Tashkurgan county; In the ancient city of Milan in Ruoqiang county, a Greek-style "winged angel" Buddhism mural from 1800 years ago was uncovered; Taoist scriptures and the Christian Bible were unearthed together from a 1300-year-old Nestorian monastery in Turpan; Manichaean worship scenes from 1000 years ago were discovered in the murals of the ancient city of Gaochang in Turpan; In the ancient city known as Dun ancient city of Tang Dynasty, in Qitai county, a Nestorian church from 1200 year ago was found, whose murals depict the scene of Jesus entering Jerusalem on a donkey. Inside the city, an ancient Roman-style bathhouse from 1000 years ago was also excavated. These ancient cultures, together with Islamic culture later, have merged into the rich religious culture of Xinjiang.

Culture of Xinjiang is diverse, but more in unity. That the unifying element is "Chinese culture".

Internationally, there is a baseless narrative that separates Xinjiang culture and Chinese culture and even portrays them as being in opposition. However, a large amount of archaeological evidence tells us that Xinjiang has always been an important part of the Chinese cultural sphere. During the Neolithic period, the painted pottery culture from the Yellow River Basin had already spread to the northern and southern regions of the Tianshan Mountains through what are today Gansu and Qinghai provinces. Jade is a unique Chinese cultural symbol, representing national power and ritual ceremonies, and Hetian jade from Xinjiang has been found at cultural sites in Yangshao, Longshan, Qijia, Yinxu, and other places in the Central Plains. Before the Han Dynasty exercised jurisdiction over Xinjiang two thousand years ago, the myth of the Queen Mother of the West of Kunlun Mountain in Xinjiang had long been a core part of the Chinese mythological system. Moreover, the vast amount of Confucian cultural relics unearthed in Xinjiang from the Han (202 B.C-220 A.D), Jin (266-420), Southern and Northern Dynasties (420-589), Tang (618-907), Song (960-1279), and Yuan (1271-1368) dynasties, such as the ancient city of Loulan in southern Xinjiang, the Niya site, and the Astana tombs in Turpan, including remnants of Confucian classics like the Book of Songs, the Book of Documents, the Spring and Autumn Annals, Zuo Zhuan, the Analects, the Book of Rites, and the Classic of Filial Piety, all reflect the historical fact that Chinese culture has flourished in Xinjiang. The previously mentioned diverse cultures introduced from all directions that were able to develop here further testify to the inclusiveness of Chinese culture from another perspective. Confucian culture is humanistic rather than religious, without exclusivity, and can accommodate the coexistence and development of multiple religions. The more inclusive and open it is, the more it is recognized, cherished, and maintained by all parties, ensuring the continuous and unbroken heritage of Chinese civilization to this day.

There is an internationally prevalent narrative that untruthfully portrays the relationship between Xinjiang culture and Chinese culture as being the "assimilation" of the former by the latter. This reflects the widespread ignorance of Chinese history. Peoples of the Western Regions have always been co-creators of Chinese culture. For instance, Nong Sang Cuo Yao, the ancient treatise on agriculture and sericulture, was compiled by the Gaochang agronomist Lu Mingshan, a Uyghur ethnic in the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368). Many important texts in Chinese Buddhism, such as the Diamond Sutra, were translated by the Kuchean monk Kumarajiva. He introduced terms such as "compassion", "world", "enlightenment", "sea of suffering", and "river of love", which are terms adopted by modern Chinese. Additionally, during the Yuan Dynasty, Lian Xixian also a Uyghur ethnic served as chancellor under Kublai Khan and was a master of Confucianism who greatly promoted Chinese culture. The Weigongcun area in Beijing, renowned for its cluster of prestigious universities, derives its name from the Lian Xixian's title, Duke of Wei, a name that persists to this day.

Chinese culture and the Chinese nation have been continuously inherited and developed over generations. The Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368), which replaced the Song Dynasty (960-1279), compiled the Song's history, just as Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), which succeeded the Yuan, compiled the Yuan's history, and the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), which succeeded the Ming, compiled the Ming's history. Notably, Kanglinaonao, a Mongolian ethnic from the Western Regions, played a significant role in reinstating the imperial examination system and compiling the history of the Song Dynasty during the Yuan Dynasty. The culture of Chinese Nation Community is a collective creation and inheritance of various ethnic groups, including those from the Western Regions.

The foundation of a cultural community is the deep integration of the economy and society. The geographical layout of the Pamir Plateau and the Hexi Corridor has been a significant factor in the economic integration of the Western Regions with the East. The economic structures of the Western Regions and the Central Plains are complementary and interdependent. It was the high degree of connectivity between the Western Regions and the vast market of the Central Plains that enabled the Western Regions to facilitate communication across the Eurasian continent. The ancient Silk Road, jointly opened up by ancestors of the Western Regions and the Central Plains, led to the rise of numerous trading cities, with Kashgar being a prominent jewel among them. Over several thousand years, people from all directions and ethnic groups migrated, settled, traded, intermarried, and formed a coexistence pattern in Xinjiang. Ultimately, Xinjiang and the Central Plains belonged to the same political community, which was the inevitable result of the development of economic, social, and cultural communities.

Some foreign friends are concerned that if Xinjiang is considered an integral part of the Chinese civilization, it might lose its cultural identity. According to Western "pluralism", diversity and unity are often seen as contradictory. However, Chinese philosophy always dialectically unifies diversity and unity, even merging seemingly contradictory elements, such as the Integration between Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism, an important academic phenomenon that President Xi Jinping has mentioned. When early Buddhism was introduced to the Central Plains through Xinjiang, its teachings, which discouraged productivity, ancestor worship, filial piety and reverence for rulers, clashed with Confucian and Taoist thought. However, Buddhism integrated the Confucian ethics of loyalty and filial piety, reconciled the concepts of karma and filial duties, and adopted Taoist meditative practices, forming sinicized Buddhism. Meanwhile, Confucianism absorbed Buddhist philosophical concepts, developing Neo-Confucianism.

Today, Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism have not merged into a single entity. Instead, they have intermingled, creating a broader spiritual community for the Chinese people, one that embodies unity in diversity. The unity fosters diversity, and the diversity enriches the unity, as exemplified by Mo'er Temple. This small site in Kashgar, with a history spanning at least 700 years, contains an Indian Gandhara-style Buddhiststupa, a Central Asian and Xinjiang native square-shaped temple, and a Chinese Buddhist grand hall. It reflects early Indian Buddhism evolved into a Western Regions variant in the Tarim Basin before spreading east to the Central Plains. Centuries later, sinicized Buddhism returned to the Western Regions, building Chinese Buddhist halls at its original entry points into China.

Islam entered China with similar experience. One route was through Maritime Silk Road to Quanzhou, the other was through Overland Silk Road to Xinjiang and led to religious conflicts with local faith of Buddhism. Many traces of this part of history can be found in Buddhism ruins in southern Xinjiang. However, ultimately, Islam, after its entry into China, began integrating with Confucian, Taoist, and even Buddhist philosophies during the late Ming and early Qing dynasties, resulting in the thought of "integration of Islam and Confucianism". Chinese translators of Islamic scripture then especially proposed the dual loyalty of "respecting Allah and being loyal to the state", highlighting the commonality of Islamic and Confucian ethics. The Shaanxi Grand Mosque in Urumqi, built during the Qianlong reign (1736-1796) of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), exemplifies the architectural style of the integration of Islam and Confucianism. The spirit of this integration,overlapping with the rational thinking in Islamic world, becomes an important attempt to coordinate the relations between national and ethnic identity, religious doctrine and secular life. Malaysia recently hosted a conference on the integration of Islam and Confucianism, where Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim stated, "by focusing on the points of convergence between Islam and Confucianism, we are actively choosing to diverge from the path of discord". His excellency also mentioned, "by embracing the wisdom of Islam and Confucianism, we can work towards a future that is not only technologically advanced but also morally enlightened". The spirit of integration between Islam and Confucianism continues to nourish Xinjiang today.

Whether Buddhism or Islam, on entering China, both underwent collisions and integrations, evolving into Sinicized Buddhism and Sinicized Islam. This process of collision and integration was not aimed at eliminating each other but at enhancing each other, resulting in the emergence of more inclusive civilizations. The story of Xinjiang fully demonstrates that Chinese civilization has always remained vibrant through its inclusiveness.

All politicians and scholars around the world who are concerned about China should study President Xi Jinping's concept of the "second integration" - the integration of Marxism with China's excellent traditional culture. This integration has produced a profound "chemical reaction", creating a new, organically unified cultural entity. The integration of Marxism and continuity of the Chinese civilization fundamentally determines that the Chinese path contains an uninterrupted civilizational logic. The integration of Marxism and the innovative nature of Chinese civilization determines that this "integration" is not about reviving the past but about ushering in new ideological liberation.

The integration of Marxism and the unity of Chinese civilization determined that the country's territory cannot be separated, its stability cannot be disrupted, the nation cannot be divided, and the civilization cannot be interrupted. The integration of Marxism and the inclusiveness of Chinese civilization decided that Chinese civilization has never sought to replace diverse cultures with a single one, but has instead formed a common culture through the convergence of multiple cultures. The integration of Marxism and the peaceful nature of Chinese civilization fundamentally determined that the Chinese civilization in modern times always strives for harmonious coexistence, consistently seeking common ground while reserving differences, and continually pursuing peaceful and mutually beneficial outcomes. The stories of the peaceful coexistence of multiple ethnic groups and diverse religions in Xinjiang illustrate to the world that China, a country that has experienced almost no religious wars for thousands of years, and a country that has never engaged in colonial expansion or forced cultural exportation, may offer another perspective into ethnic and religious conflicts.

Most of the Experts here today are researchers of ancient civilizations, which inherently embodies diversity and seeks unity and cohesion in its own way. Though we may not fully agree with each other's methods of seeking unity, we all sincerely hope that we can all achieve strength in unity and cohesion. We pursue shared goals, learn from each other, and realize our aspirations in our own ways.

As a place where diverse civilizations converge, both the historical and future Xinjiang will adhere to the path of unity in diversity, building a safer and more harmonious Xinjiang. It will better serve as a hub connecting China with Central Asia, West Asia, and Europe. It will play a stronger supporting role in creating the core area of the Belt and Road initiative. It will also better protect the excellent cultures of various ethnic groups to enrich and develop the splendid and diverse Chinese civilization. Therefore, Xinjiang is not only China's Xinjiang but also the world's Xinjiang. It is our shared vision to make Xinjiang, with its past, present and future, reach out to the world.

I wish the forum great success. Thank you.

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LONDON, June 12, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Vantage Connect , the institutional operation of Vantage UK , has proudly secured "Best Trade Execution" at the Global Forex Awards - B2B 2024, for the second year running. This accolade highlights Vantage Connect's unwavering commitment to delivering superior trade execution services in the B2B forex trading sector.

The Global Forex Awards - B2B, now in its fifth year, celebrate businesses that demonstrate exceptional performance and innovation in B2B forex trading solutions. These awards, organised by Holiston Media, honour companies that set industry standards and excel in service delivery.

David Shayer, CEO of Vantage UK, comments, "We are honoured to receive the 'Best Trade Execution' award. At Vantage Connect, we have a dedicated team focused on monitoring and improving our trading environment enabling us to offer fast execution on low spreads to institutional clients. This award reaffirms our dedication to empowering financial institutions and firms to seize market opportunities with confidence."

With a commitment to innovation and excellence, Vantage Connect continues to solidify its position as a leader in the B2B forex trading industry. The company remains committed to delivering exceptional value and service to its institutional clients.

For more information about Vantage Connect and its award-winning trade execution services, please visit connect.vantagemarkets.co.uk .

About Vantage UK

Vantage UK (or Vantage Markets) is a multi-asset broker offering clients access to a nimble and powerful service for trading Contracts for Difference (CFDs) on Forex, Commodities, Indices, Shares, ETFs, and Bonds.

With over 13 years of market experience, Vantage UK transcends the role of broker, providing a trusted trading ecosystem and a user-friendly trading platform that empowers clients to seize trading opportunities.

trade smarter @vantage

https://www.vantagemarkets.co.uk/

Risk warning: CFDs and Spread Bets are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 73.5% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs and Spread Bets with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs and Spread Bets work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money. Please seek independent advice if necessary.

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Helsinn Group and Chugai Pharma Europe sign a partnership agreement renewal to commercialize AKYNZEO in the UK and Ireland

Lugano, Switzerland - June 12, 2024 - Helsinn Group ("Helsinn"), a global pharmaceutical company with a track record of over forty-five years of commercial execution and a strong focus in supportive care, oncology and dermato-oncology, and Chugai Pharma Europe Ltd ("Chugai"), the European subsidiary of Chugai Pharmaceutical Co, Ltd., one of Japan's leading research-based pharmaceutical companies, today announced the signing of the Distribution and Licence Agreement renewal in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and the Republic of Ireland, for AKYNZEO (combination of netupitant-palonosetron), for the treatment of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) in adult patients.

Troy Robinson, Managing Director at Chugai Pharma Europe, commented: "We are delighted to have signed this agreement with Helsinn and are proud to continue this collaboration. Oncology remains an important pillar of our Chugai business, and this agreement reflects our ongoing commitment to improving the quality of cancer care. Our joint efforts with Helsinn will ensure that we continue to support patients in the UK and Ireland throughout their cancer journey, providing access to AKYNZEO, a valuable supportive care product."

Dr. Melanie Rolli, Helsinn Group CEO, commented: "This renewed partnership agreement with Chugai marks a significant milestone. Chugai has been an excellent partner for Helsinn over the past ten years. Our shared vision, values and unwavering dedication to supportive care will continue to fuel our collective journey in enhancing the quality of life for cancer patients in this crucial market. We look forward to exciting new opportunities that lie ahead with Chugai as we build upon our already robust and enduring foundation."

About AKYNZEO

AKYNZEO is the first and only 5-HT 3 and NK 1 receptor antagonist fixed combination approved in adults for the prevention of acute and delayed nausea and vomiting associated with highly and

moderately emetogenic chemotherapy.

For additional information please see the EU Summary of Product Characteristics.

About Chugai Pharma Europe

Chugai Pharma Europe (CPE) is a regional business and wholly owned subsidiary of Chugai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., one of Japan's leading research-based pharmaceutical companies and a member of the Roche Group.

Established in 1993, CPE coordinates Chugai's commercial, medical, and business activities in Europe, with a focus on oncology, rheumatology, and haematology. Headquartered in London, CPE also supports clinical research programmes for Japan, and explores co-development and in-licensing opportunities with an established network of partners.

United by our purpose to shape a brighter, healthier future in Europe, our people are passionate about adding value to the medical community and human health. Supporting CPE to deliver advanced and sustainable patient-centric healthcare, and embody our core values to prioritize patient wellbeing, pursue innovation, and maintain the highest ethical and moral standards in everything we do.

For more information, please visit https://www.chugai.eu/ or follow us on LinkedInand x.

About Helsinn

Helsinn is a global pharmaceutical company that builds, manufactures, launches, and commercializes products to improve the quality of life for patients with cancer and chronic disease, with a focus on supportive care, oncology and dermato-oncology. Helsinn, headquartered in Lugano, Switzerland, has direct commercial operations in the U.S. and an extensive network of long-standing trusted partners enabling a commercial presence in more than 90 countries.

Established in 1976, Helsinn is a third-generation family-owned company with broad pharmaceutical and technical expertise. Helsinn is proud of its history of operating with great integrity, passion and quality. The company is committed to continuously striving for innovation for its patients and embracing sustainable growth as a core element of its strategic vision.

To learn more about Helsinn, please visit www.helsinn.comor follow us on LinkedIn and X .

For more information:

Helsinn Group Media Contact:

Sabrina Perucchi

Group Communication Manager

Lugano, Switzerland

Tel: +41

Chugai Pharma Europe:

Robert Mackichan

Senior PR & Communications Manager, Europe

London, UK

Tel: +44
Hanoi, Vietnam--(Newsfile Corp. - June 12, 2024) - In early March, Printblur conducted a survey on more than 1,000 millennial dads who made purchases on customization products though their market place.

Printblur - Where Art Meets Personalization

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"A dive into shopping behavior among millennial fathers during this coming Father's Day has shedded light on more interesting insights about this generation of dads. This urges us to change our business strategy during Father's Day season 2024." - Jane Grill, the leader of the research project said.

Source: The Market Research Department of Printblur (March, 2024)

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Millennial dads prefer shopping matching couple products during Father's Day season

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The research reveals that a majority of millennial dads are planning to shop for the upcoming Father's Day. They're more inclined to shop for matching couple gifts rather than products for personal use.

Research results have encouraged Printblur to prioritize key products, specifically clothing, mugs, blankets, and more for Father's Day 2024 over products conventionally segmented towards men, including custom tech and automotive accessories. Printblur encourages independent artists to explore personalization options for dad and kids or family topics.

"Embracing a new perspective inspired us to innovate our approach for the Father's Day campaign on Printblur. Millennial dads should be also targeted as an important customer segment to shop during Father's Day. In fact, they are spending more for this special day than we ever thought. From the view of business, young dads are potential key consumers that we should spend more time researching in the near future," Mateo Tran, CEO of Printblur stated.

About Printblur

Printblur is a global e-commerce marketplace where independent artists sell their artwork online with a transparent commission rate. From t-shirts, mugs, blankets, tote bags, to digital prints, these diverse customization products are available worldwide. The website is accessible for customers to discover unique ways for their self-expression and support and empowers sellers to monetize their creativity as artists on Printblur.com.

Stay connected with Printblur online via:

Facebook Printblur.com

X @printblurshop

Pinterest Printblur.com

Trustpilot @Printblur

Youtube @printblur

Media Contact Details:

Website: https://printblur.com/

Email: support@printblur.com

Contact Name: Mateo Tran

Company: Printblur LLC Co-create The World with Creative Products

Phone: +84936828888

Office Address: 3rd floor, 24T3 Thanh Xuan Complex Building, 6 Le Van Thiem Street, Thanh Xuan Trung Ward, Thanh Xuan District

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/211897

SOURCE: Media Feature


EQS Newswire / 12/06/2024 / 11:30 CET/CEST

PHNOM PENH, CAMBODIA - Media OutReach Newswire - 12 June 2024 - Under the entrepreneurial leadership of Chairman Neak Oknha Chen Zhi , Prince Holding Group has been honored at the World Business Outlook Awards 2024. Chairman Chen Zhi has won the "Entrepreneur of the Year in Cambodia" award for the second consecutive year, reaffirming his commitment to innovative leadership and the Group's expansive business ventures.



Chairman Chen Zhi is "Entrepreneur of the Year in Cambodia 2024" at the World Business Outlook Awards.

Prince Holding Group also received accolades for its sustained commitment to community welfare and sustainable practices, earning the "Best Overall CSR Excellence in Cambodia 2024" and the "Best Community Program in Cambodia 2024" awards. These honors reflect the Group's robust dedication to social responsibility and its significant impact on Cambodia's growth.



Chairman Chen Zhi is recognized not only for his business acumen but also for his extensive philanthropic efforts. Under his leadership, Prince Group has expanded its influence in crucial sectors such as real estate development, financial services, and consumer services, consistently upholding international standards and sustainable practices.



Gabriel Tan, Chief Communications Officer at Prince Holding Group, expressed his enthusiasm for the triple win: "These awards are a reflection of Chairman Chen Zhi's profound influence on not only our company but also on the broader Cambodian society. His leadership philosophy, deeply rooted in sustainability and community support, drives every decision we make, propelling Prince Group to set benchmarks in the industry. We are honored by this recognition and inspired to continue our work with even greater commitment."



Chairman Chen Zhi's leadership is further exemplified by his proactive engagement through the Prince Foundation, which has launched over 250 projects, reaching more than 1.3 million individuals and contributing over US$16 million. In 2023 alone, the Foundation invested approximately three-quarters of a million dollars in community initiatives, including the Chen Zhi Scholarship , which provides comprehensive support to 400 Cambodian university students with tuition, stipends, internships, and work opportunities.



These initiatives and significant contributions to financial education and community health underscore the Group's enduring commitment to environmental sustainability and educational advancement, benefiting countless individuals across Cambodia.

Hashtag: PrinceHoldingGroup ChenZhi EntrepreneuroftheYear ChenZhiScholarship

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. About Prince Holding Group Prince Holding Group is one of Cambodia's largest business groups, spanning across real estate development, financial services, and consumer services.



Prince Holding Group's key business units in Cambodia include Prince Real Estate Group, Prince Huan Yu Real Estate Group, Prince Bank, and Awesome Global Investment Group. Via its subsidiaries, Prince Holding Group has over 100 businesses in Cambodia operating in real estate development, banking, finance, tourism, logistics, technology, food and beverages, lifestyle sectors, etc.



Leveraging a network of industrial, business, and financial professionals across Asia, Prince Holding Group is firmly committed to the long-term development of Cambodia.



Moving forward, Prince Holding Group will continue to seek out opportunities to play an important role in Cambodia through partnerships or direct investments into key industries for the betterment of Cambodians and the local economy.





News Source: Prince Holding Group

12/06/2024 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


Mrs. Ritu Hinduja Chhabria, Founder and Managing Trustee of Mukul Madhav Foundation (MMF), has been awarded the prestigious Ellis Island Medal of Honor bestowed by the Ellis Island Honors Society for her exceptional contributions to philanthropy. This esteemed recognition highlights her steadfast commitment to uplifting the less-privileged and her profound impact on communities across India, UK and other countries.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240611338081/en/

Ritu Hinduja Chhabria receives Ellis Island Medal of Honour (Photo: Business Wire)

Mrs. Chhabria's philanthropic journey stems from the strong values imparted by her family, igniting her passion to uplift marginalized communities. In 1999, she founded Mukul Madhav Foundation (MMF) to champion social, cultural and charitable causes across diverse groups from infants to the elderly, teenage girls to widows, tribal women to transgender people, farmers to factory workers. Her sensitivity towards the underprivileged has driven MMF's wide-ranging endeavors to create meaningful impact.

Through MMF, Mrs. Chhabria has spearheaded initiatives providing healthcare, education, skills training, and support across 24 Indian states.

Established in the UK in 2018, MMF UK has aided 30+ organizations focused on homelessness, food poverty in schools, children's development, education, and healthcare. Key efforts include nutritious meals for underprivileged children with Akshaya Patra and The Felix Project, mental health counseling for trafficked women, educational scholarships at King's College London, Imperial and Warwick Universities and support for British Paralympians. MMF UK has also strengthened India-UK ties through cross-border knowledge exchange surgeon programs.

Mrs. Ritu Hinduja Chhabria, Founder and Managing Trustee of Mukul Madhav Foundation (MMF), said, "Our mission through the Foundation is to listen to needs at every level. Listening helps us to plan and execute efficiently. The team at MMF work tirelessly with strong ethics to ensure dignity and opportunities. Collaboration and communication with like-minded individuals is the success to our vision. I would like to thank Mr. Nasser Kazeminy and Board of Ellis for this honor and for a beautiful event."

The Ellis Island Medals of Honor embody the spirit of America in their celebration of patriotism, tolerance, brotherhood and diversity. They are presented each year on historic Ellis Island to a select group of individuals whose accomplishments in their field and inspired service to our nation are worthy of commendation. The Ellis Island Honors Society, the medal's sponsoring organization, is proud that since its founding in 1986, the Medal has been officially recognized by both Houses of Congress as one of our nation's most prestigious awards and its honorees are recorded annually in the Congressional Record. This year this recognition was also conferred on two international participants, one of them being Mrs. Chhabria, whose extensive philanthropic work through MMF has transformed countless lives, making her a worthy recipient of this prestigious medal.

About MMF

Mukul Madhav Foundation (MMF) began its journey in July 1998, with the all-embracing vision of Mrs. Ritu Hinduja Chhabria put into action with the ideological and corpus support of the Late P.P. Chhabria, Founder of the Finolex Group, and Shri. G.P. Hinduja, Chairperson of the Hinduja Group, completing registration as a trust in 1999.

Over the last 25 years, MMF has dedicated itself to empowering the underserved with resources, skills, opportunities, social leverage, infrastructure and counselling across geographies, gender, age and abilities. Supporting individuals, communities, organisations and rural institutions through initiatives in healthcare, education, food equality, sanitation, environment and disaster relief across all of the 17 sustainable development goals as envisioned by the United Nations. Confident that even the lesser-privileged have the potential to flourish and thrive on their own, all they need is a hand to pull them out of their circumstances, as evident over the years where many beneficiaries have gone on to contribute to their communities and impact society at large, ensuring a life of dignity that's self-sustained and inclusive.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240611338081/en/

Contacts:

For Further details, please reach out to:

Skyla Pereira +91 8975910636 Skyla.pereira@adfactorspr.com

Neelay Adhikari |+91 8928566749 neelay.adhikari@adfactorspr.com
Athena Gold Corporation (OTCQB:AHNR)(CSE:ATHA) ("Athena" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has entered into an asset purchase and sale agreement dated June 1, 2024 (the "Purchase Agreement") with Silver Reserve Inc. to acquire an 100% interest in 11 unpatented BLM claims covering approximately 89 hectares (220 acres) known as the Blue Dick Mine and related mineral claims ("BD"), together with certain technical data relating to the mining claims (the "Purchased Assets"). Total consideration consists of an aggregate of US $45,000 in cash and a 3% NSR. This acquisition expands our flagship Excelsior Springs Project located in the Walker Lane Trend, Nevada. area to 1,675 hectares (4,140 acres).

The Blue Dick Mine was discovered in the 1870s and was reported as a high-grade producer of silver along with gold and base metals. According to Jack Quade, who visited the Blue Dick mine in 1982 and collected three samples on behalf of the Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology, "The (Blue Dick) Mine is located near a thrust intersection of the Campito and Deep Springs Formations of lower Cambrian both of which host ore at the mine." Mineralized material was transported from the adit by rail and then down Palmetto Mountain via a tram for direct shipment or processing on-site.

Quade's sample #11251 collected from a highly silicified quartzite along the tram and inside the main Blue Dick adit contained 33 ppm Gold, 1500 ppm (43.75 ounces per ton) silver, .15% Cu, 2% lead and 1%+ Zinc2.

Sampling by Silver Reserve consulting geologist Richard Milne in June 20073 also confirmed anomalous precious and base metal values. Fourteen of the sixteen rock-chip samples1 collected by Milne (BD/M-1 through BD/M-16) are on the BD claims being acquired or on claims already held by Athena.

Highlights are listed below:

Sample BD/M-1 contained 6.4 ppm Gold, 2340 ppm Silver (69 ounces per ton),1.175% Copper and 1.34% Lead.

Sample BD/M-12 contained 92.6 ppm Silver, 25.5% Copper and 6.92% Lead.

Sample BD/M-13 contained 30 ppm Silver, 4.28% Copper and 1.37% Lead.

Sample BD/M-15 contained 49 ppm Silver and 2.06% Copper.

Sample BD/M-16 contained 7.45 ppm of Gold with .03% Copper.

No exploration drilling or geophysical surveys have been completed on the BD claims. Additional rock and soil data acquired with the BD claims will be further analyzed and integrated into our exploration database.

John Power, President of Athena, commented "This is an exciting opportunity for Athena as it consolidates the heart of the Palmetto Mountain Trend (Figure 1) for the first time as part of our Excelsior Springs Project. It also provides new prospective gold, copper, and silver targets to our expanding land package. Palmetto Peak was once the end of our claim block but is now the 50-yard line with the historic Buster mine and Western Slope to the west of the peak and Lida Belle and Blue Dick to the southeast.

"Our immediate focus remains on finalizing our Phase 4 exploration plans at Excelsior Springs as we build upon the success of our Phase 1 - Phase 3 RC drilling programs completed in 2022 and 2023" added Power.



Figure 1. Map of Palmetto Mountain Trend depicting the location of historic mines now controlled by Athena as part of its flagship Excelsior Springs Project. This trend connects the historic Palmetto and Lida Mining Districts and was the location of several reported high-grade gold and silver occurrences during the district's discovery boom in the 1870s.

Timeline of District Scale Consolidation

Upon the successful close of this transaction, Athena will have completed a series of transactions over a multi-year period to consolidate all the important historic mines (Buster, Lida Belle and Blue Dick) on Palmetto Mountain (See Figures 1 and 2).

Athena acquired the Excelsior Springs project in 2021 from Nubian Resources Ltd. with its 140 unpatented BLM claims and a lease on two patented claims. This claim group included the historic Buster Mine and Western Slope (aka Upper or Tripod shaft) mines.

In 2022, Athena purchased the two patented claims (Fortunatus and Prout) that had been held under an expiring lease.

In Q4-2022, Athena staked an additional 51 unpatented BLM claims to cover the southeastern slope of Palmetto Mountain. These claims included the historic Lida Belle high grade gold occurrence and mine.

Reconnaissance sampling in the Lida Belle area returned high-grade gold and silver results. (See the Company's news release dated October 5, 2023 here).

Also, in Q4-2022, the Company staked claims to the border of the BD claims being acquired (See Figure 2).

Figure 2. Map of Athena's Excelsior Springs Project depicting the original claim block and additional claims staked and acquired between 2022 - 2024.

Blue Dick Mineralization

Mineralization occurs in quartz or calcite veins mostly hosted by Limestone (Stewart and Albers 1972). The Deep Spring and Palmetto Formations are the main host rocks for precious and base metal mineralization on the property. Copper, gold, silver and lead mineralization sampled by Milne (2007) is found locally in thrust faults and high-angle northeast-southwest structures.

There are several important targets for future exploration including:

Sediment hosted bulk Au tonnage targets in the Palmetto formation.

Additional high-grade vein mineralization from known veins and undiscovered veins in the carbonates with two targets of Gold, Silver & Copper and Silver, Gold & Base Metals

Blue Dick Purchase Transaction Details

Pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, Athena will acquire the Purchased Assets for total consideration of:

US $10,000 payable upon execution of the agreement (Paid); US $15,000 payable on or before July 1, 2024; US $20,000 payable on or before August 1, 2024; and the grant of a 3% net smelter return royalty to Silver Reserve, of which 2% may be purchased by the Company subject to certain buy-back options.

The transaction contemplated by the Purchase Agreement remains subject to approval of the Canadian Securities Exchange.

Technical Information

The data disclosed in this news release is related to historical exploration sampling results. The reader is cautioned that the historical results are based on prior data and reports prepared by previous property owners and other sources. Athena has not undertaken any independent investigation of the work at Blue Dick, nor has it independently analyzed the results of the historical exploration work to verify the results. The reader is cautioned not to treat them, or any part of them, as current and that a qualified person has not done sufficient work to verify the results and that they may not form a reliable guide to future results. No independent QA/QC protocols are known for these samples and as such analytical results may be unreliable. Athena's current and future exploration work includes verification of the historical data through further exploration.

About Our Flagship Excelsior Springs Project

The Excelsior Springs Project (the "Project") lies within the prolific Walker Lane tectonic trend, a large region of northwest-trending, strike-slip fault zones that host a significant number of precious metal deposits having very strong structural control for mineralization. The Project contains numerous prospect pits, trenches, roads, surface sampling sites and 113 drill holes to date within a 300m X 3,000m wide (1,000 foot-wide and 10,000-foot-long east-west trending zone of shearing and alteration. Underground workings on the two patented claims within the Project had unverified, historical production of 19,200 troy ounces from 18,000 tons averaging 37.3 grams/ton Au (1.2 oz/ton Au).

The Walker Lane trend is experiencing a major resurgence of intense and successful exploration and development. The Walker Lane has had total production of 20+ million ounces ("Moz") of gold, including the following deposits at Goldfields (5 Moz), Bullfrog (2 Moz), Tonopah (2 Moz), Mineral Ridge (1.5 Moz) and Comstock (8 Moz Au, 200 Moz Ag). Readers are cautioned that the Company has no interest in or right to acquire any interest in any of the above-mentioned properties, other than Excelsior Springs (the "Project"), and that the mineral deposits, and the results of any exploration or mining thereof, on adjacent or similar properties are not indicative of potential mineral deposits on the Project or any potential exploitation thereof.

Gold mineralization discovered at the Project to date occurs in quartz veins, stock-works, and silicified zones in hornfels and calc-silicate altered country rock and is generally close to porphyry dykes. The best grades and thicknesses discovered recently were found in oxidized and altered sedimentary rock immediately above porphyry dykes intruded along preexisting east- and east-northeast trending faults. The mineralized stock-work vein zones are shallow and have a relatively flat plunge, making them potentially amenable to open pit mining methods.

Based on the results of previous drilling programs, the Project has the potential with to host one or more shallow gold deposits amenable to open pit mining, along with deeper, higher grade feeder zones that may be found and could be mined by underground methods. In the opinion of management and its consultants, the Project is very promising and further exploration has the potential to expand the known mineralization and establish additional mineralized zones.

Qualified Person

John Hiner, SME Registered Member and Washington State Licensed Geologist is a qualified person as defined by NI 43-101 and has reviewed the scientific and technical information that forms the basis of this press release and has approved the disclosure herein. Mr. Hiner is not independent of the Company.

About Athena Gold Corporation

Athena is engaged in the business of mineral exploration and the acquisition of mineral property assets. Its objective is to locate and develop economic precious and base metal properties of merit and to conduct additional exploration drilling and studies on the Project.

For further information about Athena Gold Corporation and our Excelsior Springs Gold project, please visit www.athenagoldcorp.com.

On Behalf of the Board of Directors

John C. Power

Chief Executive Officer and President

For further information, please contact:

Phone: John C. Power, 707-291-6198

Email: info@athenagoldcorp.com

Jason Libenson

President and CCO

Castlewood Capital Corporation

(647)-534-9884

Email: jason@castlewoodcapital.ca

Forward Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information (collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable Canadian and U.S. securities laws. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein including, without limitation, statements regarding future exploration plans and the completion of a phase 2 drill program at the Project, future results from exploration, and the anticipated business plans and timing of future activities of the Company, are forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes that such statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Forward-looking statements are typically identified by words such as: "believes", "will", "expects", "anticipates", "intends", "estimates", "plans", "may", "should", "potential", "scheduled", or variations of such words and phrases and similar expressions, which, by their nature, refer to future events or results that may, could, would, might or will occur or be taken or achieved. In making the forward-looking statements in this press release, the Company has applied several material assumptions, including without limitation, that there will be investor interest in future financings, market fundamentals will result in sustained precious metals demand and prices, the receipt of any necessary permits, licenses and regulatory approvals in connection with the future exploration and development of the Company's projects in a timely manner, QAQC procedures at the Project were followed, the availability of financing on suitable terms for the exploration and development of the Company's projects and the Company's ability to comply with environmental, health and safety laws.

The Company cautions investors that any forward-looking statements by the Company are not guarantees of future results or performance, and that actual results may differ materially from those in forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including, operating and technical difficulties in connection with mineral exploration and development activities, actual results of exploration activities, the estimation or realization of mineral reserves and mineral resources, the inability of the Company to obtain the necessary financing required to conduct its business and affairs, as currently contemplated, the timing and amount of estimated future production, the costs of production, capital expenditures, the costs and timing of the development of new deposits, requirements for additional capital, future prices of precious metals, changes in general economic conditions, changes in the financial markets and in the demand and market price for commodities, lack of investor interest in future financings, accidents, labor disputes and other risks of the mining industry, delays in obtaining governmental approvals, permits or financing or in the completion of development or construction activities, risks relating to epidemics or pandemics such as COVID-19, including the impact of COVID-19 on the Company's business, financial condition and results of operations, changes in laws, regulations and policies affecting mining operations, title disputes, the inability of the Company to obtain any necessary permits, consents, approvals or authorizations, including of the Canadian Securities Exchange, the timing and possible outcome of any pending litigation, environmental issues and liabilities, and other factors and risks that are discussed in the Company's periodic filings with the SEC and disclosed in the final long form prospectus of the Company dated August 31, 2021.

Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to update any of the forward-looking statements in this press release or incorporated by reference herein, except as otherwise.

FOOTNOTES

_______________________________________________________

1The historical sampling and information disclosed in this press release is related to historical exploration results. The reader is cautioned that the historical sampling and information are based on prior data and reports previously prepared by third parties without the involvement of the Company. Athena has not undertaken any independent investigation of the historical sampling and information, nor has it independently analyzed the results of the historical sampling and exploration work in order to verify the results.

2Semi-Quantitative Spectrographic Analysis by Branch Exploration Research, USGS, Denver, Colorado. Gold analysis through Atomic-Adsorption Analysis.

3ALS Chemex Certificate of Analysis issued to Silver Reserve Corp dated July 13, 2007.

SOURCE: Athena Gold Corporation

View the original press release on accesswire.com
Oakville, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - June 12, 2024) - FendX Technologies Inc. (CSE: FNDX) (OTCQB: FDXTF) (FSE: E8D) (the "Company" or "FendX"), a nanotechnology company developing surface protection coatings is pleased to announce that the Company plans to conduct real-world testing of REPELWRAP film with New Vista Society ("New Vista") which is a non-profit organization committed to enriching senior's lives and providing affordable housing and long term care.

FendX is currently engaged with Dunmore International Inc. to conduct pilot manufacturing runs of REPELWRAP film and after successful optimization of the manufacturing process, FendX intends to conduct real-world testing with New Vista, located in Burnaby, BC. New Vista runs the New Vista Care Home, a 236-bed licensed, accredited residential care facility, principally caring for people living with complex health issues and dementia and also operates 690 independent living apartments and townhouses for low-income seniors and low- to moderate-income families. In addition, New Vista provides support to the frail and elderly in the community through adult day programs. FendX and New Vista have signed a letter of intent for testing which will involve applying REPELWRAP film to high touch surfaces at New Vista and assessing the performance of the film over an approximate four-week timeframe to confirm if the film can maintain its repelling performance as shown in McMaster University's lab.

Dr. Carolyn Myers, CEO of FendX states, "We are pleased to be working with New Vista to test our REPELWRAP film." Dr. Myers continues, "New Vista's commitment to seniors' well-being and affordable housing speaks volumes to their positive impact in the community and we feel privileged to be collaborating with them to test REPELWRAP film. Engaging with various industry testing partners will increase the breadth of our testing so we can assess performance of our film under different conditions and with different industry sectors and uses."

About REPELWRAP film

REPELWRAP film is the Company's first product in development and is a protective surface coating film that leverages the Company's award-winning nanotechnology. REPELWRAP film has demonstrated unique repelling properties that reduce adhesion of pathogens, bacteria, and viruses by >98%, reducing their transmission on surfaces prone to contamination. The Company believes REPELWRAP film will have applications in healthcare settings and other industries.

About Dunmore International Corp.

Dunmore is a global manufacturer of engineered coated and laminated films and foils with manufacturing facilities in the U.S. and Germany. Dunmore offers film conversion services such as coating, metallizing and laminating along with contract film manufacturing and custom film product development. Dunmore services a diverse group of industries including aircraft, spacecraft, photovoltaic, graphic arts & labels, packaging, and insulation. Dunmore is a subsidiary of Steel Partners and is ISO 9001:2015 and OSHA VPP Star certified.

About FendX Technologies Inc.

FendX is a Canada-based nanotechnology company focused on developing products to make people's lives safer by reducing the spread of pathogens. The Company is developing both film and spray products to protect surfaces from contamination. The lead product under development, REPELWRAP film, is a protective surface coating film that, due to its repelling properties, prevents the adhesion of pathogens and reduces their transmission on surfaces prone to contamination. The spray nanotechnology is a bifunctional spray coating being developed to reduce contamination on surfaces by repelling and killing pathogens. The Company is conducting research and development activities using its nanotechnology in collaboration with industry-leading partners, including McMaster University. The Company has exclusive worldwide licenses to its technology and IP portfolio from McMaster, which encompass both film and spray coating nanotechnology formulations.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

"Carolyn Myers"

Carolyn Myers

Chief Executive Officer and Director

Contacts:

Dr. Carolyn Myers, CEO and Director

1-800-344-9868

Alyssa Barry, Investor Relations

1-833-947-5227

investor@fendxtech.com

For more information, please visit https://fendxtech.com/ and the Company's profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor the 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.

Forward Looking Statements

This news release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation, including with respect to: the plans of the Company; statements regarding the Company's scale-up and testing initiatives; statements regarding the successful completion of optimizing the manufacturing process; statements regarding the plans to conduct real world testing with New Vista and a variety of industry sites to assess performance; the timing of testing and expectation the results obtained will confirm the film maintains its repelling properties as demonstrated in McMaster University's lab; the Company's expectation that engaging with various industry testing partners will increase the breadth of testing to assess performance of the film under different conditions and with different industry sectors and uses; the anticipated details and perceived benefits of the real-world testing with New Vista; the Company's belief that REPELWRAP will have applications in healthcare settings and other industries; and products under development and any pathogen reduction benefits related thereto. Although the Company believes that such statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts; they are generally, but not always, identified by the words "expects," "plans," "anticipates," "believes," "intends," "estimates," "projects," "aims," "potential," "goal," "objective," "prospective," and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will," "would," "may," "can," "could" or "should" occur, or are those statements, which, by their nature, refer to future events. The Company cautions that forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs, estimates and opinions of the Company's management on the date the statements are made, and they involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Consequently, there can be no assurances that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements.

Important factors that could cause future results to differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements include: product candidates only being in formulation/reformulation stages; limited operating history; research and development activities; dependence on collaborative partners, licensors and others; effect of general economic and political conditions; and other risk factors set forth in the Company's public filings which are available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca. The reader is urged to refer to such public filings for a more complete discussion of such risk factors and their potential effects. Except to the extent required by applicable securities laws and the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange, the Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements if management's beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/212634

SOURCE: FendX Technologies Inc.
CHICAGO, June 12, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Automotive Conformal Coating Market is projected to reach USD 3.5 billion by 2030, from an estimated USD 2.0 billion in 2024, at a CAGR of 10.0% during the forecast period., according to a new report by MarketsandMarkets. Automotive manufacturers are subject to stringent industry standards and regulations aimed at ensuring vehicle safety, reliability, and performance. These standards often mandate rigorous testing and protection of electronic components against various environmental and operational stresses. Conformal coatings help manufacturers meet these requirements by providing robust protection for electronic circuits and assemblies. Additionally, as vehicles become more connected and autonomous, the importance of protecting electronic components from potential failures and ensuring cybersecurity increases. Adhering to these stringent standards and regulations drives the demand for high-quality conformal coatings, as they are essential for compliance and for maintaining the integrity and functionality of advanced automotive electronics.

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Browse in-depth TOC on "Automotive Conformal Coatings Market"

256 - Tables

53 - Figures

229 - Pages

Automotive Conformal Coatings Market Scope:

Report Coverage Details Market Revenue in 2024 USD 2.0 billion Estimated Value by 2030 USD 3.5 billion Growth Rate Poised to grow at a CAGR of 10.0% Market Size Available for 2019-2030 Forecast Period 2024-2030 Forecast Units Value (USD Billion) Report Coverage Revenue Forecast, Competitive Landscape, Growth Factors, and Trends Segments Covered Material (Acrylic, Silicone, Epoxy, Polyurethane, Parylene), Component (ECU, PCB, Sensor, Battery Casing, LED and Infotainment System), Application Method, Vehicle Type, EV, Region Geographies Covered Asia Oceania, Europe, North America, and RoW Report Highlights Updated financial information / product portfolio of players Key Market Opportunities Innovation in autonomous and connected mobility Key Market Drivers Increasing adoption of electronics in vehicles.

Acrylic to be the largest segment, by material type

Acrylic account for a largest share of the conformal coatings market, with broad applications in automotive electronics. This attributes to its cheaper cost than other available coatings and no special requirement of any additional equipment for its application. The acrylic coatings protect electric circuits from moisture, dirt, dust, thermal shocks, and scratches, which could corrode, short circuit, or otherwise damage the electric component. They also provide insulation against high-voltage and static discharges. Additionally, these coatings are fast-curing, free from solvents, and easily reworkable. They produce little or no heat during the curing process, eliminating potential damage to heat-sensitive components.

These coatings provide protection at a lower cost than other conformal coatings. They can withstand temperatures ranging from -65C to +125C and are widely used for coating components inside the vehicle cabin as they are not exposed to high temperatures. Acrylic conformal coatings are transparent, insulating, and quick-drying coatings. They are also easy to apply and do not require special equipment.

PCB to be the fastest-growing segment for automotive conformal coatings market, by component.

Printed circuit board (PCB) is responsible for holding together all the exquisite sensors and components required for the efficient operation of an automotive vehicle. Automotive PCB manufacturers need to provide a wide variety of options. The kinds of systems and operations that now use PCBs for enhanced efficiency and safety include rear LED lights and running lights, transmission controls, and comfort control units, among others.

Automotive PCB manufacturers are required to provide PCBs made of materials that can operate at optimum levels in harsh working environments. Automotive manufacturers also face stringent regulatory requirements for vehicle reliability, safety, and environmental performance. Conformal coatings play a vital role in helping automakers meet these standards by safeguarding PCBs against environmental hazards that could compromise their functionality. By enhancing the reliability of electronic systems, conformal coatings contribute to overall vehicle quality and compliance with industry regulations. Hence, conformal coating of PCBs is essential as it helps provide long-term surface insulation. Acrylic is the most common material used to coat these PCBs.

Europe is dominating market in the automotive conformal coating market.

Europe covers the UK, Germany, France, Spain, Italy, and Russia for market analysis. The region is home to several automotive giants and premium vehicle manufacturers, including BMW AG (Germany), Daimler AG (Germany), Fiat (Italy), PSA/Peugeot-Citroen (France), and Volkswagen AG (Germany). These companies are at the forefront of automotive innovation, pushing the boundaries of vehicle performance, safety, and technology. The presence of these manufacturers has significantly increased the demand for high-quality automotive components and materials, including conformal coatings. These coatings are essential for protecting electronic systems in modern vehicles, ensuring their reliability and longevity.

Henkel AG & Co. KGaA (Germany), Electrolube (UK), ALTANA AG (Germany), and CHT Group (Germany) are major conformal coating suppliers in the European region. These suppliers invest heavily in research and development to innovate and improve coating technologies, providing protection for sensitive electronic components. Additionally, the strong supply chain and distribution networks established by these suppliers enable quick and efficient delivery of conformal coatings across Europe. This reliability ensures that manufacturers have regular access to the materials they need to maintain production schedules and quality standards.

Governments in Europe are further implementing strategies to boost their electronics industry, which could create lucrative opportunities for the conformal coatings market in the coming years. Higher passenger car production and mandatory safety system installation lead to more electronic components in European cars than in Asia Pacific, thereby driving the market.

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Automotive Conformal Coatings Market Dynamics:

Drivers:

1. Increasing adoption of electronics in vehicles.

Restraints:

1. Size reduction and consolidation of component.

Opportunities:

1. Innovation in autonomous and connected mobility

Challenge:

1. Lack of technical knowledge

Key Market Players Automotive Conformal Coatings Industry:

Prominent players in the Automotive Conformal Coatings Market include Dow (US), Henkel AG & CO. KGAA (Germany), Chase Corporation (US), H.B. Fuller (US), and Shin-etsu Chemical Co. Ltd. (Japan)

The break-down of primary participants is as mentioned below:

By Stakeholder: Demand Side - 20%, Supply Side - 80%

Demand Side - 20%, Supply Side - 80% By Designation: C level - 10%, D level - 30%, Others - 60%

C level - 10%, D level - 30%, Others - 60% By Region: North America - 20%, Europe - 20%, Asia Pacific- 60%

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Automotive Conformal Coatings Industry Recent Developments:

In Feb 2024, Henkel AG & CO. KGaA signed an agreement to acquire US-based Seal for Life Industries, a provider of innovative coating and sealing products. This includes visco-elastic coatings, epoxy & urethane coatings, and fire protection. It also offers heat-shrink sleeves, insulation, and sound-dampening coatings.

In Feb 2024, Henkel AG & CO. KGaA announced the launch of Loctite Stycast CC 8555, a conformal coating designed to protect electronics in extreme environments. It can be used on PCBs and sensitive component protection in challenging, high-power applications such as motor drives, PLCs, EV charging infrastructure, AC/DC power supplies, and other high-voltage electronics.

In March 2023, Dow introduced the DOWSIL PV product line, which consists of six silicone-based sealants and adhesive solutions designed to provide long-lasting durability and established performance for applications such as frame sealing, rail bonding, junction box bonding, and potting, as well as materials for the installation of building integrated photovoltaics (BIPV).

Automotive Conformal Coatings Market Size - Key Benefits of Buying the Report:

The report will help the market leaders/new entrants in this market with the information on the closest approximations of the revenue numbers for the overall automotive conformal coating market and the sub-segments.

This report will help stakeholders understand the competitive landscape and gain insights to better position their businesses and plan suitable go-to-market strategies.

The report also helps stakeholders understand the pulse of the market and provides them with information on key market drivers, restraints, challenges, and opportunities.

This report provides insights on:

Analysis of key drivers (Increasing adoption of electronics in automobiles, increasing adoption of electric vehicles), restraints (Costly removal and rework in case of damage, Size reduction of components), opportunities (Technological advancements in conformal coating, Advancement in autonomous and connected mobility) and challenges (High price of conformal coating, Stringent government regulation, Lack of technical knowledge) influencing the growth of the automotive conformal coating market.

(Increasing adoption of electronics in automobiles, increasing adoption of electric vehicles), restraints (Costly removal and rework in case of damage, Size reduction of components), opportunities (Technological advancements in conformal coating, Advancement in autonomous and connected mobility) and challenges (High price of conformal coating, Stringent government regulation, Lack of technical knowledge) influencing the growth of the automotive conformal coating market. Product Development/Innovation: Detailed insights on technologies, and new product launches in the automotive conformal coating market.

Detailed insights on technologies, and new product launches in the automotive conformal coating market. Market Development: Comprehensive information about the markets - the report analyses the automotive conformal coating market across varied regions.

Comprehensive information about the markets - the report analyses the automotive conformal coating market across varied regions. Market Diversification: Exhaustive information about new products, untapped geographies, and recent developments in automotive conformal coating market.

Exhaustive information about new products, untapped geographies, and recent developments in automotive conformal coating market. Competitive Assessment: In-depth assessment of market shares, growth strategies offerings of leading players like Dow (US), Henkel AG & CO. KGAA (Germany), Chase Corporation (US), H.B. Fuller (US), and Shin-etsu Chemical Co. Ltd. (Japan) among others in automotive conformal coating market.

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Get access to the latest updates on Automotive Conformal Coatings Companies and Automotive Conformal Coatings Industry Growth

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SINGAPORE, June 12, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- 51Talk Online Education Group ("51Talk" or the "Company") (NYSE American: COE), a global online education platform with core expertise in English education, announced its unaudited results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2024.

First Quarter 2024 Financial and Operating Highlights

Gross billings [1] for the first quarter of 2024 were US$12.6 million, a 55.6% growth from the first quarter of 2023.

for the first quarter of 2024 were US$12.6 million, a 55.6% growth from the first quarter of 2023. Net revenues were US$9.4 million for the first quarter of 2024, a 70.1% increase from US$5.6 million for the first quarter of 2023.

The number of quarterly active students with attended lesson consumption was approximately 46,200 in the first quarter of 2024, representing a 83.3% increase from approximately 25,200 for the first quarter of 2023.

Key Financial and Operating Data For the three months ended





March 31,

March 31,

Y-o-Y

2023

2024

Change











Net Revenues (in US$ millions) 5.6

9.4

70.1 % Gross Margin 77.6 %

77.5 %

-0.1ppt Gross Billings (in US$ millions) 8.1

12.6

55.6 %











Active students with attended lesson consumption[2]

(in thousands) 25.2

46.2

83.3 %













[1] Gross billings for a specific period, which is one of the Company's key operating data, is defined as the total amount of cash received and receivable from third party payment platforms for the sale of course packages and services in such period, net of the total amount of refunds in such period. The gross billings data included herein was from the Company's business system and converted with quarterly corresponding exchange rate, which may lead to differences with bank records [2] An "active student with attended lesson consumption" for a given period refers to a student who attended at least one paid lesson, excluding those students who only attended paid live broadcasting lessons or trial lessons.

"Business momentum continued in the first quarter of 2024, driven by our diversified portfolio of markets driving us to exceed the high end of guidance. We have observed significant returns on our earlier investments. Particularly, our branding activities were supportive to increase our student base. We remain confident in our capability in delivering quality growth." stated Mr. Jack Huang, Founder, Chairman, and Chief Executive Officer of 51Talk.

"Our over 46,000 quarterly active students, along with numerous participants in free trials, provide us with a substantial pool of potential demand. We have developed new products tailored to their needs, such as test preparation programs for school enrollments."

"During the quarter, we formally established our AI Research Institute to explore how the latest technologies can enhance our user experience and operational efficiency. We have begun using AI to customize learning progress reports for students and conduct interviews and trainings for teachers." Mr. Huang concluded.

First Quarter 2024 Financial Results

Net Revenues and Gross Margin

Net revenues for the first quarter of 2024 were US$9.4 million, a 70.1% increase from US$5.6 million for the same quarter last year. The number of active students with attended lesson consumption was approximately 46,200 in the first quarter of 2024, a 83.3% increase from 25,200 for the same quarter last year.

Cost of revenues for the first quarter of 2024 was US$2.1 million, a 71.3% increase from US$1.2 million for the same quarter last year. The increase was primarily due to the increase in total service fees paid to teachers, mainly resulting from an increased number of paid lessons.

Gross profit for the first quarter of 2024 was US$7.3 million, a 69.8% increase from US$4.3 million for the same quarter last year.

Gross margin for the first quarter of 2024 was 77.5%, compared with 77.6% for the same quarter last year.

Operating Expenses

Total operating expenses for the first quarter of 2024 were US$11.3 million, a 64.1% increase from US$6.9 million for the same quarter last year. The increase was mainly due to the increase in sales and marketing expenses.

Sales and marketing expenses for the first quarter of 2024 were US$7.7 million, a 74.0% increase from US$4.4 million for the same quarter last year. The increase was mainly due to higher sales personnel costs related to increases in the number of sales and marketing personnel and higher marketing expenses. Excluding share-based compensation expenses, non-GAAP sales and marketing expenses for the first quarter of 2024 were US$7.7 million, a 75.3% increase from US$4.4 million for the same quarter last year.

Product development expenses for the first quarter of 2024 were US$1.0 million, a 42.7% increase from US$0.7 million for the same quarter last year. The increase was primarily due to higher product development personnel costs. Excluding share-based compensation expenses, non-GAAP product development expenses for the first quarter of 2024 were US$0.9 million, a 50.0% increase from US$0.6 million for the same quarter last year.

General and administrative expenses for the first quarter of 2024 were US$2.6 million, a 47.2% increase from US$1.8 million for the same quarter last year. The increase was primarily due to higher general and administrative personnel costs. Excluding share-based compensation expenses, non-GAAP general and administrative expenses for the first quarter of 2024 were US$2.4 million, a 44.2% increase from US$1.6 million for the same quarter last year.

Loss from Operations

Operating loss for the first quarter of 2024 was US$3.9 million, compared with operating loss of US$2.6 million for the same quarter last year.

Non-GAAP operating loss for the first quarter of 2024 was US$3.7 million, compared with non-GAAP operating loss of US$2.3 million for the same quarter last year.

Net loss attributable to the Company's ordinary shareholders

Net loss attributable to the Company's ordinary shareholders for the first quarter of 2024 was US$3.7 million, compared with net loss of US$2.6 million for the same quarter last year.

Excluding share-based compensation expenses of US$0.3 million, non-GAAP net loss for the first quarter of 2024 was US$3.4 million, compared with non-GAAP net loss of US$2.4 million for the same quarter last year.

Basic and diluted net loss per share attributable to ordinary shareholders for the first quarter of 2024 was US$0.01, compared with basic and diluted net loss per share of US$0.01 for the same quarter last year.

Excluding share-based compensation expenses of US$0.3 million, non-GAAP basic and diluted net loss per share attributable to ordinary shareholders for the first quarter of 2024 was US$0.01, compared with non-GAAP basic and diluted net loss per share attributable to ordinary shareholders of US$0.01 for the same quarter last year.

Basic and diluted net loss per American depositary share ("ADS") attributable to ordinary shareholders for the first quarter of 2024 was US$0.65, compared with basic and diluted net loss per ADS of US$0.46 for the same quarter last year. Each ADS represents 60 Class A ordinary shares.

Excluding share-based compensation expenses of US$0.3 million, non-GAAP basic and diluted net loss per ADS attributable to ordinary shareholders for the first quarter of 2024 was US$0.60, compared with non-GAAP basic and diluted net loss per ADS attributable to ordinary shareholders of US$0.42 for the same quarter last year.

Balance Sheet

As of March 31, 2024, the Company had total cash, cash equivalents and time deposits of US$21.7 million, compared with US$23.4 million as of December 31, 2023.

The Company had advances from students[3] of US$30.1 million as of March 31, 2024, compared with US$27.2 million as of December 31, 2023.

The financial statements for the first quarter ended March 31, 2024 herein have not been audited or reviewed by the Company's independent registered accounting firm.

[3] "Advances from students" is defined as the amount of obligation to transfer goods or service to students or business partners for which consideration has been received from students in advance. The deposits from students are also presented in the total amount of "advances from students"

Outlook

For the second quarter of 2024, the Company currently expects net gross billings to be between $13.5 million and $14.0 million, which would represent a sequential growth of 7.5% to 11.5%.

The foregoing outlook is based on current market conditions and reflects the Company's current and preliminary estimates of market and operating conditions and customer demand, which are all subject to change.

Conference Call

The Company's management will host an earnings conference call at 8:00 AM U.S. Eastern Time on June 12, 2024 (8:00 PM Singapore/ Hong Kong time on June 12, 2024).

Dial-in details for the earnings conference call are as follows:

United States (toll free): 1-888-346-8982 International: 1-412-902-4272 Singapore (toll free): 800-120-6157 Mainland China (toll free): 4001-201203 Hong Kong (toll free): 800-905945 Hong Kong (local toll): 852-301-84992

Participants should dial-in at least 5 minutes before the scheduled start time and ask to be connected to the call for "51Talk Online Education Group."

Additionally, a live and archived webcast of the conference call will be available on the Company's investor relations website at http://ir.51talk.com.

A replay of the conference call will be accessible until June 19, 2024, by dialing the following telephone numbers:

United States (toll free): 1-877-344-7529 International: 1-412-317-0088 Replay Access Code: 7503555

About 51Talk Online Education Group

51Talk Online Education Group (NYSE American: COE) is a global online education platform with core expertise in English education. The Company's mission is to make quality education accessible and affordable. The Company's online and mobile education platforms enable students to take live interactive English lessons, on demand. The Company connects its students with a large pool of highly qualified teachers that it assembled using a shared economy approach, and employs student and teacher feedback and data analytics to deliver a personalized learning experience to its students.

Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

In evaluating its business, 51Talk considers and uses the following measures defined as non-GAAP financial measures by the SEC as supplemental metrics to review and assess its operating performance: non-GAAP sales and marketing expenses, non-GAAP product development expenses, non-GAAP general and administrative expenses, non-GAAP operating expenses, non-GAAP operating income/(loss), non-GAAP net income/(loss), non-GAAP net income/(loss) attributable to ordinary shareholders, and non-GAAP net income/(loss) attributable to ordinary shareholders per share and per ADS. To present each of these non-GAAP measures, the Company excludes share-based compensation expenses. The presentation of these non-GAAP financial measures is not intended to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for the financial information prepared and presented in accordance with GAAP. For more information on these non-GAAP financial measures, please see the table captioned "Reconciliations of non-GAAP measures to the most comparable GAAP measures" set forth at the end of this press release.

51Talk believes that these non-GAAP financial measures provide meaningful supplemental information regarding its performance by excluding share-based compensation expenses that may not be indicative of its operating performance from a cash perspective. 51Talk believes that both management and investors benefit from these non-GAAP financial measures in assessing its performance and when planning and forecasting future periods. These non-GAAP financial measures also facilitate management's internal comparisons to 51Talk's historical performance. 51Talk computes its non-GAAP financial measures using the same consistent method from quarter to quarter and from period to period. 51Talk believes these non-GAAP financial measures are useful to investors in allowing for greater transparency with respect to supplemental information used by management in its financial and operational decision-making. A limitation of using non-GAAP measures is that these non-GAAP measures exclude share-based compensation expenses that have been and will continue to be for the foreseeable future a significant recurring expense in the 51Talk's business. Management compensates for these limitations by providing specific information regarding the GAAP amounts excluded from each non-GAAP measure. The accompanying table at the end of this press release provides more details on the reconciliations between GAAP financial measures that are most directly comparable to non-GAAP financial measures.

Safe Harbor Statement

This press release contains statements that may constitute "forward-looking" statements pursuant to the "safe harbor" provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as "will", "expects", "anticipates", "aims", "future", "intends", "plans", "believes", "estimates", "likely to" and similar statements. Among other things, 51Talk's quotations from management in this announcement, as well as 51Talk's strategic and operational plans, contain forward-looking statements. 51Talk may also make written or oral forward-looking statements in its periodic reports to the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"), in its annual report to shareholders, in press releases and other written materials and in oral statements made by its officers, directors or employees to third parties. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about 51Talk's beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement, including but not limited to the following: 51Talk's goals and strategies; 51Talk's expectations regarding demand for and market acceptance of its brand and platform; 51Talk's ability to retain and increase its student enrollment; 51Talk's ability to offer new courses; 51Talk's ability to engage, train and retain new teachers; 51Talk's future business development, results of operations and financial condition; 51Talk's ability to maintain and improve infrastructure necessary to operate its education platform; competition in the online education industry in its international markets; the expected growth of, and trends in, the markets for 51Talk's course offerings in its international markets; relevant government policies and regulations relating to 51Talk's corporate structure, business and industry; general economic and business condition in the Philippines, its international markets and elsewhere; and assumptions underlying or related to any of the foregoing. Further information regarding these and other risks is included in 51Talk's filings with the SEC. All information provided in this press release is as of the date of this press release, and 51Talk does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, except as required under applicable law.





51TALK ONLINE EDUCATION GROUP



UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS



(In thousands)















As of







Dec. 31,

Mar. 31,









2023

2024









US$

US$

















ASSETS











Current assets













Cash and cash equivalents

21,298

17,350





Time deposits

2,091

4,320





Inventory

-

29





Prepaid expenses and other current assets

6,394

7,854



Total current assets

29,783

29,553



















Non-current assets













Property and equipment, net

138

196





Intangible assets, net

92

89





Right-of-use assets

723

639





Deferred tax assets

72

71





Other non-current assets

348

249



Total non-current assets

1,373

1,244



















Total assets

31,156

30,797











LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' DEFICITS





Current liabilities













Advances from students

27,214

30,056





Accrued expenses and other current liabilities

6,189

7,454





Amounts due to related parties

4,077

3,267





Lease liability

590

488





Taxes payable

1,060

1,191



Total current liabilities

39,130

42,456



















Non-current liabilities













Lease liability

41

19





Other non-current liabilities

176

278



Total non-current liabilities

217

297



















Total liabilities

39,347

42,753

















Total shareholders' deficits

(8,340)

(12,315)



Noncontrolling interests

149

359



Total deficits

(8,191)

(11,956)

















Total liabilities and shareholders' deficits

31,156

30,797





















51TALK ONLINE EDUCATION GROUP UNAUDITED INTERIM CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE LOSS (In thousands except for number of shares and per share data)

















For the three months ended



Mar. 31,

Dec. 31,

Mar. 31,



2023

2023

2024



US$

US$

US$ Net revenues

5,552

7,471

9,446 Cost of revenues

(1,242)

(1,868)

(2,128) Gross profit

4,310

5,603

7,318 Operating expenses











Sales and marketing expenses

(4,441)

(7,182)

(7,728) Product development expenses

(662)

(864)

(945) General and administrative expenses

(1,759)

(1,867)

(2,589) Total operating expenses

(6,862)

(9,913)

(11,262) Loss from operations

(2,552)

(4,310)

(3,944) Interest income

33

67

82 Other income/(expenses), net

(75)

(1,253)

141 Loss before income tax expenses

(2,594)

(5,496)

(3,721) Income tax expenses

(9)

(171)

(22) Net loss

(2,603)

(5,667)

(3,743) Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests

-

-

(19) Net loss attributable to the Company's

ordinary shareholders

(2,603)

(5,667)

(3,724)













Weighted average number of ordinary

shares used in computing basic and diluted

loss per share

339,338,128

342,841,445

345,124,338















51TALK ONLINE EDUCATION GROUP UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE LOSS (In thousands except for number of shares and per share data)







For the three months ended











Mar. 31,

Dec. 31,

Mar. 31,











2023

2023

2024











US$

US$

US$























Net loss per share attributable to ordinary shareholders











Basic and diluted





(0.01)

(0.02)

(0.01)

Net loss per ADS attributable to ordinary shareholders











Basic and diluted





(0.46)

(0.99)

(0.65)





















Share-based compensation expenses are included in the operating expenses as follows:



















Sales and marketing expenses





(48)

(31)

(29)

Product development expenses





(54)

(45)

(33)

General and administrative expenses





(120)

(170)

(225)



51TALK ONLINE EDUCATION GROUP Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Measures to the Most Comparable GAAP Measures (In thousands except for number of shares and per share data)







For the three months ended











Mar. 31,

Dec. 31,

Mar. 31,











2023

2023

2024











US$

US$

US$























Sales and marketing expenses





(4,441)

(7,182)

(7,728)

Less: Share-based compensation expenses





(48)

(31)

(29)

Non-GAAP sales and marketing expenses





(4,393)

(7,151)

(7,699)























Product development expenses





(662)

(864)

(945)

Less: Share-based compensation expenses





(54)

(45)

(33)

Non-GAAP product development expenses





(608)

(819)

(912)























General and administrative expenses





(1,759)

(1,867)

(2,589)

Less: Share-based compensation expenses





(120)

(170)

(225)

Non-GAAP general and administrative expenses





(1,639)

(1,697)

(2,364)























Operating expenses





(6,862)

(9,913)

(11,262)

Less: Share-based compensation expenses





(222)

(246)

(287)

Non-GAAP operating expenses





(6,640)

(9,667)

(10,975)























Loss from operations





(2,552)

(4,310)

(3,944)

Less: Share-based compensation expenses





(222)

(246)

(287)

Non-GAAP loss from operations





(2,330)

(4,064)

(3,657)



51TALK ONLINE EDUCATION GROUP Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Measures to the Most Comparable GAAP Measures (In thousands except for number of shares and per share data)









For the three months ended











Mar. 31,

Dec. 31,

Mar. 31,











2023

2023

2024











US$

US$

US$























Income tax expenses





(9)

(171)

(22)

Less: Tax impact of Share-based compensation expenses





-

-

-

Non-GAAP income tax expenses





(9)

(171)

(22)























Net loss attributable to the Company's ordinary

shareholders





(2,603)

(5,667)

(3,724)

Less: Share-based compensation expenses





(222)

(246)

(287)

Non-GAAP net loss attributable to the Company's ordinary

shareholders





(2,381)

(5,421)

(3,437)























Weighted average number of ordinary shares used in

computing basic and diluted loss per share





339,338,128

342,841,445

345,124,338











































Non-GAAP net loss per share attributable to ordinary

shareholders

















Basic and diluted





(0.01)

(0.02)

(0.01)























Non-GAAP net loss per ADS attributable to ordinary

shareholders

















Basic and diluted





(0.42)

(0.95)

(0.60)





























SOURCE 51Talk Online Education Group
Trane Technologies (NYSE:TT), a global climate innovator, is expanding its support of Project Scientist, providing the education non-profit with a contribution of $1.2 million over the next three years. This additional investment expands upon the original $1 million in funding from Trane Technologies in 2021 to help Project Scientist extend its reach and support girls ages 4-12 with innovative STEM programs in new communities.

Building on the program's successful results in the first three years, this additional investment will fund Summer STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, and math) Labs in communities where Trane Technologies has a significant workforce including Charlotte, North Carolina, Tyler, Texas, La Crosse, Wisconsin, St. Paul, Minnesota and Brea, California. The funding also supports an After-School STEAM Club in Monterrey, Mexico and virtual Scholar programs that will transition to an in-person model in 2025.

These new Summer STEAM Labs programs are designed to challenge and inspire girls ages 4-12 to be innovative scientists and problem solvers and give them experience of what it's like to work at a leading STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) company. Since 2021, more than 1,500 girls have taken part in the programs, engaging with over 700 employee volunteers who served as role models, proving students with real world exposure to diverse women who work in STEM careers.

"I am so proud of our continuing support of Project Scientist because I've seen firsthand the joy on the young girls' faces as they interact with our team, learn about possible opportunities, and build confidence in their own abilities," said Deidra Parrish Williams, Trane Technologies' leader of Global Corporate Social Responsibility. "These innovative and inclusive programs from Project Scientist open a new world of possibilities for children in our communities and spark interest in STEM fields that will propel them into rewarding careers."

"Project Scientist is grateful for the unwavering support of Trane Technologies," said Dr. Patrice S. Johnson, CEO, Project Scientist. "Their commitment allows us to deliver exceptional STEAM out-of-school education programs across the United States and Monterrey, Mexico. Trane's generosity combined with employee collaboration not only sustains our current programs but also enables us to scale and expand our reach in the coming years ensuring that students from historically marginalized communities have access to educational and career pathways to become future innovators and leaders."

Trane Technologies' support of Project Scientist aligns with the company's 2030 Sustainability Commitments, which include a commitment to creating Opportunity for All through citizenship initiatives that provide access to equitable education and pathways to green and STEM careers.

The company's corporate citizenship strategy, Sustainable Futures, is designed to support young, under-represented learners. Trane Technologies is investing $100 million and 500,000 employee volunteer hours by 2030 in programs that support this strategy. In 2023, the company donated over $18 million in philanthropic giving, an increase of 19% from 2022, and its team members volunteered 92,517 hours last year, putting the company at 47% of its 2030 goal.

About Trane Technologies

Trane Technologies is a global climate innovator. Through our strategic brands Trane and Thermo King, and our portfolio of environmentally responsible products and services, we bring efficient and sustainable climate solutions to buildings, homes and transportation. Visit tranetechnologies.com.

About Project Scientist

Project Scientist is a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit delivering high-quality experiences in science, technology, engineering, arts, and math (STEAM) to girls from marginalized and underserved communities. We offer summer and after-school programs in partnership with local schools, school districts, nonprofit organizations, and STEM Companies. To date, Project Scientist has provided nearly 116,000 STEAM education experiences, impacting over 24,000 girls from communities across the United States and Mexico. Learn more at projectscientist.org.

This news release includes "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of securities laws, which are statements that are not historical facts, including statements that relate to our investment in education programs, our sustainability commitments and the impact of these commitments. These forward-looking statements are based on our current expectations and are subject to risks and uncertainties, which may cause actual results to differ materially from our current expectations. Factors that could cause such differences can be found in our Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023, as well as our subsequent reports on Form 10-Q and other SEC filings. New risks and uncertainties arise from time to time, and it is impossible for us to predict these events or how they may affect the Company. We assume no obligation to update these forward-looking statements.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240612612664/en/

Contacts:

Media Contact:

Travis Bullard

+1-919-802-2593

Media@tranetechnologies.com

Investors Contact:

Zachary Nagle

+1-704-990-3913

InvestorRelations@tranetechnologies.com
CHICAGO, June 12, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Produced Water Treatment Market in terms of revenue was estimated to be worth $10.7 billion in 2024 and is poised to reach $13.4 billion by 2029, growing at a CAGR of 4.7% from 2024 to 2029 according to a new report by MarketsandMarkets.

Produced water, which is a byproduct of oil and gas exploration process, requires active treatment to meet environmental regulations and helps in reuse or safe disposal. This produced water is a mixture of injected water, Natural formation water, and any other chemicals used in the exploration and drilling process.

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Produced Water Treatment Market Scope:

Report Coverage Details Market Revenue in 2024 $10.7 billion Estimated Value by 2029 $13.4 billion Growth Rate Poised to grow at a CAGR of 4.7% Market Size Available for 2021-2029 Forecast Period 2024-2029 Forecast Units Value (USD Million/Billion) Report Coverage Revenue Forecast, Competitive Landscape, Growth Factors, and Trends Segments Covered By Source, Application, Treatment 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 Use of produced water in industrial processes Key Market Drivers Rising global oil and gas production and growing concerns over water resource management

By Source, the Conventional segment is estimated to be the largest segment during the forecast period.

Based on source, the produced water treatment market has been split into Conventional and Unconventional. The Conventional segment in the produced water treatment market is anticipated to be the largest because it is experiencing rapid growth due to the increasing exploration and production activities. The conventional segment for produced water treatment is growing due to the increase in established oil and gas fields that require constant maintenance to remain effective.

By Application, Onshore segment is expected to remain largest during the forecast period.

Based on Application, the produced water treatment market has been split into Onshore and Offshore. The Onshore segment in the produced water treatment market is anticipated to be the largest because the onshore drilling operations are generally less expensive compared to offshore projects. The onshore segment experienced considerable growth due to the cost advantages, technological advancements, better infrastructure, and increased exploration and production activities.

By treatment type, Tertiary treatment is expected to grow fastest during the forecast period.

This report segments the produced water treatment market based on various treatment methods: Primary treatment, secondary treatment, and tertiary treatment. Tertiary treatment is expected to be the fastest growing segment during the forecast period due to the usage of advanced methods such as reverse osmosis and advanced oxidation. These processes provide high levels of impurities removal to make the treated water suitable for reuse as portable water as well as in industrial applications.

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Middle East & Africa is expected to be the Second fastest region in the produced water treatment market.

Middle East & Africa is expected to be the second fastest growing region after Asia-Pacific in the produced water treatment market during the forecast period. The region's increasing focus on produced water treatment is due to the Geopolitical stability, Abundant oil and gas reserves, and expanding Exploration & Production activities. The MEA region is home to some of the world's largest oil and gas reserves, particularly in countries like Saudi Arabia, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, and the United Arab Emirates. The MEA region has significant offshore oil and gas reserves, particularly in the Persian Gulf, Red Sea, and offshore West Africa.

Key Market Players of Produced Water Treatment Industry:

Key players in the global Produced Water Treatment Market include SLB (US), Baker Hughes Company (US), Siemens Energy (Germany), Veolia Environnement SA (France), TechnipFMC (UK). The major strategies adopted by these players include sales contracts, product launches, investments, collaborations, partnerships, and expansions.

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Water Desalination Equipment Market Technology (Reverse Osmosis, Multi-stage Flash Distillation, Multiple-effect Distillation) Application (Municipal, Industrial) Product (Membranes, Pumps, Evaporators), and Region-Global Forecast to 2026

Drilling and Completion Fluids Market by Application (Onshore and Offshore), Fluid System (Water-Based System, Oil-Based System, Synthetic-Based System), Well Type (Conventional and HPHT), and Region

Get access to the latest updates on Produced Water Treatment Companies and Produced Water Treatment Industry Growth

About MarketsandMarkets:

MarketsandMarkets has been recognized as one of America's best management consulting firms by Forbes, as per their recent report.

MarketsandMarkets is a blue ocean alternative in growth consulting and program management, leveraging a man-machine offering to drive supernormal growth for progressive organizations in the B2B space. We have the widest lens on emerging technologies, making us proficient in co-creating supernormal growth for clients.

Earlier this year, we made a formal transformation into one of America's best management consulting firms as per a survey conducted by Forbes.

The B2B economy is witnessing the emergence of $25 trillion of new revenue streams that are substituting existing revenue streams in this decade alone. We work with clients on growth programs, helping them monetize this $25 trillion opportunity through our service lines - TAM Expansion, Go-to-Market (GTM) Strategy to Execution, Market Share Gain, Account Enablement, and Thought Leadership Marketing.

Built on the 'GIVE Growth' principle, we work with several Forbes Global 2000 B2B companies - helping them stay relevant in a disruptive ecosystem. Our insights and strategies are molded by our industry experts, cutting-edge AI-powered Market Intelligence Cloud, and years of research. The KnowledgeStore (our Market Intelligence Cloud) integrates our research, facilitates an analysis of interconnections through a set of applications, helping clients look at the entire ecosystem and understand the revenue shifts happening in their industry.

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New portfolio caters to high-density applications and AI workloads, providing improved weight support, cooling capacity, and connectivity.

Enhanced features include the second generation of NetShelter SX Enclosures, NetShelter Aisle Containment, and a forthcoming significant update to the NetShelter Rack PDU Advanced.

The updated solutions meet industry demand for sustainability, speed to market, and compliance with the European Energy Efficiency Directive.

LONDON, June 12, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Schneider Electric , the leader in the digital transformation of energy management and automation, today unveiled its revamped data centre White Space portfolio, where racks and IT equipment sit within a data centre.

This new portfolio includes the second generation of NetShelter SX Enclosures (NetShelter SX Gen2), new NetShelter Aisle Containment, and a future update to the NetShelter Rack PDU Advanced, designed to meet the evolving needs of modern data centres, particularly those handling high-density applications and AI workloads, as well as regulatory requirements like the European Energy Efficiency Directive (EED).

The NetShelter SX Gen2 enclosures are specifically engineered to support the demands of contemporary data centres. These new racks can support up to 25% more weight than previous models, handling approximately 4,000 pounds (1,814 kilograms), which is essential for accommodating the heavier, denser equipment associated with AI and high-performance computing.

Enhanced perforation in the doors increases airflow, vital for cooling high-density server configurations, and the racks offer more space and better cable management options for larger, more complex server setups. With security of physical equipment remaining an important requirement, the enclosures feature all-steel construction and 3-point-locking systems to improve data centre protection.

The NetShelter SX Gen2 racks reduce their overall climate change impact by around 3.3% per rack and are designed to be highly recyclable, with approximately 97% of the rack being recyclable. These racks are available in standard sizes of 42U, 45U, and 48U along with wide, extra-wide and deep models.

"Our NetShelter SX Gen2 enclosures are a leap forward in addressing the critical requirements of high-density applications," said Elliott Turek, Director of Category Management, Secure Power Division, Schneider Electric. "With enhanced weight support, airflow management, and physical security, we are enabling our customers to optimise their data centre operations while also advancing sustainability."

Advanced Cooling and Flexibility with NetShelter Aisle Containment

The latest NetShelter Aisle Containment can achieve up to 20% more cooling capacity. This is crucial for managing the heat generated by AI servers and other high-density applications. The system incorporates an air flow controller that automates fan speed, reducing fan energy consumption by up to 40% compared to traditional passive cooling systems.

The vendor neutral containment systems provide greater flexibility and speed of setup for data centre operators, allowing for easier integration and adaptation to existing builds. The new design also simplifies installation and field modifications, while reducing energy expenses by between 5 and 10%.

"Containment remains paramount in today's high-density data centres," said Elliott Turek. "Even in liquid cooled applications, air heat rejection plays a critical role. Our NetShelter Aisle Containment solutions not only enhance cooling capacity but also offer significant energy savings, aligning with our commitment to sustainability."

Security and Management with NetShelter Rack PDU Advanced and Secure NMC3

The NetShelter Rack PDU Advanced with Secure NMC3 is an updated power distribution unit equipped with advanced security features and enhanced management capabilities. The Secure NMC3 network management card provides robust cybersecurity measures and enables third-party validation for firmware updates for consistent compliance. This support for mass firmware updates significantly reduces the manual effort required to keep the PDUs secure and up-to-date, which is crucial for maintaining security across large deployments.

The PDU is suitable for a range of applications, including those with power requirements up to an including 70kW per rack, making it a versatile solution for various data centre configurations. It includes features that enhance energy efficiency and operational reliability, contributing to the overall sustainability of the data centre.

"Security and efficiency are at the forefront of our advanced PDUs," added Elliott Turek. "By integrating expended security and management features, we are ensuring that our customers can maintain secure and efficient operations with ease."

All products in Schneider Electric's revamped White Space portfolio are available for quotation and order (Secure NMC3 coming in Q4).

Visit the website for more information on the NetShelter SX Gen2 Enclosures , NetShelter Aisle Containment , and NetShelter Rack PDU Advanced .

About Schneider Electric

Schneider's purpose is to create Impact by empowering all to make the most of our energy and resources, bridging progress and sustainability for all. At Schneider, we call this Life Is On. Our mission is to be the trusted partner in Sustainability and Efficiency.

We are a global industrial technology leader bringing world-leading expertise in electrification, automation and digitization to smart industries, resilient infrastructure, future-proof data centers, intelligent buildings, and intuitive homes. Anchored by our deep domain expertise, we provide integrated end-to-end lifecycle AI enabled Industrial IoT solutions with connected products, automation, software and services, delivering digital twins to enable profitable growth for our customers.

We are a people company with an ecosystem of 150,000 colleagues and more than a million partners operating in over 100 countries to ensure proximity to our customers and stakeholders. We embrace diversity and inclusion in everything we do, guided by our meaningful purpose of a sustainable future for all.

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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.



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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.



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Theralase Technologies Inc. ("Theralase" or the "Company") (TSXV:TLT)(OTCQB:TLTFF), a clinical stage pharmaceutical company dedicated to the research and development of light and/or radiation activated small molecules and their formulations intended for the safe and effective destruction of various cancers, bacteria and viruses, is pleased to announce that in preclinical research, it's lead drug formulation, Rutherrin has been proven effective in increasing the efficacy of chemotherapy and reducing multidrug resistance.

Chemotherapy is currently one of the principal treatment methods for cancer, along with radiation and surgery. Clinically, many tumours undergo a satisfactory response, when first exposed to chemotherapeutic drugs; however, despite the initial success of these treatments, growing resistance to treatment with these drugs becomes a common occurrence. This results in the steady loss of therapeutic response over time for cancer patients, despite the wide spectrum of drugs and treatments available. This phenomenon is termed Multi-Drug Resistance ("MDR").

Although there are several different mechanisms associated with the development of MDR in patients, a common cause is believed to be the overexpression of a plasma membrane superfamily of transporter proteins, called the ATP-Binding Cassette ("ABC") transporter, which act as an energy-dependent drug efflux pump, preventing adequate intracellular accumulation of a broad range of cytotoxic drugs. In other words, the chemotherapeutic drugs are expelled by the cancer cells, before they have a chance to be effective. This underlines the critical importance of identifying compounds that could inhibit the efflux pump activities.

In order to determine the effect of Rutherrin on MDR in cancer cells, cells were treated with Rutherrin, before addition of one of the following drugs:

Hoechst 33342 (nuclear dye commonly used to study ABC transporter drug efflux) Temozolomide (chemotherapy used to treat brain cancer) Gemcitabine (chemotherapy used to treat various cancers) Cisplatin (platinum-based chemotherapy used to treat various cancers)

Following incubation, cells were washed and the amount of intracellular drug was quantified using High-Performance Liquid Chromatography coupled with Mass Spectrometry.

The amount of drug was normalized to cells, which were not treated with Rutherrin, as a control.

As shown in Figure 1, treatment with Rutherrin significantly enhanced the retention of all tested chemotherapeutic drugs, presumably through the inhibition of the ABC transporter efflux pump, resulting in higher intracellular drug accumulation, which would increase exposure of the cancer cells to the respective chemotherapy and consequently improve overall treatment efficacy.

Figure 1: Relative chemotherapeutic drug retention in Rutherrin treated cells normalized to drug-only treated cells

To further investigate this phenomenon and to demonstrate cancer cell kill, in vitro cells were treated with Rutherrin, before addition of various chemotherapeutic drugs to analyze cell survival.

These chemotherapeutic drugs included:

Vandetanib (chemotherapy used to treat thyroid cancer) Vemurafenib (chemotherapy used to treat melanoma) Vinblatine (chemotherapy used to treat lymphoma, breast cancer and testicular cancer) Cisplatin (platinum-based chemotherapy used to treat various cancers) Temozolomide (chemotherapy used to treat brain cancer) Gemcitabine (chemotherapy used to treat various cancers)

As shown in Figure 2, addition of Rutherrin significantly increased the cancer cell kill for all tested chemotherapeutic drugs, suggesting a universal effect of Rutherrin on chemotherapeutic drugs in their destruction of cancer cells, rendering the cancer cells more susceptible to chemotherapy.

Figure 2: Cell kill percent after treatment with chemotherapeutic drugs (listed on X-axis) (+/- Rutherrin treatment)

To further validate the research, a mouse animal model was utilized, where the mice were injected subcutaneously with mouse colorectal cancer cells and divided into four treatment groups; specifically: Untreated Control, Rutherrin only, Vinblastine only and Rutherrin combined with Vinblastine.

As shown in Figure 3, the combination of Rutherrin and Vinblastine significantly delayed tumor volume progression and enhanced overall animal survival, compared to control or either treatment alone. This research was completed using Rutherrin with no light or radiational activation.

Figure 3: Kaplan-Meier survival curve and tumor volume analysis in mice after subcutaneous tumour inoculation and treatment with either: Control, Rutherrin only, Vinblastine only or combined Rutherrin, plus Vinblastine treatment

Dr. Arkady Mandel, M.D., Ph.D., D.Sc., Chief Scientific Officer of Theralase stated," Nearly all current cancer treatments face a common issue, the chemotherapy used initially is effective, but becomes less and less effective over time, creating a phenomenon known as Multi-Drug Resistance ("MDR"). MDR is one of the most challenging problems facing cancer researchers, clinicians and patients today. In order to overcome MDR, this research strongly suggests that the effectiveness of chemotherapy over time could a minimum be maintained or even significantly enhanced through the addition of Rutherrin to mainstream cancer care. Our methodology is not to treat patients with combinations of different drugs, as research has shown that the systemic delivery of multiple drugs can cause unintended adverse effects, drug to drug interactions and may even diminish the overall anti-cancer efficacy and patient compliance. Therefore, a more effective alternative would be to combine Rutherrin with chemotherapy to increase the overall treatment efficacy by modulating the "drug efflux", one of the major hallmarks of tumor resistance. The "drug efflux" is essential for tumor cell proliferation and migration, thus playing a pivotal role in tumor physiology. Treatment of various cancer cells with Rutherrin allows chemotherapeutic drugs to remain in cancer cells in higher quantities and for longer times. In addition, this tumor-specific accumulation of anti-cancer drugs can help prevent the unnecessary exposure of healthy cells to chemotherapy; thus, increasing treatment efficacy and minimizing the adverse effects of anti-cancer therapy. We are very pleased with the results of our latest experiments, which have paved the way for a clinical study investigation of Rutherrin, combined with chemotherapy, for synergistic combinational cancer treatment to overcome MDR."

Roger DuMoulin-White, B.Sc., P.Eng., Pro.Dir., President and Chief Executive Officer of Theralase stated, "We are delighted with the recent preclinical research confirming that our patented, metal-based, small molecule, Rutherrin formulation can effectively combat MDR, as well as increase the efficacy of chemotherapy. Clinically, MDR to chemotherapy, targeted therapy or immunotherapy remains the greatest impediment towards curative and long-lasting cancer therapy. This leads directly to treatment failure, high patient morbidity and mortality, as well as increased medical costs through extensive repeat medical treatments and extended hospital stays. In this respect, Theralase's small molecule formulations possess significant potential in optimizing cancer treatments, as it is well documented scientifically, that the transferrin receptor, which is the target of Rutherrin, is highly expressed in virtually all cancer cell types."

About Theralase Technologies Inc.:

Theralase is a clinical stage pharmaceutical company dedicated to the research and development of light and/or radiation activated small molecule compounds, their associated drug formulations and the light systems that activate them, with a primary objective of efficacy and a secondary objective of safety in the destruction of various cancers, bacteria and viruses.

Additional information is available at www.theralase.com and www.sedar.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.

Forward Looking Statements:

This news release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. Such statements include; but, are not limited to statements regarding the Company's proposed development plans with respect to small molecules and their drug formulations. Forward looking statements may be identified by the use of the words "may, "should", "will", "anticipates", "believes", "plans", "expects", "estimate", "potential for" and similar expressions; including, statements related to the current expectations of Company's management for future research, development and commercialization of the Company's small molecules and their drug formulations, preclinical research, clinical studies and regulatory approvals.

These statements involve significant risks, uncertainties and assumptions; including, the ability of the Company to fund and secure the regulatory approvals to successfully complete various clinical studies in a timely fashion and implement its development plans. Other risks include: the ability of the Company to successfully commercialize its small molecule and drug formulations, the risk that access to sufficient capital to fund the Company's operations may not be available on terms that are commercially favorable to the Company or at all, the risk that the Company's small molecule and drug formulations may not be effective against the diseases tested in its clinical studies, the risk that the Company's fails to comply with the term of license agreements with third parties and as a result loses the right to use key intellectual property in its business, the Company's ability to protect its intellectual property, the timing and success of submission, acceptance and approval of regulatory filings. Many of these factors that will determine actual results are beyond the Company's ability to control or predict.

Readers should not unduly rely on these forward-looking statements, which are not a guarantee of future performance. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate as such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause actual results or future events to differ materially from the forward-looking statements.

Although the forward-looking statements contained in the press release are based upon what management currently believes to be reasonable assumptions, the Company cannot assure prospective investors that actual results, performance or achievements will be consistent with these forward-looking statements.

All forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof and are subject to change. Except as required by law, the Company assumes no obligation to update such statements.

For investor information on the Company, please feel to reach out Investor Inquiries - Theralase Technologies.

For More Information:

1.866.THE.LASE (843-5273)

416.699.LASE (5273)

www.theralase.com

Kristina Hachey, CPA

Chief Financial Officer

X 224

khachey@theralase.com

SOURCE: Theralase Technologies Inc.

View the original press release on accesswire.com
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - June 12, 2024) - Goldshore Resources Inc. (TSXV: GSHR) (OTCQB: GSHRF) (FSE: 8X00) ("Goldshore" or the "Company") is pleased to announce its strategic plan for the next 12 months which will focus on the Moss Gold Project ("Moss"), specifically growth potential, advancement of economic studies, development of a permitting plan, and continued engagement with our host indigenous communities.

Highlights

2,500m summer drill program commencing in June 2024;

Complete much anticipated PEA in Q1 2025 outlining phased approach to production, prioritizing IRR and minimizing initial Capex;

District scale exploration work including first systematic geochemistry and geophysics across 23kms of mineralized trends; and

Prioritize permitting plan as the Company focuses on advancing Moss toward production.

Further details on the strategic plan will be shared in the coming weeks as the Company accelerates work programs and moves forward with project development.

Michael Henrichsen, CEO of Goldshore commented, "Having spent the last month working with our team and our strategic advisor, SAF Group, I am very confident we have the internal expertise and support needed to meaningfully advance Moss in the next 12 months. I have been very impressed with the growth possibilities at Moss and the optionality that is present with respect to potential development scenarios, particularly with the possibility for higher grade starter pits that we internally believe will be defined in the PEA study. Moss represents an exceptional opportunity to advance a Tier 1 project adjacent to developed infrastructure in Canada and I look forward to realizing the full potential of the project in the coming years."





Figure 1: Focus Area for 2024 Exploration Efforts at the Moss Gold Project

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8051/212573_bdf34ebe74503a63_002full.jpg

Strategic 12 Month Plan

Growth:

The Company plans to focus its exploration efforts in the "Moss Block," an area approximately 8 km x 6 km that is centered on the Moss deposit containing 91% of the ounces of the project (Figure 1);

The Company will initiate a 2500-meter drill program designed to test targets immediately adjacent to the conceptual open pit, from surface to 200 meters depth, to demonstrate growth potential with the goal to define additional zones containing high margin near surface ounces that will be included in a future mineral resource estimate update. The planned start date for the drill program is June 25, 2024; and

In addition, the Company will target blue sky discovery potential within the Moss Block by conducting systematic bedrock geochemical and induced polarization geophysical surveys along well defined prospective structural corridors within the Moss Block that extend and run parallel to known mineralization at Moss. The Company's objective with these surveys is to "fingerprint" the geochemical and geophysical responses of the Moss deposit and target similar responses within the prospective structural corridors that have a combined strike length of 23 km.

Economic Study:

The Company will launch a Preliminary Economic Assessment ("PEA") on the project within the next 4 weeks. The goal of the PEA is to develop a phased approach to production prioritizing internal rate of return ("IRR"). The expected date of completion of the PEA is March 31, 2025;

The Company will take a rigorous approach to the PEA to produce an accurate project description, enabling efficient advancement of the permitting processes moving forward. Additionally, the Company will utilize well-defined cost estimates to ensure the projected capital expenditures ("Capex") align with prefeasibility study standards, enhancing the project's economic viability and credibility; and

The PEA will define a work program that will allow the Company to advance towards a subsequent prefeasibility study.

Community/Environment/Permitting:

The Company has immediate plans to establish an external permitting team, comprising expert consultants, that will focus on Indigenous engagement, environmental baseline work, and navigating regulatory pathway options; and

The Company will develop a strategic plan for permitting over the next 3 months that will provide a roadmap to production that minimizes regulatory risk and efficiently navigates the environmental assessment process.

Qualified Person Statements

Peter Flindell, P.Geo., MAusIMM, MAIG, Vice President - Exploration of the Company, a qualified person under NI 43-101 has approved the scientific and technical information contained in this news release.

About Goldshore

Goldshore is a growth-oriented gold company focused on delivering long-term shareholder and stakeholder value through the acquisition and advancement of primary gold assets in tier-one jurisdictions. It is led by the ex-global head of structural geology for the world's largest gold company and backed by one of Canada's pre-eminent private equity firms. The Company's current focus is the advanced stage 100% owned Moss Gold Project which is large scale and has excellent metallurgy. It is uniquely positioned in Ontario, Canada, with direct accessibility from the Trans-Canada Highway with hydroelectric power at site, supportive local communities and skilled workforce. The Company has invested over $60 million of new capital and completed approximately 80,000 meters of drilling on the Moss Gold Project, which, in aggregate, has had over 235,000 meters of drilling. The 2024 updated NI 43-101 mineral resource estimate ("MRE") has expanded to 1.54 million ounces of Indicated gold resources at 1.23 g/t Au and 5.20 million ounces of Inferred gold resources at 1.11 g/t Au. The MRE remains open at depth and along strike and is one of the few remaining major Canadian gold deposits positioned for fast track through this development cycle. For more information, please visit SEDAR+ (www.sedarplus.ca) and the Company's website (www.goldshoreresources.com).

For More Information - Please Contact:

Michael Henrichsen

President, Chief Executive Officer and Director

Goldshore Resources Inc.

E: mhenrichsen@goldshoreresources.com

W: www.goldshoreresources.com

Neither the TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSXV) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains statements that constitute "forward-looking statements." Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the Company's actual results, performance or achievements, or developments to differ materially from the anticipated results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by the words "expects," "plans," "anticipates," "believes," "intends," "estimates," "projects," "potential" and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will," "would," "may," "could" or "should" occur.

Forward-looking statements in this news release include, among others, statements relating to expectations regarding the exploration and development of the Moss Gold Project, the release of an updated mineral resource estimate and preliminary economic assessment, timing for completion of a preliminary economic assessment, the subsequent advancement of a prefeasibility study, the establishment of a permitting team and development of a strategic plan, and other statements that are not historical facts. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause our actual results, performance or achievements, or other future events, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors and risks include, among others: the Company may require additional financing from time to time in order to continue its operations which may not be available when needed or on acceptable terms and conditions acceptable; compliance with extensive government regulation; domestic and foreign laws and regulations could adversely affect the Company's business and results of operations; the stock markets have experienced volatility that often has been unrelated to the performance of companies and these fluctuations may adversely affect the price of the Company's securities, regardless of its operating performance; and the impact of COVID-19.

The forward-looking information contained in this news release represents the expectations of the Company as of the date of this news release and, accordingly, is subject to change after such date. Readers should not place undue importance on forward-looking information and should not rely upon this information as of any other date. The Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements in the event that management's beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/212573

SOURCE: Goldshore Resources Inc.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - June 12, 2024) - Aero Energy Ltd (TSXV: AERO) (OTC Pink: AAUGF) (FSE: 13L0) ("Aero" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the commencement of drilling at its Murmac Uranium Project in the Athabasca Basin, Saskatchewan. This significant milestone follows the recent identification of thirteen high-priority drill targets, marking the start of Aero's first-ever drill program (read the news release here).

Drilling Program

Drilling is now underway on the first hole and will cover approximately 2,600 meters through ten to thirteen drill holes at the Murmac Project. The program, operated by Fortune Bay Corp., is designed to explore for high-grade basement-hosted uranium deposits and is adaptable based on real-time findings. The targets were selected based on a high-resolution VTEM survey completed in April 2024 and 3D modelling of ground gravity data. Geophysical signatures, geological features, proximity to historical uranium occurrences, and positive past drilling results by Fortune Bay further informed these selections.

Drilling has begun at target P7 with targets A15 and P4 scheduled next. Target descriptions and locations are provided in Table 1 and Figure 1, respectfully.

In addition to Murmac, Aero is prioritizing further exploration at the Sun Dog and Strike projects, planning an additional 2,000 meters of fully funded drilling. These efforts highlight Aero's commitment to uncovering high-grade uranium deposits across its 250,000-acre land package in the Athabasca Basin.

Discovery of Radioactivity Proximal to Targets

Two occurrences of strong to intense radioactivity have been discovered at surface while scouting the initial drill site locations.

Target A15: 60,793 counts-per-second* in the hanging wall of the target within hematized foliation parallel fractures.

Target P4: 13,533 counts-per-second in the hanging wall of the target within hematized fault hosted fractures perpendicular to foliation.

*Measured by handheld RS-125 Super-SPEC gamma ray spectrometer manufactured by Radiation Solutions Inc.

Galen McNamara, CEO of Aero Energy, stated, "The identification of new zones of strong radioactivity adjacent to drill pads and in close association with the targets below underscores the prospectivity of the Murmac Project. Thanks to the robust earlier exploration work by Fortune Bay and the collaborative target selection process, we are poised to embark on this exciting phase of our drilling program and look forward to the potential discoveries ahead."

Figure 1: Murmac Drill Targets

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8126/212599_8616df4364106826_002full.jpg

Figure 2: Strong to intense radioactivity measured at targets A15 (left) and P4 (right)

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8126/212599_8616df4364106826_003full.jpg

Table 1: Murmac 2024 Drill Targets

Conductor Corridor Target Target Summary Pitchvein P7 Along strike follow-up of mineralized intercepts and strong alteration in M22-013 & 014 (Fortune Bay holes). Test for extensions of historical mineralization in CKI-9 (1.01% U3O8 over 2.0 m) and CKI-10 (2.19% U3O8 over 0.5 m). P4 Along strike follow-up of mineralized intercepts in M22-013 & 014 (Fortune Bay holes). Test intersection of Pitchvein Corridor with property-scale, mineralized cross-fault. Howland H6 Geophysical target (EM and gravity). H15 Geophysical target (EM and gravity). Intersection of conductor and property-scale, mineralized cross-fault, beneath lake. H16 Geophysical target (EM and gravity). Along strike of M22-012 (0.17% U3O8 over 0.1 m) (Fortune Bay hole). H17 Geophysical target (EM and gravity) at a flexure in the Howland Conductor. Armbruster A15 Geophysical target (EM and gravity) at intersection of conductor and mineralized cross-fault. A17 Intersection of conductor and property-scale, mineralized cross-fault. Conductor break/termination. A18 Geophysical target (EM and gravity). Located along strike to south of Quartzite Ridge uranium showings. A19 Geophysical target (EM and gravity). Located along strike to south of Quartzite Ridge uranium showings at a flexure in the Armbruster Conductor. A20 Intersection of conductor and mineralized cross-fault. A21 Geophysical target (gravity) at intersection of conductor and mineralized cross-fault. Up-ice of 8.82% U3O8 boulder. A22 Geophysical target (EM and gravity) located at a break in the Armbruster conductor.

About the Murmac Project

Murmac, situated between the historical Gunnar and Lorado Uranium Mines, has shown significant promise. Historical exploration (1960-1980) revealed numerous high-grade uranium occurrences, though these were not systematically explored for basement-hosted mineralization typical of the Athabasca Basin. A 2022 drilling program by Fortune Bay confirmed the potential for high-grade uranium with significant findings in several drill holes, validating the exploration model.

Corporate Update

The Company also announces that it has entered into an agreement with Triomphe Holdings Ltd. (dba Capital Analytica) ("Capital Analytica") for investor relations and communication services (the "Consulting Agreement"). The Consulting Agreement has an initial term of six months, commencing June 15, 2024 under which the Company will pay to Capital Analytica an aggregate of $120,000 at a rate of $20,000 per month, and has an option to renew the Consulting Agreement for an additional 6 months at a rate of $10,000 per month, unless terminated earlier in accordance with the Consulting Agreement. Pursuant to the terms of the Consulting Agreement, Capital Analytica will provide ongoing capital markets consultation, ongoing social media consultation regarding engagement and enhancement, social sentiment reporting, social engagement reporting, discussion forum monitoring and reporting, corporate video dissemination, and other related investor relations services. Capital Analytica is a Nanaimo based company owned and operated by Jeff French who is arm's length to the Company and holds no securities, directly or indirectly of the Company.

Qualified Person

The technical content of this news release has been reviewed and approved by Galen McNamara, P. Geo., CEO of the Company and a qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101.

About Aero Energy Limited

Aero Energy is a mineral exploration and development company advancing a district-scale 250,000-acre land package in the historic Uranium City district within Saskatchewan's Athabasca Basin. Aero Energy is focused on uncovering high-grade uranium deposits across its flagship optioned properties - Sun Dog, Strike, and Murmac - in addition to its fully owned properties. With the application of modern exploration techniques, the Company has identified over 50 shallow drill-ready targets and 125 kilometres of target horizon on the frontier north rim of the Athabasca Basin. Aero Energy is tapping into the Athabasca Basin's emerging potential for high-grade, unconformity-style mineralization.

On Behalf of the Board of Directors

Galen McNamara, Interim Chief Executive Officer

Further information on the Company can be found on the Company's website at aeroenergy.ca and at www.sedarplus.ca, or by contacting the Company by email at info@aeroenergy.ca.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information

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.

This news release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws. These statements relate to future events or future performance and include expectations regarding the exploration activities on the Company's properties. All statements other than statements of historical fact may be forward-looking statements or information. Forward-looking statements and information are often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as "appear", "seek", "anticipate", "plan", "continue", "estimate", "approximate", "expect", "may", "will", "project", "predict", "potential", "targeting", "intend", "could", "might", "should", "believe", "would" and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements and information are provided for the purpose of providing information about the current expectations and plans of management of the Company relating to the future. Readers are cautioned that reliance on such statements and information may not be appropriate for other purposes, such as making investment decisions. Since forward-looking statements and information address future events and conditions, by their very nature they involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially from those currently anticipated due to a number of factors and risks. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements, timelines and information contained in this news release. Forward-looking information are based on management of the parties' reasonable assumptions, estimates, expectations, analyses and opinions, which are based on such management's experience and perception of trends, current conditions and expected developments, and other factors that management believes are relevant and reasonable in the circumstances, but which may prove to be incorrect.

The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking information except as required by applicable law. Such forward-looking information represents management's best judgment based on information currently available. No forward-looking statement can be guaranteed and actual future results may vary materially. Accordingly, readers are advised not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements or information.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/212599

SOURCE: Aero Energy Limited
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - June 12, 2024) - Appia Rare Earths & Uranium Corp. (CSE: API) (OTCQX: APAAF) (FSE: A0I0) (MUN: A0I0) (BER: A0I0) (the "Company" or "Appia") announced today that, further to its press release dated December 4, 2023, Appia has earned its initial 10% legal and beneficial ownership interest in Appia Brasil Rare Earths Mineracao Ltda (the "Appia Brasil") the Brazilian company that holds the PCH Project (the "Property") located in the Tocantins Structural Province of the Brasilia Fold Belt, Goias State, Brazil.

Stephen Burega, President stated, "We have accomplished an amazing amount of work over the past year with a modest budget of $1 million USD. We achieved many milestones including a maiden Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE) on our first two targets, Target IV and Buriti Zone (See press release dated March 1st, 2024); we completed initial desorption testing confirming the ionic clay characterization of the mineralization; and we identified an additional four (4) new highly prospective target zones covering an area of over 2,400 hectares while re-confirming that the regolith developed over the Ipora Granite presents significant enrichment of Heavy Rare Earth Oxides (HREO), indicative of Ionic Adsorption Clay (IAC) rare earth elements (REE) deposits. The impressive HREO results identified across multiple zones of homogeneous mineralization highlights the true potential of the PCH project."

Pursuant to the Quotaholders Agreement among Appia, Beko Invest Ltd. ("Beko") and Antonio Vitor Junior ("Antonio") dated July 20, 2023 (the "Quotaholders Agreement"), which governs the ongoing exploration and development of the Property, Appia has expended in excess of US$1 million as required by the Quotaholders Agreement to earn its initial 10% interest in Appia Brasil. Appia will be issuing the second tranche of 500,000 shares to Beko on or before June 19th, 2024. Beko will be granted a 1% net smelter returns royalty (the "1% NSR") in the Property. Appia will have a right of first refusal to acquire the 1% NSR. The 500,000 shares to be issued will be subject to a four month and one day hold period from the date of issuance.

Appia can maintain its 70% interest in Appia Brasil by issuing an aggregate of a further 1.5 million common shares of Appia to Beko and spending a further approximately US$9 million on the Property over a period of a further four (4) years after which Appia will have earned a 60% interest in Appia Brasil. If Appia earns its 60% interest, it will then be obligated, within 90 days of earning its 60% interest, to issue a further US$1,250,000 of common shares of Appia to Beko to earn a further 10% interest in Appia Brasil. The number of shares to be issued to earn the further 10% shall be that number of common shares of Appia equal to the number arrived at by dividing US$1,250,000 by the greater of the average closing price of the common shares as quoted on the Canadian Securities Exchange (the "CSE") for the 30 trading days immediately preceding the announcement by Appia of its intention to earn the additional 10% interest and the discounted market price of the common shares of Appia based on the last closing price immediately preceding the announcement.

Once Appia has earned its 70% interest in Appia Brasil, Appia and Antonio will enter into a joint venture with respect to the further exploration and development of the Property (the "Joint Venture") with Appia holding a 70% interest and Antonio holding a 30% interest in Appia Brasil in accordance with the terms of the Quotaholders Agreement. Reference is made to the December 4, 2023 press release for further particulars relating to the Joint Venture.

About Appia Rare Earths & Uranium Corp. (Appia)

Appia is a publicly traded Canadian company in the rare earth element and uranium sectors. The Company holds the right to acquire up to a 70% interest in the PCH Ionic Adsorption Clay Project (See June 9th, 2023 Press Release - Click HERE) which is 40,963.18 ha. in size and located within the Goias State of Brazil. (See January 11th, 2024 Press Release - Click HERE) The Company is also focusing on delineating high-grade critical rare earth elements and gallium on the Alces Lake property, and exploring for high-grade uranium in the prolific Athabasca Basin on its Otherside, Loranger, North Wollaston, and Eastside properties. The Company holds the surface rights to exploration for 94,982.39 hectares (234,706.59 acres) in Saskatchewan. The Company also has a 100% interest in 13,008 hectares (32,143 acres), with rare earth elements and uranium deposits over five mineralized zones in the Elliot Lake Camp, Ontario.

Appia has 136.3 million common shares outstanding, 145 million shares fully diluted.

Cautionary note regarding forward-looking statements: This News Release contains forward-looking statements which are typically preceded by, followed by or including the words "believes", "expects", "anticipates", "estimates", "intends", "plans" or similar expressions. Forward-Looking statements are not a guarantee of future performance as they involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions. We do not intend and do not assume any obligation to update these forward-looking statements and shareholders are cautioned not to put undue reliance on such statements.

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Market Regulator (as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

For more information, visit www.appiareu.com.

As part of our ongoing effort to keep investors, interested parties and stakeholders updated, we have several communication portals. If you have any questions online (X, Facebook, LinkedIn) please feel free to send direct messages.

To book a one-on-one 30-minute Zoom video call, please click here.

Contact:

Tom Drivas, CEO and Director

(c) (416) 876-3957

(e) tdrivas@appiareu.com

Stephen Burega, President

(c) (647) 515-3734

(e) sburega@appiareu.com

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/212641

SOURCE: Appia Rare Earths & Uranium Corp.
Young heroes unite: School children save lost child

(People's Daily App) 15:17, June 12, 2024

On June 7, 2024, five primary school students on their way to a bookstore in Ningguo, East China's Anhui Province, came together to assist a lost child. They escorted the child to safety and quickly notified the police. They later found the child's mother. In recognition of their bravery and kindness, the children received a special commendation from the police.

(Produced by Liang Xiaojian)

(Web editor: Tian Yi, Zhong Wenxing)
El Fasher, Sudan (PANA) - The Prosecutor at the International Criminal Court (ICC) launched a campaign on Tuesday to address the unfolding crisis in the Darfur region of Sudan, amid the going war between rival military forces that erupted last April
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - June 12, 2024) - Gladiator Metals Corp. (TSXV: GLAD) (OTCQB: GDTRF) (FSE: ZX7) ("Gladiator" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that, as a result of demand, it has increased the size of its previously announced non-brokered private placement (see news release dated June 5, 2024).

Gladiator now intends to raise aggregate gross proceeds of up to C$12,000,000 (the "Offering") through the issuance of:

17,000,000 Charity Flow-Through common shares (the "Charity FT Shares") at a price of C$0.61 per Charity FT Share and;

4,075,000 Non-Flow-Through common shares (the "NFT Shares") at a price of C$0.40 per NFT Share.

Gladiator intends to use the proceeds of the Offering to fund its continued exploration program at its Whitehorse Copper Project in the Yukon including diamond drilling for:

"continued diamond drilling of advanced prospects Cowley Park and Chief's Trend with the intention of establishing a maiden initial inferred resource" and

"new exploration drilling at potential high-grade copper targets along the Whitehorse Copper Belt defined from historical drilling and aeromagnetic surveying"

The Offering is expected to close on or about June 21, 2024, and is subject to certain closing conditions including, but not limited to, the receipt of all necessary approvals including the conditional approval of the TSX Venture Exchange.

The Company may pay finders' fees under the offering in accordance with applicable securities laws and the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange. The securities issued under the Offering will be subject to a hold period under applicable securities laws in Canada expiring four months and one day from the closing date of the Offering.

The Charity FT Shares will qualify as "flow-through shares" (within the meaning of subsection 66(15) of the Income Tax Act (Canada) (the "Tax Act")). An amount equal to the gross proceeds from the issuance of the Charity FT Shares will be used to incur eligible resource exploration expenses which will qualify as (i) "Canadian exploration expenses" (as defined in the Tax Act), and (ii) as "flow-through critical mineral mining expenditures" (as defined in subsection 127(9) of the Tax Act) (collectively, the "Qualifying Expenditures"). Qualifying Expenditures in an aggregate amount not less than the gross proceeds raised from the issue of the Charity FT Shares will be incurred (or deemed to be incurred) by the Company on or before December 31, 2025, and will be renounced by the Company to the initial purchasers of the Charity FT Shares with an effective date no later than December 31, 2024.

This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities in the United States. The securities have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act") or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to U.S. Persons unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or an exemption from such registration is available.

The Company wishes to clarify that, further to its news release dated May 8, 2024, the service agreement with Native Ads Inc. dated May 6, 2024 is for a term of up to 12 months or until the retainer is depleted.

On behalf of the Board of Directors,

Gladiator Metals Corp.

Jason Bontempo, CEO

For further information contact:

Dustin Zinger, Investor Relations

+1-604-653-9464

dzinger@gladiatormetals.com

Forward-Looking Statement Cautions:

This press release contains certain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation, including, but not limited to, statements regarding the Company's plans with respect to the Company's projects and the timing related thereto, the merits of the Company's projects, the Company's objectives, plans and strategies, the Offering and other project opportunities. Although the Company believes that such statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Forward-Looking statements are statements that are not historical facts; they are generally, but not always, identified by the words "expects," "plans," "anticipates," "believes," "intends," "estimates," "projects," "aims," "potential," "goal," "objective,", "strategy", "prospective," and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will," "would," "may," "can," "could" or "should" occur, or are those statements, which, by their nature, refer to future events. The Company cautions that Forward-Looking statements are based on the beliefs, estimates and opinions of the Company's management on the date the statements are made and they involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Consequently, there can be no assurances that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Except to the extent required by applicable securities laws and the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange, the Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements if management's beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change. Factors that could cause future results to differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements include the risk of accidents and other risks associated with mineral exploration operations, the risk that the Company will encounter unanticipated geological factors, or the possibility that the Company may not be able to secure permitting and other agency or governmental clearances, necessary to carry out the Company's exploration plans, risks of political uncertainties and regulatory or legal changes in the jurisdictions where the Company carries on its business that might interfere with the Company's business and prospects. The reader is urged to refer to the Company's reports, publicly available through the Canadian Securities Administrators' System for Electronic Document Analysis and Retrieval (SEDAR+) at www.sedarplus.ca for a more complete discussion of such risk factors and their potential effects.

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.

NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES



To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/212646

SOURCE: Gladiator Metals Corp.
Sibylla's PPI-FIT technology joins with MD Anderson's drug development resources and expertise to create protein folding interfering degraders as cancer therapies

Sibylla Biotech and The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center today announced a strategic collaboration agreement to discover and develop novel small-molecule cancer therapies known as Folding Interfering Degraders (FIDs), which disrupt the proper folding of target proteins and lead to their degradation.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240612149676/en/

Under the agreement, Sibylla and MD Anderson will jointly conduct discovery and development work from target identification through drug candidate nomination on selected proteins, with the potential to continue further pre-clinical and clinical development. The collaboration brings together Sibylla's Pharmacological Protein Inactivation by Folding Intermediates Targeting (PPI-FIT) technology with the drug development expertise and capabilities of MD Anderson's Therapeutics Discovery division.

"The Sibylla team is committed to expanding the applications of our PPI-FIT technology and FIDs to provide new treatment options for hard-to-treat indications. This collaboration builds upon the progress we have achieved to date and the applicability of our technology and know-how," said Lidia Pieri, PhD, MBA, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Sibylla Biotech. "We value the opportunity to work with MD Anderson's team of drug development experts in order to foster our vision of treating patients with high unmet medical need."

Sibylla's proprietary PPI-FIT technology is used to discover and develop FIDs, small molecules that induce the degradation of target proteins by interfering with the folding pathway. Notably, PPI-FIT can be applied to target proteins currently considered "undruggable" due to the absence of suitable pockets in their native state.

"Folding interfering degraders represent an exciting new modality to target key cancer drivers, and we look forward to opportunities to advance compelling candidates forward as novel therapeutic options," said Tim Heffernan, Ph.D., vice president and head of Therapeutics Discovery at MD Anderson. "By aligning Sibylla's innovative PPI-FIT technology with our drug development engine, we hope to create impactful new medicines that will expand options for patients in need of more effective therapies."

By uniting scientists, clinicians and drug development experts together within MD Anderson, the institution's Therapeutics Discovery division is designed to eliminate the bottlenecks slowing traditional drug discovery. Seamless integration with MD Anderson physicians allows Therapeutics Discovery to develop impactful cancer therapies inspired directly by patient needs and clinical insights.

Once a drug candidate is nominated, Sibylla and MD Anderson may consider further drug development, translational, and clinical activities to advance the candidate to patients in need.

Disclosure

MD Anderson has an institutional conflict of interest with Sibylla and will implement an Institutional Conflict of Interest Management and Monitoring Plan to manage this relationship.

About MD Anderson

The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston ranks as one of the world's most respected centers focused on cancer patient care, research, education and prevention. The institution's sole mission is to end cancer for patients and their families around the world, and, in 1971, it became one of the nation's first National Cancer Institute (NCI)-designated comprehensive cancer centers. MD Anderson is No. 1 for cancer in U.S. News World Report's "Best Hospitals" rankings and has been named one of the nation's top two hospitals for cancer since the rankings began in 1990. MD Anderson receives a cancer center support grant from the NCI of the National Institutes of Health (P30 CA016672).

About Sibylla Biotech

Sibylla is disrupting the protein degradation landscape by applying a novel mechanism of action that interferes with protein folding and thereby suppresses the expression of a disease-relevant protein. Through its protein folding simulation technology platform, Pharmacological Protein Inactivation by Folding Intermediate Targeting (PPI-FIT), Sibylla identifies relevant and previously inexplorable folding intermediates for protein targets that are currently considered undruggable in their native state. The company is developing a proprietary pipeline of small molecule folding interfering degraders (FIDs) that can address a range of therapeutic areas.

For further information: https://www.sibyllabiotech.it/

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240612149676/en/

Contacts:

MD Anderson Media Contact

Clayton Boldt

Public Relations

CRBoldt@MDAnderson.org

+1-713-792-9518

Sibylla Biotech Contact

Lidia Pieri

+39 347 6499534

lidia.pieri@sibyllabiotech.it

Sibylla Biotech Media Contact

Trophic Communications

Valeria Fisher or Dr. Alison Opalko

+49 175 80 41 816 or +49 151 54041130

sibylla@trophic.eu
Business growth, addressing the skills gap, and the need for greater efficiency are driving plans for AI, machine learning, cloud computing and other digital technology adoption.

Everett, Washington, June 12, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Artificial Intelligence (AI) implementation is expected to play a crucial role in manufacturing operations in the next wave of industrial revolution, also known as Industry 5.0. A newly released report by Fluke Reliability, which empowers reliability and maintenance teams with the hardware, software, and services to optimize asset performance, confirms these claims.

Censuswide conducted the research, which surveyed over 600 senior decision-makers and maintenance professionals in the U.S., the UK, and Germany. The findings confirm that manufacturers are at the forefront of implementing AI technologies into day-to-day operations.

The results offer a clear, almost unanimous picture of the manufacturing landscape. AI will be a high business priority for companies over the next 12 months according to 93% of survey respondents. This sentiment is echoed at an organizational level, with 9 in 10 senior decision makers agreeing AI is the priority and over 4 in 5 maintenance managers saying the same.

Regarding the role of AI in predictive maintenance, only 8% of those surveyed are currently operating a predictive maintenance strategy. However, a massive 77% want to shift to predictive/proactive maintenance in the future, and AI implementation is viewed as a tool to achieve that goal.

Manufacturers are already turning their intentions into action; on average, respondents said they intend to invest 44% of their technology budgets on AI in 2024 alone. In fact, (30%) of those surveyed plan to invest 51-75% of their technology budget on AI this year.

While only 9% of manufacturers agree that they have completed their Industry 5.0 goals to date, the majority (61%) expect to achieve their AI goals in just 11 months.

"Predictive maintenance is becoming a need, not a want - especially as skilled labor is hard to come by and retain," says Ankush Malhotra, President of Fluke Reliability. "AI offers a clear pathway and there is a strong belief within the industry that manufacturers who don't adapt to the benefits are likely to be left behind. The results of this survey show that while many industries are talking about AI implementation, manufacturers are walking the talk."

Of those looking to invest in the next 12 months, the need for adoption was largely driven by the benefits of AI implementation including:

the ability to develop new products and services (35%)

provide a new way to address data processing and analysis requirements (35%)

a means to address the call for improvements to customer service (35%)

the demand for improved efficiency and productivity (34%)

ways to compensate for the skilled labour shortage (31%).

"It's no surprise that manufacturers are bullish in their adoption of AI," said Aaron Merkin, Chief Technology Officer, Fluke Reliability. "We know it works and have customers who have seen value in as little as three months."

To view the full results of the survey, visit https://info.fluke.com/frs-0624-download-value-of-ai-lp-1-a

-ENDS

About Fluke Reliability?

Fluke Reliability,a wholly owned subsidiary of Fortive Corporation [NYSE: FTV] and operating company of Fluke Corporation, offers reliability and maintenance teams the tools, software, AI-powered insights, and services they need to optimize asset performance. Home to?powerful, iconic brands - PRUFTECHNIK, Azima DLI, and eMaint - Fluke Reliability enables customers to shift from reactive to predictive maintenance utilizing a connected approach to reliability. Fluke Reliability informs customers on the health of their assets with software and services that drive better maintenance decisions - improving productivity, driving uptime, boosting visibility, and reducing costs. For more information on Fluke Reliability, visit?https://reliability.fluke.com/or LinkedIn.

Fluke Reliability is a registered trademark of Fluke Corporation. The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners. For more information, visit the Fluke website.

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New certification generates support for American farms and farmers

SCS Global Services (SCS), a pioneer and global leader in third-party environmental and sustainability certification, auditing, testing, and standards development, is proud to announce it has been chosen as a certification body for the U.S. Farmed certification program. The certification is underpinned by a standard developed by SCS Standards, a subsidiary of SCS Global Services, for American Farmland Trust (AFT). U.S. Farmed certification ensures that at least 95% of a product's agricultural ingredients originate from United States farms and growers.

The U.S. Farmed certification addresses the critical challenges associated with diminished farmland integrity and demographic-level shifts away from legacy family farms, both of which threaten our nation's food systems. By achieving this certification, brands can connect farmers and producers in their supply chain to get support for succession planning for farmland protection, and other tactics to safeguard American agriculture.

"We are thrilled to be approved to offer the U.S. Farmed Certification," said Sandy Ledesma, SCS' Sustainable Agriculture Program Manager. "This certification not only promotes the sourcing of high-quality ingredients from American farms but also provides essential support to farmers facing land preservation challenges."

As consumer demand for sustainably produced foods continues to grow, the U.S. Farmed certification empowers farmers to differentiate their produce in the marketplace and meet supply chain requirements for major food brands.

"We are proud to name SCS Global Services as the certification body for this new and important certification," states Ryan Lauer, Director of Corporate Partnerships at American Farmland Trust. "SCS has 40 years of experience in food and agriculture auditing and certification making them the ideal partner for U.S. Farmed."

SCS offers bundled certification services to provide an efficient pathway for obtaining U.S. Farmed certification along with other leading standards such as USDA Organic, Non-GMO Project Verified, Sustainably Grown, GLOBALG.A.P., PrimusGFS, and SQF. This bundling approach streamlines the certification process, saves time and resources, and ensures compliance across multiple credentials.

For more information about US Farmed Certification from SCS Global Services, visit www.scsglobalservices.com/services/us-farmed-certification.

READ MORE

About SCS Global Services

SCS Global Services is a global leader in third-party environmental and sustainability verification, certification, auditing, testing, and standards development, currently celebrating its 40th year of services. Its programs span a cross-section of industries, recognizing achievements in climate mitigation, green building, product manufacturing, food and agriculture, forestry, consumer products, and more. Headquartered in Emeryville, California, SCS has representatives and affiliate offices throughout the Americas, Asia/Pacific, Europe, and Africa. Its broad network of auditors are experts in their fields, and the company is a trusted partner to companies, agencies, and advocacy organizations due to its dedication to quality and professionalism. SCS is a California-chartered Benefit Corporation, reflecting its commitment to socially and environmentally responsible business practices. For more information, visit www.SCSGlobalServices.com.

Media Contact:

Shyama Devarajan

Senior Marketing Manager, SCS Global Services

sdevarajan@scsglobalservices.com





View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from SCS Global Services on 3blmedia.com.

Contact Info:

Spokesperson: SCS Global Services

Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/scs-global-services

Email: info@3blmedia.com

SOURCE: SCS Global Services

View the original press release on accesswire.com
Chico, California--(Newsfile Corp. - June 12, 2024) - AmeraMex International, Inc. (OTC Pink: AMMX), a provider of heavy equipment for logistics companies, infrastructure construction and forestry conservation, announced that it received an equipment order totaling approximately $355,000.

According to AmeraMex CEO Lee Hamre, the order is for a refurbished Taylor Equipment Forklift with a 52,000-pound lift capacity; a Caterpillar D-10-N Crawler Dozer; and two Liu Ging Forklifts. The equipment is shipping before the end of the second quarter ending June 30, 2024.





Taylor Equipment Forklift

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/10200/212575_a20b479834395a93_001full.jpg





Liu Gong Forklift

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/10200/212575_a20b479834395a93_002full.jpg





Caterpillar D-10-N Dozer

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/10200/212575_a20b479834395a93_003full.jpg

The Caterpillar D10N Crawler Dozer is a powerful and reliable machine designed for heavy-duty earthmoving and construction tasks. With a turbocharged engine providing a gross power of 520 hp, this bulldozer offers impressive performance and capabilities.

For more information and pricing of equipment for the logistics, agricultural, construction, and forestry industries, or to book a demonstration of the First Green Industry's 100 percent electric skid steer loaders, ASV Posti-Tract and Skid Steer Loaders, Menzi Muck Excavators or a Magni Telescopic Handler, contact the AmeraMex/Hamre Equipment sales team at 530.895.8955.

AmeraMex International

AmeraMex International sells, leases, and rents heavy equipment to companies within multiple industries including construction, logistics, mining, and lumber. The company has over 30 years of experience in heavy equipment sales and service. Follow AmeraMex on Twitter @ammx_intl and visit the AmeraMex website, www.AMMX.net or www.hamreequipment.com for additional information and equipment videos.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements. All statements other than statements of historical facts included in this press release are forward-looking statements. In some cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by words such as "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "plan," "potential," "continue" or similar expressions. Such forward-looking statements include risks and uncertainties, and there are key factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Investors are encouraged to review the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Investors should not place any undue reliance on forward-looking statements since they involve known and unknown, uncertainties and other factors which are, in some cases, beyond the Company's control which could, and likely will, materially affect actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements. Any forward-looking statement reflects the Company's current views with respect to future events and is subject to these and other risks, uncertainties and assumptions relating to operations, results of operations, growth strategy and liquidity. The Company assumes no obligation to publicly update or revise these forward-looking statements for any reason, or to update the reasons actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements, even if added information becomes available in the future.

Investor and Media Relations

McCloud Communications, LLC

Marty Tullio, Managing Member

Office: 949.632.1900 or Marty@McCloudCommunications.com

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/212575

SOURCE: AmeraMex International Inc.
FT. LAUDERDALE, FL / ACCESSWIRE / June 12, 2024 / Cardiff Lexington Corporation (OTC PINK:CDIX) today announced that it has entered into an agreement with GHS Investments, LLC. to cancel its Senior Secured Convertible Promissory Note, 8% Convertible Secured Redeemable Note and series R preferred stock in exchange for a new fixed amount settlement promissory note in the principal amount of $535,000. The new note does not bear interest and requires fixed payments as detailed in the form 8k filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Alex Cunningham, Chief Executive Officer of Cardiff Lexington, commented, "We are pleased to have eliminated the great majority of convertible debt from our balance sheet. We appreciate lenders like GHS who have worked with us in the best interest of our shareholders. This simplification and strengthening of our capital structure is a direct reflection of the progress we are making executing our growth strategy, highlighted by sequential revenue growth and strong gross margins of 64% in the first quarter of 2024, as well as full year 2023 net income of $3 million. With the elimination of this debt, we are better positioned to profitably deliver much-needed medical care to a large and underserved patient population while driving long-term growth and value for our shareholders."

-----

About Cardiff Lexington Corporation:

Cardiff Lexington Corporation is a holding company focused on locating, acquiring, and building middle market, niche companies, primarily in the healthcare industry. Fundamental to the Cardiff Lexington strategy is the service-based partnership culture which emphasizes core values, teamwork, accountability, and performance.

A substantial majority of the Company's revenue is derived from Nova Ortho and Spine, LLC, which operates a group of regional primary specialty and ancillary care facilities throughout Florida that provide traumatic injury victims with a full range of diagnostic and surgical services, primary care evaluations, interventional pain management, and specialty consultation services.

For more information on Cardiff Lexington Corporation, you may access the company's website at https://cardifflexington.com/

FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENT: This news release contains forward looking statements within the meaning of the Securities Litigation Reform Act. The statements reflect the Company's current views with respect to future events that involve risks and uncertainties. These risks include the failure to meet schedule or performance requirements of the Company's business, the Company's liquidity position, the Company's ability to obtain new business, the emergence of competitors with greater financial resources, and the impact of competitive pricing. In the light of these uncertainties the forward-looking events referred to in this release might not occur.

Cardiff Lexington Investor Relations

investorsrelations@cardifflexington.com

(800) 628-2100 ext. 705

or

IMS Investor Relations

cardifflexington@imsinvestorrelations.com

(203) 972-9200

SOURCE: Cardiff Lexington Corporation

View the original press release on accesswire.com
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - June 12, 2024) - Hypercharge Networks Corp. (TSXV: HC) (OTCQB: HCNWF) (FSE: PB7) (the "Company" or "Hypercharge"), a leading, smart electric vehicle (EV) charging solutions provider and network operator, is pleased to announce it will supply 12 Level 2 EV charging stations to a new apartment complex in Tucson, Arizona, with installation due to be completed in Q3 2024.

The property is a 323-unit multi-family development with over 4,900 sq. ft. of retail space, offering modern living and convenient access to downtown Tucson and the University of Arizona.

Hypercharge is working in partnership on the project with Automotive Charging Solutions ("ACS"), which will lead installation and provide ongoing maintenance and support services. ACS, a Hypercharge Preferred Partner based in Scottsdale, Arizona, offers turnkey EV charging solutions in support of its mission to power the evolution and growth of sustainable mobility.

"Expanding our footprint in the U.S. is an important growth initiative for Hypercharge and we are excited to deploy charging stations in Arizona, a new State for the Company, in association with ACS," said Chris Koch, Head of Growth & Partnerships at Hypercharge. "Our selection as the charging station provider was driven by the customer demand for a reliable solution that offers seamless payment processing, proactive monitoring, and load-sharing capabilities."

"We are thrilled to be working with Hypercharge on this EV charging deployment in our home State of Arizona," said Steve Krueger, Founding Partner & CEO at ACS. "The demand for EV charging in the multifamily space continues to grow and we are happy to be a key part of its evolution and expansion."

About Hypercharge

Hypercharge Networks Corp. (TSXV: HC) (OTCQB: HCNWF) (FSE: PB7) is a leading provider of smart electric vehicle (EV) charging solutions for residential and commercial buildings, fleet operations, and other rapidly growing sectors. Driven by its mission to accelerate EV adoption and enable the shift towards a carbon neutral economy, Hypercharge is committed to offering seamless, simple solutions including industry-leading hardware, innovative and integrated software, and comprehensive services, backed by a robust network of public and private charging stations. Learn more: https://hypercharge.com/.

On behalf of the Company,

Hypercharge Networks Corp.

David Bibby, President & CEO

Contacts

Investor Relations:

Chris Tyson | Executive Vice President | MZ Group

invest@hypercharge.com | (949) 491-8235

Media Contact:

Kyle Kingsnorth | Head of Marketing | Hypercharge

kyle.kingsnorth@hypercharge.com

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information (collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Any statements that are contained in this news release that are not statements of historical fact may be deemed to be forward-looking statements. More particularly and without limitation, this news release contains forward-looking statements regarding contractual performance and the expected timing, delivery and installation of EV charging stations. Forward-looking statements are often identified by terms such as "may", "should", "anticipate", "will", "estimates", "believes", "intends", "expects" and similar expressions which are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are inherently uncertain, and the actual performance may be affected by a number of material factors, assumptions and expectations, many of which are beyond the control of the Company. Readers are cautioned that assumptions used in the preparation of any forward-looking statements may prove to be incorrect. Events or circumstances may cause actual results to differ materially from those predicted as a result of numerous known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of the Company. Readers are further cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements, as such information, although considered reasonable by management of the Company at the time of preparation, may prove to be incorrect and actual results may differ materially from those anticipated.

The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date of this news release, and are expressly qualified by the foregoing cautionary statement. Except as expressly required by securities law, the Company undertakes no obligation to update publicly or to revise any of the included forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Neither the TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSXV) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/212576

SOURCE: Hypercharge Networks Corp.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - June 12, 2024) - District Copper Corp. (TSXV: DCOP) ("District Copper", "District", or the "Company") is pleased to report that it has added 3 new claims to its highly prospective the Copper Keg project. The Copper Keg porphyry copper project is located approximately 55 kms west of Kamloops British Columbia. The property now covers approximately 6,628 ha, an increase of over 20% to the land holdings. The property is located at the north end of the Guichon Creek batholith which hosts Teck's Highland Valley Copper operations.

Two of the new claims cover extensions of the Guichon Creek Batholith across the Thompson River where multiple historic soil geochemistry anomalies occur. The third claim lies in the centre of the property.

The company is currently developing an exploration program for the upcoming field season.

Jevin Werbes, President and CEO of District Copper, commented, "We are pleased to have added these additional claims to the Copper Keg as these now give District Copper complete control over the porphyry target and the associated anomalies."

Acquisition Terms

$20,000 cash ($5,000 on signing, balance on TSX-V approval

1,500,000 shares upon TSX-V approval

2% NSR with 50% purchasable for $1,000,000

About the Copper Keg property

Historical exploration spans from the late 1800's to 2012. The early stage exploration is reported to consist of mining high grade copper veins.

The property exhibits the geochemical/alteration/lithologic features typical of the argillic altered potion of a porphyry copper system at/along the potassic/propylitic contact. The property is characterized by a large, pyrite bearing, argillic zone exposed along the surface trace of the Barnes Creek fault, a major NNW trending that crosses the Guichon Creek Batholith. The high-grade copper veins noted above, reflect supergene enrichment of distal base metal veins typically associated with a porphyry copper system.

Mapping has described pale grey-green (possibly phyllic alteration) outcrops of Guichon intrusive and late-stage Quartz Feldspar and Quartz Feldspar Hornblende dikes indicating multi-phase intrusive activity. The hydrothermal alteration is post Guichon intrusive and pre-dates the late-stage intrusive dikes.

The erratic and wide range of copper values (0.025 to 0.76%), in the gossanous (after pyrite), argillic altered zone, exhibit characteristics typical of a leach cap to a porphyry system.

The project is underlain by an intrusive phase of the Guichon Creek batholith intruded the surrounding Nicola Group rocks.

Petrographic work and K/Al: Na/Al ratios indicate an alteration package ranging from argillic-phyllic- potassic (all alteration phases associated with porphyry copper systems) supported by alteration minerals indicative of the inner actinolite subzone of a porphyry system as well as secondary biotite (Potassic alteration) and sericite (phyllic alteration), quartz veinlets with pyrite and chalcopyrite.

A large pyritic zone exhibits spatial association with the argillic altered zone and could be representative of what is commonly referred to in porphyry copper terms as the "pyrite shell". Chalcopyrite, bornite and malachite (secondary copper carbonate) have been observed in outcrop and support the presence of a porphyry system.

Two highly altered gossans have been identified along the interpreted trace of the Barnes Creek fault, a major structure within the Guichon Creek batholith. The first area (800m long by 200m wide); the second area is 600 m south and smaller in extent. These gossans exhibit erratic copper concentrations, weak copper-silver soil anomalies and copper mineralogy typical of a leach cap.

Since the Company acquired the property in 2021, it has completed mapping and prospecting, soil sampling, and ground and airborne geophysical programs. Results from this work are consistent with the presence of a leach cap to a porphyry system.

Qualified Person

Chris M. Healey, P.Geo., Chief Geologist, and a Director of District Copper Corp., is the qualified person under NI 43-101 guidelines who is responsible for the technical content of this release and approves its release.

About District Copper

District Copper is a Canadian company engaged in the exploration for porphyry copper deposits in south-central British Columbia.

For further information, please visit www.districtcoppercorp.com to view the Company's profile or contact Jevin Werbes at 604-363-2506.

Jevin Werbes, President & 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. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to sell any of the securities described herein in the United States. The securities described in this news release have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act") or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to U.S. Persons unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or an exemption from such registration is available. This news release is not for distribution in the United States or over United States newswires.

Cautionary Statement on Forward-Looking Statement

Certain information contained in this news release, including information as to our strategy, projects, plans or future financial or operating performance and other statements that express management's expectations or estimates of future performance, constitute "forward-looking statements". Actual results may differ materially from those indicated by such statements. All statements, other than historical fact, included herein, including, without limitations statements regarding future production, are forward-looking statements that involve various 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.

In connection with the forward-looking information contained in this news release, District Copper has made numerous assumptions regarding, among other things: the geological advice that District Copper has received is reliable and is based upon practices and methodologies which are consistent with industry standards and the reliability of historical reports. While District Copper considers these assumptions to be reasonable, these assumptions are inherently subject to significant uncertainties and contingencies.

Additionally, there are known and unknown risk factors which could cause District Copper's actual results, performance, or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking information contained herein. Known risk factors include, among others: the dimensions and shape of the mineralized areas may not be as estimated; the targets outlined by the MVI study may not be associated with felsic intrusives porphyry style alteration or mineralization; the proposed surface program may eliminate these areas as potential targets for future exploration; the NNW trending structures may not contain indications of magnetite destruction typical of hydrothermal alteration; uncertainties relating to interpretation of the outcrop sampling results; the geology, continuity, and concentration of the mineralization; the financial markets and the overall economy may deteriorate; the need to obtain additional financing and uncertainty of meeting anticipated program milestones; and uncertainty as to timely availability of permits and other governmental approvals.

A more complete discussion of the risks and uncertainties facing District Copper is disclosed in District Copper's continuous disclosure filings with Canadian securities regulatory authorities at www.sedarplus.ca. All forward-looking information herein is qualified in its entirety by this cautionary statement, and District Copper disclaims any obligation to revise or update any such forward-looking information or to publicly announce the result of any revisions to any of the forward-looking information contained herein to reflect future results, events or developments, except as required by law.

NOT FOR US DISTRIBUTION OR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/212593

SOURCE: District Copper Corp
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - June 12, 2024) - Tower Resources Ltd. (TSXV: TWR) ("Tower" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the commencement of the 2024 drilling season at its Rabbit North property. The property is located in the Kamloops mining district and positioned between New Gold's New Afton underground copper-gold mine and Teck's Highland Valley open-pit copper-molybdenum mine. The first phase of drilling will target prime gold and porphyry copper-gold zones within the Lightning, Thunder, and Rainbow zones.

Joe Dhami, President and CEO of Tower, expressed enthusiasm for the project, highlighting the exploration team's success in identifying three distinct zones with only 6,700 meters of drilling. The multi-phase drill program aims to explore the resource potential of this under-explored property throughout 2024, with the first phase expected to conclude in July, followed by subsequent phases in the summer and fall.

Additionally, a follow-up program is planned for the More Creek property in the Golden Triangle to build upon promising sampling results from the 2023 fall program at Arrow Creek. Arrow Creek is located within the Red Line rift zone between Late Triassic and Early Jurassic volcanic rocks, and is significant due to its association with epithermal gold and porphyry copper-gold deposits.

Gravel samples from Arrow Creek have shown abundant gold grains for 4 km downstream from a recent landslide to its junction with More Creek. The 2024 program will focus on mapping and prospecting the area affected by the landslide to define a drill-ready target for future potential partnerships or joint ventures in the Golden Triangle.

Methods and Qualified Person

The technical content of this news release has been reviewed and approved by Stuart Averill, P.Geo., a director of the Company, and a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101.

About Tower Resources

Tower is a Canadian based mineral exploration company focused on the discovery and advancement of economic mineral projects in the Americas. The Company's key exploration assets, all in B.C., are the Rabbit North copper-gold porphyry project located between the New Afton copper-gold and Highland Valley copper mines in the Kamloops mining district, the Nechako porphyry-associated gold-silver project near Artemis' Blackwater project and the More Creek epithermal gold project on the critical "red line" structural zone connecting the mineral deposits of the Golden Triangle.

On behalf of the Board of Directors

Tower Resources Ltd.

Joe Dhami, President and CEO

(778) 996-4730

www.towerresources.ca

Reader Advisory

This news release may contain statements which constitute "forward-looking information", including statements regarding the plans, intentions, beliefs and current expectations of the Company, its directors, or its officers with respect to the future business activities of the Company. The words "may", "would", "could", "will", "intend", "plan", "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "expect" and similar expressions, as they relate to the Company, or its management, are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. Investors are cautioned that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future business activities and involve risks and uncertainties, and that the Company's future business activities may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including, but not limited to, fluctuations in market prices, successes of the operations of the Company, continued availability of capital and financing and general economic, market or business conditions. There can be no assurances that such information will prove accurate and, therefore, readers are advised to rely on their own evaluation of such uncertainties. The Company does not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking information except as required under the applicable securities laws.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/212626

SOURCE: Tower Resources Ltd.
Tripoli, Libya (PANA) - Libya's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Government of National Unity has welcomed Resolution 2735 issued of the UN Security Council calling for a permanent ceasefire and the complete withdrawal of the Israeli occupying forces from the Gaza Strip in Palestine
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - June 12, 2024) - Forge Resources Corp. (CSE: FRG) (OTCQB: FRGGF) (FSE: 5YZ) ("FRG" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the completion of the first two 2024 planned drill holes at Alotta, both showing porphyry style mineralization. The continuation of the Phase 1 drilling program is on schedule with holes ALT-24-001/002 completed to a depth of 402 and 501 metres respectively. Drill hole ALT-24-003 has now commenced, testing the Severance Zone.

Hole ALT-24-001 - Azimuth 135/-50 degree dip and the first hole to drill test the Payoff Zone where strongly anomalous rock samples (up to 8.7 g/t gold) were sampled over a 200 x 300 m area. ALT-24-001 appears to have a higher concentration of pyrite stringers than what was observed in two November 2023 drillholes. In November 2023 two drill holes were completed on the property which confirmed the porphyry style nature of mineralization.

Hole ALT-24-002 - Azimuth 230/-60 degree dip. The hole was proposed to test possible west-northwest trending structures related to mineralization. Porphyry style mineralization was again encountered. Alteration and associated disseminated and fractured controlled sulphide mineralization is increasing to depth.

Lorne Warner, President, and P.Geo for Forge Resources Corp. comments: "Every drillhole completed is bringing us closer to understanding the controls to the mineralization at Alotta. We have now started drilling at the untested Severance Zone which has extensive and highly anomalous multi-element soil geochemistry. The three proposed holes will test across entire anomalous soil geochemistry in the central area of the Alotta Zones."

Figure 1 above is a core photo from hole ALT-24-002 at depth of 261.5 metres that trended towards the area of ALT-23-001, completed in November, 2023. As announced on February 24, 2024, Hole ALT-23-001 intercepted 211.65 metres of 0.46 grams/tonne gold from the first ever diamond drill hole on the property.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8680/212650_8e21d0aed442f879_001full.jpg

Review of ALT-23-001 intercept area hosting the 211.65 metres of 0.46 g/tonne gold:

Hosted in semi-crowed, quartz-plagioclase porphyry

Indicates that silica filled fractures hosting sulphide mineralization occur in areas of higher-grade gold concentrations

Semi-massive, poly-metallic veins can contain high-grade gold concentrations.

Figure 2 above outlines the high priority target areas within the Alotta property with potential gold-copper-molybdenum, porphyry style mineralization. Prior to November 2023 none of these target areas had been drill tested. In November 2023 two drill holes (ALT-23-001 and ALT-23-002) were completed on the property which confirmed the porphyry style nature of mineralization. Hole ALT-24-004 to ALT-24-010 are proposed locations.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8680/212650_8e21d0aed442f879_002full.jpg

The Alotta property consists of 96 mineral claims that cover approximately 1,926 hectares that is located 50 km south-east of Western Copper and Gold's Casino deposit. Figure 3 below demonstrates the extent of anomalous, copper in soil geochemistry with the current area of mineral resources defined at the Casino Deposit. The Casino deposit is one of the most economic, greenfield copper-gold mining projects in the world which is ranked as one of the top ten largest, undeveloped, copper-gold porphyry deposits in the world. Western Copper and Gold announced on April 30, 2024, the completion of their bought deal public offering with gross proceeds of $46 million. Subsequently, on May 6, 2024, they announced the completion of a further $5 million financing with Rio Tinto.

Figure 3

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8680/212650_8e21d0aed442f879_003full.jpg

Figure 4 - Drilling ALT-24-003, started June 11, 2024

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8680/212650_8e21d0aed442f879_004full.jpg

Qualified Person

Lorne Warner, P.Geo, and President of Forge Resources Corp. is a qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 and has reviewed and approved the scientific and technical disclosure in this news release.

About Forge Resources Corp.

Forge Resources Corp. is a Canadian-listed junior exploration company focused on exploring and advancing the Alotta project, a prospective porphyry copper-gold-molybdenum project located 50 km south-east of the Casino porphyry deposit in the unglaciated portion of the Dawson Range porphyry/epithermal belt in the Yukon Territory of Canada.

In addition, the Company holds a 40% interest in Aion Mining Corp., a company that is developing the fully permitted La Estrella coal project in Santander, Colombia. The project contains eight known seams of metallurgical and thermal coal.

On behalf of the Board of Directors

"Cole McClay", CEO Forge Resources Corp.

info@forgeresources.com

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain of the statements made and information contained herein may contain forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. Forward-looking information includes, but is not limited to, information concerning the Company's intentions with respect to the development of its mineral properties. Forward-looking information is based on the views, opinions, intentions and estimates of management at the date the information is made, and is based on a number of assumptions and subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those anticipated or projected in the forward-looking information (including the actions of other parties who have agreed to do certain things and the approval of certain regulatory bodies). Many of these assumptions are based on factors and events that are not within the control of the Company and there is no assurance they will prove to be correct. There can be no assurance that forward-looking information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such information. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking information if circumstances or management's estimates or opinions should change except as required by applicable securities laws, or to comment on analyses, expectations or statements made by third parties in respect of the Company, its financial or operating results or its securities. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information. We seek safe harbor.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/212650

SOURCE: Forge Resources Corp.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - June 12, 2024) - Esstra Industries Inc. (TSXV: ESS) ("Esstra" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the appointment of Alexander Damouni as Chief Executive Officer ("CEO") and Director as well as Sohrab Jahanbani as Strategic Advisor.

Alexander Damouni, CEO and Director, states, "I am delighted to become part of the Company. Sohrab Jahanbani, Rabih Brair (CFO), and I have previously collaborated together and we look forward to building out Esstra's investment opportunities over the coming months."

Mr. Alexander Damouni has over 20 years of corporate experience managing strategy and growing companies across four continents. Throughout his career, Alexander focused on creating value by helping business owners better understand their situation and providing tools and solutions to scale their companies. He has served as an advisor to a venture-backed online marketplace, where he directly supported the CEO in growing the business from a concept to generating $100M in gross transaction value. The platform helped over a thousand SMEs enable technology to achieve nearly a quarter of a million in new customer growth. Alexander holds an MBA from Hult International Business School and a BA from McGill University.

Mr. Sohrab Jahanbani is a seasoned entrepreneur with over 28 years of experience in founding and scaling early-stage ventures across diverse sectors, including telecoms, mobile payments, SaaS, e-commerce, and marketplaces. He has successfully founded five businesses himself and as a mentor at Techstars and an Entrepreneur in Residence at Citibank, Sohrab has guided many founders through successful fundraising and scaling processes.

Resignation

The Company also announces the resignation of Virginia Olnick as CEO of the Company. Ms. Olnick will remain on the Board of Directors.

Option Issuance

The Company has issued a total of 820,250 options to purchase common shares in its capital to directors, officers, and consultants at a price of C$0.10 per share (the "Options"). The Options vest immediately upon grant and expire three years from the grant date.

About Esstra Industries Inc.

Esstra Industries Inc. is listed on the TSX Venture Exchange and is classified as an "Investment Company" under applicable Exchange policies.

Alexander Damouni

Chief Executive Officer

For further information, please contact the Company at:

Tel.: (604) 785-1425

Reader Advisory

This news release may include forward-looking information that is 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 information are based on reasonable assumptions, such information is not a guarantee of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking information include, but are not limited to, fluctuations in market prices, successes of the operations of the Company, continued availability of capital and financing and general economic, market or business conditions. There can be no assurances that such information will prove accurate and, therefore, readers are advised to rely on their own evaluation of such uncertainties. The Company does not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking information except as required under the applicable securities laws.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada 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/212625

SOURCE: Esstra Industries Inc.
Artmarket.com: CIHA Lyon 2024 - France. Artprice is an active sponsor of the International Congress of Art History (CIHA) which this year will be attended by well over a thousand researchers from over 70 countries (June 23 to 28)

In a few days, the 36th edition of the International Congress of Art History (CIHA) will open at the Lyon Convention Center (June 23 to 28). This is a very exceptional event that will not be repeated in France for several decades.

https://www.cihalyon2024.fr/en/

Created in 1873, the CIHA congresses take place every four years and are sometimes referred to colloquially as the "Olympiads of Art History". The most recent congresses have been hosted in Melbourne (2008), Nuremberg (2012), Beijing (2016), Florence and Sao Paulo (2019-2021), and the next edition (after Lyon this year), will be organized in Washington DC in 2028. On a global scale, the CIHA congresses constitute the most unifying event for the entire community of researchers and professionals in the world of art and cultural heritage.

Organized by the French Art History Committee (CFHA) in partnership with the National Institute of Art History (INHA), the Lumiere University Lyon 2 and the Rhone-Alpes Historical Research Laboratory (LARHRA CNRS UMR 5190), the 36th edition of this congress will take place at the Congress Center of the Cite Internationale in Lyon and will focus on a strong theme with connections to important societal issues: matter and materiality.

This theme questions the very sources of art and delves into the conception, production, interpretation, and conservation of works of art from all cultures and all periods. It opens onto urgent questions linked to the most topical environmental and geopolitical issues: access to resources, sustainability, conservation, museums and ecological transition, dematerialization, destruction/reconstruction, war and heritage, and will include a session specifically devoted to Ukraine.

thierry Ehrmann, CEO of Artmarket.com and founder of Artprice:

"As one of its principal active patrons, Artprice is very happy to contribute to this global event, which is one of the most important for France and its international cultural policy. With participants from over 70 countries and more than 1000 speakers, this year's CIHA will be a superb intellectual complement to the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. Indeed, this extraordinary quadrennial Art History Congress consolidates France's efforts to re-establish itself as an important cultural player on the international scene (according to Artprice's Annual Art Market Report, it is already the leading art marketplace in continental Europe). We will of course be very pleased to welcome CIHA delegates to the global headquarters of Artprice by Artmarket in the heart of the Contemporary Art Museum, La Demeure du Chaos / Abode of Chaos during an exceptional private evening."

Olivier Bonfait, President of the French Committee for the History of Art (CFHA), organizer of the CIHA 2024:

"By the quality and diversity of the planned discussions, the very high number of participants (more than 1500) and the international response it has received, this Art History Congress is already an important milestone in Art History. And, considering Artprice's contribution to Art History by enhancing art market transparency, their support of this Congress is a great honor and makes perfect sense. By participating in the International Congress in Lyon you are celebrating the importance of research and knowledge in the field of Art History."

The success of this major event is ensured by the strong commitment of the international community. The figures speak for themselves: 1500 registered participants, more than 1000 speakers from 70 countries. More than 90 sessions, 10 major conferences, plus numerous round tables, dialogues and meetings.

The Congress's opening speech will be delivered by the Turkish Nobel Prize laureate, author, Orhan Pamuk. Also contributing to this exceptional program are personalities at the forefront of research in art history, anthropology, philosophy and the heritage sciences (notably Georges Didi-Huberman, Tim Ingold, Gabriela Siracusano, Monica Wagner) as well as directors of major collections (including the Musee d'Orsay, the Louvre, the John P. Getty Museum, the Museu das Culturas Indigenas de Sao Paulo and the Center for Contemporary Art in Beijing). Two international artists will come to share their relationship with notions of materiality: Sheela Gowda (India) and Jefferson Pinder (USA).

At the same time, a Book Fair, in which Artprice by Artmarket will be participating, will bring together around forty national and international exhibitors who are among the leaders in publishing in art history and related disciplines.

A rich cultural program is also offered to delegates, covering the most diverse centers of interest: around thirty visits to museums and heritage sites in Lyon and its metropolis throughout the congress, as well as a series of eight excursions in the Auvergne Rhone Alpes Region on Friday, June 28. In the evening, discussions will continue during special events organized with partner museums and foundations and the support of committed patrons.

Register and take part in all the opportunities this exceptional congress offers you including professional exchanges, the consolidation of your networks, unique and convivial moments, discoveries of all kinds, and privileged visits to the region's extraordinary heritage.

https://www.cihalyon2024.fr/fr/programmeprog_culturel

https://www.cihalyon2024.fr/en/?Itemid=361prog_culturel

To register for the conference: https://www.cihalyon2024.fr/fr/inscriptions

Please note, places for the cultural program are limited:

Don't miss the places available for excursions, visits and evenings in the cultural program, and register from your personal space (once you have registered for the congress).

Evenings

 Daniel Spoerri dinner performance, at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Lyon - June 25 (paying)

The Museum of Contemporary Art in Lyon supports and hosts the reissue of a banquet designed by Swiss artist Daniel Spoerri, thanks to a loan from the National Center for Plastic Arts and the collaboration of Michelin-starred Lyon chef Jeremy Galvan.

 Private evening with cocktail dinner at the Museum of Fine Arts - June 25 (paying)

Free visit to the Connecting Worlds exhibition; Conference by Pierre Rosenberg in front of The Flight into Egypt and The Death of Chione by Nicolas Poussin; Five restoration workshops for works of art from the museum by curators and restorers.

 Private evening with a reception at the Musee d'Art Contemporain L'Organe managing La Demeure du Chaos / Abode of Chaos - June 26 (free to registered delegates)

Guided tour of the Abode of Chaos, discovery of the global headquarters of Artprice by Artmarket and its documentary archive; a cocktail dinner and discussion time with thierry Ehrmann, visual sculptor and creator of La Demeure du Chaos/Abode of Chaos, President of Artmarket.com and Founder of Artprice.

 Evening at the Lyon Contemporary Art Museum - 27 June from 7 p.m. to midnight (free).

Exhibitions open at night until 11 p.m. Evening at the macBar, the bar of the Lyon Museum of Contemporary Art. DJ set. Access to the Museum's terrace.Excursions on 28 June

There are only a few places left for the following 5 excursions.

 Heritage of Puy-en-Velay (Cathedral and urban heritage of Puy-en-Velay)

 Architecture and industry of the Loire (Museum of Art and Industry, Saint-Etienne; visit to the Le Corbusier site - Firminy-Vert)

 Museums and conservation-restoration in Grenoble (Visit to the ARC-Nucleart conservation-restoration workshop; Grenoble Museum; Musee de l'Eveche)

 Arts and Museums in Grenoble (Le Magasin, National Center for Contemporary Art; Tour Perret; Musee Hebert)

 Heritage and restoration in Givors (Saint-Nicolas Church; visit to the City of Stars by Jean Renaudie and the urban heritage of Givors)

This major scientific and cultural event benefits from the support of numerous public and private partners and patrons.

The 36th CIHA is placed under the high sponsorship of the Ministry of Culture and its Minister Rachida Dati, the Ministry of Europe & Foreign Affairs and its Minister Stephane Sejourne, the Ministry of Higher Education & Research and its Minister Sylvie Retailleau. It is supported by major institutions: the National Center for Scientific Research, the National Institute of Art History, the Ecole du Louvre, the Universite Lumiere Lyon 2, the Ecole Nationale Superieure de Lyon, and the Grenoble Alpes University.

It also benefits from the generous support of numerous foundations, cultural partners and companies and individuals including the Academy of Fine Arts, the Spanish Embassy, ??Artprice by Artmarket, the Art & University Association, the Bruschettini Foundation for Islamic & Asian Art (Genoa), Cartier, the Circle of Patrons of Lyon Museums, the Deutsches Forum fur Kunstgeschichte (Paris), the Antoine de Galbert Foundation, the Bullukian Foundation, the Tiqitaq Foundation, the Fundacion Proa (Buenos Aires), the Gerda Henkel Stiftung (Dusseldorf), the Getty Foundation (Los Angeles), the Italian Cultural Institute of Lyon, the Kunst Historisches Institut in Florenz-the Max-Planck-Institut (Florence), the macLYON (Lyon's Museum of Contemporary Art), the Musee d'Orsay/Musee de l'Orangerie, the Musee des Beaux-Arts de Lyon, the two Gadagne Museums, the Organe Museum of Contemporary Art which manages La Demeure du Chaos/Abode of Chaos, the Samuel H. Kress Foundation (New York), the Terra Foundation for American Art (USA), Daniel Thierry, and the Wu Zuoren International Foundation of Fine Arts (Beijing).

Welcome to Lyon, the global capital of Art History in June 2024.

Contact: CIHA-Lyon-2024@cfha-web.fr

The Management Committee

Laurent Baridon, Judith Kagan, France Nerlich, Sophie Raux

Images:

[https://imgpublic.artprice.com/img/wp/sites/11/2024/05/image1-36e-CIHA.png]

[https://imgpublic.artprice.com/img/wp/sites/11/2024/05/image2-Siege-social-Artmarket.jpg]

Copyright 1987-2024 thierry Ehrmann www.artprice.com - www.artmarket.com

Don't hesitate to contact our E conometrics Department for your requirements regarding statistics and personalized studies: econometrics@artprice.com

Try our services (free demo): https://www.artprice.com/demo

Subscribe to our services: https://www.artprice.com/subscription

About Artmarket:

Artmarket.com is listed on Eurolist by Euronext Paris, and Euroclear: 7478 - Bloomberg: PRC - Reuters: ARTF.

Discover Artmarket and its Artprice department on video: www.artprice.com/video

Artmarket and its Artprice department was founded in 1997 by its CEO, thierry Ehrmann. Artmarket and its Artprice department is controlled by Groupe Serveur, created in 1987.

See certified biography in Who's who :

https://imgpublic.artprice.com/img/wp/sites/11/2024/02/2024_Biographie_thierry_Ehrmann_WhosWhoInFrance.pdf

Artmarket is a global player in the Art Market with, among other structures, its Artprice department, world leader in the accumulation, management and exploitation of historical and current art market information (the original documentary archives, codex manuscripts, annotated books and auction catalogs acquired over the years ) in databanks containing over 30 million indices and auction results, covering more than 844 000 artists.

Artprice by Artmarket, the world leader in information on the art market, has set itself the ambition through its Global Standardized Marketplace to be the world's leading Fine Art NFT platform.

Artprice Images allows unlimited access to the largest Art Market image bank in the world: no less than 180 million digital images of photographs or engraved reproductions of artworks from 1700 to the present day, commented by our art historians.

Artmarket with its Artprice department accumulates data on a permanent basis from 7200 Auction Houses and produces key Art Market information for the main press and media agencies (7,200 publications). Its 7.2 million ('members log in'+social media) users have access to ads posted by other members, a network that today represents the leading Global Standardized Marketplace to buy and sell artworks at a fixed or bid price (auctions regulated by paragraphs 2 and 3 of Article L 321.3 of France's Commercial Code).

The Art Market's future is now brighter than ever with Artprice's Artmarket Intuitive AI

Artmarket, with its Artprice department, has twice been awarded the State label "Innovative Company" by the Public Investment Bank (BPI), which has supported the company in its project to consolidate its position as a global player in the art market.

Artprice by Artmarket's Global Art Market Report, "The Art Market in 2023", published in March 2024:

https://www.artprice.com/artprice-reports/the-art-market-in-2023

Artprice by Artmarket publishes its 2023 Contemporary Art Market Report:

https://www.artprice.com/artprice-reports/the-contemporary-art-market-report-2023

Index of press releases posted by Artmarket with its Artprice department:

https://serveur.serveur.com/artmarket/press-release/en/

Follow all the Art Market news in real time with Artmarket and its Artprice department on Facebook and Twitter:

www.facebook.com/artpricedotcom/ (over 6.5 million followers)

twitter.com/artmarketdotcom

twitter.com/artpricedotcom

Discover the alchemy and universe of Artmarket and its artprice department https://www.artprice.com/video headquartered at the famous Organe Contemporary Art Museum "The Abode of Chaos" (dixit The New York Times): https://issuu.com/demeureduchaos/docs/demeureduchaos-abodeofchaos-opus-ix-1999-2013

La Demeure du Chaos / Abode of Chaos

GESAMTKUNSTWERK & SINGULAR ARCHITECTURE

Confidential bilingual work now public:

https://ftp1.serveur.com/abodeofchaos_singular_architecture.pdf

L'Obs - The Museum of the Future: https://youtu.be/29LXBPJrs-o

www.facebook.com/la.demeure.du.chaos.theabodeofchaos999 (over 4.1 million followers)

https://vimeo.com/124643720

Contact Artmarket.com and its Artprice department - Contact: ir@artmarket.com

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The Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters today announced the 2024 Kavli Prize Laureates in the fields of astrophysics, nanoscience and neuroscience. Eight scientists from three countries are honored for their research that has broadened our understanding of the big, the small and the complex. The laureates in each field will share $1 million USD.

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Nancy Kanwisher, 2024 Kavli Prize Laureate in Neuroscience (Photo: Business Wire)

The 2024 Kavli Prizes recognizegroundbreaking science for the discovery and characterization of extra-solar planets and their atmospheres; foundational research integrating synthetic nanoscale materials for biomedical use; and the localization of areas in the brain specialized for face recognition and processing.

The 2024 Kavli Prize Laureates are:

Kavli Prize in Astrophysics: David Charbonneau (Canada/USA) and Sara Seager (Canada/USA)

David Charbonneau (Canada/USA) and Sara Seager (Canada/USA) Kavli Prize in Nanoscience: Robert S. Langer (USA), Armand Paul Alivisatos (USA) and Chad A. Mirkin (USA)

Robert S. Langer (USA), Armand Paul Alivisatos (USA) and Chad A. Mirkin (USA) Kavli Prize in Neuroscience: Nancy Kanwisher (USA), Winrich Freiwald (Germany), and Doris Tsao (USA)

"The Kavli Prize 2024 honors outstanding researchers doing fundamental science that moves the world forward. They are exploring planets outside our solar system; they have broadened the scientific field of nanoscience towards biomedicine; and they are adding to our understanding of the neurological basis of face recognition," said Lise vreas, president at The Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters.

Astrophysics: Searching for life beyond Earth

The 2024 Kavli Prize in Astrophysics honors Sara Seager and David Charbonneau for discoveries of exoplanets and the characterization of their atmospheres. They pioneered methods for the detection of atomic species in planetary atmospheres and the measurement of their thermal infrared emission, setting the stage for finding the molecular fingerprints of atmospheres around both giant and rocky planets. Their contributions have been key to the enormous progress seen in the last 20 years in the exploration of myriad exo-planets.

"Humans have always looked towards the stars for discoveries. The pivotal research conducted by Seager and Charbonneau has been an important first step towards finding new planets and strong evidence of life elsewhere in the universe," remarked Viggo Hansteen, Chair of the Astrophysics Committee.

David Charbonneau led the team that used the transit method to discover a giant exoplanet (HD 209458b). He pioneered the application of space-based observatories to perform the first studies of the atmosphere of giant extrasolar planets. This new method measures the tiny amount of light blocked by such a planet as it passes in front of its host star. Charbonneau has also used the transit method to study exoplanetary atmospheres, measuring molecular spectra using both filtered starlight and infrared emission from the planets themselves. He demonstrated these two approaches with observations from the Hubble Space Telescope in 2002 and the Spitzer Space Telescope three years later.

Sara Seager pioneered the theoretical study of planetary atmospheres and predicted the presence of atomic and molecular species detectable by transit spectroscopy, most notably the alkali gases. She predicted how transits could be used to measure atomic and molecular characteristics in exoplanetary atmospheres, which is crucial for identifying biomarkers signs of life. Seager made outstanding contributions to the understanding of planets with masses below that of Neptune. She also carried out extensive research on starshades enormous petal-like structures designed to shield space observatories from the glare of a faraway Sun-like star and was among the first to recognize their importance in detecting and characterizing the faint light from any Earth-like planet orbiting the star.

More details available at www.kavliprize.org

Nanoscience: Integrating nanomaterials for biomedical advances

The 2024 Kavli Prize in Nanoscience honors Robert S. Langer, Armand Paul Alivisatos and Chad A. Mirkin who each revolutionized the field of nanomedicine by demonstrating how engineering nanoscale can advance biomedical research and application. Their discoveries contributed foundationally to the development of therapeutics, vaccines, bioimaging and diagnostics.

"The three scientists, Langer, Alivisatos and Mirkin, have broadened the scientific field of nanoscience, building from fundamental research. By scientific curiosity they have become inventors for the future of nanoscience and biomedicine," stated Bodil Holst, Chair of the Nanoscience Committee.

Robert S. Langer was the first to develop nano-engineered materials that enabled the controlled release, or regular flow, of drug molecules. This capability has had an immense impact for the treatment of a range of diseases, such as aggressive brain cancer, prostate cancer and schizophrenia. His work also showed that tiny particles, containing protein antigens, can be used in vaccination, and was instrumental in the development of the delivery of mRNA vaccines.

Armand Paul Alivisatos demonstrated that semiconductor nanocrystals, or quantum dots (nanoparticles that possess bright, size-dependent light-emitting properties), can be used as multicolor probes in bioimaging. Essential to this achievement was the synthesis of biocompatible nanocrystals. Semiconductor nanocrystals became the basis for the widely used research and diagnostic tools such as live cell tracking, labelling and in vivo imaging.

Chad A. Mirkin engineered spherical nucleic acids (SNA) using a gold nanoparticle as the core, and a cloud of radially distributed DNA or RNA strands as the shell. He was then able to show how SNAs can be combined to create larger structures and how they can be used in biodiagnostics. His discovery led to the development of fast, automated point-of-care medical diagnostic systems.

More details available at www.kavliprize.org

Neuroscience: Understanding recognition of faces

The 2024 Kavli Prize in Neuroscience honors Nancy Kanwisher, Doris Tsao and Winrich Freiwald for the discovery of a specialized system within the brain to recognize faces. Their discoveries have provided basic principles of neural organization and made the starting point for further research on how the processing of visual information is integrated with other cognitive functions.

"Kanwisher, Freiwald and Tsao together discovered a localized and specialized neocortical system for face recognition. Their outstanding research will ultimately further our understanding of recognition not only of faces, but objects and scenes," commented Kristine Walhovd, Chair of the Neuroscience Committee.

Nancy Kanwisher was the first to prove that a specific area in the human neocortex is dedicated to recognizing faces, now called the fusiform face area. Using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) she found individual differences in the location of this area and devised an analysis technique to effectively localize specialized functional regions in the brain. This technique is now widely used and applied to domains beyond the face recognition system.

Elaboratingon Kanwisher's findings, Winrich Freiwald and Doris Tsao studied macaques and mapped out six distinct brain regions, known as the face patch system, including these regions' functional specialization and how they are connected. By recording the activity of individual brain cells, they revealed how cells in some face patches specialize in faces with particular views.

Tsao proceeded to identify how the face patches work together to identify a face, through a specific code that enables single cells to identify faces by assembling information of facial features. For example, some cells respond to the presence of hair, others to the distance between the eyes.

Freiwald uncovered that a separate brain region, called the temporal pole, accelerates our recognition of familiar faces, and that some cells are selectively responsive to familiar faces.

More details available at www.kavliprize.org

Kavli Prize Committees

Astrophysics

Viggo Hansteen (Chair), University of Oslo, Norway

Francoise Combes, Observatoire de Paris, France

Martha Haynes, Cornell University, USA

Thomas Henning, Max Planck Institute for Astronomy, Germany

Max Pettini, University of Cambridge, UK

Nanoscience

Bodil Holst (Chair), University of Bergen, Norway

Daniel Esteve, CEA, France

Naomi Halas, Rice University, USA

Shuit-Tong Lee, Soochow University, China

Tanja Weil, Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research, Germany

Neuroscience

Kristine B. Walhovd (Chair), University of Oslo, Norway

Angela Friederici, Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Germany

John O'Keefe, University College London, UK

Christine Petit, Institut Pasteur, France

Marcus Raichle, Washington University School of Medicine, USA

About The Kavli Prize

The Kavli Prize is a partnership among The Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters, The Norwegian Ministry of Education and Research, and The Kavli Foundation (USA). The Kavli Prize honors scientists for breakthroughs in astrophysics, nanoscience and neuroscience that transform our understanding of the big, the small and the complex. Three one-million-dollar prizes are awarded every other year in each of the three fields. The Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters selects the laureates based on recommendations from three independent prize committees whose members are nominated by The Chinese Academy of Sciences, The French Academy of Sciences, The Max Planck Society of Germany, The U.S. National Academy of Sciences, and The Royal Society, UK.

All 2024 Kavli Prize Laureates

Kavli Prize in Astrophysics:

David Charbonneau (Canada/USA), Harvard University

Sara Seager (Canada/USA), Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)

Kavli Prize in Nanoscience:

Armand Paul Alivisatos (USA), University of Chicago

Robert S. Langer (USA), Koch Institute of Integrative Cancer Research at MIT

Chad A. Mirkin (USA), Northwestern University

Kavli Prize in Neuroscience

Winrich Freiwald (Germany/USA), The Rockefeller University

Nancy Kanwisher (USA), Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Doris Tsao (USA), The University of California, Berkeley

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240612765576/en/

Contacts:

For more information, please contact:

Marina Tofting (Norway)

The Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters

(+ 47) 938 66 312

marina.tofting@dnva.no

Unni Irmelin Kvam (Norway)

The Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters

(+ 47) 95 172 672

u.i.kvam@dnva.no

Stacey Bailey (United States)

The Kavli Foundation

(+1) 310 739 2859

sbailey@kavlifoundation.org
Ingest data from databases, enterprise apps and cloud sources, transform it in batch and near real-time using SQL and Python, and confidently deploy and operate in production

SAN FRANCISCO, June 12, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Databricks , the Data and AI company, today announced the launch of Databricks LakeFlow, a new solution that unifies and simplifies all aspects of data engineering, from data ingestion to transformation and orchestration. With LakeFlow, data teams can now simply and efficiently ingest data at scale from databases such as MySQL, Postgres and Oracle, and enterprise applications such as Salesforce, Dynamics, Sharepoint, Workday, NetSuite and Google Analytics. Databricks is also introducing Real Time Mode for Apache Spark, which allows stream processing at ultra low latency.

LakeFlow automates deploying, operating and monitoring pipelines at scale in production with built-in support for CI/CD, and advanced workflows that support triggering, branching, and conditional execution. Data quality checks and health monitoring are built-in and integrated with alerting systems such as PagerDuty. LakeFlow makes building and operating production-grade data pipelines simple and efficient while still addressing the most complex data engineering use cases, enabling even the most busy data teams to meet the growing demand for reliable data and AI.

Addressing Challenges in Building and Operating Reliable Data Pipelines

Data engineering is essential for democratizing data and AI within businesses, yet it remains a challenging and complex field. Data teams must ingest data from siloed and often proprietary systems, including databases and enterprise applications, often requiring the creation of complex and fragile connectors. Additionally, data preparation involves maintaining intricate logic, and failures and latency spikes can lead to operational disruptions and unhappy customers. Deploying pipelines and monitoring data quality typically requires additional, disparate tools, further complicating the process. Existing solutions are fragmented and incomplete, leading to low data quality, reliability issues, high costs, and an increasing backlog of work.

LakeFlow addresses these challenges by simplifying all aspects of data engineering via a single, unified experience built on the Databricks Data Intelligence Platform, with deep integrations with Unity Catalog for end-to-end governance and serverless compute enabling highly efficient and scalable execution.

Key Features of LakeFlow

LakeFlow Connect: Simple and scalable data ingestion from every data source. LakeFlow Connect provides a breadth of native, scalable connectors for databases such as MySQL, Postgres, SQL Server and Oracle as well as enterprise applications like Salesforce, Dynamics, Sharepoint, Workday and NetSuite. These connectors are fully integrated with Unity Catalog, providing for robust data governance. LakeFlow Connect incorporates the low latency, highly efficient capabilities of Arcion , which was acquired by Databricks in November 2023. LakeFlow Connect makes all data, regardless of size, format or location available for batch and real-time analysis.

LakeFlow Pipelines: Simplifying and automating real-time data pipelines. Built on Databricks' highly scalable Delta Live Tables technology, LakeFlow Pipelines allows data teams to implement data transformation and ETL in SQL or Python. Customers can now enable Real Time Mode for low-latency streaming without any code changes. LakeFlow eliminates the need for manual orchestration and unifies batch and stream processing. It offers incremental data processing for optimal price/performance. LakeFlow Pipelines makes even the most complex of streaming and batch data transformations simple to build and easy to operate.

LakeFlow Jobs: Orchestrating workflows across the Data Intelligence Platform. LakeFlow Jobs provides automated orchestration, data health and delivery spanning scheduling notebooks and SQL queries all the way to ML training and automatic dashboard updates. It provides enhanced control flow capabilities and full observability to help detect, diagnose and mitigate data issues for increased pipeline reliability. LakeFlow Jobs automates deploying, orchestrating and monitoring data pipelines in a single place, making it easier for data teams to meet their data delivery promises.

Availability

With LakeFlow, the future of data engineering is unified and intelligent. LakeFlow is entering preview soon, starting with LakeFlow Connect . Customers can join the waitlist here .

About Databricks

Databricks is the Data and AI company. More than 10,000 organizations worldwide - including Block, Comcast, Conde Nast, Rivian, Shell and over 60% of the Fortune 500 - rely on the Databricks Data Intelligence Platform to take control of their data and put it to work with AI. Databricks is headquartered in San Francisco, with offices around the globe, and was founded by the original creators of Lakehouse, Apache Spark, Delta Lake and MLflow. To learn more, follow Databricks on LinkedIn, X and Facebook.

Contact: Press@databricks.com

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Bringing NVIDIA CUDA computing to the Databricks Data Intelligence Platform to bolster energy efficiency and savings

SAN FRANCISCO, June 12, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Databricks , the Data and AI company, today announced an expanded collaboration with NVIDIA during the Data + AI Summit to optimize data and AI workloads by bringing NVIDIA CUDA accelerated computing to the core of Databricks' Data Intelligence Platform. As data prep, curation and processing workloads are essential to using enterprise data for generative AI applications, the companies' work together is designed to boost the efficiency, accuracy and performance of AI development pipelines for modern AI factories. Through this broadened alliance, Databricks is adding native support for NVIDIA GPU acceleration on the Databricks Data Intelligence Platform. Today's announcement builds on Databricks and NVIDIA's collaboration to offer enriched experiences for enterprises, whether via training classical ML models, building and deploying generative AI applications, or optimizing digital twins.

"We're thrilled to continue growing our partnership with NVIDIA to deliver on the promise of data intelligence for our customers from analytics use cases to AI," said Ali Ghodsi, Co-founder and CEO at Databricks. "Together with NVIDIA, we're excited to help every organization build their own AI factories on their own private data."

"Data is the fuel for the generative AI industrial revolution, so reducing data processing energy demands with accelerated computing is essential to sustainable AI platforms," said Jensen Huang, founder and CEO of NVIDIA. "Databricks is the pioneer of large-scale data processing. By bringing NVIDIA CUDA acceleration to Databricks' core computing stack, we're laying the foundation for customers everywhere to use their data to power enterprise generative AI."

Driving Price-Performance with Photon and NVIDIA

Databricks plans to develop native support for NVIDIA-accelerated computing in Databricks' next-generation vectorized query engine, Photon , to deliver improved speed and efficiency for customers' data warehousing and analytics workloads.

Photon powers Databricks SQL , Databricks' serverless data warehouse with industry-leading price-performance and total cost of ownership (TCO). Databricks and NVIDIA believe this collaboration will lead to the next frontier of price-performance.

Creating Generative AI Factories with NVIDIA NIM

At COMPUTEX, Databricks' open source model DBRX became available as an NVIDIA NIM microservice. NVIDIA NIM inference microservices provide models as fully optimized, pre-built containers for deployment anywhere in order to dramatically increase enterprise developer productivity by providing a simple, standardized way to add generative AI models to their applications.

Launched in March 2024 , DBRX was built entirely on top of Databricks, leveraging all the tools and techniques available to Databricks customers and partners, and was trained with NVIDIA DGX Cloud , a scalable end-to-end AI platform for developers. Organizations can customize DBRX with enterprise data in order to create organization-specific, high-quality models, or as a reference architecture to build custom DBRX-style mixture of expert (MoE) models from the ground up.

Databricks' Data Intelligence Platform offers the most comprehensive platform for building, evaluating, deploying, securing, and monitoring end-to-end generative AI applications. With Databricks Mosaic AI 's data-centric approach to generative AI, customers benefit from an open, flexible platform to easily scale generative AI applications on their unique data that are safe, accurate and governed.

Building on Recent Databricks Momentum

Today's announcement comes on the heels of Databricks' strategic acquisition of Tabular , a data management startup founded by Ryan Blue, Daniel Weeks, and Jason Reid. By bringing together the original creators of Apache Iceberg and Linux Foundation Delta Lake, the two leading open source lakehouse formats, Databricks will lead the way with data compatibility so that organizations are no longer limited by which of these formats their data is in. Databricks also recently announced it is doubling down on its Delta Sharing open ecosystem with product innovations and strategic partnerships, enabling customers to efficiently break down data silos and unlock AI innovation.

Driven by the surge in demand for data and AI capabilities, Databricks reached over $1.6 billion in revenue for its fiscal year ending January 31, 2024, representing over 50% year-over-year growth.

About Databricks

Databricks is the Data and AI company. More than 10,000 organizations worldwide - including Block, Comcast, Conde Nast, Rivian, and Shell, and over 60% of the Fortune 500 - rely on the Databricks Data Intelligence Platform to take control of their data and put it to work with AI. Databricks is headquartered in San Francisco, with offices around the globe, and was founded by the original creators of Lakehouse, Apache Spark, Delta Lake and MLflow. To learn more, follow Databricks on LinkedIn, X and Facebook.

Contact

press@databricks.com

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SAN FRANCISCO, June 12, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Databricks , the Data and AI company, today announced the launch of Databricks AI/BI, a new type of business intelligence (BI) product that aims to democratize analytics and insights for anyone in an organization.

Databricks AI/BI features a pair of complementary experiences: Dashboards, an AI-powered, low-code interface for creating and distributing fast, interactive dashboards; and Genie, a conversational interface for addressing ad-hoc and follow-up questions through natural language. Both are powered by a compound AI system that continuously learns from usage across an organization's entire data stack, including ETL pipelines, lineage, and other queries. This allows AI/BI to answer complex questions accurately and automatically, without the requirement for upfront setup or modeling associated with conventional tools.

AI/BI marks a significant step towards true self-service BI, substantially expanding the types of analytics everyday users can do through an AI-first approach. AI/BI's intelligence is enabled by the Databricks Data Intelligence Platform, which is natively integrated to provide unified governance, lineage, secure sharing, and lightning-fast performance for all data sizes.

Enabling Self-Service Through Generative AI

Today, BI tools allow organizations to provide basic access to data through reports and dashboards, but they can only address the specific questions they were designed to answer. Changes in data or business conditions constantly spark new questions that require the scarce expertise of data scientists and analysts. Recently, the BI industry has been looking to generative AI to solve this problem by adding large language models (LLMs) on top of a conventional BI stack. However, these attempts have largely fallen short in the real world. The approach of solving this problem by passing a set of natural language questions into LLMs to generate an execution plan to answer such questions is fundamentally limited because real-world use cases are full of nuanced business questions with messy data and ill-defined semantics. Ultimately, "bolt-on AI" solutions may provide compelling demos but are unable to work with real questions and data.

"A truly intelligent BI solution needs to understand the unique semantics and nuances of a business to effectively answer questions for business users," said Ali Ghodsi, Co-founder and CEO at Databricks. "We believe this requires a different approach than how BI software has been designed in the past - one that places an AI system at the center of the architecture and is designed to take advantage of the AI systems' strengths as well as complementing their weaknesses to tackle the challenges of understanding and learning these nuances. The launch of AI/BI is a step towards building such a system."

Beyond "Bolt-on" LLMs: AI/BI is a Compound AI System for Analytics

At the core of AI/BI is a compound AI system that utilizes an ensemble of AI agents to reason about business questions and generate useful answers. Each agent is responsible for a narrow, but important task, such as planning, SQL generation, explanation, visualization and result certification. These agents are also supported by other components, such as a response ranking subsystem and a vector index. Together, they provide reasoning capabilities far beyond any individual monolith model.

The system is designed to continuously learn and improve its performance based on human feedback. For example, if told the definition of a churned customer, AI/BI will not only use that knowledge to address similar queries (e.g., churned customers in EMEA versus APJ), but also use that knowledge to calculate churn rate, or infer the meaning of retained customers. AI/BI persists this knowledge beyond a single analysis or conversation to get better and better, much like a human analyst. In addition, AI/BI learns from other information about an organization's data in the Databricks platform, such as ETL pipelines, lineage, popularity statistics, and other queries on the data.

This system powers two complementary interfaces:

AI/BI Dashboards: an AI-powered, low-code dashboarding solution that includes the conventional BI capabilities users would expect out-of-the-box, for answering a fixed set of business questions; and AI/BI Genie: a conversational interface that can learn the underlying data and semantics continuously based on human feedback, and can answer a much broader set of business questions based on its reasoning capabilities, while still providing certified answers for query patterns specified by the data teams.

Databricks AI/BI is built on top and tightly integrated with the Data Intelligence Platform. Benefits include:

Unified governance and lineage: AI/BI is deeply integrated into Databricks Unity Catalog . It follows the same governance framework, and any global policies set by administrators will apply in AI/BI. And thanks to Unity Catalog's lineage capability, data producers or administrators can observe how their data assets are used in AI/BI, and end users can place higher trust on their analysis because they can trace back the origins of their datasets all the way back to data ingestion.

AI/BI is deeply integrated into . It follows the same governance framework, and any global policies set by administrators will apply in AI/BI. And thanks to Unity Catalog's lineage capability, data producers or administrators can observe how their data assets are used in AI/BI, and end users can place higher trust on their analysis because they can trace back the origins of their datasets all the way back to data ingestion. Effortless sharing, without new user licenses: AI/BI is built right into the Databricks IAM platform which integrates directly with IDPs like Entra AD or Okta to enable secure sharing.

AI/BI is built right into the Databricks IAM platform which integrates directly with IDPs like Entra AD or Okta to enable secure sharing. Industry-leading price-performance : AI/BI is tightly integrated with Databricks SQL data warehouses and the Photon engine, which contain unique optimizations to deliver high-performance interactions. It provides industry-leading price-performance across data volumes, from megabytes to petabytes.

: AI/BI is tightly integrated with data warehouses and the Photon engine, which contain unique optimizations to deliver high-performance interactions. It provides industry-leading price-performance across data volumes, from megabytes to petabytes. No data extraction required: Consequently, AI/BI does not require extracting the datasets of interest out to a separate BI engine, leading to better freshness of data as well as simpler governance.

"At SEGA, we aim to entertain the world with creative, innovative experiences, and data intelligence plays an important role in achieving that goal. We're using Databricks AI/BI to help decision-makers ask ad-hoc questions in real time about consumer behavior without having to depend on our data experts to construct dashboards and queries. Now our team members can get detailed insights on game sales and gameplay data by simply asking in natural language," said Felix Baker, Head of Data Services, SEGA Europe. "AI/BI will enable us to democratize data, increase productivity, and enhance the speed of data-driven decision making throughout SEGA, which enables us to focus on what really matters: building the best possible gaming experiences for our players."

Availability

AI/BI is included for all Databricks SQL Pro and Serverless customers. AI/BI Dashboards is generally available; Genie is in public preview starting today. There is no additional licensing fee beyond warehouse compute costs for both products.

For more information about AI/BI, please visit: https://www.databricks.com/product/ai-bi

About Databricks

Databricks is the Data and AI company. More than 10,000 organizations worldwide - including Block, Comcast, Conde Nast, Rivian, Shell and over 60% of the Fortune 500 - rely on the Databricks Data Intelligence Platform to take control of their data and put it to work with AI. Databricks is headquartered in San Francisco, with offices around the globe, and was founded by the original creators of Lakehouse, Apache Spark, Delta Lake and MLflow. To learn more, follow Databricks on LinkedIn, X and Facebook.

Contact: Press@databricks.com

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VANCOUVER, BC, June 12, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Yukon Metals Corp. (CSE: YMC) (Frankfurt: E770) has doubled its land position from an initial 18,000 hectares (ha) acquired as part of the Berdahl property transaction announced Jan 15, 2024, to 36,000 ha after considerable staking over the last few months expanding the initially acquired Yukon portfolio.

Areas of focus in this staking program were the high priority AZ property, surrounding its Talbot property, as well as a new set of prospective claims near the Alaska Highway, which has been named "Fairway".

"During these past months, prior to Closing of the acquisition, the Company has been busy staking ground around two key properties, AZ and Talbot, as well as staking new claims at Fairway. AZ is a high-priority potential copper-gold porphyry asset, while Talbot hosts a substantial gold and silver anomaly. Both AZ and Fairway are within 20km of the Alaska Highway," said Rory Quinn, President and Chief Executive Officer. "I look forward to sharing ongoing details of what is going to be a busy exploration season."

AZ & FAIRWAY

The AZ and Fairway claim area was prospected by Ron Berdahl in the early 1990's while working for Noranda (Yukon Assessment 91-051 1991). Copper mineralization is noted on the AZ property; Rock float assays returned an average of 10% Cu, 126 g/t Ag and 7.08 g/t Au from four samples in 1993, noted in assessment report 093101 (press release June 3, 2024). The author further stated, "anomalous copper gold-bearing skarn underneath the float showing suggests a local source for the mineralized float on the property." In this region, small placer operations were active on Sanpete, Pan and Gold Creeks in the 1930's.

On behalf of the Company, prior to Closing, Ron Berdahl staked the area north of the southern AZ claims, which covered an additional 7,625 ha in 372 additional claims (see Figure 1). These claims include a gossanous area on Chair Mountain associated with northwest trending faults near the contact zone of the Nikolai Volcanics. Only 11 samples were taken in this area in 1987. In 1989 prospectors returned and blasted trenches near Sanpete creek and found quartz veining with sulfides. One 25cm sample #62951 (true width unknown) assayed 51 ppb Au, 5.6 ppm Ag, 1,400 ppm Cu, 8,880 ppm Pb and >20,000 ppm Zn (Assessment report 092798). Zinc was never re-assayed.

Another sample in the same trench area assayed 59 ppb Au, 1.2 ppm Ag, 278 ppm Cu, 429 ppm Pb, 13,380 ppm Zn (grab sample #62954). Follow-up work has never been completed in this area.

A similar geological setting occurs with the presence of the volcanic rocks and limestone on the newly staked Fairway Property. This package of mineralization is highly prospective with 10km strike length (see Figure 1) through Nikolai Volcanics and Chitistone Limestone mapped by the Geological Survey of Canada (OF 2188). The Fairway Property adds 2,552 ha in 126 new claims.

Both the entirety of the AZ and Fairway properties are 10 and 18 kilometers respectively from the Alaska Highway and may be accessed by short helicopter flights. Chair Mountain was previously accessed by trail.

TALBOT

Several key factors occur in this area such as a 4km gold in soil and talus fines anomaly. Additionally, there are float quartzite rock samples such as #40868 which assayed 3.67 g/t Au, 832 g/t Ag and 1,800 g/t Cu and float quartzite rock sample #40870 which assayed 3.59 g/t Au. The anomaly and rock samples were noted in assessment report 096342 (press release June 3, 2024). Overall, there is continuity in the geology and other positive ridge and spur samples taken on the Talbot property by Ryan Gold in 2012.

Thus, it became apparent that the Company should stake additional claims in the area to cover the major anomaly and the ridge and spur smaller anomalies. The Company added 370 claims covering an additional 7,689 ha of exploration ground. The additional ground which covers eastward through the psammitic and pelitic schists and the surrounding Ruby Range batholith (Yukon Geological Survey, OF 2011-2). The Ruby Range batholith has numerous porphyry occurrences along with other intrusive rocks in the coastal range plutonic suites (Fonseca and Bradshaw, Open File 2005-5). The Talbot Property is proximal to Burwash Landing and Destruction Bay on the Alaska Highway and is easily accessible by helicopter from nearby roads. Destruction Bay is 260 km west of Whitehorse.

The technical information contained in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Peter Born, Ph.D., P.Geo, who is a Qualified Person defined under National Instrument 43-101.

About Yukon Metals Corp.

Yukon Metals represents a property portfolio built on over 30 years of prospecting by the Berdahl family, the prospecting team behind Snowline Gold's (SGD) portfolio of primary gold assets. The Yukon Metals portfolio consists primarily of copper-gold and silver-lead-zinc assets, with a substantial gold and silver component. The Company is led by an experienced Board of Directors and Management Team across technical, exploration and finance disciplines.

Yukon Metals is focused on fostering sustainable growth and prosperity within Yukon's local communities, while simultaneously enhancing shareholder value. Our strategy centers around inclusivity and shared prosperity, offering both community members and investors the chance to contribute to, and benefit from, our ventures.

The Yukon

The Yukon ranks 10th most prospective for mineral potential across global jurisdictions according to the Fraser Institute (Fraser Institute Survey of Mining Companies 2023) and is host to a highly experienced and conscientious local workforce, created by a long culture of exploration coupled with deep respect for the land. Recent major discoveries with local roots such as Snowline Gold's (SGD) Rogue Project - Valley Discovery, demonstrate the Yukon's potential to generate fresh district-scale mining opportunities.

For more information about Yukon Metals, please contact:

Rory Quinn, President & CEO

Yukon Metals Corp.

Email: roryquinn@yukonmetals.com

CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION

This news release contains certain forward-looking information, including information about the incremental release from escrow of the Consideration Shares, the resumption of trading of the Common Shares and the Company's future plans and intentions. 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 the forward-looking information. These statements reflect management's current beliefs and are based on information currently available to management as at the date hereof.

Forward-looking information involves significant risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Many factors could cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those discussed or implied in the forward-looking information. Such factors include, among other things: risks and uncertainties relating to the incremental release from escrow of the Consideration Shares; the resumption of trading of the Common Shares; and other risks and uncertainties. See the section entitled "Risk Factors" in the Company's listing statement dated May 30, 2024, available under the Company's profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca. These factors should be considered carefully, and readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking information. Although the forward-looking information contained in this news release is based upon what management believes to be reasonable assumptions, the Company cannot assure readers that actual results will be consistent with the forward-looking information. The forward-looking information is made as of the date of this news release, and the Company assumes no obligation to update or revise the information to reflect new events or circumstances, except as required by law.

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BESSEMER, AL / ACCESSWIRE / June 12, 2024 / Regions Bank:

Bessemer Redevelopment Corporation joins the Regions Foundation and additional community partners to unveil a major milestone in bringing new investments to the city.

The Bessemer Redevelopment Corporation and the Regions Foundation on Wednesday joined community partners to celebrate the completion of three modern homes that represent a series of new investments in Bessemer's Northside neighborhood.

The prefabricated homes along the 2600-block of 6th Avenue North are part of the Northside Community Housing Development Initiative. The initiative was created by the nonprofit Bessemer Redevelopment Corporation as a crucial component of its long-term work to bring new investments and modern, affordable housing to the neighborhood stretching between downtown Bessemer and nearby Brighton and Lipscomb.

The redevelopment of the Northside community of Bessemer has been a massive team effort that began four years ago. We could not have done it without the support of the Regions Foundation and others.

Brian Giattina, president of the Bessemer Redevelopment Corporation

For years, Northside was challenged by disinvestment, abandoned homes, empty lots, and more. But that trend is being reversed with the Bessemer Redevelopment Corporation organizing perhaps the largest effort in generations to bring new resources back to the community. In addition to the Regions Foundation, community partners include Deer Valley Homebuilders, Inc., the Housing Affordability Trust, United Bank, the Alabama Power Foundation, the Navigate and Navigate Gives Back organizations and the Goodrich Foundation.

"The redevelopment of the Northside community of Bessemer has been a massive team effort that began four years ago," said Brian Giattina, president of the Bessemer Redevelopment Corporation Board of Directors. "We could not have done it without the support of the Regions Foundation and others. It took a team that could trust the Bessemer Redevelopment Corporation and see our long-term vision for Bessemer. Our community partnership with the Regions Foundation is a critical element to our future success. BRC believes the organizations and individuals investing in BRC will see returns for many years. The development of these first three houses is the beginning, not the end, of the redevelopment of the Northside community."

Construction of the three houses was financed in part by a $150,000 grant from the Regions Foundation, which works to advance economic and community development initiatives across metro Birmingham and beyond. The Regions Foundation is a nonprofit that is funded primarily by Regions Bank.

Today's milestone is not only about celebrating new homes - it's about recognizing how the Bessemer Redevelopment Corporation has a long-term commitment toward investing in this community.

Marta Self, executive director of the Regions Foundation

"Today's milestone is not only about celebrating new homes - it's about recognizing how the Bessemer Redevelopment Corporation has a long-term commitment toward investing in this community," said Marta Self, executive director of the Regions Foundation. "These investments are providing affordable housing for more families while bringing new vitality to the Northside neighborhood. The Regions Foundation is proud to support this work because we see the results that are being created, one block at a time."

The focus of the Bessemer Redevelopment Corporation goes beyond high-quality housing to include investments in public spaces, sidewalks, streetlights and other community assets. The organization also seeks to support commercial development and community neighborhood anchor projects to complement the new housing that is replacing vacant Northside lots.

Prospective homebuyers have two key options to explore securing a new Northside home:

Those seeking down-payment assistance from the Bessemer Redevelopment Corporation can apply via Neighborhood Housing Services of Birmingham. Qualifying clients complete a homebuying education course with tailored advice and guidance designed to help ensure the client is financially prepared for homeownership.

Following successful completion of the course, the client becomes eligible to purchase a home through the Bessemer Redevelopment Corporation's down-payment assistance program. Clients not seeking down-payment assistance may contact a lender of their choice to prequalify for financing. Once prequalified, the client can work with the Bessemer Redevelopment Corporation's real estate partner, Barnes and Associates, to explore available options.

Homes are available on a first-come, first-served basis for those who have prequalified.

About Bessemer Redevelopment Corporation

Bessemer Redevelopment Corporation's core value is that WE have a responsibility to improve the quality of life of our employees and our neighbors. They saw the Northside community, the neighborhood just outside the front gates of BLOX, struggling with vacant and blighted housing, poverty, unemployment, food insecurity, and other critical issues.

In 2020, Brian Giattina began to talk to people across the Bessemer community about starting a development organization to lead the effort to revitalize Bessemer. He formed Bessemer Redevelopment Corporation, a 501c3, in August 2020 with a Board that represents individuals born and raised in Bessemer and others who bring housing expertise to the table.

About Regions Foundation

Regions Foundation supports community investments that positively impact the communities served by Regions Bank. The Foundation engages in a grantmaking program focused on priorities including economic and community development; education and workforce readiness; and financial wellness. The Foundation is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) corporation funded primarily through contributions from Regions Bank.

State Senator Merika Coleman, left, and State Representative Ontario Tillman, right, participate in the dedication of new

affordable housing along 6th Avenue North in Bessemer.

View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Regions Bank on 3blmedia.com.

Contact Info:

Spokesperson: Regions Bank

Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/regions-bank

Email: info@3blmedia.com

SOURCE: Regions Bank

View the original press release on accesswire.com
Washington, USA (PANA) - The World Banks Board of Executive Directors has approved the World Banks role as interim secretariat of host and trustee of a fund for responding to loss and damage caused by climate change
North Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - June 12, 2024) - Lion One Metals Limited (TSXV: LIO) (OTCQX: LOMLF) (ASX: LLO) ("Lion One" or the "Company") is pleased to report significant new high-grade gold results from Zone 5 infill and grade control drilling at its 100% owned Tuvatu Alkaline Gold Project in Fiji.

Assay results are presented here for infill and grade control drilling in the Zone 5 area of Tuvatu. Drill results include multiple bonanza grade gold assays such as 750.05 g/t, 315.46 g/t, 167.55 g/t, 134.10 g/t, 132.29 g/t, 126.84 g/t, and 120.8 g/t (see Table 1 below). These results are all located proximal to underground development in the near-surface portion of the mine. Drilling was focused on the up-dip, down-dip, and southern areas of the UR2 and URW3 lodes. These areas are targeted for mining within the next 12 months. The headline intercept of 97.46 g/t gold over 3.3 m is currently under development for extraction. Previous drill results from the Zone 5 area are available in the June 5, 2024, December 13, 2023, November 2, 2023, and August 10, 2023 news releases.

Top New Drill Results:

97.46 g/t Au over 3.3 m (including 750.05 g/t Au over 0.3 m) (TGC-0208, from 82.8 m depth)

(including 750.05 g/t Au over 0.3 m) (TGC-0208, from 82.8 m depth) 54.70 g/t Au over 1.8 m (including 134.10 g/t Au over 0.3 m) (TGC-0187, from 100.5 m depth)

(including 134.10 g/t Au over 0.3 m) (TGC-0187, from 100.5 m depth) 79.64 g/t Au over 1.2 m (including 315.46 g/t Au over 0.3 m) (TGC-0191, from 75 m depth)

(including 315.46 g/t Au over 0.3 m) (TGC-0191, from 75 m depth) 42.11 g/t Au over 1.5 m (including 95.33 g/t Au over 0.3 m) (TGC-0204, from 117.2 m depth)

(including 95.33 g/t Au over 0.3 m) (TGC-0204, from 117.2 m depth) 167.55 g/t Au over 0.3 m (TGC-0188, from 60.3 m depth)

*All drill intersects are downhole lengths, 3.0 g/t cutoff. See Table 1 for additional data

Figure 1. Location of the Zone 5 drilling reported in this news release. Left image: Plan view of Tuvatu showing Zone 5 drillholes in relation to the mineralized lodes at Tuvatu, shown in grey. Yellow dashed square represents the area shown in the right image. Right image: Oblique view of Zone 5 drilling looking approximately northeast.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/2178/212644_e2a447fca4a20b5e_001full.jpg

Table 1. Highlights of composited grade control and infill drill results in the Zone 5 area. Composites are calculated using a 3 g/t Au cutoff with maximum internal dilution intervals of 1 m at <3 g/t Au. For full results see Table 3 in the appendix.

Hole ID

From (m) To (m) Width (m) Au (g/t) TGC-0208

82.8 86.1 3.3 97.46

including 84.0 84.9 0.9 336.39

which includes 84.0 84.3 0.3 126.84

and 84.3 84.6 0.3 750.05

and 84.6 84.9 0.3 132.29 TGC-0187

100.5 102.3 1.8 54.70

including 100.5 100.8 0.9 106.92

which includes 100.8 101.1 0.3 65.87

and 101.1 101.4 0.3 134.10

and 101.4 101.7 0.3 120.80 TGC-0191

75.0 76.2 1.2 79.64

including 75.9 76.2 0.3 315.46 TGC-0204

117.2 118.7 1.5 42.11

including 118.1 118.4 0.3 95.33 TGC-0188

60.3 60.6 0.3 167.55 TGC-0207

44.1 47.1 3.0 16.69

including 44.1 44.7 0.6 34.54

and 44.7 45.6 0.9 26.98 TGC-0183

122.6 123.2 0.6 66.95 TGC-0183

109.1 112.4 3.3 11.78

including 112.1 112.4 0.3 42.50 TGC-0188

123.7 127.6 3.9 9.10

including 123.7 124.0 0.3 19.57

and 125.2 125.5 0.3 23.22

and 126.1 126.4 0.3 36.52

and 127.0 127.3 0.3 20.05 TGC-0183

53.3 53.9 0.6 54.67 TGC-0203

40.5 41.7 1.2 21.38

including 40.5 41.1 0.6 38.99 TGC-0189

130.2 131.1 0.9 26.79

including 130.2 130.5 0.3 71.60

*All drill intersects are downhole lengths

Zone 5 Drilling

The Zone 5 area of Tuvatu is located along the main decline and includes the principal north-south oriented lodes (UR1 to UR3), the principal northeast-southwest oriented lodes (UR4 to UR8), and several of the western lodes (URW2, URW2A, URW3). These lodes are steeply dipping structures that converge at approximately 500 m depth to form Zone 500, which is the highest-grade part of the deposit and is interpreted to be the feeder zone at Tuvatu. The system remains open at depth with the deepest high-grade intersects occurring below 1000 m depth.

The drilling reported in this news release targeted the near-surface portions of the UR2 and URW3 lodes. These areas are scheduled to be mined throughout the next 12 months. Drilling was focused on the up-dip, down-dip, and southern areas of the UR2 and URW3 lodes, and targeted a 280 m strike length of the UR2 and URW3 lodes. The current total strike length of the UR2 lode is approximately 620 m, while that of the URW3 lode is approximately 330 m. Both lodes remain open along strike and at depth. The southern drillholes reported here are the southernmost underground infill drillholes completed by Lion One and represent a new area of infill and grade control drilling at Tuvatu (Figure 3).

The headline drill intercept for this news release, 3.3 m at 97.46 g/t, has been intersected by an airleg rise. A sub-level is being established in this area to facilitate extraction over the coming months. This intercept includes a very high-grade sub-interval of 0.9 m at 336.39 g/t. The purpose of the current Zone 5 infill and grade control drill program is to enhance the mine model and inform stope design in advance of mining in the target areas. Highlights of the Zone 5 drilling reported here are shown in Figure 2 and Figure 3.

Figure 2. Zone 5 up-dip and down-dip drilling with high-grade intersects highlighted, 3.0 g/t gold cutoff. View is to the northeast. The primary target areas shown here are the up-dip and down-dip areas of the UR2 and URW3 lodes. The headline intercept of 97.46 g/t gold over 3.3 m is intersected by a mine rise and development is ongoing to establish a sub-level to facilitate extraction in this area.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/2178/212644_e2a447fca4a20b5e_002full.jpg

Figure 3. Zone 5 southern drilling with high-grade intersects highlighted, 3.0 g/t gold cutoff. View is to the east. The primary target area shown here is the southern part of the UR2 and URW3 lodes. These are the southernmost underground infill drillholes drilled by Lion One to date at Tuvatu and represent a new area of infill drilling.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/2178/212644_e2a447fca4a20b5e_003full.jpg

Competent Persons Statement

The information in this report that relates to mineral exploration at the Tuvatu Gold Project is based on information compiled by the Lion One team and reviewed by Alex Nichol, who is the company's Vice President of Geology and Exploration. Mr Nichol is a Member of the Australian Institute of Geoscientists and has sufficient experience that is relevant to the style of mineralisation and type of deposit under consideration, and to the activity being undertaken, to qualify as a Competent Person as defined in the 2012 edition of the 'Australasian Code for Reporting of Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves' (JORC code). Mr Nichol consents to the inclusion in this report of the matters based on the information in the form and context in which it appears.

Lion One Laboratories / QAQC

Lion One adheres to rigorous QAQC procedures above and beyond basic regulatory guidelines in conducting its drilling, sampling, testing, and analyses. The Company operates its own geochemical assay laboratory and its own fleet of diamond drill rigs using PQ, HQ and NQ sized drill rods.

Diamond drill core samples are logged and split by Lion One personnel on site and delivered to the Lion One Laboratory for preparation and analysis. All samples are pulverized at the Lion One lab to 85% passing through 75 microns and gold analysis is carried out using fire assay with an AA finish. Samples that return grades greater than 10.00 g/t Au are re-analyzed by gravimetric method, which is considered more accurate for very high-grade samples.

Duplicates of 5% of samples with grades above 0.5 g/t Au are delivered to ALS Global Laboratories in Australia for check assay determinations using the same methods (Au-AA26 and Au-GRA22 where applicable). ALS also analyses 33 pathfinder elements by HF-HNO3-HClO4 acid digestion, HCl leach and ICP-AES (method ME-ICP61). The Lion One lab can test a range of up to 71 elements through Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometry (ICP-OES), but currently focuses on a suite of 23 important pathfinder elements with an aqua regia digest and ICP-OES finish.

About Lion One Metals Limited

Lion One Metals is an emerging Canadian gold producer headquartered in North Vancouver BC, with new operations established in late 2023 at its 100% owned Tuvatu Alkaline Gold Project in Fiji. The Tuvatu project comprises the high-grade Tuvatu Alkaline Gold Deposit, the Underground Gold Mine, the Pilot Plant, and the Assay Lab. The Company also has an extensive exploration license covering the entire Navilawa Caldera, which is host to multiple mineralized zones and highly prospective exploration targets.

On behalf of the Board of Directors,

Walter Berukoff, Chairman & CEO

Contact Information

Email: info@liononemetals.com

Phone: 1-855-805-1250 (toll free North America)

Website: www.liononemetals.com

Neither the TSX-V nor its Regulation Service Provider accepts responsibility or the adequacy or accuracy of this release

This press release may contain statements that may be deemed to be "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein are forward-looking information. Generally, forward-looking information may be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "proposed", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases, or by the use of words or phrases which state that certain actions, events or results may, could, would, or might occur or be achieved. This forward-looking information reflects Lion One Metals Limited's current beliefs and is based on information currently available to Lion One Metals Limited and on assumptions Lion One Metals Limited believes are reasonable. These assumptions include, but are not limited to, the actual results of exploration projects being equivalent to or better than estimated results in technical reports, assessment reports, and other geological reports or prior exploration results. 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 Lion One Metals Limited or its subsidiaries to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Such risks and other factors may include, but are not limited to: the stage development of Lion One Metals Limited, general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties; the actual results of current research and development or operational activities; competition; uncertainty as to patent applications and intellectual property rights; product liability and lack of insurance; delay or failure to receive board or regulatory approvals; changes in legislation, including environmental legislation, affecting mining, timing and availability of external financing on acceptable terms; not realizing on the potential benefits of technology; conclusions of economic evaluations; and lack of qualified, skilled labor or loss of key individuals. Although Lion One Metals Limited has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated, or intended. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Lion One Metals Limited does not undertake to update any forward-looking information, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.

Appendix 1: Full Drill Results and Collar Information

Table 2. Collar coordinates for drillholes reported in this release. Coordinates are in Fiji map grid.

Hole ID Easting Northing Elevation Azimuth Dip Depth TGC-0183 1876386 3920529 111 137.4 8.1 167.5 TGC-0184 1876384 3920626 128 110.0 -13.7 37.2 TGC-0185 1876384 3920626 128 102.6 -13.6 11.3 TGC-0186 1876380 3920532 130 71.9 8.0 121.1 TGC-0187 1876384 3920627 128 82.0 -14.7 115.0 TGC-0188 1876386 3920529 111 142.1 7.6 170.0 TGC-0189 1876386 3920529 111 141.9 19.2 170.8 TGC-0190 1876384 3920626 128 110.3 -15.0 120.0 TGC-0191 1876382 3920532 130 79.1 6.4 111.0 TGC-0192 1876384 3920626 128 103.7 -13.8 5.2 TGC-0193 1876386 3920530 111 135.0 20.1 170.6 TGC-0194 1876383 3920627 128 69.3 -15.7 120.0 TGC-0195 1876381 3920532 130 86.0 6.9 110.2 TGC-0196 1876384 3920626 128 103.2 -14.6 120.0 TGC-0197 1876384 3920432 95 98.4 22.4 92.1 TGC-0198 1876384 3920626 128 70.0 17.0 5.6 TGC-0199 1876381 3920531 130 92.9 6.8 111.6 TGC-0200 1876383 3920627 130 70.6 22.4 115.3 TGC-0201 1876384 3920432 95 106.1 21.8 70.6 TGC-0202 1876384 3920431 96 122.5 21.0 85.8 TGC-0203 1876380 3920531 130 101.3 7.1 115.0 TGC-0204 1876384 3920627 127 68.7 -34.4 150.0 TGC-0205 1876381 3920533 131 68.5 14.0 115.0 TGC-0206 1876384 3920431 96 131.2 21.9 80.0 TGC-0207 1876384 3920431 95 106.4 21.7 67.7 TGC-0208 1876381 3920533 131 61.8 14.2 115.0 TGC-0209 1876383 3920627 129 67.3 17.4 125.0

Table 3. Composite results from drillholes reported in this news release (composite grade >3.0 g/t Au)

Hole ID

From (m) To (m) Width (m) Au (g/t) TGC-0183

23.1 23.7 0.6 5.81 TGC-0183

30.3 30.9 0.6 4.11 TGC-0183

33.2 33.8 0.6 8.30 TGC-0183

53.3 53.9 0.6 54.67 TGC-0183

57.8 58.4 0.6 18.99 TGC-0183

93.2 93.5 0.3 3.64 TGC-0183

103.7 105.8 2.1 7.64

consisting of 103.7 104.0 0.3 26.39

and 104.0 104.6 0.6 1.48

and 104.6 105.2 0.6 8.85

and 105.2 105.8 0.6 3.22 TGC-0183

109.1 112.4 3.3 11.78

consisting of 109.1 109.7 0.6 9.36

and 109.7 110.3 0.6 0.30

and 110.3 110.9 0.6 13.78

and 110.9 111.5 0.6 4.13

and 111.5 112.1 0.6 15.99

and 112.1 112.4 0.3 42.50 TGC-0183

122.6 123.2 0.6 66.95 TGC-0186

74.7 75.6 0.9 16.15

consisting of 74.7 75.0 0.3 41.23

and 75.0 75.3 0.3 4.00

and 75.3 75.6 0.3 3.21 TGC-0186

86.7 87.3 0.6 4.02 TGC-0186

93.0 94.2 1.2 3.81

consisting of 93.0 93.3 0.3 4.73

and 93.3 94.2 0.9 3.50 TGC-0187

100.5 102.3 1.8 54.70

consisting of 100.5 100.8 0.3 3.23

and 100.8 101.1 0.3 65.87

and 101.1 101.4 0.3 134.10

and 101.4 101.7 0.3 120.80

and 101.7 102.0 0.3 0.54

and 102.0 102.3 0.3 3.66 TGC-0188

22.4 24.3 1.9 8.22

consisting of 22.4 22.7 0.3 6.66

and 22.7 23.0 0.3 4.90

and 23.0 23.3 0.3 14.87

and 23.3 23.6 0.3 8.20

and 23.6 23.9 0.3 12.33

and 23.9 24.3 0.4 3.84 TGC-0188

32.4 33.3 0.9 3.57 TGC-0188

43.8 44.4 0.6 4.40 TGC-0188

58.5 58.8 0.3 5.36 TGC-0188

60.3 60.6 0.3 167.55 TGC-0188

92.8 93.7 0.9 4.76

consisting of 92.8 93.1 0.3 9.36

and 93.1 93.4 0.3 1.05

and 93.4 93.7 0.3 3.88 TGC-0188

95.5 96.4 0.9 23.45

consisting of 95.5 95.8 0.3 3.02

and 95.8 96.1 0.3 0.36

and 96.1 96.4 0.3 66.97 TGC-0188

123.7 127.6 3.9 9.10

consisting of 123.7 124.0 0.3 19.57

and 124.0 124.3 0.3 2.40

and 124.3 124.6 0.3 0.09

and 124.6 124.9 0.3 <0.01

and 124.9 125.2 0.3 8.61

and 125.2 125.5 0.3 23.22

and 125.5 126.1 0.6 2.06

and 126.1 126.4 0.3 36.52

and 126.4 126.7 0.3 0.56

and 126.7 127.0 0.3 0.09

and 127.0 127.3 0.3 20.05

and 127.3 127.6 0.3 3.05 TGC-0189

19.8 21.3 1.5 11.55

consisting of 19.8 20.4 0.6 18.99

and 20.4 20.7 0.3 13.63

and 20.7 21.3 0.6 3.06 TGC-0189

33.0 33.9 0.9 3.28

consisting of 33.0 33.3 0.3 3.75

and 33.3 33.9 0.6 3.04 TGC-0189

40.2 41.1 0.9 4.99 TGC-0189

96.9 97.2 0.3 19.15 TGC-0189

103.2 103.8 0.6 5.76 TGC-0189

105.9 106.5 0.6 30.37 TGC-0189

123.6 124.2 0.6 4.74 TGC-0189

130.2 131.1 0.9 26.79

consisting of 130.2 130.5 0.3 71.60

and 130.5 131.1 0.6 4.38 TGC-0189

160.2 160.5 0.3 4.76 TGC-0190

91.8 92.1 0.3 5.63 TGC-0190

93.6 95.1 1.5 3.40

consisting of 93.6 93.9 0.3 3.88

and 93.9 94.2 0.3 0.98

and 94.2 94.5 0.3 5.15

and 94.5 94.8 0.3 1.70

and 94.8 95.1 0.3 5.30 TGC-0191

46.8 47.1 0.3 13.86 TGC-0191

54.3 55.2 0.9 9.30

consisting of 54.3 54.6 0.3 14.42

and 54.6 55.2 0.6 6.74 TGC-0191

70.5 70.8 0.3 3.56 TGC-0191

75.0 76.2 1.2 79.64

consisting of 75.0 75.3 0.3 3.10

and 75.3 75.9 0.6 <0.01

and 75.9 76.2 0.3 315.46 TGC-0191

88.8 90.0 1.2 9.37

consisting of 88.8 89.1 0.3 8.38

and 89.1 89.4 0.3 15.22

and 89.4 89.7 0.3 <0.01

and 89.7 90.0 0.3 13.87 TGC-0191

91.8 93.9 2.1 6.19

consisting of 91.8 92.1 0.3 13.04

and 92.1 92.4 0.3 16.39

and 92.4 92.7 0.3 2.90

and 92.7 93.0 0.3 <0.01

and 93.0 93.3 0.3 0.07

and 93.3 93.6 0.3 6.39

and 93.6 93.9 0.3 4.56 TGC-0193

23.7 24.0 0.3 3.14 TGC-0193

28.8 29.4 0.6 3.86 TGC-0193

30.9 31.2 0.3 3.31 TGC-0193

96.0 96.6 0.6 3.75 TGC-0193

99.6 100.2 0.6 6.83 TGC-0193

109.2 109.5 0.3 4.08 TGC-0193

110.4 110.7 0.3 5.07 TGC-0193

112.8 113.1 0.3 14.58 TGC-0194

105.1 107.8 2.7 8.78

consisting of 105.1 105.7 0.6 3.65

and 105.7 106.0 0.3 2.30

and 106.0 106.3 0.3 23.85

and 106.3 106.9 0.6 9.66

and 106.9 107.8 0.9 8.75 TGC-0195

24.3 24.6 0.3 4.55 TGC-0195

74.3 75.2 0.9 6.55

consisting of 74.3 74.6 0.3 13.26

and 74.6 75.2 0.6 3.20 TGC-0195

88.4 89.0 0.6 19.07 TGC-0196

99.1 99.7 0.6 4.68 TGC-0196

104.2 106.9 2.7 4.83

consisting of 104.2 104.5 0.3 3.98

and 104.5 104.8 0.3 4.38

and 104.8 105.1 0.3 9.34

and 105.1 105.4 0.3 0.82

and 105.4 105.7 0.3 8.32

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47.1 48.9 1.8 10.91

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72.9 76.2 3.3 6.76

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23.5 23.8 0.3 6.09 TGC-0199

34.6 36.1 1.5 4.28

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42.1 42.7 0.6 6.07 TGC-0199

77.8 78.1 0.3 5.57 TGC-0199

83.5 83.8 0.3 3.99 TGC-0200

99.8 101.3 1.5 5.77

consisting of 99.8 100.1 0.3 7.62

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and 101.0 101.3 0.3 4.99 TGC-0201

44.9 47.3 2.4 7.19

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48.5 48.8 0.3 3.12 TGC-0202

61.8 62.1 0.3 27.45 TGC-0203

19.5 21.9 2.4 8.15

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35.4 36.3 0.9 8.93 TGC-0203

40.5 41.7 1.2 21.38

consisting of 40.5 41.1 0.6 38.99

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117.2 118.7 1.5 42.11

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54.9 55.2 0.3 5.68 TGC-0205

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38.3 39.2 0.9 4.15 TGC-0206

63.2 64.7 1.5 3.82

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and 64.1 64.7 0.6 6.96 TGC-0207

44.1 47.1 3.0 16.69

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82.8 86.1 3.3 97.46

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102.6 102.9 0.3 4.13

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/212644

SOURCE: Lion One Metals Limited
SFWJ, doing business as Medcana, a holding company focused in the cannabis and agricultural technology sectors is pleased to announce a new strategic partnership with one of its subsidiaries with a prominent local Colombian company to begin the export of its first crop of CBD buds to Switzerland within the next six months. This collaboration marks a significant milestone in MedCana's expansion into the European market and its commitment to delivering high-quality CBD products internationally.

Gabriel Diaz, CEO of MedCana, stated, "We are thrilled to partner with such a reputable local company in Colombia. This partnership not only strengthens our supply chain but also underscores our dedication to bringing premium CBD products to the global market. Switzerland represents a key market for us, and we are excited about the potential growth this collaboration will bring."

The partnership will leverage the strengths of both companies to ensure the successful export of CBD buds that meet the stringent quality standards of the Swiss market. This initiative aligns with MedCana's strategic goals of expanding its footprint in Europe and promoting sustainable agricultural practices in Colombia.

The local Colombian partner, known for its excellence in cultivation and processing, will play a crucial role in this venture. "This collaboration with MedCana is a testament to our shared vision of producing and delivering the highest quality CBD products," said Diego Flores, Executive Director. "We are eager to begin this journey and look forward to a prosperous partnership."

This announcement comes at a time of increasing demand for CBD products in Europe, driven by growing consumer awareness and regulatory advancements. MedCana and its partner are committed to meeting this demand with products that uphold the highest standards of purity and efficacy.

About SFWJ/MedCana

Software Effective Solutions/MedCana is a holding company focused on developing companies in the agricultural technology and the cannabis industries. As MedCana moves forward with its expansion plans, the Company remains committed to delivering on its promise of building a solid foundation for future growth of its holdings.

For more information, please visit: www.MedCana.net

Or connect with us via:

MedCana | LinkedIn

Facebook/MedCanaBio

MedCana (@MedCanaBio)/ X (Twitter)

SAFE HARBOR STATEMENT

This press release contains forward-looking statements that can be identified by terminology such as "believes," "expects," "potential," "plans," "suggests," "may," "should," "could," "intends," or similar expressions. Many forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results to be materially different from any future results implied by such statements. These factors include, but are not limited to, our ability to continue to enhance our products and systems to address industry changes, our ability to expand our customer base and retain existing customers, our ability to effectively compete in our market segment, the lack of public information on our company, our ability to raise sufficient capital to fund our business, operations, our ability to continue as a going concern, and a limited public market for our common stock, among other risks. Many factors are difficult to predict accurately and are generally beyond the company's control. Forward-looking statements speak only as to the date they are made, and we do not undertake to update forward-looking statements to reflect circumstances or events that occur after the date the forward-looking statements are made.

Contact:

Jose Gabriel Diaz, CEO

www.medcana.net

info@medcana.co

Corporate Communications:

InvestorBrandNetwork (IBN)

Los Angeles, California

www.InvestorBrandNetwork.com

310.299.1717 Office

Editor@InvestorBrandNetwork.com



SOURCE: Software Effective Solutions

View the original press release on accesswire.com
Hulk Hogan's Summer of Real American Beer Kicks Off June 13 with the Florida launch at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casinos and honoring Flag Day at MacDill Air Force Base, followed by expansion into Minnesota, Missouri, and Colorado throughout June, with another 13 states to follow during July and August

TAMPA, Fla., June 12, 2024, co-founded by WWE Hall of Fame wrestler and global icon Terry Bollea, aka Hulk Hogan, has set its ambitions on reinvigorating the beer industry with its launch of a premium American-made easy-drinking light lager. Real American Beer has secured distribution across 17 states this summer and will be launching with retail partners, including ABC Fine Wine & Spirits, Albertsons, Safeway, Sam's Club, Total Wine & More, Walmart, and many more.



"Real American Beer is bringing America together, one beer at a time," said Hulk Hogan. "We've formed an all-star team to make it happen, and I'm excited to introduce Real American Beer to fans and beer lovers everywhere."

Real American Beer is a premium American-style light lager meticulously brewed with 100% North American ingredients. At 4.2% ABV, it offers an easy-drinking experience, light in body, and a crisp, clean finish. The malt provides a rich golden hue, while the hops ensure a well-balanced taste.

In addition to retail stores in the U.S., Real American Beer will be available in bars and restaurants in the launch markets, including Hard Rock Hotels and Casinos, select Hooters of America locations nationwide, and on U.S. Military Bases.

An extensive lineup of Real American Beer merchandise and apparel is also now available for purchase globally from its online store.

Real American Beer: Launch and Rollout

With a premium product, a universal brand with an iconic co-founder, and an ambitious growth strategy, Real American Beer arrives in the US market with impressive momentum and credentials. The official launch begins on June 13 with Hulk Hogan and the team at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida, and on June 14 at MacDill Air Force Base and Hard Rock's Tampa Bay location.

"We're thrilled to team up with Hulk Hogan for the launch of Real American Beer," said Jim Allen, Chairman of Hard Rock International. "Given our past successes together, I'm confident Real American Beer will be a sensation for our guests, and we look forward to serving it at select Hard Rock venues across the country."

Hulk Hogan and The Real American team will bring Real American Beer to Minnesota on June 17, Missouri on June 20, and Colorado on June 24, with local launch events planned in each state.

"Teaming up with Hulk Hogan, an iconic figure who, like Hooters, has maintained popularity since the 1980s, to bring Real American Beer to our restaurants is a perfect match for our brand and our customers," said Bruce Skala, Chief Marketing Officer of HOA Brands, parent company of the Hooters restaurant chain. "We pride ourselves on offering an enjoyable and memorable experience, and this partnership with Hulk Hogan's Real American Beer is a fantastic addition. We're thrilled to serve a beer that celebrates the American spirit and look forward to sharing it with our guests nationwide."

The Real American Beer Team

The co-founder of Real American Beer, Hulk Hogan has cemented his status as a legendary icon. With a career spanning more than four decades, he successfully transitioned "Hulkamania" and his brand into numerous successful business ventures, resonating with a broad worldwide audience.

Alongside Hulk Hogan, Real American Beer is led by proven leaders from the beverage and CPG sectors. Terri Francis joins as CEO following her tenure as a top-level executive at The Not Company, a pioneering CPG and AI food technology company. Before NotCo, Terri was a Vice President of the investment and innovation group within Anheuser-Busch InBev (AB InBev), the world's largest brewer.

For more information about Real American Beer, merchandise, and launch events, please visit therealamerican.com and follow on socials @therealamericanbeer.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/09513011-90e9-4665-a647-3ea415517a3b
SINGAPORE, June 12, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- In a move that underscores its commitment to broadening the reach and usability of Web3 technologies, HTX Ventures, the global investment arm of the cryptocurrency exchange HTX, has announced a strategic investment in Avail , a modular blockchain solution designed to unify Web3 and optimize data availability (DA) for scalable and customizable applications.

Avail DA provides decentralized infrastructure for developers to quickly build and scale modern blockchain applications. By inheriting security from the base layer through rollups and extending restaking to include multiple assets, such as BTC and ETH, it aims to provide ample security for the thousands of rollups built on top.

Edward, Managing Partner at HTX Ventures, shared his investment insights: "The Avail team possesses exceptional technical capabilities, and Avail DA is one of the fastest and most cost-effective data availability solutions in the market right now. By combining their data availability layer with cross-chain interoperability and the robust security provided by Avail Nexus & Avail Fusion, Avail is building the unification layer for Web3. HTX Ventures is excited to support Avail on this journey and participated in the recently announced $43M Series A fundraise alongside Founders Fund & Dragonfly."

"This Series A funding marks a pivotal moment for Avail as we strive to build the permissionless unification layer for Web3," said Anurag Arjun, Co-founder of Avail. "With this new capital, we are poised to accelerate our development, expand our global presence, and continue to address the most critical challenges facing Web3 today, such as blockchain fragmentation, insufficient data availability, and limited scaling. Additionally, it will help foster partnerships and collaborations with other players across the entire Web3 ecosystem, which is mission-critical for Avail's success."

Recently, Avail has crossed a major milestone in its incentivized testnet, " Clash of Nodes ," with nearly 110,000 total accounts created, and 116 million transactions processed - ahead of its upcoming mainnet due to be launched in the next few weeks. HTX Ventures is excited to support prominent projects like Avail that are building solid infrastructure to enable a user-friendly decentralized future.

About Avail:

Avail is led by Polygon's former co-founder Anurag Arjun and is building a unification layer to solve rollup fragmentation at scale. Avail addresses this from first principles solving blockchain scalability with Avail DA, a foundational DA layer which implements the same technology planned for Ethereum's danksharding roadmap, including KZG Commitments and Data Availability Sampling (DAS). Avail Nexus addresses growing fragmentation concerns with permissionless interoperability, leveraging proof aggregation on Avail's scalable DA layer. Avail's security is then reinforced with multi-asset staking through Avail Fusion. Start your unification journey today at availproject.org

About HTX Ventures:

HTX Ventures, the global investment division of HTX, integrates investment, incubation, and research to identify the best and brightest teams worldwide. With a decade-long history as an industry pioneer, HTX Ventures excels at identifying cutting-edge technologies and emerging business models within the sector. To foster growth within the blockchain ecosystem, we provide comprehensive support to projects, including financing, resources, and strategic advice.

HTX Ventures currently backs over 300 projects spanning multiple blockchain sectors, with select high-quality initiatives already trading on the HTX exchange. Furthermore, as one of the most active Fund of Funds (FOF) investors, HTX Ventures collaboratively forges the blockchain ecosystem alongside premier global blockchain funds, including Dragonfly, Bankless, Gitcoin, Figment, and Animoca. Visit us here.

Contact Details

Michael Wang

glo-media@htx-inc.com

Company Website

https://www.htx.com/en-us/ventures

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2436874/image_838145_48957853.jpg

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2391903/image_ID__Logo.jpg

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/htx-ventures-invests-in-avail-to-support-key-infrastructure-development-302170911.html
CHEYENNE, Wyo., June 12, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- AxonDAO (Axon DAO LLC, Wyoming) proudly announces the launch of A+Voice, an innovative research platform designed to monitor vocal biomarkers. This platform is an exceptionally effective tool for the early detection and ongoing assessment of conditions such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, dementia, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and Huntington's Disease.

Assessing vocal biomarkers can also evaluate fatigue and energy levels, which could help standardize safety monitoring within a range of professions, such as operators of commercial trucks, cars, and heavy machinery. Looking ahead, AxonDAO plans to enhance their models to also identify biomarkers that evaluate changes in anxiety, stress, and mood.

By using decentralized ledger technology, zero-knowledge security, and other advanced technologies, AxonDAO allows research participants to access, own, and control their health data. Through community engagement and transparent data collection, AxonDAO facilitates research studies on a scale larger than conventional approaches, whether conducted by academia or industry.

Introducing A+Voice

A+Voice is AxonDAO's groundbreaking biometric AI voice collection and analysis software. The platform utilizes a reward system to collect high-quality, consistent voice data that runs through a quality assessment and analytical engine. By utilizing blockchain technology, A+Voice timestamps, anonymizes, and processes this data into patterned AI processes while adhering to stringent HIPAA and ISO 27001 compliance standards for secure data handling.

Strategic Collaborations and Milestones

The recent approval of AxonDAO for NVIDIA's Inception Program on October 27, 2023, highlights its dedication to excellence. Last March, the AxonDAO team showcased its vision at NVIDIA's GTC event in San Jose, California.

Strategic partnerships have bolstered the launch of A+Voice:

NVIDIA : Facilitating the scaling of A+Voice and products through cutting-edge GPU processors.

: Facilitating the scaling of A+Voice and products through cutting-edge GPU processors. 639 Solar : Hosting AxonDAO's DeSci Research Toolkit and Computational Engine in one of the world's largest solar-powered data centers.

: Hosting AxonDAO's DeSci Research Toolkit and Computational Engine in one of the world's largest solar-powered data centers. DataLake: Delivering industry standards in consent management, which includes user rights to revoke personal data access.

AxonDAO's Vision and Market Potential

AxonDAO is dedicated to nurturing human relationships and advancing scientific research through biometric data. The personal data market, currently valued at $1.61 trillion, is projected to grow to $17.06 trillion by 2029 with the integration of high-quality biometric data.

AxonDAO on Mario's Roundtable X Account

AxonDAO will be featured on Mario's Roundtable X account THIS Thursday, June 13th, at 12:00 PM EST. Join the session to learn more about AxonDAO's groundbreaking work and its vision for the future of decentralized science.AxonDAO's and team is scheduled for several X Space calls with Mario in the coming weeks.

About $AXGT

AxonDAO's governance token, $AXGT, is an Ethereum-based token with bridges to Arbitrum and BASE coming soon. $AXGT is undergoing a security audit by Certik. The token is available on UniSwap and will be submitted for listing on major Tier 1 exchanges for easier access. $AXGT's utility includes voting on projects to be funded, submitting projects, use in data collection within the AxonDAO ecosystem, and more. The current market cap is $44.7M, with a fully diluted valuation (FDV) of $271M, and is currently priced at $0.271 per $AXGT.

For more information, visit axondao.io .

About AxonDAO

AxonDAO is a decentralized autonomous organization focused on building, funding, and supporting scientific research using biometric data. By harnessing the power of blockchain and AI, AxonDAO aims to revolutionize how biometric data is collected, processed, and utilized for scientific advancements.

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2436781/AxonDAO_Logo.jpg

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/axondao-unveils-avoice-pioneering-biometric-ai-voice-collection-302170916.html
NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / June 12, 2024 / GoDaddy

Originally published on GoDaddy Resource Library

By Liz Achanta

Ahh, June. It's the most wonderful time of the year. That's right - it's Pride Month!

There are rainbows and events galore as people from all walks of life celebrate love, diversity, and acceptance. It's a time of celebration, yes. But it's also a month for reflection and solidarity, as we commemorate the LGBTQIA+ community and its struggles, triumphs, and ongoing fight for equality and acceptance.

How Pride came to be

While today Pride is often thought of as marches, parties, and fun, it started as a protest against discrimination.

Pride's origins can be traced back long before the Stonewall Uprising of 1969, a pivotal moment in LGBTQIA+ history. On June 28, 1969, police raided the Stonewall Inn, a well-known queer bar in New York City. This time there was one difference, though. Frustrated by relentless discrimination and police harassment, bar patrons, particularly transgender women of color, fought back. The uprising lasted for several days, spurring other acts of resistance around the country.

On June 28, 1970, a year after the Stonewall Uprising, the first Pride march took place in New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago as a way of commemorating the events of the last year. The rest, as they say, is history.

Why we celebrate

Today, June is known as Pride Month. It serves as a reminder of the progress made and the challenges that still lie ahead. It's also an opportunity to honor the diversity within the LGBTQIA+ community, embracing individuals of all sexual orientations, gender identities, and expressions.

Pride fosters a sense of belonging and empowerment, encouraging people to embrace their authentic selves without fear of judgment or discrimination, something that's still not guaranteed to everyone.

How to get involved

If you're eager to make the most out of Pride, there are countless ways to show support and solidarity during Pride Month. Here are some suggestions:

Attend Pride events

From parades and festivals to panel discussions and art exhibitions, Pride offers a multitude of opportunities to connect with LGBTQIA+ people and celebrate their resilience and diversity. Check local listings for events in your area and join in the festivities. Hosting an event? You might want to consider using a .gay domain name to make it easier for folks to find you.

Educate yourself

Take the time to learn about LGBTQIA+ history, issues, and experiences. Engage with books, films, podcasts, and online resources created by queer voices. Understanding the challenges faced by the LGBTQIA+ community is crucial in fostering empathy and promoting allyship. If you need some suggestions, ohhey.gay is a good place to start.

Support LGBTQIA+ organizations

If you're financially able to, donate to LGBTQIA+ organizations and nonprofits that provide vital resources, support, and advocacy for the community. Whether it's a local community center, a national advocacy group, or a crisis hotline, every contribution makes a difference. Don't forget that your time is valuable, too! If you have skills that could be useful or time to spare, reach out to understand how you can help. You can find a list of LGBTQIA+ organizations here.

Amplify LGBTQIA+ voices

Use your platform to elevate the voices and stories of LGBTQIA+ individuals. Share their experiences, achievements, and struggles on social media, and advocate for inclusive representation in the media, workplace, and beyond.

Be an ally

Stand up against discrimination and bigotry whenever you encounter it-it can be really helpful for the LGBTQIA+ people in your life if an ally does the emotional heavy lifting of why a "joke" isn't actually funny or why a policy is discriminatory. Where possible, educate others on the importance of LGBTQIA+ rights and equality. Most of all, be a supportive friend, family member, or colleague to the people in your life.

Embracing diversity and love

At its core, Pride is a celebration of love in all its forms. It's a testament to the resilience, strength, and beauty of the Queer community. As we commemorate Pride Month, let's honor those who paved the way for progress, celebrate the victories achieved, and recommit ourselves to the ongoing fight for equality and acceptance for all. Happy Pride, y'all!

A great way to amplify Queer voices online is by creating a website to house their stories. DotGay is the only domain that has a .gay Rights Protection Policy, and bans any hateful, homophobic, anti-LGBTQIA+ use of a .gay domain name. Plus, 20% of all new .gay registration revenue goes to support LGBTQIA+ organizations! Buy your .gay domain here and fly your pride flag year-round!

View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from GoDaddy on 3blmedia.com.

Contact Info:

Spokesperson: GoDaddy

Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/godaddy

Email: info@3blmedia.com

SOURCE: GoDaddy

View the original press release on accesswire.com
Originally published in Bloomberg's 2023 Impact Report

NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / June 12, 2024 / Structural and systemic shifts accompanying climate change, such as resource scarcity, new technologies and regulations, pose business risks and offer opportunities to issuers and investors globally. We provide data, analytics, indices, news, insights and expertise to investors, lenders, companies, policymakers and citizens seeking to address climate challenges and consider climate factors when making crucial business and investing decisions.

Clarifying climate risks and opportunities

Bloomberg provides data, research, benchmarks and analytical tools to help investors, lenders and companies manage risks and opportunities related to climate change.

ESG data and scores - Investors and companies can use Bloomberg's ESG data and ESG scores to inform investment decisions, help comply with regulatory reporting requirements, manage climate risk and more. Our data and scores are displayed alongside fundamental financial data on the Bloomberg Terminal, and are integrated into the powerful analytical tools on the Bloomberg Terminal, allowing users to incorporate this information into critical investment decisions with ease.

- Investors and companies can use Bloomberg's ESG data and ESG scores to inform investment decisions, help comply with regulatory reporting requirements, manage climate risk and more. Our data and scores are displayed alongside fundamental financial data on the Bloomberg Terminal, and are integrated into the powerful analytical tools on the Bloomberg Terminal, allowing users to incorporate this information into critical investment decisions with ease. Research & analysis - Bloomberg Intelligence (BI), Bloomberg's investment research arm, covers 2,000 companies across key industries as well as global markets from an equity strategy, Fixed Income Clearing Corporation (FICC) market structure and ESG perspective.

Indices - As the investment community's needs evolve and more clients look to incorporate measures of sustainability into their portfolios - and track the performance therein - Bloomberg leads the way in offering sustainable index resources and customization capabilities. Bloomberg's sustainable index offerings are built on our comprehensive, cross-asset indices, and Bloomberg's index team collaborates with ESG and climate research teams across the firm to produce and maintain strategic, and often groundbreaking, benchmarks. We also collaborate with leading ESG ratings, framework and data providers, and investment managers to create index alternatives that meet the diverse needs of investors.

Our suite of global cross-asset climate and low-carbon indices include the Bloomberg Paris-Aligned & Climate Transition Indices and the new Bloomberg Commodity Carbon-Tilted Index, launched in May 2023, for investors who want to support the transition to a low-carbon economy while maintaining exposure to the diversified universe of physical commodities in the Bloomberg Commodity Index.

Regulatory solutions - Bloomberg provides data and tools that may be used to help banks, asset managers and benchmark administrators comply with applicable regulatory requirements, including the EU Taxonomy and Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation (SFDR), EBA Pillar III climate disclosures, Benchmark ESG disclosures, the European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS) and the European Securities and Markets Authority's MiFID II Suitability Requirements. Additional Bloomberg tools may be used to help firms align reporting with sustainability standards like the International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB) standards. Bloomberg also provides ESG data from company reporting mandated under regulatory regimes, and is notably working to provide data reported by companies under the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD).

Bloomberg experts are actively involved in advisory groups working with policymakers around the world to help ensure that regulations are implemented efficiently and achieve their objectives.

Bloomberg also offers analytics to simplify ESG disclosure and compliance with regulatory requirements, including a data solution that simplifies the assessment of EU Taxonomy eligibility and alignment as well as company and product alignment with the SFDR.

Climate solutions - As extreme weather events increase, and the transition to a netzero global economy picks up steam, Bloomberg is expanding its climate solutions to help corporate strategy, finance and policy professionals better identify, assess, manage and report climate risks and opportunities.

In 2023, we released new tools for analyzing physical risk and netzero transition risk, and made it easier for investors to incorporate Bloomberg's climate-related data, scores and research into their climate risk analysis. We launched a Climate Overview tab (ESG CLIM ) in the ESG Analysis function on the Terminal that provides a snapshot of a company's climate risk in four key areas: the company's contributions to climate change, the impact of climate change on the company, the company's climaterelated actions and climate-related market insights about the company. The Climate Overview tab connects users to additional Bloomberg climate risk tools that can be used for further analysis, including proprietary analytics that surface insights about a company's emissions footprint, net-zero pathway, alignment with policymakers' temperature rise goals and physical risk levels.

Nature and biodiversity solutions - The loss of natural resources and biodiversity poses significant risks for companies and financial institutions, with half the global economy highly or moderately dependent on services provided by nature, such as timber or water. As new research, regulations and international climate agreements raise awareness of these risks, financial market participants are starting to integrate nature and biodiversity into their policies, operations and investment strategies.

- The loss of natural resources and biodiversity poses significant risks for companies and financial institutions, with half the global economy highly or moderately dependent on services provided by nature, such as timber or water. As new research, regulations and international climate agreements raise awareness of these risks, financial market participants are starting to integrate nature and biodiversity into their policies, operations and investment strategies. Industry guidance - The rise of environmental issues creates unique and profound implications for a wide range of industries. Bloomberg Industry Group's subscription-based news, content and technology solutions serve legal, government and tax professionals, and provide key insights into cross-cutting sustainability issues and practical guidance for company leaders.

Reporting on the business and science of climate change

Bloomberg L.P.'s news and media divisions provide extensive content on climate and ESG issues.

Bloomberg L.P.'s Editorial & Research's 2,900 journalists and analysts in 118 countries deliver more than 5,000 stories a day to Bloomberg Terminal subscribers. The Terminal features regular coverage of sustainable finance and corporate governance, with a particular focus on trends in green finance, renewable energy and emissions accountability. ESG is one of the biggest stories that Bloomberg Editorial & Research covers as investors put pressure on executives to tackle issues ranging from climate change and workplace culture, to race and gender, and investment pours into the energy transition.

Bloomberg News also feeds our news site Bloomberg.com, Bloomberg TV, the various publications produced by Bloomberg Media and our streaming video network Bloomberg Originals. Bloomberg Media, our consumer-facing media division, is a leading global multi-distribution platform brand that provides decision makers with timely news, analysis and intelligence on business, finance, technology, climate change, politics and more. It reaches influential audiences worldwide across every media platform, including digital, social, TV, radio, print and live events.

Advancing the conversation

Our events connect forward-thinking business leaders with climate innovators and inspire action.

BloombergNEF Summits - BloombergNEF Summits provide a forum to generate ideas, deliver insights and establish the connections needed to capitalize on technological change and shape a cleaner, more competitive future. In 2023, BloombergNEF hosted six BNEF Summits, supported by its market-leading research, in London, Munich, New Delhi, New York, San Francisco and Shanghai. The BNEF Summit Shanghai was the first in-person event in four years, marking a return to the country that represents half of the global energy transition, and welcomed over 800 attendees across two days.

- BloombergNEF Summits provide a forum to generate ideas, deliver insights and establish the connections needed to capitalize on technological change and shape a cleaner, more competitive future. In 2023, BloombergNEF hosted six BNEF Summits, supported by its market-leading research, in London, Munich, New Delhi, New York, San Francisco and Shanghai. The BNEF Summit Shanghai was the first in-person event in four years, marking a return to the country that represents half of the global energy transition, and welcomed over 800 attendees across two days. Sustainable Business Summits - Bloomberg's Sustainable Business Summits bring together business leaders and investors globally to drive innovation and scale best practices in sustainable business and finance. We hosted three summits in 2023, in London, Singapore and New York, covering trends in sustainable investing, best practices for using ESG data and the powerful role social factors play in sustainability strategies.

- Bloomberg's Sustainable Business Summits bring together business leaders and investors globally to drive innovation and scale best practices in sustainable business and finance. We hosted three summits in 2023, in London, Singapore and New York, covering trends in sustainable investing, best practices for using ESG data and the powerful role social factors play in sustainability strategies. Bloomberg New Economy Forum - Each year, Bloomberg Media's annual New Economy Forum gathers the world's most influential public- and private-sector leaders to address the urgent problems of a global economy in transition. Mike Bloomberg hosted the sixth annual Bloomberg New Economy Forum in November, welcoming more than 500 heads of state, CEOs, entrepreneurs and academics to Singapore. The agenda featured several sessions on decarbonizing the global economy, with John Kerry, former Special Presidential Envoy for Climate for the United States, speaking to delegates about the need to accelerate efforts. We also hosted New Economy Gateway events for regional leaders in Ireland and Morocco.

- Each year, Bloomberg Media's annual New Economy Forum gathers the world's most influential public- and private-sector leaders to address the urgent problems of a global economy in transition. Mike Bloomberg hosted the sixth annual Bloomberg New Economy Forum in November, welcoming more than 500 heads of state, CEOs, entrepreneurs and academics to Singapore. The agenda featured several sessions on decarbonizing the global economy, with John Kerry, former Special Presidential Envoy for Climate for the United States, speaking to delegates about the need to accelerate efforts. We also hosted New Economy Gateway events for regional leaders in Ireland and Morocco. Bloomberg Green events - The Bloomberg Green Summit, held in April in New York City, featured conversations with climate leaders on climate economy, innovations in cleaner technology solutions, living a greener life and more. In December, Bloomberg Green at COP28 convened executives and thought leaders in Dubai and broadcast the conversations to a global audience.

- The Bloomberg Green Summit, held in April in New York City, featured conversations with climate leaders on climate economy, innovations in cleaner technology solutions, living a greener life and more. In December, Bloomberg Green at COP28 convened executives and thought leaders in Dubai and broadcast the conversations to a global audience. Sustainable Finance Forums - Launched in 2023, the Sustainable Finance Forum series brought investors, regulators, industry experts and Bloomberg ESG product specialists together to discuss ESG trends and opportunities. More than 1,000 participants attended forums held in Auckland, New Zealand, Dublin, London, Madrid, New York and Paris.

Read Bloomberg's 2023 sustainability report to learn more about its environmental impact.





View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Bloomberg on 3blmedia.com.

Contact Info:

Spokesperson: Bloomberg

Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/bloomberg

Email: info@3blmedia.com

SOURCE: Bloomberg

View the original press release on accesswire.com
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - June 12, 2024) - PICCASO Awards Canada: Celebrating excellence in Data, Privacy, and Information Security. On Tuesday, June 11, 2024, the inaugural PICCASO Awards Canada gala event united data, privacy and information security professionals, innovators, and experts across all sectors to recognize the achievements of information champions in Canada. This landmark event is the first ever in North America to focus exclusively on recognizing the achievements of privacy professionals, making it a historic and celebratory occasion for the industry.

Bringing the PICCASO Awards to Canada further amplifies the nation's pivotal role in shaping global conversations around data, privacy and information security. With its robust legal framework, groundbreaking technology sector, innovative thought leaders and privacy by design framework, Canada has emerged as a beacon of best practices in this digital age.

The awards aim to commend trailblazers in the data, privacy and information security community in Canada for their exemplary dedication and achievements in ensuring data remains safe and secure. Furthermore, the awards aim to support and celebrate rising talent in this field, inspiring them to strive for excellence and innovation in their careers. This dual focus of celebrating seasoned champions and nurturing the next generation of talent emphasizes the commitment of the awards to advancing the field of data, privacy and information security in Canada.

The gala event, produced by PICCASO Canada and supported by the PICCASO Canada Advisory Board, featured TELUS as the Founding Sponsor, with PwC Canada and AccessPrivacy by Osler as Platinum Sponsors. The evening commenced with insightful remarks from Vivienne Artz OBE, Vice Chair & Awards Founder, and Lauren Reid, co-chair of PICCASO Canada. The night was truly elevated by the keynote speaker, Canada's Privacy Commissioner Philippe Dufresne. The event was masterfully hosted by the talented Lisa Bragg.

PICCASO Awards Canada congratulates the winners, as presented below:

Best Privacy Program Award

Alberta Health Services

Privacy Team of the Year

Privacy Community of Practice - Association of Native Child and Family Services Agencies of Ontario

Privacy & Cybersecurity Practice Group - Fasken

Rising Star

Chelsea Cannon, Association of Native Child and Family Services Agencies of Ontario

Privacy Innovation Award

Private AI

Most Impactful Privacy Product or Service

Interactive Advertising Bureau of Canada

Data Partnership Award - Sponsored by Symcor

Geotab Inc.

Indigenous Leadership - Sponsored by TELUS

First Nations Information Governance Centre

Privacy Leader Academia / Thought Leader - Sponsored by AccessPrivacy by Osler

Teresa Scassa, University of Ottawa

Health Privacy Leadership

Marc Fiume, DNAstack

Not for Profit Leadership

Digital Advertising Alliance of Canada

Public Sector Leadership

Sandra Fletcher, iGaming Ontario

Outstanding Privacy Lawyer

Migan Megardichian, TELUS

Outstanding Privacy Engineer - Sponsored by Good Research and AppCensus

Alex Latulipe Loiselle, TELUS Data & Trust Office

Outstanding Privacy Officer - Sponsored by The DPO Centre

Aggie Zander, Scotiabank

Privacy Award for Achievement - Sponsored by PwC Canada

Dr. Ann Cavoukian

In its inaugural year, PICCASO Awards Canada received an enthusiastic response with an enormous number of award nominations from across the breadth and diversity of Canadian organizations, large and small. The award recipients were independently selected by expert and esteemed judges in Canada. PICCASO Awards Canada would like to thank the Judges for their time, dedication, and contribution in making the annual awards possible. For more on the judges: https://piccasoawards.ca/judges.

Vivienne Artz, Vice Chair & Awards Founder: "Congratulations to all the winners, both individuals and organizations alike, for their remarkable contributions to data, privacy and information security. Your incredible achievements and innovation stand as a beacon of inspiration and motivation for both seasoned professionals and rising talent in protecting and trusted use of data."

Lauren Reid, Canada Co-Chair, CEO of The Privacy Pro: "The PICCASO Awards coming to Canada symbolizes the nation's unwavering commitment to championing privacy rights and data protection on a global scale. In an era where data and privacy are of utmost importance, these awards serve as a testament to Canada's leadership in fostering innovation, transparency and accountability in the field of data and information security. I would like to congratulate all the winners for their outstanding work and setting the highest standards in attaining privacy distinction."

For more information about the PICCASO Awards Canada, please visit HERE.

About PICCASO Canada:

PICCASO Canada, a non-profit organization based in Toronto, Ontario, is a collaboration between PICCASO, a UK based global-facing not-for-profit special interest group, led by seasoned volunteers who are senior leaders in privacy, data and information security and The Privacy Pro, a boutique consulting firm in Toronto. The primary aim of PICCASO Canada is to develop and organize thought leadership and events that promote privacy, data protection and information security in Canada.

For more information or to request an interview, contact:

Shweta Retharekar

Marketing & Special Projects Manager, TO Corporate Services (TOCS)

2 St. Clair Ave. W. 18th FL., Toronto, ON, M4V 1L5

Email: info@piccaso.ca

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/212679

SOURCE: Piccaso Awards Canada
Common Impact's Volunteer Spotlight

NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / June 12, 2024 / Common Impact

Originally published on commonimpact.org

Common?Impact's collaborative efforts thrive on the commitment of dedicated companies and their corporate volunteers who generously contribute their expertise to nonprofits. For 20 years, Fidelity and Common Impact have partnered to create impactful employee engagement initiatives, strengthening Fidelity's social impact and incorporating community engagement into the employee experience.??

We spoke with Karl Sather, a dedicated Fidelity volunteer. Karl has actively contributed to various projects and initiatives, including skills-based volunteering and mentoring the inaugural class of the Fidelity Investments Invest in My Education (ME) initiative. We learned more about Karl's volunteering experience and his perspective on the significance of contributing to the greater social good.?

Volunteering has done a lot to change my life for the better.

Tell us about yourself and why volunteering matters to you.????

I grew up in Minnesota in a very tight-knit farming community. It was the?type of?community where everyone knew each other and greeted each other by name when we crossed paths. I've continued to practice the culture of selflessness and lending a hand throughout my life, which influenced me to give back, whether by donating to charities or volunteering.???

I've worked and volunteered with several nonprofits, including the YMCA of Minnesota, YMCA?of the Rockies, YMCA?of the Triangle, and then the YWCA of Minneapolis.?My first volunteer experience was with the YWCA to complete service hour requirements for a semester-long program called Girls on the Run.?The program?was designed?to help girls in the community train for a 5K while teaching?them life skills and mentoring them.?That experience was life-changing?and influenced?my career and fueled my passion for volunteering.??

What is your background and experience???

I like to think of myself as a Jack of all trades and master of some at this point in my life. I've worked mainly in customer service and leadership roles, operations, logistics, people management,?strategic planning?and?recruitment. Outside that, I also acquired farming, venue management, animal care, construction, land management, and program management skills.???

I realized I have many skills to give back through skills-based volunteering. When I saw the list of nonprofits that needed help through Fidelity and Common Impact's skills-based volunteering programs, it was empowering to see I had many of the skills and expertise they needed.?

You recently participated in a skill-based volunteering event with Fidelity and Common Impact. What was the challenge you collaborated on????

Equality Utah leads efforts for LGBTQ+ civil rights at the state and local levels by sponsoring LGBTQ legislation and opposing?negative?bills, lobbying elected officials, building coalitions, and empowering individuals and organizations. ?

Equality Utah staff?are continuously thinking?about?leveraging?their?skill sets to serve more of?its?community.?In working with?corporations, particularly ERGs, and other employee affinity groups, Equality Utah realized that the leaders of these groups take on these roles voluntarily but don't always receive the training, including leadership and advocacy resources needed to excel in these roles. As a result of their findings, Equality Utah has organized casual quarterly gatherings of ERG leaders across the state to learn from one another. Due to its success, Equality Utah wanted to host an annual summit in April 2024 that serves as an immersive leadership retreat for ERG leaders?across the state-now called One Utah Summit Spring 2024. They envision this?being funded?through a corporate sponsorship model where companies sponsor a certain amount of ERG leaders to attend the summit. As they worked to put the annual summit together, Equality Utah sought a group of Fidelity volunteers to advise them on their value proposition for a corporate audience and the tools and resources they need to approach their corporate partners.?

How did you use your professional skills to solve it???

My volunteer group helped them review their value proposition and provided recommendations for launching the conference successfully. We identified ways the organization can garner rapport with community members and businesses to create?greater?funding opportunities and bring?in?funding for operations, expansion, and safe spaces for LGBTQ+ folks in Utah.??

I collaborated with my volunteer team to craft a comprehensive strategy for Equality Utah to establish meaningful partnerships with local companies, such as Fidelity. Our approach encompassed leveraging marketing best practices to cultivate support for their upcoming conference.?There is?a great?opportunity to establish new connections and relationships with potential funders within the local population and thriving business communities.??

What motivated you to try skills-based volunteering??

As I?looked at the list of skills and expertise nonprofits seek through the skills-based volunteering programs, I realized how much I can give. I have several years of volunteer experience, so I understand some of the challenges these organizations face, such as a lack of resources, labor, and expertise, to address the unique challenges nonprofits face daily.?I am motivated to help solve their challenges for those reasons.??

How do you see your experiences in skills-based volunteering transferable to your professional life??????

I learned so much from my peers, even in the short time I collaborated with them. The different ways of thinking were enlightening and allowed me to develop a?deeper?knowledge of what consulting and giving back to nonprofits can look like. The networking and personal connections I?developed?with folks from other business units within Fidelity, with whom I normally would never interact, have been invaluable. It helped breach potential silos within the company because everyone is so focused on their day-to-day. Through skills-based volunteering, we got to level with each other, met new people, and created new connections.????

How did this experience affect your perception and awareness of Fidelity's social impact initiatives?????

I met folks involved in other special interest groups within Fidelity. It had been several years since I had volunteered, and the skills-based volunteering session I attended reinvigorated my passion to help others. After the first skills-based volunteering experience, I skimmed the Fidelity Cares webpage and found other special interest groups. Among them is the Impact Environmental group, which I started volunteering with, and other organizations I plan to donate my time to.????

How do you think skills-based volunteering contributes to building?a sense of?community and shared purpose among employees within a company like Fidelity??????

You can develop personal connections through collaboration, brainstorming, and execution. People bring their authentic selves and skills to the session, and it's rewarding to see each person's interests and expertise. These programs allow us to know each other?on a deeper level?through our discussions, which is very different from regular office talk.??

Looking ahead, do you see yourself continuing to engage in skills-based volunteering? How do you envision it will shape your professional and personal growth????

I would love to continue to assist in the long and short term. Long-term consulting sounds?fun because it would give me more time to aid the nonprofit's success. I've interacted with board members at a local YMCA during a shadowing session of a board meeting and would consider serving on a board in the future.??

Volunteering has done a lot to change my life for the better. I will continue this path and see what opportunities it brings me. I'll either learn a new skill, meet new people, or?get out of?my comfort zone.??

What would you tell someone new to skills-based volunteering and?is?unsure?if it's for them?????

The self-discovery piece is the biggest takeaway from this. Through skills-based volunteering, you will realize that the skills you gained over time are?highly valuable. It's a retrospective and empowering process. You'll learn potential skills you can continue expanding?which?may inspire you personally and professionally.???

Everybody should try skills-based volunteering. There's some uncertainty going into it for the first time, but?the process of?learning to adapt, ask questions and problem-solve is gratifying.?

For more social impact content like this, follow us on LinkedIn? and sign-up for our monthly newsletter. Ready to learn more about skills-based volunteering? Reach out.???

# # #

About Common Impact

Common Impact is a national nonprofit that fosters meaningful partnerships between purpose-driven Fortune 500 companies and nonprofits worldwide to propel social good. Since 2000, Common Impact has generated over 205,000 hours of skills-based volunteering and $40 million in resources. Common Impact is dedicated to helping nonprofits expand their capacity, improve efficiency, and deliver on their mission with customized and impactful projects through corporate partnerships. Learn more about Common Impact's services, impact, and clients.

# # #

Media Contact

Elizabeth Cross, Obviouslee Marketing

common-impact@obviouslee.com

View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Common Impact on 3blmedia.com.

Contact Info:

Spokesperson: Common Impact

Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/common-impact

Email: info@3blmedia.com

SOURCE: Common Impact

View the original press release on accesswire.com
Long War Journal, June 8, 2024

BY BILL ROGGIO AND CALEB WEISS

In the latest issue of pamphlets released by al Qaedas central as-Sahab media entitled This is Gaza: A War of Existence, Not a War of Borders, Sayf al-Adl, believed to be al Qaedas current overall emir, calls on supporters around the world to migrate to Afghanistan.

In doing so, this offers the most clear and open call for foreigners to join al Qaedas ranks in Afghanistan since the Taliban captured the country in 2021. Adls message thus acts to officially pronounce Afghanistan as a safe-haven for al Qaeda and its future plans.

Adl, writing under the pseudonym Salim al-Sharif, plainly states that the loyal people of the Ummah [worldwide Islamic community] interested in change must go to Afghanistan, learn from its conditions, and benefit from their [the Talibans] experience.

In making this call for hijrah [migration], Adl uses the current war in Gaza as a catalyst to encourage people to travel to Afghanistan to gain training, experience, and knowledge before undertaking attacks against so-called Zionist and Western targets around the world.

For instance, in the pamphlet, Adl warns that the continuation of the genocide [in Gaza] calls for the Islamic peoples to strike all Zionist interests (both Western and Jewish) in all Islamic lands. He continues with that this strike must be a painful one as we are too late in doing what is required of us.

He goes on to say that the appropriate reaction to the enemies crimes is with action, not with words, with Adl saying that 9/11, the resulting War in Afghanistan, and the October 7 invasion of Israel were all great examples of taking action against the enemy. Adl also praises and encourages sleeper cells in Western countries, as these act as a deterrent force against further Western crimes.

Further lamenting these alleged crimes of the West, Adl then states that Muslims should look to the Islamic Emirate in Afghanistan (IEA) as heroes and as a model to build future Islamic states. The IEA, or the Talibans government in Afghanistan, has perfected running various processes and institutions in governing an Islamic state according to Adl.

Answering the age-old question of who is the real enemy for al Qaeda, be it local, regional, or international targets, Adl answers that enemies exist at each level. As such, al Qaedas response to the ongoing war in Gaza, according to Adl, will vary and take place in manners appropriate to each partys role in the conflict. In doing so, Adl implies al Qaeda will take military action across all three levels to avenge Gaza.

It is through these varied responses, in what is particularly referred to as special operations in the West, that Adl makes the argument that Muslims living in the West should be advised to leave and migrate to Islamic lands, particularly Afghanistan, to avoid being in the crossfire. Muslims coming from the West are then also encouraged to support the IEA with their wealth once migrating to Afghanistan.

In an ostensible message to al Qaedas various branches around the world, Adl also stresses the need that we communicate and exchange military experiences and that in al Qaedas various fields of conflict, we must also support one another. Though not particularly detailed, this line likely refers to ongoing communication and guidance between al Qaedas central leadership and the various branches on current strategy.

Al Qaedas current status in Afghanistan

Adl is thought to have succeeded Ayman al Zawahiri, al Qaedas last emir who was killed in a U.S. drone strike on a Taliban safe house in the Afghan capital of Kabul. The safe house was managed by a lieutenant of Sirajuddin Haqqani, the IEA minister of interior and one of the Talibans two deputy emirs. Sirajuddins powerful Haqqani Network is listed as a Foreign Terrorist Organization for its close ties to al Qaeda. Sirajuddin and many of his top lieutenants are also labeled as Specially Designated Global Terrorists by the U.S.

Neither al Qaeda nor the Taliban acknowledged Zawahiris death. The Taliban does not want to provide evidence of its close relationship with al Qaeda to avoid international condemnation. Al Qaeda does not want to bring condemnation on its Taliban host, nor does it want to draw attention to the fact that its new leader, Adl, is based in Iran.

Al Qaeda has established a significant amount of infrastructure in Afghanistan since the Taliban seized control of the country in August 2021, according to reports by the United Nations Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team. Additionally, the relationship between the Taliban and Al-Qaida remains close, the Monitoring Team reported.

Al Qaeda operates training camps in 10 of Afghanistans 34 provinces. The camps are operational in the provinces of Badghis, Helmand, Ghazni, Kunar, Laghman, Nangarhar, Nuristan, Parwan, Uruzgan, and Zabul. An al Qaeda leader known as Hakim al Masri is is responsible for the training camps and conducting suicide bomber training for TTP, or the Movement of the Taliban in Pakistan, an ally of al Qaeda and the Afghan Taliban.

In the central Afghan province of Panjshir, the former bastion of the anti-Taliban National Resistance Front, al Qaeda has established a new base to stockpile weaponry.

In the provinces Laghman, Kunar, Nangarhar, Nuristan and Parwan, al Qaeda is operating five madrasas, or religious schools.

Al Qaeda also maintains safe houses in Herat, Farah, Helmand, and Kabul provinces, according to the Monitoring Team. Al Qaeda maintains safe houses in Herat, Farah and Helmand to facilitate the movement [of members] between Afghanistan and the Islamic Republic of Iran. One al Qaeda safe house in Kabul was exposed in July 2022, when the U.S. killed Zawahiri.

Both Adl and his deputy, Abd al Rahman al Maghrebi, are believed to have traveled from Iran into Afghanistan since the Taliban took control of the country.

Other senior al Qaeda leaders are known to be based in Afghanistan. Abdul Haq al Turkistani, the leader of the Turkistan Islamic Party who is also a member of al Qaedas leadership council, is known to operate in Afghanistan. Osama Mahmood, the leader of al Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent, is ensconced in the country.

Amin al Haq, Osama bin Ladens former security chief, made a triumphant return to Afghanistan from Pakistan soon after the Taliban seized the country. Abu Ikhlas al Masri, a top military commander who was imprisoned at Bagram until the Taliban opened the gates to the jail, has reestablished his military units.

Abdul Rahman al-Ghamdi serves as a liaison to Adl and Maghrebi when they travel to and from Afghanistan.

Al Qaedas infrastructure and safe haven within Afghanistan gives the terror group the opportunity to capitalize on Adls call for its supporters to migrate to the country.
The summarization and translation copilots address common challenges of HR/ER, compliance, fraud and security investigation teams.

OTTAWA, ON / ACCESSWIRE / June 12, 2024 / Case IQ, the leading investigative case management solution provider, announced today the release of their AI Copilot Suite for investigations. The first two components of the suite, Summarization Copilot for easy report writing, and Translation Copilot for investigator and reporter communication, were released early in June. Intake Copilot, the third component, is scheduled to launch in Q3.

These tools are not simple bot-style AI, but instead use Generative AI to detect and analyze complex case information securely. By leveraging Generative AI technology, Case IQ's Copilot Suite will reduce the time investigators spend on administrative tasks and increase consistency and efficiency.

As Artificial Intelligence (AI) and large language models (LLM) continue to gain momentum and prominence in the workplace, investigators have expressed that their most pressing need is for AI to support case summarization and reporting. In a recent poll of more than 1,000 Case IQ customers and prospects, 62% indicated that summarization was the area of case management that needed assistance from AI the most.

Powered by Microsoft's Azure OpenAI leveraging GPT-4's foundational LLM technology, Case IQ Summarization Copilot meticulously processes every piece of evidence. Beyond mere summarization, it offers:

Timeline Generation: Timelines that provide clarity and reveal hidden connections.

Evidence Analysis: Comprehensive evidence scans ensure no detail is overlooked.

Policy & Compliance Retrieval: Automated access to relevant policy documents and compliance regulations, ensuring investigations are legally sound and in accordance with best practices for the case type.

Recommendation Generation: Consolidated AI analysis leveraging both the case details and the relevant policies auto-generates a draft recommended outcome for the investigator to review, modify, and finalize.

Quality Control: Summaries generated follow guidelines set by the administrator, ensuring consistency of output across investigators and enabling overall report quality to rise, no matter who is generating the report.

Flexible Output: Administrators can set different report guidelines, which can be tuned for different types of cases, various intended audiences, and more.

Investigator Attestation: Auto-generation for all summaries requires investigators to review, modify, and attest to their responsibility for the finalization of the summary and conclusion to ensure responsible AI utilization.

Enterprise-Grade Security: The use of Microsoft's Azure OpenAI service, combined with Case IQ's strict data privacy and security protocols, ensures that client data remains completely secure when using the Copilots.

Keith Bauer, National Data & AI Leader at Microsoft's AI Labs, stated in a Case IQ webinar, "Our partnership with Case IQ, especially in the utilization of the Azure OpenAI service, is unique in the market. It's a testament to the deep collaboration between our companies and our shared commitment to our customers."

Case IQ Summarization Copilot is adaptable to the unique needs of various organizations. From routine matters on a small scale to time-sensitive legal investigations, the Copilot uses organizational policies, industry best practices, and applicable legal documents to formulate a comprehensive case summary that can withstand legal scrutiny.

The Translation Copilot, also available as part of the AI Copilot Suite, uses AI to automatically translate reports and complaints, as well as subsequent communications between the reporter and the investigator. The tool detects the entry's language and automatically translates it to the user's default language. This allows reporters to report incidents in the language they are most comfortable with, increasing the likelihood that they will let the organization know when an incident occurs and helping to uncover risk. The investigator, in turn, receives the report in their language of choice, accelerating the investigation process and allowing the organization to support a diverse, multilingual workforce with centralized investigation resources.

Gabriela Snobrova, Chief People Officer at CLEAResult, stated in an interview with Case IQ that "Case IQ is on the cutting edge of utilizing AI inside its very comprehensive investigation management solution. I had a preview of the AI-powered Summarization Copilot, and I was very impressed. Given the importance of summary write-ups, I applaud the Case IQ team for prioritizing the launch of the Summarization Copilot solution. The ability to quickly produce a high-quality report summary will be appreciated by all stakeholders."

Pricing and Availability

Summarization Copilot and Translation Copilot are initially available to customers on the most current version (v9.7) of the Case IQ platform. To see a demo of these new features, contact us at sales@caseiq.com . To upgrade your current Case IQ system, please contact your Account Manager.

For more information, visit https://www.caseiq.com/resources/announcement-introducing-ciq-assistant/ .

About Case IQ

Case IQ is the leading investigative case management software for ethics & compliance, human resources, fraud, complaints, and corporate security incidents for organizations around the world. With multi-channel intake, configurable workflows, and analytics, Case IQ is a vital tool for modern investigation teams.

Contact: media@caseiq.com

SOURCE: Case IQ

View the original press release on accesswire.com
Medford, Wisconsin--(Newsfile Corp. - June 12, 2024) - Green Light Metals Inc. ("GreenLight" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that its wholly owned subsidiary GreenLight Metals USA Corporation ("GL USA") has entered into an option agreement (the "Agreement") dated June 11, 2024 with Millennial Silver Nevada Inc. ("MSN"), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Integra Resources Corp. ("Integra") regarding the Cerro Colorado Property ("Cerro Colorado"). Cerro Colorado is located within the Pima Mining District, 70 kilometers (~43 miles) southwest of Tucson, Arizona.

MSN currently owns 100% of the membership interests (the "Interests") in Millennial Arizona LLC ("Millennial Arizona") which, pursuant to a mining lease and option to purchase agreement, holds the right to acquire Cerro Colorado. As part of the Agreement, MSN has granted GL USA an exclusive option for a period of 12 months to purchase the Interests in Millennial Arizona.

Matt Filgate, President & CEO of GreenLight commented: "The Cerro Colorado Agreement adds a significant land position within the prolific Laramide Porphyry Belt, diversifying GreenLight's robust Copper-Gold portfolio. This transaction is in line with our corporate strategy to become the next major US based copper explorer with assets in Wisconsin, Nevada and now Arizona."

Key Terms of the Agreement

Pursuant to the terms of the Agreement, MSN granted to GreenLight an exclusive option to purchase the Interests as set forth in a membership interest purchase agreement for a period of 12 months. In consideration for the grant of the option, GreenLight has agreed to deliver common shares of the company (the "Shares") valued at no less than C$500,000 to Integra. The Shares will be paid in two tranches: (i) The first tranche of Shares, valued at no less than C$250,000, will be delivered within five days of the execution of the Agreement; and (ii) the second tranche of Shares, valued at no less than C$250,000 will be delivered at the earlier of: 1) the time of a GreenLight go-public event, or 2) December 31, 2024. In order to exercise the option and acquire the Interests in Millennial Arizona, GreenLight will pay Integra in cash or common shares of GreenLight, an amount equal to the total 2024 holding costs (other than exploration expenditures) incurred by Integra under the preexisting option through the closing date.

Cerro Colorado Project Overview

The Cerro Colorado property is located within a historic silver mining district, 70 kilometers southwest of Tucson, Arizona, along the Laramide porphyry copper belt. Cerro Colorado is located 26 km southwest of the historical Pima Mining District, which contains several active porphyry copper and skarn mining operations. Seven distinct areas of interest comprise the combined 10,097-acre land package, consisting of 229 unpatented claims on lands administered by the U.S Bureau of Land Management and 14 Arizona State Land Department mineral leases situated on State of Arizona Lands. Cerro Colorado hosts numerous historical mining operations that exploited silver-gold-copper bearing veins hosted by Jurassic and early Laramide volcanic rocks. District-scale and local alteration patterns indicate potential for porphyry copper mineralization within intrusive units beneath the volcanic host rocks. Limited historical drilling in intrusive units adjacent the property area done by Phelps Dodge Corporation (now Freeport-McMoRan, Inc.) and Minefinders Corporation Ltd. reported weakly mineralized porphyry copper intrusions. Recent academic work in the area suggests a lack of Cenozoic extension and dismemberment in the district, preserving the silver-gold veins and associated deeper porphyry copper systems upright and intact below older volcanic rocks.

ABOUT GREENLIGHT

GreenLight's mission is to expand known mineral resources and make new discoveries on one of North America's most prolific yet underexplored volcanogenic massive sulfide ("VMS") greenstone belts - the Penokean Volcanic Belt (the "Belt") in Wisconsin, USA. The Belt's deposits are rich in the clean energy metals copper and zinc, as well as gold, that are required to power the imminent green, low carbon economy. The Company's strategy is to capitalize on its first mover advantage to consolidate, secure, and drill dominant land positions.

GreenLight is committed to operating in a responsible and sustainable manner that benefits our local communities, bolsters national security, and assists in building and securing crucial US supply chains, all while protecting the environment. The Company has established an Environment, Sustainability, and Communities Committee and is fully committed to transparency, accountability, environmental stewardship, safety and community engagement.

The Company's key assets on the Belt are the Reef gold-copper and Bend copper-gold properties, each of which contains known historical resources with the potential for expansion. In addition, with the closing of the amalgamation with Can-America Minerals Inc. on July 25, 2022, the Company controls two additional prospective properties in Wisconsin - Lobo and Lobo East. GreenLight has also secured rights to the high-priority Swede anomaly located on the Southern Greenstone Belt. Outside of Wisconsin, the Company controls rights to the Kalium Canyon property, an exciting epithermal gold prospect located in the Walker Lane district of Nevada.

For more information concerning the Company, please refer to the Company's profile on the SEDAR+ website at www.sedarplus.ca.

For more information, please contact:

Green Light Metals Inc.

Matt Filgate

President & CEO

(778) 679-3579

matt@greenlightmetals.com

Forward-Looking Information

Certain statements contained in this news release constitute forward-looking information. These statements relate to future events or future performance. The use of any of the words "intend", "may", "will", "expect", 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 beliefs or assumptions as to the outcome and timing of such future events. Readers are cautioned to not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. 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 the Company. The material facts and assumptions include the Company's ability to close additional tranches and such additional tranches remaining in the best interests of the Company. The Company cautions the reader that the above list of risk factors is not exhaustive. The forward-looking information contained in this release is made as of the date hereof and the Company is not obligated to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities laws. Due to 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.

Not for distribution to U.S. Newswire Services or for dissemination in the United States. Any failure to comply with this restriction may constitute a violation of U.S. Securities Laws.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/212685

SOURCE: Green Light Metals Inc.
New food rescue initiative fights food insecurity and reduces food waste

BOISE, ID / ACCESSWIRE / June 12, 2024 / Albertsons Companies and Uber Technologies, Inc. today announced an ambitious food rescue initiative as part of the 2024 White House Challenge to End Hunger and Build Healthy Communities. The program, piloted last year in the Washington, D.C. area, utilizes Uber Direct, Uber's white-label delivery solution, to create a reliable delivery program to donate surplus food from Albertsons Cos. stores to local non-profit organizations and food banks. Building on the initiative's success in Washington, D.C., the food rescue program has now expanded to Boston, Chicago and Denver to reduce food waste and fight food insecurity in these local communities.

"At Albertsons Cos., we are committed to making a real difference in the communities we serve and the planet we share," said Suzanne Long, Chief Sustainability and Transformation Officer at Albertsons Cos. "We are thrilled to partner with Uber to streamline the delivery of excess food to our partner food recovery organizations, ensuring that the food donated from our stores gets to those who need it most. Together, we can reduce food waste and feed our neighbors in need."

The food rescue program has expanded to select Star Market stores in Boston, Jewel-Osco stores in Chicago and Safeway stores in the Denver area. Albertsons Cos. stores will deliver food donations through Uber Direct's network of delivery people, who pick up and deliver food to local non-profit organizations and food banks including Greater Boston Food Bank in Boston, St. Cletus Food Pantry in Chicago and Food Bank of the Rockies in Denver.

"After a successful pilot in the Washington, D.C. region, we're thrilled to continue to use our technology to improve the lives of community members in Boston, Chicago and Denver," said Julia Paige, Head of Global Social Impact at Uber. "No individual or family should ever have to experience hunger, and we're proud to work with partners like Albertsons Cos. to help provide access to nutritious foods."

In Washington, D.C. and the surrounding region, more than 1.2 million people* are food insecure. Since the food rescue initiative from Albertsons Cos. and Uber launched last year, more than 100 food donation deliveries have been made to D.C.-area nonprofit organizations, including The Father McKenna Center, House of Mercy and Tutoring Cafe.

"This program has been a tremendous blessing for our community, as we provide essential food assistance to more than 100 households every week through our food pantry," said Emily Dold, Food Pantry Manager at The Father McKenna Center. "Our dedicated food pantry team, although small, juggles various responsibilities throughout the day, which sometimes leaves them unable to collect donations from the grocery stores promptly. We are so grateful for our partnership with Albertsons Cos. and Uber. The food donated brings joy. It brings relief. It nourishes and heals. We have been able to offer better food options to our patrons."

*Facts About Hunger in Washington, DC

See original press release here and read more about Albertsons Companies and our Recipe for Change on our website.

The new initiative utilizes Uber Direct to create a reliable delivery program to donate surplus food from Albertsons Companies stores to local non-profit organizations and food banks. Photo Courtesy: Uber

View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Albertsons Companies on 3blmedia.com.

Contact Info:

Spokesperson: Albertsons Companies

Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/albertsons-companies

Email: info@3blmedia.com

SOURCE: Albertsons Companies

View the original press release on accesswire.com
Montreal, Quebec--(Newsfile Corp. - June 12, 2024) - Emergia Inc. (CSE: EMER) ("EMERGIA") is pleased to announce the signing of an LOI with Kraken Holdings ("KRAKEN") upon which KRAKEN's real estate holding will be merged with EMERGIA.

The Term Sheet is subject to a 45-day exclusivity period for the completion of due diligence, meeting certain conditions and to negotiate definitive, binding agreements. Mr. Hasan Al-Shawa, Emergia Co-founder and former Chairman, acted as Adviser and worked tirelessly to help conclude the term sheet.

About KRAKEN: Kraken Holding is a leading real estate Developer and Operator in the Abitibi-Temiscamingue Region of Quebec. Their current real portfolio, valued at $121 million and developed in less than eight years, will serve as a solid foundation for the group's ambitious 2025-2030 plan whose goal is to reach 2,500 doors worth over $400 million, including more than 1,000 new doors in Abitibi-Temiscamingue. A possible partnership with EMERGIA and its real estate and financial ecosystem would undoubtedly enable us to reach 4,000 doors and exceed $650 million over the same period.

KRAKEN is led by 2 prominent and dynamic entrepreneurs from Abitibi-Temiscamingue, Yannick Richard and Jonathan Bourgelas-Nicol. "They represent great value-added to Emergia's Team and will undoubtedly propel the Company towards ambitious goals of profitable growth. We are looking forward to succeeding with them," said Faraj Nakhleh, Chairman of EMERGIA.

The Abitibi-Temiscamingue Region has a GDP per capita 21% higher than the rest of Quebec. It is rich in Gold, silver, Copper & Lithium, among many other precious metals that are anchors of the world financial systema, technology products and economy.

For more information, please contact Yannick Richard (819) 856-0940,

Yannick.richard@perseus-sc.ca

ABOUT EMERGIA INC.

EMERGIA is a Montreal, Canada based owner, acquirer, operator, manager, and developer of revenue producing multi-purpose real estate, including retail, multifamily, industrial, and office buildings as well as land for immediate developments. The Corporation operates mainly in Quebec & Ontario, and its investment platform is based on an integrated, agile and efficient develop-to-own strategy that enables EMERGIA and its shareholders to benefit from development profits and the value-add while securing stable long-term returns.

The Corporation has recently gone through a major change in mission focus at the request of shareholders, brought in an experienced and hands on and proactive new Board and Chairman, and is actively working with financial and real estate partners on a major reorganization and refocusing on its core mission. In a matter of weeks, EMERGIA announced the disposal of some non-core and costly assets, potential investments by large financial partners, and the acquisition of a large portfolio of cashflow positive assets with development upside.

For more information, please visit www.emergia.com and www.sedarplus.ca: EMER.CN

Faraj Nakhleh, Chairman, Emergia Inc.

T: 514.781.4613

The Canadian Securities Exchange does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Source: EMERGIA INC.

Forward-Looking Information

This press release contains forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws. All information and statements other than statements of historical facts contained in this press release are forward-looking information. Such statements and information may be identified by looking for words such as "about", "approximately", "may", "believes", "expects", "will", "intend", "should", "plan", "predict", "potential", "project", "anticipate", "estimate", "continue" or similar words or the negative thereof or other comparable terminology. Such forward-looking information includes, without limitation, statements with respect to the effect of the global market conjuncture on the Corporation's financial condition, the anticipated closing of the Private Placement, business strategy and plans, and objectives of or involving the Corporation. The forward-looking information is based on certain key expectations and assumptions made by the Corporation, including expectations and assumptions concerning satisfaction of all conditions of closing, absence of exercise of any termination right and the timing and receipt of regulatory approval with respect to the Private Placement and the issuance of the private placement shares and the availability of capital resources. Although the Corporation believes that the expectations and assumptions on which such forward-looking information is based are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on the forward-looking information since no assurance can be given that they will prove to be correct. Actual results could differ materially from those currently anticipated due to a number of factors and risks. These include, but are not limited to, the effect of the global market conjuncture on the Corporation's financial condition, the real estate industry, and society as a whole. the market for the common shares, volatility of market price for common shares and other risks generally attributable to the business of the Corporation. For additional information with respect to risks and uncertainties, refer to the annual MD&A of the Corporation for the year ended December 31, 2021, filed on SEDAR at www.sedarplus.ca.

THE FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS PRESS RELEASE REPRESENTS THE EXPECTATIONS OF THE CORPORATION AS OF THE DATE OF THIS PRESS RELEASE AND, ACCORDINGLY, IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE AFTER SUCH DATE. READERS SHOULD NOT PLACE UNDUE IMPORTANCE ON FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION AND SHOULD NOT RELY UPON THIS INFORMATION AS OF ANY OTHER DATE. WHILE THE CORPORATION MAY ELECT TO, IT DOES NOT UNDERTAKE TO UPDATE THIS INFORMATION AT ANY PARTICULAR TIME EXCEPT AS REQUIRED IN ACCORDANCE WITH APPLICABLE SECURITIES LEGISLATION.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/212686

SOURCE: Emergia Inc.
Press release

Pluxee to acquire Cobee, an innovative Spanish digital player in Employee Benefits

Acquisition of 100% of Cobee, Spanish fast-growing digital-native player with multi-benefit offering and cutting-edge technology

Pluxee to reinforce leadership position in Spain, an underpenetrated and growing Employee Benefits market, while boosting its tech capabilities globally

Transaction to be fully funded from existing financial resources

Acquisition expected to be neutral to Recurring EBITDA and Free cash flow in year 1 and accretive to Recurring EBITDA margin and net income in year 2

First milestone in deployment of Pluxee's M&A strategy as part of its strategic growth plan





Paris: June 12, 2024 // Pluxee (the "Group"), a global player in Employee Benefits and Engagement, today announces that it has signed an agreement to acquire 100% of Cobee, a Spanish Employee Benefits digital-native player. With this acquisition, Pluxee will deliver the first milestone of its targeted and disciplined M&A strategy as part of its strategic growth plan. The transaction is subject to approval by Spanish regulatory authorities.

Cobee is a fast-growing Spanish Employee Benefits player that has expanded its presence to Portugal and Mexico. The company serves more than 1,500 clients and 100,000 employee consumers with a broad multi-benefit offering, which includes over 12 products such as meal vouchers, training, health and life insurance, physical well-being and employee discounts, among others. Cobee's best-in-class, modular technology has been pivotal to this success, enabling exponential growth since its launch in 2019. The company is expected to deliver +100% YoY organic growth in Fiscal 2024. Cobee's strong potential was recognized early, with the company winning first place in BBVA's Open Talent 2019, the world's largest FinTech competition.

With over 330,000 employee consumers, Pluxee is a leading player in the Spanish Employee Benefits and Engagement market. The combination of Pluxee's and Cobee's talents, capabilities, and technology will create the most complete, competitive, and attractive solution in Spain and Mexico, broadening the Group's existing benefits offering and enhancing its tech capabilities at global scale.

Given its high growth profile, Cobee is expected to be neutral for Pluxee recurring EBITDA and free cash flow in year 1 and accretive to recurring EBITDA margin and net income in year 2, with rapid margin improvement fuelled by strong revenue growth and operational synergies. The transaction is expected to be fully funded from existing financial resources, with limited impact on leverage.

Aurelien Sonet, CEO of Pluxee, commented:

"The acquisition of Cobee will represent a significant milestone for Pluxee, strengthening the Group's position in the Spanish growing and underpenetrated Employee Benefits market. We have been impressed by Cobee's performance since its inception, powered by its consumer centric multi-benefit offering and best-in-class technology, which we will leverage to unlock the potential of our clients, including SMEs.

We look forward to welcoming Cobee's teams. Borja Aranguren, Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer and Ignacio Travesi, Co-founder and Chief Sales Officer, are like-minded entrepreneurs sharing our ambition to realize the full potential of the Employee Benefits market. Cobee's teams have demonstrated robust technological expertise and a strong business drive. I am confident that by combining them with Pluxee's high-performing teams, we will accelerate our growth trajectory and deliver a unique proposition to our clients, consumers, merchants and partners."

About Pluxee

Pluxee is a global player in employee benefits and engagement that operates in 31 countries. Pluxee helps companies attract, engage, and retain talent thanks to a broad range of solutions across Meal & Food, Wellbeing, Lifestyle, Reward & Recognition, and Public Benefits. Powered by leading technology and more than 5,000 engaged team members, Pluxee acts as a trusted partner within a highly interconnected B2B2C ecosystem made up of more than 500,000 clients, 36 million consumers and 1.7 million merchants. Conducting business for more than 45 years, Pluxee is committed to creating a positive impact on local communities, supporting wellbeing at work for employees and protecting the planet.

For more information: www.pluxeegroup.com

About Cobee

Cobee is a Spanish startup supporting companies in managing employee benefits and compensation through a centralized digital platform. Its powerful SaaS tool drastically reduces administration and paperwork and improves the company's employer branding. In turn, employees can access and enjoy all benefits in the most flexible manner, in a single place and with a single card, which translates into unprecedented usage and uptake ratios.

Since its foundation in 2019 by Borja Aranguren, Ignacio Travesi and Daniel Olea, Cobee has been supported by well renowned venture capital funds through several financing rounds. It has expanded its Spanish operation to Portugal and Mexico. Today, it has over 180 employees and it serves more than 1,500 company clients with over 100,000 users.

For more information: www.cobee.io

Contacts

Media

Cecilia de Pierrebourg

+33 6 03 30 46 98

cecilia.depierrebourg@pluxeegroup.com Analysts and Investors

Pauline Bireaud

+ 33 6 22 58 83 51

pauline.bireaud@pluxeegroup.com

Attachment
Celonis, the global leader in Process Mining and Process Intelligence, is recognized as a Leader in the Everest Group Process Mining PEAK Matrix Assessment 2024 for the fifth year in a row and a Star Performer for 2024.

As stated in the report, key highlights include:

Celonis continues to dominate the market in terms of process mining software revenue.

Celonis has the largest customer base of process mining clients.

Celonis has the highest market share by revenue in the top six verticals including manufacturing, BFSI, healthcare and pharma, hi-tech and telecom, professional services, and CPG and retail.

Celonis continues to hold the highest share of the process mining market across Continental Europe, North America, the UK, APAC, and LATAM.

Celonis holds the highest share of revenue across all enterprise buyer segments.

For over a decade, Celonis has helped companies across every industry understand their processes, identify improvement opportunities, and turn process insights into business value. The company continues to own a Leader position in Everest Group's PEAK Matrix Assessment thanks to its clear vision, compelling product roadmap, and continuous innovation fueled by the recent introduction of the Process Intelligence Graph (PI Graph), a comprehensive AI offering and AI-assisted process management capabilities.

Using object-centric process mining (OCPM), the PI Graph builds a system-agnostic digital twin of a business and combines it with the business context in which the organization operates. It shows how the business is running, where and how things could run better, and how teams can capture the value hiding within the business.

The Celonis Process Intelligence platform is critical for deploying effective enterprise AI. Its understanding of business processes and how they run provides the much-needed business context for AI. Celonis AI solutions are built to deliver even faster insights and value. In addition, the Celonis platform offers a toolbox for custom AI deployments and enables customers' existing AI toolsets, feeding copilots and orchestrating agents.

Celonis further strengthened its Leader positioning in the Everest Group Process Mining PEAK Matrix Assessment 2024 and in addition was also recognized as a Star Performer for experiencing strong YoY growth in process mining revenue, holding the highest market share by revenue in the top six verticals and across all buyer-size segments, and improving its client satisfaction score. Additionally, the report outlined the distinguishing features of the company's market success. Celonis holds the highest reported capability scores in the following assessment criteria: market success, portfolio mix, vision and strategy, process setup and integration, process intelligence, implementation and support, and commercial model.

"As new technologies emerge, customer expectations rise and the need for efficiency grows, process mining and process intelligence have become essential enterprise solutions," said Alexander Rinke, co-CEO and co-founder of Celonis. "We are proud that Everest Group has again recognized our commitment and ability to enable every organization to find and capture hidden value inside its processes. This year's Star Performer designation is especially meaningful as we continue to push the boundaries of process mining with innovations like the Process Intelligence Graph, AI-powered Process Copilots and Process Management capabilities."

"Celonis has strengthened its position as a Leader and emerged as a Star Performer in Everest Group's Process Mining Products PEAK Matrix 2024, owing to its strong vision, robust global presence and support ecosystem, and depth and breadth of its process mining functionalities. Continued investment in product innovation and addition of advanced capabilities such as generative AI-based process copilot, process modeling, and process intelligence graph contributed to its position," says Amardeep Modi, Vice President at Everest Group. "Clients have expressed strong satisfaction with Celonis' product vision and roadmap, discovery capabilities, object-centric process mining, and scalability."

Background of Everest Group's PEAK Matrix Research

Everest Group defines process mining as a type of analytics product that involves a fact-based approach to help discover, monitor, and optimize as-is processes by analyzing process-related information primarily from event logs generated by enterprise systems (e.g., ERP, CRM, etc.). The technology provides a data-based approach to process optimization through numerous applications and use cases spanning industries and process areas. This has led to process mining being and continuing to be one of the fastest growing markets in the Intelligent Automation (IA) space.

Adoption of process mining not only helps enterprises achieve traditional benefits such as cost savings and operational efficiency, but also opens avenues to target business/strategic outcomes such as top-line growth, accelerated digital transformation, enhanced customer experience, and sustainability. In order to support the enterprise objectives, products are rapidly evolving in the sophistication of their capabilities, features, and functionalities.

Everest Group's PEAK Matrix Assessment can be downloaded here

About Celonis

Since 2011, Celonis has helped thousands of the world's largest and most esteemed companies yield immediate cash impact, radically improve customer experience, and reduce carbon emissions. Its Process Intelligence platform uses industry-leading process mining technology and AI to present companies with a living digital twin of their end-to-end processes. For the first time, everyone in an organization has a common language for how the business runs, visibility into where value is hiding, and the ability to capture it. Celonis is headquartered in Munich, Germany and New York City, USA with more than 20 offices worldwide.

2024 Celonis SE. All rights reserved. Celonis and the Celonis "droplet" logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Celonis SE in Germany and other jurisdictions. All other product and company names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners.

Click here to learn more about Celonis.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240612851312/en/

Contacts:

Celonis PR Team

press@celonis.com
New Zealand's smoking rate has halved in just five years due to the widespread acceptance and use of smoke free nicotine products, according to a new Smoke Free Sweden report by a panel of international experts led by public health expert Dr Marewa Glover of New Zealand.

New Zealand, like Sweden, has a daily smoking rate just above 5 per cent, the point at which the World Health Organization (WHO) officially declares a country 'smoke free'.

Unlike Sweden, which is set to become the first country in the world to declare itself officially 'smoke free' later this year, New Zealand's rapid reduction in smoking rates is a recent development. Smoking rates have halved since 2018 reflecting the rise in vaping, which sped up when vapes were legalised and the government formally endorsed them as a tool for adults to quit smoking.

Yet the principle behind both countries' success remains the same: by making smoke free nicotine alternatives such as vapes, snus and nicotine pouches accessible, acceptable and affordable for adult smokers, large numbers of people have switched from smoking.

In 2018, New Zealand's daily smoking rate was 13.3%. In 2023, this had come down to 6.8%.

In New Zealand, the highest smoking rate can be found among lower-income and Maori people. Maori, however, have experienced the greatest declines in recent years, showing the power vapes can have to reverse health inequalities and offer a route out of smoking.

Most strikingly, New Zealand now boasts a lower smoking rate than Australia following decades of trailing behind. In Australia, vapes are only available on prescription.

The report's findings have significant implications for policymakers, particularly from the World Health Organisation, which has so far failed to recognise the value of tobacco harm reduction despite a mounting body of evidence showing that smoke free alternatives are the most effective quit tools available on the market.

Drawing attention to the report's findings, lead author Dr Marewa Glover said:

"New Zealand's experience shows that with access to safer alternatives, people can and do quit smoking in large numbers. This success, like in Sweden, has been driven by a combination of government-led initiatives and community support, rather than ideological wars against nicotine."

Smoke Free Sweden leader Dr Delon Human commended New Zealand's progress, saying:

"New Zealand's rapid reduction in smoking rates proves that Sweden is not an outlier. This model works, and it works brilliantly. We are thrilled to see such incredible results and will continue to champion this approach, showing that harm reduction strategies can succeed anywhere."

Quit Like Sweden founder and harm reduction advocate, Suely Castro, who is leading a new initiative encouraging nations to choose to quit smoking as Sweden has done, said:

"New Zealand's dramatic drop in smoking rates in just a few years shows what's possible. So many more countries could see huge public health benefits from this approach."

ENDS

Notes to editors

Access the report: https://bit.ly/3VCvwap

About Smoke Free Sweden

Smoke Free Sweden is a movement that encourages other countries to follow the Swedish experience when it comes to Tobacco Harm Reduction. Sweden is about to become the first 'smoke free' European country, with a smoking rate below 5 percent. This remarkable achievement can be attributed to Sweden's open attitude towards alternative nicotine products.

For more information on Sweden's successful approach to becoming a smoke free nation, please visit www.smokefreesweden.org.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240612006125/en/

Contacts:

Smoke Free Sweden

Jessica Perkins

info@smokefreesweden.org

www.smokefreesweden.org
NorthWall Capital's European Opportunities Fund II draws global institutional investor base, exceeds target and doubles in size from predecessor Fund

NorthWall Capital ("NorthWall"), a leading credit investment firm delivering private capital solutions to counterparties in Western Europe, today announces the final close of its flagship NorthWall European Opportunities Fund II and associated vehicles ("NWEOF II" or "the Fund"), attracting more than 640m in investor commitments.

The Fund and associated vehicles surpassed the 500m target, receiving strong support from new and existing global institutional investors and more than doubling the size of its predecessor, NorthWall European Opportunities Fund I ("NWEOF I").

NorthWall's European Opportunities strategy, established at the firm's inception in 2017, invests across the broad opportunity set in European opportunistic private credit by delivering scalable private capital solutions to counterparties in Western Europe. NorthWall's systematic sourcing approach, coupled with a focus on creating bespoke funding solutions, enables the firm to structure opportunities that deliver strong downside protection while targeting uncorrelated returns. The strategy also makes tactical allocations to areas of dislocation and has successfully participated in the dislocation in asset-backed opportunities.

Prior to the final closing, NWEOF II was already substantially deployed, having committed c. 60% of its capital to 14 transactions across five countries in Western Europe.

The Fund attracted capital commitments from a global base of institutional investors, consisting of pension funds, insurance companies, large institutional single and multi-family offices and private banks from across Europe, North America and APAC. The Fund received strong support from a large US-based consultant and an Australian superannuation fund.

The firm's principals have been investing in European private credit for nearly 20 years, and the NorthWall team has deployed over 1.0bn in the European Opportunistic Credit strategy to date. In addition to the flagship funds, the firm has extensive expertise in legal assets, asset-backed and senior lending opportunities.

Fabian Chrobog, Founder Chief Investment Officer of NorthWall Capital, said: "We are honoured by the success of the fundraise for NWEOF II and would like to thank our existing and new investors globally for their partnership. We remain committed to delivering scalable investment opportunities that generate attractive risk-adjusted returns for our investors while also serving as a reliable partner to our counterparties. We continue to observe one of the most compelling opportunity sets in European credit in recent history and will continue to thoughtfully scale NorthWall in a way that allows us to lean into areas of dislocation. I also wanted to congratulate and thank the NorthWall team that has been working tirelessly to deliver the best outcomes for our stakeholders."

About NorthWall Capital

NorthWall Capital is a London-based credit investment firm, delivering private capital solutions to counterparties in Western Europe. The firm manages 1.5bn of AUM in long dated funds on behalf of global institutional investors, seeking to capture compelling risk-adjusted returns from Western European credit markets.

For more information, please visit www.northwallcap.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240612730325/en/

Contacts:

Media enquiries

Prosek Partners

pro-NorthWallCapital@prosek.com

+1 (929) 309 3817 +44 (0) 7384 787 585
FRANKFURT, Germany, June 12, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- SERMATEC, one of the few companies selected for the BloombergNEF (BNEF) Tier 1 list for two consecutive quarters, has recently completed the grid connection of its commercial and industrial (C&I) energy storage project in Eastern Europe. This project delivers a comprehensive energy storage solution (ESS) that includes the EasyCube Series 372kWh storage system, PCS, Isolation Transformer, and Integrated Grid-connected Cabinet.

The project specifics highlight the provision of a complete set of storage solutions tailored to the client's needs. The EasyCube Series 372kWh storage system is particularly well-suited for large-capacity C&I energy storage requirements. With a project scale of 372kWh*2, it offers several performance advantages:

It features PACK-level immersion fire protection to ensure high safety, and its cabinet boasts an IP55 high protection level, ensuring stable performance in complex outdoor environments.

The intelligent battery health management system, encompassing health assessment, safety warning, and lifespan prediction, ensures comprehensive system status and risk management, allowing for safe operation and maintenance.

The system's high-speed dispatch response, with a cell temperature difference of =3?, futher enhances battery lifespan.

The ESS greatly improves power quality and provides backup power, reducing energy costs for enterprises and increasing the use of green energy. It also maintains the safe and stable operation of the system, further supporting the zero-carbon strategy.

Li Feng, Chairman of SERMATEC, expressed his pride in the company's achievements, stating, "I'm thrilled by the remarkable progress we've made in the global energy storage market. The successful delivery of our C&I energy storage project in Eastern Europe not only demonstrates our dedication in technology and solutions but also reflects our profound understanding of customer needs. Our continuous expansion in Europe, APAC, Africa, and Latin America, along with recent successful projects in Europe, Africa, and Southeast Asia, firmly solidifies our leading position on a global scale."

Looking ahead, SERMATEC will showcase its latest innovations at upcoming industry exhibitions. At SNEC, the company will be at Booth No. A130 in Hall 8.1, unveiling the latest products and the "Green Low-Carbon Workstation" to help enterprises achieve zero-carbon strategies. At Intersolar, located at Booth No. C2.410, SERMATEC will display the latest commercial and grid-side ESS. Notably, the company also maintains an office in Frankfurt, Germany.

SERMATEC consistently maintains a forward-looking and keen development strategy, heavily investing in regions like Europe and APAC in recent years to understand local market demands and provide robust ESS. The company is currently preparing to deliver several projects in Europe, Africa, and Southeast Asia. As a BNEF Tier 1 energy storage manufacturer, SERMATEC has successfully delivered over 5GWh of energy storage systems worldwide. Its global customer base spans across more than 30 countries and regions. With a core team that brings over 20 years of industry experience and over 55% of personnel dedicated to research and development, SERMATEC is well-equipped to meet the evolving needs of the market.

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2436977/SERMATEC.jpg

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/sermatec-advances-zero-carbon-strategy-with-commercial-energy-storage-project-in-eastern-europe-302171018.html
This New Strategic Alliance Makes HKTB the First Tourism Organization to Partner with Art Basel Worldwide

The Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) and Art Basel are delighted to announce a new three-year global partnership. The HKTB is the first tourism organization to enter into a global strategic partnership with Art Basel. Announced during the press conference of Art Basel in Basel, the collaboration will extend beyond Hong Kong to all Art Basel shows worldwide, beginning with Art Basel Paris this October.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240612637701/en/

Interactive "Cha Chaan Teng" experience at Art Basel Hong Kong in March (Photo credit: Hong Kong Tourism Board)

As part of this exciting alliance, HKTB will serve as a Show Partner of Art Basel and celebrate Hong Kong art and culture on the world stage. Over the next three years, HKTB will be present in four annual shows, including Art Basel in Paris, Miami Beach, Hong Kong, and Basel, with different thematic experiences or activations.

Mr. Dane Cheng, HKTB Executive Director, said: "Our strategic alliance with Art Basel underscores our commitment to promoting Hong Kong as the East-meets-West center for international cultural exchange, and a valuable gateway to the Chinese art market. By sharing the city's unique character through immersive experiences and exhibitions at the world's most prestigious art platform, we hope to inspire travelers to visit our city and discover its thriving creative community and rich cultural experiences."

Noah Horowitz, Art Basel CEO, said: "We are thrilled to build on our longstanding collaboration with Hong Kong Tourism Board and launch this ambitious initiative. By shining a global spotlight on Hong Kong's vibrant art scene, this partnership will enhance the experience for our fair visitors while unlocking new opportunities and fostering deeper connections between Hong Kong and art communities around the world."

Debuting in Hong Kong in 2013, Art Basel has collaborated with HKTB on several successful projects together since 2020. This March, the tourism board joined hands with the fair to present a local "Cha Chaan Teng" experience that aimed to highlight the vibrant living culture of Hong Kong. Inside a colourful, purpose-built cha chaan teng (Hong Kong-style cafe), visitors enjoyed local delicacies, such as the city's iconic pineapple buns and milk tea, while experiencing Hong Kong's East-meets-West heritage firsthand.

The organizations' three-year partnership will kick off with Art Basel Paris, taking place at the Grand Palais in the French capital from October 18-20, 2024.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240612637701/en/

Contacts:

For media enquiries:

Hong Kong Tourism Board

Katie Roy

Senior Manager, Marketing Public Relations

katie.roy@hktb.com
Finsbury Growth & Income Trust PLC - Transaction in Own Shares

PR Newswire

LONDON, United Kingdom, June 12

For immediate release

12 June 2024

FINSBURY GROWTH & INCOME TRUST PLC

(the "Company")

MARKET PURCHASE OF COMPANY'S OWN SHARES

The Company announce that it has today purchased 184,713 of its own shares ("Ordinary Shares") at a price of 848.95 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 44,857,667; 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 180,133,636.

The figure of 180,133,636 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 12, 2024 / The arrival in Normandy started with a heroes' welcome by school children and World War II re-enactors in Houlgate followed by a visit to Le Memorial de Caen, a museum and war memorial commemorating World War II and the Battle of Normandy.

A visit to historic Omaha Beach provided time for the veterans to walk in the heroic path of those who stormed the beaches 80 years ago and lay a wreath to honor those who didn't survive the beach landing. The afternoon was spent among the bunkers and bomb craters of Pointe du Hoc and honoring the U.S. Army Rangers who scaled the steep cliffs June 6, 1944.

On Utah Beach, the veterans paid tribute by each laying a single rose in honor of the fallen. A historic chateau served as the backdrop for a special lunch that was attended by senior military leaders from the Department of Defense and other dignitaries. That afternoon, the veterans were the primary focus in Sainte-Mere-Eglise as thousands gathered to cheer their arrival into the town made famous by the Airborne soldiers who parachuted into the area.

The events in Normandy concluded with a ceremony marking the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings at the Normandy American Cemetery, where more than 9,000 U.S. service members from World War II are laid to rest.

For these veterans, revisiting the hallowed grounds of D-Day is more than a trip down memory lane - it represents gratitude and remembrance. Watch U.S. Navy veteran Felix Maurizio, who was on a landing craft that deployed troops onto Omaha Beach on D-Day, return to the shores 80 years later.





View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from American Airlines on 3blmedia.com.

Contact Info:

Spokesperson: American Airlines

Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/american-airlines

Email: info@3blmedia.com

SOURCE: American Airlines

View the original press release on accesswire.com
NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / June 12, 2024 / Northern Trust:

Last week saw our employee led Black Business Resource Council welcome students from New City College Hackney for the final session of the 2024 'Amplify Me' program which was once again facilitated by the Local Village Network (LVN) team.

For this final session, the students visited our London office, took part in a speed networking game with some new mentors to put into practice the skills learnt over the program, and they were also presented with a certificate of recognition upon completion of the course.

This was the second cohort of students taking part in the program and the intention is to continue to collaborate with both LVN and New City College for future events to foster positive engagement within the community.

"Volunteers from Northern Trust truly embody LVN's values. Their commitment has significantly impacted the lives of Hackney students, providing essential skills and inspiration. Their dedication is a testament to the transformative power of community involvement." Rachael Box, LVN Founder and CEO

Thanks to all of our Northern Trust partners, facilitators and volunteers who made the event and the program once again a great success.

View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Northern Trust on 3blmedia.com.

Contact Info:

Spokesperson: Northern Trust

Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/northern-trust

Email: info@3blmedia.com

SOURCE: Northern Trust

View the original press release on accesswire.com
The total for the 2024/2025 academic year represents a new record of scholarships awarded to residents in The Michaels Organization's affordable and military housing communities

CAMDEN, NJ / ACCESSWIRE / June 12, 2024 / The Michaels Organization Educational Foundation, a non-profit affiliate of The Michaels Organization, has awarded $2,135,500 in scholarships for the 2024/2025 academic school year to 261 residents living in affordable and military living communities owned or managed by The Michaels Organization.





California Michaels Scholar

A multi-year recipient of a college scholarship from the Educational Foundation was recognized at a ceremony at Michaels' affordable housing community in Los Angeles, California.





This year's $2M+ donation sets a record-high for the program, which, in total, has now awarded more than $16 million to thousands of residents across Michaels' portfolio since the foundation was established in 1991.

"Providing our residents with the opportunity to further their education is a true testament to our mission of Lifting Lives," said John J. O'Donnell, Chief Executive Officer of The Michaels Organization. "It's an honor to continue this program year after year and to continuously strive for a better future for our residents."

The Michaels Organization Educational Foundation provides grants to residents to use toward their pursuit of higher education at any accredited college, university, or vocational training program in the nation. Scholarships are awarded annually and students may reapply each year of their undergraduate education for continuing grants.

The 2024 scholarship recipients represent an extraordinary group of students with a wide variety of interests and backgrounds.

Among this year's scholars is Virginia, a first-time awardee from Savoy Square in Chicago. Virginia plans to use her award to work toward her associate degree in information technology and then a bachelor's in computer science from Malcolm X College. Inspired by her son Laquan - a previous two-time Michaels scholarship recipient who graduated in May, Virginia made the decision to revisit her education and return to school after previously withdrawing from high school as a teenager.

Returning scholars include sisters Alianah and Katelynn from Frontier Heritage Communities at Fort Leavenworth, KS, who are studying business analytics at the University of Kansas and nursing at Bradley University, respectively.

All foundation funds are raised through voluntary contributions by corporations, companies, families, private trusts, and individuals throughout The Michaels Organization's business network. All donations are then matched $2 for every $1 by The Michaels Organization's Founder and Chairman, Michael J. Levitt, and his wife, Pat Levitt.

A separate program, designed specifically for residents of Michaels' student living communities, will open for applications later this year.

About The Michaels Educational Foundation

The Michaels Educational Foundation is a non-profit affiliate of The Michaels Organization, established to administer scholarships to Michaels residents. The scholarship program was the first of its kind in the affordable housing industry when it was created and since its inception, the program has expanded to include residents of Michaels' military and student living communities and is monumental to The Michaels Organization's mission of Creating Communities that Lift Lives.

About The Michaels Organization

Michaels is a national leader in residential real estate that has been pioneering solutions to the nation's housing challenges for more than 50 years. Offering full-service capabilities in design, development, property management, construction, and investment management, Michaels' expertise spans across housing markets, including affordable, attainable/workforce, student/market, and privatized Military housing. Serving 200,000 residents in more than 600 communities across 39 states, the District of Columbia, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, Michaels is committed to crafting attainable housing solutions that jumpstart education, civic engagement and neighborhood prosperity, and to creating Communities That Lift Lives. Visit TMO.com our Media Room, and follow us on LinkedIn.

Contact Information

Laura Zaner

Vice President, Michaels Corporate Marketing

lzaner@tmo.com

856-988-5983; 856-630-1540

SOURCE: The Michaels Organization

View the original press release on newswire.com.
Indianapolis, Indiana--(Newsfile Corp. - June 12, 2024) - Wheaton | Bekins, the fourth largest van line in the country, taps Jim Gaw, a former Bekins Van Lines executive with a long history in moving and storage, as its new president. With a career spanning more than two decades in the industry, Gaw's proven track record of driving growth lends itself to a positive outlook for the Indianapolis-based van line.

Jim Gaw, new president of Wheaton | Bekins, the country's fourth-largest household goods company, which is headquartered in Indianapolis, Ind.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

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Coming to Wheaton | Bekins from his position of COO at APS Logistics, Inc.,Gaw is a 12-year veteran of Atlas World Group International, where he served as President and COO. Prior to working at Atlas, Gaw worked at Bekins Van Lines as Vice President of International before Wheaton World Wide Moving acquired Bekins Van Lines in 2012. With his diverse experience in transportation and logistics he is well-placed to lead Wheaton | Bekins at a time when the industry is experiencing changes.

"As an ESOP company, everyone at the van line values innovation in pursuit of service excellence," said Mark Kirschner, CEO of Wheaton | Bekins. "Gaw's experience in the household goods industry, combined with his strategic vision and operational expertise, makes him the ideal leader to drive our company's strategic growth. His ability to foster relationships and lead high-performing teams will be instrumental as we expand our market share and enhance our service offerings."

As president, Gaw will oversee all aspects of Wheaton | Bekins' operations, working closely with Kirschner, the board of directors, and the executive committee to establish long-range goals, plans and policies to move the company forward.

"I am honored to join Wheaton | Bekins and look forward to working with this talented team to build on their strong foundation," Gaw said. "Together, we will continue to deliver exceptional service to our clients, expand our market presence and foster a culture of collaboration and excellence."

Wheaton | Bekins is located at 8010 Castleton Rd, Indianapolis, IN 46250. Staff can be reached by phone at (800) 932-7799 or online at wheatonworldwide.com and bekins.com.

About Wheaton World Wide Moving

Wheaton | Bekins is one of the world's most highly regarded providers of transportation services. The van line owns five household goods relocation brands, including Wheaton World Wide Moving, Bekins Van Lines, Stevens Worldwide Van Lines, Arpin Van Lines and Clark & Reid. The van line is the fourth largest household goods carrier. Headquartered in Indianapolis, Ind., through its brands Wheaton offers private and corporate domestic and international household goods relocation services as well as special commodities and logistic services. The van line is partner to more than 350 agents nationwide. To learn more, visit www.wheatonworldwide.com/why-wheaton/partners.

###

Media Contact:

Jaymie Shook, Wheaton | Bekins

317.518.1059 | jaymie_shook@wvlcorp.com

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/212688

SOURCE: Wheaton World Wide Moving
Lille, France--(Newsfile Corp. - June 12, 2024) - The humanitarian organization "Humanity Work," based in Las Vegas, Nevada, announces that its founder, Dr. Tahani Saker, was honored by "Les Chemins de la Reussite," a French organization that celebrates the achievements of individuals who make a positive impact on their communities. The ceremony took place at the lounges of the Regional Prefecture.

Recognition Award - Dr. Tahani Saker, Founder of Humanity Work.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

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Dr. Saker expressed gratitude to the organizers, "Les Chemins de la Reussite," and highlighted the values of Liberty, Equality, and Fraternity, emphasizing their importance in ensuring freedom of thought, equal opportunities, and collective advancement.

Dr. Saker, a Qatari businesswoman, was recognized for her outstanding achievements and notable contributions through Humanity Work, which is dedicated to providing services to disadvantaged populations worldwide and empowering women to achieve their goals. The organization focuses on addressing pressing issues such as child Labor, education, healthcare, women empowerment, and protecting the rights of every individual.

In this inspiring event, prominent figures from various fields gathered to exchange experiences and ideas on how to enhance cooperation and innovation in facing the challenges of today.

In addition to her philanthropic work, Dr. Saker serves as the CEO of Palma Hospitality Group based in Qatar and is the owner of a luxury fashion brand named Tigre Milano, based in Milan.

"We are honored to recognize Dr. Tahani Saker's remarkable dedication to humanitarian efforts through Humanity Work," said General Abdelkader HAROUNE, President of "Les Chemins de la Reussite. "Her commitment to addressing global issues such as education, healthcare, and women's empowerment serves as an inspiration to individuals worldwide."

With a message of hope and determination, Humanity Work encourages future generations to persevere and shape their paths towards a better future.

This colloquium has proven that enlightened minds and strong wills are capable of achieving the impossible when their efforts are combined. In a world facing growing challenges, the "Territories and Talents" colloquium represents a new pulse of hope and optimism to face tomorrow with confidence and determination.

For more information, please contact:

William Tawk

Humanity Work

Email: pr@vipminds.com

Phone number: +1 702 334 0277

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/208249

SOURCE: 500Newswire, LLC
Scottsdale, Arizona--(Newsfile Corp. - June 12, 2024) - TriStar Gold Inc. (TSXV: TSG) (OTCQB: TSGZF) (the Company or TriStar) is pleased to announce that the Para State Environmental Council (COEMA) met on June 11, 2024 in Belem, and has approved the Licenca Previa (Preliminary License or LP) and the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for the Castelo de Sonhos gold project in Brazil. The formal issuance and gazettal of the LP should now only be subject to internal Secretariat for the Environment and Sustainability (SEMAS) processes. TriStar presented at the COEMA meeting to a positive and supportive response. Subsequently the council unanimously voted in favor of the LP.

Mr. Nick Appleyard, CEO, stated, "Achieving a milestone like this is the culmination of a huge amount of work by our small and dedicated team (photos of two team members presenting to COEMA below). The work they have done has been outstanding in every regard. We are also thankful to the many people and organizations that have supported us including the Federation of Industries of Para State (FIEPA), the Secretariat of Economic Development, Mining and Energy (SEDEME) and the Professional Association of Geologists of the Amazon (APGAM)."

The formal issuance of the LP is now in the hands of SEMAS, who will publish the formal approval in the State of Para gazette at www.ioepa.com.br. TriStar is not aware of any specific risks to the formal issuance of the LP, but neither are there any guarantees.

The development of the project, including future commitments detailed through our permitting activities are all aimed at unlocking shareholder value. However, project development goes hand in hand with our voluntary work in the local region, this is all focused on sustainable development that can have a lasting positive impact on the people that we share this beautiful part of Brazil with.





Figure 1 Rosangela Pontara presenting the benefits of CDS to COEMA Board members.

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Figure 2, Fernanda Bretas presenting the technical aspects of CDS.

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About TriStar

TriStar Gold is an exploration and development company focused on precious metals properties in the Americas that have the potential to become significant producing mines. The Company's current flagship property is the Castelo de Sonhos gold project in Para State, Brazil. TriStar has completed a pre-feasibility study and is now advancing permitting while evaluating optimization options. The Company's shares trade on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol TSG and on the OTCQB under the symbol TSGZF. Further information is available at www.tristargold.com.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE COMPANY:

Nick Appleyard

President and CEO

480-794-1244

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. No stock exchange, securities commission or other regulatory authority has approved or disapproved the information contained herein.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements contained in this press release may constitute forward-looking statements under Canadian securities legislation which are not historical facts and are made pursuant to the "safe harbour" provisions under the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Generally, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "expects" or "it is expected", or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "will" occur. Forward-looking statements in this press release include statements about the Company's anticipated official receipt of the LP permit. Such forward-looking statements are based upon the Company's reasonable expectations and business plan at the date hereof, which are subject to change depending on economic, political and competitive circumstances and contingencies. Readers are cautioned that such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause a change in such assumptions and the actual outcomes and estimates to be materially different from those estimated or anticipated future results, achievements or position expressed or implied by those forward-looking statements. Risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause the Company's plans to change include changes in demand for and price of gold and other commodities (such as fuel and electricity) and currencies; changes or disruptions in the securities markets; legislative, political or economic developments in Brazil; effects of the COVID-19 virus on all aspects of the Company's business, the need to obtain permits and comply with laws and regulations and other regulatory requirements; the possibility that actual results of work may differ from projections/expectations or may not realize the perceived potential of the Company's projects; risks of accidents, equipment breakdowns and labour disputes or other unanticipated difficulties or interruptions; the possibility of cost overruns or unanticipated expenses in development programs; operating or technical difficulties in connection with exploration, mining or development activities; the speculative nature of gold exploration and development, including the risks of diminishing quantities of grades of reserves and resources; and the risks involved in the exploration, development and mining business. 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. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities laws.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/212713

SOURCE: TriStar Gold Inc.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - June 12, 2024) - CubicFarm Systems Corp. (TSXV: CUB) ("CubicFarms" or the "Company"), a leading local chain agricultural technology company, is providing this default status report in accordance with National Policy 12-203 Cease Trade Orders for Continuous Disclosure Defaults ("NP 12-203"). On April 16, 2024, the Company announced that it was unable to file its annual audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023 and the related management's discussion and analysis and annual information form for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023 (the "Required Filings") by the deadline of April 29, 2024.

On April 30, 2024, the British Columbia Securities Commission, as principal regulator, granted a temporary management cease trade order (the "MCTO") to the Company. The Company intends to file the Required Filings as soon as practicable.

Pursuant to NP 12-203, the Company must file bi-weekly default status reports in the form of further news releases during the period of the MCTO. The Company reports that since its news release of May 29, 2024, there have been no changes regarding the information contained in that news release that would reasonably be expected to be material to an investor. The Company confirms there have been no failures by it in fulfilling its stated intentions with respect to satisfying the provisions of the alternative information guidelines under NP 12-203, and there has not been, nor is there anticipated to be, any specified default subsequent to the default announced in the Company's news release of April 16, 2024. Lastly, there is no material information concerning the affairs of the Company that has not been generally disclosed.

About HydroGreen

HydroGreen's Automated Vertical Pastures technology utilizes a unique process to sprout grains, such as barley and wheat, in a controlled environment with minimal use of land, labour and water. HydroGreen's fully automated indoor growing technology performs all growing functions including seeding, watering, lighting, harvesting, and re-seeding-all with the push of a button-to deliver nutritious fresh forage for livestock without the typical investment in fertilizer, chemicals, fuel, field equipment, and transportation. Automated Vertical Pastures not only provide superior nutritious feed to benefit the animal but also enable significant environmental benefits to the farm.

About CubicFarms

CubicFarms is a leading local chain agricultural technology company developing and deploying technology to feed a changing world. Its proprietary ag-tech solutions enable growers to produce high quality, predictable produce and fresh livestock feed with HydroGreen Nutrition Technology, a division of CubicFarm Systems Corp. The CubicFarms system contains patented technology for growing leafy greens and other crops onsite, indoors, all year round. CubicFarms provides an efficient, localized food supply solution that benefits our people, planet, and economy.

For more information, please visit https://cubicfarms.com.

Contact info@cubicfarms.com for media or investors@cubicfarms.com for investor inquiries.

Forward-looking and other cautionary statements

Certain statements in this release constitute "forward-looking statements" or "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws, including, without limitation, statements with respect to: statements regarding the timing, review, completion and filing of the Required Filings. Such statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors and assumptions which may cause the actual results, performance, or achievements of CubicFarm Systems Corp., or industry results, to be materially different from any future results, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements or information including, without limitation, the risk of the Company not obtaining the Management CTO or file the Required Filing on time and the other factors disclosed under "Risk Factors" in the Company's annual information form for the year ended December 31, 2022, and those risks described in other documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference in the prospectus. Such statements can be identified by the use of words such as "intend", "expect", "believe", "plan", "anticipate", "estimate", "scheduled", "forecast", "predict", and other similar terminology, or state that certain actions, events, or results "may", "can", "could", "would", "might", or "will" be taken, occur, or be achieved.

These statements reflect the Company's current expectations regarding future events, performance, and results and speak only as of the date of this news release. Consequently, there can be no assurances that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Except as required by securities disclosure laws and regulations applicable to the Company, the Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements if the Company's expectations regarding future events, performance, or results change.

NOT FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES OR THROUGH U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/212717

SOURCE: CubicFarm Systems Corp.
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NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

E2Gold Inc. (TSXV:ETU)(OTCQB:ETUGF) is pleased to announce its plans to raise up to $500,000 in an equity private placement, consisting of a combination of units ("HD Units"), priced at C$0.020, and Flow-Through Units ("FT Units"), priced at C$0.025, in any combination.

Funds will be used for its next-stage drilling plans on its district-scale Hawkins Project and for corporate purposes. The permitted program will specifically target the never-before-drilled McKinnon East Extension (Figure 1), with potential to double the footprint of the McKinnon Zone Inferred Resource.1

Figure 1. Map of the McKinnon East Extension area, showing high-grade gold prospects at Dubroy, Neswabin and east end of the McKinnon Zone.

The Company also announces the resignation of Ellie Owens from the Board of Directors and as President of the Company. Ellie has taken a new position within the industry and wants to avoid any potential conflicts of interest.

The Board thanks her for her contributions during E2Gold's formation and development. Dr. David Good, Chairman of the Board, said, "Ellie was instrumental in our early years here, and no doubt she will be successful in her new endeavours. We wish her well."

For the financing, each HD Unit will consist one common share of the Company plus one common share purchase warrant to acquire one additional common share at a price of C$0.05 for a period of 24 months from the date of issuance. Each FT Unit will be comprised of one "flow-through" common share of the Company (a "FT Share") and one common share purchase warrant (a "Warrant"), with each whole Warrant exercisable to acquire one additional common share at a price of $0.06 for a period of 24 months from the date of issuance thereof. Up to 50% of the offering may be purchased by insiders. The offering remains subject to the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange.

ABOUT E2GOLD INC.

E2Gold Inc. is a Canadian gold exploration company with a large flagship property, the 80 km long Hawkins Gold Project in north-central Ontario, about 140 km east of the Hemlo Gold Mine, and 75 km north of the Magino and Island Gold Mines. The property is anchored by the McKinnon Zone Inferred Resource of 6.2 Mt grading 1.65 Au g/t, for 328,800 ounces of gold.1 E2Gold is committed to increasing shareholder value through discoveries at Hawkins.

Note 1: NI 43-101 Technical Report and Updated Mineral Resource Estimate on Hawkins Gold Project, Ontario, by P&E Mining Consultants, effective date September 10, 2020.

For further information please contact:

Jeff Pritchard

Investor Relations

info@e2gold.ca

+1 647 699 3340

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Forward Looking Statements - Certain information set forth in this news release may contain forward-looking statements that involve substantial known and unknown risks and uncertainties, certain of which are beyond the control of E2Gold, including with respect to the receipt of all regulatory approvals. Readers are cautioned that the assumptions used in the preparation of such information, although considered reasonable at the time of preparation, may prove to be imprecise and, as such, undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements.

SOURCE: E2Gold Inc.

View the original press release on accesswire.com
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - June 12, 2024) - Cascada Silver Corp. (CSE: CSS) ("Cascada") is pleased to provide an update on the exploration plans for its Mina Guanaca Copper Property ("Guanaca Project") and the Angie Copper-Molybdenum Property ("Angie Project"), both located in Region III, Chile (figure 1).

"Over the 18 months, while patiently awaiting an improvement in the junior mining markets, we have been actively reviewing potential exploration properties acquiring two highly prospective Chilean base metal properties," said Carl Hansen, President and CEO of Cascada. "On the back of improving metal prices, we recently completed a $1.5 million financing and are now making preparations to begin drilling during the third quarter 2024 on both our Guanaca and Angie Projects."

NOTE: The following summaries of the Guanaca and Angie Projects reference historical results including historical assays. Cascada has not undertaken any independent investigation of any of the historical results from either project nor has it independently analyzed the historical results in order to verify those results. The reader is cautioned upon relying on the accuracy of the historical results presented; however, Cascada considers the historical results relevant as it will use the results as a guide to plan future exploration programs and considers the data to be reliable for these purposes.

Guanaca Project

Cascada has finalized its agreement to acquire a 100% interest in the 250-hectare Guanaca Project located 110 kilometres northeast of the City of Copiapo. Historical exploration activities included property wide geophysics and 1,550 metres of drilling (figure 2) which targeted the near-surface copper oxide mineralization associated with tonalitic breccias and which is currently being open pit mined on a small scale by a local mining contractor. Anomalies outlined during the geophysical surveys remain untested.

Highlights from the drill programs include:

82 metres grading 0.91% total Cu, 0.67% soluble Cu (hole SE1, Empresa Nacional Minera);

41 metres grading 2.3% total Cu (hole ST2, C.M. Andres); and

56 metres grading 0.82% total Cu, 0.64% soluble Cu (hole GR5, SLMG).

Further details are available in Cascada's June 8, 2023 press release.

A 2019 ground magnetic survey over the Guanaca Project shows the existence of a distinct magnetic low, coinciding with the highly altered and mineralized breccias, related to the hydrothermal destruction of magnetite. Additional magnetic lows, noted as Target 1 and Target 2 (figure 3), represent high priority drill targets hidden beneath overburden.

An induced polarization survey, completed in 2019, outlined a chargeability low in the area of the open pit coinciding with the oxidization of sulphides near surface (figure 4). The chargeability low extends to the southeast along Profile 3 beneath overburden. At depths of 200 to 300 metres below open pit, a significant chargeability high was outlined potentially related to sulphide mineralization associated with a porphyry system.

Cascada will be commencing initial surface mapping and sampling in preparation for up to 1,500 meters of reverse circulation drilling to test the extension of the breccia-related copper mineralization immediately below the open pit and determine the potential of underlying chargeability anomaly at depth.

Guanaca Project Agreement Terms

Under the terms of Guanaca Project agreement, initial payments of US$65,000 were made with a second payment of US$75,000 due upon the 6-month anniversary of signing. A further series of payments are payable as follows: US$125,000 on the 12-month anniversary of signing; US$200,000 at 18 months; US$750,000 at 24 months; US$1,300,000 at 36 months; and US$2,500,000 upon the 48-month anniversary for total payments of US$5,015,000 over 4 years. Work commitments of 1,250 metres of drilling per annum over the option period are required. In addition, upon completion of the above noted obligations, the Vendor will receive a 2.5% net smelter royalty of which half (1.25%) can be repurchased for US$2,250,000 one year from the start of commercial production. The current lessee of the open pit will be allowed to continue mining operations at a rate of 2,000 tonne per month for a minimum of 12 months.

Angie Project

Cascada has an option to acquire a 100% interest in the 1,500-hectare Angie Project located approximately 75 kilometres east of the City of Copiapo (figure 1). Historical geochemical rock chip sampling on the Angie Project outlined a +50 parts per million ("ppm") molybdenum anomaly encompassing an area of approximately 1,000 by 1,500 metres (figure 5) with molybdenum assays of up to 1,150 ppm. The undrilled molybdenum anomaly is associated with anomalous tin and tungsten. Molybdenum anomalies commonly occur as halos around Chilean copper porphyry systems.

Two lines of induced polarization geophysics (figure 6) completed over the area covered by the molybdenum geochemical anomaly outlined a strong chargeability anomaly and resistivity anomaly which may be associated with porphyry-related copper-molybdenum mineralization.

Preliminary exploration plans consist of confirmation geological and structural mapping followed by up to 600 metres of reverse circulation drilling to test the zone of high chargeability lying beneath the molybdenum anomaly.

NI 43-101 Technical Disclosure

The Qualified Person, as defined by National Instrument 43-101 of the Canadian Securities Administrators, for Cascada's exploration activities in Chile is Sergio Diaz, a resident of Santiago, Chile. Mr. Diaz is a Public Registered Person for Reserves and Resources N 51, in Chile and is also registered in the Colegio de Geologos de Chile under N 315.

About Cascada Silver Corp.

Cascada is a mineral exploration company focused on exploration opportunities in Chile. Cascada's team of successful exploration professionals are dedicated to the discovery of mineral deposits that can be progressed into economically viable development projects creating value for all stakeholders.

On behalf of Cascada Silver Corp.,

Carl Hansen, CEO

Phone: 416-907-9969

For additional information, please contact us at:

info@cascadasilver.com

CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This news release contains forward-looking statements, including predictions, projections and forecasts. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to: plans for the evaluation of exploration properties; the success of evaluation plans; the success of exploration activities; mine development prospects; and, potential for future metals production. Often, but not always, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "planning", "expects" or "does not expect", "continues", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "potential", "anticipates", "does not anticipate", or describes a "goal", or variation 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 involve known and unknown risks, future events, conditions, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, prediction, projection, forecast, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Such factors include, among others: changes in economic parameters and assumptions; all aspects related to the timing of exploration activities and receipt of exploration results; the interpretation and actual results of current exploration activities; changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined; the results of regulatory and permitting processes; future metals price; possible variations in grade or recovery rates; failure of equipment or processes to operate as anticipated; labour disputes and other risks of the mining industry; the results of economic and technical studies; delays in obtaining governmental approvals or financing or in the completion of exploration; as well as those factors disclosed in Cascada's publicly filed documents.

Although Cascada has 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.

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its regulation services provider has reviewed or accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of the content of this news release.





Figure 1 - Location of the Mina Guanaca Copper Property Region III, Chile

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/7721/212722_655d0a56c4947893_001full.jpg





Figure 2 - Geology and Assay Plan of Historical Drilling Results Mina Guanaca Copper Property Region III, Chile

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/7721/212722_655d0a56c4947893_002full.jpg





Figure 3 - Ground Magnetics Survey (2019) Mina Guanaca Copper Property

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/7721/212722_655d0a56c4947893_003full.jpg





Figure 4 - Induced Polarization Survey (2019) Mina Guanaca Copper Property

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/7721/212722_655d0a56c4947893_004full.jpg





Figure 5 - Angie Cu/Mo Porphyry Property Rock Chip Mo Assays

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/7721/212722_655d0a56c4947893_005full.jpg





Figure 6 - Angie Project Schematic Geological Cross Section - Line 6960050 N

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/7721/212722_655d0a56c4947893_006full.jpg

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/212722

SOURCE: Cascada Silver Corp.
Calgary, Alberta--(Newsfile Corp. - June 12, 2024) - Veteran Capital Corp. (TSXV: VCC.P) ("Veteran"), a Capital Pool Company listed on the TSX Venture Exchange (the "Exchange"), is pleased to announce that it has entered into a letter of intent with Powerhive, Inc. ("Powerhive") negotiated on an arm's length basis according to the policies of the Exchange. The proposed Qualifying Transaction involves the acquisition of all the issued and outstanding shares of Powerhive.

Transaction Details

The proposed Qualifying Transaction will be completed by way of a share exchange agreement as proposed in the letter of intent dated June 10, 2024 (the "Agreement") among Veteran and Powerhive. According to the Agreement, the issued and outstanding shares of Veteran will consolidate on a 4:1 basis, and thereafter Veteran will acquire all the issued and outstanding shares of Powerhive in exchange for the issuance of 58,333,334 common shares of Veteran at a deemed price of $0.60 per share (the "Transaction). No other securities will be converted into Powerhive shares at the time of completion of the transaction.

The Transaction is subject to the approval of the Exchange, and is intended to constitute Veteran's "Qualifying Transaction" for the purposes of Exchange policies. Upon completion of the Transaction, it is expected that Veteran will change its name to Powerhive Inc., and the resulting issuer will carry on the business of Powerhive (as further described below).

About Powerhive

Powerhive, Inc., founded in 2011 in Delaware, USA, and headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya, is a leader in renewable energy solutions and electric mobility in East Africa. The Company provides innovative technology and infrastructure to support the widespread adoption of electric vehicles through its proprietary battery swapping stations and intelligent battery technology. Powerhive dedicates itself to empowering economic growth and sustainable development through renewable energy.

Powerhive is not just transforming the urban mobility landscape in Africa but also making a significant environmental impact. They are leading the charge in Africa with a pioneering battery-swapping technology for electric motorcycles under the Spark brand, tapping into a potential $50 billion market opportunity. The Company's scalable solutions offer significant cost savings and social impact to users, ensuring substantial carbon reduction.

Annually, East Africa spends $12.8 billion on fuel, emitting 12 gigatons of CO2. Powerhive's affordable Spark electric motorcycles and intelligent battery swapping network provide energy access anytime, anywhere, on a self-serve basis, significantly reducing carbon emissions. With over 1,000 pre-approved riders waiting for Spark motorbikes in Nairobi and expanding partnerships with industry giants like Shell & Mastercard Foundation, Powerhive underscores its leadership in Africa's energy transition. Strong government incentives for EVs further bolster Powerhive's growth and market penetration strategy.

Management and Board of Directors

Upon completion of the Qualifying Transaction, Veteran's management and board of directors will be reconstituted to include key members from Powerhive's leadership and board of directors. The new management team will be led by Mr. Christopher Hornor, Chief Executive Officer, who brings extensive experience in the energy and technology sectors, and Austin Harris, Chief Financial Officer, who has over 25 years of experience as an executive in the renewables sector, microfinance and corporate finance and an MBA from Oxford University.

Financing

Concurrent with the closing of the Qualifying Transaction, Veteran will complete a private placement of up to 83,333,333 [post-consolidation] common shares for $0.60 per share for gross proceeds of up to $50,000,000.

Additionally, it is expected that Powerhive will complete a private placement bridge financing ("Bridge Financing") of up to $7,000,000 before the Qualifying Transaction. Any securities issued by Powerhive as part of the Bridge Financing are in addition to the current outstanding as of the date of the LOI. Any shares issued for this Bridge Financing will also be acquired by Veteran as part of the Transaction, on the same terms. Proceeds of the Bridge Financing are intended to complete the orders for Powerhive's current backorders of batteries, motorcycles, and battery swap stations.

Sponsorship of Qualifying Transaction

The Exchange requires sponsorship of a capital pool company's Qualifying Transaction unless exempt in accordance with Exchange policies. Veteran and Powerhive are currently reviewing the Exchange requirements for sponsorship and will comply with the Exchange's policies after discussing sponsorship.

Intent to Concurrently List on the Nairobi Stock Exchange

The resulting issuer also intends to concurrently list on the Nairobi Stock Exchange to enhance its presence in the African market and leverage local investment opportunities.

Additional Information

In accordance with the Exchange's policies, Veteran's common shares are currently halted from trading and will remain halted until further notice. Veteran and Powerhive will provide further details in respect of the Proposed Transaction in press releases once they become available.

The management of Powerhive has provided all information in this press release related to Powerhive and the Business and has not been independently verified by the management of Veteran.

Completion of the Qualifying Transaction is subject to a number of conditions including, but not limited to, Exchange acceptance and, if applicable, according to Exchange Requirements, the majority of the minority shareholder approval. Where applicable, the Qualifying Transaction cannot close until the required shareholder approval is obtained. There can be no assurance that the Qualifying Transaction will be completed as proposed.

At the time of entering into the definitive agreement, Veteran will issue a comprehensive news release in accordance with the disclosure requirements under Policy 2.4.

Investors are cautioned that, except as disclosed in the management information circular or filing statement to be prepared concerning the Qualifying Transaction, any information released or received concerning the Qualifying Transaction may not be accurate or complete and should not be relied upon. Trading in the securities of a capital pool company should be considered highly speculative.

Conditions and Regulatory Approval

The completion of the Qualifying Transaction is subject to final approval by the Exchange. All other conditions to the closing must be satisfied or waived. Trading in the common shares of Veteran will resume upon receipt of final Exchange approval and the issuance of the Final Exchange Bulletin.

Cautionary Statements

Completion of the transaction is subject to several conditions, including but not limited to Exchange acceptance. There can be no assurance that the transaction will be completed as proposed or at all. Investors are cautioned that, except as disclosed in the management information circular or filing statement to be prepared in connection with the transaction, any information released or received concerning the transaction may not be accurate or complete and should not be relied upon. Trading in the securities of a Capital Pool Company should be considered highly speculative.

The TSX Venture Exchange Inc. has in no way passed upon the merits of the proposed transaction and has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this press release.

For further information, please contact:

Veteran Capital Corp.

1500, 850-2nd Street SW

Calgary, AB T2P 0R8

Tyler Rice, CEO

+1 (403) 978-3602

Email: tyler@ricellp.com

Powerhive, Inc.

816 Bancroft Way,

Berkeley, CA 94710

Christopher Hornor, Chief Executive Officer

+254 (0)740 021 720

Email: chris@powerhive.com

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION: This news release includes certain "forward-looking statements" under applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to the proposal to complete the Transaction and associated transactions, including statements regarding the terms and conditions of the Transaction, the Agreement, and the concurrent financings. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable, are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors which may cause the actual results and future events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, but are not limited to: general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties; the risks that the parties will not proceed with the Transaction, the concurrent financings and associated transactions; the risk that the ultimate terms of the Transaction, the concurrent financings and associated transactions will differ from those that currently are contemplated; the risk that the Transaction, the concurrent financings and associated transactions will not be successfully completed for any reason (including the failure to obtain the required regulatory approvals); and the results of continued development, marketing and sales. 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.

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.

NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO UNITED STATES WIRE SERVICES OR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES. THIS NEWS RELEASE DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER TO SELL OR A SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO BUY ANY OF THE SECURITIES IN THE UNITED STATES. THE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN AND WILL NOT BE REGISTERED UNDER THE UNITED STATES SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE "U.S. SECURITIES ACT") OR ANY STATE SECURITIES LAWS AND MAY NOT BE OFFERED OR SOLD WITHIN THE UNITED STATES OR TO U.S. PERSONS UNLESS REGISTERED UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT AND APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS OR AN EXEMPTION FROM SUCH REGISTRATION IS AVAILABLE. THIS NEWS RELEASE DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER OR SALE OF SECURITIES IN THE UNITED STATES.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/212724

SOURCE: Veteran Capital Corp.
Battat Launches at Walmart

MONTREAL, QC / ACCESSWIRE / June 12, 2024 / Battat, legacy brand of Maison Battat, Inc., proudly announces the launch of a unique line of preschool and pretend play toys as well as a debut wallet-friendly modular foam playroom collection, all available only at Walmart, this summer.





New Battat toys at Walmart

Children playing with the new line of toys





For over forty years, Battat has been dedicated to designing iconic, classic, and high-quality preschool toys at the most affordable prices, with the mission that every child deserves to experience the power of play. Walmart, also known for everyday savings and their proximity to millions of Americans, will be the retailer of choice for the Battat brand, together bringing the best toys at the lowest prices to families across America.

"As a family-owned and operated business, we take pride in our heritage of creating the highest quality toys that are both playful and educational," said Dany Battat, owner of Maison Battat, Inc. "We are excited to expand that legacy with Walmart, a partner with whom we share the same core values of being trusted providers of the highest-quality products and the best value for American families."

"We're excited to welcome Battat and their exciting assortment of toys to Walmart," said Brittany Smith, Vice President of toys at Walmart U.S. "Battat and Walmart are like-minded in our commitment to providing quality items at a great value for our customers. I'm excited to see their excitement over these new preschool and pretend play toys, and the foam modular play collection!"

Battat's new line of preschool and pretend play toys will feature vibrant new and modern takes on classic play patterns, continuing their commitment to quality and creativity. The star of the collection is the Two n' One Kitchen Cafe, an adorable, toddler-sized wooden kitchen playset, complete with accessories and a cafe chalkboard, arriving at a market-disrupting price tag of $49.88. The assortment also features whimsical animals like the Pop-A-Doodle-Doo interactive chicken ball popper with lights, sounds and music, the Croco Pop Piano (a crocodile-shaped piano toy) featuring different music modes and silly sounds, and the Hippodontist dentist play set, complete with everything kids need to perform a full dental check-up on their pretend hippo patient. The preschool line offers an extensive variety of toys for every child - a color-changing lightbox, vehicles, pretend play sets, musical instruments, and more -- all designed to develop fine and gross motor skills, foster communication, and encourage playful problem-solving. Every piece in the Walmart collection is priced at under $50, starting with toy vehicles for under $5.

The new-to-market Play Space collection is a dynamic and unique assortment of modular building and climbing foam pieces, designed for indoor active play. Headlining the collection is Cloud Castle, a lightweight, versatile, playfully designed foam fort-building set, featuring five soft foam pieces that kids can use to build forts, castles, or any type of cozy lounging nook they can dream up. Play Space also includes the Hop In Ball Pit with 65 colorful and crush-proof balls, Cozy Cruiser rocker/loungers, foam rollers and climbers, a giant cuddle animal, and a balance board that transforms into a lounge chair, tunnel or slide. The Play Space pieces, designed to be durable and machine washable, range in price from $29.94 to $59 for most items and $129 for the five-piece Cloud Castle set.

A full range of Battat's beloved classic toys are now available on walmart.com. The whimsical new line of preschool, pretend play toys and the Play Space collection are currently available for preorder on walmart.com, and will officially launch online July 27th and in-store on August 17th, only at Walmart.

Contact Information

Jordana Dobski

Marketing Manager

press@battatco.com

514-341-6000 x 349

SOURCE: Battat

View the original press release on newswire.com.
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - June 12, 2024) - New World Solutions Inc. (CSE: NEWS) (OTC Pink: REGRF) (FSE: RT5) ("NEWS" or "New World" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the successful acquisition of Panyo AI Technologies Inc. ("Panyo") previously announced on June 4, 2024 that marks a significant expansion of New World Solutions' portfolio by enhancing its presence in the electric vehicle (EV) sharing market.

In this strategic move, New World has acquired 100% of the issued and outstanding shares of Panyo, a leading company in the electric vehicle (EV) rental market known for its innovative and eco-friendly transportation solutions.

Paul Haber, CEO of the Company, commented, "The acquisition of Panyo marks a significant milestone for New World as we continue to expand our portfolio and strengthen our position in the electric vehicle market. We are excited to integrate Panyo's operations and look forward to the growth opportunities this acquisition brings."

The acquisition was completed as a share exchange whereby as consideration for all of the issued and outstanding common shares of Panyo, the Company issued 20,000,000 units (the "Units") consisting of one common share and one common share purchase warrant of the Company to the shareholders of Panyo with each shareholder receiving a pro rata number of Units. See the news release dated June 4, 2024 for additional details regarding the transaction.

About Panyo AI Technologies

Panyo AI Technologies is dedicated to advancing eco-friendly transportation by making electric vehicles (EV) widely available through its services. The company is committed to enhancing urban mobility with a selection of stylish and comfortable electric vehicles, designed to meet the diverse needs of customers. Panyo AI Technologies' mission is to democratize access to electric vehicles, providing sustainable and accessible transportation solutions for everyone.

To learn more about Panyo, please visit: https://www.panyotech.com/.

About New World

New World Solutions is a technology company focused on providing solutions to new world problems. Through our blockchain and technology experience we are leveraging solutions in the decentralized finance space as well as the electric vehicle area. We look to acquire and launch a balanced spectrum of solutions to become a leader in this dynamic tech landscape.

For additional information on New World and other corporate information, please visit the company website at https://www.newworldinc.io/.

For further information, please contact:

Paul Haber, C.P.A., C.A., C.Dir

Chief Executive Officer, and Chairman

New World Solutions Inc.

Phone: (416) 318- 6501

Email: phaber@newwolrdinc.io

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable securities laws. All statements contained herein that are not clearly historical in nature may constitute forward-looking statements.

Generally, such forward-looking information or forward-looking statements 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 may contain statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "will continue", "will occur" or "will be achieved". Forward-looking information in this news release are based on certain assumptions and expected future events. 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 potential inability of the Company to continue as a going concern; the risks associated with the blockchain in general, the risk that the Transaction will not be completed as contemplated or at all. Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list is not exhaustive. 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 news 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.

The Canadian Stock Exchange (the "CSE") does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Neither the CSE nor its Market Regulator (as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE) 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/212707

SOURCE: New World Solutions Inc.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - June 12, 2024) - Sanatana Resources Inc. (TSXV: STA) ("Sanatana" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that, further to its news releases of May 7, 2024, and June 6, 2024, it has closed the second tranche of its non-brokered private placement (the "Private Placement") of flow-through units of the Company (each, an "FT Unit") at a price of $0.09 per FT Unit and non-flow-through units of the Company (each, an "NFT Unit") at a price of $0.07 per Unit. Each FT Unit consists of one common share in the capital of the Company (a "Share") designated as a flow-through share pursuant to the Income Tax Act (Canada) and one non-flow-through Share purchase warrant (a "Warrant"). Each NFT Unit consists of one non-flow-through Share and one Warrant. Each Warrant comprising a FT Unit or NFT Unit entitles the holder thereof to purchase one additional non-flow-through Share at a price of $0.12 per Share for a period of 36 months from the date of issuance.

The second tranche closing of the Private Placement consisted of 2,450,000 FT Units for aggregate gross proceeds of $220,500. All securities issued in connection with the second tranche of the Private Placement are subject to a statutory hold period in accordance with applicable securities legislation (expiring on October 13, 2024). The Company will use the proceeds from the sale of the FT Units and NFT Units for exploration in British Columbia in connection with the Company's option on the Oweegee Dome Project in the Golden Triangle. A portion of the proceeds from the NFT Units are expected to be used for general and administrative expenses.

In connection with the second tranche closing of the Private Placement, the Company issued an aggregate of 184,000 compensation warrants (each, a "Compensation Warrant"), pursuant to a finder's fee agreements entered between the Company and each finder. Each Compensation Warrant entitles the holder thereof to purchase one non-flow-through Share at a price of $0.12 per Share until June 12, 2027.

The securities being offered have not been, nor will they be, registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and may not be offered or sold in the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, U.S. persons absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements. This news release will not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy nor will there be any sale of the securities in any State in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful.

All references to currency in this news release are to Canadian currency. The Company expects to close a third tranche of the Private Placement on or before June 30, 2024. Subject to TSX Venture Exchange approval, the Company may exercise an over-allotment option to issue up to an additional $500,000 of any combination of FT Units and/or NFT Units. The third tranche of the Private Placement may have a subscriber (or subscribers) participating on a charity flow-through basis.

About the Company

Sanatana Resources Inc. is a mineral exploration and development company focused on high-impact properties in Canada. With an award-winning technical team and experienced management and board of directors, Sanatana is based in Vancouver and is listed on the TSX Venture Exchange (TSXV: STA).

SANATANA RESOURCES INC.

(signed) "Peter Miles"

Peter Miles

President and Chief Executive Officer

For additional information on the Company, please contact Mr. Peter Miles, President and Chief Executive Officer at (604) 408-6680 or email investor@sanatanaresources.com.

To be added to the email distribution list, please email ir@sanatanaresources.com with "Sanatana" in the subject line.

Cautionary Statement Regarding "Forward-Looking" Information

Mineralization hosted on adjacent, nearby or geologically similar properties is not necessarily indicative of mineralization hosted on the Company's properties.

This news release includes "forward-looking statements" and "forward-looking information" within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation. All statements included in this news release, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements including, without limitation, statements related to the third tranche of the Private Placement, the use of funds, and stock exchange approval for the overallotment.

Forward-looking statements and information can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects", "intends", "is expected", "potential", "suggests" or variations of such words or phrases, or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "should", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. Forward-looking statements and information are not historical facts and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties beyond Sanatana's control including, but not limited to, regulatory approval for the Warrant Extension. Actual results and developments are likely to differ, and may differ materially, from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements contained in this news release. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to update publicly or otherwise revise any forward-looking statements, except as may be required by law.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulations 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 IS NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/212757

SOURCE: Sanatana Resources Inc.
Kardium Inc., the Vancouver, BC, Canada-based developer of the Globe Mapping and Ablation System for the treatment of atrial fibrillation, raised US $104m in new financing.

The round was 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.

The company intends to use the funds 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.

Founded in 2007 and led by Kevin Chaplin, CEO, Kardium has developed the Globe Mapping and Ablation System, which 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.

FinSMEs

12/06/2024
Parquest, a Paris, France-based independent mid-market private equity firm, closed its Parquest III, with total limited partner commitments of 414M.

The fund received commitments from existing limited partners, as well as fifteen new investors from across France and internationally.

The size of the fund will allow Parquest to expand its presence in France and explore partnering with international businesses operating specifically within the B-to-B services and healthcare sectors. The Fund is already 25% deployed, with the firm having completed three new investments and poised to complete a fourth.

The team now consists of 15 professionals and has been bolstered over the past 18 months with the arrival of three new Associates in Vincent Richard, Gabriel Mimran and Lea Plissonneau, and two operating partners in Blandine Surry and Paul Boursier, who respectively serve as ESG Senior Advisor and Finance & Buy-and-Build Manager.

The firm has also appointed Juliette Piante and Adrien David as Investment Directors to work alongside Marion Mazzariol, while Camille Coutelet and Guillaume Brian were promoted to Partner. Parquest III will be overseen by a new governance structure, with Pierre Decre taking over as Chairman and Denis Le Chevallier will continue to support the new fund.

FinSMEs

12/06/2024
Upbots, a Kingstown, St. Vincent and the Grenadines-based provider of a crypto trading platform, received $4M in commitments from Sandstorm.

The company intends to use the funds to support the integration of Upbots trading technologies with Sandstorms advanced market making capabilities.

This partnership with Sandstorm is set to boost the Upbots ecosystem, fostering rapid growth and ensuring that Upbots can continue to deliver trading solutions in varying market conditions for years to come.

Upbots provides a trading ecosystem for cryptocurrency users. It offers a range of trading solutions, including automated bots, social trading, and advanced analytics, to help traders maximize their returns and manage their portfolios effectively.

FinSMEs

11/06/2024
Jammu and Kashmir is seeing an escalation of violence, spreading fear in the region. It all began on 9 June when a bus plunged into a gorge after being attacked by terrorists, followed by an attack on a village in Kathua and then an exchange of fire between terrorists and security forces in Doda district read more

The Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir is seeing an escalation of violence. In the last 80 hours, three separate attacks have taken place, raising concerns about the law and order situation in the region.

In the latest incident , terrorists launched an attack at the Armys Temporary Operating Base in Jammus Doda region, injuring five Army soldiers and one special police official. Security forces, said later, that they had managed to neutralise one terrorist.

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We take a closer look at whats unfolding the Union territory and if it could have an impact on the polls, likely to take place later this year.

Attack in Jammus Doda

On Tuesday night, a gunfight erupted when terrorists attacked a joint checkpoint of police and security forces in Jammu and Kashmirs Doda district, injuring five Army soldiers and one police officer.

The attack unfolded at a joint checkpoint of the police and Rashtriya Rifles at an army base in Chattargala area, bordering the Sarthal area of the Kathua district. According to an Indian Express report, the terrorists also hurled a grenade at the checkpoint, causing injuries to the security personnel.

Following the attack, security forces and police reinforcements were sent to Chattergala, to hunt for the terrorists. The police halted all vehicle movement towards Chattergala from Bhaderwah.

Security personnel during search and cordon operation after a terrorist attack, at Bhadarwah, in Doda district. PTI

Later, Kashmir Tigers, a Jaish-e-Mohammed-linked terror group, claimed responsibility for the attack. A little-known group, the name of the Kashmir Tigers group first surfaced in January 2021 when the police called it a shadow group of the Jaish-e-Mohammed. And in December 2021, the group was believed to be responsible for the attack on a police bus in Srinagar, killing three policemen and injuring 14 others.

Terrorist attack in Saida Sukhal

At a time when Doda, a peaceful Jammu province, was shook by the terror attack, another one was also unfolding in the far away Saida village in the plains of the Kathua district. A Central Reserve Police Force has been killed in the ensuing encounter there.

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Jammu & Kashmir Police personnel stand near the site of the ongoing encounter between security forces personnel and terrorists at Saida Sukhal village in Hiranagar sector of Kathua. One terrorist and a CRPF jawan have been killed and one civilian has been injured in the firing so far. PTI

According to a police official, two terrorists opened fire in the area when villagers raised an alarm about them. Anand Jain, additional director general of police, Jammu zone, who is supervising the anti-terrorist ops in Kathua, told the media that the terrorists had gone door-to-door asking for water, but the villagers shut the doors in their faces, leading to the attack.

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On being alerted about their presence, the Station House Officer of Hiranagar and the Sub-Divisional Police Officer engaged the terrorists, resulting in the death of one terrorist who tried to lob a grenade at the police party. The hunt for the second terrorist still continues.

In addition to the CRPF official, later identified as Kabir Dass, being killed, Omkar Nath, a civilian was injured, with officials saying that he had been evacuated to hospital.

Reasi bus attack

Prior to these attacks, on Sunday (9 June), at a time when Narendra Modi and his new Cabinet was being sworn in at Rashtrapati Bhavan, a 53-seat bus carrying pilgrims in the Jammu and Kashmirs Reasi district fell into a gorge after terrorists opened fire on it.

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The bus carrying pilgrims mainly from Uttar Pradesh and Delhi plunged into a deep gorge, killing nine people, including three women, and injuring another 33. A survivor of the attack recounted the ordeal, saying: After visiting Mata Vaishno Devi, I went to Shiv Khori. On our way back, about 4-5 kilometres from Shiv Khori, our bus was fired upon. Even after our bus fell into the gorge, the firing continued. The driver was shot, and many passengers were injured in the attack.

Rescue work after a bus carrying pilgrims plunged into a gorge following an ambush by terrorists, in Reasi district of Jammu and Kashmir. File image/PTI

Echoing similar sentiments, another survivor affirmed the relentless assault, narrating how the attackers showed no mercy even after the vehicle was incapacitated. I went for darshan of Shiv Khori. While returning, some people opened fire on our bus. Later, the bus fell into a ditch. Several people were injured in the incident. The firing did not stop even after the bus fell. I think there were two-three terrorists there. My son saw a man firing on our bus from behind, he added.

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PM Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah quickly took stock of the issue, with the former calling J-K LG Manoj Sinha and offering all kinds of assistance.

Authorities investigating the attack have now released a sketch of one of the three terrorists involved in the attack. The police have also announced a Rs 20 lakh reward for information about him.

Reasi police announce a reward of Rs 20 lakh for any fruitful information about the whereabouts of the terrorist involved in the recent attack on the yatri bus in the area of Pouni, a police spokesman told news agency PTI.

Following the bus tragedy, the Congress said it exposed the reality of the BJPs claim of peace and normalcy returning to Jammu and Kashmir (J&K). Congress Pawan Khera said: Just by claiming that we have brought back peace and patting your backs dont ensure peace and security. Just by making speeches, you dont bring peace. The country demands answers.

Conspiracy to disturb normalcy

The series of attacks in the Union Territory comes after DGP RR Swain said the number of local ultras had was dropping but 70-80 foreign terrorists remained active.

According to Major General AK Siwach (retired), the attacks were clearly an attempt by the terrorists to disturb normalcy in the region. Speaking to Zee News, he said: This is Pakistans conspiracy to incite more and more terrorist attacks in Jammu and Kashmir before the assembly elections and show the world that the area is not peaceful.

With inputs from agencies
Telugu Desam Party (TDP) leader and Andhra Pradesh CM-designate N Chandrababu Naidu is set to be sworn in at 11:27 am on June 12. The ceremony will take place near Kesarapalli IT Park in Gannavaram, Krishna district. Originally, the oath-taking event was planned to be held in Amaravati read more

Andhra Pradesh chief minister-designate N Chandrababu Naidu is set to be sworn in at exactly 11:27 am on Wednesday (12 June). Initially scheduled to take place in Amaravati, the new state capital, the swearing-in ceremony will now be held near the Kesarapalli IT Park at Gannavaram in Krishna District.

This shift has raised questions about the logistics and readiness of Amaravati as a venue.

The Kesarapalli IT Park, inaugurated by former Andhra chief minister Y S Rajasekhar Reddy in 2006, aims to turn Vijayawada into an IT hub. The park is strategically located close to the Vijayawada International Airport (less than one-and-a-half kilometres) and is under 20 kilometres from Vijayawada city.

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This proximity is crucial given the expected attendance of multiple leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, central government representatives, and members of various political parties. The IT Park ground, spanning 18-20 acres, can accommodate up to 50,000 people, making it an ideal location for the ceremony.

On the other hand, Amaravati, nearly 35 kilometres from the Vijayawada airport, poses logistical challenges. Hosting the swearing-in there would require constructing at least six helipads to facilitate movement from the airport. Additionally, Amaravati has seen minimal development over the past five years, further complicating its suitability as a venue.

Why has development been stalled in Amaravati?

Naidu laid the foundation stone of Amaravati in 2015, envisioning it as a major project spread over 217 square kilometres. This ambitious initiative came after Andhra Pradesh lost Hyderabad to Telangana in the 2014 bifurcation.

Chandrababu Naidu, chief of Telugu Desam Party (TDP) of state of Andhra Pradesh attends Prime Minister Narendra Modis swearing-in ceremony in New Delhi. Reuters

However, development stalled following Y S Jagan Mohan Reddys victory in the 2019 state assembly elections. Jagan proposed a three-capital formula, designating Visakhapatnam as the executive capital, Amaravati as the legislative capital, and Kurnool as the judicial capital.

This freeze on Amaravatis development was a blow to farmers who had handed over their land in exchange for promises of prime real estate, as well as to developers associated with Naidu. Property prices in Amaravati plummeted to as low as Rs 3,500 per square yard, reported Indian Express.

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Also Read: Why the TDP and JD(U) are negotiating hard for the Speakers position in the NDA government

In March 2022, the AP High Court directed the Jagan-led government to develop Amaravati as the state capital. However, the Jagan administration challenged this order in the Supreme Court, where the matter is still pending.

What was Naidus vision for Amaravati?

Amaravatis planning and initial development were rapid. In 2016, a capital city master plan estimated the project cost at Rs 50,000 crore, envisioning a greenfield city in Guntur district on the south bank of the Krishna river. The master plan, prepared by a consortium of Singapore firms led by Surbana Jurong, covered urban design, infrastructure, and industrial development planning.

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During Naidus previous tenure, infrastructure for MLAs, MLCs, AIS officers, and secretariat staff was built, but finishing touches remained. A high court building, secretariat, and legislative complexes were operational.

Telugu Desam Party leader Chandrababu Naidu is helped by an aide to wear an microphone before addressing a press conference near Amaravati, in Andhra Pradesh, 5 June, 2024. AP

In the recent Assembly elections held on 13 May, the TDP-led coalition, including the Jana Sena Party (JSP) and the BJP, secured a decisive victory, winning 164 seats . The TDP emerged as the dominant force with 135 seats, while the JSP won in all 21 constituencies it contested. The BJP secured eight out of the 10 seats it contested, solidifying the coalitions triumph.

What now for Amaravati?

Naidus return to power has rekindled discussions about Amaravatis future . The city remains a symbol of his vision for Andhra Pradesh. With the capital project close to his heart, there is speculation about whether Naidu will revive Amaravatis development.

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The logistical challenges and political dynamics surrounding the capital city continue to be a focal point in Andhra Pradeshs political landscape.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, centre, poses for a photograph with senior leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and to his left, Telugu Desam Party leader N Chandrababu Naidu, and Janata Dal (United) leader Nitish Kumar, during a meeting at his residence in New Delhi. Prime Ministers Office

Despite the shift of the swearing-in ceremony to Gannavaram, Amaravatis significance as a planned capital city remains in the spotlight. Naidus leadership and the coalitions recent electoral victory could potentially pave the way for renewed focus and investment in Amaravati, fulfilling the promises made to the farmers and developers involved in its initial stages.

Also Read: How Andhra Pradesh elections left many political families estranged

The coming months will be crucial in determining the trajectory of Amaravatis development and its role in Andhra Pradeshs future.

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With inputs from agencies
The G7 Summit is being held in the luxury resort of Borgo Egnazia in Italys Apulia region from 13 to 15 June. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will also attend a slew of events including the SCO Summit in July and BRICS Summit in October where he is likely to meet Chinas president Xi Jinping and Russias Vladimir Putin respectively read more

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has a number of global events to attend as he begins his third term in office. AP

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to travel to the G7 Summit in Italy on Thursday.

The G7 summit, to which Modi is an invitee, is being held in the luxury resort of Borgo Egnazia in Italys Apulia region from 13 to 15 June.

It will likely to be dominated by the raging war in Ukraine and the conflict in Gaza.

On Sunday, Modi was sworn-in as prime minister for a third time  equalling the record of Jawaharlal Nehru.

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Along with Modi, senior BJP leaders including Rajnath Singh, Amit Shah, Nitin Gadkari, Nirmala Sitharaman and S Jaishankar took oath as Cabinet ministers at the Rashtrapati Bhavan.

But what do we know about Modis global outreach as he begins his third term?

Lets take a closer look:

G7 Summit (13-15 June)

According to Economic Times, Modi will be in Italy for 24 hours.

Italys prime minister Giorgia Meloni invited Modi to the summit in April.

The G7 is an informal grouping that includes Italy, Canada, France, Germany, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Italian PM Giorgia Meloni on Saturday held a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Delhi. X

The European Union, which is represented by the president of the European Council and the president of the European Commission, also participates.

US president Joe Biden, Frances Emmanuel Macron, Japans Fumio Kishida and Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau will be among the top leaders attending the summit.

Modi could meet Biden as well as Kishida, Macron and Rishi Sunak on the summits sidelines.

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy is also scheduled for a session on the Russian invasion of his country.

We have always maintained that dialogue and diplomacy is the best option to resolve it, Kwatra said when asked about the Ukraine conflict.

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Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra said on Wednesday that PM Modis participation in the G7 summit would provide an opportunity to follow up on outcomes of the G20 summit held under Indias presidency last year.

The foreign secretary added that Indias regular participation in the G7 summit points to increasing recognition of New Delhis efforts to address global challenges.

Swiss Peace Summit (15-16 June)

The Ukraine peace summit is set to take place this weekend at the famous Burgenstock resort near Lucerne.

Zelenskyy suggested the location for the summit  the aim of which is to gather support for Ukraines 10-point peace plan which calls for Russia to completely withdraw its troops from Ukraine and for Moscow to be held accountable for war crimes.

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Over 90 countries and organisations have said they will participate in the summit.

Kwatra said India will participate in the peace summit in Switzerland at an appropriate level.

Kwatra did not specify who will represent India at the summit.

SCO Summit (3-4 July)

Modi will head to Kazakhstan for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit.

The meet is being held on 3 and 4 July.

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According to Economic Times, Modi might meet Chinas president Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the summit for a structured meeting.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Source: File Image/ AFP

India earlier in 2024 participated in the SCO Foreign Ministers and Defence Ministers meetings.

India was represented by MEA secretary (ER) Dammu Ravi at the former, while defence secretary Giridhar Aramane attended the latter.

The SCO was founded in Shanghai in June 2001.

It is an intergovernmental organisation that mainly addresses regional security issues, including the fight against terrorism, ethnic separatism, and religious extremism.

BRICS summit in Russia (October)

Modi is expected to meet Russian president Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of the BRICS summit in Kazan, as per Economic Times.

BRICS is an intergovernmental organisation comprising 10 nations, including Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa.

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In 2023, four nations  Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emiratesbecame full members of BRICS.

Other engagements

According to Economic Times, Modi may also visit New York in September for the UN General Assembly and Summit of Future.

He will also attend the BIMSTEC meet in Thailand in September and G20 summit in Brazil in November.

Modi is also likely to travel to Japan later this year for an annual summit.

A trip to Africa is also in the offing.

Modi may also participate in the India-Asean summit and East Asia summit slated to be held in Laos.

Modi will likely meet several leaders on the sidelines of the various summits in Europe, Kazakhstan, Russia and Brazil.

India is also expected to host leaders from the immediate and extended neighbourhood besides Europe, Africa and Latin America including Chile.

A Quad summit in India is also on the books, as per Economic Times.

US NSA Jake Sullivan to visit India

US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan will likely visit India on 17 June.

The top Biden administration official will hold wide-ranging talks with NSA Ajit Doval, primarily focusing on cooperation under the US-India Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technologies (iCET).

This will be the first trip to India by a senior American official after the Modi government came to power for the third term.

According to Business Standard, the US previously cancelled two previous visits by Sullivan at the last minute.

This came in view of the US administrations focus on the evolving situation in West Asia arising out of the Israel-Hamas conflict.

A key aspect of Indo-US engagement has been collaboration in specific high-technology areas including semiconductors, next-generation telecommunication, artificial intelligence and defence under the iCET initiative.

US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan. ANI File

In the talks, the two sides are also expected to review ongoing defence cooperation including an ambitious plan between US defence giant GE Aerospace and Indias Hindustan Aeronautics (HAL) to produce the advanced F414 jet engines for the Indian Air Force (IAF).

Biden congratulated Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his third consecutive win in the general elections. The two leaders also discussed Sullivans upcoming visit.

During Sullivans visit, the two sides are also expected to deliberate on the ambitious India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC).

There has been a delay in implementation of the mega project in view of the current situation in West Asia.

Billed as a pathbreaking initiative, the IMEC envisages a vast road, railroad and shipping networks among Saudi Arabia, India, the United States and Europe with an aim to ensure integration among Asia, Middle East and West.

The IMEC also envisages to include an electricity cable network, a hydrogen pipeline, high-speed data cable network to facilitate overall economic growth in the partner countries.

The India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor is also seen as an initiative by like-minded nations to gain strategic influence in the face of Chinas Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) that has faced increasing criticism over lack of transparency and disregard for sovereignty of the nations.

The BRI is a mega connectivity project that connects China with Southeast Asia, Central Asia, Russia and Europe.

The IMEC initiative was firmed up on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Delhi in September last year.

An agreement was signed by India, Saudi Arabia, the European Union, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the US and some other G20 partners for the corridor.

With inputs from agencies
Hunter Biden, the son of US president Joe Biden, becomes the first child of a sitting American chief to be convicted of a federal crime. The judge in the gun trial case will now decide if the 54-year-old should be sent to prison and for how long. The maximum punishment for the crime is 25 years, which experts say is unlikely to be handed out to Biden junior read more

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 guilty verdict in Wilmington, Delaware. Hunter Biden has been convicted of all three felony charges in the federal gun trial. AP

On Tuesday (11 June), Hunter Biden, son of US president Joe Biden, entered history books by becoming the first offspring of an American president to be convicted of a federal crime. A jury found 54-year-old Biden guilty on two counts related to false statements in purchasing the firearm and a third count of illegally obtaining a firearm.

Shortly after being convicted, President Joe Biden expressed his love and support for his son, saying: I am the president, but I am also a dad.

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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 now awaits sentencing  the maximum he could receive is 25 years in prison, though experts say such a term is very unlikely.

We take a closer look at what exactly is the case and what happens next.

What is the Hunter Biden case?

Tuesday capped a one-week long trial stemming from Hunter Biden s decision to purchase a handgun in 2018 while he was addicted to crack cocaine. While Hunter did not take to the stand all through the trial, multiple women from his life were called to testify about his drug use, including his ex-wife Kathleen Buhle, his late brothers widow; Hallie Biden, whom he had a brief relationship with; and an ex-girlfriend. His daughter, Naomi Biden, also testified, detailing her fathers drug use and stints in rehab.

Earlier in his memoir, Beautiful Things, Biden has written extensively about his addiction and claimed that at the time he bought the revolver he did not consider himself to be an addict.

President Joe Biden talks with his son Hunter Biden as he arrives at Delaware Air National Guard Base. AP

And on Tuesday after deliberating for about three hours over two days, the jury found the 54-year-old US presidents son to be guilty on all counts.

Special counsel David Weiss, who brought the case against Hunter Biden, addressed reporters following the verdict. No one in this country is above the law, Weiss said. Everyone must be accountable for their actions, even this defendant.

He added that the case was not just about addiction.

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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.

Meanwhile, Judge Maryellen Noreika said she would get back in touch with the parties to schedule a sentencing date in the next 120 days.

Jail or no jail?

After being convicted, the question everyone is asking is: Will Hunter Biden go to prison? The presidents son faces a maximum penalty of 25 years in prison and $750,000 (Rs 6.26 crore). However, sentences for federal crimes are often less than the maximum penalties, especially for first-time offenders, such as Hunter Biden.

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As per the United States Sentencing Commission, which sets recommended sentencing guidelines, someone like Hunter Biden would typically face 15 to 21 months imprisonment. This would be decided by the judge in his case. Prior to sentencing, Biden will likely meet with a federal probation officer who will interview him and issue a report with recommendations, while his lawyers and federal prosecutors will file memos to the judge with their own recommendations.

A monitor is seen showing the Hunter Biden verdict in the White House Press Briefing Room in Washington. President Joe Bidens son, Hunter Biden, is convicted of all three felonies in the federal gun trial. AP

Legal experts are of the opinion that Biden wont be imprisoned as he has no record and has complied with terms of his pretrial release, which includes monthly drug testing. He also did not use the firearm to commit a violent crime, another factor that could be taken into consideration during sentencing, Reuters noted.

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A New York Times report has said that from 2019 to 2023, only 52 defendants were sentenced in a similar category as Biden and 92 per cent were sentenced to serve prison time of an average of 15 months. However, a factor that could complicate matters for Hunter is that in most other cases the defendant pleaded guilty before it could go to trial  showing an acceptance of responsibility for their crimes.

South Texas College of Law Houston professor Dru Stevenson was quoted as telling the BBC it would be bizarre and unprecedented if Biden was to receive anything close to five years.

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Will Biden appeal the conviction?

With the judge saying that she would get back within 120 days to decide on sentencing, all eyes have turned to Hunter Biden and his team on whether they would appeal the conviction. Hunters lawyer, Abbe Lowell, has said he would continue pursuing legal challenges.

He also accused Justice Department special counsel David Weiss of prosecuting Biden vindictively because few people are charged under the law wielded in Bidens case.

US president Joe Biden embraces his son Hunter Biden, who earlier in the day was found guilty on all three counts in his criminal gun charges trial. The US president had earlier said that he would accept the outcome of this case. Reuters

Will Joe Biden pardon Hunter?

Before the guilty verdict, President Biden said he would not pardon his son. When asked in an interview with ABC News if he would rule out the option, he said: Yes.

After the verdict he appears to be sticking to the same message.

On Tuesday, he 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.

What are Bidens other legal woes?

This isnt the only legal challenge for Hunter Biden. In addition to the gun case, Biden is facing separate federal charges in California over allegations that he evaded a tax assessment, failed to properly file and pay taxes and filed a fraudulent tax return.

According to prosecutors he used the money to fund an extravagant lifestyle which, by his own admission, included drugs and alcohol. The presidents son has since repaid the back taxes.

A Reuters report has said that having been convicted once, he could face a greater sentence if found guilty again.

With inputs from agencies
Kannada actor Darshan Thoogudeepa and 11 others including his rumoured partner Pavithra Gowda were arrested on Tuesday in a murder case in Bengaluru. Police say Renukaswamy, an ardent fan of Darshan, allegedly sent Pavithra obscene messages, blaming her for Darshans separation from his wife Vijayalakshmi. The victim was allegedly kidnapped and assaulted before he succumbed to his injuries read more

Kannada actor Darshan Thugadeepa being taken to a hospital for medical check up, Bengaluru, Tuesday, 11 June 2024. PTI

The news channels on Tuesday were dominated by a startling murder case, involving an actor, his girlfriend, and an ardent fan.

Kannada actor Darshan Thoogudeepa, also known as the Challenging Star, along with 11 other people, including his rumoured partner Pavithra Gowda, have been taken into custody in connection with the case.

Pavan, Vinay, Pradosh, Nandeesha, Deepak, Lakshman, Nagaraju, Karthik, Nikhil, Keshav Murthy, and Raghavendra are the other eleven accused.

A city court has placed them under police custody for seven days.

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Heres all we know about the murder case.

The murder

According to News18, a security guard in a nearby Bengaluru flat discovered an unidentified body being eaten by dogs on 9 June and reported it to the Kamaskhipalya police.

Renukaswamy was subsequently identified as the deceased. He used to work at the Apollo Pharmacy in Chitradurga, which is more than 200 kilometres away from the capital of Karnataka.

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.

The report said the victim was abducted from Chitradurga, held captive in a farmhouse in Rajarajeshwarinagar, Bengaluru, subjected to torture, and eventually succumbed to his injuries at approximately 11 pm.

The police identified three men who they believed had been holding Renukaswamy captive in a shed after using CCTV footage and forensic investigation to track out the body.

Renukaswamy was located via a member of one of them, who was a part of the Darshan fan group.

One of the suspects, Raghavendra, went to Chitradurga, a police officer said, and took the victim by force. He then placed him in a godown or shed at Pattanwaddagere, RR Nagar.

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He was assaulted continuously for more than an hour, and at approximately 11:00 pm., he died from his injuries.

Darshans link to the case

Technical investigation and CCTV footage proved that Darshan and Pavithra were there at the crime scene on the intervening night of 8 and 9 June.

It was also disclosed that between 11 pm and 3.30 am, Darshans mobile number was discovered at the crime scenes mobile network area.

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In the CCTV footage taken from cameras in a nearby residential complex, it was revealed that first, a black Scorpio carrying the victims body departed the scene, followed by the actors red Thar.

After this, the accused dumped the body near Kamakshipalya, and on finding the body, we (police) registered a case, the senior police official said.

Obscene messages and threats

Darshan was upset with Renukaswamy for sending Pavithra abusive comments and messages on Instagram.

According to News18 which cited a police source, Renukaswamy allegedly sent Pavithra a string of obscene and defamatory texts, blaming her for Darshans separation from his wife Vjayalakshmi. He also threatened to face consequences if she didnt stop.

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The incident timeline indicates that Pavithra had been ignoring Renukaswamys lewd texts. But it turns out that the deceased had been threatening her for a few months in addition to continuing to send obscene texts. Darshan and his team were made aware of this.

According to his Call Details Records (CDR), Renukaswamy then got several calls from the arrested accused, three of whom are known to be Darshans personal security guards, according to the inquiry into the victims social media accounts.

The arrest

After their connection to the case was discovered, Darshan was arrested in Mysuru on Tuesday morning as he was leaving a gym, while Pavithra was detained in Bengaluru later in the day.

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After confirming the detention of Darshan and Pavithra, the Bengaluru police have now opened a thorough investigation into the murder case and the role played by other people in the victims kidnapping from Chitradurga to Bengaluru and subsequent disposal of his body in the city.

Darshan was arrested in Mysuru on Tuesday morning while leaving a gym. PTI

According to the police, there is yet no concrete evidence linking the Kannada star to the crime.

Darshan has been arrested based on the statements made by the 10 other accused, as per the report.

Renukaswamys wife, Sahana who is three months pregnant has demanded justice for her husband.

While speaking to Deccan Herald, she said, We married a year ago and I am expecting a baby. My husbands death in such a situation has left me shattered. How can I lead my life now.

She further denied allegations of obscene messages and said, My husband called me on 8 June afternoon. If my husband had sent derogatory messages on social media, he should have been given a warning. What was the need to kill him? Whether he is an actor (Darshan) or a star, I want justice.

About the actor

Darshan Thoogudeepa, who is referred to by his fans as a challenging star in Sandalwood, is the son of renowned actor Srinivas Thoogudeepa and brother of filmmaker Dinakar.

He began his career in cinema as a light boy in the Kannada film industry and later worked as a cinematographer BC Gowrishankars assistant.

Initially, he appeared in television series and low-cost films, but Majestic, which was released in 2001, marked his first significant starring role as an actor.

Hits like Namma Preethiya Ramu (2003), Kalasipalya in 2005, Gaja in 2008, and Saarathi in 2011 established him as a popular celebrity with a sizable fan following.

He also provided the voice of numerous Kannada cartoon series.

His past controversies

Darshan is no stranger to controversy.

Over the years, he has run several legal repercussions.

In January this year, he was charged with celebrating the success of his movie Kaatera, by partying at Jetlag Restobar in Bengaluru past the 1 am deadline. A notice was sent to everyone concerned.

Last year, in November, an FIR was filed against him for setting dogs on a woman who parked her car near his residence.

In January 2023, the forest department raided the Kannada stars Mysuru farmhouse 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, as per News18.

In July 2021, Darshan was charged with assaulting a Mysuru hotel waiter. However, no charges were registered as the waiter allegedly received Rs 50,000 to cover up the incident.

In the same year, film producer Bharat filed a complaint against the actor for intimidating him.

In 2016, his wife Vijayalakshmi filed a complaint against Darshan for hitting her and threatening to shoot her. According to News18, the actor claimed he was intoxicated and had no memory of the incident.

Vijayalakshmi had first filed a complaint about the assault in September 2011. This had sparked separation rumours due to alleged domestic abuse and violence. The couple has not yet formally filed for a divorce.

Darshan made headlines again when Pavithra confirmed her over 10-year relationship with Darshan, despite his marriage to Vijayalakshmi.

With inputs from agencies
Nara Lokesh, son of Andhra Pradesh CM N Chandrababu Naidu, has been inducted into the state Cabinet. The 41-year-old, who lost a key constituency in the 2019 Assembly polls, has won the same seat this time. He is also being credited with the TDPs turnaround in these elections read more

Nara Lokesh, son of Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu, took oath as a minister in the state government. The swearing-in ceremony of the new CM and his Council of Ministers was held on 12 June at Kesarapalli IT Park near Gannavaram Airport on the outskirts of Vijayawada.

Lokesh, 41, is expected to be inducted into Naidu s Cabinet. A senior TDP leader told Businessline last week that Naidus son will be will be given a key portfolio in view of his contribution to the party coming back to power and also increasing its popularity.

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Who is Nara Lokesh? How did he make a turnaround in Andhra politics?

Nara Lokesh

Nara Lokesh, the TDP general secretary, completed his MBA from Stanford University.

He was elected as a member of the Legislative Council (MLC) in 2017. Lokesh served as the IT minister in the last TDP government (2014-19). He also held the Panchayati Raj and Rural Development portfolios in the Naidu Cabinet between 2017 and 2019.

Lokeshs induction had sparked criticism as he was not directly elected by the people but was a member of the Legislative Council, noted India Today.

Nara Lokesh has helped in the revival of the TDP in Andhra Pradesh. PTI File Photo

In the 2019 Assembly elections, Lokesh lost from the Mangalagiri constituency to Jagan Mohan Reddys YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) candidate Alla Rama Krishna Reddy by a margin of 5,700 votes.

That year, the YSRCP ousted the TDP from power, winning 151 of 175 Assembly seats. Naidus party was reduced to just 23 Assembly seats and three Lok Sabha seats.

Nara Lokeshs comeback in Andhra politics

Lokesh is being credited for the TDPs resurgence in Andhra Pradesh.

Despite being defeated in the Mangalagiri Assembly seat in 2019, Naidus son continued his work in the constituency and gained the publics trust, as per The News Minute (TNM) report.

And his dedication has borne fruits. He won the seat by a margin of 91,413 votes  the highest margin in the state, defeating YRSCPs M Lavanya.

With his triumph, the TDP won the key Mangalagiri seat for the first time after nearly four decades.

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In 1985, TDPs Koteswara Rao had bagged the constituency when party founder NT Rama Rao was the states chief minister. After the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh, the Mangalagiri seat was held by the Congress and later by the YSR Congress party, reported TNM.

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Not just Lokesh, but the TDP, which formed a pre-poll alliance with Pawan Kalyans JanaSena Party (JSP) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), returned with a thumping mandate in the simultaneous Assembly and Lok Sabha elections in Andhra.

The TDP clinched 135 of the 175 Assembly seats. Kalyans JSP won all 21 Assembly segments it contested and the BJP secured eight seats. The YSRCP was reduced to 11 Assembly seats.

In the Lok Sabha polls, Naidus TDP got 16 of the 25 Lok Sabha seats in Andhra, while the YSRCP won just four. The BJP bagged three and the JSP the remaining two.

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ALSO READ: Pawan Kalyan takes oath as Andhra deputy CM: How the movie stars aandhi swept the state

Nara Lokeshs role in TDP victory

Political analysts attribute several factors to the TDPs remarkable comeback in Andhra Pradesh, including the tie-up with the BJP and JSP.

The anti-incumbency sentiment against Jagan Mohan Reddys government worked in favour of the TDP alliance which consolidated the anti-YSRCP votes.

Lokeshs role in the TDP storming to power in Andhra cannot be overlooked. His over 3,000-km padyatra Yuva Galam rebranded his image, experts say.

Lokesh kickstarted his 400-day foot march from Kuppam to Srikakulam in January last year. His associates told Indian Express that the yatra was a learning and a Stanford moment for Lokesh.

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According to an India Today piece, the padyatra facilitated Lokesh to engage with the public, listen to their grievances and impart his partys policies and goals. During the Yatra, every time a person spelt out the problems she/he faced, Lokesh would keenly jot them down on a piece of paper, the piece added.

Speaking to Indian Express, the Mangalagiri MLA said, My padayatra changed me fundamentally as a person and made me humbler and grounded, and eager to help people.

As per senior journalist TS Sudhirs opinion piece for India Today, Yuva Galam padyatra helped transform Lokeshs image in the public, just like Bharat Jodo Yatra did for Congress leader Rahul Gandhi.

Before embarking on the padyatra, Lokesh had ensured a successful membership drive, adding lakhs to the TDP ranks, with the aid of digital technology. As per India Today, this feat not only cemented Nara Lokesh as an efficient political organiser but also demonstrated his ability to leverage technology for political mobilisation.

Lokeshs biggest battle came last September when his father and TDP chief Naidu was arrested in an alleged AP Skill Development Corporation scam.

He rose to the challenge, halted his yatra, and took over the reins of the party, noted India Today. It was Lokesh who kept the TDP flock together amid uncertainty over Naidus future ahead of elections.

Lokesh knocked on all doors  from Andhra to Delhi  to ensure his fathers release. Those were tough times but he held the party together, a senior TDP leader told Indian Express.

After Naidu walked out of jail in October, Lokesh resumed his padyatra. According to India Today, it was then that he was also acknowledged as No. 2 in the TDP.

As the TDP has emerged as a key player in national politics by bagging the second-highest number of seats among the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) allies after the BJP, the party has decided to entrust Lokesh with some important responsibilities in the state as he is seen as an accessible face to the public, reported Indian Express.

Now, the TDP has the task of taking its allies the BJP and JSP along while fulfilling its poll promises. Lokesh told PTI that his party has offered unconditional support to the BJP-led NDA, adding that the TDP will maintain a symbiotic relationship with the Centre.

Lokesh, who was once mocked as Andhra Pappu, has forced his critics to hold their tongues with the TDPs massive victory and his rise as a seasoned politician.

With inputs from agencies
Although hailed as heroes in recent times due to their strong resistance against the Russian invasion, Ukraines Azov Brigade has long been mired in controversy. The unit has been associated with neo-Nazi ideology and has allegedly committed several human rights abuses. We explain the notoriety of the Azov Brigade, and why it is now set to get US military aid 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, Sunday, Jan. 28, 2024. The U.S. has removed restrictions on the transfer of American weapons and training to a high-profile Ukrainian military unit with a checkered past, the State Department said on Tuesday, 11 June, 2024. File image/AP

The US has recently lifted a ban on providing American weapons and training to Ukraines Azov Brigade, a unit that has garnered significant controversy due to allegations of neo-Nazi ideology and human rights abuses.

We explain why the Azov Brigade has been controversial and how getting US military aid could help it.

Origins of the Azov Brigade

The Azov Brigade, originally known as the Azov Battalion, was formed in 2014 amidst the turmoil of Ukraines struggle to repel Russian-backed separatists in the Donbas region. Founded by Andriy Biletsky, a prominent figure in Ukraines far-right circles, the unit began as a volunteer force. While it attracted a significant number of individuals with far-right and ultra-nationalist views, the groups composition was diverse, with many joining out of patriotism and a desire to defend Ukraine.

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In 2014, the Azov Battalion played a crucial role in the defence of Mariupol, a strategic city in southeastern Ukraine. Their effectiveness in combat quickly elevated their status, and they were later integrated into the National Guard of Ukraine, becoming the Azov Brigade.

In 2022, at the start of Russias full-blown invasion of Ukraine, Azov soldiers played a crucial part in defence 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.

Ukrainian soldiers prepare to fire a multiple launch rocket system based on a pickup truck towards Russian positions at the front line, near Bakhmut, Donetsk region, Ukraine, 5 March 2024. File image/AP

Although hailed as heroes in recent times, the Azov Brigade has long been mired in controversy.

Allegations of human rights violations

The Azov Brigade has faced numerous allegations of human rights abuses from international organizations such as Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR). Reports from these organizations have documented instances of unlawful detention, torture, and other forms of abuse attributed to members of the Azov Battalion.

For example, the OHCHR reported in 2016 that Azov members were involved in the cruel treatment, rape, and other forms of sexual violence against a man with a mental disability in 2014. Another case from 2015 involved the detention and torture of a Mariupol resident who was accused of supporting the separatists in Donetsk region.

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Russia has branded the Azov Brigade as a terrorist organisation, and has frequently accused it of human rights abuses. However, these accusations often lack substantiating evidence and are viewed by some as part of Russias broader propaganda efforts to discredit Ukraines military.

Why has the US lifted the ban, then?

The decision to lift the ban on providing military aid to the Azov Brigade is rooted in the conclusion that there is no evidence of ongoing human rights violations by the current unit. This assessment follows a review by the US State Department, which highlighted that the present-day Azov Brigade is distinct from the volunteer militia formed in 2014.

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The Azov Brigade has also publicly denied any neo-Nazi associations in recent years. In a statement to CNN, the brigade emphasised that its ranks include individuals from diverse ethnic and religious backgrounds, including Greeks, Jews, Crimean Tatars, and Russians. They asserted that their motivation has consistently angered Russia, which they claim has led to a sustained disinformation campaign against them.

Benefits of US lifting the ban

The lifting of the ban allows the Azov Brigade to receive American weapons and training, which is expected to significantly enhance their combat capabilities. The brigade, now an integral part of Ukraines National Guard, has maintained its reputation as a formidable fighting force against Russian troops.

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The US has authorised Ukraine to use American-made weapons for strikes within Russian territory. However, US law prohibits the country for providing military aid to units accused of human rights violations. Agencies

In statements following the lifting of the ban, the Azov Brigade expressed optimism about the increased combat ability and improved personnel safety that American support would bring. 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.

Russias reaction

Unsurprisingly, Russia has reacted negatively to the US decision. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov described the move as a willingness by the US to flirt with neo-Nazis, maintaining Russias narrative that the Azov Brigade remains a far-right extremist group. This criticism aligns with Russias broader propaganda strategy, which frames the Ukrainian government and its military units as neo-Nazi threats.

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This narrative has been a cornerstone of President Vladimir Putins justification for the invasion of Ukraine, which he has framed as a mission to denazify the country. Despite the fact that Ukraines president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, is Jewish, and the lack of credible evidence to support claims of widespread neo-Nazi influence, Russia continues to stress this angle in its domestic and international messaging.

With inputs from agencies
India on Tuesday restricted the import of gold jewellery studded with pearls, certain types of diamonds, and other precious and semi-precious stones. This comes after imports of jewellery parts now banned surged from $52 million in 2022-2023 to to $1.5 billion in 2023-2024. Sources said some gold items were being brought into India duty-free and being melted to create jewellery read more

Indias gold imports, which were at $1 billion last April, saw a massive increase of 208.99 per cent to hit $3.11 billion this April. Representational image.

Planning to import gold jewellery from abroad?

Youre out of luck  for now.

India on Tuesday restricted the import of certain types of studded gold jewellery, according to several media reports.

But what happened? Why has India restricted import of gold jewellery?

Lets take a closer look:

As per News18, the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) in a notification stated that the import policy of gold jewellery studded with pearls, with certain kinds of diamonds, and other precious and semi-precious stones has been amended from free to restricted with immediate effect.

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Goods under restricted category needs a licence/permission from the government.

There is a 15 per cent duty on gold imports, as per Economic Times.

India has a free trade agreement with Indonesia.

Sources told the newspaper the ban has been imposed after gold imports from Indonesia under the India-ASEAN free trade agreement spiked.

According to Indian Express, official data showed that the imports of jewellery parts now banned increased 30-fold over the past year.

The figure, which was at $52 million during 2022-2023, increased to $1.5 billion in 2023-2024.

This as jewellery imports in other restricted categories such as jewellery studded with precious and semi-precious stones such as diamonds and pearls occurred for the first time during the last financial year.

Indias total gold imports have also been increasing.

In April, Indias goods trade deficit hit a five-month peak of $19.1 billion  mainly on the back of gold imports.

Indias gold imports, which were at $1 billion last April, saw a massive increase of 208.99 per cent to hit $3.11 billion this April.

Economic Times reported that some gold items were being brought into India duty-free and being melted to create jewellery.

In April, Indias goods trade deficit hit a five-month peak of $19.1 billion  mainly on the back of gold imports. Reuters

The move will discourage imports of these items, sources told the newspaper.

The imports in these categories never happened in such quality. We suddenly saw an unusual surge. A part of it was coming from FTA countries in zero duty. A part was also coming by paying duty. Because of the unusual surge, the commerce ministry consulted with different departments including the Department of Revenue, we decided to put it under a restricted list to better monitor the importers and the countries involved. It is an import authorisation. Traditionally, if jewellery parts are around $50 million and it surges to $1.5 billion, then one has to look into it, an official told Indian Express.

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The import restrictions on gold jewellery and articles is to accord more protection to domestic jewellers and also to encourage jewellery exports, an industry source told Hindu Business Line.

In July, the DGFT imposed import restrictions on unstudded jewellery made of gold as well as articles made of gold. Imports under the India-UAE CEPA were exempted.

However, New Delhi has made an exception for gold jewellery under the India-UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA).

However import under a valid INDIA-UAE CEPA TRQ (tariff rate quota) shall be permitted without restricted import authorisation, DGFT added, as per Economic Times.

Indias gold demand rose eight per cent annually to 136.6 tonnes in the March quarter helped by a strong economic environment despite prices touching historic highs, according to the World Gold Council. The aggressive gold buying by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) also contributed to the rise in demand.

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Indias gold demand in value terms rose 20 per cent on an annual basis to Rs 75,470 crore during the January-March period of this year on volume growth as well as a rise in quarterly average prices by 11 per cent.

With inputs from agencies
JP Nadda assumed office as the Union Health Minister on Tuesday. His term as the BJP president ended this month following which the party began its search to appoint a new leader at the top position read more

With the BJP checking most of its important tasks to form the new government off its list, all eyes are now on the appointment of a new BJP chief as incumbent leader JP Nadda was inducted into the Union cabinet earlier this week.

JP Nadda assumed office as the Union Health Minister on Tuesday. His term as the BJP president ended this month following which the party began its search to appoint a new leader at the top position.

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Nadda was given the position of BJPs working National President in 2019 and was elevated to a full-time post in January 2020. While his term was supposed to end in January 2023, the BJP National Executive decided to extend it till June 2024.

BJP to get working president soon

The ruling party has already started holding meetings to pick the new working president. The working president will be elected after Prime Minister Narendra Modi returns from his official visit to Italy for the G7 summit, according to NDTV.

The decision to hold parliamentary meetings comes amid RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwats sharp comments on BJPs electoral setbacks in UP and Maharashtra.

The working president, chosen by BJPs parliamentary board, will be expected to work till the election process within the party concludes by the end of the year.

Like Naddas case, the new working presidents service can be transformed into a full-time role. The term of the newly elected president will commence in January next year.

Who is in fray?

Several names that might be considered for the job are making rounds. Already, two of these names  Dharmendra Pradhan and Shivraj Singh Chouhan  have been ruled out after they were given union cabinet positions.

However, four names are still in the race, according to News18.

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Vinod Tawde: A former minister of Maharashtra and currently BJPs general secretary, Tawdes name is reportedly being actively discussed among the party brass

K Laxman: BJPs OBC Morcha Chief, Laxmans name is also being considered for the partys presidential post

Sunil Bansal: The general secretary and in-charge of three states  West Bengal, Telangana and Odisha  Sunil Bansals name is also being considered

Om Mathur: A Rajya Sabha MP from Rajasthan, Om Mathur is in the race to become BJPs national president after JP Nadda

Amid the partys push to represent more women, reports suggest that the BJP may also get a woman as its chief, making it the first time to do so.
The last army chief with Northern Command experience was Gen Deepak Kapoor, who headed it from 1 October, 2007 to 31 March, 2010, after which the government prioritised Eastern Command experience read more

The government appointed Lt Gen Upendra Dwivedi, PVSM, AVSM, presently serving as Vice Chief of the Army Staff, as the next Chief of the Army Staff with effect from the afternoon of 30 June, 2024. PTI

With Vice Chief of Army Staff Lt Gen Upendra Dwivedi set to assume the position of Army Chief on June 30 this year, succeeding General Manoj Pande, the longstanding tradition of selecting commanders with experience in leading the Indian Armys Eastern Command has been somewhat disrupted. In terms of command experience, Lt Gen Dwivedi led the Udhampur-based Northern Command for two years, from February 2022 to February 2024.

The last army chief with experience commanding the Northern Command before assuming the role of Chief of the Army Staff was Gen Deepak Kapoor, who served from 1 October, 2007 to 31 March, 2010.

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Army Chiefs from Eastern Command 2010 onwards

Since 2010, most Army Chiefs have had experience commanding the Kolkata-based and Fort William-headquartered Eastern Army Command. Here are notable examples:

 Gen Vijay Kumar Singh led the Eastern Command from 1 March, 2008, to 31 March, 2010, before becoming Army Chief on 1 April, 2010.

 Gen Bikram Singh commanded the Eastern Command from 1 April, 2010 to 30 April, 2012 and became Army Chief on 1 June, 2012.

 Gen Dalbir Singh Suhag, who took charge as Army Chief on 1 August, 2014, commanded the Eastern Command from 16 June, 2012 to 31 December, 2013.

 Gen Bipin Rawat, who became Army Chief on 31 Decembe, 2016, had significant experience as the Corps Commander of the Rangapahar-based 3 Corps in Nagaland.

 Gen Manoj Mukund Naravane, appointed army chief on 31 December, 2019, commanded the Eastern Command from 1 October, 2018 to 31 August 31, 2019.

 The incumbent army chief, Gen Manoj Pande, led the Eastern Command from 1 June, 2021 to 31 January, 2022.

 The current Chief of Defence Staff, Gen Anil Chauhan, also commanded the Eastern Command from 1 September, 2019 to 31 May, 2021.

This pattern reflects the importance of experience in the Eastern Command for those aspiring to the top military position. Over the past 14 years, since 2010, the majority of Indias Army chiefs have had experience leading the Eastern Army Command. In fact, six of the past army chiefs had significant roles within the Eastern Army Commands operational area before ascending to the rank of four-star officer.

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Eastern Command experience: A criteria for COAS appointment?

Although there are no formal rules or specific qualifications for appointing the Army Chief, past appointments indicate that Indias strategic focus has shifted from Pakistan to its larger neighbour China. Given the vast geographical area and strategic importance of the Eastern Command, serving in this command provides officers with invaluable experience, preparing them for challenging appointments and advancing their military careers.

The Indian Armys Eastern Command is responsible for a vast operational area in the eastern region of India covering the states of West Bengal, Sikkim, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram and Tripura. The Eastern Command oversees extensive border areas, including the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China in Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim, and the border with Bangladesh, ensuring security and managing cross-border issues. The command is also heavily involved in counterinsurgency operations in the northeastern states, which face challenges from various insurgent groups and support state governments in maintaining internal security and peace.

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Key formations under the Eastern Command include III Corps headquartered in Dimapur (Rangapahar), Nagaland, IV Corps in Tezpur, Assam and XXXIII Corps in Siliguri, West Bengal. These formations, along with specialised mountain divisions are trained and equipped for operations in the challenging terrain of the Himalayas and northeastern hill regions.

The strategic importance of the Eastern Command cannot be overstated as the North East Indias connectivity to Southeast Asia further enhances its strategic and economic significance. Additionally, the security of the Siliguri Corridor, also known as the Chickens Neck, is vital as this narrow stretch of land connects the northeastern states with the rest of India. Incidents like Doklam stand-off in June 2017 in Sikkim and skirmishes with Chinese troops in the border along Arunachal Pradesh only increase the importance of the Eastern Command. In recent years, Chinas rapid weaponisation and construction of military infrastructure along the border with Arunachal Pradesh have underscored the critical importance of the Eastern Army Commands role.

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Because of its strategic location and diverse operational responsibilities, it is one of the most significant commands in the Indian Army. Therefore, it is not surprising that the government considers experience within the Eastern Command as a key factor when making crucial appointments, such as the Chief of Army Staff.

A busy Northern Command

The Northern Commands tagline Always in Combat is no exaggeration, as it is tasked with safeguarding Indias borders with Pakistan (Line of Control) and China (LAC). Recently, the commands jurisdiction was expanded to include the LAC up to Prayagraj in Uttar Pradesh, extending beyond its previous limits in Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh. Consequently, Strike Corps 1, previously under the South-Western Command in Jaipur, is now part of the Northern Command based in Mathura, Uttar Pradesh.

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It also serves as the nerve center for counterterrorism operations in Jammu and Kashmir. The command oversees diverse and challenging terrains, including the Siachen glacier, cold deserts, high-altitude regions, mountains, and densely forested plains. Many forward areas remain isolated for five to six months annually, requiring air maintenance to sustain them.

The 2020 India-China border standoff, particularly centred around the Galwan Valley in the Ladakh region, was a significant conflict in the ongoing border dispute between the two nations. Tensions escalated in May 2020, with both countries accusing each other of violating the status quo. The standoff reached a critical point on 15 June, 2020, when a violent clash in the Galwan Valley resulted in the deaths of 20 Indian soldiers and four Chinese military casualties.

Following the clash, although multiple rounds of diplomatic and military talks were conducted to de-escalate the situation, things have not changed much on the ground. Instead, both nations significantly increased their military presence along the LAC, constructing infrastructure and establishing forward posts, heightening concerns over potential future conflicts. As of now, while direct confrontations have reduced, tensions remain high, with both nations maintaining substantial military deployments.

Although no officer from the Northern Command has ascended to the top position in the army over the past 14 years, this fact does not diminish the commands significance. It is crucial to recognise that it is largely due to this commands efforts that Jammu and Kashmir remains an integral part of India, despite Pakistans persistent attempts to seize it over the decades.

COAS is beyond commands

Nevertheless, upon becoming Chief of the Army Staff, the individual will transition from other military interests to concentrate exclusively on the comprehensive development of the army. This includes making it agile, technologically advanced, equipped with state-of-the-art weaponry, addressing administrative and military gaps and transforming it into a formidable fighting force that instills fear in foes and earns respect from allies.
The Gurpatwant Singh Pannun episode might be a slight concern, but otherwise, all seems well between the two nations read more

In what will be the first high-level engagement between India and the United States since Prime Minister Narendra Modi began his third term, US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan is expected to visit India next week. He will meet with his counterpart, Ajit Doval, to conduct a comprehensive review of cooperation under the initiative on critical and emerging technology (iCET).

According to a report by the Times of India, Sullivan is likely to meet Indian officials on June 18.

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Why is this meeting important?

In a joint statement issued by India and the US on 22 June 2023, it was conveyed that President Biden and Prime Minister Modi had affirmed the defining role of technology in deepening their partnership. The leaders had praised the inauguration of the Initiative on iCET in January 2023 as a significant milestone in India-US relations. They had urged their governments, businesses and academic institutions to realize their shared vision for a strategic technology partnership. The statement had also mentioned the leaders recommitment to fostering an open, accessible, and secure technology ecosystem based on mutual confidence and trust, reinforcing shared values and democratic institutions.

Another joint statement on 8 September 2023 indicated that Prime Minister Modi and President Biden had reaffirmed the defining role of technology in deepening their strategic partnership. They had lauded ongoing efforts through the India-US Initiative on iCET to build open, accessible, secure and resilient technology ecosystems and value chains, based on mutual confidence and trust, which reinforce shared values and democratic institutions. It was mentioned that the India and US intended to undertake a midterm review of iCET in September 2023 to maintain momentum toward the next annual iCET review, co-led by the National Security Advisors of both countries, in early 2024.

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The iCET was launched in May 2022 to expand the strategic technology partnership, focusing on co-production, co-development and defence industrial cooperation between India and the US.

The purpose of the meeting was reported to be the creation of a conducive environment and the removal of bottlenecks by addressing regulatory concerns, ensuring deeper cooperation for smooth technology transfer to build strategic assets including jet engines for HAL-built fighter jets.

Pannun episode: A thorn in ties?

Apart from the anticipated iCET review, the meeting is significant as it marks the first high-level engagement following the assassination attempt on Khalistan separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, allegedly orchestrated by India, as previously reported by The Washington Post. While both sides are expected to proceed cautiously, the Pannun incident is likely to cause some discomfort. Though it is unlikely to majorly hinder bilateral ties or affect cooperation in strategic areas, the matter will undoubtedly cause unease until fully resolved. The situation is further complicated by Pannuns US and Canadian citizenship, alongside Canadas diplomatic issues stemming from the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. Despite being a Canadian citizen, Nijjar was a recognised terrorist and Ottawas response has been to ignore this fact, given its accommodation of thousands of Khalistani extremists forming a substantial vote bank.
In Kathua district, security forces continued to engage in an operation to track down a terrorist hiding in Saida Sukhal village near Koota Morhunder Hiranagar police station limits read more

Follow-up search operations were conducted on Wednesday morning in Jammus Kathua after an exchange of fire broke out between security forces and terrorists, following an attack on a joint checkpost.

Officials said that the attack injured three security personnel while one of the two terrorists was killed in an encounter. Search operations to nab the other terrorist behind the Kathua attack are currently underway.

#WATCH | Jammu and Kashmir: Follow-up search operation underway after the terror attack in Kathua's Hiranagar last night.



Out of two terrorists, one was neutralised last night in an encounter. Search operations to nab the other terrorists are underway. The security forces have pic.twitter.com/uMD7CfRKWD  ANI (@ANI) June 12, 2024

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#WATCH | Jammu and Kashmir: Drone is being used to carry out the search operation in the Hiranagar area of Kathua.



Out of two terrorists, one was neutralised last night in an encounter. Search operations to nab the other terrorists are underway. The security forces have pic.twitter.com/SZo9UjhGTr  ANI (@ANI) June 11, 2024

In Kathua district, security forces continued to engage in an operation to track down a terrorist hiding in Saida Sukhal village near Koota Morhunder Hiranagar police station limits.

In Doda, terrorists fired upon a joint checkpost of the 4 Rashtriya Rifles and police in the Chattergalla area on the Bhadarwah-Pathankot road Tuesday late night, the officials said. One civilian was also injured by the attack.

This is the third terror incident that has occurred in the region in three days.

It is our hostile neighbour who always tries to damage the peaceful environment in our country. This (Hiranagar Terror attack) appears to be a fresh infiltration. The one terrorist has been killed, the search for the other is also underway, ADGP Anand Jain said.

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#WATCH | Jammu and Kashmir: On three terror attacks in Jammu and Kashmir, ADGP Anand Jain says, "It is our hostile neighbour who always tries to damage the peaceful environment in our country. This (Hiranagar Terror attack) appears to be a fresh infiltration. The one terrorist pic.twitter.com/1jLB32tbpz  ANI (@ANI) June 12, 2024

The police, explaining the chain of events, said the terrorists asked for water from several houses in Kathua, raising villagers suspicions. When villagers raised an alarm, the terrorists fired randomly, injuring one person.

With inputs from agencies
Heres a look at 5 Cabinet ministers in Modi 2.0 who did not find a place in the new government despite posting victory in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections read more

Narendra Modi, without much doubt, became the Prime Minister for the third consecutive time. In his new beginning, the PM opted for his Cabinet by retaining the important leaders from his old team, including keeping the big four intact.

Rajnath Singh retains defence , Amit Shah stays home minister, Nirmala Sitharaman continues in finance and S Jaishankar keeps the external affairs portfolio.

Modis core team of ministers have also retained their portfolios with some shuffling in portfolios. Surprisingly, some members of parliament (MPs) despite winning the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, failed to make it to Modi 3.0. Heres a look at who they are.

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Ministers who won but are not part of Team Modi 3.0

1 - Anurag Thakur

The most talked about omission in Modis new Cabinet is Anurag Thakur, who posted his fifth term win from his stronghold Hamirpur in Himachal Pradesh.

In Modi 2.0 he held a prominent post of Information and Broadcasting Minister. Thakur initially was sworn in as a minister of state after the 2019 polls, but in 2021, he was promoted to the cabinet rank and given charge of the I&B portfolio.

However, despite another poll win this time, he is not on Modis team.

As per BJP leaders, the decision to bring JP Nadda back to the cabinet cost Thakur a ministerial role. The party leaders maintain that there could only be one minister from the hill state. Nadda too is from Himachal.

Now, Nadda is a Rajya Sabha MP from Gujarat and would technically be counted under that states quota.

A report by Economic Times cited BJP insiders saying that it is the loss of Congress turncoats in the by-polls that has played a key role in this decision.

In the Himachal Pradesh by-elections, four of the six Congress defectors lost on a BJP ticket, giving respite to the Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu government. The Congress victory in four seats  Sujanpur, Gagret, Kutlehar, Lahaul and Spiti  has taken its tally to 38 in the Himachal Pradesh Assembly which currently has an effective strength of 65.

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2 - Narayan Rane,

Rane, a former chief minister of Maharashtra, who won the 2024 Lok Sabha polls from the Ratnagiri-Sindhudurg seat in Maharashtra has lost out on a ministerial berth in new Modi Cabinet.

Rane, a former leader of the Shiv Sena and the Congress, joined the BJP in 2019 and was named the minister for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) in the second Narendra Modi government.

Assembly elections in Maharashtra are due later this year and denial of a ministry to Rane is appearing to be concerning among people in the poll-bound state.

3 - Parshottam Rupala

Parshottam Rupala, a veteran BJP leader, who served as a Cabinet minister in both the first and second Narendra Modi-led governments, missed a ministerial post in Modi 3.0 despite securing a massive victory in Gujarats Rajkot seat.

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Rupala had served as Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying in the previous government. However, ahead of the 2024 LS polls, the ex-chief of Gujarat BJP made controversial remarks on Kshatriyas that resonated in neighbouring Rajasthan as well as the cow belt.

According to the ET report, due to resentment over this issue, PM Modi reportedly cancelled his scheduled rally in Rajkot and BJP decided to drop Rupala from the ministry.

4 - Faggan Singh Kulaste

Faggan Singh Kulaste, a tribal leader, who served as Minister of State for Steel and Rural Development, is another leader who despite winning the election from the Mandia (ST) seat in Madhya Pradesh by a good margin was not included in the NDA 3.0 dispensation.

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Reports say Kulaste has been dropped due to his lackluster performance. He had been removed earlier too from Modis Council of Ministers, allegedly due to some wrongdoings.

5 - Ajay Bhatt

Ajay Bhatt had held the portfolio of Minister of State for Defence and Tourism. He won from Nainital-Udhamsingh Nagar Lo Sabha seat by a margin of 3,34,548 votes, but as per ET report BJP has gone for a Dalit face, keeping local politics in mind.
After being re-elected as the BJP legislature party leader on Wednesday, Pema Khandu said his new government will continue to work for the development of the state read more

Pema Khandu is set to become the chief minister of Arunachal Pradesh for the third consecutive term after being re-elected as the BJP legislature party leader at the meeting in Itanagar on Wednesday.

BJPs central observers  senior BJP leaders Ravi Sankar Prasad and Tarun Chugh  attended the meeting.

After being elected as the BJP legislature party leader, Khandu met Arunachal Pradesh Governor KT Parnaik to stake his claim to for the government in the state.

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He, along with his cabinet colleagues, will take oath on Thursday, June 13.

I thank my top leadership, party workers. Our government is being formed for the third time with the blessings of the people of Arunachal PradeshThe meeting with the Governor has been done, the swearing-in ceremony will take place tomorrow (Thursday) at 11 am. I thank the people very muchWe will continue to work for the development of the state, Khandu said.

#WATCH | Itanagar: Arunachal Pradesh CM-designate Pema Khandu says, "...I thank my top leadership, party workers. Our government is being formed for the third time with the blessings of the people of Arunachal Pradesh...The meeting with the Governor has been done, the swearing-in pic.twitter.com/APvtoor90n  ANI (@ANI) June 12, 2024

2024 Arunachal Pradesh election results

In the 2024 Assembly elections in Arunachal Pradesh, BJP emerged victorious, securing a majority of 46 out of the 60 seats.

The National Peoples Party got five seats, while the Nationalist Congress Party won three seats. The Peoples Party of Arunachal (PPA) managed to get two seats, while the Congress party got just a single seat while three seats were secured by independent candidates.

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About Pema Khandu, Andhras third time CM

Khandu began his tenure as the Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh on July 17, 2016, as Congress candidiate, succeeding Nabam Tuki.

In September 2016, he led a group of Congress lawmakers to defect to the PPA, a regional party, and became the CM under the PPA banner. In the same year in December, Khandu and his group rejoined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), solidifying his position as the Chief Minister under the partys leadership.

Feeling so honoured to be elected unanimously as the Legislature Party leader of @BJP4Arunachal.



With utmost humility, I accept the responsibility of leading the BJP to another term of development oriented governance in sync with the vision of Hon'ble Prime Minister Shri pic.twitter.com/O14dt1OgsD  Pema Khandu  (@PemaKhanduBJP) June 12, 2024

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Khandu hails from a prominent political family in the Tawang district of Arunachal. His political career began after the death of his father, Dorjee Khandu, in a helicopter crash in 2011.

In 2011, Khandu was elected unopposed to the Arunachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly from the Mukto constituency, a seat previously held by his father.

With inputs from agencies
This will be Indias 11th participation in the G7 Summit and the 5th consecutive participation by Prime Minister Narendra Modi read more

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will depart for Italy on Thursday (June 13) to participate in the annual G7 Summit.

PM Modis travel to Italy in on the invitation of his Italian counterpart Giorgia Meloni. This will be his first overseas travel after assuming office in his third consecutive term, Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra said on Wednesday.

At the invitation of Prime Minister of Italy, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be travelling to Apulia, Italy tomorrow (Thursday) to participate in the 50th G7 Summit which is to be held there on 14th June where India has been invited as an Outreach Country, the Foreign Secretary said.

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This will be the Prime Ministers first overseas travel after assuming office in his third consecutive term. It will also afford him an opportunity to engage with other world leaders present at the G7 Summit on issues of importance to India as also to the Global South, Kwatra further said.

Modis 5th consecutive participation in G7 Summit

This will be Indias 11th participation in the G7 Summit and the 5th consecutive participation by PM Modi, Kwatra said.

PM Modis schedule at G7 Summit in Italy

During his Italy visit, PM Modi is expected to hold a bilateral meeting with Italys Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.

PM Modi will participate in the Outreach session along with the other countries invited for the Outreach Summit on June 14.

At this Session, the focus would be on Artificial Intelligence, Energy, Africa and the Mediterranean. It will be a block agenda item where the G7 and the Outreach Countries will share their views and perspectives the Foreign Secretary said.

Kwatra said Indias regular participation in the G7 summit points to increasing recognition of New Delhis efforts to address global challenges.

The Foreign Secretary further said, Prime Ministers participation in the G7 Summit would also provide a timely opportunity to follow up on outcomes of the G20 Summit held under Indias presidency last year and deliberate on issues which are significant for the Global South.

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G7 members

The G7 members include the US, the UK, France, Italy, Germany, Canada and Japan.

G7 Summit dates & venue

The G7 summit will be held in the luxury resort of Borgo Egnazia in Italys Apulia region from June 13 to 15.

Who all will attend G7 Summit in Italy?

US President Joe Biden, his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and Canadian PM Justin Trudeau are among the top leaders attending the G7 Summit in Italy.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is also scheduled for a session on the Russian invasion of his country.

Key discussion points in G7 Summit

According to a report by PTI, the G7 summit this year is likely to be dominated by the raging war in Ukraine as well as the conflict in Gaza.
Mohammed Arifs mercy plea was the second that has been rejected by President Droupadi Murmu after assuming office on July 25, 2022 read more

President Droupadi Murmu has rejected the mercy petition of Pakistani terrorist Mohammed Arif alias Ashfaq convicted in the nearly 24-year-old old Red Fort attack case.

Arif is a Pakistani national and a member of banned Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT).

A report by PTI quoted officials as saying that as per the Presidents secretariat order of May 29, the mercy petition from Arif was received on May 15. It was turned down on May 27.

This is the second mercy plea rejected by President Murmu after assuming office on July 25, 2022.

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SC awards Mohammed Arif death penalty

On November 3, 2022, the Supreme Court of India had dismissed a review petition by Arif, affirming the death penalty awarded to him in the 2000 Red Fort attack case.

Upholding the death sentence, the top court noted that there were no mitigating circumstances in Arifs favour, and emphasised that the attack on the Red Fort in New Delhi posed a direct threat to countrys unity, integrity, and sovereignty.

However, as per experts, a death row convict can still knock on the doors of the apex court seeking commutation of his sentence on the ground of prolonged delay under Article 32 of the Constitution.

Red Fort attack

In the attack that took place on December 22, 2000, some intruders opened fire at the 7 Rajputana Rifles unit deployed within the Red Fort premises, resulting in the deaths of three Army personnel. Arif was arrested by Delhi Police four days after the attack.

Appellant-accused Mohd. Arif alias Ashfaq was a Pakistani national and had entered the Indian territory illegally, the SCs order of 2022 had said.

Charges against Arif

Arif was found guilty of conspiring with other terrorists to carry out the attack, with the trial court sentencing him to death in October 2005. The Delhi High Court and the Supreme Court upheld the decision in subsequent appeals.

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The trial court had said the conspiracy to attack the Red Fort was hatched at the house of two conspirators in Srinagar, where Arif had illegally entered in 1999 along with three other LeT terrorists - Abu Shaad, Abu Bilal and Abu Haider.

The three LeT terrorists had also entered the monument and were killed in separate encounters.

Despite multiple legal challenges, including review and curative petitions, Arifs plea for mercy was rejected, highlighting the severity of the crime and the threat it posed to national security of India.

After the Delhi High Court had confirmed the trial courts decision in September 2007, Arif approached the Supreme Court challenging the verdict. The top court had in August 2011 also sided with the order of awarding the death sentence awarded to him.

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Later, his review petition came up before a two-judge bench of the apex court which dismissed it in August 2012. A curative petition was also rejected in January 2014.

Thereafter, Arif had filed a petition submitting that review petitions in matters arising out of award of death sentence be heard by a bench of three judges and in open court.

A constitution bench of the apex court had in its September 2014 judgement concluded that in all cases in which death sentence was awarded by the high court, such matters be listed before a bench of three judges.

Before the September 2014 verdict, the review and curative petitions of death row convicts were not heard in open courts but were decided in chamber proceedings by circulation.

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In January 2016, a constitution bench had directed that Arif shall be entitled to seek re-opening of the dismissal of the review petitions for an open court hearing within one month.

The apex court had rejected the review petition in its verdict delivered on November 3, 2022.

This decision comes after President Murmu rejected another mercy petition last year in a separate case, demonstrating a firm stance on cases of heinous crimes.

With inputs from PTI.
In a big relief for Goans with Portuguese citizenship seeking Overseas Citizenship India (OCI) cards, the Union government has decided to consider a passport revocation order as an alternative document in lieu of a surrender certificate, provided the person concerned certifies that they have not obtained the Portuguese passport fraudulently read more

In a big relief for Goans with Portuguese citizenship seeking Overseas Citizenship India (OCI) cards, the Union government has decided to consider a passport revocation order as an alternative document in lieu of a surrender certificate, provided the person concerned certifies that they have not obtained the Portuguese passport fraudulently.

According to a Times of India report, the government on Tuesday cleared the confusion over a revocation order issued by the regional passport officer to Goans who acquired Portuguese nationality to obtain their OCI cards.

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The decision is likely to bring relief to numerous Goans who previously faced denial of their OCI card due to the revocation of their Indian passport.

According to the report, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) had initially issued an office memorandum on 4 April, indicating acceptance of a revocation order as a valid document for the OCI card. However, a subsequent corrigendum on 30 April stated that the memorandum was under consideration by the MHA, leading to uncertainty among Goans whose Indian passports had been revoked.

Opposition parties swiftly responded to the 30 April corrigendum, asserting that it exposed the BJPs rhetoric, as the MEA appeared to retract its earlier memorandum, causing confusion regarding OCI registration.

The problems faced by Indian nationals hailing from Goa, Daman, and Diu who have acquired Portuguese nationality as per Portuguese nationality law, for obtaining Indian visa/exit permission or OCI card, have been considered by the MHA, ToI report quoted the ministry as saying in a statement issued on Tuesday.

In a previous memorandum dated November 30, 2022, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) stated that a passport issuing authority, upon receiving an application for a surrender certificate in lieu of an Indian passport, has the authority to revoke the passport if it was acquired by withholding crucial information regarding the applicants acquisition of foreign nationality.

Chief Minister Pramod Sawant had appealed to the Union government to provide amnesty to Goans seeking to relinquish their Portuguese identity cards in order to maintain their Indian citizenship.

Sawant conveyed to the Union Home Ministry that the decision to revoke passports had been received poorly by the affected populace, fearing adverse effects on their means of living.

Highlighting that over 40,000 Goans had registered their births in Lisbon, Sawant emphasized the significance of the issue.

The sole intention of these people was to secure a chance of getting their children Portuguese passports and the benefits that come with it, he had said.

With inputs from agencies
The Supreme Court on Wednesday pulled up the Delhi government over the prevalence of tanker mafia and said if it cant deal with them, the court will ask the Delhi Police to take action in the matter read more

People collect drinking water from a tanker on a hot summer day, at Vivekanand camp, in New Delhi,on 28 May 2024. PTI File

The Supreme Court on Wednesday pulled up the Delhi government over the prevalence of tanker mafia and said if it cant deal with them, the court will ask the Delhi Police to take action in the matter.

Delhi water crisis | Supreme Court questions over tanker mafia and asks Delhi Govt if any measure or action has been taken against tanker mafia.



Supreme Court remarks if you are not taking any action against the tanker mafia then we will ask Delhi Police to take action against pic.twitter.com/ORFwr44Wuo  ANI (@ANI) June 12, 2024

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The top court also asked the government what measures it has taken to control the wastage of water in the city.

Why were false statements made before this court? Water is coming from Himachal Pradesh then where is the water going in Delhi? There is so much spillage, tanker mafias etc.. what measures have you taken in this regard? asked a vacation bench of Justice Prashant Kumar Mishra and Justice Prasanna B Varale.

People are suffering, we are seeing visuals on every news channel. What measures have you taken to control water wastage if water scarcity is a recurring problem in summers, the bench observed.

Advocate Shadan Farasat, appearing for the Delhi government, said there is action, including massive disconnection of water supplies, so that excess water wastage is stopped.

The top court asked the Delhi government to file a report stating action taken for the loss of water. The matter will be taken up on Thursday.

The top court is hearing a plea filed by the Delhi government seeking a direction to Haryana to release the surplus water provided by Himachal Pradesh to the national capital to mitigate its water crisis.

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With inputs from agencies
The majority of those killed were Indian nationals from Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and north Indian states. Their ages ranged between 20 and 50 years read more

With several Indians feared dead in Kuwait building fire on Wednesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi convened an urgent high-level meeting at his residence over the tragedy.

During the meeting, PM Modi expressed his deep sorrow at the unfortunate incident and extended condolences to the families of the deceased. He wished speedy recovery of those injured.

He also directed that Government of India should extend all possible assistance and has announced ex-gratia relief of Rs 2 lakh to the families of the deceased India nationals from Prime Minister Relief Fund.

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The Minister of External Affairs S Jaishankar, the Minister of State for External Affairs Kirtivardhan Singh, Principal Secretary to PM - Pramod Kumar Mishra, National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval, Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra and other senior officials were present in the meeting..

Soon after the news of the massive fire broke out, the prime minister directed MoS External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh to immediately travel to Kuwait to oversee assistance to those injured in the fire tragedy and to coordinate with local authorities for early repatriation of mortal remains of those who have died in this unfortunate incident.

#WATCH | Delhi: On returning from Andhra Pradesh and Odisha, PM Narendra Modi held a meeting to review the situation relating to the fire incident in Kuwait. pic.twitter.com/lL0xdnX94s  ANI (@ANI) June 12, 2024

Earlier on Wednesday, a massive fire broke out in a six-storey building in the city of Mangaf in southern Kuwait which reportedly housed around 195 workers, most of them from Kerala and Tamil Nadu.

The blaze started in a kitchen on a lower floor and quickly spread through the building, trapping several inside.

Also Read: Kuwait building fire: PM Modi dispatches junior foreign minister as Indians among 41 killed: 10 BIG updates

Reports quoted eyewitnesses as saying that some people jumped from the fifth floor of the building to escape the fire and died. Also, most of the deaths reported were due to smoke inhalation.

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As per Onmanorama report, the building belongs to NBTC group owned by Malayali businessman KG Abraham.

After hearing the news about the Kuwait building fire, PM Modi extended condolences to the families of the deceased and prayed for quick recovery of those injured.

Also Read: Indians among 41 killed in Kuwait building fire, Jaishankar promises fullest assistance

The fire mishap in Kuwait City is saddening. My thoughts are with all those who have lost their near and dear ones. I pray that the injured recover at the earliest. The Indian Embassy in Kuwait is closely monitoring the situation and working with the authorities there to assist the affected, he said on X.
During the Trump trial last month, most liberal media in the US conducted a parallel trial concurrently. But the same media are trying to portray Biden Jr not as the pampered son of a powerful family who lives beyond his means but as an American aam aadmi read more

Hunter Biden, son of the incumbent President of the United States, is now a convicted felon. The jury in a Delaware court has found him guilty on all charges on Tuesday. An ex-President (and possibly the next President too) is also a convicted felon now. The jury in a Manhattan court found Donald Trump guilty of all charges last month. It seems a victory for the US judicial system but the cracks are showing elsewhere.

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India has been riven with accusations of godi media when it comes to coverage of those in power. The US media has also pronounced judgement on Indias fourth estate in the past few years. But Hunter Bidens conviction for buying and possessing a gun while still a drug addict and lying about this on a government form had US media outlets tying themselves up in knots trying to explain this turn of events in a way that is not unflattering to the First Family.

During the Trump trial last month, most liberal media in the US conducted a parallel trial concurrently. When the former US President and frontrunner for the White House this November was found guilty on all 34 counts of felony, there was unabashed glee in studios and broadsheets, and they were at pains to amplify Trumps characteristic derision of the verdict. Several aspects of the trialand even its run-upthat indicated bias were glossed over.

But the same US media are still trying to portray Biden Jr not as the pampered son of a powerful family who lives beyond his means but as an American aam aadmi. That the troubled Biden is somehow a representative of all beleaguered ordinary Americans suffering from addiction. The difference between him and other American addicts, of course, is that he comes from a close-knit family that had the means and influence to deal with his habit but did not.

After the verdict, President Biden has been reiterating his faith in the rule of law, never mind the shock and awe tactic of the powerful clan turning up in force for the hearingsarmoured vehicles and Secret Service personnel in towin sleepy Wilmington. Moreover, the elaborate machinations that preceded the trial made it very clear that the defendants family did try to prevent the case ever coming to trial, by using levers of the government as well as a plea deal.

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Procedural delays and framing of lesser chargestactics familiar to Indianswere attempted to prevent the trial. Only the intervention of the Trump-appointed federal judge in Delaware thwarted the Biden teams plans. His lawyers have appealed against the judge also rejecting their plea that the case violates the US Constitutions Second Amendment giving citizens the right to bear arms. Truly ironic given President Bidens strict stance on gun control!

Anyway, the evidence against Hunter was so overwhelmingincluding from his ex-wife, ex-lover (who was his brothers widow), and other womenthat it became clear why the Bidens tried so hard to suppress it before. Now the new line being put forward by helpful media outlets is that the jurors were initially divided down the middle on the verdict and the unanimous decision was only arrived at the next day of confabulations. What does that convey?

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On Hunter Bidens sentencing too, many views put out by news outlets and the experts called to weigh in on it insinuated that Biden does not really deserve a jail term much less the maximum provided by the law25 yearsas he did not really commit that serious a crime and had become clean now. But Biden did lie in order to buy a firearm in 2018, and then did possess a gun despite being an addict, although he had the family and legal support to desist from both.

In fact, one former prosecutor in the US even opined that a better alternative to bringing him to trial would have been to simply send Biden for de-addiction and counselling. To many Indians that sounds suspiciously like the case of the minor driving a Porsche who ran over and killed two techies in Pune last month being let off with orders to just write a 300-word essay on road accidents and their solution and then work with the RTO to understand traffic rules.

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As in the case of the Indian poor little rich boy so also the American one, both that the wherewithal to know better and not break laws. There is reason to believe that both violated the law anyway precisely because their families had the means to save them from the consequences of their actions. Besides, Biden was 48 years old at the time when he lied on a form and bought a handgun, not some naive juvenile. And it was his lover who disposed of the gun, not he.

Ironically, on the same day his son was convicted for illegally possessing a gun and lying in order to buy it while addicted to crack, a suddenly energetic President Biden told a cheering audience at a gun safety meeting in Washington DC that it is time to ban assault weapons and add stricter purchase safeguards. And no one in the US media or public space has yet asked the question that many Indians might well be wondering about: why did Hunter need a gun?

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Thanks to the deliberate underplaying of facts by the media, some see conspiracy even in the conviction because it could be used to deflect attention from more serious charges against Hunter. By showing his son has been held to account like an ordinary American and by praising the judicial system, President Biden may aver his son has paid his debt to society. However, if Hunter does not get a jail sentence but Trump does, many will certainly scream Unfair!

Judge Maryellen Noreika has indicated she will pronounce Bidens sentence 120 days after the conviction but has not set a date. She is expected to consider several factors, including Biden being a first-time offender but the maximum sentence is 25 years and a fine of $750,000. Trumps sentencing by Judge Juan Merchan is set to be pronounced on July 11, four days before the Republican National Convention to select him as the party candidate for the election.

Also, Hunter Bidens trials are not over yet. He faces a tax evasion charge in September in California. He is charged with six misdemeanour counts of failure to file his tax returns and pay taxes, one felony count of tax evasion and two felony counts of filing a false return. The charges make him sound like a feckless rich scion who had a lavish lifestyle but did not think he needed to pay his taxes like other Americans do. And Biden Jr has pleaded not guilty.

It is alleged that from 2016 to 2019 Hunter schemed not to pay $1.4 million in income tax. Prosecutors claim he made over $7 million in that period and splurged on drugs, escorts and girlfriends, luxury hotels and rental properties, exotic cars, clothing and other items of a personal nature, in short, everything but his taxes. Could a politicians wayward son only have done this? Well, luckily for Biden and the US media, the California jurors will not be Indians!

The views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views.
The tone China has set to the relationship through its actions, be it at the border, through grey zone warfare, or its support for Pakistan-sponsored terrorism, the bilateral ties between two Asian giants under Modi 3.0 will continue to be a rocky one, if not rockier read more

The oath-taking ceremony of the new cabinet saw the retention of several ministers from Modi 2.0, including External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, signalling continuity in Indias foreign policy under Modi 3.0. Image: X/ @DrSJaishankar

As the dust settles on the Indian general elections and the world watches polls in other parts of the world, questions continue to emerge on what sort of India would emerge further under the third term of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The oath-taking ceremony of the new cabinet saw the retention of several ministers from Modi 2.0, including External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar. This signals continuity in Indias foreign policy under Modi 3.0.

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Even before the ministries had been announced, events affecting Indias foreign policy, particularly with regards to China, had been taking place. Taiwans President Lai Ching-te congratulated PM Modi on X, and PM Modi reciprocated the wishes, stating that he looks forward to closer ties as India and Taiwan work towards a mutually beneficial economic and technological partnership.

China flared up, and the spokesperson of the Chinese Embassy in India wrote on X that Taiwan is an inalienable part of China and that it is an undeniable fact, a universal consensus of the international community, and a basic norm in international relations. The interesting part to note is that while world leaders took to X to wish PM Modi, Chinas President Xi Jinping did not send a personal note of congratulations, and the Chinese foreign ministry instead congratulated him, the BJP, and the National Democratic Alliance, adding that China looks forward to a stable and healthy China-India relationship. China, along with the US, was among the last countries to wish PM Modi.

A few days earlier in May, when elections were on-going, China released an old video of the Galwan Valley clash of 2020 at Pangong Tso finger 4. The clash is four years old, but the timing of the release raises suspicions about influencing the Indian electorates choices regarding voting for a government that could not stand up to the Chinese Peoples Liberation Army, as portrayed in the video.

Before the last phase of elections in India, Meta released its threat adversarial report, in which it stated that they had removed 37 Facebook accounts, 13 pages, five groups, and nine Instagram accounts for violating its policy against coordinated inauthentic behaviour. The network originated in China and was running what has been called Operation K, targeting the global Sikh community, including Australia, Canada, India, New Zealand, Pakistan, the UK, and Nigeria. The purpose was to divide the Indian electorate and interfere in Indias elections.

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In April of this year, China released a list renaming 30 more places in Arunachal Pradesh. China also lodged a diplomatic protest with India over Prime Minister Modis visit to Arunachal Pradesh, where he dedicated the Sela Tunnel to the nation, which is to be built at an altitude of 13,000 feet. All this happened while India was either gearing up for elections or was in the thick of it.

Reportedly, India is set to rename 30 places in occupied Tibet, which China claims is called Xizang and is currently a special administrative zone in China. Chinas behaviour in 2024 alone set the tone of the bilateral relationship. With its posturing, usage of disinformation during elections, and diplomatic flare-up immediately after elections, China has given a clear-cut message as to which direction it wants the relationship to flow in.

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On June 8, on Chinese social media, another video with the narrative that the Chinese Peoples Liberation Army had thrashed the Indian Army was circulating in large numbers. However, neither countrys government has reported any clashes so far in 2024. Grey zone warfare, which operates in the absence of hot conflict, is an integral aspect of Chinas three warfare strategies, which need to be factored in while analysing Sino-Indian relations and Chinas posturing towards India.

In June this year, think tanks from India and Taiwan held military simulations that focused on scenarios about the Taiwan Strait and the India-China border in 2035. This is also not something that Beijing would view with kindness. However, while India adheres to Chinas One China policy, it has active economic, technological, and civil society partnerships with Taiwan.

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On the day of the swearing-in ceremony of the new cabinet, there was a terror attack in Reasi, in Jammu and Kashmir, in which nine victims on the bus carrying pilgrims succumbed to gunshot wounds. The Pakistan-supported The Resistance Front (TRF) has claimed responsibility for the terror attack. China has often blocked Indias attempts at the United Nations to blacklist Pakistan-sponsored terrorists. In March this year, India stated that blocking evidence-based proposals in the UN Security Council to blacklist global terrorists without justification smacks of double speak in dealing with the scourge, which was a veiled reference to China that has put holds on multiple bids by India to sanction Pakistan-based terrorists. Given that India has yet again suffered Pakistan-sponsored terrorism, Modi 3.0 will further double down on Pakistan-based terrorism while facing fresh hurdles from China.

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On June 11, Indias EAM Jaishankar stated that the focus will be to resolve remaining issues along the India-China border and cross-border terror solutions with Pakistan. This is exactly in line with the partys election manifesto, which mentioned strengthening border defences.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, who retains his role in Modi 3.0, reaffirmed Indias commitment to safeguarding its borders and strengthening defence manufacturing and exports. He emphasised the priority of protecting Indias integrity and sovereignty during Modi 3.0. The focus is clearly on China.

Given the events that have unfolded so far in the bilateral relationship and the tone China has set to the relationship through its actions, be it at the border, through its grey zone warfare, or through its support for Pakistan-sponsored terrorism, the relationship between India and China under Modi 3.0 will continue to be a rocky one, if not rockier. New Delhi needs to be prepared for fresh surprises from Beijing and prepare accordingly.

The author is Associate Professor, Chinese Studies and International Relations, Jindal School of International Affairs, O P Jindal Global University, Haryana. The views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views.
There is no doubt that extremism and intolerance in Pakistan have thrived with state support. Decades of myopic policies have led to the radicalisation of significant portions of the population and created fissures in society read more

The Pakistani leadership is facing pressure from its friends for a secure environment for their investments, including its 'iron-brother' China. REUTERS

On March 26, a convoy of Chinese nationals travelling from Islamabad to the Dasu Hydropower Project site in Khyber Pakhtunkhwas Kohistan District was attacked by Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) terrorists. The Pakistani government quickly announced a compensation of $2.5 million for the families of the five Chinese nationals who had lost their lives. A joint investigation team comprising police and intelligence agencies personnel was then formed to probe the high-profile terrorist attack and also address Chinese concerns.

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In just over two months, Pakistans law-enforcement agencies have completed the investigation. This is, indeed, a remarkable achievement, but it does not seem to have impressed the Chinese authorities, as there have been reports that Beijing wants a large-scale anti-terrorism operation carried out on the lines of Zarb-i-Azb against the militants.

Chinese Demand a Counter-Terrorism Operation

The reports of Chinas demand for a massive counterterrorism operation are reflective of Beijings concerns over the escalating threats to Chinese nationals working on China Pakistan Economic Corridor-related and other projects in Pakistan. The South Asian country had earlier launched such counterterrorism operations at the behest of China.

There are reports that the Lal Masjid Operation in Islamabad in 2007 was launched after Chinese President Hu Jintao called Gen Musharraf. Prior to the operation, women students of the Jamia Hafsa madrassah had kidnapped Chinese health workers who they believed were commercial sex workers. Years later, the Lal Masjid Operation continues to haunt Pakistan and inspire global jihadi movements.

International pressure, including from the Chinese, also worked in 2014 when the Pakistani military launched Operation Zarb-i-Azb in North Waziristan. While China supported the Financial Action Task Forces recommendation that Pakistan comply with its counterterrorism financing and anti-money laundering commitments, they also argued that Pakistan be given more time to fulfil the FATFs requirements.

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However, Chinas demand for a large-scale operation may not be feasible now as the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan terrorist group is hiding in Afghanistan, and cross-border operations could have wider implications in the region. Further, the Baloch insurgency is also persisting between the insurgents and security forces. Insurgents recently targeted the Gwadar Port Authority Complex. The Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), which claimed responsibility, has consistently opposed the CPEC, demanding that China abandon its operations in the region.

Pakistans economy is in the throes of a deep crisis, and a massive military operation would entail its own costs. At the same time, the Pakistani leadership is facing pressure from its friends for a secure environment for their investments. This is not only China, a major investor in Pakistan, but also other countries such as Saudi Arabia, which have concerns similar to Beijings when it comes to investing in Pakistan. Security concerns are being taken seriously.

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On May 20, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman approved a cooperation agreement between the Presidency of State Security in Saudi Arabia and the military intelligence in Pakistan to combat terrorism and its financing.

The Pakistani leadership, however, appears confident in its assessment that the security challenges can be mitigated and wants the countries that are looking at investment in Pakistan to follow suit. However, terrorist incidents continue to shake the confidence of foreign investors.

The Afghanistani Angle

Afghanistan under the Taliban has emerged as a major security challenge for Pakistan, but terrorism and extremism have a long history of state institutions using them as tools for political and strategic purposes. The dynamics of terrorist groups are known, and preventive measures can be taken against them, but these get compounded with problems of border management.

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Stable ties with Kabul are Pakistans strategic compulsion. But relations between the two countries have steadily deteriorated. This is contrary to expectations that the Talibans return to power in 2021 would help Pakistan secure its western border. Instead, there was a marked escalation in border tensions and terrorist attacks targeting Pakistans security forces. A surge in violent activities by the TTP from their safe havens in Afghanistan posed increasing threats to Pakistans security.

According to successive reports by the UN Security Councils Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team, the TTP benefited the most of all the foreign extremist groups in Afghanistan from the Taliban takeover". This echoed Pakistans assessment that Kabuls unwillingness to act against the TTP presents a mounting threat to Pakistans security. Cross-border attacks escalated following the breakdown in November 2022 of the ceasefire brokered by the Afghan Taliban between Pakistani authorities and the TTP. In fact, the TTP used this to expand its reach in Pakistan.

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Pakistans efforts to persuade Afghanistans Taliban rulers over the past two years to take action against the TTP have yielded little. The Taliban leaders offered assurances, asking for time, but did nothing. The spike in terrorist activities led to a significant rise in casualties among security personnel. Pakistani leaders publicly voiced concerns over the safe havens and liberty of action available to the TTP in Afghanistan.

In a recent press conference, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi held TTP responsible for the March attack on Chinese workers in Bisham. He said it had orchestrated this from Afghanistan as a flagship project supported by enemy intelligence agencies. He demanded Kabul arrest the terrorists behind the attack, prosecute them, or hand them over to Pakistan.

Despite Islamabads urgings, he said, the Taliban had not taken measures to prevent militants from launching attacks from their Afghan sanctuaries. This issue was also discussed by the Corps Commanders, who expressed serious concern over continuous cross-border terrorist attacks from Afghan soil, adding that hostile foreign actors were using Afghanistan to target security personnel and civilians in Pakistan.

Over the past year, Pakistan has taken actions to raise the costs for the Taliban regarding the TTP. It has conducted air strikes on the hideouts of the militant group in Afghanistan. In April, Pakistan announced they had carried out air strikes against militant sanctuaries and warned such actions would continue unless the Taliban changed course.

Pakistan then imposed certain restrictions on transit trade last October, banning a number of items that could be imported by Afghanistan via Pakistan. While the action aimed to curb smuggling, it also served to put pressure on Kabul. The Taliban responded by accusing Pakistan of politicising trade. Later. some restrictions were eased.

The third was the expulsion of around 700,000 undocumented Afghans residing in Pakistan. This has been implemented, with well over half a million Afghans repatriated to Afghanistan. The shadow of a second phase now hangs over the decision to deport around 600,000 Afghans holding citizen cards issued by Pakistan a few years ago.

The dilemma for Pakistan is that it cannot afford a rupture in relations with Afghanistan.

Conclusion

Intolerance in Pakistan is also leading to erosion of the social fabric, making conditions insecure for minorities. Intolerance has become a huge hurdle in the way of economic progress, including foreign investment. Last year, a Chinese citizen barely escaped lynching by a mob at the Dasu Hydropower Project site. On December 3, 2021, a Sri Lankan national, Priyantha Kumara Diyawadana, was lynched by a mob in Sialkot.

As per reports, the security of Chinese nationals in Pakistan was a key concern during the recent visit of Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz to China, where he, accompanied by General Asim Munir, held talks with President Xi Jinping.

Naghmana Hashmi, a former Pakistani Ambassador to China, said 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; here is our best friend, and we dont 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.

There is no doubt that extremism and intolerance in Pakistan have thrived with state support. Decades of myopic policies have led to the radicalisation of significant portions of the population and created fissures in society. Unless there is a fundamental shift in Pakistans policy of supporting the divisive elements, Islamabad will find that its friends are facing a binary choice of staying or leaving.

The author is a retired Major General of the Indian Army. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views.
The recent attacks in Kashmir are a reminder that India cannot go easy on terrorism, which continues to remain global scourge read more

Security men inspect a bus that fell into a deep gorge on Sunday after it was fired at by suspected militants in Reasi district, Jammu and Kashmir, on 10 June 2024. AP

The recent terror attacks in Jammu and Kashmir, along with the D8 nationsBangladesh, Egypt, Indonesia, Iran, Malaysia, Nigeria, Pakistan, and Turkeyopen support to Islamist groups such as Hamas, indicate how these two parallel incidents converge at the point of a common agenda: global jihad. India must get its act together on internal security and adopt an inward first approach to protect itself against this danger.

The three terror attacks in J&K serve as a stark reminder that the countrys fight against terrorism is not over. Such earlier incidents too revealed that despite best efforts, peace remains fragile in Kashmir, owing largely to Pakistans dubious role in patronising and promoting terrorism in the Valley.

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The Reasi attack on Sunday (the first of the three attacks) saw terrorists targeting a civilian bus, resulting in its fall into a gorge. According to Mohita Sharma, SSP Reasi, the terrorists struck the bus full of Hindu pilgrims, due to which the driver lost control and skidded off the road. This attack led to the death of at least 10 civilians, with many more injured. Initial investigations point towards the involvement of Pakistan in this attack.

The recent developments in West Asia, especially with Israel taking a tough stand on Hamas, have given a fresh impetus to Islamist elements in the region and beyond. This is not a good development for India and its security.

Pakistan continues to remain the main base of anti-India forces in the region. By promoting cross-border terrorism, it nurtures terror through the ISI and supports terror outfits like Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed. To make matters worse, it has spread its wings in other countries such as Bangladesh and Nepal to spread anti-India nefarious activities.

The internal situation in Bangladesh too is fluid. Despite strong historical ties, including Indias support during Bangladeshs liberation war against the tyrannical Pakistan and, in recent times, considerable Indian investments in Bangladeshs infrastructure, growing anti-India sentiment has entered quotidian discourse in that country. Though at the federal level relations remain amicable, they are still fragile at the people-to-people level. According to the Voice of Khorasan magazine, which is the mouthpiece for ISIS-K, the establishment of a caliphate in Bangladesh is openly espoused. This kind of extremist propaganda has influenced the boycott of Indian goods in Dhaka in recent times.

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In the Maldives, despite New Delhis endeavours to foster friendly ties through numerous development schemes, certain political factions with radical views tend to spread anti-Indian propaganda. These sentiments, which are mostly ignited by hard-core Islamist elements, disrupt peace in South Asia, thus making it difficult for India to have good relationships with its neighbours.

Then, of course, theres Turkey, which has been openly pushing an anti-India foreign policy. This encompasses contesting the Indian stand on Jammu & Kashmir and showing support to Pakistan over the matter.

Way Ahead for India

India should strengthen its Neighbourhood-First policy by re-evaluating strategies employed therein, engaging with leaders at regional levels through talks, among other methods, and stepping up diplomacy too. At the heart of this policy lies its strong partnership with Bangladesh, which is personified in the bonhomie between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Bangladeshi counterpart, Sheikh Hasina. High-level interactions give good momentum, but the real progress depends on the connectivity at the grassroots level. Bipartisan support for the relationship demands engagement not only at the political level but also at the level of the people.

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At home, de-radicalisation measures must be undertaken by India to target the root causes of extremism. Inclusive programmes should be implemented to help disengage from radical ideologies, rehabilitate, and then reintegrate affected individuals. Capacity development should also be encouraged in formal education, and facilities for running educational institutions by unorganised religious elements should be closed to shut the door on further radical recruitment.

Countering extremism needs a unified approach that involves, among other things, joint military training with neighbouring nations on counter-terrorism measures, cultural exchange programmes with them, sharing best practices, and fostering people-to-people contacts. Effective global alliances are necessary for cutting off support systems for violent non-state actors at different levels, such as United Nations Security Council resolutions and G20 pronouncements, among others, while engaging across regions through mechanisms like the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF).

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India should actively engage itself regionally through such forums as Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) so that collective security arrangements can work well within regions. By doing this, India can help Bangladesh, among other neighbouring countries, solve mutual problems, which can then lead to stability and mutual trust.

Given that international and national security are at risk due to the confluence of terror networks globally, there is no room for complacency. The recent attacks in Kashmir are a reminder that India cannot go easy on terrorism, which continues to remain global scourge.

The author is a Research Fellow, IFC-IOR, India. The views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views.
Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and his senior brother former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif sent congratulatory messages to PM Modi on forming the government. (Image: Reuters/PTI)

Pakistan may be trying to engage with India. On Monday, Nawaz Sharif made a direct outreach to the Indian prime minister. He posted a message on social media congratulating PM Narendra Modi for assuming office for the third time.

In his message, Senior Sharif said: Let us replace hate with hope and seize the opportunity to shape the destiny of the two billion people of South Asia.

We dont need to spell it out; Sharif is signalling that he wants to resume dialogue. Within two hours, the Indian prime minister responded, making a statement on expected lines. PM Modi said that advancing the security of Indians will always remain a priority.

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Thats a reference to Indias long-standing position vis-a-vis Pakistanterror and talks cannot go together.

Especially after what happened this week, Jammu and Kashmir was attacked again. Terrorists struck a bus full of pilgrims in Reasi. Nine people died in the attack. More than 30 others were injured. The attack came on the day when PM Modi and his ministers took their oath of office, and the perpetrators were once again Pakistanis. The Resistance Front, an outfit affiliated with Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (the same group that carried out the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks), was behind this attack.

So there is no question of India reversing its policy now. PM Modi got a message from the younger brother of Nawaz Sharif and Prime Minister of Pakistan Shehbaz Sharif too. Sticking to just a one-line exchange.

So the outreaches by the Sharifs are a non-starter, as they have been at it for some time. Around two weeks ago, Nawaz Sharif made a significant remark. He spoke about the 1999 Kargil War and how Pakistan was responsible for it. Sharif called the Kargil war a mistake on Pakistans part, which was a major admission in itself.

Before Sharif, his daughter Maryam Nawaz too made a case for dialogue, using phrases like dont fight wars with neighbours and open the doors of friendship.

PM Modi has good reasons to not trust these overtures, as when he took charge in the first term, he had put his best foot forward. In 2014, he called Nawaz Sharif for his swearing in. In 2015, he made a surprise stop in Lahore on Senior Sharifs birthday while Modi was on his way back from Afghanistan.

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This was the first visit by an Indian prime minister to Pakistan in over a decade. But the optimism was short-lived, as India suffered a string of terrorist attacks in Jammu and Kashmir after that. The first was in 2016, when an Indian military base was struck in Uri. Then, again in 2019, a suicide bomber targeted Indian security forces in Pulwama.

Today, bilateral relations remain in a deep freeze. Since 2019, both countries have not posted high commissioners in each others capitals. They were withdrawn after India made the decision to abolish Article 370, which withdrew the special status of Jammu and Kashmir.

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It has been five years. Now Pakistani leaders say they want to engage, but at the same time, Pakistan continues to provoke India.

Another example of that was seen over the weekend, when Shehbaz Sharif visited Beijing. Pakistan and China released a joint statement about Kashmir that says the two countries oppose any unilateral actions in Kashmir. This was a challenge to Indias sovereignty over Jammu and Kashmir, where no other country has a locus standi.

India was quick to reject this joint statement. New Delhi repeated that Jammu and Kashmir remains an inalienable part of India.

So, Indias stand remains clearthere can be no dialogue until Pakistan stops cross-border terrorism.

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The views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views.
The projections of European parliamentary elections reflect the growing clout of Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who is all set to host leaders from the most developed democratic nations read more

The host of the G7, Italys Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, emerged as a big winner in the European Parliament elections on Monday. Her partythe Brothers of Italywill now have a much bigger say in the EU.

Comparing the latest election to the last one, which was held in 2019, both times, Meloni has been part of a conservative coalition. The European Conservatives and Reformists bloc (ECR) in the 2019 EU elections had won 62 seats out of 751a bit more than 8 percenthowever, this time around, it has increased its representation.

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Provisional results give the ECR 73 out of 720 seatsmore than 10 percentso Melonis coalition has marginally increased its seat share.

On the surface, the numbers dont seem like much, but that changes when you dig deeper. In 2019, Melonis Brothers of Italy party won 10 seats. This time, its projected to win 24; thats no joke! This is because in the EU, that number can decide the president. Ursula von der Leyen is the current European Commission president. Shes standing for re-election. She has a tough task on her hands. The last time, she secured the presidency by a mere nine votes.

This time, Meloni is likely to have 24 seats, which potentially makes her the kingmaker. Von der Leyen had suspected that this might be the case. So she refused to rule out working with Meloni.

This is a huge shift for Europe. For years, the EU has been run by the Centrists, who always went to the Liberals for support. Liberals are those parties that advocate climate-friendly Green policies. But now, the Centrists must explore alternatives, like Meloni and her ECR coalition.

Von der Leyen is keeping her cards close to her chest right now. Her coalition says it wont seek a formal deal with Meloni. But they could work together on a case-by-case basis. That signals two things: (i) von der Leyens flexibility, and (ii) Melonis growing clout.

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Even 5 years ago, von der Leyen allying with the Brothers of Italya party with fascist roots that was once considered fringe and far Rightwould have been considered unthinkable. But now, von der Leyen says she might work with Meloni.

Even if it is just on a case-by-case basis, that is still an admission of Melonis clout, boosting the Italian PMs legitimacy across Europe and at home.

Meloni became Italys prime minister in 2022. Her party had won about 26 percent of the vote. In this EU election, she won about 29 percent. That shows more Italians trust her today. It is a sign of their confidence in her and a signal as well.

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The Italians want Meloni to take her policies to the European stage. So whether she becomes a member of von der Leyens coalition or stays on the opposition benches, Meloni will be speaking for Italy at the EU, and with her resounding mandate, everyone will have to stop and listen.

The views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views.
Cook claimed that even though OpenAI and Apple have done everything that there is to do, when it comes to AI systems hallucinating, one cannot be 100 per cent sure of anything, and that Apple would never claim otherwise read more

Apple CEO Tim Cook is enthused about Apple integrating some of OpenAI's offerings in Apple Intelligence, but maintains that the company won't stick to just one provider. Image Credit: AFP

Following the unveiling of Apple Intelligence at WWDC 2024, Apple CEO Tim Cook addressed the advancements in AI and the companys collaboration with OpenAI in a recent interview.

Cook acknowledged the technologys imperfections and elaborated on why OpenAI was chosen as a launch partner for Apples new AI initiatives while speaking to Josh Tyrangiel of The Washington Post

Cook expressed optimism about the potential of Apple Intelligence, emphasizing that it is designed to save time and enhance user efficiency. He highlighted the improvements in natural language processing for Siri and the enhanced writing tools as key features with immediate benefits for users.

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If you think about Siri as an example, you can now have a conversation with Siri. It can perform essentially multiple steps with one request, where today it takes multiple requests for that to occur," Cook explained.

He also praised the new writing tools, noting their utility in making emails and other written communication more professional or engaging.

Privacy remains a cornerstone of Apples approach to AI, and Cook stressed that Apple Intelligence is designed to ensure personal and private user interactions. He emphasized that Apple has managed to balance the need for personalization with stringent privacy standards.

The idea that its private, I think, is a very big idea in todays world. People want to know in some kind of way that [AI] is personal to them, but also private. And these two things generally havent gone together very well. We found a way to thread the needle, he stated.

When asked if the adoption of AI might compromise Apples values, Cook reiterated the companys unwavering commitment to privacy and data handling. He acknowledged that some queries would need to be processed off-device but assured that Apple has taken extensive measures to ensure high-quality performance while maintaining user privacy.

Addressing the issue of AI hallucinations, Cook admitted that while the technology is robust, it is not flawless. I think we have done everything that we know to do, including thinking very deeply about the readiness of the technology in the areas that were using it in. So I am confident it will be very high quality. But Id say in all honesty thats short of 100 per cent. I would never claim that its 100 per cent, he said.

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Cook is enthusiastic about the partnership with OpenAI, saying, that Apple chose OpenAI because of its policies on user privacy, such as not tracking IP addresses. He emphasized that Apple evaluated numerous options before deciding on OpenAI and is not permanently bound to any single provider. Cook refrained from commenting on personal aspects regarding OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, focusing instead on the benefits for users.

I get excited about helping people do things faster, better, higher quality. Anything that improves human existence, and I think AI can do that, again, subject to keeping the rails on it appropriately. So Im a fan. I dont have my head stuck in the sand. I know that theres also a parade of horribles that can occur, which is why were committed to being thoughtful in the space, he concluded.

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Apple Intelligence features will start rolling out in the fall of 2024, with additional features arriving in 2025. Beta testing for users is set to begin in July, marking a significant step in Apples AI journey.
While Apple is indeed using OpenAIs ChatGPT for some of its functionalities, namely its chatbot services, most of it, has ben developed in-house by Apple. However, in order to do that, Apple has to rely on Google for one major thing read more

Unless one has been living under a rock all this while, it would have been impossible to miss Apples recent announcement of a significant partnership with OpenAI to integrate its advanced AI model into Siri, and use ChatGPT in some of its Generative AI applications.

This marks a major milestone in the companys AI endeavours. However, a deeper look into the technical documentation released by Apple reveals another key player in this advancement: Alphabets Google.

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Apples engineers had to use a combination of Googles proprietary framework software and a variety of hardware to develop their own foundational AI models. Notably, they have had to rely heavily on Googles tensor processing units (TPUs) which are available only through Googles cloud services.

These TPUs, which Google has been refining for nearly a decade now, are highly specialized chips, designed specifically to handle the intensive computational tasks required for AI training.

The fifth generation of these chips, which comes in different versions, boasts performance capabilities that are competitive with NVIDIA state-of-the-art H100 AI chips, and are much easier to access, as long as one is willing to work with Googles cloud services.

Back in May, at Google I/O, its annual developer conference, Google announced the forthcoming release of its sixth-generation TPUs, which promises even greater performance. These processors are integral to Googles cloud computing platform, which offers specialised hardware and software to support various AI applications.

While Apple did not specify the extent to which it used Googles TPUs compared to other solutions like those from NVIDIA, it is clear that Googles technology plays a significant role in Apples AI development.

Using Googles chips typically means purchasing access to Google Cloud. This is a model that is followed by most other companies as well, including Amazons Amazon Web Services or Microsofts Azure.

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As Apple continues to push forward in its development of Siri and other AI-driven features, the underlying support from Googles cutting-edge TPUs exemplifies how industry leaders often depend on each others innovations to drive progress.
The lawsuit had asked the court to compel OpenAI to make its research and technology public and to prevent the startup from using its assets, including GPT-4, for the financial benefit of Microsoft and other partners read more

Elon Musk has dropped the lawsuit OpenAI and Sam Altman without prejudice, meaning Musk could refile it in the future. Image Credit: Reuters, Reuters

In a rather surprising turn of events, Elon Musk has withdrawn his lawsuit against OpenAI and its CEO, Sam Altman. The lawsuit, filed in February in a California court, accused OpenAI of breaching its contract and deviating from its original mission of developing AI for the benefit of humanity.

Attorneys for Musk requested the California state court to dismiss the lawsuit without providing a specific reason for the move, according to a filing in San Francisco Superior Court. This dismissal comes just a day before a scheduled hearing where a judge was set to review OpenAIs motion to dismiss the case.

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Musks lawsuit claimed that OpenAI violated an agreement with its founding members, which included commitments to remain a non-profit and keep its technology open-source. OpenAI strongly denied these allegations, asserting that Musk sought absolute control of the company and had even proposed merging it with Tesla.

The lawsuit had asked the court to compel OpenAI to make its research and technology public and to prevent the startup from using its assets, including GPT-4, for the financial benefit of Microsoft and other partners.

In response, OpenAI argued that Musks claims were incoherent and a transparent attempt to further his own AI ambitions. Seeing the remarkable technological advances OpenAI has achieved, Musk now wants that success for himself, OpenAIs attorneys stated. They described the lawsuit as a contrived effort by Musk to advance his own interests in the competitive AI landscape.

The timing of the dismissal, coupled with Musks recent public statements, raises questions about his motivations. Just recently, Musk threatened to ban Apple devices from his companies if OpenAIs technology became deeply integrated into iPhones and Macs. This threat followed Apples announcement of incorporating AI, including OpenAIs technology, into its products.

Musks own AI venture, xAI, has been gaining traction. Founded last July, xAI raised $6 billion in series B funding in May, at a post-money valuation of $24 billion. The company also launched its Grok chatbot and has reportedly secured billions in funding, including potentially diverting Nvidia chips originally allocated to Tesla.

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Musks lawsuit had accused Altman and OpenAI co-founder Greg Brockman of straying from the original vision of an open-source, non-profit company. The lawsuit claimed that OpenAI set the founding agreement aflame when it released its powerful language model GPT-4 last year.

The lawsuit has been dropped without prejudice, meaning Musk could refile it in the future. The abrupt withdrawal leaves the future of this legal battle uncertain.
Elon Musk hinted that he may actually consider partnering up with Samsung to launch an X Phone in abid to take down Apples iPhone. He has labelled Apples collaboration with OpenAI as an unacceptable security violation and accused Apple of compromising user security read more

While responding to an X user, Musk indicated that he is open to collaborate with Samsung to make an X Phone to take down the iPhone, for Apple's partnership with OpenAI. Image Credit: Reuters, Reuters

Elon Musk has openly criticized Apples recent partnership with OpenAI, threatening to ban Apple devices at Tesla, Starlink, SpaceX, and his other companies. The thing escalated to a point where Musk dropped a rather major hint  that he may actually consider partnering up with Samsung to launch an X Phone

Musks criticism comes in the wake of Apples announcement at the World Wide Developers Conference (WWDC) 2024 that it will integrate OpenAIs ChatGPT with iPhones and other devices via upcoming software updates.

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Musk, responding to a tweet about a potential partnership between X (formerly Twitter) and Samsung to develop an X-branded phone, indicated that it was a plausible scenario.

A user tweeted, Calling it now. X will partner with Samsung to manufacture an X phoneX OS will be open source to assure user privacy is protected, to which Musk replied, It is not out of the question.

Musks main contention with Apples decision to partner with OpenAI centres around security and privacy concerns. He labelled Apples collaboration with OpenAI as an unacceptable security violation and accused Apple of compromising user security. 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, Musk posted.

Furthermore, Musk has threatened to ban iPhones from all his companies, insisting that visitors would have to check their Apple devices at the door, where they would be stored in a Faraday cage to prevent any communication.

This situation is particularly notable given Musks historical connection to OpenAI. He co-founded OpenAI with Sam Altman and others in 2015 but stepped down from its board in 2018. Since his departure, Musk has been an outspoken critic of the company, especially regarding its direction and commercialization efforts.

Musks latest outburst reflects his broader concerns about AI development and data privacy, as well as his competitive stance in the AI industry, especially with his own AI venture, xAI, gaining momentum. This tension highlights the ongoing debates and power struggles in the tech industry surrounding AI innovation, privacy, and corporate control.
Brazilian Android users whose phones have Android version 10 or higher starting will have access to these features starting July. Google plans to gradually roll out these features to users in other countries throughout the year read more

Alphabets Google announced that Brazil will be the first country to test a new anti-theft feature for Android phones that leverages artificial intelligence (AI) to detect theft and lock the devices screen.

This innovative feature comes in response to the rising issue of phone theft in Brazil. According to according to the Brazilian Public Security Yearbook of 2023, nearly 1 million cell phones were reported stolen in 2022. That marks a 16.6 per cent increase from the previous year.

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The initial test phase will offer three types of locking mechanisms. The first uses AI developed by Google to detect movements typically associated with theft, automatically locking the screen when such movements are identified.

The second feature allows users to lock their device remotely by entering their phone number and completing a security challenge from another device. The third mode involves automatically locking the screen if the device remains without internet access for an extended period.

Brazilian Android users whose phones have Android version 10 or higher starting will have access to these features starting July. Google plans to gradually roll out these features to users in other countries throughout the year.

This phased rollout indicates a cautious approach to ensure the systems reliability and effectiveness before a broader launch.

In addition to Googles new anti-theft features, the Brazilian government has introduced its own measures to combat phone theft. In December, the government launched the Celular Seguro app, which enables users to report a stolen phone and block access to it using another trusted device.

The app has seen significant adoption, with around 2 million registered users and 50,000 phones blocked as of the previous month, according to the Justice Ministry.

These efforts underscore the importance of technological solutions in addressing the widespread issue of phone theft in Brazil.

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By combining Googles advanced AI capabilities with governmental initiatives like Celular Seguro, there is hope for a substantial reduction in the number of stolen phones and enhanced security for users in Brazil and beyond.
The growing number of AI-enabled chatbots, especially those that have been designed to scam people, as well as voice assistants from legit companies like OpenAI, Microsoft or Apple, have more often than not been personified as women read more

OpenAI allegedly used the likeness of Scarlett Johansson's character from the film, Her. On the right, is Aitana Lopez, one of the most popular virtual models, whose photos have often been used to create fake profies of women. Image Credit: AP, Instagram.

Chinese online scammers, Russian propaganda agencies and shady AI chatbots, even those by legit, known tech companies have one thing in common  they all use women to create fake profiles or AI-generated voices.

This highlights how deep-rooted gender stereotypes continue to influence human behaviour in the digital age, reflecting long-standing biases that have transitioned from the physical world to the virtual.

Historically, people have often humanised inanimate objects as women. A great case in point would be ships, or, ironically, massive storms. Both of these, have often been personified as women, only objectified. Notice how often we have heard some describe a ship, saying Shes beautiful.

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This tendency to humanise inanimate objects also extends to digital entities. Fake social media profiles or chatbots that mimic human characteristics are made more appealing if they are made in the image of a woman.

The growing number of AI-enabled chatbots, especially those that have been designed to scam people, as well as voice assistants from legit companies like OpenAI, Microsoft or Apple, have more often than not been personified as women.

Scammers want to inject some emotion and warmth into their bots, and the easiest way to do that is to pick a womans face and voice, observes Sylvie Borau, a marketing professor and online researcher in France.

Boraus research indicates that internet users often prefer female bots since they are perceived as more human than male versions. She also notes that women are generally seen as warmer, less threatening, and more agreeable, while men are often viewed as more competent but potentially hostile.

This perception can make people more inclined to engage with a fake account that appears female, whether consciously or subconsciously.

Wen-Ping Liu, a disinformation researcher, noted a similar trend in Chinas efforts to influence Taiwans elections through fake social media accounts. Liu observed that the most successful profiles were those that posed as women. Pretending to be a female is the easiest way to get credibility, Liu observed, who is an investigator with Taiwans Ministry of Justice.

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The notion that female profiles are more engaging is further supported by Cyabra, an Israeli tech firm which specialises in bot detection. Their analysis of over 40,000 profiles found that female social media profiles receive more than three times the views compared to male profiles. Younger female profiles, in particular, attract the most attention. Cyabras report concluded that creating a fake account while presenting a woman as the face of it, significantly increases its reach compared to male bots or even fake accounts.

Even high-profile figures in AI, such as OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, have recognized the appeal of female voices in AI applications. Altman approached Scarlett Johansson for her voice to enhance the user experience of ChatGPT, citing its comforting quality. Johansson declined, but they went ahead and created an AI bot that not only had the same mannerisms as one of Johanssons characters from a movie, but also its voice.

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This highlights the preference for female voices in making AI interactions more engaging and relatable.

However, this preference comes with a dark side. Boraus research also found that female chatbots are more likely to receive sexual harassment and threats compared to their male counterparts. This disturbing trend underscores how gender biases manifest in the treatment of digital personas.

Nations like China and Russia have long exploited these biases in their online election interference and influence campaigns, mainly using fake profiles of women to spread propaganda and disinformation.

These profiles also often exploit societal views of women being wise, nurturing figures.

The prevalence of female AI and fake profiles can be partly attributed to the predominantly male-dominated tech industry. A UN report titled Are Robots Sexist? suggested that the gender disparity in tech contributes to the perpetuation of sexist stereotypes in AI products. Greater diversity in programming and AI development could help mitigate these biases. To put it very simply, most chatbots are female, because the people making them, are lonely men.

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For programmers who want to make their chatbots as human-like as possible, this creates a dilemma if they have any ethical considerations, that is. Selecting a female persona might inadvertently reinforce sexist views about women in real-life, and push them into a trap. Its a vicious cycle, Borau remarked. Humanizing AI might dehumanize women.

This interplay between technology and gender stereotypes raises important questions about the ethical implications of AI development and the need for greater diversity in the tech industry to foster more inclusive and equitable digital environments.
Every minute, more than one million plastic bottles of water are sold around the world. Many of them become unrecycled plastic waste mere minutes or hours after they're opened. And if the bottled water industry had its way, we'd be buying even more.

However, recent headlines have begun creating a change in awareness with regards to the water industry globally, whereas specific studies done on nanoplastics and various bacteria found in some of the more 'popular' brands of water have set off alarms to concerned consumers and social communities.

Bottled water companies have always promoted their product as "safer," but that's far from the truth when you look into the science and facts. In the United States, bottled water is under weaker regulations than tap water, and when it comes to chemicals, microbes, and radioactive material, testing for bottled water is less stringent than tap water.

Recently, over 78,000 cases of Fiji water sold across the United States online have been recalled due to the possible presence of manganese and three additional "bacterial genera," according to the Food and Drug Administration. Add this situation to the growing concern over the negative effects doctors and researchers worldwide are proving with nanoplastics being found in our water bottles; people are asking for strict changes to be made on all levels.

Plastics are a part of our everyday lives, and plastic pollution is a growing concern, yes. However, daily plastics in our bodies are an extreme health risk. When plastics break down over time, they can form smaller particles called microplastics, which are 5 mm or less in lengthsmaller than a sesame seed. Microplastics, in turn, can break down into even smaller pieces called nanoplastics, which are less than 1 m in size. Unable to be seen with the naked eye, these are small enough to enter the body's cells and tissues.

Previous research on those drinking from all types of plastic bottled water (especially bottles exposed to heat and sunlight) has found extreme evidence and cases of plastic particles in human blood, lungs, gut, feces, and reproductive tissues like the placenta and testes. Researchers in 2023 and into 2024 now have found that, on average, a liter of bottled water includes about 240,000 tiny pieces of plastic. About 90% of these plastic fragments were nanoplastics. This total was 10 to 100 times more plastic particles than seen in earlier studies done a few years ago, which mostly focused on larger microplastics.

So, how can one be sure not to 'drink plastic'? The answer is simple: drink from glass or aluminum bottles rather than the typical grocery-store-bought plastic offerings. While the other options may cost more upfront, it doesn't compare to the potential long term effects and what you may have to pay if you were to fall under some health problems.

Water brands, both big and small in the United States, like Liquid Death, RAIN, Path, Happy Himalayan, and Mountain Valley, have either begun transitioning into non-plastic offerings or are already strictly selling only glass or aluminum bottles. Unfortunately, brands like Fiji Water, despite their recent massive recall, still continue to offer only plastic bottles.

A spokesperson for Fiji Water, Melissa England, said, "99% of the affected bottles have been reclaimed, and the issue was confined to products sold through a single distributor."

But it doesn't just stop with Fiji, as the Waiakea Hawaiian Volcanic Water brand is also under a recall by the FDA.

In April, the FDA issued a second drinking water recall for the "Waiakea Hawaiian Volcanic Water Naturally Alkaline Electrolytes Deep Well Water 1.0 Liter" bottles. The recall was issued after consumer complaints that they noticed floating particles in some of the specific water bottles. It was determined as a Class II recall, which is defined by the FDA as a "situation in which use of, or exposure to, a violative product may cause temporary or medically reversible adverse health consequences or where the probability of serious adverse health consequences is remote." According to the recall announcement, the Waiakea Hawaiian Volcanic Water Naturally Alkaline Electrolytes Deep Well Water bottles were sold in Pennsylvania, Maryland, New Jersey, Michigan, Texas, Florida, North Carolina, Georgia, and Colorado. The recall states that there was "no foreign distribution" for the specific product.

Liquid Death has brought a lot of attention forward using the ubiquitous #deathtoplastic hashtag on social media and making a promise to consumers that a portion of profits will help kill plastic pollution, although their shipping containers do include plastic shrink-wrap which has concerned some via social media.

Happy Himalayan, a color-changing new water offering on the market packaged in cardboard box containers, has also started making waves as an alternative to plastic offerings. It has separated itself as "Water You Can Be Happy About!" and has fully gone the all-natural routeas water should be. They have infused their Artesian water with a natural electrolyte, Pink Himalayan Sea Salt, a first on the market here in the United States, which provides 84 trace minerals, the most trace minerals of any natural salt in the world, which are vital to our bodies ability to absorb water. This, while being bottled in aluminum locally in the United States from an Artesian, fully solar-powered bottling source, gives hope to our future that at least some companies are looking to create a change while also reducing their carbon footprint.

The water industry as a whole must embrace several changes in the coming years due to these new headline-making facts that consumers just simply cannot ignore any longer, as well as other factors, including rapid urbanisation, severe climate changes, rising customer demands, and emerging digital technologies. These changes will present businesses with a complex set of challenges that could be worth addressing in order to stay competitive within the industry, while others will have to change their ways in order to survive. Consumers are no longer turning a blind eye to issues that keep rising, and the 'big companies' who have tried to monopolize the industry are no longer safe from new options that are being presented.
At Apple, Akbacak played a key role in shaping the strategy for Siri, focusing on personalisation, and contextualisation. He was also crucial for the various breakthroughs Apple made in their own conversational and multimodal AI read more

Samsung has been relying heavily on Alphabet's Google Gemini to power its Galaxy AI features. Image Credit: AFP

Samsung Electronics is streamlining its North American AI research efforts and has decided to merge two of its research centres in a bid to focus all of its efforts on developing its own, in-house artificial intelligence systems.

The company has announced the creation of a new entity called the North America AI Centre. This combines the teams in Toronto, Canada and Mountain View, California, and should improve operational efficiency.

Samsung has also hired former Apple executive Murat Akbacak to lead the newly formed division, as per a report by Bloomberg.

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All of this was revealed in an internal communication note earlier this week.

At Apple, Akbacak played a key role in shaping the strategy for Siri, focusing on personalisation, and contextualisation. He was also crucial for the various breakthroughs Apple made in their own conversational and multimodal AI.

Samsungs gambit comes at a time when Apple has made some significant strides in expanding its AI capabilities, as it showcased at this years WWDC.

During Apples recent AI announcement, the Cupertino-based tech giant emphasised particularly on how they have been able to make Siri more personalised and have improved its contextual understanding of user requests.

Furthermore, the company introduced features to assist users in organising notifications across its iPhone, iPad, and Mac operating systems, all under the umbrella of Apple Intelligence.

And even though Apple Intelligence uses OpenAI technology for its chatbot, the majority of its features that Apple highlighted at WWC24 were all developed in-house.

In contrast, Samsung relies heavily on Alphabets Google Gemini to support its Galaxy AIs capabilities.

Toronto has emerged as a hub for AI research and talent, with technologies originating from Canada playing integral roles in various tech applications, including facial recognition algorithms, photo apps, and voice recognition systems.

Samsungs consolidation efforts are a great example of the increasing aggressiveness of major technology companies in a bid to win what is being called the AI space.

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For industry giants like Samsung and Apple, advanced AI features will prove to be pivotal in encouraging consumer technology upgrades and driving market competitiveness.
Most deaths in Kuwait building fire were due to smoke inhalation while residents were sleeping, officials said, adding that a significant number of occupants were evacuated read more

Kuwaiti police officers are seen in front of a burnt building following a deadly fire, in Mangaf, southern Kuwait, June 12, 2024. Source: REUTERS.

A six-storey building in Kuwait housing labourers engulfed in massive fire on early Wednesday, killing at least 50 people, around 40 of them being Indians.

In an unfortunate and tragic fire-incident earlier today (June 12) in a Labour housing facility in Mangaf area of Kuwait, around 40 Indians are understood to have died and over 50 injured. The Embassy is ascertaining the full details from the concerned Kuwaiti authorities and the company. We offer our deepest condolences to the bereaved families, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) confirmed late on Wednesday.

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Those injured are presently admitted in five government hospitals (Adan, Jaber, Farwaniya, Mubarak Al Kabeer and Jahra hospitals) in Kuwait and receiving proper medical care and attention. According to hospital authorities, most of the admitted patients are stable, the MEA statement further mentioned.

Indians killed in Kuwait fire were from Kerala, Tamil Nadu

The majority of the deceased were Indian nationals from Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and north Indian states. Their ages ranged between 20 and 50 years, Major General Eid Al-Owaihan, head of the interior ministrys General Department of Criminal Evidence, was quoted as saying by English language daily Arab Times.

Indians constitute 21 per cent (1 million) of the total population of Kuwait and 30 per cent of its workforce (approximately 9 lakhs).

Kuwaits Interior Ministry said criminal evidence department personnel are currently working on identifying the victims on site and added that strict measures will be taken against building owners who violate the law.

How Kuwait building caught fire?

The fire broke out in the building which is rented by the NBTC group on Wednesday morning. The building reportedly sheltered 195 people who were workers of the same company.

Major General Eid Al-Owaihan said: Unfortunately, we received a report of a fire at exactly 6:00 am (0830 IST) in the Mangaf area.

The blaze started in a kitchen in the six-storey building, officials said.

How Kuwait building fire led to massive deaths?

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Most deaths in Kuwait building fire were due to smoke inhalation while residents were sleeping, officials said, adding that a significant number of occupants were evacuated.

Witnesses quoted by local media highlighted that the closure of ground passages within the building as a contributing factor to the severity of the suffocation experienced by several victims.

This obstruction hindered residents movement and further compounded the challenge of evacuating the building swiftly, they said.

The sight of flames engulfing the building instilled fear among onlookers, passersby recalled.

One of the eyewitnesses recalled that a resident worker jumped from the fifth floor, meeting a tragic end as he struck the balconys edge.

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Kuwaits assurance to India

Indias External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar spoke to Kuwaiti FM Abdullah Ali Al-Yahya on the fire tragedy in Kuwait and apprised of the efforts made by Kuwaiti authorities in that regard.

Was assured that the incident would be fully investigated and that responsibility will be fixed, Jaishakar said, adding that he has urged for the early repatriation of the mortal remains of those who lost their lives.

Spoke to Kuwaiti FM Abdullah Ali Al-Yahya on the fire tragedy in Kuwait.



Apprised of the efforts made by Kuwaiti authorities in that regard. Was assured that the incident would be fully investigated and that responsibility will be fixed.



Urged the early repatriation of the  Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) June 12, 2024

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Emir of Kuwait vows to hold accountable those responsible

The Emir of Kuwait, Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber al-Sabah ordered authorities to probe the massive fire and vowed to hold accountable those responsible for the tragedy.

Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah and Prime Minister Sheikh Ahmed Abdullah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah condoled the deaths and prayed for the speedy recovery of the injured.

Vehicles are parked next to a building damaged following a deadly fire, in Mangaf, southern Kuwait. Source: REUTERS

Sheikh Fahad Al-Yousuf Al-Sabah, serving as the First Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Interior, and Minister of Defence, has ordered police to arrest the owner of the Mangaf building where the fatal blaze occurred Wednesday.

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What happened today is a result of the greed of the company and building owners, Deputy Prime Minister said in a statement.

He said that he gave orders to Kuwait Municipality and the Public Authority for Manpower to launch immediate action to address similar violations where large numbers of workers are crammed into one residential building, and make sure that all safety requirements are in place in order to prevent similar incidents in the future.

The Public Prosecution launched investigations into the building fire, it announced in a statement.

Indian embassy in Kuwait launches emergency helpline

In connection with the tragic fire accident involving Indian workers today, the Embassy has put in place an emergency helpline number: +965-65505246. All concerned are requested to connect over this helpline for updates. Embassy remains committed to render all possible assistance, the Indian Embassy in Kuwait said in a post on X.

In connection with the tragic fire-accident involving Indian workers today, Embassy has put in place an emergency helpline number: +965-65505246.



All concerned are requested to connect over this helpline for updates. Embassy remains committed to render all possible assistance. https://t.co/RiXrv2oceo  India in Kuwait (@indembkwt) June 12, 2024

PM reviews fire tragedy in Kuwait building

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Wednesday evening, chaired a review meeting on the fire tragedy in Kuwait.

Also Read: WATCH: PM Modi reviews Kuwait building fire in high-level meet, Indians among 49 dead

PM Modi expressed his deep sorrow at the unfortunate incident and extended condolences to the families of the deceased. He also wished speedy recovery of those injured.

Modi sends MoS External Affairs to oversee relief

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also directed that Government of India should extend all possible assistance.

MoS External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh has also been directed by the prime minister to immediately travel to Kuwait to oversee the relief measures and facilitate expeditious repatriation of the mortal remains.

Also Read: Kuwait building fire: PM Modi dispatches junior foreign minister as Indians among 41 killed: 10 BIG updates

PM Modi announced ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh

Modi has also announced ex-gratia relief of Rs 2 lakh to the families of the deceased of Indian nationals from Prime Minister Relief Fund.

Earlier, PM Modi, in a post on X, said: The fire mishap in Kuwait City is saddening. My thoughts are with all those who have lost their near and dear ones. I pray that the injured recover at the earliest. The Indian Embassy in Kuwait is closely monitoring the situation and working with the authorities there to assist the affected.

Also Read: Indians among 41 killed in Kuwait building fire, Jaishankar promises fullest assistance

Indian Ambassador Adarsh Swaika visited the fire incident site and later different hospitals (the Al-Adan hospital, Farwaniya Hospital, Mubarak Al-Kabeer Hospital and Jahra Hospital) where over 50 injured Indian workers have been admitted.

With inputs from agencies
The Danish government has recalled three ramen noodle products by South Korean company Samyang - Buldak 3x Spicy & Hot Chicken, 2x Spicy & Hot Chicken and Hot Chicken Stew - claiming that the capsaicin levels in them could poison consumers read more

Samyang Food's Buldak Spicy Noodles and other instant noodles are displayed at a grocery store in Seoul, May 19. Image Courtesy: Yonhap

The Danish government has recalled three ramen noodle products by South Korean company Samyang - Buldak 3x Spicy & Hot Chicken, 2x Spicy & Hot Chicken and Hot Chicken Stew - claiming that the capsaicin levels in them could poison consumers.

Capsaicin, which fuels the spicy flavor in various hot sauces, can be dangerous in high amounts as it can lead to adverse health effects such as nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain and diarrhea.

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The DTU Food Institute assesses that the levels of total capsaicin in a single pack of all three noodle products are so high that they pose a risk that the consumer develops acute poisoning, BBC quoted the Danish Veterinary and Food Administration as saying in a statement on Tuesday.

If you have the products, you should discard them or return them to the store where they were purchased, the statement added.

According to The Korea Times, Danish authorities have advised parents to reach out to the Poison Line if their child exhibits acute symptoms after consuming the noodles.

A representative from Samyang Foods told The Korea Times that the company was not previously aware of the Danish authorities ruling and is presently investigating the matter.

The decision by the Danish government to recall the noodles due to their excessive spiciness is a highly unusual, if not unprecedented, occurrence.

In 2021, authorities in Mexico ordered a recall of Buldak noodles for misleading customers with its label, as the product did not contain chicken despite being labeled as hot chicken flavor ramen.

Samyang is a major South Korean food manufacturer which brands itself as the first company in the country to create instant noodles, back in the 1960s.

With inputs from agencies
If youre enchanted by Puglia, the host province of the G7 summit in 2024, get ready for a dreamy Italian adventure! Picture yourself at Borgo Egnazia, a stunning luxury resort on Italys Adriatic coast near Bari, crafted to look like a traditional village. Its so fabulous that even Madonna and Justin Timberlake are regulars. But dont worry if your budget isnt quite superstar sized. Puglias charm extends beyond the glitz, with plenty of affordable and equally enchanting spots to explore. So pack your bags and get ready to uncover the magic of Puglia, no celebrity status required!

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Of course, weve never been to Puglia ourselves, but thats what travel websites and travelogues are for, right? So, heres a fun little guide on how to enjoy Puglia without breaking the bank. Ouch! Speaking of budgets, theres a bit of a sting: the Schengen visa fee went up by 12 per cent globally on June 11, 2024. But dont let that stop you! Theres still plenty of affordable magic waiting for you in Puglia.

This is what Benedetta Geddo from Lonely Planet brings for us:

And heres her first tip: If youre looking to travel on a budget, then youll be happy to know that youre already saving money just by choosing Puglia. Nice, right? Visiting during the off-season keeps costs even lower, so planning a budget-friendly trip to Puglia is a cinch.

Heres the scoop on the best bits we could dig up online  we know we cant cover everything, and you definitely cant read it all!

Where exactly is Puglia?

Welcome to Puglia, the star of southern Italy, where the heel of the boot meets the Adriatic and Ionian seas in the southeast. Known to Italians as the mezzogiorno, southern Italy begins just south of Rome. Puglia is like a long, skinny peninsula and as Go Ask A Local tells us, travel times can be quite the journey. For example, driving from Vieste in the Gargano region up north to Otranto in Salento down south takes a hefty 4.5 hours. So, pack snacks  this isnt a quick trip!

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Puglias beauty lies in its two coastlines  the Adriatic and Ionian. The best beaches are scattered across the Gargano peninsula in the north and the Salento peninsula in the south with Ostunis coastline also stealing the spotlight. The Go Ask A Local website, hosted by Paolo, a Puglia-based tourist guide, lets us in on a secret: all over Italy, youve got the famous Lido. A lido is basically a stretch of beach owned by chic beach clubs, lined with loungers and umbrellas. When you think of those quintessential Italian beach pics, thats the lido life!

But hang tight, dont let it dampen your spirits! Youll find some fab free beaches with no umbrellas, chairs, or changing rooms in sight  just the sand and the sea! Forget the high-end restaurants and hit up the local bakery or friggitoria for some tasty, budget-friendly eats. Your euros will stretch a lot further and your taste buds will have a blast!

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Ah! Before all that, youve got to reach Puglia first. But how?

Reaching Puglia on a budget is totally doable!

Start by looking for deals on budget airlines like Ryanair, EasyJet, or Wizz Air, which often have cheap flights to Bari or Brindisi. Use flight comparison websites like Skyscanner, Kayak, or Google Flights to find the best prices. Once you arrive, you can use trains from Bari or Brindisi to explore other parts of Puglia, with Trenitalia and Ferrovie del Sud Est offering extensive routes.

Lecce, in Puglias heart, boasts stunning Baroque architecture and charming winding alleys, perfect for an Italian escape. Image courtesy Patrick Nouhailler/Wikimedia Commons

For more remote areas, buses are a great option; check out SITA Puglia or MarinoBus. If youre travelling with friends, renting a car can be economical  look for deals on Rentalcars.com or Kayak, or try car sharing services like BlaBlaCar. Traveling in the shoulder seasons (spring and autumn) can also save you money on flights, accommodation and attractions.

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Consider flying into nearby airports like Naples or Rome and then taking a train or bus to Puglia for potentially cheaper fares. Booking your transport and accommodation in advance is key to snagging the best rates. Finally, for a true budget hack, consider overnight buses or trains to save on accommodation costs. With these tips, you can enjoy the stunning beauty of Puglia without breaking the bank!

Okay. Now youre in Puglia. But how long should you stay?

Go Ask A Local recommends at least a week to soak up the magic of Puglia, but if you have 10 days, youre in for the perfect road trip! This timeframe lets you explore the stunning Gargano Peninsula, charming small towns and the beautiful countryside. First-timers should focus on these four must-see areas:

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 The Gargano Peninsula

 The Salento Peninsula

 The Terra di Bari

 The Itria Valley

Ready to hit the road?

Too fond of debit or credit cards? Better have some cash

While most places in Puglia take credit or debit cards, its a good idea to carry some cash. It might be a hassle, but many vendors will give you a better deal if you pay with cash.

What do you eat in Puglia?

Puglia was once Italys breadbasket and you can still taste the history in every bite! Those endless fields of durum wheat arent just for show. The food here is light, fresh and full of flavour. Want the full experience? Head there, soak in the aromas, savour each bite, and let the flavours linger in your memory for ages!

What did we miss? Oh right, the big one: Where to stay?

Geddo from Lonely Planet says if youre dreaming of a beachfront pad, be prepared to splurge. The further you wander from the shore, the more budget-friendly your stay will be!

A word of caution

Paolo from Go Ask A Local notes that while Puglia remains more affordable than Rome, Florence, Tuscany, the Amalfi Coast, the Northern Lakes, or the Dolomites, its no longer the budget-friendly gem it once was. But dont let that deter you. Puglia is a destination you simply cant miss!
A fire at a building housing workers in the city of Mangaf in southern Kuwait early on Wednesday has killed at least 41 workers, including Indians, and injured dozens, according to reports read more

Vehicles are parked next to a building damaged following a deadly fire, in Mangaf, southern Kuwait, on Wednesday. Reuters

A fire at a building housing workers in the city of Mangaf in southern Kuwait early on Wednesday has killed at least 41 workers, including Indians, and injured dozens, according to reports. The fire started in a kitchen in the six-storey building in Mangaf area in Kuwaits southern Ahmadi Governorate in the early hours of Wednesday, officials said.

The building reportedly had nearly 160 people living in it, who are workers of the same company. While initial reports by Onmanorama claimed that 10 Indian nationals, including five Keralites, were among those killed, some media reports suggested that 40 Indians died in the incident.

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Deputy Prime Minister Sheikh Fahad Yusuf Saud Al-Sabah, who visited the site, accused the real estate owners of violations and greed, saying those factors contributed towards the incident.

Unfortunately, the greed of real estate owners is what leads to these matters, Reuters quoted Sheikh Fahad, who also runs the interior and defence ministries, as saying.

Indians make up 21% (1 million) of Kuwaits population and 30% (approximately 900,000) of its workforce.

Kuwait, like other Persian Gulf countries, has a large community of migrant workers who far outnumber the local population. The nation of some 4.2 million people is slightly smaller than the US state of New Jersey but has the worlds sixth-largest known oil reserves.

As directed by PM Narendra Modi, MoS for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh is urgently travelling to Kuwait to oversee assistance to those injured in the fire tragedy and to coordinate with local authorities for early repatriation of mortal remains of those who have died in this unfortunate incident, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said on X.

As directed by PM @narendramodi, MoS for External Affairs @KVSinghMPGonda is urgently travelling to Kuwait to oversee assistance to those injured in the fire tragedy and to coordinate with local authorities for early repatriation of mortal remains of those who have died in this  Randhir Jaiswal (@MEAIndia) June 12, 2024

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The fire was reported to authorities at 6:00 am local time (0300 GMT), Major General Eid Rashed Hamad told Reuters.

The building in which the fire occurred was used to house workers, and there was a large number of workers there. Dozens were rescued, but unfortunately there were many deaths as a result of inhaling smoke from the fire, Reuters quoted another senior police commander as telling state TV.

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We always alert and warn against cramming too many workers into housing accommodation, he said, without providing details on the workers type of employment or place of origin.

The fire was contained and authorities were investigating its cause, officials said.

Jaishankar expresses grief

Soon after the fire broke out, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar expressed deepest condolences to the families of those who lost their lives.

Deeply shocked by the news of the fire incident in Kuwait city. There are reportedly over 40 deaths and over 50 have been hospitalized. Our Ambassador has gone to the camp. We are awaiting further information.



Deepest condolences to the families of those who tragically lost  Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) June 12, 2024

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Deeply shocked by the news of the fire incident in Kuwait city. There are reportedly over 40 deaths and over 50 have been hospitalised. Our Ambassador has gone to the camp. We are awaiting further information, wrote Jaishankar on X.

Deepest condolences to the families of those who tragically lost their lives. Wish early and full recovery to those who have been injured. Our Embassy will render the fullest assistance to all concerned in this regard, he added.

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Embassy issues helpline number

Indian Embassy in Kuwait has put in place an emergency helpline number - +965-65505246, saying Embassy remains committed to render all possible assistance.

In connection with the tragic fire-accident involving Indian workers today, Embassy has put in place an emergency helpline number: +965-65505246.



All concerned are requested to connect over this helpline for updates. Embassy remains committed to render all possible assistance. https://t.co/RiXrv2oceo  India in Kuwait (@indembkwt) June 12, 2024

In connection with the tragic fire-accident involving Indian workers today, Embassy has put in place an emergency helpline number: +965-65505246. All concerned are requested to connect over this helpline for updates. Embassy remains committed to render all possible assistance, the Indian Embassy in Kuwait said in a post on X.

Ambassador Swaika meets injured Indian workers

Meanwhile, Ambassador Adarsh Swaika visited the Al-Adan hospital where over 30 injured Indian workers have been admitted.

Amb @AdarshSwaika visited the Al-Adan hospital where over 30 Indian workers injured in todays fire incident have been admitted. He met a number of patients and assured them of full assistance from the Embassy. Almost all are reported to be stable by hospital authorities. pic.twitter.com/p0LeaErguF  India in Kuwait (@indembkwt) June 12, 2024

He met a number of patients and assured them of full assistance from the Embassy. Almost all are reported to be stable by hospital authorities, India Embassy in Kuwait wrote on X.

He also visited Farwaniya Hospital, where six workers, expected to be mostly Indians were admitted.

Amb @AdarshSwaika1 visited Farwaniya Hospital, where 6 workers, expected to be mostly Indians, injured in today's fire-incident were admitted. Hospital authorities confirmed that 4 of them have been released, 1 has been shifted to Jahra hospital & 1 in ward is reportedly stable pic.twitter.com/RPQp9SZ6nq  India in Kuwait (@indembkwt) June 12, 2024

Hospital authorities confirmed that 4 of them have been released, 1 has been shifted to Jahra hospital & 1 in ward is reportedly stable, the Embassy added.

Order issued to arrest building owner

Kuwaits Interior Minister Al-Sabah ordered police to apprehend the owner of the Mangaf building, the buildings janitor, as well as the owner of the company responsible for the workers pending the end of the criminal investigation, the Kuwait Times reported.

He said that he gave orders to Kuwait Municipality and the Public Authority for Manpower to launch immediate action to address similar violations where large numbers of workers are crammed into one residential building, and make sure that all safety requirements are in place in order to prevent similar incidents in the future.

In a similar incident, a fire at an oil refinery in Kuwait had killed four people in 2022.

With input from agencies
The G7 Summit officially begins on Thursday and as it strives to reinvent itself and address global challenges more inclusively, managing internal differences will be the true test of its effectiveness read more

A view shows Castello Federiciano, the venue where the G7 summit's first dinner is scheduled to take place on 13 June, as local police personnel look on, in Brindisi, Italy. Reuters

In the picturesque region of Apulia, Southern Italy, the stage is set for the arrival of world leaders for the G7 Summit. This significant event will see the gathering of representatives from some of the worlds richest economies including Canada, France, Germany, Japan, UK, US and the host nation, Italy.

A timely meeting

This years G7 meeting occurs against a backdrop of significant international events. Europe is experiencing political churn with a major election, US is approaching its own polls and conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza continue to affect global stability. Moreover, Western economies are still grappling with the repercussions of these conflicts.

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Italys ambitious agenda

Italy has outlined a bold and comprehensive agenda for this summit. The priorities include addressing the ongoing wars in Ukraine and Gaza, redefining the G7s relationship with developing nations and emerging economiesespecially in the Indo-Pacific regionand tackling the challenges and opportunities presented by artificial intelligence.

Italian Prime Minister Georgia Meloni has additional priorities focussed on European issues such as combating illegal migration. She intends to push the G7 towards adopting a tougher stance on this matter engaging from a position of strength. Meloni said, I am ready to welcome and I am proud that this nation presents itself at the G7 in Europe with the strongest government of all.

An expanded guest list

In a notable shift, Italy has invited 12 other heads of state to the summit surpassing the number of invitees from previous hosts. Japan had invited eight additional countries last year while Germany and Britain each invited five during their respective turns as hosts. Among the invitees this year is Indias Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who will be making his first overseas trip in his third term.

Other prominent leaders expected to attend include Brazils President Lula da Silva, Argentinas President Javier Milei, Turkeys President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Jordans King Abdullah and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman. This marks the first time a leader from Saudi Arabia has been invited to a G7 summit. Additionally, a significant contingent from Africa is expected to participate.

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Seeking consensus amid differences

The expanded guest list presents numerous opportunities for building consensus. However, the G7 must first navigate its internal differences to decide which issues to prioritise. For example, US is advocating for a $50 billion loan to Ukraine funded by frozen Russian assets in the West. This proposal has not yet achieved consensus among G7 members.

Ukraines President Volodymyr Zelensky has been invited to the summit and Russia is closely monitoring these developments. Recently, Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov warned that Moscow would respond in kind if the G7 proceeds with using frozen Russian assets for the Ukrainian loan.

We have the same opportunities. We have frozen money in EU accounts. We have assets. We will also get income. If there is a decision we will act similarly. We will respond in kind, said Siluanov.

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The China challenge

China remains a significant topic of discussion. Last year, the G7 addressed Beijings economic coercion and pledged to take action. However, the measures taken were largely limited to information sharing. This year, there are calls to address Chinas industrial overcapacity and its economic impact.

The US and France are pushing for steep tariffs on Chinese imports and for the G7 communique to express common concerns about Beijings industrial overcapacity. While punitive actions seem unlikely, a statement of condemnation is expected. In response, China has already criticised these moves, with Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning saying, The G7s hyping-up of Chinas overcapacity and its attempts to impose restrictions on Chinas new energy products are a complete departure from the facts and economic laws, and are protectionism in nature, which are not in the interests of any party.

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The summit ahead

The G7 Summit officially begins on Thursday. While the G7 strives to reinvent itself and address global challenges more inclusively, managing internal differences will be the true test of its effectiveness.
Our mission is to serve farmers and protect their crops, Youssef said, adding that the work lasts one or two months. If fires break out we are notified directly and we call the fire trucks, she told AFP. This year the farmers in northeast Syria are expecting an exceptional harvest after heavy rain followed years of drought read more

A volunteer in the Kurdish Community Protection Forces checks her rifle as she guards wheat fields from fire or looting around the town of Tarbesbeyeh, also known as al-Qahtaniyah in Arabic, in northeastern Syria's Hasakeh Governorate near the Turkish border on May 30, 2024. AFP

Holding a weapon in one hand and fixing her scarf with the other, Yasmine Youssef patrols one of northeast Syrias vast wheatfields, a vital source of income in the countrys breadbasket.

The 42-year-old is among dozens of volunteers, some of them women, helping the semi-autonomous Kurdish-led region protect the fields near Qahtaniyah, from fires and arsonists.

Our mission is to serve farmers and protect their crops, Youssef said, adding that the work lasts one or two months.

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If fires break out we are notified directly and we call the fire trucks, she told AFP.

This year the farmers in northeast Syria are expecting an exceptional harvest after heavy rain followed years of drought.

But residents also fear that yearly summer wildfires could destroy their precious crops.

Agricultural production rebounded in 2023 amid improved weather conditions after near-historical lows the year before, according to a recent World Bank report.

Official statistics indicate a doubled wheat harvest for 2023, yielding two million metric tons, it said.

In June 2019, flames swept through wheatfields in the region, killing at least 10 people who were fighting the fires, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights war monitor.

At first, people didnt trust our efforts. They were saying, What are those women doing?, Youssef said.

Now everyone agrees on the need to unite to protect the land, she said.

The people depend entirely on this harvest If we lose it, our conditions will deteriorate.

- A strategic asset -

Nearby, farmers toiled in the scorching heat, ploughing the golden fields as Kurdish police also patrolled the area.

Northeast Syrian wheat is a strategic asset for the semi-autonomous administration, providing bread for people who live in the area.

Every year, the administration and the Syrian government, which accuses the Kurds of separatism, compete to buy the wheat harvest from farmers.

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Residents and officials in the Kurdish-held region told AFP they believed the fires were often the result of arson.

Islamic State group extremists have previously burnt crops in areas under Kurdish control, after the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces  the Kurds de facto army in the area  dislodged the jihadists from the last scraps of Syrian territory they held in 2019.

Volunteer Renkin Hassan, 50, urged people not to discard cigarettes that could start fires accidentally, but also blamed unspecified parties for burning the land intentionally.

We will not let them do that, she said defiantly, patrolling beside other armed volunteers and wearing a military vest.

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I dont own a single acre of land, but I come here every day so farmers can harvest their crops without having to worry about fires, she added.

There have already been limited outbreaks of fire in several locations this year, local authorities said.

The volunteers brave high summer temperatures and sometimes surprise attacks by IS jihadists, as well as Turkish strikes targeting the SDF.

Sporting an assault rifle, flip-flops and a flowery dress, Atia Hassan, 50, said her goal was to prevent arsonists from burning the land  and to protect ourselves.

People are happy when they see us and we are proud of our efforts despite all the difficulties, she added.
The six named Wednesday  all on the bounty list  are considered lawless wanted criminals hiding in the United Kingdom, a government spokesperson said in a statement. They continue to blatantly engage in activities that endanger national security We therefore have taken such measure to give them a strong blow, the spokesperson added, listing cancellation of HKSAR passports as one of the measures read more

The Hong Kong government said Wednesday it has cancelled the passports of six democracy activists who fled to the United Kingdom, calling them lawless wanted criminals.

Hong Kong last year issued HK$1 million ($128,000) bounties for 13 activists based abroad who authorities accused of committing national security crimes.

The six named Wednesday  all on the bounty list  are considered lawless wanted criminals hiding in the United Kingdom, a government spokesperson said in a statement.

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They continue to blatantly engage in activities that endanger national security We therefore have taken such measure to give them a strong blow, the spokesperson added, listing cancellation of HKSAR passports as one of the measures.

The six are former pro-democracy lawmaker Nathan Law, veteran unionist Mung Siu-tat, and activists Simon Cheng, Finn Lau, Fok Ka-chi and Choi Ming-da.

Hong Kong officials cited a national security law passed in March as the legal basis for cancelling their passports.

Police added that anyone offering funds, leasing property or running a business with those named could face up to seven years in jail.

The move came on the fifth anniversary of a violent clash between protesters and police that marked a major escalation in the Hong Kong pro-democracy protests of 2019.

The most recent batch of bounties, issued in December, were condemned at the time by the United States and Britain, with London calling them a threat to our democracy and fundamental human rights.

City leader John Lee  who has been sanctioned by the United States for his role as security chief in 2019  has said the wanted activists would be pursued for life and called on them to surrender.

Beijing imposed a sweeping national security law on Hong Kong in 2020 following the huge and at times violent protests.

The law  which has reshaped Hong Kong society and broken down the legal firewall that once existed between the city and mainland China  claims the power to hold accused people accountable across the world.

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The six people named Wednesday have been accused of national security crimes including incitement to secession, incitement to subversion and foreign collusion  offences that could land them in prison for life.

A new homegrown national security law, passed in March, granted Hong Kong authorities further enforcement powers, including the cancelling of passports.
According to recent findings from the Russian customs agency, imports have rebounded nearly to their prewar levels, in fact, at significantly higher prices. These imported goods have played a crucial role in supporting fragile sectors like aviation and automotive manufacturing read more

Despite stringent US sanctions to restrict Russias access to Western technology and consumer goods, the Kremlin has displayed remarkable ease in finding regulatory gaps and exploiting legal loopholes.

Even as its economy has displayed resilience and continued growth despite two years of fighting a war and many predictions of a fall down. Experts pin this achievement to its diversified economic structure, along with vast natural resources that has enabled Russia to successfully deal with all the international pressures and attempts to isolate it.

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Apart from this, strategic government interventions and policies aimed at promoting domestic production and reducing reliance on imports have also brought economic stability in Russia.

According to recent findings from the Russian customs agency, imports have rebounded nearly to their prewar levels, in fact, at significantly higher prices. These imported goods have played a crucial role in supporting fragile sectors like aviation and automotive manufacturing.

This phenomenon has been labeled as a sanctions gap by researchers. It involves the rerouting and re-exportation of various items, ranging from semiconductors to airplane components to iPhones, into Russia. These goods are often channeled through companies based in China, Turkey, or the UAE, or they may transit through countries like Armenia, Kazakhstan, and other former Soviet republics.

Concerned over this, the United States has announced the expansion of sanctions. White House spokesperson John Kirby told reporters earlier Tuesday that Washington would announce new sanctions and export controls against Russia in the upcoming G7 meet in Italy.

How is Russia decieving sanctions?

Critical technology, like microchips from US companies such as Xilinx and Texas Instruments, is helping Russia in the war. Theyre getting these items through middlemen in places like Hong Kong or China.

According to some experts, it will not be wrong to say Europe is unintentionally helping the war, seen in the big increase in German car exports to Kyrgyzstan, many of which end up in Russia.

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This is happening in all European countries and makes up for some of the drop in direct exports to Russia. Reports show Russias military uses these routes to get Western military gear, finding over 450 foreign-made parts in Russian weapons in Ukraine.

Through a web of front companies and shell corporations, Russia obscures the true nature and destination of its acquisitions, which makes it challenging for authorities to detect and disrupt these illegal transactions.

Proxy entities also play a key role in Russias procurement of Western tech such as semiconductor chips that are crucial in Russias war effort and consumer goods. Operating under the guise of legitimate businesses, these intermediaries facilitate the acquisition of restricted products on behalf of the Kremlin.

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By utilising these proxy entities, Russia shields itself from direct scrutiny, complicating efforts to trace the flow of goods and enforce sanctions effectively.

Furthermore, Russia leverages a range of financial instruments to facilitate sanctions evasion. From offshore accounts to shadow banking networks, the Kremlin moves funds to avoid detection and finance the procurement.

This way Russia do not just gets access to banned products but also, in a way, mocks the effectiveness of sanctions.
Cash-strapped Pakistan is grappling with a severe economic crisis with billions in debt servicing due and dwindling state funds. In order to keep the hope alive for a bailout deal from the IMF, the budget plan today will outline targets for tax revenue growth, possible tax changes and the fiscal deficit to appease the global lender. read more

As Pakistan seeks to secure a new bailout from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the countrys coalition government is set to unveil its budget today for the fiscal year to June 2025. Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb faces significant pressure to increase taxes and enhance revenue collection to improve the prospects of obtaining IMF assistance.

The budget is expected to detail strategies for achieving tax revenue growth, potential tax adjustments and managing the fiscal deficit. The government has set an economic growth target of 3.6% for the fiscal year starting July 1, up from 2.4% in the previous year.

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While Pakistan is expected to stick to fiscal prudence under a new IMF programme, growth is expected to stay constrained, Abid Suleri of the Sustainable Development Policy Institute think tank told Reuters. Many of the measures taken to achieve fiscal sustainability will impact growth negatively, at least in the near future, he added. As Pakistan prepares to present its fiscal year 2024-2025 budget, there is a renewed sense of optimism within the government due to recent economic stabilization measures, falling inflation, and a recent interest rate cut by the central bank.

Privatisation and reforms in focus

Pakistan plans to initiate its first major sale in nearly two decades, starting with a stake in its national airline, which could signal the beginning of a series of privatisations. However, the governments ability to implement reform is questioned due to the complexities of coalition politics and growing public opposition to inflationary measures.

Challenges in revenue collection

There is apprehension regarding the governments strategy to tap into under-taxed sectors like agriculture and retail, as this could provoke protests from farmers and small traders. Already, cuts in discretionary funds for Members of Parliament have strained political alliances and party loyalty.

Economic optimism and investor sentiment

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharifs administration, which assumed power in February, is negotiating with the IMF for a minimum three-year bailout program. Despite being on the brink of default last summer, the governments efforts to secure additional funding have boosted investor confidence, leading to strong performance in Pakistans stock market and bonds over the past year.

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Debt and revenue goals

Pakistans debt payments are significant, with about half of the total debt owed to China, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. These countries are expected to extend the terms of their loans for another year. The government aims to raise revenue by an ambitious 38%, targeting 13 trillion rupees in the upcoming budget, as reported by Dawn.

Inflation and economic conditions

While Pakistan has faced the highest inflation rate in Asia, recent moderation in inflation and relative stability in the exchange rate have provided some economic relief. Nevertheless, political uncertainty persists, with opposition leader Imran Khan disputing the results of Februarys elections and facing multiple legal challenges. High inflation has led to record levels of economic pessimism, with nearly half of the population struggling to make ends meet, and around 40% living below the poverty line.

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Protecting vulnerable populations

State Finance Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik emphasised the budgets focus on protecting middle and lower-income segments. In an interview with Geo TV, Malik stressed the importance of deciding which segments of society to shield, document, and subject to taxation measures. Each section of society should contribute fairly according to its share, he said.

The upcoming budget reflects Pakistans delicate balancing act between implementing necessary economic reforms and addressing the immediate needs of its citizens amidst ongoing economic and political challenges.

Pakistan Economic Survey: Major increase in donkey population in FY 2023-24

Pakistans population of donkeys has increased by 1.72 per cent to reach 5.9 million during the fiscal year 2023-24, according to the latest official data on the livestock in the agrarian country. The Pakistan Economic Survey (PES) 2023-24, which highlights the key economic achievements in the outgoing fiscal year, was launched on Tuesday. It showed the donkey population has been increasing.

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The data shows that the population of the beasts of burden was 5.5 million in 2019-2020, 5.6 million in 2020-21, 5.7 million in 2021-22, and 5.8 million in 2022-23, while it jumped to 5.9 million in 2023-24.

However, horses and mules, the close cousins of donkeys, were less fortunate, and there has been no change in their numbers for the last five years, which remained at 0.4 million and 0.2 million, respectively.

Pakistans population of donkeys has increased by 1.72 per cent to reach 5.9 million during the fiscal year 2023-24, according to the latest official data on the livestock in the agrarian country.

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With inputs from agencies.
Mainland condemns Taiwan authorities' latest ECFA move as veiled bid for "Taiwan independence"

Xinhua) 16:01, June 12, 2024

BEIJING, June 12 (Xinhua) -- A mainland spokesperson on Wednesday slammed the Taiwan authorities led by Lai Ching-te for an attempt to internationalize the Taiwan question by trying to discuss issues concerning a cross-Strait economic agreement through WTO.

The move harbors a hidden agenda of seeking "Taiwan independence," said Chen Binhua, spokesperson for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, noting that this approach will not succeed.

Chen made the remarks at a press conference in response to a media query regarding expectations by Taiwan's mainland affairs council to resolve issues related to the Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement (ECFA) through the WTO mechanism.

"The 1992 Consensus is the political foundation for cross-Strait consultation, and 23 cross-Strait agreements, including the ECFA, have been signed on the common political basis of the 1992 Consensus," Chen said.

The two sides of the Taiwan Strait signed the ECFA to promote cross-Strait trade liberalization, which should have been carried out based on the normalization of cross-Strait trade, Chen noted.

However, considering that both sides belong to the same family, the mainland agreed to advance trade normalization and liberalization simultaneously and implement the "early harvest program" of the ECFA, despite the abnormal and discriminatory situation in which the Taiwan authorities continue to restrict the entry of over 2,000 agricultural and industrial products from the mainland, Chen added.

Besides, in light of the economic conditions of both sides, the mainland did not require equal quantities or trade volumes of products during the implementation of the "early harvest program," he said.

Chen noted that such a favorable agreement, which unilaterally benefits Taiwan, would not have been possible if everything had been in line with WTO rules.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing)
Dr. Jae-Dong Hong ORANGEBURG, S.C.  South Carolina State Universitys Dr. Jae-Dong Hong, a professor of industrial engineering, received his third best paper award at an international conference this spring.

The Southwest Decision Sciences Institute (SWDSI) conference celebrated its 53rd anniversary at Galveston, Texas, April 10-13. The conference included professors and researchers from eight divisions worldwide -- five in the Americas, one in Europe and three in Asia and the Asian Pacific.

Each year, SWDSI selects one top paper for the Distinguished Paper Award, which Hong won for An Integrated Efficiency Evaluation Approach with Stratification-DEA and Data Clustering Method.

According to Hong, when various researchers attempt to integrate data envelopment analysis (DEA) into big data, there are two serious barriers:

The excessive running time required to solve a large set of units in the big data context.

The inconsistent results generated by DEA.

Hongs award-winning paper demonstrates that the proposed method can eliminate these two critical barriers. For example, it takes around 6,000 seconds to evaluate 1,000 units using DEA. Hong said the proposed method takes only 6.5 seconds, generating more consistent results.

Hong has been nominated for a best paper/research award seven times at various international conferences, winning three. His previous two awards came in 2016 and 2021 from the Northeast Decision Sciences Institute.

He holds a bachelors degree from Korea University, Korea, and his masters degree and Ph.D. from Pennsylvania State University, University Park, all in industrial engineering.

For more information on SC States Industrial Engineering Program, visit scsu.edu/academics/programs/industrial-engineering. Reach Hong at jhong@scsu.edu or 803-536-8861.




The statement from Egypt, however, did not give any details of Hamas response to the truce deal, 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 read more

Hamas has proposed a new timeline for a ceasefire with Israel after considering a ceasefire plan drafted by the US. The terrorist group and its allies in Palestine submitted their response to the agreement to mediators Egypt and Qatar on Tuesday.

The statement from Egypt, however, did not give any details of Hamas response to the truce deal, 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.

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The official said, We reiterated our previous stance. I believe there no big gaps. The ball is now in the Israeli courtyard.

Israel, on the other hand, said Hamas response was tantamount to a rejection while a Hamas official said the Palestinian group merely reiterated longstanding demands not met by the current plan.

Meanwhile, the Egyptian ministry said that Doha and Cairo along with the US will continue to work out a deal between the two warring parties until a deal is reached, adding that they will study the response and coordinate the next steps with concerned parties.

UNSC backs proposal

The UN Security Council on Monday supported 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.

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.

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 for 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 devastated by months of war will start.

With inputs from agencies
The independent Commission of Inquirys report is the United Nations first in-depth investigation into the events of the war that erupted on October 7 read more

Not just Israel or Hamas but both the warring sides have been found committing war crimes in Gaza, the United Nations found in its first in-depth report on the October 7 attack.

While Hamas and other Palestinian terror groups have been grossly violating international laws, Israel has also been accused of committing crimes against humanity in Gaza. The war between Israel and Hamas has led to the deaths and displacement of thousands of Palestinians. On the other hand, Hamas has as many as 251 Israeli hostages under its captive, of which 116 are in Gaza although Tel Aviv claims 41 of them are dead.

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The independent Commission of Inquirys report is the United Nations first in-depth investigation into the events of the war that erupted on October 7.

The report found that a widespread or systematic attack directed against the civilian population in Gaza.

The commission found that the crimes against humanity of extermination; murder; gender persecution targeting Palestinian men and boys; forcible transfer; and torture and inhuman and cruel treatment were committed, it added.

The report is based on interviews with victims and witnesses conducted remotely, and in Turkey and Egypt, and through studying thousands of verified open-source items, satellite imagery and forensic medical reports, the commission said.

Hamas deliberately killed people

The Commission of Inquiry report sheds light on the events of the October 7 attack and all that has happened since then.

It found that Hamas and other Palestinian armed groups deliberately killed, injured, mistreated, took hostages and committed sexual and gender-based violence.

Civilians and members of the Israeli security forces were the victims of the crimes committed by Hamas.

These actions constitute war crimes and violations and abuses of international humanitarian law and international human rights law, the report said.

The commission further said it found significant evidence on the desecration of corpses, including sexualised desecration, decapitations, lacerations, burning, severing of body parts and undressing.

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Women were subjected to gender-based violence during the course of their execution or abduction. Women and womens bodies were used as victory trophies by male perpetrators.

Even children, who were filmed witnessing their relatives being killed for propaganda purposes, were not spared.

Israel starved Gaza

Meanwhile, Israels crime amounted to denying Gazans humanitarian aid, thereby starving them.

The report says that Israeli authorities are responsible for the war crimes of starvation as a method of warfare, murder or wilful killing, intentionally directing attacks against civilians and civilian objects, forcible transfer, sexual violence, torture and inhuman or cruel treatment, arbitrary detention and outrages upon personal dignity.

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In fact, the commission also found that Israeli forces committed sexual violence torture and inhuman or cruel treatment and outrages upon personal dignity in the West Bank.

With inputs from AFP
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) recorded 1,096 settler attacks on Palestinians in the territory between October 7 and March 31. That represents an average of six attacks per day, up from two a day in 2022. Israeli human rights group Yesh Din, which also records settler violence, said 2023 was already a peak year read more

Palestinians check burned vehicles after Israeli settlers attack near Ramallah in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, June 21,2023. REUTERS/Ammar Awad/File Photo

As violence surges in the occupied West Bank, Palestinians and human rights groups decry an increasingly blurry distinction between the Israeli army and settlers, emboldened by the current pro-settlement government.

In the West Bank, the line that never really existed between the army and the settlers has now been completely erased, said Joe Carmel, advocacy coordinator for Breaking the Silence, an Israeli anti-occupation NGO made up of former soldiers.

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) recorded 1,096 settler attacks on Palestinians in the territory between October 7 and March 31.

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That represents an average of six attacks per day, up from two a day in 2022.

Israeli human rights group Yesh Din, which also records settler violence, said 2023 was already a peak year.

With each attack, a similar story  armed settlers, sometimes wearing the armys khaki fatigues, attack Palestinian villagers, burn their houses and cars, and steal their livestock, sometimes under the passive gaze of soldiers.

On April 13, Palestinians in the northern West Bank village of Duma watched in terror as hundreds of settlers attacked their village and stabbed a villager after an Israeli teenager who often visited a nearby settlement outpost was found dead.

On April 22, the army announced it had arrested a villager on suspicion of murdering the teenager.

- Protect all residents -

That day, the Israeli army was present inside the village to ensure the security of settlers and protect them during their raid, village council chief Suleiman Dawabsha told AFP.

An Israeli military spokesman told AFP that troops in the West Bank were there to protect the property and the life of all residents, and disperse clashes.

Not counting annexed east Jerusalem, more than 490,000 Israelis live in the West Bank in settlements considered illegal under international law, alongside some three million Palestinians.

The expansion of the settlements has gathered pace under successive governments since Israels capture of the West Bank in the 1967 Arab-Israeli war but has accelerated sharply under the pro-settlement administations of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

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Since the start of the war in Gaza on October 7, at least 537 West Bank Palestinians have been killed by soldiers or settlers, according to the Palestinian Authority.

At least 14 Israelis have been killed in Palestinian attacks in the territory over the same period, according to Israeli official figures.

On October 13, a settler shot 20-year-old Zacharia al-Adra at point blank range as he was leaving a mosque in the village of Al-Tuwani in the southern West Bank.

Soldiers saw everything but didnt move, according to his wife Shouq al-Adra, 24.

Zacharia was critically wounded.

Pointing to what he said was a sociological change taking place in the army over the past decade, Carmel of Breaking the Silence said religious Zionist settlers have now become more visible in uniform and among senior officers.

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Since the war in Gaza began, weve seen that some settlers were wearing army uniform, Ehud Krinis, a 57-year-old Israeli activist who helps Palestinians in the Hebron region, told AFP.

Human Rights Watch denounced the ambiguity, saying that Israel was responsible for the increase in settler violence over the past eight months.

- Active participation -

Human Rights Watch investigated five attacks perpetrated by settlers in five different Palestinian villages between October and November 2023, and concluded in April that the Israeli military either took part in or did not protect Palestinians from violent settler attacks in the West Bank.

Evidence shows that armed settlers, with the active participation of army units, blocked roads and attacked Palestinian communities on several occasions: they have detained, assaulted and tortured inhabitants, and evicted them from their houses and land, HRW concluded.

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In April, UN human rights office spokeswoman Ravina Shamdasani told reporters in Geneva that Israeli security forces must immediately end their active participation in and support for settler attacks on Palestinians.

Israeli authorities must instead prevent further attacks, including by bringing those responsible to account.

Moayyad Bsharrat, advocacy director for the Palestinian Union of Agricultural Work Committees, said that settlers saw the inclusion of far-right settlement champions Itamar Ben Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich in the Israeli government as a green light to attack Palestinians.

Carmel says the Netanyahu governments goal is clear  to strengthen the settlement movement and, in so doing, to make it impossible for Palestinians to have any chance of gaining an independent state.

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The Israeli army told AFP that it looks into complaints about soldiers behaviour that is not in accordance with orders.

But Carmel said that settlers and violent soldiers are only condemned in very rare cases.

The state prosecutor and the whole government apparatus is designed in a way thats supposed to protect them.
Hezbollah confirmed the death of the commander, naming him as Taleb Abdallah, also known as Abu Taleb. He was killed in a strike in the village of Jouya in south Lebanon read more

An Israeli strike killed one of Hezbollahs senior field commanders and three of its fighters late on Tuesday, three security sources said, in a heavy blow to the Lebanese group which has been locked in hostilities with Israel for eight months.

In an apparent response, Hezbollah fired a barrage of around 50 launches from southern Lebanon into the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, Israel said.

Hezbollah and Israel have been trading fire since the eruption of the Gaza war in October, with hostilities steadily escalating as both sides signal a readiness for a bigger confrontation.

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Hezbollah confirmed the death of the commander, naming him as Taleb Abdallah, also known as Abu Taleb. He was killed in a strike in the village of Jouya in south Lebanon. His funeral is due to be held later on Wednesday.

He was the most senior Hezbollah commander killed during the hostilities, one of the sources said. The sources said he was Hezbollahs commander for the central region of the southern border strip.

There was no immediate comment from the Israeli military.

The security sources said the four members of the Iran-backed Hezbollah were likely targeted during a meeting.

The sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the commander was senior to Wissam Tawil, a high-level Hezbollah commander killed in an Israeli strike in January.

Israeli strikes have killed some 300 Hezbollah fighters in Lebanon - more than it lost in 2006, according to a Reuters tally which puts the number of civilians killed at around 80. Attacks from Lebanon have killed 18 Israeli soldiers and 10 civilians, Israel says.

The Israeli military says it has killed more than 320 Hezbollah members, including at least 100 targeted after field operatives gathered precise high-quality intelligence on them.
The fire in the six-storey building in Kuwait that was reportedly housing around 195 workers, most of them from Kerala and Tamil Nadu, started in a kitchen on a lower floor read more

Junior Foreign Minister Kirti Vardhan Singh has been rushed to Kuwait to help Indians injured in the fire, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Wednesday. As per reports, at least 40 Indians have been killed in a massive fire at a building housing labourers in the city of Mangaf in southern Kuwait.

Kirti Vardhan Singh has been directed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to travel urgently to Kuwait to oversee assistance to those injured in the fire tragedy. He has also been asked to coordinate with local authorities for early repatriation of mortal remains of those who have died in the incident, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal.

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As directed by PM @narendramodi, MoS for External Affairs @KVSinghMPGonda is urgently travelling to Kuwait to oversee assistance to those injured in the fire tragedy and to coordinate with local authorities for early repatriation of mortal remains of those who have died in this  Randhir Jaiswal (@MEAIndia) June 12, 2024

10 updates on Kuwait fire in which 40 Indians have been killed

1 - External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said it has been reported that a number of Indians, including some from Kerala, have been killed in the incident of fire in a camp (known as NBTC camp) in Mangaf in Kuwait.

2 - The six-storey building was reportedly housing around 195 workers, most of them from Kerala and Tamil Nadu. The fire started in a kitchen on a lower floor and quickly spread through the building, trapping several inside.

3 - As per Onmanorama report, the building belongs to NBTC group owned by Malayali businessman KG Abraham.

4 - As per Kuwaiti media reports, the fire in Al-Mangaf building was reported to authorities in Al-Ahmadi governorate at 4.30 am (local time) and most of the deaths were due to smoke inhalation.

5 - The Indian Embassy in Kuwait City has set up an emergency helpline number: +965-65505246 to aid those affected in the tragic fire-accident.

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6 - Indians make up 21 per cent (1 million) of Kuwaits population and 30 per cent (approximately 900,000) of its workforce.

7 - Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended condolences to the families of the deceased and prayed for quick recovery of those injured. The fire mishap in Kuwait City is saddening. My thoughts are with all those who have lost their near and dear ones. I pray that the injured recover at the earliest. The Indian Embassy in Kuwait is closely monitoring the situation and working with the authorities there to assist the affected, he said.

Heartfelt condolences to the families affected by the devastating fire in Mangaf, Kuwait, which resulted in the loss of 40 Indian lives and injured many others. Our prayers are with the victims and their loved ones. Commendable response from @indembkwt



pic.twitter.com/AgDdxJPje2  Manjinder Singh Sirsa (@mssirsa) June 12, 2024

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8 - The Indian envoy to Kuwait Adarsh Swaika visited the injured Indian workers in Al-Adan hospital, Mubarak Al-Kabeer Hospital and Farwaniya Hospital where he met six workers, most of them Indians, and assured them of all assistance.

9 - EAM Jaishankar said he was deeply shocked on hearing that 41 people died in the fire that broke out in a building housing workers. Our Embassy will render the fullest assistance to all concerned in this regard, he said.

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10 - Kuwaits Deputy Prime Minister Sheikh Fahad Yusuf Saud Al-Sabah blamed real estate owners while accusing them of violations and greed. Unfortunately, the greed of real estate owners is what leads to these matters, he was quoted as saying by Reuters.

Also Read: Indians among 41 killed in Kuwait building fire, Jaishankar promises fullest assistance
As the G7 leaders prepare to converge on Puglia, the ongoing mafia violence casts a shadow over the summit, raising concerns about security and the stability of the region during this high-profile event. read more

As Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni prepares to host the G7 summit in Puglia, a southern Italian region, alarming reports of mafia-style violence in the area are coming to light. The Italian Interior Ministrys semi-annual report released in January 2024, has highlighted an increase in violent activities by three mafia-style criminal groups in Puglia.

According to the report, these groups are engaged in both internal conflicts and battles with rival clans. Unlike the internationally notorious Sicilian Cosa Nostra, the Camorra of Naples, and Calabrias Ndrangheta, Puglias mafias operate primarily within Italy and the Balkans, as noted by DIGOS (Divisione Investigazioni Generali e Operazioni Speciali), Italys premier anti-terrorism and anti-mafia unit.

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The surge in criminal activity is centered around the coastal cities of Bari and Brindisi, precisely where the G7 summit will be held from June 13 to 15. The region has witnessed a series of daylight attacks and armed carjackings, pointing to the escalating boldness of these groups. Recent months have seen several high-profile vendetta murders and maimings, including brutal knee-cappings, as reported by local media.

As per media reports, a briefcase containing suspicious liquids and a cellphone was found abandoned at a train station near Bari in March this year. The incident further fueled concerns among lay enforcements authorities.

Criminal gangs have conducted armed raids on villas close to the summit venue  an exclusive resort between Bari and Brindisi  and there have been frequent instances of gangland violence among the three clans, according to local police chief Vittorio Pisani.
The Khalistani terrorists also made graffiti on the base of the statue and wrote a reference to Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. India has taken up the matter with relevant Italian authorities, said Foreign Secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra during a media interaction. read more

Mahatma Gandhi statue in Italy vandalised by a pro-Khalistani group, according to reports. It was scheduled to be inaugurated during PM Modis visit to Italy for the G7 Summit.

The Khalistani terrorists also made graffiti on the base of the statue and wrote a reference to Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. India has taken up the matter with relevant Italian authorities, said Foreign Secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra during a media interaction.

Talking about the incident, foreign secretary Kwatra said the Indian authorities raised the matter with Italian officials. We have taken up the issue of vandalisation of Mahatma Gandhis statue with the Italian authorities. Necessary action has been taken, he said.

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Reacting over the development, Indias ambassador to Italy Vani Rao said, The incident was in a town called Brindisi, which is in southern Italy. The Italian local authorities have taken action to clean up the pedestal of the bust. We have also taken up our concerns with them immediately. We have requested them to locate those who are responsible and take action against them under the local law.

#WATCH | On a news report of the bust of the Mahatma Gandhi statue being vandalized by some khalistani extremists, India's ambassador to Italy Vani Rao says, "The incident was in a town called Brindisi, which is in southern Italy. The Italian local authorities have taken action pic.twitter.com/6qwV9OPAUS  ANI (@ANI) June 12, 2024

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will travel to Italy on Thursday to attend the annual summit of G7 advanced economies. The G7 summit, to be held in the luxury resort of Borgo Egnazia in Italys Apulia region from June 13 to 15, is likely to be dominated by the raging war in Ukraine and the conflict in Gaza.
Highlighting that the Maldives has been spending beyond its means for decades, the World Bank has warned that the archipelagic nation faces high debt distress risk and financing challenges, making it vulnerable to shocks. read more

Highlighting that the Maldives has been spending beyond its means for decades, the World Bank has warned that the archipelagic nation faces high debt distress risk and financing challenges, making it vulnerable to shocks.

World Bank Country Director for the Maldives, Nepal, and Sri Lanka Faris H Hadad-Zervos also said that the island nations annual debt servicing needs are likely to be USD 512 million for the current and following years, and another USD 1.07 billion in 2026.

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Hadad-Zervoss statement, posted on his official X account, comes days after the Ministry of Finance here said that the public and publicly guaranteed debt is almost 110 per cent of Maldives GDP. The heavily tourism-dependent nation had suffered badly due to the COVID-19 pandemic-induced lockdowns and started recovering only in 2023.

According to the Ministry of Finances Quarterly Debt Bulletin for Quarter 1, 2024 published on June 1, the public and publicly guaranteed (PPG) debt has risen to USD 8.2 billion  which is 110 per cent of the Maldives GDP.

The Ministry of Finance reports that the states debt rose by USD 90.8 million within the first three months of the year. The total debt had reached USD 8.09 billion by 2023 end.

For decades #Maldives has been spending beyond its means. Sharp spending rise and subsidies have widened the deficit, leading to a vulnerable fiscal situation and unsustainable debt, Hadad-Zervos post on X said on Monday.

Annual debt servicing needs are likely to be USD 512 million for 2024 and 2025, and USD 1.07 billion in 2026, he pointed out and warned: Maldives faces high debt distress risk and financing challenges, making it vulnerable to shocks.

Suggesting urgent fiscal reforms, the top World Bank official said, phasing out blanket subsidies, addressing SOE weaknesses, improving healthcare spending efficiency and streamlining the public investment programme could be some of the measures.

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He also posted a video along with his message on X. Last year, the Maldives economy hit choppy waters, Faris begins his video message posted on X, adding that the nations economic engine, the tourism industry, slowed down due to a decrease in tourism receipts.

The decision to halt subsidy reforms, coupled with continued high spending, has strained the nations finances, the World Bank Country Director warned further, news portal Sun.mv said on Wednesday.

Earlier, May 8 released the report Scaling Back and Rebuilding Buffers, which is the latest Maldives Development Update from the World Bank, noted that the countrys tourism and other major industries are seeing a slowdown. Sun,mv further reported quoting the Update that the increment in tourist arrivals is offset by lower spending per tourist and shorter stays  tampering the positive impact on the overall GDP growth of the Maldives.

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The Washington-based lender forecast also highlighted the need for fiscal consolidation in the country, which is expected to impact real household incomes owing to subsidy reforms, and a decrease in governments spending and investment.

Furthermore, the countrys economy was projected to grow by 4.7 per cent this year, lower than previous estimates, reflecting a moderation in growth momentum, the World Bank added.
The Israeli army on Wednesday confirmed it had eliminated Taleb Sami Abdallah during a attack on Hezbollah command centre in southern Lebanon read more

Female mourners react as they hold the portrait of Taleb Abdallah, known as Abu Taleb, a senior field commander of Hezbollah who was killed in what security forces say was an Israel strike. AFP

Lebanese militant group Hezbollah fired barrages of rockets at Israel on Wednesday and vowed to intensify its attacks after an Israeli strike killed a senior commander in south Lebanon the previous day.

Hezbollah has traded near-daily cross-border fire with Israeli forces since its Palestinian ally Hamas attacked southern Israel on October 7, triggering war in the Gaza Strip.

The exchanges have escalated in recent weeks, with Hezbollah stepping up its use of drones to attack Israeli military positions and Israel hitting back with targeted strikes against the militants.

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We will increase the intensity, strength, quantity and quality of our attacks, said senior Hezbollah official Hashem Safieddine, speaking at the funeral of commander Taleb Sami Abdallah, who was killed in Tuesdays Israeli strike.

In Doha, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken renewed calls Wednesday for a diplomatic solution on the Israel-Lebanon border and said a long-sought Gaza ceasefire deal would take a tremendous amount of pressure out of the system.

Hezbollah said that in response to the assassination carried out by the Zionist enemy, it launched six attacks with Katyusha rockets or heavy-duty Burkan missiles at military positions and bases in northern Israel, also striking a military factory with guided missiles.

The Iran-backed militant group in separate statements also claimed more than 10 other attacks on Israeli troops and positions on Wednesday, including one with drones.

The Israeli army said more than 150 projectiles had been fired from Lebanon in three successive barrages.

Approximately 90 projectiles were identified crossing from Lebanon, it said, adding several were intercepted but others struck inside Israel, sparking fires in parts of the north.

The initial barrage was followed by a second of about 70 projectiles and a third of around 10, the military said, adding the army struck several sites in south Lebanon in response.

Important commander

Israel Fire and Rescue Services are currently operating to extinguish the fires that broke out as a result of the launches, the military said.

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Israels Magen David Adom emergency medical service said there were no immediate reports of casualties.

The Israeli army on Wednesday confirmed it had eliminated Taleb Sami Abdallah in a strike the day before on a Hezbollah command centre in southern Lebanon.

In a statement, it called Abdallah one of Hezbollahs most senior commanders in southern Lebanon and said he planned, advanced, and carried out a large number of terror attacks against Israeli civilians.

Abdallah was killed along with three Hezbollah comrades in an Israeli strike on Jouaiyya, 15 kilometres (nine miles) from the border, a source close to the group told AFP.

A Lebanese military source said the commander was the most important in Hezbollah to be killed since the start of the war.

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The group had urged its supporters to attend Abdallahs funeral in the southern suburbs of Beirut, describing him as one of the knights of the resistance.

Men wearing military fatigues and black berets carried his coffin, covered in Hezbollahs yellow flag, as a brass band played for the ceremony.

Harsh blow

Pro-Hezbollah newspaper Al-Akhbar described the strike that killed Abdallah as a harsh blow to the group.

Britain-based Middle East specialist Amal Saad played down the prospect of wider escalation.

I dont think that the death of this highest-ranking commander is going to change any of Hezbollahs calculations, she said, adding civilian casualties were red lines for the group rather than the targeting of commanders or fighters.

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We witnessed an escalation in quality and quantity of (Hezbollah) attacks in order to put pressure on Israel and the US in the ceasefire talks and improve Hamass bargaining position, Saad said.

On Tuesday, Hezbollah said it fired about 50 rockets at Israeli positions in the annexed Golan Heights.

More than eight months of cross-border violence has killed at least 468 people in Lebanon, most of them fighters but also including 89 civilians, according to an AFP tally.

Israeli authorities say at least 15 Israeli soldiers and 11 civilians have been killed.

Tens of thousands of people have been displaced on both sides of the border since the violence erupted the day after the Hamas attack on southern Israel.

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The October 7 attack resulted in the deaths of 1,194 people in Israel, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official Israeli figures.

Israels retaliatory offensive against Hamas has killed at least 37,202 people in Gaza, also mostly civilians, according to the Hamas-run territorys health ministry.
The investigation comes after President Yoon Suk-yeols wife Kim Keon-hee was cleared of wrongdoing in a luxury handbag scandal read more

Former President Moon Jae-in's memoirs are displayed at Kyobo Bookstore in Gwanghwamun, Seoul, on 18 May. Image Courtesy: Yonhap

South Korea has initiated an inquiry into allegations that taxpayers footed the bill for former first lady Kim Jung-sooks 2018 trip to Indias Agra, which houses the Taj Mahal, according to a report.

South Korea has opened the investigation into the case nearly six months after the complaint was filed in December last year.

According to The Korea Herald report_,_ Lee Jong-bae, a People Power Party (PPP) member on the Seoul Metropolitan Council, filed a complaint against Kim with the Seoul Central District Prosecutors Office, accusing her of breach of trust related to the India trip, abusing public funds, embezzling from the national coffers and abuse of power.

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Kims trip attracted renewed scrutiny after her husband Moon Jae-in shed light on why she travelled to India in his memoir published last month, reported South China Morning Post.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi invited me to return to India for the opening of the Heo Hwang-ok Memorial Park, but it was difficult for me to visit India again, SCMP report quoted Moon as writing, referring to the ancient queen.

So I declined, and India then asked me to send my wife instead, he added.

The former president called the tour as the first stand-alone diplomacy by a first lady, adding he decided to break his silence about the incident to rebut critics who distort the facts as if my wife went on a junket using taxpayer money, South China Morning Post reported

But that explanation failed to convince the PPP which has maintained the 400 million won (US$290,506) trip was organised to fulfil Kims wish to see the Taj Mahal Indias Agra, added the report.

The party also called for a special counsel to investigate claims surrounding Kim, which the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) criticised as politically driven.

They insisted on a similar inquiry into the current first lady, Kim Keon-hee, regarding the receipt of a $2,200 Dior handbag from a Korean-American pastor in 2022.

On Monday, the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission announced the closure of the investigation into Yoons wife, citing a lack of legal provisions to hold spouses of elected public officials accountable.

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The opposition described the decision as disastrous and questioned the agencys impartiality, reported The Korea Herald.

The DPK will promptly push for a special counsel investigation into Kim Keon-hee cases to prevent evasion, referencing additional allegations against her, including tax evasion.

Prosecutor General Lee One-seok stated on Tuesday that his department would continue probing the handbag incident and ascertain the reasons behind the anti-corruption agencys dismissal of the case.

With inputs from agencies
SC States CBIS hosts International Graduate Students Welcome Program for African graduate business administration students.

International students are welcomed at International Graduated Students Welcome Ceremony.

ORANGEBURG, S.C.  On Monday, June 10, South Carolina State Universitys College of Business and Information Systems (CBIS) welcomed 35 students from East and West Africa to visit Bulldog Nation.

The International Graduate Students Welcome Program was held in the SC State Presidents State Room, where the students were greeted by SC State faculty and staff from the CBIS and Academic Affairs. They also received warm welcomes from Orangeburg City Mayor Micheal C. Butler and Orangeburg County Council member Delores Frazier.

This program is giving us exposure on how other universities are doing their research. Were just on day two, but the learnings that we are taking away from it are quite immense and the information that were getting is very beneficial, United States International University  Africa (USIU) student Clarice Osango said. Ive been to the States (U.S.), but this is my first time in South Carolina, and I really love the area. One thing Im looking forward to is visiting the city council on Monday.

The international program was established through a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with USIU in Nairobi, Kenya.

As part of the MOU, we are trying to facilitate student and faculty exchanges, said Dr. David Jamison, CBIS International Program director. USIU has a doctoral business administration program which requires all their students to do a cultural emergent experience. All the students here are either doctorate or master business administration students.

Jamison said a part of their cultural emergence consists of exposing them to the culture, history and economy of South Carolina and the Southeast.

Were looking to get more students from around the world to visit our campus and hopefully become students here because that will broaden diversity on campus and give our students more exposure to different cultures from people around the world, Jamison said.

Throughout the weeks of June 9-19, 25 graduate students from USIU and 10 graduate students from the University of Lagos Business School in Lagos, Nigeria, will have the opportunity to attend different seminars and tour SC States campus, along with several other college campuses across the U.S. East Coast.

One of the goals of this is program is to introduce SC State in all its capacity, as well as its academic programs to these international students, CBIS Dean Dr. Matthew Guah said. I think we should do more programs like this because SC State is a premier institution and a division I institution, but a lot of students beyond South Carolina may not know about SC State. So, its up to us  the faculty, staff and students  to create initiatives that will expand the universitys brand and territory.

A part of the global engagement initiative of the university is to ensure our students connect with other students and entities abroad, Dr. Learie Luke, director for the Office of International & National Student Exchange Programs (OINSEP). If we keep having these types of programs, our students will benefit from working with international organizations and international universities. These interactions are really critical to fulfilling our mission, and Im glad that theyre ramping up.

Luke said the university and OINSEP have a mission to prepare students for global society. OINSEPs goal is to get at least 100 students to study abroad each year.
A Chinese man who was arrested on Sunday for illegally entering a Taipei harbour in a speedboat is a former navy captain, said authorities in Taiwan, adding that he could have been on a military probe as part of the Chinas grey zone operations against the island read more

A Chinese man who was arrested on Sunday for illegally entering a Taipei harbour in a speedboat is a former navy captain, said authorities in Taiwan, adding that he could have been on a military probe as part of the Chinas grey zone operations against the island.

According to an Al Jazeera report_,_ citing Taiwan authorities, the man was arrested by Taiwans coastguard after crossing the 160km Taiwan Strait that separates the island state from China, and entering the mouth of the Tamsui River in his small craft.

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The report added that he told authorities that he wanted to defect. However, officials said, he might have been gauging Taiwans reaction to his strategy.

The 60-year-old, who Taiwan said was an officer in Chinas Peoples Liberation Army Navy surnamed Ruan, is now under investigation and being questioned.

Kuan Bi-ling, the president of Taiwans Ocean Affairs Council (OAC), who is in charge of the coastguard, told reporters at parliament that he was quite elegant and well presented.

Speaking to reporters, Taiwans Defence Minister Wellington Koo said the boat incident might be another instance of Chinas grey zone operations against the island.

Grey Zone tactics are referred to as irregular tactics to evaluate an area without engaging in open combat and have included China sending boats and military aircraft above the self-governed island.

Previously, in March, two Taiwanese fishermen entered Chinese territorial seas when they ventured into the area around the Kinmen Islands, which is adjacent to Chinas shore.

One of the military officers from Taiwan, is still being held captive in China, while the other was freed shortly after, according to Al Jazeera.

The most recent incident occurred while tensions between China and Taiwan were on the rise and there were worries that China may use force to assert its claim on the island.

With inputs from agencies
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy late last month pleaded for additional US-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 read more

Soldiers stand during Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy's visit to a military training area to find out about the training of Ukrainian soldiers on the Patriot anti-aircraft missile system. Reuters file

The United States will send Ukraine another Patriot missile system, two US officials said Tuesday, answering Kyivs 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 US 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.

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The two US 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 US-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 US, Europe and other nations prepare for their monthly meeting on Ukraines security needs. US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin will host the meeting in Brussels on Thursday.

The US 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.

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The US also is wary of giving too many away, since they are used all over the world to protect US forces and allies.

Major General Pat Ryder told reporters on Monday that Ukraines need for air defense will be a topic at the meeting.
Megan Fan Munce is a reporter on the climate team covering Californias home insurance crisis. She writes about the California FAIR Plan; State Farm non-renewals; pullbacks by other insurers such as Allstate and Farmers; policy initiatives from the California Department of Insurance; and how homeowners in the Bay Area and elsewhere are navigating the challenges.

Munce first joined the San Francisco Chronicle as part of the two-year Hearst Journalism Fellowship, spending her first year of the program at the Houston Chronicle. She grew up in San Jose before attending Northwestern Universitys Medill School of Journalism.
According to a recent study, sepsis  also known as blood poisoning  claims a human life in Germany every six minutes. Time is an even more crucial factor in successfully treating sepsis than it is with other diseases.

Together with leading clinical networks and biotech company Noscendo GmbH, researchers from Fraunhofer IGB have now established a diagnostic method of identifying pathogens in patients in intensive care, enabling fast and targeted treatment for invasive infections. For this achievement, Dr. Kai Sohn, Head of the In-vitro Diagnostics department at Fraunhofer IGB, Prof. Thorsten Brenner from University Hospital Essen, and Dr. Silke Grumaz and Dr. Philip Stevens, both from Noscendo GmbH, have been awarded the Stifterverband Science Prize for 2024.

DNA left at the scene

So far, the organisms that cause sepsis have usually been identified using mass spectrometry after being cultured (in the form of a blood culture, for example). But because there are very few of these organisms in the blood, testing yields a positive result in fewer than 30 percent of cases. And even if it is possible to detect the pathogen in the blood, culturing it often takes more time than patients have.

The novel method developed by the Fraunhofer experts takes inspiration from law enforcement: Since the organisms that cause sepsis can seldom be caught in the act, the scientists instead study the clues they leave behind at the scene  fragments of their genetic information in the blood. As many as 30 million DNA fragments from a blood sample are analyzed. The researchers use a fully automated process to isolate them and then sequence them with high throughput. If they find fragments of a non-human origin, the specialists compare them against a specially developed database containing the genomes of bacteria, viruses, fungi, and other pathogens.

Numerous clinical studies show that this method is highly reliable and accurate and provides healthcare professionals with valid results. The pathogen that is causing the disease can be identified in up to 70 percent of patients studied. Our diagnostic method has helped over 6,000 patients in the past four years alone, says Dr. Philip Stevens, a bioinformatics scientist and CEO and co-founder of Noscendo GmbH. Patients are able to leave the hospital much faster and have fewer long-term effects. That also eases the burden on hospitals and health insurers.

Outstanding collaboration

This success is the product of more than ten years of interdisciplinary cooperation. The method itself is a three-step process involving optimum sample preparation, high-throughput next-generation sequencing (NGS), and bioinformatic analysis via diagnostic algorithms. Initially developed at Fraunhofer IGB, it is the cornerstone of the new approach.

Under the leadership of Prof. Thorsten Brenner from University Hospital Essen, the new approach was compared against the previous diagnostic standard, and its diagnostic benefit was evaluated by bodies made up of independent experts.

For their part, Stevens and his colleague Dr. Silke Grumaz, now Chief Scientific Officer at Noscendo GmbH, had worked on the methods foundations during their time at Fraunhofer IGB, Stevens in bioinformatics and Grumaz in molecular biology. By founding Noscendo GmbH, they created a channel for hospitals to submit samples for rapid analysis at any time. Grumaz comments: We generally get results within 24 hours after the blood sample arrives at our lab. If a hospital doesnt use the method itself, the logistics can take another 12 hours. In most cases, thats still faster than any blood culture can deliver results.

Dr. Kai Sohn, Head of the In-vitro Diagnostics department at Fraunhofer IGB, stresses how happy everyone on the team is at their shared success: Our method could only have been established and successfully brought right to the patients bedside through partnership between Fraunhofer, leading clinical networks, and Noscendo GmbH.

A milestone with more to come

The partners do not see the award as marking the conclusion of their work. Right now, were moving into pediatric intensive care. Fast, reliable diagnosis is critically important in this field, since the amount of blood that can be taken from the littlest patients is very small, Brenner explains. The prize winners also plan to apply their method to other diseases, such as localized infections that are difficult to diagnose. They are also working to apply the method to other bodily fluids and tissue samples, expanding it beyond blood samples alone.
Welcome to my genealogy blog. Genea-Musings features genealogy research tips and techniques, genealogy news items and commentary, genealogy humor, San Diego genealogy society news, family history research and some family history stories from the keyboard of Randy Seaver (of Chula Vista CA), who thinks that Genealogy Research Is really FUN! Copyright (c) Randall J. Seaver, 2006-2024.
A new network of high-tech cameras has begun photographing thousands of vehicle license plates as drivers zip through San Francisco intersections, building a vast database of information that police say is leading to arrests on a daily basis. Benjamin Fanjoy/The Chronicle

A new network of high-tech cameras has begun photographing thousands of vehicle license plates as drivers zip through San Francisco intersections, building a vast database of information that police say is already leading to arrests on a daily basis.

About 100 of San Franciscos new automated license plate readers are now live, with another 300 to be installed by July. While police say the technology, which is contracted through the company Flock Safety, has fast become a valuable tool in crime fighting, privacy advocates are wary of its dragnet approach and warn about risks for abuse.

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On Wednesday, three months after Mayor London Breed and other city leaders celebrated the inaugural Flock camera installation on Ninth Avenue and Irving Street, officials described suspects who have been captured with the help of the devices.

They included the May 13 arrest of a woman wanted in an organized retail theft case; the May 3 arrest of three suspects in a San Francisco State University carjacking; and the Saturday arrest of a suspect wanted by by San Jose police in a sexual assault case.

This new technology is just one new tool we are using that is helping us make San Francisco safer for all, and it is delivering results, said Breed, who introduced legislation last year to get the cameras installed.

The Flock network is separate from the speed enforcement cameras being installed in San Francisco this year. Flock is not used for moving violations or traffic citations, and it doesnt use facial recognition technology, officials said.

The Flock system works with police databases of suspect vehicles, including those used in Amber Alerts, compiled from departments all over the region, said Holly Beilin, a spokesperson for Flock Safety.

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When a camera gets a hit on a wanted vehicles license plate, it immediately sends a notification to local law enforcement. Alerts are delivered via an app on a cell phone, an email or on the screen of a patrol car, Beilin said.

While the cameras, which are powered by solar panels, arent exactly hidden, Beilin said, most cities, like San Francisco, choose not to openly disclose their locations to avoid vandalism. San Francisco police are one of more than 5,000 departments across the country that use the system. Others in the Bay Area include the San Mateo, San Jose and Vallejo police departments.

Breed, a moderate running for her second term, has made public safety a centerpiece of a tough reelection campaign, pointing to recent crime reductions as evidence that legislation and law-enforcement crackdowns introduced under her leadership have paid off.

Its unclear to what extent any of these local actions have moved the needle, as cities across the country have recently witnessed widespread drops in crime.

Evan Sernoffsky, a spokesman for San Francisco police, said that while the department didnt have an immediate estimate of Flock-assisted cases, were making arrests every day based on it.

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Noting research that shows that vehicles are used in 70% of crimes in the U.S., just having that (plate reader) information is hugely beneficial, Sernoffsky said.

But criminal suspects, of course, make up only a small percentage of drivers, noted Dave Maass, director of investigations at the Electronic Frontier Foundation.

Theyre not able to just say were collecting data on criminals,  Maass said. Theyre collecting data, in fact, on innocent people going about their lives.

Maass said the technology could easily be abused in the wrong hands. It could potentially be used, illegally, to spy on protesters, political rivals or journalists.

There are additional concerns about such data being breached in a cyberattack, Maass said, or errors that lead police to mistake the identity of a suspect. Maass pointed to the the 2009 case of Denise Green, a 47-year-old Black woman whom San Francisco police pulled over, handcuffed and pointed guns at, based on a license plate readers misread of her plate.

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Sernoffsky said the license plate technology is one tool in an entire criminal investigation and can help police avoid pulling over innocent people who happen to be driving the same car as a wanted suspect.

Police can be a lot more precise about the cars theyre pulling over, and the suspects theyre arresting, and a lot faster, Sernoffsky said.

The Flock camera system was funded by a $17.3 million grant from the states Organized Retail Theft Grant Program.
United Way of Mesa County has been awarded a grant of $50,000 from the Wells Fargo Foundation for its United to Solve Homelessness program, as well as for efforts at its Resource Center, a joint project with HomewardBound of the Grand Valley.

The United to Solve Homelessness program facilitates a coalition comprised of local nonprofits, local government, and industry experts with the goal of addressing homelessness through education and advocacy, a Tuesday news release said. The program highlights the complexities of homelessness, current local efforts that are being made, and strategies to inspire community-driven solutions.

According to the release, the program includes a two-part approach: a Community Education Workshop and a Poverty Immersion Experience. The workshop covers topics such as the causes of homelessness and local statistics, while the immersive experience simulates the challenges faced by low-income families to foster empathy and understanding.

We believe education and information are vital for beneficial community discussions and planning. With the United to Solve Homelessness program, we have worked with industry experts to create new ways for our community to have conversations and inspire solutions, says Keira Auld, Community Impact and Marketing Manager with United Way of Mesa County. Through the generosity and support of the Wells Fargo Foundation, we will be able to continue to build these efforts.

The grant is also directed to support the Resource Center, which opened at Second Street and Ute Avenue in January 2024.

The Resource Center offers space for people to escape the elements, rest in a safe place, use restrooms and showers, store their belongings, share a meal, and meet with service providers and resource navigators who can help find the personalized help each guest needs to move into more stable housing. To date, the center has received 15,000 check-ins from guests and has worked with partners to provide thousands of meals.

The Resource Center is a vital step to helping those that are currently unhoused or struggling to find stability, says Keira Auld. Support from the Wells Fargo Foundation enables us to enhance these services and reach more individuals in need.

For more information about United Way of Mesa Countys United to Solve Homelessness program and other initiatives, please visit www.unitedwaymesacounty.org or call 970-243-5364.
Martial arts expert and actor Bruce Lee in the 1973 film Enter the Dragon. Oakland is naming a street after the former resident at the location of his martial arts studio. Fotos International/Getty Images

Bruce Lee is giving new street cred to an Oakland intersection.

The Oakland City Council recently approved a resolution to rename the intersection of Broadway and Garnet Street after the martial arts icon and former East Bay resident Bruce Lee. Located at the same spot where a 24-year-old Lee co-founded a martial arts school called the Jun Fan Gung Fu Institute with his training partner James Yimm Lee in 1964, Bruce Lee Way will also include a plaque honoring his legacy and community impact.

The site at 4157 Broadway is currently occupied by a Toyota dealership.

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By honoring and uplifting Bruce Lee, we also acknowledge and honor his contribution to uplifting the AAPI (Asian American and Pacific Islander) community, both in Oakland and beyond, Council Member Rebecca Kaplan said when introducing the resolution to the citys Public Works and Transportation Committee on May 28.

Two days later, the Special Rules and Legislation Committee voted to move it forward to the City Council.

The council approved the renaming on June 4.

Though it was the San Francisco-born stars second martial arts studio, his Oakland space is often considered the birthplace of his unique, more free-form expression of martial arts known as Jeet Kune Do.

Actor Bruce Lee on the set of the movie Enter the Dragon in 1973. Stanley Bielecki Movie Collection/Getty Images

This studio provided opportunities to build tolerance, health, discipline and community, said Kaplan.

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After opening his Oakland studio, Lee was introduced to martial artist Ed Parker, who invited him to a martial arts demonstration in Long Beach. He soon moved to Los Angeles and began his career in show business. He became one of the first Asian American actors to reach mainstream success in Hollywood, though he battled stereotyping and discrimination within the industry along the way, going on to star in television shows and films such as The Green Hornet, Enter the Dragon and Game of Death.

The star died in 1973 at the age of 32 of a cerebral edema and a subsequent allergic reaction to medication. Lee would have turned 84 this November.
Fri Friday

86 /53

Times of sun and clouds. Highs in the mid 80s and lows in the low 50s.
Exclusive: National security officers, experts refute false claims of 'everyone entering China will have their cellphones checked'

Global Times

By GT staff reporters Published: Jun 11, 2024 04:18 PM

Administrative Law Enforcement Procedures of the National Security Agencies and the Criminal Case Handling Procedures of the National Security Agencies, issued recently by China's Ministry of State Security (MSS) will take effect on July 1, 2024.

These regulations have received wide attention and positive evaluation from society, being viewed as an important step in deepening the rule of law in national security. However, some foreign malicious anti-China forces have taken this opportunity to distort the facts and instigate trouble, fabricating false statements such as "everyone entering China will have their cellphones checked."

Legal experts told the Global Times that such claims were a deliberate smear campaign of "fabricating charges out of thin air."

The two abovementioned regulations are important basis for state security agencies to regulate law enforcement and judicial activities. They meticulously detail various powers of state security agencies within the scope granted by upper-level laws, and provide clear and stringent regulations for all enforcement powers.

Meanwhile, officers from the state security agencies elaborated on the normative requirements of the "three specific inspections," emphasizing that the state security agencies always operate strictly in accordance with the constitution and laws, and they welcome supervision from all sectors of society over the agencies and their staff.

An officer from a state security agency who preferred not to be named told the Global Times in a recent interview that for some time, certain Western countries that claim themselves as "rule-of-law societies" and "beacon of democracy" have been "saying one thing and doing another."

They are used to politicizing "legal tools," with incidents of unjustified harassment and questioning of Chinese nationals entering these countries, arbitrary detention in "small black rooms," and forced cellphone checks occurring frequently.

In some cases, customs and border departments of certain countries have even issued regulations declaring that they can arbitrarily check electronic devices of incoming individuals without permission, demand unlock passwords, otherwise they threaten to confiscate devices, forcibly copy content, and deny entry.

"These lawless enforcement practices have become a 'new tumor' damaging inter-country engagement and people-to-people exchanges, as well as a 'new solid evidence' of discrimination against Chinese and Asian communities," the officer said.

"This is a deliberate smear campaign of "fabricating charges out of thin air," and a typical case of 'judging others by oneself and a thief crying 'stop thief','" according to Bi Yanying, vice president and professor of the University of International Relations, told the Global Times.

Those who are aware of their own misconduct, given the malpractices of certain countries' law enforcement agencies in arbitrarily checking the cellphones of incoming travelers, wrongly assume that China would emulate such illegal behavior, which is undoubtedly a case of "judging others by oneself," Bi said.

Those with ulterior motives, fearing that their actions endangering China's national security will be severely punished, resort to maliciously attacking China's law enforcement agencies, which is nothing but a case of "a thief crying stop thief," the expert said.

Zhang Li, vice dean and professor at the school of law of China University of Political Science and Law, explained the significance of the two regulations, saying that the Counterespionage Law of the People's Republic of China and Criminal Procedure Law of the People's Republic of China, as the upper-level laws of two departmental regulations, provide authorizing provisions for the administrative law enforcement powers and criminal investigation powers of state security agencies.

Bi believes that the two departmental regulations, as important basis for regulating the law enforcement and judicial activities of state security agencies, meticulously detail the various powers of these agencies within the scope granted by upper-level laws.

They provide clear and stringent regulations for all enforcement powers, embodying the integrated unity of punishing illegal activities and respecting and protecting human rights. This achieves a balanced approach between exercising law enforcement powers and safeguarding legitimate rights and interests.

The state security officer told the Global Times that espionage activities pose a serious threat to national security, and all countries enact laws to combat violators . To effectively prevent, stop, and punish espionage activities, the newly revised Counter-Espionage Law specifies regulations for state security agencies to check electronic devices and facilities according to the relevant provisions of the Constitution. The two departmental regulations impose a series of strict procedural limitations on this.

The officer also introduced the normative requirements for the "three specific inspections."

First, the conditions for inspection are clearly defined. Inspections must be carried out while performing tasks related to counter-espionage work. In situations unrelated to counter-espionage work, state security agency personnel cannot conduct inspections arbitrarily.

Second, the subjects of inspection are clearly defined. They must be individuals and organizations related to counter-espionage work, such as suspects engaged in espionage activities like secretly filming in military restricted zones or confidential units. The subjects of inspection cannot be unrelated individuals, and certainly not "ordinary incoming persons."

Third, the inspection process is clearly defined. It must be approved by the head of a state security agency at or above the city level; law enforcement credentials must be presented; the inspected person or witnesses must be present; and if national security risks are identified, rectification must be ordered.

"If the risk cannot be mitigated or if rectification is refused, sealing or seizure of the devices may be carried out according to the law," said the officer.

"It is explicitly stipulated that even in emergencies requiring immediate inspection, approval from the head of a state security agency at or above the city level is necessary. This requirement is stricter than the general 'implementing first, reporting later' provision of the Administrative Compulsion Law of the People's Republic of China, reflecting a commitment to lawful conduct and cautious use of power," the officer added.

What is the basis for the "three specific inspections"? Zhang Li explained to the Global Times that China is a country governed by the rule of law, which strictly protects freedom and confidentiality of communication.

The Constitution and laws of China clearly stipulate that no organization or individual may infringe upon citizens' freedom and confidentiality of communication for any reason without legal grounds and legal procedures. This fully reflects the balance between safeguarding national security and protecting individual rights, Zhang said.

State security agencies always operate strictly in accordance with the Constitution and laws, adhering to the principle that "what is required by law must be done, and what is not authorized by law must not be done," and upholding the principles of strict, standardized, fair, and civilized law enforcement, the state security officer told the Global Times.

State security agencies will strictly enforce the law enforcement supervision system, strengthen the mechanisms and capabilities for law enforcement supervision, and welcome supervision from all sectors of society over the agencies and their staff, ensuring that national sovereignty, security, and development interests are always maintained within the framework of the rule of law, the officer noted.

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Duran Durans Rio album cover by Patrick Nagel. Capitol/EMI

The identity of the model whose likeness graced the cover of Duran Durans album Rio has finally been revealed.

Marcie Hunt-Dinkel, the co-owner of a small winery in Napa, is the woman with the cherry ice cream smile who inspired Patrick Nagels artwork for the classic 1982 album, experts confirmed.

The bands fans spent decades searching for the original image used by the Playboy illustrator. Over the weekend, Mark Walker, a Nagel expert, and art broker Monica Moynihan, a fan of the artist, announced their discovery on Instagram.

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Walker said he spent a substantial amount of money purchasing vintage fashion magazines before he found an editorial spread in the February 1981 issue of Vogue Paris featuring Hunt.

I saw that smile. I saw those eyes, those eyes that Id stared at hundreds of times by this point in my life, hundreds if not thousands of times, he wrote in the caption of the Instagram post. Ive been entranced by this magical woman for over 40 years. I knew it was her.

Barry Hahn, Nagels technical art assistant, corroborated the find, calling it a great catch.

Duran Duran played a headlining set at BottleRock Napa Valley in 2023. Dana Jacobs Special to The Chronicle

Hunt-Dinkel, who wore glasses in the original photo, was unaware her face was used for the artwork for Rio, the British pop bands breakthrough album featuring the early MTV-era hits Hungry Like the Wolf, Save a Prayer and the title track. She expressed her admiration for Duran Duran in her own Instagram post, revealing that Rio was played at her wedding three decades ago.

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I had no clue. Absolutely no clue, Hunt-Dinkel told the Chronicle. Its a delightful surprise after 42 years. I am a big fan of Duran Duran. I feel really honored to be connected with them.

Hunt, a former model who split her time between New York and Paris, appeared in various magazines in the late 1970s and early 80s, including French Vogue, Tattler and Italian Vogue.

Marcie Hunt-Dinkel pictured in Italy in 2023. Tom Dinkel

I was known in the business as the smile at the time, she said. I guess that smile appealed to Duran Duran, and it turned out to be an iconic album.

Hunt-Dinkel and her husband, Tom, operated the boutique Dos Lagos Vineyards in Napa for 16 years. With plans to sell the winery, she has moved into the art world, designing wine labels and showing in local galleries.

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I love to create, she said.

However, with the recent revelation, she may consider reviving her modeling career.

Its been this flurry of activity, Hunt-Dinkel said. Its like this beautiful treasure chest that divers discovered that none of us knew about.

Duran Duran made its Wine Country debut last year as a headliner at the 2023 BottleRock Napa Valley music festival. Unfortunately, Hunt-Dinkel missed the show.

Duran Duran in 1981, from left: Nick Rhodes, Andy Taylor, John Taylor, Simon Le Bon and Roger Taylor. Getty Images

Annie Zaleski, in her 33 book about the making of the Rio album, explains that Duran Durans co-manager Paul Berrow discovered Nagels art in Playboy and commissioned him to design some potential album covers. The band immediately picked the image inspired by Hunts likeness, with keyboard player Nick Rhodes describing it as love at first sight.

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Nick Rhodes once said that smile brought them luck, Hunt-Dinkel noted. That makes me feel so good.

Duran Duran shared the discovery on Instagram with a simple yet emphatic WOW!

Nagel died in February 1984, less than two years after the albums release, but widow Jennifer Dumas, who manages the artists official website and estate, spoke to the Chronicle about the discovery.

What a find! I immediately recalled that magazine cover, but never put it together, Dumas said. Great sleuthing by two of Patricks most ardent fans. That Nagel smile still says it all doesnt it? Patrick, a humble guy, would have been so surprised and grateful for such loving and dedicated fans who continue to support his work and, of course, Duran Duran for spreading the love.
China's state security authority unveils details of college student pretending to turn himself in

Global Times

By Global Times Published: Jun 11, 2024 07:29 PM

China's Ministry of State Security on Tuesday unveiled a spy case in which a college student joined a foreign intelligence agency and then pretended to turn himself in, but was ultimately discovered by the national security authorities. The college student received a lenient punishment for his full confession and providing valuable counter-espionage leads, according to the ministry.

In June 2023, the national security agencies received a suspicious call from a college student claiming to have been targeted by a foreign intelligence agency. The student said that he refused to provide classified documents to the agency but then contacted them to deceive funds, in order to assist the national security organs in "arresting spies," according to the ministry.

Despite having doubts as to why the student was targeted, and how he established contact with the foreign agents, national security officers still upheld a responsible attitude toward the reported tipoff, meeting with the informant and inquiring about the situation in detail in timely manner.

During the conversation, the informant was contradictory when discussing being contacted by foreign spies and deceived for funds. When asked about the process and details, the informant often dodged the questions and even tried to find out if the national security agencies had other detail related to the case, revealing his guilty conscious.

After investigation, national security agencies found that the informant, He, was a college student who had spent his own money extravagantly, leading to heavy debt. In order to make money and cover his losses, He decided to actively collaborate with foreign intelligence agencies to sell state secrets.

He used a foreign social media platform to establish contact with foreign intelligence personnel. Under their direction, He illegally took photos close to the military areas for multiple times and gathered classified information. In return he received payment.

He knew that his actions constituted espionage activities that endangered national security, and he was very anxious and fearful. He then pretended to turn himself in to deceive national security agencies and gather information on the evidence they had against him, according to the ministry.

The state security agencies educated He on the errors of his actions. He realized his mistake and expressed deep regret, confessing details of his actions with foreign intelligence personnel. As a result, the state security agencies were able to uncover a major espionage case. He was given a lenient punishment for fully confessing, and providing valuable counter-espionage leads, said the ministry.

China's Counter-Espionage Law stipulates that individuals who engage in espionage activities turn themselves in or make meritorious services may receive lenient, or reduced punishment. Those with significant meritorious performance may be rewarded.

According to the measures on rewarding citizens for reporting conduct endangering national security released in June 2022 by the national security authorities, individuals who maliciously report or create disturbances in the excuse of reporting, thereby interfering with the work of national security agencies, shall be dealt with according to law. If their actions constitute a crime, they will be held criminally responsible.

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UK appeal against US extradition for Julian Assange to begin

By VOA News June 11, 2024

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.

London's 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 a 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 a 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.

Assange's 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 Ecuador's 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.

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Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General

Department of Public Information . News and Media Division . New York

10 June 2024

The following is a near-verbatim transcript of today's noon briefing by Stephane Dujarric, Spokesman for the Secretary-General.

All right, good afternoon.

** Jordan

The Secretary-General arrived in Jordan not long ago. He is scheduled, as you know, to attend the High-Level Conference on Gaza that is being organized at the invitation of Jordan, Egypt and the United Nations. That conference will take place, starting tomorrow, in Jordan near the Dead Sea.

In remarks the Secretary-General is expected to deliver at the conference tomorrow, he will shed light on the deplorable situation in Gaza, the deplorable conditions in Gaza. As you may know by now, the conference is called "Call for Action: Urgent Humanitarian Aid for Gaza".

The Secretary-General is also expected to renew his calls for a ceasefire, along with the unconditional release of all the hostages still being held.

On the margins of the conference, he will hold discussions with other leaders on the issue on both humanitarian and political levels.

** Occupied Palestinian Territory

Meanwhile, from Gaza itself, our colleagues at the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) report that the Israeli military operation in the Nuseirat refugee camp overwhelmed the already limited capacity of hospitals, especially Al Aqsa and Al Awda hospitals in Deir al Baleh and the Nasser Medical Complex in Khan Younis. A UN inter-agency mission to Al Aqsa hospital on Saturday found that the facility was hosting about 700 patients, which is nearly five times the capacity for in-patient services. Just one generator at the hospital is still running.

Fuel is also critically short in Gaza. Colleagues working on water, sanitation and hygiene report that just 20 per cent of the fuel 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.

Our colleagues from UNRWA (United Nations Relief and Works Agency), meanwhile, say many displaced families in Gaza are forced to rely on dirty sea water for their daily needs. The increasing heat and lack of hygiene are making an already dire situation even worse.

Meanwhile, the 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.

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. A total of 85 WFP trucks carrying some 748 metric tons of humanitarian supplies have been delivered so far.

And I also just want to flag that UN Women has put out its latest Gender Alert on Gaza, and it says that 80 per cent of women in Gaza depend on food assistance to survive.

** Security Council

This morning, here at the Security Council, Abdou Abarry, the head of the UN Office for Central Africa (UNOCA), briefed the Council.

He told Council members that the region he covers has witnessed some positive and encouraging trends, noting the conclusion of the transition period in Chad, but he added that the difficult environment in which the country finds itself reminds us of the need to continue supporting the Chadian authorities in their quest for stability, particularly at this new turning point in the country's history.

Turning to the situation in Gabon, Mr. Abarry said the transition reached an important turning point in April with the holding of an inclusive national dialogue.

He highlighted that the threat of unconstitutional changes of government remains an ongoing concern, as evidenced by the recent attempt to do so in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Mr. Abarry said we are working to call on the States of the subregion to keep the political space open by guaranteeing freedom of expression, freedom of the press and the free exercise of the activities by political parties.

His remarks were shared with you.

** Sudan

And on the situation in Sudan, I want to express our shock and our horror regarding the attack on the South Hospital in El Fasher on Saturday. Our friends from the Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) reported that members of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) stormed the facility, opened fire and looted the hospital. This included stealing an MSF ambulance. The United Nations has been unable at this point to verify the number of casualties following this assault.

At the time of the attack, there were 10 patients and a reduced medical team at the hospital, as Medecins Sans Frontieres and Ministry of Health teams had started transferring patients and medical services to other facilities earlier in the week due to the increase in fighting. MSF said that between 25 May and 3 June, mortar shells and bullets directly hit South Hospital three times, killing two people and wounding 14 patients and caretakers.

South Hospital remains closed following the attack. Our humanitarian colleagues note that it was one of only two facilities in El Fasher that had the ability to perform any kind of surgery.

It also served as the main referral hospital for treating war-wounded in the city, as the only facility equipped to manage mass casualties. Between 10 May and 6 June, more than 1,300 people had sought some treatment at South Hospital for casualties.

WHO (World Health Organization) colleagues in Sudan are also shocked by the news of another attack on a health facility, this one in Wad Al-Nura in AjJazirah State. That attack led to the death of a nurse while on duty and attending to patients.

The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs underscores that under international humanitarian law, medical facilities, personnel and equipment must be protected against attacks, looting and other forms of violence. The wounded and sick must also be protected and receive the care they need.

There is also a tweet to that effect on the attack on El Fasher from our Emergency Relief Coordinator, Martin Griffiths, who has also expressed his shock at the attack.

On the political side, just to let you know that our Personal Envoy, Mr. Ramtane Lamamra, is continuing his engagement to advance peace efforts, including directly engaging with the Parties to urge them to de-escalate tensions, particularly around El Fasher.

** Democratic Republic of the Congo

And in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, our peacekeeping colleagues tell us that they have increased patrols in Kanyabayonga in North Kivu's Lubero territory and its surrounding areas, amid continuing fighting between the M23 armed group and the Congolese Armed Forces. Since 27 May, the UN Mission (MONUSCO) has conducted more than 50 patrols to protect civilians, in addition to securing routes from Kilambo, Mirangui, Kanyabayonga, Kania and Kirumba towards displaced camps. The Mission recently reinforced its presence in the area in reaction to the large-scale displacement of civilians.

Meanwhile, as part of its mandate to support Disarmament, Demobilization, and Reintegration (DDR) efforts, the Peacekeeping Mission says that it has facilitated the repatriation of six former combatants, including one woman, to various localities in Masisi and Nyiragongo territories. That is in North Kivu. The ex-combatants, formerly associated with the FDLR, had surrendered voluntarily at various UN Mission bases. In Balingina, Ituri province, the UN Mission, together with UNICEF (United Nations Children's Fund) and the National DDR programme, also facilitated the separation of 75 children associated with an armed group, following their recruitment between [January 2022 and January 2024].

** Sahel

And in the central Sahel region, a delegation of UN Regional Directors, led by the Special Coordinator for Development in the Sahel, Abdoulaye Mar Dieye, and the Regional Director for Africa at the UN Development Coordination Office (UN DCO), Yacoub El-Hillo, has commenced a high-level mission to the region. They arrived in Niger yesterday and will remain there until Thursday. They will then go to Mali and Burkina Faso.

While in the region, they will meet with national authorities, members of civil society and technical and financial partners.

They will also intensify advocacy for continued development and humanitarian investments, especially in light of the current funding challenges.

** Bangladesh

Turning to Bangladesh, just to flag that the humanitarian community in Bangladesh has launched a $53 million appeal to support the ongoing response by the Government to Cyclone Remal, which made landfall in the southern part of the country two weeks ago.

Through the appeal they are trying to reach 784,000 men, women and children who have been impacted by the storm and to provide food, water, nutrition, medicine, health care, protection and agriculture and livelihood assistance.

Our colleagues say many people are still living in shelters or with relatives after the cyclone damaged or destroyed nearly 174,000 homes. More than half a million farmers saw their crops damaged, and children are unable to attend 1,000 Government primary schools that were damaged. The cyclone also damaged or destroyed more than 20,000 water points and 134,000 latrines.

Earlier this month, Martin Griffiths, our Emergency Relief Coordinator, allocated $7.5 million from the Central Emergency Response Fund to help with the assistance.

** Sexual Exploitation and Abuse

And a quick note on the Trust Fund in Support of Victims of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse.

The report that is out today is produced by the Department of Management Strategy, Policy and Compliance, and covers activities conducted last year, in 2023.

The Trust Fund helps fund assistance and support services to victims and children born of sexual exploitation and abuse by UN personnel. Last year, projects supported victims in the DRC, South Sudan, the Central African Republic, Haiti and Liberia.

Since 2016, the year of its creation, the Trust Fund has received $5.1 million in contributions from 25 Member States.

Our colleagues are appealing to Member States to donate an additional $3 million to the Trust Fund by the end of the year to support activities.

** Senior Personnel Appointment

Senior Personnel Appointment: Today, following the nomination by the Secretary-General, the General Assembly, on 7 June 2024, elected Ana Claudia Marinheiro Centeno Rossbach of Brazil as the new Executive Director of the UN Human Settlements Programme, otherwise known as UN-Habitat.

She succeeds Maimunah Mohd Sharif of Malaysia, to whom the Secretary-General is grateful for her service and commitment to UN-Habitat and to the UN. The Secretary-General also wishes to extend his appreciation to Michal Mlynar, the Deputy Executive Director of UN-Habitat, who will continue to serve as Acting Executive Director until Ms. Rossbach assumes her position.

Ms. Rossbach, as an economist, brings to the position over 20 years of experience working on precarious and informal urban settlements, social housing and urban policies, together with designing and implementing strategies for public, social and private organizations with local, national and international stakeholders.

She has been the Director for Latin America and the Caribbean at the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy for the last two years and we congratulate her and welcome her.

** Children and Armed Conflict

Lastly, a programming note. You have been asking me about the publication regarding the children and armed conflict report. Just to let you know that we expected that the report will go to the Security Council members tomorrow.

We also expect the report to become public and to be published on Thursday in all six languages.

And we will have a press conference by Ms. Virginia Gamba, [the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict], on Thursday morning, at 10 a.m. in this very room to answer your questions on the issue.

** Questions and Answers

Spokesman : Edie and then Dezhi.

Question : Thank you very much, Steph. On the US pier and the security review: Can you tell us what exactly this review is going to include, how long it will take and what actually sparked this review?

Spokesman : Well, I mean, I think we've all seen what happened in Gaza over the weekend. We've seen some of the media reports. We've also taken note of the very public statements by the US. I think Central Command said that the floating pier had not been used in the operation by the Israeli forces. Regarding the hostages, I think it's only normal after such an operation takes place with such a large number of victims that our humanitarian colleagues take a pause, look at the situation and hopefully it can be returned to use as quickly as possible from our end. Dezhi?

Question : Yes, a follow-up on Edie's question. We know that floating dock is only a small portion of the humanitarian aid which needs to be entering Gaza. What about the route, the road-entering situation now?

Spokesman : I mean, there is no great improvement on the amount of material that comes in by road, and obviously, as we've said many times, it's also coming in by road, but then when you see the kind of military and kinetic activity that continues to take place, one can only imagine the difficulties in distributing the aid, both for the safety of those who are trying to get it and those who are trying to distribute it.

Question : And get back to what happened last weekend: The Israeli army freed four hostages while more than 200 Palestinians were killed. From the Secretary-General, does he think this operation is righteous or not?

Spokesman : Look, it's not for the Secretary-General to answer the question in such a way. Thank you. Sorry, my pauses sometimes are a little long.

Correspondent : I have to get used to that.

Spokesman : Yeah, I know. We, of course, welcome the news that the four hostages are free and reunited with their loved ones. As we've been saying, the Secretary-General had been in touch with families of the hostages, and he was in touch with them after the release. And he, of course, continues to call for the immediate and unconditional release for all remaining hostages. I think you've also seen the messages from our humanitarian colleagues on the toll paid by Palestinian civilians. The Secretary-General, I think, 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. We saw now how overwhelmed the hospital is, and our colleagues at OCHA went to the hospital to check on the hospital after the operation. Any loss of life is a tragedy; and again, we strongly urge all the parties to prioritize 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 by those obligations. And our humanitarian operation needs to be able to resume. I mean, our call for the three things we've been calling for a long time stays: An immediate ceasefire, full and unfettered access to humanitarian operations, and the release of the hostages.

Question : Well, Steph, it seems now we're entering a grey area or blurring the line because, according to IDF (Israel Defence Forces), those hostages were kept in civilian compound. Like you said, civilians must be protected. But for those people, at least, IDF claimed they kept the hostages.

Spokesman : The protection of all civilians should not be an either/or proposition. The best way to move forward is to negotiate, right? And to find a way to get all the hostages home, to get all the relief supplies that we need into Gaza, to return to some sort of political horizon that would lead us to a two-State solution. This conflict needs to stop. Margaret Besheer and then Linda.

Question : Thanks Steph. Switching gears to Yemen. Any update on the 11 detained staffers?

Spokesman : No, no update. We continue our contacts with all various authorities in the hope that all of them will be released as quickly as possible.

Question : Do you have any clarity? You said you were seeking clarity on the circumstances around their detention.

Spokesman : Nothing I'm able to share with you at this point.

Question : And then moving further east to the Korean Peninsula, it seems things are escalating, continuing to escalate between north and south. More trash balloons and the South Koreans have turned back on their loudspeakers and are dropping leaflets. Any message from the Secretary-General?

Spokesman : I mean, all of this is very concerning. Any time the tensions are heightened on a peninsula that is well-armed, so to speak, it just increases the risk. We would want to see the situation move in the opposite direction.

Question : And just one quick one. The Ukraine conference in Switzerland on the weekend. Ninety countries are attending. Who is attending from here?

Spokesman : I will get you a confirm... I mean, as I said last week, Secretary-General will not be attending. We will be represented at a senior level. As soon as I am able to confirm that with you, I will. And also, all the parties involved have been informed by the Secretary-General of this. Ms. Fasulo?

Question : Thank you, Steph. Following up on Dezhi's question about the hostages being kept in, I gather, apartment buildings with civilians. I know the SG has sort of called out the use, come out against the use of civilians as human shields, and throughout, in most... all conflicts. I was just wondering is, does this, is there any communication, perhaps, with, about not keeping or calling for the hostages not to be kept in civilian areas?

Spokesman : Well, I mean, the answer is hostages should not be kept, right? Full stop. Hostages must be released. Abdelhamid?

Question : Thank you. Do you have any confirmation that the US floating dock was not involved, other than the statement from the US? Does the UN have any kind of verification?

Spokesman : All I'm going to say to you is that we have seen the very public statements from the US.

Question : My second question, that the US, the SG, contacted the families of the released hostages to congratulate them. And did he ever try to reach to one Palestinian family or journalist who was killed to show some sympathy, like the journalist Al Dahdouh or Samer Abu Daqqa, who was killed while reporting?

Spokesman : The Secretary-General has met with Palestinian UN colleagues, relatives of colleagues, people whose families have been killed during the Israeli operation in Gaza. His door is always, always open. He reached out to two of the families of the Israeli hostages because he had met with them a week ago. As I said, his door is always open. All of these communications have been done on a humanitarian basis, on a human basis. This is, as I said, these are not political meetings he's having. These are humanitarian meetings, whether it's families of Palestinians from Gaza or relatives of Israeli hostages. Mike, Serife and then I'm going to go to Michelle.

Question : Two questions for you, sir. Late last week, the World Food Programme and other organizations put out another impending famine warning. I'm trying to establish the validity of some of the IPC (Integrated Phase Classification) numbers that have been put out there in recent past. On 15 February, the IPC said that there were some 677,000 Gazans already under phase 5 famine, which, according to the IPC, 2 of every 10,000 of those under phase 5 would be dying each day due to either starvation or malnutrition combined with disease. That's just shy of 15,000 people that, according to the IPC, should have perished by now in Gaza due to starvation or malnutrition combined with disease, just from that one warning in February. Even Hamas doesn't have anywhere close to those figures that they're putting out. What validity is there to those numbers at this point?

Spokesman : We have full faith in the work of the IPC, the work that our colleagues at the World Food Programme are doing. These are scientific reviews that we do for hunger hotspots, whether now in Gaza or in Syria or in Sudan, wherever they are. As to the exact breakdown, I would ask you to get in touch with our colleagues who can speak on behalf of the IPC. But from the Secretary-General's standpoint, he has full faith in their work.

Question : Even if the math completely doesn't add up?

Spokesman : He has full faith in the work and their methodology.

Question : Okay, second question. I'm sure the Secretary-General has already sent out invitations for Ambassador [Gilad] Erdan's going away party, but the Israeli Foreign Ministry announced that Ambassador [Danny] Danon is going to return to his post here in August. Can you give me some insight as to what the relationship was like the first time around between the Secretary-General and Ambassador Danon? And if there's any hope for a better relationship overall between the Israeli Mission and the UN going forward?

Spokesman : Hope springs eternal. I think the Secretary-General and Ambassador Danon had a very businesslike relationship. They spoke on a regular basis, and we look forward to working with him.

Question : One last question for you. You mentioned the Secretary-General met with the hostages' families. I think that was 2 June, probably 3 June.

Spokesman : Yeah, last week.

Question : Yeah, last weekend. There's been so many meetings with the hostages' families, and there's been interactions outside the Secretary-General's residence on a relatively weekly basis. What is said at this point in time? Is it simply giving updates? Is it just listening to their concern? I mean, what are those interactions like at this point?

Spokesman : First of all, it should be noted there have not been any demonstrations outside the Secretary-General's residence in a few months now. It's been a while. It's been a while. And they used to be weekly; the Secretary-General, every time he opened the door, and they were there, he would stop and he would speak to them. These are people in distress, people who hurt. He stops and he speaks to them, and he listens to them. And I think that is exactly what happens at all of these meetings. He is there to listen  to listen to their pain, to express his solidarity with people who have been detained, like people have been detained anywhere. He talks often about how when he was High Commissioner for Refugees, two of his staff members were detained, I think one in Chechnya and another one, another place, I think, also in Central Asia, and how he met with those families on a regular basis. Again, all of these meetings are done at the behest of various groups of families of hostages. As you know, we don't announce them because he's not doing it for PR. People want to meet with him. He also updates them on the information that he has. Thank you, Serife then, Michelle.

Question : Thank you, Stephane. Going back to the hostage rescue operation by Israel. In some of the reporting, there are eyewitnesses that claim that Israel entered the Nuseirat refugee camp in aid trucks. And as you also today informed us, WFP paused its delivery of humanitarian aid from the US pier due to concerns for safety. Do you have any information on whether this has happened? And if so, how do you think this will affect the delivery of aid and how will the people trust the aid workers if this is true?

Spokesman : We have no hard information on these reports. I think anywhere in the world, it is very important that people respect the independence of humanitarian operations and the independence of humanitarian workers. And this is something we've been talking about quite a bit from this podium in other places. And we've often talked about how our best protection, given that we don't surround ourselves by armed guards, are the communities themselves, and we very much hope that will continue. Michelle Nichols?

Question : Thank you, Steph. A bit of a follow-up on the same topic. There is a perception on the ground in Gaza among many people that the pier was used in the hostage rescue on Saturday. How much is that driving UN security concerns, that perception?

Spokesman : Look, what's driving UN security concerns is that we continue to try to deliver aid in an active war zone. That's what drives our security concerns and there are different issues that rise that come up to the fore on a regular basis. We deal with them. We constantly reassess our security position, constantly reassess our operations to ensure that our own staff is safe, and just as importantly, those people who are trying to get aid are safe, as well.

Question : And the WFP obviously said they paused the transferral of aid coming off the pier. But did it ever resume, because it only restarted again on Saturday, just for one day?

Spokesman : It had not, not to my knowledge. And I did want to add, I think somebody had asked, I think it was Dezhi regarding trucks, that the latest information we can share, that 88 trucks were picked up by the UN from the Kerem Shalom crossing and 14 from the Erez West crossing on 7 June. That's the last data I have available. And Mr. Mike, the next IPC report should come out in the next week or so, so you should have updated numbers by then.

Question : Steph, I have one more. Okay. We heard your displeasure on Friday at the videoing by the Israeli Ambassador of his conversation with the SG's chief of staff. Was there any formal communication on that between the SG and the Israeli Mission?

Spokesman : My understanding is that our Chef de Cabinet was in touch with the Israeli Mission. But frankly, I think more important things have happened since then. I'm going to stay on the screen, and I'll come back here. Arul Louis, please.

Question : Has there been any reaction from the Secretary-General to the Indian Prime Minister, [Narendra] Modi, being sworn in for a third term?

Spokesman : We obviously congratulate the Prime Minister. The Secretary-General looks forward to continuing to work with Prime Minister Modi, and I think the people of India should be congratulated and the Government for organizing an election of this size, which is frankly unseen anywhere else in the world, I think, in terms of numbers. Edie and then Margaret Besheer from Voice of America.

Question : Steph, the Security Council is going to vote this afternoon on a resolution basically endorsing a three-phase plan that could hopefully lead to a permanent ceasefire and end to the war in Gaza. Does the Secretary-General support this resolution, and would the UN be involved in any way in trying to implement it?

Spokesman : The Secretary-General, I think, very publicly expressed his support for the three-point plan put forward by President [Joseph] Biden now more than a week ago. Obviously, he will let Security Council members make their own decision in their wisdom. As always, we always hope for a unified and strong voice for peace from the Security Council, but we shall see. Oh, implementation... Of course, we will do whatever we can in whatever way we are requested to support peace and to support the rebuilding of Gaza, the restoring of the dignity of the Palestinian people. Margaret Besheer?

Question : Thanks again. What about the EU parliamentary elections? They went in a direction that the Secretary-General is often talking about, concerns about populists and xenophobia and anti-immigration or migration parties. And they seem to have done quite well in the parliamentary elections this weekend. Does he have any reaction?

Spokesman : Given that both the Secretary-General and I are citizens of the EU, I will refrain from commenting at this point... while we are international civil servants.

Question : Okay, wait, I'm not done. On the Michelle's question reminded me about the aid trucks. There were 27, I believe, stolen from WFP on 1 June in that looting attack or there was an incident that attacked.

Spokesman : No, the trucks, what was taken was what was on the trucks. I'm not done. My understanding is that the trucks did come back to the warehouse but empty.

Question : There were 61 looted according to Mr. Griffiths and WFP. There was roughly 27 stolen.

Spokesman : If I may rephrase my answer, I will check.

Question : Okay, check then. And since you point out I'm Voice of America, I would like to ask about Colum Lynch's story today in Devex about the US-UN relationship, Secretary-General and President Biden specifically. He portrays it as not a warm relationship. How would you portray it?

Spokesman : Listen, I sat in a meeting between the Secretary-General and Secretary [Antony] Blinken last week. Last Tuesday or Monday, last Tuesday. And I can tell you that the meeting was exceptionally productive and warm, and no sign of any tensions in those relations between the United Nations and the United States.

Question : Would he like to be invited to the White House? Apparently, he's the only SG that's never been invited.

Spokesman : If the Secretary-General is invited to the White House, he will go to the White House with great pleasure. Abdelhamid then we'll go to Mr. Klein.

Question : Thank you. There were some senior officials in the Israeli war cabinet resigned during the weekend. Does the SG have any analysis on the impact of these resignations?

Spokesman : I think you will have a better analysis on this than he will. Mr. Klein?

Question : Thank you. I have two questions, unrelated subjects. The first deals with the operation rescuing the four hostages. And correct me if I'm wrong in characterizing what you said previously. I know you often say the Secretary-General often asked for the unconditional release of all hostages. But then you just said previously that it should be based on a negotiation. Does that mean that you or the Secretary-General would rule out any military operation similar to the one conducted on Saturday that does end up freeing several one or more hostages, but at the cost of some civilian lives, because the hostages were kept in civilian facilities, in this case of residents? So that's the first question.

Spokesman : Listen, I can only go by what I said, which we, of course, welcome the fact that these four hostages are now reunited with their families. But the Secretary-General also expresses his sorrow and condemns the death of reported 300 people and the wounding of hundreds and hundreds of others. We do not engage in prescribing military strategy or police strategies to one side or another. Our call is [for an] end to this conflict to protect civilians. And we feel the best way to have these hostages released is through, in a way, through the plan that has been, that was presented last week  a humanitarian ceasefire, the release of all hostages and the full and unfettered flow of humanitarian aid.

Question : Okay, just on that. First of all, there have been varying reports as to how many fatalities that were in the operation. And secondly, Hamas, I think Hamas has not accepted the latest ceasefire proposal. But let me go on to my second question, if I may, and this has to do with Secretary-General's address last week on climate change. One of the things he said was or called for was the banning of any advertisements of any nature  he didn't qualify it  by fossil fuel companies. Isn't that inconsistent with freedom of expression? I mean, do you see that there may be competing values here at play?

Spokesman : Well, we don't think there is a contradiction. We're not saying that people themselves can't express themselves. I mean, there is no advertising for tobacco products in most places in the world. Is that an issue of freedom of expression? I will let you analyse and write on that. Dezhi, then I think we're going to stop.

Question : Yeah, it's an easy one, actually. Today is the international day for dialogues among civilizations. Well, how much importance does the Secretary-General think the dialogues among civilizations is?

Spokesman : Critical. I mean, we all need to speak and understand each other. On that hopeful note, and we thank Dezhi, and I will leave you in Farhan's hands for about two weeks.

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NATO Special Operations Forces Secure the Baltic

US Navy

10 June 2024

From Lt. j.g. Martin Carey

VILNIUS, Lithuania -- NATO Special Operations Forces (SOF) from six Allied nations recently completed Exercise Flaming Sword 24 in Lithuania, showcasing the Alliance's commitment to warfighting cooperation, collaboration, and interoperability in the Baltic region.

The primary purpose of the exercise was to train and test the readiness of NATO SOF units to conduct operations in response to increased aggression against its Allies.

Flaming Sword, a vital training event hosted by Lithuania, involved SOF units from Denmark, Germany, Lithuania, Poland, Portugal, and the United States. This exercise underscores the readiness and capability of NATO Allied SOF to deploy rapidly anytime and anywhere, to promote peace and security through joint efforts. For the first time in recent history, a German submarine in support of the German Special Operation Forces conducted missions in the Baltic Sea and ashore. Danish Frogmen from the Danish Maritime Special Operations Force also conducted operations in Baltic Sea region.

"Whenever we have the opportunity for U.S. Special Operations Forces to train alongside our NATO Allies, it reinforces our ability to rapidly deploy combat-credible forces in all domains - land, sea, air, and space - with equipment critical to effectively operate in any region," said Major Gen. Steven Edwards, Commander, Special Operations Command Europe. "Our ability to work seamlessly alongside our Allied partners strengthens our collective defense and enhances regional security."

Lithuania's SOF Commander Col. Darius Milasius also highlighted the significance of this exercise, stating, "As NATO, we have an opportunity to use various types of platforms in the air, at the sea and on land, making us unpredictable to the enemy. Surprise and speed; these are the main principles which we use conducting special operations".

Exercises like this foster interoperability among Allied forces, refining tactics and procedures for seamless warfighting cooperation during operations. Events included U.S. East Coast-based Naval Special Warfare Operators (SEALs) conducting maritime operations, close quarters combat, weapons training, and helicopter fast-roping iterations with their Allied SOF partners. This face-to-face training fosters a strong and strategic SOF warfighting foundation among NATO Allies.

"The weeks leading up to this exercise allowed my team to integrate with our partner forces from these countries. Having the chance to meet in person, build our operations plans together, and execute scenarios in tandem is invaluable," said the senior Naval Special Warfare Operator on site. "These relationships are critical to ensure we are postured to quickly support SOCUER's efforts with flexibility and agility."

Exercise Flaming Sword 24 reaffirms NATO's commitment to solidarity, transparency, and regional stability. By enhancing interoperability and readiness among Allied SOF, the exercise serves as a model for future collaborative efforts ensuring a robust defense posture in the Baltic and Arctic regions.

Naval Special Warfare Group TWO produces, supports, and deploys the world's premier maritime special operations forces to conduct full-spectrum operations and integrated deterrence in support of U.S. national objectives.

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Hundreds of NATO CBRN specialists train in the Czech Republic

Ministry of Defence & Armed Forces of the Czech Republic

11.6.2024

Author: by First Lieutenant Jitka Ticha

On June 9, 2024, an opening ceremony launched the multinational CBRN defence exercise Coronat Mask 2024 in the Hradiste Military Training Area, Czech Republic. Designed to train 800 plus CBRN defence specialists from thirteen NATO nations, this field training exercise is unparalleled in scope in the modern Czech history.

Hundreds of service members from NATO nations including the United States came to take part in the exercise and brought along a hundred pieces of special equipment.

In the following days, CBRN defence forces are up to incidents that reflect current threats involving weapons of mass destruction. "Individual incidents are designed to verify a wide range of CBRN defence capabilities of NATO units, including Czech ones, in a multinational environment, strengthen interoperability, and last but not least, share experience and procedures," says the deputy commander of the exercise play, Major Radek Kostejn, the chief of combat readiness section of the 31st Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Defence Regiment in Liberec.

Service members are using special harmless simulation substances in the exercise to induce the presence of chemical and radioactive agents. "Presently the most serious threat are chiefly nuclear weapons. That is why we are including, apart from chemical incidents, also incidents with live radioactive agents in the scenario. Units can therefore practice their detection and subsequent deactivation," MAJ Kostejn adds.

During the exercise, service members are forming four bigger multinational units to cooperate and perform tasks as one functional whole. "In the preparation process, commanders of these units have to take into account the differences in the units' capabilities and standard operating procedures," MAJ Kostejn elaborates.

The Coronat Mask 2024 (COMK24) is organized by the 31st Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Defence Regiment home-based in Liberec in cooperation with the NATO Framework Nations Concept (FNC) Cluster CBRN Protection. The last time this traditional exercise took place was in 2018. The subsequent iterations were not possible due to the Covid pandemic and later because of the deployment of Czech CBRN defence forces to the Multinational Battle Group of the NATO enhanced Forward Presence in Lithuania. The exercise is now intended to be held regularly on biennial basis.

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Statement by the Commissioner for Crisis Management, Janez Lenarcic, on the urgent need for a ceasefire and humanitarian access in Gaza

European Commission

Statement

11 June 2024

Brussels

Commissioner for Crisis Management, Janez Lenarcic, has issued the following statement:

"Today, I represented the European Commission at the Gaza Humanitarian Summit "Call for Action: Urgent Humanitarian Response for Gaza" in Amman, conveying the firm imperative to end the suffering of people in Gaza.

The vast majority of the population of the Gaza strip is fully dependent on humanitarian aid.

Despite all the efforts of humanitarian actors over the past eight months, often at great risk to themselves, the amount of aid allowed into Gaza has fallen to unacceptably low levels.

A ceasefire is desperately needed to deliver life-saving aid to those in need and to secure the release of the hostages. The vital work of the United Nations agency staff, which has been under attack in this crisis as rarely before in history, needs to be protected and facilitated.

Today's Conference offered a timely platform for reflection and dialogue within the international community, sharing the following priorities: ensure full access for humanitarian assistance into Gaza commensurate to the population's needs; protect civilians; and identify Early Recovery priorities.

The humanitarian situation and severe food insecurity are likely to deteriorate further, at a time when rising temperatures are aggravating the health and sanitation crisis inside Gaza owing to damaged sewage and waste treatment systems, making living conditions even worse.

Aid is piling up at Gaza's borders when children are dying of hunger just a few kilometers away. We can and we must stop this catastrophe.

The crucial Rafah crossing point must be re-opened, and Kerem Shalom, crossing points in the North of Gaza as well as the Jordan corridor and any other available option for access must be used to the fullest possible extent.

Ensuring the safety of humanitarian personnel assisting the most vulnerable is also crucial. As I stressed to our Jordanian partners, the EU stands ready to further step up its support for the Jordan corridor as a vital route for channelling assistance to Gaza.

The EU calls on Israel and all parties involved to abide by International Humanitarian Law to avoid further bloodshed among innocent civilians. The time for action is now."

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Minister of Defence Antti Hakkanen's welcoming remarks at the Allied Foresight Conference on 11 June 2024

Finnish Ministry of Defence

General Lavigne, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen.

Let me begin by wishing you all a warm welcome to Helsinki. It is my sincere pleasure to give welcoming remarks for the Allied Foresight Conference

Before I touch upon the actual theme of the conference - let me say a couple of words about Finnish priorities and expectations of our membership.

Im sure many of you here are interested how a new NATO-nation sees its membership.

First of all, Finland joined NATO because the security environment around us changed dramatically.

Russia's unprovoked invasion of Ukraine, followed by its ruthless actions, showed us that good neighbourly relations and independent defence - no longer guaranteed our security.

Our previous doctrine was to maintain such a defence capability that it would be too costly to launch a military operation against us.

Unfortunately, the Ukraine war has proven that Russia is ready and willing to continue its aggression in spite of horrible casualties.

Thus - Instead of trying to raise the threshold of aggression by inflicting casualties - our new policy is to emphasize the deterrence and defence of the whole alliance.

The deterrence and collective defence is the single most important aspect of our membership in the alliance.

We intend to contribute to this fully and we take our responsibilities very seriously.

Finland is currently upgrading, both our air force and navy with substantial new capabilities. After this, comes the biggest task -upgrading our land forces.

This is no small undertaking. In comparison to our population size - we have quite large land force component in our wartime army.

The theme of this conference - Foresight, serves us -as well as the whole alliance -by giving direction for our future development.

By steady and continuous development of our own forces, we hope to assure our allies that we intend to be a security provider - not a security consumer.

This brings me to the next priority of our membership. The unity of the alliance.

In order to have a credible deterrence and defence, the alliance must be united.

It is fully understandable that with such a large number of diverse nations in one alliance - there is always differences of opinion and courses of action.

Each nation has its own priorities and the right to promote them.

However - these differences need to be settled within the family. We must stand united in our commitments. Hostile entities are sure to exploit all possible cracks in the unity.

I must say that NATO's unity concerning Russia's invasion of Ukraine has been tremendous.

It must have come as a surprise to Russia that NATO has been steadfast and unwavering in both condemning Russia's actions and supporting Ukraine.

Not every ally share the concerns as we do - but not one has doubted Ukraine's cause and NATO's efforts to support it.

Finally, before my thoughts on the topic of this conference, I want to update you on Finland's support to Ukraine.

We, as most other allies, have been supporting Ukraine from the outset of the war.

Due to our large reserve army - we have had quite large stocks of hardware and munitions.

Therefore, even though our value of the support is average, we have been able provide Ukraine with exactly the material they have been in critical need - artillery pieces and munitions, mines and so forth.

We do not publicly disclose the number or detailed types of our support but I can assure you, that it has had the desired effect in the battlefield.

Having supplied Ukraine directly from our stocks, we are slowly approaching the minimum stock levels.

We are still able to source material directly from Defence Forces' warehouses but we must take in consideration, that Finland is a front line nation.

We cannot afford to deplete our stocks to a level where our defence capabilities would be at risk. That would mean that the alliance's northern flank would be at risk too.

Therefore - we are shifting our support to include more industrial participation and direct support from defence material companies.

This will both provide Ukraine with top of the line material but also increase and grow our domestic defence material production capability.

This - in the long term - enhances our security of supply and offers new sources also to other allies.

We started to ramp up our defence industry already in 2022 but now, with our recent investments, we can both support Ukraine and in the same time replenish our own stocks.

In spite of the shift in nature - our support to Ukraine remains iron clad.

Now, very shortly about the actual theme of this conference. Im using our membership in NATO as an example.

In the foresight literature, Wild Cards are high-impact events that are considered highly unlikely but possible. This is an apt description of our NATO membership.

Why so? First, public opinion was firmly against membership in all opinion polls from mid-1990s to 2021. The support for membership was steadily between 20-30 %.

Secondly, before the events of 2022, there was no genuine political debate on whether we should join - even though every Government White Paper since 2004 had included a statement that Finland retains the option of joining a military alliance and applying for NATO membership.

Moreover, many experts working within the defence sector were wondering in the spring of 2022 whether it would be a suitable time for NATO to have enlargement on the agenda.

There was war in Europe and the Alliance focus was on strengthening the Eastern flank and supporting Ukraine.

However, luckily the Alliance was willing and able to welcome new members.

From the foresight and planning perspective, the initial lesson learned for us is that the planning tools and mechanisms need to be flexible enough to incorporate political changes.

In our case, flexibility was incorporated in our strategy.

Examples include:

 Interoperability has been the key guiding principle for our defence since late 1990s.

 All Government White papers have instructed the Defence Forces to develop the defence system in such a way that there should be no practical obstacles to military alignment (should the political will change).

With these words, I would like to wish you all an excellent seminar and good discussions during this and tomorrow.

Thank You.

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China calls for 'comprehensive, effective implementation' of UNSC resolutions for Gaza cease-fire

Global Times

By Yang Sheng Published: Jun 11, 2024 08:59 PM

The UN Security Council (UNSC) on Monday local time adopted a resolution aimed at reaching a comprehensive cease-fire deal drafted by the US in three phases to end the war in Gaza, with China, which voted in favor, calling for all UNSC resolutions to be implemented in a comprehensive and effective manner while expressing concern that the US-drafted text is still ambiguous in a number of aspects.

Chinese analysts said on Tuesday that although the US claimed that Israel has accepted the deal and Palestinian group Hamas also said it accepts the deal and is ready to negotiate on details, to what extent the resolution can be implemented is still in question, as the conflicting parties lack mutual trust. If there are further incidents or disagreements during the three phases of the cease-fire between Israel and Hamas, the conflict will continue, so the US-drafted deal is fragile. China will play a role for peace and will make full efforts to mediate the crisis.

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," the Xinhua News Agency reported on Tuesday.

The US-drafted text calls for Hamas to accept a cease-fire proposal announced on May 31 by US President Joe Biden that has "already been accepted by Israel." Senior Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri told Reuters on Tuesday that Hamas accepts the deal, stressing that it was up to Washington to ensure that Israel abides by it.

International concerns

"The draft is still ambiguous in quite a number of aspects. We still have valid concerns about whether the parties concerned will accept the cease-fire proposal and whether the transitions among the three phases can be carried out smoothly," Chinese Ambassador to the UN Fu Cong said in his explanation of China's vote for the resolution at the UNSC meeting on Monday, according to the website of China's permanent mission to the UN.

"The immediate realization of a permanent cease-fire has been the strong appeal of China and other council members for months. And this has been the most desperate aspiration of Gaza civilians in deep sufferings. From the perspective of the urgent need to stop more killing and to alleviate humanitarian catastrophe, China voted in favor of the draft resolution," Fu remarked.

"All council resolutions are legally binding. The resolution just adopted is equally binding as Council Resolutions 2712, 2720 and 2728. All of them should be implemented in a comprehensive and effective manner. We hope that the sponsor will work sincerely in an impartial and responsible manner to push for the immediate realization of a permanent cease-fire," Fu said at the UNSC meeting. "China will work with all parties to push for an early cease-fire in Gaza and bring the Palestinian-Israeli issue back to the right track of the two-State solution as early as possible."

Although the resolution has been adopted, some countries are still concerned. Russian Ambassador and Permanent Representative Vassily Nebenzia 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."

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, the Russian representative asked "what specifically has Israel agreed to?"

Li Xinggang, a research fellow at the Institute for Studies on the Mediterranean Rim at Zhejiang International Studies University, told the Global Times on Tuesday that "the adoption of the resolution will have a binding effect and impact on both parties to the conflict in the sense of international law, and it plays a constructive role and has positive significance in genuinely realizing the cooling down of the situation in Gaza."

However, experts consider that the US-drafted deal remain fragile. "The phase-one cease-fire is likely to take place, but it remains to be seen whether this means that a sustainable cease-fire can be achieved in this round of the Gaza conflict," Li remarked.

Three phases

According to the resolution, phase one includes an "immediate, full, and complete cease-fire 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 neighborhoods 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 UNSC also underlined the proposal's provision that if negotiations take longer than six weeks for phase one, the cease-fire 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 UNSC 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 it stresses the importance of unifying the Gaza Strip with the West Bank under the Palestinian Authority," reads the resolution.

Wang Jin, an associate professor at the Institute of Middle Eastern Studies at Northwest University in Xi'an, told the Global Times that both Israel and Hamas will not say no to the call for peace as this is the call by the international community, so they will say they agree in principle, but working out details during the implementation will be complicated.

It will not be a surprise that if there is a failure to implement the deal and hostilities resume that both sides will fall into recriminations, experts said. During this process, to what extent the UNSC can make sure the resolution is binding will determine the effectiveness of the cease-fire, they noted.

Sun Langchen contributed to the story

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PLA warns off Dutch naval helicopter over its infringing provocation: spokesperson

Global Times

By Liu Xuanzun and Guo Yuandan Published: Jun 11, 2024 07:33 PM

The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) lawfully repelled a Dutch naval vessel-based helicopter when it conducted infringing provocations near Shanghai last week, a spokesperson from the Chinese Ministry of National Defense said on Tuesday.

The Netherlands' provocative action against China was instigated by the US, and the PLA will respond with necessary measures, experts said.

A vessel-based helicopter from the HNLMS Tromp, a Dutch naval frigate, conducted infringing provocations to the east of Shanghai on Friday, and the PLA Eastern Theater Command took measures such as issuing verbal warnings and launching military aircraft sorties to repel it, said Zhang Xiaogang, a spokesperson from China's Ministry of National Defense.

The Chinese move was completely lawful and reasonable, with a professional and standardized approach throughout the entire operation, Zhang Xiaogang said. He stressed that it was the Netherlands, not China, that was responsible for creating an unsafe situation.

The statement by Zhang Xiaogang came in response to a recent statement posted on the website of the Dutch Defense Ministry accusing China of creating a potentially unsafe situation.

The Dutch Defense Ministry claimed that two Chinese fighter jets circled the naval ship HNLMS Tromp several times in the East China Sea on Friday, and the ship's NH90 maritime combat helicopter was approached by two Chinese fighter jets and a Chinese helicopter during a patrol.

"We are strongly dissatisfied with the vile nature of the Dutch side's words and deeds, and have lodged solemn representations with them," Zhang Xiaogang said.

Zhang Junshe, a Chinese military expert, told the Global Times that the East China Sea is on China's doorstep, and it is completely legitimate for the Chinese military to dispatch ships and aircraft to conduct monitoring and surveillance, which is thoroughly in line with the international law and practice.

In recent years, the US-led West has frequently hyped the "unsafe" approaches of Chinese vessels and aircraft. The Netherlands has sent warships all the way to the Asia-Pacific region under the instigations of the US, and they have participated in various US-led military exercises and patrols in the South China Sea, the East China Sea, and other waters around China to flex their muscles, observers said.

This demonstrates that the Netherlands has become a pawn of the US to curb China, provoking China to collaborate with the US," Zhang Junshe said.

The Dutch warship is only crafting a publicity stunt, and poses no essential threat, another Chinese military expert who requested anonymity told the Global Times on Tuesday.

Such provocations aim at making political statements, and have little military significance, the expert said.

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Assembly of battle tanks in Norway

Government of Norway

News story | Date: 11/06/2024

- I would like to congratulate KNDS Deutschland and RITEK who have today signed an agreement which means that, for the first time in history, tanks will be assembled in Norway. 37 of the 54 Leopard 2 tanks Norway has ordered from German Krauss-Maffei Wegmann are to be assembled at RITEK in Levanger. This could be the start of a new Norwegian industrial adventure, says Defence Minister Bjrn Arild Gram.

The agreement, which was signed in the Oslo Military Society on 11 June at an event for the Norwegian-German Chamber of Commerce, makes it possible for RITEK to become an official subcontractor for Leopard 2 tanks. The Norwegian government decided in 2023 to purchase 54 new Leopard 2 A8 NOR tanks. The tank is the most modern and digitized tank that has been made and is a very important measure for the strengthening of the Norwegian Armed Forces.

- The plan is for RITEK not only to assemble the Norwegian Leopard wagons, but also to become a Nordic hub for maintenance, repair and upgrading of the Nordic Leopard fleet. The production line is planned to be maintained after the Norwegian wagons have been produced, so that RITEK can continue to produce wagons to be exported to other countries. This is positive for both local value creation and Norwegian readiness, says Gram.

The agreement will help to strengthen NATO's and Europe's capacity to increase the production of tanks in the future. RITEK is centrally located near important logistics hubs in the middle of the Nordic region and in an area with access to the specialized workforce that the company needs to grow in the coming years.

- There is a need for increased heavy workshop capacity in the Nordics, which the agreement can facilitate. The contract signed by RITEK and KNDS Deutschland here today will strengthen both the industrial cooperation between Norway and Germany, while at the same time strengthening Europe's resilience and security of supply, says the Minister of Defence.

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A freshly prepared souffle at Cafe Jacqueline in San Francisco. Gabrielle Lurie/The Chronicle Romantic, moody dinner at Cafe Jacqueline. Gabrielle Lurie/The Chronicle A souffle from Cafe Jacqueline in San Francisco. Gabrielle Lurie/The Chronicle

Jacqueline Margulis makes souffles in defiance of gravity. She is an aviator, who dreams of roaming the clouds. For more than 45 years at her San Francisco restaurant, Cafe Jacqueline, she has used muscle and technique to impart the power of flight into her airy specialty.

Souffles are a lifestyle at Jacqueline  available as an entree or dessert. Savory souffles, which easily feed two, arrive with an inflated, burnished dome and a garnish that corresponds to the ingredients inside, like a fanned-out ring of lemon slices for salmon, or a pile of cured meat sheets for the mushroom and prosciutto. My favorite, the pungent mushroom and basil version ($70), has no topping.

Longtime server Matthew Weimer shows off his curly mustache at Cafe Jacqueline in San Francisco. Gabrielle Lurie/The Chronicle

Before serving, Matthew Weimer, one of the cafes longtime wait staff, with a pointy curled mustache, allows guests a beat to take in the dishs wonder. He jiggles the ramekin gently to showcase its wobble. Then, using two spoons, he breaks the charred crust, with surgical precision honed over decades, and ladles thick curds onto the plate. The souffles contents were so light that I thought it might start levitating.

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With a belly full of billowing souffle, I found myself anchored to the chair by the thought of the restaurants lifespan. I couldnt help wondering about its impermanence  a cold dose of reality partly informed by the 87-year-old chefs recent injury.

Earlier this year, Margulis broke her arm, a vital, powerful force responsible for thousands of souffles. (At one point, Margulis whisked each souffle by hand, but shes since taken to using stand mixers when needed). She wasnt away from the kitchen very long. After a two-month break, she returned in May, still churning out her signature dish, with no lift lost.

Chef Jacqueline Margulis (right) near her hill of eggs and server Matthew Weimer in the kitchen at Cafe Jacqueline in San Francisco. Gabrielle Lurie/The Chronicle

Like probably anyone who has walked past the kitchen at Cafe Jacqueline to see one small woman beneath a hill of eggs, I was struck by her tenacity. I was impressed by her commitment to a concept that people said couldnt work, as she revealed in a short film called A Perfect Note. I can only imagine the will it takes to persevere despite more-than earned rest. Still, she shows up every day, spinning clouds out of eggs that cling onto whisks like thick spools of yarn. Shes still chasing food continuity, making souffles today that are as good as the ones from decades ago.

After her injury, Margulis quickly dispelled any suspicions that she was closing her cafe. Nothing has changed, Margulis told me by phone. She didnt hire any extra staff. Reservation windows are still from 5:30-7:30 p.m., and closing time is 10 p.m.

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There is one change I noticed, though. The Google listing of her restaurant shows up as permanently closed. I dont mind. The calls are still coming, she said with a cheeky tone.

The restaurant, it appears, has little interest in the conveniences of technology. The reservation system is analog. To book a table, you need to leave a voicemail  youre instructed to recite your phone number twice  and the staff will call you back to confirm. You must earn your visit at Jacqueline.

That small labor is rewarded with the miracle of a chocolate souffle ($55), which is enough for two. It certainly doesnt have the most flavorful chocolate, none of that single origin stuff. It is still magical. The consistency lands somewhere between chocolate mousse and cake. The fluffy, butter-enriched interior swirls and melts on your tongue. Jacquelines version is an affirmation of the dishs immortality.

Margulis grew up in southern France. She harnessed her skills at cooking school while living in a convent, where she spent 19 years of her life. She opened her North Beach restaurant in 1979, which used to be a shoe store. That same year also brought the openings of heavy-hitter contemporaries Zuni Cafe and Greens.

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When I finally got ahold of Margulis by phone, after several efforts to reach her, I had to ask: Does the souffle have any deeper significance? She gracefully swatted away my foolish inquiry. I like making them and people like eating them  otherwise they wouldnt come back.

Some, she said, have been going to Jacqueline for over 35 years, a loyalty spanning generations. Their children, their grandchildren come to me, she continued. Its amazing.

Two friends toasting at Cafe Jacqueline, which has become a yearly tradition. Gabrielle Lurie/The Chronicle

The minimalist decor that greets them  dim lighting, white tablecloths and pastel green walls  has changed little in more than four decades, but perhaps has taken on more special charm. You can sense it, as if the dining room has formed a seasoning from laughs and wonderment. It is a place where you might find or cultivate love, a sacred place of romance that has hosted innumerable dates, anniversaries and celebrations. Souffles are a slow, delicate art. While waiting, diners are compelled to appreciate the company in front of them, encouraged by deep glasses of French wine.

Why does Margulis keep making souffles, night after night? I dont see this as hubris or arrogance, but disobedience  a rejection of limitations, be it physical or temporal. She, more than anyone, understands the intricacies of the ephemeral. To understand souffles is to understand time. One moment, it emerges from the oven like a hot air balloon, full of life. Minutes later, it starts to deflate  reacclimating itself to the gravity it once scorned. Then it collapses.

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The punch line is this: A souffles fleeting lifespan, despite all the sweat and flesh it demands, is what makes it so beautiful. There are no other restaurants like Cafe Jacqueline in San Francisco, or the Bay Area, and there will likely never be another like it.

Go witness it for yourself, before it vanishes, before it takes to the skies.

Chef Jacqueline Margulis prepares a souffle at Cafe Jacqueline in 2018 in San Francisco. Gabrielle Lurie/The Chronicle

Cafe Jacqueline

1454 Grant Ave., San Francisco. 5:30-10 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday. 415-981-5565

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Minister of International Development Anne Beathe Kristiansen Tvinnereim's statement on Gaza

Government of Norway

Speech/statement | Date: 11/06/2024

By Minister of International Development Anne Beathe Tvinnereim

Statement held by minister Tvinnereim at humanitarian conference for Gaza in Jordan, June 11, 2024.

Your majesty, excellencies,

I would like to recognize the contributions of the organisers Jordan, Egypt and the UN, as well as the efforts of countries in the region and beyond to alleviate suffering in Gaza.

Let me also congratulate His Majesty King Abdullah II on the Silver Jubilee.

This crisis is not caused by a lack of will to provide humanitarian assistance. It is caused by parties to conflict unwilling to adequately protect civilians from the violence they unleash. It is caused by parties unwilling to let civilians access what they need to survive. International Humanitarian Law is crystal clear: It is a non-negotiable obligation of all parties to conflict to ensure that the basic needs of civilians are met. Not after conflict ends, but while hostilities rage.

Bombed and starved for eight months. And with nowhere safe to flee. Hostages still in captivity. Relentless mental harm. Hundreds of health and humanitarian workers killed, including almost 200 UN staff. It is a growing stain on our collective conscience.

Humanitarians must be allowed to do their jobs safely. Chief among them, UNRWA, must be allowed to focus on its core mandate and be given the financial resources to help the people of Gaza. Thankfully most donors have resumed contributions, but funding is still completely inadequate.

Norway is planning to provide one billion NOK in humanitarian funding for Palestine in 2024.

We support the UN's unique role in coordinating the response in Gaza, making sure that every dollar that is committed to support the population is put to the best use.

Let med also emphasize that UN Security Council resolution 1325 obliges us to pay particular attention to the unique needs of women and girls in situations of conflict.

Norway strongly supports the UN Security Council's call last night for a ceasefire.

Civilians in Palestine and Israel desperately need a lasting ceasefire and the release of hostages. And further ahead a political solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Norway's recognition of Palestine on 28 May aims at giving new momentum to the two-state solution.

International support to Palestine should strengthen legitimate and moderate forces. The PA has to be included both in current humanitarian and later reconstruction efforts. We must support bringing about one Palestinian government in charge of all of Palestine, both Gaza and the West Bank.

Thank you.

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Statement on attacks in Darfur, Sudan

Government of Norway

News story | Date: 11/06/2024

Statement from the Minister of International Development, Anne Beathe Kristiansen Tvinnereim and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Espen Barth Eide

We condemn the attack on the South Hospital in Al Fasher, one of the few remaining hospitals in Darfur. Hospitals are specially protected facilities under international humanitarian law. Attacks on the sick and wounded, children, health care workers and other civilians are unacceptable. We express our sincere condolences to the victims and remind the parties that there are rules in war: all belligerent parties have a duty to protect civilians, hospitals, healthcare and humanitarian workers.

According to reports, there have been several attacks on the hospital over the past weeks, including on the prenatal care unit, which killed one person and wounded eight, including patients and families. The attacks culminated on Saturday, when RSF soldiers are reported to have opened fire inside the hospital and looted the facilities. The hospital is now out of service, according to Medecins Sans Frontieres.

Directing attacks against civilians or civilian objects, such as hospitals, is prohibited under international humanitarian law, and may amount to war crimes.

More than 70 per cent of the health facilities in Sudan have been destroyed in the war.

The South Hospital in Al Fasher has been heavily congested since the fighting in the area began in mid-May. During the past few weeks, thousands of casualties have been treated at the hospital, which is now out of service, aggravating further the hardship of the civilian population in the area.

The civil war that broke out in Sudan in April 2023 has caused one of the world's worst humanitarian catastrophes, with unimaginable suffering of children, women and other civilians.

More than ten million people are displaced from their homes and millions are on the verge of famine. We urge the parties of this conflict to stop the fighting immediately and to agree to a sustained ceasefire. We also remind the parties of their obligation to adhere to international humanitarian law. This includes protecting the civilian population and ensuring that they have access to the humanitarian aid they need.



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Sweden to contribute to NATO Air Policing

Government Offices of Sweden

11 June 2024

The Government has decided to contribute aircraft to NATO Air Policing. The Swedish Armed Forces will thus have leeway to provide aircraft in the near future to carry out aerial surveillance under NATO's command.

Sweden is now integrating into NATO defence planning and taking part in NATO's collective defence. This means that Sweden is part of and contributes to NATO forces and leadership structures.

One of NATO's core tasks is to maintain its Integrated Air and Missile Defence. NATO Air Policing is part of this. Like the Swedish national aerial surveillance, NATO Air Policing takes place continuously with the aim of preserving the integrity of NATO air space and deterring attacks in the air domain.

With the decision to contribute aircraft to NATO Air Policing, Sweden is now taking the next step as a NATO member. It will primarily be the Blekinge Wing (F17) in Ronneby that contributes to NATO Air Policing, with aircraft carrying out operations based in Sweden, primarily in the Baltic Sea region.

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Iceland increases contributions to UNRWA

Government of Iceland

11 June 2024

Ministry of Education and Children, Prime Minister's Office, Ministry for Foreign Affairs

Today, the Minister of Education and Children's Affairs, Asmundur Einar Daason attended on behalf of the Prime Minister of Iceland the Call for Action: Urgent Humanitarian Response conference in Jordan.

In his address, the Minister placed emphasis on the horrible reality of children and youth in Gaza and stressed the importance of investing in their well-being in the post-war reconstruction. "Not only can the killing, maiming, or taking children as hostages, never be justified - their unimaginable suffering and deprivation also threatens to undermine peace and trust between the people of Israel and Palestine for generations to come," said Asmundur Einar. He reiterated Iceland's call for an immediate ceasefire, increased humanitarian access and the release of hostages.

The Minister also announced a 100 million ISK additional contribution to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). With this addition, Iceland will have contributed 290 million ISK to humanitarian assistance for Palestine this year.

On this occasion, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, ordis Kolbrun Reykfjor Gylfadottir, says that the Government of Iceland will continue to contribute to humanitarian assistance and reconstruction efforts in Gaza. She further emphasised the urgency of a ceasefire, delivery of humanitarian assistance and release of hostages: "We call for the immediate implementation of yesterday's Security Council resolution - the cycle of violence must end".

Prime Minister Bjarni Benediktsson: "Children can never be made responsible for war and it is unacceptable that they must pay for it with their lives. Iceland will now, as it has done in the past, call for a ceasefire, the release of all hostages and sustainable peace on the basis of the two-state solution."

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Palestinian groups inflict heavy blows on Israeli forces in Gaza

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Jun 11, 2024

Tehran, IRNA -- Palestinian resistance groups say they have inflicted heavy blows on Israeli occupation forces in various parts of the Gaza Strip.

The Al-Quds Brigades, the military wing of Islamic Jihad, said in a statement on Tuesday that its fighters killed an Israeli soldier.

According to reports, the military wing of the Islamic Jihad movement, the Al-Quds Brigades, stated that their fighters were able to take down a Zionist soldier in the Tel al-Hawa neighborhood in southern Gaza.

Al-Quds Brigades also said that its fighters are engaged in heavy fighting with the occupying forces in Rafah, using machine guns, anti-tank and anti-personnel rockets.

Al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, reported extensive operations against Israeli troops in Rafah, where a weeks-long Israeli offensive has driven out most of the displaced Palestinians who had taken shelter in the southern city.

Meanwhile, Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades, the military wing of the Fatah movement, published footage of their fighting with Israeli forces and the launch of a missile and several rockets towards their positions.

Earlier, the Mujahideen Brigades had reported that they had targeted a gathering of Israeli military forces east of Deir al-Balah in central Gaza with rockets.

More than 37,000 Palestinians, most of them women and children, have been killed in Israeli ground and air attacks on Gaza since October 7.

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Hezbollah could fire up to 3,000 rockets, missiles per day: The Epoch

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Jun 11, 2024

Tehran, IRNA -- The Epoch, an Israeli magazine, believes that in a future war with Hezbollah, this group could fire 1,000 to 3,000 rockets and missiles every day for at least the first week of fighting.

The Epoch in its report believes that Hezbollah could execute an average of 3,000 rocket launches per day into Israeli territory for at least 10 days in a full-scale conflict.

Should the war extend to two months, Hezbollah would likely sustain an average of 1,000 launches daily, the magazine believes.

In addition to rocket launches, Hezbollah is anticipated to employ mortars, anti-tank missiles, drones, and possibly some anti-aircraft missiles in attacks on Israeli military forces maneuvering in southern Lebanon, according to the report.

The group might also deploy heavy short-range rockets against Israeli ground forces, accordingly.

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Israeli forces killed in Hezbollah missile strikes on Golan Heights

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Jun 11, 2024

Tehran, IRNA -- The Lebanese resistance movement Hezbollah launched a barrage of missiles toward the occupied Golan Heights, which left a number of Israeli military forces killed or wounded.

According to Lebanon's Al-Mayadeen network, Israeli media outlets reported hearing dozens of explosions in the Upper Galilee region in northern occupied Palestine.

Several missiles have been fired at areas such as Ramim Cliff, Al Manara, and other Zionist settlements, intensifying unrest in the north of the Israeli-occupied territories. Following the onset of war in Gaza, Hezbollah initiated attacking Israeli positions to engage Zionist forces in northern occupied territories and lessen the pressure on Palestinian fighters.

Zionist sources reported a significant number of missiles were launched toward the Israeli settlement of Katzrin in the northern occupied territories.

Sirens have been heard in some settlements in northern occupied Palestine that have not been evacuated yet.

A missile has also landed in the Zionist settlement of Kfar HaNassi located in Upper Galilee.

Some Israeli media sources reported the firing of 40 missiles from Lebanese soil towards the occupied Golan Heights.

Hezbollah also issued a statement, declaring that in support of the people of Gaza and the Palestinian resistance, their fighters targeted a gathering of Israeli military forces in the Natu'a settlement at 9:00 AM, resulting in casualties and injuries among the troopers.

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Iraqi resistance launches drone attack against Israeli base in Golan Heights

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Jun 11, 2024

Tehran, IRNA -- The Islamic Resistance in Iraq says it has launched a drone attack against a military base in the Occupied Golan Heights in Syria.

The important target was attacked by drones, Palestinian news agency Samaa quoted the Iraqi resistance as saying on Tuesday.

The Islamic Resistance in Iraq has reiterated that this drone attack was launched on Monday evening, emphasizing that it will continue its attacks on the Israeli regime's bases.

The Islamic Resistance in Iraq also targeted an important Israeli base in Eilat located in the southern part of occupied Palestine.

During its previous operations, the resistance group had warned of an escalation of its attacks on the Israeli bases if the aggression continued in Gaza.

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Hamas ready to implement ceasefire agreement: Senior official

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Jun 11, 2024

Tehran, IRNA -- Senior Hamas official Mahmoud al-Mardawi said that the Hamas movement is ready to cooperate for the implementation of the ceasefire agreement.

According to the Palestinian Samaa News Agency, al-Mardawi made the remarks in reaction to a United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolution that aims to end Israel's genocidal war on Gaza and establish a ceasefire in the besieged Palestinian territory.

"We welcome the UNSC resolution regarding the ceasefire in Gaza and are ready to cooperate with the mediators to implement it," he said.

"The mediators must get a public commitment from the occupying regime regarding the ceasefire so that we can enter into negotiations," he added.

The Hamas official also said the US must be the guarantor of the agreement.

The UNSC resolution was approved without opposition or veto by its permanent and non-permanent members except for one abstention by Russia on Monday afternoon local time.

Resolution 2735, which has seven paragraphs, recalls all relevant resolutions regarding the situation in West Asia, including Palestine, and emphasizes the need for continued diplomatic efforts by Egypt, Qatar and the United States to achieve a comprehensive ceasefire in Gaza.

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Iraqi resistance launches drone attack against Israeli base

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Jun 11, 2024

Tehran, IRNA -- The Islamic Resistance in Iraq says it has targeted an important Israeli base in Eilat located in the southern part of the occupied Palestine.

The important target was attacked by drones, Palestinian news agency Samaa quoted the Iraqi resistance as saying on Tuesday.

The Islamic Resistance in Iraq has reiterated that it will continue its attacks on the Israeli regime's bases.

During its previous operations, the resistance group had warned of an escalation of its attacks on the Israeli bases if the aggression continued in Gaza.

According to a report released on the 200th day of Operation Al-Aqsa Storm, the Iraqi resistance fighters had launched 243 attacks against the Zionist regime in different parts of Iraq, the occupied lands and Syria.

Over 37,000, mostly children and women, have been killed in Gaza since the start of Israel's genocidal war in the enclave last October.

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Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas and other Democratic leaders in the Legislature want to force a choice between a ballot measure to reform Prop 47 and a bipartisan package of crime bills. Rich Pedroncelli

Democratic state lawmakers have arguably done more this year to address Californians mounting concerns about crime than they have in a long time.

With new leaders at the helm of the state Assembly and Senate, and obvious voter discontent ahead of the 2024 elections, the Democrats appetite has grown to crack down on viral smash-and-grab robberies and open-air drug markets.

On the ballot: California voters may decide whether to roll back Prop 47 crime measure

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Earlier this year, lawmakers unveiled a bipartisan package of bills that would, among other things, create a new crime for serial retail thieves, allow prosecutors to combine certain low-level thefts when charging offenders, permit courts to issue retail theft restraining orders and institute sentencing enhancements for those who steal, resell and destroy especially large amounts of property.

Thus far, the package has been smoothly chugging through the Legislature.

But Democrats have now cooked up a scheme to kill most of their own bills if voters approve a ballot measure to reform Proposition 47  the controversial 2014 initiative that reduced penalties for some drug and theft offenses  which formally qualified Tuesday for the November election.

Its the legislative version of Meredith Blakes ultimatum in the 1998 movie Parent Trap, when she asks her fiance Nick to choose between her and his twin daughters: Get the picture? Its me, or them. Take your pick.

Limiting the number of initiatives on the ballot is generally a good idea. Not only is it expensive to run initiative campaigns in California, but voters also dont want to deal with lengthy, confusing ballots. Thats why state lawmakers can strike deals with a measures proponents  in this case, the Californians for Safer Communities Coalition, led by local district attorneys  to handle the issue through legislation. The deadline for a compromise is June 27.

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But Democrats have opted to twist arms instead.

In doing so, theyre not only fumbling their attempts to get Prop 47 reform off the ballot. Theyre also creating yet another criminal justice PR nightmare for themselves and giving Republicans an easy opportunity to make them look foolish.

Heres whats happening:

Last week, news leaked that Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas and Senate President Pro Tem Mike McGuire planned to amend the Democratic public safety package to make it effective immediately upon Gov. Gavin Newsoms signature, rather than the customary first day of the new year, and then repeal it if voters approved the Prop 47 reform measure.

It was a crafty, if cynical, strategy that effectively left ballot measure supporters with a choice: Either they could support the package of bills, which were all but guaranteed to become law in a matter of weeks, or they could take their chances with the ballot measure, which voters might or might not approve and which would require millions of dollars in campaign funding.

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Furthermore, theyd have to contend with arguments from the initiatives opponents that the ballot measure would repeal the strongest anti-theft laws passed by the Legislature in years. (The measures supporters also argue that Democratic Attorney General Rob Bonta could amend the ballots proposed title and summary to reflect these talking points. Bontas office did not respond to a request for comment.)

But the strategy has backfired, largely because of the secretive way in which Democrats have gone about it.

The amendments still havent been made public, even though lawmakers voted to move the bills through key committees Tuesday morning. And it isnt even clear which bills the amendments will be inserted into; in a press release, the offices of Rivas and McGuire said only that 12 of the 14 bills will contain the urgency clause and 11 will contain the repeal provision.

Democrats have also danced around the real purpose of the amendments.

At a Monday press conference, Rivas and McGuire repeatedly said the amendments were intended to avoid conflicts and incompatibility between the ballot measure and the bills.

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Yet they struggled to articulate what exactly those conflicts were and often seemed like deer in the headlights under reporters questions.

Im not prepared to go through all the conflicts, but happy to set up a time as we work with staff to go through those conflicts, McGuire said on several occasions.

Yolo County District Attorney Jeff Reisig, who helped craft the ballot measure, told me that proponents dont see any legal conflicts between the initiative and the bill package.

What Democratic leaders appear to fear, however, is that if the bills and the ballot measure go into effect, prosecutors will be able to effectively stack them on top of each other, supercharging their ability to funnel people into jails and prisons.

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We will make our communities stronger in this 14-bill package, without implementing the draconian Republican agenda  that would set California back decades with policies of mass incarceration that devastates Black and brown communities and will cost taxpayers billions, McGuire said.

It is true that the initiative takes a tougher-on-crime approach than the Democrats bills. Among other things, it permits prosecutors to charge offenders who commit certain drug or theft crimes with a felony if they have two prior convictions, and it also increases penalties for people trafficking large amounts of hard drugs and offenders carrying firearms.

Still, the measure doesnt go as far as pre-Prop 47 policies did. For example, it allows offenders to expunge their convictions if they complete treatment programs, and it permits many to serve their sentence in county jail until a fourth conviction, at which point they would be directed to state prison.

There was plenty of room  and time  over the past year for stakeholders on both sides to hammer out a meaningful compromise and find a Goldilocks-style criminal justice approach: not too strict and not too lenient.

Instead, Democratic lawmakers and district attorneys continue to accuse each other of refusing to come to the table. Instead of consensus and compromise, weve gotten partisan finger-pointing and political sausage-making.

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
Palestinian resistance groups hail UNSC resolution on Gaza

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Jun 11, 2024

Tehran, IRNA -- The Palestinian resistance movements, Hamas and Islamic Jihad, have welcomed the UN Security Council's resolution sponsored by the United States on the ceasefire in Gaza.

According to the Palestinian Samaa news agency, a Hamas statement said: "We welcome 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 Hamas expressed its readiness to cooperate with mediating parties to enter into indirect negotiations regarding the implementation of proposals that are in line with the demands of the Palestinian people and resistance.

In the statement, Hamas also emphasized on continuing to strive and fight together to achieve national rights, including the right of return and self-determination and above all to drive out the occupiers, form an independent Palestinian state with al-Quds as its capital.

Separately, the Islamic Jihad Movement announced that "although the UN Security Council resolution was approved with a delay of more than eight months, we agree with what is stated in this resolution, especially in terms of opening the doors, achieving a complete stop of aggression and encroachment, and complete withdrawal of the enemy from the Gaza Strip".

Islamic Jihad added: We emphasize that the standing and resistance of our people is what forces the enemy to surrender.

The UN Security Council on Monday adopted a US-drafted resolution welcoming the Gaza ceasefire proposal announced by President Joe Biden and calling on Hamas to accept it. !4 members of 15-nation security council voted in favor of the draft resolution but veto-wielding Russia abstained.

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'Israel bears responsibility to implement UNSC resolution'

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Jun 11, 2024

Tehran, IRNA -- The Palestinian Authority's Ambassador to the United Nations Riyad Mansour said in the Security Council meeting following the approval of a draft ceasefire resolution on Gaza that "the responsibility for its implementation now lies with the Israeli side".

"We do not want even one ounce of the territory of the Gaza Strip to be under the control of Israeli forces," Mansour was quoted by the Russian Sputnik news agency according to IRNA's Tuesday morning report.

The representative of Palestine in the United Nations said "we are looking forward to the implementation of the Security Council's ceasefire resolution".

He thanked Algeria that worked closely to influence the draft resolution for the Palestinian people to achieve their rights, and also appreciated the efforts of the mediators, especially Egypt and Qatar.

Mansour however said: "We will continue to strive for justice and hold accountable the perpetrators of crimes in Gaza, the latest of which is what happened in the Nuseirat camp".

The Palestinian Authority, in a statement, welcomed the approval of the draft resolution proposed by the United States to the Security Council regarding the ceasefire and prisoner exchange and said that that it is in favor of any plan that leads to the immediate cessation of the war in Gaza and the preservation of integrity of the Palestinian territories.

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UNSC adopts US-sponsored Gaza ceasefire resolution

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Jun 11, 2024

New York, IRNA -- The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) has endorsed a US-backed proposal that aims to end Israel's more than eight-month genocidal war on Gaza and establish a ceasefire in the besieged Palestinian territory.

According to IRNA reporter from the UN headquarters, the resolution was approved without opposition or veto by its permanent and non permanent members except one abstention by Russia on Monday afternoon local time (June 10).

In Security Council Resolution 2735, which has seven paragraphs, recalls all relevant resolutions regarding the situation in the Middle East, including Palestine, and emphasizes the need of continued diplomatic efforts by Egypt, Qatar and the United States in achieving a comprehensive ceasefire in Gaza.

The US claims the new ceasefire proposal announced on May 31 has been accepted by Israel and that Hamas should accept it as well, while calls on both sides to fully implement its terms without delay in the three phases.

The resolution, which in the first phase, calls for an initial six-week ceasefire and the exchange of some Israeli captives held in Gaza for Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails also includes the return of Palestinian civilians to their homes, including in the north, as well as the safe and effective distribution of large-scale humanitarian aid throughout Gaza.

The second phase would include a permanent ceasefire and the release of the remaining captives and the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza.

The third phase would involve a reconstruction effort for the devastated Gaza Strip and the return of the bodies of all dead hostages still in Gaza to their families.

The approved resolution emphasizes the importance of the parties adhering to the terms of the proposal after the agreement and asks all UN member states to support its implementation.

The resolution rejects any attempt at demographic or territorial change in the Gaza Strip, including any measures that reduce the size of Gaza.

US President Joe Biden announced on May 31 during his election campaign that Israel presented a new proposal for a ceasefire and prisoner exchange, which was presented to Hamas through Qatar. And he asked the parties not to miss this opportunity and reach an agreement on this proposal.

Despite Biden's claim, some Israeli officials have since promised to continue the war until the elimination of Hamas. The Zionist regime has also intensified its bloodshed since then in defiance of the US president statement, an international outcry and most importantly against a ruling by the International Court of Justice that called on the regime to immediately halt its invasion of the southern Gaza city of Rafah and allow unhindered humanitarian aid into Gaza.

Hundreds more Palestinian civilians have been martyred in Israel's indiscriminate bombing and shelling across Gaza, Rafah in particular, over the past couple of weeks, raising the overall death toll from the Israeli genocide in Gaza to over 37,100 and and the number of wounded has reached 83074 since October 7, 2023.

EU hails US-backed Gaza plan

The EU foreign policy chief has welcomed the approval of a draft resolution at the UN Security Council to establish a ceasefire in the Gaza and demanded its immediate implementation.

According to IRNA's Tuesday morning report, Josep Borrell in a message on his X social media (former account wrote: "We recall our full support to the 3-pahse roadmap of the President of the United States and urge both parties to accept and implement it."

In his post, Borrell further said in his post that "the European Union welcomes the adotion of the UNSC resolution 2735, supporting the proposal announced on 31 May."

US pressure tactic on Hamas

The US ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas Greenfield tried to apply Washington's trick after the approval of the resolution to establish a ceasefire in Gaza, saying "the war will stop if Hamas accepts the agreement on the table."

Greenfield claimed that Israel has already agreed to this proposal but fell short of mentioning why the Zionist regime keeps going with its genocidal campaign if it had endorsed the US plan.

Without referring to Washington's support for Israel's more than 8-month war and vetoing of a number of ceasefire resolution in recent months, Greenfield claimed: We voted for peace today, and the Security Council and the countries of the region and the world have approved this resolution.

UK: US-backed plan important step forward

Meanwhile, The United Kingdom, as usual, has hailed its traditional ally the United States for putting forth a draft resolution on the Gaza peace plan that was voted by the UN Security Council.

British ambassador and representative to the United Nations, Barbara Woodward, whose country also voted for the US resolution called it "an important step to end the Gaza war".

"The situation in Gaza is catastrophic," the British ambassador acknowledged without referring to the military and financial aid by the West, especially the US, to the Zionist regime for its ongoing bloodshed and genocide in Gaza.

Russia: Many questions remain unanswered

However, Russian Ambassador to the UN whose country abstained in during the voting on the US-backed Gaza ceasefire plan said Moscow had many questions regarding the new move.

"We have a whole host of questions about the American draft resolution, whereby this Council welcomes some deal, the ultimate outlines of which are not known to anyone, perhaps, except the mediators," Vassily Nebenzia said during a UN Security Council during a meeting on Palestine and Israel.

"We did not want to block the resolution because as far as we know the Arab world supports it, but we have several questions about the resolution proposed by Washington", he added.

Nebenzia continued by saying that Russia always has a positive attitude towards any diplomatic efforts aimed at ending the Gaza war.

He emphasized: "We are not sure of the stance of the Zionist regime regarding the ceasefire resolution" and said that the Security Council should not have endorsed the motion with ambiguous components.

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UNSC adopts resolution regarding Gaza ceasefire

ISNA - Iranian Students' News Agency

Tue / 11 June 2024 / 12:41

The United Nations Security Council on Monday adopted a resolution welcoming the Gaza ceasefire proposal put forth by US President Joe Biden.

Tehran -ISNA- The resolution, drafted by the United States, received overwhelming support, with 14 members voting in favor and Russia abstaining.

The ceasefire proposal, announced by Biden on May 31, outlines a new three-phase plan aimed at achieving "a lasting cessation of hostilities" in the Gaza Strip and the release of all captives held by Hamas.

Hamas welcomed the ceasefire proposal. "We welcome the contents of the Security Council resolution regarding a permanent ceasefire in Gaza, complete withdrawal, the return of displaced persons, and reconstruction."

The resistance group emphasized its firm stance against any demographic changes or reduction in the area of the Gaza Strip and highlighted the need for essential aid to support the people in the territory.

Moreover, the representative of Hamas in Lebanon, Ahmad Abdul-Hadi, told Al Mayadeen that the UNSC's resolution is a direct result of the steadfastness of the Palestinian people and their Resistance.

The representative warned against the continuous threats issued by Israeli officials regarding the continuation of the war on Gaza despite the decision, stressing that these statements should be reviewed by the UNSC.

End Item

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Landsbergis meets with the European Commissioner: "Lithuania's strong stance on sanctions against Belarus has no impact on food security"

Republic of Lithuania - Ministry of Foreign Affairs

2024-06-11

On 10 June 2024, Lithuania's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Gabrielius Landsbergis, met with the European Commissioner for International Partnerships, Jutta Urpilainen, who was visiting Vilnius.

During the meeting, Lithuania's Foreign Minister and the European Commissioner discussed support projects for Ukraine and the Global Gateway, a new European strategy to support investments in infrastructure projects in the digital, energy and transport sectors and their development in developing countries.

"We aim for a long-term impact through the reconstruction support for Ukraine and other projects, and we are taking several additional steps to achieve the best result. Our involvement in typical school and other projects opens the door to cooperation with international partners and contributes to the European Commission's joint effort to strengthen the EU's international relations through concrete initiatives", Landsbergis said.

The Foreign Minister also drew the Commissioner's attention to the need to adopt the sanctions packages against Russia and Belarus as soon as possible, without exceptions that would erode their effectiveness.

"Lithuania's strong stance on sanctions against Russia and Belarus has no impact on food security but limits the revenue that repressive regimes earn and cracks down on sanction circumvention," the Foreign Minister noted.

The meeting also discussed opportunities for small and medium-sized enterprises to get involved in Global Gateway projects in Africa and Central Asia - the transformation path taken by Lithuanian institutions and businesses has been a unique and very valuable experience.

The Global Gateway is the EU and member states' strategy to support infrastructure development worldwide, with a focus on developing countries. The European Commission aims to mobilise 300 billion between 2021 and 2027 for connectivity projects, notably in the digital, climate and energy, transport, health, education, and research sectors.

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Data on interceptions of aircraft completed near the Baltic States' borders on June 3-9, 2024

Republic of Lithuania - Ministry of National Defence

2024-06-11

International cooperation | Security and defense policy

On June 3-9 fighter aircraft of the NATO Baltic Air Policing Detachment were scrambled two times to patrol the international airspace over the Baltic Sea and 11 times - to intercept aircraft of the Russian Federation violating flight rules in international airspace over the Baltic Sea.

On June 3 fighter aircraft of the NATO Baltic Air Policing Mission were scrambled to identify and escort what might had been two SU-24 aircraft that took off in Kaliningrad and continued to move in the international airspace over the Baltic Sea. Neither had flight plans, the onboard transponders were switched off, the crews were not maintaining radio contact with the regional air traffic control centre.

On June 4 NATO fighter jets were scrambled to intercept an AN-12 and a TU-134: the AN-12 flew into the international airspace from KLAiningrad and headed for the mainland Russia according to a pre-filed flight plan and maintaining radio communication but with its onboard transponder kept off. The TU-134 also flew out of Kaliningrad into the international airspace and proceeded to the mainland of the Russian Federation, with its onboard transponder switched off, according to a pre-filed flight plan, maintaining radio communication with the regional air traffic control centre.

On June 4 NATO Air Policing fighter aircraft were scrambled to identify and escort one AN-12 and one IL-20. The AN-12 was flying from the mainland Russia to Kaliningrad through the international airspace, with onboard transponder switched off, without a flight plan, though keeping in touch with the regional air traffic control centre. The IL-20 was flying from the mainland Russia to Kaliningrad via the international airspace without the flight plan, its onboard transponder switched off, but maintaining radio communication with the regional air traffic control centre.

On June 5 NATO Air Policing fighter aircraft were patrolling in the airspace over the Baltic Sea.

On June 6 NATO fighter jets were scrambled to intercept one TU-134 flying from Kaliningrad to the mainland of the Russian Federation through the international airspace. The TU-134 was flying through the international airspace to mainland Russia from Kaliningrad, it had no pre-filed flight plan, with the onboard transponder switched on and maintained radio communication with the regional air traffic control centre.

On June 7 fighter aircraft conducting the NATO Air Policing Mission in the Baltic states were scrambled to identify what was likely an IL-20 of the Russian Federation which took off from Kaliningrad and was flying in the international airspace over the Baltic Sea. The aircraft had no flight plan and was not maintaining radio communication, its onboard transponder was switched off. Another aircraft in need of identification was likely a SU-24MR which took off in Kaliningrad and was moving in the international airspace over the Baltic Sea. It had no flight plan, its onboard transponder was not switched on and the crew was not maintaining radio communication with the regional air traffic control centre.

On June 7 NATO fighter jets were scrambled to identify and escort one SU-34 and one AN-30. The SU-34 was flying from the mainland of Russian Federation to Kaliningrad via the international airspace without the flight plan, its onboard transponder off, not maintaining radio communication with the regional air traffic control centre. The AN-30 flew out of Kaliningrad into the international airspace and returned. It had no pre-filed flight plan, the crew kept the onboard transponder switched off and did not keep radio communication with the regional air traffic control centre.

On June 7 NATO fighter aircraft scrambled to identify what was likely one TU-214PU and two SU-27 aircraft of the Russian Federation. The TU-214PU was flying from mainland Russia into the international airspace and then to Kaliningrad, it had no plan pre-filed for the flight, the onboard transponder as off and the crew was not maintaining radio communication with the regional air traffic control centre. Both of the SU-27 took off in Kaliningrad, met and flew escort of the TU-214PU's flight, they had no flight plans, kept the onboard transponders switched off and were not keeping radio communication with the regional air traffic control centre.

On June 7 NATO fighter aircraft were scrambled to intercept one IL-78 and one TU-214PU. The IL-78 was flying from the mainland of the Russian Federation to Kaliningrad via the international airspace, without the pre-filed flight plan, without using its onboard transponder nor keeping radio communication with the regional air traffic control centre. The TU-214PU was flying from Kaliningrad to mainland Russia through the international airspace, in accordance with a pre-filed flight plan, with its onboard transponder switched on and maintaining radio communication with the regional air traffic control centre.

On June 8 the NATO Air Policing fight jets were scrambled to identify and escort one IL-76 and two SU-24 aircraft. The IL-76 was flying from Kaliningrad to mainland Russia via the international airspace, it had no flight plan , though the onboard transponder was switched on and the crew was maintaining radio communication with the regional air traffic control centre. Both of the SU-24s flew out of Kaliningrad into the international airspace and then returned, they had no pre-filed flight plans, the onboard transponders were switched of , neither of the crews was maintaining radio communication with the regional air traffic control centre.

On June 9 NATO fighter aircraft were scrambled to intercept one AN-72 flying from the mainland to Kaliningrad through the international airspace. It had no pre-filed flight plan, the crew kept the onboard transponder switched on and kept radio communication with the regional air traffic control centre.

On June 9 the NATO Air Policing air assets were patrolling the airspace over the Baltic Sea.

On June 9 NATO fighter jets were scrambled to intercept one IL-76 and one AN-72. The IL-76 was flying from Kaliningrad to the mainland Russia through the international airspace, it had no flight plan, but the onboard transponder as off and radio communication was maintained. The AN-72 was flying from Kaliningrad to mainland Russia via the international airspace, without the flight plan, the crew kept the onboard transponder on and maintained radio communication.

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The President: NATO Summit in Washington will define the future of the Euro-Atlantic area

President of the Republic of Lithuania

June 11, 2024

President Gitanas Nauseda is participating in the Bucharest Nine summit in Riga on Tuesday. The key topics of the meeting include the preparations for the NATO Summit in Washington and long-term support for Ukraine.

Speaking at the leaders' panel, the President emphasized that the Washington NATO Summit should not be just a celebration of the Alliance's 75th anniversary. Given the current geopolitical situation, we cannot afford to merely celebrate; we need concrete results and the necessary decisions to strengthen the security and defense of the entire Euro-Atlantic area.

"The Washington Summit will be a crucial moment for shaping the future of the Euro-Atlantic area. We need to ensure that NATO remains the strongest defense alliance. We need to effectively implement the decisions taken last year in Vilnius and further strengthen NATO's eastern flank," Gitanas Nauseda spoke.

The Lithuanian leader underlined the importance of implementing NATO's regional defense plans and the rotational air defense model. President Gitanas Nauseda said that it is also necessary to work towards greater investment in defense and to make every effort to bolster the defense industry. "Today we see that 2% of GDP is no longer enoughwe need to aim for at least 3% in order to strengthen security and defense in a sustainable way," the President pointed out.

According to President Gitanas Nauseda, the Ukraine issue will inevitably be at the center of the NATO Summit in Washington, and it is the progress made on the Ukraine issue that will be the measure of the Summit's success.

"Ukraine's victory is the only way to restore the destabilized international order and prevent the spread of war in Europe in the future," the President pointed out.

On Tuesday afternoon, the Lithuanian President will address the Bucharest Nine leaders' panel on support for Ukraine.

The Bucharest Nine is a group of countries on NATO's eastern flank, formed in 2015 in response to Russia's annexation of Crimea in 2014.

The President's Communication Group

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Secretary General underlines B9 countries' crucial role in strengthening NATO's deterrence and defence

NATO - North Atlantic Treaty Organisation

11 Jun. 2024

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 NATO's 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 NATO's 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 NATO's deterrence and defence, and agree on a greater role for NATO in coordinating training and equipment for Ukraine.

Since Russia's 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 Russia's 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.

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Hamas, Islamic Jihad: Ceasefire must end Israel's aggression completely

Iran Press TV

Tuesday, 11 June 2024 10:03 PM

The Palestinians resistance groups Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad have offered their official response to a UN-backed ceasefire proposal to mediators Qatar and Egypt.

In a joint statement the Palestinian groups said on Tuesday that their priorities are a complete end to the ongoing Israeli aggression and the interests of the Palestinians in Gaza.

"A joint delegation from Hamas and Islamic Jihad delivered the response of the resistance factions this evening to the Qatari brothers during a meeting with the Qatari Prime Minister, and the response was also sent to the Egyptian brothers," the statement said.

According to the Palestinians sources, the resistance groups have offered some amendments to the Israeli proposal, including a timeline for a permanent ceasefire and the complete withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza.

"The response prioritizes the interests of our Palestinian people and the necessity of completely halting the ongoing aggression against the Gaza Strip," the joint Hamas and Islamic Jihad statement noted.

"The Palestinian delegation expressed its readiness to engage positively to reach an agreement that ends this war against our people, based on a sense of national responsibility," it added.

Qatar and Egypt confirmed that they have received the response and said mediators will study it and coordinate with the relative parties regarding the next steps.

"The two sides confirm that their joint mediation efforts with the United States of America will continue until an agreement is reached, as the mediators will study the response and coordinate with the parties concerned regarding the next steps," read the Qatari and Egyptian statement on Facebook.

On Monday the US-drafted Gaza truce plan was adopted by the UN Security Council.

Fourteen members of the Security Council voted in favor of the proposal on Gaza ceasefire. Russia abstained.

The three-phase plan envisages the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza, the exchange of prisoners and the reconstruction of the territory.

Hamas said in an earlier statement on Tuesday that it endorses the resolution and is ready to cooperate with mediators to enter more indirect negotiations over the implementation of the resolution.

'US evaluating Hamas response to ceasefire deal'

White House spokesperson John Kirby said on Tuesday that the US has received Hamas's formal reply to the ceasefire proposal sent to Qatari and Egyptian mediators.

Kirby told reporters that it was helpful to have a response from Hamas and that US officials are currently evaluating it.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has reaffirmed his commitment to a ceasefire.

Israel has failed to abide by previous UN ceasefire resolutions, including most recently in March.

The regime has also not complied with the ruling of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to cease its genocidal actions in Gaza and "immediately halt" its operations in the southernmost city of Rafah.

At least 37,124 Palestinians, most of them women and children, have been killed in Israeli attacks across the Gaza Strip over the past eight months during the regime's genocidal war.

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June 10: 'Axis of Resistance' operations against Israeli occupation

Iran Press TV

Tuesday, 11 June 2024 11:57 AM

By Press TV Website Staff

Amid Israel's genocidal war on Gaza, which has killed nearly 37,200 Palestinians so far, including more than 16,000 children, resistance groups in Palestine and across the region continue their operations against the Tel Aviv regime and its Western backers.

The major operations carried out by the Palestinian and regional resistance groups on Monday, June 10, are as follows:

Al-Qassam Brigades' operations on June 10:

Targeted a building housing the Israeli regime forces in the Shaboura camp in southern Gaza's Rafah city with mortar shells.

Targeted a D9 military bulldozer of the Israeli army with an Al-Yassin 105 shell near Al-Awda Mosque in central Rafah, south of the Gaza Strip.

Detonated a booby-trapped house in the Shaboura camp, Rafah city, killing and wounding all Israeli regime forces holed up inside.

Al-Quds Brigades' operations on June 10:

Downed an Israeli army DJI Mavic 3 Enterprise drone, directly targeting it, taking control, and obtaining the information it contained during an intelligence mission over Jenin camp.

Targeted the positions of Israeli soldiers and their military vehicles on the supply line in the Netzarim axis, south of Gaza City.

Sniped an Israeli soldier east of the Al-Shouka area in Rafah, southern Gaza Strip.

Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades' operations on June 10:

Sniped an Israeli army soldier near the Al-Awda Roundabout east of Rafah, southern Gaza Strip.

Downed an Israeli military reconnaissance drone in the Al-Damj neighborhood, Al-Fara'a camp.

Martyr Abdulqader Al-Husseini Brigades' operations on June 10:

In a joint operation with the Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades and Omar Al-Qasim Forces, targeted Israeli military gatherings east of Jabalia in the occupied West Bank.

Al-Asifah Forces' operations on June 10:

Targeted a gathering of Israeli soldiers with mortar shells on the supply line in the Netzarim axis, south of Tal al-Hawa, west of Gaza City.

Hezbollah's operations on June 10:

Eastern Sector:

Targeted two buildings occupied by Israeli soldiers in the Manara settlement with appropriate weapons, hitting them directly. The operation was in response to Israeli military attacks on the southern Lebanese villages, especially Houla and Shebaa.

Targeted newly installed Israeli military surveillance equipment in the Ramim barracks with appropriate weapons, destroying it directly.

Targeted the Bayad Blida site with a precision drone strike, hitting the target accurately.

Targeted the Radar site in the occupied Lebanese Shebaa Farms along with its guard, technical, and surveillance equipment with artillery shells and guided missiles, destroying the equipment.

Launched an aerial attack with a squadron of drones on the headquarters of the Golan Brigade 210 in Sha'al, targeting the positions of Israeli officers and soldiers.

Ambushed a Hermes 900 armed drone equipped with missiles and targeted it with air defense weapons, hitting and downing it before it could carry out the attack.

Targeted the Bayad Blida military site with rockets, hitting it directly.

Western Sector:

Targeted a building used by Israeli soldiers in the Yir'on settlement with appropriate weapons, hitting it directly and killing or wounding those inside.

Targeted a building used by Israeli soldiers in the Avivim settlement with appropriate weapons, hitting it directly.

Launched an aerial attack with a squadron of drones on the newly established headquarters of the 146th Brigade east of, targeting enemy positions and shelters, killing or wounding soldiers, and destroying the site. This was in response to Israeli attacks on Aitaroun and Maroun al-Ras on Saturday, and the martyrdom of resistance fighters.

Targeted a building used by Israeli soldiers in the Shtula settlement with appropriate weapons, hitting it directly, causing a fire, and killing or wounding those inside. This was in response to enemy attacks on the southern Lebanese villages, especially Aitaroun and Aita Al-Shaab.

Targeted a building used by Israeli soldiers in the Evan Menachem settlement with appropriate weapons, hitting it directly.

Islamic Resistance in Iraq's operations on June 10:

Targeted an Israeli military target in the occupied Golan Heights using a barrage of drones.

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San Francisco Mayor London Breed, above, and San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan endorsed a ballot measure earlier this year to reimpose felony punishments for some drug possession and theft offenses. Juliana Yamada/The Chronicle 2023

Californians may have the chance to roll back parts of a law they approved in 2014 that downgraded drug possession and thefts worth less than $950 to misdemeanors, after a measure to reimpose felony punishments for those offenses qualified Tuesday for the November ballot.

The 2014 law, Proposition 47, aimed to reduce jail populations, but critics say it has emboldened thieves. The ballot measure to change it would eliminate the $950 threshold for a third theft, meaning someone caught stealing three times could be charged with a felony, regardless of the value of the merchandise stolen. It would do the same for a third drug possession charge. It would also increase jail time for repeat thefts and organized retail theft and includes provisions to compel people with multiple drug possession convictions into treatment.

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The campaign in support of the measure has reported more than $8.5 million in contributions so far. Its top donors are Walmart, Target and Home Depot.

Though most Democrats have backed Prop 47, there has been support for overhauling the proposition among the partys moderates for years. San Francisco Mayor London Breed and San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan endorsed the ballot measure earlier this year, signaling growing distaste for Prop 47 among Democrats.

They join California Republicans, who have long been the harshest critics of the law and have repeatedly tried to overturn it.

Our goal is not to keep people locked up, Breed told the Chronicle earlier this year. But when there are no real consequences for crimes that are committed in this city, thats a real problem.

Supporters of Prop 47, including Gov. Gavin Newsom, argue that reducing jail time for lower-level offenses helps communities and saves the state money that can be used for education and government programs aimed at keeping people from committing crimes in the first place.

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A recent report found that the money Prop 47 has diverted from jails to treatment programs has led to lower crime rates for those who participate in those programs, which are designed to keep people from reoffending and returning to jail.

Prop 47 decreased jail costs by nearly $93 million between August 2019 and May 2023, diverting that money to mental health and drug treatment, housing, job training and legal services for more than 21,000 defendants who would have been incarcerated before the initiative passed, the report found. Those defendants committed new crimes at a much lower rate  about 15%  than inmates released from state prison, whose recidivism rates were 35%-45%, according to the report by the Board of State and Community Corrections.

Newsom reaffirmed his support for the measure earlier this year and pointed out that the $950 threshold for felony theft in the law is actually one of the lowest in the country. Texas, for example, has a minimum felony theft threshold of $2,500.

Everyone is rushing to reform Prop 47 to raise the threshold, he told reporters in January. Thats not the fundamental issue.

Property crime rates in California decreased about 7% between 2017 and 2022, the most recent year for which complete data is available, according to data from the California Department of Justice. Shoplifting decreased 10%.

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Recent data from San Francisco shows that crime is down significantly in the city this year compared with the start of last year. Larceny  a type of theft that includes car burglaries  fell 35% during the first quarter of this year, compared with the first quarter of 2023. Other types of violent and property crime are down too.

Crime data doesnt always match how people perceive the severity of crime in the state, however. Polling by the nonpartisan Public Policy Institute of California found the percentage of Californians who say crime, drugs and gangs are the top issues in California has increased to 11%, compared with 3% five years ago.

Now that the secretary of state has confirmed that proponents of the measure gathered enough signatures, it will likely go before voters in November. Proponents could withdraw the measure if they strike a deal with lawmakers to keep it off the ballot if the Legislature passes compromise legislation to address some of their concerns, but its not clear whether that will happen.

Proponents have said they believe the measure must be passed by voters and that legislative efforts to change Prop 47 wont go far enough to address its flaws. Democratic lawmakers have introduced bills to make it easier for district attorneys to prosecute retail theft, including by adding the value of items stolen in separate shoplifting instances together to reach the $950 threshold. Other legislative proposals aim to go after organized retail theft, such as by cracking down on people reselling stolen goods.

Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas, D-Hollister, said he opposes changing Prop 47 via ballot measure. He, Newsom and Senate President Pro Tem Mike McGuire, D-Geyserville, are in talks to make legislative changes to address retail theft.

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Assembly Member Rick Chavez Zbur, who is leading the effort in the Assembly as chair of a retail theft committee, described the ballot measure as a relatively crude approach that potentially criminalizes a lot of folks that are engaging in more minor activities.

He said the bills the Legislature is considering would make it easier to target organized crime and go after repeat offenders.
'Huge surprises' to await Israel if regime launches new war on Lebanon: Hezbollah

Iran Press TV

Tuesday, 11 June 2024 10:27 AM

A senior Hezbollah official says the Lebanese resistance movement is fully prepared for any possible scenario, stressing that much greater surprises than the ones that have stunned the Zionists so far are in store in case the Tel Aviv regime opts to launch a new war on Lebanon.

"What Hezbollah has already exhibited in the course of the battle in support of Gaza and in defense of Lebanon is simply representative of a fraction of its military capabilities," Hezbollah Deputy Secretary General Sheikh Naim Qassem said on Monday.

"Hezbollah has huge surprises for the Zionist enemy. The enemy cannot bet on the factor of time; because we have enough strength to continue the battle. This is the battle out of which we will ultimately emerge victorious," he added.

He further noted that the outstanding capabilities of the Axis of Resistance have enabled it to take control of the struggle, establish new equations and force the Tel Aviv regime to agree to its equations.

Sheikh Qassem emphasized that Hezbollah is not looking for a large-scale war, saying, "If the enemy wants to launch a new war [on Lebanon], we will not hesitate to answer back. Israelis well know such a fact."

The deputy head of Hezbollah stated that the unfolding strategic developments are in favor of the Axis of Resistance, and the enemy will realize the huge losses they have suffered at all levels after this war.

Sheikh Qassem stated that no matter how much Zionists would try to prolong the war and no matter how much the US administration would support them, they will never achieve anything.

"One of the major achievements recorded in the aftermath of Operation Al-Aqsa Storm was that the whole world is now talking about the Palestinian cause and standing up against the fake Zionist entity," he pointed out.

Back on June 4, Mohammad Raad, head of the Loyalty to the Resistance Bloc in the Lebanese parliament, said Hezbollah is fully prepared for any possible scenario.

He dismissed the Zionist regime's threat of military action against Lebanon, stressing that such intimidation is simply meant to improve the Israeli forces' morale amid the Gaza war.

"The Zionist entity knows that these threats are on object of ridicule among the parties that are well aware of its [military] ... weaknesses. The enemy may opt to commit a folly against Lebanon, but such an action will be tantamount to its suicide," Raad pointed out.

The senior Lebanese legislator added that Israel cannot restore its lost security, noting that its sole available option is to end its aggression against Gaza.

The Israeli regime has repeatedly attacked southern Lebanon since October 7, when it launched a genocidal war on Gaza that has killed at least 37,124 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, including more than 80 civilians, 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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Five killed in Israeli missile strikes on Lebanon's northeast near border with Syria

Iran Press TV

Tuesday, 11 June 2024 9:07 AM

At least five people have been killed when Israeli missile strikes targeted a convoy of tankers in Lebanon's northeastern district of Hermel near the border between the Arab nation and Syria.

The so-called Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said, "Three Hezbollah members were killed by nine Israeli missile strikes that targeted a convoy of tankers and a building" in Hawsh al-Sayyid Ali village of the district late on Monday.

The Britain-based monitor added that two other people were also killed in the attack.

The Observatory's director, Rami Abdel Rahman, told AFP news agency that five others had been wounded and two people were missing following the attacks

Syrian anti-aircraft defense was activated to counter the strikes, according to the war monitor.

The development came hours after Hezbollah said in a statement that several Israeli soldiers were killed and injured as it had targeted a gathering of the forces with "appropriate weapons" at the Manara kibbutz in the Upper Galilee region, which is adjacent to the Lebanese border and overlooking the Hula Valley.

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 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.

The Israeli military has also been conducting attacks against the Lebanese territory since then, prompting retaliatory strikes from Hezbollah on a nearly daily basis in support of the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip.

Hezbollah has pledged to keep up its retaliatory operations as long as the Tel Aviv regime continues its onslaught on Gaza.

At least 37,124 Palestinians have since been killed in the besieged territory, the vast majority being women and children, and another 84,712 individuals injured, according to local health authorities.

More than eight months into the Israeli genocide, vast swathes of Gaza lie in ruins amid a crippling blockade of food, clean water and medicine.

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Four Palestinians killed, eight injured in West Bank as Israel continues raids

Iran Press TV

Tuesday, 11 June 2024 6:39 AM

At least four Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces during a raid in the northern sector of the West Bank, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health, as the Israeli military continues to carry out incursions across the occupied territory.

The official Palestinian news agency WAFA, citing Palestinian security sources requesting anonymity, reported that Israeli troops opened fire at a vehicle near the town of Kafr Ni'ma, located 13 kilometers (8 miles) northwest of Ramallah in the northern West Bank.

The Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) said in a brief statement that its crew members received a call about several injuries after the Israeli forces' shooting.

Locals said the shooting was followed by an Israeli military incursion into the town, which led to the outbreak of clashes.

The Palestinian Ministry of Health said that eight people were injured by Israeli forces' live fire during the confrontations, who were transferred to the Palestine Medical Complex in Ramallah, with their injuries described as minor to moderate.

Meanwhile, the Palestinian National Liberation Movement (Fatah) has called a general strike in the Ramallah governorate in condemnation of the Israeli forces' killing of the four Palestinians.

The development came a day after at least two Palestinians were killed by Israeli forces in two separate incidents in the occupied West Bank, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health.

Since Israel unleashed a war on the besieged Gaza Strip in early October 2023, casualties have been rising in the West Bank as a result of intensified near-daily Israeli raids into villages and cities in the occupied territories.

At least 533 Palestinians have been killed in the West Bank by Israeli forces or extremist Jewish settlers since the war began. According to the UN, 2023 was the deadliest year for Palestinians in the West Bank since the United Nations began keeping such records in 2005.

At least 37,124 Palestinians, most of them women and children, have also been killed in Israeli attacks across the Gaza Strip over the past eight months during the regime's genocidal war.

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In letter to UN, Iran urges world body to pressure Israel into honoring ICJ rulings

Iran Press TV

Tuesday, 11 June 2024 7:19 AM

Iran has called on the United Nations to ratchet up pressure on Israel to make it abide by the rulings issued by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) against the regime's genocidal war on the Gaza Strip.

In a letter sent to UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres on Monday, Iran's interim Foreign Minister Ali Bagheri Kani said the UN has a duty to urge all member states to refrain from collaborating with the aggressor regime as such a move could constitute complicity in the most serious crimes.

"Once again, I deem it necessary to underline the crucial role and inevitable responsibility of the United Nations with respect to the ongoing massacre in the occupied Palestinian territories by the Israeli regime," he said.

"In this context, it is highly expected that your Excellency utilize all means available ... to put pressure on the Israeli regime in order to compel it to abide by the binding provisional measure of the International Court of Justice and stop genocide of the Palestinian people."

In a case brought by South Africa against Israel, the ICJ, the UN's top court, issued three provisional measures on January 26, March 28 and May 24.

They respectively ordered Israel to take all measures within its power to prevent genocide in Gaza, allow unimpeded access of food aid into the besieged Palestinian territory, and immediately halt its military invasion of the southern city of Rafah.

Also in his letter, Ali Bagheri Kani said the international community should urgently put an end to the ongoing atrocities perpetrated by the usurping entity in the occupied Palestinian territories and protect innocent civilians.

"I wish to reiterate that the international community is legally and morally duty-bound to stop and prevent the genocide of the Palestinian nation. It is imperative to ensure the immediate and unhindered fulfillment of all their humanitarian needs," he noted.

Under the UN Charter, Bagheri Kani said, all states, specifically those who provide support to Israel, have legal responsibility to prevent genocide by ceasing aid to the genocidal regime.

Israel waged its brutal Gaza onslaught on October 7 after the Palestinian Hamas resistance group carried out its historic operation against the occupying entity in retaliation for the regime's intensified atrocities against the Palestinian people.

So far, the Tel Aviv regime has killed at least 37,124 Palestinians, mostly women and children, and injured 84,712 others in the Gaza Strip.

Israel is deliberately blocking and delaying the flow of food and basic supplies into Gaza and using starvation of civilians as a method of warfare.

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Vietnam's South China Sea island building sets record in 2024: report

Hanoi has created as much new land in 6 months as the previous 2 years combined.

RFA Staff 2024.06.11 -- Vietnam's 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. Vietnam's features are much smaller than any of China's so-called Big Three - Fiery Cross Reef, Mischief Reef and Subi Reef - artificial islands that Beijing developed and fully militarized.

Vietnam's overall dredging and landfill totaled about 2,360 acres (955 ha), roughly half of China's 4,650 acres (1881.7 ha).

The research group said Vietnam's reclamation was a major change. Just three years ago, the total amount of Vietnamese dredging and landfill was less than a tenth that of China's.

Vietnam's 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.

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.

China's three largest artificial islands are all equipped with runways that can accommodate bigger military transport, surveillance, and bomber aircraft.

Other features under Hanoi's 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 China's 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 China's claims are the most expansive.

A Philippine official, asked about Vietnam's 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

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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Canadian Parliament supports Tibet's self-determination

The motion recognizes that Tibetans are victims of China's systemic cultural assimilation.

By Tashi Wangchuk and Tenzin Dickyi for RFA Tibetan 2024.06.11 -- Canada's Parliament has unanimously passed a motion in the House of Commons advocating for Tibet's right to self-determination.

The nonbinding motion recognizes Tibetans as "a people and a nation" with the inherent right to determine their own social, economic, cultural and religious policies, including the selection of the next Dalai Lama, the spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism.

The measure demonstrates growing international support for Tibetans and their cause as the Chinese government steps up its repressive policies in the western region by eroding Tibetan language, culture and religion.

Sponsored by the bloc Quebecois, the motion was introduced by party lawmaker Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe.

"The purpose of the motion was for the House of Commons to recognize that Tibetans are victims of systemic cultural assimilation by China; and to offer unanimous support to the Tibetan people's efforts and actions towards self-determination," he said in a written response to Radio Free Asia.

The motion says Tibetans can claim the right to self-determination and freely choose their economic, social, cultural and religious policies without interference from external powers

It also says this empowerment prohibits China from interfering in the selection of the next Dalai Lama, whom Tibetans believe should be determined in accordance with their Buddhist belief in reincarnation.

The Chinese Embassy in Ottawa did not respond to RFA's request for comment.

'Not forgotten'

The motion's passage on Monday follows a series of meetings between Sikyong Penpa Tsering, the leader of the Tibetan government-in-exile, Namgyal Choedup, the Dalai Lama's representative for North America, and the Canada Tibet Committee with Bloc Quebecois leaders in Montreal, Ottawa, and Washington.

"Canada's unanimous passage of the motion reaffirming Tibetan self-determination sends a strong message to Tibetans in Tibet that their resilience is not forgotten," Tsering posted on his X account.

Tenzin Lekshey, spokesman for the Central Tibetan Administration in Dharamsala, India, expressed the gratitude of the Tibetan government-in-exile to the Canadian Parliament for supporting the motion.

"This motion holds immense significance for the Tibetan people inside Tibet, addressing key issues such as Tibet's self-determination, the future reincarnation of the Dalai Lama, Chinese interference, Chinese assimilation policies, and the importance of preserving Tibetan culture," he said.

The adoption of the motion coincides with Canada Tibet Lobby Days 2024 during which Tibetans from across Canada travel to Ottawa to meet with lawmakers and express their concerns about China's repression of Tibetans.

In December 2022, Canada's House of Commons unanimously passed a motion endorsing Tibet's Middle Way Approach and supporting the resumption of dialogue between Tibetan representatives and the Chinese government.

The approach accepts the formerly independent Himalayan nation's status as a part of China but urges greater cultural and religious freedoms, including strengthened language rights, guaranteed for ethnic minorities under provisions of China's constitution.

Additional reporting by Yeshi Dawa and Ugen for RFA Tibetan. Edited by Roseanne Gerin and Malcolm Foster.

Copyright 1998-2024, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content 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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Taliban Clamps Down On Activities Of Rival Islamist Parties In Afghanistan

By Abubakar Siddique June 11, 2024

The Taliban government has cracked down on rival Islamist parties in Afghanistan in what is seen as an effort to prevent any future opposition to its hard-line rule.

Since banning all political parties last year, the Taliban has targeted two of its major former rivals. It shut down two Kabul-based TV stations owned by the Hezb-e Islami and Jamiat-e Islami parties, respectively.

Now, the extremist group has cracked down on Harakat-e Islami Afghanistan, closing a TV station as well as a university and seminary accused of having links with the Shi'ite political party.

The Taliban's clampdown on political parties is part of a wider assault on dissent. After seizing power in 2021, the militants have jailed dozens of journalists, activists, and academics.

'Relentless Crackdown'

The Taliban's Justice Ministry on June 8 ordered the closure of Tamadon TV due to its alleged affiliation with Harakat-e Islami Afghanistan. The ministry also alleged that the station was operating on "seized land."

Tamadon TV, which covered news and current affairs as well as Shi'ite religious programming, has denied the claims.

The station was founded in 2006 by Ayatollah Asif Mohseni, a prominent Shi'ite cleric and leader of Harakat-e Islami Afghanistan who died in 2019.

Mohammad Jawad Mohseni, the director of Tamadon TV, rejected the Taliban's claims about the broadcaster's political affiliations. He said Mohseni had resigned as the leader of Harakat-e Islami in 2005, a year before establishing the station.

Global and Afghan media watchdogs have condemned the closure of Tamadon TV.

"The Taliban is expanding its relentless crackdown on Afghan media and suppressing any independent voices," said a statement by the New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists, which called on the group to "immediately and unconditionally reverse its decision."

In April, the Taliban shut down Noor TV and Barya TV for "violating Afghan and Islamic values and journalistic principles."

Jamiat-e Islami owned Noor TV, while Hezb-e Islami ran Barya. The stations ran Islamic programs.

Harakat-e Islami Afghanistan, Jamiat-e Islami, and Hezb-e Islami were all factions of the mujahedin, the Islamist groups that battled the Taliban for control of Afghanistan in the 1990s. Prominent mujahedin figures received prominent roles in the new political order that emerged after the U.S.-led invasion in 2001 toppled the Taliban's first regime.

'Narrow-Minded Policies'

On the same day that it ordered the closure of Tamadon TV, the Taliban also announced that it was shutting down Khatam-al Nabyeen University and its madrasah, or Islamic seminary. The same allegations were made against the educational institutions.

"Political parties are abolished in the country," Barakat Rasuli, a spokesman for the Taliban's Justice Ministry, wrote on X. "Their media outlets do not have the right to operate."

"The buildings [of all three] are built on usurped land," Rasuli added. "This why we have stopped their activities and shut down their offices."

The TV station, university, and seminary are all part of a sprawling complex in west Kabul, where members of the Shi'ite minority reside. Like Tamadon TV, the university and madrasah were established by Mohseni in 2006.

Mohseni was believed to have ties with neighboring Iran, where he lived for years during the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan in the 1980s. Tehran allegedly helped fund the Khatam-al Nabyeen University and seminary as part of its efforts to build influence in the country.

Afghanistan's Shi'ite community have been increasingly marginalized under the rule of the Taliban, a Sunni militant group.

The Taliban has prevented members of the Shi'ite community, which makes up around 15 percent of the population, from publicly marking important religious festivals and restricted the teaching of Shi'ite jurisprudence in universities in Afghanistan.

Sami Yousafzai, a veteran Afghan journalist and commentator, said the militant group's closure of Tamadon TV as well as Khatam-al Nabyeen University and seminary "shows the Taliban's religious bias and its narrow-minded policies."

"They are against anyone who doesn't follow their ideology, [including] followers of Islamist groups such as Hezb-e Islami, Jamiat-e Islami, or Harakat-e Islami Afghanistan," Yousafzai added.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/afghanistan-taliban-islamist- political-parties/32988314.html

Copyright (c) 2024. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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Georgian Dream Plays Geopolitics To Shore Up Support At Home

By Joshua Kucera June 11, 2024

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."

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-georgia-relations- georgian-dream-abkhazia/32988405.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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Bosnia Protests To Montenegro Over 'Two States' Reference To Bosnian Serb Entity

By RFE/RL's Balkan Service June 11, 2024

SARAJEVO -- Bosnia-Herzegovina's Foreign Ministry has sent a protest note to Montenegro over what it called "controversial statements" by the right-wing speaker of the country's parliament implying statehood for Republika Srpska, the mostly Serb entity that makes up about half of Bosnia.

Speaker Andrija Mandic referred to an "All-Serb Assembly" in Belgrade on June 8 attended by the leadership of Republika Srpska as "a gathering of two states."

The Bosnian Serbs' leadership has repeatedly threatened to break away from the rest of Bosnia and has taken steps in the past two years to establish key parallel institutions.

"Even though we know him, even though he constantly behaves like this, we will always respond to attempts to attack the constitutional architecture of Bosnia-Herzegovina," Bosnian Foreign Minister Ellmedin Konakovic said.

He said Bosnian officials were considering sending a note of protest to Serbia as well.

The June 8 assembly in Belgrade was organized under the slogan "One people, one assembly -- Serbia and Srpska."

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic has kept a number of its post-Yugoslav neighbors with Serbian minorities off-balance with appeals to Serbian ethnicity and nationhood as well as Christian Orthodoxy.

Pro-Moscow Republika Srpska President Milorad Dodik, accused of corruption and targeted by Western sanctions over his moves toward secession, has wielded mostly unrivaled power among Bosnian Serbs for decades and actively undermined Bosnian statehood.

Bosnia was admitted as a member of the United Nations in May 1992.

The constitution of Bosnia -- comprising Republika Srpska and the Federation of Bosnia-Herzegovina, along with the self-governing Brcko District -- arose from the Dayton agreement that ended the Bosnian War in 1995.

Montenegro declared independence from its State Union with Serbia following a referendum in May 2006 and has grappled with identity issues stemming from its close historical, religious, and ethno-national ties with Serbs.

Among other assertions, its participants described Kosovo -- a partially recognized state that declared independence from Serbia in 2008 -- as "an inalienable part of Serbia."

U.S. officials have called the "All-Serb Assembly" assertions an attack on Bosnia's postwar institutions.

In a statement on June 11, the State Department reaffirmed its support for Bosnia's unity, saying, "As we have consistently made clear, we firmly support the sovereignty, territorial integrity, and multiethnic character of Bosnia-Herzegovina, of which Republika Srpska is a part."

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/bosnia-montenegro-protest-serbia- serbs/32988407.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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Romania's Ruling Parties Win Votes, But Extremists Reach European Parliament

By RFE/RL's Romanian Service June 11, 2024

Partial results from Romania's local, mayoral, and European elections showed Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu's ruling Social Democrats (PSD) and their junior coalition partner, the Liberal Party (PNL), leading all groupings but unprecedented success for a 4-year-old party on the far right.

Vote counts were continuing on June 11 after technical delays affected more than half of Romania's counties in the June 9 elections seen as a bellwether for a presidential election in September and parliamentary voting scheduled for December.

But the early returns showed the senior ruling PSD and PNL on top and the extreme nationalist Alliance for the Union of Romanians' (AUR) third-place finish suggesting the populist party continues to make inroads since its first test at the ballot box in 2020.

In partial returns from the local voting, the PSD was leading with nearly 39 percent, followed by the PNL with 30 percent and the AUR with nearly 9 percent. They were followed by the Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Romania (UDMR), which is close to Hungary's Fidesz party, with around 6 percent, and the pro-Western opposition gathered in the Alliance of the United Right (ADU), with less than 3 percent.

The partial tallies also suggested the PSD had won control of 25 of Romania's 41 county councils, five more than in 2020, and the PNL 12 versus 17 in voting four years ago.

The PSD looked poised to win control of nearly 1,500 of the 2,759 mayorships being contested all over the country, and the PNL another 957. The AUR was shut out of any mayoral victories.

An independent incumbent, Nicusor Dan, looked set to win reelection as mayor of Bucharest.

His victory was the only good news for the party that supported him, the ADU. ADU has had trouble facing both the coalition PSD-PNL government and the disappointment of its voters for the many bad decisions made in the last few years. It has yet to decide on its candidate for the presidency, and with a result of 2.77 percent on June 9, it wouldn't pass the 3 percent threshold for seats in parliament in December.

In voting for the European Parliament, where the PSD and PNL ran a joint campaign to fend off the AUR threat, their joint National Coalition for Romania list had 48.7 percent support and a predicted 19 seats.

The AUR was projected at nearly 15 percent and six seats in the European Parliament, below some predictions but the first time Romanian voters have sent representatives of the far right to Strasbourg.

The AUR and its leader, George Simion, have staked out strongly anti-Western positions rooted in the nationalist communism of the Ceausescu dictatorship, questioning Romania's membership in the European Union and NATO, alongside xenophobia and conspiratorial rabble-rousing.

Along with the AUR members in the European Parliament, Diana Sosoaca, the only openly pro-Russian politician in Romania, won a seat in Strasbourg. She heads the SOS party, a faction of the AUR.

Vote counts were suspended late on election night in more than half the country's 41 counties to allow a break for election workers after transport and other problems were reported in some districts.

The authorities declined to identify the affected counties, but sources confirmed to RFE/RL's Romanian Service that they included a downtown district of the capital, Bucharest, as well as Constanta, Cluj, and Brasov.

The tallying was confirmed to have resumed in at least three of those counties early on June 11.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/romania-elections- extremist-rightwing-local-european/32988258.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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Like any other virtual visit, doctors in a handful of states log onto their computers, call patients and prescribe medication. Except their patients live in other states  and in some ways, another world.

The medical providers  fewer than two dozen of them, only two of whom live in California  prescribe medication abortions for people who live in states that restrict or ban it.

Telehealth abortions  in which abortion pills are sent by mail  have surged in the two years since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. But the expanded availability of telehealth has obscured just how few providers are behind the climbing numbers.

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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.

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 shield law state, Foster said.

Theyre doing so under new laws in seven states  California, Colorado, Maine, Massachusetts, New York, Vermont and Washington  that extend civil and criminal protections to clinicians providing telehealth abortions and bar state officials from cooperating with another states investigation or prosecution of its abortion providers.

Providers and researchers say there are so few clinicians doing this work because the novel shield laws protecting telehealth abortions are untested, and because Planned Parenthood, the American Civil Liberties Union and other leading reproductive rights organizations privately opposed the laws passage.

Telehealth abortion provision was opened up during the pandemic, when the Food and Drug Administration eased in-person dispensing requirements for mifepristone. 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, and as the Supreme Court is set to decide whether to limit access to mifepristone, the first of two drugs used in a medication abortion.

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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.

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.

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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.

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The Massachusetts Medication Abortion Access Project thought through details down to where its system servers are housed and where printed consent forms are stored, Foster said.

It also created a distributed risk model, meaning that weve thought through how to either compartmentalize or separate components of our service to reduce the risk to any individual person, Foster said. That includes ensuring the person who orders the medication, the person who prescribes it and the person who sends it to a patient are all different people.

The Abortion Coalition for Telemedicine shares best practices, provides pro bono legal advice and helps doctors set up electronic health records, evaluate malpractice insurance and assess their personal risks, said executive director Julie Kay.

Some providers have decided that while they are providing abortions into restricted states, they wont travel to those states or through them. For Foster, that means her mother and stepdad have to travel outside of South Carolina, where they live, to see her.

A big barrier for many of the clinicians is the cost. Most of the providers quote $150 to $250 per patient to cover the upfront cost of buying the pills, maintaining a privacy-compliant platform and electronic health record storage, and shipping the pills themselves in some cases, but will often take less if patients cant afford it.

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Several groups have also begun assisting providers with the costs because some traditional abortion funds, which provide financial and logistical assistance to abortion-seekers, havent done so, Kay said.

Groups that provide funding for abortion and their donors have been reluctant to pay providers for interstate telehealth abortions, and a popular online directory for abortion care points them to out-of-state travel instead of telehealth providers in states with shield laws.

Kays group, the Abortion Coalition for Telemedicine, has begun providing small grants to providers. Healthcare Across Borders also raises money to reimburse the shield law clinicians for the gap between what a patient can pay and the cost to providers, said executive director Jodi Jacobson.

Her group is financially supporting 16 providers. It cant afford to make up the entire difference, but has typically been able to reimburse up to 50% of the losses.

Foster said the MAP hasnt encountered some of the same funding barriers because it is part of a longstanding nonprofit, Cambridge Reproductive Health Consultant. Several national and local abortion funds are providing block grants to the nonprofit designated to support the MAP, but not for any specific patient, Foster said, in an effort to minimize the risk.

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No state has yet attempted to prosecute providers within shield states, and Republican attorneys general may be waiting to see what happens in the November election or what the Supreme Court does.

Prior to the passage of the new telehealth shield laws, people in states with bans or restrictions found other ways to access medication abortion, including going to providers who were willing to prescribe pills that would be sent from India. Some patients ordered directly from India and from 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.

The MAP is currently seeing 500 patients a month via telehealth  an average of 40 patients per clinician per day, including the weekends  and has the capacity to increase to 1,000, Foster said, but numbers beyond that would require additional clinicians.

I dont think we have tapped at all the number of people who would utilize this service if it were more readily known, said Tracy Weitz, a professor of sociology at American University and leading abortion social science researcher. There are still lots of people driving long distances to obtain abortion care because they didnt know this existed.

David Cohen, a Drexel University law professor who helped develop the state shield laws, said as interstate telehealth abortions become more common and existing clinicians arent suffering legal consequences, more will likely join.

More groups are already considering doing this work. Kay said she has spoken with several medical professionals, including some brick-and-mortar institutions, interested in becoming shield law providers.
Secretary Blinken's Meeting with Malaysian Foreign Minister Mohamad

US Department of State

Readout

Office of the Spokesperson

June 11, 2024

The below is attributable to Spokesperson Matthew Miller:

Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken met today with Malaysian Foreign Minister Dato' Seri Mohamad Hasan in Jordan. Secretary Blinken thanked Foreign Minister Mohamad for Malaysia's support for the proposal to achieve an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and secure the release of all hostages. The Secretary and Foreign Minister further discussed how the United States and Malaysia could work together to garner regional support for the proposal, emphasizing how it would benefit both Israelis and Palestinians.





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Secretary Blinken's Meeting with Jordanian King Abdullah II

US Department of State

Readout

Office of the Spokesperson

June 11, 2024

The following is attributable to Spokesperson Matthew Miller:

Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken met His Majesty King Abdullah II of Jordan today at the Dead Sea. Recalling this year's anniversary of 75 years of bilateral partnership, the Secretary underscored continued unwavering U.S. support for Jordan and the Jordanian people and commended the King's commitment to economic modernization and vital public sector reforms. The two discussed the comprehensive ceasefire and hostage release deal now on the table that offers a concrete roadmap for ending the war in Gaza. Secretary Blinken thanked King Abdullah for Jordan's support for the deal and leadership in facilitating the delivery of life-saving humanitarian assistance to Palestinians in Gaza. He reiterated the U.S. commitment to achieving durable peace and security in the region.

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Secretary Antony J. Blinken At the "Call for Action: Urgent Humanitarian Response for Gaza" Conference

US Department of State

Remarks

Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State

King Hussein Bin Talal Convention Center

Sweimeh, Jordan

June 11, 2024

SECRETARY BLINKEN: Well, thank you. And good afternoon, colleagues.

We are grateful to King Abdullah, to President El-Sisi, Secretary-General Guterres, for convening this conference and their tireless efforts to help end this conflict, and to help the many children, women, and men who are so desperately in need.

As we all know, as we've all been discussing throughout the day, the crisis in Gaza is immense. 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.

Ninety-five percent of people there cannot access clean drinking water. Hunger is everywhere. Virtually everyone in Gaza depends on aid to survive.

Most of Gaza's sanitation system has been destroyed. Fewer than a dozen of Gaza's 40 hospitals are open.

And - as we know and have heard - more than 270 humanitarian workers have been killed.

One of those humanitarians was Jamal abu Kwaik, a longtime UNRWA staffer in Gaza who for years was the United States' main local contact - and for many, a friend. He was killed last month after evacuating Rafah. He was looking for shelter for his family. He's survived by his wife and his four children.

The single most effective step we can take to address the urgent humanitarian challenges in Gaza is to reach an immediate - and ultimately, enduring - ceasefire.

Eleven days ago, President Biden set out a comprehensive proposal to do precisely that.

In its first six weeks, the proposal would provide for a full ceasefire; the pull-back of Israeli forces from all the populated areas of Gaza; the release of a number of hostages - including women, the elderly, and wounded; a dramatic surge in aid deliveries; the return of civilians to their homes or neighborhoods in all parts of Gaza. And it would also initiate negotiations toward a permanent ceasefire.

The second phase would see the release of all remaining living hostages; the withdrawal of all Israeli forces from Gaza; the implementation of a permanent cessation of hostilities. And the final phase would launch a massive reconstruction effort in Gaza.

When I met Prime Minister Netanyahu yesterday in Israel, he reaffirmed his support and his commitment to bringing this proposal across the finish line.

The same day, yesterday, the United Nations Security Council adopted a resolution sponsored by the United States in support of the proposal. Fourteen members voted for it. Not one country opposed it. It's just the latest vote of support the proposal has received from around the world, from virtually everyone around this table, the Arab League, countries throughout the region.

Today, as we gather, one - and only one - thing stands in the way of this deal happening, and that's Hamas.

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. Press them publicly. Press them privately.

And Hamas should not require much convincing. After all, the proposal is nearly identical to the one Hamas itself proposed on May the 6th.

Having said that, we're gathered today because all of us, I believe, recognize the imperative of taking bold, immediate actions to help civilians in Gaza and to do it now. And here are a few thoughts on how we can do that going forward.

First, give more aid. You've heard this already from our colleagues at the UN. Only one-third of the current United Nations appeal is funded. That leaves a shortfall of approximately $2.3 billion. Every country can help fill this gap.

Yet some who've expressed great concern over the suffering of Palestinian people in Gaza - including countries with the capacity to give a lot - have provided very little or nothing at all. It is time for everyone - everyone - to step up.

And for those who have already given and given generously, give more.

The United States has for decades been the largest single country provider of assistance for Palestinians. 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.

Second, let's work together to ensure that more aid gets into Gaza, and once it's in Gaza, reaches the people who need it the most - by land, by air, by sea.

This has been our intense focus since the conflict started.

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've conveyed directly to the Israeli Government, it is crucial to speed up the inspection of 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 de-conflict with IDF operations; to surge lifesaving medicine and equipment; to provide everything necessary to repair water and sanitation systems.

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 7th, an enemy that conducts operations from schools, from hospitals, from camps of displaced families, an enemy that cynically hides behind or underneath the people it purports to represent.

I think we all know there is no time to waste, given the hell that hundreds of thousands of Palestinians are enduring every single day.

Ten-year-old Abed lost his parents, his brother, and other family members. They were killed in an airstrike that was targeting terrorists. He said, "When my mom and dad were alive, I used to sleep. [Now] I can't sleep anymore."

There's an acronym that has become increasingly common for children like Abed in Gaza: WCNSF, wounded child, no surviving family members.

Six-year-old Fadi has cystic fibrosis. When the conflict began, his parents could no longer get the food and medicine that he needed to remain healthy. Before he was evacuated to the United States from Gaza just last month, he was so severely malnourished that his legs could no longer support the weight of his body.

Eleven-year-old Dunya - she lost her parents, her brother, her sister when their home was struck in Khan Younis. She said this: I lost my leg. I lost my family, but I still have dreams. I want to get a prosthetic leg. I want to travel. I want to become a doctor. I want for this war to end, and our children to live in peace.

These three children - Abed, Fadi, Dunya - and all the Palestinian civilians suffering in Gaza, we know they're not numbers. They're not abstractions. They're human beings - they're children, they're women, they're men - who all want the same things that we want for ourselves and for our loved ones, just like the people who were murdered in Israel on October 7th, just like the hostages who continue to be held in Gaza to this day.

So we all have to recommit to doing our part to ensure that these individuals cannot merely survive but that they can live in peace; they can have their rights respected; they can have an opportunity to realize their dreams.

And we have to commit to something else. We have to commit together to try to extricate the poison in our common well, the poison of dehumanization - the inability to see the humanity in the other.

When that happens, when hearts harden to the extent that they have on all sides, then the worst becomes possible and the best very, very difficult to achieve. But - but - if we can see the humanity in everyone and commit to do everything we possibly can to uphold that humanity, then everything's possible.

So let's do more than just call for a better future for Palestinians and Israelis. Let's help build that path to the future, do it together.

And we can start by maximizing all of the efforts that we're engaged in to help the people who need it and help them now.

Thank you very much. (Applause.)

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Secretary Blinken's Meeting with Indonesian President-Elect Subianto

US Department of State

Readout

Office of the Spokesperson

June 11, 2024

The below is attributable to Spokesperson Matthew Miller:

Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken met today with Indonesian Defense Minister and President-elect Prabowo Subianto in Jordan. Secretary Blinken congratulated Defense Minister Subianto again for his victory in Indonesia's recent elections and reiterated the United States' commitment to implementing the U.S.-Indonesia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. The Secretary thanked the Defense Minister for Indonesia's support for the proposal to achieve an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and secure the release of all hostages. The Secretary and the Defense Minister discussed how the proposal would benefit both Israelis and Palestinians alike.

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Imposing Sanctions on Corrupt Actors in Guyana

US Department of State

Press Statement

Matthew Miller, Department Spokesperson

June 11, 2024

The United States is imposing sanctions today on Nazar Mohamed, his son, Azruddin Mohamed, their company, Mohamed's Enterprise, and Mae Thomas, the former Permanent Secretary to Guyana's Minister of Home Affairs and current Permanent Secretary to the Ministry of Labour, for their roles in public corruption in Guyana. We are also designating two entities, Hadi's World and Team Mohamed's Racing Team, for being owned or controlled by Mohamed's Enterprise and Azruddin, respectively.

Between 2019 and 2023, Mohamed's Enterprise omitted more than ten thousand kilograms of gold from import and export declarations and avoided paying more than $50 million in duty taxes to the Government of Guyana. To perpetuate and conceal this scheme, Mohamed's Enterprise engaged in extensive bribery of government officials. This activity served to enrich the corrupt actors involved, undermine Guyanese institutions, and deprive the people of Guyana of important revenues.

Also sanctioned today, Mae Thomas misused her position as Permanent Secretary to the Guyana Minister of Home Affairs from October 2020-August 2023 to offer benefits to Mohamed's Enterprise and Azruddin in exchange for cash payments and high-value gifts.

Today's actions support the U.S. Strategy on Countering Corruption which identifies the fight against corruption as a national security priority. The United States is committed to exposing corruption and promoting accountability for corrupt acts worldwide. We will continue to use the tools at our disposal to protect our financial system from abuse by corrupt actors.

The Department of the Treasury is taking this action pursuant to Executive Order 13818, which builds upon and implements the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act and targets perpetrators of serious human rights abuse and corruption around the world. For more information on this action, see Treasury's press release. Please also see the U.S. Strategy on Countering Corruption.

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Secretary Blinken's Meeting with Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Mustafa

US Department of State

Readout

Office of the Spokesperson

June 11, 2024

The below is attributable to Spokesperson Matthew Miller:

Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken met today with Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa. They discussed the comprehensive ceasefire deal now on the table that would secure the release of all hostages, significantly increase humanitarian assistance, and enable the return of displaced persons to areas throughout Gaza. The Secretary underscored that the proposal would greatly benefit both Palestinians and Israelis. He reiterated that Hamas should accept the proposal without further delay.

Secretary Blinken welcomed reform announcements by the Palestinian Authority and discussed with Prime Minister Mustafa the need for full and consistent implementation of those reforms to achieve the aspirations of Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza. He reaffirmed the United States' support for the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with security guarantees for Israel.

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Secretary Antony J. Blinken Remarks to the Press

US Department of State

Remarks

Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State

David Kempinski Hotel

Tel Aviv, Israel

June 11, 2024

SECRETARY BLINKEN: Hello, everyone. I just met with the families of the American hostages in Gaza. I've had the opportunity to meet with them many times now, on every trip here to the region, when they visited Washington. And as always, it's an incredibly powerful thing. It's hard for any of us to put ourselves in their shoes, to feel what they've been feeling these many, many long months. They were elated at the rescue of four hostages just a couple of days ago, but they continue to feel deeply, powerfully this enduring separation from their loved ones - men and women, civilian and soldier, alive and deceased. But for me, all of the hostages - but especially our eight American families who have loved ones in Gaza - we are determined to bring them home.

The proposal that President Biden put forward is the best way to do that. And I think as I said just yesterday, you've had country after country make that clear in supporting the proposal, and then yesterday the United Nations Security Council in effect speaking for the entire international community made it as clear as it possibly could be that this is what the world is looking for. Fourteen votes for, no votes against - something quite rare at the Security Council these days. And I think that speaks volumes, too.

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. And it's very clear what, as I said, virtually the entire international community wants to see, and of course what so many families want to see. And it's also what the people of Gaza so desperately need. We have the prospect of an immediate ceasefire, building toward an enduring one, and tremendous relief for people in Gaza; but also opening prospects for Israel to build enduring security, which is what this country needs and has wanted from day one of its existence, integration in the region with its neighbors, being able also to make sure that people who've been forced from their homes in the north can return home, building a future that provides the kind of enduring security that Israel has not enjoyed. This proposal and moving forward on it is the first step also down that path and in that direction. So we want to see it come to fruition.

I met with Prime Minister Netanyahu last night, and he reaffirmed his commitment to the proposal. I also had an opportunity to speak to Defense Minister Gallant and other senior Israelis this morning. And I think there is a strong consensus, again, behind moving forward with the proposal, but it really is down to one person at this point. We'll see what comes from them, and from him.

Now, we are also - President Biden is resolutely committed to Israel's security, and to its defense. He is the first American president to come to Israel during a time of war, the first American president to commit American forces to help defend Israel when it was under attack from Iran in April. And we're committed to the defeat of Hamas, to ensure that it can't govern Gaza again. We also believe strongly that while military means have been necessary, they're not sufficient, and there has to be a clear political plan, a clear humanitarian plan, in order to ensure that Hamas does not in any way, shape, or form resume control of Gaza and that Israel can move forward toward more enduring security.

And that's why even as we've been working on this hostage ceasefire proposal, even as we've been working to try to make sure that the conflict doesn't spread to other parts of the region, we've also been working on day after plans for Gaza - security, governance, rebuilding. And we've been doing that in conversation, consultation with many partners throughout the region. Those conversations will continue this afternoon and in the next couple of days, and it's imperative that we have these plans, that we're ready to go, and simply put, we're not going to get to the day after if we don't have plans for the day after. So I'm working resolutely on those.

But the first step, the most important step, is getting agreement on the proposal that President Biden put forward, and moving on from there.

Questions?

MR MILLER: Michael.

QUESTION: Hi, thank you, Mr. Secretary.

SECRETARY BLINKEN: Michael.

QUESTION: So just to follow up on what you said about your meeting with the prime minister, did you get an explicit assurance that he would - if Hamas accepts the proposal that's on the table, that the deal is done, that he reciprocally or he continues support for it, that he will - that will clinch things?

SECRETARY BLINKEN: Yes. Yes.

QUESTION: And can you just tell us, related to that, how do you reconcile what seems to be a difference between the Hamas position that there has to be an Israeli assurance of a permanent ceasefire as part of this process in phase two, I guess; and the prime minister's statement that talk of a permanent ceasefire is a total non-starter? That seems like an irreconcilable difference. How do you see that being solved?

SECRETARY BLINKEN: Well, first, what the proposal does is it brings an immediate ceasefire, and it commits the parties to negotiate an enduring ceasefire. And that will be a process of negotations, but the commitment in agreeing to the proposal is to seek that enduring ceasefire, but that has to be negotiated. As long as those negotiations are ongoing, the ceasefire that would take place immediately would remain in place, which is manifestly good for everyone. And then we'll have to see, but you're not going to get to phase two, to an enduring ceasefire, unless you start with phase one. So that's where it begins.

MR MILLER: Shaun.

QUESTION: Mr. Secretary, can I follow up on the Security Council resolution? Hamas issued a statement in support of it, essentially. Do you see this as a hopeful sign that they might be leaning toward accepting it? What more needs to be done to persuade Hamas to accept the ceasefire too?

SECRETARY BLINKEN: Well, I'd say it is a hopeful sign, just as the statement that they issued after the President made his proposal ten days ago was hopeful, but it's not dispositive. What is dispositive, at least what's so far been dispositive one way or another, is the word coming from Gaza and from the Hamas leadership in Gaza. That's what counts, and that's what we don't have yet. And that's why I say we're waiting to see. Everyone has said yes except for Hamas. And if Hamas doesn't say yes, then this is clearly on them - on them in terms of a vote to continue the 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; on them in terms of the safety, and stability, security of Israel as well; the region as a whole, because the longer this goes on, the more chance there is, again, for the conflict to spread, for us to see problems evolve in other places. We've been working every single day to prevent that from happening. So far we have, but again, the longer this goes on, the greater the risk.

So you - again, I want to come back to the Security Council resolution. I don't think the world could be more clear about what country after country, in this region and beyond, are looking for, and that is saying yes to the proposal. We await the answer from Hamas, and that will speak volumes about what they want, what they're looking for, who they're looking after. Are they looking after one guy who may be pronounced safe, buried - I don't know - ten stories underground somewhere in Gaza, while the people that he purports to represent continue to suffer in a crossfire of his own making? Or will he do what's necessary to actually move this to a better place, to help end the suffering of people, to help bring real security to Israelis and Palestinians alike? We'll see.

QUESTION: Are there others who could persuade Hamas? Are there others with influence on Hamas who 

SECRETARY BLINKEN: I think there are - there are those who have influence, but influence is one thing; actually getting a decision made is another thing. I don't think anyone other than the Hamas leadership in Gaza actually are the ones who can make - make decisions. That's what we're waiting on.

MR MILLER: Thank you.

SECRETARY BLINKEN: Thanks.

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Treasury Targets Corruption Network in Guyana

U.S. Department of the Treasury

June 11, 2024

WASHINGTON -- Today, the Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctioned members of one of Guyana's wealthiest families, Nazar Mohamed (Nazar) and his son, Azruddin Mohamed (Azruddin), their company, Mohamed's Enterprise, and a Guyanese government official, Mae Thomas (Thomas), for their roles in public corruption in Guyana.Additionally, OFAC designated two other entities, Hadi's World and Team Mohamed's Racing Team, for being owned or controlled by Mohamed's Enterprise and Azruddin, respectively. These individuals and entities are sanctioned pursuant to Executive Order (E.O.) 13818, which builds upon and implements the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act and targets perpetrators of serious human rights abuse and corruption around the world.

"Today's action underscores our commitment to holding accountable those who seek to exploit Guyana's underdeveloped gold sector for personal gain," said Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Brian E. Nelson. "Treasury, in close coordination with our partners in U.S. law enforcement, will continue to take action to safeguard the U.S. financial system from abuse by corrupt actors."

These actions were conducted in coordination with Homeland Security Investigations New York Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) Strike Force, Diplomatic Security Service, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Office of Intelligence - New York Operations, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation's Miami Field Office, with assistance from HSI Miami, CBP Miami and New York Field Offices, New York City Police Department Intelligence Bureau, and the Drug Enforcement Administration.

the MOHAMED's Abuse of guyana's GOLD industry

Gold is one of Guyana's main exports, but it remains a highly fractured industry with small-scale gold mining operations in Guyana occupying a majority share of the country's gold production. These small, family-owned businesses have informal relationships with larger purchasers and traders like Mohamed's Enterprise. Once mined, Guyanese gold is sold and traded throughout international markets, including the United States, Canada, the United Arab Emirates, and the European Union.

Nazar Mohamed founded Mohamed's Enterprise in Guyana before expanding to the United States as a moneychanger and transitioned into gold trading, growing Mohamed's Enterprise into one of Guyana's largest gold exporters. In time, Azruddin Mohamed ultimately took over Mohamed's Enterprise, which also now does business as "Confidential Cambio."

Azruddin and Mohamed's Enterprise evaded Guyana's tax on gold exports and defrauded the Guyanese government of tax revenues by under-declaring their gold exports to Guyanese authorities. Between 2019 and 2023, Mohamed's Enterprise omitted more than 10 thousand kilograms of gold from import and export declarations and avoided paying more than $50 million in duty taxes to the Government of Guyana.

Mohamed's Enterprise has bribed customs officials to falsify import and export documents, as well as to facilitate illicit gold shipments. Mohamed's Enterprise had paid bribes to Guyanese government officials to ensure the undisrupted flow of inbound and outbound personnel that move currency and other items on behalf of Azruddin and Mohamed's Enterprise.

In addition, Azruddin is the principal and owner of Team Mohamed's Racing Team, a drag racing organization in Guyana. Hadi's World is a Guyana-based subsidiary of Mohamed's Enterprise.

MOHamed's COrruption enabled by guyanese officials

To conceal their illegal activity and operate with impunity, Azruddin and Mohamed's Enterprise have engaged in extensive bribery schemes involving government officials in Guyana. This includes providing direct and recurring bribery payments to Guyanese government officials to ensure favorable treatment in criminal or civil matters that would otherwise suggest their involvement in illegal criminal activity. In return, corrupt officials receive cash and gifts for incidents that are overlooked. Additionally, Mohamed's Enterprise has paid bribes to corrupt Guyanese government officials to facilitate the award of government contracts.

One such official, Mae Thomas, was the Permanent Secretary to Guyana's Minister of Home Affairs from October 2020 through August 2023, and is the current Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Labour. A corrupt Permanent Secretary could manipulate procurement processes to suit their preferred bidder by providing inside information at the early stages of evaluation. Access to a Permanent Secretary of any Ministry could afford contractors insight into upcoming projects and bid values. Permanent Secretaries can act as the legal authority to sign contracts on behalf of their ministry.

While Permanent Secretary to Guyana's Minister of Home Affairs, Thomas used her position to offer benefits to Mohamed's Enterprise and Azruddin, among others, in exchange for cash payments and high-value gifts. Thomas misused her position to influence the award of official contract bids and the approval processes for weapons permits and passports on behalf of Mohamed's Enterprise.

OFAC is designating Azruddin and Mohamed's Enterprise for being persons who have materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or services to or in support of, corruption, including the misappropriation of state assets, the expropriation of private assets for personal gain, corruption related to government contracts or the extraction of natural resources, or bribery, that is conducted by a foreign person.

OFAC is designating Nazar for being a foreign person who is or has been a leader or official of Mohamed's Enterprise, an entity whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to E.O. 13818, as a result of activities related to Nazar's tenure.

OFAC is designating Team Mohamed's Racing Team for being owned or controlled by, or for having acted or purported to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, Azruddin.

OFAC is designating Hadi's World for being owned or controlled by, or for having acted or purported to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, Mohamed's Enterprise.

OFAC is designating Thomas for being a foreign person who is a current or former government official, or a person acting for or on behalf of such an official, who is responsible for or complicit in, or has directly or indirectly engaged in, corruption, including the misappropriation of state assets, the expropriation of private assets for personal gain, corruption related to government contracts or the extraction of natural resources, or bribery.

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.

GLOBAL MAGNITSKY

Building upon the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act, E.O. 13818 was issued on December 20, 2017, in recognition that the prevalence of human rights abuse and corruption that have their source, in whole or in substantial part, outside the United States, had reached such scope and gravity as to threaten the stability of international political and economic systems. Human rights abuse and corruption undermine the values that form an essential foundation of stable, secure, and functioning societies; have devastating impacts on individuals; weaken democratic institutions; degrade the rule of law; perpetuate violent conflicts; facilitate the activities of dangerous persons; and undermine economic markets. The United States seeks to impose tangible and significant consequences on those who commit serious human rights abuse or engage in corruption, as well as to protect the financial system of the United States from abuse by these same persons.

Click here for more information on the individuals and entities designated today.

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Our steadfast commitment to delivering justice to all those affected by atrocity crimes in Rwanda and the Former Yugoslavia: UK statement at the UN Security Council

Statement by Legal Adviser Colin McIntyre at the UN Security Council meeting on the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals.

11 June 2024

Let me begin our substantive remarks today by acknowledging the important milestones which have been reached during this reporting period. The latest report confirms that all core crimes proceedings have now been completed. In addition, all remaining fugitives in core crimes cases have now been accounted for. We agree with President Gatti Santana that this therefore represents an historic moment for the Mechanism. Its achievements to date are a concrete demonstration of what the international community can achieve when we work together to attain accountability.

Having completed this important phase in its work, it is right that the Mechanism and this Council focus on the future. As we heard from the principals today there is important work still to be done, including in assisting national authorities and in performing ongoing judicial functions. We also welcome the important and necessary steps which the Mechanism has taken to streamline its remaining activities and ensure efficiency. We are confident that the Mechanism will continue to focus on this in the future.

Mr. President, we remain concerned that despite this progress, obstacles remain. In particular we call on Serbia to arrest and transfer Petar Jojic and Vjerica Radeta to the Mechanism following years of requests.

Moreover, in recent months we have seen an increase in ethno-national tensions in the Western Balkans, including the denial of international crimes by some senior political figures. Denial of such crimes, particularly by those in positions of power, holds the region back from building the safe, stable and inclusive societies that its people deserve.

Finally, Mr President, the United Kingdom is proud of the role it continues to play in supporting the Mechanism, including through the enforcement of sentences and other forms of assistance. We take these responsibilities very seriously, including cooperating closely with both the Mechanism and the ICRC to ensure compliance with all applicable international standards. This assistance reflects our steadfast commitment to delivering justice to all those affected by atrocity crimes in Rwanda and the Former Yugoslavia.

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Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General

Department of Public Information . News and Media Division . New York

11 June 2024

The following is a near-verbatim transcript of today's noon briefing by Farhan Haq, Deputy Spokesman for the Secretary-General.

Good afternoon, everyone.

** Occupied Palestinian Territory

The Secretary-General spoke earlier today at the high-level meeting on Gaza that is taking place in Jordan.

He highlighted the dire humanitarian conditions in Gaza and said that at least half of all humanitarian aid missions are denied access, impeded, or cancelled due to operational or security reasons.

He told leaders attending the conference that it is high time for a ceasefire, along with the unconditional release of the hostages.

The Secretary-General underscored that the only way forward is through a political solution that opens a path to sustained peace, based on two States, Palestine and Israel, living side by side in peace and security, on the basis of the pre-1967 lines and the relevant United Nations resolutions, previous agreements and international law, with Jerusalem as capital of both States.

Martin Griffiths, the Emergency Relief Coordinator, also spoke in Amman and he said that all crossings must be open and functioning at full capacity. Entry requirements for humanitarian supplies and personnel must be streamlined.

Safe, conducive and enabling conditions for humanitarian aid workers have to be ensured for the effective reception and provision of aid to civilians in need throughout Gaza, and the UN Flash Appeal for Gaza must be fully funded, he added.

After Jordan, the Secretary-General is scheduled to be in Geneva where he will attend meetings this week to commemorate the sixtieth anniversary of the UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD). While in Geneva, he will also address the Council of the International Telecommunications Union (ITU).

** Yemen

While in Amman, the Secretary-General called for the immediate release of all United Nations staff held in Yemen by the de facto Houthi authorities, following the detention of 13 of the Organization's personnel.

He said that 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, he added.

He demanded the immediate and unconditional release of all detained UN personnel.

The Secretary-General's call came as he met with his Special Envoy to Yemen, Hans Grundberg, in Jordan. They discussed recent developments in Yemen, including an escalating crackdown on civic space by the de facto authorities.

Volker Turk, the High Commissioner for Human Rights, today also urged the de facto authorities in Sana'a to immediately and unconditionally release the detained staff, as well as other individuals detained in relation to their affiliation with the UN, international NGOs or other actors supporting humanitarian activities.

He categorically rejected the outrageous allegations against UN staff and said he is deeply worried about the conditions in which they are being held. He added that it is crucial that the de facto authorities ensure that those detained are treated with full respect for their human rights and dignity and that they can contact their families. Access to the detained colleagues by the United Nations must be granted as soon as possible.

** Yemen  Migration

The International Organization for Migration [IOM] today said that at least 49 migrants have died, and 140 others remain missing after a boat capsized off the coast of Yemen. IOM notes that the vessel carrying 260 migrants capsized yesterday near Alghareef Point in Shabwah governorate.

Among those that lost their lives in this devastating tragedy are 31 women and six children.

The International Organization for Migration said that search-and-rescue operations are ongoing despite significant challenges due to a shortage of operational patrol boats, a situation further complicated by the recent conflict. IOM has mobilized two mobile medical teams to provide immediate assistance to the survivors.

** Sudan

Turning to Sudan and the escalating violence in El Fasher, in North Darfur State. Our colleagues at UNICEF have received harrowing reports that at least six children have been killed and many more injured in the city since 7 June. Thousands of children, including those living in large displacement camps, are trapped in the middle of the increased fighting and are not able to reach safety.

UNICEF urges all parties to immediately deescalate the situation, allow the safe and voluntary movement of civilians, and ensure the protection of civilians, including children and women, and civilian objects.

Our humanitarian colleagues warn that the ongoing clashes in and around El Fasher are taking a grim toll on humanitarian workers and operations. Yesterday, an aid worker for the NGO Relief International in Darfur died due to complications from a bullet wound sustained on 1 June. The staff member was shot while returning to the Zamzam displacement camp, after transporting a patient to El Fasher Maternity Hospital.

He was the sixth aid worker killed in Sudan in the past six weeks. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs underscores yet again that in Sudan and in conflicts everywhere else in the world, humanitarians must be protected.

Despite these dangers, humanitarians continue to deliver life-saving assistance to people in need. The UN Refugee Agency tells us that three trucks carrying core relief items have reached North Darfur from Chad via the Tine crossing. Those supplies are being distributed to more than 1,100 families in two localities near the border.

Elsewhere in Sudan, the World Health Organization distributed nearly 20 metric tons of emergency health supplies to 18 health facilities and five stabilization centres in North Kordofan State.

This vital assistance will meet the emergency and primary health-care needs of displaced people and host communities. WHO has also managed to reach South Kordofan's Abu Jubayhah Region for the first time this year to deliver emergency health supplies.

Meanwhile, I'd like to point out that as of today, this year's humanitarian appeal for Sudan is just 16 per cent funded, with less than $441 million received of the $2.7 billion required.

** Abyei

Turning to Abyei.

Our peacekeeping colleagues report that as part of their efforts to strengthen security and enhance the protection of civilians in the southern part of Abyei, the UN Interim Security Force for Abyei  or UNISFA  has completed the establishment of a year-round base in Rumamier. The camp will enable the Mission to maintain a continuous presence in the area, with the goal of enhancing security for the local community.

Rumamier has faced attacks in the past, but impassable roads during the rainy season had previously limited operations to the dry season. The area is along the eastern migration corridor accessed by cattle rustlers.

The presence of peacekeepers, because of this base, will enhance the Mission's ability to address security challenges, including making efforts to deter activities by armed people in the area.

** Democratic Republic of the Congo

From the Democratic Republic of the Congo [DRC], the Humanitarian Coordinator there, Bruno Lemarquis, is concerned about the persistence of violence and the alarming deterioration of the humanitarian situation in the east of the country.

In a statement issued yesterday, Mr. Lemarquis condemned the deadly attacks by non-State armed groups, which have targeted civilians in the territory of Beni, in North Kivu province, killing at least 41 civilians on June 7th, according to the national authorities. This brings the death toll to at least 57 since June 3rd.

Still in the East, violence targeting civilians also continues in Ituri Province, with an average of 100 people killed monthly between January and May by armed groups in the Djugu, Irumu and Mambasa territories.

Over the past two weeks, the violence in the East of the country has forced more than 67,000 people to flee to safer areas in Beni in North Kivu. Our partners have deployed teams to assess needs.

Mr. Lemarquis called on all armed groups and their supporters to respect their obligations under international humanitarian law and human rights, to protect civilians, ensure unhindered humanitarian access and enable humanitarian operations.

Between January and April, more than 900,000 newly displaced people were registered in Ituri, North Kivu and South Kivu provinces, bringing the total number of displaced people in the eastern DRC to more than 7.3 million.

The 2024 Humanitarian Response Plan for DRC is currently less than a quarter funded, with [$593] million received of the $2.6 billion requested.

Despite these constraints, more than 3.5 million people in the Congo received humanitarian assistance between January and April of this year.

** Haiti

From Haiti, our humanitarian colleagues tell us that the volatile situation there continues to displace thousands of people across the country.

According to the International Organization for Migration, between March and June this year, the number of people displaced across the country increased by 60 per cent, from 362,000 to more than 578,000 people. The Ouest Department, which includes the capital, Port-au-Prince, accounts for more than a third of all displaced people. More than half of all people uprooted from their homes are children.

In the past months, people have continued to flee Port-au-Prince towards the provinces, increasing the humanitarian burden for already vulnerable communities.

The UN and our partners continue to support people in the capital and across the country.

Last week, the World Food Programme distributed more than 43,000 hot meals to nearly 13,500 people displaced in nine sites in the metropolitan area of Port-au-Prince. Since March, as you heard last week, WFP has provided more than 1 million hot meals.

On 7 June, a cargo flight operated by WFP landed in the northern city of Cap-Haitien, carrying more than 11 metric tons of products for water, hygiene and sanitation activities, as well as educational materials for our partner Save the Children.

The Pan-American Health Organization and World Health Organization continue to support health care in Haiti, recently distributing nearly four tons of medicine and supplies to health centres in the Port-au-Prince area.

** Security Council

This afternoon, at 3 p.m., the Security Council will hold a meeting on Syria.

The High Representative for Disarmament Affairs, Izumi Nakamitsu, is expected to brief Council members.

** Children

UNICEF today released new estimates that say nearly 400 million children under 5 years of age regularly endure psychological aggression or physical punishment at home.

Of them, around 330 million are punished by physical means.

The findings also emphasize the crucial role of play in children's development and the mental health of children, parents and caregivers in response to data that highlights the prevalence of inadequate caregiving, including stimulation and interaction at home.

The data also show that around 1 in 5 children aged 2-4 years do not play with their caregivers at home, while roughly 1 in 8 under age 5 do not have toys or playthings at home.

You can find more online.

** International Day of Play

Incidentally, today is the International Day of Play, and is being observed for the first time.

The Day creates a unifying moment at global, national and local levels to elevate the importance of play. It signals a call for policies, training, and funding to get play integrated into education and community settings worldwide.

** Financial Contribution

At last, thanks to our friends in a high-altitude, landlocked Member State in Africa, we have reached a lofty 114 fully paid-up Member States. Any guesses which nation could it be? That would be Lesotho, which is surrounded by South Africa.

** Questions and Answers

Deputy Spokesman : And we give the first question, if any, to Anade.

Question : Thank you for that, Farhan. Can I ask, on Haiti, actually, you mentioned a couple of deliveries of aid. Do you have any idea how much aid is in Haiti? Essentially, how long is the operation able to stay sustainable? I know there were worries that a few weeks ago they would run out of aid, but it seems you've got in supplies. So, what kind of duration is the World Food Programme or the UN in general is able to sustain in terms of the humanitarian operation in Haiti?

Deputy Spokesman : Well, I mean, as I indicated, the World Food Programme was able to deliver meals to people who were displaced and that there was a cargo flight that they had that landed in Cap-Haitien as well. So, there is a pipeline for aid. So, we're trying to keep a flow of aid going. The big problem in places like Port-au-Prince is one of security. So then that question is, can the people who are in need get to the aid that is being provided for them? And for that, we need to make sure that there will be security on the ground. And we're hopeful in that regard for the multinational force to be deployed.

Question : Thank you. And so, you mentioned on that cargo flight, 11 tons of aid was delivered. What was on it? Was it food? Were there medical supplies? How long will that aid last?

Deputy Spokesman : Oh, that was actually water hygiene and sanitation activities. We have an acronym in the UN called WASH, which is for all of the water-based activities and so that's what we provided.

Question : And the last question. Is there an update on the fund for the multinational security force? Do you have any more money in it?

Deputy Spokesman : I don't have any new funds to report, but we're continuing to lobby Member States. But the numbers that Stephane gave you a couple of weeks ago are what we have.

Question : All right. I just have to intervene. They don't have any audio online. They just wrote a message to me saying they can't hear a thing that you're saying. Audio online. They can't hear you.

Deputy Spokesman : Okay. Can I assign people to make sure that the audio online, can get this. I don't know whether that's the Webex connection or whether it's UNTV, but let's make sure that they can have it. Oh, yes, of course. Webex is gone. Yes, please.

Question : Thank you, Farhan. On the Secretary-General schedule in the coming days, he's supposed to be in Italy for the G7 on the 13th. Does the Secretary-General intend to bring the attacks on UN personnel, most obvious, of course, in Gaza and the UNRWA, the hundreds who lost their lives and now the kidnapping in Yemen? Does he intend to bring this issue to the G7? And what else is he expecting an outcome for his participation or he's just going to attend as an observer? Thank you.

Deputy Spokesman : We'll give you updates about his participation in the G7 closer to when he's there. But the Secretary-General also does intend to speak to press in Geneva tomorrow, so you'll have an opportunity to hear from him about what his expectations are at that point. So, please have some attention. And I've been told that our audio is back to normal. So, thank you, audio people. Stefano.

Question : Thank you, Farhan. It's a follow-up in Italy. Does the Secretary-General will meet President Biden on bilateral? I mean, will they have a meeting?

Deputy Spokesman : We'll provide updates. We're scheduling his meetings right now and we'll update you on who he can meet with once he's there. Yes, Abdelhamid.

Question : Thank you, Farhan. Last night, the Israeli air raids continued on Rafah and other parts in certain parts of Gaza. Many people were killed. Is that a direct violation of the UN Security Council resolution just adopted a few hours before?

Deputy Spokesman : Well, the Security Council resolution is calling on the parties to accept the ceasefire that has been proposed. And we back the Security Council's call, and we certainly hope that there will be agreement on a ceasefire. That hasn't happened at this point, but we are hopeful for that. And regarding the military actions, I'd also draw your attention to what the office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights put out today concerning the situation in Gaza.

Question : But Farhan, to be fair, Hamas issued a strong statement accepting the ceasefire resolution. Why not mention that when the other side did not express its willingness to accept the resolution, although the resolution, it says Israel accepted it. That is a strange inclusion in the resolution.

Deputy Spokesman : Well, regarding that, I believe that media accounts have cited verbal acceptances of the ceasefire proposal broadly by both Israel and Hamas. Now we'll have to see, first of all, crucially, whether they agree formally to this and secondly, whether this can be implemented. For us, implementation is key. We want to get aid to all those who need it. We want there to be peaceful conditions on the ground and we're hopeful and waiting to see whether that will actually happen. Dezhi?

Question : Yes. First, does the Secretary-General have anything to say on the plane crash which killed nine people, including Malawi's Vice-President?

Deputy Spokesman : Yes, we have seen this news. The Secretary-General was very saddened to hear of this plane crash which claimed the life of the Vice-President of Malawi and many other senior Malawian officials. We offer condolences to their families, and we stand with the people of Malawi at this sad time.

Question : Second, I have a follow-up with Abdelhamid's question. Here is the resolution. OP 1, welcome, the new ceasefire proposal, which Israel accepted, calls upon Hamas to also accept it. That's the resolution. Yesterday, the Israeli representative in that chamber said that the target, the objective of Israel, has not been changed, which is to eliminate the capability of Hamas. And then after that they will finish the military operation. So, it seems contradictory to each other. How would this be implemented?

Deputy Spokesman : I'm not going to get into talking about the remarks made by any of the ambassadors at the meeting. What we are looking forward to is to see whether the parties themselves will accept the ceasefire and will implement it. And that is what we hope to see.

Question : So, there's a technical question if so. If, because we know that the deal has not been reached, if any party in that, let's say Hamas and Israeli Government, they changed some terms in this resolution, would the Security Council vote it again or they just make amendments to this resolution? Because this is a resolution already.

Deputy Spokesman : As you know, the members of the Security Council are in charge with the implementation of the resolution. So, it's up to them to consider how these resolutions are being implemented.

Question : Because if the deal is not the one mentioned here, they might say we're not fully implemented the resolution, right?

Deputy Spokesman : That's speculation to ask the members of the Security Council, not me.

Correspondent : Okay.

Deputy Spokesman : Evelyn.

Question : Yes, thank you. At the Jordan meeting, [United States] Secretary [of State Antony] Blinken said very clearly that Hamas had not accepted the resolution, at least, or had accepted it with preconditions that weren't acceptable. Do you have anything on that? And then secondly, I have a question on Darfur.

Deputy Spokesman : Well, on that, my position is what I've just said. We're looking to see whether both sides accept this resolution formally and implement it. What's your question on Darfur?

Question : Yeah, well, when I visited with the Security Council in '03, there was a very large displacement camp. It seems there is right now, from the description from OCHA and others, there's still a large displacement camp. Do you think it was in operation all these years or is this a new one?

Deputy Spokesman : The numbers of displaced have gone up and down in Sudan depending upon circumstances. There was a time just a few years ago when there was reduction in displacements, but unfortunately the fighting of the past year has reversed that trend. That's why we're pushing for the leaders in Sudan to set aside this military conflict, which is not going to come to a satisfactory resolution for either of them. We need to go back to the previous process that we had, and we will push for that.

Correspondent : Thank you, Farhan.

Deputy Spokesman : Yes.

Question : Thank you, Farhan. My question is about Syrian refugees. As you know, Lebanon and some other countries have been forcing Syrian refugees to go back. And as you know, according to United Nations reports, Syria is not safe yet for refugees to go back. I wonder if you have a comment on that.

Deputy Spokesman : Well, for the most part, I would refer you to our colleagues at the UN Refugee Agency, but it's very clear that people should not be forced to go, to return to areas which are deemed to be unsafe. And UNHCR has made very clear their continuing concerns about the safety conditions on the ground in Syria. Yes, Serife.

Question : Farhan. Just for a quick clarification to the Secretary-General, where did the Secretary-General get together with Mr. Grunberg? Just for reporting purposes.

Deputy Spokesman : In Amman, today.

Correspondent : In Amman. Okay, thank you.

Deputy Spokesman : And Gabriel.

Question : Thank you, Farhan. The Financial Times is reporting that Israel [Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu's Cabinet is considering expelling entire UN missions, including UNTSO, UN Treaty Supervision Organization. Have you heard anything about that? Has the Secretary-General's Office been warned of that?

Deputy Spokesman : We have not received any information on this.

Correspondent : Thank you.

Deputy Spokesman : And with that, I wish you all... Oh, Dezhi, one more.

Question : Sorry. Any update on the floating dock operation from WFP?

Deputy Spokesman : At this stage, it continues. We do not have any presence active at the floating dock. The World Food Programme has decided to temporarily pause operations at the floating dock until a thorough UN assessment of the security situation is conducted to ensure the safety of our staff.

Question : So, this assessment has not been concluded yet?

Deputy Spokesman : No, that's... It's ongoing.

Question : Do you have a timetable now because yesterday we asked Steph about it?

Deputy Spokesman : There's never any point in asking us for a timetable, ever. Okay. Yes, Abdelhamid.

Question : Thank you. Farhan. I might have missed that. Did you give any briefing on the advisory meeting of UNRWA in Amman, Jordan?

Deputy Spokesman : No. I believe Mr. Lazzarini has put out a tweet about his activities in Amman, so I would just refer you to what he said. Have a good afternoon, everyone.

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Spirit of superhero endures on stage

16:26, June 12, 2024 By Zhu Xingxin and Chen Liang ( China Daily

Wu (right) plays Guan Yu in a performance staged at the temple on April 22. (ZHU XINGXIN/CHINA DAILY)

In Chinese folklore, Guan Yu, a general from the late Eastern Han Dynasty (25-220) also known as "Guan Gong" or "Guan Di", stands as a revered figure. The "God of War" is perceived as a superhero in the eyes of the Chinese people.

For over 40 years, Wu Lingyun, a Shanxi Opera (or jinju) performer and a renowned inheritor of the intangible cultural heritage, has played Guan on stage, further popularizing the art with his portrayals of the iconic figure.

As China celebrated Cultural and Natural Heritage Day on Saturday, Wu, who is also vice-president of the Jinju Art Research Institute in Taiyuan, Shanxi province, told China Daily that he is proud to be able to perform as the general.

"Guan Yu, renowned for his loyalty, righteousness, benevolence, and valor, symbolizes the spirit of the Chinese nation and is beloved by people worldwide," he said.

Wu (left) teaches movements to a student from the United States at the temple on April 22. (ZHU XINGXIN/CHINA DAILY)

Originating from the central areas of Shanxi, jinju boasts a rich vocal style and melodious tunes that have evolved over time to create unique art. In 2006, it was recognized as one of the first national intangible cultural heritages.

Wu began his theatrical journey at age 8 and joined a troupe when he was 12, following in the footsteps of his parents, Wu Zhong and Yan Huizhen, both esteemed jinju artists. In 1982, his parents brought Guan's story to the jinju stage, with his mother becoming the first female performer to portray the general in the history of Chinese opera.

"The presence of Guan Yu in jinju originated from my parents," Wu said.

"I am the second generation of Guan Yu performers in our family. My father always emphasized emulating Guan Yu's virtues, to be the person that he was, in order to embody his spirit on the stage."

Wu began portraying Guan in 1985 when he was 20 years old. His performances gained acclaim, leading him to win the 17th China Drama Plum Blossom Award in 1999.

"I began portraying Guan Yu at age 20 and now, at the age of 60, I am retiring," he said. "When I embody the general now, even my eyebrows naturally raise, striving to capture every detail in pursuit of his spirit. Sometimes, I find myself unable to sleep and begin reciting lines," he said.

Wu paints the mask of Guan Yu at the primary school on May 27. (ZHU XINGXIN/CHINA DAILY)

There are over 30,000 temples and guilds honoring Guan worldwide, with the legendary general's cultural influence spanning 168 countries and regions.

In Wu's eyes, Guan's defining characteristics are loyalty and integrity.

To portray Guan authentically, Wu visited thousands of temples, observed and recorded the details of statues depicting the general, and incorporated the depictions into his performances.

He also read history books about the general and watched portrayals of him by older opera artists, drawing inspiration from them.

During a performance in Southeast Asia, Wu, performing as Guan, made a heart gesture to the audience during a curtain call.

Wu plays Guan Yu in a performance at the primary school on May 27. (ZHU XINGXIN/CHINA DAILY)

A short video showing the gesture went viral online.

"Audiences overseas come from diverse backgrounds with different languages and cultures. So I thought of using the universal language of the heart gesture to show a different face of Guan Yu in the modern era," Wu said.

"I am an active Guan Yu on the stage. My greatest responsibility now is to pass on and promote the artistic charm of traditional jinju through various means. This is my mission and my driving force," he added.

Guan Yu played by Wu Lingyun. (ZHU XINGXIN/CHINA DAILY)

Wu Lingyun (middle) and his colleagues stage a performance at Grand Guan Di Temple in Taiyuan, Shanxi province, on April 22. (ZHU XINGXIN/CHINA DAILY)

(Web editor: Tian Yi, Zhong Wenxing)
Mark Farrell, left, and Daniel Lurie, two of the wealthiest people running for San Francisco mayor, have recently filed their required economic disclosure forms with the city. Carlos Avila Gonzalez/The Chronicle

San Francisco voters now have a clearer picture of the financial backgrounds of the five leading mayoral candidates after two of them recently filed their required economic disclosure forms with the city.

Daniel Lurie and Mark Farrell, two of the wealthiest people running for mayor, had a later deadline to file their statements of economic interest because they do not currently hold elected office. The other three major candidates  Mayor London Breed and Supervisors Aaron Peskin and Ahsha Safai  had to make their disclosures months ago.

The forms do not provide a precise description of the candidates net worth. For example, filers do not have to report their bank accounts, diversified mutual funds or homes they use exclusively as private residences. And much of what is included on the forms is listed in large ranges rather than specific amounts. Government pay is not included, either, so the forms omit Breeds pay of about $374,000 and Peskins and Safais city salaries of about $164,000.



Still, the state-mandated disclosures offer some of the most detailed information available about politicians various financial holdings, a requirement thats meant to help prevent conflicts of interest and ensure that elected leaders dont use their public offices to enrich themselves. Luries and Farrells campaigns provided the Chronicle with copies of the information they filed with the city in recent days.

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Finance is a particularly salient issue for Lurie, a nonprofit founder and Levi Strauss heir who recently announced that he would spend his own money on his campaign instead of accepting up to $1.2 million in matching funds from taxpayers. Its also especially relevant to Farrell, a former supervisor and appointed mayor whos had a private-sector career in venture capital.

In his economic statement, Lurie reported several personal investments where his ownership stake was less than 10%, with one of the largest being stock in the crypto company Ripple that was valued between $100,001 and $1 million. But the bulk of the assets he revealed were linked to investment funds in which he had a more than 10% stake.

One of those funds, called the Daniel Lurie Trust, had four investments that were collectively worth more than $4 million. They included more than $1 million each in a limited liability company associated with the San Francisco 49ers owners control of an English soccer club, Levis stock and a limited partnership named after his mother, the billionaire businesswoman Mimi Haas, and his late stepfather, the longtime Levis executive Peter Haas. The trust also has almost 20 other investments worth between $1.5 million and $14.5 million.

Lurie has additional stakes in a group of Wilmot Ventures funds that have investments worth about $1.1 million on the low end and $10.6 million on the high end.



Daniel will take all steps necessary to restore public trust in government, including establishing a blind trust for any assets that could pose a conflict, Lurie campaign spokesperson Max Szabo said in a statement.



Farrell similarly reported having a stake of more than 10% in an array of LLCs and other entities associated with his venture capital firm Thayer Ventures. Those entities held investments worth north of $10 million, according to Farrells disclosure form. One of the more than $1 million investments listed was in Inspirato Inc., a luxury travel company in which Farrell also reported holding stock worth between $100,001 and $1 million.

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Farrells ties to Thayer came under scrutiny just after he was appointed mayor in 2018, when another Thayer leader sent a message to partners at the company touting the intangible benefits the venture firm may receive due to Farrells rise in city politics. The author later said he regretted his poor choice of words.

Farrell said in a statement to the Chronicle this week that if he wins the mayors race, all of my investments will be put into a blind trust, and the job will have 100% of my full focus and attention.



I am running for Mayor because San Francisco is worth fighting for and I will do everything in my power to help get our city back on track, Farrell said.

Breed, meanwhile, reported no stocks or investments in her 2023 economic interest form that she filed in late March. She did, however, disclose a number of gifts and travel payments she received, including a total of $16,500 that donors paid to fund a trip she took to Israel in May 2023 to mark the 50th anniversary of San Franciscos sister city relationship with Haifa. Among the contributors, each of whom gave $500, were the Jewish Community Federation, the Koret Foundation and 31 people  including Luries mother.



Breed also reported that the Aspen Institute paid $6,600 for her to participate in a Bloomberg CityLab urban policy conference. And she reported gifts of $500 each from the U.S. Treasury and state departments related to her attendances at galas during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit that was held in the city in November.



She did not report any income from real estate. A spokesperson for her office confirmed that Breed has not purchased a home and continues to rent an apartment.

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Peskin, the Board of Supervisors president whos trying to position himself as the most left-leaning major candidate in the mayors race, reported that he had invested in a variety of stocks in companies including Apple, Amazon and Pfizer. His stock holdings were worth a minimum of $314,000 and a maximum of $3 million. He told the Chronicle he acquired the stock to help fund his retirement.

Peskin also reported receiving between $30,000 and $300,000 of rental income in 2023 from three properties in San Francisco valued at more than $2.1 million on the low end and upward of $3 million on the high end. He received between $10,001 and $100,000 from the Great Basin Land and Water environmental nonprofit he founded with his wife, who made more than $100,000 working for the same organization last year.

He further disclosed receiving several gifts, such as a pair of $138 concert tickets to the Club Fugazi performing arts venue in North Beach, a $500 SFJazz performance ticket and even a $98 box of chocolates from the famous former Apple designer Jony Ive.

The candidate who filed the most scant economic interest statement was Safai, a two-term supervisor representing the Excelsior and nearby neighborhoods. His only disclosure was being gifted $521 in tickets to a holiday party last year. He owns the home he lives in but did not report having any rental properties. In a statement to the Chronicle, Safai said his economic interest form showed a clear divide between himself and the other mayoral candidates, who he said were either rich themselves or backed by wealthy interests.
Gaza: 'high time' for ceasefire and hostage release, says Guterres

11 June 2024 - A comprehensive ceasefire in Gaza linked to the release of all remaining hostages cannot come too soon, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said on Tuesday, as he welcomed the Security Council resolution adopted a day earlier seeking an end to the war there.

Speaking in Jordan at an international conference prompted by the catastrophic humanitarian situation in Gaza, Mr. Guterres insisted that after more than eight months of intense hostilities, "the horror must stop".

"I welcome the peace initiative recently outlined by President Biden and urge all parties to seize this opportunity and come to an agreement," the UN chief said. "And I call on all parties to respect their obligations under international humanitarian law. This includes facilitating the delivery of humanitarian aid both into and inside Gaza, as they have committed. All available routes into Gaza must be operational - and the land routes are absolutely crucial."

On Monday, the United States-drafted text urged Hamas to accept a ceasefire proposal announced on 31 May by President Joe Biden that has already been accepted by Israel, according to the White House.

The text urges both parties to fully implement the terms of the proposal "without delay and without condition". It was adopted by a large majority with 14 votes in favour and Russia abstaining - choosing not to exercise its veto power.

Standing by UNRWA

Highlighting the key role played in the battered enclave by the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA - which has been attacked and ostracized by Israeli leaders - the Secretary-General insisted that its presence "will remain critical not only during the conflict, but afterwards".

Latest reports from Gaza show that around 60 per cent of all residential buildings and at least 80 per cent of commercial facilities have been damaged by Israeli bombardment, the UN chief said, with health facilities and educational institutions reduced to rubble.

In addition, more than one million "deeply traumatized children in Gaza" need psychosocial support and the safety and hope their schools used to provide, Mr. Guterres said, before insisting that "only UNRWA has the capacity, skills, and networks needed to support the Palestinian people to face the immense challenge on health, on education and so much more."

The head of UNRWA Phillipe Lazzarini confirmed once again during his remarks to the meeting that "there is no alternative" available to the skills and expertise of the organization he leads.

UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Martin Griffiths reiterated that a permanent ceasefire is crucial. "Humanitarian aid must enter Gaza unobstructed to effectively address urgent needs", he said.

Aid access obstacles endure

Echoing deep and repeated warning from humanitarians about the scale of the severe emergency across Gaza linked to the lack of aid access, the UN chief noted that "at least half of all humanitarian aid missions are denied access, impeded, or cancelled due to operational or security reasons"

In Geneva, meanwhile, the UN human rights office, OHCHR, expressed profound shock at the impact of the hostage release operation in Gaza's Nuseirat refugee camp at the weekend.

OHCHR spokesperson Jeremy Laurence said that hundreds of Palestinians, - many of them civilians - were reportedly killed and injured and that the way the raid was conducted "in such a densely populated area seriously calls into question" whether Israeli forces respected the principles of distinction, proportionality and precaution, as set out under the laws of war.

Actions 'may amount to war crimes'

"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. 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", Mr Laurence continued.

He said the actions carried out by both parties during Saturday's assault "may amount to war crimes."

The High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk welcomed Monday's Security Council Resolution 2735 calling for a "full and complete ceasefire", hostage releases and other phased moves including the exchange of prisoners held by Israel.

"An immediate priority must be to ensure the full and unfettered flow of humanitarian aid to the desperate population of Gaza", Mr. Laurence concluded.

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UN war crimes tribunals move closer to completion

11 June 2024 - All of the 253 people indicted by UN tribunals for war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide committed decades ago in Rwanda and the Former Yugoslavia, have now been accounted for, the Security Council heard on Tuesday.

The President and Prosecutor with the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals (IRMCT) briefed ambassadors on progress made over the past two years as it moves closer towards wrapping up for good.

The Mechanism was established by the Council to continue essential functions of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR), which closed in December 2015, and another for the former Yugoslavia, ICTY, which concluded two years later.

A proud legacy

"The work of the Mechanism and its predecessors has contributed to justice on two continents, produced an extensive body of international criminal jurisprudence, and created an important reservoir of lessons learned for future courts," said Judge Graciela Gotti Santana, the IRMCT President, underlining the need to safeguard this legacy.

She said that focus has been on providing the Council with timeline projections for completion of all activities, and options for the transfer of those that remain. A framework document was submitted in April.

Furthermore, budgetary requirements have fallen by more than a quarter, the field office in the Rwandan capital, Kigali, will close in September, and just under half of all posts will be eliminated by December.

Streamlining operations

"Having now transitioned to our purely residual functions, we have reduced in size and streamlined operations, but remain determined to conclude the final stages of the mandate you have entrusted to us," she said.

Ms. Gotti Santana noted that important work remains to be done, which will require significant resources.

"The Mechanism remains mandated to supervise the enforcement of sentences, with 41 convicted persons currently serving their sentences in 12 States and another seven persons under our jurisdiction," she said.

"In the near term, it is expected that the work related to this function will increase, as more prisoners reach the threshold for consideration for early release."

Preserving a 'powerful resource'

Another mandated task involves managing, preserving and facilitating access to the Mechanism's archives and those of the two former tribunals.

"This function is closely connected with one of my key priorities, namely to consolidate the rich legacy of these courts, which can serve as a powerful resource for combatting denial and revisionism," she said.

Demonstration of justice

IRMCT Prosecutor Serge Brammertz said the fact that all 253 persons indicted by the tribunals are now accounted for "is an important demonstration of the international community's determination to secure justice for atrocity crimes," though adding that more justice is still needed.

Over the past two years, the Prosecutor's Office has received 629 requests for assistance from UN Member States, providing support to some 219 national case files.

While Rwanda and the countries of the former Yugoslavia are key partners, the Office has also met with prosecutors from Eswatini, Mozambique, South Africa, Belgium, Canada, France, the United Kingdom, the United States and elsewhere.

Greater accountability needed

"Our national colleagues know that there are persons who committed genocide living in their countries with impunity, some in plain sight. And they know that every single case is about victims and survivors who are still waiting for justice to be done," he said.

Today, bringing perpetrators to justice is now the responsibility of national courts, he said, and while countries have achieved significant results, more accountability is urgently needed.

"Rwandan authorities are still seeking to bring to justice more than 1,000 fugitive genocidaires. Likewise, prosecutors in the former Yugoslavia still have thousands of suspected war criminals to investigate and prosecute.

"Domestic authorities in third-party Member States, particularly in Europe and North America, are also prosecuting these cases under 'no safe haven' policies," he said.

Mr. Brammertz insisted that "continuing this work is essential - for the victims and survivors, of course, and for Member States, who have made accountability a priority at the national level, to secure the rule of law and promote reconciliation."

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Yemen: UN chief demands release of aid workers held by Houthis

11 June 2024 - UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called on Tuesday for the immediate release of all United Nations staff held in Yemen by the de facto Houthi authorities, following the detention of 13 of the Organization's personnel.

Four additional UN staff members have been detained and held incommunicado by the de facto authorities since 2021 and 2023, without access to their families or their respective organizations and agencies.

"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," Mr. Guterres said. "I demand the immediate and unconditional release of all detained UN personnel."

The UN chief's call came as he met with his Special Envoy to Yemen, Hans Grundberg, in Jordan. They discussed recent developments in Yemen including an escalating crackdown on civic space by the de facto authorities that reportedly led to the arbitrary detention of dozens of UN, NGO, and aid workers.

UN and civil society targeted

The Special Envoy's Office noted that the four staff held ahead of the latest detentions worked for the UN education, scientific and cultural agency, UNESCO, and the UN human rights office, OHCHR.

The 13 UN staff detained over the past few days included six from OHCHR, one each from the Office of the Special Envoy (OSESGY), the UN Development Programme (UNDP), the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF), the UN World Food Programme (WFP), UN World Health Organization (WHO) and two from UNESCO. At least 11 civil society workers were also arrested.

In the meeting between the Secretary-General and Mr. Grundberg, the Special Envoy briefed on efforts to secure the release of the personnel including a meeting on Monday with Mohamed Abdul Salam, the Houthi chief negotiator, in Muscat. He also met senior Omani officials to solicit support.

"We are working diligently to secure the immediate and unconditional release of our detained personnel through all available channels," Mr. Grundberg told UN News, as he called for the release of all arrested NGO workers as well.

During their encounter, the Secretary-General and his Special Envoy also stressed that the United Nations stands in solidarity with all humanitarian workers and civil society actors who play a crucial role in providing life-saving assistance and support to the people of Yemen.

Human rights chief's call

Echoing the call to immediately release all the detainees, UN human rights chief Volker Turk expressed deep concern about the conditions in which they were being held, while also rejecting false allegations about their activities.

Two of the UN personnel detained last week are women, along with at least one other female civil society worker, continued the High Commissioner for Human Rights, as he insisted on an immediate end to "any further targeting" of human rights and aid workers in Yemen.

The UN human rights office has been working in Yemen since 2012, Mr. Turk noted, "for the promotion and protection of the rights of all the people of Yemen, including through engagement with the de facto authorities".

Humanitarian crisis impact

The development has added to deepening concerns about the humanitarian emergency in Yemen where needs remain huge.

After nearly a decade of conflict between the internationally recognized government in and despite truce conditions largely holding, aid teams have repeatedly warned that 17.6 million people - half of the population in Yemen - face food insecurity and nearly half of all children under five suffer from moderate to severe stunting.

According to the UN aid coordination office, OCHA, 4.5 million people remain displaced across the Arabian peninsula country, many of whom have experienced multiple displacements over several years, as a result of more than nine years of conflict between the Government of Yemen and the de facto Houthi authority in control of the capital, Sana'a, and other areas of the country.

Top relief official's plea

According to UN's top relief official, the recent wave of detentions could have a negative impact on an already dire situation.

"Aid workers are neutral in a conflict. Their safety and the safety of the civilians they serve must be guaranteed," said Martin Griffiths, UN Emergency Relief Coordinator to UN News. Ahead of the Muslim celebration of Eid al-Adha beginning this weekend, he added: "My heart goes out to the families of the detained personnel who fear for the wellbeing of their loved ones instead of celebrating Eid al-Adha together."

Peace moves

In his briefing to the Security Council last month, UN Special Envoy Grundberg noted that the warring parties had agreed to a number of commitments in December including a nationwide ceasefire and an inclusive political process under UN auspices.

However, he warned that announcements by Ansar Allah - the official name for the Houthi movement - to expand the scope of attacks on Red Sea shipping were a "worrisome provocation in an already volatile situation".

On Tuesday, Mr. Grundberg told UN News that the recent arrests hinder his efforts and erode trust. However, he noted that his efforts to convene the parties to address key issues related to the economy, a nationwide ceasefire and the launch of talks to reach a sustainable political settlement will continue for the benefit of the Yemeni people.

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The Humanitarian Coordinator, on behalf of the humanitarian community, expresses his grave concern over the escalating violence in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo

UNOCHA - United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

The Humanitarian Coordinator, on behalf of the humanitarian community, expresses his grave concern over the escalating violence in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. He calls on all parties to respect and uphold international humanitarian law, human rights, and the protection of civilians.

Kinshasa, 10 June 2024 - The Humanitarian Coordinator in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Mr. Bruno Lemarquis expresses his deep concern about the persistence of violence and the alarming deterioration of the humanitarian situation in the East of the Democratic Republic of Congo.

"If this violence persists, it risks further worsening the already precarious humanitarian situation in the provinces of Ituri, North Kivu, and South Kivu, where more than 900,000 newly displaced people have been registered between January and April 2024, bringing the total number of displaced people in these three provinces to over 5.6 million, and a total of 7.3 million in the country," said Mr. Lemarquis.

The number of civilian victims continues to increase, mainly due to violence perpetrated by armed actors. During the first five months of this year, more than 470 people were killed in the province of Ituri, especially during violent incidents targeting civilians in the territories of Djugu, Irumu, and Mambasa. Additionally, at least 57 people were killed during attacks by the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) in the territory of Beni, in North Kivu, from June 3 to 8, 2024. In North Kivu, the M23 crisis has claimed many victims since the resumption of hostilities in February 2024. Due to the intensity of the fighting, several humanitarian organizations have had to suspend their operations in Kanyabayonga, North Kivu, affecting more than 45,000 displaced people since the second half of May. Finally, in South Kivu, the number of people fleeing violence in some territories of North Kivu linked to the M23 crisis continues to increase, especially in the territory of Kalehe.

The humanitarian community deplores the continuation of clashes and the intensification of violence against civilians. The expansion of fighting into areas considered safe for displaced populations forces these people and their hosts into constant movements, continuously weakening them.

"I call on all armed groups and their supporters to respect their obligations under international humanitarian law and human rights, by protecting civilians, ensuring unhindered humanitarian access, and allowing humanitarian operations to proceed so that organizations can provide vital assistance to people in need. I also encourage the DRC government and SAMIDRC to increase coordination with humanitarian actors to prevent any risk of incidents against partners and ensure better protection of civilians," urged Mr. Lemarquis.

The humanitarian community reaffirms its commitment to do everything possible to mobilize the necessary assistance to support the populations affected by this crisis. However, it is urgent to mobilize additional resources. To date, the 2024 humanitarian response plan is only 23% funded, with only USD 590 million received out of the USD 2.6 billion required.

Despite these constraints, the humanitarian community has managed to provide necessary assistance to more than 3.5 million people in the DRC between January and April 2024.

"It is time for all involved actors, as well as those who have influence over the parties to the conflict, to work together for an immediate de-escalation of violence and a return to political dialogue to find a lasting solution to the conflict. It is also important to increase efforts to promote durable solutions for displaced people in areas where conditions are met," emphasized Mr. Lemarquis.

***

For more information, please contact:

Carla Martinez, Head of Office, OCHA-DRC, +243817061223, martinez14@un.org

Jean Jonas Tossa, Public Information Officer, +243817061220, tossa4@un.org

Information products on the humanitarian situation in the DRC are available at www.reliefweb.int

11 June 2024



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South Sudan Humanitarian Fund allocates US$20 million to support 290,000 vulnerable people across four states in South Sudan

UNOCHA - United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

(Juba, 11 June 2024) The Humanitarian Coordinator for South Sudan, Ms. Anita Kiki Gbeho today released US$20 million from the South Sudan Humanitarian Fund (SSHF) to provide life-saving assistance to 290,000 of the most 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.

"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," said Ms. Anita Kiki Gbeho, Humanitarian Coordinator for South Sudan.

The 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. This is particularly critical from August onwards, when the effects of the lean season (April to July) are expected to manifest in increased malnutrition rates and food insecurity levels. 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 allocation is also intended to increase direct funding to national NGOs to promote localization and empower grassroots organizations.

"We are very grateful for continued donor contributions, which mean that we can help people who are facing acute needs. We request a further injection of funding to continue saving lives and to support recovery and resilience activities of communities," said Ms. Gbeho.

The $20 million allocation will build on and complement earlier funding allocations, including the $16 million released from the Central Emergency Response Fund in September 2023 for famine prevention and the $17 million allocated from the SSHF the same year for famine prevention in Rubkona County, Unity State.

The 2024 Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan for South Sudan calls for $1.8 billion to assist 6 million people across South Sudan. Six months into the year, the appeal is less than 20 per cent funded.

The South Sudan Humanitarian Fund is managed by OCHA. The Fund operates within the parametres of the Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan and prioritizes the allocation of funds to non-governmental organizations.

For information on the South Sudan Humanitarian Fund, visit https://www.unocha.org/south-sudan/about-ss-hf

For information on the Central Emergency Response Fund, visit https://cerf.un.org

For further information, please contact:

Joseph Inganji, Head of Office, inganji@un.org

Orla Clinton, Deputy Head of Office, clinton@un.org

Basma Ourfali, Public Information Officer, basma.ourfali@un.org

OCHA press releases are available at www.unocha.org/south-sudan or www.reliefweb.int.

11 June 2024

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Mechanism Concluding Tasks of Criminal Tribunals for Rwanda, Former Yugoslavia 'Steadily Advancing on Path of Completion', President Tells Security Council

Meetings Coverage

Security Council

9651st Meeting (AM)

SC/15724

11 June 2024

Delegates today welcomed milestones reached by a United Nations war crime court in completing its judicial phase for atrocities committed in Rwanda and the former Yugoslavia in the 1990s and called for renewed support for its duties related to accountability and justice, as the Security Council heard briefings from top officials of the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals (IRMCT), ahead of a resolution to renew its mandate later in June.

"Active proceedings in the final core crime cases have ended and the Mechanism has completed its transition into a truly residual institution," said Graciela Gatti Santana, President of the IRMCT, the judicial body that took over the remaining work of the two dedicated tribunals for war crimes committed in Rwanda and the former Yugoslavia following their closures in 2015 and 2017. The justice cycle needed to confront genocide is long and requires sustained support, she said, pointing out that the achievement of such milestones signalled that the IRMCT was "steadily advancing on the path of completion".

However, the IRMCT still has important work to do and requires sufficient resources to do it, she continued. The breadth of its work is "substantial and unprecedented among international and internationalized tribunals", she said, pointing to the responsibilities that followed its indictment of more than 250 individuals, which generated records projected to unfurl over nine kilometres. Underscoring the need for States' cooperation, she pointed out that Serbia's continued refusal to cooperate in the contempt case concerning Petar Jojic and Vjerica Radeta has hampered the IRMCT's ability to try them for almost a decade.

Serge Brammertz, the IRMCT's Chief Prosecutor, reported that his Office has concluded the important mandate to account for all fugitives indicted by the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda. Spotlighting his team's assiduous efforts in accounting for all 253 persons indicted by the International Criminal for Rwanda and the former Yugoslavia for war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide, he stated that "fugitives were amongst our greatest challenges, but we persevered and succeeded." However, "while all ICTR [International Criminal Tribunals for Rwanda] fugitives have all been accounted for, more justice is still needed," he said, pointing to ongoing work by his Office in continuing the accountability process. The IRMCT fulfils the Council's vision to combat impunity for severe violations of international humanitarian law, first through both Tribunals and now in domestic courts worldwide, he said, reiterating that it is "a temporary institution whose functions will diminish over time".

In the ensuing debate, members voiced near-unanimous support for the IRMCT, with several speakers voicing concern over the continued lack of cooperation by some States, while others warned of the dangers of genocide denial and the glorification of war criminals.

Among them was the representative of the United Kingdom, who noted that the denial of international crimes by some senior political figures, amid an uptick in ethno-national tensions in the Western Balkans, impeded the region from building safe and inclusive societies. The completion of all core crime proceedings and accounting for all remaining fugitives in core crimes cases constituted a historic moment for the IRMCT, he said, while voicing concern over remaining obstacles due to the lack of cooperation by States of concern, notably Serbia.

The representative of Slovenia, emphasizing that the legacy of the IRMCT and its predecessors "remains crucial" for fighting genocide denial and the glorification of war criminals, stressed that the efficient management of archives is "imperative for ensuring accountability before the courts". A centralized system for managing the archives of all UN tribunals and mechanisms "would be the most appropriate and efficient way forward", he added.

For her part, the Russian Federation's speaker said that while the IRMCT's fifth review and regular semi-annual activity reports are voluminous, the critical question about the final and reasonable deadline for the completion or transfer of its functions remains unanswered. She took issue with the IRMCT's annual budget, pointing out that it is double that of the UN's main judicial body, the International Court of Justice, and stated that "the Mechanism should have been closed long ago", given the conclusion of its key judicial proceedings.

In a similar vein, Maja Popovic, Minister for Justice of Serbia, expressed concern over the IRMCT's "gross disregard for all deadlines set by the Security Council". Highlighting her country's legal and judicial expertise to conduct all cases that may be referred to it, she called on the IRMCT to reconsider its decisions to not refer certain cases to Serbia. She went on to reject statements about her country denying crimes or glorifying them, adding that the Prosecutor's Office should focus on the need to establish the real truth about the crimes that were committed as well as the "objective legal qualification" of the nature of the conflict in the former Yugoslavia.

Meanwhile, the speaker for Bosnia and Herzegovina highlighted that the establishment of 11 July as an International Day of Reflection and Commemoration of the 1995 Genocide in Srebrenica would not be possible without the contributions of the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia and the Mechanism in fighting impunity and ensuring accountability for genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes, and that of the International Court of Justice, in determining that these acts committed in Srebrenica constituted acts of genocide. These verdicts, which prove that Serbia played a role in the wars in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia, "will forever stay written as an uncontested fact of the tragic chapter of the Balkans", she said, adding that the culture of remembering the victims of the genocide in Srebrenica is a culture of memory so that genocide is never repeated.

Croatia's delegate, for his part, underscored the need for more meaningful and productive cooperation, as well as transparency and openness, pointing to Belgrade's insufficient cooperation with respect to the tracing of 1,797 missing Croatian persons and mortal remains. The lack of political will in Serbia to share information and enable access to archives remains the greatest obstacle to progress in resolving these cases, which is crucial for closure and reconciliation, he said, urging the IRMCT to prioritize this issue during the remainder of its mandate.

Rounding out the discussion, Rwanda's delegate called for the transfer of the IRMCT's expertise to its national judiciary, underscoring the need for direct case assistance to help track over 1,200 fugitives still at large. As well, he requested the relocation of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda's archive to his country. Turning to the situation of acquitted and released individuals in Niger, he reiterated that these Rwandans are welcome to return to their home country, adding that thousands of former perpetrators who completed their sentences now coexist peacefully with their fellow citizens.

International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals

Briefings

GRACIELA GATTI SANTANA, President of the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals (IRMCT), which was set up in 2010 to complete the work of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda and the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia after their respective closures in 2015 and 2017, noted that this year marked "Kwibuka30": the thirtieth commemoration of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda. Pointing out that, just as the preconditions for genocide grow in force over time, the justice cycle needed to confront the resulting violence and atrocities is long and requires sustained support. She went on to highlight a significant milestone for IRMCT in the past biennium: active proceedings in the final core crime cases have ended and the Mechanism has completed its transition into a truly residual institution. Moreover, the Mechanism's Prosecutor confirmed in May that all fugitives indicted by the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda have been accounted for, she said, adding: "We are steadily advancing on the path of completion."

The initial priorities of her presidency were drawn from a commitment to implement the Security Council's request in resolution 2637 (2022) to provide clear and focused projections of completion timelines for all IRMCT activities and options regarding the transfer of its remaining activities, she continued. On that, she spotlighted the release in April of a detailed framework document to guide the Mechanism's future planning for its other mandated residual activities, which reflects scenario-based workforce planning and provides a range of options and recommendations concerning the potential transfer of the IRMCT's functions. As well, in line with the Council's vision that the Mechanism's functions and size will diminish over time, its budgetary requirements over the past two years have fallen by more than 25 per cent, she said, adding that, by December, it will have eliminated just under half of all posts, compared to staffing figures from two years earlier.

However, the IRMCT still has important work to do and requires sufficient resources to do it, she went on, pointing to the substantial breadth of this work, which is "substantial and unprecedented among international and internationalized tribunals". The Mechanism has inherited the continuous responsibilities that follow from indicting more than 250 individuals, with the resulting cases receiving evidence from more than 6,800 witnesses and generating records that stretch more than four kilometres and are projected to reach nine. On that, she noted that the IRMCT remains mandated to supervise the enforcement of sentences, with 41 convicted persons currently serving their sentences in 12 States and another seven persons under its jurisdiction. "In the near term, it is expected that the work related to this function will increase, as more prisoners reach the threshold for consideration for early release," she said, adding: "Sufficient support during this phase will be critical."

The IRMCT also remains tasked with managing, preserving, and facilitating access to the archives of the ad hoc Tribunals and the Mechanism and continues to receive and adjudicate requests for access to confidential evidence maintained in the archives and for variation of witness protective measures, she continued. As well, it is invested with the competence to review a conviction should a new fact emerge demonstrating that a verdict may be unsafe, she said. On that, she stated that, in the case concerning Gerard Ntakirutimana, now before the Appeals Chamber, fresh information has been presented indicating that a witness may have provided false evidence that was critical to some of his convictions. Therefore, the Appeals Chamber has authorized narrowly tailored review proceedings to determine whether any miscarriage of justice may have occurred.

She went on to underscore the need for the cooperation of States, pointing out that the continued refusal of Serbia to cooperate in the contempt case concerning Petar Jojic and Vjerica Radeta constitutes a persistent obstacle to the Mechanism's discharge of its mandated functions, and has hampered its ability to try those accused for almost a decade. On enforcement of sentences, she pointed out that enforcement States have yet to be designated for a handful of convicted persons as well as for the provisional release of Felicien Kabuga. As well, the situation of the acquitted or released persons relocated to Niger is at an impasse, she said, renewing her call for a durable solution in this regard.

SERGE BRAMMERTZ, Chief Prosecutor of the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals , reported that his Office has concluded the important mandate to account for all fugitives indicted by the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda. On 15 May, it confirmed the deaths of the last two fugitives, Ryandikayo and Charles Sikubwabo, who both fled Rwanda in 1994 to then-Zaire. They resided in the Kashusha camp, together with many other perpetrators of the genocide, until late 1996. Mr. Sikubwabo then fled through the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Central African Republic before arriving in Chad, where he died in 1998. "When taking office as the Mechanism Prosecutor, I briefed this Council about our intention to make maximum efforts to locate all remaining ICTR [International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda] fugitives," he said, noting that this required a more proactive approach, adopting new methodologies and recruiting the right staff with the right skills.

"We had a window of opportunity to demonstrate a track record of success," he said, noting that his team accounted for all eight outstanding International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda fugitives over the last several years. It arrested two fugitives, Felicien Kabuga in Paris in May 2020, and Fulgence Kayishema in Paarl, South Africa, in May 2023. It further confirmed the deaths of another six accused. "This means that all 253 persons indicted by the ICTR and ICTY [International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia] for war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide have now been accounted for," he stressed, adding that "fugitives were amongst our greatest challenges, but we persevered and succeeded".

However, he continued, "while all ICTR fugitives have all been accounted for, more justice is still needed," noting his Office's work assisting national authorities in continuing the accountability process for crimes committed in Rwanda and the former Yugoslavia. In the last two years alone, his Office received 629 requests for assistance and supported 219 national case files. In relation to Rwanda, it assisted 10 Member States, handed over 5,000 documents, facilitated the participation of 69 witnesses in national proceedings, provided investigative plans and shared information on fugitives' whereabouts. Regarding the former Yugoslavia, it supported seven Member States and four international organizations, handed over more than 17,000 documents, and prepared investigative dossiers, crime base reports and analytical reports.

As the Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS) reported, most national partners "strongly agreed or agreed that the assistance received had contributed to facilitating investigations and judicial proceedings in their jurisdictions," he pointed out. While the two Tribunals indicted 253 persons, it was always well-known that there were thousands more perpetrators to bring to justice, he said, adding that "more accountability is still urgently needed". Rwandan authorities are still seeking to bring more than 1,000 fugitive genocidaires to justice. Likewise, prosecutors in the former Yugoslavia still have thousands of suspected war criminals to investigate and prosecute. Domestic authorities in third-party Member States  particularly Europe and North America  are also prosecuting these cases under "no safe haven" policies. Continuing this work is essential for the victims and survivors, as well as for Member States, who have prioritized accountability at the national level to secure the rule of law and promote reconciliation.

Ultimately, the Mechanism's work fulfils the Council's vision to combat impunity for those responsible for severe violations of international humanitarian law, first through both Tribunals and now in domestic courts worldwide. Noting that his Office has successfully completed two of its three primary residual functions, he said that in 2023, it finalized those remaining trials and appeals transferred from the two Tribunals. In May, it successfully accounted for the last International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda fugitives, bringing that work to a close. His Office, therefore, delivered on these important mandates, consistent with the Council's vision of the IRMCT as "a temporary institution whose functions will diminish over time".

Statements

The representative of Sierra Leone said his country can attest to "the transformative power of international justice delivered through independent and impartial criminal tribunals like the IRMCT, and in our case the Special Court for Sierra Leone". Stressing that that a merger of the activities of the Mechanism and the Special Court is impracticable, he commended its excellent work from 2022 to 2024, during which they concluded the trials of all core crimes, and applauded its efforts to eliminate duplication of functions. The IRMCT has now entered a truly residual stage, he noted, acknowledging "that uncertainties may arise from the Mechanism's work, given its heavy reliance on the goodwill and political will of member States". Due to the absence of enforcement States, the Mechanism has had to keep convicted persons in the detention centre in The Hague. The Working Group is also grappling with these ambiguities, he said, adding: "what remains certain is that the Council's continuing support to the Mechanism is critical."

The representative of Guyana said that, although it has reached a further point of transition, the IRMCT still has an important role to play in ensuring accountability and justice for crimes committed in the former Yugoslavia and in Rwanda. While its functions and size must gradually diminish pursuant to resolution 1966 (2010), "this must be carefully managed to allow the smooth and appropriate transfer of remaining responsibilities", she emphasized, also underlining the need to protect witnesses and survivors. She also said that an updated report from the Secretary-General on administrative and budgetary considerations relating to the management of the Mechanism's archives "is necessary to aid the Council's discussions on the matter", and that a report on recommendations for the transfer of IRMCT's functions would be "helpful". Expressing concern that the relocation of acquitted and released persons from Arusha to Niger in December 2021 remains unresolved, she urged States to cooperate and "render all necessary assistance" to IRMCT pursuant to resolution 2637 (2022).

The representative of France , also voicing full support for the Mechanism, noted the conclusion of its judicial phase. Given there is no longer a fugitive indicted for principal crimes by the Tribunals for Rwanda and the former Yugoslavia, she expressed support for the passage of the Mechanism to genuinely residual functions. Noting that meaningful decisions need to be taken on a number of issues, including assistance to national jurisdictions, the protection of victims and witnesses, and management of archives, she applauded its streamlining efforts. Highlighting its framework of action as a living document, she applauded the arrest of Fulgence Kayishema. The collaboration between the Prosecutor's office and the South African authorities is an example of effective and efficient international cooperation in countering impunity, she added.

The representative of the United Kingdom acknowledged the important milestones reached by the Mechanism during this reporting period, with the latest report confirming the completion of all core crimes proceedings and all remaining fugitives in core crimes cases accounted for. He therefore echoed the IRMCT President's statement that this represents a historic moment for the Mechanism. Turning to outstanding work, including in assisting national authorities and in performing ongoing judicial activities, he voiced concern that despite all progress, obstacles remain. On that, he called on Serbia to arrest and transfer Mr. Jojic and Ms. Radeta to the Mechanism following years of requests. Pointing to the recent uptick in ethno-national tensions in the Western Balkans, including the denial of international crimes by some senior political figures, he said that such denials, by those in positions of power, impeded the region from building safe and inclusive societies. He highlighted the United Kingdom's support to the Mechanism, including through the enforcement of sentences.

The representative of Ecuador said that "the Mechanism is a reminder of what the international community can achieve against impunity when there is steadfast commitment". In its new form, it faces the challenge of fulfilling its residual functions, which include judicial tasks related to witness protection, sentence enforcement and possible cases of contempt. Also, Member States's cooperation will continue to be essential to address these challenges. Underlining the importance of consolidating the legacy of the Mechanism and the ad hoc tribunals, she supported actions aimed at disseminating its judgments and proceedings and the permanent assistance it provides to national jurisdictions. Spreading the legacy of the Mechanism is also one of the most powerful tools to counteract discourses of historical revisionism and glorification of war criminals, which constitute the last resort of the ideology of genocide. She further added that it is necessary to ensure the preservation of and access to its files.

The representative of Japan , welcoming IRMCT's "remarkable progress", noted that it concluded its core-crimes cases in 2023 and succeeded in accounting for all fugitives indicated by the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda and the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia in May 2024. "This achievement would not have been possible without the tenacity and expertise of the fugitive-tracking team," she said, also recognizing the cooperation of States involved. Welcoming IRMCT's current transition from an operational court to a "truly residual institution", she said that  while it continues to have an "indispensable" role in assisting national jurisdictions  its activities and size "should be narrowed over time commensurate with the reduction in its functions". In that context, she welcomed the Mechanism's leadership towards completing its residual functions and transferring its remaining activities, as well as its President's internal restructuring initiative that combines both reducing posts and streamlining workflows.

The representative of the United States said the Mechanism continues to support the delivery of accountability for "some of the gravest crimes of the past century". The Rwanda Tribunal has charged Ryandikayo and Mr. Sikubwabo with genocide and crimes against humanity for attacking various places of refuge, he noted, adding that no Rwandan fugitives now remain at large. Also expressing gratitude for the decades of work by the judges, attorneys and other court staff of the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia, he said these are immense contributions to advancing the rule of law and the fight against impunity in the former Yugoslavia. Noting the Mechanism's ongoing work to preserve extensive physical and digital records, he expressed support for its efforts to discharge its residual functions and reduce its organizational footprint. Expressing concern about the denial of crimes, he said all public figures must put victims at the forefront and ensure reconciliation and peacebuilding in the former Yugoslavia.

The representative of Slovenia said that, 30 years after the establishment of both Tribunals, the IRMCT is now a truly residual institution. "However, this does not mean the work is done," he stressed, pointing to several important residual functions. These include supervising the enforcement of sentences, responding to national requests for assistance, ensuring the continued protection of victims and witnesses, monitoring cases referred to national jurisdictions and managing archives. Stressing that the efficient management of archives is "imperative for ensuring accountability before the courts", he said that criminal proceedings require an accessible system where all evidence and documents are properly stored and managed by qualified staff. In that context, he emphasized that a centralized system for managing the archives of all UN tribunals and mechanisms "would be the most appropriate and efficient way forward". He added that the legacy of the Mechanism and its predecessors "remains crucial" for fighting genocide denial and the glorification of war criminals.

The representative of Switzerland commended the efforts undertaken by the IRMCT to implement its mandate, in light of the milestones reached, with all the cases relating to the main crimes concluded and all the fugitives indicted by the two Tribunals accounted for. Turning to the future of the Mechanism, in its present "purely residual" phase, she took note of the Framework of Operations to complement its functions and voiced support for the efforts to optimize resources and strengthen its effectiveness. Underscoring the importance of preserving the legacy of the International Criminal Tribunals and the Mechanism, she voiced concern over the reported negationist and revisionist tendencies and the glorification of criminals. She called on States to redouble efforts to strengthen cooperation, particularly on arresting and handing over suspects. Finally, she voiced regret over the unresolved situation  despite considerable efforts undertaken by the Mechanism  of the people who have been resettled in Niger for more than two years, one of whom recently died.

The representative of the Russian Federation said that while the fifth review and regular semi-annual activity reports are voluminous, the critical question about the final and reasonable deadline for the completion or transfer of the Mechanism's functions remains unanswered. Instead, the document contains vague references to 2052, which  in light of resolution 1966 (2010)  cannot be called "reasonable", she stressed. The IRMCT employs 301 people, and its annual budget exceeds $65 million. In comparison, the budget of the International Court of Justice  the UN's main judicial body  is half that. When presenting a completion strategy for the two Tribunals, it was stated that without the implementation of the completion strategy for them, they would exist until 2015. However, it is 2024, and now, 2052 is being discussed. Underscoring that "the Mechanism should have been closed long ago", she observed that key judicial proceedings have been concluded  there are no fugitives from justice. The Mechanism continues to justify its existence through secondary tasks  including archives management or the delivery of technical assistance  however, "this does not require the Mechanism's presence in its current form", she emphasized.

The representative of Malta , recognizing the need for the IRMCT to continue its work on sentence enforcement, witness protection and case monitoring, emphasized that "these are essential tasks" that provide the victims of atrocity crimes "the sustained justice they deserve". She also noted the Mechanism's continued enforcement challenges, calling on all States who can do so to take on enforcement responsibilities. Further, States should assist the Mechanism in the context of the unresolved predicament of acquitted and released persons who were relocated to Niger. Noting that IRMCT and its predecessors have made "significant" steps in establishing the facts and historical record of atrocity crimes committed in Rwanda and the former Yugoslavia, she welcomed the Mechanism's facilitation of the establishment of "information centres" pursuant to resolution 1966 (2010). Disseminating information is important not only for the Mechanism's legacy, she stressed, but also because it is "a pivotal tool in countering genocide denial and associated divisive phenomena".

The representative of Algeria , expressing appreciation for the progress made in the work of the Mechanism, noted the closure achieved in the core crimes referred to it by the Tribunals for Rwanda and the former Yugoslavia. The Mechanism should reduce its expenditure and seek to optimize the available financial resources, he said, expressing support for document preservation and archive management. Calling on it to accelerate work towards completing its residual functions within a reasonable timeline, he said that is in line with the temporary nature that was envisaged at its establishment. It is the primary responsibility of States to hold accountable those who commit crimes in their territories, he reaffirmed.

The representative of China said that, with the significant milestones it had reached, the IRMCT must now focus on supervising the enforcement of sentences, and in aiding national trial activities. As well, the IRMCT should further clarify its role, optimize resource allocation, and reduce its function and size. Noting that the IRMCT's remaining functions are no longer related to trial proceedings of major cases, he called for the early transfer of its functions related to the supervision of enforcement hearings and contempt cases to countries willing and able to do so. As well, the IRMCT should also strengthen communication with relevant parties, accommodating their legitimate concerns, and find appropriate solutions on information sharing and the settlement of released and acquitted persons. He called on the IRMCT to carry out its functions in accordance to the resolution expected to be adopted later in June to renew its mandate.

The representative of Mozambique commended the IRMCT for finally assuming its full residual functions, adding that the people of Rwanda and former Yugoslavia endured immense suffering for decades. "It is our collective responsibility to honour the victims and survivors by holding accountable those responsible for the atrocities committed against them," he stressed, noting that accountability for international crimes committed in Rwanda and the former Yugoslavia does not end with the enacting of sentences. The enforcement and review of sentences are also crucial components of accountability efforts and must be carried out by international standards. Noting the protective measures being undertaken by the Mechanism  including cooperation with relevant States to which protected witnesses have been resettled  he said that "victims and witnesses must be at the heart of our efforts to promote justice for the heinous crimes committed in Rwanda and former Yugoslavia".

The representative of the Republic of Korea , Council President for June, spoke in his national capacity to spotlight the "disturbing revisionism" making the Mechanism's relevance in ensuring transitional justice "more critical than ever". Stating that IRMCT should retain its authority as the "guardian of justice" for crimes committed in Rwanda and the former Yugoslavia until all convicts complete their sentences, he urged: "We must remember that justice has not yet been fully achieved." More than 40 convicts  senior leaders responsible for crimes against humanity in two regions  are still serving their sentences. "As the saying goes, justice must not only be done, but must also be seen to be done," he observed. And, while efficiency matters in the Mechanism's wind-down process, it must maintain its role in delivering accountability. Whether cases are tried by international tribunals or referred to national jurisdictions, he added, "the Mechanism bears the ultimate responsibility for ensuring justice is served in every single one".

MAJA POPOVIC, Minister for Justice of Serbia , expressing concern about the Mechanism's "gross disregard for all deadlines set by the Security Council", stressed that "it is expected to act as a judicial institution, not as a political actor." Welcoming its decision to refer a case to her country for a trial, she said that the judicial proceedings will be conducted with all guarantees for the proper administration of justice. "We still have no knowledge that the Mechanism is taking any measures regarding the conduct of its representatives who subjected potential witnesses to verbal attack and intimidation," she added. Highlighting her country's legal and judicial expertise to conduct all cases that may be referred to it, she called on the IRMCT to reconsider its decisions to not refer certain cases to Serbia.

Expressing concern that the Mechanism's court proceedings may lead to new political tensions and create a negative perception of its work, she stressed that it was established by the Council for prosecuting the persons responsible for gross violations of international humanitarian law committed on the territories of former Yugoslavia. However, after more than 30 years, the Mechanism has "focused all its activities on alleged illegal behaviour of minor significance". Rejecting statements about her country denying crimes or glorifying them, she said the Prosecutor's Office should focus on the need to establish the real truth about the crimes that were committed as well as the "objective legal qualification" of the nature of the conflict in former Yugoslavia.

The representative of Rwanda , while commending the Prosecutor's Office in tracking and accounting for all fugitives indicted by the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda, pointed out that "the most desirable outcome would have been to bring them to account before a court of law before they were deceased due to natural causes". He called for the transfer of the IRMCT's expertise to its national judiciary, highlighting the issue of direct case assistance to help track over 1,200 fugitives still at large. Turning to the IRMCT's future, he requested the relocation of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda's archive to his country, with the promise of accessibility and confidentiality. A trend of genocide denial undermined the judicial process of extraditing fugitives and contributed to the ongoing abuse by fugitives of the asylum-seeking process, he said, calling for such impunity to be strongly condemned.

On the issue of the enforcement of sentences and the relocation of acquitted and released persons, which should not be "an international burden", he called on the Council to consider that his country carry out the enforcement of sentences of Rwandan nationals. Turning to the matter of acquitted and released individuals residing in Niger, which the report describes as a humanitarian crisis, he reiterated that these Rwandans are welcome to return to their home country, adding that thousands of former perpetrators who completed their sentences now coexist peacefully with their fellow citizens.

The representative of Bosnia and Herzegovina said that the IRMCT marked a historic milestone in the pursuit of justice for the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda. With the final two fugitives confirmed deceased, there are now no core fugitives at large indicted by the ad hoc Tribunals. The Mechanisms also made progress in its other residual functions, including supervising the enforcement of sentences, providing assistance to national jurisdictions and monitoring cases referred to national jurisdictions. She highlighted that the establishment of 11 July as an International Day of Reflection and Commemoration of the 1995 Genocide in Srebrenica would not be possible without the contributions of the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia and the Mechanism in fighting impunity and ensuring accountability for genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes, and that of the International Court of Justice, in determining that these acts committed in Srebrenica constituted acts of genocide.

These verdicts, which prove that Serbia played a role in the wars in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia, "will forever stay written as an uncontested fact of the tragic chapter of the Balkans", she said, adding that the culture of remembering the victims of the genocide in Srebrenica is a culture of memory so that genocide is never repeated. Highlighting the work of the ad hoc Tribunals and the Mechanism in ensuring broad access to the rich archives, she said that the preservation of audio, video and written records surpasses the physical existence of testimonies and evidence of crimes committed. "They preserve a story of human suffering, hours and hours of unimaginable pain committed to a paper or a tape, voices from the grave echoing their warning for future generations," she stated. She further underscored that national prosecutions remain essential to achieving greater justice for the victims of war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide committed in Rwanda and the former Yugoslavia. Also, she noted that her country's cooperation with the IRMCT has been stable and complete, and its commitment to advance investigations and prosecutions.

The representative of Croatia voiced support for the IRMCT's efforts to preserve the legacy of the Tribunals on Rwanda and the former Yugoslavia, as well as the finalization of its work, underscoring that such efforts are crucial to counter revisionism, genocide denial and the glorification of war criminals. Croatia supports the potential establishment of an information centre for the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia in Zagreb. Pointing to the ongoing denial of the factual findings of the Tribunals and the IRMCT, he reiterated that the glorification of war criminals and the denial of committed crimes, including the genocide in Srebrenica, are unacceptable.

On the issue of cooperation, he noted that it is not a one-way process, calling for more meaningful and productive cooperation, as well as transparency and openness. Turning to Belgrade's insufficient cooperation with respect to the tracing of 1,797 missing Croatian persons and mortal remains, he stressed that the lack of political will in Serbia to share information and enable access to archives remains the greatest obstacle to progress in resolving these cases. Reiterating that resolving this issue was essential for closure and reconciliation, he urged the IRMCT to prioritize support for tracing missing persons and mortal remains during its remaining short mandate.

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Secretary-General's remarks to Call for Action: Urgent Humanitarian Response For Gaza

United Nations Secretary-General

11 June 2024

Your Majesty King Abdullah [ibn Al Hussein],

Your Excellency President [Abdel Fattah] el-Sisi,

Excellencies,

Distinguished guests,

Ladies and gentlemen,

Thank you for coming together for this urgent Call to Action for lifesaving relief to the people of Gaza [who] are under fire in the most dramatic circumstances.

It is now 8 months since the horrific Hamas terror attacks of 7 October and the abduction of Israeli men, women, and children to Gaza.

But 8 months of relentless suffering for Palestinian civilians in Gaza, the speed and scale of the carnage and killing in Gaza is beyond anything in my years as Secretary-General.

At least 1.7 million people - 75 per cent of Gaza's population - have been displaced, many times over by Israel military attacks.

Nowhere is safe.

Conditions are deplorable.

The public health situation is beyond crisis levels.

Gaza's hospitals lie in ruins.

Medical supplies and fuel are scarce or non-existent.

More than one million Palestinians in Gaza do not have enough clean drinking water and face desperate levels of hunger.

Over 50,000 children require treatment for acute malnutrition.

And despite the ocean of needs, at least half of all humanitarian aid missions are denied access, impeded, or cancelled due to operational or security reasons.

On top of all this, since the attack on the Rafah border crossing one month ago, the flow of critical humanitarian assistance to the people of Gaza - which was already woefully inadequate - has plummeted by two-thirds.

Excellencies,

In the face of this calamity, the world has tried its best to save lives.

And I want to express my gratitude to Egypt and Jordan for all their efforts.

Your Majesty, through you, allow me to thank the people of Jordan for the relief provided -- including through aid convoys, airdrops, and field hospitals.

We all appreciate immensely your personal commitment to mobilize the international community and your persistent call for a robust coordination mechanism for the unimpeded and safe flow of sufficient aid to the people of Gaza. I urge the international community to support Jordan's efforts as it undertakes its critical role assisting the people of Gaza and serving as a key regional humanitarian hub.

President el-Sisi, I also want to commend your critical leadership and that of the government and people of Egypt -- not only in supporting humanitarian relief to the people of Gaza in so many ways, but also for your pivotal role in seeking an end to this tragic conflict and building a foundation for sustainable peace.

And, of course, we all salute the brave humanitarians in Gaza working in nightmare conditions to stem the suffering.

Our Palestinian humanitarian colleagues, in particular, are working against enormous obstacles and near impossible conditions.

Imagine their lives and circumstances.

Showing up for work when their homes are destroyed and their loved ones killed.

Putting themselves in humanitarian convoys, even when they have been fired upon.

Without those courageous individuals, the aid operations in Gaza would collapse.

And UNRWA is the backbone of this humanitarian response, and it has suffered intolerably alongside the people it supports.

I express my deepest condolences to the families and friends of the 193 UNRWA staff members who have been killed.

There must be full accountability for each and every one of these deaths.

Attacks on UN personnel and premises are unacceptable.

Excellencies,

The horror must stop.

It is high time for a ceasefire along with the unconditional release of hostages.

I welcome the peace initiative recently outlined by President Biden and urge all parties to seize this opportunity and come to an agreement.

And I call on all parties to respect their obligations under international humanitarian law.

This includes facilitating the delivery of humanitarian aid both into and inside Gaza, as they have committed.

All available routes into Gaza must be operational.

And the land routes are absolutely crucial.

I also welcome all coordinated efforts to fully operationalize the mechanism to facilitate aid into Gaza as mandated by Security Council Resolution 2720.

The work of the Senior Humanitarian and Reconstruction Coordinator to accelerate and expand the rollout of the mechanism remains critical. I commend governments and people across the region and the world for supporting it.

The security of UNRWA and our humanitarian partners is vital to moving lifesaving aid over the border and where it needs to go within Gaza.

Deliveries require safe routes and effective deconfliction mechanisms to ensure their security.

They require unimpeded access for security and communications equipment, commensurate with the risks of working in a war zone.

They require immediate efforts to clear routes inside Gaza, which are littered with mines and unexploded ordnance.

Civilians must be allowed to seek safety. And civilians and the infrastructure they rely on must never be militarized or targeted.

Excellencies,

I also call for the world to stand united to safeguard UNRWA in the face of outrageous and relentless attacks.

UNRWA's role will remain critical not only during the conflict, but afterwards.

Over a million deeply traumatized children in Gaza need psychosocial support and the safety and hope their schools used to provide.

Around 60 per cent of all residential buildings and at least 80 per cent of commercial facilities have been damaged by Israeli bombardment. Health facilities and educational institutions are in rubble.

Only UNRWA has the capacity, skills, and networks needed to support the Palestinian people to face the immense challenge on health, on education and so much more.

Excellencies,

Ultimately, the solution to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza is political.

The only way forward is through a political solution that opens a path to sustained peace, based on two states, Palestine and Israel, living side by side in peace and security, on the basis of the pre- 1967 lines and the relevant United Nations resolutions, previous agreements and international law, with Jerusalem as capital of both states.

Let us keep working to make that a reality - as we work to answer today's call to action for Palestinians in Gaza in such profound and immediate need.

And I thank you.

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At G7 Italy, Biden to push plans to deal with Russian frozen assets, Chinese overcapacity

By Patsy Widakuswara June 11, 2024

The last time leaders of the world's seven richest economies met, at the G7 summit in Hiroshima, Japan in 2023, they denounced China's rising economic security threats and vowed to support Ukraine against Russia's 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 Ukraine's war efforts, a source familiar with Biden's 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 Beijing's 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 G7's 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 party's 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.

It's a more aggressive plan than the EU agreed to in May, which would provide Ukraine with the interest income as it is generated annually. It's also riskier  there's 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 bloc's 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 Biden's 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 Beijing's "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, it's 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 China's competitive edge.

AI, migration and international development

Italy's 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 Meloni's G7 presidency. In January, she launched the "Mattei Plan," an international investment initiative to boost development in the continent, in line with the G7's 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 Beijing's 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.

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UN Chief puts Israeli military, Hamas on blacklist for harming children

By Margaret Besheer June 11, 2024

The United Nation's secretary-general has included Israel's military and Hamas on the annual blacklist of perpetrators who harm children.

"I am appalled by the dramatic increase and unprecedented scale and intensity of grave violations against children in the Gaza Strip, Israel and the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem," Antonio Guterres said in the report, which was sent to U.N. Security Council members on Tuesday but has not yet been published.

The annual Children and Armed Conflict report names and shames those who recruit, kill, maim or abduct children, commit sexual violence against them, deny them humanitarian assistance, or attack schools and hospitals. Guterres' special representative Virginia Gamba is mandated by the Security Council to work to prevent and end these violations.

In the report, obtained by VOA, the United Nations said it has verified 8,009 grave violations against Israeli and Palestinian children, but the process is ongoing and slow due to the conflict. Of them, 113 were against Israeli children, and the rest were against Palestinian children in Israel and the Palestinian territories.

The report says most child casualties in Gaza from October 7 to the end of last year were caused by "the use of explosive weapons in populated areas by Israeli armed and security forces."

In addition to Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad was also listed. Both groups are listed for the first time, accused of killing, maiming and abducting children.

The report covers the period from January to December 2023. Hamas carried out its terror attack in Israel on October 7, 2023, triggering the war that is now in its ninth month. The report covers only the casualties reported or verified in 2023.

This is the first time either Israel or Hamas has been included on the report's blacklist, despite the killing and maiming of hundreds of children in at least three previous wars in Gaza.

Israel's armed and security forces are listed for the killing and maiming of children and for attacks on schools and hospitals.

"The inclusion of Israeli forces on the U.N.'s 'list of shame' is long overdue and reflects overwhelming evidence of grave violations against children," Jo Becker, children's rights advocacy director at Human Rights Watch, told VOA in an email.

Israeli officials have expressed outrage at being included on the list, which also includes the Taliban and terror groups al-Qaida and Islamic State.

A U.N. spokesperson said last week that Israel was notified of its inclusion "as a courtesy." The country promptly sought to get ahead of the report's publication, dismissing it as more anti-Israel action by the United Nations.

"Today, the U.N. added itself to the blacklist of history when it joined those who support the Hamas murderers," Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Friday. "The IDF is the most moral army in the world. No delusional U.N. decision will change that."

His United Nations ambassador went further, publishing the video of part of his phone call with Guterres' chief of staff.

"I'm utterly shocked and disgusted by this shameful decision of the secretary-general," Gilad Erdan said in the call on Friday, adding that it would reward Hamas and extend the war.

Russia makes blacklist again

Last year, Russia's armed forces landed on the blacklist for their war in Ukraine. This year, they remained listed despite a significant drop in the number of violations attributed to them. The United Nations verified the killing of 80 children and the maiming of 339 others attributed to Russian forces and affiliated groups.

A senior U.N. official said a decrease was not enough. Russia must continue this trend for at least a year and also sign a joint action plan with Gamba's office to be delisted.

No party previously on the list was delisted this year.

Both sides in Sudan conflict make list

The situation in Sudan, which devolved into brutal violence in April 2023 when two rival generals went to war in a power struggle that continues today, has seen the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces both land on this year's blacklist.

The report found a dramatic increase in 2023 in the military recruitment and use of children in Sudan, as well as their killing, maiming and sexual abuse. Attacks on schools and hospitals were also reported.

"I urge all parties to take preventive and mitigating actions to avoid and minimize harm and better protect children, including to refrain from the use of explosive devices," Guterres said in the report.

The 2023 report verified nearly 33,000 grave violations committed against the world's children in several countries experiencing conflict  an increase of 21% over the previous year. There were 11,649 confirmed child killings and maimings. Recruitment is again on the rise, after trending downward for the past two years.

Grave violations were reported in countries including Afghanistan, Burkina Faso, Colombia, Congo, Myanmar, Somalia and Syria, among others.

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Both Israel, Hamas accused of possible war crimes in hostage release operation

By Lisa Schlein June 11, 2024

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 Israel's 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 commissioner's 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 Gaza's 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, Israel's 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 Israel's 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 Israel's 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.

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The San Francisco Pride Parade marches down Market Street in June 2023. San Francisco leaders on Tuesday declared the city a sanctuary for transgender people. Adam Pardee/Special to The Chronicle

San Francisco leaders declared the city a sanctuary for transgender people Tuesday, becoming one of the first in the nation to do so amid a push by some conservative states to limit trans rights.

The Board of Supervisors on Tuesday voted unanimously to declare San Francisco a sanctuary city for transgender, gender nonconforming, nonbinary and Two-Spirit people  a Pan-Indian term that describes those who are neither male nor female  to provide a place of safety for that community and providers of gender-affirming care.

Sacramento and West Hollywood have also declared themselves a sanctuary to transgender people, but San Francisco is the first major city in the country to call itself a safe place for transgender and gender nonconforming people.

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The resolution takes its name from San Franciscos sanctuary policy for immigrants, which bars city authorities from assisting federal immigration officials in most circumstances. The transgender sanctuary resolution is largely symbolic but will be a guiding document for law enforcement in San Francisco in dealing with outside agencies on transgender issues.

San Francisco is also home to the worlds first Transgender Cultural District, which commemorates the area around Comptons Cafeteria, when a group of trans women led a riot in response to transphobic harassment from police in 1966. Thats three years before the famous Stonewall Riots, an important moment of civil disobedience and protest by members of the LGBTQ community in New York.

The move comes amid a push in recent years by some conservative states to limit the rights of transgender and gender nonconforming people across the United States. In 2024 alone, the resolution says, more than 500 pieces of legislation targeting the LGBTQ+ community have been introduced across 40 states.



A majority of these laws specifically target transgender people, including youth, said Supervisor Rafael Mandelman, who represents the Castro. As other cities and states turn up the hate, places like San Francisco need to turn up the love.

Some of these bills aim to criminalize gender-affirming healthcare, restrict trans peoples access to public bathrooms, force teachers to out their students and prevent trans youth from participating in school activities.



The resolution says nearly half of the bills introduced this year specifically target transgender youth and their families, resulting in reports from attorneys general in Tennessee, Missouri, Indiana, and Texas that demand access to medical records to conduct investigations and threaten patients.

California is among only a handful of states where gender-affirming care is not restricted, and where there is a ban on excluding gender-affirming care from insurance policies.

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State lawmakers also recently passed a bill protecting individuals seeking sanctuary from out-of-state prosecution and explicitly prohibits law enforcement agencies in the state from knowingly making or participating in the arrest or extradition of a person based on another states law against receiving gender-affirming health care.
Analysts see rising war threat in China's new South China Sea policies

By Xiaoshan Xue June 11, 2024

Military experts are warning of an increased risk of war with China following recent announcements by Beijing providing for more aggressive enforcement of its claims to disputed regions of the South China Sea.

Late last month, China announced its coast guard will be empowered to investigate and detain for up to 60 days "foreigners who endanger China's national security and interests" in the disputed waters. The policy will take effect on June 15.

And on June 8, it announced it would permit the Philippines to deliver supplies and evacuate personnel from an outpost on the disputed Second Thomas Shoal, which has been determined by an international tribunal to lie within Philippine waters, only if it first notifies Beijing.

The Philippine National Security Council replied that the country will continue to maintain and supply its outposts in the South China Sea without seeking permission from any other country.

In a formal statement under the council's letterhead, national security adviser Eduardo Ano dismissed the suggestion as"absurd, ridiculous and unacceptable."

According to a June 10 report in the South China Morning Post, a survey released by independent polling agency OCTA Research showed that 73% of Filipinos support further military action to safeguard the Philippines' territorial rights, including expanded naval patrols and the dispatch of additional troops.

Philippine media believe the new procedures will empower the Chinese coast guard to "arbitrarily" arrest Filipinos in their own waters. China's claims to almost the entire sea reach into the internationally recognized economic zones of several Southeast Asian countries.

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. called the new rules "totally unacceptable" and said he will take all necessary measures to "protect citizens" and continue to"defend the country's territory."

In his keynote speech at the Shangri-La Security Dialogue in Singapore on May 31, the president pointed out that if a Filipino was killed in a South China Sea conflict with China, it would"almost certainly" cross a red line and come "very close" to what the Philippines defines as an act of war.

John C. Aquilino, former head of the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, testified before the U.S. Congress last month that Manila could invoke the 1951 U.S.-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty in such a case.

Bob Savic, head of international trade at the Global Policy Institute in London, said last week that this could bring the United States and China into a direct conflict.

"The trigger for the First World War occurred on June 28, 1914, with the assassination of Austrian Archduke Franz Ferdinand in a country in Southeast Europe. This time, the trigger could be the death of a Filipino sailor in the tropical waters of Southeast Asia," he wrote in an article published in the Asia Times.

He believes if Manila is forced to request U.S. assistance under the Mutual Defense Treaty, it is conceivable that China Coast Guard ships would quickly confront U.S. warships maintaining freedom of navigation in the region. \"The U.S. and China must ensure they don't sleepwalk into a repeat of the 1914 tragedy in the second half of June 2024 or, indeed, at any point in the future," Savic wrote.

'It might trigger escalation'

Andrea Chloe Wong, a nonresident research fellow at the Institute for Indo-Pacific Affairs, told VOA at a June 6 seminar hosted by the National Bureau of Asian Research that if the Mutual Defense Treaty is invoked, "it might trigger escalation or conflict between the Philippines and China."

The safety of Filipino personnel has become the focus of recent rounds of South China Sea disputes. On June 7, the Philippines accused a Chinese coast guard ship of ramming a Philippine ship, deterring the evacuation of a sick soldier from a grounded warship which serves as a Philippine military outpost on the Second Thomas Shoal.

Romeo Brawner, chief of staff of the armed forces of the Philippines, told reporters June 4 that Chinese coast guard officers had seized some food that a plane dropped for Philippine naval personnel aboard the aging warship. He also released video of the incident, AP reported.

Despite the rising tension, Oriana Skylar Mastro, a Center Fellow at Stanford University's Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies, told VOA that the possibility of World War III breaking out in the South China Sea is not high.

She believes that China will not choose to fight a war in the South China Sea at this time because they know they would lose.

"They can't project power across those kinds of distances yet. When I talk to the PLA [People's Liberation Army, China's principal military force], they say the only reason they haven't declared internal waters in the Spratly [chain] is because there's no way they can enforce that."

US promises assets, say reports

The United States Coast Guard has promised to send assets to the South China Sea to help Manila uphold sovereign rights in its exclusive economic zone, ABS-CBN News said Tuesday, citing the Philippine Coast Guard.

In a statement, the Philippine Coast Guard said the U.S. Coast Guard will deploy its North Pacific Coast Guard following a proposal by Philippine Admiral Ronnie Gil Gavan. Gavan called for a "greater deployment" in the high seas "to address the forthcoming threat" posed by China's threat to arrest foreigners inside what it claims as its maritime boundaries.

In a research report released last month by the National Bureau of Asian Research, Michael Shoebridge of the Strategic Analysis Australia pointed out that collective action by the Philippines and its allies could effectively reduce risks in the South China Sea.

"The risk of such collective action escalating into conflict is real. However, it could be mitigated by the militaries clearly acting within international law and coordinating a united political response to demonstrate and communicate this," he wrote. "That would counter Chinese efforts"to intimidate others and cast such lawful action as aggression."

Shoebridge, who also attended the National Bureau of Asian Research's June 6 seminar, said at the meeting that "unless we cause Chinese policy and action to fail, we are leaving all the leverage with Beijing, and we are waiting for our servicemen and women to be killed by the PLA. And that's not the future that I want."

Adrianna Zhang contributed to this report.

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UN 'hopeful' about Taliban's presence at 'Doha III' meeting on Afghanistan

By Ayaz Gul June 11, 2024

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 that's a concern for the United Nations. We don't 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 Afghanistan's 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, women's 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 Afghanistan's legitimate rulers, and the country remains under U.N. sanctions.

Ceesay said Tuesday that the Taliban's restrictions on women's 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. That's 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.

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UN chief demands release of aid workers in Yemen

By VOA News June 11, 2024

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 they'd 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. Children's 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.

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Nigerian military denies maltreating Boko Haram survivors

By Timothy Obiezu June 11, 2024

A new report by rights group Amnesty International accuses Nigeria's military of inhumane treatment toward women and girls who survived Boko Haram. Nigerian defense authorities reject the report's findings, saying that military personnel operate within the scope of international laws of conflict.

A statement said the military has "self-regulating mechanisms to address any proven case of misconduct" by its operatives.

The report from Amnesty International, titled "Help Us Build Our Lives," said women and girls who survived Boko Haram captivity were subjected to further suffering, including prolonged, unlawful detention by the military and inadequate support by authorities for them to rebuild their lives.

"We still stand by what we have said," said Isa Sanusi, Amnesty International's Nigeria director. "We believe that if somebody is saying that what you're saying is not true, he should provide evidence. This research took more than a year and it is based on interviews with over 126 people."

The Amnesty report said girls who were not detained were left to fend for themselves in camps where they sometimes reunite with former or so-called "repentant" Boko Haram husbands  putting them at risk of continued abuse from the men.

"These girls were picked when they were children," said Sanusi. "They didn't give their consent, they were forced. And what they went through is more or less human trafficking and abduction, therefore it is completely based on illegitimacy and it is unacceptable that they will be kept in government-run camps and pretend that they're married or something. Even if the girls say that they want to live with them, an investigation should be done in a free atmosphere without coercion."

Nigerian troops have been fighting Boko Haram insurgents in northeast Nigeria since 2009. The group's rebellion has killed more than 35,000 people and displaced millions, according to the United Nations.

The Nigerian military's approach and tactics have often sparked criticism.

Nigerian authorities said the military will engage with Amnesty International but said authorities were "unperturbed by such self-serving statements targeted at dampening the morale of troops."

Security analyst Senator Iroegbu says the matter is a delicate topic and must be treated with caution.

"Anything associated with Boko Haram is a sensitive matter, there are a lot of misgivings over this so-called rehabilitation and reintegration of Boko Haram terrorists," said Iroegbu. "For the military, they're also in a very delicate situation. Once these survivors are rescued there's a detention facility where they're being vetted. Now the challenge is how long are they being vetted? The military in the first place are not even trained for the role they're playing."

Last year, a Reuters news agency investigation accused the military of secretly running a mass abortion program for girls and women rescued from Boko Haram.

Authorities set up an investigation into the matter but Amnesty International says the findings are shrouded in secrecy.

Iroegbu says sometimes overzealous personnel are to blame for the misconduct.

"The military as an institution might have committed to observing human rights but there are some individual soldiers that might have committed rights violations in their own actions," said Iroegbu, the security analyst. "What I expected the military [to do] is say, 'Okay, we'll investigate.'"

Amnesty says before releasing the report, it presented Nigeria's federal and state authorities as well as the United Nations with its findings.

The military referred to Amnesty International's sources as "intrinsically unreliable."

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US imposes sanctions on 3 individuals in Guyana

By VOA News June 11, 2024

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, Mohamed's Enterprise. Guyanese news media reports say all three have previously denied wrongdoing.

The State Department says Mohamed's 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 Guyana's minister of home affairs, and the current permanent secretary to the Ministry of Labor, misused her position to assist Mohamed's Enterprise and Azruddin Mohamed in exchange for cash and high-value gifts.

Gold is one of Guyana's main exports and the country's gold is sold and traded on international markets, including the U.S., Canada, United Arab Emirates and the European Union.

"Today's action underscores our commitment to holding accountable those who seek to exploit Guyana's 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.

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Russo-Ukraine War - 11 June 2024 - Day 839

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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 situation in some areas of the front remains tense but under control. So far, 90 combat clashes have taken place. Ukrainian defenders counter numerous attempts of the enemy to attack and advance deep into Ukrainian territory, giving them an effective fire effect, exhaustion across the entire line of combat.

Defense Forces rocket troops and artillery hit 20 areas of concentration of the enemy's personnel during the day.

During the day, Russian forces launched three missile strikes on the territory of Ukraine (with the use of four missiles) and 55 aviation strikes (in particular, dropped 91 KAB), took 640 kamikadze drones. In addition, the Russian occupiers carried out more than 2,800 shelling positions of Ukrainian troops and settlements with various types of weapons.

In the Kharkiv direction, Russian forces attacked the positions of Ukrainian defenders five times in the areas of Lipciv and Vovchansk. All attacks are called off. The Russian aggressor was unsuccessful, the situation is under control.

In the Kupyans komu direction, the situation has not changed significantly, the tension remains in the area of Berestovoye, where the battle is currently ongoing. Intentions of the Russian opponent to advance towards synkivka have failed. The situation is under the control of Defense Forces.

In the Lyman direction, Russia was active in the areas of Druzhelyubivka, Nevsky, Grekivka, Torsky and Serebryansky Forest. Thirteen attacks have been successfully completed. Three clashes are still going. Ukrainian defenders firmly hold positions and do not let Russian forces move forward. The enemy, according to preliminary information, lost 69 people killed and wounded today. A few more Russian occupants surrendered to captivity.

Since the beginning of the day in the Kramatorsky direction Russian zagarbniks attacked Ukrainian positions 10 times in the areas of Chasovoye Yar, Ivanivsky, Klishchievka and Andriyivka. The situation is intense. Russian forces do not stop trying to advance in the area of Chasovoye Yar, where a Russian assault is ongoing. During the day, the enemy lost 53 people killed and wounded. Also destroyed a tank, a car and a warehouse of PMM. In addition, four cannons of Russian terrorists were damaged.

The hottest situation today in the Pokrovsky direction, where Russian forces attacked Ukrainian positions 24 times, with the greatest activity in the Novooleksandrivka area. 12 attacks carried out by Ukrainian defenders. Tense remains the situation near novooleksandrivka and sokola, where still 12 boezitknen . Ukrainian defenders keep Russian forces down. , taking a substantial amount of losses. According to preliminary information, for the current 24 hours, the zagarbniki lost 240 people in this direction, 97 of them - irrevocably. Two combat armored vehicles, a car, two cannons and a ground control station of the BPLA were destroyed. The armored machine and five artsistem of the Russian forces were damaged.

In the Kurakhiv direction, there are currently four Russian attempts to push Ukrainian soldiers out of positions in the areas of Krasnogorivka, Paraskoviyivka and Karlivka. The battle is on.

In the Vremivs komu direction, Russian forces, supported by aviation, twice since the beginning of the day unsuccessfully attacked in the areas of Staromayors kogo and Urozaynogo.

In the Orihivsky direction, the situation did not change significantly, six combat clashes took place, with the greatest Russian forces activity in the area of Small Tokmachka. The situation is tense, measures are being taken to stabilize the environment.

The activity of Russian occupiers was not successful in Gulyaipilsky and Pridniprovsky directions. Loss of positions and territories Ukrainian warriors did not allow.

In the rest of the directions, the situation has not experienced significant changes.

The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported that the units of the Sever Group of Forces continue to advance into the depths of the enemy defences and inflicted fire damage on manpower and hardware of the AFU 42nd Mechanised Brigade and the 36th Marine Brigade close to Glubokoye and Tikhoye (Kharkov region).

Two counter-attacks by assault detachments of the 13th Ukrainian National Guard Brigade have been also repelled.

The AFU losses were up to 265 Ukrainian troops, two motor vehicles, one German-made 155-mm Panzerhaubitzer self-propelled artillery system, one 152-mm Akatsiya self-propelled artillery system, one 152-mm D-20 howitzer, one 122-mm Grad MLRS combat vehicle, and one Nota electronic warfare station. In addition, one AFU field ammunition depot has been destroyed.

The units of the Zapad Group of Forces has liberated Artyomovka (Lugansk People's Republic) and Timkovka (Kharkov region).

In addition, Russian troops have launched the attacks on AFU 3rd assault, 14th, 28th mechanised brigades close to Kupyansk (Kharkov region) and Nevskoye (Lugansk People's Republic).

The AFU losses were up to 560 Ukrainian troops, five motor vehicles, one Polish-made 155-mm Krab self-propelled artillery system, one U.S.-made 155-mm M777 howitzer, two 122-mm D-30 howitzers, and two electronic warfare stations. Two AFU artillery ammunition depots have been eliminated.

The units of the Yug Group of Forces have improved the situation along the front line and inflicted fire damage on manpower and hardware of 54th, 93rd mechanised, 79th air assault brigades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine near Konstantinovka, Andreyevka, and Razdolovka (Donetsk People's Republic).

The AFU losses were up to 740 troops, two armoured personnel carriers, 12 motor vehicles, one U.S.-made 155-mm M777 howitzer, one 152-mm 2A65 Msta-B howitzer, four 152-mm D-20 howitzers, one 122-mm 2S1 Gvozdika self-propelled artillery system, and two 105-mm U.S. M119 howitzers. In addition, three AFU ammunition depots have been destroyed.

The units of the Tsentr Group of Forces have improved the tactical situation and inflicted fire defeat on 24th, 28th mechanised, 68th jaeger brigades of the AFU and the 109th Territorial Defence Brigade near Ozaryanovka, Rozovka, Mayorsk, and Umanskoye (Donetsk People's Republic).

In addition, five counter-attacks of AFU 23rd, 110th mechanised, and 142nd infantry brigades have been repelled.

The enemy losses were up to 350 Ukrainian troops, one U.S.-made Bradley infantry fighting vehicle, one U.S.-made 155-mm M777 howitzer, one 2A65 Msta-B howitzer, one 152-mm D-20 howitzer, and three 122-mm D-30 howitzers.

The units of the Vostok Group of Forces have captured more advantageous lines and inflicted fire damage on manpower and hardware of the AFU 58th Motorised Infantry Brigade near Urozhaynoye (Donetsk People's Republic).

The enemy losses were up to 135 Ukrainian troops, one tank, five motor vehicles, one U.S.-made 155-mm M198 howitzer, and one 152-mm 2A65 Msta-B howitzer.

The units of the Dnepr Group of Forces have hit manpower and hardware of the 128th Mountain Assault Brigade, the 14th Infantry Brigade, and the 37th Marine Brigade of the AFU near Kamenskoye, Nesteryanka (Zaporozhye region) and Tyaginka (Kherson region).

The AFU losses were up to 105 Ukrainian troops, eight motor vehicles, one 152-mm 2A65 Msta-B howitzer, two 152-mm D-20 howitzers, and one 105-mm U.S.-made M119 gun.

Operational-Tactical Aviation, unmanned aerial vehicles, Missile Troops and Artillery of the Russian Groups of Forces engaged AFU manpower and hardware clusters in 118 areas.

In addition, Su-27 and Su-25 aircraft of the Ukrainian Air Force have been destroyed at airfields of departure.

Air defence facilities have shot down 45 unmanned aerial vehicles, two French-made Hammer aerial bombs, and ten U.S.-made HIMARS MLRS projectiles.

In total, 613 airplanes and 276 helicopters, 25,559 unmanned aerial vehicles, 528 air defence missile systems, 16,312 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,332 combat vehicles equipped with MLRS, 10,332 field artillery cannons and mortars, as well as 22,445 units of special military equipment have been destroyed during the special military operation.

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Russo-Ukraine War - 12 June 2024 - Day 840

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 Russian Ground Forces (RGF) have likely achieved a limited break-in of an eastern suburb of Chasiv Yar, a town located approximately 8km to the west of Bakhmut in eastern Ukraine. They have also likely taken control of Ivanivske, a village southeast of Chasiv Yar. Heavy fighting is reported in the urban areas, with the Ukrainian Armed Forces (UAF) contesting RGF advances. Russian forces likely remain on the east side of a canal that runs through the city which presents an obstacle to their advance.

It is highly likely that the RGF is employing a dismounted infantry approach to clearing the suburbs, and that the Russian casualty rate is high. The UAF report an artillery-centric assault on the city with thermobaric munitions in use. Chasiv Yar is likely of value to Russia due to its strategic position on a plateau, as well as its historic use as a logistics hub for the UAF.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that so far, there have been 108 combat clashes.

The hottest situation remains in the Pokrovsky direction. The situation in the areas of combat is complex, however it is controlled by the Defense Forces of Ukraine.

During the day, Russian forces made three missile strikes on the territory of Ukraine with the use of ten missiles and 34 aviation strikes with the use of 48 cabiv, zadiv 513 kamikadze drones. Conducted 2874 shelling on the positions of Ukrainian troops and settlements using different types of weapons.

There were five combat clashes in the Kharkiv direction. The Russian attempts to approach Ukrainian positions in the areas of Liptsiv, Vovchansk and the Pacific were unsuccessful.

In the Kupyansky direction, the number of fighting has increased to 13. The Russian occupiers carried out active offensive actions in the districts of Sinkivka, Petropavlivka, Novoosinovogo, Pishany and Meat fry. Nine Russian attacks ended in misfortune, the fights continue in the areas of Petropavlivka, Pi any and Maasozarivka. The situation is under control.

According to preliminary information, Russian forces lost 31 people dead and injured and two cars in the Kupyansky direction.

In the Lyman direction, the Russian aggressor attacked Ukrainian positions ten times in the areas of Druzelubivka, Terniv, Nevsky and Serebryanskogo Forest. Nine attacks were successfully repelled by Ukrainian defenders. The fight is ongoing in the area of Druzelubivki.

A tense situation in the Siversky direction. Russian forces tried 14 times to push Ukrainian defenders out of defensive positions with assault actions. In the areas of Spirnogo and Rozdolivka, fighting continues. Defense Forces are taking measures to prevent Russian forces from moving deep into Ukraine.

In the Kramatorsky direction, ten Russian attempts to advance near the Time Jar, Ivanivsky and Andriyivka were unsuccessful. The situation is under the control of defenders of Ukraine.

The hottest remains the setting on the Pokrovsky direction. Russia does not abandon trying to infiltrate Ukrainian combat order in the areas of Kalinove, Novooleksandrivka, Evgenivka, Novopokrovskke and Novoselivka Persha. The situation has escalated, clashes continue. Russian occupiers will suffer losses. According to preliminary information, the Russian aggressor lost more than 180 people dead and injured during the day. Ukrainian defenders destroyed three cannons and five cars. In addition, one tank, three cannons and a Russian enemy's car were damaged.

In the Kurakhiv direction, the number of Russian forces attacks for today increased to 11. Russian immigrants tried to expel Defense Forces units from occupied positions in the areas of Netaylovy, Krasnogorivka, Georgiyivka and Paraskovyivka. Tense remains the situation in the area of krasnogorivki, where the occupiers show the most activity.

In the vremivs komu direction, five assault actions of the opponent near the water and harvest did not have success.

In the Orihiv and Pridniprovsky directions, the situation remained without significant changes. Just since the beginning of the day, Russia has tried five times to knock out Ukrainian defenders from occupied positions in the areas of Mala Tokmacka and Krynyok. Loss of positions and territories is not allowed.

In the rest of the directions, there were no significant changes in the environment.

Ukrainian Air Force and Missile and Artillery units have since earlier this day attacked three Russian weapons, artillery system and personnel and military equipment concentration area.

The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported that that morning, the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation delivered a group strike by long-range air- and ground-based high-precision weapons and unmanned aerial vehicles at flight lines and infrastructure of the AFU Air Force base, as well as one temporary deployment area of foreign mercenaries, preparation sites of uncrewed surface vehicles, ammunition and explosives depots.

All the assigned targets have been engaged.

Units of the Sever Group of Forces continued advancing to the depth of the enemy's defences. Losses were inflicted on formations of the AFU 42nd Mechanised Brigade, 57th Motorised Infantry Brigade, 82nd Air Assault Brigade, 125th, and 127th territorial defence brigades near Neskuchnoye, Liptsy, Tikhoye, Izbitskoye, Zovtnevoye, Volchansk, and Staritsa (Kharkov region). Six counter-attacks launched by assault detachments of the AFU 36th Marines Brigade and 17th National Guard Brigade were repelled.

The AFU losses amounted to up to 190 Ukrainian troops, four motor vehicles, one Polish-made 155-mm Krab self-propelled artillery system, one 152-mm D-20 howitzer, and one BM-21 Grad MLRS combat vehicle.

Four AFU ammunition depots were destroyed.

Units of the Zapad Group of Forces improved the tactical situation along the front lines and inflicted losses on manpower and hardware of the AFU 3rd Assault Brigade, 14th, 43rd mechanised brigades, 1st, and 13th national guard brigades near Kupyansk, Petropavlovka, Zagoruykovka (Kharkov region), Stelmakhovka (Lugansk People's Republic), and Serebryansky forestry.

The AFU losses amounted to up to 500 Ukrainian troops, three pickup trucks, one UK-made 155-mm Braveheart self-propelled artillery system, one 152-mm 2S3 Akatsiya self-propelled artillery system, one 152-mm D-20 howitzer, two 122-mm 2S1 Gvozdika self-propelled artillery systems, and one U.S.-made 105-mm M101 howitzer.

Units of the Yug Group of Forces improved the tactical situation along the front lines and inflicted losses on manpower and hardware of the AFU 30th, 33rd, 41st mechanised brigades, 56th Motorised Infantry Brigade, 79th Air Assault Brigade, and 46th Airmobile Brigade near Zaliznyanskoye, Orekhovo-Vasilyevka, Grigorovka, Chasov Yar, Artyom, Katerinovka, and Kurakhovo (Donetsk People's Republic). Two counter-attacks launched by assault detachments of the AFU 10th Mountain Assault Brigade were repelled.

The AFU losses amounted to up to 600 Ukrainian troops, two armoured fighting vehicles, 10 motor vehicles, one U.S.-made 155-mm M777 howitzer, one U.S.-made 155-mm M198 howitzer, one 152-mm D-20 howitzer, and one U.S.-made 105-mm M119 howitzer.

Five AFU ammunition depots were destroyed.

Units of the Tsentr Group of Forces improved the tactical situation and inflicted losses on formations of the AFU 23rd, 110th mechanised brigades, 25th Airborne Brigade, 144th Infantry Brigade, and 109th Territorial Defence Brigade near Novoaleksandrovka, Novopokrovskoye, Progress, Novgorodskoye, Kalinovo, and Vozdvizhenka (Donetsk People's Republic).

Seven counter-attacks launched by assault detachments of the AFU 24th, 47th mechanised brigades, and 78th Air Assault Brigade were repelled.

The AFU losses amounted to up to 350 Ukrainian troops, one tank, two infantry fighting vehicles, one U.S.-made 155-mm M777 howitzer, and one 122-mm D-30 howitzer.

Units of the Vostok Group of Forces took more advantageous lines and inflicted losses on manpower and hardware of the AFU 21st National Guard Brigade, 123rd, and 102nd territorial defence brigades near Neskuchnoye, Velikaya Novosyolka (Donetsk People's Republic), and Gulai Pole (Zaporozhye region).

The AFU losses amounted to up to 115 Ukrainian troops, two infantry fighting vehicles, six motor vehicles, and two Czech-made 122-mm MLRS combat vehicles.

Units of the Dnepr Group of Forces inflicted losses on manpower and hardware of the AFU 128th Mountain Assault Brigade and 35th Marines Brigade near Kamenskoye, Pyatikhatki, Stepovoye (Zaporozhye region), and Lvovo (Kherson region).

The AFU losses amounted to up to 80 Ukrainian troops, three motor vehicles, one U.S.-made 155-mm M109 Paladin self-propelled artillery system, and two U.S.-made 155-mm M777 howitzers.

Operational-Tactical Aviation, unmanned aerial vehicles, Missile Troops and Artillery of the Russian Groups of Forces engaged AFU manpower and hardware clusters in 113 areas during the day.

Air defence units shot down nine U.S.-made ATACMS operational-tactical missiles, two French-made Hammer guided aerial bombs, three Olkha MLRS projectiles, and 61 unmanned aerial vehicles.

In total, 613 airplanes and 276 helicopters, 25,620 unmanned aerial vehicles, 528 air defence missile systems, 16,319 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,335 combat vehicles equipped with MLRS, 10,372 field artillery guns and mortars, as well as 22,486 units of special military equipment have been destroyed during the special military operation.

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Australia locks down farms as avian influenza spreads

By Phil Mercer June 11, 2024

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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Biden-Harris Administration Announces Preliminary Terms with Rocket Lab to Expand Production of Compound Semiconductors that Power Spacecrafts and Satellites

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Tuesday, June 11, 2024

Office of Public Affairs

publicaffairs@doc.gov

Today, the Biden-Harris Administration announced that the Department of Commerce and Rocket Lab, the parent company of space power provider SolAero Technologies Corp., have signed a non-binding preliminary memorandum of terms (PMT) to provide up to $23.9M in direct funding under the CHIPS and Science Act. The proposed CHIPS investment would help create a more robust and resilient supply of space-grade solar cells that power spacecrafts and satellites. The modernization and expansion project would increase Rocket Lab's compound semiconductor production by 50% within the next three years - helping to meet the growing national security and commercial demand for these solar cells in the United States. The proposed investment would create over 100 direct manufacturing jobs.

"Solar cells are important for keeping our communication and space technology powered and operational, and this proposed award would help our military, NASA, and our commercial space industry have access to the specialty semiconductors they need to keep our country safe and continue to lead in scientific discoveries and space commerce," said U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo."Thanks to President Biden's leadership and this proposed CHIPS investment, the United States is meeting the growing demand for these semiconductors while helping to diversify America's chip manufacturing capabilities and creating new, quality jobs for workers in New Mexico."

Headquartered in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Rocket Lab is one of two companies in the United States that specialize in the production of highly efficient and radiation resistant compound semiconductors called space-grade solar cells - devices used in space to convert light to electricity. Rocket Lab's space-grade solar cells power important U.S. space programs, such as missile awareness systems and exploratory science missions, including the James Webb Space Telescope, NASA's Artemis lunar explorations, the Ingenuity Mars Helicopter, and the Mars Insight Lander. Rocket Lab's technology also serves a growing commercial satellite market. As the United States and other nations expand their technological presence in space, particularly with Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites that provide for more resiliency in space, there is a need for more space-grade solar cells to enable the industry's transition. Space-based defense systems are also important components for our economic and national security, and are reliant on solar power.

"With today's announcement, the President marks another important chapter for America's semiconductor leadership, bringing the most innovative solar cell technology to New Mexico and boosting our leadership in space technology," said White House National Economic Advisor Lael Brainard.

"Solar cells are increasingly important to maintaining United States' leadership in space," said Under Secretary of Commerce for Standards and Technology and National Institute of Standards and Technology Director Laurie E. Locascio."Today's announcement demonstrates a commitment to revitalizing all areas of America's semiconductor industry alongside the research and development that makes these advances possible."

"Semiconductors are central to modern life, to our economy, and to America's future. We are proud to be strengthening that future with the support of the CHIPS Office by expanding our production facilities to meet growing demand for the semiconductors that power the nation's most critical science, defense and commercial space missions," said Rocket Lab founder and CEO Peter Beck. "For more than two decades our team has played an important role in the domestic production of semiconductors. This program is a continuation of our commitment to ensuring resilient U.S. supply chains and creating highly productive local jobs."

In New Mexico, Rocket Lab will partner with New Space New Mexico (NSNM), a 501(c)(3) organization founded to accelerate the pace of innovation in New Mexico alongside government, academic, and private stakeholders. As part of this partnership, Rocket Lab will contribute $2 million over the next three years, allow access to their equipment, services, and personnel, and sponsor internship positions to advance the NewSpace Ignitor and Pathways to the Stars programsatwo core initiatives of the NSNM program. NewSpace Ignitor will establish co-innovation hubs in Albuquerque, Navajo Nation, and rural southern New Mexico to provide opportunities and promote high-tech manufacturing in underserved communities.

The company has indicated that it plans to claim the Department of the Treasury's Investment Tax Credit, which is expected to be up to 25% of qualified capital expenditures.

As explained in its first Notice of Funding Opportunity, the Department may offer applicants a PMT on a non-binding basis after satisfactory completion of the merit review of a full application. The PMT outlines key terms for a potential CHIPS incentives award, including the amount and form of the award. The award amounts are subject to due diligence and negotiation of award documents and are conditional on the achievement of certain milestones. After the PMT is signed, the Department begins a comprehensive due diligence process on the proposed projects and continues negotiating or refining certain terms with the applicant. The terms contained in any final award documents may differ from the terms of the PMT being announced today.

About CHIPS for America

The Department has received more than 670 statements of interest, more than 230 pre-applications and full applications for NOFO 1, and more than 160 small supplier concept plans for NOFO 2. The Department is continuing to conduct rigorous evaluation of applications to determine which projects will advance U.S. national and economic security, attract more private capital, and deliver other economic benefits to the country. The announcement with Rocket Lab is the tenth PMT announcement the Department of Commerce has made under the CHIPS and Science Act, with additional PMT announcements expected to follow throughout 2024.

CHIPS for America is part of President Biden's economic plan to invest in America, stimulate private sector investment, create good-paying jobs, make more in the United States, and revitalize communities left behind. CHIPS for America includes the CHIPS Program Office, responsible for manufacturing incentives, and the CHIPS Research and Development Office, responsible for R&D programs, that both sit within the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) at the Department of Commerce. NIST promotes U.S. innovation and industrial competitiveness by advancing measurement science, standards, and technology in ways that enhance economic security and improve our quality of life. NIST is uniquely positioned to successfully administer the CHIPS for America program because of the bureau's strong relationships with U.S. industries, its deep understanding of the semiconductor ecosystem, and its reputation as fair and trusted. Visit https://www.chips.gov to learn more.

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US blacklists 3 more Chinese firms for Uyghur slave labor

The companies produce aluminum, shrimp and shoes and included 2 based far from Xinjiang.

By Alex Willemyns for RFA 2024.06.11 -- 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 China's 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 today's 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.

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 globe's 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.

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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Elon Musk on May 6 in Beverly Hills. The mercurial entrepreneur has dropped his breach of contract lawsuit against OpenAI, a day before a motion for dismissal was to be heard in a San Francisco courtroom. Apu Gomes/TNS

Elon Musk dropped his breach of contract lawsuit against OpenAI and its CEO Sam Altman Tuesday, three months after he took the company to court demanding it hand over its source code and accusing it of illegally straying from its founding principles to develop artificial intelligence safely.

Musks attorneys asked to withdraw the complaint entirely without prejudice in a brief filing in San Francisco Superior Court a day before OpenAI was set to ask a judge to dismiss the case.

OpenAI did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment. The company has taken more than $10 billion in investment from Microsoft and begun a series of licensing and commercial ventures. Musks suit had argued those engagements violated its founding commitments, including to safely and openly pursue highly capable AI.

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Musk, an early funder of OpenAI who left the company in 2018, has since founded his own AI startup in competition with OpenAI.

OpenAI was originally founded as a nonprofit, but has since incorporated a for-profit arm that includes most of its employees and operations. The company still maintains a nonprofit board of directors to oversee the company.

Altman was briefly ousted as CEO by that board last year before employees at the company and Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella backed his return and he was reinstated days later.

Musks attorneys sought to portray the companys current structure as contravening its founding principles to develop AI technology for the benefit of all, warning as Musk has in the past of the dangers of concentrating powerful AI technology in the hands of a well-resourced few.

In the lawsuit Musks attorneys noted that while previous iterations of OpenAIs GPT family of chatbots were released as open source software that anyone could use and copy, its GPT-3 and GPT-4 models were not.

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Musk had previously suggested on X that he would drop the lawsuit if OpenAI changed its name to ClosedAI. The company did not do so.

In response to Musks suit, OpenAI released in March a tranche of emails dating back to 2015 that it said showed Musk jockeying for control of the company. The emails also sought to show that the decision to create a for-profit arm was taken in step with Musk.

OpenAI wrote in a blog post in March accompanying the emails that we couldnt agree to terms on a for-profit with Elon because we felt it was against the mission for any individual to have absolute control over OpenAI.

The lawsuit also demanded that a judge declare OpenAIs GPT-4 model artificial general intelligence, a term broadly used to describe AI that is as smart or smarter than a person and which OpenAI claims to be pursuing.

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HK legal representatives stress confidence in local judicial independence, dismissing British judge's criticism

Global Times

By Chen Qingqing Published: Jun 12, 2024 12:19 AM

The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government said on Tuesday that it strongly disagreed with remarks made by Jonathan Sumption, a British judge who recently resigned from the city's highest court, who claimed that "the rule of law in Hong Kong is in grave danger." The HKSAR Chief Executive John Lee said on Tuesday that Sumption's recent statement appears to be contradictory to his previous stance in this regard.

Some legal representatives in Hong Kong said Sumption's latest remarks are not persuasive, reiterating that Hong Kong's judicial independence is beyond doubt.

In an article published in the Financial Times on Monday, Sumption made the comments on the latest verdict on "35-plus" defendants in Hong Kong, saying that "the decision is symptomatic of a growing malaise in the Hong Kong judiciary."

Sumption, the non-permanent judge of the Court of Final Appeal (CFA) who recently resigned, attributed this to the National Security Law for Hong Kong, the pressure from the central government, an "oppressive atmosphere" and political intimidation.

On Tuesday, the HKSAR government refuted those claims, saying that there is absolutely no truth that the HKSAR courts are under any political pressure from the central government's authorities or the HKSAR government in the adjudication of national security cases or indeed any case of any nature; or that there is any decline in the rule of law in Hong Kong.

Anyone who suggests otherwise, no matter what the reasons or motives may be, would be utterly wrong, totally baseless, and must be righteously refuted, a spokesperson from the HKSAR government said.

Sumption and Lawrence Collins, two NPJs from other common law jurisdictions of the CFA, announced their resignations on Thursday. They were appointed as the NPJs of the city's top court in 2019 and 2011 respectively.

Canadian former top judge Beverley McLachlin also announced her retirement from the city's top court.

In 2021, Sumption refused to take part in a political boycott orchestrated in the UK, and he said then, that people should not confuse rule of law with democracy, Lee told a press conference on Tuesday.

Sumption said there was no democracy during the British rule in Hong Kong. But he said the rule of law was maintained at that time by judges deciding on cases according to the law and evidence, Lee continued.

"Democracy and rule of law should not be confused. His latest statement indicates that he does not like the political situation in Hong Kong. But this is exactly the area he has told us in 2021 that should not be confused with the rule of law. His recent statement looks to me to be contradictory to his previous stance in this regard," the Chief Executive said.

Indeed, people who try to damage the rule of law in Hong Kong, are among those in the UK, in the UK government, the UK politicians and some anti-China, anti-Hong Kong media, Lee said.

They openly threatened to impose sanction on judges before, during and after the trials. These are blatant attempts to attack the rule of law in Hong Kong, he noted.

The HKSAR government has never, and will not, interfere or attempt to interfere, with judges' conduct of trial. We have not done it and we will not do it. "Non-interference of the judicial process is the DNA of Hong Kong's rule of law," Lee said.

Even most of the overseas non-permanent judges who have stepped down believe that Hong Kong's judicial independence has not been compromised, Executive Council member and senior barrister Ronny Tong Ka-wah told the Global Times on Tuesday.

"Overseas judges may face certain pressures, but it's believed that withstanding pressure is what makes a good judge," Tong said.

Tong knows Sumption personally and does not feel that Sumption has a deep understanding of the topics he discussed in the article.

"I do not speculate on whether there are other reasons behind Sumption's statements that do not align with the facts, but I do not find the article to be persuasive," Tong said.

Judges at every level are expected to and do adhere to the Judicial Oath to decide cases impartially and independently, in accordance with the law and evidence, Chief Justice of CFA Andrew Cheung said in a public statement on Tuesday.

Any suggestion that their decisions have been or may be influenced by extraneous considerations, political or otherwise, is a serious allegation that must be duly substantiated and should not be lightly made, Cheung said.

"I am not surprised by the recent developments as Western governments and politicians have continuously suppressed and smeared Hong Kong in recent years, including exerting immense pressure on foreign judges of the CFA, forcing them to resign and tarnish Hong Kong's rule of law and political situation," Lau Siu-kai, a consultant from the Chinese Association of Hong Kong and Macao Studies who is also a senior policy advisor, told the Global Times on Tuesday.

In this context, it is expected that the number of foreign judges in the CFA will continue to decrease. However, the West's shameful tricks have limited impact on the international reputation of Hong Kong's rule of law, and Hong Kong residents will not feel much difference, Lau said.

"In fact, Hong Kong can take this opportunity to develop a common law system that reflects and aligns with the One Country, Two Systems principle without being constantly hindered by the West," he said.

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Canadian court orders Ukraine airline to pay damages over jet downed in Iran

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Jun 11, 2024

Tehran, IRNA -- A top Canadian court has ordered Ukraine International Airlines (UIA) to pay compensations to families of a plane that was downed near the Iranian capital Tehran more than four years ago amid high military tensions in the region.

The Ontario Superior Court of Justice said in a ruling issued on Tuesday that UIA is legally responsible for paying damages to the families of 21 passengers killed aboard Flight PS752 which was mistakenly shot down by Iranian military forces on January 8, 2020.

Justice Jasmine Akbarali ruled that the UIA had been negligent about the safety of its passengers because it had failed to have a proper assessment about the security situation in the region and risks of operating the flight out of Tehran on the day the tragedy happened.

The ruling said that hours before the UIA flight took off from Tehran, Iran had launched ballistic missile attacks on a US air base in Iraq in retaliation for the assassination a few days earlier of one of its top generals.

It said that the Ukrainian airline should have known that Tehran was waiting for a potential response from the US.

Iran has held a trial to prosecute those responsible for the accidental downing of the Ukrainian flight.

The country has also paid a sum of $150,000 in compensation per passenger to many families of the victims of the tragedy.

2050**4261



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Iran to gain advantage from BRICS bank: Russia

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Jun 11, 2024

Nizhny Novgorod, IRNA -- Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov has noted that Iran's membership in the BRICS New Development Bank will pave the way for the country's smooth accession to the structure of the bloc.

The BRICS New Development Bank is a fruitful financial body that provides money through reasonable loans for infrastructure projects, Ryabkov told Iranian journalists present in the BRICS foreign ministerial meeting in Russia on Tuesday.

He said the Islamic Republic of Iran and other countries that joined the BRICS bloc of emerging economies in January 2024 have made use of the current positive process of development and gained valuable experiences.

Iran's acting Foreign Minister Ali Bagheri Kani arrived in Nizhny Novgorod in western Russia on Monday to attend the BRICS 2024 as an official member. He has held talks with the foreign ministers of China, Belarus, Sri Lanka, Kazakhstan and Brazil and the special presidential envoy from the host country.

Iran joined the BRICS group of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa as a full member in January 2024.

1483**4354







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Iran, Russia advance comprehensive treaty talks

ISNA - Iranian Students' News Agency

Tue / 11 June 2024 / 12:41

Iran's Acting Foreign Minister Ali Bagheri and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov convened on Monday during the sidelines of the BRICS foreign ministers' meeting in Nizhny Novgorod, Russia, to discuss on the finalization of a new comprehensive bilateral treaty.

Tehran -ISNA- The Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement that significant progress had been made, with both parties concurring on the treaty's principal aspects.

"Special attention was paid to finalizing work on the text of a new comprehensive inter-State treaty, the main aspects of which have been agreed upon by both parties," affirmed the ministry in a statement.

The meeting focused on measures aimed at fostering a strategic partnership between Russia and Iran, aligning with the political directives outlined by the leaders of both nations.

Lavrov and Bagheri engaged in extensive discussions concerning major international and regional matters of mutual interest, including collaboration within the frameworks of BRICS and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO).

During the discussions, the Iranian diplomat expressed Tehran's heightened enthusiasm for broadening and reinforcing collaboration with Russia.

End Item



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Lavrov says Russia and Iran fully agree on text of state treaty

Iran Press TV

Tuesday, 11 June 2024 2:42 PM

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov says his country and Iran have reached full agreement on the text of a major cooperation deal that is expected to elevate relations between the two allied countries to a new level.

Lavrov said on Tuesday that Russia and Iran have yet to put their final signatures on the state treaty, adding that Moscow is waiting for the Iranian side to settle procedural issues needed for the agreement to be signed.

"As for work on a state treaty on cooperation between the Russian Federation and the Islamic Republic of Iran, yes, it cannot be signed yet even though the text has been fully coordinated," he said.

The remarks were made at a press conference after a ministerial meeting of the BRICS group of developing economies in the Russian city of Nizhny Novgorod. They came after Russian diplomatic sources said that works on the Russia-Iran state treaty had been suspended because of certain issues in Iran.

Iranian ambassador to Russia Kazem Jalali rejected the notion that the deal had been suspended, saying it could become finalized after Iran elects a new president in late June.

Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed that deadlines for finalizing the deal had been pushed back after Iranian President Ebrahim Raeisi died in a helicopter crash last month.

"...given the current period in Tehran when preparations for a presidential election are underway, the deadlines have been slightly pushed back. Because it is the presidential election, as a rule, later staff reshuffle is possible and so on," Peskov said.

Lavrov said he had told Iranian Acting Foreign Minister Ali Bagheri Kani on Monday that Russia is committed to the state treaty with Iran which he said "is meant to take Russia-Iran relations to a completely different level."

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Iran pres. candidates present plans as televised campaigns begin

Iran Press TV

Tuesday, 11 June 2024 10:50 AM

Iran's presidential candidates have outlined their programs as election campaigns have begun.

Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf underlined the need for "transformation" in all sectors of the country by means of "cybernetic management."

"Today, a cybernetic management can cause transformation in different areas," he said in a TV program on Monday.

Regarding economic issues, he called for a detailed and in-depth management that is consistent with the policies of popularization, automation and transparency.

Also in his remarks, Qalibaf, who is currently the parliament speaker, said that he had chosen the slogan "service and progress" for his election campaign.

He further emphasized that investment and wealth production happen in the light of progress in the country.

Meanwhile, the presidential hopeful pointed to the problems that people are facing in their livelihood, vowing to increase their purchasing power.

He also pledged to focus on implementing Iran's seventh National Development Plan (2023-2027).

Pezeshkian says pursues'stability' as general policy

Also on Monday, another candidate Masoud Pezeshkian said he pursues the policy of "stability," noting that a change of direction would prevent the country from achieving the growth desired by Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei.

"We are not going to change the direction and the general policy is stability," the reformist lawmaker asserted.

Asked about the seventh National Development Plan, he replied, "We are not going to write a new plan and we are not going to announce a new policy in the country."

He further warned that instability would make domestic investors doubt whether to invest in the country and will push them to leave Iran.

"The first step is ... bringing all the people to the stage in the economic field and breaking the ice between the government and the people," he added.

Qazizadeh Hashemi vows to nationalize economy

Another presidential hopeful Amir Hossein Qazizadeh Hashemi said on Monday that the state economy should be gradually nationalized through a real privatization process.

He noted that his campaign's slogan is "the government of people and the government of families."

Qazizadeh Hashemi, who is the head of the Foundation of Martyrs and Veterans Affairs, said that he is committed to the ideals of the late President Ebrahim Raeisi, including justice, equal opportunities, and the fight against corruption.

Six candidates have been approved to run for president in the June 28 election.

The vote was called after President Raeisi lost his life along with seven others on May 19, when a helicopter carrying them crashed into a mountainous area in northwest Iran amid foggy conditions.

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Texas Men Sentenced for Conspiracy to Sell Sanctioned Iranian Petroleum to China

U.S. Department of the Treasury

Tuesday, June 11, 2024

For Immediate Release

Office of Public Affairs

Two Texas men, both of whom were convicted at trial, were sentenced today to 45 months in prison for attempting to violate the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), conspiracy to violate IEEPA and conspiracy to commit money laundering based on their attempt to transact in sanctioned petroleum and launder the proceeds.

According to court documents, Zhenyu "Bill" Wang, 43, a Chinese citizen, and Daniel Ray Lane, 42, of McKinney, Texas, schemed with co-conspirators to evade U.S. economic sanctions against the Islamic Republic of Iran (Iran) from July 2019 to February 2020 by facilitating the purchase of sanctioned oil from Iran, masking its origins and selling the oil under masked origins to buyers in the People's Republic of China. To accomplish their goal, the conspirators communicated among themselves and with third parties concerning, among other things, concealing the origin of the oil and the overall illegal transaction, financing the transaction, preparing contracts and other documents needed to effect the sale, shipping the sanctioned Iranian oil, obtaining Antiguan passports to facilitate the transaction and to establish offshore bank accounts to receive funds, distributing proceeds from the intended sale of the sanctioned Iranian oil and concealing and disguising the nature, location, source, ownership and control of the proceeds of the intended transaction.

"Today, Mr. Lane and Mr. Wang are held accountable for attempting to broker illicit oil sales between Iran and China, and launder the proceeds, in violation of U.S. sanctions," said Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department's National Security Division. "The court's sentence makes clear that those who place personal profit over national security will face serious consequences."

"It's one thing to be entrepreneurial and take risks, but when your business plan hinges on evading U.S. sanctions, you're doing it wrong," said U.S. Attoreny Jacqueline C. Romero for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. "Wang, Lane and their co-conspirators' scheme to make millions also would have enriched Iran, one of our government's foreign adversaries, in direct contravention of measures meant to protect American interests and national security. Holding accountable those who violate our sanctions laws and export controls is a priority for my office and our partners at the FBI."

"The FBI will use all our lawful authorities to stop those who seek to evade sanctions on Iranian oil," said Executive Assistant Director Larissa L. Knapp of the FBI's National Security Branch. "Today's sentencing of Zhenyu Wang and Daniel Ray Lane reflects our commitment to combatting these illegal actions and serves as a warning to others that violating U.S. sanctions impacts our national security and will not be tolerated."

Wang played a critical role in this conspiracy, providing the connection to the Chinese buyers who would purchase the Iranian oil. As part of his efforts, Wang communicated with multiple parties in China, secured a written offer from a Chinese buyer and brokered a contract of sale with this buyer. He also arranged for bribe payments to be made to Chinese officials to facilitate the illegal transaction. Lane agreed to help launder the Iranians' proceeds from the transaction. He offered to use the mineral rights that he sold through his business, Stack Royalties, to conceal the Iranians' profits, and even purchased a cash machine to count the millions of dollars of laundered proceeds quickly. Wang and Lane worked with three other conspirators who acted as intermediaries seeking buyers for the sanctioned oil.

The conspirators believed that they would profit handsomely from the scheme to evade U.S. sanctions through significant shipments of sanctioned Iranian oil. They planned to start their scheme with a 500,000-barrel shipment of Iranian oil, but intended to increase the shipments to one or two million barrels per month for a year or more. Lane and another co-conspirator understood that the scheme was to be funded by an initial $5 million payment, which would include $4 million provided in cash. And the conspirators believed that they would make significant profits, with Wang stating that he planned to make $1.5 million in profit for each 500,000-barrel shipment.

Wang and Lane acted fully aware that the scheme to sell sanctioned Iranian crude oil was in violation of U.S. sanctions against Iran. In fact, both defendants made statements explicitly acknowledging that their conduct was illegal. Wang, for example, acknowledged the profits he stood to make by engaging in illegal transactions, stating that "I love sanction to be honest with you and the sanctions make everybody money." Similarly, Lane discussed concealing and disguising the proceeds of the transactions in sanctioned Iranian oil, noting that "sanctions can always be massaged . . . you know, there is always a way around it."

In January 2024, Wang and Lane's co-conspirator, Nicholas Hovan, was sentenced to 12 months and a day in prison, and co-conspirators Nicholas Fuchs and Robert Thwaites were each sentenced to 10 months in prison.

The FBI investigated the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Patrick J. Murray and Mary E. Crawley for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania prosecuted the case, with valuable assistance provided by Trial Attorney Beau Barnes of the National Security Division's Counterintelligence and Export Control Section.



Topics: Export Control

Counterintelligence

National Security

Components: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

National Security Division (NSD)

USAO - Pennsylvania, Eastern

Press Release Number: 24-743

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Secretary Blinken's Meeting with Iraqi Prime Minister Sudani

US Department of State

Readout

Office of the Spokesperson

June 11, 2024

The below is attributable to Spokesperson Matthew Miller:

Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken met with Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani today in Jordan. Secretary Blinken and Prime Minister Sudani discussed the comprehensive proposal to achieve a ceasefire in Gaza and secure the release of all hostages. The Secretary expressed appreciation for Iraq's support of the plan and reiterated that Hamas should accept it without further delay. The Secretary affirmed that we remain committed to the U.S.-Iraq 360-degree relationship to build economic opportunities and prosperity for all Iraqis.

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June 11, 2024

Release

Readout of Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III's Call With Israeli Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant

Pentagon Press Secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder provided the following readout:

Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III spoke with Israeli Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant today to congratulate him on the rescue of four Israeli hostages, who have now been returned to their families. They discussed efforts to de-escalate tensions along the Israel-Lebanon border in the wake of Lebanese Hizballah's increased aggression. He also thanked Minister Gallant for Israel's support for the comprehensive ceasefire and hostage deal, and they agreed that the onus is on Hamas to accept the deal.

https://www.defense.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/3803666/

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Fighting flares near state capital in north Myanmar

Junta shelling killed 1 man and injured 7 family members, Kachin state residents said.

By RFA Burmese 2024.06.11 -- 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 Myanmar's 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 group's 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.

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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A Fiji Airways Boeing 737 approaches Auckland Airport in New Zealand in May 2016. The airline said that on Saturday a passenger died mid-flight en route to San Francisco International Airport from Fiji, due to a medical condition. Bill Montgomery/Houston Chronicle

A passenger on a Fiji Airways flight bound for San Francisco died over the weekend.

A 41-year-old male U.S. citizen experienced an unspecified medical condition approximately an hour and a half before flight FJ870 from Nadi, Fiji, was scheduled to arrive at San Francisco International Airport on Saturday, according to a statement from Fiji Airways.

Despite the best efforts of our cabin crew and a doctor on board who provided immediate assistance, the passenger unfortunately passed away, the airline said.

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The San Mateo County Coroners office identified the passenger as Raiznal Farzad Khalik of Hayward. No cause of death was provided.

The aircraft landed safely in San Francisco at approximately 2:34 p.m. after the crew declared a medical emergency and received priority landing from authorities at SFO. Fiji Airways ground operations and local authorities met the plane upon arrival.

We commend our cabin crew and the assisting doctor for their swift and professional response to this emergency, the statement continued.

The airline extended its condolences to the deceased passengers friends and family.

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South Korea fires warning shots as North Korean soldiers cross border

Seoul's joint chiefs of staff believe Sunday's encroachment was a mistake as signs aren't clearly visible.

By Hong Seung Wook and Lee Sangmin for RFA Korean 2024.06.11 -- South Korean soldiers fired warning shots after a dozen soldiers from North Korea crossed one of the world's most fortified borders earlier this week, the South's 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.

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.

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 Sunday's happen quite frequently and the South's 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."

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 Institute's Asia-Pacific security chair, both told RFA that they accepted South Korea's assessment of the incident.

Both also acknowledged that outside of Sunday's 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.

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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Press release on Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's participation in the BRICS Foreign Ministers' Meeting

11 June 2024 16:18

1120-11-06-2024

On June 10-11, as a representative of the country that chairs BRICS this year, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov held a meeting of the BRICS foreign ministers and guest countries in Nizhny Novgorod.

The ministers had a substantive exchange of opinions on pressing items on the global agenda and discussed the creation of a multipolar international order, regional crises, countering newly arisen challenges and threats, and cooperation between the BRICS countries on multilateral platforms.

The ministers discussed prospects for promoting strategic partnership within BRICS, including the establishment of a new category of "partner countries." The participants noted the importance of strengthening cooperation in transport, finance and the economy, among other spheres.

The meeting also included an expanded session with the participation of foreign ministers from the Global South and Global East. Engaging discussions were held covering the state and prospects for reforming the international system in the interest of ensuring fair and equal security, sustainable development and lasting economic growth for all countries without exception.

In closing, the participants approved a joint statement.

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Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's remarks at an extended meeting with the participation of the foreign ministers from the Global South and the Global East, Nizhny Novgorod, June 11, 2024

11 June 2024 12:29

1115-11-06-2024

Colleagues,

Friends,

We are beginning a BRICS Plus/BRICS Outreach extended meeting.

Welcome to Russia and Nizhny Novgorod, a beautiful city, the beauty of which and the feelings of the residents of which you had the chance to enjoy yesterday.

Today's meeting reflects the efforts of the BRICS members to develop ties with the stakeholder countries from the Global South and the Global East, the countries of the Global Majority, in order to identify solutions to the most pressing global issues faced by all members of the international community without exception.

We are witnessing a profound transformation of international relations triggered by the formation of a fairer and polycentric system of international order, which would reflect the entire gamut of cultural and civilisational diversity of the modern-day world and ensure the right of every nation to determine its own future and its own path of development.

The stronger voice of the Global Majority, i.e. the countries of Asia, Africa, the Middle East, Latin America and the Caribbean, which are not part of the collective West, is a major trend now. Only by uniting our ranks can we truly effectively promote a vision of a just future shared by all of us. In this context, it is important to strengthen the role of the country-to-country groups that advocate balanced and equitable approaches to international development. We are talking about the formats which reflect the principles of equitable cooperation in practice rather than in words. These include, along with BRICS, the SCO, the African Union, the EAEU, the CIS, ASEAN, LAS, CELAC, the GCC, IORA and many other organisations. The chairs of many of these organisations are here with us.

We believe it is important to establish contacts between all such integration entities which operate at regional levels, on the one hand, and our global association BRICS, on the other hand. This will promote gradual and mutually respectful harmonisation of approaches to the issues facing all associations.

The strengthening the international legal framework and collective decision-making on global issues is now at the forefront. Only in this case will those decisions be effective and legitimate. This principle is laid down in the UN Charter. Unfortunately, the collective West's decisions, especially in the economy, finance, trade and more, increasingly fail to comply with the fundamental principles of the UN Charter.

Our countries have largely overlapping approaches to reforming the system of multilateral institutions, including the UN and the UN Security Council, as well as addressing the post-pandemic recovery of the global economy and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals approved by the UN General Assembly. We look forward to discussing all these issues today.

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Press release on Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's meeting with Foreign Minister of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela Yvan Gil

11 June 2024 11:59

1113-11-06-2024



On June 11, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov met with Foreign Minister of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela Yvan Gil on the sidelines of the BRICS Foreign Ministers Meeting in Nizhny Novgorod.

During the meeting, the foreign ministers noted that Russia and Venezuela share similar perspectives on global and regional matters. They reiterated their dedication to building a genuinely multipolar world and advocating for strict adherence to international law, while renouncing unilateral coercive measures. They conducted a comprehensive synchronisation of their foreign policy approaches to enhance coordination, notably within the framework of the Group of Friends in Defence of the UN Charter.

The Russian side welcomed Venezuela's interest in joining BRICS.

The ministers highlighted the advancing bilateral relations, in line with their strategic partnership, emphasising the importance of enhancing political dialogue and broadening ties in trade, investment, science, technology, as well as cultural and humanitarian exchanges.

Russia reiterated its ongoing support for the efforts of Nicolas Maduro's Government to stabilise the internal situation, particularly with regard to the upcoming presidential elections scheduled for July this year.

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Russian Deputy Defence Minister meets with Deputy Prime Minister of Serbia

11.06.2024

Today, on 11 June 2024, Colonel General Aleksandr Fomin has held a meeting with Aleksandr Vulin, Deputy Minister of the Government of the Republic of Serbia.

The sides discussed topical issues of bilateral military cooperation. They exchanged views on the key issues of international security.

During the meeting, the sides noted that bilateral relations between Russia and Serbia have traditionally has allied nature. The two sides agreed to continue effective work based on the principles of respect for each other's interests.

The meeting confirmed mutual intention to further develop Russia-Serbia cooperation.

Department for Media Affairs and Information

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Search expedition for L-19 submarine that sunk in Soviet-Japanese War continues in La Perouse Strait

11.06.2024

The joint expedition of the Russian Geographical Society and the 'Lyudi Morya' Fund, supported by Fertoing naval engineering company, and the hydrographic service of the Pacific Fleet, went to search for a Soviet L-19 submarine.

Searching for the submarine will take place in the west part of the La PArouse Strait, from where the last signal came from. The joint expedition operates on board of the large hydrographic boat Aleksei Anashkin equipped with searchable sonar capable of detecting and identifying underwater objects. The ship crew includes specialists from the Hydrographic Service of the Russian Pacific Fleet and the Fertoing naval engineering company. As part of the expedition, experts will inspect three areas where the submarine may well be located.

The Fertoing team has been working on detecting the L-19 submarine for several years. In 2023, search work in the La PArouse Strait was carried out on board a multi-purpose ship Lamantin equipped with a remote-controlled uninhabited underwater vehicle. In December 2023, Fertoing Company inspected one USS Wahoo that sunk in 1943.

For Reference:

The L-19 is the last submarine sunk during the Second World War. On 19 August 1945, one and a half weeks after the outbreak of war with Japan, it sailed off with a reconnaissance mission. During the combat mission, the submarine sunk two Japanese vehicles. The last combat task for L-19 was order to cross the La PArouse Strait into the Aniva Bay where it was necessary to conduct reconnaissance of the Japanese forces. On 23 August, the submarine commander reported by wireless message on the beginning of the forcing the La PArouse Strait. After that, the communication with the submarine was lost.

The exact location of L-19 and reasons of its wreck remain unknown to this day. It is estimated that the submarine may have detonated at a mine barrier set up by the Japanese. Constant searching for L-19 began in the early 21st century with the naval search detachment of the Pacific Fleet on the yacht Iskra. In the search expedition for the L-19 in 2006, a USS Wahoo was found in the La PArouse Strait.

Department for Media Affairs and Information

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Russia, Belarus Embark on Second Stage of Non-Strategic Nuclear Drills - Defense Ministry

Sputnik News

20240611

The drills have the objective of safeguarding the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Union State. Previously, troops underwent training to operate Iskander missiles and to equip Kinzhal hypersonic missiles with specialized warheads.

The second stage of drills focusing on the use of non-strategic nuclear weapons by Russian and Belarusian forces has commenced, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Tuesday.

"In accordance with the decision of Russian President [Vladimir Putin], the second stage of the exercise of non-strategic nuclear forces began," the ministry said in a statement.

During the exercise, the joint training of units from the armed forces of Russia and Belarus will be carried out.

The second stage of the non-strategic nuclear forces drills is aimed at maintaining readiness to use nuclear weapons to ensure the sovereignty of the Union State of Russia and Belarus, the Russian Ministry of Defense added.

"The exercises are aimed at maintaining the readiness of personnel and equipment 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 statement says.

As part of the first stage, the Ministry elaborated on the process of acquiring specialized ammunition for the Iskander tactical missile system. Additionally, the aviation forces engaged in training exercises involving the equipping of special warheads for the Kinzhal hypersonic missiles.

The Ministry added that missile units from the Southern Military District performed training exercises to equip Iskanders with special warheads.

Russia's Foreign Ministry explained that drills must be considered in the light of hawkish statements made by Western politicians and NATO's destabilizing activities.

A Sputnik

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Chemical weapons are not a historic problem in Syria, they are a present reality: UK statement at the UN Security Council

Statement by Deputy Political Coordinator Laura Dix at the UN Security Council meeting on Syria.

11 June 2024

The United Kingdom would like nothing more than for this Council not to hold any more meetings on chemical weapons. As this would mean that chemical weapons were no longer being produced, stored or used anywhere in the world, and the perpetrators of chemical weapons' attacks had been held to account.

Sadly, that is not the case. Chemical weapons are not a historic problem in Syria. They are a present reality.

The Assad regime continues to possess chemical weapons today. Thousands of munitions and hundreds of tonnes of chemical agent remain unaccounted for. Analysis of samples collected at two sites in April 2023 indicates further undeclared processing and production activity in Syria.

We are gravely concerned by these developments and we join your call, High Representative, for greater cooperation by Syria with the OPCW technical secretariat.

The UN-OPCW Joint Investigative Mechanism and the OPCW's Investigation and Identification Team found that the Assad regime used chemical weapons, including sarin and chlorine, against its own people nine times after acceding to the Chemical Weapons Convention in 2013.

Syria has failed to make a complete and accurate declaration of its stockpiles, despite the best and repeated efforts of the OPCW secretariat. Nor has Syria met its obligations under this Council's resolution 2118. Independent international investigations have also now attributed a total of four uses of chemical weapons to Daesh.

President, failure to hold Syria to account would undermine the international non-proliferation architecture.

The UK will continue to pursue accountability for the use of chemical weapons by state and non-state actors. We fully support the work of the OPCW's Syria missions, and the International, Impartial and Independent Mechanism for Syria, which assists in the investigation and prosecution of international crimes committed in Syria.

We applaud OPCW's impartial and patient work. Until Syria fully declares and destroys its chemical weapons, this Council should remain focused on this ongoing threat to international peace and security.

Thank you, President.

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Stronger response urged from U.S. to China's growing coercion near Taiwan

ROC Central News Agency

06/11/2024 10:35 PM

Washington, June 10 (CNA) The United States should respond more strongly to China's growing gray zone coercion near Taiwan to help the country maintain the status quo in the region, said academics attending a forum hosted by The Project 2049 Institute in Arlington, Virginia on Monday.

Since September 2020, the frequency, scale, diversity and complexity of People's Liberation Army (PLA) activity near Taiwan have all increased, Ben Lewis, told the forum titled "Under Pressure: China's Coercive Campaign in the Taiwan Strait."

"The PLA is transitioning from kind of having a presence to making the presence mean something by training," said Lewis, a Washington-based independent defense analyst who specializes in Chinese military development and Taiwan security issues.

First and foremost this gives the PLA a chance to practice, he said, adding that they are practicing joint air operations and practicing bringing in new air capabilities into their air operations.

Secondly, it puts a strain on Taiwan's defenses, forcing it to occasionally scramble its jets in response, while it is also a tool for Beijing to signal its displeasure with geopolitical developments involving Taiwan, said Lewis, also a co-founder of PLATracker -- a site dedicated to providing data-driven analysis of Chinese military activity and regional security developments in Asia.

He stressed that this represents the normalization of these activities to ensure the PLA's presence is not seen as provocative over time.

"They've been very successful in making it so that the press doesn't comment on 15 aircraft crossing the medium line," he said. "You have to kind of hit 25 or 30 now for it to hit the wires."

"To assert a de facto control over the airspace around Taiwan, they go up to the contiguous zone" and have naval ships around the island now on a near permanent basis, he added.

Subsequently, "the PLA is always around and it doesn't really catch people's eyes as much as it used to," he said.

Similarly with the law enforcement operations around the Taiwan-control Kinmen Islands, Beijing stated outright that the goal was normalizing the presence of the Chinese coast guard in prohibited waters off Kinmen, he said.

Lewis suggested Taiwan's defense ministry improve its information sharing practices with relation to Beijing's moves, which would also give people more confidence in Taiwan's ability to defend itself.

In his opinion, the cross-strait status quo is being changed on a daily basis, but support by Washington for the status quo is "inadequate."

Against such a backdrop, Lewis called for the U.S. to conduct law enforcement drills with Taiwan's coast guard.

It is a fairly non provocative way to not only show support, but also learn about what China is doing, he added.

He also contended that the U.S. needs to more often and more harshly publicly condemn the PLA's destabilizing activities, asserting that the Taiwan Relations Act does apply to non-kinetic changes to the status quo.

Echoing Lewis' recommendations, Dan Blumenthal, a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, agreed that the U.S. and Taiwan's coast guard should hold joint law-enforcement drills.

He also suggested that under the International Civil Aviation Organization, the U.S. and its partners should team up to deter China's efforts to normalize the intrusions of its war planes into Taiwan's air defense identification zone.

In addition, Blumenthal said, the U.S. and the international community should say something about Taiwan's maritime rights under international law, if China claims that Taiwan does not have normal rights under international law.

Randall Schriver, chairman of the Project 2049 Institute, said some people call the Chinese tendency toward incrementalism "salami slicing."

"But no strong response, robust response in the gray zone and to coercive activities will lead to pocketing of those gains as new normals," he said.

(By Flor Wang and Shih Hsiu-chaun)

Enditem/AW



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10 Coast Guard personnel reprimanded over Chinese boat incursion

ROC Central News Agency

06/11/2024 09:55 PM

Taipei, June 11 (CNA) Taiwan's Coast Guard Administration (CGA) on Tuesday admitted negligence and reprimanded 10 personnel over an incident in which a Chinese speedboat illegally reached the Tamsui River mouth over the weekend.

After a thorough review, the problem was found to be not in the monitoring system but in human negligence, CGA Director-General Chang Chung-lung () said at a press conference.

Chang made the remarks after the administration, which is responsible for safeguarding Taiwan's territorial waters, faced heavy criticism for failing to stop a Chinese national surnamed Ruan () who allegedly drove a speedboat into a harbor near the mouth of the Tamsui River on Sunday.

It was only after the speedboat collided with other vessels at a Tamsui ferry terminal, that operators called the CGA and Coast Guard personnel arrested the Chinese man, who claimed to be trying to defect to Taiwan from China.

Radar operators mistakenly identified the speedboat as a Taiwanese fishing vessel returning to its home port of Tamsui, the director-general said.

According to the CGA, 10 individuals received reprimands ranging from warnings to demerits including the head of the Coast Guard's Patrol Division Liao Te-sheng (), as well as personnel responsible for radar operations and those working at a coastal lookout point.

CGA Deputy head Hsieh Ching-chin (), who was also at the press event, said operators at the Shalun radar station first detected Ruan's 9-meter-long speedboat that day at around 6 nautical miles (11 kilometers) off the coast of Tamsui, but thought it was a Taiwanese fishing vessel.

Echoing Chang, Hsieh said the incident was caused by poor judgement and negligence, adding that the Coast Guard monitoring system was not the problem.

From 2014 to 2023, the CGA has captured a total of 119 illegal immigrants coming from China, he said, and so far this year the Coast Guard also expelled 809 Chinese vessels from entering Taiwan controlled waters.

Hsieh said the CGA will continue to enhance personnel training and strengthen coordination with the Ministry of National Defense to closely monitor Taiwan's maritime security.

(By Huang Li-yun, Joseph Yeh and Ko Lin)

Enditem/AW





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Terry Sauve takes a shower as she keeps cool at the Ridgway Pool in Santa Rosa on Tuesday. The temperature topped 95 degrees. Gabrielle Lurie/The Chronicle Lower temperatures across the Bay Area and Sacramento Valley on Wednesday will result in a lower overall heat risk. Baron/Lynx

June is only two weeks old, but for the second time this month, large parts of California are under some type of heat advisory on Tuesday, as temperatures soared into the 90s and triple digits across the interior.

This heat spell will be short-lived though, coming to an end for the Bay Area today as temperatures will be upward of 10 to 15 degrees cooler than yesterday in the valleys of Solano, Sonoma and Santa Clara counties.

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That cooling trend will eventually spread to the rest of the state by the weekend, bringing temperatures back closer to seasonal averages. Cooler weather will most certainly not be a trend this summer, though, a point reinforced by recently released seasonal forecast data.

On Tuesday, the latest summer forecast data from the European C3S (Copernicus Climate Change Service) was released, flashing a big warning sign that the three-month period from July through September will be hot and dry across the southwestern U.S. and into California.

Recent forecast data continues to forecast temperatures of 1 to 2 degrees Fahrenheit above normal from July to September in California. Copernicus

The data, released monthly from a multi-system ensemble that integrates several European weather models, consistently predicts that average summer temperatures across most of the U.S. will be 1 to 4 degrees above normal. Additionally, precipitation levels, particularly in the western U.S., are expected to be below average.

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Most of California is forecast to see temperatures 1 to 2 degrees above normal from July to September, with interior parts of the state seeing average temperatures 3 to 4 degrees above normal. Both scenarios would make summer 2024 one of the hottest on record.

Seeing such a consistently strong signal for heat and dryness from this type of model, which typically errs on the side of conservatism by averaging multiple models, is concerning. If this scenario unfolds in California, it would mark a remarkably quick transition from moderately hot and very wet back-to-back years to what appears to be an extended period of hot and dry conditions.

In the immediate future, the Bay Area can at least enjoy a break in the abnormally hot weather for the next few days.

Wednesday breakdown

San Francisco: Low clouds and fog will linger a bit longer along the coast and west side of the city before a mostly sunny afternoon. Temperatures will be cool in Lake Merced and the Sunset and Richmond districts, with highs in the low 60s. It will be a bit warmer east of Sutro Tower, with highs in the mid- to upper 60s. Winds will be gusty out of the southwest at 10 to 25 mph. Clouds and fog will return overnight with lows in the low 50s.

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North Bay: A westerly wind will cool down interior parts of the North Bay by as much as 20 degrees. High temperatures in Santa Rosa, Fairfield and Vacaville will be in the mid- to upper 80s. It will be cooler in Napa, Petaluma, Novato and Mill Valley, with highs in the mid- to upper 70s. It will be even cooler along the coast and in interior Marin County, with temperatures stuck in the 60s. Winds will be gusty out of the southwest at 10 to 25 mph. It will be mostly clear overnight except along the immediate coast, with lows in the low to mid-50s.

East Bay: Much like the North Bay, interior parts of the East Bay will feel much cooler compared with Tuesday, although not as drastically. Highs in Livermore, Dublin, Concord and Pittsburg will range from the low to upper 80s. Early morning clouds will give way to sunshine for the bayside locations of the East Bay, with highs in the low to upper 70s in Richmond, Oakland, Fremont and Hayward. Winds will be a bit gusty out of the southwest at 10 to 20 mph. Overnight lows will fall back into the mid-50s.

Pacific Coast and Peninsula: Low clouds and a potent onshore flow will keep temperatures cool along the coastal Peninsula, and the cloud cover will hang on longer the further south you get on Route 1. It will be mostly sunny around Daly City and Pacifica, with highs in the low 60s. Temperatures will be right around 70 at SFO, and in the mid-70s to around 80 degrees from San Mateo down to Redwood City. Winds will pick up in the afternoon from the southwest at 10 to 20 mph. Clouds will return overnight along the coast, and it will stay mostly clear away from the water with lows in the low to mid-50s.

South Bay and Santa Cruz: Temperatures will be decently cooler in the Santa Clara Valley, with highs in the upper 70s to low 80s in Mountain View, San Jose and down through Gilroy. Winds wont be much of a concern at 5 to 15 mph out of the southwest. It will be clear and seasonable overnight with lows in the mid-50s.

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Coast guards to be disciplined over Chinese boat incursion: Minister

ROC Central News Agency

06/11/2024 02:50 PM

Taipei, June 11 (CNA) The Coast Guard personnel managing radar operations and monitoring stations near Tamsui, New Taipei will be held responsible for a Sunday incident in which a Chinese speedboat illegally entered the Tamsui River mouth, Taiwan's top official in charge of ocean affairs said Tuesday.

The individuals will be disciplined for their negligence, Ocean Affairs Council (OAC) Minister Kuan Bi-ling () confirmed on the sidelines of a legislative sitting in Taipei. She did not disclose the number of people facing punishment, nor what kind of action will be taken.

Kuan's remarks were made after the OAC's Coast Guard Administration (CGA), which is responsible for safeguarding the nation's territorial waters, faced heavy criticism for failing to stop a Chinese national surnamed Ruan () who allegedly drove a motorboat into a harbor near the mouth of the Tamsui River.

It was only after the speedboat collided with other vessels at a Tamsui ferry terminal, which prompted the operators to call the CGA, that CGA personnel finally arrested the Chinese man, who claimed to be trying to defect to Taiwan from China.

The incident drew attention from media and military experts because the Tamsui River is considered a critical strategic location and serves as the gateway to Taipei, the nation's political, economic and social capital, where the Presidential Office and other important government institutions are situated.

On Tuesday, Kuan said that CGA personnel responsible for radar operations and those working at a coastal lookout point will be held responsible for their poor judgement calls.

According to Kuan, the CGA first detected Ruan's 9-meter-long speedboat at about 11 a.m. on Sunday, around 6 nautical miles (11 kilometers) off the coast of Tamsui.

However, radar operators mistakenly thought the speedboat was a Taiwanese fishing vessel returning to its home port at Tamsui, Kuan said.

As the Chinese speedboat moved closer to the shore, a watch post in the Tamsui coastal area tasked with monitoring vessels approaching Tamsui failed to sound the alarm "because the watch post staffers said they had 30 vessels to monitor at the same time," according to Kuan.

Afterwards, another watch post in nearby Bali District informed the Tamsui watch post that the speedboat was not a Taiwanese fishing vessel. This information, however, was disregarded and no efforts were made to stop the boat for another 30 minutes, Kuan said.

"This case shows that the problem is not with the system but the people in charge," she added.

According to Kuan, the latest incident could be part of Chinese efforts to test Taiwan's coastal defense ability. Since 2023, at least 18 incursions have been reported in Taiwan, most of them on Taiwan-controlled islands near China.

More than half of the 18 incursions were stopped by CGA personnel. The rest were detected following tipoffs from fishers or local residents.

Kuan also said prosecutors are now questioning Ruan to determine if he had really been planning to defect to Taiwan.

The minister disclosed that Ruan was a retired People's Liberation Army's (PLA) naval member who had even served as a PLA boat captain.

According to the CGA, the 60-year-old Ruan was questioned by Taipei prosecutors on suspicion of violating the Act Governing Relations Between the People of the Taiwan Area and the Mainland Area () and the Immigration Act ().

The Shihlin District Prosecutors Office said the suspect has now been taken into custody by the National Immigration Agency pending further probes.

An unnamed source familiar with the incident told local media that Ruan had claimed he wanted to defect to Taiwan because he had made some anti-Chinese government comments on online messaging apps.

(By Wang Cheng-chung and Joseph Yeh)

Enditem/kb

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Taiwan should be on high alert after speedboat incursion: Experts

ROC Central News Agency

06/11/2024 12:07 PM

Taipei, June 11 (CNA) Defense experts have urged Taiwan's government to be on high alert following the arrest of a Chinese national in New Taipei's Tamsui District who claimed to have driven a speedboat as part of a mission to "defect" from China to Taiwan.

The Coast Guard Administration (CGA) on Sunday arrested the man who allegedly drove a motorboat into a harbor at the mouth of the Tamsui River that leads into the capital Taipei.

The suspicious vessel was monitored after being spotted at around 11 a.m. Sunday, 6 nautical miles (11 kilometers) off the coast of Tamsui, according to the CGA.

After entering the Tamsui River, the boat collided with other vessels at a ferry terminal, prompting the Tamsui ferry operators to contact the CGA and file a report.

The intruder, identified as a 60-year-old man surnamed Ruan (), is now being questioned by Taipei prosecutors on suspicion of violating the Act Governing Relations Between the People of the Taiwan Area and the Mainland Area () and the Immigration Act ().

An unnamed source familiar with the incident told local media that Ruan claimed he wanted to defect to Taiwan after making anti-Chinese government comments on online messaging apps.

The incident drew attention from media and military experts because the Tamsui River is considered a critical strategic location and serves as the gateway to Taipei, the nation's political, economic and social capital, where the Presidential Office and other important government institutions are situated.

Taiwan's military regularly holds drills in the Tamsui River estuary, the Port of Taipei, and Bali Beach -- the so-called "defense triangle of Taipei" -- to test its capability to guard the critical strategic location.

Asked to comment, three defense experts told CNA on Monday that it is still unclear whether Ruan really wanted to defect, or if the incident was part of a Chinese government test on Taiwan's coastal and harbor management and defense.

Su Tzu-yun (), a research fellow at the government-funded Institute for National Defense and Security Research (INDSR), said it is unlikely Ruan could have driven more than 200 km from the coast of China to Taiwan on a speedboat.

It is more likely that his speedboat was released from a larger vessel midway, Su suspected.

Lin Ying-yu (), an assistant professor at Tamkang University's Institute of Strategic Studies, said Taiwan has the technological capability to monitor its shores at all times, but that the Sunday incident revealed certain weaknesses in harbor management and control.

Lin said it was not unlikely that the Chinese Communist Party was behind the incident to test Taiwan's defense abilities. He called on the government to remain on high alert.

Shu Hsiao-huang (), another INDSR member, said this incident shows Taiwan's CGA, police, and military must have clearer jurisdictions to help them respond timely to such incidents.

"Or in the future, the People's Liberation Army could continue testing Taiwan's defenses near the Tamsui River estuary by sending more and more civilian ships, speedboats or even unnamed ships," he warned.

(By Matt Yu and Joseph Yeh)

Enditem/kb

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Cabinet officially requests Legislature reconsiders oversight bills

ROC Central News Agency

06/11/2024 08:49 PM

Taipei, June 11 (CNA) The Cabinet on Tuesday evening confirmed that it had submitted a request for the Legislature to reconsider recently passed law revisions aimed at improving its oversight of the executive branch.

In a press release, the Cabinet said the deliberation leading up to the passage of the amendments had "failed to conform to democratic principles" enshrined in the Constitution and hence "constituted significant flaws."

The announcement came hours after President Lai Ching-te (ea) signed off on the request, a required procedure if the Cabinet wants to reject bills or resolutions passed by the Legislature.

Lawmakers have 15 days to vote on whether to uphold the passage of the amendments to the Law Governing the Legislative Yuan's Power and the Criminal Code, which were designed to boost the lawmaking body's ability to oversee the president and Cabinet by strengthening its powers to investigate government wrongdoing.

Opposition Kuomintang and Taiwan People's Party lawmakers, who pushed through the bills with a majority in the Legislature, have pledged to continue backing the revisions despite opposition from the Cabinet and ruling Democratic Progressive Party lawmakers.

(By Teng Pei-ju)

Enditem/AW

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President approves request for Legislature to reconsider bills

ROC Central News Agency

06/11/2024 04:02 PM

Taipei, June 11 (CNA) President Lai Ching-te (ea) has signed off on a Cabinet request for the Legislature to reconsider recently passed law revisions aimed at improving the oversight of the executive branch.

In a press release, Presidential Office spokeswoman Kuo Ya-hui (ee) said the Presidential Office notified the Cabinet and the Legislature of Lai's decision Tuesday morning, adding that the president looked forward to "a broad consensus on the amendments' legitimacy and constitutionality" once members of the Legislature reexamined the passed bills.

The amendments to the Law Governing the Legislative Yuan's Power and the Criminal Code were approved on May 28 by opposition Kuomintang (KMT) and Taiwan People's Party (TPP) lawmakers, who form a majority in the Legislature.

However, the Cabinet said June 6 that it would seek reconsideration by the Legislature on the grounds that the passed bills were "unconstitutional" and "difficult to implement."

The passed measures will give the Legislature new investigative powers and the power to hold hearings, which include potentially imposing penalties on public officials and related individuals if they refuse to attend or provide information, or present false information.

There are also measures requiring the president's presence at the Legislative Yuan to give an annual state of the nation address and then take questions from the floor.

Although the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) has vehemently opposed the revisions, it advocated for increased oversight of the executive branch while in opposition. However, the party has sidelined this issue since coming into power in 2016.

The KMT and TPP, meanwhile, maintain that the revisions have followed due process and are a necessary reform, particularly in light of allegations of corruption and wrongdoing relating to several major DPP government policies and investment projects.

According to Article 3-2 (2) of the Additional Articles of the Constitution of the Republic of China, if the Executive Yuan finds a bill passed by the Legislative Yuan difficult to execute, it can, with presidential approval, request the Legislature's reconsideration within 10 days of receiving the bill.

Within 15 days of receiving the Cabinet's request, the Legislature must vote on whether to uphold the bill's passage. If the Legislature fails to reach a decision within this period, the bill will become void.

It requires the consent of more than half of all sitting legislators, or a minimum of 57 votes in the current Legislature, to uphold the bill.

If a minimum of 57 lawmakers support the contentious law revisions, the president will then be required to sign them into law.

Should this happen, the Cabinet, or DPP lawmakers, may move to seek a ruling from the Constitutional Court on the constitutionality of the revisions.

(By Teng Pei-ju)

Enditem/ASG

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Detention of two Taiwanese in China sparks concern about personal safety

By William Yang June 11, 2024

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 China's 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 aren't appropriate for public display," he told VOA, adding that the police took away anything related to LGBTQ topics.

Lin isn't the only Taiwanese briefly detained in China in recent weeks. Taiwan's 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 council's 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 Taiwan's 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 hasn't publicly commented on the two cases and VOA has reached out to China's 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, China's rubber-stamp parliament vowed to adopt several security-related laws in 2024.

Some analysts say the detention of the two Taiwanese reflects China's growing concern about Taiwan potentially pursuing independence under President Lai Ching-te's leadership and Beijing's attempt to stop this trend.

"Beijing's efforts to enact a series of new laws related to national security show that they believe it's 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 it's 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 don't think I will consider traveling to China anytime soon because I'm 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.

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PLA activities in the waters and airspace around Taiwan

ROC Ministry of National Defense

2024/06/12

PLA activities in the waters and airspace around Taiwan

1.Dateis

6 to 6 a.m. (UTC+8) Tuesday to Wednesday, Jun. 11-12

2.PLA activitiesis

13 PLA aircraft and 9 PLAN vessels operating around Taiwan were detected up until 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. 9 of the aircraft crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait and entered Taiwan's southwestern and southeastern 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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Press release on Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's meeting with Foreign Minister of the Republic of TArkiye Hakan Fidan

11 June 2024 12:06

1114-11-06-2024



On June 11, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov met with Foreign Minister of the Republic of TArkiye Hakan Fidan on the sidelines of the BRICS Foreign Ministers Meeting in Nizhny Novgorod.

The ministers exchanged views on the ongoing bilateral political dialogue and trade and economic cooperation. The Russian side emphasised the importance of maintaining close interaction to address current issues, expand ties, and explore promising areas of cooperation further.

The meeting participants discussed various aspects of the international agenda, including the situation in the Middle East and South Caucasus, as well as developments on certain international platforms. Sergey Lavrov briefed his Turkish counterpart on the priorities of Russia's chairmanship in BRICS. The Russian Federation's key assessments of the situation concerning the Ukrainian conflict were also outlined.

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Russian Defence Minister Andrei Belousov holds meeting on medical support for participants of special military operation

10.06.2024

Minister of Defence Andrei Belousov and Minister of Healthcare Mikhail Murashko discussed medical support for participants of the special military operation.

The meeting was attended by Mikhail Kuznetsov, the Head of the Executive Committee of the All-Russian People's Front, and Alla Bochkovskaya, the Head of Rehabilitation and Prosthetics of the Fund for Assistance to Disabled Veterans and Veterans of Combat Operations.

During the meeting, they discussed issues related to the medical care provided to participants of the special military operation, as well as the rehabilitation and prosthetics for servicemen.

Andrei Belousov noted the particular importance of co-operation between the military and civilian segments of the healthcare system.

'I would like to stress that the system of assistance to the participants of the special military operation should be common. Servicemen have additional duties associated with the risk to life, get wounds and injuries. We should develop a system of relations between the ministries so that the military get high-quality treatment in the most effective way,' the head of the Russian military department said.

Department for Media Affairs and Information

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Rumen Radev: The Position of the B9 that Each Country Should Decide Whether and How to Provide Assistance to Ukraine According to Its Capacity Is in Support of Common Sense and Focuses on the Search for a Solution to Achieve Peace through Negotiations

President of the Republic of Bulgaria

11 June 2024 | 15:06

Bulgaria will continue to develop its own defence capacity and strengthening the deterrent and defence potential of NATO's eastern flank, the president stressed in Riga before the B9 summit

The position of the B9 that each country should decide whether and how to provide support to Ukraine according to its capacity is in support of common sense and focuses on the search for a solution to achieve peace through negotiations, in accordance with the UN Charter. This was stated by head of state Rumen Radev to journalists in Riga before the start of the summit of the countries of the B9 group. NATO member countries Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia, Hungary, the Czech Republic and Poland participate in the regional format for consultations and dialogue on security issues. Today's high-level meeting in the Latvian capital is attended by the new NATO member countries Sweden and Finland, as well as NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg.

The head of state emphasised that our country was an active participant in the preparatory process of the Riga summit, and the initial proposal for a joint statement, which included the obligation of each B9 country to provide military aid to Ukraine, was changed on his initiative. As a result, the position was adopted that each country should decide on its own at its own discretion and according to its own capabilities whether and how to help Ukraine - whether with military, financial or humanitarian aid, said Rumen Radev.

According to the President, this is also a step towards shifting the focus from seeking solutions to this war on the battlefield, which is associated with many casualties and destruction, uncontrolled escalation and a growing risk to global peace, to seeking negotiated solutions in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations. That is why we support in this joint statement the preparations for the summit in Switzerland, which will be difficult and with limited expectations from now on, because for full peace negotiations there must be representatives from both sides, but it is a very important first step towards a future peace process, the head of state stressed.

In response to a question, Rumen Radev pointed out that the regional cooperation format covers nine countries from NATO's eastern flank, and it is normal to have different views on the extent to which they should be involved in supporting Ukraine and the military solution to this conflict. I think we have to be aware of the realities. We all want international law to prevail as soon as possible, Ukraine to restore its territorial integrity and Russia to end its aggression, but we must take into account the realities, which are that Ukraine alone does not have the material, financial, or human resources to achieve this goals, the president noted.

The head of state stressed that there are two ways to end the war: one is through peace negotiations, and the other is through the provision of additional material, financial and human resources that Ukraine lacks from NATO countries. How do you see solving this big problem and achieving this goal that we all want to see? Will this be done at the cost of including additional material, financial and human resources of the NATO countries? Do you agree that we should take this path, which leads to an absolutely unknown destination and with a huge risk for global security, the president also stated.

Rumen Radev stressed that the B9 summit is extremely important against the background of the ongoing bloody war in Ukraine and in view of preparations for the NATO summit in Washington in July. This year's B9 summit is different, however, as for the first time there will not be a joint declaration by all participants, but only a statement from the co-chairs Poland and Romania, and the host Latvia, because no full consensus has been reached on the text of a joint declaration regarding the different views on how to achieve a way out of Russia's bloody war against Ukraine.

Rumen Radev also pointed out that Bulgaria will continue to develop its own defence capacity and contribute to strengthening the deterrent and defence potential of NATO's eastern flank. This year, our country also reaches the stipulated 2 percent of its gross domestic product defence spending. Finally, the parliament adopted the ambitious program for the modernisation of the Armed Forces, which had been prepared for a long time, and I expect the Bulgarian defence industry to find a wider place in this modernisation program, the head of state pointed out. The President also called for the implementation of many more systems in the process of modernisation of the Armed Forces, which would contribute to the inclusion of forces and assets in a single information space and to increase interoperability with our allies. Only with joint efforts can we face any challenges and guarantee our common security, President Rumen Radev also pointed out

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CEB and Ukraine sign a loan agreement to address urgent housing needs

Council of Europe

CEB

Berlin (Germany)

11 June 2024

At the Ukraine Recovery Conference on 11 June 2024 Council of Europe Development Bank (CEB) Governor Carlo Monticelli and the Minister of Finance of Ukraine Serhii Marchenko signed a a100 million loan agreement on project "HOME: Compensation for destroyed residential properties," supporting the mechanism established by the Government to address targeted and urgent housing needs.

The Russian Federation's full-scale invasion of Ukraine has caused significant civilian casualties and damage to infrastructure, taking a severe human, social and economic toll. Housing continues to be one of the sectors most impacted by the war, with over 10% of the total housing stock in Ukraine either damaged or destroyed, affecting close to two million households.

Responding to urgent housing needs, the Government of Ukraine has established a mechanism to provide compensation to the owners of residential properties destroyed by the war. The Ministry for Communities, Territories and Infrastructure Development of Ukraine will be in charge of the implementation of the project.

"I am delighted to sign the first lending agreement between the CEB and the Government of Ukraine. This is just the beginning. The CEB, as the social development bank of Europe, is committed to supporting Ukraine's long-term development and social cohesion, which are essential components of recovery and reconstruction. I look forward to continuing to work on the priorities identified by the Government by leveraging the CEB's mission, expertise, and resources for the benefit of the Ukrainian people," said CEB Governor Carlo Monticelli.

"Russia's full-scale war has caused more than US$50 billion in damage to Ukraine's housing sector. The HOME project will support the affected citizens in returning to a normal life as soon as possible. We are extremely grateful to the CEB for its ongoing support and solidarity with Ukraine. The further implementation and development of projects to support the social sector will contribute to sustainable social development and recovery," commented Serhii Marchenko, Ukraine's Minister of Finance.

"In less than a year after Ukraine joined the CEB, we are already starting two important social projects financed by the Bank. This demonstrates the Bank's trust in Ukraine as a partner and commitment to support us in the face of the constant challenges of a full-scale war. I am convinced that our further cooperation will contribute to the successful implementation and development of new financial and loan programs in the social sector," said Olga Zykova, Deputy Finance Minister and member of the CEB's Administrative Council.

Nataliia Kozlovska, Deputy Minister for Communities, Territories and Infrastructure Development of Ukraine, stated: "The start of the cooperation with the Council of Europe Development Bank offers to the Ukrainian citizens the confidence that their call for justice has been heard. As a result of the agreement signed today, more than two thousand families whose homes were destroyed will be able to receive compensation and restore their homes."

Under HOME, priority rights are reserved for the most vulnerable individuals and families, including combatants, persons with disabilities and large families. More than 2 000 families are expected to have a new home with the help of CEB financing.

Following the signature of the loan agreement, the CEB and the Ministry for Communities, Territories and Infrastructure Development of Ukraine signed a joint statement to collaborate and partner in the pursuit of joint projects targeted at urgent housing needs.

Acknowledging the importance of HOME in supporting the reintegration of Ukrainian citizens in the country, the Bank will provide additional grant resources from its trust funds to further enhance the impact of the compensation mechanism under the project.

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Estonia contributes a400 000 for rebuilding Ukraine's energy infrastructure

Republic of Estonia - Ministry of Foreign Affairs

11.06.2024

Today 11 June, Undersecretary for Economic and Development Affairs Mariin Ratnik attended a meeting of the G7+ Ukraine Energy Coordination Group in Berlin as part of a Ukraine reconstruction conference, and announced that Estonia would contribute a400 000 to the Ukraine Energy Support Fund.

"The goal of Russia's attacks is obvious: knocking out the energy infrastructure is an attempt to destroy the operation of Ukraine's economy and society. Russia's energy terror is forcing Ukraine's companies and households to restrict their energy consumption, as the energy system would not manage otherwise," Undersecretary Ratnik said.

"Under these conditions, it is crucial for the international community to offer quick and coordinated support to help restore Ukraine's energy infrastructure. Considering the drastically deteriorated state of Ukraine's energy sector, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has decided to allocate a400 000 to the Ukraine Energy Support Fund," Ratnik said. "This will help Ukraine fund the reconstruction of its energy system and become better prepared for next winter," she noted. The sum is allocated from the development cooperation instruments of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

By now, Ukraine has lost more than 50% of its energy production capacity and this year, Russia's attacks have disabled more than 9 gigawatts worth of energy production. Almost all thermoelectric power plants have been damaged and some have been destroyed completely, causing damages to the energy system worth more than a1 billion. The situation is particularly critical in Kharkiv and Kyiv.

Estonia has supported Ukraine's energy infrastructure since Russia began attacking energy sites in the autumn of 2022. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has cooperated with Estonian energy companies and the Ministry of Climate to send generators, more than 60 different transformers, including power transformers, and other energy equipment to Ukraine. Cooperation continues on potential future contributions.

The Ukraine Energy Support Fund was established by the European Commission and Ukraine's Ministry of Energy, and it is managed by the international organisation Energy Community. The aim of the fund is to finance the urgent needs of Ukraine's energy companies, such as buying spare parts, obtaining fuel supplies, commissioning repair works etc. Governments, international organisations, companies and other actors can contribute to the fund. With the contribution made in late 2023, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has allocated a450 000 to the fund so far.

Since Russia is continuing its attacks on Ukraine's energy sites, which is a violation of international law, Estonia calls on all countries and organisations to contribute to the Ukraine Energy Support Fund.

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Opening speech by President von der Leyen at the Ukraine Recovery Conference

European Commission

Speech

11 June 2024

Berlin

"Check against delivery"

Chancellor Scholz,

President Zelenskyy,

First Lady, dearest Olena,

Presidents,

Prime Ministers,

Ministers,

Excellencies,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

It has been almost 900 days since Russia's full-scale invasion began. But the stakes are just as clear as on day one. We know what the two sides in this conflict stand for. Russia fights to end Ukraine. Ukraine fights to end the war. Russia fights for the past. Ukraine fights for a better future. Russia destroys. Ukraine defends. In no place is this contrast starker than in the embattled city of Kharkiv. Two years ago, the people of Kharkiv pushed back Russia's aggression. And since then, they have not only rebuilt; they have opened new cultural centres; they have drafted plans for a greener city, a city that thrives on traditional industries as well as innovative start-ups. But Russian bombs are now raining again from the sky, targeting apartment buildings and shopping centres. Putin wants to crush the city and its love for life and liberty. So Kharkiv and Ukraine need all our support. And this is what brings us here to Berlin. Putin must fail. Ukraine must prevail. And we must help Ukraine to rise from the ashes and be master of its own future.

This means, first and foremost, that we must provide Ukraine with the means to defend itself. At last years' Recovery Conference, I said we should transfer to Ukraine the proceeds of immobilised Russian assets. And now we are making it happen, in line with international law, and while ensuring the stability of financial markets. Around EUR 1.5 billion from the windfall profits will become available in July: 90% of these funds will go to defence, 10% to reconstruction. And later this week, at the G7 Summit, we will further discuss how Ukraine can benefit even quicker from the proceeds of the immobilised Russian assets. We have always said that Russia must be held accountable for its crimes. And now, we are making Russia pay.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

The rationale of this conference has always been to look beyond Ukraine's immediate needs and chart a credible path towards its economic renaissance. In London last year, I presented the new EUR 50 billion Facility for Ukraine, to provide predictable support until 2027. And Member States supported, also thanks to your tireless personal effort, Olaf. The Facility is backed by a solid plan for reforms and investments. It is now up and running. EUR 6 billion have already reached Ukraine. And here in Berlin, we are signing the first agreements worth EUR 1.4 billion with our partner banks, to attract investments in Ukraine from the private sector. And, as you have already mentioned, Olaf, we will also launch dedicated support for equity investments in Ukraine. Our partner banks will be able to apply for EU budget support, when they invest in equity funds active in Ukraine. In that way, we, the EU, help them remove some of the risks associated with equity investments. Our aim is to improve access to finance for Ukrainian businesses, especially for SMEs and start-ups that can help modernise the Ukrainian economy, for example, in areas like IT and digitalisation, renewable energy, and critical raw materials. We will start with a pilot to address the most urgent needs, which can be scaled up over time. I know the business community wants to step up its contribution. And together, we will mobilise the financial firepower to help Ukraine resist and recover.

This includes of course also continued material support, in view of Russia's systematic attacks on Ukraine's energy grid. We have raised close to EUR 500 million so far, for urgent repairs. In addition, we are providing 1,000 more generators for urgent power generation. And thousands of solar panels are about to arrive in Ukraine. The aim is to help decentralise the power system and thus increase resilience.

Today, I can also announce that we will deliver to Ukraine an additional EUR 1.9 billion from our Ukraine Facility by the end of this month. This is because of the comprehensive reforms and investment strategy that Ukraine has approved. It is called the Ukraine Plan. The Ukraine Plan includes, for instance, justice sector and anti-corruption reforms. This forms the basis of making Ukraine attractive for business and investors. And it is also bringing Ukraine closer to our European Union. Ukraine has fulfilled all the steps that we had set out. And this is why we believe the EU should begin accession talks with Ukraine already by the end of this month.

President Zelenskyy, dear Volodymyr,

This is the first Ukraine Recovery Conference that is held inside the European Union. And this is where your country belongs. Kharkiv is Europe. Ukraine is Europe. And our Union is your home.

Slava Ukraini. And long live Europe.

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Norway and Ukraine Sign Energy Cooperation Agreement

Government of Norway

Press release | Date: 11/06/2024

Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine has destroyed large parts of the country's energy infrastructure. In addition to military support for the defense against Russian aggression, Ukraine is in desperate need for additional and urgent support for the energy sector. This week, Norway and Ukraine signed an energy cooperation agreement.

- Norwegian businesses are committed to the recovery and rebuilding of Ukraine, and are eager to take on an active role. President Zelensky has emphasized that Ukraine want a closer cooperation with Norwegian businesses. This is a message the Norwegian government cannot and will not ignore. We will contribute to facilitating a close and constructive cooperation between authorities, businesses, and civil society with Ukraine, says Minister of Trade and Industry Cecilie Myrseth.

The new energy agreement between the Norwegian and Ukrainian Ministries of Energy and was signed by Minister of Trade and Industry Cecilie Myrseth and Ukraine's Minister of Energy Herman Halushchenko when they met in Berlin on Monday, June 10.

- The Memorandum of Understanding between Norway and Ukraine covers key areas of the energy sector, such as gas, renewable energy, networks, and the operation of power markets. These are areas where Norway has expertise and a strong business sector, and I am pleased that this can be useful in Ukraine. The agreement will be a good supplement to other efforts, including donations of technical equipment that Norwegian power and grid companies have contributed since 2022, says Minister of Energy Terje Aasland.

The agreement covers a wide range of topics, including renewable energy, energy efficiency, and smart digital solutions for the green energy transition and to strengthen energy security.

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Multi-agency Donor Coordination Platform: Joint Ministerial CommuniquA

Government Offices of Sweden

Statement by Ministry for Foreign Affairs

Published 11 June 2024

June 11, 2024

We, the MDCP members convened today the first annual ministerial meeting of the Multi-agency Donor Coordination Platform for Ukraine (MDCP), at the 2024 Ukraine Recovery Conference in Berlin. We acknowledged the support provided to Ukraine since February 2022 and reaffirm our unwavering commitment to continue supporting Ukraine in view of Russia's illegal, unjustifiable, and unprovoked war against the country. We will continue to coordinate our efforts to meet Ukraine's financing needs, preserve macroeconomic and financial stability, and develop a sustainable, resilient, inclusive, gender-responsive, and green recovery based on strong democratic institutions, the rule of law, and anti-corruption measures. Our unified economic support totals more than USD 142.8 billion to date. Ukraine has already received more than USD 74 billion from our countries in budget support, the majority of the USD 85 billion provided by all donors.

We acknowledge the ongoing challenges Ukraine faces and reiterate our commitment to work towards addressing Ukraine's needs for 2024 and 2025. Through our joint efforts, we have made considerable progress in closing the external financing gap for 2024. This includes disbursement of USD 6.5 billion from the EU, USD 2.1 billion from Japan, USD 1.5 billion from Canada, USD 881 million of IMF financing under the Extended Fund Facility, USD 516 million from the UK, and USD 295 million from Norway in January-June 2024. It also includes an additional USD 10.9 billion to be disbursed by the EU subject to the implementation of commitments outlined in the Ukraine Plan and forming part of the USD 41.2 billion for budget support from 2024 through 2027. Working with Congress, the United States intends to provide USD 7.8 billion in budget support, Japan has committed an additional USD 2.0 billion, and the UK an additional USD 484 million. We continue to assess how we can meet emerging supplemental budget needs caused by Russia's continuing aggression in a predictable and regular manner to maintain financial and economic stability. We welcome the EU decision to direct extraordinary profits stemming from immobilized Russian sovereign assets for the benefit of Ukraine. G7 countries are making progress in their discussions on potential avenues to bring forward the extraordinary profits stemming from immobilized Russian sovereign assets to the benefit of Ukraine, consistent with international law and their respective legal systems, with a view to presenting options to G7 Leaders ahead of the Apulia Summit. The G7, the Netherlands and Sweden reaffirm that, consistent with our respective legal systems, Russia's sovereign assets in our jurisdictions will remain immobilized until Russia pays for the damage it has caused to Ukraine.

We firmly condemn Russia's targeting of Ukraine's energy infrastructure. We reiterate our call of accountability for all international crimes committed in and against Ukraine. As we have stood in solidarity with Ukraine for the last two winters, we commit to continue to support Ukraine with significant emergency assistance to help repair and stabilise the energy grid and restore power generation, first and foremost in preparation for the next winter. As part of the G7+ energy coordination group, we have committed and pledged over USD 1 billion in additional financing and in-kind donations to respond to these most urgent energy sector needs after Russia escalated its attacks on Ukraine's critical infrastructure, particularly its power generation facilities. The group has focused its assistance on materials for the protection of energy infrastructure, urgent repairs, and development of distributed power solutions to enable longer-term economic sustainability and growth. At the Ukraine Recovery Conference, the members of the G7+ energy coordination group reiterated their collective support for Ukraine's energy sector, including through the Clean Energy Partnership, acknowledged progress on key business-enabling reforms, and pledged additional assistance to achieve Ukraine's vision of a modern, more decentralized, greener energy system that is integrated with Europe.

We welcome Ukraine's strong commitment to reforms and the progress made so far, which will contribute to improving conditions for investment and economic growth. We welcome the Ukrainian Government's publication of its reform matrix, a prioritized and sequenced list of all of Ukraine's reform commitments, including those stemming from the Ukraine Plan and Ukraine's EU accession path, and stress the importance of further sound implementation of these reforms under difficult circumstances. The positive economic impact of the Ukraine's reform agenda can be supported through the mitigation of macro financial risks, ensuring security of energy supply, securing export routes, including through the EU-Ukraine Solidarity Lanes, and access to affordable finance, including to offset effects of war on labour market and induce productivity of the private sector as a backbone of competitive economy. The matrix and white paper on economic growth presented by Ukraine will serve as a tool to assist all stakeholders, including Ukrainian and international civil society, in facilitating the coordination of economic reforms and supporting and monitoring Ukraine's reform progress as the foundation for long-term green and sustainable socio-economic growth.

We reaffirm our determination to continue providing support to respond to Ukraine's urgent early recovery and reconstruction needs. We support Ukraine's launch of its public investment management reform and Strategic Investment Council aimed at improving project planning, prioritization, and preparation of a single pipeline of projects to maximize donor and private sector investments to Ukraine from 2025 onwards. In this context, we commit to continuing our efforts to address the short-, medium- and long-term transportation needs of Ukraine, including with over USD 800 million in announced funding for 2024 by the Platform. We all commit to principles of aid effectiveness, sustained responsible stewardship, donor coordination, transparency, and accountability in reconstruction projects, including through enhancing digital platforms.

To support Ukraine's public investment management process, the Government of Ukraine, the United States, the United Kingdom and the European Commission in collaboration with MDCP members, plan to develop a new Project Preparation Framework to boost Ukraine's project preparation capacity, in cooperation with the World Bank Group, the European Investment Bank and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. The Steering Committee of the Multi-agency Donor Coordination Platform will take the matter further at its next meeting, including presenting plans to develop project preparation facilities. This will contribute to the recovery, reconstruction and modernization effort, in line with Ukraine's commitment to its EU accession process.

In Berlin, we met the members of the newly launched Business Advisory Council and committed to receive their advice on how Ukraine and donors can strengthen Ukraine's investment climate, attract private sector investment, and bolster Ukrainian enterprises.

The Multi-agency Donor Coordination Platform will strive to further foster robust and effective channels for assistance coordination to ensure donors are meeting Ukraine's highest priority needs. Steering Committee members will meet again in the fall, hosted by Italy's Presidency of the G7.

Permanent members of the Multi-agency Donor Coordination Platform are Italy, Canada, the European Commission on behalf of the European Union, France, Germany, Japan, Ukraine, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Temporary members are the Republic of Korea, the Netherlands, Norway, and Sweden.

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Death of two Indian nationals in the Russia-Ukraine conflict

India - Ministry of External Affairs

June 11, 2024

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.

The Ministry of External Afffairs 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.

New Delhi

June 11, 2024

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The President at the Bucharest Nine summit: Ukraine's victory has to become our strategic goal

President of the Republic of Lithuania

June 11, 2024

President Gitanas NausAda is participating in the Bucharest Nine summit in Riga on Tuesday, where in the afternoon he addressed the leaders' panel on long-term support for Ukraine.

In his address, the Head of State underlined that Ukraine's victory is the only way to bring peace and stability back to Europe, and that it is a prerequisite for the security of the entire transatlantic area.

"We need to make it clear that our strategic goal is the victory of Ukraine. So far, the actions of allies have not been sufficient to achieve victory. We need to consider all options of military support for Ukraine, in particular on the urgent and vital issue of providing air defense capabilities. As we prepare for the Washington NATO Summit, we need to find solutions to bring Ukraine at least one step closer to NATO membership," the Head of State pointed out.

The President stressed that NATO allies should not be guided by the red lines drawn by Russia in their support for Ukraine. This, he said, makes the West too predictable, while maintaining strategic unpredictability is crucial for successful assistance efforts.

Gitanas NausAda emphasized that Lithuania has been and will continue to be fully committed to supporting Ukraine militarily. He also pointed out that Lithuania has contributed a35 million to the Czech initiative to buy ammunition for Ukraine and has joined the German air defense initiative and will transfer radars to Ukraine.

"Lithuania's total support for Ukraine already exceeds a1 billion. Half of this amount is military assistance. We plan to allocate 0.25% of our GDP to support Ukraine every year," the Head of State underscored.



The President's Communication Group

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Zelenskiy Seeks Billions For Ukraine's Defense, Postwar Recovery At Conference

By RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service June 11, 2024

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy says he expects to secure billions of euros in pledges for his country's defense and postwar reconstruction while attending the Ukraine Recovery Conference in Berlin.

Germany is hosting a two-day conference to plan Ukraine's postwar reconstruction and recovery once the war sparked by Russia's full-scale invasion, which has left large swathes of the country in ruins, ends. It brings together 2,000 people from politics, business, and other spheres.

"We will leave this conference with agreements for billions of euros for our defense, 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," Zelenskiy told the two-day conference that began on June 11 in the German capital.

Zelenskiy highlighted Russian attacks on Ukraine's energy facilities, which he said have destroyed half of the country's electricity generation capacity since winter.

"As a result of the strikes of Russian missiles and drones, 9 gigawatts of capacity have already been destroyed. The peak of electricity consumption last winter was 18 gigawatts. So half now doesn't exist," Zelenskiy said.

Sustained Russian attacks on Ukraine's power grid have forced Kyiv to institute nationwide rolling blackouts.

Zelenskiy urged Kyiv's allies to supply more air-defense systems to Ukraine, saying it was "the answer" to halting Russian advances and securing lasting peace.

"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," Zelenskiy said, adding: "Air defense is the answer."

In a statement issued ahead of the conference, German Development Minister Svenja Schulze said that "even during the current times of war, Ukraine needs to continually rebuild houses, water pipelines, hospitals, and power grids."

"People want to keep on living in their country, and to do so they need electricity, water, and a roof over their heads," the statement added.

Germany is the second-largest supplier of military equipment to Kyiv after the United States.

Later on June 11, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius vowed to provide Ukraine with additional weapons, including another 100 Patriot missiles, along with reconnaissance and attack drones, small arms, and sniper weapons.

"We will make this possible without delay," Pistorius said during a visit with Zelenskiy to a training site in northeastern Germany. Ukrainian soldiers are being trained at the site on a Patriot air-defense system that will eventually be transferred to Ukraine.

Two U.S. officials on June 11 said Washington would send Ukraine another Patriot missile system, confirming an earlier report by The New York Times.

The Berlin conference is taking place a day after the United States removed restrictions on the transfer of U.S. weapons and training to the controversial Ukrainian military unit the Azov Brigade.

The move will help the unit, one of Ukraine's most effective and popular fighting groups, move beyond its reputation as a far-right movement that has been a constant target of Russian propaganda.

The brigade, which ferociously defended the Azovstal steel mill in Mariupol during the early months of Russia's full-scale invasion before finally succumbing, was barred from using U.S. arms in 2014 because U.S. officials said they found some of its founders embraced racist, xenophobic, and ultranationalist views and that the group associated with far-right groups and neo-Nazi ideology.

UN human rights officials have accused the brigade of committing humanitarian violations.

U.S. law prohibits the provision of equipment and training to foreign military unit or individuals suspected of committing gross human rights violations, but the State Department said the Leahy vetting process was applied to the Azov Brigade, which has been taken into Ukraine's National Guard as the 12th Special Forces Brigade.

It added that it found "no evidence of Gross Violations of Human Rights (GVHR) committed by the 12th Brigade Azov."

The Berlin conference comes ahead of a G7 meeting in Italy on June 13-14 where Ukraine will be one of the main topics as countries discuss how to use profits generated by Russian assets frozen in the West to provide Kyiv with financing.

Following that, more than 90 countries and organizations will be represented at a peace summit in Switzerland over the weekend, although Russia was not invited and China will not attend.

Meeting in Latvia on June 11, NATO's eastern flank leaders, known as the Bucharest Nine, said they will take "a more coordinated approach" to Ukraine when it comes to support.

Meanwhile, Russian forces continued attacks on Ukrainian targets, with Ukrainian authorities saying at least five people were injured in blasts in the city of Konstantynivka in Ukraine's eastern Donetsk region.

The office of the regional prosecutor said on Facebook on June 11 that the victims sustained injuries "as a result of broken glass and a powerful blast wave."

At least, 13 residential buildings were damaged by the attack that occurred late in the evening on June 10, the statement added.

With reporting by AP, AFP, and Reuters

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-conference- berlin-donetsk-attack/32987666.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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One Killed, 3 Injured in Kiev's Shelling of Shebekino From MLRS - Belgorod Region Governor

Sputnik News

20240611

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - One person was killed as a result of a direct hit on an apartment building during the Ukrainian shelling of the town of Shebekino in Russia's Belgorod Region from multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS), and another three were wounded, Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov said on Wednesday.

"The town of Shebekino was shelled by the Ukrainian armed forces from MLRS. One civilian was killed as a result of a direct hit of a shell on an apartment. The man died of his wounds on the spot before medics arrived. I express my sincere condolences to the family and friends of the deceased. As of this moment, three people were wounded. Two women with various shrapnel wounds to the hands and legs were taken by ambulance crews to the city hospital No. 2 in Belgorod," Gladkov said on Telegram.

The governor said the victims were provided with medical care, adding that the third victim suffered a concussion and was treated on the spot as he refused hospitalization.

Gladkov also said that six private residences, 11 apartment buildings, nine vehicles and a power line were damaged in the shelling.

A Sputnik

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Ukraine Loses Over 740 Soldiers in Battles With Russian Southern Troops

Sputnik News

20240611

MOSCOW (Sputnik) -Russia's Ministry of Defense reported on the progress of the special military operation and achievements of the Russian Armed Forces in the last 24 hours.

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.

"Units of the southern group of troops improved the situation along the front line ... The enemy lost more than 740 military personnel, two armored combat vehicles [in clashes over the past 24 hours," the ministry said in a statement.

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.

A Sputnik

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Lula Confirms Brazil's Position on Ukraine Conflict in Conversation With Putin

Sputnik News

20240611

MEXICO CITY (Sputnik) - Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on Monday held a telephone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin, during which Lula reiterated his country's position on a peaceful settlement in Ukraine involving both sides to the conflict, as set out in a joint Brazil-China document, the Brazilian presidency said.

"Lula reiterated his support for peace talks involving both sides of the conflict, according to a document signed by [Brazilian] presidential adviser Celso Amorim and [Chinese Foreign Minister] Wang Yi," the presidency said in a statement.

The phone conversation was held at Putin's initiative, who expressed solidarity with the victims of floods in Brazil's southern state of Rio Grande do Sul, the statement said.

The two presidents also discussed bilateral economic cooperation and multilateral governance, as well as BRICS New Development Bank head Dilma Rousseff's visit to Russia for the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum and Brazilian Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira's visit to Russia for the BRICS summit, it added.

In May, China and Brazil issued the document "The Common Understandings Between China and Brazil on Political Settlement of the Ukraine Crisis" that advocates dialogue and negotiations as the only viable solution to the Ukraine crisis and expresses support for an international peace conference, recognized by both Russia and Ukraine.

A Sputnik

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US Lifts Ban on Arms Supplies to Ukraine's Nationalist Battalion Azov - Reports

Sputnik News

20240611

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The US administration has lifted the ban on arms supplies to Ukraine's terrorist Azov battalion (banned in Russia), The Washington Post newspaper reported, citing the US State Department.

The formation has passed the State Department's inspection for compliance with the Leahy Law, which prohibits the provision of US military assistance to foreign units convicted of serious human rights violation, the report added.

The Azov battalion is one of the most notorious military units of the Ukrainian army, as its soldiers have been found to be involved in torture, abuse of civilians, neo-Nazism and excessive brutality since its foundation.

Earlier, there were already concerns that the prohibition on military aid to Azov was de facto losing force, particularly because the Azov fighters had become part of Ukraine's National Guard or had created new separate paramilitary formations.

A Sputnik

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In Germany, the President Inspected the Patriot Battery that Will Be Transferred to Ukraine and Met with Ukrainian Warriors Training on It

President of Ukraine

11 June 2024 - 21:03

During his working visit to Germany, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, accompanied by German Federal Minister of Defense Boris Pistorius, visited the 21 Surface-to-Air Missile Group in Sanitz. At its base, Ukrainian defenders are training to operate the Patriot air defense systems.

The Head of State inspected the system, which Germany will transfer to Ukraine after the crew completes its training.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy thanked Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Germany and all the German people for the new defense package totaling more than EUR 700 million. He also noted the transfer of one more Patriot system from Germany and the high quality of German IRIS-T systems.

"A very important aspect is that you have reduced the time for production and training on these systems. Because today this time is measured in the lives of our people. And your reduction of days, sometimes weeks, will be remembered for decades," he emphasized.

The Minister of Defense of Germany, Boris Pistorius, announced that the new package includes reconnaissance and attack drones, small arms and sniper weapons, RPGs, and 100 additional missiles to the Patriot systems that Germany is providing along with Denmark, Norway, and the Netherlands.

"With these missiles, the Ukrainian servicemen who are now training here will soon be able to protect infrastructure and save Ukrainian lives," the minister said.

The President also got acquainted with the training process, talked to the Ukrainian defenders and presented them with state awards.

"I was very pleased to hear that our guys are talented, they used to work on Soviet-made air defense systems, but they learn very quickly. And the most important thing is that they have war experience, and they share it with their German colleagues and teach each other. As the President of our country, I was pleased to hear this," Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.

He emphasized that some of these warriors come from the temporarily occupied territories. And they are very motivated because they want to get their homes back as soon as possible.

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It Is Our Leadership and the Will of Ukrainians that Must Work for Peace, Europe and Life - the President at his Speech in the Bundestag

President of Ukraine

11 June 2024 - 17:15

Dear German people!

Everyone who feels that war is wrong. Everyone who, like Ukrainians, is convinced that war is a crime against life, and who wholeheartedly wishes Ukraine to achieve peace as soon as possible, who supports us - our people, Ukrainian families, the Ukrainian State, our defense. First of all, I want to thank you all today - thank you for the humanity that prevails in your hearts. That is why Germany did not stand aside from the pain and suffering of Ukrainians. Ordinary people, different German cities, states and communities - you have helped and are helping.

Thank you, Germany!

My speech today is addressed to all of you. To those who exercise power and to those who give power. To all those who hold humanity in their hearts and who therefore remain faithful to the dream of a peaceful Europe. A Europe that is bigger than all of us. A Europe that remembers the experience of hundreds of generations that have lived on our continent, most of whom, unfortunately, were not destined to live in peace. And that is why the dream of a Europe that must be a continent of culture, must be a continent of people, must be a continent without war, has gained so much strength.

I personally have confidence in this kind of Europe.

A Europe that will surely be a happy home for our children and their children.

A Europe that will not allow hatred to take root.

The one that will do everything in its power to correct this mistake of European history - this war that is going on in our continent and is threatening to escalate into a much wider confrontation.

We will not leave it as our legacy.

We will end this war.

We will end it in the best interests of Ukraine and all of Europe. All of us. And all those who will come after us. We will end it on our own terms. The terms that are clear to any person, any ordinary person on this Earth.

Mr. Federal President!

Mr. Federal Chancellor!

Madam President of the Bundestag and Madam President of the Bundesrat!

Ladies and Gentlemen!

Dear MPs!

Dear attendees!

Dear Germany!

A divided Europe has never been peaceful.

And a divided Germany has never been happy.

You know all this not from me, you know it from your own experience.

Therefore, you can understand us - Ukrainians.

You can understand why we are fighting so hard against Russia's attempts to divide us, divide Ukraine, why we are doing everything - absolutely everything - to prevent a wall between the parts of our country.

No country should be doomed to have barbed wire tearing through its body for decades.

Humiliated European nations have never truly known peace.

Some had to fight against humiliation even after they had defeated the occupier.

That is why now - after this war - we strive not to leave any humiliation on the land that has been scarred by the attacks. No humiliation in the soul of the people.

Ukrainians deserve peace, simply peace after this war.

And everyone who defended their home; everyone who lost loved ones; everyone whose brothers and sisters in arms remained forever on the battlefields - all of them deserve a worthy end to the war, one that leaves no doubt about who won.

And the one who brought the war should, on the contrary, forget about peace. Forever. The one guilty of the war must be held accountable. They must justly answer for every crime of this war.

It is only fair accountability that gives a historic chance to heal from aggression.

Russia must go through this - complete and principled accountability for the war unleashed.

Russia must also clean up the ruins it has left behind. It must pay for all the damage caused by this aggression - both to our country and to our people.

If there are ruins somewhere, the war will return there someday. This must not happen. Never again.

We must rebuild a normal life. All of us together. Everyone who values life.

And every Russian asset that can be used for this must be used. Without any compromises with the aggressor.

The time for compromises is over.

It was over exactly when Putin started burning cities and awarding his murderers. When he chose killings over agreements.

The Russian army leaves behind dozens of new cemeteries, and this means that none of us has the right to leave behind a deficit of protection from the Russian army. The word of someone in Moscow cannot be such protection. Europe has to be a continent of sufficient strength to be a space of sufficiently robust peace.

Otherwise, it won't work.

And even if someone tried otherwise, Putin himself would erase any hope of making a deal with him.

He seeks to conquer - not just Russia's neighbors.

Russian killers were in Aleppo and are in Africa.

They learned war by destroying Grozny and breaking Georgia. They left Moldova divided.

They brought Belarus to its knees.

Are we going to allow Russia to continue this march through Europe? This march of disregard for life and nations.

Absolutely not.

And this is our common interest.

A shared interest that Putin personally loses.

That he loses this war. That Putin loses his attempt to drag Europe to a level where there is no way out of the war already.

Ladies and gentlemen!

You probably remember that just a year or two before the fall of the Berlin Wall, no one could have predicted how quickly it would happen.

Some thought that the wall would be there forever.

But it was gone.

And it depended on the leadership of politicians and the will of the people. Only on this.

Similarly, some people now think that Putin is there forever, and that there is no end to the war.

But this is not true, all this is an illusion.

An illusion that can be dispelled by leadership. It can be dispelled by decisions. It can be dispelled by success.

And we are doing it! Together with you, Germany! Ukrainians will always be grateful to you for this.

Ukraine has been holding out against full-scale aggression for more than eight hundred days. 839.

On February 24, at the beginning of this invasion, no one would have believed it was possible, but now it is a fact.

We have proven that Russia can fail and be defeated. We have shown that together with our partners, we have everything necessary to protect life.

We have demonstrated that through our cooperation, we can expand the space of security. And the space of security does not grow on its own - it only expands through joint decisions and collective courage.

All these are facts. All these are manifestations of leadership - of Ukraine, Germany, and all our allies and partners.

In particular, your leadership - those present in this hall of the Bundestag. I thank you - each and every one of you personally.

And I am especially grateful to you for your leadership in providing Ukraine with Patriots - you have saved thousands of lives. Thank you!

Do we have any other goal than peace?

No.

Do we have any other continental dream than a peaceful Europe?

No.

Do we have any other duty than to protect our nations, our Europe and the rules-based international order?

No.

Russia has other goals and dreams. It stands alone against all of us. And that is why we all have to force it to change.

And it is possible.

Because there are no walls that do not fall.

Ladies and gentlemen!

In a few days, we will meet with Mr. Chancellor of Germany and other leaders of Europe and the world in Switzerland for the inaugural Peace Summit. Russia tried to disrupt this Summit. But it will take place.

This is a joint success of Ukraine and dozens of countries.

Usually, after a war, circumstances were determined either by the winners or by a few strong ones who could intervene and impose something on everyone else. Even against their will.

Now we offer a fundamentally different format.

One in which no one can manipulate and derail agreements, as Russia has done repeatedly, and where all voices are heard - the voices of the world.

States from all parts of the world will be represented at the Peace Summit, and each of them will be able to show their character and leadership in the collective effort.

Everyone has a common goal: to begin, step by step, to fully restore security and move towards real peace. To begin, step by step, to restore the effectiveness of the UN Charter and the basic norms of international law that guarantee the sovereignty and territorial integrity of states, as well as the rights of people and nations.

We want to give diplomacy a chance - and we have gathered about a hundred states for this purpose.

Ukraine has never relied on the power of arms alone. Yes, we understand what kind of murderers we have to fight against today, and we will not forget that only weapons effectively stop them and protect our lives.

But we also remember that peace grows not out of shots, but out of guarantees - reliable guarantees that there will be no more shots, and that evil will no longer come to the land of the people it wanted to destroy.

What can give such guarantees to Ukraine now?

The unity of the world, and that is why the Peace Summit is important.

The unity of friends, and that is why our cooperation should be as effective as possible.

The unity of Europe, and that is why Ukraine needs to become a full-fledged part of the European political and security space. Just as it is the reason why you and your neighbors have lived for decades without the threat of someone taking away your country.

Dear friends!

It is up to us, together with all our partners and everyone who values life and helps protect it now, to determine what the legacy of this time will be for Europe in the times to come.

Will there be security? Will there be respect?

Will there be peace?

I am confident that we will choose the right answer. We will choose to end this war. On our terms. And we will completely eliminate the security deficit in Europe that gave Putin the illusion that his aggressive actions would succeed.

It is our leadership and the will of the Ukrainians that must succeed - for the sake of peace, for the sake of Europe, for the sake of life.

And so it will be.

There will be Europe - a continent without war.

Thank you for the invitation, thank you very much for your attention! Thank you for your attitude towards our people, whom you have sheltered since the beginning of the war. We will never forget it.

Thank you very much, Germany!

Glory to Ukraine!

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Ukrainian President and Prime Minister of the Netherlands Discussed Additional Patriot System Deliveries in Berlin

President of Ukraine

11 June 2024 - 17:10

On the sidelines of the Ukraine Recovery Conference 2024 in Berlin, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with Prime Minister of the Netherlands Mark Rutte.

The Head of State praised the leadership of the Netherlands in the initiative to supply our country with Patriot systems as soon as possible. The President also thanked for the comprehensive assistance, especially military one, which was increased to EUR 3 billion this year.

"I am grateful to the Netherlands for allocating EUR 128 million in additional financial assistance to Ukraine. It will strengthen our reconstruction capabilities and the energy sector, which has been severely damaged by Russian missile terror," Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.

During the meeting, the leaders discussed the Global Peace Summit and the joint steps needed to ensure that it brings real results for Ukraine; they also exchanged views on our country's progress on its way to the EU.

"Ukraine has successfully implemented all the European Commission's recommendations necessary to start negotiations on our country's accession to the EU. We count on the support of the Netherlands for the adoption of the negotiating framework for Ukraine at the European Council and on holding the first Intergovernmental Conference in June. This will be the actual start of the negotiation process," the President noted.

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Our Key Emphases Are the Air Defense and the Energy Industry - Volodymyr Zelenskyy at a Joint Press Conference with Olaf Scholz

President of Ukraine

11 June 2024 - 16:30

Ukraine Recovery Conference 2024 is an event that has already yielded results. This was stated by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at a joint press conference with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz after their meeting on the sidelines of the Conference in Berlin.

"Today, Ukrainian and German officials, our communities, our businesses are represented here, and now we have concrete agreements at each level that will be implemented to better protect the lives of Ukraine and Ukrainians," the Head of State said.

During the meeting, Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Olaf Scholz discussed in detail the frontline situation and the steps needed to ensure sufficient generation of energy. The President thanked him for leadership in protecting the Ukrainian skies with Patriot systems.

"Our key emphases today are, of course, the air defense and the energy industry. Once Russia's ability to terrorize its neighbors is limited, Russia will finally be forced to seek a path to real peace. It's because this is Putin's key advantage a 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. And we can do it together with Germany," the President of Ukraine noted.

The Head of State also expressed his gratitude to Germany for supporting Ukraine's path to European integration and the inaugural Peace Summit, as well as for helping our country prepare for the G7 Summit.

Chancellor of Germany Olaf Scholz assured further support for Ukraine and noted the participation of German business in reconstruction.

"Rebuilding the country will require large investments, and this is impossible without private capital. We are talking about rebuilding a country that is a future EU member. Ukraine has huge potential in renewable energy and hydrogen, as well as in such promising sectors as digitalization and IT, healthcare and pharmaceuticals," he said.

Olaf Scholz also stated that the European Commission plans to announce the creation of an equity fund that will be used to provide assistance to Ukraine.

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Ukraine Needs at Least 7 Patriot Systems to Secure Our Main Urban Agglomerations in the Near Future - President during URC2024

President of Ukraine

11 June 2024 - 13:14

Russia drops up to one hundred guided aerial bombs on Ukrainian cities and villages every day. This was stated by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Berlin during his speech at the Ukraine Recovery Conference 2024.

The Head of State noted that Russia's biggest strategic advantage over Ukraine is now the advantage in the sky. The answer to this terror is air defense. The President thanked Germany for its global leadership in helping our country to protect the sky.

"We need at least 7 Patriot systems to secure our main urban agglomerations in the near future, and this will be a driver for preserving normal life in Ukraine that our people deserve so much. In other words, it will directly contribute to defense and ensure that the economic life of the country is not destroyed," Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.

The Head of State informed that Ukraine, together with Germany, the Netherlands, the United States and other partners, was working to provide our country with more air defense systems and already saw how and when they would be able to deliver new systems.

At the same time, Olaf Scholz announced the transfer of the third Patriot system and IRIS-T systems to Ukraine. The President and the Federal Chancellor agreed on this assistance in April.

"The most urgent need of the Ukrainian army now is ammunition, weapons, especially air defense. Therefore, over the next weeks and months, we will provide Ukraine with the third Patriot system, IRIS-T and Gepard systems, missiles and ammunition," he said.

The Chancellor urged the attendees to support Germany's initiative to enhance Ukraine's air defense capabilities.

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Zelenskyy declares Europe 'must be a continent without war'

By VOA News June 11, 2024

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy delivered an emotional address Tuesday to lawmakers at Germany's Bundestag, speaking about Europe's long history of war that has denied peace to generations of Europeans.

"That is why the dream of a Europe that must be a continent of culture, must be a continent of people, must be a continent without war, has gained so much strength," he said. "I personally have confidence in this kind of Europe."

The Ukrainian leader said Russian President Vladimir Putin must be held liable for Russia's war on Ukraine.

"The time for compromises is over," Zelenskyy said. "It was over exactly when Putin started burning cities and awarding his murderers. When he chose killings over agreements."

Ukraine needs air defense, says Zelenskyy

Elsewhere on Tuesday, Zelenskyy spoke at a reconstruction conference hosted by Germany, where he stressed the need for air defenses and rebuilding Ukraine's energy system. He said Russian drone and missile attacks have destroyed half of the country's energy generation capacity since winter.

He said that after two years of war, Ukraine's military has shown it can hold the front lines 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 to secure billions of dollars in aid for its military and infrastructure needs.

Leaders will discuss peace

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.

A summit of NATO leaders is set for early July in Washington. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said Tuesday in Riga, Latvia, he expects allies at the summit will agree to a "long-term financial commitment to Ukraine."

Stoltenberg told reporters in 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.

Some information for this report came from Agence France-Presse and Reuters.

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Zelenskyy says Ukraine needs air defenses, aid for energy system

By VOA News June 11, 2024

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stressed the need for air defenses and rebuilding the country's energy system as he spoke Tuesday at a reconstruction conference hosted by Germany.

Zelenskyy said Russian forces have targeted Ukraine's energy infrastructure, with drone and missile attacks destroying half of Ukraine's energy generation capacity since winter.

He said that after two years of war, Ukraine's 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.

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Russian officials report deadly Ukrainian attack on Belgorod, while Russia attacks Kyiv

By VOA News June 12, 2024

Officials in Russia's Belgorod region said Wednesday that Ukrainian shelling killed at least one person and wounded three others.

Vyacheslav Gladkov, the regional governor, said on Telegram the attack hit the town of Shebekino, which is located close to the Ukraine border.

The shelling also damaged multiple residential buildings, Gladkov said.

In Ukraine's capital, officials said Wednesday that Russia attacked with cruise missiles and ballistic missiles.

Serhiy Popko, head of Kyiv's military administration said on Telegram, said Ukraine's air defenses destroyed all of the missiles and that initial information indicated there were no casualties or damage.

The attacks came a day after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy addressed German lawmakers, speaking about Europe's long history of war that has denied peace to generations of Europeans.

"That is why the dream of a Europe that must be a continent of culture, must be a continent of people, must be a continent without war, has gained so much strength," he said.

"I personally have confidence in this kind of Europe," Zelenskyy added.

The Ukrainian leader said Russian President Vladimir Putin must be held liable for Russia's war on Ukraine.

"The time for compromises is over," Zelenskyy said. "It was over exactly when Putin started burning cities and awarding his murderers. When he chose killings over agreements."

Elsewhere on Tuesday, Zelenskyy spoke at a reconstruction conference hosted by Germany, where he stressed the need for air defenses and rebuilding Ukraine's energy system. He said Russian drone and missile attacks have destroyed half of the country's energy generation capacity since winter.

He said that after two years of war, Ukraine's military has shown it can hold the front lines 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 to 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.

Some information for this report came from Agence France-Presse and Reuters.

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CALGARY, Alberta, June 11, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Questor Technology Inc. (Questor, the Company), (TSX Venture Exchange: QST) is pleased to announce Mr. Quentin Kyliuk, has joined the company as Vice President of Operations and Engineering and Ms. Stephanie Setiawan has joined as our team as Director of Sales and Marketing.



Quentins diverse background in engineering and manufacturing will be a valuable asset to Questors leadership team. His experience in our clients world, at engineering companies and manufacturing, will provide insightful perspectives and help drive our growth said Ms. Audrey Mascarenhas.

Mr. Kyliuk brings over 25 years of experience in executing strategic projects and enhancing program profitability. Before joining Questor, Mr. Kyliuk was a Program Manager at Startec Compression and Process. Prior to Startec, he held leadership positions on some of the largest projects ever built in Canada with major oil and gas companies and engineering firms, with a record of innovation and execution excellence. Mr. Kyliuk obtained his Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Alberta.

I am more than excited to join the team at Questor. Audrey and Questor have proven leadership in the emissions reduction space, and I look forward to the opportunity to deliver that vision to the global energy industry. Says Mr. Kyliuk.

Ms. Setiawan brings over 20 years of experience in sales leadership and marketing with major energy service companies. Ms. Setiawan obtained her Masters of Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Western Ontario and Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Calgary.

Stephanie is a tenured, entrepreneurial leader who is a perfect fit to lead our newly created sales and marketing team. Her proven track record in the energy sector in managing and growing relationships, combined with her technical expertise will be of great benefit to Questor in scaling our clean energy solutions domestically, and internationally said Ms. Audrey Mascarenhas.

I am inspired by Audreys groundbreaking vision to reduce global greenhouse emissions through innovative energy technology, pioneered right here in Calgary. Im looking forward to contributing to the high calibre team at Questor through leadership of our sales and marketing group. said Ms. Setiawan.

ABOUT QUESTOR TECHNOLOGY INC.

Questor Technology Inc., incorporated in Canada under the Business Companies Act (Alberta) is an environmental emissions reduction technology company founded in 1994, with global operations. The Company is focused on clean air technologies that safely and cost effectively improve air quality, support energy efficiency and greenhouse gas emission reductions. The Company designs, manufactures and services high efficiency clean combustion systems that destroy harmful pollutants, including Methane, Hydrogen Sulfide gas, Volatile Organic Hydrocarbons, Hazardous Air Pollutants and BTEX (Benzene, Toluene, Ethylbenzene and Xylene) gases within waste gas streams at 99.99 percent efficiency per its ISO 14034 Certification. This enables its clients to meet emission regulations, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, address community concerns and improve safety at industrial sites.

The Company also has proprietary heat to power generation technology and is currently targeting new markets including landfill biogas, syngas, waste engine exhaust, geothermal and solar, cement plant waste heat in addition to a wide variety of oil and gas projects. The combination of Questors clean combustion and power generation technologies can help clients achieve net zero emission targets for minimal cost. The Company is also doing research and development on data solutions to deliver an integrated system that amalgamates all of the emission detection data available to demonstrate a clear picture of the sites emission profile.

The Companys common shares are traded on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol QST. The address of the Companys corporate and registered office is 2240, 140  4 Avenue S.W. Calgary, Alberta, Canada, T2P 3N3.

QUESTOR TRADES ON THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE UNDER THE SYMBOL QST

Audrey Mascarenhas



President and Chief Executive Officer



Email: amascarenhas@questortech.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.

This document is not intended for dissemination or distribution in the United States.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, June 11, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- FIREWEED METALS CORP. (Fireweed or the Company) (TSXV: FWZ; OTCQX: FWEDF), is pleased to announce the results of voting at its annual general and special meeting of shareholders which was held on June 11, 2024, in Vancouver, BC (the Meeting). Full details of all the voting results for the 2024 Meeting are available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.



A total of 78,544,062 common shares, representing 52.93% of the votes attached to all outstanding shares as at the record date for the Meeting, were represented at the Meeting. All of the matters submitted to the shareholders for approval as set out in the Company's Notice of Meeting and Information Circular dated May 3, 2024, were approved by the requisite majority of votes cast at the Meeting.

The nominees for directors were elected as set out in the following table:

Director Votes For % James Beck 77,406,744 99.99 Marcus Chalk 77,399,649 99.98 Jill Donaldson 75,969,344 98.13 Patrick Downey 77,399,244 99.98 Paul Harbidge 77,408,444 99.99 Peter Hemstead 75,536,397 97.57 John Robins 75,983,350 98.15



Peter Hemstead, Interim President and CEO commented, "We would like to thank Brandon and Adrian for their contributions to the Company and wish them the best in their future endeavours. Additionally, we are pleased to welcome Jamie Beck to the Board. We look forward to his insights and contributions as we continue to grow the Company.

At the Meeting, shareholders also approved the Companys Stock Option Plan, the appointment of Davidson & Company LLP as auditors of the Company for the ensuing year, and the ability for the Board of Directors to change the name of the Company to such other name as the Board of Directors in its sole discretion determines is appropriate from time to time.

In Canada, Fireweed (TSXV: FWZ) trades on the TSX Venture Exchange. In the USA, Fireweed (OTCQX: FWEDF) trades on the OTCQX Venture Market (www.otcmarkets.com) and is DTC eligible for enhanced electronic clearing and settlement. In Europe, Fireweed (FSE: 20F) trades on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange.

Additional information about Fireweed and its projects can be found on the Companys website at FireweedMetals.com and at www.sedarplus.ca.

ON BEHALF OF FIREWEED METALS CORP.

Peter Hemstead

Director and Interim President & 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.
This partnership is set to enhance user experience with seamless portfolio management and exclusive rewards

WOO X and League of Traders launch special event to celebrate partnership with exclusive rewards and prizes for users

VICTORIA, Seychelles, June 12, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- WOO X , a global centralized crypto futures and spot trading platform offering best-in-class liquidity and price execution is pleased to announce a new strategic partnership with League of Traders , a leading social trading platform, to enhance the trading experience for our users.

This collaboration integrates WOO X's advanced centralized exchange services into League of Traders, enabling users to seamlessly connect and manage their WOO X portfolios through the League of Traders platform.

To celebrate this partnership, WOO X and League of Traders are launching a special event beginning on June 12, 2024. Users who complete tasks on either platform will be eligible to win a variety of rewards, including token airdrops, trading rebates, fee discounts, and cash prizes. This event is designed to engage our user communities and demonstrate the benefits of this powerful collaboration.

We are delighted to partner with League of Traders, said Ben Yorke, VP of Ecosystem at WOO. Our mission is to deliver a superior trading experience, and this partnership allows us to extend our reach and provide our users with enhanced capabilities. Together, we are creating a more comprehensive and user-friendly trading ecosystem.

To learn more about WOO X, download our app or visit WOO X

Contact: media@woo.network

About WOO X

WOO X is a global centralized crypto futures and spot trading platform offering best-in-class liquidity and price execution. WOO X has an average daily volume exceeding $600 million and is home to hundreds of thousands of traders worldwide. WOO X traders benefit from radical transparency through our industry-first live Proof of Reserves & liabilities dashboard and the company's mission to maintain the trust of its growing community of traders.

About League of Traders

League of Traders takes social trading to new levels, as a digital asset management platform that gamifies crypto trading for over 70,000 users. The one-of-a-kind leaderboard allows users to see which traders are at the top of their game, and which trades theyre missing out on, blending innovation with practicality. Users can use the portfolio-sharing feature for social media to verify their funds, show off their skills, or peek at another traders portfolio through their League of Traders profile. The possibilities are endless with League of Traders.

Disclaimer

The content above is neither a recommendation for investment and trading strategies nor does it constitute an investment offer, solicitation, or recommendation of any product or service. The content is for informational sharing purposes only. Anyone who makes or changes the investment decision based on the content shall undertake the result or loss by himself/herself.
Middlesbrough, United Kingdom, June 11, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Nebula Mining, a provider of computing power solutions, has announced the launch of its advanced cloud mining platform, designed to offer cryptocurrency investors a seamless and efficient mining experience. This new platform enables users to engage in cryptocurrency mining without the need for physical mining equipment or technical expertise.

Cloud mining allows individuals to remotely access the power of mining hardware, bypassing the need for technical knowledge and hardware maintenance associated with traditional mining methods. Nebula Mining distinguishes itself by offering an intuitive interface that enables users to start mining digital currencies with minimal effort.

The platform incorporates several key features to enhance the user experience:

1. Latest Generation Hardware: Nebula Mining utilizes the most recent Antminer and GPU mining hardware to ensure optimal performance and efficiency. This eliminates the need for users to constantly upgrade their hardware.

2. Seamless Operations: The platform's automated system initiates mining operations immediately after an order is placed. Payments for cloud mining operations are processed every 24 hours, providing faster returns compared to many market alternatives.

3. Safety and Security: Nebula Mining places a strong emphasis on customer security. Funds are securely stored in top-tier banks, and all personal information is protected by SSL encryption. Additionally, the company offers investment insurance to enhance user confidence.

Nebula Mining also boasts several advantages that set it apart in the market:

- Immediate sign-up bonus of $18 for new users.

- Continuous payouts with significant income potential.

- An affiliate program enabling earnings of up to $9,900 in earnings

- High-security features, including McAfee and Cloudflare protection

- 24/7 customer support for prompt issue resolution

Beyond mining services, Nebula Mining offers an attractive partner program, allowing users to earn money by referring new partners. As part of this program, there is no initial investment required; users simply refer friends and acquaintances and receive bonuses up to $20,000.

Nebula Mining's platform aims to provide a viable option for those seeking to increase their passive income through cryptocurrency mining. By leveraging cloud mining technology, investors can grow their crypto assets with minimal time commitment. This approach to passive income aligns with the goals of many investors and traders looking to maximize their earning potential with minimal active involvement.

About Nebula Mining

Nebula Mining is a leading provider of cloud mining services, committed to delivering state-of-the-art technology and secure solutions for cryptocurrency investors. With a focus on efficiency, security, and customer support, Nebula Mining strives to simplify the process of cryptocurrency mining and help users maximize their passive income potential.

If you want to learn more about Nebula Mining, visit its official website: https://nebulamining.com/

You can also download the Nebula Mining app for your convenience: >>> Click to download the app <<<

Media Contact:-

Name: Cesar Anita

Company Name:-Nebula Mining

Website Link:-https://nebulamining.com/

Email:-info@nebulamining.com

Location:- Y2k House 1 Millennium Court, Stokesley Business Park, Middlesbrough, United Kingdom, TS9 5JZ

Disclaimer: The content of this press release is for informational purposes only and does not constitute an offer to sell, a solicitation of an offer to buy, or a recommendation of any cryptocurrency by news distributor. The content should not be relied upon for making any investment or trading decisions. We the distribution company, its employees, and its affiliates are not registered investment advisors. You need to consult Nebula Mining for material, and no representation or warranty, expressed or implied, is made as to its accuracy, timeliness, or completeness. Any reliance on the information is at your own risk. Please consult your professional financial advisor before making any investment decisions.
London, United Kingdom, June 11, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --

AGIO GPT AI UK Ltd, established in London on January 8, 2024, is proud to announce the launch of AGIO-GPT. This groundbreaking AI product combines the profitability of blockchain technology with an engaging user experience. This new product is set to transform the landscape of artificial intelligence by making its benefits more accessible and user-friendly to a global audience.

AGIO GPT AI UK Ltd is at the forefront of AI innovation. The company was founded with the vision of leading advancements in AI technology and application, focusing on enhancing the GPT model. With a dedicated team of professionals, the company has achieved significant breakthroughs that are poised to democratize AI, making its advantages available to a broader spectrum of society.

AGIO-GPT stands out in the AI market due to its unique combination of features. By integrating blockchain technology, AGIO-GPT offers users not only a powerful AI tool but also a platform that ensures profitability and security. This innovative approach addresses the growing demand for reliable and beneficial AI solutions in various industries.

One of the key aspects of AGIO-GPT is its user-friendly interface. The design team at AGIO GPT AI UK Ltd has prioritized the user experience, ensuring that the technology is easy to use for both beginners and seasoned AI enthusiasts. This focus on accessibility is a testament to the company's mission to make AI's transformative potential reachable to everyone.

AGIO-GPT is not just a product; it is a gateway to a new era of AI interaction. Users will have the opportunity to experience AI in ways they never thought possible. The product's capabilities extend beyond typical AI functionalities, offering a versatile tool that can be utilized in various fields, from finance to healthcare, education, and beyond.

In addition to the digital platform, AGIO GPT AI UK Ltd is planning to establish physical experience centres around the globe. These centres will provide users with hands-on experience and an in-depth understanding of AGIO-GPT. By visiting these centres, individuals can see firsthand how AGIO-GPT can be integrated into their daily lives and professional workflows.

The launch of AGIO-GPT is a significant milestone for AGIO GPT AI UK Ltd. It reflects the company's commitment to leading AI innovation and making sophisticated technology accessible to the masses. The product has been designed with the future in mind, incorporating cutting-edge features that ensure it remains at the forefront of AI advancements.

AGIO GPT AI UK Ltd invites AI enthusiasts and professionals to join their team. The company is on the lookout for talented individuals who are passionate about AI and its potential to transform society. By becoming part of AGIO GPT AI UK Ltd, individuals can contribute to the development and enhancement of AGIO-GPT, helping to push the boundaries of what AI can achieve.

The company's establishment in London is strategic, as the city is a hub for technological innovation and talent. This location provides AGIO GPT AI UK Ltd with access to a vast network of experts and resources, enabling the company to refine and improve its products continually.

The vision of AGIO GPT AI UK Ltd extends beyond the launch of AGIO-GPT. The company aims to continuously innovate and develop new AI solutions that cater to the evolving needs of users worldwide. By maintaining a user-centric approach, AGIO GPT AI UK Ltd ensures that its products remain relevant and beneficial in an ever-changing technological landscape.

To experience the innovative capabilities of AgiGPT-QT4 and embark on successful journey, interested individuals can register via the official link: AGIO-GPT Registration

About AGIO GPT AI UK Ltd:

AGIO GPT AI UK Ltd, founded in London on January 8, 2024, leads AI innovation with a focus on enhancing the GPT model. The dedicated team strives to democratize AI, making it accessible and beneficial for all. They combine cutting-edge technology with user-friendly design to revolutionize AI interaction.

COMPANY DETAILS:

Company Name: AGIO GPT AI UK LIMITED

Contact person: Manager Wang Lingling

Country: United Kingdom

City: London

Contact email: AGIOGPTAIUKLtd@agiogpt.com

Contact Ph: +447300588705





The expert opinions presented in this PR/Story are based on the extensive experience and knowledge of the source company. These views do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the news distribution company and its distribution partners. There is no offer to sell, no solicitation of an offer to buy, and no recommendation of any security or any other product or service in this article. Moreover, nothing contained in this should be construed as a recommendation to buy, sell, or hold any investment or security, or to engage in any investment strategy or transaction. It is your responsibility to determine whether any investment, investment strategy, security, or related transaction is appropriate for you based on your investment objectives, financial circumstances, and risk tolerance. Consult your business advisor, attorney, or tax advisor regarding your specific business, legal, or tax situation. The news distribution company and its distribution partners do not endorse or guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information shared by the guest. Viewers are encouraged to consult with their own experts or conduct their own research when making decisions related to topics of this nature. The source company is the one issuing this release. Please contact them directly for further information.
LAS VEGAS, June 11, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Planet 13 Holdings Inc. (CSE: PLTH) (OTCQX: PLNH) (Planet 13 or the Company), a leading vertically-integrated multi-state cannabis company, today announced the following results for each item of business considered at Planet 13s Annual General Meeting of Stockholders held on Tuesday, June 11, 2024.



Election of Directors

The following table sets out the percentage of shares of common stock voted in respect of the election of directors.

Nominee % For % Withheld Robert Groesbeck 98.63% 1.37% Larry Scheffler 98.54% 1.46% Lee Fraser 97.31% 2.69% Adrienne ONeal 98.99% 1.01% Kevin Martin 99.33% 0.67%



Ratification of Auditors

The following table sets out the percentage of shares of common stock voted in respect of the ratification of the appointment of Davidson & Company LLP as the independent registered public accounting firm of the Company for the ensuing year or until their successors are appointed:

% For % Against % Abstain 99.25% 0.43% 0.32%



About Planet 13

Planet 13 (https://planet13.com/investors/) is a vertically integrated cannabis company, with award-winning cultivation, production and dispensary operations across its locations in California, Nevada, Illinois, and Florida. Planet 13's mission is to build a recognizable global brand known for world-class dispensary operations and innovative cannabis products. Licensed cannabis activity is legal in the states Planet 13 operates in but remains illegal under U.S. federal law. Planet 13's shares trade on the Canadian Securities Exchange (CSE) under the symbol PLTH and are quoted on the OTCQX under the symbol PLNH.

No stock exchange, securities commission or other regulatory authority has approved or disapproved the information contained herein.

For further inquiries, please contact:

LodeRock Advisors Inc., Planet 13 Investor Relations

mark.kuindersma@loderockadvisors.com

Robert Groesbeck or Larry Scheffler

Co-Chief Executive Officers

ir@planet13lasvegas.com
SIKA OPENED NEW STATE-OF-THE-ART PLANT IN NORTHEAST CHINA

Sika opened a new plant in Liaoning, the largest province in northeastern China. This site will manufacture a full range of products, including mortars, tile adhesives, and waterproofing solutions. This highly efficient new plant enables Sika to meet the market demands, whilst significantly reducing logistical distances.



The Liaoning plant will cater to Sika customers in three provinces in northeastern China, with a population of more than 98 million, as well as east-central Mongolia. In addition to state-of-the-art production lines, the new facility provides office spaces, laboratories, warehousing, and logistics. Currently, Sika has 34 manufacturing sites in China and has been active in the Chinese market for over three decades.

Philippe Jost, Regional Manager Asia/Pacific: "The new mortar plant in Liaoning is an important milestone in our growth strategy. It allows us to better serve our customers in Northeast China with faster delivery times and improved service levels. This expansion reinforces our commitment to quality and excellence, while aligning with Sikas global sustainability goals."

The Liaoning plant will produce a range of mortar products that incorporate up to 20% recycled raw materials during the manufacturing process, such as waste dust and mineral waste residues. In addition, Sika has launched an initiative to transition from natural to alternative sands. In 2023, Sika China already had reached a 13% alternative sand ratio in its mortar production, with half of the plants contributing to this initiative. Looking ahead, Sika China plans to replace 50% of its overall sand consumption with alternative options by 2028.

INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENTS INTO CHINA'S CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY

The Chinese construction market is estimated at CHF 4.2 trillion in 2024, and is forecast to grow at a CAGR of 3.9% until 2028. As part of its current five-year plan, the government has earmarked over half a trillion Swiss Francs in bond issuance for infrastructure projects. In addition, the country is investing CHF 12 trillion in green transition to achieve net zero emissions by 2060, leading to demand for sustainable solutions.

SIKA CORPORATE PROFILE

Sika is a specialty chemicals company with a globally leading position in the development and production of systems and products for bonding, sealing, damping, reinforcing, and protection in the building sector and automotive industry. Sika has subsidiaries in 103 countries around the world and, in over 400 factories, produces innovative technologies for customers worldwide. In doing so, it plays a crucial role in enabling the transformation of the construction and vehicle industries toward greater environmental compatibility. With more than 33,000 employees, the company generated sales of CHF 11.2 billion in 2023.

CONTACT

Dominik Slappnig

Corporate Communications &

Investor Relations

+41 58 436 68 21

slappnig.dominik@ch.sika.com

The media release can be downloaded from the following link:

Media Release
DUBLIN, Ireland, June 12, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- DIDWW, a global telecoms operator offering premium quality VoIP communications and SIP trunking services, has announced its partnership with Teltonika, an innovative technology company specializing in GPS fleet management, wireless and networking solutions, M2M, and IoT. This initiative will equip Teltonika with a highly flexible and scalable VoIP communications solution, thereby enhancing its communication capabilities worldwide.



Lithuania-based Teltonika is a leader in Europes telematics and industrial networking equipment markets. Anticipating future growth, Teltonika aims to establish a high-tech park in Vilnius that will include a semiconductor chip assembly plant, a testing and manufacturing complex, a printed circuit board (PCB) factory, and various other facilities. The companys commitment to innovation is evident in its recently-launched products such as the TeltoCharge EV charger, a versatile and easy-to-use electric vehicle charging station, and TeltoHeart, a groundbreaking medical device designed to assist people with heart rhythm anomalies.

Through its strategic partnership with DIDWW, Teltonika will utilize the operators robust two-way SIP trunking services and benefit from its extensive global coverage of virtual phone numbers. With operations spanning 22 countries and product distribution in over 160 territories, Teltonika required an effective communication solution to fuel its business expansion and maintain efficiency across multiple geographies. Moreover, this collaboration ensures reliable voice services provided by DIDWW, marked by superior call quality and access to local routes with guaranteed caller ID functionality.

Considering the growth rate of the Teltonika company group, it is important to ensure that the newly appointed employees can easily and efficiently reach our partners around the world. This has been achieved with the help of the DIDWW team by deploying their communications solution across all Teltonika offices in 22 countries, said Arturas Golysenko, Teltonikas head of IT Infrastructure and Security.

Agne Abakiene, Key Account Manager at DIDWW, added, We are proud to partner with Teltonika and support their impressive global expansion. Our premium VoIP services are designed to provide seamless communication solutions that align perfectly with Teltonika's innovative approach to technology.

About Teltonika

Teltonika is a fast-growing Lithuanian high-tech company group with offices in 22 countries around the world, employing around 2,500 people. Teltonika's state-of-the-art IoT technologies and extensive design and manufacturing experience help to create high-quality and secure IoT devices. The company is proud of its unique IoT products made in Lithuania and aims to become a global leader in the design and manufacture of unique IoT solutions that help people around the world. Teltonika has already produced more than 27 million IoT devices in its modern production facilities in Vilnius and Moletai.

To learn more about Teltonika, please visit https://teltonika-iot-group.com/.

About DIDWW

DIDWW is a platform for telecommunication professionals with full self-service access and real-time provisioning, APIs and all the necessary building blocks for achieving the ultimate control over Voice and SMS services.

The company offers the largest fully compliant international coverage of local, national, mobile, toll-free voice and SMS-enabled virtual phone numbers, two-way local and global SIP trunks, access to local emergency services, free global number portability, a highly scalable PBX platform, and more.

To learn more about DIDWW, please visit https://www.didww.com/.

Press Contact:

Vilija Simkiene

Marketing Department

vilija.s@didww.com

+1 (212) 461 1854

www.didww.com

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/dbf86681-d3ba-4dfd-8204-017f50172ba6
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, June 12, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Stallion Uranium Corp. (the "Company" or "Stallion") (TSX-V: STUD; OTCQB: STLNF; FSE: FE0) is pleased to announce the significant advancements and interpretations from the maiden drill program completed on the Appaloosa target, located on its 100% owned Coffer Project. Appaloosa is an advanced exploration target that is part of its broader portfolio of high-potential uranium projects held by Stallion in the prolific southwestern Athabasca Basin, Saskatchewan where the company holds its largest land package.



The Appaloosa target is located on the northern end of Stallions 100% owned Coffer project and is only 13km west of the Shea Creek deposit, home to over 95m lbs. of uranium1 (Figure 2). Hole CF24-003 intersected the targeted graphitic conductor roughly 150m below the unconformity providing the company with the location and overall geometry of the structure. Given the depth of the intersection below the unconformity, the hole would have undershot intersecting potential unconformity mineralization as seen in Figure 1. The length of the graphitic conductor intersection was over 94m, showing considerable scale with the potential to host a large size deposit. The intersection also presented radioactivity levels above background, as well as significant alteration, consisting of intense white to pale green clay-chlorite alteration and yellow U-silicates that were observed at the Shea Creek Deposits. Stallions technical team have been interpreting the geological data and given the data have clear analogs to the Shea Creek deposit area to help understand future targeting and the targets potential. The next drill holes will target the intersection of the graphitic structure and the unconformity to test for an unconformity style deposit similar to UEC/Oranos Shea Creek Deposit.

Stallions maiden drill program was big step towards a discovery hole for the company. We now know the location of the targeted structure, we know the structure is fertile from anomalous radioactivity in all 3 drill holes, we know the structure is large enough to host a significant deposit, and we know where to target next, said Stallion CEO, Drew Zimmerman.

Figure 1  Cross section of CF24-003. The figure is an interpretation of the geological structure that includes an example of an Unconformity Type Deposit similar to Shea Creek

* The Company considers greater than 80 cps (on the RS-230 scintillometer) to be above background from the background radioactivity levels of 30-60 cps.

* Background gamma readings through non-elevated zones typically range from 30-60 cps on the RS-230 Handheld Scintillometer.

* Hole CF24-003 was probed to a deep of 850 meters due to the limits of the winch.

Darren Slugoski, VP Exploration Canada, said, Having intersected strong alteration and structure in CF24-003 that are comparable to the Shea Creek deposit model gives use a strong indication that Stallion is in the appropriate area for uranium mineralization. Given the data from the maiden drill program the target area shows significant potential for discovery in a follow up drill program. The Appaloosa target has not been tested at the intersection of the unconformity and graphitic structure, which will be top priority in the next phase on exploration.

Appaloosa Target Summary

The Appaloosa target was first uncovered through the regional survey work completed by Stallion. When compiled with available historical data the target area had promising indicators known to host substantial uranium mineralization. The company then completed a ground TDEM SQUID (Superconducting Quantum Interference Device) survey developed specifically for resolving conductors at extremely low-frequencies. The comprehensive data was able to identify key prospective zones within the target area, supporting the potential for economically viable uranium deposits that should be drill tested.

Stallions maiden drill program commenced on March 6, 2024 and was completed by CYR Drilling International drilling a total of 2,798.2m over 3 holes. Each hole was a 700m step out from the prior hole covering over 1.4 km of the conductive trend. The remaining 4 km of strike of the conductor remains untested and provides multiple additional targets for exploration.

Highlights of each Drill Hole

CF24-001 was drilled targeting a conductive anomaly along the eastern edge of a gravity low anomaly. The drill hole was successful in encountering anomalous radioactivity in the Athabasca Sandstone just above the unconformity as well as a second interval of anomalous radioactivity located 1.6 m into the basement. Anomalous radioactivity was encountered in the Athabasca Sandstone with a radioactive peak of 1,540 CPS in a 4.2 m interval that averaged 358 cps, including 0.3 m at 1,322 cps. This hole was successful in identifying the trends of the geology and the true depth of the unconformity. This data was used to adjust target parameters on CF24-002 and 003.



was drilled targeting a conductive anomaly along the eastern edge of a gravity low anomaly. The drill hole was successful in encountering anomalous radioactivity in the Athabasca Sandstone just above the unconformity as well as a second interval of anomalous radioactivity located 1.6 m into the basement. Anomalous radioactivity was encountered in the Athabasca Sandstone with a radioactive peak of 1,540 CPS in a 4.2 m interval that averaged 358 cps, including 0.3 m at 1,322 cps. This hole was successful in identifying the trends of the geology and the true depth of the unconformity. This data was used to adjust target parameters on CF24-002 and 003. CF24-002 is located 700 metres west of CF24-001 and is targeting an EM conductor located within a gravity low. CF24-002 was a large step-out that was successful in following up radioactivity intersected in CF24-001. Anomalous radioactivity was encountered in the Athabasca Sandstone at the unconformity with radioactivity of 333 cps over 3.4 m including 644 cps over 0.3 with a radioactive peak of 771 cps. Radioactivity is associated with bleaching, hematite and stockwork fractures

is located 700 metres west of CF24-001 and is targeting an EM conductor located within a gravity low. CF24-002 was a large step-out that was successful in following up radioactivity intersected in CF24-001. Anomalous radioactivity was encountered in the Athabasca Sandstone at the unconformity with radioactivity of 333 cps over 3.4 m including 644 cps over 0.3 with a radioactive peak of 771 cps. Radioactivity is associated with bleaching, hematite and stockwork fractures CF24-003 is located 700 m west along strike from CF24-002, and 1.4km west of CF24-001 and targeted an EM conductor that was located within a coincident gravity low. After the final adjustments were made to the location of CF24-003, a deep-rooted conductive structure, spanning 94.7 meters in down-hole thickness, was encountered. This structure is associated with significant strong clay and chlorite alteration and radioactivity that is above background.



Future Drill Program

Given the strong results a future drilling program will be required to further test for uranium mineralization at the Appaloosa target zone. Based on the significant alteration intersected, a future drill program will have the objective of testing for an unconformity uranium deposit up-dip from drill hole CF24-003 as well as test the extent of the alteration along strike to the East and West. Radioactivity detected in CF24-001 will be followed up with newly re-targeted drill holes, informed by data from CF24-003, as the modeled conductor was not intersected.

Pending Assays

The company has sent a total of 282 samples from the 3 holes to be assayed at the SRC Geoanalytical Laboratories in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. The company is still awaiting the results of the assays and will release assays when available.

Figure 2  2024 Drill Hole locations on the Coffer Project

Gamma Logging and Geochemical Assaying

All core radioactivity was measured using a RS-230 BGO Super-SPEC Handheld Gamma-Ray Spectrometer. Down hole probing radiometric surveying was conducted with a Mount Sopris 2PGA-1000 downhole total gamma probe with a maximum depth of investigation of 850 meters. The Company considers greater than 300 cps (on the borehole probe) to be anomalous radioactivity. Radioactivity greater than 80 cps using the RS-230 handheld scintillometer is considered to be Above Background. The background radioactivity levels in the Appaloosa Target area are considered 30-60 cps.

All drill core samples from the 2024 program will be shipped to the Saskatchewan Research Council Geoanalytical Laboratories ("SRC") in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, an ISO/IEC 17025/2005 and Standards Council of Canada certified analytical laboratory. Stallion Uranium requests multi-element analysis by ICP-MS and ICP-OES using total (HF:NHO3:HClO4) and partial digestion (HNO3:HCl), boron by fusion. One half of the split core samples are retained and the other half cores are sent to the SRC for analyses. Blanks, standard reference materials, and repeats are inserted into the sample stream at regular intervals by Stallion Uranium geologists and SRC in accordance with industry-standard quality assurance/quality control ("QA/QC") procedures.

All reported depths and intervals are drill hole depths and intervals, unless otherwise noted, and do not represent true thicknesses, which have yet to be determined. The reader is cautioned that gamma probe readings are not directly or uniformly related to uranium grades of the rock sample measured and should be used only as a preliminary indication of the presence of radioactive materials.

Qualifying Statement

The foregoing scientific and technical disclosures for Stallion Uranium have been reviewed by Darren Slugoski, P.Geo., VP Exploration, a registered member of the Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Saskatchewan. Mr. Slugoski is a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101.

About Stallion Uranium

Stallion Uranium is working to Fuel the Future with Uranium through the exploration of over 3,000 sq/km in the Athabasca Basin, home to the largest high-grade uranium deposits in the world. The company, with JV partner Atha Energy (TSX-V:SASK), holds the largest contiguous project in the Western Athabasca Basin adjacent to multiple high-grade discovery zones.

Our leadership and advisory teams are comprised of uranium and precious metals exploration experts with the capital markets experience and the technical talent for acquiring and exploring early-stage properties.

Stallion offers optionality with two gold projects in Idaho and Nevada that neighbour world class gold deposits offering exposure to upside potential from district advancement with limited capital expenditures.

For more information visit stallionuranium.com or contact:

Drew Zimmerman

Chief Executive Officer

778-686-0973

info@stallionuranium.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.

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 the Companys 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. No assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct and such forward-looking statements included in this material change report should not be unduly relied upon. These statements speak only as of the date they are made.

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 the Companys control, which could cause actual results and events to differ materially from those that are disclosed in or implied by such forward-looking statements. The Company 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 the Company 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 presentation are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement.

Photos accompanying this announcement are available at:

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/f255cac7-de21-4e33-bfa4-3529a0f57ad5

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/9d1ea9bc-fcf8-45f4-b63b-be583b08de7a

____________________

1 https://www.uraniumenergy.com/projects/canada/shea-creek/
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, June 12, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- United Lithium Corp. (United Lithium or the Company) (CSE: ULTH; OTCQX: ULTHF; FWB: 0UL) is pleased to report additional assay results from the 2023 Drill Program on the newly discovered D and E Pegmatites at the Bergby Lithium Project (Bergby or the Project) in Sweden. The combined strike length of all five lithium-bearing pegmatites now exceeds 4,000 meters (m). Bergby is a 100%-owned, district-scale, hard rock lithium project covering 7,897 hectares (ha) with immediate infrastructure connecting with the coastal access in the Gulf of Bothnia. The Project hosts numerous LCT (lithium-cesium-tantalum enriched-type) granitic pegmatites, five of which have been drill-confirmed. Much of the district-scale Project has yet to be explored. United Lithium also recently added the 14,015 ha Axmarby Property with five known pegmatite occurrences and located directly north of Bergby. The 2023 Drill Program was completed late in December 2023 and results from 58 of the 60 holes drilled during the 5,600 m campaign have now been received and released.



Highlights:

Pegmatite D Assay Results: 0.82% Li 2 O over 5.19 m from 36.57 m depth down hole (hole BBY23158); including 1.45% Li 2 O over 2.02 m from 37.49 m depth. 0.71% Li 2 O over 14.11 m from 111.35 m depth down hole (hole BBY23166); Including 1.48% Li 2 O over 4.76 m from 116.37 m depth.

Pegmatite E Assay Results: 0.62% Li 2 O over 20.02 m from 38.95 m depth down hole (hole BBY23170); including 1.58% Li 2 O over 1.82 m from 42.00 m depth. 1.45% Li 2 O over 6.90 m from 128.94 m depth down hole (hole BBY23177); Including 1.71% Li 2 O over 5.76 m from 129.40 m depth. 0.72% Li 2 O over 14.54 m from 105.03 m depth down hole (hole BBY23184); Including 1.63% Li 2 O over 5.09 m from 111.06 m depth; and Including 2.20% Li 2 O over 1.03 m from 113.06 m depth.

Previously disclosed Pegmatite D Assay Results: 1.92% Li 2 O over 26.80 m from 3.60 m depth down hole (hole BBY23132); 1.54% Li 2 O over 28.01 m from 9.12 m depth down hole (hole BBY23135); 1.82% Li 2 O over 12.97 m from 14.05 m depth down hole (hole BBY23138); and

1.96% Li 2 O over 9.68 m from 38.87 m depth down hole (hole BBY23141).



Bergby continues to deliver robust results of near surface lithium mineralization amenable to low-cost future open pit extraction given the surrounding world-class infrastructure, stated Scott Eldridge, United Lithiums President and CEO. We continue to increase the combined strike lengths as we expand the lithium rich zones in Sweden, now exceeding 4 kilometers. The recent adoption of the Critical Raw Materials Act coming into force within the European Union further supports our efforts as Europe is fostering domestic projects to feed the EV value chain. The blue-sky potential at Bergby still remains untapped as we continue to explore for additional pegmatites. We recently added the Axmarby Property immediately to the north, where the geological setting appears to be identical to Bergby, adding further upside to expanding the lithium bearing area.

As previously disclosed in the news release dated January 11, 2024, a total of 5,600 m of diamond drilling was completed across 60 holes in 2023. Six spodumene-bearing pegmatites have been discovered to date at Bergby, five of which have been drilled (Pegmatites A through E). United Lithium had previously released assay results for a total of 24 drill holes (see news releases dated November 21, 2023, and January 11, 2024).

Figure 1: Bergby Project Pegmatites D and E and Drill Holes, June 12, 2024





Pegmatite D Assay Results

Results are reported here for 17 drill holes (refer to Table 1 and Table 2) completed across the north-northeast striking Pegmatite D. Pegmatite D has been drill tested along a strike length of 725 m and to a depth of 120 m below surface and has an estimated maximum width of 22 m (Figure 2). Notable intersections in the current results include 0.71% Li 2 O over 14.11 m, from 111.35 m depth downhole (estimated true width of 16.67 m) in hole BBY23166. This includes a high-grade interval of 1.48% Li 2 O over 4.76 m (4.34 m estimated true width) from 116.37 m depth down hole.

Figure 2: Bergby Project Pegmatite D and Drill Hole Results, June 12, 2024





Pegmatite E Assay Results

Seventeen holes that were also completed across the north-northeast striking Pegmatite E and selected samples were submitted for assays (refer to Table 1 and Table 2). Pegmatite E has been drill tested along a strike length of 440 m, to a depth of 85 m below surface and has an estimated maximum width of 16 m. It is composed of 4 parallel dikes (Figure 3). Notable intersections in the current results include 0.62% Li 2 O over 20.02 m (estimated true width of 14.16 m), from 38.95 m depth downhole in hole BBY23170, including a high-grade interval of 1.58% Li 2 O over 1.82 m (1.5 m true width) from 42.00 m depth down hole. The second-best interval in Pegmatite E includes 0.72% Li 2 O over 14.54 m (10 m true width), from 105.03 m depth downhole in hole BBY23184, including a high-grade interval of 1.63% Li 2 O over 5.09 m (3.5 m true) from 111.06 m depth down hole. Spodumene has been observed in the main lithium-rich intersections. These new results enable United Lithium to better define drill targets to define Pegmatite E at depth.

Figure 3: Bergby Project Pegmatite E and Drill Hole Results, June 12, 2024





Assays from one additional hole drilled in Pegmatite F (BBY23189) and one hole from Pegmatite D (BBY23185) were sent to the laboratory in late May and results are still pending.

Table 3 summarizes the pegmatite discoveries at Bergby and the drill progress to date. All pegmatites remain open to depth and along strike.

Table 1: Bergby Project Drill Results, June 12, 2024

Hole ID From

(m) To

(m) Length

(m) Li 2 O (%) Ta 2 O 5

(ppm) Pegmatite BBY23140 No significant intercepts Pegmatite D BBY23145 49.82 53.19 3.37 0.70 79 Pegmatite D BBY23157



61.25 69.00 7.75 0.54 60 Pegmatite D



including 62.51 63.64 1.13 1.79 49 BBY23158



















36.57 41.76 5.19 0.82 68 Pegmatite D



















including 37.49 39.51 2.02 1.45 83 46.05 51.14 5.09 0.73 64 including 48.15 49.33 1.18 1.97 31 including 50.71 51.14 0.43 1.27 131 55.30 58.12 2.82 0.49 44 BBY23159 80.30 87.55 7.25 0.36 56 Pegmatite D BBY23160 56.58 63.81 7.23 0.19 16 Pegmatite D BBY23161 39.40 41.87 2.47 0.33 96 Pegmatite D Hole ID From

(m) To

(m) Length

(m) Li 2 O (%) Ta 2 O 5

(ppm) Pegmatite BBY23162 No significant intercepts Pegmatite D BBY23163 52.06 54.17 2.11 0.34 103 Pegmatite D BBY23164 No significant intercepts Pegmatite D BBY23165 No significant intercepts Pegmatite D BBY23166







111.35 125.46 14.11 0.71 43 Pegmatite D







including 116.37 121.13 4.76 1.48 35 and including 116.37 118.08 1.71 2.23 35 BBY23167 89.13 92.30 3.17 0.36 31 Pegmatite D BBY23168



123.30 126.97 3.67 1.70 44 Pegmatite D



including 123.68 124.66 0.98 2.04 23 BBY23169 107.68 110.88 3.20 0.17 71 Pegmatite D BBY23170 38.95 58.97 20.02 0.62 34 Pegmatite E











including 42.00 43.82 1.82 1.58 44 including 52.29 52.97 0.68 1.57 51 including 55.48 56.03 0.55 1.71 51 BBY23171 91.13 98.90 7.77 0.42 30 Pegmatite E



including 92.29 94.67 2.38 1.02 38 BBY23172 34.18 43.03 8.85 0.39 55 Pegmatite E BBY23173







8.90 19.63 10.73 0.71 45 Pegmatite E







including 11.62 14.72 3.10 0.94 43 including 16.02 16.75 0.73 1.16 65 BBY23174 No significant intercepts Pegmatite E BBY23175



3.51 6.82 3.31 1.31 166 Pegmatite E



including 4.00 5.75 1.75 2.44 15 BBY23176 No significant intercepts Pegmatite E BBY23177







128.94 135.84 6.90 1.45 423 Pegmatite E







including 129.40 135.16 5.76 1.71 490 and including 133.21 134.11 0.90 2.06 2,699 BBY23178 43.02 50.53 7.51 0.32 48.21 Pegmatite E BBY23179 Not sampled, no pegmatite intersected Pegmatite E BBY23180 No significant intercepts Pegmatite E BBY23181 No significant intercepts Pegmatite E BBY23182



118.00 124.37 6.37 0.49 126 Pegmatite E



138.94 143.76 4.82 0.28 33 BBY23183 Not sampled, no spodumene observed in pegmatite intersections Pegmatite E BBY23184







105.03 119.57 14.54 0.72 67 Pegmatite E







including 111.06 116.15 5.09 1.63 69 and including 113.06 114.09 1.03 2.20 76 BBY23185 Assay pending Pegmatite D BBY23186



69.62 73.35 3.73 0.87 102 Pegmatite D



including 71.23 73.35 2.12 1.13 120 BBY23187 Not sampled, no pegmatite intersected Pegmatite E BBY23188 Not sampled, no pegmatite intersected Pegmatite E

Note: All intervals are core length and presented for all pegmatite intervals greater than 2 m. Some intercepts may include intervals of non-pegmatite (<3 m drilled width). Oxides are calculated from Li assayed results. All Li 2 O (%) results are reported, and no lower cut-off grade has been used to report results. Drill hole assay results are reported as received and are not necessarily received in the order holes were drilled.

Table 2: Bergby Project Drill Hole Information, June 12, 2024

Hole ID Easting

(m) Northing

(m) Elevation

(m) Azimuth

(degrees) Dip

(degrees) Depth

(m) Pegmatite BBY23140 612285 6763055 30 310 -46 92.50 Pegmatite D BBY23145 612199 6763036 31 18 -50 77.05 Pegmatite D BBY23157 612530 6763271 25 309 -65 91.25 Pegmatite D BBY23158 612554 6763310 24 313 -46 88.20 Pegmatite D BBY23159 612582 6763289 23 315 -51 111.00 Pegmatite D BBY23160 612588 6763346 23 311 -52 81.00 Pegmatite D BBY23161 612572 6763359 23 4 -46 69.20 Pegmatite D BBY23162 612619 6763385 22 59 -46 81.00 Pegmatite D BBY23163 612643 6763429 22 26 -45 80.30 Pegmatite D BBY23164 612622 6763448 22 13 -45 70.70 Pegmatite D BBY23165 612678 6763471 21 327 -45 92.75 Pegmatite D BBY23166 612605 6763272 22 4 -64 142.60 Pegmatite D BBY23167 612619 6763323 22 310 -59 116.70 Pegmatite D BBY23168 612586 6763231 23 16 -59 158.15 Pegmatite D BBY23169 612520 6763216 25 224 -60 153.05 Pegmatite D BBY23170 612030 6763676 37 335 -45 90.20 Pegmatite E BBY23171 612060 6763640 37 317 -44 120.05 Pegmatite E BBY23172 611998 6763638 37 317 -45 71.20 Pegmatite E BBY23173 612017 6763706 37 319 -44 40.00 Pegmatite E BBY23174 611964 6763600 37 312 -44 72.00 Pegmatite E BBY23175 612062 6763713 37 315 -46 60.40 Pegmatite E BBY23176 612095 6763751 37 315 -45 81.00 Pegmatite E BBY23177 612137 6763645 37 322 -48 149.60 Pegmatite E BBY23178 612133 6763798 37 315 -44 66.20 Pegmatite E BBY23179 612220 6763589 37 314 -47 111.80 Pegmatite E BBY23180 612160 6763828 37 312 -45 72.05 Pegmatite E BBY23181 612192 6763867 37 318 -45 80.00 Pegmatite E BBY23182 612202 6763743 37 315 -55 159.05 Pegmatite E BBY23183 612252 6763813 37 309 -55 150.00 Pegmatite E BBY23184 612063 6763584 37 312 -55 144.05 Pegmatite E BBY23185 612436 6763131 25 310 -55 153.80 Pegmatite D BBY23186 612423 6763071 25 310 -55 183.10 Pegmatite D BBY23187 611998 6763508 37 312 -55 149.90 Pegmatite E BBY23188 611921 6763534 37 312 -45 85.60 Pegmatite E

Table 3: Bergby Project spodumene-bearing pegmatites and drill status, June 12, 2024

Pegmatite

Body Order of

Discovery Drilled Strike

Length (m) Status A 1 1,750 Drill Tested, Open B 2 785 Drill Tested, Open C 3 390 Drill Tested, Open D 4 725 Drill Tested, Open E 5 440 Drill Tested, Open F 6 n/a Untested

Bergby and Axmarby 2024 Exploration

Further exploration work is expected to be carried out during 2024 at Bergby, including mapping and sampling combined with ground geophysics. The exploration team has identified several new outcrops and additional pegmatite boulder trains requiring more follow up with the aim of generating more drill targets. Mapping and sampling will also be conducted at the Axmarby Property where multiple pegmatite dykes have been observed approximately 2 kilometers (km) north of the town of Axmarby and seem to be associated with the same structures that host the pegmatites at Bergby.

Bergby Geology

The Project is situated within the Hamrange synform in the west-central part of the Fennoscandian Shield. The stratigraphy in the area consists of mica schist overlain by 1.88 billion years (Ga) old felsic and mafic volcanic rocks, followed by metaquartzite (< 1.86 Ga) believed to have formed during an 1.86-1.83 Ga intra-orogenic phase. Geological and isotopic data suggests an oceanic island arc signature of the metavolcanic rocks. The surrounding 1.86 Ga granitoids of the Ljusdal Batholith are believed to have been formed in an active continental margin setting. When not covered by till (typically less than 3 m depth), extensive pegmatite boulders and outcrops have been found on the Project. The strike of pegmatites follows the general trend of host rock foliation, NNW-SSW. All five drilled lithium-mineralized pegmatites at Bergby are spodumene bearing, with Pegmatite A also containing petalite. Pegmatite A displays a shallow 20 dip to the WNW, whereas the other four bodies (B, C, D and E) are more subvertical (at ~65 to 88).

Quality Assurance and Quality Control

Core drilling is being undertaken by Ludvika Borr Teknik AB, of Sweden, using 49 millimetres (equivalent to NQ2) diameter rods. United Lithiums field team log and sample all drill core samples in a secure core facility at the Companys operations building in Norrsundet, about 5 km from the Project area. Core samples are cut in half longitudinally using a diamond cutting saw. The half cores and the hammer drill samples were submitted to ALS Ltd. (ALS) facilities in Pitea, Sweden for preparation (Prep-31 package) with each sample crushed to better than 70% passing a 2 mm (Tyler 9 mesh, U.S. Std. No. 10) screen. A split of up to 250 grams is taken and pulverized to better than 85% passing a 75-micron (Tyler 200 mesh, U.S. Std. No. 200) screen. Both types of samples are then forwarded to the ALS facilities in Loughrea, Ireland, an accredited mineral analytical laboratory (ISO/IEC 17025:2017 and ISO 9001:2015), for analysis using the ME-MS89L method (sodium peroxide fusion and HCL leach followed by ICP-AES and ICP-MS) in the case of core samples, with lithium (Li) reportable range between 2 and 25,000 ppm. This method analyzes for 53 elements and is considered appropriate for lithium-mineralized pegmatites.

Certified reference standards, duplicate and blanks are routinely inserted into the core drilling sample stream as part of Uniteds quality control/quality assurance program (QA/QC). No QA/QC issues were noted with the results reported herein. The Companys Qualified Person is of the opinion that the sample preparation, analytical, and security procedures followed are sufficient and reliable. The Company is not aware of any drilling, sampling, recovery, or other factors that could materially affect the accuracy or reliability of the data reported herein. All drill intercepts reported are down-hole core lengths.

About the Bergby Project

Bergby consists of ten exploration licenses covering 7,897 ha located near the coast of the Gulf of Bothnia in central Sweden. The Project is approximately 200 km north of Stockholm via highway E4 and 25 km north of the city of Gavle, within an area of significant infrastructure including highway and road access, railway, power, and the port of Norrsundet. Gavle is a proximal labour and supply hub. Furthermore, Bergby is 570 km south of the new Northvolt lithium battery gigafactory located in Sweden, and 440 km across the Gulf of Bothnia from Keliber Lithiums hydroxide plant currently under construction. The Project now comprises five drill-confirmed spodumene bearing pegmatites (Pegmatite A to E), with a combined strike length of more than 4,000 m. There are unexplained spodumene-bearing boulder trains and much of the property remains unexplored, highlighting the excellent potential at Bergby for further discovery.

Qualified Person

The scientific and technical data contained in this news release was reviewed and approved by Isabelle Lepine, M.Sc., P.Geo., United Lithiums Director, Mineral Resources. Ms. Lepine is a registered professional geologist in British Columbia and a Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Minerals Projects.

On Behalf of The Board of Directors

Scott Eldridge

President, Chief Executive Officer and Director

Telephone: +1-604-428-6128

Email: scott@unitedlithium.com

About United Lithium Corp.

United Lithium Corp. (CSE: ULTH) is an exploration & development company energized by the global demand for lithium. The Company is targeting lithium projects in politically safe jurisdictions with advanced infrastructure that allows for rapid and cost-effective exploration, development, and production opportunities.

The Companys consolidated financial statements and related managements discussion and analysis are available on the Companys website at https://unitedlithium.com/ or under its profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release includes forward-looking statements and forward-looking information within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation. All statements included in this news release, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements including, without limitation, statements with respect to the potential of the Bergby Project; the potential identification of new mineralization; the potential identification of new discoveries; timing of receipt of remaining assays and interpretations of those results; timing and successful execution of future planned and unplanned drilling and exploration activities at its projects in Sweden, Finland and the USA. Forward-looking statements include predictions, projections and forecasts and are often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as anticipate, believe, plan, estimate, expect, potential, target, budget and intend and statements that an event or result may, will, should, could or might occur or be achieved and other similar expressions and includes the negatives thereof.

Forward-looking statements are based on the reasonable assumptions, estimates, analysis, and opinions of the management of the Company made in light of its experience and its perception of trends, current conditions and expected developments, as well as other factors that management of the Company believes to be relevant and reasonable in the circumstances at the date that such statements are made. Forward-looking information is based on reasonable assumptions that have been made by the Company as at the date of such information and is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may have caused 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 but not limited to: risks associated with mineral exploration and development; metal and mineral prices; availability of capital; accuracy of the Companys projections and estimates; realization of mineral resource estimates, interest and exchange rates; competition; stock price fluctuations; availability of drilling equipment and access; actual results of current exploration activities; government regulation; political or economic developments; environmental risks; insurance risks; capital expenditures; operating or technical difficulties in connection with development activities; personnel relations; contests over title to properties; changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined; and impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The estimate of mineral resources may be materially affected by environmental, permitting, legal, title, taxation, sociopolitical, marketing, or other relevant issues. Forward-looking statements are based on assumptions management believes to be reasonable, including but not limited to the price of lithium and other metals and minerals; the demand for lithium and other metals and minerals; the ability to carry on exploration and development activities; the timely receipt of any required approvals; the ability to obtain qualified personnel, equipment and services in a timely and cost-efficient manner; the ability to operate in a safe, efficient and effective matter; and the regulatory framework regarding environmental matters, and such other assumptions and factors as set out herein. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate and 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 contained herein, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. The forward-looking information contained herein is presented for the purpose of assisting investors in understanding the Companys expected financial and operational performance and the Companys plans and objectives and may not be appropriate for other purposes. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking information, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.

The Canadian Securities Exchange has not approved nor disapproved the contents of this news release and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Photos accompanying this announcement are available at

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/7901517c-fd5b-4bd5-957e-6340adea09a4

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/9091fb86-b5f4-4288-bb07-b13b6c1d6aa3

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/b6f9a96a-e6ba-40d6-9e89-732956cbb71d
DURHAM, N.C., June 12, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Velocity Clinical Research (Velocity), the leading multi-specialty clinical sites business, and Luminis Health, a non-profit health system providing care for 1.8 million people, today announce their partnership to conduct clinical research within the health groups organization, connecting more patients with community-based research programs.



The partnership will involve Velocity taking over operation of the hospitals existing clinical research capability in collaboration with Luminis Healths world-class physician base, bringing increased efficiencies and cost savings. The two organizations hope to use this partnership to further grow the research base within the health system. The partnership also marks a significant entry by Velocity into oncology in the United States.

Erika Siegrist, Director, Research Administration at Luminis Health, said, We are looking to do clinical research in a more cost-effective way. Our community-led approach to providing healthcare means more people than ever can access innovative treatment via clinical research, and we have lofty ambitions to expand our capabilities. Velocity is one of the only companies that has the size and scale to help us meet those goals.

By bringing more clinical trial opportunities to the people of Maryland, not only do they benefit from possibly life-saving treatments, but were working towards greater diversity and balancing of health equity, making us all better together.

Luminis Health is a nationally recognized health system in Maryland, with more than 800 inpatient beds and nearly 100 sites of care across the region. Velocity will establish integrated research sites within existing Luminis Health locations, providing staff and bringing management experience in clinical trial operations and patient recruitment.

Paul Evans, President and Chief Executive Officer at Velocity, added: As private site networks grow, hospitals are looking for ways to improve their research and development capabilities. Hospitals are fantastic for delivering life-saving treatments and it makes sense to have research facilities run in parallel with those services. However, doing clinical research well is a full-time job. That's where Velocitys expertise can help deliver a more efficient solution, with a focus on patient care.

Doing research well means we can engage with principal investigators, widen a hospitals therapeutic research base, and drive research. We look forward to elevating care standards, ensuring rigorous adherence to ethical guidelines, and cultivating a collaborative environment where expertise and innovation flourish to improve patient outcomes in a whole range of research areas, including oncology.

Luminis are experts at treating all types of cancer. Less than 5% of adult cancer patients participate in cancer clinical trials due to a range of barriers including structural, clinical, and attitudinal factors. Velocity has other partnerships in its pipeline that will expand its oncology remit, bringing more clinical trial opportunities to cancer patients.

This is the latest announcement in a string of strategic partnerships where Velocity is committed to establishing research capabilities within existing clinical practices. Last year, Velocity announced its partnership with Privia Health, a physician enablement company serving more than 3,700 providers and 4.4 million patients, to open embedded clinical research sites within Privias practice network.

About Velocity Clinical Research

Velocity is the leading integrated site organization for clinical trials. With 90 sites and more than 220 investigators, Velocity partners with pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies to execute clinical trial protocols researching new drugs, medical devices, vaccines, diagnostics, and combination products that could improve human health and wellbeing. Velocity offers unified research site solutions to efficiently provide the right participants, investigators, and research staff for clinical trials across the U.S. and Europe.

The company also operates a technology hub in India, where it is unlocking a new era in clinical research by developing innovative systems to leverage expansive site, patient, and historical performance data. To learn more about how Velocity delivers high-quality data, exemplary patient care, and unprecedented efficiency for clinical trials at any scale, visit VelocityClinical.com .

About Luminis Health

Luminis Health is a nonprofit regional health system headquartered in Annapolis, Maryland. Comprised of Anne Arundel Medical Center, Doctors Community Medical Center (DCMC), J. Kent McNew Family Medical Center, Pathways, DCMC Rehab, and Luminis Health Clinical Enterprise, the system serves a population of 1.8 million people. As one of the areas largest charitable assets  with 840 beds, more than 100 sites of care, and 9,600 team members  Luminis Health contributes close to $100 million for the communitys benefit. Learn more at LuminisHealth.org .

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/233108d3-9047-41f7-a53c-3f88f738ac88
Dublin, June 12, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Global Copper Foil Market Report by Product Type, Application, End Use Industry, and Region 2024-2032" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.



The global copper foil market size reached US$ 6.1 Billion in 2023. Looking forward, the market is projected to reach US$ 10.5 Billion by 2032, exhibiting a growth rate (CAGR) of 6.22% during 2023-2032.



The growing sales of electronic devices, such as smartphones, laptops, computers, and tabs across the globe, represent one of the key factors driving the market. Moreover, the improving 5G infrastructure due to the rising need for better connecting solutions is stimulating the growth of the market. In addition, there is a rise in the demand for electric vehicles (EVs) on account of the increasing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles and the growing environmental awareness among individuals.



This, along with the increasing applications of copper foils in decorative materials, such as monasteries, gold signs, tile mosaic, and handicrafts, is offering lucrative growth opportunities to the end-users and investors. Besides this, the rising application of copper foils in transformers and grid-level energy storage around the world is positively influencing the market.



Furthermore, key market players are increasing product differentiation by improving the surface properties of the copper foil, developing new surface treatment coatings, and achieving smaller thickness and weight for numerous applications. These players are also adopting strategies, such as mergers and acquisitions (M&A), to increase their overall sales and profitability.





Key Market Segmentation



This report provides an analysis of the key trends in each sub-segment of the global copper foil market report, along with forecasts at the global, regional and country levels from 2024-2032. The report has categorized the market based on product type, application, and end use industry.



Breakup by Product Type:

Rolled Copper Foil

Electrodeposited Copper Foil

Breakup by Application:

Printed Circuit Boards

Batteries

Electromagnetic Shielding

Others

Breakup by End Use Industry:

Aerospace and Defense

Automotive

Building and Construction

Electrical and Electronics

Industrial Equipment

Medical

Others

Competitive Landscape



The competitive landscape of the industry has also been examined along with the profiles of the key players being Carl Schlenk AG, Chang Chun Group, Furukawa Electric Co. Ltd., ILJIN Materials Co. Ltd., JX Nippon Mining & Metals Corporation (ENEOS Holdings Inc.), LS Mtron Co. Ltd., Mitsui Mining & Smelting Co. Ltd., Nippon Denkai Ltd., Rogers Corporation, SKC Co. Ltd., Sumitomo Metal Mining Co. Ltd., Targray Technology International Inc. and UACJ Corporation.



Key Questions Answered in This Report

What was the size of the global copper foil market in 2023?

What is the expected growth rate of the global copper foil market during 2024-2032?

What are the key factors driving the global copper foil market?

What has been the impact of COVID-19 on the global copper foil market?

What is the breakup of the global copper foil market based on the product type?

What is the breakup of the global copper foil market based on the application?

What is the breakup of the global copper foil market based on the end use industry?

What are the key regions in the global copper foil market?

Who are the key players/companies in the global copper foil market?



Key Attributes:





Report Attribute Details No. of Pages 137 Forecast Period 2023 - 2032 Estimated Market Value (USD) in 2023 $6.1 Billion Forecasted Market Value (USD) by 2032 $10.5 Billion Compound Annual Growth Rate 6.2% Regions Covered Global





Key Topics Covered:



1 Preface



2 Scope and Methodology



3 Executive Summary



4 Introduction

4.1 Overview

4.2 Key Industry Trends



5 Global Copper Foil Market

5.1 Market Overview

5.2 Market Performance

5.3 Impact of COVID-19

5.4 Market Forecast



6 Market Breakup by Product Type

6.1 Rolled Copper Foil

6.2 Electrodeposited Copper Foil



7 Market Breakup by Application

7.1 Printed Circuit Boards

7.2 Batteries

7.3 Electromagnetic Shielding

7.4 Others



8 Market Breakup by End Use Industry

8.1 Aerospace and Defense

8.2 Automotive

8.3 Building and Construction

8.4 Electrical and Electronics

8.5 Industrial Equipment

8.6 Medical

8.7 Others



9 Market Breakup by Region

9.1 North America

9.2 Asia-Pacific

9.3 Europe

9.4 Latin America

9.5 Middle East and Africa



10 SWOT Analysis



11 Value Chain Analysis



12 Porters Five Forces Analysis



13 Price Analysis



14 Competitive Landscape

14.1 Market Structure

14.2 Key Players

14.3 Profiles of Key Players

Carl Schlenk

Chang Chun Group

Furukawa Electric Co. Ltd.

ILJIN Materials Co. Ltd.

JX Nippon Mining & Metals

LS Mtron Co. Ltd.

Mitsui Mining & Smelting Co. Ltd.

Nippon Denkai Ltd.

Rogers Corporation

SKC Co. Ltd.

Sumitomo Metal Mining Co. Ltd.

Targray Technology International Inc.

UACJ Corporation



For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/9bng91

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
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, June 12, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Orezone Gold Corporation (TSX: ORE, OTCQX: ORZCF) (the Company or Orezone) is pleased to provide drill results from its Bombore Gold Mine located in central Burkina Faso. The results are from Orezones ongoing infill and advanced grade control program, which is designed to further delineate multiple high-grade structures within the Siga East and Siga South zones. Mining of higher-grade, free-digging oxides has now commenced at Siga East and mining is scheduled to commence at Siga South in Q4-2024. Compared to the current zones mined, ore from Siga East and Siga South will significantly improve the grades delivered to the process plant in H2-2024 and into 2025.



Selected Drill Intercepts:

113.74 g/t Au over 8.00m from 38.00m in hole BBC6494

1.43 g/t Au over 38.00m from 5.00m in hole BBC6384

1.22 g/t Au over 27.00m from 8.00m in hole BBC6390

1.39 g/t Au over 22.00m from 10.00m in hole BBC6352

1.92 g/t Au over 15.00m from 5.00m in hole BBC6358

2.30 g/t Au over 12.00m from 6.00m in hole BBC6401

1.69 g/t Au over 16.00m from 6.00m in hole BBC6408

4.59 g/t Au over 5.00m from 0.00m in hole BBC6258

1.89 g/t Au over 12.00m from 35.00m in hole BBC6470

2.41 g/t Au over 10.00m from 5.00m in hole BBC6258

1.00 g/t Au over 19.00m from 1.00m in hole BBC6495



Patrick Downey, President and CEO stated, Ongoing advanced grade control and infill drilling continues to illustrate the continuity of high-grade mineralization within the Siga East and Siga South zones, resulting in some of the highest-grade intercepts reported to-date on the property. These drill results are very encouraging, both in terms of ongoing exploration and the planned shift in mining to increasingly focus on higher-grade, free-digging oxides within the southern portion of the property.

The tighter drill spacing continues to define higher-grade structures within the broader Siga mineralized corridor. These higher-grade structures, now being identified across the property, will be the focus of a multi-year exploration campaign, which is designed to test and delineate higher-grade zones of mineralization at depth. With the current mineral resource down to an average depth of ~200m across 14km of strike, we see significant potential to expand the mineral inventory at depth, while also making additional near-surface discoveries along the emerging, higher-grade P17 trend.

Figure 1: Bombore Plan Map





Operations Update

The Company is pleased to report that the community relocation from Siga East to the new MV3 community is nearing completion, which has allowed mining to commence at Siga East ahead of schedule. The Company expects to feed higher-grade, free-digging oxide ore from Siga East to the Bombore oxide plant starting in late June. This new source of ore will replace the lower grade oxide and transition ores currently being mined in the north, resulting in lower mining and processing costs as the harder transition ores require a certain amount of drill and blast and have a higher work index than oxide ores.

At Siga South, infill grade control drilling will commence in Q3-2024. Upon completion of this program, combined with the southern extension of the main haul road, the Company expects to access additional high-grade, free-digging oxide ore from Siga South commencing in Q4-2024.

For the remainder of 2024 and in 2025, Siga East and Siga South will contribute to an increasing percentage of the mill feed, which is expected to increase head grades and reduce operating costs.





MV3 Key Hand-over Ceremony





MV3 Community Move-in

Hard Rock Expansion Update

Orezone is pleased to report that financing discussions for the Bombore 2.5M tonnes per annum hard rock plant have progressed significantly with our senior lender, Coris Bank. Term sheet negotiations are now in their final stages, and the Company expects to announce a binding debt package before the end of June. The Company plans to commence major works on this brownfield expansion in early July, with first gold from the hard rock plant expected in Q4-2025.

Bombore Drill Results

Table 1: Highlight Drill Intercepts from Siga East and Siga South

Hole From

(m) To

(m) Length

(m)** Grade

(g/t Au) Zone Type BBC6142 2.00 9.00 7.00 1.68 Siga East Oxide incl. 3.00 4.00 1.00 7.28 Siga East Oxide BBC6191 35.00 43.00 8.00 1.67 Siga East Hard Rock incl. 36.00 37.00 1.00 7.94 Siga East Hard Rock BBC6205 3.00 6.00 3.00 4.55 Siga East Oxide BBC6209 23.00 33.00 10.00 1.38 Siga East Hard Rock incl. 25.00 26.00 1.00 4.40 Siga East Hard Rock BBC6246 46.00 47.00 1.00 18.26 Siga East Hard Rock BBC6253 3.00 21.00 18.00 1.11 Siga East Oxide incl. 17.00 19.00 2.00 5.16 Siga East Oxide BBC6257 9.00 16.00 7.00 1.97 Siga East Oxide incl. 9.00 10.00 1.00 10.22 Siga East Oxide BBC6258 0.00 5.00 5.00 4.59 Siga East Oxide*** and 5.00 15.00 10.00 2.41 Siga East Oxide incl. 12.00 14.00 2.00 6.70 Siga East Oxide BBC6263 2.00 19.00 17.00 0.70 Siga East Oxide BBC6264 12.00 18.00 6.00 2.37 Siga East Oxide incl. 16.00 17.00 1.00 10.88 Siga East Oxide and 18.00 23.00 5.00 2.15 Siga East Hard Rock and 30.00 43.00 13.00 0.78 Siga East Hard Rock incl. 36.00 40.00 4.00 1.18 Siga East Hard Rock BBC6308 47.00 54.00 7.00 1.57 Siga East Hard Rock BBC6334 7.00 15.00 8.00 2.19 Siga South Oxide incl. 9.00 11.00 2.00 7.55 Siga South Oxide BBC6347 8.00 19.00 11.00 0.97 Siga South Oxide incl. 9.00 15.00 6.00 1.42 Siga South Oxide BBC6352 10.00 32.00 22.00 1.39 Siga South Oxide and 32.00 44.00 12.00 1.21 Siga South Hard Rock BBC6353 4.00 25.00 21.00 1.02 Siga South Oxide incl. 17.00 19.00 2.00 2.18 Siga South Oxide BBC6358 5.00 20.00 15.00 1.92 Siga South Oxide incl. 13.00 14.00 1.00 10.98 Siga South Oxide BBC6359 11.00 33.00 22.00 0.94 Siga South Oxide incl. 32.00 33.00 1.00 3.13 Siga South Oxide and 33.00 48.00 15.00 0.95 Siga South Hard Rock incl. 41.00 43.00 2.00 2.31 Siga South Hard Rock BBC6360 18.00 33.00 15.00 0.70 Siga South Oxide BBC6361 5.00 36.00 31.00 0.50 Siga South Oxide BBC6374 9.00 20.00 11.00 1.88 Siga South Oxide incl. 12.00 16.00 4.00 4.25 Siga South Oxide BBC6380 18.00 30.00 12.00 1.29 Siga South Oxide incl. 18.00 22.00 4.00 3.98 Siga South Oxide BBC6383 24.00 44.00 20.00 0.91 Siga South Oxide BBC6384 5.00 43.00 38.00 1.43 Siga South Oxide incl. 27.00 35.00 8.00 2.87 Siga South Oxide BBC6385 5.00 15.00 10.00 2.40 Siga South Oxide BBC6389 8.00 19.00 11.00 1.00 Siga South Oxide incl. 13.00 16.00 3.00 2.04 Siga South Oxide BBC6390 8.00 35.00 27.00 1.22 Siga South Oxide and 39.00 46.00 7.00 2.63 Siga South Hard Rock BBC6391 23.00 40.00 17.00 0.86 Siga South Oxide incl. 34.00 35.00 1.00 2.61 Siga South Oxide BBC6392 31.00 35.00 4.00 4.82 Siga South Hard Rock incl. 32.00 33.00 1.00 16.62 Siga South Hard Rock BBC6401 6.00 18.00 12.00 2.30 Siga South Oxide incl. 9.00 11.00 2.00 10.04 Siga South Oxide BBC6403 3.00 8.00 5.00 2.38 Siga South Oxide BBC6404 8.00 22.00 14.00 0.86 Siga South Oxide incl. 9.00 13.00 4.00 1.44 Siga South Oxide BBC6405 9.00 28.00 19.00 1.59 Siga South Oxide incl. 15.00 26.00 11.00 2.75 Siga South Oxide BBC6407 8.00 34.00 26.00 0.83 Siga South Oxide incl. 23.00 24.00 1.00 3.29 Siga South Oxide BBC6408 6.00 22.00 16.00 1.69 Siga South Oxide incl. 8.00 19.00 11.00 2.06 Siga South Oxide BBC6470* 35.00 47.00 12.00 1.89 Siga South Hard Rock incl. 38.00 47.00 9.00 2.19 Siga South Hard Rock BBC6484* 3.00 21.00 18.00 0.64 Siga South Oxide BBC6493* 6.00 15.00 9.00 1.42 Siga South Oxide incl. 9.00 15.00 6.00 1.73 Siga South Oxide BBC6494* 38.00 46.00 8.00 113.74 Siga South Hard Rock incl. 43.00 44.00 1.00 862.74 Siga South Hard Rock BBC6495* 1.00 20.00 19.00 1.00 Siga South Oxide incl. 17.00 18.00 1.00 4.05 Siga South Oxide BBC6496* 3.00 18.00 15.00 0.68 Siga South Oxide incl. 12.00 18.00 6.00 0.91 Siga South Oxide





* Preliminary results without leach residue assays. Final grades will typically increase by 4-6% from those stated. ** True widths for Siga East and Siga South drilling are approximately 90% of drilled lengths. *** Post-Birimian colluvial material.

About Orezone Gold Corporation



Orezone Gold Corporation (TSX: ORE OTCQX: ORZCF) is a West African gold producer engaged in mining, developing, and exploring its flagship Bombore Gold Mine in Burkina Faso. The Bombore mine achieved commercial production on its oxide operations on December 1, 2022, and is now focused on its staged hard rock expansion that is expected to materially increase annual and life-of-mine gold production from the processing of hard rock mineral reserves. Orezone is led by an experienced team focused on social responsibility and sustainability with a proven track record in project construction and operations, financings, capital markets and M&A.

The technical report entitled Bombore Phase II Expansion, Definitive Feasibility Study is available on SEDAR+ and the Companys website.

Patrick Downey

President and Chief Executive Officer

Vanessa Pickering

Manager, Investor Relations

Tel: 1 778 945 8977 / Toll Free: 1 888 673 0663

info@orezone.com / www.orezone.com

Qualified Person

Dr. Pascal Marquis, Geo., Senior VP Exploration, is the Qualified Person who has approved the scientific and technical information in this news release.

QA/QC

The mineralized intervals are based on a lower cut-off grade of 0.28 gpt in the Oxide+Upper Transition zone, and 0.45 g/t Au in the Lower Transition+Sulfide zone, a minimal width of 1.5m and up to a maximum of 3.0m of dilution being included. The true width of the mineralization is approximately 90% of the drill length at Siga. The reverse circulation samples were prepared by BIGS Global Burkina s.a.r.l. (BIGS Global) at their Ouagadougou facility and then split by Orezone to 1 kg using Rotary Sample Dividers (RSDs). A 1-kg aliquot was analyzed for leachable gold at BIGS Global in Ouagadougou, by bottle-roll cyanidation using a LeachWell catalyst. The leach residues from all samples with a leach grade greater than or equal to 0.25 g/t Au were prepared by BIGS Global and then split by Orezone to 50 g using RSDs. A 50-g aliquot was analyzed by fire assay at BIGS Global.

Orezone employs a rigorous Quality Control Program including a minimum of 10% standards, blanks and duplicates. The composite width and grade include the final leach residue assay results for most of the drill intercepts reported.

For further information please contact Orezone at +1 (778) 945-8977 or visit the Companys website at www.orezone.com.

The Toronto Stock Exchange neither approves nor disapproves the information contained in this news release.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains certain information that may constitute forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian Securities laws and forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable U.S. securities laws (together, forward-looking statements). Forward-looking statements are frequently characterized by words such as plan, expect, project, intend, believe, anticipate, estimate, potential, possible and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions may, will, could, or should occur. Forward-looking statements in this press release include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to the Companys expectations of increased grade delivered to the plant, potentially increasing the mineral inventory at Bombore, the Phase II Expansion and the Companys discussions with Coris Bank.

All such forward-looking statements are based on certain assumptions and analyses made by management in light of their experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments, as well as other factors management and the qualified persons believe are appropriate in the circumstances.

All forward-looking statements are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements including, but not limited to, delays caused by pandemics, terrorist or other violent attacks (including cyber security attacks), the failure of parties to contracts to honour contractual commitments, unexpected changes in laws, rules or regulations, or their enforcement by applicable authorities; the failure of parties to contracts to perform as agreed; social or labour unrest; changes in commodity prices; unexpected failure or inadequacy of infrastructure, the possibility of unanticipated costs and expenses, accidents and equipment breakdowns, political risk, unanticipated changes in key management personnel and general economic, market or business conditions, the failure of exploration programs, including drilling programs, to deliver anticipated results and the failure of ongoing and uncertainties relating to the availability and costs of financing needed in the future, and other factors described in the Company's most recent annual information form and management discussion and analysis filed on SEDAR+. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.

Although the forward-looking statements contained in this press release are based upon what management of the Company believes are reasonable assumptions, the Company cannot assure investors that actual results will be consistent with these forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this press release and are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. Subject to applicable securities laws, the Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise the forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect events or circumstances occurring after the date of this press release.
Testing results at 50 cycles of GEN2 material show an overall capacity improvement of approximately 30% compared to the graphite benchmark and 14% better compared to Gen 1 material, without any noticeable cycle degradation [1].



MONTREAL, June 12, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- HPQ Silicon Inc. (HPQ or the Company) ( TSX-V: HPQ ) (OTCQB: HPQFF) (FRA: O08), a technology company specializing in green engineering of silica and silicon-based materials is pleased to announce the latest battery milestones achieved by its France-based affiliate, NOVACIUM SAS ("Novacium"). This announcement highlights the remarkable results obtained during the initial 50-cycle tests of 18650 industrial batteries made with Novaciums non-optimized second-generation advanced silicon-based anode material.

These results continue to showcase our ability to produce a blend of graphite and advanced silicon anode material that can be seamlessly integrated into existing anode manufacturing facilities, improving overall battery performance, stated Dr. Jed Kraiem, Ph.D., COO of Novacium. "As we continue improving our material and its performance, our work will also focus on assisting HPQ in becoming a North American and European manufacturer of next-gen engineered silicon-based anode materials.

UNLOCKING ENHANCED BATTERY PERFORMANCE WITH SILICON BASE ANODE MATERIALS



Figure 1) The blue line shows average capacity of 100% graphite batteries, the orange line shows average capacity of GEN1 batteries, and the green line shows average capacity of GEN 2, all measured in milliampere-hours (mAh) [1]

The figure above illustrates the progression in battery capacity over 50 cycles. The blue line represents the average capacity of three (3) 18650 batteries with 100% graphite at around 2,775 mAh. The orange line shows the average capacity of three (3) 18650 batteries using Novacium GEN1 materials at around 3,174 mAh. Finally, the green line depicts the average capacity of three (3) 18650 batteries using Novacium GEN2 materials at around 3,379 mAh.

These results indicate that during the first 50-cycle test, the batteries made with Novacium non-optimized GEN2 materials continue to show approximately a 30% improvement compared to the graphite benchmark and about a 14% improvement compared to the batteries made with Novacium GEN1 materials.

DELIVERING MINIMAL BATTERY DEGRADATION AT 50 CYCLES



Figure 2) The blue line shows the relative capacity of 100% graphite batteries, the orange line shows the relative capacity of GEN1 batteries, and the green line shows relative capacity of GEN 2, over 50 cycles [1].

Results from Figure 2 continue to demonstrate a minimal increase (about 1%) in measurable cycle degradation during the first 50 cycles. The blue line represents the average relative capacity of three (3) 18650 batteries with 100% graphite; the orange line shows the average relative capacity of three (3) 18650 batteries made using Novacium GEN1 materials, and the green line depicts the average relative capacity of three (3) 18650 batteries using Novacium GEN2 materials.

Novaciums non-optimized second-generation engineered silicon anode material continues to deliver results that surpass those obtained with Novacium GEN1 materials. These promising results have real-world applications, stated Mr. Bernard Tourillon, President and CEO of HPQ Silicon Inc. and NOVACIUM SAS. These achievements open new doors for HPQ as we strive to become a manufacturer of next-gen engineered silicon-based anode materials in jurisdictions that support these types of initiatives.

REFERENCE SOURCES

[1] Novacium technical team analysis of the data from the ongoing charging and discharging cycle tests conducted at a world-leading university, the name of which is kept confidential for competitive reasons.



About NOVACIUM SAS

Novacium is an HPQ - affiliated company started in Q3 2022. This green technology startup is based in Lyon, France and is a partnership with HPQ and three of Frances leading research engineers, Dr. Jed KRAIEM PhD, Novacium's Chief Operating Officer (COO), Dr. Oleksiy NICHIPORUK PhD, Novacium's Chief Technical Officer (CTO), and Dr. Julien DEGOULANGE PhD, Novaciums Chief Innovation Officer (CIO). Novacium is a new Research and Development company which allows the researchers to develop their own technology in high added value fields connected to renewable energy, and allows HPQ Silicon Inc, a Canadian company, to expand the depth and reach of its technical team to help develop its silicon and new renewable energy projects.

About HPQ Silicon

HPQ Silicon Inc. ( TSX-V: HPQ ) is a Quebec-based TSX Venture Exchange Tier 1 Industrial Issuer.

HPQ is developing, with the support of world-class technology partners PyroGenesis Canada Inc. and NOVACIUM SAS, new green processes crucial to make the critical materials needed to reach net zero emissions.

HPQ activities are centred around the following four (4) pillars:

1) Becoming a green low-cost (Capex and Opex) manufacturer of Fumed Silica using the FUMED SILICA REACTOR, a proprietary technology owned by HPQ being developed for HPQ by PyroGenesis. 2) Becoming a producer of silicon-based anode materials for battery applications with the assistance of NOVACIUM SAS. 3) HPQ SILICON affiliate NOVACIUM SAS is developing a low carbon, chemical based on demand and high-pressure autonomous hydrogen production system. 4) Becoming a zero CO 2 low-cost (Capex and Opex) producer of High Purity Silicon (2N+ to 4N) using our PUREVAPTM Quartz Reduction Reactors (QRR), a proprietary technology owned by HPQ being developed for HPQ by PyroGenesis.



For more information, please visit HPQ Silicon web site .



Disclaimers:

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, statements containing the words "may", "plan", "will", "estimate", "continue", "anticipate", "intend", "expect", "in the process" and other similar expressions which constitute "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking statements reflect the Company's current expectation and assumptions and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties including, but not limited to, our expectations regarding the acceptance of our products by the market, our strategy to develop new products and enhance the capabilities of existing products, our strategy with respect to research and development, the impact of competitive products and pricing, new product development, and uncertainties related to the regulatory approval process. Such statements reflect the current views of the Company with respect to future events and are subject to certain risks and uncertainties and other risks detailed from time-to-time in the Company's ongoing filings with the securitys regulatory authorities, which filings can be found at www.sedar.com. Actual results, events, and performance may differ materially. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements either as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities laws.

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.

This News Release is available on the company's CEO Verified Discussion Forum , a moderated social media platform that enables civilized discussion and Q&A between Management and Shareholders.

Source: HPQ Silicon Inc.

For further information contact:

Bernard J. Tourillon, Chairman, President, and CEO Tel +1 (514) 846-3271

Patrick Levasseur, Director Tel: +1 (514) 262-9239

Email: Info@hpqsilicon.com

Photos accompanying this announcement are available at:

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/c1ff69cb-193c-4ef3-9780-d70022a37971

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TORONTO, June 12, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Humber River Health (Humber) is proud to announce the integration of PrecisionOS, a cutting-edge market leader virtual reality platform, into its orthopedic operating rooms to enhance safety and efficiency through comprehensive team training. Recognizing the critical role of nursing in delivering safe and effective care, Humber will leverage PrecisionOS to empower its entire surgical team with advanced skills and knowledge.



Orthopedic surgeries demand precision, coordination, and seamless teamwork. To ensure every member of the operating room (OR) team is equipped to excel in their roles, surgeons at Humber will lead the training of nurses using PrecisionOS. By immersing themselves in realistic surgical simulations, nurses will gain invaluable experience and confidence, ultimately contributing to smoother OR flow and improved patient outcomes.

Jhanvi Solanki, Vice President of Clinical Programs at Humber, expressed enthusiasm about the adoption of PrecisionOS, stating, "At Humber, our commitment to patient safety and excellence in care is unwavering. Integrating the unique capabilities of PrecisionOS into our orthopedic surgical workflows underscores our dedication to leveraging innovative technology to drive continuous improvement."

Orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Sebastian Rodriguez-Elizalde, specializing in hip and knee procedures at Humber, emphasized the significance of this initiative, stating, "In complex surgeries, every member of the team plays a crucial role. By training together using PrecisionOS, we can refine our teamwork, communication, and technical skills, ultimately delivering better outcomes for our patients."

In aligning innovation and nursing education advancements, this follows the recent release of the Registered Nurses Association of Ontarios Best Practice Guideline (BPG) entitled Clinical Practice in a Digital Health Environment, co-chaired by the late Dr. Vanessa Burkoski, RN, BScN, MScN, DHA, O. ONT, Former Chief Nursing Executive and Chief, People Strategy, Humber River Health and Maureen Charlebois, RN, BScN, MHA, CHE, Chief Nursing and Clinical Officer, Bayshore HealthCare.

This BPG delivers the framework for redefining nursing practice, professional growth and evidence-based learning in a digital setting (RNAO, 2024). The PrecisionOS platform will provide a proactive approach towards leveraging this BPG for an improved patient care outcome.

PrecisionOS has provided the groundwork needed to foster progressive learning experiences and environments to engage nursing skill training and advance the care of patients receiving orthopedic surgery. The mission is to build a changed learning environment that will deepen the collaboration and cohesive surgical team relationship to excel patient care within the surgical program.

Ashley Dindyal, Clinical Practice Leader-Operating Room at Humber, responsible for organizing the training sessions, highlighted the importance of comprehensive team training, saying, "As nurses, we are integral to the success of every surgery. PrecisionOS provides us with a unique opportunity to enhance our understanding of procedures and collaborate more effectively with our surgical colleagues, ensuring a smoother and safer patient experience."

Dr. Danny Goel, CEO of PrecisionOS, commented on the transformative impact of the software, stating, "We are thrilled to partner with Humber River Health in their mission to optimize OR efficiency and patient safety. Given our central focus on patient care, education for the entire team from residents to nurses is a vital requirement from hospitals to ambulatory surgical centers around the world. This software offers a realistic, immersive collaborative training experience, enabling surgeons and surgical teams to hone their skills in a risk-free environment. By embracing PrecisionOS, Humber is investing in the future of orthopedic care."

The deployment of PrecisionOS at Humber River Health marks a significant step forward in the evolution of orthopedic surgical training and underscores the hospital's commitment to excellence in patient care.

About Humber River Health:

Humber River Health is one of Canadas largest community acute care hospitals, serving a population of more than 850,000 people in the northwest Greater Toronto Area. The multi-site hospital currently operates out of its Wilson Avenue acute care site, Finch, and Church Campus with over 4,000 employees, approximately 700 physicians, and over 500 volunteers. Humber River Health uses a custom combination of technology and clinical expertise to rebuild elements of care, making technology work for staff and physicians, giving them more time to spend with patients. With the support of its incredible teams, a strong will, and determination, Humber River Health is committed to Lighting New Ways in Healthcare. For more information, please visit hrh.ca.

About PrecisionOS:

PrecisionOS leads the global market in evidence-based immersive medical education for the healthcare sector. They are the trusted provider for healthcare professionals, residency programs, professional societies, and medical device companies around the world. Independently published trials validate participants increase both their confidence and surgical judgement after using the PrecisionOS platform. With collaborative affiliations spanning nearly 100 major global residency and fellowship programs across 60 countries, PrecisionOS is transforming medical education worldwide. Learn more at www.precisionostech.com.

For media inquiries, please contact:

Humber River Health

Joe Gorman

Director, Community Relations & Public Affairs

jgorman@hrh.ca

PrecisionOS

Rob Oliveira

Chief Creative Officer

rob@precisionostech.com

Photos accompanying this announcement are available at:

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/4e1bd162-d8ae-4a46-96c3-25d5487d3c85

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Richmond, Virginia, June 12, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Saying goodbye to her Virginia Credit Union family will be difficult, but after 50 years of service to the credit union, Glenda Mooney says shes ready for retirement. She holds the distinction of being the credit unions only employee to ever reach 50 or more years of service.

We take pride in the fact that so many of our employees have long, successful careers at Virginia Credit Union, but 50 years is a special milestone, says Virginia Credit Union President/CEO Chris Shockley. For VACU and for most U.S. credit unions, it wasnt until the 1970s that we began to see real growth in membership and services, so Glenda is a direct connection to that pivotal point in our history. More importantly, she exemplifies our organizations values around teamwork, integrity and respect for one another. As she readies for retirement, Glenda leaves behind a team grateful for her service, her contributions and her friendship.

As a 17-year-old high school student and the youngest member of a 10-person staff, Mooney started as a part-time teller in 1974. She has been witness during her 50-year career to an incredible evolution within the credit union itself and a sea change for the financial services industry.

No job posting, no job application, says Mooney, whose hiring was the result of an old-fashioned word-of-mouth introduction from a family member and a one-on-one interview with the credit unions legendary first president, the late-Dot Hall. I was a little country girl from Black Creek (Mechanicsville) and knew nothing about downtown Richmond, which was the site of the credit unions headquarters and sole location, but I made it work!"

Mooney has spent most of her career in VACUs accounting department.

I love working with numbers and doing settlements  anything that has to do with reconciling the general ledger. I really like trying to find errors and solving those problems," she says.

Glenda has spent her entire career serving this credit union and our members. Shes been a friend and valued co-worker to countless fellow employees during the past five decades and its impossible to calculate the lives shes touched or the fellow staff members shes mentored and trained over the years, says Virginia Credit Union Executive Vice President/Chief Financial Officer Stephanie Vick. Her credit union family will miss her, but we wish Glenda all the best as she enters this new and exciting phase of her life.

During the past five decades, shes seen the credit union transform from a single branch operation offering basic savings and loans into a $5 billion-plus, full-service financial institution with a service footprint that stretches across a significant swath of the commonwealth.

Most members brought us cash to deposit or make loan payments, Mooney says of her early years with the credit union. Most loans were on payroll deduction and almost anyone could get a loan because we used their state retirement as collateral. All withdrawal and loan checks were manually typed and personally signed by Ms. Hall.

There was so much that changed over the years, but I think automation may have had the biggest impact, says Mooney. As better computers came along, we were able to do so much more for members and so much faster.

A 50-year career with Virginia Credit Union wasnt the initial plan, Mooney notes, thinking she would work a few years, get married and raise her children. All that happened, but when she became a single mom, working to raise two sons, she needed the financial stability the credit union offered. Now, shes looking forward to time with family, including a one-year-old great granddaughter, and relaxation.

Im proud to have spent 50 years with the credit union, and in some ways, I continued to choose Virginia Credit Union as my employer because they continued to choose me, says Mooney. Virginia Credit Union has been so good to me.

About Virginia Credit Union

A financial cooperative serving more than 320,000 members, Virginia Credit Union offers a variety of affordable banking services, loans, mortgages, and free financial education resources, with a focus on helping people be more confident with their finances. Virginia Credit Union is an equal housing opportunity lender and is federally insured by NCUA.

Attachment
Everett, Washington, June 12, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Artificial Intelligence (AI) implementation is expected to play a crucial role in manufacturing operations in the next wave of industrial revolution, also known as Industry 5.0. A newly released report by Fluke Reliability, which empowers reliability and maintenance teams with the hardware, software, and services to optimize asset performance, confirms these claims.

Censuswide conducted the research, which surveyed over 600 senior decision-makers and maintenance professionals in the U.S., the UK, and Germany. The findings confirm that manufacturers are at the forefront of implementing AI technologies into day-to-day operations.

The results offer a clear, almost unanimous picture of the manufacturing landscape. AI will be a high business priority for companies over the next 12 months according to 93% of survey respondents. This sentiment is echoed at an organizational level, with 9 in 10 senior decision makers agreeing AI is the priority and over 4 in 5 maintenance managers saying the same.

Regarding the role of AI in predictive maintenance, only 8% of those surveyed are currently operating a predictive maintenance strategy. However, a massive 77% want to shift to predictive/proactive maintenance in the future, and AI implementation is viewed as a tool to achieve that goal.

Manufacturers are already turning their intentions into action; on average, respondents said they intend to invest 44% of their technology budgets on AI in 2024 alone. In fact, (30%) of those surveyed plan to invest 51-75% of their technology budget on AI this year.

While only 9% of manufacturers agree that they have completed their Industry 5.0 goals to date, the majority (61%) expect to achieve their AI goals in just 11 months.

Predictive maintenance is becoming a need, not a want - especially as skilled labor is hard to come by and retain, says Ankush Malhotra, President of Fluke Reliability. AI offers a clear pathway and there is a strong belief within the industry that manufacturers who dont adapt to the benefits are likely to be left behind. The results of this survey show that while many industries are talking about AI implementation, manufacturers are walking the talk.

Of those looking to invest in the next 12 months, the need for adoption was largely driven by the benefits of AI implementation including:

the ability to develop new products and services (35%)

provide a new way to address data processing and analysis requirements (35%)

a means to address the call for improvements to customer service (35%)

the demand for improved efficiency and productivity (34%)

ways to compensate for the skilled labour shortage (31%).

Its no surprise that manufacturers are bullish in their adoption of AI, said Aaron Merkin, Chief Technology Officer, Fluke Reliability. We know it works and have customers who have seen value in as little as three months.

To view the full results of the survey, visit https://info.fluke.com/frs-0624-download-value-of-ai-lp-1-a

-ENDS

About Fluke Reliability

Fluke Reliability, a wholly owned subsidiary of Fortive Corporation [NYSE: FTV] and operating company of Fluke Corporation, offers reliability and maintenance teams the tools, software, AI-powered insights, and services they need to optimize asset performance. Home to powerful, iconic brands  PRUFTECHNIK, Azima DLI, and eMaint  Fluke Reliability enables customers to shift from reactive to predictive maintenance utilizing a connected approach to reliability. Fluke Reliability informs customers on the health of their assets with software and services that drive better maintenance decisions  improving productivity, driving uptime, boosting visibility, and reducing costs. For more information on Fluke Reliability, visit https://reliability.fluke.com/ or LinkedIn.

Fluke Reliability is a registered trademark of Fluke Corporation. The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners. For more information, visit the Fluke website.

Attachments
Dublin, June 12, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Global Modern Card Issuing Platforms Market: 2024-2029" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.



The Modern Card Issuing Platforms research suite provides a detailed and insightful analysis of this evolving market; enabling stakeholders from banks, financial institutions, fintech companies and technology vendors to understand future growth, key trends and the competitive environment.



Modern card issuing platforms are card management systems which utilise an API (Application Programming Interface)-driven approach; allowing businesses to seamlessly integrate card issuance and management capabilities into their services. This provides benefits to card issuers, such as the ability to tokenise virtual cards to both digital and mobile wallets, push provisioning from mobile banking apps, and instant and personalised issuance of physical cards. Furthermore, modern card programs provide an integrated solution to help banks modernise their financial services without overhauling their legacy systems.



The suite includes access to data mapping the adoption and future growth of modern card issuing platforms, an insightful study uncovering the latest trends and opportunities within the market, and a document containing extensive analysis of the 19 market leaders in the modern card issuing space.



It provides a critical tool for understanding this rapidly emerging market; allowing banks, other card issuers, and modern card issuing platforms to shape their future strategy. Its unparalleled coverage makes this research suite an incredibly useful resource for charting the future of such an uncertain and fast-growing market.



Key Statistics

$1.2bn - Total transaction value in 2024

$2.8bn - Total transaction value in 2029

134% - 2024 to 2029 market growth

2024-2029 - Forecast period

Key Features

Market Dynamics: Insights into key trends and market expansion challenges within the modern card issuing market. These address the changing payments landscape; how virtual cards can revolutionise B2B payments, fraud management provision for virtual cards; and analysing the many modern card issuing use cases. This includes corporate cards and real-time spend controls that card issuers can implement. The research also features a Country Readiness Index on the current development and segment growth of the modern card issuing market across 8 key regions, as well as providing a future outlook.



Key Takeaways & Strategic Recommendations: In-depth analysis of key development opportunities and findings within the modern card issuing market, accompanied by strategic recommendations for stakeholders.



Competitor Leaderboard:

Key player capability and capacity assessment for 19 modern card issuing vendors, via the Competitor Leaderboard; featuring market size for major players in the modern card issuing industry:

Adyen

Co-op Solutions

Enfuce

Entrust

FIS

Fiserv

Giesecke+Devrient

Hips

i2c

IDEMIA Group

Marqeta

Modulr

Nexi Group

NymCard

Paymentology

Paynetics

Pismo

Stripe

Thales Group

Benchmark Industry Forecasts: The business overview into modern card issuing includes forecasts for total revenue for modern card issuing platforms, split by credit, debit, and prepaid cards.



Research Deliverables

Market Data & Forecasting Report - The numbers tell you what's happening, but our written report details why, alongside the methodologies.

Interactive Forecast Excel - Full 5-year forecasts for every available market metric provided in Excel format, with interactive 'What If' and scenario tools.

Online Data Platform - Access the very latest data in exclusive online data platform, harvest. All the data from Excel, with frequent updates and a more user-friendly interface.

Market Trends & Strategies Report - A comprehensive analysis of the current market landscape, alongside strategic recommendations.

Competitor Leaderboard Report - Provides a visual representation of the competitive positioning of the leaders within the market.

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/kh25ie

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.
CALGARY, Alberta, June 12, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Traction Uranium Corp. (CSE: TRAC) (OTC: TRCTF) (FRA: Z1K) (the Company or Traction) and Forum Energy Metals Corp. (Forum) are pleased to announce they have commenced a helicopter-borne airborne MobileMT (Mobile MagnetoTellurics) survey on the Grease River Project, located along the north rim of the Athabasca Basin, Saskatchewan.



The survey is being completed by Expert Geophysics based out of Aurora, Ontario. A total of 1,781 line-km will be surveyed at a 100 metre line spacing and will collect high resolution magnetic and VLF data. The survey will be conducted over the entire Grease River claims totaling 10,528 hectares along the Grease River Shear Zone (Figure 1). Data delivery is expected within eight weeks from completion of the survey from Expert Geophysics and will be interpreted for follow-up exploration.

This additional airborne geophysical survey will help resolve conductors and fault zones to a greater depth for future drill targeting that were not easily imaged by the Xcite Time Domain Electromagnetic System flown in 2023 (see New Releases dated May 10, June 28, and November 2, 2023). In particular, a shallow conductive layer in the Athabasca sandstone masked the electromagnetic signal at depth on the western block so this survey aims at penetrating it and resolving the basement structures to a greater degree. The high-resolution magnetic data is also important to highlight important fault zones or corridors that could host uranium mineralization.

Paul Gorman, Chief Executive Officer of Traction commented, "As we commence the helicopter-borne MobileMT survey with Forum on the Grease River Project, we are excited about the potential insights and discoveries this advanced technology can bring. This survey marks a significant step forward in our exploration efforts, demonstrating our commitment to leveraging cutting-edge methods to unlock the full potential of our project."

Mobile MagnetoTellurics (MobileMT system)

Mobile MagnetoTellurics (MobileMT) is the latest innovation in airborne electromagnetics and the most advanced generation of airborne AFMAG technologies. The patent pending MobileMT technology utilizes naturally occurring electromagnetic fields in the frequency range of 25  20,000 Hz. Thunderstorms release energy, some of which is converted into electromagnetic fields that propagate through the ionosphere-Earth interspace. The EM fields and currents induced by these fields in the subsurface are used in MobileMT to identify variations in subsurface electrical resistivity.

The MobileMT system records two mutually orthogonal electrical components of MT field on the stationary base station and three mutually orthogonal dB/dt components in the towed bird sensors. The MobileMT processing program merges the records into one file. The signal processing is basically the same as in the classical ground MT methods. The program applies FFT to the records and calculates the matrices of the relations between the magnetic and electrical field signals on the different time bases and in different frequency bands. The module of the determinant of each matrix is a rotation invariant parameter which is used as a geophysical parameter for the mapping. Physically it represents a relation between the field powers in the points of flight and base station. This method is free of the bird motion distortions and does not require the problematic bird attitude corrections.

Each electrical component on the base station is registered independently from two grounded lines - signal and reference - which is utilized to eliminate the data bias distortions. This feature was not available in the previous generations of the AFMAG system. The final products include processed EM data for each selected frequency, a resistivity-depth inversion of the EM data, and magnetic field data and its transformations.





Figure 1: Location of the Grease River Project (West and East claim blocks) in northern Saskatchewan. The closest community is the hamlet of Fond-du-Lac, which is located between the two claim blocks. The southern claim block rests within the Athabasca Basin and the northern claim block is outside the Athabasca Basin. Dashed line is the Grease River Shear Zone, a major shear system that extends for over 400 km. Unconformity uranium deposits are structurally controlled, fluids from under the Athabasca sandstone basin carrying uranium along the faults. Forum and Traction see this structure as a possible major fluid conduit that has the potential to host a significant uranium deposit.

Qualified Person

The technical content of this news release has been reviewed and approved by Ken Wheatley P. Geo., who is a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101, Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. The information provides an indication of the exploration potential of the Property but may not be representative of expected results.

About Forum Energy Metals

Forum Energy Metals Corp. is a diversified energy metal company with uranium, copper, nickel, and cobalt projects in Saskatchewan, Canadas Number One Rated mining province for exploration and development, a strategic uranium land position in Nunavut and a strategic cobalt land position in the Idaho Cobalt Belt.

About Traction Uranium Corp.

Traction Uranium Corp. (CSE: TRAC) (OTC: TRCTF) (FRA: Z1K) is in the business of mineral exploration and the development of discovery prospects in Canada, including its two uranium projects in the world-renowned Athabasca Region.

We invite you to find out more about our exploration-stage activities across Canadas Western region at https://tractionuranium.com/.

On Behalf of The Board of Directors

Paul Gorman

CEO

(604) 425-2271

info@tractionuranium.com

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws. All statements that are not historical facts, including without limitation, statements regarding future estimates, plans, programs, forecasts, projections, objectives, assumptions, expectations or beliefs of future performance, are "forward-looking statements." These forward-looking statements reflect the expectations or beliefs of management of the Company based on information currently available to it. Forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including those detailed from time to time in filings made by the Company with securities regulatory authorities, which may cause actual outcomes to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements. These factors should be considered carefully and readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements and information contained in this news release are made as of the date hereof and the Company undertakes no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements or information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless so required by applicable securities laws.

The CSE has neither approved nor disapproved the information contained herein.

Figure 1 is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/7021877d-1538-4eca-aadc-5cf30d4f2bba
BOSTON, MA, June 12, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Digital Twin Consortium (DTC) today announced that Sev1Tech, a leading provider of information technology, engineering, and mission support services for government and commercial entities, has joined the Consortium. Sev1Tech joined the DTC to collaborate on research, testing, and standards for digital twins, digital threads, MBSE, AI/ML, and the intersection of the technologies. In addition, Greg Porter, Principal Solutions Architect at Sev1Tech, will join the DTC Steering Committee.

Were excited to have Sev1Techs Greg Porter join the DTC Steering Committee and to the guidance he will offer, based on his extensive experience working with the government and private sector on digital twins and related technologies, said Dan Isaacs, DTC's GM and CTO. Sev1Techs move to the Steering Committee level continues their strong commitment to bringing forward their leadership and innovation. Their practical expertise and combination of Digital Twins, Reality Capture, and AI knowledge with their multi-agent approach, as presented at prior Quarterly member meetings, proves to be a valuable addition to DTC working groups, advancing the level of work product.

Our new Digital Twin Platform Solution represents a significant leap forward in harnessing the power of data to drive innovation and efficiency. By providing a comprehensive, real-time digital replica of physical assets, we empower our clients to optimize operations, reduce costs, and enhance decision-making processes, said Greg Porter. By being part of the Digital Twin Consortium for this groundbreaking technology reflects our commitment to delivering cutting-edge solutions that meet the evolving needs of our customers in a rapidly changing digital landscape.

At Sev1Tech, Greg sets strategies and builds technologies around Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Data Engineering, Digital Threads, and Digital Twins. He has spent the last decade assisting clients across many different government and commercial entities in designing and implementing these technologies. For the past two years, Greg worked with NASA on the creation of the Industrial Metaverse, a dynamic twin-of-twins platform capable of incorporating all of NASAs campuses and manufacturing into a single digital domain. You can find more information on Sev1Techs Digital Twin capabilities and platform here (www.sev1tech.com/digital-twin).

Sev1Tech is a trusted IT consulting firm dedicated to transforming and securing critical missions for U.S. government agencies and major commercial organizations in classified and unclassified environments. We specialize in IT modernization, cybersecurity, cloud services, network solutions and engineering and manufacturing support.

Sev1Tech supports a wide range of government missions, including those for the Air Force, Space Force, Army, Navy, NASA, Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and other Department of Defense (DoD) and commercial aerospace.

With a strong emphasis on corporate responsibility and service excellence, the Sev1Tech team of experts ensure innovative solutions are delivered to their customers.

View the complete DTC Steering Committee.

About Sev1Tech

Sev1Tech provides IT modernization, cloud, cybersecurity, engineering, training and program support services to U.S. government agencies and major commercial organizations. Headquartered in the Washington D.C. metro area, Sev1Tech is a trusted contractor supporting critical missions across the defense, intelligence, homeland security, space, and health markets. Sev1Tech delivers excellence through highly qualified people, CMMI SVC 3, ISO 9001, ISO 20000, ISO 27001 and ISO 27017 certified processes, and cutting-edge technology.

To learn more, visit www.sev1tech.com.

About Digital Twin Consortium

Digital Twin Consortium is The Authority in Digital Twin. It coalesces industry, government, and academia to drive consistency in vocabulary, architecture, security, and interoperability of digital twin technology. It advances digital twin technology in many industries, from Aerospace to natural resources. Digital Twin Consortium is a program of Object Management Group. For more information, visit https://www.digitaltwinconsortium.org.

Note to editors: Digital Twin Consortium is a registered trademark of OMG. See the listing of all OMG trademarks. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

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TORONTO, June 12, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --

Cute season is in full swing on Parliament Hill and the Canadian Animal Health Institute is thrilled to announce the winners of the 2nd Annual Cutest Pets on Parliament Hill Contest.

Parliamentarians, staffers, and members of the Press Gallery on Parliament Hill submitted more than 105 entries for this years contest, with photos and some amazing stories about their beloved pets. A panel of esteemed judges then narrowed down the choices to the top ten pets in each category, at which time the vote was turned over to the public. The finalists pulled out all the stops and created their own campaigns to Get out the Vote, with a total of over 8,800 votes cast for the thirty parliamentary pet finalists across the three hotly contested categories.

"CAHI is deeply appreciative of everyone who contributed to making this years contest a tremendous success, from our esteemed panel of judges to every participant, voter, and supporter who helped spread the word. We are excited to bring this contest back in 2025 and beyond, and I am confident the competition will only become more intense (and cuter)!" says Dr. Catherine Filejski, CAHI President and CEO.

Yesterday evening, Deputy Speaker and Chair of Committees of the Whole, Chris dEntremont, joined CAHI at the pet-friendly Metropolitain Brasserie in downtown Ottawa to unveil the 2024 Cutest Pets on Parliament Hill, who are:

Cutest Dog: Walnut



Walnut is a great defender of democracy, a seasoned canvasser and a celebrity in his community, thanks to his kindness, acceptance and affection for everyone he meets. He is a staunch supporter of equal rights for all-legged creatures. In addition, he appreciates diverse cuisines and afternoon naps.

Cutest Cat: Tabasco

Tabasco, an homage to the ubiquitous red sauce, mirrors the fiery spirit she possesses beneath her gentle exterior. Named by a girlfriend who saw fit to christen everything from eggs to macaroni with the spicy condiment, Tabasco herself embodies a warmth and sweetness that endears her to all who cross her path. Tabasco's affection knows no bounds, her presence a constant source of solace.

I would be remiss not to point out her mischievous ever-watchful eyes that follow you around a room. And with a purr that resembles a motorboat, here we are 14 years later and she's as healthy as she's ever been.

Cutest Other Pet: Bernard



My name is Bernard, and my pronouns are They/Them. Im just another party hopper, looking for a free drink and some canapes at the Met. Find me on the patio.



CAHIs Cutest Pets on Parliament Hill contest will return in 2025, promising to be even bigger and better. Some parliamentary pets are already reportedly assembling teams of strategists and campaign managers to develop a robust paw-litical platform to ensure their success in next year's competition.

About the CAHI

Established in 1968, CAHI is the trusted, science-based voice of the Canadian animal health industry. Our members provide Canadas veterinarians and animal owners with the animal medications and tools necessary to maintain the health of our pets and food animal population. Healthier animals for a healthier Canada. www.cahi-icsa.ca.

Contact:

Eleanor Hawthorn, Communications Manager

437-253-1667 ext, 105, ehawthorn@cahi-icsa.ca

Photos accompanying this announcement are available at:



https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/e4a4ac6d-1b0a-470f-a9b1-e411aeca8a7c

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/fa8e8773-db24-4e64-9775-77a239f3b5a0

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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.
Thumzup continues its strategic expansion plan

Company broadens its influence across Greater Los Angeles

Los Angeles, CA, June 12, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Thumzup Media Corporation (Thumzup or the Company) (OTCQB: TZUP), a leader in innovative social media branding and marketing solutions, is excited to announce the launch of its innovative AdTech platform in Beverly Grove. This further reinforces Thumzup Media Corporation's commitment to connecting businesses and consumers nationwide.

This strategic expansion allows consumers at select Beverly Grove businesses, including 8586, Sushikoo, AjiMori Sauce and Camera Creations, to earn cash by sharing their experiences on social platforms through the Thumzup app.

As Thumzup expands its influence across Greater Los Angeles, the launch in Beverly Grove marks a pivotal step in advancing its mission to transform how local businesses engage with potential and existing customers.

We are thrilled to introduce Thumzup to the vibrant Beverly Grove community, expanding our geographical reach and revolutionizing the way individuals interact with and support local businesses via social media, commented Robert Steele, CEO and Founder of Thumzup. This expansion showcases our continued business growth while empowering individuals to monetize their social media presence, all while discovering and endorsing remarkable local businesses.

By posting about their experiences with these locations on platforms like Instagram, app users can directly influence their followers and generate real earnings. This model provides an excellent opportunity for businesses to enhance their visibility and engage with a broader audience in a cost-effective manner.

The Thumzup platform continues to offer a unique approach by combining a user-friendly advertiser dashboard and a consumer-facing app. This technology enables businesses to tailor their marketing campaigns and directly benefit from authentic and localized influencer marketing.

The app, available on both the App Store and Google Play , empowers users to become brand advocates, enhancing advertisers visibility while enabling users to monetize their social media activities.

If you are interested in advertising your business with Thumzup, you can register your business here: https://www.thumzupmedia.com/advertiser-signup

About Thumzup

Thumzup Media Corporation (Thumzup) is democratizing the multi-billion dollar social media branding and marketing industry. Its flagship product, the Thumzup platform, utilizes a robust programmatic advertiser dashboard coupled with a consumer-facing App to enable individuals to get paid cash for posting about participating advertisers on major social media outlets through the Thumzup App. The easy-to-use dashboard allows advertisers to programmatically customize their campaigns. Cash payments are made to App users/creators through PayPal and other digital payment systems.

Thumzup was featured on CBS News Los Angeles and is a publicly traded company (OTCQB stock ticker: TZUP). For more information, please visit https://www.thumzupmedia.com .

Legal Disclaimer

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These include, without limitation, statements about its potential growth, impacts on the advertising industry, plans for potential uplisting, and planned expansion. These statements are identified by the use of the words "could," "believe," "anticipate," "intend," "estimate," "expect," "may," "continue," "predict," "potential," "project" and similar expressions that are intended to identify forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release. You should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Although we believe that our plans, objectives, expectations and intentions reflected in or suggested by the forward-looking statements are reasonable, we can give no assurance that these plans, objectives, expectations or intentions will be achieved. Forward-looking statements involve significant risks and uncertainties (some of which are beyond our control) and assumptions that could cause actual results to differ materially from historical experience and present expectations or projections. Actual results may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements and the trading price for our common stock may fluctuate significantly. Forward-looking statements also are affected by the risk factors described in our filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Except as required by law, we undertake no obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, after the date on which the statements are made or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

Contact Info

investors@thumzupmedia.com

800-403-6150

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SPERLING, Manitoba, June 12, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- FuelPositive Corporation (TSX.V: NHHH) (OTCQB: NHHHF) (the Company) is thrilled to announce that, after years of dedicated effort and meticulous planning, its team has successfully installed the world's first Farmer-Owned Modular Green Ammonia production system in Sperling, Manitoba.



"June 11, 2024, marks a historic moment for FuelPositive as all containers of its first commercial-scale system were placed in their final positions on the Hieberts' farm," said Luna Clifford, FuelPositive's Co-Founder and Chief Impact Officer.

FuelPositives dedicated and diligent team worked tirelessly to ensure the installation was installed safely and efficiently.

The successful placement of the containers was captured through stunning drone shots and photography, showcasing the impressive integration of cutting-edge technology on the Hieberts vibrant and dynamic farm landscape.

"The installation site presented a picturesque scene: the rich black earth contrasted beautifully with the white containers and wide gravel paths, framed by the vibrant green of wheat fields and the yellow canola flowers," said Ian Clifford, FuelPositive's Co-Founder and CEO and Chair of the Board of Directors. "Despite the windy conditions, the day remained dry, allowing our hardworking team to progress uninterrupted and our video crew to document the day."

The installation of the Company's first containerized green ammonia production system signifies a pivotal step towards a more sustainable and environmentally friendly future for agriculture in Canada and around the world.

"Emissions in agriculture are hard to abate; farmers need accessible tools and solutions to meet the Canadian emission reduction targets set for them. FuelPositive is here to support farmers in mitigating greenhouse gas emissions," continued Luna Clifford.

"With our first system now in place and the massive 90-ton storage tank arriving today, we are ready to complete commissioning and move forward to our next phase: the on-farm production of Green Ammonia," said Nelson Leite, FuelPositives Chief Technology Officer.

"FuelPositive's groundbreaking project, happening right here in Manitoba, could mean the beginning of a beautiful success story for the province and Canada," continued Luna Clifford.

FuelPositive is proud to lead the way in decentralized on-farm Green Ammonia production, significantly enhancing farmers' resilience and advancing global food security.

As the Company celebrates this achievement, the Company and its team remain committed to providing farmers with scalable, reliable, and accessible On-farm Green Ammonia solutions.

"This milestone for the Company marks the beginning of a transformative journey for the Canadian agricultural industry and beyond," concluded Ian Clifford. "We are ready to grow."

About FuelPositive Corporation

FuelPositive is a Canadian technology company dedicated to delivering commercially feasible and sustainable clean technology solutions that follow a circular approach, ensuring the entire lifecycle of our products is environmentally friendly. This includes an on-farm/onsite, containerized Green Ammonia (NH3) production system that effectively eliminates carbon emissions during the production process.

By focusing on technologies that are clean, sustainable, economically advantageous and realizable, the Company aims to help mitigate climate change, addressing unsustainable agricultural practices through innovative technology and practical solutions that can be implemented now. The FuelPositive on-farm/onsite, containerized Green Ammonia production system is designed to produce pure, anhydrous ammonia for multiple applications, including fertilizer for farming, fuel for grain drying and internal combustion engines, a practical alternative for fuel cells and a solution for grid storage. Green Ammonia is also considered a key enabler of the hydrogen economy.

FuelPositive systems are designed to provide for Green Ammonia production on-farm/onsite, where and when needed. This eliminates wildly fluctuating supply chains and offers end-users clean fertilizer, energy and Green Ammonia supply security while eliminating carbon emissions from the production process. The first customers will be farmers. Farmers use 80% of the traditional grey ammonia produced today as fertilizer.

See pre-sale details here: https://fuelpositive.com/pre-sales/.

FuelPositive Corporation is based in Waterloo (Canada) and trades on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol NHHH and in the USA on the OTCQB under the symbol NHHHF.

For further information, please contact:

Ian Clifford

Chief Executive Officer and Board Chair

Ian@fuelpositive.com

Tel: 416.535.8395

www.fuelpositive.com

Logan Ross

Senior Vice President, Communications & Campaigns

Counsel Public Affairs, Inc.

lross@counselpa.com

Tel: 204.720.3662

www.counselpa.com

Investor Relations United States & International:

RB Milestone Group (RBMG)

fuelpositive@rbmilestone.com

Investor Relations Canada:

Transcend Capital Inc.

et@transcendcapitalinc.com

Cautionary Statement

Trading in the securities of the Company should be considered highly speculative. No stock exchange, securities commission or other regulatory authority has approved or disapproved the information contained herein. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains certain forward-looking information and forward-looking statements (collectively, forward-looking statements) that are based on expectations, estimates and projections as of the date of this news release. The information in this release about future plans and objectives of the Company, including with respect to further testing and implementation of the FP300 system, are forward-looking statements.

These forward-looking statements are based on assumptions and estimates of management of the Company at the time they were made and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by the Company as of the time of such statements, are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies. These estimates and assumptions may prove to be incorrect.

Many of these uncertainties and contingencies can directly or indirectly affect and could cause, actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in any forward-looking statements. There can be no assurance that forward-looking information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements.

Forward-looking information is provided for the purpose of providing information about managements expectations and plans relating to the future. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information or to explain any material difference between subsequent actual events and such forward-looking information, except to the extent required by applicable law.
NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES. ANY FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THIS RESTRICTION MAY CONSTITUTE A VIOLATION OF U.S. SECURITIES LAW

CALGARY, Alberta, June 12, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- High Arctic Energy Services Inc. (TSX: HWO) ("High Arctic" or the "Corporation") is pleased to announce the appointment of Lonn Bate as Chief Financial Officer (CFO) effective July 1, 2024 and that it has re-scheduled the hearing for the Court of King's Bench's ("Court") final approval of the previously announced plan of arrangement (the "Arrangement") between the Corporation and High Arctic Overseas Holdings Corp. (SpinCo) to an earlier date.



Executive Appointment

Mr. Bate initially joined the Corporation in March 2023 in a consulting capacity and in August of 2023 took on the role of Interim CFO with a view to strengthening the finance and accounting processes within the Corporation and providing financial leadership for High Arctic to advance its restructuring initiatives that have culminated in the Arrangement.

Mr. Bate is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CA) with over 25 years of broad financial leadership including substantial periods in senior executive roles of public and private junior energy and energy services companies. Mr. Bates experience extends to the international as well as the Canadian energy sectors. He brings extensive knowledge in financial stewardship, strategic planning and analysis, equity and debt financing, company reorganizations, mergers and acquisitions, and consolidating global finance teams.

Mike Maguire, Chief Executive Officer stated: I am pleased to welcome Mr. Bate as a permanent member of the executive management team at High Arctic. Lonn has been instrumental in navigating the Corporation to a substantial return of capital to shareholders and strategic reorganization. High Arctic is on the precipice of a new chapter focussed on growth and the board and I have every confidence that Lonn is the right person to steward the ongoing financial management to achieve the Corporations objectives.

Final Order to Approve Plan of Arrangement

The Court's interim approval of the Arrangement provided that the hearing for the final approval of the Arrangement (the "Final Order") was to be obtained on or after July 12, 2024. By a variance issued by the Court on June 10, 2024, the hearing for the Final Order can now be sought on or after June 27, 2024. The earlier hearing date will permit the Corporation to complete the previously announced return of capital ("Return of Capital") on or around July 17, 2024, earlier than July 24, 2024 as previously announced, subject to approval by the shareholders of the Corporation.

This follows the previously announced conditional approval received for the listing of the new common shares of High Arctic on the TSX following the Arrangement, and TSX conditional approval for the Return of Capital. Application has been made to the TSX Venture Exchange for the listing of the common shares of SpinCo following the Arrangement. The approval of the listing of the SpinCo common shares is a condition to completion of the Arrangement.

The Corporation reminds shareholders that proxy voting is open for the upcoming annual general and special meeting of shareholders of the Corporation to be held in the Viking Room, Calgary Petroleum Club, 319 5 Avenue SW Calgary, Alberta at 3:00 PM on Monday June 17, 2024. Proxy votes must be received by no later than 3 PM on Thursday June 13, 2024. All shareholders and interested parties are encouraged to attend the meeting in person. Registered shareholders of the Corporation, who do not hold their shares through a brokerage account or other intermediary, may vote their shares in person at the meeting, or by proxy.

For more information on the Arrangement and the Return of Capital, please see the Information Circular and the Corporation's news releases dated May 11, 2024, May 21, 2024 and May 29, 2024, available on the Companys SEDAR+ profile at www.sedarplus.com.

About High Arctic

High Arctic is an energy services provider. High Arctic is a market leader in Papua New Guinea providing drilling and specialized well completion services and supplies rental equipment including rig matting, camps, material handling and drilling support equipment. In western Canada, High Arctic provides pressure control and other oilfield equipment on a rental basis to exploration and production companies, from its bases in Whitecourt and Red Deer, Alberta.

For further information, please contact:

Lonn Bate

Interim Chief Financial Officer

1.587.318.2218

1.800.668.7143

High Arctic Energy Services Inc.

Suite 2350, 3305th Avenue SW

Calgary, Alberta, Canada T2P 0L4

website: www.haes.ca

Email: info@haes.ca

Forward-Looking Statements

Forward-Looking Statements. Certain statements contained in this press release may constitute forward-looking statements. These statements relate to future events. All statements other than statements of historical fact may be forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as "seek", "anticipate", "plan", "continue", "estimate", "expect", "may", "will", "project", "predict", "potential", "targeting", "intend", "could", "might", "should", "believe" and similar expressions. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements. High Arctic believes that the expectations reflected in those forward-looking statements are reasonable, but no assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct and such forward-looking statements included in this press release should not be unduly relied upon by investors. These statements speak only as of the date of this press release and are expressly qualified, in their entirety, by this cautionary statement.

In particular, this press release contains forward-looking statements pertaining to the following: the timing and anticipated receipt of regulatory, court and shareholder approvals for the Arrangement; the listing of the SpinCo common shares on the TSX Venture Exchange; the ability of High Arctic to satisfy the other conditions to, and to complete, the Arrangement; and the closing of the Arrangement; the approval by the Board and the amount and payment of the Return of Capital. 

In respect of the forward-looking statements and information concerning the anticipated completion of the proposed Arrangement and related transactions, High Arctic has provided them in reliance on certain assumptions that it believes are reasonable at this time, including assumptions as to the ability of the parties to receive, in a timely manner, the necessary regulatory, court, shareholder and other third party approvals; and the ability of the parties to satisfy, in a timely manner, the other conditions to the closing of the Arrangement. These dates may change for a number of reasons, including unforeseen delays in preparing meeting material; inability to secure necessary shareholder, regulatory, court or other third-party approvals in the time assumed or the need for additional time to satisfy the other conditions to the completion of the Arrangement. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements and information contained in this news release concerning these times.

This forward-looking information represents High Arctics views as of the date of this document and such information should not be relied upon as representing its views as of any date subsequent to the date of this document. High Arctic has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results, performance or achievements to vary from those current expectations or estimates expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. However, there may be other factors that cause results, performance or achievements not to be as expected or estimated and that could cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from current expectations. There can be no assurance that forward-looking information will prove to be accurate, as results and future events could differ materially from those expected or estimated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Except as required by law, High Arctic undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements.
TAMPA, Fla., June 12, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Real American Beer , co-founded by WWE Hall of Fame wrestler and global icon Terry Bollea, aka Hulk Hogan, has set its ambitions on reinvigorating the beer industry with its launch of a premium American-made easy-drinking light lager. Real American Beer has secured distribution across 17 states this summer and will be launching with retail partners, including ABC Fine Wine & Spirits, Albertsons, Safeway, Sams Club, Total Wine & More, Walmart, and many more.



Real American Beer is bringing America together, one beer at a time, said Hulk Hogan. Weve formed an all-star team to make it happen, and I'm excited to introduce Real American Beer to fans and beer lovers everywhere.

Real American Beer is a premium American-style light lager meticulously brewed with 100% North American ingredients. At 4.2% ABV, it offers an easy-drinking experience, light in body, and a crisp, clean finish. The malt provides a rich golden hue, while the hops ensure a well-balanced taste.

In addition to retail stores in the U.S., Real American Beer will be available in bars and restaurants in the launch markets, including Hard Rock Hotels and Casinos, select Hooters of America locations nationwide, and on U.S. Military Bases.

An extensive lineup of Real American Beer merchandise and apparel is also now available for purchase globally from its online store.

Real American Beer: Launch and Rollout

With a premium product, a universal brand with an iconic co-founder, and an ambitious growth strategy, Real American Beer arrives in the US market with impressive momentum and credentials. The official launch begins on June 13 with Hulk Hogan and the team at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida, and on June 14 at MacDill Air Force Base and Hard Rocks Tampa Bay location.

Were thrilled to team up with Hulk Hogan for the launch of Real American Beer, said Jim Allen, Chairman of Hard Rock International. Given our past successes together, Im confident Real American Beer will be a sensation for our guests, and we look forward to serving it at select Hard Rock venues across the country.

Hulk Hogan and The Real American team will bring Real American Beer to Minnesota on June 17, Missouri on June 20, and Colorado on June 24, with local launch events planned in each state.

Teaming up with Hulk Hogan, an iconic figure who, like Hooters, has maintained popularity since the 1980s, to bring Real American Beer to our restaurants is a perfect match for our brand and our customers, said Bruce Skala, Chief Marketing Officer of HOA Brands, parent company of the Hooters restaurant chain. We pride ourselves on offering an enjoyable and memorable experience, and this partnership with Hulk Hogans Real American Beer is a fantastic addition. Were thrilled to serve a beer that celebrates the American spirit and look forward to sharing it with our guests nationwide.

The Real American Beer Team

The co-founder of Real American Beer, Hulk Hogan has cemented his status as a legendary icon. With a career spanning more than four decades, he successfully transitioned Hulkamania and his brand into numerous successful business ventures, resonating with a broad worldwide audience.

Alongside Hulk Hogan, Real American Beer is led by proven leaders from the beverage and CPG sectors. Terri Francis joins as CEO following her tenure as a top-level executive at The Not Company, a pioneering CPG and AI food technology company. Before NotCo, Terri was a Vice President of the investment and innovation group within Anheuser-Busch InBev (AB InBev), the world's largest brewer.

For more information about Real American Beer, merchandise, and launch events, please visit therealamerican.com and follow on socials @therealamericanbeer.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/09513011-90e9-4665-a647-3ea415517a3b
Arlington Heights, Ill, June 12, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Five plastic surgery startups advanced through a rigorous selection process to represent the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS)/MedTech Innovator (MTI) Plastic Surgery Accelerator track in the 2024 MedTech Innovator Accelerator program and competition. Each startup will take part in the comprehensive program, designed to help grow promising new companies focused on medical device, diagnostic and digital health technology.

The plastic surgery track startups selected to advance in this joint effort between the ASPS and MTI include Akeyna (Boston, Mass.), Avance Innovation (London, United Kingdom), Fasciotens GmBH (Essen, Germany), Lattice Medical (Loos, France) and ReConstruct Bio (Boston, Mass). The five finalists join a field of 65 startups from around the world that will compete for a share of $800,000 in funding awards over the course of the four-month program.

It is always incredibly exciting to witness innovative technologies emerging in the field of plastic surgery, , says ASPS President Steven Williams, MD, Dublin, Calif. The MIT/ASPS Plastic Surgery Accelerator not only provides invaluable support for these startups but also represents a significant step forward in enhancing patient care and advancing the specialty.

Approximately 80 companies entered the MTI/ASPS competition this year, and 12 advanced to the live-pitch judging phase, where the top five were selected to represent the plastic surgery track.

ASPS participation in the MTI/ASPS Plastic Surgery Accelerator is made possible through the generous support of Motiva, the Societys 2024 Innovation Sponsor. Each of the five cohort participants from the MIT/ASPS Plastic Surgery Accelerator will be featured at Plastic Surgery The Meeting, Sept. 26-29 in San Deigo, Calif., and receive mentoring from ASPS surgeons and associated entrepreneurs. They will also participate in MedTech Innovators corporate mentorship program, where they will be matched with senior industry leaders to receive ongoing, in-depth, customized mentorship and support.

Our accelerator has become the gold standard, thanks to our industry-leading track record of identifying and refining the most innovative medtech startups in the world, says Paul Grand, CEO and founder of MedTech Innovator. Having evaluated thousands of applicants, I can tell you that the 2024 MedTech Innovator Cohort represents the best emerging startups around the globe.

This years event marks the third year of the ASPS/MTI partnership. More than 500 companies completed the programs since the launch of MedTech Innovator in 2013. This participation has resulted in more than 200 FDA approvals and clearances and $6.8 billion in funding.

The 2024 accelerator program launches June 12-13 at the MedTech Innovator Summit in Mountain View, Calif. Leadership teams from each of the 65 startups will attend networking events and workshops with MedTech Innovator partners, alumni and industry leaders.

The 2024 cohort will then be featured June 14 at the Wilson Soncini Medical Device Conference Medical Devices Conference in San Francisco, Calif., where they will be showcased to investors and compete for the $25,000 Vision Award. The program culminates in the MedTech Conference powered by AdvaMed, Oct. 15-17, in Toronto, Canada, where five companies will advance to the Grand Finals.

About the American Society of Plastic Surgeons

The American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) is the largest organization of board-certified plastic surgeons in the world. Representing more than 11,000 physician members worldwide, the society is recognized as a leading authority and information source on cosmetic and reconstructive plastic surgery. ASPS comprises more than 92 percent of all board-certified plastic surgeons in the United States. Founded in 1931, the society represents physicians certified by The American Board of Plastic Surgery or The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada.

About MedTech Innovator

Based in Los Angeles, MedTech Innovator is the worlds largest accelerator of medical technology companies and the premier nonprofit startup accelerator in the medical technology industry. Its mission is to improve the lives of patients by accelerating the growth of companies that are transforming the healthcare system. In collaboration with 35 corporate partners, as well as a broader network of more than 1,000 industry executives including investors, business development representatives, and other stakeholders, MedTech Innovator provides startups with individualized mentorship and feedback, funding opportunities, and continual engagement with peers and advisors.

For more information about MedTech Innovator, visit https://medtechinnovator.org and follow @MedtechAwards on X and MedTech Innovator on LinkedIn.
Dubai, June 12, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- In recent years, there has been a significant surge in the demand for premium, short, and aesthetically pleasing .ae domains in the UAE. This trend, highlighted by domain experts at WebNames.ae, is not only a smart investment but also an excellent choice for businesses establishing their online presence in the region.



WebNames

The Rise of .ae Domains

Historically, .ae domains were not in high demand. However, as Dubai has grown into a premier global tourist destination, more people have chosen to live, start businesses, and create websites in the UAE. Over the past decade, there has been a remarkable shift from the predominant use of .com domains to .ae domains. By 2024, over 350,000 .ae domains have been registered, showcasing this rising trend.

Domain Investments: A Lucrative Opportunity

Domain brokers and IT specialists who invested in short .ae domains ten years ago are now reaping significant financial rewards, selling these domains for more than 100 times their initial investment. Here are some notable historical .ae domain sales:

auto.ae sold for $101,000 on June 13, 2022

sold for $101,000 on June 13, 2022 invest.ae sold for $75,000 on August 31, 2021

sold for $75,000 on August 31, 2021 ape.ae sold for $7,111 on January 4, 2024

Given that registering a domain costs only $34, holding a domain for five years with a total investment of $170 could yield substantial profits.

Why a .ae Domain is Essential for Local Businesses

For businesses operating in the UAE, a .ae domain offers several distinct advantages:

Increased Trust and Reliability: Residents of the UAE are accustomed to local domains and trust them more because they are regulated by the Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority (TDRA) within the country. This regulation provides a mechanism for lodging complaints if anything untoward occurs. Enhanced SEO Performance: Google, the most popular search engine in the UAE, favors local .ae domains in its search algorithms. This preference gives .ae domains a significant advantage in organic search rankings within the UAE, making it easier to promote a UAE domain name.

The Appeal of Premium .ae Domains

While 350,000 registered domains might seem like a lot, it is a small number compared to the number of words and attractive phrases available. Finding an appealing .ae domain is still relatively easy. Even three-character abbreviations are often available, unlike the crowded .com domain space.

Two-character domains have all been purchased and are typically traded on marketplaces. Their prices start from $10,000, but on well-known sites like WebNames.ae, such domains start at $4,299, which is quite reasonable. In comparison, domains in other zones like .de or .ru are much more expensive, and two-character .com domains can cost upwards of $1,000,000.

Conclusion

The demand for .ae domains is rapidly increasing, driven by the UAE's booming economy and its appeal as a business hub. For local businesses, investing in a .ae domain not only enhances credibility and trust but also offers significant SEO benefits. With premium domains still available at reasonable prices, now is an excellent time to secure a valuable .ae domain name.

###

Media Contact

Vadim Yudin

WebNames

sales@webnames.ae

https://webnames.ae/





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Dublin, June 12, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Global Protein Expression Market Report by Product, Application, End User, and Region 2024-2032" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.



The global protein expression market size reached US$ 2.8 Billion in 2023. Looking forward, the market is projected to reach US$ 6.2 Billion by 2032, exhibiting a growth rate (CAGR) of 9.23% during 2023-2032.



The increasing demand for therapeutic proteins, such as vaccines, peptide hormones, therapeutic enzymes, cytokines, antibodies, and blood factors, on account of rising prevalence of chronic diseases, especially amongst the geriatric population is creating a positive outlook for the market. In line with this, the widespread product utilization in the manufacturing of biologics as they play an important role in the treatment process of various health issues is favoring the market growth. Apart from this, various advancements and innovations in mass spectrometry and molecular genetics that assist in accurate mass determination and characterization of proteins, are providing an impetus to the market growth.



Additionally, the rising demand for cell-free protein expression due to its ability to express toxic proteins, increase speed and enhanced overall yields of functional, soluble, full-length proteins is positively impacting the market growth. Other factors, including extensive research and development (R&D) activities and increasing product demand from pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, are anticipated to drive the market toward growth.





Key Market Segmentation



This report provides an analysis of the key trends in each sub-segment of the global protein expression market report, along with forecasts at the global, regional and country level from 2024-2032. The report has categorized the market based on product, application and end user.



Breakup by Product:

Reagents and Kits

Cell-free Expression

Bacterial Expression

Yeast Expression

Algal Expression

Insect Expression

Mammalian Expression

Others

Service

Others

Breakup by Application:

Therapeutic

Industrial

Research

Breakup by End User:

Academic Research Institutes

Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Companies

Contract Research Organizations (CROs)

Competitive Landscape



The competitive landscape of the industry has also been examined along with the profiles of the key players being Agilent Technologies Inc., Becton Dickinson and Company, Bioneer Corporation, Bio-Rad Laboratories Inc., Lonza Group AG, Merck KGaA, New England Biolabs, Promega Corporation, Qiagen N.V., Sino Biological Inc., Takara Bio Inc. and Thermo Fisher Scientific.



Key Questions Answered in This Report

What was the size of the global protein expression market in 2023?

What is the expected growth rate of the global protein expression market during 2024-2032?

What are the key factors driving the global protein expression market?

What has been the impact of COVID-19 on the global protein expression market?

What is the breakup of the global protein expression market based on the product?

What is the breakup of the global protein expression market based on the application?

What is the breakup of the global protein expression market based on the end user?

What are the key regions in the global protein expression market?

Who are the key players/companies in the global protein expression market?

Key Attributes:





Report Attribute Details No. of Pages 137 Forecast Period 2023 - 2032 Estimated Market Value (USD) in 2023 $2.8 Billion Forecasted Market Value (USD) by 2032 $6.2 Billion Compound Annual Growth Rate 9.2% Regions Covered Global



Companies Profiled:

Agilent Technologies

Becton Dickinson and Company

Bioneer Corporation

Bio-Rad Laboratories Inc.

Lonza Group

Merck

New England Biolabs

Promega Corporation

Qiagen

Sino Biological

Takara Bio Inc.

Thermo Fisher Scientific

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/dmp2md

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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Dublin, June 12, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Asia Pacific Process Instrumentation Market Size and Forecast Share, Trend, and Growth Opportunity Analysis Report Coverage: By Technology, Flow Meter, Level Meter, and End-user Industry" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.



The Asia Pacific process Instrumentation market size is projected to reach US$ 9.35 billion by 2031 from US$ 5.91 billion in 2023. The market is expected to register a CAGR of 5.9% in 2023-2031.







Rapid industrialization in countries such as India, China, and Vietnam are a significant contributor to the adoption of process instrumentation. Industries such as chemicals, oil & gas, and power generation continue to be large energy consumers. As a result, countries in Asia Pacific are responding to energy efficiency programs with policies and programs to guide specific changes in energy use across sectors. For example, China's economy is energy-intensive due to a huge number of manufacturing industries.

The Central Government of China has continued to develop measures to increase building energy efficiency. Energy appliance regulations and labeling, as well as energy service corporations (ESCOs), have all played crucial roles in building energy efficiency. China's 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-2025) contains a mandatory national target to lower energy intensity by 13.5% below 2020 levels by 2025. Also, Jaona's New Strategic Energy Plan aims to achieve 62 million KLOE energy savings, which requires a further 40% efficiency improvement from 2013 to 2030.



Governments of various countries across Asia Pacific are investing in the energy & power sector. For example, in January 2024, the Central Committee of the Politburo of Vietnam, the top government body of the Communist Party of Vietnam, issued resolution no. 55-NQ/TW on February 11, 2020, on Strategic Energy Orientation until 2030 with Vision 2045. This document defined that installed capacity by 2030 is projected to be 125-130GW, which will double its capacity in 10 years. According to Vietnam's Eight National Power Development Plan (PDP8), the total power capacity installed by 2030 will be ~146,000 MW and account for more than 416,000 MW by 2045. The proposed capacity that coal accounts for approximately 30,000 MW of power generation by 2030. As coal's role in power generation diminishes, solar, natural gas, and wind are likely to account for major sources of energy.



The chemicals & energy industry in Singapore has achieved significant global standing, ranking among the top 10 worldwide and emerging as the 9th largest exporter of chemicals in 2022, as per the World Trade Statistical Review 2023. This growth in the chemicals & energy sector in Singapore is attributed to the increasing demand for process instrumentation and the growing importance of energy efficiency and cost optimization in the country. As the industry continues to further expand its global footprint, the demand for advanced process instrumentation solutions is expected to rise, reflecting the country's rapid economic growth and the industry's commitment to enhancing operational efficiency and sustainability.

Process instrumentation involves a variety of technologies and solutions designed to enhance process control and efficiency in diverse industries across Singapore. This market is driven by advancements in technology, rising requirements for process control systems, and the increasing emphasis on energy efficiency and cost-effectiveness. The implementation of process instrumentation equipment offers advantages such as enhanced product quality, reduced emissions, decreased human errors, and cost efficiencies.



ABB Ltd.; Emerson Electric Co.; Honeywell International Inc.; Brooks Instrument; Schneider Electric; Siemens; Yokogawa Electric Corporation; Endress+Hauser Group Services AG; Metso Corporation; and Fuji Electric Co, Ltd are among the prominent players profiled in the Asia Pacific process instrumentation market. The Asia Pacific process instrumentation market report emphasizes the key factors driving the market and prominent players' developments.



Key Attributes:





Report Attribute Details No. of Pages 118 Forecast Period 2023 - 2031 Estimated Market Value (USD) in 2023 $5.91 Billion Forecasted Market Value (USD) by 2031 $9.35 Billion Compound Annual Growth Rate 5.9% Regions Covered Asia Pacific



Key Topics Covered:



1. Introduction

1.1 Report Guidance

1.2 Market Segmentation



2. Executive Summary



3. Research Methodology



4. Asia Pacific Process Instrumentation Market Landscape

4.1 Overview

4.2 PEST Analysis

4.3 Ecosystem Analysis

5. Asia Pacific Process Instrumentation Market - Key Market Dynamics

5.1 Asia Pacific Process Instrumentation Market - Key Market Dynamics

5.2 Market Drivers

5.2.1 Rising Industrial Automation

5.2.2 Growing Need for Efficient Energy

5.3 Market Restraint

5.3.1 High Cost of Investment, Installation, and Maintenance of Process Instruments

5.4 Market Opportunities

5.4.1 Increasing Investments in Energy & Power Sector

5.4.2 Growth in Pharmaceuticals and Chemical Industries

5.5 Future Trends

5.5.1 Popularity of Smart Instrumentation

5.6 Impact of Drivers and Restraints:



6. Asia Pacific Process Instrumentation Market Analysis

6.1 Asia Pacific Process Instrumentation Market Revenue (US$ Million), 2023-2031

6.2 Asia Pacific Process Instrumentation Market Forecast and Analysis



7. Asia Pacific Process Instrumentation Market Analysis - by Technology

7.1 Flow Meter

7.2 Mass Flow

7.3 EMF

7.4 Vortex

7.5 Ultrasonic

7.6 Others

7.7 Pressure and Temperature Instrument

7.8 Analytical Instrument

7.9 Level Meter

7.10 High frequency Radar

7.11 TDR

7.12 Others



8. Asia Pacific Process Instrumentation Market Analysis - by End-user Industry

8.1 Oil and Gas

8.2 Energy and Power

8.3 Water and Waste water

8.4 Food and Beverage

8.5 Marine

8.6 Petrochemical

8.7 Chemical

8.8 Others



9. Asia Pacific Process Instrumentation Market - Country Analysis



10. Competitive Landscape

10.1 Company Positioning & Concentration

10.2 Heat Map Analysis by Key Players



11. Industry Landscape

11.1 Overview

11.2 Market Initiative

11.3 Product Development



12. Company Profiles

ABB Ltd

Emerson Electric Co

ENDRESS + HAUSER Group

Honeywell International Inc

Metso Outotec Corp

Brooks Instrument

Schneider Electric SE

Siemens AG

Yokogawa Electric Corp

Fuji Electric Co Ltd

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Dublin, June 12, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Global Monoclonal Antibodies Market Report by Production Method, Source, Indication, End Use, and Region 2024-2032" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.



The global monoclonal antibodies market size reached US$ 221.7 Billion in 2023. Looking forward, the market is projected to reach US$ 392.6 Billion by 2032, exhibiting a growth rate (CAGR) of 6.56% during 2023-2032.



At present, the growing prevalence of chronic diseases, such as cancer, heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and arthritis, represents one of the key factors driving the market. Besides this, leading manufacturers are extensively investing in research and development (R&D) activities to introduce enhanced mAb drugs for treating neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's, Huntington's, Parkinson's, and Lewy body diseases. They are also focusing on various marketing strategies to expand their customer base, which is contributing to the growth of the market.



In addition, the increasing demand for humanized mAbs to treat various antigens, such as cancer cells, immunosuppression, and immunomodulatory molecules, are offering lucrative growth opportunities to industry investors. Apart from this, there is a rise in the demand for cost-efficient biosimilar mAbs to treat cancer across the globe. This, along with the burgeoning healthcare industry, is propelling the growth of the market.



Moreover, technological advancements in various genetic platforms, such as next-generation sequencing, is offering a positive market outlook. Additionally, there is an increase in the employment of advanced genetic engineering technology in mAbs production around the world. This, coupled with the rising awareness among the masses about the benefits of mAb therapy, is bolstering the market growth.

Competitive Landscape



The competitive landscape of the industry has also been examined along with the profiles of the key players being AbbVie Inc., Amgen Inc., Biogen Inc., F. Hoffmann-La Roche AG, GSK plc, Johnson & Johnson, Merck KGaA, Novartis AG, Novo Nordisk A/S, Pfizer Inc., Sanofi S.A. and Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc.



Key Questions Answered in This Report

What was the size of the global monoclonal antibodies market in 2023?

What is the expected growth rate of the global monoclonal antibodies market during 2024-2032?

What are the key factors driving the global monoclonal antibodies market?

What has been the impact of COVID-19 on the global monoclonal antibodies market?

What is the breakup of the global monoclonal antibodies market based on the production method?

What is the breakup of the global monoclonal antibodies market based on the source?

What is the breakup of the global monoclonal antibodies market based on the indication?

What is the breakup of the global monoclonal antibodies market based on the end use?

What are the key regions in the global monoclonal antibodies market?

Who are the key players/companies in the global monoclonal antibodies market?

Key Attributes:





Report Attribute Details No. of Pages 135 Forecast Period 2023 - 2032 Estimated Market Value (USD) in 2023 $221.7 Billion Forecasted Market Value (USD) by 2032 $392.6 Billion Compound Annual Growth Rate 6.5% Regions Covered Global

Key Market Segmentation



This report provides an analysis of the key trends in each sub-segment of the global monoclonal antibodies market report, along with forecasts at the global, regional and country level from 2024-2032. The report has categorized the market based on production method, source, indication and end use.



Breakup by Production Method:

In Vivo

In Vitro

Breakup by Source:

Murine

Chimeric

Humanized

Human

Breakup by Indication:

Cancer

Autoimmune Diseases

Inflammatory Diseases

Infectious Diseases

Others

Breakup by End Use:

Hospitals

Research Institutes

Others

Companies Featured

AbbVie Inc.

Amgen Inc.

Biogen Inc.

F. Hoffmann-La Roche AG

GSK plc

Johnson & Johnson

Merck KGaA

Novartis AG

Novo Nordisk A/S

Pfizer Inc.

Sanofi S.A.

Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc.

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Ottawa, June 12, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The global synthetic leather market size is projected to increase from USD 42.10 billion in 2023 to approximately USD 90.89 billion by 2033. The industry is expected to expand at a notable CAGR of 8% over the forecast period, according to Precedence Research. The synthetic leather market is driven by increasing demand of synthetic leather in fashion, furniture and innovative technologies.



The synthetic leather market refers to the industry involved in the production, distribution, and sale of artificial leather, also known as faux leather or vegan leather. Synthetic leather is a material that looks like real leather but is less expensive, quicker to create, and easier to maintain than natural leather. It is made from plastics and polymers, making it appropriate for a wide range of industries and sizes.

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Synthetic leather can be made from fiber-based fabrics or flexible plastic backings such as polyester. While it shares certain characteristics with genuine leather, which include a short shelf life and resistance to flexing and bending, it is less lasting and more common in todays market. It may be utilized in items such as leggings and shoes, and its advantages make it a popular choice in the industry. Liberty Leather Goods provides synthetic leather leggings and shoes in various sizes and configurations.

Synthetic Leather Key Insights

Asia Pacific dominated the market with the largest revenue share of 42.64% in 2023.

By product, the polyurethane (PU) synthetic leather segment has held a major revenue share of 53% in 2023.

By application, the footwear segment has recorded more than 31% of revenue share in 2023.



Asia Pacific Synthetic Leather Market Size

The Asia Pacific synthetic leather market size was USD 19.45 billion in 2023, accounted for USD 17.95 billion in 2024 and is expected to reach around USD 39.99 billion by 2033, growing at a remarkable CAGR of 8.3% from 2024 to 2033.

Asia-Pacific dominated the synthetic leather market in 2023. The synthetic leather sector is seeing a spike of interest in plant-based leather, a new type of synthetic leather created from waste plant resources. This ecological choice, produced from cactus, pineapple skins, grapes, and cork, is gaining popularity since it is cruelty-free, has an average environmental impact, and uses less plastic. Consumer companies are also investing in this sort of leather, resulting in a developing trend in the synthetic leather market.

In January 2024, BASF Monomers Division and Xuchuan Chemical have formed a strategic agreement to reduce carbon emissions from polyurethane manufacture for synthetic leather. The collaboration intends to leverage BASF's experience in bio-mass balanced MDI production and Xuchuan Chemical's large network in the synthetic leather value chain.



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The North America synthetic leather market size is estimated to grow from USD 9.71 billion in 2024 to USD 20.63 billion by 2033, expanding at a notable CAGR of 8.7% from 2024 to 2033.

North America and Europe expected to expand at a sluggish growth owing to the maturity of the market. furthermore, the ongoing trade war between China and the U.S. along with drastic decline in the cross-border trade with the spread of the coronavirus pandemic that originated in Wuhan, China, has initiated trust issues between the two countries that further expected to negatively impact market growth in the upcoming years.

Scope of Synthetic Leather Market

Report Attribute Key Statistics Market Size in 2033 USD 90.89 Billion Market Size in 2023 USD 42.10 Billion Market CAGR 2024 to 2033 8 Percent Largest Region Asia Pacific Fastest Growing Region North America Base Year 2023 Forecast Period 2024 to 2033 Segments Covered Product, Application and Regions Regions Covered North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, and Middle East & Africa

Synthetic Leather Market Highlights

Products Insight

Polyurethane (PU) synthetic leather segment dominated the synthetic leather market in 2023. PU leather is becoming increasingly popular due to its low cost, ease of cleaning, durability, adaptability, and environmental friendliness. It is created from synthetic materials; thus, it is less expensive than genuine leather. PU leather is very easy to maintain because it is nonporous and can be wiped away with a moist cloth. It is also strong and resistant to breakage and tear, making it ideal for clothes, furniture, and other objects. It can be produced in various colors and designs and simulate other animal hides. Finally, PU leather is environmentally beneficial because it does not require animal hides.

The PVC segment is expected to grow at a slow rate during the forecast period. PVC synthetic leather is a long-lasting, environmentally friendly, and adaptable alternative to natural leather. It is simple to clean, inexpensive, and environmentally friendly because it does not require specific cleaning agents or procedures. It is also more uniform in quality than real leather, so every single item looks the same. PVC synthetic leather is readily available, making it simple to source for projects. It is hypoallergenic, animal-friendly, and available in a wide range of colors and patterns, making it an excellent alternative for people with allergies or sensitivities. It is also more ethical and empathetic than real leather, making it a more environmentally responsible option for consumers.

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Application Insights

The footwear segment dominated the synthetic leather market in 2023. Artificial leather is becoming more popular in footwear manufacture due to its lower purchase cost, simplicity of cutting and cooking, convenience of obtaining and purchasing, and less environmental impact. Real leather is a classic material, but synthetic leather is a wonderful alternative because it is less expensive, easier to produce and purchase, and has a lesser environmental impact. Some synthetic skins also necessitate industrial methods and eco-friendly chemicals.

Furthermore, synthetic leather provides an alternative for consumers who are unable to wear genuine leather footwear owing to spiritual or ideological reasons, as well as expanding the color and texture options for footwear design and manufacture. This shift in manufacturing methods is a developing trend in the footwear industry.

Browse More Insights:

Synthetic Leather Market Dynamics

Driver: Wide range of applications

Artificial leathers are widely used in apparel, furniture, and vehicle interiors because of their minimal maintenance needs and their resistance to cracking and fading. They are washable, porosity and ventilating, or impermeable and hydrophobic. Porous leather using non-woven microfiber backing is a famous garment material that is comfortable to wear. However, certain surfaces may rub over time.

Restraint: Environmental concerns

Faux or artificial leathers, like PVC and PU, are created from plastic materials containing hazardous elements such as petroleum and chlorine, which are not biodegradable and will remain in the soil indefinitely. These substances contribute to catastrophic situations and are not simply discarded. While it may appear to be a good deal, plastic is still in use and has a limited lifespan. PU or PVC leather patches may form after one year or two, and they finally fall off the item, leading to the disastrous situations we face. It is critical to evaluate the environmental impact of using these components and the potential damage they may do to the ecosystem.

Opportunity: Technological advancements for carbon footprint reduction

The leather business is concentrating on lowering CO2 emissions to promote product compatibilty, cost efficiency, and combat climate change. An artificial intelligence-assisted method was presented to optimize the chrome tanning process for energy savings and carbon reduction. Four machine learning methods were examined, and it was discovered that machine learning models were more effective at finding process parameters that preserve critical product quality indexes.

The BP-ANN and SVR algorithms have good prediction abilities. The optimized process parameters were developed by a genetic algorithm with global optimization capabilities. The optimized method was confirmed by assessing wet blue product performance, which included chromium distribution evenness, heat stability, surface reactivity, shape, and physical and mechanical qualities. The enhanced process saved 8353.33 kgce of energy and lowered CO2 emissions by 87295.6 kgCO2 in an average tannery with a yearly manufacturing capacity of 300,000 standard sheets of upper cowhide leather. This approach provides a practical way to accomplish energy-efficient and low-carbon leather production.

Synthetic Leather Market Top Companies

R. Polycoats Pvt. Ltd.

Yantai Wanhua Synthetic Leather Group Co., Ltd.

Kuraray Co., Ltd.

Nan Ya Plastics Corporation

Alfatex Italia SRL

Zhejiang Hexin Industry Group Co., Ltd.

San Fang Chemical Industry Co., Ltd.

Filwel Co., Ltd.

Teijin Limited



Recent Developments:

In October 2023, the National Institute of Interdisciplinary Science and Technology (NIIST) transferred a unique technology to a Maharashtra-based company and filed two patent applications. The company will establish an extraction and processing facility in Pune to make leather substitute items from cactus plants that are stable for two to three years.

In October 2023, Mayur Uniquoters Ltd, a synthetic leather producer, returned 14,000% in 15 years from an investment of Rs 72,000 in 2008. This multibagger stock, which is affordable and has strong fundamentals, has risen to Rs 563 from Rs 4 in 2008. This amazing return on investment is feasible with only Rs 72,000.

In October 2023, as part of its medium-term growth strategy, Asahi Kasei invested in the US-based startup NFW, which produces non-petroleum-based leather substitutes for automobile interiors. The strategic alliance with Sage Automotive Interiors, Inc. intends to help global automotive OEMs reduce the environmental impact of their vehicles.



Market Segmentation

By Product

PVC

PU

Bio Based



By Application

Automotive

Furnishing

Footwear

Clothing

Bags & Wallets

Others

By Region

North America

U.S.

Canada

Europe

U.K.

Germany

France



Asia Pacific

China

India

Japan

South Korea

Rest of the World



Key Points of Table of Content



Chapter 1. Introduction



Chapter 2. Research Methodology (Premium Insights)

Chapter 3. Executive Summary

Chapter 4. Market Variables and Scope

Chapter 5. COVID 19 Impact on Synthetic Leather Market

Chapter 6. Market Dynamics Analysis and Trends

Chapter 7. Competitive Landscape

Chapter 8. Global Synthetic Leather Market, By Product

Chapter 9. Global Synthetic Leather Market, By Application

Chapter 10. Global Synthetic Leather Market, Regional Estimates and Trend Forecast

Chapter 11. Company Profiles

Chapter 12. Research Methodology

Chapter 13. Appendix

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China expresses condolences over death of Malawi's vice president

Xinhua) 16:31, June 12, 2024

BEIJING, June 12 (Xinhua) -- China deeply mourns the tragic death of Malawian Vice President Saulos Chilima and other victims in a recent plane crash, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said on Wednesday.

Spokesperson Lin Jian conveyed China's condolences to relatives of the victims at a regular press briefing.

The vice president and nine other individuals, who were on board a military aircraft, have been confirmed dead after the plane went missing Monday morning, Malawian President Lazarus Chakwera said Tuesday.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing)
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.
ISTANBUL, June 12, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --

In a landmark achievement, Kweichow Moutai has been honored with 7 Diamonds and an Outstanding Achievement for an Inspiring Culture at the EFQM Global Award 2024. This accolade marks Moutai as the first Chinese company to receive 7 Diamonds under the newly adopted evaluation criteria, placing it at the pinnacle of global quality recognition.



The EFQM Global Award, one of the top three quality awards worldwide, highlights Moutai's exceptional management practices and cultural excellence, aligning perfectly with international standards.

Russell Longmuir, CEO of the EFQM, expressed profound admiration for Moutai's development philosophy, corporate culture, social responsibility, and long-term vision. He emphasized that Moutai's cultural heritage is pivotal to its success in maintaining traditional values while evolving into a modern international enterprise. Longmuir also praised Moutai's efforts in promoting the circular economy, noting its unforgettable impact.

This recognition not only celebrates Moutai's outstanding achievements but also showcases the company's commitment to excellence and innovation on the global stage.

Source: Kweichow Moutai Co., Ltd.

A Media Snippet accompanying this announcement is available by clicking on this link.
NEW YORK, June 12, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Bernstein Liebhard LLP:



Do you, or did you, own shares of The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company (NYSE: SMG)?



Did you purchase your shares between November 3, 2021 and August 1, 2023, inclusive?



Did you lose money in your investment in The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company?



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 common stock of The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company (Scotts or the Company) (NYSE: SMG) between November 3, 2021 and August 1, 2023, inclusive (the Class Period). The lawsuit was filed in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio 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 Scotts common stock, and/or would like to discuss your legal rights and options please visit The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company Shareholder Class Action Lawsuit or contact Investor Relations Manager Peter Allocco at (212) 951-2030 or pallocco@bernlieb.com.

According to the Complaint, Defendants made numerous materially false and misleading statements and omissions concerning the Companys inventory levels, debt covenant compliance, and financial performance. Specifically, Defendants repeatedly assured investors that the Companys inventory levels were appropriate, while attributing strong sales to selling through high-cost inventory, which resulted in peak selling and record shipments. Defendants also repeatedly assuaged investors concerns about the Companys debt, stating that they were optimistic we will remain within the bounds of our bank covenants and [did] not see leverage compliance issues going forward.

On August 2, 2023, Scotts revealed that quarterly sales for its fiscal third quarter had declined by 6%, and that gross margins fell by 420 basis points. The Company also slashed fiscal year EBITDA guidance by a staggering 25% and announced a $20 million write down of pandemic driven excess inventories. The Company also disclosed that it had to modify its debt covenants to 7.00 times debt-to-EBITDA ratio, from the former ratio of 6.25 times debt-to-EBITDA ratio.

On this news, Scotts stock price fell $13.58 per share, or over 19%, to close at $57.86 per share on August 2, 2023.

If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than August 5, 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 Scotts common stock, and/or would like to discuss your legal rights and options please visit The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company 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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Investor Relations Manager

Bernstein Liebhard LLP

https://www.bernlieb.com

(212) 951-2030

pallocco@bernlieb.com
A Media Snippet accompanying this announcement is available by clicking on this link.

TORONTO, June 12, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) and Art Basel are delighted to announce a new three-year global partnership. The HKTB is the first tourism organization to enter into a global strategic partnership with Art Basel. Announced during the press conference of Art Basel in Basel, the collaboration will extend beyond Hong Kong to all Art Basel shows worldwide, beginning with Art Basel Paris this October.



As part of this exciting alliance, HKTB will serve as a Show Partner of Art Basel and celebrate Hong Kong art and culture on the world stage. Over the next three years, HKTB will be present in four annual shows, including Art Basel in Paris, Miami Beach, Hong Kong, and Basel, with different thematic experiences or activations.

Mr. Dane Cheng, HKTB Executive Director, said: Our strategic alliance with Art Basel underscores our commitment to promoting Hong Kong as the East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchange and a valuable gateway to the Chinese art market. By sharing the citys unique character through immersive experiences and exhibitions at the worlds most prestigious art platform, we hope to inspire travellers to visit our city and discover its thriving creative community and rich cultural experiences.

Mr. Noah Horowitz, Art Basel CEO, said: We are thrilled to build on our longstanding collaboration with the Hong Kong Tourism Board and launch this ambitious initiative. By shining a global spotlight on Hong Kongs vibrant art scene, this partnership will enhance the experience for our fair visitors while unlocking new opportunities and fostering deeper connections between Hong Kong and art communities around the world.

Debuting in Hong Kong in 2013, Art Basel has collaborated with HKTB on several successful projects together since 2020. This March, the tourism board joined hands with the fair to present a local Cha Chaan Teng experience that aimed to highlight the vibrant living culture of Hong Kong. Inside a colourful, purpose-built cha chaan teng (Hong Kong-style cafe), visitors enjoyed local delicacies, such as the citys iconic pineapple buns and milk tea, while experiencing Hong Kongs East-meets-West heritage firsthand.

Members of the media can download the press release from the link below:

https://assetlibrary.hktb.com/assetbank-hktb/action/browseItems?categoryId=1570&categoryTypeId=2&cachedCriteria=1

For media inquiries, please contact:
RIVERVIEW, Fla., June 12, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- River Oaks Treatment Center, a leading provider of addiction treatment services, is taking a proactive approach to raise awareness about mental health issues within the LGBTQ+ community and the intersection with addiction. Jeff Turiczek, East Coast Divisional Executive for its parent company American Addiction Centers, recently shared his insights at the Tampa LGBT Chamber of Commerce's annual 2024 Pride in Business Luncheon.



Members of the LGBTQ+ community often grapple with clinical depression, stress, and anxiety disorders. These mental health challenges can be attributed to various factors, including societal stigma, discrimination, and the struggle for acceptance. Turiczek, a respected figure in the field of behavioral health, stressed the importance of addressing mental health issues in the workplace and implementing cultural competency strategies to reduce workplace disparities and discrimination. He highlighted the need for employers to create an inclusive environment that supports the mental well-being of LGBTQ+ employees.

"Building on the great work we do at River Oaks Treatment Center, it was an honor to be chosen by the LGBT Chamber Board to be a panelist and to address the greater Tampa Bay Area during Pride Month," said Turiczek. "At River Oaks, we strive to embrace the values of diversity and inclusivity to support the communities we serve."

River Oaks Treatment Center offers comprehensive addiction treatment programs that are tailored to meet the unique needs of LGBTQ+ individuals and address co-occurring mental health conditions. By providing specialized care, the center aims to create a safe and supportive environment where individuals can heal and recover.

For more information about River Oaks Treatment Center and its comprehensive addiction treatment programs, please visit www.riveroakstreatment.com.

About River Oaks Treatment Center:

River Oaks Treatment Center is a leading provider of addiction treatment services, offering comprehensive programs to individuals seeking recovery. With a focus on evidence-based treatment modalities, River Oaks provides personalized care to address the unique needs of each patient. The center is committed to promoting inclusivity and diversity, ensuring that all individuals receive the support they need to achieve lasting recovery. For more information, please visit www.riveroakstreatment.com.

Contact:

Joy Sutton, Director of Corporate Communications

American Addiction Centers

jsutton@contactaac.com

615-587-7728

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/1adafe82-64ab-41ef-b505-530e5795f346
MILWAUKEE, June 12, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Artisan Partners Global Value Team today sent a letter to the Board of Directors of Southwest Airlines Co. (NYSE: LUV). The full text of the letter is as follows:



June 12, 2024

The Board of Directors

Southwest Airlines Co.

2702 Love Field Drive

Dallas, TX 75235-1611

Dear Members of the Board:

We are writing to you on behalf of the Global Value investment team at Artisan Partners Limited Partnership. Currently, our discretionary investment management clients collectively hold more than 10.8 million shares of Southwest Airlines Co. (Southwest or the Company), or roughly 1.82% of the Companys outstanding shares.

We note with great interest the recent announcement by Elliott Investment Management L.P. regarding their position in the Company, their assessment of the Companys current management team and their call for dramatic change at Southwest, including new leadership. We have made many of the same points to the Companys Executive Chairman over the past several months.

We are writing today to urge the Board to reconstitute itself and upgrade the Companys leadership such that it can objectively assess the best path forward for Southwests shareholders, employees, and customers. We believe this process needs to commence immediately.

Regards,

Daniel OKeefe Michael McKinnon Managing Director Managing Director Artisan Global Value Team Artisan Global Value Team




New York, United States , June 12, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Global Ear Health Market Size is to Grow from USD 1.58 Billion in 2023 to USD 2.90 Billion by 2033, at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 6.26% during the projected period.





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The broad area of "ear health" includes, among other things, Meniere's disease, infections, vertigo, tinnitus, hearing loss, and earaches. The three main type of the ear are the exterior, middle, and internal regions. Each part has a unique role in the identification and understanding of sound. Poor ear and hearing health is a major issue that could have far-reaching, irreversible effects. Hearing loss can result from a variety of ear ailments and situations that affect ear health. A child with hearing loss may find it difficult to learn, speak, and listen. There is a growing trend in the market for ear health problems, like infections in the ears or loss of hearing. Congenital illnesses, extended exposure to loud noises, and other underlying conditions are the root cause of these problems. These conditions are more common in the elderly population. Since hearing solutions are becoming more and more common, numerous initiatives have been launched worldwide to increase patient awareness and provide free treatment. However, when using the medication, many patients have side effects. Gingko biloba is a traditional medicine that can cause headaches, nausea, and vomiting. It is found in most ear health supplements. Heavy bleeding can also occur in those who use blood thinners or have clotting problems.

Browse key industry insights spread across 250 pages with 110 Market data tables and figures & charts from the report on the " Global Ear Health Market Size, Share, and COVID-19 Impact Analysis, By Product (Hearing Aids, Ear Health Devices, Diagnostic Devices, Surgical Devices, Hearing Implants, CO2 Lasers), By Distribution Channels (Audiology Centers, ENT Clinics, Hospitals, E-Commerce), and By Region (North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, Middle East, and Africa), Analysis and Forecast 2023  2033."

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The hearing aids segment is anticipated to hold the largest share of the global ear health market during the projected timeframe.

On the basis of product, the global ear health market is categorized into hearing aids, ear health devices, diagnostic devices, surgical devices, hearing implants, and CO2 lasers. Among these, the hearing aids segment is anticipated to hold the largest share of the global ear health market during the projected timeframe. In the ear health market, hearing aids are currently the most popular product category. The purpose of hearing aids is to help people who suffer from hearing loss or other communication-related problems listen to them better. They aid in the better understanding of speech and other sounds by amplifying sound and directing it into the ear canal. A growing number of people are experiencing hearing loss, which is contributing to the segment's growth. Additionally, technical advancements are making hearing aids simpler to use and more efficient.

The audiology centers segment is anticipated to grow at the fastest pace in the global ear health market during the projected timeframe.

On the basis of distribution channels, the global ear health market audiology centers, ENT clinics, hospitals, and E-commerce. Among these, the audiology centers segment is anticipated to grow at the fastest pace in the global ear health market during the projected timeframe. The general population is aware of the many benefits of audiology centers. Audiologists provide ear examinations, screenings, and testing for hearing loss to help those with hearing issues or ear infections. To use audiology centers for product presentations, many businesses nowadays collaborate with organizations.

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North America is expected to hold the largest share of the global ear health market over the forecast period.

North America is expected to hold the largest share of the global ear health market over the forecast period. Positive factors include an aging population, an increase in inadvertent or natural hearing loss caused by ailments like ear infections, genetics, and increased noise pollution have put the US market at the top of the global market at the time. This is expected to persist throughout the life of the prediction. Medical research on ear treatments, the development of amplification technology, and an increase in the number of clinics and hospitals treating ENT conditions are all factors contributing to the growth of ENT clinics and hospitals.

Asia Pacific is predicted to grow at the fastest pace in the global ear health market during the projected timeframe. The increasing aging population and the rise in ear problems are the main drivers of market expansion in the region known as Asia-Pacific. Growth prospects for the ear health industry are substantial and alluring in emerging nations. Ear health product demand has increased in tandem with the growth of ENT clinics and hospitals in these nations.

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 ear health market include Sonova Holdings AG, Olympus Corp, William Demant Holdings A/S (Denmark), Stryker Corp, Cochlear Limited, Johnson & Johnson, Novartis, Karl Storz Gmbh & Co. Kg, Medtronic Plc, Oscar Remedies Pvt. Ltd, Rion Co., Ltd, Natus Medical Incorporated, Sivantos Pvt. Ltd, InnerScope Hearing Technologies, and others.

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Recent Developments

In March 2023, JIUYEE announced the launch of JIUYEE Real Pro. This launch will enable the firm to expand its product offerings. The product features with cutting-edge technology to offer users clear and natural sound quality.

Market Segment

This study forecasts revenue at global, regional, and country levels from 2020 to 2033. Spherical Insights has segmented the global ear health market based on the below-mentioned segments:

Global Ear Health Market, By Product

Hearing Aids

Ear Health Devices

Diagnostic Devices

Surgical Devices

Hearing Implants

CO2 Lasers

Global Ear Health Market, By Distribution Channel

Audiology Centers

ENT Clinics

Hospitals

E-Commerce

Global Ear Health Market, By 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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Continued expansion of Patterns IP portfolio

Significant progress in expanding industry-leading oncology pipeline

REDMOND, Wash., June 12, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Pattern Computer, Inc. (Pattern or the Company) announced at the Bio International Conference in San Diego that it is filing provisional patent applications with the United States Patent Office (USPTO) which covers 14 insilico discoveries in the form of potentially synergistic drug combinations for metastatic castrate resistant prostate cancer. Pattern expects these provisional patent applications to further strengthen its intellectual property.

Pattern seeks to obtain patent protection for its technologies, as well as registering other intellectual property rights for its business and technology assets in the United States and internationally. Pattern aims to protect the technology, inventions and improvements that are commercially important to the development of its business using the most effective and efficient intellectual property instruments, including patents, trademarks and trade secrets. Pattern has a growing portfolio of provisional and non-provisional patent applications with the USPTO and World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).

Our commitment to pioneering solutions in the fight against cancer is unwavering, stated Mark Anderson, President and CEO of Pattern. Leveraging our AI-enabled Pattern Discovery Engine, we have achieved significant progress in expanding the Companys industry-leading oncology pipeline against the top five cancers worldwide.

Mr. Anderson concluded, Pattern is driving innovation in the field of oncology as we work towards transforming cancer treatment paradigms. We are looking to partner with firms to bring our combination cancer drug discoveries and diagnostic advances against the worlds top cancers into clinical trials.

About Metastatic Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer

Castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) is prostate cancer that no longer responds to castrate levels of testosterone alone. A reduction of testosterone typically slows the progression of prostate cancer. However, in CRPC, the cancer continues to grow even when testosterone levels are extremely low. A different treatment, such as medication to block androgen receptors, may be necessary to shrink the cancer. CRPC progresses to metastatic CRPC in most people. It typically spreads to the bones and can cause symptoms such as bone pain and fractures. Treatment may include hormone therapy, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and targeted therapy.

About Pattern

Pattern Computer, Inc. uses its Pattern Discovery Engine to solve the most important and intractable problems in business and medicine. These proprietary mathematical techniques in advanced AI can find complex patterns in very-high-order data that have eluded detection by much larger systems. As the Company applies its computational platform to the challenging fields of drug discovery and diagnostics, it is also making major Pattern Discoveries for partners in other sectors, including extended biotech, materials science, aerospace manufacturing quality control, veterinary medicine, air traffic operations, and energy services. See www.patterncomputer.com.

CONTACT: Laura Guerrant-Oiye (808) 960-2642  laura@patterncomputer.com

The foregoing contains statements about Pattern Computers future that are not statements of historical fact. These statements are forward looking statements for purposes of applicable securities laws and are based on current information and/or managements good faith belief as to future events. The words believe, expect, anticipate, project, should, could, will, and similar expressions signify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements should not be read as a guarantee of future performance. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve inherent risk and uncertainties, which change over time, and actual performance could differ materially from that anticipated by any forward-looking statements. Pattern Computer undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement.

Copyright  2024 Pattern Computer Inc. All Rights Reserved. Pattern Computer, Inc., Pattern Discovery Engine, PatternBio, TrueXAI, and ProSpectral are trademarks of Pattern Computer Inc. or its subsidiaries. Other trademarks may be trademarks of their respective owners.
MIAMI, June 12, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Sonny Meraban Scholarship for Entrepreneurs, an esteemed initiative dedicated to cultivating the next generation of innovative business leaders, proudly announces the opening of its application process for the 2025 academic year. Named after Sonny Meraban, a visionary real estate investor and a trailblazer in the cryptocurrency industry, this scholarship embodies the spirit of entrepreneurship, creativity, and resilience.

Sonny Merabans journey is a beacon of inspiration for aspiring entrepreneurs worldwide. As the founder and CEO of Bitcoin of America, Sonny Meraban led the company to unprecedented heights, emphasizing excellence, inclusivity, and customer satisfaction. Despite Bitcoin of Americas closure in 2023, Sonny Merabans legacy continues to inspire through this scholarship, offering a one-time award of $1,500 to undergraduate students who exhibit entrepreneurial spirit, academic excellence, and leadership potential.

The Sonny Meraban Scholarship for Entrepreneurs is open to undergraduate students enrolled at accredited colleges or universities who meet the following criteria:

Entrepreneurial Spirit : Demonstrates creativity, innovation, and a passion for business ventures.

: Demonstrates creativity, innovation, and a passion for business ventures. Academic Excellence : Maintains a minimum GPA of 3.0.

: Maintains a minimum GPA of 3.0. Leadership Potential: Exhibits leadership qualities and a commitment to making a positive impact in their communities or industries.



Applicants are required to submit an essay of 500 words or less, describing a business idea or project they are passionate about and explaining their plans to bring it to fruition. They should also share their vision for the future of entrepreneurship and their aspirations to make a difference in the business world. Applications should be sent to apply@sonnymerabanscholarship.com by the deadline of February 15, 2025. The winner will be announced on March 15, 2025.

This scholarship provides more than just financial assistance. Recipients gain recognition for their entrepreneurial vision and access to valuable mentorship opportunities. They join a vibrant community of like-minded individuals who are passionate about driving innovation and positive change in the world of business.

Sonny Meraban believes that every dreamer deserves the opportunity to pursue their passion and make a difference. Through this scholarship, he aims to support and nurture the entrepreneurial spirit that defined his career. Sonny Merabans commitment to empowering the next generation of business leaders is reflected in the scholarships comprehensive support, which includes financial aid, mentorship, and a platform for recognition.

Sonny Merabans influence in the business world extends beyond his success with Bitcoin of America. His dedication to fostering innovation and entrepreneurship is evident in his continued efforts to support aspiring entrepreneurs through this scholarship. The Sonny Meraban Scholarship for Entrepreneurs not only honors his legacy but also provides a pathway for young business leaders to achieve their dreams and make a significant impact in their respective fields.

Applications for the Sonny Meraban Scholarship for Entrepreneurs are now open. Eligible undergraduate students are encouraged to apply and take the first step toward realizing their entrepreneurial ambitions. For more information and to apply, visit https://sonnymerabanscholarship.com/.

Join Sonny Meraban in celebrating the spirit of entrepreneurship and shaping the future of business leadership. Apply for the Sonny Meraban Scholarship for Entrepreneurs today and ignite your journey toward a brighter future.

About Sonny Meraban Scholarship for Entrepreneurs

The Sonny Meraban Scholarship for Entrepreneurs is dedicated to nurturing the next generation of innovative thinkers and trailblazers in the business world. Named in honor of Sonny Meraban, a pioneering real estate investor and cryptocurrency leader, this scholarship celebrates entrepreneurship, creativity, and resilience. With a generous award of $1,500, the scholarship provides financial support, recognition, and mentorship to aspiring entrepreneurs who embody the spirit of innovation and drive. Join us in honoring Sonny Merabans legacy and shaping the future of entrepreneurship.

Contact Info:

Spokesperson: Sonny Meraban

Organization: Sonny Meraban Scholarship

Website: https://sonnymerabanscholarship.com

Email: apply@sonnymerabanscholarship.com
DECATUR, Ga., June 12, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Dr. Tyrone Malloy Scholarship for Medical Students is now open for applications. This prestigious scholarship aims to support aspiring medical professionals who demonstrate a commitment to academic excellence and a passion for advancing womens health. Established by Dr. Tyrone Malloy, a distinguished gynecologist, educator, and legal professional, the scholarship seeks to identify and nurture future leaders in the field of womens health.



Dr. Tyrone Malloy has dedicated his career to enhancing healthcare outcomes and bridging the gap between medicine and law. His extensive experience and achievements in gynecology, education, and legal advocacy have inspired the creation of this scholarship. Through this initiative, Dr. Malloy aims to provide financial support and recognition to medical students who share his vision of excellence in healthcare.

Scholarship Criteria

Applicants for the Dr. Tyrone Malloy Scholarship will be evaluated based on the following criteria:

Academic Excellence: Demonstrated academic achievement and a strong academic record in medical studies. Passion for Womens Health: A clear passion for womens health and a commitment to advancing healthcare in this field. Essay Prompt: Write an essay (500 words) on the topic of The Role of Interdisciplinary Approaches in Advancing Womens Health. The essay should showcase an understanding of integrating medical, legal, and social perspectives in addressing womens health issues and a dedication to applying these interdisciplinary approaches in future medical practice. Clarity and Coherence: Clear and concise writing style with well-structured arguments and coherent reasoning. Research Skills: Evidence of thorough research on the topic and incorporation of relevant information to support the arguments. Commitment to Excellence: Demonstration of a strong commitment to excellence in healthcare, education, and ethical medical practice.

About Dr. Tyrone Malloy

Dr. Tyrone Malloys career is marked by his dedication to advancing womens health and promoting an interdisciplinary approach to healthcare. He earned his Bachelors degree in Biology from New York University and pursued his medical education at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. Certified by the American Board of OB/GYN, Dr. Malloy has been actively involved in organizations such as Alpha Phi Omega Service Fraternity and the International Society of Police Surgeons.

Dr. Malloys professional journey includes significant roles at the Soapstone Center for Clinical Research and Metropolitan Atlanta OB/GYN, where he served as CEO, Medical Director, Principal Investigator, and Consultant. His multidisciplinary approach, combining medical proficiency with legal acumen, reflects his commitment to ensuring the highest standards of patient care.

Scholarship Details

The Dr. Tyrone Malloy Scholarship is a one-time award of $1,000, open to undergraduate students pursuing medical studies. The deadline to apply for the scholarship is December 15, 2024. The winner will be announced on January 15, 2025.

Application Process

Interested applicants are encouraged to visit https://drtyronemalloyscholarship.com/ to learn more about the scholarship and submit their applications. Applicants should thoughtfully address the essay prompt, showcasing their knowledge, passion, and dedication to womens health while meeting the specified criteria for evaluation.

About the Dr. Tyrone Malloy Scholarship

The Dr. Tyrone Malloy Scholarship for Medical Students was established with the vision of supporting aspiring medical students who demonstrate a passion for womens health and a commitment to excellence in healthcare, education, and ethical medical practice. The scholarship aims to empower the next generation of medical leaders in womens health by providing financial support and recognition for their dedication and potential.

Dr. Tyrone Malloys distinguished career and contributions to the fields of gynecology, education, and law serve as the cornerstone of the scholarships mission. His journey in the medical and legal realms, marked by exceptional achievements and a commitment to advancing healthcare and promoting understanding at the complex intersection of medicine and law, is a testament to his dedication to excellence in healthcare, education, and the ethical practice of medicine.

By embodying Dr. Tyrone Malloys values and dedication to advancing healthcare, promoting understanding at the intersection of medicine and law, and upholding the highest standards of patient care, the Dr. Tyrone Malloy Scholarship aims to support and empower future medical leaders who share his vision and commitment to excellence in healthcare.

For more information, please visit https://drtyronemalloyscholarship.com/.

About Dr. Tyrone Malloy

Dr. Tyrone Malloy is a highly respected gynecologist, educator, and legal professional based in Decatur, Georgia. With a career spanning several decades, Dr. Malloy has made significant contributions to the fields of womens health, medical education, and legal advocacy. He is dedicated to advancing healthcare outcomes and promoting an interdisciplinary approach to medical practice, combining his expertise in medicine and law to ensure the highest standards of patient care. The Dr. Tyrone Malloy Scholarship for Medical Students reflects his commitment to supporting the next generation of medical professionals who share his passion for excellence in womens health.

Contact Info:

Spokesperson: Dr. Tyrone Malloy

Organization: Dr. Tyrone Malloy Scholarship

Website: https://drtyronemalloyscholarship.com

Email: apply@drtyronemalloyscholarship.com
TORONTO, June 12, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- In a landmark decision, the international body that hands out human rights accreditations has concluded that there is enough basis to review Canadas A status  an unprecedented move that puts it among the ranks of countries like Russia, Iraq, and Venezuela .



The Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions (GANHRI)  a United Nations partner  has launched a Special Review of the accreditation of the Canadian Human Rights Commission (CHRC). This comes as the result of a complaint by a coalition of Canadian human rights organizations, which submitted federal findings of anti-Black discrimination at the Canadian Human Rights Commission as evidence.

Despite admitting to human rights violations, the Canadian government is currently vying for a seat in the United Nations Human Rights council from 2028-2030 with a vote happening in 2026.



With this international review, the Canadian government is now on notice, says Nicholas Marcus Thompson, with the Black Class Action Secretariat. It cannot claim to be a global leader in human rights, while discriminating against its own at home.



If the international body finds there are grounds to downgrade the CHRC to B status , for the first time ever, it will no longer have independent participation rights at the UN Human Rights Council, its subsidiary bodies, and some General Assembly bodies and mechanisms. Further, it will lose the right to vote and hold governance positions at GANHRI.



The implications of this decision are very serious as Canada has never had its status reviewed in its more than 30 years as a GANHRI member, says Ketty Nivyabandi, Secretary General for Amnesty International Canada. We urge the Canadian government and the Commission to take all necessary measures to guarantee the integrity of the Commission and its critical role for Canadians.

In line with the International Decade for People of African Descent, the coalition is calling for:

JUSTICE: Creating a properly funded direct-access model to the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal (removing CHRCs role as a gatekeeper with the power to dismiss claims before they reach the Tribunal)

RECOGNITION: Expediting Employment Equity Act amendments to include Black people as an employment equity group.

to include Black people as an employment equity group. DEVELOPMENT: Appointing a Black Equity Commissioner to address discrimination in the public service.





WATCH PRESS CONFERENCE, ACCESS PHOTOS HERE: https://www.bcas-srcn.org/post/chrc-under-special-review-for-discrimination



MEDIA CONTACT: Ginella Massa, Massa Media & Comms | info@massamedia.ca

BACKGROUND INFO:

On Feb 26, 2024, a coalition of human rights organizations submitted a complaint to the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions (GANHRI).

The coalition consists of: The Black Class Action Secretariat (BCAS) , the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) , the National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) , the Canadian Black Nurses Alliance (CBNA) , The Enchante Network, the Red Coalition , the Federation of Black Canadians (FBC) , 613-819 Black Hub , the Black Canadians Civil Society Coalition (BCCSC) and The Canadian Association of Professional Employees (CAPE)

The group provided as evidence: the findings of the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat's and the Senate Human Rights Committee's findings of anti-black discrimination.

The complaint highlighted: violations to international human rights laws, and the Paris Principles , internationally agreed upon minimum standards which member human rights institutions are required to adhere to.

The Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions (GANHRI) is one of the largest human rights networks worldwide, representing more than 110 National Human rights institutions. It is a recognised, and trusted partner, of the United Nations. GANHRIs Sub-Committee on Accreditation is responsible for reviewing and accrediting national human rights institutions in compliance with the Paris Principles. The SCA met March 26-28 and published its report and recommendations on June 7, 2024. It decided to initiate a review of Iraq and Canada.

Canada has been a member of GAHNRI since its inception in 1993, through the Canadian Human Rights Commission. Its last accreditation review period was from 2016-2022, with its next review slated for 2027. This unprecedented Special Review, which Canada has never been subject to in its member history, will investigate the five year period preceding its most recent A status accreditation in 2022.

GANHRI members are reviewed every 5 years. As of December 2023, GANHRI is composed of 120 members: 88 A status accredited NHRIs and 32 B status accredited NHRIs.



There are currently two levels of accreditation:

Status A (Fully compliant with the Paris Principles): Institutions participate fully in the international and regional work and meetings of national institutions as voting members, and they can hold office in the Bureau of the International Coordinating Committee or any sub-committee the Bureau establishes. They are also able to participate in sessions of the Human Rights Council and take the floor under any agenda item, submit documentation and take up separate seating.

Status B (Partially compliant with the Paris Principles): Institutions may participate as observers in the international and regional meetings of the national human rights institutions. They cannot vote or hold office with the Bureau or its sub-committees. They are not given NHRIs badges, nor may they take the floor under agenda items and submit documentation to the Human Rights Council.

Countries that have previously been under Special Review : Burundi, Madagascar, Nigeria, Chile, Ecuador, Honduras, Mexico, Indonesia, Jordan, Nepal, Great Britain, Panama, Venezuela, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Russia, Iraq.

Special Review Process and timeline: GANHRI will conduct Canadas Special Review in the fall of 2024, with a decision in the ensuing months. It will examine the five year period from 2016-2022 that led to its most recent A status accreditation. If Canada is downgraded to B status , it will no longer have independent participation rights at the UN Human Rights Council, its subsidiary bodies and some General Assembly bodies and mechanisms, and will lose the right to vote and hold governance positions at GANHRI.

ADDITIONAL FILES:

VIDEO: GANRHI Meeting

https://www.instagram.com/reel/CzjpWKcJGhX/?igsh=ajk2dHlmcWVnZmd6

MAP: Countries subjected to Special Review

https://static.wixstatic.com/media/8e4f35_458bc54c3f894c6690c810cb81e9b376~mv2.jpg
June 12, 2024: The collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 left Russia as the largest, wealthiest, and most populous of the fourteen new states that emerged after the demise of the Soviet empire. At first the prospects for the new Russian Federation looked bright. That did not last long because population growth ended in 1993. At that point Russia had 148 million people. Since 1993 the population has steadily declined because of low birth rates, shorter life spans for males and over a million men and women migrating to western Europe or North America.

Desperate to deal with this problem, Russia invaded neighboring Ukraine in 2014 and 2022. While Ukrainians share many characteristics with Russians, like customs, education levels, and similar languages, Russian rule was definitely not wanted. For centuries Ukrainians have held on to their desire for independence. Russian domination, misrule and mismanagement of the economy led to the collapse of the Soviet Union and an opportunity for forty million Ukrainians to finally regain self-rule. That lasted for 23 years before the Russians decided they could solve their declining population problem by rebuilding their empire, starting with the 40 million Ukrainians. Russia initially believed that most Ukrainians would welcome this and ignore their plans to join the European Union (EU) and NATO. The Ukrainians disagreed and fought the Russians to a ruinous, for Russia, standstill. Substantial military and economic aid from NATO enabled the Ukrainians to stop the Russians and eventually expel them.

The Russian military has lost over half a million men dead, missing deserted since its second invasion of Ukraine began in 2022. Over a million Russian military age men soon left Russia to avoid being mobilized into the army and sent to die in Ukraine. The Russian government then outlawed emigration to avoid military service but has not been able to enforce the new law. All this means that the Russian population is rapidly approaching 138 million and, unless Russia wins or abandons the Ukraine war, the Russian population will continue to shrink. Nearly all the lost men were part of the workforce and so many men are now gone that the Russian economy suffers from a significant labor shortage. Encouraging migrants from former portions of the Soviet Union with high unemployment rates worked for a while. Then the army decided these new residents of Russia were liable for military service. That sent most of the migrants back to their homelands.

Desperate to extricate Russia and himself from this mess, in early 2024 Russian leader Vladimir Putin proposed a peace with Russia retaining possession of Ukrainian territory they already occupied. The Ukrainians refused because the Russians had made similar proposals several times since 1991 and reneged on their promises every time. That means that in addition to a labor shortage and a lack of military success, Russia also has a credibility shortage. Worse, a growing number of Russian soldiers refuse to fight in Ukraine. This has led to tense standoffs between reluctant soldiers and their officers who have been told to shoot soldiers refusing to fight. This didnt go well because the soldiers in question are also armed and inclined to shoot back, or shoot first, and then desert to the Ukrainians. In some cases deserting Russian soldiers, and some prisoners of war, have formed pro-Ukrainian militias and operate against Russian targets just across the border. Ukraine encourages these militias and any Russians to want to surrender. As long as Russian leaders keep making bad decisions, they will continue to lose Russian workers and soldiers.
CHICAGO, June 12, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- MEDIA ADVISORY

On Thursday, June 13, Administrator Isabel Casillas Guzman, head of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and the voice in President Bidens Cabinet for Americas more than 33 million small businesses, will travel to Chicago, Ill. to attend Opportunity Finance Networks (OFN) Small Business Finance Forum, celebrate Pride Month, and kick off the SBAs Small Business Boom tour.

In the morning, Administrator Guzman will join OFN President and CEO Harold Pettigrew for a fireside chat at OFNs Small Business Finance Forum. After their discussion concludes, Administrator Guzman will lead a round table on child care where she will highlight the essential role that small businesses play in the child care ecosystem. The roundtable will be closed to members of the media.

Administrator Guzman will then travel to mHUB hard tech and advanced manufacturing innovation center, where she will meet with members of leadership staff as well as mHUB manufacturers who have used the Innovation Center to grow their business.

Following her visit to mHUB, Administrator Guzman will kick off the SBAs Small Business Boom tour and celebrate Pride Month by visiting three local, LGBTQI+ owned small businesses. Administrator Guzmans first stop will be to a local landscaping business. She will then travel to a nearby bakery and cafe which will be celebrating its soft opening with a ceremonial ribbon cutting. Finally, she will visit a lighting manufacturing company where she will highlight how President Bidens Investing in America agenda has ignited a surge in domestic manufacturing and the integral role these investments play in the Small Business Boom.

The OFN Fireside Chat, mHUB tour, and small business visits are open to members of the media who RSVP to theodora.lake@sba.gov.

Thursday, June 13

OFN Fireside Chat

WHO: SBA Administrator Isabel Casillas Guzman

OFN President and CEO Harold Pettigrew

WHEN: 9:30 a.m. CT

WHERE: Chicago, IL. Exact location details sent upon RSVP to theodora.lake@sba.gov

mHUB Tour

WHO: SBA Administrator Isabel Casillas Guzman

WHEN: 11:25 a.m. CT

WHERE: Chicago, IL. Exact location details sent upon RSVP to theodora.lake@sba.gov

LGBTQI+ Owned Small Business Visit

WHO: SBA Administrator Isabel Casillas Guzman

WHEN: 1:20 p.m. CT

WHERE: Chicago, IL. Exact location details sent upon RSVP to theodora.lake@sba.gov

LGBTQI+ Owned Small Business Visit and Ribbon Cutting

WHO: SBA Administrator Isabel Casillas Guzman

WHEN: 2:10 p.m. CT

WHERE: Chicago, IL. Exact location details sent upon RSVP to theodora.lake@sba.gov

LGBTQI+ Owned Small Business Visit

WHO: SBA Administrator Isabel Casillas Guzman

WHEN: 3:00 p.m. CT

WHERE: Chicago, IL. Exact location details sent upon RSVP to theodora.lake@sba.gov

###

About the U.S. Small Business Administration

The U.S. Small Business Administration helps power the American dream of business ownership. As the only go-to resource and voice for small businesses backed by the strength of the federal government, the SBA empowers entrepreneurs and small business owners with the resources and support they need to start, grow, or expand their businesses, or recover from a declared disaster. It delivers services through an extensive network of SBA field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations. To learn more, visit www.sba.gov.
Victoria, Seychelles, June 12, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- OnEquity, a leading broker-dealer, announces the expansion of its investor support services with the launch of multilingual support available 24 hours a day, 5 days a week. This initiative underscores OnEquity's dedication to providing a seamless and inclusive experience for investors worldwide.

OnEquity, a leading broker-dealer, announces the expansion of its investor support services wit



Our Multilingual Support Features:



Dedicated Team: Experienced professionals are available 24/5 to answer investor inquiries and provide support in multiple languages, with a focus on Portuguese (PT), Spanish (ES), and Arabic (AR).

Website Translation: OnEquity's website is being translated into the prioritized languages mentioned above, with plans to include French, German, Japanese, and more in the future. This ensures investors can access all platform features and information in their preferred language.

Global Offices: OnEquity's offices worldwide provide local support and expertise, ensuring investors receive assistance regardless of their location.

Always Available: Our customer service team is accessible through various contact methods at any time. We are here to help with account selection, opening accounts, and any other issues.

Innovation and Quality: We continually innovate and maintain high-quality service to stay at the forefront of the market. Our priority is to offer high-performance tools and exceptional support to ensure your success.

Making Investing Accessible to All

By breaking down language barriers, OnEquity is opening the door for a wider range of investors to participate in the global financial markets. This aligns with the company's mission to democratize access to investment opportunities and empower individuals to achieve their financial goals.

Join the OnEquity Community

At OnEquity, we are dedicated to the success of our traders. We invite you to join our dynamic community and experience the difference OnEquity can make in your trading journey. Benefit from our advanced platform, comprehensive educational resources, and exceptional customer support.

Our state-of-the-art technological infrastructure is designed to facilitate seamless trading experiences, with real-time data, fast execution speeds, and comprehensive risk management tools. Visit our new website for more information and begin your journey to financial success today: [https://onequity.com/]

About OnEquity

OnEquity is a licensed and regulated liquidity solutions provider, offering retail and institutional traders access to a wide range of trading instruments in the global financial markets. With an unwavering commitment to excellence, OnEquity ensures a safe, transparent, and trustworthy trading environment for its clients.

Onequity

Victoria, Seychelles

For more information contact: support@onequity.com

Disclaimer: The content of this press release is for informational purposes only and does not constitute an offer to sell, a solicitation of an offer to buy, or a recommendation of any cryptocurrency by news distributor. The content should not be relied upon for making any investment or trading decisions. We the distribution company, its employees, and its affiliates are not registered investment advisors. You need to consult Onequity for material, and no representation or warranty, expressed or implied, is made as to its accuracy, timeliness, or completeness. Any reliance on the information is at your own risk. Please consult your professional financial advisor before making any investment decisions.
San Diego, June 12, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- San Diego, California -

Frankie's Plumbing, a prominent plumbing service provider based in San Diego, proudly announces surpassing a remarkable landmark of 100 reviews on Google Maps, all while maintaining a flawless 5.0-star average rating. This milestone is a direct reflection of the company's unwavering dedication to delivering superior plumbing services and achieving unparalleled customer satisfaction throughout the San Diego region. Offering a comprehensive suite of servicesranging from routine plumbing repairs and installations to drain cleaning, water heater services, and urgent emergency plumbing assistanceFrankie's Plumbing has solidified its reputation as a reliable entity in the local plumbing sector.

This impressive feat showcases the positive feedback and trust that Frankie's Plumbing has earned from its clientele, underscoring the high standards of quality, efficiency, and professionalism embedded in its services. A crucial component of this success is the company's adept team, whose commitment to furnishing clients with swift and effective resolutions is unrivaled. Notably, the company's esteemed BBB Accreditation serves as a testament to its dedication to upholding a high bar for trustworthiness and integrity within its operational frameworks.

Frankie Galvan, the visionary leading Frankie's Plumbing, shared his enthusiasm about this achievement, stating, "We are thrilled to have reached this milestone, which is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our entire team. Achieving such positive feedback from our customers motivates us to continue providing top-notch plumbing services in San Diego."

For individuals keen on a deeper understanding of the myriad services offered, Frankie's Plumbing cordially invites you to visit their website at FrankiesPlumbing.us. Check Out Our Plumbing Videos. These informative videos are designed to provide a glimpse into their comprehensive expertise and the assorted solutions they cater to various plumbing challenges, from detecting water leaks to addressing general plumbing concerns. These visual aids underscore the company's dedication to maintaining openness and fostering customer enlightenment.

Furthermore, Frankie's Plumbing has distinguished itself as San Dieog's Favorite Plumbing Company on Facebook, a significant achievement facilitated through their dynamic presence on social media. To follow us on Facebook, go to Facebook.com/FrankiesPlumbing. This virtual platform serves as a conduit for the company to engage with the local community, delivering valuable plumbing tips, disseminating service updates, and interacting with clients. It represents an additional avenue through which the company commits itself to offering outstanding customer care and maintaining a connection with its San Diego clientele.

"We aim to be more than just your plumber; we want to be a trusted partner for all your plumbing needs. Our team continually strives to exceed expectations with not only our plumbing solutions but also our customer service. We are incredibly thankful to our customers for trusting us and sharing their positive experiences," added Frankie Galvan.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TqmcJe8zJtQ

Looking ahead, Frankie's Plumbing is steadfast in its commitment to nurturing its bond with the San Diego community, by providing dependable, efficient plumbing services, and ensuring the satisfaction of its customers. With a robust foundation supported by positive consumer feedback, professional expertise, and active community engagement, the company is poised for further success, dedicated to upholding the high level of service that has been central to its commendable reputation.

###

For more information about Frankie's Plumbing, contact the company here:



Frankie's Plumbing

Frankie Galvan

(619)395-5254

info@frankiesplumbing.us

1701 Washington Place

San Diego, CA 92103


VICTORIA, British Columbia, June 12, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- UFCW Canada welcomes todays announcement regarding new legislation for app-based workers in British Columbia.



The B.C. government has announced new legislation including substantial reforms for app-based workers in the province. These improvements include: a minimum wage of $20.88, a minimum earnings standard, distance expenses allowances, increased transparency, and more.

We are excited to see these changes in B.C, as they will lead to more money in our pockets and better protections at work, says David Gutierez, an Uber Eats courier.

We congratulate the B.C. government on being the first to create a legislative framework that will improve working conditions for gig workers across the province, says UFCW Canada National President Shawn Haggerty. While many of the new regulations are a good start, we will continue to advocate for improvements such as better access to unionization, and a pooled benefit fund funded by all the platforms.

UFCW Canada and its local unions have long been calling on all provincial governments to legislate key labour rights and protections for app-based workers for more than five years. These rights and protections include a minimum earnings standard, the right to join a union and engage in collective bargaining, a benefit fund, occupational health and safety, notice of termination or pay in lieu and for drivers to retain their ability to work on multiple platforms. This is based on thousands of conversations with app-based workers since beginning this work.

This legislation will ensure real improvement in our lives, says Sandeep Singh Chhina, an Uber Eats driver. We are happy that the B.C. government has listened to workers.

This is a first step of many when it comes to improving the reality of gig work in British Columbia, adds Haggerty. UFCW Canada will continue to advocate alongside gig workers and look forward to working with the government to do so.

UFCW Canada represents Uber rideshare and delivery workers across the country. To date, UFCW Canada has had almost 30,000 conversations with drivers and delivery across the country and have successfully helped over 500 drivers in reactivation and other workplace place issues. UFCW Canada and its local unions were the first to file cases on behalf of Uber drivers with labour boards in British Columbia and Ontario.

Contact:

Pablo Godoy

Western Canada Director

UFCW Canada, United Food and Commercial Workers Union

Phone: 403-542-2366

Email: pablo.godoy@ufcw.ca
CALGARY, Alberta, June 12, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Sylogist Ltd. (TSX: SYZ) (Sylogist or the Company), a leading public sector SaaS company, is pleased to announce that each of the matters presented for approval at the Annual General and Special Meeting of Shareholders held on June 12, 2024 (the Meeting) has been fully authorized and approved. Shareholders holding a total of 14,055,800 common shares, representing 60.06% of the common shares issued and outstanding, were represented in person or by proxy at the Meeting.



Sylogist is also pleased to announce that Mr. Aziz Benmalek has been elected at the Meeting as a new director. Mr. Benmalek is an accomplished executive with extensive worldwide experience in the software industry. He has over 25 years experience in building and scaling businesses and leading in high performing global organizations, across cloud and SaaS. He has broad experience in leading multiple customer segments and route-to-market across mature and emerging markets. His experience spans industry leading software companies including Microsoft, Splunk and Sage. He holds a Master of Engineering from Ecole Centrale Paris and an MBA from European Business School (ESCP).

I am honoured to be joining Sylogist as a board member, said Mr. Benmalek. I was drawn to the opportunity given my alignment to their mission and strategic positioning. I am excited to leverage my business and GTM expertise to contribute to their journey and to build upon Sylogists success.

Sylogist and its board of directors would like to thank departing directors Craig ONeill and Ian McKinnon. Messrs. ONeill and McKinnon did not put themselves forward for re-election as directors of the Company, and Sylogist thanks them for their numerous contributions to the Company throughout their tenure as directors.

A brief description of the matters voted upon and the outcome of the votes is set forth below.

Fixing the Number of Directors to be Elected

The ordinary resolution to approve fixing the number of directors to be elected at the Meeting at seven (7) was approved at the Meeting as follows:

Votes For



% Votes Against % 13,787,227 98.09% 268,572 1.91%



Election of Directors

All of the nominees proposed as directors of the Company were duly elected as directors of the Company with votes cast by the shareholders present in person or represented by proxy at the Meeting as follows:

Outcome of

the Vote



Votes For % Withheld % William C. Wood Elected



12,906,467 98.68% 172,098 1.32% Barry D.A. Foster Elected



12,636,635 96.62% 441,930 3.38% Taylor Gray Elected



13,014,483 99.51% 64,082 0.49% Errol Olsen Elected



12,980,662 99.25% 97,903 0.75% Andrea Ward Elected



13,074,379 99.97% 4,186 0.03% Tracy Edkins Elected



13,072,961 99.96% 5,604 0.04% Aziz Benmalek Elected



12,979,626 99.24% 98,939 0.76%



Appointment of Auditor

An ordinary resolution to approve the appointment of KPMG LLP, Chartered Professional Accountants, as the auditors of the Company, was approved at the Meeting as follows:

Votes For



% Votes Withheld/Abstained % 14,049,296 99.95% 6,504 0.05%



Approval of Unallocated Stock Options

An ordinary resolution to approve all unallocated stock options issuable pursuant to the Companys stock option plan was approved at the Meeting as follows:

Votes For



% Votes Against % 12,841,446 98.19% 237,119 1.81%



About Sylogist

Sylogist provides mission-critical SaaS solutions to over 2,000 public sector customers globally across the government, nonprofit, and education verticals. The Companys stock is traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol SYZ. Information about Sylogist, inclusive of full financial statements together with Managements Discussion and Analysis, can be found at www.sedarplus.ca or at www.sylogist.com.

Forward-looking Statements

Certain statements in this news release may be forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws and regulations. These statements typically use words such as expect, foresee, believe, estimate, project, anticipate, plan, may, should, could and would, or the negative of these terms, variations thereof or similar terminology. Forward-looking information in this news release includes statements made, if any, with respect to building on Sylogists or success. By their very nature, forward-looking statements are based on assumptions and involve inherent risks and uncertainties, both general and specific in nature. It is therefore possible that the beliefs and plans and other forward-looking expectations expressed herein will not be achieved or will prove inaccurate. Although Sylogist believes that the expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, it provides no assurance that these expectations will prove to have been correct. Forward-looking information involves risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events, results, performance, prospects and opportunities to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information, including its inability to attract key employees or enlist customer support, its inability to develop innovative technology, its inability to find opportunities to deploy free cash flow, impacts of public health crises, and economic turmoil. Additional information regarding some of these risks, uncertainties and other factors may be found in the Companys Annual Information Form for year ended December 31, 2023, and in the Managements Discussion and Analysis for the quarter ended March 31, 2024 and the year ended December 31, 2023, and other documents available on the Companys profile at www.sedarplus.ca . Material assumptions and factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from such forward-looking information include Sylogists ability to attract and retain employees and customers and to realize on its investments, the ability to expand technology partner and customer relationships and the acceleration of organic and inorganic growth. Although Sylogist believes that the material 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, which only applies as of the date of this news release, and no assurance can be given that such events will occur. Sylogist disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, other than as required by law.

For further information contact:

Sujeet Kini, Chief Financial Officer

Sylogist Ltd.

Jennifer Smith, Investor Relations

LodeRock Advisors

(416) 491-8004

ir@sylogist.com
NEW YORK, NY, June 12, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Crypto Fund Trader 2.0 is proud to announce its launch today. The platform stands at the forefront of educational prop firms, offering unparalleled opportunities in cryptocurrency and asset trading education. For traders aspiring to hone their skills and navigate the markets with significant capital but without the burden of risk, Crypto Fund Trader provides an ideal platform. With the potential to elevate one's trading career with access to up to $200,000, this firm caters to traders of all levels seeking a path to success.





Upon selecting the account type that aligns best with their goals and strategies, traders embark on an evaluation process designed to showcase their expertise. Successful completion of the evaluation grants traders a diploma and access to a demo account, allowing them to earn real profits. This practical approach not only facilitates experiential learning but also instills confidence as traders venture into live trading.

In a notable achievement, Crypto Fund Trader was recognized as the Most Competitive Prop Firm in the Industry by Forex Prop Reviews in February 2024. This accolade underscores the firm's unwavering commitment to excellence and underscores its dedication to providing top-tier training and support.

The imminent Big Update promises to usher in a new era of growth and innovation for Crypto Fund Trader, marked by strategic Partnerships and enhanced offerings. A significant development is the Partnership with a Premium Crypto Liquidity Provider. This pioneering collaboration represents the first of its kind between a crypto exchange and a crypto prop firm, signaling Crypto Fund Trader's dedication to pushing industry boundaries.

New Premium Liquidity Partners

The partnership with the new crypto premium liquidity provider brings a plethora of benefits for traders, including access to a wider range of cryptocurrency pairs and improved trading spreads. Moreover, traders can expect uniform liquidity conditions across platforms, fostering transparency and trust within the community. Direct communication with the Liquidity partner teams enhances the user experience, while optimized infrastructure facilitates real-time copy trading and enhances security.

In addition to the Crypto Liquidity Provider partnership, Crypto Fund Trader has forged an alliance with a top provider of Forex, Indices, Commodities and Stocks. This partnership underscores the firm's commitment to diversity by offering a comprehensive range of trading options.

Improved Sustainability and Infrastructure

Enhancements to the platform and website include faster payments, improved server stability, and the launch of Crypto Fund Trader 2.0, reflecting the firm's dedication to providing an exceptional user experience. The decision to relocate to Switzerland further underscores Crypto Fund Trader's commitment to technological advancements and collaboration within the industry.

Premium Crypto Payment Gateway

The introduction of CONFIRMO together with Crypto Fund Trader allows users to make cryptocurrency payments more securely, quickly and easily. Once again the team shows its interest to open the way to this new era of digital money.

Crypto Futures Platform and Vip Program

Looking ahead, Crypto Fund Trader plans to launch a cryptocurrency futures platform to meet the growing demand in the market. To complement these updates, the firm will introduce more competitions and a VIP program, providing traders with exclusive benefits and opportunities for advancement.

Crypto Fund Trader's recent developments underscore its dedication to excellence and innovation in trading education. With a focus on transparency, trust, and user experience, Crypto Fund Trader continues to redefine success in the cryptocurrency trading landscape. As the firm continues to evolve and expand, traders can anticipate even greater opportunities for growth and success in their trading endeavors.

Features of Crypto Fund Trader

Premium Crypto Liquidity Partner

Premium Forex, Indices Commodities and Stocks Liquidity Partner

More Crypto Pairs

Web redesign

Improved infrastructure

Switzerland and Technological Improvement

New premium payment gateway

Vip program

Futures platform

Definitely a good roadmap in all aspects.

Social links

X: https://twitter.com/CFTradercom

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cryptofundtrader/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cryptofundtrader/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@cryptofundtrader

Discord: https://discord.com/invite/PFgzUEdrGA

Telegram: https://t.me/cryptofundtradercom

Media Contact

Brand: Crypto Fund Trader

Contact: Media team

Email: support@cryptofundtrader.com

Website: https://cryptofundtrader.com

SOURCE: Crypto Fund Trader
Gold Reserve Inc. (TSX.V: GRZ) (OTCQX: GDRZF) ("Gold Reserve" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the submission of a credit bid (the "Bid") for the common shares of PDV Holdings, Inc. ("PDVH"), the indirect parent company of CITGO Petroleum Corp. ("Citgo").

The Bid has been made pursuant to the sales and bidding procedures (the "Bidding Procedures") managed by the Special Master (the "Special Master") appointed by the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware (the "Delaware Court") in connection with sale of PDVH common shares (the "Sale Process"). In accordance with the Bidding Procedures, the terms of the Bid are confidential.

Further steps in respect of the Bid will occur pursuant to the Bidding Procedures, as may be modified by the Special Master and/or the Delaware Court.

In conjunction with the Bid, Gold Reserve has entered into an indication of interest with FJ Management Inc. ("FJM") whereby FJM may, in the event the Bid is successful, participate in ownership, collaboration and operational oversight of the acquired business.

Crystal Maggelet, Chief Executive Officer of FJM has provided the following statement:

"At FJ Management Inc., we are thrilled to partner with Gold Reserve Inc. on this exciting opportunity. Together, we bring a wealth of experience and a shared commitment to excellence. This partnership reflects FJ Management's continued commitment of building value to last for our shareholders, employees, customers, and the communities in which we operate."

Paul Rivett, Executive Vice-Chairman of Gold Reserve, said the following:

"We are very thankful to all of our partners and stakeholders, in particular our shareholders, who rallied behind Gold Reserve to make our credit bid a reality. We know that much work remains to put ourselves in a position to be successful but we are thankful to all involved in the process and look forward to reporting on our progress in due course."

The Company has most recently discussed the potential of making a bid in its June 5, 2024 and May 29, 2024 press releases.

Information on Citgo and PDVH

More information pertaining to Citgo, its business, financial statements and its relationship to PDVH can be found on the Citgo website at https://www.citgo.com.

On Behalf of the Board of Directors

Paul Rivett

Executive Vice-Chairman

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking statements

This release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable U.S. federal securities laws and "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian provincial and territorial securities laws and state Gold Reserve's and its management's intentions, hopes, beliefs, expectations or predictions for the future. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by management at this time, are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies. They are frequently characterized by words such as "anticipates", "plan", "continue", "expect", "project", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate", "may", "will", "potential", "proposed", "positioned" and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur. Forward-looking statements contained in this press release include, but are not limited to, statements relating to the Bid.

We caution that such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other risks that may cause the actual events, outcomes or results of Gold Reserve to be materially different from our estimated outcomes, results, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by those forward-looking statements, including but not limited to: the discretion of the Special Master to consider the Bid, to enter into any discussions or negotiation with respect thereto and that the Special Master may reject the Bid; the failure of the Company to negotiate the Bid, including as a result of failing to obtain sufficient equity and/or debt financing; that the Bid submitted by the Company will not be selected as a "Successful Bid" under the Bidding Procedures, and if selected may not close, including as a result of U.S. Department of Treasury Office of Foreign Assets Control ("OFAC"), or any other applicable regulatory body, not granting an authorization in connection with any potential sale of PDVH shares and/or whether OFAC changes its decision or guidance regarding the Sale Process; failure of the Company or any other party to obtain any required approvals for, or satisfy other conditions to effect, any transaction resulting from the Bid; that the Company may forfeit any cash amount deposit made due to failing to complete the Bid or otherwise; that the making of the Bid or any transaction resulting therefrom may involve unexpected costs, liabilities or delays; that, prior to or as a result of the completion of any transaction contemplated by the Bid, the business of the Company may experience significant disruptions due to transaction related uncertainty, industry conditions or other factors; the ability to enforce the writ of attachment granted to the Company; the timing set for various reports and/or other matters with respect to the Sale Process may not be met; the ability of the Company to otherwise participate in the Sale Process (and related costs associated therewith; the amount, if any, of proceeds associated with the Sale Process; the competing claims of certain creditors, the "Other Creditors" (as detailed in the applicable court documents filed with the Delaware Court) of Venezuela and the Company, including any interest on such creditors' judgements and any priority afforded thereto; uncertainties with respect to possible settlements between Venezuela, PDVSA, and/or any of their agencies or instrumentalities, and other creditors and the impact of any such settlements on the amount of funds that may be available under the Sale Process; and the proceeds from the Sale Process may not be sufficient to satisfy the amounts outstanding under the Company's September 2014 arbitral award and/or corresponding November 15, 2015 U.S. judgement in full and the ramifications of bankruptcy with respect to the Sale Process and/or the Company's claims, including as a result of the priority of other claims. This list is not exhaustive of the factors that may affect any of the Company's forward-looking statements. For a more detailed discussion of the risk factors affecting the Company's business, see the Company's Annual Information Form on Form 40-F and Management's Discussion & Analysis for the year ended December 31, 2023, the Company's Management's Discussion & Analysis for the period ended March 31, 2024 and other reports that have been filed on SEDAR+ and are available under the Company's profile at www.sedarplus.ca and which have been filed on EDGAR and are available under the Company's profile at www.sec.gov/edgar.

Investors are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements. All subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements attributable to Gold Reserve or persons acting on its behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by this notice. Gold Reserve disclaims any intent or obligation to update publicly or otherwise revise any forward-looking statements or the foregoing list of assumptions or factors, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, subject to its disclosure obligations under applicable rules promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission and applicable Canadian provincial and territorial securities laws.

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.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240611898637/en/

Contact

Gold Reserve Inc. Contact

Jean Charles Potvin

999 W. Riverside Ave., Suite 401 Spokane, WA 99201 USA

Tel: (509) 623-1500

Fax: (509) 623-1634
June 12, 2024: China recently delivered the first of eight Hangor II submarines to Pakistan. This delivery was late because deliveries were supposed to start in 2023. This delay was caused by Germany denying an export license for its MTU 396 marine diesel engine which the Hangors were designed to use. The engine is used in commercial and military surface ships as well as submarines and the Germans were not initially told that China wanted the MTU 396s for submarines. Germany does not allow its MTU 396s to be used in submarines without prior permission. The Chinese did not mention submarines when they ordered the engines.

Thailand had the same problem when they ordered a similar Chinese submarine in 2017. China said they would install the German MTU 396 engine but later admitted the Germans would not sell them the engine for use in submarines.

China offers a similar CHD620 engine, a licensed Chinese copy of Germanys MTU 396 engine. The CHD620 engine is only a crude copy of the MTU 396 because of inferior Chinese materials and manufacturing processes. As a result the CHD620 needs repairs after a few hundred hours of operation and is prone to unexpected breakdowns. This is not the kind of engine you want in your submarines during peacetime, much less after a war breaks out.

More Asian nations are obtaining submarines. Malaysia has two French Scorpenes, Singapore has four German type 218SG and plans to order two more. Vietnam has six Russian Kilo class submarines, and Indonesia is replacing two older German Type 209/1300 subs with three modern South Korean Type 209/1400 submarines. These will cost Indonesia a billion dollars. China has long exported warships and submarines but now South Korea is doing the same, especially their locally designed and built submarines. Most of these new submarines are based on German designs with the remainder being French Scorpenes or Russian Kilos as South Korean designs are not yet in service. China is having problems with its submarine exports while South Korea does not. As a result South Korea is taking business away from China. The Chinese are not happy with this, but the South Koreans do build superior submarines.

A decade ago Chinese Navy commanders appeared to be satisfied with the performance of their rapidly evolving Song (Type 39) class diesel-electric submarines. The changes had been so great that the latest four Songs were called Yuan class (Type 39A or Type 41).

The original design (Type 39) first appeared in 2001 and 13 were built, but in 2008 a noticeably different Type 39 appeared. This has been called Type 39A or Type 41. Two of these Type 39As appeared before two of another variant, sometimes called Type 39B, showed up. The evolution continued and by 2012 there were seven Type 41 Yuan Class subs.

This rapid evolution of the Type 39 appears to be another example of China adapting Russian submarine technology to Chinese design ideas and new technology. China has been doing this for as long as it has been building subs (since the 1960s). The Type 41 design shows Chinese naval engineers getting more creative.

The Songs look a lot like the Russian Kilo class and that was apparently no accident. The 39s and 41s are both 1,800 ton boats with crews of 60 sailors and six torpedo tubes. This is very similar to the Kilos, which are a bit larger.

China began ordering Russian Kilo class subs, then one of the latest diesel-electric designs available, in the late 1990s. Russia was selling new Kilos for about $200 million each, which was about half the price Western nations sold similar boats for. The Kilos weighed 2,300 tons (surface displacement), had six torpedo tubes, and a crew of 57. They are quiet and can travel about 700 kilometers under water at a speed of about five kilometers an hour. Kilos carry 18 torpedoes or SS-N-27 anti-ship missiles (with a range of 300 kilometers and launched underwater from the torpedo tubes). The combination of quietness and cruise missiles makes Kilo very dangerous to American carriers. North Korea and Iran have also bought Kilos.

The first two Type 41s appeared to be a copy of the early model Kilo (the model 877), while the second pair of Type 41s appeared to copy the later Kilos (model 636). The latest Yuans still appear like Kilos but may be part of an evolution into a sub that is similar to the Russian successor to the Kilo, the Lada.

The first Lada underwent three years of sea trials before they were declared fit for service in 2009. Since then more problems have developed and for a while the Lada was canceled. China appeared unconcerned with the Lada woes and were content to perfect their version of the Kilo and put dozens of them into the water.

The Kilo class boats entered service in the early 1980s. Russia only bought 24 of them but exported over 30. It was considered a successful design. But just before the Cold War ended in 1991, the Soviet Navy began work on the Lada. This project was stalled during most of the 1990s for lack of money, but was revived in the last decade.

The Ladas have six 533mm torpedo tubes, with 18 torpedoes and/or missiles carried. The Lada has a surface displacement of 1,750 tons, is 71 meters (220 feet) long, and carries a crew of 38. Each crewmember has their own cabin (very small for the junior crew but still, a big morale boost). When submerged the submarine can cruise at a top speed of about 39 kilometers an hour (half that on the surface) and can dive to about 250 meters (800 feet). The Lada can stay at sea for as long as 50 days, and the sub can travel as much as 10,000 kilometers using its diesel engine (underwater, via the snorkel). Submerged, using battery power, the Lada can travel about 450 kilometers. There is also an electronic periscope (which goes to the surface via a cable), that includes a night vision capability and a laser range finder. The Lada was designed to accept an AIP (air independent propulsion) system. Russia was long a pioneer in AIP design but in the last decade, Western European nations have taken the lead. Construction on the first Lada began in 1997, but money shortages delayed work for years. The first Lada boat was finally completed in 2005. A less complex version, called the Amur, is being offered for export, but so far there have been no sales.

The Ladas are designed to be fast attack and scouting boats. They are intended for anti-surface and anti-submarine operations as well as naval reconnaissance. These boats are said to be eight times quieter than the Kilos. This was accomplished by using anechoic (sound absorbing) tile coatings on the exterior and a very quiet (skewed) propeller. All interior machinery was designed with silence in mind. The sensors include active and passive sonars, including towed passive sonar. This quietness is what the Chinese are looking for because diesel-electric boats are the quietest available (all things being equal), even quieter than AIP. If nothing else, Lada provides a possible further development path for the Chinese Song/Yuan boats.

The Type 39s were the first Chinese subs to have a teardrop-shaped hull. The Type 41 was thought to be just an improved Song but on closer examination, especially by the Russians, it looked like a clone of the Kilos. The Russians now believe that the entire Song/Yuan project is part of a long-range plan to successfully copy the Kilo. If that is the case, it appears to be succeeding.

China currently has 61 submarines with 16 of them nuclear powered, including seven ballistic missile carrying SSBNs. China spent decades working out the problems they had with their nuclear powered submarines. Those problems seem to have been solved and some of their SSBNs have been operating in the central Pacific, where their missiles can hit targets in most of the United States.
Toronto, June 11, 2024 - Lode Gold Resources Inc. (TSXV: LOD) (OTCQB: SBMIF) ("Lode Gold" or the "Company") announces it has repaid all short-term working capital loans totalling $500,000 in March 2024. The Company disclosed the terms of the loan agreements in the press release dated September 27, 2023.

The Company continues to execute its strategic plans, improve its balance sheet, and actively work towards growing shareholder value.

ABOUT LODE GOLD

Lode Gold is a Canadian exploration and development company with grassroots and advanced exploration properties in highly prospective and safe mining jurisdictions.

Its Golden Culvert and Win Projects, Yukon, covering 99.5 km2 across a 27-km strike length, are situated in a district-scale, high-grade-gold-mineralized trend within the southern portion of the Tombstone Gold Belt. Gold deposits and occurrences within the Belt include Fort Knox, Pogo, Brewery Creek and Dublin Gulch, and Snowline Gold's Valley target on its Rogue property in the Selwyn Basin.

Its McIntyre Brook Project, New Brunswick, covering 111 km2 and a 17-km strike length in the emerging Triple Fault Gold Belt, is surrounded by Puma Exploration's Williams Brook Project (5.55 g/t Au over 50m) and is hosted by orogenic rocks of similar age and structure as New Found Gold's Queensway Project.

The Company is also advancing its Fremont Gold development project in the historic Mother Lode Gold Belt of California where 50,000,000 oz of gold has been produced. Fremont, located 500km north of Equinox Gold's Castle Mountain and Mesquite mines, has a PEA with an after-tax NPV of USD $217MM, a 21% IRR, 11-year LOM, averaging 118k ounces per annum at USD $1,750 gold. A sensitivity to the March 31, 2023 PEA at USD $2,000/oz gold gives an after-tax NPV(5%) of USD $370MM and a 31% IRR over an 11-year LOM. The project hosts an NI 43-101 resource of 1.16 Moz at 1.90 g/t Au within 19.0 MT Indicated, and 2.02 Moz at 2.22 g/t Au within 28.3 MT Inferred. The MRE evaluates only 1.4 km of the 4 km strike length of the Fremont property that features five gold-mineralized zones. Significantly, three step-out holes at depth hit mineralized structure, typical of orogenic deposits that often occur at depth. Fremont is located on private land in Mariposa, the original gold rush county and is 1.5 hours from Fresno, California. The property has year-round road access and is close to airports and rail. Please refer to the Fremont Gold project PEA dated March 31, 2023 under NI 43-101 guidelines. The technical report has been reviewed and approved by independent "Qualified Persons" Eugene Puritch, P.Eng., FEC, CET, and Andrew Bradfield, P.Eng. both of P&E, and Travis Manning, P.E. of KCA.

QUALIFIED PERSON STATEMENT

The scientific and technical information contained in this press release has been reviewed and approved by Jonathan Victor Hill, Director, BSc (Hons) (Economic Geology - UCT), FAusIMM, and who is a "qualified person" as defined by National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101").

For more information, please visit the Company's website at www.lode-gold.com or contact:

Gary Nassif

Senior Vice President, Director

gary@lode-gold.com

+1 (416) 915-4157



Kevin Shum

Investor Relations

kevin@jeminicapital.com

+1 (647) 725-3888 ext. 702

Forward-Looking Statements

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.

WARNING: The Company relies upon litigation protection for "forward-looking" statements. The information in this release may contain forward-looking information under applicable securities laws. This forward-looking information is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from those implied by the forward-looking information. Factors that may cause actual results to vary materially include, but are not limited to, inaccurate assumptions concerning the exploration for and development of mineral deposits, currency fluctuations, unanticipated operational or technical difficulties, changes in laws or regulations, failure to obtain regulatory, exchange or shareholder approval, the risks of obtaining necessary licenses and permits, changes in general economic conditions or conditions in the financial markets and the inability to raise additional financing. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on this forward-looking information. The Company does not assume the obligation to revise or update this forward-looking information after the date of this release or to revise such information to reflect the occurrence of future unanticipated events, except as may be required under applicable securities laws.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/212609
VANCOUVER, June 12, 2024 - American Salars Lithium Inc. ("AMERICAN SALARS" OR THE "COMPANY") (CSE: USLI, OTC: ASALF, FWB: Z3P, WKN: A3E2NY) announces its has completed a phase one exploration program on its Black Rock South Lithium Brine project in Nevada, that is located 11 miles north of the "Galt" claim group under option to Surge Battery Metals (CSE: NILI).



Highlights

58 soil samples were collected across and adjacent to the Black Rock South property

Land Research was completed in the vicinity of the property and the region

63 prospecting samples were collected





Soil Sampling

Project Soil sampling was completed across the property in a grid style to ensure complete coverage of the

property. A total of 58 samples were completed at intervals of 300 meters using a shovel at a depth of ~20-30 cm. The top portion of the sample was included for a complete soil profile of any evaporite on surface within the property. Soil samples will be submitted to ALS Geochemistry Laboratories in Reno, NV for analysis. Sample preparation and analyses will include 180 micron (80 mesh) sieve, aqua regia digestion, and 41 multielement ICP-AES analysis (code ME-ICP41). An additional 63 soil samples were collected to prospect different target areas.



Image 1. Photo taken at the Blackrock South Project

View image here

Land Research

Land research was conducted in the area around the Black Rock South property. Competitors own placer claims to the northeast of the BRS property and South of Gerlach, NV. Competitors also own placer and lode claims near San Emidio, NV. The Competitors include Lithium Corporation and Bravada Gold and multiple geothermal leases are in the area. The town of Gerlach and directly adjacent land is contained within a geothermal lease area. The region surrounding San Emidio geothermal power plant is also a lease area.

Wilderness Study Areas are abundant in this region of Nevada. The mountain ranges surrounding the playas

in this area are almost entirely contained in the multitude of Wilderness Study Areas which are closed to mineral entry. Private land in the area does not constitute much land in this region and is mostly present on the periphery of the playas. Northeast of the Property into the Black Rock Desert is designated as a National Conservation Land and is closed to mineral entry.

R. Nick Horsley, CEO & Director states, "Our Black Rock South Lithium Project was acquired for its potential to host a Lithium bearing aquifer, we've barely scratched the surface of its potential and we eagerly await the assays to determine the next steps and a plan a phase 2 exploration program."

About the Blackrock South Lithium Brine Project.

Blackrock South Lithium Brine Project is located 72 Miles North of the Tesla Gigafactory, 93 Miles Southwest of Thacker Pass, and 215 miles Northwest of the United States' only producing lithium mine, the Silver Peak Lithium Mine owned by Albermarle Corporation. The claims cover a conceptual target for lithium brines which is very similar to the published geology of the Clayton Valley lithium brine production area approximately 200 miles to the Southeast. The concept is consistent with generally accepted data and theories about the formation of lithium brine resources. The target area is lithium - brines hosted in basin-fill sediments.

Image 2. Blackrock South's Proximity to Tesla Gigafactory and America's only producing lithium mine, Silver Peak.

View image here

A recent mineral exploration on the Galt claim group under option to Surge Battery Metals (CSE:NILI) located 11 Miles to the South includes 51 playa sediment samples collected for chemical analysis at ALS Geochemistry in Vancouver, B.C. Results of aqua regia leaching of the samples show 68 to 852 parts per million lithium (mean 365 ppm), 5.3 to 201 ppm cesium (mean 72 ppm) and 35 to 377 ppm rubidium (mean 180 ppm). Results from two seven-foot-deep auger holes show lithium, cesium, and rubidium concentrations in the range of 143.5 to 773 ppm Li, 56.8 to 102.5 ppm Cs and 155 to 272 Rb. Those elements often form an assemblage. Average crustal abundances are about; lithium -20 ppm, cesium - 3 ppm and rubidium - 90 ppm.

American Salars' management cautions that past results or discoveries on properties in proximity to American Salars may not necessarily be indicative of the presence of mineralization on the Company's properties.

Qualified Person

Mr. William Feyerabend, CPG, a Consulting Geologist and Qualified Person under NI 43-101 contributed to the production of this press release and approves of the technical and scientific information contained herein.

About American Salars Lithium Inc.

About American Salars Lithium Inc. American Salars Lithium Inc. is an exploration company focused on exploring and developing high-value battery metals projects to meet the demands of the advancing electric vehicle market. Its flagship project is the Candela II Salar Project in Argentina which features a NI 43-101 inferred resource.

All Stakeholders are encouraged to follow the Company on its social media profiles on LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram.

On Behalf of the Board of Directors,

"R. Nick Horsley"

R. Nick Horsley, CEO

For further information, please contact:

American Salars Lithium Inc.

Phone: 604.880.2189

E-Mail: info@americansalars.com



Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Disclaimer for Forward-Looking Information

Certain statements in this release are forward-looking statements, which reflect the expectations of management regarding American Salar's intention to continue to identify potential transactions and make certain corporate changes and applications. Forward looking statements consist of statements that are not purely historical, including any statements regarding beliefs, plans, expectations, or intentions regarding the future. Such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results, performance, or developments to differ materially from those contained in the statements. No assurance can be given that any of the events anticipated by the forward-looking statements will occur or, if they do occur, what benefits American Salars will obtain from them. These forward-looking statements reflect managements' current views and are based on certain expectations, estimates and assumptions which may prove to be incorrect. A number of risks and uncertainties could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements, including American Salars results of exploration or review of properties that American Salars does acquire. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this news release and American Salars assumes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements, or to update the reasons why actual results differed from those projected in the forward-looking statements, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.
Vancouver, June 12, 2024 - Nexus Uranium Corp. (CSE: NEXU) (OTCQB: GIDMF) (FSE: 3H1) (the "Company" or "Nexus") is pleased to announce a non-brokered private placement of up to 3,461,538 units of the Company ("FT Units") at a price of $0.52 per FT Unit to raise gross proceeds of up to $1,800,000 (the "Offering").

Each FT Unit consists of one common share of the Company (a "FT Share") to be issued as a "flow-through share" within the meaning of the Income Tax Act (Canada) (the "Tax Act") and one common share purchase warrant (a "Warrant") each of which is exercisable to acquire one common share for 24 months following closing at an exercise price of $0.60.

Proceeds from the Offering will be used to incur "Canadian exploration expenses" as defined in subsection 66.1(6) of the Tax Act and "flow through critical mineral mining expenditures" as defined in subsection 127(9) of the Tax Act at the Cree East uranium project located in the Athabasca Basin.

Upon closing of the Offering, the Company may pay to certain eligible finders a cash finder's fee of up to 7.0% of the aggregate gross proceeds of the Offering. The Company may also issue to such finders non-transferrable warrants of the Company exercisable at any time prior to the date that is 24 months from the Closing Date to acquire that number of common shares as is equal to 7.0% of the number of FT Units issued under the Offering, at an exercise price of $0.52.

Completion of the Offering is subject to certain conditions including the receipt of all necessary approvals, including the approval of the Canadian Securities Exchange.

About Nexus Uranium Corp.

Nexus Uranium Corp. is a multi-commodity development company focused on advancing the Cree East uranium project in the Athabasca Basin and the Wray Mesa uranium-vanadium project in Utah in addition to its precious metals portfolio that includes the development-stage Independence mine located adjacent to Nevada Gold Mine's Phoenix-Fortitude mine in Nevada, the Napoleon gold project in British Columbia, and a package of gold claims in the Yukon. The Wray Mesa project covers 6,282 acres within the heart of the prolific Uruvan mining district in Utah and has extensive historical drilling of over 500 holes defining multiple mineralized zones. The Independence project hosts an M&I (measured and indicated) resource of 334,300 ounces of gold (28M tonnes at 0.41 g/t gold) and an inferred resource of 847,000 ounces (9M tonnes at 3.22 g/t gold) of gold with a substantial silver credit. A 2021 Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) outlined a low-cost heap leach operation focusing on the near-surface resource with total production of 195,443 ounces of gold at an all-in sustaining cost of $1,078 (U.S.) per ounce of gold. The Napoleon project comprises over 1,000 hectares and prospective for multiple forms of gold mineralization, with exploration in the area dating back to the 1970s with the discovery of high-grade gold. The Yukon gold projects are comprised of almost 8,000 hectares of quartz claims prospective for high-grade gold mineralization with historical grab sampling highlights of 144 g/t gold.

Nexus Uranium cautions investors the preliminary economic assessment is preliminary in nature, it includes inferred mineral resources that are considered too speculative geologically to have the economic considerations applied to them that would enable them to be categorized as mineral reserves, and there is no certainty that the preliminary economic assessment will be realized. The Company further cautions investors Mineral Resources which are not Mineral Reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability and further cautions investors the quantity and grade of the reported inferred Mineral Resources are uncertain in nature and there has been insufficient exploration to define these inferred Mineral Resources as indicated Mineral Resources.

The Company cautions investors it has yet to verify the historical data and further cautions investors grab samples are selective by nature and are unlikely to represent average grades of sampling on the entire property.

--

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:

Jeremy Poirier

Chief Executive Officer

info@nexusuranium.com

When used in this press release, the words "estimate", "project", "belief", "anticipate", "intend", "expect", "plan", "predict", "may" or "should" and the negative of these words or such variations thereon or comparable terminology are intended to identify forward-looking statements and information. Although Nexus believes, in light of the experience of their respective officers and directors, current conditions and expected future developments and other factors that have been considered appropriate, that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements and information in this press release are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on them because the parties can give no assurance that such statements will prove to be correct. The forward-looking statements and information in this press release include, amongst others, the Company's ability to complete the Offering on the terms announced. Such statements and information reflect the current view of Nexus. Such statements and information reflect the current view of Nexus. There are risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated in those forward-looking statements and information.

Forward-looking statements are based on certain material assumptions and analysis made by the Company and the opinions and estimates of management as of the date of this news release, including, but not limited to the assumption that the CSE will approve the Offering and the assumption that Company will be able to locate purchasers for the Offering.

These forward-looking statements are 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 statements or forward-looking information, including, but not limited to: the risk that the CSE will not approve the Offering, the risk that the Company will not be able to locate suitable purchasers for the Offering, and inherent risks associated with the mining industry and the results of exploration activities and development of mineral properties, stock market volatility and capital market fluctuations, general market and industry conditions, as well as those risk factors discussed in the Company's most recently filed management's discussion & analysis.

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 outlook that are incorporated by reference herein, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/212653
Toronto, Ontario - The Newswire - June 12, 2024 - Loyalist Exploration Ltd.

(CSE: PNGC) ("Loyalist" or the "Company") is pleased to announce results from recent sampling on the Company's 100% owned Springdale Property (see below under the heading "Amalgamation of Loyalist and Millbrook Minerals Inc.) (the "Property") located 320 km northwest of St John's Newfoundland. The Property has exceptional logistics and is located in the core of a well mineralized belt hosting several past producing gold and base metal mines including the Whalesback / Little Deer Mine (7 MT grading 2% Cu) located 5 km to the north of the Property and the Little Bay Mine (2 MT grading 2% Cu) located 9 km to the northeast. The Property hosts the Stirling/Twin Pond deposit with an historic copper resource of 1 MT grading 1% copper (see disclaimer below). All indicators are that the Project presents an exciting exploration opportunity with outstanding potential for success.



Click Image To View Full Size

Geological map of the Springdale illustrating rock sampling results.

The results of the samples recently collected from the Project display very prospective results over widely spaced localities on the Property. They show very significant and prospective copper, cobalt, gold and silver analytical results that merit comprehensive follow-up. Copper and cobalt are considered Critical Minerals under the Canadian Minerals and Metals Plan and Canadian Critical Minerals Strategy. The demand for these minerals is forecast to expand enormously to supply applications vital to the North American economy and clean energy initiatives.

The Springdale Property consists of 76 claims covering 2144 ha and encompasses at least ten copper-cobalt-gold-silver targets including the Stirling deposit, Lady Pond, Twin Pond, Sullivan Pond, Anvil, Buckshe Brook, and Old Mines mineral occurrences. Historic geological, geochemical and geophysical surveys have been conducted, and 92 historical drill holes totaling 14,599 m have been completed on the Property. This data provides a solid knowledge base, prospective exploration results, and multiple exploration targets for future work programs.

Recently collected samples (tabulated below, see locations on map) were collected from widely spaced localities up to 5.3 km apart on the Property. The Lady Pond occurrence (sample IDs LP22 and LP24) yielded values ranging from 0.78-19.4% Cu, and up to 0.14% Co. The significant cobalt concentrations from this locality are distinctly anomalous and not previously documented. Gold concentrations at Lady Pond ranged up to 1094 ppb. Silver content from samples at the Old Mine occurrence (sample ID OM24) grade up to 81.7 g/t. Two mineralized grab samples taken approximately 1700 m southwest of the Buckshe Brook occurrence yielded values greater than 1% Cu.

Sample ID NAD83_E NAD83_N Cu_Pct Au_ppb Ag_ppm Co_ppm Co_pct BB24-01 567319 5486284 1.12 37 1.5 49 --- BB24-02 567315 5486265 1.59 32 1.7 55 --- LP24-01 569573 5488421 1.85 77 1.9 173 --- LP24-02 569573 5488421 1.03 83 1.6 107 --- LP24-03 4.10 1094 4.4 550 0.111 LP24-04 5.51 903 4.6 550 0.114 LP24-05 569460 5488363 0.78 569 2.6 550 0.140 LP24-06 569510 5488483 1.13 87 0.8 69 --- OM24-01 565599 5484783 2.43 819 10.5 17 --- OM24-02 565597 5484784 6.66 272 81.7 64 --- OM24-03 565603 5484793 2.33 149 12.2 19 --- LP22-01 569556 5488419 19.40 254 2.9 454 LP22-02 569557 5488416 3.02 97 2.4 59 LP22-03 569457 5488486 6.78 461 4.3 1280 LP22-04 569410 5488477 2.79 218 3 2000

All samples were analysed by Eastern Analytical: samples were submitted to their facility in Springdale, Newfoundland. Eastern Analytical is accredited under ISO/IEC 17025:2017. Samples were analysed for 34 elements using an ICP-OES trace element analytical package. Over-limits for Cu, Co and Ag were analysed by ore grade assay AA method.

Amalgamation of Loyalist and Millbrook Minerals Inc.

The Springdale Property, along with the Company's Rolling Pond and Hungry Hill Projects are subject to a binding letter of intent for the Loyalist to amalgamate with Millbrook Minerals Inc. (see Loyalist press release dated June 5, 2024). The Amalgamation is expected to close no later than September 1, 2024. Following the amalgamation, all of the properties of Loyalist and Millbrook will be the properties of the amalgamated company.

Disclaimer

The potential quantity and grade of the historic resource at the Sterling Mine is conceptual in nature and there has been insufficient exploration to define a mineral resource. Loyalist is not relying on the historic resource. It is uncertain if further exploration will result in the discovery of a mineral resource.

Dean Fraser, P.Geo, acts as Qualified Person under National Instrument 43-101. Mr. Fraser has reviewed and approved the technical contents of this news release.

About Loyalist Exploration Limited

Loyalist Exploration Ltd. is a mineral exploration company focused on acquiring, exploring,

and developing quality mineral properties in Canada.

For further information please visit the Company's website at loyalistexp.ca or contact:

Loyalist Exploration Ltd.

Loyalist Exploration Ltd.

Errol Farr, President and CEO

Email: efarr001@icloud.com

Tel: 647-296-1270

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Market Regulator (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) have reviewed or accept responsibility fortheadequacy or accuracy of this release.

This news release contains "forward-looking information" (within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws) and "forward-looking statements" (within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995). Such statements or information are identified with words such as "anticipate", "believe", "expect", "plan","intend","potential", "estimate", "propose", "project", "outlook", "foresee" or similar words suggesting future outcomes or statements regarding an outlook. Such statements include those regarding the exploration opportunity and potential for success of the projects and the completion of the Amalgamation. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking information or statements are reasonable, prospective investors in the Company's securities should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements because the Company can provide no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Forward-looking information and statements contained in this news release are as of the date of this news release and the Company assumes no obligation to update or revise this forward-looking information and statements except as required by law.

Copyright (c) 2024 TheNewswire - All rights reserved.
During 2023, Osino's Namibian procurement spend was C$8.9 million (N$123 million)

Additionally, Osino paid C$2.3 million (N$31.4 million) in wages and C$477k (N$7 million) to the Namibian government (social security, PAYE, workman's compensation and training levy)

Since 2017, Osino has invested a total of C$81 million (N$982 million) in Namibia



VANCOUVER, June 12, 2024 - Osino Resources Corp. (TSXV:OSI) (NSX:OSN) (FSE:RSR1) (OTCQX:OSIIF) ("Osino" or "the Company") is pleased to announce the release of its third annual Sustainability Report. The report summarises the company's social, environmental and economic performance for the year 2023 and outlines plans for the ongoing integration of sustainability into the design of the Twin Hills Gold Project.The Twin Hills Gold Project (the Project), located near Karibib in Namibia, is on track to create approximately 1,000 new jobs in the region. Osino has, from its inception and up to the end of 2023, attracted approximately C$81 million (N$982 million) in foreign direct investment for the Namibian economy, as detailed in Osino's 2023 Sustainability Report. The pending acquisition by Yintai Gold Co., Ltd. (the "Yintai transaction"), announced in prior press releases, is likely to be finalised in the next few months.To showcase Osino's commitment to sustainable development alongside project progress, the 2023 Sustainability Report delves deeper into the company's environmental, social and governance performance, practices and commitments. The report emphasises not only the positive economic impact of the Project but also Osino's dedication to responsible resource extraction and creating shared value for all stakeholders.Foreign direct investment in Namibia

Prioritising local and transformative employment

89% of Osino's 83 employees are Namibian nationals and 37% are from local communities

22% female employees in a male-dominated industry

Approximately 1,000 jobs likely to be created



Strengthening local communities and relationships

66% procurement spend in Namibia, of which half was within Erongo Region

Ongoing strategic socio-economic development through the Twin Hills Trust

Public grievance mechanism launched (https://osinoresources.com/contact/) and public relations and community liaison officer hired to further improve Osino's community relationships



Proactive planning approach

Completed the Definitive Feasibility Study (DFS) in July 2023

A comprehensive Operational Readiness Plan (ORP) for the Project was developed in 2023 which includes key sustainability aspects. Implementation of this plan is ongoing

A focus on environmental performance

Zero significant environmental incidents recorded

Diversified and sustainable water supply strategy which relies on multiple sources, with significant buffer, aiming to minimise the impact on other water users and the environment

Ongoing specialist studies indicate that the planned abstraction will have an insignificant impact on neighbouring water users. This work is being undertaken in collaboration with the Department of Water Affairs, National and Local Governments, and NamWater

To reduce future water consumption, Osino has committed to a significant additional capital investment which provides for pressure filtration and dry-stacking of mine tailings, resulting in a substantial reduction in overall water consumption to a level of less than half of comparable mines in Namibia

Ongoing investigation into carbon-reducing technologies and strategies for the Twin Hills Mine, e.g. the planned solar PV plant



Heye Daun, Osino's President & CEO, commented: "With the pending acquisition of Twin Hills by Yintai and Yintai's commitment to finance the development of the Twin Hills Gold Project, site construction is about to commence. This progress could not have happened without the collective dedication of our skilled, motivated and hard-working team, which embodies the company's core values and purpose and has laid a solid foundation for transitioning from exploration and development studies, to real mine construction and operations, with a focus on setting the project up for a responsible mining approach.We are excited to continue our sustainability work with Yintai and we are pleased with the commitment and support shown by Mr. Xingong Ou, President of Yintai Gold, and his own very motivated and capable team, for our responsible mining plan. This reflects our moral duty to society and is a strategic business choice. It provides all Namibians with the assurance that the Project will leave a positive and enduring legacy for the country and its people."Read more about Osino's sustainability performance and plans in the report on the company's website: https://osinoresources.com/responsibilityOsino is a Canadian gold exploration and development company focused on the fast-tracked development of our wholly owned, Twin Hills Gold Project in central Namibia. Since its grassroots discovery by Osino in August 2019, Osino has completed more than 250,000m of drilling and has completed a suite of specialist technical studies, which describe a technically simple and economically robust open-pit gold operation with a 13-year mine life and average annual gold production of over 162,000oz per annum. Osino also has a commanding ground position located within Namibia's prospective Damara sedimentary mineral belt, mostly in proximity to and along strike of the producing Navachab and Otjikoto Gold Mines. Our projects are favourably located in central and northern Namibia and are within easy reach of Namibia's capital city, Windhoek. By virtue of its location, the Twin Hills project benefits significantly from Namibia's well-established infrastructure with paved highways, railway, power and water in close proximity. Namibia is mining-friendly and lauded as one of the continent's most politically and socially stable jurisdictions.Further details are available on the Company's website at https://osinoresources.com and under the Company's profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.On Behalf of The Board of DirectorsHeye DaunPresident & CEOYaron Conforti, Corporate Development+1-604-687-2038yconforti@osinoresources.comNeither 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.This press release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking information includes, without limitation, statements and information with respect to statements regarding the number of jobs to be created by the Project, the plans, intentions, beliefs and current expectations of Yintai and Osino with respect to the Yintai Transaction; the timing of the completion of the Yintai Transaction.

Generally, forwardlooking 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 Osino has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. 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 Osino's most recent annual management's discussion and analysis which is available on Osino's profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.com. Osino does not undertake to update any forward-looking information, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.
Magnussen admits he could lose F1 race seat

Kevin Magnussen admits he is at risk of losing out in this year's hectic driver 'silly season'.

Kevin Magnussen, Canadian GP 2024

 Haas

In 2024, not a single rookie made a Formula 1 debut - but it will be a different story for the 2025 season with the likes of Kimi Antonelli, Oliver Bearman, and perhaps Liam Lawson and Jack Doohan all tipped to step up.

It's bad news for 31-year-old Magnussen, who has often struggled alongside Nico Hulkenberg at Haas this year whilst attracting controversy for some of his aggressive tactics - and is now tipped to be replaced by Esteban Ocon.

When asked if he could lose in F1's current game of 'musical chairs', Magnussen told Ekstra Badet newspaper: Yes, there is a risk of that happening.

He has not been seriously linked with a move to another team.

The (Haas) team knows me very well, said the Danish driver. "I am a known quantity to them. So I don't think I need to prove anything.

The market is very open this time. We have to see how it plays out, Magnussen added.

I have made it clear that I would love to continue here. The team is in a good place with hope for the future. I would love to be a part of it, he said.

"I don't know how long it will be before we know the outcome. Until then, I'll just keep driving. I don't really have a deadline.

But I still think the market is quite open.

When he lost his F1 race seats in the past, Magnussen looked elsewhere - testing DTM and Le Mans cars and flirting with Indycar and other US-based categories.

But he says he's not thinking about alternatives yet.

I want to be in Formula 1, said Magnussen. "That's where my head is at the moment. Until it's not an option anymore, I focus on that.

"But whatever happens, I handle it when the time comes. In hard times, the most important thing is to stay positive and keep calm.

When I was younger, I definitely got more stressed and felt the pressure more. Now I am better at putting it aside, getting in the car and just driving it as well as I can.

(GMM)
The 29th Infantry Division organized a High Mobility Artillery Rocket System live-fire with 1st Battalion, 14th Field Artillery Regiment May 10, 2024, as part of DEFENDER 24 in Ustka, Poland. Multiple elements of the 29th Infantry Division are mobilized across Europe as part of the joint, multinational exercise focused on the strategic deployment of U.S. forces and honing interoperability with NATO Allies and partners. (U.S. Army photo by Chad Menegay)

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Sauber needs more upgrades says Bottas

Sauber needs to bring "more" and "bigger" upgrades to the next Formula 1 races, according to Valtteri Bottas.

Valtteri Bottas, Canadian GP 2024

 Sauber

The Finn appears to have basically accepted that he will not be included in the driver lineup from 2025, with Nico Hulkenberg already signed up and team figures pushing hard for Carlos Sainz to accept a long and lucrative offer.

In the meantime, as the Swiss team prepares for its future as Audi's works team, the existing setup appears to be almost stagnant and floundering - and is now the only outfit on the 2024 grid yet to score a single point.

There is no improvement in sight, agrees veteran F1 journalist Roger Benoit, who covers Sauber's progress in detail for the Swiss newspaper Blick.

The C44 is by far the slowest car in the circus, he added. The many upgrades don't really help at all - or the rivals' developments are simply better.

Indeed, during Sunday's Canadian GP, the laptimes were so slow that both Bottas and Guanyu Zhou underwent mid-race rear wing setup changes.

It was right that we tried something, Bottas is quoted by the Finnish broadcaster MTV. "We got a little more grip.

But the car needs more pace. Upgrade packages are needed, the 34-year-old added.

The team has some plans, but we need bigger upgrade packages. And more of them. That is the key now, he said.

100 percent Audi-owned Sauber, however, appears more focused on the future. The team has now announced that former Red Bull and McLaren engineer Stefano Sordo has signed up as the team builds up to Audi F1 entry in 2026 .

With the different array of roles he played in the past, he is perfectly placed to analyse the strengths and weaknesses of our technical operations, and address what is required, said Sauber CEO Andreas Seidl.

(GMM)
Villeneuve slams Ricciardo for getting personal

Jacques Villeneuve has hit back at embattled F1 veteran Daniel Ricciardo getting "personal" in Montreal last weekend.

Daniel Ricciardo, Canadian GP 2024

 Red Bull

The 1997 world champion suggested the Australian, who appears unlikely to remain part of the Red Bull family beyond 2024, had survived in F1 for the past several years mainly due to his image rather than his results or pace.

Ricciardo's reaction was scathing, wondering if the Canadian had hit his head too many times and telling Villeneuve to eat sh*t .

He went a bit personal in his reaction, Villeneuve is quoted as saying by the Finnish broadcaster MTV. "When you're criticised you need to have a thick skin but modern drivers are role models.

When you're at the top, like all 20 of them here, you have to behave professionally, the 53-year-old added.

"Young people and children listen when the drivers talk. So you can't get personal.

I clearly got under his skin, and I got him out of his funk. But it's not enough, Villeneuve suggested.

(GMM)
Massara 913 Broadway, nr. E. 21st St. If Pasta Fredda Was Eaten in Amalfi. Photo: Alex Staniloff

If youve ever tried and failed to get a reservation at Rezdora, the 60-seat Flatiron room that specializes in intricate, prosciutto-filled pastas from Modena, help is on the way. Around the corner, on Broadway, chef Stefano Secchi and partner David Switzer are opening Massara  a cavernous, two-story restaurant dedicated to the cooking traditions of Campania and all of its fire, smoke, and fish.

Secchi describes the 105-seat space as a sort of contemporary farmhouse in New York City. The restaurant centers around an open kitchen that features an Acunto pizza oven from Naples, set into a wall of glossy dark-teal tile  a notable upgrade from the Unox combi oven at Rezdora. It also features a custom-built wood-burning grill, which will be used for steaks, contorni like zucchini and eggplant, and to blister reverse-butterflied branzino.

In the beginning at Rezdora, the idea was to have a wood-burning grill, Secchi says. We couldnt afford it. One Michelin star and a few hyperbolic reviews later, they apparently can now  Tony Shalhoub is among the investors  and Secchi has the chance to celebrate the grilled fish he grew up eating while visiting Campania with his family as a kid.

The chef also wanted Massara to be a restaurant where he could use the pizza starter thats been in his family for 35 years. Weve always been practicing over the past two years to try to do something really delicious with it, he tells me. This has culminated in a menu of dainty, saucer-size pizzette and a two-hour pizza-tasting menu.

Yes, there will be pasta, too, but dont get your hopes up about tortellini, pici, or agnolotti. We would never put agnolotti on there because thats a pasta from Piedmont, Secchi explains. Even though agnolotti is, like, one of the most satisfying pastas ever. Instead, Massara will serve dishes like the Cheesemakers Raviolini, which are filled with smoked buffalo mozzarella and layered with passatas from two types of tomato.

At Rezdora, Secchi says, people were always asking why there wasnt more tomato sauce on the menu: Why is it always prosciutto and mortadella? And what about more seafood? Those diners had clearly not spent much time in Emilia-Romagna, the farm- and pasture-heavy region to which Rezdoras menu was dedicated. Now, those same diners will find all the datterini, San Marzanos, langoustines, and scallops they could hope for.

Theres also a subsection of the menu dedicated to pastas imported from Gragnano, a municipality known for its 48-hour, low-heat pasta-drying technique. In a city thats quickly filling up with coastal Italian restaurants, Massara may be the only one gutsy enough to serve a $32 cold pasta with red shrimp (the dishs official name is If Pasta Fredda Was Eaten in Amalfi).

Like the agnolotti, Secchi and Switzer are drawing a line in the sand (or the volcanic soil, to be geologically precise) about only serving wines from southern regions like Sardinia and Sicily. We dont allow Champagne inside, which would give us massive check averages, right? says Switzer, who finds the regional limitation to be among the most exciting parts of opening Massara. Switzer sees a lot of New York restaurants highlighting the hits of Italy, while the stricter regional approach means identifying some of the deep tracks of Campania.

More than anything, Switzer and Secchi seem relieved to be opening a bigger restaurant. In the first eight months of Rezdora being open, Rene Redzepi reached out about coming to dine with a group of 12 people  but the largest table in the restaurant only fits five. One of the greatest chefs in the world, right? Secchi recalls. And we could only ever fit five people, tops, in a party.

If Rezdora, a room full of two-tops, is one of Flatirons favorite date spots, Massara has the potential to become one of the neighborhoods expense-account destinations. With multiple dining rooms and two bars spread out across two stories, its big enough to section off spaces for private parties without interrupting dinner service in the rest of the restaurant. The best view into the pizza oven is from an eight-person table that juts out from the open kitchen.

More space means more customers and flexibility, but it also opens the door for more ambitious food. Soon, for $50 per person, a table full of diners will be able to pre-order a goat prepared four different ways: braised, roasted, grilled, and in cannelloni. We never had the space in Rezdora to do something like that, says Secchi, whos still researching a consistent whole-goat supplier and thinking about ways to use each part. But in the meantime, hes happy to imagine his guests conversations the morning after: The next day youll be like, Oh man, we went to Massara last night and we did the goat dinner, and it was epic.
Just as planned, today HTC has made the U24 Pro official. The phone comes with a 6.8-inch 1080x2436 OLED touchscreen with 120 Hz refresh rate and an unknown type of Gorilla Glass on top, the Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 SoC at the helm, 12GB of RAM, and 256GB of expandable storage.

It runs Android 14 and has an IP67 rating for dust and water resistance. It has a 50 MP main camera with OIS and f/1.88 aperture, an 8 MP f/2.2 ultrawide, a 50 MP f/2 2x optical zoom telephoto, and a 50 MP f/2.45 front-facing camera with autofocus.

The handset measures 167.1 x 74.9 x 8.98 mm and weighs 198.7g. It has a 4,600 mAh battery with support for 60W wired and 15W wireless charging, as well as 5W reverse wireless charging. There's a 3.5mm headphone jack too, and even a two-color notification LED on the front (remember those?).

The U24 Pro is priced at 564 in the EU, which doesn't make it an easy sell for sure considering all the competition from various Chinese brands in the space. Still, it's an interesting device and it's good to see HTC is still alive in the smartphone space.
Google is pushing its latest Pixel Feature Drop for its device portfolio. The update brings a few big additions including Gemini Nano for Pixel 8 and Pixel 8a, Car Crash Detection for Pixel Watch 2 and a bevy of Google Home features for Pixel Tablet.

All three Pixel 8 series phones get added big-screen display support which allows you to plug your phone to a monitor via USB-C to enjoy your media on a larger screen. Googles Find My Device will now help you locate your Pixel phone even if your device is out of battery. Pixel phone cameras can now automatically identify your best moment photo in HDR+ mode. Users can also quickly look up unrecognized phone numbers from the call log.

Pixel phones Gemini Nano for Pixel 8 and Pixel 8a

Improved transcripts

Big screen display support

Find My Device upgrade

Better camera features

Quick phone number lookup

Pixel Watch Car Crash Detection for Pixel Watch 2

Improved Fall Detection

Easier payments with PayPal

Enhanced Google Home app

Pixel Tablet Richer doorbell notifications

New Google Home Favorites widget

Quick access to smart home devices

Pixel Watch 2 gets car crash detection and PayPal support for contactless payments. Google is also expanding Google Home app support with controls for smart home devices. Pixel Tablet gets richer doorbell notifications, Google Home favorites widgets, and quick access to smart home devices.

Source
Microsoft has redoubled its efforts to push Windows-on-ARM into the mainstream with the recent string of Snapdragon X laptops from Microsoft itself, Samsung, Dell, HP and Lenovo. But the company wants to offer more diverse options for manufacturers  Reuters reports that Microsoft has tapped MediaTek to design an alternative chipset.

The chip will be based on the standard library of ARM cores, which will speed up development (the Snapdragon X uses Qualcomm-designed CPU and GPU). Its not clear whether the MediaTek design aims to qualify for the Copilot+ program, which requires at least 40 TOPS of on-device AI compute power.

We wont see the MediaTek chip for Windows until late next year and not entirely because of development time. Insiders say that the timing depends on an exclusivity deal that Qualcomm has with Microsoft, which doesnt expire until 2025.

MediaTek already makes chips for Chromebooks (branded Kompanio), which could serve as a basis for the Windows design.

As mentioned, MediaTeks chip will use standard parts from ARM, so Cortex CPU cores and Mali/Immortalis GPUs. MediaTek is also assisting Nvidia with bringing an ARM-based chip for Windows to market. However, these two are separate projects, say insiders.

Additionally, last year, Reuters reported that AMD is also working on an ARM-based chip for Windows. Presumably, this will use Radeon GPU tech, similar to the one currently used in Exynos chips (though the collaboration with Samsung is ending).

Source
Guam's first line of defense against imports that are not supposed to be brought into the island got to hone their skills and knowledge recently, to better serve the community.

Officers across the Guam Customs and Quarantine Agency completed the U.S. Department of Agricultures Agricultural Commodity Import Requirements, ACIR, training from May through early June, according to a press release from the local agency.

Guam Customs officers enforce both local and federal laws and regulations, which include those governing the importation of safe agricultural products into Guam.

The ACIR provides guidance specific to plants and plant products, wood products and byproducts, soil and soil constituents, rocks, treatments, and pest organisms.

The training both formalized and reinforced officers knowledge base crucial to making compliant determinations and dispositions when screening such commodities for entry into Guam.

The two-day training sessions also provided officers with a refresher on federal import permits and use of the Veterinarian Services Permitting Assistant.

With Guam being a small island community with precious, yet limited, natural resources, we are vulnerable to the biosecurity threats of pests, invasive species, plant and animal diseases, and even communicable diseases harbored by certain agricultural commodities, Customs and Quarantine Director Ike Peredo said in a statement.

Peredo said completion of this training reaffirms the officers capability and readiness to identify and manage such harms met at the borders, and the agency's commitment to the safety and healthy quality of life of Guams people and visitors.

"Wed like to thank the USDA for their continued support and partnership in this responsibility of ours," he added.

The agricultural importation guidelines for Guam can be viewed in the ACIR manual at https://acir.aphis.usda.gov/s/.

Members of the community are highly encouraged to report smuggling, which includes that of agricultural products, by calling (671) 642-8071/2.

Customs and quarantine officers screen passengers, cargo, and conveyances at Guams borders and ports of entry to interdict drugs, contraband, criminals, and biosecurity threats in their legitimate facilitation of trade, commerce, and travel.
Plans from the Guam Environmental Protection Agency to address a potentially harmful chemical thats been popping up in Guam water are now open for public comment.

A draft risk assessment that Guam EPA prepared would require public water system operators to monitor for the chemical dieldrin at least four times a year, and notify members of the public when concentrations of the chemical exceed a certain level.

Residents can provide comments up until Aug. 14.

A public hearing will be hosted at 3 p.m. on June 24 at the Guam EPA headquarters.

For more information, go to epa.guam.gov/dieldrin.

Email written testimony to: julie.mendoza@epa.guam.gov

The long discontinued product is unregulated by the U.S. EPA, but long-term exposure to the chemical has been associated with cancer, while shorter term exposure to high levels can lead to liver damage and impacts the nervous system.

Guam EPA since last year has been tracking concentrations of dieldrin in local water wells. The chemical was used widely as an insecticide in the U.S. from the 1950s through the 1980s before it was banned.

According to a notice from the agency, concentrations of dieldrin up to 1.9 parts per billion have been identified in Guam wells.

Long-term consumption of water with over 0.2 parts per billion of dieldrin has unacceptable risk of developing cancer, according to the draft risk assessment that Guam EPA prepared.

The U.S. EPA identified the presence of the chemical in water quality data for three Guam Waterworks Authority wells dating back to 2011, the Pacific Daily News reported.

Exceeding the advisory limit would not qualify as a violation, under the proposed interim action level from Guam EPA.

If finalized, all public water system operators would monitor for the chemical at all entry points on a quarterly basis.

When dieldrin levels are detected over 0.2 parts per billion, customers will have to be notified within 30 days and the public water system must issue an advisory telling customers not to drink the water without treating it first, according to the draft risk assessment.

If dieldrin levels exceed 0.5 parts per billion , the level where short-term exposure may start to affect the liver and nervous system, customers will have to be notified within 24 hours.

In both cases, customers will have to be advised not to drink or cook with any untreated water.

If a treatment system has not yet been installed by your Public Water System, Guam EPA recommends that you obtain water for drinking and cooking from a Department of Public Health and Social Services (DPHSS)-approved drinking water vendor, the draft document states.

It also advises residents to install a device in their home that uses granular activated carbon to treat their water. Such a device should be attached to a faucet or spigot in a home.

GWA leadership has announced that plans to clean up forever chemicals found in several Guam water wells will also treat dieldrin found in the water.

GWA isnt the only water system operator on Guam, as military run systems and private systems are also regulated by Guam EPA.
Ron McNinch is a longstanding member of the Guam community and frequently gives his opinion on a wide range of topics.
What is Juneteenth?

Juneteenth, celebrated annually on June 19, is a national holiday that celebrates the emancipation of enslaved people in the United States. Although the holiday was only federally recognized in 2021, African Americans have celebrated the date for over 150 years.

In 1863, the Emancipation Proclamation signed by President Abraham Lincoln declared that all enslaved people shall be then, thenceforward, and forever free.

In Texas, however, slavery continued without the presence of Union troops. It wasnt until two years later, on June 19, 1865, that Union soldiers arrived in Galveston Bay with news of freedom.

The date is now recognized as Americas second Independence Day.

What to do in New Orleans on June 19:

New Orleans Juneteenth festival

When: Wednesday, June 19, 12-6 p.m.

Where: Congo Square, 701 N. Rampart St., New Orleans.

This daytime festival celebrates Black history and culture in Congo Square, a historically significant area of Louis Armstrong Park where enslaved and free people of color once gathered in the 1800s.

The festival will feature a second-line parade kickoff at 12 p.m. with the New Groove Brass Band, and performances by Anjelika Jelly Joseph, Flagboy Giz and more.

Visit the Whitney Plantation

When: Open 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m., with last entry at 3 p.m. Closed Tuesdays.

Where: 5099 LA-18, Edgard.

Located about an hour outside of New Orleans, the Whitney Plantation makes for a valuable and somber experience.

As the only plantation museum in Louisiana with a direct focus on slavery, the tour is told from the perspective of enslaved Africans who lived on the grounds. Guided tours are available for $30 for adults, $14 for children, while self-guided tours are available for $23 for adults and $10 for children.

Plan your visit here.

Attend Music of A Movement: A Symphonic Anthology

When: Wednesday, June 19, 8 p.m.

Where: Mahalia Jackson Theater for the Performing Arts, 1419 Basin St., New Orleans.

This musical tribute, featuring Deepa Soul & The Love Soul Orchestra alongside the Louisiana Philharmonic, is an anthology dedicated to masterpieces composed, written, or made famous by Black People. Tickets are available for $37.50, including fees.

Shop Black-owned businesses in the Treme neighborhood

When: All day.

Where: Treme, New Orleans.

As the oldest African American neighborhood in the United States, Treme is known for its soul food restaurants, jazz clubs and distinctive New Orleans architecture.

While you explore the area, enjoy mouthwatering Ethiopian food at Addis NOLA, Cajun dishes from Nonnos Cajun Cuisine and Pastries or soul food classics from Dooky Chase.

Afterwards, grab a drink from Kermits Treme Mother-in-Law Lounge, a colorful live music venue and shrine to New Orleans musical history.

Take a tour of the Free People of Color Museum

When: Wednesday June 19, 6 p.m. All tours are available by appointment only.

Where: 2336 Esplanade Ave., New Orleans.

Le Musee de f.p.c. is the only museum in the United States dedicated to preserving the history of free people of color. Located in a restored antebellum mansion, the museum contains artwork and artifacts commemorating lives of free Black artists, journalists and entrepreneurs in New Orleans.

On June 19, a moonlight tour of the museum is available at 6 p.m. for $38.50.
After two separate shark attacks along Floridas Panhandle on Friday resulted in three injuries, including two victims who were seriously wounded, many are now asking: How safe are Floridas waters from sharks?

The iconic movie Jaws forever etched the image of the great white shark as the ultimate ocean predator. And while great white sharks are not as common in Florida as other shark species, in March, CBS10 Tampa Bay reported that data from OCEARCH found five great white sharks had pinged off the coast of Florida within the month.

Often portrayed as a relentless hunter, the great white is responsible for the highest number of recorded shark attacks on humans, but despite this fearsome reputation, their bites are rarely fatal to people.

The recent attacks occurred June 7 about 4 miles apart within a span of 90 minutes along Walton Countys beaches, located on Floridas Panhandle, between Miramar Beach and Panama City Beach.

The first attack happened around 1:20 p.m. in the area of Founders Lane and WaterSound Beach, when Elisabeth Foley, 45, of Virginia, required amputation of her lower left arm and suffered severe injuries to her midsection.

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, when two teenage friends on vacation from Alabama were injured. McCray Faust, 16, suffered minor injuries to her foot, but Lulu Gribbin, 15, whose hand was bitten off by the shark, also had her right leg amputated to the middle of her thigh.

In a post to Caring Bridge, Lulus mother Ann Blair Gribbin said her daughter told her that she and six friends were out by the first sand bar, in waist high water, looking for sand dollars, adding, 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.

During a news conference Friday, 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.

What type of shark was involved and why did it attack?

As the director of the Florida Program for Shark Research at the University of Florida, Gavin Naylor told GulfLive.com that though the attacks occurred in close proximity, he does not think the same shark was involved in both incidents. While he cant be sure of the exact species, he believes the first incident was very likely a bull shark and the second probably a tiger shark.

As for what prompted the most recent attacks, Naylor said the sharks were closer to shore than they usually are.

This is likely because the baitfish upon which they feed are closer in, which, in turn, is due to environmental conditions, Naylor said. The plankton upon which the baitfish feed is closer in, and on hot days there are a lot of people in the water.

What types of sharks are most common in Florida?

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission said many shark species are common in Floridas nearshore waters and bays, with more than 13 species of shark that use these areas as nursery grounds for their pups.

Further, they say, most shark bites are cases of mistaken identity  with nearly all shark bites that occur in Florida being of a bite and release nature.

According to Naylor, the most common types of sharks found in Florida include the Atlantic sharpnose shark, the bonnethead shark, the blacktip shark, the spinner shark, the sandbar shark, the bull shark, the tiger shark, the lemon shark and the finetooth shark.

Find out more about the nine most common sharks in Florida.
Many people were left questioning the safety of Floridas waters following two separate shark attacks along Floridas Panhandle on Friday  so, how safe is it?

According to the International Shark Attack File, the odds of being killed by a shark are 1-in-4,332,817 which, when compared to the 1-in-5 odds of dying from heart disease, demonstrates the fact that fatalities from shark attacks are exceedingly rare.

And officials note that the most recent attacks, which occurred June 7 about 4 miles apart within a span of 90 minutes along Walton Countys beaches, were also very rare.

But the victims injuries were serious. One female victim required the amputation of her lower left arm and suffered severe injuries to her midsection. Another victims hand was bitten off by the shark, and she also was forced to have her right leg amputated to the middle of her thigh.

Many swimmers and beachgoers might be understandably concerned about encountering these predators but knowing the types of sharks commonly found in Floridas waters can help increase awareness.

GulfLive.com recently spoke to Gavin Naylor, the director of the Florida Program for Shark Research at the University of Florida, who shared a rundown of the nine most common sharks found in Florida.

Atlantic sharpnose shark

The sharpnose is also known as the Newfoundland shark and the white sharkTeacher at Sea, NOAA Fisheries

Even fully grown, the Atlantic sharpnose is typically on the smaller end of the shark spectrum, growing between 2 and 3 feet long. They have a life span of about nine years and a streamlined body with a long, pointy snout, which they are named for.

Where theyre found: The Gulf of Mexico and the Florida Keys. As winter approaches, these sharks move offshore into deeper water, returning inshore to mate and give birth in spring.

Threat level: Moderate. Their habitat does tend to be close to humans; however, most bites inflicted by this shark are nonfatal and not serious.

Bonnethead shark

The head of a bonnethead shark is shaped like a shovel.Photo courtesy Virginia Institute of Marine Science

As the smallest member of the hammerhead family, these sharks can reach a length about 4 feet and have a life span of about 12 years.

Where theyre found: Often seen in the waters off Pigeon Key, the bonnethead shark is common all along the shallow sand and mud flats of Floridas coast. They are most abundant near the shoreline in warmer weather, moving into deeper coastal waters during the colder months.

Threat level: These sharks are typically harmless to humans.

Blacktip shark

A blacktip shark, Carcharhinus limbatus, is shown in the Mediterranean Sea. (Auscape | Universal Images Group via Getty Images)Universal Images Group via Getty

Reaching a length of just over 6 feet, according to the International Shark Attack File, blacktip sharks have historically been responsible for 29 unprovoked attacks (with one fatality) on humans around the world  including Florida.

Where theyre found: The Gulf of Mexico. Most often found in warm, shallow, coastal waters and estuaries, as opposed to the deep open ocean. They migrate from the north to Florida in January and often remain here through April.

Threat level: Most incidents result in relatively minor wounds, but they are responsible for roughly 20% of the attacks that occur in Florida waters, often striking surfers.

Spinner shark

A spinner shark jumps out of the water during a Florida Keys fishing trip on May, 2005, in Islamorada, Florida. (Ronald C. Modra | Getty Images)Getty Images

Known for its distinctive ability to perform aerial spins, adult spinner sharks are usually between 6 and 9 feet in length.

Where theyre found: Off the Florida and Louisiana coasts and in the Gulf of Mexico. Spinner sharks often move inshore during the spring and summer months to reproduce and feed.

Threat level: Spinner sharks are occasionally involved in shark bites on humans. According to the International Shark Attack File, the spinner shark has been responsible for 16 unprovoked attacks on humans, none of which have been fatal. With teeth made for seizing small prey, their bites usually result in relatively minor injuries.

Sandbar shark

A group of divers swim with a sandbar shark off Jupiter, Florida, on Feb. 24, 2024. Florida is the place in the world with the most shark attacks in 2023. The news might make you rethink those well-deserved vacations on the state's beaches; but experts have a message for you: These animals are not the sea monsters you imagine. Last year, 16 of 69 unprovoked shark attacks were reported in Florida, 23% of the overall number, according to a report released this month by the University of Florida. (Jesus Olarte | AFP via Getty Images)AFP via Getty Images

The sandbar shark grows to about 6 feet in length and typically weighs between 110 and 150 pounds as an adult.

Where theyre found: True to their name, this shark prefers the sandy bottoms of coastal areas. They are commonly found in Floridas Atlantic and Gulf coasts from May to August.

Threat level: According to Florida Museum, because these sharks prefer smaller prey and have a tendency to avoid beaches, they pose little threat to humans.

Bull shark

A bull shark swims around tourists, coming up close to inspect them, during an eco tourism shark dive off Jupiter, Florida on May 5, 2022. (Joseph Prezioso | Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

Considered an apex predator, the bull shark is at the top of a food chain, without any natural predators of its own. With a maximum size of 11 feet in length, they have a life span of about 24 years.

Where theyre found: Bull sharks are found in both nearshore and offshore waters of the Gulf and the Atlantic coasts of Florida. Its also one of the few shark species that may inhabit freshwater.

Threat level: One of the more dangerous shark species, accounting for the third-highest number of attacks on humans.

Tiger shark

A tiger shark, Galeocerdo cuvier, is shown off Tiger Beach in the Bahamas. (Andre Seale | VW PICS/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)VW Pics/Universal Images Group v

Tiger sharks can reach a maximum size of about 18 feet  and a weight of 2,000 pounds. They have a life span of about 16 years.

Where theyre found: They are found in a variety of habitats, including river mouths, shallow bays and the open ocean. Tiger sharks are most plentiful in Florida from December through July.

Threat level: Tiger sharks are second only to the great white shark in the number of attacks on humans worldwide.

Lemon shark

Lemon sharks swim close to a group of divers off Jupiter, Florida, on Feb. 24, 2024. Florida is the place in the world with the most shark attacks in 2023. (Jesus Olarte | AFP via Getty Images)AFP via Getty Images

The lemon shark can reach between 8 and 10 feet in length and has a life span of around 27 years.

Where theyre found: They flourish in the estuarine and nearshore waters of the Gulf and Atlantic coasts of Florida and migrate south into deeper waters in the winter months.

Threat level: For the most part, they are considered shy and docile, but according to the International Shark Attack File, there have been 10 unprovoked attacks by lemon sharks, all of which occurred in Florida and the Caribbean. None were fatal.

Finetooth shark

A Finetooth shark is shown. (Brenda Bowling | Courtesy Texas Parks and Wildlife Department)Photo courtesy of Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (Brenda Bowling))

Finetooth sharks reach a maximum length of about 5 to 6 feet and have a life span of about 14 years.

Where theyre found: Finetooth sharks spend the winter months in the waters off the coast of Florida and favor coastal waters, bays and estuarine waters. They are commonly seen over mud and sand flats during summer months and move into deeper coastal waters during the colder months.

Threat level: This shark poses little threat to humans and has never been reported in a shark bite case.




Haiti - Diplomacy : Strengthening bilateral relations with the Dominican Rep.





Tuesday, June 11, 2024, Presidential Advisors Smith Augustin and Leslie Voltaire, participated in a breakfast offered in their honor by the Ambassador of the Dominican Republic to Haiti, Faruk Miguel.



This breakfast, which took place in a warm and constructive atmosphere, aimed to revitalize and strengthen bilateral relations between the two Nations of the island.



During this meeting, discussions focused on various topics of common interest.



Both sides expressed their willingness to collaborate closely in key areas such as trade, education, border security and culture. Concrete initiatives were also considered to promote mutually beneficial development and strengthened cooperation.



For his part, Ambassador Miguel reiterated his country's commitment to working in partnership with Haiti to address common challenges and jointly seize growth opportunities.



This meeting marks a significant step in the consolidation of existing diplomatic relations, paving the way for a promising future for both Haiti and the Dominican Republic.



S/ HaitiLibre






















Haiti - News : Zapping...





Government : Installation ceremony

This Wednesday, June 12, 2024 at 10:30 a.m. at the Villa d'Aceuil, the installation ceremony of Prime Minister Garry Conille will take place. The ministerial cabinet would also be installed that same day according to a member of the Presidential Transitional Council (CPT)



Festivities for the 29th anniversary of the PNH canceled

Frantz Elbe Managing Director a.i. of the National Police of Haiti (PNH) announces that the festivities to commemorate the 29 years of the police institution this Wednesday, June 12, are canceled, due to the tragic death of 3 members of the UTAG in an ambush https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-42528-haiti-insecurity-3-utag-agents-killed-official-version-of-the-pnh-+video-from-pm.html . The Institution will take advantage of this day to gather, reflect and meditate. The High Command will place a wreath of flowers at the foot of the stele to honor the memory of all the missing police officers.



Cap-Haitien : Seizure of ammunition

Tuesday June 11, 2024, the inspection of a container coming from the United States allowed customs officers to proceed on Tuesday June 11, 2024 to the seizure of 10 9 mm magazines, 157 cartridges including 100 of 9 mm caliber, 50 of 38 and 7 of 12 gauge.



Distribution of non-food items in 6 sites

Some 11,000 displaced people, living in 6 sites, received tarpaulins to improve their living conditions in the shelters and protect them from the natural elements. Families residing in these sites also benefited from the distribution of non-food items such as : blankets, jerry cans, cooking kits and solar lamps through the International Organization for Migration (IOM).



Acute and severe malnutrition affects children

From June 1st to 7, WFP allocated more than $1 million as part of its social protection and resilience activities to approximately 65,000 people across the country. During this period. Health teams screened 2,593 children under five for acute malnutrition; 140 children suffering from severe acute malnutrition were treated in health centers and mobile clinics.



Anti-Corruption : Call for strengthening international cooperation

At the 15th session of the Implementation Review Group of the United Nations Convention against Corruption and the 18th session of the Working Group on Asset Recovery, held in Austria from June 10 to 14, 2024. Jacques Ludwig Joseph Director General of the Anti-Corruption Unit (ULCC) LCC in his intervention launched a call for the strengthening of international cooperation in the fight against corruption.



HL/ HaitiLibre


















(CNBC) The billionaire activist investor Ryan Cohen won the dismissal on Tuesday of a shareholder lawsuit accusing him of profitably cashing out of Bed Bath & Beyond shares too quickly as the home goods retailer was hurtling toward bankruptcy.

To read this article:
The criteria are based primarily on the average age of trees and amount of decayed wood in the forest.

THE GOVERNMENT of Prime Minister Petteri Orpo (NCP) on Tuesday confirmed it intends to adopt markedly strict criteria for defining old forests as part of its effort to comply with the biodiversity strategy of the European Union.

Under the proposal unveiled on Tuesday, the age criterion will be set to 140 years for coniferous forests and 100 years for deciduous forests in the southern and middle boreal zones, and to 160200 years for coniferous forests and 140 years for deciduous forests in the northern boreal zone.

Forests dominated by spruces or deciduous trees in the southern boreal zone will also be required to have 50 cubic metres of decayed wood per hectare to qualify for protection as old forests. The requirement drops to 40 cubic metres in the middle boreal zone and to 2030 cubic metres in the northern boreal zone.

Pine forests in the southern boreal zone, in turn, will also be required to have 40 cubic metres of decayed wood per hectare to qualify, with the requirement dropping to 30 cubic metres in the middle boreal zone and to 1020 cubic metres in the northern boreal zone.

The public comment period for the proposal will end on 24 July.

The EU Biodiversity Strategy obligates member states to protect their old and natural forests but provides them with substantial leeway in defining old forests.

The Finnish government chose between two sets of criteria, one devised by the Ministry of the Environment and one by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry. The former was founded more firmly on the recommendations of scientists and would have defined more forests as old forests, whereas the latter laid out extremely strict criteria for the average age and amount of decayed wood.

It chose the latter.

Minister of the Environment and Climate Kai Mykkanen (NCP) on Tuesday justified the decision by pointing out that the criteria will apply not only to state-owned forests, but also to privately owned forests.

The criteria will apply to 600,000 forest owners. Were talking about property protection, he said at a news conference.

Minister of Agriculture and Forestry Sari Essayah (CD) cited concerns about so-called gray protection  namely, situations where forest owners would be unable to sell forests that possibly meet the criteria. She admitted, though, that no estimates have been compiled of the amount of such privately owned forests.

Of course we havent done impact assessments because we havent even had the criteria. Thats why this inventory is now being produced, she retorted.

Opposition lawmakers and environmental organisations levelled scathing criticism at the decision, highlighting that it will preclude from protection effectively all forests south of Lapland.

Unless the proposal is amended, the governments protection efforts will be nothing but a scam, Touko Sipilainen, programme manager at Greenpeace Nordic in Finland, slammed in a statement signed also by WWF Finland and the Finnish Association for Nature Conservation (SLL).

The environmental organisations argued that the proposal will result in the continuing decline of natural forests in Finland.

Whats historical [about the governments decision] is how it skirts responsibility, said Hanna Halmenpaa, the chairperson of SLL.

Jenni Pitko (Greens), the chairperson of the Parliaments Environment Committee, stated to YLE on Tuesday that the proposal is as bad as feared, with no basis whatsoever on science.

Its looking like we arent getting the kind of science-based criteria thatd guarantee that all our remaining natural forests are protected, she lamented in an interview with the public broadcasting company.

Biodiversity loss will continue, echoed Janne Kotiaho, the chairperson of the Finnish Nature Panel. This decision doesnt deliver anything for nature. It wont put a stop to the degradation of nature.

Maria Ohisalo and Krista Mikkonen of the Green League, both predecessors of Mykkanen, viewed that the government ignored science with its decision.

The government shouldve put together genuinely science-based criteria, but that isnt what they did, Ohisalo said to Helsingin Sanomat on Tuesday. These [criteria] arent based on ecological data, but priority was placed on other considerations, added Mikkonen.

Mai Kivela (LA), a member of the Parliaments Environment Committee, accused Mykkanen for failing to stand up for nature in a way that is required from the minister of the environment.

The proposal for nature conservation measures unveiled yesterday by the government consists of the criteria for defining old forests and supplementary protection of state-owned forests. Pinja Perholehto (SDP) stated to Helsingin Sanomat that she is disappointed with both elements of the proposal, but especially with the supplementary protection.

This section on supplementary protection in old state-owned forests may be an even bigger flop than these criteria, she said.

Although the government assigned 31,000 hectares of state-owned forests for protection, 1,000 hectares more than its predecessor, the decision was met with dismay by opposition lawmakers for two reasons: First, the forests are located nearly exclusively in Northern Finland and Lapland, despite the greatest need for protection being in Southern Finland. Second, the forests are mostly located within the ecological network of Metsahallitus, meaning commercial their use is already prohibited.

The protection decisions are now focused on Northern Finland, not to mention primarily in areas that are already outside commercial use or that are scrublands or wastelands. This decision wont stop biodiversity loss in forests, said Mikkonen.

The environmental organisations estimated in their joint statement that the supplementary protection decision does not necessarily result in any increase in protected land area.

Minister of the Environment and Climate Mykkanen on Tuesday reminded that protecting state-owned forests has proven difficult for all governments, including the one led by Prime Minister Sanna Marin (SDP).

Ohisalo and Mikkonen responded to the observation by drawing attention to other protection efforts by the previous government, such as raising funding for Metso Programme and launching Helmi Habitats Programme and My Nature Gift.

Perholehto admitted that also the previous government failed to put a stop to biodiversity loss in forests.

Its fair to say we didnt do everything we shouldve done. Protection efforts have to continue this electoral term and in the next electoral term, she underscored.

Aleksi Teivainen  HT
Approximately half of the adult immigrant population in Finland's capital region has moved to the country for work or study purposes, or as the spouse of someone who did. This trend significantly influences their integration and living conditions, according to the recent MoniSuomi 2022 study.

The MoniSuomi 2022 research, which utilized extensive survey and interview data, has provided the first comprehensive insight into the primary reasons why immigrants have moved to the Helsinki metropolitan area.

About one-quarter of these immigrants came for employment, slightly more than one-tenth for education, and nearly one-tenth as the spouse of a worker or student. Refugees and their family members constitute around one-fifth of the immigrant population. Other reasons for moving include a wide range of life circumstances, such as marrying someone of Finnish descent.

The MoniSuomi 2022 study reveals that those who migrated for work have the most favorable employment outcomes, evident not only in their employment rates but also in the quality of their jobs. Proficiency in Finnish or Swedish is crucial for securing employment, yet many have managed to find jobs without knowing either language.

Across all immigrant groups, men have better employment prospects than women, with the largest gender disparity seen among refugees. Refugees also face more frequent challenges in various aspects of life compared to other groups.

A significant number of employed immigrants secured their jobs through social connections and networks or direct contact with employers. However, many believe that the lack of relationships with the native population has hindered their employment opportunities.

Many immigrants in the capital region suffer from a lack of friends or the experience of loneliness. Discrimination is unfortunately common, occurring not only in public places but also in the workplace.

The MoniSuomi 2022 study, conducted by THL with funding from the cities of Helsinki, Espoo, Vantaa, and Turku, as well as the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, focused on foreign-born residents aged 2074. It examined living conditions, life situations, health, well-being, and service experiences. Data collection took place from September 2022 to March 2023 through online forms, paper questionnaires, and telephone interviews.

This research underscores the need for ongoing efforts to understand the perceptions and experiences of immigrants in Finland, ensuring that policies and support systems effectively address their unique challenges and needs.

HT
"This law significantly weakens protections against forced returns and the right to seek asylum in Finland. It risks becoming a green light for violence and pushbacks at the border," Geddie stated.

Amnesty International has raised strong concerns over the Finnish government's proposed emergency law targeting the "instrumentalization" of asylum seekers. Eve Geddie , Director of Amnesty International's EU Office, has warned that the legislation severely undermines the principle of non-refoulement and the right to seek asylum in Finland.

The proposed law empowers authorities to limit the acceptance of asylum applications at certain border sections in "instrumentalization scenarios." It also allows the use of force to prevent entry without assessing individuals' specific circumstances, which contradicts the non-refoulement principle.

The law specifies that border guards can accept asylum applications in exceptional cases, particularly for individuals deemed vulnerable or at risk of severe human rights violations if returned. However, proper assessment requires trained personnel, adequate time, and appropriate facilities, which are unlikely to be available in brief interactions with border authorities.

Additionally, the proposed law does not provide a genuine appeal mechanism, offering only the possibility of an administrative complaint that would not halt the deportation process.

The authority granted to border guards contradicts Finland's constitution, international human rights norms, EU law, and the newly adopted EU Asylum and Migration Crisis Regulation. "We have European and international legal standards for a reason: non-refoulement must always be observed, and allegations of serious human rights violations must be thoroughly investigated before anyone can be returned," Geddie emphasized.

Pushbacks, or the illegal forced returns of individuals at borders without assessing their individual circumstances, often involve violence. Finland's proposed emergency law mirrors the dangerous precedents set by Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland since 2021, where numerous practices violating international human rights treaties have been adopted under the guise of combating "instrumentalization."

This proposal is part of a series of recent measures by the Finnish government to restrict the rights of asylum seekers and immigrants, prompted by an increase in asylum seekers from Russia last fall. Since November, Finland has progressively closed all border crossing points on the eastern border. Official reports indicate that only two people crossed the border to seek asylum between February and mid-May.

The UNHCR and other organizations have expressed concerns that Finland's actions are not compliant with EU and international law. The UN Human Rights Committee has highlighted the risks faced by asylum seekers in Russia, including punitive measures, detention, and forced returns, which violate the non-refoulement principle.

As Finland moves forward with this legislation, Amnesty International and other human rights advocates urge the government to reject measures that compromise fundamental rights and international commitments, and to maintain humane and lawful border management practices.

HT
With exceptionally warm waters this summer, the presence of blue-green algae, or cyanobacteria, in nutrient-rich bodies of water is on the rise. This algae can be fatal if ingested by pets, especially dogs and cats. Fortunately, there are simple ways to detect its presence.

This year, with lake temperatures warmer than average, sightings of this toxic algae have already been reported.

There are many species of blue-green algae, and distinguishing between toxic and non-toxic types is difficult. Therefore, it is safest to assume all blue-green algae is harmful. Toxic strains produce neurotoxins and hepatotoxins, which can severely affect the nervous system and liver.

In nutrient-rich, calm waters, cyanobacteria can rapidly grow, turning the water green and forming algal mats on the surface. The occurrence of algae blooms varies annually with weather conditions, with warm weather promoting growth.

Blue-green algae are toxic to both humans and animals. While humans generally experience mild symptoms, dogs, who often drink water while swimming, can suffer severe reactions.

Symptoms of blue-green algae poisoning in pets typically appear within an hour. These symptoms include skin irritation, vomiting, diarrhea, restlessness, weakness, balance issues, tremors, seizures, and in severe cases, internal bleeding, loss of consciousness, and death due to liver failure.

If a pet drinks water contaminated with blue-green algae, immediate veterinary attention is crucial. Vets may provide first aid instructions, such as inducing vomiting before arrival. Rinsing the pet with clean water can also help as an initial measure.

The best way to prevent blue-green algae poisoning is to check the water quality before allowing pets to swim. Local health authorities monitor water quality and provide updates on the presence of blue-green algae at public beaches and on their websites. Additionally, Finland's Environmental Institute's website, www.vesi.fi, offers information on the status of blue-green algae in various swimming locations.

For those visiting non-public beaches, it's essential to inspect the water quality before letting pets swim or drink. Avoid water that has an unusual smell or color. Always provide pets with clean drinking water to discourage them from drinking from lakes or the sea.

Visible green or yellow particles in the water can indicate small amounts of blue-green algae, which might be mistaken for pollen, especially pine pollen. Larger quantities of algae can form dense mats or turn the water green.

Before swimming, it's advisable to test the water. The easiest method is to fill a glass with water and let it sit for an hour. If green particles rise to the surface, the water contains blue-green algae. Alternatively, a stick test can be performed: lift the algae with a stick. If the algae break into particles, it is blue-green algae. If it clings to the stick, it is likely harmless filamentous algae.

By taking these precautions, pet owners can ensure the safety of their furry friends during the warm summer months.

HT
Edneyville teacher played in band that honored 80th anniversary of D-Day

Jordan Chambliss joined the band performing numerous times at the 80th anniversary of D-Day.

When Jordan Chambliss was playing the flute in the Rugby Middle School band, she had no idea that her musical path would eventually lead to a historic D-Day commemoration in Normandy, France.

Chambliss applied for and was among the musicians chosen to be a part of the D-Day 80th Anniversary Collegiate Mass Band. She traveled to France earlier this month along with other selected band members from around the nation, performing for several days during various aspects of the festivities, including the D-Day parade on June 8 and at other celebrations.

Band participants joined one of four region bands  Southeast, Northeast, Southwest, or Northwest  determined by the location of their college or university. Each regional band, led by renowned collegiate directors from across the nation, had the opportunity to perform separately, but also combined to form a mass band for designated events.

The once-in-a-lifetime experience started in Washington, D.C., with rehearsals and sightseeing before departing for the coast of France. Participants then performed for official ceremonies and parades marking the 80th anniversary of the D-Day invasion that turned the tide of World War II and liberated Europe. Her experience culminated with a stay in Paris to enjoy the sights, culture and the history that is unique to one of the worlds greatest cities.

After Rugby, Chambliss continued playing throughout high school at West Henderson, under the guidance of band director Allen Klaes, and learned to play a few more instruments, including the piccolo. She then joined the band at Western Carolina University, where she majored in elementary education. In the 2023-2024 school year, she returned to the Henderson County school system, as a fifth-grade teacher at Edneyville Elementary.

It was an honor to be able to represent HCPS, the WCU Pride of the Mountains Marching Band, and the United States alongside other talented musicians, Chambliss said. I owe this opportunity of a lifetime to joining band when I was in 6th grade at Rugby. It was the best decision I ever made, and Im so grateful for all the music teachers Ive had over the years, especially Mr. Klaes, who helped me get here. I hope other young musicians in Henderson County and around the United States can see the great things music can bring you, even with it just being a hobby.
Biden administration makes mistake to impose tariff on Chinese EVs: former U.S. envoy

Xinhua) 16:40, June 12, 2024

NEW YORK, June 11 (Xinhua) -- The Biden administration made a "big mistake" in levying high tariffs on electric vehicles (EVs) imported from China, said a former U.S. envoy on Tuesday.

Speaking at a webinar organized by KraneShares, a U.S.-based asset management firm, Terry Branstad, former U.S. ambassador to China said U.S. President Joe Biden recently announced an extraordinary tariff on Chinese EVs in a bid to address concerns about U.S. dependence on China in this regard.

"But, I really think his policy was a big mistake and I think that the Trump campaign is going to try to really focus on that," said Branstad, who was posted in China from 2017 to 2020.

"It's really important to stay in touch with the constituents and that's where I think Biden is at a disadvantage because his electric vehicle mandate is not popular with the consumers. And I think it could hurt him," said Branstad, who served as Iowa governor for six terms in total.

Biden made a "huge mistake" in focusing on and trying to mandate EVs in the United States because consumers want a choice, he said.

With access to rare minerals, China has a huge advantage and could produce EVs at a lot less cost than the United States, according to Branstad.

It's critically important to maintain business ties between China and the United States, added Branstad.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing)
Elder Justice Coordinating Council Meeting Highlighted Federal Efforts to Prevent and Respond to Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation Targeting Older Adults

At a meeting of the Elder Justice Coordinating Council on Wednesday, June 12, 17 federal agencies including the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Justice Department will look back on a decade in which the federal government has significantly expanded efforts to combat elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation  including in the areas of enforcement, public education, training, interagency collaboration, research, and support for older adults who experience or are at risk of experiencing abuse.

The Biden-Harris Administration is committed to supporting the health, well-being, and independence of older adults and to advancing equity for all Americans. Elder justice is a crucial element of both, said HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra. Today, we celebrate the progress we have made advancing elder justice. But we will not rest until every older person lives with dignity and without fear of abuse or neglect.

We know that the vast majority of elder abuse cases go unreported. And that too many victims remain unseen, said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. That is why the Department of Justice has aggressively targeted perpetrators of elder fraud and abuse, while providing victims with the support they need. In the last five years, the Department has pursued more than 1,500 criminal and civil cases involving conduct that targeted or disproportionately affected older adults. We have provided services to more than 1.5 million older victims. And we have returned hundreds of millions of dollars to elder fraud victims. The Elder Justice Coordinating Council has played a key role in our work.

We know that it will take an all-of-government approach to make our shared vision of elder justice and community inclusion a reality, and in the last decade, the federal response to elder abuse has become more robust and coordinated, said Alison Barkoff, who leads the Administration for Community Living. "It is incredible to reflect on the progress we have made in the years since the EJCC first convened. We have a lot of progress to build upon and so many opportunities to do more. The work of advancing elder justice has never been more important, or more urgent.

The EJCC was established by the 2010 Elder Justice Act to coordinate federal activities related to elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation across the federal government. Todays meeting looked back on accomplishments in the decade since the EJCC adopted Eight Recommendations for Increased Federal Involvement in Addressing Elder Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation as a common set of priorities to guide federal efforts. Highlights include:

HHS Administration for Community Living awarded the first-ever federal formula grants to support state adult protective services (APS) programs and established the first-ever federal regulations to improve quality and consistency of APS services. Until recently, APS programs had been funded and administered wholly at the state or local level.

The Justice Department expanded its critical efforts to identify and combat transnational elder fraud schemes and, over just the past five years, has pursued over 1,500 criminal and civil cases involving conduct that targeted or disproportionately affected older Americans. It also significantly enhanced the capacity of state and local elder justice professionals to identify, investigate and address elder abuse, neglect and financial exploitation.

The Justice Department, FBI, U.S. Postal Inspection Service and five other federal law enforcement agencies undertake an annual Money Mule Initiative, targeting networks of individuals through which international fraudsters obtain proceeds of fraud schemes. These individuals, sometimes referred to as money mules, receive money from fraud victims and forward the illicit funds, often to overseas perpetrators. Since 2020, U.S. law enforcement has taken to address over 14,000 money mules through the annual initiative; enforcement actions have occurred in every state in the country.

The HHS Administration for Community Living developed the National Adult Maltreatment Reporting System (NAMRS), a first-of-its-kind effort to systematically collect from APS programs across the country standardized data about the incidence of elder maltreatment. Participation is voluntary, but all states, territories and the District of Columbia submit data each year.

The Social Security Administration launched Slam the Scam Day in 2020 to raise awareness about government imposter scams. In addition, SSA has created a variety of resources to train its employees, representative payees, and others on to recognize elder abuse and financial exploitation.

The Federal Trade Commission established the Senior Scams Prevention Advisory Group of government partners, consumer advocates, and industry representatives to collaborate, develop ideas, share suggestions and insights and identify actions that can be taken to help older adults spot, avoid, and report scams. The advisory groups four subcommittees focus on expanding consumer education efforts; improving industry training on scam prevention; identifying innovative or high-tech methods to detect and stop scams; and developing research on consumer or employee engagement to reduce fraud.

In addition to leaders from HHS, the Justice Department, speakers at todays Elder Justice Coordinating Council meeting will include four pioneers of the elder justice movement whose hard work has made the progress of the last decade possible:

Marie-Therese Connolly, President, RISE Collaborative; Former Coordinator, Elder Justice Initiative and Former Senior Trial Counsel, Civil Fraud Section, Commercial Litigation Branch, Civil Division, United States Department of Justice

Kathy Greenlee, Senior Director of Elder Justice Initiatives, ADvancing States and Former Assistant Secretary for Aging, Administration for Community Living, HHS

Sidney Stahl, former Chief, Individual Behavioral Processes Branch, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health

Edwin Walker, former Deputy Assistant Secretary for Aging at HHS Administration for Community Living.

By statute, the EJCC is chaired by the HHS Secretary, and the Attorney General is a permanent member. HHS has assigned responsibility for implementing the EJCC to the Administration for Community Living. Since it was created, the EJCC has grown from nine to 17 members, with each new agency bringing unique knowledge and resources to address the complex issue of elder maltreatment.

Research shows that at least one in 10 older adults who live in the community experiences some form of maltreatment each year  and this is likely an undercount, because only one in 14 cases is reported. People who experience abuse have higher rates of depression, hospitalization and institutionalization  and they are more likely to die prematurely. They also may experience deteriorated family relationships, diminished autonomy, and institutionalization as the direct result of maltreatment.


By Harun Maruf

Wednesday June 12, 2024

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.





"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.


Wednesday June 12, 2024







FILE - Somali refugees board a plane to return to Mogadishu from Dadaab camp in Kenya. UNHCR/A.Nasrullah



Mogadishu (HOL)  Somalia is hosting 39,286 registered refugees and asylum seekers as of May, according to new information released by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) on Wednesday.





Of the total, 47 percent, or 18,559 individuals, are refugees, while 20,727 are asylum seekers. Somalia continues to face increased attacks from the al-Shabab militant group, exacerbating the situation.Since December 2014, the UNHCR has assisted 95,181 Somali refugees in returning home, while 43,897 have returned spontaneously, bringing the total number of returnees to 130,078.Additionally, more than 800,000 Somali refugees and asylum seekers are hosted in neighbouring countries. In the first five months of 2024, 215,000 people were internally displaced in Somalia, adding to the 2.9 million displaced in 2023 due to conflict and natural disasters.
Bielefeld, Germany  Hyderabad, India, June 11: 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 DATAs 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 ProvenTechs 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 innovators 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.

Disclaimer: This article is a paid publication and does not have journalistic/editorial involvement of Hindustan Times. Hindustan Times does not endorse/subscribe to the content(s) of the article/advertisement and/or view(s) expressed herein. Hindustan Times shall not in any manner, be responsible and/or liable in any manner whatsoever for all that is stated in the article and/or also with regard to the view(s), opinion(s), announcement(s), declaration(s), affirmation(s) etc., stated/featured in the same.
Telugu Desam Party chief N Chandrababu Naidu was sworn in as the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh for the fourth term today in a ceremony attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Ministers Amit Shah, Nitin Gadkari and J P Nadda and Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. Janasena chief and actor Pawan Kalyan, Nara Lokesh, son of Chandrababu Naidu, among others, took oath as Ministers. Chandrababu Naidu's 9-year-old grandson's wealth surged by  1.7 crore in 12 days.

Chandrababu Naidu's fortunes surged after the recent Lok Sabha elections and the state assembly elections as the stock of Heritage Foods, the dairy firm promoted by his family, hit record highs. This come after TDP became one of the key allies of the National Democratic Alliance 3.0 government.

Heritage Foods stock doubled in 12 sessions resulting in a windfall for Chandrababu Naidu and his family which has a 35.7 per cent stake in the company. His wife Bhuvaneswari has 24.37 percent stake, son Lokesh has 10.82 percent stake, daughter-in-law Brahmani has 0.46 percent stake and his 9-year-old grandson Devansh has 0.06 percent stake in the company, as per exchange data.

Following the surge in the stock, Devansh's 56,075 shares are now 4.1 crore as compared to 2.4 crore on June 3. Overall, the family earned 1,225 crore as Heritage Foods shares hit a fresh 52-week high of 727.9 on the BSE, locking in a 10% upper circuit. On May 23, the stock closed at 354.5.

Heritage Foods was founded in 1992 and is a leading value-added and branded dairy products player in India. Its products include curd, ghee, paneer, flavoured milk, and immunity milk, among others. The company claims that the products are consumed by more than 1.5 million households in 11 states across India.
After prominent Kannada actor Darshan Thoogudeepa and fellow actor Pavithra Gowda, a close associate, were taken into police custody in a shocking murder case of 33-year-old Renuka Swamy, heinous details have emerged in the case. Here are the top updates - Kannada actor Darshan Thugadeepa in Bengaluru after being arrested by police over his alleged connection with a murder case.(PTI)

Pavithra instigated Darshan: Police

"It was Pavithra who instigated Darshan to punish Renukaswamy. Accordingly, the plan was hatched. Darshan engaged the Chitradurga unit of Darshan Fan Club Convenor Raghavendra alias Raghu, who obtained all information about Renukaswamy," police told news agency PTI.

Sahana, the wife of the victim, told reporters that Raghavendra had picked up her husband near their residence on Friday night. Sources revealed that the victim was allegedly abducted and transported to a shed in Bengaluru's Kamakshipalya area.

READ | Who is Pavithra Gowda, held in a murder case with Kannada actor Darshan | 5 points

"Darshan beat up Renukaswamy with a belt. After he fell unconscious, his accomplices thrashed him with sticks. Further, they threw him against a wall, which proved fatal," they told the agency. After he died, his body, which had multiple bone fractures all over, was dumped in a stormwater drain.

Darshan, Pavithra, four more taken to crime scene for spot inspection

Actors Darshan and Pavithra were taken to Pattanagere for an on-site spot of the crime scene by investigators on Wednesday. Earlier, Darshan's associates, including Nikhil, Vinay, Karthik, and Raghavendra, were also brought to the scene for inspection.

Police given free-hand in case involving actor Darshan: Karnataka Home Minister

Addressing the situation, Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara emphasized that law enforcement has full autonomy in dealing with the arrests in the Renuka Swamy murder case. He affirmed that legal actions will be pursued accordingly, regardless of the suspects' status. Parameshwara stressed the importance of allowing the legal process to unfold and cautioned against any vigilantism.

READ | Kannada actor Darshan Thoogudeepa, girlfriend face heat in bizarre murder saga

"He (Darshan) was brought (from Mysuru to Bengaluru) on the information about his involvement in the murder and has been arrested, inquiry is on. Based on what comes from the inquiry, action will be taken. Law is equal for everyone whether it is Darshan or Parameshwara. So no one should take law into their hands," he told reporters.

We will take necessary action: Karnataka Film Chamber

N M Suresh, the President of Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce (KFCC), indicated that any decision regarding Darshan Thoogudeepa's status within the industry will be made after consulting with the artists' union. He hinted that concrete actions will likely follow only after the police complete their investigation and submit a charge-sheet.

"First of all I express my condolences to the family of Renukaswamy...we too share their grief. We too are saying that the guilty should be punished mercilessly as per law. We too have got certain complaints, but there is a 'Kalavidara Sangha' (artistes' union) for it. We have spoken to the 'Kalavidara Sangha', we are trying to hold a discussion with artists. We cannot decide unilaterally. I will call a meeting to discuss. Until the police investigation is over and they file a charge-sheet the accused (culprits) will not be known, once that's done, we will take necessary action," he said.

(With inputs from PTI)
After Kannada actor Darshan Thoogudeepa's arrest in connection with the alleged murder of a man in Karnataka, actor Pavithra Gowda, has also been detained in the case. The victim, Renuka Swamy, was reportedly found dead at Sumanahalli Bridge in Bengaluru. Kannada actors Darshan Thoogudeepa and Pavithra Gowda are in news in connection to a murder case. (Instagram/Pavithra Gowda)

Who is Pavithra Gowda?

Here are five lesser-known facts about the actor.

ALSO READ | After Darshan's arrest, his partner and Kannada actor Pavithra Gowda in police custody in murder case: Report

Pavithra is known to be Darshan's close friend, long-time companion and even his partner. It is to be noted that Darshan, however, has been married for over 20 years to Vijaya Lakshmi. Pavithra is also part of the Kannada film industry, having worked in a number of movies and television shows, including Chatrigalu Saar Chatrigalu, Agamya and Preethi Kithabu. Pavithra's involvement in the case: Investigators said the victim, Renukaswamy (33) sent derogatory messages to her, along with pictures of genitalia, and harassed her over her relationship with the married actor. The deceased also reportedly sent her lewd messages on social media, which is now being explored as a possible trigger for the alleged killing. Further investigation led to the arrest of 11 suspects, and Darshan and Pavithra were taken into custody based on their statements, police told reporters. Earlier this year, Pavithra said in a social media post - One decade down, forever to go, - implying that she and Darshan have been in a relationship for ten years. She also tagged Darshan in the post.

ALSO READ | Kannada actor Darshan Thoogudeepa, girlfriend face heat in bizarre murder saga

Darshan and 12 other suspects were produced before a Bengaluru Magistrate court, which remanded them to six days police custody. Futher probe is on and more details are awaited.
Three terror attacks over the past three days in Jammu have triggered sharp reactions from the Opposition, who on Wednesday questioned the silence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and slammed the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led central government for making hollow claims of return of peace and normalcy in the region. Former Jammu and Kashmir National Conference president Farooq Abdullah. (PTI)

Expressing concern over the surge in such incidents, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday said that the country is demanding answers as to why those plotting against the country are not being caught under the BJP rule.

ALSO READ- Fresh encounter erupts in Jammu and Kashmir's Doda, one jawan injured

Narendra Modi is busy responding to congratulatory messages and cannot even hear the cries of the families of the devotees who were brutally killed in Jammu and Kashmir, he said in a post in Hindi on X.

The leaders of different political parties in J&K have also raised serious concern on the series of attacks.

Former J&K chief minister and National Conference president Farooq Abdullah said talks with Pakistan should be initiated to end the violence in J&K. Terrorism is not going to end unless there is understanding between the two nations. Terrorism will continue and we will have to face it, Abdullah said adding that the tragedy is that innocent people are being killed unless we wake up and find a solution to it.

ALSO READ- PM Modi to visit Srinagar on International Yoga Day on June 21

Former legislator and CPI (M) general secretary, MY Tarigami termed the attacks as deplorable. Back-to-back attacks in Jammu region are deplorable. Administrations claims of normalcy is starkly in contrast with the ground reality. Its crucial to conduct a comprehensive introspection for gaining a thorough understanding and effectively addressing the situation, he said.

PDP president and former J&K chief minister Mehbooba Mufti termed the attacks senseless and cowardly. Condemn the senseless cowardly terrorist attack in Doda last night. A huge matter of concern that three terror incidents have occurred in just a span of 72 hours. Why are these security lapses taking place in the first place? Prayers for the swift recovery of those injured, Mehbooba wrote on X.

Read: Jammu and Kashmir: More terrorists could be hiding; police say check vehicles before

J&K Congress president Viqar Rasool said that the series of attacks in Jammu was worrisome. The BJPs entire leadership has been claiming that they were able to restore peace in J&K after abrogation of Article 370 and bifurcation of state into UT. Now I want to ask the Prime Minister and home minister where terrorists are coming from. We want a peaceful J&K so the government should take immediate steps to restore peace especially as the annual Amarnath Yatra is starting very soon, Rasool said.

BJP state spokesman Altaf Thakur said that this is handiwork of Pakistan based handlers to disturb peace in J&K. Pakistan never wants to see peaceful situation in J&K so they are sending terrorists to disturb the peace of UT.
To expand the districts forest cover, the district administration will plant 11 lakh saplings this year in the monsoon season as part of the Wake up Ludhiana: An agenda for the environment project. Deputy commissioner Sakshi Sawhney chairs meeting in Ludhiana on Wednesday. (HT Photo)

With a focus on enhancing environmental sustainability in the district, deputy commissioner (DC) Sakshi Sawhney on Wednesday held a meeting with various departments and NGOs.

The saplings will be planted at various locations, such as panchayati lands, around village ponds, along roadsides and on the premises of educational institutions, healthcare centrers, and other departmental vacant lands.

Calls for green hackathon

To emphasis community participation in the project, Sawhney, along with municipal corporation (MC) commissioner Sandeep Rishi, GLADA ACA Ojasvi Alankar and ADC Anmol Singh Dhaliwal, announced the organisation of a Green hackathon competition.

Participants can register through wakeupludhiana365@gmail.com. They will have to identify environmental issues in their localities and propose effective measures to address them. If their suggestions are deemed actionable and results-oriented, the administration will honour and implement their ideas.

The DC urged department heads to appoint nodal officers to ensure effective planting and maintenance of the saplings, emphasising the need for each department to actively pursue its set targets. Additionally, plans were made to distribute saplings to devotees at temples and gurdwaras in the district to encourage tree planting as a community practice.

She stated that the overarching goal of Wake up Ludhiana is to engage every citizen, government office, educational institution, industry and community organisation in transforming Ludhiana into a green, sustainable, and climate-resilient city, ensuring a healthier and brighter future for generations to come.
Deputy commissioner (DC) Sakshi Sahnwey has launched an inquiry in connection with an allegation that tehsildar Kulwant Singh Sidhu and clerk Shiv Kumar had demanded money from a city-based advocate practising at the new district courts to register property documents in May. The advocate, in his complaint, recounted his visit to the registrar office on May 22 to register a sale deed. Upon presenting the document, the clerk denied issuing a token number, claiming a no-objection certificate was required. (Shutterstock)

A complaint was registered by Tejinderpal Singh with the chief minister, deputy commissioner and vigilance department, highlighting the ongoing corruption at sub-registrar office (West) on Hambran Road in Ludhiana.

The advocate, in his complaint, recounted his visit to the registrar office on May 22 to register a sale deed. Upon presenting the document, the clerk denied issuing a token number, claiming a no-objection certificate (NOC) was required. Singh pointed out that similar documents were registered recently without issue. Kumar then allegedly demanded a bribe, claiming that a fee was required for the registration to proceed.

Singh approached the tehsildar for assistance, but Sidhu dismissed his concerns and directed him back to Kumar. After waiting for over an hour, Singh inquired about the bribe amount and was told it would cost 20,000. Unable to pay the bribe, Singh was eventually told to hand the money to a private individual named Jyoti, who allegedly collects bribes on behalf of Kumar. Singhs document was registered on May 22 but he refused to pay the bribe and left without collecting his registered document.

The next day, Singh returned to the office with a new document. Kumar initially refused to assist but relented when Singh promised to pay for both registrations after the document was processed. The tehsildar marked the document and the process was completed on May 23. However, Sidhu then demanded payment for both documents and wrote an objection NOC required. The registry will not get printed on the sale deed.

Singh stated that both officials threatened him, boasting of their connections with politicians and higher authorities. Singh has requested a thorough investigation and urged authorities to take necessary action against Sidhu, Kumar and Jyoti.

Meanwhile, Sidhu said, We only register properties with all relevant documents and we do not have asked for any bribe from anyone.

Sahnwey said, I have marked an inquiry against the complaint of the city-based advocate and SDM West will handle it and required action will be taken after the inquiry.
District Legal Services Authority, Ludhiana, held a special medical camp at Central Jail in Ludhiana on Wednesday. A team of specialised doctors examined the bones, eyes, skin, and teeth of the inmates and distributed medicines. A doctor examining an inmate at Central Jail in Ludhiana on Wednesday. (HT Photo)

Chief judicial magistrate Harvinder Singh, who is also the secretary of the District Legal Services Authority, visited the Central Jail to inspect the medical camp and examine the problems of the convicts, prisoners who came for check-ups during the camp.

The secretary said such special medical camps are being organised at the jail from time to time. Apart from this, Singh gave special information about the free legal aid scheme to the jailed detainees and said that if a detainee does not have a lawyer to pursue his case, he can be referred by the District Legal Services Authority to the central court. The form can be filled through the legal aid clinic established in the jail and a lawyer will be provided by the authority.
GORAKHPUR Two girls were burnt alive and six others of their family sustained serious burns when their house caught fire, reportedly due to short circuit late on Tuesday night. The deceased had been identified as Anshika (12) and Khushi (2) . (Pic for representation)

District magistrate Krishna Karunesh on Wednesday morning provided cheques of 4 lakh ex-gratia amount to parents of the deceased on the directive of chief minister Yogi Adityanath and assured financial assistance for treatment of all seriously burnt.

SSP Gaurav Grover said that in his condolence message chief minister Yogi Adityanath had expressed grief and directed officials to ensure all help to the family. He said in-charge of Gulhariya police station had been deputed for help of the injured undergoing treatment.

The incident occurred at around 10:20 at night in Rampur Nayagaon locality under Gorakhnath police station of the district and the massive fire created panic in the area . Neighbours with support of police personnel started rescue operations. Fire fighters were able to douse the flame after two hours . DIG Anand Kulkarni and divisional commissioner Anil Dhingra also rushed to the spot and put BRD Medical College on alert .

Bishnoi confirmed that the deceased had been identified as Anshika (12) and Khushi (2) while the critically injured include Ritu(38), Shipra(13), Rakhi(20), Meena(50) and Rupam(20) and who were undergoing treatment at BRD Medical College. Name of another injured person was not known.

Bishnoi said that one Ram Ji Jaiswal ran a kirana shop in a portion of his newly constructed house while the family lived in two rooms behind it. Officials said that around 10:30 pm when the family members were taking their dinner, a spark in the electric meter caught the moped parked in the gallery near the meter. It soon engulfed the moped and a petrol container kept nearby. This resulted in rapid spread of fire to other portions of the house and the family members were trapped inside. The massive fire in the front portion of house made rescue operation difficult. With the help of stairs behind the house, fire fighters jumped in and rescued the other members.

Police have sent the bodies for post mortem examination and have initiated inquiry to ascertain the exact reason behind the fire.
PRAYAGRAJ: Quashing an FIR alleging kidnapping, the Allahabad high court said that no one could restrain an adult from going anywhere that he/she liked, staying with a person of his/her choice or solemnizing marriage according to his/ her will or wish as this was a right which flowed from Article 21 of the Constitution, providing protection to life and personal liberty. The court also directed the officers concerned to ensure that her uncle or any other family member did not harm the petitioner in any manner. (Pic for representation)

While making this observation, a division bench comprising justices JJ Munir and Arun Kumar Singh Deshwal criticized a judicial magistrate for sending an adult woman, who was one of the petitioners in the case, to her uncles home after the latter lodged an FIR against her husband, who was second petitioner in this case.

ALSO READ- Adultery cant be grounds to deny custody of child, says Bombay high court

The judicial magistrate had sent the woman to her uncles home despite her statement under section 164 of the criminal procedure code (CrPC), wherein she had expressed fear for her life if she was sent to her uncle/parents home.

The court further added that the judicial magistrate, before whom the petitioner woman claimed that she feared for her life because her uncle had threatened to kill her, was duty bound to get an FIR registered against the uncle, besides taking adequate measures to secure the safety and life of the first petitioner.

Emphasizing that honour killing in such matters was not an unknown phenomenon, the court added that the superintendent of police, Siddharth Nagar and the station house officer, police station Bansi, Siddharth Nagar district were equally answerable for not taking action against the womans uncle by registering an appropriate FIR and protecting the womans life .

The first petitioner was an adult woman aged about 21 years who had married a man of her choice according to Muslim rites in April 2024.

Aggrieved with her decision to marry the second petitioner, the womans uncle lodged an FIR against her husband under section 363 (kidnapping) of IPC. Thereafter, the police not only arrested her her husband but also took the woman into custody and handed her over to her uncle.

When the police produced the woman before the magistrate to get her statement recorded under Section 164 CrPC, she categorically said that she had married her husband of her own free will and that her husband had been implicated in the case falsely.

ALSO READ- Matrimonial fraud: Man held for cheating over 250 women

Subsequently, the petitioners jointly challenged the FIR before the high court.

While making above observations, the court quashed the FIR, while noting that the impugned FIR contained uncontroverted allegations, which did not make out a case against the accused.

ALSO READ- Delhi man turns gangster to take revenge on cheating wife, held for extortion

In addition, the court directed the superintendent of police, Siddharthnagar and the station house officer, police station Bansi of Siddharthnagar district to ensure that the woman went wherever she liked and stayed with whomsoever she wanted, without any hindrance from her uncle or any other family member.

In a decision dated June 7, the court also directed the officers concerned to ensure that her uncle or any other family member did not harm her in any manner.
LUCKNOW: After dealing a blow to the Bhartiya Janta Party-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in the 2024 Lok Sabha election in Uttar Pradesh, Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav has decided to transition to national politics. Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav (File)

Yadav has resigned from the Karhal assembly seat, which he won in the 2022 assembly election, and decided to continue as the MP from the Kannauj Lok Sabha constituency, where he emerged victorious in the recent parliamentary election. Yadav also stepped down from the leader of the opposition post in the UP Legislative assembly.

Principal secretary of the UP Legislative Assembly, Pradeep Dubey on Wednesday said that a letter regarding Akhilesh Yadavs resignation from the Karhal assembly seat had been received and accepted.

Also Read | 2024 has made communal politics irrelevant: Akhilesh

On Tuesday, the SP chief indicated his intention to resign from the Karhal assembly seat and retain the Kannauj parliamentary seat. During a two-day visit to his ancestral village Safai in Etawah district, Akhilesh held discussions with party workers from Karhal and Mainpuri regarding his resignation from the Karhal seat.

He also discussed with senior party leaders about the future strategy after the formation of the Modi 3.0 government at the centre. There was a general consensus among the party leaders and the Yadav family that, after the victory of the INDIA bloc in Uttar Pradesh, he should move to the central political arena to establish the SP as a national party, said an SP leader familiar with the developments in the meeting.

In the 2024 Lok Sabha election, Akhilesh emerged on the national political stage by halting the BJPs victory march in Uttar Pradesh. The setback in Uttar Pradesh, where the seat tally declined from 62 in the 2019 Lok Sabha election to 33 in the 2024 parliamentary election, prevented the BJP from gaining a majority on its own in the Lok Sabha.

Also Read | Beyond the news: How poll outcome may reshape UP politics

The SP emerged as the single largest party in Uttar Pradesh, winning 37 seats, and became the third-largest in the country after the BJP and Congress. The partys vote share also increased to 33.38%, compared to 18.11% in 2019. Earlier, the SP had won 35 seats in 2004 when SP founder Mulayam Singh Yadav headed the government in Uttar Pradesh.

To breach the BJPs non-Yadav OBC and non-Jatav Dalit support base, Akhilesh worked on the PDAPichada (backwards), Dalits, and Alpsahkhyaks (Muslims) formula. By stitching an alliance with Congress, he consolidated his hold over the traditional support base of Muslims and Yadavs.

Senior SP leader Rajendra Chauhary said that the mandate the SP received in Uttar Pradesh should be viewed in a national context. The SP garnered support from all communities in defeating the BJP in its Hindutva stronghold. He attributed the charismatic personality of party chief Akhilesh Yadav to the INDIA blocs success in dealing a blow to the BJP, with the alliance winning 43 seats in UP.

In order to spread the message of the PDA and expand its influence in other states, Akhilesh Yadav has decided to venture into national politics. Chauhary mentioned that soon, the Samajwadi Party would appoint in-charges in various states. Additionally, the SP will organise meetings in other states to broaden its support base.

The Samajwadi Party boasts a battery of leaders poised to carry forward the victory achieved in the 2024 Lok Sabha election to the 2027 assembly election. Party leaders, committed to the ideology and loyal to the party chief, will be entrusted with the task of challenging the BJP in Uttar Pradesh and consolidating the gains made in the 2024 Lok Sabha election, stated a SP leader.

Former head of the political science department at Allahabad University, Professor MP Dubey, remarked that Akhileshs move to national politics is aimed at making the SP a national party. He emphasized that the timing is opportune for Akhilesh, given the encouragement received from Uttar Pradesh in the 2024 Lok Sabha election. Now, he is poised to play a significant role at the national level as a key leader of the INDIA bloc.

The chemistry between SP and Congress is proving effective, and Akhilesh intends to leverage it to expand the partys base in other states. While at the centre, he can oversee political activities in UP and mobilise the party cadre for the 2027 assembly election, he said.

By being at the centre, Akhilesh aims to establish his identity as a national leader who effectively countered the magic of Modi and Yogi to pave the way for the victory of the INDIA bloc. Akhileshs performance in UP was commendable, and he will seek to demonstrate similar effectiveness at the national level, Prof Dubey added.
LUCKNOW Efforts to rejuvenate Kukrail river include reclamation of its riverbed and development of a riverfront on the lines of Sabarmati Riverfront in Ahmedabad, said officials on Wednesday. Encroachments are being removed from the riverbed. (Deepak Gupta/HT Photo)

The encroached Kukrail riverbed, where the demolition drive is underway, is spread over 1 lakh sq m (24.71 acres), said LDA additional secretary Gyanendra Verma. The area is spread over two parts of Akbar Nagar with I and II divided by Faizabad road.

ECO-TOURISM HUB

Once reduced to a drain (nullah) due to illegal constructions under the previous regimes, Kukrail river is now on the course of revival. The area is set to become a major eco-tourism hub, with plans in motion to establish the countrys first night safari at Kukrail and relocate the zoo there, enhancing the regions ecological and tourist appeal, said a UP government spokesperson.

PARKS ON RIVERBANK

Officials from various departments, including LMC, LDA, and irrigation department, are actively engaged in formulating an action plan to develop a riverfront in the area. The vision includes creating picturesque parks on both banks of Kukrail river, offering adventure activities alongside for visitors.

BID TO RESTORE CATCHMENT AREA

In order to revive Kukrail rivers pristine glory, it is important to restore its catchment area to its original or natural form to facilitate the riverine process. Rainwater harvesting is another solution, said experts.

Many of the smaller rivers of Ganga plain like Gomti, Sai, Kukrail, Behta, Reth are groundwater fed. For the survival of these, it is important to increase the natural recharge to the aquifers to increase the groundwater level and thus improve the flow, said Prof Dhruv Sen Singh of geology department, LU.

Floodplains should have natural vegetation and should also be free from any permanent settlements or concrete. This is to safeguard against any extreme event like heavy rain or extreme discharge due to showers, said Venkatesh Dutta, professor at Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University.

In such situations, these settlements would always be in danger of inundation. Historically, there have been many floods in Kukrail because the area brings in a lot of water during rain. The flow is sudden, the discharge increases quite rapidly. Hence these settlements are always at risk of flooding and the river also does not get any breathing space. It would be best to leave the terrace and floodplain of this river, for nature to act upon, he said.

Dutta said the reclaimed area should be used to develop some parks or open spaces lined with avenue trees and natural vegetation, such as Sal and Palash, which are characteristic to this region. They will also maintain the microclimate and alleviate heating in the area.
A 20-year-old auto-driver drowned while trying to save a minor girl who tried to commit suicide by jumping into the Gomti, in the Madeyganj area of Lucknow, in the wee hours of Wednesday. For representation only (HT File Photo)

While the girl was saved and is undergoing treatment at a hospital, the man who jumped into the river to save the 15-year-old, died. His body was found by the local divers and was declared dead at the hospital, Lucknow police said in a press note, adding that the man was identified as Shadab, 20, a resident of Nirala Nagar.

The incident happened on Wednesday at around 2:45 AM, when the minor, a resident of Dubagga, jumped into Gomti from the Pukka Pul after she was scolded at home.

Shadab, who happened to be passing by, heard a noise and stopped to look. He saw that a minor girl had jumped into the water.

When he saw no one coming to the aid of the girl, he jumped in and drowned, said a police officer.

Later, the police arrived and took the girl out alive with the help of divers. The girl was taken out and admitted to hospital and was later referred to Balarampur Hospital, the police said.

Shadabs body was taken out and sent for a post-mortem examination. Shadabs brother-in-law, Sharikh, said that he was the only breadwinner of the house, as his father, Zaki, passed away long ago. Shadab leaves behind four sisters, while his mothers health remains poor.
MUMBAI: Actor Salman Khan has expressed serious concern regarding the firing incident that occurred at his Bandra residence on April 14, allegedly by members of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang. In a statement provided to the Mumbai crime branch, Salman Khan emphasised that this incident poses a significant threat to him and his family members and should not be underestimated. Additionally, the police have also recorded a statement from Salman Khans younger brother, Arbaaz Khan, regarding the firing incident. Actor Salman Khan(ANI)

According to a senior officer, the actor and his family members were present at their residence in Galaxy Apartment, Bandra West, when the shooters fired five to six rounds. Salman Khan stated to the police that he woke up upon hearing the gunfire. Upon investigating, he went to the gallery and observed no one outside.

After a few minutes, the security guards stationed at the building approached his house and briefed him on the events that had happened outside. The actor narrated the entire sequence in his statement, expressing that the Lawrence Bishnoi gang had unjustly targeted him, added the official.

Arbaaz, in his statement to the police, said, Earlier, someone left a threatening note which was found outside their house and Bishnoi gang members conducted recce at their Panvel farmhouse. This (firing) is the third incident, and the police should take it seriously.

ALSO READ- One more arrested in connection with attack on Salman Khan

In the early hours of April 14, two bike-borne assailants had fired 5-6 rounds at the actors house and fled from the city. So far, the police have arrested six accused in the firing case.

On May 14, the police arrested the sixth suspect, Harpal Singh, also known as Harry, aged 25, from Haryana. He was involved in financing the shooters. The other individuals arrested include Mohammed Rafiq Sardar Choudhari, as well as two shooters, Vicky Kumar Gupta, aged 25, and Sagar Kumar Pal, aged 24. Anuj Thapan, aged 32, who was in the custody of the Crime Branch, died by suicide on May 1. Additionally, Sonu Subhashchandra Bishnoi, aged 37, from Punjab, was arrested. According to police reports, on March 15, Thapan and Sonu Bishnoi met Gupta and Pal in Panvel and provided them with two pistols and 38 live rounds, which were used in the firing incident at the actors apartment.

ALSO READ- Salman Khan murder plot: How police stopped Lawrence Bishnoi gang

Choudhari, according to the police, had been in contact with Rohit Godara, a trusted associate of Lawrence Bishnoi, and had recorded a video of Salmans house on April 12. The crime branch has confiscated Choudharis mobile phone and, with the assistance of technical experts, recovered numerous deleted videos and photos. Upon further questioning, Choudhari admitted to receiving 3 lakh in cash from a member of the Bishnoi gang. He then distributed 2 lakh to two shooters, Vicky Kumar Gupta, aged 25, and Sagar Kumar Pal, aged 24.
Mumbai: As part of the strategy for the Maharashtra assembly polls, to be held in the second half of the year, Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray called a meeting with party functionaries on Wednesday and asked his team to submit a report on who could win from 288 assembly constituencies and whether the party has potential to win on its own. Shiv Sena chief ( UBT ) Uddhav Thackeray, Sanjay Raut and Arvind Sawant together during Shiv Sena women, men office bearer meeting Rangsharada Hall, Bandra in Mumbai, India, on Wednesday, June 12, 2024. (Photo by Satish Bate/ Hindustan Times) (Hindustan Times)

On Monday, Thackeray also reviewed Sena (UBT)s performance in the Lok Sabha elections in which it fought for the first time after the split, and managed to secure only nine seats of the 21 seats it contested.

ALSO READ- BJP leader's advice to Uddhav Thackeray after Shiv Sena (UBT)'s Lok Sabha election performance

This exercise indicates that Thackeray wants to collect the ground report from party workers about how many seats Shiv Sena (UBT) is capable of winning. This will help in devising a strategy for the coming assembly polls and also create a case for seeking his share in the seat-sharing pact of the three parties in the Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi (MVA).

In MVA, the NCP (SP) led by veteran leader Sharad Pawar and Congress registered the highest strike rate while Shiv Sena (UBT) despite contesting the highest 21 seats won only 9. In that report, each coordinator will submit its views about whether the party could win that seat, if yes, on its own or in alliance with MVA partners. Also the reasons for the same. The coordinators will also report if the party could not win that seat then which alliance partners in the MVA could win that seat and why, said an officer bearer of Shiv Sena (UBT).

ALSO READ- Will PM Modi visit Manipur now: Uddhav Thackeray on RSS chief's remark

Thackeray wants to gather information about how many assembly seats his party could win on its own without the help of any alliance partner before he starts his statewide tour of assembly constituencies after June 19. The other questions in reports would be if alliance parties in MVA helped party candidates in that assembly constituency and if Sena (UBT) workers would be willing to work if an alliance partner is contesting the particular seat. Through this questionnaire, Thackeray wants to know if his party has benefited by being part of the MVA. Thackeray also wanted to find out whether the three parties of MVA were able to transfer their votes to each other. The reports from all coordinators are expected in a week.

While speaking in the meeting, Thackeray said that the party will face assembly elections as part of the MVA but the work will also strengthen the party in all 288 constituencies without thinking about which party will contest the elections from which seats. According to Thackeray, this would help the MVA to win more seats in assembly elections and throw BJP out of power.

Thackeray camp leader and leader of opposition in legislative council Ambadas Danve told media that coordinators will submit their report in eight days. Party chief Uddhav Thackeray has asked all party workers to show the same aggression of Shiv Sena for which the party was known before 25 years and start the preparation for assembly elections. said Danve.

Meanwhile, Thackeray also slammed Prime Minister Narendra Modi over attacks in Jammu and Kashmir. PM Modi is busy in attending the oath taking ceremony and terrorists attacking in Jammu and Kashmir. It was the third attack and PM Modi and home minister Amit Shah have not paid attention towards it. If Modi has no time to look into the matter then he has no right to stay on the post of PM. Recently RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat also reminded PM Modi about Manipur which has been burning for years and Modi did not visit there neither took steps to resolve the issue. said Thackeray.

ALSO READ- Is Uddhav Thackeray returning to NDA? Sena (UBT) MP's moye moye reply

Thackeray holds meeting for council elections

Uddhav Thackeray on Wednesday released Sankalp Patra of party candidate in Mumbai graduate constituency of legislative council Anil Parab. Thackeray said that the party was committed to solving the problems of graduates in Mumbai and urged all voters to cast their votes before going to their office. In the evening Thackeray held the meeting of former corporators, Shakha Pramukh for the campaign for Mumbai teachers and Mumbai graduates candidates. Party has fielded Anil Parab for the graduate constituency and J. M. Abhyankar in the teachers constituency.
The National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC), the agency executing the Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) project, has made available electric buses at four RRTS stations in Ghaziabad to provide last-mile connectivity to passengers. The e-buses will stop at the four RRTS stations in Ghaziabad at a frequency of 15-20 minutes, said NCRTC officials. (Sakib Ali/HT Photo)

The officials said the low-floor air-conditioned e-buses, already operating in the city as part of state-run transport system, will now have stoppages at Sahibabad, Ghaziabad, Guldhar and Duhai stations.

The 82km long RRTS project is aimed to connect the three cities of Delhi, Ghaziabad and Meerut with trains having a design speed of 180km/hour.

Already, all eight RRTS stations in Ghaziabad at Sahibabad, Ghaziabad, Guldhar, Duhai, Duhai Depot, Muradnagar, Modinagar (south) and Modinagar (north) are operational.

We have made provisions for e-buses to stop at four stations in Ghaziabad. We are in talks with the authorities to make these buses available at Muradnagar and two stations in Modinagar. This will help passengers get last mile connectivity. Generally, the e-buses will have stoppage at our stations at a frequency of 15-20 minutes, said a spokesperson from NCRTC.

Presently, 50 state-run e-buses are operational in Ghaziabad city on six different routes.

The NCRTC officials said that they have already designed their stations with bus bays where passengers can easily board e-buses.

Commuters can also access details of routes and frequency of these e-buses through RRTS Connect mobile app and the RRTS website (rrts.co.in). Passengers in the 10km vicinity of stations can easily board RRTS trains with the help of e-buses. The NCRTC has already collaborated with private operators for providing cab services at Sahibabad and Ghaziabad stations, besides auto-rickshaws and bike taxis, the spokesperson said.

The Uttar Pradesh government in January 2023 had given an in-principle approval for operating feeder buses and the regional transport authority (RTA) later gave a final nod. The RTA then chalked out 17 different routes from three RRTS stations of Sahibabad, Ghaziabad and Guldhar.

The operators have not shown any interest so far. We expect that once more stations get operational and ridership increases, they may come forward to get permits, said PK Singh, regional transport officer.

According to official estimates of NCRTC, the eight stations in Ghaziabad have a daily ridership of about 12,000 passengers and more are expected once the Meerut (south) station gets operational in the coming weeks.
Four minor girls from the south west Khasi Hills (SWKH) district in Meghalaya were allegedly abducted and raped by 12 men from a neighbouring village, police said on Wednesday. The minors were found on Sunday following a frantic search by their family members after which an FIR was filed. (Representative file photo)

The matter was reported by the Khasi Hills Zone (KHZ) unit of the Garo Students Union (GSU) and the SWKH unit of AHAM (A.chik Holistic Awakening Movement) through a press statement on Tuesday which condemned the incident and demanded immediate action.

Four minors, aged between 13-14 years, were called to a nearby village by some friends who later took them a nearby jungle and allegedly raped them, the statement read.

The incident took place around 7pm on Friday, after which the minor girls went missing.

Also Read:Sorry to all, says Ranchi college student gang raped by 2, dies by suicide

The minors were found on Sunday following a frantic search by their family members after which an FIR (first information report) was registered.

We strongly condemn the heinous and despicable act of gang rape of four minor girls that recently occurred under the jurisdiction of Nonghyllam Police Station in SWKH. This reprehensible act has no place in our society and it is with deep sorrow and outrage that we express our solidarity with the victims and their families during this immensely challenging time, the two groups added in the statement.

The culprits must be brought to justice without delay to ensure the safety, security, and dignity of all members of our community. It is imperative that the authorities handle this case with the utmost seriousness and efficiency. We urge the police to leave no stone unturned in their investigation and utilise all available resources to ensure justice is served. The swift apprehension and prosecution of the offenders are crucial to restoring faith in our legal system and to send a clear message that such acts of violence will not be tolerated, the NGOs said.

SWKH superintendent of police (SP), GD Kharwanlang said the matter is under investigation.

There are several versions, and my officers are looking into each one to ascertain the facts and no arrest has been made so far, he said.

The medical examination has taken place and report is awaited, he added.
Alert staff of the Indian Railways and the police averted a major rail mishap after recovering a powerful cane bomb placed under the railway track in Gaya district of Bihar on Tuesday. The cane bomb found under the tracks. (Sourced photo)

The cane bomb was hidden under the railway track by suspected Maoists near Banskatawa railway station on the Gaya-Koderma section of the East Central Railway (ECR). The extremely Naxal-affected area bordering Koderma in Jharkhand has hilly forests.

Train communication on the route was halted for three hours before the Gaya Police bomb disposal squad and SSB reached the place, defused the bomb. The forces conducted an intensive search in the area before train services were resumed, ECR chief public relations officer Saraswati Chandra said.

The track maintenance staff spotted the cane bomb planted under the downline track between Yadugram and Baskatwa railway stations around 3pm on Tuesday.

The RPF, police and SSB team, under sub divisional police officer Sunil Kumar Pandey, rushed to the spot. The bomb disposal and dog squad arrived late evening and defused the bomb.

Two trains Delhi-Puri Purushottam Express and Purnea-Hatia Koshi Super Express had already passed on the track and the Ara-Ranchi Express was about to pass and was halted at Gurpa station when the bomb was detected. Entire train movement on the route was stopped.

Passengers of the Ara-Ranchi Express thanked the railway staff for the timely detection of the bomb.

Gaya senior superintendent of police Ashish Bharti said a case has been registered, and a special investigating team (SIT) has been formed under Wazirganj SDPO to identify, arrest and ensure necessary action against the persons involved in the act.
Far-Right parties made significant gains in the European Union (EU)s parliamentary election over the weekend, largely on the back of support from voters in Austria, France, Germany and Italy, though centrist and liberal parties are expected to retain the levers of power in the 27-State grouping. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen of the centre-right European Peoples Party, who is eyeing a second term after her party emerged the single largest bloc with 189 deputies, has said the responsibilities of centrist parties have increased following the gain in support by the Right. While a coalition of four centrist parties will have 462 deputies in the 720-seat parliament, the surge by the far-right could impact decision-making in Brussels, especially on sensitive issues such as the climate crisis and migration. It is also clear that the improved showing by the far-right is linked to anxieties regarding the economic crisis in Europe and the Ukraine conflict.

PREMIUM A supporter of the Social Democratic Party (SPD) holds the European Union flag after the polls closed in the European Parliament elections, in Berlin, Germany, June 9, 2024. REUTERS/Christian Mang (REUTERS)
TS TET Result 2024 Live Updates: The Telangana School Education Department has declared the results of the Telangana Teacher Eligibility Test (TS TET 2024) today, June 12. Candidates can download the TS TET results from schooledu.telangana.gov.in and tstet2024.aptonline.in/tstet/. Direct link to check TS TET Result 2024 ...Read More

The Telangana TET exam was held from May 20 to June 3. The duration of the test was 2.5 hours and papers were held in two sessions  from 9 am to 11:30 am and from 2 pm to 4:30 pm.

The provisional answer key and the candidates' responses have been published ahead of the result announcement. The final answer key is awaited.

To pass the examination, general candidates need to score at least 60 per cent marks, BC category candidates need 50 per cent marks or above and SC/ST/Differently abled candidates need 40 per cent marks or more.

Check the latest updates on TS TET result and the marks sheet download link below.
Anurag Kashyap contradicts India@Cannes

Anurag, while speaking about Payal's Cannes achievement opined, 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. 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.

Anurag Kashyap says India never supports indie filmmakers

He further said, Payal Kapadia's film happened because of the French fund. India did not even give the rebate promised to that film. Still it is not been given. Sandhya Suri's film as funded from UK Film Lottery Fund. Karan Kandhari's film was funded from UK. Konstantin (Bojanov, who directed The Shameless) film was almost self-financed and a company that funded it. He got no support from India. India just likes to take credit for a lot of things. They do not even support these films to release in cinema in India. Payal Kapadia's last film also won at Cannes. Has it released in India? We have two Oscar-nominated documentaries. Did they release in India? The government does not even have a support system for things that bring a lot of soft power, cultural respect to India. Let's stop this useless celebration.

About Anurag Kashyap

Anurag made his directorial debut with Paanch which never got released. His second film Black Friday released after a prolonged delay since it was considered politically controversial for depicting the 1993 Mumbai blasts. He later shot to fame with Dev D, Gulaal, Gangs of Wasseypur - 1 and 2, Mukkabaaz, Sacred Games and Manmarziyaan.

Anurag Kashyap's upcoming projects

Anurag will be next seen as the antagonist in Vijay Sethupathi-starrrer Maharaja. His upcoming neo noir thriller Kennedy premiered at Cannes Film Festival 2023.
Many Bollywood celebrities, who Kangana Ranaut had a beef with, have come out to condemn the recent incident when the actor-turned-MP was slapped by a CISF constable at the Chandigarh International Airport last week. The latest one in that list is filmmaker Karan Johar. (Also Read  Kill trailer: Lakshya inserts knife in man's eyes, puts another's head on fire. Watch) Karan Johar responds to Kangana Ranaut getting slapped

Karan responds to Kangana getting slapped

At the trailer launch of his co-production Kill held in Mumbai on Wednesday evening, Karan was asked by a member of the media, his reaction to Kangana getting slapped by the CISF constable. Karan took a moment and replied, Dekhiye (See), I don't support or condone any form of violence, verbal or physical," ending his brief statement with a sly smile.

What happened at Chandigarh airport?

Days after she won the Lok Sabha election in Mandi, Himachal Pradesh under the ticket of Bhartiya Janata Party, Kangana was on her way to New Delhi for a meeting of the National Democratic Alliance that BJP is a part of. She alleged that as she was crossing the security arrangements at the Chandigarh International Airport, a CISF constable named Kulwinder Kaur smacked her on her face. Kangana claimed that the reason was her recent remarks on Khalistan. An FIR was filed against Kulwinder consequently.

After the incident, while many celebrated Kangana getting slapped, journalist Faye D'Souza wrote a Facebook post condemning the violence, especially when it comes from the airport security. A host of Bollywood celebrities who've had long feuds with Kangana, including her alleged ex Hrithik Roshan, Alia Bhatt, Zoya Akhtar, and Soni Razdan among others liked the post. Veteran actor Shabana Azmi also wrote on X that while she has no love lost for Kangana, she'd condemn the celebration of violence inflicted on her.

Karan Johar has also had a massive tiff with Kangana. It started when she called him the flag-bearer of nepotism on his chat show Koffee with Karan back in 2017. While Kangana is gearing up for the release of her maiden solo directorial Emergency, Karan's production, crime thriller Kill, will hit cinemas on July 4.
The Mumbai Crime Branch has recorded actor Salman Khan's statement in the case related to the shooting incident outside his Bandra residence. The police also recorded the statement of Salman's brother and actor Arbaaz Khan on June 4. (Also Read: Salman Khan quits Bigg Boss OTT for film shoot; Anil Kapoor steps in as host) In April, a few members of Lawrence Bishnois gang had fired outside Salman Khans house following which a few arrests were made.

The firing incident took place on April 14 outside Salman's residence at Galaxy Apartments in the Bandra area of Mumbai. The subsequent arrests revealed connections to the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, leading the Mumbai Police to invoke the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) against all involved in the shooting.

Earlier, police said that gangster Lawrence Bishnoi's brother, Anmol Vishnoi, played a key role in motivating the shooters. After receiving weapons delivery in Panvel on March 15, Anmol provided the shooters with the target's information, instructing them to carry out the firing at the actor's residence.

The planned firing incident was executed as per instructions, during which the shooters received a total of 3 lakh.

A few days after the shocking incident, Arbaaz issued a statement on behalf of his family. In the post, Arbaaz stated that the particular "disturbing" incident has affected the family. "The recent incident of firing by two unidentified person in a motorcycle at Galaxy apartment the residence of the Salim Khan family is very disturbing and unnerving. Our family has been taken aback by this shocking incident that took place. Unfortunately, some people claiming to be close to our family and pretending to be the spokesperson have been making loose statements to the media saying it's all a publicity stunt and the family remains unaffected which is not true and these views should not be taken seriously," the statement read.

"No member of the Salim Khan family has made any statement regarding this incident to the media. At this time the family is helping and cooperating with the police in the investigation of this untoward incident. We have faith in the Mumbai police and we have been assured they will do everything in their capacity to protect and secure our family. Thank you everyone for your love and support," Arbaaz wrote.
Actor Kevin Spacey has revealed that his house is being foreclosed on and being sold at auction as he faces millions in unpaid legal fees over sexual assault charges. Kevin broke down as he told Piers Morgan in a new interview on Piers Morgan Uncensored that he not only lost his home, but owed 'many millions' in legal bills. Also read: Kevin Spacey discusses his time with Jeffrey Epstein and a group of 'young girls' in the Lolita Express Kevin Spacey cries during Piers Morgan interview; the actor claims he owes millions in legal fees. (Pic courtesy: YouTube/ Piers Morgan Uncensored)

'I'm not sure where I am going to live now'

When Piers Morgan asked where he currently resides, Kevin Spacey tried to hold back his tears and said that he no longer had a permanent home and had very little money left. The actor said, "It's funny you ask that question because 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 Baltimore and put my things in storage. So the answer to that question is, I'm not sure where I am going to live now. But I've been in Baltimore since we started shooting House of Cards there. I moved there in 2012. This [house] has been my home since 2016. I can't pay the bills that I owe."

When asked if he was facing bankruptcy, Kevin said, "There's been a couple of times when I thought I was going to file but we've managed to dodge it, at least as of today... you have some sense of legal bills. I still owe a lot...Yes [I am in debt]. It's considerable. Many millions. The house itself is many millions."

Kevin Spacey's legal battle

Since the Me Too movement in 2017 brought forth allegations of Kevin's alleged sexual assaults and inappropriate behaviour, the two-time Oscar winner faced numerous legal battles.

It all started after actor Anthony Rapp accused Kevin of sexually assaulting him in 1986, when he was 14 and Kevin was 26. The allegations made Kevin one of the most prominent celebrities accused as part of 2017s Me Too movement.

Kevin was then fired from House of Cards and his acting career seemed to end overnight. The years since have seen dozens of similar accusations against Kevin from men of various ages and backgrounds  ranging from sexual harassment to attempted rape.
Kannada actor Darshan Thoogudeepa and his partner of 10 years, actor Pavithra Gowda, have been ordered by the court to be remanded in police custody till June 17. The couple was detained by the Bengaluru police on June 11 for their alleged involvement in the murder of Renukaswamy. A timeline of events so far. (Also Read: After Darshan's arrest, his partner and Kannada actor Pavithra Gowda in police custody in murder case) Darshan married Vijayalakshmi 21 years ago but has been in a relationship with Pavithra Gowda for 10 years.

June 8: 33-year-old pharmacist Renukaswamy, a fan of Darshan, allegedly sent abusive messages to Pavithra on Instagram after she revealed her decade-old relationship with the actor. Darshan married Vijayalakshmi in 2003 but has been in a relationship with Pavithra.

When Darshan learns of the messages, he finds out that Renukaswamy lives in Chitradurga, 200 km away. Darshan allegedly contacts Raghavendra, who heads his fan club there, and asks him to bring Renukaswamy to Bengaluru.

Allegedly, Renukaswamy is taken to a shed in RR Nagar, where hes assaulted and dies of multiple injuries. His body is dumped in a drain near Summanahalli. According to the police, Darshan and Pavithra were present at the shed during the assault and killing.

PTI quoted police sources as saying, Darshan beat up Renukaswamy with a belt. After he fell unconscious, his accomplices thrashed him with sticks. Further, they threw him against a wall, which proved fatal.

June 9: The police get a call after a food delivery boy spots the body in the drain due to stray dogs. Police registered a murder case after noticing injury marks on the body.

June 10: Two men turn up at Kamakshipalya police station and claim they killed Renukaswamy at a shed near RR Nagar over a financial dispute. After police pull call records, Darshan and Pavithras alleged connection to the case is explored. They find out that Renukaswamy was brought to Bengaluru on Darshans behest.

June 11: Police pick up Darshan on Tuesday morning at a hotel in Mysuru. Hes brought to the Annapoorneshwari Nagar police station for questioning. Pavithra is also picked up by police from her residence near RR Nagar. Police had to put up barricades around the police station in Bengaluru to hold back eager fans who were calling for his release.

Other accused, including K Pawan, Nandish, Karthik, Keshavamurthy, Nikhil Naik, M Lakshmana - president of the Chitradurga unit of Darshan Fan Association Raghavendra alias Raghu, R Nagaraju, and M Deepak Kumar, were arrested for their alleged involvement.

After medical tests, all the accused, Pavithra listed as A1 and Darshan as A2, are produced before the court, where a judge remands them to police custody until June 17.

TV9 Kannada reports that more than 10 donne biryani packets were brought to Annapoorneshwari Nagar police station for dinner.

June 12: Bengaluru police seize cars used in the murder, including a Jeep belonging to Darshan. The police also take four of the accused to the spot to recreate the crime scene, according to PTI.

Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara says the police have been given a free hand in the case against repeat offender Darshan, according to the news portal.
Actor Mamta Mohandas is looking forward to the release of her new film, Maharaja, opposite Makkal Seval Vijay Sethupathi. Mamta, who is seen predominantly in Malayalam cinema, returns to Tamil cinema after a brief role in Enemy in 2021. Directed by Nithilan Swaminathan and produced by Passion Studios, Maharaja also features Anurag Kashyap and Natty Natraj. In an exclusive chat with Hindustan Times, Mamta spoke about the recognition and love Malayalam cinema has got in the last few years across India. (Also read: HT Interview | Vijay Sethupathi: Producers didn't promote my recent film well despite my repeated requests') Mamta Mohandas is dating someone but won't reveal who it is.

A new love for Malayalam cinema

"I feel very happy, very excited for the Malayalam film industry. It's not just one person that's getting recognized, but the industry as a whole. And a lot of films which have just gone by without being watched and appreciated in the past are now being watched. People are just dusting their CD players and watching all these old films," she said excitedly.

The Meow actor, who also works in Tamil and Telugu cinema, went on to add, "Even when I did get the opportunity to do more Tamil and Telugu films back in the day, I still remember there was a deep set hunger inside me, which kept thinking that the Malayalam audience is extremely critical. And to get a pat on my back from them would mean a lot for me. Because when you're getting that certification from the Malayalam audience, then you're like, okay, you're a good actor. Maybe that is just a perception but I'm very happy to be a part of that industry. And our films are doing really, really well."

Praise from her seniors

The accolades Mamta Mohandas received from Bollywood actor Pankaj Tripathi and Gauri Khan, also has her really pleased. "I remember meeting Pankaj Tripathi at IIFA a few years ago and he spoke highly of Jana Gana Mana. I then met Gauri Khan in Mumbai at an event and she was all praise for Malayalam cinema saying we were killing it. I feel it's about time that we get the kind of recognition that we're getting right now," gushed Mamta.

She has been part of the Indian film industry for 19 years now and has always been known to be open about her life though she does deem privacy, especially in her personal life, extremely important. She also opened up about her personal life. The actor had been shuttling between Los Angeles and India in recent years, but stated she has now settled in Kerala.

Personal life update

When asked how she felt about marriage, Mamta said she was open to it. And had she been dating at all? Well, I was seeing someone when I was in Los Angeles but it was a long-distance relationship and didnt work out for whatever reason. For me, the relationship is important but it has to be easy-going as well. I dont want the added stress from a relationship given the other aspects of my life. You can give it a first, second and third chance but beyond that its stressful and I dont think I really need that, stated Mamta honestly.

As for whether the Jana Gana Mana actor was seeing anyone now, here is what she said. Yes, I am seeing someone! she smiled. Whether marriage was on the cards in the future, Mamta signed off saying, I am happy where I am now and lets see where life takes us. Thats what one hopes for but things have to unfold by themselves with time.
On Tuesday, Dalljiet took to Instagram Stories to share a photo of herself with her friends. Dressed in a black outfit, the actor was all smiles as she posed with two friends at a restaurant. She wrote with the photo, When you meet your girl squad...

Dalljiet Kaur met her friends in Kenya.

Dalljiet and Nikhil separated?

Earlier, Nikhil had said that he had sent Dalljiet a legal notice after her recent posts on Instagram accusing him of having an extramarital affair. He added that he will give away all her belongings to charity, if she does not collect them from his Kenya home.

In a June interview to ETimes, Nikhil said that his legal team will take 'the sternest legal action available against Dalljiet should she continue with her unlawful actions'. He said, As a normal citizen of the world, it is very disturbing to see how the gaps in online protection laws, both in India and globally, can, and are, often exploited by those who choose to gain cheap media attention through careless actions that place innocent children and women at risk. Sharing pictures and video footage without consent of those involved, particularly in the case of children, who are always a vulnerable group in society and who always require protection of the law, is illegal and negligent.

Nikhil on the breakdown of their marriage

The divorce speculation surrounding Dalljiet and Nikhil started in February, after they both unfollowed each other and deleted posts from their Instagram handles. In May, Nikhil had spoken about the extramarital affair allegations against him and also confirmed his split from Dalljiet in an interview with ETimes. He said that in January, Dalljiet decided to leave Kenya with her son Jaydon and return to India, 'which ultimately led to the couple's separation'.

Nikhil added that it was hard for Dalljiet to settle in Kenya after their wedding in March 2023 in Mumbai. He said the Indian wedding ceremony 'held cultural significance, but it was not legally binding', adding it was intended to reassure Dalljiets family about her move to Kenya.
Karan Oberoi, who shot to fame with A Band Of Boys in 2001, witnessed a dark phase in his life when he was jailed in 2019. The actor, in a recent interview with Siddharth Kannan told that he starved and almost died while serving his term. Karan was arrested after a woman accused him of rape and extortion. (Also read: Karan Oberoi on being falsely accused of rape: I dread how evil a person can get) Karan Oberoi revealed he almost died during his jail term in 2019 and called it 'hell'.

Karan Oberoi compares life in jail to hell

Karan, while recalling his time in jail said, It was a dark phase in my life. It was like visiting paatal lok (hell) for me. Like how did I land here? There were people around me who had murdered so many people. There too, there were some hardened criminals, who were protecting me. When you dont know if you are going to survive tomorrow because you can possibly die in these conditions I didnt eat anything for the first seven days. For the first nine days, I didnt sleep. I was getting delirious. In that delirious state, I was starting to feel like I might not be able to finish this journey.

He also shared, I almost died because of asphyxiation in an episode. I dont want to discuss it but I thought this is the end, I could see my life flash in front of my eyes. I have claustrophobia and they put me in a place kaal kothri mein daal dia tha and I thought this is the end of my life.

About MeToo allegations against Karan Oberoi

For the unversed, a woman had alleged that Karan had raped her between January 2017 and February 2018. She also accused him of promising to marry her. After being arrested, the actor was given bail the next month by Bombay High Court.

During Karan's jail term, the lady filed a second FIR for assault. She claimed in her complaint that she was being threatened to withdraw her charges. The Mumbai Police, later arrested her on grounds of criminal conspiracy and filing false information in an FIR. In 2023, when her lawyer failed to fulfill the required legal formalities for the case, Bombay HC fined her 20,000.

Karan acted in television shows like Swabhimaan, Aahat, Saaya, Milan, Jassi Jaissi Koi Nahin and The Great Indian Comedy Show. He also featured in the second and third seasons of Inside Edge.
Netflix recently released a new teen mystery K drama, Hierarchy. The drama hooked the viewers on its scandalous plot in a high school where a scholarship student thirsted for revenge and was adamant about bringing dark secrets to the forefront. The characters of the drama indulge in love triangles and others cope with bullying. The high-voltage drama and intense plotline attracted viewers from across the globe to the K drama, resulting in Hierarchy at the second position globally just three days after its release. The show stars young actors Oh Jeong-eui, Lee Chae-min, Kim Jae-won, Ji Hye-won, and Lee Won-jung and is directed by Bae Hyeong-jin who also directed the popular show Alchemy of Souls: Light and Shadow. Hierarchy ranked at second position globally on Netflix charts(Netflix)

Hierarchy ranks second globally on Netflix's Top 10 website

Released on June 7, Hierarchy is currently in second position globally on the Netflix top 10 list. The scandal teen mystery drama has secured the ranking within three days of its premiere on the streaming platform. According to the Netflix Top 10 on June 12, the show has garnered a viewership of 3.5 million views from June 7-9, ranking 2nd in the Netflix TOP 10 non-English TV category.

The show has gained popularity and ranked first in countries such as Thailand, Indonesia, and Vietnam. The show has made its place in the Top 10 list in 51 countries which include Korea, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, France, Nigeria, India, Hong Kong, and Taiwan.

Also Read: Netflix Atypical Family ending explained: Jang Ki Yong and Chun Woo Hees K-drama ends with highest rating

Can we expect a season 2?

Hierarchy is known to be a limited series on Netflix. However, with such mass popularity and success in viewership fans of the show cannot help but speculate about season 2 of the K-drama. The ending of the show was satisfactory as the characters completed the full circle of their learning and returned to the institution with a fresh perspective.

But the post-credit scene hints at a second season as it shows Hae-ra entering a classroom to find the lifeless body of a student, drenched in blood. Later, Ri-an received a foreboding message, and all the students were informed of the recent death, this time occurring within the premises. With a murderer on the loose and mystery looming around the murder, the idea of a second season is not far-fetched.

A user on X wrote, This show was literally so good bro the series had me hooked the whole time I was glued to the screen completely! I really hope we get a Season 2 id love to see what happens nextNo I NEEDDDD to see what happens next.

A second user wrote, That ending tho- likeeeee whos that new principal? Whos JaeYis mom and why she hidden? AND WHO DEAD IN THE CUT SCENE and why is RiAn involved I need a S2.

A third user agreed,"he door is open for #Hierarchy2."
Sharmin Segal and her acting skills have been a topic for discussion ever since her web series Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar arrived on the digital platform. And not for all good reasons. The actor has been brutally trolled and called expressionless all across social media for her underwhelming portrayal of Alamzeb in the Sanjay Leela Bhansali web series. Internet users felt she did not fit the character and were extremely disappointed by her casting. In fact, clips from the series went viral with fans pointing out how Aditi Rao Hydaris character had more expressions than Alamzeb after latters lover passed away. OG Alamzeb and TV actors who took inspiration

Well, it was one thing when faceless trolls were bashing Sharmin from behind their computers. But the fever has now reached television actors. We are talking about Nia Sharma, Reem Shaikh and Jannat Zubair who shared a video mocking Sharmin aka Alamzeb on their Instagram handles. Shot on the set of their show, this clip features the three sitting together and re-enacting a scene from Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar. But they all have poker faces, with zero expressions.

This video, shared by Nia and re-shared by several other handles, has left internet divided. Some have truly enjoyed Nia, Reem and Jannats performance and are trolling Sharmin. For instance, one comment read: No alamzeb was harmed in this vdo, whereas another social media user wrote: Galat he yaar ..Aap teenon me thoda bahut expression aa raha hai... Another message read: Sorry no one can beat Sharmin.... Meanwhile, other internet users have trolled the three TV actors. One comment read: atleast sharmin suit kr rhi thi apne character me ,yeh TikTokers ko ata h kuch ...inko tu kbi film tk ni mil paigi...classy ladies, whereas another troll wrote: Look at the audacity.. all 3rd class actresses mocking another actress. A third comment read: Ye teeno bhi to vaise hi h talant less .

Interestingly, Sharmin made headlines recently when she stated that she took inspiration from Meena Kumari's nothingness in the film Pakeezah (1972) for her performance. This left the late legendary actors stepson Tajdar Amrohi irked. What are your thoughts?
Actors Sonakshi Sinha and Zaheer Iqbals reported upcoming wedding has become the talk of the town. After Sinhas father, actor-politician Shatrughan Sinha denied any knowledge about her marriage, film producer Sarvesh Goel, who is producing Sinha-Iqbals next project titled Tu Hai Meri Kiran, is the latest to share that he was surprised by the news. Zaheer Iqbal and Sonakshi Sinha (Photo: Yogen Shah)

The actor-couple, who has been shooting for the film for the last two months, is expected to wrap up the final schedule by the end of this month.

Talking about the same, Goel shares, We wanted Sonakshi and Zaheer to finish the shoot soon as the project is nearing completion, but we didnt receive their dates. However, after the last day of the shoot on Sunday (June 9), we learned, from media reports, that they were getting married. So, now we understand that it was probably the wedding that caused the delay in dates.

He informs that the duo has committed to wrap the film by June-end. Officially, they have not told us anything and its fair as its their personal matter, he says, adding that Sinha and Iqbal were scheduled to shoot for two more days but due to the Mumbai rains, the shoot could not happen.

Goel adds that hes confident that the couples chemistry would work in favour of the film. The actors have worked together in the film Double XL (2022) and the music video Blockbuster. So, we are confident that this jodi will work well for our film as well, says Goel who is making the film with producer Vishal Rana.

Sinha and Iqbal are reportedly set to tie the knot in Bastian, a Mumbai-based restaurant, on June 23. The wedding is going to be an intimate affair with the couples family and close friends in attendance.

Sonakshi was last seen in OTT series Heeramandi directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali.
Actor Karan Vohra says that working less and being selective has helped him avoid the repetitive and regressive content being showcased on TV. Karan Vohra on his recent visit to Lucknow(Deep Saxena/HT)

I am happy taking things slow and steady. I have been fortunate that my shows Zindagi Ek Mehak, Krishna Chali London and Imlie have worked well. While my peers have worked on 14-15 project, I have only done my furth show since 2016, in addition to OTT series. For me, its maza aana chahiye and bhook puri honi chahiye. Luckily, I dont have to work solely for financial reasons as I have a family business to support me, allowing me to be selective, says the actor on his visit to Lucknow.

Vohra admits that shows on TV can sometimes become regressive, but he feels fortunate.

Thankfully creators are experimenting with different types of content that are very different from the usual regressive shows jo usually TV pe dekhne ko milta hai. Its great to see fresh energy on the show with new types of stories being told. At least a good start is being made with fresh content, but in the TV format, weekly TRPs dictate everything, and thats where the storyline gets tumbled. As an actor, I dont have control over it but can try and choose good content. As a viewer, I admit thoda regressive ho jata hai which should change but I hope dheere dheere hoga!

A self-confessed accidental actor says, I was happily involved in modelling and managing my family's construction business. It was TV producer-director Saurabh Tewari, who discovered me and offered me a lead role. He believed in me and I worked on my first two shows with him. I have always been content, whether in business or acting, and I am satisfied with that.

Vohra says that he is currently in a happy place in life. "Last year, I became a father to twin boys, which is new and exciting personal development. I recently completed filming for an OTT series Naam Namak Nishan, in which I portray an army officer. I always dreamt of wearing armed forces uniform. Besides, I am also working on my daily show Main Hoon Saath Tere, so all is good!
108 out of 543 newly elected MPs in the 18th Lok Sabha have been vocal about LGBTQIA+ issues, according to Pinklist India, a digital archive of policies and policymakers supporting India's queer community. (PTI)

Pinklist India also noted that the number of elected MPs vocal about these issues had reduced from 161 MPs in the last Lok Sabha. The organisation clarifies that 'vocal' refers to discussing the community and its issues, and does not signify whether it was done in a positive or negative light.

Read more: Housing hurdles: Queer community in Lucknow struggles for acceptance

Leading up to elections, LGBTQ issues featured on the manifestos of parties from the INDIA bloc such as the Congress, CPI(M) and the NCP(SP). All three parties, part of the INDIA bloc, promised implementation of anti-discriminatory laws and recognition of same-sex civil unions.

The CPI(M) and NCP(SP) also promised healthcare access when it came to gender affirmative surgeries for the community

The BJP promised the transgender community specifically that it would expand the shelter project Garima Graha for transgender persons and would cover them under the Ayushman Bharat Yojana.

Read more: Trinetra: A lot of queer characters are written for diversity hire| Pride Month Special

Except for a 2012 government estimate of 2.5 million, there is no other data on the LGBTQ population in the country. In the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, few members of the community contested, with several withdrawing candidacy as well.

According to PTI, all three of the transgender candidates who contested in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, lost their security deposits for failing to gain one-sixth of the total valid votes polled.

Though 48,000 transgender voters were registered to vote, according to the ECI, actual voter turnout was down to 20 percent of eligible transgender voters in the last phase of voting.

Read more: Political parties need to queer the election pitch

Data regarding other identities in the community is not available and only those who are registered as third gender by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment are counted under the category of third gender/transgender voters.

Rajan Singh, Delhi's first transgender candidate, told The Hindu, that in order to address issues of the community, it was necessary that they be involved in the dialogue as well.
Imphal: The Manipur government on Wednesday deported 38 more illegal immigrants to Myanmar through the Integrated Check Post (ICP), Moreh. The Manipur govt has deported 38 Myanmar nationals to their home country through the Integrated Check Post (Twitter/@NBirenSingh)

The first phase of deportation of illegal immigrants from Myanmar in Manipur was completed on May 2.

Taking to X, chief minister N Biren Singh said, In continuation of the deportation process of immigrants, the Government of Manipur has deported 38 (thirty-eight) Myanmar Nationals to their home country Myanmar through the Integrated Check Post (ICP), Moreh, today. They have been handed over safely to Myanmar authorities by the Immigration Officers of Government of India posted at ICP, Moreh.

The chief minister also shared the photographs of the deportation process on X.

They have been handed over safely to Myanmar authorities by the Immigration Officers of 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. Lets keep our borders and country secure, the CM added.

On May 2 this year, the state government completed the first phase of deportation of 38 illegal immigrants from Myanmar exiting the country via Moreh.

In March this year, there were also reports of deporting seven Myanmar nationals, including women, by airlifting them from Imphal International Airport to Moreh, a border town located about 110 km south of Imphal in Tengnoupal district, which borders Myanmar.

Earlier, Singh had highlighted the report of the unnatural growth of 996 new villages due to illegal immigration through a similar social media post wherein he also mentioned the threat posed by this phenomenon to the indigenous people and national security.

Responding to a question by an opposition Congress MLA in the last state assembly session, Singh had said that 6,746 illegal Myanmarese were detected in the state from May 3 last year till February 27 this year.
New Delhi: At least 40 Indian nationals were killed and dozens more injured on Wednesday in a devastating fire in a building in southern Kuwait housing Indian workers, said officials, adding the number of casualties is expected to rise. The fire in the Al-Mangaf building, a residence for workers, was reported to authorities in Al-Ahmadi governorate at 4.30am (Twitter Photo)

The fire in the Al-Mangaf building, a residence for workers, was reported to authorities in Al-Ahmadi governorate at 4:30am, and most of the deaths were due to smoke inhalation while the residents were asleep, reports in the Kuwaiti media said.

NBTC group, an engineering and construction firm, rented the building to house more than 195 workers, most of them Indians from Kerala, Tamil Nadu and northern states. Those who died ranged in age between 20 and 50 years, the reports said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the Indian Embassy in Kuwait was closely monitoring the situation and working with the authorities there to assist the affected. The fire mishap in Kuwait City is saddening. My thoughts are with all those who have lost their near and dear ones. I pray that the injured recover at the earliest, he said in a post on X, formerly Twitter.

Deeply shocked by the news of the fire incident in Kuwait...There are reportedly over 40 deaths and over 50 have been hospitalised, external affairs minister S Jaishankar said in another post.

People familiar with the matter confirmed on condition of anonymity that 40 Indian nationals had died and more than 50 had sustained injuries. Details about the casualties are still being gathered as the dead and injured were taken to several hospitals.

Indian ambassador to Kuwait, Adarsh Swaika, visited the site to gather information, Jaishankar said. Deepest condolences to the families of those who tragically lost their lives. Wish early and full recovery to those who have been injured. Our Embassy will render the fullest assistance to all concerned in this regard, he said.

Swaika visited three hospitals where the injured were taken and assured them of the full support of Indian authorities, according to posts on X by the Indian Embassy.

The eleven injured Indian nationals were taken to Mubarak Al-Kabeer Hospital, and 10 of them are expected to be released later in the day. Six more injured people were taken to Farwaniya Hospital, and four of them were subsequently released, while one was shifted to Jahra Hospital. More than 30 injured Indians were taken to Al-Adan Hospital, and officials said most of them were in a stable condition.

The Indian embassy said in a post on X that it is in touch with Kuwaiti law enforcement, fire service and health authorities for necessary action and emergency medical care.

Footage shared on social media showed huge flames and black smoke coming out of the building as firefighters attempted to control the blaze.

Kuwaits interior minister Sheikh Fahad Al-Yousuf Al-Sabah ordered police to apprehend the owner and janitor of the Al-Mangaf building, as well as the owner of the company responsible for the workers living in the building.

What happened today is a result of the greed of company and building owners, Al-Sabah was quoted as saying by Kuwait Times as he toured the scene of the blaze.

Al-Sabah has further ordered the Kuwait municipality and the public authority for manpower to take immediate action to address similar violations where large numbers of workers are crammed into one residential building and to ensure that all safety requirements are in place to prevent similar incidents.

Saud Al-Dabbous, director general of the Kuwait Municipality, issued orders to suspend several officials, including the deputy director general for Al-Ahmadi governorate, the acting director of Al-Ahmadi municipality, the director of the audit and engineering department, and the head of the violations removal department.
Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut on Wednesday criticised Union home minister Amit Shah over the terror arrack in Jammu and Kashmir, alleging that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader "was busy wiping out the Opposition". Raut also claimed that during Shah's tenure as home minister, the highest number of security forces and civilians were killed in Jammu and Kashmir. Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut (left) and Union home minister Amit Shah.(File)

"In Amit Shah's tenure, the highest number of security forces and civilians got killed in Jammu and Kashmir. When he was taking oath in Delhi, 10 people were killed. Today, again, CRPF jawans were killed. Instead of doing his work, he is busy finishing opposition. If he will put all his efforts into eliminating terrorists, then this will be good for the nation," Raut was quoted as saying by ANI.

Raut urged Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar and Andhra chief minister Chandrababu Naidu  both key allies of the NDA government in the Centre  to seek Amit Shah's resignation.

Chief Minister's (Manipur) convoy attacked by Naxals, the country is in danger from Amit Shah who is again home minister in Modi government, he said. Nitish Kumar and Chandrababu Naidu must seek Amit Shah's resignation because the government is formed with their support.

Earlier, Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray had targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the attacks in Jammu and Kashmir.

He had sought to understand the point of abrogating Article 370. The legislation, which granted special status to the region, was revoked on August 5, 2019, less than two months after PM Modi was elected to serve his second successive term.

Lives are being lost. Who is responsible for the terror attacks in Jammu and Kashmir? Thackeray asked. I am concerned about the future of the country and not about the future of the NDA government, he added.

Terror attacks in J&K



On Sunday, terrorists attacked a bus carrying pilgrims in Reasi, causing it to veer off the road and fall into a deep gorge, killing nine and injuring 41. Two days later, terrorists attacked a joint checkpost in Doda, injuring six security personnel.

On the same night, one Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) Jawan and one terrorist were killed in another encounter in Kathua district that broke out after ultras attacked a house in Saida Sukhal village in Hiranagar.

The Jammu and Kashmir police have said that the terrorist group Lashkar-e-Taiba is believed to be behind the attack.

The Jammu and Kashmir police have said that the terrorist group Lashkar-e-Taiba is believed to be behind the attack in Reasi, reported ANI. The J-K police have formed 11 teams to investigate the attack. A team from the National Investigation Agency (NIA) is also assessing the situation in Reasi.
The Congress on Wednesday said the BJP's chest-thumping and "hollow" claims of return of peace and normalcy in Jammu and Kashmir have been thoroughly exposed by the three terror attacks in the region in the past three days. Pawan Khera claimed that in the past 10 years, "loud chest-thumping" by the Modi government has made national security a "casualty." (File)

Congress leader and in-charge of the media and publicity department Pawan Khera also questioned the silence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the matter, claiming he has time to respond to Pakistani leaders, but no time to condemn the brutal terror attacks.

"BJP's loudmouth chest-thumping and hollow claims of return of peace and normalcy in Jammu and Kashmir have been thoroughly exposed. The fact that BJP did not even bother to fight elections in Kashmir valley is a testament to the fact that their 'Naya Kashmir' policy is an abject failure," Khera said in a statement.

His remarks come amid a rise in terror incidents in the twin border districts of Rajouri and Poonch.

Khera claimed that in the past 10 years, "loud chest-thumping" by the Modi government has made national security a "casualty." While innocents suffer the consequences of cowardly terror attacks, business as usual continues, he said.

"Even as Shri Narendra Modi and his NDA Government was swearing in, and heads of states were visiting the country, India suffered a horrific and gruesome terror attack in Reasi district of Jammu and Kashmir, where 9 precious lives were lost and at least 33 people were injured, when terrorist fired upon a bus filled with pilgrims from Shiv Khori Temple to Katra," he said.

"Not even innocent children were spared. Did the victims not deserve a word of sympathy from the self-proclaimed 'divine' prime minister," he asked.

Following that, the Congress leader said, another terror attack took place in Kathua, where one civilian was injured.

On June 11, he said, six security personnel and a civilian were injured in an encounter with terrorists at Chattergalla, Doda, Jammu.

According to officials, terrorists opened fire on a joint checkpoint manned by the 4 Rashtriya Rifles and police in the Chattergalla area along Bhadarwah-Pathankot.

"A spate of terror attacks has gripped Jammu and Kashmir in the past three days, whilst PM Modi is busy posting responses to congratulatory tweets by Pakistani leaders  Nawaz Sharif and Pak PM PM Shahbaz Sharif.

"Why has he not spoken a single word on the dastardly terror attacks? Why has he maintained a stoic silence," Khera asked.

"Is it not a fact that Pir Panjal Range Rajouri and Poonch has now become a hotbed of cross-border terrorism in the past 2 years, as over 35 soldiers have been martyred, following terror attacks in these areas in the past two years, alone? And now terror has also spread to neighbouring Reasi district, which was considered relatively peaceful," he said.

The Congress leader noted that at least 19 major terror attacks have taken place on security installations under the Modi government, including on CRPF camps, army camps, Air Force station and military stations in Pulwama, Pampore, Uri, Pathankot, Gurdaspur, Amarnath Yatra attack, Sunjwan Army camp, Poonch terror attacks where scores of precious lives have been lost.

"Is it not true that Modi Government invited the rogue ISI to investigate the Pathankot attack in 2016," he asked.

Is it not true that the Modi government endangered national security even as 2,262 terror attacks took place in J-K, in which 363 civilians died and 596 jawans were martyred? Khera added.
An encounter erupted between terrorists and security forces in the Tanta area of the Doda district on Wednesday, people aware of the development said. Doda: Security personnel during search and cordon operation after a terrorist attack, at Bhadarwah, in Doda district, Wednesday, June 12, 2024.(PTI)

The Indian Army's 4 Rashtriya Rifles (4RR) and the Special Operations Group (SOG) of the local police launched a joint operation based on intelligence about terrorist presence near Tanta. During the initial exchange of fire, one SOG jawan was injured and evacuated for medical treatment.

As the operation expanded, security forces re-established contact with the terrorists around 5 kilometres from the Jammu-Himachal Pradesh border, in the upper reaches of Gandoh.

Today at 20:20 hrs, an encounter started between security forces and terrorists at Kota Top, Gandoh, Doda. Constable Fareed Ahmed (973/D) of SOG Gandoh was injured during the operation at Kerloo Bhalessa, ADGP Jammu said on X.

More updates will follow as the situation develops.

Read: Jammu and Kashmir: More terrorists could be hiding; police say check vehicles before

The encounter broke out within 24 hours of two separate terror attacks in the Kathua and Doda districts of Jammu and Kashmir. A CRPF jawan was killed while six security personnel were injured in the overnight encounters, officials said on Wednesday.

Speaking to India Today, former Chief of Army Staff Ved Prakash Malik cautioned against rushing into the assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir by September and said securing the region was more important than holding polls.

Malik said, Don't rush into the elections in Jammu and Kashmir by September. Consolidate gains in Kashmir. A few successes terrorists have in Jammu will spur terrorism even in the Valley. Postpone elections by a year.

Read: Terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir: A look at past terror attacks during Amarnath Yatra

National Conference leader and former J&K chief minister Omar Abdullah raised his objection saying it would be giving in to the extremist forces.

You have NO gains in Kashmir if militant outfits are able to derail the elections that the PM, HM & Election Commission have committed to holding before the SC deadline of 30th Sept. Whats more surprising is that this has come from an army officer who saw Lok Sabha polls happening in J&K soon after the Kargil War & during height of militancy in 1999. What a shame! Abdullah posted on X.
New Delhi: India will continue to push for a return to dialogue and diplomacy to find a resolution to the Russia-Ukraine war, foreign secretary Vinay Kwatra said on Wednesday ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modis departure for Italy to join an outreach session of the G7 Summit. Foreign Secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra (Twitter Photo)

The summit, being held at the resort of Fasano in Italys Apulia region during June 13-15, is set to be dominated by the Ukraine war and the Israel-Hamas conflict. While Modi will not participate in the main summit, and the outreach session will focus on issues such as AI, energy and Africa, the Ukraine crisis is expected to figure in his bilateral meetings on the margins of the meeting.

Kwatra told a media briefing ahead of Modis first overseas trip in his third term that it is quite natural that the Russia-Ukraine conflict will be one of the global issues that will come up in bilateral meetings, and India will reiterate its perspective, which is well known.

Also Read: New Delhi pushing Moscow to release Indians in Russian army: Foreign secretary

We have always maintained that dialogue and diplomacy is the best option, he said, recalling Modis remarks to Russian President Vladimir Putin during a 2022 meeting that todays era is not of war. He said the Indian stance had gathered widespread appreciation and recognition.

While Kwatra confirmed a bilateral meeting between Modi and his Italian counterpart Georgia Meloni on the sidelines of the G7 Summit, he ducked questions on possible meetings with US President Joe Biden, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who is a special invitee to the summit, by saying the final schedule is still a work in progress.

Kwatra also said India will participate in the Ukraine peace summit to be hosted by Switzerland at Burgenstock during June 15-16 at an appropriate level, though New Delhi is yet to take a call on who will represent the country.

That consideration is currently going on in the system, and as and when we have a decision on the representative from India wholl be participating, well be very happy to share it with you, he said.

People familiar with the matter said both Modi and external affairs minister S Jaishankar are set to skip this peace summit.

Since the start of Russias invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, New Delhi has not criticised Moscows actions. It has sought an end to hostilities and called on both sides to return to the negotiating table to find a resolution. India has also highlighted the impact of the war, especially the spiralling prices of food, fuel and fertilisers, on countries of the Global South.

Also Read: Two Indians recruited by Russian Army killed in Ukraine conflict: MEA

Kwatra again highlighted the derivative impact of the conflict on food, fuel and fertiliser availability, the challenges to global supply chains and disruptions in the global economy and said, We have always been at the forefront to talk about not just the conflict, the need for dialogue and diplomacy, but also the way the conflict is impacting the priorities and interests of developing countries.

Referring to Modis participation in the outreach session of the G7 Summit on June 14, Kwatra said the discussions will focus on AI, energy, Africa and the Mediterranean. Indias participation in the outreach session for the 11th straight year is a recognition of its contributions to tackling global challenges such as peace, security, development and environmental preservation, he said.

Besides India, the leaders of Algeria, Argentina, Brazil, Egypt, Kenya, Mauritania, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Tunisia and Turkiye have been invited to the outreach session.
The two terrorists who fired inside a border village in Jammu and Kashmir's Kathua district were killed by security forces on Wednesday. A CRPF soldier lost his life during the operation. However, the terror attack could have resulted in massive civilian casualties had the terrorists not asked the villagers for water. Kathua: A bullet-proof vehicle of a police officer being towed away after it came under terrorist firing.(PTI)

The CRPF, Army and the police killed the second terrorist who was holed up near Kathua's Saida village on Wednesday noon. At 3 am, he had killed a CRPF jawan after he tried to break the cordon of the security forces by indiscriminately firing at them.

During the operation, official vehicles of Deputy Inspector General of Police, Jammu-Samba-Kathua range, Sunil Gupta and Senior Superintendent of Police, Kathua, Anayat Ali Choudhary, were hit by several bullets but the officers escaped unhurt.

Additional Director General of Police (Jammu zone), Anand Jain revealed that the two terrorists had entered the village at 8 pm on Tuesday. They knocked on the doors of a house seeking water. The occupants got frightened and informed the police.

Seeing the police, one of the terrorists tried to throw a grenade at the team but was instantly killed.

"They asked for water from a few houses to which villagers grew suspicious and slammed the doors on them and a few raised hue and cry. The terrorists panicked and fired randomly in the air and also at one odd villager who was passing by," a senior official said in a statement.

Meanwhile, a villager claimed his quick thinking and action averted a potential tragedy.

Surinder, an eyewitness, said he raised an alarm in the village about the terrorists.

Many children were playing, and people were out walking. They could have easily killed 15 to 20 people, mostly children. People were heading to Satsang in the evening. It could have been catastrophic, the man told PTI.

"It was around 7:30 to 7:45 pm. I was on my bike when a child informed me about two armed youths in the village. I saw them dressed in black with AK rifles, calling me to approach them. I suspected they were terrorists and warned the villagers, leading them to rush home. Shops closed and vehicles stopped," he told PTI.

The attack comes days after terrorists killed nine people and injured 41 as they attacked a bus carrying Hindu pilgrims from Shiv Khoura to Katra.
After three terror attacks in three days, the Jammu and Kashmir police today issued an alert advisory in the Jammu region, urging the masses to be vigilant about movement of suspicious individuals, vehicles and objects. Meanwhile, After the Kathua attack, a senior police officer said more terrorists could be hiding in the area. Security forces stand guard near the site of a encounter between security forces and terrorists.

Officials said that the people of Jammu and Rajouri have been urged to thoroughly check their vehicles before turning on their engines, reported PTI.

Police vehicles equipped with loudspeakers made announcements in Akhnoor and Jammu areas, urging the people to remain alert and report any suspicious activities or objects.

The police and security forces reviewed the security at checkpoints and police facilities in the Akhnoor sector. They have asked the officers to remain vigilant.

In Jammu and Samba, the police have asked the masses to report any terror-related concerns.

10 people, including a CRPF personnel, have died in three days in three separate terror attacks in the Jammu region.

The first attack took place when terrorists opened fire at a bus full of Hindu pilgrims, in Reasi.

9 people died in the attack as the vehicle veered off the road and fell into a gorge after the driver was hit by a bullet.

The second attack took place in Doda district in which several security personnel sustained injuries.

In the third terror attack, in Kathua district, a CRPF personnel died in an encounter with two terrorists, who were later neutralised by the security forces.

The security forces are currently running search and combing operations.

"A new infiltrative group has emerged in the region and there are chances that more terrorists are hiding in the area. A search operation is still underway and we have cordoned off the area. More details on the incident will be conveyed later," ADGP Jammu Anand Jain told reporters after the Kathua attack.

With inputs from PTI, ANI
A Central Reserve Police Force or CRPF jawan was killed, and two terrorists were gunned down in an encounter in Kathua district of Jammu and Kashmir that broke out on Tuesday evening. The CRPF jawan, Kabir Dass, was critically injured in a firing by a terrorist holed up in Kathua district's Saida Sukhal village around 3am, officials said, adding the soldier was shifted to a hospital where he succumbed to injuries during treatment. Jammu & Kashmir Police personnel stand near the site of the ongoing encounter between security forces personnel and terrorists at Saida Sukhal village in Hiranagar sector of Kathua district, on Wednesday.(PTI)

The officials said the terrorist opened indiscriminate fire to break the security cordon in the village, over 60 kms from Jammu. 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 another was gunned down later on Wednesday as the operation was still underway in the area. The terrorists are believed to have infiltrated from across the border.

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.

About the operation in Kathua's Saida Sukhal village, ADGP (Jammu zone) Anand Jain said, "Two terrorists, who appeared to have freshly infiltrated (from across the border), surfaced in the village around 8pm and asked for water from a household. The people got frightened, and as soon as information was received, a police team rushed to the village."

"One of the terrorists tried to hurl a grenade at the police team and was killed in the exchange of fire, while the second terrorist is reported to be hiding in the village," Jain said, adding an assault rifle and a rucksack were recovered from the slain terrorist whose identity and group affiliation were being ascertained.

The two overnight incidents come just 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 in Reasi, resulting in the death of nine people and injuries to 42 others.

6 security personnel injured in Doda terrorist attack

In Doda, terrorists fired on a joint checkpost of the 4 Rashtriya Rifles and police at Chattergalla area late on Tuesday night, leading to a fierce gunfight which continued for several hours.

Five Rashtriya Rifles personnel and a special police officer were injured and taken to hospital. Additional security personnel have been rushed to the area to intensify the operation against the terrorists.
Several Pakistan-made items were found from the possession of two slain terrorists who attacked a village in Jammu and Kashmir's Kathua district on Tuesday. Kathua: Security forces stand guard near the site of an encounter between security forces and terrorists.

The local authorities said three magazines with 30 rounds were found from the terrorists. They also found three live grenades.

The terrorists had 500 notes worth 1 lakh. They possessed Pakistan-made chocolates, dry chenna and stale chapatis.

The terrorists, who killed a CRPF soldier during the encounter, also had Pakistan-made medicines and pain-killer injections, two packs of A4 battery cells, one handset having an antenna and two wires hanging from the handset.

According to the Kathua police, they had one M4 carbine and one AK-47 rifle.

A gunfight broke out on Tuesday evening between the security forces and terrorists in Kathua's Hira Nagar area.

Also read: Jammu and Kashmir: How was Kathua tragedy averted? Police say terrorists asked for water

"Two terrorists have been neutralised, and a search operation is underway in the area," ADGP Jammu Anand Jain told reporters on Wednesday.

"A new infiltrative group has emerged in the region and there are chances that more terrorists are hiding in the area. A search operation is still underway and we have cordoned off the area. More details on the incident will be conveyed later," he added, reported PTI.

It was a joint operation by Army, Jammu and Kashmir police and CRPF personnel, the officer said.

While one terrorist was killed early on Wednesday as he tried to lob a grenade, the other hid. At 3 am, he tried to break the police's cordon as he fired indiscriminately at the security forces.

A CRPF personnel died in the firing.

One civilian was also injured during the operation.

This was third terror attack in the Jammu region since Sunday.

9 people had died in an attack in the union territory's Reasi district.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday expressed grief over the death of at least 40 Indian nationals in a devastating fire in a building in the southern Mangaf district of Kuwait. Prime Minister Narendra Modi.(ANI)

Modi said that the Indian Embassy in Kuwait is closely monitoring the situation and working with Kuwaiti authorities to assist those adversely affected.

The fire mishap in Kuwait City is saddening. My thoughts are with all those who have lost their near and dear ones, Modi wrote on X. I pray that the injured recover at the earliest. The Indian Embassy in Kuwait is closely monitoring the situation and working with the authorities there to assist the affected.

At least 40 Indian nationals were killed and several others were injured in the massive fire in a building housing Indian workers in southern Kuwait. Officials fear that the number of casualties could rise.

The fire in the Al-Mangaf building, a residence for workers, was reported to authorities in Al-Ahmadi governorate at 4:30am. According to local media reports, most of the deaths were due to smoke inhalation while the residents were asleep.

NBTC group, an engineering and construction firm, rented the building to house more than 195 workers, most of them Indians from Kerala, Tamil Nadu and northern states. Those who died ranged in age between 20 and 50 years, the reports said.

Prior to Modi, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar expressed deep shock over the incident and said the Indian embassy in the Gulf nation will render the "fullest assistance" to all concerned.

"Deeply shocked by the news of the fire incident in Kuwait city. There are reportedly over 40 deaths and over 50 have been hospitalized. Our Ambassador has gone to the camp. We are awaiting further information," Jaishankar said on X.

"Deepest condolences to the families of those who tragically lost their lives. Wish early and full recovery to those who have been injured," he said.

Indian ambassador to Kuwait Adarsh Swaika had also visited the Al-Adan hospital, where over 30 Indian workers injured in the fire have been admitted.

"Amb @AdarshSwaika visited the Al-Adan hospital where over 30 Indian workers injured in today's fire incident have been admitted. He met a number of patients and assured them of full assistance from the Embassy," the Indian embassy said on X.
In the wake of the ambush on Manipur CM N. Biren Singhs advance security convoy in Kangpokpi district on Monday and the recent surge of violence in Jiribam district, a BJP MLA has raised concerns about security breaches and demanded an inquiry into police officers who received advance intelligence reports regarding the situation in Jiribam earlier this year. "...These officers should be held accountable for the loss of lives and property of all those affected and, pending such inquiry they should be suspended and strict action should be taken against them as per procedures prescribed by law," tweeted the MLA (PTI)

In a post on X on Wednesday, BJP MLA Rajkumar Imo Singh said, "The state government has to initiate an inquiry regarding the lackadaisical attitude of the officers who were given advance intelligence report by the state government regarding the situation in Jiribam earlier this year. These officers should be held accountable for the loss of lives and property of all those affected and, pending such inquiry they should be suspended and strict action should be taken against them as per procedures prescribed by law."

ALSO READ: Advance security convoy of Manipur CM ambushed

"Along with their associate officers, they should also be held accountable for the ambush on the state police team heading as the advance cavalcade for the Chief Minister, which is also related to the Jiribam incident," he added.

On June 9, the chief ministers office instructed the police department to submit an action taken report by June 11 on the security measures taken up in Jiribam district as the CMO had previously given inputs about the movement of 200 armed Kuki Zo militants from Churachandpur towards Jiribam district.

In January, the CMO had informed that militants were seen in Phaitol and Old and New Kaiphundai in Tamenglong district, bordering Jiribam, and instructed the DGP to "take all necessary security measures and respond to threats posed by these groups."

Another urgent order from the CMO on January 27 instructed the DGP to prevent the escalation of the law and order situation in Jiribam and to "implement effective countermeasures, including the strategic use of central and state forces."
The progress of monsoon is likely to weaken over the next week and consequently intensify heatwave conditions over northwest and eastern India, meteorologists said on Tuesday. A man offers water to another on a hot summer day, near the Taj Mahal in Agra, on Wednesday. (PTI)

Models are not suggesting much rainfall, especially over north India over the next six or eight days. We cannot expect much rainfall over northwestern India now. This happens at times, and monsoon may pick up only by the end of June, said M Rajeevan, meteorologist and former secretary of the Union ministry of earth sciences .

Large swathes of northwestern and eastern have already clocked temperatures significantly higher than normal for the past two or three days. Moreover, since June 1, there has been a 1% deficiency in monsoon rainfall, with a 49% deficiency over northwest India; 31% over east and northeast India; 1% over central India. Southern peninsular India, meanwhile, has recorded 69% excess rain.

ALSO READ- Number Theory: Monsoon's 1st week has decreased heat only in parts of India

IMD however did not officially confirm that monsoon is weakening. Its too early to say when monsoon will reach the northwest, said M Mohapatra, director general, IMD.

Monsoon progress over northwest India may be slow. Models predict below normal rainfall over northwest India in June. But we do not have the forecast immediately on how the monsoon will progress over the north, Mohapatra had said on May 27.

Skymet, a private weather forecast, concurred.

There will be a monsoon lull for the next three or four days at least. Rainfall will reduce over Telangana, Rayalaseema, rest of peninsular India, said Mahesh Palawat, vice-president of climate and meteorology at Skymet Weather.

It is already weak over east India. Progress may pick up again over east India around May 16 and 17. As a result, temperatures will rise over east India, including Jharkhand, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and northwest India. Hot, dry westerly winds are expected to blow over the region, he said.

ALSO READ- Beaches in Goa become deserted and quieter with first pre-monsoon showers

The progress of the crucial weather system also halted for nearly a week in early June last year, owing to the impact of cyclone Biparjoy. Monsoon current advanced to the south Andaman Sea and Nicobar Islands in time (on 19th May, 3 days ahead of its normal date). However, further advance thereafter was sluggish. It set in over Kerala on 8th June, 7 days behind the normal date and covered the entire country by 2nd July, 6 days ahead of normal date. On June 23, the northern limit of monsoon (NLM), or the peak of the monsoon line, had only covered peninsular and part of east India but in the next two days the monsoon had covered nearly the entire country last year.

With 47% of the countrys population dependent on agriculture for their livelihood, a bountiful monsoon has a direct correlation with a healthy rural economy. Earlier, the Met department in its long-range forecast issued on April 15 said monsoon rain over the country between June and September will likely be above normal, at 106% of the long-period average, with a model error of  5%.

Monsoon weakened after setting in over Maharashtra on June 9, meteorologists said. Except the west coast, rainfall will reduce over the rest of the country for the next few days, Palawat added.

Meanwhile, the monsoon has advanced further into Maharashtra, all of Telangana and some more parts of Chhattisgarh on Wednesday.

ALSO READ- The secret to staying healthy during monsoons: Top Ayurvedic tips and tricks

The northern limit of monsoon is now passing through Navsari, Jalgaon, Amravati, Chandrapur, Bijapur, Sukma, Malkangiri, Vizianagaram and Islampur. Conditions are favourable for its further advance into some more parts of Odisha, coastal Andhra and northwest Bay of Bengal over the next three or four days.

Meanwhile, heatwave to severe conditions prevailed over several parts of Uttar Pradesh, in isolated pockets of south Bihar, Jharkhand, Gangetic West Bengal, Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi and in isolated pockets of Uttarakhand, north Rajasthan, Odisha and northeast Madhya Pradesh.

On Wednesday, heatwave conditions observed in most parts of Punjab, Haryana-Chandigarh-Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand; in many parts of north Rajasthan; in some parts of Himachal Pradesh, south Bihar, north Odisha and in isolated pockets of Gangetic West Bengal. Severe heatwave conditions also observed in isolated pockets of Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Jharkhand & Gangetic West Bengal.

The maximum temperatures are in the range of 45-47C over some parts of west Jharkhand, south Uttar Pradesh, Haryana-Chandigarh-Delhi, Punjab, north Rajasthan. The highest maximum temperature of 47.5C is reported at Kanpur IAF (East Uttar Pradesh) over the country.

The weather office said heatwave to severe heatwave conditions are likely in parts of Uttar Pradesh till June 16 and over Gangetic West Bengal, Bihar and Jharkhand till June 14.

Heat wave conditions are very likely in isolated to some pockets of Uttarakhand, Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh and Delhi over the next five days, northeast Madhya Pradesh, northwest Rajasthan till June 14; northeast Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu Division and Odisha on June 13.

IMD has issued a red category warning for Bihar on June 13, Jharkhand on June 13 and 14; East Uttar Pradesh till June 16, west Uttar Pradesh till June 16.

It has also issued an orange alert for Bihar on June 14; Jharkhand on June 15; Haryana-Chandigarh-Delhi, Punjab, Gangetic West Bengal on June 13.

A red category warning implies that local authorities need to act to prevent heat related emergencies. In red category warning areas, there is a very high likelihood of developing heat illness and heat stroke in all ages. Extreme care needed for vulnerable people, IMD has warned.
Women candidates (24) in the fray for the June 26 urban local bodies (ULB) in Nagaland outnumber men (17) in the state capital Kohima. Overall, 238 women or over 35% of 669 candidates are contesting the polls being held in the state for the first time since 2004. The state government in April assured the Supreme Court that the civic elections would be held with a 33% quota for women. (ANI/Representative)

In April, the state government assured the Supreme Court that the elections to the states 36 councils would be held with a 33% quota for women by June 2024. The assurance came in response to a Peoples Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) plea.

The ruling Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP) has fielded the highest number of candidates (256) including 96 women. Seventy-five women are contesting as independents.

As many as 23 women have filed their nominations in Mon, Longleng, Shamator, and Kiphire districts, where an umbrella body of tribal groups boycotts central and state elections to press for its demand for an autonomous territory. People in these six eastern districts abstained from the April 19 parliamentary elections.

Rosemary Dzuvichu, who spearheaded the fight for the implementation of the quota for women in civic bodies, said the participation of women candidates in reserved and unreserved wards is an important phase for Naga women. After 20-plus years, the outcome of the ULB elections will herald the development of our towns. The active participation of women in urban decision-making bodies is what we envisioned when we formed the Joint Action Committee on Womens Reservation (JAWCR). Our struggle has been long but worthwhile.

Aleno Nienu, 50, a single mother of four contesting from a reserved ward in Phek town as a Naga Peoples Front (NPF) candidate, said the women who get elected irrespective of political affiliation should remember that womens quota was brought about with much sacrifice. We should respect the privilege and strive to give our best to our communities, she said.

Nienu said the state faced violence from those who opposed reservation while thanking the Naga Mothers Association, which formed JACWR to fight for 33% women reservation.

I am also grateful to the state government for implementing womens reservation and enabling this opportunity, said Nienu, who is contesting against an NDPP candidate.

Thenusou Sekhose Yhome, who is contesting a general seat in Kohima on an NDPP ticket, said Nagalands towns have missed a lot of opportunities due to the almost two-decade struggle for womens reservation.

Tokheli, who was the first woman chairperson of a village council in Nagaland and is contesting a general ward in Dimapur, said reservation or no reservation she cannot abandon her supporters.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, who is being credited for his party's unexpected performance in the Lok Sabha elections, claimed on Wednesday that Prime Minister Narendra Modi barely escaped a defeat in his parliamentary constituency, Varanasi. Kozhikode: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi being welcomed by party leader Ramesh Chennithala.(PTI file photo)

"The truth is the Prime Minister barely escaped in Varanasi and he would have been defeated himself in Varanasi. The BJP was defeated in Ayodhya. The people of Ayodhya have given a message that we don't appreciate hatred and violence," he said in Kerala's Malappuram.

PM Modi defeated Congress candidate Ajay Rai by over 150000 votes. PM Modi polled 612970 votes. Ajay Rai received 460457 votes.

Samajwadi Party's Awadesh Prasad won the polls in Ayodhya.

The Congress, belying exit polls that had completely written off the party, won 99 seats, including six in BJP bastion Uttar Pradesh.

More importantly, the Opposition's INDIA bloc won 234 seats. The BJP, whose tally crossed 300 in the previous elections, won 240 seats -- 32 short of a simple majority in the lower house of the Parliament.

To form the government, the BJP had to rely on its allies -- N Chandrababu Naidu, Nitish Kumar and Eknath Shinde.

After the elections, the Congress claimed the loss of seats was a moral defeat for Narendra Modi.

Earlier this week, Modi took oath as the Prime Minister of India for the third in a row.

Taking a jibe at Modi, Rahul Gandhi claimed the PM used to talk about tearing up the Constitution but was now forced to worship it.

"Before the elections, you saw the BJP leaders saying that they would tear up the Constitution. After elections, you saw the Prime Minister doing this (touches the Constitution to his forehead) to the Constitution," he said.

"The people of Kerala, Uttar Pradesh and all other states showed the Prime Minister that he cannot dictate to the people of India what they want. The people of India also so the PM that the Constitution is our voice, do not touch it," he added.

In Uttar Pradesh, Congress ally Samajwadi Party won 37 Lok Sabha seats, emerging as the single-largest party. The BJP won 33 seats.

With inputs from ANI, PTI
NEW DELHI: India has consistently pushed Moscow to ensure the safety and repatriation of its nationals recruited by the Russian Army, foreign secretary Vinay Kwatra said on Wednesday after the external affairs ministry confirmed two more Indians had been killed in the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Vinay Mohan Kwatra said the Indian government has taken the issue very seriously, and has taken immediate action on receiving information about Indians in the war zone (X/AmbVMKwatra)

The total number of Indians killed while serving with the Russian military on the frontlines with Ukraine since the beginning of the year has gone up to four, and some 200 Indians have reportedly been recruited by the Russian Army as support staff. On Tuesday, India demanded a verified stop to further recruitment of Indians by the Russian Army.

Since the first day, we have constantly been discussing this matter with the Russian authorities, the system and the leadership...All of our efforts are aimed at keeping the Indians safe, Kwatra told a media briefing in response to a question on the matter.

We have clearly told the Russian officials that all Indians in the war zone, howsoever they got there is another matter, should be returned [to India], he said, speaking in Hindi.

Whenever Indian authorities have received information about the recruitment of Indians by the Russian Army or about them being sent to the war zone, they have made efforts along with domestic agencies to stop such illegal recruitment, he said.

Kwatra said the Indian government has taken the issue very seriously, and has taken immediate action on receiving information about Indians in the war zone. He added, We have contacted their families, examined how the individual reached [Russia], and asked Russian authorities to respond and this will continue.

The external affairs ministry said late on Tuesday that two Indians who had been recruited by the Russian Army were recently killed in the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine. It didnt give details about the Indian nationals who were killed.

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. Hemal Ashwinbhai Mangua, a 23-year-old resident of Surat in Gujarat, died in a Ukrainian air strike in February while serving as a security helper at Donetsk.

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 said.

India has not criticised Russias invasion of Ukraine and only called for the two countries to end hostilities and return to the path of dialogue and diplomacy to resolve their differences.

The external affairs ministry also urged Indian nationals to exercise caution while seeking employment opportunities in Russia.

Indian authorities had earlier acknowledged that 20-odd Indians had sought help to be released from their jobs with the Russian Army and that 10 of them had been repatriated.
GUWAHATI: Arunachal Pradesh chief minister Pema Khandu was elected as leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) legislature party on Wednesday, clearing the decks for another term in the states top post. Pema Khandu has been the Arunachal Pradesh chief minister since July 2016 when he first took oath as head of a Congress government (X/PemaKhanduBJP)

Khandu was elected to lead the legislature party at a meeting in state capital Itanagar, ten days after the assembly election results were announced on June 2.

In two posts on X, Khandu thanked the lawmakers for their continued support. Feeling so honoured to be elected unanimously as the Legislature Party leader of Arunachal Pradesh BJP. With utmost humility, I accept the responsibility of leading the BJP to another term of development oriented governance in sync with the vision of Honble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modiji, he said.

I am grateful to our fellow BJP MLAs for placing their faith in me. I also put on record my sincere thanks to our MPs, party leaders, and workers for working day in and day out in ensuring resounding win the polls. Now, lets work together harder to further speed up the pace of all-round growth in Arunachal Pradesh and realize the goal of inclusive Viksit Bharat by 2047, he added in another post.

Wednesdays meeting of BJP legislators was held in the presence of BJP central observers, Ravi Shankar Prasad, MP from Bihar, and Tarun Chugh, the partys national general secretary. Union minister Kiren Rijiju, who was re-elected from Arunachal West Lok Sabha seat, was also present.

The formal announcement about Khandus election was made by BJP state spokesperson Techi Necha. The newly elected BJP MLAs of the state have elected Pema Khandu as their legislature party leader in the meeting held at Itanagar. Swearing in ceremony of the new cabinet will take place on Thursday at 11 am, Necha said.

Khandu will meet Governor KT Parnaik later in the evening to stake claim to form the next government. The swearing in ceremony of the new council of ministers will take place on Thursday morning.

BJP national president JP Nadda, union home minister Amit Shah and the partys national general secretary (organisation) BL Santosh, who will arrive in Itanagar on Wednesday evening, will be present at the swearing in ceremony, party leaders said.

Khandu has been at the CMs post since July 2016 when he first took oath as head of a Congress government. A few months later, he along with almost all Congress MLAs joined the Peoples Party of Arunachal and formed another government. After the PPA expelled him, Khandu and MLAs supporting him switched again to the BJP in December 2016. It was the third time in the preceding 12 months that he was took oath of office.

Khandu took oath for the second term as a BJP CM on May 29, 2019, after the party won the assembly polls by bagging 41 of the total 60 seats.

This time, the ruling BJP scored 46 of the states 60 seats.

National Peoples Party (NPP), which is a constituent of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government at the Centre, came second with 5 seats, the Nationalist Congress Party (NPP) won 3 seats, Peoples Party of Arunachal (PPA) bagged 2 seats, Congress won 1 and the remaining 3 seats were secured by Independent candidates.

Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, who is also the convener of North East Democratic Alliance (a conglomeration of anti-Congress parties of the region led by BJP) will also be present for the swearing in. CMs of other BJP ruled states, Tripura and Manipur, and states like Nagaland and Meghalaya, where the saffron party is part of the ruling coalition, are also expected to be present.

NPP, which came second with 5 seats, has offered support to the BJP government. But leaders in Itanagar said that the party is unlikely to get included in the new cabinet.

We have offered support to the new BJP government in Arunachal Pradesh as our party is part of NDA at Centre. But its unlikely that any of the 5 MLAs from NPP will get included in the new cabinet at the BJP has absolute majority on its own, Rungri Nabam, president Arunachal Pradesh unit of NPP, said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday will depart for Italy to participate in the 50th G7 Summit. During his visit, Modi is also expected to hold a bilateral meeting with Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. This will be the prime minister's first overseas trip after assuming office in his third consecutive term. Prime Minister Narendra Modi.(ANI)

At the invitation of Prime Minister of Italy (Giorgia Meloni), Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be traveling to Apulia, Italy tomorrow to participate in the 50th G7 Summit which is to be held there on 14th June where India has been invited as an Outreach Country, foreign secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra said on Wednesday.

"...This will be the prime minister's first overseas travel after assuming office in his third consecutive term. It will also afford him an opportunity to engage with other world leaders present at the G7 Summit on issues of importance to India as also to the Global South," he added.

Also Read | Busy foreign policy schedule for new NDA government

Kwatra also said this will be India's 11th participation in the G7 Summit and the 5th consecutive participation by PM Modi.

He said PM Modi's participation in the G7 Summit would provide an opportunity to follow up on the outcomes of the G20 Summit held under India's presidency last year.

"Prime Minister's participation in the G7 Summit would also provide a timely opportunity to follow up on outcomes of the G20 Summit held under India's presidency last year and deliberate on issues which are significant for the Global South," he said.

Modi will participate in the Outreach session along with the other countries invited for the Outreach Summit on June 14.

Also Read | In first trip of Modi 3.0, PM to visit Italy this week for G7 summit

At this Session, the focus would be on Artificial Intelligence, Energy, Africa and the Mediterranean. It will be a block agenda item where the G7 and the Outreach Countries will share their views and perspectives... the foreign secretary said.

Last year, PM Modi had attended the G7 summit in Hiroshima. He had held talks with Zelenskyy as well as other world leaders on the sidelines of the summit.

The G7 summit



The G7 summit will be held in the luxury resort of Borgo Egnazia in Italy's Apulia region from June 13 to 15. The G7 comprises the US, the UK, France, Italy, Germany, Canada and Japan.

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.

The summit is likely to be dominated by the raging war in Ukraine and the conflict in Gaza, reported PTI.
JAMMU: A policeman was injured in fresh gunfight with terrorists, the fourth in three days, in Kota Top area of Doda district of Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday evening, said officials. Security forces stand guard near the site of a gunfight between security forces and terrorists at Saida village in Kathua's Hiranagar sector on June 12 (HT Photo)

Head constable Fareed Ahmed was injured after contact was established at about 7:30pm with terrorists in Kota Top area in Bhallessa of Gandoh sub division, said Doda senior superintendent of police (SSP) Javed Iqbal.

Additional reinforcements have been rushed to the area, he added.

The district police chief stressed that the terrorists involved in the gunfight in the Kota Top area were different from the ones who attacked security personnel at Chattargala on Bhaderwah-Pathankot road around 1.45 am on Wednesday.

A local resident explained that it would take anyone 10 hours to cover the distance between Chattargala and Kota Top on foot.

Kota Top, a meadow, falls in Khrangal Panchayat of Bhallessa.

Officials said the injured head constable has been evacuated from the encounter site and admitted to hospital.

The encounter started when a joint team of the Jammu and Kashmir police and the Indian Armys 4 Rashtriya Rifles launched a cordon and search operation in the area.

As the team zeroed in on the suspected spot, the terrorists fired upon the forces, said officials.
NEW DELHI: The main issue affecting Indias relations with Canada is the political space offered by that country to anti-India forces that promote extremism and violence and this has been repeatedly conveyed to the Canadian side, foreign secretary Vinay Kwatra said on Wednesday. FILE - Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, left, walks past India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi as they take part in a wreath-laying ceremony at Raj Ghat, Mahatma Gandhi's cremation site, during the G20 Summit in New Delhi, File) (AP FILE)

Kwatras remarks came against the backdrop of fresh concerns in India over two recent rallies organised by pro-Khalistan elements in the Canadian cities of Vancouver and Brampton that featured floats depicting the 1984 assassination of former premier Indira Gandhi.

Bilateral ties have been at an all-time low since Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau alleged Indian agents were involved in the killing of Khalistani activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in June last year. India dismissed the accusation as absurd and said the Canadian side has provided no evidence to back up the claim.

I think the main issue with regard to Canada continues to be the political space that Canada provides to anti-India elements which advocate extremism and violence and we have repeatedly conveyed our deep concerns to them, and we expect them to take strong action, Kwatra told a media briefing.

The foreign secretary was responding to a question on Trudeaus recent remarks about a surge of right-wing forces in democracies around the world. Trudeau made the comments following the gains made by right-wing parties in elections to the European Unions Parliament, though he didnt specifically name any country.

Referring to Indias just concluded general election, Kwatra added: I really dont want to say anything on what somebody else thinks how democracy should function but our democracy was in full display with enormous evidence to be seen.

He described the Indian election as the largest democratic exercise in the history of humankind, which was joined by 640 million voters. The vibrancy of Indias democracy was truly recognised and appreciated across the world, he said.

On Tuesday, Trudeau said, We have seen around the world a rise of populist, right-wing forces in just about every democracy...It is of concern to see political parties choosing to instrumentalise anger, fear, division, anxiety.

The Canadian PM said his approach had been to respond to it, to understand it and to look to solve it...I continue to be convinced that Canadians are thoughtful about the challenges were facing and ready to see them solved rather than just allow themselves to have their anger amplified without any solutions offered.

Canadas high commissioner Cameron MacKay and two Canadian ministers  public safety minister Dominic LeBlanc and Anita Anand, president of the Treasury Board  have denounced the floats depicting the assassination of Indira Gandhi.

MacKay conveyed Canadas position in a post on X that said: Canadas position is clear: The promotion of violence is never acceptable in Canada.

The external affairs ministry has not yet reacted to these latest protests featuring such provocative floats, though Indian high commissioner Sanjay Verma recently urged the Canadian government to take exemplary action against such public displays of violence and hatred.
The mercy petition of Pakistani terrorist Mohammed Arif alias Ashfaq convicted in the nearly 24-year-old Red Fort attack case has been rejected by President Droupadi Murmu, officials said on Wednesday. The SC, while upholding the death sentence, emphasised that the attack on the Red Fort posed a direct threat to the country's unity, integrity, and sovereignty. (File image)

This is the second mercy plea rejected by the President after assuming office on July 25, 2022.

The Supreme Court had dismissed a review petition by Arif on November 3, 2022, affirming the death penalty awarded to him in the case.

However, a death row convict can still knock on the doors of the top court seeking commutation of his sentence on the ground of prolonged delay under Article 32 of the Constitution, feel experts.

The mercy petition from Arif, received on May 15, was turned down on May 27, the officials said, quoting the President's secretariat order of May 29.

The Supreme Court, while upholding the death sentence, noted that there were no mitigating circumstances in Arif's favour and emphasised that the attack on the Red Fort posed a direct threat to the country's unity, integrity, and sovereignty.

ALSO READ: Man wanted for 2000 Red Fort terror attack arrested at Delhi airport

The attack, which took place on December 22, 2000, saw intruders opening fire at the 7 Rajputana Rifles unit stationed within the Red Fort premises, resulting in the deaths of three Army personnel.

Arif, a Pakistani national and a member of the banned Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), was arrested by Delhi Police four days after the attack.

"Appellant-accused Mohd. Arif alias Ashfaq was a Pakistani national and had entered the Indian territory illegally," the top court's order of 2022 had said.

Arif was found guilty of conspiring with other militants to carry out the attack, with the trial court sentencing him to death in October 2005. The Delhi High Court and the Supreme Court upheld the decision in subsequent appeals.

The trial court had said that the conspiracy to attack the Red Fort was hatched at the house of two conspirators in Srinagar, where Arif had illegally entered in 1999 along with three other LeT militants.

The three militants -- Abu Shaad, Abu Bilal and Abu Haider -- who had also entered the monument, were killed in separate encounters.

Despite multiple legal challenges, including review and curative petitions, Arif's plea for mercy was rejected, highlighting the severity of the crime and the threat it posed to national security.

The Delhi High Court had confirmed the trial court's decision in September 2007. Arif then approached the Supreme Court challenging the high court's verdict. The top court had in August 2011 also sided with the order of awarding the death sentence awarded to him.

Later, his review petition came up before a two-judge bench of the apex court which dismissed it in August 2012. A curative petition was also rejected in January 2014.

Thereafter, Arif had filed a petition submitting that review petitions in matters arising out of the award of death sentence be heard by a bench of three judges and in open court.

A constitution bench of the apex court had in its September 2014 judgement concluded that in all cases in which the death sentence was awarded by the high court, such matters be listed before a bench of three judges.

Before the September 2014 verdict, the review and curative petitions of death row convicts were not heard in open courts but were decided in chamber proceedings by circulation.

In January 2016, a constitution bench had directed that Arif shall be entitled to seek re-opening of the dismissal of the review petitions for an open court hearing within one month.

The apex court had rejected the review petition in its verdict delivered on November 3, 2022.

This decision comes after President Murmu rejected another mercy petition last year in a separate case, demonstrating a firm stance on cases of heinous crimes.
President Droupadi Murmu has rejected the mercy plea of Mohammed Arif alias Ashfaq, the Pakistani terrorist who was convicted for conspiring to attack Delhi's Red Fort 24 years ago. 3 Army personnel had died in the 2000 Red Fort attack. (Hindustan Times )

In November 2022, the Supreme Court had dismissed his review petition, upholding his death sentence.

The mercy petition from Arif, received on May 15, was turned down on May 27, the officials said, quoting the President's secretariat order of May 29, reported PTI.

In 2022, the Supreme Court had noted that the Red Fort attack was a threat against India's unity, integrity, and sovereignty. It added that there were no mitigating circumstances in the convict's favour.

The attack took place on December 22, 2000. Three army personnel of the 7 Rajputana Rifles unit stationed inside the Red Fort, were killed in the attack.

Mohammed Arif was arrested four days after the attack. He is a Pakistani national and a member of terror group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT).

He was first found guilty of a conspiracy to attack the army personnel in October 2005. He was then sentenced to death.

Arif and three other LeT terrorists entered India in 1999. He hatched the plan to attack Red Fort in a house in Srinagar.

The three terrorists -- Abu Shaad, Abu Bilal and Abu Haider -- who had also entered the monument, were killed in separate encounters.

The Delhi high court upheld his death sentence in September 2007. In 2011, the Supreme Court confirmed his death sentence.

After his review petition was dismissed in August 2012, he filed a curative petition in January 2014.

A constitution bench of the apex court had in its September 2014 judgement concluded that in all cases in which death sentence was awarded by the high court, such matters be listed before a bench of three judges.

Before the September 2014 verdict, the review and curative petitions of death row convicts were not heard in open courts but were decided in chamber proceedings by circulation.

In January 2016, a constitution bench had directed that Arif shall be entitled to seek re-opening of the dismissal of the review petitions for an open court hearing within one month.

With inputs from PTI
MBABANE  American media entrepreneur and TRACE Founder, Claude Grunitzky, advised Times of Eswatini journalists to maintain a relationship with the newspapers audience and not be afraid to embrace change.

Grunitzky said the digitalisation of the media was a necessary route for reaching diversified audiences, and could not be wished away in the current dispensation. He said the media could also follow the latest trends in youth-centric approaches. He was hosted in a one-day in-house digital media workshop with journalists yesterday. The training was made possible by the United States Embassy in Eswatini, with the aim of equipping local media houses with the appropriate skills in digital media, and was attended by news reporters and editors. The main focus was to equip newsmakers with the skills on how to navigate the digital media space in light of the media tsunami that has hit media houses world over.

Success

The renowned entrepreneur shared secrets to success as per his experiences in the media environment. Grunitzky shared with attendees that the same problems that local media houses were facing were similar to those experienced by scribes the world over. He shared that in as much as there may be a difference in location, what will carry the media through the hard times is concise strategies curated exactly for the challenges. It is no secret that media houses are facing problems, especially print media, mainly because of the advent of social media and online news platforms. What then are these media houses doing to get out of the tsunami? enquired Grunitzky.

Throughout the workshop, the media expert shared strategies that had worked in his own enterprises, including ways to draw and keep audiences as well as working with external partners, to sustain readership. Acting Managing Editor, Thobeka Manyathela, said the workshop was necessary to help journalists think outside the box when engaging with their audiences. She thanked Grunitzky and the US Embassy for including the Times of Eswatini among media houses to be equipped with digital media skills. Our journalists now have to put into practice what they learnt during the workshop. We would appreciate more opportunities in future, she said.

Lessons

Meanwhile, Times journalists, who participated with enthusiasm throughout the workshop, described the lessons as an eye-opener. Political Editor Timothy Simelane, who doubles as Interim President of the Press Club of Eswatini, said some of the aspects of the tutorial had not been mentioned in the country before. What we learnt has sharpened our creativity and improved the way we view the media landscape locally and internationally, he said. Mnelisi Dlamini, an intern in the Times of Eswatini newsroom, shared his appreciation of the workshop and thanked the US Embassy for seeing it fit to equip local media houses and helping reporters understand the ever-changing landscape. This was such a valuable reminder and educational experience that will help shape the direction newsmakers take in Eswatini. Personally, it helped me understand the effort we need to put into protecting the fourth estate and making sure we stay relevant, he said.
The Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) on Wednesday protested against the NDA government's decision to allocate the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare to Shivraj Singh Chouhan and held him responsible for the killing of six farmers in Madhya Pradesh's Mandsaur in June 2017. Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan (ANI)

In a statement issued on Wednesday, the SKM said the farmers were "murdered" while participating in the massive struggle for MSP at the C2 plus 50 per cent formula given by the Swaminathan Commission, comprehensive loan waiver and against the growing trend of farmers suicide.

Read more: Cultivating reform: 12 policy strategies for India's agricultural revival

The SKM also announced that a meeting of its general body will be held in Delhi on July 10 which will be attended by the leaders of the constituent farmer organisations from all over India.

"The decision symbolizes arrogance and insensitivity exhibited by the former regimes of 2014 and 2019 with an absolute majority to the BJP. It has aroused wrath among the farmers and the rural people across the country," the SKM said.

Six farmers were killed in June 2017 in Madhya Pradesh's Mandsaur after a group of farmers was fired at by the policemen and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) jawans.

The SKM, which led the protests against the now scrapped farm laws, said the NDA government did not take any decision to address the acute agrarian crisis and the farmers suicide in the first Cabinet meeting or on the long pending demands on MSP, among other things.

Read more: After 4 stints as CM, Chouhan retains grip on people's pulse; enters Union cabinet for 1st time

"The hype being created in the name of releasing 20,000 crore of arrear in the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi, which is an existing scheme with grossly inadequate sum of average 500 per month per farmers household will not satisfy farmers since it camouflage the unwillingness of the state to provide remunerative MSP and the policies of corporate takeover of agricultural sector," the SKM said.

"There is no illusion among the farmers of a change in the corporate policies on agriculture. Farmers have to prepare for another stint of vibrant and massive struggles by joining hands with workers, small traders and petty producers and extending across India," they said, adding the SKM is determined to build greater unity of the people and put pressure on the NDA government to replace its "corporate driven policies" with farmer and worker centric policies for the development of people.

Read more: Kangana slap row: Farmer outfits come out in support of CISF woman constable

The SKM said their further course of action will be decided at the July 10 meeting.

Commenting on the incident of actor and BJP MP Kangana Ranaut being slapped by a CISF personnel, they said, "SKM while not justifying slapping of Kangana Ranaut MP by a women security personal flays her arrogant and malicious utterances against the historic farmers struggle."

A delegation of the SKM will also visit the families of Lakhimpur Kheri martyrs on June 13 and will ensure continuation of legal assistance to the farmers, who were wrongly implicated in the case by the BJP led state government after the incident.
When he was all of 23, Akash Sasidharan Nair had traveled to Kuwait from Pandalam in Kerala, carrying the hopes of his family with him. His father had died when he was 5, and his mother had provided for him and his elder sister from the small income she earned as a staff member at a local medical shop. They were expecting him home in August, with discussions of marriage gathering pace. But on Wednesday morning, they received news that tore their world apartNair was one of the Indians that had died in a devastating fire in southern Kuwait. Rescuers arrive at the site of a building that caught fire in Kuwait, on Wednesday. At least 41 people died when a fire swept through a building that housed workers in Kuwait early Wednesday, and officials said the blaze appeared to be linked to code violations. (AP)

At least 42 Indian nationals were killed and dozens more injured in a devastating fire in a building in southern Kuwait which broke out on Wednesday morning. The fire in Al-Mangaf building, a residence for workers, was reported to authorities in Al-Ahmadi governorate at 4.30 am and most of the deaths were due to smoke inhalation while the residents were asleep, Kuwaiti media reported. NBTC group, an engineering and construction firm owned by KG Abraham, a Malayali businessman, rented the building to house more than 195 workers, most of them Indians.

ALSO READ- Kuwait fire tragedy: Deputy PM blames greed as 40 Indians killed; Modi calls urgent meeting | Top 10

Soumya Santhosh, the local municipal councillor who once gave tuition classes to Akash said, From the information we received from Kuwait, Akash and his friend jumped out of the building together from a window near the stairwell. But while his friend survived, Akash died. His body has been identified and we are making efforts to bring it home.

Sharafudheen Kanneth, president of the Kuwait chapter of Kerala Muslim Cultural Centre (KMCC), who was at the site of the fire on Wednesday, said that at least 11 of the victims are from Kerala. So far, 49 people have died out of which 11 are from the state of Kerala. The death toll is likely to go up as at least 196 people, mostly workers employed at NBTC, were residing in the building. We have been engaged in bringing out dead bodies from each floor following formalities and protocols. We are also checking hospitals and mortuaries to check the identities of people who have died and are injured so that we can inform their families back home, said Kanneth.

Another once of the victims that have been identified is 32-year-old Ranjith, from the village of Bevinje in Kasargods Chengala panchayat.

P Sivaprasad, a ward member of the Chengala panchayat told HT, We have got information that Ranjith unfortunately died in the fire. He had been working in Kuwait for the past decade and had come home a year ago when his family moved into a new house. The family is dependent on his income.

ALSO READ- Kuwait fire: PM Modi chairs meet to review situation | Video

Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Wednesday wrote to external affairs minister S Jaishankar seeking the Centres intervention into the tragedy. I request your good-self to give necessary directions to the Indian Embassy to coordinate relief and rescue operations by getting in touch with the Government of Kuwait, Vijayan said in his letter to Jaishankar.

In a separate statement, Vijayan said, The news of the deaths of over 40 people and injuries to many in the fire in Mangaf block in Kuwait is extremely saddening. There are reports that people from Kerala are among the dead. I join the families of the deceased at this tragic hour.

Leader of opposition VD Satheesan also condoled the deaths and said, I request all Malayali organisations in Kuwait to ensure that help, especially access to medical treatment reaches all those who are injured, he said.
Five soldiers and two police officers were injured in separate encounters on Wednesday after one group of militants attacked a check post in the upper reaches of Doda and another fired at security forces hours later, marking two of the three gunbattles in 26 hours that have rocked Jammu and sent ripples of fear through the region fast becoming the hotbed of cross-border terrorism in the restive Union territory. Security forces near the site of an encounter between security forces and militants, at Saida village in Kathua's Hiranagar sector. (HT Photo)

ALSO READ- Fresh encounter erupts in Jammu and Kashmir's Doda, one jawan injured

In the first attack on Wednesday, a group of three to four militants opened fire on a joint check post of the 4 Rashtriya Rifles and the Jammu & Kashmir Police in Dodas Chattargala area on the Bhaderwah-Pathankot road at 1.45am on Wednesday morning. The ensuing gunbattle lasted several hours, leaving five army personnel and a special police officer injured.

Officers said the second attack was in the Kota Top area, 150km away from Chhattargala, when a second group of terrorists attacked a police team and injured head constable Fareed Ahmed.

Roughly 220km away in Kathua raged another gunbattle that began late on Tuesday night and continued into Wednesday morning, leaving one Central Reserve Police Force jawan dead, six security personnel and one civilian injured, and two terrorists neutralised.

The three gunfights came on the heels of an attack on a bus carrying pilgrims in Reasi on Sunday, when armed terrorists opened fire on the vehicle, causing it to lose control and plunge into a gorge, with nine people dead and 42 others injured.

Jammu has suffered at least seven terror attacks over the past year. The spate of attacks sparked a political controversy with the Opposition criticising the government and demanding an explanation, with National Conference leader Farooq Abdullah calling for talks with Pakistan, even as the BJP criticised his stand.

Authorities scrambled to mount a response, pointing to operations to nab the terrorists hiding out in the upper reaches of the Himalayas. I want you all to have trust in the courage of security forces and J&K police. We will be at ease only after eliminating terrorists and their supporters from J&K, said lieutenant governor Manoj Sinha.

Senior police officers suggested that Jammu was seeing a shift from resident terrorism to foreign terrorism. This means that the numbers of our local boys who used to join the terror ranks have come down. Foreign terrorism is there... as of today 70-80 such terrorists have come with arms and ammunitions, said director general of police RR Swain.

Without naming Pakistan, additional director general of police Anand Jain said the hostile neighbour was always making attempts to disturb peace in the Jammu region.

The exchange of fire began at around 8pm on Tuesday in Saida Sukhal village in the Hiranagar area of Kathua, when two terrorists appeared in the settlement and asked residents for some water. Panicked by the strangers carrying arms, people raised and alarm and the two terrorists opened fire, injuring a civilian, a senior police officer said. The civilian has been identified as 45-year-old Omkar Nath, and was rushed to hospital, but is out of danger.

Anand Jain said that as soon as they received information about the presence of terrorists in the village, security teams from multiple agencies rushed to the village and cordoned it off. The terrorists opened indiscriminate fire to break the security cordon. They appear to have freshly infiltrated, Jain said.

Senior police officers said that the first terrorist was killed in the village itself, as he was lobbing a grenade at the police party. The second was killed after an extensive search operation and intermittent bursts of fire at around 3.30am. One CRPF jawan, identified as Kabir Dass, was injured, and succumbed to his injuries during treatment.

But even as security officials dealt with the situation in Kathua, there was another attack in Chattargala, Doda on the Bhaderwah-Pathankot road. Senior police officers said that they were still trying to track down the terrorists, with army helicopters pressed into service and traffic on the Bhaderwah-Pathankot highway suspended until further notice. Kashmir Tigers, a group ostensibly linked to the Pakistan-based terror outfit Jaish-e-Mohammad, claimed responsibility for the attack.

Shridhar Patil, deputy inspector general (DIG) of police, Doda-Kishtwar-Ramban range, said they received information about the movement of terrorists in the area over the past few days. Accordingly, temporary posts jointly manned by army and police were set up in the higher reaches along with check points on the (interstate) road, Patil told reporters on Wednesday.

He said that a sentry at the post on the Chattergala pass first spotted suspicious movement around 1.30am on Wednesday. The terrorists opened fire and in the ensuing exchange of fire which continued for more than one-and-a-half hours, the deployed personnel fought bravely, Patil said.

The DIG said there were three to four terrorists but underlined geographical challenges in tracking them down. We have to move tactically because there is a difference in conducting operations in the plains and mountainous areas. Combing operations in such tough conditions take time, and we have to tread cautiously so as to avoid casualties on our side before neutralising the terrorists, Patil said.

Police officers said they were cognisant of attempts being made to create unrest in Jammu ahead of the Amarnath Yatra which begins later this month, and assembly elections  the first after the abrogation of Article 370expected in a few months.

ALSO READ- PM Modi to visit Srinagar on International Yoga Day on June 21

Security officials also red-flagged an apparent shift in strategy by terrorists from across the border. In July 2023, HT reported that Jammu, Rajouri, Poonch and Reasi were fast becoming clear targets for Pakistan-based terror groups, and security forces were recalibrating their responses.

The attack on 9 Para SF on May 5 in Rajouri (in which five soldiers were killed) and April 20 ambush on an army truck in Poonch (five personnel killed) were the handiwork of such trained men. They had sophisticated weapons, sticky bombs and the attacks were well planned. Besides, the terrorists are using guerilla warfare tactics. They attack, go back to the jungle in the Pir Panjal area and regroup for another attack,  a counterterrorism official said at the time.

The three attacks set off a political furore, with Opposition leaders attacking the Centre over the security situation.

Narendra Modi is busy responding to congratulatory messages and hasnt been able to hear the cries of the families of devotees who were killed in Jammu and Kashmir. Reasi, Kathua and Doda have seen three separate terror attacks but the Prime Minister is still immersed in celebrations. The country asks  why does the BJP government not catch the people that conspire to commit terror attacks? Congress leader Rahul Gandhi wrote on X.

NC chief Abdullah called for an understanding between India and Pakistan.

ALSO READ- Initiate talks with Pak to end terrorism in J&K: Farooq Abdullah

I have always said that terrorism is not going to end unless there is an understanding between the two nations. Terrorism will continue and we will have to face it. The tragedy is that innocent people are getting killed... and that is unfortunate, Abdullah told reports in Srinagar.

J&K BJP president Ravinder Raina, however, criticised Abdullah and said his party will respond to Pakistan in the language understands.

Abdullah should stop advocating for Pakistan which has bled Jammu & Kashmir and brought destruction to the region by training, arming and pushing terrorists into this side to kill innocent citizens. Instead of condemning Pakistan, showing it the mirror and exposing its black face to the world, he is advocating dialogue which is highly regrettable, Raina said.
Jammu and Kashmir has witnessed three terror attacks over the past three days ahead of the preparations for 52-day annual Amarnath Yatra starting June 29. Indian Army personnel patrolling a stretch in Reasi district on Monday during a search operation after terrorists ambushed a bus carrying pilgrims on Sunday evening. Nine people were killed and 42 injured in the attack. (AFP Photo)

The first attack took place in Jammu regions Reasi district on Sunday after a bus carrying pilgrims came under fire following which the driver lost control of the bus, which fell into a gorge. Nine people died in the attack and 41 sustained injuries.

The Indian Army and Jammu and Kashmir Police have launched a massive search operation in the area.

A day after on Tuesday evening, terrorists opened fire in Saida Sukhal village along the International Border in Kathua district and injured one civilian, which led to a gunfight with security forces. During the exchange of fire, a terrorist and a Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel were killed.

Read: NIA team reaches J&K to probe into Reasi terror attack; set to coordinate with local police





Anand Jain who is the additional director general of police, Jammu zone said, Two terrorists (who appeared to have freshly infiltrated) surfaced in a village in Saida Sukhal near Koota Morh of Police Station of Hiranagar in the late evening of June 11. They asked for water from a few houses to which villagers grew suspicious and slammed doors on them and a few raised hue and cry. The terrorist panicked and fired randomly in the air and also at one odd villager who were passing by. SHO Hiranagar and SDPO rushed to the spot, engaged the terrorists and one terrorist got killed.

In another attack on Wednesday, five soldiers and a special police officer were injured during exchange of fire in Chattergalla area of Doda in Jammu region. The gunfight erupted after terrorists attacked a joint check post of the 4 Rashtriya Rifles and police in the area.

Past terror related incidents during Amarnath Yatra in Jammu and Kashmir

June 14, 2022: Two Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists were killed by security forces in Bemina area of Srinagar. Police had said one of the terrorists was a Pakistan national and they were planning to carry out an attack on Amarnath Yatra.

August 2, 2019: Amarnath Yatra was suspended by Jammu and Kashmir administration ahead of its time, citing security threat after a landmine with Pakistan ordnance factory markings and an M-24 American sniper rifle with a telescopic sight were recovered from the yatra route. The annual pilgrimage had started on July 1 and was scheduled to end on August 15.

August 5, 2015: Two terrorists had attacked a BSF convoy in Udhampur while the Amarnath Yatra was going on. One terrorist was neutralised, while the other identified as Naved was arrested.

July 10, 2017: Seven pilgrims returning from the Amarnath shrine were shot dead and 15 others were wounded when terrorists fired on their bus as well as a security vehicle in Anantnag district of South Kashmir. The annual yatra began on June 29 and ended on August 7.

July 21, 2006: Five pilgrims were killed after a bus carrying the pilgrims was attacked by terrorists near Beehama area of Ganderbal district in Central Kashmir. The pilgrims were returning from the Baltal base camp of the Amarnath Yatra.August 6, 2002: Terrorists had opened fire at the Nunwan base camp of Amarnath Yatra in Pahalgam. In this attack nine people including six pilgrims and three others were killed.

Also read: Tight security for over 5,000 Kashmiri Pandits leaving for Kheerbhawani Mela in Kashmir



July 20, 2001: 13 pilgrims were killed and 15 others were injured after terrorists had hurled grenades at a camp near the Amarnath cave. In this attack, two police personnel had also lost their lives.

August 2, 2000: 32 people including 21 pilgrims were killed after terrorists attacked the base camp in Pahalgam.

July 28, 1998: A group of Amarnath pilgrims were attacked by terrorists at Sheshnag campsite, killing 20 people who were on their way to Amarnath cave.

August 15, 1993: Eight pilgrims were killed while they were on their way to Amarnath cave.
Tipra Motha leader Animesh Debbarma, who became a minister in the BJP-led government in Tripura ahead of the Lok Sabha polls, said he was unhappy with the portfolios allotted to him and was looking to take up the issue with Union Home Minister Amit Shah. Tripura minister Animesh Debbarma. (Twitter/Animesh Debbarma)

Speaking to reporters, Animesh Debbarma said he has already raised the issue with Chief Minister Manik Saha.

Read more: Tripura govt to dig trenches, plant trees to avoid man-animal conflict: Minister

"I am not happy with the departments allocated to me. The Forest Department is okay, but Printing & Stationery and Science & Technology excluding TREDA... I am not happy. I met the CM a few days back and urged him to allocate some important departments so that I could help the rural people. There is nothing to hide," he said on Tuesday.

The Tipra Motha minister said he would soon visit Delhi to meet Shah and congratulate him for assuming the charge of the Ministry of Home Affairs again, and take up the issue with him.

Read more: Tripura panchayat poll likely to be held by August first week, says EC

"I have been in politics for the last 22 years. Many MLAs get many things even after completing only five years in politics. There is no point if I don't get (important portfolios). I am not against the government but I have to perform," the Tripura minister said.

"If one looks at my experience, I was elected MLA many years ago and then worked in the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) as an executive member, and also performed my duties as leader of the opposition in the assembly. I urge the CM to provide important departments to me and I will work efficiently," he said.

Read more: Focus on providing employment to youths: West Tripura MP Biplab Kumar Deb

After Tipra Motha joined the state government in March, Animesh Debbarma, who was the leader of the opposition, and Brishaketu Debbarma were made ministers. Brishaketu Debbarma was made MoS of the Industries & Commerce Department.
Congress MP Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday took a swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the latter's remark during the Lok Sabha elections that he was being guided by God. Gandhi, who won the polls from Wayanad and Rae Bareli and is facing a dilemma as to which seat to vacate, said his God is the poor people of India and they will tell him what to do. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi addresses a public meeting, in Malappuram on Wednesday. (ANI Photo)

"I have a dilemma in front of me -- Will I be a Member of Parliament of Wayanad or Raebareli? Unfortunately, like the Prime Minister, I am not guided by God. I am a human being," Rahul Gandhi quipped, addressing an event in Kerala's Malappuram.

In an interview last month, PM Modi said that God had sent him with "ability, strength, pure-heartedness and inspiration".

"Until my mother was alive, I used to think I was born biologically. After her demise, when I look at my experiences, I am convinced that I was sent by God. This strength is not from my body. It has been given to me by God. That's why God also gave me the ability, strength, pure-heartedness, and inspiration to do this. I'm nothing but an instrument that God has sent," he had said.

Referring to the remark, Gandhi today said PM Modi's Parmatma makes him take all decisions in the favour of industrialists Gautam Adani and Mukesh Ambani.

Also read: Rahul Gandhi takes 'Narendra Modi wale parmatma' jibe at PM over 'sent by god' remark

"You saw how the Prime Minister said 400-paar which disappeared and then came 300-paar. After that, he said, 'I am not biological. I don't take any decisions. I have been put on this earth by Parmatma and he makes decisions," Gandhi claimed today.

"His strange Parmatma makes him take all the decisions in favour of Ambani and Adani. He tells him to give Bombay airport, Lucknow airport, and power plants to Adani and help him with schemes like Agniveer," he added.

Rahul Gandhi said he doesn't have the "luxury" of receiving instructions from God.

"For me, its much simpler. My God is the poor people of India, the people of Wayanad. I go and talk to those people and my God tells me what to do," he added.

In Rae Bareli, Rahul Gandhi won the elections by a margin of over 3,90,000 votes. In Wayanad, he won the polls by a margin of 364422 votes.

In 2019, Gandhi had lost the polls in Amethi but won from Wayanad.
At the beginning of 2024, a dramatic event unfolded in Sandeshkhali, West Bengal, when Enforcement Directorate (ED) officers attempted to arrest Trinamool Congress (TMC) strongman Sheikh Shahjahan. Shahjahan evaded capture, and his supporters clashed violently with the officers, igniting a political firestorm. The situation escalated when thousands of local women took to the streets, alleging years of sexual assault by Shahjahan and his associates. This sparked widespread outrage and brought national attention, with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) seizing the opportunity to criticize the TMC government under Mamata Banerjee. Villagers of Naskar Para of Sandeshkhali celebrate after the arrest of absconding Trinamool Congress leader Sheikh Shahjahan, an accused of crimes against women and land grabbing. (File image)(HT Photo)

Despite the intense media coverage and political uproar, the incident did not translate into electoral success for the BJP in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. In Basirhat, which includes Sandeshkhali, the BJP candidate Rekha Patra, a prominent figure in the protests, was decisively defeated by TMC's Haji Nurul Islam by a margin of 3,33,547 votes. Several factors contributed to this outcome.

Firstly, the BJP failed to sustain the momentum of the Sandeshkhali narrative throughout the campaign. Unlike the TMC's successful mobilization during the Singur and Nandigram agitations against the Communist Party of India (Marxist), the BJP's efforts were perceived as reactionary and opportunistic. The TMC effectively countered the BJP's allegations, portraying them as a conspiracy to defame the state government and its leaders. This narrative resonated with voters, who saw the BJP's actions as an external attempt to manipulate local issues for political gain.

Secondly, the demographic composition of the Basirhat constituency played a crucial role. The region has a significant Muslim population, traditionally supportive of the TMC. The BJP, which has struggled to garner support in Muslim-majority areas, could not effectively mobilize this segment of the electorate.

In conclusion, the Sandeshkhali incident did not become a turning point for the BJP in West Bengal. The party's failure to maintain a consistent and credible narrative, coupled with the demographic realities of Basirhat, led to a significant electoral defeat. This outcome underscores the complexities of regional politics in West Bengal and the challenges the BJP faces in penetrating the TMC's strongholds.

Allegation Of Scripting and Conspiracy

In the heat of the 2024 Lok Sabha election campaign, West Bengal's political landscape was dramatically shaken by a sting operation tied to the Sandeshkhali protest. This sting, which emerged during the electoral contest, featured a local BJP leader casting doubt on the allegations of sexual assault directed at the Trinamool Congress (TMC). This revelation has not only undermined the credibility of the BJPs accusations but also sparked a broader debate about the ethical conduct of political narratives.

The sting video, which surfaced at a crucial juncture, purportedly shows Gangadhar Koyal, a BJP Mandal president, suggesting that the allegations of rape and sexual harassment in Sandeshkhali were fabricated. Koyal is seen implying that women were coerced into making these claims by senior BJP leaders. This blow to the BJPs campaign, which had been heavily focused on exposing the TMCs alleged misconduct, was significant. The TMC quickly capitalized on the footage, using it to counter the BJPs allegations and bolster their own narrative.

The timing of the videos release led to intense political skirmishes. The BJP denounced the video as doctored, claiming it was manipulated to discredit the party. They even sought legal recourse, lodging a complaint with the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to challenge the veracity of the video. This incident highlights the fragile nature of political narratives and the disruptive potential of technology. The BJPs accusations that the video was altered using artificial intelligence underscore the complexities of establishing truth in the digital age.

Moreover, allegations from former BJP member Syria Parveen, who accused the party of scripting the entire Sandeshkhali incident, further damaged the BJP's position. Parveen, who defected to the TMC, claimed the BJP had orchestrated the incident to defame the TMC by manipulating local women and fabricating stories of abuse. This narrative severely undermined the BJPs credibility, making voters skeptical of their intentions.

The BJP struggled to handle this backlash during the election, primarily due to its reliance on central leadership for campaigning. Prime Minister Narendra Modi repeatedly targeted the TMC over the Sandeshkhali incident, but his efforts were hampered by a lack of ground-level connect and language barriers. Meanwhile, local BJP leaders' arrogance and mishandling of the issue allowed the TMC to successfully sideline the controversy and regain voter confidence.

In conclusion, the Sandeshkhali sting operation not only damaged the BJPs narrative but also highlighted the ethical dilemmas of leveraging technology for electoral gains. This incident underscores the importance of authenticity and local engagement in political campaigning.

Demography And Lack of Local Support

In the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the Basirhat constituency, which has a significant Muslim population, witnessed the defeat of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate, Rekha Patra, by a substantial margin. Several factors contributed to this outcome, highlighting the complexities of local politics and the importance of understanding regional dynamics.

Firstly, the lack of local support in Sandeshkhali played a crucial role. This area was the epicenter of the BJP-TMC faceoff, where protests against the alleged misconduct of TMCs Shahjahan took place. Despite Rekha Patras involvement in these protests, the BJP failed to garner enough support. The situation worsened when a sting operation surfaced, purportedly showing a BJP leader discrediting allegations of sexual assault against the TMC. This revelation eroded the BJPs credibility and support base in the region.

Secondly, the demographic profile of Basirhat, with a majority Muslim population, significantly influenced the election outcome. The TMC candidate, Haji Nurul Islam, resonated more with the local electorate, which has historically leaned towards the TMC. The BJPs campaign strategies did not align with the preferences of the majority of the constituencys voters. Mamata Banerjee's deep understanding of Bengal's grassroots politics allowed her to strategically choose a candidate who could effectively engage with the local population. Haji Nurul Islam, known for his adeptness in Muslim identity politics, leveraged his influence to secure votes, further solidifying the TMCs position.

Moreover, the BJPs national narrative and policies failed to translate well at the local level, especially in a constituency like Basirhat, where communal harmony and local issues take precedence over national politics. The TMCs focus on local governance and development initiatives appealed more to the voters, who sought representation that understood and addressed their specific needs.

In conclusion, the BJPs defeat in Basirhat during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections was a result of the complex interplay of local dynamics, demographic factors, and the partys inability to adapt its narrative to resonate with the constituencys electorate. This outcome underscores the necessity for political parties to deeply engage with the unique contexts of the constituencies they contest.

TMC's Counter Narrative

The 2024 Lok Sabha elections in Basirhat, West Bengal, showcased the complexities of regional politics and the challenges the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) faced in attempting to unseat the Trinamool Congress (TMC). Despite fielding Rekha Patra, a prominent figure linked to the Sandeshkhali protests, the BJP failed to gain significant traction, ultimately losing to the TMCs Haji Nurul Islam by a substantial margin.

The TMC's effective counter-narratives played a pivotal role in shaping the electoral outcome. The "anti-Bengali" narrative, suggesting that the BJP was out of touch with Bengali culture and interests, resonated deeply with the local populace. The TMC's emphasis on Bengali pride and sub-nationalism effectively countered the BJP's identity politics, appealing to the cultural sentiments of voters who felt their identity was under threat by the BJP's nationalistic agenda.

Additionally, the fear of the BJP discontinuing the popular 'Lakshmir Bhandar' scheme, which provided financial assistance to women, significantly influenced the electorate. This scheme was a game-changer for the TMC, impacting nearly 2.3 crore financially weak women beneficiaries. The prospect of losing this crucial support swayed many voters, particularly women, towards the TMC.

The BJP's stance on the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) also played a critical role. This policy was perceived as a threat to the Muslim community, which constitutes a considerable portion of the electorate in Basirhat. The TMC capitalized on this fear, suggesting that the BJP would deport Muslims if it came to power. This narrative likely led to the consolidation of Muslim votes in favor of the TMC, further contributing to the BJPs defeat.

Moreover, the BJPs heavy reliance on central leadership and figures like Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who targeted the TMC over the Sandeshkhali incident, failed to resonate deeply with the local populace. Modi's efforts were seen as disconnected from the immediate concerns of Basirhats voters, who prioritized local issues over national rhetoric.

In conclusion, the BJP's defeat in Basirhat was a result of misaligned campaign strategies, demographic realities, and the partys inability to sustain a credible local narrative. The TMCs strategic communication, leveraging cultural, economic, and communal factors, successfully swayed voters, highlighting the importance of grassroots support and local engagement in political campaigning.

Sayantan Ghosh is a Professor from St Xavier's College (Autonomous), Kolkata. He is also a political columnist and commentator.
Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray on Wednesday took on Prime Minister Narendra Modi over RSS chief Mohan Bhagwants statement on the situation in strife-torn Manipur, and raised concerns over the recent terror attacks in Jammu and Kashmir. FILE: Prime minister Narendra Modi (left) and Uddhav Thackeray. (Satish Bate/ HT Photo)

Will Prime Minister Modi visit Manipur after the RSS chiefs remarks? Thackeray, an ally-turned-rival of the ruling BJP, said at a press conference in Mumbai.

Bhagwat, at an event on Monday in Nagpur, where the RSS is headquartered, brought up Manipur, where ethnic clashes have been taking place between the Meitei and Kuki communities, since May last year. The BJP governments at the Centre and state have been criticised by the opposition for failing to stop the violence, and PM Modi for his silence on the issue and not visiting the state since the conflict broke out.

On the terror attacks in Jammu and Kashmir  there have been three attacks since the BJP-led NDA government was sworn-in for its third consecutive term on Sunday evening, including one even as the oath-taking ceremony was underway  former Maharashtra chief minister Thackeray sought to know what the point of abrogating Article 370 was. The legislation, which granted special status to the region, was revoked on August 5, 2019, less than two months after PM Modi was elected to serve his second successive term.

Lives are being lost. Who is responsible for the terror attacks in Jammu and Kashmir? Thackeray asked.

I am concerned about the future of the country and not about the future of the NDA government, he added.

Unlike its previous two terms, when the BJP enjoyed a majority of its own, the party-led Union government, in its third term, is in power with support from its allies in the NDA.

(With PTI inputs)
Silchar: Assam Polices Special Task Force (STF) in collaboration with the local police on Wednesday seized 220,000 Yaba tablets from a vehicle in Assams Karimganj district and arrested three suspected drug peddlers, officials said. (HT Photo/Sourced)

Police said the consignment was coming from Mizoram and the arrested accused were residents of Tripura.

The operation was headed by the Assam Inspector General (IG) of Police (STF) Partha Sarathi Mahanta. He said they received information about the transport of drugs from their intelligence source.

Based on the information, we launched an operation along with the Karimganj police and we managed to identify the vehicle at Badarpur, he said.

Mahanta said the police team after intercepting the Bolero car searched it thoroughly and found the boxes filled with Yaba tablets in a secret chamber under the backlights.

Our team of experts confirmed that these are Yaba tablets and the cost of it in the domestic markets will be Rs.66 crore, he said.

The IG said the price of Yaba tablets differs in places. There are illegal markets in mainland India and neighbouring countries. The drug peddlers get the maximum price after taking the narcotics to the destination. In some markets, the price of each tablet goes up to Rs.4000, he added.

Karimganj superintendent of police (SP) Partha Pratim Das said the vehicle, which was carrying the drugs, did not have a registration number. The drug peddlers keep using such tricks but we have a strong network to identify them, he said.

The arrested persons have been identified as Khairul Hussain (the driver), Mamon Miya and Nabir Hussain. All of them are residents of Tripura and they used to work in different parts of Mizoram, according to the police.

Police said that they have been arrested under Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985, according to the police.

We are interrogating them and further investigation is going on. As per the initial findings, the consignment came from Mizorams Champhai area. We are trying to establish the background and forward links to identify the actual suppliers, officials said.
Hajj is a profound spiritual journey that unites Muslims from diverse backgrounds, cultures and languages as it reinforces the principles of equality, humility and devotion to God where through the Islamic pilgrimage, the pilgrims seek forgiveness, spiritual purification and a deeper connection with their faith. It is an experience of a lifetime that leaves a lasting impact on the hearts and minds of those who undertake it hence, it is a transformative experience for Muslims. Water mist is sprayed on Muslim pilgrims as they pray on the rocky hill known as the Mountain of Mercy, on the Plain of Arafat, during the annual Hajj pilgrimage, near the holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia, on June 27, 2023. Hajj 2024: Step-by-step guide to rituals of Muslims' pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudi Arabia, their meanings and symbolism (AP Photo/Amr Nabil, File)

Hajj is not only a pillar of Islam but a bridge to spiritual enlightenment and a testament to human unity and equality as it is a journey, not just of kilometers, but of faith and the soul. The annual pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudi Arabia is a test of patience and an opportunity for Muslims to purify themselves as a hadith in Sahih Bukhari states the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) saying, Whoever performs Hajj and does not commit any obscenity or transgression will come back as free from sins as the day his mother bore him.

With Hajj 2024 just around the corner i.e. from June 14, here's all you need to know about the rituals of Hajj -

Ihram: Pilgrims enter a state of consecration called ihram. They dress in simple white garments, symbolising equality and the renunciation of worldly possessions. Tawaf: Pilgrims perform a series of circumambulations around the Kaaba, the sacred black cube located in the center of the Masjid al-Haram. This act signifies the unity of Muslims and their devotion to God. Sa'i: Pilgrims walk between the hills of Safa and Marwa, following the path of Hajar (Hagar), the wife of Ibrahim, who searched for water for her son Ismail (Ishmael). It symbolises perseverance and trust in God's provisions. Arafah: Pilgrims gather on the plain of Arafah, where they engage in prayer, supplication, and contemplation. It is considered the most crucial day of Hajj, known as the Day of Arafah. Muzdalifah and Mina: Pilgrims spend the night in Muzdalifah, collecting pebbles for the next ritual. They then proceed to Mina, where they perform the symbolic stoning of the devil by casting pebbles at three stone pillars. Eid al-Adha: The culmination of Hajj is marked by the celebration of Eid al-Adha, the Festival of Sacrifice. Pilgrims sacrifice an animal, typically a sheep or a goat, symbolising Ibrahim's willingness to sacrifice his son.

It is often assumed that Eid ul Adha falls a day after Hajj however, it is not true nor has this ever been the norm followed by Muslims all over the world. After the crescent moon for the month is sighted and the first day of Dhul Hijjah is established, then the tenth of that month is calculated hence, the date of Eid ul Adha is different for different places.

On a more elaborate note, Hajj, the annual Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca, takes place from the 8th to the 12th of Dhul Hijjah where on 8th Dhul Hijjah (Yawm at-Tarwiyah), pilgrims begin their Hajj rituals; on 9th Dhul Hijjah (Yawm Arafat), the most significant day of Hajj, pilgrims gather on the plain of Arafat to pray and seek forgiveness while on the day of Eid ul Adha i.e. 10th Dhul Hijjah (Yawm an-Nahr), pilgrims perform the ritual of animal sacrifice (Qurbani) to commemorate the willingness of Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham) to sacrifice his son as an act of obedience to Allah. Allah provided a ram to sacrifice instead. Finally, Hajj ends on 12th Dhul Hijjah.
MBABANE - The ACC has been taken to court by one of its employees after investigators from the institution raided his home and office, where they seized items belonging to him and his wife.

Bonginkhosi Dlamini, who is employed as an assistant investigator by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), is reportedly being investigated by his colleagues. Dlamini told the High Court that during the raid, which he described as unlawful, his colleagues took a number of gadgets and documents belonging to him and his wife, Nonduduzo Shongwe. The ACC officers, according to Dlamini, informed him that they were investigating him for suspected corruption. The couple has since moved an application at the High Court, where they are seeking an order setting aside the search warrant that was issued at the Mbabane Magistrates Court on March 14, 2024.

Seized

They also entreated the court to direct the ACC to return all the seized items, including copies of all documents that were taken by the investigators, in terms of the warrant. Respondents in the matter are the ACC, attorney general (AG) and the director of public prosecutions (DPP). In their application, Dlamini narrated that on March 15, 2024, four officers from the ACC approached him at his home and produced a warrant, which was signed by a magistrate on March 14, 2024. He stated that the investigators from the ACC were led by Sifiso Khumalo.

They first searched my home in Mbabane then my office at the Anti-Corruption Commission, then my home again and they seized items and documents purportedly on the strength of the warrant, submitted Dlamini.

He brought it to the courts attention that he previously owned and operated two companies, Red Heart Investments and Deep Gold Investments. The deponent (Dlamini) pointed out that Red Heart Investments was in the business of supplying stationery and had now ventured into construction. He claimed to have resigned from Deep Gold Investment in 2023. According to Dlamini, the search warrant was issued in terms of Section 46 of the Criminal Procedure and Evidence Act 67/1938. He submitted that according to the warrant, the officers were allowed to search the government house he was occupying, office desk at his work (ACC), house at Madlangampisi, offices at Red Heart Investments (Mitsini Complex at Sidwashini), offices at Deep Gold Investments at Cooper Centre and his motor vehicle.

He submitted that the warrant also provided a list of items to be seized, which included, his cellphones, quotation books of Deep Gold Investments, quotation books of Red Heart Investments, invoices of Deep Gold Investments, his laptop and USB.Purporting to be acting in terms of the warrant of search, the Anti-Corruption Commission seized the following items from me; a Dell laptop, charger and bag, a brown envelope with documents, a letter heaf green in colour, a deed of suretyship, FSRA Form B for Red Heart Investments, Red Heart Form J, a blue folder with documents, leave application, purchase order, delivery note, Deep Heart invoices, resignation letter from Deep Gold Investment to FSRA, a letter to EswatiniBank resolution requesting an overdraft facility, HP Pro Book laptop with a bag which contained documents, brown envelope with documents, submitted Dlamini.

He alleged that some of the items that were taken by the investigators included a blue Samsung A35 valued at E3 500 and brown Huawei from his car and a receipt book for Deep Gold Investment. Dlamini stated that from his wife, two cellphones, a Samsung and a Nokia, were taken by the investigators. According to Dlamini, the seizure was effected despite his protestation to the effect that his wife had nothing to do with the investigation, because it involved him and Masuku of Lusoti High School. He said he further highlighted that his wife was not mentioned as a person to be searched in the warrant. Dlamini contended that, despite his protestation, the ACC officials proceeded to unlawfully seize his wifes cellphones.

The Anti-Corruption Commission officials should have sought a search warrant at the High Court, as it was an investigation of the commission as shown in a letter dated April 9, 2024, he argued.

Dlamini averred that in terms of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 2006, which established the ACC, in Section 13, a search warrant is applied for and obtained from a judge in chambers. Section 13(2) stipulates that: The investigator or officer shall not enter and search any premises without an order in writing issued by a judge in chambers on application of that investigator of officer. It is my humble submission, therefore, that the search and consequently the seizure of the property found at my home, and companies was unlawful and falls to be set aside and the property attached and removed be returned forthwith to me and the second applicant (wife), he argued. The matter is still pending in court and appearing for Dlamini is Senior Lawyer Ben J Simelane.
A visit to the holy shrine of Kaaba in Mecca has a remarkable history and Muslims believe that Prophet Ibrahim or Abraham, the dearest friend of Allah and father of prophets, was instructed by God to leave his wife Hajar and son Ismail in the desert of Mecca. Ibrahim left the family well-flourished but in due course of time, it all diminished and his wife Hajar and son Ismail faced lots of trouble. Hajj 2024 from Prophet Ibrahim to today: Origin of Kaaba and rich history of Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudi Arabia (Photo by Twitter/hassham_waleed)

On one occasion, Hajar travelled seven times between the hills of Safa and Marwah but was unable to find any source of water however, when her little son Ismail rubbed the ground with his foot, a water fountain sprang up at the spot. This spot, now known as the Zamzan well, was then marked sacred and God ordered Ibrahim to build Kaaba at that place and to invite people to perform pilgrimage there.

Prophet Ibrahim AS (also known as Prophet Abraham AS) and his son Ismail (Ishmael) AS were commanded by God to build the Kaaba, a sacred house of worship in Mecca. Hence, the Kaaba is considered the holiest site in Islam and serves as the focal point for the Hajj pilgrimage.

The origins of Hajj are closely tied to the story of Ibrahim's unwavering faith and his willingness to submit to God's commands. It is believed that Ibrahim, along with Ismail, constructed the foundations of the Kaaba as a place for people to worship the one true God, Allah.

Ibrahim and Ismail did as instructed and the Quran even narrates how the archangel, Gabriel, brought the Black Stone (which was originally white but has become black by absorbing the sins of the thousands of pilgrims who have kissed and touched it) from heaven to be attached to the Kaaba.

Over time, the pilgrimage to the Kaaba became a significant annual gathering for the Arab tribes of the Arabian Peninsula however, the rituals associated with Hajj were reformed and revitalised by Prophet Muhammad in the 7th century CE as during Muhammad's time, the pagan practices and idol worship that had become associated with the pre-Islamic Hajj were eliminated and the pilgrimage was restored to its original monotheistic purpose.

In pre-Islamic Arabia time of jahiliyyah, some pagan idols were placed around the Kaaba but in 630 CE, Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) led the believers from Medina to Mecca and cleansed the Kaaba by destroying all the pagan idols. He was another messenger and the last prophet considered in Islam and after cleansing the Kaaba, he reconsecrated the building to Allah.

Muhammad performed the Hajj pilgrimage in the year 632 CE, delivering his famous farewell sermon to thousands of Muslims gathered in the plain of Arafah and that is how Hajj became one of the five pillars of Islam. Following Muhammad's example, the rites and rituals of Hajj were standardised and it became an obligatory act of worship for all Muslims.
The Palace of Versailles was briefly evacuated on Tuesday afternoon after plumes of smoke were spotted amid renovation work on the roof near the Marble Court, an area of the original chateau built in 1623 by French King Louis XIII. Paris: Tourists evacuated from Palace of Versailles amid smoke from renovation work (Screengrab from Twitter/bloombergblower)

The palace press office told The Associated Press there was no fire, but smoke was emanating from a hot zone in the wood in the roofing. The office said local firefighters quickly put out the smoke.

The palace office said there were no injuries or damage to the building or the heritage collections. Investigations were underway.

The Palace is a major tourist attraction, with 8 million annual visitors.

The smoke was spotted around 3:15 p.m. and tourists were quickly evacuated in line with protocol. Visitors were allowed back in by 4:30 p.m.

In 2019, Notre Dame cathedral in central Paris was devastated by a fire that swept across the roof and caused the spire to collapse. The restoration of the cathedral is due to be completed at the end of 2024.
As per Mahomedan law, the marriage of a Muslim boy with a girl who is an idolatress or fire-worshipper is not a valid marriage. Even if the marriage is registered under the Special Marriage Act, the marriage would be no more a valid marriage and it would be an irregular marriage. With this extremely startling observation, a Madhya Pradesh High Court (HC) judge recently dismissed a writ petition jointly filed under Article 226 of the Constitution by a Hindu woman and a Muslim man seeking protection of their legal right to get married under the nations civil marriages law.

The May 27 judgment smacks of a grotesquely confused understanding of the Special Marriage Act (SMA), 1954. Originally enacted eight decades earlier to facilitate inter-religious and inter-caste marriages, this Act required both parties to an intended marriage to declare their disaffiliation from religion. As the Constitution assertively protected citizens rights to equality and religious liberty, it was imperative for the State to re-enact this law sans the requirement of abdication of religion. Hence, a new law was put on the statute book, enabling men and women professing different religions but wishing to get married to do this without having to give up their respective faiths, and without becoming followers of the same religion by conversion. Of course, the new Act offers the option of civil marriage also to parties belonging to the same community if they wish to avail its multifarious benefits.

In the current case, the parties decided to get married under the SMA without either changing their religion. As per the procedure laid down in the Act, they jointly gave notice of the intended marriage to a marriage officer of the competent jurisdiction who duly published the notice to wait for objections, if any. Section 7 of the Act clearly specifies that objections can be filed only if the objector believes that it will be against any of the mandatory conditions for the validity of marriage under the Act laid down in Section 4  that the parties should not have a spouse living, should not be mentally incapable of giving valid consent, should have completed the prescribed minimum age, and should not be within the degrees of prohibited relationship as specified in a Schedule.

The womans relatives, knowing they would not be able to stop the marriage by raising any legally tenable objection, began dissuading the parties from pursuing their case before the marriage officer. They threatened filing several criminal cases  against the woman for having stolen their precious jewellery and cash, and against the man for forcibly kidnapping her. Frightened, the prospective bride and groom jointly approached the HC, seeking relief and police protection for duly proceeding with their case before the marriage officer. The womans father vehemently opposed the petition claiming that, since the man belonged to a different religion, if the desired marriage took place he and his family would be boycotted by the society. The learned judge did mention this ridiculous plea in his judgment, but kept mum about its prima facie inadmissibility under the law.

In the case of an interfaith marriage desired under the SMA, provisions of their respective personal laws on the validity or invalidity of such a marriage would obviously be absolutely irrelevant. It does not require any special legal acumen to understand this clear legal position, yet the judge chose to decide the case on the basis of the rules of Muslim law (personal law of the man, the second petitioner). Although such a marriage is also prohibited under Hindu law (personal law of the woman, the first petitioner), he chose not to speak about it. Taking pains to emphasise the invalidity of the desired marriage under Muslim law, and giving a bizarre twist to the condition under the SMA that the parties to an intended marriage should not be within the degrees of prohibited relationship, he ruled that since the desired marriage was prohibited under Muslim law, it could not be solemnised under the Act either.

Based on wholly misconceived premises, the decision was conspicuously erroneous. It resulted in grave injustice to two innocent citizens who had sought the courts help for peacefully exercising their constitutionally protected right to live together as husband and wife. The Supreme Court (SC)s Mohammad Salim decision of 2019, which the judge extensively cited, related to inheritance rights of the child of a Hindu-Muslim marriage and had hardly any relevance to the matter before him. The petitioners had specifically invoked the SCs dictum in the Lata Singh case (2004)  this is a free and democratic country and once a person becomes a major he or she can marry whosoever he or she likes  but the learned judge chose not to say a word about it. Nor could he recollect the apex courts emphatic verdict that it is the parties to an intended marriage who decide best on whether they should accept each other into a marital tie and that the society has no role to play in determining our choice of partners (Shafin Jahan, 2018).

The judge thought it fit to point out that the parties had not shown interest in a live-in partnership without marriage, nor had indicated that the girl would accept Muslim religion. Did he mean to say that had the parties done so he could have granted the desired relief? The wisdom of making these concluding remarks before finally dismissing the petition was indeed bewildering.

Tahir Mahmood is former chairman, National Minorities Commission, and member, Law Commission of India.He is professor of eminence and chairman, Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, AmityUniversity. The views expressed are personal
After forming a majority government in 2007 in Uttar Pradesh, the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) national president Mayawati often used to stoke the political ambitions of Dalits with her stirring statement: If a Dalit party (BSP) can give chief minister to the largest state of the country, why cant it give the nation its first Dalit prime minister?

It was the vision and mission of Kanshi Ram, who systematically built a Dalit movement in the country by creating three institutions- BAMCEF (Backward and Minority Communities Employees Federation) in 1978, DS4 (Dalit Shoshit Samaj Sangharsh Samiti) in 1991 and the BSP in 1984. And he wanted to fulfill BR Ambedkars clarion call to Dalits, Capture this temple of power (Parliament) for your emanicipation.

Kanshi Ram raised the communitys hunger for power as until then the country only had a Dalit deputy prime minister Jagjivan Ram (1977-1979).

His soft-spoken daughter Meira Kumar became the first Dalit woman Speaker of the Lok Sabha (2004-2009) but she failed to step into her father's shoes.

By then Kanshi Ram's acolyte , Mayawati, had already arrived on UPs political horizon virtually creating history in the state on two major fronts in 2007.

First, she had reconstructed the formidable rainbow coalition of Brahmins, Muslims and Dalits. It is on the strength of this very coalition that the Congress had ruled the state for about four decades since Independence. Second, she broke the 14-year-long coalition jinx to head a single-party majority government in the 2007 state assembly elections.

By then, she had been Uttar Pradesh chief minister thrice  in 1995 for 137 days, 184 days in 1997 and 1 year and 118 days in 2002. She was a firebrand leader of a regional party who dictated terms to mainstream parties while forming government or entering into electoral alliances.

After her achievement in 2007, ' Dalit ki Beti' Mayawati overnight became a national figure, who everyone believed, would fill a vacuum left behind by Jagjivan Ram, the tallest Dalit leader the country had produced.

That did not happen. She also lost her pan India image. But her rise to power gave voice to Dalits and she started enjoying propriety rights on them. They stood behind her like a rock as it was for the first time someone from their own caste was heading the government, a dream they had always cherished since the party came into existence in 1984.

BSP for them was a party by Dalits and for Dalits'

After its formation, the BSP rose in every election. In 1989, the BSP polled 9.41% votes winning 13 seats, in 1991 9.44 % votes and 12 seats, in 1993, in alliance with SP, BSP won 67 seats and polled 11.12 % votes. Nothing could stop her as she won a majority in 2007 - polling 30.43% votes and winning 206 seats in a house of 403.

Thereafter the decline started as, within five years, in 2012 her number of seats came down to 80 and poll percentage to 25% votes, which further declined to 22.12% in 2017 with 19 seats and 12.9% in 2022 with one seat.

In 2014 , BSP became the third largest national party of India in terms of vote percentage, having 4.2% of the vote across the country but gaining no seats. BSP still retains the national party status.

The vote percentage in 2024 general elections dipped down to 9.32% from where the BSP had started its electoral journey in 1989. And she desperately needed a dose of power to resurrect BSP.

She decided to keep all her options open.

In run-up to the 2024 elections, Mayawati even gave a statement favouring a coalition government at the Centre, which she said, would be in the interest of the country as it will have the support of all the castes and communities.

Mayawatis statement was in line with Kanshi Ram's advocacy for  lame governments that walked on crutches as majority governments were despotic towards Bahujan Samaj. He often used to say, Till our Bahujan Samaj is fully prepared to rule the country we should render kamjor (weak) governments and not mazboot (strong) ones.

However, with no seat in Parliament, she could not share power like Apna Dal and Rashtriya Lok Dal.

Set back to Dalit Movement

The major setback is to the Dalit movement which has been taken several years back. The politically conscious Dalits, who understand the power of their vote, stand disillusioned and divided.

A Dalit activist from western UP, Satish Prakash, while hailing the role Dalits played in stopping BJP in the tracks, felt Mayawati will have to reinvent herself as well as the BSP to attract new voters, the youth, who have not suffered untouchability. He said while Dalits don't doubt her intentions, there is a question mark on her policies. She must know, ' jo ladega, wohi jeetega' (the fighter would win the battle.)

On the rise of Chandrashekhar Azad of Bhim Army, who won the Nagina Lok Sabha seat, Prakash said: Either the BSP should not have contested the seat or given a stronger candidate. What message BSP sends when its candidate gets barely 12,000 votes against Azad?"

But MP Ahirwar of Benaras Hindu University (BHU) in Varanasi , actively engaged in Dalit politics in eastern UP, is confident that the BSP will be back in 2027.

"There was a time when we were contesting elections without a symbol. Now we have our symbol, we have a strong leadership and a competent successor to take forward the party, Ahirwar said, adding that Mayawati will launch Akash Anand again as the party struggles and prepares for 2027 state assembly polls.

Dalit intellectuals are holding meetings to discuss the way forward

But then another Dalit activist, Satya Prakash Teetal from Agra, demanded an answer. Why did she not ally with opposition alliance? BJP couldn't have formed the government.

Knowing her party lacked the tenacity to fight against a mighty BJP and a feisty opposition alliance, she had decided to trek solo and had advised all to be careful of tomorrows political embarrassment as it cannot be predicted today who will need whom in the future.

Mayawati had the option to be a winner or a spoiler. She opted for the latter and in the process, the BSP, which is credited for giving an assertive voice to a whole community, touched its nadir.

The Way Forward

While Mayawati is blaming one and all  from her cadre, to her voter, minorities for partys poor performance in the 2024 elections, fact remains alone should take the blame for the electoral debacle.

Mayawatis decision to change candidates seemingly to damage the electoral prospects of the opposition alliance gave her the label of BJPs B team and her decision to withdraw her firebrand nephew and partys successor Akash Anand from campaigning alienated her core voters.

After she became inactive, they vested their hopes in Akash. And when the Jatavs and Scheduled Caste community wanted her to fight for them, their rights, their Constitution, the fire in her belly was missing.

Mayawati addressed 30 rallies, which appeared lacklustre despite the crowds that thronged the venue .

Is it the end?

Perhaps not. Despite the fact that another claimant of Ambedkar and Kanshi Ram's legacy Chandrashekhar Azad will be in Parliament, walking and talking the language young Dalits want to hear.

Mayawati will have to relaunch Akash Anand, her nephew, to resurrect the party as after 2027 Dalits might look to her or the BSP again; as of now, they have not lost the hope or faith in BSP.

Also, Azad lacks the robust organisation, the vast Dalit network that Kanshi Ram had assiduously built over the years.

Ahirwar says, it's not easy to do Dalit politics and survive in a system dominated by the Manuvad (Brahmanism). The upper caste driven parties stymied rise of several Dalit leaders. BSP is the only party of Dalits and run by Dalits in the country.

Mayawati wrote in her book, Mere Sangharshmay Jeevan Evam Bahujan Movement ka Safarnaama (Broadly: An account of the Dalit movement and my political struggles): Just as BSP today is a symbol of Bahujan Samajs dignity, Mayawati, in the opinion of intellectuals, has acquired such a standing in Indian politics wherein people may criticise her, even condemn her, but nobody can ignore her.

So far, her strength has been her ability to transfer her votes and for this she needs to hold her core voters who are still hungry for power.

Sunita Aron is a consulting editor with the HT based in Lucknow. You can find her on X as @overto. The weekly column, Keeping up with UP tackles everything from politics to social and cultural mores in the country's most populous state. The views expressed are personal.
When Bindhweshwari Prasad Mandal invited former Karnataka Rajya Sabha member LR Naik to join the Second Backward Classes Commission in place of Odisha stalwart Dina Bandhu Sahu in November 1979, many thoughts were pirouetting in his mind  finishing the onerous task of enumerating Indias backward castes, coming up with a comprehensive yardstick to judge their backwardness and firewalling the process from the kind of controversy that derailed a previous attempt in the 1950s. To achieve all this, he needed the six-member panel report to be unanimous in its recommendations.

That was not to be. In a sharp dissent, Naik, the only Dalit member of the panel, disagreed with the commissions approach of pooling the quota into a single basket, instead recommending that it be split into intermediate backward classes and depressed backward classes  12% for the former and 15% for the latter. Naik wrote, In an unequal society like ours, it is necessary that the commission take all precautions so that the more helpless and needy segments are not deprived by avoiding cut-throat competition among unequals.

When Mandal submitted the final report in December 1980, he noted Naiks dissent and dismissed his categorisation as arbitrary. A decade later when VP Singh hurriedly implemented the report, no one brought up Naiks dissent.

In the four decades since, there have been four distinct strains of Mandal politics that have swept North India. In the first, parties that made up the erstwhile Janata Parivar picked large communities with little political footprint and built formidable coalitions by marrying the support of minorities and smaller groups. The runaway success of these coalitions translated into regional parties muscling both national parties out of Uttar Pradesh (UP) and Bihar. Outfits such as the Samajwadi Party and the Rashtriya Janata Dal became major national players on the back of the sense of pride they ignited in their constituents and their success in breaking the social grip of forward castes.

But just as Naik feared, some of these communities turned into hegemons, creating resentment in weaker and less numerous groups which found themselves boxed out of reservation benefits and political power. The trajectory of Ram Vilas Paswan, who was the first in the generation of Lohia acolytes to win an election in 1969 but who found his rise stymied by his peers Lalu Prasad and Nitish Kumar, is an apt example.

Nitish Kumar in Bihar and Kanshi Ram in UP represented the second strand. Kumar took up the work left unfinished by Karpoori Thakur who first mooted internal divisions in the quotas and stitched together a coalition of smaller OBC and SC groups that coalesced around his Kurmi community. Ram took the Jatavs and recruited leaders from smaller SC and OBC groups such as Pasis, Lodhs and Rajbhars to build the Bahujan Samaj Party, powered by his numerical logic of 85% backwards against 15% forwards.

But these developments never transcended the plains of Bihar and UP; even as Mandal politics fractured the Congress model of marrying upper-castes, Dalits and Muslims, and ran neck-and-neck with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)s attempts at making faith the central pillar, it barely gained a national footprint. South of the Vindhyas, movements predating Mandal carved up quotas according to numerical strengths and historical backwardness, spawning their own unique set of problems.

The third era took Mandal beyond the two heartland states. Against the backdrop of single-party domination, the BJP exploited bubbling resentment among smaller OBC and SC groups to bolster its base of upper castes. In some ways, this was a throwback to the efforts of Kumar and Kanshi Ram. But the BJP used different weapons  cultural nationalism (accommodating community icons within the wider Hindutva pantheon), welfare (with the Prime Ministers personal branding), and the unique pull of Narendra Modi. At a time when regional outfits had a trust deficit following decades of nurturing only a handful of constituents and the Congresss political capital was at an all-time low, the BJPs model clicked not only in UP but also in other heartland states such as Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. In many ways, it was the fulfilment of the prophecy Naik had made in 1980.

The 2024 elections was an inflection point on this road. Buoyed by organic concerns around the future of reservations and the Constitution, the Opposition made caste an explicit social justice concern. The BJPs response was to counter it by attempting to communalise quotas in a way that it had not done in its decade-long stint. It took cues from political experimentations done in states such as West Bengal  where Mamata Banerjee eschewed the Lefts caste denialism to use quotas for political mobilisation, and accommodated many backward Muslim groups  to paint minorities as the greatest threat to marginalised castes. It felt that by replacing upper castes, who traditionally opposed caste-based quotas but are also the BJPs principal base, with Muslims, it could simultaneously counter the Oppositions charge and paint them as minority appeasers at the same time.

That gambit failed. Analysis by this newspaper showed the sharpest fall in the BJPs strike rate across demographics came in SC reserved seats. In contrast, Akhilesh Yadav pulled back many smaller SC and OBC groups into his fold by nominating their leaders, besting the BJP at its own game.

With the BJP and the Opposition now both at the drawing board, a new phase in Mandal politics awaits. 2024 showed that this phase will be about aspiration at a time of acute economic anxiety. The push for intergenerational mobility among marginalised castes will have to contend with disquiet among dominant groups about their fraying social might. As Mandal parties expand their social coalitions, they will have to manage rising tensions within their constituents. The BJP will have to ask whether new welfarism has hit its ceiling among these communities and if a new kind of Mandir politics  since both the Ram Temple push and the Muslim quota bogey have not clicked  can re-energise its Mandal pitch. The Opposition will need to think beyond redistribution because though a caste census is important, government jobs dont have the capacity to be a salve for economic scars. And most importantly, no party can now afford to ignore any community or elide their complaints about prosperity or security.

In 1885, then Madras government instituted financial aid for depressed classes, heralding the beginning of affirmative action in India. It now awaits a new Mandal compact. Naik will be smiling.

The views expressed are personal
Japan on Wednesday enacted legislation to ensure tech giants like Google and Apple give access to third-party smartphone apps and payment systems on their platforms or risk major fines. HT Image

Similar to the European Union's new Digital Markets Act, the law mandates that they act fairly and make operating systems, browsers and search engines available for all.

Behaviour deemed anti-competitive will see operators fined 20 percent of their revenue in Japan for each offending service, rising to 30 percent if they do not stop.

"The EU has already taken early steps and implemented new regulations," a Japan Fair Trade Commission statement said.

"For the digital markets of Japan, the United States and Europe to align their efforts and demand fair competition from digital platform operators, a new legal framework is needed in the Japanese market."

Parliament's upper house approved the law with no amendments on Wednesday.

Ahead of the vote by lawmakers, Shinji Morimoto, chair of the upper house committee on economy and industry, said the bill "prohibits acts that may restrict competition related to specified software".

He did not directly name tech companies such as Google or Apple sometimes described as a "duopoly" in the smartphone app world.

In April, government spokesman Yoshimasa Hayashi said Japan would "improve the competitive environment" for software such as app stores to "realise consumer choice, while also ensuring security".

Kyodo News reported that the law is expected to take effect by the end of 2025.

The EU says its Digital Markets Act legal armoury to bring big tech to heel will lead to fairer competition, but Apple has criticised the new law, saying it risks endangering users' privacy and security.

The DMA targets the world's biggest tech companies such as Apple and also other firms including Meta and Microsoft, all of which must adhere to a list of obligations.

The European Commission in March launched its first probe into Apple under the DMA.

hih-kaf/mtp

GOOGLE

Apple

Meta

MICROSOFT

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A suspect has been arrested in the stabbing of four American instructors from a US college in a public park in the city of Jilin in northeastern China, reported CNN. People gather around four American educators from an Iowa university, who were reportedly stabbed in a public park, according to the U.S. media and U.S. government officials, in Jilin City, Jilin province, China, in this still image taken from a video obtained by Reuters and released on June 10, 2024. Video obtained by REUTERS THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY. NO RESALES. NO ARCHIVES.(via REUTERS)

The authorities have identified the stabbing suspect by his last name, Cui, who was described as a 55-year-old man from the city's Longtan District.

Police said the accused "collided with a foreigner while walking" in Beishan Park, a popular green space in the city centre, according to CNN.

The suspect then stabbed the instructors and a Chinese visitor who came forward to try to stop him during the event, the police added.

Officers were sent to the site and the injured were taken to the hospital for treatment, according to the police, who claimed they received the report at approximately 11:49 am local time on Monday.

College authorities' response to the stabbing incident

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 CNN.

"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.

The US State Department is aware of reports of a stabbing incident in China and is monitoring the situation.

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.

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.

Also Read: US condemns brutal knife attack on Cornell College faculty members in China: Anti-foreigner hate propaganda

About Cornell College, the liberal arts institution in Iowa

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. (ANI)
Kuwait fire: At least 40 Indian nationals were killed and dozens more injured on Wednesday in a devastating fire in a building in the southern Mangaf district of Kuwait housing Indian workers. The blaze broke out early Wednesday morning reportedly in a kitchen on a lower floor and quickly spread through the building, trapping many inside. Kuwait building fire: Smoke billows after a fire broke out in a building, in Mangaf, Kuwait, Wednesday, June 12, 2024. At least 41 people were killed, according to officials.(PTI)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi condoled the deaths and said the Indian Embassy is closely monitoring the situation and working with the authorities there to assist the affected.

The fire mishap in Kuwait City is saddening. My thoughts are with all those who have lost their near and dear ones. I pray that the injured recover at the earliest, the prime minister posted on X.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar expressed shock over the incident and said the Indian ambassador has gone to the camp.

Deeply shocked by the news of the fire incident in Kuwait city. There are reportedly over 40 deaths and over 50 have been hospitalized. Our Ambassador has gone to the camp. We are awaiting further information, Jaishankar posted on X.

Deepest condolences to the families of those who tragically lost their lives. Wish early and full recovery to those who have been injured. Our Embassy will render the fullest assistance to all concerned in this regard, he added.

Read: Massive brush fire breaks out behind Nevada's Hug High School, shocking videos surface

Indian ambassador to Kuwait, Adarsh Swaika, visited the site in Mangaf to ascertain the situation. He also visited the Al-Adan hospital where over 30 Indian workers injured in the fire incident have been admitted.

He met a number of patients and assured them of full assistance from the Embassy, the Indian Embassy in Kuwait said in a post on X.

"In connection with the tragic fire-accident involving Indian workers today, Embassy has put in place an emergency helpline number: 965-65505246. All concerned are requested to connect over this helpline for updates. Embassy remains committed to render all possible assistance," the Indian Embassy said in another post.

Congress general secretary KC Venugopal called the incident a stark reminder of the appalling conditions in which Indian labourers live in the Middle East.

The Government, in collaboration with their respective counterparts, must ensure complete safety of our citizens - including proper housing facilities, with adequate safety precautions and amenities, to ensure they live a life of dignity, he said on X.

KUNA reported that the fire had been brought under control and that authorities were combing the area for evidence as to the cause of the blaze.

The building reportedly housed around 195 labourers, including workers from Kerala and Tamil Nadu. The building belongs to NBTC group owned by Malayali businessman KG Abraham, reported Onmanorama.

Read: Morni saw 4 forest fires this summer: Haryana to HC

"The building in which the fire occurred was used to house workers, and there was a large number of workers there. Dozens were rescued, but unfortunately there were many deaths as a result of inhaling smoke from the fire," a senior police commander told state TV.

"We always alert and warn against" cramming too many workers into housing accommodation, he said, without providing details on the workers' type of employment or place of origin.

Kuwait's Interior Minister Sheikh Fahad Al-Yousuf Al-Sabah ordered police to apprehend the bulding owner, janitor, as well as the owner of the company responsible for the workers, the Kuwait Times reported.

"What happened today is a result of the greed of the company and building owners," the minister said in a statement as he visited the fire scene.

Authorities say an investigation has been launched into the cause of the fire.

With inputs from agencies
A top Hamas official in Gaza has admitted that he thinks the deaths of Palestinian civilians are necessary sacrifices to keep its war against Israel going. The remarks, made by Yahya Sinwar who helped mastermind the October 7 attack, were made in disturbing messages that have been leaked. Gaza's Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar says Palestinian civilians' deaths are necessary sacrifices (AP Photo/Adel Hana)(AP)

Sinwar boasted about his efforts to stall ceasefire talks. We have the Israelis right where we want them, he said in a message to Hamas officials meeting with Qatari and Egyptian negotiators.

Sinwar appeared cold in the dozens of messages reviewed by the Wall Street Journal. Some of the messages were addressed to Hamas top political leader, Ismail Haniyeh, whose three sons were killed on April 10 in an Israeli airstrike.

Sinwar told Haniyeh that the deaths of his sons, along with other Palestinians deaths in Gaza, would only infuse life into the veins of this nation, prompting it to rise to its glory and honor.

That should not have happened

The IDF arrested Sinwar in 1988, but released him in 2011 in a hostage exchange. His letters, sent to Hamas officials and negotiators, revealed that even he was shocked by the brutality the terrorists unleashed on October 7.

Things went out of control, Sinwar said in a message talking about women and children being kidnapped. People got caught up in this, and that should not have happened.

From the messages, it appeared as though Sinwar wishes to make the war last as long as possible. He condemned his superiors talks to seek an agreement with Israel.

As long as fighters are still standing and we have not lost the war, such contacts should be immediately terminated, he said. We have the capabilities to continue fighting for months.

Sinwar said in his most recent messages that he is determined to keep the fight going until Israel loses international support, even if it means he has to eventually die. We have to move forward on the same path we started, Sinwar wrote.

Or let it be a new Karbala, he added, referencing the 7th-century battle in Iraq where the Prophet Muhammads grandson was killed.
MEXICO CITY  Mexicos historic Chapultepec Castle has been depicted flying the black Targaryen flag, and officials in Mexico arent amused. Historic Mexico City castle is depicted flying the Targaryen flag, and officials aren't amused

The plot of the House of the Dragon, a Game of Thrones prequel, apparently involves countries taking sides in a civil war for control of the fictitious Iron Throne.

The producers of the HBO series posted a video Monday of the 19th-century Mexico City hilltop castle showing the black Targaryen flag hanging over the battlements. The flag, representing queen Rhaenyra, predictably has a dragon on it.

Mexican officials issued a statement Monday saying it wasn't true and threatening to sue. But it's not because they support Laenor Velaryon.

Mexicos National Institute of Anthropology and History said the flags were generated by technology, and had never really hung at the site. Game of Thrones social media accounts posted similar images of other world landmarks, including New York City bridges.

The institute, which is the legal guardian of Mexico's historic buildings and artifacts, was hopping mad that the historical site had been used in the ad campaign, and said they would take legal action.

The reproduction of images of this site for use in promoting this series has not been authorized, said the statement by the institute, known as the INAH. For this reason, the INAH legal department will take all necessary legal measures, because this constitutes an improper use of images of a historical site.

HBO did not respond to messages seeking comment.

It is unclear whether Mexico can win the legal battle against artificial intelligence and computer-generated images. The institute did not claim authorship rights of the original video. The site is open to the public, so anyone could have filmed it.

During the 1846-48 Mexican-American War, the castle was the site of the 1847 battle of Chapultepec, when Mexicans defending the heights where the castle stands died rather than surrender to U.S. troops.

This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
MANZINI  Government is in a tight spot, as arrears have increased while the country expects SACU receipts next month.

It is reported that the State is facing financial constraints such that its arrears have shot up to about E1.4 billion. The limited financial resources, according to sources, are born from the fact that the country receives its Southern African Customs Union (SACU) receipts quarterly. The sources said because the country was a month away from receiving the SACU receipts, it was now in a tight spot in terms of its expenditure. Insiders informed this publication that the limited resources had repercussions in that a number of the financial obligations were not being met, including the payment of suppliers and service providers, which hindered service delivery.

Accrued

It was claimed that the debt had accrued from last year June to date, as some suppliers and service providers were not paid 30 days after filing their invoices, while others had not been paid, because they were yet to deliver all that was expected of them, which resulted in the delay in payments. The sources said a larger chunk of the resources the country had were used in a bid to resuscitate the collapsed health sector, which had seen public health facilities without medication for a long period. This is because, in recent months, government has been settling arrears of the Ministry of Health, to ensure that suppliers were catered for while also ensuring that there was activity in the economy.The sources claimed that the delay in their payment could lead to long-term challenges. Inasmuch as government budgets for each financial year, the revenue inflow is not consistent with the demand, the source said. The source explained that when government set its budget for the year, it projected revenue collections, which included the SACU receipts, which were received quarterly, tax collection and other streams of income, like fines.

Demands

The source explained that currently, the demands by the various sectors of government were beyond what was available. He said the demands were in all the sectors where government rendered services and included the payments of grants (elderly, disability, free primary education (FPE) and the orphaned and vulnerable children (OVCs). The source said there was also the issue of scholarships and ensuring the smooth flow of government operations, which needed to be catered for in all instances. The source said all these services needed government to regularly disburse money towards ensuring that they were flowing without hindrance and when the government was in a tight spot, it destabilised these services. If the cash flow challenge persists for a longer period, it leads to issues like schools complaining that they have not been paid their grants and or other sectors voicing out their challenges in terms of financing, the source explained.

Acknowledged

The Minister of Finance, Neal Rijkenberg, acknowledged that government was in a tight spot. He said this was because the country was a month away from receiving its SACU receipts.

The minister was sought for comment to establish if the country was facing financial challenges, what could be the solution to this predicament and when was it anticipated to be sorted out. Rijkenberg said governments obligations had been stretched in recent weeks, while other ministries had required more resources to deal with their challenges. However, he said this shall be a thing of the past, as the country will be getting its quarterly share of the SACU receipts next month.

Rijkenberg said: We shall be receiving SACU and we shall be paying suppliers if all goes well in the second week of July. He acknowledged that the amount owed to suppliers was estimated to be about E1.4 billion. The minister said the country was also expecting to receive its first investment from the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE). There have been delays in the JSE investment, but we are expecting about E400 million from it in the upcoming weeks and that will bring huge relief to the cash flow of government, the minister said.

Rijkenberg also explained that the country had an approved ceiling of E4 billion to source from the JSE, as approved by Parliament. The minister said there was nothing sinister about the outstanding payments of E1.4 billion, more especially around this period when government would be expecting SACU receipts. He said most of the outstanding payments were not more than 60 days old, which was much better than where the country was in 2017. In the 2022 national budget, the ministry planned to raise money through the JSE; however, the legislation to facilitate this took a while through Parliament as there were time delays in getting the listing done.

Also, government has raised a total of E851.6 million through government bond issuance during the quarter ended March 2024. The Central Bank of Eswatini, which issues bonds on behalf of government, reported that of this total, E616.6 million was raised through public auctions and E235 million through private placements. Bonds are issued by governments and corporations when they want to raise money. By buying a bond, you are giving the issuer a loan and they agree to pay you back the face value of the loan on a specific date, and to pay you periodic interest payments along the way, usually twice a year. Both public and private auctions were undertaken through the plain vanilla bond programme, following the indefinite suspension of the suppliers bond programme at the end of the first half of the 2023/24 financial year.

On the other hand, Rijkenberg explained that the first and last quarter in the budget cycle in most instances had heavier payments to be made, because the budget opened, which put pressure on spending and it was the same case when it closed. It is worth noting that in January 2024, the country experienced a similar challenge which was sorted when the government received its E2.9 billion quarterly SACU receipts. At the time, government arrears were at E700 million. On the other hand, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) states that Eswatinis economic prospects for 2024 are favourable, partly because of higher SACU revenues.

It states that the projected increase in government expenditure would support economic activity and external funding of major capital projects such as the Mkhondvo-Ngwavuma Dam, would boost both demand and supply.The outlook states that the wholesale and retail, construction and public administration sectors are all expected to benefit from higher public spending. Also, it states that the tourism sector was expected to continue its recovery and remittances were picking up.However, difficulties in the external and domestic environments were reported to constrain the countrys growth potential.

Report

The report stated that although real gross domestic product (GDP) growth was expected to continue to grow at 4.1 per cent in 2024, global turmoil and a slowdown in the economy of the major trading partner, South Africa, was likely to dampen economic activity. Meanwhile, Eswatini faces multiple development challenges to ensure inclusive, sustainable, and resilient economic growth. Central among these is Eswatinis unsustainable public sector-driven growth model, which has trapped the country in a low growth and high poverty and inequality equilibrium and crowded out investments in productive sectors and private sector development. It was said that fluctuations in SACU revenues and weak domestic revenue mobilisation, with the domestic tax-to-GDP ratio ranging from 12 per cent to 15 per cent; attributable to a narrow tax base, high informality and Value-Added Tax (VAT) exemptions have contributed to fiscal deficits, complicated fiscal management and reduced resources for service delivery and investments in job creation.
Kate Middleton has hinted that she may resume her royal duty very soon. Kate Middleton's possible return to royal duties sparks interest as Prince William emphasizes the importance of community-focused initiatives. (AP Photo/Gero Breloer, File)(AP)

Reports suggest that the Princess of Wales might make a surprise appearance at the Kings annual birthday parade, scheduled for Saturday, June 15.

However, a royal source told The Daily Beast that there is no timeframe for Catherine returning to public duties.

I actually dont think her note implies she is going to be charging down to their headquarters to inspect a parade next month, the source added.

ANother source told the outlet, I think this idea that Kate is suddenly going to pop up on the balcony on Saturday is far-fetched.

ALSO READ| Kate Middleton considering Trooping the Colour surprise appearance amid new Prince Harry-Meghan Markle snub

Kate Middleton's note of regret for Trooping the Colour raises eyebrows

This possible return follows Middletons apology for missing the final rehearsal for Trooping the Colour, known as the Colonels Review, last weekend. As the honorary Colonel of the Irish Guards, she expressed her regret in a letter: Being your Colonel remains a great honour, and I am very sorry that Im unable take the salute at this years Colonels Review. Please pass my apologies to the whole Regiment, however, I do hope that I am able to represent you all once again very soon.

Meanwhile, Prince William continues his work on environmental and community-focused initiatives. He recently visited Cardiff Metropolitan University to meet with businesses innovating with seaweed.

Among the companies he engaged with was Car-y-Mor, a seaweed farm producing snacks and other products.

Owen Haines, representing Car-y-Mor, expressed, Coastal areas tend to be dominated by tourism and second homes, and the trouble with that is sooner or later the community collapses, as in, the doctors surgery closes, the school closes  no local can afford the housing.

ALSO READ| Key milestone in Kate Middletons health woes is just days away, royal expert claims

Whereas if you start businesses like this, youve got a chance to restart. This is an opportunity to start a new sector with land and sea farming, by producing bio-stimulants [from the seaweed] you can put on the fields, Haines added.

These developments come as the royal family navigates their evolving roles and responsibilities. King Charles III, having recently ascended to the throne, is steadily increasing his public appearances and involvement in key ceremonial duties. The Order of the Garter service is a testament to his commitment to upholding long-standing traditions.

Buckingham Palace has announced that King Charles will attend the Order of the Garter service at Windsor Castle next week. The Order of the Garter is the oldest and most prestigious Order of Chivalry in Britain.
In a major tragedy, several Indians are feared to be among at least 41 people killed after a fire broke out in a building in Kuwaits southern Mangaf district on Wednesday morning. A picture shows a building which was ingulfed by fire, in Kuwait City, on June 12, 2024. More than 35 people were killed and dozens injured in a building fire in an area heavily populated with foreign workers in Kuwait, the interior ministry said. (Photo by YASSER AL-ZAYYAT / AFP)

Also Read | Kuwait fire: 5 Indians among 41 people killed in building fire in Mangaf

Deeply shocked by the news of the fire incident in Kuwait city. There are reportedly over 40 deaths and over 50 have been hospitalised. Our ambassador has gone to the camp. We are awaiting further information, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar wrote on X (formerly Twitter).

Heres what we know so far:

(1.) According to reports, the blaze broke out at 4:30 am (local time) in a kitchen on a lower floor and quickly spread through the residential apartment, leaving people trapped. The authorities were informed only at 6 am.

(2.) Nearly 160 people, workers of the same company, were living in the building, as per Kuwait Times. Meanwhile, Onmanorama, a Kerala-based website said that as many as five people from the state are among 10 Indians who lost their lives in the fire incident.

(3.) The website further claimed that the building, which housed workers from Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and north India, belongs to the NBTC Group, owned by KG Abraham, a Malayali businessman. It added that the while the blaze has been doused, several individuals remain trapped.

(4.) Kuwaits Interior Minister visited the scene and held the owners responsible. What happened today is the result of the greed of the company and building owners. I have ordered immediate action to address similar violations where a large number of workers are crammed into one residential building, said Sheikh Fahad Al-Yousuf Al-Sabah.

(5.) The Indian embassy has released the following emergency helpline number: +965-65505246. Adarsh Swaika, the Indian envoy, also visited the site to ascertain the situation.
MECCA, Saudi Arabia  Muslim pilgrims have been streaming into Saudi Arabia's holy city of Mecca ahead of the start of the Hajj later this week, as the annual pilgrimage returns to its monumental scale. More than 1.5 million foreign Muslims arrive in Mecca for annual Hajj pilgrimage

Saudi officials say more than 1.5 million foreign pilgrims have arrived in the country by Tuesday, the vast majority by air, from across the world. More are expected, and hundreds of thousands of Saudis and others living in Saudi Arabia will also join them when the pilgrimage officially begins on Friday.

Saudi officials have said they expect the number of pilgrims this year to exceed 2023, when more than 1.8 million people performed Hajj, approaching pre-pandemic levels. In 2019, more than 2.4 million Muslims made the pilgrimage. Saudi authorities control the flow of pilgrims through quotas, allowing each country one pilgrim for every thousand Muslim citizens.

The pilgrims included 4,200 Palestinians from the occupied West Bank who arrived in Mecca earlier this month, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Awqaf and Religious Affairs. Palestinians in the Gaza Strip were not able to travel to Saudi Arabia for Hajj this year, because of the 8-month war between Israel and Hamas.

We are praying for Palestine to be free and to liberate their land and to be like other nations, to live in peace and not always to have war," said Ibrahim al-Hadhari, an Algerian pilgrim, as he was standing in the Grand Mosque court waiting for evening prayers.

On Tuesday, pilgrims thronged the Grand Mosque in Mecca, performing a ritual circuit walking seven times around the Kaaba, the cube-shaped structure inside the mosque that is considered Islam's holiest site. They wore ihrams, two unstitched sheets of white cloth that resemble a shroud.

Many were seen carrying umbrellas against the sun, in temperatures reaching 42 degrees Celsius during the day on Tuesday.

I was relieved when I arrived at the Al-Masjid Al-Haram and saw the Kaaba, said Rabeia al-Raghi, a Moroccan woman who came to Mecca for Hajj along with her husband and their daughter. I am very happy.

Mohammad Abdel-Baset, an Iraqi pilgrim, said he was overjoyed to perform Hajj.

We congratulate the great crowd and thank God for gathering us from all regions, globally and not from the Arab world only, from all the global Muslim regions came to the Grand Mosque," said Abdel-Baset, a lawyer from Baghdad.

At night, the vast marble court around the Kaaba was packed with the faithful, walking nearly shoulder to shoulder and often jostling with barricades set up by security forces to direct the giant flows of people in and around the Grand Mosque.

Pilgrims do the circumambulation, known as Tawaf in Arabic, upon arriving in Mecca. The large crowds circling the Kaaba will last into the Hajjs first day.

On Friday, pilgrims will move to the Mountain of Arafat for a daylong vigil, then to Muzdalifah, a rocky plain area a few miles away. In Muzdalifa, pilgrims collect pebbles to be used in the symbolic stoning of pillars representing the devil back in Mina.

One of the worlds largest religious gatherings, the Hajj is one of the Five Pillars of Islam. All Muslims are required to undertake it at least once in their lives if they are physically and financially able to do so.

Those in the Hajj view the pilgrimage as an opportunity to strengthen their faith, wipe out old sins and start new.

Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the s collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The is solely responsible for this content.

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A royal commentator has claimed Prince Harry's old Etonian and army friends won't visit him because of their idea doesn't sit well with the duke's wife, Meghan Markle. Royal family needs a shake-up after losing Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, an expert has said (Photo by Kola SULAIMON / AFP)(AFP)

This comes after the Duke and Duchess of Sussex stepped back from their roles as senior working royals in 2020 and relocated from their Windsor home to a luxurious mansion in Montecito, California.

The royal commentator has claimed that the duke's army pals have huge disagreements with his wife, Meghan Markle, and so they abhor visiting Prince Harry.

Despite their move, the couple maintained Frogmore Cottage as a UK residence until their eviction a year ago, which followed the release of Prince Harry's revealing memoir, Spare. Now, Harry is reportedly seeking a new home in the UK.

Once upon a time, this was going to be my forever home. Instead, it had proved to be just another brief stop, Prince Harry wrote in his memoir.

ALSO READ| Prince Harry faces Father's Day nightmare as royal expert says world will be

Meghan Markle's presence drives Prince Harry's friends away

Royal commentator, expert, and author Tom Quinn told The Mirror UK, He [Harry] misses his Old Etonian and army friends, many of whom have not visited as they dont get on with Meghan. As time goes by, Harry misses some aspects of his old life in the UK. Inevitably, the honeymoon period where everything in the States is new and exciting is coming to an end and Harry is looking back at the past through rose-tinted spectacles.

Since relocating to the US, the Sussexes have made infrequent visits to the UK. Meghan was last seen there at Queen Elizabeth II's funeral in 2022.

According to reports, Meghan has significant reservations about returning to the UK. She insists that she and Harry must have their own place and essential security arrangements if they are to visit.

Quinn elaborated on this, saying, Meghan has said shes only prepared to return to England if she and Harry have a place of their own and the security they both feel is essential. Meghan will never return to the UK and stay with her husbands relatives.

ALSO READ| Throwback: Prince Harry's saddening realisation how royal feud turned his forever home into a brief stop

If the couple manage to find a permanent home and sort out the security issue they will certainly want to bring their children to the UK but its going to take a lot of diplomacy to get to the point where Archie and Lili are able to develop a genuine and warm relationship with their cousins George, Charlotte and Louis, he added.
Russian forces fired missiles and drones at the Kyiv region and five other areas of Ukraine in a nighttime attack, officials said Wednesday, ahead of several days of intense diplomatic activity around the war that is now in its third year. Moscow has shown no sign of stopping its attacks and continues to claim portions of eastern Ukraine.(AFP)

Ukraines air force said it shot down 29 out of 30 air targets, including four cruise missiles, one Kinzhal ballistic missile, and 24 Shahed drones. Several people were injured, authorities said.

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy praised the air forces response, saying it could be a daily achievement if the country had the tools to successfully repel Russian attacks. He has repeatedly appealed to Ukraines Western partners to provide more air defense systems, and the United States has agreed to send another Patriot missile system, two U.S. officials said late Tuesday.

How best to support Ukraines efforts to stop Russias invasion will be a central issue in international meetings in coming days.

Kyivs outgunned and outnumbered forces are battling to hold back the bigger Russian army, which is trying to exploit Ukrainian vulnerabilities. Ukraine has been short of troops, ammunition and air defenses in recent months as the Kremlins forces try to cripple the national power supply and punch through the front line in eastern parts of the country.

Ukraine will need to weather the Russian onslaught through the summer, military analysts say, and in the meantime train more soldiers, build fortifications and hope that the provision of Western military aid picks up speed so that in 2025 Kyiv may be able to mount its own offensive.

Leaders of the Group of Seven rich democracies, including U.S. President Joe Biden, are due to gather Thursday in Italy for their annual summit to discuss how to squeeze more money for Ukraine from Russian assets frozen in their countries.

Also Thursday, defense chiefs from the U.S., Europe and other nations hold their monthly meeting on Ukraines security needs. U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin is to host the event in Brussels.

Next weekend, representatives of nearly 90 countries and organizations, half from Europe, are to attend a Swiss-hosted Ukraine peace summit, which will take place without Russia.

Both sides in Europes biggest conflict since World War II have been reaching out to friendly nations to help keep their armed forces supplied. The war has cost tens of thousands of lives on both sides, including more than 11,000 Ukrainian civilians, according to the United Nations.

While Ukraine has looked to Western countries, Russian President Vladimir Putin has turned to nations such as Iran and North Korea for help. Unconfirmed reports suggested Putin may soon make a third visit to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

Fighting along the roughly 1,000-kilometer (620-mile) front line has in recent months focused on the partly occupied Donetsk region of eastern Ukraine, where Russian forces are trying to reach the key hilltop city of Chasiv Yar and other strategic hubs.

Last month the Kremlins forces also launched an offensive in the northeastern Kharkiv region, which borders Russia. Putin said he wanted to establish a buffer zone there to prevent Ukrainian cross-border attacks. The offensive drew some Ukrainian fighters away from Donetsk.

However, Russias gains have been incremental and costly.

In the Kharkiv region, Russian units have become bogged down in Vovchansk, Ukraines Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi said Wednesday on the Telegram messaging app.
By Jeslyn Lerh Singapore to receive its first fuel oil cargo exported from Nigeria's Dangote refinery

SINGORE, - Singapore, Asia's oil hub, will be receiving this week its first low-sulphur straight-run fuel oil cargo exported from Nigeria's new Dangote refinery, according to ship-tracking data and market sources.

This marks a new trade flow from the newly-commissioned refinery to Asia, a region that is structurally short on low-sulphur fuel oil required to meet demand for ship refuelling at the world's largest bunker hub Singapore.

The Dangote refinery, which started production in January and cost $20 billion to build, can refine up to 650,000 barrels per day of products and will be the largest in Africa and Europe when it reaches full capacity.

The refinery has been exporting more LSSR since March, with most of these cargoes landing in America and Europe so far, ship-tracking data from Kpler and Vortexa showed.

The first such cargo to Asia is scheduled to arrive on Wednesday, with the Glencore-chartered vessel Front Brage carrying about 124,000 metric tons of LSSR to Singapore, the data showed.

Some market sources said the cargo was sent to Asia due to a much weaker market in Europe. The front-month 0.5% LSFO east-west spread, which is the difference between prices in the East versus the West, remained above $40 a ton this week, LSEG data showed.

Dangote's LSSR cargoes are typically priced at a differential to Rotterdam 0.5% LSFO quotes on a free-on-board basis, according to market sources, although the differential was not immediately known.

Another LSSR cargo from Dangote comprising about 157,000 tons is also expected to arrive at Singapore on vessel Stena Suede in July, ship-tracking data showed.

Dangote did not immediately respond to a Reuters' request for comment.

LSSR is typically blended with other fuels to produce LSFO bunker fuel, or used as a feedstock in refinery processes.

Dangote started issuing tenders to sell oil products for export in February. It also began buying crude in December last year, with Nigeria's state-owned oil firm NNPC Ltd as its main supplier.

This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
PARKLAND, Fla.  The three-story building where 17 people died in the 2018 mass shooting at Parkland's Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School looms over campus behind a screened fence, a horrific and constant reminder to students, teachers, the victims' families and passersby. Six years after the Parkland school massacre, the bloodstained building will finally be demolished

But now after serving as evidence at the murderer's trial, the building's destruction starts Thursday as crews begin bringing it down piece by piece  implosion would have damaged nearby structures. Officials plan to complete the weekslong project before the school's 3,300 students return in August from summer vacation. Most were in elementary school when the shooting happened.

Whenever I would walk past it, it was just kind of eerie, said Aisha Hashmi, who graduated this month. She was in sixth grade in February 2018, but her older siblings were on campus.

She said when the wind blew back the fence's screening, students would get a glimpse through windows into the empty classrooms and corridors. It is heartbreaking to see and then have to go sit in your English class."

The victims' families have been invited to witness the first blows to the building and hammer off a piece if they wish. They have divergent views about the demolition.

I want the building gone," said Lori Alhadeff, whose 14-year-old daughter Alyssa died there. Alhadeff was elected to the Broward County school board after the massacre and now serves as its chair. Its one more step in the healing process for me and my family. My son still goes to school there and he has to walk past that building where his sister died.

But other parents, like Max Schachter and Tony Montalto, hoped the building would be preserved. Over the last year, they, Alhadeff and others have led Vice President Kamala Harris, members of Congress, school officials, police officers and about 500 other invitees from around the country on tours of it. They mostly demonstrated how improved safety measures like bullet-resistant glass in door windows, a better alarm system and doors that lock from the inside could have saved lives.

Those who have taken the tour have called it gut-wrenching as something of a time capsule of Feb. 14, 2018, with bullet-pocked walls and bloodstained floors. Textbooks and laptops sat open on desks, and wilted Valentines Day flowers, deflated balloons and abandoned teddy bears were scattered amid broken glass. Those objects have now been removed.

Schachter, whose 14-year-old son Alex died, said that while each tour was excruciatingly painful, he believes the safety improvements that visitors implemented elsewhere made keeping the building worthwhile.

For example, Utahs Legislature approved a multimillion-dollar school safety program this year after lawmakers visited and met with Parkland families. It called for installing panic buttons, threat reporting software and better security at school entrances. That law and another were criticized by some for allowing and incentivizing school employees to carry firearms on campus.

We have museums and we have sites that that have stood for individuals to learn and to understand what happened, Schachter said.

Broward is not alone in taking down a school building after a mass shooting. In Connecticut, Sandy Hook Elementary School was torn down after the 2012 shooting and replaced. In Texas, officials closed Robb Elementary in Uvalde after the 2022 shooting there and plan to demolish it. Colorado's Columbine High had its library demolished after the 1999 shooting.

The Broward school board has not decided what the building will be replaced with. Teachers suggested a practice field for the band, Junior ROTC and other groups, connected by a landscaped pathway to a nearby memorial that was erected a few years ago. Several of the students killed belonged to the band or JROTC.

Montalto, whose 14-year-old daughter Gina died in the shooting, would like to see a memorial take over the space, replacing the earlier one, which he said was supposed to be temporary.

We are part of the community, too, he said.

The building, erected about 20 years ago, couldn't be demolished earlier because prosecutors had jurors tour it during the shooter's 2022 penalty trial. The jurors were warned it would be emotionally difficult, and at least one left the building in tears.

The murderer had a long history of bizarre and sometimes violent behavior that spurred numerous home visits by Broward sheriff's deputies. He was spared the death penalty, receiving a sentence of life without parole.

Prosecutors also wanted jurors to tour part of the building during last year's trial of Scot Peterson, the on-campus sheriff's deputy who was accused of child abuse for failing to enter it and confront the shooter. He told investigators that because of echoes, he couldn't pinpoint the shooter's location. The judge rejected the prosecution's request as too prejudicial and unnecessary.

Peterson, who told investigators that because of echoes, he couldnt pinpoint the shooters location, was acquitted, but the families and survivors are still suing him and the Broward Sheriff's Office.

When Im there Thursday, Im going to be thinking about all of the failures from that day that contributed to the Parkland murderer coming on that campus, Valentines Day 2018, and murdering Alex and 16 others, Schachter said.

Associated Press writer Hannah Schoenbaum contributed reporting from Salt Lake City.

This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
Lauren Windsor dropped a series of secret tapes from the Supreme Court Historical Societys annual dinner. The recordings featured Justice Samuel Alito, his wide Martha Ann Alito and Chief Justice John Roberts. (FILES) US Supreme Court Associate Justice Samuel Alito and his wife Martha-Ann Alito along with Chief Justice John Roberts featured in secret recordings of Lauren Windsor. (Photo by Alex Edelman / AFP)(AFP)

Windsor posed as a social conservative at the dinner and recorded the tapes secretly as the event was closed to the press. As the release of the recordings was reported on CNN News Central, anchor John Berman was visibly stunned by the unfolding of the recordings.

Inside the controversial tapes released by the Liberal Activist

In a talk with CNN Senior Supreme Court analyst, Joan Biskupic, Berman discussed the secret tapes of Alitos and Roberts on Tuesdays episode of CNN News Central. The tapes recorded Justice Alito and his wife discussing the left and right divide of the country. Martha mentioned her revenge on the media outlets that earlier reported about the controversial flags flown at the Alito family house. She said, Look at me, look at me. Im German, from Germany. My heritage is German. You come after me, Im going to give it back to you.

Martha was also recorded talking about the flags, 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.

However, Biskupic drew attention to Alitos remarks on religion in the recording as it signifies his stance on religion. 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, he said when Windsor urged him to talk about the political polarization in America.

Chief Justice Roberts remained silent on matters with his simple reply I dont know if thats true. I dont know that we live in a Christian nation after Windsor strongly urged and questioned him about his thoughts on we live in a Christian nation and that our Supreme Court should be guiding us in that path.

Also Read: Hunter Biden becomes first child of US President to be convicted of crime: Netizens ask will Joe keep his promise?

The incident of the Stop the Steal flag at Alitos

The tapes were recorded in a private event on June 3 and released on micro-blogging platform X on Monday night. The recordings were released in light of Alitos under scrutiny for flying the Stop the Steal flag following the attack on the Capitol on January 6. However, Justice Alito claimed the incident to be his wifes doing and rebuffed demand of him being disqualified from cases related to January 6.
US President Joe Biden has reportedly held his re-election bid responsible for his son Hunter Biden's conviction on all three federal gun charges on Tuesday. The commander-in-chief made the claim despite the fact that his only living son's defense lawyers contributed to the breakdown of a sweetheart plea agreement that would have delayed the criminal proceeding last summer. U.S. President Joe Biden stands with his son Hunter Biden, who earlier in the day was found guilty on all three counts in his criminal gun charges trial, after President Biden arrived at the Delaware Air National Guard Base in New Castle, Delaware, U.S., June 11, 2024. REUTERS/Anna Rose Layden(REUTERS)

Expressing the concern that his political career has put a limelight on his family, 81-year-old Biden reportedly told one of his friends earlier this month, "If I weren't running for re-election, he would have gotten the plea deal," Politico reported.

The publication additionally stated that last week, when Biden was in France honoring the 80th anniversary of D-Day, the POTUS asked relatives for details on his son's trial.

Biden learned about his son's guilty verdict while he was getting ready to make his statements on gun violence on Tuesday. Following the decision, Biden rushed to Wilmington, Delaware to meet his Hunter. He was pictured hugging his son in Delaware.

Also Read: Which prison could Hunter Biden be sent to? This cushy California facility with private wing may become his home

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.(AFP)

Will Joe Biden accept outcome of case?

First Lady Jill Biden, who joined Hunter almost every day of his trial, arrived too late in the court to hear the judgement on Tuesday.

A 12-member Delaware jury declared Hunter guilty on all three counts in federal gun case. Although the maximum sentence is unlikely to be imposed, Biden may spend up to 25 years in jail. The judge will announce the sentencing date later.

He was convicted of submitting misleading statements while purchasing a firearm, lying about information that a federally registered gun dealer is obligated to retain, and possessing a firearm while being addicted to a drug use.

Biden issued a statement following the verdict in which he expressed his love and support for Hunter and mentioned he will continue to respect the outcome of the case.

Recalling his last week statement wherein he said that he will not pardon Hunter of found guilty, Biden asserted that I am the president, but I am also a dad.

He expressed his and Jill's love for their son, adding that 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.
Tensions between Elon Musk and OpenAI have somewhat deescalated of late, with Musk halting a lawsuit against the company and its co-founders, Sam Altman and Greg Brockman, in the California state court. Elon Musk roasts OpenAI CEO Sam Altman amid Sora pre-launch(Getty Images)

The decision to drop the suit came just a day after Musk publicly criticized OpenAI's new partnership with Apple.

CNBC reported that the case was dismissed with prejudice. Musk had filed the lawsuit in February earlier this year, claiming that OpenAI, co-founder Sam Altman, and C.E.O. Brian Brockman betrayed him and thatbenchmark had breached an agreement signed in 2019.

Musk's withdrawal averted a hearing scheduled for Wednesday in San Francisco, at which the judge would have considered whether to dismiss the case.

Legal experts had previously questioned the foundation of Musk's case in a CNBC show, noting that the contract central to the lawsuit was not a formal written agreement signed by all parties involved. Musk alleged that OpenAI, initially dedicated to developing artificial general intelligence (AGI) for the benefit of humanity, had transformed into a for-profit entity predominantly controlled by principal shareholder Microsoft.

ALSO READ| Elon Musk had sex with a SpaceX employee, asked a woman to have his babies: Report

Musks 35-page complaint reemphasized how he was directly involved in creating OpenAI, which has now become a prominent and successful start-up. Owing to its viral ChatGPT application, it further strengthened its position.

Elon Musk is taking advantage of the lawsuit?

Kevin O'Brien, a partner at Ford O'Brien Landy LLP and former assistant U.S. attorney, commented on Musk's lawsuit, stating, It's certainly a good advertisement for the benefit of Elon Musk. I'm not sure about the legal part though.

The Tesla boss launched his own AI startup, xAI, as a competitor to OpenAI. xAI recently announced a $6 billion Series B funding round, with notable investors including Andreessen Horowitz, Sequoia Capital, and Fidelity Management & Research Company.

ALSO READ| Elon Musk accused of insider trading again: Sold Tesla stock when he knew

According to its website, X.AI's overarching goal is to understand the true nature of the universe. Notably, the company introduced a chatbot named Grok, inspired by The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, which is equipped with real-time internet knowledge after two months of training.
Chinese cities speed up low-altitude economy, a new force driving development

Global Times) 16:51, June 12, 2024

Aerial photo taken on Sept. 14, 2021, shows the demo flights of a Bell 206 helicopter (R) from HELI-EASTERN, a low-altitude general aviation carrier and helicopter service provider, and a passenger-grade autonomous aerial vehicle (AAV) from EHang, a leading AAV technology platform company, in an integrated airspace in Shenzhen, south China's Guangdong Province. (Photo: Xinhua)

From modern delivery services to rural agriculture, China's low-altitude economy has emerged as a strategic industry driving innovation and development. Cities across China are offering incentives and making deployments to further develop the potential of the industry, which is expected to reach 2 trillion yuan ($275.7 billion) in 2030.

Wuhan, Central China's Hubei Province has issued a set of measures to support the high-quality development of the low-altitude economy, to be effective on June 28.

These measures offer incentives of up to 10 million yuan for major projects to establish themselves in the city, encouraging companies to upgrade to intelligent equipment and establish national-level innovation hubs.

Guangzhou, the capital city of South China's Guangdong Province released a plan to develop the low-altitude economy, aiming to reach 150 billion yuan by 2027.

The city aims to achieve a market size of 30 billion yuan in key low-altitude operational services such as short-distance passenger transport, cultural tourism, logistics, emergency medical services, and exhibition services. In terms of the low-altitude infrastructure, it aims to build more than five vertical takeoff and landing hubs, and more than 100 regular-use takeoff and landing points, with an investment of more than 10 billion yuan in low-altitude infrastructure.

The low-altitude economy, which was included in this year's Government Work Report, is a burgeoning industry and typical representative of the new quality productive forces that serve as a primary catalyst for driving economic development.

According to the Civil Aviation Administration of China, the low-altitude economy exceeded 500 billion yuan in 2023 and is expected to reach 2 trillion yuan by 2030.

Experts believe that the low-altitude economy is to accelerate and become a significant engine for economic growth.

China's low-altitude economy will inject new momentum into the nation's development of new quality productive forces, Pan Helin, a member of the Expert Committee for Information and Communication Economy under the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, told the Global Times on Tuesday.

The rise of the low-altitude economy, driven by technological advances, has the potential to revolutionize various industries and foster high-value jobs, as well as bolster innovation in science and technology, Pan said.

Taking drones as example, they can be utilized in agriculture, logistics and other emerging consumer markets, in an effort to enhance productivity, cut expenses and stimulate economic progress, Pan added.

Wang Peng, a research fellow at the Beijing Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times on Tuesday that the drone and low-altitude tourism industries are important areas for the development of the low-altitude economy.

Wang said that drones will be the first industry to take off in the low-altitude economy, with simplified regulations and increased demand for fast logistics.

The electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) industry is also at a turning point of commercialization, where applications will mainly focus on tourism, logistics, and emergency rescue scenarios in the short to medium term, and gradually expand to urban and regional passenger transportation services, Wang added.

Chinese intelligent aircraft company EHang secured the world's first production certificate for its EH216-S eVTOL aircraft for mass production in April.

With a designed speed of 130 kilometers per hour, a maximum range of 30 kilometers, and a maximum flight time of 25 minutes, it can be widely used in passenger transportation, tourism, logistics, medical emergency rescues, and other scenarios, according to the company.

In the first quarter, EHang achieved a record of 26 deliveries of its EH216-S eVTOL aircraft, doubling from the previous year.

In response to the huge market potential, China authorities have recently released support policies to optimize the development of the low-altitude industry and promote its high-quality development.

The CAAC in May announced that it would expand the available low-altitude flying areas, enhance services for flying, and improve the infrastructure and operations at airports and landing points.

(Web editor: Tian Yi, Zhong Wenxing)
ADB approves 111 mln USD to build dam in Samoa

Manila, June 12 (UNI) The Asian Development Bank (ADB) on Wednesday approved 111 million U.S. dollars for the construction of a multipurpose dam in Samoa.

The Alaoa Multipurpose Dam Project will reduce flood risks in Samoa's capital, Apia, the ADB said in a news release, adding that a small run-of-river hydropower plant will also help reduce Samoa's dependency on imported fossil fuels for power generation.

"Extensive assessments and technical analyses were undertaken to ensure that the infrastructure design will incorporate robust climate and disaster-resilient features," said ADB Director General for the Pacific Leah Gutierrez.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the US government sent out stimulus cheques to help taxpayers cope with economic instability. Three cheques were distributed under the CARES Act, Consolidated Appropriations Act (CAA), and American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). The amount sent to American households in those three rounds totalled $814 billion, per Pandemic Oversight. However, rumours about an $8,700 stimulus cheque recently started circulating online. In this article, we will explore the credibility of the claim. Fact check: Is there really an $8,700 stimulus cheque?(Representational Image)

Is there really an $8,700 stimulus cheque?

The claims about the IRS giving out an $8,700 stimulus cheque recently started making rounds on the internet, with various unofficial sources citing a proposed expanded Child Tax Credit, per The US Sun. These claims suggested that the said proposal sought to help struggling families with monthly payments of $350 per child up to $8,700 over six months starting June 15th.

However, no official confirmation has been provided by any government agency. In the wake of such rumours, the IRS pinned a tweet advising Americans to be cautious while filing their annual return. There are many different kinds of social media content, the agency wrote on X, formerly Twitter, adding, including tons of misleading tax advice that can put you at risk.

What were the Covid-19 pandemic stimulus cheques?

In March 2020, then-US President Donald Trump signed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act/Phase Three) into law. The act enabled Americans to receive a one-time, direct cash payment of $1200 plus $500 per child. Meanwhile, the Congress approved a $2.3 trillion funding package on Dec. 21, 2020. Six days later, Trump signed the CAA stimulus legislation.

The bill included $300 per week in additional jobless benefits, direct payments of $600 to individuals, $325 billion in small business loans, more than $80 billion for schools, and $69 billion for vaccine development and deployment, per Investopedia. The legislation preceded the $1.9 trillion ARPA of 2021, which was signed by President Joe Biden on March 11, 2021.

How much can Americans actually claim?

Although the rumours about an $8,700 stimulus cheque may not hold true, Americans can still claim certain payments as part of the existing Child Tax Credit Law. The IRS states that as of 2023, the tax credit is up to $2,000 per qualifying child should they fulfil the eligibility criteria. In order to qualify for the credit, a child must have a Social Security number, be under the age of 17 at the end of 2023 and be claimed as a dependent on tax returns.
The homes of the Brooklyn Museum's director and several of its other Jewish board members were vandalised with antisemitic graffiti. The attackers sprayed red paint across their properties and wrote, Blood on your hands. Authorities launched an investigation after NYC Comptroller Brad Lander shared photos of the defaced homes on social media Wednesday. Antisemitic vandals smeared red paint across the homes of Brooklyn Museum's Jewish leaders(X, formerly Twitter/ Mayor Eric Adams)

Antisemitic vandals smear red paint across homes of Brooklyn Museum's Jewish leaders

Among those targeted by antisemitic vandals was director Anne Pasternaks coop apartment building in Brooklyn Heights. The attackers smeared red paint across her door and hung up a sign that read, Anne Pasternak Brooklyn Museum White Supremacist Zionist. An inverted red triangle, a symbol used by Hamas to identify Israeli military targets, was also scrawled across her home.

Last night vandals defaced the homes of the Jewish director & several Jewish board members of the @brooklynmuseum. The cowards who did this are way over the line into antisemitism, harming the cause they claim to care about, and making everyone less safe, Lander wrote on X, formerly Twitter.

ALSO READ: Fact check: Is the IRS giving out $8,700 stimulus cheque? Here's what Americans can really claim

New York City Mayor Eric Adams also expressed his discontentment over the vandalism attack. This is not peaceful protest or free speech. This is a crime, and it's overt, unacceptable antisemitism. These actions will never be tolerated in New York City for any reason. I'm sorry to Anne Pasternak and members of @brooklynmuseum's board who woke up to hatred like this, he wrote.

I spoke to Anne this morning and committed that this hate will not stand in our city. The NYPD is investigating and will bring the criminals responsible here to justice, Adams added. Meanwhile, a spokesperson for the museum a spokesperson said, We are deeply troubled by these horrible acts, per NY Post.
By Farah Master and Jessie Pang Hong Kong uses new national security law against exiled activists

HONG KONG - Hong Kong's Security Bureau said on Wednesday it would use powers in a new national security law against six self-exiled activists residing in Britain, including cancelling their passports, after they fled the China-ruled city.

The six are Nathan Law, Christopher Mung Siu-tat, Finn Lau, Simon Cheng, Johnny Fok Ka-chi and Tony Choi Ming-da. City authorities put them on a wanted list last year.

"These lawless wanted criminals are hiding in the United Kingdom and continue to blatantly engage in activities that endanger national security," the bureau said in a statement.

"They continue to collude with external forces to protect their evil deeds. We therefore have taken such measures to give them a strong blow," it added, noting that these moves involved exercising powers in a new set of national security laws known as Article 23, which were enacted in March.

Hong Kong authorities have outlawed more than a dozen overseas activists based in the United States, Britain and other countries. A bounty of HK$1 million for information for these activists was also offered.

The new measures for the six in Britain prohibits providing them with funds and cancels their business dealings in Hong Kong. The new security bill includes punishments for offences including treason, sabotage and sedition.

Security chief Chris Tang called the measures against the activists "a necessary action" at a news conference on Wednesday.

Tang said all six have been harboured in Britain and continue to collude with external forces to engage in activities that endanger the national security of Hong Kong and China.

He also criticised British politicians, organisations and media outlets for "deliberately discrediting" the Hong Kong government.

When asked whether cancelling the activists' passports violated their rights of freedom of movement guaranteed in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, Tang said "there are exceptions because of national security grounds, and this is not just applicable to Hong Kong but applied to all civilised society".

The Article 23 laws come on top of a sweeping China-imposed national security law in 2020 that has been used to jail pro-democracy activists, as well as shutter liberal media outlets and civil society groups.

Crimes such as subversion, collusion with external forces, sedition, theft of state secrets and espionage now carry jail terms of several years to life.

The United States, Britain and Australia, where some of these activists are now based, have criticised the national security laws as a tool to silence dissent.

Hong Kong and Chinese authorities, however, say the laws are necessary and have restored stability since mass pro-democracy protests in 2019.

Hong Kong returned from British to Chinese rule in 1997 with the promise that its freedoms, including freedom of speech, would be protected under a "one country, two systems" formula. Critics of the 2020 law say those freedoms have eroded swiftly.

Law said on his Facebook that he had given up his Hong Kong passport when applying for asylum to the United Kingdom in 2020 and that the latest measures were "redundant".

Lau said he has never applied for or owned a Hong Kong passport, while calling the moves "an explicit act of transnational repression."

This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
By Farah Master and Jessie Pang Hong Kong uses new national security law against exiled activists

HONG KONG, - Hong Kong's Security Bureau said on Wednesday it would use powers in a new national security against six self-exiled activists residing in Britain, including cancelling their passports, after they fled the China-ruled city.

The six are Nathan Law, Christopher Mung Siu-tat, Finn Lau, Simon Cheng, Johnny Fok Ka-chi and Tony Choi Ming-da. City authorities put them on a wanted list last year.

"These lawless wanted criminals are hiding in the United Kingdom and continue to blatantly engage in activities that endanger national security," the bureau said in a statement.

"They continue to collude with external forces to protect their evil deeds. We therefore have taken such measures to give them a strong blow," it added, noting that these moves involved exercising powers in a new set of national security laws known as Article 23, which were enacted in March.

Hong Kong authorities have outlawed more than a dozen overseas activists based in the United States, Britain and other countries. A bounty of HK$1 million for information for these activists was also offered.

The new measures for the six in Britain prohibits providing them with funds and cancels their business dealings in Hong Kong. The new security bill includes punishments for offences including treason, sabotage and sedition.

Security chief Chris Tang called the measures against the activists "a necessary action" at a news conference on Wednesday.

Tang said all six have been harboured in Britain and continue to collude with external forces to engage in activities that endanger the national security of Hong Kong and China.

He also criticised British politicians, organisations and media outlets for "deliberately discrediting" the Hong Kong government.

When asked whether cancelling the activists' passports violated their rights of freedom of movement guaranteed in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, Tang said "there are exceptions because of national security grounds, and this is not just applicable to Hong Kong but applied to all civilised society".

The Article 23 laws come on top of a sweeping China-imposed national security law in 2020 that has been used to jail pro-democracy activists, as well as shutter liberal media outlets and civil society groups.

Crimes such as subversion, collusion with external forces, sedition, theft of state secrets and espionage now carry jail terms of several years to life.

The United States, Britain and Australia, where some of these activists are now based, have criticised the national security laws as a tool to silence dissent.

Hong Kong and Chinese authorities, however, say the laws are necessary and have restored stability since mass pro-democracy protests in 2019.

Hong Kong returned from British to Chinese rule in 1997 with the promise that its freedoms, including freedom of speech, would be protected under a "one country, two systems" formula. Critics of the 2020 law say those freedoms have eroded swiftly.

Law said on his Facebook that he had given up his Hong Kong passport when applying for asylum to the United Kingdom in 2020 and that the latest measures were "redundant".

Lau said he has never applied for or owned a Hong Kong passport, while calling the moves "an explicit act of transnational repression."

This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
Joe Biden has demanded that families who leave guns unlocked be punished. These public remarks, made on Tuesday, June 11, were his first after his son Hunter Biden was convicted of three felonies. Joe Biden says families who leave guns unlocked should be held responsible in first remarks after Hunter Biden's verdict (REUTERS/Elizabeth Frantz/File Photo)(REUTERS)

Its time we establish universal background checks  and by the way, and require the safe storage of firearms, the president, 81, said at a pro-gun control conference held a few blocks from the White House. We should hold families responsible if they dont provide those locks on those guns.

Biden added that he had visited three major crime scenes where the mother or father left open  left stuff out on the desk, left it out on the table and the kid came out and used it. However, he refrained from directly addressing his sons guilty verdict during the pre-scheduled speech, delivered to the group Everytown for Gun Safety, a nonprofit founded by Michael Bloomberg, a former New York City Mayor.

Joe Bidens public show of support for son Hunter

Shortly after Hunters guilty verdict, Biden broke his silence, saying in a statement, as per AFP, 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.

The president later arranged a photo op at the airport of the Delaware Air National Guard, after he travelled to Wilmington, Delaware, to console his son. He was seen embracing Hunter at the airport and talking to him for several minutes in a public show of support. Hunters wife Melissa Cohen and the couples son Beau, 4, were also present during the interaction.
Joe Biden was seen embracing his son Hunter Biden and extending support publicly after the first sons conviction on three federal gun charges. The president had arranged an airport photo op. Joe Biden seen hugging Hunter in public show of support (Photo by ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS / AFP)(AFP)

Biden was greeted by Hunter when he made a midweek, mid-workday trip to Wilmington, Delaware. Also present with Hunter were his wife Melissa Cohen and their son Beau, 4, on the tarmac of the airport of the Delaware Air National Guard.

President Joe Biden hugs his son Hunter Biden at Delaware Air National Guard Base in New Castle, Del., Tuesday, June 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)(AP)

Biden was seen hugging Hunter and speaking to him for a few minutes in front of the press pool, which included photographers, videographers and reporters for various print, radio and TV outlets. The interaction, which was made for viewing, took place around 4:40 pm. Hunter and Bidens tete-a-tete was followed by a motorcade to Bidens Wilmington home.

A federal jury found Hunter guilty on all three federal felony gun charges he was facing. He was accused of violating laws that are in place to prevent drug addicts from owning guns.

Joe Biden and Hunter Biden break their silence

Biden later broke his silence, saying in a statement, according to AFP, 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.

Hunters conviction is unique as it marks the first time an immediate family member of a US president has been found guilty of a crime while the presidents term in office is undergoing. Hunter later said in a statement that he was disappointed by the outcome.

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.

Defence attorney Abbe Lowell said they are naturally disappointed by the verdict, adding that they respect the jury process and will continue to pursue legal challenges. 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, Lowell said.
U.S. President Joe Biden will sign a new security agreement with Ukraine on Thursday to pledge America's long-term support to the country, during his meeting with leaders of the Group of Seven democracies in Italy, a top U.S. official said. US President Joe Bidenarrives to board Air Force One at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, on June 12, 2024. Biden travels to Italy to attend the G7 Summit. (Photo by Mandel NGAN / AFP)(AFP)

Biden departed for Italy on Wednesday to increase pressure on Russia over its war against Ukraine and on China for its support of Moscow and excess industrial capacity.

The agreement will make clear "our support will last long into the future... particularly in the defense and security space," White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan told reporters aboard Air Force One.

"By signing this we'll also be sending Russia a signal of our resolve. If Vladimir Putin thinks he can outlast the coalition supporting Ukraine, he's wrong," Sullivan said.

Fifteen countries have signed their own security agreements, which will strengthen Ukraine's "defensive deterrence capability," he said. The U.S. agreement will include a commitment to working with the U.S. Congress on funding Ukraine going forward but will not commit to using U.S. forces on the ground, Sullivan added.

The White House had said earlier that Biden will meet again with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy at the summit, followed by a joint press conference. The U.S. also expects Biden to meet India's Narendra Modi, who was sworn in as prime minister for a third term, and is waiting for India to formally confirm Modi's attendance at the summit.

The G7 leaders arrive at the summit confronting myriad woes at home even as they seek solutions for many of the world's most pressing problems.

Biden, 81, spent Tuesday evening at his home in Wilmington, Delaware, after a 12-member jury convicted his son Hunter Biden of lying about his drug use to illegally buy a gun in 2018, making him the first child of a sitting U.S. president to be convicted of a crime.

The trial followed the May 30 criminal conviction of Republican former President Donald Trump, the first former U.S. president to be found guilty of a felony. Biden and Trump are running against each other in the November presidential election and are neck-and-neck in the polls.

The heads of the world's most developed democracies will address multiple challenges during the June 13-15 meeting, including wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, trade imbalances with China, threats posed by artificial intelligence and development challenges in Africa.

The leaders will also announce new sanctions and export controls against Russia that target entities and networks helping Putin's forces fight the war in Ukraine. Efforts to curb Russia's growing war economy will be a major discussion topic, administration officials have said.

The U.S. on Wednesday dramatically broadened sanctions on Russia, including by targeting China-based companies selling semiconductors to Moscow, as part of its effort to undercut the Russian military machine waging war on Ukraine.

Separately, the Commerce Department said it was targeting shell companies in Hong Kong for diverting semiconductors to Russia, taking steps that would affect nearly $100 million of high-priority items for Moscow including such chips.

"These actions heighten the risk for financial institutions dealing with Russia's war economy, slows down avenues for evasion while diminishes Russia's ability to benefit from access to foreign technology, equipment, software and IT services," Sullivan said.

Shoring up funding for Ukraine will be a top priority at the G7 meeting, with U.S. and European officials eager to lock in solutions, ahead of a possible Trump re-election and the uncertainty it would raise over future U.S. support for Kyiv.

The Group of Seven nations and the European Union are considering how to use profits generated by Russian assets immobilized in the West to provide Ukraine with a large up-front loan to secure Kyiv's financing for 2025.

The White House's Sullivan said the U.S. is "making good progress in generating an outcome in which those proceeds from those frozen assets can be put to good use."

Biden will press other G7 leaders to agree to an innovative plan to use future interest on some $281 billion of Russian central bank funds to back up a $50 billion loan to Ukraine.

G7 leaders also face electoral challenges, with polls indicating British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak will likely lose power in a national vote next month, and the leaders of France and Germany reeling from heavy defeats in recent European elections.
BOWLING GREEN, Ky.  A Kentucky man has been convicted in federal court of leaving the U.S. to train and fight with the Islamic State group in Syria a decade ago. Kentucky man convicted of training with Islamic State group in Syria

A jury in Bowling Green convicted Mirsad Hariz Adem Ramic, 34, of multiple counts of supporting and receiving military-type training from the Islamic State group, which the U.S. has designated as a foreign terrorist organization. The jury returned the verdict on Tuesday, according to a media release from the U.S. Department of Justice.

Ramic left the U.S. and traveled to Turkey with two other men in 2014, then traveled to the Turkey-Syrian border, and crossed into Syria to join the Islamic State group, according to the Justice Department. Ramic, a dual U.S.-Bosnian citizen, attended a training camp, joined a fighting unit made up of Bosnian foreign fighters and then participated in an Islamic State group offensive in Kobane, Syria, according to the Justice Department.

During the trial, jurors saw a photo of Ramic that was posted on social media of him wearing camouflage and standing in front of a gun truck with an IS flag. After joining in 2014, Ramic discussed jihad, martyrdom and fighting for the Islamic State group, according to the Justice Department.

Ramic was incarcerated and then deported from Turkey and has been in U.S. custody since 2021.

He is facing a maximum penalty of 50 years in prison. His sentencing is set for Sept. 5.

This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
Pope Francis has repeated the same blunder he committed nearly a month ago. According to Italian media report, he used a derogatory word against LGBT people behind closed Vatican doors in the middle of Pride Month. Addressing the Roman priests at the The Salesian Pontifical University on Tuesday, the pontiff said, "there is an air of fa****ness in the Vatican."(AFP)

Addressing the Roman priests at the The Salesian Pontifical University on Tuesday, the pontiff said, "there is an air of fa****ness in the Vatican," and suggested that young gay men should avoid seminaries, ANSA reported.

On being asked about Tuesday's non-public meeting, the Vatican's press office cited a statement in which the Pope underlined the necessity of accepting LGBT persons into the Church, while also cautioning against their admittance to seminaries.

The Vatican Press Office released an official brief outlining the most recent hour-and-a-half meeting with approximately 160 priests. According to the bulletin and ANSA reports, the 87-year-old pontiff discussed a variety of topics with his audience, including the Russia-Ukraine conflict and Israel-Hamas war, as well as artificial intelligence.

He concluded the conversation by returning to the issue of accepting individuals with "homosexual tendencies" to seminaries, underlining that "everyone" should be allowed into the Church while also reaffirming the Church's official objection to gay men seeking the priesthood.

Also Read: Ukraine criticises Pope's 'white flag' call, vows no surrender to Russia

Pope issued apology last month

On May 20, the Pope used an Italian word which roughly translates to faggotry. He used the contentious term during a private discussion with Italian bishops, where he again reiterated his opposition to the Church allowing gay individuals to become priests.

Following the incident, unnamed bishops, who were present in the meeting, reportedly stated that Francis used it "jokingly". Despite this, Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni offered an apology on Pope's behalf.

"As he has had the opportunity to state on several occasions, 'In the Church there is room for everyone, for everyone! No one is useless, no one is superfluous, there is room for everyone. Just as we are, everyone,'" he said.

"The Pope never intended to offend or express himself in homophobic terms, and he extends his apologies to those who were offended by the use of a term that was reported by others," Bruni added.

Many people, however, have reacted to his statement by making light of the situation. The Pope's apparent inability to refrain from using the phrase has particularly amused the internet.
After facing back to back snub from the Royal family, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are now anticipating an invite to two A-lister events in the United States, a royal expert has claimed. Richard Fitzwilliams told The Mirror that the problem for Harry and Meghan is to attend similar grand events in the US that are not centered on them.(AFP)

Prince Harry recently failed to meet King Charles during his visit to the UK reportedly due to his father's busy schedule. According to People Magazine, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have not received an invitation for the monarch's birthday celebration, an event popularly known as Trooping the Colour, for the second year in a row.

Last week, Harry and Meghan missed out on the Duke's close friend Hugh Grosvenor's wedding in a bid to avoid ongoing tensions with his estranged brother Prince William. The Prince of Wales attended the Royal wedding as an usher, while Harry was nowhere to be seen.

Following the birth of their first child, Prince Archie, Meghan and Harry dramatically stepped down from the position of senior Royals in 2020 and relocated to California. Tensions between them and Royal family members have been escalating since then.

Also Read: Prince Harry's Eton and army friends 'won't visit him' over Meghan tensions: Expert

Here's what Royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams has to say

Richard Fitzwilliams told The Mirror that the problem for Harry and Meghan is to attend similar events in the US that are not centered on them.

The Royal couple would profit from events such as the Met Gala and the Oscars, given their aspirations to be A-list celebrities.

Barack Obama's 60th, held in 2021, the year they were in Time Magazine's Top 100, is the sort of event they would undoubtedly want to be seen at but were not invited to.

This year's most awaited Royal event 'Trooping the Colour' will take place on June 15.

It has been confirmed by Buckingham Palace that King Charles, who is undergoing cancer treatment, will attend the event with his wife Queen Camilla. The King and the Queen of Consort will go in a horse-drawn carriage, avoiding the ride on horseback as he has done in the past.

As Kate Middleton continues to recuperate from her cancer diagnosis, it is unknown if the Princess of Wales will attend the yearly occasion. However, earlier reports have suggested that she will not attend the celebrations.
Iran condemns U.S. court ruling to cease pro-Palestinian rallies on UC campuses

Tehran, June 12 (UNI) 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.
The survivors of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting are prepared to graduate, but what should have been a joyous moment of celebration is being looked at by them with mixed feelings, knowing that 20 of their murdered classmates will never graduate. A mass shooting carried out by 20-year-old Adam Lanza in the Connecticut school in December 2012 resulted in the deaths of 20 minor students and six adult staff members. Survivors of the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting hold signs during a rally against gun violence on Friday, June 7, 2024 in Newtown, Conn. (AP Photo/Bryan Woolston)(AP)

About 60 of the 330 graduating seniors were in the school when Lanza opened fire, before dying by suicide by shooting himself in the head. Before driving to the school the same day, Lanza shot his mother dead at their Newtown home.

It has been revealed that the slain students will be honoured during the ceremony, but it is unclear how, according to New York Post. I am definitely going to be feeling a lot of mixed emotions, said Emma Ehrens, 17. She was one of the 11 children from Classroom 10 who survived the attack.

Im super excited to be, like, done with high school and moving on to the next chapter of my life. But Im also so  mournful, I guess, to have to be walking across that stage alone.  I like to think that theyll be there with us and walking across that stage with us, she added.

We all have very mixed emotions

Lilly Wasilnak, 17, another survivor, said that everyone is super excited for graduation. However, she added, 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, she said.

A student named Grace Fischer claimed that the graduating students were never able to have a normal school experience. As much as weve tried to have that normal, like, childhood and normal high school experience, it wasnt totally normal, the 18-year-old said.

But even though we are missing  such a big chunk of our class, like Lilly said, we are still graduating.  We want to be those regular teenagers who walk across the stage that day and feel that, like, celebratory feeling in ourselves, knowing that weve come this far, he added.

The graduating students hope they will be able to start afresh as they move ahead. In Sandy Hook, what happened is always kind of looming over us, said Matt Holden, 17, one of the survivors.

I think leaving and being able to make new memories and meet new people, even if well be more isolated away from people who have stories like us, well be more free to kind of write our own story.  And kind of, you know, not let this one event that happened because we were very young define our lifetimes, he added.

Meanwhile, Ehrens added, For me, I feel like its definitely going to get better and be able to break free of that system and just be able to become my own person rather than, again, the Sandy Hook kid.

To prevent other mass shootings, the students were involved in the Junior Newtown Action Alliance and in anti-gun violence efforts. 18-year-old Ella Seaver said she wants to study psychology in college to be able to help others. Putting my voice out there and working with all of these amazing people to try and create change really puts a meaning to the trauma that we all were forced to experience, Seaver said.

Its a way to feel like youre doing something. Because we are. Were fighting for change and were really not going to stop until we get it, Seaver added.
In a tragic incident, a US citizen lost his life while travelling from Nadi, Fiji to San Francisco on a Fiji Airways flight on Saturday. The incident occurred an hour and a half before the flight was scheduled to arrive at t San Francisco International Airport.(Getty)

The incident occurred nearly an hour before the flight was scheduled to arrive at San Francisco International Airport. According to Fiji Airways, the male passenger, 41, "encountered a medical condition", but he died despite the crew's desperate efforts to save his life.

"Despite the best efforts of our cabin crew and a doctor on board who provided immediate assistance, the passenger unfortunately passed away," the airline reported.

The Airbus crew, according to FlightAware, announced a medical emergency before successfully landing at San Francisco International Airport at 2:34 p.m.

Fiji Airways ground operations workers and first responders awaited the aircraft's landing to evacuate the deceased passenger.

In the statement, the airline applauded the Airbus' cabin crew and assisting doctor for their swift and professional response to this emergency.

Expressing grief over the passenger's demise, it said: Our thoughts and heartfelt condolences go out to the family and friends of the deceased during this difficult time.

The circumstances surrounding the passenger's death are still unclear.

The Airways further ensured that they remain committed to the safety and well-being of their passengers and crew, adding that we are cooperating fully with the authorities as they manage this situation.

Michigan plane crash kills flight instructor

A Michigan plane crash on Monday claimed a life of flight instructor and injured his student.

The Federal Aviation Administration reported that the aircraft crashed in Bridgewater Township, near Ann Arbor Municipal Airport after departing from Ann Arbor Airport.

The flight was carrying only the 46-year-old male instructor from Dearborn, Michigan, and his 22-year-old male student from North Carolina, according to Michigan State Police. Authorities have not released identities of both men.

While the instructor was declared dead at the spot, the student was rushed to a hospital, according to a state police news release.

No details have been provided regarding the extent of injuries of the student.
By David Brunnstrom and Kanishka Singh US wishes India luck with 'structural issues' in strained China ties

WASHINGTON - The United States wishes India well in its efforts to improve strained ties with China, the number-two U.S. diplomat said on Wednesday, while cautioning that Chinese leader Xi Jinping finds it very hard to show any flexibility on territorial issues.

Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar said on Tuesday after assuming office for a second straight term that India would focus on finding solutions to border issues with China, that have long strained ties between the neighbors.

U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell, who has led U.S. efforts to boost ties with India to push back against China's growing power, was asked at a Washington think tank about Jaishankar's comments.

"I think the truth is that anytime two countries can find a degree of the common space to reduce tensions, I think we have to support that," he said.

"I think we wish the Indians well in deliberations," he added, before going on to say that Washington was "very confident and comfortable" about its own bilateral relationship with India "and we want that to continue going forward."

Campbell said he would be in India next week with Jake Sullivan, the U.S. national security adviser, to "advance areas of coordination."

"I think we feel very good about this partnership," he said, while adding: "I think there are some structural issues between China and India that frankly will be difficult to resolve."

Campbell said he believed that for any rapprochement, or substantial improvement in relations with China, India would expect changes in how Beijing treats their contested borders.

"One of the things that we've seen under Xi Jinping on anything that bridges, or touches, territorial matters, I think it's very hard for the Chinese to show any flexibility, or any desire to find common ground," he said.

India and China share a 3,800 km border - much of it poorly demarcated - over which the nuclear-armed nations fought a war in 1962. They have engaged in a military standoff since July 2020 when at least 20 Indian soldiers and four Chinese troops were killed in the worst clashes in five decades.

Washington has sought to develop its ties with India in spite of some differences over issues including human rights.

This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
If Hunter Biden is sent to prison, he will possibly be put in a comfortable California facility for a short while. He will likely have access to yoga classes, the ocean-breeze, and possibly even a private wing so he can live alongside his secret service detail, according to legal experts. A cushy California prison with access to a private wing may be Hunter Biden's home (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)(AP)

Oh Tuesday, June 11, Hunter was found guilty of lying about his drug addiction to purchase a gun back in 2018. He could face up to 25 years behind bars, but it is reportedly unlikely that he would receive the maximum sentence. That is, if at all there is a sentence.

My guess is they would send him to Lompoc, said Wall Street Prison Consultants director Larry Levine, referring to Federal Corrections Institute Lompoc on the sunny California coast. The place is located two hours northwest of Hunters home in Malibu. Its a prime location, Larry added.

Its nice. I was there. Its near the ocean, its got good climate, its a park-like setting. Its laid back, said Larry. Larry has notably served 10 years in 11 different federal prisons for gun and narcotics charges.

Theres an airport nearby, the foods not that bad. The staff isnt cuckoo, he added, according to New York Post.

Larry believes Hunter will not go to jail for more than 36 months, and may be out in half that time with good behaviour. Actress Lori Loughlins husband Mossimo Giannulli previously served many months in FCI Lompoc for his role in the Varsity Blues college admissions scandal in 2021.

Normally somebody with a gun charge, they would send you to a low security institution, Larry said. Its not like youre going to summer camp, but they dont lock the doors. Its a lot of white collar people hanging out, talking about their crimes.

What benefits could Hunter Biden get?

Besides yoga and exercising, Hunter would possibly have access to as many as five visits per month, lasting anywhere from two to six hours, Larry said. Each month, he would likely be allowed about 500 minutes of phone calls.

Prison jobs Hunter may be assigned during the day could be cleaning dishes, being a janitor, or doing clerical work. He would earn $5.25 an hour.

Being the son of president Joe Biden, Secret Service detail will likely follow him into prison. He may be given private quarters away from the prison population.

Hes not going to live in the normal housing unit, they can put him in his own room, said Larry. They might cordon off an area or have him living in an office.

They will put him in a bunk, and he will have two or three secret service officers living with him, he added.

Other similar prisons Hunter may be put in are the low security FCI Terminal Island in Los Angeles, or FCI Victorville Camp, which is also a minimum security facility, located about two hours north of Malibu.
Former Miss America-turned politician Cara Mund, who recognised herself as a staunch anti-Trump Republican, failed the bid to secure the GOP congressional primary to become North Dakota's first female member of the United States House of Representatives. Cara Mund was the lone contender from her state to win the Miss America title in 2017, at the age of 23. (X@CaraMund)

Mund was the lone contender from her state to win the Miss America title in 2017, at the age of 23. After attending public schools, she joined Brown University for her undergraduate degree and then earned her law degree from Harvard Law School. Later, she launched a campaign for Congress as an Independent.

She was competing in Republican primary to take over the seat vacated by Rep. Kelly Armstrong, who is vying for the North Dakota's executive seat after Gov. Doug Burgum withdrew from the presidential nomination contest and declared he would not seek reelection as governor.

The pageant queen, who had blasted Trump and North Dakota's abortion legislation, lost the campaign to Julie Fedorchak, who garnered 46% of the vote in the state's 1st Congressional District. Mund finished in third position, with 19.6% of the vote.

Mund lambasts Trump, says 'I'll be on the right side of history'

As she has identified herself as an anti-Trump, she has been vocal in her condemnation of the former president, particularly in light of his felony conviction.

Proud to be the ONLY ND Republican Candidate not worshiping a convicted felon during this election, Mund said in a post on X after Trump was convicted in hush money trial.

I'll be the voice of ND, not Donald Trump. I'll be the leader who helps move the party back to law and order. I'll be on the right side of history, the former beauty queen added.

Also Read: Donald Trump calls Taylor Swift very beautiful but says she's also

In another post, she blasted her opponents for supporting and promoting Trump.

My opponents want to put women's healthcare in the hands of the government and care more about pleasing and promoting Trump than protecting democracy.

Mund and 2018 Miss America pageant

She was not hesitant from speaking about contentious issues at the 2018 Miss America pageant.

During the contest, Mund condemned the Trump administration for withdrawing from the Paris climate pact.

Following her victory, she became entangled in a public feud with the Miss America Organization leadership, claiming she was "silenced," and marginalized" in her role as Miss America.

In 2022, she competed for the state's sole congressional seat as an independent. According to the Independent, she was prompted by the leaked Dobbs ruling, which signaled the end of abortion rights. With 37.6% of the vote, Mund faced defeat against incumbent Armstrong.

Mund's opponent Julie Fedorchak, who formerly served as Public Service Commissioner, earned Trump's support for her campaign, which she has boasted about on her social media accounts.
An Indian-origin man killed himself after fatally shooting his brother and injuring his mother inside the familys Queens home. According to the police, Karamjit Multani, who was the father of three, was very upset after his family mocked him about his financial problems and failed grocery store. 33-year-old Karamjit Multani (right) and 27-year-old Vipanpal Multani (left) with their sister. (CBS2)

The incident occurred on Saturday night in New York's Richmond Hill district, where roughly 26 percent of the population is Indian or Caribbean, as per the officials.

One of the victims has been identified as Vipanpal Multani, 27, while the police are yet to reveal the identity of injured mother,52, who was shot in the stomach.

Before killing himself, Karamjit Multani left a "detailed, prolonged text message" that investigators termed as a "manifesto" about continuous family animosity.

Joseph Kenny, NYPD Chief of Detectives, revealed that Karamjit Multani sent a message to his spouse prior to the incident in which he described the "abuse" he allegedly received from his family.

There was some indication that he made his son a sheikh [religious title] where apparently the only person supposed to do that is the eldest male in the family, which would have been the father, Kenny stated on Tuesday.

But they were fighting about that and fighting about financial problems and fighting about the preferential treatment he felt his brother was getting because he was more successful.

Also Read: Who is India-origin engineer Ashok Elluswamy, praised by Elon Musk for Tesla AI?

A look into Karamjit Multani's family turmoil

The internal rift became fatal after the family's patriarch gave both of his sons cash and assets to start their own enterprises, according to Kenny.

Vipanpal opened a successful deli in Valley Stream, while the accused brother tried to set up a grocery store in Indiana, which failed "miserably" and he went bankrupt.

The night before the incident, Karamjit's father told him that he wanted him to leave the house, leading him to send away his wife and kids back to Indiana.

The gun shooting took place following an argument between the brothers on Saturday night. Karamjit shot his brother after he went into his room to sleep. The mother and father both tried to stop their violent son, but failed in their attempt.

Karamjit escaped the house and rushed down the street before shooting himself. Police discovered his body near a street corner with a gunshot wound to his head.

Kenny said that police have the video of him removing his turban and shooting himself only one time in the head.

Vipanpal was fatally wounded nine times, while the mother was shot in the arm and torso.

Here's what shocked neighbours have to say about the family

In contrast to police statement about brewing animosity, a family friend, Mandeep, told The Post that the murder-suicide was "out of the blue."

The stunned neighbours described the family as "super quiet."

Gina Fernandez informed that Karamjit used to play on the street with his children and the two siblings seemed very close.

"We never heard the brothers fighting," she explained, adding that "Theyre the best brothers, you know, hang out togetherThey were nice persons."

The accused's father, Bhupinder Multani, claimed that there were no interpersonal issues that led to his son's extreme actions. The New York City Police Department is investigating the crime.
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
An Oregon dad who drugged his daughter's friends during a sleepover may be released from prison early for good behavior.

Michael Meyden, 57, of Lake Oswego, pleaded guilty on Monday in Clackamas County Circuit Court to three counts of causing another person to ingest a controlled substance, according to prosecutors and one of his attorneys, Jeff Turnoy.

Turnoy told NBC News that his client could get five months reduced from his sentence on good behavior, as the sentence was part of a negotiated deal with prosecutors that included the dismissals of three additional felony counts and three misdemeanor counts.

Meyden is guilty of drugging three of his daughter's friends during a sleepover.

The girls, all 12 years old, were hospitalized and tested positive for benzodiazepine, described in the affidavit as a drug generally prescribed for anxiety with common prescriptions under the names Valium, Xanax, and Klonopin.

Turnoy explained to the court that Meyden "was attempting to have the girls go to sleep and not sneak out of the house so that they would engage in the activities that the family had planned the next day."

He had made each girl two smoothies shortly before they went to bed.

While one girl drank two cups and another drank one, the third girl didn't like the smoothies and barely drank any of it. She later rreported that Meyden came downstairs where they were sleeping and tried to physically separate the sleeping girls.

Scared for her friend, she pulled close to her when Meyden returned to attempt another try at separating them-- at one point even placing his finger underneath the nose of the girl who pretended to be sleeping.

One of the victims told police she began to feel woozy, hot and clumsy before blacking out and slipping into a "thick, deep sleep" she had never experienced before.

It was then that the third girl began frantically texting her parents and friends to pick her up.

"Mom, please pick me up and say I had a family emergency. I don't feel safe. I might not respond, but please come get me," one of the texts said.

"Please. Please pick up. Please. PLEASE!!"

Clackamas County District Attorney John Wentworth said in a statement released on Tuesday that Meyden deserved time behind bars.

"Mr. Meyden's actions are inexcusable and reckless and required a punishment commensurate with the crime," he said.

Adding that "the impact this event has had on the child victims, their families, and our community has been enormous."

The victims and their relatives were all in court Monday, where Turnoy highlighted that his client was tearfully apologetic for his actions.

"Mr. Meyden is incredibly remorseful and humbled by his conduct and choices," he said.

"He understands appropriately that he hurt a lot of people and is very regretful of all that. And his demeanor in court was authentic and genuine; he showed nothing but sincerity in being apologetic and remorseful for his behavior."

In addition to his jail sentence, Meyden also received three years of post-prison supervision.
An armed elderly California homeowner who shot and killed a robber during a home invasion was arrested on suspicion of murder.

The unidentified 77-year-old man remained in custody as of Tuesday as the Alameda County district attorney weighed pressing potential charges, authorities said, KTVU-TV reported.

The DA did not immediately respond to HNGN's request for comment.

The deadly shooting unfolded Monday evening when two men and a woman broke into the Oakland, California, home, authorities said. One man was armed with a crowbar.

The homeowner responded by firing off several rounds.

When officers arrived, they witnessed one of the male suspects unresponsive with several gunshot wounds, while the homeowner used a stolen revolver to hold the female suspect at gunpoint, court documents said, the outlet reported.

The woman told police the homeowner shot her friend, who was pronounced dead on the scene, authorities said, according to KPIX-TV and KNTV-TV.

The homeowner and the other male robber were arrested.

The DA has until Thursday to decide whether to press charges against the homeowner or if the fatal shooting was justified.
Malappuram (Kerala), June 12 (UNI) Congress MP Rahul Gandhi has not yet made up his mind on whether to relinquish "Wayanad or Rae Bareli" Lok Sabha seat, as of Wednesday when he visited his parliamentary constituency in Kerala for the first time after winning the elections from both seats with huge margins.

The suspense could continue till June 17, as Gandhi admitted: "I'm in a big dilemma whether to relinquish Wayanad or Rae Bareli" before the voters of Wayanad constituency.

However, he assured them: "I will commit to you that both the people of Wayanad and Rae Bareli constituencies will be happy with my decision in this regard".

Gandhi asked the voters to sort out his dilemma about which constituency to stay pick.



Addressing a reception organised by Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) at Edavanna in Malappuram district, which is part of Wayanad Lok Sabha Constituency, Rahul Gandhi ridiculed and criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The Wayanad MP said: "Prime Minister Narendra Modi claimed that he was functioning as directed by the Paramathma (Almighty), however, Modi only followed the directions of almighty to take decisions in favour of Adani or Ambani."

Gandhi said: "I am a normal human being, my god lives among the poor people of India. And so for me it is easy to just talk to the people in Wayanad and they will tell me what to do."

He also targeted BJP leaders, who ahead of the elections in their arrogance had said the Constitution will be thrown out.

The elections were fought to uphold the Constitution and the people taught the BJP a lesson, he said, adding that "do not touch the Constitution. It is our pride, voice and tradition. So do not touch it."

He declared that politics of hatred was defeated by that of love and affection, while arrogance was trumped by humility.

Gandhi thanked the people of Wayanad for his consecutive victory from the Lok Sabha seat and ended the speech with a promise: "I look forward to seeing you soon".

Thousands of UDF workers including women and children thronged both sides of the road to catch a glimpse of Rahul Gandhi seated in an open jeep during his Edavanna road show.

Gandhi greeted them later at a second reception held at Kalpetta bus stand.



AICC Organizing General secretary KC Venugopal, Opposition leader VD Satheeshan, senior Congress leaders Ramesh Chennithala , MM Hassan, were present among others.

Rahul Gandhi won from Wayanad with a margin of 3.6 lakhs votes in 2024 LS elections.

UNI AK ING
President Joe Biden is reportedly blaming himself for Hunter Biden's current legal woes.

The president's son was convicted of 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.

During the trial, the younger Biden's ex-wife, Kathleen Buhle, and former girlfriends testified he was addicted to cocaine.

A jury found him guilty on all counts Tuesday. He faces up to 25 years in prison, but could walk away with probation.

Insiders say the elder Biden professed feelings of guilt over how his son's high-profile trial played out as he's vyes for a second term in the White House.

"If I weren't running for reelection, he would have gotten the plea deal," Biden reportedly told an unnamed member of his team, according to Politico.

The plea deal would have allowed the younger Biden to avoid prison time, but fell apart in July after GOP lawmakers claimed he was getting preferential treatment as the President's son.

Biden offered a statement shortly after the guilty verdict, reiterating that he and First Lady Jill Biden "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.

The younger Biden will likely be sentenced after Election Day.

Until then, Biden aides believe presumptive GOP nominee Donald Trump's camp will use his son's conviction to attack his fitness as a father and the nation's leader.
A camera captured a violent video of a trio of armed robbers storming a downtown Los Angeles jewelry store, taking out a security guard while holding a gun to his head, and then ransacking the safe.

With a gun in his face, store owner Jerry Michele attempted to fight back against the robbers, who stole more than $500,000 in jewelry.

The robbers yelled at employees as they ran around, "Don't do anything stupid," while they waved their weapons in the air and continued grabbing copious amounts of jewelry.

Michele said the traumatic event was like an out-of-body experience and that he was pumped with adrenaline, barely remembering half the things he did in the moment.

The male suspects were covered from head-to-toe in black garb and were in and out in practically minutes.

No arrests have been made.
New Delhi, June 11 (UNI) Two Indian nationals recruited by the Russian Army have been killed in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, the MEA said on Tuesday night. India has also demanded that a stop be put to any further recruitment of Indian nationals by the Russian Army, saying such activities would not be in consonance with the bilateral partnership.



In a late night statement, the MEA said that India has strongly taken up the matter with Russia for the early release and return of all Indian nationals with the Russian Army.

The MEA also urged Indian nationals to exercise caution while seeking employment opportunities in Russia.

In a statement, the Ministry of External Affairs said:

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 the mortal remains.

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.

Earlier, in March the MEA had said that several Indians were duped into working with the Russian army and had then too strongly taken up the matter with the Russian government for early discharge of the Indians.

The Central Bureau of Investigation had in March busted several major human trafficking networks that were targeting gullible youths with offers of lucrative jobs abroad and sending them to Russia.

The traffickers were luring Indian nationals through social media channels like YouTube and through their local contacts/agents for "highly paid jobs in Russia". The Indians were promised jobs of "security helper".

The Indian nationals were trained in combat roles and deployed at front bases in the Russia-Ukraine War Zone against their wishes, thus, putting their lives in grave dangers".

The CBI investigation had revealed that many Indians were also lured to Russia on the pretext of securing admission into private universities and then forced to go to the war zone.

According to reports, around 100 Indians were duped into joining the Russian Army.

UNI RN
Its been a busy spring in the travel world, with product rollouts from Expedia Group, Google and OpenAI, among others. So when more than 500 travel insiders gathered in Barcelona Monday for the start of the 2024 Phocuswright Europe conference, there was a lot to chew over even before the start of the networking happy hour.

But, like choosing among a tray of canapes or between a glass of Rioja and cava, where to begin? Perhaps its with Expedias travel assistant Romie, which can roam with travelers, even joining their chats on Messenger, Whatsapp or text to provide timely information about trip planning.

Or maybe its Google Gemini, which was already supplying information about booking options and things to do and can now use spatial data and reasoning to prioritize and make decisions while building a personal itinerary.

And then theres OpenAIs new voice agent that sounds more lifelike and has all the knowledge of a large language model to help travelers mull their next great adventure.

Part of the reason artificial intelligence is such an appetizing topic in travel is both the immense potential it represents and the unpredictability of where the next advancements could take the industry.

What seems clear is that the companies that adopt AI tech and use it well will have a significant advantage, said Rod Cuthbert, the founder of Viator.

You'd be crazy to ignore it, Cuthbert said. Anybody who thinks or predicts they know where this is going to go is out of their mind. It could go in so many different directions.

As appealing as it is to imagine a startup taking travel by storm with a thunderstrike of innovation, its more likely that an existing player like Google, or even Apple or Meta, sets the standard for how the tech is used, Cuthbert said, adding, And I think thats unfortunate because it will stifle innovation.

Suzanna Chiu, head of Amadeus Ventures, sees in generative AI a great technology that enables the industry to create new tools  while also making existing tools even smarter.

Looking at the startup, innovation scene, we were seeing superpowered, trip-planning tools in the very beginning, she said. Now were seeing the technologies moving from search and book to being able to understand the intent of the travelers a little bit better, getting into productivity use cases as well. Were looking at supporting travel agents to be able to meet the requirements of their customers better. For example, being able to understand a huge amount of emails or supporting a call center environment with suggestions on what would be the most appropriate responses.

Read the full article at Phocuswire
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.
Marriott International, Inc., announced its plans to expand its portfolio in France with the expected addition of 10 properties with over 1,000 rooms by the end of 2025. The anticipated openings will further strengthen the companys footprint in France, where it currently has a portfolio of 69 properties with over 12,000 rooms across 16 brands and 29 cities, including Paris, Nice, Cannes, Lyon, Strasbourg, Marseille, Reims, Lille, Bordeaux and Toulouse.

We remain focused on strengthening our presence in primary and secondary markets in France in line with the strong demand we are seeing for leisure and resort experiences, as well as for business travel. With our captivating portfolio of brands, world-class distribution platform and Marriott Bonvoy, our award-wining travel program, we continue to drive robust growth opportunities with owners and franchisees in the market. Conversion and adaptive reuse projects represent nearly half our properties expected to join the Marriott portfolio in France by the end of 2025. These projects allow us to add hotels in key locations in city centres and demonstrate our expertise and flexibility in finding innovative solutions to adapt existing buildings whilst creating fantastic guest experiences. Alexandra Goguet, Vice President of Development, France and Benelux, Marriott International

Marriott continues to see strong momentum for its select service brands in the market with Moxy Hotels spearheading growth in the segment with three anticipated additions. Plans for the brand include the openings of Moxy Annecy and Moxy Paris Clamart expected in 2024, followed by the addition of Moxy Nice which is anticipated by the end of 2025. The innovative and playful lifestyle brand has already established itself in France with nine operating hotels with nearly 1,500 rooms. Other expected additions by the end of 2025 include Residence Inn by Marriott Lille, Courtyard by Marriott Lyon East and Aloft Dijon, an adaptive reuse project of a former post office in the city centre.

Marriott is also seeing opportunity for conversion and adaptive reuse projects in the luxury space. The company plans to strengthen its luxury portfolio in France with the highly anticipated opening of Hotel du Couvent, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Nice, an adaptive reuse project of a convent originally built in 1604. In collaboration with Studio Mumbai, Studio Mediterranee and Festen Architecture, the property has been restored and will add 88 luxury guest rooms and suites to the market with its anticipated opening in the summer of 2024.

In the premium segment, Marriott expects to add a Tribute Portfolio Hotel in Mougins.

France is home to 16 of the brands in the Marriott Bonvoy portfolio, each serving differentiated experiences across traveller segments and travel purposes. The brands currently present in the country include The Luxury Collection, JW Marriott, Marriott Hotels, Sheraton, Le Meridien, Westin, Renaissance Hotels, Autograph Collection Hotels, Tribute Portfolio, Design Hotels, Residence Inn by Marriott, Aloft Hotels, AC Hotels by Marriott, Moxy Hotels, Courtyard by Marriott and Marriott Vacation Club.
Madonnas final concert of her Celebration Tour pushed Rio de Janeiros hotel performance in May, according to preliminary data from CoStar. CoStar is a leading provider of online real estate marketplaces, information, and analytics in the property markets.

May 2024 (year-over-year % change):

Occupancy: 62.0% (+6.0%)

Average daily rate (ADR): BRL729.06 (+19.9%)

Revenue per available room (RevPAR): BRL452.14 (+27.2%)

On Saturday, 4 May, Madonna wrapped her Celebration Tour with a free concert on Rio de Janeiros Copacabana Beach, which attracted over 1.6 million fans, and resulted in the markets highest daily levels for the month: occupancy (83.9%), ADR (BRL1,225.95) and RevPAR (BRL1,028.83). The daily ADR and RevPAR levels were also the highest since early February 2024, while occupancy was the highest since November 2023.

The second-highest occupancy levels were seen on Wednesday, 22 May (82.5%)  the second night of the FPSO Brazil Congress, which overlapped with the final night of the Argus Rio Crude Conference. For more information about the company and its products and services, please visit www.costargroup.com.
San Francisco, Calif.  June 12, 2024  Canary Technologies, the global leader in hotel guest management technology, announced today that it has closed a $50 million Series C funding round. The round was led by global software investor Insight Partners, who also led the company's Series B, with participation from existing investors F-Prime Capital, Thayer Ventures, Y-Combinator, and Commerce Ventures. This brings Canary's total fundraising to date to nearly $100M, making it one of the top funded hotel technology companies globally.

The resounding support from Canarys current investors underscores the companys performance and their unwavering confidence in Canarys growth trajectory, as it continues to solidify its position as the premier provider of enterprise grade hospitality AI solutions. Canary is trusted by more than 20,000 hoteliers across the globe including a host of flagship enterprise brands such as Wyndham, Marriott, Hilton, Four Seasons, and others.

AI is transforming the way we live, work, and travel. Canary is at the forefront of delivering enterprise-grade hospitality AI solutions that empower hoteliers to streamline operations, boost efficiency and elevate the guest experience, said Harman Singh Narula, CEO and Co-founder of Canary. This funding milestone is a reflection of the teams hard work and the immense impact that Canary is making for hoteliers, including many of the worlds largest enterprise hotel brands. We continue to see significant demand in the market for our products and are excited to extend our partnership with existing investors.

In a year that proved tough on growth and execution in the tech ecosystem, we saw Canary thrive and exceed their ambitious targets, prompting us to double down, said Thomas Krane, Managing Director at Insight Partners. We continue to be impressed with Harman, SJ, and the teams tenacity and ability to deliver hoteliers the best-in-class solutions they need most, and are honored to be a part of the companys journey.

Canary is transforming the hotel technology landscape with its award-winning end-to-end Guest Management Platform, and is currently deploying one of the largest rollouts of guest-facing AI technology in hospitality ever.

"Canary remains focused on our mission of helping hoteliers modernize their tech stack to deliver the best guest experiences possible, said SJ Sawhney, President and Co-founder of Canary Technologies. We are thrilled to utilize the funding to continue building a world-class team focused on innovation while expediting our ambitious roadmap. With Canary AI already deployed in some of the worlds largest enterprise hotel brands, we look forward to further enhancing our AI capabilities and broadening its use across the industry.

Co-founded by long-time friends and industry veterans, Narula and Sawhney bring years of experience in hospitality and technology to Canary Technologies. Narula was previously a member of the Global Strategy team at Starwood Hotels & Resorts and a management consultant at Bain & Company. He is a graduate of the renowned Cornell School of Hotel Administration and the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. Prior to co-founding Canary, Sawhney led product and technology at Stayful, a booking platform for independent and boutique hotels founded by the former president of Hotels.com. Sawhney is a serial entrepreneur, having successfully founded multiple venture-backed technology companies over the prior decade. He is a graduate of Columbia University.

About Canary Technologies

Canary Technologies is modernizing the hotel tech stack with its award-winning end-to-end Guest Management System. Digitizing everything from post-booking through checkout, Canary is trusted by more than 20,000 hoteliers in 80 countries, including leading global brands, such as Marriott International, Four Seasons, Choice Hotels, Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, and Intercontinental Hotel Group. Canary is the #1 rated solution on HotelTechReport and was the sole hotel technology company named to Fast Company's Most Innovative Companies in 2023. Canary's solutions eliminate paper processes, boost revenue, increase staff efficiency, improve the guest experience, and reduce chargebacks and payment fraud. Canary's Hotel Management Software includes Mobile Check-In, Smart Checkout, Tablet Registration, Dynamic Upsells, Guest Messaging, Canary AI, Digital Tipping and Digital Compendium. Learn more at canarytechnologies.com.

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Moxy Paris Clamart - Image Credit Marriott

Hotel du Couvent, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Nice, - Image Credit Marriott

Marriott International, Inc., announced its plans to expand its portfolio in France with the expected addition of 10 properties with over 1,000 rooms by the end of 2025. The anticipated openings will further strengthen the companys footprint in France, where it currently has a portfolio of 69 properties with over 12,000 rooms across 16 brands and 29 cities, including Paris, Nice, Cannes, Lyon, Strasbourg, Marseille, Reims, Lille, Bordeaux and Toulouse.

Alexandra Goguet, Vice President of Development, France and Benelux, Marriott International commented: "We remain focused on strengthening our presence in primary and secondary markets in France in line with the strong demand we are seeing for leisure and resort experiences, as well as for business travel. With our captivating portfolio of brands, world-class distribution platform and Marriott Bonvoy, our award-wining travel program, we continue to drive robust growth opportunities with owners and franchisees in the market.

Marriott continues to see strong momentum for its select service brands in the market with Moxy Hotels spearheading growth in the segment with three anticipated additions. Plans for the brand include the openings of Moxy Annecy and Moxy Paris Clamart expected in 2024, followed by the addition of Moxy Nice which is anticipated by the end of 2025. The innovative and playful lifestyle brand has already established itself in France with nine operating hotels with nearly 1,500 rooms. Other expected additions by the end of 2025 include Residence Inn by Marriott Lille, Courtyard by Marriott Lyon East and Aloft Dijon, an adaptive reuse project of a former post office in the city centre.

Goguet added: Conversion and adaptive reuse projects represent nearly half our properties expected to join the Marriott portfolio in France by the end of 2025. These projects allow us to add hotels in key locations in city centres and demonstrate our expertise and flexibility in finding innovative solutions to adapt existing buildings whilst creating fantastic guest experiences.

Marriott is also seeing opportunity for conversion and adaptive reuse projects in the luxury space. The company plans to strengthen its luxury portfolio in France with the highly anticipated opening of Hotel du Couvent, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Nice, an adaptive reuse project of a convent originally built in 1604. In collaboration with Studio Mumbai, Studio Mediterranee and Festen Architecture, the property has been restored and will add 88 luxury guest rooms and suites to the market with its anticipated opening in the summer of 2024.

In the premium segment, Marriott expects to add a Tribute Portfolio Hotel in Mougins.

France is home to 16 of the brands in the Marriott Bonvoy portfolio, each serving differentiated experiences across traveller segments and travel purposes. The brands currently present in the country include The Luxury Collection, JW Marriott, Marriott Hotels, Sheraton, Le Meridien, Westin, Renaissance Hotels, Autograph Collection Hotels, Tribute Portfolio, Design Hotels, Residence Inn by Marriott, Aloft Hotels, AC Hotels by Marriott, Moxy Hotels, Courtyard by Marriott and Marriott Vacation Club.
Image Credit IHG



The new-build resort situated in the Shimla district will open its doors to guests in 2026

IHG Hotels & Resortshas announced the signing of a management agreement with Siddhya Hotels & Resorts Pvt Ltd. for the development of Holiday Inn Resort Kufri. Set to open in 2026, the signing aligns with IHGs expansion strategy in India and build on its commitment to provide diverse and exceptional hospitality experiences across leisure destinations in the country.

Holiday Inn is one of the most loved and recognized hotel brands in the world with over 70 years of history. Having seen phenomenal success in India, the brand aims to provide quality, consistent, and authentic experience to travellers. Once opened, Holiday Inn Resort Kufri will embody these core values, delivering a travel experience that caters to both leisure and corporate guests.

The new-build resort will be situated in one of the most scenic towns in the district of Shimla, Kufri, which is known for its breath-taking mountain and forest views, and is well-connected by road to Shimla, Chandigarh, and the rest of North India. Enhancing the guest experience further, Holiday Inn Resort Kufri will be situated on a hilltop and will offer panoramic views of the mountains. The resorts prime location will also offer easy access to these key destinations, ensuring a seamless travel experience. The resort will be well poised to cater to the robust demand from independent travellers, Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions (MICE), and wedding segments throughout the year.

Holiday Inn Resort Kufri will feature 100 well-appointed keys, including 10 exclusive suites. Guests will enjoy a variety of dining options with four F&B outlets and a spa: an All-Day dining restaurant, a lobby lounge and bar, destination bar, and a pool bar. For social gatherings and corporate meetings, the resort will be equipped with four versatile meeting and event spaces, including a grand ballroom to accommodate high demand coming from the weddings segment. For guests to unwind and relax, there will be a fully equipped gym, a pool, and retail spaces.

Commenting on the signing, Sudeep Jain, Managing Director, South West Asia, IHG Hotels & Resorts said, We are delighted to announce the signing of Holiday Inn Resort Kufri in partnership with Siddhya Hotels & Resorts Pvt Ltd. The Kufri-Shimla region is a highly sought-after leisure and events destination in India. It attracts a diverse range of travellers, from leisure seekers to business guests attending conferences, and guests seeking destination weddings. Kufris picturesque views and strategic location makes it an ideal destination to open a Holiday Inn Resort.

He added, The signing underscores our commitment to expand IHGs presence in key leisure markets in the country. Once opened, we are confident that the Holiday Inn Resort Kufri will be well-positioned to offer guests an unparalleled experience.

Siddharth Kundu, Managing Director of Siddhya Hotels & Resorts Pvt Ltd, added: We are thrilled to partner with IHG Hotels & Resorts to bring a Holiday Inn Resort to Kufri. Combining our local expertise with IHGs global standards, we aim to create a distinguished destination that will become a preferred choice for travellers seeking both relaxation and adventure.

IHG currently has 45 hotels operating across five brands in India, including Six Senses, InterContinental Hotels and Resorts, Crowne Plaza, Holiday Inn Resort and Holiday Inn Express, with a strong pipeline of 50 hotels due to open in the next 3-5 years.
Holiday Inn - the niu Cure Double Bedroom - Image Credit IHG



Holiday Inn - the niu Cure, Erlangen is the first of over 50 brand collaboration properties set to open

IHG Hotels & Resorts 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 nius extensive domestic presence and unique design inspired by locality, with Holiday Inns 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 citys 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 hotels 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.

Mario Maxeiner, Managing Director, Northern Europe at IHG Hotels & Resorts, commented: We are delighted to work with our partners at NOVUM Hospitality, to open the first Holiday Inn - the niu hotel in Germany. This is a brand collaboration that offers guests the comfort and expertise of one of the worlds most recognised and trusted brands, Holiday Inn, combined with the stylish and locally inspired design of the niu. Holiday Inn - the niu Cure is an excellent first representation of how this brand collaboration comes to life. We look forward to converting and opening the doors to more than 50 existing hotels for this brand collaboration in the months to come.

David Etmenan, Chief Executive Officer & Owner NOVUM Hospitality, said: As one of Europe's largest privately-owned hotel operators, we look forward to witnessing our flagship brand, the niu, embark on a new chapter alongside the globally renowned Holiday Inn brand. The opening of our first Holiday Inn  the niu hotel in Erlangen marks the first step in our collaborative journey with IHG Hotels & Resorts, and we eagerly anticipate the launch of over 50 more Holiday Inn  the niu hotels in the near future. In fact, we are delighted to have also signed our first pipeline property for Holiday Inn  the niu with IHG.

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Samira Said, CEO NOVUM Hospitality, added: Since signing our long-term agreement with IHG Hotels & Resorts in April of this year, we have achieved remarkable progress in a relatively short period of time. Seeing this collaboration come to fruition has been a genuine pleasure, as it highlights a strategic milestone in our companys history. We are beyond proud of what our teams  both at IHG and NOVUM Hospitality  have accomplished in the past weeks and months.

As with Holiday Inns 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 hotels 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
Great Barrington Public Theater Names Board Chair

GREAT BARRINGTON, Mass.  Great Barrington Public Theater (GBPT) announced that longtime supporter and board member Susie Weekes Roeder has been named board chair.

She brings multi-talented experience as a nonprofit board member, with special emphasis on development, and has a record of achievement as a key, action-oriented team player, said a press release.

"Susie has been with Great Barrington Public Theater since our inception. Not only is she one of our greatest champions, she is also incredibly beloved by the Great Barrington community," GB Public founder Deann Simmons Halper explained. "I can think of no one better to lead the board and the company on to our next phase of growth.

The first invited member of the GBPT board, Roeder led the initial fundraising campaigns, doubled the company's annual appeal numbers and took part in the concept and planning of the company's upcoming June 7 benefit An Evening with Great Barrington Public Theater that will introduce the 2024 season, and support and promote the work of Berkshire Voices, GBPT's playwriting collaborative.

Weekes Roeder is familiar and respected throughout the Berkshires. In her dozen years on the board of Construct, the leading nonprofit provider of affordable housing and supportive services to residents in fifteen towns across the southern Berkshires, Roeder solidified a professional donor database, and was instrumental in multiple creative fundraising events that raised visibility and made direct connections and impact on Berkshire communities.

Prior to moving to the Berkshires from Washington DC more the twenty years ago, she worked with funding sources to raise 18 million dollars capital for the Lab School.

Following graduation from Suffolk University with a Master's Degree in Media in Philanthropy, Roeder traveled to South Africa, the Dominican Republic, China, and throughout the United States with film crews capturing the stories of clients served by various organizations, producing video for organizations such as USAID; Helen Keller International; The Giving Back Catalog; Berkana; Blue Rider Stables; Sinocizo and Construct. She later founded the Indwe Learning Center in South Africa, a Montessori School for children who lost parents to AIDS.

The event will also tribute the visionary contributions of Sally and Fred Harris, the driving force behind the success of St. James Place, and Michael Brady, award winning playwright and founder of Berkshire Voices writers' collaborative.
Author Ty Allan Jackson Visits Lee Elementary School's Danny Dollar Entrepreneur Fair, based on Jackson's books. The fifth-grade class also received a second book from Jackson. Book character Danny Dollar is a big hit with the kids. PreviousNext

Lee Elementary School Holds Entrepreneur Fair



Fifth-grade students created potential businesses based on their interests. The entrepreneur fair is an outgrowth of author Ty Allan Jackson's 'Danny Dollar' series that teaches children financial literacy. LEE, Mass.  Hundreds of students gathered last week in the Lee Elementary School cafeteria for its first-ever entrepreneur fair.

Over the last two months, the school's fifth graders have been introduced to financial literacy and developed their own businesses based on their interests.

The students kicked off this endeavor toward the end of April, Financial Literacy Month, with the reading of Ty Allan Jackson's first book, "Danny Dollar," which he wrote while living in Pittsfield. The book's description says it teaches kids "about finance, banking, investing, and entrepreneurship in a fun and relatable way."

The entrepreneur and author is the founder of the Danny Dollar Entrepreneur Fair, a program that teaches children life and financial literacy skills in collaboration with schools.

Jackson and his buddy "Danny Dollar" flew in from California to admire the students' hard work. The kids flocked around Danny, giving him high-fives and hugs as they proudly showed him what they had developed. The students also received a free copy of Jackson's second book, "Make Your Own Money."

As part of the program, the entrepreneur fair provides the schools with a template that includes its concept and curriculum. The teachers then cater that curriculum to the school's needs, Jackson said.

"We really don't give them a lot of guidance. We kind of give them the format, and then we let them run with it," he said.

"It was interesting because the students learned that you have to spend money to make money, so they talked about how to get that money, pay it back, and get investors," ELA and math teacher Michele Puleri said.

"So there was really a lot of learning of financial literacy in general that happened, in addition to creating a business."

The first part of Puleri's English language arts class was spent on normal curriculum while the second part was spent reading the book and working on their projects.

When the students first started this journey, they struggled with where to start, Puleri said. During Jackson's Zoom kick-off, he told them to "Dream big, Think big," and they had a hard time with that.

Over the course of these couple of months, Puleri has seen a lot of collaboration and discussions between students.

"This is probably, in 25-plus years of teaching, one of the best projects that I've seen. This is what kids remember, this is what could spark a passion for somebody later in life, and this is what gets them motivated to want to come to school, and that's what it's all about," she said.

What the students learned during this program will "transcend through them for the rest of their lives," Jackson said. It gives them confidence and self-esteem and teaches them important life lessons.

It also showcases to the adult community that these kids are very capable of doing what they need to do. Often, people undersell what kids are capable of and overlook that they can do things that are considered to be only in the adult realm, Jackson said.

The idea to bring the program to Lee Elementary School stemmed from physical education teacher Jen Carlino, who asked whether the fifth-graders would be interested in participating in the fair, Puleri said.

She said school staff had met Jackson several years ago when the parent-teacher organization purchased the fifth grade a set of "Danny Dollar" books and from his involvement on the board of Greylock Federal Credit Union's Banzai Financial Literacy Program.

"Part of our strategic plan in the district is to introduce students to some type of financial literacy early on in their years to plant that seed, give them some background knowledge," Puleri said.

"So, [Jackson's] view for the program is to get kids to think about their future, but to act now."

It teaches students to ask themselves. what can they do now as they think about their future, what businesses can they start now, and how could they make that a reality," she said.

The entrepreneur fair takes the premise of the "familiar" science fair but substitutes science with entrepreneurship so kids can demonstrate their ideas for businesses, Jackson said

"What's great is that some kids actually already have businesses, which is really mind-blowing,"

This fair plants a seed in the students who have never thought about starting a business and lets them know that just because they are kids, it does not mean they can't start thinking about their future and focusing on the things they want to do now, Jackson said.

"All kids have been asked at some point, 'what do you want to be when you grow up?' This program is about what do you want to do now," Jackson said.

"And if they have the skill set or the idea to be able to create their own business from their own skill set, then this is just a huge catalyst for bringing it to life."

Jackson started this program in Pittsfield three years ago with about 200 students. Since then it has evolved to reach 3,000 students across the county in California, Mississippi, Massachusetts, New York, and Florida, Jackson said.

Not all of the students will walk away and become entrepreneurs, but all of them will walk away with an entrepreneurial mindset, he said.

They will leave thinking about perseverance, teamwork, creativity, critical thinking, self-reliance, and all the aspects that it takes to become an entrepreneur and to manage money, Jackson said.

The Smile Like Jack Memorial Fund sponsored the fair. The Fund was established in May 2022 in honor of Jack William O'Brien, who died at age 20 in a snowmobile accident.

When they were asked by Carlino to support the fair, it was an immediate yes, Smile Like Jack Memorial Fund Board Member Star O'Brien said.

The mission of the program reminded them of how Jack was when he was younger, she said.

He was a hard worker from a very young age. At 13, he started a lawn mowing business, and when he got his license, he was able to mow more lawns and start plowing driveways. Then, at the age of 19, he built a house, O'Brien said.

When he passed, they founded the Smile Like Jack Memorial Fund to honor his legacy and help others in their community.

"It's a good initiative to let these kids know that they can accomplish anything. If they put their mind to it and they work hard, they'll be able to accomplish anything," O'Brien said.

Save a little bit, and have fun, but the big thing is they need to know anything is possible at any age, she said.

Students from the Pittsfield Public School showed off their projects last week at Berkshire Community College.
Update: Suspect in Fenn St. Homicide Arrested

Update on June 14, 2024 at 4:15 pm: According to the District Attorney's Office, Jeremy Stanton, age 38 of Pittsfield, was charged with murder on June 12, 2024. Stanton allegedly murdered Ryan P. Babcock on June 11.

Stanton was arrested on the evening of June 12 in a home in Worthington on unrelated outstanding warrants for violation of probation and assault with a dangerous weapon (knife) and vandalizing property from an incident on June 2.

The defense entered a plea of not guilty. The defendant is being held without the right bail.

Law enforcement involved in Stanton's apprehension include the Pittsfield Police Department, Berkshire County Law Enforcement Task Force: the Massachusetts State Police Detective Unit assigned to the Berkshire District Attorney's Office; the Massachusetts State Police Detective Unit assigned to the Northwestern District Attorney's Office; and Massachusetts State Police Violent Fugitive Apprehension Section.

_______________________________________________________________________________________________

Update: The victim in Tuesday's shooting has been identified as Ryan P. Babcock, 38, of Pittsfield.

PITTSFIELD, Mass.  Police are investigating a suspected homicide on Fenn Street, the Berkshire District Attorney's office said Tuesday night.

According to a news release, police at 4:30 p.m. responded to a report of a man suffering from possible gunshot wounds in the 500 block of Fenn Street.

"Upon arrival, the officer observed an unresponsive adult male in the driver's seat of a vehicle suffering from apparent gunshot wounds," the news release read.

Paramedics were called to the scene, but the individual was pronounced dead at the scene, according to the news release.

"Based on preliminary investigations, Pittsfield Police believes this was not a random act and that there is no immediate danger to the public," the release reads. "However, as a suspect/s has not been identified, law enforcement encourages the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity to police."

The release indicated that the State Police is supporting the investigation.
More than 100 Lanesborough voters attend Tuesday's town meeting to decide spending and other articles for fiscal 2025.

Lanesborough Passes 32 of 34 Articles at Town Meeting

LANESBOROUGH, Mass.  Voters approved 32 of the 34 articles on the warrant at the annual town meeting on Tuesday night at Lanesborough Elementary School.

More than 100 registered voters attended the meeting, which lasted a little more than two hours, to vote on the proposed fiscal 2025 spending plan, board and committee seat procedures, three articles related to short-term rentals, and various spending items. Voters rejected expanding a tax exemption to military parents and referred an accessory dwelling bylaw to the Planning Board.

Voters approved a budget of $11,851,407. Of that is a net increase of $237,129 in education costs for the Mount Greylock Regional School District and McCann Technical School, less than the $271,478 increase in FY24.

During the meeting, voters made two amendments, one for the Police Department budget and another for the recreation program budget.

Voters added an additional $1,000 to the police budget so that the department can develop a police report in next year's annual town report.

The report would provide "meaningful data that accurately captures what police work in Lanesborough entails. Such data would help me feel confident that we're funding our police at a level that meets the needs of a small town in a rural county," one voter said.

An additional $3,800 was added to the recreation program budget to put the septic back online at Bill Laston Memorial Field. Park visitors currently have to use portable toilets.

One voter said the recreation committee had been level-funded for many years, but now their needs are increasing because of the pavilion.

Voter Mark Siegars also endorsed the increase and said that if voters want to fund anything else for the pavilion, state Cultural Council grants are available.

This grant would have been applied for by now, but the town was informed it was going to be fixed by someone in the community, he said.

"I'm just up here to tell you if there's anything else you want you need to let the town administrator know so that when we make our grant application, we'll try to get money to cover all the costs," Siegars said.

Voters approved the appropriation and transfer of $15,000 from free cash to cover the cost of the planning and equipment of the proposed senior park the underutilized Bridge Street Park.

The funds would cover the cost of an engineering and design study and potentially some supplies and equipment.

"The initial investment of the $15,000 is going to be leveraged to access an equal amount from the New England Rural Health Association funds through the Berkshire Regional Planning Commission. These combined funds will get our project shovel ready by covering the costs of full engineering and design," Linda Pruyne said.

"The town will soon begin working with BRPC on an Open Space and Recreation Plan. Having our engineering done and having an OSRP for Lanesborough will, in turn, make our project eligible for a wide range of other state, federal, or private foundation grant programs."

Last year, the board voted to form a Lanesborough Senior Park Initiative after being approached by Pruyne.

Utilizing the existing infrastructure, the planners feel they may be able to install a small gazebo for shade, a pickle ball court, and a Whiffle ball field, among other aspects for staying active at an older age.

Pruyne also emphasized that it is senior-friendly, but it is still a community park, so can be utilized by people of all ages.

Voters approved the deletion of a provision in its bylaws surrounding the removal of members for non-attendance.

The provision allowed the town to give an elected official notice to vacate their seat.

Town Counsel Jeff Blake of KP Law said this provision is not compliant with Massachusetts Elections Law because elected officials are appointed by the people and have to be removed by the people.

Any citizen can start a recall.

Voters approved articles 27 to 29, which are related to local excise taxes on temporary lodgings, including hotels and AirBnBs, hotels, among others,

This is in an effort to get revenue from these establishments. This revenue could potentially help pay for local initiatives, such as a public safety building.

Article 27 imposes a local excise tax of up to 6 percent of the total rent for each occupancy of bed and breakfasts, hotel lodging houses, short-term rentals, or motels.

Article 28 imposes a 3 percent impact fee on "professionally managed" short-term rentals.

Article 29 imposes a 3 percent impact fee on short-term rentals in two or three-family dwellings.

This applies to rentals that are less than 30 days, so will not impact long-term rentals.

Voters approved article 34, which expands number of Select Board members from three to five. This will now go to the Legislature. This article was added to the warrant by a citizen petition led by Kristen Tool.

Those against the article commented how there is low participation in local government and if this change is made it could result in empty seats.

Siegars pointed out that the town had to pass an ordinance allowing non-Lanesborough residents to serve on committees because of low local government participation.

Voter Barbara Davis-Hassan said she agreed with Siegars adding that meeting with only three board members are shorter and more concise.

Tool addressed these concerns saying that an issue in town is that people are not stepping up because there's no space for them to step up into.

"We have almost 3,000 residents in our town and I think that if we vote and pass this that new people will step up. It will be providing more diversity, more space for new people, for younger people to step up," Tool said.

Voter Lyndon Moors pointed out the town has been having a lot of races for the seats on the Select Board.

"There's never more than two open seats in any given year. We have two candidates for Select Board this year. We had three last year. I think we had two the year before," Moors said.

"And we probably have more years that have contested seats than the years that we have uncontested seats. And they are all different people too; very few repeats."

Select Board Chair Michael P. Murphy said he supports the concept and that residents can also get involved by attending town meeting, pointing out that the Select Board meetings are lightly attended.

"I think we should have as many people participating in this process as possible, but you don't have to be elected or appointed to do it," Murphy said.

Voter Allie Pace said she has been a resident of Lanesborough for about two years and would love to get more involved.

"I really didn't know about any of the boards, any of the positions, anything at all until my neighbor was kind enough to tell me about it and I started getting involved the last few months," Pace said.

"And I think a lot of young people in Lanesborough are in the same situation  that we just don't know. We want to be involved but it kind of feels like a club where we can't."

Voters shot down Article 30, which would have expanded the full tax exemption to parents of military personnel who went missing in action or died as a proximate result of injuries sustained or contracted during active duty service. During the meeting, it was clarified that spouses of these personnel already have full tax exemption; this would have expanded it to include the parents. "I propose this warrant because I think it's the very least we can do to the parents who have lost the child due to active duty," Select Board member Timothy Sorrell said. "Other towns have done it, I don't know why we havent, but I think we're sending a good message to support the families of our servicemen, especially those who have died in the line of duty." Voter Deborah Maynard said although she sympathizes with parents who have lost a child during active duty, a vote in favor of this will have a negative effect on the tax rate. She noted that in fiscal 2022, 26 veterans and their surviving spouses were granted a partial tax exemption with a state reimbursement of 68 percent. The town was responsible for $4,550. Maynard said the state does not reimburse the addition of parents. She also pointed out that parents are not dependent on their child the way the spouses are. Voter Jen Lyon said it was not a legacy so would not continue on to the military personnels kids. The town is "giving money away on a lot of unnecessary things," she said, and approval would show families of these military personnel that the town recognizes their loss. Maynard recommended that to recognize their loss the town dedicate something, whether its the bridge, pavilion, or park, to the fallen soldiers. Pruyne also cautioned the approval of this article as it may encourage other people to move to Lanesborough for this tax exemption as other areas dont have it. Voters referred Article 33, on an amendment of the accessory dwelling unit bylaw, to the Planning Board to investigate it further due to some uncertainty surrounding it at the state level.

The remaining articles passed with little to no discussion.
Williamstown Select Board Discusses Justice Department Program for Schools

WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass.  The Select Board on Monday discussed inviting a U.S. Department of Justice program into the local public schools to help address bias incidents.

Randal Fippinger told his colleagues about the DOJ's "School-SPIRIT" initiative, which is similar to but not a part of the federal agency's Strengthening Police and Community Partnerships program, which came to Williamstown two years ago

SPIRIT, which stands for Student Problem Identification and Resolution of Issues Together, involves bringing trained facilitators from the DOJ to the schools to lead conversations addressing "tension and conflict related to issues of race, color, national origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, or disability," according to the DOJ website.

While stressing that SPIRIT and SPCP are separate programs with different constituencies, Fippinger indicated that the process will be familiar to those who went through the law enforcement program in 2022.

"The folks who led that program enjoyed working with the Williamstown community, so they are very open to working with us again," Fippinger said. "There was a three- to six-month planning process to come to a facilitated community conversation to identify what the priorities are and what the needs are.

"Part of it is meant to be restorative practice, where we get to identify the problems and try to address the problems by the people who are suffering from the problems, as opposed to some outside group coming in. It's meant to be problem solving from within."

Fippinger said he hopes the Mount Greylock Regional School Committee will consider inviting the DOJ to run the program in the district.

The School Committee has "Williamstown Select Board grant opportunity proposal" listed on its agenda for Thursday night's meeting.

Fippinger said the potential DOJ SPIRIT program could run in parallel with a separate initiative proposed by a group of district parents operating as the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging  Parent Caregiver Action Network.

Those parents and caregivers this month submitted a request to the Select Board that it allocate $60,000 to the school district to fund a consultant to evaluate the district's bias protocols and recommend a streamlined "action and care plan."

"Though district schools have policies already in place regarding bias-based incidents in school handbooks, these policies are lengthy, inconsistent and difficult to follow for parents and educators at the frontlines," reads a memo to the board from "Concerned District Parents."

"With this disconnect, many district children who have experienced bias incidents, which is harmful enough as it is, are suffering additional harm in the handling of the incidents."

Fippinger, who first brought the idea of allocating American Rescue Plan Act funds to support a consultant to the Select Board in May, on Monday said the parents driving the initiative asked to come back to the board later this summer for action on the request, after the School Committee has a chance to weigh in on the idea.

Chair Jeffrey Johnson on Monday reiterated the commitment the Select Board made in May to hold off on allocating any more ARPA funds until it has a chance to consider a fully fleshed-out proposal from the parents group and district.

Johnson served as chair for the last time on Monday, finishing up his one-year stint in the position as he began his second three-year term on the five-person board.

One of the main orders of business in the board's second meeting of the month was the election of new officers for the 2024-25 meeting cycle. Jane Patton was elected chair for the third year of what she previously has said will be her last of four terms on the board. Andrew Hogeland was elected vice chair, and Johnson was voted in as secretary of the body.
Lenox Memorial Middle School Presents 'Honk! Jr'

Provided Photo

LENOX, Mass.  Lenox Memorial Middle School students will perform a musical adaptation of "The Ugly Duckling" at the Duffin Theater on Friday, June 14 at 6 pm and Saturday, June 15 at 1 pm.

According to a press release:

"Honk! Jr." is a heartwarming celebration of being brave, bold & different that is sure to delight audiences of all ages with its witty dialogue, delightful dancing & memorable score.

Ugly looks different from his duckling brothers and sisters. The other animals on the farm are quick to notice and ridicule. Being bullied and feeling rather foul about himself, the little waterfowl finds himself on an adventure of self-discovery. Along the way, Ugly meets a whole flock of characters and finds out that embracing your differences and being uniquely yourself is an extraordinary thing to be! The story teaches us compassion, the power our words have on others and the lesson to never judge a book by its cover. For anyone who has ever felt different, this play is for you.

Suggested donation is $10 for adults and $5 for students and senior citizens.

Tickets will be sold in person, 1/2 hour prior to each performance at the door. A bake sale and a gift basket raffle will be held after the show.
Heidi Ledford in Nature:

When researcher Arkasubhra Ghosh finally met Uditi Saraf, he hoped that there was still a chance to save her. Ghosh and his collaborators were racing to design a one-off treatment that would edit the DNA in the 20-year-old womans brain cells and get them to stop producing toxic proteins. It was an approach that had never been tried before, with a long list of reasons for why it might not work. But the team was making swift progress. The researchers were maybe six months away from being ready to give Uditi the therapy, Ghosh told her parents over breakfast at their home outside New Delhi last June. Even so, Uditis mother was not satisfied. Work faster, she urged him.

Then, Uditi was carried to the breakfast table, and Ghosh understood her urgency. Once a gregarious and energetic child and teenager, with a quick laugh and a mischievous streak, Uditi was now unable to walk or feed herself. She had become nearly blind and deaf. Her family tried to talk to her: These are the people who are making a therapy for you, they said loudly. Shaken, Ghosh returned to his gene-therapy laboratory at Narayana Nethralaya Eye Hospital in Bengaluru, India, and got to work. If you need to put up tents in the lab, then we can do so, he told his students. Im not going to sleep.

Four months later, Uditi was gone.

More here.
Digitalization has become the cornerstone of growth for businesses in the Philippines. According to the International Data Corp. (IDC), Information Communication Technology (ICT) services spending in Asia-Pacific reached $1.3 trillion in 2023. Eastern Communications, the Philippines first telecommunications provider, is now leading the integration of ICT solutions in the country to fuel economic growth and entrepreneurship in the digital era.

Eastern Communications Product Manager Jovee Gecha discusses ICT trends at the 2024 Access Eastern run in Clark Pampanga.

While the IDC also reports a growing regional dependence on emerging technologies, with an average projected growth of 4.6% until 2027, the Philippines faces challenges. The United Nations' ICT Development Index shows the country scoring 65 out of 100, which falls below the global average (72.8) and ranks third lowest in Southeast Asia.

This data underscores the critical need for Eastern Communications to address these gaps by enhancing ICT literacy and expanding its network reach to bridge the digital divide for Filipinos.

Tailored Solutions for Diverse Needs

Eastern Communications understands that businesses in the Philippines vary significantly in size, scope, and requirements. Therefore, it has developed a range of ICT solutions that cater to the unique needs of each enterprise. From small startups to large corporations, Eastern provides comprehensive services designed to optimize operations through boosting efficiency and innovation.

Empowering businesses beyond internet connectivity, we're elevating Eastern Communications' role to a managed services provider across various industries. This year, we're committed to delivering comprehensive ICT solutions that streamline operations and empower Filipino entrepreneurs to thrive in today's digital era," said Eastern Communications' AVP & Head of Marketing Jed Estanislao.

Eastern's Network Solutions offers seamless access points that are adaptable to any business setting. By having network tools equipped with cutting-edge security features like the Secure Access Service Edge (SASE), Security Service Edge (SSE), Software-Defined WAN (SD-WAN), and Managed Endpoints, businesses can operate confidently, knowing their networks are safeguarded against evolving threats. The company was recently recognized by Cisco as its Top SMB Partner, highlighting its dedication and expertise in delivering innovative Cisco solutions to small and medium-sized businesses.

With cyber threats rising, Eastern's Cyber Defense Suite provides innovative security solutions integrated into connectivity solutions, such as its DDoS Protected IDS & Zero Trust Network Access, and offers more advanced security options through Point Solutions and Eastern as a Managed Security Service Provider (MSSP).

Eastern Communications was recently granted Sophos Platinum Partnership status, becoming the first telco provider in the Philippines to receive this honor in May 2024. This achievement highlights its pivotal role in driving sales for Sophos' hero products, including XGS Firewalls and Endpoint Security, underscoring its commitment to delivering cutting-edge technologies to safeguard businesses against evolving cyber threats.

Eastern Cloud services cater to the varying needs of remote work environments. Innovations include cloud-hosted infrastructures, development platforms and testing environments, business continuity, and backup solutions, enabling businesses to operate seamlessly and securely from anywhere.

Continuing its vision to position the Philippines as a regional hyperscale hub, Eastern has enhanced its Data Center Services. Offering hyperconverged infrastructure, hyperscale colocation, and partnerships with industry leaders like Huawei and Asus, Eastern ensures optimal performance and reliability. Multi-tenancy options further maximize resource utilization, making Eastern's Data Center Services a cornerstone for businesses' digital infrastructure.

Access Eastern: Bridging the Digital Divide Across the Islands

Recognizing the importance of inclusivity in the digital age, Eastern Communications extends its reach to regional cities through its Access Eastern thought leadership runs. Starting in May 2024, these initiatives will cover key locations such as Clark, Laguna, Cavite, Baguio, Dumaguete, and more areas to follow. By engaging with businesses in regional hubs, Eastern Communications aims to bridge the digital divide and ensure that all enterprises, regardless of location, have access to transformative ICT solutions.

Through its tailored ICT solutions, strategic partnerships, and commitment to sharing its valuable expertise, Eastern Communications is not only fuelling the growth of businesses but is also building a culture of digital empowerment for Filipinos. As businesses continue to navigate the complexities of the digital era, Eastern Communications remains a trusted Partner in Progress, empowering them to thrive in an increasingly interconnected world.

Empowering Filipinos Through Education and Thought Leadership

Beyond offering cutting-edge ICT solutions, Eastern Communications recognizes the importance of knowledge democratization in driving digital adoption among businesses. In line with this vision, Eastern Communications is set to launch pocket ICT Enablement Sessions and its biggest thought leadership event of the year entitled, Transcend Technology Summit: Forging the Future of Business."

Eastern's ICT Enablement Sessions, featuring industry leaders from Huawei, Fortinet, and Cisco, aim to equip businesses with crucial digital transformation knowledge about Network Solutions, Cybersecurity, Cloud Solutions, and Connectivity.

Scheduled for launch in the second half of the year, these initiatives represent Eastern Communications' most significant thought leadership events to watch out for. By partnering with tech industry leaders and experts, Eastern aims to empower Filipino businesses nationwide, providing them with the tools and knowledge needed to thrive in their respective industries and regions.
Following the realme GT's comeback announcement in the Philippines this year, the upcoming realme GT 6 is designed with state-of-the-art AI capabilities and is poised to introduce the realme Next AI technology to provide fans with a new level of user experience.

Heres how realme redefines the smartphone landscape with state-of-the-art AI capabilities packed in the upcoming realme GT 6

True to its tagline, Power Meets AI, the realme GT 6 promises to deliver an exceptional user interface that guarantees security, privacy, personalization, and customization.

While AI in smartphones is nothing new to most users, the realme Next AI technology brings powerful features for an unparalleled user experience at a lower price point. This dynamic arm of AI technologies is packed in the soon-to-launch realme GT 6, made possible by combining the flagship hardware with realme UI 5.0 and Googles latest software developments.

The AI Smart Loop lets users save time and minimize steps when sharing content such as photos and text. Users can quickly share selected content with third-party apps with dragging or swiping gestures. This feature can be activated in the AI settings via Special Features. Once toggled on, selected content can be dragged to the right, where a wheel animation will pop up on the right part of the screen, along with suggested apps such as social media, printing, Bluetooth, etc.

Users can easily remove unwanted objects from photos with AI Smart Removal. This simplifies photo editing for those who prefer to remove any passerby, clutter, or background in an image. Aside from this, users simply need to select or draw a line around the object they want to remove, and algorithms can recognize and recreate the missing portions after removing the object.

Equipped with an AI Night Vision Video, the realme GT 6 allows users to take brighter videos under extremely low light conditions through advanced night algorithms. Furthermore, the realme GT 6 is set to have more upcoming features soon, with future developments on realme UI and support for other features from Google.

realmes Next Flagship Killer GT 6 will be launched on June 20 at 4PM (PHT) via livestream on realme Philippines official YouTube and Facebook pages. Make sure to watch live to be among the first to know its pricing details and introductory offers.
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Tony Lo Bianco, best known for playing the mobster Sal Boca in 1971s The French Connection, has died. He was 87.

In a statement to Fox News, Lo Biancos representative confirmed that the actor died on Tuesday night (June 11) at his horse farm in Maryland from prostate cancer.

His beloved wife, Alyse, was by his side, the representative added.

Lo Bianco was born in New York on October 19, 1936, the son of Sicilian immigrants.

In his youth, he was an amateur Golden Gloves boxer, before moving into acting and founding the Triangle Theatre in 1963.

He made his film debut in 1965 as Allen in The Sex Perils of Paulette and went on to play a murderer in the 1970 crime film The Honeymoon Killers.

open image in gallery Tony Lo Bianco attending a screening of Grudge Match in New York in 2013 ( Getty Images )

The following year he appeared in William Friedkins critically acclaimed crime action film The French Connection, playing the mobster and shop owner Salvatore Sal Boca opposite Gene Hackman as Detective Jimmy Popeye Doyle and Roy Scheider as Detective Buddy Cloudy Russo.

From 1974 to 1976, Lo Bianco played a leading role in Joseph Wambaugh's anthology television series Police Story.

He was also a celebrated theater actor, earning a Tony Award nomination and winning the Outer Critics Circle Award in 1983 for his portrayal of Eddie Carbone in Arthur Millers A View from the Bridge.

Lo Bianco portrayed the influential New York City mayor Fiorello H. La Guardia on several occasions. He first played him in the one-man show Hizzoner!, written in 1984 by Paul Shyre and later staged on Broadway in 1989.

He reprised the role in a revised version of the play titled LaGuardia in 2008 and returned again to the character in 2012 for the off-Broadway play The Little Flower. Lo Bianco personally rewrote the play after buying the rights from Shyres estate, commenting that he views the story of La Guardia as a vehicle to express my concerns for the public and political mess that were in, which we continue to be in, I think, and try to relate answers to failure.

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He continued to act on film and television throughout his life, appearing in several episodes of Law & Order and Homicide: Life on the Street. He made his final film appearance in Ray Romanos comedy Somewhere in Queens in 2022.

Lo Bianco was married to Dora Landey from 1964 until 1984, and they had three daughters. He was married to Elizabeth Fitzpatrick from 2002 until 2008, and then to Alyse Best Muldoon from June 2015 until his death.
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Chloe Sevigny has recalled being very intimidated by Christian Bale on set for American Psycho.

The 2000 cult classic, directed by Mary Harron and based on the 1991 novel by Bret Easton Ellis, starred Bale as a wealthy investment banker psychopath who leads a double life as a serial killer.

Sevigny, Josh Lucas, Reese Witherspoon, and Justin Theroux also appeared in the movie.

In a new interview with Lucas, Sevigny, 49, reminisced about her time on set working with Bale.

I was trying to respect his process, which I found challenging because Im very gregarious and silly and goofy, unbeknownst to the general public, she told Vanity Fair.

When people take themselves so seriously, I kind of shut down, even though I take my work very seriously and I love acting and whatnot.

Bale is known for going to extreme measures for his roles, with Sevigny saying that she was really intimidated by his process and intimidated by him.

I wanted a little more generosity to make myself feel more at ease, which is my own ego. It was a really challenging dynamic for me, but I dont think that I thought he was bad, she said.

open image in gallery Christian Bale in the watered down, secondhand version of Bret Easton Elliss American Psycho' ( Shutterstock )

The American Horror Story star went on to explain that she was initially unaware of what Method acting was, and so was confused by Bales demeanour on set.

I was just kind of confused, like, Why arent you being social? I wasnt even that aware of what the Method thing was, she continued.

 I never had any formal training; I think I was just kind of, fake it until you make it. But the whole Method thing, I was like, What even is this approach? It was very intimidating.

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open image in gallery ( Rex )

Meanwhile, Lucas said he did not share Sevignys views on the subject because he had thought Bale was terrible in the film  before realising that his performance was intended to be subversive.

I remember the first scene I did with him, I watched him and he seemed so false  and I now realise that it was this just f***ing brilliant choice that he was making, Lucas said.

That was an actor who was at such a completely different level already. And that he was capable of having these crazy layers going on in what he was doing. I thought it was bogus acting at the time, but it was exactly the opposite.

American Psycho is not the only film for which Bale went to great lengths. For his performance as insomniac Trevor Reznik in 2004s The Machinist, the actor reportedly lost over 30kg and slept only two hours a night.
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A trailer for the third instalment in the live-action Paddington franchise: Paddington in Peru has finally been released.

As its title suggests, the long anticipated film will follow Paddington (Ben Whishaw) home to the Peruvian jungle as he visits his beloved Aunt Lucy (Imelda Staunton), who is now living at the Home for Retired Bears.

However, when Paddington reaches Peru, along with his human family, the Browns, hes told by the Reverend Mother (Olivia Colman), who runs the home, Aunt Lucy has gone missing after heading on some sort of quest and the group begin a search party for her through the Amazon rainforest with adventurer Hunter Cabot (Antonio Banderas).

It has been more than eight years since the last instalment of the live-action Paddington franchise premiered and fans were quick to show their excitement about the trailer for Paddington in Peru, which is set to be released on Friday, November 8.

This is going to be film of the year, wrote one person on X/Twitter.

This just gave me chills, added another.

A third claimed: Cinema is saved.

open image in gallery Paddington Bear, as seen in the 2017 film Paddington 2' ( StudioCanal )

Other Paddington fans questioned why Sally Hawkins, who played Mrs Brown in the first two Paddington films alongside Hugh Bonneville as Mr Brown, had been replaced by Shutter Island star Emily Mortimer.

In a statement to Variety last year, Hawkins said: For me it has felt the right time to hand the reins over to another, and one cant get much better than the truly wonderful Emily Mortimer, she is extraordinarily special. She will embody the essence of Mary Brown and yet make it utterly her own. However, I am, and will always be in love with Paddingtons world.

I already greatly miss my on and off-screen family  the experience of making the first two films has truly been some of the best and most creative times I have had in the world of film. They both gave me so much joy. I will forever hold them so very close to my heart indeed.

open image in gallery ( StudioCanal )

Upon the release of the trailer, Paddington fans made their sadness over Hawkins absence known. Its not the same without Sally Hawkins, wrote one viewer, while another person said they were already missing Sally.

As well as adding Colman and Banderas to the cast, Paddington in Peru also features Carla Tous, who plays Hunter Cabots daughter dinner. Tous role was originally intended for West Side Story star Rachel Zeglar, who pulled out of the film due to the SAG-AFTRA actors strike last year.

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Paul King, who directed the first two Paddington movies, has also stepped down from his role and been replaced by Dougal Wilson. After ten years of working on the Paddington movies, I feel absurdly protective of the little bear, and Im delighted that Dougal will be there to hold his paw as he embarks on his third big screen adventure, King said in April last year.

Dougals work is never less than astounding: funny, beautiful, heartfelt, imaginative, and totally original. Aunt Lucy once asked us to Please Look After This Bear. I know Dougal will do so admirably.

Paddington in Peru will be released in UK cinemas on 8 November, followed by a release date in the US on 17 January 2025.
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The BBC is broadcasting Glastonbury 2024 live, as music fans who werent lucky enough to score tickets (or simply prefer to watch from home) look to tune into the action from Worthy Farm.

Live coverage by the broadcaster began on Wednesday 26 June, as fans flocked to the festival fields in Somerset to see hundreds of artists perform.

On Friday, Dua Lipa made her debut as Glastonbury headliner. She is being followed by pop-rock band Coldplay on Saturday and US star SZA closing the festival on Sunday.

Meanwhile, country-pop icon Shania Twain will take on the Legends Slot, performing a career-spanning set of hits including Man! I Feel Like a Woman and That Dont Impress Me Much.

The BBCs coverage will be available across iPlayer, BBC Sounds, TV, radio and online, including its non-stop Classic Glastonbury channel streaming 24 hours a day from now until Sunday 30 June.

The channel will feature back-to-back footage of some of the most memorable Glastonbury performances of all time, including last years farewell set from Elton John.

open image in gallery ( Getty )

The BBC will also have a dedicated Glastonbury Channel running on iPlayer from midday on Friday (28 June) through to Sunday evening, hosting a curated and continuous stream of live moments, interviews and behind-the-scenes clips.

New to 2024s festival, the BBC has introduced Glastonbury Channel II, where viewers can catch up on the most talked-about performances of the day.

If youre travelling abroad and want to stream Glastonbury then you might need a VPN to unblock your streaming app. Our VPN roundup is here to help: get the best VPN deals on the market. Viewers using a VPN need to make sure that they comply with any local regulations where they are, and also with the terms of their service provider.

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The broadcaster will also share its usual livestreams from the five major stages: the Pyramid Stage, Other Stage, Park Stage, West Holts and Woodsies.

Performances on the Pyramid Stage will also be streamed live in British Sign Language throughout the weekend.

All of this coverage can be found on BBC iPlayer by searching Glastonbury.

open image in gallery Dua Lipa is headlining Glastonbury Festival on Friday 28 June ( AFP via Getty Images )

Over on BBC Sounds, Annie Mac and Nick Grimshaw will host themed specials on their podcast Sidetracked, with episodes seeing them in conversation with Twain, Glastonbury co-organiser Emily Eavis and more.

On Radio 1, hosts Jamie Laing, Vick Hope and Katie Thistleton will be on site speaking to fans and artists through the weekend, while the station will also air Dua Lipas Friday headline set in full.

Zoe Ball, a familiar face/voice to Glastonbury fans, will be back at Worthy Farm on the Friday for her Radio 2 Breakfast Show, featuring live music performances, guests and stories from the festival so far.

On Sunday, Jo Whiley will present Twains debut Glastonbury performance, also from Radio 2, while over on Radio 4, a special Womans Hour episode will be aired on Friday 28 June with host Anita Rani.

open image in gallery ( Getty Images for Live Nation )

What other coverage to look out for

The BBCs coverage will even extend to CBeebies, with a special Bedtime Stories episode airing on Thursday 27 June with Joe Talbot, frontman for the Grammy-nominated rock band IDLES.

Talbot will read The Boy with Flowers in his Hair, an illustrated story about friendship, by Jarvis. Other stars will read more Bedtime Stories from Worthy Farm.

On Friday 28 June, that evenings episode of The One Show will kick off the weekend with a special celebration of Glastonbury through the years.

The Independent will be liveblogging Glastonbury 2024 from Wednesday 26 June and providing updates, news, gossip, photos and video from the festival, as well as highlights and reviews of key performances.
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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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Rumours of an Oasis reunion have reached new heights after a seat reserved for Noel Gallagher was spotted at his brother Liams show.

The rocknroll star was performing at the O2 Academy in London on Tuesday night (11 June) when a fan spotted the sign which had been laid out on an empty chair in the reserved hospitality box. The post immediately sparked speculation of a reconciliation between the warring brothers.

Im in a hospitality box at #LiamGallagher and Ive just seen this on a seat in front of mine, wrote the fan alongside a picture.

The sign headed by Metropolis Music insignia, read RESERVED NOEL GALLAGHER.

Omg is this true Im about to die, wrote one excited supporter on X/Twitter.

Other said they had their fingers crossed that the seemingly open invitation to his brother would lead to a reunion.

The legendary Mancunian band first ignited reunion speculation last month, after they shared a cryptic post on social media showing aerial footage of a large house on the banks of a countryside river, surrounded by hills. It was later confirmed to be a teaser for the 30th anniversary of the bands hit album, Definitely Maybe.

The group split up in 2009 amid a bitter feud between the brothers and bandmates. This February, the band were nominated for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, but were snubbed following Liams angry reaction to the groups nomination.

open image in gallery ( Getty Images )

In October last year, Liam announced that he would be commencing a solo tour around the UK and Ireland to mark the albums 30th anniversary. Noel, the elder brother, is said to have been ignoring calls for a reunion since the pairs almighty bust-up backstage in Paris in 2009. In March this year, Liam said, all my f***ing olive branches have gone.

Appearing on the Pub Talk podcast in October 2022, Noel claimed that a set of extraordinary circumstances would be needed for Oasis to reform.

Im in a hospitality box at #LiamGallagher and Ive just seen this on a seat in front of mine. pic.twitter.com/1hSlHEkL2k  Simon Love (@simonloverules) June 11, 2024

But it appeared that the sign was a regular occurrence and nothing out of the blue as one person added, Liam leaves one at every show, in the hope that one day, one day, Noel will show up.

A source close to Gallaghers team told The Independent that the rocker had nothing to do with the reserved sign and it was likely someone in hospitality having a wind-up.

Other guests in attendance on the night included Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl and Gary Numan.
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ITV has announced a shake-up to its morning show programming  and the change is imminent.

A number of daytime shows will be affected, including Good Morning Britain, Loose Women, This Morning, and Lorraine.

The general election on Thursday 4 July is the reason for the change, which will see the channels usual line-up switched ip.

Broadcaster Tom Bradby  who anchored election nights in 2015, 2017, and 2019  will be joined on the evening of the election by Ed Balls, George Osborne and Nicola Sturgeon for Election 2024 Live: The Results which will air on ITV1, ITVX, STV, and STV Player.

It will be a busy couple of days for former Labour MP Balls who is expected to work the night of the live coverage, and then again for GMB presenting duties at 6am the next day. He will be joined by Susanna Reid for the Friday programme in another change, as Reid does not usually present on Fridays.

Election coverage will spill over to the Friday after as GMB is extended by 25 minutes. The show, which begins at 6am, will end at 9:25am as opposed to its usual 9am finish.

The following slot which is usually reserved for Lorraine, will instead feature further election coverage lead by Julie Etchingham. ITV has said that dramatic political questions are likely to be answered during the live coverage on Day 2.

This means that Lorraine, This Morning, and Loose Women, will all be cancelled for the day as analysis and results are further shared live on air.

ITV confirmed the cancellation of episodes ofThis Morning and Loose Women, in a statement to The Sun.

open image in gallery ( ITV/ Good Morning Britain )

Michael Jermey, ITVs Director of News and Current Affairs, said; ITV will be on air from just before the polls close right through until the full results are known. Tom Bradby and his guests will share great analysis and insider knowledge with our viewers through the night. With cameras and reporters right around the country well follow the political story wherever it goes.

Good Morning Britain will be on air in its regular slot and then through the rest of day two, as politicians head to Westminster having learned the results, Julie Etchingham and our team of political correspondents will be live on ITV1 reporting on all the events in Westminster and Downing Street. It promises to be a dramatic day.
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Kevin Spacey has hinted that King Charles III sent him a message of support amid the actors various sex scandals.

The House of Cards star, 64, claimed that while he hasnt heard from the monarch directly, he did receive word from him.

Spacey told Piers Morgan on his controversial Uncensored program that King Charles had done an extraordinary job over the years with the Princes Trust charity, a group that helps young people build confidence and find jobs.

When Morgan asked whether the King reached out to Spacey after his recent scandals blew up, the actor replied: No, I havent heard from him directly, no.

Pressed on whether he had received a message through other people, Spacey admitted: That may be true.

He added: I heard a message, yes, and Im very, very grateful for that. At Morgans insistence, Spacey confirmed that the message was one of support.

open image in gallery Kevin Spacey and King Charles III, then Prince of Wales, attend The Princes Trust Celebrate Success Awards in London in 2015 ( Tim P. Whitby - WPA Pool/Getty Images )

When Morgan asked if that had meant a lot to him, Spacey deflected: Yeah, but look, I dont want to drag him into all this.

Spacey was presented with an honorary knighthood by then-Prince Charles in 2016.

The actor also told Morgan that he had written a letter to King Charles but had not yet sent it to him.

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.

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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.

Morgan claimed Spacey would also discuss other scandals that have engulfed him, including his association with Jeffrey Epstein and Prince Andrew.

open image in gallery Spacey has hinted that King Charles III sent him a message of support amid the actors various sex scandals ( Piers Morgan Uncensored/YouTube )

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 Spaceys lengthy, wide-ranging interview with Piers Morgan lived up to the controversial talk show hosts hype: It was astounding.

Over 90 minutes, the two-time Oscar winner opened up about his fall from grace amid multiple sexual assault accusations as well as his feelings about beating those allegations in both criminal and civil court cases.

He also recalled flying on Jeffrey Epsteins jet with the deceased paedophile, President Bill Clinton, and a group of young girls, thanked both Elton John and King Charles III for their support, and revealed that he is being forced to sell his home due to legal bills that have left him many millions of dollars in debt.

Morgan opened the interview with a simple question: How are you?

Im alright, thank you for asking, replied the actor, who 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.

It's been a very interesting and, I think, an important couple of weeks where I've had an opportunity to start to be able to talk about things that, well, for me, in some cases I've never talked about before, and to take accountability for those places where I have behaved badly, and to hopefully put some facts out there that maybe a great majority of the public don't know about, added Spacey.

Kevin Spacey describes past behaviour as 'handsy' during interview with Piers Morgan

Later, Morgan pressed him on exactly what he meant by the catch-all phrase behaved badly. Spacey replied: Pushing the boundaries. Being too handsy. Touching someone sexually in a way that that I didnt know at the time they didnt want.

When Morgan pointed out that some people would consider this to be groping, and criminal behaviour, Spacey defended himself by saying he didnt like the word groped.

I agree that the word grope is a very odd word, he said. I personally... I have caressed people, I have been gentle with people. That is the way that 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. So I think the word itself is not a word that I associate with my experience.

As to whether these experiences were rejected at the time by the objects of his affection, Spacey replied that if they were: Then they should let you know they dont want to do it, so that you can understand its non-consensual, and stop.

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Spacey was first accused of misconduct in 2017 by the actor Anthony Rapp, who claimed Spacey had tried to seduce him when he was just 14. Rapps allegations were later dismissed by a Manhattan court in 2022.

Spacey recalled that at the time the first allegations against him broke Ridley Scott had just shown him the final cut of John Paul Getty biopic All the Money in the World. Spaceys performance was digitally removed before the film was released, and he was replaced by Christopher Plummer.

I think Ridley made an extraordinary movie, and I'm obviously very sorry he made the decision he made, said Spacey. Chris Plummer is a wonderful actor. He was a friend of mine. But I'm hoping that maybe someday our version of the movie might be able to be seen.

open image in gallery Kevin Spacey and King Charles III, then Prince of Wales, attend The Princes Trust Celebrate Success Awards in London in 2015 ( Tim P. Whitby - WPA Pool/Getty Images )

Having proved in court that Rapps allegations were untrue, Spacey thanked the actor John Barrowman for coming forward to defend him.

"[Barrowman] was emphatic about the fact that really the foundation for Anthony's claim was that he had gone to a party that I had thrown where he had escaped into a bedroom, and that later I came into that bedroom and swayed in the doorway, recalled Spacey. Well, I had no bedroom, there was no doorway, there was no party, and the only time that he was in my apartment was with John Barrowman after we had had dinner together, and they wanted to come and meet my dog.

Spacey broke down in tears as he reflected on the impact his trials have had on him, and he revealed that this week his home in Baltimore is being foreclosed on and sold at auction due to his massive legal debts.

Asked 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.

Elsewhere in the interview, Spacey also recalled that Elton John and his husband David Furnish had been the first person to email him after the accusations first surfaced. Spacey choked back tears as he said: You actually just reminded me that Elton was the first email I got on October 30th of 2017  after the [Anthony] Rapp story had come out  saying, We love you. Whatever you need, were here for you.

He was more coy, however, about confirming that King Charles had also sent him a message of support. He told Morgan that he hadnt heard directly from the monarch, but later conceded: I heard a message, yes, and Im very, very grateful for that. At Morgans insistence, Spacey confirmed that the message was one of support.

He went on to claim, however, that he is not close to Prince Andrew after questions had been raised when Spacey was photographed with Jeffrey Epsteins confidante Ghislaine Maxwell sitting on the thrones at Buckingham Palace in 2002.

Spacey said he had been invited by former President Bill Clinton 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, growing emotional at the memory of meeting Nelson Mandela.

open image in gallery Kevin Spacey with Cherie Blair, President Bill Clinton and then Prime Minister Tony Blair in 2002 ( POOL/AFP via Getty Images )

He said he later learned that the jet the group had travelled on belonged to Epstein, and that Epstein had been present on the plane along with a group of young girls.

Spacey went on to say that he felt uncomfortable about the disgraced financier, 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?

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 in Blackpool.

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.

It was then that Spacey and Maxwell were snapped sitting on the thrones. 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.

Spacey will hope that his candid answers to Morgans questions, along with his attempts to distance himself from Epstein and Maxwell, will help him return to work at the highest levels of film and television. Reactions on social media to the interview have so far been mixed, however, with some finding Spaceys contrition convincing while others doubt the sincerity of a master actor.

Spacey, it seems, still has more to do to clear his name in the court of public opinion. My goal is no longer to be the best actor, which it was, he told Morgan. My goal is now to prove that I'm a man of good character, and that is my responsibility every single day to show that and demonstrate that.
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Hong Kongs security minister on Wednesday cancelled the passports of six wanted overseas activists, using powers granted under the citys national security law.

The move is seen as stepping up Hong Kongs crackdown against dissidents who moved abroad.

Among them were former pro-democracy lawmaker Nathan Law, unionist Mung Siu-tat and activists Simon Cheng, Finn Lau, Johnny Fok and Tony Choi. All of them are accused of endangering national security by authorities and the government has declared them to have "absconded" to the UK.

Last year, police declared a bounty of HK$1m (100,000) accusing them of offences under domestic national security law.

Besides cancelling their passports, the authorities have also banned anyone from providing funds or economic resources to the six, leasing properties to them or forming any joint venture with them, among other restrictions. Doing so without authorisation would carry a penalty of up to seven years in prison.

Secretary for security Chris Tang said the government acted against them because the six were continuing to engage in activities that endanger national security.

They also make scaremongering remarks to smear and slander the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR).

open image in gallery In this picture taken on 18 August 2023, former Hong Kong legislator and pro-democracy activist Nathan Law poses for a photograph in London ( AFP via Getty Images )

These six named absconders were given shelter in the UK and have continued to collude with external forces to engage in activities that endanger the security of Hong Kong and our country, he told a media briefing, according to the South China Morning Post.

These measures are intended to respond to, crack down on, deter and prevent these absconding behaviour.

Mr Tang, when asked whether subscribing to the activists accounts on Patreon and YouTube is illegal, said anyone who provides funds to them would be seen as violating the rules. It doesnt matter which platform it is. As long as they are providing or assisting them in handling the funding, [they] will be subject to criminal sanction.

The measures were taken under the new powers granted by Hong Kongs homegrown national security law enacted in March.

open image in gallery In this image taken from video, former employee at the British consulate in Hong Kong Simon Cheng speaks during an interview in London, on 3 July 2020 ( AP )

However, Law took to X, calling out the governments move saying that he never owned a Hong Kong passport, so "it is ridiculous to cancel something that never exists. He said the latest measure is an act of transnational repression, but that it would not deter him from advocating for human rights and democracy.

"Such a deployment of Hong Kong Article 23 ordinance is an explicit act of transnational repression and another breach of the Sino-British Joint Declaration," Lau said, referring to the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance that was enacted in March.

Beijing imposed a similar national security law on the territory in 2020 that has effectively wiped out most public dissent following huge anti-government protests in 2019.

This "does not deter me from advocating human rights & democracy, Law added.

Additional reporting by agencies
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India has found its first case of a human infected with bird flu in five years, according to the World Health Organization.

The rare infection by the avian influenza H9N2 virus was detected in a child in the state of West Bengal, the global health agency said on Tuesday.

This is the second case of a human infected with bird flu that India has notified WHO about. The first was in 2019.

The child in West Bengal was admitted to the paediatric intensive care unit of a local hospital with persistent severe respiratory issues, high fever and abdominal cramps in February, and discharged three months later.

The child has recovered and was discharged from hospital, WHO said.

There were no known persons reporting symptoms of respiratory illness in the family, the neighbourhood or among healthcare workers at health facilities attended by the case at the time of reporting.

The UN agency, however, cautioned that further sporadic human cases could occur as this virus is one of the most prevalent avian influenza viruses circulating in poultry in different regions.

The four-year-old reportedly had exposure to poultry at home and in the surroundings.

Bird flu is transmitted to humans primarily through direct contact with infected animals or through indirect contact with contaminated environments, the health agency said.

Depending on the original host, influenza A viruses can be classified as avian influenza, swine influenza, or other types of animal influenza viruses.

Avian influenza virus in humans generally causes mild upper respiratory tract infection but can also lead to severe diseases and even death, according to WHO.

Conjunctivitis, gastrointestinal symptoms, encephalitis and encephalopathy have also been reported.

The UN agency recently confirmed that a Mexican man died after getting infected by a strain of bird flu called H5N2 that had never been found in a human before.

The health agency advised that the public should avoid unprotected contact with live poultry, high-risk environments such as live animal markets or farms, and surfaces that might be contaminated by poultry droppings.
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Two Indian men recruited by the Russian army have been killed in Ukraine, Indias foreign ministry said on Tuesday.

India said further recruitment of its nationals by Russia would "not be in consonance" with their bilateral partnership and demanded a verified stop.

The ministry urged its citizens to "exercise caution" while seeking employment in Russia amid reports that dozens of Indians had been duped by agents into fighting for the Russian military.

"We regret to state that two Indian nationals recruited by the Russian Army have recently been killed in the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine," the ministry said in a statement, without identifying them.

Russia has not made a statement. Randhir Jaiswal, spokesperson for Indias foreign ministry, said Moscow has been urged to quickly discharge and ensure the return of Indian nationals working for the Russian military.

He said around 20 people had sought help to return to their country.

The Indian embassy in Moscow has pressed the Russian defence ministry for early repatriation of the mortal remains of the two victims, Mr Jaiswal said.

Two Indian citizens were also killed fighting in Ukraine in March.

Mohammed Asfan, a clothes seller from Hyderabad city had travelled to Russia via Dubai in November seeking work, and ended up with the Russian military in Ukraine. His family claimed he had been duped by an agent in the Middle East and did not know he would be fighting on the frontline, where he was killed.

Hemil Ashvinbhai Mangukiya from Surat city was killed in a Ukrainian air strike.

The Hindu previously reported that more than 100 Indian nationals have been recruited in the Russian military to fight in the war zones, with many of them conned by agents into working as army security helpers.

In May, Indian police arrested four people allegedly linked to an international human trafficking ring involved in tricking workers into fighting in the Ukraine war by offering them lucrative jobs.
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Shopkeepers in India allegedly conned an American woman into buying cheap gold-plated jewellery for Rs60m (563,000; $718,000).

The woman, identified as Cherish in a police complaint, bought the jewellery from a shop in Johri Bazar in the western Indian state of Rajasthan. At the time of the purchase nearly two years ago, she even received a hallmark certificate confirming the purity of the ornament.

When she returned to the US and displayed the jewellery at an exhibition, she learned it was a counterfeit worth no more than Rs300 (2.82; $4), prompting her to return to India and confront the shopkeeper, Gaurav Soni.

The shopkeeper has denied the allegation.

Ms Cherish informed the US embassy, which helped her file a police complaint against the jeweller and his father Rajendra Soni, reported India Today.

Police sent the jewellery for testing. The results showed that the diamonds in it were moonstones, Jaipur polices deputy chief, Bajrang Singh Shekhawat, said. The tests further showed that the gold content in the jewellery, which should have been 14 carats, was two carats.

The accused jewellers also filed a complaint alleging that the American woman fled with jewellery from their shop.

But when we checked the CCTV footage, it turned out to be false, Mr Shekhawat said.

The accused jewellers are on the run but we have arrested one Nandkishore, who issued the fake hallmark certificate.

Police have formed special teams to trace the two men, NDTV reported.

Following the complaint by this woman from the US, the police also received several other complaints alleging fraud worth crores by Gaurav Soni and Rajendra Soni, which are currently under investigation," Mr Shekhawat said.

Ms Cherish, who first got in touch with the Sonis on Instagram in 2022, told India Today that they have been systematically cheating me in jewellery.

They have been shipping me nine-carat and gold plates instead of 14-carat, she said.

They have been shipping me entirely moonstone instead of natural diamond. Its not just me, its about 10 other designers who are impacted by him and his fraud. He included fake certificates. Just nothing is real."
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An invasive species of Asian mosquitos growing in Europe due to the climate crisis is believed to be behind a recent surge in dengue in the continent, with experts warning about a further increase in cases in the coming years.

Dengue cases have been rapidly rising across Europe, with some infections turning potentially severe, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) warned on Tuesday.

The invasive species, called tiger mosquitos which is predominantly found in tropical countries, has been found in 13 countries in the European Union, the agency said, linking their discovery to significant rise in dengue cases this year.

The mosquito has become established in Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Malta, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia and Spain, according to the ECDC.

Tiger mosquitoes spread diseases like dengue fever, chikungunya and Zika virus which wreak havoc in tropical countries every year with millions of cases worldwide.

The species was earlier only found in warmer countries in Asia, Africa and the Americas. But with increased travel and increasing temperatures in Europe due to carbon pollution from burning coal, oil and gas, the summer season is creating an ideal atmosphere for the rise of these mosquitos, experts say.

Europe is already seeing how climate change is creating more favourable conditions for invasive mosquitoes to spread into previously unaffected areas and infect more people with diseases such as dengue, said ECDC director Andrea Ammon.

Increased international travel from dengue-endemic countries will also increase the risk of imported cases, and inevitably also the risk of local outbreaks.

There were 130 locally acquired cases of dengue in the EU last year, compared with just 71 in the ten-year period between 2010 and 2021.

Imported cases were also on the rise, with 1,572 cases in 2022 and 4,900 in 2023, the highest number since the start of EU monitoring in 2008.

While the number of infected people in Europe is currently small, we will see an increase in the coming years, Ms Ammon said.

Dengue fever, which is also known as breakbone fever due to the muscle spasm and joint pain it inflicts, starts to show its first symptoms after after four to 10 days of bite. Some of the symptoms are similar to the flu.

These mosquitoes spread the virus by biting an infected person and spreading it to another person through their bites.

According to the NHS, It is not usually serious and often gets better on its own. Some people get a more severe type of dengue, but this is rare.

In France, which is holding the Olympics in July, alarm bells have already started ringing this year.

A French health ministry official said earlier the authorities were fully mobilised and preparing for any possible infectious disease threats during the Olympics.

Just nine countries had recorded severe dengue outbreaks before the 1970s, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO) but warming temperatures and increasing interconnectedness of global trade and travel in the years since has spread the disease to almost the entire planet now.

open image in gallery A boy covers his mouth as a Sri Lankan health worker fumigates insecticide to curb mosquito breeding in an attempt to control dengue fever in Colombo, Sri Lanka ( EPA )

Ms Ammon advises that people take personal protective measures, adding that early detection of cases, timely surveillance, further research and awareness-raising activities are paramount in those areas in Europe most at risk.

The rise in dengue cases is not the only concern. Experts warn that conditions might also lead to an increase in malaria incidents in the future.

Scientific data shows that Europe is the fastest warming continent. The lack of investment in healthcare systems to manage tropical diseases, which were once rare but are now becoming more widespread in Europe, could have serious consequences.

Last year, the UN health agencys dengue chief Dr Raman Velayudhan warned of a really worrying expansion of the viruss global spread in 2022  in which the climate crisis has played a key role.

The tiger mosquito has also been detected by authorities in the UK on multiple occasions since 2016, in Englands southeast.

According to one 2019 study published in the Journal of the Royal Society Interface, these mosquitoes could become established across nearly all of England and Wales by the 2060s.

There are concerns that incidents of malaria could also spike on the continent in the future, if conditions are right.

According to the WHO, between 100-400 million people globally are infected with dengue annually, with about 100 million becoming ill and 21,000 succumbing to the disease.

The rise in dengue cases is a global phenomenon. The number of locally transmitted cases has been increasing in the USA, Italy, and France, with Spain recording its first cases in many years. In 2022, the American continent registered 2.8 million cases of dengue, more than double the 1.2 million cases in 2021.
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Have you heard its the summer of the Hot Rodent Boyfriend? No, me neither.

Sadly, Pizza Rat has not had a glow-up and found love in New York City. The latest internet trend is something far more insidious and gross. It seems that a certain faction of the internet has decided that the desirable male aesthetic for the coming months is anthropomorphic vermin.

As a single man with shorter stature who has on occasion been referred to as an annoying little rat, I should be thrilled by this new trend. Lines of eligible ladies suddenly willing and eager to engage in a heady fling from June through September. Id certainly be onboard.

But no, the Hot Rodent Boyfriend trend is the latest demonstration that we as an online society have lost our collective minds. In brief: a Hot Rodent Boyfriend is a conventionally attractive man, typically a celebrity, who, if compared to an animal, would fall into the mouse or rat range.

Harmless enough perhaps, especially when we consider such du-jour Hollywood hunks as Josh OConnor or Tom Holland, with their angular faces and cutesy affability. Its also hard to deny that Jeremy Allen White doesnt embody certain characteristics of Remy from Ratatouille while scuttling around the kitchen in The Bear.

open image in gallery Challengers stars Josh OConnor and Mike Faist are two du-jour celebrities who have been branded with the supposedly complimentary moniker ( 2024 Invision )

Im sure, too, that some men wouldnt mind being compared to choice fictional rodents, such as the suave, sophisticated, tuxedo-wearing Roddy, from DreamWorks 2006 animated masterpiece Flushed Away, or the timeless classic that is Stuart Little.

At the end of the day though, you are just describing men as rats  an animal that is historically associated with cunning, filth and a literal plague that wiped out around 25 million people across Continental Europe in the 14th century.

This is not to say that some men dont deserve the moniker, exhibiting behavior that more than qualifies them as a dirty little pest and a scourge on society, but its a bit jarring that were suddenly flipping the age-old narrative and that being compared to a rat is now a good thing.

Other features on the various lists of Hot Rodent Boyfriends include: beady eyes, large sticky-out ears, and, as one outlet so candidly put it, something going on with his mouth and nose. How charming.

open image in gallery But who wouldnt want to be compared to this true Hollywood icon? ( Columbia TriStar )

Does the ideal man now also live, wiry-haired and dirty, among piles of trash and discarded vapes in the dark, nibbling on left-over, rotting food items? In the modern world, its a concept that wouldnt be too difficult to realize.

The set criteria for this new fad are also ludicrously vague. In the 10 minutes I spent Googling (more than it deserves quite frankly) I saw lists of Hot Rodent Boyfriends, one of which included both Timothee Chalamet and Glen Powell  two men at absolute polar opposites of the straight, white, male scale. Willy Wonka vs Top Gun: Maverick!

We must conclude, therefore, that rats are as diverse as the men that are being compared. Any man can be a rat, so presumably any man can be another, less offensive animal  like a seal or whatever.

And how would it be if we carried over such animal comparison crazes to the other side? What if the internet started a trend that compared famous women to, say, anteaters? Hot Anteater Girlfriend Summer. There would be uproar.

Of course thats an extremely facetious take and it isnt like that in reality. Women face constant public scrutiny over body image, and beauty standards that men cant even begin to comprehend.

We should probably count ourselves fortunate that even if we look like a weird, scraggly little goblin, we occasionally get a moment where the internet thinks were hot. #KieranCulkin.

Indeed, the viral X post that supposedly kicked off the current rodent-partner trend stated that: Men are either eagle handsome, bear handsome, dog handsome, or reptilian handsome. So still handsome in some way.

Whichever way you want to spin it though, comparing anyone to a rat or rat adjacent species is simply not nice. Its actually quite mean.

open image in gallery The internet seems to be currently obsessed with comparing famous men, including Glen Powell, to anthropomorphic vermin ( Getty Images for Netflix )

Its not as if the internet cant come up with nice trends either. Last year, attractive male celebrities were described as so babygirl. Im personally still not too sure what that means, but it seemed to be largely positive.

Before that, Golden Retriever Boyfriends were a thing, which appeared to celebrate men being goofy, loyal and having nice hair (albeit a bit dopey). Travis Kelce was classed as one of those, though perhaps thats because no one would dare call him a rat to his face.

As with all internet trends, Im sure that Hot Rodent Boyfriend will scurry away soon enough, and hopefully the next one will actually involve us going outside. Next year Im pitching: Hot Friends Summer Where We Get Off Our Bloody Phones And Do Fun Activities In The Park.

Until then I guess youll find me down on the subway tracks, dragging a slice of pizza around and looking for love.
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Nicola Coughlan has addressed speculation that her waist appeared Photoshopped in Bridgerton.

The Irish actor, 37, recently opened up to People about accusations from fans of the Netflix historical romance-drama, who believe that the size of her waist was edited on the show. I saw some trolls. They were like: They photoshopped your waist, and I was like: No, they did not, Coughlan told the outlet on Wednesday, June 12.

Instead, Coughlan  who portrays Penelope Featherington in the series  revealed that her appearance on Bridgerton had much to do with the shows Regency era-inspired costumes.

I think if you wear corsetry for long enough, your body really molds to it, the Derry Girls star explained. Sometimes they come in a fitting for a fashion designer and they put a corset on me and Im like: Oh, you can go tight, and they go: What do you mean? Im like: My body now will go whew.

As for Luke Newton, who portrays Colin Bridgerton in the series, he told People hes not complaining about the mens far less restrictive costumes on the show.

I dont wear a corset, I dont wear heels, but it really does change your posture, which feels good and it really helps with the character, Newton said of his characters waistcoats. But then as soon as Im off set, I want to be in the most comfortable outfit.

open image in gallery Luke Newton as Colin Bridgerton and Nicola Coughlan as Penelope Featherington in season three of Bridgerton ( LIAM DANIEL/NETFLIX )

Most recently, Coughlan hit back at a fan who called her brave for filming nude scenes in the Shonda Rhimes-led series. During a screening of the second part of Bridgerton season three in Dublin, Ireland, Coughlan poked fun at the fans remark that she was very brave for showing off her body in Bridgerton.

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 during the Q&A session, according to a viral video shared on X. I am a proud member of the perfect breasts community, and I hope you enjoy seeing them.

The third season of Bridgerton returns to Netflix on Thursday, June 13 at 3am ET with part two of Penelope Featherington and Colin Bridgertons love story. The first four episodes of season three were released on May 16 and are available to stream on Netflix.
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The three-story building where 17 people died in the 2018 mass shooting at Parkland's Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School looms over campus behind a screened fence, a horrific and constant reminder to students, teachers, the victims' families and passersby.

But now after serving as evidence at the murderer's trial, the building's destruction starts Thursday as crews begin bringing it down piece by piece  implosion would have damaged nearby structures. Officials plan to complete the weekslong project before the school's 3,300 students return in August from summer vacation. Most were in elementary school when the shooting happened.

Whenever I would walk past it, it was just kind of eerie, said Aisha Hashmi, who graduated this month. She was in sixth grade in February 2018, but her older siblings were on campus.

She said when the wind blew back the fence's screening, students would get a glimpse through windows into the empty classrooms and corridors. It is heartbreaking to see and then have to go sit in your English class."

The victims' families have been invited to witness the first blows to the building and hammer off a piece if they wish. They have divergent views about the demolition.

I want the building gone," said Lori Alhadeff, whose 14-year-old daughter Alyssa died there. Alhadeff was elected to the Broward County school board after the massacre and now serves as its chair. Its one more step in the healing process for me and my family. My son still goes to school there and he has to walk past that building where his sister died.

But other parents, like Max Schachter and Tony Montalto, hoped the building would be preserved. Over the last year, they, Alhadeff and others have led Vice President Kamala Harris, members of Congress, school officials, police officers and about 500 other invitees from around the country on tours of it. They mostly demonstrated how improved safety measures like bullet-resistant glass in door windows, a better alarm system and doors that lock from the inside could have saved lives.

Those who have taken the tour have called it gut-wrenching as something of a time capsule of Feb. 14, 2018, with bullet-pocked walls and bloodstained floors. Textbooks and laptops sat open on desks, and wilted Valentines Day flowers, deflated balloons and abandoned teddy bears were scattered amid broken glass. Those objects have now been removed.

Schachter, whose 14-year-old son Alex died, said that while each tour was excruciatingly painful, he believes the safety improvements that visitors implemented elsewhere made keeping the building worthwhile. For example, Utah approved a $200 million school safety program after its officials visited.

We have museums and we have (historic) sites that that have stood for individuals to learn and to understand what happened, Schachter said.

Broward is not alone in taking down a school building after a mass shooting. In Connecticut, Sandy Hook Elementary School was torn down after the 2012 shooting and replaced. In Texas, officials closed Robb Elementary in Uvalde after the 2022 shooting there and plan to demolish it. Colorado's Columbine High had its library demolished after the 1999 shooting.

The Broward school board has not decided what the building will be replaced with. Teachers suggested a practice field for the band, Junior ROTC and other groups, connected by a landscaped pathway to a nearby memorial that was erected a few years ago. Several of the students killed belonged to the band or JROTC.

Montalto, whose 14-year-old daughter Gina died in the shooting, would like to see a memorial take over the space, replacing the earlier one, which he said was supposed to be temporary.

We are part of the community, too, he said.

The building, erected about 20 years ago, couldn't be demolished earlier because prosecutors had jurors tour it during the shooter's 2022 penalty trial. The jurors were warned it would be emotionally difficult, and at least one left the building in tears.

The murderer had a long history of bizarre and sometimes violent behavior that spurred numerous home visits by Broward sheriff's deputies. He was spared the death penalty, receiving a sentence of life without parole.

Prosecutors also wanted jurors to tour part of the building during last year's trial of Scot Peterson, the on-campus sheriff's deputy who was accused of child abuse for failing to enter it and confront the shooter. He told investigators that because of echoes, he couldn't pinpoint the shooter's location. The judge rejected the prosecution's request as too prejudicial and unnecessary.

Peterson, who told investigators that because of echoes, he couldnt pinpoint the shooters location, was acquitted, but the families and survivors are still suing him and the Broward Sheriff's Office.

When Im there Thursday, Im going to be thinking about all of the failures from that day that contributed to the Parkland murderer coming on that campus, Valentines Day 2018, and murdering Alex and 16 others, Schachter said.
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A transit bus in metro Atlanta fled from officers responding to a dispute on board Tuesday afternoon, barreling through vehicles as it led police on a lengthy chase into a neighboring county, according to police and television news footage.

News helicopters followed the dramatic pursuit of the Gwinnett County Transit bus, which police said took off after officers responded to the dispute around 4:30 p.m. near downtown Atlanta.

Atlanta police said it was eventually stopped and a suspect was taken into custody.

Television news footage showed the bus striking multiple vehicles and crossing onto the wrong side of a road with police in pursuit. At one point, a police vehicle appears to get in front of the bus, but it kept going.

It was not clear whether anyone was hurt. Atlanta police did not immediately release additional details.

News footage also showed police leading someone away from the bus in handcuffs after it stopped in neighboring DeKalb County.
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An Australian avocado farmer found the fossilized remains of a pterosaur in the Australian outback that scientists now say is a new species of the prehistoric flying reptile that lived alongside the dinosaurs.

Kevin Peterson, who reportedly also works as a curator at the Kronosaurus Korner Museum in Richmond, first discovered bones of the reptile in 2021.

Paleontologists announced on Wednesday that the bones found in central Queensland were from a previously unknown species of pterosaur, a giant winged reptile that lived 100 million years ago.

Mr Petersen, who has a deep interest in paleontology, found the bones while fossicking in the fossil-rich area where a 100-million-year-old pliosaur, an aquatic carnivorous reptile, was discovered in 1989.

I was checking another fossil and walking back to the car when I noticed bones sticking out of the ground, Mr Peterson said in a statement.

Researchers from Curtin University in Western Australia identified the fossilised bones after they were initially discovered by Mr Peterson.

This discovery is an exciting boost for science, education, and regional tourism. Im thrilled that my discovery is a new species, as my passion lies in helping shape our modern knowledge of prehistoric species, Mr Peterson said on Wednesday.

The remains have been classified as Haliskia peterseni, a new anhanguerian pterosaur. Anhanguerians were known to inhabit regions that are now part of Brazil, England, Morocco, China, Spain, and the United States.

With a wingspan of approximately 15ft, Haliskia would have been a fearsome predator around 100 million years ago when much of central western Queensland was underwater, Adele Pentland from the Curtins School of Earth and Planetary Sciences who led the research team said in a statement.
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Police are reviewing claims that a double killer who used fentanyl to poison a retiring couple to try and gain control of their company may have killed his own father and grandfather and remained undetected for years.

Stephen and Carol Baxter were found dead at their home in West Mersea in Essex by their daughter Ellie on Easter Sunday last year.

The couple had been planning on retiring after decades of hard work establishing a successful company in the South East of England.

An Essex Police spokesperson said: Up to the conviction and sentence of Luke DWit, our determined focus has been securing justice in relation to the murders of Carol and Stephen.

As with any investigation of this magnitude, everything we have uncovered is being reviewed and should anything suggest this has been the case we will not hesitate to act.

Stephen Baxter, 61, and his 64-year-old wife Carol who were murdered by Luke DWit (Essex Police/ PA) ( Essex Police/ PA )

Talks of a new house and dreams of travelling had been discussed, with both hoping to retire and spend their final decades in the company of loved ones.

Among those who were aware of their plans was Luke DWit, an IT worker who had been hired by Mr Baxter in 2012 or 2013 to help with the technical side of his shower mat business, Cazsplash.

The Baxters were unaware however that their trust in him would lead to their deaths, after he poisoned them with fentanyl and sadistically watched on camera as they deteriorated under the effects of the powerful opioid.

The dangerous killer was jailed for life in March, and is spending a minimum of 37 years behind bars for his despicable crimes.

Ellie and Harry Baxter, the son and daughter of Stephen, 61, and Carol, 64, Baxter, outside Chelmsford Crown Court after DWit was jailed for life ( Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire )

The sentencing judge, Mr Justice Nicholas Lavender, said DWit made some attempts to secure an indirect gain for himself, but it was distinctly possible that what really motivated you was a desire to control others.

DWits trial was told that he created a gallery of fake personas to manipulate them in the two years before their deaths.

The defendant, of West Mersea, had pretended to be a doctor from Florida and members of a fake support group for the thyroid condition Hashimotos disease, which Mrs Baxter had been diagnosed with.

He later changed their will to make him a director of their shower mat company.

Booking in footage of Luke D'Wit ( Essex Police/PA Wire )

Detectives are reportedly reviewing the deaths of DWits father and grandfather in case the defendant killed them and avoided detection.

In his sentencing remarks, the judge said DWit extracted fentanyl from patches which had originally been prescribed for your father, who died in 2021, but which you retained in abundance.

The 34-year-old had helped administer Mrs Baxters medication but had been secretly feeding her and her partner a cocktail of drugs that would lead to their deaths.

Stephen Baxter, 61, and his 64-year-old wife Carol ( Essex Police/PA Wire )

A toxicology report in June 2023 found that the powerful opioid painkiller fentanyl had been a factor, with an analysis of their stomach contents suggesting they had ingested the drug orally.

Just a day after their bodies were discovered, their will was rewritten on DWits phone, leaving him as the director and person with significant control of their business. It added that all decisions should be directed to him. A solicitor described it to jurors as a very odd document.

And disturbingly, it emerged that a mobile security surveillance application had also been downloaded on DWits phone, which allowed him to monitor a camera from the couples conservatory. During the final moments of their lives, he watched on his phone as the Baxters first became incapacitated by the drugs, then died.

Luke D'Wit providing statements to the police outside Victory Road on Mersea Island ( Essex Police/PA Wire )

When he was eventually arrested at his work for their murders, patches of fentanyl were found in his Adidas bag and his house was a treasure trove of opened pills, with a pestle and mortar also discovered.

While DWit claimed that the fentanyl found in his bag was to be taken to a pharmacy, pills with quadruple doses of promethazine were also found.

There can only be one purpose for having these and thats to fool someone into believing they were taking a proper dose when they were actually taking four times the amount, prosecutor Tracy Ayling said.

The barrister said DWit in the cruellest possible way was overdosing Carol Baxter on promethazine, causing symptoms like dementia, Parkinsons and probably a stroke.

Describing him as one of the most dangerous men Ive ever experienced, Detective Superintendent Rob Kirby, of the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate, said: I have absolutely no doubt that had he not been caught, he would have gone on to commit further murders.

DS Kirby said when he was sentenced that justice has been served today, adding that DWit rightly belongs behind bars.

He said: He befriended people, came across as a very amenable, helpful person but in the background he was a cool, calculated killer who spent years planning the demise of Carol and Stephen Baxter.
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Police have arrested a German tourist after he allegedly broke into a building site and flipped a bulldozer on the party island of Majorca.

The blood-drenched 26-year-old was seen begging locals for help after turning over the 25-tonne vehicle into a ravine in the quarry by Playa de Palma on Sunday.

A spokesman for the National Police in Majorca, said: A bloodied young man [said] that he had entered a quarry by jumping the perimeter fence and had grabbed an excavating machine and overturned it, causing several injuries.

Police arrested the young man as the alleged perpetrator of a crime against property, causing considerable damage to the excavator. ( Policia Nacional )

A patrol went to the scene to collect all the information in this regard, since the owner of the quarry was also at the home.

When the agents saw the young mans injuries, they notified a health team to carry out the first aid.

After all this, everyone went to the quarry to see what happened, and the police observed an overturned excavator with various damages, as well as loss of oil liquid.

The police proceeded to arrest the young man as the alleged perpetrator of a crime against property, causing considerable damage to the excavator.

The force added the road had to be closed to contain an oil spill from the overturned excavator. Local media suggested the holidaymaker had been drinking.

It came as holidaymakers at the busiest resorts on Spains Balearic Islands were banned from buying alcohol from shops between 9.30pm and 8am under a crackdown by the local government.

The late-night sales of booze is prohibited in Llucmajor, Palma, Calvia (Magaluf) in Majorca and Sant Antoni in Ibiza.

Party boats will also be stopped from operating within one nautical mile of the designated area under the toughening of a law passed in 2020 to limit the impact of alcohol-fuelled holidays.

The ban was proposed before Britons on a stag do were filmed engaging in a brawl with police and staff at a Majorca restaurant.

British stag party brawls outside Majorca restaurant after 'throwing rubbish into the sea' Majorca

Footage shows the fight breaking out at Balneario Illetas, a beach club and restaurant located between Palma and Magaluf on the Balearic Island.

The fracas began when a waiter asked them to not throw beer cans and rubbish into the sea, local media reported.

Passersby could be heard screaming stop, while others tried to break up the fight.
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Nigel Farage has been offered additional private security by the Home Office after a milkshake and other objects have been thrown at him during campaigning for the General Election.

It comes as a man has been charged after a cup and another object were thrown at the Reform UK leader while he was on his partys battle bus in South Yorkshire.

Josh Greally, 28, has been charged with using threatening behaviour towards the Mr Farage on Tuesday, South Yorkshire Police said.

The Reform UK leader was on top of a party battle bus in Barnsley when a cup was thrown, narrowly missing him.

Video footage of the incident showed a man in a red hoodie shouting from a construction site below, before reaching into a bucket and throwing something else, which also missed.

The Reform UK leader had been campaigning in Barnsley ( Danny Lawson/PA Wire )

It is understood that the Home Office has been in touch with the Reform UK leader to offer additional private security.

On Wednesday, South Yorkshire Police said Josh Greally, 28, was charged with using threatening, abusive, insulting words and behaviour with intent to cause fear or provoke unlawful violence.

He has been released on bail to appear before Barnsley Magistrates Court on June 26.

Mr Farage, speaking while campaigning in Ashfield, Nottinghamshire, said the incident was pretty nasty.

Politicians from other parties joined Mr Farage in condemning violence towards General Election candidates.

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.

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.

It comes just one week after Victoria Thomas Bowen, 25, was charged with assault by beating and criminal damage when a milkshake was thrown over Mr Farage after he left a Wetherspoons pub in Essex.

The politician was seen with yellow drink splattered down his suit as he boarded the campaign bus, with Thomas Bowen due to appear before Colchester Magistrates Court on 2 July.

Police chiefs say it is difficult to work out the intentions of people in crowds when would-be MPs are out campaigning, but that the candidates may not want to be put in a bubble as they try to speak to the public.
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A US government employee apologised for the tragic mistake that resulted in the death of Harry Dunn.

In a voluntary interview with police two months after the fatal crash in 2019, which was read to the court on Wednesday, Anne Sacoolas insisted she was a safe driver.

Sacoolas remained absent from his inquest.

The inquest heard that when asked what she believed had caused the collision, she told Northamptonshire Police officers: I drove like an American and drove on the American side of the road.

Sacoolas said in a witness statement that the crash that killed the teenage motorcyclist in August 2019 is something that will live with her every single day for the rest of my life.

Responding to the statements provided to the court by Sacoolas, the Dunn familys spokesperson Radd Seiger said: We have heard most of that before.

Why on earth is Sacoolas not in court to answer the courts and the familys questions?

Harry Dunns father Tim Dunn (left) and mother Charlotte Charles (second from right) paid emotional tributes to their son at his inquest on Monday ( PA )

The US State Department asserted diplomatic immunity on behalf of Sacoolas and she was able to leave the UK 19 days after the fatal collision.

She appeared before a High Court judge at the Old Bailey via video link in December 2022, where she pleaded guilty to causing death by careless driving.

Sacoolas was advised against attending her sentencing hearing by her employer, which prompted the family to say they were horrified that the US government was actively interfering in our criminal justice system.

Mrs Justice Cheema-Grubb handed her an eight-month prison sentence, suspended for 12 months.

In one of her witness statements, Sacoolas said she instinctively moved to the right side of the road and was not aware she was on the wrong side of the road until after the collision.

A statement from her lawyers in the US in September 2020 said Sacoolas had been driving on the wrong side of the road for 20 seconds before she hit Mr Dunn outside RAF Croughton in Northamptonshire.

She told the inquest she hysterically flagged down a motorist after the crash and begged her to get help.

The 45-year-old said she had not received any training on driving on UK roads after arriving in the country.

Sacoolas, who gave her employment details to police as an analyst for the US State Department, rejected the coroners invitation to give live evidence to the inquest.

Her lawyer Ben Cooper KC previously told the court she had provided everything she could to help this inquest and offered to answer any further questions.

In one of her two witness statements, which was only prepared for the inquest on Wednesday, Sacoolas said: Immediately after the accident, I hysterically flagged down a motorist and begged her to get help.

While she called 999, I called my husband to contact the base for help, because we were so close to the base entrance. The base was the first to respond.

Harry Dunns mother Charlotte Charles and stepfather Bruce Charles after attending a second funeral for Harry Dunn ( PA )

She continued: As I turned out of the exit from the Croughton Air Force base, taking a left turn, I instinctively moved to the right side of the road.

I knew that the proper side of the road to drive was the left side, not the right side as I was accustomed to driving in the United States.

My action was based on instinct and not recalling in that moment that I should have been driving on the other side.

Concluding her most recent statement, Sacoolas said: I deeply regret having caused this accident.

I made a tragic mistake that I will live with every single day for the rest of my life.

There is not a single day that goes by that Harry is not on my mind and I am deeply sorry for the pain that I have caused.

The inquest, which is due to conclude on Thursday, continues.
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The ship on which Sir Ernest Shackleton made his final voyage has finally been found.

Shackleton suffered a fatal heart attack on board Quest on January 5 1922, aged 47, while trying to reach the Antarctic. It has now been located in the Labrador Sea off the coast of Newfoundland in Canada.

After his death, Quest was acquired by a Norwegian company and it was involved in a series of expeditions until May 5 1962, when it was damaged by ice and sank. All of the crew survived.

A side-scan sonar image shows the wreck of Quest, Sir Ernest Shackletons last expedition ship, as it lies upright and intact on the seabed at a depth of 390 metres northwest of St Johns, Newfoundland after sinking more than 100 years ago ( RCGS/Reuters )

The Shackleton Quest Expedition, led by the Royal Canadian Geographical Society (RCGS), said on Wednesday that the schooner-rigged vessel was found intact lying at a depth of 390m (1,280ft).

Wreck searchers used sonar equipment to aid the discovery, which falls in the 150th year after Shackletons birth.

The main mast is broken and hanging over the port side, but otherwise the ship appears to be broadly intact.

The explorers grand-daughter Alexandra Shackleton told the BBC: I was thrilled, really excited to hear the news; I have relief and happiness and a huge admiration for the members of the team.

For me, this represents the last discovery in the Shackleton story. It completes the circle.

Expedition leader John Geiger, of the RCGS, said: Finding Quest is one of the final chapters in the extraordinary story of Sir Ernest Shackleton.

Shackleton was known for his courage and brilliance as a leader in crisis. The tragic irony is that his was the only death to take place on any of the ships under his direct command.

Sir Ernest Shackleton died on board Quest ( PA )

Martin Brooks, of British expedition and apparel company Shackleton, said: The finding of Quest is an important new chapter in the story of Ernest Shackleton and polar history; an iconic vessel, she marked the end of the heroic age of polar exploration. It is an honour to have supported this historic discovery.

Search director David Mearns said of the ship: She is intact.

Data from high resolution side scan sonar imagery corresponds exactly with the known dimensions and structural features of this special ship. It is also consistent with events at the time of the sinking.

In 2022, a British-led expedition located his once-lost ship Endurance, which in 1915 became stuck in pack ice and sank in the Weddell Sea.
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The wife of the Zone of Interest author will be honoured at Windsor Castle on behalf of her late husband, Martin Amis.

Amis, who died from oesophageal cancer in 2023 at the age of 73, penned the novel which inspired the film that won Picture of the Year at the 2024 Academy Awards.

His widow, Isabel Fonseca, who is also a writer, will receive his knighthood at Windsor Castle on his behalf on Wednesday.

Shortly after his death, it was revealed that Amis had received a knighthood in the Kings Birthday Honours list. It is understood that he was informed of the honour weeks before his death.

The KBE was backdated to before his death, and he became the first person who is no longer living ever to be featured on the list at the time it was published.

Lady Amis will receive the honour on Martin Amis behalf

Now, over a year after his death, Lady Amis will officially receive the honour on his behalf.

Known as the bad boy of English literature, Amis work came back into the headlines earlier this year when Jonathan Glazers film the Zone of Interest won big at the Oscars.

Set in Auschwitz, the 2014 novel tells the story of a Nazi officers love affair with his superiors wife.

Set in Auschwitz, Amis 2014 novel tells the story of a Nazi officers love affair with his superiors wife. ( Jeff Blackler/Shutterstock )

Glazers film adaptation strips the novel from its main storyline and instead focuses on the setting using camera set-ups that allowed actors to improvise freely.

It won best sound, best picture, best international feature film, best adapted screenplay and best director at the Academy Awards.

Jonathan Glazer gives Oscar acceptance speech ( AP )

However, it was the British directors acceptance speech that took the spotlight as he brought the audience to tears as he made a statement on Israels ongoing attack on Gaza.

Our film shows where dehumanisation leads at its worst, he said.

Right now, we stand here as men who refute their Jewishness and the Holocaust being hijacked by an occupation, which has led to conflict for so many innocent people  whether the victims of October the 7th in Israel or the ongoing attack on Gaza  all the victims of this dehumanisation  how do we resist?

The speech divided opinion - sparking praise from some and outrage from others such as the Holocaust survivors foundation.

The Zone of Interest was Amis 14th novel and is regarded as a dark departure from his usual style rooted more in satire.

Martin Amis in 2010 ( David Hartley/Shutterstock )

He is best known for his novels Money (1984) and London Fields (1989) and was named as one of the 50 best post-war British writers by The Times.

Amis finished 15 novels over the course of his career. His most recent, Inside Story (2020), was described as a novelised autobiography that included reminiscences of fellow writers and friends, including Christopher Hitchens and Saul Bellow.
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A new Channel 4 documentary The Fall: Skydive Murder Plot has laid bare the miraculous survival story of Victoria Cilliers, whose husband Emile tried to murder her by cutting her parachute and its reserve.

Following the attempted murder, Emiles web of lies and coercive behaviour was exposed, eventually culminating in a minimum 18-year prison sentence for attempted murder in 2018.

But who exactly is Victoria and why did her now ex-husband try to take her life in 2015?

Who is Victoria Cilliers?

Victoria, a physiotherapist who served in the army and became a captain, now 48, she first met Emile, 44, an army sergeant, in 2010.

Victoria was in her 30s and admitted that she did not know what life had in store for her, having already experienced one failed marriage. But when their romance began, as she explained on Loose Women, she felt like she was getting the happy ending.

[Emile] came out of nowhere, it was a bit like a lovebomb, she said. He promised me pretty much everything that I wanted, it felt like a fairy tale.

The pair soon married in 2011 and had two children together.

Victorias ex-husband tried to murder her twice ( Storyfilms TV/Channel 4 )

However, there were signs, on reflection, that Emile was not who he appeared to be, which she realised when he denied all his children from previous relationships.

I just chose to listen to what he said, she admitted of moving past the father-of-sixs lies.

She also admitted that she got the impression that if her husband did not get his way, there would be consequences and said that whenever they did have a disagreement I always ended up saying sorry.

The Murder Plot

Victoria, an experienced skydiver, said that at the time of the incident, she thought her relationship with Emile was improving when he arranged the activity in Wiltshire, England.

Id got to the point where Id had enough of the relationship and the marriage, she admitted. But it felt like maybe all is not lost. He wants to do something together.

She also admits that she did have her suspicions at the time that he had not been entirely faithful.

Victoria said that on the day of the 4,000ft dive, she had mixed emotions but felt good when she jumped out of the plane as it is an activity that she enjoys.

When her first parachute failed, she admits she wasnt overly concerned as Id had malfunctions before.

But when her reserve failed too, she realised something was seriously wrong and had to put all her prior experience to good use to survive.

The odds of this were so unlikely that those on the ground who had seen the failure of both of her parachutes approached her with a body bag, as they were convinced that she would not survive the fall.

According to reports, when Victoria, who said that she was spinning, hit the ground, she was going at 60 miles per hour.

Victoria leaving Winchester Crown Court after giving evidence in the trial of her husband Emile ( PA )

I think it was a mix of things, she said of her survival. It was a combination of luck, trying to slow it down as much as I could, [and landing in a ploughed field helped].

It has also been speculated that Victorias light weight helped her to survive the 4,000ft fall.

Looking back on the event, Victoria admitted she didnt have time to consider the possibility of death because she was so focused on surviving the fall.

She emerged from the incident far from unscathed - breaking her pelvis, back, ribs and had a few minor internal injuries.

But while Victoria was convinced that she had experienced nothing more than a tragic accident, the company behind the skydive immediately suspected foul play.

The police were ultimately contacted by the Army Parachute Association.

He just made me very uncomfortable right from the get-go, DC Maddy Hannah, who was involved in the subsequent investigation, said of Emile on This Morning.

He was supremely confident. To be that supremely confident, did not feel right.

Emile was said to be 'unemotional' after the accident ( PA )

The Truth About Emile Cilliers

Following the attempted murder, Victoria, who struggled to accept what Emile was capable of, was asked to think about any prior incidents involving him that were out of the ordinary.

Thats when she finally put two and two together and realised that he had tried to gas her a week before tampering with her parachutes, which he cut in a bathroom the night before the dive.

She recalled texting him when she noticed gas in the house to ask if he was trying to kill her.

Are you trying to kill me?! she jokingly messaged.

He had the strongest hold over anybody I have ever come across, said DC Maddy Hannah.

An investigation by the police revealed to Victoria the extent of her husbands betrayals, which included the affairs she suspected.

Emile also attempted to have unprotected intercourse with sex workers and even joined a swingers website.

Emile was motivated by three key factors ( Getty Images )

It also emerged that Emily was struggling with significant debts and this is what motivated him to try and kill his wife to obtain her life 120,000 insurance.

He also believed this would make it much easier for him to move on with another woman he had already met on Tinder, Stefanie Groff.

A third motivating factor that emerged in the 2018 trial was Victorias status as an army officer, which Emile is suspected to have feared because of the detrimental effect on his career in the event of a divorce.

The now 44-year-old was ultimately described by the prosecution as a harmless unfaithful penniless scoundrel.

Victoria admits that the life sentence handed to her husband helped her to finally accept what he had done, but she admits that this was part of a process that took years.

While Emile continues to serve his sentence, Victoria explained on Loose Women that she has moved on with someone she met through parachuting.

This person was actually there the day of her attempted murder and admits that it was a relief not to have to explain everything to him.

The Fall: Skydive Murder Plot is available to watch on Channel 4.

The Independent has reached out to Army Parachute Association for further comment.
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A document has been unearthed that proves that the SNP secretly approached the Tories to do a deal after the general election. No matter what Nicola Sturgeon may say, they were anticipating if not hoping for a Conservative victory. The price they demanded for co-operation was a free vote on devolution.

But this was a while ago. On 18 November 1976, to be precise. The approach was made by the late Hamish Watt, the SNP Whip in the Commons, and the father of Maureen Watt, Scotlands minister for public health.

He talked to a Tory whip, Bernard Weatherill, a future Speaker, who reported to Margaret Thatcher that I gained the impression that since the SNP were likely to be the dominant force in Scotland after the general election and since we were likely to be the next government, he was anxious to come to some sort of working arrangement with us.

Weatherills note is in the archives of the Margaret Thatcher Foundation at Churchill College, Cambridge. There is no record of any response from Thatcher.

Exonerated after mistaken identity

In Tory-held Stourbridge, in the West Midlands, the Labour candidate Pete Lowe was accused of misleading voters with his Born, bred and believes campaign, after the Ukip candidate, James Carver MEP, uncovered his birth certificate, which shows that he was born in Wolverhampton.

Lowe says he has always lived in Stourbridge, but in 1968, when his mother was expecting twins, there was a complication and she was rushed to Wolverhampton hospital. One twin died; Pete Lowe was the other. Mr Carver has apologised, by phone and on Twitter.

Thatchers insult legitimised

Speaking at an event in Leyton and Wanstead for Labours John Cryer, Rodney Bickerstaffe, who created the Unison trade union from a merger of smaller unions, mentioned that he was conceived in 1944 in Whipps Cross Hospital in the constituency, where his mother was a nurse.

His parents were not married and his father took off before the baby arrived, a month before the war ended. That was considered scandalous in those days.

It meant, Bickerstaffe said, that when Margaret Thatcher or Tony Blair called him a bastard, they were right.

Sibling of the day

As the oldest of three siblings I would be very upset if one of my younger siblings started trying to compete on my turf.

David Camerons biographer, Isabel Oakeshott, gives Sky News her very personal reason for thinking Ed Miliband should not have run for the Labour leadership.

Quote of the Day

We should stick pompous Michael Fallon on the end of a nuclear missile and fire it off into space. The world would be a happier place.

Michael Fallon got personal with Ed Miliband, so Ken Livingstone got personal with him.

A lesson on the limits of the Union

Leaders of six parties in Scotland held their debate in Aberdeen University against a backdrop that included a set of five fascinating works of art known as the Black Paintings. Painted by an unknown hand about 360 years ago, they used Old Testament images to warn Charles II to stay faithful to the National Covenant of 1637, which laid down the terms on which Scottish Presbyterians were prepared to accept union with England.

Despite their obvious relevance, nobody so much as mentioned them.

The Independent has got together with May2015.com to produce a poll of polls that produces the most up-to-date data in as close to real time as is possible.

Click the buttons below to explore how the main parties' fortunes have changed:

All data, polls and graphics are courtesy of May2015.com. Click through for daily analysis, in-depth features and all the data you need. (All historical data used is provided by UK Polling Report)
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Brexit and culture war issues are driving a firmer wedge between Labour and Tory voters, analysis by leading pollster Professor John Curtice has found.

Immediately after the Brexit referendum, Leave voters were more than twice as likely than Remain voters to say they were Conservative. But this has now grown to three times as likely, according to a new report from the National Centre of Social Research.

A record percentage of people rarely trust any government to prioritise the needs of the country over internal party interests, the research also found.

The annual survey of British Social Attitudes found 45 per cent of respondents almost never believe governments of any party are fully focused on challenges facing the UK, which is higher than the previous record high of 40 per cent recorded in 2009 following the MPs expenses scandal.

Click here for our live coverage of the general election campaign.

A record 58 per cent also said they almost never trust politicians of any party to tell the truth when they are in a tight corner  a 19-point increase from 2020.

Professor John Curtice has said that identity and morality issues are becoming more important to voters ( PA )

Opinions on the rights of trans people are also a growing indicator of voting preference. Participants of the British Social Attitudes survey were asked whether they agree or disagree with the statement: A person who is transgender should be able to have the sex recorded on their birth certificate changed if they want.

Peoples responses differed little by the party they supported when the question was first asked in 2016. However, a large political gap has now emerged between those who disagree that transgender people should be able to change their birth certificate and those who dont.

Those who disagree with the statement are 25 percentage points more likely than those who agree to say they are a Conservative, Reform or UKIP voter.

Professor John Curtice, pollster and senior research fellow at the National Centre for Social Research (NatCen), said: It is often suggested that now that Brexit no longer dominates the political agenda, that the battle for votes has reverted to being simply a contest between left and right.

However, the terrain in which the parties are fighting is now a two-dimensional space in which issues of culture and identity, including Brexit, are as important as the divide between left and right.

He said that the next government will also need to address the concerns of a population that is as doubtful as it has ever been about the trustworthiness and efficacy of the countrys system of government.

Professor Curtice explained: Addressing some of the policy challenges will help in that endeavour. However, it is likely to require much more than that - in particular, a style and manner of governing that persuades people that the government has their interests at heart after all.

There is now also a stronger relationship between pride for Britain and political party preference, NatCen found.

The Labour party and the Green party are more popular among people who say they have little or no pride in their country. Whereas the Tories are popular among people who are more patriotic.

Support for the Conservatives or a Eurosceptic party is also stronger among those who think that equal opportunities for lesbian, gay and bisexual people have gone too far.

Researchers at NatCen also found that the UK population became more liberal in attitude towards immigration between 2014 and 2021, but this trend has been partially reversed in the last three years.

Brexit is still an important dividing line between people voting Conservative or Labour ( PA )

Large changes were introduced to the immigration system at start of 2021 at the end of the Brexit transition period. The new system introduced a points-based system for visas, and the post-Brexit selection criteria was less strict than those applied to non-EU labour migration before Brexit.

The result has been a surge in net migration fuelled by people, mainly from India, Nigeria and China, coming to the UK for work or study.

The proportion of people who think that migrants are good for the economy is now dropping, from 51 per cent in 2021 to 40 per cent in 2024.

Similarly in 2021, 48 per cent of people said that migrants enriched Britains cultural life. This has now dropped to 43 per cent.

Gillian Prior, interim chief executive at the NatCen, said that public attitudes toward immigration have become significantly more positive since 2014. But she added: At the same time, it is an issue on which we have become more divided both socially and politically, and attitudes have shifted somewhat in the opposition direction more recently. This helps to explain why the subject has become one of the central issues in the current general election campaign.
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With three weeks to go until the general election, it looks increasingly likely that Sir Keir Starmer will be the UKs next prime minister.

Opinion poll after opinion poll has shown Labour commanding a huge lead over the Conservatives, suggesting Sir Keir will have the keys to No 10 come 5 July.

Moving into Downing Street with Sir Keir will be his wife, Victoria, a former lawyer who now works in occupational health for the NHS.

While the public has got to know Sir Keir better in recent months through a series of emotive TV and newspaper interviews, much less is known about Ms Starmer, who prefers to keep a low profile.

Ms Starmer, known affectionately by friends as Lady Victoria, is the daughter of a Polish-Jewish father and a mother who converted to the faith.

Sir Keir told The Jewish Chronicle in an interview in March last 2021, the family continues to observe the tradition of Friday night dinner at home. They also attend Londons Liberal Jewish Synagogue in St Johns Wood, despite his own atheism.

A born and raised Londoner, Ms Starmer grew up in Gospel Oak in the north of the capital, just a stones throw away from where the couple now lives with their two children.

Ms Starmer, working as a solicitor at the time, met her future husband while he was working as a barrister at Doughty Street chambers in the early 2000s, prior to his appointment as director of public prosecutions.

Recalling their first meeting during his appearance on Piers Morgans Life Stories in 2020, Sir Keir said: I was doing a case in court and it all depended on whether the documents were accurate.

I[asked my colleagues] who actually drew up these documents, they said a woman called Victoria, so I said lets get her on the line.

Sir Keir is joined on stage by his wife after delivering his keynote speech to the Labour Party Conference in Liverpool on Tuesday ( Stefan Rousseau/PA )

He duly questioned her about the papers concerned and, just before hanging up, heard her mutter: Who the f*** does he think he is?

Despite that inauspicious start, Sir Keir subsequently asked her out on a date to the Lord Stanley pub in Camden. From there their relationship blossomed and the couple later married in 2007.

They still live in the borough in a 1.75m townhouse within Mr Starmers Holborn and St Pancras constituency.

Ms Starmer left the legal profession to serve as a governor at her childrens school and to work in her NHS role - a job Sir Keir said she loves and plans to continue even if he becomes PM.

Unlike Rishi Sunaks wife, Akshata Murty - who introduced him at the last Tory party conference - and the wives of previous prime ministers, Ms Starmer has chosen mostly to stay out of the political limelight, making only a few public appearances.

She took part in the 80th anniversary service to remember the Battle of Britain in September 2020 and, a year later, Labours previous party conference in Brighton.

Onlookers praised her quiet confidence and working-mum chic  previously photographed in leather trousers and trainers... with hair shimmery enough to rival the Duchess of Cambridges, recorded one particularly gushing account of that sighting in Tatler.

The Daily Telegraph also took an interest in her at the same point, with a Labour insider telling Camilla Tominey: Shes quite sassy in that shes quite unbothered by what hes doing. If he ever gets into Downing Street, shes going to be very much leading her own life.

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer and his wife, Victoria (PA) ( PA Wire )

Shes not going to be in the spotlight like Cherie Blair, but more of a background Sarah Brown type figure, the friend added.

They have a great dynamic  she spends quite a lot of time taking the mickey out of him because he can be so serious. Ive never known her to be particularly political  shes always had her own interests.

Ms Starmer has since attended several other events with Sir Keir, including the Euro 2020 Final at Wembley Stadium last July, a candlelit vigil for the murdered Sarah Everard and the Wimbledon womens singles semi-finals on Centre Court on 7 July in 2022.

Sporting dark glasses in the Royal Box, Ms Starmer appeared to be gripped by the match between Ons Jabeur and Tatjana Maria, which just so happened to take place on the very day the Tories had finally succeeded in forcing Boris Johnsons resignation on what proved to be an operatic day in Westminster.

Ms Starmer has continued to keep a low profile during the election campaign and has turned down requests for interviews, comments and off the record briefings by friends, according to The Daily Telegraph.

We arent encouraging pieces on her, the Labour leaders office told the paper. Mrs Starmer will NOT be giving interviews.

The couple places a high value on their privacy and Sir Keir has often spoken about protecting his family if he becomes PM.

I think the biggest concern I have is about the impact it has on my family, Sir Keir told The Sunday Mirror when asked how his wife copes with being married to a prominent politician.
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A Tory MP who previously described Nigel Farage as a true patriot has put a picture of the Reform UK leader on her election leaflets.

Dame Andrea Jenkyns has said the arch-Brexiteer is a conservative to the core and one of the most influential politicians of our generation.

In fact, Dame Andrea admires Mr Farage so much that she has put a picture of the two fo them smiling together in a prominent position at the top of her re-election leaflet.

As well as putting a picture of an opposing party leader on the handout it also contains no clear references to the Tory Party at all.

Responding to the furore, she said on X, formerly Twitter: Lots of excitement over my leaflet today... All conservatives must be prepared to come together to prevent a socialist supermajority and the end of Britain as we know it. #CountryFirst.

The threat of Reform to the Tory Party increased significantly after Mr Farage decided to stand in the Clacton-on-Sea seat last week.

At a campaign rally he said that his goal was for the upstart party to effectively take over the Conservative Party and that he would be a bloody nuisance in Westminster if he succeeds in becoming an MP at his eighth attempt.

The most recent poll indicates that Mr Farages party has moved to within one point of the Tories. The YouGov survey published after Mr Sunak launched the Tory Partys manifesto on Tuesday, found Mr Farages party were on 17 per cent.

Mr Sunaks party is on 18 per cent, while Labour retain a 20-point lead, in the poll carried out between 10 and 11 June.

The Independent exclusively revealed that Dame Andrea and former Leave.EU communications director Andy Wigmore attempted to make a deal between the Tories and Reform.

Sources have suggested that Mr Sunak was interested but ultimately convinced not to go ahead by his advisers.

Dame Andrea has previously admitted her admiration for Mr Farage and attended his 60th birthday party, along with former Tory Party leader Liz Truss.

In a tweet, she said: A pleasure to be invited to @Nigel_Farages 60th birthday bash  a true patriot, conservative to the core, and, like him or loathe him, one of the most influential politicians of our generation. Cheers!

The Conservative Party has been approached for comment.
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Rishi Sunak complained the D-Day commemorations ran over when he turned up late to the TV interview he skipped them for.

The prime minister was condemned for failing to attend some of the events to mark the 80th anniversary of the Allied landings in Normandy last week, so he could return home for a sitdown with ITV that is finally due to be aired on Wednesday evening.

But despite leaving for that interview, Mr Sunak was still late for the pre-recorded chat - and apologised to the presenter before the conversation began.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak apologised to the presenter for turning up late to the interview ( PA Wire )

Meeting ITVs Paul Brand, the PM said: Very nice to see you, sorry to have kept you it all just ran over, it was incredible, but it just ran over, so apologies for keeping you.

Click here for our live coverage of the general election campaign.

Mr Brand asked if it was a powerful trip and whether it was particularly pertinent against the backdrop of Russias war in Ukraine.

Mr Sunak added: I have not seen President Bidens remarks but that is the echo of what he said.

And the prime minister said he met lots of veterans, speaking to almost everyone who was there.

The prime minister skipped out on the international ceremony attended by other world leaders, including US president Joe Biden and French president Emmanuel Macron, to mark the 80th anniversary of the Allied landings.

Lord Cameron alongside Frances Emmanuel Macron, Germanys Olaf Scholz and Joe Biden ( Abaca Press/Alamy Live News/PA Wire )

He instead returned to the UK to take part in the ITV interview in which he sought to defend his claims about Labours tax plans after criticism from the head of the Treasury and the UKs statistics watchdog.

He left foreign secretary and ex-PM David Cameron in his place, leading to a group picture of world leaders without the PM present.

Amid the fallout of the blunder, Mr Sunak was forced to insist he was not planning to quit before the 4 July general election. And he was condemned by members of his own top team, with policing minister Chris Philp saying he was surprised and disappointed by the PMs decision to leave early.

Asked whether the latest revelation about the D-Day blunder showed Mr Sunak was tone deaf, defence secretary Grant Shapps said no. He has rightly apologised for it and we can carry on going round in circles but I think the more interesting thing is what he really thinks about our veterans, he told Sky News.

But the Liberal Democrats said Mr Sunak had treated D-Day commemorations as an inconvenience and simply didnt care enough to stay in Normandy.

Treasury spokesman Sarah Olney said: How he brushes this off is frankly insulting... Rishi Sunak does not deserve to be Prime Minister.

Honouring the sacrifice of our veterans should be a privilege, instead Sunak treated it as an inconvenience.

Mr Shapps insisted the bits Mr Sunak skipped had no British veterans at all, with presenter Kay Burley pointing out that Sir Keir Starmer stayed at the international event regardless.

D-Day veteran Ken Hay, who was captured as a prisoner of war, said Mr Sunak had let the country down. The 98-year-old said: Its not the representation of how were trying to weld things together to keep the peace.

The PMs D-Day snub was the low point of what has so far been a gaffe-riddled election campaign, and opened him up to attacks from Nigel Farage.

The Reform UK leader said the blunder shows Mr Sunak is not fit to lead the country. He has made the biggest mistake of his political career. If it wasnt an election campaign, thered be a leadership challenge against him this week, he told the BBC.

Reform is just a point behind the Conservatives in the latest poll, with Mr Farages party on 17 per cent compared to the Tories on 18.
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Rishi Sunak and Sir Keir Starmer faced audience questions on Sky News on Wednesday night as the general election campaign went to Grimsby.

The two party leaders were grilled by political editor Beth Rigby, before taking questions from voters from the northeast town and across the country.

The prime minister and Labour leader set out their parties visions for the country, answering questions on the economy, the NHS and immigration.

Here are five key moments from the exchanges:

Tax

Sunak and Starmer in the debate ( PA/Getty )

Sir Keir said that a Labour government would not raise income tax, national insurance contributions or VAT, describing the pledge as a triple lock.

He repeatedly refused to rule out raising corporation tax or capital gains tax to fund public services, telling Ms Rigby that he would not write the next five years of budgets live on air.

Mr Sunak insisted peoples taxes would be cut in the next parliament under a Conservative government, as Ms Rigby presented him with analysis suggesting the tax burden would actually rise.

The prime minister said he could not comment on analysis he had not seen, but added the tax burden was too high, prompting further heckles from the audience.

Immigration

Mr Sunak insisted that his plan to curb illegal migration was working despite record numbers of Channel crossings.

The PM made stopping the boats one of his five key pledges when he first entered Downing Street in October 2023.

He insisted that his Rwanda plan was the right policy to deter people from making the treacherous journey across the Channel but declined to guarantee that fights would take off before the election.

As of May, some 10,000 people had already attempted the journey in 2024  higher than the total for the first five months of any year since current figures began in 2018.

Sunak insists his plan to stop the boats is working ( PA Wire )

Snap poll gives Starmer a huge win

A snap poll conducted after the debate gave Sir Keir a huge victory over Mr Sunak in another blow to the PMs faltering election campaign.

A YouGov survey, conducted after Skys Battle for Number 10, found that two-thirds of voters felt the Labour leader performed better than Mr Sunak in the clash.

Some 64 per cent said Sir Keir performed better, with 36 per cent saying the prime minister was the winner. YouGov spoke to 1,864 voters shortly after the debate, during which the two leaders were grilled on their plans for government.

Poll says Starmer won debate ( Getty Images )

True blue Amy gives Sunak both barrels

An audience member called Amy tore into Mr Sunak over what she described as the Tories terrible behaviour over the past few years.

Amy, a former Conservative Party chairperson, said she was a true blue who had voted for the party all her life but was undecided about who she would vote for on 4 July.

She was visibly angry about Partygate, referencing an event that took place on the night before Prince Philips funeral.

Amy also said she was ashamed of the PM for his decision to leave a D-Day event early.

A Tory voter said she was ashamed of the PM ( Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire )

Starmer asked whether he is a political robot

Sir Keir seemed briefly stumped after an audience member suggested he had become a political robot and asked how he would convince people to vote for him.

After a brief pause and a laugh from the audience, Sir Keir stressed a history of public service, particularly as director of public prosecutions, and said he was not tribally political.

Asked whether Sir Keir had convinced him, the audience member said: You dont seem to answer the question.
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Polling experts have warned Rishi Sunak he is running out of time to woo voters with the first ballots set to be cast in the election within days.

Postal votes will start landing on doorsteps early next week, the Electoral Commission has told The Independent.

With one in five now voting by post time is running out for the prime minister to turn around Labours 20-point lead in many polls.

One polling expert told Mr Sunak it was now or not at all.

Applications to register to vote have jumped sharply in the past week (Peter Byrne/PA) ( PA Wire )

Lord Hayward, who is also a Tory peer, said many people return their postal votes as soon as they arrive.

He added: If the Conservatives are going to have an effect, for a fairly high proportion of voters the effect is now or not at all.

Philip Cowley, professor of politics at Queen Mary University of London, said that the UK no longer has election day we have election days.

And the problem for Rishi Sunak is around one in five votes are going to be cast at a point when his party is at least 20 points behind in many opinion polls. Which means that although we keep talking about what if the polls narrow, even if they start to narrow it is too late in terms of the one-fifth of votes that have already been cast.

Rishi Sunak on his campaign bus ( POOL/AFP via Getty Images )

The number of people voting by post has risen dramatically in the last 20 years.

Before 2000 fewer than three per cent of voters cast their ballot by post.

Since the law was changed that year, however, the numbers have skyrocketed  and in the last three elections postal votes accounted for more than a fifth of those cast.

Research suggests those who get a postal vote are likely to be older or with a disability that significantly limits their day-to-day activities.

Marginal seats are also more likely to see higher rates of postal votes, in part because parties of all colours focus on signing their supporters up, in the knowledge postal votes are more likely to be returned.

But experts say there is not an obvious pattern of high numbers of postal votes helping one party or another.

Will Jennings, professor of political science at the University of Southampton, said: With people voting by post already, time is very much running out for the Conservatives.

Roughly one-in-five voters will cast their ballot by post. This means that soon a large number of people will already have voted and the campaigns won't be able to change their minds.

The elections watchdog said postal votes would likely begin to be received early next week.

But the Electoral Commission said it did not have an estimate on how many would use postal ballots in this election, although it noted that there has been a moderate increase since 2019.

A number of factors are driving this, it said, including safety concerns arising from the Covid pandemic.

Dr Hannah Bunting, from the University of Exeters elections centre, said: This being a surprise July election, there may be more people on holiday on polling day, meaning we could see an increase in postal voting if people remember to apply on time.

Members of the public have until 5pm on 19 June to register for a postal vote.


Photo: Modified USSF Flag. Use of released Department of Defense imagery does not constitute product or organizational endorsement of any kind.



NEWS PROVIDED BY

Don Biadog

June 12, 2024



WASHINGTON, June 12, 2024 /Christian Newswire/ -- Churches and military chapels across the nation are experiencing a surge in their expressions of patriotism at this time of the year, due to recent celebrations of Memorial Day and preparations for the 4th of July.



So they are preparing to perform the military hymns and songs. Due to the creation of the United States Space Force hymn, 'Creator of the Universe,' many are thrilled about performing this new addition to their "arsenal" of music, written by former United States Air Force Chaplain, Captain James F. Linzey, who is currently serving as the Chief of Chaplains for the United States National Defense Corps with the rank of Colonel.



Recently, Rev. Bruce Oliver, host of Abundant Living Podcasts, asked, "What is the difference between a military song and a hymn? The answer can help many people who are asking the same thing." Military hymns, like any other hymns, are songs of praise to God, but not all songs are hymns. The military has a song for each branch of the military, and some even have a hymn. Military songs and hymns come about differently than one another. Either the military will commission someone to write an official song, or it will accept what has been written by a civilian.



Hymns, on the other hand, are not commissioned by the military, to avoid the establishment of religion. Military hymns became recognized in the civilian churches before becoming "military hymns." After that, it became natural for military chapels and military bands to adopt them as their hymns and perform them. But they are never officially sanctioned by the military to avoid the establishment of religion. They will simply use them and call them their hymns.



For example, the Air Force song is 'Wild Blue Yonder,' but its hymn is 'Lord, Guard and Guide the Men Who Fly.' The Army song is 'The Army Goes Rolling Along,' but it has no hymn. The Coast Guard song is 'Semper Paratus,' but its hymn is verse one of the Navy Hymn, 'Eternal Father, Strong to Save.' The Marine Corps song is 'The Halls of Montezuma,' but the Marines call it 'The Marine's Hymn,' but it is not a hymn, because it is not a song of praise to God. It is a hymn in name only. The hymn of the Marine Corps is the Navy Hymn, which is sung in Marine Corps chapels, because it is part of the Department of the Navy. The Navy song is 'Anchors Aweigh,' but its hymn is 'Eternal Father, Strong to Save.' The Space Force song is 'Semper Supra,' but its hymn is 'Creator of the Universe,' both written by former Air Force personnel.



The February 29, 2020, edition of the Coffeyville Journal tells the story of how the Space Force Hymn, 'Creator of the Universe,' was written:

On February 12, 2020, Rev. James F. Linzey, who served as a highly decorated Air Force Captain, felt led by Almighty God to write the Space Force Hymn. He set his pen to paper the next day. He had been working on the hymn on an old upright piano that was out of tune in the former Dalton Museum building in Coffeyville, Kansas, which he was cleaning. On February 22, 2020, he completed the hymn, creating what many believe to be his lasting legacy for the Department of the Air Force, for which he served for 12 years. Coffeyville proudly serves as "Home of the United States Space Force Hymn," 'Creator of the Universe.'
Village in SE China turns green mountains into 'invaluable assets'

People's Daily Online) 14:32, June 12, 2024

Photo shows a sample of the forest carbon credit stamp received by Changkou village in Sanming city, southeast China's Fujian Province. (People's Daily Online/Ouyang Yijia)

Changkou village in Sanming city, southeast China's Fujian Province, the country's first village to obtain a forest carbon credit stamp, numbered 0000001, has blazed a path of turning lush mountains and lucid waters into invaluable assets.

In 2022, the village distributed 140,000 yuan (about $19,318.07) it earned from its forest carbon credits in 2021, with each resident receiving 150 yuan in cash.

Forest carbon credit stamps serve as certificates for the right to benefit from the carbon emissions reduction from forest lands and trees, and are like "ID cards" that allow the carbon sequestration function of forests to be traded as an asset.

Residents of Changkou village in Sanming city, southeast China's Fujian Province, pose for a photo with the first cash dividend from the village's forest carbon credits. (Photo courtesy of the interviewees)

Changkou village's path can be traced back to 1997 when Chinese President Xi Jinping, then deputy secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Fujian Provincial Committee, emphasized during an inspection tour in Sanming that to protect the ecological environment is to protect productive forces, and to improve the ecological environment is to develop productive forces.

"Green mountains and clear waters are priceless treasure," Xi said to village officials during his visit to Changkou village on April 11, 1997, urging them to earnestly promote mountain land development and make good use of mountains, waters, and farmlands.

A stone tablet in Changkou village, Sanming city, southeast China's Fujian Province, is inscribed with the words "Green mountains and clear waters are priceless treasure." The words were from Chinese President Xi Jinping, who made the remarks during his visit to the village in 1997, when he was the deputy secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Fujian Provincial Committee. (Sanming Daily/Lin Wenbin)

Pointing out that ecological forestry represents the future of the forestry industry, Xi stressed the importance of the integrated development of the forestry industry and forest ecosystems.

If conservation of soil and water is not given high priority, people will be left with barren hills in the future, he warned.

Keeping Xi's words firmly in mind, residents of Changkou village are determined to find more paths to carbon reduction and prosperity.

(Web editor: Hongyu, Liang Jun)
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The number of female parliamentary candidates vying to become MPs at the general election has sunk to 30 per cent  sparking criticism women are not properly represented by the political system.

New figures show the number of women candidates has fallen by four per cent since the last election, according to figures by campaign group 50:50 Parliament.

Lobbyists said they took action to boost the number of female candidates but the proportion is much lower than they expected - adding this is partially due to the increase in Reform candidates who are mostly men. Women make up less than a fifth of their candidates.

Lyanne Nicholl, chief executive of 50:50 Parliament, said: We have around 34 million women and girls in the UK and a vast pool of talent within that number.

New figures show the number of women candidates has fallen by four per cent since 34 per cent during the last election ( Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire )

She noted there were only 226 female MPs during the last parliament which meant there twice as many men than women.

To prevent this becoming an ongoing issue for future parliaments, we must address now any obstacles for women in the candidate selection process, she added.

Men still dominate the corridors of power, and without rightful representation, womens views and perspectives will continue to be missed. We need to put pressure on each party to reach equal representation, and womens voices and lived experiences need to inform decisions that will impact women in the UK.

We are 51 per cent of the electorate and representation matters. Professor Helen Pankhurst

Campaign groups Centenary Action and 50:50 Parliament have demanded all political parties regularly release their candidate selection data to boost transparency.

Professor Helen Pankhurst  granddaughter of socialist feminist writer Sylvia Pankhurst and great granddaughter of suffragette Emmeline Pankhurst  told The Independent: Irrespective of where we end up with the percentage of women in parliament, the fact only 30 per cent of candidates are women in this day and age is unacceptable.

Men still dominate the corridors of power, and without rightful representation, womens views and perspectives will continue to be missed. Lyanne Nicholl

Professor Pankhurst, founder of campaign group Centenary Action, added: We are 51 per cent of the electorate and representation matters. We need to make sure women in all their diversity are involved in political decision-making.

The campaigner warned you cant be what you cant see as she argued men treat women differently when they are there in equal numbers.

Helen Pankurst speaking at a march for International Womens Day in London in 2018 ( CARE International UK )

Their assumptions change and the policies we see when women are not at the table are deficient and defective because they overlook their interests, Professor Pankhurst added.

It comes after research recently found women constitute only a third of local election candidates in England. Research, by the Fawcett Society and Democracy Club, discovered 34 per cent of local election candidates are women, just 26 per cent of police and crime commissioner candidates are female, while only 27 per cent of mayoral candidates are women.

David, John, Paul, Mark and James were the top five most common first names of local election candidates.
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Rishi Sunaks faltering election campaign took another hit as a snap poll found Sir Keir Starmer won Wednesday nights TV debate by a significant margin.

A YouGov survey conducted after Skys Battle for Number 10 found that two-thirds of voters felt the Labour leader performed better than Mr Sunak in the clash.

Some 64 per cent said Sir Keir performed better, with 36 per cent saying the prime minister was the winner. YouGov spoke to 1,864 voters shortly after the debate, during which the two leaders were grilled on their plans for government.

The debate followed another frantic day on the campaign trail, during which Mr Sunak was forced to push back on suggestions that Labour was on course for a supermajority come 5 July.

Grant Shapps, the defence secretary, claimed that Labour could record an even bigger victory than the 1997 landslide won by Tony Blair as he urged Reform voters to back his party.

( Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire )

His comments came after Tory HQ published an advertisement on Facebook claiming that votes for Reform could see Labour win up to 490 seats, leaving the Conservatives with just 57, in the latest sign of how defensive the partys election campaign has become.

Thats not what Im saying, the PM told reporters on the Tory election battle bus as he travelled to Lincolnshire ahead of the debate.

And every time someone says something to me about a poll, I always give you guys the same answer, which youve heard me say multiple times. The poll that matters is the one on July 4.

Sir Keir, campaigning in Grimsby ahead of the debate, denied that the election was a foregone conclusion, saying that he was fighting for every vote.

No, we know that we have to earn every vote, he told broadcasters.

Not a single vote has been cast and I know that every day we have to make a positive case for change.

Earlier this week Mr Sunak launched the Conservative Party manifesto, which included promises to cut taxes, halve immigration and introduce national service for young people.

The prime minister announced a total of 17bn in giveaways  including a 2p cut to national insurance contributions (NICs)  that he said would be funded by clamping down on tax avoidance and efficiencies in the civil service.

But economists cast doubt on whether the numbers added up, while the Labour Party described the manifesto as the most expensive panic attack in history.

Keir Starmer at Sky TV debate with Beth Rigby ( AP )

Sir Keir Starmers party is launching its own manifesto on Thursday and Labour has already announced a number of policies that will feature in the document, including a vow not to raise income tax, national insurance contributions or VAT.

The party has, however, so far failed to rule out raising corporation tax and capital gains tax while insisting that everything outlined in the manifesto will be fully costed.

Experts have criticised both parties spending plans, accusing them of engaging in a conspiracy of silence over the scale of spending cuts or tax rises needed to balance the books after the general election as the countrys finances continue to recover following the twin shocks of the Covid pandemic and Russias war in Ukraine.
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For the past three years, one US airline has been consistently more likely to mishandle passengers luggage than any other.

Between 2021 and 2024, American Airlines had the most reported instances of mishandled luggage of any US airline, according to analysis of Department of Transportation Air Travel Consumer Report data by MyBaggage.com.

American Airlines handled more than 200 million pieces of luggage in the past three years. Of those, more than 1.7 million were mishandled, averaging 8.71 per 1,000 cases.

The data also showed that American Airlines ranked highest for mishandled luggage every year for the past decade.

The airline acknowledged the issue and said it has been working on improvements.

American Airlines said the company saw a 25 per cent year-over-year improvement in mishandled baggage in February, and had its lowest mishandled baggage report since 2017, in an email to SFGATE.

American Airlines ranked number one for mishandled luggage for the past three years (stock image) ( Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved )

If we get [travelers] there and the bag doesnt make it, [theres a] huge drop in their perception of the service or the value they got from buying a ticket on American, American Airlines COO David Seymour told the Wall Street Journal.

The company has introduced a priority bag system that places luggage traveling shorter distances near the front of planes for faster removal at destinations. Airline bagtags tell handlers how long the baggage is meant to stay on the plane for quick reference, according to the company.

Just as customers count on us to get them to their destinations on time, they expect us to deliver their bags on time. American has been improving the way we care for our customers baggage, particularly the way we move bags at our hubs and transfer bags between connecting flights, an American Airlines spokesperson told The Independent. These efforts have paid off.

According to the company, it recorded a 15 per cent year-over-year improvement in our mishandled baggage rate in 2023, then this March the company recorded a 13 per cent year-over-year improvement. In April, American recorded its lowest mishandled baggage rate since 2018, according to the spokesperson.

While American improved in its baggage handling in recent months, it also raised the prices for checked bags earlier this year.

American raised the price for most checked bags to $40 for customers who do not prepay online. If paid online during check-in, the price is $35 - a 33 per cent increase from its previous $30 fee for both online and in-person bag checking, according to CNN.

American Airlines said that it hadn't raised its baggage fees since 2018, and that it was decreasing the cost to bring oversized or heavy luggage on board.
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A California Catholic school has booted a 13-year-old student after accusing his parents of starting a smear campaign when he was allegedly barred from giving a MAGA-inspired speech for his school election.

In a letter posted to social media by the boys mom, Saint Bonaventure Catholic School in Huntington Beach, California, said the family was no longer welcome after they threatened administrators and posted disparaging remarks about faculty online.

The mom, Hattie Ruggles, has alleged that her son was humiliated by his school principal Mary Flock when he was prevented from giving a MAGA-style speech as he ran for commissioner of school spirit and patriotism as part of the schools elections, according to a social media post.

In the Trumpy speech, the 13-year-old talks about his love for America and claims some people take their citizenship for granted by eating nachos during the national anthem at sporting events.

My love for America is my motivation for running for Commissioner of Patriotism and School Spirit. It is my honor to live in this country. Sadly, some people take their citizenship for granted, whether it is disrespecting the people who protect us or eating nachos during the national anthem at sporting events, he allegedly wrote in the speech.

Many people recite the Pledge of Allegiance without understanding the meaning. If someone doesnt truly know what they are pledging to the United States of America, they might as well be reciting the lyrics to Shake it Off by Taylor Swift.

If elected, the boy said he would undertake the crucial task of making SBS more patriotic  and gave a sign-off similar to that of former President Donald Trump.

I will make the school spirit great again! I will make patriotism within SBS great again! And most importantly I will MAKE SBS GREAT AGAIN! Thank you and God Bless Saint Bonaventure Catholic School! the speech added.

His mother claims her son was told to remove all parts about patriotism from his campaign speech or he would not be allowed to deliver it before the school assembly.

Jimmy stood up to her and said he wasnt going to take the parts about patriotism out of his speech, Ruggles wrote in a Change.org petition calling on Flock to be fired. She then told him he would not be speaking. Jimmy sat on stage with all the other candidates while they said their speeches. Mary Flock directed the kids hosting the rally to skip Jimmy entirely. He was on the stage for an hour in front of his peers/teachers/parents being completely humiliated by Mary Flock.

The school has denied Ruggles accusations, claiming that the boy was actually banned from giving his speech because it did not receive prior approval from school officials, as per requirements.

The termination letter allegedly sent by Saint Bonaventure Catholic School ( Hattie Ruggles via Facebook )

The parents insist this is not true and that their sons final speech draft was submitted on time and viewed by the principal.

Following the disagreement, Ruggles posted the letter from the Catholic school, which accuses them of serious violations of the Christian Code of Conduct and the Parent Electronic Communication Policy.

Finally heard from St. Bonaventure. This morning we received an email terminating Jimmy, Alice, and Livia from the school and will not allow them to return next year, Ruggles alleged in a post on Facebook.

Ruggles also shared a photo of the termination letter on Facebook, in which the school said the three children were being expelled for violating the Christian Code of Conduct and the Parent Electronic Communication Policy, including speaking to administration in a way that is not in line with our expectations for respectful and courteous communication; posting disparaging remarks about the administration and faculty on social media; as well as inviting outside community members to join in an unsanctioned gathering on parish grounds.

The letter made no mention of the speech, and the school has disputed Ruggles account of events.

St. Bonaventure Catholic School is dedicated to fostering a Catholic, Christ-centered learning environment that builds a community valuing respect and integrity. We encourage freedom of speech, recognizing that allowing students to express their thoughts and ideas is crucial for their growth and development. In line with this, our longstanding policy requires all student speeches delivered on campus to undergo an administrative approval process. This practice ensures that the content is appropriate, aligns with school values and our Christian Code of Conduct, and maintains a respectful tone. The process is applied uniformly to all students without exception, the school said.

If a speech does not receive final approval, we adhere to our established guidelines, which means the student will not be permitted to deliver the speech. In this recent case, school administrators felt encouraged by the words of patriotism but were discouraged by what is perceived as some negative comments and sought adjustments to make it more positive.

According to a mass email dated May 23 sent by the school and shared by Ruggles on Change.org, Flock left her position at the school last month.

It is with sadness that I inform you that Principal Mary Flock will not be returning to St. Bonaventure next school year, the email read.
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One person is dead after a gunman hijacked a bus in Atlanta before leading police on a car chase for miles from the city into neighboring suburbs.

Police said one person was fatally shot after a gunman, identified as 39-year-old felon Joseph Grier, hijacked a commuter bus with 17 people inside shortly after 4:30pm on Tuesday near downtown Atlanta, prompting passengers to frantically text loved ones and call 911 for help.

Our initial call was of a gunman on the bus, that was holding hostages, and possibly there had been a discharged weapon, Atlanta Police Chief Darin Schierbaum said in a Tuesday evening news conference.

An officer arrived about a minute after the initial 911 call and confronted the perpetrator who then held the bus driver at gunpoint and forced him to speed away, sparking the chase, Schierbaum said.

The miles-long car chase was captured in television news footage which showed the dramatic pursuit of the Gwinnett County Transit bus as it barrelled through rush hour traffic, striking several vehicles.

During the chase, a passenger on board the bus surreptitiously stayed on the line with 911, allowing authorities to hear the commotion, Schierbaum said. Mayor Andre Dickens said the chaos sounded like a movie scene as the suspect had a gun to the head of a bus driver saying, Dont stop this bus or else worse will happen. The events echo the plot of the 1994 thriller Speed.

The bus was eventually stopped and the gunman arrested, but one person  believed to be a passenger  had been killed ( Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved )

Atlanta police said the bus was eventually stopped miles away in neighboring DeKalb County. Grier was then taken into custody.

Grier, a convicted felon with 19 prior arrests, was armed with a handgun, Schierbaum said.

A passenger aboard the bus was then found with a gunshot wound and taken to a hospital, where they later died, officials said. They have not yet been formally identified.

Following the incident, photos showed an armored police SWAT vehicle squarely blocking the front of the bus, which was also flanked by a firetruck.

Afterward, a lighted digital sign above the bus windshield still read: EMERGENCY and CALL POLICE 911.

The hijacking came just two hours after a shooting at a food court in a downtown Atlanta in which a man shot three people ( AP Photo/Jeff Amy )

The first 911 call came just two hours after a shooting at a food court in a downtown Atlanta in which a man shot three people before he was shot by an off-duty police officer.

Police said the 34-year-old suspect, who was quickly arrested, is a convicted felon who has been arrested 11 times.

The suspect and the three victims were all taken to hospitals but were expected to survive.

Schierbaum said investigators do not believe there is a link between the food court shooting and the bus hijacking.

Today has been a very active day, but let me be clear, were talking about gun violence that is as a result of too many people having guns in their hands, Mayor Dickens said in an evening news conference that followed the bus hijacking. Youre talking about people that should not have been on the streets with guns.

Dickens said the spate of gun violence shows something more needs to be done but noted violent crime in the city has been decreasing.

So this day is not indicative of all the days in the city of Atlanta, but this is a day well never forget, the mayor said.

A joint investigation into the hijacking will be conducted by the Atlanta Police Department and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.
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A woman in California who was arrested on DUI charges has inadvertently proven that it is, technically, legal to get drunk and teach children.

Wendy Munson, a second-grade teacher at Nuestro Elementary School in Sutter County, California, was arrested on October 2, 2023, on DUI and child endangerment charges.

The situation unfolded when a staff member at the school became aware of Munson's alleged impairment and called the police. The Sutter County Sheriff's Office sent deputies to investigate and were told by another teacher that Munson had allegedly driven to school impaired and then went on to teach classes in that condition.

Munson was in the middle of teaching a class when the deputies arrived to confront her. She failed a field sobriety test and was arrested, police said.

Wendy Munson, a teacher in Sutter County, California, was arrested on DUI and child endangerment charges after she showed up to her school drunk. Both charges were dropped due to a lack of evidence ( Sutter County District Attorneys Office )

While the field sobriety test seemed to confirm that Munson was drunk while she was teaching, it did not prove she drove to school in that condition, the Sutter County District Attorneys Office said. It didnt prove that the children she was teaching were in danger, either.

On Monday, Sutter County DA Jennifer Dupre dropped the charges against Munson.

After a lengthy and thorough investigation, the Sutter County District Attorneys Office has determined that no charges will be filed against Wendy Munson, the second-grade teacher at Nuestro School who was arrested on October 2, 2023, she said in a statement posted to Facebook. During the investigation, it could not be established that Munson was under the influence when she drove to the school, as opposed to drinking only after arriving there.

According to the DA, there was no evidence suggesting the children in Munson's class were ever actually in danger, preventing prosecutors from pursuing a child endangerment ruling.

That essentially means that, under California law, it is legal to teach children in a professional capacity while intoxicated.

The mere potential that a situation could arise is insufficient to meet the requirements under the law, the DA wrote. While the District Attorneys Office agrees that it is highly inappropriate to teach while intoxicated, it is, unfortunately, not illegal.

In the meantime, Munsons students were given a long-term substitute. They did not see her arrest on the day it occurred.

While Munson will not face charges for teaching while drunk, she could still be fired for drinking while on the job. The Independent has reached out to the Nuestro School District for information on Munsons employment status.
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The FBI has released its first quarterly figures of 2024, which it says shows a continuation of a historic decline in violent crime from last year - but has ignored a big factor in the data.

The figures from the Quarterly Uniform Crime Report indicate a 15 percent drop in the first three months of the year compared with the same period in 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. Reported property crime also decreased by 15.1 percent, according to the agency.

This data makes clear that last years historic decline in violent crime is continuing, said Department of Justice Attorney General Merrick B Garland, in a statement released on Monday. Our work will not be done until all Americans feel safe in their communities.

However, data informing the FBIs figures is supplied voluntarily by law enforcement agencies across the US, and do not include major metropolitan areas including Los Angeles and New York, where crime is historically high. The LAPD and NYPD are the two largest police forces in the nation, but they are not included in the FBI data, which could have changed the data if it had been included.

The FBI has released its first quarterly figures of 2024, which it says shows a continuation of a historic decline in violent crime from last year ( Getty Images )

The FBI data for 2024 has yet to be released beyond a short press announcement abou the total. The data has not been publicly released for specific regions or states in the country. The last publicly available figures are from 2022.

In 2022, about two-thirds of the nations 6,000 police agencies report their data to the FBI.

The issue stems from a change in how the FBI asked agencies to submit data in 2021. Many police departments had outdated technology taht couldnt be changed in time, leading to them falling out of the FBI data, according to the Marshall Project.

That has impacted the data received by the FBI as some of the nations largest agencies, which also includes Phoneix police and the Hillsborough County Sheriffs Office in Florida, not being part of the system.

Those agencies typically high numbers of arrests and incidents and when left off can change the percentages nationwide for crime across the US.

In fact, some of the agencies who dont report noted a lower percentage drop, or even an increase, in crime in their areas.

In March, LA law enforcement announced that violent crime in the city was in fact up 2.9 percent compared to 12 months prior, and robberies had increased almost 10 percent.

During a Board of Police Commissioners meeting, Interim Los Angeles Police Chief Dominic Choi reported an uptick in violent crimes, with 73 homicides so far this year compared to 57 at this point in 2023, an increase of 28 percent, per Fox 11.

In February, the New York City Police Department released separate figures for January 2024, which showed substantial drops in murder, rape, burglary, and felony assault, and an overall crime index drop of 2.9 percent.

The force noted that a major area of increase was in crimes committed on the citys subway system, which has jumped up by 46 percent. Robbery and grand larceny also increased  up by 5.4 percent and 0.4 percent respectively.

Despite the FBI data showing decreases in all major crimes across the nation, other offenses including hate crime, have been increasing steadily in recent years.

However, several large police agencies such as the New York City police and Los Angeles police do not report to the FBI system. Pictured: A New York City Police Department officer looks on as Trump supporters gather outside of Manhattan Criminal Court ( AFP via Getty Images )

A report from the Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism at California State University-San Bernardino, published in January found that hate crimes across the US increased 11 percent in 2023 from 2022, with antisemitic and anti-Muslim hate crimes also soaring following the outbreak of war in the Middle East.

Titled Faith Under Fire, the report found that the highest areas of increase were New York City and Los Angeles.

In the Big Apple antisemitic hate crimes jumped 12.6 percent and anti-Muslim hate crimes rose 22 percent. In LA, the same crimes rose 48 percent and 40 percent respectively in 2023.

Those numbers have continued to rise in the first month of 2024 as the NYPDs Hate Crime Task Force has seen a 12 percent increase in bias crimes, according to police department statistics.

Americans too, tend to feel that despite the official reports that certain crimes continue on a downward trajectory, that crime is up.

In 23 of 27 surveys conducted by Gallup since 1993, at least 60 percent of US adults have said they believe there is more crime nationally than there was the year before. In 2022 and 2023 this percentage was almost 80 percent.

The five most dangerous states in the US are currently; New Mexico, Arkansas, Louisiana, Colorado and California, according to a March 2024 article by Forbes, which analyzed data from previous years.

We know there is so much more work to do, and that the progress we have seen can still easily slip away, Garland on Monday.

We will continue to invest in the essential programs that allow police departments to hire more officers. We will continue to build the public trust essential for public safety. And we will continue to support the evidence-based community violence intervention initiatives that save lives.
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A Missouri man convicted of killing a woman he had an affair with and her husband has been executed despite his previous claims of innocence.

David Hosier was killed by lethal injection in a Missouri prison on Tuesday evening. He had his request for clemency denied by Governor Mike Parson.

Hosier, 69, was found guilty in 2009 of killing Angela and Rodney Gilpin. Investigators said that Angela and Hosier were having an affair, but she ended it.

"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," Gov. Parson said. "For these heinous acts, Hosier earned maximum punishment under the law. 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."

Hosier, however, has said he was not guilty of the crime and shared a statement he planned to read before his execution with NBC News .

"Ive been able to speak the truth of my innocence. Ive been able to set an example of resistance to lawyers who bully their clients," it read. "Ive been able to reminisce with family and friends new and old. Ive been able to learn to be the fullest version of me."

David Hosier was killed by lethal injection in a Missouri prison on Tuesday evening. He had his request for clemency denied by Governor Mike Parson. ( AP )

The inmate had expressed concerns with how his lawyers presented his clemency petition by focusing on his childhood instead of the circumstances of the crime. When Hosier was 16 years old, his father, Glen, was killed in the line of duty while serving as an Indiana state trooper.

"Fifty-three years ago, my dad was killed," Hosier previously told NBC. "I told them I didnt want any of that used. It doesnt have anything to do with this case."

Prosecutors detailed Hosier as a scorned lover who broke into the couples home. Hosier said the affair happened while the couple was estranged, but they got back together a month before the killings.

Angela Giplin had a request for a protective order against Hosier in her purse when she was killed.

Hosier had said that no DNA evidence or fingerprints were found at the scene of the double murder to tie him to the crime. ( Missouri Department of Correctio )

Police arrested Hosier in Oklahoma with a cache of weapons. He had a World War II-era machine gun that was not loaded when police found it, according to NBC. However, the weapon was used in the killing, investigators say.

Ballistics tests were inconclusive an expert said at Hosiers trial, according to NBC.

Police also claimed to find an incriminating note in Hosiers car that read in part: If you are going with someone do not lie to them"

Hosier said he was only going for a long drive because he enjoyed them and took his guns because was a hunter. He added that no DNA evidence or fingerprints were found tying him to the scene.

"I know two people were killed. I know I got blamed for it," he once said.
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A massive search continues in rural Kentucky for a missing baby whose parents and grandparents have since been arrested in connection to her disappearance.

Miya Tucker, who is just 8 months old, has not been seen since late April, a family member told police. She was reported missing last week from a home in Reynolds Station, Kentucky.

Kentucky State Police said cadaver dogs and drones searched the woods near Miyas home on Tuesday, but there is still no sign of the baby, according to NBC affiliate WFIE.

We have no evidence shes deceased, State Police Trooper Corey King told WFIE. But we have no evidence shes alive, either.

Miyas parents, Tesla Tucker, 29, and Cage Rudd, 30, along with her grandfather, Ricky Smith, 56, were arrested on Friday and booked on child abandonment and drug-related charges.

Miyas mom, Tesla Tucker, 29, was arrested on child abandonment charges ( Kentucky State Police )

Following Smiths arrest, police went to the grandmothers home looking for the baby, and arrested Billie Smith, 49, on an outstanding warrant for second-degree assault  domestic violence. The charge is unrelated to Miyas disappearance.

A fifth person, identified as Timothy Roach, was arrested after police saw the man toss unprescribed drugs under his vehicle, while at the grandmothers house during her arrest.

He was charged with second-degree possession of a controlled substance and first-degree prescription controlled substance not in a proper container. Its not clear what Roachs relationship is to the family.

The search for Miya began after family members contacted police for a welfare check in May when they became worried they had not seen the baby since April.

Miyas father, Cage Rudd, 30, was also arrested in connection to her disappearance ( Kentucky State Police )

Trooper King told WFIE that Miyas parents were found in a Motel 6 room in Owensboro, Kentucky, on Friday, where drugs, including fentanyl pills and methamphetamine, were in plain sight.

But Miya was not there.

According to KSP, the family already had three children taken from their home last month by the Kentucky Child Protection Branch, which cited alleged drug issues.

King said the state Cabinet for Health and Family Services intended to remove Miya from the home as well after her umbilical cord tested positive for methamphetamine when she was born in October.

Her parents told police they had already taken her, but King said that was not true. He added that none of the family arrested has cooperated with law enforcement in any way.

Miyas parents and grandfather will be in Daviess County court today for their preliminary hearings on drug charges.

Someone knows what happened to this baby, Trooper King said Tuesday.

He said they still have hope to find Miya alive and well, but cautioned: The longer this goes, the more grim of an outcome this will be.

Kentucky State Police are urging anyone with information regarding the missing child to contact police at 270-826-3312.
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An off-duty security guard has been charged with murder after authorities say he stopped three teens outside a store near Seattle because they had what he believed was a firearm, but it was actually an airsoft pistol.

King County prosecutors charged Aaron Brown Myers on Monday with second-degree murder in the death of 17-year-old Hazrat Ali Rohani outside a Big 5 Sporting Goods Store in Renton, Washington. Myers, 51, also faces a second-degree assault charge after authorities say he held another teen at gunpoint.

Myers is in King County jail on a $2 million bail. Phone and email messages left for his lawyer, Michelle Scudder, were not immediately returned. His preliminary hearing is scheduled for June 24 in Kent, Washington.

The three teens were headed into the store at about 7:30 p.m. on June 5 to return a malfunctioning airsoft gun, two of them told police later. They walked in front of Myers, who later told police that he had just been on duty as "licensed and armed security and was sitting in his vehicle waiting to pick up his son from a martial arts class. It's unclear where Myers works as a security guard.

A small memorial is seen outside a Big 5 Sporting Goods store after 17-year-old Hazrat Ali Rohani was shot and killed

Myers told police that he noticed one teen carrying what he believed was a Glock handgun, and thought he saw another teen put a firearm into his waistband. Thinking he needed to stop an armed robbery, Myers told police that he didn't have time to call 911, and instead got out of the car with his gun pointed at the teens.

Myers said he had a duty to intervene, prosecutors said.

As Myers approached, one of the teens moved to the side and the other two stopped, raised their hands and one placed the airsoft gun on the sidewalk, telling Myers numerous times that it's a BB gun, not a firearm.

Myers then pushed one of the boys on to the sidewalk and straddled him while holding the back of his jacket, according to the probable cause document filed by Renton police. Myers continued to point his firearm at Rohani as he held his hands out in front of him, showing Myers that they were empty, police said.

The defendant failed to take the obvious step of securing the toy gun, rather than assaulting the teen who had carried it, King County Senior Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Lauren Burke said in a court filing.

Rohani started to back away and turned slightly to the left and Myers opened fire, hitting the teen once in the right side and six times in the back. Video shows Rohani clutching his abdomen as he falls to the ground, calling out for his mother. The other teen ran for cover and called 911.

This image made from a video provided by KOMO News shows police markers at the scene

Rohani died at the scene and police immediately took Myers into custody.

Although Myers doesn't have a criminal history or outstanding warrants, prosecutors said the substantial prison sentence he could face make him a flight risk, so they asked for a $2 million bail.

Only a high bail, electronic home detention, and surrender of all firearms will protect the community from an untrained civilian who believes he has a duty to shoot people who have not hurt anyone, Burke said.

Myers had tried to intervene in what he thought was a crime in March 2022, police said. He called 911 and told police that he saw a person on a bicycle pointing a gun at people, police said. He followed the person to a store until police arrived. Officers determined the person did not have a gun and posed no threat, police said.

In this case 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 the defendant taking the life of 17-year-old Rohani, Burke said.
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Wade Wilson has been convicted of murdering two Florida women who were brutally strangled just hours apart.

The Cape Coral jury deliberated for just two hours and seven minutes before reaching the verdict on Wednesday. Wilson appeared to swallow back tears as he was found guilty on all counts.

Jurors will now be tasked with making a recommendation whether Wilson will face the death penalty or life in prison without parole. Judge Nick Thompson will then make the final decision. The sentencing phase is set to begin on June 20.

Wilson, 30, who was allowed to wear makeup in court to cover the swastika tattoos on his face, refused to testify in his double-murder trial, which began in Cape Coral two weeks ago.

In closing arguments on Wednesday, the prosecution said Wilson killed Kristine Melton, 35, and Diane Ruiz, 43, on October 7, 2019, for the sake of killing.

This case was about killing for the sake of the killing, Assistant State Attorney Andreas Gardiner told the court. Strangulation is the epitome of life slipping through someones hands.

Melton was found dead in her Cape Coral home. She was tied and wrapped. Her skin had turned blue and she had broken fingernails.

He had driven over her repeatedly and tried to make her look like spaghetti, Gardiner said.

Ruiz was found dead in an empty lot on the same day, police said. Both had been strangled.

Both of them died on October 7 of 2019. Both of them had been strangled and both of them were forever silenced. The last person they encountered was Mr. Wade Wilson, Gardiner said.

The prosecution said Wilson was still bragging about the murders to police three days later and claimed his biggest concern was getting a burger and fries, while Diane Ruiz lay in the field, with bugs eating face, making her unrecognizable.

Wilsons defense attorney Lee Hollander did not deny that his client was guilty of the killings, but argued there was no premeditation and argued that Wilson was under the influence of drugs at the time.

We are not claiming that he didnt do it, Hollander said. I suspect the drugs.

He asked the jury to consider convicting Wilson on the second-degree murder charge.

Im not arguing insanity, Im arguing the state is claiming premeditation, Im arguing hes whacked out of his mind for any of this, Hollander added.

Wilsons trial has been five years in the making after being plagued with a slew of delays, including the death of his first attorney, and Wilsons brief escape from a holding jail cell.

Wilson previously denied killing the women in an interview with NBC2. But at his trial, his biological father Steven Testasecca took the stand and testified that his son not only confessed to the crimes in detail but also bragged about them.

He said Im a killerthere are two people gone who are not coming back, Testasecca told the court.

He said that he pulled her out of the car and realized she was still breathing. He said he got back in the car and ran her over until she looked like spaghetti.

Wilson was indicted on the murder charges in November 2019. He has been at the Lee County Jail since October 2019.

He now could face the death penalty.

Juries in Florida only need eight out of 10 members to recommend the death penalty.
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A 56-year-old man and father-to-12 has died after his body was discovered inside of a fertilizer truck he was cleaning.

According to the Tri-City Herald, Viktor Voloshin was using a hose to clean a trailer in Pasco, Washington, when he either fell inside or climbed in.

Its not known when the accident might have happened, Mike Harris, Franklin County Fire District 3 Chief, told the newspaper. Voloshin was spotted on security cameras around 4.15pm. He was standing on a ladder and spraying the inside of the tanker.

About 45 minutes later, someone noticed that he was missing and alerted authorities. He was found inside the tanker and it became apparent that the man had died. Firefighters were able to recover the mans body.

But investigators dont know whether he fell in or climbed in voluntarily before his death.

Viktor Voloshin, 56, and his wife, in an undated photo posted on GoFundMe. Voloshin, a father of 12 kids, died while cleaning out a fertilizer truck. ( GoFundMe )

He had been hauling chemicals that emit a toxic gas. However, its unknown if the substance played a role in his death.

The Franklin County Sheriffs Department has said they do not believe there was foul play in his death.

Family members of the man believe that he may have crawled inside, they told the outlet. Relatives launched a GoFundMe to help support the mans wife and children. He leaves behind 12 children and 16 grandchildren.

Six of the mans children continue to live at home with his wife. The fundraising site described him as the friendliest person in the room and The best father we could ever ask for.
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Florida schools are making headlines once again after a local school board banned a book about banning books.

Ban This Book by Alan Gratz tells the story of a fictional fourth grader who runs a secret banned book library out of her locker as her school takes titles off the shelves. Now, Gratzs book has met the same fate in the Indian River County School District  thanks to a local Moms for Liberty leader.

Moms for Liberty is an anti-government extremist organization that promotes anti-student inclusion activities and self-identifies as part of the modern parental rights movement, according to the Southern Poverty Law Center.

Jennifer Pippin, president of the local Moms for Liberty chapter, led the ironic charge against the book, The Tallahassee Democrat reports.

Opponents of the book said it was inappropriate for children because it teaches rebellion of school board authority, according to the Democrat. Pippin told The Independent she believes the book promotes other banned books she says contain sexual content. As a result, Pippin and her allies argue that Ban This Book has no place in schools either.

Jennifer Pippin, president of the local Moms for Liberty chapter, pictured with several books. She advocated to ban Ban This Book by Alan Gratz in the Indian River County School District ( AFP via Getty Images )

But several others on the board and in the community disagree with that interpretation.

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, according to the Democrat.

BooksLooks.org, a website with ties to Moms for Liberty that is often cited by those pushing to ban books, even takes a mild view of the story, rating it only one out of five for inappropriateness. The site lists its main concern as encourages activism of young children.

They banned the book because it talks about the books that they have banned and because it talks about book banning, Gratz told USA Today. It feels like they know exactly what theyre doing and theyre somewhat ashamed of what theyre doing and they dont want a book on the shelves that calls them out.

The book was removed in a 3-2 vote by the Indian River County School Board last month. The tie-breaking vote came from board member Kevin McDonald, who was recently appointed by Governor Ron DeSantis.

But earlier this year, even DeSantis admitted that book bans in his state had gone too far.

In 2022, he signed the curriculum transparency law which enabled any state resident to challenge the books available to students and led to countless bans. Then, in April, he signed a new law limiting the number of challenges a resident without children can bring forward to one per month.

You have some people who are taking the curriculum transparency, and they are trying to weaponize that for political purposes, DeSantis said earlier this year. That involves objecting to normal books, like some of the books that I saw in the teachers lounge, these classic books.

The original 2022 law, many experts have argued, was fueled by right-wing activists and targeted the LGBTQ+ community, as well as limited discussion about Black history.

The Independent has contacted the Indian River County School District for comment.
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Eight people with ties to ISIS, who crossed the US southern border last year have been arrested in Los Angeles, Philadelphia, and New York City, according to officials.

The suspects, from Tajikistan, were allowed to enter the country last year after being vetted. No national security risks were detected at the time, a source close to the investigation told ABC News.

In recent weeks authorities uncovered derogatory information which indicated the individuals had links to the terrorist group.

They were searched for and arrested, the source told the outlet. Despite this, authorities are still developing evidence to bring terrorism charges, which will result in the suspects being deported.

They are now being detained in ICE custody.

"Over the last few days, ICE agents arrested several non-citizens pursuant to immigration authorities," the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security said in a statement.

Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas said last month that a new proposed rulemaking on the border would help safeguard the US ( Getty Images )

"The actions were carried out in close coordination with the FBIs Joint Terrorism Task Forces. The individuals arrested are detained in ICE custody pending removal proceedings.

"As the FBI and DHS have recently described in public and partner bulletins, the U.S. has been in a heightened threat environment.

The FBI and DHS will continue working around the clock with our partners to identify, investigate, and disrupt potential threats to national security.

Last month, the DHS, through the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) that would allow statutory bars to asylum to be applied much earlier in the process.

It allows DHS to expeditiously remove individuals who pose a threat to the United States much sooner than previously with the intention of better safeguarding the security of our border and the country.

Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas said at the time: The proposed rule we have published today is yet another step in our ongoing efforts to ensure the safety of the American public by more quickly identifying and removing those individuals who present a security risk and have no legal basis to remain here.
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Florida prosecutors want the man accused of murdering his girlfriends 13-year-old daughter to face the death penalty if convicted.

Stephan Sterns is accused of killing Madeline Maddie Soto, earlier this year. The teenagers body was found several days after her mother, Jenn Soto, and Sterns reported her missing.

They said she failed to come home on February 26. The pair said the child was dropped off near her school that morning but never made it to class.

Sterns is currently facing more than 60 charges in relation to the girls death. Hes previously been charged with the girls murder, capital sexual battery, lewd or lascivious molestation, and unlawful possession of child sexual abuse materials.

Her mother told police that Maddie wanted to be dropped off a block from the school because she was embarrassed by Sterns car. Sterns claimed that she looked just as she did on other mornings when she was dropped off.

However, police think the girl was killed a day before school began.

Stephan Sterns is facing 60 new child sexual abuse charges in relation to Madeline Sotos case. Prosecutors announced last week that they intend to seek the death penalty ( Osceola County Sheriff's Office )

The Osceola County Sheriffs Office arrested Sterns on February 28 after they discovered disturbing images on his phone, which he allegedly tried to delete. Authorities found her body on March 1 near Hickory Tree Road in Osceola County.

Police said the photos were criminal and sexual in nature.

Three days later, authorities obtained another arrest warrant for Sterns claiming that he had been sexually abusing the child since 2022.

Madeline Soto was found dead four days after she disappeared ( Supplied )

Prosecutors believe that they can prove the following aggravating circumstances in the case that would allow them to put the death penalty on the table: Sterns had previously been convicted of another capital felony involving the use or threat of violence, the felony was committed while he was engaged in an attempt to commit aggravated child abuse, the felony was heinous, atrocious or cruel and the victim was vulnerable due to her age.

A grand jury indicted Sterns on a charge of first-degree murder in April. A pre-trial hearing in the case has been set for July 10 and the trial is scheduled for July 16.
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Honolulu police have suggested beachgoers to bring valuables with them into the ocean in a waterproof bag.

The force attracted a lot of attention on social media after they issued the warning to those holidaying in Hawaii.

For those enjoying the beach, dont leave valuables unattended on the sand. Instead, use a waterproof bag that you can take into the water with you, The Honolulu Police Department said.

But the police and the Visitor Aloha Society of Hawaii, a nonprofit organization that helps tourists who become victims of crime or other problems, also have even more basic advice: Dont take your valuables to the beach at all. Instead, they say, leave them at the place you are staying.

The number of thefts in Honolulu generally, and Waikiki in particular, were lower last year than in 2022 and 2021, but locals still have some tips on how to avoid becoming a theft victim on Hawaii's famous beaches.

Jessica Lani Rich, CEO of the Visitor Aloha Society of Hawaii, recommends only bringing with you what you need for the day. For example, just take $20 so your vacation isn't ruined if you lose it.

In the past, she helped a South Carolina woman who took all her jewelry with her to the beach and then had it stolen. Some Japanese visitors brought all their cash with them. One man buried his wallet in the sand for safekeeping with the intention of digging it back up later but was never able to find it, even after volunteers from Rich's group helped him look.

You dont need to bring ... thousands of dollars in cash," she said. You dont need to bring all of your credit cards.

Rich recommends visitors use their hotel safe for valuables and always have one member of their party stay with their belongings at the beach.

Never leave your valuables unattended on the beach," Rich said. Tucking it under a towel, putting it in your tennis shoe is not as safe.

People sit on Waikiki Beach in Honolulu, May 23, 2022 ( Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. )

Waikiki convenience stores sell waterproof pouches that can hold a cellphone and other items. Some have lanyards so you can wear them around your neck.

If you leave bags in your car, make sure you don't leave them anywhere visible, Rich said.

Earlier this month, the society helped a woman who left her purse in her front passenger seat. Thieves smashed the car window and ran off with it.

In another case, a woman from Los Angeles who stopped to see turtles at Laniakea Beach on Oahu's North Shore left her purse on the front seat of an open convertible. It was stolen.

If you put your purse or bag in your car trunk, do it before you arrive at the beach.

Do not do it at the location of where youre going to park your car because people are watching, Rich said.

Maj. James Slayter, the Honolulu Police Departments officer in charge of the tourist mecca of Waikiki, reminds people to roll up their windows and lock their doors.

Its important to just take a lot of proactive measures to prevent easy crimes of opportunity from occurring, he said.

FILE - People sit on Waikiki Beach in Honolulu, Aug. 24, 2021 ( Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. )

Mindy Pennybacker, a surfer and author of Surfing Sisterhood Hawaii: Wahine Reclaiming the Waves, said she puts her car key, driver's license, credit card and sunblock in a plastic bag and zips the bag inside a small pocket of her surf shorts. A loop inside the pocket also secures the key.

She can do this because her key is an older type she inserts directly into a car door and ignition, not an electronic key that could get damaged by saltwater, she said.

She always shops for wetsuits or shorts that have a well-fastening pocket.

You really cant leave anything in the car at all as far as I can tell. Anywhere, by any beach, Pennybacker said.

She also leaves her cellphone at home.

Its just not worth it, she said.

How safe is Hawaii?

Honolulu is Hawaii's biggest city with a metropolitan area  all on the island of Oahu  of nearly 1 million. It has crime like many other places. But those who become crime victims are a small share of the nearly 10 million visitors who travel to the islands each year.

Honolulu Police Department data show there were 1,927 instances of theft in Waikiki last year, down from 2,276 in 2022 and 2,167 in 2021.

For all of Oahu, theft cases dropped 23% and 7.1% during the same periods.

Slayter, the police major, said the city is working with the Waikiki Business Improvement District nonprofit organization to install lockers at some beaches to give visitors another option to store their belongings.

It's easy to become complacent. Rich and Slayter both say some travelers are lulled into thinking that Hawaii is so beautiful that nothing bad could happen to them here. Rich once even helped a law enforcement officer visiting from Virginia whose official ID was snatched when he and his wife went swimming and left their belongings on the sand.

Many theft victims tell Rich they never thought they'd be the ones to be preyed upon.

Hawaii is a safe place," she said, but we also advise that visitors also use common sense when going to the beach.
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Southern Baptists have voted to expel a historic Virginia congregation from its ranks after it affirmed that women can serve in any pastoral role, including as senior pastor.

Delegates to the Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting voted 6,759 to 563 on Tuesday to oust First Baptist Church of Alexandria after the denominations credentials committee deemed the church to be not in friendly cooperation on the grounds that it conflicts with the Baptist Faith and Message.

That statement of Southern Baptist doctrine declares that only men are qualified for the role of pastor.

We find no joy in making this recommendation, but have formed the opinion that the churchs egalitarian beliefs regarding the office of pastor do not closely identify with the conventions adopted statement of faith, said Jonathan Sams, chair of the credentials committee.

Two congregations, including a California megachurch, were expelled last year from the convention for the same reason.

The Alexandria church, which has been involved in the nations largest Protestant denomination since its 19th century founding and has contributed millions toward denominational causes, is currently led by a man, Robert Stephens, but the church has made clear it believes women can serve as senior pastors, too.

Stephens said his church has had women in ministry for more than 44 years and wants to continue cooperating with Southern Baptists who disagreed on this issue.

First Alexandria stands before you today as a testament that we can maintain a fruitful partnership with churches that take a different stance on women in ministry, he said. We at First Baptist are advancing the gospel, and we hope that we will continue to work alongside you all.

He continued: This is a sad moment for us, but we also recognize that God has a future for First Baptist Church.

We have good news to share with the world, and we will keep doing that, added Kim Eskridge, the pastor for children and women.

Following the vote, Southern Baptist held a vote to enshrine a ban on churches with any women pastors in the organizations constitution. On Wednesday, delegates voted to reject the ban.

Early Tuesday, a small group of women stood outside the Indiana Convention Center in a low-key demonstration in support of women in ministry.

I hope that people know women have equal value and can be pastors, said the Rev Meredith Stone, executive director of Baptist Women in Ministry.

Among the women was Christa Brown, who has long advocated for fellow survivors of sexual abuse in Southern Baptist churches and criticized the denominations resistance to reforms, an effort she has chronicled in a new memoir, Baptistland.

She said that there is a direct connection between issues of abuse and the equality of women in ministry. When you squash some people, it sets up a lot more people to be squashed, she said.

The SBC recently settled a high profile lawsuits that accused a former leader of sexual assault,

The Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) is a collection of loosely affiliated member churches, boasting just under 15 million members, and is dominated by white members, who are usually deeply socially conservative. The convention has often been a powerful tool for rightwing organizing in recent years, especially on issues around abortion.
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Oklahomas highest court has rejected a decades-in-the-making lawsuit from a racist massacres two remaining survivors demanding justice in its ongoing aftermath.

More than 100 years after a white mob destroyed a bustling Black neighborhood, killed dozens of people and left hundreds of others homeless, the Oklahoma Supreme Court on Wednesday upheld a lower courts decision to dismiss the challenge.

The lawsuit from Lessie Benningfield Randle, 109, and Viola Ford Fletcher, 110  who were small children during the Tulsa Race Massacre  continued on even after the death of Fletchers brother, Hughes Van Ellis, who was also a plaintiff before dying at age 102 last year.

On May 31, 1921, in Tulsas thriving Black Wall Street of Greenwood, an armed white mob deputized by law enforcement fired indiscriminately on Black Americans in the street.

According to witness accounts and limited news coverage of the attack, planes dropped flaming turpentine-soaked rags and dynamite, and the bodies of Black victims were thrown into the Arkansas River or into mass graves. Survivors were rounded up at gunpoint and detained in internment camps.

The mob torched and looted homes and businesses, including restaurants, hotels, theaters and a newspapers office. A truck mounted with a machine gun fired on Mount Zion Baptist Church before it was burned to the ground.

No one was ever charged with a crime.

Tulsa Race Massacre survivors Lessie Benningfield Randle, Viola Fletcher, and Hughes Van Ellis in 2021. Van Ellis died in 2023. A lawsuit over the Tulsa Race Massacre has been tossed by the Oklahoma Supreme Court i sug ( Getty Images )

A lawsuit, targeting Oklahomas public nuisance law, argued the massacres impact continues to be felt decades later in the citys enduring racial disparities, economic inequalities and in the trauma among survivors and their descendants.

The lawsuit sought a detailed accounting of the property and wealth lost or stolen in the massacre, the construction of a hospital in north Tulsa, and the creation of a victims compensation fund, among other demands.

The lawsuit named Tulsa County Sheriffs Office, Tulsas Chamber of Commerce, county commissioners and the Oklahoma Military Department as defendants.

In the state supreme courts decision, justices noted that the plaintiffs grievances are legitimate but they do not fall within the scope of our states public nuisance statute.

And even accepting as true plaintiffs claim that the lingering economic and social consequences of the massacre still, to some extent, endanger the comfort and repose of the Greenwood and North Tulsa communities, those lingering consequences over [100] years later, standing alone, do not constitute a public nuisance, as that term has been construed by this court, the justices wrote.

The continuing blight alleged within the Greenwood community born out of the massacre implicates generational-societal inequities that can only be resolved by policymakers  not the courts, they added.

National guardsmen carry injured and wounded men in the aftermath of the Tulsa race massacre in 2021. ( Getty Images )

In 2021, recognizing the 100th anniversary of the attack, Tulsa Mayor GT Bynum issued an apology on behalf of the city, while millions of dollars were raised to commemorate the massacre and open a community center.

The plaintiffs had also accused city officials of misappropriating their images to promote the massacres centennial.

They havent honored anything, civil rights attorney Damario Solomon-Simmons told The Independent last year. They commercially capitalized off the massacre to create a tourism district, raised 30-plus million dollars that benefits the white power elite here in Tulsa. Thats what this has been all about.

Plaintiffs vowed to appeal up to the state supreme court after a judge dismissed the complaint last year.

We will not go quietly, survivors said in a statement read by Solomon-Simmons at the time. We will continue to fight until our last breath. Like so many Black Americans, we carry the weight of intergenerational racial trauma, day in and day out.

The state supreme court heard arguments in their appeal on April 2.

In a joint statement before that hearing, Randle and Fletcher said: We are grateful that their now-weary bodies have held on long enough to witness an America, and an Oklahoma, that provides race massacre survivors with the opportunity to access the legal system.

Lawyers for the plaintiffs said in a statement to The Independent on Wednesday that they should be entitled to a trial.

Yet the Court held that Mother Randle and Mother Fletcher have asked the Court to decide a political question that is beyond the purview of the Court, they said. Incredibly, during the extensive oral argument the Supreme Court held on the appeal, not a single member of the nine-member Court asked a question about this political question theory. It is not a political question simply because the suit seeks to remedy wrongful acts perpetrated by a white mob against Black people  the court system is the very place where such harms are meant to be remedied.

Lawyers said they are calling on the US Department of Justice to investigate the massacre, which remains a vivid memory for the plaintiffs, who are celebrating their 110th birthdays this year. Time is of the essence for this investigation to begin, they wrote.
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A coalition of civil rights groups is suing President Joe Bidens administration to block an executive order that aims to ban people seeking asylum from crossing the US-Mexico border.

The ACLU and five other immigrants rights groups filed a federal lawsuit in Washington, DC, Wednesday on behalf of two Texas-based groups  Las Americas Immigrant Advocacy Center and the Refugee and Immigrant Center for Education and Legal Services  after the president signed the order earlier this month.

The lawsuit argues the order creates a narrow path to asylum that flies in the face of federal law and mirrors a similar illegal order under former President Donald Trump that was rejected by the courts.

We were left with no alternative but to sue, Lee Gelernt, deputy director of the ACLUs Immigrants Rights Project, said in a statement.

The administration lacks unilateral authority to override Congress and bar asylum based on how one enters the country, a point the courts made crystal clear when the Trump administration unsuccessfully tried a near-identical ban, he added.

US border patrol agents lead a group of migrants seeking asylum towards a van to be transported and processed near Dulzura, California on June 5. Civil rights groups sued the Biden administration on June 12 to block an executive order that significantly limits asylum claims. ( AP )

Bidens plan will effectively shut down asylum claims once the number of daily border encounters reaches 2,500 at ports of entry, and will only reopen once those daily encounters decline to 1,500. It remains unclear whether those terms have kicked in since the order was put in place earlier this month.

Critics have warned that such an action upends international guarantees that protect asylum rights for people on US soil, and will endanger the lives of thousands of people fleeing violence, instability and corruption below the southern border.

Around the world, people are fleeing persecution and torture at higher rates than ever before, according to National Immigrant Justice Center litigation director Keren Zwick.

Its shameful that the US government has chosen to respond by shutting out access to asylum to those who come to our border in need.

The lawsuit names six federal agencies and six officials as defendants, including US Attorney General Merrick Garland and Homeland Security Director Alejandro Mayorkas.

President Joe Biden delivers remarks on an executive order limiting asylum in the East Room of the White House on June 4. ( Getty Images )

As The Independent previously reported, Bidens order invokes Section 212(f) of the 1952 Immigration and Nationality Act, which allows the president to suspend immigration for anyone determined to be detrimental to the interests of the United States  the same authority that Trump used to unilaterally ban immigrants from majority-Muslim countries, which was later struck down in court.

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the United Nations Refugee Convention have affirmed asylum rights for people fleeing persecution and violence.

In the US, a person granted asylum is legally allowed to remain in the country without fear of deportation, and qualifies for legal work with potential pathways to permanent legal status. Those claims can only be made at the US border or within the US.

The Refugee Act of 1980 enshrined that commitment in law, and the executive officer has never been allowed to categorically ban asylum based on where a noncitizen enters the country, according to the lawsuit.

Bidens order also aims to speed migrants through fast-tracked deportation proceedings, which critics fear will expose already vulnerable people who are seeking protection into volatile and violent circumstances on the southern border.

That screening policy will systematically lead to the refoulement of people seeking protection from persecution, torture, and death, according to the lawsuit.
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Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has said the Democratic reaction to the Hunter Biden verdict demonstrates that the party is willing to accept negative legal outcomes, unlike their Republican counterparts.

The New York congresswoman, who is known for her liberal stance and activism, blasted previous accusations of a two-tiered justice system from the GOP.

Her statement comes after a jury found the presidents son guilty on felony gun charges. The decision marks the first time a sitting presidents child has been found guilty of a crime. It also comes weeks after Donald Trump was found guilty of 34 felonies for hush money payments to a porn star. Trumps conviction caused right-wing backers to lash out and blasted the justice system.

Speaking to CNN, Ocasio Cortez said the party was not interested in contesting the results of legal proceedings.

What would Republicans point to as a two-tiered system of justice when the presidents son was just convicted of a crime? she said.

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has said Democratic reaction to the Hunter Biden verdict demonstrates the party is willing to accept negative legal outcomes, unlike their Republican counterparts ( EPA )

If anything, this shows the difference that Democrats are willing to accept when our justice system works as functions and as designs, she said.

Were not here contesting the results. Were not here trying to defund the FBI or the Department of Justice because we dont like the outcome of a given trial. We respect the judicial process.

Hunter Biden was found guilty of three counts in his gun case and now faces 25 years in prison. In Joe Bidens statement after the verdict, the president said: 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.

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.
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Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg is set to testify before a Republican-controlled House committee one day after Donald Trump is scheduled for sentencing on 34 felony convictions that were secured by Braggs office.

A spokesperson for the district attorneys office confirmed to The Independent Tuesday that Bragg and Assistant District Attorney Matthew Colangelo have agreed to voluntarily appear before the House Select Subcommittee on the Weaponization of the Federal Government on July 12.

The Manhattan DAs Office is proud to play a crucial role in upholding and enforcing the rule of law for the people of New York, a spokesperson for the office said in a statement shared with The Independent.

Trump  who briefly sat for a virtual pre-sentencing interview with a probation officer on Monday  faces up to four years in prison, fines, probation, or some other sentence when he appears before Justice Juan Merchan on July 11.

Colangelo, a former federal prosecutor with the Department of Justice, joined the district attorneys office in 2022 and was on the team that tried the case against the former president.

The two prosecutors are expected to face a volatile panel of Republican lawmakers, led by chair Jim Jordan, who have amplified baseless allegations that the case in New York was under the direction of President Joe Biden as part of a politically motivated scheme to keep Trump away from the White House.

Alvin Bragg and Matthew Colangelo, right, speak to reporters in Manhattan on May 30. They are set to testify to Congress a day after Donald Trump is sentenced in his New York hush money case. ( REUTERS )

In a recent letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland, Jordan demanded documents from the office given the perception that the Justice Department is assisting in Braggs politicized prosecution.

Jordan also convened a so-called field hearing in downtown Manhattan last year after Trumps indictment to paint Braggs office as pro-crime and anti-victim.

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, the DAs spokesperson added on Tuesday.

Nonetheless, we respect our government institutions and plan to appear voluntarily before the subcommittee after sentencing.

On Thursday, the GOP-controlled House Judiciary Committee is set to also hold a hearing to examine Alvin Braggs political prosecution of President Trump.

That panel will include Missouris Republican Attorney General Andrew Bailey, Trumps former Federal Election Commission chair Trey Trainor and conservative lawyer Elizabeth Price Foley.

A letter to Jordan from Assistant Attorney General Carlos Uriarte on Tuesday refuted his allegations that Colangelo was dispatched to Manhattan to prosecute the Trump case, adding that any 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 said there is no basis for GOP-fueled accusations of collusion between the Justice Department and Manhattan prosecutors, and that the results of a comprehensive search of department messages did not find any evidence of correspondence regarding any investigation or prosecution of the former president.

This is unsurprising, he wrote. Our extraordinary efforts to respond to your speculation should put it to rest.

House Committee Chair Jim Jordan speaks during a hearing on the US Department of Justice on June 4. ( AP )

Garland also wrote a rare op-ed published in The Washington Post on Tuesday, warning against an escalation of attacks that go far beyond public scrutiny, criticism, and legitimate and necessary oversight from Republicans.

The attorney general wrote that such attacks are baseless, personal and dangerous and have directly inspired threats of violence against his departments personnel, and he condemned attacks in the form of conspiracy theories crafted and spread for the purpose of undermining public trust in the judicial process itself.

Manhattan voters overwhelmingly elected Bragg as New York Countys district attorney in 2021.

In 2022, he oversaw the conviction of the Trump Organization on charges stemming from a decades-long tax fraud scheme. Trump was not charged in that case. A grand jury indicted the former president in March 2023.

Colangelo delivered opening statements in Trumps criminal trial and questioned several witnesses, including Trumps former White House aide Hope Hicks.
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Almost half of all American adults approve of the conviction of former President Donald Trump, an AP-NORC poll shows.

Trump became the first former US president to be convicted of felony charges after he was found guilty on 34 counts of falsifying business records in connection to a hush money payment to adult actor Stormy Daniels who alleged she had an affair with Trump in 2006. The payment was made shortly before the 2016 election in the wake of the Access Hollywood tape in which Trump bragged about sexually assaulting women.

Forty-eight percent approve of the conviction, according to the poll, while 29 percent disapprove and 21 percent say they have no opinion.

Meanwhile, among Democrats, the number of those who approve shot up to 85 percent, with five percent disapproving.

Among Republicans, 61 percent disapprove of the conviction and 15 percent approve. Thirty-two percent of independents approve, 18 percent disapprove and 48 percent have no opinion, according to the poll.

Overall, 51 percent believe the conviction was motivated by politics, while 48 percent think it wasnt. Theres a clear partisan divide, with 77 percent of Democrats saying it wasnt motivated by politics but 83 percent of Republicans saying it was.

Forty-eight percent of US adults approve of Trumps conviction, a new poll reveals ( Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. )

In April last year, 86 percent of Republicans said Trumps indictment at the time was motivated by politics while 66 percent of Democrats said it was not.

Survey respondents were more likely to argue that the conviction benefitted the campaign of President Joe Biden than the Trump campaign. Theres not much agreement on whether the conviction of a former president is good for American democracy or the country in general. Forty percent said it benefits the Biden campaign while 28 percent said the same for Trump.

As much as 80 percent said theyve read or heard something about the conviction, which includes 43 percent who said theyve read or heard a lot. Only four percent said theyve heard nothing at all. Both Democrats and Republicans are more likely to have heard a lot about the conviction compared to independents.

Bidens and Trumps favorability ratings are almost identical, both reach a 40 percent favorable rating while 57 percent have an unfavorable view of Biden and 56 percent have an unfavorable view of Trump.

Thirty-seven percent have a favorable view of independent candidate and conspiracy theorist Robert F Kennedy Jr. and 36 percent have an unfavorable view of him.

Among Democrats, 70 percent say they have a favorable view of Biden, while 73 percent of Republicans have a favorable view of Trump.

Vice President Kamala Harris has a favorable rating of 39 to 49 percent overall, while 71 percent of Democrats have a favorable view of her.

Biden is slightly more popular with the opposing party than Trump, with 12 percent of Republicans holding a favorable view of the president. Nine percent of Democrats have a favorable view of Trump.

More Republicans see Kennedy favorably  46 percent have a positive view compared to 37 percent of Democrats. Kennedy is the only candidate who appears to have room to grow as far more people say they dont know enough about him to have an opinion. Views of Biden and Trump appear mostly set and major movement seems unlikely.
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The House of Representatives has voted to hold US Attorney General Merrick Garland in contempt of Congress, in Republicans latest attempts to salvage their so far unsuccessful investigations into President Joe Biden and his allies.

The House voted 216 to 207, with only Representative David Joyce of Ohio joining the Democrats to oppose the contempt vote.

The resolution specifically holds Garland in contempt of Congress for refusing to comply with a congressional subpoena that would have compelled him to turn over audio recordings Biden conducted with former special counsel Robert Hur.

Democrats have charged that Republicans want to use the audio recordings for political purposes and to shame Biden after the special counsel report said that the president, 81, is an elderly man with poor memory.

House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer told The Independent that the vote for contempt was not political.

Republicans have failed to keep their conference on message in their investigation of the Biden White House. Last month, the House Oversight Committee conducted a markup of the resolution that devolved into a shouting match after Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene mocked Democratic Representative Jasmine Crockett for her fake eyelashes. Crockett hit back that Greene had a bleach blonde bad-built butch body in a response that went viral.

Garland criticized the vote in a statement on Wednesday.

It is deeply disappointing that this House of Representatives has turned a serious congressional authority into a partisan weapon, he said. Todays vote disregards the constitutional separation of powers, the Justice Departments need to protect its investigations, and the substantial amount of information we have provided to the Committees.

Republicans voted overwhelmingly late last year to launch an impeachment inquiry at the behest of former president Donald Trump.

They're all part of a cult and they just try to please the leader of the cult Donald Trump, sais Representative Jim McGovern, the top Democrat on the House Rules Committee. McGovern noted that Republicans were hypocritical because Republican Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan did not comply with a congressional subpoena related to the January 6 hearing.

Comer denied that the vote had anything to do with Trumps visit.

The Democrats continue to prove they're not serious about oversight or accountability, he told The Independent.

But so far, the investigation has failed to gain much traction, and resolutions to impeach the president have not come up.

They can't impeach Joe Biden so they keep bringing up other people to try to please their base, Representative Jared Moskowitz of Florida told The Independent.

Garland is now the second attorney general to face a full House vote to be held in contempt of Congress. In 2012, the House voted 255 to 67 to hold Eric Holder in contempt of Congress. In 1998, the House Oversight Committee voted to hold Janet Reno in contempt of Congress.

The move is just the most recent effort to reprimand officials in the Biden administration. In February the House voted to impeach Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas after an initial failed vote. Similarly, last week, the House Select Committee on the Coronavirus Pandemic brought former National Institute of Allergies and Infectious Diseases director Anthony Fauci before the House, when they repeatedly berated him and Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene said he deserved to be in prison.
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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.
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South Carolina Rep Nancy Mace is once again the victory of a Republican primary election against an opponent backed by a prominent foe.

The congresswoman won the Republican primary in South Carolinas 1st congressional district over challengers Catherine Templeton and William Young; as votes came in, Mace pulled to an early lead and was declared the victor early on Tuesday evening.

Her victory comes after former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy targeted her as one of the eight Republicans responsible for kicking him out of the speakers chair last fall.

Maces defection, along with seven others, laid the groundwork for McCarthys downfall and eventual ouster from Congress less than a year after he took the job. The act was the first time a speaker has been removed in modern history.

McCarthy backed Templeton in her efforts to unseat the congresswoman but Mace managed to secure the dual endorsements of Donald Trump, de facto leader of the GOP, and Mike Johnson, McCarthys replacement as speaker of the House. As a result, her win in the Republican primary was anything but a surprise.

What was arguably more surprising was Maces ability to maintain those relationships, given her occasional troublemaking for the Republican caucus in the House, as well as the fact that she was forced to run against Trumps endorsed candidate, Katie Arrington, in the first district in 2022.

Since then, she has repaired her ties with Trumpworld, a prospect made easier by the fact that she declined to criticize the ex-president even after he backed her opponent.

In an interview with NBC News, Mace made clear that she didnt see McCarthys support for her opponent as based in any real policy differences.

Its about revenge, she said. Its also about honesty and integrity. And my vote to oust Kevin McCarthy was about trust.

Nancy Mace doubles down on Trump support despite sexual assault ruling

McCarthy, for his part, has denied being on a revenge tour but has made clear his opposition to the eight Republicans who voted to oust him.

Matt Gaetz, long viewed as the ringleader of the group, has faced the brunt of McCarthys anger  the former speaker has repeatedly insisted in interviews that the Florida congresswoman had sexual intercourse with underage girls, which Gaetz firmly denies. The Justice Department declined to bring charges against the congressman after investigating the matter.

In the case of Mace, McCarthy unleashed a scathing barrage against his one-time colleague in February when speaking with a gaggle of reporters.

I hope Nancy gets the help she needs, I really do, he said earlier this year while visiting Capitol Hill. I just hope she gets the help to straighten out her life. I mean, shes got a lot of challenges.

No one will stay working for her, he continued. You cant have somebody who just flips and flops based upon what TV station she gets put on. You want someone whos willing to work, and so I hope she gets that kind of help.
A 900-page plan drawn up by former Donald Trump aides and endorsed by a powerful right-wing think tank is giving the former president a roadmap for his second administration.

Project 2025  a blueprint for Trumps presidency spearheaded by the Heritage Foundation and more than a dozen former Trump administration officials  is essentially a wishlist for his administration with plans to expand his executive authority, replace civil servants with ideologically aligned appointees, crush abortion rights and impose an anti-immigrant agenda, among other policies.

At the Democratic National Convention on Wednesday, Democrats turned the conservative plan into a major target.

Using an oversized, printed-out hardcover version of the 900-page document, Saturday Night Lives Kenan Thompson used Project 2025 for a comedy bit.

"You ever seen a document that could kill a small animal and democracy at the same time? Here it is, Thompson asked, as the crowd roared with laughter.

Kenan Thompson: Did you ever see a book that could kill a small animal and end democracy at the same time? Here it is. These are the terms and conditions of a second trump presidency. If you vote for him, you vote all of this. pic.twitter.com/nuDv9lEKqP  Acyn (@Acyn) August 22, 2024

Vice President Kamala Harris, since taking over as the Democratic partys nominee on July 21, has made Project 2025 a direct focus of her campaign rhetoric.

[Trump] and his extreme Project 2025 agenda will weaken the middle class. We know we got to take that seriously, Harris said. Can you believe they put that thing in writing? Read it. Its 900 pages.

Meanwhile, the former president is desperately trying to distance himself from the plan, claiming that he knows nothing about it or who is behind it, despite its authors coming from Trumps White House and the GOPs close ties to the group that launched it.

At a rally in Michigan just one week after a 20-year-old gunman opened fire at a Trump event in Butler, Pennsylvania, killing one attendee and injuring two others while only slightly injuring the candidates right ear, Trump told the crowd: Some on the right, severe right, came up with this Project 25, I dont even know, some of them I know who they are, but theyre very, very conservative. Theyre sort of the opposite of the radical left.

Donald Trump holds a campaign rally in Las Vegas on June 9. Now, Democrats have created a task force to go against a think-tanks conservative road map if he returns to the White House. ( Getty Images )

You have the radical left and the radical right and they come up  I dont know what the hell it is, its Project 25, Trump went on, bungling the initiatives name. They read some of the things and they are extreme, theyre seriously extreme. But I dont know anything about it, I dont want to know anything about it.

Project 2025s core policy book Mandate for Leadership: The Conservative Promise outlines major changes across the federal government, from the White House to lesser-known agencies, with chapters written by former Trump officials. Further, many of Project 2025s policies are virtually identical to ones proposed by Trump.

As The Independent previously reported, the plan would gut checks and balances to give Trump unprecedented, concentrated executive authority over federal agencies. An incoming Trump administration would roll out a blitzkrieg of firings across federal agencies to open the door for an army of loyalists to weaponize the government against his rivals.

The plan recommends abolishing the US Department of Education, slashing funds for federal law enforcement agencies, and subverting agencies that regulate the airwaves and campaign financing to choke out dissent.

That consolidation of power would also insulate him against legal threats and usher in a wave of attacks against immigrants, reproductive healthcare and civil rights protections for LGBT+ people.

The plan also would revoke the federal governments approval of widely used abortion drugs, expand the nations nuclear footprint and restart nuclear weapons testing, and activate active-duty military to make arrests at the US-Mexico border, among other proposals.

House Democrats led by California Rep. Jared Huffman created a Stop Project 2025 Task Force to coordinate with members of Congress, pro-democracy and civil rights groups and impacted communities to coordinate on examining, highlighting, preempting, and counteracting this right-wing plot to undermine democracy.

Project 2025 is more than an idea, its a dystopian plot thats already in motion to dismantle our democratic institutions, abolish checks and balances, chip away at church-state separation, and impose a far-right agenda that infringes on basic liberties and violates public will, Huffman said in a statement on June 11.

Heritage Foundation president Kevin Roberts. ( AP )

This is an unprecedented embrace of extremism, fascism, and religious nationalism, orchestrated by the radical right and its dark money backers, he said. We need a coordinated strategy to save America and stop this coup before its too late.

Project 2025 was drafted by dozens of former Trump administration officials and other loyalists, nearly half of which are the recipients of dark money contributions from groups tied to conservative donor Leonard Leo, who helped usher in Trumps radical restructuring of the federal judiciary.

The plans overhaul of the federal government also poses threats to marriage equality and public school funding and could trample the wall of church-state separation and upend our democracy, according to Rachel Laser, president of Americans United for Separation of Church and State.

The nearly 1,000-page plan opens with a promise to eliminate abortion access, and abortion is mentioned nearly 200 times.

And their attacks dont stop with abortion, according to Karen Stone, vice president of public policy and government relations with Planned Parenthood Action Fund. Theyre also planning to restrict funding for birth control and other preventive care and attacking gender-affirming care and sex education.

The task force also will serve as a public messaging campaign as interest on Project 2025 surges on social media.

Members will hold public forums in the months leading up to Election Day. But the task force could also function as a key bulwark in Congress against Trumps agenda, if elected.

Democratic US Rep Jared Huffman is leading a task force against Project 2025s plans for Donald Trumps presidency. ( AP )

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, Heritage Foundation President Kevin Roberts said in a statement. The task force launched by House Democrats only underscores the Lefts fear of losing its grip on their authoritarian bureaucracy ... We will not give up and we will win.

Trump campaign advisers Susie Wiles and Chris LaCivita said last year that the any personnel lists, policy agendas, or government plans published anywhere are merely suggestions.

Efforts from outside groups like the Heritage Foundation are appreciated but do not speak for the campaign, they said.

In a statement denying connections to the campaign, the Heritage Foundation said the plan is merely a guideline for the next conservative president.

But it is ultimately up to that president, who we believe will be President Trump, to decide which recommendations to implement, the group said.

This story was initially published in June 2024 and has been updated with developments
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Steve Bannon, the former Trump aide and far-right podcaster who was recently sentenced to prison, is asking a judge to intervene and keep him out of jail so that he can fulfill his important role in the Trump campaign.

Bannon filed an emergency motion to the DC Circuit Court of Appeals on Tuesday, asking it to overturn a lower courts order for him to report to prison on July 1.

He has asked for more time to appeal his contempt of Congress conviction - up to the Supreme Court if necessary - and continue serving as a top advisor to Donald Trumps 2024 presidential campaign.

The government seeks to imprison Mr Bannon for the four-month period leading up to the November election, when millions of Americans look to him for information on important campaign issues, Bannons lawyer wrote.

Steve Bannon attends a court hearing for his contempt of Congress convictions on June 6, 2024 ( Getty Images )

Yet from prison, Mr Bannons ability to participate in the campaign and comment on important matters of policy would be drastically curtailed, if not eliminated.

Bannon has been ordered to report to prison on July 1 to serve his four-month sentence. In 2022, a jury found him guilty of contempt of Congress for refusing to comply with a subpoena from the House Select Committee investigating the January 6 riot at the US Capitol.

Over the last two years, the rightwing firebrand has managed to avoid jail time while appealing the conviction. In May, his conviction was upheld and last week, a federal judge granted prosecutors motion to reverse the stay on his sentence.

Bannon has raged against the decision, claiming he will use all legal avenues available to appeal his conviction, including taking his case to the Supreme Court.

Theres not a prison built or jail built that will shut me up, Bannon said last week.

The former Trump administration advisor has baselessly claimed that his sentence is about shutting down the MAGA movement and shutting down President Trump.

His lawyers have asked the DC Circuit Court to rule on the motion by June 18 to give Bannon enough time to appeal to the highest court in the land.

They argue that the Supreme Court could be interested in taking his landmark case  citing the courts recent ruling in ex-Trump aide Peter Navarros contempt of Congress sentencing.
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Donald Trump is no stranger to a quid pro quo  he was impeached for one, after all. But while campaigning for a second term in the White House, he has gone further than perhaps any other candidate in recent history to shape his policies in return for cash.

Trump is not making these bargains behind closed doors or in smoky back rooms, but at fundraisers and events attended by dozens of influential and extremely wealthy people.

On several occasions he has made explicit offers to reward donors by enacting or dismantling policy on their behalf should he win in November, often reversing his own previously held positions.

Democrat Jamie Raskin, ranking member of the House committee on oversight and accountability, accused Trump of treating the presidency as a for-profit business enterprise and money-making venture.

He told The Independent that the former president was brazenly offering to sell out US policy to any corporate and billionaire campaign donors ready to make a deal, including telling Big Oil he will sign their executive orders in exchange for a cool one billion dollars.

Donald Trump will literally sell out the future of humanity for another billion dollars, he added.

Donald and Melania Trump arrive at the Florida home of billionaire investor John Paulson ( Getty )

The Campaign Legal Center, a non-profit watchdog that focuses on campaign finance laws, called Trumps actions brazen, quid pro quo corruption.

"It is deeply concerning and problematic to see a presidential candidate solicit millions of dollars from wealthy donors in exchange for promised policies or actions that cater to the donors wishes, said Saurav Ghosh, the groups director of federal campaign finance reform.

Ghosh told The Independent that years of deregulatory court decisions have fostered a culture of big money in US elections that allows Trump to act with impunity, pushing legal boundaries or even breaking them outright.

Trumps bargaining began almost the moment he left office, and has continued to this day.

Here are the policies he is selling to donors.

$1bn from oil companies

At a lavish dinner at Mar-a-Lago in April, the former president gathered with around two dozen executives from the biggest oil companies in the country. His campaign was facing a sizeable cash shortfall against his opponent, President Joe Biden, and he was desperate to make up the difference.

As the executives complained about how the Biden administrations environmental regulations were hurting their business, Trump made a starkly transactional pitch: raise $1bn to send me back to the White House.

If he won, he said he would immediately reverse dozens of Bidens environmental rules and policies. The $1bn would be a deal for the companies, he added, because of the money they would save from deregulation.

The account of the meeting, first reported by the Washington Post , came from several people who attended. Among them were 20 executives from ExxonMobil, EQT Corporation and the American Petroleum Institute, which lobbies for the oil industry. It was reportedly organized by oil billionaire Harold Hamm.

Trump speaks to city officials and employees of Double Eagle Energy on the site of an oil rig in Midland, Texas ( Getty )

Specifically, Trump vowed to undo a Biden administration freeze on permits for new liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports on the first day of entering office, one attendee told the Post.

The meeting prompted a furious response from Democrats in the House and Senate.

Representative Raskin wrote to the CEOs of nine of the oil companies that attended the meeting to demand answers, calling it an unvarnished quid pro quo.

He said that reports that oil companies are working on potential executive orders for Trump suggest that certain oil and gas companies, which have a track record of using deceitful tactics to undermine effective climate policy, may have already accepted or facilitated Mr Trumps explicit corrupt bargain.

The crypto president

Trump once called Bitcoin a scam " and argued that it threatened the supremacy of the US dollar. A few years later, in desperate need of campaign cash, he is pitching himself to Silicon Valley as the crypto president.

Trump used the term to describe himself at a fundraiser hosted by tech investors David Sacks and Chamath Palihapitiya at the formers home in San Francisco this month.

Both Sacks and Palihapitiya have spoken publicly about their investments in crypto, and the event was attended by a number of other notable crypto investors, including executives from Coinbase and twins Tyler and Cameron Winklevoss, who own the crypto company Gemini.

Trump has not always been popular in Silicon Valley. In 2020, the tech industry spent big to make him a one-term president. But this time around, there has been a slight yet notable shift among a certain set of crypto-loving tech billionaires.

Trump once called Bitcoin a scam but is pitching himself to Silicon Valley as a crypto champion ( Associated Press )

The crypto industry has spent tens of millions of dollars in an effort to influence the 2024 elections, funneling money to help elect lawmakers who will undo regulatory moves by the Biden administration. The industry hopes that deregulation will lead to huge profits for crypto investors.

Trumps message appeared to land: He came away with $12m in donations from that fundraiser in San Francisco, and the promise of much more.

TikTok flip-flop

As president, Trump spearheaded efforts to ban TikTok.

As far as TikTok is concerned, were banning them from the United States, the then-president declared to reporters aboard Air Force One in July 2020.

Indeed, he signed an executive order in his last year in office that would have effectively prohibited the video app, which is majority-owned by a Chinese company. But just this month he joined TikTok himself. And more recently he has spoken out against efforts from both the Biden administration and his own party to regulate it.

On March 7, a House committee advanced a bill that would ban the app if it didnt divest, even as TikTok users flooded congressional lines with thousands of calls urging lawmakers to back off.

That same day, Trump wrote on Truth Social that if you get rid of TikTok, (then) Facebook and Zuckerschmuck will double their business, referring to Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg.

TikTok supporters protest at the hush-money trial of Donald Trump in New York in April ( Associated Press )

I dont want Facebook, who cheated in the last election, doing better, wrote Trump, echoing a baseless conspiracy theory that social media platforms rigged elections against him. They are a true Enemy of the People!

What prompted this dramatic change ?

Some clues may be derived from the fact that his words came swiftly after a very public rapprochement with Republican mega-donor Jeff Yass. Yass has a $20bn stake in TikToks parent company, ByteDance, and is the largest donor in this election campaign cycle.

At the request of Yass, Trump spoke at a conference of the influential right-wing Club for Growth, which the former president previously blasted as Club for No Growth.

Yass has given $61m to the group since 2010 but it backed Floridas Ron DeSantis in the Republican primary against Trump.

At the conference, Trump told donors that he and the organizations president, David McIntosh, are now back in love.

West Bank-rolling

Perhaps the most brazen quid pro quo of Trumps first term came with a giant donation from casino mogul Sheldon Adelson, the Republican Partys biggest funder over the past decade.

According to New York Times writer Maggie Haberman in her book Confidence Man: The Making of Donald Trump and the Breaking of America, Adelson made a $20m donation to a political action committee to pressure then-president Trump to adopt the highly controversial decision to move the US embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.

For his second term, Trump may be poised to sell another controversial policy to the Adelson family.

Sheldon died in 2021, but his wife Miriam has continued his cause and may even surpass Yass to become Trumps biggest patron in this election cycle.

A New York Magazine profile of Miriam, published last month, suggested that Trumps support for the Israeli annexation of the West Bank was top of her wish list for a second term.

Miriam Adelson listens as Trump addresses an Israeli American Council summit in Hollywood in 2019 ( Associated Press )

The West Bank is considered Palestinian territory and would form the basis of a future Palestinian state. Annexing it would be against international law.

By March, Mrs Adelson had not yet opened her checkbook to fund Trumps campaign. That month, after he won the Republican primary, he invited her to a Shabbat dinner at Mar-a-Lago, according to the magazine, during which his courting of the donor appears to have begun in earnest. He gave an interview to the Adelson-owned newspaper Israel Hayom in which he described himself as a very loyal person.

Ive been the best president in history to Israel by a factor of ten because of all the things I do. The embassy, Jerusalem being the capital. Then you have Golan Heights  Nobody even thought that was going to be possible. I did that, he said.

Ten days after the publication of the New York Magazine profile, Politico reported that Adelson would fund a massive political action committee for Trumps re-election.

Trickle-up tax cuts

During his presidency, Trump implemented sweeping tax cuts for the top 1 per cent of earners and cut the maximum corporation tax rate from 35 per cent to 21 per cent. His cuts were one factor helping the fortunes of US billionaires grow by a collective $1 trillion during the pandemic, from March 18 to December 7, 2020, according to the non-partisan group, Americans for Tax Fairness.

The group said that an analysis of donations to Trump found that he was enabled with a total of almost a quarter billion dollars in campaign contributions from 134 of Americas billionaires during his short, violent political career.

Trump is looking to replicate that windfall by promising even more tax cuts for the wealthy, should he win a second term. Several billionaire donors backed off following the riot on January 6, 2021  they are now finding their way back to Trump , largely thanks to that promise.

Speaking at a donor event at the luxury Pierre Hotel in New York last month, Trump warned the wealthy attendees that taxes would go up unless he wins in November because Biden has vowed to let his tax cuts expire at the end of 2025.

Youre going to have the biggest tax increase in history, he said. So whatever you guys can do, I appreciate it.

The comments are part of a pattern of offers to wealthy donors from Trump. Donate to me, he says, and Ill make you richer.

Speaking at Mar-a-Lago in December last year, Trump drew laughs as he described the audience as rich as hell before declaring: Were gonna give you tax cuts!

Money has always played a role in presidential campaigns, but the scale and brazenness of Trumps policy firesale could have a dramatic impact on future elections. If it works, the US government could become even more in thrall to the billionaire class.
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Republican Representative Ralph Norman reprimanded his Democratic colleague Jerry Nadler after he interrupted to correct him about Donald Trumps conviction during a House Rules Committee meeting on Tuesday.

During his allotted time, Norman said that he spent hours of the hearing listening to these smokescreens from Democrats about Trumps New York criminal trial where the former president was found guilty on 34 counts of falsifying business records.

They bring up the trial of Donald Trump, a convicted felony. Really? By a judge that is a known anti-Trumper, Norman said.

At that moment, Nadler interrupted to correct his colleague that he was not found guilty by a judge, a lie that Trump has amplified, but rather by a jury.

A jury. A jury. Not by a judge, Nadler said.

Democratic Rep Jerry Nadler corrected Republican Ralph Norman during a House Rules hearing on Tuesday ( House Rules / YouTube )

Norman angrily responded: Mr. Nadler, Ive got the floor. If youre going to interrupt  Mr Chairman call him down when he interrupts. Its my time and Ill let you respond but Im tired of this. You talk over everybody, its so rude.

Tuesdays hearing was to discuss potential rules for debate when considering a resolution to hold Attorney General Merrick Garland in contempt of Congress for refusing to turn over audio clips of President Joe Bidens interview with Special Counsel Robert Hur.

Earlier this year, Hur released a summarized report of his investigation into President Bidens handling of classified documents which were found at his home and office after leaving the White House in 2012.

Hurs report included highly scrutinized accounts of President Bidens memory after he insinuated the president was extremely forgetful.

Republican Rep Ralph Norman reprimands his colleague for interrupting him during a House Rules hearing ( House Rules /YouTube )

During the hearing, Democrats accused Republicans of using the contempt of Congress accusation to distract the public from Trumps recent conviction.

This resolution may boost Donald Trumps spirits before his sentencing for his conviction of 34 felonies, but it will certainly not convince the Department of Justice to produce the one remaining file in question, Nadler told his colleagues.

Democratic Representative Jim McGovern said that his Republican colleagues were unfairly criticizing the Justice Department for targeting the former president despite that same agency investigating, indicting and trying the presidents son, Hunter Biden, on gun charges.

How can any Republican in their right mind argue that the Biden administration is weaponizing the DOJ to hurt Republicans and to help Democrats? They just convicted the presidents own son, McGovern said.
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CNN aired a montage on Tuesday evening comparing and contrasting the very different reaction of Fox News hosts to the criminal convictions of Donald Trump and Hunter Biden at their respective trials, a surprisingly direct attack on a media rival.

Introduced by anchor Abby Phillip, the segment presented the likes of Jeanine Pirro declaring in the wake of the Trump verdict on May 30 that the outcome goes against the ilk of who we are as Americans and our faith in the criminal justice system, before being seen praising the Delaware jury for not being intimidated by the Bidens and recognising that the case in front of them was clear-cut and that no one is above the law.

Laura Ingraham was shown sneering that we all need to shop at Banana Republic from now on in response to Trumps being found guilty and then insisting that the Bidens had escaped accountability for their sleazy, corrupt conduct for years but today, their luck ran out.

And Jesse Watters was seen accusing weak lawyers and talentless political bloodhounds of being willing to destroy the rule of law to prosecute Trump  but saying that the Biden verdict gave me a little boost of confidence in the American legal system.

Phillip wrapped up the feature by commenting: Yes, these are two different trials under very different circumstances. Hunter Bidens was federal, Trumps was not. The crimes and the evidence? All completely different.

You cant claim the justice system is dead because of a single conviction while also praising it for another.

And you cant claim President Biden is weaponizing the Justice Department to go after his enemies when that same department just convicted his own son.

Hunter Biden being found guilty earlier in the day on all three felony gun charges by a Wilmington jury marked the first time in American history a sitting presidents child has been convicted of a crime and came less than two weeks after the former president was found guilty on all 34 counts of falsifying business records to hide a $130,000 payment to porn star Stormy Daniels in order to protect his reputation ahead of the 2016 presidential election.

CNNs Abby Phillip calls out Fox News pundits for hypocrisy on Tuesday June 11 2024 ( CNN )

President Joe Biden reacted to the news of his sons fate by saying he was proud of Hunter overcoming his substance abuse problems but accepted the verdict while the Trump campaign, predictably, attacked the Biden crime family in a statement that initially wished the defendant well in his recovery and legal affairs before the line was nixed.

Far-right Republicans, meanwhile, appeared unprepared for the outcome, with the likes of Turning Points Charlie Kirk scrambling to complain on social media: The true crimes of the Biden Crime Family remain untouched.

Former Trump administration official Stephen Miller called the outcome a giant misdirection and an attempt by the Justice Department to sell to a pliant media that is all too willing to be duped.

House Oversight Committee chair James Comer said the conviction was only a step toward accountability while MAGA congressman Matt Gaetz insisted the gun case had been kinda dumb from the beginning.
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President Joe Biden may yet act to keep his only surviving son from serving time in prison after a jury in Delaware convicted him of three felony charges relating to his purchase of a firearm while addicted to drugs.

Aboard Air Force One, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre would not say whether Biden would use his authority as president to commute any custodial sentence that may be imposed on his son, Hunter Biden, as a result of his conviction.

Jean-Pierre said it was premature to make any pronouncements on the subject, since she hasnt spoken to President Biden about it and Hunter has yet to be sentenced.

As we all know, the sentencing hasnt even been scheduled yet, she said.

The White House press secretary also noted that Biden has ruled out using his power to pardon his son, which would have the effect of absolving him of any consequences for the felony convictions. But a commutation, which would leave the conviction intact, was not something she would address.

He was very clear, very upfront, obviously very definitive, she said about Bidens prior promise not to pardon Hunter.

But when pressed on a commutation she replied: I just dont have anything beyond that.

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 ( AFP via Getty Images )

In a statement on Tuesday, Biden said he accepted the outcome of the case after Hunter was found guilty of three charges related to his purchase and possession of a handgun in 2018.

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.
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Rescue operations have been launched on the Greek island of Amorgos after a retired US police officer disappeared while out on a solo hike - days after the death of TV doctor Michael Mosley in similar circumstances.

Eric Albert Calibet, 59  known to friends as Albert  had been vacationing on the island but was reported missing by a friend on Tuesday afternoon.

Calibet left for the challenging four-hour hike, from Aegiali to Katapola around 7am, according to local outlets. The friend reported the disappearance to Amorgos police after he had not returned eight hours later. Authorities have not been able to contact Calibet via either of his two cell phones.

Albert Calibet, 59, had been vacationing on the island but was reported missing by a friend on Tuesday afternoon ( Municipality of Amorgos )

According to The Greek Reporter, the last message sent by the man was to his sister, and was a picture of a trail sign.

A rescue operation was launched on Tuesday afternoon and resumed on Wednesday morning with reinforcements from the nearby Naxos island.

Police have requested data from mobile operators to determine Calibets last known location on the island, which has a population of roughly 2,000.

The American tourists disappearance comes after prominent TV Dr Michael Mosley was found dead on the neighboring Greek island of Symi, following an extensive five-day search. The two islands are about 200 miles apart.

Mosley, the author and presenter who revolutionized the way Britain fights the obesity crisis, disappeared on June 5, also after heading off on his own  returning to the home his family was vacationing in.

A major search effort was launched to find the esteemed BBC Radio 4 and This Morning presenter on Wednesday after he disappeared while holidaying on the Greek island of Symi.

The 67-year-old had attempted to return to the house in searing heat, with an umbrella but no mobile phone. He was seen on surivelance video in the village of Pedi 30 minutes later, shortly before entering a treacherous mountain path.

The US mans disappearance comes shortly after British TV doctor Michael Mosley was found dead following similar circumstances on the Greek island of Symi ( Tony Ward/ITV/Shutterstock )

Mosleys body was eventually discovered on Sunday morning after being spotted by television cameras from a boat carrying the islands mayor.

Confirming the death of her wonderful, funny, kind and brilliant husband, Dr Clare Bailey Mosley said: Were taking comfort in the fact that he so very nearly made it. He did an incredible climb, took the wrong route and collapsed where he couldnt be easily seen by the extensive search team.

Michael was an adventurous man, its part of what made him so special ... I feel so lucky to have our children and my amazing friends. Most of all, I feel so lucky to have had this life with Michael.
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A teenager was arrested and subsequently released after fake nude images of 50 female students at a private school in Australia were circulated on social media.

Images of the students from Bachhus Marsh Grammar School in Victoria were doctored using artificial intelligence to create obscene and incredibly graphic content before being shared on Instagram and Snapchat, the school said.

The pictures were lifted from the social media handles of girls enrolled in senior and senior secondary school.

Officers have been told a number of images were sent to a person in the Melton area via an online platform on Friday, 7 June, police said.

Police have arrested a teenager in relation to explicit images being circulated online. He was released pending further inquiries.

School principal Andrew Neal called the incident appalling.

It is something that strikes to the heart of students, particularly girls growing up at this age, he told ABC News.

They should be able to learn and go about their business without this kind of nonsense."

The students are receiving support as the school works with investigators to remove the images from social media, the principal said.

"Logic would suggest that the most likely individual is someone at the school, Mr Neal said, or a group of people from the school.

However, he added, the police and the school are not ruling out any other possibility.

The mother of one of the girls said she was picking up her 16-year-old from a sleepover when she saw the doctored pictures.

Her daughter was very upset and she was throwing up, she told ABC Radio Melbourne, adding that the images were incredibly graphic.

I mean they are children. The photos were mutilated, and so graphic. I almost threw up when I saw it, she said.

Fifty girls is a lot. It is really disturbing. How can we reassure them that once measures are in place, it wont happen again?

The incident drew condemnation from Victorian premier Jacinta Allan, who said women and girls deserve respect.

My thoughts are with the young women of Bacchus Marsh Grammar and their families. There is no place for this disgraceful and misogynistic conduct in Victoria, Ms Allan said.

Women and girls deserve respect in class, online and everywhere else in our community, which is why we have made laws against this behaviour and we are teaching respectful relationships in schools to stop violence before it starts.
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Greece has shut tourist attractions and closed schools as Athens is facing its first heatwave of the summer.

Authorities shut the ancient Acropolis tourist site, suspended schools and stationed medics across the capital city on Wednesday as it faced the first heatwave of the summer.

Temperatures were expected to hit 43 degrees Celsius (109 degrees Fahrenheit) on Wednesday and Thursday in parts of the Mediterranean country.

Conditions worsened in an area north of the capital, after a fire at a cookware and food container factory sent clouds of thick black smoke into the sky. Cellphone alerts sent by a government disaster response agency urged residents in the area to remain indoors.

The heatwave is believed to be driven by southerly winds bringing hot air and dust from North Africa.

The Acropolis hill, home to one of the worlds most famous archaeological sites that includes the Parthenon temple, was closed from noon to 5 pm and Red Cross staff handed out bottles of water to tourists.

Local press report tourists fainting while waiting in line.

City authorities announced that garbage collection would also be halted for several hours Wednesday and that seven air-conditioned spaces would be opened to the public. Drones with thermal cameras were being used in Athens to coordinate the public health response, officials said.

open image in gallery Tourists exit the ancient Acropolis in central Athens on Wednesday, June 12, 2024 ( AP )

Many primary schools and nurseries across the country will shut for two days.

In Cyprus a huge wildfire has destroyed homes and evacuated villages. The villages of Psathi, Choulou, and Lemona were evacuated.

President Nikos Christodoulides praised the superhuman efforts of the firefighting teams but confirmed the fire was not yet under control. Greece has sent two Canadair firefighting aircraft to help fight the wildfire.

open image in gallery A fire burns in a forest in the Cypriot village of Psathi on June 12, 2024 ( AFP via Getty Images )

Greece is one of the most climate-impacted countries in Europe. Last year, rising temperatures fuelled deadly wildfires and erratic rains caused some of the worst flooding on record, both of which damaged crops and livelihoods.

Last winter was the hottest on record and rainfall was low, creating the conditions for more fires, scientists say.

Similar conditions were seen last year across much of southern Europe, including Portugal, France, Spain and Italy where fires caused dozens of deaths.

In Greece, fires began earlier than expected this year, including one in March.

Firefighters and police were patrolling forests from air and land on Wednesday, ahead of what is expected to be a windy end to the week, raising the risk of fires spreading.

After last years destructive wildfires, including on the island of Rhodes which prompted the biggest evacuation in peace time, Greece has scaled up its preparations by hiring more staff and stepping up training.

To cope with the crisis, the country is fast-tracking a 2.1 billion euro ($2.3 billion) program to upgrade its fleet of water tankers and create an artificial intelligence-driven sensor network to detect smoke in the early stages of a fire.

But delivery of the new equipment wont start until next year, leaving planners to scramble to find alternatives to cut response times.
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Frances president Emmanuel Macron has called on all parties to forge an alliance against the far-right National Rally (RN) party of Marine Le Pen and defended his shock move to call a snap election.

In a press conference that amounted to a campaign speech, Mr Macron insisted that dissolving the French parliament was the only republican decision available to him after National Rally trounced his centrist alliance in European parliament elections on Sunday.

I do not want to give the keys to power to the far right in [the presidential election of] 2027, so I fully accept having triggered a movement to provide clarification, he said and that he had called the election to hold back extremes. He said he believed the French people would vote to keep National Rally out.

Casting the election as a test of truth between those who choose to strengthen their own hand and those who choose to strengthen the hand of France, Mr Macron said he would not quit if his camp loses and he would not debate against Ms Le Pen.

Its about allowing political forces chosen by the French to be able to govern, he said, adding that its awkward to think it has to be the extreme right or political extremes. Or maybe youve got the spirit of defeat spread everywhere... Things are simple today: we have unnatural alliances at both extremes, who quite agree on nothing except the jobs to be shared.

The press conference in Paris came a day after Eric Ciotti, the leader of Frances mainstream right Les Republicains, said he would back an alliance with Ms Le Pens RN  sparking a furious backlash within his own Republican party. His vice-president Florence Portelli told France Info TV: I think theres a chance he can be made to leave if he doesnt go by himself, and I have no doubt itll happen.

In a dig at apparent dig at Mr Ciotti on Wednesday, Mr Macron criticised those seeking to forge unnatural alliances, and claimed the mask has come off.

Marine Le Pen and protege Jordan Bardella secured around 30 per cent of the vote in Frances EU elections ( AP )

And in a sign of the political turmoil the snap election has caused, Mr Ciotti vowed on Wednesday to stay in his job, holing himself up in his office on Wednesday with the building locked. Senior figures from Les Republicains arrived  reportedly for a meeting about ousting Mr Ciotti  to find themselves unable to get in. Mr Ciotti posted on Twitter/X that he had closed the doors after receiving threats and that he had to guarantee staff safety.

Whats more, there has never been any meeting planned at the HQ this afternoon, he posted.

Warning that parties on Frances left and right are building political entities, but by no means majorities to govern, he questioned whether Mr Ciottis party, which has criticised public spending as too lax, would govern effectively with the far right, whose plans have been costed at 100bn a year, he said.

Appealing to voters, he said: Youve expressed anger, message received. But is an expression of anger the answer to your daily life? I say no. [National Rally] is a political project that wont be able to respond to the insecurity you experience ... Whats the concrete answer? They dont have one.

Vowing to take a firmer hand in questions of immigration, security and justice, the president arguing that a far left would be too lax, while the extreme right would bulldoze Frances constitutional rule of law.

But despite rapidly forming a new alliance dubbed the Popular Front on Monday in a bid to shut out the far right, the previously fractured parties on Frances left have also vowed not to join forces with Mr Macrons centrists.

In a joint statement on Monday night, signed by the Socialists, Ecologists, Communists and Jean-Luc Melenchons LFI, the new alliance urged citizens, influential labour unions and students to unite against Ms Le Pen and provide an alternative to Mr Macron.

Nevertheless, Mr Macron has insisted he is out to win the snap elections set to commence on 30 June, telling Le Figaro during a visit to the village of Oradour-sur-Glane  where hundreds were killed by the Nazis in 1944  that Europes history of fascism should not be allowed to recommence.
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Germanys defence minister has presented a proposal for a selective military service focused on volunteers, described as a first step towards conscription, to boost its depleted armed forces.

The proposal is part of Germanys shift towards a more robust foreign and defence policy, announced by Chancellor Olaf Scholz as a Zeitenwende or turn of era in the days after Russias invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

Around 13 years after Germany suspended mass conscription, Defence Minister Boris Pistorus said on Wednesday all men would be obliged to fill out a questionnaire to gauge their suitability for, and interest in, military service upon turning 18. The questionnaire would be optional for women.

It would then select around 10% of those for mustering before narrowing down the selection to the most suitable and motivated to undertake the six-month basic service - with an option to lengthen this by up to 17 months.

Those who are most, most suitable and motivated should be selected for the military service, Pistorius told reporters.

This new model aims to increase to 15,000 the number of young people undertaking voluntary military service, a rise of 5,000, in the first year, the ministry said, growing that number year by year.

The aim was to eventually reach 200,000 more reservists, which would enable Germany to swiftly expand its troops to around 460,000 in the event of war - nearly double what it could muster today. It currently has 180,000 soldiers, which it wants to increase to 203,000, and 60,000 reservists.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, right, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy ( Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. )

And even then, Germany would have well fewer than the 500,000 troops and 800,000 reservists of the former West Germany in the Cold War.

No matter if we are better equipping our armed forces ... the principle of deterrence only works if you have enough soldiers who could eventually defend the country, Pistorius.

The minister has vowed to turn Germany into a war-ready nation, warning that war between the NATO western defence alliance and Russia could happen in five to eight years.

The model is similar to the Swedish one, introduced in 2018, which aimed to enhance the status of military service through a degree of exclusivity and some incentives. Pistorius said those who signed up for a longer service would get a bonus.

In the UK The Conservatives appear to have U-turned on Rishi Sunaks flagship national service policy just a day after he announced it in his general election manifesto. Defence secretary Grant Shapps said the military aspect of the plan will see 18-year-olds take placements in the armed forces for just 25 days per year, despite the manifesto promising a year-long full-time placement in the armed forces or cyber defence.

It remains to be seen whether Germany will, like Sweden, eventually oblige the unwilling to serve too, if it cannot find enough volunteers - something there was no likelihood of for the time being, the minister said.

He added that a discussion about some form of obligatory military service was needed but now was not the right time as it would require a long political debate, especially in view of elections next year.

I regard this as a first step, he said.

Pistorius, who currently tops rankings of Germanys most popular politicians, has called the suspension of Germanys obligatory military service in 2011 a mistake.

But leading politicians from all three parties in Scholzs coalition have expressed opposition to obligatory military service, with Scholz himself ruling out a return to mass conscription.

Pistorius is also facing opposition within the cabinet to his plans to increase defence spending.

Critics say Scholz and others in the government are not willing - or do not see the urgency needed - to make the hard and often unpopular decisions necessary to implement his Zeitenwende ahead of the elections.
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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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Pope Francis has been accused of using a highly offensive homophobic slur again, just a few weeks after the Vatican apologised over the use of the word.

The initial outcry came after the head of the Catholic Church used the Italian slur frociaggine at an Italian bishops conference on 20 May, where one of the topics being discussed was whether to allow celibate gay men to undergo training for priesthood at Catholic seminaries.

The Pope was reported to have said that there was already too much frociaggine  which translates as f*****ness  in some seminaries, in response to proposals to allow gay men to undergo training for priesthood at Catholic seminaries. The 87-year-old pontiff is said to have spoken against the idea, saying that while it was important to embrace everyone, it could risk the person leading a double life.

An apology later issued by the Vatican insisted the Pope never intended to offend or express himself in homophobic terms, with several bishops in the room at the time claiming to Italian newspapers that the pontiff might not have realised the term was offensive.

Now Francis has now been accused of repeating the slur in a closed-door meeting on Tuesday.

According to Italys Ansa news agency and the Catholic website Silere Non Possum,  which claimed to have a recording of his meeting with 200 young priests  Francis told the priests that there is an air of frociaggine in the Vatican.

Crowds gathered in St Peter's Square at The Vatican on Sunday to hear the Popes blessings ( AP )

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 priests.

The Pope has previously been regarded as taking a somewhat less hostile approach towards the LGBT+ community than his predecessors.

In 2013, Pope Francis said gay people should not be marginalised and told reporters: If a person is gay and seeks God and has good will, who am I to judge?.

Last year, the pope approved a ruling allowing priests to bless same-sex couples  but not in the context of marriage, civil unions or regular church rituals. The Vatican has said the Church does not have the power to bless same-sex unions because God cannot bless sin.

However, the Pope said in a letter in 2023: We cannot be judges who only deny, push back, exclude.

Asked about Franciss initial use of the slur on 20 May, a spokesperson for the Catholic Bishops Conference of England and Wales previously said: Echoing the consistent message of the Synod and this papacy, the Catholic Church is a place of welcome for all.

Additional reporting by Reuters
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US secretary of state Antony Blinken has said that Hamas has proposed numerous changes, some unworkable, to a Washington-backed proposal for a ceasefire with Israel in Gaza, but that mediators were determined to close the gaps.

White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said on Wednesday many of Hamas' proposed changes were minor "and not unanticipated" while others differed more substantially from what was outlined in a UN Security Council resolution on Monday backing the plan put forward by US President Joe Biden.

Earlier on Wednesday, Izzat al-Rishq, from Hamas' political bureau based outside Gaza, said its formal response to the U.S. proposal was "responsible, serious and positive" and "opens up a wide pathway" for an accord. Hamas also wants written guarantees from the U.S. on the ceasefire plan, two Egyptian security sources said.

Mr Biden's proposal envisages a truce and a phased release of Israeli hostages in Gaza in exchange for Palestinians jailed in Israel, ultimately leading to a permanent end to the war.

At a press conference with Qatar's prime minister in Doha, Mr Blinken said some of the counter-proposals from Hamas, which has ruled Gaza since 2007, had sought to amend terms that it had accepted in previous talks.

Negotiators from the US, Egypt and Qatar have tried for months to mediate a ceasefire in the conflict which has killed tens of thousands of Palestinians and devastated the heavily populated enclave - and free the hostages, more than 100 of whom are believed to remain captive in Gaza.

US secretary of state Antony Blinken ( AP )

"Hamas could have answered with a single word: Yes," Mr Blinken said. "Instead, Hamas waited nearly two weeks and then proposed more changes, a number of which go beyond positions that it had previously taken and accepted."

The US has said Israel has accepted its proposal, but Israel has not publicly stated this.

Mr Blinken said Washington would in coming weeks float ideas for a post-war Gaza administration and rebuilding of the enclave. "We have to have plans for the day after the conflict ends in Gaza, and we need to have them as soon as possible."

Major powers are intensifying efforts to defuse the conflict in part to prevent it spiralling into a wider Middle East war, with a dangerous flashpoint being the escalating hostilities along the Lebanese-Israeli border.

Lebanon's Hezbollah militia, backed by Iran, fired barrages of rockets at Israel on Wednesday in retaliation for the killing of a senior Hezbollah field commander. Israel said it had in turn attacked the launch sites from the air.

Taleb Abdallah, or Abu Taleb, was the most senior Hezbollah commander killed in the conflict, a security source said, and Hezbollah official Hashem Safieddine vowed that the group would expand its operations against Israel.

The war in Gaza began on 7 October when Hamas burst across the border and killed 1,200 Israelis and took more than 250 hostage, according to Israeli tallies.

Israel's air and ground war since then has killed more than 37,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza's health ministry, displaced most of Gaza's population of 2.3 million, caused widespread hunger and devastated housing and infrastructure.

A UN inquiry has alleged that both Israel and Hamas committed war crimes early in the Gaza war, and that Israel's actions also constituted crimes against humanity because of the immense civilian losses.

The UN Commission of Inquiry (COI) produced two parallel reports, one focusing on the 7 October attacks and another on Israel's response Israel, which did not cooperate, dismissed the findings as the result of anti-Israeli bias.

The reports released in Geneva, which cover the period to December, found both sides had committed war crimes including torture; murder or willful killing; outrages upon personal dignity; and inhuman or cruel treatment.

Evidence gathered by such UN-mandated bodies can form the basis for war crimes prosecutions. It could be drawn on by the International Criminal Court, where prosecutors last month requested arrest warrants for Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, his defence minister and three Hamas leaders for alleged war crimes. Israel have forcibly denied the accusations.

As diplomats sought a ceasefire deal, Israel continued assaults in central and southern Gaza that are among the bloodiest of the war. Mr Netanyahu has repeatedly said Israel will not commit to end its campaign before Hamas is eliminated.

Residents said Israeli forces had pounded areas across Gaza on Wednesday as tanks advanced towards the northern part of the city of Rafah, which skirts the Egyptian border.

Palestinian health officials said six people had been killed in an airstrike on Gaza City in the north, and one man had been killed by a tank shell in Rafah.

In the central city of Deir al-Balah, mother-of-two Huda said the displaced had lost hope that the war would end anytime soon. "We lost faith both in our leaders, and in the world," she told Reuters.

"Ceasefire promises by our leaders and the world are like words written in butter at night, they disappear with the first light of day."

Reuters
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At least 50 foreign workers, including Indians, were killed in Kuwait after a massive fire tore through a building housing scores of low-income migrants.

More than 50 others were injured in the fire that broke out in the six-storey building in the coastal city of Mangaf in southern Kuwait on Wednesday.

Around 45 Indian nationals, aged between 20 to 50 years, were killed in the blaze, prompting the Indian government to jump into action and set up a helpline for their families.

The blaze erupted from the kitchen of one of the lower floors of the building at around 4.30am when many people were still sleeping. The fire swiftly swept through the upper floors with smoke filling up the entire building.

Authorities in Kuwait have detained the building owner for questioning as they suspect whether any shortcoming or neglect played a role, Kuwaits state news agency reported. The authorities have promised to launch a wider investigation to see if there was any rampant building code violation by the business owners.

Sheikh Fahad Yusuf Al Sabah, Kuwaits deputy prime minister and interior minister, blamed the greed of property owners for the tragedy and said the employers of those killed would be detained.

Kuwait's deputy prime minister and Minister of Defense and acting interior minister, Fahad Yusuf Al-Sabah speaks with police officers in front of a burnt building ( REUTERS )

The teams investigating the cause of the inferno found that a highly inflammable material was used as partitions between the cramped apartments of the building which resulted in the huge black clouds of smoke, head of investigations at Kuwait Fire Department Col Sayed Al-Mousawi said.

He said that many of the people died of suffocation while trying to rush down the stairs and they could not go to the rooftop as the door was locked.

Rescuers arrive at the site of a building that caught fire in Kuwait, Wednesday, 12 June 2024

The fire was doused within 10 minutes of the arrival of firefighters and a large number of workers were rescued, he said.

An Egyptian worker told reporters from the hospital that he saw many charred bodies as he came out of the building with the help of firefighters. He said it took him two hours to come out of the building that housed many Indians, a few Pakistanis, and Filipinos.

An Indian worker, identified by only one name, Jayashankar, said he woke up to screams in his fourth-floor apartment and found that thick, acrid, black smoke had filled up the corridors, according to the New York Times.

They decided to lock the door and open a window while they waited for help. But two of his roommates who tried to find an exit were found dead, he said.

A Kuwaiti policeman stands in front of a residential building after a fire broke out in Mangaf area, southern Ahmadi governorate, Kuwait, 12 June 2024 ( EPA )

Foreign workers in the oil-rich nation make up about two-thirds of the population of Kuwait. Many workers from South Asian countries who come for the prospect of jobs work in low-income jobs in tough living conditions.

Indian nationals make up 21 per cent of Kuwaits 4.2 million population and nearly 30 per cent of its workforce.

The Indian foreign ministry called it an unfortunate and tragic fire-incident and said they have extended all possible support to the victims through its embassy in Kuwait.

Foreign minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar offered his deepest condolences to the families of those who tragically lost their lives and spoke to his Kuwaiti counterpart.

Apprised of the efforts made by Kuwaiti authorities in that regard. Was assured that the incident would be fully investigated and that responsibility will be fixed, he said on X.

Urged the early repatriation of the mortal remains of those who lost their lives. He emphasized that those injured were getting the requisite medical attention.

Amb @AdarshSwaika visited the Al-Adan hospital where over 30 Indian workers injured in todays fire incident have been admitted. He met a number of patients and assured them of full assistance from the Embassy. Almost all are reported to be stable by hospital authorities. pic.twitter.com/p0LeaErguF  India in Kuwait (@indembkwt) June 12, 2024

Indian prime minister Narendra Modi chaired a high-level urgent meeting at his residence on Wednesday and sent minister of state Kirti Vardhan Singh to immediately travel to Kuwait to work towards early repatriation of mortal remains as well as for medical assistance to those injured.

The fire mishap in Kuwait City is saddening. My thoughts are with all those who have lost their near and dear ones. I pray that the injured recover at the earliest, he said.

He has announced a compensation of Rs200,000 (1,872) each to the families of deceased Indian nations.

Three of 11 Filipino workers who lived in the building were brought to hospitals, while the status of five remained unclear and three were safe, the Philippine migrant workers ministry said in a statement on Thursday.

The incident is believed to be one of the worst fire tragedies witnessed in Kuwait. In 2009, at least 57 people died when a woman allegedly seeking revenge set fire to a tent at a wedding party.
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The birth of a rare white buffalo in Yellowstone National Park fulfills a Lakota prophecy that brings 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.

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.

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.

A rare white buffalo calf, reportedly born in Yellowstone National Parks Lamar Valley, is shown on June 4, 2024

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.

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.

A Yellowstone National Park bison ( NPS / Jacob W. Frank )

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.
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Human missions to Mars could be at risk after new research revealed that long-duration space travel can impact the structure of astronauts kidneys.

Samples from more than 40 space missions involving humans and mice revealed that kidneys are remodelled by the conditions in space, with certain parts showing signs of shrinkage after less than a month in space.

The findings could jeopardise plans by SpaceX and Nasa to send crewed missions to Mars in the coming decades, with SpaceX boss Elon Musk recently claiming that it could be possible within the next 10 to 20 years.

open image in gallery SpaceX created a five minute animation demonstrating what a crewed trip to Mars aboard a Starship rocket might look like ( SpaceX )

Scientists at University College London (UCL), who carried out the study, said that serious health risks are more likely to emerge the longer that an astronaut is exposed to the extreme conditions of space.

Future missions to Mars were not ruled out, though the scientists said that measures to protect the kidneys would need to be developed to avoid serious harm to astronauts. Methods of recovery could also be introduced onboard spacecraft, such as dialysis machines.

We know what has happened to astronauts on the relatively short space missions conducted so far, in terms of an increase in health issues such as kidney stones, said Dr Keith Siew, first author of the study from the London Tubular Centre, based at the UCL Department of Renal Medicine.

What we dont know is why these issues occur, nor what is going to happen to astronauts on longer flights such as the proposed mission to Mars. If we dont develop new ways to protect the kidneys, Id say that while an astronaut could make it to Mars they might need dialysis on the way back.

We know that the kidneys are late to show signs of radiation damage; by the time this becomes apparent its probably too late to prevent failure, which would be catastrophic for the missions chances of success.

open image in gallery An artist's impression of a Mars colony ( iStock/ Getty Images )

Professor Stephen Walsh, senior author of the study from the London Tubular Centre, UCL Department of Renal Medicine, said: Our study highlights the fact that if youre planning a space mission, kidneys really matter.

You cant protect them from galactic radiation using shielding, but as we learn more about renal biology it may be possible to develop technological or pharmaceutical measures to facilitate extended space travel.

The research was detailed in a paper published in the journal Nature Communications.
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Elon Musk has dropped his lawsuit accusing OpenAI of breaching its founding promise to develop artificial intelligence solely for the benefit of humanity.

The Tesla owner, an early backer of OpenAI, sued the ChatGPT maker in February saying it had gone against its founding mission and failed to make its findings open source as promised.

Mr Musk said when it initially approached him for investment, OpenAI pledged it would be an open source, nonprofit company, only to break its promise and focus on making money.

OpenAI set the founding agreement aflame when it released its AI language model GPT-4, the lawsuit alleged.

The ChatGPT maker responded by calling Mr Musks claims incoherent, frivolous, extraordinary and fiction.

It said the firm had no founding agreement, or any agreement at all with Musk.

Mr Musk has now asked the California state court to dismiss his lawsuit, without offering a reason.

Representatives of Mr Musk and OpenAI did not immediately respond to a request for comment from The Independent.

Musk Threatens Ban After Apple Announces OpenAI Partnership

The lawsuit was the culmination of a long battle between the SpaceX chief and the ChatGPT maker, which has become the face of generative AI technology and AI chatbots.

Were sad that its come to this with someone whom weve deeply admired  someone who inspired us to aim higher, then told us we would fail, started a competitor, and then sued us when we started making meaningful progress towards OpenAIs mission without him, OpenAI said in a blog post after Mr Musk sued the company.

The Tesla chief then launched his own AI startup, xAI, raising billions and posing as an alternative to OpenAI.

OpenAI argued that Mr Musks lawsuit was an attempt to advance his own interests in AI.

It accused Mr Musk of attempting to use fact-finding and information-sharing in the legal case to access OpenAIs proprietary records and technology.

The founding agreement cited by the Tesla boss was a fiction Musk has conjured to lay unearned claim to the fruits of an enterprise he initially supported, then abandoned, then watched succeed without him, the firm said.

Seeing the remarkable technological advances OpenAI has achieved, Musk now wants that success for himself, OpenAIs attorneys claimed.

Mr Musk said in April that OpenAI was trying to advance arguments based on disputed facts beyond the lawsuits scope.

On Monday, the multibillionaire said he would ban Apple devices at his companies if the iPhone maker went ahead with plans to use OpenAI technology in its phones.
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Boeing reported just four aircraft orders last month as concerns rise over safety processes at the major aerospace company.

These low order numbers come as Boeing faces ongoing safety concerns and federal investigations, with dozens of whistleblowers hoping to share their worries about the quality of the companys products. The latest sales figures were released on Tuesday.

Boeing, with its four orders in May, also delivered 24 jetliners to buyers last month, the Associated Press reports. Meanwhile, its competitor Airbus made 53 deliveries. Airbus also had 27 orders for new planes in May, but 12 have been canceled, for a net of 15 new orders.

Boeing also received zero orders for the 737 Max for the second month in a row, despite its previous status as a best-seller.

open image in gallery Boeing received just four orders in May 2024 as sales suffer amid ongoing safety concerns about their aircraft ( AFP via Getty Images )

Boeing still has a backlog of more than 5,600 orders, the AP reports, and is facing criticism from buyers around the world waiting on their planes.

Boeing safety concerns first made national headlines when a doorplug blew out a Boeing plane mid-flight in January. While there were no major injuries, passengers were left shaken following the emergency landing. Three of those on board sued the airline.

That sparked a federal investigation into the manufacturers safety record in building plans. Since that event, Boeing has been hit by several high-profile incidents of troubles in the sky or on the ground, sparking safety concerns. Federal investigators are now conducting both criminal and civil investigations into the airline.

Several employees have also spoken out over concerns with safety at Boeing.

open image in gallery A door plug fell off a Boeing 737-9 MAX, pictured, in January 2024. Following the incident, several whistleblowers came forward with safety concerns about the company ( Getty Images )

Sam Salehpour, a current quality engineer for the manufacturer, told a congressional committee in April that Boeing has a culture of retaliation when employees speak up about their concerns.

When asked if the planes are safe, Salehpour testified: Its like an earthquake. When that hits the building ... [it has] to be prepared to accommodate that type of shake-up... Right now, from what Ive seen, the airplanes are not being billed per spec, and per requirements.

Last week, lawyer Brian Knowles told The Independent some 50 Boeing current and former employees are hoping to speak out about their own safety concerns.

The employees are not trying to bring down the company but are desperate to get its safety standards on track, their lawyers have said.

Its not about bringing down the company at all, Knowles previously told The Independent. The company cant fail. You know, its too important to the American economy and the global economy.

What they need to do is really seriously consider that quality and safety should be a priority when youre building an aircraft that carries on hundreds of peoples lives.

Roy Irvin, a whistleblower who worked as a quality investigator for Boeing for six years, also spoke to The Independents Mike Bedigan this week. He said the aircraft manufacturer was infested with yes men and bean-counters, and that the company would tear down and rebuild to make significant progress.

I hope theres no more but I feel there may be other things hiding in the bushes, Irvin previously told The Independent. The door blowout really hit home for me because I predicted this.

The Independent has contacted Boeing for comment.
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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 popular Unesco world heritage site in China now has timers installed in the restrooms that show the duration a toilet cubicle has been in use.

The Yungang Grottoes in Datong city of Shanxi Province, which millions of tourists visit every year for its 252 caves and 51,000 Buddha statues, is in the news for its digitised restrooms.

The installation of timers has been criticised by many people in the country who said it was to limit their usage of the restroom.

A video shared on Chinese social media and news websites showed digital timers installed above a row of toilets in a womens washroom. Each cubicle showed the duration of the time the door had been shut, suggesting it was in use.

open image in gallery The Yungang Grottoes are a classical masterpiece of Chinese Buddhist art and were included in the UNESCO World Heritage list in 2001 ( Getty Images )

A staff member at the caves told the Xiaoxiang Morning Herald, a state-run local newspaper, that the new timers were installed to cope with an increase in the number of visitors for its innovative restroom management but not police the time spent in the toilet.

They arent there to control the durations you could use the bathrooms, the staff member was quoted by the newspaper as saying.

Its impossible that we would kick someone out [of the bathroom stall] midway. And we arent setting a time limit such as five or 10 minutes of how long one could use the toilets.

A visitor to the historical marvel told the newspaper that they found the timers a little embarrassing, according to CNN.

open image in gallery The Yungang Grottoes attracted 3 million visitors in 2023 ( Getty Images )

I found it quite advanced technologically so you dont have to queue outside or knock on a bathroom door, the visitor said.

But I also found it a little bit embarrassing. It felt like I was being monitored.

Another staff member told the Nanchang Evening News that the timers have been operational since 1 May this year and it was to ensure the well-being of all guests in case some guests use the toilet for an extended period and an emergency occurs.

Many people also took to social media and asked the need for timers at a tourist place and said that it was a misuse of money which could have been used for building more toilets.

A tourist site isnt an office  who would spend their time in the toilets? Is it really necessary? said one Weibo user.

Your time is counted! said another user.

Why dont they just spend the money on building more washrooms? said another.

More than 3 million tourists visited the Yungang Buddhist Grottoes in 2023, one of the biggest attractions in northern China. The Grottoes represents the outstanding achievement of Buddhist cave art in China in the 5th and 6th centuries.

However, it is not the first time in China that people have been outraged for the policing of their bathroom breaks. In 2020, a tech firm was blasted by social media users for installing digital timers above toilet cubicles at an office in Beijing.
The US secretary of state has said Hamas cannot and will not be allowed to decide the future of people in the region after the group proposed numerous changes to a US-backed ceasefire plan.

Antony Blinken made the comments in Qatar on his eighth visit to the region since the start of the war.

He said the US and its partners were working on a post-war plan and that they would put forward proposals for key elements, including concrete ideas for how to manage governance, security, reconstruction.

Mr Blinken is in the region to push a ceasefire proposal with global support that has not been fully embraced by Israel or Hamas.

The militant group submitted its first official response late on Tuesday, requesting amendments to the deal.
Airline and pilot union are continuing crunch pay talks today as outcome of pilot ballot for industrial action expected this evening

About 40,000 passengers fly with Aer Lingus every day during the busy summer period

Pilots in Aer Lingus have voted overwhelmingly for strike action in a dispute over pay even as talks with airline management continued into Wednesday evening.

Members of the Irish Airline Pilots Association (IALPA) voted 98pc in favour of taking industrial action up to and including full withdrawal of labour. Turnout for the ballot was 98pc.

No strike action is planned, so far, and talks with management are continuing but the overwhelming vote points to the huge gap between the two sides heading into the busy summer season.

IALPA president Captain Mark Tighe said the result of the ballot showed that Aer Lingus pilots are determined to secure a fair and reasonable pay rise after years of inflation.

Captain Tighe said: The result of this ballot shows the resolve and determination of our members to get a fair share of the large profits that Aer Lingus are making. Last year, they reported 225 million profit  an increase of 400% on the previous year.

Aer Lingus said any move to strike action would be entirely regrettable and insisted talks are ongoing.

If a strike does happen the vast majority of the 40,000 passengers flying every day with Aer Lingus over the summer would see their flights grounded if a pilots union calls for strike action due to a pay dispute.

Aer Lingus and the Irish Airline Pilots Association remain locked in pay talks today.

The pilots have also been balloting for industrial action, with the outcome of the vote expected at 5pm. Its anticipated that the vast majority of the almost 800 pilots at the airline will vote in favour of action.

That means that strike action could take place at a weeks notice, upending holiday and other plans for families and business travellers. Even a half-day of stoppages by pilots would mean the Aer Lingus schedule for the entire day being virtually scrapped. The action would also affect the prior days schedule and have knock-on effects over the next couple of days as passengers are reaccommodated.

With the busy summer season kicking off, Aer Lingus will be carrying about 40,000 passengers every day on its services. Its likely about 95pc of passengers on any given strike day wont get to travel. The impact would be felt by its passengers in Ireland, across Europe and in the United States and Canada.

Aer Lingus is understood to be lining up potential wet-lease aircraft for use during industrial action. Such jets are provided by a third party, with the crew provided.

But such capacity is difficult to come by during the peak summer season. Its thought Aer Lingus will use any such wet-lease jets to maintain some services on key routes such as Dublin to London Heathrow and Dublin to New Yorks JFK.

While Aer Lingus also has a base in Manchester, the pilots there are not part of the ballot by their colleagues in Ireland.

However, the Manchester-based pilots also cannot fly aircraft out of Ireland. Even if they could, Aer Lingus services to the Caribbean and North America from Manchester are all but fully booked for the summer, meaning aircraft there couldnt be diverted to operate routes out of Ireland.

Talks between Aer Lingus and the Irish Airline Pilots Union (Ialpa) are continuing since this morning.

The union requested the meeting after discussions between the two sides ended on Tuesday without any progress.

Aer Lingus met with Ialpa today for direct discussions with a view to reaching agreement on pilot pay, said a spokesperson for the airline on Tuesday.

No significant progress was made, with Ialpa demanding an unsustainable level of increase in pilot pay (in excess of 20pc) that was not supported by any increase in productivity or flexibility, they added.

Aer Lingus offer to request the support of the Workplace Relations Commission in order to further explore solutions, the spokesperson said. This offer was rejected by Ialpa, and they ended the discussions.

Ialpa told its members on Tuesday that the talks concluded when Aer Lingus indicated that no further discussion could take place without Ialpa agreeing to productivity changes to increase the pay offer.

Aer Lingus expressed a wish to return to a third-party mediator or the Workplace Relations Commission, which was rejected by Ialpa in favour of direct negotiations, it said. Ialpa views direct negotiations as the best way forward, considering 20 months of progress as concluded without agreement.

Ialpa has been seeking a near 24pc pay rise for its members at Aer Lingus. The airline has offered a 12.25pc, which included 3.75pc to pay for a 2019 crewing agreement.

An independent pay tribunal last year recommended a 12.25pc increase in consolidated pay and a 1.5pc rise in unconsolidated pay for the pilots.

The Labour Court recommended an interim 9.25pc pay increase, with the cost of the crewing agreement to be settled by the end of the summer, it hoped. That proposal was accepted by Aer Lingus but overwhelmingly rejected by pilots.
Airline chief says passenger cap at Dublin Airport will see higher fares for festive season

Many passengers hoping to fly home with Ryanair for Christmas via Dublin Airport will instead have to go via Belfast, the airlines group chief executive Michael OLeary has claimed.

Appearing before the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications on Wednesday, he again warned that Ryanairs airfares to Dublin this Christmas could hit 1,000 return due to the passenger cap at the airport.

Dublin Airport currently cant handle more than 32 million passengers a year due to a planning condition attached almost 20 years ago to the construction of Terminal 2.

While the DAA is aiming to have the cap raised, Mr OLeary said it could be four years before a decision is made on that due to planning delays and likely legal challenges.

Ryanair has claimed the passenger cap is hindering its growth at the gateway and that it has already diverted aircraft away from Dublin so they can serve airports elsewhere in Europe.

Mr OLeary has previously said the airline will likely be charging huge prices for its flights into Dublin over Christmas if the passenger cap isnt raised or removed. Ryanair is likely to add some extra capacity at Belfast to facilitate passengers whose ultimate destinations are other places within Ireland.

We have two aircraft based in Belfast, Mr OLeary told the committee. Now, we think we can resolve some of the pressure this Christmas with our returning immigrants coming home for Christmas, but theyll be coming home via Belfast.

He claimed some people wont be able to afford to come home for Christmas due to the high fares that Ryanair would charge if the passenger cap isnt lifted. Senator Gerard Craughwell questioned if Ryanair was imposing a penalty on flyers in order to turn up the political heat on the issue.

Mr OLeary claimed that transport issues arent a high priority for Transport Minister Eamon Ryan.

He claimed there were two ways the Government could quickly remove the passenger cap. The quickest, easiest and most efficient solution is for the Minister of Transport to now move emergency legislation to amend the Planning and Development Act, he claimed.

The second option, and this can be pursued at the same time, is for the Minister for Housing and Local Government to use the Planning and Development Strategic Infrastructure Act 2006 to make airports strategic infrastructure and issue a ministerial direction to An Bord Pleanala to scrap the passenger cap.

Fine Gael TD Alan Farrell, who represents the Fingal constituency, agreed the passenger cap is a blunt instrument, but insisted it would be impossible to bypass regulatory processes, and that attempting to do so would result in legal action.

If we interfere in the planning process it will immediately end up in the courts, he said. It will be injuncted and it will be back to square one.

The DAA has submitted a planning application for infrastructure development at Dublin Airport that includes a proposal to increase the passenger cap to 40 million. It has also indicated it may submit a separate planning application to raise the passenger cap to 36 million a year on an interim basis.
When fully established it said Greengate Biogas will produce nearly 1.8 TWh per year of biomethane across multiple projects, representing approximately 3.5pc of Irelands current natural gas demand and 30pc of Irelands 2030 biomethane target.

Manure from over 2,000 farm in Ireland will be needed to fuel a biomethane project announced by a Danish fund manager today.

Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP) has said it will develop, construct and operate manure-powered biogas plants in Ireland over the coming years that will deliver 30pc of the country's biomethane targets.

In an announcement today, the fund, through Greengate Biogas, will develop, construct and operate biogas plants across Ireland with a primary focus on utilising manure as feedstock.

When fully established it said Greengate Biogas will produce nearly 1.8 TWh per year of biomethane across multiple projects, representing approximately 3.5pc of Irelands current natural gas demand and 30pc of Irelands 2030 biomethane target established in the recently published biomethane strategy.

This equates to enough gas to heat over 160,000 Irish homes or meet 20pc of Irish industrial gas demand1. The projects will inject biomethane into the grid and recirculate organic fertilisers to farmers contributing to Irelands circular economy and green transition.

Manure will be the predominant feedstock  and will be sourced in close collaboration with over 2,000 livestock farmers across the country, it said.

It said that by implementing anaerobic digestion for improved manure management, Greengate Biogas will also help reduce emissions from the agricultural sector and address nitrate challenges.

Andreas F. Brandt, Partner at CIP, said of the new partnership: We are excited to enter the Irish bioenergy industry with Greengate Biogas which will make a significant contribution to the green transition, as well as creating local jobs and investments across the agricultural and rural economies.

"Ireland is a key market for CIP, and alongside our existing interests in offshore wind and solar power, we look forward to seeing the growth in biogas make significant contributions to renewable energy production, CO2 abatement and water quality management. We look forward to progressing the projects with our local development team and in collaboration with Irish farmers, local authorities and other stakeholders.

Founded in 2012, Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP) is the worlds largest dedicated fund manager within greenfield renewable energy investments and a global leader in offshore wind.

The funds managed by CIP focus on investments in offshore and onshore wind, solar PV, biomass and energy-from-waste, transmission and distribution, reserve capacity, storage and advanced bioenergy.

CIP manages 12 funds and has to date raised approximately 28bn for investments in energy and associated infrastructure from more than 160 international institutional investors.

Under the Greengate Biogas partnership CIP, Atlas Renewables and Energex Partners will join forces. Atlas Renewables is a local development team specifically established to develop biogas plants in Ireland, while

Energex Partners is a specialist commercial advisory practice serving the energy sector.
Aerial view of farmers piling up dried wheat on June 9, 2024 in Huaian, Jiangsu Province of China. (Photo by VCG/VCG via Getty Images)

China's appetite for overseas wheat and corn is dwindling rapidly, which is likely to heap pressure on world grain markets that have grown accustomed to robust demand from the world's top agricultural importer.

Buyers in China haven't been observed making any major purchases for a couple of months, according to a number of traders. With domestic prices so low, that trend is likely to continue through the third quarter, they said, declining to be identified discussing sensitive commercial matters.

Global forecasters such as the International Grains Council and the US Department of Agriculture are still estimating hefty Chinese purchases over this year and next. If imports plunge, a key pillar of demand, affecting farmers from the Americas to Europe and Australia, would be compromised.

China's apathy over imports stems from a sluggish economy and consecutive bumper harvests. The government has been forced to stockpile both wheat and corn to support local farmers, while overseas corn shipments have been restricted or even canceled to prop up the domestic market.

That should alarm China's foreign suppliers, particularly after Turkey, the world's fifth biggest buyer of wheat, dealt a blow to demand last week by halting its imports of the grain for four months to shield local producers. Feeble consumption for similar reasons from China, the No. 2 importer, would only add to the market's jitters.

"The economy is really bad, and overall demand from the whole of society is slumping," said Ma Wenfeng, a senior analyst at BOABC, a consultancy in Beijing. "The government wants to raise grain prices and increase farm incomes, to activate demand in rural areas. Rather than buying grain from overseas, it is better to buy domestically."

China has long been a massive buyer of soybeans, principally to nourish its vast hog herd, and is actively booking more cargoes. But the explosive growth in wheat and corn, which also count livestock feed among their uses, only began with diplomatic pledges made to the US during the trade war with the Trump administration.

Wheat and corn imports from January through April were actually running ahead of last year's pace. That makes the sudden drop-off in activity all the more startling, and could leave international markets vulnerable to declines if China is indeed adjusting its strategy on overseas purchases.

In the last full week of May, the US had just 86,300 tons of corn left to ship to China in the current marketing year that ends in August, drastically below last year's 631,600 tons, according to the USDA. For next season, there are no outstanding corn sales which hasn't happened in five years and just 62,500 tons of wheat.

Although the situation could turn around swiftly, particularly in the event of bad weather affecting harvests, China's glut of grain is unlikely to thin dramatically while consumption remains so weak. Moreover, another year of bumper wheat and corn production is on the cards.

Improved harvest conditions are likely to help narrow China's wheat deficit from almost 17 million tons in this marketing year to under 7.5 million tons in 2024-25, resulting in reduced import demand, according to Charles Hart, senior commodities analyst at BMI, a unit of Fitch Solutions. Corn imports will also moderate in 2024-25 as output increases, he said.

Feed Demand

On the demand side, China's pig herd is shrinking and meat consumption remains subdued. Mysteel Global expects animal feed requirements for the new wheat crop to shrink by half from a year ago, according to a report from the Chinese consultancy last week. Margins at mills that produce flour for cakes and bread are also suffering as people cut spending, Mysteel said.

That means fewer imports. For corn, China's agriculture ministry has predicted that cargoes in the new marketing year will drop by a third to 13 million tons, from 19.5 million tons estimated for this year. The USDA is still holding out for 23 million tons, although it could revise its figure later Wednesday when it releases its monthly forecasts.

But there's pressure on shipments to fall even further. China manages its imports according to a quota system that this year would allow just over 7 million tons of corn and nearly 10 million tons of wheat at the lowest tariff of 1%. After that, duties shoot up to 65%.

While buyers will be keen to use up their quotas, the economics of importing more than that makes much less sense, said BOABC's Ma.

"We don't need such big imports after all, given the bumper harvests and, more importantly, the significant declines in consumption," he said.

On the Wire

China's consumer prices rose in May, holding above zero for a fourth month after the country saw its worst deflation streak in over a decade.

Australia is realistic about the challenges in its diplomatic relationship with Beijing, Treasurer Jim Chalmers said, as the country prepares for the first visit by a Chinese premier in more than seven years.

A surprise tax change in Brazil, the world's largest soybean exporter, is prompting Chinese buyers to snatch up US supplies.

Bloomberg.
Majority of allegations relate to sexual abuse in 60s,70s and 80sOne allegation of sexual abuse in 2023

Teresa Devlin, the outgoing CEO of church watchdog NBSCCCI, said progress had been made but that damage of abuse was ongoing

A total of 252 allegations of abuse were made against 209 members of the Catholic Church in Ireland over the past year, a slight increase on the previous year, according to a new report.

The annual report of the National Board for Safeguarding Children in the Catholic Church in Ireland (NBSCCI), published on Wednesday, covers the period from 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2024, and for the first time shows type of abuse alleged and the breakdown between allegations against diocesan personnel (65) and members of religious congregations (187).

While the majority of the 252 allegations relates to sexual abuse (183) in the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s, four allegations relate to the year 2000 or later. Two relate to sexual abuse that is alleged to have taken place in the 2000s and one is sexual abuse alleged to have taken place in 2023.

A further 26 allegations relate to physical abuse; 17 allegations of emotional abuse; 1 allegation of neglect; 1 allegation of boundary violations; and a further 24 types of abuse were not provided.

Of the 209 church personnel against whom the allegations were made, 153 were members of male religious congregations, 14 were male diocesan clergy and 41 were female religious with one unknown.

In the report, the National Board reveals it has completed an evaluation of the Head to Heart programme, which over the past three years has introduced child safeguarding into the formation of seminarians at the Pontifical Irish College, Rome; St Patricks College, Maynooth; and the Redemptoris Mater Seminary in Dundalk.

Outgoing CEO of the National Board Teresa Devlin  in her final annual report after 10 years at the helm  explains that this programme has now been expanded to the Permanent Diaconate, with a view to extending it further.

I am confident that, in terms of international development, this programme leads the way in embedding the importance of child safeguarding in priestly formation, Ms Devlin states.

Though she notes that progress has been made during her time with the safeguarding watchdog, Ms Devlin also pointed out that the damage done by abuse was ongoing.

We cannot afford to think that we have finished our work in this area in Ireland. We clearly have more to do, she said. I believe that there are still gaps in our practices with complainants and their families. We must accept the need to transition to a more compassionate response.

She is succeeded by Aidan Gordon as CEO.

Over the past year the number of requests for safeguarding advice also increased from 282 to 306. In addition, a total of 11 safeguarding reviews were completed. All 26 Catholic dioceses have now had reviews completed and have also completed an annual self-audit, as have 50 religious orders/congregations.

Once again, the National Board highlights in its annual report the challenges it is experiencing due to data protection constraints.

It reveals it is unable to report publicly with the level of detail that it would like, to demonstrate a transparent, centralised account of allegations received in any one year due to data protection legislation which prevents the sharing of special-category data with the National Board.

This means that when notifications are received, they are anonymised, and there is no ability to cross-reference to ensure that the respondent is already known, or to check if the allegation may already have been reported to the National Board by another source.

The Data Protection Commissioners office has told the NBSCCI that the Law Reform Commission is considering drafting legislative changes to enable the exchange of information in the interests of safeguarding.
File photo dated 30/05/24 of an early morning operation taking place to remove tents which have been pitched by asylum seekers along a stretch of the Grand Canal, Dublin. PA.

Asylum seekers camping in tents on Dublins streets are now being routinely moved on numerous times while they wait for accommodation, according to volunteers who work with them.

While large camps have become established in the recent past, resulting in large multi-agency operations to move the occupants to alternative emergency accommodation when it could be provided, many international protection applicants have reported to volunteers that they have been moved four or five times in recent days by gardai when they attempt to pitch a tent in the city.

A camp on the footpath on the city side of Dublins Leeson Street Bridge that had grown to around 50 tents in the past week was cleared by gardai and Dublin City Council on Tuesday without the occupants being offered alternative accommodation.

A volunteer who works in the migrant accommodation area said some of the asylum seekers were directed back to the International Protection Office on Mount Street where they were then told there was no accommodation for them.

Some of them then stayed there, not knowing where to go next, but were eventually told to move by gardai.

Others tried to camp at nearby Dartmouth Square but it is understood the gardai were called and the attempt to camp there was stopped.

Olivia Headon, a volunteer who has been liaising with the asylum seekers at the different camps, said the migrants who did not want to leave the IPO centre were told by gardai that the public order unit could be called if they did not go.

She has said that many migrant men have said they have been moved and that as a result many migrants have trust issues with gardai.

They are asking how many times are we going to be moved? and there are no answers and no accommodation, said Ms Headon.

Yesterday morning migrant men were reporting to volunteers that they were being moved by gardai from Leeson Street, and by staff from Waterways Ireland from areas along the Grand Canal where they were trying to pitch at locks.

Ms Headon also said many gardai working on the ground do not seem to be aware that they can make emergency referrals to IPAS (International Protection Accommodation Services) on behalf of migrants.

This is not the fault of individual gardai, but I wonder if the message from Government is being communicated properly throughout the ranks, she added.

A spokesperson for the Department of Integration said the removal of tents from Leeson Street was undertaken by Dublin City Council and An Garda Siochana.

A garda spokesman confirmed Dublin City Council with the support of An Garda Siochana carried out the operation to remove tents from Leeson Street.

The occupants moved without incident and the tents and debris that were left behind were removed by City Council Waste Management staff. Occupants of the tents were provided with contact information for IPAS regarding the provision of accommodation, he said.

Some have since been offered accommodation yesterday.
Photographer Ruth Medjber on her decision to be child-free: It feels like a secret to know that you dont have to be a mother
Cllr Johnny Healy-Rae, who topped the poll in the Kenmare Electoral Area, took a swipe at Green Party Leader Eamon Ryan during his election speeches.

He said that the Healy-Raes are about people not parties and that Eamon Ryan should note this.

"Eamon Ryan has a story about turning the people of Kerry Green a couple of weeks ago, the people of Kerry first of all never harmed the environment number one and the only thing turning Green in Kerry this weekend is the hills and mountains for the sheep for the summer and maybe Eamon Ryan should take this into consideration with some of the fairytale ideas he has for our country, he said following his re-election to Kerry County Council this weekend.

He put this success down to exactly this  working hard for the people of Kerry.

The way I see it is that it is down to hard work and common sense.

He said the Healy-Rae's are hired to do a job for the people of Kerry, just like you would hire a mechanic or a painter.

"We do our level best level best, it is not a hobby, we take it seriously, we dont spare ourselves and go through as much as we can in any given day and our biggest critics cant take that from us," he said.

Cllr Johnny Healy-Rae (Independent) tops the poll in the Killarney Electoral Area. Photo by Tatyana McGough

"I am honoured to represent South and Mid Kerry on Kerry County Council. I like it, I enjoy it and I have grown into it. I enjoy every minute of it. I enjoy a good row or a laugh but most of all I adore the people I represent and the area I represent and I will do as much as I possible can to repay everyone one of those votes by working hard and having a common sense approach.
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.
Gavin Pepper and Malachy Steenson among vocal anti-immigration Independent candidates who have won seats on councils

Far-right candidate Gavin Pepper is hoisted high by Hermann Kelly, leader of the Irish Freedom Party, following the declaration of Mr Pepper's election to Dublin City Council. Photo: RollingNews.ie

For every anti-immigrant candidate who won a seat on a local council this weekend, there was at least a handful of others who missed out  some of whom fell short by narrow margins.

But there are now four councillors in Dublin that have been vocally anti-immigrant, two of whom will sit on Dublin City Council.

Independent Gavin Pepper was the second candidate elected in Ballymun-Finglas on Sunday, picking up a wealth of transfers from National Party candidate Stephen Redmond who was eliminated in the tenth count.

Standing in front of a flag held by his supporters in the main hall of the RDS, he said the Government needs to wake up and send them home.

The taxi driver consistently uses the hashtag #IrelandBelongsToTheIrish and #IrelandIsFull on social media and has made calls for Ireland to have our own Rwanda plan.

Fellow Independent councillor Malachy Steenson, a solicitor who began his political career as a member of the left-wing Workers Party, was hoisted onto the shoulders of supporters behind a tricolour when he won a North Inner City seat on Sunday.

Malachy Steenson elected in North Inner City Dublin

I think its a fabulous result for the nationalist movement in Ireland. Its a fabulous result for the people of Ireland. Were taking our nation back, he told RTE, describing his success as a clear message the revolution has begun.

He first ran for the same seat in 2009 under the Workers Party before he ran for the Dail in 2011, when he received less than 1pc of the vote share and the winner in his constituency was first-time Fine Gael TD Paschal Donohoe.

His electoral fortunes have since changed. The newly elected councillor also ran in the European elections for Dublin this year and was eliminated in the 12th count after receiving 11,483 votes.

Cllr Steenson has been a consistent presence at multiple anti-immigration marches and was one of the organisers of protests in East Wall against the housing of asylum-seekers there.

Newly elected candidate Malachy Steenson at the RDS. Photo: Collins Photos

The National Party won a seat for the first time in Fingal this weekend with the election of its deputy leader Patrick Quinlan in Blanchardstown-Mulhuddart. His bio on the party website says he became politically active during the abortion referendum.

We need to get our priorities straight: Ireland is our home, and Irish homes for Irish families is what we need, it reads.

He recently retweeted a claim that the Government gave every illegal immigrant and refugee the right to vote and foreigners (were) being bussed to election centres on polling day, a conspiracy that was being touted on social media by a number of anti-immigrant personalities.

The party shared a video of him speaking at what it described as an anti-plantation protest outside the Custom House last month, when he attempted to paint a false picture of Irish patriots who were fighting back against the globalist, marxist, socialists who want to sell Ireland out [to] the highest bidder and plant Irish towns and villages.

Glen is a proud gay man who stands firmly against the woke establishment; be it gender madness, or the disregard for working-class Irish people

Meanwhile, the Irish Freedom Party also elected its first ever councillor when Glen Moore won a seat in Palmerstown-Fonthill.

The party is led by Hermann Kelly, a former journalist and press officer for UK politician Nigel Farage, who ran for Europe in the Midlands-North West constituency and received 13,904 first-preference votes.

Cllr Moore, a medical communications engineer who joined the party last year after witnessing rising violent crime in Dublin, is described as a well-known face around the local karate scene in Clondalkin on the party website.

Glen is a proud gay man who stands firmly against the woke establishment; be it gender madness, or the disregard for working-class Irish people, it reads.

He believes it is tragic that in a time of record Irish accommodation shortages, the Government continues to pursue mass immigration, driving young Irish away from our country, and others onto the streets.

One of his pledges for the local area is to push South Dublin County Council into a policy of non-co-operation with the Department of Integration until a viable asylum system is put in place. He shared a video of the returning officer announcing his election this weekend with the hashtag #Irexit.

Elsewhere, anti-immigrant campaigners missed out narrowly. Irish People candidate Ross Lahive lost out to People Before Profits Brian McCarthy for the final seat in Cork City North West by just 190 votes.
Fine Gael councillor Ted Lucey celebrates his re-election to Macroom LEA on the final count at County Hall

All six candidates in the Macroom local electoral area comfortably regained their seats to maintain the status quo in the Municipal District.

Fianna Fail councillor Gobnait Moynihan topped the poll after she received 2,794 first preference votes in the Macroom LEA.

Experienced politician Michael Creed (FG) who topped the poll in 2019, also secured a seat on the first count after he collected 2,593 first preference votes.

Fianna Fail candidate Michael Looney was re-elected on the second count with 2,584 votes.

Fine Gael candidate Eileen Lynch was re-elected to Cork County Council on the fifth count after she ended up with 2,739 votes.

The election of Ted Lucey (FG) and Martin Coughlan (Independent) in the seventh and final count meant that all six outgoing councillors were re-elected in the Macroom LEA.

Cllr Ted Lucey received 2,419 votes, while Cllr Martin Coughlan took 2,176 votes.

Ten candidates competed for the six seats in the Macroom LEA.

Independent Ireland candidate Dermot Kelleher was unlucky not to break through after he secured a strong first preference vote of 1,337.

Sinn Fein candidate John OSullivan who is based in Millstreet also performed well which augurs well for the future.

Mr OSullivan secured 1,117 first preference votes.

Green Party candidate Harriet Burgess garnered 939 first preference votes, while Aontu candidate Rosarie OLeary received 588 first preference votes.

The turnout in the Macroom LEA was 55.47%. The total valid poll was 17,788 and the number of spoiled votes was 140.

The quota was 2,542. Cllrs Moynihan and Creed exceeded the quota after the first count.

Speaking with The Corkman Cllr Michael Creed expressed his delight with the overall result. I am absolutely delighted. We were very low in the polls and the strategy was to try and get three seats. I did everything in my power to get three seats. My area was very small. I had no town whatsoever to canvass. I stuck completely within the boundary and I did what the director of elections said.

It worked out a dream that all three candidates got elected, Cllr Creed said. I am delighted Ted and Eileen got over the line. It was a great achievement for the three of us to get back. It was as good a result as anywhere in the country. I was hearing that there was abuse on the doors. I picked up none of it anyway. I didnt get abuse at one door.

In the new council term, Cllr Creed wants to secure more funding for roads and communities throughout the Macroom local electoral area. My main priority is funding. Funding for roads and funding for rural roads. Extra staff also for Cork County Council because we are short of them on the ground. I would also like to see more funding for the various communities. We have to look after our local communities.

With current Fine Gael TD Michael Creed not running in the next general election, speculation is growing as to what candidate the party will select to run in the Cork North West constituency.

Cllr Creed admitted he hasnt made his mind up yet if he will run or not. I have not made my mind up yet whether I will consider running or not. I havent ruled myself in or I havent ruled myself out.
Raymond Shannon took the sixth seat of seven in the Wexford Borough District following a dramatic count

Shortly after midnight, as Sunday night became Monday morning, a bleary-eyed Raymond Shannon reached for the ringing phone on his bedside table. It his niece and a member of his campaign team.

"Ray, you better get back down here. Youre going to be elected! the voice said.

As time rolled on at the count centre, the first-time Wexford Independent Alliance candidate had called it a day. Fearing he was out of the race for a seat in Wexford, and having to be up shortly after 4 a.m. for work transporting a cancer patient to Dublin for treatment, he shook hands, said his goodbyes and left the St Josephs count centre.

Little did he know that the elimination of veteran councillor Davy Hynes (SF) would bring a sizeable chunk of transfers, meaning that he would be elected on the 11th and final count to the 6th seat, being followed over the line by Catherine Biddy Walsh (LAB).

"I just cant believe, Raymond said, having rushed from home for the official declaration.

"I thought earlier today I was out of the frame. The further things went along, I thought I was even further out of the frame. Im completely taken aback. I thought that was it.

Even when he left the count centre, believing he had been unsuccessful, the first-time candidate was not downbeat.

I enjoyed the campaign, he said. I was blown away by the first preference votes. I got 507 first preferences. I was expecting half that.

An award winning mental health advocate, the improvement of mental health services for children and young adults in particular is something close to Raymond's heart and it formed the basis of his campaign and his reason for throwing his hat into the ring.

"I campaigned on the mental health issue alone, he said. Thats 507 votes from people who agree we need better mental health services. I know the council workload is completely different, but I will still campaign for better mental health services and I will use the council as a platform to highlight that.

Raymond struggled to explain the circumstances that had led to his last minute dash to the count centre.

"I dont know what happened really," he said. I just think the Sinn Fein vote collapsed around the country. But Davy (Hynes) gave a lot of good years of service to Wexford. He fought hard and was a good campaigner for mental health. Its sad to see him go.
The Government has already started the investigation into the alleged serious animal welfare abuse uncovered in the treatment of horses sent for slaughter at Ireland's only licensed equine abattoir in Kildare, Minister for Agriculture Charlie McConalogue has said.

Using hidden cameras, RTE Investigates filmed the activity in a lairage used by Shannonside Foods in Straffan, Co, Kildare, where the company keeps horses before they are brought to the kill room.

Shannonside Foods told RTE that any allegation of an equine being mistreated "will be fully prosecuted".

The recordings show horses being repeatedly hit, whipped, punched around the head, and struck with long lengths of plastic piping.

One horse was seen falling and being too weak to stand to be later prodded with a pitchfork. It died after hours of struggling and was seen dragged out of the shed the next day.

Those responsible for the "abhorrent" treatment of horses will face the "full rigours of the law", the agriculture minister said.

Charlie McConalogue said the scenes of the mistreatment of horses were "abhorrent and distressing".

Horse Racing Ireland said it will "actively support" the Department of Agriculture and Garda investigations, and urged anyone with information about mistreatment of horses to report it to gardai.

"The scenes we saw last night and the treatment of those horses was abhorrent and distressing. Horses are beautiful, sensitive animals and that was absolutely unacceptable," Mr McConalogue said.

"It's certainly not representative of the way that people across this country and those in the industry treat and care for their horses. We already have commenced an investigation in the Department of Agriculture.

"We've also requested all of the footage that RTE has, and any other evidence as well to make it available to the investigation team.

"Obviously, I would avoid saying anything that might be prejudicial to the conduct of that investigation. But I can assure you and I can assure the public that this will be fully investigated, and that the full rigour of the law will be applied here.

"The law is adequate but what we saw last night was not lawful, and it was breaches of the law."

The Fianna Fail minister said there are strict laws in place around the management of what enters the human food chain.

He said that no stone will be left unturned in the investigation.

He said that the traceability of horses has been "significantly improved" over the last 10 years.

"The system in place at European level is an evolving process and we've done a lot here in Ireland over the last 10 years," he added.

Asked whether he can ensure that no horses are being beaten today, the minister said: "You can never be sure that somebody is not mistreating in any avenue of life, but what we have in place is very strict laws and very strict penalties in relation to that.

"What I'm also very sure of is right across our equine industry, that people and everyone involved in that industry are massively respectful and provide tremendous care to the horses - but you can have incidents where people mistreat and break that law.

"Certainly the incidents we saw last night speak to that and the full rigours of the law now will be brought to bear in relation to the evidence that has been brought to this."

It was revealed that two-thirds of those horses were thoroughbred racehorses who raced over 3,000 times, earning their owners more than 1.5 million on Irish and European tracks.

Minister McConalogue had told the Irish Independent in a statement that the Government has already started the investigation.

The investigation shows how some horses are slaughtered while others are traded in deals in the equine industry and the abuse they can suffer after they leave the spotlight.

This year, the racing industry received 76m in State support while thousands of horses are bred each year to sustain it.

Due to concerns for the welfare and the treatment of horses by some associated with the Shannonside Foods Ltd slaughterhouse, RTE monitored activity in the lairage shed where Department of Agriculture inspectors don't have a remit to regulate or inspect.

This shed is where horses are held and screened in the days leading up to their slaughter.

Photo: RTE Investigates.

The Department of Agriculture told RTE the lairage is not part of the approved premises over their jurisdiction but "evidence of illegal activity" "will be appropriately investigated".

The second part of RTE Investigates: Horses - Making a Killing airs tonight at 9.35pm on Prime Time on RTE One. Its also available on RTE Player.

John Osborne, director of equine welfare and bloodstock with Horse Racing Ireland who looks after the thoroughbred sector, described the abuse shown on the programme as abhorrent and disgusting.

I have been a vet for over 30 years. My dad, my wife, and my sister were a vet, that's 150 years of horse care. And in all those years, I haven't heard or seen anything quite like it, he told RTEs Morning Ireland.

"It was not in any way reflective of my lived experience around the horses all those years. It was shocking to watch.
Actor Henry Winkler was among the guests evacuated from the Shelbourne Hotel on Wednesday. Photo: Henry Winkler/X

A fire at the Shelbourne Hotel in Dublin was brought under control by Dublin Fire Brigade after staff and guests were evacuated from the premises this morning.

Among those evacuated was Henry Winkler, the American actor known for playing The Fonz on Happy Days.

Winkler was seen thanking firefighters at the scene and told reporters he thought the fire alarm was an alarm clock.

When I heard the fire alarm I thought it was the clock radio  I thought somebody had set the alarm before we got there, like another guest, he told reporters.

And finally I went into another room and it was still buzzing. So I called downstairs and the woman said in a very calm voice Yes, were all evacuating, you must evacuate right now.

You know what, how wonderful are firemen? Some of my favourite human beings, firemen and firewomen.

They run in when other people are running out. I think they deserve to (have their hands) shook.

The Emmy Award winning actor is in Dublin to perform The Fonz and Beyond at the National Concert Hall and promote his memoir Being Henry.

The fire was reported at the hotel on St Stephens Green shortly before 11am on Wednesday morning. A road closure between St Stephens Green North and Kildare Street remains in place while emergency services continue to deal with the incident.

Dublin Fire Brigade said the evacuation helped enormously in dealing with the incident.

Firefighters were called to a fire in a premises on St Stephen's Green at 10.38 this morning The fire is under control with an effective evacuation helping enormously, said Dublin Fire Brigade.

Gardai were at the scene of the incident where they assisted Dublin Fire Brigade. No injuries have been reported at this time, a garda spokesperson said.

Dublin Fire Brigade said the fire was brought under control around 11.30am and the firefighting operation ceased just before 12 noon.

Traffic restrictions in the area were lifted following a short period of delays.
Ireland South MEPS elected: Sean Kelly (FG), Billy Kelleher (FF), Michael McNamara (IND), Kathleen Funchion (SF) and Cynthia Ni Mhurchu (FF) Midlands-Northwest MEPS elected: Luke Ming Flanagan (IND), Barry Cowen (FF), Maria Walsh (FG), Nina Carberry (FG), Ciaran Mullooly (Ind Ireland)Dublin MEPS elected: Barry Andrews (FF), Regina Doherty (FG), Lynn Boylan (SF) and Aodhan O Riordain (LAB)Outgoing MEP Mick Wallace loses his seat in Ireland South on Thursday evening

MEP Billy Kelleher chats to a garda as he arrives at Nemo Rangers GAA club in Cork for the latest count in the Ireland South constituency, where he is likely to be re-elected. Photo: Jonathan Brady/PA

Minister Eamon Ryan (left), Taoiseach Simon Harris (centre) and Tanaiste Micheal Martin have all played down the prospect of an early general election (Damien Storan/PA)

Candidate Luke Ming Flanagan is still in the lead (Niall Carson/PA)

Taoiseach Simon Harris with Nina Carberry and Maria Walsh at TF Royal Theatre in Castlebar (Conor McKeown/PA)

A days-long marathon election count has ended with the election of three MEPs in the final region to declare.

Fianna Fail has doubled its presence in the European parliament, with Fine Gael on four seats  down one from its previous showing in 2019.

Sinn Fein has increased its European representation from one to two, while Labour holds one seat, the Independent Ireland party claimed one and two non-party aligned independents fill the remainder.

In the early hours of Friday morning, the constituency of Midlands-Northwest elected Fine Gaels Nina Carberry and Maria Walsh as well as Independent Ireland candidate and former RTE correspondent Ciaran Mullooly.

It followed shortly after the election of Fianna Fails Barry Cowen, while left-wing independent Luke Ming Flanagan was the first candidate over the line in the constituency on Thursday.

It was the last constituency to declare in the European Parliament elections.

Ireland South elected Fine Gaels Sean Kelly, independent Michael McNamara, Sinn Feins Kathleen Funchion as well as Fianna Fails Billy Kelleher and Cynthia Ni Mhurchu.

Cynthia Ni Mhurchu celebrates being elected to the Ireland South Constituency

Dublins electorate selected Fianna Fails Barry Andrews, Sinn Feins Lynn Boylan, Fine Gaels Regina Doherty and Labours Aodhan O Riordain.

Five MEPs have lost their seats throughout the entire process: Sinn Feins Chris MacManus, Greens Grace OSullivan and Ciaran Cuffe as well as independents Mick Wallace and Clare Daly.

Voters headed to the polls last Friday to pick 949 local councillors, 14 MEPs and the countrys first directly elected mayor.

Results from the three elections have been seen as a political boon for coalition partners Fine Gael and Fianna Fail, while the largest opposition party, Sinn Fein, has initiated a review after performing well below its own expectations.

Fianna Fail has emerged as the largest party in local government after all seats in Irelands local election were filled.

In the local elections, both main Government parties attracted around 23pc of first preference votes, representing a slight drop on their 2019 result.

Fianna Fail had 248 seats on councils, with Fine Gael close behind on 245. Sinn Fein was on 102 while 186 seats were held by independents.

Sinn Fein has increased it share of councillors, but party leader Mary Lou McDonald has admitted the result fell below their expectations.

The popular vote of 12pc is a dramatic turnaround in fortunes for the main opposition party which emerged from the 2020 general election on 24.5pc.

Meanwhile, the Labour party is down one to 56 councillors, the Green Partys support fell to 26 council seats while the Social Democrats share rose to 35.

The number of Independent councillors has also increased.

Fianna Fail will be tied with Fine Gael in terms of political representation at the European Parliament, despite the latter ending the elections with one fewer seat.

Sinn Fein has also increased its share of MEPs, and is hopeful for an additional seat through Ms Gildernew.

The results have fuelled speculation that the Government may look to call a general election earlier than the current projected timeline of spring 2025.

However, the leaders of all three coalition parties, Mr Harris, Mr Martin and Green Party leader Eamon Ryan, have all insisted they remain committed to the government going full term.

For her part, Sinn Fein leader Ms McDonald, who is facing questions over her stewardship of the party, has struck a defiant tone, urging Mr Harris to bring it on and call an early election.

With the election of TDs to the European Parliament, there will be a need for several by-elections in the coming six months.

That has added to speculation that the Government may seek an earlier general election, rather than fighting several potential by-elections only months before the Dail is dissolved.

Midlands-Northwest

The five-days-long Midlands-Northwest count at TF Royal Hotel in Castlebar came to an end in the early hours of Friday morning.

The final three seats of Midlands-Northwest constituency have been filled by Fine Gaels Maria Walsh, Nina Carberry and Independent Ireland candidate Ciaran Mullooly after the 21st count.

The exciting five days count saw a long of wait for the first election which concluded on Thursday with independent candidate Luke Ming Flanagan topping the poll in 19th count results while Barry Cowen (FF) got elected in the 20th count becoming the second candidate to pass the quota.

A further redistribution of Luke Ming flanagans surplus votes decided the fates of remaining four candidates, three of whom were elected while Sinn Feins Michelle Gildernew had to be eliminated.

The last three candidates were elected without reaching the quota with Maria Walsh (FG) having 100781 votes, Nina Carberry (FG) having 98872 votes and Ciaran Mullooly (II) having 88177 votes.

Sinn Feins Michelle Gildernew and Chris MacManus call for an early general election

Champion Jockey and businesswoman Nina Carberry has secured the second seat for Fine Gael in the constituency and will join party colleague Maria Walsh in the European Parliament.

In her address to the audience present at count centre Nina thanked her voters and supporters for the faith they have showed in her.

She said: Many people think I dont have anything to give, but thats not true. I have a lot to do and I am ready for my work in Europe.

I am looking forward to working with Maria and I think we will make a great team to deliver for the constituency.

Independent Ireland candidate Ciaran Mullooly said he will have a specific focus on regeneration of rural Ireland.

He said: The farming and rural issues are very high on my agenda. We have a huge decline in population across the country in towns and villages. We have issues there and we need to focus on them.

I will also be focusing on improving the livelihood of people both in urban and rural areas across Ireland.

The results of Midlands Northwest constituency remained disappointing for Sinn Fein as the outgoing MEP Chris MacManus lost his seat. The second candidate Michelle Gallagher remained a big challenge for Ciaran Mullooly but she lost the run in the last count.

Taoiseach Simon Harris arrived at TF Royal Hotel in the last hours of count to meet Fine Gaels Nina Carberry and Maria Walsh.

Speaking to the media he expressed excitement at the incredible results in local elections of Mayo county council and the European elections.

He called it absolute nonsense that the two Fine Gael MEP candidates are being described as celebrity candidates by many people.

He said: Nina Carberry is not a celebrity; she is a champion. Using a little less pejorative language would be useful, when you have so many award-winning people who run businesses or who write books, joining an experienced MEP.

This is an incredible ticket of two female MEPs being elected in Midlands Northwest and I am extremely proud of them. I think the people of Midlands Northwest are also proud of them and thats why they exceeded all expectations of all pandits who yet again got it wrong in predicting what people of this constituency would do.

Ireland South

In Ireland South, the final three seats were filled on Thursday afternoon as Michael McNamara (IND), Kathleen Funchion (SF) and Cynthia Ni Mhurchu (FF) were elected as MEPs. Sitting MEP Mick Wallace lost his seat.

Counting in Ireland South ended after a gruelling five days which saw Sean Kelly (FG) top the poll in the first count while Billy Kelleher (Fianna Fail) had to wait until count 18 to be the second candidate to pass the quota.

Upon the redistribution of Grace OSullivans votes, Ni Mhurchu confirmed her lead over Wallace, who lost his seat in the European Parliament.

McNamara, Funchion and Ni Mhurchu were elected without reaching the quota.

Mary Lou McDonald celebrates with Kathleen Funchion after being elected as an MEP for the Ireland South constituency

Former RTE broadcaster Cynthia Ni Mhurchu secured a second seat for Fianna Fail and will join running mate Billy Kelleher in Brussels for the next five years.

The barrister and mediator, who hosted the Eurovision Song Contest alongside the late Gerry Ryan in 1994, said she plans to have the celebration of all celebrations for her 58th birthday tomorrow.

It is magnificent. I am going to celebrate like there is no tomorrow. The celebrations wont last a day. They will last many many days.

Ms Ni Mhurchu said that she has enjoyed every minute of meeting with would be voters over the last few months.

I have relished every day of the campaign meeting people. I am a people person. The campaign was run in a very organised way but also in a very human way. We did get a chance to engage with people, to meet with groups, to meet with politicians, councillors and families and to go in to schools. It was a very positive campaign.

Her priorities going forward include protecting rural communities, encompassing farmers and business people.

Dublin

Finally, the Dublin counts concluded on Tuesday afternoon with Fianna Fails Barry Andrews, Fine Gaels Regina Doherty, Sinn Feins Lynn Boylan and Labours Aodhan O Riordain all elected as MEPs for the Dublin constituency.

All four confirmed their places in the European Parliament after they were the only candidates left remaining in the field after the 19th and final count at the RDS centre in Dublin.

Independent Ireland candidate Niall Boylan was the last to be eliminated from the closely fought contest.
Two closure orders for evidence of rodent infestation were issued by the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) in May.

Both closure orders, one at a petrol station in Cobh and another at a takeaway in Youghal, were among nine enforcement orders served on food businesses during the month of May.

An inspector for the HSE noted a dead rodent was found under a store room freezer at the Applegreen petrol station in Tiknock in Cobh, while rodent droppings were found on the floor of a disused cold room in the store room. The closure order was issued on May 14 and lifted on May 17.

"Rodent droppings were found on the shelves under the sink in the staff canteen which is attached to the food store room. Rodent droppings were found under the white chest freezer in the store room, the inspector wrote.

There was also evidence of the infestation on the shop floor, including another dead rodent under a fridge, droppings found on the floor under the shelves storing large minerals on the shop floor and on the lower shelf storing minerals on the shop floor.

In a closure order issued on May 22 and not yet lifted, the Istanbul Bite takeaway on Upper Cork Hill in Youghal was found to have a large accumulation of rodent droppings in the restaurants boiler room.

The boiler room is attached to the potato peeling room of the takeaway and it was those two rooms impacted by the closure order.

"The grill cover of the drain located underneath the potato cutting machine was damaged, providing a potential pest ingress point, the inspector wrote.

Meanwhile four closure orders were issued in Dublin, Johnson Best Food takeaway in Dublin 1 for failure to comply with regulations on temperature control, thawing, cleaning and hygiene. The closure order was issued on May 29 and has not yet been lifted.

Raw frozen meat, including turkey, was found stored at room temperature during inspection and no attempt was made by staff members to place the foodstuffs in a suitably temperature controlled refrigerator or freezer unit.

"Rice cooked at 11am in the morning, was noted stored in a hot holding unit which was not turned on. A temperature of 48.9C was recorded at the time of inspection over four hours from the time of cooking.

The Dublin Pizza Company takeaway on Aungier Street in Dublin 2 received a closure order for cracked, dirty floor tiles, cobwebs and dead insects found on floors, window sills and walls. The order was issued on May 29 and lifted on May 31.

"There were accumulations of dirt on hand-touch surfaces such as fridge handles, switches, wires, plugs and sockets throughout the preparation room and shop, said the inspector.

"The seals of multiple fridges in the preparation room and shop were damaged (some were significantly damaged and peeling from doors), and black mould growth and dirt was evident.

Mizzonis Pizza in Glasnevin, Dublin 9 failed to be kept in clean condition, staff were not trained in basic principles of food safety, flies were found in an area where waste was stored and there was no confidence in the managements commitment to ensuring food safety.

The order, issued on May 23, was lifted on June 4.

D1 Cafe and Bakery on Dublin 1s Dorset Street received a closure order on May 2, which has not yet been lifted, after it was found one sink was being used to wash dirty equipment and for food preparation.

The cafes cold chain was not maintained with products including salads, sauces, milk, butter, cake and meat stored at temperatures from 6.6C to 18.6C.
Bluefin tuna were were once abundant in Irish waters, but overfishing and climate change have led to the population crashing. Photo: Getty

One of Irelands most welcome seasonal tourists is being pushed away because it is too warm here.

The giant Atlantic bluefin tuna normally visits Irish shores in the summer months, but marine heatwaves make conditions uncomfortable.

Scientists who have been tracking their movements have found they are avoiding Ireland and spending more time at higher latitudes where seas are cooler.

The study was led by Grace McNicholas as a PhD research project at the School of Natural Sciences at Trinity College Dublin.

These fish swim thousands of kilometres on their annual migrations, visiting the coast of Ireland in the summer and autumn, she said.

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.

Higher sea temperatures are becoming more frequent and last summers marine heatwave off Irelands west coast was categorised as beyond extreme.

At its peak, scientists recorded water temperatures as much as five degrees above normal.

Even changes of one or two degrees can dramatically disrupt the small marine life dependent on stable conditions, forcing creatures higher up the food chain to also alter their behaviour.

Ms McNicholas said it was critical to analyse the recent events in order to try to gauge what the future holds.

Understanding how climate change may alter the conditions the tuna encounter along their journey is really important, she said.

It helps us to predict future migration routes and ultimately guide management decisions for this ecologically and economically important species.

Atlantic bluefin can grow to over four metres long, can weigh almost a tonne and are exceptionally fast when chasing prey  they are capable of reaching speeds of up to 65kmh.

They were once abundant in Irish waters, but overfishing led to the global population crashing and they are listed as an endangered species internationally.

They disappeared completely from Ireland in the 2000s, but through conservation efforts over the past decade they had been re-establishing themselves in traditional feeding grounds around Ireland. Experts fear they may disappear again for good if warming seas drive them away.

The study used tags and satellite tracking to record the movements of over 50 tuna for up to a year.

Scientists from Stanford University and the University of California assisted in the global exercise, as did the Irish Marine Institute and local anglers.

Dr Nick Payne, assistant professor in Trinitys School of Natural Sciences, stressed the importance of the project.

This study is yet another clear example of the massive impact climate change is having on marine habitats, he said.

Atlantic bluefin are a hugely important species for lots of reasons, and its 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.
Three people have been arrested in connection with an investigation into the murder of a policeman and the attempted murder of another in 1975.

The trio were detained in relation to the murder of RUC Constable Robert John McPherson and the attempted murder of a second officer in Dungiven, Co derry, on July 26 1975.

Two of the men, aged 73 and 72, were arrested by gardai in Co Meath and Co Donegal on Wednesday morning.

They were due to appear before extradition courts in Dublin later in the day.

The Police Service of Northern Ireland said the 72-year-old was arrested on suspicion of murder and the 73-year-old on suspicion of firearms offences linked to the murder and attempted murder.

The arrests were made by the Garda under a Trade and Co-operation Agreement (TaCA) Warrant as part of a joint operation with the PSNI.

In Northern Ireland, PSNI detectives arrested a 71-year-old man in the Dungiven area as part of the same investigation.

He was expected to appear before Derry Magistrates Court later on Wednesday.

A decision to prosecute the three individuals was issued by the Northern Ireland Public Prosecution Service prior to the commencement of the UK Governments contentious new legacy laws that seek to limit future Troubles-related cases.

The PSNI said it has been liaising closely with the Garda and that the arrests demonstrate the benefits of joint working between police services and other national partner agencies.
Ombudsman finds referrals system at Dublin hospital was deficient

A patient had her diagnosis of cancer delayed for up to eight months after a mix-up in referral letters at St Vincents Hospital in Dublin, a watchdog report has revealed.

The investigation into the case of a transplant patient, Marie, is revealed in the annual report of ombudsman, Ger Deering. He handled 839 grievances related to the public bodies in the health and social care sector last year, up from 790 the previous year, a 6pc increase.

The case of the patient attending St Vincents Hospital involved a routine appointment where an abnormality was noticed by staff.

She was referred to another unit in the hospital, but on two occasions, printed referral letters went missing and Marie was not notified of her appointment.

It was only after she raised her concerns with the hospital that she got an appointment  eight months later. The abnormality was then diagnosed and found to be malignant.

Mr Deering found that the hospitals system for issuing referral letters and ensuring they were followed-up was deficient.

Ombudsman Ger Deering. Photo: Patrick Browne

The report said the hospital first proposed the setting up of a print room as a solution, but the ombudsman highlighted the need for a more efficient ICT-based system to ensure the problem did not reoccur.

It said that as a result, the hospital implemented a new internal electronic referral system and it apologised to the patient.

Another case involved the Rotunda maternity hospital in Dublin, which refused to deal with a complaint by bereaved parents as it was outside the time limit of 12 months.

The couple told the ombudsman they wanted to complain about their poor experience at the hospital during the birth of their baby, who died shortly after birth. They were unaware of the time limit and were too distressed over the loss of their baby during that period to make a complaint.

The ombudsman pointed to the 12-month period for making complaints about hospitals under the Health Act 2024, but added that it can be extended in special circumstances.

In response, the Rotunda agreed to accept the complaint and to contact the couple to discuss how best they wished to progress.

The report said 4,465 complaints about public services were made to the ombudsmans office last year, up from 3,418 in 2020. Of the complaints investigated  and excluding those withdrawn  29pc were either fully or partially upheld. This equates to an increase of over 200 compared with 2022. About 48pc were not upheld.

Housing-related complaints made up the majority about local authorities

This year is the 40th anniversary of the office. The late Michael Mills, a journalist, was appointed the first ombudsman.

The highest number of complaints last year  1,430  were about city and county councils, with 189 about Dublin City Council and 152 related to Cork City Council.

Housing-related complaints made up the majority about local authorities, followed by planning enforcement and planning administration, which accounted for 14pc. Others were road-related.

There was a big drop-off in complaints about delayed passport applications as the system improved.

A total of 1,175 complaints were made about government departments, with the Department of Social Protection accounting for 636.

Others involved regulators, third-level education bodies and private nursing homes.

Mr Deering said he has been conducting an investigation into the operation of the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) scheme, and the findings will be published this year.

We managed to deal with 80pc of complaints within three months and 92pc within nine months in 2023. In just over 50pc of cases completed, we provided some assistance or benefit to the complainant, he said.

Last year saw a number of high-profile closures of private nursing homes, which resulted in service users contacting the ombudsman.

Another case investigated by the watchdog involved a family in Cork, who had become homeless and complained that Cork County Council was threatening to withdraw their emergency accommodation.

The family of two adults and their children lived, worked and went to school in one area in Cork for about 10 years, but became homeless because their landlord had decided to end their lease and sell the property.

The council offered the family a house about 40km from the area in which they had been living, which was unsuitable for commuting to work and school as well as ties to the community. 

The ombudsman believed it was unreasonable for the council to withdraw their emergency accommodation. It led to the council finding a suitable property for the family closer to their employment and schools.
Although some of the dogs are being sold by breeders with papers identifying their lineage, others are being sold with little or no back-ground information in individual sales.

XL bully dogs continued to be advertised for sale on Irish websites just days after the horrific killing of 23-year-old Nicole Morey by one of the breed.

A Sunday World probe discovered ads for the dogs online with prices ranging from 600 to 3,000.

Although some of the dogs are being sold by breeders with papers identifying their lineage, others are being sold with little or no background information in individual sales.

In the wake of the dog attack in Limerick, there is mounting pressure on the Government to ban the breed.

The Government recently established a group chaired by retired Deputy Commissioner John Twomey to examine the area of increased dog controls and restricted breeds.

However, an animal welfare expert warned yesterday that bringing in an effective ban will be difficult to legislate.

He pointed out that XL bullies are not a specific or recognised breed  they are the largest of the American Bully breed that also includes pocket bullies and the standard bully.

XL bullies have been bred from a number of breeds including the American pit bull terrier.

The expert said any ban was likely to face challenges in court by affected dog owners. He estimated there is likely several thousand XL bullies in the Republic.

During the pandemic, XL bully puppies were making huge money and there was no shortage of callous individuals breeding dogs of this nature for profit, he said.

The sister of Ms Morey told her funeral mass on Monday that the heart of their family had been shattered by the tragedy.

Ms Morey, (23), originally from Bawnmore View, Limerick City, was killed by her dogs at her home in Fedamore Co Limerick, last Tuesday night.

She had been out celebrating her 23rd birthday, and when she returned to her house her dogs attacked and killed her.

Ms Moreys sister, Jolene Morey, told mourners at the funeral mass held at the Holy Family parish church in Southill: Our hearts are shattered for the rest of our lives.

Our family tree is broken, and I'm trying my best to stay so strong on the outside, but on the inside it's hurting so much that no one will ever know.

To my loving sister, never in a million years did I think I'd be here at your funeral. You were so loving and caring, you never deserved any of this, Jolene Morey said.

Memories of happier times when they were children organising their own colouring books competitions will live on forever, she said.

Every day we would laugh and joke, Nicole would sing her heart and soul out every morning.

There was no closer bond than me and my sister Nicole, she was like a mother figure to me and my brothers - her nickname was Mothers - there was nothing in life Nicole wouldn't do for us.

I'm going to be so lost without you (Nicole), I will love and miss you, but I know you will be right by my side through all of this hard time. please watch over us, Nicole, we need you more than ever now, and I love and miss you forever.
RTE may be about to sign off on an exit package of around 400,000 for a senior staff member, it has been revealed.

Terence ORourke, the new chair of the RTE board, told the Oireachtas media committee on Wednesday that the broadcaster is currently in the middle of a process that could result in a payment of 400,000 to a person who cannot be named.

It also emerged that Catherine Martin, the media minister, has been made aware of the upcoming exit package for a number of months.

Mr ORourke, who was appearing before TDs and senators for the first time, was warned that the broadcaster is still considering such exit packages wont sit well with the public.

Details of the latest lucrative exit package emerged during questions from Brendan Griffin, the Fine Gael TD.

Mr Griffin originally asked if the board had recently considered any requests for improved pay and conditions for those in senior positions in RTE. Mr ORourke said that there had been some modest requests, but no substantial issues had yet emerged.

Proposals got challenged by board directors. They asked questions it wasnt that we refused things or that management got anything wrong, but we wanted more detail he said.

But we're not seeing proposals come before the board for severance packages of 300,000, 400,000, are we? I mean, is that still happening? Mr Griffin said.

Mr ORourke said that such proposals were not coming before the board all the time, but that there had been one such case before the board in the three months since he took over.

He added that when people are leaving the organisation, RTE has to comply with the law and respect any confidentiality agreements.

He confirmed that the board has currently considered an exit package that could be at the level of 400,000.

I should clarify that we haven't signed off on anything yet, because it hasn't been concluded yet. But there is a process underway which could end up at [400,000], yes.

Mr ORourke said that employment legislation requires that well paid workers be dealt with equitably.

And that's what the law requires, Deputy. So we will do what the law requires in order to get the best result for RTE, he said.

In response, Mr Griffin said that he was concerned that such exit packages were still being considered by RTE.

It sits uncomfortably with me that we would still be in that territory. I'm cognizant of all of our legal obligations at every time. But still, that wont sit well with the public Im sure. Where is it going to stop? And when is it going to stop, is the question? Because its just going on for far too long. Mr Griffin said.

He asked Mr ORourke if the payment was in respect of someone who had previously declined to appear before the Oireachtas committee. I cant go into more detail, Mr O'Rourke said.

The chair was also asked if Minister Martin had been made aware of the upcoming exit package, and he confirmed that she had been aware of the process for a while.

I spoke to her as recently as two weeks ago about this, Mr ORourke said.

He added that Ms Martin had been aware for a number of months.
Today marks the first International Day of Play, as designated by the United Nations General Assembly in March. This new designation aims to highlight the crucial role of play in childrens development and wellbeing and to recognise play as a fundamental right, as stated in the Convention on the Rights of the Child.

Early Childhood Ireland champions quality for children in early years and school-age care settings  both creches and childminders homes  and we are delighted to join in the celebrations, though we believe that the right to play is an everyday right for every child.

As the theme of this special day says, play is never just play. It is the childs way of making sense of the world. It is a learning tool that engages, motivates and challenges. It is vital that adults champion play for all children.

There is solid evidence about the importance of play. Supporting playful learning through guidance and choice is crucial for childrens physical, mental and emotional wellbeing throughout their lives.

Research is so clear about the benefits of play that Ireland has already established play as central to the early-childhood curriculum framework, Aistear. Both Aistear and Siolta  the national quality framework  emphasise the importance of play at home and when children are attending early-years and school-age care settings. For playful learning to flourish, children need opportunities for play to be created and facilitated. The curriculum tells us that much of childrens early-years learning and development takes place through play and hands-on experiences. Engaging in play is not only good for childrens health, it also fosters their development. Through play, children develop their communication skills, solve problems with confidence and build social connections. Play also nurtures creativity and imagination, helping children to thrive.

Children are masters of play. They naturally seek out adventure to explore their world and make sense of life. However, as adults in the modern world, we can sometimes be guilty of hampering childrens sense of adventure  particularly when it comes to playing outdoors.

Nordic countries are leaders in outdoor play, with children in creches spending significant time outside, unless temperatures drop very low. The most recent Early Childhood Ireland Annual Barometer, published in February, found that a strong majority (62pc) of adults here agree this should be the norm in Ireland too. With both children and adults on board, its time for a collaborative effort to make it a reality for every child.

Playing freely outdoors provides children with joyful opportunities to develop educational and essential life skills such as problem-solving, teamwork, creativity, independence, sensory awareness and social skills. It can also spark a love for nature in their own community.

The use of real tools  child-sized tools such as hammers and drills  can further enhance the sense of adventure and learning in childrens play. As adults, we may baulk at the idea of our children engaging in such play, but that says more about us than them. Given the chance, children will thrive by using real tools. Children are natural explorers who seek out challenges and risks. By engaging with some elements of risk, children can increase their independence, develop self-esteem and learn the vital life skill of how to keep themselves safe.

Early-years and school-age care settings across the country are implementing this practice to great effect. Indeed, Aistear refers to the use of real tools by children and even has a step-by-step guide for introducing it.

At Early Childhood Ireland, we support our members to provide the highest-quality early-years and school-age care services for children and their families in centres and childminders homes. Our members have access to the Early Childhood Ireland Learning Hub, an interactive space for educators to access relevant online courses, come together to engage in live discussions and share learning about practice with each other.

The Government, too, can support play by continuing to foster the necessary policy and regulatory environment required to promote outdoor play and outdoor early years and school-age care services, and by increasing investment in settings with a strong focus on the dedicated 30,000-strong workforce.

Parents can also encourage their children to engage in adventurous play to reap the benefits at home. As adults, we can reflect on our own childhoods: what sparked your play, where did you go, and who did you play with? The truth is that play is not reserved for childhood. Many adults continue to find joy and fulfilment through hobbies, games and creative pursuits. By embracing our own playful spirit, we can set a positive example for children and rediscover the valuable lessons and connections that play offers throughout life.

Happy first International Day of Play to children of all ages.

Teresa Heeney is CEO of Early Childhood Ireland
The history of Europe bears the scars of wars along with the dark shadows of extremism. Yet the light of democracy has always confidently shone through. Despite the troubling rise of far-right parties, it is also heartening to see  after hundreds of millions of Europeans cast their votes  parties of the centre retain a majority in the new parliament.

Yet, significantly, far-right parties have made considerable gains in these elections. Not only did they perform well in Germany, they comfortably won the vote in France, compelling President Emmanuel Macron to call a snap parliamentary election.

It would be foolish to interpret the vote as anything less than a shattering blow to the standing of both Mr Macron and German chancellor Olaf Scholz.

The surge in support for the right is also likely to tilt the new European parliament towards a more anti-immigration and anti-green stance.

Ive decided to give you back the choice, a chastened Mr Macron said, addressing the electorate from the Elysee Palace. There can be no playing down Marine Le Pens party winning 31.5pc of the vote there.

In Germany, the three parties in Mr Scholzs coalition were all overtaken by the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD). Ultraconservative and nationalist parties also won or made significant gains in Austria, Cyprus, Greece and the Netherlands.

Clearly there has been a major shift in attitudes.

A discernible pushback against those pressing for closer co-operation and integration in the bloc is emerging. The tightly co-ordinated responses to Covid-19, and Russias invasion of Ukraine, may be creating divisions.

In this country there was no major breakthrough for the far right. While some anti-immigration candidates have had a showing, there has been no big swing.

Taoiseach Simon Harris and Tanaiste Micheal Martin, buoyed by the results, vowed not to be in a hurry to rush into a general election. Not for now, at least.

But the temptation to do so as Sinn Fein reels from its poor performance remains.

If there is some comfort that the centre is holding at home, in Brussels and Strasbourg  where the European Parliament meets  there is growing unease.

European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen says she will approach social democratic and liberal parties that she has worked with in the past to form a majority. But there is no sense of unshakeable confidence or chutzpah. She has pledged to continue to work to build a strong Europe.

Theres no denying these results have not made her task any easier. That there are problems is clear, but there are also solutions  provided we are united and not divided against each other.

As one of the continents great visionaries, Jean Monnet, put it: Europe has never existed. One must genuinely create Europe.

Responsibility for that creation and holding it together belongs to us all. The EU is, and must always be, a work in progress.
I got a laugh from Fionnan Sheahan referring to Simon Harris as the White Obama who came out of nowhere 15 years ago (Keep it going to March  Simon Harriss honeymoon creates election date dilemma, Irish Independent, June 10). But the Energiser Bunny is nothing compared to what happened in Moyvane in north Kerry over the weekend where first-time candidate, Liam Speedy Nolan was elected to Kerry County Council on the first count with a whopping 2,223 first-preference votes.

The popular publican, who was endorsed by the Healy-Raes, surpassed the 2,095 quota by 128 votes in the Listowel Electoral Area. 

But the really interesting part is Speedy Nolan was ably supported on the hustings by an energetic 84-year-old former Fianna Fail politician, Dan Kiely, a once close confidant of former taoisigh Charles Haughey and Bertie Ahern.

As a senator, the colourful and charismatic Kiely would distinguish himself as a champion of Irish immigrants. The story of how he personally delivered 15,000 visa applications to a centre in Virginia in the US is wonderfully relayed in his recent best-selling memoir, The Final Count. So now we have the Energiser Bunny in Greystones and Speedy Nolan in Moyvane barrelling towards a general election on the power of lithium ion. Fasten your seatbelts.

Tom McElligott, Listowel, Co Kerry

Helen Ogbus election is a great response to creeping anti-immigrant sentiment

I was delighted that Helen Ogbu was elected as a city councillor last weekend. She is Galways first person of colour to be elected to city hall. In one way, its surprising that it took so long for something like this to happen considering the high non-national population of the city according to recent census results, approximately 20pc. Galway City East is the most culturally diverse area of Galway.

It was a good result too in the face of anti-immigrant sentiment emanating from certain quarters. As we all know, a number of candidates ran on an anti-immigrant platform, but all of these candidates were rejected in the three city wards. In fact, nationally, only a handful of anti-immigrant candidates were elected. What this means is that those that shout the loudest do not always represent the views of ordinary citizens.

Tommy Roddy, Ballybane, Co Galway

Macrons comments on far right are risky, he must accept will of the people

While watching news reports of French president Emmanuel Macron announcing a snap election in the wake of the rise of the National Rally party in the French European Union elections, I was alarmed by the reports that he cannot accept the rise of the far right.

He may have genuine concerns regarding the French electorate moving towards the right. However, the fundamentals of any democratic society is to accept the will of the people through the ballot box.

This is extremely dangerous language for the leader of any country, as it may cause the electorate to fracture further, which would not be befitting of a republic which emphasises the importance of liberty, equality and fraternity, as documented in the most recent constitution of 1958.

Eamonn OHara, Manorcunningham, Co Donegal

Insidious appearance of swastika graffiti must be stamped out immediately

Im not Jewish but I have many close Irish contacts and friends who are. I have been told of two recent incidences of graffiti where swastikas were scrawled in public view in places where my Jewish friends work.

They were ignored by passers-by, then reported to management by my friends, then subsequently removed. One of these places was the local university and the other a local supermarket. My friends and I were obviously disgusted that this type of graffiti didnt attract immediate condemnation, and in hindsight, the gardai should have immediately been contacted in both incidences. These incidences and a complaint would then be on record, and maybe CCTV could have been used to identify and punish the culprits.

Unfortunately, my children have told me that there was always the odd swastika carved into a desk or two at school. Having reported the perpetrators to teachers, the reply was he doesnt understand the meaning of it, but given recent world events, the continued appearance of these symbols is particularly pointed.

The swastika is an insignia of the Nazis who were responsible for the elimination of six million Jewish people, along with countless other ethnicities who did not fit their intention to create an Aryan race.

Captives were murdered in death camps on an industrial scale. This symbol can only be interpreted as representing pure evil and is intimidating to those whose families have suffered at the hands of this evil.

Name and address with editor

French presidents D-Day decorum only highlighted Sunaks self-indulgence

I was watching the D-Day 80th commemorations from the beaches of Normandy and was surprised by the sincerity and empathy shown by Frances president Emmanuel Macron towards the veterans. Sincerity and empathy are not words the public would associate with politicians, but its rarity was shown that day by a grateful president.

When Mr Macron pinned the Legion dhonneur to each of the veterans chests, he did so with pride and appreciation.

Although he was born long after D-Day, he was aware of the sacrifice so many made to free France and the rest of occupied Europe, and the contribution of the veterans. Before the veterans received their medals, he looked at each of them with a warm smile and read out their names and the Legion dhonneur citation. 

When it came to bestowing the honour on 103-year-old veteran, British naval officer Christian Lamb, he surpassed himself with his touching and heartfelt speech, outlining her life and her contribution to the war effort. There was nothing staged in his actions, nor was he just going through the motions as we are so often used to seeing from politicians.

Where Mr Macron showed the essence of good manners, decorum and respect, the British prime minister was lacking in all these attributes when he deserted the Normandy beaches, in favour of a vanity TV interview in the hope of raising his profile for the forthcoming general election. By his self-indulgent action, Rishi Sunak let down a whole nation and insulted the surviving veterans and the memory of all those who died for freedom, the freedom that allowed him, in a democracy, saved by those he insulted, to reach the high office he holds.

Jim Yates, Old Bawn, Dublin 24
Leader of the Labour Party Ivana Bacik casting her vote at her polling station on Pleasants Street, Dublin 8. Photo: Collins

I believe we should not live in fear of the bogeymen of the far right, but more the inertia of the bloated middle classes.

The Government, supported by its comfortable centre-right constituents, has failed to come to terms with the reason behind the swing to far-right politics  or, rather, the perception of a far-right swing.

I argue that there is little or no real far-right movement in Ireland, just a very understandable reaction to a crisis in which the Government seems to be impotent.

My father said to me many years ago that he could never understand an Irish man being racist when we had suffered so much racism ourselves.

Both my parents left from different Irish counties to find work in London after the war. Both went on Sunday and started work on Monday. Neither expected nor received handouts, and they certainly never expected to be housed and given government benefits.

My son is 18. If he left Ireland today to seek a life in any other country, would/should he expect this? I think/hope not.

The sudden explosion of what seems to be an army of able-bodied working-age men, many of whom have travelled from England to avoid deportation, is a natural concern, and we need a fair but decisive way to deal with this.

We need migration to Ireland as we have a shortage of workers. As a shopkeeper myself, I see how hard it is to get staff, but we also need to ensure the people arriving to find a better life are also here to work and contribute.

The Government and the media need to stop portraying the protesters at proposed accommodation centres as far-right. They are not. Most are concerned members of small communities that rightly should have a say in major changes to the demographics of their residential areas.

The thugs who burn the centres and incite violence or intimidation of asylum-seekers are perhaps what we call far-right, and they need to feel the full weight of the law.

This vocal and violent 5pc will use the asylum-seekers as their punchbag and jump on any bandwagon to vent their anger at the world. They cannot and should not be seen as representative of society.

I believe that if we find a fair way to deal with the current crisis, the bogeyman of the far right will once again be confined to the shadows of Irish society.

Bobby ONeill, Killeens, Co Wexford

Perhaps voters had one eye on the past as much as the future at the ballot box

In the context of the forensic election analysis as to why the government parties did remarkably well while the main opposition party faded, it seems to me that sight has been lost of how competently the Coalition dealt with the unprecedented challenges of Covid-19 and Brexit, both of which bore calamitous potential.

It may not all be about current demands and future needs  the electorate seems to have cast an eye in the rear-view mirror when going to the polls.

Michael Gannon, Saint Thomas Square, Kilkenny

Can Fianna Fail and Fine Gael drop the pretence of difference and just merge?

With regard to the battle to become the biggest party in local government, can someone tell me if Tweedledum won, or was it Tweedledee? And does it matter?

The plain fact is that the main right-wing government party  operating under two brand names  won the election handsomely with roughly 46pc of the vote.

Will they ever do the honest thing and formally merge the two brands? Hardly, when a bit of faux competition can produce results like this.

Fintan Lane, Lucan, Co Dublin

After all the drama in the lead-up to election, once again democracy prevails

The votes have been counted. The voice of democracy has been heard. The people have spoken.

Funny thing is, after such a hue and cry, it has such a familiar ring.

M OBrien, Dalkey, Co Dublin

Daithi gets a defeat on his record after being given a 10-count on the day

I read that Daithi de Roiste has been ousted by former pugilist Phil Sutcliffe (Irish Independent, June 10). Beaten on the 10th count, its all on the canvass.

Noel Kelly, Doonbeg, Co Clare

Governments success is not indicative of how a general election might go

If there is a lesson from the European and local elections for journalists and politicians alike, it is that these elections are not referendums on the Government.

Voters will have a variety of reasons why they vote or dont vote for certain candidates, and being in government or opposition is only a small consideration in their thinking.

The attempts by opposition parties, like Sinn Fein, to use these referendums to change the Government have failed miserably.

However, both the Government and the opposition should be warned that while in these elections the Governments message worked and the oppositions failed, that does not mean the general election will be the same.

Jason Fitzharris, Swords, Co Dublin

Hamas didnt start the war on October 7, Israel did all the way back in 1948

Danny Cohen (Genocidal Hamas leadership is making end to war impossible, Irish Independent, June 10)claims Hamas began this war  the Israel-Palestine war  last October 7.

I would respectfully suggest that the war was, in fact, started by Israel in 1948, when 750,000 Palestinians were forcibly displaced from their homes.

Since that time, Palestinians have been subjected to an institutionalised regime of systematic oppression by Israel  seizure of land, home demolitions, imprisonment without trial, humiliation and violence at military checkpoints, while numerous laws discriminate against Palestinian citizens of Israel.

Hamas is not militarily organised in the Occupied West Bank, yet Palestinians who live there endure frequent attacks by illegal Israeli settlers, often working hand in glove with the Israeli military occupation forces.

Acts that we can see daily on our TV screens of such actions are illegal under international law, which is looked on with contempt by Israel.

David Murphy, Clonskeagh, Dublin 14
French far-right leader Marine Le Pen delivers her speech at the party election night headquarters after French President Emanuel Macron announced he dissolves National Assembly and calls new legislative election following the defeat in EU vote, Sunday, June 9, 2024 in Paris. First projected results from France put far-right National Rally party well ahead in EU elections, according to French opinion poll institutes. (AP Photo/Lewis Joly)

The results are in, and the horse-trading has begun as Irelands new MEPs rush to Brussels to try and establish a name and committee seat for the new term.

While far-right parties have made gains across Europe, Ireland wont be sending any hardliners to Brussels.

But while our Government might be pleased with their day at the polls, in France, the president has taken a career-defining gamble. Emmanuel Macron has basically given voters an ultimatum by sending them back to the ballot box in three weeks time to choose a new parliament.

Marine Le Pens anti-immigration, nationalist party is estimated to get around 31pc of the vote, a historic result and more than double the share of Macron's Renaissance party, which is projected to reach around 15pc.

Macron, who lost his majority at the National Assembly in 2022, is taking a big risk with a move that could backfire and increase the chances of Le Pen eventually taking power. The French president said the decision was serious but showed confidence in our democracy, in letting the sovereign people have their say.

So, what do these elections say about the mood of the Irish and what do they mean for the future of European politics?

Today on The Indo Daily, Kevin Doyle is joined by John Downing, political correspondent with The Irish Independent, and Eleanor Beardsley, Paris correspondent with NPR, to discuss the latest upsurge in right-wing politics across Europe, and why Ireland has not quite followed suit - this time around.
The Department of the Environment has said that it will be important to allow ongoing investigations to take place

More than 5,000 dead fish have been found by Inland Fisheries Ireland, which is investigating the fish kill. Photo by Sheila Fitzgerald

Members of Kanturk & Districts Anglers Association at Johns Bridge, above the River Allow. Photo by Sheila Fitzgerald

Over 5,000 fish have been killed in the River Allow. Photo by Sheila Fitzgerald

The Department of the Environment has said that it is not known if the killing of more than 5,000 fish in a Cork river is related to an incident at a state-owned plant, which is understood to have caused 2,500 litres of a chemical used in water treatment to be discharged into the river.

A spokesperson for the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications told The Corkman on Tuesday that the fish kill in the River Allow in north Cork was a serious pollution incident but said it is not certain that it is related to the event at the nearby Uisce Eireann water treatment plant at Freemount, which is north of Kanturk.

It is also important to underline that it isnt currently known whether these two incidences are connected and therefore it will be important to allow ongoing investigations to take place, the spokesperson said.

Earlier this week, the EPA said that it was notified on Sunday by Uisce Eireann of a spillage of polyaluminium chloride (PAC) at the water treatment plant in Freemount, which went into the nearby river.

Early indications are that approximately 2,500 litres of PAC, used as a coagulant in wastewater treatment, were discharged into the Allow from a burst pipe at the Uisce Eireann plant, the EPA said on Tuesday.

Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI), which is investigating the fish kill in the river, said on Wednesday that it has found more than 5,000 dead fish.

The dead fish, including Atlantic salmon, brown trout, lamprey, eel, stone loach, roach and dace, have been found up to 4km downstream of the pollution incident, which occurred in a part of the river designated as a Special Area of Conservation.

However, IFI said that its environmental team has not found any invertebrates as far as 8km downstream of the pollution incident.

This is an ecological disaster for fish in this river, at a time of significant biodiversity loss, the IFI statement said.

Water samples taken the river are now being analysed.

Read more Thousands of fish killed in suspected pollution incident on Cork river

Investigations are ongoing and will continue into this week to assess and monitor water quality and damage to fish populations.

IFI said it is working with other statutory bodies in relation to the incident and will review evidence collected with a view to initiating a prosecution.

"At this stage, IFI cannot discuss probable causes of the fish kill, lest we prejudice the outcome of a future prosecution.

Uisce Eireann said that it is carrying out investigations and a clean-up operation following an incident at the Freemount plant, where measures have been taken to ensure there can be no further discharge.

The agency said that there is no impact on the quality of drinking water in the area.

Any spillage occurred downstream of the intake point for the plant and therefore would not impact on quality of water entering supply, Uisce Eireann said.

The River Allow is also home to the freshwater pearl mussel, which is a protected species.

Michael Twohig, chair of IRD Duhallow and a member of Kanturk & District Anglers Association, told The Corkman that massive money has come from the EU for a programme aimed at protecting the freshwater pearl mussel in the river.

"The banks are all fenced back a few metres from the back of the river with wire. We have put in special cattle troughs over the years, Mr Twohig said.

"[There has been] unbelievable participation from the farmers along that stretch of the river.

"Silt traps were also put in to keep the water as clean as possible on that river because of the freshwater pearl mussel.

A statement issued by Kanturk & District Anglers on Tuesday said that it was heart-breaking to see a river that has been nurtured so much to be absolutely decimated.

We are suspending all angling on all waters downstream of Freemount and downstream of Kanturk on our club waters and cancelling all our club events on the river as a precautionary measure for now.

North Cork TD Sean Sherlock has called for a full and frank assessment on what has happened on the River Allow.

"We need to see accountability and ownership of the issue from the agency responsible. We need this prioritised and published with haste, Deputy Sherlock said.

A kill of this type, which is preventable, has clear implications for the health of the river and for those who fish and use the river as an amenity.
Bloomsday celebrations come in many different forms, including readings, performances, walking tours and concerts

Bloomsday is held on June 16 every year, celebrating the day immortalised in James Joyce's iconic novel Ulysses

The annual Bloomsday celebrations take centre stage this weekend, dedicated to James Joyces epic novel, Ulysses.

Named after the books protagonist, Leopold Bloom, this day marks his fictional journey through Dublin on June 16, 1904.

Fans of Joyce don period costumes, follow Blooms route, and partake in readings from the novel. Others simply enjoy a pint in one of the Dublin pubs mentioned in Ulysses, or one of Joyces other works.

Heres ten things available in Dublin to help celebrate Bloomsday.

The Bloomsday Film Festival

This festival runs from today until June 16 and mixes film and literature to honour James Joyces love for cinema and our fair city.

Highlights include the 20th-anniversary screening of Lenny Abrahamsons Adam and Paul, with a pre-show of An Encounter, a short film based on Joyces Dubliners. Screenwriter Mark OHalloran will discuss the Joycean ties in both.

Also featured is Kino Volta, a documentary about Dublins cinema history by Martin Turk, celebrating Joyces brief stint as manager of Dublins Volta Cinema.

Experimental film The Disembodiment of Alice, inspired by Finnegans Wake, adds a nice twist to the line-up. The film festival will end with an award ceremony and music by David Keenan.

Vintage Tea Trips Bloomsday bus tour

Join the James Joyce Centre and Vintage Tea Trips for a whimsical Bloomsday adventure. You can sip on a cup of tea, savour scrumptious treats, and dive into the world of Ulysses on this enchanting bus tour through Dublin.

Don your best Edwardian attire and cruise past iconic landmarks like Stephens Green and Trinity College while your guide reveals the citys literary secrets. Departing at 3.30pm from St Stephens Green on June 16.

Bloomsday at Davy Byrnes

Step into the iconic Davy Byrnes pub, immortalised in Ulysses, and relive Leopold Blooms visit with a glass of burgundy and a Gorgonzola cheese sandwich, surrounded by live music, performances, and readings.

No need to book, just pop in and soak up the historic atmosphere where Joyces characters once roamed.

Wellness and yoga event  Breathe and Bloom

Join Happenings Ireland and the James Joyce Centre for a one-of-a-kind Bloomsday celebration: Breathe and Bloom.

On June 16, from 11am to 1.30pm, gather at Brighton Square  where Joyce was born  for a rejuvenating yoga session led by Jo Collins, followed by Dr Conor Heffernans insightful talk on fitness in Ulysses.

Wrap up the event with music, reading, and a cosy picnic. Yoga class is 10, but the talk and festivities are free.

Bloomsday celebrations come in many different forms, including readings, performances, walking tours and concerts

Dive into Bloomsday with a swim at Sandycove Beach

Get ready to immerse yourself in the spirit of Ulysses with the Dublin Sea Swimming Clubs Bloomsday Swim at Sandycove Beach.

On June 16, from 10am to 1pm, channel your inner Buck Mulligan as you take a dip in the same snotgreen sea he once splashed in. Afterward, warm up with some hot drinks and maybe even Joycean fare at a local cafe.

Take a guided walking tour

One of the festivals most popular events is a guided Bloomsday walk on June 16, following the paths that Leopold Bloom took through his Dublin on that fateful day.

Beginning at the Gate Theatre, Pat Liddys lively two-hour guided Bloomsday Walk offers a fun and simplified introduction to the story.

For a deeper dive, try the Footsteps of Leopold Bloom walking tour or Joyces Dublin Walking tour, both running daily throughout the festival from the James Joyce Centre.

Poems Ago

Join the James Joyce Centre for a lunchtime performance by Poems Ago, a delightful Irish-Dutch duo who set James Joyces Chamber Music to enchanting guitar and violin melodies, alongside works by Yeats, Wilde, and more.

This musical celebration coincides with Yeats birthday, adding extra sparkle to the event. Tickets are 12.

Guided tour of the remains of St Marys Abbey

Step back in time with a guided tour of the remains of St Marys Abbey in Smithfield, a historic gem celebrated in Ulysses.

Explore the Chapter House and Slype and uncover the Abbeys influence on Dublins streets. Join free tours on June 14 at 11am (booking required) or on June 16 from 1-3pm (limited space, no booking).

Balloonatics Bloomsday

Join Balloonatics on June 16 for a day filled with on-location recreations of Ulysses in Dublin city centre. The days performers, including Mark Wale, Chris Bilton, Paul OHanrahan, and musician John Goudie, will lead three theatrical walks throughout the city, following episodes from Joyces masterpiece.

The street theatre tours are free, with a cash contribution appreciated at the end.

In the evening, head to Wynns Hotel for Humid Nightblue Fruit, an immersive Bloomsday experience featuring a dramatised reading adapted from the Sirens episode of Ulysses.

Tickets are 13 plus booking fee (15 on the door, if available).

Enjoy a musical performance

On Thursday, June 13, Dalkey Castle hosts A Joycean Evening, where talented actors will breathe life into excerpts from Ulysses and Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man, accompanied by baritone Simon Morgan and soprano Dona Malone.

On June 16, immerse yourself further with solo guitarist Joseph Chester at Smock Alley Theatre, as he performs Fragments of Lucia, a beautiful guitar suite inspired by the life of James and Nora Joyces daughter. Tickets from 15, with performances at 4pm and 8pm.
Fr Patsy with his Brother and Sisters left to right: Mary Roche, Mike Lynch, Fr Patsy Lynch, and Catherine Conroy. Photo by Christy Riordan.

On June 9, 1964 Fr Patsy Lynch was ordained as a priest. This week marks 50 years since that day and in the intervening year Fr Lynch has achieved much and lived in his words a life without any regrets.

Putting up his hand in class to show his interest in the priesthood proved to be the right decision for the now 75-year old and his current congregation helped him celebrate this important date this weekend with a Golden Jubilee for the popular and it must be said outspoken priest who has embraced the modern world and is one of the first to criticise the church where necessary.

No stranger to headlines not least for his modern out look and the use of technology to grew his congregation Fr Lynch believes the church must move forward and embrace change.

He made news during Covid pandemic when he uses a drone to broadcast outdoor masses in local cemeteries in Portmagee, the Glen and Ballinskelligs and his three churches in these parishes are the most digitally advanced in Kerry and possibly in Ireland with mass live-streamed using the latest and most high-tech technology available to bring mass to the masses.

Cutting the Cake with Organising Committee L/R Mary Kennedy John Casey Magaret Browne Fr Patsy Lynch Joe Sugrue Katie Casey

Most recently he came to attention in a battle for his pension which the state say he is not entitled due his work as a missionary but for now he wants to put that behind him as he marks his Golden Jubilee.

Originally from Currans in Castleisland he spent much of his life in Ghana before returning to pastoral duties in Kerry in Ballymac and in St Brendan's Church in Tralee and since 2017 in South Kerry where the community were more than glad to help their parish priest celebrate the momentous occasion.

Fr Patsy with his Brother and Sisters left to right: Mary Roche, Mike Lynch, Fr Patsy Lynch, and Catherine Conroy. Photo by Christy Riordan.

"It is a significant milestone in his life and needed to be celebrated, said Margaret Brown of Ballinskelligs Pastoral Council who organised the celebrations.

"It is a wonderful achievement and he is a valuable part of our community.

For Fr Lynch the 50 years have passed quickly and doing what he loved.

For 50 years I give gratitude to God. I have no regrets, he told The Kerryman this week.
Elizabeth Redmond (centre) pictured with fellow comedians at the opening night of the El Paso Comedy Club in Toales Dundalk

American-born comedian Elizabeth Redmond is the brains behind Dundalks latest comedy club, the El Paso Comedy Club, which opened earlier this year in Toales, Crowe Street.

Hailing from Texas, Elizabeth is delighted to name the club after one of the the Lone Star States best known towns as well as the nickname of her adopted home place.

She first came across the name in Dundalk on the rooftop a car belonging to the El Passo Driving School.

Being Texan I noticed it and then a friend explained that Dundalk is known as El Paso because were a Border town.

So when I was trying to come up with a name for the club, I thought it had to be El Paso because Im Texan as well as having Irish citizenship. 

Elizabeth, who lives in Haynestown with her children Aidan and Natalie, is proud of her Texas roots but also of the fact that her father came from Dublin.

Her Dad, Morgan Redmond , who died in 2021, emigrated to the United States in the hope of finding work as an actor on Broadway in the 1960s.

Instead he found himself drafted into the American air force and after four years, went to work for NASA.

"He worked in Houston, Texas but continued to act and ran a theatre at the weekend, recalls Elizabeth who inherited his love for the stage.

"When I was growing up I took some acting classes and went to a Performing Arts Highschool in Houston. I acted with my father in a couple for plays and he directed me which is a lovely memory to have.

"Then, when I became a mother, I had top put all that on the backburner, but I still had the itch and while I was drifting away from acting, the idea of comedy seemed more appealing to me. It seemed to be something that I could do alongside my day job and being a mother.

She dipped her toe into the world of stand up in 2005 in the Laugh Stop in Houston.

"I did that for about five or six years until I moved to Ireland in 2011. I had another child, got divorced and my Dad wasnt well so I had to mind him.

Comedy was once again put on the back burner, until in August 2019, she returned to the stage.

"I went to an open mic night and it went so well that I thought Im back!

Not long afterwards, the COVID-19 pandemic started and thats when it really hit me that I couldnt perform.

Her father passed away in May 2021, but not before theyd had some long conversations about their shared interest in performing.

"He had been a professional actor and director for the whole of his life in the United States, for over 50 years. He couldnt get over the amount of confidence it would take to do stand up and he did make me promise to go back to writing and performance.

Elizabeth got back on stage in Dublin in December 2021 and slowly but surely began being asked to do gigs.

"I did a lot of shows over the past years. Ive done the Edinburgh Fringe twice, doing nine gigs in three days last year as I said yes to all offers.

She also said yes to her partner Sean who proposed to her.

"He had to grab me between shows and say that was the reason he had wanted to go along.

She says that the whole comedy scene in Ireland is much more supportive, especially towards women, than in America.

"Mostly Ive found everyone on the Irish comedy scene to be very welcoming and supporting, especially compared to Texas, where its an old boys club thats closed off. Women find it hard to get stage time in Texas. Over here, people are nice and the other comics want to see you do well. The audiences are receptive so Ive had a lot of fun.

"Id been thinking for a while that Id like to start a comedy club in Dundalk. Theres The Spirit Store and Louth Laughs but I wanted to run by own place ad bring in special guests from all over the country so that people dont have to go to Dublin. A lot of people are commuting during the week and dont want to have to go up again at the weekend.

She launched the El Paso Comedy Club in Toales in April and is looking forward to their third night this Wednesday, June 12.

The headline act is James Goldsbury who is very well-known from his work with The Savage Eye and Headwreckers on RTE, as well as four local comedians, Jessica Collins, James Downey, Jay Fitzsimmons and Justin Cass and myself
Laois Offaly Independent TD Deputy Carol Nolan was speaking after the Irish Heart Foundation (IHF) informed her that there are an estimated 10,000 people in County Offaly alone who are affected by a cardiovascular condition (stock image

Independent TD Carol Nolan has said she is appealing to the Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly to deliver on what she is describing as an urgent need for greater investment in medical and support services for persons experiencing cardiovascular disease.

Deputy Nolan was speaking after the Irish Heart Foundation (IHF) informed her that there are an estimated 10,000 people in County Offaly alone who are affected by a cardiovascular condition.

The IHF also confirmed to the Independent TD that among stroke survivors in Offaly there is a widespread sense of abandonment caused by a lack of community rehabilitation and support services.

This is an issue that I have repeatedly addressed with the Minister for Health but clearly the lack of response from Government in terms of the improvement of services has been minimal or even non-existent in some case, said Deputy Nolan.

I know from research conducted by the IHF and indeed from the briefings I have attended on this issue with them, that approximately 74pc of people who have experienced either heart failure of some other kind of cardiovascular disease have said their psychological support needs are not being met.

The Irish Heart Foundation also informed me that a substantial number of the people it interacts with are failing to get the cardiac rehabilitation they need. That is totally unacceptable in a health service that receives 20 billion plus in annual funding.

What I am saying quite clearly is that I will be advocating strongly on this issue prior to the Budget so that there is proper investment in the kind of practical and social supports, as well as referral pathways that are needed to improve physical and mental health of patients.

This is also an issue that must be given priority at the national level, as I understand from the IHF that there are tens of thousands of outpatient appointments per year with an average wait times of 6-9/12 months.

That is utterly unacceptable given how time-sensitive treatment intervention can be, concluded Deputy Nolan.
Atlantic Technological University, Sligo a member of the EU GREEN European University Alliance, is hosting a seminar on the state of the countrys water quality and highlighting collaborative efforts to protect aquatic ecosystems for future generations.

The ATU has curated a special event, (June 19th, 6pm  8pm, main lecture hall, ATU Sligo) where leading Irish organisations will present participatory actions targeting nature based solutions and wider conservation actions on our waters, all of which actively involve local communities.

The EPA will introduce the event with a presentation on Irelands Water Quality: Evidence and Measures. This will be followed by presentations from Inland Fisheries Ireland, Waterways Ireland and Local Authority Waters Programme.

The event is being held as part of the 2024 EU Green Week, focussing on water resilience.

ATU collaborates with eight other universities from Spain, France, Italy, Poland, Romania, Sweden, Germany, and Portugal in the EU GREEN Alliance, led by the University of Extremadura, to form a 'super campus' with more than 158,000 students and 18,000 staff. With a shared commitment to responsible growth, inclusive education, and environmental stewardship, these universities have come together under the banner of EU GREEN to amplify their impact and drive positive change.

Professor Frances Lucy, ATU Lead for EU Green, said, "This is an open invitation to come and hear about the challenges facing our inland waters, and how communities and agencies can share resources and best practice to make real change. Our EU GREEN researchers from partner universities will also be present and their national waters are also under stress. The event will be a great opportunity to engage and share learning "

The presentations will be followed by a Q&A session, providing an interactive platform for attendees to engage with the presenters, discuss practical solutions, and explore ways to implement similar initiatives in their own communities.

This event is a unique opportunity for researchers, policymakers, and community leaders to come together and share knowledge on issues facing our water systems. It underscores ATUs commitment to fostering innovation and collaboration in addressing environmental challenges.
A man whose body was tragically recovered by members of the Garda water unit in Wexford Harbour on Sunday has been named locally.

Kenneth Walsh (52) was a Dublin native and had been living in Clonard.

A large-scale search operation began when Kenneths phone and bicycle were discovered near the waters edge at Ferrybank. The Coast Guard, RNLI and Gardai all combed the harbour area looking for any signs of the missing man and a sniffer dog was employed to establish the point at which Mr Walsh entered the river.

Eventually, the Coast Guard Rescue 117 helicopter was summoned and carried out several sweeps of Wexford Harbour, liaising with crews on the ground and Wexford RNLI who were out on the water.

The search eventually had to be stood down on Saturday evening, but began again in earnest on Sunday with the helicopter once again called.

Mr Walsh's body was recovered from the water shortly before lunchtime.

Son of the late James (Seamus) and Elizabeth, Kenneth was the loving brother of Evelyn, Judy, Louise, Aisling, Liam and Seamus.

He is deeply missed by his sisters and brothers, his cherished 13 nieces and nephews and his eight grandnieces and grandnephews, as well as his sister-in-law, brothers-in-law, aunts, cousins, relatives and a large circle of friends.

Those who knew Kenneth described him as the gentlest giant and a warm soul who loved the arts

A celebration of Kenneth's life is due to take place for friends and family at Dardistown Cemetery Chapel in Dublin on Sunday (June 15) at 10 a.m. with burial afterwards in Fingal cemetery.

Mr Walshs heartbroken family have asked for donations if desired to the RNLI or Wexford K-9 Search and Rescue.
Arklow

Independent councillor Peir Leonard to contest general election in new Wicklow Wexford constituency

Councillor Peir Leonard has thrown her hat into the ring to contest the upcoming general election in Wicklow-Wexford, becoming the first independent candidate to declare in either the Wicklow-Wexford or the remaining Wicklow constituency.
Grace Mongey Gernon, Marilyn's Mater Paddle Ambassador, launching the Mater Hospital Foundation's new fundraising event, Marilyn's Mater Paddle, taking place in Bray on Sunday, August 4, with the help of Christine Graves, Marie Moore and Erica Barker.

Grace Mongey Gernon, Marilyn's Mater Paddle Ambassador, launching the Mater Hospital Foundation's new fundraising event, Marilyn's Mater Paddle, taking place in Bray on Sunday, August 4, with the help of Christine Graves, Marie Moore and Erica Barker.

Grace Mongey Gernon, Marilyn's Mater Paddle Ambassador, launching the Mater Hospital Foundation's new fundraising event, Marilyn's Mater Paddle, taking place in Bray on Sunday, August 4, with the help of Christine Graves, Marie Moore and Erica Barker.

The Mater Hospital Foundation is calling on Wicklow residents to set their inner Marilyn Monroe free with a Hollywood-themed fundraising paddle at Brays South Promenade Beach on the August bank holiday weekend.

Be prepared for shouts of Lights, camera, paddle! and Boop-boop-a-doop on Sunday, August 4, when the foundation hosts its inaugural Marilyns Mater Paddle, which promises to be the largest gathering of Marilyn Monroe lookalikes Ireland has ever seen.

Held with the help of ambassador and lifestyle and beauty influencer Grace Mongey Gernon, Keilidh Cashell, make-up artist and creator of KASH Beauty, and Carly Mahady, podcast princess, influencer and breast cancer survivor at 25, have also joined the cast as Marilyns Mater Paddle ambassadors for the most glamorous event this summer.

After the paddle, there will be a Marilyn Mixer, with each guy or gal who signs up receiving a fabulous pack, including a blonde bombshell wig, retro red heart-shaped glasses and a beach ball. Don some glamorous red lipstick and a retro swimsuit or 1950s swing dress to complete the look!

Funds raised from Marilyns Mater Paddle will go to support womens cancer care in the Mater Public Hospital, where generous support has helped fund vital projects such as a new mammogram and a state-of-the-art PET/CT scanner.

Launching Marilyns Mater Paddle, Mary Moorhead, Chief Executive of the Mater Hospital Foundation said: The Marilyns Mater Paddle not only promises a unique day of glamour and glitz but will also make a real difference to the lives of women who come to the Mater Hospital for cancer treatment.

The funds raised will enable us to continue to be there for women diagnosed with cancer, offering hope and support to our patients during their most challenging time.

Grace Mongey Gernon, who posed as a Marilyn at the launch, added: I am delighted to support Marilyns Mater Paddle, which will make a real difference for womens cancer care in the Mater Hospital.

If the launch photoshoot is anything to go by, the day itself will be fantastic fun and an event with a real twist for everyone who takes part  women and men alike!

Carly Mahady, who knows first-hand the great work that happens in the Mater Hospital, commented: It is a real honour to be on board with Marilyns Mater Paddle, to support each and every woman who comes to the Mater Hospital in need of expert cancer care - the event is set to be a day like no other, full of style, glamour and real meaning.

Keilidh Cashell, who will bring her unique style expertise to Marilyns Mater Paddle, said: Marilyn is the ultimate icon and Im really looking forward to sharing with all participants how to bring out their inner Hollywood icon and creating the ultimate silver star style, all while doing something really important for womens cancer care!

Taking place on Sunday, August 4, the event is open to adults of all ages and genders. To register, visit materfoundation.ie/marilyn
Wicklow people have been called on to show solidarity with people who are visually impaired by taking part in the Vision Ireland Dip at Dawn later this month.

Vision Ireland is the new name for the NCBI, and Dip at Dawn is their new nationwide fundraiser, set to take place on Friday, June 21.

Calling for support ahead of the event, Gerard Lyons the local area manager of the Vision Ireland stores in Bray, said Weve always seen ourselves as being more than a charity shop, we see ourselves as deeply ingrained in the local community, one that includes people who are blind or vision impaired. We hope with this event that locals can show solidarity with service users in their area by taking part and showing their support.

Dip at Dawn started in Lahinch in June 2023 as the brainchild of Senator Martin Conway, with a strong ambition this year for thousands of supporters to take to their local seashore, swimming spot, swimming pool, or even the bath-tub, to help raise funding on the longest day of the year.

18 people a day lose their sight, some of whom have preventable conditions. We are calling on the public to get involved and sign up. Your donation will mean that Vision Ireland can support more people on their sight loss journey, and your participation will encourage more conversation around eye health, Senator Martin Conway said.

The mission of Vision Ireland is to enable people who are blind and vision impaired to overcome the barriers that impede their independence and participation in society.

Vision Ireland are calling on people to Dip at Dawn however way you prefer. Swimmer or not, you can dip, splash, swim anywhere. Sign up on www.vi.ie for 15, and set your online fundraiser to share with your family, friends, and colleagues.

All funds raised go towards supporting the work of Vision Ireland. Dip at Dawn is supported by national retail group Costcutter.
Artist Anya Gallaccio has been selected to create the memorial(Aids Memory UK/Jeff Moore/PA)

British artist Anya Gallaccio has won the commission to create an Aids memorial near an HIV ward that was opened by Diana, Princess of Wales in 1987.

The piece of art will be located on South Crescent, Store Street, in Fitzrovia, close to the former Middlesex Hospital where Broderip Ward became the first dedicated to the care and treatment of people affected by HIV/Aids in the United Kingdom.

It was at this hospital that Diana famously shook hands with a man living with Aids, challenging the idea that the virus could be passed on by someones touch.

The Princess of Wales is presented with a bouquet by Aids patient Martin Johnson during her visit to the Mildmay Mission Hospital Aids Hospice in east London (PA)

Gallaccios proposal, which was selected by a panel of judges from a shortlist of five artists, features a tree trunk which has a hollowed-out space.

She said: The proposal as it stands is holding space with the intention of providing a meeting place, a heart for community-generated events and oral histories

The tree is a symbol of life. The planes that line the street side of the crescent are everywhere in the city, for good reason, they withstand pollution.

They are survivors, living, despite their environment, a clunky but perhaps fitting metaphor for those living with HIV and Aids. Hidden in plain sight.

Design concept for Anya Gallaccios winning proposal (Anya Gallaccio/Rinehart Herbst/PA)

The memorial is being delivered by the charity Aids Memory UK, which aims to raise awareness of the continuing impact of HIV and Aids.

London Mayor Sadiq Khan has committed 130,000 funding from the Commission for Diversity in the Public Realm towards the memorial.

Ash Kotak, founder of Aids Memory UK, said: The announcement is a major milestone for the already seven-and-a-half-year-long campaign to deliver The Aids Memorial in London.

The foundations have now been laid: a historically relevant site; a brilliant internationally recognised artist who was directly affected by HIV &Aids in London; and her beautiful and meaningful new public artwork.

Now is the time for Londoners, and friends of this great city, to come together to fundraise and build this important new public artwork. It will survive longer than all of us and remain a tribute to the epoch we are all living through, a time of HIV & Aids, as we fight on to its end.

Mr Khan said: Im delighted that Anya Gallaccio has been commissioned to create The Aids Memorial in London, and Im proud that funding from City Hall ishelping to bring this project to fruition.

Anyas proposal is a powerful symbol of solidarity and a fitting way to honour those who have lost their lives to the virus and highlight the impact ithas had on our communities, as we work to end transmissions in the capital and build a fairer London for everyone.

In 2003, Gallaccio was shortlisted for the Turner Prize and she has recently been awarded the Kenneth Armitage Foundation fellowship 2023-2025.

The Aids Memorial in London is expected to be unveiled at the end of 2027.
The Oscar-winning actress plays Reverend Mother in the third in the series of films (Yui Mok/PA)

Oscar-winning actress Olivia Colman will take on the role of a nun in Paddington In Peru.

A trailer for the third in the series of films, with This Is Going To Hurt actor Ben Whishaw in the lead role as the voice of Paddington Bear, shows Colman as the guitar-playing Reverend Mother trying to help the fictional animal character find his Aunt Lucy in the Amazon rainforest.

The 2024 movie sees the Brown family and Paddington, who live together in London, travel to the South American country so the cartoon bear can visit Lucy, voiced by The Crown star Imelda Staunton.

At the start of the official trailer, the hat-wearing bear, from darkest Peru, has returned to Paddington Station to use a passport photo machine and discovers headwear is not permitted, including his favourite marmalade sandwiches which he keeps under his hat.

So Paddington eats his lunch and while struggling a bit with his eyesight, he pushes his face up to the glass of the photo machine and gets spun off the chair, ending up with less than flattering images of himself.

In a voice-over, while Paddington receives his blue British passport, Whishaw can be heard saying: Dear Aunt Lucy, I have very important news, were coming to visit you. The Browns are coming to Peru.

The teaser than shows scenes including Mary Poppins Returns actress Emily Mortimer as Mrs Brown appearing to check out Spanish actor Antonio Banderas as Hunter Cabot, who the family travels with on a boat.

Mortimer says: Oh what a handsome  boat.

Actor Ben Whishaw takes the lead role as the voice of Paddington Bear (Matt Crossick/PA)

The family, including Downton Abbeys Hugh Bonneville as patriarch Henry Brown and Madeleine Harris as Judy Brown and Samuel Joslin as Jonathan Brown, then arrive at the Home for Retired Bears where Paddington cannot find Lucy.

The Reverend Mother, who along with other nuns looks after the bears, informs him she has set off on some sort of quest, deep in the jungle and we have no idea where she is.

She also tells Paddington and the Browns that she has faith that you will survive while having her fingers crossed and laughing before they try to find Lucy.

Other moments are shown, including Colman strumming a guitar and trying to fly a plane, Banderas running from a big boulder alongside Paddington in what seems like an ancient temple, and issues on board the boat.

Based on the series of childrens stories written by British author Michael Bond about a bear from Peru who wears a red hat and blue coat, production took place in London, Peru and Colombia for the latest movie, which is produced by Heyday Films and developed by StudioCanal.

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The first film received an Outstanding British Film Bafta and adapted screenplay nods at the 2015 ceremony, and the follow-up Paddington 2 also garnered the same nominations, alongside a supporting actor mention for Hugh Grant as the thief Phoenix Buchanan.

A short film, voiced by Whishaw to celebrate the late Queens Platinum Jubilee, scooped a Memorable Moment TV Bafta last year following the monarchs death.

It saw the cartoon bear visiting Buckingham Palace for afternoon tea and the late Queen producing a marmalade sandwich from her handbag, and aired on the BBC during Platinum Jubilee: Party At The Palace with comedian Simon Farnaby, who co-wrote Paddington 2 with Paul King, appearing as a footman.

King was the writer and director of the first two movies, but has been credited with a story by mention for the latest instalment. Sally Hawkins, who used to play the Brown matriarch, was replaced with Mortimer.

Paddington In Peru comes out on November 8 in cinemas.
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.

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.

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.
French centre-right leader Eric Ciotti says he wants election alliance with far-right of Le Pen. Photo; Getty

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.
Israeli official claims Hamas has rejected ceasefire proposal

Militant group had said it was ready to deal positively on peace plan, but also had remarks

Israeli soldiers gesture from a military truck near the Israel-Gaza border, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas. Photo: Reuters

Associated Press Reporters Wed 12 Jun 2024 at 03:30







Hamas has rejected a Gaza ceasefire proposal outlined by US president Joe Biden, an Israeli official said yesterday, after receiving the Palestinian militant groups response through mediators.
New Delhi/IBNS: India's bankruptcy rule-maker, the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (IBBI), said that it is planning to reduce the compliance burden of debt resolution professionals so that they can concentrate on stitching together rescue plans for companies under their supervision.

The IBBI said in a discussion paper on lowering the compliance burden of these professionals that the idea is to reduce the number of forms and volume of information that resolution professionals have to submit and to make the reporting process simpler and efficient.

According to reports, the IBBI has sought public feedback on its suggestions by July 1.

The bankruptcy rule-maker said its enhanced data capture capabilities, particularly creation of a portal, needs to be leveraged to simplify and optimize the forms to be filled by professionals, as per reports.

The IBBI added that there will be a special emphasis on removing duplication, making the reporting process simpler and more efficient.
Photo Courtesy and file image source: UNI

Security forces neutralised one terrorist and one civilian was injured during an operation in Hiranagar tehsil of Kathua district of Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday, officials said.

Union Minister Jitendra Singh posted on X: "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."

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 developments," he wrote sharing the development around the terror attack.

According to reports, the operation is still going on.

Update



One terrorist has been neutralized, and one civilian has been injured but is now out of danger. The operation is still ongoing, and senior officers are on the spot. https://t.co/YEHFDQmQUB  Zonal Police Media Centre Jammu (@ZPHQJammu) June 11, 2024

Two more terror attacks in Kashmir

Security forces on Tuesday launched a massive search operation after suspected terrorists struck the border village of Hiranagar region in Kathua district of Jammu and Kashmir.

According to media reports, two to three suspected terrorists were seen in Saida Sohal village in Hiranagar area.

The suspected terrorists reportedly fired a few rounds and ran away towards the forest area.

Security forces later rushed to the spot and launched an operation.

Raesi terror attack

Nine terrorists attacked a bus ferrying pilgrims in Reasi district recently following which the vehicle plunged into a gorge.

At least 10 pilgrims died and 33 others were injured in the incident.
Photo courtesy: UNI

New Delhi/IBNS: Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah has once again proposed the idea of dialogue over military action in response to the three recent terror attacks in the valley.

Speaking to ANI, Abdullah said, "We still have problems with our neighbour. These problems will not be solved by military action... Unless we talk to our neighbours, we cannot solve it. The terrorists are coming through borders, and they will continue coming. Whichever government will be there tomorrow, will have to face the same thing... We need to come out of these situations...

"We have a major Yatra coming (Amarnath Yatra). Any small incident that might take place in that will be blown up in the rest of the country. We Kashmiris are not responsible for these things."

"We have never favoured these things..." On the Assembly elections, he says, "Elections will take place. The election took place for the Parliament also when the incidents took place. Elections cannot be prevented by this..," he added.

#WATCH | Srinagar, J&K: On the terror attacks in J&K, National Conference President Dr Farooq Abdullah says, "We still have problems with our neighbour. These problems will not be solved by military action... Unless we talk to our neighbours, we cannot solve it. The terrorists pic.twitter.com/5RjflbL3xx  ANI (@ANI) June 12, 2024

The Jammu and Kashmir porivinces of Doda and Kathua were struck by two separate terror attacks on Tuesday.

A CRPF jawan was killed and 6 security personnel were injured as a result of the attacks.

A fierce gunfight broke out in Doda after militants fired at a joint checkpost of the Rashtriya Rifles and police on the Bhaderwah-Pathankot road on Tuesday late night, India Today reported.

The Kashmir Tigers, which is linked to militant organisation Jaish-e-Mohammed, has claimed responsibility for the attack.

Security forces on Tuesday launched a massive search operation after suspected terrorists struck the border village of Hiranagar region in Kathua district of Jammu and Kashmir.

According to media reports, two to three suspected terrorists were seen in Saida Sohal village in Hiranagar area.

The suspected terrorists reportedly fired a few rounds and ran away towards the forest area.

Security forces later rushed to the spot and launched an operation.

Nine terrorists attacked a bus ferrying pilgrims in Reasi district recently following which the vehicle plunged into a gorge.

At least 10 pilgrims died and 33 others were injured in the incident.
Representative Photo Courtesy: Unsplash

At least 35 people, including a few Indians, died after a massive fire broke out in a six-storeyed building at Mangaf block in Kuwait's Ahmadi Governorate on Wednesday, local media reports said.

The fire left 15 people injured.

The injured people were rushed to nearby hospitals for treatment.

More than 41 people were killed in a building fire in an area heavily populated with foreign workers in Kuwait , the interior ministry said on Wednesday



Interior Minister Sheikh Fahd Al Yousef described as a real disaster, adding that he ordered the arrest of the guard and pic.twitter.com/37MM3H15Me  Saad Abedine (@SaadAbedine) June 12, 2024

Though KUNA news agency claimed 35 people died in the blaze, some media reports said 41 people lost their lives in the tragedy.

The fire started in a kitchen in the six-storey building in Mangaf city in the early hours of Wednesday, Gulf News reported quoting officials.

A report published on onmanorama website said 10 Indians, including five Malayalis, were killed in the incident.

Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar condoled the loss of lives in the tragedy and posted on X: "Deeply shocked by the news of the fire incident in Kuwait city. There are reportedly over 40 deaths and over 50 have been hospitalized. Our Ambassador has gone to the camp. We are awaiting further information. "

Deeply shocked by the news of the fire incident in Kuwait city. There are reportedly over 40 deaths and over 50 have been hospitalized. Our Ambassador has gone to the camp. We are awaiting further information.



Deepest condolences to the families of those who tragically lost  Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) June 12, 2024

"Deepest condolences to the families of those who tragically lost their lives. Wish early and full recovery to those who have been injured,"he said.
Photo Caption: Indian envoy in Kuwait Adarsh Swaika visiting Kuwait hospital to meet fire tragedy victims. Photo Courtesy: India in Kuwait X page

At least 41 people, mostly Indian nationals, died after a fire broke out at a six-storey building in Kuwait on Wednesday.

The fire also left dozens others injured.

Deputy Prime Minister Sheikh Fahad al-Yousuf al-Sabah ordered the arrest of the buildings owner during a visit to the site, reported Al Jazeera.

According to reports, the fire has been brought under control and investigation is currently underway to ascertain the cause of the blaze.

Amb @AdarshSwaika1 visited Jahra Hospital, where 6 workers, understood to be Indians, injured in today's fire incident, have been admitted. They are reportedly stable. Another 6 are expected to be shifted to Jahra hospital today from Mangaf site. pic.twitter.com/PpJnoNAAtG  India in Kuwait (@indembkwt) June 12, 2024

Indian PM Narendra Modi described the fire tragedy in Kuwait as 'saddening'.

As directed by PM @narendramodi, MoS for External Affairs @KVSinghMPGonda is urgently travelling to Kuwait to oversee assistance to those injured in the fire tragedy and to coordinate with local authorities for early repatriation of mortal remains of those who have died in this  Randhir Jaiswal (@MEAIndia) June 12, 2024

"The fire mishap in Kuwait City is saddening. My thoughts are with all those who have lost their near and dear ones. I pray that the injured recover at the earliest. The Indian Embassy in Kuwait is closely monitoring the situation and working with the authorities there to assist the affected," Modi posted on X.

The fire mishap in Kuwait City is saddening. My thoughts are with all those who have lost their near and dear ones. I pray that the injured recover at the earliest. The Indian Embassy in Kuwait is closely monitoring the situation and working with the authorities there to assist https://t.co/cb7GHN6gmX  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 12, 2024

Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar wrote: " Deeply shocked by the news of the fire incident in Kuwait city. There are reportedly over 40 deaths and over 50 have been hospitalized. Our Ambassador has gone to the camp. We are awaiting further information."

Deeply shocked by the news of the fire incident in Kuwait city. There are reportedly over 40 deaths and over 50 have been hospitalized. Our Ambassador has gone to the camp. We are awaiting further information.



Deepest condolences to the families of those who tragically lost  Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) June 12, 2024

"Deepest condolences to the families of those who tragically lost their lives. Wish early and full recovery to those who have been injured," he said.

Indian Embassy helpline number +965-65505246
Giant panda Fu Bao meets the public in China

People's Daily Online) 15:49, June 12, 2024

The beloved giant panda Fu Bao officially meets the public at the Shenshuping giant panda base of the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda in southwest China's Sichuan Province, on June 12, 2024. (People's Daily/Song Haoxin)

After completing more than two months of quarantine and acclimatization, the beloved giant panda Fu Bao officially met the public on June 12 at the Shenshuping giant panda base of the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda in southwest China's Sichuan Province.

Fu Bao returned to China on April 3 from South Korea's Everland Zoo, where it was born. Upon arrival, the panda was housed at the Shenshuping giant panda base.

During quarantine, Fu Bao adjusted well and built trust with its keepers. After the quarantine, Fu Bao was moved to the breeding area of the base, where it began to interact with other pandas through sound and odor.

Panda fans wait for Fu Bao at the Shenshuping giant panda base of the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda in southwest China's Sichuan Province, on June 12, 2024. (People's Daily Online/Wang Bo)

The beloved giant panda Fu Bao officially meets the public at the Shenshuping giant panda base of the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda in southwest China's Sichuan Province, on June 12, 2024. (People's Daily Online/Wang Bo)

The beloved giant panda Fu Bao officially meets the public at the Shenshuping giant panda base of the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda in southwest China's Sichuan Province, on June 12, 2024. (People's Daily Online/Wang Bo)

The beloved giant panda Fu Bao officially meets the public at the Shenshuping giant panda base of the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda in southwest China's Sichuan Province, on June 12, 2024. (People's Daily Online/Wang Bo)

The beloved giant panda Fu Bao officially meets the public at the Shenshuping giant panda base of the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda in southwest China's Sichuan Province, on June 12, 2024. (People's Daily Online/Wang Bo)

The beloved giant panda Fu Bao officially meets the public at the Shenshuping giant panda base of the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda in southwest China's Sichuan Province, on June 12, 2024. (People's Daily Online/Wang Bo)

Fu Bao adapts well to the new environment at the Shenshuping giant panda base of the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda in southwest China's Sichuan Province. (People's Daily Online/Wang Bo)

(Web editor: Hongyu, Liang Jun)
In image Kuwait fire & Indian diplomat's visit to hospital/ courtesy: X

New Delhi/IBNS: Forty Indians were among 49 killed after a fire broke out in a building housing workers in Kuwait's Mangaf city on Wednesday, media reports said.

The incident happened at 6 am local time (9 am IST). Kuwaiti officials said over 40 people had been hospitalised.

The fire started in a kitchen in the six-storey building which had 160 people living in it and some succumbed to death as they jumped off the fifth floor to escape, media reports said.

An inquiry has been initiated into the matter.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi also offered condolences and said the Indian embassy is working with local authorities to assist the victims.

A high-level meeting was held at the Prime Minister's residence over the tragedy.

"The fire mishap in Kuwait City is saddening. My thoughts are with all those who have lost their near and dear ones. I pray that the injured recover at the earliest. The Indian Embassy in Kuwait is closely monitoring the situation and working with the authorities there to assist the affected," he said.

The fire mishap in Kuwait City is saddening. My thoughts are with all those who have lost their near and dear ones. I pray that the injured recover at the earliest. The Indian Embassy in Kuwait is closely monitoring the situation and working with the authorities there to assist https://t.co/cb7GHN6gmX  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 12, 2024

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar Wednesday said he is "deeply shocked" by news of 40 Indians being killed in the fire.

"Deeply shocked by news of the fire incident in Kuwait City. There are reportedly over 40 deaths and over 50 have been hospitalised. Our Ambassador has gone to the camp... we are awaiting further information," Jaishankar said on X. Initial reports say most of the Indian victims were from Kerala.

Deeply shocked by the news of the fire incident in Kuwait city. There are reportedly over 40 deaths and over 50 have been hospitalized. Our Ambassador has gone to the camp. We are awaiting further information.



Deepest condolences to the families of those who tragically lost  Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) June 12, 2024

The Indian embassy in Kuwait has issued a helpline number and earlier said the fire accident involved some Indian workers and the embassy will give all possible assistance. The emergency helpline number is +965-65505246.

Indian Ambassador to Kuwait Adarsh Swaika met the injured admitted at various hospitals.

Amb @AdarshSwaika1 visited Mubarak Al-Kabeer Hospital, where 11 workers injured in today's fire have been admitted. 10 of them are expected to be released today & one in hospital is reportedly stable. He met with patients still in hospital & assured them of Embassy's full support pic.twitter.com/cAbLhBxspp  India in Kuwait (@indembkwt) June 12, 2024

Kuwait's health ministry said the injured had been admitted to several hospitals; the majority were sent to Al-Adan, but some were also sent to Farwaniya Hospital, Al-Amiri, and Mubarak Hospital.

Junior Foreign Minister Kirti Vardhan Singh will go to Kuwait to help Indians injured in the fire, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said. "As directed by PM Narendra Modi, MoS for External Affairs KV Singh is urgently travelling to Kuwait to oversee assistance to those injured in the fire tragedy and to coordinate with local authorities for early repatriation of mortal remains of those who have died in this unfortunate incident," the spokesperson said.




Photo courtesy: Screenshot grab from X video

Mumbai/IBNS: Filmmaker-producer Karan Johar on Wednesday reacted to the incident where a woman CISF security staff slapped actress-MP-elect Kangana Ranaut at Chandigarh airport a week ago.

When he asked about the incident, Karan said, "I do not support or condone any form of violence, verbal or physical."

#WATCH | Mumbai: On Kangana Ranaut slapped by CISF woman constable, filmmaker Karan Johar says, "I do not support or condone any form of violence, verbal or physical." pic.twitter.com/WAiSHneYZx  ANI (@ANI) June 12, 2024

The popular filmmaker, with whom Kangana shares a strenuous relationship, made the comment during a press conference for his upcoming release, Kill, which he has produced.

Kangana, who won the Lok Sabha polls on a BJP ticket from Himachal Pradesh's Mandi, was slapped at the airport by Kulwinder Kaur, when the actress was on her way to board a Vistara flight.

Kangana had alleged that a CISF security official at Chandigarh Airport slapped her when she was proceeding to board the flight to reach New Delhi.

Kaur, who has been suspended, said she slapped as a response to Kangana's controversial remark during the farmers' protest.

"My mother was in the protest when she had made the remark," the suspended CISF security official was heard saying.

Kangana had earlier slammed Bollywood for remaining mum on the incident.

In an Instagram story, which she later deleted, Kangana said, "Dear film industry, you all are either celebrating or are totally mum on the airport attack on me remember if tomorrow if you walking disarmingly on some street of your country or anywhere else in the world and some Israeli / Palestinian hits you or your children just because you tried to bring eyes to Rafah or stood up for Israeli hostage... then you will see I will be fighting for your rights of free speech, if someday you wonder why I am where I am remember you are not me."
Photo Courtesy: Pixabay

Amid the restriction of movement of the local Tibetan population and the internet regulations, the demolition of 135-year-old Atsok Monastery in Amdo has begun, media reports said.

According to research group Tibet Watch, Chinese authorities have forbidden the public from taking or sharing photos and videos of the monasterys demolition as well as the construction of the Yangchu hydropower station on social media, reported Phayul.

Residents have been banned from visiting the monastery and the relocation site.

Construction at the relocation site is incomplete, and monks reside in temporary makeshift shelters. Monastery property has been stored in a warehouse in Palkha Township, the news portal reported.

The research group revealed that a source from Tibet reported an incident involving a Tibetan from Dekyi Village who was arrested and detained by police last month after sharing pictures of the demolition and a photo of the Dalai Lama on the micro-messaging app WeChat. The individuals identity and current whereabouts remain unknown, the news portal further said.

The relocation is being done as a part of a hydropower project approved on November 29, 2021, by the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC).
Photo Courtesy: Pixabay/Unsplash

Washington-based human rights body The Sindhi Foundation recently announced it will host 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 Pakistans High Commission, a statement by the social organization stated as quoted by ANI.

Kumari was abducted in Pakistan three years ago.

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.

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.
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Kalki 2898 AD: The trailer for Kalki 2898 AD was just released, and viewers were enthralled with what they saw. Thanks to its plot, the movie, which stars Deepika Padukone, Prabhas, Kamal Haasan, Disha Patani, Amitabh Bachchan, and others, is much awaited. While the three-minute trailer does not reveal much about the story, it does introduce us to a few individuals and drop subtle clues about potential outcomes.

A few months ago, a redditor took to the social networking site and shared a few theories about Kalki 2898 AD.

The post was shared with the captioned, What are some theories that you have for Kalki 2898 AD or would like to see in the film?



Is Kalki Played By Prabhas?

Trailer

The thread mentions, There is no way Kalki is not played by Prabhas. The entire movie is about Kalki, even the title, so if they are trying to mount this film on such a big scale and make Prabhas-THE STAR, anyone but Kalki, I don't see how the story will have him as the main character.

Amitabh Bachchan As Ashwathamma

Post adds, Amitabh Bachchan is Ashwathamma and Kamal Hassan is Kali Purush. No one doubts this.

Also read: Is Prabhas playing the last avatar of Lord Vishnu in Kalki 2898 AD? Fans share proof

Disha Patanis Role

Another theory states Disha Patani is either Kamal Hassan's daughter or spy who was sent to infiltrate the rebel forces, She is the reason Prabhas and the rebels will be captured. 

Trailer

Will Kalki 2898 AD Have More Parts?

The thread goes on to mention, The movie will have 2-3 parts. I think there will be 2 most likely. I know Nag Ashwin has said that this is not a franchise, and I call his bluff because Vyjyanthi Network(the producers) have themselves posted an image of Project K's Comic Con Billboard in New York saying how this is India's biggest cinematic universe. Most likely Rana Daggubati's Hiranyakashipu movie is also part of this same universe.

Will The Movie Have Time Tarvel?

It also adds, This movie has time travel. Well no actual solid proof for this, but the entire promo for posters have been on and out saying how the story began 6000 years ago so likely they will travel back to Mahabharat era to retrieve divine astras(which is a great idea imo).

Check out some other theories mentioned in the post:



Also read: Kalki 2898 AD: Amitabh Bachchan as Ashwatthama - All about the Mahabharata legend behind his 'mani'

Reddit

When Will Kalki 2898 AD Release?

Kalki 2898 AD is all set to arrive on the big screens on June 27, 2024.

For more news and updates from the world of OTT, and celebrities from Bollywood and Hollywood, keep reading Indiatimes Entertainment.


Following a bitter separation from her husband, Nikhil Patel, well-known television actor Dalljiet Kaur recently returned to Kenya. She posted a few images to her Instagram stories, one of which showed her dining at a restaurant with her group of friends. Nairobi was the location that she geotagged.



Dalljiet could be seen dressed in a black outfit. The caption reads, "When you meet your girl squad (sic)."

IG

When Dalljiet said that Nikhil Patel had an extramarital affair

She wrote in the post that she later deleted, My clothes are there, my chooda is there, my temple, all my things are there, in fact my son's clothes, books and his hope from my father is there It's my in-laws place, the painting which I made is there. Husband is saying that it's not my house.



Her post added, Husband said this marriage is not legit, Is he not my husband? SN what do you think ? Is Nikhil not my husband? Did we not get married?

Also read: Dalljiet Kaur's Husband Nikhil Patel Confirms Separation, Know Reason Behind The Couple's Split

Dalljiet Kaur's Husband Nikhil Patel Confirms Separation

Talking to Etimes, he said, In January this year, Dalljiet decided to leave Kenya with her son Jaydon and return to India, which ultimately led to our separation. We both realised that the foundation of our blended family wasn't as strong as we had hoped, making it hard for Dalljiet to settle in Kenya. In March 2023, we held an Indian wedding ceremony in Mumbai. Though it held cultural significance, it was not legally binding. This ceremony was intended to reassure Dalljiets family about her move to Kenya."



Also read: Dalljiet Kaur Accuses Husband Nikhil Patel Of Cheating, Here Are 4 Allegations She Has Made

He went on to add, "Despite our efforts, Dalljiet found it challenging to adjust to life in Kenya, missing her career and life in India. The complexities of our family dynamics became increasingly apparent... this proved to be challenging for us due to cultural clashes, different values and beliefs, and this was something that began to develop as the relationship matured... Dalljiet informed me, her sons school and others on the day she decided to leave that she did not plan to return to Kenya... her departure marked the end of our relationship for me, and despite her concerning social media activity over the past five months, I have found closure and solace, moving forward positively."

For more news and updates from the world of OTT, and celebrities from Bollywood and Hollywood, keep reading Indiatimes Entertainment.


Rumors about Sonakshi Sinha's marriage to boyfriend Zaheer Iqbal have been circulating for some time now, with her family making ambiguous statements that neither confirm nor deny the news. Even the Heeramandi actress refused to comment on it. So is she getting married on June 23? While there's no confirmation about her wedding plans yet, a Pakistani journalist has claimed the actress is pregnant.

Is Sonakshi Sinha pregnant?

Taking to Twitter, Umair Sandhu wrote, "Breaking news : #SonakshiSinha is 2 months pregnant  ! So now she decided to marry with father of the child #ZaheerIqbal".

This shocking claim that remains unverified has shocked Sonakshi's fans.

Breaking news : #SonakshiSinha is 2 months pregnant  ! So now she decided to marry with father of the child #ZaheerIqbal. pic.twitter.com/Wxfk2yEh9J  Umair Sandhu (@UmairSandu) June 12, 2024

Who is Umair Sandhu?

Umair Sandhu is a Pakistan-based journalist and self-proclaimed film critic who has gained attention for making sensational and often controversial claims about Bollywood celebrities. He is known for his bold statements and allegations, which frequently make headlines and spark debates, especially on social media.

When Celina Jaitley took legal action against Pakistan journalist Umair Sandhu!

Earlier, Sandhu had claimed on X, "Celina Jaitley is the only actress who slept with both father (Firoz Khan) and son Fardeen Khan many times." For the unversed, Firoz Khan had launched Celina Jaitley in her debut film Janasheen (2003) alongside his son Fardeen Khan. Celina had always regarded Firoz Khan as her mentor in the industry.

A few months ago, a self-proclaimed Hindi film critic and journalist from Pakistan named @UmairSandu took to Twitter to make viral untrue horrific claims about me which included bizarre allegations like my relations with both my mentor Feroz Khan and his son Fardeen , in addition pic.twitter.com/xAtxdE8Jzb  Celina Jaitly (@CelinaJaitly) July 30, 2023

Celina reached out to the National Commission for Women (NCW), which escalated the matter to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). The MEA then contacted the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi, requesting an investigation into the incident. In her complaint, Celina noted that Umair frequently changed his online location but was suspected to be hiding in Pakistan.

In her complaint, she said, "A few months ago, a self-proclaimed Hindi Film critic and journalist from Pakistan named Umair Sandhu took to Twitter to make viral untrue claims about me which included bizarre allegations like my relations with my mentor Feroz Khan and his son Fardeen, in addition, he made claims targeting me and my family's safety in Austria."

Meanwhile, the latest reports suggest that Sonakshi Sinha will marry her boyfriend Zaheer Iqbal via a registered marriage on June 23.

For more news and updates from the world of OTT, and celebrities from Bollywood and Hollywood, keep reading Indiatimes Entertainment.
Father's Day is a special occasion dedicated to honouring the vital role that fathers and father figures play in our lives. This day is not only for biological fathers but also for stepfathers, grandfathers, uncles, and other male mentors who provide support, guidance, and love. Celebrated on the third Sunday of June, Father's Day is an opportunity to express our heartfelt gratitude and spend quality time with the men who have significantly impacted our lives.

When is Father's Day in 2024?

Father's Day in 2024 falls on June 16th. This date marks a special occasion to celebrate and show immense gratitude for our fathers' constant love and support. While mothers are often seen as the core support systems in families, fathers play a unique role in binding the family together and providing strength and stability.

The History of Father's Day

The origins of Father's Day can be traced back to the early 20th century, inspired by the already-established Mother's Day. The first known Father's Day celebration took place on June 19, 1910, in Spokane, Washington. It was organized by Sonora Smart Dodd, who sought to honor her father, William Jackson Smart. William, a Civil War veteran and single parent, raised six children on his own, inspiring Sonora to advocate for a day dedicated to fathers.

Why is Father's Day Celebrated on the Third Sunday of June?

Sonora Smart Dodd's campaign for Father's Day gained significant momentum over the years. In 1924, President Calvin Coolidge expressed his support for the idea of a national day to honor fathers. However, it wasn't until 1966 that President Lyndon B. Johnson issued the first presidential proclamation designating the third Sunday in June as Father's Day. Finally, in 1972, President Richard Nixon signed it into law, making Father's Day a permanent national holiday in the United States.

The Significance of Father's Day

Father's Day holds profound significance as it serves as a reminder of the indispensable role fathers play in their children's and families' lives. It's more than just a day for giving gifts; it's about creating lasting memories and showing appreciation for the dedication and hard work that fathers put into raising their children. Celebrating Father's Day highlights the values of fatherhood and the positive impact fathers have on their children's emotional and psychological well-being. This day also encourages society to recognise and appreciate fathers' contributions in various cultures worldwide.

Father's Day is a meaningful celebration that underscores the importance of fathers and father figures in our lives. By understanding the history and significance of this day, we can appreciate why Father's Day is celebrated on the third Sunday of June. As we prepare to honor our fathers on June 16, 2024, let's remember to express our gratitude and create cherished memories that will last a lifetime.

Happy Father's Day wishes and messages to share
Step aside, traditional graduation tales! The class of 2024 at Vermont University has an unexpected addition to their roster of graduates: Max, a remarkable 6-year-old cat. Max isn't your average feline  he is pioneering a new realm of academia by becoming possibly the first cat to earn a doctorate degree, specialising in the purrfectly punny field of "Litter-ature."

Dr Max the cat/ Vermont State University

Max has been a familiar sight around Vermont State Universitys Castleton campus ever since Ashley Dow, his owner, started letting him out of their nearby home.



Maurice Ouimet, the school's dean of admissions, describes Max as "very affectionate" and often the first to greet him in the mornings.

Max's routine revolves around interacting with students, climbing on backpacks, and posing for selfies.

Dr Max the cat with students/ Vermont State University

Describing Max as charismatic, Ouimet notes how he naturally draws people to him. The idea to make Max an honorary member of the class of 2024, complete with a doctorate in "Litter-ature," came from the school's social media manager, Rob Franklin.



Also read: 'You can work hard, & still lose': Roger Federer's Dartmouth College speech is inspiration to make better life decisions

While the university doesn't actually grant doctorates to animals, Max's honorary title - doctorate in "Litter-ature" - acknowledges the real support and joy he brings to the campus community.

Dr Max the Cat's official diploma/ Vermont State University

When Vermont State University contacted Dow about the degree, she was taken aback and amused by the unexpected turn of events. At first, some people in her life found it hard to believe. One coworker even thought she was a little "crazy" for sharing the news until Max's appearances on the news validated the unusual accomplishment.



Dr Max's official diploma would be sent to his home via mail.

Max's influence extends even further with his own school email and directory page, managed by Dow and her daughter, Kaitlyn Tanner. They have even responded to messages from as far away as Germany and England.

For more news and current affairs from around the world, please visit Indiatimes News.
Animal rights activists protested animal abuse on farms on Tuesday by pasting a big image of the well-known animated character 'Wallace' over the first official portrait of Britain's King Charles since his accession. Campaign organization Animal Rising captured footage of two supporters approaching the portrait in London's Philip Mould gallery, overlaying the king's visage with a large cartoon image of Wallace from the "Wallace and Gromit" animated comedy franchise.

They also placed a big speech bubble that read: "No cheese, Gromit. Look at all the cruelty on RSPCA farms!"

Why did the animal activists stick cartoon faces on King Charles' portrait?

Campaign organization Animal Rising captured footage of two supporters approaching the portrait in London's Philip Mould gallery | Image: X

Animal Rising stated that the supporters' activities were intended to highlight cruelty on farms granted "Assured" status, which guarantees improved welfare standards, by the RSPCA animal charity, of which Charles is a patron. The RSPCA was not impressed.

Also read: Charles III's Five Crucial Moments As He Completes His First Year As King

"We are appalled by the damage of His Majesty King, our Patron's image. We welcome scrutiny of our work, but we cannot tolerate any form of illegal activity," said an RSPCA spokesman, adding that the charity treated any complaints against its Assured-certified farms seriously.

Which attack happened last month?

This is how the latest portrait looked | Image: X

This is the latest attack by activists on British artwork. Last month, climate protestors attempted to shatter a case containing an original Magna Carta document in the British Library, and in October, they dumped soup on Vincent van Gogh's artwork "Sunflowers" in London's National Gallery.

Daniel Juniper, one of the two activists involved, stated on the group's website: "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."

Also read: King Charles Diagnosed With Cancer: Here's What We Know

He was hoping that Charles would "seriously reconsider if he wants to be associated with the awful suffering across farms being endorsed by the RSPCA."

How did the Buckingham Palace react?

Buckingham Palace stated it had no comments. Animal Rising stated that its posters would be easily removed without causing damage to the painting.

The picture of Charles by artist Jonathan Yeo elicited varied reactions after its exhibition last month, with some criticizing its brilliant red colour.



What do you think about this? Tell us in the comments.

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Who doesn't enjoy travelling and discovering new places? Everyone's vacation wish list includes long drives through gorgeous hills, cruising the open ocean, and doing fascinating tours. But imagine if you could live forever in these vacation-like environments. It would be a dream existence for most travellers.

Who is the man who lives on a cruise ship?

Kevin Martin, a former military man and lawyer, chose to trade his briefcase for a seaside balcony | Image: YouTube

American man is already fulfilling this goal and sharing his experiences through vlogging. Kevin Martin, a former military man and lawyer, chose to trade his briefcase for a seaside balcony. This 48-year-old Missourian isn't simply vacationing on cruise ships; he's living his dream full-time.

Also read: After Shakira, Are Guru Randhawa And Pitbull Among The Celeb Performers At Anant Ambani's Cruise Party?

He recounts his unique lifestyle through YouTube vlogs, which include the financial realities--both the excellent discounts and the hidden costs--of living aboard a cruise ship.

Which cruises have the man been on?

Kevin, who has travelled on lines like as MSC, NCL, Princess, and Royal Caribbean | Image: YouTube

Kevin, who has travelled on lines like as MSC, NCL, Princess, and Royal Caribbean, even offers advice on how to make this atypical lifestyle surprisingly reasonable.



According to The Metro, Kevin sailed to St Kitts, St Lucia, Barbados, Grenada, Grand Cayman, and Aruba in March 2024. He spent a total of 1,615 pounds during his month aboard the ship.

How much does the man spend on the cruise ship?

To break it down, 1,080 Pounds was spent on his lodging and the all-inclusive buffet dinners on board the vessel. During that period, he only spent an additional 22 pounds on meals not included in the aforesaid package.

Kevin's monthly cruise ship expenses were  162,985 (about 1,615). Here's the breakdown of his costs:



Also read: Ageless Elegance: Witness The Joyful Dancing Of An Elderly Woman On A Cruise Ship

Accommodation and meals: 108,993 (about 1,080 pounds)

Extra food: 2,220 (about 22 pounds)

Phone: 8,578 (approx. 85 pounds)

Insurance: 4,238 (about 42 pounds)

Healthcare: 1,917 (about 19 pounds)

Check the viral video here.

What do you think about this? Tell us in the comments.

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Mohan Charan Majhi's rise to becoming the Chief Minister of Odisha is a tale of perseverance and dedication. Hailing from a humble background, Majhi's journey from a small village to the political helm of Odisha is truly inspiring. In this article let's take a into the life of Mohan Charan Majhi, exploring his journey, family, education and net worth.



Mohan Charan Majhi: From Humble Beginnings to Odisha CM

Mohan Charan Majhi has been appointed as the new Chief Minister of Odisha after his election as the leader of the BJP legislature party. At 52, Majhi will take his oath on June 12, in a ceremony graced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This event marks a significant milestone as Majhi becomes the first BJP Odisha CM since the state's formation.

The BJPs victory in the assembly elections, securing 74 seats in the 147-member House, ended Naveen Patnaiks 24-year rule. Key figures in the party, including Prabhati Parida and KV Sing Deo, have been appointed as deputy chief ministers. The decisions were solidified during a BJP legislature party meeting, attended by observers like Union Minister Bhupender Yadav.

The Early Life and Background of Mohan Charan Majhi

Mohan Charan Majhi hails from the tribal community of Raikala village in Keonjhar. According to several reports, his father worked as a Chowkidar. Majhi's humble beginnings shaped his character and commitment to public service. His family, including his mother, wife, and two sons, currently reside in government quarters in Bhubaneswar.

Also Read: Meet Shambhavi Chaudhary: From education to net worth, know all about India's youngest MP



The Political Journey of Mohan Charan Majhi

Prime minister Narendra Modi being welcomed by Odisha CM-designate Mohan Majhi upon his arrival at Biju Patnaik International airport | Photo: IANS

Majhi's political journey began in 1997 when he served as a Sarapanch, a role he held until 2000. His dedication and organisational skills led to his election to the Odisha assembly from the Keonjhar seat in 2000, a constituency he has represented ever since. Over the years, Majhi's journey saw him becoming a four-time MLA known for his public service.



Majhi's political acumen was further recognised when he served as the government's Deputy Chief Whip from 2005 to 2009 during the BJP's coalition with the Biju Janata Dal (BJD). In the recent assembly polls, Majhi's leadership was affirmed with a decisive victory over BJDs Mina Majhi, winning by a margin of 11,577 votes.

Mohan Charan Majhis Family and Personal Life

Mohan Charan Majhis family has been a pillar of support throughout his political career. His wife and two sons, along with his mother, have stood by him, reflecting the strong familial bonds that have anchored his journey. Their residence in Bhubaneswar signifies the family's close-knit nature and their involvement in Majhi's public life.

Also Read: Who is Chirag Paswan? From his education to net worth, here's all you need to know about Modis Hanuman



Educational Qualifications and Professional Background

Mohan Majhi completed his higher secondary education at Jhumpura High School in 1987 and finished Class 12th at Anandapur College in 1990, according to his election affidavit. He earned a BA degree from Chandra Sekhar College in Champua, Keonjhar, and later obtained an LLB degree from Dhenkanal Law College, which provided him with a solid understanding of legal and political frameworks. His educational background has been instrumental in his political career, allowing him to navigate complex issues with a firm grasp of the law.

Mohan Charan Majhis Net Worth and Financial Insights

BJP MLA Mohan Charan Majhi to be the new CM of Odisha, announced by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh during a programme in Bhubaneswar on Tuesday | Photo: ANI

While specific details about Mohan Charan Majhis net worth are not publicly disclosed, his long-standing career in politics and public service suggests a stable financial standing. As the new Chief Minister, his financial profile is expected to be a topic of interest, given his influential role in Odishas governance.



Also Read: Who is Ram Mohan Naidu? From education to net worth, here's all about the youngest Cabinet Minister in Modi 3.0 Government



Mohan Charan Majhi's Net Worth and Assets

As of the latest reports, Mohan Charan Majhi's net worth is estimated to be around Rs 2 crore. His financial disclosures reveal that he has moveable assets worth Rs 96.71 lakh. These assets include:

Cash: Rs 80,000

Rs 80,000 Bank Deposits: Rs 10.92 lakh

Rs 10.92 lakh National Savings Scheme (NSS) and Postal Savings: Rs 51.73 lakh

Rs 51.73 lakh A car valued at Rs 25 lakh

Jewelry worth Rs 3 lakh

In addition to these moveable assets, Mohan Charan Majhi also owns immovable assets valued at Rs 1.01 crore. These include:

Agricultural land worth Rs 19.20 lakh

Commercial property valued at Rs 52 lakh

Despite his significant net worth, Mohan Charan Majhi remains dedicated to public service, often prioritising the needs of his constituents over personal gain.

Income Sources and Tax Declarations

Mohan Charan Majhi's income sources are primarily agriculture and his pension. His spouse contributes to the family income through her business, operating a petrol pump. Majhi's commitment to transparency is evident in his regular income tax filings, with returns of Rs 4.22 lakh for 2024-2025 and Rs 4.20 lakh for 2023-2024.

Mohan Charan Majhis story is a testament to hard work and dedication. From his early days in a small village to becoming the Chief Minister of Odisha, Majhi's journey is inspirational. As Odisha CM Mohan Charan Majhi embarks on this new chapter, his leadership is anticipated to bring significant progress and prosperity to the state.

For the latest and more interesting financial news, keep reading Indiatimes Worth. Click here
Nirmala Sitharaman, a prominent figure in Indian politics, has left an indelible mark as a trailblazer for women in leadership. As a two-time Union minister and a key member of PM Modi's cabinet, her journey reflects resilience and dedication. In this article we will take a look into the financial details of Nirmala Sitharaman, highlighting her net worth, assets, and more, offering a unique insight into the personal finances of one of India's most influential women.



A Journey Through Modi Cabinet 3.0

Nirmala Sitharaman joined Prime Minister Narendra Modi's cabinet in 2014, initially as the Minister of Industry and Commerce. In 2017, she took on the role of Defence Minister. After the 2019 general elections, she became India's first female Finance Minister to hold the position for a full term, following the illness of Arun Jaitley. This appointment marked a significant milestone in her career and for women in Indian politics.

Also Read: Meet Shambhavi Chaudhary: From education to net worth, know all about India's youngest MP

Nirmala Sitharaman's Net Worth and Assets

Sitharaman recently mentioned during a press conference that she decided against participating in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections due to insufficient funds for the campaign. According to her 2022 assets and liabilities declaration, Nirmala Sitharaman's net worth was estimated at Rs 2.53 crore. This includes immovable property worth Rs 1.87 crore and movable assets worth Rs 65.55 lakh. Despite her substantial assets, she also disclosed liabilities amounting to Rs 26.91 lakh. These figures might have changed over time due to various factors like investments and loan repayments.

Residential Property and Other Real Estate

PIB

Nirmala Sitharaman's primary asset is a residential property in Manchirevula near Hyderabad, which she co-owns with her husband, Dr. Parakala Prabhakar. The value of this property increased from Rs 99.36 lakh in 2016 to Rs 1.7 crore in 2022. She also owns non-agricultural land in Kuntloor, valued at Rs 17.08 lakh, up from Rs 16.02 lakh in 2016, reported ET.



Also Read: Who is Chirag Paswan? From his education to net worth, here's all you need to know about Modis Hanuman

Vehicles and Gold Holdings

Interestingly, Nirmala Sitharaman still owns a Bajaj Chetak scooter purchased for Rs 28,200, as she has not declared any car ownership. In 2016, she declared owning 315 grams of gold valued at Rs 7.87 lakh. By 2022, this gold was valued at Rs 14.49 lakh due to rising gold prices. Depending on the purity, the current value of her gold holdings ranges between Rs 19.4 lakh and Rs 21.18 lakh.

Investments in Silver and Other Assets

Between 2016 and 2022, Sitharaman's silver holdings grew from 2 kg to 5.282 kg. She spent about Rs 2.60 lakh on the additional silver, bringing the total value of her silver to Rs 3.98 lakh by 2022. Her bank deposits also saw a significant rise, from over Rs 6.77 lakh in 2016 to over Rs 35.52 lakh in 2022. Additionally, she opened a PPF account with an investment of around Rs 1.6 lakh, a new addition since 2016.

Diversified Investments and Liabilities

pti

Nirmala Sitharaman's investments include mutual funds worth slightly over Rs 5.80 lakh. Her 2022 declaration also mentioned having Rs 7,350 in cash and listed personal loans amounting to Rs 2.7 lakh and other receivables totalling Rs 5.08 lakh.



Also Read: Who is Ram Mohan Naidu? From education to net worth, here's all about the youngest Cabinet Minister in Modi 3.0 Government

Loan Repayments

Both Sitharaman and her husband have been diligently repaying various loans. Their home loan, initially Rs 7.02 lakh with Syndicate Bank and later transferred to Canara Bank, decreased to Rs 5.44 lakh by 2022. An overdraft facility reduced from Rs 5.03 lakh in 2016 to Rs 2.53 lakh by 2022. The largest liability, a 10-year mortgage loan, saw a slight reduction from Rs 19.05 lakh in 2016 to Rs 18.93 lakh in 2022. These loans are jointly held by the couple.

Nirmala Sitharaman's financial journey reflects her prudent management of assets and liabilities. Her net worth, primarily composed of real estate, gold, and investments, showcases a well-rounded portfolio. As she continues to serve in PM Modi's cabinet 3.0, her financial disclosures provide a transparent view of her economic standing, illustrating the balance between significant assets and managed liabilities.



For the latest and more interesting financial news, keep reading Indiatimes Worth. Click here
Greeces property prices are rising due to high demand from foreign buyers. The countrys real estate is attractive because its cheaper compared to many other places, and its a popular tourist spot. The Golden Visa program is

especially appealing to non-EU investors because it offers them residency if they buy or rent property in Greece.

In 2023, the Greek government increased the price for the Golden Visa to 500,000 in popular areas, but this didnt stop foreign investors. In fact, applications went up by 60 percent later that year. The government plans to increase the investment requirements again in 2024.

Since the program started, over 31,000 Golden Visas have been given out, bringing more than 2.6 billion in investments to Greece. Most applicants are from China, followed by Turkey, Russia, Lebanon, and Egypt. In early 2024, the number of applications remained steady compared to the previous year.

Amidst a robust demand from foreign homebuyers, increasing construction activity, and ongoing economic growth, Greek property prices continue to accelerate, according to Global Property. Property prices in Greece remain lower compared to many overseas countries, acting as a magnet for foreigners who not only seek returns but also wish to relocate to a popular tourist destination.

The aim of Americans and Britons to secure visas has significantly boosted demand from these countries, says Kosmas Theodoridis, President of the European Real Estate Agents Union.

The demand from foreign homebuyers is intensifying.

The real estate market represents about 20% to 35% of Greeces total FDI annually. During 2023, net direct foreign investments (FDI) in real estate increased by 8% year-on-year to 2.13 billion, following annual increases of 68% in 2022 and 34.4% in 2021, and a nearly 40% decrease in 2020.

This marks the highest level recorded in over two decades.

Even before the Covid-19 pandemic, foreign investments in Greek real estate were on a sharp rise. Net direct foreign investments in real estate soared by 45.3% in 2016, 86.5% in 2017, 172.1% in 2018, and another 28.5% in 2019.

According to Global Property, foreign investors are mainly attracted to Greece by the Golden Visa program, which offers residency permits to non-EU investors who buy or rent properties.

In August 2023, the cost of Greeces Golden Visa doubled to 500,000 in the countrys most popular areas. This move appears to have had a negligible impact on making property prices more affordable for Greeks and deterring foreign investors. Five months after the policy change (August-December 2023), a total of 3,626 investors had submitted their applications for the Golden Visa, an increase of about 60% compared to the same period in 2022.

The government announced that from August 31, 2024, the investment requirements for the Golden Visa program would further increase to 400,000 for areas currently requiring real estate investments of 250,000, and to 800,000 for areas currently requiring investments of 500,000.

From 2014 to 2021, 9,610 main applicants received their Golden Visa in Greece. Subsequently, from 2022 to 2023, a total of 6,795 main applicants were approved. Since its inception until 2023, over 31,000 Greek Golden Visas have been granted to main applicants and their dependents, resulting in total investments of over 2.6 billion in Greece.

From 2014 to 2023, the largest number of applicants came from China, with a total of 7,186 approved visas, accounting for approximately 63.6%, followed by Turkey (8.1%), Russia (6.7%), Lebanon (5.2%), and Egypt (3.7%).

In the first four months of 2024, 2,664 applications for the Golden Visa were submitted, on par with the 2,632 applications from the previous year.

By Yiorgos Pappous

   iefimerida.gr
In his first interview after Sundays European Parliament elections, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis ruled out the possibility of calling snap elections despite the disappointing result for his conservative party.

The result was not what we expected, Mitsotakis told Alpha TV, after New Democracy

collected 28.3 percent of the vote. Just a year earlier, the party had won nearly 41% of the vote in the national elections.

He also dispelled talks of a government shake-up.

This Fridays cabinet meeting will proceed with its current composition.

It is better that citizens sent this message now, as we have three years ahead of us Mr. Mitsotakis said.

Sundays EU elections saw a poor voter turnout in Greece with a record-breaking 59.5% of registered voters not casting a ballot.

According to Interior Ministry data, 3,891,466 people participated in the election last Sunday, out of a total of 9,605,244 registered voters, bringing participation to 40.5%.

Asked about the direction of his policy, Mr.Mitsotakis emphasized effectiveness over political orientation.

The issue, Mr. Mitsotakis said,  is not whether we move towards the center or the right, but whether we will be more effective.

The conservative leader admitted that New Democracy suffered losses from its decision to legalise same-sex marriages. Still, Mr. Mitsotakis said,he had no intention of caving into pressure and retracting the landmark move for Greece.

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Greece has seen a remarkable surge in tourism from Turkey in 2023, with Turkish visitors increasing by 90 percent compared to the previous year.

The influx rose from 478,000 in 2022 to 877,000 in 2023, marking a significant uptick in cross-border travel.

This trend was reciprocated, as Turkey

became the third most popular destination for Greek tourists within the same period.

The number of Greeks visiting Turkey also saw a rise, from 570,000 in 2022 to 686,000 in 2023, a 20 percent increase.

The data, indicating a robust trajectory in tourism flows, was presented by Serkan Gedik, the Turkish Consul General in Thessaloniki, during a workshop focused on enhancing cooperation between Turkey and Greece in the tourism sector.

The event also aimed to promote various regions and forms of tourism, with a special emphasis on Cappadocia.

The workshop, organized by the Turkish Promotion and Development Agency (TGA) and the Turkish Culture and Tourism Office in Greece, underscored the potential for growth, particularly in Northern Greece, due to the geographical proximity and positive mutual perceptions between the two countries.

In 2023, Turkey welcomed a staggering 56 million tourists, with Istanbul alone attracting 18 million visitors. Cappadocia, dubbed The Land of Fairy Tales, drew between 4-5 million tourists annually, celebrated for its natural wonders and hot air balloon rides.

The event highlighted the importance of showcasing diverse destinations beyond the major cities, with the Turkish Consul General in Thessaloniki emphasizing that Turkey is more than Istanbul, and Greece is more than Athens, Thessaloniki, and the islands.

The tourism exchange between Greece and Turkey not only boosts the economy but also fosters a deeper cultural understanding between the neighbouring nations.

   iefimerida.gr
A search operation is underway on the Greek island of Amorgos for a retired U.S. police officer, who has been missing since Tuesday morning.

Calibet Albert Eric, 59, was last seen heading out for a hike from Aegiali to Katapola, a route that typically takes around four hours, authorities said.

They said

they were awaiting information from mobile phone companies regarding the last known signals from two phones that Mr. Eric carried -one with a French number and the other an American one.

Despite extensive searches by police, firefighters, and volunteers, no trace of the American tourist have been found.

Mr. Eric traveled from Los Angeles for his vacation.

The last communication from him was a photograph of the trail sign he sent to his sister at 7:20 AM, shortly after he began his hike.

The friend who reported him missing became concerned after Eric failed to arrive at his destination and was unresponsive to phone calls.

An Amber Alert was issued following the report of his disappearance. The search continues as local authorities and the community hope for his safe return.

He is the second foreigner to go missing since celebrate British TV presenter Michael Mosley was reported last week on a Greek island. He was found dead four days later.

   iefimerida.gr
The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in Anambra State said an accident involving two vehicles at Ukpo junction, along Nteje-Awka Expressway, claimed the life of a female adult on Monday night.

Mr Adeoye Irelewuyi, the corps Sector Commander, told reporters in Awka on Tuesday that the crash was most likely caused by wrongful overtaking.

He said that a commercial Toyota bus with registration number NZN116LK collided with a private Toyota Diana with registration number ACA529XA.

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Three male adults and three female adults were involved in the crash. Five of them were Injured while one female adult was killed.

The injured victims were rushed to Boromi Mission Hospital, Onitsha by FRSC rescue team and one female adult was confirmed dead by the doctor on duty.

Her corpse was deposited at the morgue, he said.

According to the sector commander, the vehicles had been towed to the command headquarters.

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While condoling with the families of the deceased, he urged drivers to avoid irresponsible driving, particularly at night.

Watch and ensure the road is clear before overtaking. Drive to save lives on our roads, he said.
The People Democratic Party, has berated President Bola Ahmed Tinubu over the state of the nation, adding that Nigerians are angry.

PDP noted that the rulling All Progressives Congress has taken the country back to level one, emphasizing on the ned to check the President Tinubus led government.

READ MORE: FG Declares June 12 Public Holiday To Mark Democracy Day

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The opposition party lamented on how APC has been violating rule of law since 2015.

In a statement released to the public on Tuesday, by the partys National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, charged Nigerians to use the occasion of this years Democracy Day to speak against the anti-democratic government of the APC.

The statement partly reads: It is distressing that our nation is observing the Democracy Day under a system that relishes in brazen violation of the Constitution, election rigging, stifling and manipulation of opposition, muzzling of dissenting voices; undermining the judicial system and other democracy institutions in desperation to turn Nigeria into a one-Party State.

More disquieting is that all the progress and gains made by successive PDP administrations in entrenching democratic practice in Nigeria have been reversed by the APC administrations.

The opposition party also condemned the recent opening of the N21 billion luxury mansion built for Vice President Kashim Shettima by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

The statement added: The recent opening of the N21 billion luxury mansion for Vice President Ibrahim Shettima by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in a country of collapsing infrastructure; with over 40% unemployment rate; where millions of citizens are literally starving; and where our schools and hospitals lack the basic operation equipment and tools is only a glimpse into the insensitivity, arrogance, impunity and reckless misdirection of resources that pervade the APC administrations.

The PDP again reminds President Tinubu that there is destitution in the land and that the reaction of a hungry people is better imagined. Mr. President should, in keeping with democratic tenets, listen to Nigerians and review policies that are suffocating life in the country.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has reinstated his commitment to listen to Nigerians amid economic hardship facing the nation.

Tinubu made this known on Wednesday, during his nationwide broadcast in celebration of Democracy Day.

The President appealed to Nigerians over decades of economic struggles, adding that Nigerias economy was built on unbalanced foundation.

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He said: I understand the economic difficulties we face as a nation.

Our economy has been in desperate need of reform for decades. It has been unbalanced because it was built on the flawed foundation of over-reliance on revenues from the exploitation of oil.

Tinubu revealed that the economic policies his administration made is intended to create a robust future growth.

READ MORE: June 12: Tinubu To Address Nigerians On Wednesday  Presidency

He added: The reforms we have initiated are intended to create a stronger, better foundation for future growth.

There is no doubt the reforms have occasioned hardship. Yet, they are necessary repairs required to fix the economy over the long run so that everyone has access to economic opportunity, fair pay and compensation for his endeavour and labour.

As we continue to reform the economy, I shall always listen to the people and will never turn my back on you.

Many Nigerians have continue to lament over economic policies made by the President Tinubus led administration.

Recall that the President announced the removal of subsidy on fuel, May 29th 2023.

The prices of commodities have also skyrocket beyond measure, becoming unbearable for the people.
Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, has berated President Bola Ahmed Tinubus June 12 Democracy Day speech.

Adegboruwa described Tinubus nationwide broadcast as a mere recounting of history without addressing the current issues.

He added that the former Lagos State governor, failed to tackle the pressing problems facing Nigerias democracy.

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Adegboruwa led this out during an interview session on Channels Televisions Morning Brief, on Wednesday, adding that he is not impressed with his speech.

He said: I listened to the speech of the president, unfortunately, I am unable to agree that anything has changed.

READ MORE: Democracy Day: I Understand The Economic Difficulties We Face, Ill Always Listen To You  Tinubu Assures Nigerians

I am sorry, I am not impressed in anyway at all by the speech of the President, in the sense that it is just rehearsing history.

For me, looking at the past one year and indeed, our collective history from the time we started agitating for democracy, things have gotten worse, nothing has changed at all.

On a day like this, all Nigerians who are being held in custody wrongfully should be released.
The Nigerian Police Force has issued warning against planned protest by some individuals and groups across the country on Democracy Day.

The force, in a statement made available by its Public Relations Officer, ACP, Muyiwa Adejobi, on Tuesday, placed its Zonal Assistant Inspectors General of Police and State Command Commissioners of Police on red alert.

The statement reads: Following recent moves by some groups mobilizing for a mass protest nationwide, the Nigeria Police Force reiterate that the right of citizens to protest is a right to peaceful protest only.

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READ MORE: Police Nab Two Robbers, Recover Stolen Vehicle In Adamawa

The Nigeria police will protect the rights of all citizens including those on peaceful protest but will not look on to see the rights of other citizens being violated.

The force vowed to clampdown on any law violator, who intend to sabotage governments properties.

No decent society anywhere in the world will tolerate violent destruction of lives and property in the name of a protest. While the NPF is committed to protecting the rights of those on peaceful protest, it will not look on to see the rights of others being violated in the name of a mass protest, the statement added.

Those who want to stage a peaceful protest are advised to inform the police and request for police protection. Those who do otherwise should be ready to face the full weight of the law.

Members of the public are again reminded that it is a criminal offence to tamper with the national grid or prevent/disrupt the transmission of electricity.

It is equally unacceptable to cause disruption to any other critical infrastructure such as airports, hospitals, and other essential services, or violent picketing in whatever magnitude.
Human rights activist, Deji Adeyanju, has reacted to the warning given to Nigerians by the Department of State Service (DSS) against staging protests in some parts of the country during the celebration of Democracy Day.

On Tuesday, the DSS, via its spokesperson, Peter Afunanya, said some non-state actors are determined to incite mass disaffection through demonstrations that could turn violent.

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Afunanya urged Nigerians to resist any persuasions to be lawless or cause disorder and anarchy in the nation.

Adeyanju however reacted via a Wednesday statement titled DSS ALERT ON PLANNED #JUNE12ACTION: PROTEST IS AN INALIENABLE HUMAN RIGHT, IT MUST BE RESPECTED.

I am compelled to respond to the Department of State Services (DSS) public statement on the planned protests scheduled for June 12, 2024, regarding the worsening economic conditions of the Nigerian masses, he said.

According to him, while the DSS has the responsibility to maintain national security, it is essential to recognise that freedom of expression and assembly are fundamental rights enshrined in the Nigerian constitution.

He added that these rights are the bedrock of democracy, and any attempt to suppress them is a threat to our democratic values and will be resisted through every available legal means.

READ ALSO: Democracy Day: Check Your Govt, Nigerians Are Angry  PDP Tells Tinubu

The statement read in part: Ironically, the present administration of President Tinubu that rode to power on the back of protests and demonstrations is now threatening the fundamental rights of citizens. It is indeed hypocritical to attempt to stifle the same rights that were exercised by those who brought them to power.

I urge the DSS and the Federal Government to respect citizens rights to peaceful assembly and expression. Rather than threatening protesters, they should go and face bandits, terrorists and kidnappers terrorizing Nigerians unchallenged.

Adeyanju who urged Nigerians to exercise their rights peacefully and responsibly, called on security agencies to protect protesters and ensure their safety.

Information Nigeria reports that Muyiwa Adejobi, the spokesperson of the Nigeria Police Force, also said in a statement that the police would not tolerate any disruption to the critical infrastructure, or actions capable of jeopardising public safety during the protest.

Adejobi said the police would protect the rights of those who engage in peaceful protest but would not tolerate violent demonstrations

He said: Those who want to stage a peaceful protest are advised to inform the police and request for police protection.

Those who do otherwise should be ready to face the full weight of the law. Members of the public are again reminded that it is a criminal offence to tamper with the national grid or prevent/disrupt the transmission of electricity.

It is equally unacceptable to cause disruption to any other Critical Infrastructure such as airports, hospitals and other essential services, or violent picketing in whatever magnitude.
A devastating Cholera epidemic has killed five people and hospitalised 60 in Lagos, prompting the state administration to increase attention and implement preventive measures.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, the administration emphasised the importance of preventing the spread of the disease, citing an increase in acute gastroenteritis cases reported in Lagos in the previous 48 hours.

Prof. Akin Abayomi, Lagos State Commissioner for Health, disclosed that cases of severe gastroenteritis had been reported in communities around Eti Osa, Lagos Island, Ikorodu, and Kosofe LGA, resulting in approximately 60 hospital admissions and five deaths, primarily from patients presenting late with extreme dehydration.

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We have activated a statewide heightened surveillance and response. The Ministry of Health Directorate of Environmental Health and the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA) have been alerted to investigate a possible water contamination source in the Lekki Victoria Island axis.

We suspect a possible cholera outbreak; however, samples have been taken for confirmation. As of April 28, 2024, Nigeria reported 815 suspected cholera cases and 14 deaths across 25 states, he said.

The Commissioner stated that following recent rains, Lagos State has experienced a significant increase in cases of acute vomiting and watery stools, emphasising that urban slums and crowded regions with poor sanitation were particularly vulnerable.

Abayomi noted that cholera is a highly contagious disease that causes severe diarrhoea and can be fatal, adding that it poses a huge health burden in regions with poor water treatment and sanitation, potentially affecting Lagos State.

Cholera spreads through direct transmission by eating or drinking contaminated food or water, and indirect transmission due to poor sanitation and lack of handwashing. Symptoms of cholera include severe watery diarrhea, vomiting, rapid dehydration, muscle cramps, fever and sometimes collapse, he said.

According to him, therapeutic options for cholera include rehydration using Oral Rehydration Salts (ORS) for mild to moderate dehydration, as well as intravenous fluids for critically dehydrated patients administered only in medical institutions and overseen by medical staff.

To prevent cholera, citizens are urged to ensure safe drinking water by boiling, chlorinating, or using bottled water, and avoiding ice products made from untreated water. Maintaining proper sanitation by using toilets, safely disposing of faeces, and avoiding open defecation crucial.

Practicing good hygiene, such as washing hands with soap and clean water regularly, especially before eating, preparing food, and after using the toilet, is essential and following food safety guidelines, the Commissioner advised.

He urged citizens to rely on the Lagos State Ministry of Health, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), and accredited local health facilities for information on prevention, treatment, and management.

READ MORE: DJ Cuppy Announces Plans To Pursue Fourth Academic Degree

He added that suspected cases could be reported via the following emergency hotlines: 08023169485, 08137412348, or by using helplines 767 or 112.

Reiterating the government of Babajide Sanwo-Olus commitment to safeguarding the health and welfare of its people, Abayomi pledged to keep the public informed and emphasised the significance of upholding strict hygiene standards and taking preventative action to stop cholera outbreaks.

We urge everyone to adopt these preventive measures and report any suspected cases promptly to safeguard our communities, he stated.


Former Vice-Chairman (North-West) of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Salihu Lukman, has resigned as a member of the Party.

Information Nigeria reports that in 2023, Lukman resigned from his position as a member of the APCs National Working Committee (NWC).

He had said that the APC is completely at variance with the founding vision of forming a progressive Party.

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Prior to this, he resigned as the Director-General of the Progressive Governors Forum (PGF) in 2022.

However, in a Wednesday statement, Lukman noted that his membership in the APC has been rendered useless.

His decision, he said was based on the lack of internal democracy and the inability of APCs leadership to allow reforms within the Party.

READ ALSO: Money Politics In APC Has Gotten Worse, Should Be Addressed  Salihu Lukman

The statement read: Given all this, it is possible to remain in APC if, at all, President Tinubu will allow internal reform in the Party to return it to its founding vision, which, as it is, is very remote. But my reality now in the party is that my membership has been rendered useless, and there is no need for me to continue to impose myself.

I have therefore gone back to the trenches and will try to work with all committed Nigerians who agree and subscribe to the goal of actively campaigning for the survival and development of democracy in Nigeria.

We must grow our democracy to the point whereby elected representatives at all levels are accountable to the party, and it is possible for Nigerians represented by various interests to develop strong relationships with political parties and elected governments based on which policies of governments can be made to reflect the wider interests of Nigerians.

I am confident that a strong democracy with functional political parties is possible in Nigeria. I am also confident that, in our lifetime, we can produce governments that are truly capable of making the lives of Nigerians better. I dont expect party leaders will agree with my decision. I believe that eventually, we will be united with all party leaders and other Nigerians who are committed to developing Nigerian democracy.


Afenifere, a pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, has called for the deletion of Local Government Areas (LGAs) from the Nigerian constitution, as a solution to the controversies surrounding the LG autonomy.

In a communique released after a special meeting of its national caucus on Tuesday, Afenifere faulted the suit initiated by the Federal Government seeking full autonomy for the countrys 774 LGAs.

At the meeting held at the Lagos residence of Ayo Adebanjo, the leader of the group, organisation said the LGA autonomy suit is a clear demonstration of lack of political will to restructure the country by the Federal Government.

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The socio-cultural group said the reliefs sought by the Federal Government will amount to nothing if section 162(6) of the 1999 constitution is not amended.

Section 162(6) of the 1999 constitution states: Each state shall maintain a special account to be called the State Joint Local Government Account, into which shall be paid all allocations to the local government councils of the state from the Federation Account and from the Government of the State.

The group said it believes that the business of LGAs should be for federating units, noting that listing LGAs in the constitution is antithetical to the principles of federalism.

The communique read: That the federal government also knows that its prayer for an order prohibiting state governors from unilateral, arbitrary, and unlawful dissolution of democratically elected LG leaders is neither recondite nor without precedent as the apex court will only be blowing familiar mute trumpet, having so ordered for the umpteenth time at the suits of council chairmen and councillors to no avail.

READ ALSO: June 12: Tinubu To Address Nigerians On Wednesday  Presidency

That as true as the payer of the piper dictates the tune, council officials know that they hold their offices only at the pleasure of governors and party leaders in a selection through the so-called State Independent Electoral Commissions and thus are bereft of legitimacy to defend nonexistent mandate to resist dissolution.

The prayer of the federal government for a declaration that the constitution of Nigeria recognises federal, states and local governments as three tiers of government and that the three recognised tiers of government draw funds for their operation and functioning from the Federation Account created by the Constitution is against established tenet of federalism which recognises the central government and federating units as the only two tiers and indeed inconsistent with Section 2(2) of the same constitution which provides that Nigeria shall be a Federation consisting of States and a Federal Capital Territory.

Afenifere believes that local government is the business of the federating units and thus the listing and enshrinement in the constitution of the 744 local councils arbitrarily created by the military is antithetical to the principles of federalism which is the negotiated founding covenants of the Nigerian state.

Afenifere recognises several irreconcilable sections in the Nigerian constitution which are antithetical to the principles of federalism as the foundational covenant of the nation and democratic practices.

Afenifere insists that the only solution to this staggering injustice is to delete the list of local governments in the constitution and allow states to have their local governments as recommended by the 2014 National Conference and the 2018 el-Rufai Committee on Federalism as part of the holistic restructuring of the Nigerian Federation.

In May, the federal government filed a suit at the supreme court against the governors of 36 states.

In the suit marked SC/CV/343/2024, the federal government is seeking full autonomy for the countrys 774 LGAs.

The Federal Government is also asking for an order preventing the Governors from arbitrarily dissolving democratically elected councils.


President Bola Ahmed Tinubu says conclusion has been reached on the controversial and long-debated new minimum wage between the Federal Government and Organised Labour.

In his national broadcast to mark the 2024 Democracy Day in Abuja on Wednesday, Tinubu revealed that an executive bill will soon be sent to the National Assembly to formalise the new minimum wage agreement.

His words, In this spirit, we have negotiated in good faith and with open arms with Organised Labour on a new national minimum wage.

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We shall soon send an executive bill to the National Assembly to enshrine what has been agreed upon as part of our law for the next five years or less.

According to him, his administration chose a democratic approach over dictatorship in addressing the demands of the labour unions.

In the face of labours call for a national strike, we did not seek to oppress or crack down on the workers as a dictatorial government would have done. We chose the path of cooperation over conflict.

READ ALSO: June 12: Tinubu To Address Nigerians On Wednesday  Presidency

No one was arrested or threatened. Instead, the labour leadership was invited to break bread and negotiate toward a good-faith resolution. Reasoned discussion and principled compromise are hallmarks of democracy. These themes shall continue to animate my policies and interaction with the constituent parts of our political economy, he said.

Vowing to ensure that no Nigerian is oppressed, he added, I take on this vital task without fear or favour and I commit myself to this work until we have built a Nigeria where no man is oppressed. In the end, our national greatness will not be achieved by travelling the easy road. It can only be achieved by taking the right one.

On June 3, labour embarked on a nationwide indefinite strike over the Federal Governments refusal to raise the proposed minimum wage from N60,000.

This came following failed negotiations between the duo.

While the government and the Organised Private Sector agreed on N62,000, labour on the other hand demanded N250,000.


The Economic Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) says Nigerian youths insulting people on the internet risk imprisonment.

Daniel Nwaka, EFCCs Chief Superintendent, warned that social bullying and cyberstalking are crimes that could land an accused person in jail.

According to a statement published by the EFCC on Tuesday, Nwaka issued the warning, while speaking with students of Blossom Academy, Abuja, who visited the Commissions corporate headquarters on an excursion trip.

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He also admonished youths against engaging in crime, especially cybercrime and Internet fraud as they are robbing innocent people of their hard-earned money.

The anti-graft also warned students against examination malpractices and internet fraud.

Social bullying too is a crime; if you stalk anyone online, it is a crime; if you insult anybody on the internet, it is also a crime, and you will go to prison.

These days, youths commit cybercrimes because of peer pressure, greed and poor upbringing, but for you, do not follow them because they steal from innocent people, and if you are caught, you will go to prison.

While warning the youngsters on the legal consequences of internet fraud, he said, It is good that you know some of these things as crimes as you grow; we want to tell you that committing crimes has its repercussions.

Nobody is too young to know about these things. As you go home, tell your parents that you went to EFCC, and they told you that corruption is a crime.
Oracle is connecting its cloud to Googles to offer Google customers high-speed access to database services. The move comes just nine months after it struck a similar deal with Microsoft to offer its database services on Azure. Separately, Microsoft is extending its Azure platform into Oracles cloud to give OpenAI access to more computing capacity on which to train its models.

What started as a simple interconnect is becoming a more defined multicloud strategy for Oracle. The announcement is the beginning of a new trendcloud providers are willing to work together to serve the needs of shared customers, said Dave McCarthy, Research Vice President at IDC.

The Oracle-Google partnership will see the companies create a series of points of interconnect enabling customers of one to access services in the others cloud. Customers will be able to deploy general-purpose workloads with no cross-cloud data transfer charges, the companies said.
A fire hydrant sprays water in Kensington during a heat wave last July. In Philly's low-income neighborhoods, more than three-quarters of people say they struggle to pay their summer utility bills, but some help exists for certain households without air-conditioning. Read more

First, the bad news: This could be the hottest summer ever, according to some experts. In Philly, its expected to hit 90 this week and approach 100 degrees next week. Your utility bills may also be on the rise.

But there is good news for some Pennsylvanians and New Jerseyans who have been sweating in homes without air-conditioning.

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As part of Pennsylvanias LIHEAP crisis cooling program, which is in only its third season, some funds are now available year-round for replacement or repair of existing but broken central air systems or heat pumps, which work like air conditioners in warm months, according to commonwealth officials. Money is also available for window and wall units, as well as fans, through Aug. 31.

In New Jersey, meanwhile, lower-income households in which a resident has a medical condition may be eligible for financial assistance toward their utility bills, according to the states Department of Community Affairs. Residents need a doctors note vouching for their condition and cooling needs.

Heres what to know about cooling assistance as the weather warms up.

How do I know if Im eligible?

You must have received LIHEAP services this past winter or been part of the Department of Energy or LIHEAP Weatherization Assistance programs, all of which have income limits. To be eligible for LIHEAP in Pennsylvania, for example, a family of four must make $45,000 a year or less.

In Pennsylvania, you cannot apply directly for LIHEAP assistance in the summertime. In New Jersey, you can apply through the end of June at energyassistance.nj.gov.

What kind of LIHEAP cooling assistance is available?

In Pennsylvania, you can receive two window units, one unit and a fan, or the repair and replacement of a window unit, central air-conditioning system, or heat pump, according to a spokesperson for the Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED), which this year has a statewide cooling budget of about $5.3 million.

In New Jersey, the funding for medically necessary households is a one-time payment of $500, either in a direct payment to a utility company or a one-time check to the eligible customer, according to Department of Community of Affairs spokesperson Tammori C. Petty-Dixon.

What is the need like for these programs?

New Jersey officials declined to quantify the need, but Petty-Dixon said nearly 42,000 households received cooling assistance last summer and more than 23,000 have already done so this year, out of more than 3.5 million households statewide.

During Pennsylvanias inaugural summer with the LIHEAP crisis cooling program in 2022, WHYY reported that more than 2,000 households took advantage of the assistance. Thats out of nearly 5.3 million households statewide. Commonwealth officials did not say how many people received cooling help last year, or how many have done so far this year, but they said thousands of free cooling equipment was given out.

In summer 2023, the DCED facilitated:

the installation of 3,000 window and wall units the installation of 300 fans 500 repairs or replacements of A/C systems 15 repairs or replacements of heat pumps

 READ MORE: That house was like an oven: How residents of Phillys hottest neighborhoods are coping as temperatures rise

Organizations that advocate for residents with low incomes say even more is needed. In a report last summer, Community Legal Services of Philadelphia (CLS) and Esperanza surveyed more than 100 Philadelphians who live in low-income neighborhoods and found that more than three-quarters reported being unable to pay their energy bills in the summer. Among the report authors policy recommendations: an expansion of LIHEAP so more services are available year-round, and Pennsylvanians in need can get money toward their energy bills in the summer, as well as the winter.

States have provided low-income families with air-conditioning equipment at no charge in previous years, but what they find is families wont turn it on because theyre afraid of the bill, Mark Wolfe, executive director of the National Energy Assistance Directors Association, said at a briefing last week.

What if I need more help?

If you think you are eligible for these funds and have not yet received them, or if you need additional assistance, you can contact your countys local weatherization agency. In Philadelphia, its western suburbs, and South Jersey, those agencies are as follows:

Philadelphians can also access information on utility assistance at phila.gov/documents/utility-assistance-resources-flyer or by going to your neighborhood energy center. Low-income seniors in the city can call the Philadelphia Corporation for the Aging at 215-765-9040.

Utilities also offer programs that can provide assistance. Peco lays out assistance programs and resources on peco.com/help. In New Jersey, PSE&G customers can peruse their options at nj.pseg.com/saveenergyandmoney/gethelppayingyourbill, while Atlantic City Electric customers can do so at atlanticcityelectric.com/my-account/customer-support/assistance-programs.
Mick Jagger (left), Keith Richards on guitar, and Steve Jordan on drums for the Rolling Stones' "Hackney Diamonds" tour stop at Lincoln Financial Field on Tuesday, June 11, 2024. Read more

You cant talk about the Rolling Stones without going on about how old they are.

Because of course, they are impossibly old, and have been at it pretty much forever. Mick Jagger and Keith Richards are 80. Ronnie Wood is the baby at 77. Thirty years ago, they were so ancient, people started calling them the Strolling Bones.

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As the astonishingly lithe and limber Jagger pointed out from the stage at Lincoln Financial Field on Tuesday during a fantastically good, nearly two-hour show on the bands Hackney Diamonds Tour, the Stones first played Philadelphia in 1965 when they contentiously shared a bill with Hermans Hermits at West Phillys Convention Hall.

That building is long gone. The Stones are still here.

Some members have been lost along the way. Brian Jones died in 1969, so that was Wood  who paints in his spare time, and was introduced by the mischievous Jagger as the Tintoretto of TaskyKakes  playing wicked electric sitar on Paint It, Black.

The band lost Charlie Watts in 2021, so now the mighty Steve Jordan mans the drum kit, locked in with bassist Daryl Jones in the locomotive rhythm section that powered a deliciously murky Monkey Man and inexhaustible Jumpin Jack Flash.

And thats the thing about the core trios geriatric status, cheekily acknowledged by the (no joke) tour sponsorship deal with AARP: You dont grade the Rolling Stones on a curve.

Its not: Yeah, not bad, considering theyre decades past their sell by date. Its: My God, I cant believe how good they still sound!

This was the most thrilling Stones show Ive seen in over 20 years. My last recollection of one this goose-bump-inducing would be the Tower Theatre show in 2002, when the band pulled off the neat trick of a three-show Philly run at Veterans Stadium, First Union Center (now the Wells Fargo Center), and the much smaller Upper Darby venue.

What made Tuesdays show so good? Lots of things. Watts clean, precise style and regal mien are surely missed, but Jordans muscle gives the band added juice.

Long time vocalist Bernard Fowler is now paired with Chantal Haynes, a veteran gospel singer and actress who starred in Tina: The Tina Turner Musical in London and joined the Stones last year.

Fowler and Haynes boosted You Cant Always Get What You Want, which opened with Matt Cliffords French horn and was aided by a cast of 60,000 or so, encouraged to sing along by Jagger, who asked: Are you in good voice tonight, Philadelphia?

Haynes got her star turn in an impassioned and deliciously theatrical Gimme Shelter.

The tete-a-tete with Jagger might not have matched the original with Merry Clayton  how could it?  but it was full of high drama nonetheless. It was reminiscent of Jaggers 1985 duets with Turner at Live Aid at JFK Stadium, just across the street from the Linc.

But what really distinguished Tuesdays show from recent Stones performances is that the band is touring behind an album of new material that they can be justifiably proud. Their 2023 release, Hackney Diamonds, is their first album of original material in 17 years.

Lots of bands tour behind new music that fans tolerate while waiting for the hits. The Stones havent bothered with that, instead packing stadiums around the world by giving people what they want, from Start Me Up, which kicked Tuesdays show into gear, to (I Cant Get No) Satisfaction, which closed it in style.

But this time, there was the added swagger and self-confidence that comes from knowing youre not just reliving past glories, but pulling from an arsenal of new songs compelling enough to ward off a massive bathroom break.

Hackney Diamonds, which was recorded with decades-younger producer Andrew Wyatt, is hardly a classic, but its much better than anyone could have reasonably expected it to be.

On Tuesday, the Stones did three songs from the album, whose title refers to London slang for shattered shop window glass after a break-in.

Angry was crisper and punchier that its recorded version, and Mess It Up a respectable addition to the litany of Stones songs in which Jagger is beleaguered by a woman whos outwitted him: You took my keys, you nicked my phone / Seduced my landlord, broke in my home. Woe is Mick, hes got the blues.

Curiously left off the playlist was Sweet Sounds of Heaven, a duet with Lady Gaga, which the band had been performing as part of an encore but first omitted in Atlanta over the weekend.

This third Hackney song was Tell Me Straight, a plainspoken Richards showcase that was part of a three-song offstage break for Jagger, in which the guitarist who created some of the most identifiable riffs in history took over on raspy vocals.

The third song in that set came from 1972s Exile on Main Street. The band offered me an enormous bribe if Id do Happy, Richards gleefully said. Ive decided to take the money.

Jaggers Philly-focused stage patter was charming. With a picture of the Phillie Phanatic outside Buckingham Palace on the video screen, he said he felt he was part of an an exchange program. The Phillies are playing in London and were in Philadelphia.

He then disingenuously suggested that the band would have brought the Phanatic and Gritty up on stage to sing, but we cant because theyre in London.

Not true, and dont tease us that way!

Other highlights: For the song slot in which requests are granted as a result of a preshow online poll, the winner was Shes a Rainbow. It beat out Rocks Off, Faraway Eyes, and Live With Me.

That was a bummer as far as Im concerned, but Chuck Leavells keyboard sounded great on it, as did his piano playing later in the set on Tumblin Dice and Honky Tonk Woman.

The voting interlude gave Jagger the opportunity to dip a toe into politics: Theres an even more important vote for you to get involved with in November, because its the presidential election, he said. It could be your last time to vote, who knows?

Besides the overall gloriously unkempt rock-and-roll vibe  Richards hit a bum note every now and then, and its no worries, because its not meant to be perfect  the peak of the show came toward the end of Midnight Rambler.

The whole song, from 1969s Let It Bleed, was formidable in its bluesy menace, from Woods lead guitar work to Jagger blowing a moaning harmonica, one of his underrated skills.

But the coolest part came when he was out at the edge of the catwalk, extemporizing toward the tail end of the song, probably 30 yards away from the rest of the band.

Take it down, Steve, he called out to Jordan. The drummer then settled down the groove so Jagger could do with it what he wished, which was to transform the song into Mississippi Fred McDowells You Gotta Move.

He pulled the emotional power out of that haunted blues while Richards and Wood kept a close eye, watching to see where their leader was spontaneously taking them. Just a bunch of old guys, still intuitively connected on stage, keeping their music vividly alive after over a half century together.

Heres the set list for the Rolling Stones at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia on June 11, 2024.
The OCF Coffee House at 2001 Federal St. in South Philadelphia, one of the three that the owner closed. Read more

Real estate developer Ori Feibush announced the immediate closure of his three OCF Coffee House locations on Monday, a week after OCF workers informed him of their intent to unionize.

Feibush, who met with available staff in person Monday afternoon, called the shutdown a difficult decision, citing rising costs, reduced sales, and the expiration of leases for a business that he said was never profitable during its 13 years.

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But we pushed forward because we understood the positive impact we were making in our communities and the importance to maintain a level of compensation and benefits  that you each deserved, he wrote in an email announcing the decision to staff who did not attend Mondays meetings. Combined with financial and logistical headwinds, however, the administrative and legal costs associated with your desire to organize has regrettably moved us beyond any cost that we could sustain, he wrote.

Feibush said about 45 people worked at OCFs coffee shops  two in South Philadelphia and one in Fairmount. He said that the company would provide workers health, vision, and dental benefits for three months, and that some would receive severance. Feibush said workers had received $20 to $25 an hour in salary and tips, plus benefits.

Twenty-three OCF workers presented Feibush a letter on June 3 asking for voluntary recognition of their union. They went public with their organizing campaign on social media the same day, announcing their intent to join Local 80, the barista union that represents workers at several Philadelphia cafes, including Elixr, ReAnimator, two Ultimo shops, and all three Philadelphia locations of Bluestone Lane (where workers voted unanimously to unionize in May). They formally filed a petition with the National Labor Relations Board for a union vote on June 5.

Reached Monday night, OCF Fairmount baristas Alex Simpson and Ava Alabiso said they were still reeling from the announcement of the abrupt closures, which they learned of via email. This does feel like retaliation, said Alabiso, who was also an assistant manager. Its all just so incredibly sudden. Were all just in the lurch trying to figure out what to do.

Simpson said the workers involved in OCFs union campaign had considered this potential outcome but had not thought it was likely.

There was some talk of shutting down but we genuinely believed that our connections with the community, especially in Fairmount, are so strong that he wouldnt do it  were where people get their drinks and their lunch and have meetings every single day, Simpson said. I just think its really reflective of how little Ori actually cares about the community to shut down these locations.

Alex Riccio, a Local 80 spokesperson and the organizing coordinator of the Philadelphia Joint Board (PJB) of Workers United, shared a statement on behalf of PJB Workers United, of which Local 80 is an affiliate.

OCF workers took a courageous stand against a bully boss.  That same bully boss chose to shutter his operations, without even the grace of advance notice, Riccio said.

On Tuesday, workers protested outside of the now-shuttered Fairmount shop, where a sip-in had previously been planned. There is a movement behind these workers, Riccio said, and this movement has a long memory.

Mounting costs

Reached by phone Monday, Feibush said OCFs shops had always been subsidized financially by both OCF Realty, his development company, and by Feibush personally. The cafe chains post-pandemic contraction from six locations to three had helped stem the losses. More changes were in the works. As the leases for stores at 20th and Federal Streets and 18th and South Streets came due this summer (while Feibush manages those properties, he does not own the buildings), he had planned to consolidate those locations to a single shop on Washington Avenue. The Fairmount Avenue shops lease was set to expire in a couple of years.

We had closed our least profitable stores over the years and we were losing less money every month than we had historically, Feibush said.

But the costs associated with responding to the union organization were staggering beyond anything  tens of thousands of dollars in just the [last] week and a half, he said. It put its finger on the scale in such a profound way as it relates to the finances of the organization that it was just a strain that we couldnt reliably overcome.

Feibush said that he had patronized his shops every day for the last 13 years, and that he wrestled with the difficult decision to close over the last week. This is a significant part of my personal and professional life, he said. Im sad that its abrupt as it is, and this is certainly not the narrative or the story that I had hoped for, he said. This just feels like everyones a loser.

After deciding to close, Feibush wanted to deliver the news in person. The Inquirer reviewed an email staff received on Friday informing them that all three shops would close early on Monday afternoon for nonmandatory (but encouraged) meetings with Feibush in their respective locations, and offered options for alternative times and one-on-one meetings. Feibush said only seven employees across the three stores attended the meetings, including four managers. (Feibush said he had offered some managers the chance to run any of the locations on their own  taking over the lease and operating independently.)

I just wanted to be in front and accessible to the folks that work for me, Feibush said. Its also strange to me that in every opportunity, folks didnt want to speak, didnt want to have a conversation.

Union drive

Simpson and Alabiso said the 23 workers who signed onto last weeks union letter had decided to skip the meeting in advance. We expected Ori to talk to us out of unionizing, Simpson said. If Ori wanted to talk about what changes could be made to the workplace, we couldve done that with a mutually agreed-upon contract.

Organizing efforts began at OCF in January, the baristas said. Alabiso cited verbally guaranteed raises that werent followed through on and discrepancies in pay and working conditions between front and back of house. For instance, Simpson said, OCF cooks and dishwashers told the organizing committee they made between $17 and $19, and no tips came their way. We realized that we had no way to fight back besides individually when things like that were happening, Alabiso said.

While they were both still absorbing the swift closure of OCFs shops, Alabiso and Simpson do not see it as the end of their efforts. They both expressed gratitude for Local 80, which has organized a GoFundMe for former OCF workers. Other Local 80-affiliated baristas have reached out in solidarity.

We have now support from labor organizations, including legal support for us, so we can continue to fight, Alabiso said.
Sydney Grims cant stop bringing home dogs.

Louie and Pippie, her two cavalier King Charles spaniels, need not worry about additional canine company. Grims scours flea markets and consignment shops for dog paintings, statues, figurines, and the like, filling her garage. When that gets to bursting, she and her father, Marty, use her finds  plus plenty of locally commissioned pieces of pooch-theme art  to decorate their latest White Dog Cafe.

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The fifth White Dog will open Friday at 181 Gordon Drive, near Exton, capping a nearly three-year renovation of the sprawling former Vickers Restaurant, a 19th-century farmhouse and Chester County landmark that was a stop on the Underground Railroad. Quaker potter and abolitionist John Vicker hid slaves in his woodpiles, and theres a door in front of a now-sealed-off staircase that led to a hiding place. All told, four generations of Vickers worked there as potters.

With two bars, about 250 seats spread across seven rooms, and 150 more outdoors, this is one of the larger branches of the White Dog, which founder Judy Wicks set up four decades ago on the University of Pennsylvania campus in Philadelphia. Wicks ethos remains: cuisine made from locally sourced, seasonal, and sustainably raised ingredients. In tribute to the original Vickers Restaurant, this location will serve a Monday prime rib special, said culinary director Albert Alvarado.

No aspect of the Vickers property was left untouched by the 2-year project  all done to honor the culture of Vickers, Sydney Grims said. Four skylights were punched through the roofs to brighten the place, and reclaimed woodwork was added from a barn on the five-acre property, as well as from local churches. The rear of a huge fireplace was removed to make it two-sided. You may remember the sconces and a chandelier from the Vickers main bar.

Stokes Architecture + Design of Philadelphia designed each room with different identities. Original to the circa-1823 building are the dining room and the drawing-room, where many elements were maintained, including original brick flooring. If you look down near the hosts stand, youll see, embedded amid the bricks, a gravestone etched with Faithful friend, 1882-1896: another dog. In a whimsical flourish, Hillary Eickoff of Stokes added small hinged portraits of dogs to one wall; when you open them, they reveal a sketch of a cat.

In the 1990s, the building was expanded to add a banquet hall; this is now the primary bar area. Stokes created a semi-open floor plan around the main bar, which is illuminated by six hexagonal lanterns salvaged from an old church. A retractable awning and a fireplace were added to the existing patio out front, while a second patio with a roof was added to the side of the building. The antique furniture inside and outside was sourced from flea markets and thrift shops.

At each White Dog, the Grimses invite customers to immortalize their dogs as commissioned portraits drawn by local artists; a portion of proceeds benefits Alpha Bravo Canine, a nonprofit that donates service dogs to combat veterans suffering from medical and psychological problems.

About Vickers Restaurant

The buildings days as a restaurant date to 1972, when Arturo Burigatto opened it as Vickers Tavern. Then-Inquirer critic John V.R. Bull described it as a charming, special-occasion restaurant whose attributes included French cuisine of good quality, prices as high as the Alps, and haughty, arrogant service in the grand French style. (Bull described two appetizers on the 1982 menu, priced at $6.50  or about $21 in 2024 dollars  as no more than five forkfuls. For that, you should get white truffles, and the pig that found them.)

Longtime customers included President Richard M. Nixon, accompanied by his daughter and son-in-law, Julie and David Eisenhower, who lived in the area.

Burigatto sold Vickers in 1999. When he learned in early 2008 that it would be sold again and transformed into a funeral home, he repurchased it. He closed it again in fall 2021, setting the stage for its latest transformation.

About the White Dog

Judy Wicks, a noted social activist and passionate environmentalist, founded the White Dog in University City in 1983, and sold it in 2009 to Marty Grims, who owned the Moshulu on Penns Landing.

This new White Dog, dubbed Chester Springs after this part of Uwchlan Township (its also locally known as Lionville), is the 11th restaurant for the Fearless Restaurants group.

Besides the Moshulu and the White Dogs in University City, Wayne, Haverford, Glen Mills, and Chester Springs, Marty and Sydney Grims own Louie Louie in University City, Autograph Brasserie and Rosalie in Wayne, and Daddy O Restaurant & Hotel and Tuckers Tavern on Long Beach Island. Next, theyre building two locations of an Italian restaurant called Testa Rossa in Glen Mills and Wayne.

Fearless now employs about 1,200 people. Marty Grims, who has owned numerous restaurants over the years, including Taquet and Central Bar & Grille, said there was no grand plan to expand the company since he bought the first White Dog. Its just been a very organic thing, he said. There was never a plan for 11 restaurants, 10 restaurants, five restaurants. What is important, though, is that we want to be near our infrastructure. We dont have plans on growing where our people have to live in a hotel room and not see their kids, or where we dont know who our employees are.
Good morning. This week, we have a deep dive into racial disparities in the Penn-developed cancer treatment CAR-T and news on a nursing contract at Cooper University Hospital with workload restrictions aimed at curbing burnout. Plus, we look at how quiet hospitals in the Philly region are  read on to find out where yours ranks!

 We want to hear from you: You probably focus a lot on helping others with your work. We want to know  what do you do for self-care?

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Write back about what you do for self-care for a chance to be featured in next Wednesdays newsletter.

If someone forwarded you this newsletter, sign up here.

 Aubrey Whelan and Abraham Gutman, Inquirer health reporters, @aubreywhelan and @abrahamgutman.

Penn researchers are sounding alarms about a disturbing trend in the CAR-T cancer treatments developed and delivered at their own institution: Patients of color are much less likely to receive them.

CAR-T is something of a wonder therapy, the ultimate in personalized medicine, as our colleague Sarah Gantz writes: It removes and genetically modifies a patients own white blood cells to target their specific cancer profile. The novel gene therapy is already being hailed as a cure for some blood cancers, and more than 1,600 clinical trials are studying its potential for other cancers.

But, as in so many other aspects of medicine, people of color access this treatment at far lower rates than their white counterparts. Between 2018 and 2022, nonwhite patients made up 16% of lymphoma patients at Penns Abramson Cancer Center. But they only made up 7% of those receiving CAR-T therapy. Meanwhile, white patients made up 84% of the cancer centers patients, but accounted for 94% of its CAR-T patients. (The percentages do not equal 100 due to rounding.)

The study didnt examine why fewer Penn patients of color received CAR-T, but Sarah spoke to researchers who have some ideas about what could be driving these disparities and how to alleviate them.

The latest news to pay attention to

Temples Episcopal Hospital will expand its emergency department and crisis response center in a $12.6 million construction project  a needed update in a city whose EDs and mental health services are often swamped with people with complex needs. Nurses at Cooper have signed a new contract with one of the strongest workload-limiting provisions in the region. Under the new contract, a registered nurse can care for no more than five patients apiece (and no more than two in critical-care units.) Abraham broke down what this means for Cooper nurses. Avian flu has infected dairy cattle in at least nine states, turned up in at least three humans, and been found to contaminate unpasteurized milk. But despite all this, raw milk is having a bit of a moment. Our colleague Jason Nark visited local farmers selling raw milk to learn more about its increasing popularity  and the health concerns it poses.

This weeks number: 54%.

Thats the percent of Philly-area hospital patients who called the area around their room always quiet during the stay  8% lower than the national average.

As health reporters, we hear a lot about noise reduction from hospitals. Every time we visit a recently renovated or new unit, someone will point out features like a floor covered with material to dull the sound of steps, or how areas where staff talk are far from patient rooms.

Federal regulators care, too. A CMS survey asks patients how often the area around their room was always quiet. (Thats because, just like Grandma says, rest is important for healing.)

The quietest hospitals: Inspira Medical Center at Elmer, N.J. (69%), Penns Chester County Hospital (64%), and Main Line Healths Bryn Mawr Hospital (62%).

The loudest was Riddle Hospital in Delaware County, where a quarter of patients said the area around their rooms was sometimes or never quiet.

Check out how patients ranked your hospital.

Each week, we highlight the results of various hospital inspections in the region. Up this week: Riddle Hospital. State inspectors did not conduct an on-site investigation for safety violations at the Main Line Health-owned hospital in Delaware County between September 2023 and February 2024.

Camille Ragin, an epidemiologist and associate diversity, equity, and inclusion director at Fox Chase Cancer Center, spoke to Sarah about another disparity in the world of cancer treatment: underrepresentation in clinical trials.

Trials for years have mostly enrolled white patients, Ragin says, limiting what doctors know about how these treatments will work for patients from different backgrounds.

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 theres appropriate representation  then the findings will be relevant, she said. If you dont, the findings are only relevant to the group you are studying.

Making moves

Binita M. Kamath, a physician who specializes in pediatric liver disease, has been appointed the new chief of CHOPs Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition, the hospital announced last week.

Kamath was an attending physician in the same department at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto for 15 years and its interim division head for the last two years. She previously did her clinical fellowship and residency training at CHOP, and was also a junior faculty member there, the hospital said in a news release.

Many liquid medicines taste bad. (With the exception, perhaps, of that delicious bubblegum-flavored amoxicillin that millennials still pine after.) But the alternative  swallowing pills  can be hard, especially for children and the elderly, to the point many do not finish a course of medication.

Thats why scientists have been working for years to create a bitter blocker that makes it easier for the medicine to go down. This week, the Philly-based Monell Chemical Senses Center announced that theyve found a compound that does so.

Interestingly, it doesnt affect a persons taste buds. Instead, it blocks the nerve receptor that sends taste signals to the brain for about 60 to 90 minutes. Aubrey interviewed Monell scientists about the breakthrough and what it means for public health.

Heres some good news to send you off: Our exceptionally talented colleague Wendy Ruderman has won a prestigious Association of Health Care Journalists Award for Excellence in Health Care Journalism for her health-care accountability reporting.

Wendy writes: Health is a topic that touches each of us. I find the health beat challenging, inspiring and at times, heartbreaking. I love learning from the people I interview, and Im fortunate to have a job in which I can elevate their voices and hopefully illuminate the triumphs and foibles of our health care system for Inquirer readers. We are all very lucky to work with her!

 Write back for a chance to be featured in next Wednesdays newsletter.

By submitting your written, visual, and/or audio contributions, you agree to The Inquirers Terms of Use, including the grant of rights in Section 10.
Mildred Krzystan at her home on Wayne Avenue in Philadelphia where she lives in a group home. Photograph taken on Friday morning June 7, 2024. Krzystan lost many of her personal items when Bethesda Court told residents they had to leave. Read more

Mildred Krzystan, who is 77 years old and has given her final wishes some thought, knew she wanted her jewelry, family heirlooms, and priceless family photographs to go to her relatives after her death. Then, her treasured possessions went missing when Bethesda Court, the personal care home in East Germantown where shes spent the last two years, closed with a weeks notice.

In the chaos of moving from one facility to another, Krzystan said some of her most valuable possessions, along with clothes that still had the tags on, disappeared.

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I was very, very hurt about my belongings, my personal property, she said. Everything was wiped out.

Months later, Krzystan and at least three other former Bethesda Court residents are seeking answers about what exactly prompted the facilitys March closure, lamenting their lost valuables, and upset no one has been held accountable.

Bethesda Court operated as a personal care home for almost two decades. Compared with nursing homes and assisted living residences, these homes are for people who need a place to live and assistance with personal care tasks but dont require clinical staff on site. Older residents can live at a personal care home, as can people with physical, behavioral health, or cognitive disabilities.

The state Department of Human Services, which licenses these facilities, said 75 residents were living in Bethesda Court when it closed. The majority of residents were over 60 and had been diagnosed with some form of mental illness, according to the most recent licensing inspection summary.

Residents said the facility had a history of bed bugs and couldnt always handle petty disputes between roommates. Some residents recalled a fight last fall between two residents that resulted in one stabbing the other with a knife. According to a DHS description, no staff member was in the facility to aid the injured resident. Another resident dialed emergency services.

DHS informed Bethesda Court that it would not renew its license in March, citing the facilitys failure to comply with the departments regulations, gross incompetence, negligence and misconduct in operating the facility(s) and failure to submit an acceptable plan to correct noncompliance items.

At the time of the March 18 notice, the facility needed to address issues in its management system for residents finances.

When a facility is found to be violating state requirements, DHS works with the operator to craft a plan of correction and an agreed-upon deadline. Bethesda failed to meet its deadlines to address some of the issues highlighted in DHS inspections.

A denied license renewal isnt an automatic death knell for an operator, which can appeal the decision within 10 days.

Bethesda Court did not appeal, and instead informed DHS on March 21 that it would have to close by the end of the month. Under Pennsylvania Code, these homes generally must give a 30-day notice to residents or their caretakers if a discharge or transfer is to take place.

According to DHS, Bethesda Court cited financial hardship and the inability to safely operate beyond 10 days in its request asking the state to help relocate residents, which the agency did by March 28.

Krzystans 81-year-old cousin  who said she didnt want to be identified because shes too old to be in the news  tried to get in touch with Bethesda Court, which proved difficult with no point of contact after closure. Those connected to 6200 Ardleigh LLC, which is listed as the owner of the facility, did not respond to messages from The Inquirer.

This type of rapid, emergency shutdown is uncommon, according to DHS.

Learning of the circumstances of his former homes closure is little solace for Paul Karetny, 62. He remembers seeing a notice posted in the common area informing him of Bethesda Courts imminent closure, but no timeline that he can recall. His DVD player, brand-new radio, treasured CDs, high school yearbook, and other priceless photographs went missing in the move.

It wasnt enough to go on, he said of the information he had at the time. I could have gotten my stuff out or put it in a suitable place.

DHS said it had no role in removing peoples personal belongings, adding that some of the receiving facilities did not accept certain items because of a previously reported bedbug problem at Bethesda Court. It was unclear who was involved in removing the items.

DHS said residents living in long-term care facilities with complaints can reach out to the states Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program or DHS Office of Long-Term Living with questions.

Though Karetny and Krzystan see their new home placements as improvements and are now resigned to the idea that they wont get their valuables back, they lament what they see as a lack of accountability in the hasty closure. They hope their experience can at least serve as a warning to others.

Its not fair, said Krzystan. They shouldnt get away with this.

Staff writer Ryan Briggs contributed to this article.
Everything you need to know about the ongoing Young Thug Trial, including his attorney, Brian Steel's, own arrest. Read more

Theres enough twists and turns happening at Young Thugs ongoing Atlanta trial to fuel an entire albums worth of diss tracks.

The rapper and Grammy winner was charged two years ago with drug, gang, gun, and racketeering crimes. The case has dragged on with no end in sight and a bunch of roadblocks along the way.

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The latest unfolded Monday, when Fulton County Superior Court Chief Judge Ural Glanville ordered the rappers own lawyer, Brian Steel, to spend the next 10 weekends in jail after finding him in contempt (ironically, this has only helped Steels street cred among the general public).

Theres a lot going on and we know it can be tricky to keep up with all the action. Heres everything you need to know about Young Thugs trial.

Cast of characters

Young Thug

Young Thug is an award-winning rapper based out of Atlanta. His legal name is Jeffery Williams. He came onto the hip-hop scene in 2010 and is considered significant for his contributions to the mumble rap subgenre. In 2013, he signed to the label of fellow Atlanta rapper Gucci Manes. In 2016 he founded his own label, Young Stoner Life.

He won a Grammy in 2019 for his contributions to Childish Gambinos This is America. Other notable songs the artist sings or collaborated on include Stoner, Throw Sum Mo, Havana (with Camila Cabello), and Pushin P (with Gunna and Future). In 2021, he performed at Philadelphias Made In America festival.

Judge Ural Glanville

Ural Glanville is chief judge for the Superior Court of Fulton County and is presiding at Young Thugs current case.

Attorney Brian Steel

Brian Steel is a longtime criminal defense attorney who practices in the Atlanta area. He has represented a mix of musicians, elected officials, professional athletes, and more, according to his personal biography.

Steel is also part of a legal power couple of sorts. He runs the Steel Law Firm with his wife, Colette Resnik Steel. As things have unfolded, Colette Resnik Steel has become more publicly involved with the trial, representing her husband after he was found in contempt of court (more on that later).

Fani Willis

Fani Willis is the district attorney overseeing Young Thugs case. Shes a Democrat best known for investigating former President Donald Trumps alleged involvement with election fraud in Georgia. She has spoken against gang violence in the Atlanta area and her commitment to eradicating it.

Kenneth Copeland

Kenneth Copeland (the rapper, not the 87-year-old televangelist), also known as Lil Woody, is considered a witness. Hes a known gang member and served time in federal prison in 2018.

He was granted immunity in exchange for his testimony, but refused to testify last week. He was arrested on Friday and held in jail for being in contempt of court. He is widely believed to have informed police of crimes Young Thug allegedly committed.

Other rappers

Besides Young Thug and Lil Woody, other rappers including Gunna, Lil Duke, Yak Gotti, and Unfoonk (Young Thugs brother) were also charged in the indictment.

General lay of the land

Why is Young Thug on trial?

Young Thug was indicted by a Fulton County grand jury in May 2022. He was charged with violating Georgias anti-racketeering and gang laws, among other offenses.

The indictment said Young Thug was the founder of a street gang called Young Slime Life, or YSL. The indictment claimed that nearly 30 other associates are members of the gang, which formed in 2012, and that the group has ties with the national Bloods gang, carrying out crimes including murder, attempted murder, armed robbery, witness intimidation, and drug dealing.

Investigators say Young Thugs record label, Young Stoner Life  also called YSL Records  is a nod to the gang and his Slime Family, a.k.a. artists on the label who are also gang members. The crux of the case involves proving if the artists many references to YSL are referring to his lifestyle, art, and luxury brands or to crime and gang activity. The case is expected to have implications on the music scene, with prosecutors investigation heavily citing Young Thugs lyrics. Young Thug has pleaded not guilty.

What has happened so far in the trial?

So very much.

Georgia statutes let prosecutors group together crimes, even ones that seem unrelated, if they argue that they support a shared objective. In a case as complex as Young Thugs, with such a large cast of characters and allegations, that means analyzing an intricate web of events spanning many years and hundreds of witnesses.

Since the trial started in November, several things have happened:

Brian Steel said the rapper was mobbing for God and that thug stands for Truly humble under God (November). A defense attorney working on a related case, representing the rapper Stunna, was arrested on separate gang-related charges of her own (February). An investigator for the prosecution was accused of sexually harassing a witness (April). Brian Steel contends that Copeland a.k.a. Lil Woody admitted in a private meeting with his attorney and Judge Glanville to killing Donovan Nut Thomas, whom Young Thug is accused of murdering (Monday). Steel refuses to disclose how he heard about the alleged meeting, which he says Young Thugs legal team wasnt informed of, and is placed in contempt of court and arrested (Tuesday)

So why exactly was Young Thugs lawyer arrested?

On Tuesday, Steel raised concerns to Glanville about a meeting between the judge, Lil Woody, and the prosecution that the defense wasnt notified of. Steel said this meeting was inappropriate and that his team had a constitutional right to know what happened behind closed doors.

But Glanville appeared to be more concerned with who was leaking the information to Steel. Steel refused to tell the judge who told him about the meeting, citing his ethical responsibility to his client.

Glanville held Steel in contempt of court for refusing to divulge his sources and sentenced Steel to 20 days in jail over the the next 10 weekends. Steel requested he serve his weekends with his client at the Cobb County Jail so they could work on their case, which Glanville approved.

What now?

Brian Steel is appealing his arrest

Steel is appealing Glanvilles order of contempt and seeking bond.

Lawyers defend Brian Steel

Attorneys Ashleigh Merchant and Alex Susor are representing Steel. Merchant said about 25 attorneys went to the courthouse after hearing about Steels arrest.

Your desire for him to answer your question does not mean that you have the power to hold him in contempt, Merchant told Glanville.

Could everything happening prolong the case even more?

In short, yes. Theres no end in sight.

Jury selection took 10 months. As noted by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the trial has been marked by repeated delays, juror problems, and time off. Monday marked the 88th day of trial, but fewer than 80 witnesses from the prosecutions list of over 200 have testified.

The trial is already expected to continue into the next year. Appeals  and related cases like Steels  could drag things out even longer.
The seal of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Read more

Eight foreign nationals with suspected ties to ISIS were arrested in recent days in a series of coordinated raids in Philadelphia, New York, and Los Angeles, authorities said.

But officials have remained tight-lipped on the identities of the people detained and the circumstances that brought them to the attention of investigators.

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A law enforcement source familiar with the matter said all of those arrested initially hailed from Tajikistan in Central Asia and crossed into the United States illegally via the Southern border in 2023. They were allowed to remain in the country temporarily, pending asylum claims, after preliminary vetting uncovered no national security concerns.

However, subsequent information surfaced indicating that the men may have had some affiliation with the terrorist organization, said the source, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to protect the ongoing investigation.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the FBI would not say how many people were arrested in Philadelphia or where and when those arrests took place.

Those detained as part of the investigation, which was first reported by the New York Post, have not been charged with terrorism-related crimes and are instead being held on immigration violations, authorities said.

The individuals arrested are in ICE custody pending removal proceedings, the agencies said in a joint statement.

For months, counterterrorism officials have raised increasing alarm about the rise of a Central Asian-based ISIS offshoot and the United States potential vulnerability to terrorists sneaking across the U.S.-Mexico border.

In March, FBI Director Christopher Wray warned the Senate Intelligence Committee that a human smuggling operation with ties to terrorism-affiliated organizations had been assisting migrants to illegally enter the country through Mexico.

There is a particular network where some of the overseas facilitators of the smuggling network have ISIS ties that were very concerned about and weve been spending enormous amounts of effort with our partners investigating, he said. Exactly what that network is up to is something thats, again, the subject of our current investigation.

CNN reported last year that more than a dozen migrants from Uzbekistan and other Central Asian countries had illegally crossed the Southern border in early 2023 with the assistance of a Turkish smuggler with ties to ISIS, setting off an FBI investigation to track them down and identify whether any of them had terrorist ties.

It was not clear whether the eight Tajik migrants arrested in the recent Philadelphia, New York, and Los Angeles raids were connected to the same network.

NBC News reported Tuesday that the information that led to their arrests emerged from the same investigation that resulted in the apprehension in March of a 33-year-old Uzbek man living in Baltimore with suspected ISIS ties. His arrest came more than two years after hed first illegally entered the country and been allowed to remain in the United States with a pending asylum claim.

Meanwhile, counterterrorism officials continue to warn that despite its defeat by a global coalition and the end of its caliphate in Syria and Iraq in 2019, ISIS remains a threat to U.S. national security.

A branch of ISIS, Islamic State Khorasan (ISIS-K) has gained a foothold in Central Asia and, according to an April report from the New York Times, draws more than half of its recruits from Tajikistan.

Tajik loyalists to the organization have played high-profile roles in several recent terror strikes, including a March attack on a Moscow concert hall that left 145 people dead.
Workers clear debris in the aftermath of a building collapse in North Philadelphia in April. Read more

The citys process for identifying, monitoring, and demolishing dangerous buildings is riddled with inefficiencies, hampered by staffing shortages, and carried out at a high cost to taxpayers, who largely end up footing the $11 million-a-year bill for private owners neglect.

Those are the findings from a report issued Wednesday by Philadelphias City Controller Christy Brady, who pledged to prioritize digging into the city Department of Licenses and Inspections (L&I) last year in response to constituent feedback and an Inquirer series on how lax oversight has enabled dangerous construction practices.

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This investigation is about making our city safer, Brady said at a news conference, describing the audit as just the first step in a sweeping probe into L & Is construction oversight practices, the city building code, and widespread use of unlicensed contractors.

We cannot wait for the next tragedy to occur, she added. We must protect our homes and our communities.

The report focused on the citys response to buildings deemed unsafe or imminently dangerous  and found that, in contrast to the serious life-safety threats posed by some imminently dangerous structures, the citys response to them is freighted with delays.

Brady said she shared the findings with L & I Commissioner for Inspections, Safety and Compliance Basil Merenda. In a statement, Merenda said that Mayor Cherelle L. Parker had directed him to study and, to the extent possible, implement the reports recommendations  which also would require action from the city Revenue Department and the court system.

Our mandate from the mayor is a safer city, in which dangerous and imminently dangerous buildings are closely scrutinized, and all appropriate actions are taken to safeguard the public, Merenda said.

 READ MORE: Controller pledges to audit L&I in response to Inquirer's 'Crumbling City' investigation

Demolitions must be approved through a court process that can take up to 90 days  and while inspectors are supposed to check on the dangerous properties every 10 days, a combination of severe understaffing and an inadequate tracking system appears to allow properties to fall through the cracks.

One condemned property highlighted in the report had a faded demolition notice that expired in 2023, bricks falling off of its rear wall, and evidence of people living inside.

Citywide, there are about 3,800 unsafe properties and 270 imminently dangerous ones, according to L & I data. Some properties may get those tags for reasons other than total structural failure, such as a crumbling retaining wall or a collapsing detached shed  but L & Is software does not have the capability to sort dangerous properties by priority level, according to Brady.

Fifteen L & I staffers are assigned to the unit that monitors such structures and coordinates demolitions  putting the unit at 72% of its budgeted staff complement.

This is the lowest its been, Brady said. Fifteen is not enough.

The controllers audit found that the city spends more than $11 million a year demolishing dangerous properties  more than $60 million since 2019. But it recoups only 3% of that from property owners, leaving liens on properties but doing little to enforce collections.

The controller offered a list of recommendations: Hire more staff to keep pace with the workload. Update the citys relatively new eClipse software system to enable tracking and prioritizing dangerous buildings. Create a collections process to recover the $25,000 to $30,000 cost of each demolition. And, work with the citys court system to address the delays.

Parkers administration broke up the oft-criticized L & I into two divisions earlier this year, each with its own commissioner. One department will focus on inspections, safety, and compliance; the other on quality of life issues and business code enforcement.

When announcing her decision, Parker cited the Inquirers Crumbling City series of stories about how Philadelphias surging housing redevelopment has led to construction safety issues.

 READ MORE: Five fixes for Philly's construction chaos
Greg Boulware was sworn in as president of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees District Council 33 on Tuesday. Read more

Greg Boulware has unseated Omar Salaam as president of the largest union for Philadelphia city workers, ending a fiercely contested election and setting the stage for high-stakes contract negotiations with Mayor Cherelle L. Parkers administration.

The election to lead the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees District Council 33, an umbrella union that represents about 9,000 city workers in blue-collar jobs, came after former president Ernest Garrett was ousted in February.

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Boulware previously led Local 394, which represents Water Department workers and is one of the 15 unions that make up DC 33. Boulware is an ally of Garretts, and his election ends an intense power struggle, at least for now.

Salaam, of the sanitation workers Local 427, took over as DC 33s interim president after he and other union officials ousted Garrett for making decisions without the executive boards consent. (Garrett, who has denied wrongdoing, was prohibited by AFSCME from running in the election.)

 READ MORE: Police responded to AFSCME District Council 33s offices after union leaders allegedly got into a fight

In a mail ballot runoff decided this week, Boulware won 1,636 votes, and Salaam got 1,460, according to Boulware spokesperson Bret Coles. Boulware was sworn in Tuesday, and his term will last four years.

Other members of Boulwares Back to Basics slate also won, with Antoine Little becoming vice president and Joan Gallagher secretary-treasurer after they defeated Salaams New Direction slate.

Boulware said the message his slate tried to send was that it was trying to get back to the essence of unionism and educating and training our people to mobilize and bringing some decency back and some integrity back to DC 33.

Weve gotten a little bit away from the way that things should be as far as unionism, he said in an interview Tuesday.

What does the DC 33 election mean for Philly?

Emotions are still raw following Garretts ouster. Last week police responded to DC 33s headquarters when Boulware and Salaam got in a physical altercation that each man blames on the other. (No arrests have been made, and Boulware said a police investigation remains open.)

The conflict has roots going back to the early 1990s, when Herman Pete Matthews unseated James Sutton as DC 33 president following Suttons agreeing to major concessions in a contract with then-Mayor Ed Rendell that union members criticize to this day.

Salaam was aligned with Matthews, until Garrett defeated Matthews in a shocking upset in the 2020 election. Boulware and Garrett have ties to Sutton, with Garrett hiring his wife, Evon Sutton, as political director.

Boulware, however, rejected the idea that there are factions within DC 33 and said he was focused on uniting the union.

My job as president will be to do whats in the best interest of District Council 33, he said. Were hoping to galvanize and keep everybody united.

Salaam did not respond to an interview request Tuesday. Last week, he said that the difference between Greg and I is I believe in accountability.

I believe that being a union officer, my priority is the membership, Salaam said.

DC 33s contract with the city expires this summer, and Parker has sought one-year contract extensions with the four major municipal unions as her new administration settles into office. The police and firefighters unions have already agreed to one-year deals. Neither DC 33 nor AFSCMEs DC 47, which represents the citys non-uniformed white-collar workers, has reached an agreement.

Salaam had not ruled out a one-year deal, and Boulware campaigned in part on pushing for a traditional multiyear contract. The city this year is in a relatively strong financial position, and waiting until 2025 could risk an economic downturn that could leave the Parker administration with less available money during negotiations.

It gives our people a little bit of long-term security, Boulware said of a multiyear deal. We have no idea what the financial outlook is for the city long term.

Hes seeking pay raises and changes to the pension system. He also wants the city to alter the residency requirement for DC 33 members, who currently must live in the city throughout their careers, so that they get the same treatment as police officers, who are allowed to move out of Philly after five years on the job.

That could lead to an unwanted headache for the Parker administration, which last week wrapped up negotiations with City Council for a new $6.37 billion budget that takes effect July 1.

Parker and Salaam appeared aligned on many issues. During last years Democratic primary for mayor, Salaam led his local to take the unusual step of endorsing Parker and breaking with DC 33, which under Garrett had endorsed candidate Jeff Brown.

This year, Parker has made a point of bringing Salaam on stage with her for appearances such as a news conference on the citys response to a snowstorm in January and a rally last week for her summer cleaning initiative.

Boulware said hes confident that the mayor will understand DC 33s needs.

What we promised to our membership was to be strong advocates on their behalf, he said. Im hopeful that the administration is willing to understand the plight of our people over these many years.

Staff writer Anna Orso contributed to this article.
Last year, we moved a couple of hundred staff into RAA Place as we had well and truly outgrown Mile End, and late in April, we signed a lease for 150 Grenfell St, said RAA CEO Nick Reade. Weve now signed a long-term lease for the RAA Technical Centre, which will provide our workforce with the tools they need to best serve our 820,000 members for years to come.
The first firm certified as a qualified Ukrainian insurance company to access the reinsurance facility is ARX, a Ukrainian subsidiary of Fairfax Financial. Aon, DFC, and ARX will collaborate to build a portfolio of war risk insurance policies for companies in Ukraine and support ARX in expanding its offerings. With the facility in place, qualified insurance companies can provide rapid war risk policies to businesses in Ukraine, potentially encouraging private market participation by other reinsurers and fostering private investment essential for recovery.
Both the FHCF and Citizens can levy assessments on almost all property insurance policyholders in Florida, spreading the financial burden of large losses across a broad base. While this has successfully stabilised the market in the past, it also exposes residents to significant debt and repayment obligations following major events. Additionally, this system indirectly subsidises high-risk policies, encouraging development in vulnerable areas and driving up long-term costs, he said.
Queensland is the most disaster-impacted state in the country and regional Queensland, particularly the Far North and North, has certainly borne the brunt of events like Cyclones Jasper and Kirrily, said Suncorp Group CEO Steve Johnston. Suncorp is a proud Queensland-based company and will always be there to help our customers rebuild their lives following these devastating events, but we also understand how important it is to help community groups be prepared, build back better, and assist that recovery in the medium and longer term.
The business, which has provided excess cyber insurance in the US and Bermuda since 2022, will now offer up to $10 million in capacity for the new primary coverage. The goal is to protect various industries, particularly the technology sector.
Previously, an appeals court had reversed the trial court's decision, sending the case to the Supreme Court of Texas. In a ruling issued on June 7, the Supreme Court noted that sections of the insurance code represent standard licensing regulations based on a persons role in a nonexpressive commercial transaction, not what any person may or may not say.
Fitch views Oman Re's financial performance as strong, reflected in a net income return on equity of 8.4% in 2023, up from 7.5% in 2022. The company achieved a net profit after tax of OMR2.5 million in 2023, an increase from OMR2.1 million in 2022, supported by strong underwriting and investment results. The combined ratio improved to 88.6% in 2023 from 97.5% in 2022, driven by a better loss ratio.
A soaring demand for food delivered fast has spawned small armies of couriers  and increasing alarm  in big cities where scooters, motorcycles and mopeds zip in and out of traffic and hop onto pedestrian-filled sidewalks as their drivers race to drop off salads and sandwiches.

Officials in Boston, New York and Washington, D.C., have started cracking down on delivery companies by issuing warning letters, seizing illegally registered or driven vehicles, and launching special street patrols to enforce speed limits. The pushback is not limited to the U.S.: There have also been a series of crackdowns in London and other British cities.

For their part, the delivery companies have pledged to work with city officials to ensure that all of their drivers operate both legally and safely.

In a letter this week to food delivery companies DoorDash, Grubhub and Uber, Boston officials cited an alarming increase in unlawful and dangerous operation of motorcycles, mopeds and motorized scooters that they said put the drivers, other motorists and pedestrians in imminent danger.

Scooters Seized

The letter alleged that some drivers were operating unregistered vehicles and breaking traffic laws, and warned of an imminent crackdown on the vehicles. It also demanded that the companies explain how they can ensure their drivers are operating safely. The Massachusetts State Police said they identified dozens of mopeds and scooters that were improperly registered or being operated by unlicensed drivers. Fourteen illegal mopeds and scooters were seized Wednesday in one Boston neighborhood alone.

In New York City, authorities have seized 13,000 scooters and mopeds so far this year; on Wednesday, they crushed more than 200 illegal mopeds and other delivery vehicles. Authorities in Washington, D.C., meanwhile, launched a program Wednesday called Operation Ride Right to ensure drivers of two-wheeled vehicles are complying with the law. Since it began, authorities have made five arrests and impounded 17 mopeds.

They have terrorized many of our pedestrians, particularly our senior and older adults, New York City Mayor Eric Adams said Wednesday at an event in which motorized two-wheeled delivery vehicles were destroyed. Riders who think the rules dont apply to them, theyre going to see an aggressive enforcement policy thats in place.

Switch to Two Wheels

When food delivery services had their major resurgence during the COVID-19 pandemic, most drivers used cars to deliver their fare. That led to increased traffic congestion, prompting a shift to motorcycles and other two-wheeled modes of transportation.

The drivers, many of them immigrants from Latin American countries but also from West Africa and South Asia, say they are just trying to earn a living and are providing a service that gets customers their food fast.

Were not all bad, said Luis Lopez, a delivery driver from the Dominican Republic who spoke to The Associated Press on Friday from his motorcycle in an area of multiple fast-food restaurants near the Boston Public Library. We come to work, to earn a living, pay the rent and send something to our families.

Lopez, who came to the U.S. about three years ago, acknowledged that some drivers are unlicensed or driving unregistered vehicles, and hes seen them running red lights and onto sidewalks, menacing pedestrians. Some people are so reckless that theyre also putting other delivery drivers at risk, he said.

He said he was among a group of 10 delivery drivers outside a Chick-fil-A on Thursday night when a police officer approached them with a flyer describing how to register their scooters and mopeds. The whole group agreed to do just that.

We have to respect the law, he said, speaking in Spanish. We are going to respect the law so that they let us work here.

Easy Violations

Drivers of motorized two-wheeled vehicles are coming under much more scrutiny than was faced years ago by other gig workers in cars, such as Uber and Lyft drivers, because they can more easily violate traffic laws, said Hilary Robinson, an associate professor of law and sociology at Northeastern University.

The switch to the vehicles is really an attempt to make low-wage, high-risk labor available so that all of us can have cheap goods and services, Robinson said. Its perhaps one of the reasons why people are starting to realize that there really is no such thing as a free lunch.

William Medina, a delivery worker in New York who is also an organizing leader with the Los Deliveristas Unidos Campaign, blames the delivery companies.

This is a problem that started because the companies force you to complete the deliveries from far distances, he said in a telephone interview Friday. Medina started out delivering food on a bicycle, switched to an electric bike, and now is using a moped to make the longer trips.

If you have to complete the delivery 6 miles, 7 miles, you have to complete it, he said.

Tougher Enforcement

Among those advocating for tougher enforcement in Boston is City Councilor Edward Flynn, who said on Facebook that it can no longer be the Wild West on the streets of Boston.

Everyone using city roads needs to abide by the rules of the road. If youre able to go 25 mph like a car  you should be licensed, registered, and carry liability insurance in the event of an accident and injury, he wrote.

Some Boston residents are supportive of tougher action against the scooters.

I get frustrated when they dont follow the traffic laws, said Anne Kirby, a 25-year-old student having lunch in a Boston neighborhood within a few hundred feet of several scooters. I feel like I almost get hit every day when they go through the crosswalk when its not their turn to go.

But Jaia Samuel, a 25-year-old hospital worker from Boston, was more conflicted. She said she agreed that delivery scooters can be dangerous, but she also acknowledged that she relies heavily on delivery services for her food.

I do think its unsafe to an extent, the weaving in between cars and the not stopping for red lights, she said. But I feel like everybody should be able to make a living, so who am I to say anything? It would be unfortunate for me. I would be taking a hit with the crackdown on them. I order a lot of Uber Eats, DoorDash.

Three major food delivery services have pledged to work with officials and neighborhood advocates to address the problem.

The overwhelming majority of Dashers do the right thing and like all drivers must follow the rules of the road. If they dont, then they face consequences  just like anyone else, DoorDash said in a statement Wednesday.

Grubhub said its employees already agree to obey all local traffic laws. While enforcement of the law is best handled by the police, we take safety seriously and will take action to address any reports of unsafe driving, the company said in a statement Thursday.

Associated Press writers Michael Warren in Decatur, Georgia, and Lisa J. Adams Wagner in Evans, Georgia, contributed to this report.

Copyright 2024 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics New York Personal Auto
A man who died in a house explosion six months ago outside the nations capital deliberately detonated gasoline canisters in his basement that caused the blast, authorities said Friday.

Arlington County police in Virginia went to the home of 56-year-old James Yoo on Dec. 4 because he was firing a flare gun from the back of his duplex into a nearby school and park, police said Friday at a news conference announcing the cause of the explosion.

Police tried unsuccessfully to make contact with Yoo. They got a search warrant and used an armored vehicle to knock through his front door. Officers then heard gunshots, and a few minutes later the entire house exploded.

Unfortunately, were not going to know a specific motive, Police Chief Andy Penn said Friday, though the investigation turned up evidence of paranoia and mental health problems.

The case has no ties to terrorism, and Yoo acted alone, FBI counterterrorism agent Sanjay Virmani said.

Authorities showed dramatic video of the explosion at Fridays news conference, taken from police dash cams and body-worn cameras of officers. It also showed body cam video of children in a nearby park frightened by the flare gun shots and efforts by officers to talk to Yoo and get him to come out of his house.

None of the first responders suffered major injuries, though Penn said several officers ended up seeking medical care in the days afterward.

Authorities had previously disclosed that Yoo had exhibited erratic behavior and frequently contacted the FBI alleging that he was a victim of schemes and frauds. Court records show he also filed federal lawsuits that were dismissed as frivolous. Some of the lawsuits, filed from 2018 to 2022, were described by judges as convoluted or confused. One lawsuit alleged he had been committed against his will.

Investigators concluded that Yoo intended to start the fire that caused the explosion, an agent with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives said Friday. Investigators found gasoline canisters with 35 gallons of capacity stored in his basement.

The agent said they could not conclude exactly how he ignited the fire and explosion, and said it could have been caused by gunshots igniting gasoline vapors or simply by a match or lighter.

Police used pepper spray and tear gas to try to force Yoo out, but authorities had said previously, and again at Fridays press conference, that those chemicals are not flammable. They had also turned off the natural gas connection to the home in the early phase of the standoff.

Copyright 2024 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Virginia
A London hospital, facing blood supply disruptions after a cyberattack last week paralyzed operations, is asking its own clinical workers for blood.

Kings College Hospital is calling on staff with the blood type O to schedule donations, according to an internal memo sent to staff and reviewed by Bloomberg News. The hospital declined to comment. National Health Service, the publicly funded health care system in England, didnt respond to a request for comment.

The letter followed a broader appeal issued by NHS England to the general public for blood donations and is only the latest fallout from a ransomware attack that has plagued several of the regions medical centers since June 4. The hack against Synnovis, a provider that helps manage blood transfusions and testing for the hospitals, has forced some facilities to delay medical operations, postpone blood samples and resort to handwritten records.

Hack That Crippled UK Hospitals Highlights Growing Threat to NHS

NHS Blood and Transplant is calling for O blood type donors (both positive and negative) to book appointments in order to support the response to the ransomware cyber attack incident, Julie Lowe, deputy chief executive of Kings College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, said in the internal memo. Staff are also encouraged to donate blood as well.

O type blood is particularly critical. O negative blood can be given to anyone regardless of their own blood type, and O positive is the most common type. The attack has meant hospitals cant match patients blood at the same frequency as usual, NHS Blood and Transplant said Monday in a statement.

Continued Disruptions

The memo also warns that disruptions tied to the hack were expected to continue for the rest of the week, with the trust redirecting a small number of patients to other hospitals. Some planned operations and outpatient appointments will likely be canceled, Lowe said. We still do not know when Synnovis systems are likely to be restored, so we should expect to be dealing with this incident for the rest of this week, and beyond, she added.

The attack on Synnovis, a partnership between diagnostics company Synlab UK & Ireland and Guys and St Thomas NHS Foundation Trust and Kings College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, has primarily affected patients of Guys and St Thomas Hospital, Kings College Hospital and primary care in southeast London. The lab services provider has said it is working with NHS England to minimize the impact on patients.

The fallout of the attack has rippled across to primary care providers whose practices rely on the affected hospitals for laboratory services.

Azeem Majeed, a physician in south London, said local practices and community services have historically ordered up 10,000 blood samples a day for testing. Providers are now restricted to requesting around 400 a day, he said.

Routine blood tests for patients with conditions including high blood pressure, diabetes and kidney diseases are facing delays, he said, while noting that patients with urgent issues are being prioritized.

Discarded Samples

Thousands of patient blood samples are set to go to waste because Synnovis is unable to export test results quickly via its own IT systems, most of which remain locked down, the company said in an update to clinicians on Monday.

Synnovis said it received around 8,000 blood samples last week and has processed about 3,000 of these. The process is taking longer than usual as staff are logging samples manually, typing the results into its systems and then relaying them over the phone.

It is very likely that most will need to be discarded because the sample will have degraded, making results unreliable, the company wrote. Of those tests processed, we have phoned through all results that sit outside of critical limits, however, we have been unable to return any results electronically and are unlikely to be able to do so.

No group has publicly taken credit for the ransomware attack, a type of hack that locks the victim out of their own systems or data until they pay the hackers to restore access.

Third Hack

Hacker groups generally avoid targeting health-care providers, according to Cian Heasley, a researcher at Adarma Security. He said Qilin, a Russian-speaking ransomware-as-a-service operation which has previously targeted health care providers directly or through affiliates, is one possible culprit.

Qilin took credit for a ransomware attack on the Neurology Center of Nevada and Dutch elder-care provider Attentive Care and Treatment in 2023.

Ransomware groups that are willing to target the health-care sector understand the value of the data, Heasley said. The potential leaking of stolen data is only part of the problem; the data itself is vital to patient treatment.

This ransomware attack is the third to hit Synlab AG in the last year. In June 2023, Synlab said its French branch was hit by attacker group Clop and in April a cyberattack paralyzed the groups Italian operation.

Photograph: Kings College Hospital in London is calling on staff with the blood type O to schedule donations. Photo credit: Daniel Acker/Bloomberg

Related:

Copyright 2024 Bloomberg.

Topics Cyber London
Some of the worlds biggest carmakers are facing 1.5 million lawsuits in Britain for allegedly cheating emissions tests that could cost them at least 6 billion pounds ($7.6 billion), claimants lawyers told Londons High Court on Tuesday.

The claims, brought by owners of diesel vehicles, highlight the ongoing fallout for automakers from a scandal that erupted in 2015 when Volkswagen admitted to using defeat devices to change diesel vehicles emissions levels during testing.

Manufacturers including Mercedes-Benz and Ford are also alleged to have misled customers about certain vehicles compliance with nitrogen oxide emissions standards  which the companies deny.

A spokesperson for Mercedes-Benz  which faces around 300,000 claims  said in a statement: We continue to believe that the claims against Mercedes-Benz are without merit and will vigorously defend ourselves against them or any group action with the necessary legal means.

A Ford spokesperson said: We see no merit in these claims and are robustly defending against them. Our vehicles and engines meet all applicable emissions requirements.

Volkswagens dieselgate scandal has cost the carmaker more than 32 billion euros ($34 billion) in vehicle refits, fines and legal costs.

The German group agreed to pay 193 million pounds in 2022 to settle claims from around 91,000 British drivers without any admission of liability.

Lawyers representing a coalition of claimants said at a preliminary hearing that there were around 1.5 million claimants suing 13 different vehicle manufacturing groups.

Benjamin Williams, one of the claimants lawyers, said in court documents that the value of individual claims had not yet been determined.

But he said that even if the claims were valued conservatively at 4,000 pounds each, it would make the total value of all of the lawsuits at least 6 billion pounds.

The legal costs of the litigation will also be huge, with the claimants lawyers estimating they will need to spend nearly 400 million pounds up to a potential third trial in 2026, with the carmakers figure being 321 million pounds.

(Reporting by Sam Tobin; editing by Mark Potter)

Related:

Topics Lawsuits
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.

Heres what to know from APs report:

A changing river valley

Persistent flooding isnt 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 didnt 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 theyve 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 wont leave.

Steve Dungan lives in Hannibal, Missouri  best known as Mark Twains 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

Photo: Muscatine, Iowa/USA- July 17, 2018: A towboat pushing a loaded barge on the Mississippi River near Muscatine.

Copyright 2024 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Flood Mississippi Missouri
OMAHA, Neb. (AP)  A Nebraska funeral home discovered that a 74-year-old hospice patient who was declared dead by her nursing home two hours earlier was actually still alive, so workers started CPR and she was rushed to a hospital, where she died hours later.

Its not clear how often incidents such happen, but at least two similar ones have been reported at funeral homes in New York and Iowa in the past 18 months.

The Nebraska woman was in hospice care at the The Mulberry nursing home in the Lincoln suburb of Waverly before she was declared dead June 3, according to the Lancaster County Sheriffs Office.

Workers at Butherus Maser & Love Funeral Home noticed she was still breathing just before noon immediately after laying her on the embalming table, Chief Deputy Ben Houchin said.

I cant imagine their shock, he sad.

The woman was taken to a Lincoln hospital, where she died the afternoon of June 3.

The sheriffs office is looking into what happened, but Houchin said investigators hadnt found any initial evidence that laws were broken. He said its common for nursing homes not to call the sheriffs department when someone who has been in hospice care dies.

The woman saw her doctor a few days ago, and Houchin said he was willing to sign off on her death certificate because her death was expected. But that hadnt happened before she was found alive.

Im sure the nursing home and everybodys going to be taking a look into what has happened, said Houchin. And Im sure theyll look and see if new protocols need to be made or if they were all followed.

A woman who answered the phone at the nursing home declined to comment.

In the previous reported incidents, a woman was declared dead prematurely in New York last year just days after an Iowa nursing home was fined $10,000 for doing the same thing.

Jessica Koth, a spokeswoman for the National Funeral Directors Association who has worked in the industry for nearly two decades, said that until last year, she hadnt heard of such incidents occurring. She said the association doesnt even offer recommended procedures for verifying someone is dead because funeral directors rely on medical professionals to make such calls.

Usually when someone dies, its not like the funeral director is there immediately. Theres usually some time that passes. So surely someone might notice that an error had been made, she said.

Koth said the days events had to be especially hard on the womans family.

I can imagine how difficult it would be for the family as well to go on such an emotional roller-coaster, she said.

Copyright 2024 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
A legal assault on the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission is chipping away at its powers to oversee Wall Street and is likely to intensify with two imminent Supreme Court rulings.

A U.S. appeals court last week overturned a major SEC rule imposing stricter oversight of private funds, in a fresh blow for Democratic Chair Gary Genslers ambitious agenda to boost transparency and stamp out conflicts of interest on Wall Street.

The court took the unusual step of denying some of the SECs authority to oversee investment advisers. That could make its other draft rules on cybersecurity, outsourcing, and predictive data analytics, vulnerable to litigation, lawyers said.

The ruling from the New Orleans-based 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals is another example of how business groups are using conservative-leaning courts to overturn SEC rules, limit its ability to write similar ones and bring enforcement actions.

While the conservative war on the administrative state aims to weaken federal agencies across the board, Genslers ambitious agenda has made the SEC, which oversees around 40,000 entities, a top target.

Its happening government-wide, and its quite acute at the SEC, said Satyam Khanna, a former SEC attorney who advised two former Democratic Commissioners as recently as 2021. The SEC oversees a vast number of entities  funds, public companies, brokers, and more  and the financial stakes can be high.

The agency is facing several other lawsuits from financial firms and their trade groups arguing the agency is overstepping its authority to impose ill-conceived and costly rules.

A Reuters review of Westlaw filings showed a sharp uptick in the number of open appeals against the SEC in the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals from 2019 to last year, although it is facing litigation in other conservative-leaning courts too.

Among the cases: hedge funds are suing in the 5th Circuit to overturn SEC short-selling disclosures and in a Texas district court to kill new Treasuries trading rules, while in March business groups including the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, as well as Republican-led states, sued to block SEC climate change rules.

The Chamber is among the most aggressive groups in litigating regulations. In December, it won a 5th Circuit challenge to SEC rules around stock buybacks and is tracking other draft rules for potential challenges.

The current SEC has engaged in remarkable amounts of regulatory overreach, said Daryl Joseffer, chief counsel at the Chambers Litigation Center.

Reform advocates say the industry just wants to protect its profits and that weakening the SEC will hurt everyday Americans.

Speaking to Reuters last Wednesday, SEC chair Gary Gensler did not discuss the private funds ruling but noted that only a handful of dozens of rules adopted under his leadership have been litigated. And the agency has notched some notable wins, including in the 5th Circuit, on diversity rules and proxy voting, legal experts note.

But Gensler also said the agency would adapt to adverse rulings.

We do everything according to law and how courts interpret law. If the courts interpret law differently than we thought, we adjust, we pivot, he said. He cited as an example the SECs decision to approve bitcoin products in January after a D.C. appeals court found the agency had been wrong to reject them

Trump appointed 54 judges to the U.S. appeals courts where many suits against federal agencies are filed and pushed the Supreme Court to a 6-3 conservative majority.

When asked if he felt the courts were stacked against him, Gensler said: Im a huge believer in the American democratic system and our constitutional system. We have three co-equal branches of government. And thats a really important thing.

Most of the litigation alleges violations of the 1946 Administrative Procedure Act which requires regulators to justify rules and allow time for, and fully consider, public feedback.

Jennifer Han, Executive Vice President, Global Regulatory Affairs at MFA, which led the private funds suit, said the group does not approach litigation lightly.

Unfortunately, after constructively engaging with the SEC throughout its rulemaking, the (SEC) finalized rules that exceeded its authority and did not follow the Administrative Procedures Act. We are grateful that the court agreed with MFA, said Han, adding the group will continue to work constructively with the SEC.

Some cases lean on a 2022 Supreme Court decision which raised doubts over whether federal agencies have the authority to tackle major policy questions. That ruling was among the reasons the SEC scaled back its climate change rule, Reuters previously reported, and was cited in some of the March suits.

Crypto firms have frequently cited that major questions doctrine when disputing the SECs authority to regulate them.

The SEC has made significant changes to other major rules following industry pushback, including on money market funds and activist investor disclosures.

Vigorous industry pushback in comment files often raises the specter of litigation, said Khanna.

Gensler said the agency takes industry comments very seriously.

SCOTUS LOOMS

This month, the Supreme Court is also expected to rule on two other cases with major implications for the SEC.

One relates to its authority to use in-house judges with securities law expertise to decide enforcement actions, which is often speedier than going through the courts. Conservative Justices last year expressed concern that it denies defendants a jury trial.

The case follows a 2018 Supreme Court ruling that the SECs process for selecting in-house judges violated the Constitution. Since then, the SEC has dramatically scaled back its use of the tribunal, SEC data shows.

The other SCOTUS case challenges a legal doctrine known as Chevron deference which calls for judges to defer to federal agencies interpretations of U.S. laws deemed to be ambiguous.

Chevron is a bedrock of agency rulemaking. According to 2017 research published in the Michigan Law Review, between 2003 and 2013, Chevron was applied 66.7% of the time when litigating SEC rules in circuit courts and in those cases the agency won just over 81%.

Its highly likely that the court will overrule Chevron or sharply curtail it, said Joseffer. Consequently, agencies would succeed less often in defending their interpretation of statutes, and as a result one would hope agencies would be more cautious in their rulemakings, he added.
U.S. healthcare providers can ask UnitedHealth Group to notify people whose data was exposed during a hack on the companys Change Healthcare unit in February, according to an update on the health departments website.

The news comes as a relief for U.S. hospitals and healthcare providers that had urged the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to shift the notification responsibility to UnitedHealth and its unit.

Affected covered entities that want Change Healthcare to provide breach notifications on their behalf should contact Change Healthcare, the HHS Office for Civil Rights (OCR) said in an update dated May 31.

U.S. law states data breaches must be reported to individual patients within 60 days of discovery.

A UnitedHealth spokesperson said the company appreciates the clarification from OCR, which reiterates our stated preference to ease the reporting obligations of our customers.

Earlier in May, the healthcare conglomerates CEO Andrew Witty told a Congressional committee that hackers potentially stole a third of Americans data in the Feb. 21 cyber attack that led to disruptions in processing medical claims. The company is still trying to fix the processing snags.

Witty had also said the company continued to investigate the amount of data involved and thought it was going to be substantial.

UnitedHealth warned the breached data could contain sensitive information such as names, addresses, medical codes and insurance numbers, the Wall Street Journal reported earlier in the day, citing the companys responses to questions from the Senate Finance Committee.

The breach at the unit, which handles healthcare billing, data systems and many other services, has caused widespread disruptions in claims processing, impacting patients and providers across the country.

Related:

Topics Cyber
PointeNorth Insurance Group, one of the largest independent insurance agencies in the Southeast, has acquired McCrary-Daniels Insurance, based in Douglas, Georgia.

Its the fifth acquisition this year and the second in southern Georgia, PointeNorth officials said in a news release. The firm said it offers growth opportunities for agencies looking to partner with an organization that can invest in their future growth. Agents can benefit from a perpetuation strategy that may include equity, additional employment and advancement opportunities for their employees.

PointeNorth, with headquarters in Atlanta, has acquired more than 50 agencies in recent years.

McCrary-Daniels has been in business for 100 years, offering personal and commercial insurance products. Johnathan Day is an owner and Henry (Randy) Stallings Jr., is owner/managing member.

Topics Mergers & Acquisitions Georgia
Allied American USA, a national claims management firm based in Tampa, is now a designated claims administrator for Lloyds of London.

Allied, in business for more than 20 years, called the designation a prestigious milestone, allowing the firm to adjust and manage a wide range of claims for the London insurance giant. Its proprietary claims management system allows tailoring to multiple programs and data reporting needs, the company said.

CEO Joseph Jones thanked the companys business partner, Aspen Insurance, and Carey Bond, U.S. head of claims at Lloyds, for their support and guidance.

Allied was born in 2002 when several companies joined together to offer infotech, business and claims services.

Topics Claims Excess Surplus Lloyd's
A retired south Florida fire captain has been arrested for insurance fraud, charged with vastly overstating the number of nights he was forced to stay in a resort hotel while his home was under repair.

Floridas chief financial officer said in a statement Tuesday that Miguel Ferrer filed a claim in 2022 with Citizens Property Insurance Corp. after a clogged air conditioner drain line caused water damage to his home near Fort Lauderdale. Ferrer allegedly claimed living expenses for multiple nights at Windjammer Resort & Beach Club in Lauderdale-By-The-Sea, Patronis said.

Citizens examiners became suspicious and referred the case to Patronis Department of Financial Services Criminal Investigations Division. Investigators confirmed that the former fireman claimed 26 extra days at the resort and that he had falsified lodging invoices, the statement said.

The investigation also found that Ferrer was actually at a training center in Ocala at the time of his claimed stay at the hotel. His Sun Pass transponder recorded his vehicle traveling southbound from Ocala to Broward County, contradicting his claims of being at the resort, the DFS noted.

If convicted of the fraud charges, he could face up to 10 years in prison.

This case is a reminder of the serious consequences of homeowners insurance fraud, Patronis said.

Topics Florida
As lobbyists for businesses and labor groups negotiate with Gov. Gavin Newsoms administration on how to amend a unique California labor law that allows workers to sue their bosses, the two sides seem to agree on at least one puzzling reality.

The law, known as the Private Attorneys General Act, generates millions each year for a state fund reserved for enforcing state labor laws, including those against wage theft. But despite rising worker complaints of labor violations and severe understaffing hampering the state Labor Commissioners Offices response, California leaves much of the money untouched.

The money comes from the states cut of the settlements and fines that businesses pay in response to these lawsuits. For years, the fund has grown faster than lawmakers and Newsom have directed it to be spent, according to state budget documents. In 2022-23 they left $197 million in the fund unspent; the 2023-24 budget leaves $170 million.

The state draws from the fund each year for portions of the Labor Commissioners budget, as well as other agencies. And the fund has paid for some worker outreach and enforcement. Those programs include $8.6 million in recent grants to 17 local prosecutors to pursue criminal charges in wage theft cases, and a pandemic-era partnership with community groups to inform workers in 42 different languagesabout workplace rights.

But the funds single biggest use in the past five years has been to shore up the state budget. In 2020, the state borrowed $107 million from the labor fund for other uses. In April, an early budget deal between Newsom and legislative leaders allowed the state to borrow another $125 million as they sought to reduce a record shortfall.

Neither of these loans need to be repaid until at least 2027. The administration has proposed to leave $119 million in the fund unused in the 2024-25 budget its negotiating with lawmakers this month. Theyre seeking to cover the remaining $28 billion shortfall.

The funds use has frustrated businesses and labor groups alike, who say the state should spend much more of the money to help the Labor Commissioners Office hire or retain more staff needed to process a record number of workers wage theft claims.

In response to questions from CalMatters, Department of Industrial Relations spokesperson Erika Monterroza wrote in an email that the loans are not unusual during budget deficits and only come from money thats not being used. She said $7.6 million from the fund is already allocated this year to processing wage claims.

But the department has struggled to fill those new positions. A state audit released in May found the staff shortages are caused in part by a slow hiring process and salaries that are lower than some comparable state and local government jobs.

Monterroza said its out of her departments hands whether the money could be used to increase salaries or speed up hiring, saying that must be bargained with state employee unions. Newsoms office declined to comment, referring questions to the department.

The fund is also part of the negotiations between business and labor on potential changes to the Private Attorneys General Act to take a business-backed measure to repeal the law off the November ballot. Recent polling suggests voters support a legislative fix over a ballot measure. The sides face a June 27 deadline for the Legislature to approve changes.

If a deal is reached to avert the costly ballot measure, it is likely to address how to spend the enforcement fund.

The Labor Commissioners Office has hundreds of millions currently available, said Kathy Fairbanks, a spokesperson for the coalition of employers sponsoring the ballot measure. We strongly support using these funds to quickly hire and train staff to help resolve employee claims.

Between 30,000 and 40,000 workers a year file wage theft claims with the office. The state audit found chronic understaffing has led to a backlog of 47,000 cases, and the claims regularly take six times longer than the time state law allows to resolve.

Lorena Gonzalez, leader of the California Labor Federation and a former state Assemblymember, said labor groups have advocated in past budgets to allow Labor Commissioner Lilia Garcia-Brower to use the money to address the backlogs.

Obviously we have a crisis and we have been asking and pushing the Legislature and the governor to beef up spending, to hire up, Gonzalez told CalMatters. We were having a hard time getting attention. Its one of many examples that its not a priority to process wage theft claims.

The Assemblys current and former labor committee chairpersons, San Jose Democrat Ash Kalra and Hayward Democrat Liz Ortega, both declined to comment through spokespersons. Sen. Lola Smallwood-Cuevas, a Los Angeles Democrat who leads the Senate labor committee, could not be reached for comment last week.

California Chamber of Commerce CEO Jennifer Barrera also said she supported using available money to increase staff.

Still, an agreement for the state to appropriate the funds depends on broader negotiations about the scope of the PAGA law.

The two-decade-old state law allows the Labor Commissioners office to outsource the role of suing employers over alleged labor violations to private attorneys, with a worker standing in as plaintiff on behalf of the state and their coworkers. Most suits are brought over wage theft claims, according to a UCLA Labor Center report.

Business groups have pushed to repeal it for years, arguing it primarily enriches lawyers while subjecting businesses to frivolous cases over technical violations. Their ballot measure would direct cases back to the Labor Commissioners Office, where Fairbanks said workers stand to keep more money if they win individual wage theft claims.

Labor advocates say that would only worsen the backlogs at the Labor Commissioners Office, and take away an option for workers to bring workplace-wide suits against problem employers.

Gonzalez said even if the enforcement funds are spent on beefing up Labor Commissioner staff, the law should still stand. The May state audit concluded the office would need nearly 900 employees to efficiently process all wage claims. Thats almost triple the positions currently approved for the office  and a third of those are vacant.

The Labor Commissioner itself is not equipped to handle all the cases were seeing in California today, Gonzalez said. Were not fine with taking away the right of employees to sue.

Copyright 2024 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics California Fraud
A pair of businessmen were arraigned on multiple felony counts including insurance fraud, grand theft, and tax fraud after a California Department of Insurance investigation found they allegedly underreported over $29.2 million in payroll to illegally save on workers compensation insurance premium and taxes.

Ruben Perez Mireles Jr., 49, of Clovis, and his business associate, John Mena, 29, of Lemoore, operated two Kings County farm labor contracting companies, Vista Pacific Labor Solutions Inc. and Calzona Ag Management Inc.

The investigation by the Central Valley Workers Compensation Fraud Task Force reportedly found that Mireles, owner of Vista Pacific Labor Solutions, underreported $7.6 million in employee payroll to his workers comp carrier for the period of September 2019 through August 2020, resulting in a premium loss of $1.7 million.

The investigation reportedly revealed Mireles then created another farm labor contracting company, Calzona Ag Management Inc. Mireles recruited Mena and together they reportedly shifted payroll to this new company to avoid an increased assessment of the business workplace safety, which would have more than doubled the insurance premium. Together, they underreported $8.8 million in employee payroll for the period of December 2019 through December 2021, resulting in an additional premium loss of $1.8 million.

Additionally, the task force investigation found Mireles underreported $12.8 million in employee payroll to the Employment Development Department and failed to report personal income to the Franchise Tax Board. This underreporting resulted in a combined loss of roughly $3 million for unpaid tax liability, penalties, and interest. Mireles and Menas fraud scheme defrauded their insurance carries, EDD, and FTB out of over $6.5 million.

Investigators also discovered that Mireles fraudulently obtained a COVID-19 Paycheck Protection Program loan. After an investigation led by the FBI, Mireles pleaded guilty and was sentenced to one year in prison. Mireles was also in court on additional felony charges for his role in an earlier workers comp fraud scheme.

Mireles has been charged with eight felony counts including workers comp fraud, grand theft, unemployment insurance fraud and tax fraud. Mena has been charged with three felony counts of workers compensation insurance fraud and one felony count of grand theft.

The Central Valley Workers Compensation Fraud Task Force is an inter-agency anti-fraud partnership with members from the CDI, the California EDD, the California Franchise Tax Board, the Kings County District Attorneys Office, the Fresno County District Attorneys Office, the Kern County District Attorneys Office, the Madera County District Attorneys Office, the Merced County District Attorneys Office, the San Luis Obispo County District Attorneys Office, and the Tulare County District Attorneys Office.

The case is being prosecuted by Kings County District Attorney Sarah Hacker.

Topics California Fraud Workers' Compensation
Refreshed visual identity reflects expanded, modern education initiatives

Austin, TX., June 12, 2024  The National Alliance for Insurance Education & Research has changed its 55-year-old name and logo to reflect the nonprofit organizations evolution and expanded services. The insurance industrys leading professional-development resource is now the Risk & Insurance Education Alliance, or simply The Alliance.

The rebranding process launched several years ago with research and input from stakeholders, which included volunteer board members in various industry roles, including carrier executives, faculty, and agency owners and service staff. The process resulted in a new name, logo and tagline, as well as an updated website home.

The changes honor the proud partnerships weve built for decades  serving three million participants since our founding in 1969, says Eduard J. Pulkstenis, CIC, CPCU, FCAS, MAAA, chair of The Alliance Research Academy Board of Directors, and SVP and Chief Underwriting Officer of EMC Insurance. But weve also modernized our look, and our new name better reflects the growing importance of risk management in the lives of businesses and families as well as in the careers of emerging industry talent.

Alliance was retained in the nonprofit organizations name to embody its volunteer partnerships, according to William J. Hold, MBA, CRM, CISR, President & CEO of The Alliance. The new name was solidified once the word risk was added, he says.

Anyone who has talked with college students or professionals considering a career change knows the word insurance by itself does not attract much interest, Hold says. But add the word risk, and youve captured their attention. In sum, our name now represents the breadth of learning opportunities we offer and the fact that managing risk is the industrys overarching goal.

A new tagline (Own your potential) and URL (www.RiskEducation.org) are also part of the rebranding. The teams decisions were guided by The Alliances updated mission: Were excited to create professionals through practical education and technical guidance to shape the risk and insurance industry of the future, for the common good.

The .org in the website address is especially important because we want to highlight our nonprofit existence as a member-based resource, says Hold. The new website features designation and course schedules; designee directories; links to webinars and podcasts; and the recently added online subscription membership options to help people earn designations quicker, including the Certified Insurance Counselor (CIC), Certified Risk Manager (CRM), Certified Insurance Service Representative (CISR), Certified School Risk Manager (CSRM) and Certified Personal Risk Manager (CPRM).

The Alliance has introduced a new learning assistant that is based in artificial intelligence. As a nod to The Alliance, Hold says, We call her AlliBot. She is walking the walk of our participants. Shes already passed the CISR designation and is working on her CIC and CRM. AlliBot is just another way were helping our members grow into the future.

About Risk & Insurance Education Alliance: Headquartered in Austin, TX, the Risk & Insurance Education Alliance (The Alliance) provides practical education and technical guidance to individuals at all career levels in the risk management and insurance industry. Conducting over 1,900 educational programs each year, The Alliance has built a community of 53,000 active designated members and adds thousands of new designees yearly. Its Research Academy conducts and promotes practical research on all aspects of risk management and the insurance industry. Founded in 1969 by a small group of Texas independent agents along with University of Texas educators, The Alliance was the industrys first nonprofit training and continuing-education resource. For more information about The Alliance, visit www.RiskEducation.org or call 800-633-2165.

Media Contact:

Mitch Dunford

CMO

619-454-3032

mdunford@scic.com

Topics Training Development
More up-to-date information on each farmers nitrates per hectare has been promised by Agriculture Minister Charlie McConalogue.

Calculating nitrates has been complicated by many recent changes in regulations. However, inadvertently exceeding their permitted nitrates could greatly reduce a farmers profitability.

The biggest change occurred last January when more than 2,000 farmers, spread across most of the country, had to start adjusting to a 12% reduction in their permitted nitrates per hectare, from 250kg to 220kg.

The worst affected suffered a fall in profitability of as much as 30%.

Farmers are penalised if their average nitrates per hectare for the year exceed their limit (they are not required to remain under the limit every day, its the average annual figure that counts).

Penalties for exceeding limits could include intensive farmers having to operate below 170kg per hectare (likely to greatly reduce profitability), and/or the loss of some of their EU income support payments.

Calculation

Calculation of nitrates per hectare starts with the standard nitrogen excretion figure for each animal kept on the farm, compared to the number of hectares declared for EU payments.

A Nitrates Calculator on the Department of Agricultures gov.ie/nitrates website can be used to estimate a farms maximum nitrates allowance, and compare it to the livestock on the holding.

On the agfood.ie website, farmers can view the interim bovine nitrate and phosphate statements, which the Department publishes, and can add values for any non-bovines.

The departments figures depend on many factors, including the nutrient excretion rate band assigned to dairy cows on the farm for the year in question, and organic manure movements onto and off the holding, declared and verified to the department, for the period in question.

It is not possible to calculate the figures accurately until dairy excretion-rate banding has been confirmed (May 15 was the deadline for farmers to confirm 2024 dairy excretion-rate bands).

New complication

Mr McConalogue has said it is a priority of his department that nitrates-per-hectare figures be released as soon as is feasible and as regularly as possible thereafter.

My department is willing to explore further options, with the objective of improving this service to farmers. I believe this will best be done through discussion at the Agriculture Water Quality Working Group that I established last year, involving all the main farming organisations.

The data is important for the 2,000 farmers who have to adjust down from 250kg to 220kg, or under, for this year. These farmers should not delay the changes required to achieve the new, lower limit.

A new complication is the temporary lifting of the requirement on farms stocked at 130kg of N per hectare, or over, that purchased concentrate feed cannot have more than 15% protein (from April 15 to September 30, for cows full-time at grass).

To avail of this, a Fas adviser or nutritionist must sign off on a requirement for a higher crude protein concentrate. Records of purchased feed quantities and types of concentrate, including crude protein content, should be maintained for five years.

But farmers had the option to feed a lower level of crude protein to qualify for a reduced nitrogen excretion rate.

Confirmation is awaited of some changes. For example, farmers expect the current annual excretion rate of 24kg of nitrogen for the 01-year-old animal to be updated to sub-categories of 0-3 months and 4-12 months.

The maximum chemical nitrogen allowances for certain categories of grassland stocking will be reduced (by 5%, according to farmers organisations).

And the nutrient excretion rate for cattle aged 1-2 is supposed to be amended to 55kg for females and 61kg for males.

At the moment, dairy farmers do not know what their stocking level is as regards nitrates, said committee on agriculture, food, and the marine chair Jackie Cahill, when the committee recently discussed compliance with the nitrates directive.

There is banding and the level of production going with that, and now there is this allowance for the feeding of a low protein ration. You are trying to calculate where you are at, we are virtually halfway through the year, and people are going to have to make decisions. I wonder whether the co-ops can help to do the calculations.

The complication is that the department will not know if a person is feeding a low-protein ration, and what impact that is going to have. Three or 4kg of an allowance per cow will have a huge impact on a persons stocking rate.

There is a role for the co-ops in this to get information to farmers because, at the moment, they do not know.

Unfortunately, we are going to be in a quota situation at the end of the year where, if people are heading into a different band, they will have to take corrective action to keep under the 220.

Dr Sean McCarthy, sustainability and service manager, Kerry Agribusiness, told the committee it would be good if farmers guidance on a monthly basis was available in the AgFood portal, from where farmers are accustomed to seeking information.

He suggested a decision-support tool could be provided on the ICBF platform. What farmers need is a tool that will allow them to forecast on a monthly basis, where they are likely to sit and what they need to do in terms of animal numbers.

Without that information, they are going to hesitate to make that decision, and an over-correction may have to be done later in the year.

Thomas Ryan, senior sustainability manager, Tirlan, told the committee: When Teagasc appeared before the committee in March, it stated that 39 new measures relating to nitrates had been introduced in the past four years. That is 39 new measures on farms we have to get our head around and implement.

If they are not complied with, there is a risk of cross-compliance and a loss of the basic payment, Mr Ryan said.
The most memorable image of festival season 2023 was the aerial shot of the thousands of people gathered around Electric Picnics second stage, Electric Arena, under the early evening Sunday sunshine, teeming for a look at The Wolfe Tones. Yes, the hottest band of the summer, the biggest hit with the millennial crowd who sell out Electric Picnic every year, was a folk trio with a collective age of nearly 240.

Some nine months on from the show, Brian Warfield, who co-founded The Wolfe Tones in the early 1960s, says the Electric Picnic gig is up there as one of their favourite shows of all time.

I think it was a surprise to everybody. We knew there was a great surge of popularity for The Wolfe Tones with young people and everything else, because we felt it at the gigs. We knew we were going to fill the tent but we were really amazed when we saw the aerial photographs.

It might take a sociologist more than a music critic to explain their popularity in 2024. Maybe theres something about the defiance of young  when your elders are saying you shouldnt listen to something, well, what would you expect them to do?

There was a swell of criticism regarding The Wolfe Tones in the weeks following the Electric Picnic performance, including in this newspaper. Columnist Tom Dunne said fair play to them, but wrote: They are nothing like Lankum or Damien Dempsey. Its more like Phil Coulter crossed with Foster and Allen, except not as edgy. Its Ronan Keatings version of Fairytale of New York rather than The Pogues.

Mick Clifford mused: But what of the history narrative being purveyed? For one side, it is glamourising the killing engaged in by the Provos, while the other sees it as retrospective approval from todays youth. In reality, history through the songs of The Wolfe Tones is from the land neither colonised nor rebelling.

Former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern even got in on the act, saying we need to try and educate the rising population of what we just lived through for 30 years in this country.

Warfield, you imagine, lapped it all up, but even he cant quite explain the rise in popularity, bar saying that theyve always had a young crowd. I think people were amazed when they saw [us at] the Electric Picnic. And so were we. And humbled by it. Its been a very important milestone for The Wolfe Tones, and were on the main stage this year. So hopefully we can emulate that.

Thousands crowded around the Electric Arena tent in the hopes of hearing The Wolfe Tones play on the final day of Electric Picnic 2023. Picture: Aerial.ie

As he always has done down through the years, Warfield says The Wolfe Tones never called themselves a rebel band. Tommy Byrne told the 2 Johnnies last year that Gay Byrne was the first person to call them rebel songs, even though they had learned them in school  and that was only after 1969, 1970. Warfield says: People made it political, but its always been the story of Ireland. And people made it political because of the Troubles. He adds: They saw us as supporters of violence, but that wasnt the case. We were supporters for peace, and we had many peace songs. But they ignored that and looked at the political end of what we were saying.

So if he claims the crowds now arent political  the plethora of Tricolours among the various crowds is evident  were they political in the 70s and 80s?

They were accused of being so, he begins, but again demurs. The purpose of the music was to tell the story of our country and to tell the history of our land, whether it be the Cork Brigade [Rifles of the IRA] or God Save Ireland or all those songs, which meant a lot to people, A Nation Once Again.

And a lot of Irish people still had grandfathers alive who fought in the War of Independence, who fought for Ireland, gave their lives some of them, or gave their wealth, their reputation and everything else... they should have been remembered. I always remember in 1966, we did a show  Eamon de Valera was at it, it was for the 50th anniversary of the 1916 Rising. And after the show, he came up, and he said, You know, something while you guys are still going, 1916 will never be forgotten.

Warfield recalls another Taoiseach who encouraged The Wolfe Tones: Charles Haughey. He had seen them at Siamsa Cois Laoi, an annual event held at Pairc Ui Chaoimh in Cork from 1977 to 1987.

He loved The Wolfe Tones, he loved Irish music. He loved The Fureys as well. He loved all kinds of Irish ballads. He was a great fan of all the ballads and the ballad groups.

Illustrating the juggernaut that is The Wolfe Tones in their 60th year, theyre playing Musgrave Park on June 29. Of course, all 14,000 tickets are long sold out. Its their first outdoor show in the city since Siamsa Cois Laoi, when they were the only band to play all 10 shows.

Cork was one of the first places we went to outside Dublin down to Fr Matthew Hall and we built up a great following around Cork. And you know, the Rebel County has been backing the rebel group since.

Warfield recalls another show in Cork as part of a tour around the country with The Dixies.

We did a couple down in the Savoy. We had great, wild parties after that. I think Rory Gallagher used to start off the show. Wed go second and then the interval. And then The Dixies were on third. They were great, fun times. And my god, they were a great bunch and a hilarious bunch to be out with, honest to god, we had some great times down in Cork. We went to their houses, had parties. Just unforgettable times.

Were The Wolfe Tones fans of Gallagher and was he fans of them? We just respected [each other]. We used to chat about music, obviously. He was in a different field than we were and The Dixies as well were on another platform. We were folk, he was blues, and The Dixies were a showband, all things to everybody.

The Wolfe Tones.

The old showbiz cliche is to go out on a high, to leave the crowd wanting more, and thats seemingly what The Wolfe Tones, completed by Noel Nagle, are doing this year.

A trio of gigs at Dublins 3Arena, celebrating their 60th anniversary, are billed as their final gigs. Warfield says Byrne, who turned 80 in March, has been talking about finishing up for some time now. What about Warfield, is he still enjoying it at age 78? Oh, I am. Yes, absolutely. I love what I do. And its been a privilege to be able to earn a living from something that you love and enjoy. Im a songwriter, Ive written over 200 songs. Its a wonderful thing to get your music out there to the world.

So is it that they find the gigs tough now, playing for over two hours?

No, I dont find them tough at all. I think thats one of my joys is performing. I love it. I think all the lads feel that way as well. I think what got to Tommy is the travelling. He said he had lots of things to do before he kicks the bucket. So, he wants to do things before he finishes off.

Warfield also has things he wants to do, including staging a musical called Celtic Exodus, named after a solo album of his from 1999. It tells the story of the struggle to get to America during the Famine. So theyre still hard at work, playing the biggest shows of their lives, 60 years after forming. Do they have any regrets?

Very little. We lost a lot of family life. Because we did six-week, eight-week tours of America, Europe, and you miss a lot of family things. Our wives are very supportive. Were still with the same wives that we started with. Our children were neglected at times, I would say, I missed birthdays, some confirmations. I guess thats cruel. The children felt it, I felt it. Its just we were so busy at the time We all miss that and you regret that fact.

The Wolfe Tones play Musgrave Park on Saturday, June 29
Now that we are a week into the state exams and parents are exhausted from pandering to the needs of their student teenager, theyre probably thinking, Will we ever survive this as a family?

The fridge is never stocked to satisfaction, the look you gave when they came out of the exam was loaded with judgment, there isnt enough hot water for the three-hour shower required to wash the exam off, and you are speaking too loudly around the house.

I meet so many families this time of year struggling with all the pressures the exams place on them. They describe living with an easily-agitated diva. But the good news is it shall all be over soon. And life shall return to whatever version of normal your family pretends to live in.

As we meander into the second week of exams, the student in your house starts to think about the holidays that stretch out ahead of them.

They can get fatigued quite easily and turn on you like one of those innocent civilians infected in a zombie movie.

So, for this next few days, as they come to the inevitable conclusion of this particularly hard exam season, I offer some tips.

Sleep is such an important part of healthy cognition. At this time of year, when they are burnt-out and stressed, sleep is more important than ever. But it is imperative that you dont keep telling them this. The more we want sleep, the less sleep we get.

We tell ourselves, If I go to sleep, now I will get six hours; if I go now Ill get five hours. Does that sound familiar. Sleep is one of those tricky aspects of the human condition: The more you need it, the less she turns up with her soft ways.

When we lack sleep, we release cortisol, a stress hormone, that gives us false energy, only for us to collapse in a heap later. So the less talk about how much sleep is needed the better. In fact, what I say to teenagers at this time of the year is that sleep will come and go while youre doing exams, and not to worry about it when youre in a period of bad sleep. It will all average out.

I can physically see the stress lifting off their shoulders. I am normally greeted by very rested students the day after such a talk.

Most teenagers need help with their devices. The brain needs time to recover from the intensity of the exams; endlessly scrolling devices does not allow the brain to recover. In fact, it keeps it in flux, in a state of hyper activity.

This is not what your young adult needs as they navigate the incredible amount of information required to do these exams successfully. So, taking the phone out of the bedroom at night is such an important thing.

They will fight you on this: I have experienced this myself, with my own teenager rattling around my house, but I know, down the line, she will thank me for allowing her brain space to reset in the evening.

Im a glass-half-full type of guy. The devices are designed to make you go in and out of them, to be a constant consumer. This is how they generate revenue. Features such as push notifications, like button, and infinite scrolling are all there to keep you endlessly engaged with the device.

We all need time away from such features, but particularly those among us who need to be rested and focused. Nothing has impacted focus more than these devices. I hear students complaining about how diminished their concentration has become since technology enveloped their lives. They need help with this. We all do.

My final tip would be to gently help them out of getting caught in the exam post-mortem. It doesnt help the result, but actually impacts the result of the next exam. Of course, they may need a little time to process the exam they have just sat, but I would try to help them to get focused on what is coming next. I have met so many students who overly analyse what has happened in the exam, they are stressed they missed the question or answered it incorrectly, and now are unable to think about little else.

This type of analysis really isnt helpful and can actually be detrimental to the next exam. So, saying something as simple as, It sounds like you did well in that exam, now whats tomorrow? could just be the prompt they need to validate what happened and get them focused for what will happen.

Doing the Leaving Certificate is an Irish rite of passage. Like a Tayto crisp sandwich, Ballycotton potatoes, Barrys tea or a barter account, somethings are uniquely Irish.

The Leaving Cert stays with you long after the Tayto sandwich stops repeating. I only stopped dreaming about it a few years ago. Waking, panicked I hadnt studied! Nearly every one of us has come through it.

Irish streets are always drenched in brilliant sunshine for those two/three weeks.

But soon the nondescript gunmetal grey days shall return and our young adults will head off into the next phase of their wonderful lives. Parents, hang in there for the Thank you, its coming. I swear.
Dublins Rotunda Hospital refused to investigate a complaint against it by the mother of a baby who died shortly after being born there, because she had not lodged it in time, according to a report out today.

Details of the unfair refusal were given as an example of some of the most serious complaints received by the Office of the Ombudsman in 2023.

The hospital told the mother it was because the complaint had not been lodged within 12 months.

She and her partner had wanted to complain about the poor experience at the hospital during the birth.

The couple were unaware of the time limit, and explained that some of their concerns were about issues that occurred within the 12-month time scale.

According to the ombudsman, Ger Deering, they also explained that the period since the loss of their child had been very difficult for them both, and that it was difficult to pursue a complaint at the time.

Mr Deering noted there is a 12-month time period for making complaints about hospitals under the Health Act, 2024, but exceptions can be made in special circumstances. He said:

The circumstances surrounding this case was a very understandable reason as to why this couple was not in a position to pursue their concerns with the hospital.

After his involvement, the Rotunda agreed to accept the complaint.

It was one of nearly 4,500 complaints about public services made to his office.

In the report, Mr Deering said he has seen a 30% rise in the number of complaints to his office in recent years  from 3,418 in 2020, rising to 4,465 last year.

Of the latest round of complaints, he said 839 related to public bodies in the health and social care sector, compared to 790 in 2022, a 6% increase.

Another 674 complaints were about HSE services, 134 complaints were about Tusla, and 31 related to Section 38 and Section 39 bodies funded by, or providing services on behalf of, the HSE.

Complaints also included one related to an outdated appointments system in St Vincents University Hospital, Dublin.

This had led to the delayed diagnosis of a patients cancer and an important appointment for a transplant not being made. Mr Deering noted:

During a routine appointment, an abnormality was noticed by staff in St Vincents University Hospital, Dublin, and it was decided to refer Marie  not her real name  to another unit in the hospital.

On two occasions, printed referral letters went missing and Marie was not notified of her appointment.

It was only after Marie raised her concerns with the hospital that she received an appointment some eight months later.

The abnormality was discovered to be malignant.

As a result of the complaint, the hospital implemented a new internal electronic referral system. It also apologised to Marie for the failures and the difficulties she encountered.
Dublin has risen up the rankings of the worlds best student cities ahead of Miami, Washington, and Rome for the second consecutive year.

It jumped five places in the rankings in the prestigious QS Best Student Cities 2024 to rank 32 out of 160 cities.

The performance of Trinity College  whose campus recently got global attention for its starring role in Sally Rooney's Normal People  along with the city's diverse student population and lively arts scene are among the factors credited with its popularity among international students.

Dublin scored highly in desirability which gauges the safety, pollution levels, and demand, and in student ratings but rated very poorly when it came to affordability as it is one of the most expensive cities in the world for students.

Senior Vice-president of the QS, Ben Sowter, said Dublins on-campus diversity, educational quality, and immense cultural cache have contributed to glowing reviews from its current and former students surveyed by QS.

He said: Dublin offers students a vibrant and inclusive cultural experience, with its rich history, lively arts scene, and renowned hospitality making it an inviting study destination. In QS' Desirability indicator, which assesses factors such as air pollution, safety and liveability alongside student feedback, Dublin performed outstandingly, climbing five ranks.

London took the top spot, Melbourne landed in second place and Tokyo came third in the influential rankings of the worlds most student-friendly cities. Dublin was placed ahead of Barcelona (38), Brussels (50), Rome (56), Washington DC (62) and Miami (78).

The performance of Trinity College  whose campus recently got global attention for its starring role in Sally Rooney's Normal People  along with the city's diverse student population and lively arts scene are among the factors credited with its popularity among international students. File picture

Mr Sowter noted Dublin climbed five positions from the previous year. This improvement is attributed to its diverse student body and the consistent advancement of its universities across QS rankings portfolio, particularly Trinity College Dublin, he said.

Dublin is up from No. 37 in 2023 and No. 39 in 2022 on the rankings which examines affordability and desirability.

QS does not have specific data on the popular culture influence of 'Normal People' but Mr Sowter said it's clear that global exposure through media and pop culture can significantly impact perceptions. He said: "(It can) enhance an institutions appeal to international students.

Similar hypotheses have been drawn about South Korea with the rise of K-Pop and the Korean Wave, while in the UK, locations have seen major tourism booms following media exposure in hit television shows like Welcome to Wrexham and Ted Lasso.

He said it is important to consider the role played by Trinity College in Irelands literary tradition.

Ireland boasts an immense literary tradition, and Normal People, based on the book by Sally Rooney, a Trinity College Dublin alumnus, is a prime example of contemporary Irish fiction that resonates globally.

Additionally, significant recent literary works by Irish women, such as Rooney and Claire Keegan, another Trinity alumnus, have gained international acclaim. These successful alumni can enhance a university's performance in rankings, particularly in reputational and outcomes related indicators.

He added that this is reflected in the sustainability indicator used in the World University Ranking, in which University College Dublin is among the 50 best in the world.

He said an area where Dublin faced challenges to its progress in the Best Student Cities Ranking was in employer activity, which assesses job prospects in the city. "This is somewhat surprising given Ireland's strong economy and business-friendly environment in which many multinational companies have established operations.

International students

But he said Dublin's significant rise in the 2024 QS Best Student Cities Ranking reflects its growing appeal as a premier destination for higher education.

As many of the worlds established global study destinations tighten controls on inbound mobility, Dublin's universities have a unique opportunity to attract international scholars who are exploring beyond traditional names for their studies abroad.

The city's diverse student body, the excellence of institutions like Trinity College Dublin, and its rich cultural landscape contribute to its attractiveness.

In the wake of Brexit, he said Ireland's status as the only predominantly English-speaking EU country means there are no visa requirements for EU citizens and no permission is necessary to remain there after graduation.

This is undoubtedly an incentive for international students and a competitive advantage for Irish institutions. Furthermore, this advantage could grow even more significant as the UK, along with other countries, re-evaluates graduate visa rules."
Schoolgirl autism campaigner Cara Darmody is to mount a Greta Thunberg-style protest outside the Dail from next week.

The 13-year-old, who has two severely autistic brothers, is campaigning for better autism services and plans to be outside the Dail every week until the summer recess for at least one and maybe two days per week.

She had face-to-face meetings with Leo Varadkar and Micheal Martin when they were taoiseach over her campaign.

Despite meeting them to air her demands for services, she says still not enough is being done and there remain serious issues around assessment and access to services.

She is looking for needs assessments for all within months rather than the current number of years children have to wait.

Cara, from Ardfinnan, Co Tipperary, also wants autistic children to be able to access the services they need within months of their assessments, rather than years.

Under the Disability Act 2005, the HSE is legally obliged to have a childs needs assessed within six months.

However, according to the latest statistics, overdue assessments of need stood at 8,893 as of March.

Taoiseach Simon Harris said in the Dail last month he is not happy with where we are on assessment of needs.

He said this was why the Government recently announced an additional 12m last week to try to address the backlog in families waiting for an assessment of need.

Cara also wants the Government to commit to providing monthly statements on exactly how many autistic children have received a first needs assessment and how many have started accessing the services they need.

Apart from anything else, I want the Government to abide by their own laws with regard to autism and special needs, she said.

They are obliged by law to make sure someone has been assessed within six months of them having asked to be assessed but this is not happening.

Last August, Cara became the youngest person in Ireland to pass Leaving Certificate maths.

Cara Darmody with her Leaving Certificate maths results. Picture: John D Kelly.

She took both ordinary level papers at her national school in Ardfinnan, and got 97%.

It is the same mark she got when she sat Junior Certificate maths in 2022.

She sat both exams as part of her campaign to raise funds for autism services.

Cara, whose two brothers Neil and John are severely autistic, has won thousands of admirers across the country for her commitment to changing the status quo.

Throughout her campaigning, she has met senior politicians and she has also spent time in the Oireachtas, speaking to TDs and senators.

Caras father, Mark, said of his daughters forthcoming protest: Were so proud of her, and we fully support her in what she has decided to do.

"Lets see if she can get some traction with the Government.
A Kerry man has confessed to all charges against him arising out of assault on his girlfriend, hijacking her Audi A3 in in Cork and driving it dangerously to Mallow where it was only brought to a stop when a stinger device deployed by gardai disabled the car.

27-year-old Darragh Gill of Farnastack, Lisselton, County Kerry, was arraigned at Cork Circuit Criminal Court where he pleaded guilty to a total of 10 charges against him.

Defence barrister Mahon Corkery said the accused wishes to gather compensation. Judge Cormac Quinn adjourned sentencing until November 8 at Cork Circuit Criminal Court.

He admitted assault causing harm to the young woman and taking her car without her permission as well as dangerous driving and failing to remain at the scene of an incident.

Darragh Gill was granted bail on conditions at the original hearing but Det. Garda Alan Johnson objected to bail, testifying at the time: On December 6 2023, gardai responded to a call where it was reported that a woman had her white Audi A3 hijacked by a man outside OHerlihys Centra on Curraheen Road, Cork, shortly before 7pm.

The man had left the scene in the vehicle and all units were notified. The young woman had a large bump to her forehead and an ambulance was called. She was not required to attend hospital for treatment. She had bruises and lumps on her head.

She told gardai that while driving, Darragh Gill was in the vehicle with her and was intoxicated. She alleged he became aggressive with her and that she drove to the Centra where she parked outside for safety. She alleged that he punched her in the head and grabbed her hair while in the car.

A shopkeeper stated that he observed a man punching a woman in the white Audi outside the shop and he therefore proceeded to help her out of the vehicle and take her inside the shop to safety.

It is alleged he drove off in the car without her consent and hit another parked car while doing so and failed to remain at the scene. He caused damage to the car. It was all captured on CCTV.

The stolen vehicle was stopped following a pursuit in Mallow later in the night following the deployment of a stinger device. He fled the scene and was apprehended a short time later at Mallow train station.

The accused, who worked in Sweden, said during his application for bail: It is a major wake-up call.
A part-time security guard has been accused of criminal damage after a fire destroyed "priceless" and "irreplaceable" ancient mummies in the crypt at St Michan's Church in Dublin.

Christian Topiter, 38, was held in prison custody on remand pending approval of a person to stand his bail and needs 4,000 lodged in court before he can be released.

The blaze happened at around 4pm on Tuesday, and water damage is believed to have ruined five mummified remains, including an 800-year-old artefact known as 'The Crusader'. A tour guide raised the alarm after noticing smoke in the vault of the building on Church Street.

The Dublin Fire Brigade extinguished the flames before they spread to the rest of the building and made the area safe. No injuries have been reported.

Gardai arrested Christian Topiter, 38, who has used various addresses and had a Romanian travel card, and he was detained at a north Dublin station overnight.

Mr Topiter, formerly of Grand Canal House, Lower Rathmines Road, Dublin 6, was charged with causing criminal damage at St Michan's Church to mummified remains, property of Church of Ireland Archdeacon of Dublin & Vicar of St Michan's Church, David Pierpoint.

Bail proceedings

He appeared before Judge Shalom Binchy at Dublin District Court on Wednesday. Objecting to bail, Garda James Kenny told the court he was concerned the accused would commit more offences or interfere with witnesses.

The garda said there was CCTV evidence and alleged the accused was arrested shortly afterwards wearing distinct clothing. Judge Binchy heard that a witness told gardai that there was a person "locked behind gates where this incident occurred, where he would have had to forcibly enter".

The court heard that lately, Mr Topiter had been living 200 metres away in a hostel beside Merchant Quay. The officer claimed the accused said in his Garda interview that he knew people in the church, but gardai have been unable to establish a reason for the incident, "and a lack of motive gives gardai grave concerns".

Garda Kenny said historical artefacts of this nature are priceless and irreplaceable. The garda maintained that the offence was at the higher end of criminal damage offences, which could carry a maximum 10-year sentence.

The garda alleged Mr Topiter became aggressive in his interview and attempted to rip up his statement. The court heard he had not provided identification documents and gardai were not 100% satisfied with his identity or that he had ties to this jurisdiction.

No conditions, Garda Kenny said, would appease his concerns, and he asked the court to refuse bail. Cross-examined by defence solicitor John Shanley, the officer conceded that gardai had information about his client's identity but added that enquiries were also ongoing.

Mr Shanley challenged the bail objections, saying that his client had "clear ties" to Ireland and was in a four-and-a-half-year relationship with his fiancee, who attended the hearing.

He also argued that there was no evidence before the court that his client would interfere with witnesses. Mr Shanley said his client was in a stable relationship, worked as a security guard, received social welfare payments, and participated in a charity soup run.

Addressing the garda's "grave concerns" about returning to the church and committing more offences, the defence solicitor countered that contention, saying, "There was no history of that".

The garda sustained the bail objection, citing the seriousness of the case and the irrevocable damage to historical artefacts.

Pleading for bail, the defence submitted that Mr Topiter had an immigration identity card issued by gardai, was presumed innocent, and would obey conditions. The solicitor also stressed his client had no history of serious offences.

Judge Binchy noted the garda evidence but said the accused had a presumption in favour of bail, which she set in his bond of 10,000, of which 2,000 must be lodged. He must also have a 10,000 independent surety approved with a 2,000 lodgement.

Once bail has been taken up, he must stay away from St Michan's Church, not contact witnesses, provide the gardai with his address, and surrender his identification or travel documents.

The accused, who stood silently throughout the hearing, has yet to enter a plea and was granted legal aid. Judge Binchy remanded him in custody with consent to bail under the terms she outlined, to appear via video link at Cloverhill District Court next Tuesday.

The mummified remains in the crypt are believed to have been destroyed by the water that was required to put out the fire.

The other mummies date back 400 years, in addition to 'The Crusader'. A team from the Garda Technical Bureau sealed off the scene for a forensic examination, and no tours can take place until further notice.
The former Rochestown Inn is now set to be demolished to clear the way for a mixed-use development, including apartments, a bar, and a cafe.

Located on the Rochestown Road in Cork City, the development has been proposed by Niorsesa Ltd and includes provisions to demolish the former Rochestown Inn, which was damaged by fire in 2015.

A new mixed-use development ranging in height from two to four storeys will be built.

This structure includes plans for a bar and a cafe on its ground floor, with outdoor seating areas.

Overhead, there will be 12 apartments  six one-bed and six two-bed units  and a private office.

Upgrades are proposed to the footpaths and pedestrian amenities in the area, while a new cycle lane is also set to be developed.

The former Rochestown Inn was damaged by fire in 2015. Picture: Larry Cummins

Sonflour seeks to expand

Elsewhere in Cork, plans to expand a city centre restaurant have been unveiled.

Ortley Way Limited has lodged a planning application seeking permission to expand Sonflour, which is located at number 9 Castle Street, Cork.

The proposal involves the change-of-use of number 9A Castle Street, currently The Gold Reserve, from retail to restaurant.

A number of internal demolition works and changes in signage are also proposed.

Sonflour opened in 2021 and is an Italian restaurant specialising in vegetarian and vegan food.

Meanwhile in Blackpool, plans have been approved by Cork City Council to revamp a former pub.

Number 88 Great William O'Brien Street, formerly the Bridge Inn, was the subject of an application by Conclusive Developments Limited.

It now has permission to alter the three-storey pub and residential building by demolishing a rear two-storey annex and constructing a new two- storey annex.

This will include six one-bedroom apartments, and there is also a provision to change the use of the ground floor from pub to residential use too, incorporating a studio apartment.
The United States will send Ukraine another Patriot missile system, two US officials have said, answering Kyivs desperate calls for more air defences as it battles an intense Russian assault on the north-eastern region of Kharkiv.

The officials said President Joe Biden has approved the move.

It would be the second Patriot system that the US has given to Ukraine, although the Pentagon has routinely provided an undisclosed number of missiles for the system.

Other allies, including Germany, have also provided air defence systems as well as munitions for them.

The decision was first reported by the New York Times.

President Volodymyr Zelensky stands in front of a Patriot air defence missile system (Jens Buettner/dpa via AP)

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky late last month pleaded for additional US-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, Mr Zelensky 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 cause widespread 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, Mr Zelensky told a news conference in the Spanish capital.

The decision comes as defence leaders from the US, Europe and other nations prepare for their monthly meeting on Ukraines security needs. US defence secretary Lloyd Austin will host the meeting in Brussels on Thursday.

The US has routinely pressed for allies to provide air defence 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 US also is wary of giving too many away, since they are used all over the world to protect US forces and allies.

Maj Gen Pat Ryder told reporters on Monday that Ukraines need for air defences will be a topic at the meeting.
Pope Francis 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.

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.

Asked about the latest report, the Vatican's press office made reference to a statement it had issued regarding Tuesday's 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.

After the initial report of his use of the word, Corriere della Sera newspaper quoted unnamed bishops who were in the room as suggesting that the pope, as an Argentine, might not have realised that the Italian term he used was offensive.

Francis, who is 87, had been credited with making substantial overtures towards the LGBT community during his 11-year papacy. Some observers of the Vatican say his recent missteps undermine his authority and raise questions about his convictions and the reform path he has in mind for the Church.
Muslim pilgrims have been streaming into Saudi Arabias holy city of Mecca ahead of the start of the Hajj later this week, as the annual pilgrimage returns to its monumental scale.

Saudi officials say more than 1.5 million foreign pilgrims had arrived in the country by Tuesday, the vast majority by air, from across the world.

More are expected, and hundreds of thousands of Saudis and others living in Saudi Arabia will also join them when the pilgrimage officially begins on Friday.

Muslim pilgrims took part in prayers at the Grand Mosque (AP)

Saudi officials have said they expect the number of pilgrims this year to exceed 2023 levels, when more than 1.8 million people performed Hajj, approaching pre-pandemic levels.

In 2019, more than 2.4 million Muslims made the pilgrimage. Saudi authorities control the flow of pilgrims through quotas, allowing each country one pilgrim for every thousand Muslim citizens.

The pilgrims included 4,200 Palestinians from the occupied West Bank who arrived in Mecca earlier this month, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Awqaf and Religious Affairs.

Palestinians in the Gaza Strip were not able to travel to Saudi Arabia for Hajj this year, because of the eight-month war between Israel and Hamas.

The influx of visitors will rival 2023 levels, according to Saudi authorities (AP)

We are praying for Palestine to be free and (for Palestinians) to liberate their land and to be like other nations, to live in peace and not always to have war, said Ibrahim al-Hadhari, an Algerian pilgrim, as he was standing in the Grand Mosque court waiting for evening prayers.

On Tuesday, pilgrims thronged the Grand Mosque in Mecca, performing a ritual circuit walking seven times around the Kaaba, the cube-shaped structure inside the mosque that is considered Islams holiest site. They wore ihrams, two unstitched sheets of white cloth that resemble a shroud.

Many were seen carrying umbrellas against the sun, in temperatures reaching 42C during the day on Tuesday.

I was relieved when I arrived at the Al-Masjid Al-Haram and saw the Kaaba, said Rabeia al-Raghi, a Moroccan woman who came to Mecca for Hajj along with her husband and their daughter. I am very happy.

Mohammad Abdel-Baset, an Iraqi pilgrim, said he was overjoyed to perform Hajj.

Muslims are obliged to travel at least once in their lives to take part in the Hajj, if they are physically and financially able to do so (AP)

We congratulate the great crowd and thank God for gathering us from all regions, globally and not from the Arab world only, from all the global Muslim regions (who) came to the Grand Mosque, said Abdel-Baset, a lawyer from Baghdad.

At night, the vast marble court around the Kaaba was packed with the faithful, walking nearly shoulder to shoulder and often jostling with barricades set up by security forces to direct the giant flows of people in and around the Grand Mosque.

Pilgrims do the circumambulation, known as Tawaf in Arabic, upon arriving in Mecca. The large crowds circling the Kaaba will last into the Hajjs first day.

The Hajj is one of the Five Pillars of Islam (AP)

On Friday, pilgrims will move to the Mountain of Arafat for a daylong vigil, then to Muzdalifah, a rocky plain area a few miles away. In Muzdalifa, pilgrims collect pebbles to be used in the symbolic stoning of pillars representing the devil back in Mina.

One of the worlds largest religious gatherings, the Hajj is one of the Five Pillars of Islam. All Muslims are required to undertake it at least once in their lives if they are physically and financially able to do so.

Those in the Hajj view the pilgrimage as an opportunity to strengthen their faith, wipe out old sins and start anew.
President Joe Biden and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will sign a bilateral security agreement between the US and Ukraine on Thursday when they meet on the sidelines of the G7 summit.

The aim is to send a signal to Russia of American resolve over support for Kyiv, the White House said as Mr Biden headed to Italy.

National security adviser Jake Sullivan told reporters that the agreement would not commit US troops directly to Ukraines defence against Russias invasion  a red line drawn by Mr Biden, who is fearful of being drawn into direct conflict between the nuclear-armed powers.

We want to demonstrate that the US supports the people of Ukraine, that we stand with them and that well continue to help address their security needs

We want to demonstrate that the US supports the people of Ukraine, that we stand with them and that well continue to help address their security needs, Mr Sullivan said, adding this agreement will show our resolve.

Mr Sullivan called the agreement a bridge to when Ukraine is invited to join the Nato alliance  a long-term priority of Mr Zelenskyys that the allies have said will first require an end to the Russia-Ukraine war.

Mr Biden heads to the summit of the worlds leading democracies with an urgency to get big things done, including turning frozen Russian assets into billions of dollars to help Ukraine as it fights off Russian President Vladimir Putins war machine.

This years G7 summit comes three years after Mr Biden declared at his first such gathering that America was back as a global leader following the disruptions to western alliances that occurred when Donald Trump was president.

Now, there is a chance this gathering could be the final G7 for Mr Biden and other G7 leaders, depending on the results of elections this year.

President Joe Biden is heading to Italy for the G7 summit (Luis M Alvarez/AP)

Mr Biden and his counterparts from Canada, the UK, France, Germany, Italy and Japan will use the summit to discuss challenges related to the spread of artificial intelligence, migration, the Russian militarys resurgence and Chinas economic might, among other topics.

Pope Francis, Mr Zelenskyy and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan are joining the gathering at the Borgo Egnazia resort in the Puglia region of southern Italy.

The summit, which opens on Thursday, will play out after far-right parties across the continent secured gains of surprising scale in just-concluded European Union elections.

Those victories, coupled with upcoming elections in the UK, France and the US, have rattled the global political establishment and added weightiness to this years summit.

You hear this a lot when you talk to US and European officials: If we cant get this done now, whether its on China, whether its on the assets, we may not have another chance, said Josh Lipsky, senior director of the Atlantic Councils GeoEconomics Centre, an international affairs think tank.

We dont know what the world will look like three months, six months, nine months from now.
Russian forces have launched new deadly attacks on Ukraine, killing at least nine people on Wednesday, a day before the leaders of countries that are some of Ukraines biggest backers were to discuss how to slow Moscows offensive.

Ukrainian authorities said that along with the nine killed, 29 others, including five children, were wounded when Russian missiles hit an apartment block in Kryvyi Rih, which is President Volodymyr Zelenskyys hometown.

Mr Zelenskyy said the strike has again proven that Ukraine, together with its partners, must strengthen its air defences  something that he has repeatedly appealed for with Ukraines western partners.

The United States has agreed to send another Patriot missile system, two US officials said late Tuesday.

Ukraines leader has praised its air defences (AP)

Modern air defence systems are capable of providing maximum protection of people, our cities, and our positions, Mr Zelenskyy said. And we need as many of them as possible.

Earlier on Wednesday, Ukraines air force said it shot down more than two dozen air targets, including cruise missiles, a Kinzhal ballistic missile and Shahed drones. Several people were wounded, authorities said.

Kyivs outgunned and outnumbered forces are battling to hold back the bigger Russian army, which is trying to exploit Ukrainian vulnerabilities.

Ukraine has been short of troops, ammunition and air defences in recent months as the Kremlins forces try to cripple the national power supply and punch through the front line in eastern parts of the country.

Ukraine will need to weather the Russian onslaught through the summer, military analysts say, and in the meantime train more soldiers, build fortifications and hope that the provision of western military aid picks up speed so that in 2025 Kyiv may be able to mount its own offensive.

Several diplomatic events over the next few days are aimed at how to help Ukraine fend off the Russian invasion or how to bring about an end to the war.

On Thursday, US President Joe Biden and the other G7 leaders will gather in Italy for their annual summit to discuss ways to help Ukraine, including how to divert more frozen Russian assets to Kyivs defence.

Separately, the Biden administration on Wednesday said it had broadened sanctions against Russia by targeting companies that help Moscows war effort and raising the stakes for foreign financial institutions that work with sanctioned Russian entities.

The more than 300 new sanctions are largely aimed at deterring individuals and companies in countries such as China, the United Arab Emirates and Turkey from helping Moscow circumvent western blocks on obtaining key technology.

They also threaten foreign financial institutions with sanctions if they do business with almost any sanctioned Russian entity, underscoring the US view that the Kremlin has pivoted the Russian economy on to a war footing.

Mr Biden and Mr Zelenskyy will also sign a bilateral security agreement between the US and Ukraine on Thursday, when they meet on the G7 summits sidelines, the White House said.

National security adviser Jake Sullivan said the agreement would not commit US troops directly to Ukraines defence, but that it would demonstrate the US supports the people of Ukraine and serve as a bridge to when Ukraine is invited to join the Nato alliance  a long-term priority of Mr Zelenskyys that alliance members have said will first require an end to the war.

Separately, Mr Sullivan noted that Russian authorities have deported hundreds of thousands of Ukrainian civilians to Russia, including children who have been forcibly separated from their families. He cited reports of Russia listing abducted Ukrainian children on Russias adoption websites, denouncing it as despicable and appalling.

These Ukrainian children belong with their families inside Ukraine, Mr Sullivan said. Russia is waging a war not just against the Ukrainian military  but against the Ukrainian people.

Mr Putin is looking to allies such as North Korea (Sputnik Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)

While the G7 meets in Italy, defence chiefs from the US, Europe and other nations will meet on Thursday in Brussels for their monthly meeting on Ukraines security needs. US defence secretary Lloyd Austin will host the event.

And this weekend, representatives of nearly 90 countries and organisations, half from Europe, are expected to attend a summit in Switzerland aimed at charting a path to peace between Russia and Ukraine, though Russia will not be attending.

Both sides in Europes biggest conflict since the Second World War have been reaching out to friendly nations to help keep their armed forces supplied. The war has cost tens of thousands of lives on both sides, including more than 11,000 Ukrainian civilians, according to the United Nations.

While Ukraine has looked to western countries, Russian President Vladimir Putin has turned to nations such as Iran and North Korea for help. Unconfirmed reports suggested Mr Putin may soon make a third visit to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

Fighting along the roughly 620-mile front line has in recent months focused on the partly occupied Donetsk region of eastern Ukraine, where Russian forces are trying to reach the key hilltop city of Chasiv Yar and other strategic hubs.

Last month, Russian forces also launched an offensive in Ukraines north-eastern region of Kharkiv, which borders Russia. Mr Putin said he wanted to establish a buffer zone there to prevent Ukrainian cross-border attacks. The offensive drew some Ukrainian fighters away from Donetsk.

However, Russias gains have been incremental and costly.

In the Kharkiv region, Russian units have become bogged down in Vovchansk, Ukraine Commander in Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi said on Wednesday on the Telegram messaging app.
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Walmart added another perk to help reward and retain its employees. On Wednesday, it announced that it will provide a bonus program to qualify eligible hourly workers.

The bonus will encompass those working in Walmart's Vision Center and pharmacy outlets. According to a retail giant report by Reuters, the program aims to improve the compensation of approximately 700,000 frontline staffers.

Qualifiers for the bonus program are employees working both part-time and full-time, according to John Furner, the CEO of Walmart. Workers with twenty years or more of tenure will be qualified for up to a $1,000 annual bonus, while those with fewer than five years would get $350. Furner said the program will also be eligible hourly workers with at least a year of tenure, which will eventually increase with seniority.

Walmart's Bonus Restructuring Plans

Walmart's bonus program follows an announcement in January about bonus restructuring, which grants its store managers in the US up to 200% of their annual salary. In preparation for the company's upcoming annual shareholder meeting, Furner underscored the importance of upholding competitive base wages.

READ ALSO: Walmart Removing College Degree Requirements, Offers Short-Form Certificates to Fill 100,000 Internal Job Opportunities

As a retail giant, Walmart substantially influences hourly workers in the overall job market and has long been grappling with recruiting and retaining top talent within a tight and competitive labor market. The company has increased its hourly wages by approximately 30% over the past five years, making the average US hourly wage now nearing $18. Starting pay varies between $14 and $19 to date, depending on the store's location and the local market's condition.

A $1,000 bonus would make employees approximately 50 cents per hour for those working a 40-hour week, which will be roughly 3% of their annual income for full-time workers earning the average hourly pay.

Out of Walmart's 1.6 million US workers, nearly 1.5 million are hourly workers. The new bonus program will encompass roughly 700,000 hourly workers working in stores. On the other hand, store managers and supervisory levels were already eligible for a separate bonus program, which was disbursed in March following the conclusion of the company's fiscal year at the end of January. Walmart also revealed earlier this year that it increased the average pay of its store managers from $117,000 to $128,000, marking a rise of just over 9%.

The Tight Labor Market Giving Positive Effect

According to the US Labor Department's April jobs report, the labor market continues to be tight, falling below 4% for the first time in almost three consecutive years. Meanwhile, Walmart has observed its turnover rate declining among store workers, which Furner suggested is a positive retention rate within the company.

Walmart also introduced an Associate to Technician, a certification program aside from the bonus program, to help workers in areas such as refrigeration and cooling maintenance, facilities maintenance, and automation technician positions transition to much higher-paying positions, with identified staff shortages.

RELATED ARTICLE: Walmart-Owned One Gears to Become A Financial Superapp, Pushes Buy Now, Pay Later Scheme

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Many Chicago workers will receive a midsummer salary boost, as the yearly incremental rise in the hourly minimum wage and the introduction of a new paid time off policy will kick in at the beginning of the following month, alongside other initiatives.

Minimum Wage Increase in Chicago

Mayor Brandon Johnson's office announced the minimum wage increase, the Paid Leave and Paid Sick and Safe Leave Ordinance to commence by July 1. Chicago's hourly minimum wage will increase from $15.80 to $16.20 for businesses with 21 or more employees and from $15 to $16.20 for those with 20 or fewer employees, eliminating the tiered structure for large and small businesses.

The hourly minimum wage has been annually adjusted based on shifts in the Consumer Price Index or a maximum of 2.5% since its rise to $15 in 2021, as outlined by Mayor Johnson's office. Moreover, there will be a subsidy for youth programs regarding the hourly minimum wage, establishing it at $15 for subsidized transitional employment programs.

The One Fair Wage Ordinance

Under the One Fair Wage ordinance, the tipped wage credit for tipped workers will be gradually eliminated over five years.

Tipped workers, including restaurant servers, bartenders, and bussers, who presently earn an hourly minimum wage of $11.02, will experience an annual increase of 8% until it aligns with the city's standard minimum wage by July 1, 2028.

Moreover, the Chicago Paid Leave and Paid Sick and Safe Leave ordinance, initially approved in November 2023, will also come into force on July 1, where all Chicago workers who clock at least 80 hours within any 120 days will be entitled to up to five days of paid leave and five days of paid sick leave.

READ ALSO: California's Fast Food Chains Resort to Price Increase After Employee Minimum Wage Hike Takes Effect

The paid leave stipulations outline the following:

Employees accrue paid leave at a one-hour rate for every 35 hours worked, with a maximum accumulation of 40 hours over 12 months.

Employees must be allowed to use accrued paid leave within 90 days of starting their employment.

If paid leave is not initially provided, employees have the option to carry over up to 16 hours of accrued leave between 12-month periods.

Employees can use up their paid leave accruals for whatever reason.

The paid sick and safe leave stipulations outline the following:

Employees accumulate sick leave at a rate of one hour for every 35 hours worked, up to a maximum of 40 hourswithin 12 months.

Employees are required to be permitted to utilize accrued sick leave no later than the 30th day following the commencement of their employment.

Employees have the option to carry over up to 80 hours of accrued sick leave between 12-month periods.

Employees are allowed to use paid sick leave for both medical and safety-related reasons.

Starting on July 1, the Fair Workweek Ordinance will also incorporate updated compensation metrics.

Employees fall under the ordinance's coverage if they are employed in one of the seven designated "covered" industries, which encompass the following:

Building services

Health care

Hotels

Manufacturing

Restaurants

Retail

Warehouse services

To be covered under the ordinance, employees must earn $31.85 per hour or less or earn $61,149.35 per year or less, and their employer must have at least 100 employees globally. For restaurants, there must be a minimum of 250 employees and 30 locations in operation to fall under the ordinance's coverage. The ordinance also mandates that certain employers offer workers predictable work schedules and compensation for changes.

RELATED ARTICLE: Michigan's Strongly Supported $15 Minimum Wage Hike Faces Hurdles, Barred from November Ballot

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A judge affirmed safety fines against United Airlines stemming from a 2021 incident where an employee lost five toesafter being run over by an aircraft's tire.

The 2021 Jet-Towing Incident

A technician employed by United Airlines at Newark Liberty International Airport suffered a crushed right foot by a 737 aircraft, which weighs over 50 tons, during work with towing crews in 2021. The employee required hospitalization, and five of their toes were amputated as a result, prompting the Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration's (OSHA) investigation.

OSHA Holding United Airlines Accountable

OSHA put forward a penalty of $14,502, the maximum allowed under federal law. United Airlines exercised its right to challenge the decision before the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission (OSHRC), which affirmed OSHA's findings.

United Airlines appealed this decision, leading the matter to be brought before a judge. They argued that the injuries resulted from employee misconduct, specifically violating tow safety rules. However, the federal administrative law judge upheld the OSHA decision and concluded that United Airlines had not adequately implemented measures to safeguard workers from hazards during towing operations. While acknowledging routine violations of tow safety rules, the judge found fault with the airline's failure to take appropriate corrective actions.

The Negligence on Safety Procedure Ruling

The judge's ruling subjected United Airlines' technicians to significant struck-by and crushed-by hazards. It rejected the company's argument of employee misconduct, pointing out that its failure to address violations of tow-safety rules played a role in the incident. The decision permits the Occupational Safety & Hazard Administration (OSHA) to impose $14,502 in fines on United Airlines for the incident.

A Push for Safety Procedure Regulation

In a statement, OSHA Area Director Joseph Czapik in Parsippany emphasized that towing a 50-ton jet is widely acknowledged as a hazardous and well-known risk within the airline industry and that United Airlines could have prevented an employee from sustaining a severe injury if the company had only adhered to its safety protocols.

READ ALSO: Boeing Slaps Back at Whistleblower's Complaint, Defends 787 Dreamliner Against Aircraft's Structural Safety

Regional Solicitor Jeffrey S. Rogoff emphasized in a statement that towing an airplane is undeniably hazardous work even if an OSHA standard does not directly regulate it. United Airlines was responsible for failing to enforce its safety procedures for this perilous operation, as demonstrated by their case and confirmed by the judge.

Another Aircraft's Tire Complications

A United Airlines aircraft initiated an emergency landing on Thursday after one of its tires dislodged during takeoff. The plane, en route to Japan, was rerouted to Los Angeles following the precarious incident, which transpired during departure from San Francisco.

According to ABC News, the aircraft reportedly experienced a partial loss of its landing gear around 11:35 a.m. Video footage of the event depicts the plane shedding one of its six tires on the left side shortly after takeoff. Debris from the incident damaged several vehicles in the airport's employee parking lot. Fortunately, no injuries among individuals in the vicinity of the runway have been reported.

RELATED ARTICLE: Boeing Intensifying its Quality, Safety, Compliance Efforts, Receives 500% Upsurge in Speak Up Reporting

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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

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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

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Waffle House intends to implement pay raises for servers at its nationwide restaurants within the next three years. Following a year-long campaign by labor advocates, some workers may receive increases of a few dollars per hour.

Waffle House Workers' Minimum Wage Sentiments

Waffle House operates 2,000 restaurant locations throughout the United States, with a focus primarily on the Southern and Midwestern regions. Restaurant employees often receive a low tipped minimum wage supplemented by tips. In Georgia, for example, Waffle House workers may receive less than $3 per hour directly from the company, relying on tips to surpass the standard minimum wage of $7.25.

Under the proposed pay plan, servers' direct wages from Waffle House would increase, while workers' receipt of tips would not change. In the video, Rogers emphasized the importance of maintaining the traditional gratuity system, stating that it would be impractical to transition to service charges instead of tips.

Staffers Winning Wage Increase Over Labor Protests

In a video reviewed by HuffPost, CEO Joe Rogers III conveyed to employees that the wage enhancements would impact every salesperson at Waffle House, elaborating that these increases would be financed through menu price adjustments, specifically targeting stores in regions with elevated living expenses. The base pay would increase to a minimum of $3 per hour starting in June, with gradual increments leading to at least $5.25 per hour by June 2026.

READ ALSO: Chicago's Midsummer Raise: Minimum Wage, New Time Off Policies Slated to Take Effect on July 1

Rogers clarified that the base pay increase does not incorporate workers' tips and may vary based on minimum wage regulations in certain states. He further explained that wage growth may be more gradual in rural areas than urban markets and that the company also plans to introduce tenure bonuses and premiums for employees working late shifts.

Union of Southern Service Workers' Year-Long Protests

The wage increases coincide with a period when certain Waffle House employees voiced their challenges in meeting basic expenses due to the low pay.

Servers from a Conyers, Georgia, location affiliated with the Union of Southern Service Workers have taken strike action and presented petitions to management, advocating for increased wages, round-the-clock restaurant security, and an end to the company's meal policy of deducting $3.15 per day from employees' paychecks, regardless of whether they consume them during their shifts.

The group has also petitioned the Department of Labor to examine the meal deductions.

Katie Giede, a Waffle House server based in Atlanta, expressed that the wage increases indicate the company is under pressure and emphasized that they are determined to continue organizing and advocating until their desired wage of $25 per hour is achieved.

In an interview, Cindy Smith, one of the workers involved, expressed her satisfaction with the announcement and anticipated a wage increase of $3 per hour or higher. With 30 years of service at the company, she revealed that she currently earns $2.92 per hour before tips. Even with the raise, Smith anticipates that she will continue to struggle and barely manage to afford groceries for herself and her son. At 50, Smith views the raise as a victory but acknowledges that it lacks adequate support.



RELATED ARTICLE: California's Fast Food Chains Resort to Price Increase After Employee Minimum Wage Hike Takes Effect

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Lucid, Inc., an electric vehicle manufacturer, is urged by the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) to cease practices allegedly violating federal labor statutes, as requested in the US District Court in Arizona.

Lucid Motors' Anti-Union Efforts

The injunction, filed under the National Labor Relations Act, safeguards employees' rights to unionize and engage in collective bargaining. It accuses Lucid of initiating a multifaceted campaign in early 2023 to suppress legally protected unionizing endeavors.

The filing also claims that Lucid terminated two employees who were heavily involved in activities aimed at forming a union at a facility in Casa Grande, which is against the law.

NLRB Urging Arizona Court to Interfere

An attorney representing the National Labor Relations Board is urging an Arizona judge to reinstate the two former employees, who Lucid Motors purportedly dismissed for their unionization efforts at the company's plant. While a hearing before the judge is slated for October 9, Tucker Bingham, the NLRB attorney, asserted in a recent filing that the court's failure to act promptly would unfairly prevent the workers' attempts to join the United Auto Workers.

In the June 6 filing, Bingham emphasized that enforcing a final National Labor Relations Board Order typically takes years, potentially rendering the employees' campaign irreparable by that time. To safeguard the workers' rights and uphold the Board's remedial authority, Bingham requested the court issue a preliminary injunction compelling the respondent to provide interim reinstatement.

READ ALSO: Tesla Confronting Wage Law Violations, Faces Class-Action Lawsuit from California Workers Demanding $5M in Damages

Should the two employees, Amie Hansen and Chad Brewer, regain their positions, they could potentially revive their organizing efforts supported by the UAW at Lucid's Casa Grande, Arizona, facility. While a successful outcome at Lucid may represent a modest win for the UAW, which primarily targets larger, well-established automakers' US plants, it could hold greater significance for Lucid and its roughly 6,100 remaining employees, where approximately 2,500 are employed at or in proximity to the Casa Grande plant, as reported by AZ Central.

Lucid's Terminated Employees

The NLRB's court filing reveals that Hansen and Brewer initiated efforts to form a bargaining unit under the UAW in January 2023. The following month, they were allegedly terminated unlawfully as retaliation and filed a complaint with the NLRB, which acts as a federal arbiter in labor disputes, shortly thereafter.

Lucid claims they falsified timecards. A spokesperson for the company asserted to The Detroit News that Lucid respects employees' rights under the National Labor Relations Act to choose or refuse union representation and did not interfere with these rights in any manner. The spokesperson further stated that Lucid lawfully separated the employees due to violations of company policy.

The statement also expressed confidence that the National Labor Relations Board has no grounds to seek an injunction in federal court, reiterating its commitment to adhering to the law and safeguarding employees' rights to make decisions without facing harassment, threats, or coercion.

RELATED ARTICLE: Tesla Restricting Tech Usage at Buffalo, Faces an NLRB Complaint Over Infringement of Employees' Rights

 2017 Jobs & Hire All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Ann Arbor (Informed Comment)  The children of Gaza do not care. They do not care about US Secretary of State Tony Blinkens posturing on the UN Security Council demand for an immediate ceasefire. They do not care that Hamas says it accepts the resolution. They do not care that Israels far right extremist government rejects it.

Their severe lack of interest in geopolitics is only matched by their hunger for actual concrete food aid. And if they do not get it, they will take revenge on the adults by dying. Some 3,000 likely candidates for starvation have been identified by UNESCO.

The only thing that can stop them from dropping dead, their little bodies emaciated, is a ceasefire. The leader of Israels fascist government, the war criminal Benjamin Netanyahu, rejects such a ceasefire.

Listen to Janez Lenarcic, Commissioner for Crisis Management on the European Commissions Directorate-General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations:

The vast majority of the population of the Gaza strip is fully dependent on humanitarian aid. Despite all the efforts of humanitarian actors over the past eight months, often at great risk to themselves, the amount of aid allowed into Gaza has fallen to unacceptably low levels. A ceasefire is desperately needed to deliver life-saving aid to those in need and to secure the release of the hostages. The vital work of the United Nations agency staff, which has been under attack in this crisis as rarely before in history, needs to be protected and facilitated.

UNICEF Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa Adele Khodr concurs: Horrific images continue to emerge from Gaza of children dying before their families eyes due to the continued lack of food, nutrition supplies, and the destruction of healthcare services.

Malnourished children are at special risk of sickening from disease or polluted water, and the Strip is only getting 25% the amount of potable water it received before Oct. 7.

The World Food Program, headed by Cindy McCain, said that her organizations warehouses had been hit by the Israeli military despite the WFP providing the Israelis with their coordinates.

She implied that the use of the American militarys pier in the botched Israeli hostage rescue that left 274 Palestinians dead and may have killed 3 other Israeli hostages has caused the WFP to cease trying to distribute aid from the pier because her organization is afraid it will come under attack. She reiterated that her organizations field workers had seen clear signs of famine in North Gaza, rejecting Israeli government attacks on her and refuting Tel Avivs propaganda that there is plenty of food.

Face the Nation Video: Famine could happen in south of Gaza amid Israel-Hamas war, Cindy McCain says

The Israeli assault in mid-May on Rafah, to which it had expelled over a million Palestinians, cut off crucial food supplies to some 3,800 children in southern Gaza, about 75% of whom are now in danger of starving to death. Severe malnutrition among minors has sky-rocketed in southern Gaza, according to aid NGOs on the ground, who are forwarding their concerns urgently to UNESCO.

Emergency aid stations have been set up to stabilize the health of these malnourished children, but only two are still able to carry out their mission.

Khodr warned, Unless treatment can be quickly resumed for these 3,000 children, they are at immediate and serious risk of becoming critically ill, acquiring life-threatening complications, and joining the growing list of boys and girls who have been killed by this senseless, man-made deprivation.

UNICEF explains, Treating a child for acute malnutrition typically takes six to eight weeks of uninterrupted care and requires special therapeutic food, safe water, and other medical support.

At a joint Egyptian-Jordanian conference on the Dead Sea, Martin Griffiths, UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs & Emergency Relief Coordinator, underlined the pressing need for an immediate ceasefire: There was a unanimous horror at the vast toll of death, injury[,] destruction, displacement, serial displacement, trauma and deprivation suffered by the people of Gaza in just nine months, as well as the horrendous toll on humanitarian, and including United Nations, workers, of course, from UNRWA in particular, which exceeded the death toll across the whole world in the past 12 years combined.

How to avert further catastrophes? He said that the working group in which he participated stressed the need for these immediate measures to facilitate the delivery of aid: number one, a functioning mechanism for operational coordination and notification; number two, full access for basic equipment for safety and security of humanitarian staff; number three, passable roads and clearance of explosive ordnance; number four, unimpeded passage to distribute aid and access communities across Gaza; and finally, sufficient and predictable flows of fuel and prioritized aid, if you wouldnt mind.

If you want to know what the humanitarian situation inside Gaza is, just reverse engineer all his demands.
( Tomdispatch.com )  On a warm evening almost a decade ago, I sat under the stars with Daniel Ellsberg while he talked about nuclear war with alarming intensity. He was most of the way through writing his last and most important book, The Doomsday Machine: Confessions of a Nuclear War Planner. Somehow, he had set aside the denial so many people rely on to cope with a world that could suddenly end in unimaginable horror. Listening, I felt more and more frightened. Dan knew what he was talking about.

After working inside this countrys doomsday machinery, even drafting nuclear war plans for the Pentagon during President John F. Kennedys administration, Dan Ellsberg had gained intricate perspectives on what greased the bureaucratic wheels, personal ambitions, and political messaging of the warfare state. Deceptions about arranging for the ultimate violence of thermonuclear omnicide were of a piece with routine falsehoods about American war-making. It was easy enough to get away with lying, he told me: How difficult is it to deceive the public? I would say, as a former insider, one becomes aware: its not difficult to deceive them. First of all, youre often telling them what they would like to believe  that were better than other people, were superior in our morality and our perceptions of the world.

Dan had made history in 1971 by revealing the top-secret Pentagon Papers, exposing the constant litany of official lies that accompanied the U.S. escalation of the Vietnam War. In response, the government used the blunderbuss of the World War I-era Espionage Act to prosecute him. At age 41, he faced a possible prison sentence of more than 100 years. But his trial ended abruptly with all charges dismissed when the Nixon administrations illegal interference in the case came to light in mid-1972. Five decades later, he reflected: Looking back, the chance that I would get out of 12 felony counts from Richard Nixon was close to zero. It was a miracle.

That miracle enabled Dan to keep on speaking, writing, researching, and protesting for the rest of his life. (In those five decades, he averaged nearly two arrests per year for civil disobedience.) He worked tirelessly to prevent and oppose a succession of new American wars. And he consistently gave eloquent public support as well as warm personal solidarity to heroic whistleblowers  Thomas Drake, Katharine Gun, Daniel Hale, Matthew Hoh, Chelsea Manning, Edward Snowden, Jeffrey Sterling, Mordechai Vanunu, Ann Wright, and others  who sacrificed much to challenge deadly patterns of official deceit.

Unauthorized Freedom of Speech

Dan often spoke out for freeing WikiLeaks publisher Julian Assange, whose work had revealed devastating secret U.S. documents on Americas wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. At the end of a visit in June 2015, when they said goodbye inside Ecuadors embassy in London, I saw that both men were on the verge of tears. At that point, Assange was three years into his asylum at that embassy, with no end in sight.

Secretly indicted in the United States, Assange remained in the Ecuadorian embassy for nearly four more years until London police dragged him off to prison. Hours later, in a radio interview, Dan said: Julian Assange is the first journalist to be indicted. If he is extradited to the U.S. and convicted, he will not be the last. The First Amendment is a pillar of our democracy and this is an assault on it. If freedom of speech is violated to this extent, our republic is in danger. Unauthorized disclosures are the lifeblood of the republic.

Unauthorized disclosures were the essence of what WikiLeaks had published and what Dan had provided with the Pentagon Papers. Similarly, countless exposes about U.S. government war crimes became possible due to the courage of Chelsea Manning, and profuse front-page news about the governments systematic violations of the Fourth Amendment resulted from Edward Snowdens bravery. While gladly publishing some of their revelations, major American newspapers largely refused to defend their rights.

Such dynamics were all too familiar to Dan. He told me that the attitude toward him of the New York Times, which won a Pulitzer Prize with its huge Pentagon Papers scoop, was akin to a district attorneys view of a snitch  useful but distasteful.

In recent times, Dan detested the smug media paradigm of Ellsberg good, Snowden bad. So, he pushed back against the theme as rendered by New Yorker staff writer Malcolm Gladwell, who wrote a lengthy piece along those lines in late 2016. Dan quickly responded with a letter to the editor, which never appeared.

The New Yorker certainly could have found room to print Dans letter, which said: I couldnt disagree more with Gladwells overall account. The letter was just under 300 words; the Gladwell piece had run more than 5,000. While promoting the Ellsberg good, Snowden bad trope, the New Yorker did not let readers know that Ellsberg himself completely rejected it:

Each of us, having earned privileged access to secret information, saw unconstitutional, dangerously wrong policies ongoing by our government. (In Snowdens case, he discovered blatantly criminal violations of our Fourth Amendment right to privacy, on a scale that threatens our democracy.) We found our superiors, up to the presidents, were deeply complicit and clearly unwilling either to expose, reform, or end the wrongdoing. Each of us chose to sacrifice careers, and possibly a lifetimes freedom, to reveal to the public, Congress, and the courts what had long been going on in secret from them. We hoped, each with some success, to allow our democratic system to bring about desperately needed change. The truth is there are no whistleblowers, in fact no one on earth, with whom I identify more closely than with Edward Snowden. Here is one difference between us that is deeply real to me: Edward Snowden, when he was 30 years old, did what I could and should have done  what I profoundly wish I had done  when I was his age, instead of 10 years later.

As he encouraged whistleblowing, Dan often expressed regret that he hadnt engaged in it sooner. During the summer of 2014, a billboard was on display at bus stops in Washington, D.C., featuring a quote from Dan  with big letters at the top saying DONT DO WHAT I DID. DONT WAIT, followed by until a new war has started, dont wait until thousands more have died, before you tell the truth with documents that reveal lies or crimes or internal projections of costs and dangers. You might save a wars worth of lives. Two whistleblowers who had been U.S. diplomats, Matthew Hoh and Ann Wright, unveiled the billboard at a bus stop near the State Department.

A Grotesque Situation of Existential Danger

Above all, Daniel Ellsberg was preoccupied with opposing policies that could lead to nuclear war. No policies in human history have more deserved to be recognized as immoral. Or insane, he wrote in The Doomsday Machine. The story of how this calamitous predicament came about and how and why it has persisted for over half a century is a chronicle of human madness.

Its fitting that the events set for Daniel Ellsberg Week (ending on June 16th, the first anniversary of when Dan passed away) will include at least one protest at a Northrop Grumman facility. That company has a $13.3 billion contract to develop a new version of an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), which  as Dan frequently emphasized  is the most dangerous of all nuclear weapons. He was eager to awaken Congress to scientific data about nuclear winter and the imperative of shutting down ICBMs to reduce the risks of nuclear war.

Five years ago, several of us from the Institute for Public Accuracy hand-delivered paperbacks of The Doomsday Machine  with a personalized letter from Dan to each member of the House and Senate  to all 535 congressional offices on Capitol Hill. I am concerned that the public, most members of Congress, and possibly even high members of the Executive branch have remained in the dark, or in a state of denial, about the implications of rigorous studies by environmental scientists over the last dozen years, Dan wrote near the top of his two-page letter. Those studies confirm that using even a large fraction of the existing U.S. or Russian nuclear weapons that are on high alert would bring about nuclear winter, leading to global famine and near extinction of humanity.

Dans letter singled out the urgency of one immediate step in particular: to eliminate entirely our redundant, vulnerable, and destabilizing land-based ICBM force. Unlike air-launched and sea-based nuclear weapons, which are not vulnerable to attack, the ICBMs are vulnerable to a preemptive strike and so are poised to launch on the basis of ten-minute warning signals that may be  and have been, on both sides  false alarms, which press leadership to use them or lose them.

As Dan pointed out, It is in the power of Congress to decouple the hair-trigger on our system by defunding and dismantling the current land-based Minuteman missiles and rejecting funding for their proposed replacements. The same holds for lower-yield weapons for first use against Russia, on submarines or in Europe, which are detonators for escalation to nuclear winter.

In essence, Dan was telling members of Congress to do their job, with the fate of the earth and its inhabitants hanging in the balance:

This grotesque situation of existential danger has evolved in secret in the almost total absence of congressional oversight, investigations, or hearings. It is time for Congress to remedy this by preparing for first-ever hearings on current nuclear doctrine and options, and by demanding objective, authoritative scientific studies of their full consequences including fire, smoke, nuclear winter, and famine. Classified studies of nuclear winter using actual details of existing attack plans, never yet done by the Pentagon but necessarily involving its directed cooperation, could be done by the National Academy of Sciences, requested and funded by Congress.

But Dans letter was distinctly out of sync with Congress. Few in office then  or now  have publicly acknowledged that such a grotesque situation of existential danger really exists. And even fewer have been willing to break from the current Cold War mindset that continues to fuel the rush to global annihilation. On matters of foreign policy and nuclear weapons, the Congressional Record is mainly a compendium of arrogance and delusion, in sharp contrast to the treasure trove of Dans profound insights preserved at Ellsberg.net.

Humanism and Realism to Remember

Clear as he was about the overarching scourge of militarism embraced by the leaders of both major parties, Dan was emphatic about not equating the two parties at election time. He understood that efforts like Green Party presidential campaigns are misguided at best. But, as he said dryly, he did favor third parties  on the right (the more the better). He knew what some self-described progressives have failed to recognize as the usual reality of the U.S. electoral system: right-wing third parties help the left, and left-wing third parties help the right.

Several weeks before the 2020 election, Dan addressed voters in the swing state of Michigan via an article he wrote for the Detroit Metro Times. Appearing under a headline no less relevant today  Trump Is an Enemy of the Constitution and Must Be Defeated  the piece said that its now of transcendent importance to prevent him from gaining a second term. Dan warned that were facing an authoritarian threat to our democratic system of a kind weve never seen before, making votes for Joe Biden in swing states crucial.

Dans mix of deep humanism and realism was in harmony with his aversion to contorting logic to suit rigid ideology. Bad as current realities were, he said, it was manifestly untrue that things couldnt get worse. He had no intention of ignoring the very real dangers of nuclear war or fascism.

During the last few months of his life, after disclosing a diagnosis of inoperable pancreatic cancer, Dan reached many millions of people with an intensive schedule of interviews. Journalists were mostly eager to ask him about events related to the Pentagon Papers. While he said many important things in response to such questions, Dan most wanted to talk about the unhinged momentum of the nuclear arms race and the ominous U.S. frenzy of antagonism toward Russia and China lacking any sense of genuine diplomacy.

While he can no longer speak to the world about the latest developments, Dan Ellsberg will continue to speak directly to hearts and minds about the extreme evils of our time  and the potential for overcoming them with love in action.

A free documentary film premiering now, A Common Insanity: A Conversation with Daniel Ellsberg About Nuclear Weapons, concludes with these words from Dan as he looks straight at us: Can humanity survive the nuclear era? We dont know. I choose to act as if we have a chance.

Copyright 2024 Norman Solomon

Via Tomdispatch.com
North Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - June 12, 2024) - Lion One Metals Limited (TSXV: LIO) (OTCQX: LOMLF) (ASX: LLO) ("Lion One" or the "Company") is pleased to report significant new high-grade gold results from Zone 5 infill and grade control drilling at its 100% owned Tuvatu Alkaline Gold Project in Fiji.

Assay results are presented here for infill and grade control drilling in the Zone 5 area of Tuvatu. Drill results include multiple bonanza grade gold assays such as 750.05 g/t, 315.46 g/t, 167.55 g/t, 134.10 g/t, 132.29 g/t, 126.84 g/t, and 120.8 g/t (see Table 1 below). These results are all located proximal to underground development in the near-surface portion of the mine. Drilling was focused on the up-dip, down-dip, and southern areas of the UR2 and URW3 lodes. These areas are targeted for mining within the next 12 months. The headline intercept of 97.46 g/t gold over 3.3 m is currently under development for extraction. Previous drill results from the Zone 5 area are available in the June 5, 2024, December 13, 2023, November 2, 2023, and August 10, 2023 news releases.

Top New Drill Results:

97.46 g/t Au over 3.3 m (including 750.05 g/t Au over 0.3 m) (TGC-0208, from 82.8 m depth)

(including 750.05 g/t Au over 0.3 m) (TGC-0208, from 82.8 m depth) 54.70 g/t Au over 1.8 m (including 134.10 g/t Au over 0.3 m) (TGC-0187, from 100.5 m depth)

(including 134.10 g/t Au over 0.3 m) (TGC-0187, from 100.5 m depth) 79.64 g/t Au over 1.2 m (including 315.46 g/t Au over 0.3 m) (TGC-0191, from 75 m depth)

(including 315.46 g/t Au over 0.3 m) (TGC-0191, from 75 m depth) 42.11 g/t Au over 1.5 m (including 95.33 g/t Au over 0.3 m) (TGC-0204, from 117.2 m depth)

(including 95.33 g/t Au over 0.3 m) (TGC-0204, from 117.2 m depth) 167.55 g/t Au over 0.3 m (TGC-0188, from 60.3 m depth)

*All drill intersects are downhole lengths, 3.0 g/t cutoff. See Table 1 for additional data

Figure 1. Location of the Zone 5 drilling reported in this news release. Left image: Plan view of Tuvatu showing Zone 5 drillholes in relation to the mineralized lodes at Tuvatu, shown in grey. Yellow dashed square represents the area shown in the right image. Right image: Oblique view of Zone 5 drilling looking approximately northeast.

Table 1. Highlights of composited grade control and infill drill results in the Zone 5 area. Composites are calculated using a 3 g/t Au cutoff with maximum internal dilution intervals of 1 m at <3 g/t Au. For full results see Table 3 in the appendix.

Hole ID From (m) To (m) Width (m) Au (g/t) TGC-0208 82.8 86.1 3.3 97.46 including 84.0 84.9 0.9 336.39 which includes 84.0 84.3 0.3 126.84 and 84.3 84.6 0.3 750.05 and 84.6 84.9 0.3 132.29 TGC-0187 100.5 102.3 1.8 54.70 including 100.5 100.8 0.9 106.92 which includes 100.8 101.1 0.3 65.87 and 101.1 101.4 0.3 134.10 and 101.4 101.7 0.3 120.80 TGC-0191 75.0 76.2 1.2 79.64 including 75.9 76.2 0.3 315.46 TGC-0204 117.2 118.7 1.5 42.11 including 118.1 118.4 0.3 95.33 TGC-0188 60.3 60.6 0.3 167.55 TGC-0207 44.1 47.1 3.0 16.69 including 44.1 44.7 0.6 34.54 and 44.7 45.6 0.9 26.98 TGC-0183 122.6 123.2 0.6 66.95 TGC-0183 109.1 112.4 3.3 11.78 including 112.1 112.4 0.3 42.50 TGC-0188 123.7 127.6 3.9 9.10 including 123.7 124.0 0.3 19.57 and 125.2 125.5 0.3 23.22 and 126.1 126.4 0.3 36.52 and 127.0 127.3 0.3 20.05 TGC-0183 53.3 53.9 0.6 54.67 TGC-0203 40.5 41.7 1.2 21.38 including 40.5 41.1 0.6 38.99 TGC-0189 130.2 131.1 0.9 26.79 including 130.2 130.5 0.3 71.60

*All drill intersects are downhole lengths

Zone 5 Drilling

The Zone 5 area of Tuvatu is located along the main decline and includes the principal north-south oriented lodes (UR1 to UR3), the principal northeast-southwest oriented lodes (UR4 to UR8), and several of the western lodes (URW2, URW2A, URW3). These lodes are steeply dipping structures that converge at approximately 500 m depth to form Zone 500, which is the highest-grade part of the deposit and is interpreted to be the feeder zone at Tuvatu. The system remains open at depth with the deepest high-grade intersects occurring below 1000 m depth.

The drilling reported in this news release targeted the near-surface portions of the UR2 and URW3 lodes. These areas are scheduled to be mined throughout the next 12 months. Drilling was focused on the up-dip, down-dip, and southern areas of the UR2 and URW3 lodes, and targeted a 280 m strike length of the UR2 and URW3 lodes. The current total strike length of the UR2 lode is approximately 620 m, while that of the URW3 lode is approximately 330 m. Both lodes remain open along strike and at depth. The southern drillholes reported here are the southernmost underground infill drillholes completed by Lion One and represent a new area of infill and grade control drilling at Tuvatu (Figure 3).

The headline drill intercept for this news release, 3.3 m at 97.46 g/t, has been intersected by an airleg rise. A sub-level is being established in this area to facilitate extraction over the coming months. This intercept includes a very high-grade sub-interval of 0.9 m at 336.39 g/t. The purpose of the current Zone 5 infill and grade control drill program is to enhance the mine model and inform stope design in advance of mining in the target areas. Highlights of the Zone 5 drilling reported here are shown in Figure 2 and Figure 3.

Figure 2. Zone 5 up-dip and down-dip drilling with high-grade intersects highlighted, 3.0 g/t gold cutoff. View is to the northeast. The primary target areas shown here are the up-dip and down-dip areas of the UR2 and URW3 lodes. The headline intercept of 97.46 g/t gold over 3.3 m is intersected by a mine rise and development is ongoing to establish a sub-level to facilitate extraction in this area.

Figure 3. Zone 5 southern drilling with high-grade intersects highlighted, 3.0 g/t gold cutoff. View is to the east. The primary target area shown here is the southern part of the UR2 and URW3 lodes. These are the southernmost underground infill drillholes drilled by Lion One to date at Tuvatu and represent a new area of infill drilling.

Competent Persons Statement

The information in this report that relates to mineral exploration at the Tuvatu Gold Project is based on information compiled by the Lion One team and reviewed by Alex Nichol, who is the company's Vice President of Geology and Exploration. Mr Nichol is a Member of the Australian Institute of Geoscientists and has sufficient experience that is relevant to the style of mineralisation and type of deposit under consideration, and to the activity being undertaken, to qualify as a Competent Person as defined in the 2012 edition of the 'Australasian Code for Reporting of Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves' (JORC code). Mr Nichol consents to the inclusion in this report of the matters based on the information in the form and context in which it appears.

Lion One Laboratories / QAQC

Lion One adheres to rigorous QAQC procedures above and beyond basic regulatory guidelines in conducting its drilling, sampling, testing, and analyses. The Company operates its own geochemical assay laboratory and its own fleet of diamond drill rigs using PQ, HQ and NQ sized drill rods.

Diamond drill core samples are logged and split by Lion One personnel on site and delivered to the Lion One Laboratory for preparation and analysis. All samples are pulverized at the Lion One lab to 85% passing through 75 microns and gold analysis is carried out using fire assay with an AA finish. Samples that return grades greater than 10.00 g/t Au are re-analyzed by gravimetric method, which is considered more accurate for very high-grade samples.

Duplicates of 5% of samples with grades above 0.5 g/t Au are delivered to ALS Global Laboratories in Australia for check assay determinations using the same methods (Au-AA26 and Au-GRA22 where applicable). ALS also analyses 33 pathfinder elements by HF-HNO3-HClO4 acid digestion, HCl leach and ICP-AES (method ME-ICP61). The Lion One lab can test a range of up to 71 elements through Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometry (ICP-OES), but currently focuses on a suite of 23 important pathfinder elements with an aqua regia digest and ICP-OES finish.

About Lion One Metals Limited

Lion One Metals is an emerging Canadian gold producer headquartered in North Vancouver BC, with new operations established in late 2023 at its 100% owned Tuvatu Alkaline Gold Project in Fiji. The Tuvatu project comprises the high-grade Tuvatu Alkaline Gold Deposit, the Underground Gold Mine, the Pilot Plant, and the Assay Lab. The Company also has an extensive exploration license covering the entire Navilawa Caldera, which is host to multiple mineralized zones and highly prospective exploration targets.

On behalf of the Board of Directors,

Walter Berukoff, Chairman & CEO

Contact Information

Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Phone: 1-855-805-1250 (toll free North America)

Website: www.liononemetals.com

Neither the TSX-V nor its Regulation Service Provider accepts responsibility or the adequacy or accuracy of this release

This press release may contain statements that may be deemed to be "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein are forward-looking information. Generally, forward-looking information may be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "proposed", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases, or by the use of words or phrases which state that certain actions, events or results may, could, would, or might occur or be achieved. This forward-looking information reflects Lion One Metals Limited's current beliefs and is based on information currently available to Lion One Metals Limited and on assumptions Lion One Metals Limited believes are reasonable. These assumptions include, but are not limited to, the actual results of exploration projects being equivalent to or better than estimated results in technical reports, assessment reports, and other geological reports or prior exploration results. 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 Lion One Metals Limited or its subsidiaries to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Such risks and other factors may include, but are not limited to: the stage development of Lion One Metals Limited, general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties; the actual results of current research and development or operational activities; competition; uncertainty as to patent applications and intellectual property rights; product liability and lack of insurance; delay or failure to receive board or regulatory approvals; changes in legislation, including environmental legislation, affecting mining, timing and availability of external financing on acceptable terms; not realizing on the potential benefits of technology; conclusions of economic evaluations; and lack of qualified, skilled labor or loss of key individuals. Although Lion One Metals Limited has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated, or intended. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Lion One Metals Limited does not undertake to update any forward-looking information, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.

Appendix 1: Full Drill Results and Collar Information

Table 2. Collar coordinates for drillholes reported in this release. Coordinates are in Fiji map grid.

Hole ID Easting Northing Elevation Azimuth Dip Depth TGC-0183 1876386 3920529 111 137.4 8.1 167.5 TGC-0184 1876384 3920626 128 110.0 -13.7 37.2 TGC-0185 1876384 3920626 128 102.6 -13.6 11.3 TGC-0186 1876380 3920532 130 71.9 8.0 121.1 TGC-0187 1876384 3920627 128 82.0 -14.7 115.0 TGC-0188 1876386 3920529 111 142.1 7.6 170.0 TGC-0189 1876386 3920529 111 141.9 19.2 170.8 TGC-0190 1876384 3920626 128 110.3 -15.0 120.0 TGC-0191 1876382 3920532 130 79.1 6.4 111.0 TGC-0192 1876384 3920626 128 103.7 -13.8 5.2 TGC-0193 1876386 3920530 111 135.0 20.1 170.6 TGC-0194 1876383 3920627 128 69.3 -15.7 120.0 TGC-0195 1876381 3920532 130 86.0 6.9 110.2 TGC-0196 1876384 3920626 128 103.2 -14.6 120.0 TGC-0197 1876384 3920432 95 98.4 22.4 92.1 TGC-0198 1876384 3920626 128 70.0 17.0 5.6 TGC-0199 1876381 3920531 130 92.9 6.8 111.6 TGC-0200 1876383 3920627 130 70.6 22.4 115.3 TGC-0201 1876384 3920432 95 106.1 21.8 70.6 TGC-0202 1876384 3920431 96 122.5 21.0 85.8 TGC-0203 1876380 3920531 130 101.3 7.1 115.0 TGC-0204 1876384 3920627 127 68.7 -34.4 150.0 TGC-0205 1876381 3920533 131 68.5 14.0 115.0 TGC-0206 1876384 3920431 96 131.2 21.9 80.0 TGC-0207 1876384 3920431 95 106.4 21.7 67.7 TGC-0208 1876381 3920533 131 61.8 14.2 115.0 TGC-0209 1876383 3920627 129 67.3 17.4 125.0

Table 3. Composite results from drillholes reported in this news release (composite grade >3.0 g/t Au)
VANCOUVER, BC, June 12, 2024 /CNW/ - Integra Resources Corp. ("Integra" or the "Company") (TSXV: ITR) (NYSE American: ITRG) is pleased to announce that Millennial Silver Nevada Inc. ("MSN"), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Integra, has entered into an option agreement (the "Agreement") dated June 11, 2024 with GreenLight Metals USA Corporation, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Green Light Metals Inc. ("GreenLight"), regarding the Cerro Colorado Property ("Cerro Colorado"). Cerro Colorado is located within the Pima Mining District, 70 kilometers ("km") (~43 miles) southwest of Tucson, Arizona.

MSN currently owns 100% of the membership interests (the "Interests") in Millennial Arizona LLC ("Millennial Arizona") which, pursuant to a mining lease and option to purchase agreement, holds the right to acquire Cerro Colorado. As part of the Agreement, MSN has granted GreenLight an exclusive option for a period of 12 months to purchase the Interests in Millennial Arizona. GreenLight is a private company focused on critical minerals exploration in the United States. GreenLight intends to complete a listing on the TSX Venture Exchange ("TSX-V") in the near future.

Jason Kosec, President, CEO and Director of Integra commented: "We are pleased to enter into this agreement with GreenLight for the Cerro Colorado property. Cerro Colorado was brought into the Integra portfolio through the merger with Millennial Precious Metals Corp. in 2023 and while the property is currently non-core to Integra, our team has always been excited about the geologic potential of the project as it is situated on the prolific Laramide porphyry copper belt in Arizona. Due to the challenging market conditions in recent years, minimal work has been completed on the project, however with the recent strength in the copper market, we believe GreenLight is the right team to partner with to unlock the value of Cerro Colorado. We look forward to working with the team at GreenLight as the company intends to complete a TSX-V listing later this year and advance its critical minerals portfolio in the United States."

Key Terms of Agreement

Pursuant to the terms of the Agreement, MSN granted to GreenLight an exclusive option to purchase the Interests as set forth in a membership interest purchase agreement for a period of 12 months. In consideration for the grant of the option, GreenLight has agreed to deliver common shares of the company (the "Shares") valued at no less than C$500,000 to Integra. The Shares will be paid in two tranches: (i) the first tranche of Shares, valued at no less than C$250,000, will be delivered within five days of the execution of the Agreement; and (ii) the second tranche of Shares, valued at no less than C$250,000, will be delivered at the earlier of: 1) the time of a go-public event, or 2) December 31, 2024. In order to exercise the option and acquire the Interests in Millennial Arizona, GreenLight will pay Integra in cash or common shares of GreenLight, an amount equal to the total 2024 Cerro Colorado holding costs (other than exploration expenditures) incurred by Integra under the preexisting option through the closing date.

Cerro Colorado Property Overview

Cerro Colorado is located within a historic silver mining district, 70 km southwest of Tucson, Arizona, along the Laramide porphyry copper belt. The property is located 26 km southwest of the historical Pima Mining District, which contains several active porphyry copper and skarn mining operations. Seven distinct areas of interest comprise the combined 10,097-acre land package, consisting of 229 unpatented claims on lands administered by the U.S Bureau of Land Management and 14 Arizona State Land Department mineral leases situated on State of Arizona Lands. Cerro Colorado hosts numerous historical mining operations that exploited silver-gold-copper bearing veins hosted by Jurassic and early Laramide volcanic rocks. District-scale and local alteration patterns indicate potential for porphyry copper mineralization within intrusive units beneath the volcanic host rocks. Limited historical drilling in intrusive units adjacent to Integra's areas completed by Phelps Dodge Corporation (now Freeport-McMoRan, Inc.) and Minefinders Corporation Ltd. reported weakly mineralized porphyry copper intrusions. Recent academic work in the area suggests a lack of Cenozoic extension and dismemberment in the district, preserving the silver-gold veins and associated deeper porphyry copper systems upright and intact below older volcanic rocks.

About Green Light Metals

GreenLight's mission is to expand known mineral resources and make new discoveries on one of North America's most prolific yet underexplored volcanogenic massive sulfide ("VMS") greenstone belts - the Penokean Volcanic Belt (the "Belt") in Wisconsin, USA. The Belt's deposits are rich in the clean energy metals copper and zinc, as well as gold, that are required to power the imminent green, low carbon economy. The company's strategy is to capitalize on its first mover advantage to consolidate, secure, and drill dominant land positions. GreenLight is committed to operating in a responsible and sustainable manner that benefits local communities, bolsters national security, and assists in building and securing crucial U.S. supply chains, all while protecting the environment. GreenLight has established an Environment, Sustainability, and Communities Committee and is fully committed to transparency, accountability, environmental stewardship, safety and community engagement. The company's key assets on the Belt are the Reef gold-copper and Bend copper-gold properties, each of which contains known historical resources with the potential for expansion. In addition, with the closing of the amalgamation with Can-America Minerals Inc. on July 25, 2022, the company controls two additional prospective properties in Wisconsin - Lobo and Lobo East. GreenLight has also secured rights to the high-priority Swede anomaly located on the Southern Greenstone Belt. Outside of Wisconsin, the company controls rights to the Kalium Canyon property, an exciting epithermal gold prospect located in the Walker Lane district of Nevada.

About Integra Resources

Integra is one of the largest precious metals exploration and development companies in the Great Basin of the Western USA. Integra is currently focused on advancing its two flagship oxide heap leach projects: the past producing DeLamar Project located in southwestern Idaho and the Nevada North Project, comprised of the Wildcat and Mountain View deposits, located in northwestern Nevada. The Company also holds a portfolio of highly prospective early-stage exploration projects in Idaho, Nevada, and Arizona. Integra's long-term vision is to become a leading USA focused mid-tier gold and silver producer.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Jason Kosec

President, CEO and Director

Forward Looking and Other Cautionary Statements

Certain information set forth in this news release contains "forwardlooking statements" and "forwardlooking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation and applicable United States securities laws (referred to herein as forwardlooking statements). Except for statements of historical fact, certain information contained herein constitutes forwardlooking statements which includes, but is not limited to, statements with respect to: the future financial or operating performance of the Company and the Company's mineral properties and project portfolio; the results from work performed to date; the estimation of mineral resources and reserves; the realization of mineral resource and reserve estimates; the development, operational and economic results of technical reports on mineral properties referenced herein; magnitude or quality of mineral deposits; the anticipated advancement of the Company's mineral properties and project portfolios; exploration expenditures, costs and timing of the development of new deposits; underground exploration potential; costs and timing of future exploration; the completion and timing of future development studies; estimates of metallurgical recovery rates; exploration prospects of mineral properties; requirements for additional capital; the future price of metals; government regulation of mining operations; environmental risks; the timing and possible outcome of pending regulatory matters; the realization of the expected economics of mineral properties; future growth potential of mineral properties; TSX-V listing of GreenLight and future development plans.

Forward-looking statements are often identified by the use of words such as "may", "will", "could", "would", "anticipate", "believe", "expect", "intend", "potential", "estimate", "budget", "scheduled", "plans", "planned", "forecasts", "goals" and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements are based on a number of factors and assumptions made by management and considered reasonable at the time such information is provided. Assumptions and factors include: the Company's ability to complete its planned exploration programs; the absence of adverse conditions at mineral properties; no unforeseen operational delays; no material delays in obtaining necessary permits; the price of gold remaining at levels that render mineral properties economic; the Company's ability to continue raising necessary capital to finance operations; and the ability to realize on the mineral resource and reserve estimates. Forwardlooking statements necessarily involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, which may cause actual performance and financial results in future periods to differ materially from any projections of future performance or result expressed or implied by such forwardlooking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: integration risks; general business, economic and competitive uncertainties; the actual results of current and future exploration activities; conclusions of economic evaluations; meeting various expected cost estimates; benefits of certain technology usage; changes in project parameters and/or economic assessments as plans continue to be refined; future prices of metals; possible variations of mineral grade or recovery rates; the risk that actual costs may exceed estimated costs; geological, mining and exploration technical problems; failure of plant, equipment or processes to operate as anticipated; accidents, labour disputes and other risks of the mining industry; delays in obtaining governmental approvals or financing; the speculative nature of mineral exploration and development (including the risks of obtaining necessary licenses, permits and approvals from government authorities); title to properties; and management's ability to anticipate and manage the foregoing factors and risks. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. Readers are advised to study and consider risk factors disclosed in Integra's annual report on Form 20-F dated March 28, 2024 for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023.

There can be no assurance that forwardlooking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forwardlooking statements if circumstances or management's estimates or opinions should change except as required by applicable securities laws. The forward-looking statements contained herein are presented for the purposes of assisting investors in understanding the Company's plans, objectives and goals, and may not be appropriate for other purposes. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and the reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on forwardlooking statements.

Cautionary Note for U.S. Investors Concerning Mineral Resources and Reserves

NI 43-101 is a rule of the Canadian Securities Administrators which establishes standards for all public disclosure an issuer makes of scientific and technical information concerning mineral projects. Technical disclosure contained in this news release has been prepared in accordance with NI 43-101 and the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum Classification System. These standards differ from the requirements of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") and resource information contained in this news release may not be comparable to similar information disclosed by domestic United States companies subject to the SEC's reporting and disclosure requirements.

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.
Vancouver, British Columbia  June 12th, 2024  TheNewswire  Juggernaut Exploration Ltd. (TSX-V: JUGR) (OTCQB: JUGRF) (FSE: 4JE) (the Company or Juggernaut) further to its May 24th, 2024, June 5th, 2024 and June 7th, 2024, news releases, Juggernaut is pleased to report that after receiving final approve from the TSX Venture Exchange, it has closed its institutionally supported oversubscribed charity flow-through private placement financing (the Financing) for aggregate gross proceeds of $3,799,613.49. The use of funds from this financing will be to drill ~5000 meters on Juggernauts 100% controlled Bingo and Midas properties, targeting prolific high-grade Copper and Gold at the surface.

The Company has issued 31,272,539 Charity flow-through units (CFT Units), priced at $0.1215 each for gross proceeds of $3,799,613.49. Each CFT Unit consists of one flow-through common share plus one common share purchase warrant, each warrant being exercisable for an additional common share at $0.14 for a thirty-six-month period.

The CFT Units will entitle the holder to receive the tax benefits applicable to flow-through shares in accordance with provisions of the Income Tax Act (Canada).

The Company will use an amount equal to the gross proceeds received by the Company from the sale of the CFT Units, pursuant to the provisions in the Income Tax Act (Canada), to incur eligible Canadian exploration expenses that qualify as flow-through mining expenditures as both terms are defined in the Income Tax Act (Canada) (the Qualifying Expenditures) on or before December 31, 2025, and to renounce all the Qualifying Expenditures in favor of the subscribers of the FT Units effective December 31, 2024.

The Company has paid cash finders fees totaling $36,361.03 and issued 484,814 non-transferable broker warrants exercisable at $0.14 for three years.

All securities issued pursuant to this financing are subject to a four-month plus one-day hold.

This investment, with the ongoing support and interest from globally recognized Institutions and senior miners, is a strong endorsement that clearly demonstrates the significant near-term expansion discovery potential of our 100% controlled propertieshighlighting just one recent discovery on Bingo where multiple drill holes intersected high-grade gold-silver-copper mineralization along an extensive north-trending, west-dipping, shear-hosted vein with grades up to 11.42 gpt AuEq (7.57 gpt Au, 20.23 gpt Ag and 2.72 % Cu) over 5.11 meters, including 19.69 gpt AuEq (13.05 gpt Au, 24.93 gpt Ag and 4.70 % Cu) over 2.90 meters. The shear-hosted vein at the Bingo Main Zone is partially exposed at surfaces for over 600 meters, and only the main outcrop has been drill-tested to date, leaving the system open in all directions.

About Juggernaut Exploration Ltd.

Juggernaut Exploration Ltd. is a precious and base metals project generator in the geopolitically stable jurisdiction of Canada, focused on the prolific geologic setting of northwestern British Columbia encompassing the Golden Triangle.

Qualified Person

Rein Turna P. Geo is the qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 for Juggernaut Explorations projects. He supervised the preparation of and has reviewed and approved the technical information in this release.

View Juggernaut videos by Clicking Here.

For more information, please contact

Juggernaut Exploration Ltd.

Dan Stuart

President, Director, and Chief Executive Officer

604-559-8028

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

www.juggernautexploration.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.

FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENT

Certain disclosure in this release may constitute forward-looking statements that are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties relating to Juggernauts operations that may cause future results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by those forward-looking statements, including its ability to complete the contemplated private placement. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these statements.
HALIFAX, NS, June 12, 2024 /CNW/ - Fortune Bay Corp. (TSXV: FOR) (FWB: 5QN) (OTCQB: FTBYF) ("Fortune Bay" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the commencement of drilling at its Murmac Uranium Project ("Murmac" or the "Project") on the northern margin of the Athabasca Basin, Saskatchewan. The drilling program is being funded by Aero Energy Limited (TSXV: AERO) (OTC Pink: AAUGF) (FSE: 13L0) ("Aero"), and is being operated by Fortune Bay, under an Option Agreement that was executed on December 15, 2023.

Drilling Program

Drilling is now underway at Murmac with a program planned to test ten to thirteen targets (approximately 2,600 m), exploring for high-grade basement-hosted uranium deposits. Drill targets have been selected from recently acquired high-resolution geophysical data (VTEM survey completed in April 2024) and 3D modelling of ground gravity data, and were further refined on the basis of geophysical signatures, geological features, proximity to known uranium occurrences, and positive past drilling results by Fortune Bay.

Drilling has begun at target P7 with targets H15 and P4 scheduled next. Target descriptions and locations are provided in Table 1 and Figure 1, respectively. Further target selection details are provided in Fortune Bay's News Release dated June 4, 2024.

Dale Verran, CEO of Fortune Bay, commented, "Our drill targets, derived from recently completed higher-resolution geophysical survey and 3D gravity modelling, have been further refined on the basis of our 2022 drill results, structural interpretations and a compelling proximal endowment of known uranium occurrences. Our collaborative approach to target selection has involved a technical team (Aero Energy and Convolutions Geoscience Limited) with a demonstrated track-record of discovery in Saskatchewan. We are extremely excited to have a drill rig turning and look forward to reporting results in the near future."

Discovery of Radioactivity Proximal to Targets

Two occurrences of strong to intense radioactivity were discovered at surface while scouting the initial drill site locations. The targeted locations are all "blind", located in valley bottoms that are covered by infill sediments and small lakes. These radioactive occurrences are consistent with, and support, our exploration model, to target deeply-weathered and covered graphitic rocks that were not effectively explored by historical (surface-oriented) prospecting methods.

Target A15: 60,793 counts-per-second* in the hangingwall of the target within hematized foliation-parallel fractures.

60,793 counts-per-second* in the hangingwall of the target within hematized foliation-parallel fractures. Target P4: 13,533 counts-per-second* in the hangingwall of the target within hematized fault hosted fractures perpendicular to foliation.

*Measured by handheld RS-125 Super-SPEC gamma ray spectrometer manufactured by Radiation Solutions Inc.

Table 1: Murmac 2024 Drill Targets.

Conductor Corridor Target Target Summary Pitchvein P7 Along strike follow-up of mineralized intercepts and strong alteration in M22-013 & 014

(Fortune Bay holes). Test for extensions of historical mineralization in CKI-9 (1.01% U 3 O 8

over 2.0 m) and CKI-10 (2.19% U 3 O 8 over 0.5 m). P4 Along strike follow-up of mineralized intercepts in M22-013 & 014 (Fortune Bay holes).

Test intersection of Pitchvein Corridor with property-scale, mineralized cross-fault. Howland H6 Geophysical target (EM and gravity). H15 Geophysical target (EM and gravity). Intersection of conductor and property-scale,

mineralized cross-fault, beneath lake. H16 Geophysical target (EM and gravity). Along strike of M22-012 (0.17% U 3 O 8 over 0.1 m)

(Fortune Bay hole). H17 Geophysical target (EM and gravity) at a flexure in the Howland Conductor. Armbruster A15 Geophysical target (EM and gravity) at intersection of conductor and mineralized cross-

fault. A17 Intersection of conductor and property-scale, mineralized cross-fault. Conductor

break/termination. A18 Geophysical target (EM and gravity). Located along strike to south of Quartzite Ridge

uranium showings. A19 Geophysical target (EM and gravity). Located along strike to south of Quartzite Ridge

uranium showings at a flexure in the Armbruster Conductor. A20 Intersection of conductor and mineralized cross-fault. A21 Geophysical target (gravity) at intersection of conductor and mineralized cross-fault. Up-

ice of 8.82% U 3 O 8 boulder. A22 Geophysical target (EM and gravity) located at a break in the Armbruster conductor.

Qualified Person and Technical Disclosure

The technical and scientific information in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Gareth Garlick, P.Geo., Technical Director of the Company, who is a Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101. Mr. Garlick is an employee of Fortune Bay and is not independent of the Company under NI 43-101.

Further details regarding the historical uranium occurrences noted in this news release can be found within the Saskatchewan Mineral Assessment Database (SMAD) and the Saskatchewan Mineral Deposit Index (SMDI). Fortune Bay has verified the majority of these occurrences through field prospecting and sampling, however there is a risk that any future confirmation work and exploration may produce results that substantially differ from the unverified historical results. The Company considers these unverified historical results relevant to assess the mineralization and economic potential of the property. The historical drill results obtained by SMDC in drill holes CKI-9 and CKI-10 can be found within the SMAD references 74N07-0310 and 74N07-0311 and have not been verified. Additional historical exploration results (uranium occurrences related to geochemistry results and scintillometer prospecting) derive from SMAD references 74N07-0290, 74N07-0287 and 74N07-0304.

About Fortune Bay Corp.

Fortune Bay Corp. (TSXV:FOR, FWB:5QN, OTCQB:FTBYF) is an exploration and development company with 100% ownership in two advanced gold exploration projects in Canada, Saskatchewan (Goldfields Project) and Mexico, Chiapas (Ixhuatan Project), both with exploration and development potential. The Company is also advancing seven uranium exploration projects on the northern rim of the Athabasca Basin, Saskatchewan, which have high-grade potential. The Company has a goal of building a mid-tier exploration and development Company through the advancement of its existing projects and the strategic acquisition of new projects to create a pipeline of growth opportunities. The Company's corporate strategy is driven by a Board and Management team with a proven track record of discovery, project development and value creation. Further information on Fortune Bay and its assets can be found on the Company's website at www.fortunebaycorp.com or by contacting us as This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or by telephone at 902-334-1919.

On behalf of Fortune Bay Corp.

"Dale Verran"

Chief Executive Officer

902-334-1919

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information

Information set forth in this news release contains forward-looking statements that are based on assumptions as of the date of this news release. These statements reflect management's current estimates, beliefs, intentions, and expectations. They are not guarantees of future performance. Words such as "expects", "aims", "anticipates", "targets", "goals", "projects", "intends", "plans", "believes", "seeks", "estimates", "continues", "may", variations of such words, and similar expressions and references to future periods, are intended to identify such forward-looking statements.

Since forward-looking statements are based on assumptions and address future events and conditions, by their very nature they involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Although these statements are based on information currently available to the Company, the Company provides no assurance that actual results will meet management's expectations. Risks, uncertainties and other factors involved with forward-looking information could cause actual events, results, performance, prospects and opportunities to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Forward looking information in this news release includes, but is not limited to, the Company's objectives, goals, intentions or future plans, statements, exploration results, potential mineralization, timing of the commencement of operations and estimates of market conditions. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from such forward-looking information include, but are not limited to failure to identify targets or mineralization, delays in obtaining or failures to obtain required governmental, environmental or other project approvals, political risks, inability to fulfill the duty to accommodate First Nations and other indigenous peoples, inability to reach access agreements with other Project communities, amendments to applicable mining laws, uncertainties relating to the availability and costs of financing or partnerships needed in the future, changes in equity markets, inflation, changes in exchange rates, fluctuations in commodity prices, delays in the development of projects, capital and operating costs varying significantly from estimates and the other risks involved in the mineral exploration and development industry, and those risks set out in the Company's public documents filed on SEDAR+. 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, which only applies as of the date of this news release, and no assurance can be given that such events will occur in the disclosed time frames or at all. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, other than as required by law. For more information on Fortune Bay, readers should refer to Fortune Bay's website at www.fortunebaycorp.com.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
PORT MORESBY, Papua New Guinea, June 12, 2024 /CNW/ - Adyton Resources Corporation (TSXV: ADY) (Adyton) is pleased to announce the appointment of former Friedland exploration manager Dr Chris Wilson as a Non-Executive Director to the Board. Dr Wilson's appointment is subject to TSXV approval and fills the vacancy created by the prior resignation of Mr Anthony Williamson.

Dr Wilson, BSc (Hons), PhD, FAusIMM (CP), FSEG, FGS, is a commercially-driven exploration geologist with over 30 years of global experience in area selection and prospect generation, generation of high value mineral exploration targets, and the design and management of large resource definition drilling programs. Dr Wilson has worked in over 80 countries, on most commodities and deposit styles. He has specialist experience with low to intermediate sulphidation epithermal Au-Ag-base metal systems, high sulphidation Au-Cu systems, and porphyry copper-gold systems and associated breccia- and sharn-hosted mineralization.

Dr Wilson has extensive project review and target generation experience, with demonstrated ability to integrate and interrogate complex multi-disciplinary datasets, and rapidly identify and test high value targets. Dr Wilson has very strong deposit model knowledge ensuring key controls on mineralization are placed within the wider context of a projects geological, structural and hydrothermal evolution.

Dr Wilson has proven ability to lead multi-disciplinary and multi-cultural, high talent teams under diverse cultural and physiographic regimes and is a Qualified Person for JORC and NI 43-10 compliant reporting and valuation. Dr Wilson spent 10 years with Ivanhoe Mines (TSX:IVN), including Exploration Manager for Ivanhoe Mines Mongolia, where he was responsible for an exploration portfolio of over 11 million hectares.

Dr Wilson comments, "I am delighted to be joining the Board of Adyton Resources Corporation and providing oversight of geological exploration of the project portfolio in Papua New Guinea. Following my PhD I was appointed Lecturer at the University of Papua New Guinea (Port Moresby Campus) which provided me with a deep understanding of PNG's geology and varied people and cultures. Adyton has robust projects with NI43-101 compliant mineral resource estimates, providing an excellent foundational value, on which to conduct further exploration". Dr Wilson further comments, "despite a number of historical drilling campaigns on Feni Island, most holes were shallow, and many did not penetrate the post-mineral volcanic cover nor assayed for copper. Adyton is presently reprocessing historical magnetic data, and reinterpreting historical drill hole assay results, which indicate there are a number of high reward exploration targets that were never adequately drill tested. This is confirmed by the most recent 5 hole drill program by Adyton also(see News Release dated December 1, 2021) which intersected intervals such as 35.9 m @ 0.3% Cu and 1.1 g/t Au (70.7 to 106.6 m) and 6.4 m @ 5.1% Cu and 1.6 g/t Au (147.7 m to 156.1 m) in hole ADK004. This along with a small number of historic deeper holes indicate both significant gold and copper exploration upside."

Adyton Chairman Sinton Spence said " I am thrilled to have Dr Wilson join the Board, Dr Wilson's unique background having lectured in Geology at the University Of PNG along with his experience at Ivanhoe mines and exposure globally to many deposit types combined with his matter of fact and pragmatic approach fills an important gap on our Board as we look to build a refreshed Board.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF ADYTON RESOURCES CORPORATION

Tim Crossley, Chief Executive Officer 

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.

ABOUT ADYTON RESOURCES CORPORATION

Adyton Resources Corporation is focused on the development of gold and copper resources in world class mineral jurisdictions. It currently has a portfolio of highly prospective mineral exploration projects in Papua New Guinea on which it is exploring to expand its identified gold Inferred and Indicated Mineral Resources and expand on its recent significant copper drill intercepts on the 100% owned Feni Island project. The Company's mineral exploration projects are located on the Pacific Ring of Fire on easy to access island locations which hosts several globally significant copper and gold deposits including the Lihir gold mine and Panguna copper/gold mine on Bougainville Island, both neighboring projects to the Company's Feni Island project.

Adyton has a total declared Resource inventory (disclosed in accordance with NI 43-101) within its PNG portfolio of projects of 2,175,000 ounces gold.

Adyton is also quoted on the OTC under the code ADYRF and on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange under the code 701:GR.

For more information about Adyton and its projects, visit www.adytonresources.com

Qualified Person

The scientific and technical information contained in this press release has been prepared, reviewed, and approved by Rod Watt, BSc Hons (Geo), FAusIMM, Chief Geologist of Adyton, who is a "Qualified Person" as defined by National Instrument 43 101  Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. Mr. Watt consents to the inclusion of his name in this release.

Forward looking statements

This press release includes "forwardlooking statements", including forecasts, estimates, expectations, and objectives for future operations that are subject to several assumptions, risks, and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the control of Adyton. Forward looking statements and information can generally be identified by the use of forwardlooking terminology such as "may", "will", "should", "expect", "intend", "estimate", "anticipate", "believe", "continue", "plans" or similar terminology. Forward looking statements in this news release include all statements with respect to the funding of the Initial Investment Amount, the completion of the Initial Investment Milestones and the funding and development of the Project. The forwardlooking information contained herein is provided for the purpose of assisting readers in understanding management's current expectations and plans relating to the future. Readers are cautioned that such information may not be appropriate for other purposes. Forwardlooking information are based on management of the parties' reasonable assumptions, estimates, expectations, analyses and opinions, which are based on such management's experience and perception of trends, current conditions and expected developments, and other factors that management believes are relevant and reasonable in the circumstances, but which may prove to be incorrect. Such factors, among other things, include: impacts arising from the global disruption to global supply chains caused by hostilities in the Ukraine and the Middle East, changes in general macroeconomic conditions; changes in securities markets; changes in the price of gold or certain other commodities; change in national and local government, legislation, taxation, controls, regulations and political or economic developments; risks and hazards associated with the business of mineral exploration, development and mining (including environmental hazards, industrial accidents, unusual or unexpected formations pressures, caveins and flooding); discrepancies between actual and estimated metallurgical recoveries; inability to obtain adequate insurance to cover risks and hazards; the presence of laws and regulations that may impose restrictions on mining; employee relations; relationships with and claims by local communities and indigenous populations; availability of and changes in the costs associated with mining inputs and labour; the speculative nature of mineral exploration and development (including the risks of obtaining necessary licenses, permits and approvals from government authorities); and title to properties. Investors are cautioned that any such statements are not guarantees of future performance and that actual results or developments may differ materially from those projected in the forwardlooking statements. Such forwardlooking information represents management's best judgment based on information currently available. No forwardlooking statement can be guaranteed, and actual future results may vary materially. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward looking statements or information. Adyton Resources Corporation undertakes no obligation to update forwardlooking information except as required by applicable law.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - June 12, 2024) - Forge Resources Corp. (CSE: FRG) (OTCQB: FRGGF) (FSE: 5YZ) ("FRG" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the completion of the first two 2024 planned drill holes at Alotta, both showing porphyry style mineralization. The continuation of the Phase 1 drilling program is on schedule with holes ALT-24-001/002 completed to a depth of 402 and 501 metres respectively. Drill hole ALT-24-003 has now commenced, testing the Severance Zone.

Hole ALT-24-001 - Azimuth 135/-50 degree dip and the first hole to drill test the Payoff Zone where strongly anomalous rock samples (up to 8.7 g/t gold) were sampled over a 200 x 300 m area. ALT-24-001 appears to have a higher concentration of pyrite stringers than what was observed in two November 2023 drillholes. In November 2023 two drill holes were completed on the property which confirmed the porphyry style nature of mineralization.

Hole ALT-24-002 - Azimuth 230/-60 degree dip. The hole was proposed to test possible west-northwest trending structures related to mineralization. Porphyry style mineralization was again encountered. Alteration and associated disseminated and fractured controlled sulphide mineralization is increasing to depth.

Lorne Warner, President, and P.Geo for Forge Resources Corp. comments: "Every drillhole completed is bringing us closer to understanding the controls to the mineralization at Alotta. We have now started drilling at the untested Severance Zone which has extensive and highly anomalous multi-element soil geochemistry. The three proposed holes will test across entire anomalous soil geochemistry in the central area of the Alotta Zones."

Figure 1 above is a core photo from hole ALT-24-002 at depth of 261.5 metres that trended towards the area of ALT-23-001, completed in November, 2023. As announced on February 24, 2024, Hole ALT-23-001 intercepted 211.65 metres of 0.46 grams/tonne gold from the first ever diamond drill hole on the property.

Review of ALT-23-001 intercept area hosting the 211.65 metres of 0.46 g/tonne gold:

Hosted in semi-crowed, quartz-plagioclase porphyry

Indicates that silica filled fractures hosting sulphide mineralization occur in areas of higher-grade gold concentrations

Semi-massive, poly-metallic veins can contain high-grade gold concentrations.

Figure 2 above outlines the high priority target areas within the Alotta property with potential gold-copper-molybdenum, porphyry style mineralization. Prior to November 2023 none of these target areas had been drill tested. In November 2023 two drill holes (ALT-23-001 and ALT-23-002) were completed on the property which confirmed the porphyry style nature of mineralization. Hole ALT-24-004 to ALT-24-010 are proposed locations.

The Alotta property consists of 96 mineral claims that cover approximately 1,926 hectares that is located 50 km south-east of Western Copper and Gold's Casino deposit. Figure 3 below demonstrates the extent of anomalous, copper in soil geochemistry with the current area of mineral resources defined at the Casino Deposit. The Casino deposit is one of the most economic, greenfield copper-gold mining projects in the world which is ranked as one of the top ten largest, undeveloped, copper-gold porphyry deposits in the world. Western Copper and Gold announced on April 30, 2024, the completion of their bought deal public offering with gross proceeds of $46 million. Subsequently, on May 6, 2024, they announced the completion of a further $5 million financing with Rio Tinto.

Figure 3

Figure 4 - Drilling ALT-24-003, started June 11, 2024

Qualified Person



Lorne Warner, P.Geo, and President of Forge Resources Corp. is a qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 and has reviewed and approved the scientific and technical disclosure in this news release.

About Forge Resources Corp.



Forge Resources Corp. is a Canadian-listed junior exploration company focused on exploring and advancing the Alotta project, a prospective porphyry copper-gold-molybdenum project located 50 km south-east of the Casino porphyry deposit in the unglaciated portion of the Dawson Range porphyry/epithermal belt in the Yukon Territory of Canada.

In addition, the Company holds a 40% interest in Aion Mining Corp., a company that is developing the fully permitted La Estrella coal project in Santander, Colombia. The project contains eight known seams of metallurgical and thermal coal.

On behalf of the Board of Directors

"Cole McClay", CEO Forge Resources Corp.

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Forward-Looking Statements

Certain of the statements made and information contained herein may contain forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. Forward-looking information includes, but is not limited to, information concerning the Company's intentions with respect to the development of its mineral properties. Forward-looking information is based on the views, opinions, intentions and estimates of management at the date the information is made, and is based on a number of assumptions and subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those anticipated or projected in the forward-looking information (including the actions of other parties who have agreed to do certain things and the approval of certain regulatory bodies). Many of these assumptions are based on factors and events that are not within the control of the Company and there is no assurance they will prove to be correct. There can be no assurance that forward-looking information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such information. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking information if circumstances or management's estimates or opinions should change except as required by applicable securities laws, or to comment on analyses, expectations or statements made by third parties in respect of the Company, its financial or operating results or its securities. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information. We seek safe harbor.
LIDA, NV AND VACAVILLE, CA / ACCESSWIRE / June 12, 2024 /Athena Gold Corporation (OTCQB:AHNR) (CSE:ATHA) ("Athena" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has entered into an asset purchase and sale agreement dated June 1, 2024 (the "Purchase Agreement") with Silver Reserve Inc. to acquire an 100% interest in 11 unpatented BLM claims covering approximately 89 hectares (220 acres) known as the Blue Dick Mine and related mineral claims ("BD"), together with certain technical data relating to the mining claims (the "Purchased Assets"). Total consideration consists of an aggregate of US $45,000 in cash and a 3% NSR. This acquisition expands our flagship Excelsior Springs Project located in the Walker Lane Trend, Nevada. area to 1,675 hectares (4,140 acres).

The Blue Dick Mine was discovered in the 1870s and was reported as a high-grade producer of silver along with gold and base metals. According to Jack Quade, who visited the Blue Dick mine in 1982 and collected three samples on behalf of the Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology, "The (Blue Dick) Mine is located near a thrust intersection of the Campito and Deep Springs Formations of lower Cambrian both of which host ore at the mine." Mineralized material was transported from the adit by rail and then down Palmetto Mountain via a tram for direct shipment or processing on-site.

Quade's sample #11251 collected from a highly silicified quartzite along the tram and inside the main Blue Dick adit contained 33 ppm Gold, 1500 ppm (43.75 ounces per ton) silver, .15% Cu, 2% lead and 1%+ Zinc2.

Sampling by Silver Reserve consulting geologist Richard Milne in June 20073 also confirmed anomalous precious and base metal values. Fourteen of the sixteen rock-chip samples1 collected by Milne (BD/M-1 through BD/M-16) are on the BD claims being acquired or on claims already held by Athena.

Highlights are listed below:

Sample BD/M-1 contained 6.4 ppm Gold, 2340 ppm Silver (69 ounces per ton),1.175% Copper and 1.34% Lead.

Sample BD/M-12 contained 92.6 ppm Silver, 25.5% Copper and 6.92% Lead.

Sample BD/M-13 contained 30 ppm Silver, 4.28% Copper and 1.37% Lead.

Sample BD/M-15 contained 49 ppm Silver and 2.06% Copper.

Sample BD/M-16 contained 7.45 ppm of Gold with .03% Copper.

No exploration drilling or geophysical surveys have been completed on the BD claims. Additional rock and soil data acquired with the BD claims will be further analyzed and integrated into our exploration database.

John Power, President of Athena, commented "This is an exciting opportunity for Athena as it consolidates the heart of the Palmetto Mountain Trend (Figure 1) for the first time as part of our Excelsior Springs Project. It also provides new prospective gold, copper, and silver targets to our expanding land package. Palmetto Peak was once the end of our claim block but is now the 50-yard line with the historic Buster mine and Western Slope to the west of the peak and Lida Belle and Blue Dick to the southeast.

"Our immediate focus remains on finalizing our Phase 4 exploration plans at Excelsior Springs as we build upon the success of our Phase 1 - Phase 3 RC drilling programs completed in 2022 and 2023" added Power.

Timeline of District Scale Consolidation

Upon the successful close of this transaction, Athena will have completed a series of transactions over a multi-year period to consolidate all the important historic mines (Buster, Lida Belle and Blue Dick) on Palmetto Mountain (See Figures 1 and 2).

Athena acquired the Excelsior Springs project in 2021 from Nubian Resources Ltd. with its 140 unpatented BLM claims and a lease on two patented claims. This claim group included the historic Buster Mine and Western Slope (aka Upper or Tripod shaft) mines.

In 2022, Athena purchased the two patented claims (Fortunatus and Prout) that had been held under an expiring lease.

In Q4-2022, Athena staked an additional 51 unpatented BLM claims to cover the southeastern slope of Palmetto Mountain. These claims included the historic Lida Belle high grade gold occurrence and mine.

Reconnaissance sampling in the Lida Belle area returned high-grade gold and silver results. (See the Company's news release dated October 5, 2023 here).

Also, in Q4-2022, the Company staked claims to the border of the BD claims being acquired (See Figure 2).

Figure 2. Map of Athena's Excelsior Springs Project depicting the original claim block and additional claims staked and acquired between 2022 - 2024.

Blue Dick Mineralization

Mineralization occurs in quartz or calcite veins mostly hosted by Limestone (Stewart and Albers 1972). The Deep Spring and Palmetto Formations are the main host rocks for precious and base metal mineralization on the property. Copper, gold, silver and lead mineralization sampled by Milne (2007) is found locally in thrust faults and high-angle northeast-southwest structures.

There are several important targets for future exploration including:

Sediment hosted bulk Au tonnage targets in the Palmetto formation.

Additional high-grade vein mineralization from known veins and undiscovered veins in the carbonates with two targets of Gold, Silver & Copper and Silver, Gold & Base Metals

Blue Dick Purchase Transaction Details

Pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, Athena will acquire the Purchased Assets for total consideration of:

US $10,000 payable upon execution of the agreement (Paid); US $15,000 payable on or before July 1, 2024; US $20,000 payable on or before August 1, 2024; and the grant of a 3% net smelter return royalty to Silver Reserve, of which 2% may be purchased by the Company subject to certain buy-back options.

The transaction contemplated by the Purchase Agreement remains subject to approval of the Canadian Securities Exchange.

Technical Information

The data disclosed in this news release is related to historical exploration sampling results. The reader is cautioned that the historical results are based on prior data and reports prepared by previous property owners and other sources. Athena has not undertaken any independent investigation of the work at Blue Dick, nor has it independently analyzed the results of the historical exploration work to verify the results. The reader is cautioned not to treat them, or any part of them, as current and that a qualified person has not done sufficient work to verify the results and that they may not form a reliable guide to future results. No independent QA/QC protocols are known for these samples and as such analytical results may be unreliable. Athena's current and future exploration work includes verification of the historical data through further exploration.

About Our Flagship Excelsior Springs Project

The Excelsior Springs Project (the "Project") lies within the prolific Walker Lane tectonic trend, a large region of northwest-trending, strike-slip fault zones that host a significant number of precious metal deposits having very strong structural control for mineralization. The Project contains numerous prospect pits, trenches, roads, surface sampling sites and 113 drill holes to date within a 300m X 3,000m wide (1,000 foot-wide and 10,000-foot-long east-west trending zone of shearing and alteration. Underground workings on the two patented claims within the Project had unverified, historical production of 19,200 troy ounces from 18,000 tons averaging 37.3 grams/ton Au (1.2 oz/ton Au).

The Walker Lane trend is experiencing a major resurgence of intense and successful exploration and development. The Walker Lane has had total production of 20+ million ounces ("Moz") of gold, including the following deposits at Goldfields (5 Moz), Bullfrog (2 Moz), Tonopah (2 Moz), Mineral Ridge (1.5 Moz) and Comstock (8 Moz Au, 200 Moz Ag). Readers are cautioned that the Company has no interest in or right to acquire any interest in any of the above-mentioned properties, other than Excelsior Springs (the "Project"), and that the mineral deposits, and the results of any exploration or mining thereof, on adjacent or similar properties are not indicative of potential mineral deposits on the Project or any potential exploitation thereof.

Gold mineralization discovered at the Project to date occurs in quartz veins, stock-works, and silicified zones in hornfels and calc-silicate altered country rock and is generally close to porphyry dykes. The best grades and thicknesses discovered recently were found in oxidized and altered sedimentary rock immediately above porphyry dykes intruded along preexisting east- and east-northeast trending faults. The mineralized stock-work vein zones are shallow and have a relatively flat plunge, making them potentially amenable to open pit mining methods.

Based on the results of previous drilling programs, the Project has the potential with to host one or more shallow gold deposits amenable to open pit mining, along with deeper, higher grade feeder zones that may be found and could be mined by underground methods. In the opinion of management and its consultants, the Project is very promising and further exploration has the potential to expand the known mineralization and establish additional mineralized zones.

Qualified Person

John Hiner, SME Registered Member and Washington State Licensed Geologist is a qualified person as defined by NI 43-101 and has reviewed the scientific and technical information that forms the basis of this press release and has approved the disclosure herein. Mr. Hiner is not independent of the Company.

About Athena Gold Corporation

Athena is engaged in the business of mineral exploration and the acquisition of mineral property assets. Its objective is to locate and develop economic precious and base metal properties of merit and to conduct additional exploration drilling and studies on the Project.

For further information about Athena Gold Corporation and our Excelsior Springs Gold project, please visit www.athenagoldcorp.com.

On Behalf of the Board of Directors

John C. Power

Chief Executive Officer and President

For further information, please contact:

Phone: John C. Power, 707-291-6198

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Jason Libenson

President and CCO

Castlewood Capital Corporation

(647)-534-9884

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Forward Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information (collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable Canadian and U.S. securities laws. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein including, without limitation, statements regarding future exploration plans and the completion of a phase 2 drill program at the Project, future results from exploration, and the anticipated business plans and timing of future activities of the Company, are forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes that such statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Forward-looking statements are typically identified by words such as: "believes", "will", "expects", "anticipates", "intends", "estimates", "plans", "may", "should", "potential", "scheduled", or variations of such words and phrases and similar expressions, which, by their nature, refer to future events or results that may, could, would, might or will occur or be taken or achieved. In making the forward-looking statements in this press release, the Company has applied several material assumptions, including without limitation, that there will be investor interest in future financings, market fundamentals will result in sustained precious metals demand and prices, the receipt of any necessary permits, licenses and regulatory approvals in connection with the future exploration and development of the Company's projects in a timely manner, QAQC procedures at the Project were followed, the availability of financing on suitable terms for the exploration and development of the Company's projects and the Company's ability to comply with environmental, health and safety laws.

The Company cautions investors that any forward-looking statements by the Company are not guarantees of future results or performance, and that actual results may differ materially from those in forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including, operating and technical difficulties in connection with mineral exploration and development activities, actual results of exploration activities, the estimation or realization of mineral reserves and mineral resources, the inability of the Company to obtain the necessary financing required to conduct its business and affairs, as currently contemplated, the timing and amount of estimated future production, the costs of production, capital expenditures, the costs and timing of the development of new deposits, requirements for additional capital, future prices of precious metals, changes in general economic conditions, changes in the financial markets and in the demand and market price for commodities, lack of investor interest in future financings, accidents, labor disputes and other risks of the mining industry, delays in obtaining governmental approvals, permits or financing or in the completion of development or construction activities, risks relating to epidemics or pandemics such as COVID-19, including the impact of COVID-19 on the Company's business, financial condition and results of operations, changes in laws, regulations and policies affecting mining operations, title disputes, the inability of the Company to obtain any necessary permits, consents, approvals or authorizations, including of the Canadian Securities Exchange, the timing and possible outcome of any pending litigation, environmental issues and liabilities, and other factors and risks that are discussed in the Company's periodic filings with the SEC and disclosed in the final long form prospectus of the Company dated August 31, 2021.

Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to update any of the forward-looking statements in this press release or incorporated by reference herein, except as otherwise.

FOOTNOTES

1The historical sampling and information disclosed in this press release is related to historical exploration results. The reader is cautioned that the historical sampling and information are based on prior data and reports previously prepared by third parties without the involvement of the Company. Athena has not undertaken any independent investigation of the historical sampling and information, nor has it independently analyzed the results of the historical sampling and exploration work in order to verify the results.

2Semi-Quantitative Spectrographic Analysis by Branch Exploration Research, USGS, Denver, Colorado. Gold analysis through Atomic-Adsorption Analysis.

3ALS Chemex Certificate of Analysis issued to Silver Reserve Corp dated July 13, 2007.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - June 12, 2024) - Heliostar Metals Ltd. (TSXV: HSTR) (OTCQX: HSTXF) (FSE: RGG1) ("Heliostar" or the "Company") is pleased to announce a non-brokered private placement of up to 18,867,924 common shares (the "Offered Shares") at a price of $0.265 per Offered Share for gross proceeds of up to approximately $5 million (the "Private Placement").

The Company intends to use the net proceeds of the Private Placement for the commencement of drilling at Ana Paula and general working capital.

The Private Placement is scheduled to close on or about June 18, 2024 and is subject to certain conditions including, but not limited to, the receipt of all necessary approvals including the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange.

Up to 3,773,585 of the Offered Shares (the "LIFE Portion") are expected to be offered to purchasers pursuant to the listed issuer financing exemption under Part 5A of National Instrument 45-106 - Prospectus Exemptions ("NI 45-106") and will not be subject a statutory hold period. Up to 15,094,340 of the Offered Shares are expected to be offered to purchasers pursuant to the accredited investor exemption under Section 2.3 of NI 45-106 and will be subject to a statutory hold period of four months and one day.

There is an offering document (the "Offering Document") related to the LIFE Portion that can be accessed under the Company's profile at www.sedarplus.ca and on the Company's website at www.heliostarmetals.com. Prospective investors should read the Offering Document before making an investment decision.

This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy securities in the United States or to U.S. Persons (as that term is defined in Rule 902(k) of Regulation S), nor shall this press release be construed to constitute such an offer or solicitation in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. The securities being offered have not been, nor will they be, registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "1933 Act") or under any U.S. state securities laws, and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the 1933 Act, as amended, and applicable state securities laws.

Debt Financing Update

On May 7, 2024, the Company announced that it had entered into a non-binding letter of intent in respect of a senior secured debt facility (the "Debt Facility") for the aggregate principal amount of US$20 million. Closing of the Private Placement is not expected to impact the Debt Facility.

The Company anticipates the Debt Facility to be completed by the end of July, 2024.

Statement of Qualified Person

Stewart Harris, P.Geo., a Qualified Person, as such term is defined by National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects, has reviewed the scientific and technical information that forms the basis for this news release and has approved the disclosure herein.

About Heliostar Metals Ltd.

Heliostar is a junior mining company with a portfolio of high-grade gold projects in Mexico and Alaska.

The Company is focused on developing the 100% owned Ana Paula Project in Guerrero, Mexico. In addition, Heliostar is working with the Mexican government to permit the San Antonio Gold Project in Baja Sur, Mexico. The Company continues efforts to explore the Unga Gold Project in Alaska, United States of America.

Ana Paula hosts measured and indicated resources of 710,920 ounces of gold (320,204 measured and 390,716 indicated ounces) at 6.60 g/t gold and an inferred resource of 447,512 ounces of gold at 4.24 g/t gold. The asset is permitted for open-pit mining and contains significant existing infrastructure including a portal and a 412-metre-long decline.

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:

Charles Funk

Chief Executive Officer

Heliostar Metals Limited

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Phone: +1 844-753-0045

Rob Grey

Investor Relations Manager

Heliostar Metals Limited

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Phone: +1 844-753-0045

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This news release includes certain "Forward-Looking Statements" within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and "forward-looking information" under applicable Canadian securities laws. When used in this news release, the words "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "expect", "target", "plan", "forecast", "may", "would", "could", "schedule" and similar words or expressions, identify forward-looking statements or information. These forward-looking statements or information relate to, among other things: the intended use of proceeds of the Private Placement; the expected closing date of the Private Placement and the anticipated closing of the Debt Facility.

Forward-looking statements and forward-looking information relating to the terms and completion of the Facility, any future mineral production, liquidity, and future exploration plans are based on management's reasonable assumptions, estimates, expectations, analyses and opinions, which are based on management's experience and perception of trends, current conditions and expected developments, and other factors that management believes are relevant and reasonable in the circumstances, but which may prove to be incorrect. Assumptions have been made regarding, among other things, the receipt of necessary approvals, price of metals; no escalation in the severity of public health crises or ongoing military conflicts; costs of exploration and development; the estimated costs of development of exploration projects; and the Company's ability to operate in a safe and effective manner and its ability to obtain financing on reasonable terms.

These statements reflect the Company's respective current views with respect to future events and are necessarily based upon a number of other assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by management, 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 or forward-looking information and the Company has made assumptions and estimates based on or related to many of these factors. Such factors include, without limitation: precious metals price volatility; risks associated with the conduct of the Company's mining activities in foreign jurisdictions; regulatory, consent or permitting delays; risks relating to reliance on the Company's management team and outside contractors; risks regarding exploration and mining activities; the Company's inability to obtain insurance to cover all risks, on a commercially reasonable basis or at all; currency fluctuations; risks regarding the failure to generate sufficient cash flow from operations; risks relating to project financing and equity issuances; risks and unknowns inherent in all mining projects, including the inaccuracy of reserves and resources, metallurgical recoveries and capital and operating costs of such projects; contests over title to properties, particularly title to undeveloped properties; laws and regulations governing the environment, health and safety; the ability of the communities in which the Company operates to manage and cope with the implications of public health crises; the economic and financial implications of public health crises, ongoing military conflicts and general economic factors to the Company; operating or technical difficulties in connection with mining or development activities; employee relations, labour unrest or unavailability; the Company's interactions with surrounding communities; the Company's ability to successfully integrate acquired assets; the speculative nature of exploration and development, including the risks of diminishing quantities or grades of reserves; stock market volatility; conflicts of interest among certain directors and officers; lack of liquidity for shareholders of the Company; litigation risk; and the factors identified under the caption "Risk Factors" in the Company's public disclosure documents. Readers are cautioned against attributing undue certainty to forward-looking statements or forward-looking information. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially, there may be other factors that cause results not to be anticipated, estimated or intended. The Company does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update these forward-looking statements or forward-looking information to reflect changes in assumptions or changes in circumstances or any other events affecting such statements or information, other than as required by applicable law.
One of "Lovely Runner's" directors Kim Tae Yeop talked about the drama and his admiration for young actress Kim Hye Yoon.

Keep on reading to know what the director said.

'Lovely Runner' Director Kim Tae Yeop Shares Insights About the Megahit K-Drama

On June 11, a special lecture by producer Kim Tae Yeop of tvN's "Lovely Runner" was released through Dongguk University Educational Broadcasting Station. In the video, PD Kim discussed more about the series and proudly shared how popular it was during its broadcast for topping 130 countries.

He added that the influence of K-content has become great, which means the scale of the industry has grown.

PD Kim revealed that "Lovely Runner" cost almost USD 14 Million (20 billion won) to produce. "Usually, a 16-episode mini-series costs this much. It's a very large amount of money. Once it fails, it will be difficult for many people."

He elaborated that in order to make things work, "We base it on stories that are safe and have a high chance of success. There are many cases in which we bring in proven stories that have been successful to some extent in webtoons and web novels."

'Lovely Runner' Episodes 2 & 13 Were Filmed On The Same Day

As his discussion continued, he shared some behind-the-scenes stories while working on "Lovely Runner."

PD Kim Tae Yeop said that he was surprised to see the ending script for Episode 2.

"The script for episode 13 came the day I started filming episode 2, so I had to film the ending of episode 2 and the ending of episode 13 together."

To recall, the ending of episode 2 features Ryu Sun Jae (Byeon Woo Seok). There was a twist that he had a crush on Im Sol (Kim Hye Yoon) in the past, and in episode 13, the story of Ryu Sun Jae not recognizing Im Sol after his memory was reset was depicted.

Kim Tae Yeop Expresses Admiration for Kim Hye Yoon

The director went on and reveal that the ending of episode 2 and the ending of episode 13 were filmed on the same day. This made the conversation jump to Kim Hye Yoon, who had a great shift of emotions and exhibited top-notch acting in filming the drama. Then PD Kim expressed his admiration for the actress.

"Kim Hye Yoon is 15 years younger than me, but I respect her."

Moreover, PD Kim confessed that he also valued the reactions of viewers, "I consider receiving feedback very important. They are cool-headed." He was also shocked by some scenes and humorously said that the writer should stop as things were getting interestingly good.





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.
"Hierarchy" continues to gain popularity despite the mixed reaction from viewers.

A new spin on school themed K-drama, the 7 episode series showcases the revenge of an ordinary student who goes against the elite and influential group of high school students.

Set in the fictional Jooshin High School, the most prestigious university in South Korea, where sons and daughters of top conglomerate owners, politicians, and powerful individuals study.

Interestingly, the protagonist, Kang Ha, played by Lee Chae Min, managed to enter the university through its scholarship program, bringing him on a mission to uncover the mysterious death of his twin brother.

Joining Lee Chae Min are fellow rising stars Roh Jeong Eui, Kim Jae Won, Ji Hye Won, and Lee Won Jung as lead stars.

Other than the promising cast lineup, viewers are also drawn to the premise of "Hierarchy" and how it depicts the education system in South Korea.

However, netizens have mixed reactions to the intimate scenes featured in the drama, particularly the student-teacher relationship.

Provocative Scenes in 'Hierarchy' Spark Disappointment from Viewers

Despite "Hierarchy" being a teen romance series, the Netflix series also depicted the unexpected relationship between student Lee Woo Jin (Lee Won Jung) and one of the teachers at Jooshin High School, Ms. Han (Byeon Seo Yoon).

Due to Ms. Han's profession and Woo Jin's status as the son of a political figure, the two agreed to keep their relationship a secret.

Some of the episodes also showed their intimate moments, which viewers see as explicit and unnecessary to the story's premise.

In a post shared in an online community, a user warned viewers regarding the premise of "Hierarchy." Titled "The Drama Premise That I Am Currently Worried About" it reiterated that some scenes may need guidance from adults.

"It's a high-teen romance drama, but in articles, they state that there will be unprecedented levels of nudity."

Meanwhile, the team behind "Hierarchy" explained the reason for showcasing intimate scenes in the story.

'Hierarchy' Producer Responds to Viewers' Claim Regarding Provocative Scenes

In a report, producer Bae Hyun Jin discusses the differences between the Netflix teen series and other youth-oriented dramas.

"The difference is that the children who lived in the solid world created by the royal family for granted are breaking that idea and growing up," he said through Netflix; however, as for "Hierarchy," the protagonist, who belonged to the lower class, showed resistance to the system, pushing other students to break the cycle.

As for the provocative scenes, "Hierarchy" also showed a true glimpse of South Korea.

"There are not many school dramas that delve into school problems as explicitly as in Korea, so it attracts attention overseas as content that shows the harsh reality of Korea."

For more K-Drama, K-Movie, and celebrity news, keep your tabs open here at KDramaStars.

KDramaStars owns this article

Written by Geca Flores
As the Korean film industry continues to unveil fresh talent and narratives, one familiar face from the realm of broadcasting is poised to make a significant leap onto the silver screen.

"Single's Inferno" star DEX is stepping into a new role as actor Kim Jinyoung, and ready to captivate audiences with his performance in the upcoming film "Tarot."

At the movie's press conference, held at the CGV Yongsan I-Park Mall in Seoul, DEX exuded a blend of humility and anticipation as he discussed his debut film.

"They called me a movie star, but I am not a person who deserves that kind of title."

He conveyed his gratitude for the opportunity. Jinyoung's transition from reality star to actor reflects a journey marked by dedication and determination.

Directed by Choi Byung Gil and penned by Kyung Min Seon, "Tarot" weaves a narrative tapestry that explores the intricacies of fate and choice.

Set against the backdrop of three distinct episodes, the film delves into the enigmatic world of tarot cards, where individuals confront the repercussions of their decisions.

DEX, portraying the character of Dong In in the third episode titled "Throw Away," navigates the complexities of a chilling and transformative ordeal.

READ ALSO : DEX In Talks For His First Ever K-drama Lead Role

In anticipation of the film's release, DEX expressed a candid curiosity regarding the reception of his performance, stating:

"How much criticism will I get?"

His introspective query resonates with the inherent uncertainty and vulnerability that accompany artistic endeavors.

However, despite his apprehensions, DEX exudes confidence in the collaborative effort and stellar performances showcased in "Tarot," emphasizing the value of collective dedication and skill.

While his apprehensions may linger, public anticipation for his performance remains palpable.

Trailers and promotional materials have elicited enthusiastic responses from audiences, with DEX's portrayal garnering particular acclaim.

Director Choi Byung Gil, reflecting on his decision to cast DEX, expressed confidence in his abilities, affirming his belief that he will shine brightly as an actor in the future.

In the face of impending critique, Jin-young remains resolute, embracing both praise and constructive criticism as catalysts for growth.

Reflecting on his performance, he acknowledges both strengths and shortcomings, affirming his commitment to continuous improvement.

"The biggest advantage is naturalness."

He emphasized his dedication to authenticity and evolution as an actor.

CHECK OUT 'TAROT' OFFICIAL TRAILER HERE!

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: Cho Yeo Jeong Reunites With 'High Class' Director For Mini Drama 'Tarot' - Here's What We Know So Far

For more K-Drama, K-Movie, and celebrity news, keep your tabs open here at KDramaStars.

KDramaStars owns this article.

Written by Joana Cabigas.








Wednesday, June 12, 2024 - A violent man stormed Ragumo Police Station in Kisumu County armed with a machete and a pair of scissors before attacking and seriously three police officers.

According to a police report, the 25-year-old man stormed the station yelling and shouting.

When the officers led by the stations OCS tried to contain him, he turned violent and attacked them.

Today at around 1230hrs one male adult namely Nicholas Agai aged 25 years approached the station while yelling and shouting, armed with a machete and a pair of scissors. Officers led by the OCS approached the suspect at the station in order to contain him but he turned violent, and attacked officers, read part of the police report.

A police officer was stabbed on the left side of the chest during the violent attack and was rushed to Greys Medical Center in Kisumu where he was admitted in critical condition.

Another officer was injured on the right hand while the other was injured on the left hand during the scuffle.

The police officers shot twice in the air to scare the man but he could not retreat or surrender.

The officers managed to arrest the suspect and locked him in custody.

The incident comes a few days after a 19-year-old University student assaulted a police officer while on duty along Kamiti Road at Mirema Junction in Nairobi.

The Kenyan DAILY POST.




Wednesday, June 12, 2024 - Public Service Cabinet Secretary, Moses Kuria has termed Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua as a divisive figure for championing unity in the Mt Kenya region.

In an interview with Citizen TV presenter Yvonne Okwara on Tuesday evening, Kuria, who is known for shooting from the hip, lectured the second-in-command, describing him as a divisive figure in the Kenya Kwanza government.

The outspoken CS warned that the push for unity in the Mt Kenya region would likely lead to the isolation of the region by the rest of Kenyans.

According to Kuria, Gachaguas push was wasting the time and space needed to rebuild the country

"Rigathi Gachagua is a divisive figure. Even for my people, the Kikuyu, he's going to lead them to their isolation.

"But most importantly, he's wasting the space that we need to focus on nation-building.' Kuria said.

The Kenyan DAILY POST








Wednesday, June 12, 2024 - Public Service Cabinet Secretary Moses Kuria has defended the government against criticism over the Finance Bill 2024 which proposes a raft of tax proposals.

In an interview with Citizen TV on Tuesday, Kuria said the government has the right to impose taxes to fund its budget.

It is the legitimate right of any government, in Kenya or anywhere in the world, to raise taxes. There is no other source of money for a government to run other than raising taxes, Kuria said.

The CS argued that a government is constitutionally obligated to increase taxes or borrow from other governments if its current revenue sources are insufficient.

When we borrow, we borrow for one reason; because we cant raise enough taxes. The only legitimate, bonafide source of money for running the government is by raising taxes, he said.

The Finance Bill 2024 has elicited massive reactions among Kenyans with several institutions and corporate bodies expressing reservation against some of its proposals.

The Kenyan DAILY POST






Wednesday, June 12, 2024 - A grandma who spent 30 years of her life single has tied the knot once again at the age of 79, just six weeks after she met her new partner.

Ernestine Murphy described living a mundane life that involved watching old cowboy films at home after she lost her late husband of 20 years, Robert Lee, when he was just 39 years old.

But two months ago, she shocked her granddaughter, Michelle, 30, with the news she had "met someone at church". That someone was Moses Cusse, also 79, a grandfather-of-two and carpenter.

Michelle was even more shocked when she found out from her grandma that the pair would be getting married at Alpha and Omega church in Richmond, Virginia, in front of 55 guests on May 25 - just six weeks after they met.

Michelle, a customer service worker, also from Richmond, said: "When she told me I was shocked - she barely leaves the house. To hear that she had met someone new was crazy. I knew this man must be something special.

"I couldn't believe it, she has struggled with depression for years and to see her bounce back was amazing. My grandmother is essentially my mum - as she raised me - and to see her suddenly living like she has a purpose is so great - and all because she's in love."

Ernestine and her new love, Moses, originally from Las Vegas, Nevada, met at their local church. The grandma revealed to her granddaughter she had met a man at the time but hadn't even got his name as she was too shy to ask him.

Ersteine and Moses quickly struck up a relationship, speaking daily on her phone and always meeting up.

Michelle said: "I was getting booted off the phone, but she kept just saying they were taking things slow."

The couple continued their romantic phone calls and meetings before announcing that they were getting married only six weeks after meeting.

Michelle recalled: "I went to walk the dog and was trying to process it, it has been such a short period of time and had moved so fast. But then I thought you're nearly 80 - life is not guaranteed, why should I not support her?"

Michelle finally met Moses at a family dinner just days before the wedding.

She said:" They are so adorable - they are practically the same height. He's such a perfect gentleman."

The couple held a small ceremony at their local church in Richmond, with Michelle's TikTok of the joyous day going viral.

Ernestine commented: "I'm not sure what viral means, but after seeing all the love and support, I knew it was God who was behind it."

Ernestine and Michelle both wore matching pink dresses for the event that Michelle described as a "dream wedding".

After the ceremony, the couple held a reception at the church and have plans to take a honeymoon soon.

After the wedding, Ernestine moved into Moses' house with him, also in Richmond, straight away.

Michelle said: It has all been amazing, it just shows it's never too late to fall in love.






Tuesday, June 11, 2024 - A Florida police sniper took what has been considered an impossible shot in a bid to rescue some persons taken hostage by robbers in a bank.

Officers for the Lee County Sheriff's Department surrounded a Fort Myers Bank of America after a 36-year-old man attempted to rob the facility. The robber took 2 hostages inside the bank, using them as shields while communicating with a negotiator.





The Sheriff's Department has released video of the standoff, with a sniper steadying his aim onto the suspect while right outside, balancing his gun on another deputy's shoulder.

Despite the negotiator's attempts to talk down the robber, he's heard referencing the man's children at one point. The robber refused to surrender and instead puts a knife to the throat of one of the hostages.





This led to an immediate response from the sniper who took a shot, with the bullet traveling through a desktop computer screen and right in between the 2 hostages, successfully striking the robber.

The suspect falls to the floor as the hostages run off. Police then moved in, throwing in flash-bang grenades and doing a sweep.

Lt. Todd Olmer of the Lee County Sheriffs Office said in a statement;





"Shooting positions like these are trained regularly by snipers for time-critical incidents like these. Due to the suspects limited exposure, the sniper took a planned and deliberate shot through a computer monitor, striking the suspect in the center of the forehead, killing him instantly."

Watch the video below




Wednesday, 12 June 2024 - The proverbial fortieth day of a murder suspect believed to have slain his 63-year-old employer in Murang'a on 22nd September 2022 has finally dawned after over 20 months of holing up, a period that subjected the affected family to untold grief crying for justice for their kin.

Prior to going berserk and hacking his boss to death, Fred Cheluba Murunga (the suspect) worked as the deceased's farmhand for one and a half months, staying at his home located at Kerandi village in Kigumo, Murang'a County.

The report booked at Ngonda Police Station indicated that on the fateful morning, the suspect sent a 12-year-old grandchild of the late Mzee Paul Njuguna Kamau to a nearby shop, and while he was away, turned against his employer with a machete.

The juvenile would only return moments later to find his grandfather locked up in the kitchen, crying in agonizing pain. Apparently, the rest of the family members were away, and the young boy had gone to visit the aged man to get him some breakfast.

The minor raised the alarm, drawing the attention of the villagers who thronged the homestead. Jointly with the local police who had also learnt of the incident, the responders broke into the kitchen only to stumble upon Mzee's body soaked in blood, stiff and lifeless. Beside him lay the suspected murder weapon, a machete.

Enraged neighbours who bayed for Cheluba's blood searched for him unsuccessfully. Not only was he missing, but so were the deceased's motorcycle and mobile phone.

Taking up the case, Kigumo DCI officers activated a manhunt for the killer farmhand, with preliminary investigations revealing that the deceased's motorbike and mobile phone were sold out in Eldoret.

With each passing day, the affected family's hope tailed off, but the detectives maintained their focus and put the suspect on police radar, further seeking the intervention of their counterparts from DCI HQS Crime Research and Intelligence Bureau (CRIB).

Acting on crucial intelligence leads, CRIB detectives yesterday cornered the murder suspect at the premises of a security firm based in Ruiru, where he was seeking employment.









The Kenyan DAILY POST.




Wednesday, January 12, 2024 - Kapsaret Member of Parliament Oscar Sudi is over the moon after winning a high-profile court case where he was accused of forging certificates to contest for his parliamentary seat.

This was evidenced on Wednesday when he toured the office of Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro at Parliament Buildings in Nairobi.

Nyoro disclosed that their meeting centred around the Sh 14.5 billion allocated towards rural electrification in the upcoming financial year.

Today hosting engineer Oscar Kipchumba Sudi and Kiambaa MP John Njuguna Wanjiku in our office.

" We are particularly excited about the KSh 14.5 billion that will be going towards electrification in the next FY.

"Every constituency will be getting KSh 50M for the last-mile electricity connection," Nyoro said.

However, a light moment occurred during the meeting after the Kiharu MP made fun of Sudi's recent fake certificate case.

"Recently, I heard the court say you have a degree. Was it a degree or a PhD?" Nyoro posed jokingly.

In his light response, the Kapsaret MP said the court took eight and a half years to authenticate his certificates before declaring them legitimate.

Sudi said the court ruling marked an end to Kenyans mocking him for allegedly possessing fake academic papers.

"Now, I have a degree. We are now on the same level.

"The time of people despising me is over.

"The court analysed my degree for eight and a half years and came to the conclusion that I was overqualified.

"The time of your mocking is over," Sudi said as they burst into laughter.

The Kenyan DAILY POST






Tuesday, June 11, 2024 - Israel has extended a ban on Al Jazeera's operations for another 45 days.

Israel's telecoms regulator said the ban came after the Israeli war cabinet agreed its broadcasts posed a threat to security.

A Tel Aviv court last week upheld an initial 35-day ban on Al Jazeera operations in Israel, imposed by the government on national security grounds, which ended on Saturday.

In another ruling on a petition by Al Jazeera against the closure, Israel's Supreme Court described the measure against the Qatari-backed broadcaster channel as "precedent-setting".

The Supreme Court gave Israel's government until August 8 to offer arguments for "why it should not be determined that the Law Preventing a Foreign Broadcaster from Harming National Security" is void.

Al Jazeera had told the court it did not incite violence or terrorism and that the ban was disproportionate, court documents showed, saying it only criticised Israel's military operations in Gaza.

The network's broadcasts on the cable and satellite companies and access to its websites will remain blocked, Israel's Communications Ministry said.

"We will not allow the terrorist channel Al Jazeera to broadcast from Israel and endanger our fighters," said Shlomo Karhi, adding that the law authorised him as communications minister to take such action against foreign broadcasters.

"In light of the seriousness of the damage to the security of the state I am convinced that the closure orders will be extended in the future as well," he said.

Judge Shai Yaniv had said he had been provided with evidence, which he did not specify, of a close relationship between the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas and Al Jazeera, accusing the channel of promoting Hamas' goals.

Al Jazeera said it "rejects all the minister's claims, excuses and accusations".






Wednesday, June 12, 2024 - Actor, Kevin Spacey broke down in tears in a new interview after admitting to "touching someone inappropriately" despite the individual not wanting him to.

The actor was accused of misconduct in 2017 but was found not guilty in a 2022 New York lawsuit and was acquitted of assault charges in a separate London trial in 2023.

In an interview with Piers Morgan, he spoke at length about the accusations he has faced.

He is due to stand trial in the UK again, likely in early 2025, over a lawsuit by another man claiming Spacey assaulted him. Spacey has denied all allegations.

Kevin, 64, admitted wrongdoing to Piers Morgan and stated that he had acted inappropriately towards people. When asked about his "bad behaviour", Kevin responded that he had been "Pushing the boundaries".

He later added: "Being too handsy, touching someone sexually in a way that I didn't know at the time they didn't want."

Piers replied: Some people would say that is criminal, that if you grope people in a s3xual way against their wishes, that that is a crime.

"I agree that the word 'grope' is a very odd word," Kevin said, adding: I personally, I have caressed people, I have been gentle with people, that is the way that I am. 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 think the word itself is not a word that I associate with my experience.

Later in the interview, Spacey broke down into tears as he revealed he had been forced to sell his home and was left on the brink of bankruptcy. He revealed that his home in Baltimore is currently being auctioned.

He explained: "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. So I have to go back to Baltimore and put all my things in storage." When asked about where he is living, Kevin responded: "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."

Disclosing why his home was being foreclosed, he stated he "can't pay the bills" that he owed, later revealing he had "managed to sort of dodge" bankruptcy due to the rising costs of legal bills.

"None," he replied when Piers asked how much money he had left in his bank.

"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," he stated, adding that he was in a "considerable" amount of debt before confirming the cost was "many millions".

In 2022, the Oscar-winning actor was sued by a man at the High Court in London who claimed he had been sexually assaulted by Spacey and suffered "psychiatric damage". The civil claim was paused after Spacey was charged  and later acquitted  in criminal proceedings of a number of sexual offences alleged by four men between 2001 and 2013.

Watch the video below






Wednesday, June 12, 2024 - A 50-year-old South African man identified as Solomon Mthana has revealed that he suffered mental and emotional trauma after being misdiagnosed with HIV and then placed on ARVs.

According to him, being told later that he's negative has been an emotional and psychological roller-coaster ride for him and his family.

It was gathered that his ordeal began after visiting Settlers Hospital in Makhanda in March to have a lump in his head removed through surgery. Doctors took blood samples for testing at the laboratory to understand the underlying causes of the lump.

They also insisted on doing a rapid response HIV Test which gives instant results. The Test found Mthana was HIV-positive, which led to him getting counselling before he was put on ARV treatment.

The private security guard told Sowetan that the drugs took a toll on his body and that he suffered mental and emotional trauma because of the misdiagnosis. He said;

I was struggling to get used to the drugs. The first two weeks were the worst. I was vomiting constantly, had nausea and my body was often abnormally tired.

However, negative blood Test results from the lab only came back in April after Mthana had been taking the treatment for over a month and learning to live with a non-existing virus in his body. He said he suspected something was off the day the doctors broke the news to him. Nurses, he said, were unusually too nice to him. He further revealed that they offered him counselling on the spot.

Mthana said;

Around four nurses received me when I arrived at the facility and were too polite. I have never seen them like that. They even offered me tea. There was also a therapist. By that time, I knew there was something suspicious. Then the doctor came and broke this news.

I had disclosed to my partner and some of the members of my family about my HIV-positive status which I was then told later it never existed. Its been an emotional and psychological roller-coaster ride for me and my family. We have been taken to hell and back.

The Eastern Cape health department has blamed the rapid response Test kit for the false results and also apologised to Mthana. Department spokesperson Mkhululi Ndamase said the Test kits which give immediate results are not 100% accurate.

He said;

It is important to note that HIV test kits have a 99% accuracy rate, meaning there is a possibility of false positive cases. The Test was done in line with protocol.

We can confirm that the patient is known to Settlers Hospital. The patient was called, and redress was done and accepted after the clinical processes taken were explained to him.

Ndamase said that no one was to blame for the incident and that there wont be any consequential action taken against anyone at the hospital.

While Mthana is worried that taking and stopping the drugs may lead to long-term effects, former president and CEO of the SA Medical Research Council, Prof Glenda Gray, said he need not worry.






Wednesday, June 12, 2024 - Health Cabinet Secretary Susan Nakhumicha has published a new document breaking down treatment tariffs that will be used under the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF).

As explained in the document, Kenyans with SHIF insurance policies will access six free services at SHIF-accredited hospitals in the country.

Among the services Kenyans will be able to access include; access to Antiretroviral (ARV) treatment, HIV testing and follow-up tests, family planning, antimalarial medication, and testing.

Anti-tuberculosis and immunization services for children will also be offered for free.

On the other hand, the Ministry also released guidelines and tariffs for common services such as outpatient and inpatient.

The tariff for outpatient services was put at Ksh2,000 with a limit of four visits per person in a year.

Outpatient services include; consultation, diagnosis, and treatment, prescribed laboratory, and investigations, and basic radiological examinations including X-rays, ultrasounds, prescription, drug administration, and dispensing.

On the other hand, in-patient services offered at Level 4-6 facilities will be charged at different rates depending on the facility's categorization.

For instance, at Level 4 facilities, in-patient services will be charged at Ksh3,500 while the tariff for Level 5 facilities will be Ksh4,000.

At Level 6 health facilities, the impatient tariff was proposed at Ksh5,000.

The scope of inpatient services includes hospital accommodation charges, meals, and nursing care in a general ward bed.

Normal delivery and essential newborn care will be charged at Ksh11,200 while caesarean section and essential newborn care will be charged at Ksh32,600

Meanwhile, for the preservation of bodies in mortuaries, the cover will be limited to 5 days at a rate of Sh500 per day.

Kenyans have been asked to give their view on the charges and submit their proposals before June 17.

The Kenyan DAILY POST






Tuesday, June 11, 2024 - U.S. Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene is receiving heat on social media after comparing Donald Trump to Jesus Christ.

The Democrats and the fake news media want to constantly talk about, Oh, President Trump is a convicted felon, she said, referring to the former presidents conviction last month on 34 felony charges in the Stormy Daniels hush money trial.

Well, you wanna know something? The man that I worship is also a convicted felon, she said. And he was murdered on a Roman cross.

This isn't the first time Greene has compared Trump to Jesus. In 2023, after the former U.S.president was arrested, she likened him to both Christ and late South African President Nelson Mandela.

Nelson Mandela was arrested, served time in prison. Jesus, Jesus was arrested and murdered by the Roman government, she said at the time.

And Trump just last month shared a social media post comparing himself to Jesus.

Greenes critics gave her hell on social media over her latest attempt to equate the former president to Jesus.

Watch the video that angered viewers below.




Wednesday, June 12, 2024 - President William Ruto has moved quickly to avert another crisis over former President Uhuru Kenyatta over the fiasco regarding the latters retirement perks.

This is after Uhuru came out guns blazing, accusing Ruto of withholding his retirement benefits and frustrating his staff.

In a statement, State House Spokesman Hussein Mohammed revealed that Ruto held talks with Uhuru to iron out their differences.

According to Hussein Mohamed, the morning meeting was centred around finding a solution to the ongoing back and forth between the two offices.

Consequently, Ruto formed a team that will look at the issues raised by Uhuru. The team will be chaired by the Head of Public Service Felix Koskei.

Among the issues that will be addressed by the team include the contentious location of Uhurus retirement office.

"This morning (yesterday), President William Ruto had a conversation with his predecessor in office, the 4th President, President Uhuru Kenyatta, regarding concerns about facilitating the functioning of the retired Presidents office.

"President Ruto has consequently constituted a team, led by the Head of Public Service, to immediately address all the issues raised, including the location of the retired Presidents office and the attendant staff establishment," read the statement in part.

The Kenyan DAILY POST








Wednesday, June 12, 2024  The bad blood between President William Ruto and is Deputy, Rigathi Gachagua, has continued with Public Service Cabinet Secretary Moses Kuria viciously attacking the DP over his push for unity in the Mt. Kenya region.

Speaking during an interview, Kuria lectured the deputy president, describing him as a divisive figure in the Kenya Kwanza government.

The Public Service CS warned that with the push for unity in the region, Gachagua would likely lead the Mt. Kenya region into isolation from the rest of the country.

According to Kuria, the second-in-command's push was wasting the time and space needed to rebuild the country.

"Rigathi Gachagua is a divisive figure. Even for my people, the Kikuyu, he's going to lead them to their isolation. But most importantly, he's wasting the space that we need to focus on nation-building.' Kuria said.

Rutos allies have been accusing Gachagua of fueling tribal politics through his new unity push.

The Kenyan DAILY POST






Wednesday, June 12, 2024 - National Assembly Majority leader, Kimani Ichung'wah, has blasted Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua after he travelled to Mombasa using a Kenya Airways Plane.

Gachagua was spotted at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport(JKIA) on Tuesday boarding a Kenya Airways plane heading to the coastal city.

Many Kenyans were quick to congratulate Gachagua for traveling like a villager but Ichungwah had no kind words for the second-in-command.

He accused him of trying to attract sympathy from Kenyans and said no amount of blackmail or drama would make him kneel before him.

Neither President @WilliamsRuto nor the Government of Kenya or Members of Parliament will succumb to BLACKMAIL. No amount of sympathy seeking photos, vernacular stations campaigns, social media blogging troops will handover billions to satisfy anyones INSATIABLE GREED for POWER & MONEY, Ichungwah wrote.

Gachagua was reportedly denied a chopper by the government and that is the reason he booked a commercial plane to Mombasa.

The Kenyan DAILY POST




Wednesday, June 12, 2024 - Kiambaa Member of Parliament John Njuguna Wanjiku, popularly known as KaWanjiku, may never forgive Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.

This is after Gachagua chased him out of his office like a stray dog for simply visiting Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro who he claims is his enemy for trying to upstage him as Mt. Kenya kingpin.

Speaking during an interview, KaWanjiku claimed the second in command was not amused by his decision to visit Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro.

KaWanjiku, as he's popularly known, said he had visited Nyoro's constituency for a benchmarking exercise only for Gachagua to get wind of it and made him pay dearly.

"I went to his (Gachagua) office, and he kicked me out. I had gone to Kiharu to benchmark their activities that is why he chased me away," the MP stated.

The MP observed that Gachaguas push for Mt Kenya unity should be inclusive, and all leaders should be invited.

He emphasised that the unity of the region should not be discriminative, warning that sidelining others would lead to a rebellion.

"Ndindi is from Kiharu. Isnt he from the mountain? Same as Kimani Ichungwah. Hence, when we talk about unity, we mean all of us.

Dont talk about unity in the mountain in the morning and in the afternoon chastise a Mt Kenya politician.

"We will reach a point where people can become rebellious, hence instead of uniting people, you will end up dividing them. Thats why some of us are revolting, and it is not because we want to," he said.

The Kenyan DAILY POST






Tuesday, June 11, 2024 - Singapore Airlines has announced passengers will receive $10,000 in compensation for injuries suffered on a flight hit by extreme turbulence which killed a 73-year-old man.

British father-of-two Geoff Kitchen suffered a suspected heart attack on board flight SQ321, while several other passengers and crew 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.

'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.






Tuesday, June 11, 2024 - U.S. president, Joe Biden's son has been found guilty of illegally buying a gun after hiding his drug use.

Hunter Biden, 54, was convicted of three firearm charges in the first criminal prosecution of a sitting US president's child.

US Prosecutors had said he lied on a form when buying a Colt Cobra revolver gun in October 2018 by stating he was not a drug user or addict, despite having an addiction to crack cocaine at the time.

Biden pleaded not guilty to felony charges that included lying about his addiction when he filled out a government screening document for the revolver and illegally possessing the weapon for 11 days.

U.S. First Lady, Jill Biden was in the courtroom shortly after the verdicts - which came after the jury deliberated for about three hours and was seen holding her stepson's hand as they left.

The trial included testimony from Hunter Biden's ex-wife and sister-in-law, who gave accounts of his addiction in the weeks before and after buying the gun.

Prosecutors also showed text messages, photos and bank records they said showed Biden was deeply addicted to cocaine when he bought the gun.

Hunter Biden's lawyers tried to show he was not using drugs when he bought the gun and didn't intend to deceive as he didn't consider himself a drug user at the time.

The defence called Hunter Biden's daughter, Naomi Biden, who testified her father seemed to be doing well when she saw him shortly before and after he bought the gun.

President Joe Biden did not testify at the trial, which was held in the Bidens' hometown of Wilmington in Delaware.

The sentencing guidelines for the gun-related charges are 15 to 21 months, but legal experts say defendants in similar cases often get shorter sentences.

The case comes after last month's criminal conviction of Donald Trump, the first former US president to be found guilty of a crime.




Wednesday, June 12, 2024 - The Mpumalanga High Court in South Africa has sentenced a 39-year-old police officer, Sizwe Cedric Khoza to three life sentences for killing his wife and her siblings.

Khoza, who was attached to Masoyi police station, shot and killed his wife, 35-year-old Nomthandazo Mnisi last year. He also shot her 32-year-old sister, Colisile Mnisi, and her 42-year-old brother, Dennis Mkhantshwa, in Hazyview on 30 April 2023.

Khoza shot the siblings in cold blood during a family meeting seeking to resolve his marital issues with his wife.

The judgement was handed down on Tuesday, June 11, 2024, by Judge Takalani Vincent Ratshibvumo, who also declared Khoza medically unfit to possess a fireman.

Judge Ratshibvumo imposed the sentence against Khoza to send a message to the community of Masoye

"I checked to see if there is any substantial and compelling reason that justifies deviation from the prescribed sentence of life imprisonment, said Judge Ratshibvumo.

The more I zoomed into these traditional mitigating factors, instead of me finding anything substantial and compelling to justify the imposition of anything less, unfortunately, I find even more aggravating factors.

In fact, deviation from the prescribed sentences will send a wrong message to the community. The community of Masoye and people of Mpumalanga have to know that the courts are not going to tolerate gender-based violence

The message has to go out to the streets of Mbombela that anyone who violates women will be dealt with by the courts mercilessly

For the simple reason that you have one life, the legislature also provides that any sentence that is imposed together with life imprisonment shall run concurrently with life imprisonment. As a result, the sentences in count number 2 and 3 shall run concurrently with sentences in count 1," said the Judge.

According to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) in Mpumalanga, Khoza had last week, pleaded guilty in the High Court in Mbombela to three counts of murder after he shot the two sisters who were working as nurses, and their brother Dennis Collen Mkhatshwa.

The accused in the matter (Khoza) pleaded guilty on three counts of murder and the matter was postponed to June 10, 2024 for sentencing proceedings, Mpumalanga NPA regional spokesperson Monica Nyuswa said last week.

Khoza returned to court on Monday, where the case was rolled over to Tuesday.

During the appearance on Monday, Nyuswa said the State and the defence presented arguments in aggravation and mitigation of Khozas sentence.

Court papers revealed that prior to the shooting incident, Khoza and Nomthandazo were having challenges in their marriage.

The police officer also invited his relatives to the meeting which was held at his residence on April 30 last year

The meeting degenerated, and according to court papers, Khoza became angry and stormed out of the meeting.

He came back armed. He cocked the firearm and shot the two deceased (Xolisile Mnisi and Dennis Collen Mkhatshwa) and his wife (Nomthandazo). The three deceased died at the scene of the crime, the court papers detail.

Injuries suffered by the three family members are also detailed in the court papers, including gunshot wounds to their heads, multiple perforating gunshot wounds to the chest, with lung and liver injuries

After Khozas conviction, Nyuswa on behalf of the NPA in Mpumalanga, told IOL that the State will ask the court to impose a severe sentence on Khoza.

At the time, acting national spokesperson for the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid), Robbie Raburabu said the police officer allegedly used his service pistol to slaughter the siblings

"The family were meeting, following a dispute between the suspect constable and his wife. When things did not go the suspects way, he decided to go fetch his service pistol and fatally shot the three family members, including his wife, said Raburabu.

Ipid investigators were summoned to the crime scene at Kamajika Trust near Sabie Sand in Mpumalanga province.




Wednesday, June 12, 2024 - KANU chairman Gideon Moi, who had taken a long sabbatical from politics, has spoken about the Controversial Finance Bill 2024.

The bill which has the support of the Treasury and President William Ruto, is set to introduce a raft of taxes on basic commodities such as bread, cooking oil, MPESA and bank transactions, bodaboda, and wheelbarrows among others.

In a statement on Tuesday, Moi termed the bill as retrogressive and punitive.

He said the proposed Finance Bill 2024 would burden Kenyans and create an unfavourable investment environment leading to job losses.

"The Finance Bill 2024 contains punitive tax proposals on individuals, households, and businesses amidst tough economic times. If not carefully revised, it will likely condemn more Kenyans to poverty," he said.

The former Baringo county senator urged the National Assembly Finance and Planning Committee to review the bill before presenting the final draft for MPs to vote on.

"This is an opportunity for the committee to redeem itself from the superficial public participation exercises it subjected Kenyans to in the 20233/2024 financial year, where public input was largely disregarded in the final report presented to the National Assembly, Moi said.

The Kenyan DAILY POST




Wednesday, June 12, 2024  The government of President William Ruto sought to justify why it has opted to introduce the controversial Eco Levy in the contentious Finance Bill 2024 that will raise the prices of bread and cooking oil.

Appearing before the Finance Committee, Environment Principal Secretary Festus Ng'eno explained that the levy was introduced to address concerns about waste management in the country.

He noted that the money collected from the manufacturers and importers would be used in environmental conservation initiatives.

The levy, therefore, targets products such as plastic packaging, smartphones, and diapers.

Consequently, owing to the inclusion of packaging, manufacturers warned that bread and cooking oil would increase by Ksh9 and Ksh16 respectively.

The revenue generated from the levy is earmarked for such initiatives as putting up enhanced waste management systems, creating public awareness and education through nationwide campaigns, to support innovation and enhanced research and development in green technologies," he stated.

Additionally, initiatives such as tree planting and nationwide environmental campaigns will be implemented with the money collected from the imposition of the levy.

Further, the PS noted that the levy was not new and had been adopted by other countries such as Germany, Estonia, Ireland, Jamaica, Guyana, and Ghana.

According to the PS, the government will collect over Ksh50 billion through the imposition of the levy.

However, Members of Parliament poked holes into the programme with a section of the Finance Committee questioning what the levy was not proposed to be ringfenced as the Housing Levy.

The Kenyan DAILY POST






Wednesday, June 12, 2024 - Two women have been arrested in Russia on suspicion of killing a man who refused to sleep with them.

The suspects, 29 and 37, were drinking with the 63-year-old in a churchyard in Stavropol before the alleged attack occurred.

The female friends reportedly beat the man to death when he refused to sleep with them, according to reports in Russia.

The women were pictured at the alleged forest crime scene with officers from Russia's Investigative Committee.

One woman is seen demonstrating how she kicked the victim with a dummy.

Another image shows one of the women being escorted by officers out of a police van.

Officers have said the victim knew both of the women.

'In the course of an argument, the women gave the 63-year-old man multiple blows with their fists and feet to his head and torso,' said the committee.

'The victim died at the scene as a result of his injuries.

'Wishing to avoid responsibility for the offence, the accused dragged the body of the deceased to a wooded area and hid it in a hole.'

The women named Rosa, 29, and Martha, 37, were remanded in custody for two months over the death of Alexander, 63, in the cemetery.








Wednesday, June 12, 2024 - Retired President Uhuru Kenyatta has scored the first win in his battle with President William Ruto over his retirement package.

This is after he secured the use of his home next to State House as his official office, following his phone call with Ruto yesterday.

This was revealed by Public Service Cabinet Secretary Moses Kuria, who confirmed that Uhurus residence on Nairobis Dennis Pritt Road, popularly known as Caledonia, will be gazetted as the Office of the Fourth President.

Kuria, who attended the cabinet meeting on Tuesday, stated that Ruto, in a briefing to his Cabinet, highlighted that Uhuru requested the use of his Caledonia residence as his official office.

"The home of the retired president is now going to be a gazetted government office, and that is not ordinary.

"In our understanding, we had done everything according to the Act, but the President, in his wisdom, said he didn't want this issue to go out of hand," CS Kuria stated during an interview.

This decision follows a war of words between the government and Uhuru over the retirement benefits enshrined in the Constitution which he accused State House had denied him.

However, in response, Government Spokesman Isaac Mwaura accused Uhuru of not being truthful since Ruto had accorded him all his retirement benefits per the law.

The Kenyan DAILY POST






Tuesday, June 11, 2024 - The UN Security Council on Monday June 10 adopted a resolution aimed at reaching a comprehensive ceasefire deal in three phases to end the war in Gaza.

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.

After the vote,, US Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield told Security Council members "today, we voted for peace."

Adopted by a large majority with 14 votes in favour and Russia abstaining, the resolution also urges both Israel and Palestine to fully implement the terms of the proposal without delay and without condition.

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.

Phase one of the deals 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.

Phase two of the deal 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 Gaza 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.

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 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.






Tuesday, June 11, 2024 - The military leader of Hamas, Yahya Sinwar, has stated that the Palestinian militant group has the upper hand over Israel in the war in Gaza, according to a report by the Wall Street Journal, citing leaked messages the journal said it had seen.

We have the Israelis right where we want them, Sinwar told Hamas political leadership in Qatar recently, according to one of the messages, the WSJ reported. The date of the message isnt clear but suggests that Sinwar wants the war to continue.

The WSJ said it saw dozens of messages sent to ceasefire negotiators from Sinwar, who has been in hiding since the October 7 attack on Israel which sparked a devastating war on Gaza, killing more than 37,000 people in the enclave, according to Gaza health authorities, and leaving much of the Gaza strip destroyed.

The WSJ reported that in one message Sinwar said civilian deaths in previous conflicts were necessary sacrifices, citing past independence-related wars in places like Algeria.

As Israel prepared to enter Rafah before the Muslim month of Ramadan in February, the WSJ alleged Sinwar urged Hamas political leaders not to make concessions and instead push for a permanent end to the war.

Israels journey in Rafah wont be a walk in the park, Sinwar allegedly said in a message to the Hamas political leadership.

Commenting on the WSJ report, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said on X: Sinwar profits off the deaths of Gazan civilians, calling them necessary sacrifices in order to urge international pressure on Israels efforts to eliminate his terrorist organization.

Mediators are waiting for a Hamas response to an Israeli proposal presented by US President Joe Biden last month which aims to release the hostages in Gaza and implement a ceasefire there.

While the US is pushing those who have sway over Hamas to pressure the group to accept the deal, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken also made it clear that the US believes that the groups leader, Sinwar, is the ultimate decision-maker.

I think there are there those who have influenced, but influence is one thing, actually getting a decision made is the is another thing. I dont think anyone other than the Hamas leadership in Gaza actually are the ones who can make decisions, Blinken said, adding that that is what we are waiting on.

Blinken said that Hamas answer to the proposal will reveal the groups priorities.

We await the answer from Hamas in and that will speak volumes about what they want, what theyre looking for, who theyre looking after, Blinken said. Are they looking after one guy who may be for now safe  I dont know, 10 stories underground somewhere in Gaza, while the people that he purports to represent continue to suffer in a crossfire of his own making? Or will he do whats necessary to actually move this to a better place, to help end the suffering of people to help bring real security to Israelis and Palestinians alike.
Physician leaders: Are you committed to doing everything you possibly can to prevent physician suicide?

This CHAP is how you answer that question.

This document contains two steps that will ensure you do everything possible to be there for your people when they need you the most.

A simple audit that will show you how badly you fail to support your struggling doctors. It will take you less than 15 minutes to complete. A checklist for a complete crisis hotline awareness program that will fill all the gaping holes in your current system.

Part One: Crisis Hotline Awareness Audit

You must personally perform this audit so you can experience the failure of your system.

Go to a satellite facility within your system unannounced.

Step into the back office where they are seeing patients and grab a physician/APP as they move in the hallway from room to room between patients.

Ask them, What is the crisis intervention hotline number  or URL? They will not be able to answer that question.

Ask them how they would find that number or link, then ask them to do so and watch what happens. Were they able to find the link or number? How much effort did that require? When you clicked or dialed it, did it go to your crisis hotline, and was the call picked up and handled appropriately?



Imagine this caller was actually suicidal at the time they tried to find the number.

Repeat this audit randomly throughout your system every week until your system ceases to exist.

Report the results of your weekly audit to the C-Suite every month until your system ceases to exist.

Your performance standard is 100 percent. Each and every caller should know  or be able to easily find  the call number or link. When the call is made, it should be answered immediately and appropriately by your crisis intervention staff every single time, without delay or having to leave a message.

5-step crisis hotline awareness program checklist

If one does not exist already, build or outsource a crisis hotline function within your organization dedicated to your physicians and staff. You can do this inside your EAP program; however, physicians will not access it with the same frequency as your non-physician employees. We strongly recommend you build a separate crisis hotline for the physicians. This can be outsourced.

The crisis hotline should be staffed 24/7 by an appropriate screening professional with the ability to offer immediate support to employees and physicians in crisis.

Awareness program components

1. Web/intranet

Build the crisis hotline number into the template for every one of your intranet pages.

The number must be on a bright background and above the foldthat is, it must be visible at the top of the page without needing to scroll to find it. This must be in the top right corner of every page inside your intranet and visible without scrolling.



2. Card in the wallet or purse

Print several thousand copies of a business card that contains the same message and the hotline number or link.

Distribute half a dozen cards to every person who draws a paycheck from your organization. Encourage them to carry the card in their purse or wallet or slide it into the clear cover of their ID badge. The goal is to always have this card available should it be needed for you or any of your colleagues.

In your staff meetings, ask people to pull their cards out and show them to you, and if they dont have one, give them another one.

3. Card with each of your leaders

Make additional copies of the same card as needed to ensure each of your frontline leaders  both administrative and physician leaders  always has at least a couple dozen cards in their pocket. Every member of your organization should always have a card on their person, and if they dont, their leaders should be able to supply a new one as they round on their people.

4. Card on the fridge at home

Make as many refrigerator magnets as you need from the same card and send one to every significant other/partner of every physician or APP in your organization.

This ensures the same information is on the refrigerator at home for every one of your providers, and their partner knows where to find the hotline number too.

5. Leadership reporting

Every month, the leadership team should be made aware of: All EAP interactions with struggling providers and staff did not come through hotline access. The nature of the complaint The disposition and status of each case All calls made to the hotline The nature of the complaint made by the caller The outcome and triage disposition of every caller The current status of each caller The results of the weekly CHAP audit for the prior four weeks of the month How many cards were handed out by each leader over the course of the previous month



From one leader to another, I personally dare you to create a program this comprehensive. I have never found a system that would pass this audit despite ten years of trying and interviewing hundreds of C-Suite executives. I sincerely hope that yours can be the first!

Completion of the checklist and weekly audits of the system will allow you to know you did everything you can to optimize the crisis hotline for your people.

Dike Drummond is a Mayo-trained family practice physician, burnout survivor, executive coach, consultant, and founder of TheHappyMD.com. He teaches simple methods to help individual physicians and organizations recognize and prevent physician burnout. These tools were discovered and tested through Dr. Drummonds 3,000+ hours of physician coaching experience. Since 2010, he has also delivered physician wellness training to over 40,000 doctors on behalf of 175 corporate and association clients on four continents. His current work is focused on the 7 Habits of Physician Wellbeing. Dr. Drummond has also trained 250 Physician Wellness Champions, and his Quadruple Aim Blueprint Corporate Physician Wellness Strategy is designed to launch all five components in a single onsite day. He can also be reached on Facebook, X @dikedrummond, and on his podcast, Physicians on Purpose.
17th Street  nestled between Jackson Memorial, a major U.S. safety net hospital, and Camillus House, the largest homeless shelter in South Florida  is empty. There are no bicycles or tents belonging to the individuals who typically inhabit the area. There is no line outside of the Three Sisters where people usually wait for a meal. The street is quiet and desolate.

We visit 17th Street every Saturday morning with Miami Street Medicine, a student-led medical team that brings healthcare to the streets. When we began, 17th Street was a hub for patients; individuals overlooked by the healthcare system congregated there, yearning for the chance to secure a shelter bed, seek resources from our team, or access food from the surrounding organizations. Miami Street Medicine has always hoped that 17th Street would be empty because everyone was able to find housing. Instead, its empty because the police came by and herded everyone away.

The police came by this morning. They told us we had twenty-four hours to pack up our things and leave or that we would be arrested. I was respectful. I told them okay and that I had to go to work but that I would be back by three in the afternoon. I really need this job; its all I have to help get me back on my feet right now. When I came back, everything I had to my name was gone. They threw out my tent. My mothers ashes were in there.

This is just one of the many horrific stories that followed in the wake of Governor Ron DeSantis signing House Bill 1365 this past March. House Bill 1365 bans public sleeping and camping, which include residing overnight in an outdoor space, erection of temporary shelters, the presence of bedding or pillows, and storage of personal belongings. In essence, this bill bans being homeless. Enforcement involves street sweeps, which start with an increased police presence. Unsheltered individuals are given two choices  vacate the area within twenty-four hours or face jail time. To guarantee compliance, the next step is deploying water trucks. The streets are sprayed with jets of water, washing away any remnants of the people who may have once called that area home.

In a recent statement, DeSantis claims, The legislation I signed today upholds our commitment to law and order while also ensuring homeless individuals have the resources they need to get back on their feet, however, this sentiment provides false hope. While the bill allows for counties to designate certain public areas for encampment sites, the logistics behind this are complex, and there are several difficult hoops to jump through. Another layer to this is that individuals or businesses who encounter public sleepers can sue the county or municipality, with full recovery of court costs and attorney fees. Local governments lack adequate funding and resources to establish encampments or provide more shelter beds. Existing shelters are usually already full or only able to provide a bed for 24 hours. This leads to a never-ending and unjust cycle of street sweeps, arrests, and punishing homeless individuals simply for existing.

When a street sweep occurs, people who are unsheltered are left without options. HB 1365 comes with no allocation or investment into affordable housing, shelter beds, or social services. When the police give the ultimatum to leave or go to jail, and theres nowhere else to turn, jail becomes inevitable. Our jails are now filled with people whose only crime is being homeless. Although their bail is set low, at only $50 to $100, this is an impossible amount for people who are living penny-by-penny. Individuals unable to afford bail languish in jail, often indefinitely, leading to overcrowded incarceration facilities.

Street sweeps can also have lasting psychological, emotional, financial, and physical effects on our unsheltered population. People lose their important paperwork, money, medications, wheelchairs, all of their clothes, you name it. Some of our patients spend months trying to get their paperwork and documents together, and in one sweep, theyre back at square one. The hope deteriorates and it takes so much more for us to help raise the morale to try to start again, says Hana Abdulla from Miami Street Medicine. Studies show that forced displacement of unsheltered people is associated with higher rates of mortality, hospitalization, and physical injury, as well as decreased management of chronic medical conditions, substance use disorders, and mental health.

A bill that aims to end homelessness, like HB 1365, appears great on the surface. However, forced encampments and criminalization of homelessness have long been found to be inhumane, ineffective, and expensive. HB 1365 is a thinly veiled attempt to force cities to return to failed policies of criminalization and forced encampments, says Alana Greer, a lawyer with the Community Justice Project, a Miami-based law firm that aids in social justice movements. Greer adds: This deeply flawed law does not fully come into effect until 2024, yet reports of increased sweeps have already emerged. We need our local leaders to chart a path forward that rejects criminalization and recenters the humanity of our neighbors.

As a community, we must extend compassion and support to those experiencing homelessness, offering them a path toward stability and self-sufficiency. To start, it is imperative that we recognize and address the distressing human rights violations stemming from ongoing street sweeps. In the short term, we can spread awareness that House Bill 1365 is not slated to take effect until October 1st, 2024. It is essential that police refrain from conducting any further street sweeps prior to the laws official enactment.

Long-term solutions, including Housing First, have had well-documented success. Housing First models not only show increased housing retention and improved mental health outcomes but also economic benefits that exceed the cost of the program. A particular program in North Carolina found that Housing First saved the city $2.4 million in one year, with a marked decrease in jail time, hospital stays, and emergency room visits. When comparing the $16,479 it costs to house a person for one year in a Housing First program with the $47,057 it costs to incarcerate a person for one year, it is evident that investing in supportive housing is both a more humane and fiscally responsible approach to this complex societal issue.

Right now, Miami stands at a crossroads in its approach to homelessness. Street sweeps and the criminalization of homelessness represent a regression into punitive measures that only exacerbate the suffering of our citys most vulnerable residents. As a community, we must stand together against these sweeps and instead embrace compassionate, evidence-based solutions that uphold the dignity and well-being of our people.

We must work together to build a city where 17th Street is empty, not because its inhabitants have been forced to relocate or have been put in jail, but because everyone has found a home. It is time for Miami to stop sweeping homelessness under the rug.

Madison Guido and Karen Weinstock are medical students.
The three Members of Parliament accused of alleged involvement in a budget corruption scandal involving Parliament and Finance Ministry officials have been produced before the Anti-Corruption court in Kampala.

The trio was detained on Monday before detectives yesterday spent hours searching their respective homes in Kampala and Wakiso districts.

The accused MPs are Lwengo District Woman MP Cissy Namujju, Bunyole East MP Yousuf Mutembuli, and Paul Akamba of Busiki County.

They arrived at the Anti-Corruption Court in Kololo this afternoon amid tight security.

It is alleged that the 3 on May 11th, 2024 at Hotel Africana solicited from Mariam Wangadya the chairperson of the Uganda Human Rights Commission (UHRC), an undue advantage of 20% of the anticipated enhanced budget of her commission for the financial year 2024/ 2025.

They are alleged to have promised to exert influence over the decision making of the budget committee of parliament to increase the commission budget.

They are expected to be arraigned in Court anytime from now. The alleged have appeared before Chief Magistrate Anti-Corruption Court Joan Aciro, and they have all pleaded not guilty, now they are applying for bail by press time through a team of lawyers led by member of parliament of Bugiri Municipality Asuman Basalirwa.
Three Members of Parliament (MPs) accused of alleged involvement in a budget corruption scandal involving Parliament and Finance Ministry officials have been remanded to Luzira prison.

The have appeared before the Anti-Corruption Court Chief Magistrate Joan Aciro who sent then on remand as investigations continue.

The trio was detained on Monday before detectives yesterday spent hours searching their respective homes in Kampala and Wakiso districts.

The accused MPs are Lwengo District Woman MP Cissy Namujju, Bunyole East MP Yousuf Mutembuli, and Paul Akamba of Busiki County.

They arrived at the Anti-Corruption Court in Kololo this afternoon amid tight security.

It is alleged that the three on May 11th, 2024 at Hotel Africana in Kampala, solicited from Mariam Wangadya the chairperson of the Uganda Human Rights Commission, an undue advantage of 20% of the anticipated enhanced budget of her commission for the financial year 2024/ 2025.

They are alleged to have promised to exert influence over the decision making of the budget committee of parliament to increase the commission budget.

Their arrest on Monday this week followed concerns by president Museveni that there are corrupt MPs who collude with officials from the Ministry of Finance during budgetary allocations.

The accused MPs were then summoned and reported to the Criminal Intelligence Directorate in Kibuli and were held at Kira Police Divisional Headquarters where they were later taken for a search at their respective homes.

They have however denied corruption charges before Chief Magistrate Aciro and State Prosecutor Nicholas Kawooya informed court that police investigations are still on-going.

Through their respective lawyers, the accused MPs applied to be released on bail after presenting their surities including Mutibwa Derrick MP Bunyole West, Namukose Minsa Kirya a community development officer in Mukono municipal Council and a sister to MP Mutembule.

MP Akamba has been introduced in court as a resident of Kyanja in Nakawa division and also presented his passport. He has also presented Nayigaga Mariam; the Namutumba District woman MP, Robert Kasolo an MP of Ikiki County in Budaka District and Kibalya Henry MP Bugabula County South as his surities.

For Donozia Cissy Namujju , a 46 year old woman MP and has presented Sentayi Muhammad Mp for Bukoto County West, Hassan Bulwadda; the owner of Bulwadda clinic on Gayaza Road and her long business partner, Ssemwanga Javira; MP Buyamba County in Rakai district to stand for her as surities.

Their lawyers Asuman Basalirwa, Mwesigwa Caleb and Richard Rugambwa however put it to courts attention that the suspects rights were breached as police held them incommunicado yet they were co-operative to the extent of voluntarily answering the summons and leading police to their residencies to conduct a search.

However State prosecutor Nicholas Kawooya objected to Namujju and Akambas bail application because they didnot provide proof inform letters written by Local Council (LC) authorities from their respective residences as per the bail guidelines yet he needs ample time to verify the one presented by Mutembule .

Cheif magistrate Aciro adjourned the case to 14th/ June for mention and ruling on whether the state should be given more time to verify the sureties documents.

If found culpable, the MPs face up to a ten years imprisonment term or a fine of 4.8m shillings.
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has voiced hope for continuing to develop "meaningful and close" ties with Russian President Vladimir Putin, state media reported Wednesday, amid growing speculation that the Russian leader could soon travel to Pyongyang.

In a congratulatory message to Putin on the occasion of Russia's national day, Kim said the two nations' ties have evolved into an "unbreakable relationship of comrades-in-arms" following his summit with Putin in Russia's Far East in September last year, according to the Korean Central News Agency.

"The meaningful ties and close comradely relations, to be continued between us in the future, will further consolidate the eternal milestone of the DPRK-Russia relations in the new era," Kim said, using the acronym of North Korea's official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

Putin is expected to make a trip to North Korea as early as this month before paying a visit to Vietnam, the Russian daily Vedomosti reported earlier this week. The Kremlin earlier said Putin had accepted Kim's invitation to visit North Korea during last year's summit.

Japanese broadcaster NHK reported Wednesday that Russia is arranging Putin's visit to North Korea and that he could go "as early as next week" as part of a tour that would include a stop in Vietnam.

If realized, it would be Putin's first trip to Pyongyang since 2000, when Kim Jong-il, the late father of Kim Jong-un, ruled the country.

Signs were detected of the installing of a large-sized structure at Kim Il Sung Square in Pyongyang, the Voice of America, a U.S. news outlet, reported, citing satellite imagery. The move warrants attention for possible signs of North Korea's preparations for Putin's visit, it added.

North Korea and Russia have been bolstering military ties and expanding the scope of cooperation in various fields since the Kim-Putin summit.

Pyongyang is suspected of having provided weapons and munitions for use in Russia's war with Ukraine in exchange for Moscow's potential transfer of weapons technology and food aid. (Yonhap)
President Yoon Suk Yeol said Wednesday that Korea and Kazakhstan need to broaden the scope of economic ties beyond their traditional focus on the automotive and resource sectors to include critical mineral supply chains and infrastructure projects.

During a bilateral business forum held as part of his state visit to Kazakhstan, Yoon underlined the need for expanding the areas of economic cooperation to better complement each other's industries.

"Since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1992, Kazakhstan has become Korea's largest trading partner and investment destination in Central Asia," Yoon said in a keynote speech.

"Korea and Kazakhstan need to further expand the horizon of economic cooperation, given their mutually complementary industrial structures," he added.

Korea is Kazakhstan's fourth-largest investor and fifth-largest trading partner. Korea maintains a significant presence in Kazakhstan's automotive market, while importing crude oil and minerals, such as uranium, from Kazakhstan.

Yoon underscored the importance of enhancing collaboration in the supply chain for critical minerals amid rising economic uncertainties from geopolitical risks. (Yonhap)
By KTimes

About 10 children sit cross-legged with their eyes gently closed. "Tell me what comes to mind," the master instructs.

This is not a scene from a Buddhist meditation practice. It's a moment from the first episode of "Star Wars: The Acolyte," which premiered on Disney+ on Friday. The children are Jedi younglings training to become the guardians of peace in the galaxy. Actor Lee Jung-jae appears as their master, Jedi Master Sol.

For the first time in the 47-year history of the Hollywood series, an Asian actor plays a Jedi Master. Through Lee, the drama depicts a training scene for the Jedi apprentices in an Eastern style for over a minute.

The Force, the essence of the Star Wars series and the source of Jedi power is derived from the Eastern concept of Qi. Lee Jung-jae uses this Force directly, emphasizing the Eastern worldview within the Star Wars series.

Sung Sang-min, a pop culture critic, said, "The scene where Lee Jung-jae trains the Jedi breaks the limitations of Orientalism and authenticity that the Star Wars series has historically portrayed through Western actors as Jedi Masters."

Master Sol is revered as a true elder, embodying both wisdom and a compassionate nature. When a younger Jedi Knight named Yord (Charlie Barnett) meets Sol, he bows at a 90-degree angle instead of saluting.

"The Acolyte" is set 100 years before the events of the film "Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace" (1999), which covers the earliest story chronologically in the Star Wars series.

The idea that the roots of Jedi leadership in a series comparable to America's founding mythology lie with an Asian master is groundbreaking. Historically, Asian actors in Hollywood productions have been cast in peripheral roles such as "the good immigrant."

Eastern elements shine through

The Eastern influence in the series is evident throughout, including set designs featuring wooden latticework.

A notable example is in the second episode, where a three-minute fight scene prominently showcases Lee's Eastern martial arts, characterized by controlled, minimal movements instead of the typical lightsaber clashes. This scene has been compared to watching Chow Yun-fat in "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon."

Lee appears from the middle of the first episode and plays a major role throughout the series, even leading the ending credits. His performance, delivered in a deep, resonant voice, brings a calm authority to his English lines.

Although reviews of the series have been polarized after the release of the first two episodes, both domestic and international audiences have responded positively to Lee's portrayal of a Jedi Master.

Comments on Reddit, the largest internet community in the United States, praised his performance, reading, "Lee Jung-jae brings a balance to the series," "His composed acting is impressive" and "It's like Li Mu Bai from 'Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon' has come to Star Wars."

This positive reception is particularly noteworthy given the racial backlash that arose when a person of color was cast in a major Star Wars role before the show's release.

Disney targets Asian, young subscribers

"Acolyte" is reaping the benefits of the Lee Jung-jae effect. The series, released on Thursday, topped the Disney+ charts in the U.S. and Britain and maintained its global No. 1 position for four consecutive days until Sunday.

According to the U.S. magazine Variety, the first two episodes of "Acolyte" garnered 4.8 million views on their release day, the highest number for any Disney+ content released this year and 1.7 times more than the average views of the recent Star Wars series "Ahsoka" (2023).

Film market analyst Kim Hyung-ho said, "'Acolyte' may disappoint hardcore Star Wars fans, but it is approachable for newcomers to the series," adding that Disney's casting of Lee aims to refresh and broaden the aging and niche-focused series.

The success of "Acolyte" contrasts sharply with the reception of other high-budget Disney+ K-dramas like "Moving" (2023) and "Uncle Samsik," which have failed to make a significant impact on the U.S. charts.

This disparity is largely due to the unavailability of K-drama content on Disney+ in the U.S., where such content is only accessible through Hulu, another Disney subsidiary.

The distribution strategies for K-content differ between Disney+ in the U.S. and other regions, such as Korea. As of the first quarter of this year, Disney+ had 117.6 million paid subscribers globally, more than double Hulu's 50.2 million.

This gap has led to criticism within the domestic industry regarding the visibility of K-dramas in the U.S. video streaming market.

A content market insider familiar with global streaming trends noted, "Disney is very strict about managing its family-friendly brand image. That's why BTS-related content is available on Disney+ in both Korea and the U.S., whereas K-dramas are not."

The age rating for "Acolyte" is 12 and above in Korea, whereas "Moving" is restricted to viewers aged 18 and above.

This article from the Hankook Ilbo, a sister publication of The Korea times, is translated by a generative AI and edited by The Korea Times.




By Park Han-sol

The National Folk Museum of Korea (NFMK), dedicated to preserving artifacts that offer a glimpse into the everyday lives and folklore of Koreas past, stands at an important crossroads, with plans to reopen in 2031 at a new location within the national museum complex in Sejong City.

In line with this relocation, the state-run institution aims to expand its collection to include a wider array of international cultural relics, thus fostering two-way dialogue between the folk items of Korea and those from around the world, according to Jang Sang-hoon, its newly appointed director.

Up until now, the museum has been largely devoted to collecting and researching artifacts within the country, he said at a press conference in central Seoul, Wednesday. "However, that doesnt mean we have completely set aside our interest in their global counterparts."

Over the last two decades, it has amassed nearly 5,800 articles representing the worlds living cultural heritage, predominantly from Asia: traditional wedding adornments, performance-related objects, shamanistic materials, African crafts and archival items gathered from ethnic Korean communities in Japan, Germany and Central Asia.

If the NFMK has focused primarily on showcasing Koreas identity through its heritage items for all these years, we aim to take a step further with our bolstered international collection to create a space where visitors can appreciate and compare cultures from around the world  from lifecycle rituals to seasonal customs, he said.

Jang, a veteran in the field with prior roles at the National Museum of Korea and the Jinju National Museum in South Gyeongsang Province, went on to announce the folk museums plans for the second half of 2024.

Among the scheduled exhibitions are shows dedicated to kkokdu," or traditional wooden figures hung on biers at funerals, and coffee, a drink introduced to Korea 140 years ago.

The museums partnership with overseas institutions will continue through a special touring exhibition. Korean Knots, which puts the spotlight on the craft of maedeup (ornamental knots), is set to travel to the Korean Cultural Centre Australia and the Metropolitan Museum of Manila in the Philippines.

In line with its 20-year project of publishing the 70-volume Encyclopedia of Korean Folk Culture, the NFMK is set to release a new volume on the cultural symbols and icons of hallyu, or the Korean wave, in December.
With Sonny down, veterans, young guns step up game for Korea in World Cup qualifying win
By Yi Whan-woo

Insurance companies have begun to cover losses suffered by subscribers whose cars were damaged by North Korea's trash-filled balloons sent over the demilitarized zone in its latest provocation, according to industry sources, Wednesday.

The case is noteworthy, as insurance companies are not responsible for compensating damage caused by war or provocations from outside forces.

"It appears insurance companies debated over whether to offer compensation to customers," an insurance industry source said, noting Pyongyang's balloon offensive was a new form of provocation.

In the insurance industry, damage caused by war or military provocations is not entitled to compensation.

Under the circumstances, local media reported that a car insurance company offered 330,000 won in compensation to a subscriber in Ansan, Gyeonggi Province, after the windshield of the subscriber's car was smashed by one of the hundreds of trash-filled balloons from the North on June 2.

The repairs cost 530,000 won ($385).

The insurance firm covered 330,000 won under the contract that stipulates the policyholder should pay for a minimum 200,000 won of the damage while the insurer will cover the remaining expenses.

"It marks the first case of a car insurance policyholder receiving benefits concerning damage caused by the North's balloon offensive," the source said.

For privacy reasons, the source declined to give further details on the insurance company and the beneficiary.

Also declining to provide relevant details, another source said a different car insurance firm received a request from its subscriber in Seoul's Dongdaemun District to cover damage to his car window due to Pyongyang's balloon offensive.

"The company is said to be handling the issue in accordance with the contract," the source said.
By Lee Hae-rin

The Korea Airports Corp. (KAC) will implement Building Information Modeling (BIM) for a new airport on Gadeok Island off the coast from Korea's southern port city of Busan, the company announced, Wednesday. The airport is slated to be completed by the end of 2029.

BIM is a technology that enables 3D visualization and automation concerning the overall construction process in order to enhance quality and productivity.

Applying BIM technology enables the simulation of real-life construction processes, allowing for the prediction and analysis of information results.

The technology enhances productivity and efficiency in construction and creates high economic added-value by saving some 10 to 30 percent of the costs, the company explained.

Since April, the KAC has been in charge of digital construction management by introducing BIM technology and the digital twin system in the construction until the new airport launches in 2030.

Previously in October 2020, the KAC became the first entity in the airport industry worldwide to acquire BIM International Organization Standardization (ISO).

Last month, the airport operator acquired a patent with BIM technology that minimizes errors with the digital twin-based smart airport management system.

Most airport construction projects around the world have adopted BIM technology. Additionally, several countries worldwide have already mandated the use of BIM technology in construction, according to KAC.

The Korean government is also pushing to introduce the digital construction management system by 2030 in all state-led construction projects.

Amid changing trends to apply BIM technology in broader categories in the airport industry, KAC aims to contribute to enhancing the countrys competitiveness by applying BIM technology in all procedures of an airport's construction, said Lee Jung-ki, KACs executive vice president and acting vice president, during a press briefing.

Korea has been pushing for the early opening of the new airport on Busans Gadeok Island, especially during its World Expo 2030 bid.

The 10.5 trillion won ($7.62 billion) construction project was initially slated to be complete by June 2035, but it was moved forward to the end of 2029 in order to synchronize with the prestigious event that Korea ultimately failed to secure.

The government forecasts that the new airport will yield an economic impact of nearly 29 trillion won. It is anticipated to contribute over 18 trillion won to the economic growth of Koreas second-largest city, Busan, and bolster the economy of the broader regions of Gyeongsang Province as well, as per the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport.

However, the project's bidding process closed last week with zero applicants from construction firms.

The government proceeded with opening the rebidding last Friday. It will remain open until June 24.
The United States remains ready for "anything" that could happen on the Korean Peninsula, its top envoy to South Korea said Tuesday amid tensions heightened by Pyongyang's recent sending of trash-filled balloons to the South and Seoul's subsequent reaction to it.

Ambassador Philip Goldberg made the remarks, criticizing the North's floating of the balloons across the inter-Korean border as "outrageous" and "counterproductive" to reducing tensions on the peninsula.

The North has sent waste-loaded balloons, taking issue with South Korean activists' sending of anti-Pyongyang leaflets to the North. In response, the South resumed loudspeaker propaganda broadcasts near the border on Sunday, but decided to halt the broadcasts the following day.

"We are ready for anything that happens, and we are not letting our guard down at all because it's very unpredictable," Goldberg said during a podcast hosted by the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies.

The ambassador highlighted the readiness of the 28,500-strong U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) to defend South Korea.

"They follow this hour by hour, minute by minute, and we, at the embassy, do too," he said.

"We are standing by our allies. We are discussing the full range of our military and security policies to make sure that the ROK is reassured and the people of the ROK are reassured of the American commitment that shouldn't be in doubt," he added. ROK stands for South Korea's official name, the Republic of Korea.

Goldberg went on to stress that USFK troops are "evidence" of America's long-term security commitment to South Korea.

His emphasis on readiness was accompanied by his apparent call for Pyongyang to refrain from ratcheting up tensions.

"What they are doing with these balloons are outrageous and so counterproductive to reduction of tensions and we will stand by our ROK allies absolutely in all of this," he said.

The ambassador also said that it is "natural" for the South to take steps to deter the North's provocative acts "through building up the alliance and by showing resolve."

Touching on South Korean activists' movement to send anti-Pyongyang leaflets, he pointed out the need for tension reduction.

"We, of course, believe in free speech and the rest, but we also understand that we need to reduce tensions, not increase them," he said.

Regarding a recent trilateral summit between South Korea, China and Japan in Seoul, the ambassador said that Washington is not concerned about it, as he cast it as a "natural" process to manage their relations.

Goldberg was in Washington to attend a conference of chiefs of U.S. diplomatic missions. (Yonhap)
By Jung Min-ho

Dozens of Christians were tortured and killed en masse at a church in Nonsan by communist soldiers during the Korean War, South Koreas Truth and Reconciliation Commission said Wednesday.

After two years of investigation into the case, the commission confirmed that 54 Christians, including 29 minors, were murdered for their faith at Byeongchon Holiness Church by communists between July and September 1950.

After taking control of the city in South Chungcheong Province in July, within just one month after their invasion on June 25, 1950, North Korean soldiers initially tortured and killed three leading figures at the church.

But just before retreating from the region, following the successful U.N. Command mission at the Battle of Incheon, North Korean soldiers massacred the remaining church members and their families in late September, the investigation concluded. Thirty of the victims were women.

South Korean communists in support of North Korea's invasion were among the perpetrators of the war crimes, it noted.

The commission urged the North Korean regime to issue an apology to the victims and their relatives and compensate them for the losses.

Founded in 1933, Byeongchon Holiness Church was forced to close 10 years later as a result of the persecution of Christians under Japans colonial rule (1910-45). The church reopened in 1948, three years after Japan surrendered to the United States and other allied forces during World War II, only to face another tragedy two years later.

In April, the commission also found that 104 Christians were killed by North Korean soldiers at 24 churches in North Jeolla Province between July and November 1950.

The commission said at least 1,700 Christians lost their lives across South Korea as a result of religious persecution by North Korean soldiers and South Korean collaborators during the war.

North Korea remains one of the world's major persecutors of Christians and people of other religions. In January, the U.S. government designated North Korea and 11 others as countries of particular concern for religious freedom violations, marking the 22nd consecutive year the North has appeared on the annually updated list.

Other countries included in the list are Turkmenistan, China, Cuba, Eritrea, Iran, Nicaragua, Pakistan, Myanmar, Russia, Saudi Arabia and Tajikistan.
Notice outlining gym entry criteria for female customers raises controversy

By KTimes

A gym in Incheon has sparked controversy by posting a notice prohibiting entry to "ajummas," a Korean term that could loosley be translated as "middle-aged women" in English but also carries the social connotation of being ill-mannered.

The gym claims that such women have caused disruptions, while critics argue that excluding individuals without reasonable grounds constitutes discrimination.

According to a JTBC report, the gym recently placed a sign on its entrance stating "Off limits to ajummas," with an additional note specifying "Only cultured and elegant women permitted to enter."

The notice also listed eight criteria to distinguish "ajummas" from women:

Firstly, ajumma have a tendency to like free stuff regardless of their age. Secondly, they get criticized everywhere but are the only ones who don't realize it. Thirdly, they frequently take seats reserved for pregnant women on public transportation, though they are not pregnant.

Fourthly, they order one coffee for two people at cafes and ask for an extra cup. Fifthly, they secretly dispose of food waste in public restrooms or toilets. Sixthly, they are stingy with their own money but not with other people's money. Seventhly, they lack memory and judgment, often repeating the same things. Lastly, if they fall over, they receive help from nobody.

The gym owner told JTBC, "Ajummas bring baskets of laundry to the gym, use hot water for one to two hours, doubling the water bill. They also make sexually inappropriate comments to younger female members, like 'You'll have healthy babies.'"

Public reaction to the gym's policy has been mixed. Some internet users defended the gym, saying, "Ajummas come to the gym, take soap, towels and tissues, and just chat loudly without exercising." Others mentioned, "I've often seen ajummas reserving spots on treadmills with their belongings and chatting on the bikes. Even as a middle-aged woman, I find some of their behavior excessive."

There have also been many negative reactions such as, "It is inappropriate to target ajummas when you should be banning troublesome customers," "There are such customers regardless of age or gender," "Wouldn't it be better to run a men-only gym if this is the case?" and "This is clearly gender discrimination."

Restricting certain customers is not in violation of any Korean laws. Business owners frequently restrict customers as seen at establishements with signs denying entry to foreigners, children, seniors or pets.

The controversy continues to provoke debate about appropriate behavior in public spaces and the boundaries of discrimination.

This article from the Hankook Ilbo, sister publication of The Korea times, is translated by generative AI and edited by staff of The Korea Times.
The foreign ministry on Wednesday dismissed Japan's renewed protest over Seoul's routine maritime survey near the East Sea islets of Dokdo, emphasizing a firm stance against "unjust claims."

On Tuesday, Japan's foreign ministry lodged a complaint through diplomatic channels, demanding an immediate halt to the maritime survey conducted by the Korea Hydrographic and Oceanographic Agency around the rocky islets. A similar complaint was lodged last Thursday.

In response, Seoul's foreign ministry said the maritime survey is a legitimate activity, emphasizing that Dokdo is indisputably Korean territory historically, geographically and under international law.

"Japan's unjust claim over Dokdo, which is our inherent territory, will be met with a resolute response," a ministry official said on the condition of anonymity, adding the Korean government cannot accept any claims by Japan concerning territorial sovereignty.

Dokdo has long been a recurring source of tension between the two neighbors, as Tokyo continues to assert its sovereignty claims in policy papers, public statements and school textbooks. Tokyo also lodges a complaint every time Seoul conducts regular maritime surveys.

The agency dispatches a research vessel regularly to monitor ocean currents and measure sea temperatures using sonar technology as part of its ongoing maritime surveys.

In April, Japan also filed a complaint through the diplomatic channels after a group of lawmakers, including Cho Kuk, the leader of the Rebuilding Korea Party, visited the islets.

Korea maintains a small police detachment on the islets, effectively controlling them. (Yonhap)
Korea's trade ministry said Wednesday that it has discussed the progress of the bilateral free trade agreement (FTA) with the European Union and asked the economic bloc to address growing regulatory uncertainties for exporters.

The meeting of the Committee on Trade in Goods held in Brussels comes in line with efforts to address companies' hurdles in trade activities, according to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy.

During the meeting, Korea asked the EU to address the growing burden on its firms due to uncertainties in the economic bloc's environmental regulations, including the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism.

Seoul especially asked the EU to acknowledge various methods of carbon emission reduction efforts and improve its reporting system.

The two parties acknowledged that the FTA has significantly bolstered bilateral trade, with the volume rising 3 percent annually despite global uncertainties.

The trade volume reached a record amount of $136.1 billion in 2023, rising sharply from just $83.3 billion posted in 2010, a year before the implementation of the FTA.

"Amid the expanding protectionism and recent global uncertainties, Korea and the EU remain committed to free trade. Thus, we will fully utilize the bilateral FTA for mutual benefit and to ease regulations," said Director General for Trade Policy Chang Sung-gil, who led the delegation. (Yonhap)
Senior diplomats from Korea and Cuba held talks Wednesday for the first time since the establishment of diplomatic relations earlier this year, Seoul's foreign ministry said.

Deputy Foreign Minister Chung Byung-won met with Carlos Miguel Pereira Hernandez, director general for bilateral affairs at the Cuban foreign ministry, in Seoul and discussed bilateral ties, as well as the opening of mutual diplomatic missions, according to the ministry.

Both sides concurred that the establishment of diplomatic ties between Korea and Cuba marks a "significant milestone" in their bilateral relations, the ministry said, pledging joint efforts to expand and enhance cooperation in various fields.

Notably, the two parties agreed to establish diplomatic missions in each other's countries as soon as possible as they will serve as a foundation for strengthening relations.

Chung said Korea plans to establish a temporary office in Havana in the first half of this year in a bid to accelerate the opening of its embassy. South Korean officials are expected to visit Havana this week for the work.

Pereira noted that Cuban officials tasked with opening their embassy in Korea have been active with the goal of establishing the embassy at the earliest possible date.

Pereira, leading a delegation, is in Seoul to attend a regional forum on cooperation between Korea and Latin American countries. He is the first senior Cuban diplomat to visit Korea since the formal diplomatic ties were forged in February.

Following the forum on Monday, Pereira told reporters that the opening of a Cuban embassy in Seoul could potentially occur as early as next month.

The Cuban official said the embassy would be opened "as soon as possible," when asked by reporters on Wednesday about the timing.

He will be departing for Havana on Thursday. (Yonhap)
President Yoon Suk Yeol and Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev agreed Tuesday to collaborate on the supply chain for critical minerals, from exploration and development to commercialization.

The agreement came at summit talks held in the Kazakh capital of Astana to discuss ways to strengthen the strategic partnership in a wide field of areas.

During the talks, the two sides signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on critical minerals supply chain partnership to pave the way for comprehensive cooperation ranging from joint exploration to the final use of critical minerals.

"The two countries agreed to strengthen the critical mineral supply chain by combining Kazakhstan's abundant mineral resources with South Korea's advanced technology," Yoon said in a joint press conference.

Kazakhstan, a major oil and natural gas producer, holds a large reserve of uranium, chromium, titanium and rare earth metals, making the resource-rich country an important partner for South Korea's chip and battery makers.

Other MOUs call for joint lithium mine exploration and development, and technology cooperation for rare metals commercialization between the public and private sectors.

The agreements are aimed at developing a partnership covering the entire cycle of exploration, mining and refining of key minerals, including lithium, and giving Korean companies priority in developing economically viable minerals.

The two leaders also agreed to cooperate in the energy sector by signing cooperation deals on low-emission power generation, renewable energy and the modernization of old power plants.

To support Korean companies' participation in major infrastructure projects, financial institutions of the two countries signed an MOU on financial support cooperation and policy financing.

Additionally, the two countries agreed to work together in new areas, including climate change, technology, education, tourism and people-to-people exchanges.

During the summit, Yoon and Tokayev discussed ways to implement Seoul's "K-Silk Road Cooperation" initiative centered on linking South Korea's innovative capabilities with Central Asia's resources and development potential.

The regional strategy was announced ahead of Yoon's Central Asia trip that also includes Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.

The summit also covered the security situation on the Korean Peninsula, including North Korea's nuclear and missile programs.

"The two countries agreed to continue to join international efforts to condemn North Korea's illegal nuclear and missile development, and to block its illegal funding," Yoon said.

Yoon said he explained Seoul's "K-Silk Road Cooperation Initiative" with Central Asia and the plan to hold a South Korea-Central Asia summit, and Tokayev expressed his full support for these initiatives.

Kazakhstan is considered 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.

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.

Tokayev said Yoon's state visit to Kazakhstan demonstrates that the bilateral relations has advanced to a higher level and vowed to further develop ties in a wide range of fields.

"More than 700 Korean companies are successfully operating in Kazakhstan," Tokayev said in the briefing. "We are interested in enhancing cooperation in infrastructure, industry, finance, energy, environment, automotive, aerospace, AI and electronics." (Yonhap)
By Jon Dunbar

The cuisine of Greece isn't well-known in Korea, nor are there many Greek restaurants here. The ones that do exist tend to either serve inauthentic, extra-sweetened versions of Mediterranean street food that appeal to Korean tastes, or they make every effort to be as authentic as possible with the ingredients available.

Nostimo, located in southern Seoul's Seocho District, around the corner from the French enclave of Seorae Village, stands firmly in the latter camp. This restaurant focuses on homestyle Greek food, just like your grandmother would cook  if she were Greek, and sources ingredients from within Korea. It's probably some of the best Greek food you will try in Korea.

The restaurant is co-owned by Todd Sample, an American resident of Korea for 30 years, and Sara Eunsun Park.

"Greek food is terribly underrepresented in Korea, and awareness of the country's dishes is still low," Sample said. "Sara Park and I are proud to be doing our small part to raise awareness of Greek cuisine through our restaurant."

Nostimo produces its own tzatziki, a slightly tangy, garlicky sauce, feta cheese and bread in house, as well as desserts. All these ingredients are well-prepared, although the feta is made from cow's milk rather than goat's milk due to availability. Its mouthfeel is almost identical to authentic feta, although it lacks the sour yumminess that defines this famous cheese, instead possessing a slightly more salty and milky profile. But it tastes fine and may be easier to eat for customers feeling less adventurous.

Getting into Greek food certainly is an adventure, and Nostimo provides flavors that aren't easy to encounter elsewhere, with dishes like moussaka (a four-layered dish containing potato, eggplant, beef ragu and bechamel) and dolmadakia (grape leaves stuffed with lamb and cheese). Their Greek salad, a staple of Greek food, made with the housemade feta, is another must-try dish.

Some of their ingredients do come directly from Greece, particularly the olive oil and most of the wines and other beverages.

"In Korea, our four years of experience at Nostimo have shown us that although Greek dishes are relatively new to the Korean public, they perceive them as being healthy, fresh, and 'clean.' Greek olive oil certainly plays an important role in this perception," Sample said.

Sample may not sound like a very Greek surname, but he explained that his mother's side of the family is from Greece.

He developed a firsthand interest in the country and culture while doing a semester abroad as an undergraduate art history major in 1992.

"From this time on, although my life course brought me to Korea, I never lost my affection for Greece and all things Greek," Sample said. "I also never lost touch with my Greek relatives, cousins and aunts and uncles whom I first met during my university time there."

In 1995, he moved to Korea, where he spent his first decade teaching English at the university level. Later he specialized in foreign direct investment, and has worked for government agencies such as the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA) and Korea Electric Power Corp. (KEPCO).

Meanwhile, Park, who doesn't have a drop of Greek blood in her, took a very different path to Greek cuisine. After graduating from Sungkyunkwan University with a degree in dairy food science, she ended up working as a flight attendant for Asiana Airlines, which gave her opportunities to expand her palate as she experienced diverse cultures.

"Eating food should not be something we do only to fill our stomachs but to enjoy the culture," she said. "So now I am a bridge between unfamiliar Greek food and those who are full of curiosity about Greek food and culture."

In 2015, Park and Sample teamed up, building a large social media presence promoting awareness of international food and food culture. They founded the company Eathentic, through which they introduced authentic international restaurants in Korea on their online platform. Moreover, they contributed articles to many publications and published a book. They also curated and hosted social dining events. One of these was CineMat, an event held in partnership with CGV to introduce the cinema and cuisine of countries around the world. It ran every month for three years, until all these activities came to a halt at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.

It was then that they decided to change direction and create a Greek restaurant. Nostimo opened its doors in August 2020, when the pandemic was just entering its second wave in Korea.

"We were so brave to open a restaurant in the middle of a pandemic and with a lack of budget," Park said. "We had to do all the interior work from scratch by hand and put in all our sweat for three months. We opened with only five tables and only offered dinner service."

"To be completely honest, although we did have some quiet days at the beginning, we were fortunate that our neighborhood welcomed us," Sample said. "We were also fortunate that Korea, unlike nearly the rest of the world, never enforced a full lockdown during the entire pandemic. We had restricted operating hours and had to deal with social distancing, masks and QR codes just like everybody else, but comparatively, COVID wasn't that bad for us."

He also added that Nostimo also became sought out by Koreans yearning for overseas vacations during the travel restrictions.

"A meal at our restaurant surrounded by the flavors and sounds of faraway Greece was an often sought-out alternative," he said.

Adding to the atmosphere are other Greek elements that help customers forget they're in Korea. Greek popular music plays on the sound system, and art inspired by Greece is displayed on the walls.

"We'd like our customers at Nostimo to feel Greece  not only with the palate but also with all other senses it should feel like Greece," Sample said. "Personally, if I'm choosing a place to eat, I'd hope the restaurant would offer something for all five of my senses, not solely my tastebuds. Since Greek food and culture are not as well known in Korea, we feel it is our duty to share not only the flavors, but also the sights and sounds of Greece. We also do our best to explain our dishes to customers, so that they know something about the dish in addition to the flavor. (We believe) that 'the more you know, the better it tastes.'"

Follow @nostimo_kr and @toddsample_eats on Instagram for more information.
The Army deployed a new amphibious bridging vehicle for the first time Wednesday as part of efforts to improve troop readiness and capabilities in river-crossing operations.

A ceremony marking the deployment of the KM3, a Korean version of Germany's M3 Amphibious Rig, took place at the VII Maneuver Corps' river-crossing training ground in Namyangju, 25 kilometers northeast of Seoul, the Army said.

In August 2021, Korean defense company Hanwha Aerospace signed a deal with General Dynamics European Land Systems for cooperation to build the variant, according to the Defense Acquisition Program Administration.

The amphibious bridging vehicle allows swift troop maneuvers over streams and rivers by acting as a bridge or a ferry to transport various heavy equipment, including tanks and armored vehicles.

Compared with the existing ribbon floating bridge equipment that required around six hours of preparation time, the KM3 does not need any, the Army said. It can also transport up to 64 tons of equipment, 10 tons more than the ribbon bridge.

The Army said the vehicle is expected to play an important role in ground operations, considering the numerous streams and rivers on the Korean Peninsula. Korea is home to more than 3,800 streams and rivers, according to the environment ministry. (Yonhap)
By Jung Min-ho

Two people have been arrested on charges of blackmailing people, mostly drunk drivers and undocumented foreign nationals, after intentionally crashing into their vehicles.

According to the Chungnam Provincial Police Agency, Wednesday, the suspects, in their 30s, and their two accomplices face indictment on charges of extorting 57 million won ($41,000) from 27 people after staging crashes for about a year from March 2023.

The other two are expected to stand trial without detention.

Police said the suspects specifically targeted foreign nationals and drunk people, who they thought would be less likely to report the traffic incidents to the police.

Suwon, Pyeongtaek, Cheongju and Cheonan were among the cities where they plotted and committed their alleged crimes.

Police said the suspects mainly targeted foreign nationals near factories and offices known to have hired workers without valid visas during daytime. After dark, they started searching for anyone visibly intoxicated.

Police found that they extorted 1 million won to 5 million won from each of their victims.
An appellate court on Wednesday upheld life imprisonment for the suspect in last year's attempted rape and murder of a woman on a hiking trail in Seoul.

Choi Yun-jong, 30, was indicted on charges of fatally beating, throttling and attempting to rape the victim he randomly picked on a hillside hiking trail in the Sillim neighborhood on Aug. 17.

The victim, an elementary school teacher in her 30s, was left unattended for some 20 minutes before being taken to a hospital but died two days later.

In January, a district court sentenced Choi to life in prison, saying he should be separated from society forever. The Seoul High Court upheld the previous ruling. (Yonhap)
Buldak fans wince at decision by Danish government

By Lee Hyo-jin

The Danish government has ordered a recall of three types of Buldak Spicy Noodles manufactured by Samyang Foods, famous for being the first instant noodle maker in Korea, citing a risk of acute poisoning due to high levels of capsaicin in the products.

The three products are: Samyang Buldak Hot Chicken Ramen 3x Spicy, Samyang Buldak Hot Chicken Ramen 2x Spicy and Samyang Hot Chicken Flavor Ramen Stew Type.

"The DTU Food Institute assesses that the levels of total capsaicin in a single pack of all three noodle products are so high that they pose a risk that the consumer develops acute poisoning," the Danish Veterinary and Food Administration said in a statement on its website, Tuesday (local time).

The DTU Food Institute, part of the Technical University of Denmark (DTU), is a national research institution focused on food science and technology, including food production, processing and consumption.

The three Buldak instant noodle products are currently being sold throughout Denmark in supermarkets, specialty stores and online stores.

The Danish officials advised consumers who have the products to "discard them or return them to the store where they were purchased." It also advised parents to contact the Poison Line if their child shows acute symptoms after eating the noodles.

Samyang Foods' Buldak instant noodle line, known as "fire noodles" for their extreme spiciness, starts with the original package at 8,706 Scoville Heat Units (SHU). The Scoville scale indicates the degree of spiciness by measuring the concentration of capsaicin.

Buldak Ramen 2X Spicy has a SHU rating of 10,000, and the spiciest of the product line, the 3X Spicy Buldak Chicken Noodle, has a SHU rating of 13,000. In comparison, a jalapeno pepper has a SHU rating of 4,000 to 8,000 SHU and habanero peppers between 100,000 to 350,000 SHU.

Capsaicin, which fuels the spicy flavor in various hot sauces, can be dangerous in high amounts as it can lead to adverse health effects such as nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain and diarrhea.

Samyang Foods was apparently unaware of the decision made by Danish authorities when queried by The Korea Times, Wednesday. But hours later, the firm said it is closely examing the Danish regulations.

This marks the first recall due to spiciness for the globally popular spicy noodles, the manufacturer said.

"It seems that the Danish food authorities have initiated the recall due to concerns that the excessive spiciness could cause problems, not because of any quality issues with the product. We plan to closely examine the Danish regulations and respond to the recall accordingly," said a Samyang Foods official.

In 2021, authorities in Mexico ordered a recall of Buldak noodles for misleading customers with its label, as the product did not contain chicken despite being labeled as "hot chicken flavor ramen."

Since Samyang Foods released the Buldak instant noodle line in 2012, the product has gained worldwide popularity. It received significant traction after YouTube content creators participated in the so-called "Spicy Noodle Challenge," daring people to eat the fiery noodles. The food company now exports Buldak noodles to approximately 80 countries, including the United States, European and Southeast Asian nations.

The Danish government's recall has sparked public debate, with some fans of Buldak noodles labeling it "ridiculous."



Jakob Krogh Schultz, a 28-year-old university student in Copenhagen, expressed initial confusion about the decision but acknowledged its rationale when considering the negative effects that excessively spicy food can have on children.

"But I'm still left wondering if there isn't another way we can keep the product in Denmark while not allowing kids to buy it, like we do with energy drinks and alcohol ," Schultz told The Korea Times.

"Deeming it 'poisonous' is such an exaggeration. Ban alcohol then as well, since hangovers are such a poisonous experience too,"one user wrote on the social media platform Reddit.

Another Reddit user, claiming to be a Danish national, expressed disappointment, saying, "I find it absolutely heartbreaking since they are some of my favorite ramen."

The Korean food industry seems to be quite baffled by the recall decision.

"I'm not sure if the Danish authorities have valid regulations regarding the level of capsaicin or the threshold at which spiciness can be classified as potentially hazardous. Recall decisions should be made meticulously, because it is a highly sensitive issue for food businesses," an industry official said on condition of anonymity.
A Russian man, who entered Korea two years ago after refusing to be drafted to fight against Ukraine, has been granted refugee status by a local court for the first time, judicial officials said Wednesday.

The Seoul Administrative Court made the ruling on May 22 in the lawsuit filed by the Russian, whose identity was withheld, against the head of the Seoul Immigration Office, they said.

When Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, the Russian man posted his opposition to the war on his social media and participated in anti-war rallies. He then arrived in Korea in November of the same year after being given a conscription notice.

In January 2023, he applied for refugee status in Seoul, saying he escaped from Russia to avoid conscription and could be punished if he returns home. As the authorities refused to accept his application, however, he launched the administrative lawsuit.

Under the Refugee Act, a person can be recognized as a refugee if there are sufficient grounds to believe that he or she may be persecuted due to social status or political opinion. The Seoul court said the plaintiff's refusal to be drafted was seen as an expression of political opinion and acknowledged the possibility of him being persecuted at home, judging from Russian media reports. (Yonhap)
Opposition leader Lee Jae-myung blasted the prosecution Wednesday after he was indicted on charges of involvement in an unauthorized transfer of $8 million to North Korea, saying the allegations are "nonsense."

"The prosecution's creativity level is getting worse and worse," Lee of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea told reporters after the indictment was announced. "The people can easily learn what nonsense this case is if they look into it even a little bit."

Lee is accused of asking underwear maker Ssangbangwool Group to illegally transfer $8 million to North Korea between 2019 and 2020, when he was serving as governor of Gyeonggi Province, through then Vice Gov. Lee Hwa-young to facilitate his planned visit to Pyongyang, according to the Suwon District Prosecutors Office.

In return, Lee allegedly promised the Gyeonggi provincial government's support and guarantee for Ssangbangwool's business in North Korea.

The prosecution office charged him with third-party bribery and violating the Foreign Exchange Transactions Act and the Inter-Korean Exchange and Cooperation Act.

"If they have the strength to do something like this, I hope they will look after people's difficult livelihoods and take care of national security and the economy," Lee said.

The latest indictment increases to four the number of court trials Lee faces, including those over alleged development project-related bribery, election law violations and perjury. (Yonhap)
By Arthur I. Cyr

Former U.S. President Donald Trump has now been convicted of a felony, the first chief executive of the United States to have that unfortunate distinction, in a case involving payments to two women to keep quiet. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg and others note that this proves "no one is above the law."

However, the strong counterargument is that Trump is a special target. Bragg, along with New York State Attorney General Letitia James, promised to "get" Trump during their campaigns for office. She has also succeeded, with the former president convicted in a bench trial of massive civil fraud.

Both judgments may be overturned on appeal. Bragg's predecessor, Cyrus Vance Jr., declined to pursue the case. The charge then was a misdemeanor, but that statute of limitations ran out.

Bragg, therefore, upped the charge to a felony. The alleged facts are unchanged.

Lost in the current seemingly endless media accusation, speculation and blame-casting is the fact that Trump is a remarkable long-term survivor.

Serious crime reporter Ovid Demaris provides valuable insight in his important book "The Boardwalk Jungle." The volume is an in-depth history and analysis of criminal enterprises in New Jersey, especially over the past half-century, including Trump's involvement.

In 1974, voters in New Jersey rejected legalizing gambling, but in 1976, they collectively changed their minds, or at least a sufficient number did. In a new referendum, voters approved legalizing gambling but only in licensed casinos in Atlantic City.

That city has a long, extremely colorful and disturbing history as a lucrative center of illegal activity by organized crime. During Prohibition, the city became an enormous offloading port for illegal liquor. State and local authorities simply did not enforce the law, turned a collective blind eye to massive criminal activity and profited accordingly.

Political boss Enoch "Nucky" Johnson was chief executive of an efficiently run, and at times brutally violent, organization that implemented, regulated and profited from this activity. The successful 2010 television series "Boardwalk Empire" dramatizes this fascinating and important history.

The end of Prohibition heralded the long-term decline of traditional organized crime in the U.S., but Atlantic City remained a bastion of corruption. The principal Philadelphia mafia family, headed for many years by Angelo Bruno, oversaw a relatively stable environment.

The introduction of legalized gambling in Atlantic City led the much more violent organized crime families in New York to take large, active investment positions. Suddenly and effectively, a shotgun blast removed Bruno when he thought he was in safe territory.

Atlantic City became completely open to many aggressive new investors. Trump joined in, highly visible.

However, the bygone world of Nucky Johnson was not going to return, thankfully, and legalized gambling also opened the door to aggressive, often imaginative criminal prosecution. The Banking Secrecy Act of 1970 provided important new enforcement opportunities by requiring banks by law to cooperate with investigations of potential money laundering.

The FBI ABSCAM sting operation resulted in the conviction of seven members of the U.S. Congress, including one senator and others. Numerous public officials, gamblers and entrepreneurs have fallen afoul of the law, plus extremely aggressive enforcement of regulations.

In 1984, the Atlantic City hotel-casino named for Trump opened. In 2014, the business folded. Investor Carl Icahn bought the deed, shielding Trump. Trump, unlike others, provided no incriminating audio or video evidence and faced no criminal prosecution.

Maybe his luck has changed  then again, maybe not.

Arthur I. Cyr (acyr@carthage.edu) is the author of the 1997 book After the Cold War."




By Kang Seung-woo

The Korean Peninsula is witnessing a resurgence in tension, once again due to propaganda leaflets being flown by North Korean defectors criticizing their former country for its dictatorship and abuse of human rights.

The Fighters for a Free North Korea, a civic group headed by Park Sang-hak who has spearheaded the leaflet-sending campaign in South Korea, launched 300,000 flyers tethered to balloons across the border, May 10. Park also sent 200,000 leaflets, U.S. $1 bills and USB sticks containing K-pop songs on June 6.

Within the span of about a month, the North Korean regime, traditionally sensitive to propaganda leaflets, responded by launching a total of 1,600 trash-carrying balloons on four occasions, which have been found across South Korean territory.

As a result of the tit-for-tat exchanges, inter-Korean tensions have been rising rapidly. The South Korean government, while fully suspending the inter-Korean military agreement, has resumed loudspeaker broadcasts toward the North. This decision drew a warning from Kim Yo-jong, the influential sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, who described it as a prelude to a very dangerous situation.

In the wake of the renewed escalation between South and North Korea, concerns are resurfacing over the safety of residents in border areas where the leaflet-carrying balloons are launched, as the North could take retaliatory military action in these areas. In 2014, the two Koreas exchanged machine-gun fire across the border after the North apparently tried to shoot down balloons carrying leaflets critical of its regime.

On June 3, residents living near the inter-Korean border along with a network of civic groups urged the South Korean government to crack down on the act of sending anti-Pyongyang leaflets to the North.

However, despite an escalation of possible threats to its own people, the Yoon Suk Yeol administration, adopting more hawkish policies toward North Korea, seems to be sitting back, citing last year's Constitutional Court ruling that the law banning the sending of propaganda leaflets into North Korea was unconstitutional because it excessively restricted freedom of speech.

The law, enacted under the previous liberal Moon Jae-in administration, was grounded in the belief that such leafleting could provoke the North to undertake bellicose acts and put South Korean border town residents' safety at risk, although critics claimed that the law stifled freedom of expression.

The unification ministry, in charge of inter-Korean affairs, maintains the stance that it will not stop activists in South Korea from sending anti-Pyongyang leaflets to the North, citing freedom of expression.

While questions have been raised about whether the police can deter or block the leaflet operations by resorting to the Act on the Performance of Duties by Police Officers, the national police chief said, Monday, that doing so would amount to restricting the freedom of expression of the activists. The act mandates police to warn or restrain individuals from acts that are likely to cause damage to people or property.

Looking back at how previous South Korean presidents have handled the leaflet matter, conservative presidents Lee Myung-bak and Park Geun-hye, both from parties that were predecessors to President Yoons People Power Party, also urged activists to refrain from launching leaflets and used the police to stop them.

Additionally, some legal experts point out that the government misinterpreted the Constitutional Courts decision.

Although the law criminalizing the leaflet campaign was ruled unconstitutional, the top court also acknowledged that the distribution of leaflets not only leads to the deterioration of inter-Korean relations but also threatens the safety of residents in the border area. The court added that the government would still have the ability to keep the activists in check through police monitoring and intervention.

Amid the governments lackluster response, however, it is a relief that the unification ministry, albeit belatedly, intends to hold meetings with North Korean defectors groups dedicated to the leaflet campaigns, during which the ministry may indirectly recommend refraining from distributing the leaflets.

The writer is the politics desk editor at The Korea Times.








Deepen exchanges in shared issues

By Troy Stangarone

In the wake of rapprochement between Korea and Japan, much of the focus has been on the strengthening trilateral relations among Korea, Japan and the United States. However, in our increasingly interconnected world, Korea and the United States should aim to deepen cooperation with partners based on shared issues rather than limiting themselves to regional alliances. Within this framework, the European Union emerges as a promising partner.

Traditionally, foreign and economic policies have been viewed through a bilateral or regional lens, with the goal often being to strengthen bilateral ties on security or economic issues or to deepen cooperation among regional groupings. The evolution of U.S.-Korea relations over the last decade, which now encompass issues beyond security, exemplifies this bilateral approach to foreign policy. Although the United States and Korea may coordinate on certain international issues, the primary driver of their cooperation remains the deepening of bilateral ties.

At the regional level, weve seen the Quad evolve during the pandemic to include closer cooperation in healthcare, climate change, and emerging technologies and the development of the Chips 4 Alliance to coordinate semiconductor policies among key countries in Asia. But these are ultimately initiatives focused on the Indo-Pacific.

However, policy coordination between the United States, Korea, Japan and Taiwan on semiconductors highlights the importance of Seoul and Washington cooperating with the best partners rather than just regional ones. The Netherlands is arguably the most critical manufacturer of semiconductor manufacturing equipment, while Germany plays an important role in the production of optical lenses used in semiconductor equipment. A semiconductor alliance that embraces key partners regardless of region and includes the EU would be a more effective grouping.

Artificial intelligence (AI) further illustrates this issue. AI transcends boundaries, making regionalized AI cooperation impractical. The same holds true for managing the challenges posed by technologies related to climate change, biotechnology and nanotechnology.

In a globalized world, deeper cooperation between the United States, Korea and the EU makes the most sense in areas like technology innovation, climate change, cybersecurity and public health, as these challenges require collaborative, cross-regional solutions.

Technology, energy and climate change are issues where the EU, Korea, and the United States could build a foundation for trilateral cooperation. Semiconductors are clearly one promising area for technology cooperation. Late last year, the Yoon administration announced a semiconductor alliance with the Netherlands, while Korea is already working closely with the United States on chips. Expanding cooperation more broadly with the EU on a trilateral level with the United States would bring three of the key markets in the semiconductor industry closer together.

Beyond semiconductors, closer cooperation on AI would be beneficial. Korea just co-hosted the Seoul AI Summit  a follow-up to the initial AI safety summit  and is set to co-host a summit on the military uses of AI later this year. At the same time, the EU has been at the forefront of regulating AI to ensure it is deployed safely, while many of the worlds leading AI firms are based in the United States.

Each partner would bring different strengths to the table, but Korea and the EU also have commercial interests in deeper cooperation. Nvidia garners most of the attention for its GPUs powering AI applications. But those GPUs rely on high-bandwidth memory chips pioneered by SK hynix. While Europe is often seen as a tech laggard, France's Mistral AI is one of the most promising AI firms along with the better known OpenAI. Deeper cooperation could help further each partys strengths in AI.

Climate change and clean energy are also promising areas for collaboration. Korea, the EU and the United States each have ambitious climate change initiatives. Korea has pledged to cut emissions by 40 percent by 2030 from 2018 levels. The EU aims to reduce emissions by 55 percent from 1990 levels, while the United States targets a 50-52 percent reduction from 2005 levels over the same period.

Achieving these goals will require deploying more clean energy sources like wind and solar, as well as advancing new technologies powered by hydrogen and ammonia. Each will also need to transition to electric vehicles, while making high-carbon-intensity processes, such as steel production, more eco-friendly. Making these changes economically viable will require developing carbon border adjustments for trade, especially to remain competitive against the highly subsidized and higher-emission competition from China. Each of these represents potential areas of cooperation.

Picking the right partners for the right issues, rather than regional partners, will be key to success in the 21st century. At times, this will mean trilateral cooperation will need to expand to include other partners, as is the case in semiconductors, but when supply chains and technologies are dispersed around the global rather than regionally clustered the old model of bilateral or regional cooperation will become increasingly less productive. Building effective trilateral cooperation between Korea, the United States and the EU is a first step in addressing these shifting realities.

Troy Stangarone (ts@keia.org) is the senior director of congressional affairs and trade at the Korea Economic Institute. He is a guest editorial writer of The Korea Times.
By Kim Bo-eun

COPENHAGEN  The past year and a half was the beginning of what could become a new way of life for humanity, with the emergence and development of ChatGPT. The utility of artificial intelligence (AI) is seeping into industries and workplaces, including newsrooms.

AI could not have been more pronounced as the key theme at this year's World News Media Congress hosted by the World Association of News Publishers (WAN-IFRA) held in Copenhagen, Denmark, from May 27 to 29. The term AI was presumably mentioned in all of the several dozen sessions, even those not focused on AI, and also in most conversations outside of the sessions. This was not the case for the congress held in Taipei, Taiwan, only a year earlier.

Newsrooms have incorporated AI into data analysis, translating, transcribing, creating summaries and headlines, which enables the saving of resources for greater-value work. With appropriate guidelines, the current situation could be beneficial for news organizations  at least for now.

But clearly, AIs use is not limited to the above-mentioned tasks. The prospective scope of AI's use and impact is highly concerning for media companies. This goes beyond the dangers of false information creeping in.

The forecast is that ChatGPT will replace Google Search. This format in which the internet user is provided a direct answer by the platform or service they are using is already visible. Google is showing zero click search results, which means Googlers are referred to the text below their search for a direct answer to what they are looking for, instead of finding information by scanning through a list of links.

This could offer convenience for users, but is it truly beneficial for them? Google having the say in what answers to provide to users puts the power in the platform's hands, not the user's.

This is exacerbated by Googles introduction of AI Overview last month. While the U.S. is the first country where the new AI-generated, summarized search result format was implemented, Google plans to expand the service to more countries by the end of the year.

AI Overview is an extension of the zero click search result method, only worse. It provides a direct answer to the users search, but reduces the number of relevant links to a maximum of 10.

The format will be the same for ChatGPT  users will not get to choose what sites to refer to for their answers, but only have the answer that AI provides. The user loses the discretion to choose the source of the information they are searching for.

This is concerning not only for newsrooms, which exist to inform the public, but also for the younger generation, who may end up with a very limited and possibly biased source of information.

Large news companies such as the Financial Times have partnered with OpenAI to ensure that their content gets more exposure. But what about smaller organizations that do not have the scale to strike such partnerships?

The dialogue at the congress was also on the use of copyrighted data that AI companies will take to make their services smarter. A suit is ongoing between the New York Times and OpenAI on the use of copyrighted material. OpenAIs Chief of Intellectual Property and Content Tom Rubin said in a session at the congress that the company will not use the copyrighted material of firms that do not wish for their data to be used.

For big tech companies that essentially exist for the purpose of profit-making, will they stand for the truth and accurate information for the public? If the most recent developments are anything to go by, it doesnt seem likely.

This reporter's attendance at the 2024 World News Media Congress was funded by the Korea Press Foundation.
Stores in Tokyo, Osaka ride high on Korean confectionary wave

By Ko Dong-hwan

Bontemps is spreading around the world the joy of Koreas long-surviving confectionary kkwabegi, a twisted donut sprinkled with sugar, by transforming the low-priced street food into a colorful variety with creative toppings, according to the head of the company, Tuesday.

In a recent interview with The Korea Times, Bontemps Founder and CEO Lee Sang-hun said that the company is currently targeting consumers in Mongolia and Vietnam where its donuts are being sold. Running four stores in Korea and two in Japan, Lee expanded his consumer markets to Mongolia and Vietnam in April, after signing a business partnership contract with the Korean Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs and GS Retail which operates major convenience store chain GS25 here.

Under the deal, Bontemps began selling its donuts through GS25 stores in both countries  300 locations in Vietnam and 276 in Mongolia as of this month  with business support from the ministry. Bontemps was the first company to be supported under the government initiative to grow Koreas small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the food industry overseas with the help of bigger Korean companies that have established overseas business networks.

Lee said that Bontemps, with supports from his two partners, is now thoroughly equipped to do well in both countries. In addition to the companys signature donuts, he has introduced several new varieties to target local consumers particular appetites. All Bontemps donuts selling in the two countries are made and distributed locally.

The food ministry and GS25 have been helping us a lot by catering to every detail. So I anticipate a good result, Lee said. Were running Bontemps as a shop-in-shop inside GS25 stores in Vietnam and Mongolia so we dont have any data on local consumer markets. But Im doing the best I can to support GS25 and maximize Bontemps sales. Its my wish to promote K-desserts and Bontemps across the world. Hopefully, our brand will be the first thing that pops into their heads when they think about Korean kkwabegi.

Bontemps in Japan

Bontemps, with its name derived from a French phrase meaning good time in English, expanded to Japan in February when it opened its first Japan store near Orange Street in Osakas Chuo Ward. The second Japanese store is scheduled to open within this month in Tokyos Nakameguro. Lee said that Bontemps Osakas popularity among local consumers had attracted GS Retail to contact him and pursue a partnership.

Bontemps stores in Japan are run by Ones Tryin, a Japanese franchise management company Lee signed a master franchise deal with to hand over the direct management rights for the stores there.

Lee said that he selected Ones Tryin out of three candidates because it showed the highest interest and he felt the company "treasured" Korean dessert culture. Bontemps now expects to open another store in Fukuoka.

Ones Tryin is now managing market expansion in Japan, sorting out calls from entrepreneurs interested in Bontemps and arranging locations and schedules for upcoming new stores, Lee said.

Bontemps took its first step in Japan by opening a pop-up store inside Takashimaya Department Store in Nagoya in July 2023. The business boomed while it ran for two weeks.

From morning to evening, long queues kept crowding the store. Daily sales reached over 9 million won ($6,500) on average, Lee said. It was the pop-ups success that attracted the Japanese companies interested in signing a master franchise deal with Bontemps.

Bitter start

Bontemps flagship store is located in southeastern Seouls commercial hotspot near Seokchon Lake in Songpa District. The brand also attracts visitors with its second store near Seoul Forest and a follow-up shop inside Hyundai Department Store in Daegu. Gangneung in Gangwon Province expects to see the opening of the fourth store this week.

Bontemps Seoul stores particularly created buzz among foreign residents and tourists, who learned about the Korean signature pastry reborn with outrageous transformation. From a nondescript deep-fried twisted dough dipped in sugar, the new varieties are topped with cherries, strawberries, cheese, cream, garlic, butter, Oreos and even more daring ingredients.

We have 20 different kinds of twisted donuts and another 20 that Ive kept inside my secret vault to reveal later, Lee said.

Lee rejects a fantasy to expand Bontemps domestic market by franchising the brand, because he believes that twisted donuts cannot be a competitive item to sustain a franchise business for the long term. He said that franchisees will hardly earn any money out of selling donuts for less than 5,000 won apiece. The items are also easy to cook and the recipe is easy to copy, so Bontemps will likely see other brands emulating them and threatening its brand.

So I will directly manage my own stores here instead of franchising it for a broader market, Lee said. That way, I can solidify my ground in Korea and expand overseas more safely.

What had pushed Lee into launching Bontemps in 2021 was a bitter experience with a major department store in Korea as a hired supervisor for a kkwabegi pop-up store. Upon closing one day, he asked a department store manager where he could wash dishes. The response he got was that there was no space for him to do so and he would have to take them with him. Shocked, he took them home and washed them there, believing it was because he was selling kkwabegi that the mall treated him poorly.

Thats when I decided to come up with a new brand for more glamorous kkwabegi thats going to be irreplaceable and all major department stores will beg me to open a store inside their malls, Lee said. Two months after Bontemps first store opened in Jamsil, he received calls from Lotte Shopping, Shinsegae and Hyundai Department Store with offers to open Bontemps stores.

Who is Lee Sang-hun?

Lee was a part-time employee at a local highway rest stop in Korea after completing his military service, making and selling "kkwabegi," or twisted donut. While working there, he first envisioned the pastrys business potential.

In 2018, he supervised a pop-up store for the kkwabegi brand he worked for at a department store he declined to identify. The experience prompted him to study and introduce his own kkwabegi brand later.

His key to a new kkwabegi was breaking out of the pastrys decades-old image and making it trendier to appeal to consumers of all ages. He decided to use less sugar than the traditional kkwabegi to make his donuts healthier.

Bontemps Seoul stores mirror rooms Lee had imagined as a teenager, displaying unique interior designs and props that have become popular alongside the donuts.
By Ko Dong-hwan

POSCO International began the construction of its new factory in Poland to boost the company's local manufacturing capacity in Europe for a key part of its eco-friendly vehicles, which are now in high demand worldwide, the Korean auto part maker said Wednesday.

POSCO broke ground on Tuesday local time for the new traction motor core manufacturing plant, POSCO International Poland e-Mobility (PI-PEM), in Brzeg, Opole Province.

Opole Marshal Andrzej Bula, Brzeg Mayor Violetta Jaskolska-Palus, POSCO's Head of Green Industry Business Lee Young-woo and Korean Ambassador to Poland Lim Hoon-min joined a ceremony to celebrate the start of construction.

The plant, being built on a 100,000-square-meter site, is scheduled for completion by mid-2025.

Upon completion, it will begin supplying 1.03 million traction motors to Hyundai Motor Group for the carmaker's European electric vehicle production.

POSCO said the new plant will be able to manufacture 1.2 million traction motor cores per year until 2030 and will attract major electric vehicle (EV) makers in Europe for supply deals, given the capacity.

The new plant is the latest addition to POSCO's overseas manufacturing bases, covering its key global market regions of East Asia, Southwest Asia, North America and Europe.

The overseas bases help the company bypass tariff risks that are increasing around the world due to a wave of trade protectionism.

POSCO currently runs plants for the EV traction motor core part in Mexico, India and Korea's Pohang, North Gyeongsang Province, and Cheonan, South Chungcheong Province.

Once the Polish plant is up and running, the company expects its network of manufacturing bases worldwide will be able to produce 7.5 million traction motor cores every year until 2030 and claim a 10 percent share of the global market for the auto part.

"Having another manufacturing plant in Europe in addition to Asia and North America means a lot to the company," a POSCO official said.

"We hope the plant will get us to form new partnerships with European carmakers and allow us to rise as a global auto part developer for eco-friendly vehicles."

POSCO's manufacturing capacity expansion comes as demand for eco-friendly vehicles has been rising in Europe.

According to the European Automobile Manufacturers' Association (ACEA), sales of hybrid vehicles on the continent in 2023 registered 3.41 million, a 28 percent increase from the previous year.

Figures for EVs showed a similar rise, according to ACEA.

The Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency predicted that EV sales in Europe will rise to 5.4 million by 2025 and over 10.6 million by 2030, noting the European Union's stringent carbon neutrality policies resulted in a ban on the sales of internal combustion engines starting in 2035.
By Lee Min-hyung

A once-renowned motor show in the nation's southeastern port city of Busan is rapidly losing its luster, as only a few global carmakers decided to participate in this year's event on its weakening promotional impact, according to experts and industry officials, Wednesday.

The 2024 Busan International Mobility Show kicks off on June 27, but it is generating much less attention due largely to the absence of major global carmakers. Only six brands  Hyundai Motor, Kia, Genesis, Renault, BMW and Mini  will exhibit their vehicles at the event, which takes place every two years.

But other major influential carmakers, such as Mercedes-Benz, General Motors and Toyota, opted to save on the marketing expenses by not participating.

Officials from carmakers and industry experts said the local mobility show will not be able to regain its old glory, as Korea's market size is not large enough to attract such influential global carmakers.

"The size of the Korean car market is still considered too small, so chances are the Busan motor show will gradually lose its profile, unless it comes up with very specific differentiation points, compared with its global counterparts," said Lee Ho-geun, an automotive engineering professor at Daedeok University.

Most international mobility shows across the globe also face similar circumstances, so it appears very tough for the one in Busan to regain its luster anytime soon, according to Lee.

"To revive the attention for the event, my suggestion is to launch a Korean version of CES," the professor said. "Global carmakers are making concerted efforts to promote their latest tech achievements and new vehicles at the tech fair in the United States, at a time when they are gradually reducing their presence at a number of global car shows."

An official from an overseas carmaker not attending this year's Busan event also concurred with Lee, saying that the event organizers need to benchmark successful overseas tech fairs.

"Fewer global carmakers are willing to participate in famous overseas car shows, such as the Paris Motor Show and the Detroit Auto Show," the official said. "This is a global trend, so organizers for global motor shows need to reshape their strategies for such events by introducing a similar, still-popular format of a tech exhibition, such as CES."

Another official from an imported vehicle maker said most foreign carmakers doing business prefer to hold their own promotional events, rather than spending money to participate in the Busan mobility show.

"The participation in such fairs, in itself, may come with symbolic connotations, but most carmakers think their potential returns remain too small, so they display a growing tendency for promoting their vehicles at their own events," the official said.
The Korean units of Google and Apple were among firms here fined for allegedly violating a law on location data collection, the telecom regulator said Wednesday.

Google's Korean unit was ordered to pay a fine of 3 million won ($2,179) for allegedly violating a clause on disclosing its policy on location data, according to the Korean Communications Commission (KCC).

Apple's Korean unit was also ordered to pay a fine of 210 million won for allegedly collecting location data without consent, violating the clause on disclosing its policy on location data and others, the commission said.

The commission imposed fines on 188 firms, including the Korean units of Google and Apple, for violating the Act on the Protection and Use of Location Information.

The administrative measures came as a result of a regular inspection of companies handling location information conducted under the revised location information protection act in 2022.

"Location information is a key resource to improve users' convenience and a foundation for the growth of innovative industries, but we need to consider the protection of individuals' privacy and social security in using the information," KCC Chairman Kim Hong-il said. (Yonhap)
By Baek Byung-yeul

SK Group is strengthening cooperation with China's Zhejiang Geely Holding Group on electric vehicle (EV) batteries and automotive electronics components to improve the profitability of its battery unit SK On and bolster eco-friendly mobility amid headwinds facing the EV industry, SK Inc., the group's holding company, said Wednesday.

SK Inc. said it signed a strategic business cooperation agreement with Zhejiang Geely Holding Group on Tuesday, aimed at initiating a broad partnership in eco-friendly mobility areas such as EV batteries and automotive electronics components.

The strategy is to combine SK's business development capabilities with the Chinese firm's mobility expertise, better known for its Geely Auto brand, to secure global competitiveness across the entire EV value chain.

SK said this is not the first collaboration between the two, as SK On signed a contract in 2023 to supply battery modules to Polestar, an EV brand of the Chinese group, starting in 2025.

SK Inc. said Chey Jae-won, its executive vice chairman, played a pivotal role in establishing the cooperative relationship between the two sides through his global networking. Chey is known to have various connections with Chinese companies and has maintained a close relationship with Geely.

Established in 1986, Zhejiang Geely Holding Group is a global mobility company that owns several automotive brands. As of 2023, Geelys vehicle sales reached 2.79 million, with sales of eco-friendly cars exceeding 980,000.

Through this agreement, the two companies plan to explore cooperation opportunities in the eco-friendly mobility sector, including EV batteries, charging infrastructure, automotive electronics components and eco-friendly energy, the holding company said.

"Through this partnership, the two companies are expected to lead the global EV market and eco-friendly energy sector, establishing a strong foothold in the future mobility sector," said Jang Yong-ho, CEO of SK Inc.

Collaboration with SK is part of our efforts to enhance the mobility industry in a sustainable way with global partners, said Daniel Donghui Li, CEO of Geely Holding Group. "By leveraging our respective strengths, we will be able to provide better eco-friendly mobility experiences to global consumers."
Driving hydrogen trucks for 10 million kilometers equivalent to planting 700,000 pine trees

By Lee Min-hyung

Hyundai Motors XCIENT hydrogen-powered trucks have achieved an accumulated mileage of 10 million kilometers in Switzerland, proving the safety and technological prowess of hydrogen fuel cells, the automaker said Wednesday.

A total of 48 XCIENT Fuel Cell trucks there accomplished the record after they were introduced to the European country in October 2020. The hydrogen trucks can travel up to 400 kilometers on a single charge.

The automaker spoke highly of their eco-friendliness, compared with typical commercial trucks powered by diesel engines. Diesel trucks emit approximately 6,300 tons of carbon dioxide after traveling 10 million kilometers. Some 700,000 pine trees are required to absorb a similar amount of carbon.

Driving the hydrogen fuel cell electric trucks can also create such an environmentally friendly impact, as they do not produce any carbon dioxide at all, according to the carmaker.

All of our XCIENT trucks in Switzerland never produce any carbon by using green hydrogen, so we contribute to the global drive for carbon neutrality, an official from Hyundai Motor said.

The carmaker also shared plans to further sophisticate its hydrogen fuel cell system by collecting driving data and feedback from customers there.

The hydrogen trucks are being recognized for their eco-friendliness and the proven safety of the energy source here and abroad. They have been introduced in 10 countries, such as Korea, Germany, France and Saudi Arabia.

The latest move displays Hyundai Motors unwavering willingness to build a complete hydrogen energy value chain from its production to transportation. The vision was announced at this years Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in January.

Hyundai Motors technological progress will enrich the lives of the public, and we will keep driving the upcoming era of clean hydrogen to diversify its usage in more areas, Hyundai Motor President and CEO Chang Jae-hoon said during the CES tech fair.
Korea and Kazakhstan signed more than 30 agreements on the sidelines of a summit between President Yoon Suk Yeol and Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, pledging to cooperate in the fields of critical minerals, energy and climate change responses, the presidential office said Wednesday.

After the summit in the Kazakh capital of Astana, Yoon and Tokayev attended a signing ceremony for 11 memorandums of understanding (MOUs). An additional 24 MOUs were signed during a business forum involving companies and governments from both countries.

One key agreement is an MOU on a critical mineral supply chain partnership, which will pave the way for comprehensive cooperation ranging from joint exploration to the final use of critical minerals in Kazakhstan.

The agreement is expected to provide opportunities for Korean companies to participate in the development and production of mineral resources in Kazakhstan, which is a major oil producer and holds large reserves of uranium, chromium, titanium and rare earth metals.

The Kazakh Ministry of Industry and Infrastructure Development secured an agreement for joint lithium mine exploration and development with the Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources and SK Ecoplant Co., the energy arm of SK Group.

Additionally, the Korea Institute for Advancement of Technology and the Kazakh National Center of Science and Technology Evaluation struck a deal on technology cooperation for the commercialization of rare metals, such as lithium, tungsten and titanium. (Yonhap)
Hunter Biden was convicted Tuesday of all three felony charges related to the purchase of a revolver in 2018 when, prosecutors argued, the presidents son lied on a mandatory gun-purchase form by saying he was not illegally using or addicted to drugs.

Hunter Biden, 54, stared straight ahead and showed little emotion as the verdict was read after jury deliberations that lasted only three hours over two days in Wilmington, Delaware. He hugged his attorneys, smiled wanly and kissed his wife, Melissa, before leaving the courtroom with her.

President Joe Biden said in a statement issued shortly after the verdict that he would accept the outcome and "continue to respect the judicial process as Hunter considers an appeal.

Now Hunter Biden and presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump, the presidents 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.

Hunter Biden faces up to 25 years in prison when he is sentenced by U.S. District Judge Maryellen Noreika, though as a first-time offender he would not get anywhere near the maximum, and there's no guarantee the judge would send him to prison. She did not set a sentencing date.

Defense attorney Abbe Lowell said they would continue to vigorously pursue all the legal challenges available. In a written statement, Hunter Biden said he was disappointed by the outcome but grateful for the support of family and friends.

The jury's decision was read swiftly after the announcement that it reached a verdict. First lady Jill Biden sat through nearly every day of the trial but did not make it into the courtroom in time to hear the verdict. Hunter Biden walked out of the courthouse holding hands with the first lady and his wife before they got into waiting SUVs and drove off.

Joe Biden steered clear of the federal courtroom where his son was tried and said little about the case, wary of appearing to interfere in a criminal matter brought by his own Justice Department. But allies of the Democrat have worried about the toll that the trial  and now the conviction  will take on the 81-year-old, who has long been concerned with his only living sons health and sustained sobriety.

Hunter Biden's conviction came just weeks after Trump was found guilty of 34 felony charges related to a hush money payment to a porn actor in the 2016 campaign. The cases are in no way the same, and Hunter Biden is a private citizen who is not running for office. But they have both argued they were victimized by the politics of the moment.

Trump, however, has continued to falsely claim his verdict was rigged, while Joe Biden has said he would accept the verdict involving his son and would not seek to pardon him.

In his statement Tuesday, the president said he and the first lady are proud of their son, who says he has been sober since 2019, and will always be there for him with love and support.

Trumps campaign called the verdict nothing more than a distraction from the real crimes of the Biden Crime Family. Trump and his allies have pressed unsubstantiated or debunked allegations that Joe Biden acted while vice president to advance his family members foreign business interests.

The verdict came down as the president prepared to give a speech at a conference hosted by the Everytown for Gun Safety Action Fund in Washington. He did not mention his son as he spoke about his administrations efforts to stop gun violence and the need to ban so-called assault weapons.

Hours after the conviction, President Biden hugged his son after landing in Wilmington to spend the night with family before leaving Wednesday for the Group of Seven leaders conference in Italy. Hunter Biden, his wife and their child greeted the president on the tarmac, and the president lingered to visit with them for several minutes.

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.

The trial 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 his other son, Beau Biden, was the state attorney general before he died of cancer.

The proceedings put a spotlight on a dark time in Hunter Biden's life, including his spiraling descent after Beau's death in 2015. The trial featured deeply personal testimony from former romantic partners and embarrassing evidence such as text messages and photos of Hunter Biden with drug paraphernalia or partially clothed.

In his closing argument on Monday, prosecutor Leo Wise acknowledged the evidence was ugly." But he told jurors it was also absolutely necessary" to prove Hunter was in the throes of addiction when he bought the gun and therefore lied when he checked no on the form that asked whether he was an unlawful user of, or addicted to drugs.

Before the case went to the jury, the prosecutor urged jurors to pay no mind to members of the presidents family sitting in the courtroom, telling them: People sitting in the gallery are not evidence.

David Weiss, the prosecutor who has led the long-running investigation into the president's son, told reporters the case was about Hunter Biden's "illegal choices" and dangerous conduct.

No one in this country is above the law, said Weiss, the Trump-nominated U.S. attorney for Delaware, who was named special counsel by Attorney General Merrick Garland in August. Everyone must be accountable for their actions.

Hunter Bidens lawyers had argued that he did not consider himself an addict when he bought the gun. They 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.

Hunter Bidens legal troubles arent over. He faces a trial in September in California on charges of failing to pay $1.4 million in taxes , and congressional Republicans have signaled they will keep going after him in their stalled impeachment effort into the president. The president has not been accused or charged with any wrongdoing by prosecutors investigating his son.

Just last year, it appeared that Hunter Biden would avoid the spectacle of a trial so close to the election. Under a deal with prosecutors, he was supposed to plead guilty to misdemeanor tax offenses and avoid prosecution in the gun case if he stayed out of trouble for two years.

But the deal fell apart after 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. (AP)
Hamas on Wednesday said its "positive" response to a U.S. ceasefire plan for the eight-month-old war in the Gaza Strip opened a "wide pathway" to reach an agreement, but the outlook was uncertain as neither the Palestinian group nor Israel publicly committed to a deal.

Hamas submitted its formal response on Tuesday to a proposal outlined by U.S. President Joe Biden on May 31. 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 but did not disclose the contents.

Early on Wednesday, Izzat al-Rishq, a member of Hamas' political bureau, said in a statement the group's answer was "responsible, serious and positive" and "opens up a wide pathway" for an accord.

Another Hamas official, who declined to be identified, told Reuters on Tuesday the response reaffirmed the movement's 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 official said.

The United States has said Israel accepted its proposal, but Israel has not publicly stated this. As Israel has continued assaults in central and southern Gaza that are among the bloodiest of the war, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has repeatedly said Israel 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 via 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 voted in favor of a U.S. resolution supporting the proposal outlined by Biden. Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri told Reuters on Tuesday that Hamas accepted the Security Council resolution and was ready to negotiate over the details of a ceasefire.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, in Tel Aviv to meet Israeli officials on Tuesday, described the comments by Hamas as a "hopeful sign" but said they were 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.

Separately, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Tuesday said in a report to the Security Council that Israel's army and security forces as well as Palestinian militants Hamas and Islamic Jihad killed and maimed children in 2023.

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 during the raids, 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. Gaza is in the grip of a humanitarian crisis due to widespread hunger, scarcity of essentials, infrastructure destruction and continuing displacement of civilians.

The U.S. military resumed bringing humanitarian aid into the enclave via a floating pier on Tuesday after a two-day halt due to bad weather, three U.S. officials said.

The pier was out of operation for 10 days for repairs, and briefly re-opened on Saturday. The U.N. still is not moving aid from the pier to warehouses while it reviews security. (Reuters)
Japanese architect Fumihiko Maki, who won the prestigious Pritzker Prize for designs praised as smartly and artfully fusing the East with the West, has died. He was 95.

Maki, who taught architecture and urban design at Harvard, died June 6, his office, Maki & Associates, said Wednesday. Japanese media reports attributed the cause of death to old age. The office declined to confirm the reports.

The National Museum of Modern Art in Kyoto is considered one of his classic designs, with floating forms of glass, metal and concrete. Its gray exterior appears simple at first glance but sets off patterns of reflected light on rough and polished marble.

In the U.S., Makis projects included the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts in San Francisco and 4 World Trade Center in New York. He also did the Makuhari Messe exhibition hall in Chiba, Japan, and the Hillside Terrace Complex in Tokyo.

Maki in the 1980s designed Tokyo's Spiral building, whose management mourned his death and thanked him for the beautiful slopes and the rich space that envisioned an urban park."

In 2013, Maki complained about the then planned spaceship-like design of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics stadium, slamming it as too expensive and clashing with its surroundings. He said he had the support 100 other people, including architects, in opposing the size of the proposed design by British-Iraqi architect Zaha Hadi.

The problems I see with the planned stadium all relate to the issue of scale, he said.

That design was eventually ditched for a more modest-looking design by Kengo Kuma which used pieces of wood for a natural Japanese look.

Born in Tokyo in 1928, Maki was educated at the University of Tokyo, the Cranbrook Academy of Art in Michigan and Harvard University Graduate School of Design.

Before opening his own design firm in 1965 in Tokyo, he worked in various offices including Skidmore Owings and Merrill, or SOM, based in Chicago, and Sert, Jackson & Associates in Cambridge, as well as the campus planning office of Washington University in St. Louis.

A devoted educator, Maki, in addition to teaching at Washington University, Harvard and the University of Tokyo, lectured around the world. His essays were published in a collection called Nurturing Dreams by MIT Press in 2008. In it, he explored the Japanese sense of space called oku, which Maki described as the core of this high-density space organized into multiple layers like an onion.

Utilizing oku allowed the Japanese to deliver a feeling of depth even in a cramped area, according to this theory.

In the formation of urban space, certain stable concepts that have been sifted and committed to memory by the collective unconscious of the community work automatically, Maki wrote.

Oku, a spatial concept peculiar to Japan, is a good example, and I believe an understanding of this way of perceiving space is important in formulating ideas of what future cities should be like.

Maki was the second Japanese to win the Pritzker, hailed as the Nobel Prize of architecture, after Kenzo Tange, his mentor. Maki, along with fellow Tange students Arata Isozaki and Kisho Kurokawa , were the pillars of Japanese modernism.

The Pritzker, in selecting Maki, praised him as part of a new wave of architects rebuilding postwar Japan.

He uses light in a masterful way making it as tangible a part of every design as are the walls and roof. In each building, he searches for a way to make transparency, translucency and opacity exist in total harmony. He uses detail to give his structures rhythm and scale, Bill Lacy, a member of the international panel of jurors that selected Maki, said at the time.

Maki was honored with other awards, such as the Wolf Prize from Israel in 1988 and the Arnold Brunner Prize from the American Academy of Arts and Letters in 1999. In 2011, the American Institute of Architects honored Maki with its highest accolade, the AIA Gold Medal.

Japanese media reports said a memorial service was planned. His office declined to give details, saying an official announcement was being prepared. (AP)
Kosovo on Wednesday celebrated what it considers a liberation day, marking the 25th anniversary of the withdrawal of Serb forces.

During the 1998-1999 war with ethnic Albanian Kosovo Liberation Army separatists, Serbian forces failed to meet Western demands on reconciliation, which pushed NATO to launch a 78-day bombing campaign against Serbia that resulted in its withdrawal. About 13,000 people, mostly ethnic Albanians, died under Serbian repression. Some 1,600 are still missing.

Neighboring Serbia refuses to officially accept the independence its former province declared in 2008. More than 100 countries have recognized Kosovo, including the U.S. and most other Western countries, but not Russia and China, which have shut it out of the United Nations.

But Kosovos Prime Minister Albin Kurti has said that the European Union is our political goal while NATO is our military destination.

Kosovo-Serbia ties have tumbled even further in the past year, and years of European Union-facilitated normalization talks have failed to make progress. NATO-led peacekeepers have increased their numbers along the border.

Kosovo on Wednesday held a military parade with celebratory speeches.

Visiting Kosovo earlier this week, former U.K. Prime Minister Tony Blair said that had we allowed Kosovo and its people to continue to be brutalized, their rights stripped from them, their futures stolen, our own future in countries like mine would have been diminished.

Writing on social platform X, former U.S. President Bill Clinton said the NATO air campaign gave an end to a decade of repression and a brutal campaign of ethnic cleansing. (AP)
Today marked a significant moment for the BTS fandom as Jin, one of the septet's beloved members, was officially discharged from his mandatory military service.

However, the event did not unfold quietly. An astonishing crowd gathered outside the HYBE building, the headquarters of BTS's agency, to celebrate Jin's return.

The sheer size of the assembly caught the attention of international ARMYs online, who expressed awe at the overwhelming support.

THE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE AT HYBE JUST BC BTS ARE IN THEREpic.twitter.com/bfX7ST4yvO  dai! (@itz_daimi) June 12, 2024

The size of the crowd prompted authorities to take precautionary measures. Police, ambulances, and firefighters were deployed to the scene, ensuring the safety and well-being of the fans gathered outside HYBE.

THE CROWD IN FRONT OF HYBE RIGHT NOW 



POLICE, FIREFIGHTERS, AND AMBULANCES ARE IN THE PREMISES  pic.twitter.com/K1dSGszKtA  Elle   | is in Seoul for FESTA ! (@jinniebaby0T7) June 12, 2024

"the members came to congratulate me and when I walked into the company building, all the staff held a huge sign with champagne and balloons for me" OH JIN YOU'RE SO LOVED  pic.twitter.com/jF2x5Qgh3l June 12, 2024

IN CASE YOU MISSED THIS: BTS Jin Breaks Silence on Scandalous Fan Hug Event Details -'They Asked Me if I Had Any Ideas, But...'

The fervor of the moment was palpable as fans eagerly anticipated the reunion of all seven BTS members. ARMYs, both present at the scene and following online, hoped for a glimpse of their beloved idols as they came together to celebrate Jin's return.

As Jin made his way inside the building, he was met with a warm reception from staff and well-wishers. Speaking about his return, Jin shared, "The staff prepared a big celebration for me." His words only added to the excitement surrounding his homecoming and the anticipation for the group's future endeavors.

Meanwhile, BTS member Jin has been discharged from the military after two years of service. His reunion with his fellow members was heartwarming, although Suga was notably absent.

ARMYs, rejoice!

After about two years, BTS Jin is officially discharged from the military.#BTS #Jin #ARMY #BTSJin https://t.co/zuCKMmRpSC

- KpopStarz (@kpopstarz) June 12, 2024

Jin greeted soldiers and reporters with warmth and tears before promising to meet fans the next day at an offline event. Despite ARMYs refraining from visiting, they showed support with banners and balloons.

The other BTS members welcomed Jin with flowers and music, but Suga was absent. However, he's expected to join the group later for a quiet celebration.

YOU MIGHT BE ALSO INTERESTED IN: Billboard Predicts BTS as Contender for a 'Big Four' Nomination at the 2022 Grammy Awards

For more K-Pop news and updates, keep your tabs open here at KpopStarz.

KpopStarz owns this article.

Written by Cassidy Jones.
On 11 June Mexicos President-electhosted a delegation of US officials led by White House Homeland Security Advisor

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On 11 June Venezuelas Presidentreplacedas prisons minister in response to mass hunger strikes which are spreading through the countrys detention facilities.

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On 11 June the president of Brazils senate,, rejected key sections of a decree signed by Presidentwhich proposed limiting tax benefits on the PIS/Cofins federal taxes.

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After repeatedly calling for the imprisonment of presidential son Hunter Biden, Republicans do not seem very happy with the recent guilty verdict in a Delaware court. This may be because the guilty verdict contradicts their claims that there is a two-tier justice system favored towards President Joe Biden and against convicted felon former President Donald Trump.

For several years now, Republicans have been using Hunter Biden's problems with the law to attack his father. When the Biden DOJ launched an investigation that led to that Delaware trial, Republicans called it a show trial. When Hunter Biden was found guilty as they wanted, Republicans responded by moving the goalpost again with conspiracy theories.

As The Guardian pointed out, "Republicans have long sought to use Hunter Biden's woes and business dealings as a political weapon against Biden, ignoring the fact that Trump himself is also now a convicted felon whose own business empire has been fined hundreds of millions of dollars for fraudulent practices."

This is shown in the Trump Campaign's statement reacting to the verdict, which reads, "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."

Other right-wing talking heads also tried to spin the guilty verdict after their two-tier justice system talking points were shattered. Including Charlie Kirk, a conservative activist and founder of Turning Point USA, who stated, "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."

The Hunter Biden guilty verdict has basically undermined Republicans' narrative that the president "weaponized" the justice department. However, not all Republicans were trying to spin the guilty verdict into a bad light, as James Comer, chairman of the House of Representatives Oversight Committee, stated that it was "a step toward accountability" before once again going into the same conspiracy theories.

READ MORE: Russia Spreading Disinformation About US Border Crisis To Undercut Ukraine Aid

What Crimes Were Hunter Biden Guilty Of?

As for Hunter Biden himself, a Delaware jury was able to swiftly find the presidential son guilty of three felony charges that happened when he lied about his drug addiction while buying a gun.

According to Yahoo! News, the three felonies he was found guilty of are lying to a federally licensed gun dealer, Making a false claim on a federal firearms form used to screen applicants, and Possessing an illegally obtained gun. The younger Biden reportedly showed little reaction but then he kissed and hugged family members and friends as he exited the courtroom.

Republicans Slammed Over Their Double Standards Over Hunter Biden Guilty Verdict

As Republicans try to move the goalpost again, Democrats are once again pointing out their hypocrisy. This came as Rep. Jamie Raskin of Maryland, a Democrat, called out the GOP's differing responses to the convictions of Hunter Biden and Donald Trump.

"Compare and contrast the difference in reaction between the Republicans and the Democrats, said the Democrat, who is also a constitutional expert. "The Republicans are attacking our entire system of justice and the rule of law because they don't like the way that one case came out, whereas the son of the President of the United States is prosecuted, and I don't hear a single Democrat crying foul."

READ MORE: Hunter Biden Investigation: Republican Informant Alexander Smirnov Had Ties to Russian Intelligence

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Written by: Rick Martin

WATCH: President Biden reacts to son Hunter Biden's guilty verdict - ABC News
Mexico has been employing a new tactic to deter migrants from going into the US-Mexico border as the Biden administration has begun its controversial border crackdown while also pressuring Mexico and other countries along the migration route to help deter people from coming in.

Many of these migrants usually come from Venezuela, either fleeing the oppressive Maduro regime or flying to Caracas from other countries outside the Americas to find a better life in the US. Often, they go through rebel-controlled territories and treacherous jungles, many of them robbed or raped. However, these often do not deter them from their goal.

Mexico now wants to frustrate these migrants even further to deter them, and this may be working as many of the frustrated migrants would admit they would rather go through the dangerous Darien Gap again rather than go through Mexico.

"I would rather cross the Darien Gap 10,000 times than cross Mexico," one Venezuelan migrant, Yeneska Garcia, told the Associated Press as she sat in a migrant shelter. She crossed the Darien Gap and arrived in Mexico, where she narrowly survived being kidnapped by a Mexican cartel.

However, when she finally arrived at the US-Mexico border and tried to cross, she was captured and deported back to Mexico. After being deported, Mexican authorities then bused her back to southern Mexico, near the Mexico-Guatemala border, where she had to make her treacherous trek north all over again.

This tactic of wearing migrants out until they give up is a result of Mexico being pressured by the Biden administration even though the country lacks the funding to actually deport these migrants back to their home countries. However, with Biden and President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador currently working on a deal to deport migrants from select countries in the works, many of these migrants would soon find themselves back at the starting point.

READ MORE: Joe Biden Border Clampdown Sees Less and Less Migrants Trying to Cross the Border Since Roll Out

US Looking to Latin American Allies To Help Curtail Migrants Amid New Biden Crackdown

It is not just Mexico that the Biden administration is trying to work with, but also other Central and South American countries such as El Salvador.

In addition to the restrictive new border measures it has implemented, the Biden administration is also trying to have deals with countries along the migration route to stem the flow of migrants arriving in Mexico As NPR noted, the new Biden policy would not work that well if it did not have the cooperation of Mexico.

US Has Begun Deporting Migrants Back to Mexico Under New Biden Crackdown

Over in the US, the deportations have begun as migrants who illegally cross the US-Mexico border are deported back to Mexico immediately and would not have the chance to declare that they are seeking asylum.

So far, the number of migrant encounters by Border Patrol has gone down, but it is still unclear if this will continue in the long run. However, Time Magazine has pointed out that some migrants are not deterred at all, as the new provisions still allowed people who look genuinely scared to be deported back to their home countries to be able to apply for asylum, albeit under stricter screening methods.

READ MORE: Joe Biden Begins Deportations Along US-Mexico Border; Migrants Rattled and Unsure

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Written by: Rick Martin

WATCH: President Biden's sweeping changes going into effect at the southern border - ABC News
In a landmark decision, a Florida jury has ordered American banana giant Chiquita Brands International to pay $38.3 million in damages to the families of eight victims killed by a Colombia right-wing paramilitary group.

This ruling marks a significant moment as it's the first time an American jury has held a major US corporation accountable for a significant human rights violation committed abroad, CBS News reports.

Chiquita had admitted to funding the Autodefensas Unidas de Colombia (AUC), a paramilitary group designated as a terrorist organization by the US Department of State.

From 1997 to 2004, Chiquita, through its subsidiary Banadex, provided payments to the AUC, characterized as "security payments" during Colombia's violent internal conflict.

READ NEXT: Colombia's Gustavo Petro Considers Ceasefire Suspension After EMC Attacks

Legal Proceedings and Jury Verdict

The civil case, heard in federal court in the Southern District of Florida, concluded after a six-week trial and two days of deliberation.

The jury found that Chiquita Brands had knowingly provided substantial assistance to the AUC, creating a foreseeable risk of harm to others.

The verdict has sparked discussions about corporate accountability and the implications of business decisions on human rights.

In response to the verdict, American banana giant Chiquita expressed disappointment and announced plans to appeal, asserting no legal basis for the claims against them.

The company maintains that the payments were made out of concern for the safety of its employees and operations in Colombia, where violence and threats from armed groups were rampant.

Colombian President Gustavo Petro raised questions about the disparity between the US judicial decision and the lack of similar rulings in Colombia, according to CNN.

He highlighted the need for accountability within the Colombian justice system regarding corporate actions during the country's tumultuous history.

During the trial, Chiquita executives testified that the payments to the AUC were voluntary and made under duress to protect their personnel and facilities.

However, the jury rejected Chiquita's defense that it had no alternative but to collaborate with the Colombia right-wing paramilitary group to safeguard its operations.

Impact on Victims and Human Rights Advocacy

Lawyers representing the victims emphasized the significance of the jury's decision to hold American banana giant Chiquita accountable for funding an organization responsible for numerous human rights abuses.

They praised their clients' courage in pursuing justice. They expressed hope that the verdict would prompt other corporations to reevaluate their international operations to prevent complicity in similar atrocities.

The ruling against Chiquita Brands sets a precedent for future cases involving multinational corporations operating in conflict zones or areas affected by human rights violations.

BBC noted the importance of ethical business practices and corporate responsibility in mitigating harm and upholding human rights standards globally.

The verdict against Chiquita Brands International represents a critical step towards accountability for corporate actions in conflict-affected regions.

The role of legal systems in addressing human rights abuses committed by corporations sends a strong message about the consequences of prioritizing profit over ethical considerations in global operations.

READ MORE: ELN Rebels to Resume Kidnappings After Peace Talks Collapse in Colombia

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Written by: Ross Key

WATCH: Chiquita - The Controversial History - From Company Man
Missouri witnessed a somber milestone in 2023 with the execution of four individuals by lethal injection.

Among them was David Hosier, who steadfastly maintained his innocence up until his death, The Kansas City Star reports.

This event underscores Missouri's stance as one of five states in the nation that carried out executions last year amid ongoing debates about the ethics and efficacy of capital punishment.

David Hosier's journey to execution began with a conviction in 2013 for the murders of Angela Gilpin and her husband, Rodney Gilpin.

The couple was tragically found dead in September 2009 in the hallway of their Jefferson City apartment.

Hosier, who had a previous romantic relationship with Angela, was portrayed by prosecutors as a scorned ex-lover who could not accept her decision to reconcile with Rodney.

Despite Hosier's claims of innocence and the absence of witnesses or DNA evidence linking him to the crime, he was convicted based on circumstantial evidence, including Angela's application for a protective order citing stalking and harassment.

Missouri Governor Mike Parson's decision to deny clemency to Hosier, a 69-year-old veteran, further intensified public scrutiny and debate over the application of the death penalty.

Parson cited Hosier's lack of remorse and the gravity of his crimes as reasons for upholding the court's decision.

READ NEXT: Missouri Gov. Parson Denies Clemency for Death Row Inmate Brian Dorsey

Execution Details

Missouri man David Hosier's execution was scheduled at Tuesday 6 PM at the Eastern Reception, Diagnostic, and Correctional Center in Bonne Terre, located about an hour south of St. Louis.

Missouri employs a single-drug protocol in its lethal injections, according to USA Today.

Before his execution, Hosier's last meal included steak, a baked potato, Texas toast, apple pie, milk, and orange juice, marking a solemn ritual preceding the state's ultimate punishment.

The decision to proceed with Hosier's execution drew sharp reactions from various quarters.

Anti-death penalty activists condemned Missouri Governor Mike Parson's stance, arguing that executing an elderly man with health issues served no justice.

Hosier's legal team, in a 19-page clemency petition, highlighted his traumatic upbringing and argued for a life sentence rather than execution.

Despite these efforts, no last-minute appeals were filed, underscoring the finality of the judicial process.

Hosier's case is emblematic of broader legal challenges within Missouri's criminal justice system.

His attorneys raised concerns about procedural fairness, ineffective legal representation during trial, and the exclusion of potentially exonerating evidence.

The Missouri Supreme Court's affirmation of his conviction in 2019 underscored the complexities and controversies surrounding capital punishment in the state.

Future Executions and Legal Landscape

Looking ahead, Missouri is slated to execute Marcellus "Khaliifah" Williams in September, reigniting debates over the reliability of evidence and the administration of justice in death penalty cases.

Williams' case has garnered attention due to prior stays of execution based on DNA evidence suggesting his innocence, highlighting ongoing challenges and debates surrounding capital punishment in Missouri and beyond, Fox News noted.

The execution of Missouri man David Hosier and the upcoming cases like that of Marcellus Williams continue to fuel public discourse and legal challenges regarding the death penalty.

Advocates for reform argue for more stringent safeguards to prevent wrongful convictions and ensure due process in capital cases.

The intersection of legal, ethical, and moral considerations remains a focal point in the national debate on capital punishment.

READ MORE: Florida Man Arrested for Shooting Worker, Setting Apartment on Fire

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Written by: Ross Key

WATCH: Missouri governor turns down clemency for inmate facing execution on Tuesday - From KSDK News
Brazil Federal Police Director General Andrei Rodrigues recently announced on Tuesday that the three ongoing probes regarding former President Jair Bolsonaro may be concluding soon, with all three possibly concluding as early as next month.

According to Reuters, this would be the final step on whether or not the right-wing populist known as the "Trump of the Tropics" would be formally accused of crimes. Bolsonaro is facing several serious accusations, including masterminding coup attempts against political rival Lula, as well as his involvement in the January 8 riots, which mirrored the January 6 Capitol Insurrection in the US.

Bolsonaro is also accused of pawning jewelry given to his administration by the Saudi government and tampering with COVID-19 vaccination records. During his time as president, Brazil was one of the hardest-hit countries when the pandemic was going on, and Bolsonaro being a staunch anti-vaxxer did not help.

"Our expectation is that in June we will conclude the first two investigations, on jewelry and vaccines, and in July we will finalize the coup investigation," said Rodrigues in a press conference.

The police chief also noted that with FBI assistance, a new jewel potentially linked to the case was discovered, and "That only strengthened the investigation." Bolsonaro allegedly pawned these jewels in the US and possibly committed embezzlement.

As for his COVID-19 vaccination scandal, the infamous anti-vaxxer former president reportedly forged his vaccination records to permit his travel to the United States while also maintaining that he has never taken a COVID-19 vaccine.

Jair Bolsonaro Defends Former Minister of Education Over Corruption Charges

Many of Bolsonaro's cabinet members and former administration officials are also under investigation. While some have been tied to his alleged coup attempt and other crimes, others are being investigated over completely different ones, such as former education minister Milton Ribeiro.

READ MORE: Brazil Police Officially Open Investigation Into Jair Bolsonaro Stay at Hungarian Embassy

Yahoo! Life reported that Ribeiro is under investigation for suspected corruption involving education funds. However, Bolsonaro recently called the investigation "frivolous" and defended his former education minister.

"I still believe in Milton, if something comes up, he will answer for his actions," said the embattled former president who is currently barred from holding office because of his crimes, He added that Ribero's arrest was an attempt "to wear down the government."

Jair Bolsonaro Was Just Recently Hospitalized Over a Skin Infection

Despite trying to present himself with much machismo and strength, Bolsonaro has been plagued with several health conditions and was recently hospitalized for a skin infection.

Early last month, the notorious anti-vaxxer was hospitalized again in the northern city of Manaus, and Reuters reported that his skin infection was caused by a bacterial infection. Bolsonaro himself stated that his hospitalization was caused by erysipelas, a skin disease that he previously had in 2022.

When the January 8 Brasilia riots happened, he was not in the country but was in Florida for a medical procedure. However, the attempted coup was still tied to him and the people close to him.

READ MORE: Trials for Jair Bolsonaro Supporters Begin Over the January 8 Riots

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Rick Martin

WATCH: Bolsonaro investigation: Brazil's supreme court releases compromising video - Al Jazeera English
Weeks after Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg won his case against Donald Trump in the porn star hush money trial, where the former president was found guilty of all 32 charges, Trump's allies in the House Judiciary Committee now want to grill him.

Bragg has now agreed to testify before the Republican-led committee, along with Manhattan prosecutor Matthew Colangelo, who made a name for himself in the Trump trial that led to the former president's guilty verdict. Colangelo was also a former DOJ official for the Biden administration, and Republicans are following a conspiracy theory that his involvement in the case was proof that Biden was behind the trial.

As Reuters noted, the hearing will give Trump allies a chance to rail against the Donald Trump porn star hush money trial and its subsequent guilty verdict. Republicans have repeatedly claimed without solid evidence that the trial was a politically motivated effort by Bragg under orders from Biden to interfere with the 2024 elections in November. Legally, the Republicans do not have much legal ground to stand on, say experts.

However, as the trial has shown, the charges brought against Trump were indeed backed by evidence and testimony by people who were once close to the former president and now-convicted felon.

"It undermines the rule of law to spread dangerous misinformation," said a spokesperson for the Manhattan District Attorney's Office. "Nonetheless, we respect our government institutions and plan to appear voluntarily before the subcommittee."

While Republicans claim that the Biden DOJ, which recently successfully prosecuted presidential son, Hunter Biden, is behind Bragg, it should be noted that local prosecutors, such as the Manhattan DA, operate independently of the Justice Department.

DOJ Hits Back at Republicans Over Their Claims Against the Donald Trump Guilty Verdict

As for the DOJ itself, it slammed House Republicans for spreading the "completely baseless" claim that they are the ones behind the porn star hush money trial that found Donald Trump guilty.

READ MORE: '2000 Mules' Donald Trump Propaganda Movie Still Being Spread After Being Debunked, Losing Court Battle

"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," wrote Assistant t Attorney General Carlos Uriarte in a letter to House Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan, who previously ducked a congressional subpoena over January 6.

Uriarte pointed out that "there is no evidence showing any coordination between the federal government and Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg" and that they conducted a "comprehensive" search for communications between the department and the Manhattan District Attorney's Office.

"We found none. This is unsurprising," the DOJ official wrote. "The District Attorney's Office is a separate entity from the Department. The Department does not supervise the work of the District Attorney's Office, does not approve its charging decisions, and does not try its cases."

Donald Trump Vows To Appeal Guilty Verdict

Meanwhile, Donald Trump has been loud regarding his guilty verdict, and during his recent rally in Arizona, he vowed that he would challenge it on the appeals courts and promised that he would reverse his felony conviction, according to ABC News.

"Those appellate courts have to step up and straighten things out or we're not going to have a country anymore," he told his supporters, who turned out in droves despite the searing heat. This is in contrast to the masses of protesters that often follow him around in New York.

READ NEXT: Fox News Falls for Prank Regarding Donald Trump Fraud Trial Juror's Cousin, Spread Misinformation To Defend Ex-POTUS

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Rick Martin

WATCH: Manhattan DA STRIKES BACK at Jim Jordan in SCATHING LETTER - MeidasTouch
GRADUATION GIFT

Dear Heloise: For about 23 years, Ive been saving quarters and placing them in paper rolls provided by my bank. Each roll contains $5 worth of quarters. I then store the rolls in a dresser. You might wonder why, but I wanted to help my grandson, who is my only grandchild, with college. He is an honor student and will be attending college this coming fall.

I took the rolls to the bank, had them cashed in, and discovered that I had nearly $9,000 in quarters! I know college is expensive, but this will help somewhat and is his high school graduation gift. -- A Reader, via email

ORDER A YUMMY BOWL OF SOUP

Dear Heloise: My sister and I are considering opening a small restaurant in an industrial park where there are a considerable number of companies. We plan to open for breakfast and lunch but not dinner, and close up around 2:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Weve taken business classes and spoken to other people who have restaurants, but one of our biggest problems has been coming up with a menu.

One of featured items will be soups. I know there are several types of soups, but we are a little foggy about what soups people like and want to order. Can you tell us what kinds there are, and what ingredients are in them? -- Donna and Diana, in Houston

Donna and Diana, soup is a popular dish to serve. Especially in the winter, people love a bowl of homemade soup. Here is the list you requested:

Bisque: A rich and creamy shellfish-based soup.

Bouillabaisse: A seasoned soup containing a variety of fresh fish and shellfish. Its sometime referred to as fishermans stew.

Bouillon: A clear soup made with strong beef or chicken broth.

Chowder: A creamy soup that has potatoes, onions, vegetables, meat or fish. Its prepared with a milk base.

Consomme: A broth made with double-strength brown stock, with all the fat removed.

Gazpacho: A cold Spanish soup made with tomatoes and other fresh vegetables.

Minestrone: A thick Italian vegetable soup.

Best wishes to the both of you in your new endeavor. -- Heloise

A HELOISE QUIZ

Dear Readers: Do you know which pie is Americas favorite dessert?

A) Lemon

B) Cherry

C) Apple

D) Banana cream

E) Key lime

If you guessed C, youre correct. There are about 186 million apple pies sold in grocery stores annually, with more than 30% of Americans enjoying apple pie more than any other flavor. The average slice of apple pie has about 400 calories and 20 grams of fat. Add a scoop of ice cream to that pie, and youll have about 500 calories. -- Heloise

CONDENSED OR EVAPORATED MILK?

Dear Heloise: I was wondering if condensed milk can be substituted for evaporated milk in recipes. -- Lenore J., Aberdeen, South Dakota

Lenore, no, they cant, and here is why: While both are produced by beating milk until 60% of the water evaporates, sweetened condensed milk has a bunch of sugar added, so it would only work when making candy, homemade ice cream or other desserts.

Evaporated milk can be diluted with an equal amount of water and substituted for fresh milk in recipes. Undiluted, its as thick and rich as heavy cream, but without as much fat or calories. -- Heloise

SEND A GREAT HINT TO: Heloise@Heloise.com

(c) 2024 by King Features Syndicate Inc.
Hunter Biden was convicted Tuesday of all three felony charges related to the purchase of a revolver in 2018 when, prosecutors argued, the presidents son lied on a mandatory gun-purchase form by saying he was not illegally using or addicted to drugs.

Hunter Biden, 54, stared straight ahead and showed little emotion as the verdict was read after jury deliberations that lasted only three hours over two days in Wilmington, Delaware. He hugged his attorneys, smiled wanly and kissed his wife, Melissa, before leaving the courtroom with her.

President Joe Biden said in a statement issued shortly after the verdict that he would accept the outcome and continue to respect the judicial process as Hunter considers an appeal.

Now Hunter Biden and presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump, the presidents 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.

Hunter Biden faces up to 25 years in prison when he is sentenced by U.S. District Judge Maryellen Noreika, though as a first-time offender he would not get anywhere near the maximum, and theres no guarantee the judge would send him to prison. She did not set a sentencing date.

Defense attorney Abbe Lowell said they would continue to vigorously pursue all the legal challenges available. In a written statement, Hunter Biden said he was disappointed by the outcome but grateful for the support of family and friends.

The jurys decision was read swiftly after the announcement that it reached a verdict. First lady Jill Biden sat through nearly every day of the trial but did not make it into the courtroom in time to hear the verdict. Hunter Biden walked out of the courthouse holding hands with the first lady and his wife before they got into waiting SUVs and drove off.

Joe Biden steered clear of the federal courtroom where his son was tried and said little about the case, wary of appearing to interfere in a criminal matter brought by his own Justice Department. But allies of the Democrat have worried about the toll that the trial  and now the conviction  will take on the 81-year-old, who has long been concerned with his only living sons health and sustained sobriety.

Hunter Bidens conviction came just weeks after Trump was found guilty of 34 felony charges related to a hush money payment to a porn actor in the 2016 campaign. The cases are in no way the same, and Hunter Biden is a private citizen who is not running for office. But they have both argued they were victimized by the politics of the moment.

Trump, however, has continued to falsely claim his verdict was rigged, while Joe Biden has said he would accept the verdict involving his son and would not seek to pardon him.

In his statement Tuesday, the president said he and the first lady are proud of their son, who says he has been sober since 2019, and will always be there for him with love and support.

Trumps campaign called the verdict nothing more than a distraction from the real crimes of the Biden Crime Family. Trump and his allies have pressed unsubstantiated or debunked allegations that Joe Biden acted while vice president to advance his family members foreign business interests.

The verdict came down as the president prepared to give a speech at a conference hosted by the Everytown for Gun Safety Action Fund in Washington. He did not mention his son as he spoke about his administrations efforts to stop gun violence and the need to ban so-called assault weapons.

Hours after the conviction, President Biden hugged his son after landing in Wilmington to spend the night with family before leaving Wednesday for the Group of Seven leaders conference in Italy. Hunter Biden, his wife and their child greeted the president on the tarmac, and the president lingered to visit with them for several minutes.

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.

The trial 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 his other son, Beau Biden, was the state attorney general before he died of cancer.

The proceedings put a spotlight on a dark time in Hunter Bidens life, including his spiraling descent after Beaus death in 2015. The trial featured deeply personal testimony from former romantic partners and embarrassing evidence such as text messages and photos of Hunter Biden with drug paraphernalia or partially clothed.

In his closing argument on Monday, prosecutor Leo Wise acknowledged the evidence was ugly. But he told jurors it was also absolutely necessary to prove Hunter was in the throes of addiction when he bought the gun and therefore lied when he checked no on the form that asked whether he was an unlawful user of, or addicted to drugs.

Before the case went to the jury, the prosecutor urged jurors to pay no mind to members of the presidents family sitting in the courtroom, telling them: People sitting in the gallery are not evidence.

David Weiss, the prosecutor who has led the long-running investigation into the presidents son, told reporters the case was about Hunter Bidens illegal choices and dangerous conduct.

No one in this country is above the law, said Weiss, the Trump-nominated U.S. attorney for Delaware, who was named special counsel by Attorney General Merrick Garland in August. Everyone must be accountable for their actions.

Hunter Bidens lawyers had argued that he did not consider himself an addict when he bought the gun. They 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.

Hunter Bidens legal troubles arent over. He faces a trial in September in California on charges of failing to pay $1.4 million in taxes, and congressional Republicans have signaled they will keep going after him in their stalled impeachment effort into the president. The president has not been accused or charged with any wrongdoing by prosecutors investigating his son.

Just last year, it appeared that Hunter Biden would avoid the spectacle of a trial so close to the election. Under a deal with prosecutors, he was supposed to plead guilty to misdemeanor tax offenses and avoid prosecution in the gun case if he stayed out of trouble for two years.

But the deal fell apart after 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.

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to lehighvalleylive.com.
A Laois town is getting a lovely last minute arts and heritage festival this summer, and the great news is that it is free to attend.

Details of the Mountmellick Heritage and Arts Festival have just been announced, organised by Mountmellick Arts Collective.

It offers an incredibly packed schedule of great heritage and art events on the weekend of July 12, 13 and 14.

Arts Collective members Declan Furlong and Colette Rafter are the main organisers.

Its exciting and its local, Declan told the Leinster Express / Laois Live.

On Friday night at 8pm there will be a video art exhibition celebrating Mountmellicks rich history, followed with a showing of the remastered video of the famine commemoration walk in 1995, that travelled from Graigue to the Ivy cemetery.

Exhibited alongside will be a curated film on a loop featuring the videos of Offaly geologist and ecologist John Feehan and the stunning micro nature photography of Tina Claffey.

Later in The Druid pub, is a one-man show with well known Laois poet, storyteller and writer Mick Creagh. That will be followed immediately by followed by an Open Mic.

We hope for poets, rappers and short storytellers, spoken word artists and musicians to take part and have a ball, Declan explained.

Celebrating neurodiversity, the Muiriosa Foundation is organising the painting of a street mural over the weekend. The charity is working with an artist and some local people to create a mural that speaks to their reality. It will be on a wall beside SuperValu - next to the bottle return machine.

There will be an exhibition of Mountmellick Work, the towns famous quaker white on white embroidery style, in St Pauls Church of Ireland parish hall on Saturday and Sunday.

The pretty Methodist church is opening its doors to any artists who would like to exhibit their work. Set-up is on Friday, the exhibition is on Saturday.

There will be a lecture in the church at 2.30pm on Saturday, by Dr Tapasya Narang, an English lecturer from Dublin City University, titled Poetry and the Ephemeral.

On Saturday night there will be live folk and trad music in Mountmellick pubs as part of the festival.

Then on Sunday, all are invited to the Balcony Theatre for a Mountmellick Sunday Miscellany, a mix of local spoken stories and music, from 3pm to 5pm.

A Gaiety Intro to Improv lesson is taking place earlier in the week, but is largely booked out.

The festival is supported by funding from Creative Ireland Laois. A contribution box will be accessible at the Sunday Miscellany event. Follow festival updates on social media.
A judge demanded to know why a man who spent tens of thousands on cars in a year wanted legal aid at a sitting of Portlaoise District Court.

Andrew Cash (33) with an address at 7 Harpurs Lane, Portlaoise appeared in court in relation to driving without insurance or a licence at Newline Road, Mountrath on July 2, 2023, at Rossleighan, Portlaoise on January 29, 2024 and on the Mountrath Road, Portlaoise on May 6, 2024.

Garda Sergeant JJ Kirby said the accused was observed driving a Skoda Octavia on the Mountrath Road in Portlaoise at 3.10pm on May 6. He said the defendant was disqualified from driving at the time. The defendant was arrested for a similar offence on January 29 this year.

Sgt Kirby said the man was involved in a two vehicle collision in Mountrath on July 2, 2023 at 8am. He had been driving a silver Ford CMax on the day and had exchanged details with the other driver. Sgt Kirby said the defendant failed to produce insurance or driving licence details within ten days following a lawful demand.

Sgt Kirby said the man has 49 previous convictions including four for no insurance.

Solicitor Josephine Fitzpatrick said her client wishes to apologise and had written a letter to the court. She said on the January date he had been driving to collect his children from school as the weather was appalling on the day. She said he was also driving his children on the May date.

Ms Fitzpatrick accepted he was facing a custodial sentence and explained that his home is due to be seized. She asked that he be allowed a postponement to any sentence to enable him to find a new place for his family.

Judge Andrew Cody said the defendant has been offending non stop and even a previous suspended sentence failed to make any difference.

I am not going to postpone, he told Ms Fitzpatrick.

Judge Cody imposed a 12 month prison sentence for the offence in January and May and banned the man from driving for 20 years. He imposed a further six months suspended for three years in relation to the offence committed on July 2, 2023. He fixed recognisance at 2,500 with 2,500 in cash.

Ms Fitzpatrick asked Judge Cody to reconsider the sum. Judge Cody said the man should reconsider his driving.

There needs to be 2,500 in cash at risk, he insisted.

Ms Fitzpatrick requested legal aid in relation to each of the three separate incidents.

Judge Cody asked where the money had come from to pay for the 181 and 161 registered cars he was driving.

He is buying cars worth 10 or 15 thousand every three months, said Judge Cody.

His assets have been seized including his house, said Ms Fitzpatrick, who said her client wasnt a man of means.

Cars to the value of 50,000 or 60,000 in the space of three months and he is looking for legal aid, said Judge Cody

He noted one of the cars had a 161 registration, another was 181 OY and the other a 181 D registered car. He said there was a minimum of 50,000 worth of vehicles involved.

Ms Fitzpatrick said one was bought with the proceeds of a compensation claim, another was registered to his wife and it has been seized and the third was bought cheaply and repaired.

The Criminal Assets Bureau has seized them, Ms Fitzpatrick replied.

Although legal aid had been assigned on two of the no insurance offences, Judge Cody declined to grant legal aid on the third.

He remanded the defendant in custody to appear again at Naas District Court on June 12 in relation to a suspended sentence.
A Dublin plumber has been given a suspended sentence for headbutting another man after they argued about Irish traditional music in a pub toilet on St Patrick's Day.

Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard that the victim suffered a mild bleed on his brain after the headbutt knocked him to the ground outside the Grange pub in Deansgrange on March 17 last year.

Gavin Dennan (39) of Desmond Avenue, Dun Laoghaire was given a three-year suspended sentence after he pleaded guilty to assault causing harm.

Judge Pauline Codd also ordered Dennan to pay the victim 1,000 as a token of remorse, adding that if the victim is unwilling to accept this, the money is to go to a charity of their choice.

Judge Codd described it an act of madness, noting that one-punch assaults can be very serious and that Dennan was lucky not to be facing more serious charges.

She said although Dennan has no previous convictions, no history of violence and had acted totally out of character, it was often the case that people act out of character when tanked up.

Things become heated unnecessarily, said Judge Codd.

Dennan, who cooperated fully and expressed remorse and disgust at his behaviour, told gardai that a red mist had come over him after a verbal argument with the other man.

A total of 10 testimonials on Dennan's behalf were submitted to court, including from employers, voluntary groups and a local scouting organisation, speaking to his good character and integrity.

At a sentence hearing today/yesterday (WEDNESDAY), Garda Michael Murphy told Pieter Le Vert BL, prosecuting, that the injured party met friends in the Grange Pub on St Patrick's Day.

The victim told gardai later that the pub was busier than usual and Irish trad music was being played when he went to the toilet some time after 7pm.

He and Dennan had some sort of conversation about trad music in the toilets, and the victim said although he couldn't remember exactly what was said, Dennan seemed disappointed with his views.

The victim left the pub before 10pm after drinking six or seven pints and woke up in St Vincent's Hospital with a sore head and a lump on his lip.

The victim said he threw up and noticed blood in his vomit but was released from hospital the following morning.

He continued to vomit over the weekend and went back to hospital on Monday due to his ongoing headache.

A brain scan revealed a small bleed on the front left portion of his brain.

The victim was off work for two weeks but had trouble sleeping and had to get prescription medicine to relieve pressure on his brain.

A medical report said the victim was unsteady on his feet and struggled with memory and with certain words for a few weeks after the assault but that ultimately all of these injuries resolved and he returned to work.

The victim did not wish to file a victim impact report, the court heard.

Two women who were in the smoking area gave eye witness accounts of seeing Dennan and the victim exchanging words and having heated discussions.

Dennan, his wife and adult son were about to get into a taxi when the victim was heard shouting more verbal abuse at Dennan, who said: I've had enough, fuck this.

He then went back and headbutted the victim, who fell and hit his head off the ground.

The victim was described by witnesses as being very drunk.

Dennan told gardai that when he encountered the victim in the toilet, he found the victim to be aggressive and abusive about the trad music that was playing.

Dennan agreed with gardai that he was into Irish music and the victim wasn't, but said the conversation developed into a debate about politics and history and that he felt the victim was trying to get a reaction out of him.

He said that later on, the victim was making snide remarks and called him a profanity, whereupon he lost his temper and acted without thinking.

I should have left the scene. I've never behaved like this previously. I entirely regret my actions and I'm concerned that he was hospitalised. I'm disgusted with my behaviour, Dennan told gardai.

Garda Murphy agreed with counsel for the defence that Dennan had been very forthcoming and candid with gardai and was filled with remorse and regret.

The prosecuting garda also agreed that Dennan is not a man who will reoffend.

Counsel handed in testimonials including from Dennan's doctor and partner, describing a family man of exemplary character whose children rely on him for their security and happiness.

Dennan and his partner have five children, the court heard, and two of their children have additional needs.

Dennan, who is employed as a plumber for Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council, is the sole earner and has taken on extra work to support his family.
Chaos is expected for Irish passengers this summer, as pilots in Aer Lingus have voted "overwhelmingly" in favour of industrial action in a dispute over pay.

739 Members of the Irish Air Line Pilot's Association (IALPA) voted 97.7 per cent in favour of taking industrial action up to and including strike. Only 2.3 per cent voted against it.

Aer Lingus pilots are seeking wage hikes of over 20% after rejecting a pay rise of 9% brokered at the Labour Court last week. IALPA members at Aer Lingus reportedly want management to "come to their senses", the association's President has said.

Speaking on RTE's Six One news, Captain Mark Tighe described as the results of the IALPA ballot as "resounding" in favour of industrial action.

Tighe did state that the action IALPA will take has yet to be decided, but stressed that the group want to avoid industrial action which could lead to widespread travel disruption for holidaymakers this summer.

"We want to avoid industrial action, we want management to come to their senses," he said. "Talks are ongoing, but he said they are currently "stuck" on an annual cost of less than 3 million for an existing pilot agreement."

The Labour Court has recommended that pilots receive increases of 9.25%, but pilots are seeking just under 24%.

The airline's Chief Corporate Affairs Officer Donal Moriarty has said that the impact of strike action at Aer Lingus by members of IALPA would have a "severe impact" on customers.

According to Tighe, members want their "fair share of the large profits that Aer Lingus are making."

"Last year, they reported 225m profit  an increase of 400% on the previous year," he said.

He went on to compare to British Airways, the sister airline of Aer Lingus, who has "essentially the same operating margin" yet awarded its pilots a 24% increase in 2019.

Aer Lingus reportedly said that the union was "demanding an unsustainable level of increase" in pilot pay.

It added this was "not supported by any increases in productivity or flexibility".
Over 170k have been raised for a young man who is in a coma in Italy, after a tragic accident.

Tom Eustace was in Rome with his girlfriend to attend a friends wedding when a tragic accident occurred.

With life-threatening injuries, the Carlow man is currently fighting for his life. To help cover the medical costs, his family and girlfriend, Miriam, have set up a GoFundMe campaign.

Im reaching out to you all on behalf of Tom Eustace, who means the world to me. My amazing boyfriend is facing some unexpected challenges right now after being involved in an extremely serious accident in Italy and weve set up a GoFundMe campaign to help cover the costs, said Miriam on social media.

If you can, please consider donating to support him during this tough time. Every little bit helps, and your support means more than words can express. If you can't donate please share with all your network and pray for his full recovery. He is fighting for his life, she added.

The young man has a long road to recovery ahead of him.

Tom is an amazing person who has always been there for his friends and family. Now, he needs our help more than ever. The road to recovery will be long and demanding, both physically and financially. Medical expenses, rehabilitation costs, and travel expenses to get him back to Ireland are just some of the challenges we are facing, said the family on GoFundMe.

The family also thanked everyone who sent them messages of support.

The outpouring of support, messages, and calls has been a tremendous source of strength for Tom's family and girlfriend. We deeply appreciate every gesture of kindness and support during this difficult time, they added.
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 on Monday, 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.
TELUS Mental Health Index: 42 per cent of workers feel exhausted after work; excessive workload is the leading cause of burnout





Study also shows 33 per cent of workers believe that AI will have a positive impact on their industry

TORONTO, June 12, 2024 /CNW/ - Today, TELUS Health released its TELUS Mental Health Index with reports examining the mental health of employed people in Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, Europe, Singapore, New Zealand and Australia. The Canadian report reveals that 42 per cent of workers feel mentally and/or physically exhausted at the end of their workday, with too much work cited as the top cause of burnout. The Index also found that 33 per cent of workers believe that Artificial Intelligence (AI) will have a positive impact on their industry.

"There is no question that AI's advancement will bring significant benefits, potentially as pivotal as the industrial or internet age," said Paula Allen, Global Leader, Research & Client Insights, TELUS Health. "Organizations have the opportunity to engage employees in this evolution by ensuring that AI tools and training are readily accessible to employees, and enabling them to explore the technology firsthand so they can discover the ways it benefits them in their own work. As with any change, the best way to implement change is to engage people from the start, empowering them to grasp the possibilities and contribute valuable insights."

The TELUS Mental Health Index also found:

Seventeen per cent of workers are considering upgrading their AI skills .

. Managers and younger workers are at least twice as likely as non managers and workers over 50 to be considering upgrading their skills related to the use of AI.

Parents are nearly twice as likely as non-parents to consider upgrading their AI skills.

Almost half of workers believe that AI will have a positive impact on healthcare.

Workers under 40 are nearly twice as likely as workers over 50 to find it increasingly difficult to be motivated to do their work.

As a leader in technology, TELUS is at the forefront of integrating and scaling AI and generative technologies across its business operations, team members and customer interactions. By fostering a culture of innovation and continuous learning, TELUS empowers its team members to adopt and experiment with its internal AI tools in a safe and secure environment, free from the fear of making mistakes. TELUS is committed to developing a skilled, AI-enabled workforce to fully harness the potential of AI-powered innovation and growth.

"It's clear that a significant portion of employees are grappling with motivation and burnout," said Dr. Matthew Chow, Chief Mental Health Officer, TELUS Health. "Personal issues, excessive workloads, and a lack of recognition are among the contributors to burnout. Introducing AI tools thoughtfully and responsibly within organizations can assist employers in streamlining repetitive and low-value tasks to assist with the workload issue. This also can create space for employees to engage in innovative and strategic endeavors that are more meaningful and productive. Additionally, creating a supportive environment is paramount. By prioritizing employee wellbeing, offering adequate support and fostering a healthy culture, organizations empower their teams to avoid burnout and thrive in the workplace."

While many workplaces offer Employee Assistance Programs (EAP) that could help support employees in situations of burnout, TELUS Health research reveals that two-in-five workers in Canada do not know what an EAP is. The mental health scores of workers who don't know or report that their employer doesn't offer an EAP is at least three points lower than workers with an EAP.

In April 2024, the mental health scores of workers in various regions were:

Canada : 64.0

: 64.0 United States : 71.0

: 71.0 United Kingdom : 64.6

: 64.6 Europe : 62.0

: 62.0 Australia : 62.5

: 62.5 New Zealand : 60.6

: 60.6 Singapore : 62.9

The TELUS Mental Health Index is based on a response scoring system that turns individual responses into point values. Higher point values are associated with better mental health and less mental health risk. Scores between 0 to 49 correspond with distress levels, scores between 50 to 79 correspond with strain levels and scores between 80 to 100 correspond with optimal levels of mental health.

The June TELUS Mental Health Index also includes insights related to workplace productivity and motivation in addition to burnout levels and causes. Read the full Canadian TELUS Mental Health Index here .

About the TELUS Mental Health Index

The data for the TELUS Health Mental Health Index was collected through an online survey in English and French from April 5, 2024 to April 15, 2024 with 3,000 respondents. All respondents reside in Canada and were employed within the last six months. The data has been statistically weighted to ensure the regional and gender composition of the sample reflects this population.

About TELUS Health

TELUS Health is on a mission to become the most trusted wellbeing company in the world by enhancing the overall efficiency of healthcare and championing workplace wellbeing. By integrating advanced healthcare technology with comprehensive employee support services, TELUS Health provides a holistic approach to primary and preventive health and wellbeing for 72 million people across 160 countries. Our innovative digital health platforms, including electronic medical records (EMRs) and virtual care solutions, empower healthcare professionals, individuals, employers and governments to deliver personalized care efficiently. Our employee wellbeing programs offer extensive support through Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs), mental health resources, financial counselling, and workplace wellness initiatives. At TELUS Health, we are committed to revolutionizing healthcare to ensure people receive the support they need and employees thrive both personally and professionally. Together, let's make the future friendly. For more information, visit: www.telushealth.com .

Media Contact:

Marielle Hossack

TELUS Health

[email protected]

SOURCE TELUS Health

12 june 2024 at 03:00

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Gorilla Raises ?23M to Help Energy Companies Navigate the Energy Transition





Gorilla, a technology company that enables energy retailers to gather and process vast amounts of critical data, announces the close of its ?23M Series B round.

In recent years, the energy sector has faced an exponential increase in data processing needs. This is due to the proliferation of smart meters, market regulations, and increasingly complex energy value chains, as well as the inherent volatility of renewable energy sources that are weather-dependent and spread far beyond the walls of the traditional electricity plant.

Outdated IT solutions and a fragmented understanding of the data have contributed to painful energy price increases unrelated to fuel costs, and led many energy providers to wrongly price their products and services, further damaging their margins.

Gorilla's solutions help utility companies maximize efficiency, better understand energy portfolios that increasingly are influenced by distributed energy resources like solar panels, wind turbines, and battery storage, ensure operational stability, and provide bespoke pricing strategies based on individual usage patterns.

Gorilla's cloud-based data processing platform can handle enormous amounts of energy data, enabling energy companies to achieve significant improvements in efficiency and performance compared to the current generation of on-premise solutions and overreliance on spreadsheets.

With solutions for pricing, forecasting, and portfolio analysis, Gorilla clears the path for energy companies to accelerate their net-zero transformations, react to market volatility, and adapt to regulatory changes, all while more quickly calculating residential prices and launching new B2B products.

The company's customers include known energy retailers in the United Kingdom, Germany, United States, and Australia such as Centrica Business Solutions (formerly British Gas), ScottishPower, Shell Energy, Gas South, SouthStar, Synergy, Drax, and ENGIE. Thanks to Gorilla, Centrica managed to reduce complex quotes generation for its business customers from multiple days to under 3 minutes.

"No one knows what the energy sector will look like 10 years from now. But in the path towards it, innovation is key. This investment into Gorilla will help energy retailers across the globe become more agile in their commercial offering while pushing or getting pushed towards net zero," stated Ruben Van den Bossche, Co-founder and CEO of Gorilla.

"This funding supports our expansion into major markets like the U.S. and Germany, where the energy landscape is rapidly evolving and seeing increasing demand for data-driven solutions. Take Texas, for example?electricity prices in Houston have risen by nearly 16% over the past year, with Texans paying twice as much for electricity compared to pre-pandemic prices. Since 2022, prices have remained volatile despite the low cost of the natural gas that powers much of the grid, meaning consumers have continued to experience instability in delivered prices for residences."

Today's investment round is led by global venture capital firm Headline, with support from existing investors Beringea and the Flemish investment company PMV, Gorilla will use this funding to further its expansion into the United States and German markets.

"The transition to renewable energy sources, with intermittent and weather-dependent generation, results in higher grid volatility. The timing of energy consumption is crucial. Gorilla helps energy providers navigate this increased complexity. They are delivering the missing piece needed to better synchronize supply and demand. With Europe at the forefront of renewable energy generation, Headline believes that globally leading software solutions for the energy market will emerge from this region, and Gorilla is a prime example," says Jonathan Becker, General Partner at Headline.

Piotr Bukanski, Investment Manager at Beringea, commented: "Gorilla is perfectly positioned to address energy retailers' growing pain points, directly supporting them in the energy transition, and it is quickly becoming an industry standard. The growth that the team has delivered since Beringea's initial investment has been exceptional. We are, therefore, excited to participate in this round and strengthen our support for the company in its next phase of growth."

Roald Borre, Group Manager Equity Investments at PMV, stated: "Convinced of the added value of Gorilla technology and the growing importance of data analytics in the utilities sector, PMV was one of its early investors. We believe very strongly in Gorilla's international potential and therefore welcome this Series B round that should enable Gorilla to accelerate the roll-out of their technology and become an international leader."

With existing offices in Austin, Antwerp, London, and Melbourne, Gorilla's further expansion across the U.S. and Europe will work to increase its impact on the energy industry across the globe.

About Gorilla

Gorilla is a software scale-up shaping the future of energy retail. With a cloud-based engine and intuitive modeling software, Gorilla automates the process of data collection, transformation, processing, and analysis. Its software platform is class-leading, tailors effortlessly to energy retailers' needs, and helps them to deliver new offerings to their customers.

About Headline

Headline is a VC firm actively on the ground in 7 cities around the world. We invest across geos, leading rounds at every stage. Our Early Stage Funds are based in the US, Europe, Asia, and Brazil, and invest locally. Our Growth Funds invest globally from Series B and beyond. Former and current Headliners include Mistral AI, Sonos, Raisin, Pismo, Fetch, Segment, Staffbase, Scopely and Bumble.

About PMV

As an investment company, PMV is building a sustainable Flemish economy, the engine of our prosperity and well-being. We are the partner of ambitious companies and projects, committed to social impact and financial return. PMV finances promising companies from the very start, through to growth and internationalisation. PMV offers tailor-made financial solutions to all entrepreneurs with a good business plan and a strong management team. It does so with capital, loans and guarantees. It also realises, with and for the government, and other partners, projects that are important for prosperity and well-being in Flanders. PMV has a portfolio with 1.8 billion euros under management.

About Beringea

Beringea is a transatlantic venture capital investor with more than $900m under management. It seeks to create lasting success for rapidly scaling entrepreneurial companies, with a portfolio of more than 60 high-growth companies across the UK, North America, and Europe.

With 30+ employees across offices in the US and UK, we provide patient and intelligent capital and a global footprint to back founders throughout their journey, helping them overcome barriers to scale and build international success stories.

12 june 2024 at 03:05

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Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners Announces Greengate Biogas Partnership in Ireland





COPENHAGEN, Denmark and DUBLIN, June 12, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Under the Greengate Biogas partnership CIP, Atlas Renewables and Energex Partners will join forces to develop, construct and operate biogas plants across Ireland with a primary focus on utilizing manure as feedstock. CI ABF I, managed by CIP, invests in advanced biofuels, including biomethane. CI ABF I's investors include several of the most significant pension companies in the Nordic countries. Greengate Biogas brings together CI ABF I's expertise in developing large-scale biomethane plants across Europe and the local development team's expertise within bioenergy and agricultural practices in Ireland.



When fully established, Greengate Biogas will produce nearly 1.8 TWh per year of biomethane across multiple projects, representing approximately 3.5% of Ireland's current natural gas demand and 30% of Ireland's 2030 biomethane target established in the recently published biomethane strategy. This equates to enough gas to heat over 160,000 Irish homes or meet 20% of Irish industrial gas demand1. The projects will inject biomethane into the grid and recirculate organic fertilizers to farmers contributing to Ireland's circular economy and green transition.

Manure will be the predominant feedstock ? and will be sourced in close collaboration with over 2,000 livestock farmers across the country. By implementing anaerobic digestion for improved manure management, Greengate Biogas will also help reduce emissions from the agricultural sector and address nitrate challenges.

Andreas F. Brandt, Partner at CIP, says of the new partnership: "We are excited to enter the Irish bioenergy industry with Greengate Biogas which will make a significant contribution to the green transition, as well as creating local jobs and investments across the agricultural and rural economies. Ireland is a key market for CIP, and alongside our existing interests in offshore wind and solar power, we look forward to seeing the growth in biogas make significant contributions to renewable energy production, CO2 abatement and water quality management. We look forward to progressing the projects with our local development team and in collaboration with Irish farmers, local authorities and other stakeholders."

About Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners

Founded in 2012, Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners P/S (CIP) today is the world's largest dedicated fund manager within greenfield renewable energy investments and a global leader in offshore wind. The funds managed by CIP focus on investments in offshore and onshore wind, solar PV, biomass and energy-from-waste, transmission and distribution, reserve capacity, storage, advanced bioenergy, and Power-to-X.

CIP manages 12 funds and has to date raised approximately EUR 28 billion for investments in energy and associated infrastructure from more than 160 international institutional investors. CIP has approximately 500 employees and 12 offices around the world. For more information, visit www.cip.com

About Atlas Renewables

Atlas Renewables is a local development team specifically established to develop biogas plants in Ireland. Experienced within bioenergy with proven expertise in the development and operation of biomass plants based on agricultural feedstocks.

About Energex Partners

Energex Partners is a specialist commercial advisory practice serving the energy sector. Experienced within project development, greenfield buildout and advising institutional investors deploying capital into the energy sector.

1 Irish Government data

12 june 2024 at 04:30

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Energy Income Fund Appoints Artemis Investment Management Limited as New Investment Manager





TORONTO, June 12, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Energy Income Fund (TSX: ENI.UN) is excited to announce Artemis Investment Management Limited ("Artemis") as its new investment manager effective June 20, 2024. This update follows the recent filing of the new investment management agreement with SEDAR+.

This strategic change, involving the replacement of the previous investment fund manager, Vestcap Investment Management Inc. ("Vestcap"), is in pursuit of the Fund's revised investment strategies and objectives. The agreement with Vestcap, effective since August 22, 2013, will consequently be concluded. The transition details have been communicated to the Fund's custodian, RBC Investor Services Trust, ensuring a seamless changeover.

Additionally, Artemis is pleased to announce the engagement of ARS Investment Partners, LLC ("ARS"), a Delaware-based firm, as a sub-advisor to assist in investment management and portfolio advisory services, effective June 20, 2024. Artemis will cover all sub-advisory fees associated with this arrangement.

For additional information, please contact Artemis Investment Management Limited's investor relations at (416) 934-7455, email [email protected], or visit www.artemisfunds.ca.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements in this press release are "forward-looking" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws, including but not limited to statements about the redemption offer and matters relating thereto. Forward?looking statements are generally, but not always, identified by the words "expects", "plans", "anticipates", "in the event", "if", "believes", "asserts", "position", "intends", "envisages", "assumes", "recommends", "estimates", "approximate", "projects", "potential", "indicate" and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will", "would", "may", "could" or "should" occur. Forward-looking statements in this news release include statements with respect to the completion and payment of the redemptions set out herein. Forward?looking statements are necessarily based upon the current belief, opinions and expectations of the Fund that, while considered reasonable by the Fund, are inherently subject to significant risks and uncertainties that could cause the outcome to differ materially from current expectations. Such risks and uncertainties include, among others, litigation, business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties and other contingencies. Many factors could cause the Fund's actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward?looking statements. These factors include, among others, uncertainties related to the redemption offer as well as other risk factors set out under the heading "Risk" in the Fund's Annual Report for the year ended December 31, 2023, which is available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca. Investors are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward?looking statements due to the inherent uncertainty therein.

12 june 2024 at 08:40

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41% of American Job Seekers Can't Be Themselves at Work; 79% Fear Discussing Certain Topics





However, Employers Encourage Authenticity, Promoting Positive Mental Health

Latest Results from The Harris Poll

OKLAHOMA CITY, June 12, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Although overall company culture has become more casual, 41% of U.S. job seekers still don't feel comfortable being themselves in the workplace as 79% believe employees are discouraged from discussing certain topics.

"A healthy company culture is an inclusive and supportive one, no matter the personal differences."

This is according to a recent Express Employment Professionals-Harris Poll survey.

The top three topics still follow the "tried-and-true" philosophy of topics to avoid at work: salary/wages (51%), politics (50%) and religion (47%). Additionally, Gen Z perceives discussing politics (64%) as more frowned upon than discussing salary/wages.

While job seekers may feel there are subjects they shouldn't talk about at work, that doesn't mean that they are uncomfortable doing so.

Discussing family is a topic that 4 in 5 job seekers (80%) are fine with, proving even higher for Gen X (85%). More than half of job seekers are also okay with discussing physical health (69%), DEI&B (67%) and mental health (53%).

And, as for the traditional three topics to avoid at work, at least 2 in 5 are comfortable sharing salary/wages (53%), religion (48%) and politics (43%). Gen Z and Millennials are far more comfortable discussing salary and wages (70%, 58% vs. 45%, 40%) and religion (62%, 52% vs. 42%, 39%) compared to Gen X and boomers/seniors.

Workplace etiquette can be a moving target though, as more than half of job seekers (56%) feel it is confusing to know what is and isn't acceptable etiquette in the workplace because it has changed so much. Perhaps for that reason, most job seekers (86%) say they like to keep their home life separate from their work life.

Encouraging Authenticity

Around three-quarters of hiring managers (76%) say their company places a great deal/moderate amount of priority on encouraging employees to be authentic (i.e., bring their whole selves) at work.

A key part of the whole self of an employee is their mental health ? and three-quarters of hiring managers say their company also promotes positive employee mental health (77%). Yet digging deeper, only around 2 in 5 say their company places a great deal of priority on authenticity (39%) and promoting positive mental health (40%), perhaps leaving room for improvement in these areas.

An inability to discuss topics openly at work could hinder some employees from feeling welcome to share and add their unique perspectives at the company.

The majority of hiring managers (70%) say there are topics employees are discouraged from discussing at their company ? including politics (38%), salary/wages (38%), religion (35%) and their health (both physical and mental) (24%). Diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging (12%) and family (12%) are also off the table at some companies.

"Several company environments now lean toward a more laid-back atmosphere in the post-pandemic era; however, some sensitive conversations are not appropriate for the workplace," said Bill Stoller, Express Employment International CEO. "While people should be comfortable being themselves at work, employees should respect the beliefs of their colleagues, creating a safe space for everyone. A healthy company culture is an inclusive and supportive one, no matter the personal differences."

Survey Methodology

The Job Insights survey was conducted online within the United States by The Harris Poll on behalf of Express Employment Professionals between Oct. 31 and Nov. 10, 2023, among 1,007 U.S. hiring decision-makers.

The Job Seeker Report was conducted online within the United States by The Harris Poll on behalf of Express Employment Professionals from Nov. 9 to 26, 2023, among 1,002 adults ages 18 and older.

For full survey methodologies, please contact [email protected], Director of Corporate Communications & PR.

If you would like to arrange for an interview to discuss this topic, please contact [email protected], Director of Corporate Communications & PR.

About Bill Stoller

William H. "Bill" Stoller is chairman and chief executive officer of Express Employment International. Founded in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, the international staffing franchisor supports the Express Employment Professionals franchise and related brands. The Express franchise brand is an industry-leading, international staffing company with franchise locations in the U.S., Canada, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand.

About Express Employment Professionals

At Express Employment Professionals, we're in the business of people. From job seekers to client companies, Express helps people thrive and businesses grow. Our international network of franchises offers localized staffing solutions to the communities they serve across the U.S., Canada, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand, employing 492,000 people globally in 2023 and more than 11 million since its inception. For more information, visit ExpressPros.com.

SOURCE Express Services dba Express Employment Professionals

12 june 2024 at 08:45

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BioSyent In-Licenses Endocrinology Product for Canada





MISSISSAUGA, Ontario, June 12, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- BioSyent Inc. ("BioSyent", "the Company", TSX Venture: RX) is pleased to announce that its wholly-owned subsidiary, BioSyent Pharma Inc. ("BioSyent Pharma"), has entered into an agreement with a European partner for an exclusive license to register, market, sell and distribute a new endocrinology product in Canada. BioSyent Pharma and its European partner have agreed to seek Health Canada approval of the product by the end of 2024.



"We are excited to bring this innovative endocrinology product to Canadians while expanding and diversifying our product portfolio in a new therapeutic area," commented Rene Goehrum, President and CEO of BioSyent. "We see a significant opportunity with this product which will address an unmet medical need in Canada."

About BioSyent Inc.

Listed on the TSX Venture Exchange under the trading symbol "RX", BioSyent is a profitable growth-oriented specialty pharmaceutical company focused on in-licensing or acquiring innovative pharmaceutical and other healthcare products that have been successfully developed, are safe and effective, and have a proven track record of improving the lives of patients. BioSyent supports the healthcare professionals that treat these patients by marketing its products through its community, specialty and international business units.

As of the date of this press release, the Company has 11,584,305 common shares outstanding.

For a direct market quote for the TSX Venture Exchange and other Company financial information please visit www.tmxmoney.com .

For further information please contact:

Mr. Rene C. Goehrum

President and CEO

BioSyent Inc.

E-Mail: [email protected]

Phone: 905-206-0013

Web: www.biosyent.com

This press release may contain information or statements that are forward-looking. The contents herein represent our judgment, as at the release date, and are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results or outcomes to be materially different from the forward-looking information or statements. Potential risks may include, but are not limited to, those associated with clinical trials, product development, future revenue, operations, profitability and obtaining regulatory approvals.

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 press release.

12 june 2024 at 09:00

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Regions Bank Launches CashFlowIQ, Powered by BILL, to Help Business Clients Manage Money Better





Regions Bank and BILL, a leading financial operations platform for small and midsize businesses, on Wednesday announced the launch of Regions CashFlowIQSM, a digital solution designed to simplify payments and streamline cash-management processes for Regions' commercial clients.

"Businesses are looking for banks that provide more than financing; they want practical solutions to better manage their cash flow. That's what we're delivering," said Bryan Ford, head of Treasury Management for Regions Bank. "Regions CashFlowIQ helps clients digitally transform, automate, and consolidate their payment processes. This results in smoother business operations. It helps the client focus more time and resources on their own products and services while we make managing money easier, more intuitive, and more productive."

Regions CashFlowIQ, powered by BILL, provides advanced accounts payable and accounts receivable capabilities to help businesses securely pay bills, invoice customers, and receive payments faster. Regions CashFlowIQ will leverage BILL's flexible payment offerings to provide more choices and capabilities for domestic and international payments. Here's how it works:

Enhanced Efficiency and Visibility: Businesses can initiate bill payments, create and send customized invoices, track payment information, streamline workflow approvals needed to approve payments, and automate payments all within the Regions OnePass portal.

Businesses can initiate bill payments, create and send customized invoices, track payment information, streamline workflow approvals needed to approve payments, and automate payments all within the Regions OnePass portal. Automatic Sync and Payments Reconciliation: This feature helps clients reconcile their financial books by automatically syncing with accounting software. The platform integrates with many accounting software options currently available.

This feature helps clients reconcile their financial books by automatically syncing with accounting software. The platform integrates with many accounting software options currently available. Payments Flexibility: Clients can leverage multiple payment options from BILL, such as credit or debit card, virtual card, ACH, check, and international wires to complete transactions. This gives clients greater flexibility to make secure domestic or international payments.

"Businesses need flexible and efficient ways to manage their finances and to enable their long-term success. They rely on trusted providers to help them manage and automate payments quickly and securely," said Irana Wasti, Chief Product Officer at BILL. "With BILL's payments engine, large network, and ongoing innovation in helping businesses modernize and automate their financial operations, we are excited to work with Regions Bank to power a new digital solution for their business clients."

Leveraging cashflow management solutions continues to be top of mind for clients who are looking for a streamlined and efficient financial management resource. Regions Bank continues to invest in innovative technology resources that provide a digital accounts management benefit to its clients.

????About Regions Financial Corporation

Regions Financial Corporation (NYSE:RF), with $155 billion in assets, is a member of the S&P 500 Index and is one of the nation's largest full-service providers of consumer and commercial banking, wealth management, and mortgage products and services. Regions serves customers across the South, Midwest and Texas, and through its subsidiary, Regions Bank, operates approximately 1,250 banking offices and more than 2,000 ATMs. Regions Bank is an Equal Housing Lender and Member FDIC. Additional information about Regions and its full line of products and services can be found at www.regions.com.

About BILL

BILL (NYSE: BILL) is a leading financial operations platform for small and midsize businesses (SMBs). As a champion of SMBs, we are automating the future of finance so businesses can thrive. Our integrated platform helps businesses to more efficiently control their payables, receivables and spend and expense management. Hundreds of thousands of businesses rely on BILL's proprietary member network of millions to pay or get paid faster. Headquartered in San Jose, California, BILL is a trusted partner of leading U.S. financial institutions, accounting firms, and accounting software providers. For more information, visit bill.com.

12 june 2024 at 09:05

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CIRI Announces 2024 Annual General Meeting Voting Results





TORONTO, June 12, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Canadian Investor Relations Institute (CIRI) is pleased to report that, at its Annual Meeting of Shareholders held on June 3, 2024, 13 nominees were elected as Directors. Adam Borgatti, Senior Vice President, Corporate Development & Investor Relations, Aecon Group Inc. continues as Chair for the third term and is joined by three new Directors: Bruno Di Genova, Vice President, Sales, Digicast; Mahsa Rejali, Vice President, Corporate Development & Investor Relations, Cineplex Inc.; and Ann Wilkinson, Vice President, Investor Relations, Mineros SA.

"It gives me great pleasure to announce that three accomplished individuals ? Bruno, Mahsa and Ann ? will be joining the CIRI Board. They bring extensive investor relations and capital markets expertise that will be an asset to the organization as we work together to advance the investor relations profession," commented Adam Borgatti, Chair, CIRI Board.

Bruno Di Genova has over 25 years of experience, primarily in the Equity Plans and Securities industry. Prior to his current role at Digicast, a corporate communications firm, serving as Vice President, Sales, he worked close to 17 years with two major Canadian trust companies where he held senior and executive roles building client relationship management infrastructure as well as developing and implementing growth strategies for the equity plans and transfer agent businesses. With an MBA from Universite de Sherbrooke, Mr. Di Genova has a track record of developing highly skilled Relationship Management teams and executing strategies to drive business excellence.

Mahsa Rejali assumed Investor Relations responsibilities at Cineplex Inc. in 2021 amidst industry turbulence. Throughout her tenure, she has led impactful initiatives, notably driving Cineplex's diversification strategy through M&A and growth endeavours while managing investor relations during crises. Recent efforts include navigating the repudiated acquisition of Cineplex by Cineworld, subsequent litigation, pandemic challenges, content supply disruptions due to COVID-19 and Hollywood strikes, asset sales and a transformative refinancing plan. Before joining Cineplex, Ms. Rejali worked in Scotia Capital's Investment Banking division and held various financial reporting positions at Scotiabank. She holds an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University and a BBA from the University of Toronto.

Ann Wilkinson is a seasoned investor relations executive who has worked with both base and precious metals producers and developers including Gold Resource Corporation, TMAC Resources, GoldQuest Mining, Orvana Minerals and Breakwater Resources, among others. Ms. Wilkinson has been responsible for the development and execution of investor relations strategy and led crisis communications, representing public companies in their respective relationships with the investment community and acting as a public spokesperson. Ms. Wilkinson holds a Bachelor of Arts, Economics from Western University in London, Ontario, Canada and a Business Foundations Specialization from The Wharton School.



The following individuals will serve as Directors of CIRI:

Adam Borgatti, CFA, CPIR, ICD.D Senior Vice President, Corporate Development & Investor Relations, Aecon Group Inc. Bruno Di Genova, MBA Vice President, Sales, Digicast David Frost, LLB Partner, McCarthy Tetrault LLP Kevin Hallahan, CPA, CMA Vice President, Marketing & Investor Relations, Linamar Corporation Claire Mahaney, CFA Vice President, Investor Relations & ESG, Primaris Real Estate Income Trust Jennifer McCaughey, F.CIRI Director, Investor Relations, Calian Group Ltd. Nathalie Megann, CPIR, ICD.D President & CEO, CIRI Scott Parsons, CFA Senior Vice President, Investor Relations, Alamos Gold Inc. Stacey Pavlova, CFA Vice President, Investor Relations and Communications, Faraday Copper Corp. Curtis Pelletier Director, Investor Relations, Graham Corporation Mahsa Rejali, MBA Vice President, Corporate Development& Investor Relations, Cineplex Inc. Quentin Weber, CPIR Senior Advisor, Investor Relations, WSP Global Inc. Ann Wilkinson Vice President, Investor Relations, Mineros SA

The Board looks forward to engaging with fellow members and continuing to deliver value through professional development events, resources networking opportunities and issues education and advocacy.

Alison Dwoskin, CPIR, Director, Investor Relations, Arizona Sonoran Copper Company Inc.; Lisa Greatrix, Board Member Neighbourly Pharmacy; and Marc Lepage, CPIR, Vice President, Business Development, GFG Resources Inc. are retiring from the Board. These individuals have dedicated their time volunteering for the organization and have made a tremendous contribution.

"I want to thank our outgoing Board members ? Alison, Lisa and Marc ? for their active involvement on the CIRI Board. They have been instrumental in advancing CIRI's mandate and their counsel will be missed," said Adam Borgatti, Chair, CIRI Board of Directors.

About CIRI

CIRI is a professional, not-for-profit association of executives responsible for communication between public corporations, investors and the financial community. CIRI contributes to the transparency and integrity of the Canadian capital markets by advancing the practice of investor relations, the professional competency of its members and the stature of the profession. With close to 500 members and four Chapters across the country, CIRI is the voice of IR in Canada. For further information, please visit CIRI.org.?

For further information, please contact:

Nathalie Megann, CPIR

President & CEO

Canadian Investor Relations Institute

(416) 364-8200 ext. 101

[email protected]

12 june 2024 at 11:35

News published onand distributed by:
Statement by the Minister of Labour on World Day Against Child Labour





GATINEAU, QC , June 12, 2024 /CNW/ - Today, Minister of Labour, Seamus O'Regan Jr., issued the following statement to mark World Day Against Child Labour:

"Every child deserves to grow up in safety, health, and dignity. World Day Against Child Labour recognizes that too many children worldwide are still denied that right. No child should ever be robbed of that. No child should have to take on the burden of earning a living. Yet over 160 million children around the world do so every day. 79 million children work in hazardous jobs that violate their human rights by directly endangering their health, safety and education.

Canada has a responsibility and an opportunity to make a difference beyond our borders and protect children around the world. Canada partners with the International Labour Organization to strengthen workers' rights and create working conditions that respect international labour standards. Through our Indo-Pacific Strategy, we're helping governments, employers and workers in partner countries to promote safety and equality at work.

This year, we've invested seven million dollars over five years to improve compliance with fundamental labour rights. We also invested in targeted supports to workers in trading partner countries, because every worker deserves a safe and equitable workplace.

We will table government legislation by the end of this year to eradicate forced labour from Canadian supply chains, no matter where it comes from. This strong, effective and enforceable legislation will send a clear message to the world: forced labour has no place in Canada.

Kids should be kids. Canada joins countries around the world to remember our shared responsibility to work together to eradicate child labour."

Associated links

World Day Against Child Labour

Regulations Amending the Canada Labour Standards Regulations (Employees Under 18 Years of Age)

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SOURCE Employment and Social Development Canada

12 june 2024 at 11:33

News published onand distributed by:
Koda Health Secures New Funding to Expand Advance Care Planning Capabilities





Led by Ecliptic Capital with strategic investment from Memorial Hermann Health System, AARP and the Texas Medical Center Venture Fund

HOUSTON, June 12, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Koda Health, an innovator in digital Advance Care Planning, today announced the successful oversubscription of its Seed+ funding round. This round was led by Ecliptic Capital , with strategic investment from Memorial Hermann Health System , AARP and the Texas Medical Center (TMC) Venture Fund , underscoring the health care community's belief in Koda's mission, technology and impact on patient care.

Koda Health Secures New Funding from Ecliptic Capital, Memorial Hermann Health System, AARP, and Texas Medical Center.

A Vision for the Future of Health Care

"If we're looking at speed of market adoption, it's clear that Koda Health is at the forefront of a crucial transformation in Advance Care Planning," said Tatiana Fofanova, PhD, CEO of Koda Health. "In just a few years, we've built out a product that now serves well over 700,000 patients nationwide for industry giants like Cigna, Privia and Houston Methodist.

"While we're well-equipped to meet these clients' needs, we're also signing new partnerships with major health care providers at an exciting rate," she says. "This round of funding will help us maintain the quality that our clients expect at new and unprecedented scales."

"We at Ecliptic are proud to continue our support of Koda Health's work to provide patient education and access to Advance Care Planning, to help ensure that patients' end-of-life wishes are honored," said Adam Lipman, CIO of Ecliptic Capital. "The team at Koda is truly dedicated to this important mission, and we are proud to back them."

"AARP research shows that there is a willingness among older adults in the U.S. to prepare for the end of their lives," says Amelia Hay, VP of Startup Programming and Investments at AgeTech Collaborativetm from AARP. "This indicates a need for more programs and services geared towards ensuring adults take the necessary steps, and AARP is pleased to invest in Koda Health to help address that need."

Expanding Partnerships and Innovation

Given Koda's immense clinical and operations growth, it was important for the company to fill its latest funding round with strategic investors, said Dr. Desh Mohan, Chief Medical Officer of Koda Health. "That's where our allies at Memorial Hermann, The Texas Medical Center, and the AgeTech Collaborative from AARP come in. Each brings unique strategic value to our growth strategy."

Memorial Hermann, recognizing the potential for Koda Health's solutions to enhance patient care and support health care providers, has not only contributed to the funding round but is also partnering with Koda on a pilot project.

"We are always looking for new ways to further engage our patients and make them feel better supported. The unique challenges of COVID-19 have only heightened the need for innovation in this area," said Feby Abraham, PhD, Executive Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer for Memorial Hermann. "We believe investing in Koda Health will give patients the tools to make sure their wishes are carried forth and the burden is removed from their families to make those decisions."

Fofanova founded Koda Health, a B2B Enterprise SaaS solution that streamlines the process of proactive health care planning and document completion, in early 2020 with her co-founders Dr. Desh Mohan, who serves as chief medical officer, and Katelin Cherry, the company's CTO. The founding team connected through the Texas Medical Center's (TMCi) Biodesign program, which tasked the team with finding solutions to issues affecting the world's largest medical center.

"Koda is uniquely positioned to serve payers, providers and patients," said William McKeon, President & CEO, Texas Medical Center. "We rarely see a company that provides value to all three stakeholders. Seeing Koda launch from our TMCi BioDesign program to the progress they've made with our member institutions and players in the value chain is incredible."

With the successful close of this Seed+ funding round, Koda Health is poised to accelerate its mission of revolutionizing Advance Care Planning. Leveraging the strategic partnerships and support from leading health care investors, the company is well-equipped to expand its innovative solutions and impact on patient care. As Koda Health continues to grow, its dedication to ensuring patients' wishes are honored remains steadfast, further cementing its position as a leader in the health care industry and setting new standards in patient care and education.

For more information, please contact Koda Health's Director of Growth Marketing - Fady Shanow, MPH at [email protected] .

About Koda Health

Koda Health is a tech-enabled care coordination service to improve serious illness care planning. Its Advance Care Planning (ACP) solution pairs a cloud-based ACP platform with an in-house 1:1 longitudinal ACP support and navigation. This allows healthcare organizations to provide scalable, personalized ACP without an increased organizational lift. To learn more about Koda, visit kodahealthcare.com.

About Ecliptic Capital

Ecliptic Capital is an emergent, early-stage innovation fund focused on pre-seed, seed, and series A investments. Headquartered in Austin, Texas, Ecliptic's thesis makes the case for capturing, developing, and scaling a range of emergent technologies from talented entrepreneurs from often neglected geographies and industries. Founded by serial entrepreneurs, investors, and operators, Ecliptic focuses on operational excellence, building rich relationships, and transparency to create value, trust, and insights over time. Knowing that visionary ideas need intentional nurturing, Ecliptic's unique approach provides open-ended investment time frames to maximize value.

About AgeTech Collectivetm from AARP

AgeTech Collectivetm from AARP is an unparalleled innovation ecosystem bringing together cutting-edge thinkers in the longevity tech space to champion meaningful advances so that everyone can choose how they live as they age. AARP's decades of exclusive longevity insights, the breakthrough collaborative ecosystem and community of innovators positions the AgeTech Collaborative to lead the future of AgeTech.

About Memorial Hermann

Charting a better future. A future that's built upon the HEALTH of our community. This is the driving force for Memorial Hermann, redefining health care for the individuals and many diverse populations we serve. Our more than 6,500 active medical staff and 33,000 employees practice the highest standards of safe, evidence-based, quality care to provide a personalized and outcome-oriented experience across more than 250 care delivery sites. As one of the largest not-for-profit health systems in Southeast Texas, Memorial Hermann has an award-winning and nationally acclaimed Accountable Care Organization , 17* hospitals and numerous specialty programs and services conveniently located throughout the Greater Houston area. Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Center is one of the nation's busiest Level I trauma centers and serves as the primary teaching hospital for McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston. For more than 116 years, our focus has been the best interest of our community, contributing nearly $500 million annually through school-based health centers and other community benefit programs . Now and for generations to come, the health of our community will be at the center of what we do ? charting a better future for all.

*Memorial Hermann Health System owns and operates 14 hospitals and has joint ventures with three other hospital facilities, including Memorial Hermann Surgical Hospital First Colony, Memorial Hermann Surgical Hospital Kingwood and Memorial Hermann Rehabilitation Hospital-Katy.

About Texas Medical Center (TMC)

TMC is the world's most comprehensive life science ecosystem at the forefront of advancing life sciences. TMC is on a mission to further accelerate the pace of healing by harnessing our collective expertise in innovation, research, development, production, and patient care within a single, centralized medical ecosystem. With over 70+ million square feet and 120,000+ employees, TMC is leveraging the collective power by pioneering a revolutionary life sciences initiative to house the entire treatment of life cycle from discovery to delivery, within a single, world-class medical complex, on a scale never before seen.

SOURCE Koda Health

12 june 2024 at 13:00

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UK Infrastructure Bank, Centrica & Partners Invest 300M in Highview Power Clean Energy Storage Programme to Boost UK's Energy Security





Highview Power has secured the backing of the UK Infrastructure Bank and the energy industry leader Centrica with a 300 million investment for the first commercial-scale liquid air energy storage (LAES) plant in the UK.

The 300 million funding round was led by the UK Infrastructure Bank (UKIB) and the British multinational energy and services company Centrica, alongside a syndicate of investors including Rio Tinto, Goldman Sachs, KIRKBI and Mosaic Capital.

The investment will enable the construction of one of the world's largest long duration energy storage (LDES) facilities in Carrington, Manchester, using Highview Power's proprietary LAES technology. Once complete, it will have a storage capacity of 300 MWh and an output power of 50 MWs per hour for six hours. Construction will begin on the site immediately, with the facility operational in early 2026, supporting over 700 jobs in construction and the supply chain.

UKIB's investment demonstrates the Bank's role in mobilising private finance to help first-of-a-kind technologies - which are critical for the transition to net zero - to reach commercial scale, whilst driving regional, local and economic growth.

Energy leader Centrica comes on board as Highview Power's strategic partner and a key player in the UK's energy transition, supporting Carrington and the accelerated roll-out of the technology in the UK through a 70 million investment. The programme will set the bar for storage energy systems around the world, positioning the UK as the global leader in energy storage and flexibility.

Highview Power will now also commence planning on the next four larger scale 2.5 GWh facilities (with a total anticipated investment of 3 billion). Located at strategic sites across the UK, these will ensure a fast roll-out of the technology to align with UK LDES support mechanisms and enable the ESO's Future Energy Scenario Plans.

Highview Power has developed its LAES technology in the UK over the last 17 years. The technology can store renewable energy for up to several weeks, longer than battery technologies, and is ready to be deployed across key grid locations at scale today. Highview Power's technology will also provide stability services to the National Grid, which will allow for the long-term replacement of fossil fuel-based power plants for system support.

This storage will help reduce curtailment costs - which is significant as Britain spent 800m in 2023 to turn off wind farms.

Highview Power aims to accelerate the roll-out of its larger facilities across the UK by 2035 in line with one of National Grid's target scenario forecasts of a 2 GW requirement from LAES, which would represent nearly 20% of the UK's long duration energy storage needs. By capturing and storing excess renewable energy, which is now the cheapest form of electricity, storage can help keep energy costs from spiralling, and power Britain's homes with 24/7 renewable clean energy.

Beyond contributing to the UK's energy security by reducing the intermittency of renewables, Highview Power's infrastructure programme will make a major contribution to the UK economy, requiring in excess of 9 billion investment in energy storage infrastructure over the next 10 years ? with the potential to support over 6,000 jobs and generate billions of pounds in value add to the economy. It will also contribute materially to increasing utilisation of green energy generation, reducing energy bills for consumers and providing significantly improved energy stability and security.

Richard Butland, Co-Founder & CEO of Highview Power said: "There is no energy transition without storage. The UK's investment in world-leading offshore wind and renewables requires a national long duration energy storage programme to capture excess wind and support the grids transformation.

"UKIB and Centrica and our partners have today backed our ambitious plan to bring renewable energy storage into the UK economy at scale, liberating the potential of what is both the greenest and by far the cheapest energy source for the UK economy and provide energy security. Our first project in Carrington will be the foundation for our full scale roll-out in the UK and expansion with partners to share this British technology internationally."

Chris O'Shea, Group Chief Executive, Centrica said: "The energy transition is an opportunity that could transform lives across the UK. But with a changing energy mix, and more intermittency from renewables, we have to explore new, innovative ways to store energy so our customers have electricity available when the wind doesn't blow and the sun doesn't shine. Low carbon storage is an essential part of the solution when looking at how we manage peaks in demand.

"That's why I'm delighted that Centrica is investing in Highview Power. Not only are we bringing capital to the table to support rollout and expansion, but we'll be also sharing our expertise on the energy transition and power storage. Through partnerships like this we can manage the challenges net zero might present while providing cleaner, greener power to customers."

........................................................................................................................................................................................

Regional Quote:

Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham said: "My vision is for Greater Manchester to be a leader in the green transition - and Highview Power's decision to build one of the world's largest long duration energy storage facilities at Carrington is a huge boost for the region.

This new plant will deliver renewable energy to homes and business across our region and bring world-leading technology, jobs, skills and investment to Greater Manchester. I'm delighted to welcome Highview Power."

........................................................................................................................................................................................

National Grid Quote:

Julian Leslie, Director & Chief Engineer National Grid ESO said: "Integrating long duration energy storage into the grid is going to be vital to delivering the UK's long term energy strategy. Our recent Future Energy Scenarios report shows that 4GW of liquid air storage will be required over the coming decades. Highview's plans are welcomed to support this target and help us on the journey to a 100% zero carbon electricity system."

........................................................................................................................................................................................

Company Quotes:

Colin Roy, Co-Founder & Chair of Highview, said: "Hard tech is hard! Few nowadays have the vision and courage to finance the development and scale-up of game-changing new heavy tech. So, my appreciation is immense for all those who have come together to make Highview and LAES a reality: Our fantastic lead investors today, UKIB and Centrica and the other great new investor partners; several departments of the British Government, who have tirelessly supported us since 2011; Sumitomo Heavy Industries and Janus, who helped us go big; the many executives and engineers who made a mere idea a working reality; our next generation leadership around Richard, the creator of new Highview; and the 169 private individuals and families, who have joined me for over 16 years and carried the heaviest load with such commitment to make an important thing happen."

Nigel Steward, Chief Scientist, Rio Tinto said: "We believe long duration energy storage can play a critical role in ?rming renewable energy sources. The investment from us and other partners marks a signi?cant step in helping to build a greener, more resilient and more stable energy infrastructure for generations to come in the UK and beyond".

Richard Gnodde, CEO of Goldman Sachs International said: "We are proud to partner with clients to drive the energy transition, by helping to scale the commercialisation of cutting edge energy storage technologies with financing and trading services".

Kasper Trebbien, Vice President, Head of Energy Transition Investments at KIRKBI said: "KIRKBI is dedicated to drive a positive impact on climate challenges through our investments. With this important investment and the dedicated team behind Highview Power, we are looking to support the UK's first commercial-scale liquid air energy storage facility and play a positive role in the UK's energy transition. Our investment aligns with our commitment to advance green energy, bolster global renewable energy production, and further mature long duration energy storage solutions."

Tomas Harju-Jeanty, CEO of Sumitomo SHI FW, said: "As a long-term partner of Highview Power, Sumitomo Heavy Industries (SHI) warmly welcomes today's announcement, which will cement Highview's position as the leading provider of long duration energy storage in the UK. Through our license we have a commitment to Highview Power's innovative liquid air energy storage technology, and we are excited to continue to support the company as it realises its ambitious programme of infrastructure investment."

To learn more about the companies involved in this transaction:

Highview Power ? visit: www.highviewpower.com

Centrica ? visit: www.centrica.com

UK Infrastructure Bank ? visit: www.ukib.org.uk

Rio Tinto ? visit: www.riotinto.com

Goldman Sachs ? visit: www.goldmansachs.com

KIRKBI ? visit: www.kirkbi.com

Sumitomo ? visit: www.shi-fw.com

12 june 2024 at 19:05

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French President Emmanuel Macron delivers a speech, Wednesday, June 12, 2024 in Paris. MICHEL EULER / AP

French President Emmanuel Macron asked on Wednesday, June 12, for backing from all those "able to say no to extremes" in snap elections he called after his governing coalition suffered a heavy defeat in the EU elections. "I hope that when the time comes, men and women of goodwill who will have been able to say no to the extremes will come together... will put themselves in a position to build a shared, sincere project that is useful to the country," Macron said at a press conference in Paris.

He said that one reason he had called early legislative elections was to prevent the far right from winning the presidency in 2027 when won't be able to run for a third term. "I do not want to give the keys to power to the far right in 2027," he told reporters.

He claimed that the far-right Rassemblement National (RN) is "ambiguous" about Russia and aims to leave NATO. Macron also attacked the "far-left" La France Insoumise (LFI) party, saying it had "impossible views both toward Ukraine and toward the Middle East"  where allies have criticized its response to Palestinian militant group Hamas' October 7 attack on Israel.

Limping along with minority government

The president's Renaissance party and allies won less than half the 31% result scored by Marine Le Pen's RN at Sunday's European vote, prompting him to trigger surprise snap elections for June 30 and July 7 after two years of limping along with a minority government.

Read more Subscribers only French left agrees to form new 'Popular Front' in parliamentary elections

"Dissolving parliament was necessary," Macron said. He acknowledged voters' "difficulty getting by even when they're working, very everyday difficulties" that had created "anger, sometimes resentment." People "feel that they aren't listened to or respected... We can't remain indifferent to all these messages," he added. "I fully take responsibility for starting this process of clarification" with the snap election call.

Read more The French conservative party leader surrendered to the far right

Counting the RN, other far-right parties and the hard left, he said that some 50% of the French had voted for "extremes" in the European elections. "You can't tell them [the French]: 'We're continuing as if nothing had happened'. That's not respecting them, that's not listening to them," he said. "I want there to be a government that can act to respond to their anger, to their urgent demands."

He acknowledged voters' "difficulty getting by even when they're working, very everyday difficulties" that had created "anger, sometimes resentment." People "feel that they aren't listened to or respected... We can't remain indifferent to all these messages," he added.

'Pact with devil'

But he also lashed out at conservative Les Republicans (LR), whose leader Eric Ciotti on Tuesday announced an alliance with the RN, as well as a left-wing alliance including the hard-left Le France Insoumise (LFI). The right had "in a few hours turned its back on the legacy of General (Charles) de Gaulle" as well as former presidents Jacques Chirac and Nicolas Sarkozy, he said. Ciotti had sealed a "pact with the devil", Macron said.

Senior LR figures, including upper house Senate speaker Gerard Larcher, have called on Ciotti to step down and the party is due to hold an emergency meeting later Wednesday, which Ciotti has said he will not attend. At the same time, mainstream left parties have allied with an LFI that Macron accused of "anti-Semitism" over its response to Palestinian militant group Hamas's October 7 attack on Israel and the war in Gaza.

Voters had a choice between "unholy alliances at the two extremes who agree on almost nothing except handing out jobs" versus his own bloc with "a single vision of the country" both at home and abroad. "We aren't perfect... but we've got results," he insisted, pointing to job creation, the energy transition and backing for Ukraine as high points.

The RN is "ambiguous" about Russia and aims to "leave NATO", the president charged. The LFI meanwhile had "impossible views both towards Ukraine and towards the Middle East"  where allies have criticized its response to the Hamas attack on Israel, he added.

Voters had a choice between "unholy alliances at the two extremes who agree on almost nothing except handing out jobs" versus his own bloc with "a single vision of the country" both at home and abroad. "We aren't perfect... but we've got results," he insisted, pointing to job creation, the energy transition and backing for Ukraine as high points.
A LIMERICK shop owner has revealed that more than 100 worth of chicken fillet rolls are being stolen each week from his stores.

Shane Gleeson, owner of five Spar shops across Limerick told Claire Byrne on RTE Radio 1 that theft and criminal damage offences have gotten 'far worse'.

"People come in and get three or four items from the hot deli counter and one or two of them are hidden on their person. They often go up and actually pay for one or two of those items and steal the others," Mr Gleeson said.

"It's very hard to catch them and they've often had plenty of practice. We have put in a new system whereby any item sold at the deli is directly recorded to the tills - that way, you know exactly which items were robbed."

While theft is the main "major issue", Mr Gleeson says assaults of staff frequently occur too when the person stealing gets confronted.

"Primarily, those stealing are people with addiction issues and aged between 20 and 30. They become very aggressive when we try and stop them - we have had numerous assaults.

"We have to be very careful who approaches them and who is capable of approaching them. Several people come in 8 or 9 times a day and are kicked out 8 or 9 times everyday - those people don't try to hide their identities, they don't care."

While accounting for 100 worth of stolen hot chicken rolls each week, other items such as cigarettes are targeted by thieves.

In September 2023, a man smashed through the front door of Mr Gleeson's Spar store in Castletroy and stole cigarettes and vape products worth around 7k.

A few weeks later, the same man again broke into the shop and took more cigarettes and vapes, estimated by gardai to be worth around 1,600. He has since been jailed.

"The system would describe them as petty criminals - it doesn't feel petty to us," Mr Gleeson concluded.
AN BORD Pleanala has been asked to review a decision to allow an 80m housing project on the northside.

Tribeca Asset Management, a firm fronted by well-known developer Aidan Brooks received the go-ahead to transform the six-acre site surrounding the former Limerick Ryan Hotel at Ennis Road.

A total of 167 apartments are planned.

And while Limerick council planners green-lit the development back in April, four local residents and groups have now written to the national planning appeals body to take a second look.

A decision is expected on the proposal by the start of September.

The proposals will see the apartments built across five new blocks ranging in height from three-storey to five-storey at the landmark site located off North Circular Road, Roses Avenue and Ennis Road.

These homes are planned alongside the refurbishment of the seven-storey former Clarion Suites Hotel, which closed in 2010.

Work on this has actually been completed.

Mr Brooks bought 4.8 acres of the site from Nama in 2018 for a reported 6.8m.

He followed it up with the purchase of the old public house on the land, to bring the land in his ownership to six-acres.

More than 30 groups and individuals had initially written to council to oppose the development.

One person who originally opposed the development, and subsequently contacted An Bord Pleanala admitted concerns at the overlooking and impact on properties around the old hotel site.

They said the height of the apartments - ranging from three to five storeys were out of scale and character with the established pattern in the area.

Concerns were also raised about parking, a reduction in open space, noise, and the loss of privacy and security around the housing estates which lie adjacent.

But Limerick Chamber, which is the regions largest business representative group, threw their support behind the project, highlighting the low level of units to rent presently.
LIMERICK'S annual Novena at the Redemptorist Church at Mount St Alphonsus in the city is to take place from June 14 to June 22, with six celebrations to be held each day.

Morning celebrations will be held daily at 7:30am, 10am and 11:30am, with more Novena celebrations taking place in the evenings at 6pm, 7:30pm and 9pm. Celebrations will be hosted by Fr Gerard Moloney, Fr Tadhg Herbert and Fr Ryan Holovlasky.

The theme for this years Novena is Creating a culture of care following the example of our compassionate God.

Fr Brian Nolan explained that the goal of the theme is to try and help people and try and look at the areas that maybe need that little bit of help.

Fr Nolan explained that he feels the opportunity for people to write out their own prayers is what makes the Novena celebration special for so many, as people will do that by the thousands over the nine days.

He described how all of the people who are gathered in the church are praying with and praying for each other, and how he thinks thats far more important than any of the preaching that we Redemptorists do.

Fr Nolan acknowledges that numbers have no doubt fallen in recent years with Covid and the crisis in the Church.

A turnout of approximately 5,000 people per day is expected - a significant decrease to the 12-13,000 people Fr Nolan saw attending the Novena celebrations of his youth.

Many will choose to instead attend the services online, with each celebration being streamed live on novena.ie.

The free Novena Counselling Service will run from June 17 to June 21, with morning sessions held at 9:30am-12:30pm and evening sessions at 5:30pm-8pm.

Confessions will be held every day except Sunday, June 16. A special service will be held by Fr. Luis Gomez through Portuguese at 4pm on Sunday, June 16 for the Brazilian Redemptorist community, with Fr. Roman Lahish delivering a sermon in Ukrainian on June 22 for the Ukrainian community.

The highly-anticipated Novena celebration for First Communion classes will be held on Monday, June 17 at 11:30am.

The blessing of families and children will take place at every celebration on June 16 and reconciliation services will be held on Tuesday, June 18 at 11:30am and 7:30pm.
THEY say you meet your neighbours when you go to vote but you meet people you havent seen in five years at election counts.

Hospital man and Fine Gael supporter Michael English, aged 85, told Leader reporter Donal ORegan: I sold your mother two cars. She crashed one of them at the bridge in Bruree. She was a wonderful lady, God be good to her.

Mr English has his own political pedigree as, 50 years ago on Saturday, he was elected a Fine Gael councillor. A few years previously he actually received more votes at a co-option meeting than a certain Michael Noonan, who didnt go on to have a bad career in politics.

Another person Mr ORegan hadnt seen in five years was Pat Reidy, also a Fine Gael supporter. It was like back to the future as Mr Reidy was sitting on a table on floor three of Limerick Racecourse - the exact same spot he was in five years ago. History does have a habit of repeating itself.

Every candidate speaks to the media after they are elected but Tommy OSullivan did it from Spain! The Kilfinane man had to miss his election due to a family wedding that was booked months ago.

After being at the count centre all day on Saturday he flew to Spain at 3am on Sunday morning.

He told the Limerick Leader on Sunday evening from Spain after he was elected on the 10th count in the Cappamore-Kilmallock Municipal District that he was wrecked.

I havent got a wink of sleep. It's not sinking in at all yet. I was on the phone all day getting updates and we watched the match over here - I feel like I played the match, laughed Cllr OSullivan. He was in a battle with Kilmallocks Mike Donegan but took the final seat.

Cllr OSullivans name was called out to warm applause despite not being there. Although he said it felt like he was there because I have a half Kilfinane out here! Viva Espana!

Meanwhile, the owner of a car parked right outside the count centre in Limerick Racecourse was taking no chances as they were requesting the divine intervention of not one, but two saints, with pictures of Padre Pio and St Anthony dangling from the rear view mirror.

The latter is the patron saint of lost things so perhaps they were hoping some lost votes for their candidate were found!

Former councillor Noel Gleeson, Cappamore, recalled when he lost an election by three votes and he knows exactly where those votes went! It was due to a woman crashing on the way to vote with family members and she missed the then 9pm deadline.

Sign says by Frances Fitzpatrick

THERE were plenty of wild and wonderful scenes at the count but one of my favourite sights from the weekend was the shows of support from the candidates' family and friends.

Following the confirmation of the full council, as I walked around the empty count centre I came across posters, badges and signs that had been left behind after the comings and goings.

One that brought home how important these elections are to those involved was a homemade sign for Pat O'Neill, who failed to be elected to Limerick City North.

Adorned with stickers and glitter, you could see the love that went into such a simple piece of artwork that showed the pride that families feel when their loved one runs for local office.

READ MORE: IN PICTURES: Celebrations following historic election of John Moran as Mayor of Limerick

Wine and chaos by Sandra Quinn

WITH the counting for all of Limerick city and county spread out across various floors of Limerick Racecourse in Patrickswell, there was a phenomenal step count for the members of the media in particular, who were checking in with progress on the ground floor for the city and then skipping (or as the days wore on, tiredly trudging) up the multiple flights of stairs to the second floor for the county updates.

For the first two days of the count over the weekend, coffee cups were strewn about on various tables and surfaces, children were running around excitedly fuelled by sweets and treats to buy their silence as the parents watched the tallies.

As the count wore on into the wee hours,only the journalists and stalwarts remained.

There was a locked wine fridge up on the county floor - maybe it was just as well, as tensions frayed and candidates eagerly awaited what, for some, were agonisingly long waits.

In Adare-Rathkeale, the wait for Cllr Bridie Collins was particularly tormenting, as she was just two votes off getting in, in the count before she secured her seat.

Scrambling for seats and then for sockets to plug in devices, the Limerick Leader team were on the ground, keeping readers and followers online up to date with every election, elimination and all of the quirky fun in between.

The whos who by Abigail Hayden

IF YOURE a fan of people-watching, the Limerick Racecourse was the place to be this week! From councillors to consuls, the crowd was full of familiar faces over the course of the last few days.

Of course, with the historic Limerick win in the Munster finals, there were plenty of jerseys to be seen on the count floors.

A highlight for me was capturing newly-elected Cllr Conor Sheehan donning a Limerick bucket hat while the Limerick team scored a point on the screen above his head!

As captivating as it was to play spot-the-politician throughout the weekend, however, I have to admit: the best sight I saw, without a doubt, was the pizza delivered to us each night!

Where's my soother? by Jerome O'Connell

At 1.15am on Monday morning my shoe hit off a lonely soother on the floor just inside the double doors at Limerick Racecourse. We all needed a bit of comforting at that stage in the race - some more than others!
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The European Union plans to impose tariffs on imported Chinese electric vehicles, marking an early victory for officials who view the imports as a threat to the regions powerful car sector despite deep divisions in Europe over the issue.

The baseline level of tariffs, calculated at 21%, would come on top of the EUs existing 10% tariff on cars, the bloc said Wednesday. While some individual companies would face lower or higher tariffsup to a total of 48.1% for Chinese company SAICthey are still a fraction of the duties the U.S. announced recently, likely blunting how much they can disrupt the flow of Chinese EVs to the continent.

China was the source of nearly one in five European sales of fully electric vehicles last year and that proportion should grow, according to data from green lobby group Transport & Environment. Concerns have grown in Europe that Chinas low production costs and what European officials found are hefty state subsidies could soon price out European carmakers.

Brussels pushback against China is controversialand not just in China. The tariffs most vocal opponents include Europes largest carmakers, which are concerned about retaliation in China, a vast and highly profitable market on which they have become dependent. This reliance has complicated Europes effort to follow the U.S. in raising barriers to Chinese imports.

If talks with China dont lead to an immediate resolution, the tariffs will start to apply on July 4, but the money would only be collected if member states approve a decision to extend the duties into the fall. Officials from some countries, including Germany, Sweden and Hungary, have criticized the push to issue tariffs but the bar for blocking them in the fall is high.

At stake, economists say, isnt just the future of an industry that is among Europes largest employers. The outcome could determine whether and how much Beijings industrial offensive, which some have dubbed the second China shock after the countrys conquest of consumer goods manufacturing in the early 2000s, reshapes the economies of the West.

China is trying to play divide and conquer," said Gregor Sebastian, a senior analyst at Rhodium, a think tank. With some like Germany and France its using sticks, going after car exports and agricultural products. With countries like Spain, Italy and Hungary, the carrot would be promising more EV investments."

Among the tariffs opponents in Europe is Volkswagen, even though the German carmaker is under increased competition from the new breed of Chinese EV makers that are challenging the dominance of Western manufacturers in China and abroad.

A look at VWs sprawling EV complex in Hefei, Chinas answer to Silicon Valley, goes some way to explaining the companys position. There, more than a thousand robots are busy assembling a sporty all-electric SUV that VW is building here for export to Europe.

The plant is one of the companys most efficient in the world, according to VW officials, who say it has helped the company drastically cut the time needed to make a car, from design to mass-market productiona feat VW describes as China Speed."

As the factory shows, VW has become deeply entwined with Chinanot just as the source of 33% of the companys sales, but also as a production base for exports.

German carmakers like VW campaigned against proposed European import tariffs on Chinese EVs because maintaining their access to the Chinese market matters more. Some German suppliers have welcomed the rise of Chinese carmakers that are now among their customers.

We stand for fair and open trade and do not want additional protectionist measures," Ralf Brandstatter, CEO of VWs China business, said in a recent interview. We have to adapt to this new situation instead of putting up new barriers."

Germany is the EUs largest auto market and biggest producer of vehicles and components. As the EUs largest economy, its support can often make or break EU initiatives. Berlin has also been an ally in Chinas effort to blunt the EV tariffs, lobbying Brussels against them.

In April, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz took a three-day trip to China flanked by a large business delegation. During the visit, which included a meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping, Scholz played down the risks from cheap Chinese EV imports.

Last month, another official visit drew less attention but provided a starker example of German carmakers and politicians working together to promote good relations with China. The northern German state of Lower Saxony, one of VWs biggest shareholders, led a delegation to Hefei, home to the ultramodern VW plant. The message: Germany wont decouple from China.

In these turbulent times in which there are many unresolved issues between Europe and China and the U.S. and Chinawe have to remain in dialogue with each other," Lower Saxony Prime Minister Stephan Weil told The Wall Street Journal during the trip.

One of Weils meetings during the trip was with Chinese shipping operator Cosco, about a new investment in the German port of Wilhelmshaven, also home to the countrys largest naval base.

The EUwhich last year ran a 291 billion trade in goods deficit with China, equivalent to $313 billionhas hardened its position on China. In addition to the EV tariffs, the commission has opened investigations into alleged Chinese subsidies for companies in sectors ranging from clean energy to security equipment.

Some member states worry that this could invite retaliation. We should not forget: European manufacturers, and also some American ones, are successful on the Chinese market and also sell a lot of vehicles that are produced in Europe to China," Scholz said recently.

Chinese government officials have warned that China would retaliate against any EU tariffs. Facing a saturated domestic market and 100% U.S. import tariffs, the likes of BYD, Polestar and SAIC need to expand to Europe to realize their global ambitions.

During a recent visit with Spanish government officials and to Chinese EV maker Cherys factory in Barcelona, Chinas commerce minister, Wang Wentao, urged the Spanish government to lobby Brussels against the coming tariffs. Wang and a deputy also held meetings last week in Greece, Poland and Portugalall countries where China has made important investments.

Later in the week, during a visit to Spanish auto supplier Gestamp, Spains industry minister, Jordi Hereu, expressed skepticism about the EUs planned tariffs, and called on Brussels to provide aid to build up key industries at home instead.

I dont believe in trade wars, because I believe in international trade, but I do believe in policies to strengthen reindustrialization," he said.

The China Chamber of Commerce to the EU protested the planned tariffs, calling them a protectionist measure that will harm Chinese EV companies and damage economic and trade relations between the EU and China.

Yet tariffs alone are unlikely to halt the growing influence of Chinese carmakers.

Investor Zhejiang Geely Holding controls Swedens Volvo Cars, and the groups backer, billionaire Li Shufu, has also invested in British automotive companies including Lotus. Li holds nearly 10% of Mercedes-Benz stock while Chinas BAIC holds another 10%. Chinas state-owned chemical group Sinochem is the biggest shareholder in Italys Pirelli.

Chinese EV makers are also beginning to set up production in Europe. BYD last year announced plans to build a Tesla-style Gigafactory in Hungary, while Chery has created a joint venture with Spains EV Motors to assemble vehicles in Barcelona. Chinas leading battery makers including Contemporary Amperex Technology, Gotion, and BYD have built or plan battery cell manufacturing plants in Europe.

New factories accounted for 78% of Chinese foreign direct investment in Europe last year, up from 51% the year before, according to a study by the Mercator Institute for China Studies and Rhodium. The push was led by investment in battery plants in Hungary, Germany and France.

Chinese auto executives argue that given a fair choice, European consumers are likely to favor Chinese cars, not because of their price but because they are better. Chinese consumers, they point out, gradually turned away from Western brands for the same reason.

If Chinese consumers are not buying legacy brands its not because of their origin, its because such brands are not providing products that are good enough," said William Li, founder and CEO of Nio, a Chinese EV maker known for its battery-swapping technology. Chinese competitors are offering better products and services."

Write to William Boston at william.boston@wsj.com and Kim Mackrael at kim.mackrael@wsj.com
Elon Musk on Tuesday filed to withdraw a suit against OpenAI and its Chief Executive Sam Altman which had challenged the ChatGPT owners relationship with Microsoft.

A lawyer representing Musk on Tuesday filed a request for dismissal of the lawsuit in a California court without prejudice, according to court documents. Cases dismissed without prejudice can be re-filed at a later date.

Musks suit had alleged breach of contract and breach of fiduciary duty against OpenAI and its two co-founders, Altman and Greg Brockman.

Musk, who helped found the company in 2015, claimed that the companys close relationship with Microsoft goes against its original mission of delivering public, open-source artificial intelligence for the benefit of humanity.

News Corp, owner of The Wall Street Journal, has a content-licensing partnership with OpenAI.

Write to Ben Glickman at ben.glickman@wsj.com
When Elon Musk personally contacted a former SpaceX engineering intern to discuss a role on his executive staff in 2017, the woman spoke with excitement to her friends about a high-profile problem-solving role at the rocket company, a dream for someone a few years out of college.

She and Musk had met years earlier during her internship, when she was still in college. Shed approached him with ideas for improving SpaceX. Her outreach had led to a date, which led to a kiss, and eventually sex, she told friends. The year after her internship, the billionaire had the fresh college graduate flown out to a resort in Sicily, before they ended things, according to documents reviewed by The Wall Street Journal.

Musk, who is more than 20 years her senior, attempted to restart their relationship but she rejected his advance. They remained close as she tried to establish herself in the new job.

He texted her often and invited her to come over to his Los Angeles mansion at night on multiple occasions. Sometimes she accepted his invitations, but friends said she told them at the time that his behavior made her job harder.

She eventually moved off Musks executive team, according to friends she told and to people familiar with her time at SpaceX. The woman left the company in 2019.

Her lawyers, who also represent Musk, provided the Journal with two affidavits signed by the woman. The affidavits disputed some aspects of the Journals reporting but confirmed many others, including that she had a romantic relationship with Musk in the past. She said she invited him to dinner near the end of her summer internship and broke things off the following year.

She said at no point during employment at SpaceX from 2017 to 2019 was there any romantic relationship" with Musk.

Nothing that Elon Musk did towards me during either of my periods of employment at SpaceX was predatory or wrongful in any way," the woman said.

She is one of several female employees at SpaceX who have told friends, family, or the company itself, that Musk showed them an unusual amount of attention or pursued them.

One woman, a SpaceX flight attendant, alleged that in 2016 Musk exposed himself to her and offered to buy her a horse in exchange for sex acts.

Another woman who left the company in 2013 alleged in exit negotiations with SpaceX human resources and legal executives that Musk had asked her to have his babies.

A fourth woman had a month-long sexual relationship with Musk in 2014 while she directly reported to him. The relationship ended badly, leading to recriminations over text and email as she left the company and signed an agreement prohibiting her from discussing her work for Musk.

Former SpaceX executives, as well as fired SpaceX employees who complained to the National Labor Relations Board in 2022, say a high-level group around Musk fails to apply his companys own rules to the CEO, contributing to a culture of sexism and harassment.

They say theres an understanding that Musk, a charismatic leader with many fans who call him a genius, can act with impunity. Elon is SpaceX, and SpaceX is Elon," one former engineer recalled an executive saying during a June 2022 meeting after the firings of some of the SpaceX employees, who had criticized Musk and demanded greater accountability at the company.

Musk, who is one of the richest men in the world, leads companies including the publicly traded electric-vehicle maker Tesla, rocket-maker SpaceX and social-media platform X.

SpaceX has won billions in federal contracts, and is key to NASA and Pentagon space programs. Tesla, meanwhile, is holding a shareholder vote that closes on June 13 over Musks $46 billion pay package, which was struck down by a Delaware court in January because of concerns about the approval process.

Musk didnt reply to requests for comment.

Gwynne Shotwell, SpaceXs president and chief operating officer, said the Journals reporting doesnt reflect SpaceXs culture.

The untruths, mischaracterizations, and revisionist history in your email paint a completely misleading narrative," she said. I continue to be amazed by what this extraordinary group of people are achieving every day even amidst all the forces acting against us. And Elon is one of the best humans I know."

She said SpaceX fully investigates all complaints of harassment and takes appropriate actions.

Other behavior by Musk, including his use of illegal drugs, has raised concerns among some executives and board members of SpaceX and Tesla, according to previous Journal reporting. Musk has used drugs including LSD, cocaine, ecstasy, mushrooms and ketamine, at times with some board members, the Journal has reported.

An attorney for Musk, Alex Spiro, said at the time that Musk is regularly and randomly drug tested at SpaceX and has never failed a test." He said there are other false facts" in the reporting about Musks drug use but didnt detail them.

Encounters with Musk

This article is based on conversations with more than four dozen people, including former employees, people familiar with Musks interactions with female subordinates and friends and family of the women. The Journal also reviewed emails, text messages and other documents.

Since 2017, the era of MeToo has resulted in a pronounced cultural shift that has put more scrutiny on the conduct of executives in the workplace. Good-governance norms in the corporate world have shifted toward hard bans on supervisor-employee sexual relationships, out of concern for their potential to create power imbalances and conflicts of interest in the workplace.

Federal and state laws bar supervisors from sexually harassing employees. Some courts have recognized sexual favoritism" as a form of harassment, blessing claims of a hostile work environment by employees who alleged that their bosses gave preferential treatment to colleagues with whom they were having consensual affairs.

A SpaceX policy discourages employees from directly overseeing romantic partners.

The women who described the encounters with Musk had jobs that meant they worked closely with him.

The college student studying engineering met Musk in the early 2010s during her summer internship at SpaceX. Musk and the woman went out for a meal after she sent him ideas about how to improve the company, she told friends. They bonded over Star Wars" and kissed.

A year later, the chief executive arranged for the woman to meet him at a resort in Sicily, where he was attending an exclusive conference sponsored by Google, according to documents reviewed by the Journal.

The womans passport was in another city at the time so Musk had arrangements made for a friend of hers to bring it to the woman on an early morning domestic flight, documents show. The woman was then scheduled on a first-class flight to London and a private jet to Italy, the documents show.

The former intern told friends not to speak with Journal reporters and later said that she didnt want to be part of an article, following outreach from the Journal.

Clare Locke, a Virginia-based law firm that also represents Musk and Tesla, sent the Journal legal letters on behalf of the woman that demanded her removal from the article. The affidavits signed by the woman were attached to the letters.

The woman said in one of the affidavits that after she broke off the relationship with Musk they remained friends.

Nothing out of the ordinary

In 2017, Musk personally contacted the former intern about a fulltime job at SpaceX, which would be to find problems at the company and fix them. She moved from New York to the Los Angeles area to become a member of Musks executive staff. Former employees said that while she was a talented engineer, they found it odd that someone so junior was given such a high-profile role so close to the boss.

She said in one of the affidavits that she believes she was one of many candidates for the role.

After she arrived in California, Musk invited her for drinks and came on to her, touching her breast, friends said she told them at the time. One of them said the woman recalled Musk saying, Oh, Im so bad. I shouldnt be doing this."

In one of her affidavits, she said, without providing details, Elon tried to rekindle our relationship prior to my employment, and I rejected the advance. While there was some initial awkwardness, it was nothing out of the ordinary after a rejection."

She told friends that she was unhappy at SpaceX, had no authority and had trouble getting executives to take her ideas seriously. She told one friend that she sometimes hid in the bathroom at SpaceX.

She said in one of the affidavits that her feelings about her job at SpaceX were completely unrelated to any romantic or personal interactions with Elon Musk."

I came into a very difficult role as a newcomer into an established company," she said in the affidavit.

She visited Musk at his home multiple times, as she struggled at work to establish herself, according to people familiar with the matter and friends she confided in.

He would text her, like a lot," said one of the friends. When she didnt respond to a nighttime invitation to come over to his house, Musk texted her name repeatedly, the friend recalled.

About half a year into her job, the woman received another invitation from Musk to come to his house, according to a text exchange reviewed by the Journal.

Come by!" he wrote. When she didnt respond, he peppered her with more texts:

Look, its either me or 6am [exercise] :)"

Just finished the Model 3 production call. Its def going to be hell for several more months."

Are you coming over? If not, I will probably tranq out. Too stressed to sleep naturally."

When she still hadnt responded, he wrote, Probably best if we dont see each other."

The woman texted him in the morning. Oh man. Im sorry, Id already fallen asleep. Ive been a late night person most of my life but have been trying to switch over because it seems responsible. Tbh. Sorry I crashed last night," she wrote.

Later that day, she shared the text exchange with a friend.

Dude not gonna lie the fact that I have mild society[sic] anxiety resulting from imposter syndrome definitely makes this job harder," the woman wrote in a text. And thats definitely exacerbated by Elons behavior."

I was wondering about that," her friend responded.

So badly," she said.

I mean if hanging out with him stresses you out about work maybe you might want to let things chill? I dunno."

Well I mean I think he broke up with me this morning. If I interpreted that last text ," she wrote.

She then sent her friend a copy of Musks string of messages asking her to come over.

Why are so many of the men in my life so weiiiiirrddddd," she wrote.

The woman said in an email provided by her lawyers that her comment about Musk breaking up with her was a joke. His text message to her, she said, was not referring to a romantic relationship."

She said Musks lack of interest in roles such as hers is what made her job more difficult, and that her background expertise made an already difficult role even more difficult."

She said in one of the affidavits that she and Musk texted frequently as she supported him through difficulties, including issues at Tesla and his divorce from actress Talulah Riley. He was married to Riley when the woman and Musk were in a romantic relationship years earlier. They divorced in 2016.

On the few occasions that she went to Musks house, the woman said in one of the affidavits, they watched TV and talked. In the email, she said they watched anime and talked about the Tesla Model 3 production ramp up and the technical future of humanity."

Friends said she told them at the time that the job wasnt going well because it had gotten awkward with Musk. Eventually she moved off the executive staff to a role reporting to another engineer.

The woman said in one of the affidavits that she requested the move and worked out an arrangement that would give me better support for my daily responsibilities at the company."

She exited SpaceX in 2019 after an executive she reported to was included in a mass layoff, she said in one of the affidavits.

Defended by leadership

One incident of alleged sexual harassment of workers by Musk has surfaced publicly, in a 2022 report by Business Insider about the flight attendant who told SpaceX that Musk exposed himself to her and asked her for sex.

The woman, who worked on contract for SpaceX, alleged in a 2018 mediation with the company that Musk showed her his erect penis and offered her a horse in return for sex acts as she gave him a massage during a flight, according to people familiar with the allegations. SpaceX cut her shifts back after she rejected his advances, she alleged. The company agreed to pay her $250,000.

Musk called the flight attendants allegations utterly untrue." In social-media posts, he joked that the scandal should be called Elongate" and denied that he used a flight attendant on his plane.

But he had used flight attendants in the past, including in 2016, when the woman alleged Musks proposition had taken place, according to former SpaceX employees as well as LinkedIn profiles of former SpaceX flight attendants.

Shotwell, Musks No. 2 at SpaceX, defended him against the flight attendants allegations in a companywide email after the news report. Personally, I believe the allegations to be false; not because I work for Elon, but because I have worked closely with him for 20 years and never seen nor heard anything resembling these allegations," she wrote.

Musks denials and Shotwells email prompted SpaceX employees to post an internal letter protesting what they viewed as the companys failure to take harassment allegations seriously.

Eight of them who were fired after the letter subsequently filed complaints with the NLRB, alleging they were terminated for speaking up. SpaceX denies the allegations in that ongoing case and is seeking a court ruling that the agencys process is unconstitutional.

Civilization is going to crumble

In the summer of 2013, a woman who reported directly to Musk left the company and later returned with a lawyer. She alleged that Musk had asked her on multiple occasions to have his babies, according to people familiar with the allegations.

Musk, who has at least 10 children, has said that the world faces an underpopulation crisis and that people with high IQs should procreate. He has encouraged some of his employees to have children. He has spoken of the need to colonize Mars to protect the human species in the event of a cataclysm on Earth. Sending people to the red planet is a long-held ambition that animates his work at SpaceX.

If people dont have more children, civilization is going to crumble. Mark my words," Musk said in a 2021 interview with the Journal.

Musk had children with an employee in 2021. He and Shivon Zilis, an executive at Musks Neuralink brain-implant company, share twins. Zilis has said Musk encouraged her to have children and later offered to be the sperm donor. I cant possibly think of genes I would prefer for my children," Zilis is quoted as saying in Elon Musk," a biography by author Walter Isaacson.

But the woman at SpaceX declined Musks offer. She had continued working for Musk after he asked her to have his children, but their relationship deteriorated. Besides the baby allegations, Musk had denied the woman a raise and complained about her performance, according to people familiar with the matter.

The woman received an exit package of cash and stock valued at more than $1 million, according to a person familiar with the agreement.

Planning a party

The same year that woman left SpaceX, 2013, Shotwell made allegations of her own: The executive accused one of her employees of having an affair with her husband, and then allegedly retaliated against the woman, according to the employees account to friends and family and emails she showed them at the time.

On her own time, the woman had helped Shotwells husband, Robert, plan a surprise Western-themed 50th birthday party for Shotwell, her boss. Robert sent boxes containing bull horns and other Western decor to the employees house for the party. Before leaving town to visit her family for Thanksgiving, the woman called Robert to arrange for him to pick up the boxes while she was away.

So, your call last night was not good," Robert wrote to the woman in a November 2013 email, with the subject line Trouble." She accused us of having an affairBe prepared when she gets in."

The employee was on a plane with her brother when she got the email, which she later shared with her family. The accusation shocked and mortified her, her brother said.

I hope you realize that this puts me in a very awkward position with my boss and makes me super uncomfortable," she replied to Robert.

He emailed her after the party to thank her for her help and to tell her that everything is cleared up now."

When the woman told a human resources executive about the affair accusation, it got back to Shotwell, the woman told a friend.

The woman said in a text message that she understood the conversation to have been confidential. He told Gwynne everything. She told me," the woman texted the friend, referring to the human resources executive to whom shed reported Shotwell. I should be able to go to HR for such things. She f thought I was having an affair with her husband for Gods sake."

Gwynne and Robert Shotwell didnt respond to requests for comment on the matter.

Musks lawyers sent a sworn declaration from Brian Bjelde, SpaceXs current vice president of human resources, that said he could not locate any records of an HR complaint from the woman.

By the time of Shotwells party, the woman was working for both Shotwell and Musk. Shotwell told the HR department at SpaceX that she wanted the woman removed from the office of the chief executive.

While Shotwell was trying to push her out, Musk was pulling her in, she told people close to her.

17-hour days

In the fall of 2014, Musk initiated a sexual relationship with the woman, who by that time was working directly for him alone, she told the people. Musk was still married to but separated from Riley.

A couple of months earlier, Musk and a human resources officer had met with the employee and said that a coming restructuring in Musks office meant that the woman would have to move to another part of the company, into a less visible role, if she wanted to stay, she later told friends.

She had declined but agreed to stay on as long as needed to get Musks new chief of staff, Sam Teller, up to speed.

[Shotwell] has 100% sabotaged my future at a company I love, and I am not safe in any position," she wrote in an email to another friend in September 2014. This position is killing me and it has [affected] my mental and now physical health."

But she was still at SpaceX in the late fall of 2014, at Musks request, when he approached the woman at her desk and asked her if she wanted to have a drink and talk at his Bel-Air mansion, his primary Los Angeles residence at the time, situated on a knoll overlooking a country club.

Leading up to the invitation, Musk and the woman had become close professionally. They sat within view of each other in the office and were in frequent contact on work matters. She often put in 17-hour days to keep pace with Musk, helping out with matters at Tesla and in Musks personal life, in addition to her primary duties at SpaceX.

Her friends and family noticed shed lost an unhealthy amount of weight, and her hair was falling out as she worked long hours and friction with Shotwell continued.

Musks invitation came as such a surprise to the woman that she told Teller about it at the office, according to people familiar with the matter.

When she arrived at Musks house that night, with her computer and work bag, they went into his living room.

She gave this account to friends in the following days: She and Musk drank and chatted. Musk told the woman she had both beauty and brains and continued to compliment her. They had sex and spent much of the rest of the night talking.

They saw each other again at his house in mid-December 2014, after Musks children were put to bed, according to text messages the woman shared with a friend at the time.

Ill see you at 11 or so," the woman wrote in a text to Musk.

Ok :) If you get tired or dont feel like it for any reason, no problem to cancel," he replied.

She said she didnt want to cancel. I might send a note to your house security only, to let them know Im coming to drop something off.or something. So theyre prepared?"

In bed the next morning, Musk promised the woman Tesla stock for unpaid work shed done for him at the carmaker and in his personal life, she told a person close to her.

Musk told the woman that if the relationship ever became public, theyd have to say it started after she left the company, the woman later told that person and another friend.

Later that December, the woman asked Musk if she could enlist SpaceX information-security employees to check her email account, after they discussed the possibility of her email getting hacked. Musk granted her request but urged her in an email to delete anything you dont want them to see ahead of time, incl from sent folders and trash."

Missed bootie call

The woman initially confided in people close to her that she believed she and Musk were starting a serious relationship and that they had a connection.

By late December, she was telling her friends that she felt used. Early on, she had wanted to keep their relationship private, but as it progressed, she sought more than drinks at his house and sex.

When she suggested dinner out, Musk said he couldnt be seen with her in public, citing ongoing negotiations over a possible divorce from Riley.

As tensions mounted, Musk assigned Teller, his chief of staff, to handle the womans exit, according to people familiar with the matter and emails the woman shared with others. Musk had shared some of the womans texts with Teller, according to the people.

Musk declined to pay the woman directly in Tesla stock. In a Dec. 29, 2014, email, Teller offered her $35,400 in cash for her unpaid work, saying she could use it to buy the stock instead. She negotiated the offer up to $85,000, citing taxes and her broad brief for the billionaire.

To get the money, she had to sign an agreement that required her to release Musk from potential legal claims known and unknown," and to keep information about him in strictest confidence," including the document itself, which Teller had received from Teslas then-general counsel Todd Maron, who had also been a divorce lawyer for Musk. She shared the agreement with people close to her before signing.

Both Teller and Maron left their roles in 2019.

On Jan. 10, 2015, two days before she left the company, she received a late-night text from Musk: Drinks?"

The woman didnt see the invitation until the following morning.

11:25 pm bootie call. Glad I was sleeping," she wrote in a text to a friend.

After the woman left SpaceX, Musk told her in texts and emails that she shared with others that she had had thrown herself at him while he was in a fragile state over his separation from his then-wife, and they had been intimate only after she had resigned.

You insisted on coming to my house to sleep with me when I was just sad and tired and wanted to be alone," he said in a text, the day after her exit from the company.

She and Musk never saw each other again.

Emily Glazer and Micah Maidenberg contributed to this article.

Write to Joe Palazzolo at Joe.Palazzolo@wsj.com and Khadeeja Safdar at khadeeja.safdar@wsj.com
BENGALURU/MUMBAI: The planned acquisition of a brokerage firm by the Indian counterpart of Hari Shankar Tibrewala, allegedly the mastermind behind the Mahadev Online betting scandal, has collapsed.

The proposed buyer acknowledged for the first time that the ongoing investigation by the Enforcement Directorate into the scandal has rendered his firm unfit to run a broking business.

Brij Rattan Bagri and his family, the promoters of brokerage BLB Ltd, had in January agreed to sell their 36.84% stake in the firm to Dream Achiever Consultancy Services Pvt. Ltd. Dream Achiever, or DACSP, is owned by Suraj Chokhani, a Kolkata-based resident whom the ED refers to as Tibrewalas Indian counterpart.

As part of the deal, an open offer was triggered under which Dream Achiever was to buy an additional 26% shares in BLB by 15 June.

But in March, Bagris plan to exit the company, founded by his father Babu Lal Bagri in 1965, appeared dashed as a result of the ED's actions, including freezing of Dream Achiever's assets and bank accounts.

The order also prohibits the transfer of these assets without prior permission from the office of the Joint Director, Enforcement Directorate, Raipur Zonal Office," Fast Track Finsec Pvt. Ltd, the merchant bankers to the BLB open offer, had said in an emailed statement.

That communication also exposed 13 entities whose assets the ED had seized as part of its investigation.

Earlier this week, on 10 June, Sarbani Bhagat, a director at Dream Achiever Consultancy, wrote to Bagri that legal impediments had prevented the company from obtaining approvals from the stock exchanges and the Securities and Exchange Board of India for the acquisition.

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[D]ue to intervening circumstances, including the orders passed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) under Section 17(1-A) of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002, freezing DACSP's properties, investments, balances, equity shares, securities, F2O, and demat accounts, and the prohibition on the transfer of any assets without prior permission from the ED, DACSP has been incapacitated from conducting the transaction as envisaged," Bhagat wrote in his letter to Bagri.

These circumstances, Bhagat added, prevented DACSP from fulfilling its open offer obligations within the mandatory timeline of 150 days, which is to lapse on 15 June.

We regretfully inform you that we are constrained to terminate the Agreement and will be applying to Sebi to seek withdrawal of the open offer," he wrote.

On 8 March, the ED labelled Tibrewala a hawala operator, saying he had used several entities to launder illicit money made from the betting app into buying stocks in India.

The ED also seized the assets of 13 companies believed to be vehicles for laundering illicit money from the betting app. Chokhani owns eight of these companies, according to documents reviewed by Mint.

"The acquirer is under a regulatory cloud and has conveyed his inability to complete the transaction and is entitled to cancel the Share sale and purchase agreement. The seller has no option but to scout for another acquirer," said Chirag M. Shah, counsel - Securities Law, Arbitrator.

Shares of BLB, which traded at 21.75 apiece at the end of March 2023, had jumped to 52.55 a share by 29 February this year. BLB shares ended at 18.20 apiece on Tuesday.

BLB has informed the exchanges that Bagri would seek legal advice after Dream Achiever informed the company of ending the proposed decision to buy the company.
(Bloomberg) -- Oil producer Matador Resources Co. agreed to buy assets in the Permian Basin from a portfolio company of EnCap Investments LP for $1.9 billion cash, the latest in a series of shale industry tie-ups.

The deal includes oil and gas producing properties and undeveloped acreage in New Mexico and West Texas owned by Ameredev II Parent LLC, Matador said in a Wednesday statement. Matador, which primarily operates in the region, said the assets will provide more contiguous acreage for the firm to drill longer lateral wells and more efficiently tap the oil-rich rocks in the western Permian. The deal includes a 19% stake in Pinon Midstream LLC, which has pipeline and compression assets in New Mexico.

Matador shares initially rose as much as 3.6% after the transaction was announced. The stock has since retreated, falling 0.6% as of 11:45 a.m. in New York, tracking declines of industry peers as oil prices eased.

The acquisition, which is expected to close late in the third quarter, is among a wave of deals across the shale patch in the past year. With US shale output likely to peak sometime in the 2030s, producers are keen to capture core acreage in the Permian and other basins to extend their runway of drilling locations.

As much as people are talking about inventory these days, their inventory fits very well with us, Matador Chief Executive Officer Joseph Foran said during a conference call with analysts. Foran and his wife founded the predecessor company of Matador in 1983 with $270,000 from friends.

(Adds shares and updates details from second paragraph.)

More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com
MUMBAI : The vastly diversified Kumar Mangalam Birla-led Aditya Birla Group has initiated changes at the group level, including in its employee policies, as it considers a new dual strategy for its traditional and new businesses.

The group, with interests ranging from cement to fashion, is currently in discussions with consultants and advisers to devise a bi-focal" strategy, according to industry executives familiar with the conglomerates plans.

Under this dual strategy, older businesses such as cement and textiles will be subject to one set of policies, and newer ventures may operate under a different set of guidelines.

The business house founded in 1857 has over the years ventured into segments such as paints, jewellery, and fashion that require a different approach from its legacy businesses.

This may also call for changes in employee policies so that the group can attract talent more suitable for specific customer segments, said industry executives aware of the developments.

The Aditya Birla Group, according to these executives, has already started implementing some initial changes under Ashok Ramchandran, who took charge as group director of human resources in January.

Also read | Aditya Birla assembles top team for B2B e-commerce

The group is evaluating if a bi-focal strategy can be put into place where older businesses like cement, textiles, telecom, etc., need a certain kind of outlook, while the newer businesses like paints, jewellery, renewable, digital platforms" will need a different approach, said a senior industry executive, declining to be identified, as did the others.

Ramchandran, who has been with the conglomerate since 2015, said the group reviews all people processes periodically, and that no major review of all policies is underway at this stage".

A shift to external hires

In 2016, the Aditya Birla group, which employs more than 187,000 employees of over 100 nationalities, had drawn up a policy nicknamed 2x2x2 to assign some of the best roles to high-potential employees who had worked in at least two geographies across two functions and two businesses.

That was part of a five-year plan to build an internal talent pipeline. The group later decided to select senior managers from within and not rely on hiring from the market. It had also created a database of employees highlighting their expertise in areas such as mergers and acquisitions and project launches for more efficient skill-mapping.

The 167-year-old Aditya Birla Group is now looking to create a swifter process for decision-making, said a second industry executive.

The company has started initial rounds of discussion on whether structures within the group can be simplified, which, in turn, will help in the decision-making process," this executive said.

Also read | Aditya Birla fashion unit to buy majority stakes in three brands

Ramchandran said while the group has a well-oiled system" for hiring experts, speed-to-market will be a crucial aspect.

At the Aditya Birla Group, we have always practised responsible empowerment of our businesses," Ramchandran said. This includes the design of the organisation, structures, and talent onboarding, internal movements from within the group, and external hiring balance. Speed-to-market is one of the aspects at the core of decision-making."

Next target: Improving brand

Meetings with industry advisers and senior management have highlighted the need to spruce up the groups brand image and improve the conglomerates market capitalisation, according to the industry executives.

The group crossed a significant milestone earlier this month, reaching a market cap of $103 billion. Only Reliance Industries Ltd, Tata Consultancy Services Ltd, and HDFC Bank Ltd are ahead in terms of market cap, among listed Indian companies.

Market cap is an outcome of many factors, I guess," the HR director said. We are happy that the wider market recognises our brand in terms of consistent results, ways of working, resilience, and ambitions ahead."
A startup is aiming to build a marketplace where companies can shield themselves from the wild price volatility associated with intermittent wind and solar power, along with extreme weather events such as the recent Texas heat waves.

ElectronX has raised a $15 million seed round from investors led by former Google CEO Eric Schmidts venture-capital firm, Innovation Endeavors. The startup, which has previously kept out of the public eye, is set to announce the funding round later Wednesday.

Based in Chicago, ElectronX is applying for a license from the Commodity Futures Trading Commission to run a futures exchange. If approved, ElectronX would be taking on two large incumbents that already operate electricity futures markets: Intercontinental Exchange, or ICE, and Germanys Deutsche Borse, which offers U.S. electricity futures through its Nodal Exchange unit.

Electricity futures are financial contracts that allow traders to bet on swings in power prices. Businesses such as utilities can also use them to hedge against the risk of price volatility.

ElectronXs planned debut comes as the increasing use of cleaner energy sources has made it harder to forecast energy costs because of the intermittent nature of wind and solar power. Strong winds can send power prices plummeting while wind farms create a glut of electricity. The opposite might happen if the weather shifts. In 2023, a record 23% of U.S. electricity demand was supplied by renewable sources, according to BloombergNEF.

The grid transition has massively changed the power mix in the U.S., and its caused a lot of intermittent stability issues," said Sam Tegel, chief executive of ElectronX.

Meanwhile, extreme weather eventswhich scientists expect to grow more frequent with climate changeare also roiling energy markets. A freak winter storm that left millions of Texas residents without electricity in February 2021 cost power companies more than $10 billion, according to S&P Global Market Intelligence. On the evening of May 8, wholesale electricity prices in the Dallas area skyrocketed to just under $5,000 per megawatt-hour from about $142 in two hours amid a heat wave and power-plant outages, according to data provider GridStatus.io.

ElectronXs first futures contracts will be tied to electricity prices in Texas, and it will eventually list contracts tied to power prices at locations nationwide, Tegel said.

Unlike its larger rivals, ElectronX plans to offer contracts tied to the hourly price of electricity. The startup says its hourly contracts will allow customers to have a more fine-tuned hedging tool than they can find at ICE or Nodal Exchange, whose electricity futures are generally based on the average price of power over a full day or month.

ElectronX says its target customers include generators of wind and solar power, operators of large-scale batteries, and data centers whose hunger for electricity is expected to grow as artificial-intelligence applications gobble up ever more energy.

The startup aims to serve smaller customers as well as the institutional-size firms that trade on ICE and Nodal Exchange. Unlike the incumbents, ElectronX plans to offer direct access to its market without requiring customers to use brokers, known as futures commission merchants, that hold collateral for traders on traditional futures exchanges.

The direct-access model could make it simpler for ElectronX to bring aboard new customers. But it also means that, at least initially, ElectronX wont be able to offer leveraged trading, in which a trader uses a relatively small amount of money to place a large bet.

ElectronXs launch could still be many months away because of the time needed to win regulatory approval for its exchange and clearinghouse.

The startup was founded in 2022 by Philip Krim, the former CEO of mattress seller Casper Sleep, who has since become a climate-tech investor, and former power trader Evan Caron. Tegel joined as CEO in 2023. A veteran of electronic trading, Tegel previously worked at high-speed trading firm Jump Trading and hedge fund Millennium Management.

Innovation Endeavors said it put up $10 million for ElectronXs funding round. Schmidts firm specializes in early-stage investments. It has previously placed bets on Uber Technologies and SoFi Technologies, and it describes climate as one of its focus areas.

Schmidt, a founding partner of Innovation Endeavors, was CEO of Google from 2001 to 2011, before it was restructured and renamed Alphabet. During his time at the search giant, Google stepped up the use of renewable energy to power its data centers as part of an effort to become carbon-neutral.

Write to Alexander Osipovich at alexo@wsj.com
Tata Steel Ltd, which owns the largest steel plant in the UK, is worried a new British government may not honour a 500-million support deal it struck with the current Rishi Sunak-led Conservative administration in September.

The Labour party, which is the current favourite to win the UKs upcoming general election, has said that a better solution could be reached that would lead to fewer job losses.

The support deal is part of a 1.25-billion transition plan finalised after three years of negotiations. Tata Steels Port Talbot Steelworks in Wales will shut its two ageing blast furnaces and coke ovens to make way for electric arc furnaces that would help cut the companys emissions as well as losses.

Mint goes into the details of why the UKs parliamentary election has gotten Asias oldest steelmaker worried.

What is the deal between Tata Steel and the UK government?

Tata Steel and the UK Government agreed on a rescue plan for Port Talbot Steelworks in September. As part of this, the steelmaker is to receive 500 million to fund its 1.25 billion transition. The remainder is to be invested by the company.

As part of the transition, Tata Steel would shut Port Talbot Steelworks two ageing blast furnaces and related equipment, such as coke ovens, and use government funds to replace them with an electric arc furnace.

This is unlike the blast furnace route of steelmaking, where the key inputs are iron ore and coking coal. The process is highly polluting, with the two blast furnaces being among the highest carbon emitters in the UK.

The UK government is keen to retain steel manufacturing in the country and not rely on imports for the key commodity. It also wants to save jobs that would be lost if the steel plant shuts. Tata Steel UK employs over 8,000 people and is crucial to the local economy at Port Talbot in Wales.

However, electric furnaces require fewer people to operate and a different skillset. In all, the transition is estimated to make 2,800 jobs redundant.

Why is Tata Steel keen on shutting blast furnaces?

Blast furnaces and coke ovens are heavy polluters, making them unviable after a carbon tax is levied on top of the production costs. The UK has committed to be a net-zero emitter by 2050.

The assets are also nearing the end of their operational life and are financially unviable. Steelmaking in the UK has become expensive due to high inherent costs, including for the import of expensive iron ore and coking coal, and high utility costs in the country, senior Tata Steel executives have said in the past.

Tata Steel has said unequivocally that without government support for the transition, it will be forced to shut Port Talbot Steelworks. It has already shut its coke ovens in March and plans to shut one of its two blast furnaces by the end of June and the other by the end of September.

The companys downstream assets that make value-added steel will rely on imported semi-finished steel in the interim.

What is the Labour partys stand?

The Labour party, which currently forms the opposition in the UK, has called for fresh negotiations post the 4 July general election, if it wins. The Labour party is currently running ahead in opinion polls.

Labours Jonathan Reynolds, who is the shadow business secretary, has said a better deal could be struck with an outcome that might not be what all of us ideally want, but will work better for everybody. Most of all for the people here in Port Talbot," the BBC reported.

Reynolds has urged Tata Steel to wait until after the election and engage in fresh talks with new the government in good faith".

A shadow secretary is part of the shadow cabinet in the UK that follows and scrutinises the cabinets actions.

Workers unions at Port Talbot have urged Tata Steel to keep one blast furnace running till the new electric furnace becomes operational, expected by the end of 2027. Tata Steel has rejected this plan, calling it technically, operationally and financially unviable.

What did Tata Steel say?

In a statement on Tuesday, Tata Steel said the company was apprehensive" reading UK media reports that suggest that its deal with the UK government may be in peril due to policy differences between the Conservative and Labour parties.

The company reiterated its stand that its blast furnaces and coke ovens in the UK are nearing their end of life, are operationally unstable and are resulting in unsustainable financial losses".

The company said the proposed 500-million grant from the UK Government is ringfenced for building the new electric arc furnaces, and not linked to its financial losses. The existing assets were unstable, whose closure is now underway and immutable", the company said Tuesday.

We are therefore concerned with the UK media reports since yesterday as further political uncertainty on the timing and form of the grant will place the EAF project and the long-term future of steelmaking at Port Talbot at significant risk," the company said.

Separately, Rajesh Nair, chief executive of Tata Steel UK, told employees in a letter at the end of May that neither the general election nor its outcome has any impact on the timings or our decision to proceed with the winding down of our heavy-end operation", the Financial Times reported.

The British daily also reported that the agreement between Tata Steel and the UK government is yet to be signed off by the UKs department for business and trade.
Chinas exports are still going strong. That has created tension with the West and led to a new wave of tariffs on its eclectic vehicles. But it is also reshaping global trade.

The question for Beijing is whether a pivot to the developing world will be enough to keep its export machine humming.

Chinas latest trade data released last week said a lot. Exports in May increased 7.6% from a year earlier in dollar terms, while imports rose 1.8%. The implosion of Chinas housing market has dragged down domestic demand, so Beijing has revved up its export engine to drive growth.

That has, however, caused much unease in Western capitals. The Biden administration has announced new tariffs of 100% on Chinese electric vehicles and a 25% tariff on Chinese EV batteries and parts, which will come into effect in the coming months.

On Wednesday, the European Commission unveiled new duties on Chinese EVs ranging from 17.4% to 38.1% following an antisubsidy investigation. In a statement, it said that it found unfair subsidies throughout the entire Chinese EV value chain and that the influx of subsidized Chinese imports at artificially low prices therefore presents a threat of clearly foreseeable and imminent injury to EU industry."

Some of the recent strong growth could be due to manufacturers trying to front-run potential trade restrictions. Chinas exports to the U.S., for example, rose 3.6% on-year in May, contrary to the trend of the past couple of years. But overall, China has been selling less to the West and more to Southeast Asia and Latin America.

Exports to Southeast Asia in the first five months of this year rose 12% from the same period two years earlier. Over the same time, China exported 17% less to the U.S. In 2023 alone, Chinas exports to the U.S. dropped 14%.

This could partly be because Chinese companies are rerouting their trades through countries like Vietnam or Mexico, though those countries have also been building up lower-end manufacturing while China moved up the value chain.

China is also finding new markets. Exports to Russia have surged 70% over the past two years as Western sanctions cut the country off from much of its trade with others. China has been shipping lots of gas-powered cars to Russia, an area where China now has excess capacity given the rapid transition into EVs in its domestic market.

But more important, China is selling different types of products than before. New segments including EVs, batteries, solar panels and mature chips accounted for 8.5% of Chinas total exports last year, compared with 4.5% five years earlier, according to Morgan Stanley.

These exports have been met with a backlash in Europe and the U.S. since they are also trying to build up technologies necessary for the green transition and the rise of artificial intelligence. Chinese goods with affordable prices might, however, be welcomed in many lower-income countries.

Brazils sales of EVs and hybrids nearly doubled in 2023, according to dealer association Fenabrave. Chinas BYD accounted for more than half of the sales in pure EVs while Chinese automakers were also among the top sellers of hybrids.

Southeast Asia is now a bigger destination for Chinas exports than the U.S. or the European Union. Southeast Asia and Latin America together have made up nearly a quarter of Chinas exports so far this year, still smaller than the combined 29% share of the U.S. and the EU, but altogether a sizable market with good growth potential.

Still, while many of the developing countries are more friendly toward China generally, they arent immune to domestic political pressures and might still set up barriers to Chinese imports.

Many Latin American countries have raised tariffs on steel to protect domestic industries. Brazil has recently reimposed tariffs on EVs to encourage domestic production, starting at 18% and rising to 35% in 2026. In a move that could ameliorate some tensions, Chinese companies have been setting up local manufacturing that could create jobs. BYD, for example, is building an EV factory in Brazil.

Chinas export pivot toward developing countries has worked out so far. But in an increasingly protectionist world that playbook will also face limits.
Pin the blame on the scorching heat or political discontent, the Indian voters reluctance to exercise their franchise made headlines throughout the recently concluded Lok Sabha election. At one point, the Election Commission of India even spoke of the apathy of urban voters in particular. Bihar and Uttar Pradesh continued their trend of lower voter turnouts than the national average. Meanwhile, there were some silver linings: the gender gap in voting, for instance, was nearly zero for the second consecutive time.

Disengaged voters

The overall national voter turnout, excluding postal ballots, was 65.8% this year. This is based on provisional data, with the comparable figure in 2019 being 67.2%. A little fewer than half of the constituencies saw a higher turnout than the national average. However, about two in every three seats saw a decline. Nagaland, Outer Manipur, and some constituencies in Madhya Pradesh saw drastic declines, while a massive positive shift was observed in Jammu and Kashmir.

Turning tally?

Political scientists are divided over the common belief that lower voter turnouts signal pro-incumbency, and higher turnouts signal a desire for change. Elements of this theory were visible in 2024. The ruling National Democratic Alliances success rate in retaining seats that it had won in 2019 was higher in seats that saw a decline in turnout, and the same was true for Opposition parties as well. However, overall, the NDA had a slight edge among seats where turnout increased.

Demographic display

Capturing voters participation from a demographic lens reveals more pronounced disengagement among city dwellers than voters in rural India. The turnout decreased in 76% of urban constituencies and 64% of rural constituencies. The median voter turnout in such seats was 62% and 64%, respectively.

Women voters league

Overall, just 10 states and Union territories saw an increase in voter turnout as compared with 2019. But when it comes to womens turnout, 13 states and UTs saw an increase. Women out-voted men in 19 states and UTs. However, this is a decline since 2019, when it was true for as many as 23 states. That year, the gender gap in turnouts had closed for the first time.

Pecking order

The voter turnout in the worlds largest democracy does not stack up well against the largest developed and developing nations; its rank has slid further this year. Among G20 nations, Brazil and Indonesia are ahead of India in terms of voter turnout in their latest election. All eyes will be on the UK and France, which are set to vote in the next few weeks.
As the new government takes charge, India's telecom industry has highlighted concerns over high spectrum prices, urging regulatory intervention to bring costs in line with global standards and remove minimum rollout obligations. The Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) contends that these changes would allow telecom companies to use spectrum resources more efficiently.

Despite making huge investments for 4G/5G rollout, telecom service providers in India are still among those with the lowest average revenue per user (Arpu) in the world. India's spectrum costs as a proportion of annual recurring telecom revenues are much higher than key global markets such as China, Germany, the UK, Brazil, or even neighbouring Pakistan, said the COAI, citing research firm CLSA. In this context, we urge Trai (Telecom Regulatory Authority of India) to revisit the spectrum pricing recommendation, in line with global norms.

The plea comes as the telecom department gears up for the next round of spectrum auctions starting 25 June, which will include 4G and 5G spectrum.

Auctions were postponed twice due to the Lok Sabha election. The previous spectrum auction had fetched the government a record 1.5 trillion.

Read This: Spectrum auction prices are still too steep Looking ahead, COAI has also urged the government to strategically plan the allocation of 6 GHz resources for future 6G networks. To achieve the mission of 6G through initiatives such as Bharat 6G Alliance and Bharat 6G Vision, the industry needs massive spectrum resources which can deliver the higher capacity required by 6G, the association said.

Telcos and OTTs COAIs director general, SP Kochhar, emphasized the need for regulatory action amid concerns that large traffic generators or over-the-top (OTT) players heavily utilize telecom networks without contributing to the costs.

The rapid surge in data over telecom networks has put tremendous pressure on telecom networks, leading to severe quality of service (QoS) issues and drastically impacting TSPs customer experience. We feel this is a clear case of exploitation as the massive investment and efforts of the TSPs are being siphoned off by these service providers, Kochhar said.

Kochhar explained that the issue is not with smaller players, startups, or MSMEs, whose traffic generation is minimal compared to large OTTs. These OTT services consume large amounts of data, and the revenue they generate from subscriptions and advertisements is repatriated to their parent countries.

This causes a huge loss, estimated to the tune of 10,000 crore, to the government exchequer. This is expected to increase further in the coming years, especially with the emergence of newer AI (artificial intelligence) applications and technologies such as video optimization on OTT streaming platforms, Kochhar added.

Challenges and recommendations COAI highlighted the growing problem of telecom equipment theft, which has increased significantly over the past few months.

There are several legal and technical challenges that make it difficult for them to recover the stolen equipment or to fully recover the loss. The impact of this is huge as it leads to poor QoS to end customers and significant financial loss for the TSPs, the association noted.

Additionally, the association stressed the need to make 1200 MHz of the 6 GHz mid-band spectrum available for expanding 5G networks, as the earlier allocation of 800 MHz was insufficient. According to a recent GSMA report, India could save as much as $10 billion annually in 5G network deployment by using the 6 GHz spectrum, COAI said.
Every year cannot be a bumper one. That, in short, summarises Mahanagar Gas Ltds near-term outlook. After a solid year of profitability, the city gas distribution companys margin is expected to taper this financial year.

MGLs Ebitda per standard cubic meter (scm) had scaled up to a multi-year high of about 14 in 2023-24, thanks to lower cost of gas procurement despite marginally lower revenue. For the next 2-3 years, however, MGL expects its Ebitda per scm to drop to 9-11, the company told analysts at its recent investor meeting.

That said, MGL, which currently has a presence in Maharashtra, expects volume growth of 6-7% as it expands its network coverage.

In keeping with the companys forecast, Centrum Broking estimates MGLs FY25 earnings per share to drop 26%, followed by a 2.7% EPS increase in FY26.

We believe, incrementally MGLs volume growth to largely determine its earnings growth provided the company is able to maintain its Ebitda/scm," Centrums analysts said in a research note. MGLs total volume in FY24 stood at 3.6 million standard cubic metres per day.

This financial year, lower sale prices rolled out in March and a drop in the share of administered price mechanism (APM) gas are expected to weigh on MGLs margin. The companys management has indicated that APM gas share has fallen to about 70% in the April-June quarter, from 75% earlier.

MGL plans to invest about 1,000 crore this financial year in laying pipelines and building other associated infrastructure, including 200 crore in its recently acquired gas distribution company Unison Enviro Pvt. Ltd.

UEPL holds licences to distribute natural gas in three districts in Maharashtra, and has already begun supplies in one. UEPLs current volume is 0.14 million standard cubic metres per day, with growth expected to be about 10%.

MGL also entered into a joint venture with Baidyanath LNG Pvt. Ltd in December to set up liquified natural gas retail outlets. The joint venture will establish six stations in the first phase to supply LNG to heavy-duty vehicles such as trucks.

MGL has also entered into a pact with the Mumbai municipal corporation to set up a 1,000-tonne per day compressed biogas plant to convert solid waste, entailing an investment of 500 crore.

Yet, the biggest trigger for MGL would be the inclusion of natural gas under the goods and services tax, allowing consumers to claim credit for input tax paid and possibly lower the cost of gas for them; and increase usage among industrial and commercial consumers.

The MGL stock trades at about 12 times its FY25 estimated earnings, show Bloomberg data. It has gained 20% so far in 2024. But in the near future, margin concerns may weigh on sentiment even as MGLs valuations arent pricey.
Investing in stocks has long been considered a path to wealth creation, but historically, few retail investors have taken advantage of this opportunity. However, there has been a significant surge in retail participation in stock investing. Investors are increasingly viewing equities as a promising asset class compared to traditional options like real estate and gold.

Many investors are drawn to small-cap and penny stocks due to their lower prices, hoping for rapid gains if the companies are fundamentally strong and well-positioned within their industries. While some stocks have indeed rewarded investors with significant growth, others have remained stagnant.

In this article, we explore the performance of five small-cap stocks that were trading between 0.55 and 17 five years ago and have now surged to trade between 60 and 199 apiece.

Lloyds Engineering Works Following the pack was Lloyds Engineering Works (formerly Lloyds Steels Industries), which has witnessed an astounding surge in its stock price, soaring from a meager 0.55 to the current market price of 66.85 per share, resulting in a stellar rally of 12000%.

After a period of lackluster performance in CY18 and CY19, the company's shares made a remarkable comeback in CY20, ending the year with an impressive 104% return.

The subsequent year witnessed an extraordinary rally of 1920%, and after negative returns in 2022, the stock continued its bull trajectory in 2023 by delivering a massive return of 167%. In the ongoing year, it is already up by 61%.

In December, domestic brokerage firm Ventura Securities initiated coverage on the stock with a 'buy' rating with a target price of 72, citing the company's strategic positioning in the infrastructure sector and capex sector, aligning with a government spending surge.

The company is involved in the development, production, and deployment of robust equipment, machinery, and systems tailored for the hydrocarbon sector, oil and gas, steel plants, power plants, nuclear plant boilers, and comprehensive turnkey projects.

RattanIndia Enterprises RattanIndia Enterprises also emerges as a standout performer, delivering a staggering return over the past five years. During this period, the shares have witnessed an extraordinary appreciation, soaring from 1.75 apiece to the current trading price of 75, delivering a remarkable return of 4185%.

Over the past four calendar years, the stock has emerged as a multibagger, achieving remarkable returns of 261% in CY20 and an astounding 605.95% in the subsequent year.

As the flagship company of RattanIndia Group, RattanIndia Enterprises is at the forefront of pioneering new-age businesses across diverse sectors. From e-commerce ventures like Cocoblu Retail to revolutionary electric vehicles through Revolt Motors, the company's portfolio spans fintech solutions with Wefin, fashion brands under Neobrands, and cutting-edge drone technology with Neosky.

Revolt Motors flagship model RV400 has been witnessing robust demand and is by far the most technologically advanced bike in the world, according to the company's recent exchange filing.

Inox Wind Inox wind, a fully integrated wind energy player, has also witnessed remarkable growth in recent years, reflecting its strong performance in the market. Over the past five years, the company's stock price has surged by an impressive 787% to the current market price of 150.91.

This strong spike in shares was attributed to the company's robust order wins in the renewable energy space. The company provides end-to-end turnkey solutions to customers, from conception to commissioning to operations and maintenance services.

In its March report, domestic brokerage firm ICICI Securities upgraded its rating to 'buy' and maintained a P/E-based target price of 675 apiece, valuing the business at 28x FY26E EPS.

The brokerage highlighted Inox Wind's significant recovery following a period of slowdown in line with the wind energy sector, during which the company experienced a notable increase in debt. However, Inox Wind has been actively reducing its debt burden, and it is projected that its net debt will decrease to 4.7 billion by the end of FY24.

Avantel This telecom product manufacturing company has been on a remarkable growth trajectory since 2019, showcasing consistent upward momentum in its stock performance. What sets this stock apart is its resilience, maintaining a bullish trend with minimal setbacks. Remarkably, out of the last 36 months, the stock closed positively in 23, showcasing its robust performance.

Looking at the stock's performance over the past five years, it has moved from 4.22 to its current level of 123.35, marking a massive rally of 2822%.

Since the early 2000s, the company has undergone significant strategic reorientation, shifting towards offering system-based solutions across four main verticals: satellite communications, HF communications, electronic warfare, and radar systems.

Presently, the company is further enhancing its portfolio by developing SCA-compliant software-defined radios, high-power HF systems, air defense radars, and small satellites. This strategic focus on innovation and diversification positions the company for continued success and growth.

Man Infra Man Infraconstruction emerges as another standout performer, rewarding its shareholders with a remarkable rally. From March 2023 to February 2024, the company's shares ended each month in positive territory, delivering an impressive return of 214%. This astounding rally has catapulted the stock to deliver return of 871% in 5 years. The stock is currently trading at 199 apiece.

Renowned as an integrated engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) company, Man Infraconstruction boasts extensive experience and execution capabilities across diverse segments. From ports to residential, commercial, industrial, and road construction projects, the company's expertise spans various sectors, making it a versatile player in India's infrastructure landscape.
Big name Tesla Inc. investors are weighing in on Elon Musks hotly contested pay package that heads to a vote on Thursday.

This will mark the second time shareholders have a say on this plan for the chief executive officers compensation. The measure easily passed in 2018, but in January a judge in Delaware, where Tesla is incorporated, struck it down, saying that investors werent fully informed of key details.

Under the plan, Musk was eligible for as much as $55.8 billion in stock options if Tesla hit certain milestones, which the company reached. The current value of the options is closer to $45 billion, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.

Investors who are willing to comment publicly are so far split on the vote, which serves as an advisory to the board. Some worry Musk would leave the company if the package isnt reinstated. The CEO has said he would develop products outside of Tesla if he doesnt own about 25% of the company. He currently controls about half that. If the deal is brought back, Musk could almost double his holdings to roughly 21%.

As of midday Wednesday, a number of Teslas largest investors including Vanguard, BlackRock and State Street have yet to disclose how they plan to vote. Here's a rundown of where some other big shareholders stand:

Institutional Investors

Baillie Gifford & Co. Asset manager

Shares: 17.8 million Musk pay package: SupportsRationale: The Scottish asset manager is expected to vote in favor of Musks $56 billion pay package, according to a person familiar with the matter. Baillie Gifford was the companys second largest investor a few years ago, but has since reduced its stake.

Ron Baron Chief Executive Officer and founder, Baron Funds

Shares: 17.2 million Musk pay package: SupportsRationale: Baron, a longtime Tesla investor, said in an open letter backing Musks package that the will of the shareholders who voted in 2018 should be favored. Without Musk, there would be no Tesla, and this vote might determine whether he stays at the company, Baron said.

Cathie WoodCEO and Founder, Ark Investment Management

Shares: 5.2 million Musk pay package: SupportsRationale: Wood is a longtime Tesla bull and has repeatedly lauded Musk for pushing the company to the front of the EV market. He succeeded spectacularly and should be rewarded accordingly, she said in a recent post on X, formerly Twitter.

Gavin BakerManaging Partner and Chief Investment Officer, Atreides Management

Shares: 153,000 Musk pay package: SupportsRationale: In a post on X, Baker said approving the pay package is the right thing to do and that Teslas stock will go up if the compensation agreement is reinstated and down if it doesnt.

Norges Bank Norways sovereign wealth fund

Shares: 31.6 million Musk pay package: OpposesRationale: Concerns remain about the total size of the award, the structure given performance triggers, dilution and lack of mitigation of key person risk, the wealth fund said in a statement. The investor also voted against Musks pay package in 2018.

Marcie FrostCEO, California Public Employees Retirement System

Shares: 9.5 million Musk pay package: Leaning opposeRationale: We do not believe that the compensation is commensurate with the performance of the company, Frost said in a recent interview on CNBC. She said CALPERS would likely vote against the package.

Chris AilmanChief Investment Officer, California State Teachers Retirement System

Shares: 4.6 million Musk pay package: OpposesRationale: The pension is voting no on the package 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, CalSTRS said in a statement.

Brad LanderComptroller, New York City

Shares: 3.4 million Musk pay package: OpposesRationale: Lander signed onto a letter from a group of investors urging peers to reject the package. The boards initial reason in 2018 for taking such action was to incentivize Musk to keep focused on Tesla, but he hasnt done that, the letter said. Musk is distracted by his commitments to the other companies he controls and isnt serving the carmakers best interests, the group said.

Amalgamated Bank New York-based financial institution

Shares: 599,000 Musk pay package: OpposesRationale: The bank joined Lander, the New York City Comptroller, in signing a letter from a group of investors that pushed other shareholders to vote no. The letter said Musk has a lack of focus because of his responsibilities at other companies.

Retail Investors

Musk claimed in a recent post on X that roughly 90% of retail investors that had voted so far had been in favor of the pay package and change in incorporation. Several big names have weighed in publicly so far.

Leo KoGuanCo-Founder, SHI International

Shares: Not disclosedMusk pay package: OpposesRationale: KoGuan, reportedly one of Teslas largest individual shareholders, said hes voting no and called Musk a serial stock options killer in a series of posts on X. The executive has been a frequent critic of Musks management.

Naval RavikantCo-Founder, AngelList

Shares: Not disclosedMusk pay package: SupportsRationale: The venture capitalist, who is best known for founding AngelList, called the overturning of Musks pay package by a Delaware court politically motivated. If it doesnt pass, he said hell sell his Tesla stock, but would buy more if its approved.
Its a parents worst nightmare: losing track of your child at a crowded concert or festival or while sight-seeing during a holiday. Technology can provide a few solutions. Apart from attaching a smart tracker like Apples AirTag or Samsungs SmartTag2 to their backpack, getting children a smartwatch made specifically for them is a good way to stay in touch and be aware of their location. Smartwatches with cellular connections can also be used to make calls directly from the watch without needing a supporting phone.

But why not just get your kids a phone, some of you may be asking. Amid rising concerns about the harmful effects of social media on young children, many parents dont want to do so till the kids are older, and a smartwatch acts as a bridge.

Noise was one of the first brands in India to introduce smartwatches tailored for children, gaining the first-mover advantage. It has a portfolio of three smartwatches (starting at 2,199 with the Champ 2) and is the best-selling brand on Amazon in the kids smartwatches category. The companys biggest competitor in the audio and wearables segment, boAt, has an offeringthe boAt Wanderer ( 5,999).

Then theres the imoo Z7 ( 14,990), a Chinese brand that is quite popular for its kids smartwatches globally. The Z7 packs in cutting-edge health monitoring, activity tracking, HD video calling, precise location tracking, and dual cameras for versatile use. But it comes at a premium, while the user experience feels a bit dated and the companion app is unpolished with iffy English translations.

Fitness trackers for children were launched in the past, including the Fitbit Ace 3 and Garmin vivofit jr. 3, but they lacked calling and location-tracking features. Garmin does offer the well-rounded Garmin Bounce smartwatch for kids and Google too revived the Ace with the new Fitbit Ace LTE as a connected smartwatch for kids, but these arent available in India.

View Full Image Noise has a portfolio of three smartwatches, starting at  2,199 with the Champ 2, (Noise)

Features to look for

In contrast to smartwatches for adults, which are primarily utilized for fitness tracking and lifestyle needs like health monitoring, the use cases for kids smartwatches are entirely different. These are distinctly tailored to cater to every aspect of a childs needs, with a keen focus on features like parental control, habit-building functionalities, and safety measures," says Gaurav Khatri, co-founder, Noise.

The primary reason for getting a smartwatch is a reliable line of communication with your childvoice and video calls, text messages, and sometimes voice-to-text as well. An important use case is the assistance in emergenciesan SOS button that triggers a message or call to the parents/guardians.

Also read: Time to smarten up the locks on your door

And, of course, one of the most important objectives of a childs smartwatch is GPS tracking, to be assured of their safety when they are out for sports, at public spaces, and when youre travelling. Many of these smartwatches also support geofencing, allowing you to set up a safe zone for your child, like when you are at a park, stepping out of which will send an alert to your phone. Of course, these smartwatches need a SIM/eSIM for calling and GPS tracking.

Many kids smartwatches come with solid parental controls, including a listen-in feature or tracking vital signs. If a child has complained about bullying, listening in can help you gauge the situation. If your child is ill, tracking vital signs is a handy feature. Like smartwatches for adults, these also help kids stay active by tracking their steps, heart rate and other metrics.

To build their value proposition, some brands also add fun games and apps for children. However, parents might consider this a negative since one of the reasons for choosing smartwatches over smartphones is to avoid screen time.

Rajat Agarwal, chief marketing officer at a multinational IT corporation, is wary of getting a smartwatch for his 7-year-old due to this. I think it might distract the child from his learning and playing experiences and push him to indulge with games and other fun thingamajigs on his smartwatch," he says.

Most watches have a time-out feature using which a parent can set school/quiet mode to disable apps, games, and non-emergency calls.

View Full Image The boAt Wanderer children smartwatch costs  5,999. (boAt)

Safety versus privacy

Like most smart devices, smartwatches also continuously collect sensitive data, and theres always a threat that bad actors can hack into the smartwatch and access private information, including photos and locationin this case, of your child. Theres also the ethical question of whether you should be tracking your childs whereabouts at allbut thats for individual parents to figure out along with their children after consulting them.

Data-related privacy concerns are exacerbated by the fact that most smartwatches for children are from lesser-known brands. Apart from lack of trust, theres also the prejudice against Chinese brands, which is unfortunate but not inaccurate. Childrens smartwatches are big in Chinadriven by a significant tech adoption culture, limited privacy concerns, and general acceptance of the quirks of a data-driven society. But the West thinks differently.

A 2017 report from the Norwegian Consumer Council found that some smartwatches had major security flaws. The report said that these devices could give parents a false sense of security since some features didnt work reliably and often the personal data was transmitted without using encryption. In the same year, a German regulator banned the sale of similar watches, describing them as spying devices".

Therefore, concerns around smartwatches for children arent unfounded. The solution is to buy a childrens smartwatch from a reputed brand and carefully set it up to safeguard personal data, minimize data collection and sharing, and turn off unnecessary extra features.

Many people wonder why mainstream brands like Apple, Samsung, and Google do not venture into the category. According to Navkendar Singh, an analyst at research firm IDC, there has never been enough market outside of China to justify the effort. For most brands, it would be a distraction to focus on a niche when the volumes are somewhere else," Singh explains. There arent too many people buying expensive smartwatches anyway (the average selling price of smartwatches in India has dropped to just $20.65 per IDC data) and the segment that would buy one for their kids is even slimmer."

For wearable upstarts though, exploring this category is a sign of desperationas are the new smart rings for fitness tracking. According to latest IDC data, smartwatch shipments declined for the first time since 2018 and these companies are looking for new avenues of growth.

Should I get one for my child?

Of course, a gadget can never replace adult supervision. A smartwatch is not a babysitter, but it does give parents a way to stay connected with an extra layer of security. If chosen and set up well, a smartwatch for your child could be a useful companion in your bag of parenting tools.

Abhishek Baxi is a technology journalist and digital consultant.

Write to us at businessoflife@livemint.com
For salaried individuals and those whose accounts arent subject to audit, the deadline to submit income tax returns for the financial year 2023-24 (Assessment Year 2024-25) is July 31, 2024. In recent years, the government has taken steps to simplify the tax filing process for taxpayers. Here are some initiatives aimed at achieving this goal:

Pre-filled ITRs : The Income Tax Department automatically populates tax return forms with information obtained from employers, banks, and investment entities. This initiative saves time and minimises errors during the filing process.

: The Income Tax Department automatically populates tax return forms with information obtained from employers, banks, and investment entities. This initiative saves time and minimises errors during the filing process. Streamlined ITR forms : Different Income Tax Return (ITR) forms cater to various taxpayer categories. Forms like ITR-1 (Sahaj) and ITR-4 (Sugam) are tailored to individuals with straightforward income sources such as salary, pension, and interest earnings, making the filing process simpler.

: Different Income Tax Return (ITR) forms cater to various taxpayer categories. Forms like ITR-1 (Sahaj) and ITR-4 (Sugam) are tailored to individuals with straightforward income sources such as salary, pension, and interest earnings, making the filing process simpler. Online submission: The Income Tax department encourages taxpayers to file their returns online. This approach offers convenience and reduces reliance on physical paperwork. By adhering to straightforward tips and guidelines, taxpayers can guarantee accurate filing of their returns, thereby minimising the likelihood of queries from the income tax department and averting other related issues.

Selecting the right ITR form Its crucial to choose the appropriate ITR form for precise tax filing and to steer clear of delays or penalties. Selecting the correct ITR form is essential as it facilitates accurate income reporting, enables you to claim eligible deductions and tax credits, and diminishes the chance of receiving a defective return notice from the Income Tax department due to incorrect form submission.

Several factors affect the choice of ITR form:

Income sources : The nature of your income (such as salary, business income, capital gains) significantly influences the selection.

: The nature of your income (such as salary, business income, capital gains) significantly influences the selection. Residential status : Your residential status in India (whether you are a resident, non-resident, etc.) dictates the relevant tax regulations applicable to you.

: Your residential status in India (whether you are a resident, non-resident, etc.) dictates the relevant tax regulations applicable to you. Other considerations: Additional criteria like the type of business, foreign income, and agricultural income can also impact the decision regarding which form to use. Here is a quick rundown of a few widely used ITR forms:

ITR-1 ( Sahaj ): This form is the most straightforward option and is suitable for residents who have income from one house property, pensions, salaries, other sources (not including winnings from lotteries and races), and agricultural income up to Rs. 5000.

( ): This form is the most straightforward option and is suitable for residents who have income from one house property, pensions, salaries, other sources (not including winnings from lotteries and races), and agricultural income up to Rs. 5000. ITR-2 : Intended for individuals who are residents of the country and Hindu Undivided Families (HUFs) who have income from a range of sources, such as capital gains, business income, foreign income, and ownership of multiple residential properties.

: Intended for individuals who are residents of the country and Hindu Undivided Families (HUFs) who have income from a range of sources, such as capital gains, business income, foreign income, and ownership of multiple residential properties. ITR-3: Generally utilised by HUFs and individuals in business or related professions. Choosing the right tax regime matters The tax regime that an Indian taxpayer chooses is crucial. From the fiscal year 202324 (Assessment Year 202425), the streamlined tax systemalso referred to as the new tax regimewas replaced by the default tax regime under the Union Budget 2023. The current tax system allows taxpayers to continue filing their taxes. Through a choice on the ITR form, people can choose not to participate in the new system.

The Income Tax Departments website provides tax calculators that let users determine their tax obligations under various regimes depending on their income and allowable deductions, which can aid in decision-making. This tool assists in determining which regime offers individual taxpayers the most benefits.

Income reconciliation before filing ITR Before finishing your tax return, you must reconcile your income. Thats why this is important:

For accuracy and completeness : Reconciliation guarantees the accuracy and completeness of all income sources by identifying and accurately reporting them. Revenue reported on Forms 16/16A (salary income), 26AS (tax credit statement), and Annual Information Statement (AIS) (income from other sources) are all included in this.

: Reconciliation guarantees the accuracy and completeness of all income sources by identifying and accurately reporting them. Revenue reported on Forms 16/16A (salary income), 26AS (tax credit statement), and Annual Information Statement (AIS) (income from other sources) are all included in this. Preventing discrepancies: If you fail to file your income taxes, there may be differences between your tax return and the data that the Income Tax department has gathered from different sources. Penalties, interest costs, and inquiries could follow these irregularities. Heres how to successfully balance your income step-by-step:

Collect documents : AIS (accessible on the Income Tax Portal), Form 26AS from the Income Tax Departments website, and Form 16/16A from your employer(s) for the relevant fiscal year.

: AIS (accessible on the Income Tax Portal), Form 26AS from the Income Tax Departments website, and Form 16/16A from your employer(s) for the relevant fiscal year. Compare revenue sources : Using these documents, compile a list of all of your sources of income, including your salary, interest income, capital gains, and rental income.

: Using these documents, compile a list of all of your sources of income, including your salary, interest income, capital gains, and rental income. Cross-check amounts : Look over the income amounts for each source of income that are stated in each document. Ensure consistency with every record.

: Look over the income amounts for each source of income that are stated in each document. Ensure consistency with every record. Find discrepancies : If you come across any, investigate the primary cause. Inconsistencies may arise due to legitimate reasons (like delayed credit) or they may indicate unreported income.

: If you come across any, investigate the primary cause. Inconsistencies may arise due to legitimate reasons (like delayed credit) or they may indicate unreported income. Clarify discrepancies : To offer clarification during tax filing, collect supporting documentation (such as investment receipts and updated TDS certificates) for any real discrepancies.

: To offer clarification during tax filing, collect supporting documentation (such as investment receipts and updated TDS certificates) for any real discrepancies. Report missing income: To avoid penalties, disclose any unreported income you come across when filling out your tax return. Entering TCS details In India, Tax Collected at Source (TCS) is a crucial component of tax filing. It functions as a mechanism whereby a seller withholds from the buyer, during specific transactions, a predetermined percentage of tax. The vendor then gives the Income Tax Department this amount of tax. Applications for TCS include reservations for foreign travel, automatic purchases, and specific financial transactions.

Your Form 26AS (tax credit statement) and AIS, which are accessible on the Income Tax Department website, provide details about your TCS deductions. You can claim credit for this tax amount when filing your ITR form if you have received TCS deductions. Your total tax liability is decreased as a result of this activity.

It is critical to verify that all TCS deductions made during the year are correctly represented on your Form 26AS and AIS. In the event of any discrepancies, you can contact the seller that deducted the TCS to correct the records. By claiming credit for TCS deductions, you avoid double taxation on the same income, lowering your overall tax bill and potentially qualifying for a refund. The appropriate TCS rate varies according to the kind of transaction, and not all transactions require TCS deductions.

Minimising tax credits while filing ITR Tax credits comprise taxes (such as advance tax, self-assessment tax, TDS, and TCS) that are deducted or paid in advance during the year. You can be sure that you are only paying your net tax liability if you accurately report them in your ITR. A complete record of all tax deductions and payments made by you (advance tax, self-assessment tax) and on your behalf (TCS and TDS) can be found on Form 26AS (tax credit statement) and AIS, which are available online at the Income Tax Department.

Its crucial to accurately provide all relevant information when inputting these tax credits into your ITR form, including:

Account Number for Tax Deduction and Collection ( TAN ): The TDS deductortypically your employeris indicated by this code.

( ): The TDS deductortypically your employeris indicated by this code. Deposit date : The precise day on which the tax money was deposited.

: The precise day on which the tax money was deposited. Challan serial number: A special identification number attached to every challan for tax payment. Before filing your ITR, make sure there are no inconsistencies between the tax credit information provided in Forms 26AS and AIS and your personal records (such as TDS certificates, advance tax challans, and so forth).

Claim past losses Utilising eligible losses presents a valuable avenue for reducing your tax burden in India. Heres a breakdown of the key considerations:

Tax advantage of losses : By reporting business losses, capital losses, and certain other qualifying losses, you can offset your taxable income. This may result in reduced taxes owed or even a tax refund.

: By reporting business losses, capital losses, and certain other qualifying losses, you can offset your taxable income. This may result in reduced taxes owed or even a tax refund. Current and prior year losses : Losses incurred during the current financial year (Assessment Year) can be claimed in your current ITR filing. Additionally, eligible unclaimed losses from previous years can also be utilised in your current ITR.

: Losses incurred during the current financial year (Assessment Year) can be claimed in your current ITR filing. Additionally, eligible unclaimed losses from previous years can also be utilised in your current ITR. Carry forward of unutilized losses: The Income Tax Act permits the carry forward of unclaimed losses for a specified duration (depending on the type of loss). Reporting these unutilized losses in the appropriate section of your ITR form ensures that you retain the opportunity to apply them in subsequent years. Various types of losses come with distinct carry-forward periods. For example, business losses typically have an eight-year carry-forward period, whereas capital losses are subject to specific regulations based on whether they are short-term or long-term. Its important to maintain accurate records of your income and expenses to validate any claimed losses.

Declaring assets created in foreign lands Disclosure of foreign assets and income is imperative for Indian taxpayers who are either residents or ordinarily residents (RORs). To confirm information about offshore investments, the Income Tax Department is increasing transparency and sending notices. Foreign assets owned by ROR taxpayers must be reported on their ITR.

A separate schedule (Schedule FA) for revealing details about foreign assets is included with the ITR form. This covers all bank savings accounts, investments, real estate, and other overseas holdings that are owned at any point during the fiscal year.

Non disclosure of foreign assets may lead to fines and possibly legal action. If information submitted to the Income Tax Department through international agreements differs from your ITR, there may be grounds for investigation and possible tax repercussions.

Submitting the right bank account details Make sure your bank account details are accurate and up to date when completing your ITR form in India to potentially receive a tax refund. You are entitled to a tax refund from the Income Tax Department if, after calculating your taxes and applying deductions and credits, you find that you overpaid. You must include your bank account information on your ITR form to receive your refund electronically. This comprises:

Account number : Provide the specific account number of the bank where you wish to receive the refund.

: Provide the specific account number of the bank where you wish to receive the refund. IFSC Code : Include the Indian Financial System Code (IFSC) of your bank branch. This code facilitates electronic fund transfers.

: Include the Indian Financial System Code (IFSC) of your bank branch. This code facilitates electronic fund transfers. Name of the bank: Mention the name of the bank where your account is held. You must designate an active, verified bank account. Through a verification procedure, the Income Tax Department might pre-validate the details of your bank account. Additionally, confirm the accuracy and completeness of your bank account information thoroughly before filing your ITR. You can pre-validate your bank account via the Income Tax Departments e-filing portal to save processing delays. Make sure that during the processing period, the bank account you designate for the refund is active and valid.

File your ITR before the deadline Filing your ITR form on time is critical to avoid different issues. Heres a summary of the key points you should be aware of.

Financial fines : Failure to fulfil the deadline results in late filing costs and possible fines. The amount fluctuates depending on your income and the length of time you wait to file.

: Failure to fulfil the deadline results in late filing costs and possible fines. The amount fluctuates depending on your income and the length of time you wait to file. Loss of tax benefits : You risk missing out on claiming specific tax breaks, such as the simplified tax regime, or carrying capital losses forward to offset future profits.

: You risk missing out on claiming specific tax breaks, such as the simplified tax regime, or carrying capital losses forward to offset future profits. Delayed refunds: If youre owed a tax refund, filing late can drastically delay receiving it. Prioritising the timely submission of your ITR is strongly suggested to avoid these negative consequences.

Verify your ITR details After filing your ITR, the final step is to verify its legitimacy. This verification must be done within 30 days of submitting, which is a significant change implemented in August 2022. It is critical to be updated about the amended deadline. You have a few convenient verification options:

Aadhaar OTP : If your Aadhaar mobile number is associated with your income tax account, this approach is popular and quick.

: If your Aadhaar mobile number is associated with your income tax account, this approach is popular and quick. Net Banking : Verify your pre-validated bank account through the internet banking platform.

: Verify your pre-validated bank account through the internet banking platform. Physical ITR-V: Although less usual nowadays, you can still send a signed copy of the ITR-V form obtained after filing to the CPC Bangalore office. However, this option is slower and requires physical mailing. Your ITR becomes null and void if you dont authenticate it within 30 days. This could result in difficulties getting tax refunds, potential penalties, and delays in the procedural process. Prompt verification ensures that your ITR is processed effectively and without complications.

While many of you might already be familiar with the basic procedures for filing your ITR form, its crucial to keep all your income-related documents organised for quick access during the filing process. Make sure to thoroughly explore and claim all the tax deductions and exemptions you qualify for to reduce your tax liability. Additionally, settle any outstanding tax dues before submitting your return.
Every year, thousands of Indians venture abroad to pursue their dreams, whether for education or career opportunities, eventually settling in a new country. However, this transition often comes with its own set of financial challenges. Managing finances as a non-resident can be particularly daunting, especially when it comes to investing.

Despite the many good reasons for investing in India, non-resident Indians (NRIs) face numerous hurdles that can dampen their enthusiasm. While mutual funds seem like an effortless option, getting started involves significant hassle and paperwork. Existing NRI investors face the additional challenge of meeting new KYC (know-your-customer) norms, adding another layer of complexity to the process.

These challenges are particularly discouraging for those not physically present in India, as they often require assistance navigating the formalities. However, with proper guidance and perseverance, NRIs can overcome these obstacles and successfully manage their investments.

View Full Image (Graphics: Mint)

Struggling process

One of the major hurdles NRIs face is changing their KYC status from resident to NRI and updating their existing investments and demat accounts.

Veera Nemmadi, a 34-year-old architect based in Singapore, experienced numerous challenges while managing his investments as an NRI. Having a portfolio before moving to Singapore in 2019, he had to convert his resident demat account to NRI. The extensive documentation required by the broker demanded significant time and effort.

Extensive documentation required at Zerodha felt like a never-ending task to me. It involved a significant amount of paperwork and time. But the real challenge came with the need for attestation by a legal or gazetted officer. Getting documents signed at the Indian embassy in Singapore was prohibitively expensive," he says.

The attestation process required for the account conversion process in India also posed a major obstacle, as most local authorities were unaware of the process. I had to plan my attestations for when I visited India. However, finding lawyers in tier 3 cities who were familiar with this process was tough. Fortunately, my cousin, who works at the district court, came to my rescue and helped me with the attestation. Without his help, I might still be struggling with this step," he adds.

Even after the demat account conversion from resident to NRI was completed, Veera had to manually adjust or frequently follow up with the broker to get accurate transaction prices, which took almost three months.

And This | Mutual fund investments: How NRIs can save on taxes

Akarsh Aggarwal, a software engineer based in Singapore, faced similar issues. It took several months to convert his demat account from resident to NRI. It has been a painful journey. It took me almost nine months after trying to reach out to Zerodha. I did not face any issues with documentation, but the lack of support from customer service made it difficult," says Aggarwal.

"Instructions arent clear while the customer service team asks you to send the documents. Once you send them, something would be missing again. It's expensive to send the documents to India, and it's painful to deal with them. They lack process understanding. If there are better returns elsewhere apart from Indian markets, I wouldnt prefer investing in India at all, because of the complicated process," he adds.

Seeking advice and tax implications

Apart from process challenges, NRIs often struggle to find the right investment advice for their goals. Financial and tax planning in two countries can be complex, with different regulations and compliance requirements. Many advisors lack expertise in cross-border investing, leading to poor investment strategies. This makes it hard for NRIs to get personalized, effective advice.

More Here: Tax mistakes NRIs are making when selling property in India

Palak Chauhan and her husband relocated to the US in 2014, facing unique challenges in managing their finances as NRIs. Navigating the Indian financial market from abroad proved difficult due to their limited knowledge and the complexities of tax implications.

Initially, we relied on family advice to manage our investments in India. We did invest in mutual funds, real estate, and provident funds (PFs). However, as our investments grew in the US, we desired greater control and wanted to diversify our portfolio across both countries," says Chauhan.

After struggling with investments for a few years, they finally sought guidance from an adviser. After trying to figure things out on our own for a few years, which we regret since we lost out on crucial compounding years, we finally sought guidance from Vaibhav Tandon of Enriching Wealth Solutions. He helped us develop a customized mutual fund portfolio aligned with our risk tolerance, time horizon, and goals, ensuring compliance with NRI guidelines," she says.

The complexities of tax implications in both countries posed another challenge. The dual tax implications of US and Indian laws on our mutual funds added complexity. Filing FBAR and FATCA forms, along with estimating quarterly US taxes based on portfolio performance, required meticulous monitoring and a reliable tax partner. Finding competent professionals in India who understood our situation as NRIs proved to be a lengthy and difficult process," she adds.

After a dedicated search, they finally found a tax professional who helped streamline their tax filing process.

Finding the right adviser helps

As NRIs, investing in India can be challenging due to the complex financial landscape and regulations, but finding a reliable adviser can make a big difference.

Akash and Vrushali, who have been working in Tanzania for the past three years, managed to save a significant amount and now have a monthly surplus they want to invest in India. Unsure of how to proceed, they reached out to Dipen Shah, founder of NRI FinOne, and a close friend of Akash.

Apart from investment advice, Shah guided them through the entire process online, from changing their status in PAN, opening NRE (Non-Resident External) and NRO (Non-Resident Ordinary) accounts, to completing central KYC (CKYC) for investment purposes, all without them needing to visit India.

At NRI FinOne, we make it easier for NRIs to manage their investments in India. From guiding clients through the entire process, from updating their PAN status to opening NRE and NRO accounts, we handle CKYC for investment purposes, all online, so there's no need to visit India," says Shah.

Dos and Don'ts

When investing in India, NRIs should follow some essential do's and don'ts.

Keep your KYC details updated, including your PAN status and bank accounts. Use NRE or NRO accounts for investments to comply with Indian regulations.

Diversify your portfolio by exploring options like mutual funds, index funds, and strategic ETFs.

Don't overlook tax implications in both India and your country of residence; ensure you file necessary documents like FBAR and FATCA.

Avoid investing without thorough research or professional advice. Consulting a trusted financial advisor can help you navigate complexities and make informed decisions.

Also Read: Why NRIs should secure their lives with Indian insurance
Baroda BNP Paribas Mutual Fund announced the launch of the Baroda BNP Paribas Manufacturing Fund, an open-ended equity scheme following a manufacturing theme.

The scheme opened for public subscription on June 10, 2024, and will close on June 24, 2024. The scheme re-opens for continuous sale and repurchase within five business days from the date of allotment.

What kind of mutual fund scheme is this? This is an open-ended sectoral/thematic equity scheme following a manufacturing theme.

Commenting on the NFO launch, Suresh Soni, CEO, Baroda BNP Paribas Mutual Fund, said, We are thrilled to launch the Baroda BNP Paribas Manufacturing Fund. The scheme offers a compelling investment opportunity as the manufacturing sector is poised for multi-decade growth fuelled by growing consumption, investments, exports, changing geopolitical dynamics, and favourable government policy.



Also Read: Mutual Funds: Should you invest in NFO? Here is a framework that will help you decide

What is the main objective of investing in this fund? The scheme shall seek to generate long-term capital appreciation by investing predominantly in equity and equity-related securities of companies engaged in the manufacturing theme.

How may one invest in this scheme? Investors can invest under the scheme with a minimum investment of 1000 per plan/option and in multiples of Re 1. There is no upper limit for investment.

Under normal circumstances, the asset allocation of the scheme will be as follows:

Instruments Indicative allocations (% of total assets) Minimum Maximum Equity and Equity-related securities of companies engaged in manufacturing theme 80% 100% Other Equity and equity-related instruments of companies other than having the manufacturing theme 0% 20% Debt and Money Market Instruments 0% 20% Units of Mutual Funds (Domestic Schemes) 0% 10% Units issued by REITs & InvITs 0% 10%

Are there similar mutual funds in the market? To date, many asset management companies (AMCs) have launched such manufacturing mutual funds, thus, allowing inclined investors to avail of returns corresponding to the total returns of the securities in this particular index. These include:

Mutual Fund House Name of the Fund 5-year returns (in %) Navi Mutual Fund Navi Nifty India Manufacturing Index Fund - Kotak Mahindra Mutual Fund Kotak Manufacture in India Fund - Bank of India Mutual Fund Bank of India Manufacturing & Infrastructure Fund 29.38 ICICI Prudential Mutual Fund ICICI Prudential Manufacturing Fund 27.83 Quant Mutual Fund Quant Manufacturing Fund - Axis Mutual Fund Axis India Manufacturing Fund - Aditya Birla Mutual Fund Aditya Birla Sun Life Manufacturing Equity Fund 19.83 Mahindra Manulife Mutual Fund Mahindra Manulife Manufacturing Fund - HDFC Mutual Fund HDFC Manufacturing Fund - Canara Robeco Mutual Fund Canara Robeco Manufacturing Fund - Source: AMFI (As of June 11, 2024)

How will the scheme benchmark its performance? The performance of the scheme will be benchmarked to the performance of Nifty India Manufacturing TRI.

Nifty India Manufacturing TRI refers to the Nifty India Manufacturing Total Returns Index, which monitors the progress of stocks reflecting India's manufacturing sectors, incorporating reinvested dividends for a comprehensive evaluation of performance.

The Nifty India Manufacturing TRI shares similarities with the Nifty India Manufacturing Index, yet it additionally considers dividends disbursed by the constituent companies. Consequently, the TRI typically yields higher returns compared to the standard index.

Are there any entry or exit loads to this scheme? This scheme involves no Entry Load, which means that investors do not have to pay anything to park their earnings in this scheme. The Exit Load would also be calculated as under:

If units of the scheme are redeemed or switched out up to 10% of the units within 1 year from the date of allotment - Nil.

If units of the scheme are redeemed or switched out over and above the limit within 1 year from the date of allotment - 1% of the applicable NAV.

If units of the scheme are redeemed or switched out after 1 year from the date of allotment - Nil. Who will manage this scheme? Jitendra Sriram shall be the designated fund manager for the scheme.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will depart for Italy on Thursday to participate in the 50th G7 Summit, which is scheduled to be held on June 13 and 14. This will be his first trip abroad after assuming the prime ministers office for the third straight term.

Prime Minister Modi is visiting the G7 Outreach Summit in Puglia at the invitation of Italys Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni (who is chairing the G7 this year). He is also expected to hold a bilateral meeting with his Italian counterpart.

It is important to know that 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.

Also Read | Kuwait building fire: Authorities alerted 1.5 hours after blaze broke out; Deputy PM blames greed of real estate owner Foreign Secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra said, "At the invitation of the Prime Minister of Italy, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be travelling to Apulia, Italy, tomorrow to participate in the 50th G7 Summit, which is to be held there on June 14, to which India has been invited as an Outreach Country."

"...This will be the prime minister's first overseas travel after assuming office in his third consecutive term. It will also afford him an opportunity to engage with other world leaders present at the G7 Summit on issues of importance to India as also to the Global South," Kwatra added.

Also Read | Rahul Gandhi to relinquish Wayanad seat? Kerala Congress chief says, can't expect him to This will be India's eleventh participation in the G7 summit and PM Modi's fifth consecutive participation in the G7 summit.

Kwatra said PM Modi's participation in the G7 Summit would provide an opportunity to follow up on the outcomes of the G20 Summit held under India's presidency last year.

"Prime Minister's participation in the G7 Summit would also provide a timely opportunity to follow up on outcomes of the G20 Summit held under India's presidency last year and deliberate on issues which are significant for the Global South."

Also Read | Jammu and Kashmir: Major terror attack foiled in Kathua as terrorists stopped to ask for water Prime Minister 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, PTI reported, citing sources.

Kwatra said the focus of the summit will be on Artificial intelligence (AI), energy, Africa and the Mediterranean, which will be a block agenda item where the G7 and the outreach countries will share their views and perspectives.

Also Read | Odisha CM Oath Ceremony LIVE: Mohan Majhi sworn-in as Chief Minister "The G7 points to increasing recognition and contribution of the efforts that India has been consistently making including those of peace, security, development and environment preservation," he added.

"PM's participation in the G7 summit would also provide a timely opportunity to follow up outcomes of the G20 Summit held under India's presidency last year and deliberate on issues focused on the global south," he said.

PM Modi will also hold bilateral meetings with the G7 leaders on the sidelines of the Summit.
Congress leader Vivek Tankha lashed out at the Narendra Modi government on Wednesday amid a surge in terrorist activity. The politician insisted that the abrogation of Article 370 would not change Kashmir and stressed the need to address basic issues. The remarks came mere hours after a CRPF jawan was killed and six security personnel were injured in two overnight encounters with terrorists in Kathua and Doda districts.

As far as terrorism is concerned, we all are one. Everyone is together in all the efforts taken against the terrorism by government. But, I have been saying this to Amit (Shah) and PM Modi that (Article) 370 is not Kashmir. They have abrogated Article 370 due to which Kashmiri Pandits and others are happy. However, the fact is that Kashmir will not change by this. Kashmir will improve when its basic issues are addressed with its stakeholders, he told PTI.

We are very concerned about the series of terrorist attacks happening in Jammu. What are the security agencies and the government doing in the state? The government made a lot of noise in Parliament that it has improved the situation in J&K by removing Article 370 and making it a Union territory. They also sought votes in the parliamentary election on this said J&K Pradesh Congress Committee president Vikar Rasool Wani.

ALSO READ: Kathua terror attack: J&K Police recover Pakistan-made chocolates, arms and ammunition from slain militants Terrorists engaged in a confrontation with security forces in the Gandoh area of Doda on Wednesday evening, marking the fourth such incident in the last three days. The Valley has seen a string of clashes over the past few days, leading to the death of several civilians and security personnel.

Earlier on Tuesday, a CRPF jawan was killed and six security personnel were injured during two overnight encounters with terrorists in the Kathua and Doda districts. Another nine people were killed and 42 others injured in Reasi after a bus carrying pilgrims from the Shiv Khori shrine was attacked on Sunday.
Kannada actor Darshan Thoogudeepa hatched a plan to punish Renukaswamy for allegedly making derogatory comments against his friend and co-star Pavithra Gowda on social media.
The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) on Wednesday said the national capital is likely to receive monsoon showers until the end of this month. The maximum temperature in the city settled at 44.7 degrees Celsius today, five notches above the normal average.

The Safdarjung observatory recorded the minimum temperature of 29 degrees Celsius in the morning, while the Najafgarh weather station recorded the highest temperature in the city at 47.7 degrees Celsius.

The Safdarjung observatory, considered the official marker of the city, noted a high of 44.7 degrees Celsius, five notches above the normal average. Delhi's other weather stations, such as Narela, recorded a high of 47.5 degrees Celsius while Aya Nagar recorded 45.9 degrees C, Ridge 46.4 degrees C and Palam 45.5 degrees C, the IMD weather bulletin said.

Also Read | Kuwait Building Fire Live Updates: 41 Indians, including 11 from Kerala, died in fire; PM Modi to chair meeting soon The national capital is reeling under heatwave as maximum temperature for the last 15 days has stayed above 40 degrees Celsius.

According to the IMD bulletin, the relative humidity oscillated between 18 per cent and 58 per cent.

Also Read | Modi 3.0 to change foreign policy? Opposition bats for talks with Pakistan The weather department forecasted a partly cloudy sky accompanied by strong surface winds and a heatwave at most places on Thursday and maximum and minimum temperatures are likely to hover around 45 and 30 degrees Celsius, respectively.

Monsoon Forecasting a sluggish southwest monsoon, the IMD said the Bay of Bengal arm of the monsoon is weak and is awaiting a fresh pulse to march across central and northern India. The IMD said monsoon could cover Odisha, coastal Andhra Pradesh and north-west Bay of Bengal for three to four days.

Monsoon watchers said the low-level warm winds from the northwest were dominating the weak monsoon pulse over the Bay of Bengal and prolonging the hot weather conditions in parts of central and northern India.

Also Read | US Fed Meeting Outcome LIVE Updates: May CPI drop boosts Sept rate cut hopes Former Earth Sciences secretary Madhavan Rajeevan said after normal progress, the monsoon is going into a hiatus mode.

"Not much progress is expected in the next 8-10 days, thus delaying onset over north India. This causes extreme temperatures & heat waves over north India, including Delhi, UP and Bihar," Rajeevan said on X.
A major terror attack was foiled during the early hours of Wednesday after the gunmen stopped to ask villagers for water. The incident took place in the Kathua district of Jammu and Kashmir with a CRPF soldier losing his life during the ensuing operation. Six security personnel were also injured during two separate overnight encounters with terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir.

They asked for water from a few houses to which villagers grew suspicious and slammed the doors on them and a few raised hue and cry. The terrorists panicked and fired randomly in the air and also at one odd villager who was passing by, Hindustan Times quoted a senior official as saying in a statement.

One of the terrorists had tried to throw a grenade upon seeing the police arrive and was killed instantly. A second terrorist managed to escape and later killed a CRPF jawan while trying to break the security cordon set up by the police. The miscreant was eventually killed during the search operation. Eyewitnesses suggest that the attack could have led to mass civilian casualties if the terrorists had gone undetected.

ALSO READ: Jammu and Kashmir police warns of increased terrorist presence after series of attacks: Newly infiltrated group has... A tragedy was averted because I raised an alarm about terrorists in the village. Many children were playing, and people were out walking. They could have easily killed 15 to 20 people, mostly children. People were heading to Satsang in the evening. It could have been catastrophic, eyewitness Surinder told PTI.

The villager said that he had encountered the armed men (who asked for water) while returning to his hamlet around 7:30 pm. Suspicious of their behavior, he had immediately warned the other villagers and sought help.

I was on my bike when a child informed me about two armed youths in the village. I saw them dressed in black with AK rifles, calling me to approach them. I suspected they were terrorists and warned the villagers, leading them to rush home. Shops closed and vehicles stopped, Surinder recounted.
A suspected Pakistani terrorist was killed by security forces on Tuesday evening after militants attacked a village near the International Border (IB) in Jammu and Kashmir's Kathua district, injuring a civilian, said police. The incident took place at around 8 pm in Saida Sukhal village yesterday.

In a separate incident, another gunfight took place between security forces and terrorists in the higher reaches of Doda district, said Additional Director General of Police, Jammu zone, Anand Jain, who reached Kathua to supervise the anti-terrorist operation. However, there was no immediate report of any casualty.

Notably, this is the third terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir after the Reasi incident that killed ten pilgrims and injured others after the bus plunged into a gorge when terrorists started firing towards the vehicle which was on its way from the Shiv Khori temple to Katra.

Kathua terrorist attack Speaking about the Kathua operation, Jain said two terrorists who appeared to be freshly infiltrated surfaced in Saida Sukhal village around 8 pm. They (terrorists) asked for water from a household. People got scared, and a police team immediately rushed to the spot with a sub-divisional police officer and a Station House officer, he informed.

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 operation in the village near Koota Mode in the Hiranagar sector, over 60 km from here, was underway, the ADGP said as quoted by PTI.

Following the encounter, police recovered an AK assault rifle and a rucksack from the possession of the slain terrorist, whose identity and group affiliation were being ascertained.

A civilian named Omkar Nath, also known as "Bitu," sustained severe injuries to his arm during the terrorist attack and was subsequently transported to a hospital for treatment, police added.
The Jammu and Kashmir police issued a warning on Wednesday, June 12, about the heightened presence of terrorists in the region, following three recent terror attacks within the span of three days. Police also hinted at the possibility of a "newly infiltrated group" operating in the region.

Speaking to the media on the Hiranagar-Kathua attack, ADGP Jammu Anand Jain said, "This is a newly infiltrated group which has come to this area. There is a possibility of more terrorists also."

Earlier today, an official said the security forces killed a terrorist holed up in a border village in Kathua district on Wednesday in a more than 15-hour operation. The terrorist's partner was also shot dead during the operation, and a CRPF personnel was also killed.

In Doda district, five Rashtriya Rifles troopers and a special police officer (SPO) were injured when terrorists attacked a joint checkpost in the upper reaches of Chattergalla on the Bhaderwah-Pathankot road late on Tuesday night.

These two terror incidents come just 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 people and injuries to 41 others.

Jammu and Kashmir police have announced a 20 lakh reward for information about the whereabouts of the terrorists involved in the attack on the bus and released the sketch of one of the terrorists.

Authorities have alleged that Pakistan's efforts to disrupt the tranquil environment in Jammu and Kashmir are behind the recent increase in terrorist activities in the Jammu region.

Without naming Pakistan, Anand Jain said the "hostile" neighbour is always making attempts to disrupt peace in the Jammu region.
Kuwait Fire News: At least 41 people have been killed and 50 injured in a building fire in Mangaf in Kuwait early on Wednesday, state-run Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) reported. Five Malayalis are among the 10 Indians killed.

The blaze started early Wednesday morning and quickly spread through the building, trapping many inside. It was reported to authorities at 6:00 am local time (0300 GMT).

Kuwaiti Deputy Prime Minister Sheikh Fahad Yusuf Saud Al-Sabah said that 41 people were killed in the incident, reported Reuters.

Also Read | Congress slams PM Modi, Amit Shah amid surging terror attacks: Abrogation of Article 370 will not change Kashmir Meanwhile, Onmanorama, a daily online news portal, claimed that 10 Indians were among those killed in the fire. The building reportedly housed around 195 labourers, including workers from Kerala and Tamil Nadu.

The report claimed that among the casualties were two Keralites, one from Tamil Nadu and one from Uttar Pradesh. Among the 12 placed under intensive care, five are from Kerala.

Also Read | Rahul Gandhi says he 'doesn't get instructions from God', mocks PM Modi: 'His strange Parmatma...' According to Onmanorama, the building belongs to the NBTC group owned by Malayali businessman KG Abraham.

Indians constitute 21 percent (1 million) of Kuwait's total population and 30 percent (approximately 9 lakhs) of its workforce.

Taking to microblogging platform X (formerly known as Twitter), Prime Minister Modi said, The fire mishap in Kuwait City is saddening. My thoughts are with all those who have lost their near and dear ones. I pray that the injured recover at the earliest. The Indian Embassy in Kuwait is closely monitoring the situation and working with the authorities there to assist the affected.

Expressing deep condolences to the families of those who tragically lost their lives, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar wished early and full recovery to those injured. Jaishankar said the Indian ambassador had gone to the camp and would render the fullest assistance to all concerned.

Also Read | Odisha CM Oath Ceremony LIVE: PM Modi arrives in Bhubaneshwar Deeply shocked by the news of the fire incident in Kuwait City. There are reportedly over 40 deaths, and over 50 have been hospitalised. Our Ambassador has gone to the camp. We are awaiting further information, Jaishankar said

Deepest condolences to the families of those who tragically lost their lives. Wish early and full recovery to those who have been injured. Our Embassy will render the fullest assistance to all concerned in this regard, Jaishankar added.

Meanwhile, the Indian Embassy in Kuwait said that Indian Ambassador Adarsh Swaika had visited the tragic fire accident site in Mangaf to ascertain the situation. The embassy is in constant touch with relevant Kuwaiti law enforcement, fire service, and health authorities for necessary action and emergency medical care.
Lt. Gen. Upendra Dwivedi has been appointed the next Chief of the Army Staff, succeeding incumbent General Manoj Pande, the government announced Tuesday night. Currently, Dwivedi is serving as the Vice Chief of the Army Staff.

The new Army chief will take charge on June 30, the day General Pande retires. Last month, the government extended General Pande's tenure by one month, six days before his superannuation on May 31. This triggered speculations that Lt. Gen. Dwivedi may be overlooked for the top post.

In an official statement, the defence ministry said, The government has appointed Lt. Gen. Upendra Dwivedi, presently serving as Vice Chief of the Army Staff, as the next Chief of the Army Staff with effect from the afternoon of June 30.

Who is the new Indian Army chief? 1) Lt. Gen. Dwivedi has vast operational experience along the frontiers with China and Pakistan. Before taking over as Vice Chief of Army Staff on February 19, he served as the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of Northern Command from 2022-2024.

2) Born on July 1, 1964, he attended Sainik School in Rewa and was commissioned into the 18 Jammu and Kashmir Rifles regiment of the Indian Army on December 15, 1984. He eventually went on to command the unit, PTI reported.

3) Throughout his nearly 40-year career, he has held numerous command, staff, instructional, and international positions.

4) Lt. Gen. Dwivedi's command roles include leading the 18 Jammu and Kashmir Rifles regiment, the 26 Sector Assam Rifles Brigade, serving as Inspector General of Assam Rifles (East), and commanding the 9 Corps.

5) As Lieutenant General, he has held significant roles, such as Director General Infantry. He has been honoured with the Param Vishisht Seva Medal, the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal, and three GOC-in-C Commendation Cards.

6) As Northern Army Commander, Lt Gen Dwivedi offered strategic direction and operational supervision for planning and conducting ongoing operations along the northern and western borders, in addition to coordinating dynamic counter-terrorism efforts in Jammu and Kashmir, officials said.

7) He is actively involved in the ongoing negotiations with China to resolve the vexed border issue during this period.

8) He was also involved in modernisation and equipping of the largest Army command of the Indian Army, where he steered the induction of indigenous equipment as part of Atmanirbhar Bharat.

9) An alumnus of National Defence College and US Army War College, Lt. Gen. Upendra Dwivedi has also undergone courses at the Defence Services Staff College, Wellington, and Army War College, Mhow.

10) The officer has an M Phil in defence and management studies and has Masters degrees in Strategic Studies and Military Science.
The suspense over portfolio allocation finally ended after an 18-hour wait for 30 cabinet ministers in the Narendra Modi government. The ministers and their teams remained glued to television screens and websites, eagerly awaiting the announcement from Rashtrapati Bhavan.

However, the wait finally ended when they arrived at Lok Kalyan Marg for the new government's inaugural Cabinet meeting. Sources told The Times Of India that each minister found an envelope waiting for them on their seats, inside of which were their assigned portfolios along with the names of the ministers of state assigned to their ministries.

The report said that the wait was longer this time than during Narendra Modi's previous two terms when the President's secretariat released the communique by afternoon.

Unlike in 2014, when many portfolios were leaked on the day of the swearing-in, this time the details were kept under wraps until the Cabinet meeting concluded. Consequently, the names of the appointed ministers began appearing on TV screens and websites only after 6:30 pm, following the end of the Cabinet meeting.

Government observers said this was perhaps the first time ministers were informed of their portfolios through written notes placed inside envelopes.

The report added that the complete list of portfolios was made public around 7:30 pm, when ministers of state, including those with independent charge, also learned about their assigned ministries.

On Sunday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi took oath for a third straight term as the Prime Minister of India along with 71 ministerial colleagues. The next day, he allocated the much-awaited portfolios to the Union ministers.
Opposition leaders have called for a change in foreign policy amid a spate of terror attacks in Jammu and Kashmir. Several prominent leaders called for dialogue with Pakistan while others lambasted the BJP-led Narendra Modi government for failing to solve the issue by abrogating Article 370. Numerous civilians as well as security personnel have been killed since Sunday as terrorists launched multiple attacks across the Valley.

Despite changing the special status of Jammu and Kashmir, the central government has not been able to decrease the terror activities. Even, Chinese activities are also increasing. I think the centre should rethink and discuss its foreign policies with its allies, said AAP leader Saurabh Bharadwaj.

"I have always said that terrorism is not going to end unless there is an understanding between the two nations (India and Pakistan). Terrorism will continue and we will have to face it. The tragedy is that innocent people are getting killed... and that is unfortunate," added National Conference president Farooq Abdullah.

He also opined that the government in Pakistan wanted to have a peaceful atmosphere with India. The former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister insisted that the problems between the two countries would not be solved by military action.

"The terrorists are coming through borders, and they will continue coming. Whichever government will be there tomorrow, will have to face the same thing... We need to come out of these situations... We have a major Yatra coming (Amarnath Yatra). Any small incident that might take place in that will be blown up in the rest of the country. We Kashmiris are not responsible for these thingsLet's open the door to them. And let us revive SAARC. SAARC was made for the good of this entire area," he said during an interview with ANI.

Meanwhile Uttar Pradesh Congress President Ajay Rai demanded strict action against those involved in the terror attacks.

When 370 was abrogated, they said that now everything will end... I consider that all these things done by the BJP are a show-off. Action should be taken against those who are involved in this cowardly act (terror attack), he told ANI.

ALSO READ: Kathua terror attack: J&K Police recover Pakistan-made chocolates, arms and ammunition from slain militants Terrorists clashed with security forces in the Gandoh area of Doda on Wednesday evening  the fourth such incident in the past three days. The encounter is the latest in a series of clashes that have left several security personnel as well as civilians dead. A CRPF jawan was killed and six security personnel were injured in two overnight encounters with terrorists in Kathua and Doda districts on Tuesday. Another nine were killed (and 42 others injured) in Reasi after a a bus carrying pilgrims from the Shiv Khori shrine was attacked on Sunday.

Police in the northern UT have also reportedly laid the blame with Pakistan, insisting that India's hostile neighbour wanted to damage the peaceful environment. Ties between the two countries have become increasingly strained since New Delhi ended the special status of Jammu and Kashmir state in 2019.

BJP leaders however spoke out vehemently against dialogue with Pakistan on Wednesday. Jammu and Kashmir BJP president Ravinder Raina insisted that the ruling party would respond to Pakistan in the same language that it understood.

Abdullah should stop advocating for Pakistan which had bled Jammu and Kashmir and brought destruction to the region by training, arming and pushing terrorists into this side to kill innocent citizens. Instead of condemning Pakistan, showing it the mirror and exposing its black face to the world, he is advocating dialogue which is highly regrettable, he asserted.
BJP Thrissur MP Suresh Gopi, who took charge as Minister of State (MoS) in the Ministry of Tourism, on Wednesday asserted that films are definitely one of his top priorities, and he believes he will be given the space to pursue his passion.

Films are one of my priorities. I think I will be given this space. I told them. My Prime Minister and the Home Minister will find a method by which I will not ditch my passion, Gopi told ANI.

His remarks came amid speculations claiming the actor-turned-politician wants to quit from the Council of Ministers as he wants to do films.

He clarified his commitment to his ministerial duties, emphasising his dedication to understanding and promoting state tourism and the countrys tourism industry.

The BJP's first MP from Kerala clarified his commitment to his ministerial duties emphasising his dedication to understanding and working for the state and country's tourism.

I have to be made knowledgeable about the capacity of my chair, the areas which are available for me to penetrate and then set a platter for which I have to study the ministry and the terrain of the whole country, he said.

'Suresh Gopi wants to quit' claim On Monday, the Kerala unit of the Congress took a jibe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi by claiming that Suresh Gopi wants to quit because he wants to do films!" just hours after taking oath as the Minister of State.

@BJP4India @narendramodi, why this mockery of voters? Why don't you tell your MP to first decide what he wants to do in life, and most importantly, stop this show in front of the media after taking oath in the name of God and the constitution," the post read.

However, the BJP MP refuted the claim and said, I have already accepted the ministerial position, and I have been sworn in.

Suresh Gopi, an actor and a BJP MP from Thrissur, is the first and only BJP MP from Kerala. He won the Thrissur seat in the recently concluded Lok Sabha Elections 2024.

Among the 72 Ministers who were sworn in on Sunday, Gopi was included in Prime Minister Modi's government and took the oath as a Minister of State at Rashtrapati Bhavan.
Bharatiya Janata Party leader Suvendu Adhikari on April 27 demanded that the Trinamool Congress (TMC), led by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, be declared a terrorist organisation. The demand comes a day after Central Bureau of Investigation said that it has recovered arms and ammunition during a raid at two premises of an alleged associate of Sandeshkhali accused Shahjahan Sheikh.

All the weapons found in Sandeshkhali are foreign. Explosives like RDX are used in horrific anti-national activities. All these weapons are used by international terrorists, Adhikari, leader of opposition in West Bengal Assembly told news agency ANI.

I demand to declare Trinamool Congress as a terrorist organisation, he added.

Further elaborating on the implications of the weapons' discovery, Adhikari remarked, People who watched the trailer on the incident in Khadikul, Egra, today watched the movie amid the recovery of RDX and deadly weapons in Sandeshkhali.

The TMC has filed a complaint with Election Commission of India against the CBI over Friday's raid. In the complaint, the TMC accused the Bharatiya Janata Party government at the centre of conspiring with CBI and National Security Guard (NSG).

The recovery included three foreign-made revolvers, one foreign-made pistol, and a significant amount of ammunition. Several documents related to now-suspended TMC leader Shahjahan Sheikh were also seized during the operation, which was supported by NSG (National Security Guard), central paramilitary forces, and West Bengal Police.

Visuals from Sarberia in Sandeshkhali as NSG (National Security Guard) operation ended. The NSG team moved from the village with the CBI team, as shared by ANI.

The crackdown, which concluded on Friday, began after the CBI filed three FIRs following the January attack. Adhikari held Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee directly responsible for the incident, demanding her arrest and the branding of her party as a terrorist organization.
The Supreme Court of India on Wednesday came down heavily on the Delhi government for the prevalence of tanker mafia and for water wastage in the city. The court asked, What measures have you taken against them?

A bench of Justices Prashant Kumar Mishra and Prasanna B Varale told the AAP government that the court would ask the Delhi Police to take action in this matter if it can't deal with the tanker mafia, PTI reported.

The court further asked, Water is coming from Himachal Pradesh, then where is the water going in Delhi? Why were false statements made before this court?

There is so much spillage, tanker mafias etcwhat measures have you taken in this regard. People are suffering, we are seeing visuals on every news channel. What measures have you taken to control water wastage if water scarcity is a recurring problem in summers, the bench asked.

Advocate Shadan Farsat, who appeared for the Delhi government, said action is being taken to stop excess water wastage, including massive disconnection of water supplies.

The Court then asked the government to file a report stating the action taken for the loss of water. The matter will be taken up on Thursday.

The top court is hearing a plea filed by the Delhi government seeking a direction to Haryana to release the surplus water provided by Himachal Pradesh to the national capital to mitigate its water crisis.

Delhiites have grappled with severe water shortages amid a sweltering heatwave over the past few days.

On June 6, the apex court's order decreed the Himachal Pradesh government to release 137 cusecs of surplus water to Delhi with prior intimation to Haryana. It further directed the Upper Yamuna River Board (UYRB) to measure water released by Himachal Pradesh at Hathnikund in Haryana.
Police filed a chargesheet Tuesday in a Hyderabad court against six individuals, including high-ranking police officers, in the Telangana phone tapping case. Over 1,200 phones were tapped, and the accused attempted to destroy evidence, the police said in its chargesheet.

However, the chargesheet does not include any leaders from the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS), which was the ruling party in Telangana at the time, NDTV reported.

The chargesheet was filed against six individuals, including a suspended DSP from the Special Intelligence Bureau (SIB), two Additional Superintendents of Police, and a former Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP).

The chargesheet, filed under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), PDPP Act, and IT Act-2000, also names former SIB chief T Prabhakar Rao and another individual currently absconding.

The officers were arrested by Hyderabad Police on March 13 for allegedly deleting intelligence data from various electronic devices and engaging in phone tapping during the previous BRS administration, PTI reported.

The arrested individuals, along with others, have been accused of unlawfully developing profiles of multiple people and secretly monitoring them within the SIB. They allegedly used this information to benefit a political party at the request of certain individuals and conspired to destroy records to eliminate evidence of their crimes, police said.

Previously, police stated that several main suspects were on the run, and efforts were underway to determine their locations and the circumstances of their disappearance. A Look Out Circular (LOC) was also issued for former SIB chief T Prabhakar Rao.

On March 10, a case was registered at Punjagutta police station in Hyderabad against suspended DSP D Praneeth Kumar, also known as Praneeth Rao and others. The charges included criminal breach of trust by a public servant, causing disappearance of evidence, criminal conspiracy, and violations under various sections of the IPC, PDPP Act, and IT Act-2000.

Police said they were charged with destroying SIB computer systems and official data obtained illegally in collusion with others for wrongful gain. They also added that they were accused of developing profiles of some persons and monitoring them, as per PTI reports.

Former Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao allegedly aimed to leverage the BRS MLAs poaching case to compel the BJP into a compromise, seeking to quash the ED case against his daughter, MLC K Kavitha. This information came from the purported confession of a former DCP, one of the arrested suspects in the phone-tapping case.

In an indirect reference to BRS chief and former CM KCR, former Task Force OSD, N Radhakishan Rao had said peddayana wanted the arrest of BJP National General Secretary, Organisation, B L Santhosh in connection with the case of alleged attempt to poach his party MLAs.

According to Radhakishan Rao, then SIB chief Prabhakar Rao formed a special team led by Praneeth Kumar to surveil members of opposition parties and other groups that posed political challenges to KCR and the BRS.

He stated that Prabhakar Rao instructed him to collaborate with Praneeth Kumar on obtaining confidential political information, such as seizing funds from opposition parties, assisting in the transportation of money for the BRS through its main fund organisers, and undertaking any other special tasks that would benefit the BRS and KCR.
Two Indian nationals recruited by the Russian Army have been killed in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, according to the Ministry of External Affairs. The MEA has also demanded a verified stop from Russia to recruitment of Indians in its Army.

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, the MEA said in an official release on June 11.

The Indian Embassy in Moscow is working to repatriate the mortal remains of the deceased as soon as possible, ANI reported.

According to a report by the Times of India, three Indians have been killed fighting in Ukraine. They were identified as 30-year-old Tejpal Singh from Amritsar, 23-year-old Hemil Ashvinbhai Mangukiya from Surat, and 31-year-old Mohammad Asfan from Hyderabad.

MEA Urges Caution, Demands Russia Stops Recruitment of Indians in Army The MEA has addressed the issue of Indian nationals with the Russian Army and is advocating for their early release and return.

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 statement added.

The ministry also urged caution for Indian nationals seeking employment in Russia. 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 said.

In March, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal mentioned that India is in constant communication with Russian authorities to secure the release of Indian nationals in the Russian Army, according to an ANI report.

Regarding Russia, as I told you earlier also, we are constantly in touch with Russian authorities. We have taken it up strongly for them to have our nationals released and discharged as early as possible, Jaiswal stated.

Human Trafficking Network Busted Recently, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) uncovered a major human trafficking network targeting Indian nationals with promises of lucrative jobs abroad but allegedly sending them to the Russia-Ukraine war zone, ANI report added.

The CBI conducted searches at around 13 locations including Delhi, Trivandrum, Mumbai, Ambala, Chandigarh, Madurai, and Chennai.

The agency stated that these traffickers operated as an organised network, luring Indian nationals through social media channels like YouTube and local contacts/agents for highly paid jobs in Russia.
An IAF chopper on Saturday collected water from Bhimtal Lake to douse forest fires in Uttarakhand.

ANI news agency shared a video showing an Indian Air Force Mi-17 helicopter taking water from Bhimtal as several hectares of forest in the Uttarakhand region has been gripped in the fire.

The Uttarakhand government has roped in the Indian Army and IAF in controlling the fire in Nainital and other nearby regions.

On IAF chopper dousing the forest fires, Nainital Municipal Corporation Executive Officer Rahul Anand said, "Fire is reported in Nainital in many places, including very close to the Air Force Station in the district. The main purpose of bringing in helicopters to douse the fire was to keep the Air Force Station safe... The situation is under control now. Efforts are continuing."

The district administration has banned boating in Naini Lake because of the blaze.

Meanwhile, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has acknowledged the severity and said he would be holding a meeting with the stakeholders in Haldwani on Saturday.

"The forest fires are a challenge for us. This is a big fire. We are working for all the essential needs. We have asked for help from the Army... I am going to conduct a meeting in Haldwani today. We have conducted a meeting in Dehradun also regarding this. We will try to control the fire as soon as possible," Dhami said.

Yesterday, forest fires became more severe with the flames reaching the High Court Colony in Nainital.

According to the daily bulletin issued by the Forest Department here, 26 incidents of forest fire occurred in the state's Kumaon region in the last 24 hours, while five incidents occurred in Garhwal region, where 33.34 hectares of forest area was affected.

Nainital Divisional Forest Officer Chandrashekhar Joshi said, "We have deployed 40 Manora Range personnel and two forest rangers to extinguish the fire."

From November 1 last year till now, a total of 575 incidents of forest fire have been reported in the state, affecting 689.89 hectares of forest area and costing the state than 14 lakh.
At least 49 people, of which 41 Indians including 11 from Kerala, were killed in Kuwait on Wednesday after a fire broke out in a building housing foreign workers, the Indian Embassy has launched a helpline number to render all possible assistance.

The number issued by the Embassy can be reached by phone and WhatsApp, as well as WhatsApp messages.

The Indian Embassy in Kuwait in a post on X (formerly Twitter) wrote: Indian Embassy helpline number (+965-65505246) may be reached over by phone, whatsapp as well as whatsapp messages.

Also read: Kuwait Building Fire Live Updates

All concerned are requested to connect over this helpline for updates. Embassy remains committed to render all possible assistance, it added.

Kuwaiti Interior Minister Sheikh Fahad Al-Yousuf Al-Sabah has ordered the arrest of the buildings owner during a visit to the site, and said the blaze appeared to be linked to code violations.

We will address the issue of labor overcrowding. Im now going to see what violations were committed here and I will deal with the owner of the property, he said.

According to Onmanorama, the building belongs to the NBTC group owned by Malayali businessman KG Abraham.

Minister of State (MoS) External Affairs K V Singh will be urgently travelling to Kuwait to oversee help to those injured in fire tragedy, the MEA said.

Indians constitute 21 percent (1 million) of Kuwait's total population and 30 percent (approximately 9 lakhs) of its workforce.

Prime Minister Modi termed the incident as saddening and wrote: The fire mishap in Kuwait City is saddening. My thoughts are with all those who have lost their near and dear ones. I pray that the injured recover at the earliest. The Indian Embassy in Kuwait is closely monitoring the situation and working with the authorities there to assist the affected.

Meanwhile, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan wrote to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar seeking the Centre's intervention.

In his letter, Vijayan said that he came across reports that a fire had broken out in a camp -- known as NBTC camp -- in Mangaf, Kuwait and many Indians, including some from Kerala, have lost their lives.
Kuwait building fire news: At least 49 people, including mostly Indians, have been killed in a devastating fire in a building housing labourers in Kuwait City, officials said on Wednesday. Kuwait's Deputy Prime Minister Sheikh Fahad Yusuf Saud Al-Sabah has blamed the "greedy real restate owner" for the unfortunate accident.
WASHINGTON (AP)  Senators on Wednesday blasted top health and law enforcement officials for not doing more to combat the rise of illegal electronic cigarettes in the U.S., a multibillion-dollar business that has flourished amid haphazard enforcement.

Democrats and Republicans on the Senate Judiciary Committee expressed frustration and exasperation while questioning officials from the Food and Drug Administration and Justice Department about attempts to stay on top of the vaping industry, which has grown to include thousands of flavored, unauthorized e-cigarettes originating in China.

Those products, including brands like Elf Bar, have become the most popular choice among American teens who vape.

I simply do not understand how FDA and DOJ have permitted thousands of products to remain on store shelves when their manufacturers have not received authorization, or, in some cases, even filed an application, said Judiciary Chairman Dick Durbin.

The Illinois Democrat displayed a photo of brightly colored e-cigarettes, including ones in dragon fruit and watermelon bubblegum flavors, which he said a Senate staffer took at a vape shop near the FDA's Maryland campus.

These illegal products, clearly designed for children by their flavors, are being sold in the shadow of FDAs building," Durbin said. "How is that allowed to happen?

FDA's tobacco chief, Brian King, said the agency has been slowed by a backlog of applications submitted by vape companies seeking U.S. approval, which regulators are legally required to review.

The sheer volume of this product landscape requires that we take the time to conduct scientifically and legally defensible reviews of the 27 million applications, King said.

The FDA has OKd a handful of e-cigarettes as alternatives for adult smokers. All other products on the market, including major sellers like Juul, are pending review or considered illegal by regulators.

Lawmakers also heard from a high school senior who said she became addicted to nicotine after trying a blueberry ice vape in ninth grade.

I thought I was just enjoying the flavors but soon my 14-year-old brain craved the nicotine more and more, said Josie Shapiro of Seattle. Ive tried to quit vaping over and over again, but its really, really hard.

The FDA and DOJ have legally barred about a half-dozen vaping companies for selling products that can appeal to youngsters, but many more manufacturers continue launching new products, primarily vapes that cant be refilled and are thrown in the trash.

Deputy Assistant Attorney General Arun Rao told senators that regulators at the Justice Department and other agencies have signaled that the vaping issue is a priority across the executive branch.

I'm against signals, Durbin said. Do something!

On Monday, the FDA and DOJ announced a new government task force, which will include the U.S. Postal Service and other agencies, to try and tackle the problem. That step was recommended in 2022 by an outside panel that reviewed longstanding complaints about the FDAs tobacco program.

Republican Senator Thom Tillis called the timing of the announcement a political stunt, and criticized the absence of other federal agencies from the initiative, including Customs and Border Protection.

If the timing of the task force formation wasnt evidence of how unserious the FDA is about tackling the flood of illicit e-cigarettes, FDAs exclusion of CBP from the task force makes it crystal clear, said Tillis, who represents North Carolina, the nation's leading tobacco producer. He urged officials to concentrate enforcement on brands from China, rather than large domestic manufacturers like Reynolds American.

The FDA can conduct investigations and recommend cases, but only the Justice Department can bring lawsuits. Federal prosecutors may decline to pursue cases for any number of reasons, including competing priorities, weaknesses in the case or the potential repercussions of losing in court.

Using its own authorities, the FDA has sent hundreds of warning letters to vape shops and e-cigarette manufacturers in recent years. But the letters have done little to dissuade companies from selling new, illegal products.

Industry analysts estimate disposable vapes make up 30% to 40% of the roughly $7 billion-dollar vaping market. The two best-selling disposables  Breeze and Elf Bar  generated more than $500 million in sales last year, according to Nielsen retail sales data analyzed by Goldman Sachs.

Both brands have been sanctioned by FDA regulators but remain widely available, in some cases with new names, logos and flavors. More than half of the 2.8 million U.S. teens and adolescents who vaped last year said they used Elf Bar.

King noted that products like Elf Bar cannot legally be sold in China because the government there has banned non-tobacco flavor e-cigarettes.

You cant sell them in China but you can sell them in the United States? Sen. John Cornyn of Texas responded. The Texas Republican vowed to introduce legislation addressing what he called an outrageous and unacceptable status quo.

Overall, teen vaping has fallen 60% since its all-time high in 2019, following the COVID-19 pandemic and new age restrictions and flavor bans on e-cigarettes and other tobacco products.

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Despite being the second largest "thriving" working population in South Asia, 86% of Indians felt they were either struggling or suffering, way above the global average, according to the 2024 Gallup State of the Global Workplace report.

Only 14% of Indian employees felt they were thriving, which is significantly lower than the global average of 34%, it added. Globally, only 34% of employees felt they were thriving, down from 35% in 2023.

Also read: 'Chamaat maarenge, Bihar pahuch jaogi: Ex- HSBC employee shares incident of humiliation at workplace South Asia had the lowest percentage of thriving employees at 15%. In contrast, 60% of employees in Australia and New Zealand felt they were thriving.

The American analytics firm calculated the Life Evaluation Index based on various factors, categorizing employees into three groups: thriving, struggling and suffering.

Workplace Issues The report highlighted that 48% of India's workforce is not engaged, compared to a regional average of 56%. While 32% of Indian employees were engagedhigher than the global average of 23%20% were actively disengaged.

Employee engagement refers to the dedication and motivation employees feel towards their tasks, boosting productivity and employee satisfaction at the workplace.

Also read: Why senior managers walk on eggshells around Gen Z at the workplace "Actively disengaged employees feel disgruntled and disloyal because most of their workplace needs are unmet, and they actively oppose their employer's goals," said the report.

Mental Health Challenges Regarding worker wellbeing, Indian employees report high levels of negative emotions, similar to regional averages. In South Asia, 29% of workers felt lonely, 34% were angry, and 42% were sad. Remote work could be contributing to these feelings, with 25% of remote workers experiencing loneliness compared to 16% on-site workers.

"This percentage is higher for employees under 35 and lower for those over age 35," the report said.

Job Seekers on Hunt The report said that 57% of Indian employees were of the opinion that the job market was favorable. Although this figure represents a 2% decline compared to the previous year. it is higher than the South Asian average of 48%.

However, 52% of India's employed workforce were actively looking for new jobs, which is lower than the South Asian average, but remains a cause of concern for companies, employers and employees themselves.

Also read: FDIC report outlines misogynistic, patriarchal good ol boys workplace culture "The region's high rate of employees looking to leave their current positions underscores the critical need for employers to engage and support their workforce more effectively. Employers need to focus on prioritizing their employees' work-life experiences if they want to improve their wellness and reduce turnover," Gallup's global research director Rajesh Srinivasan said in a statement.

Staff Wellbeing Gallup said employers must focus on building productive teams and providing benefits and flexibility to support employee wellbeing. "Employees who dislike their jobs tend to have high levels of daily stress and worry, as well as elevated levels of all other negative emotions," it said.
Oscar-winning actor Kevin Spacey broke down in tears in a recent interview with Piers Morgan on his show Piers Morgan Uncensored. In the interview, Spacey revealed that his Baltimore house has been foreclosed on and will be sold at an auction. As per Variety report, Spacey during the interview also revealed that he has to pay many millions of dollars in legal fees from his sexual misconduct trials.

Also Read: Rare two-headed snake spotted in US zoo; video goes viral | Watch When Piers Morgan asked where he currently resides, Spacey, coudlnt hold back his tears and broke down. He said, It's funny you ask that question because 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 Baltimore and put my things in storage."

He added, So the answer to that question is, I'm not sure where I am going to live now. But I've been in Baltimore since we started shooting 'House of Cards' there. I moved there in 2012. This [house] has been my home since 2016. I can't pay the bills that I owe.

When Piers Morgan asked Spacey on if he is facing bankruptcy, he replied, "There'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."

When he was asked on how mych money does he have, shockingly he replied, None.

Also Read: Is Meghan Markle returning to Suits? Fans speculate as Prince Harrys wife said, Never say never He added, You have some sense of legal bills. I still owe a lot...Yes [I am in debt]. It's considerable. Many millions. The house itself is many millions.

Meanwhile, the oscar winner faced many legal battles since the #MeToo movement in 2017. As per Varierty report, in 2022, a New York jury concluded that he did not molest actor Anthony Rapp, who accused him of sexual assault in the early 1980s when Rapp was 14. Later, the following year, a UK court found Spacey not guilty of nine sexual assault charges from four complainants. Several other charges and lawsuits have been dropped. Spacey has denied all allegations.

A two-part documentary titled 'Spacey Unmasked' recently aired in the UK and is now streaming on Max. It includes previously unheard testimonies about Kevin Spacey's alleged sexual misconduct, such as a claim that he groped another "House of Cards" actor on set. Speaking about the documentary, Spacey had wrote a post on X saying, I will not sit back and be attacked by a dying network's one-sided 'documentary' about me in their desperate attempt for ratings. In January this year, a US court unsealed a previously locked court documents from a years-old lawsuit connected to the late sexual offender and financier Jeffrey Epstein where Spacey's name was also revealed among other celebrities.
Republican candidate and presidential hopeful Donald Trump reacted to United States President Joe Biden's son, Hunter Biden's, guilty verdict on Truth Social.

In a statement released on June 11, titled Statement by Donald J Trump, 45th President of the United States of America, Trump said many people have asked him to comment on Hunter Biden's conviction. Sleepy Joe's son was found guilty of lying on an application for a gun, Trump said.

Hunter Biden is a terrible person who has funnelled millions of dollars from other countries to his father. Even so, it is hard to blame him for wanting a gun, which he has a God-given right to have under the 2nd Amendment. Probably the greatest Amendment of them all, if we're being totally honest, Trump wrote.

He added: His father, one of our worst presidents, is more concerned with making the gun control people happy, so he won't have the courage to step in here and help Hunter.

Trump ended the post by saying he'll help Hunter, implying that he also won the election that Joe Biden won. Don't worry, Joe - I will Save your son after I get elected (for the third time)!

Hunter Biden Convicted Hunter Biden, the 54-year-old son of Joe Biden, was found guilty of federal gun charges by a 12-member jury on June 11, AFP reported.

This is the first time that the child of a sitting US president has faced criminal prosecution, it added. The charges stemmed from Hunter's purchase of a handgun in 2018 while addicted to cocaine.

The jury deliberated for three hours over two days before giving its verdict. While he is found guilty, Hunter is unlikely to face jail time as this is his first offence. As per the report, he could face 25 years in prison at the maximum. A date was not set for sentencing, but it is expected to take place in the next few months.

Also Read | Lt Gen Upendra Dwivedi appointed next Indian Army chief: 10 things to know about him

In a statement after the conviction, Joe Biden expressed his love and support for his son.

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 in 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, he stated.
LARNACA, CyprusIn a large multistory warehouse, food intended to help stave off famine in Gaza sits alongside cases of Corona, Stella and Brooklyn Lager.

The aid pallets with food, each with a label of the organization that provided them, are wrapped in either black or clear cellophane for the approximately 36 hours of sea travel to the U.S.-built temporary pier off Gaza. Many of the roughly 4,000 pallets have been sitting here in commercial warehouses for weeks, some covered in a layer of dust, waiting to be delivered.

The $230 million pier was installed amid the Israeli military advance in the city of Rafah and the closure of the two southern border crossings that were supplying most of the aid to the Gaza Strip. The maritime corridor between Cyprus and Gazaand an ongoing airdrop campaignwas meant to supplement ground deliveries, which are cheaper and more efficient.

But the hastily constructed pier was never designed to handle the Mediterranean Seas rough waters, which are expected to worsen over summer, and the logistics of delivering aid from the pier to the Gazan population proved vexing. The floating structure broke apart late last month after 10 days of operation, something defense officials privately described as all but inevitable, and some humanitarian organizations have all but given up making longer-term plans around the pier.

After a week of repairs, the pier went back in place Saturday, only to be shut down again Sunday because of the rough waters, the Pentagon said. It reopened Tuesday.

The life and near death of the pier reflect the Biden administrations larger struggle to deal with the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Gaza. Three months after President Biden announced the pier during his State of the Union address, only enough aid to support Gazans for a few days has flowed through this maritime route, a fraction of what is needed for more than 2 million civilians facing severe hunger and famine.

During his address, Biden said the pier would enable a massive increase in the amount of humanitarian assistance getting into Gaza every day."

The Pentagon, which only learned about the presidents plan to mention the pier days before his speech, began scrambling to put it in place, U.S. defense officials said.

Soon, roughly 1,000 troops left Virginias shores in ships carrying parts of the pier. Even then, defense officials said they didnt know many aspects of the plan, including where inspections of aid would happen.

The concept was daunting: The U.S. military would need to assemble the pier several miles off Gazas coast. Support vessels and barges would be used to transport aid from the structure to a roughly 1,800-foot-long floating causeway leading to the shore.

Among the challenges the Pentagon faced was using the pier in the sometimes rough waters off the Gaza coast.

Military guidance on the pier, known as Joint Logistics Over the Shore or JLOTS, says its usage is weather-dependent," and it cant operate in conditions beyond sea state 3, or short and moderate waves. Such conditions are usually in a bay.

The Mediterranean Sea is often at sea state 4, or significant winds and waves.

Some defense officials were also skeptical about how well the U.S. military, the Israeli military, the Cypriot government, the U.S. Agency for International Development and others could coordinate with one another, particularly during war and on such a short timeline.

Key details hadnt been fully sorted out days before the pier went into place, including how to ensure a steady stream of aid to Cyprus. Some private groups such as Fogbow, a private-U.S. security company that bought 1,100 pallets of aid for Gaza, sought approvals to bring aid over the U.S. pier. The company has yet to receive permission.

Other relief organizations, including Jose Andress World Central Kitchen, opted to build their own pier off Gazas shore to deliver the aid.

The U.S. military pier was in place by mid-May, but weather damaged the structure May 22 and three U.S. troops were injured, one seriously. But the pier was still functioning.

A few days after that, parts of the pier broke off and the Pentagon announced that it had been damaged beyond use. The U.S. military moved the pier to Israels Ashdod port for repairs.

Those involved in the shipping industry in Cyprus described the piers suspension as inevitable.

We know the weather, and we know the rhythm of the waves and the wind at any time of year, and we could have told it was not going to work," Miki Peleg, general manager of EDT Offshore, a Cypriot cargo ship-owning company that, with Fogbow, was contracted by the U.S. military to remove the pier, via tugboats, back to Gazas shores.

On June 7, the Pentagon announced that the repaired pier was reopening. Vice Adm. Brad Cooper, deputy commander, U.S. Central Command, told reporters that issues with the pier stemmed solely from unanticipated weather."

Cooper said the Pentagon expected to increase the volume of humanitarian assistance provided through the pier over the previous levels" after it reopened.

At the port in Larnaca late last week, pallets of aid provided by U.S. Agency for International Development were being loaded onto a U.S. Navy support vessel in anticipation of the pier reopening.

Aid began traveling again from Cyprus to Gaza on Saturday, and U.S. Central Command said that roughly 1.1 million pounds of humanitarian aid was delivered to Gaza through the pier.

Lets see how long this lasts," one U.S. defense official said shortly after the pier resumed operations.

On Sunday, the United Nations World Food Program, or WFP, said it paused delivery of aid from the pier after two of its warehouses were hit by rockets during one of the deadliest days of the war.

Im concerned about the safety of our people after the incident yesterday" in Gaza, Cindy McCain, the director of the WFP, told Face the Nation," addressing the suspended deliveries.

World Central Kitchen, which had relied on its own private pier, moved its staff out of Cyprus roughly one month ago, U.S. officials said, after seven of its workers were killed in Gaza in an Israeli airstrike. One World Central Kitchen staffer returned this week to determine what to do with its aid in Cyprus, a spokesperson for the organization said.

USAID, the leading provider of aid sent over the maritime corridor, said it plans to continue to secure supplies for delivery from Cyprus.

While the Pentagon has allotted enough money to pay for the pier to receive aid for three months, those familiar with its operations say they dont expect it to last that long, at least not without multiple repairs.

If the pier shuts down permanently, the aid could end up being delivered by sea to the Ashdod port in Israel, and then sent along the very land routes the maritime corridor was meant to bypass.

Write to Nancy A. Youssef at nancy.youssef@wsj.com
At least 49 people in Kuwait were killed on Wednesday as a building housing workers went up in flames. Visuals shared online showed several fire trucks attempting to douse the flames as smoke billowed out of windows. A majority of the victims are believed to be Indians working in Mangaf City.

The fire mishap in Kuwait City is saddening. My thoughts are with all those who have lost their near and dear ones. I pray that the injured recover at the earliest, Modi posted on X.

The Prime Minister said that the Indian Embassy was closely monitoring the situation and working with the authorities there to assist the affected. An update from the Ministry of External Affairs confirmed that around 40 Indians are believed to have died in the building fire.

The blaze broke out in the six-storey building south of Kuwait City at around dawn. Visuals shared widely on social media showed flame engulfing the lower floors as black smoke poured out of the upper-storey windows. Information given to the interior minister by their employer indicated that the building housed 196 workers.

The official Kuwait News Agency cited Health Minister Ahmed al-Awadhi to indicate that hospitals had received 56 people injured in the fire. A source in the fire department told news agency AFP that the victims had suffocated from rising smoke after the fire started in a kitchen on the lower floor.

Construction firm NBTC group  partly owned by an Indian  had rented the building for stay of more than 195 workers. Most of the residents were Indians from Kerala, Tamil Nadu and northern states.

Kuwait's Deputy Prime Minister Sheikh Fahad Yusuf Saud Al-Sabah visited the site of the fire and blamed violations of norms and greed by the real estate owners for the incident. Officials from the criminal evidence department are now working to identify the victims and reveal the cause of the fire.
China does not think of India every day. India does, of China, and in a bad way even at higher levels of the establishment. I have never been to China. I doubt I am going to get an invitation any time soon. Unless it is a one-way trip," said General (Retired) M.M. Naravane, Chief of Army Staff during the India-China military clash in Galwan Valley in June 2020, while releasing my book, Beyond Binaries, at India International Centre, Delhi, this January.

The general meant that if Beijing invited him, it would not let him leave alive. Yet, going by what he said, General Naravane is not a prisoner of the binaries through which India-China ties are usually viewed. When dealing with China, he said we cannot be on the extremes" of hawks and doves. We have to follow a middle path.... Let us not be caught in this trap of zero and one, on and off, friends and enemies, my way or the highway. Let us see the points of convergence."

While China has not always been a friendly neighbour, General Naravane said that we have not been able to understand the country properly, because of which we make wrong assumptions, which in turn lead to wrong decisions being made."

Much of what General Naravane said resonates with my central thesis: That Indian-China relations must be freed from the binaries of good and evil, friend and foe, democracy and dictatorship, competition and conflict, cooperation and confrontation, and so on.

India and China have more common interests to hold them together than bilateral differences to keep them apart. Indeed, the emphasis has been on the latter, especially in the media, even as bilateral trade, which hit a high of $136.26 billion in 2022, is booming.

General Naravane, Shyam Saran and I are on the same page in preferring the term China challenge over China threat. There is much that India may learn from the Chinese experience in charting its own development trajectory, avoiding its mistakes but benefitting from its notable successes," writes Shyam Saran, former foreign secretary and a leading scholar-diplomat on China, in my books foreword.

There is much space for cooperation in mutually beneficial ways. In Sarans words, Chinese capital and its construction technologies and management methods could turbo-charge Indias own quest for world-class infrastructure. The scale of the market India offers, and a scale that is rapidly expanding, could be a significant opportunity for Chinese companies."

There are many potential sectors for profitable partnerships. For instance, China has enviable healthcare infrastructure. In India, for the vast majority modern healthcare is inadequate, inaccessible and unaffordable, which is somewhat mitigated by the availability of affordable medicines of quality.

In China, pharma drugs are very expensive and most have to be imported; some 11-12 years ago, a statin tablet cost more than a dollar. The same was sold in India for less than 2. The cost of medicines makes prolonged hospital treatment unaffordable for many Chinese, who seek solutions in India. This field has the potential for a win-win partnership.

Another area of cooperation could be railway development. Some 20 years ago, China lagged India in railway services. Itinerant vendors with rows of train tickets pinned to the insides of their jackets were a common sight outside intercity rail terminals. All that is a thing of the past, with Chinese trains and reservation services comparable with the best in the world. In contrast, India, with its deterioration in railways, poor service and jacked-up fares, is now at least a few decades behind China.

However, such avenues may remain unexplored for a long time unless there are dramatic changes in both the countries and their political and economic conditions. Developments in the aftermath of Galwan have demolished many Sino-Indian achievements of the last 40-45 years.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had avowedly sought to move the relationship in a positive direction, pursuing new engagements and alignments in diverse forums from Russia-India-China, Shanghai Cooperation Organization to BIMSTEC and BRICS. The consequences of the India-China stand-off are not limited to the military realm, diplomatic field and a few apps.

The boundary dispute cannot be resolved through force. In the event of a conflict, as the bigger economy, China could be hit harder than India, with long-lasting adverse economic consequences. The political and international fallout could destabilize China and stall its rise to global power.

In the present international climate, China has no option but to come to terms with India and create conditions for reconciliation. India, for its part, should deal with China in ways that are more effective. There is no room for diplomatic ineptitude. One tried and tested approach is for India to deal with China exactly as the US does, and not as Washington advises, wants or pushes New Delhi to do.

The business of China, like that of America, is business. With trade unaffected by the border conflict, perhaps commerce can succeed in paving the way for rebuilding the required trust to resolve disputes and differences. The flag following trade may be the ideal way to go forward.

On his part, Chinese President Xi Jinping, as chairman of Chinas Central Military Commission, could break the ice by inviting General Naravane for a tour of China. With an assured return ticket, of course.
European Parliament elections have made many Europeans ask what the European Union (EU) has done for them since the last election in 2019. The fact that 27 countries choose to pool their sovereignty and build an economic, social and political partnership based on the shared values of peace, justice, respect and solidarity is unique in global history. It is a triumph that we should not take for granted, especially when so many people globally still yearn for the freedom to choose their government from a diverse array of candidates and parties.

At a time when the geopolitical ground is shifting, the global order that we helped build is being put to the test. Our greatest challenges, be it security, health, digitalization or climate change, require cooperation to address. Europes experience shows that we are stronger together and can succeed when we act on the three principles of unity, determination and solidarity.

Our shared experience since the last elections attests to the value that the EU adds to our daily lives. When a pandemic hit, every citizen had access to life-saving vaccines and the pooling of resources had a remarkable impact.

For example, the European Central Bank (ECB) provided liquidity to protect financial systems; the European Commissions SURE scheme helped countries protect jobs; and the European Investment Banks European Guarantee Fund complemented national support systems to protect SMEs and the broader business ecosystem. Even now, the Recovery and Resilience Facility is promoting reforms and investments needed to achieve a strong recovery and drive green and digital transitions.

The EU, in short, is a shining success story. Not only has it brought prosperity, peace, stability and social progress to members, it also has become a force for good in the world. It is a leading source of humanitarian aid and development finance, a strong advocate for the multilateral institutions that maintain global financial stability and a major supporter to the worlds most vulnerable countries.

I am proud of the EIB Groups instrumental role in delivering these results. With 22 billion of paid-in capital, we have been able to mobilize more than 5 trillion in investment. This supported top-notch transportation and energy infrastructure, hospitals, schools, SMEs across the EU, highly innovative technologies and many rapidly scaling startups, contributing to green and digital transitions and reinforcing EU strategic autonomy and security.

To name just a few examples, the EIB Group has supported vaccine development with a loan to BioNTech, the company that delivered the mRNA platform against covid. We are also financing the largest solar-panel factory in Italy, the first circular-production battery gigafactory in Sweden and large offshore wind farms in the Baltic and Nordic regions.

And we have funded an innovative chip manufacturing plant in France, efforts to decarbonize heavy industry in Germany, new green hydrogen projects and infrastructure in the Iberian Peninsula, and an upgrade to Polands electricity-transmission network.

Since its creation in 1958, the EIB Group has financed EU policies and evolved to respond to European needs. I am convinced that we are financing technologies that will be the building blocks of an efficient net-zero economy, and which will be instrumental to accelerate digitalization and innovation.

But we are no less determined to support European agriculture, help our industries seize existing opportunities, strengthen European competitiveness and strategic autonomy, and address challenges such as housing costs. Given this track record, we will also play a role in supporting the next phase of EU enlargement and in amplifying Europes voice.

The turbulent five years since the last European elections show us that we need more Europe, not less. We need the EU for our security, stability and prosperity. With populists promising easy solutions and calling for less solidarity, we must remember what the EU is doing for us every day.

A new geopolitical order is emerging, and the foundation of Europes success is being put to the test. Our decisions at the ballot box will determine the EUs priorities and role in the world at a crucial moment in world history.

Also read: Europeans rebuke the European Union

This election is a vote of confidence in Europe and the principle of solidarity. We must strengthen the institutions that have ensured our own peace and prosperity, and which remain a beacon and a force for good in the world. Lets defend European values. Lets focus on what truly matters. Lets appreciate what the EU means for security, welfare and prosperity throughout all member states. And remember the value of the vote! 2024/project syndicate
The just-concluded Lok Sabha election highlighted the connections between equity valuations and perceptions of political stability. It also exposed a grey area in regulations designed to prevent market manipulation.

The market swung up sharply on Monday, 3 June, on the basis of public exit poll predictions released on the evening of 1 June, a Saturday, that the BJP would win more than 300 Lok Sabha seats.

This reinforced earlier recommendations from Bharatiya Janata Party politicians, including the finance minister, the home minister, and the prime minister, to buy stocks, hinting that the markets would rise on 4 June, when the Election Commission of India was to announce the poll results.

Stock market recommendations by politicians could be discounted on the basis of their known interest in projecting that their political party would do well.

However, data-based predictions by supposedly neutral exit pollsters were taken seriously by many bulls, who enthusiastically bought in the run-up to the declaration of the polls results on the basis of those projections.

On 4 June, when it became apparent that the actual voting trends were widely at variance with the exit polls, the market crashed. Market capitalization crashed by over 30 trillion.

While some traders could have made a killing on both Monday and Tuesday, the bulk of market players, including many small investors, lost large sums because they bought at high prices on Monday and sold in a panic on Tuesday.

Several opposition politicians have asked for an investigation into the circumstances, including a Joint Parliamentary Committee probe, to determine if the projections released on 3 June were due to honest errors on the part of exit pollsters or deliberate market manipulation.

Also read | Exit polls 2024: Track record could tell us whom to trust

While political parties conduct their own assessments, they also hire the same exit poll experts to do the number-crunching for them. So it is quite possible that there may have been a conflict of interest for organisations conducting public exit polls.

The Securities and Exchange Board of India has all the trade data at its disposal. But this is an unusual situation. If Sebi finds that parties related to the exit pollsters (or politicians) profited from market movements, it may lack legal provisions to indict anybody. Regulations may not cover the concept of manipulating stock market prices by commenting on or making political projections.

This is a grey area in the law and needs to be addressed since market volatility is always associated with political events. In the case of the Lok Sabha election, this happened on a large scale. But market volatility is associated even with key assembly elections and also with Cabinet reshuffles. And for sure, market volatility will continue to be associated with political events in the future.

Also, regardless of the honesty and neutrality of exit pollsters following the national election, wannabe scamsters now have a blueprint for market manipulation in the future by releasing fake exit polls.

Also read | Savvy small investors score a quiet poll win

Sebi obviously cannot ban exit polling (and that would not reduce market volatility anyway), and traders and investors have every right to interpret exit poll projections, or any other data at their disposal, and take market positions as they see fit. Nor obviously can politicians be barred from making optimistic statements about their prospects.

That said, it is unusual, indeed unprecedented, for politicians fighting an election to directly reference the stock market and link market movements to political outcomes.

However, if politicians choose to do so, or to trade in stocks based on their perceptions, there is already some level of public disclosure since their political affiliations are known.

Ideally, the market regulator should try to ensure that any financial exposures are also disclosed, especially if those are at variance to the public statements. But this may be unenforceable.

Sebi, however, can insist on full disclosure of any conflict of interest on the part of exit pollsters who make public pronouncements. This is doable and must be urgently done to preserve the integrity of market regulations.

If an exit pollster is contracted by a media organisation to make a public pronouncement and that same pollster is also working with a political party, a financial investor, or an institution with an interest in the stock market, the exit pollster should state this upfront.

Failure to make such disclosures should incur penalties.

Given the financial sensitivity of exit poll data, Sebi should consider applying the same or similar criteria for insider trading, or for trades made by related parties, to exit poll organisations as it does for listed entities and promoters.

This would, at the least, help investors and traders in interpreting exit polls and taking market positions on them, and may prevent scamsters from manipulating the market through this route.
N. Chandrababu Naidu's fourth term as the chief minister of Andhra Pradesh could be his most difficult as he inherits a financially broke and industrially ignored state. Mint delves deeper into the challenges the Telegu Desam Party (TDP) leader faces this time around.

1. How big was Naidu's win in Andhra Pradesh?

It was massive. TDP won 135 of the 144 seats it contested for the 175-member state assembly. That's not it. Its National Democratic Alliance (NDA) comprising the Jana Sena Party and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) won 164 seats in all.

The YSR Congress Party, which was in power in the state for the past five years, managed to win just 11 seats. YSRCP leader Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy had focused excessively on doling out welfare schemes to the masses, ignoring development. The state failed to attract large investments, industrial development stagnated, and job creation suffered. This fuelled a strong anti-incumbency.

2. What was Naidu's election pitch?

Naidu has promised better governance and economic development. He has also committed to revive industrial activity in the state and create 2 million jobs for the youth. But the bug of welfare politics has bit him too. He has promised Super Six Guarantees, which include: free bus travel for women; 15,000 per year for every school-going child in a household; 20,000 per year for farmers; three free gas cylinders annually; 1,500 per month cash transfer to women aged 18-59; and monthly unemployment allowance for the youth.

3. Will the state finances allow this largesse?

No. To say Andhra Pradeshs finances are precarious would be an understatement. With welfare spending outpacing revenue growth, the state is battling cash-flow mismatch, with delayed payment of salaries and other dues having become the norm. Borrowings, at 44% of the state's gross domestic product, are excessive. The bulk of it goes not for creating productive assets but to service revenue expenditure. The state has little headroom to borrow more.

4. So Naidus fourth term wont be easy?

It appears so. Raising funds will be his biggest challenge. His Super six guarantees alone, if implemented, are expected to cost the exchequer as much as 1.2 trillion annually. This is over and above what the YSRCP government spent on welfare. The states finances cannot fund this as things stand now. That apart, Naidu has promised to revive Amaravati as the state capital. The cost for this was originally pegged at 50,000 crore. Funds apart, he has to make Andhra Pradesh an attractive investment destination. For this, he must first convince wary investors of policy continuity.

5. What is the way out?

Under normal circumstances, Naidu would have found it impossible to keep his promises. But as luck would have it, his return to power in Andhra Pradesh coincided with the BJP losing its majority in Parliament. Today, he is a kingmaker and the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre needs his support. Naidu is expected to take advantage of this situation and demand a special financial package, if not special status, for Andhra Pradesh. That should help him part-fund his welfare schemes and restart work on Amaravati, a project Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated in 2015.
The Lok Sabha elections 2024 saw a close fight between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the INDIA bloc in Uttar Pradesh, with the opposition ultimately winning 43 of the 80 seats. However, the outcome could change as at least six recently-elected Members of Parliament (MP) representing INDIA bloc from Uttar Pradesh face multiple criminal charges that could even lead to conviction.

The most prominent among them is Ghazipur MP Afzal Ansari, who is the elder brother of gangster-turned-politician Mukhtar Ansari. Afzal won the election as an SP candidate.

Afzal Ansari has already been sentenced to four years in jail in a gangster act case. His conviction was stayed by the Allahabad High Court which allowed him to contest elections. However, the case will be heard when the court opens in July. If the court upholds his sentence, he will lose his membership of parliament.

Remember, Ansari was disqualified from Lok Sabha in his previous term after conviction in a murder case. He had won 2019 elections from Ghazipur as a BSP candidate.

An MP is disqualified if convicted in a case with an imprisonment of more than two years.

Azamgarh MP and Samajwadi Party leader Dharmendra Yadav has four criminal cases pending against him and will lose his membership if he is convicted for more than two years. Similarly, Jaunpur MP Babu Singh Kushwaha has 25 cases against him related to the NRHM scam, which took place when Mayawati was the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh.

Rambhual Nishad, who won the Sultanpur seat by defeating BJP's Maneka Gandhi, is an accused in eight cases, including one registered under the Gangsters Act. Similarly, Chandauli MP Virendra Singh and Saharanpur MP Imran Masood have also been booked in multiple cases.

Cases against these INDIA block MPs including some related to money laundering, intimidation and various sections of the Gangsters Act, which can lead to an imprisonment of more than two years.

In the past, many MPs have lost their membership after being convicted in criminal cases. Mohammad Azam Khan, Khaboo Tiwari, Vikram Saini and Ashok Chandel are among these political leaders.
Hezbollah fired a barrage of rockets at Israel on Wednesday after a suspected Israeli strike in southern Lebanon killed one of the militant groups senior commanders, an escalation of violence that threatens to expand the war in the Gaza Strip to Israels border with Lebanon.

The exchange of fire comes as a prospective cease-fire deal in Gaza that could also end the hostilities between the Lebanese militia and Israel appears to be at an impasse. Hamas on Tuesday renewed its insistence on a permanent cease-fire, which Israel says it cannot yet accept.

The Hezbollah commander, Taleb Sami Abdallah, is among the highest-ranking fighters in Lebanon killed since Hamas sparked a war with Israel, pulling Hezbollah into a lower-intensity conflict with the Israeli military that has seen rockets and drones fired into Israel and 60,000 Israelis displaced from their homes.

The Israeli military didnt immediately comment on the death of the commander, but said roughly 160 projectiles were fired from Lebanon at towns in northern Israel, causing fires but no initial casualties.

Fighting between Hezbollah and Israel has escalated in recent weeks, even as talks to end the war in Gaza between Israel and Hamas have picked up pace.

Hezbollah has said its attacks are in support of the Palestinians and that it wont stop until Israel ceases its war in Gaza. Israel, reluctant to open a second front, has been trying to calibrate its actions to avoid sparking a full-scale war.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is in the Middle East this week, pushing a ceasefire-for-hostages deal in Gaza that has been met with intransigence by both Israel and Hamas.

The U.S. has made a full-court press to bring the two sides together, but Israel and Hamas remain too far apart on the biggest issue of how and when a permanent end to fighting should come.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said he is pushing for a cease-fire that frees hostages held in Gaza but wants the option of returning to fighting in the future.

Hamas on Tuesday responded to the U.S.-promoted plan, stressing again that a halt in fighting must include a timeline for a permanent cease-fire. U.S. officials in Jordan received the Hamas response on Tuesday night from Abbas Kamel, Egypts intelligence chief, who was in Amman to attend a conference on humanitarian assistance to Gaza, a senior State Department official said. Blinken was also at the conference.

The U.S.-designated terrorist group also hardened its position on elements of a deal, demanding that Israel initially withdraw from the corridor of land between Gaza, Egypt and the Rafah crossing into the Egyptian Sinai, according to Arab mediators who received the Hamas response. Israel has said Hamas uses the corridor to smuggle weapons and other goods into the strip.

The White House said it was evaluating Hamass response. Qatar said it would continue mediation efforts with the U.S. and Egypt.

Tensions have heightened between Israel and Hamas since Saturday, when two Israeli commando teams rescued four hostages held in central Gaza in an operation that also caused scores of Palestinian casualties.

Palestinian health authorities said 274 Gazans were killed and almost 700 injured from airstrikes, shelling and gunfire. The Israeli military said most of the dead were militants.

Israel says that more than 100 people who were taken on the Oct. 7 attacks that sparked the war in Gaza remain captive, including dozens who were killed that day and taken to Gaza or subsequently died in the enclave.

As part of a cease-fire deal to release those hostages, Hamas has also demanded the release of Palestinians held in Israeli jails. One of its new demands Tuesday was that Israel should not be allowed to veto any names of prisoners proposed by Hamas to be released, according to Arab mediators who received the Hamas response.

Hamas said that would include Marwan Barghouti, a Palestinian politician who was jailed for his involvement in the deaths of Israelis in the early 2000s and is often talked about as a potential leader of the Palestinian national cause.

More than 37,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza since the start of the war, most of them civilians, according to Palestinian health authorities. The figure doesnt specify how many were combatants. Hamas-led militants on Oct. 7 killed some 1,200 people in Israel, also mainly civilians, according to Israeli authorities.

A United Nations commission investigating the Oct. 7 attacks on Israel and the conflict in Gaza in a report issued Wednesday accused both Israel and Hamas of committing war crimes. Hamas and Israel didnt immediately respond to requests for comment.

President Biden last month outlined a three-phase cease-fire plan that has become the basis for recent talks about a halt to fighting. The Biden proposal would begin with a complete cease-fire over six weeks, a withdrawal of Israeli forces from populated areas of Gaza and the release of some hostages held by Hamas. The second phase would see a permanent end to the hostilities, a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and the release of remaining hostages. Phase three would involve a plan for the reconstruction of Gaza.

Lina Fawwaz, 37, mother of two living in Gaza City, said she is very frustrated by this long process of negotiations that appear to be leading nowhere.

I dont care about prisoners, or about lifting the siege, I just want this bloodshed to stop, because our lives were destroyed already."

Write to Rory Jones at Rory.Jones@wsj.com
First session of 18th Lok Sabha will begin on June 24 and conclude on July 3, according to Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju.

Posting on social media site X (formerly known as Twitter) on June 12, Rijiju said the session will see the newly elected leaders taking oath or making affirmation of their membership of the Lok Sabha and electing the Speaker of the House, address by the President and discussion thereon.

Further, the 264th session of Rajya Sabha will commence on June 27 and conclude on June 3, Rijiju added.

Lok Sabha Proceedings President Droupadi Murmu will address a joint sitting of the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha on June 27 and is likely to outline the new government's roadmap for the next five years.

Prime Minister Modi is expected to introduce his council of ministers to Parliament after the President's address on June 27, according to a PTI report.

The debate on the Motion of Thanks on the President's address is expected to see an aggressive INDIA bloc opposition trying to corner the NDA government on various issues. The prime minister will respond to the debate on the Motion of Thanks on the President's address in both the Houses of Parliament.

Recap of the Previous Parliament Sessions The 17th Lok Sabha session, also known as the Budget Session was between January 31 to February 10. The Lok Sabha saw 274 sittings in which 202 Bills were introduced and 222 bills were passed.

Further, the Rajya Sabha had 271 sittings, in which 31 Bills were introduced and 220 bills were passed.

Combined, both Houses of Parliament turned a total of 221 Bills into Acts, during the 17th Lok Sabha term.

Among the important issues conducted included the abrogation of certain provisions from Article 370 and Presidential Orders thereunder for ensuring equal opportunities to all sections of Society in Jammu & Kashmir, as per an ANI report. This restored applicability of the provisions of the Constitution of India and all socio-economic legislations thereby ensuring rule of law and equity.

Further, the State of Jammu & Kashmir was reorganized with the formation of two Union Territories as  Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh. This was done to ensure better administration and for curbing terrorism, the ANI report added.

Also, three landmark Bills relating to the criminal justice system to ensure victim-centric justice were passed by both the Houses of Parliament. These were namely  the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023; the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023; and the Bharatiya Sakshya Bill, 2023.

Each of these respectively replaced the Indian Penal Code, 1860; the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973; and the Indian Evidence Act, 1872.
Suresh Gopi, the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) sole Lok Sabha MP from Kerala, took charge as the Minister of State (MoS) in the Ministry of Tourism on Wednesday. Soon after assuming the office, Gopi said he would have to study the tourism ministry and the terrain of the country to be able to do justice to his role.

Talking to news agency ANI, Gopi said he has to be made knowledgeable about the capacity of his chair. "the areas which are available for me to penetrate and then set a platter for which I have to study the ministry and the terrain of the whole country..."

As MoS Tourism, Gopi said he has a huge responsibility, and his duties would include identifying the prime spots in the country for tourist activities.

For now, the PM has spoken to him only about Kerala, he added.

The BJP MP also hold the charge of MoS for Tourism and Petroleum.

Gopi also said he has been given a big responsibility and his new role as a member of Narendra Modi-led government is due to the support of the people from all walks of life.

The actor-cum-politician said he has many connections with people and temples, and he has taken all that into account. "People from all walks of life supported me. I cannot cut all that away. I have taken up a responsibility. I have reached here with everyone's support."

Earlier today, he asserted that films are definitely one of his top priorities, and he believes he will be given the space to pursue his passion.

Films are one of my priorities. I think I will be given this space. I told them. My Prime Minister and the Home Minister will find a method by which I will not ditch my passion, Gopi told ANI.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi will likely keep Raebareli and relinquish the Wayanad Lok Sabha seat, Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) chief K Sudhakaran hinted on Wednesday.

At a public event, Sudhakaran hinted that the Wayanad MP would give up his seat. "We should not be saddened as Rahul Gandhi, who is supposed to lead the nation, cannot be expected to remain in Wayanad."

Therefore, we should not be sad. Everyone should understand that and give all their wishes and support to him.

Gandhi won the Rae Bareli and Wayanad seats in the recently concluded Lok Sabha Elections 2024.

Rahul Gandhi thanks Kerala voters Meanwhile, Gandhi thanked voters in Kerala who enabled his Lok Sabha victory in the state's Wayanad constituency.

This is the first time Gandhi has visited the state after his massive 3,64,422-vote margin victory over rival and CPI candidate Annie Raja from the constituency in north Kerala. In the 2019 elections, he secured the seat with a record margin of 4.3 lakh votes.

Addressing a public gathering in Malappuram, Gandhi, who had also contested and won from the Raebareili seat in Uttar Pradesh, said, "I have a dilemma in front of me  Will I be a Member of Parliament of Wayanad or Raebareli?"

"You saw how the Prime Minister said '400 paar' and after that 400-paar disappeared and '300-paar' came. After 300-paar disappeared, he gave a speech where he said, 'I am not biological', I do not make any decisions, and I have been put on this earth by 'Parmatma' and he makes all the decisions. Modiji's strange 'parmatma' makes him take all decisions favouring Adani-Ambani. 'Parmatma' tells him to give Bombay Airport, Lucknow Airport and power plants to Adani," Gandhi said.
Rubbishing the retirement rumours, BJP leader Rajeev Chandrasekhar on Wednesday said that he is still a sipahi of Narendra Modi and working towards PM's mission of Viksit Bharat

Chandrasekhar said, "No, I have not retired at all. In my social media post, I was relinquishing my 18 years of being an MP and now becoming a full-time party worker for the BJP and 'Sipahi' of Narendra Modi for working for his vision of Viksit Bharat. The Congress party and other people have jumped on that and tried to characterise that as some sort of retirement for me or me running away because I lost an election in Thiruvananthapuram...,"

I fought a good election, and more importantly, 3.5 lakh people of Kerala came out and supported the BJP. They supported Suresh Gopi and made him successful in Thrissur...We are not going anywhere. The Congress party, which has gone to its historic third defeat in the last three elections of 2014, 2019 and 2024...The question that most congressmen are asking Rahul Gandhi is how come every time you are the leader we are losing and this election also they lost, he further added.

Chandrasekhar, who was a Minister of State in the previous Narendra Modi-led government, last week posted on X about ending his public life but later clarified that he meant his tenure as a Member of Parliament and Minister of State had concluded.

He promptly deleted his initial post--"Today curtains down on my 18-year stint in public service, of which three years I had the privilege to serve with PM @narendramodi ji's TeamModi2.0. I certainly didn't intend to end my 18 years of public service as a candidate who lost an election, but that's how it's turned out."

Shortly thereafter, Chandrasekhar deleted the post and issued a new one saying that the earlier one was by an intern and it "created some confusion among a section of people about my future political work".

Shashi Tharoor, who successfully retained his Thiruvananthapuram seat, responded to the initial post by expressing confidence in Chandrasekhar's ability to continue contributing to the country.
If you want to wear your stylish winter coat in the summer or a light summer jacket in the winter, there's help at hand. The textiles ministry is working on developing technology that will allow the same set of clothes to be worn in all seasons, saving you the periodic hassle of having to pack away clothes.

The all-weather clothing you will be wearingthe outcome of a collaboration between the ministry and premier tech and fashion instituteshas a slightly cumbersome name: indigenous encapsulated phase change material (PCM)-based activewear.

'Initiative aims to provide versatile solution to India's weather patterns' This initiative aims to provide a versatile solution to India's varying weather patterns, enhancing comfort, and reducing the need for multiple sets of clothing for different weather conditions and environments," two people aware of the development told Mint.

PCM has found use in various fields of technical textiles, including sports, homewear, and protective textiles, they said.

The PCM-based textiles will be specially beneficial for army personnel working in extreme weather conditions, from the cold climate of Jammu & Kashmir to the scorching heat of Rajasthan, Telangana, Bihar and other states across the country," the first person said.

Three projects focusing on the development and application of PCM under the National Technical Textiles Mission (NTTM) have been approved, with a total project value of 25.5 crore, this person said.

Indian Institutes of Technology, Delhi and Ropar, along with the National Institute of Fashion Technology, Telangana, will collaborate on the project.

Together, they will develop textiles to meet the requirements outlined. This innovative technology enables garments to regulate temperature effectively, offering enhanced comfort and efficiency, the second person said.

PCMs are substances that release or absorb significant amounts of energy during phase transitions, typically between solid and liquid states.

These transitions allow PCMs to absorb and release thermal energy, making them highly efficient for temperature control. By incorporating PCMs into clothing, garments can maintain an optimal temperature, thereby providing warmth in cold conditions, and a cooling effect in hot environments.

This technology stands out for its efficiency. Unlike conventional materials, which rely on more heat and require more volume to store the same amount of energy, PCMs can absorb much more heat with less material.

"Incorporating smart fabrics that change their properties in response to temperature changes can lead to innovative and dynamic designs, adding a futuristic and functional aspect to fashion. For example, thermo wear can be designed with sleek, modern aesthetics that appeal to consumers looking for stylish yet functional clothing," said Devika S Pathak, a professor and department lead for north zone, fashion design department, at Pearl Academy in New Delhi.

The unique properties of thermal materials can be used to create interesting textures and patterns, adding a new dimension to fashion design, said Pathak, a specialist in fashion technology.

"This development aligns with global sustainability goals. By reducing the energy required for heating and cooling, PCM-enhanced clothing can contribute to energy conservation efforts, ultimately lowering the carbon footprint associated with temperature regulation," another industry expert said, asking not to be named.

"This is particularly relevant for India, where energy demand is rapidly increasing, and sustainable solutions are crucial for long-term environmental health, the expert said.
U.S. International Development Finance Corporation will be able to reinsure war-related hazards and increase insurance capacity in Ukraine thanks to comprehensive $50M reinsurance arrangement.

Aon and U.S. DFC worked on further $300 million in conflict risk insurance for Ukraines agriculture and healthcare sectors.

U.S. Special Representative for Economic Recovery of Ukraine Penny Pritzker was key in inspiring public and commercial sector backing.

Leading worldwide professional services company Aon plc (NYSE: AON) launched a $350 million, first-of-its-kind insurance initiative with the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation to increase insurance capacity and hasten new capital investment and economic recovery in Ukraine.

Working closely with DFC and the Ukraine Ministry for Development of Economy and Trade to support the active and continuous issuing of on-the-ground war risk policies to businesses operating in Ukraine, Aon coordinated a comprehensive $50M reinsurance facility as one of the largest worldwide brokers operating in Ukraine. Together, Aon and DFC worked on an extra $300 million in conflict risk insurance particularly tailored for Ukraines agriculture and healthcare sectors.

Capital will not go where it is not protected and this unprecedented program with the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation is intended to unlock and accelerate investment in Ukraine at a time when the need is most acute, said Eric Andersen, president of Aon, at the Ukraine Recovery Conference in Berlin. This innovative facility will help the local insurance sector to properly price risk and attract much needed new capital into Ukraine, so building capacity and capability in the nation to support reconstruction.

Using its balance sheet to accept $50M of war-related reinsurance risk in Ukraine, DFC will function as the reinsurer for approved insurance companies providing policies in Ukraine. Building on two well-known DFC modelson-lending, which guarantees loans made by local banks in Ukraine to enable lending to priority regions and sectors; and insurance underwriting, particularly for war and political riskthe facility The extra $300 million of capacity in the fields of agriculture and health for Ukraine emphasizes the strong need for easily available, reasonably priced war risk insurance by private businesses functioning in Ukraine that will only grow during rebuilding.

DFC CEO Scott Nathan remarked at the Ukraine Recovery Conference, The U.S. Government is taking steps to help drive capital to the private sector in Ukraine, The private sector is critical to Ukraines recovery, and we are leveraging our unique tools, especially political risk insurance, to build investor confidence in Ukraine at this critical moment.

ARX, a Ukrainian affiliate of Fairfax Financial, is the first company accredited as a qualified Ukrainian insurance company eligible to use the reinsurance facility. Working jointly, Aon, DFC and ARX will create a portfolio of war risk insurance policies for businesses doing business in Ukraine and assist ARX in broadening its war risk insurance offering there. Once the facility is set up, approved insurance providers can choose to offer enterprises running in Ukraine quick, on-site war risk coverage. Long term, this facility can inspire private sector involvement in Ukraine under alternative reinsurance, hence fostering a basis of private investment vital to a recovery.

The news corresponds with the September 2023 nomination of former Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker to oversee the U.S. governments reaction to the war in Ukraine as the Special Representative for Ukraines Economic Recovery. In this capacity, Special Representative Pritzker organized the private sector, multilateral banks and companies doing business in Ukraine to generate support for the Ukrainian economy and has been instrumental in advancing the work of Aon and the DFC to mobilize the insurance industry to bring $350M in private capital to support Ukraines economy and recovery.

As we looked for opportunities to support the Ukrainian economy, we recognized that a robust insurance market was essential to attracting investment in the country, said Pritzker. This facility and the infusion of new private capital into Ukraine will help local businesses operate in the country today, while preparing Ukraine for reconstruction and further economic growth.

About Aon plc (NYSE: AON), exists to guide decisions for the better  to safeguard and improve the quality of life of people all across the globe. By means of actionable analytic insight, globally integrated Risk Capital and Human Capital expertise, and locally relevant solutions, our colleagues provide clients in more than 120 countries and sovereign territories the clarity and confidence needed to make better risk and people decisions safeguarding and expansion of their businesses.

Follow Aon on LinkedIn, X, Facebook and Instagram. Stay up-to-date by visiting Aons newsroom and sign up for news alerts here.
William Dunn is shown at work with his butcher knife at his Clarkston store in this photo published in the Business section of the June 12, 1977, Lewiston Tribune. The accompanying story reported that Dunn had sold the Payless Meat Market inside the Payless Grocery at Fourth and Diagonal streets in Clarkston. Dunn had began working in the market before World War II when it was co-owned by his stepfather, and after serving in the U.S. Marine Corps during the war, he returned to Clarkston to purchase the market, and had operated it since. In retirement, Dunn said among his plans were to "visit my wheat ranch in Canada and watch the harvest," saying he had never seen the harvest on his ranch near Kilam, Alberta. Readers who would like to share their historical photos (20 years or older) from throughout the region may do so by emailing them to blasts@lmtribune.com or submitting them to: Blast from the Past, P.O. Box 957, Lewiston, ID 83501. Questions? Call Jeanne M. DePaul at (208) 848-2221. Lewiston Tribune
MOSCOW  Latah County District Court is requesting significant increases in its budget to prepare for costs associated with the Bryan Kohberger case and its potential trial.

The court wants to increase its trial expense budget to $150,000 in fiscal year 2025. That is a nearly 5,000% increase from fiscal year 2024s budget of $3,000.

Trial expenses include travel and lodging costs for jurors and bailiffs. Those jurors will need supplies, including meals, which is why the court also requested a large increase in its jury supplies budget from $3,500 to $50,000

The budget request to cover witness fees is also substantially higher than last years. For this, the court requested a budget of $25,000 this year compared to the $3,500 budget last year. This is largely to pay for travel costs of witnesses who are scheduled to testify in court.

Kohbergers trial date has not yet been set, and his attorneys are planning to argue for moving the trial outside Latah County in the interest of finding a more impartial jury pool.

Court Clerk Tonya Dodge informed the commissioners that even if the trial is moved, Latah County still has to reimburse the county where the trial is taking place for juror costs.
WILMINGTON, Del.  Hunter Bidens legal woes are not over after his conviction on three felony firearms charges in a trial that put a spotlight on his drug-fueled past.

Now, President Joe Bidens son faces sentencing, and another criminal trial on tax charges in the middle of his fathers reelection campaign.

Jurors found Hunter Biden guilty on Tuesday after just three hours of deliberations over two days in the federal court in Wilmington, Del. The case stemmed from a gun Hunter Biden bought in 2018 while, as prosecutors say, he was in the throes of a crack cocaine addiction.

Heres a look at whats next for Hunter Biden:

Sentencing

He was convicted of lying on a mandatory gun purchase form by saying he was not illegally using or addicted to drugs, and illegally having the gun for 11 days.

The three counts carry up to 25 years in prison. But whether the presidents son actually serves any time behind bars will be up to U.S. District Judge Maryellen Noreika. The judge, who was nominated to the bench by former Republican President Donald Trump, didnt immediately set a date for sentencing.

In the federal system, first-time offenders dont get anywhere near the maximum sentence. Federal sentencing guidelines  which judges use as they weigh punishments for defendants  are expected to recommend a far lighter punishment. And judges arent bound by the guidelines, so she could decide not to send him to prison at all. Other options include probation or home detention.

In pressing the judge not to put him behind bars, defense lawyers will likely note that, unlike many illegal firearm possession cases, Hunter Bidens gun was not used in a crime. Hunter Biden never even fired the gun, which he had for 11 days before it got thrown in the trash, his lawyers have said.

The defense will also likely emphasize that Hunter Biden has since turned his life around. He has said he has been sober since 2019. Also, there have been no reported violations of his conditions of release, including that he continues to abstain from drugs and alcohol and participate in a recovery program.

Appeal likely

Defense attorney Abbe Lowell said in a written statement Tuesday that they will continue to vigorously pursue all the legal challenges available. Its unclear on what grounds Hunter Biden will appeal the verdict, but he mounted multiple unsuccessful challenges to the case ahead of trial.

Among other things, Hunter Bidens lawyers have challenged the constitutionality of the gun law at the center of the case in the wake of a landmark Supreme Court decision that has upended firearm laws across the country.

Hunter Bidens lawyers have also argued the presidents son was prosecuted for political purposes. Lowell has claimed prosecutors bowed to political pressure after a plea agreement hit the skids in court and was publicly pilloried by Republicans, including Trump, as a sweetheart deal.
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.


A hijacked commuter bus sits in the road where it was stopped after a lengthy police chase on June 11.
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.

LIVE BLOG: Longford voters give their verdict in Local Elections 2024 #LE24 #LocalElections24

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.

Ex-RTE correspondent Ciaran Mullooly says he hates election counts

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.

European Elections: No MEPs elected yet as first count completed in Midland's-North-West

Other Longford candidates have seen little success, with independent candidate Stephen Garland receiving just over a thousand votes, and being excluded after the first count. National Party candidate James Reynolds was excluded following the fourth count, gaining 3,479 votes before his exclusion.

A long few days awaits the count staff in Castlebar, but to many, the outcome in Castlebar seems clear.

Four MEPs elected to represent Dublin in European Parliament
The dust is beginning to settle on the 2024 Local Elections in county Longford.

Three outgoing councillors lost their seats - Colm Murray, Colin Dalton and Gerald Farrell, six new faces captured seats - Padraig McNamara, Niall Gannon and Martin Skelly for Fine Gael and David Cassidy, Kevin Hussey and Sean Mimnagh for Fianna Fail, three recounts - two in Ballymahon and one in Granard.



These are some of the main points from a long weekend of counting, which eventually ended on Monday night.



In the end, Fine Gael and Fianna Fail were locked at eight seats each, with two independents returned.



It is a gain of two seats for Fianna Fail from the 2019 outcome, while Fine Gael lost one seat.

Also read: Fine Gael polls 13% higher than Fianna Fail in Longford local elections as the parties share sixteen seats



Fine Gael topped the poll in all three districts - Paul Ross in Ballymahon, Gerry Hagan in Longford and the highest vote getter in the county in Granard, Garry Murtagh.



There were a number of twists and turns throughout the count. Some perceived outcomes were turned on their head.



The town of Lanesboro undoubtedly delivered the most drama of the count.



At one stage, there were five candidates in the Ballymahon municipal district within 51 votes of each other. Three of them were from Lanesboro or Newtowncashel.



Sitting councillor Gerald Farrell, from the Shannonside town, lost his seat, with Sean Mimnagh of Fianna Fail replacing him.

Longford #LE24: Mimnagh, Casey, O'Toole and Skelly elected as Colm Murray loses out in Ballymahon



There was a changing of the guard within Fine Gael, with Colm Murray losing his seat and Martin Skelly being the new face elected.



Farrell had called for a recount when he was eliminated by just one vote. However, things did not change for him and the now Independent departed.

Also read: How you voted in Ballymahon municipal district: Two recounts and two big name casualties in gruelling Battle of Ballymahon



Farrell had been a FG councillor (as his father Adie was before him) and that provided one of the subplots of this election.



Four sitting councillors were returned in Ballymahon, although one of those, Mark Casey (Ind) saw a significant decrease in his vote.

LIVE BLOG: Longford voters give their verdict in Local Elections 2024 #LE24 #LocalElections24



There was also a recount in Granard municipal district. That had been called by Fine Gael after David Cassidy was elected for Fianna Fail ahead of sitting councillor Colin Dalton.

Also read: How you voted in Granard municipal district: Fine Gael secure massive 59% of first preference vote but fail to nail four seats



Again, there was no change to the outcome as Cassidy displaced Dalton.

Also read: It is very hard to know what went wrong. In my time, North Longford was a heartland for Fianna Fail



Cassidys comeback saved Fianna Fail blushes in North Longford.



The party returned three councillors in this district in 2014 and this time scraped the last seat. A post mortem is expected and it might not be pretty.



On Sunday, Fine Gael appeared to be heading for four seats out of five in Granard. Turlough McGovern (Ind) held his own.

Longford #LE24: David Cassidy and Padraig McNamara confirmed as final two elected in Granard



In Longford municipal district, no outgoing councillor lost their seat. Fianna Fail were the winners, with Kevin Hussey taking a seat which was held by Independent Gerry Warnock, before he decided not to run again.



John Browne (FG) retired but Niall Gannon held his seat, albeit with a reduced vote from what Browne achieved in 2019.



Arguably another winner in Longford was stability, with four sitting councillors elected on the first count.

Also read: How you voted in Longford municipal district: Less than 50% turnout as Fianna Fail quartet elected



There were many candidates running on an independent or left wing platform in Longford, but they made no impact.



Sinn Feins James Donnelly was seen as having a chance, but in the end he lost out for the final seat.



The party is still without a councillor in Longford. However, John Rooney polled well in Ballymahon, with over 500 first preferences.

Longford #LE24 latest - final 3 candidates returned in Longford as SF candidate is eliminated



If this election was to be viewed through a General Election prism, then there are gains for both parties.



Sitting FF TD Joe Flaherty can point to strong vote management by his party in Longford and Ballymahon but Granard was a different story.



Senator Micheal Carrigy will be sore from the loss of the party councillor in his own parish, Colin Dalton (he was elected three times himself).



However, Padraig McNamara replaced Dalton, while both Garry Murtagh and Paraic Brady turned in very strong performances.



Vote management arguably let FG down in the Ballymahon district, as Colm Murray lost his seat.



But Paul Ross topped the poll with 1,300 first preferences and Martin Skelly was returned as a new councillor.

Fine Gael held their three seats in the Longford LEA, with Niall Gannon replacing the retired John Browne.



Overall, it was a local election in Longford where people stuck with the tried and trusted candidates.



There is one less independent in the council chamber than 2019.

LIVE BLOG: Longford voters give their verdict in Local Elections 2024 #LE24 #LocalElections24
A Midlands army sergeant who sexually abused his wifes young niece over a period of six years has been jailed for seven years.

Anthony Canning (74) of Fadden, Carrig, Birr, Co Offaly pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court to two charges of indecent assault, three charges of sexual assault and one charge of oral rape of Celine Daly on dates between December 21, 1987 and December 1993.

James Dwyer SC prosecuting said that Ms Daly, who was between seven and 13 years old at the time of the offences, wished to waive her anonymity in the case so Canning could be named.

Canning, who was married to Ms Dalys aunt, was between 37 and 43 years old during the abuse, which took place in his home.

Ms Daly read her own victim impact statement which said I stand before you not as a victim but as a survivor.

I may become emotional, but that is because I am finally being heard. She described her home as happy and safe and that she did not know fear, but that changed when I was seven.

She said the defendant was in a trusted position in our family and you used this position to gain access to me.

LIVE BLOG: Longford voters give their verdict in Local Elections 2024 #LE24 #LocalElections24

 I held myself back and I lived in fear but not anymore. She said the abuse left a lot of emotional scars which no one can see.

I would not have been able to get through this if not for my partner. I have learned to trust again, but it is not without its struggles.

The woman described, feeling safe for the first time in her life since I was seven, and this is a strange feeling for me.

The woman concluded by saying, I can now see that I played no part in this and that it was not my fault but yours. I finally feel that I can be heard and believed. The night I spoke to the gardai changed my life. I hope now you feel the shame and guilt I have lived with all my life.

Mr Justice Tony Hunt said: I hope that giving this statement will help you heal and move on with the rest of your life.

He said Ms Dalys victim impact statement spoke squarely and directly as to the long term effects of sexual abuse but also the positive impact of making a disclosure to gardai.

A successful outcome can transfer the burden of shame and guilt back to where it belongs on the shoulders of the accused, Mr Justice Hunt said.

He set a headline sentence of 10 years, taking into account the age disparity between Canning and Ms Daly and the fact that the abuse occurred in what was effectively an extension of her home adding that a child should feel safe visiting the home of a relative.

Mr Justice Hunt said the offences represented a serious misconduct towards a young family member over a significant period of time.

He acknowledged that Canning had pleaded guilty which was of significant benefit to Ms Daly and said it would have been traumatic for her to have retell the details of the abuse to a jury of 12 strangers.

Mr Justice Hunt acknowledged Cannings previous good employment record and lack of previous convictions before he imposed a seven-year jail term on the offence of oral rape.

Detective Garda James Kingston told Mr Dwyer that Ms Daly was seven years old when Canning first began to abuse her.

He said Ms Daly would regularly call to Cannings home most Saturdays and recalled that she would be alone in the house with him. She later told gardai the abuse initially involved Canning touching her breasts and vagina.

The court heard that Canning was on a tour of duty in the Lebanon around this time.

Ms Daly also told gardai that during the final incident of sexual abuse Canning forced the girl to perform oral sex on him. She said she was 11 or 12 years old at the time and Canning instructed her what to do.

Ms Daly disclosed the abuse to a friend as a young teenager when she was staying over in their house. It was later reported to the gardai and Canning was ultimately taken in for questioning in April 2021.

Also read: Tributes paid to mother-in-law of Fine Gael candidate killed by cyclist while erecting election posters

Canning told gardai that he had spent his childhood in an orphanage and had served in the defence forces, having gone on four tours of duty in the Lebanon.

He initially denied the allegations but later admitted that he had touched Ms Daly. He claimed he did not touch her sexually.

Canning was due to stand trial in February this year, but pleaded guilty before a jury was selected.

Det Gda Kingston agreed with Coleman Cody SC, defending, that his client has not come to garda attention before, co-operated with the garda investigation and always complied with his bail conditions.

Mr Cody read a short letter of apology from his client to the court: I wish to apologise to you and your family for all the pain and stress that I have caused you.

Mr Cody said there is a very positive probation report before the court, which places his client at low risk of re-offending. He outlined that the defendant has shown remorse for his actions and entered a guilty plea.

Counsel said his client was enlisted in the army for nearly 37 years and was a sergeant, doing four tours abroad. He said his client had problems with alcohol in the past but has now been sober since 1997.

Counsel said that on foot of these charges and the investigation, his client has suffered from anxiety and depression and made an attempt to end his own life. He said apart from these matters, he has never come to garda attention. He is supported by his ex-wife, partner and children.

He asked the court to consider allowing some hope for his client during the construction of a sentence and to consider suspending part of the sentence.
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.
Three people have been arrested in connection with an investigation into the murder of a policeman and the attempted murder of another in 1975.

The trio were detained in relation to the murder of RUC Constable Robert John McPherson and the attempted murder of a second officer in Dungiven, Co Londonderry, on July 26 1975.

Two of the men, aged 73 and 72, were arrested by gardai in Co Meath and Co Donegal on Wednesday morning.

They were due to appear before extradition courts in Dublin later in the day.

An Garda Siochana detectives have arrested two men in Meath and Donegal, in relation to the murder of Constable McPherson and the attempted murder of a second officer in Dungiven in July 1975. A man was also arrested in the Dungiven area. Read more: https://t.co/MvvX2paSjH pic.twitter.com/Kl6sRbqMYQ  Police Service NI (@PoliceServiceNI) June 12, 2024

The Police Service of Northern Ireland said the 72-year-old was arrested on suspicion of murder and the 73-year-old on suspicion of firearms offences linked to the murder and attempted murder.

The arrests were made by the Garda under a Trade and Co-operation Agreement (TaCA) Warrant as part of a joint operation with the PSNI.

In Northern Ireland, PSNI detectives arrested a 71-year-old man in the Dungiven area as part of the same investigation.

He was expected to appear before Londonderry Magistrates Court later on Wednesday.

A decision to prosecute the three individuals was issued by the Northern Ireland Public Prosecution Service prior to the commencement of the UK Governments contentious new legacy laws that seek to limit future Troubles-related cases.

The PSNI said it has been liaising closely with the Garda and that the arrests demonstrate the benefits of joint working between police services and other national partner agencies.
Crime

By Chris Boyle Published: June 12 2024

Robert OBrien crashed into several cars and struck a 70-year-old pedestrian who lost his leg in July 2021.

Nassau County District Attorney Anne T. Donnelly announced that a Bellmore man was sentenced today to four to 12 years in prison for an aggravated vehicular assault that caused a Long Beach man to suffer life-altering injuries in July 2021.

Robert OBrien, 29, pleaded guilty on December 11, 2023, before Judge Teresa Corrigan to Aggravated Vehicular Assault (a C felony); Driving While Intoxicated (an E felony); Leaving the Scene of an Accident with Serious Physical Injury (an E felony); and Assault in the Second Degree (a D violent felony). The defendant was sentenced today to 4 to 12 years in prison. NCDA recommended a sentence of 6 to 15 years in prison.

A Long Beach retiree was looking forward to meeting his first grandchild in July 2021, but instead of traveling to Florida to witness the childs birth, he laid comatose in a hospital bed because of this defendants reckless, intoxicated driving, said DA Donnelly. Though he recovered after months of treatment, OBriens victims right leg was amputated and his dreams of being an active grandfather were destroyed. All because this defendant spent his day drinking at a local bar and then decided to drive. We are rapidly approaching summer on Long Island  some of the deadliest days on our roadways. We urge all drivers, bicyclists, and pedestrians to use caution and common sense.

DA Donnelly said that on July 16, 2021, at approximately 7:58 p.m. at E Park Avenue and Neptune Boulevard in Long Beach, the defendant, driving while intoxicated after a day of drinking at several bars, was driving a 2011 Chrysler 300 with two passengers.

The defendant side-swiped a vehicle that was stopped at a red light and continued driving away from the scene, running a red light, striking another vehicle, and losing control of his car a short distance away.

The defendant then struck a tree, a pole, several other parked vehicles, and a 70-year-old pedestrian in front of a deli on E Park Ave who was picking up dinner for his family.

The pedestrian suffered serious physical injuries which left the man in a medically induced coma for more than two months, and subsequently having to undergo several surgeries, including the amputation of his right leg.

OBrien surrendered to members of the Long Beach Police Department on July 18, 2021.
The U.S. State Departments Rewards for Justice program has offered a $5 million reward for information leading to the capture of Hamza Salih bin Said al-Ghamdi, a veteran member of Al Qaeda who now serves on the terror groups shura, executive leadership council.

Rewards for Justice described Ghamdi, a Saudi citizen, as a key senior leader. Al Qaedas shura consists of the groups top leaders and is responsible for leading the organization, setting strategies and policies, and coordinating with Al Qaedas regional branches.

A legacy Al Qaeda leader

Ghamdis history with Al Qaeda began before the official formation of the terror group. He fought invading Soviet troops alongside [Osama] bin Laden in Afghanistan in the 1980s, and participated in terrorist attacks in Tajikistan in the early 1990s and also operated an [Al Qaeda] guesthouse in Kabul, Afghanistan, according to Rewards for Justice.

Just weeks prior to Al Qaedas attacks on the U.S. on September 11, 2001, Ghamdi was one of Osama bin Ladens most trusted associates and head of bin Ladens security detail. Only the most dependable and loyal Al Qaeda members were assigned to protect bin Laden. Members of bin Ladens bodyguard have not surprisingly since risen to the top of Al Qaeda leadership.

Rewards for Justice noted that Ghamdi fought in the last battle of Tora Bora in Afghanistan in Dec. 2001. The U.S. military, along with several Afghan militias, attempted to capture or kill bin Laden and hundreds of Al Qaeda leaders and members during the battle of Tora Bora, but they slipped through the mountains and escaped into Pakistan.

From bodyguard to a member of Al Qaedas shura

Ghamdis role as a member of Al Qaedas shura was disclosed in a a letter in which he pledged to abide by [Al Qaedas] line of succession. The letter was presumably written after the death of Ayman al Zawahiri, bin Ladens successor who was killed in a U.S. drone strike in July 2022 while he was sheltering in a Taliban safe house in the Afghan capital of Kabul.

Ghamdi revealed in that pledge letter that he was now part of the organizations shura council. He also worked with senior AQ leaders Abd al-Rahman al-Maghrebi and the now-deceased Ayman al-Zawahiri.

Where is Ghamdi: Afghanistan or Iran?

Rewards for Justice does not say where Ghamdi is believed to be based, however a clue to his whereabouts was provided in the announcement of the reward.

[Ghamdi] also worked with senior [Al Qaeda] leaders Abd al-Rahman al-Maghrebi and the now-deceased Ayman al-Zawahiri, Rewards for Justice stated.

Maghrebi, who is reportedly Al Qaedas deputy emir, and Al Qaeda leader Sayf al Adl are known to be based in Iran, although both leaders have reportedly traveled to Afghanistan from time to time. Zawahiri was, of course, living in Kabul at the time of his death.

The United Nations Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team has reported that Al Qaeda maintains safe houses in Herat, Farah and Helmand to facilitate the movement [of members] between Afghanistan and the Islamic Republic of Iran.

The Monitoring Team also has reported that an Al Qaeda leader known as Abdul Rahman al-Ghamdi serves as a liaison to Adl and Maghrebi when they travel between Iran and Afghanistan. A U.S. intelligence official told FDDs Long War Journal that Abdul Rahman al-Ghamdi and Hamza Salih bin Said al-Ghamdi are cousins.

Given these facts, it is highly likely Ghamdi is based in either Afghanistan or Iran. Al Qaeda has built a considerable amount of infrastructure, including training camps, safe houses, religious schools, and a weapons depot and media operations center since the Taliban seized control of Afghanistan. And Iran has sheltered Al Qaedas top leaders, including bin Ladens family, Adl, and Maghrebi since the collapse of the Talibans previous government in 2001.

Bill Roggio is a Senior Fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies and the Editor of FDD's Long War Journal.
Last month I stepped into the breach to bravely defend a trillion-dollar corporation from social-media criticism: I felt that viewers of Apples new Crush iPad ad were being hypersensitive and overly literal in ascribing to it motives of contempt for creatives. But no good deed goes unpunished.

First, Apple inconsiderately apologized for the ad that I had said was fine, and conceded that it had missed the mark. (Thanks a lot, guys!) And then the company announced a series of AI features at WWDC that dont just imply contempt for the creative professions, they shout it from the rooftops.

Over the past couple of years, its been pretty difficult to ignore the march of generative AI, with the world and his wife rushing to write sub-Vice think pieces about how much ChatGPT and its ilk have revolutionized the way they work or study. But the technology is likely to have loomed particularly large for illustrators, freelance writers and copy editors, many of whom report that work is already drying up as clients cut costs by using AI options instead. To add insult to financial injury, theyre sure to be called Luddites any time they dare to complain about the situation; it must be tempting to emulate their 19th-century counterparts and smash a few looms.

How galling, then, for Applea company which only last month claimed contritely that it wants to empower creatives all over the worldto now add its products to the army of digital looms churning out text and art with no human input required. Once Apple Intelligence rolls out later this year, the iPhone, iPad, and Mac will all be able to rewrite your emails for you or make images and custom emojis based on your photos and prompts. To which one can only respond: hooray.

I will gloss over the text side of things since as a writer I have something of a conflict of interest. (I mean, I wasnt planning to come to your house and rewrite your emails. But the technology in the broader sense will inevitably be used to reduce the number of people employed as professional writers and copy-editors, or to replace them with others who are less experienced and therefore cheaper.) Lets focus instead on the art. The crappy, crappy art.

Oh, you want your artwork to look like the icon for a free iPhone game? Thats handy. Oh, you want your artwork to look like the icon for a free iPhone game? Thats handy. Apple Oh, you want your artwork to look like the icon for a free iPhone game? Thats handy. Apple Apple

Because obviously, the art is bad, in the way that almost all AI art is bad: joyless and bland and always somehow the same, in that curiously heightened, uniformly lit CGI manner. (The Macalope observes accurately that the feature can handle anything from my mom in a cape and costume but remove her soul to my friend in front of a birthday cake but remove her soul.) Anyone whos spent time using generative AI programs will be familiar with that nagging sense that they ignore instructions such as in the style of Francis Bacon or like a 1950s movie poster and just blithely produce exactly the CGI monstrosity you were always going to get. Its a little like that old British beer advert about a barber who does haircuts in the style of Lionel Blair.

But Lionel Blair doesnt have his hair cut like that, a customer replies. He does if he comes here.

Part of the reason Gen AI is so tedious is its lack of originality. Gen AI cannot create art in the true sense because it has no means to do so; it can only learn from the things in its data set and copy those, to a greater or lesser extent. The art it creates has already been created by thousands of human artists. What comes out is a bad photocopy: blended and tweaked enough to avoid falling foul of copyright law, naturally, but fundamentally unoriginal.

Apple Apple Apple

Of course, the genie was already out of the bottle when it comes to generative AI, and Apples belated entry into the sector doesnt change much in the short term: Illustrators were already getting undercut (in both price and quality) by AI alternatives, and image-sharing websites were already being flooded by low-effort AI pap. Indeed, it was already possible to use ChatGPT and numerous other gen AI programs on Apple products; theres even an app for the Apple Watch called Petey.

Whats different about this is the way that Apple is bringing it in-house: making it official, and giving it the stamp of approval. Until now Gen AI has always seemed a little grimy, a little controversial. But if good old wholesome Apple thinks its worthy of a place on the iPhone? It must be fine. And before long our least tech-savvy relatives will be noticing the feature on their iPads and getting in on the craze. Which will be dreadful on an individual level, since the emojis will be bad. But also a further widespread eroding of the idea that custom art is something worth paying for, and yet another nail in the coffin of the creative professions.

In some ways, this is a classic Sherlocking move: that dreaded maneuver where Apple notices the success of a third-party app and replicates it as a free feature in macOS or iOS, thus instantly dooming the smaller company to a fiery demise. In this case, the Sherlocked service is us, the people who use our Apple devices to create things and make art. You know, the people Apple loves so much.

And if that isnt crushing, I dont know what is.
At the age of 16 while still in high school, Max ORourke attended Django Camp in Northampton to learn more about jazz manouche, also referred to as hot club-style jazz.

Now years later, ORourke is teaching at this weeks Django Camp and this weekend will participate in one of two concerts at Northamptons Academy of Music to highlight for the public the subgenre of jazz.

Fridays concert features Brad Brose and his Bad Bros along with Jean-Claude Laudat and Jean-Yves Dubanton, while ORourke and his band will perform on Saturday along with Les Violons de Bruxelles.

Both shows begin at 7:30 p.m.

Jean Reinhardt, better known by his Romani nickname Django, was an innovative Romani-Belgian jazz guitarist and composer considered to be one of the most innovational European musicians of the twentieth century. He is credited as the father of jazz manouche dating back to the 1930s in Paris playing alongside violinist Stephane Grappelli in the Quintette du Hot Club de France. Jazz manouche is characterized by its rapid, uniquel form of strumming on the rhythm guitar.

The weeklong Django Camp at Smith College, which began on Monday, June 10, and ends Sunday morning, gives musicians the opportunity to immerse themselves in jazz manouche under the tutelage of world-class artists from both sides of the Atlantic. It was started in 2007 by guitarist Andrew Lawrence.

I went to France in 2003 on the 50th anniversary of Djangos death to attend one of the big jazz festivals dedicated to this style of jazz. When I walked into the campground, people were jamming and just hanging out together, and I realized right away that this was a very different style of jazz guitar playing......the improvisation, the right hand technique and strumming style.....and I had never heard American jazz guitarists back home play in that way, Lawrence said.

That give him an idea.

When I returned home it occurred to me, although North Americans have been playing Djangos music for a long time, they were playing it with a strong American accent because many had never seen it performed in European style. I thought others would be interested in learning how the Europeans do it. So, I brought several guitarists over to demonstrate their style for a one-day event, which has now turned into our weeklong camp, he added.

Fridays concert begins with Brad Brose, who is among the most widely-travelled of North American jazz manouche guitarists. The Bad Bros of his band range the map as well with violinist Adrien Chevalier who hails from France, drummer Uri Zelig from Israel, and bassist Abe Pollack from Seattle.

Accordionist Jean-Claude Laudat hails from the Bastille district of Paris, a stones throw from the famous Rue de Lappe known in Djangos era as the center of the swing musette scene. He and guitarist/vocalist Jean-Yves Dubanton have been carrying the flame of that tradition since the mid-90s, sprinkling it with French chanson and jazz manouche.

Saturdays concert begins with ORourke, who not much later after attending his first Django in June, went on to win the 2015 Saga Award at DjangoFest Northwest. The guitarist attended Berklee College of Music and later toured with elite American jazz manouche musicians John Jorgenson and Gonzalo Bergara. ORourke has put a special group of musicians together for the concert including clarinetist Evan Arntzen, Sami Arefin on rhythm guitar and Abe Pollack on bass.

I was introduced to the style of jazz manouche by my guitar instructor. I didnt get it, but went home and looked it up on YouTube. What I saw were some amazing guitar players and musicians. I couldnt even get close to what they were doing. I became obsessed to find out how they did it. Then it just happened that I was in the right place at the right time. The band Hot Club of San Francisco, famous for playing jazz manouche, came to town, then a one-hand style guitar showed up in a music store and I was on my way to learning more about jazz manouche. I took a lesson from Greg Ryan who told me about Django in June. It was my first time playing with other community musicians, jazz manouche is meant to be played in a group. It supercharged me and I was on my way to learning even more, ORourke said.

ORourke noted there are a number of things that excite the guitarist about jazz manouche.

The music is very driving and depends on energetically intense rhythm guitar playing. Its full-steam ahead just like a train. The music is very playful and spontaneous and melancholic with a lot of facets happening at the same time resulting in a quirky and weird interpretation of old American jazz, he said.

Tcha Limberger, who takes the Academy of Music stage after ORourke, heads up Les Violons de Bruxelles, one of the most inventive and entertaining groups playing what can be called inverted jazz manouche. Most often the instrumental formula for groups playing in this style is that of the legendary Hot Club de France - a violin or clarinet, a lead guitar, one or two rhythm guitars and a double bass. Les Violons takes that formula and turns it on its head with a single guitar and bassist along with three violins.

Tickets are $30 in advance and $35 at the door and are available on the Academy of Music website.

For more information on Django in June, visit djangoinjune.com.
Fans of the 1990s punk rock band NOFX will have one last chance to catch the group live later this year.

The California-based band, best known for their 1994 album Punk in Drublic, announced on Instagram Wednesday that they will be playing their final performances on Oct. 4-6 in Los Angeles, California.

Its fitting that the band ends their career where they started it in 1983, the post reads. Performing with NOFX at their final performances are some of their closest friends from over the years.

Guest bands include Dropkick Murphys, Descendents, Pennywise and more. In case you cant make it to California those days, you can see NOFX one last time in Massachusetts.

The band will perform at Campanelli Stadium in Brockton on Saturday, Aug. 31, and Sunday, Sept. 1, according to the bands tour page. More information about the tour can be found on NOFXs website.

Cited as a major influence by other punk rock bands like Blink-182, Sum 41, and Unwritten Law, NOFX is one of the most successful independent bands in history with more than 8 million records sold worldwide, the bands profile on Apple Music states.

NOFXs mainstream success coincided with increased interest in punk rock during the 1990s. Punk in Drublic is the bands only release to be certified gold by the RIAA.

With more than 1 million units sold worldwide, the album is one of the top 10 best-selling punk albums of all time, according to Punkuation Magazine.

NOFX has released 15 studio albums to date and gained recent popularity with their album Double Album, which was released on Dec. 2, 2022.
A Salem witch didnt cast the right kind of spell to make it through to the next round of Americas Got Talent this week.

The Salem character witch Borah Brewington Snaggletooth XIII, also called Borah, usually roams the streets of the city welcoming and entertaining people as well as helping educate visitors about Salems rich history, Salems Black Hat Society said.

But Borah took a bigger stage Tuesday night, moving from the streets of Salem to the largest talent show competition.

In full witch garb alongside a cauldron, Borah started by threatening judge Simon Cowell with a curse early on, which lost the crowd, Americas Got Talent said.

Borah even attempted to put a hex on everyone in the room, the website Gold Derby reported.

Borah then started to tap dance, which did not impress judges. Shortly after, all four judges hit their X buttons, leaving Borah unable to pass the audition round and exiting the stage to the sound of audience boos.

The audition portion of the show will continue every Tuesday at 8 p.m. until July 23. It can also be streamed on platforms like Peacock and FuboTV anytime. Both platforms offer a free trial for those interested in signing up for a membership.
One Massachusetts town is one of the best beach towns in the country to celebrate the Fourth of July, a release said.

For this Fourth of July, the website SIXT looked the top destinations to celebrate the holiday, highlighting beach towns with fireworks displays and family fun activities.

Nantucket was named the fifth best beach town in the country to celebrate the Fourth of July by the study.

Using Google Trends, the website analyzed various searches relating to Fourth of July for the past month. It also used Enjoy Travel list of the 50 Best Coastal Towns in the United States to identify popular beach towns in the US and then ranked them by popularity of relevant TikTok videos and amount of Fourth of July activities available.

Nantucket offers unique coastal vibes like no other. Fourth of July is an incredibly fun and special day on the island, featuring food trucks, bike parades and most notably, a water competition between the Nantucket Fire Department and Boynton Lane Reserves, SIXT wrote about the town.

Natucket was listed by the website as having 11 Fourth of July activities with around 1.6 million views on TikTok.

Topping the list for the best beach town in the country was Southport, North Carolina. It was listed by the website as having 19 Fourth of July activities and 1 million views on TikTok.
A man who was killed in a stabbing in Brockton on Monday has been identified, and the suspected stabber was arrested in Vermont, Plymouth County District Attorney Tim Cruzs office announced.

William Hewlett, 59, died from his injuries from the double-stabbing, Cruzs office said in a statement. Another man, 61, was treated and released from South Shore Hospital.

Kevin Digregorio, 33, of Randolph, will be arraigned in Brockton District Court and faces a murder charge after the outcome of the rendition process from Vermont to Massachusetts,

At around 7:40 p.m. on Monday, Massachusetts State Police detectives were notified by Brockton police of a double stabbing at 23 Melrose Avenue, with two injured men taken to the hospital, Cruzs office said.

As the investigation evolved, State Police obtained an arrest warrant for Digregorio, of Randolph, Cruzs office said. He was found in a car along a road in Lunenberg, Vermont, by Vermont State Police and U.S. Marshals before he was placed into custody.

The investigation into the stabbing remains ongoing. So far, it is not believed to be a random act of violence, read the statement from Cruzs office.
About 60 boxer dogs of all ages were surrendered this week from a property in Essex County, making it the largest local surrender the MSPCA says its had in almost a decade and filling its shelter cages to capacity.

Police in Merrimac and Haverhill, as well as from Windham, New Hampshire are investigating the circumstances of the situation that resulted in the June 11 surrender, according to a press release from MSPCA-Angell.

The dogs are now resting and recuperating as MSPCA members are completing health evaluations after being informed of unsanitary and overcrowded living conditions, MSPCA-Angell Vice President of Animal Protection Mike Keiley said.

The dogs are still in confined spaces due to how many were surrendered. Keiley said although many of dogs at the shelter were adopted the week prior during the organizations adoptathon, given the immense size of this surrender, were already back at capacity.

The cost of caring for the dozens of dogs and availability of resources is another issue Keiley emphasized. Having this many animals come into our care so quickly is extremely taxing on all our resources. Keiley estimates the dogs care will cost more than $10,000.

While adoption dates are expected to open as early as June 17, Keiley said help is needed now and encourages people to adopt dogs already in the shelter or help foster newer arrivals.

A Boxer being removed from the Essex County property on June 11.MSPCA-Angell

Its critical that we make space in the shelters so that we can continue to be there for people in the community who need to surrender, but right now that will be extremely challenging. Keiley said. We want to get these dogs into new homes as soon as theyre ready, so that theyre able to get the love and attention they deserve, while also opening up kennel space that would allow us to take in animals from local surrenders and transfers from local animal control departments, as well as out-of-state transports.

The boxers will be added to the MSPCAs available animals page at mspca.org/adoptadog as they become available for adoption. They will be adopted out of the MSPCAs shelters in Boston, Methuen, and Salem during open hours, which vary by location.

Those interested in learning more about fostering a dog can find information at mspca.org/foster.

Those interested in donating to help offset costs may do so at mspca.org/boxers.
A 24-year-old woman who is accused of shooting and killing her parents in their car last week has a long-standing, serious mental illness which has at times required in-patient treatment, her lawyer told MassLive on Wednesday, adding that the illness manifested itself in the killings.

Jessica Cavallaro, of Bedford, is charged with two counts each of murder and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon causing serious bodily injury as well as a charge of carrying a firearm without a license. Prosecutors say she returned home from work early on the morning of June 6 and shot her parents, Mark Cavallaro and Thelma Tatten, as they prepared to head to breakfast that morning.

Jessica Cavallaros boyfriends father, David Marchesini, told police she had reported having a panic attack that morning.

On Wednesday, attorney Lorenzo Perez, who is representing Cavallaro, told MassLive that she suffers from a long-standing, serious mental illness, which has required in-patient treatment at times.

She is extremely well-regarded as a kind, helpful, and sensitive person, appreciated and loved by so many who have known her (school, work, community, and family), Perez said.

Read more: Bedford father killed Thursday was open about mental health struggles on social media

Perez said her mental illness manifested itself in the taking of her parents lives, the two people she loved most.

Cavallaro is now being evaluated and treated in a secured setting, he said.

Her father, Mark Cavallaro, was set to be honored for his own mental health advocacy on the day he was killed, according to social media postings.

Mark Cavallaro was being recognized at The Edinburg Centers annual Night of Shining Stars, held last week. On Facebook, he posted about his own struggles with mental illness, particularly social anxiety and bipolar disorder.

Being around people is a HUGE struggle for me, Cavallaro wrote, adding that he had found refuge at the center, based in Bedford, where he and Tatten lived. Sessions he participated in at the center taught him how to feel better about myself in a realistic and positive way and he began teaching a guitar group there, he wrote.

None of this could ever have happened without their support, Cavallaro said.

A Facebook post on Wednesday includes his name on the list of recipients of winners of shining stars from the center along with 19 other people.

During Jessica Cavallaros arraignment last week, Middlesex County Assistant District Attorney Suzanne Wiseman said Bedford police were called to Washington Street around 9 a.m. Thursday by the owner of the home Cavallaro was living in who reported the incident.

The homeowner told police the gun used in the killings was still inside the car where Cavallaros parents were.

When police arrived at 11 Washington St., they found two individuals  later identified as Mark Cavallaro and Thelma Tatten  unconscious with gunshot wounds to the head in the two front seats of a car.

Tatten was pronounced dead at the scene and Cavallaro was taken to an area hospital, where he later died.

Wiseman told Judge Lynn C. Brendemuehl that Jessica Cavallaro had gone to work earlier Thursday morning as normal before returning home unexpectedly.

Cavallaro was then set to go to breakfast with her parents and entered the car, where prosecutors say she shot them.

She came back in the house and then she announced that she had killed her parents, Wiseman said.

Jessica Cavallaro was arraigned in Concord District Court and charged with murder in the deaths of her parents in Bedford on Thursday, June 6, 2024. (Lane Turner/Globe Staff)Lane Turner/Globe Staff

Jessica Cavallaro does not have a prior criminal record, according to prosecutors.

Speaking to reporters after the arraignment, Perez called the case a tragedy but said little information was immediately available.

Its absolutely mind-bogglingly difficult to understand because we dont have any information, Perez said. Theres just a dearth of information here, heartbreaking tragedy, but dearth of information.

As Cavallaro was booked at the Bedford Police Station, an officer observed that she appeared as though she had been crying, with mascara appearing to run on the skin under her eyes. But, police say she was largely quiet throughout the process.

Cavallaro told police she was thinking about suicide, and an officer deemed her a moderate risk.

Perez said he anticipates spending much of the summer gathering information about the case.

This is too complex and traumatic of a case, too devastating of a case that anybody is going to have insight into this for weeks and months, he said after Cavallaros arraignment. Well let the doctors do their thing and well try to get some insight into whats going on.

Cavallaro is set to return to court for a pre-trial hearing on August 20, but Perez said he did not anticipate that court date would give us any answers.
A man who owns a North End restaurant and was accused of opening fire in the neighborhood last year had his bail revoked after police say he violated his probation by cutting off the monitoring device he had been ordered to wear.

Patrick Mendoza was arrested Saturday night around 10:15 p.m. on a warrant for the violation, according to Boston police. As he was being taken into police custody, he told officers he had taken the device off because he was tired and sick of it, according to an arrest report obtained by MassLive.

Mendoza faces charges of assault by means of a dangerous weapon, assault and battery by means of a dangerous weapon and assault and battery in connection with an incident where he is accused of shooting at a man outside Modern Pastry at 257 Hanover St. around 11:10 p.m. on July 12, 2023. No one was hurt in the shooting, but a bullet shattered the bakerys window.

After his second arrest on Saturday, Mendoza made a pair of court appearances this week and ultimately had his bail revoked for a minimum of 90 days, the Suffolk County District Attorneys office confirmed.

During the booking process Saturday, police say Mendoza told officers he was definitely going to kill somebody, according to the report.

The report notes that Mendoza had been going through it and exhibiting erratic behavior. He was extremely stressed about the criminal case pending against him, the report reads.

WCVB reported Mendoza is one of the owners of Monicas Trattoria on Prince Street, an Italian restaurant that is a short walk away from Modern Pastry.

Mendozas arrest on Saturday opens up the original charges he faced, Sgt. Detective John Boyle, a Boston police spokesman, told MassLive.
Cambridge police are investigating a sexual assault Tuesday, where a person woke up in a parking lot in the citys Central Square to discover they had been assaulted.

The person who had been assaulted told police that around 12:20 a.m. they were talking to three people on the 200 block of Franklin Street, which is near the Central Square branch of the Cambridge Public Library. But, they said, they have no memory of what took place following that conversation, according to a statement from Cambridge Police.

The person then woke up in a parking lot in Central Square and determined they had been assaulted, police said. They were taken to a hospital for treatment, according to police.

Cambridge Police have assigned additional patrols to the Central Square area as a precaution and urged any residents to call 911 immediately if they feel threatened or see any suspicious activity. Anyone with information about the assault is encouraged to contact police at 617-349-9151.
When MK was found on the ground in Arlingtons Mount Pleasant Cemetery last winter, the bald eagle was severely anemic, lethargic and struggled to stand.

The emblem bird of prey died less than two days later after spontaneously hemorrhaging, rat poison the suspected killer. She was the fourth bald eagle in Massachusetts since 2021 whose death has been connected to rodenticides, the spectrum of chemical pesticides that kill rodents.

What MKs death spotlighted for many is the grisly byproduct of these pesticides, that they can also kill the animals that eat rodents. Her story has furthered an effort in Massachusetts to end the use of second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides (SGARs), the most potent kinds that prevent blood clotting.

Shes the animal that is pushing this paradigm, said Rachel Mathews, an animal rights attorney.

Meanwhile, pest management professionals contend rodenticides are one tool of many they can deploy depending on a situation  and an important one, at that.

Future anticipated action from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on SGARs could also dictate what direction the Commonwealth takes.

A rodenticide bait box pictured in downtown Boston.Hadley Barndollar

Rodenticides have been used for decades as a tool to manage rodent-related diseases and damage, from urban cities to farmland. Theyre most commonly seen in the form of black bait boxes.

The chemicals move through the food web, ultimately impacting predators such as owls, hawks, eagles, foxes, coyotes, fishers and bobcats. For this, wildlife advocates have been doggedly ringing the alarm.

There have been inconclusive but persistent legislative efforts on Beacon Hill to lessen the use of SGARs. At the community-level, local action has been taken in towns such as Arlington, Lexington and Newbury  bans on municipally-owned properties, town meeting resolutions and home rule petitions.

When MK died, hundreds of people rallied at Arlington Town Hall to mourn her and push lawmakers to further restrict SGARS. Just months earlier, in January 2023, Arlington had taken its own steps to ban SGARs on all town-owned properties as a result of prior citizen activism.

Now, the Harvard Law School Animal Law and Policy Clinic is working to gain ground with the agency that oversees rodenticides in the state.

Representing a handful of wildlife rehabilitators, the clinic is petitioning the Department of Agricultural Resources, arguing its annual registrations of anticoagulant rodenticides go against the states own Pesticide Control Act, which allows for pesticides that will not cause unreasonable adverse effects on the environment.

What are the rules around these rat poisons?

Rodenticides are regulated at both the federal and state levels. Per EPA restrictions, SGARs, the more potent of rodenticides, cant be sold for individual consumer use, but licensed pest professionals and agricultural users are permitted to use them and do.

The EPA cut off retail sales of SGARS in 2015, but they can still be purchased online in commercial use quantities.

In Massachusetts, in order to sell or use a rodenticide, manufacturers have to apply to register their product with the five-member Pesticide Board Subcommittee of the states Department of Agricultural Resources.

Registrations expire on June 30 of each year and must be renewed, meaning the state reviews its allowable rodenticides annually. All rodenticides in Massachusetts, including SGARs, are classified as general use versus restricted use, the latter of which requires advanced licensing.

A harmful poison or vital tool

The petition from the Animal Law and Policy Clinic  which includes photos of a hawk bleeding from its beak and an emaciated young fox  requests that the Department of Agricultural Resources immediately suspend all registrations of anticoagulant rodenticide products and conduct an individual review of their active ingredients before determining future eligibility.

What our petition argues is that poisoning raptors and coyotes and foxes and all of those animals who eat rodents, we believe that that is an unreasonable, adverse effect on the environment, said Mathews, a former clinical instructor at the Animal Law and Policy Clinic who helped write the petition.

In a statement in response to the petition, a spokesperson for the Department of Agricultural Resources said theyre currently reviewing the request while keeping an eye on expected action by the EPA.

In 2022, the EPA issued a proposed interim decision that would put in place new rodenticide restrictions. The proposal, which applies to 11 total types of rodenticides, would classify all SGARs as restricted use pesticides.

EPA is currently still in its review phase of the (proposed interim decision) and MDAR awaits the agencys final decision, the state agencys spokesperson said.

MDAR would not comment on what the suspension of registrations, as requested in the petition, would mean in practice.

David Flynn, president of the New England Pest Management Association and operations manager at Burgess Pest Management in West Bridgewater, described rodenticides as one tool in the toolbox of techniques, a vital one to employ when needed.

Our industry, weve spent a lot of our training focusing on all sorts of other tools, whether it be site sanitation, exclusion tactics, old-school trapping, Flynn said. Theres also newer products that focus on CO2 and treating burrows with dry ice. All of those can be effective, but you also need to be able to have rodenticide. There has to be some use of rodenticide.

He cited an urban apartment building as an example where rodenticides may be the desired method of control. While traps are great, he said, most only catch one rodent and they have to be checked daily, making them an uneconomical and inconvenient option in that particular scenario.

Flynn argued a bait box could last for over a month before a pest control service has to service it again.

If SGARs in Massachusetts were reclassified as "restricted use," businesses or individuals using them would need a certified pesticide license, which isnt required for those applying general use pesticides.

Flynns industry has been closely tracking possible changes coming down the pipeline. In fact, theyve come to expect them.

Were not standing on the side saying, We need rodenticides because thats all were going to apply, Flynn said. Its one tool. We are, as an association and my business, we are teaching and training other tactics for rodent control.

These beautiful animals bleeding out

After they all bled to death, Erin Hutchings lined up the family of deceased great horned owls for photographic proof.

The mother had been discovered dead at the base of a tree, and one of her owlets was dead in the nest overhead. A second later perished at a nearby wildlife rehabilitation center.

A necropsy of the trio later performed at Kansas State University confirmed widespread hemorrhaging caused by anticoagulant rodenticide toxicity  death by rat poison.

These reoccurring stories are mostly the same, just different cities and towns. This time was in Framingham in April.

Pictured are three great horned owls that died from rodenticide poisoning in April 2024 in Framingham.Erin Hutchings/Cape Ann Wildlife

Im sick of seeing it, these beautiful animals bleeding out and theres nothing I can do about it at end stage, said Hutchings, a rehabilitator at Gloucester-based Cape Ann Wildlife. And treatment is exhausting. Its physically and emotionally taxing, these animals I volunteer my life for.

In 2020, Tufts Wildlife Clinic tested a sample of more than 40 Massachusetts red-tailed hawks, finding that 100% of them were positive for anticoagulant rodenticides with SGARS identified most commonly.

By analyzing Department of Agricultural Resources data, Mathews said they found that Massachusetts commercial applicators used over half a million pounds of anticoagulant rodenticides in 2022 alone, and 96% were SGARs.

As of March 26 of this year, the Pesticide Board Subcommittee had registered 71 pesticide products containing SGARs for use in Massachusetts.

When Hutchings, a veterinary tech, started in volunteer animal rehabilitation, most bird injuries and deaths she saw were due to vehicle strikes. Rodenticides have since surpassed those, she believes.

Youre taking away those natural predators that we need around here to control the rodent population, Hutchings said. Its screwing up the whole system.

Rats are a growing national conversation

The petition to suspend certain rat poison registrations in the state comes amid heightened national conversation about the long-tailed rodents and how theyre impacting quality of life for people who reside in cities, as well as health and sanitary conditions.

The Boston City Council recently floated the idea, and not for the first time, of a new pest control office, as rat populations appear to be on the rise in major cities. Between 2020 and 2022, the number of rat-related complaints by Boston residents rose by 86%.

This fall, New York City, which last year appointed its first rat czar, will host the first National Urban Rat Summit, Mayor Eric Adams administration recently announced.

Mathews, the animal rights attorney, argued the visual presence of rats in cities is partly attributable to societys dependance on rodenticides.

I want to address this idea that theres a rat problem because were seeing rats outside, she said. If you take a stroll anywhere around Boston or Cambridge, or anywhere in an urban place, you see bait boxes everywhere. And those boxes are out in the open on the streets and sidewalks, and theyre filled with bait that is designed to attract rats. Its a buffet for rodents.

Read more: Boston looks to grab rat problem by the tail with new pest control office

In April, speaking to the Boston City Council, Robert Corrigan, an urban rodentologist and worldwide expert on rats, said he often sees people relying on bait boxes. Instead, he said, they should be focusing on the root causes of why rats are making themselves known.

Cities should be improving the storage and management of trash at both commercial and residential properties, Corrigan argued, such as high-quality metal or heavy-duty plastic containers.

Theres increased interest among city leaders in discussing alternatives outside of rodenticides, whats often referred to as integrated pest management, deemed by the EPA as a multi-strategy environmentally sensitive approach to dealing with rodents.

An emerging topic of conversation is rodent birth control. Boston is currently running a pilot program in Jamaica Plain that administers contraceptives to rats. Newton began using ContraPest, the first and only EPA approved birth control for rats, in 2021.

As mentioned by Flynn, the New England Pest Management Association president, the city of Boston uses carbon monoxide sprayers to target rodent burrow systems.
Testimony is underway in the Karen Read trial, a Mansfield woman charged in the death of her Boston police officer boyfriend, John OKeefe.

MassLive reporters will provide updates below throughout the day.

Read more: Everyone you need to know to understand the Karen Read trial

4 p.m. update: State Police Detective Lt. Brian Tully takes the stand

Massachusetts State Police Detective Lt. Brian Tully on the witness stand. The Karen Read murder trial in Norfolk Superior Court, Dedham Massachusetts on Wednesday, June 12, 2024. Pool Photo by Greg Derr/Patriot Ledger

The next witness to take the was State Police Detective Lt. Brian Tully, the unit commander for the Norfolk County state police detective unit.

Tully said that shortly after 7 a.m. on Jan. 29, 2022, he received a call from Sgt. Yuri Bukhenik about OKeefe being found unresponsive in Canton and brought to Good Samaritan Medical Center but not expected to survive.

Tully said normally, he would not receive a call such as that, but Bukhenik wanted to alert him since OKeefe was an active member of Boston police.

In a conversation on the morning of Jan. 29, 2022, Tully and the then Canton police chief, Kenneth Berkowitz, decided that due to an appearance of a conflict, Canton police would take a step back and state police would investigate without them.

The Norfolk district attorney, Michael Morrissey, was part of that conversation, according to Tully.

The role of Canton police would be to provide support and resources, Tully said.

Norfolk prosecutor Adam Lally asked Tully if he knew about Proctors text messages. Tully said he had a long conversation with Proctor, expressed his displeasure and reported it up the chain of command.

Tully agreed he admonished Proctor during that conversation.

Lally showed photographs of a state police search team at 34 Fairview Road on Jan. 29, 2022, in the evening, including photos of OKeefes shoe and pieces of plastic.

Tully showed the courtroom a white and black Nike sneaker from an evidence bag and collected at the scene.

Judge Beverly Cannone sent jurors home at 4 p.m. The trial will resume on Thursday.

3:30 p.m. update: Trooper Proctors testimony wraps up

Massachusetts State Trooper Michael Proctor faces a tough cross-examination by lawyer Alan Jackson. The Karen Read murder trial in Norfolk Superior Court, Dedham Massachusetts on Wednesday, June 12, 2024 Pool Photo by Greg Derr/Patriot Ledger

Prosecutor Adam Lally began re-direct questioning and picked up on whether in August 2022 Trooper Michael Proctor disliked defense attorney Michael Yannetti.

Well basically he stood up in open court and spouted lie after lie about me, called me corrupt and conflicted, dragged my name through the mud after I spent ten-plus years without a single complaint filed against me, Proctor said. He had no basis and no facts for these wild accusations because there are none. This investigation was done with the utmost integrity.

Proctor also said that Yannetti showed up at his sisters school with a witness and private investigator the day before, on Tuesday, June 11.

Proctors sister asked him if she was being served, but then defense attorney Alan Jackson interrupted and the attorneys met with the judge for a private conversation.

The judge told jurors that she was striking out completely from the record the testimony about Yannetti visiting his sister.

Lally asked why in August 2022, Proctor said he hated Yannetti. Proctor reiterated it was based on statements made in court.

Lally then asked whether there was any evidence during the investigation showed that anyone besides Read had anything to do with OKeefes death.

Proctor said all information gathered showed that no one else was responsible for his death.

Proctor also told Lally that the defense had previously filed photographs with the court that they purported to be children from the McCabe family at his parents house. Proctor said they were not photos of McCabe family members, but children from his family.

Lally asked why Proctor did not focus on Brian Albert as part of his investigation.

There was just no evidence that Mr. Albert was involved in any way, Proctor said, based on witness interviews, to Reads statements, shoe and taillight pieces, and injuries to OKeefe.

During the course of Jan. 29, 2022, Proctor said investigators learned that OKeefe did not enter the house and that Read and OKeefe got into an argument before she left.

Proctor said prior to interviewing Julie and Chris Albert as part of the investigation, he could not recall the last time they spoke.

Lally asked about Colin Albert and the information Proctor knew about being at 34 Fairview Road.

Proctor said Colin Albert showed up for about an hour, ran into his aunt and uncle as his ride arrived out front, and left around 12:10 a.m.

Proctor said the timing was provided by Colin Albert. Based on OKeefes cell phone location data, he was still half a mile away and their paths did not cross.

Lally asked why Colin Albert was eventually interviewed as part of the investigation.

Colin was a subject of a third party culprit (defense) that had no evidence to back that up that he was involved whatsoever, Proctor said. My office and myself felt the need to interview Colin, to sit him down and get his story, facts of the evening.

Lally reviewed many of the aspects of the case with Proctor and what the investigators concluded.

Based on all the physical evidence and facts, Mr. OKeefe got out of that vehicle holding that cocktail class he walked out of the Waterfall bar with, Ms. Read pulled ahead and then backed into him, struck him with her vehicle and then left, Proctor said.

Proctors testimony wrapped up with brief questioning by Jackson who reiterated that Proctor was the lead investigator who quickly concluded that Read was the sole suspect.

2:30 p.m. update: Shame on you, sir, defense tells Trooper Proctor

When the trial resumed after lunch, defense attorney Alan Jackson questioned Trooper Michael Proctor about the video footage related to the case.

Jackson asked about Ring video footage from OKeefes house. Proctor had obtained OKeefes cell phone and viewed videos from the Ring app.

Jackson asked if Proctor ever deleted any Ring videos from the app, which Proctor denied.

A portion of the Ring video  when Read arrived at the house at about 12:41 a.m. on Jan. 29, 2022  is missing from the Ring footage.

Jackson showed Proctor a copy of handwritten notes from another state trooper, David DiCicco, where DiCicco noted Read arrived home at 12:41 a.m.

Jackson said that video footage, from when ico wrote the handwritten notes to the present, is gone.

At some point, while this footage was in Massachusetts State Police custody ... that video existed, didnt it? Jackson asked. The prosecution objected and the judge sustained.

Jackson asked whether Read was treated differently than the Alberts and the McCabes in the case.

Absolutely not, Proctor said. We followed the facts and the evidence with an open mind.

Jackson asked whether Proctor developed a hatred for Read.

Proctor said police followed the facts and evidence, at times it got emotional, and at times, texted somethings I shouldnt have.

Jackson brought up another text from Feb. 4, 2022.

Proctor wrote to his sister: Hopefully she kills herself, a reference to Read.

Its a figure of speech, Proctor said.

Jackson then ran through all the different ways Proctor dehumanized Read  (expletive), whack job, retard, her balloon knot leaks, no ass, shes (expletive), ass leaker, a girl who (expletive) herself and (expletive) her.

Based off that language, yes, Proctor agreed he had dehumanized Read in text messages.

Jackson rested cross-examination after saying Shame on you, sir, which the judge told jurors they must disregard.

Defense lawyer Alan Jackson cross-examines trooper Michael Proctor about text messages with friends 16 hours into his investigation. The Karen Read murder trial in Norfolk Superior Court, Dedham Massachusetts on Wednesday June 12, 2024. Pool Photo by Greg Derr/Patriot Ledger

1 p.m. update: Defense asks about Trooper Proctors relationship with 4th Albert family member

Alan Jackson began asking Trooper Michael Proctor about phone data for Jennifer McCabe.

Proctor said he was not aware of phone calls and texts deleted from her phone before being turned over to state police even though he admitted to having a report stating the calls were deleted.

I went through the Cellebrite report but clearly I did not review that tab, Proctor said.

Jackson then began asking about another potential conflict of interest.

Proctor said he agreed Canton police were recused from the investigation due to the homeowner, Brian Albert, being the brother of a Canton police officer, Kevin Albert.

Yet Proctor said he reached out to Kevin Albert to help coordinate interviews.

Jackson showed text messages between Proctor and Kevin Albert where Albert reached out to witnesses and have them come to Canton police station.

Proctor agreed that he worked a cold case with Kevin Albert in the past and had gone out drinking together.

Five months into the investigation, Kevin Albert and Proctor went out for drinks together, Jackson said referring to text messages.

The next day, Proctor said he found Kevin Alberts badge in his cruiser and Jackson asked if he was drinking and driving in his cruiser.

Proctor initially said he did not remember but Jackson showed texts from Albert stating he was hungover the following day.

Jackson began asking questions about the sally port video at Canton police department before the judge called for a lunch break at 1 p.m.

12:45 p.m. update: Defense asks if Trooper Proctor pressured medical examiner for homicide determination

Defense attorney Alan Jackson turned his questions to a report by the Chief Medical Examiners office in April 2022 that OKeefes manner of death could not be determined.

She did not rule his death as a homicide, Proctor agreed.

Her finding doesnt alter how we conduct our investigation, Proctor said.

Proctor texted another state trooper about the medical examiners determination: Of course its undetermined. Shes a whack job.

Proctor said he did not recall whether he called the medical examiner a whack job.

Proctor told a federal grand jury that he never worked a homicide that was ruled undetermined.

Jackson displayed text messages of Proctor with another state trooper, David DiCico, who said it was a rookie move to not get a homicide determination.

Jackson pressed Proctor about attempting to get the medical examiner to get a homicide determination, but Proctor denied doing so.

Proctor told a federal grand jury in Feb. 2024 that the medical examiners determination did not matter because either way Ms. Read was going to be charged.

12 p.m. update: Defense asks about gaps in state police investigation

When the trial resumed after a break, defense attorney Alan Jackson asked Trooper Michael Proctor about a Cellebrite phone record report of Jennifer McCabe.

Proctor said he did not review McCabes cell phone report.

Proctor agreed that its about a mile walk through the woods to get to Canton high school from 34 Fairview Road.

Police did not canvass the area surrounding the high school for video surveillance footage, Proctor said.

Jackson then showed the court text messages by Proctor asking a member of the Canton police department on Feb. 18, 2022, about any cameras in the area of 34 Fairview Road.

Proctor did not seek any video surveillance footage from any of the locations suggested by Canton police.

Proctor agreed that he did not interview many of the witnesses in the case until Oct. 2022 and others until the summer of 2023.

Jackson then began asking about a Canton snow plow driver named Brian Loughran.

Proctor testified to the Norfolk grand jury that no snow plow drove down 34 Fairview Road based on a conversation with the towns director of public works.

Jackson said that the DPW director testified that he told Proctor that a snow plow driver did drive down 34 Fairview Road.

In reality, Trooper Proctor, you did not want to speak to anybody in the weeks and months following this incident that did not fit your narrative, correct? Jackson asked.

Thats simply not true, absolutely not, Proctor said.

Proctor agreed that he did not interview the snow plow driver until after the defense team made state police aware of him.

Proctor said he was still the case agent for the OKeefe case.

Jackson then began asking about whether Proctor investigated other potential suspects who mightve had the motive, means and opportunity to kill OKeefe.

Yes, in that motive, means, and factored in with the physical evidence, pointed directly at Ms. Read. No one else had any motive, Mr. OKeefe never went inside Fairview Road, Proctor said.

Proctor agreed he got all that from the Alberts and McCabes.

Jackson then turned to questioning about witness Brian Higgins, an agent with the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives who was at 34 Fairview Road.

Higgins disclosed that he was in a flirtatious relationship with Read and in one instance they kissed. Higgins also provided Proctor with text messages between Read and himself, according to Proctor.

Proctor agreed that never in his career had a witness come forward with a self-extraction of text messages to an in-person interview.

So you became aware pretty early on that Mr. Higgins at least had a motive to want harm on Mr. OKeefe? Jackson asked.

No, absolutely not, Proctor said.

At 2:20 a.m. on Jan. 29, 2022, Higgins texted OKeefe, after they left the Waterfall: Where you at? Jackson said.

Proctor said he did not recall the text.

Jackson asked Proctor whether he recognized whether Higgins had the means to commit the crime, but Proctor denied so.

Proctor admitted Higgins is larger than himself and that he was previously in the military.

Jackson asked whether Proctor saw video footage from the Waterfall of Higgins in a boxing stance. Proctor called it playful fight stances.

Proctor agreed he never sought a search warrant for Higginss phone.

Proctor said he was not aware between Higgins and Brian Albert at 2:22 a.m. that morning.

Mightve been important to your investigation, dont you think? Jackson asked.

I dont know what the call was about, Proctor said.

He agreed he never asked because he was not aware that the call took place.

11:30 a.m. update: Trooper Proctor asked about gifts and verifying witness statements

After a lengthy sidebar conversation, Alan Jackson, Reads attorney, resumed questioning by asking Trooper Michael Proctor about his sister, Courtney.

Proctor described her as his best friend and agreed she was good friends with witness Julie Albert. He also agreed that members of the Albert family had gone to his parents house in the past.

Those members are Chris, Julie and Colin Albert  all three went to 34 Fairview Road on Jan. 29, 2022, and have previously testified.

Jackson referenced text messages between Proctor and Julie Albert from Feb. 24, 2022, less than a month after OKeefes death.

This is the weekend Ive been waiting for, Michael, please send ski videos if CP doesnt share with me, with a laughing emoji sent by Julie Albert.

Proctor agreed that Julie Albert, Chris Albert and Colin Albert were all witnesses involved with OKeefes homicide investigation at the time.

On Jan. 19, 2022, ten days before OKeefes death, Proctor was texting his sister about whether Julie Albert would be available to babysit his child.

Proctor said that hes hired babysitters that he didnt know well.

And you didnt mention a thing in any report for the case, Jackson asked, about his previous relationships with the Alberts. Proctor agreed.

Jackson asked whether Julie and Chris Albert mentioned that their son Colin was ever at 34 Fairview Road on Jan. 29. 2022. Proctor said he did not recall.

Jackson referred to phone call records and said that Julie Albert called Proctor about 45 minutes after his interview with her.

Proctors sister then texted him asking about how the interview went. He replied hahaha and that it was quick convo.

Were you reporting your progress of your investigation back to your sister Courtney? Jackson asked.

Jackson asked if Proctor treated the Alberts like friends, not witnesses in a murder investigation.

Absolutely not, Proctor said.

Questions next turned back to Proctor updating his sister throughout the investigation, starting on Jan. 29, 2022, the day OKeefe died.

He told his sister that OKeefes death was being investigated as a homicide. Dont say a word to anyone, Proctor wrote his sister.

At the very least its suspicious, Proctor also wrote his sister.

Proctor denied questioning by Jackson that Proctor was suspicious that it may involve the Alberts.

Proctor then told his sister the next people he needed to interview  which were Julie and Chris Albert.

His sister also told him that she was meeting with Julie Albert before Proctor was able to interview Albert.

Proctor said the only information he shared with his sister that day, Jan. 29, 2022, was contained in the text messages.

Jackson then displayed text messages between Proctor and his sister where she wrote: I just saw Julie and she said when this is all over she wants to get you a thank you gift. The text was sent on Feb. 1, 2022.

Proctor responded: Get Elizabeth one.

On Monday, Proctor said that he never asked for a gift and that his wife never asked for a gift, but Proctor agreed with Jackson that the text showed he asked for a gift for his wife.

Proctors sister texted: because I guess her (Julie) and Chris were friends with the Jon (sic) and she is so proud of you for leading this.

Jackson asked if Proctor pulled phone records of witnesses, and he said no. Police only obtained phone records of OKeefe and Read, according to Proctor.

Jackson asked if Proctor was aware that there were 67 calls between his sister and Julie Albert in the months following OKeefes death.

The prosecution objected and the judge sustained.

Trooper Proctor, were you using Courtney, your sister, as an intermediary, between you and Julie Albert? Jackson asked.

Absolutely not, Proctor said.

Proctor agreed that he knew that Colin Albert was at 34 Fairview Road from an early stage of the investigation.

Why is it, Trooper Proctor, that Colin Alberts name failed to appear in a single police report until July 18, 2023? Jackson asked.

Colin Albert was not at the home. He left at approximately 12:10 a.m. before anyone from the Waterfall arrived back there, Proctor said.

Jackson said there are a myriad of ways that investigators could corroborate witnesses statements by looking at cell phone data and geolocation data to find out if someone is telling the truth about where they were and when they were there.

Jackson then referred to an interview between Proctor and witness Julie Nage on Oct. 5, 2022, and provided him with a copy of his handwritten notes.

In his notes, Proctor wrote, that there were seven people at the house from Jan. 28 into Jan. 29, 2022, and listed their names.

Whats the one name that was left out of your report? Jackson asked.

Proctor said he left out Colin Albert because he arrived later in the evening.

Proctor said he eventually interviewed Colin Albert with another trooper. Albert told him he was picked up by Allison McCabe at 12:10 a.m.

McCabe also told Proctor she picked up Albert at 12:10 a.m. and dropped him off at his house. Proctor said he took no additional steps to verify that both were telling the truth.

Proctor was in possession of a forensic image of Jennifer McCabes phone (Allisons mother) at the time and an app called Life 360 tracked the movements of her daughter.

Proctor said he was aware of the app but not that it tracked McCabes daughter.

Proctor said he did not use the Life 360 app data to corroborate whether Colin Albert and Allison McCabe told the truth about the time they left 34 Fairview Road.

The judge called for a morning recess.

10:30 a.m. update: Defense digs into unprofessional texts by state police investigator

Alan Jackson, an attorney for Read, began questioning Massachusetts State Police Trooper Michael Proctor about a group chat with eight other friends of Proctor from high school.

Jackson asked if he thought the chat from about 10:52 p.m. on Jan. 29, 2022, would ever become public, to which Proctor stated No.

A friend asked Proctor about the name of the victim, to which Proctor replied, John OKeefe.

So you were willing to tell, just a few hours into an investigation of the death of a Boston police officer, you were willing to tell a bunch of high school buddies details about the investigation, including the name of the victim? Jackson asked.

Correct, Proctor said.

Proctor told his friends that all the powers that be want answers ASAP, according to the texts.

You knew at that time, Trooper Proctor, that this was not going to implicate, in any way, shape, form or fashion, another cop, correct? Jackson asked.

Correct, Proctor said.

Jackson continued asking about the texts. Another friend texted Proctor: Im sure the owners of the house will receive some (expletive).

Jackson asked, Hes (Brian Albert) not going to be a suspect, correct?

Correct, Proctor said.

And hes not going to be implicated in any way? Jackson asked.

Correct, Proctor said.

Jackson asked what Proctor wrote back to his high school buddies: Nope. The homeowner was a Boston cop too.

Proctor said that 16 hours into the investigation, while texting his high school friends, Proctor and the state police homicide unit determined that Albert had nothing to do with OKeefes death.

Jackson pointed out that Proctor had not gone to the crime scene by the time he wrote the text nor gone inside the home.

Proctor had interviewed three witnesses at that point and two witnesses were McCabes and one was an Albert, according to Jackson. Proctor agreed.

It was against that backdrop that you wrote, Nope. The homeowner is not going to get (expletive) because hes a cop, Jackson said.

Proctor texted his friends at one point: she (Read) waffled him.

Proctor explained that state police found one shoe at the scene and one shoe at the hospital, the broken pieces of taillight at the scene under the snow.

Did you, in your mind, have this case wrapped up? Was it cut and dry in your mind? Jackson asked.

Yes, Proctor said.

Proctor texted that he initially thought that the homeowner was a Boston woman cop and that OKeefe had been beaten after talking to Canton paramedics.

Proctor agreed that he initially believed that OKeefe had been involved in a physical fight.

Jackson then began asking about OKeefes injuries.

Proctor agreed OKeefe did not have any broken bones, not a single fracture, and not a single bruise below the neck.

Jackson asked if Proctor had ever seen a pedestrian hit by a 6,000-pound vehicle without any bruises.

Proctor said that he could not recall.

Jackson continued with the text thread. At one point, Proctor wrote, intentional or not and thats another animal we wont be able to prove.

What I meant by those words was Ms. Read backed into Mr. OKeefe intentionally or not, Proctor said.

Another high school friend asked the name of the homeowner but Proctor never shared Brian Alberts name.

Jackson highlighted that Proctor shared OKeefe and Reads names with his high school friends.

Another friend asked whether the Boston police would get involved in the investigation. Proctor then responded that Boston police and Canton police would both have to recuse themselves.

By 11 p.m. on Jan. 29, 2022, Proctor said he understood that they had taken a step back from participating.

Jackson asked, recused themselves completely?

Correct, Proctor said.

Another text asked, I assume you guys are out to make it cut and dry since it involves cops. Another text wrote, Something stinks.

Yeah, but there will be some serious charges brought on the girl, Proctor said, clarifying in court that he meant Read in the text.

Proctor disagreed with Jackson that he tried to pin the homicide on Read and that he tried to follow the evidence.

It doesnt matter to me if the homeowners a cop, if the victims a police officer. Myself and everyone in my office investigated this case on Saturday had an overwhelming amount of evidence that Ms. Read struck Mr. OKeefe. So it doesnt matter what their occupation was, Proctor said.

A high school friend texted Proctor: Is she hot at least? in reference to Read.

From all account he (Brian Albert) didnt do a thing wrong. Shes a whack job (expletive), Proctor wrote back.

Jackson again said that this was Proctors conclusion 16 hours into the investigation. Its your objective and unbiased, thorough investigation, correct? Jackson asked, and Proctor agreed.

Proctor continued reading his text: Yeah, shes a babe. Weird Fall River accent though. No ass.

Now youre talking about her body? Jackson asked.

Correct, Proctor said.

Proctor wrote to his friends: Zero chance she skated. Shes (expletive). (Skated in reference to avoiding charges, Proctor confirmed).

Jackson asked, 17 hours into this investigation, you made the decision that youre going to put it (this case) on Ms. Read?

Proctor said, No absolutely not.

What did you mean by shes (expletive) Jackson asked, but the judge upheld the prosecutions objection to the question.

Proctor also sent a photograph of Read being arrested in the group chat with his high school friends.

On Feb. 2, 2022, a person writes to Proctor and asks, Is that chick a smoke?

Proctor clarified it was Read and responded: Eh. Nutbag as chief would say. Proctor referred to a friend as chief.

Proctor also wrote: Shes got a leaky balloon knot. He told Jackson that he was referring to her anus and about a medical condition she had.

Jackson said shed had 10 surgeries 18 months prior and that she had serious gastrointestinal issues for years.

Questioning by Jackson next turned to Proctors testimony on Monday that the texts did not affect the integrity of the investigation.

Jackson asked if Proctor stood by his testimony.

Have you ever apologized to Ms. Read? Jackson asked. The prosecution objected and the judge sustained it.

Next, Jackson began asking about his conflict of interest in the case.

During a federal grand jury  not the Norfolk County grand jury that indicted Read  Proctor said he did not remember what he said about his connections with the Albert family.

Proctor took a few moments to review a printed transcript of his testimony to the federal grand jury.

Proctor testified to the federal grand jury that he told the district attorneys office that he did not have relationships with the Albert and McCabe families.

The state trooper also did not go to any police supervisors about a potential conflict of interest even though Proctor admitted to knowing Chris, Julie and Colin Albert.

Proctor persisted that the way the question was asked, he did not have relationships with the Albert family, but that he knew three members.

The attorneys met for a sidebar conversation.

9:20 a.m. update: Testimony resumes in the Read trial

Testimony is underway with Massachusetts State Police Trooper Michael Proctor taking the stand.

Judge Beverly Cannone started the day by announcing that a juror dropped out for a personal reason unrelated to the case. There are extra jurors who can step in their place.

Before cross-examination began, the lawyers met with the judge for a sidebar conversation.

Read, 44, is charged with second-degree murder in the death of OKeefe, who was found cold to the touch and unresponsive on Jan. 29, 2022, outside of a home in Canton.

Norfolk County prosecutors say Read struck OKeefe with her SUV while driving intoxicated. Reads attorney, David Yannetti, said during the trials opening statements that her car never struck OKeefe and that others are to blame for his death.

The trial is taking place in Dedhams Norfolk County Superior Court.

On Monday, Massachusetts State Police Trooper Michael Proctor, a lead investigator in the case, testified about unprofessional and regrettable text messages during direct examination by the prosecution.

Cross-examination of Proctor by the defense is expected to resume Wednesday morning.
A man and his moped burst into flames after a crash involving a car in Lowell Monday, sending the man running naked into a smoothie shop, according to multiple witnesses.

It happened incredibly fast, Troix Bettencourt, of Lowell, told MassLive. The gas tank was right there, and it exploded. The entire person burst into flames. Everything was on fire.

As the mans clothes burned off his body, he ran into Naturel Juicing naked. Bettencourt, who had just walked out of walking out of El Porto Mexican Bar & Grill, said that a couple people took off their own shirts to give to the man, while some staff members from El Porto grabbed fire extinguishers and put out the flames on the moped. Other people were moving debris out of the road.

I led him to the back where the bathroom was, I tried to calm him down, I gave him water, Nage Jean-Caidor, owner of Naturel Juicing, told NECN. She is trained in first aid and helped him as she called 911 and waited for the ambulance.

By the time the police and fire departments arrived, smoke was coming from the moped in the middle of the street but the fire was out.

[The situation] was horrible and horrific. But at the same time, the way people dealt with the situation was phenomenal, Bettencourt said. People really reacted. No one ran away and people responded. The body language was to go towards [the injured man], to protect him.

Later on Monday, Corey Robinson, a Centralville District 2 City Council member, used photos and video from the crash to talk about a problem of recreational vehicles on public roads that he believes has increasingly gotten worse and needs attention from the city council.

This issue we have been grappling with has increasingly gotten worse. I am hoping this administration is going to make addressing this problem one of their priorities, he wrote. Whatever resources or policy our council can assist with, I am more than willing to provide.

The day before the crash, Robinson had also reposted the Merrimack Valley Reckless Bikers Task Force talking about how the Merrimack Valley Police Department addresses the public safety risks posed by drivers of recreational vehicles on public roads, specifically dirt bikes and ATVs.

But Bettencourt was disappointed in Robinsons response, saying that the priority of the situation should be focused on the man and his well-being as well as how bystanders handled the situation. After seeing the city councilors post, he decided to speak out about what he saw to hopefully let people know the full story.

What I saw today wasnt a problem [or] kids who need to be controlled, Bettencourt wrote in a Facebook post. What I saw were people who reacted quickly, compassionately and humanely until the authorities and paramedics arrived.

When MassLive reached out to Robinson, he said he was not specially and necessarily pointing out the immediate incident that occurred, despite using photos from the crash, including a man injured in the crash, in his Facebook post.

My ultimate concern is for the gentlemans safety and wellbeing, he told MassLive.

Robinson said that his statement was meant more for unregistered and uninsured motor vehicles, like ATVs and dirt bikes, that had been driving recklessly on public roads. These vehicles have created dangerous environments for pedestrians and other vehicles, he said.

In a densely populated city, thats putting a lot of people in jeopardy, Robinson said.

The man involved in the crash is still hospitalized, according to police. The crash is being investigated by the Lowell Police Department.
A major defense contractor was sued Tuesday over allegations that it discriminated against older workers in job ads.

The lawsuit filed in federal court in Boston accuses RTX Corporation of posting ads that target younger workers at the expense of their older peers in violation of the federal Age Discrimination in Employment Act, the Massachusetts Fair Employment Practices Act and the Virginia Human Rights Act.

RTX, formerly Raytheon Technologies Corporation, is an American multinational aerospace and defense conglomerate headquartered in Arlington, Virginia, with offices in Massachusetts. The lawsuit alleges it posted ads seeking job applicants who are recent graduates or have less than two years experience, which excluded older workers from consideration or deterred them from applying in the first place.

Americans are living and working longer than ever, yet unfair and discriminatory hiring practices are keeping older workers from jobs theyre qualified for, the AARP Foundations senior vice president for litigation, William Alvarado Rivera, said in a statement. Raytheons intentional discrimination against experienced job candidates, simply because of their age, is illegal and unacceptable.

In a statement, the company denied the allegations.

RTX complies with all relevant age discrimination laws and were committed to maintaining a diverse workforce, RTX said. We believe these claims are entirely without merit and we will actively defend our hiring practices.

A 2023 AARP survey found that nearly one in six adults reported they were not hired for a job they applied for within the past two years because of their age. Half of job seekers reported they were asked by an employer to produce their birthdate during the application or interview process.

About half of Americans also think theres age discrimination in the workplace, according to a poll by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. But theres a split by age. The poll finds 60% of adults age 60 and over say older workers in the U.S. are always or often discriminated against, while 43% of adults younger than 45 say the same.

The suit, seeking class-action status, was filed by the AARP Foundation, Peter Romer-Friedman Law, and Outten & Golden, whose managing partner, Adam Klein, said it should serve as a warning to other big companies engaged in such discrimination.

Fortune 500 companies should know better than to exclude hardworking older Americans from jobs by targeting recent college graduates in hiring posts, Klein said in a statement, adding that the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has long held that this type of language discourages qualified older workers from applying for jobs.

The plaintiff in the case, Mark Goldstein, 67, alleges he applied for several positions at the company since 2019. Goldstein filed a complaint with the EEOC alleging he wasnt considered for these jobs, and the EEOC found he was denied due to his age. The EEOC also found Raytheons job advertisements violated the ADEA, the lawsuit says.

The lawsuit is demanding that the company end practices that discriminate against Goldstein and the tens of thousands of potential members of the class action who have applied, attempted to apply, or have been interested in applying for jobs. It also demands that the company institute policies that provide equal employment opportunities for all employees regardless of their age and pay damages, including backpay to Goldstein and other affected workers.
A 33-year-old man who now faces a murder charge in connection with a double stabbing in Brockton that left one man dead was arrested in Lunenburg, Vermont on Wednesday morning, according to the Plymouth County District Attorneys Office.

Kevin Digregorio, of Randolph, was found sleeping in a motor vehicle along a road in Lunenberg, Vermont Wednesday morning by Vermont State Police and U.S. Marshals, Plymouth County District Attorney Tim Cruz said in a statement.

Digregorio will be arraigned on murder and other charges in Brockton District Court pending the outcome of a rendition process to return him to Massachusetts from Vermont.

Officials on Wednesday also identified the man killed in the stabbing as 59-year-old William Hewlett.

Brockton police were notified of a double stabbing around 6:48 p.m. on Monday.

When police arrived to 23 Melrose Ave., they found two men with stab wounds, including Hewlett. He was taken to Good Samaritan Hospital in Brockton, where he was pronounced dead.

The other man, a 61-year-old, was treated and released from South Shore Hospital, according to Cruzs office.

An investigation into the stabbing is ongoing but it does not appear to be a random act of violence, Cruzs office.
As Newtown High Schools class of 2024 turn their tassels from right to left Wednesday night, they will be honoring their 20 classmates who will never get the chance to graduate.

About 60 of the 330 students graduating Wednesday survived one of the deadliest school shootings in U.S. history. Twenty of their fellow first graders and six educators were killed at Sandy Hook Elementary School on Dec. 14, 2012.

The 20 students will be honored during the ceremony. Although some of the details have been kept under wraps, students will be wearing green and white ribbons on their graduation gowns, each inscribed with Forever In Our Hearts, according to CNN.

Five of the seniors told Hearst Connecticut Media they were handing out the ribbons as part of their membership in the gun violence prevention club, Jr. Newtown Action Alliance. The club, they told the news outlet, has been one way to honor the memory of their slain classmates while moving forward in their lives.

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, student Grace Fischer, 18, who plans to attend Hamilton College as a pre-law and justice studies major, told Heart Connecticut Media. Thats why I think walking across that stage will be a very victorious moment.

Grace Fischer, a survivor of the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting, talks about upcoming high school graduation, before a rally against gun violence on Friday, June 7, 2024, in Newtown, Conn. (AP Photo/Bryan Woolston)AP

Several of the students also recently met with Vice President Kamala Harris at the White House to discuss their experiences and call for change.

Fischer told the news outlet she remembers hiding in a Sandy Hook Elementary School cubby as those gun shots kept going and kept going.

It felt like an eternity, she said.

Emma Ehrens remembers the moment when the gunman came into the classroom.

A guy  armed  came into my classroom and started shooting all of my friends and my teachers and my classmates, she told CNN. His gun jammed and a friend of mine, Jesse Lewis, yelled at us to run and thats what we did.

Lewis actions helped save some of the students now graduating Wednesday but he will never walk the stage himself. He will be one of the 20 classmates remembered through the green and white ribbons Wednesday night.

Survivors of the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting hold signs during a rally against gun violence on Friday, June 7, 2024 in Newtown, Conn. (AP Photo/Bryan Woolston)AP

The graduating seniors will continue to carry their classmates with them as some of them look to continue fighting for gun control and helping their communities.

Read more: Newtown police file on Sandy Hook Elementary School shootings yields chilling portrait

Ella Seaver, 18, plans to study psychology in college and to become a therapist, wanting to give back in a way that helped her.

Putting my voice out there and working with all of these amazing people to try and create change really puts a meaning to the trauma that we all were forced to experience, Seaver said. Its a way to feel like youre doing something. Because we are. Were fighting for change and were really not going to stop until we get it.

The Associated Press contributed to this reporting.
A fundamental disagreement over the sheriffs role in the prosecution is at the heart of a growing legal dispute between the Cape and Islands District Attorneys office and the Dukes County Sheriff Robert Ogden.

The district attorney, Rob Galibois, said his office is simply trying to meet its obligations. But, the sheriff says he fears producing the records Galibois seeks  20 years of records that could potentially aid a criminal defendant  could imperil his office by throwing doubt on the record of a corrections officer on the small island of Marthas Vineyard.

Galibois office filed a lawsuit with the Supreme Judicial Court Monday, seeking a court ruling to force Ogdens office to provide the records, known as Brady records in reference to a 1963 Supreme Court decision. Brady records are any materials that could be considered exculpatory, or beneficial to the defendant, which would include any history of discipline against a law enforcement officer involved in the case.

When Galibois took office in January 2023, the district attorneys office did not have a formal policy for handling such materials. Then, in January, the state updated its guidance for prosecutors, 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.

As a result, Galibois office sought records going back two decades.

In his initial response to that request, 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.

Galibois office contends that the sheriffs office is a member of the prosecution team and the records it seeks are necessary to meet its obligations under the SJC decision. But, Odgens office told The Marthas Vineyard Gazette earlier this month that no one can figure out why Galibois has taken this approach.

He is by far the only one that has sought such a large swath of records, sheriffs office general counsel Jack Collins told the paper.

In a letter to the editor published by the Gazette on June 1, Odgen wrote that he feared compliance could lead to difficulties in recruiting and retaining staff.

On a small Island where nearly everyone knows one another, a false accusation can be troubling to a correction officer as well as their family, he wrote. I owe it to my dedicated staff to protect them and their families from having baseless accusations bandied about in the press or on social media, disrupting the lives of their families and especially school-age children.

In Massachusetts, the sheriffs office is primarily responsible for overseeing the county jails, which house people awaiting trial and defendants serving sentences of 2 or less. In Collins view, that means none of this should affect the sheriffs office at all.

But, Galibois, a former defense attorney, told The Boston Globe in an interview last month that Ogdens office blocking access to the records jeopardizes our ability to do our duty.

We understand thats not something that could be produced overnight, Galibois told the paper. We are trying to adhere to our obligations.

A spokesperson for Galibois office declined to comment, citing the pending litigation.

Galibois told the Globe his office needs to ensure it is abiding by both our professional obligations and moral and ethical obligations and that we are proceeding with a case that we believe in.

Already, at least one criminal case brought by the district attorneys office has been dismissed after Galibois office filed a motion indicating it could not meet its discovery obligations. In the court filing, his office expressed concern that more cases could be imperiled, a sentiment Galibois echoed to the Globe.

We hope to be in the position to be able to certify that were in compliance with our Brady obligation, Galibois said. If we are not in that position, we are concerned with what may happen with a given case.

Yet, Ogden claims none of the cases the DAs office says may be dismissed involved an arrest by a member of his office.

Our only involvement was to house some of them as prisoners while awaiting bail or trials, he wrote in the letter submitted to the Gazette.
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.

Tyrone Denson is district chief of emergency preparedness for the Springfield Fire Department. (Courtesy photo)Courtesy photo

Tyrone Denson

Age: 53

Community: Springfield

His story: Tyrone Denson works as the district fire chief for Springfield and the citys emergency manager.

My mission is to ensure that the City of Springfield and its citizens become and remain prepared for natural and man-made disasters, Denson said. In addition, I respond to emergency incidents in order to help save lives and protect property within the community.

Before working for the citys fire department, Denson worked as a home health aide for hospice care, as an anesthesia technician and as a patient care technician.

Ive always worked in the medical field in some capacity, so transferring my experience and human relatability towards becoming a firefighter was easy, Denson said. Its all about being a servant leader and taking care of people.

He attended Springfield public schools and graduated from Central High School. Hes earned two associates degrees, one in fire science and one in liberal arts.

Hes also earned a bachelors degree in fire science and a graduate degree in emergency management.

In his words: Always be kind to others and to respect their needs. You may find yourself in a similar situation one day and need help. Become the person that you want taking care of you, or any of your family members.

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.
A Wakefield man was charged in a Boston courthouse on Monday in connection with threatening to blow up the inside of a Primark store and then biting officers as they tried to arrest him, Suffolk County District Attorney Kevin Haydens office announced.

William Rodriguez-Juarez, 24, 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), Haydens office said in a statement on Tuesday.

Judge Joseph Griffin set Rodriguez-Juarezs bail at $500 and ordered him to stay away from Downtown Crossing in Boston, Haydens office said. Rodriguez-Juarez is expected to appear in court for his probable cause hearing on Aug. 12.

Rodriguez-Juarez was in the loading area of the Primark store at 10 Summer St., where only employees are allowed, Haydens office said. Employees asked him to leave before he yelled at them and made inappropriate sexual statements to employees and customers, Haydens office described. He became angry and tried to leave the story with merchandise while he said he would blow this place up.

At around 4:42 p.m. on June 8, Boston police arrived at Primark and found Rodriguez-Juarez, intoxicated and yelling at employees inside the store, Haydens office said. Rodriguez-Juarez then put a security guards hands behind his back and yelled that the guard needed to be arrested. Police told Rodriguez-Juarez to let the guard go. As officers tried to arrest him, he kicked and pushed away officers.

As he was placed into custody, he turned his head and first bit one officer in the left upper arm, breaking the skin and causing the officer to bleed, Haydens office said. He then bit, kicked and punched more officers who tried to subdue him. This continued as he was walked out of the store, as he started kicking, twisting and pushing against them.

The officer who was bit was evaluated by EMS, Haydens office said.

This type of conduct goes far above and beyond mere shoplifting, Hayden said in the statement. We have to recognize the impact it has on shoppers and employees and on the safe operation of retail businesses. 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.
A coalition of Bay State lawmakers on Capitol Hill has called on NASA to back off on its plan to cut funding for a revolutionary space telescope with ties to the Bay State thats yielded extraordinary discoveries in outer space.

Facing funding reductions of its own, NASA plans to cut its support for the 25-year-old Chandra X-Ray Observatory, one of four space telescopes the agency launched in the 1990s, according to USA Today.

The observatory, which is managed from a facility in Burlington, Mass., has enabled scientists to observe a black hole consuming a star, the newspaper reported.

The lawmakers: U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton, D-6th District, and Democratic U.S. Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey, wrote to NASA Administrator Bill Nelson last week, urging the agency to reconsider its plans.

They argue that the telescope still has life in it.

Premature termination of the Chandra mission would jeopardize this critical workforce, potentially driving talent to other countries. Chandra should serve as a bridge to a promising future in high-energy astrophysics at NASA, including the development of its eventual flagship-scale successor, they wrote.

Moulton, Warren, and Markey were joined on the letter by U.S. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., along with Massachusetts U.S. Reps. James P. McGovern, D-2nd District; Lori Trahan, D-3rd District; Jake Auchincloss, D-4th District, and Stephen Lynch, D-8th District. U.S.

Rep. Suzan DelBene, D-Wash., also signed the letter.

President Joe Bidens proposed budget for next year trimmed $1 billion, or 12%, from NASAs funding request, according to USA Today.

In turn, NASA reduced funding for the telescope, setting aside $41 million for the coming year, and $25 million for the year after that, the newspaper reported. The telescope needs about $70 million for normal operations.

Such a move would result in the telescope shutting down, leaving the project adrift, according to USA Today.

The lawmakers called on NASA to fully fund the telescope at $68.7 million and to hit pause on any planned cuts in the 2025 budget year until Congress makes a call.

Shuttering the observatory would drive its current employees, who include military veterans into the private sector, or even into foreign space programs, the lawmakers also warned.

Since its launch aboard the Space Shuttle Columbia in 1999, the telescope has epitomized decades of U.S. leadership and dominance in high energy astrophysics, the lawmakers said in a joint statement.

The telescope also has allowed scientists to map one of the largest explosions in the universe; and enhance the James Webb Space Telescopes capacity to identify the most distant supermassive black hole  a breakthrough that was named as one of 2023s top scientific achievements, they wrote.
Were supposed to celebrate high school graduations.

The speeches. The pomp. The circumstance. The promise of a bold future. And the adventures yet to be had.

Theyre an indelible part of the tapestry of the American summer. Theyre the threshold our children cross over as they take those final steps into adulthood.

But I could only think of one thing when I heard the news that the first-grade survivors of the 2012 massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut, will graduate from high school on Wednesday.

They made it.

After Parkland. After Uvalde. And after every other act of campus violence thats shattered families, but has been nonetheless lost to our collective memory.

They made it.

And its heartbreaking. Because we owe them, and the hundreds of thousands of American students whose lives have been touched by gun violence, so much better.

Because after all this time, we still cannot guarantee them, or their parents, the simple comfort of knowing they will return home alive when they head off to school in the morning.

Yes. There has been progress. And it is encouraging. But it has been achingly slow. And more have died.

In 2022, President Joe Biden signed the first major changes to the nations gun laws in 30 years, passed in the wake of deadly shootings in Texas and upstate New York.

Read more: Sandy Hook shooting survivors to honor their dead classmates during graduation

Last year, Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont signed sweeping reforms into law that ban the open carrying of firearms and prohibit the sale of more than three handguns to a single person within 30 days, according to NPR.

The emerging field of threat assessment, a collaborative effort that often involves behavioral health specialists, law enforcement and educators also has been shown to prevent mass shootings before they occur, Mark Follman wrote for Mother Jones magazine in 2022.

In Massachusetts, a series of changes to the Bay States gun laws, already among the toughest in the nation, are mired in a joint state House and Senate conference committee.

Theres no clear indication when a compromise bill might emerge, and the clock is ticking down to the end of formal sessions on July 31.

To quote a wise man, its not done until its done, state Rep. Michael Day, D-31st Middlesex, the lead House negotiator, said last week when he was asked about the bill.

On Capitol Hill, it took the crushing tragedy of the shootings in Uvalde and a grocery store in Buffalo to finally get Congress to act two years ago.

It was the moment at which we had achieved such cumulative strength over time that we were finally able to pass something, U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., said at the time. We had more activists, we had more money on the outside. But we also finally had just enough Republican partners on the inside, after building up those partnerships ... to get something serious done.

The odds are that Massachusetts will not have to endure that kind of collective spasm of violence and grief before a compromise bill emerges.

And even with all these changes, some reforms, such as a federal assault weapons ban, continue to remain out of reach.

And thats true despite polling showing that most Americans who live in a country where guns outnumber people favor stricter restrictions on firearms ownership.

That includes the 6 in 10 respondents to a 2023 Fox News poll who favored a nationwide assault weapons ban. Right now, 10 states, including Massachusetts and the District of Columbia, have such a ban.

Meanwhile, Emma Ehrens, 17, a Sandy Hook survivor who graduates on Wednesday, will take her diploma knowing that others should be with her.

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, Ehrens told the News-Times of Danbury, Conn. I know it should be, but personally I cant think about anything other than the fact that theyre not graduating.

If they were there [on stage for graduation] it would be much different because there wouldnt be sad emotions aside from the fact that theyre leaving for college, Ehrens told the newspaper. The fact that they dont have the opportunity to go to college or graduate or do anything is really heartbreaking.

They made it. But they lost so much more.

And they, and we, can never get it back. But we can make it better.
The new episode of the hit reality dating series Love Island USA is back with a new season on Tuesday, June 11.

Episodes will premiere exclusively on Peacock at 9 p.m. EST. Viewers looking to stream the new season can do so with a Peacock subscription. Subscriptions start at $5.99 a month.

Tthe new season will be hosted by Vanderpump Rules Ariana Madix.

The sixth season will return to Fiji with a brand-new vibrant villa, a spicy Casa Amor, and an unforgettable hideaway. The new cast of islanders will face more fun, messy drama than ever before, with brand-new challenges, jaw-dropping revelations and surprise guests, Peacock said.

How can I watch Love Island USA?

The new season will premiere exclusively on Peacock at 9 p.m. EST. Viewers looking to stream the new season can do so with a Peacock subscription. Subscriptions start at $5.99 a month.
A jury found a 24-year-old Springfield woman guilty of manslaughter in the death of Sully Santiago, 23, of Holyoke, who was stabbed multiple times during an altercation last year, Hampden County District Attorney Anthony Gullunis office announced.

Leshmarie Marin-Viera is expected to be sentenced in Hampden Superior Court on July 2, according to a statement from Gullunis office.

On Sunday, Jan. 29, 2023, Springfield police learned of a disturbance and stabbing at the intersection of Frank B. Murray and Chestnut streets. When officers arrived, they found a woman, later identified as Santiago, lying in a parking lot with stab wounds. Santiago was taken to Baystate Medical Center, where she died of her injuries.
Launched earlier this year in the wake of fatal residential fires, Worcesters rental registry  requiring regular inspections and imposing fines to help prevent future disasters  has become controversial now that it is in effect.

Earlier this week, a City Council committee recommended a set of changes to the registry including reducing fines for noncompliance, which will have to be voted on by the full Council  a body that includes some landlords who have to comply with the registry.

Worcester District 3 Councilor George Russell, a landlord, wants to see drastic changes to the registry. He argues that it creates a burden for property owners and tenants by having the city send inspectors to apartments and placing a $300 daily fine on those who do not register their property or comply with inspections.

I still believe that our city needs to inspect properties to avoid fire hazards like hoarding and extra apartments that never pulled building permits and were never inspected or approved, Russell said. The inspections planned by the administration however includes a lot more than just fire prevention measures.

Worcester District 5 Councilor Etel Haxhiaj told MassLive that the rental registry should stay as is, arguing that it will not only protect tenants and landlords but also help firefighters do their jobs more efficiently in case of a fire.

In light of recent tragic fires that have killed residents and displaced many others, the rental registry and the period inspection program are even more important, Haxhiaj said. We should be supporting them and asking what more we can do to support, rather than get in the way of our residents and firefighters safety.

Proposed changes

The question of whether the rental registry will see any changes entered a new chapter on Monday night when the Worcester Standing Economic Development Committee voted in favor of four amendments that would exempt certain buildings from having to be registered and would reduce two daily fines of $300 imposed on people who do not register with the program or comply with inspections.

The changes would result in properties with three or fewer units and newer dwellings that have received an occupancy permit on or after Sept. 29, 2022, from having to register for five years according to the order. The fine for not complying with an inspection would drop from $300 per day to $200 per month, and the registry non-compliance fine would drop from $300 daily fine to a monthly fine equal to double the registration or renewal fee.

Those who register must pay a fee of $15 for every registered unit and $5 per unit for an annual renewal. A fee of $25 is required for each rented lot and $15 for every rented lot for renewal.

Worcester District 2 Councilor and chairperson of the committee Candy Mero-Carlson told MassLive these changes were the result of constituents who were concerned with the program  particularly the $300 fines. She also said the exemptions were created from the belief that the multi-family properties are less likely to have repeated instances of fire and safety hazards.

The full City Council will vote on these amendments on June 18.

What is the rental registry?

Launched in March 2024, the Worcester rental registry program requires anyone who owns any rental properties or vacant lots to register each unit, according to the citys website. The registry gives the city a greater overview of its rental housing stock and collects contact information for property owners in case they need to be alerted of an emergency, violation or other issues related to a rental property.

As for the fees, the website states that they are imposed in order pay for the inspectors who will visit properties every five years to see if they are in compliance with the states safety codes. The due date for those who need to register is July 1.

The City Council voted unanimously on the rental registry in 2022 following a deadly fire on Gage Street that resulted in the deaths of four people.

The goal of the Rental Registry is to ensure rental units in the city are safe and livable and to provide first responders with critical information in emergencies, such as fires, fallen trees or other disasters, said Thomas Matthews, a spokesman for Worcester City Manager Eric Batista. Every tenant in the city deserves rental units that are safe and livable  this program is meant to ensure that, just as car inspections are meant to ensure cars are safe for the roads and health inspections are meant to ensure food is safe to eat.

When Russell, the District 3 City Councilor who has wants to see changes to the registry, voted on the measure in 2022, he supported the proposal as he believed it would help uncover unsafe conditions in properties and help the fire department in their work.

When the registry was rolled out in March 2024, however, Russell said he took issue with the language of the ordinance  arguing it went beyond checking fire hazards and was against the $300 fine. He added that he believed it was a burden on tenants having city inspectors come into peoples bedrooms and bathrooms checking for mold and safety hazards.

On April 29, Russell requested Batista to change the ordinance to include language that would give landlords the ability to hire third-party licensed inspectors, an exemption of inspections for owner-occupied multi-family homes under six units and a change in the language of the ordinance that ensures property owners are not held responsible if a tenant denies an inspector access to a unit  with a statement that shows the landlord prohibits encouraging tenant to deny access. Russell told MassLive he looked to the Boston rental registry for guidance when proposing these changes as they are part of the citys registry rules.

These changes were not made to the ordinance.

Councilor-at-Large Moe Bergman, another landlord, also took issue with the registry and said he questioned the constitutionality of the city sending inspectors to properties for inspections.

During Mondays meeting, Deputy City Solicitor Alexandra Kalkounis said the program was not unconstitutional as consent must either be given by the resident to enter a unit to conduct an inspection or an administrative warrant must be issued. The city plans to update the ordinance to include this language.

The remaining members of the Worcester City Council did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Opponents say its a burden

Opponents of the rental registry say the program only puts a burden on landlords and that the fees would result in a higher cost of living.

Jeff St. Laurent, a landlord in Worcester, told MassLive that the registry fees would result in landlords increasing rent to ensure they can break even and went as far to describe them as a tax.

Taxes have gone up, a new C.P.A. tax was recently added and this is another burden and cost, St. Laurent said. The fee is small but there is an additional ongoing overhead and burden if you are reregistering your property yearly along with the time required to schedule and be at inspections.

St. Laurent also said the citys plan to send inspectors to each house was misguided and said tenants already have the ability to request inspections if a landlord is not addressing a need.

An inspection will take on average an hour a unit, which creates a burden on owners and tenants alike, he said.

Douglas Quattrochi, another Worcester landlord and executive director of MassLandlords.net, told MassLive the original $300 fines were unsustainable in his view and believes landlords who have low income will suffer the most under the program.

Imagine if you are a landlord who is a senior citizen and you did not get the memo about the fine and then the city catches up to them 90 days later, Quattrochi said. Thats a fine of $27,000. Thats unsustainable.

Even with the changes to the fines, Quattrochi said he was still opposed to having a rental registry in Worcester  arguing that it would result in inspectors and resources being sent to units where there are no problems instead of ones that do have problems.

Unfortunately, they arent working, he said. They look good politically but they do not work.

Supporters say it keeps people safe

Worcester landlord Yenni Desroches told MassLive the program is a positive step forward for the city.

Desroches, who owns a property in Newton Square, said the registry could offer better communications for tenants who are worried about safety hazards in their apartments but may be afraid to report them to their landlord out of fear of being evicted.

She added that some properties are owned by L.L.C., meaning that tenants may not be able to contact their landlord directly. With the new registry, the city can directly contact the landlord.

It can get ahead of fineable offenses, Desroches said. It can really help in emergencies.

Matthews also denied claims made by opponents that the fees were put in place so that the program can receive additional funding. He added that fees associated with the program dont cover its cost.

The registry has the support of City Manager Batista, Worcester Fire Chief Dyer and the Worcester Fire Department  who all believe the registrys system will make tenants and landlords safer.

Whats next?

The four amendments will go before the City Council on June 18 for a full vote. If they all pass, the rental registrys ordinance will be updated to include the amendments.

In a statement sent to MassLive on Tuesday, Batista said he supports the registry and wants to see it fully implemented  regardless of the additional amendments.

The administration remains fully committed to the implementation of a robust rental registry program and its purpose to ensure that rental units in the city are safe and livable, as well as provide first responders with critical information in emergencies, Batista said. We look forward to a discussion on the City Council floor.
NEWLY elected Louisburgh-based councillor Chris Maxwell said he was overwhelmed by the scale of his vote but it was a victory for 'common sense'.

The Independent Ireland candidate surprised many by the scale of his vote with the people of Louisburgh backing him overwhelmingly to ensure they did not go another five years without a councillor.

Maxwell, who ran unsuccessfully as a Fianna Fail candidate in 2019, said that the people of rural Ireland are frustrated and he felt that on the doorsteps.

We did it for the people of rural Ireland because everyone we met is fed up with what's going on. Common sense is gone out the window in everything people come up against. I want to bring common sense back into our dealings and use the money that is there wisely and sensibly and try to make our communities better for young people and our elderly. People are just frustrated and feel neglected in rural Ireland, he said.

His closest rival, sitting Fine Gael councillor Peter Flynn, described the last three months as a tough campaign and he was relieved it was all over.

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 along the way and a lot of social media stuff along the way 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. I am very relieved to be over the line, he said.

Nervous wait

There was a nervous wait for Brendan Mulroy (FF) and Independent John O'Malley but in the end they stayed ahead of Independent Christy Hyland to retain their seats.

Carrowholly-based Independent John O'Malley said he was delighted to be re-elected for the second time as an Independent and put his success down to hard work in the community.

It is great to be elected again but it was a very hard slog. I want to thank most sincerely the people who gave me their number one and put their trust in me and I will be forever grateful and look forward to working for them over the last five years.

I put in a very tough campaign and stood on every door myself and worked nine or ten hours a day for a full nine weeks. The people saw me and talked to me at the doorstep and they knew anything I told them I meant and I will work genuinely hard for them and do the very best I can. I will deliver as much as I can and I will do my best for the next five years, he added.

Proud day

Westport-based councillor Brendan Mulroy said it was a proud day for him and his supporters to be elected but expressed sympathy to Christy Hyland who lost his seat.

On a personal level I am absolutely delighted for myself and my supporters, my family and friends who supported me over the last five terms. I have 25 years of politics done at this stage and thankfully I will do 30. I swear to God I am over the moon. My emotions are shot and I am a proud man.

I am proud of the people who have put me in this position, proud of the people who elected me and the people who always put their faith in me and never doubted me for one minute that I wouldn't be elected. Such a canvass team and circle. I am blessed in life in that way.

At the end of the day my heart goes out to my former colleague Christy Hyland. It is awful easy to be a winner but it is hard to come here and witness that with his family. I want to congratulate John O'Malley, Peter Flynn and Chris Maxwell. It is important we all work together going forward now, he said.








Five years ago at the end of the seventh count, Chris Maxwell cut a forlorn figure as he was the last man standing with just 68 votes separating him from a seat on the council.

His elimination meant Louisburgh would go without a councillor for another five years but residents along the south of Clew Bay were not going to let it happen again. It was clear when the Louisburgh boxes opened that Maxwell was hoovering up the vote in the west of the constituency.

The tallies showed he received 75 percent of first preferences in the Killeen NS and 76 percent out of the two Louisburgh NS boxes. With 1,000 votes out of the three Louisburgh boxes it was clear that the Independent Ireland candidate was well on his way to securing a seat.

With Maxwell on his way to victory, it meant that at least one sitting councillor would be losing out and the question was who would that be.

The opening of the Westport town boxes showed that Peter Flynn was performing very well as was his party colleague Keira Keogh. The decision by Fine Gael to run two town-based candidates was seen as a risky strategy but early on in the tally it looked like Keogh may be in the running for a second Fine Gael seat.

With Flynn and Keogh running well in the town, it was bad news for sitting Independent councillor Christy Hyland who was not picking up the high number which he was getting five years ago. Going by tally figures, Keogh was outpolled by Hyland in five of the seven Scoil Phadraig boxes in Westport and in Keogh's home boxes in the Quay NS she outpolled him by almost two to one.

Elsewhere Fianna Fails only candidate Brendan Mulroy was also feeling the pinch from Maxwell with the party faithful in Louisburgh clearly piling in behind Maxwell. His vote was solid if not spectacular in the Westport town boxes and he was also under pressure in the boxes around Newport from sitting Independent councillor John OMalley.

While nine candidates were in the race, it was clear that the votes were only going to six of them with Sinn Fein candidate Karen Gallagher and Peter Nolan of the Green Party and Niall McCormack of Irish Freedom Party not featuring.

Cllr Peter Flynn pictured with family members after he was returned to Mayo County Council (Pic: Conor McKeown)

Two certainties

The results of the first count showed that Maxwell and Flynn were the two certainties to win a seat with Maxwell topping the poll with 1,793 first preferences just 72 short of the quota while Flynn received 1,559.

It was a lot tighter between the four next candidates with just 166 votes separating O'Malley in third place with 1,350 and Keogh in sixth with 1,184. In between Mulroy managed to put a gap of 107 votes between himself and Christy Hyland.

While small on paper the gap of 107 was significant given the low number of candidates in the field and the lack of transfer activity to bridge the gap.

Returning officer John Condon reduced the field to six after the first county with the elimination of Gallagher, Nolan and McCormack in one go and their total vote of 885 was distributed.

Maxwell was the biggest beneficiary of these votes picking up 146 to put him over the line and elect him to Mayo County Council for the first time in the second count.

John OMalley put further daylight between himself and the chasing pack with 145 transfers, while Flynn picked up 135 votes, 122 for Hyland, 98 for Keogh and Mulroy picked up 82.

Gallant effort

With Maxwell exceeding the quota, there was a reprieve for Keogh when his surplus of 74 was distributed but it was clear that her gallant effort to be elected would fall short.

So it proved after the third count when she was eliminated and the next question would be where would the transfers from her 1,219 votes go.

For Hyland to have any chance of bridging the gap to Mulroy he would hope that his former association with Fine Gael would benefit him over his Fianna Fail counterpart.

As it turned out, he only received 225 of Keoghs transfers, just eight more than Mulroy and he now needed miracles to keep a hold of his seat.

Flynn received 556 votes to see him elected on the fourth count, putting him 391 votes over the quota. Mulroy closed the gap on OMalley to 78 votes after Keogh's transfers but with the Carrowholly-based Independent on 1,715, he knew his seat was safe.

After an anxious few hours, Mulroys supporters were now able to relax and pose for photographs knowing they had done just about enough.

The outcome was confirmed when he received 155 of Flynn's surplus, one more than Hyland but could not catch OMalley into third place who finished five votes ahead.

With Hyland now eliminated, OMalley and Mulroy were returned to Mayo County Council without reaching the quota.
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.
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.
by Teresa Buyikian , June 11, 2024

In response to the mainstream and social media coverage of the chains recent bankruptcy and store closures, even one of Red Lobsters biggest fans said UHHHH WUT,???!!! on X.

Despite the chains troubles, this week it announced the return of its yearly crustation celebration, Crabfest, with a TV and video effort featuring one of its biggest fans, rapper Flavor Flav.

FlavorFlav went on to post I use my platform to help others and now I wanna use it to help save one of Americas greatest dining dynasties, saying Yo Red Lobster, CALL ME,!!! I gotchu.

Apparently, the fast-casual chain did.

Beginning with his trademark "Yeah BOYEEE!," Flav himself narrates the :30 spot, addressing the media firestorm. When the internet said Red Lobster was going away, Flavor Flav said Not today! Then the founding member of seminal East Coast rap group Public Enemy goes on to exclaim Crabfest is here BOYEEE! and goes on to describe the yearly promo.

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"We love seeing our fans show up and rally for us, so when Flavor Flav reached out, we answered the call and invited him to join us in reminding fans we're here to stay," said Sara Bittorf, chief experience officer at Red Lobster in the release.

In addition to Flav, the chains fans have begun posting on social media in support of the restaurant with the hashtag #SaveTheBiscuits in reference to the chains immensely popular Cheddar Bay biscuits.

This years Crabfest introduces some new offerings, including a Cajun Butter option in addition to the usual Roasted Garlic and Simply Steamed flavors served with a pound of steamed wild-caught (Snow or Bairdi) crab legs.

The new crab-filled menu options, beginning at $20, also include a Creamy Crab Carbonara, Crab & Lobster Duo and a Snow Crab & Crab-Topped Steak. Crab Mac & Cheese has also joined the menu as an add-on item.

Flavor Flav isnt the only Hall of Fame rapper lending his swagger to advertise a restaurant chain. Last week Jack in the Box announced its latest Munchie Box, a collaboration with West Coast rapper and founding member of N.W.A., Ice Cube.
by Wendy Davis @wendyndavis, June 11, 2024

The tech industry group TechNet, U.S. Chamber of Commerce and other organizations are urging lawmakers to revise a proposed federal privacy law by more sweepingly overriding state privacy statutes.

The proposed American Privacy Rights Act falls short of creating a uniform national standard due to its inadequate federal preemption of the ever-growing patchwork of state privacy laws, the groups say in a letter sent this week to leaders of the House Energy and Commerce Committee.

As currently written, the proposed law appears to require businesses to allow consumers to opt out of online behavioral advertising -- meaning ads served based on cross-site and cross-app data. The current iteration also would require data brokers to let consumers opt out of data collection, and request deletion of their data. The measure additionally would allow consumers to sue over violations.

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When Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Washington) and Representative Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Washington) unveiled the bill earlier this year, they stated it would override most state privacy laws.

But the current version of the measure has some built-in carve-outs, including ones that would allow Illinois residents to continue to sue companies over violations of that state's biometric privacy laws, and California residents to sue over some data breaches.

Another carve-out would appear to allow Washington's My Health My Data Act to remain in effect. That law, passed last year, prohibits app developers, website operators and others from collecting or sharing a broad range of health data without consumers' opt-in consent. The measure also outlaws geo-fencing within 2,000 feet health-care facilities.

TechNet, the Chamber of Commerce and other organizations write that without full preemption of state laws, the American Privacy Rights Act will add to the privacy patchwork, create confusion for consumers, and hinder economic growth.

Some privacy advocates have urged lawmakers to go in the opposition direction by allowing states to pass stronger laws.

Strong federal protections do not have to come at the expense of the states, Ashkan Soltani, executive director of the California Privacy Protection Agency -- which enforces that state's privacy law -- said in a letter sent to lawmakers last month. Indeed, if we view states as laboratories in our federal system, the [American Privacy Rights Act] would slam the door closed when it comes to privacy and emerging technology.

Lawmakers on a House subcommittee advanced the bill last month, but suggested that they plan to revise the measure before the full Energy and Commerce committee votes on it.
by Tanya Gazdik , June 11, 2024

When brand trust increases by just one point, the average consumer purchase intent increases by 34% in the automotive category.

And when it comes to building that trust, reliability ranked as the top driver.

Thats according to a new report from Vevo music video network, IPG Mediabrands' Magna unit and Initiative, an IPG media agency.

The research, which explores the impact of brand trust across inclusive cohorts, surveyed nearly 5,000 U.S. consumers and tested 32 brands across the automotive, fast casual dining, finance and the OTC medications verticals.

The report also reveals where automotive brands need to improve their communication, and how they rank against other verticals.

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Advertising is a key way for brands to create connections and build brand trust, according to 76% of those surveyed. Almost half (48%) stated TV ads as the preferred channel of engagement to communicate brand messages and build trust. Other preferred channels include social media ads (33%), brand websites, (25%) and product placements (25%).

Responsible media practices are the most effective way to build trust (65%). Placing ads next to/in content that is reputable and safe to watch, supports diverse communities and creators and is representative of the world around me are top examples, according to the study.

No connection with me is a key reason for brand distrust (38%), followed by mishandled controversies, inauthentic and hard to find reviews.

Its never been more critical for marketers to understand where, when, and how brand messages are reaching audiences across channels and demographics  and the findings of this study underpin the importance of brand trust in executing these messages in an effective and impactful way, said Julie Triolo, senior vice president, marketing and research, Vevo, in a release.

Advancements within the digital advertising ecosystem have made performance marketing efforts both harder to execute and harder to measure, says Kara Manatt, executive vice president, intelligence solutions, Magna.

Brands are being challenged to find ways to break through the crowded ecosystem and prove the value in their media spend across channels and environments.

With a thorough understanding of audiences and the ways in which to reach them, brands can effectively build brand trust through advertising, Manatt says in a release.
by Wendy Davis @wendyndavis, June 12, 2024

Mobile data broker Kochava has tentatively agreed to settle a class-action complaint brought by a Massachusetts resident who claimed the company wrongly sold smartphone users' precise location data, according to papers filed in court this week.

Details of the resolution in principle are still being finalized, the parties said in a status report submitted to U.S. District Court Judge Indira Talwani in Boston. The company and Maattala told Talwani they will provide a further update by July 10.

If completed, the deal will bring an end to a lawsuit brought in 2022 by Julie Maattala, who alleged that Kochava obtains and sells precise location data that originates with mobile apps, in violation of a Massachusetts consumer protection law that prohibits unfair or deceptive business practices.

Maattala sued several months after the Federal Trade Commission charged Kochava with acting unfairly by allegedly selling the kind of precise geolocation data that could expose sensitive information, such as whether people visited doctors' offices or religious institutions.

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Among other allegations, the FTC alleged that Kochava sells precise geolocation data as well as mobile advertising IDs -- unique, 32-character identifiers that persist, unless consumers proactively reset them.

Kochava, based in Sandpoint, Idaho, has argued that data it sells isn't personally identifiable, and that the FTC's allegations -- even if proven true -- wouldn't amount to unfair conduct.

Earlier this year, U.S. District Court Judge B. Lynn Winmill in Idaho allowed the FTC to proceed with its complaint. Winmill essentially said at the time that the allegations against the company, if proven true, could support the claim that it engaged in activity that could cause substantial injury to consumers, and wasn't reasonably avoidable or outweighed by benefits.

Kochava allegedly provides its customers with vast amounts of essentially non-anonymized information about millions of mobile device users past physical locations, personal characteristics (including age, ethnicity, and gender), religious and political affiliations, marital and parental statuses, economic statuses, and more, Winmill wrote in February.

Kochava founder and CEO Charles Manning said at the time that the company was confident it would prevail on the merits. He also noted that Kochava's privacy block -- a two-year-old feature that removes known health services locations from the company's marketplace -- had blocked over 2.1 million locations as of February.

Since that ruling, Kochava and the FTC have indicated they are open to settling the case. In May, they filed a joint motion asking Winmill for a five-week extension of a deadline to file pre-trial paperwork, writing that the additional time would facilitate settlement talks.

On Monday, they asked for an additional four-week extension, again writing that the extra time would facilitate settlement discussions.

Kochava is also facing class-action complaints by consumers in California and Idaho.
  Trusted Source

Snoring



Go to source Trusted Source



#Snoring, often linked with #ObstructiveSleepApnea, is the most prevalent sleep-related #breathingdisorder. Over 12 crore people in #India are reported to suffer from OSA. #OSA

Excessive Daytime Sleepiness Poses Risks

Snoring - Symptoms and causes - (https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/snoring/symptoms-causes/syc-20377694)

), a sleep disorder , can increase the likelihood of various non-communicable diseases such as hypertension and elevated blood sugar levels, and even pose the risk of life-threatening conditions like heart attacks and strokes Snoring is characterised by the recurrent episode of complete or partial obstruction of the upper airway leading to reduced or absent breathing during sleep and these episodes are termed apneas and hypopneas, Dr. Manoj Pawar, Associate Consultant - Pulmonology, Manipal Hospital, Kharadi, Pune, told IANS. While not all snoring is dangerous, Dr. Manoj said that it may be of concern if an individual suffers from excessive daytime sleepiness, or restless sleep due to it.The prominent symptom is excessive daytime sleepiness wherein patients tend to sleep very easily during daytime mostly while watching TV, sitting with the other members of the family, reading newspapers, and even while driving a car. It can be very dangerous, the doctor said. It can also cause early morning headaches, insomnia, trouble concentrating on things, mood changes, a decrease in sex drive, and an increase in urinary frequency.When the obstruction is severe, the oxygen supply to the various body organs is affected leading to apnea (stoppage of breathing). Because of lack of oxygen, they suffer from a variety of neuropsychiatric symptoms such as tiredness, daytime sleepiness, irritability, and lack of concentration, Dr Santosh Bangar, Senior Consultant Psychiatrist, Global Hospital, Parel, Mumbai, told IANS.It is a major cause of divorce and road traffic accidents, and can lead to mental and physical health complications hypertension ( high blood pressure ), diabetes, irregular heart rhythm , heart attack, sudden cardiac death, stroke ( paralysis ), dementia and depression, he added.Dr Santosh said it is also more common in men with a short neck, large tongue, and jaw abnormality. Besides obese individuals, it can also be seen in thin people and can be hereditary. The experts called for a healthy lifestyle, weight reduction, regular exercise , eating a light dinner, and avoiding sleep tablets, smoking , and alcohol. Wearing a mask (CPAP, Continuous positive airway pressure) or jaw braces may also help.Source-IANS
WhatsApp as a Remedy for Loneliness and Depression Among Older Adults

by Dr. Pavithra on Jun 12 2024 3:45 PM

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Minister of Foreign Affairs, George Gerapetritis will meet tomorrow, Thursday, June 13, at 11:00 am with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Brazil, Mauro Vieira.



Following the expanded talks between the delegations, the two Ministers will deliver statements to the press at 12:30 pm. A working lunch will follow.
Greece was represented today at the International Conference in Amman, Jordan, convened by the King of Jordan, the President of Egypt, and the Secretary-General of the United Nations. The conference focused on humanitarian aid to Palestine and Gaza, as well as the reconstruction plan following the cessation of hostilities.



We are currently facing a truly dramatic situation in the region. It is absolutely necessary to halt hostilities immediately, to ensure an unhindered uninterrupted flow of humanitarian aid to Gaza, and to develop a plan for Gaza's reconstruction, for main routes that will allow people to return to their homes, with basic infrastructure and life in Palestine restored. Of course, a vision must be provided to the Palestinian people on the establishment of a Palestinian state within the framework of the Security Council resolutions.



In this context, the Greek government fully endorses President Biden's plan for an immediate ceasefire, the release of hostages currently held, as well as a comprehensive plan that will allow the return of displaced Palestinians to their homes.



I would like to emphasize once again that Greece, holding significant international capital, was invited to this international conference and presented its views. Greece can and does talk to all the parties involved and it is important that we can contribute to the international effort to cease hostilities in the Middle East. It is a universal demand of Europe and the entire world to end this nightmare.



Greece will undertake a series of initiatives to achieve beneficial outcomes in the Middle East. Already, on my proposal to the Foreign Affairs Council of the European Union, a joint task force comprising Ministers from both the European Union and the Arab world will be set up to assist in promoting the peace process. Together with my counterparts from Portugal and Denmark, we have proposed to the European Union the formation of a group that will assist in reforming the institutions of the new Palestinian state, once established, to strengthen institutions, promote peace in the region, and facilitate peaceful coexistence between Israel and Palestine.
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. 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 in 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. xingwen@chinadaily.com.cn
The Navy has relieved 12 commanding officers so far in 2024 -- including three firings that have not previously been made public, according to information provided to Military.com by the service.

In addition to the nine publicly announced firings, Capt. Alex Dutko, manager of the Direct and Time Sensitive Strike program; Capt. Michael Meno, commander of Naval Construction Group 1; and Capt. David Wilson, commander of Naval Support Activity South Potomac, were also relieved of their commands in the past six months, a Navy spokesman said.

When asked about the three firings and why they were not made public, the Navy spokesman said that the sea service does not publicly announce reliefs that are not the result of a loss of the trust and confidence in the officers' ability to command.

Read Next: White House 'Strongly Opposes' Proposed 19.5% Pay Hike for Junior Enlisted Troops

Loss of confidence is a boilerplate reason provided by the Navy that can encompass anything from issues with the way the commander is treating their crew to personal actions like drunken driving. However, commanders can also be relieved for medical reasons or ask to be relieved themselves, the Navy spokesman noted.

Navy officials have previously said the sea service relieved 15 commanding officers in 2023. There are currently around 1,600 commanding officers in the active-duty Navy across all communities.

Since the start of the year, the Navy has fired three commanders -- two submarine skippers and one SEAL commodore -- for drunk driving incidents.

Capt. Kurt Balagna, who commanded the USS Ohio sub's gold crew, was arrested March 5 by Washington state police for driving with a blood alcohol content of around 0.24% in a state with a legal limit of 0.08%.

Similarly, Capt. Richard Zaszewski, formerly commodore of Navy Special Warfare Group Eight, was arrested Jan. 19 for driving with a blood alcohol content between 0.15% and 0.2%.

Finally, also in January, the Navy fired the commander of the USS Georgia's blue crew -- Capt. Geoffry Patterson -- after he was arrested in the early hours of Jan. 9 on charges including driving under the influence and improper lane change.

Two of the 12 fired Navy commanders were chaplains assigned to the Coast Guard.

Capt. Daniel Mode, the Coast Guard's top chaplain who had served in that position since 2022, was fired in April after he failed to take action when he was made aware of sexual misconduct by another chaplain.

In May, the Coast Guard also fired Navy Cmdr. Cristiano DeSousa, the Seventh District Chaplain in Miami, Florida, with no explanation outside of the usual "loss of confidence in his abilities to fulfill the expectations of his position."

Related: Navy Fires the Head of Its Only South American Command
The Army is warning soldiers to steer clear of job offers and other financial opportunities that may be too good to be true, or seem suspicious, as foreign agents are using social media as a means to contact troops and civilian employees to gather critical information.

"Foreign adversaries are increasing the use of social media and seemingly legitimate job offers to elicit sensitive information," a memo to the force said last week.

The warning comes as adversaries, particularly China, are significantly building their footprint online. That's being done through Chinese companies expanding their business influence in the tech community and disinformation campaigns being waged online. But one of the newer concerns from Pentagon officials is Beijing conducting subtle and sophisticated exploitation of troops, their families and civilian officials in the Defense Department.

Read Next: 'The Coast Guard Lied to Me': Official in Charge of Sexual Assault Response at Coast Guard Academy Resigns

The Army warned of online networking sites such as LinkedIn, Reddit and Discord being hot spots for adversaries to target individuals with tactical information, defense contract knowledge or a background in technology development, or information on combat-essential resources.

"Requests initiate with simple 'getting to know you' questions such as 'where do you work, how old are you and what are your hobbies,' and other non-alerting topics," the memo noted. "The questions may increase in sensitivity over time although the dialogue may never evolve into direct or explicit requests for classified information."

Some questions, the memo notes, will involve gathering opinions on foreign policy topics such as Taiwan, Ukraine or Israel.

The Army also warned that adversaries may offer disproportional payments, salary proffers and all-expenses-paid trips to China and other destinations. Family members of service members and Army civilian employees are also being targeted, according to the service.

Army officials are urging military personnel to report if foreign governments or corporations try to recruit them, or if they receive any suspicious financial offer or contact. Last year, the Biden administration blacklisted 36 Chinese companies, including technology and aviation entities, from doing business with U.S. firms, citing national security concerns.

American intelligence agencies also raised concerns earlier this month that China is aggressively trying to recruit American military pilots, as well as aviators from other Western militaries, to gain insight into tactics and train its own air force.

The news comes after an active-duty soldier allegedly sold sensitive military documents related to the defense of Taiwan. Sgt. Korbein Schultz, an intelligence analyst, is accused of downloading and selling information for some $42,000 over the course of a year, according to a Justice Department press release. He also allegedly sold documents related to the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System, or HIMARS.

He was arrested in March and charged with six counts related to conspiracy and bribery. He served with the 506th Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division, based out of Fort Campbell, Kentucky.

Related: Jack Teixeira Faces Article 32 Hearing as Air Force Considers New Charges in Classified Leak Case
Construction of a new heavy-duty icebreaker for the Coast Guard may begin by the end of December, more than five years after the service awarded a contract for the much-anticipated ship's design and build.

Vice Adm. Paul Thomas, the Coast Guard's deputy commandant for mission support, told a House subcommittee Wednesday that the design for the polar security cutter likely won't be complete, but the process will be far enough along to start building portions, or modules, of the vessel.

"We have seen an increase in design maturity that leads us to be optimistic about being able to authorize the start of construction by the end of this year," Thomas said.

Read Next: 5.5% vs. 19.5% Pay Raise: Senate Diverges from House on How Much to Boost Junior Enlisted Paychecks

Thomas didn't have an estimate for when the ship, the future Polar Sentinel, would be delivered, but said the Coast Guard is looking to renegotiate portions of its contract with Mississippi-based Bollinger Shipyards, which bought the company awarded the original contract, VT Halter Marine Inc., in 2022.

"We are in the process of getting much greater clarity in terms of cost and schedule," Thomas told members of the House Homeland Security Committee's Coast Guard and maritime transportation subcommittee.

Last year, Bollinger started construction on a prototype module for the vessel that, if approved, will be integrated into the ship.

The service awarded a $745 million contract in 2019 for the polar security cutter with hopes that the first ship of the class would be delivered in 2023. The ambitious timeline was derailed by the complexity of the design -- U.S. shipbuilders haven't constructed an icebreaker for decades -- as well as rising costs and the shipyard sale.

As construction has stalled, the need for vessels that can handle the rough, but increasingly busy, polar environment has increased. Alaska's sole House member Rep. Mary Sattler Peltola, a Democrat, noted that foreign adversaries have practiced war games off the shores of Alaska and the need for search and rescue and maritime enforcement in the region is great.

"You are our presence," Peltola said during the hearing. "As Alaskans, we are very dependent on you. Our fishing industries are dependent on you, our tourists are very dependent on you."

As an interim measure, the Coast Guard was given $125 million earlier this year to purchase a commercial icebreaker, which it plans to convert to military use. It has not made the buy, however, and is still drafting a request for proposal while also waiting for additional money to operate the ship, according to Thomas.

"Critical -- we asked for about $20 million ... so we could operate and outfit that vessel in fiscal 2024 -- and that was reduced to $1 million. We are going to need additional appropriations in 2025 so we can operate what we buy," Thomas said.

The Coast Guard has called the polar security cutter its top acquisition initiative. With Russia having a large presence in the Arctic and China increasing its visits, as well as growing interest in polar regions for their commercial potential, the U.S. has a strategic interest in maintaining an ongoing presence in the polar areas.

Coast Guard Commandant Adm. Linda Fagan said last year that the service will need eight to nine icebreakers in the coming decades but operates just two ocean-going ships: the Polar Star, a 48-year-old heavy icebreaker capable of slicing through thick Antarctic pack ice, and the Healy, a 26-year-old medium icebreaker used for Arctic operations and research.

During the hearing, which focused on the Coast Guard's decades-long efforts to recapitalize its aging fleet of ships and aircraft and address its shore facility maintenance backlog, an official with the Government Accountability Office said the service lacks a long-term planning vision, leaving it vulnerable to making trade-offs after executing short-term budget decisions.

According to the GAO, the Coast Guard's planned investment portfolio of major acquisition programs has increased by $8.2 billion since 2018, including the polar security program, which has grown to $13.3 billion from $9.8 billion five years ago.

"My testimony today should not be a shock to anyone. The Coast Guard's acquisition portfolio is unaffordable, given historic and predicted budgetary levels. We have consistently been reporting this for over 10 years. The commandant recently testified that, while the Coast Guard requires $1.6 billion to recapitalize assets, up to $4 billion is what is actually required," said Shelby Oakley, the GAO's director for contracting and national security acquisitions.

In her annual state of the Coast Guard speeches over the past couple years, Fagan has said the service needs to be a $20 billion armed force; the Coast Guard's fiscal 2025 budget request was for $13.8 billion.

Oakley said that, in addition to the Coast Guard, the Department of Homeland Security, congressional lawmakers and the Office of Management and Budget have all played a role in the service's historic funding shortfalls.

"The Coast Guard needs to better articulate the full scope of its funding needs," Oakley said. "The Coast Guard and [the Department of Homeland Security] have consistently kicked the can down the road and have not taken steps to realistically lay out a plan for meeting mission needs outside the constrained budget process."

Related: Coasties, Marines and Sailors Awarded for Seizing Millions of Pounds of Explosive Materials in Middle East
The name of an Army veteran killed in an officer-involved shooting on June 6 has been released.

Trae Stewart Spurlock, 26, of Casper, was shot nine times at The Ridge at Blackmore Apartments on Thursday night in the 5000 block of Pay it Forward Drive, according to a press release and preliminary report obtained from the Natrona County Coroner's office on Monday.

The department responded to a call for service regarding a disturbance, according to a press release from Casper Police on Friday.

A Friday press release from Casper police alleges that Spurlock, a retired Army sergeant, "attempted to gain control of a firearm and was subsequently shot by an officer."

According to a preliminary coroner's office report, Spurlock was shot in the left chest, left upper abdomen, left abdomen, left thigh, left back, left buttocks, left forearm and twice in the posterior left thigh.

The partially jacketed slugs struck Spurlock's heart, liver and lungs according to the report. There was no evidence of "close-range firing."

Bullets struck Spurlock from his front, side and back, according to the preliminary report which also noted he suffered multiple abrasions and lacerations.

"After autopsy and review of the history, the cause of death is multiple gunshot wounds, and the manner of death is homicide," the preliminary report states.

While homicide is the act of one person killing another, not all homicides are crimes and the autopsy report does not attempt to make that judgement.

The Casper Police Department has requested that the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation conduct the investigation into this incident, according to Casper Police.

"I'm wanting to make sure that this process is handled properly and that Trae, who doesn't have a voice anymore, gets justice," said Ryan Sweeney, a close veteran friend of Spurlock.

The involved officer was placed on paid administrative leave, according to a press release from Casper police.

Multiple calls to the Casper Police Department on Monday requesting further details went unanswered.

"He was a terrific human being  he's done a lot through his actions to show that and he's always been servient to other people," said Ryan Sweeney.

Sweeney added that Spurlock had three children. Court documents supported the claim that Spurlock had three children  the oldest being born in 2018.

David is a reporter at the Casper Star-Tribune.

___

(c)2024 Casper Star Tribune, Wyo.

Visit Casper Star Tribune, Wyo. at www.trib.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
BERLIN  Germany's defense minister announced on Wednesday plans for new legislation that would help refill the depleted ranks of the armed forces to bolster the country's defense capabilities.

Boris Pistorius said the proposed bill would allow the government to send letters to all young men who turn 18  about 400,000 every year  asking about their willingness and ability to serve in the military.

Under the law, those who receive the letter would have to fill out the questions. The army would then invite those interested in serving for a medical checkup and choose the most qualified to serve in the military for a period of 6-23 months.

Speaking to reporters in Berlin, Pistorius explained that the threat levels have changed from what they were a few years ago.

Russia has now been waging a war against Ukraine for two and a half years  it is not only calling the rules-based international order into question, it is destroying it," he said. This is a new threat situation.

The campaign is part of efforts to boost active forces numbers to 203,000 from the current just under 181,000 figure. Germany had over 500,000 troops during the Cold War.

If the bill passes, the new military service would still be voluntary and a far cry from compulsory conscription for young men, which was suspended in Germany in 2011, after 55 years. Since then, there has been no mandatory military and civilian service in the country.

Germanys conscription act still stipulates that compulsory military service for men can be revived if the parliament declares a state of emergency for defense.

Women who turn 18 would also receive the letters, Pistorius said, but would not be obliged to answer, since Germany's constitution does not foresee mandatory service for them.

After Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, leading to one of most brutal wars in Europe since World War II, calls have steadily grown in Germany to reintroduce some kind of military service to be better prepared for possible future wars.

Only days after Russia attacked Ukraine, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz pledged to increase Germanys defense spending to a NATO target of 2% of gross domestic product and set up the 100 billion-euro ($107 billion) special fund. He said that the invasion marked a turning point.

Pistorius himself has repeatedly said that Germany must become fit for war in order to be able to act as a credible deterrent together with its NATO allies.

If the proposal becomes law, Pistorius expects that of the about 400,000 young men who fill out the questionnaire each year, around a quarter would express an interest in serving in the military. Of those, the army is likely to choose 5,000 most qualified men but hopes to increase that number in the long-term.

Germany's lack of military personnel and equipment is a known problem. In March, the parliament's commissioner for the armed forces said in her annual report that Germanys military still has too little of everything.

The Bundeswehr is aging and shrinking, Eva Hoegl said and acknowledged at the time that the issue of personnel has very clearly arrived on the political agenda.

In the face of perceived growing threats by Russia, other European countries are also considering new forms of military service.

In Britain, the governing Conservative Party said in May that all 18-year-olds in the country would have to perform a year of mandatory military or civilian national service if it wins the July 4 national election.
Gabriela Lavoy sat in her Texas home Wednesday morning and thought back to when she spoke to her son days before he died, a phone call in which he revealed he was planning on getting married to his girlfriend and would spend Christmas with his mom for the first time in two years since he was deployed overseas.

But her boy, 33-year-old Tech. Sgt. Zach Emmett Lavoy -- an airman with the 1st Special Operations Squadron -- never made it home. He, alongside seven other air commandos, died after their CV-22 Osprey crashed off the coast of Japan on Nov. 29 due to a still unpublicized and unspecified mechanical failure that occurred with the controversial tilt-rotor aircraft.

"My son was always hesitant about getting on that plane. He never said he was scared, but he had a feeling, I guess," Lavoy told Military.com on the phone Wednesday, adding she had not gotten any new information from the Air Force on what went wrong on her son's training mission.

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Nearly 2,000 miles away from her home in Texas, lawmakers on a House oversight subcommittee in Washington, D.C., were grilling Navy and Defense Department officials Wednesday, asking about the November crash, as well as why the Osprey has contributed to a staggering 20 service member deaths in the last two years -- including three other crashes with the Marine Corps since March 2022.

Family members who lost loved ones in those crashes sat in the front row, holding pictures of their relatives in their laps behind the table of witnesses.

One of those family members was Bart Collart, the father of Cpl. Spencer Collart, a Marine crew chief who died in August after his Osprey went down on the northern coast of Australia, killing him and two others.

The connection between all of those families, especially now, is close. In fact, Collart said that his son Spencer was best friends with another crew member who died in a separate Osprey crash in June 2022, Lance Cpl. Evan Strickland, whose family was also in attendance at the hearing.

"We all sat in the front row to help them feel our presence, let our presence be known," Collart said. "And I think they got their hands full. The military's got their hands full with this thing."

But the Navy and defense officials provided no specific details in response to lawmakers' questions during the nearly two-hour hearing about the issues with the V-22 program and little clarity for the Gold Star families on what is being done to ensure the safety of the aircraft.

Rep. Glenn Grothman, R-Wis., the chairman of the House Oversight and Accountability Committees subcommittee on national security, told those Gold Star family members in attendance that they were due more answers than were given.

"You being here is very important, because I don't even want to drop this thing today," Grothman said to the families. He also took aim at the Navy and defense officials, saying, "There were a surprising number of questions that I felt you guys didn't hear the answers to. ... It would have bothered me a lot more if I was one of the folks sitting there behind you."

When asked by Military.com whether answers from officials were satisfying to him and his family, Collart said, "For the most part, I have to say no," adding that the subcommittee did a good job holding the witnesses to task, but few revelations were made.

"It was a little disappointing on the little amount of information that we gleaned from the whole thing," Collart said in an interview. "You want to hear [that] ... 'We've done all this research, we found out that these are the problems we need to address, and this is how we plan on addressing those problems.' ... But we got none of that."

Following the Air Force crash off the coast of Japan in November, the services grounded all versions of the Osprey. Four months later, by March, the services began returning to flight operations but did not disclose the mechanical issue behind the crash.

That same month, the Marine Corps and Navy quickly began returning to the skies. The Air Force, which uses the smallest number of the aircraft for special operations missions, moved more carefully, but as of Wednesday had several of its Ospreys back in the skies.

"As each aircraft is cleared, our aircrew resume flight operations, beginning with basic flights to rebuild crew currency in the aircraft and slowly building in complexity as aircrew fly more," Lt. Col. Rebecca Heyse, an Air Force Special Operations Command spokesperson, told Military.com on Tuesday.

Heyse said there were "several" of the aircraft flying at Cannon Air Force Base in New Mexico "conducting aircrew currency flights."

Military.com reported that part of the Osprey Joint Program Office's guidance for returning to flight operations was that the Air Force, Marine Corps and Navy are barred from flying the aircraft more than 30 minutes away from a landing field in case of an emergency.

Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps officials contacted by Military.com did not answer specific questions about the current restrictions but said they're following the Joint Program Office's guidance and are focused on returning the aircraft to their respective missions.

A spokesman for the Osprey program office cited "operational security" as the reason why "procedural risk mitigation controls are not authorized for public release."

Vice Adm. Carl Chebi, head of Naval Air Systems Command, which oversees the V-22 program for the Air Force, Marine Corps and Navy, said at the hearing that the return-to-flight inspections are still underway for the aircraft and he doesn't expect it to return to full and unrestricted operations until at least next year.

"I will not certify the V-22 to return to unrestricted flight operations until I am satisfied that we have sufficiently addressed the issues that may affect the safety of the aircraft," Chebi said. "Based on the data that I have today, I'm expecting that this will not occur before mid-2025."

Additionally, he added, the clutch system -- which Military.com has reported has been a decade-long problem for the aircraft and has been identified as causing a June 2022 crash that led to the death of five Marines in California -- is undergoing redesign and testing.

But Rep. Stephen Lynch, D-Mass., told the officials in attendance that if another Osprey crash happens before a clutch redesign, it will likely be the last straw for the V-22 program.

"Your whole program is done, it's done. If another Osprey goes down, we're done," Lynch said. "So, why don't we ground this now? Ground this now. Don't allow any other brave Marine or airmen to go down in one of these aircraft."

The family members of those five Marines who died in a June 2022 Osprey crash, and who last month filed a lawsuit against the manufacturers of the Osprey, provided a long list of questions and concerns they wanted answered about what led to the mechanical failure and what is being done to resolve it.

In a joint statement, they called for quick action to be taken by officials.

"Osprey crews, their families, and the families of those who have been lost deserve to know the cause of these crashes, and what is being done to prevent them in the future," Timothy Loranger, a Marine veteran and attorney representing the families of the June 2022 Osprey crash in their lawsuit, said in a statement.

Amber Sax, the widow of Marine Corps pilot Capt. John Sax, told Military.com in a phone conversation that she only "got a portion of the story," referring to the fact that none of the companies who make the major components of the aircraft was present.

"I hope that they do have those people sitting there -- I was told it's possible, so let's do it," Sax added.

While some families, like those of the Marines lost in the June 2022 crash in California, have stated "our goal isn't to see this platform removed," others grieving the loss of their loved ones are doubtful that any redesigns or changes will make a difference.

"I want the Ospreys to be grounded completely," Lavoy said, because she doesn't want any mother to experience the pain she has felt. "I want them to stop using this aircraft altogether."

Related: Deadly Marine Osprey Crash Triggers Wrongful Death Lawsuit Against Bell Textron, Boeing, Rolls-Royce
Next to the upcoming Global War on Terror exhibit at the National Museum of the Marine Corps in Virginia, there is now a quiet place for veterans to reflect and find respite from images and artifacts in the museum that may evoke stressful memories of combat and military service.

The respite room, as officials dubbed it, was unveiled Wednesday in front of a crowd of roughly 100 people, including veterans, Marines, sailors and loved ones celebrating the commemoration of a yearslong effort to bring the space to reality -- and further a still-difficult conversation about the effects of post-traumatic stress.

The idea for the respite room was born in 2019 when a retired Marine Corps major general, James Kessler, asked Ron Zaczek, a decorated Vietnam veteran and helicopter crew chief, and his wife Grace to create a space for veterans like Ron -- who experienced post-traumatic stress from their time in combat -- to find a moment of peace.

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The couple jumped at the chance to continue the "mission of keeping our Marines safe in their home," Grace said. Ron, who authored two books about his combat experience, passed away early last year. Pictures of him during and after his military service temporarily adorned the respite room in his honor.

Partially quoting Pulitzer Prize-winning author Viet Thanh Nguyen, Grace said, "All wars are fought twice -- the first time on the battlefield, the second time in memory.

"Enemies change, battlefields and weapons change," she said. "The effects and consequences of combat trauma for veterans and their families never change."

Grace cut the ribbon to the room during its christening at the museum in Triangle, Virginia.

A Place to Reflect, Recover

Once a restroom, the respite room features two comfortable chairs and a long couch. It was adorned with plants that complemented the blue-green color of the walls, which are soundproofed against any commotion outside. Calming music placidly filled the room, and veterans and family members had the option to dim the lights.

Notably, outside of Ron's two books between the two chairs, there are no military artifacts or memorabilia in the room -- or any reminder of the outside world at all.

Dr. Terence Keane, the director of the National Center for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Behavioral Science Division, told Military.com after the ceremony Wednesday that the room is meant to help relieve not only the mental effects of post-traumatic stress possibly triggered by the exhibits in the museum, but the physical ones.

He said that when those who have post-traumatic stress are reexposed to "cues," it can elicit an elevated heart rate, sweating and increased blood pressure.

The respite room is a place "to reflect, to speak with somebody else who might be a combat veteran, or who might be a family member or friend in the interest of helping them recover from these very strong, emotional, physical reactions to combat cues," Keane said.

Officials at the ceremony said they hope other museums across the country will adopt a similar approach. Not only is the room intended to provide a peaceful place of reflection for those experiencing the effects of post-traumatic stress, it also continues the conversation about the condition overall.

"I think it's important -- this idea of a respite room -- just recognizing the need for it," retired Marine Maj. Gen. James Lukeman told Military.com. "Simply a guest asking, 'What's a respite room for?" starts a conversation about post-traumatic stress."

Those in the room said openness about the topic has improved in the national consciousness, but was long overdue.

"For so long, we didn't talk about it at all in this country," Lukeman said. "People still don't want to talk about it. But we have a very subtle but meaningful and useful way to address it here in the National Museum of the Marine Corps."

Vietnam Veterans Helped Pave the Way

While the respite room is located just outside of the new Afghanistan and Iraq exhibit, which will open in September, its origins started with the Vietnam era.

In 1980, as the country was just beginning to understand the true aftereffects of the Vietnam War and the term post-traumatic stress disorder made its first appearance in official diagnostic literature, Ron -- the Marine crew chief -- met Dr. Thomas Murtaugh.

"Some of Tom's first words to Ron on Ron's initial visit to the vet center were, 'You are safe here,'" Grace said.

Murtaugh, for whom the room is dedicated, not only helped Ron heal from his experiences in Vietnam, but started a new age of understanding veteran trauma on a national scale.

As a clinical and research psychologist for the then-Veterans Administration for 24 years, Murtaugh was known internationally for PTSD treatment and created the first outpatient veterans center in Elkton, Maryland, according to his obituary. Murtaugh died in 2013.

He conducted this work alongside Keane, who delivered remarks about the decades-long effort to put PTSD recognition and treatment on the map to the crowd at the museum.

"So, why a room of respite?" Keane asked the crowd. "Because the cues of combat, the cues of war and their indelible impacts last forever. The good news is that post-traumatic stress disorder does not have to last forever."

Keane has spent more than 40 years researching the effects of PTSD, and in 1985 managed the National Vietnam Veterans Readjustment Study, a bedrock academic effort that put post-traumatic stress among veterans in the spotlight across the country and around the world.

"The idea was to demonstrate convincingly that post-traumatic stress disorder existed," he said. "Can you imagine that in 1985 -- in our lifetimes -- there would be very significant challenges as to whether or not war and other traumatic events lead to long-lasting psychological distress? But that's true."

He said that, out of that study, 15% of men were still experiencing PTSD 20 years after the war; for women who had served in that time frame, 9% had PTSD.

"Both groups of people, whether they were caring for the dead or the injured, or they were fighting the wars, had experienced PTSD," he said.

New Focus on Trauma

But the study, which continued into the ensuing decades, also offered a beacon of hope. The research team contacted respondents of the study decades after the war and found that one-quarter of the veterans who reported PTSD had recovered, either on their own or through psychotherapy.

The study not only broadened the understanding of combat experiences, Keane said, but of trauma overall. From domestic violence, community violence and industrial and motor vehicle accidents to sexual assault and rape, the study opened the country's aperture to the long-lasting effects of trauma, he explained. In the ensuing years, vet centers were created, and PTSD clinical teams became a fixture at VA hospitals across the country.

Murtaugh did not live to see the full outcomes of that study, Keane said, but when it came time to decide to whom the new area to supply solace within the halls of the Marine Corps museum should be dedicated, there was no question.

"His work had an impact," Keane said. "The impact was to soothe the people who'd experienced some of the worst things that life has to offer.

"And this room, here open indefinitely into the future, will be a respite for those people who experienced war trauma or other forms of violence and abuse," he continued, "and who need to sit for a moment and reflect on their own life experiences. And then move forward."

Related: Traumatic Memories Associated with PTSD 'Live' in a Different Part of the Brain than Other Recollections, Study Finds
Troops at Colorado Space Force Base Will Have to Bring Their Own To-Go Boxes for Dining Hall

While the initiative is aimed at reducing waste on base, the spokesperson added that they hope it will give troops on base...
SEOUL, South Korea  North Korean leader Kim Jong Un hailed the countrys expanding relationship with Russia on Wednesday, as reports suggest that Russian President Vladimir Putin will soon visit the country for his third meeting with Kim.

Military, economic and other cooperation between North Korea and Russia have sharply increased since Kim visited Russia last September for a meeting with Putin. The U.S., South Korea and their partners believe North Korea has supplied artillery, missiles and other conventional weapons to Russia to support its war in Ukraine in return for advanced military technologies and economic aid.

Kim has been pushing to boost partnerships with Russia and China in a bid to strength his regional footing and launch a united front against the United States.

During their September meeting at Russias main space launch site, Kim invited the Russian president to visit North Korea at a convenient time, and Putin accepted.

On Wednesday, Kim sent Putin a message congratulating Russia on its National Day, according to the Norths official Korean Central News Agency.

Thanks to the significant meeting between us at the Vostochney Spaceport in September last year, (North Korea)-Russia friendly and cooperative relations developed into an unbreakable relationship of comrades-in-arms, Kim said in the message.

Kims comments came as media reports said Putin is expected to visit North Korea as early as next week. If realized, it would their third summit meeting. Their first summit happened in Vladivostok in April 2019.

Japanese public broadcaster NHK, citing unidentified diplomatic sources including high-ranking Russian officials, reported Wednesday that Putin is preparing to visit North Korea and Vietnam next week.

NHK said Putin is expected to seek stronger military ties with North Korea as Russia faces a shortage of weapons in its war with Ukraine, while North Korea is believed to want help with space technology in the wake of its recent failure to put a second spy satellite in orbit in late May.

Russian business daily Vedomosti, citing an unidentified diplomatic source, said Monday that Putin will visit North Korea and Vietnam in the coming weeks. The report quoted Russias ambassador in North Korea, Alexander Matsegora, as saying that preparations for Putins visit to North Korea were underway.

Neither Russia nor North Korea have confirmed reports of a planned trip. Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov told a briefing in late May that the visit is in the pipeline, and we will make an announcement in due time, according to Russian news agency Tass.

Russia and North Korea are locked in separate confrontations with the United States  Russia over its invasion of Ukraine and North Korea over its advancing nuclear program. Both North Korea and Russia have denied allegations of arms transfers, which would be a violation of multiple U.N. Security Council resolutions.

In March, South Korean Defense Minister Shin Wonsik said North Korea had already shipped about 7,000 containers filled with munitions and other military equipment to Russia. In return, Shin said that North Korea had received more than 9,000 Russian containers likely filled with aid.

Recently, tensions on the Korean Peninsula have risen again as North Korea launched trash-carrying balloons toward South Korea, prompting the South to resume propaganda broadcasts at border areas.

___

Associated Press writers Yamaguchi in Tokyo and Dasha Litvinova in Tallinn, Estonia. contributed to this story.
ABOARD THE USS LABOON IN THE RED SEA  Yemen's Houthi rebels have likely launched a boat-borne bomb attack against a commercial ship in the Red Sea on Wednesday, the British military said, the latest escalation despite a U.S.-led campaign trying to protect the vital waterway.

The use of a boat loaded with explosives raised the specter of 2000's USS Cole attack, a suicide assault by al-Qaida on the warship when it was at port in Aden, killing 17 on board. Associated Press journalists saw the Cole in the Red Sea on Wednesday, now taking part in the U.S. campaign while visiting one of her sister ships, the USS Laboon.

The Houthis did not immediately claim the attack, but it typically takes them hours or even days to acknowledge their assaults. The rebels had planned a military statement later on Wednesday night.

In a warning to shippers, the British military's United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations center described the vessel as being hit in its stern by a small white craft southwest of the Houthi-controlled port city of Hodeida.

The captain reports the vessel is taking on water, and not under command of the crew, the UKMTO said. He also reports the vessel was hit for a second time by an unknown airborne projectile.

It also wasn't immediately clear whether the attack involved people on board or a remotely piloted drone boat. However, the Houthis have used drone boats so far in their campaign and have not been known to launch suicide attacks.

The Houthis, who seized Yemens capital nearly a decade ago and have been fighting a Saudi-led coalition since shortly after, have been targeting shipping throughout the Red Sea corridor over the Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip. They say the attacks are aimed at stopping the war and supporting the Palestinians, though the attacks often target vessels that have nothing to do with the conflict.

The war in Gaza has killed more than 36,000 Palestinians there, while hundreds of others have been killed in Israeli operations in the West Bank. It began after Hamas-led militants attacked Israel on Oct. 7, killing about 1,200 people and taking around 250 hostage.

The Houthis have launched more than 50 attacks on shipping, killed three sailors, seized one vessel and sunk another since November, according to the U.S. Maritime Administration. A U.S.-led airstrike campaign has targeted the Houthis since January, with a series of strikes May 30 killing at least 16 people and wounding 42 others, the rebels say.

AP journalists on an embark with the U.S. Navy happened to be interviewing Cmdr. Eric Blomberg, the commanding officer of the Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer Laboon, when the alert came in on the attack. Blomberg took multiple calls from sailors on board the vessel giving updates on the apparent attack. The Laboon is one of the destroyers accompanying the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower aircraft carrier and both has shot down Houthi fire and escorted vessels through the region.

Though he and others stressed at the time they were still investigating the attack, he stressed it appeared the vessel targeted had nothing to do with the war.

The Houthis hit ships that are completely not associated or tied to the U.S. or Israel at all, Blomberg said. These are just innocent merchant sailors carrying goods through the Red Sea, trying to get it through the least-expensive route, and they're paying for it..
The question of who owns Facebook is a complex one that has been debated for many years. On one hand, Facebook is owned by Facebook, Inc., a private company based in California. This means that Facebooks parent company holds all the shares and control of the company. On the other hand, there have been some reports and theories suggesting that Facebook may be owned or controlled by certain individuals or groups.







(Who Owns Facebook)

One of the main arguments against Facebook being owned by a single entity is that it could lead to potential conflicts of interest. If Facebooks owners own a significant portion of the company, they might use their personal interests to influence the direction of the company. For example, if an employee at Facebook owns shares in another company or is involved in business ventures that could benefit from the success of Facebook, this could create conflicts of interest.

Another argument is that it would be difficult to ensure that Facebook is operating fairly and transparently. The company has faced criticism for its data privacy practices and for mishandling user information. Without clear ownership structures and mechanisms for accountability, it could be difficult to hold Facebook accountable for these issues.

There have also been rumors and speculations about the possibility that Facebook may be owned by some government agency or regulatory body. For example, some have suggested that the US Department of Education might own a stake in the company. However, there is no evidence to support these claims.

Its worth noting that the ownership structure of Facebook has changed over time. In the past, the company was majority-owned by Mark Zuckerberg, but he sold his shares in the company to other investors. Additionally, in recent years, Facebook has been under pressure to disclose more information about its ownership and to take steps to improve transparency.







(Who Owns Facebook)

Overall, while there are arguments against Facebook being owned by a single entity, there is currently no evidence to suggest that this is the case. Instead, Facebook is owned by Facebook, Inc., a private company based in California. The company has been making efforts to address concerns about its ownership structure and to operate more transparently over the years. As such, Facebook remains a valuable company that provides many services to people around the world.
The Angels informed reporters (including Jeff Fletcher of the Orange County Register) that theyve signed infielder Keston Hiura to a minor league contract. Hell report to Triple-A Salt Lake after being released by the Tigers last week. He is a CAA client.

Hiura is a Southern California native who starred at UC-Irvine. The Brewers selected him ninth overall in the 2017 draft. Hiura was a top prospect who looked like a budding star when he hit 19 homers in 84 games as a rookie for Milwaukee during the 19 season. That huge debut showing came with a 30.7% strikeout rate that unfortunately previewed massive swing-and-miss problems. Hiuras strikeout rate increased in each subsequent season, leading to a cumulative .205/.293/.394 slash between 2020-22.

The Brewers outrighted Hiura off their 40-man roster on the eve of the 2023 season. He spent the year in Triple-A and qualified for minor league free agency at years end. Hiura signed a minor league deal with Detroit and played in 49 games for their top farm team. He slumped to a .232/.312/.401 batting line across 199 trips to the plate. Hiura walked at a strong 10.6% clip but fanned 28.1% of the time and only hit six homers. The Tigers released him in conjunction with their decision to option former first overall pick Spencer Torkelson, wholl play regularly at first base in the minors.

While Hiura didnt have a great couple months with the Tigers, he has a strong minor league resume. Hiura owns a .289/.382/.550 batting line in nearly 1100 Triple-A plate appearances over parts of five seasons. He blasted 23 homers in 85 contests as recently as last year.

Initially drafted as a second baseman, Hiura scuffled defensively and has moved primarily to first base. The Tigers played him exclusively at first base or designated hitter. Whether the Angels will give him any work at the keystone isnt clear, but Hiura offers an alternative to struggling first baseman Nolan Schanuel. Last years #11 overall pick is hitting .211/.279/.333 over 231 plate appearances in his first full professional season.
DETROIT, MI  Donald Trump will add a visit to a Detroit church to his weekend agenda in Michigan, officials said.

The former president and 2024 Republican candidate for the office will speak with constituents as part of a roundtable discussion at 4 p.m. Saturday, June 15, at 180 Church, 13660 Stansbury Ave.

Doors open at 1 p.m., Trump campaign officials said.

Trumps visit there will coincide with his earlier-announced planned participation in The Peoples Convention at Huntington Place, a conference center in downtown Detroit, from Friday to Sunday, June 14-16.

That event will include a lineup of high-profile conservative political figures tied to Trumps brand of Republican politics, also known as the Make America Great Again movement, or MAGA.

Organizers have not provided a schedule indicating when Trump plans to appear at the conference.

Detroit  and Michigan, in general, for that matter  has developed into a high-demand stop recently for presidential candidates.

The Peoples Convention is scheduled 25 days after its venue  Huntington Place  hosted an event featuring Trumps election competition, President Joe Biden. The Democrat was the keynote speaker May 20 during the Detroit branch of the NAACPs 69th Annual Fight for Freedom Fund dinner.

Trumps visit this weekend also will align with a celebration of his birthday, although its unclear if he will be in Detroit on Friday, when he turns 78.

However, his Saturday visit aligns with The Michigan Conservative Coalition-organized Michigan MAGA Boat Parade. Organizers plan to assemble a fleet of vessels to carry Trump supporters along the coast of Detroit, in part as a belated recognition of his birthday.

The same group organized a boat parade to celebrate his birthday in 2020, when Trump last campaigned for a second term in the White House.

Trump last visited Michigan during a May 1 campaign stop at an airport hangar in Tittabawassee Township, a community in Saginaw County.

Biden visited the same community in March.
DETROIT, MI  State police troopers here arrested a motorist who reportedly threatened individuals in a separate vehicle with a gun as they traveled on westbound I-94, officials said.

It was the third incident in four days  all within a 15-mile radius  involving state police responding to motorists shot or reportedly threatened with guns while driving in Detroit.
MACKINAC ISLAND, MI  If you are unsure, do not go.

Thats the word from the Mackinac Island Recreation Department and Mackinac Marine Rescue, which issued an announcement about water safety around Mackinac Island on Tuesday.

It comes after a 22-year-old Mackinac Island woman died after she fell off her paddleboard into Lake Huron on the north side of the island on Monday.

Island officials are reminding residents and visitors about the dangers of the Great Lakes and that wearing life jackets greatly improve your chances of survival in the event of a water emergency.

The Great Lakes have cold water that can make it hard to swim, even for strong swimmers, the joint statement said. There are hidden hazards around the island. Dangerous currents and water conditions can be difficult to identify. Most drowning incidents happen when people are not wearing life jackets.

RELATED: Which Great Lake is the deadliest?

Hypothermia can set in quickly, faster than you would expect on a warm day, officials said, noting that a low body temperature can cause excessive shivering, slowed breathing, mumbled speech, confusion, drowsiness, and the inability to swim.

Surface water temperatures around the island can range from the high 30s in early May to the high 60s in late August, but deeper water in the Straits of Mackinac is around 45 degrees year-round.

Given these averages, on a calm, sunny, non-windy day you would expect to be in the water for 10-15 minutes before you start to lose some of your mobility, officials said. Add wind, waves and cooler air temperatures your time drops quickly.

Wear a proper PFD. Tell people where you are going and how long you expect to be out. Bring a whistle. Pay attention to the weather conditions. Even moderate winds can make the lake tricky to navigate.

The name of the women has not been released, but Michigan State Police said the recovery effort was made more difficult by high winds and strong waves, which are common in the Straits between Michigans two peninsulas.
WAYNE COUNTY, MI -- A 28-year-old man from Delta, Ohio is in custody in connection with a shooting that took place Wednesday morning along I-275. According to Michigan State Police, the man was taken into custody as part of an investigation that began shortly after the shooting took place.

Police say the victim and suspect were traveling northbound near Sibley Road around 7:25 a.m. when the suspect fired at the victims car, striking the car twice. The victim was not struck and following the shooting, both the suspect and victim drove to the Romulus Police Department to report what happened. Michigan State Police were called to investigate the incident as it took place on the freeway.

A pistol was discovered in the suspects vehicle and the freeway was closed for a short time so police could look for evidence. MSP eventually arrested the Ohio man and he is being lodged at a local jail pending formal charges being filed against him.
GRAND RAPIDS, MI  Once per month from July through October, the Downtown Grand Rapids Inc. futsal courts on Seward Avenue NW are being transformed into a farmers market, where residents can buy a host of artisan goods, including coffee, cheese, tacos and more.

The Farmers Market at Las Canchas takes place the second Sunday of every month from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 250 Seward Ave. NW. The dates of the market are: July 14, Aug. 11, Sept. 8 and Oct. 13.
OTTAWA COUNTY, MI -- An effort to expand the duties of a newly elected Democrat to the Ottawa County Board failed Tuesday.

Commissioner Chris Kleinjans in May won a recall election against former incumbent Commissioner Lucy Ebel. He was sworn into office two weeks ago.
CASS COUNTY, MI -- A man was injured when the vehicle he was driving left the road, hitting trees, the Cass County Sheriffs Office reports.

About 7:50 a.m. Tuesday, June 11, deputies were called to the crash on Pine Lake Street, east of Dailey Road in Cass Countys Jefferson Township.

A 33-year-old Niles resident was traveling east on Pine Lake Street when the vehicle ran off the road, striking several trees, police said.

The driver was not wearing his seatbelt, police said. Alcohol/drugs do not appear to be a factor in the crash, police said.

The man was transported to South Bend Memorial Hospital for his injuries.

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GRAND RAPIDS, MI -- A Southwest Michigan man was sentenced to a decade in prison for possession of meth, which he planned to press into pills and sell, according to U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan Mark Totten.

Travon Deshaun-Roderick Mansker, 26, of Battle Creek, was sentenced to 10 years in prison for possessing over four kilograms of methamphetamine.

Mansker also possessed firearms as a felon, including two that had been modified to meet the federal definition of machine guns, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan Mark Totten said in a news release.

On April 27, 2023, police searched a Battle Creek residence and seized over four kilograms of orange powder methamphetamine, 14 firearms, about 1,000 rounds of ammunition, high-capacity magazines, pill presses and drug trafficking paraphernalia.

Related: Mass poisoning that killed 6 in Kalamazoo County prompts arrests, federal charges

We choose our cases carefully, focusing the longer sentences we often secure on those who pose the greatest threat, Totten said. Travon Mansker is one of those people.

He was a large-scale pill dealer selling methamphetamine masked as Adderall, Totten said. And he was trafficking illegal firearms calibrated to cause maximum harm. As weve done here, we will continue to focus our limited resources on those who supply the firearms and drugs that cause so much pain in our communities.

Related: Drug dealer who carried exceptionally dangerous weapon gets prison

As part of the guilty plea, Mansker admitted he planned to press the meth into pills and distribute them to others. The defendant had previously sold pills during the investigation that were designed to look like the commercial drug Adderall, Totten said.

Evidence showed the defendant had sold four machine gun conversion devices designed to turn AR-style firearms into fully automatic machine guns, in March and April 2023, Totten said.

Five of the firearms seized were privately made firearms also known as ghost guns designed to be untraceable to law enforcement, Totten said.

Mr. Manskers time as a peddler of poison in west Michigan has come to an end, said Orville O. Greene, Special Agent in Charge of Detroit Field Division of the Drug Enforcement Administration.

Removing violent offenders from communities is the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms highest priority, Detroit Field Division Special Agent in Charge James Deir said.

This sentence should serve as a clear message to all armed drug traffickers in the state of Michigan, if youre packing a firearm illegally while peddling your poison, pack your bags for prison, Deir said.

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* "China travel," a prominent buzzword on social media platforms recently, reflects a notable surge in the country's cross-border tourism. * The influx of Vietnamese tourists in Yunnan Province and Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region significantly contributes to this trend. * Considerable confidence in the cross-border tourism sector is fueled by China's marked improvements in tourism infrastructure and supportive amenities now in place. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. (Video reporters: Zeng Wei, Xiong Xuan'ang; Video editors: Zheng Xin, Zhang Yuhong)
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RBI's reserve maintenance system for banks fails on Tuesday, say traders
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With the recent election behind us, it's time to refocus on the markets and the fundamentals propelling them forward. Indian markets and the economy had outperformed global peers as we entered the election month, and the outlook remains promising.

Data from Motilal Oswal reveals that corporate India's contribution, represented by the Nifty-500, is at a 15-year high. The Nifty-500 companies, which account for 91 percent of India's market capitalization, now contribute 4.8 percent to the GDP. Including
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Doda Terror Attack: Terrorists went door-to-door asking water before the attack, reports say
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Chandrababu Naidu Oath Ceremony: At the Raj Bhavan in Vijaywada on Tuesday, Naidu, 74, publicly declared his intention to form the government after meeting with S. Abdul Nazeer, the governor of Andhra Pradesh. Alongside him were Daggubati Purandeswari, the president of the BJP state, and Pawan Kalyan, the leader of the Janasena Party.

All MLAs of the BJP, Janasena, and TDP have given their consent for me to become Andhra Pradesh's upcoming Chief Minister of the NDA government, Naidu said after the meeting of NDA legislators.

Naidu led the divided state of Andhra Pradesh as its first chief minister from 2014 till 2019. Having lost the 2019 elections, he led the opposition until 2024.

In the 175-member Andhra Pradesh Assembly, his Telugu Desam Party-Bharatiya Janata Party-Janasena coalition swept back to power with 164 seats.

In addition to demonstrating his power in the southern state, N Chandrababu Naidu rose to prominence nationally when his TDP joined the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, as its second-largest component.
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Mahatma Gandhi's statue in Italy vandalised by pro-Khalistan groups ahead of PM Modi's visit
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The recently-concluded general election has proved once again that India is a vibrant democracy. But perhaps many of us do not know how vibrant it really is. For, India is not just one democracy or a democracy of its 28 states. Its actually 250,000 democracies. That is how the authors of a World Bank research paper, "Two hundred and fifty thousand democracies: A review of Village Government in India describe it, rather brilliantly. The authors are Siddharth
Bloomberg Editors are members of the Bloomberg Opinion editorial board. Views are personal, and do not represent the stand of this publication.
Shuli Ren is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist covering Asian markets. Views are personal, and do not represent the stand of this publication.
In today's edition of Pro Panorama: Life beyond TCS Q2, outlook for Indian stocks, what tied up RBI's hand and much more

We are moving into a protectionist world, led by the US, as in the early 1930s. Donald Trump is of course, a committed protectionist  a true successor of Senator Smoot and Representative Hawley, who instigated the infamous Smoot-Hawley tariff in 1930. But, except by Trumps standards, Joe Biden is also no slouch when it comes to protection, most recently with his tariffs on $18bn of Chinese exports. The US tariff on electric vehicles, in particular, is

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C Uday Bhaskar is Director, Society for Policy Studies, New Delhi. Views are personal and do not represent the stand of this publication.
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Christin Mathew Philip is an Assistant editor at moneycontrol.com. Based in Bengaluru, he writes on mobility, infrastructure and start-ups. He is a Ramnath Goenka excellence in journalism awardee. You can find him on Twitter here: twitter.com/ChristinMP_
What is the Global Leaders Program?

The Global Leaders Program welcomes 50 high-performing students seeking leadership development each academic year. If accepted into this program, you will receive $4000 in one-time funding after completing (30) credit hours at Missouri Southern. These funds can be used for:

International travel

Leadership development

Undergraduate research

Travel to conferences and/or competitions

But thats not all! Students accepted into this program will also have access to leadership focused opportunities and services such as:

Dedicated housing inspiring a living/learning community.

Leadership seminars with nationally recognized executives in business, healthcare, politics, the military, education, and more!

Trips to local corporations for exposure to career opportunities.

Early registration for classes each semester.

Service learning and networking opportunities.

Social interactions with program donors; and

The opportunity to enroll in honors courses (cap size permitting).

What are the qualifications for the Global Leaders Program?

For new applicants:

Do you qualify for the MOSO Merit Premier, MOSO Merit Gold, or the MOSO International Achievement Scholarships? If so, then you also qualify and are invited to apply to the Global Leaders Program!

For students currently in the program:

Maintain a 3.0 grade point average throughout their academic career

Complete at least 30 credit hours per academic year

Attend program activities and donor stewardship events

How do I apply?

Applying to this program is easy.

STEP I

Create a 2-3 minute video of you speaking to the following topic:

What do you believe are the five most important characteristics of an effective leader during times of uncertainty, such as a global pandemic?

What do you believe are the five most important characteristics of an effective leader during times of uncertainty, such as a global pandemic? The video must include: Your name High school Email address Phone number Must state the topic of the video

Save the video as an MP4

The naming format should be FirstName_LastName.MP4

Upload the video here

STEP II

Once your video application has been submitted, you will receive an emailed form within 24 hours from globalleaders@mssu.edu. Please complete the form with details of your interest in the program and your leadership experience. Once you have completed the form, please submit to globalleaders@mssu.edu.

STEP III

Any qualifying student that has completed the video application and form will be contacted directly for a formal interview with the Global Leaders Director and Global Leaders Advisory Board.

How is the Global Leaders Program funded?

The Global Leaders program will be funded entirely by private gifts. Funding was launched thanks to a gift of $1 million from the late Joel Newby.

Newby served his country as a Marine in World War II before graduating from Joplin Junior College in 1947. He later went on to a distinguished career in higher education as a professor at the University of Houston. He expressed his desire to help students achieve their maximum potential despite their economic background, and the generous gift from his estate will help Missouri Southern do just that.

Have questions?

For questions regarding the Global Leaders program or the application process please email globalleaders@mssu.edu.
After more than two months of quarantine and transitional adaptation, giant panda Fu Bao will meet the public at the Wolong Shenshuping Base of the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda in Sichuan province this week.

The female panda will make her debut at the base on Wednesday, and will then be on show regularly. Base employees are advising visitors to arrange their trips carefully to avoid big crowds.

Fu Bao left the Samsung Everland Park in South Korea and arrived in China in early April, when she was placed in quarantine at the base. She has adapted well to her new surroundings and has established trust with her keepers, according to the giant panda center. After quarantine, Fu Bao moved to the breeding area of the base. A technical team developed a plan to help her transition to her new life through behavioral training, physical contact and communication with the keepers.

She has also been enjoying the food being provided.

"After more than two months of adaptation, Fu Bao has adapted to the current season's bamboo. She loves to eat bitter bamboo shoots, bitter bamboo leaves and white bamboo shoots," said Xu Xiang, a keeper at the Wolong Shenshuping Base, adding that it provides different types of bamboo for pandas in different seasons.

"We feed Fu Bao two to three types of bamboo daily for her to choose from, and we also feed her bamboo shoots. As for supplements, Fu Bao prefers apples and steamed buns," he said.

In March 2016, female giant panda Hua Ni, also known as Ai Bao, and male giant panda Yuan Xin, also known as Le Bao, arrived at the Samsung Everland Park in South Korea, initiatiSino-Korean cooperation in giant panda research. Fu Bao was born to the pair at the park in July 2020.

According to the agreement on giant panda conservation research cooperation, panda cubs born overseas are sent to China between age 2 and 4.

The giant panda research center said that over the past eight years, China and South Korea have actively cooperated in giant panda conservation breeding, disease prevention and control, public education and other scientific areas to promote the conservation of the endangered species in both countries and enhance friendly relations between the Chinese and Korean people.

The keepers said that since Fu Bao's arrival in China, she has gradually integrated into the local panda population through communication windows between enclosures, interacting with neighboring pandas through sounds and scents. Observations and assessments by the care team indicate that she is ready to meet the public.

Cheng Jianbin, an expert at the Wolong Shenshuping Base, said that it selected a suitable enclosure for Fu Bao and gave her ample time to adapt to the new environment. To ensure a smooth public introduction, the base has undertaken tasks such as cleaning, disinfection, safety checks and security measures, aiming to minimize the potential stress some pandas experience once they are exhibited to the public. Considering factors such as park capacity and Fu Bao's adaptation process, the base will limit the number of visitors on Wednesday.

A video blogger surnamed Zhu has been permanently banned from visiting the giant panda center's bases because he was caught livestreaming from the surroundings of the Wolong Shenshuping Base following Fu Bao's arrival, broadcasting from non-exhibition areas such as the quarantine zone, office and research buildings, as well as the breeding area, ignoring notices from local authorities and violating regulations, the center said.
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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.
Sacramento, CA The third annual California State Parks Week, set for June 12-16, invites the public to celebrate with more than 200 events across the state. Presented by California State Parks, Save the Redwoods League, Parks California, and the California State Parks Foundation, this week-long event highlights the states 280 parks through community events and virtual programming. A complete list of events and participation details is available at CAStateParksWeek.org. but some events involve the following.

Wednesday, June 12: Explore New Experiences Featured events include an evening hike at Hollister Hills SVRA, a sunset kayak tour at Lake Natoma, and an owl meet-and-greet at China Camp SP.

Thursday, June 13: Nourish Your Health and Well-being Highlighted by a guided hike on the Lava Bluffs Trail at Calaveras Big Trees SP, this day focuses on health benefits from nature. The moderate to strenuous 2.5-mile trail includes volcanic formations and wildflower spotting. Participants should wear long pants, sturdy shoes, and bring water. The hike begins at 9:30 a.m. and lasts 2.5-3 hours.

Friday, June 14: Support Climate Resilience Events include a beach cleanup at Leo Carrillo SP, a wind turbine tour at Pacheco SP, and climate resilience activities at Auburn SRA and Cardiff SB.

Saturday, June 15: Celebrate Community and Culture Join guided tours at the State Indian Museum SHP, a kite-flying event at Candlestick Point SRA, and a Native American arts and crafts celebration at Antelope Valley Indian Museum SHP.

Sunday, June 16: Care for Our Shared Lands Contribute to public land stewardship through events like marine debris monitoring at Tomales Bay SP and beach habitat restoration at Half Moon Bay SB.

California State Parks Week supports the Outdoor Access for All initiative by Governor Gavin Newsom and the Natural Resources Agency, aiming to expand outdoor access for all Californians, especially underserved communities.
TC Supervisors Sales Tax Discussion View Photo

Sonora, CA  Next week the Tuolumne County Board of Supervisors will take the first of two required votes to place a sales tax measure on the November ballot.

At a special meeting on Tuesday, the board gave some final direction to staff who are writing up the details.

The proposal would raise the sales tax from the current 7.25% to 8.25%. The county is also looking to put a second, non-binding question on the ballot, asking if it is the preference of the voters that the new money be prioritized on law enforcement, fire services and roads.

Supervisors Anaiah Kirk, Jaron Brandon, and David Goldberg were in the support of adding the second question, and Supervisors Kathleen Haff and Ryan Campbell were opposed, indicating that they feel it is unnecessary. Supervisor Campbell added that it would create a layer of confusion if the tax measure passes, and the second question is voted down.

A few community members raised concerns about the tax measure during the public comment portion of the meeting, and urged the county to live within its means, as local residents are becoming more and more financially stressed.

Some board members stated that failing to pass the tax measure would likely have big detrimental impacts on non-emergency services.

District Three Supervisor Anaiah Kirk indicated that this is the last time he is willing to vote in favor of sending a tax measure to the ballot, as similar attempts have failed in the past. Kirk noted, Maybe the time is coming in government where we fund fire and law enforcement, and thats it, adding that he is prepared to make cuts, and hopes that new members coming next year, are too.

Several of the board members were also critical of social media comments in the community and people saying that county government is wasteful.

Supervisor Jaron Brandon stated, When you talk about waste, and just going down to basics, know that you are talking about not just public safety, but library and recreation programs. You are talking about the staff who are handling the building permits and are able to do that in an expedited fashion.

Brandon said the previous board, prior to 2020, was very conservative and Republican, and they also came to the conclusion that long-term expenditures are outpacing revenues.

Local government was boosted by things like COVID relief funding, and fire grants, over the past couple of years, to bridge the revenue gap.

Other board members also emphasized concerns about having to cut services like libraries and recreation, if the measure fails.

The first reading and formal vote (to send to the tax measure to ballot) will be on June 18 and the final vote will come next month. If approved by voters in November, it would bring in around $6 million in new revenue to county government.
In a startling development that sent shockwaves through Zimbabwes legal landscape, Pardon Dziva, a highly respected prosecutor, has been handed a severe sentence of 10 years behind bars. The Harare High Courts decision came after Dziva was found guilty of demanding a bribe amounting to US$20,000 from Henietta Rushwaya, who had previously been convicted of smuggling by a Harare High Court Judge.

The illicit scheme unravelled on an ominous day in November 2023 when Dziva, the first accused, allegedly approached Wellington Takavarasha, seeking a substantial sum of money in exchange for a more lenient sentence for Rushwaya. Sensing the gravity of the situation, Takavarasha wasted no time in alerting Rushwayas sister, Helliate Rushwaya, regarding the prosecutors shocking demand.

Recognizing the urgent need to address the issue, Helliate Rushwaya swiftly reported the matter to the Zimbabwe Republic Police Anti-Corruption Unit. Determined to catch the culprits red-handed, law enforcement agencies devised a meticulous plan. Helliate Rushwaya agreed to meet the accused individuals at CABS Centre, to hand over the demanded bribe.

However, Helliate Rushwaya insisted on delivering the money exclusively to Pardon Dziva, the primary accused. Consequently, the trio convened at a discreet rendezvous point, Kebbab Restaurant in Milton Park, where Dziva was present. Seizing the moment, Helliate Rushwaya carefully transferred the marked currency to Dziva before authorities swiftly swooped in and apprehended both individuals.

The first accused person was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment of which 2 years was suspended for 5 years on condition that he does not commit a similar offence. The second accused person was sentenced to 8 years imprisonment of which 2 years was suspended for 5 years.

The conclusion of this trial has sent shockwaves through the legal community, highlighting the importance of integrity and trust within Zimbabwes judicial system. It serves as a stern reminder that no one is above the law, regardless of their position or influence. The National Prosecuting Authority of Zimbabwe, responsible for upholding justice, has taken a firm stance against corruption, ensuring that those who betray the publics trust face the full consequences of their actions.

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Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan was in China on June 3 and mentioned the possibility of Turkiye joining the BRICS, the economic alliance acronymically named after its founding members: Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa. Fidan added that BRICS could offer Turkiye a good alternative to the European Union to boost its economic prospects.

Turkiyes interest was also apparently a topic of discussion at the BRICS foreign ministers meeting, chaired by Russia, on Monday and Tuesday in Nizhny Novgorod. Fidan was in attendance there, met with Secretary of Russias Security Council Sergey Shoigu, and he had a separate meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin yesterday in which Putin said Russia supports Turkiyes interest in BRICS.

A bit of a muddled story in Middle East Eye over the weekend quoted anonymous Turkish officials, and the story announces that Turkiye has made a strategic move to join the Brics economic bloc  although the quotes in the piece dont really back up that claim. Here are what officials said:

We dont see Brics as an alternative to Nato or the EU, the official said. However, the stalled accession process to the European Union encourages us to explore other economic platforms. The official added that Turkiyes on-paper allies often overlook Ankaras security concerns and deny it advanced weaponry. We would like to be part of every multilateral platform, even if there is only a slight chance of benefit to us, the official explained.

And another official:

We dont have significant trade with Brics countries, except for China, the official saidBrics could be more meaningful in the future if it becomes politically more important and gains resonance with international public opinion.

I havent seen confirmation elsewhere that Turkiye has applied or has concrete plans to apply for BRICS membership anytime soon. What is clear, however, is that Turkiye is expressing interest that looks to go beyond previous talk, and Beijing and Moscow are fully supporting it. It would be a major strategic coup for Moscow and Beijing to eventually bring aboard the most strategically important member of NATO (and the country with the alliances second-largest standing army). Additionally, on a purchasing power parity basis, Turkiye currently ranks 11th in GDP, just behind France. Less clear is how a country like India would feel about a potential Turkish bid as the two countries are usually on opposite ends of regional conflicts, including Kashmir.

Why Would Turkiye Join BRICS and What Would the Fallout Be?

Turkiye wants to build bridges to both sides of the New Cold War so as to better help its ailing economy, and joining BRICS could help spur bilateral trade agreements and investments.The problem is thats easier said than done. US and European officials have largely adopted the Bush-era with-us-or-against-us attitude. Given that Turkiye has been talking about joining BRICS for years, the recent talk should be taken with a grain of salt, but it will likely cause concern in Washington.

Positioned at the crossroads of Europe and Asia, it would be a major embarrassment for the US if Ankara took such a step during the new Cold War and would likely be viewed as switching sides by the West. Turkiye doesnt usually make such a move unless it knows whos going to come out on top. In 1941, Turkiye and Germany signed a nonaggression pact, and Ankara raked in economic and military aid from both Axis and Allies trying to woo Turkiye to their side. As the tide changed in WWII, however, Turkiye wisely bet on the eventual victors, moving increasingly to the Allied side. In 1944 Turkiye stopped exporting chromite to Germany, a key ingredient in the manufacture of stainless steel, and later that year severed diplomatic relations with Germany. In 1945 Turkiye declared war on Germany  two months before its defeat.

What would the Collective West do if Turkiye went ahead and tried to join BRICS? Well, it would probably be the opposite of a calm, measured response. The Durans Alexander Mercouris and Alex Cristoforou discussed this possibility on one of their episodes last year and mentioned how, should Turkiye take such a major new step in its straddling between East and West, it would be a bit reminiscent of Ukraine pre-2014, which was being pulled in both directions. We know how that turned out.

Its interesting to note that new legislation in Turkiye is attempting to crack down on foreign interests. According to Turkish Minute, that would apply to anyone who carries out or orders research on (Turkish) citizens and institutions with the aim of acting against the security or the political, internal or external interests of the state, on the orders or in the strategic interests of a foreign organization or state. Those convicted would face three to seven years in prison. These types of laws are increasingly being considered by states that say they fear Western meddling in their country, oftentimes with the aim of instigating color revolutions.

Things between the US and Turkiye have been eerily quiet since the beginning of May when Ankara announced that it was cutting off all trade with Israel  although it continues to transit oil from Azerbaijan  and Turkish President Recept Tayyip Erdogans trip to Washington was canceled.

Turkiyes pursuit of BRICS membership would mark a fundamental shift in the country, which has been positioning itself to become part of the West for decades, but in many ways the public in Turkiye has already turned its back on the EU and the US and looks more favorably to the East.

While the government likely isnt ready to take any drastic step just yet, Turkiyes talks with the BRICS countries highlight the ongoing frustration with its relationship with the West. The latest is an ongoing hangup over modernization of the Customs Union Treaty between the bloc and Ankara.The process is being slowed by the EUs insistence that Turkiye take action to prevent the circumvention of the EU restrictions on trade with Russia. From the Centre for Eastern Studies:

Turkiyes current customs agreement with the EU has been in force since 1995. It covers only industrial goods & processed agricultural products and excludes the services sector, while its scope is much more limited than the EUs comprehensive trade agreements with its other global partners. Turkiye believes that this limitation constrains its economic potential. In addition, this agreement does not allow it to freely trade goods with third countries that do not have a free trade agreement with the EU. It is estimated that an expanded customs union could generate an additional 1.84%1.95%[10] of GDP growth for Turkiye.[11] This is the primary reason why Ankara has been consistently seeking to update this agreement for more than a decade. The EU for its part is not interested in further talks on this matter because of Turkiyes failure to comply with the terms of the current agreement: namely its selective implementation of tariffs on goods from the EU, and its trade agreements with third countries. Turkiye has vehemently rejected these arguments. In its view, the only purpose of the EUs stance on this issue is to politicise the negotiations and ultimately cause them to fail.

Still, the EU is by far Turkiyes top trading partner, accounting for almost one third of its trade while Turkiye is the EUs seventh trading partner, making for 3.6 percent of total EU trade.

Moving Closer to Moscow and Beijing

Meanwhile Ankaras economic ties with Moscow and Beijing continue to grow. Turkiye receives nearly half of its natural gas from Russia and a quarter of its oil. The two nations also cooperate on nuclear energy with Russia financing and building the Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant, helping Turkiye join the club of countries with nuclear energy.

Turkiye also plays a key role in facilitating trade between Russia and other countries to get around sanctions. It could also soon play a similar part for China. For example, Turkiye is in advanced discussions with Chinese electric car makers BYD and Chery Automobile for factory investments in the country as the European Commission slaps extra tariffs on electric cars manufactured in China.

Turkiye is also eager for more Chinese investment. Part of Turkish foreign minister Fidans mission on his recent trip to Beijing was to urge more Chinese investment in Turkiye, especially in key infrastructure projects as there has been a slowdown in recent years, as well as to address Turkiyes huge trade deficit with China.

Turkiye appears willing to drop any participation in efforts to stir up trouble in Chinas western regions in order to advance economic ties between the two countries. According to a Chinese statement, Fidan told Chinese Vice President Han Zheng that Turkiye adhered to the one-China principle and will not allow activities in Turkiye that undermine Chinas territorial integrity.

That cements a major shift for Turkiye, which used to call Xinjiang East Turkistan and allege Chinese genocide against Uyghurs. The change in Turkiyes stance likely causes consternation in Washington, but it will likely mean good news for the Turkish economy.

Ankara would like China to narrow this deficit by buying more Turkish agricultural, food and other products. It would also like more Chinese tourists to visit Turkiye. It looks like Beijing will oblige. Fidans Chinese counterpart Wang Yi said that China will expand imports of agricultural products and enhance cooperation in culture, education, and tourism.

Its not just in the economic sphere that Turkiye and China are increasingly seeing eye to eye.

As Ive written, actions by the US over a number of years (sanctions, lack of weapons transfers, possible involvement in 2016 coup attempt, the Kurdish issue, etc.), especially the backing of the genocide in Gaza have made it very difficult politically for Erdogan at home. The economy and the widespread belief the government was doing enough to stop the genocide in Gaza were the biggest reasons Erdogan suffered one of the biggest setbacks of his political career in recent elections. Here, too, Russia, China, and Turkiye see eye to eye. While in China, Fidan said the following:

At this point, we appreciate Chinas international stance. It is extremely important for China to support a two-state solution, to support a ceasefire, and to support humanitarian aid. In this regard, I believe China is truly playing a good role, it is playing a constructive role.

Contrast that with what he recently said about the US role:

In the Gaza issue, in the Palestinian issue, it is not possible for Israel to act with such audacity, verging on genocide, without the unconditional military and political support of the US. The US makes this possible.

Long term, like most countries, it would be more beneficial for Turkiye not to have to choose a side in a world split between competing blocks.

Imports from China doubled from 2019 to 2022 (only Russia sends more), while EU exports have seen a corresponding spike, leading some to argue Turkiye is trying to save its economy by buying half-finished goods cheap from China, finishing them domestically, then selling them to the EU.

Elsewhere, Ali Baba is planning to invest $2 billion in Turkiye. The Chinese lithium-ion power batteries company Farisis started production at a plant near Istanbul last year. Ankara is also in separate talks with Chinese EV makers SAIC Motor Corp. and Great Wall Motor Co for investments in factories in Turkiye.

For China, one of the most attractive parts of producing EVs in Turkiye is that it could provide better access to the European market due to Ankaras customs union agreement. Thats not an arrangement Turkiye would want to put at risk by jumping into BRICS.

So the relationship between Turkiye and the West has for now settled into an icy acceptance due to the economic necessity on both sides, but its an arrangement that could go off the rails relatively easily. If Turkiyes increased interest in the BRICS, for example, is met with a heavy handed response by Washington/Brussels it could mean a spiraling of ties that results in a definitive break. Or if the EU pushes too far in its attempt to use its standing as top trade partner with Turkiye to pressure Ankara on Russia. Not only would that prove problematic for Turkiye because if they cave once, the EU would surely be back for more on, say, China or Iran, but if Ankara torpedoes relations with Moscow, it would blow up their economic model, which includes exports to the EU.

In fact, Turkiye in many ways is emulating Germanys previous model of turning cheap energy imports from Russia into manufacturing prowess for exports. As even War on the Rocks points out:

As cliched as the platitude about Turkiye being a bridge between East and West is, it helps to describe trade flows: Turkiye imports energy from Russia and goods from China to cover domestic demand, and local factories assemble components for Europe. Turkiyes greatest trade surpluses are close to home  with countries like Azerbaijan and Iraq  but it is the European market that allows Turkiye to maintain an export-oriented manufacturing sector of scale.

As the EU deindustrializes and considers a trade war with China at Americas behest, theres an argument to be made that it will soon need Turkiye more than Turkiye needs the EU. Then again, Brussels isnt opposed to shooting itself in the foot these days.
Yves here. This may seem like a small victory and it is likely to wind up being isolated. But US multinationals hiring goons of various sorts to do their dirty work overseas is a well-established practice, and of course one of which most American are woefully ignorant about. Corporate thuggery often goes hand in hand with CIA dirty work. ITT was an established bad actor in Latin America, and I find it difficult to believe that was not mighty cozy with our intelligence services. Some multinational were known even by comparatively clueless people like me to serve as cover for operatives (AIG before its collapse, for instance).

Admittedly, with the run of suspiciously bad luck Boeing whistleblowers have suffered, ordinary Americans may be waking up to how brutal big US companies are when they see their interests as seriously threatened. Of course, the bar for action is lower in small countries and with non-Anglo/European victims. But the lurid details below are what youd expect from the United Fruit crime family.

By Brett Wilkins. Originally published at Common Dreams

In what case litigants are calling the first time an American jury has held a U.S. corporation legally liable for atrocities abroad, federal jurors in Florida on Monday found that Chiquita Brands International financed a Colombian paramilitary death squad that murdered, tortured, and terrorized workers in a bid to crush labor unrest in the 1990s and 2000s.

The federal jury in West Palm Beach, Florida found the banana giant responsible for funding the United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia (AUC) and awarded eight families whose members were murdered by the right-wing paramilitary group $38.3 million in damages.

EarthRights International, which first filed the caseDoe v. Chiquitain 2007, called the verdict a milestone for justice.

The jurys decision reaffirms what we have long asserted: Chiquita knowingly financed the AUC, a designated terrorist organization, in pursuit of profit, despite the AUCs egregious human rights abuses, the group said.

By providing over $1.7 million in illegal funding to the AUC from 1997 to 2004, Chiquita contributed to untold suffering and loss in the Colombian regions of Uraba and Magdalena, including the brutal murders of innocent civilians, EarthRights added. This historic verdict also means some of the victims and families who suffered as a direct result of Chiquitas actions will finally be compensated.

BREAKING: In a landmark victory for human rights, a US jury just found @Chiquita guilty of funding death squads in Colombia that were killing people near the companys banana farms. First time US courts hold major corporation accountable for human rts abuses abroad. pic.twitter.com/GD9aOYcpng  Steven Donziger (@SDonziger) June 11, 2024



One of the plaintiffs in the case called the verdict the 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.

Plaintiffs attorney Agnieszka Fryszman 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 Chiquitas doorstep.

The U.S. labor reporting site More Perfect Unioncalled the verdict an unprecedented win against corporate violence, which could [be] the first of many.



A Chiquita spokesperson toldFruitnet that the company plans to appeal the verdict.

The AUC was formed in 1997 via the union of right-wing paramilitary groups battling leftist guerrillasmainly the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) and National Liberation Army (ELN)in the South American nations civil war. Closely linked to Colombias U.S.-backed military, the AUCsome of whose members were trainedby Israeliswas designated a terrorist organization in 2001 by the U.S. State Department, which cited its massacres, kidnappings of civilians, and participation in the trafficking of narcotics.

United Fruit finally gets its just deserts. In many ways these fruit companies are the epitome of the bloody US empire in Latin America. Its also an important reminder that Chiquitas actions occurred during the tenure of NATO liberal Bill Clinton. Horrible and disgusting. https://t.co/MATGWaxnHT  Scott Parkin (@sparki1969) June 11, 2024



In 2007, Chiquita pleaded guilty in federal court to funding the AUC and agreed to pay a $25 million fine. The company admitted to paying the AUC via its wholly owned Colombian subsidiary, Banadex, which was also its most profitable operation. Chiquita recorded these transactions as security payments or payments for security or security services in its corporate records.

Chiquita said that it began making the payments after Carlos Castano, who led the AUC at the time, implied that Banadexs employees and property could be harmed. However, despitecritics say because ofthe payments, AUC members brutally targeted Banadex workers in what victims and their advocates say was an effort to suppress labor unrest.

An earlier lawsuit described the fate of one victim, who is identified by the pseudonym Pablo Perez:

In the early morning hours of November 1, 1997, a group of heavily armed paramilitaries dressed in camouflaged uniforms stormed Pablo Perezs home in the village of Guacamayal, in the banana zone of Magdalena, while he was sleeping. The paramilitaries broke down the door to the home, found and seized him, tied him up, and forced him to accompany them at gunpoint, beating him as they kidnapped him. His corpse was found the following morning with signs of torture and two gunshots, one to the head and one to the body.

According to plaintiffs in that case, in 2001 a ship carrying 3,000 AK-47 assault rifles and 5 million rounds of ammunition left Nicaragua and, instead of heading to its declared destination in Panama, dropped off the arms at a Banadex-run port in Turbo, Colombia. Castano called the procurement the greatest achievement by the AUC so far.

Wow: Today, a jury found Chiquita Brands International liable for funding a violent Colombian paramilitary organization, the United Self-defense Forces of Colombia (AUC), that was responsible for major human rights atrocities during the 1990s and 2000s. https://t.co/EAaU0LCmKM  Christy Thornton (@llchristyll) June 11, 2024



The earlier lawsuit states that in addition to using the money provided by Chiquita to drive the leftist guerrillas out of the Santa Marta and Uraba banana-growing regions, AUC militants would resolve complaints and problems with banana workers and labor unions.

Among other things, when individual banana workers became security problems, Chiquita notified the AUC, which responded to the companys instructions by executing the individual, the document states. According to AUC leaders, a large number of people were executed on Chiquitas instructions in the Santa Marta region.

Chiquita has a long history of deadly repression against workers. Formerly the United Fruit Company (UFC)the infamous Octopusthe New Orleans-based behemoth monopolized land and markets throughout Latin America in the 20th century. Through slick marketing campaigns, UFC introduced the previously unknown banana to consumers in North America and beyond. The company propped up so-called banana republicsextraction economies characterized by state repression, severely stratified social classes, and compliant local plutocraciesthroughout the region.

UFC stopped at nothing, including participation in U.S.-backed coups, to protect its property and profits. By the 1930s, UFC controlled around 90% of the U.S. banana import business. It owned or controlled nearly half of Guatemalas land in the 1940s.

In Colombia, where UFC workers earned the approximate equivalent of $1 per month, UFC refused to negotiate with workers who went on strike in 1928 in Cienaga, near Santa Marta. U.S. and UFC officials falsely portrayed the strike as communist subversion and Colombias right-wing government deployed 700 troops to crush the labor action. The U.S. Embassy subsequently informed then-Secretary of State Frank Kellogg that I have the honor to report that the total number of strikers killed by the Colombian military exceeded 1,000.

Violence against Colombian banana workers continued into the 21st century, often with impunity for the perpetrators. Litigants in Doe v. Chiquita said Mondays jury decision marked the beginning of a new era of accountability.

This verdict sends a powerful message to corporations everywhere: profiting from human rights abuses will not go unpunished, EarthRights International general counsel Marco Simons said in a statement. These families, victimized by armed groups and corporations, asserted their power and prevailed in the judicial process.
Lieutenant General Ferenc Kajari understands the value of NATO better than most people. Two years ago, he led the Kosovo Force (KFOR), a NATO-led peace-support operation aimed to maintain peace and stability in Kosovo. Earlier in his career, in 1996, he was deployed to NATOs peacekeeping mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina. He also contributed to Hungarys accession to NATO in 1999. What was it like to live through these historical milestones? And what were his main goals when commanding the Alliances longest-standing mission, which is marking its 25th anniversary in 2024?



From IFOR partner to NATO Ally: witnessing Hungarys milestones

From an early age, I had the idea that I would serve my country, says Lt Gen Kajari, who decided that he wanted to follow the military career path at the age of 12. I wanted to have a job that would challenge me and bring me something new every day, and the military seemed like the best choice. When I look back at my career, I made the right decision  all posts that I have been assigned to have proved to be extremely rewarding and stimulating.

Following his Military College graduation in 1988 and several postings in various Hungarian Defence Forces infantry brigades in Hungary, Lt Gen Kajari (at that point Captain Kajari) joined the NATO-led Implementation Force (IFOR) in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Alliance's first major crisis response operation, in 1996. NATO deployed IFOR under a mandate by the UN Security Council after the signing of the Dayton Peace Accords in December 1995, which ended the 1992-1995 war in Bosnia and Herzegovina that followed the breakup of Yugoslavia at the end of the Cold War.

This was the very first deployment of Hungary as a NATO partner under the Partnership for Peace framework, he explains. I was assigned to the engineer contingent that provided mobility in the area, both for the troops and for the local population, by building bridges and reconstructing roads. The deployment was a steep learning curve for all of us. We had to learn how to integrate into NATOs activities, work in the operational area and coordinate with the NATO-led IFOR headquarters, all in an operation that had started just a year earlier. Back then, I was a young captain and IFOR was a valuable experience  after years of exercising, I could do what I had trained for.

Lt Gen Kajari (third from the left) during his IFOR deployment to Bosnia and Herzegovina in 1996.

Participation in IFOR and the follow-on Stabilisation Force (SFOR) mission helped Hungary build closer ties with NATO as the country was on its path towards NATO membership in 1999. For Lt Gen Kajari, it marked the beginning of his involvement with the Alliance  but it was not his only engagement with NATO. As a member of Hungarys working group on NATO accession, he witnessed first-hand the countrys progress on the military and civil reforms needed in order to become a NATO Ally. In 1998, he was nominated as a Partnership for Peace (PfP) officer at Allied Command Atlantic (ACLANT), one of NATOs strategic commands at the time, where he continued to work on improving his countrys integration into the Alliances structures and exercises.

When Hungary joined NATO in 1999 and I watched the Hungarian flag being raised at NATO Headquarters, it was an extraordinary feeling, he says. Joining PfP five years before gave us a distant vision of becoming a member of the Alliance; the ceremony was a testimony to the progress that Hungary and other nations had achieved to be able to join the Alliance.

Lt Gen Kajari (right) receiving the Certificate of Service at the end of his ACLANT assignment, 2001.

Looking back at KFOR: Working with 28 countries for peace and stability

In October 2021, Lt Gen Kajari was appointed as the commander of the KFOR mission in Kosovo, which aims to ensure a safe and secure environment for all people living in Kosovo, according to United Nations Security Council Resolution 1244 of 1999, and contributes to consolidate peace and stability. For a year, he led the missions more than 3,700 troops. He was also responsible for KFORs operational activities and dialogue among different stakeholders. As he says, one of the first things he learned was to understand that a commander is responsible for everything he has done and has failed to do.

Being a commander is a multifaceted task, he explains. On the outside, it all seems to be about military and operational management, but it includes numerous protocol activities with local and regional representatives and the international community. To give you an idea, during my 360 days of deployment, I attended 354 meetings, delegation visits and ceremonial greetings, he laughs.

While at KFOR, Lt Gen Kajari re-established one of the projects that he is particularly proud of: the publication of the KFOR magazine 4You in Braille alphabet once a year for visually impaired youth. This otherwise monthly magazine provides entertaining and informative content to young people in Kosovo and is distributed in local schools.

We cooperated on this project with the Paralympic Committee of Kosovo. Together, we were able to share NATO and KFORs activities among a wider population and support children, youth and their families.

Lt Gen Kajari (second from left) with Admiral Stuart Munsch (third from left), commander of Allied Joint Force Command Naples, during his KFOR deployment, from 15 October 2021 to 10 October 2022.

As the first Hungarian officer to command KFOR, Lt Gen Kajari was eager to demonstrate the maturity of the Hungarian Defence Forces and their ability to take on similar leadership roles. However, he also had a personal goal: to avoid any injury among troops in his area of responsibility.

I am happy to say that during the year of my deployment, there were no injuries or similar incidents, he shares. Even in heated situations, we were able to diffuse any tensions through negotiations and demonstration of our capabilities.

The meaning of NATO: Strength, capability and opportunity

Commanding KFOR has been one of Lt Gen Kajaris greatest professional highlights.

The experience of being the commander of an operation led by the most powerful military alliance in the world is difficult to describe, he says. KFOR demonstrates what NATO is about: 28 Allies and partners with different backgrounds, cultures and national heritages joining together to achieve a common goal and provide safety and security.

When asked what NATO means to him, Lt Gen Kajari uses three words: strength, capability and opportunity.

By strength, I mean the power of the member states that form the biggest military defence organisation in the world, he explains. By capability, I understand it as an ability to defend the Allied territory and also strengthen stability outside of its borders. And by opportunity, I think of a two-fold possibility to improve, learn and be more effective, both in terms of member countries, but also individuals working for the Alliance. I am proud to be part of such an organisation and honoured to be one of the generals of the Alliance.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg met with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban in Budapest on Wednesday (12 June 2024) to discuss preparations for the Washington Summit.

Mr Stoltenberg commended Hungarys commitment to Allied security, including its leadership of a NATO multinational battlegroup; its hosting of military headquarters, including Multinational Division Centre; and its contributions to the KFOR peacekeeping mission in Kosovo. He further welcomed that since the start of Russias war of aggression against Ukraine, Hungary has provided shelter for Ukrainian refugees and helped to rehabilitate wounded Ukrainian soldiers. All of this contributes to our shared security, and I welcome your statement that you will remain a dedicated and loyal NATO Ally, he said.

Mr Stoltenberg underlined that when Allies meet at the Washington Summit in July, he expects them to agree on a leading role for NATO in coordinating and providing security assistance and training for Ukraine, as well as a long-term financial pledge to provide military support. Prime Minister Orban has made it clear that Hungary will not participate in these NATO efforts and I accept this position, he said. At the same time, the Prime Minister has assured me that Hungary will not oppose these efforts, enabling other Allies to move forward, and he has confirmed that Hungary will continue to meet all of its NATO commitments in full, the Secretary General concluded.
(As delivered)

Prime Minister Orban, Viktor, it's good to be back in Budapest and to meet with you today.

Thank you for hosting me and my Delegation on the eve of a meeting of NATO Defence Ministers in Brussels later this week, and less than a month ahead of our important Washington Summit with the heads of state and government in July.

Hungary has been a valued NATO Ally for 25 years.

You lead one of our multinational battle groups helping to deter aggression. You host important military headquarters, including our Multinational Division Centre. You support stability in the Western Balkans, including with a significant contribution of troops deployed to Kosovo with our KFOR peacekeeping mission.

And since the beginning of Russia's brutal war of aggression against Ukraine, Hungary has provided shelter to many thousands of Ukrainian refugees, and helped with rehabilitation of wounded soldiers.

All of this contributes to our shared security.

And I welcome your statement that you will remain a dedicated and loyal NATO Ally.

Today, the Prime Minister and I have discussed a number of important, and some difficult, issues.

We also discussed the NATO Summit in Washington next month.

At the Summit, we will take decisions on key issues including deterrence and defence. Since 2014, NATO has undergone the most significant transformation in our collective defence in a generation. We have put in place the most comprehensive defence plans since the Cold War, with more forces, more capabilities, and more investment. And we have deployed combat-ready troops to the eastern part of the Alliance.

We do all of this not to provoke a conflict, but to prevent a conflict.

NATO's core task is not to wage war, but to prevent war, as we have done for 75 years by providing credible deterrence and strong collective defence to ensure there is no room for miscalculation by Moscow, or in any other potential adversary about our capacity, as us all, to protect every Ally.

For 75 years, NATO has been the ultimate guarantor of security for our members. Providing peace, freedom and prosperity in the whole of Europe, not least in the countries or the former Warsaw Pact.

Prime Minister, you and I also discussed the situation in Ukraine.

At the Summit, I expect Allies will agree a leading role for NATO in coordinating and providing security assistance and training for Ukraine. I also expect Allies will agree long-term financial pledge to provide military support. This will provide the predictability and accountability that Ukraine needs.

Prime Minister Orban has made it clear that Hungary will not participate in these NATO efforts. And I accept this position.

And I'm glad that today the Prime Minister and I have agreed on modalities for Hungary's non-participation in NATO's support to Ukraine.

No Hungarian personnel will take part in these activities and no Hungarian funds will be used to support them.

At the same time, the Prime Minister has assured me that Hungary will not oppose these efforts, enabling other Allies to move forward.

And he has confirmed that Hungary will continue to meet all of its NATO commitments in full.

So, Prime Minister Orban, thank you again for your hospitality. I look forward to continue working together with you. And I'm looking forward to seeing you in Washington. Thank you.





Moderator: Well, thank you very much, Secretary General, we have time for two sort questions. First, its the Hungarian national television.

Journalist, Hungarian Evening News (MTV): Thank you very much. Hungarian Evening News. Prime Minister, I would like to ask you what is the guarantee that Hungary will not be forced or coerced by NATO into any undertaking in Ukraine?

Viktor Orban, Prime Minister of Hungary: [answers in Hungarian]

Moderator: Reuters.

Gyori Boldizsar, Reuters: I'm Gyori Boldizsar from Reuters News Agency. And I would like to ask Secretary General, Hungary's Foreign Minister repeatedly called NATO's Ukraine mission quote, crazy mission. How can you preserve the unity of the Alliance when a member uses when a member chooses to use such words?

Jens Stoltenberg, NATO Secretary General: Well in NATO we are 32 Allies and sometimes there are different opinions but we have proven again and again that we are able to overcome them and find common way forward. And on the increased NATO role in coordinating security assistance and training for Ukraine, I am glad that we have find a way to allow NATO Allies to agree that but at the same time, also accept the position that Hungary will not participate. It's not a NATO obligation to participate in all NATO missions and the operations or activities as long as all NATO Allies adhere to the core obligations in the Washington Treaty, our collective defence, our security guarantees.

So, what the Prime Minister and I have agreed today is that Hungary will not block other Allies to agree a pledge for financial support to Ukraine and leading role for NATO in coordinating support for Ukraine, but at the same time, accept that [Hungary] will not be a part of these activities. And that's a way which I think will work and I am confident that when NATO leaders meet in Washington, we will able then to finalise agreement on these issues.
(As delivered)

Good evening.

Over the next two days, the NATO Defence Ministers from across the Alliance will gather here to prepare for the NATO Summit in Washington.

We will convene a meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Council.

And Allies will discuss how to ensure predictable support to Ukraine for the long haul.

We come together at a critical time for Ukraine and our own security.

As we have seen in recent months, delays in the provision of military aid to Ukraine have had consequences on the battlefield.

But once again Allies are stepping up their support.

I welcome the 60-billion-dollar package by the United States,

And significant commitments by other Allies.

In recent weeks, Sweden, Spain and Belgium have each pledged more than 1 billion euros in new support,

Including 30 F-16 jets and early warning airplanes.

Following Germanys offer of an additional Patriot battery,

Italy has pledged another SAMP/T.

And I expect more to be announced in the coming days and weeks.

At this meeting,

I expect that Ministers will approve a plan for NATO to lead the coordination of security assistance and training to Ukraine.

This is a key element for our package for Ukraine at the Washington Summit, along with a long-term financial commitment.

Since Russias full-scale invasion in 2022, Allies have provided 40 billion euros in military support to Ukraine each year.

We must maintain this level of support as a minimum, and for as long as it takes.

To hasten the conclusion in Moscow, that Russia cannot wait us out.

We are also looking at our own deterrence and defence, as we should.

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.

And defence spending is on an upward trajectory across the Alliance.

At this Ministerial, we will make progress on a new Defence Industrial Pledge,

for leaders to approve at the Summit in Washington.

This will enable us to scale up military production.

And send a signal of long-term demand to industry.

In addition, we will take decisions to ensure that we have the capabilities to meet the requirements of our own new defence plans.

Ministers will also discuss Russias intensifying campaign of hostile acts across NATO countries.

The hallmarks of which are sabotage, acts of violence, cyber-attacks and disinformation.

Allies are taking decisive measures  making arrests and launching legal proceedings.

Collectively, we are stepping up the protection of critical infrastructure, as well as the exchange of information and intelligence.

Russias actions will not stop us from supporting Ukraine.

This Ministerial will also include a meeting of the Nuclear Planning Group,

Where Allies will discuss the ongoing adaptation of nuclear capabilities to the current security environment.

We have made significant progress in this adaptation:

In June, the first F-35 fighter jets were declared ready by the Netherlands for NATOs nuclear mission.

And the US is modernising its nuclear weapons in Europe.

As the challenges evolve, NATOs nuclear mission remains the same: to preserve peace, prevent coercion, and deter aggression.

So to conclude,

At this Defence Ministerial,

We will bolster our support to Ukraine,

We will strengthen our defences,

And we will send a strong message of deterrence to our adversaries.

And with that I am ready to take your questions.

- - - - - - -

NATO Spokesperson: Thank you, Secretary General. Well start with Interfax.

Iryna Somer (Interfax-Ukraine): Thank you, Farah. News agency Interfax Ukraine, Iryna Somer. Secretary General, we do understand that during the summit in Washington, Ukraine cannot expect for the invitation and become a member, but what can the Alliance offer to Ukrainians instead, especially to Ukrainians on the frontlines that they will understand and to see that this is irreversible. I mean, membership. Thank you.

NATO Secretary General: Well, I expect that the Allies will agree a comprehensive package for Ukraine. That's an agreement on NATO having a leading role in providing and coordinating military support security assistance and training for Ukraine.

This is important partly because it helps Ukraine to address the immediate needs to defend itself, but also to ensure that NATO is there to help to build a future force to ensure full interoperability, and therefore to help Ukraine to move towards full NATO membership, so that the NATO role in coordinating and providing security assistance and training to Ukraine is both about the immediate needs to defend against the Russian aggression, but also help to integrate and to make fully interoperable the Ukrainian forces.

Second, I expect the financial pledge to be agreed. This is now something we are addressing here at NATO as we prepare for the upcoming summit in July. And that will also be a long term commitment.

Thirdly, I expect the Allies to agree strong language on membership. It's not for me to go into the details on the exact wording but I expect that that language will be even clearer in our commitment that Ukraine will become a member of the alliance.

Then, of course, I also expect that Allies will actually make important announcements between now and the summit and also at the summit for more military equipment, Air Defence, artillery missiles, which is urgently needed to ensure that Ukraine prevails as a sovereign independent nation. And without that, of course, there is no membership issue to be discussed. We need to ensure that Ukraine prevail that's an absolute minimum for Ukraine to become a member of the alliance.

NATO Spokesperson: Okay, we'll go to Reuters and then Wall Street Journal.

Sabine Siebold (Reuters): Thank you so much, Secretary General. You're really showcasing NATO's nuclear capabilities, like you just did. What kind of message are you sending to Moscow by that.

NATO Secretary General: NATO's nuclear deterrent is our ultimate security guarantee and our ultimate deterrence and this is something which is developed over many years to nuclear sharing arrangements, where the United States has nuclear weapons in Europe, but where Allies are providing the planes, the storage, the command and control, the support to make this an effective and secure part of NATO's total deterrence and defence.

What we have seen over the last years or months is a dangerous nuclear rhetoric from the Russian side. We have seen that Russia has announced that they have deployed nuclear weapons to Belarus and we have also seen some more exercises, nuclear exercises from the Russian side.

We also have to bear in mind that we don't only face nuclear challenges from Russia, but also from China, which is now heavily modernizing their nuclear capabilities. And we should expect to have large number of nuclear missiles, much higher than today, within a few years, and most of many of these missiles are of course, intercontinental  they can reach NATO territory. And then we have the nuclear program of North Korea and the efforts by Iran. So for all these reasons, we have to be able to clearly communicate that our nuclear deterrent is effective, secure and reliable, and that's what we are making clear, by modernizing, by exercising, and communicating what we do.

Dan Michaels (WSJ): Thank you, Dan Michaels, Wall Street Journal. Two questions about the summit. If I may, you mentioned the defence investment pledge. Can you talk a bit more about that because defence contractors have wanted signed contracts so that they can increase their production, you know, is a pledge something that they can use to do what everyone's been discussing? And then second question, you just mentioned China. Do you expect new language about China in the summit communication? Thank you.

NATO Secretary General: The pledge is, of course, an important political document where Allies agree how we should work together to strengthen our defence industry. And of course, NATO has an important and key role to play, partly to set the capability targets for what Allies have to produce, partly to decide how much we're going to invent in the defence investment pledge, spending at least 2% of the GDP. But NATO of course also plays a key role when it comes to setting the standards to ensure that the weapons, the ammunition, is fully interoperable, and meet the NATO standards.

Then it is also important for NATO to ensure that we are reducing barriers for trade and for procurement of defence material, because you need to mobilize the whole base, the strength of our defence industry, and you're right that of course at the end of the day, what really matters are signed contracts. We see more of those. The US has announced that they have doubled, for instance, the production over 155 millimeter ammunition standard ammunition from 14 to 28,000 per month, and that will further increase 200,000 in the near future. This is a significant increase per month, and we'll see similar numbers from European Allies.

So this reflects that we're actually doing more together because NATO is also an important framework to ensure that we have joint procurement, that we are buying things together that will increase the scale. Utilize the economies of scale will reduce the unit cost and the fact that Allies are signing contracts together is a way to also then use the NATO as a platform to ramp up production. So we have more and more examples of defence industry scaling and production based on political decisions in NATO and Allied countries. And also that we are doing more together and that firm contracts are signed on the fence investment pledge is where to ensure that we facilitate and strengthen that that message.

NATO Spokesperson: Thank you, BBC.

NATO Secretary General: There was one more. Well, I would careful going into them. details of exactly what we are going to say in in the communique or the declaration from the summit, but of course China is important. We see also how China is now playing a key role in upholding or propping up Russia's war in Ukraine: 90% of the microelectronics that Russia imported last year came from China and these are items, electronic equipment, which is key to produce missiles, bombs, battle tanks, which are then used in Russia's war aggression against Ukraine.

So China is propping up, China is enabling Russia to conduct its war of aggression in in Ukraine or against Ukraine. And therefore, of course, what we see now very clearly in Ukraine is how our security is interlinked. What happens in Europe matters for Asia, what happens in Asia matters for Europe, especially if you then also add on the supplies that North Korea and Iran are delivering to Russia.

NATO Spokesperson: Okay, we'll go to BBC Russia in the second row

Pavel Aksenov (BBC Russia): Back to the nuclear weapons if you please. We are talking about tactical nuclear weapons. Yes, not the strategic ones. Will there be any changes in policy about the tactical nuclear weapons, will they be more transparent or any more visually can be seen? and is there any plans in NATO to conduct the exercises with nuclear forces? Not nuclear weapons maybe but its forces?

NATO Secretary General: Well, we are speaking about NATO's nuclear sharing arrangements which have been well known for many, many years. There is not a new policy. This is a well-established procedure, where the US has nuclear bombs deployed in Europe, and where some allies take part in what we call a cold nuclear sharing, having planes that can deliver these weapons.

We are transparent about this. It has been there for decades. We have tried and tested procedures, doctrines and command structures and I have actually participated, visited, exercises and been very public about those exercises. So this is not new. This is something that has been there for many, many years.

And now more and more as also moving from F16 to F35 as the platform to deliver these weapons. So we are very predictable, predictable, we are very transparent. But of course we're also very clear on that this is the ultimate deterrence. We have. The purpose of NATO is of course not to wage war, but the purpose of NATO is to prevent war to preserve peace. And we do that by having credible deterrence and we have been able to prevent any armed attack against a NATO ally for 75 years. Then, as I said, we are modernizing some of these capabilities, including by introducing our F35, the fifth generation aircraft and Netherlands have declared that their planes are now operational for this task.

NATO Spokesperson: Okay, we'll take one from Thomas, FAZ. And then one more after that.

Thomas Gutschker (FAZ): Thanks a lot, Thomas Gutschker, Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung. For dogma and insight on Secretary General roughly two weeks ago Prime Minister Orban said on Hungarian state radio, and I quote, It is absurd that NATO instead of protecting us, is dragging us as a member state into a world war. He also compared this to Hitler chorusing then Hungary leader Horthy, into World War Two. Did you have a chance to discuss these remarks this morning, when you met him in Budapest, and what does it mean for NATO as an Alliance based on common values to have an Ally making such claims?

NATO Secretary General: I had a good meeting with the Prime Minister Orban. This morning in Budapest, we went through a long range of issues and Orban reaffirmed that Hungary will remain a loyal and dedicated NATO Ally. Adhering to all its commitments as a NATO Ally and that includes also of course, article Five our collective defence clause.

And I also stated clearly that NATO's purpose is peace. NATO is there to prevent war, to prevent conflict, but we do that by ensuring that we have credible deterrence and by making sure that there is no room for miscalculation, by Moscow or any other adversary about our ability to defend all Allies, and by doing so, we are preserving peace, preventing war.

And that's the core task and therefore we all agree on the need to ensure that NATO continues to preserve peace. I also am absolutely confident that Hungary will agree to the statements that we'll make at the NATO summit, reflecting the core values and the core purposes of NATO, including that NATO is there as a defensive alliance protecting Allies, preserving peace.

Then there is one particular issue where there's been different views. And that is on the mission, no sorry, the framework for supporting Ukraine, where NATO will have a lead role in coordinating security assistance and training for Ukraine and also the financial pledge. Viktor Orban, Prime Minister Orban has made it clear that Hungary will not participate in these NATO efforts. I have stated that I accept that position.

But I'm also glad that Prime Minister Orban and I today agreed the modalities for how Hungary should not participate in the support efforts for Ukraine, which includes that Hungary will not send the personnel to these activities and not contribute to the NATO pledge providing any elite in support for Ukraine.

At the same time, Prime Minister Orban made it clear that of course they will adhere to older NATO obligations and also continue to finance the NATO common budget according to the agreed cost shares. And also he also agreed that that Hungary will not block any decision by other NATO Allies on taking on the lead of the provision of training and security assistance and not block and a decision on a financial pledge for other Allies that is okay.

NATO Spokesperson: Washington Post in the back please.

Emily Rauhala (Washington Post): Secretary General, I'm wondering if you can tell us a little bit more about this NATO support and training for Ukraine. What functions of the Ukraine defence contact group will be subsumed under this new structure, and which functions will not; what will be excluded? And then relatedly: this is talked about within the Alliance as Trump-proofing or future-proofing, I'm wondering if you can explain how moving these functions into NATO would prevent a withdrawal of support from a future US president or any other Ally, for that matter.

NATO Secretary General: First, let me say that on Friday, I think we will be able to give you more details. Because this is a pre-ministerial press conference. I hope that we'll be able to agree the plan for NATO security assistance and training for Ukraine on Friday and after that decision I will expect that I will be able to give you more details.

What I can say today is that we now have very broad agreement in NATO and also the fact that we have found a way to accommodate the concerns expressed by Hungary to ensure that NATO takes a leading role in the coordination of security assistance and training. And also, hopefully before the Summit, agree a financial pledge.

One of the things we are now looking into is for instance, what is taking place under something called SAG-U, Security Assistance Group for Ukraine, which is mainly based in Wiesbaden, which is actually a quite big organisation helping to put together capability packages, different types of weapons or ammunition, with the associated spare parts, maintenance, sustainment and also coordinate a lot of the training. This is now led by General Cavoli in his capacity as the US Commander in Europe. In the future, it will also be led by General Cavoli, but then in his capacity as the NATO Commander in Europe, the SACEUR. But of course the difference is that then it will be a joint effort by NATO Allies. Where we also will use in the NATO Command Structure, NATO common funding to organise and to facilitate this.

And I think this is one example of how we, by using NATO, can have a more robust, more predictable framework, and especially combined with a commitment of spending at least 40 billion euros per year. This will ensure that we have a more long term, more predictable support for Ukraine. We welcome of course ad hoc voluntary contributions, they have made a huge difference. But the longer this war lasts, the more important it is that we have more predictability, more accountability, and also a fair burden sharing.

And I think by insuring NATO a bigger role in this, we can achieve this because we have, for instance, seen that Allies have made announcements, but it has not been delivered. And if we have a NATO role in ensuring more transparency and accountability, we can assume that actually more Allies will deliver. We of course appreciate what the United States and other Allies have done. It's unprecedented. At the same time we saw that the United States spent six months agreeing a supplemental for Ukraine. We also have seen that some of the promises that European Allies have made have not been delivered. And if we turn this into not voluntary contributions, but NATO commitments, of course it will become more robust, it will become more reliable. And for all these reasons, I believe that a stronger NATO role will help Ukraine to get the predictability it needs.

Then just to finally say that the purpose of this is to make it possible to end the war. Because the paradox, again is that now President Putin believes that they can wait us out and therefore the war continues. When we are able to communicate very clearly and strongly that we are prepared for long haul, for many years, then the likelihood that he will understand that he will not win on the battlefield but has to sit down and agree a lasting peace, just peace for Ukraine will increase. So the longer we are ready to commit, the sooner this war can end.

NATO Spokesperson: Okay, we will take one final question from TV for Sweden and read from ITV for Sweden. You mentioned earlier that Russia has been increasing sabotage against NATO countries.

Ritva Ronnberg (TV4): You mentioned earlier that Russia has been increasing sabotage against NATO countries. Can you be a little more specific? What does it mean and how is the sabotage countered? What kind of sabotage are we talking about?

NATO Secretary General: Well, we have seen a pattern we have seen many incidents across the Alliance. We have seen arson attacks, we have seen sabotage against critical infrastructure. We have seen cyber-attacks and we have seen more of those over the last weeks and months that we have seen before. And in many cases these are very public and very well-known instances because there have been arrests. In Britain, people have been arrested for trying to put on fire a building there. We have similar cases in Germany, in Poland, in some of the Baltic countries. So these are well-known cases where actually people have been arrested and now there are legal processes going on.

What is important from NATO is that we are helping to make Allies aware of that this is not an isolated instance, this is actually a result of Russian intelligence being more active across the Alliance. And therefore, NATO is increasing awareness, we are sharing information, we are sharing intelligence. Some of these arrests have been made based on intelligence shared by other Allies. And we are also of course, stepping up the protection of critical infrastructure. In particular, we have done a lot now to increase the protection of undersea infrastructure. So we do something collectively, as NATO, but of course, what Allies do individually is also of critical importance.

And we have seen police and National Security Services arresting and starting legal processes in several NATO Allies as a result of these attempts to sabotage, put on fire, also cyberattacks across the Alliance.

NATO Spokesperson: Okay. Thank you all for your time. Thank you, Secretary General. We'll see you tomorrow at the doorstep.

NATO Secretary General: Thank you.


Top 10 things Democrat politicians are GUILTY OF DOING that theyre accusing Trump of doing

Most Democrats still think that the Democratic Party is a legitimate political party that represents American's interests, rights ideals, but nothing is further from the truth. The Democratic Party has been taken over by terrorists who are trying their very best, right now, to destroy the Republic, most of its citizens, and annihilate the very constitution that binds everything together. Democrats simply cannot see it, at all. They've been blindsided and brainwashed so completely by their fake news that everything they hear and read that's candy-coated with orange-man-bad theory , well, they just gobble it up like an obese child eating birthday cake for breakfast, lunch, dinner and of course, desert.

From 2016 - 2020, fake news ran Trump-Russia-Collusion lie 24/7/365; now Trump is being arrested, convicted and sentenced for questioning 2020 election

Pretty much every Democrat politician, fake news producer, news reporter, news anchor, website owner and poser journalist for the Left should be arrested, convicted and sentenced to prison time for challenging the 2016 election, according to their own standards they are using to put Trump away right now.

There are thousands and thousands of hours of media coverage proving this, and millions of printed and published "news" stories covering one of the biggest lies ever perpetrated to try to impeach a U.S. President, and it worked. If Trump goes to jail, so should every Democrat politician, lunatic pundit, news anchor, reporter, Antifa member and Black Lives Matter "activist."

The Democrats accused Trump of coercing Ukraine while a video circulated of Biden actually doing exactly that with billions in taxpayer funding

Yes, as the Democrats accused President Trump of colluding with Ukraine in some kind of impeachable scandal, a video circulated PROVING demented Joe Biden leveraged a billion dollars in aid to Ukraine, threatening to withhold it, if Ukraine's top prosecutor, Viktor Shokin, did not stop pursuing Biden's crackhead son Hunter for corruption. While former VP Dark Brandon oversaw foreign policy in Ukraine, his porno-and-crack-addicted criminal son Hunter served on the board of Burisma Holdings, the biggest gas company in the satellite democracy.

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.

In order to save his son's job, reputation and possible jail time, hair-sniffer Joe threatened to hold back on giving Ukraine (Obama's gift of) a billion dollars, unless Shokin backed off. It was all caught on video and went viral, proving yet again that whatever the Democrats accuse Trump of doing, they do themselves.

Currently, the Democrats flood the fake news media with the mantra that Donald J. Trump is attempting to destroy democracy. It must be opposite day every day for the Democrats. The Democrats in Washington DC are currently doing everything they can to destroy freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom of press, freedom of voting in legitimate elections, all while they try to instigate World War III with Russia.

It is unbelievable the lengths to which the Demoncrats go to propagate race wars in America, hatred between straights and gays and utter contempt for anyone who believes in God. It seems as though if you are not atheist, or at least agnostic, you are not allowed to be a liberal these days. That's why we must bring to you this.

Top 10 things Democrat politicians are completely guilty of doing that they're accusing Trump of doing

#1. Election corruption (CCP-Biden-marked mail-in ballots, Dominion Voting machine flipping, dead people voting, illegal immigrants voting, Democrats voting multiple times in multiple states, etc.)

#2. Quid-pro-quo (coercion) of Ukraine

#3. Sex Crimes (compare the "dossier" to child trafficking using open borders and war chaos). Also consider the $17 million in taxpayer money paid out to cover up sexual harassment charges against our Congress.

#4. Storing classified documents loosely at home or personal office (Biden is guilty and, unlike Trump, never had the authority to be in possession of said documents.)

#5. Contesting elections (only Democrats can investigate election corruption)

#6. Destroying democracy (dismantling infrastructure, curriculum and the constitution)

#7. Propagating riots (think Jan. 6th with cops gas-bombing and killing protesters)

#8. Fascism (the real fascists run the nation now, including Obama and Soros)

#9. Racism (CRT, gender "fluidity", race-baiting, restitution, BLM, Antifa, etc.)

#10. Embezzling (check the Military Industrial Complex and Medical Industrial Complex)

Keep your truth news in check by adding Preparedness.news to your favorites list and tuning in daily for updates on real news about surviving and thriving in the near future, and news that's being scrubbed from MSM and social media as you read this.

Sources for this article include:

Censored.news

TheGatewayPundit.com

NaturalNews.com
INVASION USA: Report says Biden has granted amnesty to over 350,000 MIGRANTS since 2022

The administration of President Joe Biden has terminated hundreds of thousands of asylum cases in a "mass amnesty" program

This is according to a report from the New York Post, which found that more than 350,000 pending asylum cases filed by illegal immigrants have been closed by the U.S. government since 2022. This means that while the immigrants are not granted or denied asylum, their cases are "terminated without a decision on the merits of their asylum claim" and they are removed from the legal system and no longer required to check in with authorities.

The move permits them to legally and indefinitely roam the United States without fear of deportation.

"This is just a massive amnesty under the guise of prosecutorial discretion. You're basically allowing people who don't have a right to be in the United States to be here indefinitely," said Andrew Arthur, a former immigration judge who works for the Center for Immigration Studies.

The approximately 350,000 "forgiven" asylum applications represent 77 percent of illegal immigrants who have applied for asylum.

The individuals affected by the "mass amnesty" can reapply for asylum at a later date or hold out for other possible pathways to citizenship.

The revelation arrives as the U.S. has undergone an unparalleled crisis on both the southern and northern borders.

The government has registered over 9.5 million nationwide encounters and approximately 1.7 million illegal immigrants "gotaways" under the Biden administration. (Related: ACTIVE INVASION: At least 7.3 million illegal immigrants have crossed the southwest border under Joe Biden.)

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 foreign-born population living in America has also reached a record high of 51.6 million people under the present government, with the enormous increase being pushed mostly by mass illegal immigration.

Biden signs executive order that seeks to "limit" illegal crossings at the southern border

Meanwhile, Biden signed an executive order that would shut down the U.S.-Mexico border once illegal crossings reach 2,500 reported incidents every day between points of entry for seven consecutive days. The order, which went into effect immediately, would lift border restrictions two weeks after the regular number of crossings dropped to an average of 1,500 daily for seven days straight.

Even if imposed correctly, analysts warn that this border closure will still permit a minimum of 1.8 million new arrivals into the country annually.

The latest restrictions contain numerous exceptions like permitting immigrants to cross the border at a point of entry if they apply for legal entry using the CBP One smartphone app. Other exceptions include unaccompanied children, victims of a severe form of trafficking and individuals who face an acute medical emergency or an imminent and extreme threat to their life and safety.

Former Acting Immigrations and Customs Enforcement Director Tom Homan warned that the border crisis is unlikely to be resolved by this new executive order.

"They haven't done a single thing to slow the flow. And I guarantee you, the executive action  is going to be another insult on the American legal system," said Homan, stressing how the Biden administration is fully aware of the problems with the border.

"The Biden administration knows what I know, that based on immigration court data in the last 10 years, nine out of 10 of these people claim asylum at the border won't win a case. They'll be ordered removed because they either don't show up in court or they don't qualify," Homan said. "This administration knows exactly what they're doing. They know these people get removed or deported. They don't want that. They'd rather be here illegally and wait  to be counted in the next Census, which would benefit the Democrats. They've got a plan, and this is their plan."

Follow OpenBorders.news for more stories about the ongoing illegal immigration in America.

Watch the video below about Fox News show host Sean Hannity saying that the White House is guilty of aiding and abetting illegal immigrants.

This video is from the NewsClips channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Biden admits to FLYING 320,000 migrants into U.S. to PURPOSELY skew border crossing numbers.

Migrants rushing to cross the US southern border before Biden loses in November.

Bidens ICE to roll out pilot program giving illegal immigrants VALID IDs.

Sector of northern border sees record-breaking wave of illegal immigrants apprehended.

Report finds more than half of immigrants who have entered the U.S. since 2022 are JOBLESS.

Sources include:

100PercentFedUp.com

NYPost.com 1

DailyWire.com

NYPost.com 2

FoxNews.com
Canadian Cancer Society apologizes for using scientific term cervix that some trans people find offensive because they are delusional

In the latest example of LGBT insanity, the Canadian Cancer Society apologized for using the term cervix  a legitimate and widely used scientific term  to refer to the actual part of a womans body known as the cervix rather than using the allegedly more politically correct term front hole.

Thats right  they felt the need to apologize for using a technical term rather than the made-up and somehow less offensive front hole when answering a question about cervical cancer screening.

On their website, they published the following question: As a trans man or non-binary person assigned female at birth, do I need to get screened for cervical cancer?

Beneath it, readers are greeted by a bizarre apologetic footnote in which they explain that they didnt want to offend people who have "mixed feelings" about the official scientific term.

We recognize that many trans men and non-binary people may have mixed feelings about or feel distanced from words like cervix. You may prefer other words, such as front hole. We recognize the limitations of the words weve used while also acknowledging the need for simplicity, they noted in their explanation.

It is strange to think that women pretending to be men (or men pretending to be women) would somehow feel distanced from the word cervix, which is not even inherently feminine and comes from the Latin term for neck. This, by the way, is also why the neck area of the spinal cord is known as the cervical spine. And rather than being a hole, a womans cervix is a cylindrical tube connecting the uterus to the vagina. This is one of those cases where one has to wonder if people are just looking for any excuse to be offended.

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.

Dr. Kim Greene-Liebowitz wrote on X: If you cant call body parts by their actual names, you really dont deserve to have any role in health and medicine. This is pathetic, shameful, and disrespectful.

Others questioned whether worrying about these matters is really the best use of cancer organizations time and energy. X user Cecile Shaw wrote: "So comforting to know that (Canadian) tax (dollars) are going to non-profit content like this. Instead of stuff like  more doctors, cancer treatment and diagnostic imaging machines.

Is "front hole" really better than "cervix"?

If we put aside the many logical reasons that front hole is more analogous to a vagina than a cervix and the many reasons there is no need to call a cervix by anything other than its medical name, there is another matter to address: the fact that lots of women find the term front hole even more offensive than cervix. Indeed, some womens rights activists have already gone on the record as saying that using this term to refer to the vagina is derogatory. But apparently the feelings of trans individuals deserve greater protection than those of actual women.

For example, writer Julie Burchill wrote why she considers trans-inducive language to be dehumanising women in Spiked.

Both bonus hole and front hole are recommended as trans-friendly alternatives to vagina. Trans ideologues have long tried to erase or appropriate any word that is specific to females  from woman to mother and now vagina. And they have gained a foothold in our schools and in our media. Now gynaecological-health providers are swallowing the stupid pills, too, she wrote.

Of course, we wouldnt expect anything less from Prime Minister Justin Trudeaus Canada, where minors are being pushed to transition to other genders and laws are being introduced to protect this madness. When the Canadian Security Intelligence Service claims in an official report that people who believe that an individual can only be a man or a woman could pose a violent threat, its not surprising that organizations like the Canadian Cancer Society are so worried about coming across as sympathetic to the sensitivities of transgender people.

Sources for this article include:

LifeSiteNews.com

TorontoSun.com

LifeSiteNews.com
U.S.-built floating pier in Gaza reopens after undergoing repairs that cost millions

The temporary pier that serves as the main entry point of humanitarian aid to Gaza reopened on Friday, June 7, following major repairs that cost American taxpayers tens of millions of dollars.

The pier built by the United States Armed Forces was first anchored to land on May 16 and started operations soon after. It was only operational for about a week before it was blown apart in high winds and heavy seas on May 25. (Related: U.S.-built Gaza pier transported to Israel for repairs after being heavily damaged by high waves, strong winds.)

The damaged section was reconnected to the beach in Gaza on Friday, June 7, after undergoing repairs at an Israeli port. Department of Defense officials who spoke with media outlets revealed that the pier had undergone at least $22 million in repairs at the Israeli port of Ashdod.

"The cost for repairs could rise to as much as $28 million," one of the officials said.

On Saturday, June 8, about 1.1. million pounds (499,000 kilograms) of aid were already delivered via the pier, U.S. Central Command said in a statement. According to the agency, a total of 3.5 million pounds (1.58 million kilograms) of aid have been delivered since the pier had previously opened in mid-May.

The project hasn't even lived up to its initial billing or its $320 million price tag when it was damaged and yet it has continued to acquire further costs from the American taxpayers' pockets, critics commented.

"Lower-than-expected costs for contracted trucks, drivers, and commercial vessels, and the United Kingdoms contribution of  a berthing vessel for our soldiers and sailors have lowered our cost," Pentagon spokeswoman Sabrina Singh told reporters. "Just as a reminder, these are estimates and initial assessments and the cost could fluctuate depending on the length of the mission and future costs, an example of that being additional repairs.

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.

During the short period before it was damaged, the United Nations said it had transported 137 trucks of aid from the pier, the equivalent of 900 metric tons. According to UN aid agencies and other humanitarian groups, Gaza needs at least 500 to 600 trucks of humanitarian aid per day to sustain in the dire situation created by Israel's genocidal war.

Meanwhile, on the same day that aid was delivered via the newly repaired pier, Israel mounted a heavy air and ground assault on the Nuseirat camp in central Gaza that rescued four hostages who Hamas had taken during the Oct. 7 assault. Video circulating online showed an Israel Defense Forces (IDF) helicopter taking off from the beach with the U.S. pier in the backdrop.

Two U.S. officials told CBS News that the U.S. pier was not used in the IDF operation. A U.S. official explained that the helicopter landed south of the facility on a beach but not within the cordoned area of the pier.

"The pier facility was not used in the operation to rescue hostages today in Gaza. An area south of the facility was used to return the hostages to Israel safely," the official said. "Any such claim to the contrary is false. The temporary pier on the coast of Gaza was put in place for one purpose only, to help get more urgently needed lifesaving assistance into Gaza."

IDF kills 200 in central Gaza attack

Intense assaults by the Israeli military accompanied that humanitarian aid, killing more than 200 people. Dozens of air raids hit the besieged territory on Saturday, particularly in Deir el-Balah and Nuseirat in central Gaza, homes west of the city of Rafah in the south and multiple areas in Gaza City to the north.

According to the Gaza Health Ministry, "large numbers" of killed and wounded were arriving at Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital, the majority of whom are children and women.

"Dozens of injured people are lying on the ground, and medical teams are trying to save them with the basic medical capabilities they have available," the health ministry said, adding that it is short on medicine and food and that its main generator has stopped functioning due to a lack of fuel. Dr. Tanya Haj-Hassan, a pediatric intensive care doctor with Doctors Without Borders (MSF), described Al-Aqsa Hospital as a "complete bloodbath" and that it looked "like a slaughterhouse."

Reporting from inside the full and overwhelmed hospital via a telephone call, Al Jazeera's Hind Khoudary said the situation is tense, with terrified people on the street not knowing where to turn.

"Explosions are happening every minute. Ambulances are transferring the wounded to the hospital where we are trapped. Its chaos inside the hospital. There are children among the wounded," she said.

Meanwhile, a health ministry spokesman earlier said there were still "a lot of" bodies and wounded people that remained on the streets.

Head over to Humanitarian.news for more stories about the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Gaza.

Watch the video below that talks about how Biden's floating pier was such a waste despite the high cost spent.

This video is from the NewsClips channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Desperate, starving Palestinians resorting to intercepting aid delivered to Gaza via American floating pier.

Israel captures Rafah crossing, leaving 27 people dead and cutting vital lifeline of Palestinians.

U.S. Navy vessels attached to floating pier off Gaza coast dislodged by storm, grounded on nearby beaches.

Sources include:

TheCradle.co

CBSNews.com

AlJazeera.com

Brighteon.com
Juror in Minnesota pandemic benefits fraud trial excused after being offered cash BRIBE by mysterious woman

A 23-year-old female juror in a federal pandemic benefits fraud trial in Minnesota has been dismissed from jury duty following a bribery attempt

According to the Star Tribune, a mysterious woman arrived at the juror's suburban home with a party bag on the evening of June 2. The bag contained wads of cash amounting to almost $120,000 in all. The woman told the juror's father-in-law that there would "be more of that present tomorrow" if his daughter-in-law voted to acquit seven defendants involved in the Feeding Our Future scheme, before leaving the money-filled bag.

The bribery allegation came amid deliberations on the guilt of seven defendants involved in the scheme. The accused individuals reportedly deceived the federal government to obtain $49 million in federal funds during the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. This they did by vastly inflating the number of meals served to children at 50 locations across Minnesota through the Feeding Our Future program.

The seven accused  Said Shafii Farah, Abdiaziz Shafii Farah, Mohamed Jama Ismail, Abdimajid Mohamed Nur, Abdiwahab Maalim Aftin, Mukhtar Mohamed Shariff and Hayat Mohamed Nur  were slapped with a myriad of charges in 2022, including wire fraud and money laundering. All of them received more than $40 million for 18 million meals distributed at 50 food sites across the North Star State  from Rochester to St. Cloud  in 2020 and 2021.

In reality, the pilfered money was used to buy luxury cars, houses, jewelry and overseas properties. Very little of the amount was used for food purchases.

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.

They were among a bigger group of 70 people charged in the broader case involving U.S. Department of Agriculture programs that reimburse schools, day cares and nonprofits for feeding low-income children after school and during the summer. All in all, the 70 people were charged with stealing more than $250 million in federal money meant to feed needy children, according to the Tribune.

U.S. attorney calls bribery attempt on juror "outrageous"

The juror wasn't at home at the time of the woman's visit. But instead of accepting the bribe, she called 911 and left the money at home until agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) arrived. Photos from court documents showed bundles of $100, $50 and $20 bills amounting to roughly $120,000 inside the seized bag.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Thompson then recounted the bribery incident to U.S. District Judge Nancy Brasel of the District Court of the District of Minnesota. According to him, the woman who offered the bribe drove to the juror's home and left the money with her father-in-law.

"This is outrageous behavior. This is stuff that happens in mob movies," said Thompson. "This can't be allowed. This strikes at the integrity of our system." (Related: How deep runs the corruption?)

According to the assistant U.S. attorney, bribing a juror carries a sentence of up to 10 years in prison. He added that the incident could have repercussions for the next trials of more than three dozen defendants.

The juror involved was dismissed as a result of the incident, leaving 12 jurors and five alternates as a result. The magistrate then sequestered the remaining 17 jurors and questioned them one by one to ensure that they hadn't had any contact with anyone about the case in the past six weeks. All 17 confirmed that they hadn't, as per the Tribune.

Brasel ordered an FBI agent to confiscate the defendants' mobile phones as part of a probe regarding the leak of jurors' names. According to an FBI search warrant, the woman who offered the bribe used the juror's first name, which wasn't publicly disclosed. The federal judge also added security to the courtroom and detained all seven defendants.

Head over to Corruption.news for similar stories.

Watch this video about how the private sector steals donations to the United Nations World Food Program.

This video is from the High Hopes channel on Brighteon.com.

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Report: Majority of illegals benefit from welfare programs in the U.S.  many of them have "anchor babies."

Indian people are starving, but the government wants to use food as fuel instead of feeding the masses.

Sources include:

StarTribune.com

Brighteon.com
PAYDAY: NIH profited $710 million in royalties from vaccine mandates and other corrupt dealings with Big Pharma

In 2023, the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) was entitled to $48 billion in taxpayer funds , with no official audit process to detect for waste, fraud and abuse. Every year, in the name of advancing the science, the NIH is allowed to gut the U.S. treasury, while being held to no ethical standards for the projects they fund around the world. This is evidenced by the lack of accountability for U.S. researchers who conspire with foreign governments and pharmaceutical giants in money laundering schemes that prop up predatory enterprises and allow for kickbacks to enrich NIH scientists and public health officials.

A court order recently revealed that NIH scientists pocketed $710 million in royalties from drug makers from late 2021 through 2023, at the height of unlawful vaccine mandates. Private companies, such as vaccine manufacturers, are paying kickbacks to the NIH so they can get their products quickly approved and licensed by government scientists. This money trail was kept hidden by officials at the NIAID and the NIH, but a lawsuit recently revealed the corruption and seditious acts.

No accountability yet for NIAID gain-of-function research and kickbacks for mRNA vaccines

NIH and NIAID officials are still not being held accountable for funding unethical gain-of-function research projects abroad, while accepting kickbacks from vaccine companies. Instead, the former head of NIAID, Mr. Fauci, changed the definition of gain-of-function research to make it appear safe and to skirt culpability in the design, development and release of bioweapons and predatory vaccine and testing programs.

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.

After manufacturing a crisis in 2020 with lockdowns, social distancing restrictions, hospital drug mandates, fraudulent testing programs and unreasonable quarantines, the U.S. government, under the leadership of Mr. Anthony Fauci, conscripted the U.S. treasury to provide exorbitant funding for the development and release of mRNA vaccines, from which he and his colleagues were positioned to receive royalties.

In recent congressional testimony, Mr. Fauci confirmed that the governments vaccine mandates were essential in breaking the spirit of individuals and forcing them to comply with the shots. Fauci and his department then profited from the coercion, psychological abuse and heavy-handed government approach by receiving kickbacks from the vaccine companies.

NIH has received over $1 billion in royalties from Big Pharma since 2009

Out of the 6,000 scientists who work for the NIAID, a select 260 were enriched with a whopping $690 million in royalties and kickbacks from the industry. The NIAID, under the leadership of Mr. Anthony Fauci, refused to disclose these financial ties when questioned by a Congressional committee. It wasnt until the NIAID was sued, were they forced to uncover the royalty payments they enjoyed. Some 56,000 transactions were uncovered from September 2009 to October 2021, an amount totaling $325 million. This corruption of money laundering has grown exponentially during the covid-19 scandal, and more lawsuits were initiated to disclose further kickbacks in 2021 and 2022.

The NIH and its researchers amassed a staggering $710 million in royalties between late 2021 and 2023. Almost all of these kickbacks ($690 million) went to Mr. Faucis former network of scientists at the NIAID. These funds represent payments from private entities, such as pharmaceutical companies, for the licensing of drugs developed by government scientists. So far, the NIH has disclosed $1.036 billion in royalties from private industries.

If there were any shred of ethics inside these institutions of science, then Mr. Fauci and Mr. Collins (former NIH head) would have rejected all kickbacks. Instead, the type of research that sought favoritism by the government would have been rigorously investigated for fraud and malfeasance. However, Fauci and Collins created a rapidly corrupt environment at the NIH, right before both headed off into retirement -- enriched at the expense of taxpayers, and enriched by royalties they earned by forcing experimental products onto the market that killed and injured millions of people. Long will live their legacy of corruption that has damaged the reputation of U.S. institutions, put the scientific method in peril and laid waste to human rights.

Sources include:

NIH.gov

TheNationalDesk.com

Youtube.com

FiercePharma.com

OpentheBooks.substack.com

NYPost.com

ICanDecide.org
Oceans can no longer protect America as space and cyber technologies continue to grow worldwide

While the U.S. military remains arguably the most sophisticated in the world today, Russia and China are quickly developing technologies that could interfere with  and even take out  U.S. satellites.

Space is "really a great enabler and has changed the speed of how we've been able to fight," Makena Young of the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) told Axios. (Related: China creates MICROWAVE CANNON that can fire high-power microwaves to disable satellites.)

A report from the Financial Times revealed that China is developing cyber capabilities that would allow the nation to "seize control" of satellites, making them effectively useless.

The U.S. military has historically relied on big, expensive satellites in orbit that are designed to collect exquisite images and other data but make for valuable targets for adversaries. The U.S. is also working to move toward a more resilient network of satellites prioritizing speed, efficiency and even leveraging commercial satellites, only building what they need to build and buying services otherwise.

"The problem has not been their speed of development. The problem has been how slow our response has been." That slow pace is largely due to American politics, Weeden added, saying that getting the buy-in and budgets needed to change how parts of the Department of Defense do business can be difficult.

"But that's not going to really work now because the pace of evolution is so fast that if you take 10 years, 20 years to build something, it's outdated before you launch it," John Plumb, assistant secretary of defense for space policy, told Axios at the Space Symposium in April.

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 longtime national security strategy that relies on protection provided by the Atlantic and Pacific oceans is now being rattled by these weapons that conquer vast distances. America has long had the edge in space and cyberspace, but China and other powers are closing the gap.

A global surveillance showdown is underway. Hackers tied to the People's Liberation Army abscond with countless files detailing stateside arsenals. Other saboteurs stalked critical infrastructure, including in Guam, a key U.S. foothold. A digital onslaught there would sap military responses in the Indo-Pacific.

Russian hacks plagued Ukraine, earning it a "testing ground" moniker. U.S. lawmakers expressed concern about spillover in the months following the 2022 invasion. North Korean cyberattacks rakef in money and other assets, funding the regime's weapons programs.

A record-setting 2,877 spacecraft were launched in 2023. While most were attributed to the U.S. and its booming commercial sector, Chinese and European numbers were on the rise.

Both China and Russia have made strides in developing space weapons that could knock out satellites essential to navigation, overhead imaging and long-distance communications. Destructive testing of anti-satellite weapons has also produced dangerous debris.

New AI system can spot "strange" satellites

Meanwhile, a new AI system can spot satellites acting strangely in the increasingly congested orbit around Earth and that could be malfunctioning or have more nefarious purposes.

Companies are announcing plans to launch large constellations in the coming years, potentially putting more than one million satellites in space. And governments are increasingly investing in space-based electronic warfare tools, anti-satellite weapons and other spacecraft for national security that could be concealed in the mix.

"This isn't some hypothetical problem," said Audrey Schaffer, vice president of strategy and policy at Slingshot Aerospace, which developed the new AI tool with funding from the Defense Advanced Research Project Agency (DARPA). "We think this tool is very powerful for addressing near-term security challenges."

The system  called Agatha  identifies anomalous behavior in a constellation and then deduces the strategies and intentions of suspect satellites.

Instead of looking at a single satellite and determining how its behavior is different from what would be expected of it, Agatha identifies small differences in how a satellite is behaving compared to large numbers of other satellites in a constellation.

Agatha can also detect unusual communication patterns. Rather than having uplinks and downlinks around the world, an espionage satellite might only be communicating with a handful of ground stations in the host country or allied countries.

"We are rapidly approaching a moment where no human or team of humans would be able to monitor all activity in space, let alone these minute differences," Schaffer said.

Visit FutureTech.news for more stories like this.

Watch this video about the top 10 reasons why the U.S. Navy aircraft carrier is the safest place to be in war.

This video is from the US Military Technology channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

U.S. Space Force: China and Russia are CONCEALING THREATS posed by their satellites.

US accuses China of pouring BILLIONS of dollars into GLOBAL DISINFO campaign (while the US govt. spews endless lies about everything).

Whistleblower: UFOs an OPEN SECRET in the US military.

Former Space Force officer: WOKE AGENDA weakening, dividing US military.

US military experimenting with artificial intelligence that can predict the future.

Sources include:

Axios.com

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Putin denounces American leaders for burning democracy down to the root following Trump conviction

Russian President Vladimir Putin has slammed the United States judicial system, saying that the conviction of former President Donald Trump in the New York hush money trial was a politically motivated persecution

"The United States' alleged leadership in democracy, they are burning it down to the root," Putin said on June 5 in a rare press conference with the heads of several international news agencies during the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum.

"Across the world, it is obvious that the prosecution of Trump, especially in court on charges that were formed based on events that happened years ago, without direct proof, is simply using the judicial system in an internal political struggle," he said in comments translated by Reuters.

Trump became the first former U.S. head of state ever convicted of a felony crime after a New York jury found him guilty of 34 charges over alleged efforts to "conceal a sexual liaison" with an adult film actor, Stormy Daniels, in the run-up to the 2016 presidential election. The Russian leader also described how Trump, despite the guilty verdict on the lawfare he put up against, continues to see a massive increase in support and donations.

"It means that people in the United States do not believe the judicial system that is making such decisions," said Putin, adding that the additional four separate criminal cases against Trump amounted to "political persecution."

Trump mirrored these remarks in his response to the conviction. The former president has repeatedly attacked the criminal justice system and claimed that President Joe Biden orchestrated the verdict.

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.

When asked whether he would prefer Trump or Biden to win the upcoming election, Putin said "it does not matter" to Moscow who becomes the next U.S. leader because it is unlikely that U.S. foreign policy toward Russia would significantly change.

"We don't care who wins," Putin said. "For us, we do not think the end result holds much significance. We will work with any president the American people elect. To say  I am speaking quite sincerely  that we believe that after the elections something will change toward Russia in American policy, but I would not say so. We dont think so. We think that nothing really serious will happen."

Former White House Russia specialist Fiona Hill implied that Putin was likely to see Trump's conviction as a chance to undermine America's global influence and boost his standing.

"What mischief does he have to make when you have people within the American system itself denigrating it and pulling it down?" Hill, a former senior adviser to three U.S. presidents, including Trump, told the Associated Press. She added that Putin was probably "rubbing his hands with glee" at Trump's attacks on the U.S. criminal justice system. (Related: Putin's new right-hand man wants to nuke the West "to save the world" from a full-blown war.)

World leaders voice support for Trump

Like Putin, several world leaders have expressed their take on the guilty verdict against Trump.

Immediately after the decision, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said: "I've known President @realDonaldTrump to be a man of honor. As President, he always put America first, he commanded respect around the world and used this respect to build peace. Let the people make their verdict this November! Keep on fighting, Mr. President!"

Italian Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini, known for his strident anti-immigrant views, expressed "solidarity and full support" for Trump, whom he called a "victim of judicial harassment and a process of political nature." He added that his countrymen are sadly familiar with the weaponization of the justice system by the left, given that for years attempts have been made to eliminate political opponents through legal means. "I hope Trump wins; it would be a guarantee of greater balance and hope for world peace," he said.

Meanwhile, other world leaders are taking the "safer" road. British opposition leader and prime ministerial hopeful, Keir Starmer, said that if the Labour Party wins power in the United Kingdom's upcoming general election on July 4, his government would "work with whoever" Americans elect.

"We respect the decision of the court, the independent court  there's a bit of process to go with sentencing and appeal," Starmer told BBC Radio Scotland. "But we are in an unprecedented situation. Theres no doubt about that." He further said: "Ultimately, whether he's elected president will be a matter for the American people and if we're privileged to come in to serve, we would work with whoever they choose as their president."

For Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi, they would rather refrain from commenting on matters relating to judicial procedures in other countries. According to him, the Japanese government is not in a position to make comments with presumptions about the impact on the U.S. presidential election. "In any event, we are closely monitoring related developments and will continue to gather information," he said.

Visit Trump.news for more news related to the ongoing legal battle the former president is fighting.

Watch the video below where Trump reportedly claims Putin will release jailed American journalist after he wins the election.

This video is from the NewsClips channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

EU member claims Putin using top-secret electronic weapon to jam GPS on flights, ships.

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Sources include:

InfoWars.com

TheGuardian.com

Brighteon.com
Filmmaker Andy Wakefield: Fauci is a LIAR and a dangerous man

British activist and filmmaker Andy Wakefield is not a fan of Dr. Anthony Fauci.

While promoting his film "Protocol 7" during his guesting on the "Health Ranger Report," Wakefield told host and Brighteon founder Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, that "Fauci is a liar and a very, very dangerous man."

Recently, Fauci testified before the House's Select Subcommittee on the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. This was his first appearance on Capitol Hill since 2022 when he ended a decades-long government career that saw him emerge as the public face of the federal government's efforts to combat COVID-19. The testimony happened as former Fauci aide David Morens came under fire for using a personal email to communicate about COVID-19 origins, bypassing federal disclosure rules.

During the said hearing, Fauci clashed with the Republicans on the panel, including Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA), who refused to address Fauci with "doctor," instead referring to him as "Mr. Fauci."

"The problem comes and when I watch that, it becomes manifestly obvious that there is no accountability. Fauci is going to get his huge pension and move on to hell with the rest of the world. And that, to me, is something that cannot be allowed to happen," Wakefield told Adams and proceeded to talk about the film, which was based on real-life events related to vaccinations in the United States.

"That was what it was in danger of happening with this film," he continued. "And I thought, whatever the consequences for the filmmakers, this film needs to get out there right now so that those who were responsible for this fraud are held accountable and not just allowed to move on to another job, continue getting paid a vastly inflated salary, while the people who've been deceived are left to deal with the 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.

"Protocol 7" is about the catastrophic regression of a small-town lawyer's adopted son as she gets confronted with the reality of corporate fraud at the highest level. The conflict in this true whistleblower story is getting the massive corporation accountable for the crimes it has committed. The film's goal, according to Wakefield, is to reach two groups of people.

"Broadly, it's the people who already know, those mums who've got vaccine-injured children and families who are affected," he explained. "Then there are the people who've woken up during the COVID-19 era. They've realized that they've been lied to and that they should invest their trust in those people who've been trying to bring them the truth all along. And that's the group that we want to reach."

He also addressed those who are still undecided and unaware of the deception. "People say, 'Well, okay, there may be a problem with this COVID vaccine, but the childhood vaccine schedule is perfectly safe and effective.' This film takes them back over the bridge and says, 'No, actually, this has been happening for many years. The behavior of the industry and the regulators has been the same for many years.'" (Related: CDCs expansion of vaccination schedule for Americans sparks controversy.)

Adams lauded the film and Wakefield's efforts, saying the "film is pivotal in the history of the understanding of the widespread weaponization of medicine against the human race."

Film exposes Merck's production of injury-causing vaccines

The film has specifically cited the Big Pharma company, Merck. Adams asked the filmmaker how "similar" the script is to what happened in real life.

"You've got a small production company versus a huge multinational pharmaceutical industry and that's taking a risk," said Wakefield. "We had several documents upon which the film was based. There were elements of the fraud that were committed by Merck that we were confident could stand up to scrutiny if we were ever threatened with litigation, for example, defamation."

According to him, thousands of pages of documents were sealed by the court until very recently. He initially thought those documents would undermine the integrity of the film and make them guilty of defamation.

"But quite the opposite happened," he said. "We realized that when reading the expert reports from, for example, the ex-head of the [Food and Drug Administration] FDA, Dr. David Kessler, who was testifying on behalf of the whistleblowers, was even more damning of Merck's behavior than we portrayed in the film. You could argue that Merck is getting off lightly in this movie. We'll see where they go with that."

Check out PharmaceuticalFraud.com for more news on Big Pharma's dangerous vaccines.

Watch the full episode of the "Health Ranger Report" featuring Andy Wakefield below.

This video is from the Health Ranger Report channel on Brighteon.com.

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Sources include:

Protocol7.movie

Brighteon.com

Axios.com
Nuclear War: Why we should be thinking about it now

Almost all of us living today have become conditioned to believe that nuclear war will not occur due to the concept of mutually assured destruction, or MAD.

(Article by Gary Heavin republished from TheEpochTimes.com)

MAD, put simply, is the guarantee that one country will not use nuclear weapons against another country due to immediate nuclear retaliation and the destruction of both. Not to mention the nuclear winter that would occur and the annihilation of the human population. But what if MAD is obsolete and is no longer protecting us from nuclear war? I believe that to be true, but what does that mean to you and me?

Reconsideration of the reliability of MAD is particularly important at this moment in time. With the current geopolitical circumstances, were at a threat level equal to or greater than the Cuban missile crisis. The two most obvious threats emanate from the Russian invasion of Ukraine and Chinas intention to invade Taiwan. The situation is exacerbated by the provocation of the United States and its imperialistic and, frankly, arrogant foreign policy.

How have the factors changed that have made MAD obsolete? First, Russia and China have surpassed the Western worlds nuclear capabilities to such a degree that the United States and its NATO allies are no longer considered equals. With hypersonic missile capabilities that our enemies possess and we do not, were no longer able to mutually assure their destruction. A missile that can travel at speeds faster than 10,000 miles per hour is unstoppable. Our missile defense system is useless against hypersonic nuclear attack, and weve allowed our enemies to advance their missile defense system capabilities to well exceed what we possess.

Second, under the Clinton administration, the fire on warning protocol was changed. Prior to 1998, the U.S. nuclear response protocol was to fire on warning. The powers that be realized that it was no longer practical to fire on warning. The response took too long, and it put the world at risk over the likelihood that World War III might begin accidentally due to a false warning, which was occurring with some frequency. With the threat of hypersonic missiles, the fire on warning protocol is simply irrelevant. The time from launch to impact of a hypersonic missile launched from a Russian submarine targeting Washington is less than 30 seconds.

Third, the incompetence of our leadership and ineptitude of our military procurement program have created our extreme vulnerability. Generals who decide which weapon systems are funded leave the military and take high-paying positions with federal defense contractors. They essentially accept bribes from companies in exchange for purchasing their inferior products. The F-35 aircraft is a great example. Add to the broken procurement system the woke culture thats being propagated and destroying our war-fighting capabilities.

With the Ukrainian debacle, Russia has been provoked to the point that Vladimir Putin has recently placed his nuclear forces on high alert. Putin has stated: If someone decides to intervene in current events from the outside and creates unacceptable strategic threats for Russia, then they must know that our response, our retaliatory strikes, will be lightning fast, quick. We have the tools for this.

The United States has been sending ever more threatening weaponry to Ukraine such as the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System, or HIMARS, a precision rocket weapon. The Ukrainians have not only begun to fire these weapons at Russian targets, but also have been accused of firing artillery at the largest nuclear energy power plant in all of Europe, located in Zaporizhzhia in southeastern Ukraine. At what point does Russia act on Putins threat and go nuclear?

Russia has now completely allied with China. House Speaker Nancy Pelosis recent visit to Taiwan resulted in China instigating war games in the Taiwan Strait, and the political change within China, where power has been taken from the State Council and given to the Central Military Commission, is a clear move to a war footing.

Heres how I believe this will play out. Without warning, Russia will target U.S. missile silos with hypersonic tactical nuclear weapons. These are low-yield, minimal fallout weapons, which will destroy our ability to significantly retaliate. They will also fire these weapons at our two primary submarine bases, where, at any time, half of our submarine fleet is at dock. This will all happen in just a few minutes. For good measure, Russia, North Korea, or China will fire a high-altitude electromagnetic pulse, or HEMP, weapon. This weapon would destroy the electric grid and leave the United States without power, water, internet, food supply chains, and fuel. Notice that with all these weapons, theres no significant nuclear fallout, no nuclear winter.

Next, President Joe Biden will get a phone call from Putin, and it will sound like this: Mister Biden, your nation has just been defeated. I have spared your cities. If you should decide to retaliate with your small remaining nuclear capabilities, within three minutes, New York City and Washington will be reduced to smoldering rubble. I will at this time accept your complete and unconditional surrender.

For those of us who recognize that our institutions are no longer trustworthy, its ever more reasonable that a very dark scenario is playing out before our eyes. The globalist agenda requires that the United States be diminished. Our sovereignty and strength are the only things standing in the way. What better way to diminish the United States than a tactical nuclear attack that destroys our retaliatory capabilities and brings down our electrical grid, resulting in the depopulation of our nation within a year.

Read more at: TheEpochTimes.com
Atlanta prosecutor sentenced for STEALING pandemic relief funds

An erstwhile prosecutor in Atlanta has been sentenced to seven years behind bars for stealing pandemic relief funds totaling approximately $15 million.

According to the Daily Mail, a jury found former Atlanta Assistant City Attorney Shelitha Robertson guilty of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering. The verdict stemmed from the 62-year-old prosecutor fraudulently obtaining money under the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) launched during the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Robertson subsequently used the proceeds to splurge on luxuries such as a 10-carat diamond ring worth $150,000, a Rolls Royce luxury vehicle and a motorbike.

The former police officer-turned-city attorney utilized the PPP to steal taxpayer dollars alongside co-conspirator Chandra Norton by falsely claiming that she was responsible for 427 employees. To make the ruse more convincing, Robertson and Norton even submitted fake tax documents to inflate their income statements with each loan application.

Because of this, the former city attorney received millions of dollars supposedly earmarked for keeping legitimate businesses afloat through the pandemic. According to the Department of Justice, Robertson transferred funds to Norton and other family members.

But the long arm of the law eventually caught up with Robertson. U.S. District Judge Steven Grimberg of the District Court for the Northern District of Georgia sentenced her to seven years and three months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release.

"It was her level of direction and confidence in being able to commit this level of fraud without being detected that instigated it in the first place," the magistrate said. He also described the loss of the funds fraudulently obtained by Robertson as staggering. (Related: Biggest financial crime in Americas history: Billions of taxpayer dollars STOLEN from COVID-19 relief programs.)

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.

"Motivated by greed, Robertson deceptively obtained funds that were designed to provide financial relief to struggling small businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic," said U.S. Attorney Ryan Buchanan.

Robertson doesn't practice what she preaches

Weeks before her sentencing, Robertson appeared on her daughter's podcast titled "Mommy and Me." She and her daughter Brii Renee advised listeners about how to deal with the world. In one episode last October, the mother-and-daughter tandem talked about how to earn money through hard work and "integrity."

"I choose integrity and whatever else it brings. I don't choose selling your soul to the devil. Because that would mean I am willing to belittle myself and degrade myself for the love of what? Of a dollar? How my kids view me and respect me means more to me than earning a quick dollar for me to be something that I'm not," Robertson said.

Her remark came as a response to her daughter asking her if she would choose integrity over poverty, and whether she would take the chance to make money quickly. But the Mail pointed out that Robertson "didn't follow her own advice and decided to make her money through deception, submitting one false loan application after another to the COVID-19 relief scheme."

Before Gimberg handed down his sentence, Robertson tried to appeal to him. "I'm dead broke. My business is gone. My [law] license is gone. My assets are gone. The only thing I have left is my family and my faith in God," she said.

Robertson also expressed remorse for the repercussions of her conduct on her family, partner and community. "I'm not that person that tries to take advantage of anybody or any situation. I've owned up to what I've done," the former city attorney continued.

But this failed to convince the magistrate to lower her sentence. By the time Robertson is released from prison to serve her supervised release, she will be almost 70.

"The defendant in this case was held accountable for fraudulently obtaining millions of dollars through the PPP and using those stolen funds to enrich herself, while small businesses were struggling during the pandemic," said Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) Special Agent in Charge Kyle Myles.

"The FDIC Office [of the] Inspector General remains committed to working with our law enforcement partners to pursue and bring to justice those who took advantage of such pandemic relief programs and threatened the integrity of our nation's financial institutions."

Watch Fox Business host and former National Economic Council Director Larry Kudlow discussing the fraudulent spending of federal unemployment benefits.

This video is from the NewsClips channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Criminal charges filed against 47 defendants who allegedly committed covid FRAUD, stealing $250 million intended to feed children during plandemic.

Welfare fraud: 8 men in New York City steal over $2 million in coronavirus relief, gets caught after flaunting it on social media.

Government report reveals criminals stole BILLIONS from unemployment benefits during pandemic.

Government watchdog: Over $60B lost to pandemic unemployment benefits fraud.

Sources include:

DailyMail.co.uk

Brighteon.com
Biden administration considering direct negotiations with Hamas for release of remaining American hostages if current talks with Israel fail

Officials within the administration of President Joe Biden are contemplating a unilateral deal with Hamas to secure the release of the five remaining American hostages in the Palestinian militant group's hands if the current ceasefire and hostage release talks with Israel fail.

According to the statement of two current and two former senior United States officials, who requested anonymity due to the sensitivity of the discussions, this potential negotiation would be pursued independently of Israel if the ongoing ceasefire talks fail. The discussions involve leveraging Qatari intermediaries, as has been the practice in the current negotiations, to communicate with Hamas. (Related: Hamas FREES 2 American hostages on HUMANITARIAN grounds.)

The five U.S. citizens still believed to be held by Hamas are Edan Alexander, Sagui Dekel-Chen, Hersh Goldberg-Polin, Omer Neutra and Keith Siegel. All five were abducted during the Oct. 7 attack.

Additionally, the U.S. is hoping to secure the release of the remains of three American citizens believed to have been killed during the Oct. 7 attack  Itay Chen, Judy Weinstein and Gad Haggai  and whose bodies were taken into the Gaza Strip.

"We are prepared to take all necessary steps to ensure the safe return of American citizens. Our commitment to their safety is unwavering," a senior administration official said.

The officials did not specify what the U.S. might offer in exchange for the hostages' release. However, they suggested that Hamas might be motivated to agree to a unilateral deal to exacerbate U.S.-Israel tensions and increase domestic political pressure on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. One former official noted that the possibility of the U.S. cutting a separate deal with Hamas could also compel Netanyahu to agree to a version of the current ceasefire proposal.

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.

Israel's failed operations in Gaza to rescue hostages frustrates Biden

The report of the U.S. potentially undermining Israeli ceasefire negotiations came after an Israeli operation in Gaza rescued four hostages at the cost of at least 274 Palestinians killed.

The hostages rescued during the raid were identified as Noa Argamani, 26; Almog Meir Jan, 22; Andrey Kozlov, 27; and Shlomi Ziv, 41. Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari and Israel Defense Forces spokesperson reported that the hostages were held in two apartment buildings.

However, the high number of casualties from the raid has sparked a significant international backlash against Israel.

According to ABC News, the recent raid, which took place on June 8, is part of a broader Israeli offensive that has claimed the lives of nearly 37,000 Palestinians since its inception. The figures provided by the Gaza Health Ministry do not distinguish between civilian and combatant casualties, which has added to the complexity of the humanitarian crisis. Among the latest casualties, 64 children and 57 women were reported dead, with 153 children and 161 women among the injured.

Visuals from the aftermath of the raid, broadcast by various news outlets, depicted the Gaza Central camp in devastation. Roads were littered with debris and the wounded, many suffering from severe injuries and amputations.

All this contributed to the increasing frustration of Biden toward the Israeli government, which resulted in the consideration of a unilateral deal with Hamas.

Visit WWIII.news for more stories related to the conflict between Israel and Hamas.

Watch this video from Southfront Press discussing the very costly gains Israel is making in its invasion of Gaza.

This video is from the channel The Prisoner on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Hamas to boycott ceasefire negotiations as long as Israel continues killing Palestinians in Rafah.

Bidens $6 billion ransom payment to Iran motivates Hamas to take more American hostages.

Israel carpet bombs Rafah after Hamas accepts ceasefire proposal.

EU states considering SANCTIONS against Israel for defiance against ICJ ceasefire order.

New U.S.-backed United Nations resolution calls for immediate ceasefire in Gaza.

Sources include:

NBCNews.com

EssaNews.com

Salon.com

Brighteon.com
Facebook post suggests jurors LEAKED Trump verdict judge issues inquiry letter to attorneys

A Facebook post has sparked speculations of a mistrial on former President Donald Trump's hush money case conviction of 34 felony charges in Manhattan. The said social media comment implied that jurors were discussing plans to find the ex-president guilty before delivering their verdict.

Juan Merchan, the New York judge who was overseeing the trial, sent a letter to the prosecution and defense attorneys about the message. "Today, the Court became aware of a comment that was posted on the Unified Court System's public Facebook page and which I now bring to your attention," the judge opened his correspondence.

The user, named Michael Anderson, wrote the post that read: "My cousin is a juror and says Trump is getting convicted [heart emoji] Thank you folks for all your hard work!!!!"

It sparked confusion on a New York Unified Court System's Facebook page, with analysts asking, "Did one of the jurors discuss the case with others when they were not allowed to?" Meanwhile, Trump supporters could not help but cry a "mistrial" as they called authorities to strike out Trump's conviction from the record.

A Trump campaign official said "We're investigating," when asked about Merchan's letter. (Related: Jonathan Emord decries SHAM trial and RIGGED verdict against Trump in explosive new interview with Mike Adams.)

Trump could appeal how he was charged in the Manhattan hush-money case

According to some experts, how Trump was charged in the Manhattan hush money case could be one of the strongest arguments for an appeal.

"I'm assuming that the Trump team is going to have a robust appeal with several arguments starting from the pre-trial process, through the trial and possibly the sentencing," Fordham University School of Law professor Cheryl Bader told ABC News. "I think they're going to make any potential argument that they can on appeal."

We are building the infrastructure of human freedom and empowering people to be informed, healthy and aware. Explore our decentralized, peer-to-peer, uncensorable Brighteon.io free speech platform here. Learn about our free, downloadable generative AI tools at Brighteon.AI. Every purchase at HealthRangerStore.com helps fund our efforts to build and share more tools for empowering humanity with knowledge and abundance.

Trump was charged with the crime of falsifying business records and it was considered a misdemeanor. However, prosecutors charged the former president with a felony, arguing he falsified records with the intent to conceal another crime.

"I think the statute is at risk of being declared unconstitutional because the statute that charged the former president with the felony does not say what that other crime is that elevates the misdemeanor to a felony," Randy Zelin, a Cornell Law School professor, told the media outlet.

Trump could also potentially argue that the charges were unconstitutionally "vague" based on the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments.

"In a criminal law setting, if a statute is too vague, as to inform the average citizen what actions would cause criminal liability, it would be void, because it's vague and how I would say it applies here would be, it'd be very hard for any attorney before Donald Trump's trial to say that we would know, or be aware of, or could even advise a potential client that federal election laws, which a state prosecutor doesn't have jurisdiction over -- could be used to elevate a misdemeanor, that has passed the statute limitations, into a felony, that is within the statute of limitations," Brian Buckmire, an ABC News legal contributor, said, "It's a little bit vague as to how the prosecutors did that  I can see why they did that  but I think there might be a constitutional argument for void for vagueness there."

Visit Trump.news for more stories related to the ongoing legal battle the former president is fighting.

Watch the video below where former Attorney General Bill Barr says Trump's guilty verdict is unfair to voters.

This video is from the NewsClips channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Trump receives $300K campaign donation from venture capital executive following guilty verdict.

Donald Trump's legal team demands lifting of gag order that prevents him from speaking freely about his trial.

RFK Jr. slams GUILTY verdict on Trump, calls it a blow to democracy and the Democratic Party.

Forecast model predicts Donald Trump will win back White House, Republicans to take Senate and maintain House majority.

Sources include:

DailyMail.co.uk

NYCourts.gov

ABCNews.go.com

Brighteon.com
Dr. Francis Boyle, author of 1989 Biological Weapons and Antiterrorism Act, releases affidavit confirming COVID vaccines are biological weapons of mass destruction (WMDs)

In an ongoing Florida lawsuit filed by Dr. Joseph Sansone to stop all further distribution of Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) "vaccines," Dr. Francis Boyle provided an affidavit stating that the jabs violate the very law he wrote that Congress passed in order to protect Americans from biological and weapons of mass destruction (WMDs), which is what he considers COVID jabs to be.

The affidavit asserts that "COVID-19 injections," also known as "COVID-19 nanoparticle injections" and "mRNA nanoparticle injections," are "biological weapons and weapons of mass destruction [that] violate Biological Weapons 18 USC  175; Weapons and Firearms  790.166 Fla. Stat. (2023)." If the argument is successful as part of an Emergency Petition for a Writ of Mandamus, it will force Gov. Ron DeSantis to prohibit all further distribution of "COVID 19 injections," "COVID 19 nanoparticle injections," and "mRNA nanoparticle injections" in the Sunshine State.

Furthermore, the lawsuit, if successful, would force Attorney General Ashley Moody to confiscate all remaining vials of COVID injections so that doctors and pharmacists can no longer jab people with them.

(Related: In 2020, Dr. Boyle participated in a powerful interview with Geopolitics and Empire in which he exposed COVID itself as an "offensive biological warfare weapon.")

COVID jabs violate many laws

The Emergency Petition for Writ of Mandamus was first filed on March 3, 2024, in the Florida Supreme Court. It then moved to the Circuit Court in Leon County on March 20, 2024. The Circuit Court dismissed the case on April 9, 2024, and it is now in the appellate court where an Appellate Brief was filed on Memorial Day, May 27, 2024.

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 case asserts that the continued distribution of COVID jabs violates Biological Weapons 18 USC  175; Weapons and Firearms  790.166 Fla. Stat. (2023); Federal Crime of Treason 18 USC  2381; Treason  876.32 Fla. Stat. (2023); Domestic Terrorism, 18 USC  2331; Terrorism  775.30 Fla. Stat. (2023); Murder  782.04 (1)(a) Fla. Stat. (2023); and Genocide 18 USC 1091; Florida Drugs and Cosmetic Act  499.005 (2) Fla. Stat. (2023); Fraud  817.034 Fla Stat. (2023); Accessory After the Fact  777.03 Fla. Stat. (2023); and Florida Medical Consent Law  766.103 Fla Stat. (2023).

One of the world's leading experts on biological weapons, Dr. Boyle's affidavit gives immense credibility to the case, which in and of itself is already credible but that is now even more scientifically and expertly backed as a valid challenge to an otherwise heinous class of experimental injections that never should have been approved for use in the first place.

Medical legal advisor and biotechnology analyst Karen Kingston also provided affidavits stating that COVID injections are biological and technological weapons. Kingston researched the evidence that comprises the Facts of the Case section of the Mandamus, as did Dr. Ana Mihalcea, MD, PhD.

"Dr. Mihalcea is one of the world's leading researchers into the effects of self-replicating nanotechnology in the blood of injected as well as the effects in the blood of the uninjected as a result of shedding," wrote Dr. Sansone.

Just say no to COVID drugs

Dr. Boyle, by the way, is a professor of international law at the University of Illinois College of Law. He received an AB (1971) in Political Science from the University of Chicago, followed by a JD degree magna cum laude from Harvard Law School, followed by AM and PhD degrees in Political Science from Harvard University.

Dr. Boyle has advised many international bodies about human rights, war crimes and genocide, nuclear policy and biowarfare. Both houses of the U.S. Congress voted unanimously to approve his Biological Weapons Anti-Terrorism Act of 1989, which was signed into law by then-President George H.W. Bush with the approval of the Department of Justice (DoJ).

"It is my expert opinion that, 'COVID-19 nanoparticle injections' or 'mRNA nanoparticle injections' or 'COVID-19 injections' meet the criteria of biological weapons and weapons of mass destruction according to 18 USC  175; Weapons and Firearms  790.166 Fla. Stat. (2023)," Dr. Boyle's affidavit reads.

According to Fabio Giuseppe Carlo Carisio of Christian Journalistic Reports (GOSPA), some of the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC) dossiers were used to conduct an investigation in all of the U.S. biolabs managed by Tony Fauci, as well as one in the United Kingdom where the final phases of the creation of SARS-CoV-2 are said to have taken place. That investigation provided evidence to back the claims made by Dr. Boyle and others about the biological weapon and weapon of mass destruction classification for COVID injections.

"This is why the sworn report that he signed as an Affidavit in a lawsuit in Florida to stop mRNA gene serums should be taken as an explosive document confirming that such genetically engineered pharmacological products are 'bioweapons of mass destruction,'" Carisio explains.

The other pro-vaccine British Medical Journal (BMJ) also published a study linking excess deaths in Western countries to COVID injections.

"Our World in Data" estimates compiled between January 2020 and December 2022 show that COVID injections are at least "partly to blame," to quote The Telegraph's Sarah Knapton, for the massive rise in excess deaths that occurred since the start of the "pandemic."

The latest news about the dangers and ineffectiveness of vaccines can be found at ChemicalViolence.com.

Sources for this article include:

GOSPAnews.net

NaturalNews.com

GOSPAnews.net
Hamas rejects U.S. ceasefire proposal; will accept nothing less than a PERMANENT END to the war

The militant group Hamas on Tuesday, June 11, formally rejected the ceasefire proposal outlined by the administration of President Joe Biden for its ongoing war with Israel.

An Israeli official said the country had received Hamas' answer from the mediators and that Hamas "changed all of the main and most meaningful parameters" in the said proposal. Egypt and Qatar said they had also received the response but did not disclose the contents.

For Israel, Hamas' response was an outright rejection of the plan while a Hamas official, who declined to be identified, claimed that the group merely 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 Hamas source said. (Related: Hamas to boycott ceasefire negotiations as long as Israel continues killing Palestinians in Rafah.)

Last week, the Wall Street Journal published a report saying that Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar already told Arab negotiators that the resistance movement would not give up its arms and would only accept a ceasefire proposal that commits to a permanent end to the war.

"Hamas will not surrender its guns or sign a proposal that asks for that," Sinwar said. The message came as Central Intelligence Agency Director William Burns went back to Doha, Qatar to continue talks, which aimed at reinforcing the ceasefire proposal presented by the United States government.

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 presented the proposal in a speech last week, saying Israel had offered it. Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed that Tel Aviv will not agree to a permanent ceasefire until Hamas is defeated.

"The war will be stopped to return hostages and then we will proceed with a discussion," he said.

According to a copy of the U.S.-proposed ceasefire plan, obtained exclusively by Middle East Eye (MEE), the initiative does not include a permanent ceasefire. Instead, it calls for a 42-day "temporary cessation of military operations" that will be followed by "open-ended" negotiations for a permanent ceasefire.

The "temporary ceasefire" could potentially be extended after the 42-day phase "as long as negotiations on the conditions of stage two of the agreement are ongoing," the document indicated as per MEE. The plan violates Hamas' main terms for an agreement, most prominently a permanent end to the war, making it unlikely that the movement will accept the terms.

U.S. evaluates Hamas' amendments to ceasefire plan

The White House has already received Hamas' reply to the ceasefire proposal and is "evaluating it right now," National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby told journalists.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken is channeling global support for a United Nations Security Council resolution backing the ceasefire proposal. He also said that Netanyahu had "reaffirmed his commitment" to the plan.

The UN vote was the first time a deeply divided security council has endorsed a comprehensive plan for Gaza. Palestinian support for the U.S. resolution made it much harder diplomatically for Russia or China to veto it.

Blinken also met Israeli opposition leaders and spoke privately to hostages' families before going to Jordan for an emergency summit on humanitarian aid for Gaza. There he announced an extra $404 million in U.S. funding for aid for the enclave and called on other countries to step up donations.

Meanwhile, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas said the international community had a responsibility to press Israel to open land crossings into Gaza. His Egyptian counterpart, Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, said international pressure was needed to stop Israel from using hunger as a weapon.

In Gaza, there was skepticism that the deal would bring a halt to Israeli attacks that have killed more than 37,000 people, according to health authorities in the strip, and brought at least half the population to the brink of famine.

"We will believe it only when we see it," said Shaban Abdel-Raouf, 47, displaced with his family of five to the central town of Deir al-Balah. "When they tell us to pack our belongings and prepare to go back to Gaza City, we will know it is true."

IsraelCollapse.com has more updates on the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas.

Watch the video below that talks about the U.S. draft resolution for a ceasefire in Gaza being adopted by the UN Security Council.

This video is from the CreeperStatus channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

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Hamas accepts U.S.-brokered ceasefire proposal  Israel immediately REJECTS IT.

Gallant says Israel will forge on in Rafah despite UN world court demanding ceasefire.

Netanyahus war cabinet gives in to pressure from families of female soldiers captured by Hamas, decides to resume truce talks with militant group.

Netanyahu claims Israeli airstrike in Rafah that killed over 45 and injured 200 others is just a tragic mistake.

Sources include:

Reuters.com

TheCradle.co

MiddleEastEye.net

TheGuardian.com

Brighteon.com
Hunter Biden found GUILTY of felony gun charges

A Delaware judge has ruled that Hunter Biden, the infamous son of President Joe Biden, is guilty of violating federal gun laws related to the possession of a firearm while addicted to drugs.

In 2018, Hunter lied on a gun form that he was not a drug addict when in fact he was using crack cocaine at the time. As such, Hunter was found guilty of three federal charges, making him the first son of a sitting president to be convicted in federal court.

Hunter could now face up to 25 years in prison for his crimes, though because he is the president's son it is expected that he will receive a much more lenient sentence due to his last name.

During the week-long trial, the jury heard details about Hunter's history with using drugs, as well as testimony from his various former romantic partners. The jury also got to see Hunter's personal messages and private photos from his laptop, which was dropped off at a Delaware repair shop prior to the 2020 election.

Reports indicate that Hunter's ex-wife, along with two ex-girlfriends, testified before the jury about Hunter's crack cocaine use and failed efforts to get clean.

Hallie Biden, the late widow of Hunter's brother Beau and a key witness who had a short-term romantic relationship with Hunter, took the stand to reveal that she found a revolver in Hunter's truck in October 2018. She panicked and threw the weapon in a store garbage can where it was later found.

(Related: Did you know that all of those "new jobs" last year that President Biden kept bragging about creating actually went to illegal aliens rather than U.S. citizens?)

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.

Hunter Biden tried to buy drugs while also purchasing a firearm

The prosecution also presented texts showing that Hunter was trying to buy drugs around the same time that he purchased the gun. In one text to Hallie, Hunter admitted to smoking crack, though the defense tried to argue that Hunter did not actually mean this and was only attempting to scare Hallie away from him.

"We ask you [to] find the law applies equally to this defendant as it would to anyone else," said prosecutor Derek Hines to the jury in his closing argument. "When he chose to lie and buy a gun, he violated the law. We ask you [to] return the only verdict supported by the evidence: guilty."

Prosecutors, by the way, did try to secure a plea deal with Hunter back in 2023, but that failed after the judge in the case criticized it.

Hunter's defense team in its closing argument tried to claim that they had successfully proven their case "seven ways to Sunday." They also blasted the prosecution's presentation of evidence against Hunter as "ugly."

In a public show of support for his son, President Biden had the following to say about the case:

"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."

While this is certainly a promising development, keep in mind that neither Hunter nor his dad Joe have yet to pay restitution for their involvement in shady Ukrainian deals like Burisma, which remain unpunished.

"It will be another miscarriage of justice when it comes to imprisonment," wrote a commenter about how Biden is sure to get off easy for these federal crime convictions.

"In a corrupt, multi-tier 'justice' system, this means nothing," wrote another, emphasizing that same point.

The latest news about the Biden Crime Family can be found at Corruption.news.

Sources for this article include:

RT.com

ZeroHedge.com

NaturalNews.com
CENSORSHIP: Israeli government extends shutdown of Al Jazeeras operations in the country for another 45 days

Israel's Ministry of Communications has extended its ban on Al Jazeera Media Network's news channel and its operation for another 45 days due to an alleged "threat to national security."

Al Jazeera, a Qatari-owned news agency established in 1996, became known for freely reporting on all of the dangerous activities done by the Israeli military in Gaza since the onset of the war in October.

However, on May 5, the Israeli government passed legislation authorizing Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi, a member of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's extremist Likud party, to shut down Al Jazeera for 45 days due to an alleged attack and harm to their national security.

At that time, Karhi signed four orders, including instructing Israeli major TV providers to stop broadcasting the Qatari news channel as well as cellphone and internet providers to block access to Al Jazeera's English- and Arabic-language websites.

Meanwhile, the other two orders instructed police and Communications Ministry inspectors to raid Al Jazeera's office in Jerusalem and confiscate all workstations, cameras, microphones, servers, laptops, external hard drives, video compression equipment, wireless broadcast equipment and cellphones  except those for personal use. After the raid, the premises were locked. The operational ban expires on July 31 or when the emergency situation ends, but can be renewable.

But not long after Karhi ordered the operational ban, the government unanimously adopted another 45-day extension for Al Jazeera based on assessments from security agencies. On June 9, Kahri confirmed that Al Jazeera's broadcasts on cable and satellite and access to its websites would remain blocked.

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.

"We will not allow the terrorist channel Al Jazeera to broadcast from Israel and endanger our fighters," Karhi posted on X. "In light of the seriousness of the damage to the security of the state, I am convinced that the closure orders will be extended in the future as well."

Al Jazeera denies accusations of inciting violence and terrorism

In May, Al Jazeera condemned the Israeli government's decision to close its operations in Israel as a "criminal act" and warned that its suppression of the free press "stands in contravention of international and humanitarian law." (Related: Al Jazeera condemns Israeli government decision to shut down local offices.)

"Al Jazeera Media Network strongly condemns and denounces this criminal act that violates human rights and the basic right to access of information. Al Jazeera affirms its right to continue to provide news and information to its global audiences.

"Israel's ongoing suppression of the free press, seen as an effort to conceal its actions in the Gaza Strip, stands in contravention of international and humanitarian law. Israels direct targeting and killing of journalists, arrests, intimidation and threats will not deter Al Jazeera from its commitment to cover, whilst more than 140 Palestinian journalists have been killed since the beginning of the war on Gaza," Al Jazeera said in a statement on May 5.

In October, Karhis office claimed to have "proof" that Al Jazeera reporters were "passing sensitive information to the enemy" about Israel Defense Forces (IDF) troop locations. In February, the IDF disclosed that Al Jazeera correspondents Muhammed Wishah and Ismail Abu Omar served as Hamas military commanders. Abu Omar even filmed himself participating in the Oct. 7 attacks. But Al Jazeera has been denying all these accusations of inciting violence or terrorism, calling the ban disproportionate.

"The Network vehemently rejects the allegations presented by Israeli authorities suggesting professional media standards have been violated. It reaffirms its unwavering commitment to the values embodied by its Code of Ethics," Al Jazeera continued.

In line with the latest extension of the ban, the media network has indicated plans to appeal.

Visit Censorship.news for more stories like this.

Watch this video about Israel raiding the offices of Al Jazeera in the country about the network's closure order.

This video is from the Loves Greatness com channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

CENSORSHIP: Israeli government orders SHUTDOWN of Al Jazeera news and broadcast offices.

Israel shuts down all Al Jazeera news operations, demonstrating the tyranny of Zionism and abandonment of democratic principles.

At Netanyahus request, Israel is BANNING Al Jazeera (and any other foreign media deemed to be a national security threat).

Newly proposed law would strip nonprofit status from all organizations across America that criticize Israel.

In the name of "supporting Israel," U.S. is now being turned into anti-free speech tyrannical DICTATORSHIP.

Sources include:

Reuters.com

ReclaimTheNet.com

TimesofIsrael.com

AlJazeera.com

FDD.org

Brighteon.com
Media, government knew all along the identity of Hunter Bidens laptop, Delaware trial reveals

It has finally been confirmed by the court system that the infamous laptop tied to Hunter Biden is, in fact, owned by President Biden's drug-addicted son.

In the ongoing Delaware trial of Hunter Biden, said laptop was entered into evidence as having been verified as such through serial numbers and Apple records, this also affirmed by FBI agent Erika Jensen.

As you may recall, 51 prominent U.S. intelligence officials called the laptop a "Russian hoax" in the months leading up to the stolen 2020 election. As of June 5, however, that "Russian hoax" has been proven not to be true after all.

According to Jensen, there was no evidence uncovered by the FBI to suggest that the device was tampered with, this being another of the erroneous claims made before the 2020 election to protect the Biden Crime Family from scrutiny.

The FBI first received the laptop in December 2019 by the computer repair shop where Hunter reportedly left it. Since that time until now, the intelligence community at large has been running cover for the Bidens by claiming it was a "Russian hoax."

Hunter Bidens laptop was entered as evidence in his trial yesterday at 2:10 pm. This is of course the same laptop that 51 former US intelligence officials publicly said was Russian disinformation. Its time for all 51 of those intelligence officials to be charged with pic.twitter.com/QQPtQeAIgV  Laura Loomer (@LauraLoomer) June 5, 2024

(Related: Remember when Twitter lied about Hunter's laptop being "hacked," a claim that was easily disproven simply by looking at the repair contract?)

Time for the Biden Crime Family to pay

As you may recall, it was the New York Post that dropped the first bombshells about the contents of Hunter's laptop. This prompted a massive coverup effort led by then-senior Biden campaign advisor Antony Blinken who orchestrated the 51 intelligence officials smearing at as a "Russian hoax."

Both the mainstream media and social media followed suit by suppressing the story as "fake," at least until Biden was able to get through the debates before being installed in the White House. Now, four years later, we know that the laptop is very real  and very damning.

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.

In April 2023, the House Judiciary Committee sent a letter to Blinken confronting him in the coverup, this after congressional testimony revealed that there was coordinated suppression of the laptop scandal.

#BREAKING: Testimony Reveals Secretary Blinken and the Biden Campaign Were Behind the Infamous Public Statement from Former Intel Officials on the Hunter Biden Laptop @Jim_Jordan and @RepMikeTurner reveal HUGE news here: pic.twitter.com/bX3fpqJKPo  House Judiciary GOP ?????? (@JudiciaryGOP) April 21, 2023

In 2022, Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) questioned FBI Cyber Division assistant director Bryan Vorndran concerning the whereabouts of the laptop, to which Vorndran said he did not "have any information about the Hunter Biden laptop." Gaetz then entered a copy of the laptop into the official Congressional Record.

"While the laptop continues to expose the corruption of the Biden family, perhaps even slightly worse is the corruption of the FBI due to the massive number of people involved in the coverup," wrote a commenter at LifeSiteNews about the matter.

"It's been well documented that if the American people knew about the laptop before the election, Biden would have lost. This is what happens when you have an agency that gets its walking orders from the Democrat Party. Until the FBI is brought to its knees, the corruption will only get worse (if that's even possible)."

Another wrote that it is obvious Biden lost the 2020 election even without the laptop.

"Too much evidence to the contrary but the lie is repeated enough, even by 'good guys.'"

Will the Biden Crime Family assume another presidential term this fall? Find out more at Rigged.news.

Sources for this article include:

LifeSiteNews.com

NaturalNews.com
NATO chief calls for annual contribution of 40 BILLION EUROS for Ukraine until Russia is defeated

North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has reaffirmed the military alliance's commitment to providing Ukraine with continued military and financial assistance in its conflict with Russia. Stoltenberg further advocated for an annual contribution of at least 40 billion euros ($43 billion) from Western nations for the duration of the conflict.

Stoltenberg indicated that concrete plans for this assistance would be discussed at the NATO summit in July, though it won't involve deploying allied troops to Ukraine."

"We will explore avenues to ensure ongoing support for Ukraine," Stoltenberg stated during his inaugural visit to Finland following its accession into the military alliance.

Stoltenberg further pledged that allies would endeavor to reach a consensus on a long-term financial commitment for Ukraine at the NATO summit in Washington in July, with this commitment hopefully providing Ukraine with the necessary stability it needs to win the conflict. (Related: NATO to overstep Russias red line as it mulls sending troops to train Ukrainian armed forces.)

The week prior, Stoltenberg emphasized that NATO member states must collectively contribute at least 40 billion euros annually for Ukraine's military needs against Russia. He urged allies to equitably share the financial responsibility for this aid.

However, Stoltenberg clarified that NATO has no intentions of deploying troops to Ukraine. He stressed that NATO's primary objective is to establish a robust and institutionalized framework for military and financial assistance to Kyiv as long as needed.

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.

Addressing concerns over delays and inadequacies in delivering promised arms and ammunition to Ukraine, Stoltenberg emphasized the importance of ensuring timely and sufficient support. He announced efforts to establish a NATO mission dedicated to Ukraine to prevent such lapses in the future.

Additionally, Stoltenberg highlighted the need for NATO to enhance its coordination mechanisms to ensure effective delivery of aid and to address any emerging challenges promptly. He emphasized NATO's commitment to standing by Ukraine in its defense against Russian aggression while upholding the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity.

NATO committed to providing Ukraine with more money for air defenses and artillery

Last April, Stoltenberg addressed the press at NATO headquarters in Brussels following the council meeting, announcing NATO's commitment to bolstering air defenses and artillery in the embattled nation.

"NATO defense ministers have unanimously agreed to escalate military support, including reinforcing air defense capabilities," Stoltenberg declared. "We've identified existing resources within the alliance that can be deployed to Ukraine, with further announcements on air defense enhancements forthcoming."

Germany recently affirmed its intent to deliver an additional Patriot system to Ukraine, with Stoltenberg highlighting the availability of other armaments from allied nations. Those without such systems have pledged financial assistance for Ukraine's procurement efforts. Stoltenberg also noted collaborative efforts with industry to expedite production and refurbishment of military equipment for operational readiness.

Denmark and the Netherlands have stepped forward with fresh commitments, with the latter earmarking an additional four billion euros ($4.29 billion) for military aid. Addressing critical Ukrainian requirements, such as 155 mm artillery ammunition, precision strike capabilities and drones, Stoltenberg affirmed each NATO member's autonomy in determining their contributions.

Support for Ukraine, Stoltenberg asserted, transcends benevolence, framing it as a strategic investment in NATO's collective security.

Watch this report from Hindustan Times discussing how a recent ferocious Russian air assault on Ukraine caused NATO to panic.

This video is from the Vampire Slayer channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

NATO has become military wing of globalist cabal that promotes the self-destruction of all nations in a depopulated world.

Oblivious NATO chief tells members to stand up to "authoritarian powers"  does this include NATO member nation tyranny?

3 NATO member countries to build BUNKERS along their border with Russia.

Sources include:

RMX.news

Defense.gov

Brighteon.com
Prison officials readying potential DETENTION FACILITIES for Trump following hush money trial conviction

Prison officials are readying facilities where former President Donald Trump will be detained after he was found guilty in the sham hush money trial in New York state.

The 77-year-old real estate-mogul-turned president is set to be sentenced on July 11 after being found guilty of 34 felony counts of falsification of business records. The verdict stemmed from alleged payments made to adult film actress Stormy Daniels to keep her silent about Trump's purported affair with her. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, a progressive prosecutor bankrolled by Hungarian globalist billionaire George Soros, played a major role in securing Trump's guilty verdict.

The verdict shocked legal commentators in the U.S., who previously remarked that Trump would receive probation or home confinement. But given the verdict, they now believe that prison is possible. (Related: Donald Trump found GUILTY on all 34 charges in blatantly rigged New York trial, could be sentenced to 20 years in prison.)

But according to the Daily Mirror, Trump's conviction is at the state level  meaning that he would be housed in the Empire State. Thus, prison officials are readying possible facilities where he can be detained as a consequence of the verdict and be kept safe at the same time.

"Possible locations where Trump would be held were looked at when he continually broke his gag order and [Judge Juan Merchan] threatened him with jail," a source told the British tabloid. "The two locations that could ensure his safety are [Rikers Island's] west facility and the [Bellevue Hospital prison ward at the] 19th floor, run by the [New York City Department of Correction]."

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.

"If Trump faces more than one year in jail, New York law requires his sentence be served in a penal facility. However, if his sentence is shorter than a year, it will be served in a correctional facility."

Where will Trump be jailed?

Falsification of business records typically does not result in jail time  with home confinement or probation being more common outcomes, the Mirror reported, citing many legal experts.

But Trump's case is anything but typical. The 34 counts he was found guilty of, alongside his attacks against Merchan  who will decide his sentence  could prove detrimental to the former president.

According to the tabloid, the Rikers Island correctional facility in The Bronx could hold Trump if his sentence is under a year. It was originally built to house people suffering from contagious diseases.

Most high-profile detainees are housed in its VIP wing in the island's western area. It is mainly empty, and detainees placed there are typically given their own cells  away from the general population. Some detainees in Rikers' west wing include Allen Weisselberg, the former chief financial officer of the Trump Organization who pleaded guilty during Trump's civil fraud trial presided by Judge Arthur Engoron.

Another alternative is the Bellevue Hospital in Manhattan. The hospital's entire 19th floor consists of private rooms that serve as detention cells, keeping high-profile detainees away from the rest of the hospital. It was once used to house disgraced film producer and rapist Harvey Weinstein.

Complicating the situation is Trump's right to protection under the Secret Service, which the law guarantees to him and other former presidents for the rest of their lives. Secret Service agents will have to accompany Trump if he is jailed, so federal officials are now drafting plans on how to keep protecting the former president while in detention.

According to former Secret Service Deputy Director A.T. Smith, the reality of the job as an agent is "not always completely pleasant." Protection officers are only assigned for four to five years due to the difficult nature of the role, he continued.

Smith also revealed that agents he has spoken to have shown no emotion in response to the prospect of being assigned to guard Trump. "They're all professionals," the retired Secret Service director explained. "They understand that world events can change on a dime, and they are ready to do whatever is necessary to protect the former president under the law."

Regardless of where Trump is jailed or whether he receives Secret Service protection while in custody or not, the former president has said he is OK with serving jail time or being under house arrest after his conviction.

Watch Gary Franchi of "Next News Network" discussing the Secret Service preparing for Trump's potential detention, through an emergency meeting with the New York City Police Department.

This video is from the NewsClips channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Jonathan Emord decries SHAM trial and RIGGED verdict against Trump in explosive new interview with Mike Adams.

Donald Trump's legal team demands lifting of gag order that prevents him from speaking freely about his trial.

Trump will be found guilty in NYC and Bragg will try to imprison him.

Sources include:

Mirror.co.uk

Brighteon.com
South Africa denounces Israels hostage rescue operation at Nuseirat Refugee Camp that killed hundreds of Palestinian civilians

South Africa has condemned Israels attacks on the Nuseirat refugee camp in Gaza during the hostage rescue mission they carried out over the weekend, which reportedly killed more than 270 Palestinians and injured nearly 700.

The country is now calling on the rest of the world to act swiftly to put an end to the hostilities there and prevent further loss of life.

The incident in question is the widely publicized rescue mission that saw Israel Defense Forces commandos rescuing four Israeli hostages from Hamas captivity. However, saving those four people involved land, sea and air strikes in a crowded area where refugees had been staying, with bombardment intended at least partly to shield the hostages and Israeli forces as they brought them to safety. Many news reports about the rescue operation have been downplaying the loss of life.

Most of the injured are women and children, according to reports from the ground, while Doctors Without Borders has been working with nearby hospitals to help an overwhelming number of severely injured patients.

The South African government called the attack, which was carried out on innocent civilians in a designated safe zone, one of the single worst massacres committed by the Israeli occupation forces in Gaza.

They added: We are appalled that these attacks are being praised by some, for saving four Israeli hostages, while killing and severely injuring hundreds of innocent Palestinian civilians.

The South African government went on to ask whether Israelis even believe that the lives of Palestinian people are worth protecting given some of the statements made by Israeli officials celebrating the operation.

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While families mourn the loss of life, Israeli Defence Minister, Yoav Gallant, jubilantly termed the operation daring in nature, planned brilliantly, and executed in an extraordinary fashion. This once again raises the question of whether some believe that Palestinian lives matter, the statement added.

The operation took place during daylight while the market in Nuseirat was crowded with people. Those present described the scene as being like the horrors of judgment day as panicked people tried to flee the hours-long assault. Images from the area show dead bodies strewn along the streets, and emergency room doctors from nearby hospitals recounted how they received injured people of all ages with all types of injuries. The hospital was so packed that they had to put some people in tents outdoors.

South Africa leading the way in International Court of Justice genocide case against Israel

South Africa has long been a vocal critic of Israels actions in Gaza, filing a case with the United Nations International Court of Justice accusing Israel of committing genocide last December. Although they initially stood alone on this front, they have since been joined by countries such as Ireland, Spain, Mexico, Egypt, Nicaragua, Libya and Colombia.

South Africa is arguing that Israel is violating the 1948 Genocide Convention, which was enacted after the Holocaust and is aimed at preventing future genocide. Genocide is defined by the treaty as acts committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or religious group." The case could take several years to reach a final ruling.

However, the International Court of Justice ruled in May that Israel must immediately halt its military offensive in the southern Gaza city of Rafah where more than a million displaced Palestinians have been sheltering.

So far, more than 36,000 Palestinians have been killed in eight months of fighting, according to the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry, while nearly 84,000 people have been injured.

Sources for this article include:

RT.com

TheGuardian.com

Dirco.gov.sa
Ukraine maintains enemies list of people to assassinate: Elon Musk, Laura Loomer, Scott Ritter and Donald Trump all named

Rep. Jim Banks (R-Ind.) says he was just notified that his name, along with many others in Congress, is on a secret "enemies list" compiled by the Ukrainian government.

The regime of Volodymyr Zelensky considers Banks and the other names on the list to be unfriendly because of their opposition to more funding and weapons being sent to Kiev.

"To make matters worse," Banks wrote in a tweet, "this list was published on a database that received funding from the U.S. government."

"My office will be reaching out to the other Americans who are being targeted by the Ukrainian government."

Among others, Elon Musk, David Sacks, Vivek Ramaswamy, JD Vance and Donald Trump are also named as enemies of the Ukrainian regime for things they have said or done since the start of the war with Russia.

Musk reportedly landed himself on the list because of the following tweet he shared last October:

(Related: Russia says it is readying to attack French troops as the United Kingdom sends Zelensky 1,000 drones.)

All funding to Ukraine needs to stop

Laura Loomer is also on the list, for which she wondered aloud on social media whether or not she should be worried about her physical safety.

"Are the Ukrainians going to try to physically harm President Trump?!!" Loomer further asked on X.

"I would like to speak to some members of Congress about this matter. Why is our government using our tax payer money to create Ukrainian hit lists of perceived enemies? This is insane."

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.

Others who tweeted in response to Loomer that their names also appear on the list include:

Juanita Broaddrick

Robby Starbuck

Alex Bruesewitz

Mollie Hemingway

Sen. Rand Paul

Rep. Matt Gaetz

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene

Rep. Jim Jordan

Col. Douglas Macgregor

"We are all on it," tweeted the Amuse account X, which is followed by 2024 presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

"Some people on that list have been murdered so don't take it lightly," another account tweeted, further noting that the NABU, the CIA and the FBI are all part of the "anti-corruption" bureau in Ukraine.

"Speak to Rep. Fitzpatrick about it. Question again the funding of Ukraine."

The Ron Paul Institute published a report about the list, which was officially published by the Ukrainian web publication "Data Journalism Agency" (TEXTY) that explains its purpose.

"The report, titled 'Roller Coaster: From Trumpists to Communists. The forces in the U.S. impeding aid to Ukraine and how they do it,' intends to smear American politicians, journalists, and social media influencers as tools of Russia," the report states.

TEXTY itself published the following as well, claiming that all of the names on the list are Russian assets:

"Most of the people in our study do not have direct, proven ties to the Russian government or propagandists. However, the arguments they use to urge authorities to distance themselves from Ukraine echo key messages of Russian propaganda aimed at depriving Ukrainians of the ability to defend themselves with Western weapons and funds."

Ironically, the Ukrainian list and associated report, which claims to oppose disinformation, is full of misinformation itself. The entire thing is pro-Ukraine propaganda that takes direct aim at American politicians, reporters and others who refuse to go along with sending money and weapons to Zelensky.

"@infowars on the list, including myself and @Kelenmcbreen who's done excellent reporting on the clandestine biolabs in Ukraine," tweeted Jamie White, an Infowars writer, about the matter.

They don't call Ukraine one of the most corrupt regimes in the world for nothing. Learn more at UkraineWitness.com.

Sources for this article include:

X.com

NaturalNews.com

RonPaulInstitute.org
After a 200-year absence, a small number of the last wild horses in the world have returned to their home country, Kazakhstan.

The seven horses were transported to the central Asian nation by a Czech Air Force transport aircraft. Four of the mares were from Berlin, and the other two were from Prague.

Journey Home

The immense steppe grasslands of central Asia are home to the wild horses known as Przewalski's horses, which were initially domesticated there some 5,500 years ago.

In northern Kazakhstan, people have been riding and milking horses for around 2,000 years, predating European domestication records by a significant margin. The horses were nearly extinct in the 1960s due to human activities, which included road construction that divided their population and slaughtering the animals for their flesh.

The first of 40 horses that will be released into the wild in this large Central Asian nation over the next five years, the horses exited after being kept in containers for twenty hours.

The two groups of horses that were reintroduced into Kazakhstan are descended from zoos in Munich and Prague that managed to survive.

"These are the only remaining wild horses in the world. Mustangs are domesticated horses that went wild," said Filip Masek, Prague Zoo's spokesperson.

He added that eight horses were initially planned to travel, but one of them had to be unloaded and brought back to the zoo in Prague after it had settled down before the flight, increasing the possibility that the blood supply to his legs would be cut off.

Read Also: Wild Horse Caroline Dies of Neck Injury as Aggressive Stallion Attempts Mating -North Carolina

Help Biodiversity

According to Masek, returning the horses from the Prague zoo would contribute to a rise in biodiversity in the area as the horses help the water seep into the soil by spreading seeds in their feces and by uprooting vegetation. They also use their excrement to fertilize the steppe.

The International Union for Conservation of Nature continues to list the species as endangered. It was first observed by Russian scientist Nikolai Przhevalsky in 1881, and it was on the verge of extinction in the 1960s.

An effort to return the horses to Mongolia was started in 2011 by Prague Zoo, which has been breeding them since 1932 and maintains a global genealogy book for the species that tracks every new birth.

Between 2011 and 2019, 34 horses were flown there by Czech army aircraft before the epidemic put an end to the initiative, which was partially supported by zoos all over the world.

Currently, there are two thousand Przewalski horses in the world, where they are primarily found in China and Mongolia, but they are also found in France, Russia, and even the untamed Chernobyl exclusion zone that separates Belarus and Ukraine.

Thirty specimens were introduced there in 1998 after the Chernobyl incident that occurred in April of 1986. With its continued growth, the population has reached 210.

The Przewalski horse is not the only endangered species in Kazakhstan to have attracted particular notice.

Once in danger of going extinct, the round-snouted Saiga antelope has seen its population increase to over two million as a result of conservation efforts by non-governmental groups and Kazakh government agencies.

Related Article: Przewalski's Horse: Wild Horses in Mongolia Saved From Extinction




New Zealand's government has abandoned its controversial plan to tax greenhouse gas emissions from livestock, a policy informally dubbed the "burp tax."

This reversal comes after significant opposition from farmers and concerns about the economic impact on the country's vital agricultural sector.

Agricultural Emissions: A National Dilemma

New Zealand's economy is heavily reliant on agriculture, with approximately 10 million cattle and 25 million sheep grazing its pastures.

Nearly half of the nation's emissions are attributed to this sector, primarily due to methane released by cattle through burps and flatulence, as well as nitrous oxide from livestock urine.

The initial proposal, introduced by the previous center-left Labour government, aimed to target livestock emissions as part of New Zealand's commitment to achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

However, the plan, announced in 2022 by then-Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, sparked widespread protests among farmers who feared it would undermine their profitability.

Policy Pivot: Technology Over Taxes

The new center-right government, which took office late last year, has proposed an alternative approach.

It plans to introduce new legislation to parliament this month that will exempt the agriculture sector from the upcoming emissions pricing scheme set to commence in 2025.

Agriculture Minister Todd McClay emphasized the government's dedication to fulfilling climate change obligations without jeopardizing New Zealand farms.

The focus will shift towards assisting farmers in reducing emissions through technological advancements rather than production or export cuts.

In response to the scrapped tax plan, a "pastoral group" will be established to address biogenic methane emissions within the sector.

This move has been met with approval from farming communities but has drawn criticism from environmental groups.

The Greens co-leader Chloe Swarbrick and Greenpeace spokesperson Niamh O'Flynn have condemned the government's decision, accusing it of neglecting environmental responsibilities in favor of polluting industries.

The government's recent actions, including plans to reverse a five-year ban on new oil and gas exploration and allowing major infrastructure projects to bypass some environmental regulations, have also sparked protests in New Zealand's largest cities.

As the debate continues, New Zealand stands at a crossroads, balancing the demands of its agricultural backbone with the pressing need to address climate change.

The outcome of this policy shift remains to be seen, as the nation grapples with the complexities of environmental stewardship and economic sustainability.

Also Read: Second Human Case of Bird Flu Detected, Linked to Dairy Cow Outbreak

Why did Farmers Oppose the Burp Tax?

Farmers across New Zealand have voiced strong opposition to the proposed "burp tax," which aimed to levy charges on greenhouse gas emissions from livestock.

The tax was part of a broader effort by the previous government to address climate change by targeting agricultural emissions, which account for nearly half of the nation's total emissions.

The agricultural sector, with its 10 million cattle and 25 million sheep, is a cornerstone of the New Zealand economy, and farmers were concerned that the additional costs imposed by the tax would significantly harm their livelihoods.

The opposition stemmed from fears that the tax would not only reduce the competitiveness of New Zealand's agricultural products on the global market but also impose a considerable administrative burden on farmers.

Many in the farming community felt that the tax would unfairly penalize them without effectively reducing global emissions, as any decrease in New Zealand's output could potentially be offset by increases elsewhere.

This sentiment led to nationwide protests, with farmers rallying to protect their industry from what they perceived as an existential threat.

In response to the backlash, the newly elected center-right government has decided to scrap the tax, opting instead to focus on technological solutions to reduce emissions.

This approach aims to support farmers in their efforts to become more environmentally friendly without compromising the country's agricultural productivity or export potential.

The decision has been welcomed by the farming community but has faced criticism from environmental groups, who argue that it represents a step back in the fight against climate change.

Related article: Bird Flu Outbreak: Cow Milk May No Longer be Edible Following Detection of Avian Influenza Pathogen in Colorado Dairy Cattle
A toxic gas called ethylene oxide was found on high levels in parts of Louisiana, United States, according to a study by the Johns Hopkins University (JHU) in Baltimore, Maryland. On Tuesday, June 11, research findings reveal an unprecedented degree of air pollution in the state's so-called "Cancer Alley," an area that stretches for 85 miles along the Mississippi River from New Orleans to Baton Rouge.

The organic compound poses a threat to public health, wherein infants and children are especially at risk since the industrial air pollutant can also cause permanent DNA damage, according to the JHU research. The new recording of the gas' toxic level is greater than previous estimates conducted by the US Government's Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which was already aware of the toxic gas.

Anthropogenic industrial air pollution is prevalent in some areas with a high number of facilities that operate on fossil fuels and petrochemicals. These pollutants also come from other sectors, including transport, agriculture, and mining. However, in the case of the Louisiana Cancer Alley, more than 200 petrochemical plants and refineries have caused large-scale environmental pollution that not only affects humans.

Toxic Gas Ethylene Oxide

In its media release on Tuesday, the JHU described "surprisingly" high levels of ethylene oxide in some parts of Louisiana's Cancer Alley, greater than previously thought. The toxic gas was detected by using a sophisticated mobile air-testing lab. The study, which was conducted by the institution's engineers, suggests that people who live near facilities with the toxic gas have higher risks of developing cancer.

Being an anthropogenic or man-made gas, ethylene oxide is widely used for various purposes, including the manufacturing of other chemicals and sterilization of food production, medical equipment. Following the discovery, the JHU recommends the need for conducting improved testing and accuracy when it comes to identifying the levels and affected locations of the harmful toxic gas.

Also Read: 4 Family Members Dead in Italian Village After Inhaling Toxic Fumes During Wine-Making

Louisiana Cancer Alley

Earlier in 2024, Human Rights Watch reported that the Louisiana Cancer Alley has led to residents suffering from "extreme pollution" caused by the area's fossil fuel and petrochemical industry. Prior to the JHU study, the said non-government organization, based in New York City, already highlighted the pollution's health risks like cancer, respiratory ailments, and reproductive problems.

According to Antonia Juhasz, a senior researcher at Human Rights Watch, the said industry has paved the way for a "sacrifice zone" in Louisiana. Juhasz attributed the failure to control and regulate the industry from state and federal authorities, as cited by the organization's news release in January 2024.

The local health crisis in Louisiana caused by air pollution remains a serious environmental and public health issue as of early June 2024. In recent years, the issue also caught the attention of the United Nations, which discussed about the industrial projects along Louisiana's Cancer Alley.

Related Article: Industrial Air Pollution Linked to Low Birth Weight in New Mexico, Scientist Identify Five Major Air Pollutants [Study]
Northeast can expect the first heatwave of the year, which will bring unusual warmth and dry conditions in the region, according to a weather report.

In other portions of the country, the recent forecast revealed that severe thunderstorms were reported in the south-central U.S. Meanwhile, the western U.S. is expected to experience hotter temperatures this week.

In nearby areas, the National Weather Service (NWS) report shows heavy to excessive rainfall could affect portions of southern Florida. Other concerns are scattered severe thunderstorms, hail, and damaging winds.

While the chances of rain in the Northeast are low, homeowners should watch out for prolonged exposure to heat, which can result in heat-related health risks.

Weather in the Northeast: Where will unusual heat unfold?

According to a weather report published on June 12, the latest weather report raised concerns about developing the first heat wave of the year in the Northeast. This will help unleash unusual heat and dry outlook.

Due to a potential heatwave, vulnerable populations can experience heat-related health concerns, which can affect older adults, people with heating systems, children, and outdoor workers.

The report reveals that temperatures can be 10 to 20F higher by Thursday. The morning will be unusually warmer, but nights will be cooler. Through Thursday, areas with warmer and drier outlooks can unload in Detroit, Indianapolis, Louisville, Nashville, Charleston, Washington, New York, Albany, Boston, Albay, and Burlington.

The weather will be favorable for outdoor plans, but commuters should still avoid prolonged exposure to heat this week. In New York, the latest advisory monitors the development of high pressure in the region, which could bring a mostly dry outlook. Temperatures can reach the mid-to-high 70s. In the west of NYC, there is still a chance of isolated afternoon showers.

In the late week, homeowners should watch out for surging heat and humidity, particularly on Friday. According to forecasts, hotter temperatures can occur in New York, Charleston, Virginia Beach, and Knoxville. Meanwhile, a less humid outlook can unload in Ottawa, Cleveland, Toronto, and Sudbury.

In Boston, the forecast advised residents that summer heat and humidity are coming into the region, with temperatures to reach 90 degrees on Thursday or Friday. On Wednesday, residents can anticipate pleasant weather and a chance of spot showers, and on Friday, potential scattered showers and thunderstorms can occur.

On the weekend, the scorching heat can unload in El Paso, Dallas, and Houston.

Also Read: Florida Weather Forecast: Rainy Periods to Bring Relief from Heat, Drought

Weather Preparedness in the Northeast for Summertime

While summertime is a much-awaited season, homeowners should keep alert for changing weather conditions. Staying updated with the latest heat advisories can prevent potential risks of unusual heat in the region.

Parents should not leave their children unattended inside hot vehicles. Additionally, staying hydrated at all times can mitigate the risk of heat-related illnesses.

Related Article: South-Central US Weather: Rounds of Storms to Bring Flash Flood, Tornadoes Next Week

For more similar stories, don't forget to follow Nature World News.
Some locations are crucial for different species' migration and survival. In a recent report, researchers discovered that over 17 million insects managed to migrate annually through the Pass of Bujaruelo. This area is known for a 30-meter gap in the Pyrenees, which is between France and Spain.

Many animals, including insects, migrate yearly due to changing climate conditions. Migration is vital for thriving or survival, so documenting this migration pattern is essential for conservation efforts.

According to a report by the University of Exeter, researchers monitored the remarkable mass migration of insects through the Pass of Bujaruelo. This discovery is also helpful in offering new information about this mass migration.

The findings were published in Proceedings of the Royal Society B.

Mass migration of insects

The report highlights that the said location is considered crucial for migrating species, which can reach billions of insects each year. Despite their small appearance, insects are also capable of mass migrations, which could start further north in Europe and move south into Spain.

In terms of species diversity, the flies had the highest percentage, reaching 90%, and others were day-flying insects. Additionally, less than 2% belong to dragonflies and butterflies.

The peak migration of these insects begins when the conditions become warm, sunny, and dry with low speed. This allows insects to migrate to other locations.

It is important to ensure a smooth and undisturbed migration. The report highlights that these insects help pollinate, transport nutrients, and transport genetic material. Additionally, they play a role in pest control and decomposition.

To better analyze the migration, the researchers used a video camera to count these insects and visual counts for butterflies. According to Dr. Karl Wotton, the study's team leader, the view is considered one of the greatest wonders of nature.

Another concern is the decline of insects due to habitat loss and climate change. Frequent temperature fluctuations make it challenging for insects to survive. This decline can pose a significant threat to pollination, in which insects play a crucial role.

With the findings, the report aimed to raise awareness about protecting and conserving these insects and migrants. While they are resilient to climate change effects, increasing temperatures and habitat loss are overwhelming for them to survive.

Also Read: Deforestation Is Making Lizards Disappear: 84% of North American Lizards At Risk Due to Climate Change

Butterfly population declines and climate change effects on Amazon

In a recent Nature World News (NWN) report, experts raised concerns about the decline of butterfly populations in the Amazon due to climate change.

As the Ecuadoran Amazon suffers from climate change, insects like butterflies are affected, including their role in pollination. This disturbing result warns of potential widespread consequences if climate change worsens.

The Amazon forest has suffered from other threats, including habitat degradation, wildfires, the arrival of invasive species, illegal logging or deforestation, and extreme weather events.

Related Article: Honeybees Antennae Help to Relay Information to Food Through Waggled Dances

For more similar, don't forget to follow Nature World News.
The latest report highlighted the discovery of a new and unique snake species: a mountain pit viper. The venomous snake was found in Yunnan, China.

Snakes are unique wild animals. There are over 3,000 species worldwide, and they have evolved to survive or adapt to changing environments. Over 100 million years ago, snakes diversified.

As snakes adapt to their surroundings, these animals have found ways to mimic, camouflage, and deliver deadly venom. Although snakes are dangerous or formidable, they are threatened by habitat loss, overcollection, pollution, and extreme weather events.

As a result, studying and discovering new snake species are crucial for conservation and protection efforts amidst the threats to their population. In a recent report published on June 12, researchers found a new species of a medium-sized venomous snake in Yunnan, China.

New Snake Species in Yunnan, China

Researchers can only sometimes discover new species in the animal kingdom. It will take explorations using technologies or DNA analysis to uncover different species.

According to the report, researchers found an unknown species of venomous snake. The discovery was identified as a mountain pit viper named Ovophis Jenkinsi in honor of herpetologist Robert "Hank" William Garfield Jenkins. This significant finding is expected to offer new information about this animal.

In terms of appearance, the new mountain pit viper is brownish-gray, while others seem to look orange-brown. This animal has also trapezoidal patches on its back. The research was published in Zookeys.

Another discovery is the snake's behavior. Researchers said that the snake is slow-moving but could become aggressive when disturbed. Additionally, the snake protects itself or performs a defensive move by inflating its body to make it larger, then attacking quickly.

The distribution of this snake is considered endemic in China's Yingjiang County. The mountain pit viper stays in a cooler and humid environment, consuming small mammals it can prey on.

While the snake is venomous, no recorded bites show humans being bitten by this species. Additionally, the researchers aim to conduct more studies about this species, including its habits, distribution, and appearance.

Also Read: Largest Insects in Wildlife: 6 Unique Species From Titan Beetles to Atlas Moths

New species of eyelash vipers in Colombia and Ecuador

In a recent Nature World News (NWN) report, researchers unearthed five new species of eyelash vipers in Colombia and Ecuador. These snakes have striking colors and patterns.

One of the scientists was bitten by this viper while fieldwork in Ecuador. Although the bite was not dangerous, the scientist collected tissue samples from this eyelash viper using DNA molecular techniques.

The study discovered that these eyelash vipers belong to different evolutionary lineages. Meanwhile, the report noted the importance of using different tools to identify new species.

Related Article: Warming Temperature Could Expand Geographic Range of Some Venomous Snakes

For more similar stories, don't forget to follow Nature World News.
The last whaling company in Europe has been given permission by Iceland to slaughter over 100 animals this year, defying expectations that the practice would be discontinued following a short moratorium due to cruelty concerns last year.

Animal rights organizations called the announcement "inhumane" and "deeply disappointing."

Iceland's Decision

Kristjan Loftsson's Icelandic business Hvalur will now be allowed to kill 128 fin whales during this year's hunting season. Just 24 fin whales were killed last year as a result of new rules that delayed the whaling season and a government-commissioned investigation that revealed harpooned whales might take up to two hours to die.

In a report published in May 2023, the Icelandic Food and Veterinary Authority calculated that 67% of the 58 whales that were captured by vessels under its observation either passed away or instantly lost consciousness. However, it stated that two whales were shot four times before they died, and that 14 whales were shot more than once.

Subsequently, officials declared that whaling may continue under more stringent guidelines for hunting techniques and closer oversight.

Aside from Japan, Iceland is the second nation to permit the resumption of fin whaling this year.

The government of Japan suggested last month including fin whales-along with three other whale species-on an authorized capture list.

Fin whales, the second-largest mammal in the world, are listed on the International Union for Conservation of Nature's red list as vulnerable to extinction. Their population has increased since hunting was outlawed in numerous nations in the 1970s.

The minister of food, fisheries, and agriculture of Iceland, Bjarkey Olsen Gunnarsdottir, granted the permit, stating that her choice did not necessarily align with her party, the Left-Green Movement.

Read Also: Conservationists Filled with Hope after Seeing a Group of Southern Fin Whales

Dangerous Precedent

Activists said that a recent report by Mast, Iceland's food and veterinary authority, had not demonstrated any discernible improvements in animal welfare for the 2023 hunt compared with the previous year, despite the installation of new regulations aimed at reducing suffering.

"It's hard to fathom how and why this green light to kill 128 fin whales is being given. There is clearly no way to kill a whale at sea without inflicting unthinkable cruelty," said Patrick Ramage, director of the International Fund for Animal Welfare.

Experts claim the decision undermined international conservation efforts and created a "dangerous" precedent for commercial whaling worldwide.

Whaling was put on hold by Iceland's former minister of fisheries following an investigation that found the 2022 hunt violated the nation's animal welfare laws because the whales died too slowly.

According to the Mast study, some harpooned whales waited up to two hours to die, raising doubts about whether killing huge whales could ever satisfy goals related to animal welfare.

An expert working group that was later established to investigate whether the hunt might be changed to comply with welfare rules came to the conclusion that hunting techniques could be improved.

The efficiency of killing whales in 2023 appeared to be higher than in 2022, but a Mast analysis of the whale hunt from the previous year found that the difference was not statistically significant-possibly because fewer animals were killed in 2023. In 2022, 148 whales were hunted.

Related Article: Return of Up to 1,000 Fin Whales From Extinction Brings Hope for Recovery
Animal welfare experts have demanded a crackdown on the trade in wildlife in Thailand in the wake of the most well-known outdoor market in Bangkok losing over 1,000 animals to fire in the pet zone.

Chatuchak Market Fire

Around 1,300 square meters of the Chatuchak Weekend Market were destroyed by the fire, which started early on Tuesday morning and claimed the lives of puppies, cats, fish, snakes, swans, cockatoos, and rabbits housed in cages.

A preliminary investigation indicates that the fire, which destroyed about 118 stores, was started by an electrical malfunction, according to police superintendent Phuwadon Ounpho.

According to the Chatuchak District Office, the fire was extinguished on Tuesday at 4:10 local time, thirty minutes after it started.

Images on the internet displayed large areas burned and cages scorched. Some appear to have been physically incapacitated.

Affected store owners may register for compensation, according to officials, who are currently in the process of evaluating the cost of damage.

A shop owner named Meecha recount her tight escape, saying she was awakened by the sounds of animals crying in the attic above her store.

"It was impossible to breathe when thick smoke suddenly filled the air," Meecha recalled as she scrambled through a window to safety.

It is unknown how many of the market's store owners were there when the fire broke out, however some of them do live there.

Shoppers from all over the world visit the vast weekend market, which is a significant tourist attraction, to peruse its hundreds of stores and stalls offering everything from food and drink to apparel, furniture, plants, books, and pets.

The market has already experienced fires. A fashion area fire in 2013 destroyed at least twenty stores.

Read Also: 87 Animals Including Endangered Red Panda Found in Luggage of Foreigners at Thailand Airport

Shame Of Bangkok

Conservationists have accused the market's pet area of selling endangered species and housing animals in subpar conditions. In the past, vendors have denied breaching any laws.

The Save Elephant Foundation's founder, Lek Chailert, stated that Tuesday's fire highlighted the necessity of enhancing animal care and controlling breeding.

"I call on the government to respond transparently and implement measures to regulate the breeding and sale of wild animals in markets. There must be clear laws governing international animal trade and protecting animal welfare in Thailand," she said.

The Friends of Wildlife Foundation's founder and director, Edwin Wick, called the market "a shame on the city of Bangkok."

He added that for far too long, it has been permitted to continue selling animals in an immoral and frequently unlawful manner. The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration is being urged by his group to act quickly and forbid this establishment from selling any animals, particularly wild animals.

Thailand often conducts operations with the goal of putting a stop to the illegal wildlife trafficking and has severe punishments for those who engage in it. Infractions carry a maximum four-year jail sentence or a fine of 40,000 baht ($1,000).

Conservationists, however, assert that many of the traffickers evade jail time because of their ties to powerful members of the armed forces or administration.

Related Article: Illegal Trafficking in Thailand Now Worth US$20 Billion
The vaquita marina, the world's smallest cetacean, is on the verge of extinction.

Recent expeditions have revealed a heart-wrenching decline in their numbers, with only 6 to 8 individuals sighted this year, down from an estimated 10 to 13 last year.

This alarming decrease has conservationists and researchers scrambling for solutions to save this elusive marine mammal from disappearing forever.

A Diminishing Presence

The vaquita marina, known for its distinctive dark rings around the eyes and mouth, has long been a symbol of the rich biodiversity of the Gulf of California.

However, the species has been under threat due to bycatch - accidental capture in fishing gear, primarily gillnets used for the illegal totoaba fish trade.

The totoaba's swim bladder is highly valued in some cultures for supposed medicinal properties, leading to rampant poaching and a black market that has inadvertently ensnared the vaquita in its destructive path.

The recent expedition by Sea Shepherd, a conservation group, took place from May 5-26, 2024, and covered only 12% of the total area where vaquitas were observed in 2015.

The absence of newborn calves this year is particularly concerning, as it indicates a failure in the species' ability to reproduce successfully in the wild. A healthy juvenile was sighted, but the lack of calves points to a grim future.

Conservation Challenges

The vaquita's habitat is protected by a zero-tolerance zone where fishing is prohibited. However, enforcement is challenging, and illegal fishing activities continue to pose a significant threat.

Acoustic monitoring devices, which record the "clicks" emitted by vaquitas, have been tampered with and removed by fishermen, hindering research efforts and leading to lost data and increased costs.

Dr. Barbara Taylor, a leading researcher in the field, emphasizes the need for extended surveys using acoustic detection to determine the vaquitas' movements and to enforce the fishing ban effectively.

The survival of the vaquita marina hangs in a delicate balance, with their fate closely tied to the actions and cooperation of the local communities, conservationists, and the Mexican government.

In conclusion, the vaquita marina's plight is a stark reminder of the fragility of marine ecosystems and the impact of human activities on endangered species.

The world's smallest porpoise continues to fight for survival in the vast waters of the Gulf of California, with hope still lingering for a turnaround in their fortunes.

Also Read: Vaquita Porpoise: International Whaling Commission Issues Extinction Alert for World's Smallest Cetacean

What are the specific threats to vaquita marina?

The vaquita marina, the world's smallest cetacean, is facing imminent extinction with fewer than 20 individuals remaining in the wild.

The primary threat to their survival is entanglement in illegal gillnets used for fishing totoaba, a fish whose swim bladder is highly valued on the black market, particularly in China for its supposed medicinal properties.

These gillnets, which are set illegally within the vaquita's habitat in the Gulf of California, are the deadliest for vaquitas due to their similar size to the totoaba.

The situation is further exacerbated by narco-fishing, where drug cartels back the illegal fishing activities, making enforcement of conservation laws difficult and dangerous.

Additionally, the removal of acoustic monitors by local fishermen, who view conservation efforts as a threat to their livelihood, hinders research efforts and leads to lost data and increased costs.

The vaquita's limited habitat range, confined to the northern part of the Gulf of California, makes them especially vulnerable to these threats.

Despite efforts by the Mexican government to ban most gillnets and compensate fishermen for their loss of income, the illegal use of gillnets continues, and the vaquita population keeps declining.

Conservationists agree that for the vaquita to survive, gillnet fishing must end within their habitat, and there needs to be effective enforcement of this ban.

Related article: Study of Yangtze Finless Porpoise Reveals Not All Cetaceans Hear Alike
Jitin Prasada takes charge as Minister of State for Commerce, Industry

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itin Prasada officially took charge of Minister of State, Ministry of Commerce and Industry in New Delhi on Tuesday.

Union Minister of Commerce and Industry, Piyush Goyal presented bouquet to Jitin Prasada and welcomed him in the Ministry.

Jitin Prasada, politician and former Congress member, was welcomed into his new responsibilities with enthusiasm and optimism.

According to a statement from the Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Secretary, Department of Commerce, Sunil Barthwal and Secretary, Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Rajesh Kumar Singh, along with senior officers of the Ministry were present on the occasion.

 Jitin Prasada takes charge as Minister of State for Commerce, Industry

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Piyush Goyal assumes charge of Ministry of Commerce and Industry

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haratiya Janata Party leader Piyush Goyal took charge of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry in the national capital on Tuesday.

He was welcomed by Jitin Prasada, MoS, Ministry of Commerce and Industry and other officials of the Ministry.

After taking charge Goyal expressed his gratitude to PM Narendra Modi for the opportunity to serve the nation once again.

He said that over the past decade, PM Modi's strong development-oriented governance has inspired a wave of progress across the country, and it is imperative to continue building on this foundation.

Goyal emphasized the importance of working diligently during the Amrit Kaal to ensure rapid advancements in the field of commerce and industry.

He said that the government is committed to creating new opportunities for the youth and working relentlessly for the welfare of all citizens. Under the visionary leadership of PM Modi, the nation is poised to achieve new heights.

He also noted that embracing the philosophy of "Sabka Saath, Sabka Prayas," the collective efforts and trust of the people will drive India towards a brighter future.

Goyal won the Mumbai North constituency against Mumbai Congress vice president Bhushan Patil by a margin of nearly 3,57,608 votes in the 2024 parliamentary elections.

He has served as the Minister of Railways and Coal and also held additional charge of Minister of Finance and Corporate Affairs twice in 2018 and 2019. He was Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Power, Coal, New & Renewable Energy (2014-2017), and Mines (2016-17).

 Piyush Goyal assumes charge of Ministry of Commerce and Industry

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Jitan Ram Manjhi assumes charge as Union Minister of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises

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itan Ram Manjhi on Tuesday assumed charge as Union Minister of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises.

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.

 Jitan Ram Manjhi assumes charge as Union Minister of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises

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Raging wildfire forces residents to evacuate in Cyprus

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total of three villages have been evacuated as wildfires raged out of control engulfing homes and animals, in Cyprus' Paphos district, local media reported.

Psathi was the first village to be evacuated before Choulou and Lemona were evacuated later on Tuesday, Xinhua news agency reported.

Fire brigade spokesman Andreas Kettis said on Tuesday that the government's Pyrsos plan has been activated, with a ministerial team convening at the Joint Rescue and Coordination Centre to coordinate the firefighting efforts.

Ground forces and aerial vehicles are currently deployed at the scene, he noted.

Efforts are also being made by the government to secure support from Jordan, Israel, Greece and the European Union, he added.

The fire brigade has said the fire started in an area of dry grass and low vegetation, though its exact cause is yet to be determined.

 Raging wildfire forces residents to evacuate in Cyprus

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Recently, the 8th Anhui Traditional Chinese Medicine Health, Wellness, and Elderly Care Development Summit Forum and Expo was held in Hefei. During the event, a plaque-awarding ceremony for the Yangtze River Delta Health and Wellness Bases was conducted, and Qiankou Health and Wellness Town in Huizhou District, Huangshan City, was honored with the title of "2023 Yangtze River Delta Health and Wellness Base of Anhui Province." Qiankou Health and Wellness Town is located on the southern slope of the Huangshan Scenic Area and serves as an important hub for high-speed rail and expressway transport, as well as a tourism distribution center. Qiankou is a cultural and tourist town with a thousand-year history, covering an area of 38.5 square kilometers and housing a population of 14,000. Historically, it has been a significant commercial and cultural center in Huizhou and one of the important birthplaces of Xin'an Medicine. In recent years, Qiankou Town has focused on the goal of becoming a "millennial ancient town for health and wellness," emphasizing project construction, talent cultivation, environmental optimization, and the deepening of the "health and wellness+" development model, continually enhancing the brand of Qiankou as a health and wellness destination in the Great Yellow Mountain area. The town has been successively honored with titles such as "Provincial-level Featured Town," "First Batch of Provincial-level Healthy Town," and "Provincial-level Health and Wellness Service Industry Demonstration Park." Moving forward, Qiankou Town will continue to focus on the theme of health and wellness, concentrating on six major industries to continuously enrich its industrial landscape. The town plans to develop a health and wellness street centered on traditional Chinese medicine, a Xin'an Medicine and Medicinal Cuisine Center, and to regularly invite renowned Xin'an medical specialists to the town for consultations and teaching. Additionally, it will actively host unique events such as the Paste Medicine Festival, the Dean's Forum, and the Qiankou Health and Wellness Lecture Series, further enhancing the brand of Qiankou Health and Wellness Town. These efforts aim to contribute to the construction of the Great Yellow Mountain world-class leisure, vacation, and health tourism destination. Source: anhuinews.com
Vladmir Putin revamps govt body supervising Russia's defence industry

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ussian President Vladimir Putin has signed a presidential decree to update the composition of the Military-Industrial Commission and its board by appointing new members including Defense Minister Andrei Belousov.

The commission is a government body responsible for supervising Russia's defense industry. The newly appointed members also include Anton Alikhanov, minister of Industry and Trade, and Alexey Dyumin, a presidential aide, Xinhua news agency reported.

The positions of Denis Manturov, first deputy Prime Minister, Maxim Oreshkin, deputy chief of staff of the Presidential Executive Office, and Sergei Shoigu, secretary of Security Council, have been updated to reflect their current roles.

Nikolai Patrushev, previously the secretary of the Security Council and now an assistant to Putin, has been removed from the commission.

Additionally, the commission board has been refreshed to incorporate chief designers and leaders of several enterprises, indicating a strategic emphasis on innovation and leadership within the defense sector.

Chaired by Putin, the Military-Industrial Commission was formed to implement state policy in the field of the military-industrial complex, and military-technical support for the country's defense, state security and law enforcement.

 Vladmir Putin revamps govt body supervising Russia's defence industry

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Kevin Spacey owes millions in legal fees, but he insists he has no money

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isgraced actor Kevin Spacey, who has been accused of sexual assault on many counts, has revealed that his house has been foreclosed on as he owes many millions of dollars in legal fees from his sexual misconduct trials.

The actor said on Piers Morgan Uncensored that he no longer has a permanent home and barely has any money left to his name, reports Variety.

He said: Its funny you ask that question because 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 Baltimore and put my things in storage.

The actor said that he is not sure where he is going to live now. He has been in Baltimore since he started shooting House of Cards there.

I moved there in 2012. This (house) has been my home since 2016. I cant pay the bills that I owe, he added.

When asked if he is facing bankruptcy, he said: Theres been a couple of times when I thought I was going to file but weve managed to dodge it, at least as of today.

As per Variety, since claims of Spaceys alleged sexual assaults and inappropriate behaviour first arose in the wake of the #MeToo movement in 2017, several legal cases were brought against the two-time Oscar winner.

In 2022, a jury in New York concluded that he did not molest actor Anthony Rapp, who had accused him of sexual assault in the early 1980s when Rapp was 14. The next year, a UK court found Spacey not guilty of nine charges of sexual assault from four complainants. Several other charges and lawsuits have been dropped. Spacey has denied all the allegations.

 Kevin Spacey owes millions in legal fees, but he insists he has no money

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Few people in the UK with early stage Alzheimer's disease are likely to be suitable for the latest drugs which 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. And they have been granted 'breakthrough therapy' status in the UK because of their ability to remove beta amyloid protein in the brain, build-up 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 maximise 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 healthcare demand, the researchers retrospectively evaluated patients attending 5 community memory services across North and East London and a national specialist cognitive disorders service between January and June in 2022.

They wanted to find out the proportion of patients who would likely be referred for triaging 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 anonymised case files of 1017 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 2 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," emphasise 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 sizeable 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.
Using an advanced artificial intelligence tool, researchers at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai have identified rare coding variants in 17 genes that shed light on the molecular basis of coronary artery disease (CAD), the leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide.

The discoveries, detailed in the June 11 online issue of Nature Genetics [DOI: 10.1038/s41588-024-01791-x], reveal genetic factors impacting heart disease that open new avenues for targeted treatments and personalized approaches to cardiovascular care.

The investigators used an in silico, or computer-derived, score for coronary artery disease (ISCAD) that holistically represents CAD, as described in a previous paper by the team in The Lancet. The ISCAD score incorporates hundreds of different clinical features from the electronic health record, including vital signs, laboratory test results, medications, symptoms, and diagnoses. To build the score, they trained machine learning models on the electronic health records of 604,914 individuals across the UK Biobank, All of Us Research Program, and BioMe Biobank in this comprehensive meta-analysis.

The score was then tested for association with rare and ultra-rare coding variants found in the exome sequences of these individuals. In addition, the research team conducted further investigation into the discovered genes to study their roles in causal CAD risk factors, clinical manifestations of CAD, and their connections with CAD status in traditional large-scale genome-wide association studies, among other factors.

Our findings help us understand how these 17 genes are involved in coronary artery disease. Some of these genes are already known to influence heart disease development, while others have never been linked to it before. Our study shows how machine learning tools can uncover genetic insights that traditional methods might miss when comparing cases and controls. This could lead to new ways to identify biological mechanisms of heart disease or gene targets for treatment." Ron Do, PhD, senior study author and the Charles Bronfman Professor in Personalized Medicine at Icahn Mount Sinai

Because they occur in only a small percentage of individuals, rare coding variants may have a significant impact on disease risk or susceptibility when present. Therefore, studying these variants is essential to understanding the genetic basis of diseases and can inform therapeutic targets.

The study was driven by the challenges faced, over the last decade, in identifying rare coding variants associated with CAD using traditional methods relying on diagnosed cases and controls. Diagnostic codes' limitations in capturing the complexity of CAD prompted the researchers to explore new avenues of investigation.

"Our previous Lancet paper showed that a machine learning model trained with electronic health records can generate an in silico score for coronary artery disease, capturing disease across its spectrum," says lead author Ben Omega Petrazzini, BS, Associate Bioinformatician in Dr. Do's lab at Icahn Mount Sinai. "Based on these findings, we hypothesized that the in-silico score for CAD could reveal novel rare coding variants related to CAD by offering a more holistic view of the disease."

Next, the investigators plan to further investigate the role of the identified genes in CAD biology and explore potential applications of machine learning in the genetic study of other complex diseases, as part of their ongoing efforts to advance understanding of disease mechanisms, discover new treatments, and improve patient outcomes.

The paper is titled "Exome sequence analysis identifies rare coding variants associated with a machine learning-based marker for coronary artery disease."

The remaining authors of the paper, all with Icahn Mount Sinai except where indicated, are:

Iain S. Forrest, PhD (MD candidate); Ghislain Rocheleau, PhD; Ha My T. Vy, PhD; Carla Marquez-Luna, PhD; Aine Duffy, MS (PhD candidate); Robert Chen, MS (MD/PhD candidate); Joshua K. Park, BS (MD/PhD candidate); Kyle Gibson, BA (MD candidate); Sascha N. Goonewardena, MD (University of Michigan); Waqas A. Malick, MD; Robert S. Rosenson, MD; and Daniel M. Jordan, PhD.

The study was made possible by funding from the National Institutes of Health: National Institute of General Medical Sciences (R35-GM124836); National Institute of Aging (R01 AG061186-0); the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (R01HL157439, R01-HL139865, R01-HL155915); and by VA MERIT grant 1I01CX002560.
Four-year-old Ahmeir Diaz-Thornton couldn't sit still in class and rarely ate his lunch. While his preschool classmates spoke in perfect sentences, Ahmeir had trouble pronouncing words.

Ahmeir's preschool teacher relayed her concerns to his mother, Kanika Thornton, who was already worried about Ahmeir's 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, California's 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.

Ten months later, she still doesn't have an accurate diagnosis for Ahmeir.

"I felt like I failed my child, and I don't want to feel that," said Thornton, 30, who has been juggling Ahmeir's behavior and appointments on top of her pregnancy and caring for her two other children.

"Some days I don't eat because he doesn't eat," said Thornton from her home in Alameda County in the San Francisco Bay Area. "I don't want to hurt my unborn child. So I try to eat some crackers and cheese and stuff, but I don't eat a meal because he doesn't eat a meal."

Seeking a diagnosis for a child's behavioral problems can be challenging for any family as they navigate complicated medical and educational systems that don't 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.

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 child's behaviors, she said.

Intervening early can also help retrain a child's 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.

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 aren't enough of us," Buysse said, and some developmental specialists don't accept Medicaid patients because they believe the reimbursement rates aren't adequate.

Thornton didn't 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 Ahmeir's primary care, "does not have a developmental-behavioral pediatrician on staff at this time," said Porshia Mack, the system's associate chief medical officer of ambulatory services.

"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, Thornton's Medi-Cal managed care plan, provided a list of nine developmental-behavioral pediatricians she said are in the plan's network.

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 don't 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.

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 California Healthline 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 Ahmeir's symptoms aren't isolated problems that can be addressed in a piecemeal fashion. "It's just something else. It's his development," she said. "I know a tantrum, but he doesn't get tantrums. He will hit people. That's 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 can't 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.

"I try to stay strong for my son and do the best I can and be there for him, talk to him, teach him things," she said. "Its been really tough."

This article is part of "Faces of Medi-Cal," a California Healthline series exploring the impact of the state's safety-net health program on enrollees.

This article was produced by KFF Health News, which publishes California Healthline, an editorially independent service of the California Health Care Foundation.
Norwood, MA  Instron is excited to announce the release of the next generation Autoinjector Testing System for full functionality testing of pen and autoinjectors to ISO 11608. Developed in close partnership with pharmaceutical companies and CDMOs, this system measures a variety of essential performance requirements, including cap removal, dose accuracy, activation force, injection time, needle depth, and needle guard lockout.

Image Credit: Instron

The ability to perform a complete sequence of tests on one system, rather than multiple systems, simplifies testing, data consolidation, and the validation process, and streamlines tech transfer to production sites.

The addition of simple autoinjector test methods to Instrons Bluehill Universal software empowers users to easily develop and change test methods. The user simply selects which tests (cap removal, injection, and/or needle guard lock out check or defeat force) are to be run and sets the desired parameters. The system then automatically runs through the test sequence and provides results including cap removal and activation forces, injection time, needle depth measurements at the start and end of injection, click detection, delivered volume, and safety check results.

Related Stories New course prepares materials scientists for biomedical testing

Image Credit: Instron

Throughout the development of this system, the user interface and experience has been a major focus, explains Theresa Smith, Product Manager at Instron. Our customers in development settings require flexibility as they work with new devices and combined products. With this system, they can easily and quickly change setups to test different devices or perform challenge testing. At the same time, our Bluehill software offers the simplicity and traceability that is needed in production settings. It can be a challenge to design for those very different functions, so this systems adaptability is really exciting.

Bluehill Universal for autoinjectors also improves compliance with Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) by integrating system suitability testing (SST) into its workflow. SST prompts users to perform daily verification checks on the load cell, machine vision camera, and scale. The system only allows device testing to proceed once these checks have been successfully completed. SST details are recorded in the Traceability modules audit log, offering a robust and searchable record.

To simplify tech transfer, Instrons Bluehill Central lab management software can be added to streamline management and transfer of both device and SST test methods between testing systems in the same lab and other sites around the world.

Instron also offers services, including on-site calibrations and IQOQ services, to help testing labs accelerate their validation process.

Autoinjector Testing System | Semi-Automated System for Testing Pen and Autoinjectors to ISO 11608 Play

About Instron

Instron is a leading global manufacturer of testing equipment for the material and structural testing markets used to evaluate materials ranging from biological tissue to advanced high-strength alloys. Instron systems perform a variety of tests such as compression, cyclic, fatigue, impact, multi-axis, rheology, tensile, and torsion. Instron is a wholly owned subsidiary of Illinois Tool Works Inc. For more information, visit www.instron.com.


In a recent study published in Nature Communications, researchers evaluated the impact of the United Kingdom (UK) Soft Drinks Industry Levy (SDIL) on childhood asthma hospital admission rates in England.

Study: The UK Soft Drinks Industry Levy and childhood hospital admissions for asthma in England. Image Credit: VDZ3 Media/Shutterstock.com

Background

The UK Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN) recommends that free sugar consumption be below 5% of total energy intake. Still, current intake levels are at least twice this and three times higher in adolescents.

Sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) are a major source of free sugar and are linked to non-communicable diseases like obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease, as well as asthma. A meta-analysis found higher asthma prevalence among high SSB consumers.

The UK SDIL, implemented in April 2018, aimed to reduce sugar content in drinks. Further research is needed to explore the long-term health impacts of the UK SDIL and to understand the underlying mechanisms linking sugar reduction to decreased asthma incidence.

About the study

National Health Service (NHS) hospital admissions for asthma (International Classification of Diseases (ICD)-10 code: J45) in children aged 5-18 years were analyzed using Hospital Episodes Statistics (HES) data.

Analyses were conducted overall by age groups (5-9, 10-14, and 15-18 years) and by the Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD) quintile. Admissions for children under five were excluded due to diagnostic challenges.

The study period was from January 2012 to February 2020, encompassing the SDIL announcement (March 2016) and implementation (April 2018) and ending before the first coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) lockdown to avoid confounding factors.

Interrupted time series (ITS) analyses evaluated the impact of the SDIL on childhood asthma admissions, comparing observed rates to a counterfactual scenario without the SDIL. Groupwise admissions were converted to incidence rates per 100,000 population, with models adjusted for months with significant changes in admission rates.

Counterfactual scenarios were modeled using pre-announcement data, with confidence intervals estimated by the delta method. Autocorrelation was addressed using Durbin-Watson tests and autocorrelation-moving average (ARIMA) models to minimize the Akaike information criterion (AIC).

Statistical analyses were performed in R version 4.1.0. Data were provided in an aggregated, anonymized state and obtained through a data-sharing agreement with NHS Digital.

Study results

The mean incidence rates of hospital admissions for asthma in children during the pre-announcement and post-announcement periods reveal significant inequalities. Children from the most deprived areas experienced nearly three times the hospital admission rates for asthma compared to those from the least deprived areas, with rates of 26.4/100,000 persons/month (p/m) and 9.3/100,000 p/m, respectively.

Additionally, younger children had higher incidence rates, with those aged 5-9 having approximately double the rate of hospital admissions compared to children aged 15-18 years.

In children aged 5-18 years, there was an overall absolute reduction in hospital admissions for asthma of 4.0 (2.4, 5.7)/100,000 p/m, or a relative reduction of 20.9% (95% CI: 29.6, 12.2), compared to the counterfactual scenario where the SDIL was neither announced nor implemented.

Upward trends in overall asthma admissions were observed until a few months after the SDIL announcement, followed by a downward trend. Seasonal variations showed dips in admissions in April and August, coinciding with school holidays, and large spikes in early autumn, particularly in September.

This peak in September aligns with the start of the school year, a time associated with increased exposure to respiratory viruses, allergens, and stress, as well as lapses in the routine use of preventer inhalers during the summer.

Each age group demonstrated upward trends in asthma hospital admissions from the start of the study period. However, significant reductions were observed 22 months after the implementation of the SDIL compared to the counterfactual scenario.

Children aged 5-9 and 10-14 years experienced relative reductions of 18.6% (95% CI: 30.0, 7.2) and 24.3% (95% CI: 32.1, 16.5), respectively, with visualizations indicating a reversal of the upward trend post-SDIL announcement.

Adolescents aged 15-18 years saw a relative reduction of 15.6% (95% CI: 19.7, 11.5), with a flattening but not a reversal of the pre-announcement upward trend in hospital admissions.

Hospital admissions for childhood asthma decreased across all deprivation groups. Absolute reductions were 4.8 (7.4, 2.3)/100,000 p/m in the most deprived quintiles and 3.4 (4.4, 2.3)/100,000 p/m in the least deprived quintiles.

Relative reductions were 15.5% (95% CI: 23.7, 7.2) and 26.4% (95% CI: 34.6, 18.1), respectively. Absolute reductions were relatively consistent across different IMD quintiles, though there was evidence of higher relative reductions in less deprived areas.

Conclusions

The findings align with previous studies linking SSB consumption to asthma, but this quasi-experimental design offers stronger evidence for a causal relationship.

The results suggest that similar SSB taxes in other countries could reduce hospital admissions for childhood asthma and improve public health.
The insurance regulator IRDAI announced on Wednesday that all life insurance savings products must now include a policy loan option, allowing policyholders to access liquidity when needed.

In a master circular consolidating all regulations related to life insurance policies, the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) announced that the free look period, allowing policyholders to review the terms and conditions, has been extended from 15 days to 30 days.

Also Read: Record Year For Life Insurance Sector: Policies Jump, 31% Increase In Premium, Check Latest Details

The latest master circular follows a similar exercise by the regulator for general insurance policies.

This is an important step in the series of reforms taken up by the insurance regulator with the interests of the policyholders at the core. A conducive environment is now facilitated to spur innovation, and enhance customer experience and satisfaction, IRDAI said.

According to the master circular, the facility of partial withdrawal under pension products is allowed enabling the policyholders to meet their specific financial needs for important life events like higher education or marriage of children; purchase/ construction of residential house/flat; medical expenses, and treatment of critical illness.

In case of surrender of policies, reasonableness and value for money is to be ensured for both surrendering policyholders and continuing policyholders, IRDAI said.

Further, the regulator said robust systems should be in place for the grievance redressal of policyholders.

In case the insurer does not appeal against the award of insurance ombudsman and does not implement the same within 30 days, a penalty of Rs 5,000 per day shall be payable to the complainant, the circular said.

Insurance companies have also been asked to put in place mechanisms to improve persistence, curb mis-selling and avoid financial loss to the policyholders and enhance long-term benefits to them.

General Insurance Companies Cant Reject Claims for Want of Documents

General insurance companies cannot reject claims for want of documents, IRDAI said on Tuesday.

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.

(With PTI inputs)
ixigo IPO: The initial public offering of Gurugram-based Le Travenues Technology Ltd, which operates travel booking platform ixigo, has been closed on June 12. The Rs 740.10-crore mainboard IPO, which was opened for public subscription on June 10, has so far received a strong response from investors. Till 5:30 pm on the final day of bidding on Wednesday, the IPO received 98.10 times subscription garnering bids for 4,29,36,59,734 shares as against 4,37,69,494 shares on offer.

Shares reserved for Non-institutional investors (NII) were subscribed 110.25 times whereas the portion of qualified institutional buyers (QIB) received a 106.73 times subscription. The retail investors quota has been subscribed 53.95 times.

Ahead of the IPO, ixigo has mobilised Rs 333 crore from anchor investors.

The price band of the ixigo IPO has been fixed at Rs 88 to Rs 93 per share.

ixigo IPO: Subscription, Allotment And Listing Dates

The ixigo IPO will remain open between June 10 and June 12. Its allotment will likely be finalised on June 13, while its listing will take place on both BSE and NSE on June 18.

ixigo IPO: Price and Lot Size

The price band of the ixigo IPO has been fixed at Rs 88 to Rs 93 per share.

Investors need to apply for a minimum of 161 equity shares and in multiples thereof. Hence, the minimum investment by retail investors would be Rs 14,973 (161 (lot size) x Rs 93 (upper price band)).

ixigo IPO: Category-Wise Quota

The issue has been reserved up to 75 per cent for qualified institutional buyers (QIBs), 15 per cent for non-institutional investors (NIIs), and 10 per cent for retail investors.

ixigo IPO GMP Today

According to market observers, unlisted shares of Le Travenues Technology Ltd, or ixigo, are trading Rs 38 higher in the grey market as compared with its issue price. The Rs 38 grey market premium or GMP means the grey market is expecting a 40.86 per cent listing gain from the public issue. The GMP is based on market sentiments and keeps changing.

Grey market premium indicates investors readiness to pay more than the issue price.

ixigo IPO: Risks

The offer price, market cap-to-revenue multiple, and P/E ratio may not reflect the companys market price at listing or afterward.

ixigos train ticketing services are based on their arrangement with IRCTC. Termination of the companys agreement with IRCTC may halt train ticketing services and significantly harm their operations, cash flow, financial condition, and business prospects.

ixigo IPO: More Details

The Rs 740-crore ixigo IPO is a combination of a fresh issue of equity shares worth Rs 120 crore and an Offer For Sale (OFS) of 6.66 crore equity shares to the tune of Rs 620 crore, at the upper end of the price band, by existing shareholders.

Under the OFS, SAIF Partners India IV Ltd, Peak XV Partners Investments V (formerly known as SCI Investments V), Micromax Informatics Ltd, Placid Holdings, Catalyst Trusteeship Ltd, Madison India Capital HC, Aloke Bajpai and Rajnish Kumar will be selling shares.

Proceeds worth Rs 45 crore from the fresh issue will be used to fund the companys working capital requirements and Rs 26 crore will be utilised for investments in technology as well as data science, including on cloud and server hosting, technology on artificial intelligence and customer engagement.

Additionally, funds will be used to support inorganic growth through acquisitions, and for general corporate purposes.

The company said that 75 per cent of the issue size has been reserved for qualified institutional buyers (QIBs), 15 per cent for non-institutional investors and the remaining 10 per cent for retail investors. Investors can bid for a minimum of 161 shares and in multiples thereof.

Launched in 2007 by Aloke Bajpai and Rajnish Kumar, Le Travenues Technology is the countrys leading online travel aggregator, which helps travellers to plan, book and manage their trips across rail, air, buses and hotels.

The companys total income rose to Rs 517 crore in the financial year ended March 2023 from Rs 385 crore in the preceding fiscal. The firm logged a profit of Rs 23.4 crore for the year ended March 2023 whereas it had a loss of Rs 21 crore in the previous financial year.

Axis Capital, DAM Capital Advisors and JM Financial are the book running lead managers to the public issue.
Petrol, Diesel Prices On June 12, 2024: Oil companies have updated petrol and diesel prices for June 12. 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 12, 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 12, the cost of diesel is priced at Rs 87.62 per litre.

Delhi Petrol Price Today

As of June 12, 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 12:

Petrol-Diesel Rates in other cities (Petrol-Diesel Rates 12 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.
Shares of Shipping Corp of India soared 7.5 per cent on Wednesday after hopes of the company heading closer to divestment lifted investor sentiment.

At 11.03 am, shares of Shipping Corp of India were trading at Rs 261.80 apiece on the NSE. Shares of SCI have been on a roll in the past few days amid growing expectations of its divestment and surged 16 per cent.

The strategic sale of Shipping Corporation of India Ltd. (SCI) is likely to finally take off with no further delay now that it has got the approval on stamp duty waiver from Maharashtra and the general elections are over, Moneycontrol.com reported quoting government sources.

Now, there will be no delay in SCI disinvestment. Due to the elections, SCIs strategic sale was a little delayed. The Maharashtra cabinet has already given a stamp duty exemption on this demerger. SCI building in Maharashtra is now with its demerged entity, Shipping corporation of India Land and Assets Limited (SCILAL), the official told Moneycontrol.com. The stamp duty waiver of around Rs 300 crore, if not granted, would have been a major hitch.

The non-core assets of SCI, which come under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, were demerged from the company and listed on the exchanges separately as Shipping Corporation of India Land and Assets in March this year.

The demerger and subsequent market listing of SCIs non-core assets have paved the way for inviting financial bids for the strategic sale of Shipping Corp. The next phase involves the government inviting financial bids for the strategic sale, with expectations of fetching around Rs 3,000 crore.
Stocks To Watch On June 12: After a notable rebound post the elections, domestic markets stabilized and are consolidating, awaiting further triggers. In todays trade, shares of IndiGo, Go Digit, Castrol India, IOL Chemicals, Wipro among others will be in focus due to various news developments.

Larsen and Toubro: The engineering major expects private capex to pick up gradually post general elections in India in FY25.

In its Annual Report for FY24, it said while private industrial capital spending has been measured in FY24, it is expected to pick up in the next fiscal year with the ongoing global supply chain diversification trends and investors response to the governments Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme to boost key targeted manufacturing industries.

However, headwinds from geopolitical tensions, volatility in international financial markets, geoeconomic fragmentation, continuing sea route trade disruptions, and extreme weather events pose risks to the otherwise optimistic outlook, it added.

Cipla: The Additional Commissioner of State Tax (Appeal), Central Division, Patna, has upheld the order of Office of Joint Commissioner of State Taxes, Special Circle, Patna, against the company, for claiming inadmissible input tax credit during FY 2017-18, Cipla said in an exchange filing.

The company will file necessary appeal with the higher appellate authority in this regard, it added.

Patanjali Foods: Clarifying on news reports saying the company is looking to merge Patanjali Ayurveds non-food business with itself, it said that the Board of Directors of Patanjali Foods at its meeting held on April 26, 2024 had discussed the initial proposal received from Patanjali Ayurved Limited for a sale of PALs non-food business undertaking to the company.

A Committee composed of an Independent Director, CEO, and CFO was formed to evaluate the proposal, carry out due diligence and valuations etc. which is in progress. Nothing, however, has been finalised yet.

Tata Consultancy Services: TCS has launched a new Internet of Things (IoT) engineering lab in the US to assist clients in developing innovative solutions more efficiently.

The lab in Cincinnati, Ohio, is designed to support the rapid prototyping, experimentation and large-scale implementation of AI, GenAI, and IoT engineering solutions, TCS said in a statement.

TVS Supply Chain Solutions: The company has entered into a five-year contract with Daimler Truck South East Asia Pte. Ltd for Integrated Supply Chain Solutions (ISCS) services in Singapore.

Dollar Industries: As a part of their Vision South India strategy, Dollar Industries is targeting around 50 per cent growth in sales from the Southern market as compared to current year. The company is also targeting to garner around 20 per cent of its domestic revenue from the South market.

Tube Investments of India: The company and its subsidiary, TI Clean Mobility, have entered into definitive agreements with South Asia Growth Invest III LLC and South Asia EBT Trust III (collectively known as GEF) to facilitate an additional subscription for compulsorily convertible preference shares amounting to Rs160 crore in TICMPL.

IndiGo: Rahul Bhatias family entity InterGlobe Enterprises has sold partial stake in budget carrier IndiGo through a block deal, a first stake sale since the IPO.

Go Digit: Go Digit General Insurance reported a net profit of Rs 53 crore for the quarter ended March 2024, which was up by 104% year-on-year.

Wipro: Wipro rolled up Lab45 Artificial Intelligence (AI) Platform designed to increase efficiencies and transform business functions.
The BPSC (Bihar Public Service Commission) has extended the dates for the Headmaster Exam. According to the new notification released, the date has been shifted to the last week of June.

Earlier, the exam was scheduled to be held on June 23. Now, as per the notification, it is going to be held on June 28. The BPSC will conduct the exam in one shift, more reports state. Furthermore, a letter was sent to all the DMs by the commission, to finalise the list of centres where the exam will be held.

According to the letter issued, the educational institutions are to be selected based on the criteria, so that the test can be carried out smoothly. On the day of the examination, no teaching classes should be scheduled or any other examination. Apart from that, the staff has to make the proper arrangements for all the basic facilities. These facilities include bench-desk arrangements, a wall clock, light, availability of water and toilets at the exam centre.

As per more information, the headmaster examination is going to be conducted in 25 districts, by the commission. The districts are Bhojpur, Buxar, Rohtas, Nalanda, Gaya, Nawada, Jehanabad, Aurangabad, Munger, Lakhisarai, Begusarai, Khagaria, Banka, Bhagalpur, Saharsa, Katihar, Purnia, Darbhanga, Samastipur, Sitamarhi, Vaishali, East Champaran, West Champaran, Saran, Siwan and Gopalganj.

Before this, the commission had scheduled the third phase of the examination on March 5, but it was cancelled for an unknown reason. After that the exam was to take place between June 10 to June 12, however, a stay was imposed by the High Court. The exams third phase is being done for 87,774 posts of teachers in the state. Around 5 lakh candidates are expected to appear in the examination.

Moreover, the Head Teacher examination was previously scheduled for the date of June 22. Now, it has been moved to June 29, according to the notification. The shift in dates is being done to avoid a clash with the Bihar Combined Entrance Competitive Examination

Stay ahead with all the exam results updates on News18 Website.
The BJP selected Pema Khandu to be the chief minister of Arunachal Pradesh for a third term in a row. He was re-elected to be the leader of the legislature party meeting, and will stake claim to form the government later in the day.

The BJPs central observers Ravi Sankar Prasad and Tarun Chugh attended the meeting. The northeastern state, which has a close proximity to China, gave a clear mandate to the BJP as the party returned to power by winning 46 seats in the 60-member assembly.

The BJP also won both the Lok Sabha seats in Arunachal Pradesh, elections for which were held simultaneously with assembly polls in the state on April 19.

After the election results were declared on June 4, the Conrad Sangma-led National Peoples Party (NPP) also extended its support to the Khandu-led government in Arunachal Pradesh. The Meghalaya-based party is an ally of the North East Democratic Alliance (NEDA).

State unit president Thangwang Wangham said the party has accepted the peoples mandate in the recently held assembly elections. We accept the mandate given by the people, he said while assuring his partys commitment to keep the aspirations of the people alive in the state.

The NPP bagged five seats in the assembly polls, while the NCP won three, the PPA won two, the Congress one and independent candidates won in three seats.
Rubina Dilaik and Abhinav Shukla are enjoying parenthood after welcoming their twin daughters, Edhaa and Jeeva, last November. They often share heartwarming moments of their daughters on social media. Despite their busy parenting schedule, Rubina and Abhinav always find time to enjoy each others company. Currently, they are in Rubinas hometown, Shimla, where the couple embarked on a bike trip to savour some local cuisine.

In her latest vlog, Rubina shared that their delightful excursion not only involved enjoying local cuisine but also brought back happy memories from her college days. She mentioned that whenever they visit Shimla, this chaat place is their go-to spot, adding, This place is very popular and it is next to my ex-college. However, she noted that it was close to four in the afternoon when they decided to visit, and the place might have shut down for the day.

However, when they arrived, Rubina was quite disappointed to see the crowd and the food at the shop running out. She recalled that the craze for this place has been consistent since her college days. Eventually, Rubina and Abhinav managed to share a platter of papdi chaat.

Not long ago, the couple enjoyed a holiday in Bhutan. They posted an album from their recent vacation, which truly sets couple goals. Rubina and Abhinav shared romantic photos of themselves posing against Bhutans stunning landscapes. In one shot, the two can be seen mingling with the locals as well.

Rubina and Abhinav met on the sets of the TV series Choti Bahu, and after dating for a while, the couple married in 2018. Both appeared on the 14th season of Salman Khans reality show Bigg Boss, which Rubina Dilaik ultimately won. Rubina has also participated in Rohit Shettys reality show Khatron Ke Khiladi 12 and the dancing reality show Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa 10. Aside from her work on television, Rubina hosts her podcast, Kisine Btaya Nahi, on her official YouTube channel, where she raises awareness about pregnancy issues and postpartum hardships. Abhinav, on the other hand, has a YouTube channel, Outdoor with Abhinav Shukla, where he posts about his travel adventures.
A new terror network of on-ground workers, locals and local terrorists is suspected to be helping foreign terrorists who were involved in the three attacks in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) in the past 72 hours, according to central intelligence agencies. Eleven people were killed and close to 50 injured in the attacks.

In each of these attacks, the suspected foreign terrorists got exact information about the escape routes, locations, and camps of security forces, which have raised an alarm. Agencies are suspecting that there is a new or refreshed network of local support which is providing the help, including logistical support.

ALSO READ | Two Terrorists Gunned Down In Encounter In J&Ks Kathua; One CRPF Jawan Succumbs To Injuries

Top sources in the J&K Police, Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and intelligence agencies said these attacks were desperate attempts by terrorist groups, especially after India successfully conducted the Lok Sabha elections in J&K.

Sources said there were inputs that around 70-80 foreign terrorists had infiltrated a few weeks ago. They acquired weapons, found easy shelter and food, got information about forces camps, learned how to reach specific locations, and gathered details about isolated places, making it easy to flee after the attacks. These foreign terrorists are suspected to be coordinating with locals, who may have even accompanied them to the spots, said sources.

THE CONCERNS

Forces and agencies hinted that they suspect that there could be more terrorists in Jammu. It is also suspected that these groups are working in a coordinated manner to carry out the attacks.

Raising the security grids concerns is how the terrorists managed to flee. The way they left the attack site without knowing all routes shows that a local person may have accompanied and guided them. Additionally, after firing, local support ensured they got shelter and necessary information about troop movements through open sources, a senior government official supervising the anti-terror operations in J&K told News18.

Another official said that these terrorists have refreshed the local support network, involving that of on-ground workers, local terrorists and likely a few locals too.

THE ATTACKS

In the past 72 hours, three attacks were reported in the Jammu region.

Terrorists attacked a village near the International Border on Tuesday evening, injuring a civilian.

During a subsequent search operation, two terrorists, believed to have infiltrated from across the border, were killed.

ALSO READ | Terrorists Door-To-Door Water Search And Then Call To Cops: How Villagers Saved The Day In J&Ks Kathua

Confirming the details, Anand Jain, Additional Director General of Police, Jammu zone, said, Two terrorists appeared to have freshly infiltrated from across the border surfaced in Saida Sukhal village around 8pm, and asked for water from a household. People got frightened. 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.

Prior to these attacks, in one of the biggest incidents since the abrogation of Article 370, terrorists attacked a bus carrying pilgrims from the Shiv Khori temple to Katra in Reasi on Sunday. Due to firing from different directions, the bus plunged into a deep gorge, causing nine fatalities and injuring 41 others.
India on Wednesday reiterated that the best option to resolve the Ukraine conflict is dialogue and diplomacy as Prime Minister Narendra Modi travels to Italy to attend the annual summit of G7 grouping that is set to focus on dealing with global geopolitical turmoil.

Modi, accompanied by a high-level delegation, will travel to Italy on Thursday to attend an outreach session on the summit on June 14. It will be his first trip abroad after assuming charge as prime minister for the third term.

The G7 summit, to be held in the luxury resort of Borgo Egnazia in Italys Apulia region from June 13 to 15, is expected to be dominated by the raging war in Ukraine and the conflict in Gaza.

We have always maintained that dialogue and diplomacy is the best option, Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra said at a media briefing when asked what would be Indias approach to resolve the Ukraine conflict.

He also recalled Modis statement in September 2022 that todays era is not of war.

Kwatra talked about the consequences of the war including its derivative impact on food, fuel and fertiliser availability, challenges to global supply chains and disruptions in the global economy.

We have always been in the forefront to talk about not just the conflict, the need for dialogue and diplomacy but also the way the conflict is impacting on the priorities and interests of the developing countries, he said.

We have always been at forefront to offer assistance wherever we can to alleviate challenges faced by the Global South because of the conflict, humanitarian assistance to Ukraine and also to the Global South affected by conflict, he said.

The foreign secretary said India will continue to share its perspective with world leaders on the sidelines of the summit and continue to emphasise and underline the importance of dialogue and diplomacy to address the situation.

Kwatra said Modi will participate in the Outreach session along with the other countries on June 14 The session will be focused on issues relating to artificial intelligence, energy, Africa and the Mediterranean.

The foreign secretary said the prime ministers participation in the G7 summit would also provide a timely opportunity to follow up on outcomes of the G20 summit held under Indias presidency last year and deliberate on issues which are significant for the Global South.

He said Indias regular participation at G7 summit points to increasing recognition to New Delhis efforts to address global challenges.

Kwatra said Modi is expected to hold a bilateral meeting with the Prime Minister of Italy Giorgia Meloni.

In the meeting, the two prime ministers are expected to review the entire gamut of bilateral ties and give directions for next steps, he said.

Modi is also likely to have bilateral meetings with some other leaders.

Asked whether the prime minister will hold any bilateral meeting with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Kwatra did not give a direct reply and said Modis schedule is in the works.

Modi had attended the previous G7 summit in Hiroshima in May last year.

On the sidelines of the summit, he 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.

Russias 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, Russias 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.
The Supreme Court on Wednesday rebuked the Aam Aadmi Party-led Delhi government over the prevalence of tanker mafia and water wastage in the national capital and asked what measures it has taken against them. A vacation bench presided over by Justice P.K. Mishra is hearing the Delhi governments plea for the release of surplus water from Himachal Pradesh, as the people of the national capital are facing a shortage of water.

So much of tanker mafia, have you taken any action on thatWater is engulfed by tanker mafia and youre not taking any action, the Bench, also comprising Justice PB Varale, said.

Why were false statements made before this court? Water is coming from Himachal Pradesh then where is the water going in Delhi? There is so much spillage, tanker mafias etc.. what measures have you taken in this regard? People are suffering, we are seeing visuals on every news channel. What measures have you taken to control water wastage if water scarcity is a recurring problem in summers, the bench observed orally.

Asking the Delhi government about measures taken till now to solve the problem, the bench said, If youre not taking action, then shall we hand it overEvery channel is showing tanker mafia is running in Delhi.

Advocate Shadan Farasat, appearing for the Delhi government, said there is action, including massive disconnection of water supplies, so that excess water wastage is stopped.

We will file (the affidavit) about the measures. There are multiple actions, we have made massive disconnections. We are in a catch-22 situation with very little waterWe will be more than happy to have Delhi Police take the action, Farasat said.

The top court asked the Delhi government to file a report stating the action taken for the loss of water. The matter will be taken up on Thursday.

The court also rapped the Himachal Pradesh government saying it provided false affidavit.

Well straight away send your officer to jail, the court said to the Himachal government.

Last week, the Supreme Court directed the Himachal Pradesh government to release surplus water on June 7 so that it reaches the national capital uninterruptedly and is made available to the Delhiites for drinking purposes.

We direct that Himachal Pradesh shall release 137 cusecs of surplus water available with it on Friday so that the water reaches Hathni Kund barrage and reaches Delhi through Wazirabad. As and when surplus water is released with prior information by the state of Himachal Pradesh, the state of Haryana shall facilitate the flow of surplus water so released, it had ordered on June 6.

The apex court had said that the Delhi government should adhere to the measures suggested by the Upper Yamuna River Board to prevent wastage of water since there is an acute shortage of drinking water in the national capital.

It had ordered for filing of a status report and compliance affidavits by June 10.

Earlier, the SC had ordered the river board to convene an urgent meeting on June 5 to address the water crisis in the city, stressing that the problems of scarcity of water for the citizens of Delhi should be properly addressed.
Entering the third term in office on Wednesday, Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari will be focusing on hydrogen fuel, cashless treatment for accident victims, more ropeway projects and the Ministrys Vision 2047.

Gadkari is the sole minister in the NDA cabinet who has not been moved since 2014, when he first joined the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH). He joined the Ministry in May 2014 and became the longest serving minister when he was repeated with the same portfolio in 2019. Now, he is heading for a record that will not be easy for any other leader to surpass.

Gadkari joined the office on Wednesday. Among the ideas that will be prioritised by him will be push for greener fuels like hydrogen. He has long been an advocate of greener fuels. He uses a hydrogen-powered car but the technology, as of now, is very limited. News18 has learnt that the minister will push for the mass use of greener fuels, including hydrogen and will focus on building infrastructure for it.

The ministry has already prepared 100-day plans for the projects and ideas it will need to push in the first three months of the new government.

News18 has also learnt that among the 100-day plans, the push for greener fuel, pan-India implementation of cashless treatment of road accident victims and the steps for Ministrys Vision 2047 will be key priorities. Further, Gadkaris long-pending wish of satellite-based tolling and Advanced Traffic Management System will also get priority. The Ministry will push projects related to the Advanced Traffic Management System to at least 500 km in the next few months.

In this term, the Ministry and Gadkari will aim to introduce greener public transport between important stretches.

WORK HAS BEGUN

Even before the Minister could assume the office, the Ministry started working on these ideas as soon as the model code of conduct was lifted after the Lok Sabha results were declared on June 4.

Last week, the Ministry invited global expressions of interest (EOIs) from innovative and qualified companies to develop and implement Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS)-based electronic toll collection in India, proposed for a seamless and barrier-free tolling experience for national highway users and enhanced efficiency and transparency of toll operations.

On Tuesday, ahead of the Ministers joining, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), under the Ministry, unveiled a new corporate identity for its National Highways Infra Trust (NHIT), with an aim to monetise projects worth Rs 15,000-20,000 crore through it in this financial year.

Further, the Ministry also reminded vehicle owners to ensure they have a valid third party insurance, one of the first important steps in the direction of cashless treatment to accident victims.

The Ministry, in a statement, said that it is not just a legal requirement, but having a motor third party insurance cover is an important aspect of being a responsible road user as it provides support to victims in case of accidents or damages.

Cashless treatment to road accident victims is a long-pending demand that the Ministry is prioritising in Gadkaris third term.

Just before the announcement of the Lok Sabha polls in March, the Ministry had launched a pilot of the project in Chandigarh, allowing victims to avail free treatment up to Rs 1.5 lakh per accident per person for a maximum period of seven days from the date of the incident.

VISION 2047

Vision 2047 National Master Plan is an ambitious plan of the Ministry that aims to build access control multi-lane highways and expressways across the country.

While the project details were submitted to the Cabinet last year, the Ministry could not get the approval. Now, the Ministry will push for it again as they want to start working on dedicated expressways keeping in mind the longer term needs of the nation, particularly logistically.

MORE ROPEWAY PROJECTS

For better and faster development and connectivity to remote and difficult regions of the country, the Ministry, in the next five years, will be pushing for ropeway projects. The projects are faster and much cheaper to develop compared to roads.

Gadkari completed 10 years in the office last month. In the past 10 years, the Minister has transformed Indian roads  so much so that even the opposition leaders praise him for his work. The travel time across major cities has been cut down significantly, along with better comfort compared to railways.
A police probe revealed that Dr Ajay Taware, accused of allegedly swapping the blood samples of the minor accused of Pune Porsche drunk driving case, had an extensive network of brokers across Maharashtras western region who brought to him cases which needed to be expedited in return of which he pocketed a bribe.

Further investigation into the Pune Porsche drunk driving case revealed that Dr Ajay Tawares brokers were found in five districts of Maharashtra. These brokers would bring cases to him from across the state.

This indicates that there are possibly more cases of bureaucratic cover-ups where Dr Ajay Taware could have been involved.

Police said that his handlers were primarily from western parts of the state. These brokers/handlers would reach out to Taware, securing cases for expedited treatment in exchange for a bribe, which he would then pocket.

Dr Ajay Taware is currently in police custody for allegedly swapping the blood samples of the minor accused of crashing a Porsche into a motorbike in Punes Kalyani Nagar and killing two persons.

He is accused of swapping them with the samples of another persons blood which had no traces of alcohol.

State-run Sassoon hospitals chief medical officer Dr Shrihari Halnor and staff member Atul Ghatkamble have also been arrested for allegedly aiding Taware, the hospitals head of the hospitals forensic medicine department, in disposing of the samples.

Two IT professionals were killed after their motorcycle was hit by a speeding Porsche car allegedly driven by the 17-year-old boy in the early hours of May 19 in Kalyani Nagar area in Pune. The blood report is a key piece of evidence as police claim the teenager had visited two pubs prior to the incident.

Meanwhile, Dr Ajay Tawares name was reportedly mentioned in connection with a kidney racket in 2022. He is also accused of manipulating the gender test report of a daughter-in-law of a retired customs commissioner in a marital dispute five years ago.

Makandars Role Comes To The Fore

Meanwhile, police investigation also revealed that Ashpak Makandar and Amar Gaikwad, both accused of acting as a middleman and facilitating financial transactions between the accused doctors of Sassoon General Hospital and the father of the juvenile driver, were present at the hospital where the alleged evidence tampering happened.

It said that Makandar, also a close aide of Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) MLA Sunil Tingre, who is with the Ajit Pawar faction of the party, received a call on the day of the accident asking him to Help Vishal.

The caller then requested to make a call to Dr Taware

Parents Of Teenager In Police Custody

Also in police custody, in a separate case, are the teenagers parents who are accused in a case pertaining to destruction of evidence.

Cops are also probing whether the parents of the minor suspect tampered with evidence by replacing the original blood sample with the mothers, potentially destroying the original sample.

They told the court there is a strong possibility the parents of the juvenile destroyed the original blood samples. They told the court that this merited custodial interrogation following which the court extended the police custody of the parents till June 14.

Realtor Vishal Agrawal, the accused teens father, and mother Shivani were arrested in the case for their suspected role in swapping blood samples of the juvenile, who was allegedly drunk at the time of the May 19 crash.

Shivani Agarwal was arrested on June 1 after revelation that the boys blood samples were replaced with hers. Her husband Vishal Agrawal was arrested for allegedly being involved in destruction of evidence.

Besides the Agrawal couple, Ashpak Makandar was also produced before the court on Monday.

The minor boy is in an observation home.
The act of removing a minor girls innerwear and then getting naked yourself does not amount to an attempt to commit rape but it would be considered an offence of outraging the womans modesty, Rajasthan High Court said while giving a ruling in a 33-year-old case.

Delivering judgment in the case of Suwalal Son Of Gopi By Caste Raigar vs State, the bench of Justice Anup Kumar Dhand stated that taking off a girls underwear and becoming completely naked oneself, does not fall under Section 376 and Section 511 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and will not attract the offence of attempt to commit rape.

Emphasising what constitutes an attempt, the single-judge bench said the accused must have gone beyond the stage of preparation.

The court ruled that the act would attract the offence of outraging the modesty of a woman punishable under Section 354 of the IPC.

In my opinion, from these facts, no case for an offence under Section 376/511 I.P.C. can be held to be proved. In other words, the accused appellant cannot be held to be guilty of attempt to commit rape. The prosecution has been able to prove the case of assault or use of illegal force on the prosecutrix with an intention to outrage her modesty or with knowledge that her modesty was likely to be outraged. Thus, it is a clear case of Section 354 I.P.C. as the act of the present accused has not proceeded beyond the stage of preparation, the judge said.

Brief History Of Case

The court was hearing the case where the complainant approached the police in Todaraisingh, in Tonk district saying that on March 9, 1991, his grand-daughter, aged about 6 years, was drinking water at the Pyau (Water Booth), where the accused Suvalal came around 8:00 pm and forcefully took her into nearby Dharamshala with an intention to commit rape on her.

When the girl raised a hue and cry, the villagers arrived and rescued her,

otherwise, the accused might have committed rape on her, the complainant said.

Accused Suvalal was just 25 years old when he committed the crime.

What Rajasthan HC Judge Said?

While delivering the verdict, Justice Dhand referred to cases like Damodar Behera vs Odisha and Sittu vs Rajasthan State, where the accused forcibly stripped a girl naked and, despite her resistance, tried to have physical relations with her. In these cases, the act was considered attempted rape.

As per the court, three stages need to be fulfilled for any act to be punishable under the offence of attempted rape.

The first stage exists when the culprit first entertains the idea or intention to commit an offence. In the second stage, he makes preparations to commit it. The third stage is reached when the culprit takes deliberate overt steps to commit the offence, it said.

For an offence of an attempt to commit rape, the prosecution must establish that it has gone beyond the stage of preparation, it added.

As per the case details, the 6-year-old prosecutrix alleged that the accused undressed them both and fled the scene when she called for help. However, there was no allegation that the accused attempted penetration.

HC Modifies Trial Court Order

The District Court Of Tonk convicted Suvalal of attempting rape. He remained in jail for two and a half months during the trial.

The court modified Sections 376/511 under which the trial court had convicted him and changed it to Section 354.
The Madras High Court recently observed that the State must exercise its parens patriae jurisdiction to care for adults with mental health problems who lack family support.

Under the parens patriae doctrine, the State is tasked with caring for individuals who cannot care for themselves, such as orphaned children, people with disabilities, and senior citizens.

The court referred to the Uttarakhand High Courts ruling in Dr Vijay Varma v UOI (2018), which asserted that mentally disturbed patients have a fundamental right to self-preservation, dignity, and access to quality mental healthcare. Additionally, it cited the Delhi High Courts directive in Kalyani Chattopadhayay v Govt of NCT Delhi (2021), where a mentally ill patient was sent to a facility for care. These cases affirm that the State has a duty to extend its parens patriae jurisdiction to mentally disabled adults, the high court opined.

The bench of Justice GR Swaminathan stressed that the State is obligated to establish residential homes for the mentally disabled in every district and to generously support NGOs that have already set up such shelters. The court said this support is crucial for ensuring that the residents can live decently and receive necessary medical care.

The State must be thankful to the NGOs for relieving it of its primary burden. If the NGOs are not there, it is the duty of the State which will have to provide complete infrastructural support, the court underscored.

The order was passed in a petition filed by the father of a 20-year-old mentally ill man, who is a daily wage labourer. He told the court that he and his wife lacked both the financial means and emotional capacity to continue caring for their son, who had been violent and had beaten them at times as he suffered from bipolar affective disorder. The father sought direction to the State authorities to admit his son as an in-patient at Tirunelveli Medical College & Hospital for treatment and care.

To decide the issue, the single-judge bench deliberated on whether the State could be saddled with liability in such cases.

My answer is yes, stated Justice Swaminathan.

Citing Section 9(2) of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016, Justice Swaminathan noted that while a literal interpretation of the provision applies to a child with a disability lacking family support, it could also be extended to adults with disabilities.

Case laws, conventions, and statutory provisions emphasize the rights of the mentally disabled, the judge emphasised. They are entitled to reasonable accommodation, the right to live in a community, and the support of their family.

Justice Swaminathan stressed that the institutions where such persons are kept must be fully manned and the inmates must be treated humanely there.

He further suggested that institutions housing the mentally ill should have a diverse board of visitors, comprising bureaucrats, psychiatrists, and social workers. The judge underscored that they should conduct surprise inspections and interviews, with CCTV cameras installed for transparency. He stressed the need for proportionate measures to manage violence and prevent abuse of authority by staff.

The single-judge bench, acknowledging its limitations in elaborating on ideas, suo motu impleaded the state government in the matter.

 I would expect the Government to come out with appropriate policies and regulations, Justice Swaminathan said while clarifying that no specific timeframe was set.

He emphasised the responsibility of both central and state governments to ensure the effective implementation of key legislation, expressing confidence that further judicial directives would be unnecessary.

Lastly, regarding the petitioners son, the court directed relevant authorities to take custody of the young man and provide suitable accommodation. Justice Swaminathan clarified that this arrangement would continue until the patient is deemed fit for discharge.
Terrorists attacked an Army and police joint checkpost in Jammu Kashmirs Doda late on Tuesday night in the third such incident in the past 72 hours.

According to official sources, multiple rounds were fired at the temporary operating base (TOB) in the remote Chattargala area and several teams of security forces were rushed to the scene.

ADGP Jammu tweets, Army and Police joint Naka has engaged a terrorist in area of Chattargala area of Doda. Firefight is going on. More details to follow. pic.twitter.com/hZH8ieJ2et ANI (@ANI) June 11, 2024

ALSO READ | Terrorist Killed In Gunfight After Attack On J&K Village, Security Forces Launch Operation

The attack triggered a gunfight between terrorists and security forces in the higher reaches of Doda district, injuring at least six personnel.

#WATCH | Doda, J&K: Injured being brought to the Sub District Hospital Bhaderwah as an encounter is underway between security forces and terrorists in the Chattargala area of Doda. pic.twitter.com/BxXaus49Qd ANI (@ANI) June 11, 2024

A local terror group with backing from Pak-based Jaish-e-Mohammed, Kashmir Tigers, has claimed responsibility for the attack, saying several Indian security personnel were killed in the attack.

The attack came at a time when security forces were running search operations to arrest terrorists in the Doga region.

It was the third such attack within three days after the incidents in Kathua and Reasi. The Doda incident came hours after a terrorist was killed in an encounter with security forces after terrorists fired at a home in Jammu and Kashmirs Kathua district. Earlier, on June 9, terrorists fired upon a bus carrying pilgrims from a shrine in Jammu and Kashmirs Reasi district, killing 10 people and injuring 33 others.

According to sources, the terrorists belonged to the same group that targeted an Indian Air Force (IAF) convoy in Poonch on May 4. Police have started circulating sketches of wanted terrorists and announced bounty on their heads.

Speaking about the three consecutive incidents, Jammu and Kashmir Additional Director General Of Police Anand Jain said, It is our hostile neighbour, who always tries to damage the peaceful environment in our country. This (Hiranagar Terror attack) appears to be a fresh infiltration. The one terrorist has been killed, the search for the other is also underway.

#WATCH | Jammu and Kashmir: On three terror attacks in Jammu and Kashmir, ADGP Anand Jain says, It is our hostile neighbour who always tries to damage the peaceful environment in our country. This (Hiranagar Terror attack) appears to be a fresh infiltration. The one terrorist pic.twitter.com/1jLB32tbpz ANI (@ANI) June 12, 2024

Follow-up search ops in Kathua

Security forces have initiated a follow-up search operation in response to the terror attack in Kathuas Hiranagar on Tuesday night, where one out of two terrorists was neutralised in an encounter.

#WATCH | Jammu and Kashmir: Follow-up search operation underway after the terror attack in Kathuas Hiranagar last night.Out of two terrorists, one was neutralised last night in an encounter. Search operations to nab the other terrorists are underway. The security forces have pic.twitter.com/uMD7CfRKWD  ANI (@ANI) June 12, 2024

Search operations to arrest other terrorists are underway. The security forces have cordoned off the area.

#WATCH | Jammu and Kashmir: Drone is being used to carry out the search operation in the Hiranagar area of Kathua.Out of two terrorists, one was neutralised last night in an encounter. Search operations to nab the other terrorists are underway. The security forces have pic.twitter.com/SZo9UjhGTr  ANI (@ANI) June 11, 2024

Security forces also employed drones to find other hiding terrorists in Kathua.

Meanwhile, top police officials have warned people against fake news circulation on social media.
Aamir Khans mother Zeenat Hussain is set to celebrate her 90th birthday on June 13. If the reports are to be believed, the family is planning a grand celebration to mark the special day. A source close to the actor even informed that Aamir Khan will fly in 200+ family members and friends from different cities to celebrate his mothers birthday.

As quoted by Pinkvilla, the source said, She has been unwell for over a year. Now that she has recovered and is doing well, everyone wanted to have a large get-together. Family and friends from all over India will gather to celebrate this special day. People are coming from Banaras, Bengaluru, Lucknow, Mysore, and other cities. Reportedly, the grand birthday celebrations are likely to take place at Aamirs residence in Mumbai.

Aamir shares a deeply warm bond with his mother Zeenat. The actor has often highlighted the integral role his mother plays in both his personal and professional life. He even takes suggestions on scripts and roles from his mother. In an earlier interview, the actor even shared his decision to take a break from his career to be with his ageing mother.

Underscoring the respect for her mother, Aamir Khan added, When I am doing a film as an actor, I get so lost in that that nothing else happens in my life. I was supposed to do a film after Laal Singh Chaddha called Champions. Its a wonderful script, a beautiful story, and its a very heartwarming and lovely film. But I feel that I want to take a break, be with my family, with my mom, my kids.

Work-wise, Aamir Khan is currently filming for a social dramedy titled Sitaare Zameen Par. He wrapped the Delhi schedule a few weeks back and headed to Vadodara for further shooting. Meanwhile, Sitaare Zameen Par is expected to focus on Down Syndrome. Besides the Mann actor, the film will feature Genelia Deshmukh as the female lead in the film.
Television actor Abhishek Kumar has condemned the recent terror attack in Jammu and Kashmirs Reasi district. The attack, which targeted a bus carrying pilgrims to the Shiv Khori temple, left ten dead and several others injured earlier this week. On Wednesday, Abhishek took to his X (formerly known as Twitter) handle to speak against the violence as he also urged for global peace.

Its so sad to be living in a world where terrorist attacks are on the rise, people are dying, and watch it all happen helplessly. The human race has come so forward with everything  science, technology, cinema and so many other things- but our world still lacks Humanity, the Bigg Boss 17 runner-up wrote and then added, We will not learn how to live together by killing each others children.

Its so sad to be living in a world where terrorist attacks are on the rise, people are dying, and watch it all happen helplessly. The human race has come so forward with everything  science, technology, cinema and so many other things- but our world still lacks HumanityWe  Abhishek Kumar (@Abhishekkuma08) June 12, 2024

The tragic incident occurred on Sunday (June 9) when terrorists ambushed a bus traveling from the Shiv Khori shrine to Katra in the Pouni area, causing it to plunge into a gorge. This brutal act claimed the lives of at least ten people and injured over 30 others.

Abhishek Kumar is not the first television actor to condemn the attack. Previously, several others including Kapil Sharma, Hina Khan, Rupali Ganguly and Ali Goni among others also expressed concern and paid tributes to those who lost their lives.

I strongly condemn the terrorist attack on the piligrims in #reasi                   #reasiterrorattack (I strongly condemn the terrorist attack on the pilgrims in #reasi Those who open fire on innocent people will never get peace in life. This will be the account of everything), Kapil wrote.

Aly Goni also called the incident heartbreaking, whereas Abhishek Shukla posted on X, This happened in our country to our fellow countrymenWhere are your eyes? #AllEyesOnResai.

Gurmeet Choudhary also wrote, Heartbroken by the tragic terrorist attack in Jammu yesterday. My deepest condolences to the families of the victims, especially the women and children who have suffered such a devastating loss. This senseless act of violence must be condemned by all. #Jammu #StandAgainstTerrorism #reasi.
Fresh off the tremendous success of Queen of Tears, actor Kim Soo-hyun is giving his fans even more reasons to celebrate. After a decade-long wait, he has finally decided to embark on a fan tour in Asia. The announcement of his highly anticipated Asia tour, titled 2024 Kim Soo-hyun Asia Tour: Eyes on You, was made early last month, with additional details being released recently. The tour is set to kick off in a couple of days, on June 15, 2024. Fans across various Asian countries, including Thailand, Japan, the Philippines, and Hong Kong, will have the opportunity to meet the actor in person.

The actor might also take a halt at a few more locations and surprise his fans there, reports Tatlerasia. His previous fan meet tour was about a decade ago in 2013 when My Love from the Star was released. As for his upcoming tour, here are the confirmed dates and locations:

 Bangkok, Thailand

 Venue: Thunder Dome Stadium

 Date: June 15, 2024

 Yokohama, Japan

 Venue: Pia Arena MM

 Date: June 22 and 23, 2024

 Manila, the Philippines

 Venue: Araneta Coliseum

 Date: June 29, 2024

 Hong Kong

 Venue: AsiaWorld-Expo

 Date: August 10, 2024

Kim Soo-hyuns popularity has only grown over the years. Viewers have loved his outstanding performances in various television dramas and films. His most recent role in the tvN K-drama Queen of Tears has not only brought him love from the audience but also major critical acclaim.

In his latest drama, he starred alongside Kim Ji-won. Their chemistry on-screen impressed audiences like never before and Queen of Tears recently went on to become the highest-rated series in the history of the tvN network. It received an average viewership rating of 24.9 per cent for its final episode, surpassing even the popular 2019 K-drama Crash Landing on You, which had a record-high rating of 21.7 per cent.

The actor also won the Most Popular Actor category at the 60th Baeksang Arts Awards after the conclusion of the drama.

In the drama, he plays the character of Baek Hyun-woo who is the legal director of the Queens Group, a powerful conglomerate. His character is married to Hong Hae-in, played by Kim Ji-won, the daughter of the family that owns and runs the Queens Group.

Queen of Tears narrates the story of Baek Hyun-woo and Hong Hae-in as they struggle through the challenges in their marriage. The show begins as a lighthearted romantic comedy and gradually develops into a more intense love story between the duo.
Pankaj Jha, who played Vidhayak Ji in TVFs Panchayat series, revealed in an interview with Digital Commentary that he was initially chosen for the role of Sultan Qureshi in Gangs of Wasseypur before losing it to Pankaj Tripathi. Jha, who had previously worked with Kashyap on Gulaal and Black Friday, explained that he got the offer while shooting in Patna and told Kashyap he would return in two days. However, by the time he came back, Pankaj Tripathi had already been cast as Sultan. Gangs of Wasseypur, directed by Anurag Kashyap, is highly praised by both audiences and critics.

Anurag Kashyap has now reacted to it. I dont remember what exactly happened. But we were shooting for The Girl in Yellow Boots and he had moved to Osho in Pune to paint. We were supposed to start shooting for Gangs of Wasseypur and he (Pankaj Jha) was not available.

Anurag said that it was because of their low budget and the fact that that couldnt wait for him to get back from Patna. He clarified, We were on a tight budget and could not wait for him. We made the film in a very different condition and budget. Now, he may be thinking that after 20 years, he could have become Pankaj Tripathi. He also added, I have worked with him, and he has actually been my go-to actor. We worked in Gulaal and Black Friday. I would love to work with him again, but the fact is, he is not accessible at all.

Pankaj Jha had earlier said that films like Satya and Gulaal create actors and directors. While films like Satya and Gulaal create actors, they also make directors. But there are so many timid and spineless people here that they cant even keep their word. Later, he added that now he held no resentment towards Anurag Kashyap. Nevertheless, I still love Anurag very much and have no complaints against anyone, he had added.
Dalljiet Kaurs separation from her estranged husband Nikhil Patel has been making headlines for a long time now. Amid all this, the actress took to her Instagram stories on Tuesday to share a picture of her girl squad. The photo has been taking in Kenya. Dalljiets husband, Nikhil Patel, who lives in Kenya, has threatened legal action over her cheap social media posts. She has been hinting that he cheated on her. Dalljiet has now returned to Nairobi, Kenya, for the first time since leaving amid murmurs of separation.

On Tuesday, Dalljiet shared a photo on her Instagram Stories. She was dressed in black and smiling with two friends at a restaurant. She captioned the photo, When you meet your girl squad

Reportedly, Nikhil has also sent a legal notice to the actress and accused her of harassment. ETimes reported that Patel said under the Indian Penal Code, The Information Technology Act of 2000 (India), and The Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act of 2012 (India), Dalljiet Kaurs social media posts accusing him of an extra-marital affair were wrong.

Nikhil told the publication that his legal team will take the sternest legal action available against Dalljiet should she continue with her unlawful actions. He said, As a normal citizen of the world, it is very disturbing to see how the gaps in online protection laws, both in India and globally, can, and are, often exploited by those who choose to gain cheap media attention through careless actions that place innocent children and women at risk. Sharing pictures and video footage without consent of those involved, particularly in the case of children, who are always a vulnerable group in society and who always require protection of the law, is illegal and negligent.

Meanwhile, for the unversed, this was Dalljiet Kaurs second marriage. The actress was previously married to Shalin Bhanot but the two parted ways in 2015 after she accused him of domestic violence.
In a big development in the Renuka Swamy murder case, Karnataka police took four of Darshans aides to the crime scene on Wednesday afternoon. Police officials recreated the crime scene around the canal where Renuka Swamys body was found on June 8, 2024. While it is not known who these four accused were who were taken to the crime scene, they are said to be close aides of the Kannada actor Darshan.

Interestingly, this comes a day after Karnataka police also recovered a CCTV footage in which Darshans car was allegedly seen near the place where Renukas dead body was disposed of. The CCTV video was from the wee hours of June 9, 2024 and showed a Scorpio car, which was said to have Renukas body and Darshans close aides. Reportedly, this was the car which was going to dispose of the dead body. The video also showed a car which allegedly belonged to Darshan. However, it remains unclear if the actor was inside the car at that time or not.

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. It is said that a wooden log was used to fatally injure him. The perpetrators intended to dispose of the body in the Vrushabhavati valley, but it was discovered stuck and being tampered with by dogs.

According to police officials, Renuka used to send vulgar messages to Kannada actress 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. Reportedly, eight of the accused have implicated Darshan, claiming his presence during Renuka Swamys assault.

Police officials are now investigating the case and Darshan has been sent to 6-day police custody.

Earlier today, Renuka Swamys wife slammed Darshan and demanded justice for her husband. My husband called me on June 8 afternoon. If my husband had sent derogatory messages on social media, he should have been given a warning. What was the need to kill him, she said and then added,Whether he is an actor (Darshan) or a star, I want justice.
Kannada actor Darshan Thoogudeepa spent his first night in Jail on Tuesday (June 11) after he was arrested in the Renuka Swamy murder case. Reportedly, the actor enjoyed a lavish meal in the prison and was served biryani.

As reported by TV9 Kannada, the actor was served biryani for dinner on Tuesday. The report also claimed that Darshan was tensed and remained silent as he also slept on the floor with his alleged aides. Reportedly, Darshan took a Dolo 650 tablet to feel better. However, News18 Showsha could not verify these claims at the time of publishing.

Darshan was arrested by the Bengaluru police from Mysuru. He was then brought to Bengaluru and sent to 6-day police custody. Police officials are investigating the actors involvement in the Renuka Swamy murder case.

Darshans phone has also been seized by the Karnataka police. Besides this, cops have also seized a red jeep that was allegedly used by the actor Darshan and his aides to dispose of Renukas dead body on June 8, 2024.

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. It is said that a wooden log was used to fatally injure him. The perpetrators intended to dispose of the body in the Vrushabhavati valley, but it was discovered stuck and being tampered with by dogs.

Previously, police officials claimed that Renuka used to send vulgar messages to Kannada actress 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. Reportedly, eight of the accused have implicated Darshan, claiming his presence during Renuka Swamys assault.

However, Renuka Swamys wife has denied claims that her late husband used to send derogatory messages to anyone. My husband called me on June 8 afternoon. If my husband had sent derogatory messages on social media, he should have been given a warning. What was the need to kill him, she said earlier today as quoted by Deccan Herald and then added, Whether he is an actor (Darshan) or a star, I want justice.
Renuka Swamys parents have demanded a ban on Kannada actor Darshans films in Karnataka. On Wednesday, Swamys parents were interacting with the media in Bengaluru when they demanded justice for their son and called Darshan a villain. They mentioned that the actors fans should also be made aware of the heinous crime that he allegedly committed.

God should give Darshan enlightenment not to hurt anyone like my son in future. My sons wife is pregnant. I am retired and how is she supposed to lead her life? Swamys father, Shivanagouda said as quoted by The Assam Tribune. He further argued that even if his son used to send derogatory messages, Darshan should have informed them.

Darshan was arrested by the Bengaluru police from Mysuru on Tuesday (June 11). He was then brought to Bengaluru and sent to 6-day police custody. Police officials are investigating the actors involvement in the Renuka Swamy murder case. Darshans phone has also been seized by the Karnataka police.

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. It is said that a wooden log was used to fatally injure him. The perpetrators intended to dispose of the body in the Vrushabhavati valley, but it was discovered stuck and being tampered with by dogs.

Previously, police officials claimed that Renuka used to send vulgar messages to Kannada actress 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. Reportedly, eight of the accused have implicated Darshan, claiming his presence during Renuka Swamys assault.

However, earlier today, Renuka Swamys wife has denied claims that her late husband used to send derogatory messages to anyone. My husband called me on June 8 afternoon. If my husband had sent derogatory messages on social media, he should have been given a warning. What was the need to kill him, she said earlier today as quoted by Deccan Herald and then added, Whether he is an actor (Darshan) or a star, I want justice.
Karnataka police have stepped up investigation in the Renuka Swamy murder case. News18 has learnt that Kannada actor Darshans phone has been seized by the police officials. Apart from him, the phones of 12 other accused, who have also been arrested in the case, have also been confiscated.

Besides this, cops have also seized a red jeep that was allegedly used by the actor Darshan and his aides to dispose of Renukas dead body on June 8, 2024. While police are investigating the involvement of four cars in the case, two have been seized as of now.

This comes a day after Darshan was arrested by the Bengaluru police from Mysuru. He was then brought to Bengaluru and sent to 6-day police custody. Police officials are investigating the actors involvement in the 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. It is said that a wooden log was used to fatally injure him. The perpetrators intended to dispose of the body in the Vrushabhavati valley, but it was discovered stuck and being tampered with by dogs.

Previously, police officials claimed that Renuka used to send vulgar messages to Kannada actress 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. Reportedly, eight of the accused have implicated Darshan, claiming his presence during Renuka Swamys assault.

However, Renuka Swamys wife has denied claims that her late husband used to send derogatory messages to anyone. My husband called me on June 8 afternoon. If my husband had sent derogatory messages on social media, he should have been given a warning. What was the need to kill him, she said earlier today as quoted by Deccan Herald and then added, Whether he is an actor (Darshan) or a star, I want justice.

Meanwhile, on Tuesday, Karnataka police also recovered a CCTV footage in which Darshans car was allegedly seen near the place where Renukas dead body was disposed of. The CCTV video was from the wee hours of June 9, 2024, and showed a Scorpio car, which was said to have Renukas body and Darshans close aides. The video also showed a car which allegedly belonged to Darshan. However, it remains unclear if the actor was inside the car at that time or not.
After being hit by multiple delays, Euphoria Season 3 is finally happening. After the previous season finished airing, the show was renewed for the next part in 2022. However, due to understandable factors like the death of Angus Cloud (who played drug dealer Fezco) and the Hollywood strikes, the production was pushed back. The makers are yet to begin filming for Euphoria 3. While details about the third season are not known, it was earlier confirmed that Euphoria 3 will have a time jump, leaving viewers with a lot of questions.

HBO chairman and CEO Casey Bloys recently addressed the discussions around whats going on with season 3 of the Sam Levinson series, further confirming that the core cast will return.

Euphoria 3 Will Have A Time Jump

Mentioning that Sam Levinson is working on the series, Casey Bloys spoke to Variety and said that there will be a lot of back and forth stuff. One of the issues I think that Sam is thinking about is that he doesnt want to have it in high school anymore. Thats where it was set, and what made sense then? So, when you take it out of that, theres a lot of back and forth about where to set it, how far in the future to set it, and all that stuff. But I think hes got a take that shes excited about, and hes busy writing, he explained.

Bloys also stated that the original cast including Zendaya, Jacob Elordi, Sydney Sweeney and Hunter Schafer, will return to reprise their roles. However, Barbie Ferreira, known for playing Kat Hernandez, has already bid adieu to her character, while the unexpected demise of Angus Cloud confirms another exit.

With this, it is now confirmed that Rue and her friends are returning, but not to East Highland High School.

More about Euphoria

Across the previous two seasons, Euphoria was set in a high school, focusing on a spiralling teen addict and her classmates. The show navigated social issues like domestic violence, drug use and even human trafficking amid love triangles, with teen angst also playing a significant role in the story.

The second season concluded in February 2022, with Zendayas Rue hitting rock bottom after a relapse.
Kareena Kapoor Khan has always been committed to her workout routine. From pilates to yoga, the actress does it all to keep herself healthy and fit. Be it a vacation, or a relaxing day at home, Kareena never compromises with her fitness regime. Having said that, she recently shared a bundle of photo nailing the Chakrasana yoga with much needed perfection.

Sharing the photos, she wrote, As i fly for the summer, my favourite yoga asana is a must ~ the chakrasana to go #Summer2024 here we come #ChakrasanaSeries @anshukayoga. The yoga pose showcased by Kareena, involves a seamless flow of movements between different poses. Its a testament to her dedication that she effortlessly includes such challenging asanas into her routine.

Have a look at the photo:

Kareena and her love for yoga is widely known. The actress loves to practice Chakrasana, also known as the wheel pose. Earlier too, the actress shared a snapshot with her fans in which she could be seen doing the back-bend pose with perfection. Sunday plans? Yoga for me..Crew for you, Kareena wrote.

On the professional front, Kareena was recently seen in the comedy-drama film Crew. The film also featured Tabu, Kriti Sanon, Diljit Dosanjh and Kapil Sharma in pivotal roles. Helmed by Rajesh A Krishnan, the film garnered widespread acclaim from critics and audiences.

Bebo will be next seen in director Rohit Shettys upcoming action drama film Singham Again which also stars Ajay Devgn, Deepika Padukone, Tiger Shroff, Arjun Kapoor, Ranveer Singh and Akshay Kumar in the lead roles
Ammy Virk has revealed that he was offered Diljit Dosanjhs role in the film Crew but he could not do it because of date-related issues. In a recent exclusive conversation with News18 Showsha, Ammy praised Diljit for opening doors for Punjabi artists in Bollywood. He then revealed that he was offered Kareena Kapoor Khans Crew but could not do it due to his schedule.

It feels really good. He is creating spaces for so many other people. He is doing so well in Bollywood. He is being offered films in Mumbai. If he isnt available, then we get calls for the same (laughs). It hasnt happened yet but yes, the opposite has happened. There was a movie I had to do but my dates werent available. I am talking about Crew. After that, they went to Diljit Paaji, Ammy said.

Released in March 2024, Crew stars Kareena Kapoor Khan, Tabu, and Kriti Sanon in key roles. Diljit Dosanjh also played the role of a customs officer in the comedy-drama. He was shown as Kriti Sanons love interest. The film revolves around the three air hostesses who stumble upon a dead passenger smuggling gold biscuits. They decide to steal the gold as their airline heads to bankruptcy. Their thirst for more made for an entertaining film.

Crew received majorly positive reviews from all. It was also praised by celebrities like Karan Johar, Tahira Kashyap, and Shanaya Kapoor among others. Filmmaker Karan Johar showered the film with love and kind words saying, CREW was unapologetic and super fun. The girls killed it. Kudos to the powerhouse and my Gemini soulmate @ektarkapoor the fashionably forever filmmaker @rheakapoor the eternal fountain of genius talent @tabutiful the always awesome and super gorgeous @kritisanon and last but never the least my POO forever!! What a superstar you are my bebo @kareenakapoorkhan #girlpowerrules.

Later, Vidya Balan also cheered for team Crew and commended the

the success of a film that showcases women in leading roles, especially considering the age of the leading actresses. Not all macho blockbusters are doing well. I think we need to remember that and heres a film that had three women lead it, and it was so much fun. They werent taking themselves too seriously, and it thrills me that a film with three women  and at the age that they are at, is doing so well, she said.

Crew is currently streaming on Netflix.
In a big development in the Renuka Swamy murder case, his wife, Sahana has now claimed that she is three months pregnant. In her recent interaction with media personnel, Swamys wife slammed Darshan and demanded justice for her husband.

We married a year ago and I am expecting a baby. My husbands death in such a situation has left me shattered. How can I lead my life now, she said as quoted by Deccan Herald.

Renuka Swamys wife further claimed that he never sent any derogatory messages to anyone and added, My husband called me on June 8 afternoon. If my husband had sent derogatory messages on social media, he should have been given a warning. What was the need to kill him. She further demanded justice and said, Whether he is an actor (Darshan) or a star, I want justice.

Why Is Darshan Arrested In Renuka Swamy Murder Case?

For the unversed, Darshan was arrested by the Bengaluru police on Wednesday (June 11) in connection to the Renuka Swamy murder case. 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. It is said that a wooden log was used to fatally injure him. The perpetrators intended to dispose of the body in the Vrushabhavati valley, but it was discovered stuck and being tampered with by dogs.

According to police officials, Renuka used to send vulgar messages to Kannada actress 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. Reportedly, 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.

Police officials are now investigatin the case and Darshan has been sent to 6-day police custody.
On Wednesday, Pawan Kalyan took the oath as the Deputy Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh. However, hawk-eyed fans noticed something unusual about the AlluKonidela family: actor Sai Durgha Tej, previously known as Sai Dharam Tej, has unfollowed his cousin, actor Allu Arjun, on both X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram. Fans expressed their surprise on X, noting that Sai had also unfollowed Allus wife, Sneha Reddy, on both platforms. The only member of the Allu family Sai still follows is Allu Sirish.

Fans shared screenshots showing that Sai is only following Sirish on Instagram, commenting, Actor #SaiDharamTej unfollowed #AlluArjun on Instagram & Twitter.

Allu has never followed anyone on X and only follows his wife on Instagram. A family source told HT that Sai hasnt followed Allu for a while. People just noticed that Sai hasnt been following Arjun and Sneha since he unfollowed them after the elections, the source explained. Both the actors team and the source refused to say more.

Allu has been absent since Pawans Jana Sena Party (JSP) won the elections in Andhra Pradesh. The actor did not attend the swearing-in ceremony or the family celebration in Hyderabad. Sai Durgha Tej, Varun Tej, and other cousins were present. Before the elections, Allu tweeted in support of his uncle Pawan and later went to Nandhyal to support YSRCP constituency candidate S Ravi Chandra Kishore Reddy.

Pawan Kalyan has set the record as the second person from the mega family to become a minister, following Chiranjeevi. At the swearing-in ceremony today, PM Narendra Modi was seen holding Chiranjeevi and Pawan Kalyans hands as he stepped onto the stage. He raised their hands and greeted the crowd, then hugged them warmly. The video is now going viral on social media. The camera also captured actor Ram Charan beaming with pride as the honourable Prime Minister hugged his father, Chiranjeevi. Ram Charan looked dashing in a black shirt.
Hours after it was reported that Mumbai Police interrogated Salman Khan in the firing case, it has now been revealed that the actor was asked around 150 questions. Police sources have revealed that a four-member team from the crime branch visited Khans residence at noon on June 4, 2024. Reportedly, they recorded Salmans statement for four hours.

During the interrogation, Salman reportedly praised Mumbai Police and shared that there was a party at his residence the night before gunshots were fired. He also shared that he woke up to the sound of the gunfire.

Besides Salman, his brother Arbaaz Khan was also questioned by the police officials. Reportedly, his 4-page long statement was recorded in two hours. Arbaaz was also asked around 150 questions during which he revealed that he was not at the residence when the firing incident took place. He was at their Juhu residence.

Salman Khans father Salim Khan was also at the residence when the crime branch team visited to record statements. However, he was not quizzed by the officials considering his old age.

Police sources also claim that the crime branch will soon initiate the process of taking Lawrence Bishnoi into their custody.

In April this year, gunshots were fired outside Khans Galaxy Apartments in Mumbais Bandra area. Later, it was reported that the Lawrence Bishnoi gang is alleged to be behind the attack as the gangsters brother, Anmol Bishnoi, claimed responsibility for the shooting incident via a Facebook post. A total of six persons have been arrested in the case by Mumbai police as of now.

Last month, the President of the All India Bishnoi Society, Devendra Budiya, also issued a statement and argued that the Bollywood superstars apology would be considered if he seeks forgiveness. If Salman himself apologizes, the Bishnoi society will consider the apology. The mistake was not made by Somy Ali, but it was committed by Salman, the Bishnoi gang leader told IANS, as quoted by Pinkvilla.

Therefore, he should propose to the Bishnoi society that he wants to apologize. He should come to the temple and seek forgiveness. He should further take an oath that he will never make such a mistake in the future and will always work to protect wildlife and conserve the environment. If he does this, a decision of the society to forgive him will be considered, he added.

After the shocking incident, Salman Khans security was upgraded.
Mumbai Police recorded actor Salman Khans statement on Wednesday, June 12 in connection to the firing case outside his house. As reported by the news agency PTI, a four-member crime branch team visited Khans Galaxy Apartments in Bandra and recorded his statement for 4 hours.

Not just Salman but his brothers  Arbaaz and Sohails statements were also recorded. While Salmans statement was recorded for nearly four hours, his brothers statement was recorded for more than two hours, an official said.

In April this year, gunshots were fired outside Khans Galaxy Apartments in Mumbais Bandra area. Later, it was reported that the Lawrence Bishnoi gang is alleged to be behind the attack as the gangsters brother, Anmol Bishnoi, claimed responsibility for the shooting incident via a Facebook post.

In April this year, gunshots were fired outside Khans Galaxy Apartments in Mumbais Bandra area. Later, it was reported that the Lawrence Bishnoi gang is alleged to be behind the attack as the gangsters brother, Anmol Bishnoi, claimed responsibility for the shooting incident via a Facebook post. A total of six persons have been arrested in the case by Mumbai police as of now.

Last month, the President of the All India Bishnoi Society, Devendra Budiya, also issued a statement and argued that the Bollywood superstars apology would be considered if he seeks forgiveness. If Salman himself apologizes, the Bishnoi society will consider the apology. The mistake was not made by Somy Ali, but it was committed by Salman, the Bishnoi gang leader told IANS, as quoted by Pinkvilla.

Therefore, he should propose to the Bishnoi society that he wants to apologize. He should come to the temple and seek forgiveness. He should further take an oath that he will never make such a mistake in the future and will always work to protect wildlife and conserve the environment. If he does this, a decision of the society to forgive him will be considered, he added.

After the shocking incident, Salman Khans security was upgraded. Earlier, the actor had two PSOs. Now, two commandos, two escort vehicles and 11 cops under the Y+ category security have also been provided to him. Additionally, personnel in the security convoy will carry two automatic guns.
At the closely guarded border between North and South Korea, the rivals who havent had any meaningful negotiations in yearsthe odd, cold war-style tactics continue day after day. North Korea has been launching hundreds of balloons carrying garbage and even excrement towards South Korea since last month. In response, South Korea resumed what is known as a propaganda broadcast. On June 9, KST, South Korea re-deployed massive loudspeakers along the border with the North to broadcast anti-North Korean propaganda. As per South Korean media reports, the broadcast featured BTS smash songs Butter and Dynamite.

North Korean leader Kim Jong-uns sister, Kim Yo-jong, expressed her disapproval of the propaganda programme by saying that it might potentially lead to a crisis of confrontation.

South Korean media outlet Koreaboo quoted her as saying, This is a prelude to a very dangerous situation.

Professor Leif-Eric Easley of Seouls Ewha University told ABC News that both Koreas are currently attempting to exert pressure and dissuade one another by politically symbolic actions.

Easley stated that tensions at the border run the risk of escalating into unintentional war since no party wants to be perceived as giving up. As for South Korea, its decision to redeploy the large speaker on Sunday can be interpreted as a return of its anti-Pyongyang propaganda broadcasts.

Along with BTS songs, they reportedly broadcasted news on Samsung, the largest South Korean firm, weather predictions and external criticism of the Norths missile programme and its censorship of outside media. The event, according to the Washington Times, took place in Seouls picturesque neighbourhood of Buahm Dong, which is enclosed by mountains.

Less than one mile separates Buam Dong from Gwanghwamun, Seouls busy city centre and the location of the US Embassy and Ministry of Foreign Affairs. On the other hand, this past weekend saw the beginning of North Koreas filth balloon onslaught. Up to 330 are claimed to have launched, but only 80 have been reported to have landed in the South due to shifting wind patterns.

The bombardment appears to be a reaction to balloons that South Korean activists, some of whom are defectors from North Korea, sent into the North.

In order to entice North Korean residents to pick them up, the balloons are laden with anti-regime propaganda and USB drives are filled with K-pop songs, used toilet paper, K-dramas and occasionally, US currency. Even though the southern balloons were allegedly launched by private-sector entities rather than the government, Seoul formally entered the retaliatory arena this week.

The primary Chosun Ilbo daily said that the military broadcasts, known as Voice of Freedom, opened with the Souths national anthem and a clarification of why Seoul was resuming its propaganda operations. The Comprehensive Military Agreement (CMA), a bilateral mechanism for reducing tension, was signed in 2018 amid an easing of cross-border tensions and a pro-engagement government in Seoul.

Both sides have since accused each other of violating CMA guidelines and Seouls National Security Council then announced the agreements official suspension.
There is a common template of violence against minorities in Pakistan. The members of the Muslim community publicly accuse their immediate neighbours, with whom they have strained relations, of committing blasphemy. This is followed by an attack by a Muslim mob, leading to widespread destruction of property and loss of life. Such incidents are common in Pakistan. They also reflect the harsh reality endured by religious minorities in the country.

Time and again, these communities fall victim to mob violence, triggered by unfounded allegations from members of the Muslim community, often arising from trivial personal disputes. This recurring pattern of violence against minorities was recently witnessed in the Sargodha district of Pakistans Punjab province.

On May 25, a violent Muslim mob targeted the home of Nazir Masih, a Christian in his seventies, and his son, Sultan Masih, situated in the Mujahid colony of Sargodha district. The assault followed an accusation that Nazir Masih had desecrated the Quran by burning its pages. This accusation was levelled by their neighbour, Ayub Gondal, known for his affiliation with the fundamentalist political party Tehreek-e-Labaik Pakistan (TLP). The TLP, with its backing from the state and mainstream political circles, has a long history of perpetrating attacks to intimidate and persecute the countrys religious and sectarian minorities.

According to a fact-finding report by the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP), Gondals accusation stemmed from a confrontation between his children and Sultan Masih, who resides in a neighbouring house adjacent to Nazir Masihs. Although law enforcement agencies intervened to rescue the two families, Christian residents claimed that the Punjab police intentionally abandoned the septuagenarian, allowing the TLP-led mob to seek retribution. Nazir Masih passed away in a hospital on the intervening night of June 2-3.

Over time, Pakistan has gained notoriety as one of the most perilous environments for religious minorities, including Hindus, Ahmadis, and Christians, among others. State institutions have consistently supported fundamentalist groups like the TLP, which repeatedly perpetrate violence against minority communities, relegating them to the fringes of the countrys socio-political landscape. Consequently, these minorities have endured repeated acts of violence, such as targeted assassinations, lynching, mob violence, forced conversions, sexual violence against women and girls, and desecration of places of worship and cemeteries.

Pakistan has experienced a notable increase in cases involving the abduction and forced conversion of minority girls. According to the HRCPs 2023 report, in Pakistan, more than 1,000 girls under the age of 16, primarily from Hindu and Christian communities, are abducted and compelled to convert to Islam every year. Despite the international outcry against this surge in forced conversions, successive Pakistani administrations have chosen to turn a blind eye in efforts to placate the majority community. Consequently, a UN report in 2023 expressed deep concern over the abduction of girls as young as 13, who are trafficked far from their homes, coerced into marriage with men often twice their age, and compelled to convert to Islam.

For instance, on February 12 this year, a 10-year-old girl named Laiba Suhail was kidnapped by four men from her home in the Faisalabad district of Punjab province. The men handed over Laiba to Shaukat Shah, a known local cleric with a history of forcibly converting minority children to Islam. According to media reports, Shah operates a criminal syndicate with the support of local authorities, including the police, who refrain from filing kidnapping cases against him. This local cleric coerces kidnapped children into filing court affidavits stating they willingly converted to Islam after being impressed by its teachings.

Based on affidavits, when the magistrate sends these girls to government shelters, Shah moves them to his seminary with the support of authorities. As Laibas father, Suhail Masih, lamented, it defies logic how a magistrate could rely on a coerced affidavit from a 10-year-old to approve such arrangements.

Similarly, in June 2021, a 12-year-old Christian girl, Farah was abducted, raped, shackled, before being forcibly converted, and made to wed her kidnapper in the Faisalabad city. It may be noted that under the Islamic Sharia law in Pakistan, marriages under the age of 16 are acceptable in case those marrying are Muslims. As such, the kidnappers forcibly convert the abducted underage minority girls before marriage and exploit the law to get the courts approval.

In the case of Farah, it took five months of sustained pressure from many human rights bodies to push Punjab police to present Farah before the court. Surprisingly, on hearing her plea, the magistrate sent her to a womens shelter instead of her parents, based on her coerced affidavit. Though the court finally nullified Farahs forced marriage and allowed her to return to her family, there was still no action taken against her abductor.

Unlike Farah, in the case of the 13-year-old Arzoo Raja, abducted by 44-year-old Ali Azhar who also forcibly married her, in Sindh province, the court approved the marriage based on Arzoos affidavit signed under duress. Sindh Police even fabricated marriage papers which listed Arzoos age as 18, despite her government-issued birth certificate showing her as 13 years old. Pakistani authorities unwillingness to act against such crimes demonstrates their complicity in patronisation of such anti-minority activities.

Another prevalent method employed in Pakistan against its religious minorities involves allegations of blasphemy. Pakistan has probably the most stringent blasphemy laws in the Islamic world. These laws, intertwined across different sections of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC), criminalise any action or expression perceived as insulting to Islam or its revered figures. For instance, desecration of places of worship carries a two-year prison sentence (Section 295), while disparaging Islam incurs a penalty of ten years imprisonment (Section 295A). Similarly, desecrating the Quran is punishable by life imprisonment (Section 295B), and any derogatory remarks, whether spoken, written, direct, or indirect, about Islams prophet or his companions, are punishable by death (Section 295C). Additionally, various provisions under Section 298 specifically target the Ahmadiyya community, criminalising their identification as Muslims.

Just a year before the recent Sargodha incident, in August 2023, Pakistan had witnessed horrific violence against Christians in Jaranwala, Punjab. The onslaught, again led by the TLP mob, resulted in the destruction of hundreds of homes, including over two dozen churches, forcing over 10,000 Christians to flee from the area. This violence erupted following baseless allegations of burning the Quran against two Christian men, Umar Saleem and his brother Umair Saleem. The incitement for vigilante justice came through mosque loudspeakers, leading to attacks on 11 Christian neighbourhoods in the city. Notably, the two brothers, charged under Sections 295 A, B and C, were acquitted by a Pakistani anti-terrorism court in March 2024. The court ruled that these men were falsely implicated in a carefully orchestrated scheme by resentful Muslim neighbours.

Consequently, the majority Sunni community of Pakistan has frequently exploited these legal mandates against minorities to settle personal disputes. This systematic misuse of blasphemy laws and the ensuing mob violence against minorities have tragically become commonplace in Pakistan, resulting in shattered lives and fractured families. According to the HRCPs 2023 report, the abuse of these laws and the perpetration of mob violence against minority communities were described as recurring phenomena in Pakistan.

In Punjab province alone, authorities recorded 179 blasphemy cases in 2023. A total of 552 individuals were incarcerated in the province for blasphemy-related offences, including 19 children. Among those detained, 485 are awaiting trial, 44 have been convicted, and an additional 23 were either unconfirmed as condemned or on death row. Similarly, in Sindh, 82 people were imprisoned under these laws in 2023.

As Pakistans religious minorities face intimidation from the majority through abductions, coerced conversions, and blasphemy accusations, there is an urgent need for thorough reforms to protect the rights and honour of these persecuted communities. The international community must step up to pressure Pakistan into ensuring the rights of every individual are respected, putting an end to the unchecked support of certain socio-religious groups that have consistently targeted religious minorities without consequence.

The writer is an author and columnist and has written several books. His X handle is @ArunAnandLive. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18s views.
On June 10, the first full working day of his third term, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had an action-filled day. He attended office in the South Block in the morning, chaired the first meeting of his Cabinet in the evening, and in between, exchanged pleasantries with the prime ministers of Pakistan and Canada.

Day one of the third consecutive term of Prime Minister Modi was marked with three salutary decisions-

The release of the 17th installment of the Kisan Nidhi Scheme. The prime ministers first official action on Monday was to sign off on the release of the Rs 20,000 crore instalment, benefiting an estimated 9.3 crore farmers. The first decision taken during the inaugural Cabinet meeting held in the evening was to allocate an additional three crore rural and urban housing units under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY), scheduled to be completed over the next five years. This ambitious plan would require an investment of approximately Rs 5,00,000 crore. Notably, these PMAY houses will be equipped with essential amenities such as toilets, electricity, and cooking gas connections, ensuring dignified living conditions for their occupants. The highly anticipated decision awaited by the nation, along with opinion makers, particularly in light of alleged arm-twisting by coalition partners, was the last to be announced on that day: portfolio allocation. It was expected to be a tightrope walk for the prime minister. However, the way it unfolded, I call it a mission impossible not only made possible but made to look simple.

Significant messages are emerging from the allocation of portfolios. The more important are as under-

One, Prime Minister Modi, as in his previous administrations, has retained control of the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions; the Department of Atomic Energy; the Department of Space; all significant policy issues; and any portfolios not specifically allocated to other ministers.

Two, PM Modi has once again shown complete faith in his trusted inner circle. The Cabinets fulcrum remains not only intact but further fortified, with its heavyweights entrusted to shoulder the weightiest responsibilities. The portfolio allocation reflects continuity from the prime ministers previous two terms, demonstrating a judicious distribution of ministries. Notably, incoming heavyweights, particularly experienced former chief ministers, have been entrusted with key roles, regardless of their party affiliations. Even the allotment of the portfolios to junior ministers exhibits careful consideration and strategic thinking.

Three, the biggest indication of continuity stems from the fact that there have been no changes in the critical Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS), with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Home Minister Amit Shah, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar retaining their respective portfolios. This signifies that the prime minister has complete confidence in his core team, upon whom the most significant governance decisions depend. Amit Shah makes history as the first home minister to secure a second term, while Nirmala Sitharaman becomes the first woman finance minister to achieve this feat. S. Jaishankar also breaks new ground as the first EAM to be reappointed.

Four, Prime Minister Modi has also reaffirmed his confidence in experienced ministers from his previous term, alongside welcoming new heavyweights to the Cabinet.

Several key figures have retained their portfolios: JP Nadda returns to the Ministry of Health, adding the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilisers to his responsibilities, Nitin Gadkari retains his famous Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, while Piyush Goyal continues to lead the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. Dharmendra Pradhan remains at the helm of the Ministry of Education, while Ashwini Vaishnaw retains Railways, Electronics and Information Technology, and assumes additional responsibility for the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. Hardeep Singh Puri continues to oversee Petroleum and Gas, and Bhupender Yadav retains his role at the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change at a time when global warming led climate change is becoming a real threat to the nation.

Five, apart from Prime Minister Modi and Rajnath Singh, there are five former chief ministers in the NDA 3.0 government. The portfolio allocation does complete justice to their experience and expertise.

Veteran administrator Shivraj Singh Chouhan, widely acclaimed for his stellar performance in leading the BJP in Madhya Pradesh, takes on the crucial Agriculture, Farmers Welfare, and Rural Development portfolio, at a critical juncture of agrarian unrest. This appointment comes at a time when Indian agriculture has primarily become a two-crop phenomenon (rice and paddy) due to high Minimum Support Prices (MSP) and next-generation agrarian reforms are need of the hour.

Manohar Lal Khattar takes charge of the Housing and Urban Affairs portfolio at a time when the urban landscape is undergoing significant changes and rapid urbanisation is occurring. Cities and towns are increasingly contributing to the countrys GDP, with their share nearing 75 per cent. He also has to shoulder the important Ministry of Power.

HD Kumaraswamy takes on the weighty responsibility of the Heavy Industries and Steel Ministries. This appointment is significant given that Indias journey to becoming a developed nation hinges on substantial growth in both steel production and consumption. Currently, Indias per capita steel consumption lags significantly at 81 kg, compared to the global average of 219 kg and Chinas substantial 646 kg.

Jitan Ram Manjhi is entrusted with the Ministry of MSME. If the malady of growth without commensurate employment generation, which has been observed in much of independent India, is to be cured, MSMEs must play a pivotal role. Manjhi, along with Piyush Goyal (Commerce and Industry) and HD Kumaraswamy (Heavy Industries), faces the formidable task of boosting both the contribution and employment share of industry in the Indian economy. Currently, industry accounts for 27.6 per cent of Indias GDP while employing a mere 17 per cent of the workforce.

Former Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal takes charge of the Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways, a portfolio crucial to Indias export-led growth as well as reducing Indias internal logistics costs, as inland waterways are the cheapest source of domestic transport.

Six, among those who have been laterally shifted, Jyotiraditya M. Scindia, who served as Civil Aviation Minister in the previous government, now takes on the portfolio of Communications. He also assumes responsibility for the crucial Ministry of Development of the Northeastern Region, a timely appointment given the yearlong unrest in Manipur and the need for a fresh approach to integrating the Northeast with the national mainstream.

Kiren Rijiju moves to the Parliamentary Affairs Ministry, a critical role given the need for effective floor management in the face of a strong Opposition. Rijiju, a Buddhist, will also oversee Minority Affairs. Annapurna Devi, one of only two women elevated to Cabinet rank, takes charge of the Women and Child Development Ministry.

Seven, among the new entrants are several noteworthy figures. Thirty-six-year-old Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu of the TDP, the youngest minister in NDA 3.0, takes charge of the Civil Aviation Ministry as India experiences booming air traffic growth. Chirag Paswan of the Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) gets the Ministry of Food Processing, a role previously held by his father, with a key focus on reducing hidden unemployment in rural areas. Seasoned politician Rajiv Ranjan Singh, alias Lalan Singh, from the JDU assumes leadership of the Panchayati Raj Ministry.

Eight, among the Ministers of State with Independent Charge, several key appointments stand out. Dr Jitendra Singh takes on Science and Technology and Earth Sciences, in addition to several responsibilities within the Prime Ministers Office. Jayant Chaudhary assumes leadership of the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, alongside his role as MoS in Education.

Arjun Ram Meghwal has been entrusted with independent charge of Law and Justice, while also serving as MoS of Parliamentary Affairs. Jadhav Prataprao Ganpatrao receives independent charge of Ayush and will also serve as MoS of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

Nine, the Cabinet reflects a careful balance between experience, expertise, and youthful energy, particularly notable with the inclusion of 33 new faces in NDA 3.0. While a comprehensive analysis of the 36 junior ministers of states roles and responsibilities is beyond the scope of this discussion, its clear that their portfolio allocations have been thoughtfully conceived and crafted. Now, the onus is on the cabinet ministers to effectively delegate responsibilities to their deputies in the best interest of good governance.

The author is Multidisciplinary Thought Leader with Action Bias, India Based International Impact Consultant, and key watcher of changing national scenario. He works as President Advisory Services of Consulting Company BARSYL. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18s views.
The result of the 2024 Lok Sabha election has raised many eyebrows in Kerala. Even though it was expected that the Congress party would outperform the left, many were in disbelief about the victory of the BJP candidate from Thrissur. Suresh Gopi, a popular Malayalam film actor and philanthropist, won the Thrissur seat by defeating the rival CPI candidate with a sizable margin of 74,686 votes. He became the first candidate to get elected to the Lok Sabha from Kerala on a Lotus symbol. The BJP also secured 19.14 per cent of the vote share in Kerala, its highest in any election till date. The left alliance won one seat, while the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) won 18 out of 20 seats.

After their electoral debacle in West Bengal and Tripura, Kerala remains the last bastion of the left parties. The Left alliance came to power in Kerala in 2016, and they repeated their victory in 2021, outwitting anti-incumbency in a state known for changing governments every five years. But various allegations of scams and favouritism, cell rule, and CPIM controlling government machinery have all resulted in the rise of public sentiment against the state government. The ruling CPIM is also facing various internal issues, often resulting in a weakening of its organisational structure.

With the BJP becoming a formidable force in Kerala, it is important to analyse whether the left parties are facing an existential crisis in their last stronghold.

Keralas Changing Political Dynamics

Kerala had always followed bipolar politics from the very beginning. The CPIM-led Left Democratic Alliance (LDF) and UDF were dominating the political scene, while the BJP remained a distinct third, with its presence felt most in southern Kerala. Things started to change in 2014 when BJP candidate O Rajagopal came in second in the Thiruvananthapuram Lok Sabha seat, losing the seat to Congresss Shashi Tharoor by a small margin of 15,470 votes. But during the state assembly elections of 2016, the BJP won an assembly seat for the first time in Nemom constituency (Thiruvananthapuram district). Election after election, the BJP has been witnessing a gradual increase in voting percentage.

The BJPs phenomenal growth elsewhere in the country could not be reciprocated in Kerala so far due to two reasons: (i) the high concentration of the minority population (4550 per cent) and (ii) the strong presence of Communist parties. Traditionally, Muslims (28 per cent of the Kerala population) and Christians (18 per cent) voted en masse to the UDF while Ezhavas (26 per cent) predominantly voted for the LDF. Nairs (14 per cent) constituted the solo vote bank of the BJP.

The BJP knew that winning seats in Kerala was impossible without the support of Ezhavas and Christians. Knowing that Ezhavas formed the core vote base of the LDF, the BJP was instrumental in the formation of a political outfit named Bharat Dharma Jana Sena (BDJS), which was floated by Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalana Yogam (SNDP), the caste organisation representing Ezhavas. Since then, BDJS has been an ally of the BJP. This combination attracted Ezhava votes to the NDA fold.

In order to attract Christian voters, the party brought in prominent Christian faces like Alphonse Kannanthanam, Jacob Thomas, Anil Antony (son of former Union Defence Minister A K Antony) and many others. The party also organised Sneha Yatra, intended to visit Christian houses during Christmas and Easter celebrations. In Thrissur Lok Sabha constituency, where the BJP won, 21 per cent of the Christian population and the BJP received a handful of their votes.

BJPs Performance in Keralas Lok Sabha Seats

The BJP has increased its vote share to an all-time high of 19.14 per cent in the 2024 Lok Sabha election from 15.64 per cent that it received in 2019. The BJP showed a phenomenal rise in votes throughout the state. The party lost Thiruvananthapuram and Attingal Lok Sabha constituencies only by a margin of around 16,000 votes. They also increased their votes by one lakh in the parliamentary constituencies of Alappuzha and Alathur. According to the analysis, the BJP came first in 11 assembly segments and second in 8 constituencies.

As per the BJPs winnability categorisation, both Thiruvananthapuram and Attingal Lok Sabha constituencies are categorised as A plus seats. A plus seats are considered to have a high probability of victory. The BJP secured a lead in the Nemom, Kazhakootam, and Vattiyoorkavu assembly constituencies in the Thiruvananthapuram Lok Sabha seat and also led in the Attingal and Kattakkada segments in the Attingal Lok Sabha seat. The upper hand of the Congress party in the coastal area was only the reason for its narrow victory in the Thiruvananthapuram Lok Sabha seat. But Attingal witnessed a fierce three-cornered fight between the UDF, LDF, and NDA, where the UDF candidate won only by a wafer-thin majority of 684 votes. The difference between the winning candidate and the BJP candidate was only 16,272.

Alappuzha is another seat where the BJP performed exceptionally well. The party had only received 4.31 per cent vote in 2014, which increased to 17.24 per cent in 2019 and even went upward to 28.3 per cent votes in 2024. The party candidate, Shobha Surendran, received immense support from the Ezhava community, and even the functionaries of the SNDP actively campaigned for her. Alappzuha was the only constituency where the left won in the 2019 Lok Sabha contest. Incumbent MP and LDF candidate A M Ariff lost the election this time to Congress National Organisational Secretary K C Venugopal. The BJPs stellar performance in Alappuzha, a left stronghold, clearly indicates the changing trends of Kerala politics.

What ails the left is the fact that the BJP is growing at their expense. In many constituencies, the BJPs increased vote share is directly proportional to the vote loss of the left. This even happened in the constituency of Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and the Lok Sabha constituency of Kannur, which is notorious for political violence between the CPIM and BJP. For the first time in history, the BJP also crossed one lakh votes in Kannur Lok Sabha constituency, where the CPIM faced a defeat from the Congress candidate.

Reasons for the Rise of the BJP in Kerala

Anti-incumbency Against the State Government: The state government is facing widespread allegations of corruption and nepotism. The possibility of a fiscal collapse is looming over the state, and at the same time, the Kerala government has also failed to ensure the states law and order situation. The rise of goonda attacks, especially in the capital district of Thiruvananthapuram, and the inability of Kerala police to take action against them add to the worry. Apart from this, there have been multiple allegations of favouritism towards party members. The anti-incumbency against the state government is exceptionally high. But the fear of speaking against a powerful organisation like CPIM is visible among the common people, and therefore they consider the election an option to express their anger. CPIMs Muslim Appeasement: In order to become a force to reckon with in Malabar and to give political setbacks to the Muslim League, LDF resorted to Muslim appeasement, which antagonised both Hindus and Christians alike. Protests against the CAA and BJPs politics eventually turned into anti-Hindu rhetoric. In Kerala, most of the voters of the CPIM are Hindus. Therefore, both the CPIM and BJP have to benefit from the same vote bank, and the voters disillusioned with the CPIM shift their loyalty to the BJP. Fearful of the economic dominance of Muslims in Kerala, Christians are slowly shifting their allegiance to the BJP. Issues of Love Jihad and Narcotic Jihad have also attracted them towards the BJP. To sum it up, in an attempt to consolidate the Muslim vote bank, CPIM is losing its Hindu votes, and the Muslim vote bank is still loyal to the UDF. Collapse of CPIMs Organisational Structure: CPIM has the highest number of political workers in Kerala. The electoral success of the party is largely attributed to its organisational machinery. But this machinery has started to face major problems. Hundreds of party cadres left CPIM in Alappuzha district, alleging a senior functionarys links with the Islamist Popular Front of India (PFI) and its political offshoot, the Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI). It is to be read with the BJPs increasing footprints in Alappuzha. Keralas Economic Woes: One of the most underrated reasons for the political change in Kerala is the states precarious economic condition. This has eventually resulted in the massive migration of young people to various states and other nations. There is absolutely no industrialisation in the state, and the state is dependent on Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh for edible commodities. The successive state governments did not have any blueprint to uplift the states economy. BJP as an Alternative to CPIM and Congress: People who are miffed with the politics of CPIM are reluctant to consider the Congress party as a viable option. Outside Kerala, both the Left and Congress parties are in a single alliance. They are coalition partners in the neighbouring state of Tamil Nadu. This essentially converts to the narrative that there is no serious difference between the left and the Congress party. Both parties have similar views on various issues. Therefore, the BJP becomes a natural choice for people who oppose the left or the Congress party. Emergence of Political Hindus: Even though Hindus constitute 54% of Keralas population, The political Hindu was missing in Kerala politics from the very beginning. The forward communities chose to support the Congress party, and the backward communities stood firm with the left parties for a long period of time. Post-2014, the emergence of the political Hindu vote bank started to take shape, and the BJP started to gain from it. The alliance with BDJS also helped the party penetrate into the Ezhava vote bank.

On multiple occasions, there have been instances of CPIM and its affiliated organisations openly mocking Hindu religion and its beliefs. Sabarimala was a classic example of CPIM hurting the sentiment of Hindu pilgrims but retracted after its electoral loss in 2019. Their student organisation, the Students Federation of India (SFI), organised beef festivals throughout Kerala in various colleges. They have also used art to defame Hindu beliefs and faith in the form of posters or banners in colleges or even college magazines.

While it is too early to predict a total collapse of the left front in Kerala, they are clearly facing a credibility crisis in the state. After its dismal performance in the Lok Sabha election, troubles have already started in the alliance with the CPI, which is asking for the resignation of the CPIM Chief Minister. There is also an internal power tussle within the CPIM, with certain prominent leaders unhappy with the alleged special treatment given to the son-in-law of CM Pinarayi Vijayan and Keralas PWD minister, Mohammad Riyas.

After opening its account in Kerala, the central leadership of the BJP has started exploring the possibility of winning more seats. This is the reason why Kerala got two berths in the central government this time. Apart from Suresh Gopi, BJP veteran and its Christian face in Kerala, Adv George Kurian, has been accommodated in the ministry this time. The BJP believes that potential Nair-Ezhava-Christian social engineering can be a game changer for the party in Kerala.

There is a major chunk of people who do not vote for the BJP in Kerala, believing that the party does not have winnability. This thought has been breached with its victory in Thrissur. The BJPs performance in the upcoming local body elections of 2025 and the assembly election of 2026 will determine the further course of Kerala politics.

Ganesh Puthur is a political analyst and a recipient of Sahitya Akademi Yuva Puraskar. The views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18s views.
On June 4, India was harked back to the era of coalitions  or so we thought. By June 10, which is when the Cabinet portfolios were distributed, two trends became clear. First, Narendra Modi and the BJP remain firmly in control of the new government at the Centre. Second, the BJP consciously chose to retain many of its sitting ministers in the Cabinet and also took home the lions share of portfolios that were up for grabs.

The reactions to these were also divided on two lines. First, the pro-BJP camp realised that their fear of losing the edge in government was premature. Second, the anti-BJP camp realised that BJPs partners  TDP and the JD(U)  were not going to bat on behalf of the Opposition while in government. As a result, much of their initial euphoria over the results dissipated as soon as the ministerial allocations were revealed, since it became clear that not much was going to change.

Since 2014, the Modi government has carved an image of being decisive and unapologetic about not just its policy decisions, but also its ideology. Its supporters grew fond of the idea of one party dominating the Central government for the larger good of the nation. For a developing country like ours, a strong and stable government is an absolute necessity. This is not the time for coalition politics to damp down the Centres ability to take big decisions and reform the country. Be that as it may, the verdict of June 4 was not as decisive as either the BJP or its supporters had hoped it would be.

That brings me to the anti-BJP camp and the INDIA bloc. After the results, this camp was convinced that the ground had slipped from under PM Modis feet and that he would now be entirely beholden to the likes of Nitish Kumar and Chandrababu Naidu. Their distinguished history of flip-flops convinced many that the NDA sarkar would mostly be operating on borrowed time.

The INDIA bloc was convinced that this would translate into them taking hold of the reins of power sooner rather than later. Even today, Narendra Modi is not considered a legitimate prime minister by this alliance, which is evident from the fact that the top Opposition leaders have not congratulated him for taking oath for a record third time  a feat which so far was Jawaharlal Nehrus alone.

As the list of Union Council of Ministers was announced, much of the INDIA blocs bluster fell flat on its face as the BJP retained all the consequential portfolios. The big 4 ministries, namely home, defence, finance and external affairs continue to be held by the BJP. In fact, there is no change in the composition of the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) whatsoever. Amit Shah, Rajnath Singh, Nirmala Sitharaman and Dr S Jaishankar were all members of the CCS even in Modi 2.0. They continue to be members of the CCS in Modi 3.0 as well.

All that talk of BJPs alliance partners demanding at least two of the top four portfolios, apart from Amit Shahs ouster from government, turned out to be just that  unfounded gossip. In fact, there was speculation that Modi would even have to make Nitish Kumar the deputy prime minister. As is evident now, both Chandrababu Naidu and Nitish Kumar are satisfied with what they have been given. Do not be surprised if the BJP also gets a Speaker of its choice in the Lok Sabha, despite the TDP wanting the same for itself.

Let us now turn our attention to Babu and Kumar. It does not take a genius to figure out that both these leaders are in the fag-end of their political careers. One could argue that the stakes for them are much higher. Nitish Kumar faces incredible anti-incumbency in Bihar, and is hoping that the Centres financial package for the state will help him revive the JD(U)s dwindling fortunes. If Nitish Kumar is to run a successful government for the remainder of his tenure, he needs Prime Minister Modi and the Central government on his side.

Besides, Tejaswi Yadav has emerged as a force to reckon with in Bihar, and stopping the RJDs juggernaut in the state Assembly election next year is not something that Nitish Kumar can do alone. For that, he needs the BJP on his side. Yes, Kumar is one politician whose next move can never be predicted. However, the stakes for him are much higher now, especially in Bihar. If there is something that has emerged from these Lok Sabha polls in Bihar, it is that Tejaswi Yadav is now the frontrunner to become a non-BJP chief minister  at least in the popular imagination.

If Nitish Kumar were to ally with the RJD again, it is unlikely he will be bestowed with the chief ministership. The INDIA bloc would, therefore, be well-advised not to wait for the day of Nitish Kumars latest palti to arrive, as his era of reversals may finally be over.

Chandrababu Naidu, it would appear, is one of those partners the BJP can be a bit more confident about. All that Naidu wants is to write his legacy in golden letters, and for tales to be told about how he developed Andhra Pradesh. He, like Nitish Kumar, is slated to get a handsome financial package for Andhra Pradesh. His primary focus is his state, and even there, developing Amravati on the lines of Hyderabad to further reinforce his image as a CEO CM remains the top priority. For this, he needs all the help from the Centre that he can possibly get.

Without an absolute majority of its own, the BJP is likely to give Naidu whatever he wants for Andhra Pradesh. The underlying understanding is that Naidu, in exchange, does not force Narendra Modis hands in central matters.

Expect No Fundamental Change in Modis Governance

Narendra Modis political career did not start when he became chief minister of Gujarat in 2001. In fact, prior to it, he had the opportunity to navigate the workings of coalition governments in states like Gujarat, Haryana and Jammu and Kashmir. His experience as a troubleshooter from his days as a BJP karyakarta, its organisation secretary in Gujarat, and then as the partys national secretary is about to come in handy until 2029.

Out of the 72 Union ministers that have been sworn in, 59 belong to the BJP while 13 belong to all other NDA partners. That in itself is a tell-tale sign of how PM Modi sees the new government. For all practical purposes, this is still a government dominated by the BJP. The only difference now is that the BJP will have to keep its alliance partners in the loop on all important policy matters, barring national security. That is something the prime minister can easily live with.

Besides, there is a consensus within the NDA that Modi 3.0 must act as a government in continuum, which is to say that no allies are averse to either economic reforms or the BJPs developmental agenda. On matters like UCC and One Nation One Election too, there are signs that both the TDP and JD(U) will be onboard without breaking much sweat.

The only challenge for the BJP now is parliament, where the Opposition numbers, led by the Congress, have swelled. Parliaments functioning will undoubtedly see a marked change from what we have witnessed over the past 10 years  and that is a good thing. However, it will only remain a good feature of this years election if the Opposition does its job well and does not make disruptions and borderline parliamentary hooliganism its mainstay for the next five years.

As far as governance goes, it is continuity all the way. That is what the BJPs dominance of ministerial portfolios and PM Modis decision to retain all important ministers signifies. Instability, wanton compromise and policy paralysis are terms which remain alien to PM Modis dictionary today just as they were before June 4.

Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18s views.
Maharashtra Chief Minister and Shiv Sena chief Eknath Shinde on Tuesday said the Bharatiya Janata Party-led (BJP) National Democratic Alliances 400 paar slogan made people believe the Oppositions false narratives, thus hitting their tally.

The kind of work Prime Minister Narendra Modi did in 10 years, it wasnt done in 50-60 years. But we had to suffer losses in some places because false narratives were spread against usEven in Maharashtra, there were talks that the Constitution would be changed and reservation would goNothing of that sort was going to happen. The 400 paar number in the slogan planted doubts in peoples minds, they thought something might happen later [and believed false narratives], said Shinde.

ALSO READ | All Of Us Are Responsible: Shinde Says Will Reach Out To Fadnavis As He Offers To Resign Over Maharashtra Slip

Lauding Narendra Modi, who is now serving his third term as the Prime Minister, Shinde said, PM Narendra Modi has dedicated his life to the countryWhich PM has not taken a leave in 10 years? It is Modiji. Our state government also contributed to his work. We are their old partners

#WATCH | Mumbai: Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde says, " We had to suffer losses in some places because a false narrative was set up against us Because of the '400 paar' slogan, people began doubting us and believing in the false narratives PM Narendra Modi has dedicated pic.twitter.com/LpWw6JEhb5 ANI (@ANI) June 12, 2024

The 2024 Lok Sabha elections for Maharashtras 48 seats were fought between two alliances  the ruling Mahayuti or NDA comprising BJP, NCP (Ajit Pawar) and Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde) faction and the MVA or Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), with Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray), NCP (Sharad Pawar) and Congress.

The MVA secured 29 seats, while the Mahayuti bagged 18 and one went to a Congress rebel-turned-independent Vishal P Patil in Sangli. Among the two blocs, the MVAs Congress bagged 12, up from two in 2014 and one in 2019, Shiv Sena (UBT)s 10, Nationalist Congress Party (SP)s 7. The Mahayutis BJP secured 11 seats, Shiv Sena 6 and Nationalist Congress Party (Ajit Pawar) just one.

The BJP-led alliance had won 41 seats in 2019. The BJP had won 23 of the 25 seats it had contested in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, while its then alliance partner  undivided Shiv Sena  won 18 of the 23 seats. The undivided NCP, as part of the opposition alliance, had contested 19 seats and managed to win four.

ALSO READ | Not Running Away: Devendra Fadnavis Dismisses Resignation Rumours, Says Have Some Strategy In Mind

Following the BJPs dismal performance, deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis on June 5 said he would ask the BJPs national leadership to relieve him from his responsibilities in the Maharashtra government so that he could work dedicatedly for the party in the state. This debacle that happened in Maharashtra, our seats have been reduced, the entire responsibility for this is mine. I accept this responsibility and will try to fulfil whatever is lacking, he said.

Responding to it, Shinde had said, All of us are responsible for this defeat. I will speak to Fadnavi, he said.

However, on June 8, Fadnavis dismissed all rumours of his resignation from the post of Deputy CM. I am not going to run away and have not taken any decision out of my emotions, but I have some strategy in my mind, he said.
Chandrababu Naidu Takes Oath As Andhra Chief Minister, Pawan Kalyan As His Deputy Telugu Desam Party (TDP) chief N Chandrababu Naidu was sworn in as the chief minister of Andhra Pradesh and Jana Sena Party (JSP) chief Pawan Kalyan as his deputy on Wednesday in a grand event at Kesarapalli IT Park near Gannavaram Airport in Krishna district. Naidu and Kalyan were administered the oath of office by Governor S Abdul Nazeer. Naidus son and TDP General Secretary Nara Lokesh, TDPs Andhra Pradesh unit chief K Atchannaidu, and Jana Sena Party political affairs committee chairman Nadendla Manohar were among the 24 ministers, who were sworn in, too. The grand event was attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, central ministers, and other National Democratic Alliance (NDA) leaders. READ MORE

Andhra Pradesh CM Oath Taking LIVE: Who All Attended Chandrababu Naidu's Swearing In Ceremony Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Former Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu, former Chief Justice of India NV Ramana, Union Ministers Amit Shah, JP Nadda, Nitin Gadkari, Ram Mohan Naidu, Pemmasani Chandra Sekhar, Chirag Paswan, Kishan Reddy, Ramdas Athawale, Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, state BJP president D. Purandeswari were present. Superstars Rajinikanth, Chiranjeevi, popular actor and TDP MLA N. Balakrishna were among those present on the dais.

Andhra Pradesh CM Oath Taking LIVE: Who All Took Oath As Ministers In Chandrababu Naidu's Govt A total of 24 ministers of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) took oath at the ceremony held at Kesarapalli IT Park near Gannavaram Airport. The ministers include three from Jana Sena and one from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). TDPs Andhra Pradesh unit president K. Atchannaidu and Jana Sena political affairs committee chairman Nadendla Manohar were among the key ministers. The other members of Naidus ministerial team are Kollu Ravindra, P. Narayana, Vangalapudi Anitha, Satya Kumar Yadav, Nimmala Rama Naidu, N.M.D. Farooq, Anam Ramanarayan Reddy, Payyavula Kesav, Anagani Satya Prasad, Kolusu Parthsaradhi, Dola Balaveeranjaneya Swamy, Gottipati Ravi Kumar, Kandula Durgesh, Gummadi Sandhyarani, B.C. Jardhan Reddy, T.G. Bharath, S. Savitha, Vasamsetti Subhash, Kondapalli Srinivas and Mandipalli Ram Prasad Reddy.

Andhra Pradesh CM Swearing-In Taking LIVE: Nara Lokesh Takes Blessing Of Father Chandrababu Naidu, PM Modi After Taking Oath Chandrababu Naidus son Nara Lokesh was the next to take oath as the minister. Lokesh, the TDP general secretary, took the blessings of his father, Prime Minister Modi and the Governor.

Andhra Pradesh CM Oath Taking LIVE: Pawan Kalyan Touches Elder Brother Chiranjeevi's Feet After Taking Oath After taking oath as a minister, Jana Sena leader Pawan Kalyan went up to his elder brother megastar Chiranjeevi and touched his feet after hugging him.

Andhra Pradesh CM Oath Taking LIVE: Why Naidu Walked Out Of Assembly In 2021 In 2021, Naidu walked out of the Assembly after his wife was allegedly insulted by some MLAs of the YSR Congress Party and vowed to return only after taking oath as the Chief Minister.

Andhra Pradesh CM Oath Taking LIVE: Chandrababu Naidu Turns Emotional After Taking Oath Telugu Desam Party (TDP) president Nara Chandrababu Naidu turned emotional after taking oath as Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh here on Wednesday. Naidu hugged Prime Minister Narendra Modi soon after being sworn in by Governor S. Abdul Nazeer in the presence of a galaxy of political leaders and celebrities at a ceremony attended by lakhs of people. Amid loud cheers from the audience, the 74-year-old took the oath of office and secrecy in Telugu. The Prime Minister presented him with a bouquet to congratulate him. Naidu was visibly emotional as he hugged PM Modi and returned to his chair next to his wife Bhuvaneswari.

Andhra Pradesh CM Oath Taking LIVE: Key Leaders Who Took Oath Of Office Today Along with Chandrababu Naidu, Nara Lokesh (TDP), K Atchannaidu (TDP), Nadendla Manohar (Janasena), P Narayana (TDP), Kollu Ravindra (TDP), Nimmala Rama Naidu (TDP) and Satya Kumar Yadav (BJP) took oath as ministers. The Pawan Kalyan-led party has got three and BJP one berth in the cabinet. As per the strength of Andhra Pradesh assembly (175), the cabinet can have 26 ministers, including the CM.

Andhra Pradesh CM Oath Taking LIVE:Chandrababu Naidu sworn in as Andhra Pradesh CM, Pawan Kalyan takes oath as Minister TDP supremo N Chandrababu Naidu was sworn-in as the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh for the fourth term on Wednesday at a ceremony that was attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, senior BJP leaders and Union Ministers. Janasena chief and actor Pawan Kalyan, Nara Lokesh, son of Naidu, among others, took oath as Ministers. Andhra Pradesh Governor S Abdul Nazeer administered the oath to Naidu and others. Union Ministers Amit Shah, Nitin Gadkari and J P Nadda, Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde were present. Former Vice president M Venkaiah Naidu, Ex Chief Justice of India N V Ramana and Superstars Rajnikanth and Chiranjeevi also took part.

Andhra Pradesh CM Oath Taking LIVE: 5 More Ministers Take Oath Of Office TG Bharatha, S Savitha, Vasamsetti Subhash, Kondapalli Srinivas and Mandipalli Ramprasad Reddy sworn in as Andhra Pradesh Ministers.

Andhra Pradesh CM Oath Taking LIVE: BC Janardhan Reddy Sworn in As Minister BC Janardhan Reddy sworn in as Andhra Pradesh Minister.

Andhra Pradesh CM Oath Taking LIVE: Gummidi Sandhya Rani Sworn in As Minister Gummidi Sandhya Rani sworn in as Andhra Pradesh Minister.

Andhra Pradesh CM Oath Taking LIVE: Kandula Durgesh Sworn in As Minister Kandula Durgesh sworn in as Minister of Andhra Pradesh.

Andhra Pradesh CM Oath Taking LIVE: Gottipati Ravi Kumar Sworn in As Minister Gottipati Ravi Kumar sworn in as Minister of Andhra Pradesh.

Andhra Pradesh CM Oath Taking LIVE: Veeranjaneya Swamy Sworn in As Minister Dr Dola Bala Veeranjaneya Swamy sworn in as Minister of Andhra Pradesh.

Andhra Pradesh CM Oath Taking LIVE: Aangani Satya Prasad Sworn in As Minister Andhra Pradesh Minister Aangani Satya Prasad sworn in.

Andhra Pradesh CM Oath Taking LIVE: Payyavula Keshav Sworn in As Minister Payyavula Keshav took oath as Andhra Pradesh Minister.

Andhra Pradesh CM Oath Taking LIVE: Nasyam Mohammed Farooq Sworn in As Minister Nasyam Mohammed Farooq took oath as Andhra Pradesh Minister

Andhra Pradesh CM Oath Taking LIVE:Anitha Vangalapudi Sworn in As Minister Anitha Vangalapudi took oath as Andhra Pradesh Minister.
The first session of the 18th Lok Sabha will commence on June 24 and conclude on July 3, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said Wednesday. During the session, the Speaker will be elected, newly-elected members will take oath, and the President will give an address on the first day of the session.

Meanwhile, the 264th session of the Rajya Sabha will also begin on June 27 and end on July 3.

The first three days of the session will see the newly elected leaders taking oath or making affirmation of their membership of the Lok Sabha and electing the Speaker of the House.

President Droupadi Murmu will address a joint sitting of the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha on June 27 and is likely to outline the new governments roadmap for the next five years.

First session of 18th Lok Sabha is being summoned from 24/6/24 to 3/7/24 for oath/affirmation of newly elected members, election of Speaker, Presidents address and discussion thereon, Rijiju said in a post on X.

Prime Minister Modi is expected to introduce his council of ministers to Parliament after the Presidents address on June 27.

This will be the first Parliament session post the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, which saw the BJP coming back to power with a reduced strength. The debate on the Motion of Thanks on the Presidents address is expected to see an aggressive opposition trying to corner the NDA government on various issues.

The prime minister will respond to the debate on the Motion of Thanks on the Presidents address in both the Houses of Parliament.

The National Democratic Alliance returned for a third term by winning 293 Lok Sabha seats across the country. However, the Bharatiya Janata Party suffered a major setback as it fell short of a majority  with 240 seats  on its own and is heavily dependent on alliance partners such as the TDP and JD(U) to maintain the majority 272 seats required to form the government.

The Opposition INDIA bloc combined with the Congress, the Samajwadi Party, Trinamool Congress, and Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam among others won a total of 232 seats.
Odisha CM Oath Ceremony: BJP leader Mohan Majhi took oath as Odisha Chief Minister in Bhubaneswar on Wednesday. Along with the Chief Minister, his deputies Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo and Prabhati Parida were also administered oath by Governor Raghubar Das.

The swearing-in ceremony was attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who was sworn in as PM for the third consecutive term last week and former chief minister Naveen Patnaik.

Majhi, 52, was elected to the state legislative assembly from the Keonjhar seat reserved for STs and is a strong tribal face.

Majhis name was shortlisted after Union ministers Rajnath Singh and Bhupendra Yadav, who were the observers for the Odisha Assembly Election, discussed with all senior leaders and the newly elected MPs and MLAs. After the announcement, Singh congratulated Majhi calling him a young and dynamic karyakarta.

The Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) ended the 24-year rule of Naveen Patnaik-led Biju Janata Dals rule in Odisha. 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.
Yeh hui na baat, said Priyanka Gandhi, cheering the crowd at the Aabhar rally in Raebareili. This is also what the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) bloc is saying to itself. And with this mood, the bloc will now reach parliament to chalk its strategy.

But the Congress has a plan.

First, its idea is that no more should they or the bloc shy away from a fight, even if it is a losing one. The idea is to show that we are not scared of taking you on, said a senior leader.

The Congress is hoping that its numbers and newfound exuberance will ensure that it can win or woo other like-minded parties, which may not be a part of the bloc, so it will reach out to them in the hope to shore up its numbers.

IN PARLIAMENT

This apart, the Congress, along with other INDIA bloc members, is also expected to move a no-confidence motion or resolution against the government on either of the two grounds. One, that the PM has no mandate, and two, the rising stock rates after exit polls shows financial impropriety, hence the government must resign.

It is clear that in Parliament, the Congress and the bloc will not waste time and will keep confronting the government.

IN VARANASI, OTHER STATES

The Congress has other plans as well, as it wants to ensure that it comes on its own in states. In some states, voices are already being raised. Like the Tamil Nadu Congress chief has asked for how long, will the Congress keep depending on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). So it plans to one strengthen itself in states where it is not in power. But more importantly, the Congress will also visit the areas where the BJP has done well or is in power.

For example, in Varanasi, the Congress plans to do more road shows and begin campaigns to show that the PM has done scant work in this star constituency. A small team will be formed which will station and focus on this area. The idea is to cripple the idea that the PM means development and is strong.

As a senior Congress leader said, Varanasi is a start. Picture abhi baaki hai.

At 100, the Congress hopes it can take on the mighty BJP and the work has begun.
A 13-year-old Indian-origin lad has sparked chatter on the internet by meeting Apple CEO Tim Cook. With Apple commencing its Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC), anticipation is high for exciting launches this year. Amid the flurry of visuals circulating from the event, one picture has grabbed significant attention. Shaurya Gupta, the young boy, left everyone astonished as he shared a selfie with Cook. Taking to his social media handle, Shaurya posted the picture with a simple caption, Mission Completed #WWDC24.

While he didnt share much detail about his participation in the event or meeting with the Apple CEO, the post instantly went viral and drew several reactions. A user wrote, Tim Cook seems to be a really genuinely nice guy, while another commented, Nice picture, he will never forget today, Thank you Mr. Cook. Nice.

Many also extended congratulations to Shaurya for his chance encounter with Tim Cook. His tweet has amassed over 2 lakh views and received more than 6,000 likes so far. Additionally, Gupta shared several other snapshots from the event, showcasing his meetings with other prominent figures. He can be seen posing alongside American YouTuber Marques Brownlee, Swift programming author Paul Hudson and Apple VP Susan Prescott.

According to his X profile, Shaurya won the Swift Student Challenge 2024.

BEST day of my life #WWDC24 Met @MKBHD , @twostraws , Susan Prescott and @tim_cook Apple Park is beautifully built, thanks @Apple for organizing this amazing event! pic.twitter.com/d4pU0uZjCP  Shaurya Gupta (@shaurya50211) June 10, 2024

Earlier, Tim Cooks meeting with 22-year-old Akshat Srivastava also got the internet talking. One of the winners of the Swift Student Challenge this year, Akshat Srivastava, was selected for his submission, MindBud.

Kicking off #WWDC24 in the best way possiblemeeting with student developers who won our Swift Student Challenge. Its amazing to see their creativity and determination on full display! pic.twitter.com/b56k8kcGZs Tim Cook (@tim_cook) June 9, 2024

Speaking about the Indian coder, Tim Cook said, I met so many extraordinary developers when I visited India last year, and I saw so much excitement for the many ways that technology can enrich peoples lives. And it was equally 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.

Mentioning that Akshat Srivastava is a part of Indias growing generation of coders who are making an important impact, Tim Cook added that he was amazed by his creativity and determination.

One of the companys biggest annual developer events, the Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC), commenced on June 10 and will conclude on June 14. As of now, Apple has introduced some major updates and releases, including integrated ChatGPT across iOS 18, iPadOS 18 and the new macOS Sequoia.

The company has also released the latest version of Siri.
The real estate costs in places like Bengaluru are as high as the skyscrapers in the city. However, exorbitant rent prices are not stopping people from moving into the city. Recently, a software engineer, Ashish Jha, shared a photo from his 3BHK apartment and wrote, spending Rs 80,000 in rent feels worth it because of such views. This post soon went viral with roughly 10 lakh views since it was shared on June 7. It prompted many people to debate whether it is financially sound to pay such expensive rent when better options are available.

In a conversation with Moneycontrol, the 26-year-old said that he lives in a gated community in Binnipete, which is 15 minutes away from his office and has all places of convenience near him. He said, I respect my time more than money. When I moved from Noida to Bengaluru, I had made up my mind that I would cut the daily commute time as much as possible since in my previous job, I had to travel from Noida to Delhi. He splits the Rs 80,000 rent with two flatmates.

The 80k rent in @peakbengaluru is so worth it at times  pic.twitter.com/9eUS0Y8H6l Ashish Jha   (@the_dream_saver) June 7, 2024

In a follow-up post, he also clarified, Not every area in the city has a water problem, electricity problem. To add to it some areas actually have a very functional metro. And if you live in such an area close to the city centre, the rents are meant to be high.

Okay folks,Not every area in the city has a water problem, electricity problem. To add to it some areas actually have a very functional metro. And if you live in such a area close to the city center, the rents are meant to be high. Bangalore is beyond the techbro localities   Ashish Jha   (@the_dream_saver) June 7, 2024

An X user commented, I would rather spend that 80K roaming the world every month than sitting in a cocoon of a house with that wonky view.

I would rather spend that 80K roaming the world every month than sitting in a cocoon of a house with that wonky view. Kalai (@kalai_tnj) June 8, 2024

Another person suggested, Bro if you are able to afford 80k rent and think its cheap, come to Hyderabad. Flat in the prime area !! You can flex similar views with less traffic jams and better food!!

Bro if you are able to afford 80k rent and think its cheap , Come to Hyderabad will buy you new. Flat in prime area !! You can flex similar views with less traffic jams and better food !! taha masood (@bawazeertaha) June 8, 2024

In response to the critical comments, someone wrote, God some people are so jealous to see a guy having the ability to spend 80k in the house rent alone. Yall should take points and stop comparing everything with the amount of money spent.

God some people are so jealous to see a guy having the ability to spend 80k in the house rent alone. Y'all should take points and stop comparing everything with the amount of money spent. rakshita upadhyay (@wrotagonist) June 8, 2024

Ashish Jha told Moneycontrol revealed one regret about his current living situation and said, All my friends live too far away! And it takes us a lot of time to visit each other, but apart from that, I have no other regrets.
In a scene similar to that of gripping island survival movies, a kite surfer found himself stranded on a beach south of Davenport Landing in northern California last weekend. Instead of waiting in hope, the man crafted a straightforward yet clever SOS message in order to get himself rescued. The kite surfer used rocks to spell out the word HELP on the sand. His message was spotted by a private helicopter which altered the emergency authorities.

The California Fires San Mateo-Santa Cruz Unit wrote in a Facebook post that the man was in good physical condition but needed to be airlifted to get off the beach.

A kite surfer was rescued off a beach south of Davenport Landing after being stranded. He used rocks on the beach to spell out the word HELP. He was spotted by a private helicopter who then called 911. CAL FIRE, Santa Cruz County Fire, CAL FIRE Santa Clara Unit Copter 612, Santa Cruz Fire Department and California State Parks all worked together to complete the extraction. The surfer did not need medical attention, only help from the beach, the agency wrote.

In the videos and photos shared by the agency, the kite surfer can be seen being airlifted to safety. In the visuals, the word HELP spelt out using rocks is clearly visible.

California Department of Forestry Fire Captain Skylar Merritt described the incident to the Los Angeles Times as a different type of 911 call than they usually receive. He said that the helicopters quick response prevented the man from having to worry about hypothermia or dehydration. Skylar Merritt further said that the rescued man was an experienced windsurfer but encountered exceptionally challenging conditions in the area.

The Guardian citing the Santa Cruz unit of the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire) reported that the kite surfer got stuck on a narrow beach on June 9 surrounded by towering bluffs while the tides were rising.

Merritt told NBC Bay Area that the area is extremely beautiful place to work and live, but he warned that its beauty can give a false sense of security. He explained that the beaches are known for their strong winds, riptides and cold water which can be dangerous.

As per USA Today, three tragic incidents occurred within a 3-mile area that included Davenport Landing in 2021. The incidents led to California Fire officials to issue a safety warning on social media at that time.
Videos of the fire that engulfed a building housing foreign labourers in Kuwaiti capital Kuwait City have gone viral on social media. Videos showed smoke billowing out of windows of the building in Al-Mangaf, a city in Al-Ahmadi governorate, and flames blocking the entrance of the building in the wee hours of Wednesday morning.

BREAKING: 53 people killed and 40 injured in a Mangaf building fire in Kuwait's Southern Ahmadi Governorate. 5 among those killed are Indian. Indian Ambassador to Kuwait has left for the labour camp where fire erupted. pic.twitter.com/CmayupknFT Baba Banaras (@RealBababanaras) June 12, 2024

Kuwaiti officials said the number of deceased is expected to rise. Media outlets of the Western Asian nation said that construction firm NBTC group rented the building for the stay of more than 195 workers, most of them Indians from Kerala, Tamil Nadu and northern states.

The countrys deputy prime minister Sheikh Fahad Yusuf Saud Al-Sabah visited the site. He said that a probe has been launched and accused builders of violating norms for the sake of greed.

Unfortunately, the greed of real estate owners is what leads to these matters, said Sheikh Fahad, who also runs the interior and defence ministries. He issued directions to apprehend the owner and janitor of Al-Mangaf building.

Kuwaits health ministry said the injured were admitted to several hospitals, with 21 of them sent to Al-Adan Hospital, six to Farwaniya hospital, one to Al-Amiri and 11 to Mubarak hospital.

Indian ambassador to Kuwait Adarsh Swaika visited several hospitals including where the injured have been admitted.

Amb @AdarshSwaika visited the Al-Adan hospital where over 30 Indian workers injured in todays fire incident have been admitted. He met a number of patients and assured them of full assistance from the Embassy, the Indian embassy said on X.

Almost all are reported to be stable by hospital authorities, it said.

The Kuwaiti envoy to India said his office is following the probe that has been launched into the matter. We are following the investigations in this matter. His Highness the Emir of the State of Kuwait, demands that the causes of the fire be quickly known and those responsible be held accountable, Kuwaiti ambassador to India Meshal Mustafa J Alshemali said in a statement.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi described the fire incident as saddening and said the Indian Embassy in Kuwait is closely monitoring the situation.

He also dispatched minister of state for external affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh to assist those injured in the fire tragedy and to coordinate with local authorities for early repatriation of mortal remains of those who have died in this unfortunate incident. The minister will soon leave for Kuwait to bring back mortal remains on those deceased and help those injured after holding a meeting with the Prime Minister, people familiar with the developments told CNN-News18.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar expressed deep shock over the incident.

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan also extended condolences to the near and dear ones of those deceased. Officials said the majority of the victims of the fire are Indians, mostly from Kerala.
At least 49 people were killed in Kuwait on Wednesday after a fire broke out in a building housing foreign workers. A government agency for Keralites living outside the state said it had been told by the Indian community in Kuwait that 41 Indians, including 11 from Kerala, had died in the fire.

The building, located in the Mangaf area in Kuwaits southern Ahmadi Governorate, was housing over 160 workers. The fire started in a kitchen in the six-storey building.

ALSO READ | Kuwait Building Fire: 41 Workers, Including 40 Indians, Dead; Deputy PM Blames Greedy Realtors

PM Modi Holds Review Meet

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who was in Andhra Pradesh and Odisha to attend the oath-taking ceremonies of the newly-elected Chief Ministers, held a meet to review the situation relating to the fire incident in Kuwait.

Upon reaching back to Delhi after todays two oath taking ceremonies, chaired a meeting to review the situation in the wake of the fire mishap in Kuwait, where people of Indian origin have been affected. GoI is doing everything possible to assist those affected by this gruesome fire tragedy, PM Modi said on X.

Upon reaching back to Delhi after todays two oath taking ceremonies, chaired a meeting to review the situation in the wake of the fire mishap in Kuwait, where people of Indian origin have been affected.GoI is doing everything possible to assist those affected by this gruesome pic.twitter.com/DVmeCcEGZH  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 12, 2024

PM Modi extended condolences to the families of the deceased and prayed for the quick recovery of those injured. He also announces ex-gratia relief of Rs 2 lakh to the families of deceased Indian nationals from the Prime Minister Relief Fund.

The external affairs ministry said that Prime Minister Modi directed Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh to travel to Kuwait to oversee assistance to those injured in the fire tragedy and to coordinate with local authorities for early repatriation of mortal remains of those dead in the fire.

The fire mishap in Kuwait City is saddening. My thoughts are with all those who have lost their near and dear ones. I pray that the injured recover at the earliest. The Indian Embassy in Kuwait is closely monitoring the situation and working with the authorities there to assist https://t.co/cb7GHN6gmX Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 12, 2024

The fire mishap in Kuwait City is saddening. My thoughts are with all those who have lost their near and dear ones. I pray that the injured recover at the earliest. The Indian Embassy in Kuwait is closely monitoring the situation and working with the authorities there to assist the affected, he said.

As directed by PM Shri @narendramodi Ji, we are immediately departing for Kuwait to provide assistance to those injured in the fire tragedy and to coordinate with local authorities for early repatriation of mortal remains of those who have died in this unfortunate incident. https://t.co/AL1ddgmAVa Kirti Vardhan Singh (  ) (@KVSinghMPGonda) June 12, 2024

The minister will soon leave for Kuwait to bring back mortal remains on those deceased and help those injured after holding a meeting with the Prime Minister, people familiar with the developments told CNN-News18.

The external affairs minister S Jaishankar sent his condolences to the families of affected workers in a social media post and said the embassy will extend all needed support and assistance to those impacted by the fire.

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said that the news that more than 40 people died and many others were injured in the fire is extremely sad. People familiar with the developments told CNN-News18 said that citizens of Kerala are among those who died in the accident. Vijayans office citing him said that the chief minister shares the grief with the family members of the deceased.

Amb @AdarshSwaika visited the Al-Adan hospital where over 30 Indian workers injured in todays fire incident have been admitted. He met a number of patients and assured them of full assistance from the Embassy. Almost all are reported to be stable by hospital authorities. pic.twitter.com/p0LeaErguF India in Kuwait (@indembkwt) June 12, 2024

The Indian envoy to Kuwait Adarsh Swaika also visited the injured Indian workers in Al-Adan hospital and assured them of all assistance. The Indian Embassy in Kuwait City also set up a helpline to aid those affected.

In connection with the tragic fire accident involving Indian workers today, the Embassy has put in place an emergency helpline number: +965-65505246. All concerned are requested to connect over this helpline for updates. The Embassy remains committed to render all possible assistance, the embassy said.

The Indian envoy also visited Farwaniya Hospital in Kuwait City where he met six workers, most of them Indians, the Indian Embassy in Kuwait said via a post on X, along with photographs of the envoy interacting with injured workers.

Amb @AdarshSwaika1 visited Farwaniya Hospital, where 6 workers, expected to be mostly Indians, injured in todays fire-incident were admitted. Hospital authorities confirmed that 4 of them have been released, 1 has been shifted to Jahra hospital & 1 in ward is reportedly stable pic.twitter.com/RPQp9SZ6nq India in Kuwait (@indembkwt) June 12, 2024

He also visited Mubarak Al-Kabeer Hospital where 11 workers have been admitted after sustaining injuries in the fire. Of the 11 workers hospitalised there, 10 are expected to be released soon and the one other worker is in stable condition.

Amb @AdarshSwaika1 visited Farwaniya Hospital, where 6 workers, expected to be mostly Indians, injured in todays fire-incident were admitted. Hospital authorities confirmed that 4 of them have been released, 1 has been shifted to Jahra hospital & 1 in ward is reportedly stable pic.twitter.com/RPQp9SZ6nq India in Kuwait (@indembkwt) June 12, 2024

Farwaniya Hospital authorities, according to the Indian embassy, released four out of the six workers and shifted another to Jahra Hospital. Another worker who is being treated there continues to be in stable condition.

The Kuwaiti envoy to India said his office is following the probe that has been launched into the matter. We are following the investigations in this matter. His Highness the Emir of the State of Kuwait, demands that the causes of the fire be quickly known and those responsible be held accountable, Kuwaiti ambassador to India Meshal Mustafa J Alshemali said in a statement.

S Jaishankar on Wednesday said he was deeply shocked on hearing that 41 people died in the fire that broke out in a building housing workers in the city of Mangaf in southern Kuwait. He said the Indian embassy in Kuwait has also launched a helpline number to help those impacted.

Deeply shocked by the news of the fire incident in Kuwait city. There are reportedly over 40 deaths and over 50 have been hospitalised. Our Ambassador has gone to the camp. We are awaiting further information. Deepest condolences to the families of those who tragically lost their lives. Wish early and full recovery to those who have been injured. Our Embassy will render the fullest assistance to all concerned in this regard, he said.

The Indian Embassy in Kuwait also shared a helpline number and asked those in connection with the tragic fire-accident involving Indian workers to contact in case of any assistance. Adarsh Swaika, the Indian envoy to Kuwait, also visited the building filled with workers that was engulfed by fire. The workers, according to PTI, were employed by the same company.

Ambassador Adarsh Swaika (@AdarshSwaika1) visited the tragic fire-incident site in Mangaf to ascertain the situation. (The) Embassy is in constant touch with relevant Kuwaiti law enforcement, fire-service and health authorities for necessary action and emergency medical health-care, the embassy said in a post on social media site X, sharing two photos of the envoy in the impacted area.

In connection with the tragic fire-accident involving Indian workers today, Embassy has put in place an emergency helpline number: +965-65505246. All concerned are requested to connect over this helpline for updates. Embassy remains committed to render all possible assistance, the Indian Embassy in Kuwait said.

Kuwaits Deputy PM Blames Real Estate Owners

The countrys deputy prime minister Sheikh Fahad Yusuf Saud Al-Sabah blamed real estate owners while accusing them of violations and greed.

Unfortunately, the greed of real estate owners is what leads to these matters, said Sheikh Fahad, who also runs the interior and defence ministries, was quoted as saying by news agency Reuters.

The fire was reported to authorities at 6:00am (local time), Major General Eid Rashed Hamad said.

The building in which the fire occurred was used to house workers, and there was a large number of workers there. Dozens were rescued, but unfortunately there were many deaths as a result of inhaling smoke from the fire. We always alert and warn against cramming too many workers into housing accommodation, another senior police commander told state TV.

Indians constitute 21 per cent (1 million) of the total population of Kuwait and 30% of its workforce (approximately 9 lakhs), a report by PTI said.
A report surfaced claiming that Elon Musk had sexual relationships with female employees at SpaceX and at one instance he asked an employee to have his children on several occasions, a report by the Wall Street Journal has revealed.

Three women have come forward, of which two have claimed that Elon Musk was in a sexual relationship with them, while another has claimed that the billionaire asked her if she could have his babies. One of the women is a former SpaceX intern who was hired into Musks executive team.

The Wall Street Journal report revealed that after the said employee refused to have his children he denied her a raise and complained about her performance.

The newspaper cites text messages, emails, and other documents and interviews with more than 48 people, including friends and family members of the women, as well as former employees.

One of the women who reportedly had a sexual relationship with Musk has also been the subject of the ire of SpaceX President Gwynne Shotwell, who accused her of having an affair with her husband.

When the woman reported the incident to HR, the HR then informed Shotwell. According to The Wall Street Journal, Shotwell instructed the HR department at SpaceX to remove the woman from the office of the chief executive.

In 2021, five former SpaceX employees reported a pervasive culture of sexual harassment within the company. One woman recounted multiple instances where she was groped. In 2022, a flight attendant on Elon Musks private jet alleged that Musk exposed himself to her and offered to buy her a horse in exchange for an erotic massage, as reported by Business Insider. Additionally, earlier this year, a former SpaceX employee filed a lawsuit accusing the company of sexual abuse and discrimination.

The privately-owned space agency is currently under investigation by Californias civil rights agency after allegations were levelled against the company alleging that it discriminates against women and retaliates against employees who voiced their concerns.

(with inputs from the Verge)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday extended condolences to the families of Indian workers killed in a fire in the township of Mangaf in southern Kuwait City. The fire broke out in the kitchen of a six-storey building killing 49 migrant workers of whom 40 were Indians. Dozens were injured and were hospitalised in nearby hospitals.

The fire mishap in Kuwait City is saddening. My thoughts are with all those who have lost their near and dear ones. I pray that the injured recover at the earliest. The Indian Embassy in Kuwait is closely monitoring the situation and working with the authorities there to assist https://t.co/cb7GHN6gmX Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 12, 2024

The fire mishap in Kuwait City is saddening. My thoughts are with all those who have lost their near and dear ones. I pray that the injured recover at the earliest. The Indian Embassy in Kuwait is closely monitoring the situation and working with the authorities there to assist the affected, the Prime Minister said in a post on social media site X.

As directed by PM Shri @narendramodi Ji, we are immediately departing for Kuwait to provide assistance to those injured in the fire tragedy and to coordinate with local authorities for early repatriation of mortal remains of those who have died in this unfortunate incident. https://t.co/AL1ddgmAVa Kirti Vardhan Singh (  ) (@KVSinghMPGonda) June 12, 2024

Meanwhile, the external affairs ministry said that the Prime Minister Modi directed minister of state for external affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh to travel to Kuwait to oversee assistance to those injured in the fire tragedy and to coordinate with local authorities for early repatriation of mortal remains of those dead in the fire.

The minister will soon leave for Kuwait to bring back mortal remains on those deceased and help those injured after holding a meeting with the Prime Minister, people familiar with the developments told CNN-News18.

The Kuwaiti authorities have already launched a probe into the incident. The countrys deputy prime minister Sheikh Fahad Yusuf Saud Al-Sabah visited the site and blamed realtors for their greed.

Unfortunately, the greed of real estate owners is what leads to these matters, said Sheikh Fahad, who also runs the interior and defence ministries.

The Kuwaiti envoy to India said his office is following the probe that has been launched into the matter. We are following the investigations in this matter. His Highness the Emir of the State of Kuwait, demands that the causes of the fire be quickly known and those responsible be held accountable, Kuwaiti ambassador to India Meshal Mustafa J Alshemali said in a statement.

At least 40 Indians were among the 41 killed on Wednesday in the major fire in the building in Kuwait housing migrant workers. The building was housing over 160 workers and most of them were working for the same company.

The Indian envoy to Kuwait, Adarsh Swaika, visited Al-Adan, Jahra and Farwaniya hospitals where he met with injured workers and assured them of all assistance.

The Indian embassy also set up a helpline to extend assistance to Indian workers who have been affected by the fire.

External affairs minister S Jaishankar and Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan also extended condolences to the near and dear ones of the deceased workers.

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said that the news that more than 40 people died and many others were injured in the fire is extremely sad. People familiar with the developments told CNN-News18 said that citizens of Kerala are among those who died in the accident. Vijayans office citing him said that the chief minister shares the grief with the family members of the deceased.
A bust of Mahatma Gandhi in Italy was allegedly vandalised by Khalistani extremists on Wednesday, news agencies reported. The reports also said that the vandals also wrote controversial slogans related to Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar at the busts base.

The incident comes days before Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to travel to Italy to attend the annual summit of G7 advanced economies in his first trip abroad after assuming office for the third straight term.

Foreign secretary Vinay Kwatra said the Indian authorities raised the matter before Italian officials and that necessary actions were taken. Local authorities said the area was cleaned up in record time, news agency Times of India said.

We have taken up the issue of vandalisation of Mahatma Gandhis statue with the Italian authorities. Necessary action has been taken, Kwatra was quoted as saying by the Times of India.

PM Modi is expected to leave for Italy on June 13 and will return late on June 14. However, there is no official announcement on Modis visit to Italy yet.

He will likely be accompanied by External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra and NSA Ajit Doval.

Along with attending the summit he will also 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.

The G7 summit, to be held in the luxury resort of Borgo Egnazia in Italys 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.

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.

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.
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, 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 recognised 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.
This May 2024 image provided by Garry Kozak shows the remains of what experts believe to be is a 10-seat Jet Commander aircraft, resting on the floor of Lake Champlain off Juniper Island, Vermont. (Garry Kozak via AP)
A plane bound for Vienna from Spain suffered serious damage over the weekend after a surprise hailstorm. Austrian Airlines Flight OS434 from Palma de Mallorca issued a mayday call on Sunday afternoon after it flew into the severe weather system that pelted hail at the aircraft, shattering cockpit windows and ripping off part of the airplane's nose, reports the BBC . The airline says in a statement that pilots flew into a thunderstorm "not visible on the weather radar."

Scripps News reports that, according to FlightAware stats, the plane landed in Vienna shortly before 6pm local time, just 19 minutes behind schedule. "All passengers on the flight were unharmed," the airline said in its statement. The New York Post has pictures of the aftermath from the "flight from hail." Passenger Emmeley Oakley tells ABC News they were about 20 minutes from landing when the trouble (and turbulence) started.

"It was quite loud and ... super rocky for a minute," Oakley wrote in a text, noting that "phones and cups" were flying everywhere in the cabin as people screamed. But "the cabin crew did a really good job calming those people down," Oakley added. Another passenger told the Kronen Zeitung newspaper that "I only realized afterwards that it was parts of the nose cone that I saw flying past" the window, per the BBC. Austrian Airlines technicians at Vienna Schwechat Airport are now checking the damage to the Airbus A320 aircraft. (More Austrian Airlines stories.)
An off-duty security guard has been charged with murder after authorities say he stopped three teens outside a store near Seattle because they had what he believed was a firearm, but it was actually an airsoft pistol. King County prosecutors charged Aaron Brown Myers on Monday with second-degree murder in the death of 17-year-old Hazrat Ali Rohani outside a Big 5 Sporting Goods Store in Renton, Washington, the AP reports. Myers, 51, also faces a second-degree assault charge after authorities say he held another teen at gunpoint. What happened:
Tuesday was the first court hearing on the appeal filed by Elizabeth Holmes' lawyers last year, after she was convicted of fraud related to her doomed blood-testing startup. Her defense team is asking the court to overturn that conviction, for which the Theranos founder is currently serving an 11-year prison sentence set to end in 2032 due to good behavior, the Guardian reports. The appeal hearing was also for company president and Holmes' ex Ramesh "Sunny" Balwani, who is trying to overturn his own 13-year prison sentence, the AP reports. Lawyers for both Holmes and Balwani argue that new trials should be granted due to improper procedures and evidence in the cases.
There are fewer than 160 supercentenarianspeople 110 and olderon Earth, and that elite group just lost one of its own. Judith Markoff Hansen confirms to the New York Times that her father, 110-year-old Morrie Markoff, the oldest man in America, died June 3 at his home in Los Angeles after two recent strokes.

Backstory: Born in New York City on Jan. 11, 1914, right before World War I began, Markoff grew up in poverty, trained as a machinist after dropping out of school in eighth grade, and dabbled in photography and sculpting in his spare time. He was married to his wife, Betty, for 81 years, until her death in 2019 at the age of 103.

Born in New York City on Jan. 11, 1914, right before World War I began, Markoff grew up in poverty, trained as a machinist after dropping out of school in eighth grade, and dabbled in photography and sculpting in his spare time. He was married to his wife, Betty, for 81 years, until her death in 2019 at the age of 103. Status as a 'super-ager': Markoff stayed "remarkably lucid" for his age, per the Times, which notes his brain has been donated for research on super-agers (those over the age of 80 who have noticeably agile brains). "Up to his final months, he pored over the Los Angeles Times every morning, discussed the war in Ukraine and other world events, and posted dispatches about his life on his blog," reports the New York Times.
When Bill Gates broke ground on a new construction site Monday in Wyoming, he made a big prediction: Everyone present, he said, was "standing on what will soon be the bedrock of America's energy future." A startup company he co-founded, TerraPower, is building what's described as a next-generation nuclear power plant that could be up and running by 2030, reports Quartz. Details:

The reactor: The plant is designed to be smaller and far less expensive than today's hulking US nuclear plants, reports the New York Times. One key difference is that its reactor will be cooled by liquid sodium instead of water, which allows it to operate at lower pressure and without the thick shielding needed with light-water reactors, explains the newspaper. A blog post by Gates also explains the technical differences. In emergencies, air vents, rather than "complicated pump systems," could kick in.
Cubans gathered at Havana's harbor Wednesday to welcome a Russian convoy of four warships and a nuclear submarine arriving for a five-day show of solidarity between Cold War allies. The frigate Admiral Gorshkov fired a 21-gun salute as it sailed in, CNN reports, which drew a response of cannon fire from an 18th-century colonial fort. Russia says the frigate and the Kazan submarine are capable of carrying nuclear weapons, per the BBC . But Cuba's foreign ministry says the convoy brought no nuclear arms, which concurs with the US assessment.

Russia plans air and naval drills in the Caribbean over the next few weeks for the first time since 2019, in a move seen as a show of force in response to US support for Ukraine. The warships ran through drills, including computer simulations to practice using high-precision missiles, in the Atlantic before reaching Cuba, Russian defense officials said. Two American destroyers and two ships towing sonar equipment shadowed the submarine en route, per CBS News. Small Navy sailboats with cameras followed the Russian ships as they neared Cuba. US planes also were deployed.

American officials, as well as Cuba, maintain that the presence of the Russian vessels poses no threat. In a statement, Russia's defense minister said the visit is an unofficial one, intended to let crews "rest and get acquainted with local attractions." The vessels are docked in spaces usually used by cruise ships. (More Russia stories.)
"We can't allow the Department of Justice and an executive branch agency to hide information from Congress," Speaker Mike Johnson said Wednesday before the House voted 216-207 in favor of holding Attorney General Merrick Garland in contempt of Congress. With the vote, House Republicans made good on their threat to hold Garland in contempt for refusing to hand over audio of President Biden's interview with special counsel Robert Hur. The case will now be referred to the US attorney in Washington for potential prosecution, though a criminal charge is highly unlikely, the New York Times reports.

Precedent. Biden has invoked executive privilege over the materials, and it would go against precedent for charges to be filed against an executive branch official in the case, the Times reports. Executive privilege was cited when the Justice Department declined to prosecute two of Garland's predecessors who were held in contempt, Eric Holder in 2012 and Bill Barr in 2019. Holder was the first AG in history to be held in contempt of Congress.
Three sheriff's deputies were shot Wednesday while responding to a northern Illinois home, and the suspect was also wounded, authorities said. Ogle County Sheriff Brian VanVickle said the deputies were responding to a report that someone inside the home in the Lost Lake gated community near Dixon was threatening to kill themself or others. He said the suspect also was shot. He did not provide the suspect's name or age. VanVickle said a family member called police shortly after 8:30am to report the threats from someone at the home. "This individual had threatened not only suicide, but homicide," the sheriff said, per NBC Chicago .

VanVickle said that a SWAT team arrived around 9:20am and that a hostage negotiator tried to make contact with the suspect, calling the person's cellphone more than 50 times without getting a response, CBS News reports. The sheriff said officers decided to go inside shortly before noon. "Immediately upon entering the house, our deputies received fire from inside the house," he said.

A spokesperson at Katherine Shaw Bethea Hospital in Dixon said three people were taken to the hospital's emergency department, two of whom were treated and released, the AP reports. The spokesperson did not release the condition of the third person. Lost Lake's property owners association describes the area as a "country style community" with about 700 owners in an unincorporated area about 100 miles west of Chicago. (More Illinois stories.)
He also said he had "been gentle with people" and he would not use the word "grope" to describe his actions.



"You want to be gentle. You want to see if they're going to respond positively."



"Would you say all of that was consensual or was it an attempt at seduction, that if it was repelled, by definition becomes I guess non-consensual, that if you're being handsy, if you're groping people, and they don't want to do it," Morgan said.



"Then they should let you know they don't want to do it so that you can understand it's non-consensual and stop," Spacey said in reply.



In May, Spacey denied fresh allegations against him which aired in the ThreeNow documentary Spacey Unmasked. The former House of Cards star has been cleared of sexual assault in trials in the US and UK.



"I take full responsibility for my past behaviour and my actions. But I cannot and will not take responsibility or apologise to anyone who's made up stuff about me or exaggerated stories about me," he said to Kiwi journalist Dan Wootton at the time.



During the interview with Morgan, Spacey also claimed a "message of support" from King Charles had been passed onto him while he was facing his sexual assault trials.

He said while he had not been directly in contact with the monarch, he was "very grateful" for the support.



However, he quickly added he "didn't want to drag him in to all of this", saying: "He's got a lot on his plate and I wish him the very best" in reference to Charles' cancer treatment.



Spacey also said he was on the brink of bankruptcy due to his million-dollar legal fees and has been forced to sell his home while he tried to negotiate his way back into Hollywood.


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TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune  www.newsofbahrain.com

The Kingdom of Bahrain welcomed the United Nations Security Council resolution calling for an immediate, full and complete ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, the release of hostages and exchange of prisoners, the return of civilians to their homes, and the safe distribution of humanitarian aid.

A statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the resolution was an important step towards addressing the catastrophic humanitarian situation and to end the devastating eight-month war.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed its appreciation for the US efforts in submitting and adopting this draft resolution based on the initiative of the US President Joe Biden.

The ministry called upon the international community to ensure the implementation of this resolution in its three phases; a permanent ceasefire, a complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip, a launch of a major reconstruction plan, and supporting just and comprehensive peace negotiations to establish an independent Palestinian state, with East Jerusalem as its capital.
TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune  www.newsofbahrain.com

The Chairman of the Supreme Council of Health, His Excellency Lieutenant General Dr Shaikh Mohammed bin Abdulla Al Khalifa, laid the foundation stone for the new academic building of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) - Medical University of Bahrain, which was held under the patronage of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, and in the presence of several dignitaries.

The event coincided with the celebrations of the Silver Jubilee of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifas ascension to the throne, marking 25 years of His Majestys reign and on behalf of HRH Prince Salman.

On this occasion, Professor Sameer Otoom, President of RCSI Medical University of Bahrain, affirmed the unwavering support of HM the King and HRH the Crown Prince and Prime Minister to continue strengthening and enriching the educational process and developing its outcomes.

Gratitude

Prof Otoom expressed his gratitude to His Royal Highness for his patronage of the ceremony and expressed his appreciation to Dr Shaikh Mohammed bin Abdulla for attending the ceremony.

Giving an overview of the project, Professor Otoom highlighted, For 20 years, RCSI Medical University of Bahrain has been committed to educating and developing healthcare leaders in Bahrain and the Middle East.

Today, we are taking a leap forward with the commissioning of an expansion project spanning over 7,912 sqm, which will increase the Universitys net usable area by 140%, and feature six areas of development: Teaching, Clinical Simulation, Research, Student Experience, Conferring Ceremony & Events and Office Space.

Prof Otoom added, This project aligns with our Green Campus initiative by enhancing operational efficiency and environmental stewardship and providing a springboard for further progress and opportunities to develop programmes which cater to the needs of the national and regional markets and are in line with our Mission to Educate, Nurture and Innovate for the Benefit of Human Health.

Royal patronage

Mr Ghazi Abdulla Nass, Executive Director, Nass Corporation B.S.C., stated: We thank His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, for his patronage of the ceremony to lay the foundation stone for the New Academic Building of RCSI Medical University of Bahrain.

We also thank RCSI Medical University of Bahrain for this collaboration opportunity to build together a vision for the future for the Bahraini youth.
TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune  www.newsofbahrain.com

Her Excellency MP Dr. Maryam Al-Dhaen extended heartfelt congratulations to all outstanding students for the 2023/2024 academic year, emphasising their role as future leaders in building a prosperous nation.

MP Al-Dhaen highlighted the significant advancements in Bahrains educational sector, supported 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.

She praised Ba h ra i n s achievements in providing quality education, enhancing educational infrastructure, and meeting international educational standards.

Dr. Al-Dhaen commended the efforts of the Minister of Education, H.E. Dr. Mohammed bin Mubarak Juma, and all ministry employees for their dedication to educational excellence .

The legislator stressed that investing in students education is an investment in human capital, fostering a creative generation that will drive national achievements across various sectors.
Xi signs order to promulgate revised regulations on military audit

Xinhua) 08:03, June 12, 2024

BEIJING, June 11 (Xinhua) -- Xi Jinping, chairman of the Central Military Commission, has signed a decree to promulgate a set of revised regulations on military audit.

The regulations make clear the economic supervision orientation of military audit, stress its political nature and political functions, and feature more detailed rules for relevant work.

The document is of great significance for better leveraging the role of audit in oversight, and ensuring the high-quality development of China's national defense and armed forces.

The revised regulations have further optimized auditing methods for major projects, and highlighted inter-department coordination to create synergy in oversight.

The regulations, comprising 75 articles in eight chapters, will take effect on July 1.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
HIGHLIGHTS OF THE QUARTER

Revenues up 33.8% to $107.4 million compared to the same period last year.

compared to the same period last year. Gross margins as a percentage of revenues (1) at 29.2% compared to 16.8% a year before.

at 29.2% compared to 16.8% a year before. Net income of $15.3 million , up $9.9 million or 184.2%.

, up or 184.2%. Order backlog (1) at $427.5 million as at April 30, 2024 , excluding new contracts announced on May 28, 2024 .

at as at , excluding new contracts announced on . Announcing cash utilization strategy, including the intention to repurchase up to 3,000,000 shares and the increase of the semi-annual dividend from $0.01 per share to $0.02 per share.

TERREBONNE, QC, June 11, 2024 /CNW/ -

(All amounts are in Canadian dollars unless otherwise noted.)

ADF GROUP INC. ("ADF" or the "Corporation") (TSX: DRX), a North American leader in the fabrication of steel superstructures, recorded revenues of $107.4 million in the first quarter ended April 30, 2024, compared with $80.3 million for the same period a year earlier.

Gross margin, as a percentage of revenue (1), went from 16.8% for the 3-month period ended April 30, 2023, to 29.2% for the same period ended April 30, 2024. The improvement in margins is in line with the increase observed in recent quarters and is largely attributable to a better absorption of fixed costs, in line with the increase in the fabrication volume, the continued favorable impact of the investments in automation at ADF's plant in Terrebonne, Quebec, and a favorable mix of projects.

Adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (Adjusted EBITDA) (2) at $23.1 million, is $13.1 million or 130.3% higher than as at April 30, 2023.

For the first quarter ended April 30, 2024, ADF recorded a net income of $15.3 million ($0.47 per share, basic and diluted) compared with a net income of $5.4 million ($0.16 per share, basic and diluted) for the same period last year.

As at April 30, 2024, the Corporation's order backlog (1) reached $427.5 million excluding the contracts announced on May 28, 2024, totaling $90.0 million.

As at April 30, 2024, the Corporation had a working capital (1) of $127.5 million, while cash flows from operating activities required liquidities of $22.3 million for the quarter ended April 30, 2024.

____________________________________________________________________________ 1. The order backlog, gross margin as a percentage of revenues and working capital are additional financial measures. Refer to the "Non-GAAP and Other Financial Measures" section herein for the definition of these indicators. 2. Adjusted EBITDA is a non-GAAP financial measure. Refer to the "Non-GAAP Financial Measures and Other Financial Measures" section of this press release for the definition of this indicator.

Financial Highlights







Three-Month Periods Ended April 30 2024 2023 (In thousands of Canadian dollars and in dollars per share) $ $ Revenues 107,400 80,271 Adjusted EBITDA (2) 23,099 10,031 Income before income tax expense 21,258 7,925 Net income for the period 15,265 5,371  Basic and diluted per share 0.47 0.16





(In thousands) Number Number Weighted average number of outstanding shares (basic and diluted) 32,640 32,640







2. Adjusted EBITDA is a non-GAAP financial measure. Refer to the "Non-GAAP Financial Measures and Other Financial Measures" section of this press release for the definition of this indicator.

Cash Utilization Strategy of the Corporation

As at April 30, 2024, cash and cash equivalents totaled $48.4 million, a decrease of $24.0 million compared to January 31, 2024. The Corporation was not drawing down its current credit facility as at April 30, 2024 and January 31, 2024. It should be noted that as at the date of this press release, and in light of cash inflow since April 30, 2024, the cash and cash equivalents balance had returned to the January 31, 2024 level, which were then $72.4 million.

The Corporation believes that the available cash will significantly exceed the amounts required to support the growth and execution of its order backlog on hand as at April 30, 2024, and to meet its financial covenants planned for fiscal 2025.

Given the Corporation's favorable financial position, the size of its order backlog and its cash flow generation profile, the Board of Directors is evaluating the options available to the Corporation with respect to the use of excess cash to create value for shareholders, including dividends and share repurchases, and opportunities to finance certain projects that could provide additional long-term competitive advantages and allow the Corporation to benefit from prompt payment discounts negotiated with its suppliers.

With this in mind, the Corporation intends to enter into private agreements, within 30 days of June 12, 2024, with Jean, Pierre and Marise Paschini, members of the Board of Directors and the Corporation's management team, through Les Placements Jean and Diane Paschini Inc., Gestion P.R. Paschini Inc., Les Placements M.A.P.S. Inc. and Groupe JPMP Inc., to purchase, for cancellation, up to a maximum of 3,000,000 Subordinate Voting Shares of the Corporation (including up to 2,500,000 Multiple Voting Shares converted into Subordinate Voting Shares), at a price to be agreed upon by the parties at a discount of at least 3% to the market price of the Subordinate Voting Shares on the TSX and the price of the last independent trade of a board lot of the Subordinate Voting Shares on the TSX immediately prior to the proposed repurchase. The Corporation's Board of Directors has established a Special Committee composed of independent directors to review the terms of the proposed repurchase and to make a recommendation to the Board of Directors with respect thereto, and a favorable decision has been obtained from the Autorite des marches financiers ("AMF") to exempt the Corporation from the requirements applicable to issuer bids under applicable legislation. If such agreements are entered into, the Corporation will issue a press release and information relating to the share repurchase, including the number of shares involved and the total purchase price, will be available on SEDAR+ www.sedarplus.ca following the completion of the proposed repurchase, if any. Jean, Pierre and Marise Paschini have informed the Corporation that the shares in question will be sold to the Corporation for asset diversification and estate planning purposes, that they are not considering any further share sales and that they remain fully committed to growing the Corporation.

Furthermore, the Corporation's Board of Directors approved the amendment to its Dividend Policy to increase its semi-annual dividend from $0.01 per share to $0.02 per share. The amendment will apply to the next dividend payment scheduled for October 2024. We note, however, that the declaration and payment of dividends remains at the discretion of the Corporation's Board of Directors.

New Contracts

On May 28, 2024, the Corporation announced the award of a series of new orders in Quebec, in Western Canada and the U.S. Midwest totaling $90.0 million. A portion of these contracts comes from additional work relating to the second phase of a contract previously announced in December 2023, which consists of the design and engineering of connections, fabrication including industrial coating, the supply of the steel, as well as erecting of steel structure and heavy steel components of a large-surface industrial building. Fabrication work began in February 2024. This project will extend over a period of approximately 12 months. This series of contracts also included a project in the industrial sector in Quebec, as well as a contract awarded in Western Canada in the public infrastructure sector.

Outlook

"We started the 2025 fiscal year strong. With revenues for the 3-month period ended April 30, 2024, exceeding $100 million, we are building on the momentum of the recent quarters. This increase in revenues also allows us to improve our margins and thus record a significant increase in net income" said Jean Paschini, Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer.

Conference call with Investors

An investor conference call will be held this morning, June 11, 2024, at 10 a.m. (EST) to discuss results for the first quarter ended April 30, 2024.

To join the conference call without operator assistance, you can register with your phone number on https://emportal.ink/3xHjN0U to receive an instant automated call back. You can also join the conference call with operator assistance by dialing 1 (888) 390-0620 a few minutes prior to the conference call scheduled start time.

A replay of the conference call will be available from 1:00 p.m, June 11, 2024, until midnight, June 18, 2024, by dialing 1 (888) 259-6562; followed by the access code 249160 #.

The conference call (audio) will also be available at www.adfgroup.com. Members of the media are invited to join in listening mode.

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED JANUARY 31, 2024

ADF Group Inc.'s Annual Meeting of Shareholders will be held on:

Date: June 11, 2024 Time: 11 a.m. Location: Sheraton Laval Hotel

2440, Autoroute des Laurentides, Laval, Quebec, Canada

About ADF Group Inc. | ADF Group Inc. is a North American leader in the design and engineering of connections, fabrication, including the application of industrial coatings, and installation of complex steel structures, heavy steel built-ups, as well as in miscellaneous and architectural metals for the non-residential infrastructure sector. ADF Group Inc. is one of the few players in the industry capable of handling highly technically complex mega projects on fast-track schedules in the commercial, institutional, industrial and public sectors. The Corporation operates two fabrication plants and two paint shops, in Canada and in the United States, and a Construction Division in the United States, which specializes in the installation of steel structures and other related products.

Forward-Looking Statements | This press release contains forward-looking statements that reflect ADF's objectives and expectations. These statements are identified by words such as "expects" as well as by the use of future and conditional verb tenses and include, but are not limited to, the Corporation's intention to repurchase up to 3,000,000 Subordinate Voting Shares of the Corporation. By their nature, these statements involve risks and uncertainties. In particular, there can be no assurance that an agreement will be reached between the parties with respect to the proposed repurchase. Consequently, actual facts may differ from ADF's expectations.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures and Other Financial Measures | Are measures derived primarily from the consolidated financial statements but are not a standardized financial measure under the financial reporting framework used to prepare the Corporation's financial statements. Therefore, readers should be careful not to confuse or substitute them with performance measures prepared in accordance with GAAP. In addition, readers should avoid comparing these non-GAAP financial measures to similarly titled measures provided or used by other issuers. The definition of these indicators and their reconciliation with comparable International Financial Reporting Standards measures issued by the International Accounting Standards Board ("IFRS Accounting Standards") is as follows:

Adjusted EBITDA

Adjusted EBITDA shows the extent to which the Corporation generates profits from operations, without considering the following items:

Net financial expenses;

Income tax expense ;

Foreign exchange gains, and

Depreciation and amortization of property, plant and equipment, intangible assets, and right-of-use assets.







Three (3) Month Periods Ended April 30, 2024 2023 (In thousands of dollars) $ $ Net income 15,265 5,371 Income tax expense 5,993 2,554 Net financial expenses 398 839 Amortization 1,489 1,444 Foreign exchange gain (46) (177) Adjusted EBITDA 23,099 10,031







Gross Margin as a Percentage of Revenues

Gross margin as a percentage of revenue indicator is used by the Corporation to assess the level of profitability for a given period based on the project mix for that same period. This indicator is subject to fluctuations in project prices and also in the operational efficiency of the Corporation. The indicator of gross margin as a percentage of revenues results from dividing gross margin by revenues.

Order Backlog

The order backlog is a measure used by the Corporation to assess future revenue levels. The order backlog includes firm orders obtained by the Corporation, either through a firm contract or a formal notice to proceed confirmed by the client. The order backlog disclosed by the Corporation therefore includes the portion of confirmed contracts that have not been put into production.

Working Capital

The working capital indicator is used by the Corporation to assess whether current assets are sufficient to meet current liabilities. It is therefore equal to current assets, less current liabilities.

All amounts are in Canadian dollars unless otherwise specified.

SOURCE ADF Group Inc.

Jean Paschini, Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer; Jean-Francois Boursier, CPA, Chief Financial Officer, Telephone: (450) 965-1911, Website: www.adfgroup.com
THUNDER BAY, ON, June 11, 2024 /CNW/ - Contact North | Contact Nord applauds OpenAI for the introduction of ChatGPT Edu, a new and affordable artificial intelligence (AI) offering tailored for post-secondary institutions.

This innovative version of ChatGPT, powered by GPT-4o, is designed to responsibly bring AI to campus environments, benefiting students, faculty, instructors, researchers, and campus operations.

Contact North | Contact Nord Applauds Open AI for its Timely Offering of ChatGPT Edu to the Post-secondary Sector Post this

"We applaud OpenAI for recognizing the needs of the post-secondary sector and responding with ChatGPT Edu", states Maxim Jean-Louis, President  Chief Executive Officer. "This timely offering provides post-secondary institutions with an advanced tool to enhance education and increase efficiency."

As a concrete example of what can be quickly accomplished with OpenAI's technology, Contact North | Contact Nord developed and launched four free, groundbreaking AI-powered personal digital assistants:

AI Tutor Pro: A personalized tutoring assistant providing tailored educational support to students. AI Tutor Pro leverages advanced AI to offer customized learning experiences, addressing individual student needs and enhancing comprehension across various subjects.

A personalized tutoring assistant providing tailored educational support to students. AI Tutor Pro leverages advanced AI to offer customized learning experiences, addressing individual student needs and enhancing comprehension across various subjects. AI Teaching Assistant Pro: An innovative tool aiding faculty in grading, feedback, and administrative tasks. AI Teaching Assistant Pro streamlines the evaluation process, offering detailed and consistent feedback, thereby allowing educators to focus more on interactive and engaging teaching methods.

An innovative tool aiding faculty in grading, feedback, and administrative tasks. AI Teaching Assistant Pro streamlines the evaluation process, offering detailed and consistent feedback, thereby allowing educators to focus more on interactive and engaging teaching methods. AI Pathfinder Pro: Aimed at supporting student success, AI Pathfinder offers personalized academic guidance, career counseling, and resource recommendations. It uses advanced algorithms to track student progress and provide timely interventions to keep students on track.

Aimed at supporting student success, AI Pathfinder offers personalized academic guidance, career counseling, and resource recommendations. It uses advanced algorithms to track student progress and provide timely interventions to keep students on track. AI Trades Explorer Pro: Supporting students in exploring and preparing for trades careers with interactive guidance. AI Trades Explorer Pro offers comprehensive insights into various trades, guiding students through career options, required skills, and potential job opportunities, thus bridging the gap between education and employment.

Visit apps.contactnorth.ca for more information on Contact North | Contact Nord's four personal digital assistants.

Faculty and students are eagerly adopting Contact North | Contact Nord's unique AI-powered personal digital assistants, with usage already exceeding 200,000 views and growing at double-digit rates.

About Contact North | Contact Nord

Contact North | Contact Nord increases the number of underserved Ontario residents who take online programs and courses from Ontario's colleges, universities, Indigenous institutes, and other providers while remaining in their community. We recruit and provide free support services to students in 1,500+ communities, in person at locations across the province, or by phone, email, live chat or virtually. Our services are available in English and French.

SOURCE Contact North | Contact Nord

Contact Information: For more information about Contact North | Contact Nord's four free, AI-powered personal digital assistants, please contact Rick Sleaver, Director, Recruitment Marketing, Communications, & Data Analytics, at 416-255-0819.
~6 Practical Steps to Keep Your Asthma Managed this Wildfire Season  Asthma Canada~

TORONTO, June 12, 2024 /CNW/ - As threats of wildfires spread across Canada, Asthma Canada is urging individuals living with asthma to take additional precautions for their safety. Wildfire smoke contains many harmful pollutants including fine particulate matter that settles deep in the lungs. For those with asthma and other respiratory conditions, wildfires present an escalated risk, as the smoke can worsen symptoms and provoke asthma attacks, which, in some cases, can be fatal. This grim reality was sadly illustrated in 2023 by the loss of Carter Vigh, who tragically lost his life at just nine years of age.

"Carter was incredible. He was the happiest kid you'd ever meet," said Carter's mother, Amber, ahead of the first anniversary of her son's passing. "Living with severe asthma meant that Carter was no stranger to hospital visits; however, in general, we had his asthma well controlled. Everywhere Carter went, he carried his brief-kit, a lunchbox containing his medications and devices, which served as a constant reminder to everyone in our community of Carter's condition."

I cannot bear the thought of another family experiencing the heartbreak that mine did less than a year ago. Post this

"Nothing could have prepared us for the day when Carter took his final breath. It was wildfire smoke that triggered the asthma attack that claimed my son's life. I'm pleading with everyone affected by asthma across Canada to take every precaution to ensure your asthma is well-managed during this time of year. I cannot bear the thought of another family experiencing the heartbreak that mine did less than a year ago."

To aid people living with asthma this wildfire season, Asthma Canada has created 6 Essential Tips for Keeping Well During Wildfire Season:

1. Stay informed: Keep track of local air quality updates and wildfire information from reliable sources like Environment Canada, the Weather Network and the Government of Canada.

2. Have an updated Asthma Action Plan: Your plan should outline steps to take in case of worsening asthma symptoms or emergencies. Download your plan now.

3. Limit outdoor activities: Stay indoors as much as possible. Avoid physical exertion and exercise outdoors during peak pollution periods. If going outside is necessary:

Wearing a well-fitted N95 respirator mask can offer some protection against smoke particles. These can be purchased in certain pharmacies and online. Keep your reliever (usually blue) inhaler with you at all times in case asthma symptoms arise. When driving, keep your windows and vents closed and only use air conditioning in the "recirculate" setting.



4. Use air purifiers and filters in your home: Use high-efficiency air purifiers (HEPA) and keep windows and doors closed to prevent smoke infiltration. If using an air conditioner, choose the recirculation setting so outside air will not be transferred inside. Avoid activities that contribute to indoor air pollution, such as smoking or using strong chemicals.

5. Take your medications as prescribed: Make sure you have necessary medications and supplies readily available and follow your prescribed asthma medication regimen, including both preventive and rescue medications. If necessary, consult your healthcare provider to adjust your medication plan during episodes of poor air quality.

6. Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of fluids to keep your airways hydrated. This can help reduce symptoms and keep mucus thin, making it easier to cough up if necessary.

On Wednesday, June 19th, at 11:00 AM EST, Asthma Canada will be hosting a FREE webinar; "Living with Asthma: How Air Quality and Wildfires Affect Your Health", designed to assist the asthma community in navigating the complexities of managing their health amidst air quality and climate challenges. By joining the webinar, attendees will get insights into the impact of air quality and wildfires on respiratory health, gain practical strategies for managing asthma on days with poor air quality and learn about lifestyle changes that promote better lung health.

"Recent evidence strongly indicates that with rising global temperatures, the exceptionally warm summer experienced in Canada last year is likely to become the new norm, raising significant concerns for the 4,600,000+ people living with asthma in the country," emphasized Jeffrey Beach, President & CEO of Asthma Canada. "Last year we observed a notable increase in the volume of calls to our Asthma & Allergy HelpLine during wildfire season, highlighting the escalating concerns regarding asthma management."

For those who have questions about their asthma, particularly during wildfire season, Asthma Canada recommends reaching out to their FREE Asthma & Allergy HelpLine at 1-866-787-4050 or [email protected] to speak to an asthma expert about all your asthma-related concerns.

About Asthma Canada:

Asthma Canada is the only national healthcare charity dedicated to improving the quality of life for people living with asthma and respiratory allergies. For 50 years, Asthma Canada has proudly served as the national voice for Canadians living with asthma. Our mission is to help Canadians with asthma lead healthy lives through education, advocacy, and research. For more information, please visit Asthma.ca.

About Asthma in Canada :

Over 4.6 million people are living with asthma in Canada .

. Including 900,000 children under 19 and 800,000 adults over the age of 65.

Asthma is the third most prevalent chronic disease in Canada .

. An estimated 317 Canadians are diagnosed with asthma every day.

An estimated 250 Canadians lose their lives to asthma each year.

Some Canadians are hit harder by asthma; it is 40% more prevalent among First Nations, Inuit, and Metis communities than the general Canadian population.

About Asthma: Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease of the airways that causes symptoms like shortness of breath, chest tightness, coughing, and wheezing. Asthma causes inflammation and narrowing of the bronchial tubes, which leads to limited airflow and difficulty breathing. There is currently no cure for asthma, but with proper treatment, it can be managed.

About the "Living with Asthma: How Air Quality and Wildfires Affect Your Health" Webinar: On June 19th at 11:00AM EST, Asthma Canada will be joined by respiratory experts, Dr. Emily Brigham, Associate Professor, UBC, and Dr. Chris Carlsten, Director, The Centre for Lung Health for a FREE webinar focused on helping the asthma community manage their health amidst air quality and climate challenges.

By joining the webinar, attendees will get insights into the impact of air quality and wildfires on respiratory health, gain practical strategies for managing asthma on poor air quality days and learn about lifestyle changes to support better lung health. Register here.

SOURCE Asthma Canada

For media inquiries, contact: Pauric Keegan, Communications and Marketing Specialist, Asthma Canada, 416-787-4050 x110, [email protected]
Police investigating a ringing alarm at a South Jersey mall allegedly found two masked teenagers carrying stolen merchandise from several stores.

The teens, a 16-year-old boy and a 15-year-old girl, seized multiple items from inside the Hamilton Mall in Mays Landing early Wednesday morning, according to police.

The teens, both Mays Landing residents, were found inside the Atlantic County mall by officers investigating a burglary alarm around 2:45 a.m., police said. After being spotted, both teens ran and were captured.

Both teens were carrying large bags stuffed with products from stores inside the mall, police said. Officers inside the mall returned the items to stores.

The teens were both charged with resisting arrest and multiple counts of burglary, theft and criminal mischief. They were surrendered into their parents custody after being arrested, police said.

Both have upcoming court dates. Police did not describe the teens relationship with each other or disclose a monetary total for the stolen items.

Thank you for relying on us to provide the local news you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a subscription.

Eric Conklin may be reached at econklin@njadvancemedia.com.
A firefighter sustained a severe injury to her arm, and a guest suffered minor injuries from a fire at a New Jersey motel, authorities said Wednesday.

Emergency responders arrived at the Town House Inn & Suites on Route 46 East in Elmwood Park, after receiving a call at approximately 11:10 a.m. Wednesday, police Chief Michael Foligno said.

Firefighters started extinguishing the blaze, which originated in a room on the second floor, when they realized a guest was trapped in the room, according to Foligno.
A man who ran a lottery scam and defrauded victims of more than $4 million has been sentenced to federal prison.

Pablo Estrada, 27, of Florence, was sentenced to 33 months in Camden federal court on Wednesday, the U.S. Attorneys Office District of New Jersey said in a news release. He pleaded guilty to money laundering in the summer of 2023.

Estrada orchestrated multiple scams that targeted older adult victims from Aug. 2020 to Jan. 2023, authorities said.

One of the schemes was a fake lottery, in which victims received a notification that they won a large sum of money, but were required to pay a fee before receiving the funds, federal prosecutors said. Estrada transferred the payments he received from the fees to various bank accounts that he controlled, officials said.

Some of those accounts were associated with his two businesses, Vital Solutions LLC and Futura Consulting LLC, court documents said. He also falsely stated on bank documents that the two companies did not transmit money and that their main purpose was to provide consulting services, according to court papers.

The U.S. Attorneys Office did not provide details on any of his other scams.

As part of his sentence, he will also serve three years of supervised release and has been ordered to pay $4,210,000 in restitution.

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Nicolas Fernandes may be reached at nfernandes@njadvancemedia.com.
Backpacks could soon be banned on Wildwoods beaches and boardwalks at night as the popular Jersey Shore town targets underage drinking and drug use following a series of incidents, including a rowdy Memorial Day weekend crowd that led police to declare a state of emergency.

Wildwoods board of commissioners is expected to vote Wednesday on the proposal, which would prohibit the possession of purses and backpacks larger than 8 inches in depth on the citys beaches and boardwalk from 8 p.m. to 4 a.m., effective immediately, according to a public meeting agenda.

Police shut down the Wildwood boardwalk early on the Sunday of Memorial Day weekend after reports of fights among large groups of young people, authorities said. Similar problems occurred in other Jersey Shore towns that weekend, including a stabbing of a 15-year-old in Ocean City.
A pro-Donald Trump Republican who just lost a Nevada primary race claims the former president endorsed his rival because the man cut a check for the endorsement.

Jeff Gunter, who served in Trumps administration as ambassador to Iceland, posted to social media that a big political check had been sent from the swamp after Trump endorsed rival Sam Brown over the weekend.

Gunter made the claim without evidence and has yet to show any proof, despite his campaign telling The New York Times, Yes he can, stay tuned after the outlet asked for confirmation.

Heres the gist of what happened:



-Scam is told by his handlers hes getting endorsed at the rally



-some awesome & fearless MAGA warriors make it clear this would be a terrible idea. DONT DO IT.



-DJT doesnt endorse at rally.



-NRSC McConnell swamp freaks out



-On plane https://t.co/tkDtmFkEli  Dr. Jeff Gunter (@DrJeffGunter) June 10, 2024

In the end, Gunter lost to Brown Tuesday night.

And The Times pointed out in its reporting that Brown was leading in the polls ahead of Tuesdays primary and that Trump often jumped into races at the last minute to endorse the front-runner.

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Matt Arco may be reached at marco@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter at @MatthewArco.
A town in Somerset County plans to have federal officials kill dozens of Canada geese within the next few weeks, with officials saying none of the alternative options to remove the troublesome waterfowl from a two-acre park have been effective.

Animal right advocates say they will continue to fight to save the 50 to 60 geese in Liberty Park in the borough of Peapack & Gladstone. They argue the geese are harmless and do not bother people.

Borough officials contend the geese have harassed park-goers and damaged both the park and nearby properties.

We dont want to do this, but this is whats recommended to us by the true experts  not the advocates or the animal rights folks who mean well, Mayor Mark Corigliano told NJ Advance Media on Tuesday.

Borough officials signed a $8,754 contract with the U.S. Department of Agriculture in March that included possibly using gas to euthanize the geese to remediate the problem.

The geese will be euthanized during molting season  when they cantt fly  sometime between the end of June and mid-July, according to the mayor.

Borough officials say theyve been advised by experts that the appropriate population for an acre of land is four to six geese.

We have upwards of 60 so you can see the problem, Corigliano said.

The dozens of geese in the two-acre park have wreaked havoc since last summer, according to the mayor.

Pepack-Gladstone Mayor Mark Corigliano says 50 to 60 geese who live in Liberty Park have harassed parkgoers and damaged property will be euthanized within a month,Jackie Bruan

The geese are creating a health and safety issue for us, Corigliano said. If the population was small it wouldnt be a issue, but its so large and its creating such an issue for us. The large amount of fecal matter droppings, polluting the water, hostility toward people walking through the park, neighboring homes and properties being damaged by the geese, (borough) property is being damaged by the geese, eating the plants, our lawns are decimated.

A resident who started a Change.org petition with more than 5,500 supporters disputed the mayors assertions about the geese.

I strongly disagree with that, said Jackie Braun. Ive lived here 18 years. I walk there, I jog there. Ive never been attacked by any geese there. I can almost pet them, thats how docile they are. Theyre very friendly. I brought it up to the mayor at a meeting that I have a group of about 10 volunteers who would come and clean up the poop if thats what his beef is, if thats what they claim the problem is.

She said her offer was turned down.

Officials used bird repellent Flock Free on three occasions, but any geese that were run off returned each time, Corigliano said.

Unfortunately it hast really helped, but were still trying, he said

Peapack-Gladstone also hired a drone operator that came to the park twice and rousted 24 geese. All were back at the park the following day. Officials then learned that rousting wild animals with a drone is illegal in New Jersey so the practice was discontinued.

A recommendation to relocate the geese also failed. A biologist told officials that successfully relocating geese in New Jersey is extremely rare and because the state is small, the geese will return if theyre not pinned in or have their wings clipped.

Barnyard Sanctuary in Columbia had volunteered to take the geese but said it would not fence them in or clip them, so the waterfowl were never moved.

That left the town without other options, the mayor said.

Braun said her group has attended multiple council meetings, written countless letters and emails and made numerous phone calls to try to save the geese. Animal advocates have also help multiple rallies in town.

They are also working with the Animal Protection League, which she says has offered to pay help re-landscape the grounds to deter geese from returning, another pitch the mayor declined, according to Braun. She also said the Animal Protection League pointed out to borough officials that the pond in the park was landscaped incorrectly.

It does not seem like we change the minds of the mayor or the town council, Bruan said. There has to be some underlying reason they are not budging.

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Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com.
Six-day (Tuesday through Sunday) print subscribers of the Watertown Daily Times are eligible for full access to NNY360, the NNY360 mobile app, and the Watertown Daily Times e-edition, all at no additional cost.

If you have an existing six-day print subscription to the Watertown Daily Times, please make sure your email address on file matches your NNY360 account email. You can sign up or manage your print subscription using the options below.
Tamia Cenance is a youth organizer and co-founder and Cameron Dumas is a youth organizer of Families and Friends of Louisianas Incarcerated Children's Black Girls Rising.
A long-time holidaymaker has voiced his disappointment over what he notes as a noticeable decline in Ilfracombes waste management services.

John Harrison, who has been holidaying in Ilfracombe twice a year for the past 30 years, shared his concerns with the Gazette, highlighting the worsening state of waste services in the town.

John said: Really sad to see the decline of such a beautiful town made worse by the decline of waste services, such a basic service. It's a lovely place with nowhere to put your waste except to drop it onto the street. A couple of streets away, small businesses shut off a street to play live bands to encourage people to spend their hard-earned money, but the councils dereliction of duty is terrible.

Mr. Harrison's observations are supported by photographs he took on Sunday, June 9, depicting overflowing bins and litter-strewn streets.

ABOVE: Image sent in from Mr Harrison

In response to Mr Harrison's remarks, the Gazette contacted Ilfracombe Town Council for comment.

The council acknowledged the situation and explained the circumstances that led to the lapse in waste services.

The council said: Ilfracombe Town Council was made aware of the situation via social media at the time it took place. We immediately contacted North Devon District Council (NDC) and reported it accordingly. Due to an unexpected staffing issue, there was a delay in their regular bin emptying schedule over the weekend. As soon as they became aware of the situation, they addressed it promptly on Sunday. NDC apologises for this and appreciates the communitys understanding.

The council also provided guidance for residents and visitors on how to report such issues in the future.

They said: Should members of the public face this situation again there are resources they can use to ensure we report things as soon as they happen. To report an overflowing litter bin via the NDC website please click on link https://my.northdevon.gov.uk/MyServices. In addition Ilfracombe Town Council has set up a Report It! system where we can report it on behalf of the public. More information can be found at the following link https://ilfracombetowncouncil.gov.uk/ilfracombe-report-it/
A renewable energy proposal submitted by Renewable Energy Systems (RES) could bring about significant biodiversity enhancements alongside its energy storage capabilities.

The 49.9MW scheme, proposed for a site south of Pyworthy substation, aims to connect directly into the 132kV overhead line in the area.

Designed with careful consideration for environmental impact, the project includes measures such as native hedgerow planting, grassland restoration, and the creation of wildflower habitats.

RES is the worlds largest independent renewable energy company, working across 24 countries and active in wind, solar, energy storage, biomass, hydro, green hydrogen, transmission, and distribution.

Predictions from the company suggest a 21.90 percent increase in habitat units and a 34.06 percent rise in hedgerow units, promising a substantial boon for local wildlife.

John Hills, Development Project Manager for RES, said: Energy storage projects play a critical role in reinforcing our energy network and ensuring flexibility. They are the fastest technology for responding to a sudden spike in demand or an abrupt loss of supply on the network. The energy storage system will be utilised by National Grid to balance peaks and troughs in energy demand and generation; its a really clever system.

These projects also offer great opportunities, particularly in locations like this, for site biodiversity enhancement. Sustainability is a core value at RES, and we carefully design projects like this to ensure that we maximise the environmental benefit. So, not only can this project help us support the UKs net zero emissions target by accelerating the rollout of zero carbon energy, it can also help us support nature and create a haven for wildlife as well.

RES held public consultation sessions in March 2024 to engage with the community on the project.

Community support for the proposal has been strong, with over 70 percent of respondents expressing support for energy storage projects to stabilise the electricity system.

Over 85 percent either supported or remained neutral towards the proposed design for the Stoneworthy scheme.

The project is now awaiting approval from Torridge District Council's Planning Committee, with construction expected to take approximately 12 months upon consent.

If approved, it could mark a significant milestone in the region's journey towards a sustainable energy future, simultaneously bolstering biodiversity in the area.
Jerry Davich Metro columnist Follow Jerry Davich 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 Mrs. Roper Romp craze in our country has sashayed into Northwest Indiana with caftan-draped campiness.

Helen Roper was a character on the classic TV sitcom Threes Company. Played by the late Audra Lindley, Roper was the silly, eccentric and sex-starved wife of grumpy landlord Stanley Roper. Every episode, she sported the same fashion ensembles  wacky caftan outfits, bright jewelry and red-with-envy hair.

She was sassy. She was smart. Her humor was ahead of her time, said Patty Jo Stewart of Portage.

Stewart is a founding member of The International Order of Mrs. Ropers  Northwest Indiana Chapter, launched in December by fans of the show and devotees of silly fun.

My friends and I saw these Roper Romps all over social media in other areas and wanted to join in the fun, Stewart said. Honestly, you just can't help but smile when you put on that caftan and red wig.

You also can't help but smile when you see a bunch of Mrs. Ropers swirling around at public events like ice cubes in an Oh, Stanley! cocktail.

Looks like I need another drink. These ice cubes seemed to have soaked up all my gin, Roper quipped in one episode of Threes Company, which aired from 1976 to 1984.

Ropers love-deprived yet lovable character has somehow resurrected into an international cult figure, prompting fans of all ages to emulate and celebrate her. Pub crawls. Paint and sip parties. Wine tasting. Comedy Clubs. Late-night gatherings. These are just a few of the Roper Romps taking place around the world, and now in our Region.

We have coined ourselves a bit of a social club, Stewart said.

Last week, they showed up at the monthly First Friday event in downtown Michigan City.

This is something the masses can enjoy, and we are all inclusive  straight, gay, everyone is welcome, Stewart said. We have about the same ratio of men and woman who dress up, ranging in age from 21 to mid-80s.

Alice Smithman, of Chesterton, read about The International Order of Mrs. Ropers on the Facebook page of the Velvet Tiki Lounge in Chesterton.

It was welcoming and fun from the moment I walked in. I went by myself and quite a few others were there for the first time too, she said. I grew up watching Three's Company and now I'm a landlady just like Helen Roper.

Smithmans favorite response so far was from families who were served breakfast by Mrs. Ropers at an American Legion fundraiser in Lake Station. Many of the older guests knew about Helen Roper but had to explain it to younger family members who didn't understand. (Audra Lindley died in 1997 at 79.)

It stirs up memories of the past and shares fun stories with future generations, Smithman said.

Louie Maldonado, aka Tiki Louie, hosts a karaoke gig called Tiki-Oke, at Fiddlehead Restaurant in downtown Michigan City. Now in its sixth year, the show is known for its inclusiveness and freedom of expression for all participants.

A few months ago, my husband Steven and I had noticed more and more social media posts of these Mrs. Roper bar crawls around the country and Steven suggested we have one here in Michigan City, said Maldonado, who lives in Trail Creek.

With the South Shore rail line double track project nearing completion, the couple imagined a train car of Mrs. Ropers exiting a train car and marching down Franklin Street to peruse all the shops on their way to the Tiki-Oke events.

We love Threes Company and are fascinated by the sudden adoration for Helen Roper, Maldonado said. Men and women alike wearing caftans and red wigs seem like such a freedom of expression that we enjoy. And with the variety of activities and events that Patty plans, theres something for everyone.

The Roper Romp craze began in 2013 in New Orleans when dozens of Helen Ropers marched in the Southern Decadence Parade.

And that was that, Stewart explained. Almost 10 years went by and this new Roper phenomenon started.

Currently, there are more than 50,000 members of the primary webpage, Mrs. Roper Romp, with more 500 events held in more than 50 countries. There is no formal process to create a chapter.

If nothing exists in your area, you start your own, Stewart said.

The Northwest Indiana chapters Facebook page has nearly 1,000 friends, many who dress up as Roper with help from a formal guide to being the ultimate Helen.

Buy yourself a caftan dress and wig. Accessorize with anything you want, the gaudier the better. Find a local Roper Romp. Show up and introduce yourself.

Being Helen is to be life loving, all accepting, free-spirit fun, the guide insists.

Our Region, and our country, needs this kind of attitude more than ever, I say.
Norman Carol, a former violin prodigy who was first chair and concertmaster for the acclaimed Philadelphia Orchestra for nearly three decades, accompanying it on a history-making trip to China under Mao Zedong in 1973, died on April 28. He was 95.

His death, at an assisted living center in Bala Cynwyd, a community on Philadelphias Main Line, was announced in a statement posted on social media by the orchestra. It was not widely reported outside the classical music world at the time.

As concertmaster, tuning the orchestra and overseeing the string section, Mr. Carol served under the celebrated conductors Eugene Ormandy, Riccardo Muti and Wolfgang Sawallisch.

He was dashing, comfortable, even swashbuckling as a leader, Paul Arnold, a violinist with the orchestra, said in the statement. His playing was bold, expressive and hall-filling. Mr. Carol went on to personally embody the Philadelphia Sound, he added.
When The New York Post first reported in 2020 about a laptop once used by Hunter Biden  which the paper said contained incriminating evidence against him and his father, Joseph R. Biden Jr., who was running for president  it set off a firestorm.

Many national news outlets raised questions about the existence of the laptop and the claims about its contents, while major social media platforms limited posts about The Posts coverage. Conservatives said those reactions were evidence of liberal censorship.

Many of the claims made by The Post in its coverage of the laptop, in which the publication sought to link President Biden to corrupt business dealings, have not been proved. But the laptop had enough incriminating evidence to continue to haunt Hunter Biden.

The laptop and some of its contents played a visible role in federal prosecutors case against the presidents son, who was charged with lying on a firearm application in 2018 by not disclosing his drug use. A prosecutor briefly held up the laptop before the jury in Delaware, and an F.B.I. agent later testified that messages and photos on it and in personal data that Mr. Biden had saved in cloud computing servers had made his drug use clear.
Gov. Kathy Hochul of New York may believe she has the power to unilaterally shut down the nations first congestion pricing scheme, which was slated to pump $1 billion a year into the coffers of the nations largest transit system.

Not everyone thinks shes right, and her opponents are eager to prove their case in court.

The New York City comptroller, Brad Lander, has assembled a collection of stakeholders to develop a legal strategy that would underpin one or more lawsuits seeking to get the central business district toll program back on track.

Mr. Lander is planning to outline the likely avenues of litigation at a news conference on Wednesday. The gathering underscores the swelling outrage among environmental and transportation advocates who have spent years persuading the government to enact tolls on drivers entering Manhattans core  only to see Ms. Hochul abruptly halt the plan less than a month before it was to go into effect.

Michael Gerrard, a prominent environmental lawyer at Columbia University, is spearheading the coalitions legal strategy, alongside a New York University law professor, Roderick Hills, and Eric A. Goldstein, a senior attorney at the Natural Resources Defense Council.
The head of a charity called Modest Needs was charged Tuesday with embezzling $2.5 million to rent a Columbus Circle high-rise, have cosmetic surgery and dine regularly at some of Manhattans most expensive restaurants.

The charity executive, Keith Taylor, was accused in a federal complaint of siphoning money donated through the charitys crowdfunding platform into personal accounts, ducking more than $1 million in taxes and creating a fictitious board of directors populated with the names of unknowing acquaintances.

Keith Taylor falsely claimed that donations to his charity would help working families with unexpected expenses that put them at risk of homelessness, Damian Williams, the U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, said in a statement. He added that instead the defendant had defrauded the charitys donors and unconscionably took money from the pockets of those most in need.
A Texas man was charged on Tuesday with selling firearms and parts through an online channel that promoted white-supremacist beliefs even as he was serving time in a Louisiana federal prison on previous gun charges.

The man, Hayden Espinosa, 24, advertised the guns on Telegram, a free encrypted messaging app, Manhattan prosecutors said. Mr. Espinosa moderated the channel, which they said was a hub for racially and ethnically motivated extremism.

Mr. Espinosa, who sold firearm and gun parts to a New York Police Department undercover officer, prosecutors said, was charged with four felony counts of transporting a firearm and one of attempted criminal sale of a firearm.

He was released from his federal prison term on June 4 and was immediately arrested on the New York charges. Mr. Espinosa is expected to be extradited to New York later this month and arraigned on June 24.
One person is dead after a gunman hijacked a commuter bus in Atlanta on Tuesday with 17 passengers aboard, leading police on a miles-long, rush-hour chase that spanned several counties, officials said.

At a news conference on Tuesday, Darin Schierbaum, chief of the Atlanta Police Department, said that the suspect, Joseph Grier, 39, was taken into custody. The police did not release the name of the victim, who they said later died in a hospital from an apparent gunshot wound.

At about 4:35 p.m., a 9-1-1 call was made about a hostage situation in downtown Atlanta and possible gunfire aboard a commuter bus, Chief Schierbaum said. When officers arrived and confronted the suspect, the bus fled, leading police in a rush-hour chase, according to the police. The chase traversed Fulton, Gwinnett and DeKalb Counties, according to local news reports. The bus driver was held at gunpoint, Mayor Andre Dickens of Atlanta said during the news conference.

As the police chase ensued, a second 9-1-1 call came from a family member of a bus passenger saying that the vehicle had been hijacked and that the passengers were being held hostage. A third 9-1-1 call came from inside the bus, Chief Schierbaum said, and the line remained open throughout the chase.
A 22-year-old who participated in the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol lost his bid to unseat a Republican incumbent in the South Carolina House of Representatives.

The defeat of Elias Irizarry in the state primary on Tuesday is the latest in a number of losses that riot participants have suffered at the ballot box in recent months. Most recently, Derrick Evans, a former West Virginia lawmaker who pleaded guilty to a felony for his role in the attack, was defeated in a Republican primary in May for a congressional seat there.

Mr. Irizarry graduated last month from the Citadel, the esteemed public military college in Charleston, S.C. He was running in House District 43, a rural area in the northern part of the state. The incumbent, Randy Ligon, will not face a Democratic challenger in the general election, and will serve a fourth term in office.

Mr. Irizarry was sentenced to 14 days in jail after pleading guilty to a trespassing charge related to his participation in the 2021 riot. He was suspended from the Citadel for a semester but was later reinstated after a federal judge, Tanya S. Chutkan, wrote a letter to the school stating that Mr. Irizarry had demonstrated remorse and a determination to make amends.
Representative Kelly Armstrong won the Republican nomination for governor of North Dakota, The Associated Press said on Tuesday, defeating the states lieutenant governor, Tammy Miller, and positioning himself as the strong favorite in the general election.

The primary featured two Republicans who are well known in the state and whose platforms shared many similarities. Mr. Armstrong, a lawyer and a former state Republican Party chairman, was elected to Congress in 2018 from North Dakotas lone House district. Ms. Miller, an accountant and businesswoman, was appointed as lieutenant governor last year after working as Gov. Doug Burgums chief operating officer.

On the campaign trail, both candidates emphasized their support for former President Donald J. Trump and, as one debate moderator put it, tried to out-conservative the other. Mr. Armstrong and Ms. Miller each called for cracking down on illegal immigration and for pushing back on President Bidens agenda.

This years race for governor did not take shape until relatively late in the cycle, as Republicans waited to see whether Mr. Burgum would seek a third term. Mr. Burgum, a business-oriented Republican, sometimes bucked the right flank of his party on transgender issues. After failing to gain traction in the Republican presidential primary, he announced in January that he would not seek another four years as governor.
The Biden administration on Tuesday proposed removing medical debt from the credit reports of more than 15 million Americans, making it easier for them to qualify for car, home and small-business loans.

The proposed rule, which will go through a public comment period, would not take effect immediately. It would forbid health care providers to share medical debt with loan providers and prohibit those providers from factoring in medical information when it came to granting loans.

Vice President Kamala Harris said the move would improve the financial health and well-being of millions of Americans.

One of the most significant consequences of carrying medical debt is the harm it does to a persons credit score, Ms. Harris said. Medical debt makes it more difficult for millions of Americans to be approved for a car loan, a home loan or a small-business loan, all of which in turn makes it more difficult to just get by, much less get ahead. That is simply not fair.
Sam Brown, an Army veteran who was the heavy favorite in the Nevada Republican primary race for Senate even before former President Donald J. Trumps last-minute endorsement, won the nomination on Tuesday, according to The Associated Press.

He will face Senator Jacky Rosen, the states Democratic incumbent, in one of the most closely watched Senate contests of the year.

With 89 percent of the vote counted, Mr. Brown had about 60 percent, lapping the crowded primary field. His closest rival, Jeff Gunter, a former U.S. ambassador to Iceland, had about 15 percent. Jim Marchant, a former state assemblyman, was at roughly 7 percent, and Walter Grady, an Air Force veteran who goes by Tony, had 6 percent.

In his victory speech, delivered to ebullient supporters in a Reno hotel, Mr. Brown said he was focused on holding Ms. Rosen and President Biden accountable for their policies, and giving a beleaguered electorate something to hope for.
Its a phrase not commonly associated with legal doctrine: returning America to a place of godliness.

And yet when asked by a woman posing as a Catholic conservative at a dinner last week, Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr. appeared to endorse the idea. The unguarded moment added to calls for greater scrutiny by Democrats, many of whom are eager to open official investigations into outside influence at the Supreme Court.

But the core of the idea expressed to Mr. Alito, that the country must fight the decline of Christianity in public life, goes beyond the questions of bias and influence at the nations highest court. An array of conservatives, including antiabortion activists, church leaders and conservative state legislators, has openly embraced the idea that American democracy needs to be grounded in Christian values and guarded against the rise of secular culture.

They are right-wing Catholics and evangelicals who oppose abortion, same-sex marriage, transgender rights and what they see as the dominance of liberal views in school curriculums. And theyve become a crucial segment of former President Donald J. Trumps political coalition, intermingled with the MAGA movement that boosted him to the White House and that hopes to do so once again in November.
The K-pop juggernaut BTS is one step closer to a reunion.

The first member of the boy band to enlist in South Koreas army, Jin, 31, was discharged on Wednesday morning, BTSs label said. Over the next year or so, his bandmates are expected to complete their military service, which is required of nearly all South Korean men.

BTS shocked its own Army  as the seven-member groups fervent following is collectively known  in June 2022 when they said they would go on hiatus to enlist. Jin, the groups eldest member, whose birth name is Kim Seok-jin, began his 18-month stint in the military that December. His enlistment came after much public debate about whether BTS should get an exemption from the draft, as Olympic medalists and some classical musicians do.

Still, the group was given some leeway. Most men in South Korea have to enlist before they turn 28. Days before Jin reached that milestone, lawmakers revised the conscription law to allow pop artists who have bolstered the nations reputation to postpone their enlistment for two years. Researchers say BTSs global success has contributed billions of dollars to the South Korean economy.
Pope Francis repeated an anti-gay slur during a meeting with priests in Rome on Tuesday, Italian news outlets reported, the same offensive term he was accused of using two weeks ago.

The Vatican, in summarizing the gathering, said only that the pontiff had cautioned about admitting gay men into Roman Catholic seminaries.

The Vatican did not address the reports by two of the most prominent news agencies in Italy, ANSA and Adnkronos, that he had again used an offensive Italian slang term referring to gay men. The reports cited anonymous sources they said had been present at the meeting.

Francesco Langella, the director of communications for the Salesian Pontifical University in Rome, where the meeting took place, confirmed that the pope repeated the slang word.
A day after the United Nations Security Council endorsed a U.S.-backed cease-fire proposal for the Gaza Strip, the focus shifted on Tuesday to the willingness of Israel and Hamas, under growing international pressure to end the war, to make a deal.

Each side made positive but vague statements about the cease-fire plan and blamed the other for prolonging a war that has devastated Gaza. But neither said it would formally embrace the proposal, which was outlined last month in a speech by President Biden and was the basis of the 14-0 vote in the Security Council on Monday.

Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken, touring the region for the eighth time since the Hamas-led Oct. 7 assault on Israel, said on Tuesday that the fate of the cease-fire proposal rested with Hamass top leader in Gaza, Yahya Sinwar.

Husam Badran, a senior Hamas official, countered that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel was the sole obstacle to reaching an agreement that would end the war.
Israeli forces killed a senior Hezbollah commander in a strike in southern Lebanon late Tuesday, stoking concerns about an escalation of the conflict on another Israeli front.

In response, Hezbollah fired one of its heaviest rocket barrages yet into Israel on Wednesday, targeting military bases and arms factories.

The commander, Taleb Abdallah, also known as Abu Taleb, was among the highest-ranking Hezbollah fighters in Lebanon to have been killed in the eight-month-long conflict, according to a senior Lebanese intelligence official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the sensitive issue.

In an apparent nod to Mr. Abdallahs seniority, Hezbollah made the rare move of releasing a photo of him alongside Wissam Hassan al-Tawil, a high-ranking commander in the groups Radwan unit, who was killed in a strike in January.

The Israeli military said in a statement that it had struck a Hezbollah command and control center, killing Mr. Abdallah and three other Hezbollah fighters. It called Mr. Abdallah one of Hezbollahs top commanders in southern Lebanon.

Israeli army radio said on Wednesday that around 150 rockets had been launched into northern Israel in an apparent response, with Hezbollah claiming attacks on a string of military bases.
The international art trade faced a crunch moment in Switzerland this week. Art Basel, the worlds biggest and most prestigious fair for dealers in modern and contemporary works, opened to V.I.P.s on Tuesday against a backdrop of declining auction sales and gloomy talk of a market downturn.

Sales were down 22 percent over last season at the latest May series of marquee modern and contemporary auctions at Sothebys, Christies and Phillips in New York. Christies is reeling from a ransomware attack and has cut back sales in London. Sothebys is reported to be in the process of laying off staff to cut costs.

Theres a reset happening, Wendy Cromwell, a New York- based art adviser, said in an interview at the Tuesday preview of Art Basel. A lot of American collectors who were buying actively over the last 25 years are now aging out of the market. The Asian market has pulled back. And theres a general sense of uneasiness about the world right now, Cromwell added.

The Swiss fair, which opens to the public Thursday through Sunday, is the flagship event of the MCH Group, the Swiss owners of the Art Basel fairs, which include the slickly organized sister fairs in Miami, Hong Kong and Paris. (James Murdochs Lupa Systems investment firm is a major shareholder.) Dealers said this years 54th edition of Art Basel, featuring 285 galleries from 40 countries and territories, benefited from coinciding with the Venice Biennale. The presence of the fresh, Glastonbury festival-style Basel Social Club satellite fair on a farm on the outskirts of the city was also a plus.
Sitting outside a bar in the Greenpoint section of Brooklyn one recent Sunday afternoon, Julius Rodriguez spoke with characteristic straightforwardness describing music that is anything but. The composer and bandleader, who has played with the rapper ASAP Rocky and style-bending artists like Kassa Overall and Meshell Ndegeocello, articulated the central challenge of his work, an amorphous blend of jazz, funk, gospel and R&B he simply calls the music.

Its not about the notes, he explained, its about the emotions behind them.

How do you describe the color orange to someone? Rodriguez said, his tone warm yet flat. How do you describe the taste of salt to someone whos never tasted salt? You dont know that youre there until youre there. You dont know what it feels like until you feel it.

Rodriguez, 25, has been lauded for his tremendous sense of harmony and virtuosity across piano, drums, bass and whatever else he feels like playing any given week. He can hold his own at a psychedelic free jazz show in Brooklyn, a stadium-size rap concert in Los Angeles, a stately supper-club gig on the Upper West Side. Hes what we call auxiliary, Ndegeocello said in a phone interview. He plays everything.
Why Redstone backed out

For months, Skydance Medias effort to merge with Paramount  the studio behind Mission: Impossible and Top Gun  was the most-discussed M.&A. matter on Wall Street and in Hollywood. Now it has fallen apart.

What happened? The simple answer: Shari Redstone, who controls Paramount through the holding company National Amusements, just didnt want to sell, according to DealBooks Lauren Hirsch, who covered the talks with The Timess Ben Mullin.

A deal was very close. Advisers for Paramount and Skydance had reached agreements on economic terms for a transaction and on other issues.

But the talks soured toward the end, and a fundamental question hovered over everything: Was the Redstone family finally ready to part with the media empire it has owned for decades?
Eight former employees of Elon Musks rocket company, SpaceX, sued the company and Mr. Musk on Wednesday, contending they were wrongfully fired for raising concerns about sexual harassment and discrimination in the workplace.

The employees were fired in 2022 after they circulated an open letter urging SpaceX executives to condemn Mr. Musks comments on Twitter, later renamed X, which amounted to a frequent source of distraction and embarrassment for us. After being made aware of the letter, Mr. Musk ordered the terminations, according to the complaint.

Our eight brave clients stood up to him and were fired for doing so, Laurie Burgess, a lawyer representing the former SpaceX employees, said in a statement. We look forward to holding Musk accountable for his actions at trial.

The plaintiffs are seeking an unspecified amount of compensatory damages. SpaceX did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Times Insider explains who we are and what we do and delivers behind-the-scenes insights into how our journalism comes together.

The best part about my job as a reporter for The New York Times is that it pushes me far outside of my bubble and into the far-flung parts of the United States. Already this year, I have reported from a remote ice fishing cabin in Minnesota and a dusty border ranch in Arizona. But rarely have I been anywhere as remote as Esmeralda County, Nev., where I spent several days in April and May reporting an article about election denialism that was published online last week.

For the last few months, I have been trying to better understand how widespread conspiracy theories affect the county clerks who run our elections. First, I interviewed dozens of clerks across the country by phone, many of whom recounted their experiences with disinformation and death threats.

Eventually one clerk in Nevada told me about an unusual situation unfolding in tiny Esmeralda County, home to a population of 980. There, a Republican clerk named Cindy Elgan faced accusations from her friends and neighbors of being a deep state operative who had skimmed votes away from Donald J. Trump in the 2020 election.
The homes of the Jewish director of the Brooklyn Museum and other museum leaders were vandalized early Wednesday morning in a coordinated attack, according to a museum spokeswoman.

Vandals attacked the Brooklyn Heights home of Anne Pasternak, director of the museum, by smearing red paint and graffiti across the entry of her apartment building and hanging a banner that accused her of being a white-supremacist Zionist.

The homes of two trustees and the museums president and chief operating officer, Kimberly Panicek Trueblood, were also targeted, according to Taylor Maatman, the museums director of public relations and communications.

Mayor Eric Adams said in a social media post that the Police Department will bring the criminals responsible here to justice.
It is an expensive New York City rite of passage that greets generations of renters eager to find an apartment: the dreaded broker fee.

The fee can rise well into the thousands of dollars  on top of a security deposit and first months rent  providing a culture shock to people from other cities, where landlords typically pay broker fees for rentals.

Now the City Council is seeking to rein in the fees, and a majority of council members support a bill seeking to transfer the costs to landlords.

At a key hearing for the bill on Wednesday, tensions were high and opinions divided among the hundreds of people who testified, largely brokers, tenants and advocates for each.
A central predicament of President Bidens campaign is how to persuade voters to abandon Donald Trump.

In 2012 the Obama campaign turned a nice guy, Mitt Romney, into a piece of crap, Steve Murphy, a co-founder of the Democratic media firm MVAR Media, told me. You cant do that to Trump because everybody already knows hes a piece of crap.

Not only do voters know that Trump is a liar and corrupt, narcissistic and venal; his supporters have repeatedly found ways to slide past his liabilities.

In April, before the former president was convicted on 34 felony counts by a New York jury, and again this month, after he was found guilty, YouGov asked voters: Do you think someone who has been convicted of a felony should be allowed to become president?
Space changes you, even during short trips off the planet.

Four people who spent three days off Earth in September 2021 experienced physical and mental changes that included modest declines in cognitive tests, stressed immune systems and genetic changes within their cells, scientists report in a package of papers published on Tuesday in the journal Nature and several other related journals.

Almost all of what changed in the astronauts returned to normal after they splashed down on Earth. None of the alterations appeared to pose a showstopping caution for future space travelers. But the results also highlighted how little medical researchers know.

Christopher Mason, a professor of genomics, physiology and biophysics at Weill Cornell Medicine in New York City and one of the leaders of the research, called the collection of papers and data the most in-depth examination weve ever had of a crew as he spoke during a news conference on Monday.

The four astronauts traveled on a mission, known as the Inspiration4, which was the first trip to orbit where not one of the crew members was a professional astronaut. Jared Isaacman, a billionaire entrepreneur, led the mission. Instead of bringing friends along, he recruited three travelers who represented a wider swath of society: Hayley Arceneaux, a physician assistant who survived cancer during her childhood; Sian Proctor, a community college professor who teaches geoscience; and Christopher Sembroski, an engineer.
An African antelope at a zoo in Tennessee died after choking on the plastic cap of a food pouch that had been discarded in its enclosure even though it was among items banned near the animal habitats, according to the zoo.

Brights Zoo, a private, family-owned zoo in Limestone, Tenn., said on social media that Lief, a sitatunga, a rare medium-sized antelope native to Central Africa, choked on the red cap of a squeezable fruit pouch found in the animals exhibit on Saturday.

Lief was 7 years old. A typical life span for the antelope, which has a shaggy, oily coat and lives in swamplands, is around 22 years in captivity, according to the Smithsonians National Zoo in Washington.
Heavy rains battered South Florida on Wednesday, closing major roads, stranding vehicles, forcing delays and cancellations at airports, and causing flash flooding in the Fort Lauderdale and Miami areas.

The severe weather, which began Tuesday, is the result of a cold front parked over parts of the state that has dumped more than 10 inches of rain in some areas, Anthony Reynes, a senior meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Miami, said Wednesday afternoon.

The region was bracing for more heavy rain on Thursday, with forecasters warning that showers and thunderstorms over parts of the region would raise the risk of flash flooding from late morning through the afternoon.

It will take very little additional rain to aggravate ongoing flooding in rural and urban locations, the National Weather Services Storm Prediction Center said in its excessive rainfall warning, which includes Miami.
The American Civil Liberties Union filed a lawsuit on Wednesday challenging President Bidens decision to shut down the southern border to nearly all migrants seeking asylum in the United States.

The action is the first legal challenge to an order that the Biden administration hopes will decrease the number of illegal border crossings and neutralize one of the presidents most serious political vulnerabilities.

In a statement, the A.C.L.U. said the asylum ban, which went into effect one week ago, violated legal protections for people seeking protection in the United States.

Mr. Bidens order blocked access to asylum for migrants who cross the U.S.-Mexico border without authorization. President Donald J. Trump tried to cut off migration in a similar way in 2018, but the move was blocked in federal court.
A White House spokeswoman did not rule out on Wednesday the possibility that President Biden might commute the sentence of his son Hunter Biden, who was convicted on three federal felony counts for illegally purchasing a handgun during his addiction to crack cocaine.

The president declared flatly last week that he would not pardon his son if convicted, but did not address a commutation, which would leave the guilty verdict intact but wipe out some or all of the punishment. Karine Jean-Pierre, the White House press secretary, told reporters on Wednesday that she could not say whether the president might consider such an action.

He was very clear, very upfront, obviously very definitive in ruling out a pardon in an interview with ABC News, Ms. Jean-Pierre said aboard Air Force One as the president flew to Italy for a meeting of the Group of 7 major industrial democracies. You have his own words, she added. I just dont have anything beyond that.

Ms. Jean-Pierre said she had not spoken with the president about the matter yet and so her careful response may only reflect not wanting to go beyond her talking points, not an effort to leave the option open. Mr. Biden has not given any public indication that he would consider commuting his sons sentence. But without further clarification from the White House, the refusal to rule it out could provoke public debate about the propriety of a president using his clemency powers to spare his son a prison term.
Air Force One is plenty comfortable if you are its most privileged frequent flier, with a comfortable bedroom and a spacious office.

Still, most American presidents will try to avoid making two back-to-back round trips to Europe, separated by about 60 hours on the ground at home. Yet that is what President Biden is pulling off this week.

The presidents schedule is jam-packed. It is, said Karine Jean-Pierre, the White House press secretary. There is a lot to be done on behalf of the American people.

Mr. Biden left the United States for D-Day celebrations in France last Wednesday, June 5; stayed the weekend for a state dinner in Paris; and returned to his home in Delaware late Sunday. He left Washington again early Wednesday, June 12, to fly to the southeast coast of Italy for the annual gathering the Group of 7, the traditional summit of leaders of Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy and Japan.
House Republicans on Wednesday muscled through a measure recommending that Attorney General Merrick B. Garland be held in contempt of Congress for failing to comply with a subpoena.

The G.O.P. acted over Democratic opposition after the Justice Department declined to provide audio recordings of President Bidens interview with the special counsel investigating his handling of classified documents. By a nearly party-line vote of 216 to 207, the House called for punishing Mr. Garland in its drive to compel the executive branch to produce the materials.

We have to defend the Constitution; we have to defend the authority of Congress, Speaker Mike Johnson said before the vote. We cant allow the Department of Justice and an executive branch agency to hide information from Congress.

The move came less than two weeks after former President Donald J. Trumps felony conviction in New York on charges that he falsified business records to cover up a hush-money payment to a porn star, and at a time when Republicans have escalated their claims that the Justice Department under Mr. Biden has carried out a vendetta against conservatives, particularly their partys leader.
The United Automobile Workers has scored a remarkable string of victories  most recently, a landmark contract on Monday for electric vehicle battery workers  as its new leadership strives to restore the unions image as the voice of an iconic segment of the American working class.

But competing for headlines is a part of the union that represents tens of thousands of university workers, which at the moment is singularly focused on a mission far from building cars and trucks: ending Israels war in Gaza.

U.A.W. leaders insist that they can smooth out the dissonance between the dual thrusts of U.A.W. activism  one on college campuses, the other on red-state assembly lines. But it will not be easy. The U.A.W. signs that are crowding pro-Palestinian encampments on campuses, furnished by the unions international headquarters in Detroit, have alone struck sour notes among some union members uncomfortable with such outward signs of politics on such a fraught topic.

Its so bad for the union, said Isaac Altman, a U.A.W. member and staff lawyer in the family court bureau of the Legal Aid Society of Nassau County, N.Y., who has clashed with his local over a pro-Palestine resolution he called slightly more radical than Hezbollah. (The resolution called for an immediate cease-fire and an end to the occupation and blockade of Palestinian land, sea and air by Israeli military forces.)
The Biden administration on Wednesday announced a series of new financial sanctions aimed at interrupting the fast-growing technological links between China and Russia that American officials believe are a broad effort to rebuild and modernize Russias military during its war with Ukraine.

The actions were announced just as President Biden was leaving the country for a meeting in Italy of the Group of 7 industrialized economies, where a renewed push to degrade the Russian economy will be at the top of his agenda.

The measures were coordinated by the Treasury, State and Commerce Departments and aimed to further isolate Russia from the global financial system and cut off its ability to gain access to the technology that powers its military arsenal.

The effort has grown far more complicated in the past six or eight months after China, which had previously sat largely on the sidelines, stepped up its shipments of microchips, machine tools, optical systems for drones and components for advanced weaponry, U.S. officials said. But so far Beijing appears to have heeded Mr. Bidens warning against shipping weapons to Russia, even as the United States and NATO continue to arm Ukraine.
Twenty years ago, when the Eggers family of Cape Coral, Fla., got the devastating news that their eldest son had been killed in Afghanistan, they did what Gold Star families do.

They buried him at Arlington National Cemetery. They listened as an Army priest described his last battlefield confession. They mourned with President George W. Bush, the commander in chief, and they faithfully honored him each Memorial Day.

This week, the father and sister of Capt. Daniel W. Eggers, a Green Beret, are honoring him in a different way. They are at Guantanamo Bay to represent him at the sentencing trial of a former commander of enemy insurgents in Afghanistan.

Captain Eggers was 28 when he was killed and on his second tour in Afghanistan. He had immersed himself in Afghan food and culture, and spoke Pashto. He was a very humble gentleman, Bill Eggers, his father, said in a recent interview. He grew up aspiring to join the Army as far back as anyone could remember and truly believed in God, family, country, his father said.
A man who fatally shot a Philadelphia freelance journalist with whom he had a relationship was sentenced on Monday to 15 to 30 years in prison.

The man, Robert Davis, 20, who pleaded guilty to third-degree murder, also received a sentence of one to two years, to be served concurrently, for carrying a firearm without a license.

The freelance journalist, Josh Kruger, 39, was shot seven times and found in his South Philadelphia home in the early morning of Oct. 2 and was pronounced dead at an area hospital.

Mr. Kruger was a freelance journalist who wrote about a range of topics, such as L.G.B.T.Q. issues and poverty, for local newspapers including The Philadelphia Inquirer, The Philadelphia Citizen and BillyPenn.com. He had worked for the city of Philadelphia earlier in his career.
Russian warships arrived in Cuban waters on Wednesday as part of planned military exercises that experts say were a symbolic show of strength in reaction to continued U.S. support for Ukraine, and a reflection of growing ties between Russia and Cuba.

The four-vessel group poses no real threat, U.S. officials said, despite tensions between the United States and Russia over the Ukraine war. The group includes the nuclear-powered submarine Kazan and the frigate Admiral Gorshkov, and contains no nuclear weapons, according to Cuban officials.

The warships, which performed military exercises before their arrival in the Caribbean, will remain in Havana until June 17 while the crew meets officials and visits cultural and historical sites, according to Cubas foreign ministry.

Capable of engaging in surface warfare, using land attack missiles and defending against maritime and aircraft attacks, the Admiral Gorshkov flew both Cuban and Russian flags, according to news reports, and was greeted with a 21-gun salute as it sailed into Havana Harbor. The Kazan was expected to follow, lurking below the surface.
Akira Endo, a Japanese biochemist whose research on fungi helped to lay the groundwork for widely prescribed drugs that lower a type of cholesterol that contributes to heart disease, died on June 5. He was 90.

Chiba Kazuhiro, the president of Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, where Dr. Endo was a professor emeritus, confirmed the death in a statement. The statement did not give a cause or say where he died.

Cholesterol, mostly made in the liver, has important functions in the body. It is also a major contributor to coronary artery disease, a leading cause of death in the United States, Japan and many other countries.

In the early 1970s, Dr. Endo grew fungi in an effort to find a natural substance that could block a crucial enzyme that is part of the production of cholesterol. Some scientists worried that doing so might threaten cholesterols positive functions.
The terrifying stories are sprawled across local newspapers and recounted in hushed tones at tea stalls and bus stands: another day, another brutal death during an armed robbery in Karachi, Pakistans largest city.

Last Wednesday, a car mechanic was shot dead by muggers trying to steal his phone. The day before, robbers in two separate incidents killed a secondhand shoe seller who refused to hand over his phone and a businessman who had just withdrawn cash from a bank. A few days earlier, robbers killed a 27-year-old mechanical engineer, stealing his phone, cash and motorcycle.

Across Karachi, Pakistans economic powerhouse, the rate of violent crime has soared. That has created a sense that no place is safe in this metropolis of 20 million people, and led many to worry that the city is returning to its violent, chaotic past. The countrys president, Asif Ali Zardari, has called for a large-scale operation against the street criminals.

The fear of mugging hangs over you every time you step outside, said Shamim Ali, 43, a factory worker who said he was mugged twice in recent months. Criminals operate with brazenness in broad daylight.
Nadera Shalhoub-Kevorkian, a Palestinian professor at a prominent Israeli university, first waded into the debate over the Gaza war by joining academics worldwide in signing a letter that called for a cease-fire. It branded Israels assault on the territory a genocide and the leaders of her university responded by urging her to resign.

That was soon after the war began on Oct. 7. Months later, the professor drew even more scrutiny for saying it was time to abolish Zionism and accusing Israel of politicizing rape. She was briefly suspended in March by Hebrew University of Jerusalem, where she has taught law and social work for nearly three decades. But right-wing Israeli politicians demanded more severe punishment and in April, the police detained her overnight.

I have been persecuted and defamed, my academic production of knowledge flattened and my home and even my own bedroom invaded, Professor Shalhoub-Kevorkian, 64, told The New York Times.

The professor is now under investigation for incitement to terrorism  a crime punishable by up to five years in prison. And though she has not been charged, her case has prompted a profound debate inside Israel about the repression of free speech and academic freedom since the war began more than eight months ago.
Her 10th anniversary as a Toronto police officer was approaching, but Firouzeh Zarabi-Majd was in no mood to celebrate. Embittered by the years of sexual harassment she said that she and her fellow female officers had experienced at work, she was engaged in a one-woman campaign to make her case public across Canada.

She had already gone through official channels, but when that didnt work she took to social media.

For 18 months, Ms. Zarabi-Majd posted images of the pornography and racist and sexist messages that she said she witnessed in the workplace.

She disclosed details of a sexual assault she said she experienced and cursed and mocked officials whom she believed were dismissive of her accusations.

She ignored warnings from Torontos police force to stop.

Ms. Zarabi-Majd said she should have a right  just as civilians do  to discuss her grievances publicly.
Intense heat in Greece prompted a mini lockdown for two days starting on Wednesday, with some schools closing and the Acropolis restricting visiting hours, as the authorities searched for two foreign hikers just a few days after a British medical journalist was found dead on the island of Symi after going for a walk in searing heat.

The onset of sweltering temperatures, which meteorologists said might set a record on Thursday, prompted the Health Ministry to issue a warning to older people and people with chronic ailments to stay indoors. The authorities also advised anyone who works outdoors to avoid strenuous activity from noon to 5 p.m.

Temperatures were forecast to reach 41 Celsius, or 105.8 Fahrenheit, in Athens on Wednesday and rise to 42 Celsius (107.6 Fahrenheit) on Thursday before dipping on Friday, according to Greeces National Meteorological Service. The heat elsewhere in the Greek mainland was expected to reach 43 Celsius.
On a hilltop next to a vast limestone quarry in Englands East Midlands, a crowd of about 60 people gathered last Thursday evening to witness the lighting of a beacon to mark the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings. Amid the drab parkas and pullovers was a figure in a striking red coat: Natalie Fleet, the Labour Partys candidate for Parliament, wearing her partys campaign color.

She turned up late, having hiked up in heels. But she mixed easily, chatting with a 17-year-old high school student, Georgia Haslam, about her desire to get more young women engaged in politics.

It was reassuring to hear someone like her say, I understand you, Ms. Haslam said afterward. If youre not from a city, if youre not wealthy, its not clear that these politicians really care about you.

Ms. Fleet is on track to win back the parliamentary district of Bolsover for Labour, which in 2019 it lost to the Conservatives for the first time in almost 70 years. Her appearance at the D-Day commemoration was a telling contrast to the Conservative prime minister, Rishi Sunak, who skipped out of D-Day ceremonies in France the same day to return to London, drawing a torrent of criticism.
A Dutch court on Wednesday sentenced three men to decades in prison for the murder of the renowned crime journalist Peter R. de Vries, whose brazen killing in broad daylight on an Amsterdam street rattled journalists and others across the Netherlands and Europe.

The three men included Mr. de Vries killer, the getaway driver and the organizer of the attack. They were identified only by their first names and initials in court: the gunman, Delano G., and his driver, Kamil E., were sentenced to 28 years in prison. Their client, Krystian M., was sentenced to more than 26 years.

The defendants, the court said, showed a total lack of respect for the life of Peter R. de Vries.

The proceedings were announced by the Amsterdam District court in a statement on Wednesday.

The conviction represents the most significant to date in the murder of Mr. de Vries, who was gunned down in July 2021 outside a television studio in Amsterdams bustling city center. Mr. de Vries  whose work had often landed him in the cross hairs of Amsterdams criminal underworld  had reportedly been issued death threats over his involvement in a court case against one of Europes most notorious drug lords, Ridouan Taghi.
Towering over Kyiv for six decades, Hotel Ukraine has witnessed some pivotal moments in Ukraines recent history.

Crowds gathered on the square in front of the 14-story hotel to celebrate the fall of the Soviet Union. Popular uprisings on what was later called Independence Square toppled Ukrainian leaders. Today, blue and yellow flags cover lawns near the hotel, serving as a reminder of the many lives lost in the war between Ukraine and Russia.

Now, Hotel Ukraine is up for auction as part of an effort to sell off some large state assets to help fund the military and bolster an economy battered by a grueling war that has drained the countrys coffers. The starting price for Hotel Ukraine is $25 million.

Beginning this summer, the government will auction some 20 state-owned companies, including Hotel Ukraine, a vast shopping mall in Kyiv, and several mining and chemical companies.
At least 49 people were killed and dozens of others injured in the Persian Gulf country of Kuwait, the state news agency said, when a fire broke out on Wednesday in a building that housed scores of low-income workers, many of them Indian nationals.

The fire began during the morning in a coastal area called Mangaf, about half an hours drive from the center of the capital, Kuwait City.

The Kuwaiti authorities have held the building owner for questioning as they investigate the cause of the fire and try to determine whether any shortcoming or neglect played a role, the state news agency reported. The authorities promised to begin a campaign to tackle building code violations. The public prosecutors office also planned to inspect the site and interview survivors.

Speaking to journalists at the site of the fire, Sheikh Fahad Yusuf Al Sabah  Kuwaits deputy prime minister and interior minister  blamed the greed of property owners for the disaster and said that the owner of the company employing the workers would also be detained, the Reuters news agency and Kuwaiti newspapers reported.
In the months after he was taken hostage in Israel and hidden in the Gaza Strip, Andrey Kozlovs captors kept drumming in the same message: The world, they said, had given up on him. Even his family had moved on.

Your mom is on vacation in Greece, the militants told him. Your mom doesnt know about you at all  and doesnt want to know.

So persuasive were they that when Israeli security forces burst through the door of the apartment where Mr. Kozlov was being held on Saturday, he was at first unsure of whether they had come to save or kill him, his parents said in an interview this week during which they recounted his ordeal.

The account of Mr. Kozlovs eight months in captivity came as a doctor in Israel reported that while he and the three other rescued Hamas hostages seemed to be in fairly good condition at first glance, tests showed that all were malnourished. And all, said Dr. Itai Pessach, the head of the medical team for returning hostages at Sheba Medical Center, had suffered mistreatment in varying degrees of frequency and intensity.
The Lebanese militant group Hezbollah fired one of its heaviest rocket barrages yet into Israel on Wednesday, targeting military bases and an arms factory, in response to an overnight strike that killed one of its senior commanders as tensions rise further at the border.

The commander, Taleb Abdallah, also known as Abu Taleb, was among the highest-ranking members of Hezbollah, a powerful Lebanese militia and political movement backed by Iran, to have been killed since the Oct. 7 Hamas-led attack on Israel set off war in Gaza.

There were no immediate reports of casualties from the Hezbollah rocket barrages, according to the Israeli military.

Israel and Hamas have been trading fire since Israels offensive in the Gaza Strip prompted Hezbollah to mount cross-border attacks in support of Hamas, but the intensity of Hezbollahs attacks has increased this month. Israeli officials have threatened at the highest levels to pursue further military action and Hezbollah has vowed to keep up its fight, raising fresh concerns that the months of low-level conflict could grow into a larger war on Israels northern border.

Speaking at Mr. Abdallahs funeral in Beiruts southern suburbs, Hashem Safieddine, the leader of Hezbollahs executive council, pledged that the group would double down on its attacks against Israel in the wake of the killing.

If the enemys message is to retreat from our position in supporting the oppressed in Gaza, then he must know that our answer is final, Mr. Safieddine said. We will increase the intensity, quantity and quality of our operations.
Representative Kelly Armstrong and Lt. Gov. Tammy Miller, two well-known Republicans, are vying for their partys nomination to replace Gov. Doug Burgum, a Republican who is not seeking a third term. The two candidates are conservatives who agree on many policy issues, but who have contrasted their political styles and professional backgrounds on the campaign trail. Read more
Create Congressional Age Limit

North Dakota voters will decide whether to impose an age limit on members of Congress from their state. If the measure passes and survives any future legal challenges, it would ban North Dakotans from being elected or appointed to Congress if they would turn 81 by the end of the year before their term expired. All three current members of North Dakotas congressional delegation are younger than 70. Read more
For the past few years, police in the Finnish city of Espoo have been employing an intriguing tactic to keep youths from partying on a local beach  blasting classical music from loudspeakers.

There is no scientific evidence that young people have an aversion to classical music, but police in Espoo swear that it works, and the fact that they have been using this tactic for the last six years is a testament to that. Apparently, at the end of the school, year, the beach in Espoos Haukilahti neighborhood becomes a popular gathering place for youths eager to party until the late hours of the night. Local authorities had tried multiple other methods to disperse youths, but nothing worked quite as well as classical music masterpieces like Strauss The Blue Danube, Vivaldis Four Seasons and Schuberts Ave Maria. So, starting in early June, police blast classical music from a couple of loudspeakers on the beach to keep youths from gathering there after sunset.

Photo: Matias Malka/Unsplash

For some reason, classical music doesnt appeal to young people and young people stay away from places where there is classical music, Mikko Juvonen of the Western Uusimaa police department told Yle. Its better for us to keep the youngsters on dry land, and its nice for families to come and swim here in the morning when the beach is clean.

Before implementing the classical music method six years ago, Haukilahti was a popular gathering place for end of term parties that usually left piles of litter and broken glass in their wake. Now, Espoo police no longer have to worry, because no youths want to be around when the classical music starts playing.

Photo: Manuel Nageli/Unsplash

A number of locals confessed that they found the police initiative a bit strange, but since its working so well, no one seems to be complaining.
An Offaly farmer pleaded guilty to assaulting a man in a Birr night club during last week's sitting of Tullamore District Court.

Kieran Bracken, Fox Covert, Money, Kilcormac was charged with commiting a Section 3 assault on August 7, 2023 in Melba's Nite Club, Emmet Square, Birr.

Sergeant Justine Reilly told the court that during an altercation in the club between Mr Bracken and the injured party, Mr Bracken punched the other causing bruising to the left ear, swelling of the cheek and a scrape on the right ear.

The defending barrister said his client had 1,500 in compensation for the assaulted man.

Before this incident, commented the barrister, there had been a previous incident earlier in the evening between the two parties.

He said the tension between the two men had been present for some time before August 7.

He added that Mr Bracken has a partner and they are expecting their first child in September. He works as a tillage farmer.

Kieran Bracken apologised publicly in the courtroom to the injured party, who was also present in the courtroom, for the incident.

Judge Deirdre Gearty said she did not consider the 1,500 to be compensation.

I don't think such payments should be called compensation, she remarked. I call them goodwill payments.

Addressing the injured party she said he may do what he wishes with this goodwill payment.

She issued the Probation Act to the defendant.
The 40 seats on Tipperary County Council have been filled and Independents came out on top, Fine Gael and Fianna Fail strong - but there has been a drop in support for Sinn Fein, while Labour are up, taking a hattrick of seats in the new Tipperary County Council.

Sinn Fein lost a seat, seeing a fall from three to two seats, but Labour saw an excellent result, trebling their seats from one to three, while the number of women elected to the council increased from seven to 12.

14 Independents, five of whom are members of the Lowry Team, were elected - an increase of one since 2019. Speaking after the result, Deputy Michael Lowry said their 'Drive for Five' campaign yielded the results they hoped for.

Fianna Fail and Fine Gael both won ten seats each and the Clonmel based Workers Unemployed Action Group (WUAG) held their seat in Cllr. Pat English. No Social Democrats, Aontu or Green Party candidates were elected in Tipperary.

Labour's Fiona Bonfield, a cousin of former Labour leader and Tipperary TD Alan Kelly, topped the poll in Newport and her colleagues, first-time candidate Michael Chicken Brennan was elected in Carrick-on-Suir and Louise Morgan Walsh was successful in Nenagh.

Kilbarron native, Independent sitting councillor, Joe Hannigan, topped the poll in Nenagh and was elected for the third time on the first count with Lowry Team member, Michael O'Meara, who now begins his fourth term.

Cllr Seamus Morris also returns for a fourth term and was elected on the fourth count, while first time candidate in Nenagh, Ryan OMeara was elected on the third count and is a member of Fianna Fail and now the youngest member of Nenagh councillors at 28-years-old.

Labour's Louise Morgan Walsh, who was just edged out by Cllr Hughie McGrath in the final two counts in 2019, took a seat and is the only woman on the council in the Nenagh LEA.

The most significant unexpected result was the collapse of Fine Gaels vote in Cashel-Tipperary. First-time candidate Matthew Fogarty stood instead of Michael Fitzgerald, the 2019 poll-topper and one of the longest-serving councillors in Ireland before his retirement at the end of the outgoing councils term.

Mr Fogarty polled just 340 votes and the seat went to another first-time candidate, Independent John OHeney, who topped the poll and was elected on the first count.
Ruthless vote management  of the type for which Fianna Fail were renowned in the past  paid off handsomely for the party in the Tullamore Electoral Area when it comfortably retained its four seats on the council.

With the retirement of popular long-serving councillor, Danny Owens, it had been widely expected in the run-up to the decider that the party would loose its overall majority on Tullamore Municipal Distirct.

But against the odds the Soldiers of Destiny maintained their vice-like grip on the district council with newcomer Ollie Bryant taking the last seat without reaching the quota.

On the first count all four candidates were relatively equally balanced in first preferences with Clara's Frank Moran unsurprisingly leading the pack.

He was followed by Tullamore based Tony McCormack and Declan Harvey with first-timer Ollie Bryant, from Cloonagh, coming up the rear though with an impressive 1182 votes. The quota stood at 1459 votes.

Frank Moran was elected on the third count having missed out on being elected a count earlier by just 30 votes.

Tony McCormack  predicted to be a candidate in the General Election if (or when) sitting TD Barry Cowen goes to Europe - followed with Declan Harvey being elected on the final count after surpassing the quota. Ollie Bryant was also elected on the final count without reaching the quota by the slimmest of margins.

As expected Fine Gael's sole candidate Neil Feighery topped the poll and was first to be elected in the early hours of Sunday morning after exceeding the quota. The Killoughey based candidate, as the party's sole standard bearer, attracted a massive tally of 1962 first preferences.

The largest portion of his surplus went to near neighbour, Ollie Bryant, another example of the geographical vote transfer pattern which was evident in each electoral area throughout the count.

The Holmshill resident was particularly popular in his local area attracting a phenomenal 80 per cent of the vote in one box in Killoughey.

Fine Gael were unsuccessful in persuading a second candidate to stand in the Tullamore area andt undoubtedly there will be much soul-searching within the organisation in coming weeks as to what might have been.

The second big story of the election in the electoral area was the re-emergence of Sinn Fein onto the scene following a drubbing at the hands of voters in the 2019 contest.

First-time candidate, Aoife Masterson, secured 1216 first preferences and was transfer friendly throughout the race ensuring her election on the fourth count.

She trod the highways and byways of the area on canvass over the past few months and her thoroughness was enhanced by her endorsement by former poll-topping Sinn Fein representative Brendan Killeavy.

Her running mate, Tim Farrell performed poorly  just 201 first preferences  but the odds were stacked against him as he had been added to the ticket in the latter stages of the campaign following the withdrawal from the race of the originally selected candidate, Teresa Bracken

Veteran Independent, Sean O'Brien, who put in an impressive campaign, recorded his best election performance in his political career securing 1337 first preferences  a whopping 47 per cent more than on his last outing in 2019. With such a tally the left-winger was assured of his place on the next council and he was returned on the fourth count after surpassing the quota.

The Carlow native and Whitehall resident secured votes across the electoral division, in both rural and urban districts.

He polled strongly in areas such as Durrow and Killeigh and in St Philomena's N.S. Box No. 3 in Tullamore town, which includes Whitehall and Hophill, he captured an astonishing 110 first preferences.

It was a disappointing day for Clara based Sandy Feehan-Smollen, who had only been recently co-opted onto the council in place of her husband, Ken Smollen, who is suffering from a serious illness.

She secured 782 first preferences but from the outset it seemed virtually impossible for her to secure a seat.

Traditionally Clara has returned two councillors to Aras an Chontae so there will be some annoyance in the town and the surrounding area at the outcome.

Newcomer, Patrick Broder, of the Irish Freedom Party, captured 418 first preferences but was just too far behind to be in serious contention for a seat.

The Moate based candidate recently came to prominence from his starring role in Tullamore Amateur Dramatic Society's successful production, The Incarnation of the Prodigal Son.

With the wind in his face the Green Party's Liam Walsh faced an uphill struggle to gain a seat on the council. He was eliminated on the third count but, speaking to the Tribune afterwards, he said the Greens will regroup locally and focus on the next General Election.

Latecomer to the race Independent Deirdre Dillon attracted 155 first preferences and was eliminated after the second count. The Killurin based candidate campaigned on a platform of integrity, fairness, justice and accountability.
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.
A fire at a famous hotel in Dublin has been brought under control.

Staff and guests, including American actor Henry Winkler, were evacuated from the Shelbourne Hotel during the incident on Wednesday morning.

Six fire engines, including a turntable ladder and emergency tender, attended the scene after emergency services were called shortly after 10.30am.

Firefighters were called to a fire in a premises on St Stephen's Green at 1038 this morning The fire is under control with an effective evacuation helping enormously Six fire engines including a turntable ladder and emergency tender remain on scene Traffic restrictions in area pic.twitter.com/qaTLfT4M9u  Dublin Fire Brigade (@DubFireBrigade) June 12, 2024

Hotel staff spoke with guests gathered on the street beside the hotel.

Some of the guests held suitcases as they watched the operation.

Mr Winkler, who played The Fonz in the popular sitcom Happy Days, said he initially thought the fire alarm was an alarm clock.

When I heard the fire alarm I thought it was the clock radio  I thought somebody had set the alarm before we got there, like another guest, he told reporters.

And finally I went into another room and it was still buzzing. So I called downstairs and the woman said in a very calm voice Yes, were all evacuating, you must evacuate right now.

You know what, how wonderful are firemen? Some of my favourite human beings, firemen and firewomen.

They run in when other people are running out.

I think they deserve to (have their hands) shook.

Thank you Dublin s fire department  our hotel was evacuated on our first morning !!! pic.twitter.com/kyByb5VSoM  Henry Winkler (@hwinkler4real) June 12, 2024

Dublin Fire Brigade said the evacuation helped enormously.

Gardai put traffic diversions in place in the area.

Marianne and Patrick Brown were due to be staying at the hotel on Wednesday, after flying to Ireland from Dallas, Texas, but were unable to check in because of the fire.

Ms Brown said: It is quite the wake-up after an overnight flight.

She added that the staff had been great but she had not been told whether she would be able to check in.

Safety first, so I think theyre just waiting for the all-clear, she said.

We think it will take them an hour or so to get sorted once they get the all-clear.

Scene at Shelbourne Hotel in Dublin. Firefighters now packing up while guests who had been waiting with suitcases on the footpath outside are now being allowed back into the building. pic.twitter.com/foIjsaEy3h  David Young (@DavidYoungPA) June 12, 2024

Ms Brown added: Its been an interesting start to the day.

Guests have since been allowed to return to the hotel.

A spokesman said no injuries had been reported.

The five-star hotel is located on St Stephens Green near Leinster House and several Government departments.

Local traffic diversions remain in place.
Cutting-Edge Technologies Set to Revolutionize the Retail Experience MELBOURNE, VICTORIA, AUSTRALIA, June 12, 2024 Considering the recent innovative POS systems that are designed to transform customer experiences in a retail space and streamline business operations, it is no doubt that the retail industry is about to experience one of the most massive changes in decades. POS advancements have evolved to feature artificial intelligence (AI)-driven analytics, mobile compatibility, and personalization for customer 
Portland is a great place to be if youre a sushi lover. Yelp has released its annual list of the top 100 sushi spots, and three metro area restaurants made the cut, including one in the top 10.

Portlands Yoshis Sushi (3530 S.W. Multnomah Blvd., 503-833-2940) took the No. 7 spot on Yelps list. This food cart in Multnomah Villages The French Quarter is run by chef-owner Yoshimasa Ikeda and only takes orders by phone. Yelp says the most popular dishes are the spicy tuna roll, hotate (seared sea scallop nigiri topped with house-made yuzu pepper marmalade), and the lime green roll (sesame crusted spinach, cucumber, roasted pepper, avocado, micro green sala and ginger miso.)

Beavertons Koya Sushi (12570 S.W. First St.) is No. 24 on Yelps list, and Bluefin Tuna & Sushi (1337 N.E. Broadway) in Portland took the No. 75 spot.

And theres a fourth entry from Oregon on Yelps list. Tekkamaki Sushi (2105 Roberts Rd.) in Medford is No. 80.

Heres what our restaurant critic, Michael Russell, had to say about the rankings:

My sense is these Yelp ratings take several aspects into consideration  friendliness, affordability, etc.  that you might not find in some hoity-toity guide to the $500-per-person sushi restaurants in New York or Los Angeles.

Thats great. And its also why a food cart that takes its raw fish seriously like Yoshis can land so high on a guide to the best sushi in America. Yoshis was one of our favorite new food carts of 2019, and it landed on our comprehensive guide to Portlands best sushi last year. Weve also had good meals at the other two spots on the list, Koya and Bluefin Tuna & Sushi.

Sushi, like wine, is a luxury good that quickly scales out of reach for most consumers. Thats why we structured our own sushi guide into categories including Inexpensive Sushi, Party Sushi, Everyday Omakase and more. If youre looking for a roundup written by a restaurant critic with wide-ranging sushi experience who has actually visited every place on the list, check out our guide to Portlands best sushi.

If you want to hit all the Pacific Northwest entries on Yelps top 100 list, Washington has some places for you to try. No. 4 Taneda Sushi in Kaiseki in Seattle has just two nightly seatings at its nine-seat sushi bar. It flies in seafood from Japans Toyoshu Fish Market three times a week. Theres also No 14. Sushi Kaunta in Kent, No. 20 Gen Sushi in Battle Ground, No. 89 Maxi Teriyaki and Sushi Restaurant in Cosmopolis, No. 94 Star Sushi & Bar in Seattle and No. 98 Kai Sushi in Everett.

And if you want a taste of the very best sushi in the country, according to Yelp, youll need to hop on a plane or take a very long boat ride. The No. 1 spot belongs to Kauai Sushi Station in Lihue, Hawaii. Yelp calls it a fine-dining food truck and says its most popular dishes are the spicy tuna roll, ginger crazy roll and soft shell crab tempura roll.

Mims Copeland is a social media producer and covers trending topics for The Oregonian/OregonLive. Reach her atmcopeland@oregonian.com
The superintendent of the Newberg-Dundee school district will spend the next two months on medical leave, amid a public firestorm over his handling of the districts recently surfaced financial woes.

Stephen Phillips has served as superintendent since 2022.
At elementary school book fairs, Yesenia Collins would head straight for titles about sharks. She was fascinated by marine biology, a passion that eventually morphed into a dream of becoming a conservationist.

Collins, a 2024 graduate of Madras High School in central Oregon, will start on her environmental science degree at Oregon State University in the fall.
Theres nothing new about the Lifetime network airing TV movies about women who are in peril, or projects inspired by actual true crime cases. But a new Lifetime movie airing this weekend is a bit more novel than most, because it stars Bethenny Frankel, whos better known as a former cast member on the Bravo reality show, The Real Housewives of New York City.

(Dont have cable? You can stream Lifetime movies on DirecTV Stream; on Philo, which offers a free trial; and on Fubo, which also offers a free trial.)

In Danger in the Dorm, Frankel plays Joanne, the mother of Kathleen (Clara Alexandrova), a college student whose lifelong friend is murdered in her campus dormitory room. The movie is inspired by a little-known early story by true crime author Ann Rule.

Though Danger in the Dorm shares a title with Rules story, that seems to be about the only resemblance the project has with the case that Rule wrote about.

An archived New York Times story, dated Feb. 9, 1972, offers a few details about the actual crime. The story reports that an 18-year-old from Glendale, California, named Nancy Wyckoff, was found stabbed to death in her dormitory room at Oregon State University.

The story also said this was the third attack on campus coeds in five days, noting that the other victims of attacks were young women from, respectively, San Mateo, California, and Portland.

Lifetime has produced many so-called Ripped From the Headlines TV movies inspired by true crime cases, including How to Murder Your Husband, which starred Cybill Shepherd as Nancy Crampton Brophy, an Oregon romance writer who was convicted of killing her husband, Daniel Brophy.

That true crime story is the subject of the current podcast series, Happily Never After: Nancy and Dan, produced by Wondery in partnership with The Oregonian/OregonLive.

Though supposedly inspired by a crime that happened on the Oregon State University campus, Danger in the Dorm takes place in a fictional Brighton University, and the location isnt specified. The movie was filmed in Canada.

The Danger in the Dorm storyline also appears to have little in common with the real case. Most of the plot involves Kathleen dealing with feelings of guilt that she wasnt able to save her friend, and how she takes action to find justice and ferret out the killer.

As an onscreen message at the end of the film says, in part, While this film is inspired by the short story of the same name, scenes, incidents, characters, timelines, dialogue, and names have been fictionalized or altered for dramatic purposes.

Danger in the Dorm airs at 8 p.m. Sunday, June 16, on Lifetime.

 Kristi Turnquist covers features and entertainment. Reach her at 503-221-8227, kturnquist@oregonian.com or @Kristiturnquist

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It wont take long for first-timers in the Northwest to notice the local fascination with Bigfoot. The legendary creature, also called Sasquatch, has become a pop culture phenomenon. Bigfoot iconography is scattered across Oregon, from bumper stickers to sections of gift shops dedicated to the seven-foot-tall cross between a man and a hairy beast.

Bigfoot sightings have been reported all over the state, and some Oregonians claim a special connection to the lore. But beyond the kitsch, there are cultural and historical perspectives on the creature specific to the region.

At the High Desert Museums Sensing Sasquatch exhibit, visitors are greeted by a car cut in half, labeled Put your Bigfoot stickers here and let your preconceptions drive away, museum director Dana Whitelaw said.

The exhibit, curated under the guidance of Indigenous advisers, encourages visitors to reconsider mainstream views of Sasquatch and be open to learning about Sasquatch as a protective entity for Indigenous peoples of the High Desert, Whitelaw said.

Elsewhere in Oregon, summer festivals lean into the pop culture and mystery of Bigfoot, while attractions across the state display the results of their Bigfoot searches and research.

Here are 11 ways you can explore the stories of Bigfoot this summer:

Festivals

The Bigfoot Poetry Festival

This three-day poetry event includes open mics, writing and performance workshops, poets showcases, an artists market, and a poetry slam tournament. All abilities are welcome and affinity-based mics will be hosted at the central downtown branch of the Multnomah Library.

June 13-15, various venues in Portlands Pearl District; every event is free except the final slam; tickets $15; www.bigfootpoetry.com.

Blue Mountain Bigfoot Festival

This two-day festival features author of The Bluff Creek Project Robert Leiterman, musician and Bigfoot researcher Tom Bennet, and Into the Parabnormal podcast host Jeremy Scott. The event is advertised as family friendly.

June 22-23, Geiser-Pollman Park, 1723 Madison St, Baker City; free admission; squatchamerica.com/blue-mountain-bigfoot-fest-june-21-23-2024.

Bigfoot Festival & Beyond

The festival features guest speakers and Bigfoot researchers Jeff Davis and Dr. J. Robert Alley, a Monster Market with over 70 Bigfoot-themed merchants, and a special presentation featuring Paranormal Investigators Ronny LeBlanc, Sarah Lemos-Aune, and David Schrader. The event is open to all ages.

June 29, Oaks Amusement Park, 7805 SE Oaks Park Way, Portland; tickets $5-$30; oregonbigfootfest.com.

Glide Sasquatch Festival

This one-day festival east of Roseburg features bounce houses, food trucks, live music, and Bigfoot experts. Guest speakers include Scot and Hannah Violette from Squatch America, Thomas Sewid from the Facebook group Sasquatch Island, Michael Freeman featured in the book Freeman Bigfoot Files and actor and Bigfoot researcher Jesus Payan Jr. from Breaking Bad.

July 20, 20940 OR-138, Glide; free admission; glidesasqatchfestival.com.

Bigfoot Blues Festival

This two-day festival will feature blues bands, local vendors, food, music, and activities for kids.

July 27-28, The Port of Brookings Harbor, 16340 Lower Harbor Road, Brookings; free admission; contact Bruce Ellis (541) 251-4422.

Attractions

Bigfoot trap at Collings Mountain Trail #943

This moderate 7-mile hike in the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest goes past a 1974 trap built by the North American Wildlife Research Team. Walk the full trail for views of the Siskiyou Crest and Applegate Lake or stop 0.75 miles in by Grouse Creek to see what the U.S. Forest Service says is the worlds only bigfoot trap.

Open year-round, Hart-tish Park picnic area, Upper Applegate Road, Applegate; summer park fee $7; fs.usda.gov/recarea/rogue-siskiyou/recarea/?recid=70156.

Sensing Sasquatch Exhibit at High Desert Museum

This exhibit displays works by five Indigenous artists  Rocky LaRock (Salish), Phillip Cash Cash (Nez Perce, Cayuse), HollyAnna CougarTracks DeCoteau Littlebull (Yakama, Nez Perce, Cayuse, Cree) and Frank Buffalo Hyde (Nez Perce, Onondaga)  who show Sasquatch as a protective entity for Indigenous peoples of the High Desert region, said museum director Dana Whitelaw. The exhibit is a part of a yearlong series of public programs  with details to come  at the High Desert Museum exploring Sasquatch through an Indigenous lens.

Exhibit on display until Jan. 12, 2025, 59800 U.S. 97, Bend; tickets $12-$20; highdesertmuseum.org/sensing-sasquatch/.

North American Bigfoot Center

Located in a hot spot for Bigfoot sightings, the center features a gift store, information center, and dozens of exhibits, artifacts and art. Visitors can take photos with the life-size Bigfoot replica nicknamed Murphy, view related films, and ask staff questions about Bigfoot.

Open year-round; at the intersection of U.S. 26 and Oregon 212, 31297 S.E. Hwy 26, Boring; tickets $6-$8; northamericanbigfootcenter.com.

Southern Oregon Bigfoot Experience

The permanent collection of Bigfoot casts, hair and sightings is regularly updated with new pieces. The center also advertises its gift shop as Oregons largest. Work on a new Bigfoot mural on the side of the building is also underway.

Open year-round, 103 Redwood Highway, Cave Junction; free entry; sobfe.com.

The Freakybuttrue Peculiarium

The warehouse of eccentric art and oddities features a 10-foot-tall Biggie replica, a real casting of a bigfoot print donated by Cliff Barackman, and a selection of cards, posters, air fresheners, stickers, shirts, totes, and bottle openers. The Peculiarium has plenty of Bigfoot-themed items to explore.

Open year-round, 2234 N.W. Thurman St., Portland; tickets $7-$10; peculiarium.com.

Bigfoot Adventure Cruise

This 80-mile round trip on a jet boat goes from Portland to Multnomah Falls and features narration by Cliff Barackman from Animal Planets Finding Bigfoot and a live tour guide. The boat is open-air and cameras, and binoculars are encouraged by the tour group.

July - September, Wednesday - Monday mornings, Caruthers Landing Dock, 110 SE Caruthers St., Portland; tickets $62-$70; www.portlandspirit.com/cruise/bigfoot.

 Riya Sharma covers Here is Oregon feature stories. Reach her at rsharma@oregonian.com or 503-294-5996.
After a car crash landed 61-year-old Brandon Garrett and his four dogs at the bottom of an 85-foot ravine in eastern Oregon last Sunday, Garrett found an unexpected hero in his dog Blue.

Blue, a whippet and pit bull mix, traveled four miles to find help  and then captured the hearts of people in Baker County and beyond.

Somebody get that dog a bone, one of Blues admirers wrote on Facebook last week, he saved his person.

Garrett, of Halfway, Oregon, had been headed out on a camping trip with his friend Troy Millhollin on June 2 when the crash happened.

Around 3:15 p.m., Millhollin  who was waiting for Garrett to arrive at their campsite in the Hells Canyon National Recreation Area near the Idaho border  spotted Garretts dog Blue.

He didnt think much of the dogs solo arrival at first  he said that the dog sometimes traveled up to 29 miles on its own  and he didnt think much of the cuts on Blues face, which he thought were only scratches.

But when Garrett still didnt show up an hour and a half later, he realized that the scratches on Blues face were in fact cuts from broken glass.

It was then that he knew something was wrong, he said.

Four miles away, Garrett, three of his other dogs and the truck that he had been driving were lying below U.S. Forest Service Road 39. Blue had climbed out of the steep ravine and  without Garretts realizing it  run the four miles to the campground where Millhollin was waiting.

As nightfall neared, Millhollin said he went back to town to see if anyone had seen Garrett, but he began to fear the worst.

It started getting dark and nobody had heard from him, and thats when I was like something isnt right, Millhollin said.

Brandon Garrett, 61, was rescued last Monday after his dog Blue traveled four miles to find help.Courtesy of Tyree Garrett

Millhollin and a couple of friends searched the road all night to see where Garrett may have crashed, but couldnt find him until Garretts brother Tyree Garrett spotted the truck he was driving at the bottom of the ravine around 9 a.m.

I thought he was dead, Tyree Garrett said. I thought he was gone because it was so far down.

But Brandon Garrett wasnt dead. The crash had knocked him and two of the dogs out of the truck, and the vehicle landed only a few feet from crushing Garrett. When Baker County Sheriff Travis Ash found him, the 61-year-old had managed to crawl about 100 yards from the truck.

Ash called the Baker County Search and Rescue Team, as well as the Pine Valley Rural Fire Protection District.

Working together, the two teams  many of them volunteers  used a highline rope system to lift Garrett up onto the road and, eventually, to a waiting helicopter. Ash said that although one of the team members was trained in highline rope rescues, their team had never practiced performing one as a group, let alone done one in real life.

Still, he said, everything went smoothly given the situation we had, Ash said. The teamwork really paid off.

Brandon Garrett, who suffered a broken foot, bruises across his body and a cut on his head, was discharged from the hospital last Tuesday, said Millhollin. His two dogs that were injured have received veterinary care and are recovering well, he added. Brandon Garrett wasnt available for an interview this week because he was still resting after his ordeal.

Blue is still enjoying long walks, Millhollin said, and Tyree Garrett remains impressed that Blue was able to find help to save his owner.

Its just a very loving, caring dog, he said. I was amazed that he figured out how to get back to (the camp) instead of coming to town or something.

 Tatum Todd covers crime and public safety. Reach them at ttodd@oregonian.com, or 503-221-4313.
As a pharmacy resident with Oregon State University who is currently working with the Yakima Valley Farm Workers Clinic, I would like to thank The Oregonian/OregonLive for putting the plight of Oregons independent pharmacies front and center in your recent article, (As pharmacies disappear nationwide, Oregonians among the hardest hit, June 3).

The clinic is one of the largest community health centers in the Northwest, with over 40 clinics in 18 communities across Washington and Oregon. Pharmacies provide essential services to the communities and patients they serve. We work to make pharmacy services as simple and affordable as possible but, as your article highlighted, pharmacy benefit managers do not make that easy.
The Portland Association of Teachers Union should clarify its intentions regarding teaching materials it posted on its website about the Palestinian-Israeli conflict (Portland teachers union links to lessons urging students to pray to Allah, write Biden to stop funding Israel, June 6).

Its troubling that leaders and educators would promote a one-sided view of the conflict and encourage children to pray to Allah.
An Oregon State Police trooper shot and killed a person during a traffic stop in Eugene Tuesday afternoon, officials said.

After a state trooper pulled over a driver at the intersection of River Avenue and State Route 569, in Eugene, at 4:26 p.m., the person got out of their car and tried to get a gun from the passenger side, state police said. The trooper used a Taser on the driver, but it didnt work, nor did the troopers verbal commands, according to the police statement. The driver got a hold of the weapon, so the trooper fired his gun.

The person died at the scene, the state police said. The trooper, who has not been named, wasnt injured. He was put on administrative leave, which is standard procedure. State police did not provide any information about the person who died or any further details about the incident.

The Lane County Inter-Agency Deadly Force Investigation Team is now investigating the shooting.

 Fedor Zarkhin is a breaking news and enterprise reporter with a focus on crime. Reach him at 971-373-2905; fzarkhin@oregonian.

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Oregon has finalized a second round of funding for the semiconductor industry Wednesday, awarding $36.2 million in grants and loans to finance expansion by three manufacturers.

The state also opened applications for an additional $10 million in funding. All the money comes from a $240 million package the Legislature announced last year.
A wealthy California woman who helped build a burn center foundation in the Los Angeles area was convicted to 15 years to life in prison on Monday for the hit-and-run demises of two kids in a crosswalk over three years ago.

Rebecca Grossman Sentenced to 15 Years for Deaths of Two Siblings

Mark Iskander, 11, and his brother Jacob, 8, were fatally injured when Rebecca Grossman struck and killed them while she was speeding in a Westlake Village crosswalk on September 29, 2020.

The loss of these two innocent lives has caused immense pain to the families and communities they belong to.

The statement issued by Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascon highlights the severe consequences of reckless driving, as evidenced by Ms. Grossman's clear disregard for human life.

In February, Grossman was found guilty by a jury of two counts of second-degree murder, two charges of vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence, and one count of hit-and-run driving leading to death.

Mom of Two Siblings Who Died Stated that Grossman Displayed No Regret

Prosecutors had suggested a convict of 34 years to life. At Monday's sentencing, Nancy Iskander, the boys' mother, told Grossman she had shown no guilt for killing her two sons.

In a letter to the judge, Grossman stated, "I am not a murderer" and asserted, "as God is my witness, I did not see anyone or anything in the road." She added, "I swear to you, I would have driven my car into a tree to avoid hitting two little boys."

Grossman co-founded the Grossman Burn Foundation with her husband, Dr. Peter H. Grossman. The philanthropic foundation is connected with the Grossman Burn Centers, which was founded by Dr. A. Richard Grossman, Peter Grossman's father.

Read Also : Boater Accused of Fatally Striking Florida Teenager Asserts He Was Unaware of the Incident

Allen Castellano, chief of the county sheriff's North Patrol Division, conveyed hope that the conviction would allow some relief to the family. He stated that her reckless actions caused irreparable harm to dozens of families and children, ultimately costing them their future prospects.

Car Accident in 2020 Resulted in Deaths of Two Siblings

Rebecca Grossman, a famous figure in California, got a conviction of 15 years to life for her connection in a 2020 car crash that claimed the lives of two young brothers.

Despite the prosecution's push for a lengthier verdict, the judge chose a shorter term, recognizing Grossman's regret conveyed during the sentencing.

Grossman, maintained her innocence, affirming that she never saw the boys on the street that fateful night and conveyed deep sorrow for the disaster.

While the prosecution highlighted her lack of regret, Grossman's new defense team debated that the seriousness of her crime didn't merit a life sentence.

Throughout the trial, Grossman's defense tried to switch guilt onto her then-boyfriend, Scott Erickson, declaring that his vehicle was accountable for the collision.

However, prosecutors argued that Grossman's speeding and reckless driving caused the disaster. Despite her claims of innocence, Grossman's sentencing mirrors the disastrous effects of her actions on the victim's family and the community.
A woman files a lawsuit that targets the popular ice cream chain Cold Stone Creamery for its fake pistachio ice cream. The ice cream chain is facing legal scrutiny after a Long Island woman discovered its pistachio ice cream might not actually contain pistachios.

Jenna Marie Duncan of Farmingdale, New York, has filed a class action action against Cold Stone Creamery, professing deceptive advertising practices that mislead consumers about the contents of their ice cream.

Cold Stone Creamery's Allege Fake Pistachio Ice Cream

Jenna Marie Duncan bought what she believed to be pistachio ice cream from a Cold Stone Creamery position in Levittown, New York, in July 2022.

Like numerous other consumers, she assumed that the ice cream contained real pistachios. However, after further investigation, Duncan discovered that the product didn't contain any pistachios at all.

Instead, the ice cream was mixed with an admixture of water, ethanol, propylene glycol, natural and artificial flavors, unheroic 5, and Blue 1. This disclosure came as a shock to Duncan, who felt deceived by the company's marketing. The constituents listed on Cold Stone's website easily indicated the use of "pistachio seasoning" rather than factual nuts.

"When consumers buy pistachio ice cream, they anticipate pistachios, not a creation of reused constituents," Duncan states in her action.

The Legal Argument

Duncan's action points out that other famed ice cream brands, such as Haagen-Dazs and Ben & Jerry's, include real pistachios in their pistachio ice cream, setting a standard that Cold Stone allegedly fails to meet.

Duncan argues that if she had known the ice cream didn't contain real pistachios, she would not have bought it or would have paid significantly less for it.

The legal document also highlights that other Cold Stone flavors, such as mango, coconut, mint, orange, and adulation pecan, as well as their orange sorbet, are simply seasoned to taste like their namesake constituents without containing them. This practice, according to Duncan, is misleading and not what consumers anticipate from a decorated ice cream brand.

The defendant in this case, Kahala Franchising LLC, which owns the Cold Stone Creamery ballot along with several other food chains, has sought to dismiss the action. They argue that a comprehensive list of constituents is available online, providing transparency about what's in their products.

Duncan maintains that this information isn't adequately communicated to consumers at the point of purchase. In a significant development, a civil judge in New York has allowed the class action action to proceed.

District Court Judge Gary R. Brown wrote in his ruling that the case raises a deceptively complex question about the reasonable prospects of complainants and like-minded ice cream lovers.

Judge Brown's ruling questioned whether consumers ordering pistachio ice cream at Cold Stone's establishments should anticipate the product to contain factual pistachios. He also pondered if a lack of real pistachios should leave consumers with a bitter aftertaste.

Lawsuit's Impact on Consumers and the Ice Cream Industry

The outgrowth of this action could have far-reaching counteraccusations for the ice cream industry and beyond. However, it could prompt other food companies to rethink their marketing practices and ensure that product labeling more directly reflects the constituents used, if Duncan's action is successful.

For consumers, this action serves as a reminder to be watchful about food labeling and to seek out information about the products they buy. It also underscores the significance of holding companies responsible for their marketing practices to ensure that consumers aren't misled.

As Jenna Marie Duncan's case against Cold Stone Creamery moves forward, it'll be nearly watched by both consumers and assiduity interposers.

The resolution of this case could set a new standard for food labeling and marketing practices, ensuring that consumers get exactly what they anticipate when they make a purchase.
A Minnesota couple, Chris and Cheri Phillips from Cambridge, planned a two-week trip to Brazil in February to commemorate Chris's daughter Melory's eighth birthday.

Their vacation unexpectedly extended to nearly four months after Cheri went into premature labor, giving birth to their son Greyson at 28 weeks.

Cheri Phillips Gave Birth Prematurely While on Vacation in Brazil

Arriving in Brazil on February 22, the couple planned to relax before welcoming their first child together, due in early June.

However, on March 8, just days before their projected comeback, Cheri encountered labor pains and was taken to a local maternity hospital in Florianopolis.

Despite attempts by doctors to postpone the birth, Greyson was given birth via emergency C-section on March 12, weighing just over 2 pounds.

Their trouble was complex because of logistical and bureaucratic difficulties, as well as health issues. Greyson spent 51 days in the NICU, during which Chris, fluent in Portuguese, translated between Cheri and the medical staff.

Cheri found it annoying, fearing for Greyson's health and agonizing with the language barrier.

Greyson was diagnosed with patent foramen ovale (PFO), a heart condition. Meanwhile, the couple navigated the complicated process of obtaining Greyson's birth certificate and passport, including legal assistance, help from a U.S. senator's office, and media attention.

Despite the hurdles, the family worked remotely from Brazil, bought necessary baby supplies, and completed a house sale in Minnesota. They finally obtained Greyson's emergency U.S. passport on June 5 and planned to return to Minnesota on June 25.

Chris and Cheri highlighted the positive aspect of their extended stay: the bonding between Greyson and Melory, who took on the role of a devoted big sister.

Greyson's unexpected birth in the same hospital where Melory was born created a special connection for the siblings in Brazil.

Minnesota Couple Attempting to Bring Their Newborn Son Back to US

A Minnesota couple, Cheri and Chris Phillips attempted to bring their newborn son, Greyson, back to the U.S. after he was born three months prematurely during their trip to Brazil.

The couple, six months pregnant at the time, had journeyed to Brazil in February with their doctors' authorization.

Two days before their projected return, Cheri was hospitalized with difficulties and had an emergency C-section. Greyson was born on March 12, weighing just over 2 pounds, and spent 51 days in intensive care.

Now, the Phillips face difficulties in attaining a passport for Greyson to leave Brazil. The local registry office has refused to issue a birth certificate due to the couple's U.S. passports not listing their parents' names.

Despite hiring a lawyer, progress has been slow. Furthermore, they need to visit a U.S. consulate 300 miles away for Greyson's U.S. documentation, which is complex due to flooding in the area and Greyson's small size.

Sen. Tina Smith's office is working with the embassy to assist, but the couple still needs a birth certificate from the Brazilian government.

The circumstances are overpowering and they hope to return to their home in Cambridge, Minnesota soon.

Data from the CDC signifies that early-term and preterm births have been growing in the U.S. over the past decade.
Popular soda brand Poppi is facing a class-action accusation from a purchaser claiming its products do not improve gut health as much as announced.

Lawsuit Filed Against Poppi Claiming Products Don't Improve Gut Health

Kristin Cobbs filed the lawsuit last week in the U.S. District Court in San Francisco, stating she bought Poppi drinks multiple times because of their labels promoting them as prebiotic sodas with the slogan, "Be Gut Happy. Be Gut Healthy."

According to Cobbs, Poppi drinks contain only 2 grams of prebiotic agave inulin fiber, which she asserts is inadequate for providing any meaningful benefits. Her lawsuit references research indicating that consuming 7.5 grams of agave inulin daily for three weeks failed to offer significant prebiotic benefits.

The lawsuit also argues that any potential prebiotic benefits from consuming more Poppi would be negated by the increased sugar intake. Cobbs is seeking financial compensation for herself and other affected customers.

Poppi, based in Austin, Texas, defended its products in a statement on Monday.

"We are committed to revolutionizing soda for the next generation of drinkers and have worked hard to create a product enjoyed by millions," the company said. "We believe the lawsuit is without merit, and we will vigorously contest these claims."

Poppi is among many brands in the swiftly developing functional beverage market, which advocates health and wellness advantages. AlixPartners' data reveals that prebiotic and probiotic drinks sales in the U.S. increased by more than three times last year.

Poppi Soda Claims Health Gut Benefits

The manufacturers of Poppi soda are being sued for claims that their drinks lack sufficient prebiotic fiber to offer "meaningful gut health benefits from just one can."

Kristin Cobbs, from San Francisco, California, filed the class action lawsuit against Texas-based VNGR Beverage LLC, which produces and sells Poppi sodas.

The lawsuit alleges that Poppi sodas contain only two grams of prebiotic fiber, requiring consumers to drink more than four cans daily to gain any potential health benefits.

However, the suit claims this would lead to consuming harmful levels of cane sugar, negating any gut health benefits and potentially harming gut health.

The lawsuit criticizes Poppi's marketing claims, stating that despite assurances on the cans that consumers can "Be Gut Happy (and) Be Gut Healthy," a nutritionist described the products as "basically sugared water."

Poppi responded to the lawsuit in a statement defending their brand and asserting that they will vigorously contest the allegations.

According to Poppi's website, their drinks combine agave inulin, apple cider vinegar, and fruit juice, containing 25 calories or less, 5 grams of sugar or less, and prebiotics. The agave inulin, extracted from the agave tequilana plant, is promoted as a prebiotic fiber that supports gut health by fueling good bacteria.

Poppi's founders, Allison and Stephen Ellsworth, gained popularity for their drink after appearing on ABC's "Shark Tank," leading to placement in Whole Foods Market stores. The complaint notes that Poppi's sales surpassed $100 million by 2024, capturing 19% of the U.S. market share.

Cobbs, who last bought Poppi sodas in March 2024, claims she believed the drinks contained prebiotics beneficial for gut health based on their labeling. Had she known the true content and potential negative effects of excessive consumption, she would not have purchased the drinks.

The lawsuit seeks restitution and other equitable monetary relief for Cobbs and others who bought Poppi sodas under similar assumptions.
Florida's transgender healthcare ban for teens under 18 and adults has now been declared unconstitutional.

The law, which was endorsed by Republican Governor Ron DeSantis, had positioned Florida as one of the most restrictive states for transgender healthcare in the country.

However, with the latest ruling of Judge Robert L. Hinkle of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida, Tallahassee Division, the laws restricting gender healthcare will now not be enforced.

Judge Declares Anti-Transgender Animus in Legislation

As the decision of the judge reverses medical restrictions, Judge Hinkle pointed out that people who oppose transgender people are free to hold their beliefs, but are not free to discriminate against transgender individuals just for being transgender.

Hinkle criticized the law for denying transgender individuals access to safe and effective medical treatments that are otherwise approved for non-transgender patients.

His ruling invalidates the administrative rules enacted in May 2023, which banned puberty blockers and hormone therapy for transgender minors and imposed stringent restrictions on transgender adults seeking care.

The law mandated that hormone therapy could only be provided by a physician, required in-person written consent, and prohibited telehealth services for these treatments.

Hinkle pointed out that the law was driven by "anti-transgender animus," highlighting public remarks from some bill sponsors.

He noted that one Florida House member made a particularly obvious statement accusing medical professionals of cutting off body parts of little children and throwing them in the trash, which Hinkle supposed was presumably about as far removed from reality as any statement by any single person ever can ever make.

In response to the ruling, Julia Friedland, deputy press secretary for Governor DeSantis, stated via email that the court was wrong to override the decisions of state representatives elected by Floridians to protect children.

She affirmed that the governor's office plans to appeal the decision, disagreeing with the court's interpretations of the law, the facts, and the science involved.

Impact on Plaintiffs and Broader Implications

One of the plaintiffs, Jane Doe, the mother of Susan Doe, a 12-year-old transgender girl, expressed relief and gratitude for the ruling, as treatment for transgender teens can now return.

Jane Doe stated that seeing the fear in her child about this ban has been one of the hardest gests they've endured as parents. She added that all they've wanted is to take that fear down and help her continue to be the happy, confident child she is now.

While the ruling has significant counteraccusations for ambisexual healthcare in Florida, it left complete the prohibition on gender-affirming surgery for minors, which none of the complainants challenged. Hinkle noted that similar surgeries for minors are extraordinarily rare.

Nationwide, Florida is among 25 states that have confined access to transition-related care for minors and one of six that have criminalized furnishing similar care.

However, Hinkle had previously struck down parts of the law that allowed for criminal charges or disciplinary actions against healthcare providers.

LGBTQ advocacy groups, including GLBTQ Legal Advocates and Defenders, the National Center for Lesbian Rights, Southern Legal Counsel, the Human Rights Campaign, and Lowenstein Sandler LLP, represented the plaintiffs.

The Human Rights Campaign, the nation's largest LGBTQ advocacy group, celebrated the victory on social media, emphasizing that Florida's law was the first to restrict care for both transgender adults and minors.

Sarah Warbelow, vice president of legal for the Human Rights Campaign Foundation, stated that the state of Florida has shown blatant discriminatory intent toward transgender people, and today's ruling makes clear that this is not permissible.

Warbelow added that there's no sound reason to deprive people of the capability to make the best-practice, medically necessary healthcare decisions for themselves, especially when the trade-off is the heartbreak and torture of children and parents.
An Oregon man, who drugged the smoothies of three of his daughter's friends with sedatives during a sleepover last year, pleaded guilty on Monday to several crimes and was convicted to two years in prison, according to court records and attorneys involved in the case.

Oregon Father Pleads Guilty to Multiple Crimes, Receives 2-Year Sentence

Michael Meyden, 57, from Lake Oswego, admitted to three counts of causing someone to ingest a controlled substance in Clackamas County Circuit Court, as confirmed by prosecutors and one of Meyden's attorneys, Jeff Turnoy.

Clackamas County District Attorney John Wentworth stated on Tuesday that Meyden deserved prison time. He stated that Meyden's actions are both indecent and reckless, which is why he should receive a punishment that fits the crime.

Wentworth emphasized the immense impact of Meyden's actions on the child victims, as well as their families and community.

Turnoy mentioned that Meyden could potentially have five months reduced from his sentence for good behavior. The sentence was part of a plea deal with prosecutors, which included the dismissal of three additional felonies and three misdemeanor charges, authorities reported.

Meyden will also have three years of post-prison supervision, and the dropped charges will not extend his sentence, prosecutors added.

Meyden's victims and their families attended the court hearing on Monday, with Turnoy noting that his client expressed deep remorse. Turnoy expressed that Meyer is profoundly remorseful and humble regarding his actions and decisions, acknowledging the harm they caused. His behavior in court was characterized by a genuine and honest apology.

Court documents and a probable cause affidavit reveal that Meyden drugged three of his daughter's friends during their sleepover on August 25, 2023.

Hospitalization was necessary for the girls, who were all 12 years old when they tested positive for benzodiazepine, a medication that is commonly used to treat anxiety and includes names like Valium, Klonopin, or Xanax. According to the affidavit, Benzodiazepines are known to induce relaxation, fatigue, and a relaxed state.

Turnoy revealed that Meyden's daughter also tested positive for the drug, but Meyden was not charged with drugging her.

Oregon Man Sedated Daughter's Friends During Sleepover

Though the affidavit did not clarify Meyden's motive for spiking the smoothies, Meyden explained in court this week, according to Turnoy, that he wanted the girls to sleep and not sneak out of the house, so they could participate in the family's planned activities the next day.

On the night of the sleepover, Meyden showed active involvement in the girls' activities. He wilingly took them to get their nails done and picked up pizza for dinner. The girls had spent most of their time in the basement during their "spa night."

Before bedtime, Meyden made smoothies for the four girls, serving them in milkshake-style glasses with specific colored reusable straws to differentiate their drinks, insisting they drink from their cups, the affidavit said.

One girl drank two cups, another drank one, while the third barely consumed any. It was unclear how much Meyden's daughter drank, but one girl told police it seemed to be a significant amount, the affidavit reported.

One girl who drank two smoothies described feeling woozy, hot, and clumsy, eventually blacking out and slipping into a deep sleep unlike any she had experienced before, the affidavit stated.

Meyden was reported to have come downstairs several times by the third girl, who admitted to not consuming much of the smoothie. She recalled sleeping close to one of her friends and said that Meyden came and tried to separate them by moving her arm. After Meyden went back upstairs, the third girl, fearing for her friend who was sleeping heavily, pulled close to her again, the affidavit said.

Meyden returned a second time, again attempting to separate the girls and putting his finger under the nose of the girl pretending to sleep, according to the affidavit. The girl frantically contacted her parents and friends, asking to be picked up.

"Mom, please come and pick me up. I don't feel safe." As per the affidavit, she expressed that she might not reply, but would appreciate if someone to come and take her. She pleaded, "Please pick it up. Please. PLEASE!!".

A family friend was reached by her and she was taken to her home. According to the affidavit, Meyden's home was eventually reached by two parents who came to retrieve the other two girls.
On Tuesday, Kentucky State Police used cadaver dogs to inspect a wooded area near the house of missing 8-month-old Miya Tucker, but as night approached, they found nothing.

Five Arrested in Connection with Missing 8-Month-Old

There is no evidence that the child is dead, but there is no proof that she is alive, according to Kentucky State Police Trooper Corey King.

The girl's parents, Tesla Tucker, 29, and Cage Rudd, 30; grandparents Billie J. Smith, 49, and Ricky J. Smith, 56; and a fifth person, Timothy L. Roach, have been seized in relation to the case. The Smiths and the parents are from the Reynolds Station area, while Roach is from Owensboro, according to police.

It's ambiguous if the suspects have legal representation. The public defender's office didn't instantly answer requests for comment. Some of the suspects came in court on Monday, but the details were not revealed. More court hearings are scheduled for Wednesday.

After administering a welfare check and performing a search warrant, authorities seized Tucker and accused her of first-degree possession of a controlled substance (fentanyl), possession of drug paraphernalia, and abandonment of an infant.

Miya's father was also seized and accused of first-degree possession of a controlled substance (fentanyl), first-degree ownership of the controlled substances (methamphetamine), possession of drug paraphernalia, and abandonment of an undocumented infant.

On Friday, Tucker and Rudd faced added liabilities, including first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance (more than 2 grams of methamphetamine), trafficking in legend drugs, trafficking in marijuana, first-degree child abuse, abandonment of an infant, engaging in organized crime, and possession of paraphernalia.

That same day, Miya's grandfather Ricky Smith was accused of first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance (more than 2 grams of methamphetamine), trafficking in legend drugs, trafficking in marijuana, first-degree child abuse, abandonment of an infant, engaging in organized crime, possession of paraphernalia, possession of a handgun by a convicted felon, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and continuous felon offender I.

A second-degree domestic violence assault charge was filed against Smith, who is 49 years old.

Authorities verified that Miya was not with her grandmother. Additionally, they arrested Timothy L. Roach, 37, that evening after he allegedly visited the Smiths' residence and threw unprescribed suboxone under a vehicle.

Roach was charged with second-degree possession of a controlled substance and first-degree possession of a prescription drug not stored in a proper container.

Authorities Are Searching for Missing 8-Month-Old Miya Tucker

King informed that a family member reported Miya had not been seen since late April. Although he was frustrated that those closest to Miya had the least amount of information for investigators.

He said Miya's umbilical cord tested positive for methamphetamine at birth in October. She has three older siblings who were removed from the household due to alleged drug issues.

The state Cabinet for Health and Family Services planned to remove Miya from the household as well, but her parents claimed she had already been taken by the cabinet, which King said is not true.

King, a spokesperson for state police in Reynolds Station, about 90 miles southwest of Louisville, stated investigators still hope Miya might be found alive.

However, he warned, "The longer this goes, the more grim of an outcome this will be."

Troopers described the baby as having brown hair and green eyes. She was last believed to be in the care of her parents, according to the release.

Anyone with information on Miya's whereabouts is urged to contact Kentucky troopers.
A 12-year-old boy from Michigan was hospitalized after a sand dune collapsed at Silver Lake State Park.

A family trip that was intended to be a fun day for kids turned horrific when two kids playing incidentally got into an accident after an almost five foot sand dune collapse. The boy is now rehabilitated and entering treatment after being trapped for nearly 14 minutes inside the sand

Michigan Boy Hospitalized After Rescue

A Sunday spin at Silver Lake State Park in Mears, Michigan, took a tragic turn when a 12- time-old boy was buried under a collapsed beach drift.

According to the Oceana County Sheriff's Office, the incident occurred while the boy and his 8-year-old sibling were digging holes and burying each other in the sand. One of the holes, roughly five feet deep, suddenly collapsed, which trapped the boy inside the dune.

The family who witnessed what had just passed yelled for help, and the parents who were there incontinently began calling for help and digging, the sheriff's office reported.

Oceana Sheriff's Office deputies were alerted around 7:00 p.m. A Golden Township deputy, who was on the scene, responded within two minutes of the accident. Upon arrival, the deputy found the family desperately trying to free the boy, who was not visible under the sand.

Emergency responders, including fire and EMS personnel, along with bystanders, worked together to extract the boy, who had been buried for approximately 14 minutes. When finally pulled from the sand, the child was unresponsive and not breathing. The first responders administered immediate medical treatment at the scene.

As of Monday, it was reported that the 12-year-old boy is being treated at DeVos Children's Hospital in Grand Rapids. The sheriff's office expresses their well wishes to the child and his family, stating that they are hoping the man recovers completely and will be out playing with his family again soon.

The police authorities also expressed gratitude to the medical responders and people around the vicinity, who helped immediately get the boy unstuck in the sand.

Safety Concerns at Popular Park

Silver Lake State Park is a well-known recreational area where visitors engage in various activities, such as beach outings, dune driving, kayaking, arcade games, and climbing The Little Sable Lighthouse.

The incident highlights the potential dangers of seemingly innocent activities like digging in the sand. The sand dune collapse is not the first incident in the park this year.

Earlier this year, a tragic incident occurred at a beach in Lauderdale-By-The-Sea, Florida, where a 7-year-old girl died after a hole she and her brother were digging collapsed.

The girl was buried completely, while her brother was buried up to his chest. Despite being transported to a hospital, the girl did not survive.

Dr. Stephen Leatherman of Florida International University, emphasized the dangers of children digging deep into these sand dunes, he calls them a potential death trap.

He stated that digging as deep as five feet is not advisable. When digging a hole in the sand, it should only be two feet deep.

Leatherman explained that when people dig holes deeper than two bases deep and get in them, at least where their body's below the beach position, the beach starts drying out immediately.

And dry beaches can only hold a 33- degree angle, and people dig these holes nearly vertically.

The recent incident at Silver Lake State Park serves as a tragic reminder of the pitfalls associated with deep beach holes, prompting parents and children to exercise caution during sand dunes.
New Zealand authorities have announced a significant reward and immunity from prosecution for information leading to the discovery of three children missing since December 2021.

Their fugitive father, Tom Phillips, disappeared with them from a remote rural community more than two years ago, leaving investigators puzzled and the nation captivated.

Unsettling Disappearance of the Missing Children in New Zealand

The disappearance of Tom Phillips and his three children, now aged 8, 9, and 10, has left investigators and the public alike bewildered.

The family vanished from their remote rural settlement, Marokopa, which has a population of just 69, without leaving any credible traces.

Despite extensive searches and investigations, there have been no credible sightings of the family for several months.

In a turn of events, Phillips is now accused of committing an armed bank robbery in May 2023. During the heist, he allegedly fired a shot at a member of the public and fled on a motorbike, accompanied by a passenger believed to be one of his children.

This act not only heightened concerns for the children's safety but also led to the revocation of Phillips' legal custody rights.

Acting Detective Inspector Andrew Saunders emphasized that these actions are far from those of a responsible father. He highlighted the lack of formal education and healthcare for the children, who have been isolated from society for over two years.

Authorities' Plea and Public Involvement

In an effort to gain new leads, authorities have offered NZ $80K reward, which is roughly $49,000, a substantial amount by New Zealand standards, along with immunity from prosecution.

This offer is aimed at individuals who may already know the family's whereabouts but have hesitated to come forward. The reward, endorsed by New Zealand's Commissioner of Police, is available for two weeks.

Saunders stated that they are encouraging people with new information to not wait for months and months on end but to come forward and work with the authorities in hopes of finding the whereabouts of the children.

This isn't the first instance of Phillips and his children making headlines. The family initially disappeared in September 2021, sparking a massive three-week land and sea search after Phillips' truck was found abandoned on a wild beach near their home.

Authorities concluded that the family might have perished, only for Phillips and the children to reappear in dense forest terrain, claiming they had been camping.

Phillips faced charges for wasting police resources but vanished again with the children before his court appearance in January 2022.

Renewed Efforts and Hope for Resolution

Authorities believe Phillips has received assistance in hiding his family, complicating the search efforts.

Less than a year after their second disappearance, the trail went cold again, leading authorities to speculate that Phillips and the children might have relocated within New Zealand and assumed new identities.

Renewed search efforts were initiated following several sightings of Phillips in 2023, including during the alleged bank robbery.

The children's mother expressed relief that a reward had been offered, hoping it would lead to their safe return. A family spokesperson could not be reached for comment.
The Charles Boggini Company has initiated a voluntary soda recall of four of its beverage products, including some soft drinks, due to the presence of undeclared preservatives.

This recall was announced by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in a recent enforcement notice, highlighting the company's failure to disclose multiple chemicals and preservatives, including a dye associated with cancer.

Soda Recall Prompted by Undeclared Preservatives

In a significant move to ensure consumer safety, the FDA's enforcement notice revealed that the Charles Boggini Company failed to duly declare several chemicals and preservatives in its products.

The most intimidating finding was the presence of FD&C Red No. 40 in pink lemonade, a color that has been linked to an increased threat of colorectal cancer. This disclosure raises serious health concerns, particularly for consumers who are ignorant of the pitfalls associated with this color.

Furthermore, the company's other drinks, Lemonade and Lemonade X, were set up to contain FD&C Yellow No. 5. This color is known to beget antipathetic responses in a subset of the population, potentially leading to symptoms such as hives, itching, and difficulty breathing. These antipathetic responses can be particularly severe in individuals with sensitivities.

In addition to these colorings, the Cola Flavoring Base was discovered to contain sulfites, a type of preservative that can cause respiratory problems and other health issues when consumed in large amounts.

Sulfites are generally used in the food and beverage industry to help combat corruption and maintain product newness, but their implicit adverse effects make their undisclosed presence a matter of concern.

Read Also : Woman Sues Cold Stone Creamery for Misleading Consumers with Fake Pistachio Ice Cream

Voluntary Recall of Charles Boggini Soft Drinks

The recall affects four specific products: Pink Lemonade, Yellow Lemonade, Yellow Lemonade X, and Cola Flavoring Base. These potables are distributed primarily to caffs across the United States and are vended in one- and five-gallon amounts.

The states where these products are most generally distributed include Arizona, Connecticut, California, Illinois, Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, and Michigan.

The Charles Boggini Company, based in Connecticut, is well-known for its expansive range of soda flavors and concentrates. The company's product lineup includes everything from classic soda pop flavors to catering to the different requests of food establishments.

This soda recall still puts a spotlight on the company's quality control processes and adherence to non-supervisory norms.

FDA Conditions and Company Response

The FDA has strict conditions for food and beverage manufacturers, calling for full transparency of any colorings, preservatives, and other chemicals used in the product process. These regulations are designed to protect consumers from implicit health pitfalls and insure that companies are transparent about the contents of their products.

In light of these regulations, the Charles Boggini Company has freely issued the recall, although the company has declined to comment further on the matter.

This lack of response has raised questions among consumers and assiduity spectators about the company's commitment to transparency and consumer safety.

Despite the recall being voluntary, the FDA's notice serves as a stark memorial of the significance of compliance with food safety norms.

Companies that fail to expose the use of certain chemicals in their products not only risk enforcement conduct similar as recalls and forfeitures but also jeopardize public health.

For consumers, the recall means that they must be watchful about the potables they consume, especially those bought from caffs supplied by the Charles Boggini Company.

Consumers who have bought or consumed the recalled products should be covered for any adverse reactions and seek medical attention if necessary.

This recall underscores the need for robust quality control measures and translucency in the manufacturing process. As consumers become more health-conscious, they demand less responsibility from the companies that produce their food and potables.
Following the huge wave of ransomware last year, theres now increasing reports of completely new tricks used by hackers and cybercriminals to gain access to computer systems, devices, and networks.

Many of these tricks exploit existing vulnerabilities in applications and operating systems, but these perpetrators are also developing completely new approaches that combine technical procedures with social engineering to achieve their goals.

To recap if youre unaware: social engineering is when a malicious person exploits you through helpfulness, trust, fear, or respect in an attempt to manipulate you into doing something.

Further reading: Key signs of social engineering to look for

Examples of social engineering include: a work email purporting to come from your boss with a payment order for a large sum to a foreign account; a WhatsApp message from someone pretending to be your relative in need of money; or a phishing email that claims to be your bank asking you to click a link with scary consequences if you dont.

Here are some of the latest scams and techniques used by criminals that you need to know aboutand how you can protect yourself.

1. The zero font trick

Its possible to set the font size of email text to zero using HTML code. In this way, the text is present but not visible to the eye.

A few years ago, criminals used this trick to insert invisible text into messages in order to fool the spam and virus detection mechanisms of email providers and mail programs.

They used this technique to insert harmless words and phrases into the email body to make the message appear safe, thus outwitting the email providers malware filters.

For emails in HTML format, its possible to set the font size to zero. The corresponding attribute is font-size:0. For emails in HTML format, its possible to set the font size to zero. The corresponding attribute is font-size:0. IDG For emails in HTML format, its possible to set the font size to zero. The corresponding attribute is font-size:0. IDG IDG

Last autumn, security researcher Jan Kopriva became aware of a new version of the zero font trick. Hackers used it to attack Microsoft Outlook users, exploiting a feature of the programs email display.

The issue is that Outlook happens to display zero font text in its list view, but not in the email preview. The malicious senders therefore placed the zero-point text in the message: Isc Advanced Threat protection: This message has been scanned for threats.

Isc stands for the Internet Storm Center, an organization of the SANS Institute that monitors malicious activity on the internet. The reference to the alleged malware scan made the email seem trustworthy to recipients, so they were more inclined to open it and trust what it says.

However, the message actually contained a link to a fake website that requested the visitors access data:

Outlook displays zero font text in the list view. The email has supposedly already been scanned for malware threats and is harmless. It therefore appears trustworthy to the recipient. Outlook displays zero font text in the list view. The email has supposedly already been scanned for malware threats and is harmless. It therefore appears trustworthy to the recipient. IDG Outlook displays zero font text in the list view. The email has supposedly already been scanned for malware threats and is harmless. It therefore appears trustworthy to the recipient. IDG IDG

How to protect yourself:

Learn how to spot scam emails and messages.

Even with emails that claim to be from reputable senders, remember that they could be fake.

Hover over every link to confirm the destination address before clickingand even then, dont click unless absolutely necessary. Its better to navigate to the site manually if you can.

If you have any doubts that an email actually came from a particular sender, give them a quick call to confirm.

2. Vulnerabilities in 2FA/MFA

Two-factor authentication (2FA) or multi-factor authentication (MFA) protects users against attacks on their login credentials. With 2FA enabled, its much harder to hack an account.

So, hackers are increasingly trying to access the cookie files that are created during the login process that certify correct authentication.

With these session cookies, its possible for a user to log in just once and continue accessing various services. As soon as the user logs out, the session cookie is deactivated.

Further reading: How to use 2FA the right way

Various malware programs are now exploiting a vulnerability in the Google login process to reactivate expired session cookies. In this way, they can freely access all Google services belonging to a user.

This works even if theyve changed their password in the meantime. However, this requires the malware to have access to the users computer.

How to protect yourself:

Understand how malware infections happen. Dont open attachments in suspicious emails. Dont click on links in emails. Dont download apps from illegal or suspicious sites.

Shut down your computer when you dont need it.

Apply security patches for Windows and other programs immediately and always keep your software up to date.

3. Deepfakes from your boss

Traditionally, the boss scam is where your boss instructs you to transfer a large sum of money to an unusual account, but the boss is actually a hacker whos sending your fraudulent emails or texts.

A new variant has now come to light in Hong Kong, where hackers invited their victim to a video conference by email. However, no real people were waiting for him thereonly deepfakes of colleagues from his company. (A deepfake is an AI-generated impersonation of a real person.)

These deepfakes instructed the victim to carry out 15 transfers totaling 200 million Hong Kong dollars. (About $26 million USD.) The victim only realized that he had been scammed when he later spoke to his boss.

Baron Chan, head of the cybersecurity department of the Hong Kong police, suspects that the criminals had previously downloaded videos of the companys employees for the deepfake of a video conference. Baron Chan, head of the cybersecurity department of the Hong Kong police, suspects that the criminals had previously downloaded videos of the companys employees for the deepfake of a video conference. IDG Baron Chan, head of the cybersecurity department of the Hong Kong police, suspects that the criminals had previously downloaded videos of the companys employees for the deepfake of a video conference. IDG IDG

The cybersecurity department of the Hong Kong police suspects that the criminals had copied videos of their real colleagues from the companys servers and combined that with AI-supported voice synthesis to create the deepfakes used in the video conference.

How to protect yourself:

Hong Kong police advise people to ask questions during video conferences to verify the identities of other participants.

4. AI hallucinations become reality

Word has gotten around that AI-supported language models like ChatGPT are hallucinating (i.e., making up information). For example, AI chatbots have invented court judgments for trials that have never taken place. But they can also hallucinate non-existent software packages.

A security researcher placed the package huggingface-cli in the Python Package Index (PyPI). In fact, an AI had only invented the package. Nevertheless, it was used by several Python projects within a few weeks. A security researcher placed the package huggingface-cli in the Python Package Index (PyPI). In fact, an AI had only invented the package. Nevertheless, it was used by several Python projects within a few weeks. IDG A security researcher placed the package huggingface-cli in the Python Package Index (PyPI). In fact, an AI had only invented the package. Nevertheless, it was used by several Python projects within a few weeks. IDG IDG

Israeli security researcher Bar Lanyado asked himself what would happen if real code were to be published under a name invented by AI.

He asked ChatGPT-3.5-Turbo, ChatGPT-4, Gemini Pro, and Cohere Command for help with a programming problem and identified a piece of code with the name huggingface-cli that had been repeatedly recommended over several months but didnt actually exist.

He then created an empty Python package with this name and put it online. Within a few weeks, it had been downloaded 15,000 times. Also, a GitHub search revealed that huggingface-cli had appeared in the repositories of several large companies.

The Python package from Bar Lanyado might be a harmless file with no content or consequences, but you can imagine how hackers could distribute malicious code in the same way.

How to protect yourself:

Programmers should never blindly trust the suggestions of AI models and should double-check recommended downloads themselves.

5. Current attacks via phishing emails

Typical of modern phishing emails are the time pressure they create and phrases such as Start confirmation or Try to pay again. Typical of modern phishing emails are the time pressure they create and phrases such as Start confirmation or Try to pay again. IDG Typical of modern phishing emails are the time pressure they create and phrases such as Start confirmation or Try to pay again. IDG IDG

Fraudsters use phishing emails to try to persuade you to visit fake websites or websites infected with malware.

They usually ask you to enter your address and/or login details. You will then receive a phone call in which the criminals ask for a PIN or some other security factor. Or they simply sell your access data, such as your login credentials to your Netflix account.

Many of these phishing emails follow the same pattern: under a short introductory text is a button that takes you to the fake website. In many cases, the email uses a scare tactic or time pressure so that you dont think about the authenticity and plausibility of the message.

Common button captions include:

Update account now

Update address

Confirm now

Win now

Go to account recovery page

Stay protected (for emails purporting to be from security vendors)

Show order details

Activate now

Try to pay again

Pay fee now

You should never click on any of these buttons. Always remember that reputable companiesincluding banks and online retailerswill never ask you to enter your login details by email.

6. Proxy server as an app

Cybercriminals often face a common problem: the IP addresses of their control servers and botnets end up on blacklists, and theyre subsequently blocked by providers, companies, and organizations.

To avoid this, they redirect their data packets via proxy servers, effectively giving new IP addresses to those data packets. But then these public proxy servers also end up on blacklists. Its a vicious cycle.

But they have a new trick now: using malware to turn the smartphones and desktop PCs of unsuspecting users into proxy servers.

In May 2023, security researchers noticed an app in the Google Play Store that secretly turned smartphones into proxies. They later searched and found a total of 28 apps with PROXYLIB, which is responsible for these hidden proxy servers. All of them were VPN apps that supposedly provided encrypted connections on the internet.

Google has now integrated a detection routine for proxy malware in the Play Protect protection mechanism, which automatically deletes the apps in question. However, dont be surprised if alternative app stores continue to make these malware-infected apps available.

How to protect yourself:

Theres a list of malicious apps at the bottom of this webpage. If you have one or more of them installed, delete them as soon as possible.

Only install apps via the Google Play Store.

7. Quishing instead of phishing

QR codes dont reveal the destination of a link at first glance. In this quishing email purporting to be from Microsoft, the link in the image leads to a fake Microsoft login page. QR codes dont reveal the destination of a link at first glance. In this quishing email purporting to be from Microsoft, the link in the image leads to a fake Microsoft login page. IDG QR codes dont reveal the destination of a link at first glance. In this quishing email purporting to be from Microsoft, the link in the image leads to a fake Microsoft login page. IDG IDG

Phishing is a type of scam where an email or message is sent to a prospective victim in hopes that theyll click a malicious link within. Its been around for several years now, and email providers have gotten better at recognizing and filtering out phishing attempts.

Because of that, hackers are exploring other methods of luring victims to their siteslike quishing, the transmission of links via QR code. (Quishing is also known as QR phishing.)

Youve probably scanned QR codes with your smartphone to read restaurant menus, enter contests, and more. Hackers exploit this behavior by integrating QR codes into their emails, which then lead you to fake login pages or otherwise malicious pages.

Last autumn, the security company Harmony reported a 587 percent increase in quishing attacks.

Security provider Check Point also describes a quishing attack in which users were directed to a fake Microsoft login page. In this way, the attackers were able to bypass the usual security measures used to filter out phishing messages.

How to protect yourself:

Always pay attention to who sent you an email with a QR code and take a close look at the address displayed by the QR code reader. When in doubt, avoid scanning unsolicited QR codes.

This article was translated from German to English and originally appeared on pcwelt.de.
Mediatek could be the next entrant into the Windows on Arm processor space, according to a new report.

Reuters is reporting that one of the more well-known rumors in the chip spacethat Mediatek is making an Arm processor for PCsis real. The wire service says that Mediatek is set to announce its chip in late 2025, according to multiple sources.

Microsoft signed an exclusivity deal with Qualcomm to design Arm chips for PCs thats set to expire sometime this year, according to sources. That deal hasnt been officially confirmed. (Arm chief executive Rene Haas, whose company licenses its processor technology to firms like Qualcomm and Mediatek, also referred to the deal as a rumor in PCWorlds interview at Computex.)

Mediatek already develops processors for Chromebooks, known as the Kompanio lineup, which competes directly with Qualcomm in that space. John Solomon, the vice president at Google in charge of ChromeOS, told PCWorld that he expects to have more Arm in [the Chromebook] portfolio going forward.

In some sense, this is old news. In 2021, Mediatek first began talking about its plans to enter the Windows on Arm market. In 2022, Mediatek spelled out its PC plans a bit more.

We absolutely believe in the long-term potential of Windows on Arm, Mediateks Adam King, the vice president of Mediateks client computing business, said then. We think that the market will over the long term transition to Arm-based processors. Because of the power and area efficiency that I described. Its not inevitableit requires lots of work and lots of barriers to be overcome. But the benefit is clearly there. I can say that were working on plans today. I just cant share them with you yet.

Mediateks presence in Chromebooks wouldnt preclude Mediatek from shipping a version of the Kompanio processor for the PC. Mediatek also has a relationship with Nvidia, with whom it has co-developed an Arm chip for the automotive space. (Reuters noted that Nvidia is reportedly working on an Arm chip for PCs, but the company hasnt confirmed that either. Nvidias Jensen Huang was asked about such a chip at a press conference at Computex in Taiwan, but declined to comment.)

Arms Haas also told Reuters that he predicts more than half of the worlds PCs will run Arm by 2029, rather than the x86 chips manufactured by AMD or Intel.

So far, all of the upcoming moves by Arm vendors in the PC space are occurring beneath the surface. But if these ripples come to pass, expect them to begin building into waves.
Companies and businesses in the country that are yet to file their annual returns have been urged to do so or risk having their names struck out from the register by the end of this month.



This follows an ultimatum issued to over 500,000 firms, directing them to file their returns or face removal from the companies register.



According to the Registrar General, Jemima Oware, the affected firms have been served with multiple notices and reminders over the past two years, with only a handful voluntarily requesting deletion from the register.



She emphasized that companies must take advantage of the grace period and file their annual returns before the deadline.



Failure to comply will result in the removal of their names from the register, rendering them unable to conduct business in Ghana.



The Registrar General stressed that this would have serious consequences for the companies and urged them to take immediate action to avoid being struck off the register.



When we started the exercise, we had close to 10,000 companies that had not filed any annual returns or financial statements. Thats why we put it out there in the first publication. We listed about 2,203 companies that we were intending to strike off. We gave them an opportunity to come and update us.



I have 8,895 that have not filed, and those are the companies I have given until the end of June to come and update us. If they dont, then from July 1, well take their names off the register. When we take your name off the register, it means you cannot carry on business in Ghana.

Source: dailyguidenetwork.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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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.

Source: Peacefmonline.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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The 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

Source: Kobina Darlington/peacefmonline.com









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A plane carrying Malawi's Vice President may have crashed in a forest in the north of the country, a senior military official 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 have been searching Chikangawa Forest in an effort to find the plane.



In a press briefing on Tuesday, Malawi Defence Force commander Paul Valentino Phiri said fog has reduced visibility in the forest, thus complicating search efforts.



President Lazarus Chakwera has said the mission must continue until the plane is found.



He told Malawians in an address on Monday evening: "I know that 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 fibre of hope that we will find survivors."



However, Dr Chilima's party, the United Transformation Movement (UTM), said they were "disappointed" with the search operation.



UTM officials alleged that the search started at 15:00 local time (14:00 GMT) despite the plane going missing at 10:00.



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.



President Chakwera said he has contacted the governments of various countries, including the US, UK, Norway and Israel, who had all offered support "in different capacities" to help find the plane.



Dr Chilima has been vice-president of Malawi since 2014.



He is 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









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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The Ministry of Interior has declared Monday, June 17, 2024, as a public holiday to celebrate Eid-ul-Adha, also known as the festival of sacrifice.



Eid-ul-Adha typically falls on the 10th day of Dhu al-Hijjah, the 12th and final month of the Islamic lunar calendar.



This year, Eid coincides with Sunday, June 16th. Since it would fall on a weekend, the Ministry of Interior in a statement declared the following Monday a holiday to ensure everyone has the opportunity to celebrate.



This is a statutory public holiday and should be observed throughout the country.



Read the entire statement below;



  ,  ,     .



The general public is hereby informed that Sunday, 16th June, 2024 marks Eid-Ul-Adha which is a Statutory Public Holiday.



However, in view of the fact that 16th June, 2024 falls on a Sunday, His Excellency, the President of the Republic of Ghana, has by Executive Instrument (E.I), in accordance with Section 2 of the Public Holidays and Commemorative Days Act, (Act 601) declared ,  ,  as an additional Public Holiday and should be observed as such throughout the country.



Signed

HENRY QUARTEY (MP)

MINISTER FOR THE INTERIOR

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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.

Source: Peacefmonline.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.

Source: Kobina Darlington/peacefmonline.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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The busy automobile hub of Kumasi, Magazine, came to a standstill Tuesday morning during the visit of Vice President and NPP flagbearer, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia.



Dr. Bawumia is on a three-day campaign tour of the Ashanti Region and after a busy opening day in which he met a number of groups including the Clergy, Imams and traditional rulers, Dr. Bawumia turned his campaign on the streets and in markets on day 2, starting with a visit to the popular automobile hub.



Upon the arrival of the blue Bawumia campaign bus, activities at the place came to a halt as thousands of artisans and traders welcomed him and his entourage in ecstasy.



Dr. Bawumia was accompanied by NPP stalwarts; Chief of Staff, Akosua Osei Frema Opare, the party's National Chairman, Steven Ntim, Kwabena Agyei Agyepong, a number of Ministers and Assin Central MP, Kennedy Agyapong among others.



The ecstatic mammoth crowd numbered in their thousands reserved the loudest cheer for the man of the moment, Bawumia, who waved at them.





Source: Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Eunice Jacqueline Buah Asomah-Hinneh, the owner of Labianca Company, and a member of the Council of State, has passed away.



Her death came after a brief illness, according to sources close to her.



Calls for her resignation intensified on August 9, 2022, following a report by the Office of the Special Prosecutor implicating her in corruption-related offences.



The report alleged that Asomah-Hinneh and another official used their positions to secure favourable tax treatment for Labianca Company, her frozen foods business.





Vitus Azeem, a prominent anti-corruption advocate, demanded that Mrs. Asomah-Hinneh step down from her position, citing her involvement in the Labianca case.



He also urged President Akufo-Addo to initiate a thorough investigation into the matter, to demonstrate his commitment to fighting corruption.



However, the High Court, Accra, quashed the Office of the Special Prosecutors (OSP) report, which had found wrongdoing by two individuals in the Labianca case.



The court also ordered the OSP to pay GHC 10,000 in costs, marking a significant turn in the case.



The OSPs report had accused Colonel Kwadwo Damoah, a former Commissioner of the Customs Division at the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), and Joseph Adu Kyei, a former Deputy Commissioner of the Division, of wrongdoing in the case.

Source: Citinewsroom









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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Rt. Hon. Alban Kingsford Sumana Bagbin, Speaker of Parliament, has urged the military to stay away from polling stations during the upcoming December 7 general elections.



The Speaker of parliament expressed worry over the appearance of the military at polling stations during elections, which, most often than not, leads to military-civilian brutality.



The Speaker pledged to engage the President, Presidential candidates for the various political parties and movements, heads of the various securities agencies and the major stakeholders who over the years have played pivotal roles in ensuring that the elections are incident-free.



According to him, this engagement is meant to discuss extensively on measures that can be taken to ensure free, fair, transparent and credible elections.



Mr. Speaker made this assertion while giving his opening remarks in Parliament on Tuesday, June 11, where he underscored the need to have the military restricted from the polling stations unless they are called to deal with a dire situation which may be beyond the duties of the Ghana Police Service.



He said, We dont want to see [the] military during the election. When there is a need to call them, they will be called, but they should not be at polling or voting centres."



Honourable members, the clergy and notable civil society leaders will be actively involved. The signs and signals of happiness in the country are not those of assurance and hope.



Meanwhile, the minority leader and Member of Parliament for Ajumako Essian Enyian, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson has stated that the Electoral Commission should be called to order over what he describes as dangerous actions that have the tendency of undermining the peace and security of the country.



Speaking in parliament on Tuesday, Dr. Ato Forson said, It is therefore imperative that Parliament calls the Electoral Commission to order to save this democracy and protect the peace and stability of our dear country.



Mr Speaker, the NDC Minority Caucus want to use this forum to demand an urgent committee of the whole to iron out these grave concerns with the Electoral Commission before it is too late.





Source: Kobina Darlington/peacefmonline.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Speaker of Parliament, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, has expressed grave worry over the exponential increase in the rate of youth unemployment faced in Ghana in recent times.



According to the Speaker of Parliament, the escalating youth unemployment in the country is nothing to be desired as citizens and lawmakers, thereby calling for an immediate solution to the challenge.



As a concerned citizen and the third gentleman of Ghana, he bemoaned that the current levels of joblessness and homelessness among the youth in Ghana could incur significant and potentially dangerous repercussions in the upcoming December 7 presidential and parliamentary elections.



Giving his address in a Parliamentary sitting on Wednesday, June 12 2024, Hon. Bagbin expressed the need for an immediate and conclusive action from the political leadership to tackle the compelling need.



He said, The joblessness, the homelessness and the hopelessness of the youth cannot be taken lightly. We must act together and now to prevent a journey to calamity or to a journey of no return.



In a publication on statista.com on the youth unemployment rate in Ghana, it is revealed that, in the year 2023, the youth unemployment rate in Ghana remained nearly unchanged at around 6.68 percent.



However, in an address to Ghanaian youth at the newly inaugurated Youth Resource Centre in Koforidua in the Eastern region, the flag bearer of the ruling New Patriotic Party, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia indicated there was an urgent need to address the plethora of challenges facing Ghanaian youth including rampant unemployment, exorbitant data, hindering internet accessibility, among others.



The Vice President had outlined a number of interventions to tackle the youth employment which will enhance access to quality education, and empower young Ghanaians for a prosperous future.



The former President also stated that, the 24-hour economy is the antidote to Ghanas perennial challenge of unemployment.



The speaker of Parliament maintains that, drastic measures must be taken by the government and the various stakeholders in solving the canker of unemployment.





Source: Kobina Darlington/peacefmonline.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Former NDC Central Regional Chairman, Bernard Allotey Jacobs has pleaded with the Attorney-General, Godfred Yeboah Dame, to spare the Minority Leader, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, in his trial over a shady ambulance purchase transaction.



Dr. Ato Forson is before the High Court for causing financial loss to the State.



Contributing to Wednesday's edition of "Kokrokoo" morning show on Peace FM, Allotey Jacobs sent a plea to the Attorney-General saying "Ato is a very good guy. Ato is a nice man. I don't wish evil for him. Ato is also part of me...He was a Minister. He was given an instruction; he's done his best".



He begged the A-G to settle the case out of court.





The Attorney-General has sued Minority Leader, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, and one Richard Jakpa at the High Court presided by Justice Afia Serwah Asare-Botwe.Richard Jakpa is on trial with Dr. Ato Forson over an alleged financial loss to the State.They are accused of causing financial loss of 2.37 million to the State in a deal to purchase 200 ambulances for the country between 2014 and 2016.Per the A-Gs facts accompanying the charge sheet, in 2009, while delivering the State of the Nation Address, the then President, Prof. John Evans Atta Mills, indicated that new ambulances would be purchased to expand the operations of the National Ambulance Service.Jakpa, a local representative of Big Sea General Trading Limited, a company based in Dubai, approached the Ministry of Health with a proposal that he had arranged for finance from Stanbic Bank for supply of the 200 ambulances but subsequently 30 ambulances were purchased at a sum of 2.37 million, however all were found not fit for purpose.

Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) announced they arrested eight men from Tajikistan with suspected ties to ISIS over the weekend.

The men were arrested in a series of coordinated raids in Philadelphia, New York City and Los Angeles, according to reports from the Philadelphia Inquirer, NBC10 and 6ABC.

Officials did not release the mens identities or say how investigators became aware of them.

Officials said the men crossed into the U.S. illegally from the southern Mexico border in 2023. They were allowed to stay in the U.S. temporarily when an initial vetting process didnt uncover any security issues.

Later information, however, suggested that the men might have some affiliation with the terrorist organization known as ISIS, news reports said.

The eight men have not been charged with any terrorism-related crimes yet, but are being held on immigration charges.

Over the last few days, ICE agents arrested several non-citizens pursuant to immigration authorities. The actions were carried out in close coordination with the FBIs Joint Terrorism Task Forces, The FBI and Department of Homeland Security said in a jointly released statement. The individuals arrested are detained in ICE custody pending removal proceedings. As the FBI and DHS have recently described in public and partner bulletins, the U.S. has been in a heightened threat environment. The FBI and DHS will continue working around the clock with our partners to identify, investigate, and disrupt potential threats to national security.

The same information that led to these arrests also led to the arrest of an Uzbek man in Baltimore, NBC10 reported.

The arrests come days after FBI Director Christopher Way said that there were heightened threats in the U.S. from foreign and domestic actors, ABC6 noted.

Tajikistan is a country in Central Asia bordered by Afghanistan, China, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan.
It is rare for a defendant to bring a piece of incriminating evidence into the courtroom with them.

But Jerome Coleman Jr., walked from his cell into the central courtroom attached to the Dauphin County Prison wearing a cast around his lower right arm, while his left wrist was handcuffed to his waist.
WILLIAMSPORT  A second individual has been arrested in the fatal shooting of a 15-year-old boy outside a restaurant in Lycoming County on March 2.

But the identity of the individual, when he or she was arrested and the charges are unknown because the case documents are sealed.

District Attorney Thomas A. Marino declined to comment other than to say the second individual is not the 17-year-old suspected shooter of Ahmeen Palmer of Williamsport.

The first person charged is the suspected shooters mother, Johneice Francin Legare, 37.

Documents in her case also are sealed but her identity became known at an April bail hearing. She is jailed in lieu of $250,000 bail.

Lycoming County District Attorney Thomas A. Marino declined to comment other than to say that the second individual is not the 17-year-old suspected shooter of Ahmeen Palmer of Williamsport.John Beauge

Preliminary hearings had been scheduled Tuesday for Legare and the other individual but they were continued at the request of defense attorneys.

The shooter, who police believe likely is in Philadelphia, has not been apprehended, Marino said.

He said at Legares bail hearing that evidence shows this is what happened outside the Fridays restaurant in Loyalsock Twp. just east of Williamsport the evening of March 2:

Legares younger son was among members of two gangs attending a birthday party inside the restaurant.

Upon learning who was attending the event, Legare and her older son drove to the restaurant. They got out of the car and the younger boy got in with the mother stating it was time to settle this one on one.

Five shots rang out with the shooter wearing a black mask and black clothing.

That individual got into the car and Legare drove him and her younger son to their then-Williamsport area home.

The three almost immediately headed to Philadelphia discarding a weapon and cell phones along Interstate 80. Legare was arrested at her fathers residence in Philadelphia on March 6.

Palmer, a Williamsport Area High School student, was shot multiple times.

While the charges against Legare are sealed, Marino revealed at the bail hearing six are felonies and five are misdemeanors.

The district attorneys office has gotten a judge to seal documents in several high-profile cases citing a provision in the rules of criminal procedure that permit it in extraordinary conditions. The extraordinary conditions also are sealed.
A Capitol police dog shot during a chase that ended with officers fatally shooting a man in downtown Harrisburg over the weekend is home and recovering from his wounds.

Pennsylvania Capitol K9 Rex was shot in the pelvic area around 1 a.m. Sunday while he, his handler and a Harrisburg police officer were chasing Kendrell Hall on the 200 block of South Street. Police believed Hall was involved in a shooting that officers heard in the area earlier that night.
A push is on to ensure that all future educators in Pennsylvania receive a state-funded student teacher stipend while completing what traditionally has been a 12-week unpaid internship.

The Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency on Wednesday advised its board members and lawmakers that $45 million in state funding will be required to fully fund the Student Teacher Support Program.

That program, aimed at addressing the states teacher shortage, was launched this year. It provides $10,000 stipends to student teachers  or $15,000 if their teaching assignment is in a public or private school that has difficulty in attracting teachers. In exchange, the aspiring teachers have to commit to working at a Pennsylvania school for at least three years. Additionally, a student teachers mentoring teacher receives a $2,000 stipend.

The General Assembly provided $10 million for the start-up of the program and Gov. Josh Shapiro proposed increasing that to $15 million in his 2024-25 budget.

When the application for the stipends opened on April 11, the response was overwhelming, with 3,531 applications pouring in during the first three hours. Within the first few days that number swelled to 5,458 applications for stipends that were stipulated in law to be paid out on a first-come, first-served basis.

Since then, PHEAA has eliminated duplicate applications, whittling down the number to 3,435 with 1,401 applicants indicating their intention to do their teaching in the fall and the remainder in the spring. Another 415 incomplete applications are still in the review process and the application window doesnt close until Dec. 15, according to the agency.

The $10 million is estimated to be enough to fund about 600 student teachers, PHEAA spokeswoman Bethany Coleman said.

Weve known since the student teacher stipend application opened in April that there wasnt enough funds to support every student teacher who would apply, said Sen. Vincent Hughes, D-Philadelphia, who was one of the programs champions along with Sen. Ryan Aument, R-Lancaster County, along with Rep. Danielle Otten, D-Chester County. Were on the right track, but this solution will not be fully realized until the student teacher stipend program is fully funded.

Aument said, Im certainly in favor of expanding it to better accommodate the demand, and hope that it can be part of a broader budget discussion regarding what amount is appropriate and feasible.

Education professors praised this program as a way to remove a financial barrier that deterred some students from entering the profession, if they had to leave jobs to help pay college costs to focus on their teaching assignment. They also lamented the predicament that only partially funding this program could create with only some student teachers receiving the stipend.

Were hopeful that the PA Student Teacher Support Program will be funded so that all those with a heart for teaching will have the opportunity to change the lives of students and their families because we know the greatest reward of teaching is the difference we make in the lives of students, said Beth Byers, director of Wilson Colleges teacher intern program at a spring news conference.

According to the state Department of Education, about 5,000 teaching certificates were issued in 2022, which is down from more than 17,000 in 2011. Some 1,370 positions went unfilled this past year and more than 11,500 left the profession in 2022-23 alone.

Pennsylvania State Education Association spokesman David Broderic said state support is critical to helping address the states teacher shortage and to help student teachers make ends meet during their 12-week assignment.

We need enough funding to ensure that every student teacher who applies for a student teacher stipend can get one, he said. This is one of our top priorities because we know that funding student teacher stipends can help attract qualified candidates into the teaching profession and because we believe its simply fair to pay student teachers for the work they do during their student teaching assignments.

Sen. Wayne Fontana, D-Allegheny County, who chairs PHEAAs board, said the agencys letter was issued to alert lawmakers of the need for more funding as state budget discussions get underway.

We know what we need, Fontana said. If the General Assembly wants to create these programs or the Department of Education, somebody has to fund them.

Jan Murphy may be reached at jmurphy@pennlive.com. Follow her on X at @JanMurphy.
By JOHN RABY, The Associated Press

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP)  A hotly contested East Coast natural gas pipeline was given the go-ahead Tuesday to start operating, six years after construction began and at more than double its original estimated cost.

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission approved the 303-mile Mountain Valley Pipeline project across rugged mountainsides in West Virginia and Virginia over longstanding objections from environmental groups, landowners and some elected officials. Project developers told regulators on Monday that the pipeline was complete.

We are pleased with the agencies decisions and the related communications regarding in-service authorization for the MVP project, Natalie Cox, a spokesperson for the pipelines leading developer, Equitrans Midstream Corp., said in a statement Tuesday night. Final preparations are underway to begin commercial operations.

FILE - In this June 22, 2018, file photo, construction crews bore beneath U.S. 221 in Roanoke County, Va., to make a tunnel through which the Mountain Valley Pipeline will pass under the highway. (Heather Rousseau/The Roanoke Times via AP, File)AP

The $7.85 billion project has withstood weather delays, a maze of court and construction permit challenges and regulator scrutiny. It is designed to meet growing energy demands in the South and mid-Atlantic by transporting gas from the Marcellus and Utica fields in Pennsylvania and Ohio.

Congress ordered that all necessary permits be issued for the pipeline last year as part of a bipartisan bill to increase the debt ceiling. President Joe Biden signed the bill into law last June. Among the key votes for last years sweeping legislation was U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin, a West Virginia independent. Manchin has called the pipeline a crucial piece of energy infrastructure that is good for global supply and American energy security.

Last July, the U.S. Supreme Court allowed the pipelines construction to resume after a federal appeals court had blocked the work despite congressional approval.

Environmental groups argued that Congress overstepped its authority and have challenged the pipeline over its potential impact on endangered species. They also say it causes climate-altering pollution from greenhouse gases and contributes to erosion that will ruin soil and water quality. Part of the route includes national forest land.

By allowing MVP to advance despite all these serious hazards, the system meant to protect our communities, land and water has failed, Jessica Sims, the Virginia field coordinator for the environmental group Appalachian Voices, said in a statement.

On Monday, the pipeline developers told FERC in a filing that multiple shippers were prepared to start the flow of gas along the pipeline, which further heightens the need to prompt authorization to meet market demands.

FILE - Demonstrators against the Mountain Valley Pipeline protest at Northern Virginia Community College, Tuesday, Sept. 28, 2021. (AP Photo/Cliff Owen, File)AP

Proposed in 2015, the pipelines route includes 11 counties in West Virginia, six in Virginia and three compressor stations in West Virginia. It has been cited over the years for dozens of violations of environmental laws meant to control erosion and sedimentation.

Frustrated residents complained the pipeline altered pristine landscapes and muddied their clear springs that supply drinking water. In some places along the construction route, protesters locked themselves to heavy equipment or blocked access, bringing work to a temporary halt. In one Virginia county last year, heavy machinery was set on fire.
By Michael Wilner and Nora Gamez Torres, Miami Herald (TNS)

WASHINGTON  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 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 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.

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.

In this photo taken from video released by Russian Defense Ministry Press Service on Tuesday, June 11, 2024, navy personnel take part in drills on board of the Russian Kazan nuclear submarine en route to Cuba. (Russian Defense Ministry Press Service photo via AP)AP

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 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 would arrive on June 12 and stay for a week.

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 Wednesday, HMCS Margaret Brooke, a patrol vessel for the Royal Canadian Navy, will arrive Friday and stay until Monday, when the Russian ships are expected to leave.

In this photo taken from video released by Russian Defense Ministry Press Service on Tuesday, June 11, 2024, navy personnel take part in drills on board of the Russian Admiral Gorshkov frigate en route to Cuba. (Russian Defense Ministry Press Service photo via AP)AP

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 Saturday and June 19.

2024 Miami Herald. Visit miamiherald.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
A German man who police say travelled to East Donegal Township, Lancaster County, to have sex with a 15-year-old girl was charged with 16 crimes, including six felony charges.

Erik Weidling, now 21, was 20 when he flew from his home in Northwest Germany in February to meet his online girlfriend, who he knew was 15, an affidavit written by police says. He had been communicating with her online, and knew her school schedule and her mothers work schedule.

Weidling was staying at the Blue Note Hotel in Marietta and visited the girls home after her mother went to work, police said. He told police he had sex with the girl on four different occasions from February 29 through March 8.
On Tuesday, the Harrisburg School District (HSD) started accepting applications for a new superintendent after Eric Turman was hired as the superintendent for the Central Dauphin School District in May. The HSD is also asking for community input while the district considers applicants, according to a press release.

The new superintendent of the Harrisburg School District will ideally be adept at working in a culturally diverse community, have a strong grasp of school finances/budgeting and can spearhead the districts Amended Recovery Plan, the press release said.
A bill that would require health insurers to cover contraceptives cleared the Pennsylvania House Insurance Committee on Tuesday, paving the way for state law to enshrine the requirements of the federal Affordable Care Act.

The bill was amended Tuesday with an extensive re-write that resulted in all of the committees Republicans joining the Democratic majority in a unanimous vote.

This is a win for healthcare in Pennsylvania, and I look forward to a bipartisan vote on the floor, said Rep. Leanne Krueger, D-Delaware County, who has sponsored the legislation for several years.
The Bahai faith community calls it Race Unity Day. Its also known as Race Amity Day, and wherever there is a Bahai community, the day is celebrated on the second Sunday of June, including at Fort Hunter Park in Harrisburg.

Our region has a small but active Bahai community, and we are blessed to have them in our midst. They are known for promoting racial harmony not only in our region, but around the world, even though they are brutally persecuted for their faith in Iran. Two of their leaders in our region  Behzad and Carol Zandieh -- are tireless peacemakers.

Last Sunday, Carol Zandieh struggled with the wind to place green and orange tablecloths on the rough wood tables in the Fort Hunter Pavilion, to prepare for the Race Unity Day ceremony.

Behzad Zandieh readied the sound system to make sure everyone could be heard. Meanwhile members of the Bahai choir fretted over the melodies they would gift to the event.

Lee Hodge, Buddhist Osho of the Dragonfly Sangha, (left) opened the "Race Unity Day" ceremony with lighting a candle, aided by Behzad Zandieh of the Baha'i community.Joyce M. Davis

Their efforts met ample reward. People in our region of diverse faiths, races and ethnicities came to learn about each others teachings, enjoy music from different cultures and reflect on how to build a more peaceful world that respects and appreciates diversity.

The very tenets of the Bahai faith are grounded in bringing people together. They believe in openness and acceptance of differences. They reject exclusive religion and promote the oneness of humanity. The Bahai faithful contend all the worlds major religions share common truths.

The religions founder Bahaullah sought to unify the worlds great religions and establish a universal faith. Bahai faithful have no priesthood or clergy, no rituals in worship, and they seek abolition of racial, class, and religious prejudice on earth.

Wouldnt it be great if every religion did the same?

In our region and around the world, Bahais are known for their engagement in interfaith activities and in events to promote peace among disparate communities. At their Race Unity Day on a gloriously sunshiny Sunday at Fort Hunter, they brought together Jews, Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, and Christians of various sects to share the peace and beauty of the greenery and mountains of Central Pennsylvania.

Their guests included African Americans, Native Americans, Asians, Latinos, and people of European descent, all eager to learn about each other and share their religions and cultures.

Lee Hodge, Buddhist Osho of the Dragonfly Sangha, opened the ceremony.

Rabbi Carl Choper played his violin and sang a spirited song in Yiddish, as everyone clapped and stomped to his rhythm.Joyce M. Davis

Rabbi Carl Choper played his violin and sang a spirited song in Yiddish, as everyone clapped and stomped to his rhythm.

Rich Curtis, a Bahai follower, proclaimed racial division as one of Americas greatest challenges.

Aneesa Weinstein followed with a Bahai prayer for unity.

Charles Pearl, a brown-skinned, stately man, read a prayer in the Blackfoot language.

Shane Nesmith strummed the guitar with Cuban, Peruvian, and Brazilian melodies.Joyce M. Davis

Shane Nesmith strummed the guitar with Cuban, Peruvian, and Brazilian melodies.

A couple called Daniel and Mitra offered Bahai holy verses accompanied by Iranian traditional instruments. Mark Dunmire read inspirational stories to commemorate Juneteeth.

I did my utmost not to disappoint in my reading the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther Kings I Have a Dream speech.

It was a loving and diverse display of community unity, so sorely needed in these times of rancor and division.

Our community should thank the Bahai for their noble efforts to bridge the divides that shouldnt separate us here in Central Pennsylvania. We would all live happier lives without them.

The Bahais are teaching us that we share too many of the same values and love of God and country to be at odds over superficial differences of race and ethnicity.

The Bahais are pointing us to the path to unity and peace. It would be a blessing to us all to follow it.

Joyce M. Davis is PennLives Outreach & Opinion Editor. Follow her on Facebook and on Twitter @byjoycedavis.

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Democracy, often taken for granted, remains a cornerstone of our society. As both a medical professional and a mother, I deeply appreciate the privileges that voting affords us.

Following the recent primary election, Pennsylvanians will have the opportunity to head to the polls once again in November. Its crucial to remember that each vote casts a ripple through the future of our community and its not merely a box to check. Rather it is a shared responsibility in upholding our democratic ideals. Unfortunately, certain factions aim to diminish this truth in their pursuit of power.

In these challenging times, our elected officials must defend the values that define Pennsylvania. By supporting pivotal legislation in Congress, like the Freedom to Vote Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, we can secure our elections and ensure that everyones right to vote is protected against the pervasive threats undermining our democracy.
Kevin Killeen Crowned SCOOP Afterparty High Main Event Champion

Matthew Pitt Senior Editor Copy link

A trio of mystery bounty main events brought the 2024 PokerStars SCOOP Afterparty to a conclusion, and Ireland's Kevin "torino2000" Killeen captured the largest of their prizes. Killeen won the $1,050 edition for $63,508, which included $24,584 worth of mystery bounties.

Many people reading this article will have had a bell ring after seeing Killeen's name. That is because the Irishman has more than $3 million in online poker tournament cashes and another $1 million from the live arena. These impressive numbers were helped by Killeen winning the UKIPT Dublin Main Event in 2014, finishing third in the 2014 EPT London Main Event, and being the runner-up in the 2015 Irish Open Main Event.

The $1,050 SCOOP Afterparty Main Event drew in 514 entrants, who created a guarantee-busting $514,000 prize pool.

Follow the action from the ESPT/UKIPT Malaga Main Event Live updates here

SCOOP Afterparty 43-H: $1,050 NLHE Main Event Final Table Results

Rank Player Country Bounties Prize Total Prize 1 Kevin "torino2000" Killeen Ireland $24,584 $38,924 $63,508 2 Rodrigo "SELOUAN1991" Selouan Brazil $8,525 $27,844 $36,369 3 Havana85 United Kingdom $1,797 $19,918 $21,715 4 DoryanGh Belarus $15,460 $14,248 $29,708 5 stuupid5 Austria $4,262 $10,192 $14,454 6 tekelson221 Austria $7,257 $7,291 $14,548 7 DrawindDead Poland $2,396 $5,215 $7,611 8 Sasuke234 Sweden $4,262 $3,731 $7,993 9 Nosnibourbos Germany $11,589 $2,881 $14,470

All but two of the nine players at the final table took home at least $14,000 for their efforts. Ninth-place finisher "Nosnibourbos" secured a $14,470 payout thanks to pulling $11,589 from various mystery bounty envelopes before they bowed out.

The duo who finished in eighth and seventh place, "Sasuke234" and "DrawindDead," were the non-five-figure recipients. They walked away with $7,993 and $7,611, respectively.

The elimination of Austria's "tekelson221" ($14,548) left only five players in the hunt for the title. Those five were reduced to four when "stuupid5," also of Austria ($14,454), saw their participation end prematurely.

Belarusian "DoryanGh" came unstuck in fourth ($29,708) before "Havana85" of the United Kingdom fell in third ($21,715), sending the high-stakes Main Event into the heads-up stage.

Here, Killeen and Rodrigo "SELOUAN1991" Selouan fought it out in a one-on-one battle for the title of champion. Selouan fell at the final hurdle, and had to make do with a $36,369 consolation prize, leaving Killeen to capture the title and a haul worth $63,508.

staszor Wins the $109 Main Event for Belarus

A huge field of 10,193 players bought into the SCOOP Afterparty 43-M: $109 NLHE Main Event Mystery Bounty, and created a $1,019,300 prize pool. "staszor," representing Belarus, came away with the lion's share of that pot, namely $59,853.

The champion defeated "baaadshaaa" of Canada, resigning the runner-up to a $42,443 payout." Fernandooluizz finished in third place for $31,234.

SCOOP Afterparty 43-M: $109 NLHE Main Event Final Table Results

Rank Player Country Bounties Prize Total Prize 1 staszor Belarus $1,239 $58,614 $59,853 2 baaadshaaa Canada $364 $42,079 $42,443 3 Fernandooluizz Brazil $1,020 $30,214 $31,234 4 drehds420 Brazil $406 $21,694 $22,100 5 008david008 Belarus $1,781 $15,577 $17,358 6 PeroQmaloSoy Moldova $1,490 $11,184 $12,674 7 xMajesty Germany $290 $8,030 $8,320 8 WalkerSteel United Kingdom $1,458 $5,766 $7,224 9 elbows74 Ireland $323 $4,140 $4,463

"XaTuKo667" Turns $11 into $10,832

The smallest of the SCOOP Afterparty Main Events was the $11 buy-in low edition. It's unfair to call it small because 20,396 players bought in and created a $199,880 prize pool. Seven of the nine finalists logged off having turned their $11 investment into at least $1,596, with the champion helping themselves to a five-figure haul.

"XaTuKo667" of Kazahkstan is that champion. They defeated "budascdo" of Brazil in the heads-up battle, and emerged victoriously with $10,832 to show for their win. The Brazilian second-place finisher headed into the night with a $7,409 addition to their bankroll.

SCOOP Afterparty 43-L: $11 NLHE Main Event Final Table Results

Rank Player Country Bounties Prize Total Prize 1 XaTuKo667 Kazahkstan $479 $10,353 $10,832 2 budascdo Brazil $99 $7,310 $7,409 3 pitanga43 Brazil $185 $5,169 $5,354 4 messigoku Brazil $203 $3,655 $3,858 5 Second sheet Japan $13 $2,584 $2,597 6 Hy_Fans Germany $237 $1,827 $2,064 7 caarlsberg Lithuania $304 $1,292 $1,596 8 rasixa1986 Belarus $78 $913 $991 9 LiveByMottos United Kingdom $244 $646 $890

Things get back to normal at PokerStars, for now at least, following the completion of the 2024 SCOOP and its Afterparty. If you fancy playing for a share of a guaranteed $1 million prize pool, find the Sunday Million Vanilla Edition in the PokerStars lobby.

The $215 buy-in, $1 million guaranteed event shuffles up and deals at 6:00 p.m. BST on June 16. It is a one-day event tat allows up to four re-entries for the first 3.5 hours.

Satellites for the Sunday Million Vanilla Edition are available right now, although the best-value satellites take place on June 16. Set your alarm for 3:50 p.m. BST on June 16 if you want to play for one of 50 guaranteed seats for only $11. Slightly later, at 5:00 p.m., 75 seats are guaranteed for a $22 buy-in. Good luck!

Never Miss a PokerStars Tournament Again

Have you used the PokerNews Online Tournament Calendar yet? Our free-to-use tool allows you to see upcoming and in-play tournaments at several online poker rooms, including PokerStars. You can apply filters to narrow your search, including buy-in, game type, and even prize pool guarantees, enabling you to find your perfect online poker tournament in seconds, all without leaving PokerNews!

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A total of 20,647 participants entered the arena for Event #20: Gladiators of Poker No-Limit Holdem, part of the 2024 World Series of Poker at Horseshoe and Paris Las Vegas, which generated a prize pool of $5,079,162.

When the dust settled from the competition, Stephen Winters emerged as the lone combatant to entertain the masses and claim victory.

Winters outlasted the enormous field and defeated Simon Britton in the first hand of heads-up play to secure a first-place prize of $401,210 and a WSOP gold bracelet, the first of his poker career. Britton takes home $253,300 for his second-place finish.

The win provided vindication for Winters, who might have seen himself as an underdog.

I guess this is for the little guys, Winters said. I just play a few small tournaments each year, so it was exciting just to be relevant for once.

Final Table Results

Place Player Country Prize (USD) 1 Stephen Winters United States $401,210 2 Simon Britton United States $253,300 3 Quang Vu United States $192,030 4 Brendon Herrick United States $146,450 5 James Morgan United States $112,350 6 Sung Pil Kim United States $86,710 7 Steve Foutty United States $67,320 8 Jordan Johnson United States $52,590 9 Caleb Levesque United States $41,337

The accomplishment proved relevant, indeed, as the win cemented Winters place among a select group of poker players with WSOP bracelets.

He earned it by outlasting a vast field consisting of WSOP bracelet winners Men Nguyen, who fell victim to Winters near the end of Day 2, Shaun Deeb, Tamas Lendvai, Brett Shaffer, Daniel Heimiller, Mark Seif and Steven Wolansky, among other notable players.

Absorbing the enormity of what he just accomplished wont be lost on Winters any time soon.

This is a whole other crazy level, he said.

Winters survived the zaniness of the tournament by staying grounded. While he didnt have a rail of supporters present to cheer him on at the final table, Winters stayed in constant touch with his family throughout the tournament.

He received all the encouragement he needed from his wife and children. In fact, Winters called his family before his post-match photography shoot and allowed them to participate in his moment via FaceTime.

It was fun to have my kids kind of railing me from home, Winters said with a wide smile. Like, every time I would report on how I was doing, they'd be like, Oh, daddy, try to get a thousand, try to get in top 900, and then they kept setting bars and bars and bars, and it's just the whole thing [is] surreal to be at this point.

Stephen Winters Wins 2024 WSOP Event 30

In the meantime, Winters pointed out he was supposed to fly home Wednesday, a day after winning the Gladiators event, but the plans could be subject to change for the WSOP's newest bracelet winner.

I don't know if I'll ever repeat this again, but I might play the Main [Event] now, Winters said. We'll see.

Day 3 Highlights

A total of 14 players, all of whom were vying for their first WSOP bracelet, advanced to Day 3, with Britton as the largest stack (67,100,000) and Winters in second (64,975,000).

The bust-outs occurred in fast fashion between two tables to kick off the event.

Justin Ruth was the first to be sent to the rail in 14th place ($20,820) when his full house was counterfeited on the river by Steve Fouttys bigger boat, much to the bewilderment of the players at the table.

Within minutes of Ruths exit, Quang Vu sent Petri Nikkinen packing in 13th place ($26,000) when Nikkinens ace-high failed to improve against Vus pocket fives.

Rami Hammoud was next to leave in 12th place ($26,000) when he pushed all in out of the big blind with an ace, only to discover he had run into Winters pocket kings on the button.

Britton eliminated Alain Macabulos in 11th place ($32,680) with pocket aces and then Mario Lopez exited in tenth place ($32,680) to officially set the final table.

Simon Britton

Once there, Winters became an irresistible force and was responsible for five knockouts.

Winters eliminated Caleb Levesque in ninth place ($41,337) with two pair and then followed up by knocking out Sung Pil Kim in sixth place ($86,710) with a pair of queens. In the hand before sending out Kim, Winters decimated Kims stack when his pocket sevens beat out Kims ace-king.

Winters then eliminated Brendon Herrick in fourth place ($146,450), Vu in third place, and made quick work of Britton during heads-up play.

The Gladiators event champions win over Herrick and Vu, then the short-lived chip leader, propelled him atop the chip leaderboard. Winters ace-queen beat out Herricks ace-jack and Vus ace-five in a massive three-way all-in preflop pot, which ultimately sent 381,000,000 to Winters.

With the overwhelming chip lead, Winters needed just one hand to best Britton in heads-up play to leave him as the last Gladiator standing in the arena.

This concludes the live coverage from Event #20. Be sure to stay tuned to PokerNews for all of the action from the rest of the 2024 World Series of Poker.
Day 2 of Event #32: $1,500 Seven Card Stud at the 2024 World Series of Poker at the Horseshoe and Paris Las Vegas sees 107 players return from a starting field of 406. Each of them will have eyes on the $113,725 top prize and of course the WSOP gold bracelet that accompanies it.

The chipleader coming into the day is Burke Delange (312,000) who has around $60,000 in career live earnings, a figure that he can more than double with a strong finish in this event. Jeffrey Lo (267,000) sits not too far behind while Chun Yam (240,500) rounds out the top three.

Several notable players managed to put themselves in a good position coming into Day 2, including Ren Lin (229,000), Hal Rotholz (202,000) and John Cernuto (176,000). Rotholz and Lin will be looking to win their first WSOP bracelet while Cernuto will hope to join an exclusive club of four time bracelet winners at the conclusion of this event. Still, there is a long way to go with two full days of play left.

Start of Day 2 Top Ten Chip Counts

Rank Player Country Chips Big Bets 1 Burke Delange United States 312,000 31 2 Jeffrey Lo China 267,000 27 3 Chun Yam United Kingdom 240,500 24 4 John Bunch United States 231,500 23 5 Ren Lin United States 229,000 23 6 Richard Tatalovich United States 227,000 23 7 Will Berry United States 213,500 21 8 Christopher Chung United States 207,500 21 9 Hal Rotholz United States 202,000 20 10 Joseph Brodsky United States 182,000 18

Of the returning players, only 61 will receive at least a minimum cash of $3,037. That means the bubble will be looming large from the start of play and things may tighten up fairly quickly as a result.

Play resumes at 1 p.m. local time in the Horseshoe Event Center with limits picking up in Level 16 at 5,000/10,000. Day 2 will continue for ten 60-minute levels before the survivors bag up for the third and final day.

Be sure to stay tuned to PokerNews as its live reporting team provides updates throughout the second day of Event #32: $1,500 Seven Card Stud.
Welcome back to PokerNews, the official media partner of the 2024 World Series of Poker and home of live updates from all bracelet events.

Giddyap, folks! Event #35: $1,500 H.O.R.S.E. (8-Handed) is about to get underway here at Horseshoe and Paris, Las Vegas.

This mixed-game event will start at 2 p.m., and late registration will remain available until the end of nine 40-minute levels. There will be a 15-minute break every three levels, and the day is expected to end after level 15.

Players will start with 25,000 in chips. If they have any chips remaining at the end of Day 1, they will reconvene for Day 2 at

1 p.m. on June 13.

Last year's winner Yuri Dzivielevski beat a record field of 836 players. He took on Randy Ohel heads-up, winning $207,678 from a prize pool of $1,116,060. Perhaps this year can beat those numbers.

Dzivielevski expressed some doubts about his mixed game skills in his interview with PokerNews, "I'm working a lot on my game, so I don't know exactly what is my best game, to be honest. Like, results show that limit hold'em is my best game, but I'm not suremaybe it is?" However, his skills were certainly good enough last year. If he returns this year, we'll see if he can pull it off again.

Year Entries Winner Country Payout 2023 836 Yuri Dzivielevski United States $207,678 2022 773 Steven Albini United States $196,089 2021 594 Anthony Zinno United States $160,636 2020 - Not Held - - 2019 751 Murilo Figueredo Brazil $207,003 2018 731 Andrey Zhigalov Moscow $202,787

Want to see what else is new for 2024? Click here to find out more about the Bomb Pot, PLO Mystery Bounty and many more exciting events!

Planning on playing this event? PokerNews activates MyStack for every WSOP event, regardless of that tournament's buy-in, allowing you to directly adjust your chip counts in our live reporting

MyStack is a free poker tool that puts you in control of your chip counts on our live reporting pages. Once you have created a free PokerNews account, you can use MyStack to update your chip counts in real time; hopefully, your stack will continue increasing throughout the event!

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What Else is Happening at the WSOP?

Phil Ivey
Donald Trump admitted during an interview with a probation officer that he illegally had a gun in Florida in violation of federal and state laws.

CNN reported:

The New York City Department of Probation officials have questioned former President Donald Trump about an additional gun that had been registered to him in New York and his access to firearms as part of their pre-sentencing interview, a city official briefed on the exchange said.

The former president was convicted on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records at the end of last month. Possession of firearms or ammunition by a convicted felon is a federal crime.

According to the official, Trump said that there was a gun in Florida, which is believed to be one of the three weapons listed on his New York City permit to carry concealed weapons.

It is a violation of federal and state laws for convicted felons to own and possess firearms.

Donald Trump admitted that he has been violating the law. If the Department of Justice applies the same standard to Trump that they applied to Hunter Biden, Donald Trump should be indicted and charged with federal gun crimes. It is not surprising that the same ex-president who is accused of stealing classified documents was keeping illegal guns around.

Trump doesnt need the gun. He has Secret Service protection. Did Trump think he was special and could be a convicted felon with an illegal gun?

Please, Republicans, tell us more about how you are the party of law and order.

A Special Message From PoliticusUSA



If you are in a position to donate purely to help us keep the doors open on PoliticusUSA during what is a critical election year, please do so here.

We have been honored to be able to put your interests first for 14 years as we only answer to our readers and we will not compromise on that fundamental, core PoliticusUSA value.

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As median home prices inch closer to half a million dollars in the Charleston market, sellers are being advised be more cautious when pricing their homes.

Too high and they price out local buyers  too low and they leave money on the table.

It's a fine line to straddle to earn good faith with purchasers without alienating them. And the practice is becoming harder as the region treads into uncharted territory with the median price reaching $425,000 in May. Five years earlier the figure was $285,000, for a leap of nearly 50 percent, according to the Charleston Trident Association of Realtors.

"This means you need to be smart about how you approach your home sale, or youll risk your property sitting on the market and losing value," said Mikki Ramey, broker in charge for locally based Healthy Realty.

Pricing, she said, entails so much more than pulling up an online Zillow estimate, which doesn't take into account condition of the home, neighborhood and nearby amenities.

With each individual sale, Ramey said she searches the Multiple Listing Service to find comparable properties. She then compares prices for active and sold listings within the last six months. Ramey said she also takes into account the condition of the home and whether the kitchen and bathroom have been updated.

Recent kitchen and bathroom remodels will put you on the higher end, she said, as would outdoor kitchens, screened-in porches and fenced-in yards.

For sellers without updates, she recommends pricing on the lower end of the range of comparable properties.

When Laura Cramer sold her West Ashley home earlier this year, she said she priced her home aggressively. It was higher than her agent suggested, but Cramer feared losing profits she needed to relocate to James Island.
President Biden toured Tropical Storm Helene damage in the Carolinas as the state's Republican leaders gave the federal government high marks for the recovery effort so far, but ranking Republicans like U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham soon pivoted to the Atlantic port workers strike as standing in the way of a quick recovery. Read moreBiden gets praise for federal response to Helene, but SC leaders beg for action on port strike
GREENVILLE  Greenville County Sheriff Hobart Lewis routed his challenger from within during this year's Republican primary to put him on the November ballot.

Lewis beat out former sheriff's deputy Mike Fortner in the June 11 vote that gave him a resounding win with 43,151 votes, compared to Fortner's 9,051.

No other opponents filed for the general election in November, all but locking in Lewis as the leader of one of South Carolina's largest law enforcement agencies for the next four years.

"I am very thankful for a good outcome and want to thank the men and women of the sheriff's office who work so hard each day to serve this community," Lewis told The Post and Courier. "I am blessed to have such a big win and look forward to the next four years. I also would like to thank Mike Fortner, who ran a great race and did so with class and professionalism."

Fortner, a 29-year agency veteran, had called for reforms to the department's "good ol' boy" culture that he says drives turnover and impacts morale. He sparred with Lewis during an early May debate when the current sheriff questioned the practicality of his challenger's ideas.

Lewis first took office in a special election March 16, 2020, days after the start of COVID-19 pandemic.

After governor-appointed interim Sheriff Johnny Mack Brown filled a vacancy in the wake of a scandal from a disgraced former sheriff, Lewis led the department through upheaval in Greenville as part of the George Floyd protests, a shooting at a local nightclub and the death of a deputy during a traffic stop.
GREENVILLE  Incumbent U.S. Rep. William Timmons narrowly fended off State Rep. Adam Morgan to hold his place as the Republican nominee for the District 4 seat he has held for the past six years.

Timmons secured the close race with 36,502 votes compared to Morgans 34,235, according to unofficial election results from Greenville and Spartanburg counties finalized just before midnight June 11.

Capping off a race full of tit-for-tat jabs, specter of scandal and a blurred line between fact and fiction, the three-term congressman faced a stiff primary challenge from the ultraconservative S.C. Freedom Caucus chairman.

The Upstate district encompasses both Greenville and Spartanburg counties. Timmons won Spartanburg County by a large enough margin to cover up a 2,000-vote loss in Greenville County.

Now Timmons will face Democratic candidate Kathryn Harvey and Constitution Party candidate Mark Hackett in the general election in November.

Timmons, who said he had to fly back to Washington, D.C., to cast Congressional votes instead of being in the district, thanked voters for seeing through Morgans countless lies.

In Washington I am focused on policy not headlines, on representing my constituents not myself, and working with my colleagues instead of working against them, Timmons said in a statement. I am grateful to have the support of President Trump and proud to have the opportunity to continue to represent South Carolinas Fourth District.
Greg Kitchens and Carl Ritchie will meet again in a runoff election to determine who will face incumbent Democrat Kristin Graziano in the general election in November in the race to become Charleston County's next top cop.

Kitchens received 45 percent of votes to Ritchie's 42 percent, according to unofficial results uploaded to scvotes.org on June 11. The runoff election will be held on June 25.

Kitchens and Ritchie ousted Rocky Burke and Rick Keys, who were also running for the Republican seat. They were vying for the chance to challenge current Charleston County Sheriff Graziano in November. She is not facing any party opposition after a judge agreed to block a would-be challenger from the ballot.

Graziano became the first Democrat to hold the office in three decades when she defeated longtime Republican Sheriff Al Cannon in 2020. She is also the first woman and openly gay politician in charge of a sheriffs office in South Carolina.

The Charleston County Sheriff's Office has come under fire recently after the federal government launched an investigation into the jail Graziano runs to look into a potential pattern of abuse following a string of deaths.

Each Republican candidate has previously held public safety positions and has slightly different ideas on how they would like to run the sheriff's office. They told The Post and Courier about their platform points prior to the election.
PR-Inside.com: 2024-06-12 09:30:29

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SEATTLE, WA / ACCESSWIRE / June 12, 2024 / AGC Biologics , a leading global Biopharmaceutical Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization (CDMO), today announced that its Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Patricio Massera, will be stepping down from his role effective June 30.Patricio Massera joined the company in 2012, as General Manager of the Copenhagen site at CMC Biologics A/S. He later served as Chief Operating Officer of CMC Biologics at its Seattle headquarters. He held the same role after CMC Biologics was acquired by AGC Inc. and formed AGC Biologics. Mr. Massera was appointed CEO in 2019. He also served as an Executive Officer of the AGC Life Science Company, the Life Science Division of AGC Inc.During his tenure as CEO, Mr. Massera spearheaded several initiatives that elevated AGC Biologics' global business and brand. His work and achievements include key milestones such as navigating the COVID-19 pandemic, acquiring Molecular Medicine S.p.A. ("MolMed") in Milan to create AGC Biologics' Global Cell and Gene business, and acquiring facilities in Boulder and Longmont, Colorado to establish new large-scale commercial mammalian capacity and cell and gene services in North America. Mr. Massera also directed the company's long-standing commitment to investing in single-use technology to ensure AGC Biologics could address the evolving needs of pharmaceutical companies using any platform process to develop new drug candidates."Over the past 12 years, I have had the privilege of experiencing the most vibrant and remarkable professional position of my life. CMC Biologics, and later AGC Biologics, have provided me with countless opportunities. I have met incredible individuals driven by the desire to build a better world, all sharing the common purpose of enabling our partners to cure life-threatening diseases and bring hope to life." Massera said. "During this journey, we have managed to grow the business multiple times. However, like all great stories, every book has an end. In this case, it is just a chapter that finishes. AGC Biologics has a long and brilliant journey ahead, but it is time for someone else to write the next chapter." The new CEO search process is underway. In light of this transition, AGC Biologics is pleased to share Tadashi Murano, President of the AGC Life Science Company, will serve as interim CEO. He brings several decades of experience in global leadership roles within AGC Inc. across various business entities.For more information on AGC Biologics, visitwww.agcbio.com About AGC Biologics:AGC Biologics is a leading global biopharmaceutical Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization (CDMO) with a strong commitment to delivering the highest standard of service as we work side-by-side with our clients and partners, every step of the way. We provide world-class development and manufacture of mammalian and microbial-based therapeutic proteins, plasmid DNA (pDNA), messenger RNA (mRNA), viral vectors, and genetically engineered cells. Our global network spans the U.S., Europe, and Asia, with cGMP-compliant facilities in Seattle, Washington; Boulder and Longmont, Colorado; Copenhagen, Denmark; Heidelberg, Germany; Milan, Italy; and Chiba, Japan. We currently employ more than 2,500 Team Members worldwide. Our commitment to continuous innovation fosters the technical creativity to solve our clients' most complex challenges, including specialization in fast-track projects and rare diseases. AGC Biologics is a part of AGC Inc.'s Life Science Company. The Life Science company runs more than 10 global facilities focused on biopharmaceuticals, advanced therapies, small molecule active pharmaceutical ingredients, and agrochemicals. To learn more, visit www.agcbio.com Contact DetailsNick McDonald+1 425-419-3555nmcdonald@ agcbio.com Company Website https://www.agcbio.com/ SOURCE: AGC BIOLOGICS
PR-Inside.com: 2024-06-12 23:00:11

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Battat Launches at WalmartMONTREAL, QC / ACCESSWIRE / June 12, 2024 / Battat, legacy brand of Maison Battat, Inc., proudly announces the launch of a unique line of preschool and pretend play toys as well as a debut wallet-friendly modular foam playroom collection, all available only at Walmart, this summer.New Battat toys at Walmart Children playing with the new line of toysFor over forty years, Battat has been dedicated to designing iconic, classic, and high-quality preschool toys at the most affordable prices, with the mission that every child deserves to experience the power of play. Walmart, also known for everyday savings and their proximity to millions of Americans, will be the retailer of choice for the Battat brand, together bringing the best toys at the lowest prices to families across America."As a family-owned and operated business, we take pride in our heritage of creating the highest quality toys that are both playful and educational," said Dany Battat, owner of Maison Battat, Inc. "We are excited to expand that legacy with Walmart, a partner with whom we share the same core values of being trusted providers of the highest-quality products and the best value for American families." "We're excited to welcome Battat and their exciting assortment of toys to Walmart," said Brittany Smith, Vice President of toys at Walmart U.S. "Battat and Walmart are like-minded in our commitment to providing quality items at a great value for our customers. I'm excited to see their excitement over these new preschool and pretend play toys, and the foam modular play collection!"Battat's new line of preschool and pretend play toys will feature vibrant new and modern takes on classic play patterns, continuing their commitment to quality and creativity. The star of the collection is the Two n' One Kitchen Cafe, an adorable, toddler-sized wooden kitchen playset, complete with accessories and a cafe chalkboard, arriving at a market-disrupting price tag of $49.88. The assortment also features whimsical animals like the Pop-A-Doodle-Doo interactive chicken ball popper with lights, sounds and music, the Croco Pop Piano (a crocodile-shaped piano toy) featuring different music modes and silly sounds, and the Hippodontist dentist play set, complete with everything kids need to perform a full dental check-up on their pretend hippo patient. The preschool line offers an extensive variety of toys for every child - a color-changing lightbox, vehicles, pretend play sets, musical instruments, and more -- all designed to develop fine and gross motor skills, foster communication, and encourage playful problem-solving. Every piece in the Walmart collection is priced at under $50, starting with toy vehicles for under $5.The new-to-market Play Space collection is a dynamic and unique assortment of modular building and climbing foam pieces, designed for indoor active play. Headlining the collection is Cloud Castle, a lightweight, versatile, playfully designed foam fort-building set, featuring five soft foam pieces that kids can use to build forts, castles, or any type of cozy lounging nook they can dream up. Play Space also includes the Hop In Ball Pit with 65 colorful and crush-proof balls, Cozy Cruiser rocker/loungers, foam rollers and climbers, a giant cuddle animal, and a balance board that transforms into a lounge chair, tunnel or slide. The Play Space pieces, designed to be durable and machine washable, range in price from $29.94 to $59 for most items and $129 for the five-piece Cloud Castle set.A full range of Battat's beloved classic toys are now available on walmart.com . The whimsical new line of preschool, pretend play toys and the Play Space collection are currently available for preorder on walmart.com , and will officially launch online July 27th and in-store on August 17th, only at Walmart.Contact InformationJordana Dobski Marketing Managerpress@ battatco.com 514-341-6000 x 349SOURCE: BattatView the original press release on newswire.com
PR-Inside.com: 2024-06-12 16:02:18

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NEW ORLEANS, LA / ACCESSWIRE / June 12, 2024 / Carr's Hill Capital Partners Management, LP ("Carr's Hill Partners" or "CHP"), a New Orleans-based private equity firm, is pleased to announce that it has acquired SMART Safety Gulf Coast ("SMART Safety" or the "Company"), a leading provider of turnkey life safety and compliance management services, from PALA Group ("PALA"), a diversified industrial construction contractor comprised of several companies.Since 2011, SMART Safety has been serving its diverse set of clients across end markets throughout the Gulf Coast and the greater United States. The Company helps employers develop and implement the most effective safety programs that reduce incidents, maintain regulatory compliance, lower costs, and improve competitiveness & profitability. SMART has helped hundreds of employers meet this responsibility through highly effective, flexible, and affordable safety services.SMART Safety specializes in Safety Program Management, which includes safety policy development, toolbox topics, monthly safety reports, job site safety audits, access to a 24/7 safety hotline & incident response, claims management, and OSHA reporting & representation. The Company also provides a full suite of Site Safety Staffing and Health & Safety Training services.SMART Safety delivers its services through a highly visible "boots-on-the-ground" approach providing each client access to a dedicated SMART Safety team, ensuring full coverage and support. The Company also leverages its proprietary SMARTWorld Safety Intelligence Platform, which is an online portal that contains safety management activities in the field and provides real-time access to documentation and compliance records. This level of engagement and visibility is vital to elevating workforce safety awareness, behavior, and culture."SMART Safety is already a market leader yet has a considerable runway for growth," said H. David de Laureal, Managing Partner of CHP. "We are excited to welcome SMART Safety to the Carr's Hill Partners family. SMART Safety's exceptional reputation and commitment to enhancing workplace safety align well with our investment philosophy. We look forward to supporting the team's growth and delivery of exceptional safety solutions to their clients." Blake Beach, CEO of SMART Safety who recently took over from Founder and long-time CEO, Bob Turner, said, "The SMART Safety team is grateful for the support from PALA over the past decade and is excited for this new chapter with the Carr's Hill Partners team. The team's resources and strategic vision will undoubtedly help us expand our reach and enhance our service offerings." SMART Safety has consistently delivered proven and effective safety management solutions, helping employers reduce injuries, maintain regulatory compliance, and decrease workers' compensation claims. The acquisition by Carr's Hill Partners is set to bolster SMART Safety's capabilities and market presence, ensuring the continuation of its mission to promote workplace safety.About Carr's Hill PartnersCarr's Hill Partners is a lower middle-market private equity firm that provides capital and expertise to family- and founder-owned industrial and infrastructure services companies. Based in New Orleans, CHP invests throughout North America, focusing on the Gulf Coast and the greater Southern U.S. The firm's operating expertise, institutional capabilities, and network of executives provide management partners with a foundation for exceptional growth. For more information, visit www.carrshillpartners.com About SMART SafetyFounded in 2011, SMART Safety provides turnkey life safety and compliance management services including Safety Program Management, Site Safety Staffing, and Health & Safety Training. With operational centers across the Gulf Coast, SMART Safety is dedicated to improving workplace safety and operational efficiency for its diverse customer base. For more information, visit www.smartsafetygulfcoast.com About PALA GroupBased in Baton Rouge, LA, PALA Group is an industrial and commercial services provider known for its commitment to quality and safety. The company offers a wide range of services including construction, maintenance, and fabrication across various industries.Contact InformationTravis Rachaltravis@ carrshillpartners.com (504) 334-8754SOURCE: Carr's Hill PartnersView the original press release on newswire.com
PR-Inside.com: 2024-06-12 09:05:39

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NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO UNITED STATES NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATESVANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / June 12, 2024 /Commerce Resources Corp. (TSXV:CCE)(FSE:D7H0) (the "Company" or "Commerce") is pleased to announce a non-brokered private placement offering consisting of the issuance of up to 16,000,000 units (each, a "Unit") at a price of $0.126 per Unit for gross proceeds of up to $2,016,000 (the "Offering"). Each Unit will consist of one common share of the Company (each, a "Share") and one common share purchase warrant (each, a "Warrant"), with each Warrant entitling the holder to purchase one Share at a price of $0.25 per Share for a period of two (2) years from closing of the Offering (the "Closing").Pursuant to a binding engagement agreement ("Term Sheet") entered into between Commerce and Churchill SIG Pty Ltd. ("Churchill"), Churchill will act as exclusive lead manager for the Offering, for a term of up to three (3) months, to introduce (the "Services") potential qualified subscribers to the Company in connection with a portion of the Offering (the "Churchill Portion"). Churchill will not provide the Services in Canada or for the benefit of Canadian residents, and any potential subscribers introduced by Churchill will not be residents of Canada.As consideration for the Services, and upon completion of the Offering, the Company has agreed to pay Churchill a cash fee (the "Cash Fee") equal to 5% of the amount raised under the Offering from persons introduced by Churchill, and to issue such number of non-transferable share purchase warrants (the "Finder's Warrants") that equals 12.5% of the total number of Units issued to persons introduced by Churchill under the Offering. Each Finder's Warrant will entitle the holder to acquire one additional common share (a "Finder's Warrant Share") in the capital of the Company at a price of $0.20 per Finder's Warrant Share for a period of two (2) years from the date of issuance of the Finder's Warrants. The Company has also agreed to pay Churchill's reasonable fees and expenses in connection with the Services, up to $10,000. Churchill shall have a right of first refusal to act as lead manager in connection with any other equity offerings undertaken by the Company within a 12-month period following completion of the Offering. The Units, Shares, Warrants, Warrant Shares, Finder's Warrants and Finder's Warrant Shares are collectively referred to herein as the "Securities".The Offering will be conducted pursuant to one or more prospectus exemptions available to the Company, including, without limitation, the "accredited investor" exemption set out in Section 2.3 of National Instrument 45-106 - Prospectus Exemptions and the prospectus exemption set out in BC Instrument 72-503 - Distribution of Securities Outside British Columbia.In addition to the fee payable to Churchill in connection with any persons introduced by Churchill, the Company may pay finders' fees consisting of cash, securities or a combination thereof to other parties in connection with the persons introduced to Commerce by such other parties, all in accordance with the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange (the "Exchange").All securities issued in connection with the Offering will be subject to a statutory hold period expiring four months and one day after closing of the Offering. Completion of the Offering is subject to the approval of the Exchange.The net proceeds from the sale of the Offering will be used towards completion of the updated PEA for the Ashram REE/ Fluorspar Deposit and general working capital.None of the securities sold in connection with the Offering will be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and no such securities may be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements. This news release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of the securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful.About Commerce Resources Corp. Commerce Resources Corp. is a junior mineral resource company focused on the development of the Ashram Rare Earth and Fluorspar Deposit located in Quebec, Canada. The Company is positioning to be one of the lowest cost rare earth producers globally, with a specific focus on being a long-term supplier of mixed rare earth carbonate and/or NdPr oxide to the global market. The Ashram Deposit is characterized by simple rare earth (monazite, bastnaesite, xenotime) and gangue (carbonates) mineralogy, a large tonnage resource at favourable grade, and has demonstrated the production of high-grade (>45% REO) mineral concentrates at high recovery (>70%) in line with active global producers. In addition to being one of the largest rare earth deposits globally, Ashram is also one of the largest fluorspar deposits globally and has the potential to be a long-term supplier to the met-spar and acid-spar markets.For more information, please visit the corporate website at www.commerceresources.com or email info@ commerceresources.com On Behalf of the Board of Directors COMMERCE RESOURCES CORP."Chris Grove" Chris GrovePresident and DirectorTel: 604.484.2700Email:cgrove@ commerceresources.comWeb: Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking StatementsThis news release includes certain "forward-looking statements" under applicable Canadian securities legislation that are not historical facts. Forward-looking statements involve risks, uncertainties, and other factors that could cause actual results, performance, prospects, and opportunities to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements in this news release include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to the Services to be provided by Churchill, the expectations of management regarding the proposed Offering, the expectations of management regarding the use of proceeds of the Offering, closing conditions for the Offering, the expiry of hold periods for securities distributed pursuant to the Offering, that Exchange approval is required for the proposed Offering, that the Ashram deposit has the potential to become one of the largest fluorspar deposits and a long-term supplier to the mixed rare earth carbonate, NdPr oxide, and met-spar and acid-spar markets; and that the Company
PR-Inside.com: 2024-06-12 23:10:13

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VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / June 12, 2024 /Coppernico Metals Inc. ("Coppernico" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that, through its Peruvian subsidiary Sombrero Minerales SAC, it has entered an agreement with AK Drilling International S.A. ("AK Drilling"), a Peru-based drilling company, to commence an initial drill program at the Ccascabamba Target Area (formerly referred to as the Sombrero Main Target area) within its Sombrero copper-gold property located in Ayacucho, Peru. Under the agreement, which has a term of one year, the Company has committed to a minimum of 3,000 metres of diamond core drilling. Mobilization of equipment and personnel to the drill site is scheduled to take place in the month of July 2024.Ivan Bebek, CEO and Chair of Coppernico, stated, "We are pleased to announce our collaboration with AK Drilling, who was selected on the basis of its strong operational performance and attention to safety and environmental management. We look forward to working closely with their team as we take this exciting step towards the advancement of our inaugural drill program at our Sombrero Project.Coppernico is well financed with the recent completion of a $19.37mm funding, in which Teck Resources Limited acquired a 9.9% interest in the Company.The commencement of drilling will provide additional opportunities for the community through direct employment as well as indirect goods and services contracts, while agricultural initiatives through Agroideas are ongoing and will continue to ensure a positive long-term impact for the communities irrespective of exploration results.Further details about the initial drill targeting will be released in the coming weeks as the Company anticipates starting drilling in July 2024."High-Level Drilling Strategy The drill program will target skarn style mineralization along the highly prospective and extensive contact zone between the Ccascabamba intrusive complex and Ferrobamba limestone. Mapping and sampling in the areas of Corrales, Hojota, and the area south of Fierrazo have demonstrated broad zones of mineralization on surface which appear to extend underneath post mineralization cover. The drill program will test a ~2.5 km long section of the intrusive contact zone along its southern margin and underneath the post mineral cover.Further details of the planned drill program, including specific drilling locations and timelines, will be disclosed in the near future.Continued Community Engagement Coppernico is committed to fostering positive relationships with the communities surrounding the Sombrero Project. As part of this commitment to provide ongoing support and help meet local community needs, the Company recently donated a 2024 Volvo VM 19-ton truck to the Huancasancos community, which has already been deployed for transporting construction and agricultural materials.Furthermore, Coppernico continues to support the Agroideas program, an initiative fostering sustainable agricultural and social programs involving grants obtained from the Peruvian government in a collaborative effort designed to improve local livelihoods. As part of its ongoing social initiatives, the Company is ensuring that the benefits of the Sombrero Project extend to local families and contribute to the overall well-being of the community.Technical Disclosure and Qualified Person The scientific and technical information contained in this news release was reviewed and approved by Tim Kingsley, M.Sc., CPG, Coppernico's VP of Exploration, who is a "Qualified Person" (as defined in NI 43-101).ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS Ivan Bebek Chair & CEOFor further information, please contact:Coppernico Metals Inc.Phone: +1 778 729 0600Email: info@ coppernicometals.com Website: www.coppernicometals.com Twitter: @CoppernicoMetalLinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/coppernico-metals/ About Coppernico Coppernico is a mineral exploration company focused on creating value for shareholders and stakeholders through careful project evaluation and exploration excellence in pursuit of the discovery of world-class copper-gold deposits in South America. The Company's management and technical teams have a successful track record of raising capital, discovery and the monetization of exploration successes. The Company, through its Peruvian subsidiary Sombrero Minerales S.A.C., is currently focused on the Ccascabamba (previously referred to as Sombrero Main) and Nioc areas within the Sombrero Project in Peru, its flagship project, and is reviewing additional premium projects in South America.The Sombrero Project is a land package of approximately 102,000 hectares located in the north-western margins of the world-class Andahuaylas-Yauri trend in Peru. It consists of a number of prospective exploration targets characterized by copper-gold skarn and porphyry systems, and precious metal epithermal deposits. The Company's NI 43-101 technical report, with an effective date of April 17, 2024, and as filed on SEDAR+ on May 23, 2024, focuses on the Ccascabamba (previously referred to as Sombrero Main) and Nioc target areas of the project.Coppernico is currently an unlisted public reporting issuer. The Company is seeking a listing on a recognized stock exchange. For more information, please visit www.coppernicometals.com Cautionary Note No regulatory organization has approved the contents hereof.This news release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation (collectively, "forward-looking statements"). Forward-looking statements are often identified by terms such as "may", "should", "anticipate", "expect", "intend" and similar expressions and include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to: the Company's exploration and more specifically, drill plans. 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. In particular, and without limitation, this news release contains forward-looking statements pertaining to the Company's exploration and drill plans and the Company's efforts to list the Company's Shares on a recognized stock exchange. 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 the Company'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. Readers should refer to the risks discussed in the Company's AIF and other continuous disclosure filings
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ZUG, SWITZERLAND / ACCESSWIRE / June 12, 2024 /Du Bois Gold AG (DuBois) has been recognized as the winner in the "Alternative Investment Manager (South-East Asia)" category at the WealthBriefingAsia Awards 2024. These annual awards highlight outstanding firms, teams, and individuals in the wealth and investment management industry.DuBois is a Swiss precious metals dealer and custodian at the forefront of digital gold issuance, modernizing gold ownership for individuals around the world. By providing digital titles to gold, DuBois offers secure and insured access to gold bullion procured and stored in Switzerland. Notable achievements include the launch of innovative products such as DAU and KBAR, which facilitate both co-ownership and direct ownership of gold. Based in Zug, Switzerland, DuBois aims to deliver innovative solutions for gold ownership for its clients.The "Alternative Investment Manager" category is highly competitive, with winners chosen through a stringent evaluation process by a panel of independent judges. This award acknowledges DuBois' exemplary performance, innovation, and commitment to excellence in the alternative investment sector, particularly within the South-East Asian market."We are pleased to receive this award," said Tim Sawyer, Chairman of DuBois. "This affirms DuBois' standing as a leading provider of best-in-class products and client services in the region." The WealthBriefingAsia Awards are part of a global program covering major wealth management centres worldwide. This recognition underscores the strength and sustainability of DuBois' business model, especially in challenging economic conditions.Stephen Harris, CEO of ClearView Financial Media and publisher of WealthBriefing, congratulated all winners and commended companies. "Each winner has undergone a rigorous and independent judging process and should be proud of their achievements this year." "This year, we have seen increased participation and interest in our global awards programs, and the WealthBriefingAsia Awards are no exception. These awards provide organizations and individuals the chance to refine their strategic approach, have it independently validated, gain recognition both internally and externally, and celebrate with their peers." "I extend my congratulations and best wishes for the future to all winners and highly commended firms. They are deserving recipients who join the esteemed group of WealthBriefing winners." Winners and highly commended companies were announced on the 30th of May, 2024.About Du Bois Gold AGDuBois is a leading issuer of digital gold, modernizing gold ownership for individuals worldwide. DuBois provides digital titles to gold bullion, offering secure and insured access to gold bullion procured and stored in Switzerland. Recent successes include new product launches, such as DAU and KBAR, enabling innovative co-ownership and direct ownership of gold, respectively. Based in Zug, Switzerland, DuBois is committed to transforming the gold ownership experience for its global clientele.About ClearView Financial Media Ltd ("ClearView")ClearView Financial Media was founded by Chief Executive, Stephen Harris in 2004, to provide high quality need to know' information for the discerning private client community. London-based, but with a truly global focus, ClearView publishes the WealthBriefing group of newswires, along with research reports and newsletters, while also running a pan-global thought-leadership events and awards programme.For media enquiries, journalists should contact:Name: Victor ZhangTitle: CEOCompany: Du Bois Gold AG, Baarerstrasse 8, 6300 Zug, SwitzerlandEmail:Press@ duboisgold.comhttps://www.duboisgold.com/Telephone number/s: +436789070344070SOURCE: Du Bois Gold
PR-Inside.com: 2024-06-12 21:30:36

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ASTANA, KAZAKHSTAN / ACCESSWIRE / June 12, 2024 / The newly established Coordination Platform will improve the safety and sustainability of the Trans-Caspian Transport Corridor. It will expand the corridor's functionality to turn it into a multimodal and competitive route linking Europe and Asia in 15 days or less.The event was attended by representatives of Central Asian countries and other states along the corridor, as well as by international financial institutions and non-EU G7 countries.According to Mr. Marat Karabayev, Minister of Transport of Kazakhstan, the development of transport infrastructure and strengthening transport links play a critical role in the economic growth and prosperity of the regions."The establishment of the Coordination Platform provides us with a unique opportunity to join forces, exchange experience and perspectives to reach common goals. I would like to note that our partners from Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, as well as Turkey have been invited to join to this effort, which plays an important role in terms of achieving major and sustainable goals for the development of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route," the Minister said.The Minister of Transport thanked the representatives of countries and organisations for their participation and interest in the establishment of the unique platform and expressed gratitude to the European Union for its invaluable support and efforts aimed at the development of Central Asian countries.Mr. Henrik Hololei, Hors-Classe Adviser at the Directorate-General for International Partnerships in the European Commission stated: "The Coordination Platform created for the Trans-Caspian Transport Corridor marks a significant step forward in our cooperation to bring Central Asia and Europe closer together. Sustainable transport connections are crucial for consolidating the region's economic growth and connectivity with Europe. We are committed to supporting our partners in achieving their development and environmental goals." Ms. Maja Bakran, Deputy Director General for Mobility and Transport, European Commission added: "The Coordination Platform will be instrumental in making the Trans-Caspian Transport Corridor a multimodal, modern, competitive, sustainable, predictable, smart and fast route linking Europe, the Caucasus and Central Asia. The coordination efforts among the various stakeholders will drive forward deeper connections and contribute to sustainable economic development of the region." The Platform will generally promote the corridor and coordinate efforts on the implementation of priority hard and soft infrastructure projects in Central Asia. It will also boost and coordinate investments in rail, road, and port infrastructure.It should be noted that the European Union has long been a reliable partner of our region, thus contributing to the improvement of infrastructure and strengthening of economic ties and promoting sustainable development. Our joint work within the framework of the newly established Platform will not only improve transport infrastructure, but will also significantly strengthen economic ties, increase safety and sustainability of transport corridors, as well as accelerate the introduction of innovations and advanced technologies in the transport sector.Media Details:Company Name: Delegation of the European Union to the Republic of KazakhstanMail: delegation-kazakhstan@ eeas.europa.eu City & Country: Astana, KazakhstanWebsite: https://eeas.europa.eu/delegations/kazakhstan SOURCE: Delegation of the European Union to the Republic of Kazakhstan
PR-Inside.com: 2024-06-12 08:00:48

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Receipt of Grant FundingLONDON, UK / ACCESSWIRE / June 12, 2024 / THE INFORMATION CONTAINED WITHIN THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IS DEEMED BY THE COMPANY TO CONSTITUTE INSIDE INFORMATION AS STIPULATED UNDER THE MARKET ABUSE REGULATION (EU) NO. 596/2014 AS IT FORMS PART OF UK DOMESTIC LAW PURSUANT TO THE EUROPEAN UNION (WITHDRAWAL) ACT 2018, AS AMENDED. UPON THE PUBLICATION OF THIS ANNOUNCEMENT VIA A REGULATORY INFORMATION SERVICE, THIS INFORMATION IS CONSIDERED TO BE IN THE PUBLIC DOMAIN.Genflow Biosciences Plc (LSE:GENF)(OTCQB:GENFF) ("Genflow" or "the Company") an emerging leader in the field of longevity research, focused on developing therapeutic solutions for the prevention of age-related diseases is pleased to announce receipt of 395,847 representing 50% of the Exofastrack research grant from the Government of Wallonia in Belgium's Advanced Therapy Medicinal Products (ATMPs).The grant, a non-dilutive, non-reimbursable subsidy, supports Genflow and EXO Biologics' 3-year scientific program. Covering 80% of the expenses, the grant will be used for working capital. The program (see press release here) will deliver a therapeutic product composed of exosomes encapsulating an AAV or mRNA encoding SIRT6. The exosome therapy will be designed to target liver fibrosis (MASH) and Werner Syndrome, an accelerated aging disease.Dr. Eric Leire, CEO of Genflow commented: "We are thrilled to receive this grant from the Government of Wallonia. This funding will significantly advance our research program focused on exosome-based therapies, potentially leading to groundbreaking treatments for liver fibrosis and Werner Syndrome. Our commitment to pioneering therapeutic solutions for longevity is further strengthened by this support, and we look forward to the impactful developments that will emerge from this collaboration." ContactsGenflow BiosciencesHarbor AccessDr Eric Leire, CEOJonathan Paterson, Investor Relations+32-477-495-881+1 475 477 9401Joint Corporate BrokersClear Capital MarketsCapital Plus Partners LtdBob Roberts, +44 203 869 6080Dominic Berger, +44 203 821 6167 Keith Swann, +44 0203 821 6169 Jon Critchley, +44 0203 821 6168About Genflow Biosciences Founded in 2020, Genflow Biosciences Plc. (LSE:GENF)(OTCQB:GENFF), a biotechnology company headquartered in the UK with R&D facilities in Belgium, is pioneering gene therapies to decelerate the aging process, with the goal of promoting longer and healthier lives while mitigating the financial, emotional, and social impacts of a fast-growing aging global population. Genflow's lead compound, GF-1002, works through the delivery of a centenarian variant of the SIRT6 gene which has yielded promising preclinical results. Scheduled to begin in 2025, Genflow's clinical trial aims to explore the potential benefits of GF-1002 in treating MASH (Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatohepatitis), the most prevalent chronic liver disease for which there is no effective treatments. Please visit www.genflowbio.com and follow the Company on LinkedIn and Twitter/X.DISCLAIMER The contents of this announcement have been prepared by, and are the sole responsibility of, the Company.This announcement may contain forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the Company's or the Directors' expectations, hopes, beliefs, intentions or strategies regarding the future. In addition, any statement that refers to projections, forecasts or other characterisations of future events or circumstances, including any underlying assumptions, is a forward-looking statement. The words "anticipate", "believe", "continue", "could", "estimate", "expect", "intend", "may", "might", "plan", "possible", "potential", "predict", "project", "seek", "should", "would" and similar expressions, or in each case their negatives, may identify forward-looking statements, but the absence of these words does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking.Forward-looking statements include all matters that are not historical facts. Forward-looking statements are based on the current expectations and assumptions regarding the Company, the business, the economy and other future conditions. Because forward-looking statements relate to the future, by their nature, they are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and the Company's actual financial condition, actual results of operations and financial performance, and the development of the industries in which it operates or will operate, may differ materially from those made in or suggested by the forward-looking statements contained in this announcement. In addition, even if the Company's financial condition, results of operations and the development of the industries in which it operates or will operate, are consistent with the forward-looking statements contained in this announcement, those results or developments may not be indicative of financial condition, results of operations or developments in subsequent periods. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements include regional, national or global, political, economic, social, business, technological, competitive, market and regulatory conditions.Any forward-looking statement contained in this announcement applies only as of the date of this announcement and is expressly qualified in its entirety by these cautionary statements. Factors or events that could cause the Company's actual plans or results to differ may emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for the Company to predict all of them. The Company expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained in this announcement to reflect any change in its expectations or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any forward-looking statement contained in this announcement is based, unless required to do so by applicable law, the Prospectus Regulation Rules, the Listing Rules, the Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules of the FCA or the UK Market Abuse Regulation.This information is provided by RNS, the news service of the London Stock Exchange. RNS is approved by the Financial Conduct Authority to act as a Primary Information Provider in the United Kingdom. Terms and conditions relating to the use and distribution of this information may apply. For further
PR-Inside.com: 2024-06-12 11:02:01

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NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / June 12, 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: 2024-06-12 14:00:50

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EDMONTON, AB / ACCESSWIRE / June 12, 2024 /IMBiotechnologies Ltd. ("IMBiotechnologies") is pleased to announce the signing of a supply agreement with Medicus Management, LLC ("Medicus"), a group purchasing organization (GPO) currently supplying twenty office-based laboratory (OBL) and ambulatory surgical center (ASC) clinics focused on minimally-invasive procedures."IMBiotechnologies' Ekobi microspheres product is truly unique compared to the competitive embolic agents on the market," said J. Joseph Hewett, MD, President of Medicus. "The biodegradability and ultrasound detectability features of Ekobi has the potential to improve the overall safety and efficacy of an embolization procedure, especially in up-and-coming procedures such as treatment of knee pain due to osteoarthritis." "We are delighted with the opportunity to work with Medicus as they continue to grow in the ambulatory market," said Michael Stewart, CEO of IMBiotechnologies. "We look forward to working with Medicus to further develop and expand the use of our Ekobi Embolization Microsphere product." Ekobi Embolization MicrospheresEkobi Embolization Microspheres, is a first-in-class, biodegradable embolic agent that is detectable by ultrasound. Ekobi Embolization Microspheres are approved in the US for treatment of unresectable/inoperable hypervascularized tumors, and in Canada for the treatment of malignant and non-malignant hypervascularized tumors (HVT), uterine fibroids, and enlarged prostates due to benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).About Medicus Management, LLCMedicus Management is a full-service business intelligence partner for vascular outpatient practices, founded by a physician for physicians. Medicus prides itself on tailoring offerings to meet the specific needs of endovascular practices in both Office-Based Labs (OBL) and Ambulatory Surgery Centers (ASC). By leveraging large-volume purchasing from over fifteen device companies and optimizing resource management, Medicus aims to maximize fiscal performance while equipping like-minded physician practices with the tools to provide best-in-class medical care.About IMBiotechnologies Ltd.IMBiotechnologies Ltd is a privately held Canadian medical device company located in Edmonton, Alberta, focused on the commercialization of medical products in the area of embolotherapy. The company's mission is to create and commercialize innovative products that treat human disease and improve quality of life.For More Information Please Contact:Michael Stewart, President & CEO+1-780-945-6609Email: mstewart@ imbiotechnologies.com Manish Grigo+1-416-569-3292Email: mgrigo@ imbiotechnologies.com Forward Looking Statements:This press release may contain forward-looking statements and predictions. These forward-looking statements, by their nature, necessarily involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated by the forward-looking statements. The Company considers the assumptions on which these forward-looking statements are based to be reasonable at the time they were prepared, but cautions that these assumptions regarding the future events, many of which are beyond the control of the Company, may ultimately prove to be incorrect. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information or future events and except as required by law.SOURCE: IMBIOTECHNOLOGIES LTD
PR-Inside.com: 2024-06-12 15:30:35

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Third judgment against Iran brings total damages to more than $1.5 billion for its alleged involvement in the 1983 bombing.WASHINGTON, D.C. / ACCESSWIRE / June 12, 2024 / The Honorable Carl J. Nichols of the United States District Court for the District of Columbia entered a final judgment, requiring the Islamic Republic of Iran to pay $239 million to 25 military servicemembers and relatives who were injured or killed in the 1983 bombing of the U.S. Marine Barracks in Beirut, Lebanon, carried out by Hezbollah, a terrorist organization, at the direction and with the support of Iran. The Beirut Marine Barracks Bombing, which killed 241 American servicemembers and injured numerous others, was the deadliest state-sponsored terrorist attack against United States citizens before September 11, 2001.This is the third judgment the court has entered in three cases brought by Cohen Milstein and Karsman McKenzie & Hart on behalf of plaintiffs under the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act against Iran for its role in the Beirut Marine Barracks Bombing. In 2018, the same court ordered Iran to pay $920 million in total damages in the first case that was brought in 2014. In total, Cohen Milstein and Karsman McKenzie & Hart have obtained more than $1.5 billion in total judgments for more than 150 U.S. military service members who were killed or injured in the 1983 bombing and their relatives."We have been in litigation against Iran for this horrific terrorist act for well over 10 years. I am grateful to the court in continuing to hold Iran accountable and bringing some semblance of justice to the victims' families and the soldiers who survived," said Robert Braun, a partner at Cohen Milstein overseeing the litigation. "Nothing will bring back the brave men and women lost in the 1983 bombing, but this judgment will bring a measure of relief." The plaintiffs filed this most recent lawsuit, Encinas, et al. v. Islamic Republic of Iran, in 2018, bringing claims under the state-sponsored terrorism exception in the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act, which allows citizens to sue foreign countries sponsoring terrorism."I am pleased to see justice done and Iran held accountable for sponsoring acts of terror. If nothing else, these three Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act judgments are an important testament to the strength of the United States justice system in holding bad foreign actors accountable to the U.S. citizens they harm no matter what soil their feet stand on," Ted Leopold, co-chair of the firm's Complex Tort and Consumer Protection practices.To date, Iran has not participated in these lawsuits, resulting in default judgments. However, the plaintiffs can receive compensatory damages from the United States Victims of State Sponsored Terrorism Fund."While we are grateful to the Court for holding Iran accountable for the horrific act it perpetrated in 1983, we acknowledge that much more work needs to be done to ensure our clients are fully compensated," said R. Paul Hart, a partner at Karsman McKenzie & Hart and co-counsel on the case." The three cases are Relvas, et al. v. Islamic Republic of Iran, et al., filed in 2014, DiBenedetto, et al. v. Islamic Republic of Iran, et al., filed in 2016; and Encinas, et al. v. Islamic Republic of Iran, et al., filed in 2018. Plaintiffs are represented by Robert A. Braun and Theodore J. Leopold of Cohen Milstein Sellers & Toll, and R. Paul Hart and Jeremy McKenzie of Karsman McKenzie & Hart.About Cohen Milstein Sellers & Toll, PLLCCohen 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. For more information, visit https://www.cohenmilstein.com About Karsman McKenzie & HartKarsman McKenzie & Hart is a Savannah, Georgia-based personal injury and trial law firm. The firm has extensive experience handling complex personal injury lawsuits, including mass torts, major industrial accident litigation, and product liability claims. For more information, visit https://www.kmtrial.com SOURCE: Cohen Milstein Sellers & Toll PLLC
PR-Inside.com: 2024-06-13 01:00:20

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KANSAS, MI / ACCESSWIRE / June 12, 2024 / Judge Paul Burmaster, the 2nd most senior judge in the Family Division of the 10th Judicial District Court in Johnson County, Kansas, recently shared insights on the most common issues in divorce cases. Since his appointment in July 2019, Judge Burmaster has presided over more than 2000 cases, making him a pivotal figure in Family Court. During the chat, he emphasized how judges consider various factors to ensure children live comfortable lives post-divorce.Discussing parenting time, Judge Burmaster noted that it is one of the most contentious issues in divorce cases. He emphasized that the primary concern is the child's best interest. Judges, Burmaster said, evaluate various factors, including each parent's relationship with the child, their ability to provide a stable home, and their willingness to foster a positive relationship between the child and the other parent. The goal, he noted, is to create a parenting arrangement that supports the child's emotional, mental, and physical well-being.On the topic of child support, Judge Burmaster explained that child support is to ensure the children's financial needs are met after their parents' divorce. He explained that child support calculations are based on multiple complex factors including the parents' incomes and the child's needs at various ages. The intent, Judge Burmaster said, is to maintain the child's standard of living and cover expenses such as education, healthcare, and extracurricular activities. Judges, he noted, strive to ensure that support payments are fair and adequate, reflecting the child's best interests. But, he noted, both parents are often unhappy with the support. Those who receive often think it isn't enough, and those who pay often believe it is more than they can afford. Unfortunately, both positions may be fair. Divorce and living apart are costly to both parties.Judge Burmaster also addressed the division of marital property, stating that judges aim to divide property equitably, considering each spouse's age, the duration of the marriage, property owned by the parties, and their financial needs post-divorce among other factors. He clarified that equitable distribution does not always mean equal but rather fair, ensuring both parties can maintain a reasonable standard of living.Regarding the division of marital debts, Judge Burmaster emphasized that judges look at multiple factors including the type of debts, who incurred them and why, and each party's ability to repay as well as tax consequences and the future earning capacity of the parties. The goal is to divide debts in a just manner that does not disproportionately burden one spouse, ensuring both parties can move forward financially.Judge Burmaster also discussed spousal support, formerly known as alimony, which is awarded to ensure that neither spouse faces undue financial hardship after the divorce. He explained that spousal maintenance decisions are based on factors such as the length of the marriage, each spouse's earning capacity, and the parties' needs. The intent is to provide temporary financial support to help the lower-earning spouse become self-sufficient as they transition to a new life.Relocation requests, Judge Burmaster added, can significantly impact parenting time arrangements. He highlighted that judges carefully scrutinize these requests, considering a whole host of factors including the reasons for the move and the potential impact on the child's relationship with both parents and the child's best interests. To assist in this decision, the judge may order an investigation by appointing an attorney for the child (a GAL), ordering a custody evaluation, or appointing a CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate). The objective, Burmaster said, is to balance the relocating parent's needs with the child's need for stability and continued contact with both parents.Throughout the chat, Judge Burmaster emphasized that the overarching priority in divorce cases is first the well-being of the children involved and second the fair, just, and equitable division of assets and debt. By carefully considering parenting time, support, property division, debts, spousal support, and, sometimes, relocation, Judge Paul Burmaster said, judges aim to create a post-divorce environment where children can thrive. The goal, he said, is to minimize the disruption to their lives and ensure they receive the support and care they need.CONTACT:Judge Paul Burmaster https://paulburmaster.com Email: burmaster@ paulburmaster.com SOURCE: Judge Paul Burmaster
PR-Inside.com: 2024-06-12 15:16:15

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Matthew McNerney and Kevin Yarashefski Join the Museum Design Firm in C-Suite-Level Positions as Part of Key Growth StrategyCHICAGO, IL / ACCESSWIRE / June 12, 2024 / Award-winning museum design firm Luci Creative (Luci) announces the expansion of its C-suite executive team. Joining the firm are Matthew McNerney as chief creative officer and Kevin Yarashefski as chief operating officer. The new leaders join during a rapid growth period for Luci Creative, as measured by its increasing roster of projects, clients, and studio locations. Both McNerney and Yarashefski report directly to CEO AJ Goehle.Luci Creative Hires Matthew McNerney and Kevin Yarashefski Award-winning museum design firm Luci Creative (Luci) announces the expansion of its C-suite executive team."Matthew and Kevin's arrival strengthens our ability to deliver exceptional projects," says Goehle. "Their expertise, combined with our steadfast commitment to client visions, will unlock our full creative potential and propel us to new heights in creative and operational excellence." McNerney brings more than two decades of creative innovation and leadership in the experience design industry to his chief creative officer role. He joins Luci Creative from Landor, an international brand consulting firm, where he served as the executive creative director of experience for North America. His previous client list includes notable global institutions, including the William J. Clinton Presidential Library, The Cleveland Museum of Art, the Russian Jewish Museum and Tolerance Center in Moscow, and the Tenement Museum in New York City. At Luci Creative, he will guide the firm's creative vision and strategy and lead the creative team to produce the highest level of museum and experience design across all projects. He will also support business development, market expansion, and thought leadership for the firm."Matthew's visionary talent, insatiable curiosity, and global experience uniquely position him to redefine experience design for 21st-century visitors," says Goehle. "He has a discerning eye for every aspect of experiential storytelling and an unwavering drive to push boundaries." "I'm thrilled to return to the museum world. In an industry dominated by traditional firms," McNerney says, "Luci is refreshingly distinct: inspired, woman-owned, diverse. We really listen to our clients; that focus on understanding and collaboration is what sets us apart. It's a place where every voice matters and creativity thrives. I am honored to be part of a team that is impassioned to not just design exhibits - we're fearlessly working to redefine the future of museums." Yarashefski joins Luci Creative with over 25 years of experience across creative brand management, human resources, client services, and project management at firms such as Whirlpool, customer experience agency RAPP, and VSA Partners. As chief operating officer, he will have executive oversight of Luci's studios and teams nationwide, including financial management, process development, and human resources protocols designed to support high-functioning teams. One of his primary goals will be establishing an operationally efficient foundation to accelerate future growth."Finding a leader who champions both operational excellence and a thriving creative team was key. Kevin's approach aligns perfectly with our studio's values. He prioritizes business success while fostering a people-centered environment," says Goehle."I was captivated by this unique company and industry and felt an immediate connection with the leadership team and the organization's mission," says Yarashefski. "I'm excited to dive in and use my experience to build on the firm's already amazing success." Luci Creative's growth has continued at a steady pace for the past six years. In 2018, Luci Creative opened its second studio in Boston, followed by its third studio in Seattle in 2023. Also in 2023, Crain's Chicago Business named Luci Creative one of the Biggest Women-Owned Businesses in Chicago. The award-winning design firm is currently working with major institutions including the Adams Presidential Center, Holocaust Museum Boston, Holocaust Museum for Hope & Humanity, National Music Museum, the California Science Center, Italian American Museum, Wenatchee Valley Museum & Cultural Center, and more.ABOUT LUCI CREATIVE:Luci Creative is a world-class museum design firm that ignites discovery, fosters connection, and motivates change. Over the past decade and across more than 90 projects, we have built a reputation as both a thought leader and a thought partner for a remarkably diverse set of clients. The firm is headquartered in Chicago, with offices in Boston and Seattle, and a team of over 50 employees. We work with cultural, civic, and brand clients to create powerful imprint moments: memorable, meaningful, and transformational visitor experiences. From master planning and design to fabrication and installation, our team brings your stories to life. We make it real.Learn more about Luci Creative at lucicreative.com Contact InformationRachel StrackMarketing Managerrachel@ lucicreative.com 224.233.0734SOURCE: Luci CreativeView the original press release on newswire.com
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NEUSS, GERMANY / ACCESSWIRE / June 12, 2024 / Brand piracy and the proliferation of counterfeits present significant challenges globally, with annual sales reaching nearly a quarter of a trillion euros according to United Nations estimates. Online platforms have facilitated easier access to counterfeit goods, impacting industries worldwide. In Germany, significant strides are being made in the fight against this illicit trade.Robert Meyen, an intellectual property lawyer and partner at Marken Medien Meyen, has focused extensively on combating product piracy and counterfeits. With specialized expertise and tailored anti-counterfeiting strategies, Meyen has successfully protected numerous companies frombrand piracy in Germany .Product piracy affects various sectors, from software and clothing to life-saving medicines and critical automobile or aircraft components. These counterfeit goods pose substantial risks to consumer safety and company revenues. A proactive approach is essential to addressing this issue.Meyen's comprehensive anti-counterfeiting strategy includes pursuing border seizures of suspect goods attempting to enter Germany and the EU. Applications are filed with customs authorities to monitor imports closely. Upon detection, suspect shipments are seized, and swift civil actions are initiated, including demands for destruction, injunctions against importers, claims for damages, and criminal complaints where necessary.Meyen's firm utilizes multiple legal avenues to address counterfeiters, aiming to make the importation of counterfeit goods into Germany a high-risk activity. This systematic approach aims to impose significant costs and consequences, deterring criminal operations.Expertise in different types ofcounterfeits , including exact duplications, similar brand spoofs, and classic counterfeits using legitimate brand names but inferior ingredients or manufacture, enables Meyen's firm to act decisively at the first sign of infringement. Emergency measures, such as sending warnings within hours and obtaining same-day injunctions, are employed to combat counterfeits promptly.In a recent case, Meyen's firm discovered and addressed counterfeiting of a major international fashion label's new seasonal line before the originals reached stores. Immediate action protected the company's critical sales period through border seizures and distribution injunctions.Criminal prosecution provides another powerful tool, with intentional trademark violations punishable by up to five years in prison. Criminal cases often reveal key evidence and intelligence about counterfeit networks, which can be leveraged in civil actions.International cooperation is vital in the fight against brand piracy . Meyen's firm collaborates with a global network of correspondent lawyers to combat brand piracy across borders. Coordinated legal action in multiple countries simultaneously enhances the effectiveness of anti-counterfeiting efforts.Marken Medien Meyen delivers highly attentive, personalized service, tailoring anti-counterfeiting solutions based on a careful analysis of each client's specific products and situations. Specialization in intellectual property law, from trademark prosecution to licensing and litigation, ensures a comprehensive, coordinated strategy. The fight against piracy and counterfeiting is crucial for protecting clients' rights, revenues, consumer safety, fair competition, and brand reputations.About Marken Medien MeyenMarken Medien Meyen, based in Neuss, Germany, specializes in all areas of intellectual property law. The firm offers comprehensive services including trademark registration and prosecution, copyright protection, licensing and technology transfer, and litigation for infringement cases. Personalized attention and innovative solutions help clients develop, protect, and leverage their valuable intellectual assets. Learn more atMarken Medien Meyen .Media InformationName: Robert Meyen Company: Marken Medien Meyen Email: kanzlei@ marken.legal Country: Germany Address: Breite Strae 22, 41460 NeussSOURCE: Marken Medien Meyen
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The total for the 2024/2025 academic year represents a new record of scholarships awarded to residents in The Michaels Organization's affordable and military housing communitiesCAMDEN, NJ / ACCESSWIRE / June 12, 2024 /The Michaels Organization Educational Foundation, a non-profit affiliate of The Michaels Organization, has awarded $2,135,500 in scholarships for the 2024/2025 academic school year to 261 residents living in affordable and military living communities owned or managed by The Michaels Organization.California Michaels Scholar A multi-year recipient of a college scholarship from the Educational Foundation was recognized at a ceremony at Michaels' affordable housing community in Los Angeles, California.This year's $2M+ donation sets a record-high for the program, which, in total, has now awarded more than $16 million to thousands of residents across Michaels' portfolio since the foundation was established in 1991."Providing our residents with the opportunity to further their education is a true testament to our mission of Lifting Lives," said John J. O'Donnell, Chief Executive Officer of The Michaels Organization. "It's an honor to continue this program year after year and to continuously strive for a better future for our residents." The Michaels Organization Educational Foundation provides grants to residents to use toward their pursuit of higher education at any accredited college, university, or vocational training program in the nation. Scholarships are awarded annually and students may reapply each year of their undergraduate education for continuing grants.The 2024 scholarship recipients represent an extraordinary group of students with a wide variety of interests and backgrounds.Among this year's scholars is Virginia, a first-time awardee from Savoy Square in Chicago. Virginia plans to use her award to work toward her associate degree in information technology and then a bachelor's in computer science from Malcolm X College. Inspired by her son Laquan - a previous two-time Michaels scholarship recipient who graduated in May, Virginia made the decision to revisit her education and return to school after previously withdrawing from high school as a teenager.Returning scholars include sisters Alianah and Katelynn from Frontier Heritage Communities at Fort Leavenworth, KS, who are studying business analytics at the University of Kansas and nursing at Bradley University, respectively.All foundation funds are raised through voluntary contributions by corporations, companies, families, private trusts, and individuals throughout The Michaels Organization's business network. All donations are then matched $2 for every $1 by The Michaels Organization's Founder and Chairman, Michael J. Levitt, and his wife, Pat Levitt.A separate program, designed specifically for residents of Michaels' student living communities, will open for applications later this year.About The Michaels Educational FoundationThe Michaels Educational Foundation is a non-profit affiliate of The Michaels Organization, established to administer scholarships to Michaels residents. The scholarship program was the first of its kind in the affordable housing industry when it was created and since its inception, the program has expanded to include residents of Michaels' military and student living communities and is monumental to The Michaels Organization's mission of Creating Communities that Lift Lives.About The Michaels OrganizationMichaels is a national leader in residential real estate that has been pioneering solutions to the nation's housing challenges for more than 50 years. Offering full-service capabilities in design, development, property management, construction, and investment management, Michaels' expertise spans across housing markets, including affordable, attainable/workforce, student/market, and privatized Military housing. Serving 200,000 residents in more than 600 communities across 39 states, the District of Columbia, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, Michaels is committed to crafting attainable housing solutions that jumpstart education, civic engagement and neighborhood prosperity, and to creating Communities That Lift Lives. Visit TMO.com our Media Room, and follow us on LinkedIn.Contact InformationLaura ZanerVice President, Michaels Corporate Marketinglzaner@ tmo.com 856-988-5983; 856-630-1540SOURCE: The Michaels OrganizationView the original press release on newswire.com
PR-Inside.com: 2024-06-12 15:01:07

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Partnering with Over 15 Lenders, MrBizCap Delivers Tailored Financial Solutions.BERLIN, CT / ACCESSWIRE / June 12, 2024 / MrBizCap, a leading innovator in business financing, is proud to announce its latest suite of funding solutions designed to empower small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) across the United States. With a commitment to providing fast, flexible, and reliable financial support, MrBizCap is transforming how businesses access the capital they need to grow and thrive in today's competitive market. MrBizCap is partnered with over 15 different lenders to guarantee that your business receives the best funding offers available in the market.MrBizCap logo Our logo Fast and Hassle-Free Application ProcessOne of the key differentiators of MrBizCap is its streamlined application process. Business owners can apply for funding online in just a few minutes, with minimal documentation required. This user-friendly approach eliminates the traditional hurdles associated with securing business financing, such as lengthy paperwork and prolonged waiting periods.Approval and Funding in 24 HoursMrBizCap prides itself on its ability to deliver quick funding decisions. Once an application is submitted, the company's advanced underwriting system evaluates the request and provides an approval decision within hours. Approved applicants can receive their funds in as little as 24 hours, enabling them to address immediate financial needs and capitalize on growth opportunities without delay.Flexible Repayment OptionsUnderstanding that cash flow can fluctuate, MrBizCap offers flexible repayment options that are designed to align with the financial realities of running a business. Clients can choose repayment terms that suit their cash flow patterns, helping to ensure that their financial obligations are manageable and sustainable.Expansive Lender NetworkThis extensive network of lenders allows MrBizCap to provide customized financing solutions tailored to the specific needs of each business, ensuring optimal support for their growth and success. By leveraging these strong relationships, MrBizCap can offer competitive rates and terms, making it easier for businesses to access the capital they need.Client Testimonials and Success StoriesMrBizCap's impact on the business community is best illustrated through the success stories of its clients. From expanding operations to launching new product lines, businesses that have partnered with MrBizCap have achieved remarkable milestones thanks to the accessible and reliable funding solutions provided.Commitment to Excellence and TransparencyMrBizCap is built on a foundation of integrity, transparency, and excellence. The company is committed to maintaining the highest standards in all its operations, ensuring that clients receive honest and straightforward information about their funding options. This commitment has earned Mrbizcap a reputation as a dependable and trustworthy financing partner.About MrBizCapMrBizCap is a premier provider of business financing solutions, dedicated to helping small and medium-sized enterprises succeed. With a wide range of funding options, a fast and easy application process, and a commitment to exceptional customer service, MrBizCap empowers businesses to achieve their goals and drive economic growth. For more information about MrBizCap and its funding solutions, visit www.mrbizcap.com Contact InformationMR BizcapFunding Teamunderwriting@ mrbizcap.com 2034041106SOURCE: MrBizCapView the original press release on newswire.com
PR-Inside.com: 2024-06-12 16:15:23

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Neudesic Triumphs with Four Gold and Silver Stevie Awards for Marketing Excellence and Its Use of Artificial IntelligenceLOS ANGELES, CA/ ACCESSWIRE / June 12, 2024 / Neudesic, an IBM company and global technology services firm, is proud to announce its outstanding achievements at the prestigious American Business Awards (ABA). Competing against 12,000 annual applicants, Neudesic's marketing team secured two Gold and two Silver Stevie Awards, highlighting the company's strategic vision, innovative use of AI, and commitment to excellence.Neudesic's "All-in" Approach on AINeudesic, which refreshed its brand in early 2024, is renowned for its AI, custom application development, and data analytics services, assisting companies, government, and non-profits to modernize and excel in today's digital landscape. This reputation is further solidified by being a two-time recipient of Microsoft's AI Partner of the Year.Neudesic's marketing team showcased the company's expertise by leveraging Azure OpenAI not only to refresh its brand and document guidelines but also to enhance its internal operations. By integrating AI into their own brand refresh and operational processes, Neudesic demonstrates the same level of AI creativity, expertise, and experience that their consultants bring to client engagements. This commitment demonstrates AI's continued pervasiveness into non-data scientist and technical roles to include sales, marketing, HR, and finance, driving innovation across these areas."Neudesic's AI-first' strategy is deeply embedded in our company culture and mindset," said Tyler Suss, VP of Marketing and ABA's Marketing Executive of the Year. "When we had the chance to develop and launch a new brand, we knew AI would be an integral part of the process and the final product, reinforcing our belief in the transformative power of AI and our ability to help clients go forward, confidently.'" 2024 American Business Awards HighlightsIn the program's 22nd year, more than 1,000 professionals worldwide participated in the Stevie Award judging process. The judging panel included many of the world's most respected executives, entrepreneurs, innovators, and business educators. Neudesic received recognition in the following categories:Gold: Achievement in the Use of AI for Marketing Gold: Marketing Executive of the Year: VP, Tyler Suss Silver: Brand Renovation of the Year: Go Forward, Confidently Silver: Marketing Team of the Year: Neudesic The Power of AI in MarketingNeudesic's pioneering use of AI tools, powered in part by Azure OpenAI models, for their website redesign, image generation, content creation, and personalized communications showcased the transformative potential of these technologies."The goal was to push the limits of AI and eliminate the time-consuming and labor-intensive aspects of traditional design, facilitating rapid iterations and faster delivery," said Suss. "AI has changed the way we approach common marketing challenges, related to scale and speed." This was a large undertaking, as Neudesic needed imagery for its new brand design system that could serve diverse representations across industries, people, and technology concepts. Other use cases, such as creating custom Generative Pre-trained Transformers (GPT), helped scale content operations and custom communications.By leveraging Generative AI, Neudesic scaled its design and content operations, increasing design output by a factor of 12 and reducing content production costs by nearly 57%. The approach not only enhanced the team's ability to deliver a brand refresh in less than six months but ensured a high degree of consistency across the website, which is crucial for creating a seamless user experience and reinforcing brand recognition.Strategic Vision and Future-Focused ApproachLooking ahead, Neudesic's success and use of AI align with broader industry trends. According to IBM's Institute for Business Value (IBV), 75% of CMOs anticipate their organizations will embrace generative AI for content creation by next year. Neudesic's early adoption and successful implementation of these technologies set a new standard in the industry, showcasing the future of marketing."Neudesic's early successes, vision, and focus on AI were key factors in our decision to acquire the firm," said Roger Hasson, Managing Partner and General Manager at IBM Consulting. "ABA's recognition shows that AI is truly part of Neudesic's identity, which is exactly what clients need to innovate with their partners." About NeudesicNeudesic, an IBM Company, is a global professional services firm dedicated to advancing businesses with Microsoft technology expertise. We excel where people, technology, and business intersect, focusing on turning challenges into opportunities. Our role is to guide clients from identifying their core challenges to implementing tailored business solutions, setting them up for sustained success. Founded in 2002, Neudesic is a wholly owned subsidiary of IBM and headquartered in Irvine, California. For more information, or to consult with Neudesic to explore enterprise digital evolution, visit www.neudesic.com Media Contact:Jordan Lampe jordan.lampe@neudesic.com Contact InformationJordan LampeDirector, Content Marketingjordan.lampe@neudesic.com (800) 805-1805SOURCE: Neudesic, an IBM CompanyView the original press release on newswire.com
PR-Inside.com: 2024-06-12 22:04:07

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BOCA RATON, FL / ACCESSWIRE / June 12, 2024 / The launch of a new firm,Joseph Abdin Law , has been announced by attorney Joseph Abdin. The official announcement came on May 3, 2023. The new firm includes a co-counsel group of attorneys dedicated to each client. Joseph Abdin Law focuses on personal injury cases, striving to get each client their rightful compensation.Joseph Abdin Law was founded by Joseph Abdin, an attorney and Florida Supreme Court Certified Circuit Mediator. Individuals and families that have suffered injuries through other people's negligence can now set their fears aside with Joseph Abdin Law advocating on their behalf. With a track record of success, Joseph Abdin has gained extensive experience from working at two of the largest and most prominent personal injury firms and has assisted numerous members of his community in obtaining the restitution they rightfully deserve.As a first-generation Arab-American, Abdin chose to become an attorney because of the dedication shown by his father. After immigrating as a law student in the middle east, his father dreamed of opening a law firm and helping clients. Unfortunately, this dream was cut short in his pursuit for a better life for him and his family. Abdin made it his goal to accomplish this dream. To do this, he had to overcome many challenges to become a first generation attorney. Still, he wouldn't give up.Abdin attended Florida International University's Honor College on a full academic scholarship and graduated early with a double major in international business and business management. His exceptional performance earned him a scholarship to attend the Florida State College of Law, where he received two book awards and graduated early after passing the Bar exam. His strong academic track record enabled him to pursue a law degree while simultaneously serving as in-house counsel for NextEra Energy, Inc., a Fortune 200 company. Additionally, he played a pivotal role at the Florida Supreme Court, contributing to the establishment of the new Fellows Program at the state's highest court.Joseph Abdin Law was born out of Abdin's desire to carry on his father's dream of becoming an attorney. Having migrated to the United States from the Middle East, Abdin pursued a career as a personal injury attorney to fight for everyday people who need help navigating the complex legal landscape of personal injury. As a result, Abdin has worked on cases where difficulties with insurance companies were abundant and has settled and resolved hundreds of cases as a result.In a world where rules and regulations can complicate insurance claims, Joseph Abdin Law will fight on your behalf for the maximum available compensation. With a deep understanding of the physical, emotional, and financial toll that injuries can impose, Joseph Abdin Law strives to fight for the comprehensive support and guidance that his clients need in order to rebuild their lives.Joseph Abdin Law will also co-counsel with dedicated attorneys working to ensure your case is handled only by the best, giving you access to a network of attorneys when you need them.With a wide array of experience in personal injury, Joseph Abdin Law understands that the injuries their clients sustain can be life-changing. With a focus on empathy and a deep commitment to understanding clients' needs, Joseph Abdin Law seeks to take the complication out of maneuvering the challenging landscape of handling medical and insurance providers, thereby creating an environment where you not only feel comfortable but are heard as well.If you need help with your personal injury case, look no further thanJoseph Abdin Law . Backed by a track record of successful case outcomes, Joseph Abdin Law prioritizes not only transparent communication and empathy but a complete dedication to securing the maximum income you deserve. With Joseph Abdin Law, you can expect excellent, effective legal strategies, as well as the assurance you need during challenging times.Media Contact:Website: https://lawbni.com/personal-injury-lawyer/joseph-abdin/ Company Name: Joseph Abdin LawEmail:Joseph@ lawbni.comDirect/Text: 305-792-8530Office: 561-417-5656SOURCE: Joseph Abdin Law
PR-Inside.com: 2024-06-12 16:03:12

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BRATISLAVA, SLOVAKIA / ACCESSWIRE / June 12, 2024 / In a groundbreaking development, REMD has announced the launch of its tokenization project, Highlands Resort, on the Rull Estate platform. The token sale is scheduled to commence on June 14th, 2024, at 5 PM UTC. This initiative marks a significant breakthrough in sustainable luxury living in the scenic Krkonose Mountains, often called the Aspen of the Czech Republic.This prime real estate project emphasizes eco-friendly construction methods, ensuring no waste or pollution during the building process. REMD's commitment to environmental responsibility is reflected in this initiative, which aligns high-quality living standards with sustainability. Enthusiasts holding tokens for Highlands Resort will gain priority rights to purchase apartments within the project. Upon purchasing, they will be registered as owners in the land registry.Martin Keszocze, CEO of REMD, expressed his excitement about the partnership with Rull Estate. "We are thrilled to partner with Rull Estate on the Highlands Resort tokenization. This project harnesses blockchain technology to enhance transparency and security for our investors, emphasizing our commitment to sustainability and offering a prime investment opportunity in the Czech Republic's stunning Krkonose Mountains," stated Keszocze.Token holders can expect a profitability rate of 6% per annum, with payouts distributed yearly. The tokenized tranche, valued at EUR 1,000,000, positions investors within a lucrative market segment focused on mass retail residential and time-sharing real estate.Additionally, REMD offers a 5,000 EUR discount on apartment purchases for all token holders with at least 50,000 EUR investments, enhancing the value proposition for potential investors.Furthermore, REMD is offering an exceptional incentive. All investors in the Highlands Resort tokenization are eligible for a share of a 50% airdrop allocation of the upcoming Rull Estate token, which will significantly increase their potential returns on investment.Register to participate: https://rull.estate/auth/register?utm_source=Register+Page&utm_medium=Press+release&utm_campaign=REMD+launch+press+release Enthusiasts and investors are invited to participate in this venture on the Rull Estate platform. The tokenization of Highlands Resort by REMD will officially open on June 14th, 2024, at 5 PM UTC at: https://rull.estate/detail/c32b7db6-f0d9-4ee5-92c5-880b830afe38?utm_source=REMD+Tokenization+Page++&utm_medium=Press+release&utm_campaign=REMD+launch+press+release About Rull Estate:Rull Estate is a platform that enables real estate investment using cryptocurrency. It allows users to build a diverse portfolio, receive regular dividends, and operate globally. Investments start at 50  per token, with no upper limit. Rull Estate offers a wallet with hot and cold storage options for added security. Property owners undergo thorough verification before their properties are tokenized.Media ContactOrganization: Rull Estate, a.s.Contact Person: Roman NeczliWebsite: https://rull.estate Email: business@ rull.estate City: BratislavaCountry: SlovakiaSOURCE: Rull Estate, a.s.
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AUSTIN, TX / ACCESSWIRE / June 12, 2024 / SFWJ, doing business as Medcana, a holding company focused in the cannabis and agricultural technology sectors is pleased to announce a new strategic partnership with one of its subsidiaries with a prominent local Colombian company to begin the export of its first crop of CBD buds to Switzerland within the next six months. This collaboration marks a significant milestone in MedCana's expansion into the European market and its commitment to delivering high-quality CBD products internationally.Gabriel Diaz, CEO of MedCana, stated, "We are thrilled to partner with such a reputable local company in Colombia. This partnership not only strengthens our supply chain but also underscores our dedication to bringing premium CBD products to the global market. Switzerland represents a key market for us, and we are excited about the potential growth this collaboration will bring." The partnership will leverage the strengths of both companies to ensure the successful export of CBD buds that meet the stringent quality standards of the Swiss market. This initiative aligns with MedCana's strategic goals of expanding its footprint in Europe and promoting sustainable agricultural practices in Colombia.The local Colombian partner, known for its excellence in cultivation and processing, will play a crucial role in this venture. "This collaboration with MedCana is a testament to our shared vision of producing and delivering the highest quality CBD products," said Diego Flores, Executive Director. "We are eager to begin this journey and look forward to a prosperous partnership." This announcement comes at a time of increasing demand for CBD products in Europe, driven by growing consumer awareness and regulatory advancements. MedCana and its partner are committed to meeting this demand with products that uphold the highest standards of purity and efficacy.About SFWJ/MedCanaSoftware Effective Solutions/MedCana is a holding company focused on developing companies in the agricultural technology and the cannabis industries. As MedCana moves forward with its expansion plans, the Company remains committed to delivering on its promise of building a solid foundation for future growth of its holdings.For more information, please visit: www.MedCana.net Or connect with us via: MedCana | LinkedInFacebook/MedCanaBioMedCana (@MedCanaBio)/ X (Twitter)SAFE HARBOR STATEMENT This press release contains forward-looking statements that can be identified by terminology such as "believes," "expects," "potential," "plans," "suggests," "may," "should," "could," "intends," or similar expressions. Many forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results to be materially different from any future results implied by such statements. These factors include, but are not limited to, our ability to continue to enhance our products and systems to address industry changes, our ability to expand our customer base and retain existing customers, our ability to effectively compete in our market segment, the lack of public information on our company, our ability to raise sufficient capital to fund our business, operations, our ability to continue as a going concern, and a limited public market for our common stock, among other risks. Many factors are difficult to predict accurately and are generally beyond the company's control. Forward-looking statements speak only as to the date they are made, and we do not undertake to update forward-looking statements to reflect circumstances or events that occur after the date the forward-looking statements are made.Contact:Jose Gabriel Diaz, CEO www.medcana.netinfo@medcana.co Corporate Communications: InvestorBrandNetwork (IBN)Los Angeles, California www.InvestorBrandNetwork.com 310.299.1717 Office Editor@ InvestorBrandNetwork.com SOURCE: Software Effective Solutions
PR-Inside.com: 2024-06-12 21:35:15

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NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / June 12, 2024 / Stupid Cancer, the leading nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering everyone affected by adolescent and young adult (AYA) cancer, is thrilled to announce that CancerCon Live 2024 will take place in Austin, Texas for the first time ever. This landmark event, scheduled for August 15 - 18, 2024 at the Hyatt Regency Austin, promises to bring together hundreds of young adult cancer patients, survivors, caregivers, and advocates from across the country to share their experiences, gain valuable insights/resources, and build lasting connections."We look forward to creating an unforgettable experience that empowers young adults affected by cancer and helps them connect with others who truly understand their journey." says Alison Silberman, CEO of Stupid Cancer.CancerCon Live is the premier annual gathering for the AYA cancer community, offering a unique blend of education, support, and empowerment. This year's event in Austin will feature:Keynote Speakers: Hear from leading voices in the AYA cancer community, including survivors, healthcare professionals, and advocates, sharing their stories and insights on topics ranging from advancements in cancer treatment to survivorship challenges.Workshops and Panels: Participate in interactive sessions on a wide range of topics tailored to the unique needs of AYA cancer patients, survivors, and caregivers, covering mental health, fertility preservation, advocacy, career development, and more.Meet the AYA Community: Dedicated time for attendees to connect with peers, build lasting friendships, and expand their support networks in a supportive and inclusive environment.Exhibit Hall: Explore resources, products, and services from leading organizations committed to supporting the AYA cancer community as well as a few local small businesses.Social Events: Enjoy fun and engaging social activities designed to foster connections and create memorable experiences with some local Austin flavor.Local excursions: Attendees will have the opportunity to explore the city's unique attractions, including Bat Watching under Congress Bridge and unlimited Skee-Ball at Full Circle Bar, to name a few, all while engaging in meaningful activities that support their personal and collective growth."Austin's dynamic and inclusive culture aligns perfectly with our mission to build a strong, supportive community for AYA cancer patients and survivors. We look forward to welcoming everyone to what promises to be our most impactful CancerCon yet," says Eddie Mouradian, Director of Development.For over a decade, Stupid Cancer has brought together hundreds of patients, survivors, caregivers, advocates, and health professionals at the largest gathering of the AYA community - CancerCon(R). Now gathering both online and off, every CancerCon event is an immersive experience, led by transformative connection and education. The majority of conference attendees are AYA (age 15-39) cancer patients and survivors, but caregivers and health professionals of all ages are also welcome. CancerCon Live is hosted in a different US city each year as we seek to make the event always be within reach of our community at all times.Registration for CancerCon Live 2024 is now open. To register or learn more about the event, please visit cancercon.org About Stupid CancerStupid Cancer's mission is to help empower everyone affected by adolescent and young adult cancer by ending isolation and building community. Through innovative programming and strategic communications, the organization aims to provide support, resources, education, and a sense of community both online and in-person. For more information, please visit stupidcancer.org For media inquires, contact: media@ stupidcancer.org About Stupid Cancer:Stupid Cancer's mission is to help empower everyone in the adolescent and young adult (AYA) community by ending isolation and building community.Contact Details:Alison Silberman+1 646-868-0087media@ stupidcancer.org Company WebsiteSOURCE: Stupid Cancer
PR-Inside.com: 2024-06-12 14:12:28

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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: 2024-06-12 11:20:19

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DENVER, CO / ACCESSWIRE / June 12, 2024 / TheIndustrial Select Sector SPDR Fund(XLI) offers an investment opportunity within the dynamics of the industrial sector. XLI follows an index of industrial sector stocks within the S&P 500, weighted by modified market capitalization. With assets under management exceeding $18 billion, it boasts a low annual expense ratio of 0.09%*, offering an efficient and accessible route to the industrial sector.The top 10 holdings & weightings** for XLI:Starting with GE Aerospace at 4.75%, followed by Caterpillar at 4.55%, RTX Corporation at 3.78%, Union Pacific at 3.75%, Honeywell International at 3.52%, Eaton at 3.51%, Uber Technologies at 3.51%, Boeing at 2.69%, Lockheed Martin at 2.67%, and Automatic Data Processing at 2.66%.XLI ETF Industry and Sector OverviewThe variety of related industries are represented in the burgeoning industrial sector.Aerospace & Defense: The XLI ETF includes prominent companies within the aerospace and defense sector, positioning investors to have access to companies in this industry.Electrical Equipment Manufacturers: The fund's holdings feature leading electrical equipment manufacturers with their technological advancements and innovations within this sector.Construction & Engineering Firms: XLI provides exposure to renowned construction and engineering firms, allowing investors to tap into the ongoing infrastructure development and urbanization trends.Industrial Machinery Companies: The ETF also encompasses key players in the industrial machinery segment, enabling investors to participate in the machinery and equipment manufacturing landscape.Building Products: XLI encompasses a diverse range of building product companies, offering exposure to the construction and real estate market dynamics.As the industrial landscape continues to evolve, XLI emerges as a compelling choice for investors seeking exposure to the dynamic industrial sector.DISCLAIMER: This is a work of research and should not be taken as investment or financial advice. Therefore, Select Sector SPDRs or the publisher is not liable for any decision made based on the publication.About the Company:Select Sector SPDR ETFsoffer flexibility and customization opportunities. Many investors have similar outlooks, but no two are exactly alike. Select Sector SPDR ETFs let investors select the sectors that best meet their investment goals.*Ordinary brokerage fees apply**Holdings, Weightings & Assets as of 5/31/24 subject to changeDISCLOSURESThe S&P 500 Index is an unmanaged index of 500 common stocks that is generally considered representative of the U.S. stock market. The index is heavily weighted toward stocks with large market capitalizations and represents approximately two-thirds of the total market value of all domestic common stocks. The S&P 500 Index figures do not reflect any fees, expenses or taxes. An investor should consider investment objectives, risks, fees and expenses before investing.One may not invest directly in an index.Transparent ETFs provide daily disclosure of portfolio holdings and weightingsAll ETFs are subject to risk, including loss of principal. Sector ETF products are also subject to sector risk and non-diversification risk, which generally will result in greater price fluctuations than the overall market. Diversification does not eliminate risk.An investor should consider investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses carefully before investing. To obtain a prospectus, which contains this and other information, call 1-866-SECTOR-ETF (732-8673) or visit www.sectorspdrs.com . Read the prospectus carefully before investing.ALPS Portfolio Solutions Distributor, Inc., a registered broker-dealer, is distributor for the Select Sector SPDR Trust.Media Contact:Company: Select Sector SPDRsContact: Dan Dolan*Address: 1290 Broadway, Suite 1000, Denver, CO 80203Country: United StatesEmail: dan.dolan@sectorspdrs.com Website: https://www.sectorspdrs.com/ *Dan Dolan is a Registered Representative of ALPS Portfolio Solutions Distributor, Inc. ALPS Portfolio Solutions Distributor, Inc., a registered broker-dealer, is the distributor for the Select Sector SPDR Trust.SEL007585 EXP 8/31/24Contact DetailsDan Dolan+1 203-935-8103 dan.dolan@sectorspdrs.com Company WebsiteSOURCE: SELECT SECTOR SPDR
PR-Inside.com: 2024-06-12 01:30:45

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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 Lamb Weston Holdings, Inc. ("Lamb Weston" or "the Company") (NYSE:LW) 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. Lamb Weston is the subject of a report published by the Wall Street Journal on April 4, 2024. According to the Journal, "The company lowered its full-year forecast for sales to between $6.54 billion and $6.6 billion, and for adjusted earnings per share to a range of $5.50 and $5.65. Those numbers were down from prior guidance of sales between $6.8 billion and $7 billion and adjusted EPS to between $5.70 and $6.15. The report adds, "Chief Executive Tom Werner attributed the reduced guidance to soft near-term restaurant traffic trends and a transition to a new enterprise resource planning system in North America that has hurt its financial results more than expected." Based on this news, shares of Lamb Weston fell by more than 17.7% in morning trading on the same day.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 Schall Law Firm represents investors around the world and specializes in securities class action lawsuits and shareholder rights litigation.This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions under the applicable law and rules of ethics.CONTACT: The Schall Law FirmBrian Schall, Esq.310-301-3335 info@ schallfirm.comwww.schallfirm.com SOURCE: The Schall Law Firm
PR-Inside.com: 2024-06-12 16:01:55

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NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / June 12, 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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NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / June 12, 2024 /Wolf Haldenstein Adler Freeman & Herz LLP ("Wolf Haldenstein"), a preeminent national shareholder rights litigation firm, announces that it is investigating claims on behalf of investors in Axos Financial, Inc. (NYSE:AX) ("Axos" or "the Company").The focus of the investigation is to whether the Company issued false and/or misleading statements and/or did not disclose information pertinent to investors.PLEASE CLICK HERE TO PROVIDE YOUR CONTACT INFORMATIONOn June 4, 2024, before the market opened, Hindenburg Research issued a report entitled "Axos: Glaring Commercial Real Estate Loan Problems and Lax Underwriting Beneath this Priced-For-Perfection Bank". In this report, Hindenburg stated that its "research, including industry analysis, interviews with 21 former employees, lease agents and industry experts, combined with an examination of Axos' loan book derived through local property records, indicates a company exposed to the riskiest asset classes with lax underwriting standards and a loan book filled with multiple glaring problems." On this news, Axos Financial's stock fell $2.21 per share, or 4.2%, to close at $50.25 per share on June 4, 2024.Wolf Haldenstein has experience in the prosecution of securities class actions and derivative litigation in state and federal trial and appellate courts across the country. The firm has attorneys in various practice areas, and offices in New York, Chicago, Nashville, and San Diego. The reputation and expertise of this firm in shareholder and other class litigation has been repeatedly lauded by the courts, which have appointed it to major positions in complex securities, multi-district and consolidated litigation.If you wish to discuss this action or have any questions regarding your rights and interests in this case, please immediately contact Wolf Haldenstein by telephone at (800) 575-0735 or via e-mail at classmember@ whafh.com Contact:Wolf Haldenstein Adler Freeman & Herz LLPGregory Stone, Director of Case and Financial AnalysisEmail: gstone@ whafh.com or classmember@ whafh.com Tel: (800) 575-0735 or (212) 545-4774This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions under the applicable law and ethical rules.SOURCE: Wolf Haldenstein Adler Freeman & Herz LLP
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OXNARD, CA and NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / June 10, 2024 / Zeno Media, a leading global radio streaming and adtech provider is proud to announce its exclusive partnership with Lazer Media, a certified minority-owned company and a trailblazer in radio broadcasting, proudly operating 47 radio stations across 20 of the fastest-growing US Hispanic markets.This strategic collaboration marks a significant milestone in both companies' efforts to enhance content distribution and audience engagement within the US Hispanic media landscape. By leveraging Zeno Media's advanced streaming technology and robust adtech capabilities, Lazer Media aims to enhance the delivery of high-quality content to an even greater audience in the US and worldwide, while maximizing revenue opportunities.As part of the partnership, Zeno Media will provide Lazer Media with a comprehensive suite of streaming solutions to power its digital audio strategy. This includes live and archived content available through Lazer Media properties, Zeno.FM , Zenoradio, and a soon-to-be-launched Lazer mobile app. Additionally, Lazer Media will leverage Zeno Media's innovative ad insertion technology to optimize advertising placement and monetization strategies, ensuring a seamless and engaging listening experience for audiences while driving revenue growth."We are thrilled to partner with Lazer Media as their exclusive streaming and adTech provider," said Morris Berger, CEO of Zeno Media. "Our mission has always been to promote multicultural audio through our platforms and Lazer is an important piece of that landscape. Together, we will unlock new opportunities for audience engagement and revenue generation, in the US and worldwide, strengthening the reach and impact of Hispanic media." Alfredo Plascencia, owner of Lazer Media, expressed his enthusiasm for the partnership, stating, "For more than 30 years we have had an unwavering commitment to serve our community. Now we can introduce our formats to new markets throughout the West Coast and beyond, entertaining our listeners, and deliver the best potential Hispanic consumer while engaging with the community." For more information about Zeno Media, please visitzenomedia.com For more information about Lazer Media, please visitlazermedia.com About Zeno Media: Zeno Media was founded in 2012 with a mission to connect diaspora communities with their favorite audio content.Zeno Media is a trusted global audio partner servicing partners in 100+ countries. From Owned and Operated streaming & podcasting, and monetization and distribution, Zeno Media partners with audio companies of all sizes to provide solutions to achieve their goals.About Lazer Media: Lazer Media is a prominent media production and distribution company specializing in delivering premium content to Hispanic audiences across California and Nevada. With a network of 47 radio stations in 20 markets, Lazer Media is committed to providing high-quality programming that resonates with local communities while maximizing revenue opportunities for content creators and advertisers.Media Contact:Zeno MediaNikols Latuffnikols@ zenomedia.com Lazer MediaChip Ehrhardtchip@ lazermedia.com SOURCE: Zeno Media
The Nigerian government on Tuesday expressed its readiness to host the Africa Energy Bank (AEB).

The bid exercise took place at a dinner for the heads of mission of the envoys of members of the Africa Petroleum Producers Organisation (APPO) in Abuja on Tuesday.

Hosting the bank in Nigeria, according to the government, will ensure proximity to key energy technocrats and experts, which is essential for formulating and implementing effective solutions to Africas energy challenges.

The government said the headquarters of the African Energy Bank in Abuja, Nigeria, aligns perfectly with the countrys strategic position as a leading energy producer while noting that location will leverage Nigerias significant oil and gas reserve, human capital, financial infrastructure and access to decision-makers for urgent actions needed to address Africas energy access crisis.

Speaking at the dinner, President Bola Tinubu said Tonight, we stand on the precipice of a transformative opportunity, one that holds immense promise not only for Nigeria but for the entire African continent.

Mr Tinubu, represented by the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Heineken Lokpobiri, explained that establishing the AEB represents a bold and strategic move towards ensuring energy security, fostering economic growth, and promoting sustainable development across Africa.

Mr Lokpobiri noted that the banks share capital, put at $5 billion, is expected to be subscribed over three years with an initial capital of $ 1.5 billion reserved for APPO member countries. AfreximBank has been supporting APPO to establish the bank and has approved an investment of $1.75 billion for the bank.

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Nigerias bid to host the headquarters of this pivotal institution is a testament to our unwavering commitment to these goals. Over the past months, the Ministry of Petroleum Resources has worked tirelessly to prepare for this moment.

We have achieved significant milestones, including a comprehensive assessment by the APPO Afrexim-Bank Inspection Team. Their positive evaluation underscores Nigerias readiness and capability to host the AEB.

However, the journey doesnt end here. To secure the hosting rights, we need the collective support of all APPO member countries. Our competitors have intensified their efforts by appointing special envoys to lobby for their bids. In response, we are appealing to each of you to recognize the advantages of situating the AEB headquarters in Nigeria, he said.

He added that Nigeria offers a strategic geographical location, robust infrastructure, and a dynamic energy sector.

Our nation is committed to fostering a collaborative environment that will enable the AEB to thrive and achieve its mandate effectively. We are also calling on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to campaign vigorously through its missions in APPO member countries. Your support in this endeavor is crucial to our success.

We appeal to you (ambassadors) to please support Nigeria to host the headquarters of the African energy bank. In addition to my communication to my counterparts of ministers from different countries of APPO, we decided that you who are in Abuja here, we should engage you so you can help us deliver a message to your home countries.

Please deliver to them. The President, the commander in chief of the army forces of Nigeria, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is committed to having the headquarters of APPO in Abuja. Please give us this indulgence of hosting this one important Africa energy bank, he said.

Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Nicholas Ella, noted that Nigerias strategic location at the crossroads of West Africa renders Abuja an unrivaled nexus of connectivity and accessibility.

With its extensive network of transportation infrastructure and logistical capabilities, Mr Ella said, Abuja offers a strategic gateway to the entire African continent, providing the Africa Energy Bank with unparalleled access to key energy markets, stakeholders, and decision-makers across Africa.

By selecting Abuja as its host city, the Africa Energy Bank can serve as a linchpin of connectivity, fostering collaboration and catalysing progress on a continental scale.

He added that Nigerias rich endowment of oil, gas, and renewable energy resources presents an unparalleled opportunity for the AEB to harness the continents vast energy potential and drive sustainable development.

With proven reserves of over 37 billion barrels of oil and 5 trillion cubic meters of natural gas, Nigeria ranks among the top energy producers in Africa, he said.

Furthermore, he said Nigerias burgeoning renewable energy sector, characterised by abundant solar and wind resources, holds immense promise for powering Africas future.

In his remarks, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Adamu Lamuwa, represented by Nigerias Ambassador to Cuba, Ben Okoye, noted that the gravity of the decision cannot be overstated.

The gravity of this decision cannot be overstated, for it holds the power to shape the trajectory of energy cooperation and development across Africa for generations to come. Allow me to express my deepest gratitude for your unwavering dedication to this noble cause and your steadfast commitment to fostering collaboration and partnership among African nations.

It is through gatherings such as this that we have the opportunity to harness the collective wisdom, experience, and expertise of our diverse nations to confront the formidable energy challenges facing our continent head-on.

As we embark on this transformative journey together, guided by the principles of cooperation, inclusivity, and sustainability, I am filled with unwavering confidence in our collective ability to realise a future of prosperity and progress for all Africans, he said.

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Veteran Yoruba actor Dayo Adewunmi, popularly known as Sule Suebebe, is dead.

He was 68.

The announcement of his passing came from Pastor Ademola Amusan, a well-known cleric based in Ibadan, also recognised as Agbala Gabriel.

Suebebe died on Wednesday morning, Democracy Day, at an undisclosed hospital in Ibadan, Oyo State, where Mr Gabriel had cared for him for months. The cause of his death is unknown.

Sharing the news of Suebebes death on Facebook, Mr Gabriel wrote, Its a pity, Baba Suebebe died at the hospital this morning. May his gentle soul rest in perfect peace.

PREMIUM TIMES reported on 10 July 2023 that the Yoruba actor appealed to Nigerians for forgiveness over his irresponsible lifestyle when he was younger and pleaded for financial help to foot his medical bills.

In a Facebook Live, the ace actor, who was battling health challenges, said, I was just living life recklessly. I engaged in minor activities, and I was making money constantly. However, I didnt have a mentor to warn me about my lifestyle. None of my relatives advised me. So, I saw myself as the Don.

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So, Nigerians, please. Anyone I have wronged, knowingly or unknowingly. Please forgive me. I should prostrate while begging, but my health wont allow me. Please forgive me, especially all the women I have offended. I know I have stepped on toes regarding the issue of women.

To support the actor, Mr Gabriel gifted him a house in 2023, and Nigerians supported him financially.

The Ekiti-based Thespian appeared in more than 100 movies, gaining recognition, particularly for his performances in Suku Suku Bam Bam (2004), Suku Suku Bam Bam 2 (2004), and Ago Kan Oru (2003).

In addition to his acting career, he was an MC and a TV presenter, and he also managed a YouTube channel named Suebebe

TV.

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The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ibrahim Lamuwa, has denied the allegation of sexual harassment levelled against him by Simisola Fajemirokun-Ajayi, a media aide to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar.

Mr Lamuwa denied the allegations of sexual harassment in his reply to Mrs Fajemirokun-Ajayis petition submitted to the Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation (OHCSF).

PREMIUM TIMES reported on Tuesday that the foreign affairs minister, Mr Tugar, forwarded Mrs Fajemirokun-Ajayis petition  authored on her behalf by her team of lawyers from renowned Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Femi Falanas law firm  to the OHCSF for action.

A media platform PRNigeria reported on Wednesday that it obtained a copy of Mr Lamuwas response similarly authored by his legal team led by Audu Anuga, also a SAN. PREMIUM TIMES made futile efforts to get Mr Lamuwas reactions to the allegations through his lawyer Mr Anuga on Tuesday.

The response denied the multiple instances of sexual harassment alleged against him in Mrs Fajemirokun-Ajayis petition.

It also made a counter-accusation, alleging that Mrs Fajemirokun-Ajayis malicious claims against Mr Lamuwa were triggered by his constant rejection of her improper requests about the ministrys finances.

A particular instance, according to him, was when Mrs Fajemirokun-Ajayi, who is unfamiliar with civil service rules and processes, asked for access to policy files and even financial records of high-level ministry activities.

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By no means should the permanent secretary, as chief accounting officer of the ministry, provide such sensitive documents to an aide of the minister, worse via a WhatsApp chat. There are due processes in government, and they must be followed.

We must emphasise that Mrs Fajemirokun-Ajayi is a political appointee, not a civil servant. Thus, finance and policy matters are out of her bounds in this instance, the letter read.

We cannot immediately ascertain if the complainant has responded to this allegation.

He argued that the petition was only shared online to gather public attention and sympathy for her unsubstantiated claims.

Ministers aides petition

PREMIUM TIMES reported that Mrs Fajemirokun-Ajayi alleged in her petition that Mr Lamuwas sexual harassment became so persistent and troubling to the point that she began to be apprehensive about getting raped, raising concerns about her safety in the workplace.

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.

According to her, 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.

One of such incidents, she said, occurred on 7 October 2023 when the permanent secretary inappropriately suggested to her to visit his 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.

But Mr Lamuwa 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, 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 in 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 assured our client that our clients life would never remain the same after the trip, the petition read.

Permanent secretary refutes allegations

But Mr Lamuwa, through his legal team, described the allegation as a malicious misinterpretation of his kind and courteous dispositions.

He denied making sexual advances, suggestive comments or innuendos that requested any form of untoward relationship between himself and Mrs. Fajemirokun-Ajayi.

He said the incident at President Bola Tinubus 4D policy review in 2023, was in a colloquial conversation which involved other participants.

One participant even responded jokingly that when a woman says her baby it could mean either her husband or one of her children, of which he innocuously joked asking How big is the baby?

Mr Lamuwa, in the document, maintained that those conversations were made jokingly and without any sexual undertone.

According to the document, the permanent secretary denied inviting the complaint to his hotel room.

It said, his only communication with Mrs Fajemirokun-Ajayi, which was an overt one, was where he checked on her, as he did to all participants on whether they had been well-lodged in their hotels.

Our client also maintains that it is absurd for Mrs Fajemirokun-Ajayi to claim that he invited her to Hong Kong, given that the conversation they were both having was on how Honk Kong had digitised its work processes as far back as 1999.

Our client wonders how such a conversation became interpreted as an invitation for her to travel alongside himself, knowing full well that she is an aide to the minister. How can she leave the minister to follow the permanent secretary on a vacation? Would that not be the height of delusion for the one requesting and the one heeding the request?

Maintaining his innocence, he said the misconduct he was accused of does not align with the reputation he has built in his 32 years of service in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

He said in his career, he never received a query nor a report against him bordering on harassment, let alone sexual harassment.

Duing this period, our client has served in Hong Kong, Canada, Saudi Arabia, Syria and more recently, Senegal, and there has never been a negative report on his conduct in any of these countries, he added.

Minister writes to OHCSF

PREMIUM TIMES reported that Mr Tuggar, in his cover letter forwarding Mrs Fajemirokun-Ajayis petition to the Office of the Head of Service of the Federation, 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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President Bola Tinubu has vowed to defend democracy, stating that as a direct beneficiary of the struggle, he has a moral obligation to preserve Nigerias democracy.

The President made this statement on Wednesday during a national broadcast to commemorate the nations Democracy Day.

Mr Tinubu, a prominent member of the pro-democracy movement during the military rule in the 90s, said he has a double burden: moral and constitutional.

I stand uniquely placed in this regard. I was among those who took the risk to midwife the birth of our democracy. I am now a direct and obvious beneficiary of the fruits of those historic efforts.

As President of this nation, I am morally and constitutionally bound to preserve this precious form of governance. I vow to do my utmost to protect your rights, freedoms, and liberties as citizens of Nigeria, he said.

Mr Tinubu served as a senator in the short-lived Third Republic and was vocal in challenging Ibrahim Babangidas decision to annul the 12 June presidential election.

Additionally, Mr Tinubu, alongside many politicians and activists, fought against the Sani Abacha junta while in exile in the 90s. He returned to the country after the demise of Mr Abacha.

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He is believed to have played a major role in former President Muhammadu Buharis decision to change Democracy Day from 29 May to 12 June.

Nigerias Democracy Day celebration was held on 29 May before Mr Buhari changed it in 2018 to 12 June in commemoration of the 12 June 1993 presidential election annulled by the military government.

To preserve democracy, Mr Tinubu said he is going to do whatever is necessary to cement democracy as our way of life.

He equally warned that there are those seeking to undermine democracy by taking advantage of challenges.

Although the challenges are steep, and multwillgrateful to lead Nigeria at this moment in her history and at this point in her democratic journey.

I come before you also to declare that our most important work remains before us. The real test has never been whether we would rise to challenge the slings of misfortune and grievous pain of dictatorship.

The real test is whether we shall lower our guards as the shadow of despotism and its evident physical danger fades, President Tinubu said.

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Two female passengers were killed on Tuesday in a road crash at Obenetiti Awkuzu along the Onitsha-Nteje-Awka Expressway in Anambra State.

The incident occurred at about 5:20 a.m.

The spokesperson of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in Anambra State, Margaret Onabe, disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday.

The latest accident occurred nine days after at least three persons were killed in another road accident at Oba-Obosi Junction along Onitsha-Owerri Expressway in the Idemili South Local Government Area of the state.

About seven passengers were injured in the road crash, involving six vehicles.

How the latest accident happened

Ms Onabe, a route commander, said the latest accident occurred when a heavy duty tanker crashed into a Dyna truck.

The FRSC spokesperson said three male and four female adults were involved in the crash

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She said apart from the deceased victims, five other passengers were injured during the incident.

The probable cause of the fatal crash was brake failure. According to a witness, the Mack tanker failed brake and crushed the Dyna truck.

Three male adults and four female adults were involved in the crash. Two female adults were killed, two female adults and three male adults were injured, while one female adult was rescued unhurt, she said.

The FRSC rescue team from RS5.33 (unit) Nteje, Anambra State rushed the victim to Chira Hospital, Awkuzu where the two female adults were confirmed dead and their corpses deposited at the mortuary. The team are still on the ground ensuring obstruction caused by the crash is cleared.

Ms Onabe noted that the Sector Commander of the FRSC in the state, Adeoye Irelewuyi, has sympathised with the families of the deceased victims and wished those injured a quick recovery.

He seriously warned motorists to desist from disobeying traffic rules and regulations and ensure they service their vehicles regularly, she said.

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The National Orientation Agency (NOA) has insisted that its version of the new national anthem released last week was the correct one.

The Director-General of NOA, Lanre Issa-Onilu, said this in a statement issued on Tuesday by the agencys Deputy Director of Press, Paul Odenyi.

Mr Issa-Onilu was responding to an observation made by the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, on the national anthem during Tuesdays plenary.

Mr Akpabio, during the plenary, identified errors in lines three, five, and 18 of the national anthem released by the NOA..

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 said.

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In the statement, Mr Issa-Onilu, clarified that its version remained the corrected lyrics approved in the Act signed by President Bola Tinubu.

He said the audio version will be released soon.

READ ALSO: Akpabio identifies errors in new national anthem

The official version that we issued remains the correct lyrics. We are making an effort to standardise the instrumental and audio versions before we release it to the public, he said.

The DG said the senate president was misled

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The Speaker of the Borno State House of Assembly, Abdulkarim Lawan, has expressed distress over the displacement of the people of his constituency and lack of access to the area for over a decade due to the activities of Boko Haram insurgents.

Mr Lawan spoke on Wednesday while delivering a goodwill message at a 2024 Democracy Day event in Maiduguri.

While commending Nigerians for keeping democracy afloat since 1999, the Speaker praised the administration of Governor Babagana Zulum for its achievements in public infrastructure, healthcare delivery, education, and IDP management.

Mr Lawan stirred emotions when he publicly lamented the failure of the federal government and the military in reclaiming Guzamala Local Government Area, his constituency, which remains in the grip of Boko Haram.

The Speaker, who has been consistent in his lamentations about his constituents, currently living as refugees in Cameroon and as IDPs in various local governments, said civil authorities desert his local government as it remains under the control of Boko Haram.

The Speaker said due to the lack of access to his constituency, the area cannot benefit from the developmental projects undertaken by the state government.

We have held three elections in IDP camps because our local government area is not safe. We cannot continue like this. Our people are either living as refugees in the Niger Republic or as IDPs in Monguno, Gajiram, and some in host communities here in Maiduguri. We plead with the federal government of Nigeria and its military to, as a matter of responsibility, help reclaim Guzamala Local Government to enable our people to return and continue with what remains of their battered lives. We are tired of living as IDPs. We need deployment of the military to Guzamala because everything that defines civil authorities has been displaced. All our district heads and village heads are taking refuge far away from their ancestral communities, he said.

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Mr Lawan said despite the government reclaiming many communities and returning IDPs to their ancestral homes, there are still security challenges in northern Borno, where he comes from, which the military must address.

Up till now, Kukawa town of Kukawa Local Government Area is still not safe because there has been no military presence there for months. The same thing applies to Abadam Local Government headquarters. Our people have no access to their farms and other sources of livelihood. We are in dire need of help, he added.

The Speaker, who has been in the assembly since 2007 and as Speaker since 2011, called on the states Acting Governor, Usman Kadafur, to take up the matter once again with the federal government.

The deputy governor, during his remarks at the event, said the government had not forgotten the displaced people of Guzamala Local Government Area.

I want to assure the Speaker that we are on top of the situation as the government has set up a high-powered committee to see that the people of Guzamala are safely returned to their homes before the end of this administration, he said.

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At least three persons were trapped on Wednesday when a five-storey building collapsed in Onitsha, Onitsha North Local Government Area of Anambra State, Nigerias South-east.

The building, which was still under construction, collapsed at about 3 a.m., PREMIUM TIMES gathered.

The building was constructed within the premises of Dennis Memorial Grammar School, Onitsha, a popular secondary school in the state.

It was learnt that the building was being constructed by an association of old boys of the school to commemorate the centenary anniversary of the school.

There are speculations that the building collapsed because it was allegedly built with substandard materials in the construction.

But this newspaper could not independently confirm the speculations.

One person now rescued

The Executive Secretary of the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Paul Odenigbo, confirmed the development to PREMIUM TIMES.

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Mr Odenigbo said those trapped were workers who spent the night in the building in the hope that they would continue working there on Wednesday.

The SEMA boss said as of 7:42 p.m. on Wednesday, one of the workers was brought out of the rubbles by a rescue team at the scene of the incident.

Theres suspicion that three workers were trapped under the building. They just rescued one person now, he said.

He has been taken to the hospital.

Mr Odenigbo said the operation was still ongoing to rescue others trapped by the building.

He said the rescue team was using excavators and other materials in the operation.

The latest incident happened days after a three-storey building collapsed in Abia, another state in the South-east.

Of the five persons feared trapped by the building, at least two were said to have died as of the time of filing this report.

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Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, has encouraged Nigerians to remain steadfast and believe in the current democratic process in the country.

He said this during the Democracy Day celebration prayers held at the family home of the acclaimed winner of the 12 June 1993 presidential elections, the late Moshood Kashimawo Olawale (MKO) Abiola in Gbagura, Abeokuta.

The governor stated that his administration will continue to honour the legacy of the late Abiola, particularly as he was a prominent son. He added that his administration will also not relent in delivering the dividends of democracy to the good people of the state.

While commending the federal government for putting in place people-oriented policies with the ultimate aim of achieving a better Nigeria, Mr Abiodun called on Nigerians to continue to support the government and its organs in delivering the desired dividend of democracy.

The governor, who was represented by his deputy, Noimot Salako-Oyedele, noted that Nigerians were celebrating 25 years of unbroken democracy on a foundation laid by the late Abiola. He praised the government for setting aside the day not just to honour his memory but also to celebrate democratic rule in Nigeria.

Earlier in his sermon, Daud Toriola, an Islamic scholar, described MKO Abiola as food and drugs due to the role both played in the body system, saying that though he has gone, the lives he touched while alive still speak of his impact.

Mr Toriola also commended the state government for playing a lead role in remembering the late business mogul and philanthropist even before the Federal Government started immortalising him.

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Speaking on behalf of the late Abiolas family, Ameen Abiola, appreciated everyone for coming annually to remember their late patriarch, especially the state government for its unflinching support and the recent renovation of the family house.

He also thanked the Federal Government for declaring 12 June as Democracy Day, and to also honour the late Abiola, saying the gesture goes a long way in protecting the legacies left behind.

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Governor Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State has blamed the insecurity in the state on lack of political will to confront the perpetrators.

We do, we know who they are, we know where they live, it is just that there is no political will, Mr Lawal said while speaking on Channels Televisions Sunrise Daily on Tuesday. Let me say this categorically, if we are committed, if we are serious, you can take care of this situation in two weeks maximum. Im telling you, in two weeks you can take care of this situation, but the political will is not there.

In recent years, Zamfara State has witnessed an increase in attacks by gunmen locally known as bandits carrying out cattle rustling, mass kidnapping, and killings.

These attacks have led to the destruction of lives and properties and violation of human rights. Many people and survivors have been displaced from their communities to seek safety elsewhere.

In November last year, terrorists operating in Maru Local Government Area of Zamfara State abducted more than 100 residents in separate but coordinated attacks in several villages over the failure of the villagers to pay a N110 million protection levy.

In March this year, at least 11 people were killed, and 20 others abducted when bandits attacked the Gidan Zuma community in Bungudu Local Government Area of the state on a Sunday.

Just last month, Bello Hassan, who represents the Zurmi/Shinkafa Federal Constituency of Zamfara State at the House of Representatives, narrated how terrorists sacked about 50 communities and abducted hundreds of residents after weeks of incessant attacks in Zurmi Local Government Area of the state.

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The activities of these criminals have caused untold hardship to the people of Zamfara.

Political undertone

Mr Lawal, who described his state as home of banditry in northern Nigeria, maintained that the security situation in the state has a lot of political undertones, making it difficult to deal with decisively.

He did not give details of how politics is possibly influencing response to the insecurity problem in the state.

However, security in the state, like many other northern states and other parts of Nigeria, has continuously deteriorated under successive governments led by the major political parties in the country at both the federal and state levels.

Mr Lawal, who is of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the major opposition party at the federal level, took over as governor in May last year from Bello Matawalle, who belonged to the governing All Progressives Congress (APC). The tenure of Mr Matawalle, who is now serving as Minister of State for Defence in the APC-led federal government, saw the insecurity in the state worsen within its four years. The APC has been in control of the federal government since 2015, first under then-President Muhammadu Buhari for eight years, and President Bola Tinubu in the last one year.

Governors limited powers

Governor Lawal also blamed the problem on limited powers of governors in security matters.

Well, I will say that it is something that you know clearly that, we as governors, dont have control over the military, we dont have control over the police as well as the civil defence. In most cases you get frustrated in terms of where do you get help from?, the governor said.

When you need these people, referring to the security agencies, Mr Lawal said, they will be nowhere to be found.

In an interview with PREMIUM TIMES in May, Mr Lawal said to address this gap, he met with President Tinubu for him to come up with a system and do whatever it takes to make sure these guys are flushed out if we can do this thing holistically.

Shedding more light on his meeting with Mr Tinubu, the governor spoke on Tuesday of how Zamfara is key to achieving peace and stability in the northern states.

I had to explain everything to him, what we are going through and what needs to be done because Zamfara state has become the home of banditry in Nigeria or in Northern Nigeria. If you are able to take care of Zamfara today, believe me you have solved more than 90 percent of the banditry issue in northern Nigeria as a whole, the governor said.

Alternative security outfit

He said since the state cannot guarantee the availability of the federal government-controlled security agencies, therefore the best thing to do, is to set up that kind of security outfit.

As a matter of fact we have all these Special Forces sent to Zamfara with all the latest technology and everything, he said, adding that the issue with the alternative solution is we also have limitation because the security outfits were told not to cross certain lines.

He said the security outfits are made up of indigenes of the state who best know the state and its challenges. We recruited over 2540 across 14 local governments because they understand the trend and they know the people, the governor said.

He spoke glowingly of the impact the security outfit is making in the state.

They are doing very well as we speak, honestly for us in Zamfara, they are doing exceptionally well, he said.

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President Bola Tinubu has paid tribute to the presumed winner of the 12 June, 1993 presidential election, Moshood Abiola, and other Nigerians who lost their lives in the struggle to actualise the result of the election and restore democracy in the country.

In his nationwide broadcast on Wednesday to mark the Democracy Day, President Tinubu said these persons surrendered their futures so that Nigerians could have a better one.

On this day, 31 years ago, we entered our rites of passage to becoming a true and enduring democratic society.

Going through this passage was hard and dangerous. During the fateful six years that followed, we fought and struggled for our natural rights as human beings put on this earth by the divine hand of our Creator.

We lost great heroes and heroines along the way. In this struggle, the winner of the June 12, 1993 presidential election, Chief MKO Abiola, the most significant symbol of our democratic struggle, his wife, Kudirat, General Shehu Musa YarAdua and Pa Alfred Rewane, among others sacrificed their very lives.

They bravely surrendered their futures, so that our nation might have a better one, he said.

President Tinubu also remembered the roles other prominent Nigerians, now late, played during the period.

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He also said the roles of other pro-democracy activists who went into exile at the time would never be forgotten.

The president said the sacrifices they made can never be repaid.

He said, Let us honour the memories of Chief Anthony Enahoro, Chief Abraham Adesanya, Commodore Dan Suleiman, Chief Arthur Nwankwo, Chief Chukwuemeka Ezeife, Admiral Ndubuisi Kanu, Chief Frank Kokori, Chief Bola Ige, Chief Adekunle Ajasin, Chief Ganiyu Dawodu, Chief Ayo Fasanmi, Chief Gani Fawehinmi, Chief Olabiyi Durojaiye, Dr. Beko Ransome-Kuti, Chima Ubani, and others who have transited to the higher realm.

The sacrifices of General Alani Akinrinade, Professor Bolaji Akinyemi, Professor Wole Soyinka, Chief Ralph Obioha, Chief Cornelius Adebayo, among many others, should never be forgotten. For at least six years, they bore the pains and difficulties of life in exile.

While the exiled pro-democracy activists kept the fire burning, their comrades at home sustained the pressure on the military brass hats. Among the latter are Olisa Agbakoba, Femi Falana, Abdul Oroh, Senator Shehu Sani, Governor Uba Sani, Chief Olu Falae, and other National Democratic Coalition leaders such as Chief Ayo Adebanjo and Chief Ayo Opadokun.

The sacrifices they made, and the precious gift brought about by their selfless devotion can never be repaid. Neither shall it be forgotten.

Tribute to media

The President noted that without the Nigerian journalists, the battle against military dictatorship could not have been won.

We could not have won the battle against military dictatorship without the irrepressible Nigerian journalists who mounted the barricades along with the pro-democracy activists.

We celebrate them today, along with their media establishments such as The Punch, Guardian, National Concord, Tribune, The News/Tempo, and TELL Magazines. Military authorities proscribed these media establishments and jailed their journalists for standing for free speech and civil liberties, President Tinubu said.

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President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday said his administration did not clamp down on workers unions who virtually shut down the country for two days during a nationwide strike.

The president said instead his government invited the union leaders to break bread and discuss the reasons for the strike to resolve the controversy.

Mr Tinubu, in his Democracy Day broadcast, said his government was committed to ensuring democratic ideals such as the freedom of speech and the right to peaceful protest.

PREMIUM TIMES reported the nationwide strike by the two major labour unions, NLC and TUC, and their affiliates over their demand for a new minimum wage and a reduction in electricity tariffs.

The strike led to the shutdown of electricity, airports, hospitals, schools and other services.

The strike was suspended after two days to allow more negotiations between the unions and the government.

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President Bola Tinubu used his Democracy Day speech to honour individuals and organisations who fought for the return of democracy in Nigeria. He also spoke on the impacts of his reforms, human rights and other matters.

Read the full text of the presidents speech below.

TEXT OF PRESIDENT BOLA TINUBUS NATIONAL BROADCAST ON THE 25TH ANNIVERSARY OF UNBROKEN DEMOCRACY IN NIGERIA, DEMOCRACY DAY 12TH JUNE 2024.

1. My fellow Nigerians, let me begin by congratulating all of us for witnessing the celebration of another Democracy Day today, the 12th day of June 2024. This year also marks our nations 25 years of uninterrupted democratic governance.

2. On this day, 31 years ago, we entered our rites of passage to becoming a true and enduring democratic society.

3. Going through this passage was hard and dangerous. During the fateful six years that followed, we fought and struggled for our natural rights as human beings put on this earth by the divine hand of our Creator.

4. We lost great heroes and heroines along the way. In this struggle, the winner of the June 12, 1993 presidential election, Chief MKO Abiola, the most significant symbol of our democratic struggle, his wife, Kudirat, General Shehu Musa YarAdua and Pa Alfred Rewane, among others sacrificed their very lives.

5. They bravely surrendered their futures, so that our nation might have a better one.

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6. Let us honour the memories of Chief Anthony Enahoro, Chief Abraham Adesanya, Commodore Dan Suleiman, Chief Arthur Nwankwo, Chief Chukwuemeka Ezeife, Admiral Ndubuisi Kanu, Chief Frank Kokori, Chief Bola Ige, Chief Adekunle Ajasin, Chief Ganiyu Dawodu, Chief Ayo Fasanmi, Chief Gani Fawehinmi, Chief Olabiyi Durojaiye, Dr. Beko Ransome-Kuti, Chima Ubani, and others who have transited to the higher realm.

7. The sacrifices of General Alani Akinrinade, Professor Bolaji Akinyemi, Professor Wole Soyinka, Chief Ralph Obioha, Chief Cornelius Adebayo, among many others, should never be forgotten. For at least six years, they bore the pains and difficulties of life in exile.

8. While the exiled pro-democracy activists kept the fire burning, their comrades at home sustained the pressure on the military brass hats. Among the latter are Olisa Agbakoba, Femi Falana, Abdul Oroh, Senator Shehu Sani, Governor Uba Sani, Chief Olu Falae, and other National Democratic Coalition leaders such as Chief Ayo Adebanjo and Chief Ayo Opadokun.

9. The sacrifices they made, and the precious gift brought about by their selfless devotion can never be repaid. Neither shall it be forgotten.

10. We could not have won the battle against military dictatorship without the irrepressible Nigerian journalists who mounted the barricades along with the pro-democracy activists. We celebrate them today, along with their media establishments such as The Punch, Guardian, National Concord, Tribune, The News/Tempo, and TELL Magazines. Military authorities proscribed these media establishments and jailed their journalists for standing for free speech and civil liberties.

11. Despite the lethal might of the military government, what appeared to be high and unyielding walls of dictatorship came tumbling down. The dismal fortress exists no longer.

12.The power of an idea, the power of the people proved more potent than all the guns and munitions, and the threats of the strongmen.

13. The nation exited the yoke of military rule in 1999 to become the most populous democracy on African soil, the beacon of democratic self-determination for the black race and one of the largest democracies in the world.

14. This change stands as a pivotal moment in human history. From this change, we shall never turn, nor shall the annals of mankinds progress forget the sublime meaning of this great moment.

15. Today, 25 years later, we celebrate the silver anniversary of our journey in democracy.

16. We have steadied the course.

17. Democracy is neither a foreign nor abstract concept devoid of real-life meaning for us. Neither can we afford to reduce or minimalise it to being nothing but the mere holding of periodic elections where one candidate and party outdo another.

18. While elections attract dramatic attention, they are but one aspect of democracy. Democracy is a way of life that encompasses a broad outlook of which elections are but a part. As such, a nation can have elections without being democratic. But a nation cannot be truly democratic without holding elections.

19.That we have established a tradition of holding transparent, open, and fair elections gives credence to our democratic bearing. That we have experienced peaceful transitions of government affirms our democratic temperament.

20. Fellow Nigerians, true democracy shines its light into the daily lives of the people who live under its nurturing wings. It affords us the freedom and liberty to think as we want, live where we want and pursue whatever legitimate endeavour that suits us.

21. Democracy does not assume some false or forced unity of opinion. In fact, democracy assumes that conflicting ideas and differing opinions shall be the order of the day. Given the diversity and variety of the human experience, there must be diverse perspectives and viewpoints.

22. What democracy demands is that we do not resolve differences through force and repression. But we make allowance for the legitimacy of views that differ from our own.

23. Where other forms of government impose against the will of the people, democracy aims to make leaders sufficiently humble that they conduct themselves as servants of the common good, not as viceroys of the narrow interests of the mighty.

24. My dear compatriots, Nigeria faced a decision of untold gravity twenty-five years ago: Whether to veer toward a better destination or continue aimlessly in the fog of dictatorship.

25. We made the right choice then. We must continue with that choice now.

26. As Nigerians, we must remind ourselves that no matter how complicated democracy may be, it is the best form of governance in the long run. We must also be aware that there are those among us who will try to exploit current challenges to undermine, if not destroy, this democracy for which so much has already been given.

27. These people do this not to make things better but to subject all other people and things to their control and dominance until the point that, if you are not counted among their elite, then your life will be small and no longer owned by you.

28. This is the great battle of our day and the major reason we specially celebrate this Democracy day.

29. Fellow Nigerians, our Democracy is more than a historic fact. It is a living, breathing reality.

30. The true meaning of this day is not to focus solely on the great deeds of the past that have brought us to this point.

31. Yes, we pay eternal honour to those who laid down their lives, sacrificing everything to pave the way for the nation.

32. I stand uniquely placed in this regard. I was among those who took the risk to midwife the birth of our democracy. I am now a direct and obvious beneficiary of the fruits of those historic efforts.

33. As president of this nation, I am morally and constitutionally bound to preserve this precious form of governance. I vow to do my utmost best to protect your rights, freedoms, and liberties as citizens of Nigeria.

34. Even more than that, I pledge to do whatever is necessary to cement democracy as our way of life.

35. Although the challenges are steep and multiple, I am grateful to lead Nigeria at this moment in her history and point in her democratic journey.

36. I come before you also to declare that our most important work remains before us. This real test has never been whether we would rise to challenge the slings of misfortune and grievous pain of dictatorship.

37. The real test is whether we shall lower our guards as the shadow of despotism and its evident physical danger fade.

38. I say to you here and now that as we celebrate the enshrinement of our political democracy, let us commit ourselves to the fulfilment of its equally important counterpart, the realisation of our economic democracy.

39. I understand the economic difficulties we face as a nation.

40. Our economy has been in desperate need of reform for decades. It has been unbalanced because it was built on the flawed foundation of over-reliance on revenues from the exploitation of oil.

41. The reforms we have initiated are intended to create a stronger, better foundation for future growth. There is no doubt the reforms have occasioned hardship. Yet, they are necessary repairs required to fix the economy over the long run so that everyone has access to economic opportunity, fair pay and compensation for his endeavour and labour.

42. As we continue to reform the economy, I shall always listen to the people and will never turn my back on you.

43. In this spirit, we have negotiated in good faith and with open arms with organized labour on a new national minimum wage. We shall soon send an executive bill to the National Assembly to enshrine what has been agreed upon as part of our law for the next five years or less.

44. In the face of labours call for a national strike, we did not seek to oppress or crack down on the workers as a dictatorial government would have done. We chose the path of cooperation over conflict.

45. No one was arrested or threatened. Instead, the labour leadership was invited to break bread and negotiate toward a good-faith resolution.

46. Reasoned discussion and principled compromise are hallmarks of democracy. These themes shall continue to animate my policies and interaction with the constituent parts of our political economy.

47. I take on this vital task without fear or favour and I commit myself to this work until we have built a Nigeria where no man is oppressed.

48. In the end, our national greatness will not be achieved by travelling the easy road. It can only be achieved by taking the right one.

49. The words of the American President Franklin Roosevelt certainly ring true:

There are many ways of going forward. But only one way of standing still!

50. We dare not slumber lest the good things awaiting our immediate future pass us by. We dare not plant our feet in idle standstill in the middle of the intersection of hope and despair.

51. We know the proper way forward and we shall take it!

52. The initial rays of a brighter tomorrow now appear on the early horizon. An abundant future and our capacity to achieve that future lie within our reach. Democracy and the institutions it begets offer to take us to our profound destination.

53. Let us board this progressive train together. Together, let us move Nigeria forward.

54. Lets continue to keep the fire of democracy burning. Lets keep the torch lit for generations to come.

55. May God continue to bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria and preserve our democracy.

56. I wish us all Happy Democracy Day.

PRESIDENT BOLA AHMED TINUBU, GCFR

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Amidst what observers and critics describe as the shrinking of the civic space with the rampant harassment and detention of journalists and activists, President Bola Tinubu said his administration is committed to protecting the rights and liberties of Nigerians.

Mr Tinubu spoke in a broadcast to mark Nigerias Democracy Day celebrated on 12 June.

He began by affirming his commitment to democracy and the constitutional rights of Nigerian citizens.

As president of this nation, I am morally and constitutionally bound to preserve this precious form of governance, the Nigerian leader said of democracy. I vow to do my utmost best to protect your rights, freedoms, and liberties as citizens of Nigeria.

Reflecting on Nigerias 25-year journey of democracy, President Tinubu emphasised the importance of resolving differences through dialogue rather than force, and ensuring that leaders serve the common good rather than narrow interests.

Democracy demands that we do not resolve differences through force and repression. We make allowance for the legitimacy of views that differ from our own, the president said.

While vowing to uphold democraric governance in the country, we warned against tendencies that might exploit current challenges to undermine democracy.

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There are those among us who will try to exploit current challenges to undermine, if not destroy, this democracy for which so much has already been given, he cautioned.

Beyond political democracy, he emphasised the need for economic democracy, aiming to build a Nigeria where no one is oppressed.

I take on this vital task without fear or favour and I commit myself to this work until we have built a Nigeria where no man is oppressed, he said.

Tributes to journalists

President Tinubu also paid tributes to the nations journalists and media establishments for their pivotal roles in the fight against military dictatorship, highlighting the importance of human rights and free speech.

He acknowledged the significant contributions of media outlets such as The Punch, The Guardian, National Concord, Tribune as well as The News/Tempo and TELL magazines. These institutions and their journalists faced severe repercussions, including proscription and imprisonment for defending civil liberties during the military regime.

The President recounted the struggle against the military government, where the power of the people eventually overcame dictatorship. Nigeria exited military rule in 1999, emerging as the most populous democracy in Africa and one of the largest democracies in the world. The Democracy Day transition marked a significant moment in human history.

Between vow and reality

However, despite Tinubus assurances, his avowed commitment to upholding democratic ethos and press freedom have not been translated into reality in his one year in office.

Arbitrary arrests and detention of citizens and clampdown on journalists by the police and other security agencies were on the rise in his one year in office.

PREMIUM TIMES reported how Daniel Ojukwu, a journalist, went missing on 1 May. His phones were switched off and his whereabouts were unknown to colleagues, family, and friends. The following day, the Foundation for International Journalism (FIJ) filed a missing person report at the police station.

Mr Ojukwus family and FIJ later discovered that he had been abducted by the Intelligence Response Team (IRT) of the Inspector General of Police. He was held incommunicado at the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) in Lagos, then transferred to the Nigerian Police Force National Cybercrime Centre (NPF-NCCC) in Abuja, where he was detained for an additional five days.

Police spokesperson Muyiwa Adejobi said the journalists arrest was based on a petition accusing him of violating the Cybercrimes Act, a law often used to suppress press freedom.

The petition related to a story by Mr Ojukwu, revealing how the senior special assistant to former president Muhammadu Buhari on sustainable development goals allegedly paid N147 million to a restaurant for classroom construction in Lagos.

In March, the NPF-NCCC had invited and questioned the chairperson of FIJs Board of Trustees, Bukky Shonibare, in Abuja regarding the same story. Despite this, no other FIJ staff were invited except for Ms Shonibare.

Additionally, freelance journalist Jamil Mabai and his cameraman were detained by religious police in northern Katsina State.

Mr Mabai, on assignment for Trust TV, had been invited to the Hisbah offices to interview their spokesperson following reports that a wedding guest was shot dead while Hisbah officials enforced a ban on DJs playing music.

Upon arrival, Mr Mabai was briefly detained, his mobile phone confiscated, and he was threatened with physical harm.

Nigerian authorities must credibly investigate this harassment of journalist Jamil Mabai, hold those responsible to account, and ensure journalists can do their work without fear of detention, said Angela Quintal, head of the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) Africa programme.

Sharia law was introduced alongside secular law in 12 Muslim-majority northern states in 1999. Hisbah groups combat what they regard as immoral behaviours, by destroying alcohol, removing beggars from the streets, and arresting Muslims eating during Ramadan. Critics accuse the religious police of human rights abuses.

In April, Katsina States Hisbah Commission banned DJing. Mr Mabai reported that when Hisbahs Community Watch Corps tried to shut down a wedding with a DJ on 10 May, one guest, Gambo Ibrahim, was shot dead.

Recently, ICIR journalists were also detained over an investigative story considered to be critical then chairman of the Police Services Commission, Solomon Arase. Mr Arase was removed from office earlier this week.

In one of the most ridiculous case of harassment of journalists and attempt to criminalise journalism, the police recently invited this PREMIUM TIMES reporter for a story he had yet to publish.

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The Lagos State Government has called for heightened vigilance and precautionary measures following the death of five people from a suspected cholera outbreak in 48 hours.

According to a statement Tuesday, the Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Akin Abayomi, revealed that severe cases of gastroenteritis have been reported in communities around Eti Osa, Lagos Island, Ikorodu, and Kosofe LGAs.

Mr Abayomi said the outbreak has resulted in about 60 hospital admissions, adding that the fatalities were mainly from patients with extreme dehydration coming to the hospital late.

The commissioner noted that following recent rains, Lagos State has recorded an increase in cases of severe vomiting and watery stools, adding that urban slums and crowded areas with poor sanitation are particularly at risk.

We have activated a statewide heightened surveillance and response. The Ministry of Health Directorate of Environmental Health and the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA) have been alerted to investigate a possible water contamination source in the Lekki Victoria Island axis, the statement read.

As of 28 April 2024, data from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) shows that Nigeria has recorded 815 suspected cholera cases and 14 deaths across 25 states.

Cholera, prevention

Mr Abayomi explained that cholera is a highly contagious disease that causes severe diarrhoea and can be life-threatening, adding that it poses a significant health burden in areas with poor water treatment and sanitation.

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Cholera spreads through direct transmission by eating or drinking contaminated food or water, and indirect transmission due to poor sanitation and lack of handwashing.

Symptoms of cholera include severe watery diarrhoea, vomiting, rapid dehydration, muscle cramps, fever and sometimes collapse, he noted.

He highlighted the treatment options for cholera including rehydration using Oral Rehydration Salts (ORS) for mild to moderate dehydration, adding that intravenous fluid is used for severely dehydrated patients and given only in medical facilities and supervised by medical personnel.

To prevent cholera, citizens are urged to ensure safe drinking water by boiling, chlorinating, or using bottled water, and avoiding ice products made from untreated water. Maintaining proper sanitation by using toilets, safely disposing of faeces, and avoiding open defecation is crucial.

Practicing good hygiene, such as washing hands with soap and clean water regularly, especially before eating, preparing food, and after using the toilet, is essential and following food safety guidelines, the commissioner advised.

He advised that citizens should rely on the Lagos State Ministry of Health, NCDC, and accredited local health facilities for guidance, advice, and updates on prevention, treatment, and management.

We urge everyone to adopt these preventive measures and report any suspected cases promptly to safeguard our communities, he stated.

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Although labour unions and the government are yet to agree on a new minimum wage, President Bola Tinubu says he will soon send a National Minimum Wage Bill to the National Assembly for passage.

Mr Tinubu stated this on Wednesday during a broadcast to commemorate Democracy Day.

The president said the proposed minimum wage may not last up to five years, hinting that it could be reviewed again within the next five years.

We have negotiated in good faith and with open arms with organised labour on a new national minimum wage. We shall soon send an executive bill to the National Assembly to enshrine what has been agreed upon as part of our law for the next five years or less, Mr Tinubu said.

Although the Tripartite Committee on the New National Minimum Wage submitted its report to the federal government on Monday, the figures agreed upon by organised labour and the federal government have yet to converge.

During the last meeting held by the Tripartite Committee on the New Minimum Wage on Friday in Abuja, labour reduced its demand to N250,000 from N494,000, while the federal government increased its offer from N60,000 to N62,000.

The proposed minimum wage may have to wait until 2 July because the National Assembly is currently on holiday.

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We did not crack down on labour

In his speech, Mr Tinubu stated that despite the tough negotiation with labour leaders on the minimum wage, his government was democratic and never cracked down on the leaders.

In the face of labours call for a national strike, we did not seek to oppress or crack down on the workers as a dictatorial government would have done. We chose the path of cooperation over conflict.

No one was arrested or threatened. Instead, the labour leadership was invited to break bread and negotiate towards a good-faith resolution.

Reasoned discussion and principled compromise are hallmarks of democracy. These themes shall continue to animate my policies and interactions with the constituent parts of our political economy, he said.

There were calls for sanctions against some of the labour leaders after the shutdown of the national electricity grid during the strike.

Both the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), George Akume, and the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, condemned the shutting down of the national grid, describing it as treason.

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President Bola Tinubu slipped and fell over at Eagle Square, Abuja, during the celebration of Democracy Day in the Nigerian capital.

Mr Tinubu, 72, fell while climbing the steps to an official vehicle that was to take him round the Eagle Square. He was helped back to his feet and continued with the celebration.

He immediately went on with the ceremonial rounds. No issues, Dada Olusegun, a presidential aide, wrote on X.

Mr Tinubu had hours before the parade addressed Nigerians via live broadcast on the occasion of the Democracy Day celebration, marking 25 years of uninterrupted democracy in Nigeria, the longest run in the West African country and Africas largest democracy.

In his speech, Mr Tinubu praised both the dead and living heroes of democracy who fought for the return to civil rule from military dictatorship. He mentioned many by name including the late Moshood Abiola who won the 12 June 1993 presidential election that was annulled by the military and Mr Abiolas wife, the late Kudirat Abiola, who state agents killed during the Sani Abacha military dictatorship.

Among the living that Mr Tinubu mentioned was an activist and former senator, Shehu Sani, who was imprisoned for several years by the Abacha dictatorship but is now an opposition politician.

Mr Sani, on Wednesday, said the trip by Mr Tinubu was no big deal.

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Not just President Tinubu, anyone alive can trip and fall; it happened to President Biden and Fidel Castro. Presidents are human beings and mortals, he wrote on X.

One of Mr Tinubus main challengers in last years presidential election, Atiku Abubakar, expressed his sympathy for the fall.

I sincerely sympathise with President Bola Tinubu over this unfortunate incident as he was set to review the parade on Democracy Day. I do hope that all is well with him, Atiku, the first runner-up in the election, wrote on X.

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The Speaker of the Plateau State House of Assembly, Gabriel Dewan, says Nigerian leaders, including himself, have failed the people after 25 years of the countrys unbroken democracy.

Mr Dewan, who spoke with journalists on Wednesday in Jos, therefore, rated Nigerias democracy low.

The speaker said that the country was blessed with abundant human and natural resources, but they were not properly harnessed by the leaders.

He stated that with the natural resources and the blessings that God had bestowed upon Nigeria, the country ought to be far better than it is now.

Dewan stated that there were countries with far fewer resources than Nigeria, yet they were in a much better state.

At times, some of us even begin to wonder if it would be better to return to military rule, as most of the infrastructure in this country was built by military governments.

The creation of states, local government areas, and most of our federal highways, were all accomplished under military rule.

If I were to score the performance of democracy in Nigeria from 1999 to today, I would rate it at seven per cent out of 100 per cent.

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This is across all sectors: infrastructure, education, health, and more.

Consider this; today in Nigeria, our ministers of education send their children to private schools.

Our Minister of Health does not seek medical attention in public facilities. Even local government chairmen lack the confidence to send their own children to public schools, which they directly manage, he said.

According to him, leaders must take responsibility, adding that the country needs a total overhaul of its democratic practices, as what Nigeria is practising at the moment is not true democracy.

I pray that we, as leaders, can think deeply and act in a way that gives true meaning to democracy, otherwise, we will continue to face these problems.

From 1999 to date, our performance under democracy has been woeful, and it needs a total change, Mr Dewan added.

(NAN)

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As Nigerians celebrated 25 years of unbroken democratic rule on Wednesday, Civil Society Organisations under the aegis of Osun Civil Societies Coalition (OCSC) and social activists took to the streets in Osogbo, Osun State capital, to protest against hardship occasioned by the Federal Governments economic policies.

They charged President Bola Tinubu to address prevailing hunger, hardship, insecurity and other challenges plaguing the nation.

They observed that 31 years after the symbol of June 12, the late MKO Abiola paid the supreme price for the enthronement of civil rule; his manifesto on providing basic amenities and prosperity for the citizenry remains elusive.

Members of the CSOs challenged the nations leaders on responsive governance.

Addressing journalists during the peaceful protest, the chairman of Osun Civil Societies Coalition, Waheed Lawal, said the late Abiolas election victory had remained a missed opportunity to set Nigeria on the right track for all-encompassing development.

According to him, it is unfortunate that the manifesto of the winner of June 12, 1993 presidential election, the late MKO Abiola, which included the provision of basic amenities and mass prosperity, are still elusive 31 years after. Besides, the lessons and gains of June 12 appear to be missing in the corridors of power at all levels.

Nigerias leaders appear to have learnt nothing and forgotten everything. Unfortunately, decades of bad governance by the unpatriotic and self-centred elite, military and civilian leadership that cut across all tribes and religions have produced exploitation, oppression, poverty, misery, injustice, insecurity, banditry, violence and death as being experienced by the masses across the country.

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Mr Lawal lamented that Nigerians were going through worsening economic hardship that is creating more poverty and deprivation.

He stressed that the administration of Mr Tinubu, through its World Bank and IMF teleguided economic policies, has continued to unleash hardship on Nigerians.

The removal of subsidy, increment in electricity tariff and devaluation of Naira have cast a shadow over the economic stability of Nigeria. This is hampering productivity and killing Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMSE), taking away the purchasing power of the Nigerian people, creating hunger and starvation, while prices of foodstuffs and essential commodities are skyrocketing.

In his remark, the chairman the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR), Osun State chapter, Emmanuel Olowu, called on the Federal Government to declare a state of emergency in agriculture, stressing that without such a step, the nations economy will remain in the doldrum.

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The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has refuted claims by President Bola Tinubu that an agreement on a new minimum wage has been reached.

During his Democracy Day broadcast on Wednesday, President Tinubu announced that a consensus had been reached between the federal government and organised labour on a new national minimum wage.

He stated that an executive bill would soon be sent to the National Assembly to formalise the agreement, emphasising his administrations preference for a democratic approach over dictatorship in dealing with labour unions.

NLCs Response

However, the Acting President of the NLC, Adewale Adeyanju, in a statement on Wednesday, said no agreement was reached by the Tripartite Committee on the National Minimum Wage as of the conclusion of negotiations on Friday, 7 June.

Our demand remains N250,000, and we have not been presented with any compelling reasons to alter this position, which we consider a significant concession by Nigerian workers during the negotiation process, Mr Adeyanju stated.

He said there is a need to inform President Tinubu, Nigerians, and other concerned parties that there appears to be a misunderstanding about the negotiations outcome.

According to him, those who briefed the president did not provide an accurate account of the negotiations conclusion.

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Alleged intimidation

Mr Adeyanju said it would be difficult to accept a minimum wage that equates to starvation.

It will be extremely difficult for Nigerian workers to accept any national minimum wage that equates to a starvation wage. We cannot continue to work and yet live in abject poverty, he said.

He said labour acknowledged the presidents commitment to democratic principles, which allowed the Tripartite National Minimum Wage Negotiation Committee to work without interference despite some challenges.

However, he said labour had hoped President Tinubu would harmonise the two figures submitted by the Tripartite Committee in favour of the workers, which would have been an appropriate Democracy Day gesture.

Contrary to President Tinubus assertion, Mr Adeyanju said the NLC maintained that no agreement was reached with the federal government or employers on the base figure for a minimum wage or its other components.

The NLC expressed surprise at the presidents claim of an agreement, suggesting he might have been misled.

The NLC also raised concerns about intimidation and harassment from government operatives during the negotiation process. Mr Adeyanju said that fully armed soldiers surrounded them during negotiations and that recent statements from senior government officials have reaffirmed their fears.

Strike resumption

Premium Times reported that organised labour might reconvene to decide on the resumption of the suspended strike if the federal government and National Assembly failed to meet its minimum wage demand by midnight on Tuesday.

Chris Onyeka, the assistant general secretary of the NLC, indicated on Channels Televisions The Morning Brief show on Monday that Nigerian workers, under the NLC and Trade Union Congress (TUC), had suspended their strike for one week to resume negotiations with the government.

During the last meeting of the Tripartite Committee on the New Minimum Wage held on Friday in Abuja, labour reduced its demand to N250,000 from N494,000, while the federal government increased its offer from N60,000 to N62,000.

Government representatives stated that they would present this figure to President Tinubu for further action.

Mr Onyeka warned that if the federal government and the National Assembly do not meet labours demand, the strike might resume.

If our demand is not met, the one-week notice we issued will expire tomorrow. If we do not receive a tangible response by then, the organs of organised labour will meet to decide our next steps, he said.

The NLC re-emphasised its stance against accepting what it terms starvation wages such as N62,000 or N100,000.

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The Governor of Ogun State, Dapo Abiodun, has commuted the death sentences of 45 condemned prisoners to prison terms.

He also granted pardon to 41 other inmates serving in different correctional centres across the state.

Speaking at the 2024 Democracy Day held at the June 12 Cultural Centre, Kuto, Abeokuta, Mr Abiodun said the decision was in exercising his prerogative of mercy as the governor of the state.

Government has a duty to uphold democratic values by consistently applying principles of mercy, justice, and the rule of law. In this vein, the Nigerian Constitution empowers me to exercise a prerogative of mercy to anyone convicted of an offence in Ogun State.

Having received the guidance of the Ogun State Advisory Council on the Prerogative of Mercy, I have signed the appropriate warrants ordering the release of 41 convicts currently imprisoned across different correctional facilities in Ogun State. I have also signed warrants converting the death sentences of 45 inmates to prison sentences.

This gesture signals a break from past grievances and a move towards a more inclusive and compassionate society where merciful second chances are granted to deserving offenders, Mr Abiodun said.

The governor stated that all convicts who received the gesture had shown remorse for their crimes, acquired skills and certifications in prison, with several of them receiving university degrees from the National Open University of Nigeria.

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He added that they have also demonstrated verified good conduct during their imprisonment.

Mr Abiodun stressed that the Democracy Day celebration held immense significance as it marks the triumph of democracy, the power of the people, and the pursuit of justice and freedom, while observing that the history of Nigerias democracy is one of struggle and perseverance.

June 12 1993 stands as a watershed moment in this journey. On that particular day, Nigerians transcended differences of tribe, gender, and even the unique joint Muslim-Muslim ticket to speak unanimously through the ballot.

They elected the late Moshood Kasimawo Olawale Abiola and Babagana Kingibe of the defunct Social Democratic Party (SDP) as President and Vice President, respectively. Although the election was globally acclaimed as the freest and fairest in Nigerias history, the military annulled its results, dashing the hopes raised by this democratic exercise.

That election remains a pivotal moment in our countrys democratic history. It has become the benchmark against which the successes of subsequent elections are measured. For all its import, it reminds us of the power of unity, resilience, and the collective determination to uphold the principles of democracy.

It is a testament to the strength and resilience of the Nigerian people, who have shown unwavering commitment to democracy and the belief in a better future, the governor added.

He reiterated that the late M.K.O. Abiola stands as one of the finest trailblazers from Ogun State just as his courage and unwavering commitment to democratic ideals remain an inspiration to the people.

He recalled that his campaign slogan, Hope 93, was a national reawakening rooted in faith and the limitless ability of Nigerians to face their challenges and solve the problems of nation-building.

He noted that the celebration signifies the commitment to continue the journey towards a better Nigeria, building on the sacrifices made by MKO Abiola and countless others who fought for democracy and paid the ultimate price.

Mr Abiodun said the courage and unwavering commitment to democratic ideals serve as a reminder of the power of the people and the importance of upholding the principles of justice, freedom, and equality laid by our forefathers.

In a lecture titled: June 12: Defining Moment in the Democratic Development of Nigeria, the guest lecturer, Richard Akinnola, while giving a background to what led to the crisis, chided the nations judiciary for being a tool in the hands of the military government to annul the said elections.

He condemned those who have been calling for the return of the military as the result of the hardship in the country.

In fact, June 12 stands as a defining moment and a watershed in our quest for democracy. That is why we should be very careful. Some people who did not experience what we went through are now subtly calling for the military. We must say no, never do we call for the military again. Whatever the challenges we are having, lets fight, let us argue, let us disagree, let us abuse each other, but never should we be tempted to invite the military, he advised.

Mr Akinnola, who described the June 12 elections as the best in the history of the nation, noted that the aftermath of the annulment led to killings of pro-democracy activists just as it ushered in mutual mistrust among the citizens.

The guest lecturer said for democracy to thrive in the country, Nigerians must keep their leaders on their toes.

He noted that though it is necessary to celebrate the day, people should not forget those who sacrificed their lives for the democracy being enjoyed in the country now.

In his goodwill message, a pro-democracy activist and former Commissioner for Information and Strategy in Ogun State, Niran Malaolu, eulogised the late Abiola for paying the supreme price for the nation to experience democracy.

He recalled that several Nigerians also suffered in the course of returning the country to democratic rule.

In his welcome address, the deputy Chief of Staff (DCOS) to the governor, Toyin Taiwo, said the celebration symbolises the collective will of Nigerians to choose their leaders in a free and fair election as witnessed on June 12, 1993, just as it demonstrated the power of the people in bringing about change.

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I commend the presidency for this resort to the path of civility, law and order. Nigerias democracy will become better strengthened by the outcome of the legal process. By this bold choice of recourse to the path of legality, President Tinubu has shown a good example that the courts are the last hope of the downtrodden, in this case, the federal government.

Recently, the Federal Government took the 36 governors to the Supreme Court for illegally withholding funds meant for local governments in their jurisdiction in contravention of Section 7 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended. The relevant section stipulates that the system of local government by democratically elected local government councils is guaranteed under the Constitution.

It is clear that non-democratically constituted local governments are an aberration, which deserve no funding from the Federal Government. Since the beginning of this democratisation process, state governments have not been relating to local government authorities with the respect and dignity deserving of the third tier level of governance. First, state governments have been known to be rather arbitrary, rather than constitutional, in granting statutory allocations to local governments, as they fall due. Second, elections into local governments have rarely been held, as they fall due. In consequence, caretaker committees have been the norms, rather the exceptions that they ought to be in local administration. Under this condition, it is convenient for local governments to resort to scapegoating in defending their dysfunctionality.

I wonder what the reason could be why the presidency has sought legal remedy to rescue local governments from the jugulars of the state governments. Has dialogue failed? The APC-led Federal Government controls 20 states, can wield the big stick, and employ the party machine to whip recalcitrant governors to queue behind it. Hence, why this unconventional path to governance? Is it a signal of the failure of party discipline?

The presidency must have reasoned that it is now time to redirect attention to governors and their irresponsible acts in crippling local governments. There are three centres of government power in Nigeria, and if each centre functions effectively, then the Federal Government will certainly be less blame worthy.

I wish to hazard some guesses. Since, regardless of the political party in power, the presidency has come under incessant attacks by Nigerians, with regard to development issues in the country, all eyes are on the person of the president. Generally, governors are hardly reckoned with in explaining Nigerias predicament with underdevelopment. Local government chairmen are perceived as helpless and at the beck and call of governors, and indeed the chairmen are errand boys of the governors. The presidency must have reasoned that it is now time to redirect attention to governors and their irresponsible acts in crippling local governments. There are three centres of government power in Nigeria, and if each centre functions effectively, then the Federal Government will certainly be less blame worthy.

Third, as we know, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, when he was governor of Lagos State, fought hard at the Supreme Court, through the states then Attorney General, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, to assert the authority of the then Lagos State government to create additional local governments in the state. The apex court ruled in favour of the state government and it became the lot of the late President Umaru YarAdua to release the states withheld funds, under President Olusegun Obasanjo, in deference to the verdict of the Supreme Court.

We need to give the presidency a pat on the back for initiating this long overdue legal tussle, which no President before Tinubu had attempted.

If the presidency wins this new celebrated case against the 36 governors, then local governments in the country will be able to receive their funds directly from the Federal Government and then can henceforth be blamed for non-performance. The presidency and the governors may then become less of cynosures of attention. Nigerians will become the ultimate beneficiaries of this legal initiative

This is a far superior response than the resort to self-remedy for which former President Obasanjo was castigated when his administration seized the funds for local governments in Lagos, after the then Governor Tinubu created additional local council development authorities in the state.

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If the presidency wins this new celebrated case against the 36 governors, then local governments in the country will be able to receive their funds directly from the Federal Government and then can henceforth be blamed for non-performance. The presidency and the governors may then become less of cynosures of attention. Nigerians will become the ultimate beneficiaries of this legal initiative, as governments at all levels will become more competitive and possibly more responsible.

I commend the presidency for this resort to the path of civility, law and order. Nigerias democracy will become better strengthened by the outcome of the legal process. By this bold choice of recourse to the path of legality, President Tinubu has shown a good example that the courts are the last hope of the downtrodden, in this case, the federal government.

Lai Olurode, a retired professor of Sociology was a former INEC National Commissioner.

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Issues around climate change have dominated global conversations since the historic Paris Agreement reached by world leaders on 12 December, 2015 at the UN Climate Change Conference (COP21) in Paris. The Agreement is an international treaty which became legally binding on 4 November, 2016.

Since climate change poses a huge threat to our humanity, urgent action is required to mitigate its risks and negative impacts for a sustainable future. This perhaps explains why 195 Parties (194 States and the European Union) joined the Paris Agreement which set long-term goals to guide all nations as follows: reducing global greenhouse gas emissions, periodically assess the collective progress being made, and provide financing to developing countries to mitigate the impact of climate change, strengthen resilience and enhance abilities to adapt to climate impacts.

The United Nations and its agencies and partners (they include UNEP, UNFCCC, etc.), the World Bank, International Monetary Fund (IMF), and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) are huge resources to guide any study on climate change.

Generally speaking, climate change refers to long-terms shifts in temperatures and weather patterns, according to information available on the UN website. But such shifts can be natural due to changes in the suns activity or large volcanic eruptions, the statement continued.

In Nigeria, we have experienced severe flooding, drought and extreme temperatures lately. These are the consequences of climate change. Other parts of the world are also experiencing the devastating impact of climate change in various dimensions.

The National Assembly passed the Climate Change Bill in 2021 and signed into law by former President Muhammadu Buhari. With this law, the expectation is that Nigeria will achieve net zero carbon emission between 2050 and 2070. To drive a coordinated action on climate change, the same act of parliament created the National Council on Climate Change (NCCC).

Last month, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu established a presidential committee on climate action and green economy. The initiative clearly underscores the need to strengthen our commitment to climate change, especially from the standpoint of accelerating the transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy that are derived from natural sources such as the sun and wind.

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The beauty of renewable energy is that they are constantly being replenished which guarantees a sustainable future.

UN Reports indicate that human activities have been the main driver of climate change, primarily due to the burning of fossil fuels like coal, oil and gas. When fossil fuels burn, they generate greenhouse gas emissions that cast a blanket around the Earth, trapping the suns heat and raising temperatures.

The same Report says if we cannot keep global warming from rising above 1.5C, then we are in real danger of being exposed to more heat from the sun. The solution is to reduce the dependence on fossil fuels, cutting it by half within the next six years and achieving net zero emission by 2050. Whether these goals would be achieved is a matter of conjecture.

Fossil fuels, as studies have shown, are the biggest contributors to the global climate change crisis, and poses severe risks to all forms of life. For the record, the main greenhouse gases are carbon dioxide and methane. For a moment, just imagine the volume of carbon emissions from the cars on our roads and electricity generators in Nigeria. The result is catastrophic air pollution that endangers our health.

Clearing land and cutting down forests can also release carbon dioxide, according to UNEP reports. Agriculture, oil and gas operations are major sources of methane emissions. Energy, industry, transport, buildings, agriculture and land use cause greenhouse gases.

Apart from the Paris Agreement, there are other global agreements such as the Sustainable Development Goals (to make the world a better place by 2030) and the UN Convention on Climate Change to guide progress. However, an SDG Report in 2022 revealed that about two billion people worldwide dont have access to safe drinking water. If we consider the effects of climate change and a growing population, it means that number is likely go up.

We must understand that climate change hazards do not occur in isolation because the Earth is a system  just like the human body  where everything is connected. It means changes in one area, according to a report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), can influence changes in others.

It is why the consequences of climate change now include, among others, threats to our health, intense droughts, water scarcity, severe fires, rising sea levels, flooding, melting polar ice, catastrophic storms and declining biodiversity. The World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) set up the IPCC in 1988.

In a self-made climate change manual, you should include and learn about the effects of climate change which varies depending on your region. You should also add sustainable solutions that include reducing carbon emissions, slowing the pace of global warming, and transition from fossil fuels to clean energy sources.

The manual should note adaptation as a mitigation strategy that delivers economic benefits while also seeking climate justice in the sense that small island nations and developing countries must be supported financially. These countries have fewer resources to cope with the devastating effects of climate change.

When my associates at Climate Action Africa (CAA) decided to launch Climate Action Africa Forum (CAAF24), I took more than a passing interest in climate change and commenced a research on the intersection between climate action and sustainable development.

The executive director and co-founder of CAA, Grace Oluchi Mbah, is leading a team that is organising CAAF24 which is scheduled to hold from 1920 June at Landmark Centre, Oniru, Lagos. Multi-stakeholder partnerships and collaborations are required to address pressing climate change challenges.

This was why CAA signed a partnership agreement with the National Council on Climate Change (NCCC) in Abuja about four months ago as part of a broader framework to catalyse the climate policy conference. This was followed by a world press conference in Abuja to announce CAAF24. Salisu Dahiru, the former director general of NCCC while speaking at the MoU signing ceremony, said the collaboration was a pivotal step towards building a climate-resilient Nigeria.

In her response, Mbah said Nigerias vulnerability to climate change necessitates immediate and collective action. Through this partnership, she said, we aspire to harness the power of innovation, sustainable practices, policy dialogue, and community engagement to re-shape Nigerias future, and set a global example.

Clearly, CAAF24 is a bold and innovative response to the climate change challenge in Africa. After the Abuja meeting, CAA received the backing of NCCC for the conference. CAAF24 will host a diverse group of influential thought leaders and environmental champions from the Africa Development Bank (Abidjan), Afrexim Bank (Cairo), World Bank (Washington DC), World Economic Forum (Geneva), and the Africa Enterprise Challenge Fund (Nairobi).

CAAs mandate includes fostering climate-resilient communities, driving innovation and contributing to the expansion of Africas green economy.

The theme of the conference is, Green Economy, Brighter Future: Innovating and Investing in Africas Climate Smart Development. One of the keynote speakers is Ms Ramatoulaye Diallo NDiaye, a former minister of culture in Mali, and the founder/CEO of the Great Green Wall of Africa (GGWoA) Foundation with a mission and unwavering commitment to restoring African forests and reversing the ravaging effects of climate change in the continent.

The list of speakers also include Tokunbo Wahab, Honourable Commissioner for environment and water resources, Lagos State; Markus Wauschkuhn, Cluster Coordinator, Sustainable Economic Development Cluster of GIZ Nigeria and ECOWAS, and Gerald Esambe, Principal Officer, Climate and Green Growth Department at African Development Bank Group.

Others are Kingsley Uranta, General Manager at Channels TV; Bankole Michael from the Lagos State Climate Change department, Ms Helen Brume, representing the President of Afrexim Bank; Edith Jibunoh, External and Corporate Relations (ECR) Manager for East and Southern Africa representing the World Bank; Olalekan Ogunleye, executive vice president, Gas, Power and New Energy, NNPC Ltd and others.

The organisers of the conference are worried about the impact of climate change in Africa. Mbah said the following themes would be explored with nuance by the speakers and facilitators: changing weather patterns, rising sea levels, air pollution, forced displacements, water scarcity, food insecurity, hunger and poor nutrition, desertification, declining GDP, and limited adaptive capacity.

According to her, CAAF is building a platform for Africa to lead the change in addressing global climate issues. With over 3,600 registered attendees, and more than 600 applications for its Deal Room and Workshops, CAAF24 is on track to be an unprecedented hub for climate action and sustainable energy transition in Africa.

CAAF Deal Room is a ground-breaking idea and strategic initiative that aims to connect high impact climate innovators in Africa with potential investors seeking to accelerate sustainable solutions. The objective of the Deal Room is to select finalists who would have the opportunity to pitch their ideas and solutions during CAAF24.

The deals will include prize money, equity, debt financing, mergers and acquisitions as well as other investment options. Those eligible to apply include venture capitalists, impact investors, climate-tech startups, Green SMEs, and not-for-profit organisations. Applications for the Deal Room opened on 22 April, and closed on 17 May.

It would be nice for the organisers of CAAF24 to extend an invitation to the new director general of NCCC, Dr Nkiruka Maduekwe, as a special guest of honour. I am using this opportunity to congratulate the DG on her well-deserved appointment announced last Sunday.

Ehi Braimah is a global public relations and marketing strategist. He is also the publisher/editor-in-chief of Naija Times and Lagos Post and can be reached via hello@neomedia.com.ng.

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Several traders along IBB Way in Kano metropolis, on Wednesday, abruptly closed their businesses as some of their colleagues protested against an eviction notice.

Sources said the state government plans to demolish shops and stalls in the area.

The incident resulted in chaos as the police patrolled the area firing teargas to dispersed the traders and street urchins.

The Kano State Urban Planning and Development Authority (KNUPDA) had on Monday issued a 48 hours notice to the traders to leave the area.

The chairperson of the traders association, Yakubu Muhammad, told News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), on Tuesday, that the KNUPDA had issued the notice to traders whose shops are located close to shops demolished last year around the Eid prayer ground.

Mr Muhammad said the place was allocated to them over 18 years ago by the Kano Emirate Council on the recommendation of the late Galadima of Kano, Tijjani Hashim.

The traders claimed that government later formalised the allocation of the shops and stalls to them.

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The place was allocated to our members to check criminal activities such as phone snatching and other immortal activities being perpetrated at the places, Mr Muhammad said.

We are many here, mostly youths, how can you attempt to separate these guys from their businesses? You know this will portend danger for the state, NAN quoted the trader as saying.

We are still trying to come to terms with the exact offence we committed that prompted KNUPDA to chase us from where we run our lawful businesses to fend for our family.

We supported this government. We voted for it during the 2023 election. The best empowerment this government can give us is to allow us to continue with our businesses at the Eid prayer ground, he said.

The state government had not spoken on the development as of the time of filing this report.

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Residents and government officials have provided details of how terrorists, locally called bandits, killed over 50 people in coordinated attacks on Katsina communities on Sunday.

Those killed included four policemen and two members of the state-owned security outfit, Community Watch Corps (CWC).

President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday condemned the attacks but provided no details.

PREMIUM TIMES has now learnt that five communities, all in Kankara Local Government Area of Katsina State, witnessed what residents called unforgettable moments when terrorists launched simultaneous attacks on the villages.

A total of 11 people were killed in Yargoje, 5 in Dan Nakwabo, 15 in Gidan Boka, 7 in Katsalle and 15 in Dan Maidaki, this newspaper learnt.

Eight other residents were seriously wounded and are receiving medical attention in Kankara General Hospital.

Most of them were killed in the farm, a resident of Mabai community, who asked not to be named for safety reasons, told PREMIUM TIMES over the phone. It was a heartless coordinated attack that security agents couldnt contain.

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Though residents said 53 people were killed, the police pegged the number of slain victims at 25 including the four policemen.

The Katsina attacks add to the regular attacks in north-west and north-central Nigeria by various armed groups. The attacks over the past decade have led to thousands of deaths and the displacement of hundreds of thousands of people.

Coordinated attacks

Residents said the Sunday attacks began in Yargoje around 3 p.m. when the terrorists invaded the community shooting sporadically.

The terrorists, according to one resident, drove on their motorcycles to Gidan Boka not far from Yargoje where they killed 15 residents mostly men and wounded two others.

That was when the policemen and members of the Community Watch Corp were alerted by fleeing residents.

Immediately, the nearest armoured personnel carrier (APC) patrol team was dispatched to the scene. 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, Abubakar-Sadik Aliyu, the police spokesperson in Katsina State, said.

Mr Aliyu said police investigation revealed that the terrorists killed 15 people and injured two 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).

From Gidan Boka, the terrorists proceeded to Dan Nakwabo and killed five farmers working on their farms.

Residents said the coordinated attack ended in Dan Mai Daki community where 15 residents were killed and eight wounded.

We counted 15 people killed by the bandits including women and children who were working on a farm. Eight people were quickly taken to the General Hospital in Kankara. These people were working for a living, Usman Mabai, a resident, said. Were in a serious situation in this axis. From Sheme to Kankara down to Marabar Kankara, there is no community that is not being attacked.

While the attacks were ongoing, another group of terrorists attacked residents working on their farms in Katsalle village.

READ ALSO: Two soldiers injured in fight with bandits in Niger State

Around 4 p.m., the bandits, riding on their motorcycles, circled the community. When we saw them, we thought they would not attack us, a Katsalle farmer now seeking refuge in Kankara town, told PREMIUM TIMES. Seven people were on their farm about to go home for the day when the bandits opened fire on them. They (bandits) were shouting at other farmers who were running, asking them Why did you come to the farm? Weve told you no farming this year.

Tinubu condemns attacks

According to a statement by his spokesperson, Ajuri Ngelale, President Tinubu strongly condemns the recent spate of attacks against citizens in Dutsin-Ma and Kankara Local Government Areas of Katsina State.

While describing the latest attacks as grisly and sinister, the president emphasizes that more will be done to secure citizens and completely degrade terrorists and other harbingers of death and sorrow in any part of the country, Mr Ngelale wrote.

President Tinubu directs security agencies to go after the assailants and ensure that they are brought to justice.

The President condoles with the families of the deceased, as well as the Government and people of Katsina State, and prays for the repose of the souls of the departed.

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The police in Abia State, south-east Nigeria, have dismissed a police operative who allegedly shot dead a businessman in Aba, the commercial hub of the state.

The police spokesperson in the state, Maureen Chinaka, disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday.

The businessman, Emmanuel Okocha, PREMIUM TIMES gathered, was shot dead on 17 April in the state for allegedly refusing to give a bribe to some police operatives.

Two days later, he died in a hospital where he was taken for treatment.

The late Okocha hailed from Abiriba, a community in Ohafia Local Government Area in the South-eastern state.

The operatives who said to have shot him were from the Rapid Response Squad of the police in the state.

They were said to have demanded a bribe from the victim despite having his complete vehicle and drivers licences.

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But police authorities in the state later said the officer who allegedly shot dead the businessman had been identified and arrested.

The officer, identified as Obagi Njok, a police corporal, was attached to the Abayi Police Divisional Headquarters in the state.

The authorities assured that the officer would be punished as soon as investigations into the incident were concluded.

Dismissal

In the police statement on Wednesday, Ms Chinaka, an assistant superintendent of police, said investigations found Mr Njok guilty of killing the businessman.

Police Corporal Obagi Njok, as he then was, was found guilty of discreditable conduct to, with misuse of firearm, and has therefore been dismissed from the Nigeria Police Force, she said.

The spokesperson said all persons concerned in the case, including family of the deceased, were carried along in the course of the investigations.

She said the Abia State Police Command remains steadfast in upholding professionalism and the rule of law in Nigeria, adding that the command has zero tolerance for any act of misconduct, unprofessionalism, and indiscipline among its operatives.

Investigation into the criminal aspects of his conduct has also been concluded and the matter has therefore been handed over to the office of the attorney general and commissioner for justice in Abia State on 24/05/2024 for prosecution in court, she stated.

Not the first time

Cases of police brutality and killing of Nigerians are not new in the country.

In October 2020, Nigerian youths protested against police brutality across the country and called for disbandment of the now defunct Special Anti-Robbery Unit (SARS) of the police.

Despite the ban on SARS, the cases of police brutality have persisted across the country.

Six officers, for instance, were caught in a viral video, in April 2023 using a machete to smack two unidentified people in Imo State.

The police in the state would later begin an orderly room trial of the officers.

Within the same period, a police officer who was filmed slapping a motorist in Emohua, Rivers State, was demoted.

The Emohua incident occurred a few days after Ubi Ebri, another officer, allegedly shot dead a young man in the neighbouring Delta State for reportedly refusing to give N100 bribe

PREMIUM TIMES reported how youths in Delta State protested with the victims corpse along major roads in Asaba.

Mr Ebri, the officer, was immediately arrested, dismissed from service and later arraigned.

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Five June 12 protesters wearing Revolution Now jackets were, on Wednesday, arrested at Mokola Roundabout in Ibadan by officers of the Nigeria Police Force.

They were among protesters who gathered to demonstrate under the aegis of Take It Back Movements in collaboration with Concerned Nigerians, another advocacy and human rights group.

The protesters had gathered for a peaceful protest on the state of the nation.

They demanded an end to hardship in the country, insecurity, police brutality and kidnapping, reversal of electricity tariff hike, and an end to attacks on press freedom, among other things.

According to one of the protesters, they had planned the protest to coincide with the Democracy Day celebration.

They began protesting around 9.15 a.m., singing songs, displaying a long banner and placards with inscriptions like We are hungry, Justice cannot be silenced, The power of people is greater than the people in power, United we stand, divided we fall.

But around 9:30 a.m., operatives, led by the Oyo State Commissioner of Police, Adebola Hamzat, accosted and dragged the demonstrators into a white Hilux bus.

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The arrest was done amid the heavy presence of police operatives, with Hilux buses and an armoured tank on standby.

Wearing a black T-shirt and jeans, Mr Hamzat stepped out of one of the Hilux buses in his entourage and ordered their arrest.

He queried the officers present at the scene, berating them for allowing the protesters to carry on with the protest despite his repeated warnings and public statements.

In anticipation of the 12 June mass protests that might be held across Ibadan, there was a heavy presence of police personnel in several places on Wednesday.

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XUZHOU, China, June 12, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- XCMG Machinery (SHE:000425, "XCMG") is proud to announce the upcoming deployment of its innovative new energy mining trucks, including a batch of 30 units XGE105 of electric mining trucks, at a leading mining site in the Republic of Guinea. This site boasts nearly three billion tons of controlled and inferred ore reserves, with total resources potentially reaching up to five billion tons.

30 Units of XCMG's Electric Mining Trucks Set to Revolutionize African Mining Operations.

The XGE105 electric mining truck from XCMG has been designed specifically for the harsh conditions of mining environments. Equipped with a mine-specific permanent magnet synchronous electric drive system, heavy-duty high-strength axles, and a maintenance-free high-shock-resistant battery system, these trucks represent the pinnacle of new energy solutions in heavy machinery.

Additionally, they feature an efficient braking energy recovery system and are fitted with variable damping oil/gas (nitrogen) suspension cylinders at the front and modular balanced suspensions at the rear to enhance lateral stability.

XGE105 has been operated in multiple countries, with a single unit covering over 100,000 kilometers per vehicle and running for more than 1,200 days without interruption as an up-to-date record. The trucks have undergone rigorous validation across extreme temperatures ranging from -40C to +40C, across various latitudes, proving the unmatched adaptability compared to traditional dump trucks.

Recently dispatched from Shanghai's Luojing Port Area, these new energy mining trucks are en route to Africa, with an estimated arrival date around June 22nd. Given their significant number and size, as well as the complex shipping processes involved in their transportation, XCMG has collaborated closely with port authorities, ensuring meticulous planning throughout all logistical phases. XCMG service technicians arrived on-site one day prior to overseeing all operations and ensuring that each vehicle is ready for immediate deployment upon arrival.

For more information, please visit https://www.xcmgglobal.com/.

About XCMG Machinery

Established in 1943, XCMG Machinery has risen to prominence in the engineering machinery industry, known globally for its competitive edge and influential presence. Pursuing the "Empower Solid Future" mission, XCMG has ventured beyond traditional boundaries to offer an extensive array of products and services, including construction and mining machinery, sanitation equipment, and innovative financial and modern services, leading the industry in diversity and scope. As of the first quarter of 2024, its innovative products had made their way to more than 190 countries and regions worldwide.

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2436455/image_1.jpg
DUBLIN, June 12, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- AerCap Holdings N.V. ("AerCap" or the "Company") (NYSE: AER) today announced it has signed lease agreements for four 737-800 Boeing Converted Freighter (BCF) aircraft with JD Airlines, the cargo airline of JD Logistics (also known as Jingdong Logistics), which are scheduled for delivery in 2024.

The aircraft will be operated on behalf of JD Logistics, the subsidiary of JD.com, a leading supply chain-based technology and service provider in China. The aircraft will be based in Nantong Xingdong International Airport and will operate routes between the major economic hubs of Nantong, Beijing, Shenzhen, Wuxi, and across Asia.

AerCap currently has three 737-800BCF aircraft on lease to JD Airlines.

Commenting on the agreement, Rich Greener, the Head of AerCap Cargo, said, "We are delighted to announce this new agreement with JD Airlines, marking an exciting expansion of our business relationship. The addition of these four 737-800BCF aircraft to their fleet will enable JD Airlines to respond to the ever-growing demand for e-commerce and express deliveries. We wish the JD Airlines team continued success and look forward to many more years of successful collaboration."

AerCap Cargo has more than 30 years' experience in freighter leasing, including Passenger-to-Freighter (P2F) conversions, with more than 100 successful conversions.

About AerCap

AerCap is the global leader in aviation leasing with one of the most attractive order books in the industry. AerCap serves approximately 300 customers around the world with comprehensive fleet solutions. AerCap is listed on the New York Stock Exchange (AER) and is based in Dublin with offices in Shannon, Miami, Singapore, Memphis, Amsterdam, Shanghai, Dubai, Seattle, Toulouse and other locations around the world.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains certain statements, estimates and forecasts with respect to future performance and events. These statements, estimates and forecasts are "forward-looking statements". In some cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "may," "might," "should," "expect," "plan," "intend," "will," "aim," "estimate," "anticipate," "believe," "predict," "potential" or "continue" or the negatives thereof or variations thereon or similar terminology. All statements other than statements of historical fact included in this press release are forward-looking statements and are based on various underlying assumptions and expectations and are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and assumptions, and may include projections of our future financial performance based on our growth strategies and anticipated trends in our business. These statements are only predictions based on our current expectations and projections about future events. There are important factors, including the impacts of, and associated responses to the Ukraine Conflict, that could cause our actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements to differ materially from the results, level of activity, performance or achievements expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements. As a result, we cannot assure you that the forward-looking statements included in this press release will prove to be accurate or correct. In light of these risks, uncertainties and assumptions, the future performance or events described in the forward-looking statements in this press release might not occur. Accordingly, you should not rely upon forward-looking statements as a prediction of actual results and we do not assume any responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of any of these forward-looking statements. Except as required by applicable law, we do not undertake any obligation to, and will not, update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

For more information regarding AerCap and to be added to our email distribution list, please visit www.aercap.com .

SOURCE AerCap Holdings N.V.
NEW YORK, June 12, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The global air quality monitor market size is estimated to grow by USD 2.04 billion from 2024-2028, according to Technavio. The market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 6.78% during the forecast period. Growing need to monitor indoor air quality in residential and commercial sectors is driving market growth, with a trend towards increased adoption of green buildings. However, high cost of deployment of air quality monitoring devices poses a challenge. Key market players include 3M Co., ACOEM Group, Aeroqual Ltd., Agilent Technologies Inc., Airthinx Inc., Atmotech Inc., Emerson Electric Co., General Electric Co., HANGZHOU ZETIAN TECHNOLOGY CO. LTD., Honeywell International Inc., HORIBA Ltd., IQAir AG, Merck KGaA, Perkin Elmer Inc., Siemens AG, Testo SE and Co. KGaA, Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc., Tisch Environmental Inc., TSI Inc., and Vaisala Oyj.

Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global air quality monitor market 2024-2028

Get a detailed analysis on regions, market segments, customer landscape, and companies- View the snapshot of this report

Air Quality Monitor Market Scope Report Coverage Details Base year 2023 Historic period 2018 - 2022 Forecast period 2024-2028 Growth momentum & CAGR Accelerate at a CAGR of 6.78% Market growth 2024-2028 USD 2046.1 million Market structure Fragmented YoY growth 2022-2023 (%) 6.23 Regional analysis North America, Europe, APAC, Middle East and Africa, and South America Performing market contribution North America at 34% Key countries US, China, Germany, UK, and Japan Key companies profiled 3M Co., ACOEM Group, Aeroqual Ltd., Agilent Technologies Inc., Airthinx Inc., Atmotech Inc., Emerson Electric Co., General Electric Co., HANGZHOU ZETIAN TECHNOLOGY CO. LTD., Honeywell International Inc., HORIBA Ltd., IQAir AG, Merck KGaA, Perkin Elmer Inc., Siemens AG, Testo SE and Co. KGaA, Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc., Tisch Environmental Inc., TSI Inc., and Vaisala Oyj

Market Driver

The global air quality monitor market is experiencing growth due to the rising adoption of green buildings. Indoor air quality is crucial for building occupants' health, comfort, and productivity. Green building technologies, including air quality monitoring, ventilation management, and humidity control, are driving market expansion. Green buildings, which focus on energy efficiency and resource use, are becoming increasingly popular.

Tools like The Green Globes system aid in eco-friendly design, while the demand for LEED-certified buildings further boosts the trend. Consequently, the adoption of green buildings is a significant factor fueling the growth of the air quality monitor market.

The Air Quality Monitor market is experiencing significant growth due to increasing concerns over environmental health. Carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, and particulate matter are key pollutants of concern. Technologies like sensors and filtration systems are in high demand. Companies are focusing on developing more accurate and efficient solutions.

The use of artificial intelligence and machine learning is trending to improve monitoring and prediction capabilities. Regulations and standards are driving market growth, with governments and organizations investing in air quality infrastructure. The market is expected to continue expanding as the importance of clean air becomes increasingly recognized.

Research report provides comprehensive data on impact of trend. For more details- Download a Sample Report

Market Challenges

The air quality monitor market faces challenges due to the high cost of deployment, particularly advanced sensors. Industrial, commercial, and residential buildings require air quality monitoring for health and satisfaction reasons. Indoor air monitors can cost up to USD250,000 each for continuous monitoring, making it difficult for developing countries to deploy them due to financial constraints.

each for continuous monitoring, making it difficult for developing countries to deploy them due to financial constraints. As a result, there is a growing trend towards low-cost monitoring systems in these countries. For instance, India plans to conduct a low-cost air monitoring study across 15 locations in Mumbai Metropolitan Region. This financial challenge may hinder market growth during the forecast period.

plans to conduct a low-cost air monitoring study across 15 locations in Mumbai Metropolitan Region. This financial challenge may hinder market growth during the forecast period. The Air Quality Monitor market faces several challenges. The increasing number of pollutants in the environment necessitates the need for advanced monitoring systems. The complexity of these systems can make implementation and maintenance costly. Additionally, ensuring accuracy and reliability of the data is crucial. Regulations and standards for air quality are constantly evolving, requiring frequent updates to monitoring technology.

Furthermore, integrating these systems with other infrastructure, such as power and communication networks, can pose challenges. Lastly, ensuring user-friendliness and affordability for end-users is essential for widespread adoption. Companies must address these challenges to provide effective and efficient air quality monitoring solutions.

For more insights on driver and challenges - Request a sample report!

Segment Overview

Product

1.1 Indoor

1.2 Outdoor

1.3 Wearable

End-user

2.1 Government

2.2 Commercial and residential

2.3 Energy and pharmaceuticals

2.4 Others

Geography

3.1 North America

3.2 Europe

3.3 APAC

3.4 Middle East and Africa

and 3.5 South America

1.1 Indoor- Indoor air quality monitors are essential devices for measuring and evaluating the quality of air within buildings. Equipped with sensors for temperature, humidity, CO2 levels, VOCs, PM, and other pollutants, these monitors provide real-time data to identify potential sources of indoor air pollution. By addressing these issues, building owners and managers can improve indoor air quality through ventilation adjustments, pollution source elimination, and air purification measures. The increasing awareness of health impacts and sustainable building practices has fueled the demand for indoor air quality monitors, driving market growth in this segment.

For more information on market segmentation with geographical analysis including forecast (2024-2028) and historic data (2017-2021) - Download a Sample Report

Research Analysis

The Air Quality Monitor market is experiencing significant growth due to the increasing awareness of atmospheric pollution and its impact on human health. Pollutants such as particulate matter, nitrogen oxides (NOX), sulfur oxides (SOX), carbon monoxide, and sulfur dioxide are major concerns, leading to respiratory diseases, cardiovascular morbidity, and casualties.

Environmental pollution, including acid rain and toxicity levels, is a global issue that requires immediate attention. Smart city initiatives, such as wireless communication, crowdsourcing, and smart poles, are being implemented to monitor and mitigate atmospheric pollution. Air filter systems, traffic systems, streetlight solutions, and both fixed and portable systems are essential components of these initiatives. Green buildings and smart homes are also integrating advanced air quality monitoring technologies to ensure a healthy living environment.

Market Research Overview

The Air Quality Monitor market encompasses solutions and technologies designed to measure and improve the quality of air in various environments. These solutions are integral to addressing environmental concerns and ensuring public health. The market consists of various components, including sensors, monitoring systems, and analytics software. The demand for air quality monitors is driven by factors such as increasing air pollution levels, stringent regulations, and growing awareness of indoor air quality.

The market is segmented based on application areas, including industrial, residential, and commercial. The use of advanced technologies like IoT, AI, and machine learning is transforming the air quality monitoring landscape, offering real-time data and predictive analytics. The market is expected to grow significantly in the coming years due to these factors.

Table of Contents:

1 Executive Summary

2 Market Landscape

3 Market Sizing

4 Historic Market Size

5 Five Forces Analysis

6 Market Segmentation

Product

Indoor



Outdoor



Wearable

End-user

Government



Commercial And Residential



Energy And Pharmaceuticals



Others

Geography

North America



Europe



APAC



Middle East And Africa



South America

7 Customer Landscape

8 Geographic Landscape

9 Drivers, Challenges, and Trends

10 Company Landscape

11 Company Analysis

12 Appendix

About Technavio

Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focuses on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions.

With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios.

Contacts

Technavio Research

Jesse Maida

Media & Marketing Executive

US: +1 844 364 1100

UK: +44 203 893 3200

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.technavio.com/

SOURCE Technavio
ATLANTA, June 12, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Ameris Bank is donating $2.23 million to 40 rural hospitals in Georgia, as part of the Georgia HEART Hospital Program in 2024. Ameris has been participating in the state income tax credit program since 2018, contributing more than $12 million.

"Ameris is proud to support our rural hospitals and the communities they serve," said Ameris Bank CEO Palmer Proctor. "The Georgia HEART Hospital Program is important because it not only provides much needed funding to these crucial hospitals, but also allows them to choose how the money is best spent to care for their patients."

Of the 40 hospitals receiving funding, the majority serve communities where Ameris does not have a physical presence, highlighting the bank's commitment to improving healthcare throughout the state. Both 2023 and 2024 have been record-setting years for Georgia HEART donations from Ameris, totaling more than $4 million.

The Georgia Rural Hospital Tax Credit enables Georgia businesses and taxpayers to redirect their Georgia income tax liability to support qualified hospitals. Participation in the Georgia HEART Hospital Program is limited to Georgia rural hospitals that meet qualification criteria established by law.

About Ameris Bank

Ameris Bank, a subsidiary of Ameris Bancorp (Nasdaq: ABCB), is a state-chartered bank headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. Ameris operates 164 financial centers across the Southeast and serves consumer and business customers nationwide through select lending channels. Ameris manages $25.7 billion in assets as of March 31, 2024, and provides a full range of traditional banking and lending products, treasury and cash management, insurance premium financing, and mortgage and refinancing services. Learn more about Ameris at www.amerisbank.com .

SOURCE Ameris Bank
SHANGHAI, June 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The 26th Bakery China, co-organized by the China Association of Bakery and Confectionery Industry (CABCI) and Bakery China Exhibitions Co., Ltd., concluded successfully on May 24th. This exhibition reached unprecedented heights with a 320,000-square-meter area, encompassing the entire industry chain. With over 2,200 exhibitors from more than 30 countries and regions, it showcased an impressive array of over 100,000 brands. The event garnered a remarkable total of 393,009 visits from professional buyers.

Spanning 4 days, the exhibition focused on showcasing the industry's current state and specific developmental prospects. Its aim was to help the bakery industry meet evolving demands from diverse scenarios and demographics in innovative ways, while providing a platform for sharing countless business opportunities.

Fostering Global Integration for Coordinated Industry Development

The exhibition attracted buyer delegations from emerging markets or those with high purchasing power, such as Asia, the Middle East, Europe, and Oceania, resulting in over 10,000 visits from beyond China. The International Trade Match-Making service facilitated over 3,000 precise business matchmaking sessions. More than 90% of international buyers expressed satisfaction with the services. "We are very loyal to Bakery China for at least 7 or 8 years." commented a French buyer.

"More and more international buyers and professional bakers and industrial bakers are coming to China to source for more equipment, bakery needs and looking forward for new innovations and new trends," said Zhen Hongguo, President of Filipino-Chinese Bakery Association, Inc.

The Bakery Products market in China is anticipated to achieve a projected market size of US$162.4 billion by 2030. This growth trajectory is attracting an increasing number of international buyers, professional and industrial bakers to China, seeking to procure advanced equipment and ingredients to meet their baking needs. They are actively exploring innovative avenues for development and emerging trends in the industry.

Forging an Innovative and Digitalized Integrated Platform

With over 2,200 industry supply chain participants, the exhibition comprehensively showcased cutting-edge innovation trends across various dimensions. Teaming up with globally renowned consulting firms like Euromonitor, Innova, and Mintel, it provided firsthand data and innovative trends from China and other key markets. Additionally, the showcase of Bakery China Go Green exemplary cases demonstrated responses to global decarbonization and emission reduction initiatives.

Diverse activities, including nearly thirty forums, four thematic competitions, one bazaar, multiple industry cluster zones, and more, were integrated into the exhibition. By connecting food, fashion, culture, and art, it truly created an annual event that breaks boundaries. Moreover, the digital platform iBakeryChina pioneers a layered exhibition hall layout and enables real-time synchronization between exhibitors' physical booth locations and their online stores.

Stay tuned for an exciting lineup of upcoming baking events. The Bakery China Autumn & China Home Baking Show 2024 is scheduled to take place from October 17th to 19th at the Wuhan International Expo Center. The 27th Bakery China is set to be held from May 19th to 22nd 2025 at the National Exhibition and Convention Center.

SOURCE Bakery China
Arcadis' Sustainable Cities Index 2024 reveals major disparities in sustainability progress, as cities race to meet 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Amsterdam takes top spot as most Sustainable City, thanks to strong economic performance, social equity, and renewable energy investment.

Maintaining trajectory critical as SDG deadline approaches, with opportunities for even highest-ranking cities to accelerate sustainability goals

AMSTERDAM, June 12, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Arcadis has issued a rallying call to cities worldwide, as the publication of its Sustainable Cities Index 2024 reveals the need for accelerated action in tackling climate change and other sustainability challenges.

The publication of the report comes with nearly 2,000 days until the 2030 deadline for achieving the UN SDGs. It reveals clear differences between leading cities such as Amsterdam (1st), Copenhagen (3rd) and Munich (5th), and those trailing behind - particularly US and Asian cities like New York (48th), Boston (56th), and Taipei (62nd).

Top 20 most sustainable cities in the Arcadis Sustainable Cities Index 2024

Arcadis' Sustainable Cities Index ranks 100 cities across three pillars of sustainability - Planet, People, and Profit. Marking the 6th edition of the report since its inception in 2015, it comprises 67 metrics that highlight our evolving understanding of sustainability, including air pollution, waste management, and investment in low carbon infrastructure (including renewable energy and sustainable transport), as well as economic performance, social equity, and natural disaster resilience.

This year Arcadis has also added a fourth 'Progress' pillar to measure change over time. This demonstrates the impact of sustainability interventions over the last decade and, when considered alongside the other pillars, provides insights into a city's future trajectory.

Overall, European cities dominate the top of the Index. All four German cities included in the report  Frankfurt, Munich, Hamburg, and Berlin  claim spots in the top 10, buoyed by achievements in water sanitation and waste management, and low greenhouse gas emissions.

High performance in the Planet pillar is associated with overall success, with eight of the top 10 cities for Planet also appearing in the overall top 10. The Planet pillar is comprised of metrics like sustainable energy systems and low-emission transport, suggesting these are powerful tools for urban sustainability.

This year's index also highlights that high performance on the Profit metric does not necessarily come at the expense of environmental sustainability. The report emphasizes how a thriving economy should support investment in infrastructure, alternative energy sources, green initiatives, and social programs. Amsterdam, the most sustainable city of 2024, also ranks at the top of the Profit pillar, excelling in income and living standards, employment, and transport infrastructure.

North American cities dominate the Profit pillar. San Francisco, Dallas, Chicago, Houston, New York, and Seattle all appear in the top 10 for Profit, thanks to ease of doing business, GDP per capita, and employment rates. However, while these cities demonstrate business success, wage levels and living standards are not keeping pace. To move higher up, socially inclusive development strategies are critical, and North American and European cities must draw inspiration from each other to continue making progress.

When it comes to progress over the last decade, many European cities have made significant strides  despite their sustainable starting points  to cement their position at the top of the Index. Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Warsaw, Copenhagen, Frankfurt, Munich, Hamburg, and Berlin all feature in the top third of the Progress pillar and the top third of the index overall. This is thanks to a commitment to renewable energy production, as well as socio-economic factors like female labor force participation, and healthcare.

Although low in the overall rankings, the dominance of Asian cities such as Jakarta, Wuhan, and Shanghai at the top of the Progress pillar shows that, in cities with limited prior sustainable infrastructure or practices, early steps can have enormous impact in generating momentum.

John Batten, Arcadis Global Cities Director, said:

"Cities play a critical role in advancing the sustainable development agenda. However, our progress assessment shows that more needs to be done to meet the SDG deadline. With just 2,000 days to go, the challenge is to keep innovating. Whether by scaling up renewable energy initiatives, integrating climate considerations into infrastructure planning, improving mobility through intelligent traffic management, or supporting the retrofit of existing buildings, there are always areas to improve. As 2030 approaches, cities must build on successes, identify areas for progress, and foster collaboration to address challenges."

Download the full report here.

About Arcadis

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SOURCE Arcadis
Arcadis' Sustainable Cities Index 2024 reveals major disparities in sustainability progress, as cities race to meet 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Six US cities rank in the top 10 on profit pillar, creating an opportunity for growth across other pillars

San Francisco top US city under Profit pillar, as home to many successful technology companies

AMSTERDAM, June 12, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Arcadis has issued a rallying call to cities worldwide, as the publication of its Sustainable Cities Index 2024 reveals the need for accelerated action in tackling climate change and other urban sustainability challenges.

Top 20 most sustainable cities in the Arcadis Sustainable Cities Index 2024

The publication of the report comes with nearly 2,000 days until the 2030 deadline for achieving the UN SDGs. It reveals some clear differences between leading cities such as Amsterdam (1st), Copenhagen (3rd) and Munich (5th), and those trailing behind - particularly US and Asian cities like New York (48th), Boston (56th), and Taipei (62nd). Overall, European cities dominate the top of the SCI.

Arcadis' Sustainable Cities Index ranks 100 cities across three pillars of sustainability - Planet, People, and Profit. Marking the 6th edition of the report since its inception in 2015, it comprises 67 metrics that highlight our evolving understanding of sustainability, including air pollution, waste management, and investment in low carbon infrastructure (including renewable energy and sustainable transport), as well as economic performance, social equity, and natural disaster resilience.

This year Arcadis has also added a fourth 'Progress' pillar to measure change over time. This demonstrates the impact of sustainability interventions made over the last decade and, when considered alongside the other pillars, provides insights into a city's future trajectory.

High performance in the Planet pillar is associated with overall success, with eight of the top 10 cities for Planet also appearing in the overall top 10. The Planet pillar is comprised of metrics like sustainable energy systems and low-emission transport, suggesting these are powerful tools for urban sustainability.

This year's index also highlights that high performance on the Profit metric does not necessarily come at the expense of environmental sustainability. The report emphasizes how a thriving economy should support investment in infrastructure, alternative energy sources, green initiatives, and social programs.

US cities dominate the Profit pillar. San Francisco, Dallas, Chicago, Houston, New York, and Seattle all appear in the top 10 for Profit, thanks to ease of doing business, GDP per capita, and employment rates. However, while these cities demonstrate business success, wage levels and living standards are not keeping pace. To move higher up, socially inclusive development strategies are critical, and North American and European cities must draw inspiration from each other to continue making progress.

When it comes to progress, there is an opportunity for US cities to invest in sustainable practices that will improve their rankings in the People and Planet pillars. While US cities may not have the same amount of infrastructure as European cities, investment in public transportation is expanding, especially with the support of almost $4 billion for 14 major transit construction projects across the US announced earlier this year.

Peter Wijsman, San Francisco Executive at Arcadis, said:

"Economies of local US cities are thriving. The real opportunity for all US cities is to invest in sustainable energy systems and low-emissions transport with equity in mind. Amsterdam topping the Profit pillar as well as the overall report demonstrates that a city can have a robust economy while investing in sustainable infrastructure that improves overall quality of life. I am optimistic that US cities will build on their current economic success to work towards global sustainability goals."

John Batten, Arcadis Global Cities Director, added:

"Cities play a critical role in advancing the sustainable development agenda. However, our progress assessment shows that more needs to be done to meet the SDG deadline. With just 2,000 days to go, the challenge is to keep innovating. Whether by scaling up renewable energy initiatives, integrating climate considerations into infrastructure planning, improving mobility through intelligent traffic management, or supporting the retrofit of existing buildings, there are always areas to improve. As 2030 approaches, cities must build on successes, identify areas for progress, and foster collaboration to address challenges."

Download the full report here.

About Arcadis

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SOURCE Arcadis
Backed by GEF Capital, Civic Announces First Acquisitions of Green Rack Solar and Ipsun Solar

WASHINGTON, June 12, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Solar industry veterans are launching Civic Renewables ("Civic") to create a new business model to empower local solar businesses through a national network. Established with the backing of GEF Capital , a Washington, D.C.-based private equity firm focused on climate change and pollution mitigation, Civic will act as the parent company to local clean energy businesses, integrating the efficiencies and resources of a large organization with the commitment to quality, service, and integrity of community-based businesses. The company's founding leadership brings decades of experience from leading solar companies, including Tesla Energy, SolarCity, and SunRun. Civic has completed its first two acquisitions of local solar installation businesses: Green Rack Solar and Ipsun Solar .

Green Rack Solar



Green Rack Solar specializes in residential solar installations in Western Pennsylvania and Ohio .





Ipsun Solar



Ipsun Solar specializes in residential and commercial solar installations across Northern Virginia , Washington D.C. , and Maryland .

Civic Renewables represents a new business model to empower local solar businesses through a national network. Post this

"Providing local solar businesses the tools to thrive is the key to accelerating solar adoption nationwide. Green Rack and Ipsun are fantastic local companies that deliver the highest quality installations and service in their market. We've founded Civic Renewables to support these exact types of great local businesses and allow them to flourish," said Leon Keshishian, founder and CEO of Civic Renewables. "We're grateful for the partnership and backing of GEF Capital Partners and look forward to working together to build a new business model for local solar."

"We are excited to partner with Civic Renewables in their efforts to support local solar businesses and accelerate clean energy solutions. Their mission to speed the clean energy transition by empowering local solar will help people transition towards less expensive forms of renewable energy. We have great confidence in the Civic Renewables team's ability to lead this charge and build this new business model," said Stuart Barkoff, co-founder and Managing Partner of GEF Capital Partners.

"Partnering with Civic Renewables allows us to focus on what we do bestquality installation and service. I know and respect the team at Civic, this is a perfect fit for us as we move forward to help our community's homeowners unlock remarkable financial savings through solar," said Eben Needham, Founder of Green Rack Solar.

Civic Renewables is dedicated to speeding the clean energy transition by empowering local solar. The company is actively pursuing opportunities with local businesses across the country.

For more information, visit: https://www.civicrenewables.com

About Civic Renewables

Civic Renewables is a national parent company to a growing network of local clean energy businesses. Founded by a team of accomplished solar veteran leaders, Civic Renewables is uniquely positioned to create a new clean energy business model. We deliver a large organization's resources and operational efficiencies combined with the local insight and commitment to quality of community-based businesses. Civic provides its family of businesses with support that allows them to focus on delivering an unparalleled customer experience. Civic Renewables has formed a strategic partnership with GEF Capital Partners, established leaders in global sustainability and environmental investing, to provide the company with funding, guidance, and a network of committed global stakeholders. https://www.civicrenewables.com

About GEF Capital Partners:

GEF Capital Partners is a global private equity firm that that was established in March 2018 following a collaborative spinout from Global Environment Fund, an early pioneer in global sustainability and environmental investing. With offices in the United States, India and Brazil, and investments spanning the clean energy, energy efficiency, waste, water and resource efficiency sectors, GEF Capital invests in companies that have developed solutions to help address climate change and pollution mitigation. By partnering with management teams that operate in high-growth markets, GEF Capital brings a value-added approach to its investments to grow leading companies and ensure a more sustainable future. In the United States, the Fund's impact strategy and approach is highlighted in GEF Capital's 2023 Impact Strategy Report . More is available at www.gefcapital.com .

SOURCE Civic Renewables
- National Science Teachers Association, American Academy of Neurology and Red Hat Enterprise Linux were the first conventions to take in the views at the new Bluebird Ballroom. 

DENVER, June 12, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Almost 24,000 meeting attendees were among the first to meet in the newly expanded Colorado Convention Center (CCC). Three groups from across the country and around the world convened in Denver this spring including the National Science Teaching Association's (NSTA) National Conference on Science Education, the American Academy of Neurology's (AAN) Annual Meeting and the Red Hat Summit. Red Hat specifically was able to book their summit thanks to the expanded Bluebird Ballroom and pre-function terrace, without which they would have had to alter their plans.

NSTA welcome reception. Photo credit Brent Andeck

Within walking distance of more than 12,500 hotel rooms, the CCC is ideal for any size meeting or convention group. And thanks to the rooftop expansion project completed in 2023, it's one of the most advanced conference center in the nation. The Terrace Level with the Bluebird Ballroom is the newest addition to the Colorado Convention Center, featuring 80,000 square feet of new multi-function, column-free ballroom space, 35,000 square feet of pre-function space and a 20,000-square-foot outdoor terrace with panoramic views of the Rocky Mountains and downtown Denver.

"The American Academy of Neurology brought its 2024 Annual Meeting to the Colorado Convention Center, and we felt fortunate to be one of the first groups to experience the expansive and flexible space of the Bluebird Ballroom," said Kelly Ricker, chief learning officer of the American Academy of Neurology. "Throughout the week, our 11,500 in-person attendees were able to enjoy the space with its breathtaking mountain views. The Bluebird Ballroom is an excellent combination of form and function, providing groups a unique space to gather and do business."

With 300 days of sunshine, a walkable downtown, thriving arts and culture, an award-winning, Michelin-rated culinary scene and the Rocky Mountains as a backdrop, Denver was the perfect setting for the NSTA, AAN and Red Hat conventions.

About VISIT DENVER, The Convention & Visitors Bureau

Celebrating 115 years of promoting The Mile High City, VISIT DENVER is a nonprofit trade association that contracts with the City of Denver to market Denver as a convention and leisure destination, increasing economic development in the city, creating jobs and generating taxes. Denver welcomed more than 36.3 million visitors in 2022, generating $9.4 billion in spending, while supporting tens of thousands of jobs and making Tourism one of the city's largest industries. Learn more about Denver on the VISIT DENVER website or at Tourism Pays Denver. Follow Denver's social media channels for up-to-the-minute updates on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube and LinkedIn.

With press or photo inquiries, please contact:

Taylor Shields, Director of PR & Communications

Caroline Campbell, PR & Communications Manager

[email protected]

SOURCE VISIT DENVER, The Convention & Visitors Bureau
Franchised provider of in-home caregiving services enhances DementiaWise program to address growing need of person-centered care

TROY, Mich., June 12, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- ComForCare , a franchised provider of in-home caregiving services, is proud to announce the launch of DementiaWise 2.0. This expanded program builds upon the foundation of its original proprietary program, DementiaWise, an occupation-based, team-centered training program designed to help elevate the standard of dementia care. The DementiaWise  program is aimed at better equipping home care teams to resolve dementia-related challenges collaboratively with clients and their families with a person-centered approach.

With an emphasis on person-centered care, the advanced training module delves deeper into the stages of dementia to tailor care strategies specific to each stage. DementiaWise 2.0, delivered through ComForCare's Learning Management System, Relias, provides caregivers an eight-chapter training program containing stage-specific care strategies, new staging guides, caregiver daily schedules and a DW2.0 manual.

" Nearly seven million Americans are living with Alzheimer's disease and this number is projected to nearly triple by 2060. This marks a crucial need to equip direct care workers with the tools and strategies to support individuals living with dementia to not only successfully age in place at home, but to thrive," said Stephanie Wierzbicka, Director of Strategic Health Programs at ComForCare. "In recognition of Alzheimer's and Brain Awareness Month and beyond, ComForCare is committed to advancing the comprehensive curriculum of the DementiaWise program by innovating to provide the utmost care and support for individuals and families affected by the disease that is the sixth leading cause of death in the U.S. "

Since its inception in 2013, DementiaWise has been recognized by the Alzheimer's Association for incorporating evidence-based dementia care practices. As part of its ongoing collaboration, ComForCare has featured Kristin Moore Bennett, Health Systems Director of the Alzheimer's Association, on its 2023 and 2024 podcast episodes to discuss the annual Alzheimer's Facts and Figures report, providing listeners with a comprehensive look into dementia care navigation.

"At ComForCare, we prioritize the essential need for equipping caregivers with every resource and tool available to ensure they have the expertise to care for and positively impact the overall quality of life for clients living with dementia," said Rebecca Bouchard, Brand President of ComForCare. "In 2022 ComForCare supported a Duke University study that validated the effectiveness of our DementiaWise program, and with the launch of DementiaWise 2.0, we are only furthering our commitment to providing comprehensive, stage-specific care strategies that empower caregivers and enhance the well-being of clients."

The launch of DementiaWise 2.0 ahead of Alzheimer's and Brain Awareness Month underscores ComForCare's dedication to advancing the care and support for individuals living with dementia. To learn more, visit ComForCare DementiaWise . To view and apply to open positions, visit ComForCare Career Days .

About ComForCare Home Care:

ComForCare is a premier franchised provider of in-home caregiving services with 275 territories independently-owned and operated in Canada and the U.S., helping older adults live independently in their own homes. ComForCare operates as At Your Side in Houston, Texas. ComForCare is committed to helping people live their best lives possible and offers special programs, including fall risk management, dementia care, innovative in-home technology devices, and Joyful Memories music. Founded in 1996, ComForCare was acquired by private equity firm The Riverside Company in 2017 and is now part of Best Life Brands, which has plans for continued expansion of service brands across the continuum of care. ComForCare has earned a ranking of 402 on the Entrepreneur Franchise 500 list. For more information, visit www.comforcare.com .

For more information, contact:

Loren Brown I BizCom Associates

817.913.0194 | [email protected]

SOURCE ComForCare Home Care
ROCKVILLE, Md., June 12, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- 'Government Stimulus Packages and Reduced Housing Rates Spurring Innovation in Construction Equipment Manufacturing', according to a recently updated research report released by Fact.MR, the global construction equipment market size is poised to reach US$ 128.3 billion in 2024 and further advance at a CAGR of 4.1% from 2024 to 2034.

The construction sector is expanding steadily due to factors such as urbanization, population growth, technological advancements, infrastructure modernization, and a focus on sustainability. The growth of the construction equipment market is driven by increasing infrastructure development projects and investments in this domain. Favorable government initiatives, such as stimulus packages and lower housing rates, are projected to drive the construction equipment market growth during the forecast period. Technological advancements for more optimized and reliable products are shaping the market trends.

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The off-highway industry is gradually adopting autonomous operating technologies. Construction tasks are repetitive, physical, precise, and time-sensitive, making them ideal for autonomous machinery. As a result, there is an increased demand for automation in construction equipment. Manufacturers are developing autonomous construction machinery that uses radio waves to communicate, receive instructions, and report on conditions.

Key Takeaways from Market Study

The global construction equipment market is evaluated to reach US$ 191.7 billion by the end of 2034.

by the end of 2034. Sales of construction equipment in the United States are estimated at US$ 22.7 billion in 2024.

are estimated at in 2024. The market in South Korea is projected to reach US$ 12.9 billion by the end of 2034.

is projected to reach by the end of 2034. Demand for construction equipment in the United States is forecasted to rise at a CAGR of 4% from 2024 to 2034.

is forecasted to rise at a CAGR of 4% from 2024 to 2034. China is set to capture a market share of 53.4% in East Asia in 2024.

is set to capture a market share of 53.4% in in 2024. Demand for earthmoving machinery is estimated at a market value of US$ 73.6 billion in 2024.

"Government policies promoting PPP in infrastructure projects are driving the construction equipment market by encouraging investments in large-scale construction projects," says a Fact.MR analyst.

Major Players Profiled In This Report:

J C Bamford Excavators Ltd.;

Deere & Company;

Kobelco Construction Machinery Co. Ltd.;

Caterpillar;

CNH Industrial N.V;

Doosan Corporation;

Escorts Limited;

Hitachi Construction Machinery Co. Ltd.;

Hyundai Construction Equipment Co. Ltd.;

Komatsu Ltd.

Upcoming Multifamily Housing Construction Projects in Europe Driving Demand for Construction Equipment

The residential infrastructure construction sector is witnessing a rise in demand for construction equipment as housing prices decline and urbanization accelerates in developing countries like China and India. Moreover, the construction equipment market is projected to benefit from increased government policies promoting public-private partnerships (PPP) and infrastructure development over the forecast period.

In recent years, construction spending in North America has risen significantly. In addition, several upcoming multifamily housing construction projects in Europe are further boosting the construction equipment market. India's burgeoning real estate market is also contributing to the growing demand for construction equipment.

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Competition Analysis:

Key companies in the construction equipment market are developing wireless, self-contained construction gear that uses radio waves from other devices to block communication technology, receive commands, and report status. This provides more productivity, reduced unscheduled maintenance, and enhanced safety. As a result, the growing popularity of self-driving construction equipment is creating new commercial opportunities for the industry.

Komatsu Ltd. and Honda Motor Co., Ltd. signed a joint development agreement in January 2021 . Komatsu and Honda worked together to electrify Micro Excavators (PCO1) and set up a battery-sharing system to provide Battery Power Packs (MPP) for use in construction equipment and related equipment.

. Komatsu and Honda worked together to electrify Micro Excavators (PCO1) and set up a battery-sharing system to provide Battery Power Packs (MPP) for use in construction equipment and related equipment. The new electric mobile crane from Manitex Vall, the V 110 R, was unveiled in February 2021 . The battery-powered and remote-controlled lift rises to a height of 10.4 meters, has a lifting capacity of 11,000 kg, and operates at a height of 10.4 meters.

Explore More Related Studies Published by Fact.MR Research:

The construction elevators market, valued at US$ 684.8 million in 2022, is projected to grow at 4.7% annually, reaching US$ 1.1 billion by 2033.Top of Form

Bottom of Form

The global construction lasers market, valued at US$ 2.67 billion in 2022, is expected to grow at a 4.7% CAGR, reaching US$ 4.22 billion by 2032. From 2017 to 2021, the market grew at a 2.1% CAGR, according to Fact.MR

The global construction robot market, valued at US$ 173 billion in 2022, is projected to grow at a 16.6% CAGR, reaching US$ 936 billion by 2033, according to Fact.MR.

More Valuable Insights on Offer

Fact.MR, in its new offering, presents an unbiased analysis of the construction equipment market for 2019 to 2023 and forecast statistics for 2024 to 2034.

The study divulges the construction equipment market based on product type (earthmoving machinery, construction material handling machinery, concrete & road construction machinery) and sales channel (direct sales, distributors), across seven major regions of the world (North America, Latin America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, East Asia, South Asia & Pacific, and MEA).

About Fact.MR:

Fact.MR is a distinguished market research company renowned for its comprehensive market reports and invaluable business insights. As a prominent player in business intelligence, we deliver deep analysis, uncovering market trends, growth paths, and competitive landscapes. Renowned for its commitment to accuracy and reliability, we empower businesses with crucial data and strategic recommendations, facilitating informed decision-making and enhancing market positioning. With its unwavering dedication to providing reliable market intelligence, FACT.MR continues to assist companies in navigating dynamic market challenges with confidence and achieving long-term success. With a global presence and a team of experienced analysts, FACT.MR ensures its clients receive actionable insights to capitalize on emerging opportunities and stay ahead in the competitive landscape.

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SOURCE Fact.MR
Led by new team with deep data infrastructure expertise, company provides services from data management and cloud to enterprise application management and analytics

PITTSBURGH, June 12, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- DataStrike, a leader in data infrastructure services, announced it has completed the acquisition of database and cloud management pioneer MiCORE in a transaction that will form the largest managed service provider (MSP) specializing in data infrastructure services for small- and mid-sized businesses (SMBs). The company also appointed a new management team with deep roots in the data infrastructure space. DataStrike's leadership includes CEO Buddy Flerl, President and COO Rob Brown and CMO Kelsic Pross, all former executives from database administration MSP RDX.

DataStrike provides SMBs across industries with an end-to-end portfolio of onshore managed services, including data management, cloud, enterprise application management and analytics. Through the acquisition of MiCORE, the combined company now boasts more than 200 clients and thousands of databases monitored across North America.

"We are bringing over 25 years of best practices in database, cloud and enterprise application management, while expanding our range of solutions into business intelligence to meet the ever-evolving needs of our clients," said Flerl. "And we are doing it all onshore. While our competitors operate out of other countries with different regulations, we deliver our services entirely from within North America."

DataStrike will continue to service clients with strategy and planning, implementation, optimization and 24x7x365 database administration support, among other areas of emphasis. It maintains close partnerships and holds the highest level of certifications from technology leaders such as Microsoft, AWS, Oracle, SAP and many others. The company is also packaging data analytics platforms DataBricks, PowerBI and Snowflake into its original core offerings so clients can gain real-time, data-driven business insights from the same partner they depend on to manage their data infrastructure.

"With the acquisition of MiCORE, DataStrike is in prime position to usher in a new era of transformational data-centric solutions, while providing an exceptional service experience for our clients," shared Brown. "Most importantly, we are raising the standard of excellence for the industry with a special focus on SMBs, which have been woefully overlooked by the larger MSP community. We are committed to bringing world-class, enterprise-level services to the SMB market, just like we did at RDX, and we've brought the team back together to recreate the magic once again."

About DataStrike

DataStrike is the industry leader in 100% onshore data infrastructure services and enables companies to harness IT changes as a catalyst for growth. With a network of highly specialized experts, strategic partnerships with the world's biggest technology providers and a platform-agnostic approach, DataStrike provides innovative solutions and practical guidance to accelerate digital transformation initiatives and drive better business outcomes for small- to mid-sized businesses. Founded in 2008, the company maintains more than 200 clients across North America and is headquartered in Pittsburgh, PA. To learn more about DataStrike's services and capabilities, please visit datastrike.com.

SOURCE DataStrike
LAS VEGAS, June 12, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- From June 12 to 14, 2024, the InfoComm 2024 audiovisual display and systems integration exhibition was held at the Las Vegas Convention Center, USA. DECO INTEGRATION TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD. (hereinafter referred to as "DECO"), a leading innovator in millimeter-wave wireless connection chips from China, showcased its exclusively developed mmWave Wireless Connection Solution. This solution has successfully achieved wireless power supply and data transmission within LED Display, offering more convenience to the display market and promising to unlock a variety of extended applications.

InfoComm, North America's largest professional audiovisual and information communications trade show, is organized by the Audiovisual and Integrated Experience Association (AVIXA) and is renowned as one of the most influential events in North America and globally. At the joint exhibition booth (Booth No. W2901) with its key partner, control system manufacturer Xi'an NovaStar, DECO demonstrated the application of its solution: between the Hub board and modules, and between cabinets, "near-field connectivity" is achieved, with a single chip managing all connections. This wireless experience eliminates the need for ribbon cables, floating connectors, or fixed connectors between cabinet light boards and control cards, significantly simplifying the installation, dismantling, and maintenance processes.

This wireless convenience aligns with the development and market demands of LED display technology. As the industry trend towards increasingly high-definition LED displays, including 4K and even 8K mass production, grows, there are higher requirements for existing data transmission and corresponding protocols. DECO's mmWave Wireless Connection Solution, with its high-speed, high-frequency, and high-efficiency performance, not only addresses the current market challenge of "quick installation and dismantling", but also meets the future needs for more flexible, integrated, and intelligent applications of LED displays.

The realization of this wireless connectivity solution is based on the installation of DECO's self-developed mmWave Wireless Connection chips at the aforementioned connection points. Reportedly, this is also China's first mmWave Wireless Connection chip, which has already achieved mass shipment in the latest products of core customers in the LED display field. This includes the DK1668 (SPI + RGB + FLASH) chip used between Hub boards and modules, and the DKT1678/DKT1679 (SPI + LVDS) chips used between cabinets.

At the event, industry insiders expressed optimism about the millimeter-wave wireless connectivity products and solutions represented by DECO. They believe that DECO's products and solutions can help LED display manufacturers streamline kits and reuse more modules, thereby simplifying the supply chain. Additionally, the unique properties of the millimeter-wave band, a key technology for achieving ultra-high-speed wireless network connections, allow it to provide extremely high data transmission rates and large communication capacities with very low latency. This enhances the LED display market's extensibility, potentially adding more application-level functionalities.

DECO's mmWave Wireless Connection chips are now in mass production, offering samples and technical consultations. Inquiries are welcome at [email protected]. For more information, please visit www.decosemi.com.

SOURCE DECO INTEGRATION TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
KAMLOOPS, BC, June 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ - Delta Water Products Group is thrilled to announce significant changes underway, marked by strategic acquisitions and a comprehensive rebranding effort. The company's recent acquisitions, including WaterTec (WaterTec Ltd. in Canada and WaterTec Inc. in the US), Arndt Motor & Pump Service, and Aquateck West, will now seamlessly integrate with its existing flagship brands, Delta Water Products and Delta Irrigation, under the new unified identity of DELTA WATER PRODUCTS GROUP.

This strategic alignment consolidates the strengths and expertise of each entity, offering an expanded portfolio of products and services across Western Canada (including BC, AB, and SK) and the Pacific Northwest (WA). The combined entity will provide enhanced solutions in Irrigation, Pumps & Motors, Waterworks, Wildfire Response, and HD Conduit segments.

"At Delta Water Products Group, we believe in the power of synergy. By bringing together our acquired brands with our existing flagship brands, we can better serve our customers with a wider range of expertise and offerings," said Jim Dobrovolny, CEO of Delta Water Products Group.

Under the motto "Together, We Are Delta," the company reaffirms its commitment to technical excellence and customer-focused, cost-effective, and intelligent solutions in irrigation and water systems. The rebranding reflects Delta Water Products Group's dedication to fostering enduring relationships with its customers and partners.

"We value the trust and partnership of our customers and vendors and are dedicated to ensuring a smooth transition throughout this exciting journey," added Chris Les, COO.

To learn more about Delta Water Products Group and its expanded offerings, visit the new landing page at www.wearedelta.ca. A full website is scheduled to launch in Fall 2024.

For further inquiries or clarifications regarding these developments, please contact Delta Water Products Group.

About Delta Water Products Group: Delta Water Products Group is an industry leader providing irrigation and water system solutions, serving customers across Western Canada and the Pacific Northwest. With a focus on technical expertise and a customer-focused approach, the company offers a comprehensive range of products and services to meet diverse needs in the water industry.

https://deltawaterproducts.com/

SOURCE Delta Water Products
WebChoices 2.0 Supports Opt-Outs for Emerging Non-Cookie Technologies Used for Targeted Ads; DAA Announces End-of-Year Deadline for Adoption

NEW YORK, June 12, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The Digital Advertising Alliance (DAA) today announced the most significant update to the advertising industry's AdChoices program for interest-based advertising (IBA) since the program was launched in October 2010. The new tools were previewed at the DAA Summit 2024 in New York City today to advertisers, publishers, agencies, and ad tech companies.

Through the update, the DAA will shift the technology platform for its participating companies from a cookie-based opt-out tool to a browser-based extension in WebChoices 2.0 that supports opt-outs across both cookies and emerging technologies, such as probabilistic IDs and hashed emails or phone numbers. The WebChoices 2.0 tool is compatible with most major browsers and  in future -- will enable users to express category preferences around topics of interest, in addition to company-specific and industry-wide opt-outs.

"Over the past 14 years, the AdChoices icon has become a trusted gateway for privacy information and control for millions of Americans," said Lou Mastria, President & CEO of DAA. "As the advertising industry undergoes dramatic change, the DAA's opt-out tools are keeping pace with those changes, so people can express their choices for both existing and new technologies used for advertising IDs. This choice tool will ensure Americans continue to have one-click access to information and choices about targeted ads directly from the ads themselves and on the apps or websites they visit."

Among the novel features and functionality of WebChoices 2.0 are:

A browser extension that stores consumers choices on most popular mobile and desktop browsers, including Chrome, Safari, Edge, and Firefox.

Support for cookies and new ad technologies such as probabilistic IDs, IP targeting, and hashed emails or phone numbers, so user preferences can be expressed regardless of the underlying addressability approach.

The ability for users to express category-specific interest preferences about the ad topics they wish to see or limit.

Cross-industry integration so ad tech companies can read consumer choices and preferences in the extension at bid time and adjust their bid strategy accordingly.

Once testing is complete, the WebChoices extension will be available via the current opt-out flow, which will continue to be available through the iconic blue AdChoices icon, as well as through website footers for major brands and directly through the YourAdChoices.com website. The update will not impact existing users who have expressed choices through the current opt-out in Chrome, as those cookie-based choices will continue to be honored until such cookies are deprecated or expire.

According to a DAA survey conducted in February 2024, most Americans say they recognize the AdChoices Icon (79%), find it useful (78%), think it is easy to understand (85%), and believe it increases trust in the advertisers that use it (72%).

The DAA also announced the timeline for companies to test and implement WebChoices 2.0. The tool is currently in beta testing, which is expected to conclude in Q3 2024 as it moves to general availability. All companies that currently use the DAA's cookie-based tool are expected to integrate with WebChoices 2.0 by December 31, 2024. Companies will have a grace period of 180 days following that deadline before enforcement of consumer opt-out choices by the DAA's accountability partners.

"This big step in consumer choice mirrors the ongoing and expected changes in the targeted ad ecosystem, as it future-proofs the technology used for consumer choices around responsible data-driven digital advertising," said Michael Signorelli, Venable LLP Partner and Counsel for the DAA. "Going forward, companies and policymakers can be confident that the DAA's choice platform will support any technology and policy changes that take place."

"The reality is that consumers will continue to ask questions about 'Why this ad?' and 'What can I do about it?' regardless of changes in technologies and laws," added Mastria. "The evergreen technology represented by WebChoices 2.0 will keep responsible actors of the digital advertising industry at the forefront of consumer choices as the media evolves."

The DAA also offers an app-based choice tool, AppChoices, which is available for download on the App Store, Android Play, and Amazon Appstore.

About the Digital Advertising Alliance

The Digital Advertising Alliance (DAA) is an independent not-for-profit organization which establishes and enforces responsible privacy practices for relevant digital advertising, while giving consumers information and control over the types of digital advertising they receive. The DAA runs the YourAdChoices, mobile AppChoices, PoliticalAds, and PrivacyRights.info programs. Underlying the DAA's efforts are the DAA Self-Regulatory Principles, including updates to address changing technologies and business models around multi-site, mobile, and cross-device data. Compliance with the DAA Principles is independently enforced for all companies in digital advertising by BBB National Programs and the Association of National Advertisers (ANA). The DAA is managed by a consortium of the leading national advertising and marketing trade groups, including the 4A's, American Advertising Federation, ANA, Interactive Advertising Bureau, and Network Advertising Initiative, with the advice of BBB National Programs.

Media Contact:

Andrew Weinstein

202-667-4967

[email protected]

SOURCE Digital Advertising Alliance
DUBAI, UAE, June 12, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The Dubai International Financial Centre Insurance Association (DIFCIA), an industry association comprised of the whole insurance, reinsurance, and wealth management sectors within the DIFC and wider insurance related services, has announced its reciprocal membership with ACORD, the standards-setting body for the global insurance industry. The DIFCIA, a founding member of the ACORD Global Advisory Council, represents a wide range of insurance decision-makers in Middle Eastern financial markets.

The DIFCIA represents a community of insurance professionals across agencies, brokers, consultancies, and more, offering opportunities for networking and advocacy within the industry. As an ACORD member, the DIFCIA can facilitate greater engagement with industry peers, contribute to ACORD Data Standards development, and drive increased efficiency and effectiveness for its members within the Middle East and global insurance ecosystem. ACORD's reciprocal membership with the DIFCIA further enables collaboration and strategic partnerships between the two organizations.

The partnership was announced at the second meeting of the ACORD Global Advisory Council (GAC), which was hosted by the DIFCIA at their offices in Dubai. The GAC aligns key leaders across the global insurance industry in order to enable standardized data exchange across current and emerging insurance market hubs, such as London, Bermuda, Singapore, and Dubai. As a founding member of the GAC, the DIFCIA has been at the forefront of driving digital transformation across the industry's established and emerging markets.

"On behalf of the ACORD Global Advisory Council, I'd like to thank the DIFCIA for their ongoing contributions to the group," said GAC Chair Dave Matcham, Chief Executive, International Underwriting Association of London (IUA). "It's clear that forward-thinking insurance organizations in Dubai, as in other global hubs, are keen to experience the benefits of global data standards as they look to transform their markets."

"As ACORD continues its work increasing efficiencies for global data exchange, it is a pleasure to have the ongoing leadership and representation of the DIFC Insurance Association," said Chris Newman, President International, ACORD. "Our reciprocal membership with the DIFCIA allows our organizations to serve our community even more effectively, as we continue driving digitalization across new geographies and stakeholders."

About DIFCIA

The DIFCIA (Dubai International Financial Centre Insurance Association) is headquartered in the DIFC and run by the members for the members. They were established in 2015 and are proud of being the first independent insurance association in the UAE. With nearly 100 acting technical committee members and growing affiliations with global associations, they provide a unique opportunity for the exchange of ideas, market information and best practice to enhance the industry. They protect and advance the interests of the members through their close relationships with regulators and authorities.

Membership of the DIFCIA brings a range of benefits, including an industry voice, advocacy, statistics, information, education and networking, and events.

About ACORD

ACORD (Association for Cooperative Operations Research and Development) is the global standards-setting body for the insurance and related financial services industries. ACORD facilitates fast, accurate data exchange and efficient workflows through the development of electronic standards, standardized forms, data models and architecture, and tools to support their use. ACORD engages thousands of insurance and reinsurance companies, agents and brokers, software providers, financial services organizations, and industry associations in more than 100 countries. ACORD maintains offices in New York and London. Learn more at www.acord.org.

CONTACT:

Beth Jarecki, Omnia Paratus

[email protected]

SOURCE ACORD
PLEASANTON, Calif., June 12, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- EliTe Solar, a leading provider of solar energy solutions, is proud to announce its recognition as a "Top Performer" among global PV module manufacturers in the prestigious 2024 PV Module Reliability Scorecard by Kiwa PVEL for its fourth consecutive year.

The annual PV Module Reliability Scorecard by Kiwa PVEL is an industry benchmark that meticulously evaluates and ranks PV module manufacturers based on rigorous performance standards. EliTe Solar's consistent commitment to excellence has earned the company this esteemed recognition. Tristan Erion-Lorico, VP of Sales and Marketing at Kiwa PVEL stated, "Kiwa PVEL congratulates EliTe Solar for their fourth consecutive year as a Top Performer. Achieving strong test results across multiple years is a commendable track record of module reliability."

With a strong focus on innovation and quality, EliTe Solar has carved a niche in the solar energy industry. The company's state-of-the-art PV modules, powered by cutting-edge PERC technology and featuring an innovative TOPCon design, are designed to deliver maximum efficiency, durability, and reliability in various environmental conditions.

Alex Chen, General Manager at EliTe Solar, commented on this achievement: "We are honored to be recognized as a 'Top Performer' in the 2024 PV Module Reliability Scorecard. This accolade underscores our unwavering commitment to delivering superior solar solutions that empower our customers to efficiently harness clean, renewable energy."

EliTe Solar is unwavering in its commitment to advancing solar technology and driving the adoption of sustainable energy worldwide. The company's relentless focus on innovation, coupled with its steadfast dedication to quality and reliability, positions it as a frontrunner in the global solar energy landscape.

For more information about EliTe Solar and its innovative solar solutions, visit elite-solar.com .

About EliTe Solar

EliTe Solar, established in 2005, has a proven track record of delivering over 10GW of solar modules globally. As a premier provider of photovoltaic modules and intelligent energy solutions, EliTe Solar offers optimized solar solutions catering to utility, commercial, and industrial clients worldwide. Through customized continuous innovation in solar technologies and finance solutions, EliTe Solar delivers intelligent energy solutions that maximize value and mitigate risk while optimizing the Levelized Cost of Energy (LCOE). Headquartered in Singapore and with manufacturing facilities in Vietnam, Cambodia, and Indonesia, EliTe Solar is committed to sustainability and excellence in providing reliable and efficient solar solutions. Discover more about our offerings at elite-solar.com .

Media Contact: [email protected]

SOURCE EliTe Solar INC
Challenge Works today announces that Sysmex Astrego's PA- 100 AST System has won the $10m (8m) Longitude Prize on AMR.

System has won the (8m) Longitude Prize on AMR. Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) killed nearly 1.3 million people globally in 2019 and is on course to cause 10 million deaths a year by 2050.

The winning test will be transformational for infection diagnosis and treatment, providing accurate antibiotic susceptibility results in 45 minutes  compared to the 2-3 day wait patients currently face.

It can identify the presence of a bacterial infection in just 15 minutes and will enable the return of "retired", first-line antibiotics.

LONDON, June 12, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Following a decade of developments, and entries from more than 250 teams around the world, including 11 from the U.S., the $10m (8m) Longitude Prize on AMR has been awarded by Challenge Works (part of innovation agency Nesta) to the PA-100 AST System from Sysmex Astrego.

PA-100 - Analyser Unit and Cartridge

The Longitude Prize on AMR launched in 2014  funded by Nesta  to incentivize the creation of new diagnostic tests that, in a matter of minutes, can identify whether an infection is bacterial, and if so, the right antibiotic to prescribe to slow the spread of antibiotic resistant infections. The goal is to replace the 2-3 day lab test process that doctors and patients must currently endure, and end "just in case" prescribing that is prevalent as a result which promotes the development of antibiotic resistance.

The PA-100 AST System is an innovative diagnostic test based on technology from Uppsala University in Sweden[1]. The test will transform the treatment of urinary tract infections and brings the power of laboratory testing into a doctor's office.

Using a 0.4CC (400l) sample of urine on a smartphone-sized cartridge, the test can identify the presence of a bacterial infection in just 15 minutes and accurately identify the right antibiotic to treat it within 45 minutes. This supports health workers in their clinical decision making at the point of care, and opens up the significant possibility of previously "retired" first-line antibiotics coming back into use for the majority of patients.

Betsy Wonderly Trainor, Alliance director at CARB-X (Boston University) and Longitude Prize judge said:

"This test would support healthcare professionals to make well-informed decisions at primary care facilities rather than only in health settings with available laboratories. By increasing access to diagnostics, we can significantly improve our ability to address antibiotic resistance, helping clinicians select appropriate treatment more efficiently."

Dame Sally Davies, UK Special Envoy on Antimicrobial Resistance, former Chief Medical Officer of England and Longitude committee member said:

"Without antibiotics, modern medicine as we know it is in real danger of collapse. Every day, healthcare workers make urgent clinical judgements for the good of their patients, but we can no longer afford 'just-in-case' prescribing of antibiotics. The Longitude Prize winner lays the groundwork for a sea-change in how we manage these precious medicines, where healthcare workers are supported with rapid and relevant diagnostic tests to make the best decisions for their patients with confidence that they are prescribing the right drug, first time."

Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR)  also known as antibiotic resistance or superbugs  is a growing and devastating pandemic where bacteria have developed resistance to the lifesaving antibiotics at the heart of modern medicine, following a century of unnecessary or untargeted prescriptions.

In 2019, antibiotic resistant infections directly killed 1.3m people around the world and contributed to the deaths of 5m in total[2]. By 2050 it is predicted antibiotic resistant infections will cause 10m deaths annually[3]. The World Bank estimates antibiotic resistance could result in $1tn in additional health costs by 2050 and up to $3.4tn in lost GDP by 2030[2].

In the USA, up to 6% of all healthcare visits (about 7m a year) are UTI-related, costing the US healthcare system $1.6bn[4]. In 20-30% of sepsis patients, the infection originates from the urinary tract, and urosepsis often develops from UTIs - up to two in five people that develop severe sepsis will lose their lives[5]. One recent California-based study found over half (57%) of UTIs were caused by bacteria resistant to at least one antibiotic[6].

Mikael Olsson, CEO and co-founder, Sysmex Astrego, winners of the Longitude Prize on AMR said:

"The PA-100 AST System challenges bacteria present in a patient's urine with microscopic quantities of antibiotics in tiny channels embedded in a cartridge the size of a smartphone. We rapidly pinpoint whether a bacterial infection is present and identify which antibiotic will actually kill the bugs, guiding doctors only to prescribe antibiotics that will be effective. The $10m prize will support us to tailor the test for use with different kinds of UTIs and antibiotics, speeding up access for more patients."

The cartridge, containing a nanofluidic chip, is inserted into an analyzer unit  about the size of a shoebox  which reads the chip sample at a cellular level. Designed to work in doctor's offices, the analyzer unit is fully automatic and maintenance free. It is the first time a point-of-care test is capable of identifying a specific infection and its susceptibility to specific drugs by observing how the patient's infection responds in real-time to different antibiotics (a phenotypic test).

Since the PA-100 AST System identifies which specific antibiotic can treat an infection, it will likely allow retired antibiotics to be brought back into service because the test is able to demonstrate when an infection is susceptible to their effects.

The winning test paves the way for a future where the PA-100 AST System and similar technologies can transform infection diagnosis and treatment beyond UTI, through, for example, blood and sputum (saliva) tests to detect other infections.

The Longitude Prize on AMR is designed and delivered by Challenge Works  a Nesta enterprise. For more than a decade, Challenge Works has run 86 prizes, distributed $158 million in funding and engaged with 13,500 innovators across prizes tackling major health challenges, frontier technology, global sustainability and social impact. Challenge Prizes offer a large reward to incentivize the development of breakthrough innovations to tackle challenges where solutions have not been forthcoming.

Tris Dyson, Managing Director, Challenge Works said:

"We launched the Longitude Prize on AMR to create the urgent pull needed to get innovators working on one of the biggest life-and-death challenges facing humanity. Hundreds of teams competed, with multiple solutions now close to market thanks to the prize. I want this to be the start of a revolution in healthcare where rapid point of care diagnostics become a mainstay of medicine - creating a future where patients can quickly and accurately get a diagnosis and the correct treatment when they visit the doctor. The success of the Longitude Prize on AMR opens the door for many more prizes to tackle massive global challenges. Today's news proves that, when there is a challenge of gargantuan proportions in desperate need of real-world solutions, prizes attract the brightest minds to solve the problem and leave a legacy of successful, growing businesses in their wake."

For more on the Longitude Prize on AMR, visit longitudeprize.org

About Challenge Works

Challenge Works is a global leader in design and delivery of open innovation challenges that mobilise diverse, innovative thinkers to solve pressing problems and unlock change. Challenge prizes are a unique approach to funding innovation, offering a series of incentives, with a final prize given to whoever can first or most effectively meet a defined goal. They are public, open competitions which lower barriers to entry to attract the broadest possible community of innovators. Founded by Nesta, the UK's innovation foundation for social good, we are a social enterprise that has delivered 86 challenges to date and distributed more than 124 million to winning innovators.

About the Longitude Prize on AMR

The Longitude Prize on AMR launched in 2014 to incentivize the creation of new diagnostic tests that, in a matter of minutes, can identify whether an infection is bacterial, and if so, the right antibiotic to prescribe to slow the spread of antibiotic resistant infections. The prize was funded by money committed by Nesta and Innovate UK in 2014. The Prize was delivered by Challenge Works. In June 2024, Sysmex Astrego's PA-100 AST system was awarded the 8 million as winner.

References

[1] Baltekin, Boucharin, Tano, Andersson, and Elf (2017) Antibiotic susceptibility testing in less than 30 min using direct single-cell imaging. PNAS doi: 10.1073/pnas.1708558114 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28790187/

[2] Antimicrobial resistance: Key Facts , World Health Organization (2023)

[3] Tackling drug-resistant infections globally: final report and recommendations , Jim O'Neill (2016)

[4] Medicare Spending on Urinary Tract Infections: A Retrospective Database Analysis , Open Forum Infectious Diseases (2021)

[5] Prognosis Risk of Urosepsis in Critical Care Medicine: A prospective Observational Study , BioMed Research International (2016)

[6] Antibiotic resistance of urinary tract infection recurrences in a large U.S. integrated health care system , The Journal of Infectious Diseases (2024)

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2435787/Longitude_Prize.jpg

SOURCE Longitude Prize on AMR
NEW YORK, June 12, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Grocery TV, the largest in-store retail media network, today announced that it's adding 145 stores to its network through a partnership with Arkansas-based Harps Food Stores , a leading regional grocery chain across the South and Midwest.

Grocery TV powers in-store retail media networks for grocery retailers.

Through this partnership, Harps will leverage Grocery TV's end-to-end in-store retail media solution to engage shoppers with digital displays throughout their stores in Arkansas, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, Mississippi, and Oklahoma. Their team will be using Grocery TV's Content Management System (CMS) to launch and track in-store digital campaigns, increasing the visibility of marketing initiatives and enhancing the shopper experience with timely, in-store messaging.

"Our goal is to make it easy for retailers to set up, manage, and monetize their in-store retail media networks," says Don Oelke, co-founder and COO at Grocery TV. "We're excited to be partnered with Harps, a retailer well-known for their customer service, and look forward to helping them build even stronger connections with their customers through a best-in-class in-store retail media network."

"Grocery TV has allowed us to modernize our in-store marketing and simplify campaign management through their intuitive CMS," says David Ganoung, Senior VP of Marketing and Chief Marketing Officer at Harps. "Best of all, they've handled the heavy lifting in terms of setting up and managing the network, so that we can focus on digitizing our in-store campaigns and providing a cohesive experience for our customers."

This partnership underscores Grocery TV's ongoing mission to provide a full-store solution and seamlessly integrate digital media into the retail environment, giving brands and retailers a more impactful way to connect with customers throughout their shopping experience.

About Grocery TV

Grocery TV is a leading in-store retail media network with nearly 21,000 displays across grocery stores in the U.S., serving more than 100 retail partners, including ShopRite, Smart & Final, and Winn-Dixie. The company helps retailers connect their in-store retail media strategies, engage shoppers, and generate incremental revenue. Advertisers utilize Grocery TV to reach over 76 million shoppers in brick-and-mortar stores through integrations with all major demand-side platforms (DSPs), streamlining the management and execution of digital advertising campaigns throughout the grocery store ecosystem. For more information, please visit www.grocerytv.com.

About Harps:

Harps is proud to be a 100% employee-owned company, operating 148 stores across six states: Arkansas, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, Mississippi, and Oklahoma. As the largest employee-owned company in Arkansas, Harps has a rich history dating back to its founding by Harvard and Floy Harp in Springdale, Arkansas, in 1930. Today, the company employs over 7,200 associates dedicated to providing quality products and excellent customer service. For more information and to learn more about Harps history, please visit: www.harpsfood.com.

For press inquiries, please contact:

Ashley Nickell

[email protected]

SOURCE Grocery TV
Organic Beverage Leader Takes Top Honor for Decades of Regenerative Business

SEBASTOPOL, Calif., June 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Guayaki Yerba Mate, a trailblazer in the yerba mate and organic beverage industries, proudly accepts the title of "2024 Mindful Company of the Year" from the Mindful Awards. Approaching 30 years of innovative mission-driven business, Guayaki Yerba Mate is setting the pace for regenerative impact in the North American beverage scene.

A pioneer in organic beverages, Guayaki introduced its loose-leaf mate to natural food shelves in 1996. Today, it is a national brand boasting an impressive 86% market share in yerba mate and 45 SKUs across the US and Canada. The founders' enduring passion for mate and commitment to regenerative agriculture are embodied in Guayaki's Market Driven Regeneration business model. This approach aims to create a positive impact across all operations and the entire supply network.

Highlights from Guayaki's Regenerative Business Journey:

Pioneering regenerative agriculture practices in yerba mate production across Argentina , Brazil and Paraguay through deep, long-standing relationships with local producers and harvesters.

, and through deep, long-standing relationships with local producers and harvesters. Achieving numerous firsts in sustainability: one of the first companies to become a B Corp when the certification launched (2007), first to offer fair trade certified yerba mate under the Fair for Life standard (2009), and first to source Regenerative Organic Certified yerba mate and sugar cane (2022). Guayaki's producers in Argentina and Brazil have proudly achieved Regenerative Organic Certified Gold level.

and have proudly achieved Regenerative Organic Certified Gold level. Empowering Indigenous and local farming communities with fair trade premiums and long-term partnerships that incentivize regenerative, shade-grown production practices.

In 2023, Guayaki's shade-grown yerba mate production areas totaled almost 50,000 acres, over 99% of total production. In addition, more than 80% Guayaki's green leaf yerba mate was harvested from its Regenerative Organic Certified producers in Brazil and Argentina . The investment underscores Guayaki's commitment to economic stability as well as traditional cultural practices, and conservation and restoration of the critically important Atlantic Forest.

Ben Mand, Chief Executive Officer at Guayaki Yerba Mate, expressed, "Being recognized as the 'Mindful Company of the Year' is a celebration of Guayaki's transformative vision that intertwines a big heart with bold ideas. The hundreds of awards entries for this category affirm that business for good has evolved from a radical concept in the 1990s to a robust, collective strength today. Looking forward, it will be mindful partnerships between companies like ours that drive significant impact."

"Guayaki has demonstrated an extraordinary commitment to sustainable practices and community empowerment. Their innovative approach to cultivating and promoting yerba mate not only prioritizes environmental stewardship but also uplifts Indigenous communities, creating a model for responsible business that truly resonates with the core values of our organization. The Mindful Award is proud to honor Guayaki Yerba Mate as our 2024 Mindful Company of the Year," added Travis Grant, Managing Director, Mindful Awards.

Mindful Awards is an independent recognition platform that honors conscious companies that are mindfully making waves in the world of consumer-packaged goods. The annual product awards, which attracted more than 2,000 nominations from across the globe this year, are selected using a mix of criteria including impact, transparency, innovation, health, deliciousness, and credibility.

For the full list of the 2024 Mindful Awards winners, visit: https://mindfulawards.com/.

To explore more about Guayaki Yerba Mate and join their regenerative business journey, visit Guayaki.com or follow @Guayaki on social media.

About Guayaki Yerba Mate

Based in Sebastopol and Venice, California, Guayaki [Gwy-uh-kee], the 2024 Mindful Awards Company of the Year, is the leader in yerba mate [yer-bah ma-tay] beverages. As a certified B Corp and registered Social Purpose Corporation, Guayaki's regenerative business model aspires to create a net positive impact in the world throughout its operations and supply web, starting at the source. That's why Guayaki sources shade-grown, certified regenerative, organic, and fair trade mate that helps conserve and restore the Atlantic Forest in South America. Guayaki works closely with smallholder and Indigenous producers to implement its high environmental and social impact standards and invest in community-driven projects. Guayaki products are available at more than 45,000 stores across the US and Canada. More information about retail locations and products can be found online at www.Guayaki.com.

SOURCE Guayaki Yerba Mate
NEW YORK, June 12, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The Common Good hosted a crucial town hall addressing the growing national discord that stymies good governance, strains the bonds among Americans, and poses a significant threat to U.S. democracy. According to The Common Good Survey on Division , a staggering 72% of Americans share this concern that division impedes the ability to address critical issues head-on.

Watch the recorded town hall here

(L-R: Andrew Yang, Fmr. Congressman Tim Ryan, Heather Cox Richardson, George Packer, John Heilemann, Fmr. Congressman David Jolly, Alyssa Farah Griffin, Frank Bruni, Steven Brill) The Common Good town hall took place on Tuesday, June 4, 2024 at the New-York Historical Society.

Key Highlights and Insights:

The town hall featured a very distinguished panel of some of the nation's foremost authors and leaders, who discussed the deepest and most problematic forms of discord and political polarization and their sources. They explored how this level of conflict and rancor harms society and proposed practical steps to reduce the fracturing of our communities. The event was divided into discussions on the causes such as identity, "culture wars", misinformation and disinformation, hate, economic inequality, election issues; and what are the possible ways to mitigate the problems such as electoral reforms, education reforms, regulation of social media, and incentivising cross-party collaboration.

Here are a few notable quotes from our panelists at the event:

Steven Brill : (on the efforts of credible news outlets combating misinformation) "You all remember when Nancy Pelosi's husband was attacked? Right? That became a hoax in a so-called local newspaper called the Santa Monica Observer , which is a hoax online newspaper. We [News Guard] did a report about it a few years back, which among its other great scoops was that Hillary Clinton had died in 2015 and a body double had substituted for when she debated President Trump. So this is the online news site that says that Paul Pelosi wasn't just the victim of a crime. He was engaged in an encounter with a gay prostitute. Elon Musk retweeted it, Don Jr retweeted it, it went viral. We are about to reach the point this week where there will be more of those hoax local news sites in the United States than there are news sites from legitimate daily local newspapers in the United States , and they all get programmatic advertising. "

David Jolly : "...We've got to hold a mirror up to ourselves, and I think that's where I'm terrified of where we are coming out of the Trump verdict. To me, I saw the permanency of our divide. What we can do about it is where we need to focus. Part of it is simply tone. Lincoln's admonition, "We are not enemies. We are friends, and we need to summon our better angels." That's true. We need leaders that do that. But we need community activists that do that. We need voters that do that. I need to do that. We each need to do that."

"...We've got to hold a mirror up to ourselves, and I think that's where I'm terrified of where we are coming out of the Trump verdict. To me, I saw the permanency of our divide. What we can do about it is where we need to focus. Part of it is simply tone. Lincoln's admonition, "We are not enemies. We are friends, and we need to summon our better angels." That's true. We need leaders that do that. But we need community activists that do that. We need voters that do that. I need to do that. We each need to do that." Frank Bruni: (on the challenges journalists face in reporting news during a highly polarized time) " I feel like it is more and more difficult to do our jobs because I think people are so divided. They make so many assumptions, they immediately try to figure out based on where you're from and your media affiliation, what your biases are, what your rooting interests are, and they almost immediately set themselves up, either in opposition to you or they're on your side. I've never encountered as many glares in my life as in the last eight years since like 2015, 2016. And just as disturbing, I've never so many times had someone say, thank you so much for what you do. That disturbs me because I'm not there to be thanked, and I'm not on a team. But everyone is trying to figure out, are you in my tribe or are you not in my tribe? And everything they say and do flows from that assessment."

(on the challenges journalists face in reporting news during a highly polarized time) " They make so many assumptions, they immediately try to figure out based on where you're from and your media affiliation, what your biases are, what your rooting interests are, and they almost immediately set themselves up, either in opposition to you or they're on your side. I've never encountered as many glares in my life as in the last eight years since like 2015, 2016. And just as disturbing, I've never so many times had someone say, thank you so much for what you do. That disturbs me because I'm not there to be thanked, and And everything they say and do flows from that assessment." Alyssa Farah Griffin: " I worry about what the second term looks like. You do not have guardrails. You do not have the people who were in the meetings that I was in that stopped him from doing the most dangerous things. They simply won't be there. He will gut the federal government and take out any serious subject matter experts, anyone who would challenge him. He will absolutely gut our intelligence, community and entire national security apparatus. And then throw in that, he's talking about rounding up 15 million undocumented and DACA population, people living in America. That means tearing families apart. That means people reacting to that. There are so many dangerous flashpoints that we will be running into in a second Trump term. "

" He will gut the federal government and take out any serious subject matter experts, anyone who would challenge him. He will absolutely gut our intelligence, community and entire national security apparatus. And then throw in that, he's talking about rounding up 15 million undocumented and DACA population, people living in America. That means tearing families apart. That means people reacting to that. " George Packer : " There is a disintegration of ties that hold people to some kind of realistic sense of what matters in life, what matters in their lives, what brings them, what binds them, and even what locally they're arguing about. They aren't arguing about it locally. They're arguing now in this great national red versus blue scrimmage [...] and now it's as if they have ceased to exist as Americans. And the only thing that exists is what they see online or on tv."

" They aren't arguing about it locally. They're arguing now in this great national red versus blue scrimmage [...] and now it's as if they have ceased to exist as Americans. And the only thing that exists is what they see online or on tv." Heather Cox Richardson : "One of the things that always worries me when we talk about how you're either for me or against me, or you're on my team or you're not on my team, what we really are talking about is a divide between people who believe in reality and people who believe in a false narrative [...] I'm the biographer of the Republican Party, and those were my people who got driven off a cliff. The Republican party is no longer a viable party because of Trump, but the people who believed in what the Republican Party believes in are still a viable part of American society."

"One of the things that always worries me when we talk about how you're either for me or against me, or you're on my team or you're not on my team, [...] I'm the biographer of the Republican Party, and those were my people who got driven off a cliff. The Republican party is no longer a viable party because of Trump, but the people who believed in what the Republican Party believes in are still a viable part of American society." Tim Ryan: (on the detrimental effects of globalization on American jobs and industry) "Politics is downstream of culture, and we have a traumatized culture across the board. I mean, you look at the older generation, there were air raid drills, we talked about Vietnam and assassinations, and the de-industrialization. We have to have a full frontal on trauma in this country. The suicide rates, depths of despair, the general anxiety, the anxious generation, just the way people feel. [...] If we're gonna get past this trauma, we have to start healing."

(on the detrimental effects of globalization on American jobs and industry) "Politics is downstream of culture, and we have a traumatized culture across the board. I mean, you look at the older generation, there were air raid drills, we talked about and assassinations, and the de-industrialization. We have to have a full frontal on trauma in this country. The suicide rates, depths of despair, the general anxiety, the anxious generation, just the way people feel. [...] If we're gonna get past this trauma, we have to start healing." Andrew Yang : (on the harmful effects of disunity of political leadership) "If you want to understand why we're so divided, it's that if you step up and try to do the right thing, they'll drum you out of the party for standing up to Trump. They'll gerrymander you out of a competitive district to try and neuter you as a threat. And then if you play the party games to stay on the good side of your base, you're fine. There were 10 Republican House members who voted to impeach Donald Trump . Eight of them did not make it back through the primaries. That's Liz Cheney , Peter Meyer , Anthony Gonzalez , Adam Kinzinger , and the best of these people wind up on your TV screen because they're really good-looking and very cogent and very compelling. But if they are not of that caliber, then they disappear."

The Common Good town hall took place on Tuesday, June 4, 2024 at the New-York Historical Society.

About The Common Good: The Common Good is dedicated to fostering dialogue and understanding to help bridge divides and promote more effective governance and bolster a more unified democracy. Our annual surveys and events aim to highlight critical issues and encourage constructive conversations that lead to meaningful solutions. (See our website )

Future Actions:

The Common Good is committed to continuing this vital dialogue. Upcoming events include:

2024 Election Watch: Post RNC Convention: Tuesday, July 23, 2024 , 6-7PM ET on Zoom

, on Zoom 2024 Election Watch: Post DNC Convention: Wednesday, August 28, 2024 , 5-6PM ET on Zoom

, on Zoom American Spirit Awards: November 2024

For more information about our events and The Common Good, please contact: Patricia Duff, Courtney Stewart, TCG Email: [email protected] Phone: 917-331-0123

SOURCE The Common Good
SAN FRANCISCO and SUZHOU, China, June 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Innovent Biologics, Inc. ("Innovent") (HKEX: 01801), a world-class biopharmaceutical company that develops, manufactures and commercializes high-quality medicines for the treatment of oncology, autoimmune, cardiovascular and metabolic, ophthalmology and other major diseases, announces that it will present multiple clinical study results of mazdutide at the American Diabetes Association's (ADA) 84th Scientific Sessions in Orlando from June 21 -24. Innovent will share the results from the first phase 3 study of mazdutide in Chinese adults with obesity and overweight (GLORY-1), an exploratory analysis of GLORY-1 on liver steatosis, as well as a Phase 2 study of mazdutide 9 mg in adults with obesity during one oral presentation and two posters. Details are listed below:

Title: Efficacy and Safety of Mazdutide in Chinese Participants with Overweight or Obesity (GLORY-1)

Abstract #: 1856-LB

Presentation Form: OralePoster Theater

Time: 2024 June 23, 13: 30 PM  13: 40 PMEST

Presenter: Dr. Linong Ji, Peking University People's Hospital

Title: Improvement of Liver Steatosis by Mazdutide in Chinese Participants with Overweight or ObesityAn Exploratory Analysis of GLORY-1

Abstract #: 1857-LB

Presentation Form: Poster presentation

Title: A Phase 2 Study of Mazdutide 9 mg in Chinese Adults with BMI of 30 kg/m2 or more

Abstract #: 1866-LB

Presentation FormPoster presentation

Dr. Lei Qian, Vice President of Clinical Development of Innovent, stated, " We are excited to announce the results of GLORY-1 at ADA scientific sessions. Mazdutide is the first GLP-1R/GCGR dual agonist that succeeded in a Phase 3 registration study for people with overweight/obesity. Meanwhile, the strong results of a Phase 2 study of mazdutide 9mg in Chinese adults with moderate-to-severe obesity will also be released at ADA, and the corresponding Phase 3 GLORY-2 is currently ongoing. Mazdutide is anticipated to provide an individualized, effective and safe weight management option for people with overweight or obesity at different severities. "

About Mazdutide (IBI362)

Innovent entered into an exclusive license agreement with Eli Lilly and Company (Lilly) for the development and potential commercialization of OXM3 (also known as mazdutide), a GLP-1R and GCGR dual agonist, in China. As a mammalian oxyntomodulin (OXM) analogue, with the effects of GLP-1 receptor agonists to promote insulin secretion, lowering blood glucose and reducing body weight, mazdutide may also increase energy expenditure and improve hepatic fat metabolism through the activation of glucagon receptor. Mazdutide has demonstrated robust weight loss and glucose-lowering effects in clinical studies as well as improvements in multiple cardio-metabolic indicators including reducing waist circumference, blood lipids, blood pressure, blood uric acid, liver enzymes, liver fat content and improved insulin sensitivity. Currently, five Phase 3 studies of mazdutide in Chinese adults with overweight or obesity (GLORY-1 and GLORY-2) and type 2 diabetic (DREAMS-1, DREAMS-2 and DREAMS-3) subjects are underway, where GLORY-1 and DREAMS-2 studies have met their primary endpoints.

In February 2024, the first NDA of mazdutide was accepted by the CDE of the NMPA of China for chronic weight management in adults with obesity or overweight.

About Innovent

Innovent is a leading biopharmaceutical company founded in 2011 with the mission to provide high-quality biologics that are affordable to all. The company discovers, develops, manufactures and commercializes innovative medicines that treat some of the most intractable diseases. Its pioneering therapies treat cancer, cardiovascular and metabolic, autoimmune and eye diseases. Innovent has 10 products in the market, 4 new drug applications under the NMPA review, 4 assets in Phase III or pivotal clinical trials and 18 more molecules in early clinical stage. Innovent partners with over 30 global healthcare leaders, including Eli Lilly, Roche, Sanofi, Adimab, Incyte and MD Anderson Cancer Center.

Guided by the motto, "Start with Integrity, Succeed through Action," Innovent maintains the highest standard of industry practices and works collaboratively to advance the biopharmaceutical industry so that first-rate pharmaceutical drugs can become widely accessible. For more information, visit www.innoventbio.com, or follow Innovent on Facebook and LinkedIn.

Statement: Innovent does not recommend the use of any unapproved drug (s)/indication (s).

Forward-looking statement

This news release may contain certain forward-looking statements that are, by their nature, subject to significant risks and uncertainties. The words "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "expect", "intend" and similar expressions, as they relate to Innovent Biologics ("Innovent"), are intended to identify certain of such forward-looking statements. The Company does not intend to update these forward-looking statements regularly.

These forward-looking statements are based on the existing beliefs, assumptions, expectations, estimates, projections and understandings of the management of the Company with respect to future events at the time these statements are made. These statements are not a guarantee of future developments and are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors, some of which are beyond the Company's control and are difficult to predict. Consequently, actual results may differ materially from information contained in the forward-looking statements as a result of future changes or developments in our business, the Company's competitive environment and political, economic, legal and social conditions.

The Company, the Directors and the employees of the Company assume (a) no obligation to correct or update the forward-looking statements contained in this site; and (b) no liability in the event that any of the forward-looking statements does not materialize or is otherwise inaccurate.

SOURCE Innovent Biologics
HONG KONG, June 12, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- iSHANG Technology Limited (iSHANG), a leading technology company specializing in Web3 solutions, and PSC Insurance Holdings (HK) Limited (PSC Insurance), subsidiary of PSC Insurance Group publicly listed on ASX, are pleased to announce their collaboration on the Cyberport Web3 Proof-of-Concept Subsidy Scheme to develop a pioneering "Proof of Coverage" Insurance Solution (PoC Solution). The partnership between iSHANG and PSC Insurance brings together their expertise and resources to create a user-friendly interface for policyholders, implement advanced Web3 smart contracts, and establish a secure and scalable infrastructure. This innovative PoC Solution aims to revolutionize the insurance industry by introducing non-transferable NFT (non-fungible token) certificates for policyholders, providing a secure and transparent platform for managing insurance policies. For more information, please visit - https://ishang.com/psc-insurance-group/

iSHANG and PSC Insurance Collaborate on Web3 "Proof of Coverage" Insurance Solution under Cyberport Web3 Proof-of-Concept Subsidy Scheme

The collaboration between iSHANG and PSC Insurance reflects the collective effort to propel the adoption of Web3 technologies and drive digital transformation within the insurance industry, key advantages of PoC Solution include: 1) creating a secure, tamper-proof and transparent record of all transactions; 2) reducing the time and costs associated with claims processing; and 3) using smart contracts to increase efficiency and eliminate the need for manual intervention in routine processes. Web3 technology and blockchain, coupled with PoC Solution, are revolutionizing the insurance industry. They provide insurance companies with a way to ensure data integrity, transaction security and transparency. By leveraging these tools, insurers can streamline claims processing, automate certain tasks and increase trust between insurers and customers.

"Our collaboration with iSHANG, exemplifies our commitment to driving innovation in the insurance sector," said Dr. Hei Wong, Managing Director of PSC HK Insurance Group (PSC HK Group). "As the insurance industry continues to evolve, Web3 technology will undoubtedly play an increasingly important role in improving transparency and trust between insurers and their customers. With PoC Solution provided by iSHANG, we are confident in developing a secure and efficient platform for managing insurance certificates, ultimately enhancing the experience for our policyholders."

"We are excited to collaborate with PSC Insurance on the 'Proof of Coverage' NFT Certificate Project, and we are grateful for the support from the Cyberport Web3 Proof-of-Concept Subsidy Scheme," said Samson Lee, Co-founder and CEO of iSHANG. "This partnership, enables us to accelerate the development of our project and deliver a transformative solution to the insurance industry."

The Cyberport Web3 Proof-of-Concept Subsidy Scheme plays a vital role in fostering innovation and adoption of Web3 technologies across various industries. By providing financial support, the scheme empowers businesses to explore the potential of emerging technologies and accelerate the commercial adoption of Web3 in different industry sectors.

As the insurance industry embraces digitization, the need for transparency and trust becomes critical. Web3 technology and blockchain are revolutionizing the industry, equipping it with cutting-edge tools to protect data integrity and secure transactions. The PoC Solution enables insurance companies to create transparent and secure records of all transactions, streamline claims processing and automate through smart contracts.

About iSHANG Technology Limited (iSHANG)

iSHANG operates a "Web3-as-a-Service" (W3aaS) platform that provides the infrastructure and a gateway for brands & enterprises to enter into the Web3 market. iSHANG W3aaS platform developed 10 x Web3 Solutions that are built on Ethereum and Polygon blockchain using IPFS (Inter Planetary Filing System) decentralized storage system. In addition, iSHANG provides Campaign Driven Launchpad & Marketplace, designed for brands & enterprises to launch their web3 marketing campaigns & facilitates the promotion, customer acquisition, retention programs and also secondary exchange of NFTs. Ultimately, iSHANG also offers one-stop consulting campaign management which develop tailor-made Web3 marketing campaigns empowering brands and enterprises to transform their businesses in various use-cases to capitalize new market opportunities.

For more information about iSHANG, please visit - https://ishang.com/

About PSC Insurance Holdings (HK) Limited

PSC Insurance Holdings (HK) Limited is a subsidiary of PSC Insurance Group Ltd (ASX: PSI), a diversified insurance services group with operations in Australia, United Kingdom, Hong Kong, Vietnam and New Zealand. We operate through 4 operating segments and have over 40 trading businesses across the Group.

For more information about PSC Insurance, please visit - www.pscinsurancegroup.com.au/ and www.charter-gilman.com.hk/

SOURCE iSHANG
QINGDAO, China, June 12, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Haier, the number one brand in the household appliances sector, has once again distinguished itself as the only Internet of Things (IoT) ecosystem brand on the Kantar BrandZ Most Valuable Global Brands 2024 list, marking the sixth consecutive year it has achieved this accolade. This achievement underscores Haier's enduring global leadership and innovation in integrating technology with user-centric solutions.

Haier Leads for the Sixth Consecutive Year as Premier IoT Ecosystem Brand

The announcement from Kantar highlights a significant trend toward deeper integration of technology with branding, an accelerated globalization of brands, along with a greater emphasis on evaluating sustainability. The total value of the top 100 global brands has surged by 20% year-on-year to $8.3 trillion, nearing the peak value recorded in 2022. Since its inception in 2006, the total brand value of these leading global entities has grown by an impressive 474%, with entry thresholds escalating from $4 billion to $19 billion, a 354% increase.

Sustained Growth and Innovation Drive Haier's Success

Haier's consistent rise through the ranks, from its debut at 89th place in 2019 to 58th this year, reflects the substantial growth in brand value facilitated by pioneering IoT-driven ecosystems. In the fiscal year 2023, Haier reported robust financial results with global revenues reaching RMB371.8 billion ($52.3 billion) and profits totaling RMB26.7 billion ($3.76 billion). Zhou Yunjie, Chairman and CEO of Haier Group attributes this performance to their ecosystem brand strategy which acts as a stabilizer, driver, and accelerator for high-quality corporate development.

"Haier has originated and is at the forefront of the ecosystem brand-new paradigm, dedicated to breaking new ground in original technology. By leveraging technological innovation to spur industry innovation, it guides the direction of global industry growth," said Doreen Wang, Kantar China CEO and Global Head of BrandZ, "Haier was the first to introduce an intelligent interaction engine in the industry, enabling unlimited possibilities for enhancing life with users and for industry development with ecological partners, which has led to ongoing enhancements in brand value and rankings."

Prioritizing Two Pillars Tracks to Boost High-quality Development in the Sector

Haier leads the way in ecosystem branding on a global scale, aiming to build lifelong customers by constantly interacting, refining experiences, with users.

The company's premium brand Casarte exemplifies how it leads through high-end innovative offerings that have seen a thirteen-fold increase over seven years, topping industry averages across price points and market share growth metrics.

Through the creation of COSMOPlat, an industrial internet platform created by Haier Group, representing the initiative of "big enterprises co-creating, smaller enterprises sharing", it has developed ecosystems in 15 fields, such as chemicals, mold production, and the automotive industry. It has now engaged with more than 900,000 firms, assisted over 160,000 businesses, and has formulated a holistic digital empowerment approach that spans from businesses to industrial parks, to sectors, and ultimately to urban areas.

In the health sector, anchored in scientific creativity and digital intelligence, strategically focuses on life sciences, clinical medicine, and biotechnology. It provides avant-garde solutions in these sectors while partnering with more than 60 international organizations to serve multiple countries abroad, contributing to the development of an international public health ecosystem.

By securing the position as the only global IoT ecosystem brand on the Kantar BrandZ Most Valuable Global Brands 2024 list for the sixth time in a row, Haier has shown not just its ability to lead in the ecosystem brand paradigm; but also proven its resilience and consistent growth, during its 40-year long journey starting from 1984.

About Haier Group

Founded in 1984, Haier Group is a leading global provider of better life and digital transformation solutions. Based on the purpose of "More Creation, More Possibilities", we've always been user centered, adhered to original technology, and built a landscape of two pillars, Smart Living and Industrial Internet. We have built 10 R&D centers and 143 manufacturing centers around the world. We are the world's only IoT ecosystem brand that has been ranked in the Kantar BrandZ Top 100 Most Valuable Global Brands for six consecutive years, and we have held the No.1 position in Euromonitor's Global Major Appliances Brand for 15 consecutive years.

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2436795/Haier_Leads_Sixth_Consecutive_Year_Premier_IoT_Ecosystem_Brand.jpg
Soy sauce manufacturer's expansion in Jefferson and Walworth Counties will create more than 80 new jobs

JEFFERSON, Wis., June 12, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- To the sound of massive Japanese taiko drums and a traditional Shinto ceremony, Kikkoman, the world's leading manufacturer of traditionally brewed soy sauce, ushered in a new chapter in the company's history at a groundbreaking ceremony for a major new production facility in the rural community of Jefferson, Wisconsin.

Soy sauce manufacturer's expansion in Jefferson and Walworth Counties will create more than 80 new jobs Post this Jefferson Mayor Dale Oppermann; Jefferson County Administrator Ben Wehmeier; Secretary Missy Hughes, CEO, WEDC; Former Governor of Wisconsin Tommy Thompson; Governor of Wisconsin Tony Evers; Mr. Yuzaburo Mogi, Honorary CEO and Chairman of the Board of Kikkoman Corporation; Mr. Jun Yanagi, Consult General of Japan in Chicago; Mr. Noriaki Horikiri, Chairman of Kikkoman Corporation; Mr. Osamu Mogi, Representative Director, Senior Executive CO, pictured at shovel demonstration at the groundbreaking event

Kikkoman has played a vital role in the Wisconsin economy for more than half a century. In 1973 with the opening of Kikkoman Foods, Inc. (KFI), in Walworth, Wisconsin, the company transformed farm fields into what has now become the highest-producing soy sauce facility in the western world.

Since that time, Kikkoman has forged partnerships and friendships within the Walworth community, celebrating shared cultural values like hard work, respect, cooperation, and a commitment to excellence  and contributing more than $17 million to charitable causes in the local community and beyond.

Now, the company is investing at least $800 million in the new Jefferson facility, as well as expansion initiatives at its Walworth plantan investment that will create 83 new jobs over 12 years.

After several years of careful consideration and a nationwide search for a site, Kikkoman came back to Wisconsin, choosing the community of Jefferson from among 64 Midwestern locations. Set on a 100-acre lot at the heart of what will be the 200-acre Food and Beverage Innovation Campus, the new 240,000-square-foot KFI Jefferson facility will be a model of state-of-the-art food manufacturing.

The plant will be fully integrated and highly automated using cutting-edge mobile technology. It has been designed for flexibility, speed, efficiency, and scalability, with the ability to make smaller or larger batch sizes as needed. And in keeping with Kikkoman's commitment to sustainability and stewardship, the facility will reduce CO2 emissions by installing energy-efficient equipment, minimizing waste, and proactively using renewable energy.

At the ceremony, Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers expressed the state's gratitude to Kikkoman for its long history of collaboration and investment in Wisconsin and confirmed that the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation will award up to $15.5 million in performance-based tax credits to assist KFI.

"Today's events are a watershed moment in Wisconsin's relationship with a global brand like Kikkoman," said Gov. Evers. "As one of the state's largest trade partners, the strong connection between Wisconsin and Japanese businesses like Kikkoman has been instrumental in driving Wisconsin's economic growth, bolstering innovation, and creating valuable employment opportunities for communities and families across the state. Now, we are adding Kikkoman's new facility here in Jefferson to the growing footprint of leading Japanese businesses in Wisconsin, and I'm proud about the promise this relationship continues to hold for Wisconsinites and the future of our state."

Also in attendance were Mr. Yuzaburo Mogi, Kikkoman's honorary CEO, chairman of the board, Kikkoman Corporation; Mr. Noriaki Horikiri, Chairman, Kikkoman Corporation; Mr. Osamu Mogi, Representative Director; Senior Executive Corporate Officer, Kikkoman Corporation; Secretary Missy Hughes, CEO, Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation; and Mr. Ben Wehmeier; Administrator, Jefferson County.

At the ceremony, Chairman Mogi spoke to the company's longstanding commitment to the state. "Today, we are committing to an investment in the community of Jefferson and the state of Wisconsin," he said. "Kikkoman believes in Wisconsin, and we are grateful to this great state for believing in us. Our collaboration began half a century ago as a leap of faith, and today, it continues as a promise of continued growth and cultural connection."

"Kikkoman's decision to invest in Jefferson underscores the strength and appeal of our local food and beverage niche," said Jefferson Mayor Dale Oppermann. "We appreciate the trust Kikkoman has placed in our community and look forward to a long, prosperous partnership."

The new facility will produce soy sauce and soy saucerelated seasonings, including teriyaki sauce, with the first shipments of soy sauce planned for Fall, 2026.

SOURCE Kikkoman Foods, Inc.
Texas is Leslie's largest market in the U.S. with 217 stores

is Leslie's largest market in the U.S. with 217 stores Specialty retailer teams up with beneficiary partners  the American Red Cross and Boys & Girls Clubs of America  on water safety, swim instructor training, and swimming lessons, with Boys & Girls Clubs of America offering free learn-to-swim events in local communities throughout the year

Olympic swimmer, Cullen Jones , serves as Leslie's water safety expert and spokesperson to share tips for parents and pool owners this summer

PHOENIX, June 12, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- To better serve the needs of pool and spa owners, Leslie's, the leading and most trusted consumer brand in the sector, announced today that it is expanding its 1,000-plus store chain and will open 15 new stores in 2024, with seven of those located in various communities across Texas.

Home to more than 725,000* residential pools, Texas is the largest state market for Leslie's with 217 stores. The seven new stores are located in the following local communities: Addison, Casa Linda, Dallas, Plano, Southlake (Dallas-Fort Worth metro), Cibola (San Antonio metro), and Spring (Houston metro). In the coming months, Leslie's partner, Boys & Girls Clubs of America, will offer free learn-to-swim events in these communities, among others nationwide. Contact a local Boys & Girls Clubs for details.

Additionally, 8 new locations are opening in California, New York, Arizona, Nevada, Florida, and Washington.

"We are thrilled to announce these 15 new stores, which are strategically located in areas where there are strong pool and spa care needs," said David Caspers, Chief Stores Officer for Leslie's. "Texas is a top market for Leslie's, and we are pleased to expand into more communities across the state this year. Additionally, as we move into pool season, we are proud to partner with Cullen Jones, Boys & Girls Clubs of America, and the American Red Cross to drive water safety awareness, and to support the broadening of learn-to-swim and general water safety education programs across the U.S."

Summer Water Safety

For the third year in a row, Leslie's is teaming up with Cullen Jones, four-time Olympic swimming medalist and the first African American swimmer to hold a world record, to serve as its water safety spokesperson. Jones is available for interviews to share water safety tips for parents and pool owners to help ensure a safe 2024 swim season.

"Swimming lessons save lives," said Cullen Jones, who nearly drowned at age five at a water park. His parents reacted  not by keeping him out of the water, but by enrolling him in swimming lessons, where he thrived. "There's an 88%** chance that a child will be safer in the water and not drown if they have formal swimming lessons," he continued. "It's important for people and kids to learn to swim through professional programs and not from a parent or family friend. Seek out courses like those offered at Boys & Girls Clubs and other organizations in your local community."

Regular water testing is also important in maintaining swim-safe water. Leslie's makes water testing simple with its industry-leading AccuBlue technology  the only pool and spa water test that covers all 10 water chemistry components and generates a corresponding easy-to-follow treatment plan. In just 60 seconds, this free, in-store water test delivers a hardcopy printout with a water quality score and a step-by-step, customized water treatment plan to help keep pool water balanced. Pool and spa owners have relied on this professional-grade testing over the past six decades, with more than 50 million tests conducted by Leslie's. This technology is now available at home with the AccuBlue Home water testing system, which connects to the Leslie's app to deliver a water quality score and customized water treatment plan to the user's mobile phone or tablet.

Community Impact

The nation's leading pool retailer also announced that it is partnering with two learn-to-swim and water safety education beneficiary organizations  Boys & Girls Clubs of America and the American Red Cross. Now through October 31, 2024, Leslie's is accepting customer donations online and in more than 1,000 stores across the nation with 100% of all proceeds split equally between the two organizations. Across the past three years, Leslie's has raised and donated more than $1.5 million for such programs, with the funds fueling local initiatives in communities across the U.S.

"We are thrilled to team up with Leslie's to help children all across the nation learn to swim," said Chad Hartman, National Vice President of Corporate Partnerships & Engagement at Boys & Girls Clubs of America. "Together we are working to ensure every child has the opportunity to learn essential swimming skills and the confidence to be in and around the water."

"Partnering with Leslie's, we are able to expand our reach to communities across America with water safety education, including training instructors in best practices for teaching others to swim," said Connie Harvey, Director of Aquatics Centennial and Survival Programs for the Red Cross. "We equip individuals with the skills to help them make smart choices in, on, and around the water, creating a safer water environment for all."

About Leslie's

Founded in 1963, Leslie's is the largest and most trusted direct-to-consumer brand in the U.S. pool and spa care industry. The Company serves the aftermarket needs of residential and professional consumers with an extensive and largely exclusive assortment of essential pool and spa care products. The Company operates an integrated ecosystem of more than 1,000 physical locations and a robust digital platform, enabling consumers to engage with Leslie's whenever, wherever, and however they prefer to shop. Its dedicated team of associates, pool and spa care experts, and experienced service technicians are passionate about empowering Leslie's consumers with the knowledge, products, and solutions necessary to confidently maintain and enjoy their pools and spas. For more information about Leslie's, visit lesliespool.com or follow and engage with us: @lesliespoolcare on Instagram, Leslie's on Facebook, and @lesliespoolcare on X.

*Source: U.S. Residential Swimming Pool Market (YE 2023) report from P.K. Data, Inc., a market research and consulting firm that has tracked the swimming pool and hot tub segments since 1992

**Source: Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) Pediatrics

Media/Book Cullen Jones: Mardi Larson, Amendola for Leslie's, [email protected], 612.384.4383

SOURCE Leslie's, Inc.
The Company Launches Unprecedented Initiatives between June 12  June 18 to Provide Financial Opportunities and Career Support for Prospective Cam Models

LUXEMBOURG, June 12, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- LiveJasmin, the #1 premium, award-winning adult streaming platform and one of the most visited websites in the world, today announces on www.cammodelday.com offerings and initiatives for the webcam model community in celebration of International Cam Model Day. Introduced last year on June 15 by LiveJasmin, this holiday is dedicated to celebrating cam models from across the world and creating a movement around the positive impact this profession has had on models and members around the globe.

LiveJasmin Study Finds Women Want the Flexibility and Financial Independence Cam Modeling Provides

According to a recent LiveJasmin study in the US, many women are looking for more fulfilling career paths than traditional jobs can provide and want to get started in the cam modeling profession:

63% don't feel a traditional job can provide financial security

75% make less than $5k a month in a traditional job and most desire a monthly income of anywhere between $5k and $10k .

a month in a traditional job and most desire a monthly income of anywhere between and . 70% want financial independence and flexible working hours, and 81% desire to be their own boss, all elements that a cam modeling job can provide.

60% would become webcam models if it meant financial stability.

Most survey responders assume cam models make only between $51k and $100k per year, but the reality is that on LiveJasmin they can make more than $250k , with many reaching even over $ 1 million.

and per year, but the reality is that on LiveJasmin they can make more than , with many reaching even over 1 million. 84% have a positive or neutral perspective on the cam modeling industry.

In light of these findings and continuing their initiatives to advocate for empowerment and financial independence, LiveJasmin is leveraging International Cam Model Day to launch the Top Model Academy. This personalized mentorship program provides guaranteed earnings and guides the models joining the platform to further maximize their income.

Anyone from the US, UK, Netherlands, France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Switzerland, Australia, and Canada, who will sign up as model on LiveJasmin between June 12 and June 18 and meet the requirements based on the terms and conditions will benefit from:

Guaranteed income for 3 periods (of 2 weeks each), adding up to more than $6000 per month and at least $9000 over 6 weeks.

per month and at least over 6 weeks. A further chance to double their earnings with a 100% Welcome bonus.

This unprecedented offer is meant to support the start of a model's journey on the platform and is only the very beginning.

"With an always-on focus to make the platform an inclusive, safe, fun and rewarding space, our goal is to empower cam models to achieve their full potential and our many millionaires are another testament to that , " said Zsolt Theiss-Balazs, Chief Product Officer, LiveJasmin.

"Thanks to camming, I'm now earning more than I thought I would in my entire life!" - LiveJasmin Model ElizaBurset

Ready to start your journey? To learn more about LiveJasmin and International Cam Model Day, visit www.cammodelday.com

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2436950/Infographic_ICMD_2024_English_copy.jpg

SOURCE LiveJasmin
Asia's patchwork of Artificial Intelligence (AI) governance poses a potential minefield for companies. According to a report in Nikkei Asia, it is breeding uncertainty for businesses keen to deploy AI solutions throughout the region.

Calls are now mounting for greater cross-border cooperation and alignment on core principles and safeguards so that AI can be fully unleashed across Asia while mitigating privacy, security, and ethical norms risks.

From China to Singapore, governments have hesitated to pursue regionwide rules, opting instead for AI policies tailored to their own national agendas, Nikkei Asia said.

This approach, which stands in contrast to the European Union and its recently approved AI Act, risks creating a minefield for companies.

"Where it becomes problematic is if, say, 15, 20 major countries in Asia start enacting markedly different laws," Adrian Fisher, Asia head of technology, media and telecommunications at British law firm Linklaters, told Nikkei Asia.

"When you're launching a product right then, you've got to understand exactly what you're supposed to do in each country, which is quite difficult."

Professional services company KPMG recently cited "AI governance gaps" as a key risk to business growth in the coming year, despite investment in the field surging more than fivefold from 2013 to 2023.

The East Asia Forum in a recent report said Southeast Asia is projected to reap a considerable economic benefit from using artificial intelligence, estimated to increase the regions total gross domestic product (GDP) by up to US$950 billion or 13 percent by 2030.

Yet it is imperative to ensure that AI governance does not only benefit a handful of countries but collectively benefits the region, the Forum said.

The regions AI governance initiatives, from establishing a national strategy to creating an AI governance framework, are primarily led by a small number of countries with more advanced digital economic systems. Singapore has launched 25 governance initiatives, including the National AI Strategy and Model AI Governance Framework.

Vietnam, Thailand and Indonesia have all launched six, five and one initiatives, respectively. Several other countries are in the initial stages of developing AI, such as Cambodia, which in 2023 issued detailed recommendations on how the government should facilitate and regulate AI.

"Asian countries currently regulate AI as part of their respective nationwide technology legislations, which lack clarity on processes and systems that are specific to AI," Laveena Iyer, an analyst at the Economist Intelligence Unit, told Nikkei.

"China is the only exception, where the government progressed from hurriedly issuing guidelines in 2023 ... to drafting a national AI law that could be released for debate in 2024."

Some governments, however, are wary of scaring off businesses with heavy-handed regulation and missing out on the AI investment rush.

Until recently, Japan has let companies self-regulate based on government guidelines. Now it is considering regulating large domestic and foreign AI developers to limit risks such as the spread of misinformation. The government's AI strategy council started discussions in May on creating a legal framework and is expected to analyze approaches in the U.S. and Europe as part of the process.

In South Korea, the Act on Promotion of AI Industry and Framework for Establishing Trustworthy AI is under review. In contrast to Europe's AI Act, this bill is based on the principle of technology adoption first, and regulation later, according to partners from the law firm Lee and Ko.

Singapore has also shied away from sweeping, EU-style rules, opting instead to issue guidelines for the technology.

In the absence of clear legal frameworks, some businesses have taken it upon themselves to self-regulate. U.S. telecommunications firm Verizon, which in May unveiled AI tools to analyze customer profiles to more accurately serve their needs, has promised "responsible use of AI."

The company, which has a presence in Asian countries including China, South Korea and Singapore, told Nikkei that it wants to work with regional policymakers to set "commonsense laws and regulations."

Priya Mahajan, Verizon's head of public policy for the Asia-Pacific, said countries should consider setting up a single regulatory body for AI to "prevent gaps in regulation ... and avoid duplicative enforcement of AI rules across multiple agencies."

Asia's political and digital diversity make crafting a common AI policy in the region extremely difficult, according to Amita Haylock, technology, media, and telecom partner at law firm Mayer Brown.

"Businesses operating in Asia should prepare themselves to understand and engage with varying and at times competing sets of regulatory frameworks," she said.

EU officials last year toured Asian countries in a bid to convince governments in the region to follow its lead in adopting new AI rules for tech firms that include disclosure of copyrighted and AI-generated content.

In contrast to the EU's AI Act, the ASEAN "AI guide" asks companies to take countries' cultural differences into consideration and doesnt prescribe unacceptable risk categories, according to the current version reviewed. Like all ASEAN policies, it is voluntary and is meant to guide domestic regulations.

With almost 700 million people and over a thousand ethnic groups and cultures, Southeast Asian countries have widely divergent rules governing censorship, misinformation, public content and hate speech that would likely affect AI regulation.
For first plant, customer selects CATOFIN for proven value and exceptional performance

HOUSTON, June 12, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Lummus Technology, a global provider of process technologies and value-driven energy solutions, announced Qingyang Tongxin Petroleum Technology Co., Ltd. has selected Lummus' CATOFIN technology for a new dehydrogenation unit in Qingyang City, Gansu Province, China.

Formed in 2023, Qingyang Tongxin Petroleum Technology Co., Ltd. is a subsidiary of Xi'An Changqing Tongxin Petroleum Machinery Co., Ltd. This is the company's first plant, and it will upgrade liquefied petroleum gas available in the region to produce chemical and refined products.

"Qingyang Tongxin's selection of CATOFIN for their first plant is a testament to the confidence our customers place in the technology," said Romain Lemoine, Chief Business Officer of Polymers and Petrochemicals, Lummus Technology. "We are the market leader in dehydrogenation technology, and this milestone underscores that position. It shows continued recognition of CATOFIN's exceptional reliability, robustness and feed flexibility."

"We are pleased to join forces again with Lummus on this milestone CATOFIN project for Qingyang Tongxin," said Jace Wang, Head of Propylene, Vice President BU Catalyst at Clariant. "Together, we continue to lead the market of on-purpose olefin production with a unique solution that is highly productive and profitable for our customers. We look forward to a successful start of operations, and excellent results for Qingyang Tongxin."

The scope of this award includes the technology license and basic engineering, training and technical advisory services. Once complete, the unit will process 300 KTA C3/iC4 of combined propane and isobutane feedstocks.

Lummus is the exclusive licensor for the CATOFIN and CATADIENE technologies, which utilize Clariant's high-performance catalysts. With over 90 licensed CATOFIN and CATADIENE units, the technologies are recognized worldwide for low operating costs, reliability and meeting or exceeding nameplate capacity.

About Lummus Technology

Lummus Technology is the global leader in developing technology solutions that make modern life possible and focus on a more sustainable, low carbon future. We license process technologies in clean fuels, renewables, petrochemicals, polymers, gas processing and supply lifecycle services, catalysts, proprietary equipment and digitalization to customers worldwide. To learn more about Lummus, visit www.LummusTechnology.com.

SOURCE Lummus Technology, LLC
BOSTON, June 12, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- MassChallenge, the global network for innovators, is thrilled to announce the appointment of Michelle Williams as the new Vice President of Texas Strategy. With over 15 years of thought leadership in social impact and innovation, Michelle brings a wealth of experience in assisting corporate and nonprofit organizations with defining, executing, and implementing their impact, philanthropic, and equity-centered goals.

Michelle Williams, MassChallenge Vice President of Texas Strategy.

Michelle, named one of the Top Innovators Reshaping Texas by Texas Monthly magazine, has made a career committed to sharing resources, best practices, and knowledge with underrepresented and rural communities across Texas. Her strategic vision and dedication to fostering entrepreneurial ecosystems will be instrumental in advancing MassChallenge's commitment to accelerating high-impact startups who are driving solutions in critical challenge areas such as climate, dual use, biotechnology, advancements in healthcare and health equity, and more.

Michelle's background includes serving as a consultant for Dallas area universities and extends to Comerica Bank, where she advised on their BusinessHQ program plan, and the Dallas Black Chamber of Commerce, where she revitalized their strategic plan and fundraising strategy. Additionally, Michelle supported the strategy and execution for Good Soil , the entrepreneurial ecosystem of TD Jakes Enterprises.

In her previous role as the Executive Director for The Dallas Entrepreneur Center's (The DEC Network) southern sector initiative, Michelle built and launched the DEC @ Redbird, successfully fundraised over $2.5 million and launched a cross-sector initiative funded by JPMC to bridge the north Texas entrepreneurial ecosystem. This initiative facilitated collaboration among area universities, various cities across the metroplex, and over 60 business service organizations.

As the Vice President of Texas Strategy at MassChallenge, Michelle will leverage her expertise to further the organization's impact in supporting startups and fostering innovation. MassChallenge has already supported over 4,400 startups since its inception in 2009. With offices in Boston and Dallas, and operations in 18 other countries, MassChallenge is poised to continue its growth and expand its footprint in the North Texas region under Michelle's strategic leadership.

"We are thrilled to have Michelle join the MassChallenge team," said Damon Cox, Head of Next Practice. "Michelle's passion for social impact and innovation, combined with her extensive experience and understanding of the Texas ecosystem, perfectly aligns with our mission. Her commitment to empowering communities will undoubtedly drive positive change in our Texas operations and beyond."

About MassChallenge

MassChallenge is the global network for innovators. Headquartered in the United States with eight locations worldwide, it is the non-profit's mission to help bold entrepreneurs disrupt the status quo and create sustainable change. Since launching in 2009, MassChallenge has run programs in 24 countries, supported more than 4,400 startups from around the world, and awarded over $18M in equity-free cash and prizes. Learn more about MassChallenge at masschallenge.org.

SOURCE MassChallenge
Requests must be submitted by 12:00 p.m. ET on Thursday, June 13, 2024.

ATLANTA, June 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The nation's largest African American-led mentoring organization, 100 Black Men of America, Inc., will convene the 38th Annual Conference in Atlanta, June 13  16, 2024. A record number of members, mentees, corporate and foundation sponsors, community partners, and attendees of all ages are registered to attend. The 100 Black Men of America, Inc. Conference is the most comprehensive event for 100 members, mentees, and 100 affiliate organizations (Emerging 100 and Collegiate 100). This is a unique conference that brings hundreds of mentors and youth advocates together, all focused on education, empowerment, and creating opportunities for the next generation of leaders.

The 38th Annual Conference will include DE&I leaders from across the country, along with corporate and foundation influencers from the world's leading organizations. "I remain excited about the work of the 100 Black Men chapters across the United States and through our International chapters, said Milton Jones, Jr., Chairman, 100 Black Men of America, Inc. "Our conference provides the opportunity to share best practices, celebrate chapter achievements, and deliver capacity building training. Most importantly, we recognize the outstanding accomplishments of students from middle school to college, which shines a positive spotlight on our youth."

The 100 Black Men of America, Inc. is honored to have Vice President Harris attend the conference as a stop on the Administration's Economic Opportunity Tour. Media interested in covering the Vice President's Economic Opportunity Tour stop in Atlanta, GA should RSVP HERE by 12:00 p.m. ET on Thursday, June 13.

Media interested in covering the Vice President's arrival at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport should RSVP HERE by 12:00 p.m. ET on Thursday, June 13.

A full slate of educational workshops, events, and empowerment sessions can be viewed on the conference website, and media can view and download the media kit HERE. Media wanting to cover Thursday or Saturday conference activities and events only can RSVP for a 100BMOA Media Credential HERE.

About 100 Black Men of America, Inc.

100 Black Men was founded as an organization in New York City in 1963. The national organization, 100 Black Men of America, Inc. began with nine chapters in 1986 as a national alliance of leading African American men of business, public affairs and government with a mission to improve the quality of life for African Americans, particularly African American youth. These visionaries included businessmen and industry leaders such as David Dinkins, Robert Mangum, Dr. William Hayling, Nathaniel Goldston III, Livingston Wingate Andrew Hatcher, and Jackie Robinson. Since inception, the vision emerged and grew to over 10,000 members impacting over 125,000 underserved, underrepresented minority youth annually. Visit www.100blackmen.org for more information on the programs and initiatives of 100 Black Men of America, Inc. and their global network of chapters.

SOURCE 100 Black Men of America, Inc.
On July 1st 2024, Substack best-seller THE LIGHT DOCTOR: Using Light to Boost Health, Improve Sleep, and Live Longer will be published in paperback by CIRCADIAN Books. Former Harvard Medical School professor, Martin Moore-Ede MD, PhD, lucidly explains the science of healthy lighting, and how to safeguard your health.

BOSTON, June 12, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- THE LIGHT DOCTOR is a must-read for all who take electric light for granted. Dr Moore-Ede makes the compelling case that the light you see is as important to your health as the food you drink, the water you drink, and the air you breathe. He provides conclusive evidence that too many LED lights on store shelves produce cheap and bright "junk light" which can be as unhealthy for your body as junk food.

THE LIGHT DOCTOR is now available on Amazon https://www.amazon.com/Light-Doctor-Martin-Moore-Ede/dp/B0D54SHWS4

It is over twenty years since electric light at night was first identified as a carcinogen. Since then, thousands of scientific studies have documented the sobering health risks associated with our chronic exposure to blue-rich LED and fluorescent light in the evenings and at night. When we disrupt our circadian clocks with unhealthy light, breast cancer, prostate cancer, obesity, diabetes, heart disease, insomnia, anxiety, and a shortened lifespan result.

Yet over 90% of the lights sold today are static blue-chip LEDs and most consumers are quite unaware of the risks. THE LIGHT DOCTOR explains the science of lighting health in easily understandable terms and serves as a practical guide for finding healthy lights for your home, schools, workplaces, hospitals, and senior living facilities.

"Whether you are a healthcare worker spending long hours on the floor, have a child in a classroom, or are a senior enjoying the comforts of home, everyone needs to know which lights and display screens disrupt their circadian clocks and can cause sleep disorders, depression, obesity, diabetes, heart disease, and breast cancer. They also need to know where to find the lights and display screens that will boost their health and performance as an essential part of a healthy lifestyle," said Dr Moore-Ede.

Reviewers have heaped praise on this revolutionary book:

"THE LIGHT DOCTORterrified me, in the best way. Dr. Moore-Ede is doing cutting-edge work to change the way we think about light and how it affects us." Penguin Life

"I was so impressed with his detailed yet thoroughly comprehensible explanations and expert advice! I'll definitely be changing some of my light bulb's ASAP!" Simon Element

"I had no idea that artificial lights posed so many health risks, beyond the disruption of sleep. And Dr. Moore-Ede is clearly the leading authority on this topic."Spark

"As someone who sits under fluorescent office lights all week, it made me question my life choices! The author does a terrific job."Tarcher Perigree

Dr. Moore-Ede brings a unique perspective from the forefront of the battle against unhealthy lights. While a professor at Harvard Medical School, he discovered the location of the circadian clock in the human brain and how it is synchronized by light. As a consultant to over 50% of the Fortune 500 companies, he has seen firsthand the harmful effects of light at night in the real world. His discovery of the narrow sky-blue signal that synchronizes circadian clocks led to the invention and patenting of evidence-based circadian lighting and the demonstration of its effectiveness in many major companies.

The book is written for anyone interested in living a healthier life with the correct lighting. The information provided in this book is backed by a recent survey of 248 scientists by the Circadian Light Research Center, led by Moore-Ede. The scientists, who have collectively published 2,697 peer-reviewed scientific articles on circadian clocks and light, confirmed that human circadian clocks are highly sensitive to blue wavelengths, and exposure to insufficient daytime blue-rich light and excessive blue-rich light at night, leads to many major health disorders.

About Martin Moore-Ede M.D., Ph.D.

For over 40 years, Dr. Moore-Ede has been a leading world expert on circadian clocks and the health problems caused by electric light at night. As a professor at Harvard Medical School (1975  1998), he led the team that located the suprachiasmatic nucleus, the biological clock in the human brain that controls the timing of sleep and wake, and demonstrated that it was synchronized by light. Since 2010, he has led the Circadian Lighting Research Center team that identified the key blue signal that synchronizes circadian clocks and developed patented LED lights, which provide circadian-optimized light across day and night based on comprehensive medical research. The effectiveness of these circadian-modulated lights in improving health and well-being has been validated by installing them in the 24-hour operations of Fortune 500 companies and hospitals. He has published over 180 scientific articles and authored ten books, including the best-selling books, The Clocks that Time Us, and The Twenty-Four Hour Society. His new book THE LIGHT DOCTOR: Using Light to Boost Health, Improve Sleep, and Live Longer. is now released in paperback. For more information visit, https://thelightdoctor.com/

Contact Information

Stephanie Hildalgo

617-823-1610

[email protected]

SOURCE CIRCADIAN Books
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.

SOURCE Novo Nordisk Foundation
The limited release is the largest one-time drop of President's Choice in the brand's history

LOUISVILLE, Ky., June 12, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Old Forester announces a surprise release of its most coveted and rarest expression, President's Choice, just in time to celebrate Father's Day.

Bottles from several single barrels will be sold online (where shipping is legal) and at Old Forester Distillery starting at 10 a.m. June 12.

Courtesy of Old Forester

President's Choice dates to 1964 when former Brown-Forman President George Garvin Brown II offered the first private single barrels to customers. That tradition continues today as Old Forester surprises consumers with a summer release of President's Choice.

"President's Choice is our most sought-after product  and most people never get the chance to buy a bottle," said Master Taster Melissa Rift. "We're excited to announce this special President's Choice release just in time for Father's Day."

The limited release comes from single barrels each with unique flavor profiles. The quality and characteristics of the barrels are crucial for the 712-year aging process and contribute to optimal flavor within the 105-120 proof range.

President's Choice retails for $225.

For more information on Old Forester, please visit OldForester.com.

About Old Forester Bourbon:

Old Forester is Brown-Forman's founding brand, founded in 1870 by George Garvin Brown. Brown believed Old Forester was so pure and consistent that he sealed it, signed it, and pledged, "There is nothing better in the market."

Please sip responsibly.

Old Forester Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whisky, 52% Alc. by Vol., Old Forester Distilling Company at Louisville in Kentucky. OLD FORESTER is a registered trademark. 2022 Brown-Forman. All rights reserved. Please do not share or forward this content with anyone under the legal drinking age.

SOURCE Old Forester
Complete compliance for private-sector organizations across Canada that collect, use or disclose personal information

NEW YORK, June 12, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Piwik PRO , a leading provider of data analytics and activation, today announced its new enhanced Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA) solution for companies who do business in Canada.

Why This Matters: Canadian businesses are increasingly under pressure to comply with stringent privacy laws like PIPEDA. By choosing Piwik PRO, organizations can leverage a powerful analytics and data activation platform that meets these regulatory demands, avoiding costly compliance missteps and potential fines.

Key Benefits:

Reduced Compliance Burden: Piwik PRO's platform eliminates the need for separate PIPEDA assessments, streamlining compliance for existing and new customers.

Piwik PRO's platform eliminates the need for separate PIPEDA assessments, streamlining compliance for existing and new customers. Enhanced Data Security: With SOC 2 Type II and ISO 27001 certifications, Piwik PRO ensures top-tier protection for sensitive user data.

With SOC 2 Type II and ISO 27001 certifications, Piwik PRO ensures top-tier protection for sensitive user data. Streamlined Consent Management: The integrated Consent Manager facilitates easy collection of user consent, adhering to PIPEDA's stringent requirements.

The integrated Consent Manager facilitates easy collection of user consent, adhering to PIPEDA's stringent requirements. Transparency and Control: Customers have full control over data collection settings, ensuring compliance while gaining actionable insights.

Piwik PRO's PIPEDA-compliant solution addresses a critical need in the Canadian market. With data breaches and privacy concerns at an all-time high, this solution offers businesses a way to confidently navigate the complex landscape of data privacy regulations.

"At Piwik PRO, we successfully balance marketing needs with regulatory requirements," said Piotr Korzeniowski, CEO of Piwik PRO. "Our PIPEDA compliant solution allows any business operating in Canada to run marketing analytics and data activation in a compliant way. Customers can configure data collection parameters to capture only consented information, reducing the risk of collecting unnecessary or erroneous data. This ensures businesses comply with PIPEDA's principles while successfully optimizing their digital presence with quality data.

Canadian businesses can now effortlessly align with PIPEDA regulations, avoiding the complexities and potential fines associated with non-compliance. Both the Piwik PRO free and paid plans are PIPEDA compliant.

For additional information on the leading privacy-compliant analytics solution please visit www.piwikpro.com .

About Piwik PRO

Piwik PRO is the company behind Piwik PRO Analytics Suite, a leading privacy-focused analytics platform used by over 600 companies worldwide, including the European Commission, Fitch Ratings, and DKMS. Piwik PRO offers a unique combination of advanced analytics features with a commitment to user privacy. The platform is available in two editions: free Core and feature-rich Enterprise.

Media Contact:

Sarah Evans

Zen Media

224.829.8820

[email protected]

SOURCE Piwik PRO
SUNNYVALE, Calif., June 12, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Plug and Play has announced the second call for applications in partnership with UN Tourism. The UN Tourism Artificial Intelligence Global Startup Competition is the second call of application in a series of three startup competitions aimed at making the tourism sector more sustainable. The competition launched today at Plug and Play's Silicon Valley Summit.

This global initiative aims to drive progress in the tourism sector towards the Sustainable Development Goals by harnessing the potential of cutting-edge technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, Blockchain, Augmented and Virtual Reality.

Accelerating SDGs through Innovation and Technology

The UN Tourism Artificial Intelligence Global Startup Competition highlights the transformative potential of innovative solutions, propelling the tourism sector towards recovery while empowering it to play a pivotal role in achieving the global goals outlined in Agenda 2030. This initiative invites startups worldwide to lead change in tourism towards a sustainable, inclusive future aligned with global aspirations for a better world.

UN Tourism Executive Director, Natalia Bayona, says: "We stand at the dawn of a new era in tourism, where innovation is key. We can't forget that the global smart tourism market is projected to reach 126.889 billion dollars by 2033, growing 16% since 2023 and 2.2% of global venture capital is flowing into tourism and technology startups. This new era in tourism is being shaped and guided by the transformative power of Artificial Intelligence. The future of tourism is here, and it is intelligent, efficient, and sustainable".

Benefits for Participants

The competition invites early-stage and series A startups to apply before July 31. Benefits for participants accepted include:

Accommodation and travel to pitch at the UN Tourism Tech Adventures

Two-month acceleration program at SPARK - the Innovation Sphere of Les Roches , held across both campuses in Marbella and Crans-Montana

, held across both campuses in Marbella and Crans-Montana Membership of the UN Tourism Innovation Network

Integration into the Plug and Play Ecosystem and participation in the yearly Summit

Access to curated mentorship programs

Scholarships from the UN Tourism Academy

Potential pilot project collaborations with private sector partners and institution

Participation in the Program for Ambassadors of the Spanish Language Award powered by Fundacion Carolina

Opportunities for pilot project collaborations with private sector partners and institutions

Access to 90+ Venture Capitalists

Selection and Evaluation Criteria

The competition is open to startups worldwide, spanning various industries and emphasizing innovation, sustainability, and scalable business models with potential for international growth. Participating startups will be assessed based on their contribution to the selected SDGs, ease of value capture through collaboration, potential business impact, maturity of the product and technology, team and organizational structure, and partnership readiness.

Plug and Play's Role in Sourcing and Scouting Startups

Plug and Play's role in the competition involves sourcing and scouting startups for initiatives like the UN Tourism Artificial Intelligence Global Startup Competition, aimed at supporting the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals through technology. As a global innovation platform connecting startups, corporations, and investors, Plug and Play is committed to driving technological advancements and innovation across 25+ industries. This initiative seeks to cultivate a collaborative ecosystem for sustainable and inclusive innovation worldwide.

All interested potential participants can apply to the call for applications on the following page: https://www.plugandplaytechcenter.com/un-tourism-artificial-intelligence-global-startup-competition/ .

About Plug and Play

Plug and Play is the leading innovation platform, connecting startups, corporations, venture capital firms, universities, and government agencies. Headquartered in Silicon Valley, we're present in 60+ locations across 5 continents. We offer corporate innovation programs and help our corporate partners in every stage of their innovation journey, from education to execution. We also organize startup acceleration programs and have built an in-house VC to drive innovation across multiple industries where we've invested in hundreds of successful companies including Dropbox, Guardant Health, Honey, Lending Club, N26, PayPal, and Rappi. For more information, visit https://www.plugandplaytechcenter.com/

Plug and Play Contact: [email protected]

About UN Tourism

The World Tourism Organization (UN Tourism), a United Nations specialized agency, is the leading international organization with a decisive and central role in promoting the development of responsible, sustainable, and universally accessible tourism. It serves as a global forum for tourism policy issues and a practical source of tourism know-how. Its membership includes 160 countries, 6 territories, 2 permanent observers, and over 500 Affiliate Members.

UN Tourism Contacts:

Rosalia Galan - Communications Expert

IEI - Un Tourism Regional Office Middle East [email protected] | +966 555908142

Lara Kabbara  Administrative Associate

IEI - Un Tourism Regional Office Middle East [email protected] | +966 508887969

Miriam Rubio

IEI Senior Specialist Innovation, Education and Investments

[email protected] +34 687964076

SOURCE Plug and Play
BOSTON, June 12, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Prendio-BioProcure, a leading procurement platform tailored for the biotech industry, and Portal Innovations, a premier venture development engine focused on life sciences, are pleased to announce a strategic partnership aimed at accelerating innovation and growth in the life science sector.

Prendio-BioProcure and Portal Innovations Announce Strategic Partnership to Accelerate Life Science Innovation

This collaboration brings together Prendio-BioProcure's robust procurement solutions with Portal Innovations' deep expertise in nurturing and scaling life science startups. By combining forces, the partnership will provide early-stage biotech companies with streamlined access to the essential tools and resources they need to advance their groundbreaking work.

Prendio-BioProcure's innovative procurement platform offers life science companies a comprehensive and efficient way to manage their purchasing needs, ensuring compliance, cost savings, and operational efficiency with financial controls and reporting. Portal Innovations, known for its commitment to fostering the next generation of life science companies, provides startups with critical resources including lab space, funding, and business development support. As part of this partnership, member companies of Portal Innovations will receive special pricing on subscriptions to Prendio-BioProcure's procure-to-pay platform.

"Portal is excited to be able to offer discounted memberships to Prendio-BioProcure where our members will have access to a one stop shop where they can easily price compare and track shipments. We understand the importance of ensuring our members are as capital efficient as possible and we hope this new offering will enable our members to more efficiently and cost effectively make purchasing decisions to support their scientific process," said Yuan Zhang, Senior Director of Scientific Operations and Strategy at Portal Innovations.

"We are thrilled to partner with Portal Innovations, a company that shares our commitment to driving progress in the life science industry. This partnership allows us to provide an unparalleled level of support to early-stage companies, helping them to navigate the complexities of procurement and focus on their innovative research. Together, we can accelerate the pace of scientific discovery and bring transformative solutions to market faster," said Eric Meizlish, CEO of Prendio-BioProcure.

Through this partnership, Prendio-BioProcure and Portal Innovations will jointly support life science innovators by offering integrated services that enhance procurement processes, reduce time-to-market, and enable scientists and entrepreneurs to focus on their core research and development activities.

About Prendio-BioProcure:

Prendio-BioProcure is a specialized procurement platform designed exclusively for the biotech industry. With a user-friendly interface and advanced features, Prendio-BioProcure streamlines the purchasing process, ensuring compliance and efficiency. Prendio-BioProcure is an affordable, intuitive, and scalable solution designed to accelerate the progress of life science teams everywhere. For more information, visit www.prendio.com and www.bioprocure.com.

About Portal Innovations:

Portal Innovations is a premier venture development engine that bridges scientific ideation in life sciences, medtech and bioinformatics through commercial proof of concept by delivering seed capital, specialized equipment and lab space and management expertise to high-potential early-stage companies. For more information visit https://www.portalinnovations.com/.

SOURCE Prendio-BioProcure
LOS ANGELES, June 12, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- A team of investigators at City of Hope funded by the Prostate Cancer Foundation (PCF) reports that patients with advanced prostate cancer can be safely treated with chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapy. The results of their first-in-human phase 1 clinical trial, which also showed promising therapeutic activity, were published today in Nature Medicine.

"This represents an important advance against metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) which continues to claim more than 30,000 men's lives each year," said Howard R. Soule, PhD, Executive Vice President, Chief Science Officer and Lori and Michael Milken Chair of the Prostate Cancer Foundation. "PCF is proud to invest in this crucial work which advances our mission to end death and suffering from prostate cancer, and we look forward to seeing their future progress with PSCA-directed CAR T cell therapy."

Saul Priceman, PhD, City of Hope associate professor, Department of Hematology & Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation, and team developed CAR T cells that target prostate stem cell antigen (PSCA), which is highly expressed in prostate cancer. The phase 1 trial treated 14 PSCA-positive patients with mCRPC, which had spread beyond the prostate and no longer responded to hormone treatment, using the PSCA-directed CAR T-cell therapy. Patients' own immune system T cells were reprogrammed in a laboratory with a CAR to recognize and attack the PSCA protein on the surface of cancer cells. The CAR T cells were then infused back into the patients who were monitored for a 28-day study period.

"Our trial's major finding is that PSCA-directed CAR T cells are safe and do work against mCRPC," said Priceman. "This opens up the opportunity to continue to develop this type of cellular immunotherapy for these patients, who currently have no other effective treatment options."

The goal of the phase 1 study was to examine the therapy's safety and dose-limiting toxicities and gather preliminary data on efficacy of the approach.

To assess the safety of CAR T cells alone, patients received a single infusion of 100 million CAR T cells without having prior lymphodepletion chemotherapy, which is routinely used in blood cancers to improve the efficacy of CAR T cell treatment. This was followed by incorporation of lymphodepletion at the same CAR T cell dose. Researchers found that with lymphodepletion, there was a side effect of cystitis, or irritation of the bladder. Since PSCA is also found in the bladder, it is likely the CAR T cells attacked the bladder cells, causing inflammation, they concluded. Historically, cyclophosphamide, which is part of the lymphodepletion regimen, can also cause cystitis. When the team reduced the dose of cyclophosphamide, the toxicity was largely mitigated in patients.

Four of the 14 patients had declines in their PSA levels, which is a biomarker of disease progression in prostate cancer, including one patient with significant decline. Furthermore, imaging showed therapeutic responses in some of the treated patients.

One patient's PSA level decreased by 95% and the cancer that had spread to his bones and soft tissue also declined. He experienced this positive response for approximately eight months.

Five of the 14 patients had mild or moderate cytokine release syndrome, a systemic inflammatory response characterized by fever, nausea, fatigue, and other symptoms, and considered a common and treatable side effect of CAR T cell therapy.

One limiting factor of the therapy's effectiveness is that CAR T cells did not persist in patients at high levels beyond the 28-day monitoring period. This is a common challenge in solid tumor CAR T cell therapy that the researchers will address in a phase 1B trial using the PSCA-CAR T cell therapy in a repeat dosing strategy and in combination with radiation to enhance anti-tumor activity. The City of Hope trial is currently enrolling patients.

This body of work was leveraged into a 2022 PCF TACTICAL (Therapy ACceleration To Intercept Cancer Lethality) Award which supports large-scale, pioneering, multi-institutional team research projects addressing metastatic, lethal prostate cancer. The team with principal and co-investigators from the University of Pennsylvania, City of Hope, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, the National Cancer Institute, the National Institute on Aging, the University of Southern California, and The Corporal Michael J. Crescenz VA Medical Center were awarded $10 million over three years to fund their project Developing Engineered Cell Therapies for Metastatic Castrate-Resistant Prostate Cancer to Increase Efficacy and Decrease Toxicity.

About the Prostate Cancer Foundation

The Prostate Cancer Foundation (PCF) is the world's leading philanthropic organization dedicated to funding life-saving prostate cancer research. Founded in 1993 by Mike Milken, PCF has been responsible for raising more than $1 billion in support of cutting-edge research through more than 2,250 research projects at 245 leading cancer centers, with a global footprint spanning 28 countries. Since PCF's inception, and through its efforts, patients around the world are living longer, suffering fewer complications, and enjoying better quality of all life. PCF is committed to creating a global public square for prostate cancer, in service to our mission of ending death and suffering from the disease. Learn more at pcf.org.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Staci L. Vernick

Prostate Cancer Foundation

[email protected]/[email protected]

610-812-6092

SOURCE Prostate Cancer Foundation
OMNI's ethnic community television independent producers have launched the 'This Show is Made with Zero Support from the Government' campaign. Tens of third-language television programs began airing public service announcements urging the government to immediately open doors to funding in order to save independent ethnic community television in Canada.

"Politicians and government like to talk about diversity, but the shocking paradox is that in a country as diverse as Canada, programs like ours receive absolutely no government support, unlike large broadcasters or independent producers of television content in English and French," said Kiu Rezvanifar, president of the Canadian Ethnic Media Association and producer of two shows targeting the Iranian community.

"One in three Canadians report being ethnic Canadians, and one in four Canadians speak a language at home other than French or English. Support and consideration for ethnic independent production, producers, and this ethnic media sector must be commensurate with Canadas multilingual, multicultural population.

The systematic marginalization and lack of support for this ethnic media sector contradict the official policy of multiculturalism, which is cemented in legislation and our constitution, and is contrary to the spirit and reality of Canadian diversity," states Madeline Ziniak, C.M., O.Ont., Chair of the Canadian Ethnic Media Association.

"The situation is extremely frustrating. Many of our shows are on the edge of closing down. In the past six months, we have been talking to the Department of Canadian Heritage and other government officials about the urgency of the situation, but these conversations have not resulted in any traction," said Igor Malakhov, producer and editorial director of TV Vestnik.ca (a weekly show in Russian).

The producers emphasize that revenues generated from advertisements are insufficient to maintain quality coverage of topics significant to their communities. Organizers of the 'This Show is Made with Zero Support from the Government' campaign say it was launched out of frustration with government inaction.

"After banging on the doors of government officials about the fate of ethnic community television in Canada without much result for many years now, I cannot hear any more statements about how supportive the government is of diversity in every sector. Currently, these are only words for independent ethnic community television, and I hope our campaign will help the government understand that they can do much better on that front," added Igor Malakhov.

"We are urging the government to recognize the crucial role independent ethnic community television producers play in maintaining cultural diversity and providing a voice for underrepresented communities. Without immediate and meaningful support, the rich tapestry of ethnic media in Canada is at risk of unraveling" said Kiu Rezvanifar.

Interesting Facts about Diversity in the Canadian Television sector:

- In the fiscal year 2023-2024, the Canada Media Fund allocated $336 million to support Canada's television and digital media industry. However, less than 0.0128% of these funds ($4.3 million) were allocated to the 'Diverse Languages' program, benefiting only seven companies nationwide.

- Bill C-11 unequivocally mandates the government to uphold and bolster the production and broadcasting of content in a multitude of languages, reflecting the diverse ethnocultural composition of Canadian society

- Many third-language independent producers at OMNI have been presenting their shows for 20-30 years. This programming is often targeted at small, underserved communities whose language of comfort is neither English nor French, helping to break down systemic barriers by providing critical access to news and information in a multitude of languages. Links to campaign spots: https://youtu.be/lJ4fzII_og4
WASHINGTON, June 12, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- PurpleTV will launch on over-the-air (OTA) broadcast TV Channel 16.1 on WWMW in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on June 27th. It will provide bite-sized videos and informational text to the "purple majority"those who aren't, politically speaking, all red or all blue.

"Purple people want to get on with their lives. They want politicians to work together and compromise, they don't want angry performance artists," said PurpleTV's President, Matthew Davidge.

where red meets blue

Not a conventional TV watching experience, PurpleTV will look more like an internet feed or a social media stream and will be a place for viewers to perch during commercial breaks on other channels. Viewing is designed to be measured in seconds, not minutes. It will broadcast from 7pm to 11pm, Monday through Friday, during TV Primetime.

Wisconsin is a purple state, and the 2024 election could keep the State blue, or turn it red. Donald Trump lost Wisconsin by 20,000 votes in the 2020 Presidential Election. Trump won the State by 23,000 votes in the 2016 Presidential Election. The margin of victory was less than 1% in both elections.

Milwaukee also has, at 27%, one of the highest percentages of over-the-air (OTA) audiences in America as measured by the percentage of TV households. Channel 16 reaches 2.25 million people, so approximately 600,000 people will be able to view the channel. Milwaukee will also host the 2024 Republican National Convention from July 15th  18th. The political temperature will run high there over the Summer.

"We are realistic about the channel's impact but if we can reach even a few thousand voters in Milwaukee it could make the difference," said Ken Switzer, Director of Marketing and Communications. "The stakes are so high in the 2024 Presidential Election. Every vote will matter, especially in the purple states."

Over-the-air (OTA) viewers need only an inexpensive TV antenna to watch PurpleTV for free, alongside ABC, CBS, Fox, and NBC, as well as Univision and Telemundo.

PurpleTV will also test the interactivity of QR codes to connect viewers to the channel. In addition to offering bite-sized political information, the channel will cover the nuts and bolts of politics, such as voter registration, down-ballot races, voter turnout, and more. The channel will also be streamed on PurpleTV.com. Connect with us on Facebook @WatchPurpleTV, Instagram @WatchPurpleTV, and X @WatchPurpleTV.

Contact:

Ken Switzer

Director of Marketing and Communications

[email protected]

202-990-1275

SOURCE PurpleTV
SUSSEX, Wis., June 12, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Quad/Graphics, Inc. (NYSE: QUAD), a global marketing experience company, has been ranked #22 among the top healthcare marketing firms in North America according to the 2024 MM+M Agency 100. This is the first time Quad has been included in the media brand's annual ranking, which is based on North American revenue.

"Quad's breadth includes agency solutions, like Rise, our integrated media agency, and Betty, our creative arm, that are delivering integrated solutions to companies across the health industry," said Jennifer Hickman, Head of Health Strategy and Growth for Quad. "Our unique approach takes the work through every stage  from strategy to creative, through production to the moment of purchase. Because we design, build and deliver solutions from end to end, we help health marketers make more powerful consumer connections, and that drives their success."

Quad's debut at #22 spot on MM+M ranking is based on over 20 years of end-to-end marketing solutions for health industry Post this

Quad has served brands across the health vertical for more than 20 years. The company continues to build momentum in the industry through targeted expansion of its client base and growth in the variety and depth of its services, including marketing data and insights; omnichannel planning and execution; brand and creative design; and media production and management. Its clients include Abbott, Anthem, Cigna Healthcare, CVS Health, Humana, Mutual of Omaha, Nicklaus Children's Hospital and UnitedHealthcare.

In 2023, Quad had more than 126 clients in health across all sub-verticals, 25 of which were agency of record (AOR) relationships. Quad also added 19 new health-industry accounts.

About Quad

Quad (NYSE: QUAD) is a global marketing experience company that helps brands make direct consumer connections, from household to in-store to online. Supported by state-of-the-art technology and data-driven intelligence, Quad uses its suite of media, creative and production solutions to streamline the complexities of marketing and remove friction from wherever it occurs in the marketing journey. Quad tailors its uniquely flexible, scalable and connected solutions to clients' objectives, driving cost efficiencies, improving speed to market, strengthening marketing effectiveness, and delivering value on client investments.

Quad employs approximately 13,000 people in 14 countries and serves approximately 2,700 clients including industry leading blue-chip companies that serve both businesses and consumers in multiple industry verticals, with a particular focus on commerce, including retail, consumer packaged goods, and direct-to-consumer; financial services; and health. Quad is ranked as the 14th largest agency company in the U.S. by Ad Age (2023), and the second-largest commercial printer in North America, according to Printing Impressions (2023).

For more information about Quad, including its commitment to ongoing innovation, culture and sustainable impact, visit www.Quad.com.

Media Contact

Jennifer Wasmer

Director of External Communications

203-522-1699, [email protected]

SOURCE Quad
UPPSALA, Sweden, June 12, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- ScandiNova Group is proud to announce its participation in the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC) initiative, reinforcing the company's commitment to sustainable and responsible business practices.

"We are honored to be part of this significant global initiative. This step allows us to take greater responsibility and work more intensively towards setting the standard for sustainable and responsible business alongside the other members," said Niklas Edling, CEO of ScandiNova Group.

In the past year, ScandiNova has broadened its approach to sustainability by implementing several initiatives focused on Green Technology, Health & Safety, and Governance & Compliance. In early 2024, we appointed a new Head of Sustainability, Quality, and Communications to lead these efforts.

ScandiNova express its commitment to making the UNGC a part of its strategy, culture, and day-to-day operations. Further on, the company will, on an annual basis, report on its contributions to the UNGC policy and principles.

The UNGC is a call to companies everywhere to align their operations and strategies with ten universally accepted principles in the areas of human rights, labour, environment, and anti-corruption, and to act in support of UN goals and issues embodied in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Launched in 2000, the UNGC is the largest corporate sustainability initiative in the world, with more than 15,000 companies and 3,800 non-business signatories based in over 160 countries, and more than 69 local networks.

Media & Communications

Erik Sundstrom

Head of Communications

[email protected]

+46 70 395 33 95

This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com

https://news.cision.com/scandinova-systems-ab/r/scandinova-joins-the-united-nations-global-compact,c3999535

The following files are available for download:

https://mb.cision.com/Main/11304/3999535/2859786.pdf News_ ScandiNova joins United Nations Global Compact_240611 https://news.cision.com/scandinova-systems-ab/i/participant-cop-digital-card,c3309588 Participant COP-digital-card

SOURCE ScandiNova Systems AB
PHILADELPHIA, June 12, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Kaskela Law LLC announces that it is investigating Instructure Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: INST) ("Instructure") on behalf of the company's shareholders.

Shares of Instructure's common stock are currently trading significantly below their 52-week high price of $28.50 per share.

The investigation seeks to determine whether Instructure and/or the company's officers and directors violated the securities laws or breached their fiduciary duties to the company's investors in connection with recent corporate actions.

Instructure shareholders are encouraged to contact Kaskela Law LLC (D. Seamus Kaskela, Esq. or Adrienne Bell, Esq.) at (484) 229  0750 or (888) 715  1740 for additional information about this investigation and their legal rights and options, or by clicking on the following link (or if necessary, copying and pasting the link into your browser):

https://kaskelalaw.com/case/instructure-holdings/

Kaskela Law LLC exclusively represents investors in securities fraud, corporate governance, and merger & acquisition litigation on a contingent basis. For additional information about Kaskela Law LLC please visit www.kaskelalaw.com.

CONTACT:

KASKELA LAW LLC

D. Seamus Kaskela, Esq.

([email protected])

Adrienne Bell, Esq.

([email protected])

18 Campus Blvd., Suite 100

Newtown Square, PA 19073

(888) 715  1740

(484) 229  0750

www.kaskelalaw.com

This notice may constitute attorney advertising in certain jurisdictions.

SOURCE Kaskela Law LLC
Customers rate Sherwin-Williams highest in Customer Satisfaction with Interior Paint for the second consecutive year

CLEVELAND, June 12, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Sherwin-Williams received the highest honors in customer satisfaction with interior paint in the J.D. Power 2024 U.S. Paint Satisfaction Study. This is the second consecutive win for Sherwin-Williams in the interior paint segment, excelling in various study dimensions among interior paints and achieving the highest score for level of trust, ease of cleaning surfaces, adequacy of coverage, and variety of offerings in the segment.

"We are exceedingly proud to have received this recognition from the J.D. Power Paint Satisfaction Study for the second year in a row," stated Brett White, Senior Vice President of Marketing at Sherwin-Williams. "With a legacy of over 155 years in the industry, we are honored to set the standard for quality and innovation, this recognition demonstrates our commitment to our customers and pioneering new standards in customer satisfaction year after year."

J.D. Power, a globally respected authority in consumer insights with over five decades of expertise in analyzing customer interactions with brands and products, has awarded Sherwin-Williams for the second consecutive year. The J.D. Power 2024 U.S. Paint Satisfaction Study evaluates seven key dimensions driving satisfaction: adequacy of coverage, durability, ease of application, ease of cleaning surfaces, level of trust, value given price paid, and variety of offerings. This year's study surveyed 6,892 customers who had purchased and applied interior paint, exterior paint, and/or exterior stain within the last 12 months.

For more information on Sherwin-Williams, visit sherwin-williams.com. For more information on the J.D. Power Paint Satisfaction Study and Results, visit jdpower.com/business/home/paint-satisfaction-study.

Ask Sherwin-Williams

For more than 155 years, Sherwin-Williams has been an industry leader in the development of technologically advanced paint and coatings. As the nation's largest specialty retailer of paint and painting supplies, Sherwin-Williams is dedicated to supporting both do-it-yourselfers and painting professionals with exceptional and exclusive products, resources to make confident color selections and expert, personalized service at its more than 4,800 neighborhood stores across North America. For more information, visit sherwin-williams.com. Join Sherwin-Williams on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, TikTok and LinkedIn.

SOURCE Sherwin-Williams
Temperature, Environmental & Facility Monitoring Solutions Available at Special Pricing for HPS members

GREENFIELD, Ind., June 12, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Sonicu , a leading provider of innovative monitoring solutions, is pleased to announce its strategic partnership with HPS Group Purchasing Organization (HPS GPO), one of the nation's most respected GPOs.

This collaboration marks a milestone in providing advanced remote monitoring systems to healthcare facilities, educational organizations and senior living communities nationwide.

All HPS GPO members can access Sonicu's industry-leading monitoring systems at special GPO-member pricing.

Sonicu is a North American leader in temperature and environmental monitoring with a growing footprint in facility monitoring.

This partnership ensures all HPS members can benefit from the advanced technology and cost efficiency provided by Sonicu's solutions.

Sonicu's monitoring systems are designed to ensure critical temperature and environmental conditions are maintained at optimal levels  essential for customer operations settings where temperature, humidity, and air pressure differential conditions directly impact food and medication safety.

The integration of these systems will assist HPS GPO members in achieving compliance with regulatory standards while enhancing operational efficiencies.

"We are excited to partner with HPS GPO to bring our robust monitoring solutions to their members, several of whom are already satisfied customers," said Joe Mundell, Chief Revenue Officer, Sonicu.

"Our goal is to empower hospitals, schools, senior living facilities, and any other industry with tools that meet and exceed their monitoring needs, ensuring safety and compliance at all levels of operation."

In addition to special pricing, HPS GPO members will benefit from ongoing support and training provided by Sonicu.

This will include comprehensive onboarding sessions, regular updates on new features and technologies, and customer service to ensure users maximize the benefits of their monitoring systems.

About Sonicu

Sonicu is a premier provider of automated monitoring technology solutions, specializing in the healthcare, pharmaceutical, life sciences, and food service sectors. The company's robust suite of monitoring solutions leverages the latest in digital technology to automate regulatory compliance, safeguard assets, and decrease manual processes.

About HPS GPO

HPS is a group purchasing organization that serves the needs of nearly 5,000 members in 36 states plus Washington, D.C.. Member-owned and operated for more than 75 years, its core membership base is made up of organizations that have a direct impact on the communities they serve, from hospitals to senior living facilities to schools and many more.

Contact:

Bryan Mitchell

[email protected]

SOURCE Sonicu
12 Inspired eMeals Recipes with Perfect Wine Pairings Set the Table for Great Company Dinners

BIRMINGHAM, Ala., June 12, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- If you're hosting an Italian-style company dinner but want to be more creative than building the menu around lasagna, here's an idea (a dozen of them, in fact!): the new Elevated Everyday Pairings Bonus Collection from meal planning service eMeals. Choose from 12 Italian-influenced recipes made with Contadina tomato products, pair them with the recommended Stella Rosa wines imported from Italy, and you'll whip up a fantastico feast for 6-10 in record time.

All recipes in the collection leverage the rich vine-ripened Roma tomato flavor of Contadina's diced tomatoes, tomato sauce and tomato paste to create company-worthy twists on traditional Italian fare  each with preparation times of just 25-45 minutes.

Need starters with a zing? Go full-on Italian with Pizza Dip (a bubbly sausage-pepperoni-cheese concoction served with pizza crust dippers) or Chicken Parmesan Sliders (tomato-y diced chicken served on slider buns), or vary the theme with Game Day Tex-Mex Meatballs (seasoned to perfection with tomato paste, tomato sauce and enchilada sauce). Pair any of these starters with a glass of Stella Rosa Black for an extra touch of indulgence.

Go full-on Italian with (a bubbly sausage-pepperoni-cheese concoction served with pizza crust dippers) or (tomato-y diced chicken served on slider buns), or vary the theme with (seasoned to perfection with tomato paste, tomato sauce and enchilada sauce). Pair any of these starters with a glass of for an extra touch of indulgence. Aiming for a meat-based main dish? Choose from Creamy Herbed Chicken featuring tomato paste, diced tomatoes and sun-dried tomatoes in a cream sauce, or go the ground beef route with Meatloaf Burgers with Tomato Gravy, Cheesy Beef and Tortellini Skillet or The Best Walking Tacos made in a slow cooker and spooned over corn chips. Pair any of these hearty dishes with a glass of Stella Rosa Red for a perfect culinary experience.

Choose from featuring tomato paste, diced tomatoes and sun-dried tomatoes in a cream sauce, or go the ground beef route with or made in a slow cooker and spooned over corn chips. Pair any of these hearty dishes with a glass of for a perfect culinary experience. Prefer a pizza or seafood entree? Deep-Dish Sausage and Spinach Pizza with Italian sausage and portobello mushrooms transforms pizza into a culinary masterpiece, while Shrimp over Creamy Grits with Creole seasoning and fontina cheese or Mediterranean Shrimp with tomatoes, capers and crumbled feta served over crispy polenta cakes elevate your menu to fine-dining status. Enhance the experience by pairing with Stella Rosa Moscato D'Asti, which balances the richness of the dishes with its refreshing semi-sweet taste.

with Italian sausage and portobello mushrooms transforms pizza into a culinary masterpiece, while with Creole seasoning and fontina cheese or with tomatoes, capers and crumbled feta served over crispy polenta cakes elevate your menu to fine-dining status. Enhance the experience by pairing with Stella Rosa Moscato D'Asti, which balances the richness of the dishes with its refreshing semi-sweet taste. Looking for sides that sing? Skillet-Squash and Zucchini with Corn perked up with canned tomatoes, tomato paste, bacon, diced green chilies and pepper Jack cheese will win applause from your guests, and greens topped with Honey-Tomato-Basil Vinaigrette and shaved Parmesan will turn your salad into a star. Enjoy these combinations with a refreshing glass of Stella Rosa Peach for a delightful dining experience.

Available on the eMeals landing page or in the Bonus Collection section of the eMeals app for subscribers, the Inspired Italian Pairings bonus collection is the latest example of the creativity and variety that are hallmarks of the company's weekly meal planning service.

eMeals subscribers have a choice of meal plans for 15 different eating styles including Quick and Healthy, Clean Eating, Low Calorie, Low Carb, 30 Minute Meals, Kid Friendly and Vegetarian; the option to mix and match menus from any style and the ability to substitute favorites from previous weeks; periodic Occasions Plan and Bonus Collection menus for recipes that may not fit into the nightly dinner category; and optional one-click shopping from major retailers.

eMeals subscriptions cost as little as $5/month, save an average of two hours of meal planning time every week, and help reduce grocery expenses by utilizing ingredients efficiently and avoiding impulse purchases. Free 14-day trials are available here.

About eMeals

eMeals is a meal inspiration, planning and shopping platform that operates the subscription-based eMeals digital meal planning service, the free RecipeBox app enabling home cooks to create personalized digital cookbooks, and the Grocery Connect SDK providing online grocery shopping functionality for third-party apps and websites. eMeals has helped millions of families relieve the daily stress of putting healthy home-cooked meals on the table quickly, easily and affordably since the launch of its digital meal planning service. For more information, visit https://emeals.com and https://recipebox.com.

About Stella Rosa

Stella Rosa is America's #1 Italian imported wine. A selection of semi-sweet, semi-sparkling Italian wines, its impressive achievements include a 9x IMPACT Magazine Hot Brand award among others. As part of the Riboli Family Wines portfolio, a family-owned company founded in 1917, the company showcases over a century of crafting award-winning wines resulting in Wine Enthusiasts' 2018 American Winery of the Year. With a natural affinity for creativity and innovation, Stella Rosa continues to lead the industry and push the boundaries of winemaking and the wine-drinking experience. For more information, visit www.stellarosawines.com.

About Contadina 

Ripe for the Moment. When the Aiello brothers established Contadina in 1918, their goal was to produce canned tomatoes that matched the standard set in their native Italy. A hundred years later, we maintain our founders' passion and commitment to quality by using fresh, vine-ripened tomatoes that are grown and packed with care. These high quality, delicious tomatoes are perfect for every meal and moment. For more information, please visit www.Contadina.com.

SOURCE eMeals
WELLESLEY, Mass., June 12, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- In recognition of its commitment and efforts to closing gender and racial pay gaps, Sun Life U.S. has received the Wage Equity Impact Award from the Boston Women's Workforce Council (BWWC). Six Boston-area companies, including Sun Life, will be recognized for their wage equity achievements at the awards event today at noon, at Boston University's Center for Computing and Dynamics. Through extensive research and analysis, Sun Life was able to drive a statistically sound, sustainable approach to pay equity, and confirmed that there are no systemic pay gaps for women or professionals of color across the organization.

"Wage gaps are unfortunate holdovers from outdated approaches to compensation, and I'm proud that Sun Life has a strong and equitable salary structure," said Tammi Wortham, senior vice president, Human Resources, Sun Life U.S. "Every worker brings equal value to our organization, and we have ensured that our compensation model reflects that  and will continue to do so."

In 2016 Sun Life was an early signer of the BWWC's Boston Women's Talent Compact, a region-wide commitment from local companies to work towards closing the gender and racial pay gap. The company's participation in the compact was facilitated by Laura Welz, assistant vice president of Total Rewards at Sun Life U.S., who will join the other awardees for a panel discussion at today's BWWC awards celebration.

"I am proud to represent Sun Life at today's event, knowing how committed the company has been to achieving this goal and becoming an example of wage and representation parity," said Welz.

In December 2023, BWWC data from compact signers revealed women earn 79 cents for every dollar a man earns, an improvement from the 30-cent wage gap reported by the organization in 2021.

"We are encouraged and impressed by these companies' efforts and the achieved results," says Kim Borman, executive director of the BWWC. "These companies are leading the way in Boston and nationally."

In addition to its largest office in Greater Boston, Sun Life U.S. has office hubs in Portland, Maine, Hartford, Conn., Kansas City, Mo., and Milwaukee, as well as many remote employees throughout the country. The company has been named a Forbes Best Employer for Diversity in 2023 and 2024 and is listed annually on the Bloomberg Gender Equality Index. Globally, Sun Life has committed to gender parity at vice president levels and above by 2025.

About Sun Life

Sun Life is a leading international financial services organization providing asset management, wealth, insurance and health solutions to individual and institutional Clients. Sun Life has operations in a number of markets worldwide, including Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Hong Kong, the Philippines, Japan, Indonesia, India, China, Australia, Singapore, Vietnam, Malaysia and Bermuda. As of March 31, 2024, Sun Life had total assets under management of C$1.47 trillion. For more information, please visit www.sunlife.com.

Sun Life Financial Inc. trades on the Toronto (TSX), New York (NYSE) and Philippine (PSE) stock exchanges under the ticker symbol SLF.

Sun Life U.S. is one of the largest providers of employee and government benefits, helping more than 50 million Americans access the healthcare and coverage they need. Through employers, industry partners and government programs, Sun Life U.S. offers a portfolio of benefits and services, including dental, vision, disability, absence management, life, supplemental health, medical stop-loss insurance, and healthcare navigation. Sun Life employs more than 8,500 people in the U.S., including associates in our partner dental practices and affiliated companies in asset management. Group insurance policies are issued by Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada (Wellesley Hills, Mass.), except in New York, where policies are issued by Sun Life and Health Insurance Company (U.S.) (Lansing, Mich.). For more information visit our website and newsroom.

Media Contact:

Devon Fernald

Sun Life U.S.

[email protected]

Connect with Sun Life U.S.

https://www.facebook.com/SLFUnitedStates

https://www.linkedin.com/company/sun-life-financial

SOURCE Sun Life U.S.
Guests at GRES 2024

Guests at GRES 2024

During the event, the guests had the opportunity to visit the Sungrow PV & ESS Factory, Sungrow Hydrogen Factory and the brand-new showroom. Simultaneously, a diverse array of Chinese cultural experiences and performances were carefully curated and tailored for the esteemed guests, providing them with an immersive opportunity to actively participate and gain a profound understanding of the rich tapestry of Chinese culture.

Integrating the renewable sector will pave the way for a visionary future.

Currently, as the world moves towards environmental sustainability, renewable energy is expected to become increasingly viable and cost-effective compared to fossil fuels.

"The total energy transition investment now exceeds fossil-fuel supply investment," said Sisi Tang, Head of China at BloombergNEF. "By 2050, renewable sources will be the dominant force in global energy generation, accounting for 81% of the total energy mix in a Net Zero Scenario."

However, Sam Wilkinson, Director of Clean Energy Technology at S&P Global Commodity Insights, emphasized that clean electricity alone is not enough. Apart from solar energy and energy storage, hydrogen will play a crucial role in decarbonization, underscoring the need for a diversified approach to renewable energy to ensure a sustainable and reliable supply.

Innovative and safe renewable technologies are emerging as a prominent trend

One key topic at the summit was technologies enabling renewable energy integration. Jack Gu, Vice Chairman of Sungrow and President of PV & Storage BG, concurred with Tang on the growing global confidence in renewable energy and the role of innovation in driving the industry forward.

Sungrow is dedicated to exploring customer needs and providing reliable product safety and innovation guarantees, especially in utility-scale solar and energy storage systems with vast development potential.

At the summit, Sungrow demonstrated a large-scale burn test of its PowerTitan liquid-cooled energy storage systems. Under DNV supervision and live broadcasts from US fire safety agencies and global energy providers, the test verified the systems' superior fire resistance and flame retardancy, maintaining structural integrity and preventing fire spread. Three adjacent cabinets remained unaffected, setting a new safety standard for the industry.

Distributed solar and storage enter a new era

With an increasing focus on renewable energy, distributed solar and storage systems are experiencing growth and progress. These systems, typically installed on rooftops or near energy consumption points, provide an efficient way to generate and store renewable energy.

According to Cormac Gilligan, the global distributed solar market is expected to grow significantly in the coming years, driven by factors such as decreasing installation costs, technological advancements, and increasing awareness of renewable energy's environmental benefits. Behind-the-meter energy storage installations are also increasing, enabling customers to better manage their energy consumption and reduce grid dependency.

Sungrow is committed to leading the transformation of distributed solar and storage systems. We invest in research and development to enhance the efficiency, reliability, and safety of our products. Our hybrid inverters, batteries, liquid-cooled energy storage systems, power optimizers, and EV chargers showcase our commitment to innovation and safety.

During the event, esteemed guests representing ZEN Energy, Truxco AB, Penso Power, Marubeni, and AMEA Power graciously shared their perspectives on cutting-edge technologies and their applications in large-scale scenarios. Meanwhile, Sungrow's distributed partners, comprising Solar Juice, IBC Solar, POwR, and ARB, engaged in a lively exchange of ideas on the dynamic and evolving landscape of distributed solar energy.

Cao Renxian, Chairman of Sungrow really appreciated to see so many friends in Sungrow and express his sincere gratitude and warm welcome to all of the guests. He also extended deepest gratitude to our clients for the invaluable insights and suggestions they have shared with Sungrow, which has been the guiding light that has helped us refine our products and services. In the future, Sungrow will continue to deepen technological innovation, constantly explore advanced new energy technology, with the aim of bringing our clients more efficient and reliable products. And he eagerly anticipated collaborating with all of the guests to promote green energy industry, and build a bridge to a sustainable future together!

About Sungrow

Sungrow Power Supply Co., Ltd. ("Sungrow") is a global leading PV inverter and ESS provider with over 515 GW of power electronic converters installed worldwide as of December 2023. Founded in 1997 by University Professor Cao Renxian, Sungrow is a leader in the research and development of solar inverters with the largest dedicated R&D team in the industry and a broad product portfolio offering PV inverter solutions and ESS for utility-scale, commercial & industrial, and residential applications, as well as internationally recognized floating PV plant solutions, NEV driving solutions, EV charging solutions and renewable hydrogen production systems. With a strong 27-year track record in the PV space, Sungrow's products power over 170 countries worldwide. For more information about Sungrow, visit www.sungrowpower.com.

SOURCE Sungrow Power Supply Co., Ltd.

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Embracing the city's rich heritage and vibrant culture, Koenigshof, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Munich offers an unparalleled blend of luxury hospitality and local authenticity

High-resolution imagery: HERE

MUNICH, June 12, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The Luxury Collection, part of Marriott Bonvoy's portfolio of over 30 extraordinary hotel brands, today announces the highly anticipated opening of Koenigshof, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Munich. Situated in the heart of Munich's historical "Stachus" Square, this property marks The Luxury Collection brand's debut in Germany. Designed by internationally acclaimed architects Nieto Sobejano, the hotel captures the timeless sophistication and attitude of Munich with a new, contemporary design, which beautifully embodies the city's rich stories and culture, offering unique, transformative experiences in the Bavarian capital.

Koenigshof, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Munich Guest Room

"The opening of Koenigshof, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Munich signifies a significant milestone for the brand as it will be The Luxury Collection's foray into Germany - a vibrant and enticing destination for luxury travel," said Philipp Weghmann, Vice President and Global Brand Leader of The Luxury Collection. "This property marks a fitting entrance, embodying the tapestry of the country's cosmopolitan culture. By introducing the brand's unique ethos and enriching experiences to the exceptional city of Munich, this property is poised to offer guests an unparalleled blend of luxury hospitality and local flair."

At the helm of the transformation, Nieto Sobejano Architects and Landau + Kindelbacher ensured that this next chapter of the historic building's heritage is honored, while reinterpreting the sense of luxury in a modern way. Upon arrival, guests are welcomed into a breathtaking, spacious atrium introducing the hotel's design concept of "Stachus Serenity", reflecting individuality and local connectivity. Through the implementation of louvered structures and large, gold-colored walls, the architectural approach was to open the facade towards the "Stachus" square and establish a connection between the interior and exterior of the hotel, creating a luxury urban retreat.

"Munich is one of Europe's most dynamic and artistic cities, steeped in history, making it a natural fit for The Luxury Collection - a brand renowned for celebrating authenticity and delivering indigenous hotel experiences," said Helen Leighton, Vice President, Luxury Brands, Europe, Middle East and Africa, Marriott International. "Located in the heart of the city, Koenigshof, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Munich opens with contemporary design, impeccable service, and an array of epicurean experiences. We are thrilled to bring the next level of luxury hospitality to Germany and look forward to welcoming global explorers as they unlock this enchanting destination."

Inside the hotel, art plays a key role as part of the guest experience  reflecting the history of the House of Wittelsbach, the former Bavarian ruling family, who were enthusiastic art collectors in the 16th century. The aim of the Koenigshof, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Munich is to seamlessly blend Bavaria's rich tradition of art collecting with the city's current passion for fine art. The art on display in the hotel represents national and internationally renowned artists such as Joseph Beuys, Christo und Jeanne-Claude, and David John Flynn among many others, complementing the hotel's architecture and interior design.

The hotel features 106 artfully appointed guestrooms and suites, showcasing modern luxury with a sophisticated blend of spectacular interiors, curated artworks from local Bavarian artists, and state-of-the-art technology. Creating a sanctuary amidst the city's hustle and bustle, the guestrooms feature dark wood-paneled walls, neutral-toned fabrics, and views of stunning cityscapes through floor-to-ceiling windows. Reflecting the cultured personality that defines Munich's spirit, all guestrooms feature a touch of local charm, such as welcome cards illustrated by Munich designer Alexandra von Frankenberg, a custom Koenigshof fragrance, and a bespoke "Munich Serenity" tea made exclusively for the hotel in collaboration with Samova Tea, blending more than twelve local herbs. Ensuring a seamless stay, the guestrooms offer an array of luxurious amenities including Byredo toiletries, Nespresso machines, Dyson Supersonic hairdryers, and Bose Bluetooth speakers.

Koenigshof's crowning jewel is the 250-square-metre split-level Presidential Suite on the eighth and ninth floor offering an ultimate luxury experience. As the largest hotel suite in the city, it boasts a private sauna and a pool with breathtaking city views. The pool features a counter-current system and seating surfaces with massage jets. A private spa offers high-quality spa products, a relaxation area and lounge with a Smart TV, and a curated room service menu for complete relaxation.

Guaranteeing an epicurean delight, Koenigshof is home of three distinctive destinations including signature restaurant GRETA OTO Munich, located on the ninth floor offering panoramic views of the city. This vibrant Latin American restaurant, under the helm of renowned Peruvian chef Michael Canepa, is set to be the city's newest social hotspot, with an innovative menu that will engage the senses. On the weekend, the restaurant and bar transition into a club-like atmosphere where guests can enjoy exceptional Amazonian cocktails in the adjacent bar or on the rooftop terrace. In contrast, The Green is a serene lounge serving local delicacies including the specially crafted Koenigshof tea and the extravagant "Koenigshof-Torte", a tribute to the world-famous Bavarian "Prinzregententorte" with a unique design mirroring the hotel's architectural exterior. The Gold lounge will provide a tranquil, residential-style space on the third floor to unwind with a curated selection of books and artwork that showcase Munich's unique personality as one of the most historic cultural locations in Europe. Complete with an outdoor terrace and breathtaking views of the city and the Bavarian Alps, from here guests can savor the special edition Koenigshof Bellini made with mountain peach puree, lemon oil produced from Amalfi Coast lemons, and topped up with Ruinart Brut Champagne.

For private events, The View on the ninth floor accommodates up to 50 guests, featuring a private bar, lounge, and terrace access with stunning city and mountain views. Equipped with the latest AV technology, the space is complemented by culinary offerings from GRETA OTO. Intimate gatherings with up to 12 guests can take advantage of The Studio on the third floor and enjoy the moment with a private bar.

Koenigshof, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Munich offers global explorers a unique and authentic experience of the city through locally inspired design, epicurean moments, and opportunities to discover the destination. Signature guest experiences will include guided tours of the city to discover Munich's Gemuetlichkeit, a state of warmth, friendliness, and good cheer. Accompanied by the concierge, guests can visit the famous Viktualienmarkt. Originally a farmers' market, today it is a place where gourmands can sample traditional Bavarian products and exclusive local foods, as well as take home stories and insider tips from the concierge.

For more information or to book a stay, please visit www.marriott.com.

About The Luxury Collection Hotels & Resorts

The Luxury Collection is comprised of world-renowned hotels and resorts offering unique, authentic experiences that evoke lasting, treasured memories. For the global explorer, The Luxury Collection offers a gateway to the world's most exciting and desirable destinations. Each hotel and resort is a unique and cherished expression of its location; a portal to the destination's charms and treasures. Originated in 1906 under the CIGA brand as a collection of Europe's most celebrated and iconic properties, today The Luxury Collection brand is a glittering ensemble of over 110 of the world's finest hotels and resorts in 40 countries and territories. All of these hotels, many of them centuries old, are internationally recognized as being among the world's finest. For more information and new openings, visit theluxurycollection.com or follow Instagram and Facebook . The Luxury Collection is proud to participate in Marriott Bonvoy, the global travel program from Marriott International. The program offers members an extraordinary portfolio of global brands, exclusive experiences on Marriott Bonvoy Moments and unparalleled benefits including free nights and Elite status recognition. To enroll for free or for more information about the program, visit marriottbonvoy.com .

About Marriott Bonvoy

Marriott Bonvoy's extraordinary portfolio offers renowned hospitality in the most memorable destinations in the world, with more than 30 brands that are tailored to every type of journey. From The Ritz-Carlton and St. Regis to W Hotels and more, Marriott Bonvoy has more luxury offerings than any other travel program. Members can earn points for stays at hotels and resorts, including all-inclusive resorts and premium home rentals, and through everyday purchases with co-branded credit cards. Members can redeem their points for experiences including future stays, Marriott Bonvoy Moments, or through partners for luxurious products from Marriott Bonvoy Boutiques. To enroll for free or for more information about Marriott Bonvoy, visit marriottbonvoy.com.

SOURCE Marriott International, Inc.
By Victor Ing,

Special to The Post

Honourable Minister Miller:

I am proud to say that I have been serving immigration clients for over a decade since I was called to the British Columbia bar in 2011. A year earlier in 2010, I had my first opportunity as an articled student to help prepare written legal submissions for a Federal Court matter concerning a family whose application for permanent residence was refused because they had a child with a disability. It was an exhilarating experience to advocate for our clients rights and to experience firsthand how the Court oversees the immigration decision-making process to ensure that it is transparent and fair. I was instantly hooked on this work. Fast forward to 2024 and I see a rapidly changing landscape where the Court is so bogged down with cases that it can no longer effectively serve this essential role.

As I am writing this letter, there have been over 10,000 new immigration cases filed with the Federal Court just as we hit the halfway mark of 2024. In practical terms, that represents a staggering and unsustainable average of over 60 cases a day  every single day! The pressure is mounting. The Court backlog is growing with no end in sight and hearings are being delayed. The lawyers at the Department of Justice who represent you in the Court are missing filing deadlines due to the sheer volume of work coming across their desks. Meaningful changes must be made immediately to curb these trends before our clients access to justice becomes illusory.

There are at least two main culprits in the dramatic, year-on-year rise in new court filings, both of which relate to the ways in which IRCC communicates with clients and can be remedied with common sense solutions:

Lack of Transparency for Refusals

It is well known within the immigration community that refusal letters create a tremendous amount of stress for clients. Refusal letters are simply that  a letter conveying the refusal of an application. They are vague and written using boilerplate language that rarely ever informs the client why the application was refused. This causes frustration for clients and lawyers alike because we are unable to advise clients about the next steps and best course of action.

To make things worse, when a decision is refused the client has a limited amount of time to challenge the refusal in the Federal Court under a judicial review. For decisions made within Canada, the client only has 15 days to challenge the decision and 60 days for decisions made outside Canada. Often, this leads to the default position of challenging the refusal in Federal Court just to meet the filing deadline, even though we dont have all the data in front of us to make a fully informed decision.

Thankfully, once the Court application is filed, Court rules require the responsible visa office to provide the detailed reasons for refusals (called Global Case Management System or GCMS notes) to our clients  this typically happens within four to six weeks after a Court application is filed.

In short, immigration clients are presently incentivized to file Federal Court applications. By filing them clients gain access to the officers refusal (GCMS) notes and they preserve their ability to challenge the refusal in Court should the reasons for refusal not withstand scrutiny.

Lack of Justification in Decision-Making

Immigration processing has undergone significant changes since I first began practicing immigration law over a decade ago. Today, immigration processing has been largely digitized, a development which was heavily fast-tracked during the COVID-19 pandemic, and now affects both the ways in which we submit applications and the way that they are processed by IRCC.

One of the more notable changes in immigration processing has been your departments controversial use of decision-making and triaging software, including Chinook, which has been variously described in the media as artificial intelligence and an advanced analytics tool used to streamline processing.

In a 2023 Federal Court decision called Haghshenas, the Federal Court accepted IRCCs use of Chinook as a processing tool based on the understanding that a human (a visa officer) remains in the loop and is ultimately responsible for making the decision. While Haghshenas set a favourable precedent for IRCC, what I have observed is that the use of Chinook and similar tools is backfiring and counterproductive to the lofty objectives of making processing more efficient. Specifically, the expediency afforded by these tools is now leading to the generation of refusals that do not meet even the most basic criteria of justification and transparency that is required by law.

The leading case of Vavilov needs no introduction. In that case, the Supreme Court of Canada held that all administrative decision-makers must render decisions that are transparent and justified  refusals may be explained in brief terms, but the reasons must always be responsive to the submissions made by the client, and they should allow the Court to understand how conclusions were reached.

Sadly, never in my years of practice have I seen poorer quality decisions made by immigration officers than I have in the past few years. Since the pandemic, I have seen an increase in cases that are simply indefensible in law because there is no justification given at all for the refusals. I have had clients refuse for visitor visas to see critically ill Canadian family members because they were unable to provide sufficient documentation to support the purpose of [their] visit, even when we have doctors notes and similarly clear and compelling evidence documenting the illness. I have had other visa applications refused for lack of financial documentation, even after showing that my client owns eight properties, has more than sufficient liquid funds, and works as a successful professional in their home country.

The use of assistive software to increase processing speed has given rise to a new generation of decisions that are loosely justified by a limited number of canned responses that immigration officers are allowed to choose from when writing decisions. More and more the actual reasons of the officer in the GCMS notes are looking like the woefully inadequate refusal letters that are issued to clients.

This is the price of expediency. As a lawyer, I am obligated to ensure that my clients know there are no guarantees that their immigration application will be successful. However, what my clients are never prepared for is receiving decisions that are no more than a few sentences in length, that are written in broken, boilerplate language filled with acronyms and immigration slang that fail to address the key arguments that were made as to why the application should be granted. This, again, leads to frustration and is directly contributing to the rise of immigration cases that are overwhelming the Federal Court with unnecessary litigation files.

IRCC is in the services business where communication is paramount. There are simple and fair solutions to address the issues that are plaguing the current system.

Firstly, to tackle the lack of transparency that is currently endemic to immigration refusals, IRCC should provide the GCMS notes to clients with each and every refusal. The current technology in place already allows for the easy transmission of these notes to clients. For instance, it is now commonplace to receive the GCMS notes through a clients online immigration account that was used to submit the refused application  I have seen this take place several times in response to the filing of a Federal Court application. This straightforward solution will reduce the frustration clients experience in the refusal process. It will allow lawyers to properly advise their clients on how to proceed, and it will undoubtedly and immediately reduce the number of cases that are filed with the Federal Court.

Secondly, IRCC must be transparent as to how its software tools contribute to the decision-making process. Moreover, regardless of what tool is ultimately used by immigration officers, clients are entitled to receive reasons that are responsive and sufficiently clear as to why their applications were refused. IRCC must reject the status quo of providing canned responses to clients in the name of expediency.

Canada has seen a huge influx of applications from immigration hopefuls in the last decade. We have been the victims of our own success in broadcasting to the world that we are welcoming newcomers, and our own ever increasing annual targets for new immigrants reflect that. I fully appreciate that immigration processing is complex and evolving and I hope that Canada will always remain a desirable place for immigration. However, at present we are failing spectacularly at providing clear and consistent communication and, as a result, we are seeing an endless cycle of litigation that is eminently avoidable.

Victor Ing is a lawyer of Sas & Ing Immigration Law Centre. He provides a full range of immigration services.

For more information go to canadian-visa-lawyer.com or email victor@sasanding.com.
BANGKOK, June 12, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- On May 31, Timekettle, a fast-growing cross-language communication solutions innovator, gathered creators, partners, and fans for the first time in the vibrant city of Bangkok, Thailand. The event was a celebration of cultural exchange, innovation, and the power of human connection, with Thailand's resurgence as a top international travel destination providing the perfect backdrop for this momentous occasion.

Timekettle Creators Gathering in Bangkok, Thailand Creators sharing their Timekettle stories

Under the unifying slogan, "Crossing Cultures, Embracing Diversity, Driving Innovation," the event showcased how cutting-edge language solutions could foster global collaboration and understanding, particularly in the dynamic world of international travel. Haruethai Sarigakham, the Product Manager at KOAN Company Limited, the first distributor of Timekettle in Thailand, said, "Timekettle has garnered an impressive response in the Thai market, appealing to a wide range of customers. This includes business travelers, tourists, students, and language learners, who have demonstrated a high demand for the products. Timekettle products have been used for various purposes and have become an invaluable accompany for them in Thailand."

Arsen, a travel vlogger and the creator behind the YouTube channel Live Love Thailand, has been sharing his adventures in Thailand. Despite not speaking Thai, Arsen has found a reliable companion in Timekettle's products, which he now carries everywhere. "It's helpful because sometimes you will be in places where people do not speak any English, so Timekettle products are lifesavers," Arsen said.

Roman Kondratiev, another content creator who has spent nearly a year in Thailand without speaking the local language, said his experience in Thailand would have been significantly better if he had known about Timekettle sooner. "Because it is so easy, you can just talk to anyone by using their earbuds," he shared.

Timekettle extends its heartfelt thanks to all attendees, partners, and supporters who made this event a monumental success. The company looks forward to continuing its mission to provide innovative cross-language communication solutions that empower individuals and organizations to connect, collaborate, and thrive in the increasingly globalized world.

About Timekettle

Established in 2016, Timekettle is dedicated to advancing cross-language communication through innovative products and solutions. Recognized with numerous international accolades, including the CES Innovation Award, iF Design Award, and Japan Good Design Award, Timekettle's products have proudly served the needs of cross-language communication in a variety of user scenarios, including abroad-living, traveling, multi-language meetings and classrooms, as well as in manufacturing and logistics, and beyond. Having solidified a user database of more than 400,000, Timekettle continues its journey as the Global No.1 AI Translator Device.

For further information, please visit https://www.timekettle.co/ or contact [email protected].

SOURCE Timekettle
Austin's largest credit union will open its first Houston-area branch at UTHealth Houston

AUSTIN, Texas, June 12, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- UFCU (University Federal Credit Union) announced that it will open its first Houston branch later this year in the world-renowned Texas Medical Center within the UTHealth Houston building at 7000 Fannin Street.

"We look forward to serving the UTHealth Houston community, Texas Medical Center and our nearly 30,000 UFCU Members in the Houston area," said UFCU CEO and President Michael Crowl. "Founded by and rooted in higher education for nearly 90 years, UFCU has become one of the largest credit unions in Texas. We are proud to serve four esteemed academic health universities across the state with UTHealth Houston joining the University of Texas Medical Branch, Dell Medical School and Texas A&M Health."

UTHealth Houston is one of 61 institutions in the Texas Medical Center  the largest life sciences destination in the world.

"The impact that the Texas Medical Center continues to make is truly unparalleled. More than 7 million visitors come to this corner of Houston annually for the renowned care provided," said UFCU Executive Vice President of Member Experience Chris Turnley. "The impact of UTHealth Houston and the Texas Medical Center is central to a thriving Texas, and we are excited to provide services to strengthening the financial well-being of UTHealth Houston's 15,000 employees."

UTHealth Houston joins a distinguished roster of more than 200 schools, employers, and organizations in UFCU's field of membership. A self-described "Member-obsessed" organization, UFCU exists to provide access to affordable capital so Members can build financial success and brighter futures.

About UFCU

As a Member-owned, not-for-profit financial cooperative, UFCU is passionate about helping Members improve their lives. With more than 380,000 Members and approximately $4 billion in assets, UFCU offers a variety of products, services, and education programs to empower Members in achieving financial success. More information about UFCU can be found on the website www.ufcu.org or its social media platforms: Facebook, X, Instagram.

SOURCE UFCU
Honorable Chairman Erkin,

Honorable Mr Ambassador Nuryshev,

Distinguished experts and friends, good morning!

The international forum "The History and Future of Xinjiang, China" is being held in the renowned ancient Silk Road city of Kashi (aka, Kashgar). On behalf of the National Ethnic Affairs Commission, I would like to offer my warm welcome to everyone.

As President Xi pointed out: "We advocate the respect for the diversity of civilizations. Countries need to uphold the principles of equality, mutual learning, dialogue and inclusiveness among civilizations, and let cultural exchanges transcend estrangement, mutual learning transcend clashes, and coexistence transcend feelings of superiority". Today, among us are old friends and new from various countries, as well as many scholars from China, many of whom are respected authorities in their respective fields, such as history, archaeology, anthropology, and environmental science. One of the reasons that brings us together here is the excavation and research of the Mo'er Temple archaeological site by Minzu University of China, under the National Ethnic Affairs Commission. It provides us another good example of integration of diverse civilizations.

Xinjiang boasts a rich tradition and coexistence of diverse cultures and religions. In addition to numerous Buddhist sites, a Zoroastrian fire altar from 2500 years ago was found in Tashkurgan county; In the ancient city of Milan in Ruoqiang county, a Greek-style "winged angel" Buddhism mural from 1800 years ago was uncovered; Taoist scriptures and the Christian Bible were unearthed together from a 1300-year-old Nestorian monastery in Turpan; Manichaean worship scenes from 1000 years ago were discovered in the murals of the ancient city of Gaochang in Turpan; In the ancient city known as Dun ancient city of Tang Dynasty, in Qitai county, a Nestorian church from 1200 year ago was found, whose murals depict the scene of Jesus entering Jerusalem on a donkey. Inside the city, an ancient Roman-style bathhouse from 1000 years ago was also excavated. These ancient cultures, together with Islamic culture later, have merged into the rich religious culture of Xinjiang.

Culture of Xinjiang is diverse, but more in unity. That the unifying element is "Chinese culture".

Internationally, there is a baseless narrative that separates Xinjiang culture and Chinese culture and even portrays them as being in opposition. However, a large amount of archaeological evidence tells us that Xinjiang has always been an important part of the Chinese cultural sphere. During the Neolithic period, the painted pottery culture from the Yellow River Basin had already spread to the northern and southern regions of the Tianshan Mountains through what are today Gansu and Qinghai provinces. Jade is a unique Chinese cultural symbol, representing national power and ritual ceremonies, and Hetian jade from Xinjiang has been found at cultural sites in Yangshao, Longshan, Qijia, Yinxu, and other places in the Central Plains. Before the Han Dynasty exercised jurisdiction over Xinjiang two thousand years ago, the myth of the Queen Mother of the West of Kunlun Mountain in Xinjiang had long been a core part of the Chinese mythological system. Moreover, the vast amount of Confucian cultural relics unearthed in Xinjiang from the Han (202 B.C-220 A.D), Jin (266-420), Southern and Northern Dynasties (420-589), Tang (618-907), Song (960-1279), and Yuan (1271-1368) dynasties, such as the ancient city of Loulan in southern Xinjiang, the Niya site, and the Astana tombs in Turpan, including remnants of Confucian classics like the Book of Songs, the Book of Documents, the Spring and Autumn Annals, Zuo Zhuan, the Analects, the Book of Rites, and the Classic of Filial Piety, all reflect the historical fact that Chinese culture has flourished in Xinjiang. The previously mentioned diverse cultures introduced from all directions that were able to develop here further testify to the inclusiveness of Chinese culture from another perspective. Confucian culture is humanistic rather than religious, without exclusivity, and can accommodate the coexistence and development of multiple religions. The more inclusive and open it is, the more it is recognized, cherished, and maintained by all parties, ensuring the continuous and unbroken heritage of Chinese civilization to this day.

There is an internationally prevalent narrative that untruthfully portrays the relationship between Xinjiang culture and Chinese culture as being the "assimilation" of the former by the latter. This reflects the widespread ignorance of Chinese history. Peoples of the Western Regions have always been co-creators of Chinese culture. For instance, Nong Sang Cuo Yao, the ancient treatise on agriculture and sericulture, was compiled by the Gaochang agronomist Lu Mingshan, a Uyghur ethnic in the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368). Many important texts in Chinese Buddhism, such as the Diamond Sutra, were translated by the Kuchean monk Kumarajiva. He introduced terms such as "compassion", "world", "enlightenment", "sea of suffering", and "river of love", which are terms adopted by modern Chinese. Additionally, during the Yuan Dynasty, Lian Xixian also a Uyghur ethnic served as chancellor under Kublai Khan and was a master of Confucianism who greatly promoted Chinese culture. The Weigongcun area in Beijing, renowned for its cluster of prestigious universities, derives its name from the Lian Xixian's title, Duke of Wei, a name that persists to this day.

Chinese culture and the Chinese nation have been continuously inherited and developed over generations. The Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368), which replaced the Song Dynasty (960-1279), compiled the Song's history, just as Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), which succeeded the Yuan, compiled the Yuan's history, and the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), which succeeded the Ming, compiled the Ming's history. Notably, Kanglinaonao, a Mongolian ethnic from the Western Regions, played a significant role in reinstating the imperial examination system and compiling the history of the Song Dynasty during the Yuan Dynasty. The culture of Chinese Nation Community is a collective creation and inheritance of various ethnic groups, including those from the Western Regions.

The foundation of a cultural community is the deep integration of the economy and society. The geographical layout of the Pamir Plateau and the Hexi Corridor has been a significant factor in the economic integration of the Western Regions with the East. The economic structures of the Western Regions and the Central Plains are complementary and interdependent. It was the high degree of connectivity between the Western Regions and the vast market of the Central Plains that enabled the Western Regions to facilitate communication across the Eurasian continent. The ancient Silk Road, jointly opened up by ancestors of the Western Regions and the Central Plains, led to the rise of numerous trading cities, with Kashgar being a prominent jewel among them. Over several thousand years, people from all directions and ethnic groups migrated, settled, traded, intermarried, and formed a coexistence pattern in Xinjiang. Ultimately, Xinjiang and the Central Plains belonged to the same political community, which was the inevitable result of the development of economic, social, and cultural communities.

Some foreign friends are concerned that if Xinjiang is considered an integral part of the Chinese civilization, it might lose its cultural identity. According to Western "pluralism", diversity and unity are often seen as contradictory. However, Chinese philosophy always dialectically unifies diversity and unity, even merging seemingly contradictory elements, such as the Integration between Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism, an important academic phenomenon that President Xi Jinping has mentioned. When early Buddhism was introduced to the Central Plains through Xinjiang, its teachings, which discouraged productivity, ancestor worship, filial piety and reverence for rulers, clashed with Confucian and Taoist thought. However, Buddhism integrated the Confucian ethics of loyalty and filial piety, reconciled the concepts of karma and filial duties, and adopted Taoist meditative practices, forming sinicized Buddhism. Meanwhile, Confucianism absorbed Buddhist philosophical concepts, developing Neo-Confucianism.

Today, Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism have not merged into a single entity. Instead, they have intermingled, creating a broader spiritual community for the Chinese people, one that embodies unity in diversity. The unity fosters diversity, and the diversity enriches the unity, as exemplified by Mo'er Temple. This small site in Kashgar, with a history spanning at least 700 years, contains an Indian Gandhara-style Buddhiststupa, a Central Asian and Xinjiang native square-shaped temple, and a Chinese Buddhist grand hall. It reflects early Indian Buddhism evolved into a Western Regions variant in the Tarim Basin before spreading east to the Central Plains. Centuries later, sinicized Buddhism returned to the Western Regions, building Chinese Buddhist halls at its original entry points into China.

Islam entered China with similar experience. One route was through Maritime Silk Road to Quanzhou, the other was through Overland Silk Road to Xinjiang and led to religious conflicts with local faith of Buddhism. Many traces of this part of history can be found in Buddhism ruins in southern Xinjiang. However, ultimately, Islam, after its entry into China, began integrating with Confucian, Taoist, and even Buddhist philosophies during the late Ming and early Qing dynasties, resulting in the thought of "integration of Islam and Confucianism". Chinese translators of Islamic scripture then especially proposed the dual loyalty of "respecting Allah and being loyal to the state", highlighting the commonality of Islamic and Confucian ethics. The Shaanxi Grand Mosque in Urumqi, built during the Qianlong reign (1736-1796) of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), exemplifies the architectural style of the integration of Islam and Confucianism. The spirit of this integration,overlapping with the rational thinking in Islamic world, becomes an important attempt to coordinate the relations between national and ethnic identity, religious doctrine and secular life. Malaysia recently hosted a conference on the integration of Islam and Confucianism, where Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim stated, "by focusing on the points of convergence between Islam and Confucianism, we are actively choosing to diverge from the path of discord". His excellency also mentioned, "by embracing the wisdom of Islam and Confucianism, we can work towards a future that is not only technologically advanced but also morally enlightened". The spirit of integration between Islam and Confucianism continues to nourish Xinjiang today.

Whether Buddhism or Islam, on entering China, both underwent collisions and integrations, evolving into Sinicized Buddhism and Sinicized Islam. This process of collision and integration was not aimed at eliminating each other but at enhancing each other, resulting in the emergence of more inclusive civilizations. The story of Xinjiang fully demonstrates that Chinese civilization has always remained vibrant through its inclusiveness.

All politicians and scholars around the world who are concerned about China should study President Xi Jinping's concept of the "second integration"  the integration of Marxism with China's excellent traditional culture. This integration has produced a profound "chemical reaction", creating a new, organically unified cultural entity. The integration of Marxism and continuity of the Chinese civilization fundamentally determines that the Chinese path contains an uninterrupted civilizational logic. The integration of Marxism and the innovative nature of Chinese civilization determines that this "integration" is not about reviving the past but about ushering in new ideological liberation.

The integration of Marxism and the unity of Chinese civilization determined that the country's territory cannot be separated, its stability cannot be disrupted, the nation cannot be divided, and the civilization cannot be interrupted. The integration of Marxism and the inclusiveness of Chinese civilization decided that Chinese civilization has never sought to replace diverse cultures with a single one, but has instead formed a common culture through the convergence of multiple cultures. The integration of Marxism and the peaceful nature of Chinese civilization fundamentally determined that the Chinese civilization in modern times always strives for harmonious coexistence, consistently seeking common ground while reserving differences, and continually pursuing peaceful and mutually beneficial outcomes. The stories of the peaceful coexistence of multiple ethnic groups and diverse religions in Xinjiang illustrate to the world that China, a country that has experienced almost no religious wars for thousands of years, and a country that has never engaged in colonial expansion or forced cultural exportation, may offer another perspective into ethnic and religious conflicts.

Most of the Experts here today are researchers of ancient civilizations, which inherently embodies diversity and seeks unity and cohesion in its own way. Though we may not fully agree with each other's methods of seeking unity, we all sincerely hope that we can all achieve strength in unity and cohesion. We pursue shared goals, learn from each other, and realize our aspirations in our own ways.

As a place where diverse civilizations converge, both the historical and future Xinjiang will adhere to the path of unity in diversity, building a safer and more harmonious Xinjiang. It will better serve as a hub connecting China with Central Asia, West Asia, and Europe. It will play a stronger supporting role in creating the core area of the Belt and Road initiative. It will also better protect the excellent cultures of various ethnic groups to enrich and develop the splendid and diverse Chinese civilization. Therefore, Xinjiang is not only China's Xinjiang but also the world's Xinjiang. It is our shared vision to make Xinjiang, with its past, present and future, reach out to the world.

I wish the forum great success. Thank you.

SOURCE chinadaily.com.cn
New website from Food Empowerment Project celebrates the rich diversity of foods from African, Afro-Caribbean, Afro-Latinx, and Cajun cuisine!

SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif., June 12, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Food Empowerment Project (F.E.P.), a vegan food justice organization, is excited to announce its new website, VeganSoulFood.org, just in time to celebrate Juneteenth, a national holiday in the United States that commemorates the end of slavery.

Vegan Soul Food is more than a recipe website; it's also a tool to help us understand the power of our food choices. By launching on Juneteenth, we're celebrating the power of the Black community and their resilience in preserving traditions from generation to generation.

Inspired by Black collective members jaz Boler and Kennedy Little and board member Elise Ferguson, F.E.P. launched Vegan Soul Food to highlight the wide variety of flavor-filled foods from the African diaspora that do not include animal ingredients and showcase that it is possible to eat vegan and still incorporate our traditional favorites.

"Vegan Soul Food has incredible traditional dishes that don't involve the exploitation or suffering of animals," says F.E.P.'s vegan programs collective member, jaz Boler. "It supports a healthier, happier lifestyle that we all deserve!"

Vegan Soul Food features more than a dozen delicious dishes from African and Afro-Caribbean to Afro-Latinx and Jamaican culture! Indulge in delicious eats like "Lobster" Macaroni and Cheese, Bahamian "Conch" Fritters, and Soul Food Chick'n Salad!

Todd Anderson of Turnip Vegan, who donated a tasty Black-Eyed Peas and Greens with Chipotle Mushroom Sausages recipe, says, "Vegan soul food brings back cherished memories with a new twist that's not only delicious but also better for our health."

Youth Advocacy Collective Member Kennedy shares, "No matter your background or ZIP code, everyone should have access to a platform that uplifts your culture and shares the importance of community and compassion. To me, that's what VeganSoulFood.org is, and I can't wait to see how it broadens perspectives on vegan dishes and the lifestyle. I'm excited for my family, friends, and community to be a part of this resource!"

Give your cooking some new inspiration and visit VeganSoulFood.org! The site goes live on Wednesday, June 19.

F.E.P.'s other recipe sites include VeganMexicanFood.com , VeganFilipinoFood.com , VeganLaoFood.com , and VeganChineseFood.com

About Food Empowerment Project

Food Empowerment Project (http://www.foodispower.org), founded in 2007, seeks to create a more just and sustainable world by recognizing the power of one's food choices. In all of its work, Food Empowerment Project seeks specifically to empower those with the fewest resources. Its advocacy areas include fair conditions for farm workers; the availability of healthy foods in Black, Brown, and Indigenous communities; and the protection of animals. A vegan food justice organization, Food Empowerment Project also works to expose negligent corporations, such as those that push unhealthy foods into low-income areas, those that perpetuate food deserts (or food apartheid areas), and those that sell chocolate derived from the worst forms of child labor. Food Empowerment Project is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit.

Contact: Alejandra Tolley

Phone: (408) 963-8096

Email: [email protected]

SOURCE Food Empowerment Project
BEIJING, June 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The 2024 Qu Yuan's hometown Dragon Boat Culture Festival kicked off on June 7 in Zigui County of Yichang City in central China's Hubei Province.

At the opening ceremony of the event, the sacrificial ceremony in ancient time was for the first time demonstrated in the form of art. A grand original performance named "China in the Songs of Chu" was staged, depicting the scenarios in the songs with local scenery and virtual reality technology.

Photo shows the opening ceremony of 2024 Qu Yuan's hometown Dragon Boat Culture Festival held in Yichang City, central China's Hubei Province.

This edition's cultural festival features three major events, including the opening ceremony, a CCTV special program and the second Dragon Boat Festival cultural month. The city also held a series of activities during the traditional festival, such as a dragon boat race, folk performances and a China-chic fair, to boost the atmosphere of the festival among local people.

Yichang is the hometown of Qu Yuan, a great Chinese patriotic poet, who was also a minister of the State of Chu during the Warring States Period (475 B.C.-221 B.C.). The Dragon Boat Festival is originated to commemorate Qu Yuan on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month of the Chinese calendar.

In 2009, the custom of "Qu Yuan's hometown Dragon Boat Festival", as a part of China's Dragon Boat Festival, was inscribed on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

In recent years, Yichang has engaged in the promotion of Qu Yuan culture by building a Qu Yuan cultural park, producing Qu Yuan-themed play and launching the compilation of the complete works of the Songs of Chu, making Qu Yuan culture an important window and a distinctive symbol to show the profound cultural heritage of the city.

Original link: https://en.imsilkroad.com/p/340582.html

SOURCE Xinhua Silk Road
DENVER, June 12, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The federal government's first direct investment in removing carbon dioxide from the air selected two semifinalist projects driven by Global Thermostat's technology.

Global Thermostat was acquired last month by fellow Direct Air Capture company Zero Carbon Systems, bringing together its core technology with Zero Carbon Systems' highly advanced engineering design. The combined company will enable additional resources to be dedicated to the next phases of the DOE prize contest.

Global Thermostat's partnerships with Fervo Energy and Carbon America were among nine Direct Air Capture winners in Phase 1 of the Department of Energy's Carbon Dioxide Removal Purchase Pilot Prize . These proposals now advance to the final phases of the competition for a carbon credit Purchase Agreement with DOE worth up to $3 million.

"We're honored that Global Thermostat, which we recently acquired, has won this recognition from the Department of Energy," said David Elenowitz, Founder and CEO of Zero Carbon Systems. "This is a further testament to their core Direct Air Capture technology, which is widely considered among the best of the world  and which we believe can help drive a low-cost and low-energy system that is highly scalable, to the megaton level and beyond."

Global Thermostat's submission with Fervo Energy integrates Direct Air Capture with geothermal-generated heat and electricity, to be co-located on Fervo's site in Milford, Utah. Fervo and Global Thermostat have already completed a Class V cost estimate with top engineering firm Kiewit Corporation for this project.

Carbon America's proposal also features Global Thermostat's technology, and would leverage both companies' Colorado presence to demonstrate a scalable model in the state for carbon removal. Pairing Global Thermostat's technology with Carbon America's sequestration sites and expertise in project development can enable more rapid build-out of decarbonization solutions. The companies share a strong commitment to community engagement and environmental justice and look forward to engaging local stakeholders in these projects.

The CDR Pilot Prize is the first time the U.S. government will serve as a customer for carbon dioxide removal credits. According to DOE, the prize is intended to catalyze the development of a market for carbon removal; demonstrate rigorous monitoring, measurement, reporting, and verification of high-quality credits; and provide a model for workforce development and community benefits.

About Zero Carbon Systems

Zero Carbon Systems is a direct air capture company focused on delivering highly scalable, low cost, and low energy solutions for carbon dioxide removal. The ZCS design offers a continuous process, the ability to run 100% on renewable electricity, and very large-scale, high-throughput units to optimize economics at the megaton scale and beyond. Zero Carbon Systems is funded by Zero Carbon Partners, an investment and strategic operating firm focused on emerging companies in the low carbon sector with the potential to remove at least 0.5 gigatons (500 million tons) of CO per year from the atmosphere by 2050.

About Global Thermostat

Global Thermostat has been a pioneer in the carbon dioxide removal space, with over 10 years' experience developing technologies and an extensive patent portfolio related to optimizing the performance of Direct Air Capture systems. Their Direct Air Capture technology uses a proprietary solid sorbent embedded on a monolith, coupled with a low temperature vacuum adsorption process, to cost-effectively capture CO2 from air at climate scale. In 2022, GT successfully completed a demonstration unit with a nominal capacity of 1 kiloton per year at its headquarters near Denver, Colorado.

SOURCE Global Thermostat, PBC
It's not an uncommon sight to see tourists with severe injuries after a motorbike collision, which is a common form of transport on the island.

The man walking down a street in Bali with bandages after an alleged motorbike accident. Source: Instagram

Shocking footage of a man wandering down a street in Bali resembling an "Egyptian mummy" has been held up as a prime example of why travellers should steer clear of motorbikes and scooters while visiting the tourist hotspot.

The man was seen sporting a black shirt, shorts and sandals while his face, arms, hands, legs and feet were all wrapped in white bandages. He gingerly walked down the street wearing sunglasses last week and although his appearance did turn heads, it's not a hugely uncommon sight.

Motorbikes are a popular mode of transport in the area but high rates of crashes occur among tourists who are unfamiliar with the roads and their condition, with accidnets sometimes having fatal consequences.

Hundreds die in road accidents every year in Bali

Last year Bali recorded 632 road deaths and the vast majority, 86 per cent, involved motorcycles, The Bali Sun reports.

There was over double the number of accidents throughout 2023 when compared to the year prior and in an attempt to curb this, there was talks of a motorbike ban for tourists. Despite the Bali Governor at the time, Wayan Koster, backing the ban it never came to fruition, and instead authorities continued to urge tourists against riding a motorbike.

Travellers respond to man's severe injuries

The footage has since gone viral on social media with over 62,000 views and many travellers have compared the man to a "superhero villain", while others commented on how common the sighting is in Bali.

"Every time I see sirens and a motorbike accident there's silly tourists at the side of the road," one claimed.

"If youve been to Bali, this is funny, because you see a bunch of white people with bandages all over and you know its from scooter accidents," another said. "The classic Bali tattoo," wrote another.

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Lucknow, June 12 : A 26-year-old woman was found murdered a few metres away from her house at Dubagga in Lucknow on Tuesday, police officials said.

The deceased, Poonam Rawat, had gone missing after she left her house to fetch water on Monday night, said the police.

The victim was strangled with a dupatta, which was tied around her neck, and there were injury marks on her body.

The police were trying to find out why the woman left her home at night when her family members were fast asleep.

"Autopsy will ascertain the cause of death and will also confirm any sexual assault on the victim," said Deputy Commissioner of Police (West) Durgesh Kumar, adding that an FIR under IPC Section 302 (murder) was registered and legal action was being taken on the complaint filed by the woman's father Rajendra Rawat.

The Deputy Commissioner of Police said the victim's family did not apprehend any sexual assault in their complaint.

However, they have named one Subesh Kumar, whom they suspect to have a role in the murder.
Doha/Cairo, June 12 : 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.

Hamas and other Palestinian factions responded on 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 US 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 as quoted by Xinhua news agency report.

The Egyptian Foreign Ministry also said on Tuesday that it had received a response from 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 prioritises the interests of the Palestinian people and emphasises 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 favour 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 said 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 October 7, 2023, during which about 1,200 people were killed and more than 250 were taken hostage.
Jerusalem, June 12 : US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has said 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 on Tuesday that the movement accepted the ceasefire proposal, according to a report by Israel's state-owned Kan TV news.

Earlier on Monday, 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, Xinhua news agency reported.

"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 latter 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.
Ramallah, June 12 : Six Palestinians were killed by the Israeli army in the village of Kafr Dan, northwest of Jenin in the northern West Bank, the Palestinian Health Ministry 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 on Tuesday.

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, Xinhua news agency reported.

"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 added.
Michael Atkinson has lashed out over the latest apparent camping ban, with the NSW spot joining a long list of pristine locations that are officially off-limits.

Outdoor enthusiast Michael Atkinson, known as Outback Mike, has slammed council's decision to ban camping at the popular Boat Harbour, Port Stephens in NSW. Source: Instagram

Frustration is growing among Aussie campers who make use of free camping spots across the country, with more and more areas now becoming off-limits for overnight stays. Aussies fear it's "getting harder and harder" for locals and tourists to enjoy the great outdoors, with authorities cracking down on people camping in public spots, with one advocate claiming "free camping has been ruined".

Concerns continue to grow around vulnerable parks and beaches across the country being left in disarray, with messy campers regularly being called out for littering and "ruining" some of Australia's most pristine spots.

Now, with incidents on the rise, many fear "unacceptable" behaviour will result in camping bans in areas where it's currently allowed, with several councils already making moves to weed out irresponsible campers  and it's becoming an alarming trend.

Growing backlash against lazy campers

Last month, hordes of campers descended on the Kosciuszko National Park, in the NSW Snowy Mountains, leaving behind mountains of "awful" rubbish, prompting calls for tougher penalties. And in December, Noosa locals feared beach camping could be banned after gear, including new tents and cabanas were left discarded on the sand.

Noosa Council is continuing its illegal camping crackdown against tourists, joining many others across the country. Source: Facebook/Noosa Council

Meanwhile, over Christmas one NSW man took matters into his own hands, turning to social media to track down people who left behind rubbish and broken camping gear on a Lake Macquarie foreshore. While in Noosa, Queensland council has cracked down on visitors using public car parks as campsites, issuing hefty fines for those who don't comply.

However the latest crackdown at a popular spot in Port Stephens, on the NSW coast, is likely due to overcrowding, outdoor enthusiast Michael Atkinson, widely known as Outback Mike, argues. He said soaring demand has led to a new crackdown on campers, made evident by a 'no camping' sign suddenly appearing from the council, in the Boat Harbour LGA.

Campers banned from another popular NSW spot

In a video shared on social media, the Alone Australia star said "people used to occasionally just come in here and camp" but suddenly "everyone started coming here"  resulting in a clampdown from the local council. He blamed apps and services that have become widely available for campers to find free spots.

"Pretty sure this is a new sign," he said standing beside a sign outlining 'park rules'. Among them, camping and caravans are banned from the public reserve.

"I've been coming here for more than a decade. People used to occasionally just come in here and camp. It was no big deal. Then about a year ago, someone stuck it on one of those apps where you talk about the free places where you can camp," he said.

"Then everybody started coming here, and now you can't camp. Those apps are great for finding free spots, but they also ruin those few spots that are left in Australia to be able to camp," he continued. "They're ruining it. I got to be honest, they are ruining it.

"Never put anything on those bloody free camping apps!" he implored his followers.

Rubbish and toilet paper is regularly left at campsites, including Sandy Cape Recreation Park, north of Perth (pictured). Source: Facebook

'Public reserves not available for camping'

Despite the occasional Aussie setting up camp in the public reserve, Port Stephens council insists "council has never allowed camping on public reserves". When asked what prompted the sign, and if littering or overcrowding was to blame, council did not respond.

"Public reserves in Port Stephens are not available for camping," Evert Bobbelaar, council's development and compliance section manager, told Yahoo News Australia.

"Our public reserves do not have the amenities to support camping, they are for the enjoyment of day time users.

"Our public reserves play a crucial role in promoting the well-being and liveability of both residents and visitors to the area. There are plenty of camping opportunities on offer [elsewhere] in Port Stephens."

Aussies frustrated as camping bans on the rise

Responding to Atkinson's remarks online, scores of Aussies resoundingly agreed, with one admitting: "I couldn't agree more mate".

"Its getting harder and harder. Both personally and as an operator. Sites we used to have and kept secret for years are now overrun because of the camping apps," they complained.

"I had a perfect little secret camping spot just out of Perth. Someone put it on Wikicamps and when I went the next time people had trashed it with rubbish and poo," another said. "Reviews kept saying the same thing for a while and its now closed."

Rubbish and abandoned campsites were recently discovered by frustrated locals at the Kosciusko National Park. Source: Facebook

Human poo a major problem at campsites across Australia

The poo problem is widespread and one tourists are continuously warned about. Visitors at Dorrigo South or Pelican Bay camping areas in Inskip Peninsula Recreation Area in Queensland will now be prohibited from "bush toileting"  the act of relieving oneself in nature  and instead will be required to bring a portable toilet.

The strict new protocols were announced last month by local authorities who noticed more and more campers leaving a mess behind. Campers will now face $464 fines if caught defecating in nature.

Earlier this year, Yahoo News Australia reported that the act was particularly prevalent in Tasmania, with a ranger revealing she's noticed an "unprecedented" amount of human poo in wilderness areas throughout the state.

Olivia Hickey said some bushwalkers and campers simply "don't know how to toilet" while outdoors in "very fragile alpine ecosystems". She and her colleagues find faeces near rivers, lakes, streams, and campsites and even next to toilets.

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Washington, June 12 : US President Joe Biden is planning to make another Patriot air defence system available to Ukraine to fend off Russian aerial attacks, the media reported, citing unnamed US government sources.

Biden took the decision following several high-level meetings last week, the New York Times reported on Tuesday.

John Kirby, the Communications Director of the US National Security Council, did not confirm the report when asked about it.

According to the New York Times, the system in question is in Poland and could be deployed to the front line in Ukraine within days.

If confirmed it would be the second US-made Patriot system provided to Kiev by Washington.

Biden gave the go-ahead for the first system nearly 18 months ago when Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky travelled to the US for the first time following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine to address the US Congress.

The US has also been supplying Ukraine with Patriot missiles.

The Patriot is considered one of the most advanced air defence missile systems in modern warfare. It can be used to combat enemy aircraft, ballistic missiles and cruise missiles.

The defence missiles can hit targets at a distance of around 100 km at altitudes of up to 30 km.

Germany has also provided Ukraine with two such systems and pledged to send another one.

Zelensky, who was in Berlin on Tuesday to attend a conference for the reconstruction of Ukraine, also paid a visit to Ukrainian soldiers currently being trained in Germany to use the Patriot.

--IANS/DPA

khz
Jammu, June 12 : Five army soldiers and one special police officer (SPO) of Jammu and Kashmir Police were injured in the early morning hours of Wednesday in a terrorist attack in Doda district, sources said.

Official sources said that the terrorists attacked a checkpost of the Army and local police in the Chattargalla area of Doda at around 1:45 a.m.

"Five army soldiers and one SPO were injured in the initial firing by the terrorists. The terrorists were engaged in sustained gunfire by the security forces."

"The injured were shifted to a sub-district hospital in Bhaderwah town. Doctors have described the condition of the injured as stable."

"Firing exchanges have stopped in the area, but a search operation is now underway there," sources added.
New Delhi, June 12 : Union Minister Nitin Gadkari on Wednesday said that India will be equipped with world-class, modern infrastructure at an accelerated pace.

He said this while taking charge of the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways.

Gadkari will be at the helm of his ministry for a record third straight term.

Along with him Ajay Tamta and Harsh Malhotra also assumed office.

Tamta and Malhotra are the Ministers of State (MoS) in the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways.

"Resuming office as the Minister of Road Transport and Highways, alongside Ministers of State @Shri AjayTamtaBJPJi and Shri @hdmalhotraJi," said Gadkari.

"Heartfelt gratitude to the Hon'ble Prime Minister, Shri @narendramodiJi, for reassigning me this role in Modi 3.0. Under your visionary leadership, India will be equipped with world-class, modern infrastructure at an accelerated pace," Gadkari further said.

During his earlier tenure, the average pace of national highway construction increased by 143 per cent, according to government data.

Gadkari is also credited with launching the Bharat New Car Assessment Programme for the safety rating of passenger cars.

The veteran leader scored a hat-trick by winning the Nagpur Lok Sabha seat with a margin of 1.37 lakh votes.
Hardoi, June 12 : Eight members of a family died while one was seriously injured after a truck carrying sand overturned and fell on them in Uttar Pradesh's Hardoi district.

The accident happened late on Tuesday night.

An entire family living by the roadside got buried under the sand that was spilled over after the truck overturned.

By the time the sand and truck were removed, and the people buried under it were taken out, eight people including four children had died.

M.P. Singh, District Magistrate, Hardoi said, "The truck was en route to Hardoi after mining sand from the banks of Ganga. Due to excess sand, it overturned at the turn and this accident took place. After getting information about the incident, the police reached the spot and somehow retrieved the people buried under the truck, but everyone except a girl had died".

"At first, no one realised for a long time, but then it was known that one of Balla's family lived there. Immediately the police were informed and the work of removing the sand was started. When the truck was removed by a JCB machine and the sand was cleared, Balla, 45, his wife Mundi, 42, daughter Sunaina, 5, daughter Lalla, 4, daughter Buddhu, 4, besides his son-in-law Karan, 25, his wife Hero, 22, and their son Komal, 5, had died while daughter Bittu, 4, was injured. All the dead bodies have been sent for post-mortem and the truck driver has been arrested," the District Magistrate said.

He further said that the officials were examining the cause of the accident.
Police stand guard at a nearby street after a shooting took place at a subway station in Brooklyn, New York, the United States, on April 12, 2022. At least five people were shot and 13 were injured on Tuesday morning at the subway station in Brooklyn. Image Source: IANS News

New Delhi, June 12 : In a shocking incident, an Indian-origin man has shot dead his brother while injuring his mother in New York, officials said on Wednesday.

The official said that the incident took place in the Richmond Hill neighbourhood of New York on Sunday where roughly 26 per cent of the population either belongs to India or is from the Caribbean.

The accused has been identified as Karamjit Multani (33) while the victim, his brother, was identified as Vipanpal (27). The injured mother (52) is yet to be identified. She has been shot in the stomach.

The police said that after shooting his brother dead, Karamjit Multani shot himself. "Karamjit's body was found dead near a street corner with a gunshot wound to his head," the police said.

Bhupinder Multani, the father of the accused, told media persons that there were no problems within his family and he found no reason that triggered his son to take such a drastic step.

Media reports quoting, Jaspreet Singh, the brother-in-law of the accused and victim, said that Karamjit was one of the "nicest" men who used to always joke around.

Reports from New York also suggest that Bhupinder Multani, the father of three, was financially sound with no known problems.

The New York City Police Department said that they have taken up the case and the investigation is underway.
Mumbai, June 12 : Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) National President Ajit Pawar has convened a meeting of party ministers and legislators on Wednesday evening to discuss, among other things, the nomination of Sunetra Pawar for the Rajya Sabha bypoll slated for June 25.

The last date for filing nomination is June 13.

The bypoll was necessitated after Praful Patel resigned as the Upper House member and got elected again in the Rajya Sabha polls held in February.

Incidentally, Sunetra Pawar lost to her sister-in-law Supriya Sule from Baramati in the just-concluded Lok Sabha elections.

A NCP minister said, aAjit Pawar is expected to brief the ministers and legislators about Sunetra Pawaras nomination and thereafter her name will be finalised.

aSunetra Pawaras nomination is a calculated move to checkmate NCP(SP) Sharad Pawar and Supriya Sule in the run up to the state Assembly elections in September-October this year.aa

Moreover, the prevailing drought conditions in Marathwada and other regions, farmersa distress, Centreas switch on and switch off policies on onions and sugar, dip in the prices of cotton and soybean will also come up for discussion as these issues marred the NCPas poll prospects.

In addition, another NCP minister said that the partyas plan to increase outreach among Muslims, Dalits and Tribals, who largely voted against NCP and Mahayuti in general, fearing a change in the Constitution if the BJP comes to power, will also be taken up for discussion.

State unit chief, Sunil Tatkare, had hinted on Monday that Ajit Pawar, who holds the finance and planning departments, is expected to announce a slew of proposals.

These proposals will be for the betterment of Muslims, Dalits and Tribals in the stateas annual budget for 2024-25.

The annual budget will be presented on June 28 during the Monsoon Session of the legislature being held in Mumbai.
New Delhi, June 12 : Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju on Wednesday said the ruling party and opposition have different roles but their aim is the same, and that is to serve the country.

Addressing media persons, he said everyone should follow people's mandate and serve them.

Those elected to run the government should do that while those chosen as an opposition should play the role of a positive opposition, the minister said.

Every small party with just one MP or larger parties has a role in Parliament, and their contribution is needed for its smooth functioning, he said.

He said that all political parties should come forward to run the largest democracy in the world.

Every political party will get the opportunity to air their views as per rule in the upcoming session of Parliament, he said.

He said that under the guidance of the Chairman of Rajya Sabha, the Speaker of Lok Sabha, and the Prime Minister's vision, "we will run the Parliament's session successfully".

The country expects constructive debate in Parliament, he said,

Appealing to all political parties, he said, "The public has reposed their faith in us, we should respect that and help in the smooth functioning of the Parliament."

The first session of the Parliament of Modi 3.0 will be held from June 24 to July 3.

Taking to social media, the Parliamentary Affairs Minister said, "First Session of 18th Lok Sabha is being summoned from 24.6.24 to 3.7.24 for oath/affirmation of newly elected Members, Election of Speaker, President's Address and discussion thereon. 264th Session of Rajya Sabha will commence on 27.6.24 and conclude on 3.7.24."

"People of India have decided and it's our 'sacred duty' to serve the nation. Parliament is the perfect platform to discuss, debate and deliver to fulfill the aspirations of 140 Cr Indians," he said.
Mumbai, June 12 : The new episode of 'The Great Indian Kapil Show' (TGIKS) is all set to welcome global music sensations-- Indian rappers Badshah, Divine and Karan Aulja.

Mumbai, June 12 (IANS) The new episode of aThe Great Indian Kapil Showa (TGIKS) is all set to welcome global music sensations-- Indian rappers Badshah, Divine and Karan Aulja.

The makers, on Wednesday, dropped the promo of the upcoming episode, and it promises "music and madness."

In the clip, we can see the host of the chat show, Kapil Sharma asking Karan: "In the music video of the song, 'Sheikh', Karan had worked with a real tiger. Weren't you afraid of that?"

Karan replied: "I was scared, but I was ready to jump." Listening to this, Kapil said: "Did you think you could outrun it?"

Badshah continued the conversation: "Even I was terrified at first," to which Kapil jokingly said: "Moreover, your leg piece is meaty," leaving the guests and the audience in splits.

Kapil went on to say: "The raps of Divine have unique titles like 'Remand', 'Punya Paap', 'Gunehgar', 'Gully Gang'... So, did you bring your writer from 'Tihar Jail'?"

The video then shows the rappers crooning 'Saturday Dubai Di Trip'.

Kapil further asks Badshah: "Sir, your fans do love you. Has anyone ever requested a photo at a weird place?" Badshah commented on this: "At the toilet."

Karan added to Badshah's reply candidly: "Please be careful about how you point the camera."

The snippet also shows Krushna Abhishek and Kiku Sharda in the avatar of Donald Trump, and Kim Jong Un respectively.

Kapil then asks Badshah: "Tell me something. You took up the name 'Badshah'. Do you first contact the rapper union? What if you took the name 'Badshah', and later four more people from Malad with the same name emerged?"

Badshah replied: "Paaji, I am the rapper union now."

The video is captioned: "Kaam 25 ho ya 50 sab chod do, because this Saturday, rap industry ke kohinoors Badshah, Divine and Karan Aulja aa rahe hai stage par aag lagane."

The episode will air on Saturday at 8 p.m. on Netflix.
Kolkata, June 12 : The Enforcement Directorate (ED), has identified 222 individuals from an expired panel, who were recommended for teaching jobs in government schools in West Bengal.

Sources said that out of these 222 individuals, 183 were in the secondary teachersa category, while remaining 39 were in the higher secondary teachersa category.

Sources said that the central agency officials secured this information after interrogation of a state education department official.

On the basis of his statement the ED officials have prepared a list with the names of these 222 individuals, which they have submitted to the court.

ED sleuths have identified that most of these 222 individuals were recommended for appointment by SP Sinha, who was heading the screening committee of the West Bengal School Service Commission (WBSSC), at that time.

The screening committee was constituted by the commission during the tenure of Partha Chatterjee as the-then state education minister, who is currently behind bars because of his alleged involvement in the school job case.

A judicial probe committee formed earlier and headed by retired Justice Ranjit Kumar Bag had observed that the screening committee was constituted flouting all norms and Sinha was made to head that committee to facilitate illegal recruitments of teaching and non- teaching staff in state-run schools.

Sources said that the ED has also informed the court that of the 222 individuals identified by their officials, some were those who took leading roles in the movement against irregularities in recruitments in schools.

Hence, it is perceived that they were recommended by vested interests to weaken the movement against the irregularities to an extent.
New Delhi, June 12 : D2C skincare brand Foxtale on Wednesday said that it raised about Rs 150 crore in its Series B round of funding, led by Singapore-based Panthera Growth Partners (PGP).

The round also saw participation from the companyas existing backers Matrix Partners India and Kae Capital.

"We hope to continue the relationship of a shared vision as we welcome PGP to Foxtale. The fresh round of funds will be deployed towards expanding our digital footprint and introducing newer categories in our portfolio of products," Romita Mazumdar, Founder, Foxtale, said in a statement.

Foxtale provides a targeted collection of skincare products to address specific skin concerns, including acne, ageing, hyperpigmentation and more.

"Romita and her team have built an incredible business in a short time with a sharp focus on product and innovation. We are excited to support them as they continue on an ambitious growth journey," said Shilpa Kulkarni, Founder and Managing Partner, Panthera Growth Partners.

The company closed FY24 at Rs 172 crore GMV sales, primarily driven by its D2C website foxtale.in. Foxtale holds a high retention rate of over 50 per cent, which validates the consumer love and consequent growth that the company has seen.
Caoimhe McGoldrick, 23, was stunned when her brother texted her from Australia to confirm her dream was more prescient than she knew.

Caoimhe McGoldrick's (left) dream about her brother Michael and his partner Diana (right) turned out to be right on the money. Source: Supplied

For Australia's ever-growing migrant community, it can be hard staying connected with family and friends back home  especially when the time difference is particularly unhelpful. Text messages often do the heavy lifting and although it's not the same as being in the same room as a loved one, in this instance, a written record came in handy for two siblings.

A recent "spooky" connection between a sister and her brother living over 17,000 kilometres apart has admittedly "freaked out" the entire family, with the siblings sharing the crazy exchange with Yahoo.

Caoimhe McGoldrick's brother Michael immigrated from Ireland to Australia in 2017, and has been living in Melbourne with his partner Diana who he met in the city after moving down from Sydney.

Despite living on separate continents for seven years, the siblings keep in regular contact and Michael was the first person Caoimhe texted when she had a vivid dream at the end of April.

"I had a dream Diana took a pregnancy test and I was there for some reason, we all went for a scan," the 23-year-old told Yahoo News. "I had the dream and as soon as I woke up I texted him. He replied normally but then a few weeks later he sent me the scan, said I should put on some lottery numbers...

"It took me a moment to catch on."

Caoimhe dreamt her brother's partner was pregnant before they had told her the news. Source: Supplied

It turns out Michael and Diana were indeed pregnant and Caoimhe's dream was freakishly accurate, with the timeline off by just two weeks.

"In my dream she was told she was eight weeks pregnant... when I sent that text to him she would have been about 10 weeks," she said.

Family stunned by 'strange' psychic dream

Caoimhe believes it was simply a coincidence that her dream happened to foresee the future but is admittedly comforted by the "strange" turn of events, especially since the distance makes it difficult for her to see her brother as often as she would like.

"I was in Australia in 2018, me and Mum went to the Gold Coast and it was brilliant, but I was a hormonal teenager then who took it for granted... the [baby] news is lovely but at the same time, it's sad because they're so far away. It's not like you can just get up and see him.

"When you have bad dreams, you're like, 'Oh my God, I hope it doesn't come true' ... but this is great," she said.

Michael and Diana's baby is due in November and the family couldn't be happier.

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Thiruvananthapuram, June 12 : Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) Kerala unit has expressed its discontent with the CPI-M-led Left Democratic Front (LDF) over the seat-sharing after the JD-S aligned itself with the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) at the Centre.

"JD-S supported the NDA at the Centre while they are in alliance with LDF in Kerala. They (JD-S) also have a nominee in the Pinarayi Vijayan's Cabinet. Despite giving all the support to Pinarayi Vijayan and LDF, we (RJD) have been always left out of Cabinet berths in Kerala," Kerala RJD Chief and former Rajya Sabha member M.V. Shreyams Kumar told media persons.

He said that RJD was invited to join the LDF and we obliged the CPI-M but we are being given no consideration now.

"Several times we have taken up the Cabinet berth issue with the LDF leadership but they have not paid heed to our demands," Kumar said.

He said that the RJD workers are depressed but they will not walk out of the LDF alliance.
Shenzhen, China : Hong Kong authorities on Wednesday said they are cancelling the passports of six activists who "absconded" to the UK, using powers from a controversial new national security bill in the Chinese special administrative region.

The Hong Kong government said in a statement that the six men "continue to engage in acts and activities endangering national security" after they fled the country and were therefore put on the wanted list in 2023.

The Hong Kong passports of all six individuals, which include former lawmaker and politician Nathan Law who fled to the UK in 2020, would be cancelled, the government said.

The activists would also see any business dealings in Hong Kong cancelled, and it would become illegal to provide them with funds, financial assets, or handle their economic resources.

"These lawless wanted criminals are hiding in the United Kingdom and continue to blatantly engage in activities that endanger national security," a Hong Kong government spokesperson said.

"They also make scaremongering remarks to smear and slander the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. More so, they continue to collude with external forces to protect their evil deeds. We therefore have taken such measure to give them a strong blow."

The measures were possible under Hong Kong's new security law, which was adopted by the pro-Beijing Legislative Council in March and gives the authorities of the former British colony further powers to take action against critical voices.

It follows the security law introduced in 2020 after the suppression of the democracy movement in Hong Kong.

The controversial legislation saw Beijing tightening its grip on the special administrative region, and restricted many of the freedoms previously enjoyed by Hong Kong's 7 million inhabitants.

--IANS/DPA

int/svn
Bengaluru, June 12 : The angry parents of Renukaswamy, the fan who was allegedly murdered by superstar Darshan, on Wednesday sought a ban on the actor from the Kannada film industry.

Ratnaprabha, the mother of the deceased fan, told the media on Wednesday that Darshan should be banned from the film industry and his films should not be allowed to be released in Karnataka.

Calling Darshan a villain, she said that he is a thief and criminal and his fans should know about the heinous crime their idol has committed.

"Darshan's son should also meet the same fate as my son has met," she said, cursing the star.

Renukaswamy's father Shivanagouda stated that Darshan could have informed them about the obscene message his son had sent to Pavithra Gowda and they would have reprimanded him.

"God should give Darshan enlightenment not to hurt anyone like my son in future. My son's wife is pregnant. I am retired and how is she supposed to lead her life?" he questioned.

Meanwhile, Karnataka Police continued to interrogate Darshan, Pavithra Gowda, and the 11 other accused for the second day on Wednesday in connection with Renukaswamy's murder.

Darshan, Pavithra Gowda, and the others were arrested on Tuesday and have been remanded to police custody for six days.

Pavithra Gowda was kept at an observation centre overnight, while the other accused, including superstar Darshan, spent the night in the cell of the Annapoorneshwari Nagar Police Station in Bengaluru.

Police Commissioner of Bengaluru city, B. Dayananda and DCP (West), S. Girish visited the police station on Wednesday morning, received a briefing from the Investigation Officer, and gave directions for the case.

The investigation has so far revealed that Renukaswamy had allegedly sent a picture of his private parts to Pavithra Gowda and claimed in the message that he was better than Darshan.

Pavithra Gowda shared this with one of the accused, Pavan, who then informed Darshan, resulting in the murder of Renukaswamy, police sources said.

The police sources also said that Pavithra Gowda was called to the shed where Renukaswamy was being kept and tortured. She was made to beat him with her slippers.

Darshan and his associates assaulted his private parts, keeping the victim's message in mind.

Sources also said that Darshan had given Rs 30 lakh to a gang to dispose Renukaswamy's body and claim responsibility for the murder.

Accordingly, four persons surrendered at the police station and claimed they had committed the crime.

However, when the police interrogated them separately, their statements contradicted each other, and the police were successful in uncovering the truth.

Meanwhile, Darshan's first wife has unfollowed him on social media and also deleted her profile picture following these developments.

The first wife had lashed out at Pavithra Gowda for sharing pictures with Darshan and writing about their 10-year-long relationship.

After a heated exchange of words on social media, a section of fans supported the first wife, while another section blamed Pavithra Gowda for destroying Darshan's family life.

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, indicating the use of a hot iron rod.

Sources claimed that more than 10 people, including Darshan, attacked Renukaswamy and threw him against a wall multiple times.

The deceased's family said that Renukaswamy worked at a pharmacy and had been married for a year. His wife is five months pregnant.

The murder came to light on June 9 after an unidentified body was spotted in a canal by a security guard.
Aizawl, June 12 : The African Swine Fever (ASF) remained unabated with around 1900 pigs so far killed in Mizoram since the outbreak of the contagious disease in April while the authorities culled 3415 pigs to prevent the spread of the virus, officials said on Wednesday.

Officials and traders said that the ASF badly affected the pork business in the bordering state.

Officials in the Animal Husbandry and Veterinary (AHV) Department said that the department declared six districts -- Aizawl, Champhai, Lunglei, Saitual, Khawzawl and Serchhip -- as ASF-infested districts while the remaining five districts of the state are still considered more or less safe from the recurrence of the infectious disease.

However, the Kolasib district is also suspicious in view of the fast spreading of the contagious disease, a senior AHV Department official said.

The official said that under the Prevention and Control of Infectious and Contagious Disease in Animals Act, 2009, the department has declared various villages and localities in these six districts as infected areas following the outbreak of ASF in April.

With the fast spreading of the ASF, the department already barred the supply of pigs, piglets and pork from the infected areas.

The state government also banned the import of pigs and piglets from neighbouring states and countries where perpetual ASF infestations are being reported.

The official said that the surveillance teams of the AHV Department have been culling the pigs with lime powder in the designated areas and making aware of the people how to deal with the situation.

Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Minister C. Lalsawivunga recently held a meeting with the concerned officials and reviewed the situation in view of the outbreak of the ASF.

The Minister also appealed to all to adhere to the government's guidelines and directives to deal with the disease.

Mizoram was first hit by the ASF in 2021 and since then, reports of the outbreak of the disease have been reported almost every year during summer.

According to officials, the outbreak of ASF mostly occurs when the climate begins to warm up and pre-monsoon rains commence in the state.

Between 2021 and 2023, over 47,270 pigs and piglets died in Mizoram due to the ASF outbreak, while at least 25,182 pigs were culled during that period.

The government has so far provided compensation to 3,000 families for the loss of pigs due to the disease and the state government has approached the Centre for payment of compensation to additional families.

According to experts, the outbreak of ASF may have been caused by pigs or pork brought from neighbouring Myanmar, Bangladesh, and the adjoining states of the northeast.

Pork is one of the most common and popular meats consumed by both the tribals and non-tribals in the northeastern region.

With heavy demand for pork in the northeastern region, its annual business in the region is worth around Rs 8,000-Rs 10,000 crore, with Assam being the largest supplier.
Kozhikode, June 12 : Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday said that he was in a dilemma as to which constituency he should relinquish -- Wayanad or Raebareli.

He was in his constituency, Wayanad, which he won in the recently concluded Lok Sabha elections.

Gandhi arrived at the Kozhikode airport in the morning and drove to Edavana in Malappuram district which is part of his constituency.

He was given a rousing welcome and in his first public meeting, he said that he was in a dilemma about Wayanad and Raebareli.

"Unfortunately like Prime Minister Modi, I am not guided by god as am a human being...God takes all decisions. But I don't have that luxury as I am an ordinary human being. My god is the poor people of India. My god is the people of Wayanad. For me, it's very easy as I will speak to you. What I will commit to the people of Wayanad and Raebareli... whatever decision I take ... all of you will be happy," said Gandhi.

Gandhi retained his Wayanad seat easily but with a reduced margin which was 4.37 lakh in 2019 and 3.64 lakh votes in 2024. After Edavana he will reach Kalpetta to address his second meeting, and later will return to Delhi.
Kabul, June 12 : Afghanistan's security forces have discovered weapons and ammunition caches in northern Takhtar and Baghlan provinces, the country's Ministry of National Defense said in a statement on Wednesday.

Several weapons, including 23 Kalashnikovs, five PK machine guns, three rocket launchers, five hand grenades, one M16 machine gun and four US-made mines have been seized in Baghlan, said the statement.

Meanwhile, Afghan police have discovered an ammunition storage, including hundreds of bullets of heavy and light weapons in Takhar, the statement asserted.

However, the ministry did not say if anyone had been arrested in the case, reports Xinhua News Agency.

The Ministry of Interior Affairs also said that police have recently apprehended 17 people on the charge of involvement in criminal activities in the provinces of Herat, Ghor, Nuristan, Uruzgan, Samangan and Kandahar.

The Afghan caretaker government has collected thousands of arms and ammunition from irresponsible armed men since assuming power in August 2021, as part of efforts to ensure law and order across the war-scarred country.
Guwahati, June 12 : The Assam government will provide monthly financial assistance to female students to promote girl education in the state, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced on Wednesday.

He told reporters here that the government aims to eradicate child marriage in Assam and the girl students should delay their marriage and pursue higher education.

Under the Mukhya Mantri Nijut Moina (MMNM) Scheme, the girl students who are admitted to the Higher Secondary level will get a monthly scholarship of Rs 1,000 in their bank accounts through the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) method.

"For female students, who study graduation, they will be paid a scholarship of Rs 1000 per month and for those who pursue post-graduation, the state government will provide monthly financial assistance of Rs 2,500," Sarma said.

He also mentioned that the financial assistance will be sent to each beneficiary's bank account on the 11th of every month barring two months -- June and July of every year.

"There are certain conditions in this scheme. Daughters of any MLA, MP or minister of the state are not eligible to get financial assistance under the Mukhya Mantri Nijut Moina Scheme. Moreover, as the state government provides scooters to female students securing fixed cut-off marks in the Higher Secondary examinations, they will also not get the monthly scholarship," the Chief Minister said.
Jaipur, June 12 : Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma said on Wednesday that his government was committed to making the state crime-free and maintaining peace and law & order was a top priority.

CM Sharma was addressing the state-level function organised at Rajasthan Police Academy on the occasion of Rajasthan Police Foundation Day.

He said the state government was continuously making big decisions for the safety of the common man, due to which the crime figures have dropped drastically. The state government has taken many policy decisions in various matters, including the SIT investigation in the paper leak case, the formation of the Anti Gangster Task Force, reducing atrocities on women and Dalits, and so on, he said.

The CM mentioned that an anti-Romeo Squad has been formed to promote women's safety. Also, by setting up women's desks in 174 police stations, hearing of women's complainants is being ensured. He assured that the state government and police were committed to protecting constitutional values.

"While realizing the concept of Ram Rajya, our government is working with full alertness for the safety of the common people," he said.

On this occasion, the Chief Minister also announced the allocation of Rs 1.5 crore for the Rajasthan Police Welfare Fund, Rs 1 crore for the Rajasthan Police Benevolent Fund and Rs 1.5 crore for the Utsav Fund.

Director General of Police U.R. Sahu said the Rajasthan Police will leave no stone unturned to further strengthen the credibility and dedication of the police in the minds of the people.

Earlier, CM Sharma paid floral tributes to the martyrs at the Police Martyr Memorial.

The Chief Minister took the salute of the various marching contingent of the police and allied services.

CM Sharma also honoured police officers and personnel with Police Medals for outstanding services.
Los Angeles, June 12 : Disgraced actor Kevin Spacey, who has been accused of sexual assault on many counts, has revealed that his house has been foreclosed on as he owes "many millions" of dollars in legal fees from his sexual misconduct trials.

Los Angeles, June 12 (IANS) Disgraced actor Kevin Spacey, who has been accused of sexual assault on many counts, has revealed that his house has been foreclosed on as he owes "many millions" of dollars in legal fees from his sexual misconduct trials.

The actor said on 'Piers Morgan Uncensored' that he no longer has a permanent home and barely has any money left to his name, reports Variety.

He said: "It's funny you ask that question because 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 Baltimore and put my things in storage."

The actor said that he is not sure where he is going to live now. He has been in Baltimore since he started shooting 'House of Cards' there.

"I moved there in 2012. This (house) has been my home since 2016. I can't pay the bills that I owe," he added.

When asked if he is facing bankruptcy, he said: "There's been a couple of times when I thought I was going to file but we've managed to dodge it, at least as of today."

As per Variety, since claims of Spacey's alleged sexual assaults and inappropriate behaviour first arose in the wake of the #MeToo movement in 2017, several legal cases were brought against the two-time Oscar winner.

In 2022, a jury in New York concluded that he did not molest actor Anthony Rapp, who had accused him of sexual assault in the early 1980s when Rapp was 14. The next year, a UK court found Spacey not guilty of nine charges of sexual assault from four complainants. Several other charges and lawsuits have been dropped. Spacey has denied all the allegations.
Belagavi : , June 12 (IANS) An incident of a gangster arrested on charges of threatening Union Minister Nitin Gadkari and a senior IPS officer, being thrashed inside the premises of the court for raising pro-Pakistan slogans was reported from Belagavi city of Karnataka on Wednesday.

According to police, the arrested gangster Jayesh Pujari, who had threatened to blast the Nagpur office of Union Minister Nitin Gadkari and demanded a ransom from prison, raised "Pakistan Zindabad" slogans when he was produced before the district court.

The people, advocates and others who were present in the court, started thrashing him immediately after he raised the pro-Pakistan slogans.

The police team that had produced him in court rescued him with difficulty and brought him out of there.

Later, he was taken to the APMC police station.

Jayesh Pujari was produced before the court in connection with the life threat to Karnataka IPS office, Alok Kumar.

Sources said that Jayesh Pujari raised pro- Pakistan slogans as he was not allowed to present his case before the court.

Jayesh Pujari, who is presently lodged in Hindalga central prison, hails from Dakshina Kannada District in Karnataka.

Police sources stated that they will lodge a separate case against him for raising pro-Pakistan slogans in court.
Bengaluru, June 12 : Various organisations staged a protest in Karnataka's Chitradurga city on Wednesday against Kannada superstar Darshan, demanding a life term for him in the brutal murder of his fan, 33-year-old Renukaswamy.

Leaders from different political parties also participated in the protest. The protest march started from Neelakanteshwara Temple and proceeded to the District Commissioneras Office in Chitradurga.

Former BJP MLA G.H. Thippa Reddy said, "Darshan is an onscreen hero, but in real life, he is not a hero at all. We cannot ignore the suffering of Renukaswamyas parents. These incidents have been occurring since the Congress government took power in Karnataka," he charged.

"Why has Darshan, who should be accused number 1, been listed as accused number 2? This seems to be an attempt to protect him. Home Minister Dr. G. Parameshwara talks as if nothing has happened. The government might undermine such incidents. Darshan and the other accused in the case must be given life imprisonment. They should not be released," he stated.

Thippa Reddy warned that if Darshan and other accused are released, large-scale protests will be staged.

Former JD(S) MLA S.K. Basavarajan said that there was a possibility of politicians influencing the probe. "It seems the government is on his side. Darshan had campaigned for the Congress party. In this context, there is a possibility of the government and politicians favouring him. It is best to hand over the case to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI)," he demanded.

"Darshan has a blind following. If his fans are supporting him even after this heinous case of murder, what should we understand from this? The fans should correct the actor, not support his every act. Such blind following has resulted in a murder. The police have done a commendable job by arresting him and not letting him go scot-free. There might be a chance of influential politicians derailing the investigation in the future. No room should be given for that, and justice should be served," Basavarajan stated.

Activists from Bajrang Dal, Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and pro-Kannada organisations also participated in the protest.
Jerusalem, June 12 : About 160 rockets were fired from Lebanon at northern Israel on Wednesday morning, said the Israeli army, after Israeli airstrikes killed four Hezbollah officials, including a senior commander.

In the early morning, the military said approximately 90 projectiles were identified launched from Lebanon. The National Fire and Rescue Authority said that the rockets caused fires in several areas, reports Xinhua news agency.

Later in the morning, a barrage of some 70 rockets was fired toward Western Galilee and Mount Meron in Upper Galilee region, where a key aerial defense control unit is located.

"A number of the projectiles were intercepted, most of them fell in open areas, and several fell in a number of locations in northern Israel," the military said, adding that the details were still under review.

So far, no injuries have been reported by the Israeli side.

In response to the latest barrage, Israeli aircraft struck the launcher in the area of Yaroun.

The barrage marked the largest rocket attack by militants in Lebanon on Israel since the beginning of the new round of Israel-Hamas conflict on October 7, 2023.

The Upper Galilee Regional Council called on residents to reduce outdoor activities to essential ones only, citing fear of additional barrages.
Bengaluru, June 12 : Priyank Kharge, Karnataka's Minister for IT/BT, announced 'Hypergrowth Global Karnataka', a global late-stage scaling programme at London Tech Week, stated an official release on Wednesday. Minister Kharge made the announcement at the event in San Francisco, California, last evening.

"The Government of Karnataka is committed towards making Bengaluru the best place for founders to start and scale their businesses through conducive policies," stated Dr Ekroop Kaur, Secretary, Department of Electronics Information Technology Biotechnology and Science and Technology, Government of Karnataka.

"We are thrilled to work with the Government of Karnataka to launch the Hypergrowth programme to move it rapidly to the top startup ecosystems in the world. With 13,000 start-ups and more than 40 unicorns, Bengaluru has shown tremendous growth as a startup ecosystem," remarked JF Gauthier, Founder and CEO of Startup Genome.

"Entrepreneurs, policymakers, and community leaders in Karnataka are pushing the limits of possibilities  evident in the latest strides in both Life Sciences, Aerospace, Defence, Space Technology and Cleantech," he stated.

Hypergrowth Global Karnataka will focus on high-growth startups, recognising them as drivers of economic growth and competitiveness, and creators of sustainable jobs and societal well-being.

The programme addresses a significant support gap for fast-growing scale-ups, as most efforts traditionally concentrate on early-stage startups.

The initiative aims to propel the best Bengaluru-Karnataka-based tech companies into successful global commercialisation and expansion into international target markets.

This comes on the heels of the Bengaluru-Karnataka startup ecosystem being highlighted in the 2024 Global Startup Ecosystem Report (GSER), which was also launched at the conference this week as an initiative between Startup Genome and the Karnataka Digital Economy Mission.
Karnal : , June 12 (IANS) Under the 'Mukhyamantri Tirth Yatra Yojana Haryana', more than 100 pilgrims from Karnal left for Ayodhya in two AC buses for pilgrimage to the Ram Mandir.

The scheme, launched by former Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, is now being taken forward by incumbent CM Nayab Singh Saini.

MLAs Harvinder Kalyan and Ram Kumar Kashyap flagged off the buses on Wednesday.

Speaking on the occasion, MLA Kalyan said, "This is a very emotional moment as such a large number of people will visit the Ram Mandir. This scheme was launched when Manohar Lal Khattar was the CM and Nayab Singh Saini was the chief of the Haryana BJP."

Under the scheme, all facilities, including accommodation, food, etc., will be provided to the pilgrims by the Haryana government.

The pilgrims also expressed their gratitude and thanked the government.

The two buses will return on June 14, while the pilgrimage scheme to Ayodhya will continue in the same manner.

Veena Devi, one of the beneficiaries, said, "It was a dream of my mother to visit the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya. Her dream will come true now. I want to thank Modi ji and Yogi ji for giving us an opportunity to visit Ayodhya."
New Delhi, June 12 : The Cellular Operators' Association of India (COAI) on Wednesday shared key priorities for the telecom industry that it wishes the government to address and help the sector achieve its goals.

According to the industry body, the availability of 6 GHz mid-band spectrum is crucial to expand the 5G networks, especially the IMT (mobility services) in the country.

"Unfortunately in the last spectrum auction, we could get only 800 MHz, so to fulfil the requirement, we need to get 1200 MHz from the 6GHz range. A recent report by GSMA says that India can save as much as $10 billion annually in 5G network deployment through the use of 6 GHz spectrum," said Lt Gen Dr SP Kochhar, Director General, COAI.

With the anticipated spectrum auction for 5G by June end, the industry body requested the government to address the industry's longstanding issues about spectrum pricing and related revenue concerns.

It also urged the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) to revisit the spectrum pricing recommendation, in line with global norms.

"We also request TRAI to do away with the minimum rollout obligations, giving telecom service providers (TSPs) the freedom to decide the rollout strategy upon acquiring the spectrum," said the industry body.

The (TSPs) in India have been requesting the regulatory authorities to implement a fair share data network usage policy, wherein the large traffic generators (LTGs) pay a share of their revenue with TSPs who provide the complete infrastructure for their data requirements.

The ICT manufacturing landscape in India has undergone a dramatic shift over the past decade, owing to the initiatives like Atmanirbhar Bharat.

The PLI scheme for telecom and networking products worth Rs 12,195 crore and its amendment in June 2022 to introduce a Design-led manufacturing scheme with additional incentives of more than $533.33 million are clear mandates indicating the government's progressive approach to core manufacturing.

"However, there are challenges which need prior attention. In telecom manufacturing, the challenges associated with testing and certification of the equipment are crucial to ensure the safety and security of 5G infrastructure in the country," said the COAI.

The industry body also requested the government to increase the number of test labs to support the testing of a massive volume of products and provide exemption on Customs duties for products that enter India for testing and certification temporarily.
Lucknow, June 12 : The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Uttar Pradesh has decided to regain lost ground by winning the 10 assembly seats where by-elections are to be held in the coming months.

These seats are those that will be vacated due to the resignations of those legislators who have been elected to the Lok Sabha in the just concluded elections.

The seats that will fall vacant are Karhal in Mainpuri (Akhilesh Yadav), Awadhesh Prasad (Ayodhya), Lalji Varma (Ambedkar Nagar), Zia-ur-Rehman Barq (Moradabad). All these seats are held by the Samajwadi Party.

The seats where by-elections will be held and are presently held by BJP include Anoop Valmiki (Aligarh), Atul Garg (Ghaziabad), Parveen Patel (Phulpur) and Vinod Kumar Bind (Mirzapur).

By-elections will also be held in the Meerapur assembly seat since the MLA from here, Chandan Chauhan has been elected to Lok Sabha on RLD symbol.

UP minister Jitin Prasada, who won from the Pilibhit seat, was a member of the Legislative Council and he has sent his resignation. By-elections will also be held for his seat in the Upper House.

The sword is also dangling on the heads of six SP MLAs who cross-voted in the Rajya Sabha elections earlier this year in February.

They include Manoj Pandey (Raebareli), Rakesh Pandey (Ambedkar Nagar), Abhay Singh (Faizabad), Rakesh Pratap Singh (Amethi), Vinod Chaturvedi (Jalaun), Puja Pal (Kaushambhi),

The Samajwadi Party which recorded a win with 37 seats in the Lok Sabha elections, is in no mood to forgive these rebel MLAs. SP President Akhilesh Yadav has made it clear that action will be initiated against them 'soon'.

If the SP moves disqualification petition against these rebel MLAs and the Speaker disqualifies them, by-elections will be held on their six seats as well.

A senior BJP functionary told IANS on Wednesday, "We have already started preparing for by-elections without wasting any time. We have learnt lessons from the Lok Sabha polls and we will make sure that we win back the seats in the by-elections. The process of shortlisting candidates is already about to begin."

The Samajwadi spokesman, on the other hand, said, that the voters had already taught the rebel MLAs a lesson and the SP had won in their respective constituencies.

"The by-elections will further consolidate the INDIA bloc position in the UP assembly," he said.
New Delhi, June 12 : In what would be his first overseas visit after assuming office for the third consecutive term, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be travelling to Italy on Thursday to attend the Group of Seven (G7) Summit being held in Puglia from June 13-15.

PM Modi will be attending the G7 Summit's Outreach Sessions on Friday at the invitation of Italy's Prime Minister Georgia Meloni.

"The visit will provide PM Modi an opportunity to engage with other world leaders present at the G7 Summit on issues of importance to India, as also to the Global South," said Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra.

This will be the 11th time that India will be taking part in the G7 Summit and Prime Minister Modi's fifth consecutive participation.

The outreach sessions, where PM Modi is going to participate along with leaders of other invited countries, are expected to focus on Artificial Intelligence, energy, Africa and the Mediterranean.

"India's regular participation at the G7 Summit clearly points to increasing recognition and contribution of the efforts that India has been consistently making in trying to resolve global challenges, including those of peace, security, development and environment preservation," said Kwatra.

Prime Minister Modi is also expected to hold a series of bilateral meetings with several leaders on the sidelines of the event.

The Foreign Secretary stated that India will also be participating at the Ukraine 'Peace Summit' being held in Switzerland, later this week.

"India will be participating in the Peace Summit at an appropriate level. That consideration is currently going on in the system and as and when we have a decision on the representative from India who will be participating, we will be happy to share," said the top diplomat.
Kolkata, June 12 : Army on Wednesday said that it has organised two medical camps for the displaced people in Manipur.

An official of the Army's Eastern Command said that the medical camps were organised for both displaced members of the Meitei and Kuki Zo communities.

"The first camp was organised on Tuesday at the Lamlai Relief Camp. The theme was 'Wellness Begins at Home'. The aim was to provide essential healthcare services to local residents as well as the internally displaced people, ensuring their access to quality medical care," an army official said.

He said that the second camp was organised at S Kawtlian in the Churachandpur district on Wednesday to commemorate International Albinism Awareness Day.

"The turnout at the Lamlai camp was 1,378, including 386 women, 163 children and 307 elderly people from nearby areas," the official said.

He said that these camps also featured valuable contributions from civilian doctors, including a medical specialist from PHC Heingang, a surgical specialist from PHC Sawombung and a lady gynaecologist from CHC Sagolmang.

"The community's response was overwhelmingly positive. Essential medicines and digital medical equipment were also distributed to the needy at this camp. The Army also provided thermometers, glucometers, blood pressure machines, walkers, walking sticks, lumbar belts, knee caps, adult diapers and sanitary pads to the people. The Army had also provided a pick-up and drop bus service for the elderly from nearby villages," the official said.

He said that the camp at S Kawtlian on Wednesday was also a joint effort by Army doctors and medical and surgical specialists from Churachandpur District Hospital.

"The camp witnessed an overwhelming turnout of 257 individuals of all ages, including 87 children and 110 women. Comprehensive basic healthcare checkups were conducted and assistance was provided to those in need," the official added.

In addition to the medical checkups, the camp also featured a medicine counter to provide essential medications post-checkup. The awareness lecture delivered by the medical officer from the Army focused on albinism, healthcare measures and crucial topics such as hygiene, preventive healthcare and balanced nutrition. CPR techniques and lifesaving skills were also displayed.

"The Indian Army remains committed to support and assist the people affected by the ongoing crisis," the official said.
Bengaluru, June 12 : In a setback to former Chief Minister and BJP Parliamentary Board member B.S. Yediyurappa, a writ petition was submitted in the Karnataka High Court on Wednesday seeking his arrest in a POCSO case lodged against him in Bengaluru before the Lok Sabha elections.

The victim's brother filed the petition before the high court, claiming that the police have not taken any action though it has been months since the complaint was filed against the veteran BJP leader.

The victim's mother, who passed away on May 26, had filed a case against Yediyurappa in March this year under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, alleging harassment of her daughter when she went to the former CM's residence seeking help in a 2015 case of assault.

The petitioner claimed that the CCTV footage from Yediyurappa's residence was not seized, and neither was a notice served to the BJP under Section 41A, which is a basic step in a POCSO case.

Earlier, Yediyurappa also approached the high court seeking quashing of the POCSO case against him.

He submitted in his petition that he did not indulge in any unlawful act, and alleged that the complainant had a habit of filing complaints.

"I had attended the interrogation after the FIR was lodged. The police had collected voice samples but did not record my statement," Yediyurappa claimed.

In March, the victim's mother had filed complaints against 53 persons, including senior police officers, politicians, and bureaucrats.

Commenting on the case, Karnataka Home Minister G. Parameshwara said on Wednesday that the investigation is going on and the police are gathering more evidence.

Earlier, the Congress government in Karnataka handed over the case to the special wing of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID).

--mka

IANS/arm
Seoul, June 12 : The South Korean units of Google and Apple were among firms fined for allegedly violating a law on location data collection, the telecom regulator here said on Wednesday.

Google's Korean unit was ordered to pay a fine of 3 million won (US$2,180) for allegedly violating a clause on disclosing its policy on location data, according to the Korean Communications Commission (KCC), reports Yonhap news agency.

Apple's Korean unit was also ordered to pay a fine of 210 million won for allegedly collecting location data without consent, violating the clause on disclosing its policy on location data and others, the commission said.

The commission imposed fines on 188 firms, including the Korean units of Google and Apple, for violating the Act on the Protection and Use of Location Information.

The administrative measures came as a result of a regular inspection of companies handling location information conducted under the revised location information protection act in 2022.

"Location information is a key resource to improve users' convenience and a foundation for the growth of innovative industries, but we need to consider the protection of individuals' privacy and social security in using the information," KCC Chairman Kim Hong-il said.
Police expect to lay further charges after a woman was found naked and screaming on a suburban street.

Yahoo's live news blog has concluded for Wednesday, June 12.

The day started with the worrying statistic 31 per cent of Australian adults are failing to identify all scams sent their way. The statistic has triggered a warning ahead of tax time about the "most opportunistic criminals" who are "actively campaigning to capitalise on tax season".

Dr Michael Mosley's tragic final interview has been revealed, where he said just weeks ago he didn't want to die early like his father had.

Coles has been criticised for dropping a local milk brand who stress they will not "go broke trying to appease them".

Follow along as we bring you regular updates throughout the day.

LIVE COVERAGE IS OVER 12 updates Fiji's embarrassing moment with gift from Australia Well this is awkward. A patrol boat donated to Fiji's navy by Australia has run aground during its maiden voyage. RFNS Puamau became stuck when it hit a reef on Fiji's Lau group of islands on Monday  just months after it was handed over to the Pacific Island nation, the ABC reports. Australia will now help assist in recovering the vessel, with the amount of damage unclear at this stage. RFNS Puamau run aground. Source: Fiji Ministry of Home Affairs via ABC

Coles criticised for dropping Aussie milk brand Coles has faced criticism for dropping a local milk supplier, with small Australian brands saying they can no longer compete amongst the biggest players. Gippsland Jersey milk, which is proudly independent and Australian-owned, was stocked in about 200 Coles stores, however, it has now been dropped in the vast majority of its supermarkets. The company said the brand is being delisted from the majority of Coles stores due to the retailers margin requirements and sales expectations. Coles has said it remained "committed to continuing to support independent and local producers". Sallie Jones and Steve Ronalds from Gippsland Jersey said the company won't be "dropping our pants on giving them more margin and we certainly wont be going broke trying to appease them". Read more here.

ATO to crack down on landlords this tax time The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) is warning landlords that their tax returns will be under the microscope this year. They are being told doubling dipping on expenses and making other incorrect claims could land them in hot water. Assistant commissioner Rob Thomson said the vast majority of rental property owners - 9 out of 10 - were making errors on their tax returns. Thats despite most of them using a registered tax agent. Thomson said he is seeing landlords making dodgy deductions, including mistakes when it comes to repairs and maintenance deductions. Read more here.

Bruce Lehrmann accused of $13k damage Bruce Lehrmann caused more than $13,000 worth of damage to a multimillion-dollar property he rented as part of an exclusive TV interview deal, a tribunal has been told. Lady Gaenor Meakes, the owner of the home on Sydney's northern beaches, rented the property to Lehrmann with the Seven Network picking up the $100,000 bill. She has since lodged proceedings against Lehrmann on the grounds of property damage and loss of rent. Read more here. Bruce Lehrmann is accused of damaging a luxury Northern Beaches home. Source: Getty

Holidaying couple put on wrong flight How on earth does this happen? A UK couple were in disbelief when they were put on the wrong plane and ended up in a city 2,500km from their destination. Heading to Barcelona, a mix-up at Bristol airport meant Andrew and Victoria Gore instead landed in Lithuania. The couple were oblivious after falling asleep on the flight and woke to what they said was their "worst nightmare". The pair needed special assistance boarding, meaning they were separated from their family and put on a different flight by accident. Crew had reportedly informed them their family were on the same flight as them, but they were in fact on the right plane to Barcelona. Airline Ryanair apologised over the mistake they say was the fault of special assistance crews. The couple were put up in a hotel and flown to Barcelona the next day before their bags arrived two days later. Read more here. The couple were terrified when they landed in Lithuania.

Mould an unfortunate reality for Australians, health expert says Australia is in the midst of a mould outbreak following a humid summer and heavy rainfall in recent months. Renters and homeowners are voicing their concerns as toxic mould continues to spread indoors, but former deputy chief medical officer Dr Nick Coatsworth said it was unfortunately a reality that will be hard to change. "Mould is everywhere. Whether we can see it or not, we are inhaling it in our houses everyday,' he told the Today show. He said while mould can be "very dangerous" for vulnerable people, its spread didn't classify as a "terrible health burden" for most of the country. Many Aussies are fed up with the amount of mould in their homes. Source: Getty

Four foreigners stabbed in China attack Four Americans have been stabbed in what is believed to be a random attack in China. Police said a 55-year-old suspect bumped into one of the four staff members of an Iowa university in a park in the city of Jilin before allegedly stabbing the group. Video of the injured victims lying on the ground was shared to Chinese social media in the aftermath on Monday but was quickly taken down and comments relating to the attack were swiftly removed. Such a move by Chinese authorities left some Chinese users perplexed, questioning why such news would be censored. Video from the scene later emerged on Western social media sites. Hu Xijin, the outspoken former chief editor of Beijing tabloid the Global Times, attempted to quash suggestion the attack was a result of growing disdain for foreigners inside China, stressing the incident was isolated. "General sentiment toward foreign tourists in marketplaces and tourist spots [in China] is friendly,' he said online. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian stressed China was one of the "safest countries in the world" and China welcomed Americans from "all walks of life". The victims were rushed to hospital and given critical care and are now recovering. The stabbing incident at Jilin's Beishan Park, involving 4 American teachers, has made headlines worldwide. On the Chinese internet, the story was initially kept under wraps. An overview of how the incident was reported, censored, and discussed on Weibo: https://t.co/a2X3MPaOqV pic.twitter.com/fEddAz9pf9  What's on Weibo (@WhatsOnWeibo) June 11, 2024

Jarryd Hayne's rape convictions quashed on appeal Former NRL star Jarryd Hayne has had his rape convictions quashed after a successful appeal. The 36-year-old has spent a year behind bars after a jury convicted him of two counts of sexual intercourse without consent in April 2023 after an earlier guilty verdict was overturned in a separate appeal. The NSW Court of Criminal Appeal quashed Hayne's convictions on Wednesday on the basis a judge erred in not allowing the complainant to be further cross-examined during the trial. The appeal court also ruled the trial judge did not properly direct the jury about how to deal with allegations the complainant had lied. Read more here. - AAP Jarryd Hayne pictured in 2023. Source: Getty

Charles' first official portrait as King defaced Well this portrait didn't last long. King Charles' first official portrait since he became monarch has been defaced by animal rights activists with.... a picture of Wallace from Wallace and Gromit. Watch the video below and read more about the stunt here. BREAKING: No Cheese Gromit! King Charles Portrait Redecorated @RoyalFamily



Find out why King Charles, Patron of the RSPCA should ask them to drop the Assured Scheme -> https://t.co/pTneW0QCWf  pic.twitter.com/jYLHFuxtHB  Animal Rising (@AnimalRising) June 11, 2024

Daunting map reveals gruelling heatwave in the US A punishing heatwave continues in the US as record temperatures tumbled in several western states at the start of the month. This daunting NASA map from June 6 shows exactly what millions are dealing with as authorities warn vulnerable residents to stay indoors. California's Death Valley reached 50C last week, while Arizona's Phoenix continues to see temperatures in excess of 44C, with elevated temperatures expected to continue into next week. NASA Earth Observatory image by Michala Garrison, using GEOS data from the Global Modeling and Assimilation Office at NASA GSFC.

Woman found naked and screaming on street Police out on routine patrol found a woman naked and screaming on a suburban street who had allegedly been held against her will in a home and sexually assaulted for numerous days. Officers were patrolling in Lyneham, a suburb of Canberra, about 7pm Monday when they spotted the distressed woman. They stopped to help her and took her into their vehicle, where she told them she had been confined to a nearby home for a number of days. A 44-year-old Lyneham man was arrested shortly after and charged with forcible confinement, rape, assault and failing to appear. He appeared in the ACT Magistrates Court on Tuesday and was remanded in custody. He is due back in court next month. Police have said the investigation is ongoing and it is expected further charges will be laid. - NCA NewsWire

Dr Michael Mosley's tragic final interview revealed Dr Michael Mosley said he didn't want to die early in a tragic final interview just weeks before his death at the age of 67. Speaking to the UK's Daily Telegraph in April, the famous TV doctor, well-known to Australian audiences, said his father Bill "hadn't seen his grandkids grow up" after dying at 74 from complications with diabetes, adding "that's not a road I want to go down". Mosley himself had been diagnosed with diabetes and changed his diet to avoid taking medication for it. The search for Mosley on the Greek island of Symi made global headlines last week before he was found dead near a beach resort bar four days after vanishing. An autopsy concluded he died of natural causes, and had chosen to lie down and put his legs in the air to prevent him from fainting amid 40C heat. Grainy CCTV of Mosley's final moments has been handed over to police. Dr Michael Mosley was just moments from a beach bar before he died.

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New Delhi, June 12 : Adarsh Swaika, Ambassador of India to Kuwait, visited the Farwaniya Hospital in Kuwait city where many Indian workers injured in Wednesday's fire incident have been admitted.

"Ambassador Adarsh Swaika visited Mubarak Al-Kabeer Hospital, where 11 workers injured in today's fire have been admitted. 10 of them are expected to be released today & one in hospital is reportedly stable. He met with patients still in hospital & assured them of Embassy's full support," the Indian Embassy in Kuwait posted on X.

The Indian diplomat met a number of patients and assured them of full assistance from the Embassy.

Swaika also visited the tragic fire-incident site in Mangaf to ascertain the situation, assuring that the Indian Embassy is in constant touch with relevant Kuwaiti law enforcement, fire-service and health authorities for necessary action and emergency medical health-care.

Earlier, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar expressed deep shock over the tragic fire incident, which he said has resulted in several deaths.

"Deeply shocked by the news of the fire incident in Kuwait city. There are reportedly over 40 deaths and over 50 have been hospitalised. Our Ambassador has gone to the camp. We are awaiting further information," Jaishankar said on X.

"Deepest condolences to the families of those who tragically lost their lives. Wish early and full recovery to those who have been injured. Our Embassy will render the fullest assistance to all concerned in this regard," he added.

The Indian Embassy in Kuwait has also put out an emergency helpline number in connection with the tragedy.

Kuwait's Ministry of Health also released a statement Wednesday afternoon.

"The Ministry of Health has so far dealt with 43 cases through the accident departments in a number of hospitals, in a building fire incident in Mangaf, of which 4 cases arrived dead," it said.
San Francisco, June 12 : Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has been accused of having sexual relationships with two of his employees, including an intern, and approaching another worker to have his babies, a media report revealed on Wednesday.

According to The Wall Street Journal, Musk in his companies -- Tesla and SpaceX, created a culture which made the women staff uncomfortable.

Women employees at Tesla claimed that they were shown "an unusual amount of attention or pursued" by Musk. A SpaceX flight attendant had alleged that the tech billionaire exposed himself to her and offered to buy her a horse in exchange for sex in 2016.

A former female employee who left SpaceX in 2013 claimed that Musk repeatedly asked her to have his children. Tesla CEO, who has at least 10 children, has expressed concerns about underpopulation and has stated that individuals with high IQs should have children, the report mentioned.

In addition, the report claimed that a woman who worked at SpaceX received repeated invitations from Musk to come to his house at night.

This is the latest in a series of allegations against Musk, who has previously been accused of regularly using drugs such as LSD, cocaine, ecstasy, mushrooms, and ketamine, sometimes even at work with board members.

Meanwhile, Musk has threatened to ban iPhones from all his companies over the integration of ChatGPT into iPhones and other Apple devices.
Berlin, June 12 : Authorities in Germany have moved to ban a Muslim association based in the central city of Braunschweig, accusing the group of spreading extremist views.

Police also launched several raids aimed at the Braunschweig-based German-Speaking Muslim Association (DMG) on Wednesday morning, which sources told dpa also included searches of two apartments in Berlin.

The Interior Ministry in the state of Lower Saxony, which includes Braunschweig, moved to prohibit the DMG, claiming it conflicts with Germany's constitutional democratic order.

"We do not tolerate associations in which supposed non-believers, women and Jews, as well as our social order as a whole, are regularly devalued and followers called upon to fight them," said Lower Saxony's interior minister, Daniela Behrens. "The ban on the DMG is a hard blow against the Salafist scene in Lower Saxony and beyond."

Behrens said that no arrests were made in the raids, but that assets belonging to the DMG were confiscated.

A report from Lower Saxony's domestic intelligence agency in June 2023 alleged that the Braunschweig-based DMG had become a nationwide meeting point for Salafist preachers, and had significantly expanded its online presence with content on YouTube, TikTok, Spotify and Telegram.

"Every week, the appearances of these nationally known Salafist preachers are also made accessible to a large number of viewers via the various online channels of the DMG Braunschweig," the state's Interior Ministry said in a statement at the time.

According to the ministry, the DMG Braunschweig's YouTube channel alone had around 70,000 subscribers as of May 2023.

"The risk of self-radicalisation is and remains high, especially in light of the digital possibilities for information and communication," the ministry said at the time.

The group's website includes postings for numerous opportunities aimed at children and young people. These include Koran camps, children's camps, youth conferences and study circles.

--IANS/DPA

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New Delhi, June 12 : The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Wednesday that it has already raised the issue of vandalisation of a statue of Mahatma Gandhi by Khalistani separatists in Italy, just ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the country for the G7 Summit.

"We have seen the reports and taken it up with the Italian authorities. We understand that a suitable rectification has already been made. The effort to vandalise the statue, which is, of course, deplorable, has been addressed and the necessary rectification done," said Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra.

The incident comes right before PM Modi is scheduled to arrive in Italy to attend the G7 Summit's Outreach Sessions on Friday.

Last year, the Khalistani goons had defaced BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Sydney's Rosehill with anti-India graffiti just before PM Modi arrived in Australia after attending the G7 and Quad Leaders' Summit in Hiroshima.
New Delhi, June 12 : The Delhi High Court on Wednesday issued notices in response to four new petitions challenging the award of grace marks and alleging a paper leak in the NEET (UG) Examination held on May 5.

Justice Neena Bansal Krishna of the Vacation Bench sought responses from the National Testing Agency (NTA) on the petitions.

On the petitions filed by candidates Adarsh Raj Gupta, Keya Azad, Mohammed Florez, and Anavadya V., Solicitor General (SG), Tushar Mehta, informed the court that multiple writ petitions regarding the examination have been filed in various courts, including the Supreme Court.

He stated that the issues raised in these petitions broadly fall into three categories: The awarding of compensatory or grace marks, anomalies in certain questions, and the alleged paper leak.

SG Tushar Mehta further noted that the NTA is in the process of filing a transfer plea before the Supreme Court to consolidate all related petitions for a unified hearing.

In light of this, the Delhi High Court issued notices on the fresh petitions and scheduled them for hearing before the Roster Bench on July 5.

Earlier this week, the Supreme Court also issued a notice on a separate plea seeking the cancellation of the NEET (UG) examination due to allegations of a paper leak, with a hearing scheduled for July 8.

Last week, a 17-year-old moved the High Court challenging the NTA over alleged inconsistencies in the NEET (UG) 2024 examination.

The petition, filed by the student's mother on her behalf, contests the accuracy of the answer key for the exam conducted.

The issue revolves around Question No. 29 in Test Booklet Code R5, where the final answer key, released on June 3, reportedly listed two correct answers.

This contradicts the instructions given in the examination booklet, which clearly stated that only one option could be correct for each multiple-choice question in Section A.

The petition highlights that the provisional answer key was published by the NTA on May 30 with a window for students to raise objections until May 31.

Despite this, the final answer key considered both options 2 and 4 as correct for the disputed question.

This discrepancy has significant implications for the examinees, it stressed.

The petitioner argues that the NTA's decision to award marks to students who selected either of the two options unfairly benefits those who guessed or inadvertently marked one of the correct answers.

This, the petition claims, discriminates against candidates who followed the instructions and refrained from marking an answer due to the ambiguity.

The petitioner further contends that this inconsistency has resulted in arbitrary and unfair grace marks, adversely affecting the ranks of students who did not benefit from this decision.

According to the petition, such arbitrary awarding of marks can cause a rank difference of approximately 20,000 places, potentially impacting the future prospects of many candidates.

Given these grievances, the petitioner has filed a writ petition under Article 226 of the Constitution, seeking the High Court's intervention to address the alleged violations and ensure a fair resolution for all affected candidates.

The petitioner seeks a reassessment of the disputed question and a revision of the results to ensure equity and fairness in the examination process.

The High Court has sought NTAas stand on the matter.
Panaji, June 12 : Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Wednesday thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Minister for Home Affairs Amit Shah for resolving the Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) card issue.

The Chief Minister said that the Home Affairs ministry has cleared the proposal of considering the Revocation of Passport order issued by passport authorities in lieu of Surrender Certificate for permitting Visa/Exit Permissions and OCI card cases.

"This decision comes as a huge relief to the Portuguese passport holders (originally Goan residents) in availing of OCI card. On behalf of fellow Goans, I express my gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Minister for Home Affairs Amit Shah for this pro-people decision. Even after the elections, PM Modias guarantee continues to deliver what is promised," Sawant said.

After drawing flak over the Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) card issue, Pramod Sawant on May 17 had said that it was under consideration of the Home Ministry and it would give a final decision to consider the revocation certificate.

Goa opposition parties had criticised the Central and the state governments after the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) had said that acceptance of a 'revocation certificate' is 'under consideration' to register an Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) card.

The MEA in its April 4 memorandum, had said that it had decided to accept a 'revocation certificate' instead of a 'surrender certificate' as an alternative document. However, its corrigendum published on April 30 said this is only "under consideration" by the MHA.
New Delhi, June 12 : The H5N1 virus, or bird flu virus, has raised fresh concerns for humans with reports of spillover to mammals like domestic cats and mice, infectious disease experts said on Wednesday.

The US Department of Agricultureas (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), on Wednesday, reported 36 more H5N1 avian flu detections in house mice and four more virus detections in domestic cats -- from New Mexico county.

"This is indeed concerning, although there is no immediate threat. The longer-term problem is that the more a virus spreads, the more it gets chances to mutate or recombine," Dr Anurag Agarwal, Dean, BioSciences and Health Research, Trivedi School of Biosciences, Ashoka University, told IANS.

"This alone is modestly concerning in terms of future human risks. However, when the spread is occurring in animals that are present in human houses, as seen here, the concern level is higher," he added.

Biologist Vinod Scaria, in a post on X.com, said it "is concerning as the virus is moving to domestic animals with human contact".

The bird flu virus H5N1 is seen a significant increase in spillover to mammals in recent years. The virus killed a record number of birds in 2023.

It spread to otters, sea lions, minks, foxes, dolphins, and seals, among others.

The virus also killed 29 cats in Poland and 38 of 40 shelter cats in South Korea. Meanwhile, in separate incidents, the bird flu virus also affected several humans in China, Chile, the US, and India.

The World Health Organization (WHO) on Tuesday confirmed a human infection with bird flu caused by the H9N2 virus in a four-year-old child in West Bengal.

It is the second human infection of H9N2 bird flu from India, with the first in 2019, the agency said.

The virus in the child was detected by health authorities in Australia's Victoria.

In late March, H5N1 infected dairy cows in the US, and subsequently, at least three humans in Texas and Michigan have reportedly contracted the virus from sick cattle. More recently, a 59-year-old man in Mexico died after being infected with H5N2 bird flu, a strain not previously seen in humans.

"Bird flu, or avian influenza, is a viral illness that mainly infects birds. However, there's a chance it can jump to humans and other mammals who come into close contact with infected birds," Dr. Swati Rajagopal, Consultant - Infectious Disease and Travel Medicine, Aster CMI Hospital, Bengaluru, told IANS.

"The strains H5N1, H7N9, and H5N6 have raised the most concern recently due to their potential for human transmission. These infections in humans typically occur through direct contact with sick animals or contaminated environments, such as poultry farms," she added.

Avian influenza in humans can range in severity from mild, resembling a common head cold, to life-threatening. Beyond respiratory problems, symptoms of bird flu can include eye inflammation (conjunctivitis), stomach and intestinal issues (gastrointestinal symptoms), and even brain inflammation (encephalitis) and brain dysfunction (encephalopathy).

In some special cases, some people exposed to bird flu, particularly the H5N1 strain, show no symptoms at all.

"Influenza pandemics are regarded as the most important threats to human health. H5N1 influenza, spilling over from birds to humans, could be a possible origin of the next major pandemic," Gautam Menon, Dean of Research and Professor of Physics and Biology at Ashoka University, told IANS.

He called for OneHealth approaches that focus on human, animal, and environmental health together, to tackle the rising threat.
New Delhi, June 12 : Acharya Pramod Krishnam, a former Congress leader, on Wednesday blamed Rahul Gandhi and his team for setting the grand old party in a 'freefall mode', saying that his sister Priyanka Gandhi is the only leader who could arrest this slide.

Pramod Krishnam, unimpressed with the party's impressive rebound in the 2024 elections, told IANS that the Congress was in a sorry state of affairs despite having a rich existence and history of over 100 years.

Questioned on Rahul Gandhi's claims that Prime Minister Narendra Modi would have lost his Varanasi Lok Sabha seat had he fielded Priyanka Gandhi from the constituency, the former Congressman said she (Priyanka) should also be made Congress president as she is the only leader who could put a stop to this decline.

Pramod Krishnam, poking fun at the existing set-up of Congress, said that the party is doomed to fail and also held Rahul Gandhi and his aides responsible for its 'pitiable' condition.

"None other than Rahul Gandhi is responsible for state of Congress," Krishnam said.

"Today, the party is in dire straits. It is not because of BJP or PM Modi... Rahul Gandhi and his team are solely responsible for this downslide in party," he added.

The former Congress leader also batted for the nation-wide roll-out of Uniform Civil Code (UCC), saying it will give strength to the nation and rule out scope for spurring differences among communities, as claimed by certain sections.

"UCC should be implemented across the country. Not just NDA allies but also the Opposition parties should support it," he said.

Pramod Krishnam, a former member of Priyanka Gandhi's team was expelled by Congress for six years in February this year for "indiscipline and anti-party activities".

The trigger for disciplinary action against him was his condemnation of party leadership skipping the Ram Temple Pran Pratishtha ceremony in January, this year.

Krishnam also contested the 2019 Parliament elections on a Congress ticket from Lucknow LS seat but was defeated by his rival candidate.
Geneva, June 12 : Both Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip have committed war crimes since the conflict there erupted on October 7 last year, according to a report by the UN Human Rights Council on Wednesday.

"It is imperative that all those who have committed crimes be held accountable," said the chair of the UN Human Rights Council Commission, Navi Pillay.

Pillay called on Israel to end its military action in the Gaza Strip. Israel's war crimes include starving the population as a means of warfare, deliberate attacks on civilians and civilian objects, sexual violence, torture and inhuman or cruel treatment, the UN Rights Council reported.

Pillay also called for an end to the attacks by Palestinian armed groups on Israel and the release of all hostages.

The commission lists attacks on civilians, torture, inhumane and cruel treatment and hostage-taking as war crimes committed by the military arm of the Islamist Hamas movement and six other armed groups.

"The taking of hostages constitutes a war crime," Pillay said.

During the Hamas attack on October 7 on Israel around 1,200 people were killed and another 250 taken as hostages. Around 120 are still in the hands of Hamas, but it is feared that many are already dead.

Israel responded to the attack with a massive military offensive on Gaza, in which more than 37,000 people have been killed and many more thousands injured, according to the Hamas authorities.

Around 85 per cent of the population in Gaza, 1.9 million people, has been forcibly displaced in the wake of the Israeli attacks, according to UN figures.

Israel had obstructed the work of the commission and had refused access to the occupied Palestinian territories, she said. According to the UN, this also includes the Gaza Strip.

The commission said it had analysed thousands of verified reports, forensic analyses, satellite images and medical reports, and spoken to victims and witnesses in Turkey and Egypt.

The report, presented in Geneva, is written by a commission of independent experts appointed by the UN Human Rights Council.

The UN Human Rights Office has repeatedly spoken of war crimes on both sides.

Israel rejected the report. According to a statement from the Israeli embassy in Geneva, the commission had taken a one-sided view of the situation. It ignored the fact that Hamas used people as shields and thus put civilians in the line of fire, it said.

--IANS/DPA

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Peshawar, June 12 : A security report prepared by the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) for the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province paints a suffering tale of public unrest, killings, terrorism, climate crisis, and health severity during the year 2023, calling on the government to take immediate and emergency steps for the protection of human rights and human lives in the region.

The report, released by HRCP KP chapter Vice Chairman Akbar Khan, revealed the worsening situation of the province during the past year with a major increase in terror attacks, loss of lives, killings, kidnappings, climate crisis, and challenging health conditions.

"More than 160 cops and over 70 military personnel were targeted in the province last year. Over 60 civilians and more than 170 militants were killed during 2023 in targeted operations," said Akbar Khan.

"During 2023, at least 40 innocent lives were lost due to floods and storms. Eleven per cent of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province has suffered severely from drug abuse," he added.

He also highlighted that gross human rights violations were witnessed during 2023, especially after the chaotic and violent protests by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) supporters on May 9 last year when houses were raided and arrests were made.

"The basic rights of the citizens were blatantly violated after the May 9 violence through raids and arrests targeting the supporters of Imran Khan and PTI," said Akbar Khan.

The report also highlighted the staggering number of out of school children in the province. As per the report, at least 4.7 million children were out of school, including at least 66 per cent girls.

The report revealed that physically challenged persons were still unable to access public places due to lack of wheelchair access, despite the court order to have special ramps at public places designated for physically challenged people.

The report also mentioned the first phase of the forced return of at least 1.7 million illegal Afghan refugees in Pakistan, stating that the authorities and law-enforcement agencies opted to use force to capture and send back illegal undocumented Afghan nationals.

It said that major violations of human rights were practiced by the government during 2023, as authorities carried out raids and search operations in various areas to capture illegal Afghans, thus committing some serious violations of human rights.

"At least 212,000 Afghan nationals were forcibly sent back to their home country in 2023," the report read.
Vijayawada, June 12 : Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister, N. Chandrababu Naidu's 24-member ministerial team, which was sworn-in along with him on Wednesday, has 17 fresh faces as the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) chief has given preference to young leaders.

Vijayawada, June 12 (IANS) Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister, N. Chandrababu Naiduas 24-member ministerial team, which was sworn-in along with him on Wednesday, has 17 fresh faces as the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) chief has given preference to young leaders.

The remaining seven had served as ministers either in Chandrababu Naiduas Cabinet in bifurcated Andhra Pradesh or in the united one.

All the three ministers from Jana Sena and the lone minister from BJP have been inducted in the Cabinet for the first time.

Majority of the 20 ministers from TDP are young leaders with some of them elected to the Assembly for the first time.

In all, nine of the ministers in Naiduas Cabinet were elected to the Assembly for the first time.

The most prominent fresh face is Jana Sena leader and actor Pawan Kalyan, who is set to be appointed Deputy Chief Minister.

The 56-year-old has been elected to the Assembly for the first time.

Pawan Kalyan, who studied till Intermediate, made his electoral debut from Pithapuram constituency in Kakinada District.

The younger brother of megastar Chiranjeevi, Pawan Kalyan is among three ministers from Jana Sena in Naiduas government.

Jana Sena won all 21 Assembly seats it contested.

Pawan Kalyanas close aide and Jana Senaas Political Affairs Committee Chairman N Manohar has also been inducted into the Cabinet.

The 60-year-old has become a minister for the first time. Son of former chief minister of united Andhra Pradesh Nadendla Bhaskar, he served as Assembly Speaker in united Andhra Pradesh from 2011 to 2014.

Manohar, who did MBA from Osmania University, was elected from Tenali constituency in Guntur District. A three-time MLA, he quit the Congress to join Jana Sena in 2018.

Interestingly, Chandrababu Naiduas son Nara Lokesh, who was part of the earlier TDP Cabinet, is also a first-time MLA.

Lokesh, K. Atchannaidu, Kollu Ravindra, P. Narayana and N Md Farooq were all ministers in the TDP government between 2014 and 2019.

Kolusu Parthasarathy and Anam Ramanarayana Reddy had served as ministers in Congress governments in a united Andhra Pradesh.

Farooq had also served as minister in the TDP government in an undivided state.

Anam Ramanarayana Reddy, who hails from Nellore District, had quit YSR Congress Party to join TDP last year.

A senior minister in the Congress governments between 2004 and 2014, he was upset over his non-inclusion in the Cabinet by YS Jagan Mohan Reddy.

The 72-year-old was elected from Atamkur constituency in the recent polls.

He was first elected to the Assembly in 1983 as a TDP candidate. He had switched loyalties to the Congress in 1991.

Kolusu Parthasarathy had quit YSRCP to join TDP early this year and Naidu had promised him a Cabinet berth.

The senior leader, who comes from undivided Krishna District, had served as a minister in the Congress government in united Andhra Pradesh.

After the stateas bifurcation in 2014, he joined YSRCP.

Lokesh, who is TDP General Secretary, is also a first time MLA. In 2017, he was elected to the Legislative Council and served as minister for information technology and rural development in the Cabinet headed by his father.

The 41-year-old, who has done MBA from Stanford University, was elected from Mangalagiri constituency in Guntur District. He had lost from the same constituency in 2019.

Atchannaidu, who retained Tekali seat in Srikakulam District, has once again found a place in Naiduas Cabinet. The six-time MLA is currently the President of the TDPas Andhra Pradesh unit.

The 54-year-old, who is a graduate, served as minister of handlooms, textiles, Backward Classes welfare, empowerment and information & public relations in the TDP government between 2017 and 2019. He is the younger brother of former Union minister late K Yerran Naidu and uncle of K. Ram Mohan Naidu, who was inducted as a minister in the PM Narendra Modi-led Union Cabinet on Sunday.

Kollu Ravindra has also become a minister once again. He had served as minister for excise and BC welfare between 2014 and 2019.

The 51-year-old has studied BA, LLB. Elected from Machilipatnam constituency in Krishna District, Ravindra is a member of the TDP politburo, the highest decision-making body of the party.

Ponguru Narayana, founder of Narayana Group of Institutions, is one of the highly educated ministers. The 68-year-old had served as minister for municipal administration and urban development between 2014 and 2019. Naryana, who has done MSc and PhD, was elected from Nellore City constituency in Nellore District in the recent elections.

N. Md Farooq is the lone Muslim minister in the Cabinet. The 74-year-old was re-elected from Nandyal constituency in Nandyal District.

Farooq, who has studied up to PUC, served as a minister in Naiduas Cabinets both in undivided Andhra Pradesh and in the bifurcated state.

A four-time MLA, he had also served as Deputy Speaker of the Assembly in united Andhra Pradesh.

Vasamsetti Subhash is among the first-time MLAs who have become ministers.

Belonging to the Settibalija (BC) community, he was elected from Ramachandrapuram constituency in Ambedkar Konaseema District.

He has studied B.Sc, LLB and he had resigned from the YSRCP to join the TDP a few months before elections.

Vangalapudi Anitha is one of the three women ministers in the new Cabinet. Elected from Payakaraopeta constituency in Visakhapatnam District, the 45-year-old is a first-time minister.

A member of the TDP politburo, she has done Masters in arts and literature.

Nimmala Rama Naidu is also a new face in the Cabinet. In the recent elections, he was elected for a third time from Palakonda in West Godavari District. The 55-year-old has done MA, M. Phil and PhD.

Payyavula Kesav is one of the key TDP leaders, who has been finally rewarded with a Cabinet berth. He had entered politics in 1994 and was recently elected to the Assembly from Uravakonda in Anantapur District for the seventh time.

He had retained the seat even in 2019 when there was a YSRCP wave.

At 42, Kondapalli Srinivas is one of the youngest ministers in the new Cabinet. He is the first-time MLA from Gajapathinagaram constituency in Vizianagaram District. Hailing from a political family, Srinivas is a software engineer who had been actively participating in social service.

Gummadi Sandhyarani is another first-time minister. She is also the first-time MLA, having been elected from Saluru constituency in Parvathipuram Manyam District. The 51-year-old has studied B.Sc. In 1999, she had unsuccessfully contested for the Assembly on a Congress ticket. She later joined the TDP but could not win the elections in 2009 and 2014.

Anagani Satya Prasad is a three-time MLA from Repalle in Bapatla District. The 52-year-old is a graduate.

Dola Balaveeranjaneya Swamy has been elected to the Assembly for a third-consecutive term from Kondapi in Prakasam District. The 54-year-old is a MBBS and worked at a primary health centre in Kondapi.

Gottipati Ravi Kumar was recently elected for the Assembly for the fourth-consecutive time from Addanki in Bapatla District. The 48-year-old has done engineering and is in the granite business. In 2009, he was first elected to the Assembly on a Congress ticket. He retained the seat as YSRCP candidate in 2014 but joined the TDP in 2016. He won the seat again in 2019 and 2024 on a TDP ticket.

Kandula Durgesh of Jana Sena is also a first-time MLA who has made it to the Cabinet. He began his political career with the Congress party and was defeated in 2014 Lok Sabha elections from Rajahmundry constituency. He joined Jana Sena in 2018. He contested unsuccessfully as Jana Sena candidate from Nidadavole in West Godavari District.

The TDPas BC Janardhan Reddy was elected to Banaganapalli constituency in Nandyal District for a second time. The 55-year-old has studied up to eighth standard.

Satya Kumar Yadav is the only BJP representative in the Cabinet. He is a first-time MLA, having been elected from Dharmavaram constituency in Sri Sathya Sai District in the recent elections. He has done MA in political science. He served as Personal Secretary of former Vice President Venkaiah Naidu. In 2018, he was appointed National Secretary of the BJP. He is currently co-incharge of BJP in Uttar Pradesh and incharge for Andaman and Nicobar.

TG Bharath, who has done MBA in UK, is a first-time MLA. The 48-year-old was elected from Kurnool constituency. He is the son of former minister TG Venkatesh.

S Savitha was elected to the Assembly for the first time in recent elections from Penukonda in Sri Sathya Sai District. She is the daughter of former MP and minister S. Ramachandra Reddy.

Mandipalli Ram Prasad Reddy is one of the youngest ministers in the new Cabinet. The 43-year-old is a first-time MLA from Rayachoti in Annamayya District. He had quit YSRCP to join TDP in December 2023.
Wayanad : , June 12 (IANS) Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, who is in Kerala on Wednesday, admitted that he was in a dilemma as to which Lok Sabha constituency he should relinquish -- Wayanad or Rae Bareli - but then in Wayanad, dropped enough hints that he will be dropping the Kerala seat.

State BJP chief K. Surendran, who had contested against Gandhi and finished a distant third, termed Gandhi's indication "cheating". Meanwhile, advertisement boards have come up in Wayanad which welcome Gandhi's sister and party General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi to contest the by-election.

Gandhi, who arrived at the Kozhikode airport in the morning, drove to Edavana in the Malappuram district which is part of his constituency. He was given a rousing welcome and in his first public meeting, he said he was in a dilemma about Wayanad and Rae Bareli. "Unfortunately like Prime Minister (Narendra) Modi, I am not guided by god, as I am a human being...God takes all decisions. But I don't have that luxury as I am an ordinary human being. My god is the poor people of India. My god is the people of Wayanad... What I will commit to the people of Wayanad and Raebareli... whatever decision taken ... all of you will be happy," said Gandhi.

Addressing another meeting at Kalpetta in Wayanad, Gandhi said his relationship with Wayanad will be forever and it will be beyond elections or votes.

"Speculations have started whether it's Wayanad or Rae Bareli. Everybody knows the answer except me. In politics, all know except the person who has to make the decision. Don't worry, the people at Rae Bareli and Wayanad will be happy with the decision, I will be making," he said.

He said he is well aware of the issues in Wayanad. "There are issues of man-animal conflict, night travel, and health sector. The Congress and I are well aware of all these and I assure you all issues of Wayanad will be addressed," he added.

State Congress President and Kannur MP K. Sudhakaran spilled the beans by saying he was both happy and sad at the turn of events. "The victory of the Congress and Rahul's wins makes me happy, but his leaving Wayanad makes me sad," Sudhakaran said.

Meanwhile, Surendran said that Gandhi's decision to vacate Wayanad was cheating the people of the constituency. "We had told the voters that he would ditch Wayanad. Earlier he said Wayanad's people are his family, but now he says it's Rae Bareli's people who are his family... before it was Amethi. He did not even have the courtesy to tell the voters of Wayanad before the elections that he would vacate it. Now that a by-election is thrust on the voters of Wayanad, they will give the Congress an apt reply," he said.

Gandhi retained his Wayanad seat easily but with a reduced margin of 3.64 lakh votes, against 4.37 lakh in 2019.
Mumbai, June 12 : After a dismal performance in the Lok Sabha elections, the Ajit Pawar-led NCP on Wednesday strongly supported reservation for the Muslim community in education in Maharashtra.

This is a fresh attempt by the NCP, which won just one of the four Lok Sabha seats it contested, to step up its outreach with the Muslim community and garner their votes in the forthcoming Assembly elections slated for September-October this year.

The NCP is a part of the Mahayuti government and the party plans to make a pitch with the BJP and Shiv Sena for providing educational quota to the Muslim community, which along with Dalits and Tribals voted against the Mahayuti.

They feared that their existence would come into jeopardy if the Constitution was changed by the BJP after crossing the 400-seat mark and forming the government at the Centre.

The NCP will have to make a hard bargain with big brother BJP which did not take the initiative during its rule for the implementation of reservation in educational institutions upheld by the Bombay High Court.

Maharashtra NCP chief spokesman Umesh Patil said, "We stand firm on our position that the Muslim community should get reservation in education in the state.

"The Bombay High Court accepted the decision taken by the Congress-NCP government of giving 5 per cent educational reservation to the Muslim community. However, later, the issue was pushed behind."

However, newly-elected MP from Raigad, Sunil Tatkare said, "We held a meeting of the party's Minority Cell yesterday and have heard their side. Another meeting will be held on this issue. After that we will declare our position on it."

The NCP's move is crucial after party legislators at their meeting with Ajit Pawar last week submitted that the party lost heavily in Osmanabad, Baramati and Shirur after Muslim voters by and large voted for the Maha Vikas Aghadi candidates.

They further pointed out that the Mahayuti in general was hit after Muslims, Dalits and Tribals polled against its candidates fearing loss in their reservation after change in the Constitution.
New Delhi, June 12 : Union Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Wednesday held a detailed discussion with senior officials on the 100-day action plan of the ministry.

Agriculture Minister Chouhan told the officials that they should focus their entire attention on farmer-oriented works so that work can be done speedily as per the sankalp (resolution) of the Prime Minister, the ministry said in a statement.

He said that the availability of quality fertilizers, seeds and other inputs to farmers should be ensured on a priority basis. The Agriculture Minister asserted that the farmers should not face any problem in this regard and special care should be taken on this.

He emphasized that agricultural production and productivity should increase in the country, and there is a need to implement a concrete action plan so that the country can export quality agricultural products to other countries of the world and meet domestic needs as well.

In the meeting, senior officials gave presentations of department-wise schemes.

Union Ministers of State for Agriculture and Farmersa Welfare Ram Nath Thakur and Bhagirath Chaudhary, Agriculture Secretary Manoj Ahuja and other senior officials were present at the meeting.
Kuwait City, June 12 : Kuwait's Emir, Sheikh Mishal al-Ahmad al-Sabah, has directed the country's authorities to find the cause behind Wednesday's tragic fire in a building in Kuwait City's Mangaf area which has reportedly killed over 40 people, including many Indian workers.

The state-owned Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) reported that Kuwait's ruler sent his condolences to the families of the victims of the unfortunate fire accident that resulted in the death and injury of dozens.

"His Highness directed officials to immediately follow up to determine the causes of the outbreak of this fire and hold those responsible for its occurrence accountable so that such an unfortunate incident is not repeated in the future," the agency said, adding that the ruler shares the grief and pain of the families of the victims and wishes a speedy recovery to the injured.

Meanwhile, India's Minister of State for External Affairs, Kirti Vardhan Singh, is leaving for Kuwait to oversee the assistance being provided to injured Indian nationals.

"As directed by PM Narendra Modi, MoS for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh is urgently travelling to Kuwait to oversee assistance to those injured in the fire tragedy and to coordinate with local authorities for early repatriation of mortal remains of those who have died in this unfortunate incident," said the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).

Prime Minister Modi has also condoled the death of several people in the shocking fire incident that took place on Wednesday.

"The fire mishap in Kuwait City is saddening. My thoughts are with all those who lost their near and dear ones," PM Modi posted on X.

"I pray that the injured recover at the earliest. The Indian Embassy in Kuwait is closely monitoring the situation and working with the authorities there to assist the affected," he added.

Earlier, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar expressed deep shock over the incident, which he said has resulted in several deaths.

"Deeply shocked by the news of the fire incident in Kuwait City. There are reportedly over 40 deaths and over 50 have been hospitalised. Our Ambassador has gone to the camp. We are awaiting further information," Jaishankar said in a post on X.

"Deepest condolences to the families of those who tragically lost their lives. Wish early and full recovery to those who have been injured. Our Embassy will render the fullest assistance to all concerned in this regard," he added.

Meanwhile, Adarsh Swaika, Ambassador of India to Kuwait, has already visited the hospitals in Kuwait City where several injured Indian workers have been admitted.

"Ambassador Adarsh Swaika visited the Mubarak Al-Kabeer Hospital, where 11 workers injured in today's fire have been admitted. Ten of them are expected to be released today and one in hospital is reportedly stable. He met with patients still in hospital & assured them of the Embassy's full support," the Indian Embassy in Kuwait posted on X.

Swaika also visited the fire incident site in Mangaf to ascertain the situation, assuring that the Indian Embassy is in constant touch with the relevant Kuwaiti law enforcement, fire service, and health authorities for necessary action and emergency medical care.

The Indian Embassy in Kuwait is operating an emergency helpline number (+965-65505246) in connection with the tragedy.

Kuwait's Ministry of Health also released a statement on Wednesday afternoon that said, "The Ministry of Health has so far dealt with 43 cases through the accident departments in a number of hospitals, in a building fire incident in Mangaf, of which 4 cases arrived dead."
New Delhi, June 12 : National Conference (NC) President and former Jammu and Kashmir CM Farooq Abdullah on Wednesday advocated for talks with Pakistan amidst a series of terror attacks in the Jammu region in the past three days.

"These terrorists are coming from across the border. The problem can't be solved by military action, the only solution is to engage in talks with the neighbouring nation. Unless that happens, terrorism will keep rearing its ugly head," Abdullah told reporters in Srinagar.

BJP's J&K unit president Ravinder Raina took strong exception to Abdullah's advocacy for talks and said that it is highly regrettable that the NC leader is seeking dialogue with a nation that has bled India multiple times.

"Instead of denouncing Pakistan, showing it the mirror, (and) shaming the country for its cowardly acts of terror, the NC leader is advocating for talks with the terror-sponsoring nation," Raina said.

"Farooq Abdullah should stop pitching for talks with Pakistan as the latter always worked to infiltrate terrorists in the Indian territory for killing innocent citizens," he added.

He further asserted that Pakistan will be taught a lesson in the same language that it understands.

Abdullah also told reporters that unless the government realizes that talks are the only solution to bloodshed and "unless dialogue begins, such tragedies will continue to happen".

The BJP leader berated the NC chief for "evoking sympathy" towards Pakistan while "belittling" the security forces' ability to neutralize acts of terror emanating from Pakistan.

He said that Abdullah should first explain to people whether Pakistan was behind the bloodshed in Jammu and Kashmir.

"Farooq Abdullah, you are a former Chief Minister, have been a Union Minister and you know that Pakistan is propagating terror in the valley by infiltrating terrorists. Rather than speaking for them, you should work to boost the morale of Indian Army, police and paramilitary forces and salute their service to the nation," Raina said.

Asserting the government's tough stand on terror, he said, "What type of talks can be held with an enemy nation which has been inflicting terror in J&K. We will respond to Pakistan in the same language it understands."

Notably, three terror attacks in the past three days across various regions of Jammu including Reasi, Kathua and Doda have claimed more than 10 lives including a CRPF jawan while two terrorists were killed by security forces in encounters.

The first attack was on a bus in Reasi where Hindu pilgrims on their way to Vaishno Devi shrine were fired upon, resulting in the death of 10 people and leaving about 35 others injured as the bus veered off the road and fell into a gorge. The second was in Kathua when terrorists fired at villagers while looking for a hide-out and the third was in Doda, where the terrorists fired shots at a joint check-post of Army and state police, injuring five security personnel and injuring an SPO on duty.
Johannesburg, June 12 : South Africa is on high alert following the outbreak of monkeypox in May, with five laboratory-confirmed cases including one death, Health Minister Joe Phaahla said on Wednesday.

Phaahla told the media that all five patients diagnosed with monkeypox, also known as Mpox, three from KwaZulu-Natal Province and two from Gauteng Province, were men between the ages of 30 and 39 with no history of travel. Two remain hospitalized, two have been discharged, and one died on Monday in a hospital in Johannesburg, reported Xinhua News Agency.

"All five cases were classified as severe cases as per the World Health Organization (WHO) definition requiring hospitalization. Since the beginning of 2024, the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) has received 12 Mpox test requests, with three testing positive. The other two cases were diagnosed by private laboratories," said the minister. "Guidelines have been updated and shared widely across networks of healthcare workers using various platforms."

According to him, the outbreak response team, consisting of experts from various government sectors, the WHO, and other stakeholders, has embarked on contact tracing and case finding in the affected provinces of Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal.

"We can disrupt the local transmission by supporting those diagnosed with this disease in taking their treatment to prevent infecting others. We can prevent avoidable deaths by cooperating with health officials when they conduct contact tracing and case finding," Phaahla said, adding that they have held webinars about Mpox disease with more than 500 healthcare workers.

Fabian Ndenzako, a doctor with the WHO in South Africa, said they are working with the South African government to provide medicine for those infected with Mpox. A total of 10 doses of vaccine have been packaged in Geneva, Switzerland, and are awaiting paperwork to be processed and then shipped to South Africa.

The WHO defines an outbreak of monkeypox when two cases are confirmed. Ndenzako noted that since all five cases have no travel history, the country could be sitting on a high number of Mpox cases.

Monkeypox is an infectious disease caused by the monkeypox virus. Most people fully recover, but some get very sick. The virus can be transmitted to humans through physical contact with someone infectious, with contaminated materials, or with infected animals. Symptoms of monkeypox include an unexplained acute rash and back pain, swollen lymph nodes, acute onset of fever, headache, muscle and body aches, and low energy.

According to the WHO, from January 1, 2022, to May 31, 2024, a total of 97,208 laboratory-confirmed cases of monkeypox were reported, including 186 deaths from 117 countries. South Africa recorded five cases of monkeypox in 2022, with no cases reported in 2023.
Srinagar, June 12 : Eight terror handlers from J&K have been declared proclaimed offenders by a court in Uri following an application moved by the Baramulla Police.

Seven of them have been identified as Mohd Azad, Naseer Ahmad, Kareem Din, Mohd Hafeez Mir, Meer Ahmad, Showkat Ahmed Paswal, Ahad Bhat, and Bashir Ahmad.

"The said terror handlers are presently in Pakistan, working with different terrorist outfits," the police said.

"Proclamation orders under Section 87 of the CrPC have been obtained from the court against these eight terror handlers which have been pasted at their residences, and public places with the directions that they will present themselves before the court of law within one month, failing which process for attachment of property under Section 88 of CrPC shall be initiated against them," the police added.
Pune, June 12 : The Juvenile Justice Board (JJB) in Pune on Wednesday extended the detention of the 17-year-old accused boy in the Porsche hit-and-run case till June 25 citing his 'safety'.

Pune, June 12 (IANS) The Juvenile Justice Board (JJB) in Pune on Wednesday extended the detention of the 17-year-old accused boy in the Porsche hit-and-run case till June 25 citing his asafetya.

The minor boy was produced before the JJB after his detention ended on Wednesday, which sent him back to the juvenile correctional facility for 13 more days, after which the matter will be taken up for further hearing.

Arguing for extending his detention, the police said that if released, the boy could influence the investigation or witnesses with the help of his relatives and others.

Moreover, there is the question of his safety if he is left alone at home since his grandfather, father, and mother are also in custody in connection with the Porsche case, and there is nobody to look after him, the police said.

However, the boyas legal team argued that the minor accused - under detention for nearly three weeks - should be released and allowed to stay at his residence.

The police also said that the minor is currently undergoing counselling at the correctional facility which is much-needed, and he could face danger if he is taken away from there.

Accordingly, in the absence of the regular JJB Chief Judge, another judge extended the boyas detention by 13 more days.

The minor, belonging to an affluent family of realtors, is accused of driving a Porsche in a drunk state on May 19, and killing two techies from Madhya Pradesh -- Ashwini Koshtha and Anish Awadhiya, both 24 -- sparking a nationwide uproar.

His grandfather Surendrakumar Agarwal, father Vishal Agarwal and mother Shivani Agarwal are also in custody for their alleged involvement in the case.
Mumbai, June 12 : The Maharashtra Congress has accused the centre of 'discrimination' in the allocation of central funds to the state compared with other states, here on Wednesday.

Congress state President Nana Patole said that Maharashtra accounts for the highest share of collection to the Centre by way of GST and other taxes, but when it comes to ploughing back to the state, the government displays bias towards this state.

"After the new NDA government took office, the Centre has distributed funds to states out of which Maharashtra has been allocated only around Rs 8,000 crore. In contrast, other Bharatiya Janata Party ruled states, or its allies have been allocated the lion's share," said Patole.

Patole mentioned how Uttar Pradesh has been given the maximum Rs 25,000 crore, Madhya Pradesh Rs 10,970 crore, besides Bihar, led by NDA ally and Chief Minister Nitish Kumar getting Rs 14,000 crore, compared with just Rs 8,000 crore for Maharashtra.

"The BJP at the Centre has consistently discriminated against Maharashtra when it comes to funds allocations. Even other states ruled by the Opposition parties have been given small amounts, like Congress-headed Karnataka got Rs 5,000 crore, and Aam Aadmi Party-helmed Delhi getting Rs 2,525 crore. However, NDA ally Andhra Pradesh headed by CM Chandrababu Naidu was given Rs 5,622 crore," Patole pointed out.

He reiterated that the money belongs to the common taxpayers and is intended for use for development activities for the masses but the BJP regime is deliberately giving step-motherly treatment to the opposition-ruled states.

Patole said that Maharashtra faced a similar predicament when the erstwhile Maha Vikas Aghadi government headed by ex-CM Uddhav Thackeray was in power (2019-2022) here.

Slamming the MahaYuti government, Patole said that Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy CMs Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar "lack the courage to demand more funds as deserved from the centre", and are content with whatever is doled out, which is against the interests of the people of Maharashtra.

He warned that the people of the state are observing this and will take note of such injustice meted out by the BJP by teaching them a lesson in the upcoming October state Assembly elections, akin to the drubbing given in the recent Lok Sabha polls.
Lightning strike and fishing nets are just two of the theories which have emerged about the whale's odd 'scars' covering its body.

A humpback whale with strange markings was photographed off the coast of Port Macquarie. Source: Jodie Lowe

Elaborate scar-like markings on the back of a whale seen in Australian waters last week have intrigued experts, with one authority on marine mammals saying: I've never seen anything like this.

Three images snapped by a veteran whale watcher show the white marks criss-crossing the humpbacks body as its dorsal fin breached the surface. After they were shared with a specialist marine mammal group they sparked a wave of theories as to what was responsible.

Some believed the pattern indicated scarring from a fishing net. While others appeared adamant the creature was the survivor of a lightning strike.

On Tuesday, Jodie Lowe recalled the moment she took the fascinating images off Port Macquarie on the NSW Mid-North Coast. She explained the whale was smaller than the other three it was swimming with at the time.

We're guessing a juvenile. It looked healthy otherwise too and was swimming fine, she told Yahoo News.

Expert amazed by images of 'scarred' whale

After studying the images, whale expert Dr Rob Harcourt called them amazing and referred them to a colleague for further evaluation.

Very intense scars like this can come from entanglement in fishing nets  though those tend to be more linear and evenly spaced, the Emeritus Professor of Marine Ecology at Maquarie University told Yahoo via email.

They can also come from intraspecific fighting between males  the barnacles on the skin can cause a lot of scratching on the relatively fragile smooth skin.

One theory was that the whale had been struck by lightning. Source: Jodie Lowe

More compelling whale tales

Whale authority has 'never seen anything like this'

Dr Vanessa Pirotta from Macquarie Universitys Marine Predator Research Group said shed be interested to find out how widespread the scarring was.

Ive never seen markings like this. Usually scarring from something turns whitish in colour. The pattern is irregular and looks indented  not just lightly at the surface, she said.

I dont think this is anything like propeller markings. These look different.

Others wondered if the whale had been scarred by a net. Source: Jodie Lowe

She noted some people had speculated the marks could have been caused by a jellyfish, but she wasnt convinced that was the case.

Humpbacks are not like sperm whales who dive down to deep depths to feed on squid. It would be interesting to see if it is just on the dorsal/top side and possibly all around, she said.

Perhaps a skin condition of some sort but the reality is that myself and others are still to have discussions over what this could be.

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Islamabad, June 12 : The Taliban's Supreme Court said on Wednesday that three convicts have been separately punished in two Afghan provinces for allegedly committing sodomy and "moral corruption".

A convict in Zurmat district of Paktia province was sentenced to one year in prison and whipped 36 times for committing moral corruption. The specific nature of the crime was not disclosed.

Another two convicts were publicly punished in the Balkhab district of Sar-e-Pul for sodomy. One received a one-year sentence and 21 whips, while the other received six months and 31 whips.

In a separate development from Paktika province, a murder case in Mata Khan district was resolved through mediation by local officials, tribal elders, and religious scholars, resulting in forgiveness from the victim's family, according to the Supreme Court.

The Taliban's return to power in Afghanistan has seen the reintroduction of corporal punishment, including executions and whipping, for crimes such as murder, robbery and adultery.

The United Nations has criticised the Taliban's use of corporal punishment, saying it violates the UN Convention against Torture, and has called for an end to the practice.

The Taliban authorities have rejected the criticism, saying this form of punishment is in line with the country's law and necessary to ensure security and safety for the public.

--IANS/DPA

int/as/arm
Thiruvananthapuram, June 12 : Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan expressed grief over the fire tragedy in Kuwait, which resulted in the death of dozens of workers including several Indian nationals on Wednesday.

Chief Minister Vijayan wrote to Union External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar urging him to ensure that adequate relief measures are taken.

"It is reported that several Indians including Keralaites have lost their lives. We request that you take adequate steps to bring relief to the affected," he said in the letter.

Leader of the Opposition V.D.Satheesan urged the state government and the Centre to ensure that there is proper coordination in relief and rescue operations.

The fire broke out in a six-floor building crammed with migrant workers in al-Mangaf area of Kuwait City.

The blaze occurred while the workers were asleep and some residents had to jump from the building in an attempt to survive, Kuwaiti newspaper al-Qabas reported, citing witnesses.

Local media reported that 49 people have died in the fire tragedy.
Colombo, June 12 : Sri Lanka President Ranil Wickremesinghe has appointed a Committee of Inquiry (CoI) to investigate the actions taken by the Lankan intelligence services on the prior information received from their Indian counterparts regarding the 2019 Easter Sunday bombings which killed around 270 people.

President Wicremesinghe's decision follows the findings of the final report of the Commission of Inquiry dated January 31, 2021, which highlighted that Indian Intelligence agencies and other sources had provided advance warnings about the impending attacks.

"The committee's mandate includes examining whether adequate actions and measures were taken by the State Intelligence Service (SIS), Chief of National Intelligence (CNI), and other relevant authorities based on the prior intelligence, and evaluating the sufficiency of these measures," the President's Media Division (PMD) said in a statement on Wednesday.

President Wickremesinghe has given full powers to the committee headed by retired high court judge A.N.J. De Alwis to question relevant officials and examine important documents to thoroughly investigate these matters.

Additionally, the committee will investigate the circumstances surrounding the Directorate of Military Intelligenceas (DMI) initial belief that the Vavunathivu killing of two police officers on November 30, 2018, was connected to the LTTE.

This belief was held for four months before suspects with alleged links to the National Thowheed Jamath (NTJ) were identified.

A compact disk containing the final report of the Commission of Inquiry on the 2019 bomb attacks has been provided to the committee, with a Senior Assistant Secretary to the President serving as the Secretary to the Committee of Inquiry.

The committee is expected to submit its report, including findings and recommendations, to the President by September 15, 2024.

A series of coordinated bomb attacks on three star hotels in Colombo and three churches carried out by ISIS suicide bombers on Easter Sunday in 2019 resulted in the death of 270 people, including at least 45 foreign nationals, besides injuring over 500 others.
Dakshina Kannada, June 12 : Senior BJP leader and the leader of opposition in the Karnataka Assembly, R. Ashoka, claimed on Wednesday that raising the 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai' slogan has become a wrongful act in the state under the Congress rule.

Speaking to the media after visiting two BJP workers who were stabbed for allegedly raising the 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai' slogan at a hospital in Dakshina Kannada, Ashoka said, "The Congress government has handed over the state to goons. If 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai' or 'Jai Shri Ram' slogans are raised, people are stabbed."

Stating that the BJP will ensure such incidents are not repeated, Ashoka said, "We will always stand with our party workers. The government should investigate the matter and also provide compensation to the victims."

"Under this Taliban-like government in Karnataka, pro-Pakistan slogans are raised without any hesitation. The issue will be brought up during the Assembly session. Despite visiting the hospital, neither the Assembly Speaker nor the Minister for Health bothered to meet the stabbed workers," Ashoka claimed.

After the stabbing incident, the police lodged a case against some Hindu activists, alleging that they had issued statements referring to Pakistan.

"If this is true, let the police release the video or evidence in this regard. The attempt is being made to lodge a fresh case and hush up the case of stabbing," Ashoka alleged.

The incident took place on the night of June 4 after the announcement of the Lok Sabha election results. The BJP workers were chased and attacked by a mob and later stabbed for allegedly raising the 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai' slogan.
Jammu, June 12 : A J&K policeman was injured in terrorist firing in another encounter in J&K's Doda district on Wednesday evening - the second in the district and the third in the Jammu division in the day.

Jammu, June 12 (IANS) A J&K policeman was injured in terrorist firing in another encounter in J&Kas Doda district on Wednesday evening - the second in the district and the third in the Jammu division in the day.

Official sources said that terrorists fired at a checkpost of the J&K Police's Special Operations Group (SOG) in Gandoh village of the Bhalessa area in Doda.

"One policeman of the SOG was injured in initial firing by the terrorists. Security forces have now engaged the terrorists in sustained gunfire. Some terrorists are believed to be trapped inside the cordon that was laid immediately after the initial firing by the terrorists," a source said.

Earlier, a terrorist and a CRPF jawan were killed in Seda Sohal village of the Hiranagar area of Kathua district. Security forces killed a terrorist in this area on Tuesday evening after surrounding the village on getting information about the terrorist firing, which left a villager injured.

The second encounter took place at the Chattergalla area of Doda where terrorists fired at a joint aNakaa (checkpost) of army and police, leaving five soldiers and an SPO injured. Security forces started a cordon and search operation in the area which is still underway.
Imphal, June 12 : No fresh incident was reported from Manipur's violence-hit Jiribam district in the past 24 hours, officials said on Wednesday, while a key MLA of the ruling BJP raised concerns about the security breaches of Chief Minister N. Biren Singh's advance security convoy on Monday and demanded an inquiry into this incident.

Police officials in Imphal said that combined security forces comprising Assam Rifles and state police commandos are continuing their strict vigil in Jiribam and adjoining areas, and no fresh incident was reported from the district, adjoining Assam, during the past 24 hours.

However, tension still prevails in the mixed-population district inhabited by Meiteis, Nagas, Kukis, Muslims and non-Manipuris, where a wave of violence broke out after the killing of 59-year-old farmer Soibam Saratkumar Singh on June 6.

A senior police official said that two police checkposts, a forest beat office, and at least 100 houses were set afire in Jiribam by attackers on June 7 and 8.

The district administration has imposed a curfew in Jiribam and adjoining Tamenglong district for an indefinite period.

An official in Imphal said that Governor Anusuiya Uikey requested the Chief Minister to take all possible steps to bring the situation under control.

More than 940 people, mostly belonging to the Meitei community, have taken shelter in newly set up seven relief camps after the violence.

Jiribam had so far largely remained unaffected by the ethnic violence which has affected Manipur since May 3 last year, and the strife between Meiteis and Kuki-Zomi in several districts has so far claimed over 220 lives in both communities.

Over 1,500 people in both communities and over 70,000 people have been displaced from their homes and villages in the over-a-year-long ethnic violence.

The rioting has also left thousands of houses, government and non-government properties, and religious structures destroyed or damaged.

Meanwhile, in the wake of suspected militants attacking the advance security convoy of the Chief Minister in Kangpokpi district on Monday, leaving one security personnel injured, BJP MLA Rajkumar Imo Singh demanded action against the officials concerned. He also said that the state government should initiate an enquiry into the lackadaisical attitude of the officers who were given advance intelligence reports by the state government regarding the situation in Jiribam earlier this year.

Singh, the son-in-law of Chief Minister Singh, in a post on X, said: "These officers should be held accountable for the loss of lives and property of all those affected and, pending such enquiry they should be suspended and strict action should be taken up against them as per procedures prescribed by law."

"Along with their associate officers, they should also be held accountable for the ambush on the state police team heading as an advance cavalcade for the Chief Minister, which is also related to the Jiribam incident," he said.

"As a Member of the Legislative Assembly of the state, I demand that the state government have the order issued immediately and fix responsibilities against all the officers and people involved, and further ensure that the people of Jiribam be given adequate security and allowed to continue living at the original place of residence sooner than later."
Junagadh, June 12 : A protest rally was organised in Junagadh on Wednesday in support of the Dalit community demanding justice for NSUI leader Sanjay Solanki, who was allegedly assaulted by the son of a BJP MLA following a verbal altercation.

The rally, which began at the Babasaheb Ambedkar Chowk, saw participation from leaders and members of the Dalit community.

The protesters marched to express their solidarity with Solanki and put forth their demands before the state government.

"The Dalit community through the rally has put forth four primary demands to the government: the addition of Section 120B (criminal conspiracy) against all accused individuals, the appointment of a special public prosecutor to handle the case, a fast-track trial to ensure the case is resolved within six months and emphasis was placed on holding the accused accountable, specifically targeting Jayaraj Singh Jadeja and his family," sources said.

The controversy began on May 30 when Sanjay Solanki, the president of the National Students Union of India (NSUI) city unit, filed a complaint alleging assault by BJP MLA Geetaba Jadejaas son, Jyotiradityasinh alias Ganesh Jadeja alias Ganesh Gondal and his associates following a verbal altercation at Kalwa Chowk, Junagadh.

Solanki claimed he was kidnapped, taken to a deserted farm in Gondal, and subjected to further assault and humiliation, including being forced to apologise on video under threat of a firearm.

Following the complaint, Ganesh and the others involved were arrested by Junagadh police on June 5.

In a show of solidarity, Dalits held a rally demanding strict action against Ganesh Jadeja, and others involved in a caste-based atrocity case.

The protest led to the closure of Gondal's Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC), the largest wholesale market in Gujarat, on Wednesday.

Operations at the APMC in Gondal town, located in Rajkot district, came to a complete halt.
Riyadh, June 12 : Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met with Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Jeddah on Wednesday, media reports said.

Ukraine is bringing together dozens of world leaders and international organisations at the Burgenstock resort in Switzerland this weekend to mount pressure on Russia and outline a path towards peace.

Zelensky arrived in the coastal city earlier on Wednesday and was received by the deputy governor of the Makkah region Prince Saud bin Mishal bin Abdulaziz.

In a post on social media platform X, the Ukrainian President said the two leaders discussed preparations for the summit, "its expected outcomes and their possible implementation."

Bilateral relations between Ukraine and Saudi Arabia were also discussed, Zelensky added.

Ukraine has invited more than 160 nations to participate at the summit and Zelensky has said garnering support from as many countries as possible will be key to the summit.
New Delhi, June 13 : External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Wednesday spoke to his Kuwaiti counterpart Abdullah Ali Al-Yahya about the fire tragedy in Kuwait City in which around 40 Indians are feared to have died.

According to reports by Kuwaiti media, the fire broke out in a six-floor building that was crammed with migrant workers in the city's al-Mangaf area.

EAM Jaishankar, in a post on X, said: @Spoke to Kuwaiti FM Abdullah Ali Al-Yahya on the fire tragedy in Kuwait. Apprised of the efforts made by Kuwaiti authorities in that regard. Was assured that the incident would be fully investigated and that responsibility will be fixed."

S. Jaishankhar said that he urged the Kuwaiti Foreign Minister for the early repatriation of the mortal remains of those who lost their lives.

"He emphasized that those injured were getting the requisite medical attention. We will review the situation after MoS Kirtivardhan Singh reaches Kuwait tomorrow," he added.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi earlier on Wednesday chaired a review meeting on the fire tragedy in Kuwait at his residence.

PM Modi also announced ex-gratia relief of Rs 2 lakh to the families of deceased Indian nationals from the Prime Minister's Relief Fund.

The Prime Minister expressed his deep sorrow at the unfortunate incident and extended condolences to the families of the deceased. He also wished speedy recovery for those injured.

Meanwhile, in a statement, the External Affairs Ministry (EAM) said: "In an unfortunate and tragic fire incident in a Labour housing facility in Mangaf area of Kuwait, around 40 Indians are understood to have died and over 50 injured. The Embassy is ascertaining the full details from the concerned Kuwaiti authorities and the company. We offer our deepest condolences to the bereaved families."

The EAM statement mentioned that those injured are presently admitted to five government hospitals in Kuwait and receiving proper medical care and attention. According to hospital authorities, most of the admitted patients are stable.

The EAM statement further said: "Following the incident, Ambassador of India in Kuwait, Adarsh Swaika, immediately visited the location of the incident and also the hospitals to ascertain the welfare of the Indian nationals. The Embassy continues to coordinate with local authorities to assist Indian nationals who have been injured in this unfortunate incident and extend all possible support. The Embassy is receiving full cooperation from the Kuwaiti authorities."

The statement also said that the Indian Embassy in Kuwait continues to remain in touch with local authorities to provide relief to those affected.

"The Embassy has established a helpline +965-65505246 (WhatsApp and regular call) for family members to get in touch. Regular updates are being provided through the helpline," the EAM said.

The fire broke out while the workers were asleep, and some residents had to jump from the building in an attempt to survive, Kuwaiti newspaper al-Qabas reported, citing witnesses.

Kuwait's Emir Meshal Al Ahmad has ordered investigations to determine the cause of the blaze and bring to account those found responsible, Kuna said.
Bengaluru, June 13 : The Karnataka Police are investigating the murder of 33-year-old Renukaprasad allegedly by Kannada superstar Darshan, his 'second wife' Pavithra Gowda and others who have told the court that Darshan and Pavithra Gowda were not cooperating with the investigation, sources said on Wednesday.

The remand application was submitted before the court on Tuesday.

The remand application also mentions that Darshan and Pavithra were also hiding the facts.

Considering the petition, the court had sent the accused to a six-day custody to the police.

Meanwhile, the investigation has revealed the involvement of 17 persons in connection with the murder of Renukaswamy.

Among the 17, four persons are absconding according to the police and a hunt has been launched against them.

The accused are identified as Jagadish aka Jagga, Anu, Ravi and Raju.

The police have named 33-year-old Pavithra Gowda as the main accused and 47-year-old actor Darshan alias D Boss as the second accused.

The other accused is Puttaswamy aka Pavan. K (29), Raghavendra (43), Nandeesha (28), Vinay (38), Nagaraju (41), Lakshmana (54), Deepak (39), Pradoosh (40), Karthik alias Kappe (27), Keshavamurthy (27) and Nikhil Nayak (21).

The remand application submitted to the court by the police states that the case has been registered against the accused under the IPC Section 302 (murder) and 201 (causing disappearance of evidence and giving false information to screen offender), sources said.

The accused Raghavendra, Karthik, Nikhil Nayak and Keshavamurty had surrendered before the police on June 10 at 7 p.m. and claimed that they had killed Renukaswamy and disposed of the body near a gutter.

After being questioned all the four accused revealed the role of other accused persons, including Darshan.

The police have arrested 13 persons in connection with the murder case.
Rare white grizzly bear and its two cubs killed in Canada in separate car strikes

Rare white grizzly bear and its two cubs killed in Canada in separate car strikes

A rare white grizzly bear and its two cubs were killed on the same highway after being hit by cars in two separate incidents in Canada, officials said.

On 6 June, Yoho National Park officials received a report of two cubs being struck and killed on the Trans-Canada Highway early in the morning after they crossed through a section of broken fencing in British Columbia.

On the same evening, as the workers repaired the fence to keep the wildlife away from the road, they saw the mother  tagged as GBF 178 and locally referred to as Nakoda  startle at the sound of a train passing by the ditch.

She ran out of the ditch, onto the road right in front of two vehicles on the highway, said Parks Canadas wildlife management specialist Saundi Stevens during a press conference on Tuesday.

While one of the vehicles was able to swerve, the other was not able to react in time, hitting the bear, she said. Nakoda ran back into the woods no other apparent injuries other than the limp" that led officials to hope that she escaped largely unscathed.

But nearly 24 hours after the incident, the wildlife specialists received mortality signal from the grizzly bears GPS collar, implying she had not moved. Her death was confirmed on Saturday.

The white coloration in bears can be attributed to an unusual recessive gene, Kris Hundertmark, assistant professor of wildlife ecology at University of Alaska Fairbanks, told The Independent in 2020. A recessive gene would need to be present in both parents for the cub to have a white coat.

The white cub belongs to the grizzly bear subspecies and is different from the Kermode bear, or spirit bear, which also have white fur caused by a rare recessive gene, and are a subspecies of the North American black bear.

The team was devastated to lose the white grizzly bear and her cubs in such a short-span of time, Ms Stevens said.

Our Parks Canada wildlife management team has actually spent a significant amount of time, and I mean hundreds upon hundreds of person-hours, managing Bear 178, she said.

Addressing the rumours circulating on social media that the bear returned to the highway because she was mourning the loss of her cubs, Ms Stevens said, Nagoda displayed no signs of distress, adding that grizzlies sometimes eat their deceased cubs.

The wildlife team began tracking Nakoda in 2022 after she climbed the fence by the highway and has since moved her from the roadside three times, reported the New York Times.

The national park also introduced a no-stopping zone and reduced the speed limit on a section of the highway to prevent wildlife enthusiasts from clicking her picture, and that of other animals residing there.

We recognize people come to see wildlife, she said, but theres safe ways to view wildlife to prevent this.

Her death has sparked concerns from the wildlife community.

An emotional reaction, said John E Marriott, wildlife photographer and co-founder of Exposed Wildlife Conservancy. Photographers, tourists, everybody flocked to get out to see her. I think a lot of people developed a very deep, emotional connection with her. For a lot of people, she was the first grizzly bear they saw, he was quoted as saying by Canadas Global News.

To have this kind of all unfold in the last couple weeks  first her cubs get hit and then within 24 hours, she gets hit and then within another 24 hours, she succumbs to those injuries  when I heard the news, it was devastating.

According to Nicholas Scapillati, executive director of the Grizzly Bear Foundation, grizzly bear deaths are going down due to efforts of wildlife officials and conservation groups but we need to do more for nature.

The parks are doing a wonderful job of trying to protect (bears) but its sort of a Band-Aid situation. What we really need to be looking at is how we approach our relationship with nature, with these wild spaces, and these wild animals and give them the space and the opportunity to live the lives they need in the wild.

We need to do a lot more management of ourselves, Mr Scapillati told the Canadian outlet.
Jerusalem, June 13 : The Israeli military has confirmed that it killed a senior Hezbollah commander, Sami Taleb Abdullah, in southern Lebanon in an airstrike two days ago.

"As part of the strike, Sami Taleb Abdullah, the commander of the Nasr Unit in Hezbollah, was eliminated," the military said on Wednesday in a statement, adding that he was "one of Hezbollah's most senior commanders in southern Lebanon".

The military released video footage of the attack, showing a bombing of a building which, as the military said, was a Hezbollah command and control centre in the town of Jouaiya in Tyre district, Xinhua news agency reported.

The centre was used to direct attacks from southeastern Lebanon against Israel, and 55-year-old Abdullah, known within Hezbollah as Hajj Abu Taleb, was its commander, according to the Israeli military.

Lebanese TV channel Al-Jadeed confirmed the death of Abdullah, adding that three other people were killed and 10 others injured during the attack.

On Wednesday morning, Hezbollah announced it had launched retaliatory attacks using rockets, drones, and missiles on military sites in northern Israel.

According to the Israeli military, at least 170 projectiles were fired from Lebanon toward Israel.

Israel and Hezbollah forces have been exchanging fire along the Lebanon-Israel border since October 8, 2023.
Kiev, June 13 : The Ukrainian military carried out missile strikes on Russian missile systems S-300 and S-400 in southern Crimea, the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces said in a statement.

The radar of the S-300 missile system stationed near the Belbek airfield was destroyed in the strike, the statement said on Wednesday.

It also added that two S-400 missile systems stationed near Belbek and the city of Sevastopol also came under attack, Xinhua news agency reported.

The strikes caused a detonation of munition in all three areas where Russian anti-aircraft missile divisions are positioned, it said.

On Monday, the General Staff said that Ukrainian forces had struck two Russian S-300 complexes and one S-400 complex in Crimea.
Participants in the American Booksellers Associations Childrens Institute hustled from dawn until dark on the second full day of the show in New Orleans, pausing only for a beignet or an iced coffee. Booksellers woke early to catch Renee Watsons breakfast keynote, a paean to the healing power of books, then spent productive hours strategizing about market share and mingling with authors at the Indies Introduce luncheon, the wall-to-wall evening author reception, and Scholastics Big Easy After-Party.

In her keynote, Watson previewed her middle grade All the Blues in the Sky (Bloomsbury, Feb. 2025), a book about weathering powerful emotions. Watson has been on a roll, with 21 books in 14 years, two May publications (Summer Is Here, illustrated by Bea Jackson, and skin & bones), and a forthcoming biography, Cicely Tyson, illustrated by Sherry Shine (Amistad, Nov.). All the Blues in the Sky, about a 13-year-old Black girl whose close friend has died, explores grief and the healing process. Watson opened by quoting Maya AngelouMy greatest hope is that I laugh as much as I cryto emphasize that gladness coexists with tragedy. She added that she herself is the descendent of enslaved people. They left me a legacy of joy.

Watson talked about young readers facing the horrors of the world and sorrow in their personal worlds. I do not write for children to escape reality, she said, and instead believes that storytelling makes readers aware of the inevitability of sadness existing side by side with joy. I hope that my books are the hug a child needs when they experience difficulty or feel societal pressure, she said. Our young people need to know they can rise out of sorrow, and they need to have books where they see characters grappling with intense feelings. She expressed her own joy in giving her talk in New Orleans, the setting for her very first middle grade novel, What Mama Left Me. It seemed a full circle moment, she said. Im deeply touched that I got to come back to this city as a featured voice of CI2024.

Downsides and Bright Spots in the Childrens Market

While Watson was talking about sustaining joy through poetry and storytelling, others at CI2024 made reference to a joy economy present in independent bookstores, which are a source of human connection and discovery. Booksellers are concerned that tweens and teens are disconnecting from the emotional and intellectual comfort books provide, and that this generation of kids might not grow up to be the sort of adults who sustain indie bookstores. In a featured talk about the childrens book market, Circana book industry analyst Brenna Connor spoke of books as products that help people navigate tough times and asked booksellers to think about how to apply the consumer yearning for joy and comfort into your own stores.

Connor, who works with publishers and book retailers to understand trends in the market, told the crowd that although adult book sales had a terrific Q4 in 2023, the kids market is the biggest underperforming segment in the industry right now, with board book sales relatively flat and infant book sales poised to increase. She didnt ignore kids waning engagement with middle grade titles, a worrisome trend. Her research, she said, leads her to expect volume to dip below prior years, and market value to align with 2019 figures in the months to come. Yet Connor said that the numbers suggest a coming stabilization of the kids market, with book sales coming down off the highest-volume years in history and volume still up in comparison to pre-pandemic levels.

Even though the kids category as a whole declined, there are pockets of growth, Connor said, with interactive and educational titles attracting consumers. (A surprising bump in the children's biography category resulted from the nearly one million unit sales of the Taylor Swift Little Golden Book, and more than one bookseller later admitted theyd devoted a store display to T-Swift.) Holiday books are outperforming the rest of the market, with momentum in frontlist sales of books about Mothers Day, Fathers Day, and Halloween. Connor suggested promoting books about such occasions and milestones as losing a tooth, learning to ride a bike, or even enjoying the historic cicada emergence in the Midwest this year.

To combat the evident decline in middle grade readership, Connor suggested using consumer data to educate caregivers on the importance of reading aloud to young children and fostering reading habits at home whenever possible. She noted grandparents and elders as consumers with spending power that might go beyond that of young parents with debt, student loan payments, or high rent, adding that ages 55-plus represent 36% of general merchandise sales. She suggested that an educational campaign coming from publishers, coming from booksellers, could convince caregivers to make more time for reading in their homesa sentiment that also drives nonprofit community stores.

Connor closed on a positive note. When she looked at the data, she said, it was independent bookstores that gained the most market share among small businesses in the past year. Independent bookstores outperformed every other independent [retail category] in 2023, even if childrens books have been a harder sell. Publishers and booksellers will need innovative strategies to get reluctant middle graders to crack a 250-page novel, she suggested. These ideas were discussed in a publisher education session on the middle grade market, as well as at a debriefing on Circanas data. Yet Connors big takeaway is that independent booksellers have the tenacity and creativity to manage this post-pandemic cycle.

Standing Up for Books

Tuesday afternoon education sessions included a panel on the impact of book bans on marginalized communities, moderated by Annastasia Williams of the Bottom in Knoxville, Tenn., with panelists Erin Decker of White Rose Books & More in Kissimmee, Fla., Leah Johnson of Loudmouth Books in Indianapolis, and Jihye Shin of the Nonbinarian Book Bike in Brooklyn. While book banning is affecting the entire publishing industry, Williams said, it also affects each of us personally, as books by authors who are BIPOC or LGBTQ+ are the ones that are most targeted.

Johnson made the point that there exists a misperception that when a book is challenged or banned, theres going to be an uptick in sales, everyones going to rush out and buy it, because its so scandalous. But, she said, that is not the case. Loudmouth closely monitors which books are being targeted and keeps them in stock, and its bookstore staff also makes sure that banned books are included in every store display. Johnson noted that she and her staff want to ensure that banned books are part of every single conversation, so that people understand its not just the books theyre hearing about being targeted, its not just [BIPOC] or queer, its everybody.

Johnson added that often, the books that are challenged are not the books that publishers are marketing by sending booksellers fancy mailings with crinkled paper or the fancy boxes and the tote bags. Its essential, she said, for booksellers to give extra support to new releases that will potentially be targeted because its by a Black trans author or features a BIPOC or LGBTQ character but it otherwise "innocuous."

Decker added that booksellers should ask their publisher reps to highlight debuts by BIPOC and LGBTQ authors in their catalog markups. Her fear, she said, is that with libraries cutting back on buying such books, sales will be low, and publishers will then discontinue publishing such books. Thats a real threat to the publishing industry as a whole. she said. We need to make sure were not just buying them and reading them, but that were talking about them and selling them and re-ordering them.

The four panelists urged their audience to become more active in their communities in order to fight the ongoing surge of book bans. The librarians have been fighting this for four or five years, Decker said. They need as much support as we can give them. If you have relationships with libraries, make sure they know you are a supportive person, and that they can reach out to you if they need help with challenges.

Johnson added: This isnt just about a room full of queer books on shelves. This is the most urgent fight we are engaged in. She emphasized that booksellers are invested in their communities, and that their communities have BIPOC and LGBTQ members in it. If were not making strides to center those narratives, and make those people feel safe, and uplifted, then what are we here for, what are we doing? she said. Its not just us selling books. Its not just about what we put out on our shelves. It's about us showing up in community spaces and making it clear that were invested in thisfrom a perspective that we want to see our community win, we want to see people whose books are threatened succeed.
Viz Media will expand its Viz Originals initiative to include Viz Originals One-Shots, which the company called, in a release, bite-size original manga stories created locally by debut and up-and-coming creators. The program, Viz Originals executive editor Fawn Lau told PW, follows the successful methods that Japanese manga magazines use to discover new talent and support and showcase aspiring mangaka.

Tapped to head the initiative is Hisashi Sasaki, the former editor-in-chief of one of the most recognizable of such magazines, Weekly Shonen Jump. There, Sasaki oversaw the serialization of such series as Masashi Kishimotos Naruto, Tite Kubos Bleach, and Eiichiro Odas One Piece. In its release, Viz noted that it is the only publisher in the U.S. to offer manga-influenced creators the opportunity to work with a renowned Japanese manga editor while remaining stateside.

New one-shots will be added monthly to the VIZ Manga service. The initial lineup includes "Ancient Melody" by Jonathan Lareva, "Cinematic Certitude" by Naf, "The Stranger" by Liam Naughton, and "Skin & Bone" by Josh Tierney and Valentin Serber. The publisher added that successful one-shotswhich run approximately 2050 pageswill be considered as ongoing series, among other licensing and IP-related possibilities.

Viz Originals launched in 2020 to publish original graphic novels by artists inspired by manga and anime, and has since expanded its purview to publishing works by such mangaka as Haro Aso, Junji Ito, and Rumiko Takahashi. The imprint has published works in 14 languages across a myriad of manga genres made accessible via its Viz Manga digital platform, which is available in the U.S., Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, and the U.K.
In Minnesota on Tuesday, a three-judge panel of the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals in St. Paul heard oral arguments in the state of Iowas bid to overturn a December 2023 injunction blocking parts of its controversial book banning law, SF 496. And it was a rough ride for the plaintiffs.

In a 30-minute hearing, attorneys for the state argued that the injunction should be overturned because the plaintiffs (which include Penguin Random House, the ACLU, and a host of authors and advocates) lack proper standing, and, on the merits, because the state was within rights to enact measures to protect minors from sexually explicit content. Almost immediately, the court jumped in to express strong concerns over the appropriateness of the plaintiffs facial challenge to the lawa legal term that applies to a claim that a government policy is unconstitutional as writtenwith one justice harshly questioning the district courts acceptance of the plaintiffs' facial challenge when, the judge said, the eighth circuit has repeatedly held that such challenges are disfavored.

The court suggested that the facial challenge of SF 496 was not proper, and that any legal challenges at this juncture should be applied challenges filed against individual school districts, over specific acts of book removal, rather than a broad action to strike down the law as unconstitutional. Notably, there are more than 300 school districts in the state. Another judge on the panel suggested that school districts in Iowa were likely in a dead panic over how to comply with the new law, and were overreactingsomething that could be cured by winning a few facial challenges.

Arguing for plaintiff Penguin Random House, attorney Frederick J. Sperling insisted that the facial challenge was proper, noting that the Supreme Court has held that such challenges are warranted when a substantial number of a laws provisions and applications are unconstitutional, as is the case with SF 496.

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. They can, and they have been, under existing law before the adoption of SF 496, Sperling told the court. The question that's actually before this court is whether this overbroad and vague statute is constitutional, and it's not.

Signed by Iowa governor Kim Reynolds in May 2023, SF 496 bans books with depictions of sex, written or visual, from school libraries, and prohibits instruction and materials involving gender identity and sexual orientation for students through sixth grade. In response, various Iowa school districts have reportedly already pulled hundreds of titles from their shelvesmore than 3,400, according to a study by the Des Moines Registerincluding a disproportionate number of books that contain LGBTQ characters, historical figures, or themes.

The law prompted two separate legal challenges, heard together. Last November, Lambda Legal and the ACLU of Iowa, together with a number of named plaintiffs in Iowa, filed the first suit to challenge the law, calling it a clear violation of public school students First Amendment right to speak, read, and learn freely. Days later, Penguin Random House and the Iowa State Education Association, along with bestselling authors Laurie Halse Anderson, John Green, Malinda Lo, and Jodi Picoult, also sued.

 The question that's actually before this court is whether this overbroad and vague statute is constitutional, and it's not. 

In an emphatic 49-page opinion and order issued late last December 29, federal judge Stephen Locher criticized the law as incredibly broad. He noted that the law had resulted in the improper removal of of hundreds of books from school libraries, including, among others, nonfiction history books, classic works of fiction, Pulitzer Prizewinning contemporary novels, books that regularly appear on Advanced Placement exams, and even books designed to help students avoid being victimized by sexual assault.

Specifically, Locher preliminarily enjoined two provisions. Regarding the laws ban on books with any depictions of sex acts, Locher found the sweeping restrictions were unlikely to satisfy the First Amendment under any standard of scrutiny. In a rebuke, Locher said that he was unable to locate a single case upholding the constitutionality of a school library restriction even remotely similar to Senate File 496, adding that the broadly written law sought to impose a puritanical pall of orthodoxy over school libraries.

Furthermore, Locher found that the law was a solution in search of a problem, noting that the state presented no evidence that student access to books depicting sex acts was creating any significant problems in the school setting, much less to the degree that would give rise to a substantial and reasonable governmental interest justifying across-the-board removal. At most, Locher held, the State Defendants presented evidence that some parents found the content of a small handful of books to be objectionable.

Locher also found key provisions of the law wildly overbroad, thus rendering them void for vagueness under the due process clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. As written, he asserted, the state will have unfettered discretion to decide when to enforce it and against whom, thus making it all but impossible for a reasonable person to know what will and will not lead to punishment.

The appeals court did not give a time frame for when it would decide the case.

At a post-hearing news conference, the Des Moines Register reported that Christy Hickman, chief legal counsel for the Iowa State Education Association, said that having to sue individual school districts would burdensome. If we had to start all over and start suing individual school districts, think about the court and school and public resources that go into that, Hickman said. I hope that is not where we end up.
The 12th International Book Arsenal Festival was held in Kyiv last week, under the theme "Life on the Edge." Just days before the festival's opening, a Russian missile strike on Kharkiv's Factor Druk printing facility killed seven people, injured 22 workers, and destroyed approximately 50,000 books, sending shockwaves through the industry and highlighting the ongoing cultural toll of the Russo-Ukrainian war.

On May 23, Russian missiles targeted the Factor Druk printing plant, one of the largest such plants in Europe and a key player in the Ukrainian publishing industry. The attack rendered one shop of the factory inoperable, with heavy damage throughout the building, forcing the plant to suspend operations pending rescues and an investigation.

The attack's timing was particularly devastating, as many publishers were awaiting final delivery of their lead titles for the upcoming Book Arsenal, which is the countrys primary public-facing book fair. Among the books destroyed was the entire first print run of Words and Bullets, a collection of interviews with Ukrainian writers, including two who have been killed since the book was commissioned. The book was curated by Natalya Korniyenko.

The loss of Factor Druk's operations has already had far-reaching consequences for the Ukrainian publishing industry, creating a bottleneck in the supply chain and compounding the challenges already faced by publishers due to paper shortages and other war-related disruptions. Kharkiv has been a major cultural hub in Ukraine for decades, with more than 80% of all books published in the country being produced in the city before the full-scale invasion.

"We are witnessing the destruction of European values and the demonstration of Russia's true genocidal intent, said Yulia Orlova, CEO of Vivat, one of the countrys major publishers. Support from all corners of the world is currently vital for us.

Despite the recent tragedy and the ongoing challenges posed by the war, the 12th International Book Arsenal Festival saw an impressive turnout, attracting 35,000 visitors. The expanded program featured more than 260 participants across 160 events involving upwards of 100 publishers and five bookstores.

"We focused on improving technical aspects, providing additional room facilities, and developing more themes and programs," festival director Yulia Kozlovets told Chytomo last week. It was an important way to bring the literary community together during difficult times.

A special stand called Books Destroyed by Russia served as a poignant reminder of the impact of the attack on Factor Druk, displaying the charred remains of books that were in the midst of being printed at the plant when it was hit. The exhibit, which smelled of smoke and ashes, featured a broad range of works by Ukrainian writers that included children's books, underscoring the indiscriminate nature of the destruction.

The festival also paid tribute to the many Ukrainian authors who have lost their lives during the ongoing conflict. Among them was Victoria Amelina, who had been remembered at the previous year's festival for her efforts to preserve the work of children's author Volodymyr Vakulenko, killed by Russian forces in 2022. Amelina herself was killed just days after the 2023 Book Arsenal festival.

Victoria often referenced the Executed Renaissance generation; this is yet more evidence that another generation of writers and cultural producers are being systematically targeted and eliminated, said Emma Shercliff, a U.K.based literary agent who works with several Ukrainian authors. Among Shercliffs clients are Artem Chapeye, Mstyslav Chernov, and Oleksandr Mykhed, as well as Amelinas estate.

The international publishing community has rallied in support of its Ukrainian colleagues, with organizations and individuals offering assistance, solidarity, and a platform for sharing the stories that matter. The festival's fellowship program supported participation by foreign publishers, with some 50 business-to-business meetings held during the Book Arsenal.

It is so wonderful to see the life of literature and culture here now, said Jakob Wunderwald, a literary translator from Germany. Our niche discussion about translation was attended by dozens of peoplefar more than would be the case at other international festivals."

As the Ukrainian publishing industry grapples with the aftermath of the Factor-Druk attack and the ongoing challenges posed by the war, Book Arsenal affirmed the importance of book-related events to the public. It also served as a strong reminder that the Ukrainian literary world continues to persevere, united in its resolve to preserve and promote the country's rich cultural heritage. As Ukrainian paramedic Iryna Venzhyk told Chytomo: When I return and see the city alive, investing in culture and what truly matters, it's very inspiring."
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The avid Bitossi collector suspected the cat could be a fake. But now she thinks it could be worth a tidy sum.

A Victorian woman's $8 op-shop find appears to be a "very rare" item by mid-century Italian designer Bitossi. Source: Laura Feeger

An eagle-eyed Aussie collector was left feeling giddy but puzzled and deeply in shock after suspecting she'd discovered a rare ceramic on the shelf of a local op-shop for just $8.

When Laura Feeger wandered into a suburban Salvos store on Tuesday, the avid ceramics collector told Yahoo News she had no expectations of finding anything rare or particularly valuable.

But sitting between some cheap crystal and striped mugs on the outer Melbourne store's shelves she spotted what looked to be an extremely rare item by the celebrated Italian mid-century design house Bitossi.

I had pivoted around to then see the cat staring back at me and it felt like I floated over to it, Laura said.

I picked it up and was in shock. I collect Bitossi and had recognised the patterns used, but had never seen this shaped cat before.

"I texted my best friend with photos and said: 'What have I just found!?!?'

Jealous collectors respond to 'bloody beautiful' Salvos find

After Laura shared her find to an op-shop forum on social media, hundreds of jealous bargain hunters shared in her delight, commenting underneath her post.

"You lucky cow!" one person wrote. "Never seen this style cat before, bloody beautiful find Laura!" another gushed. "Wowzers. What a find," someone else agreed.

But others were sceptical as to whether it was a genuine Bitossi piece. "Doesn't look like Bitossi to me," one sceptic wrote.

Some suspected the cat might actually be a fake, but Laura's expert thought otherwise. Source: Laura Feeger

Was the Salvos find actually a fake?

Charity stores like the Salvos have been in the headlines recently over claims their prices are getting too high for the community they're supposed to serve, but in the case of the Bitossi cat, it appears to be quite the opposite.

Lauras mind began to race  because the ceramic was priced at just $8, she considered that it might actually be a pleasant-looking but ultimately worthless knock-off.

Sadly Bitossi is often faked and also copied. Initially I thought there was a chance this was not real but with confirmation from probably the worlds most knowledgeable Bitossi collector I was able to confirm its authenticity, she told Yahoo.

Laura said the collector gave her an estimate of between $500 and $1000 for the piece. But rather than sell the cat, her plan is to simply display it alongside the rest of her collection.

This specific piece is a very rare form [that] did come in many glazes and decors but there are only a few in the reference albums. At a guess [it's] late 60s to 70s.

Yahoo has reached out to an independent expert to verify its potential value and authenticity.

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Comrade, listen to me. The Krink isnt just a gun. Its a status symbol. A trophy from a war that America didnt technically fight, but still won. Like Rambo and Die Hard, its a product of the 1980s that lives on today.

Ignore practicality, ignore ergonomics, ignore ballistics. Krink is life.

Why? Let me tell you a story.

WHAT IS THE KRINK

If youre like me and AKs arent your passion, you might look at the Krink and say So what?. And honestly, thats kind of fair if youre just looking at the specs. But like most great works of art, the Krink isnt cool because of what it is. The Krink is cool because of the story behind it.

Practically, the Krink from PSA is an AK pistol chambered in 5.56 NATO.

Originally, the Krinkov was a Soviet rifle designed in the late 70s and fielded starting in the early 80s.

Officially, this was the AKS-74U.

Origonal Soviet AKS-74U

But the story is more complex and weird than just that. There is a lot of lore and myth surrounding the Krink and most of it is complete nonsense. What is true is that it boils down to being an AK-74 but with a short barrel and different sights. The action is pure AK, the ergonomics are AK, and the function is AK.

Sure, a shorter barrel also meant the Krink had a shorter gas system and different twist rate because 5.45 didnt work out of shortened AK-74 barrels, but thats about the only design change.

What makes Krinks, Krinks is their place in history. No battle was won because of the Krinks, no massive change in small arms occurred because of the Krinks, and arguably the Krinks were kind of the wrong weapon in the wrong place at the wrong time, but they still managed to create a cult following even to this day.

The AKS-74U was adopted by the Soviets moments before their invasion of Afghanistan at the end of 1979. Issued mostly to BMP drivers (Boyevaya Mashina Pyekhoty or what we would call an infantry fighting vehicle) and Hind helicopter pilots, this rifle was perfect for small spaces and used by people who didnt expect to need a full-sized rifle, but still needed something better than a sharp stick or worse, a Makarov.

This by itself doesnt make the Krinks very interesting. What makes them interesting is the Mujahadeen.

As far as we can tell, the name Krink or Krinkov comes from the Mujahadeen, but exactly why is not clear. Before someone repeats the myth about the Mujahadeen capturing a Soviet officer by the same name and naming the weapon after him, no, this has been proven absurd.

Soviets in Afghanistan with a AKS-74U using an RPK 45-round magazine with the side cut out

An 8-inch barrel 5.45 rifle with iron sights is a 200-yard problem solver, maybe 300 if youre good. But as American and NATO forces learned in Afghanistan during the 2000s, Afghan firefights are often a 400- to 500-yard affair. A 20-inch barrel M16A4s and ACOGs werent ideal in the 2000s, so you can imagine how well the Krink did.

That said, Krinks quickly became a status symbol that persists today. Why?

Because Krinks were hard to get during the 1980s and the primary way for the Mujahadeen to acquire them was to shoot down a Hind or blow up a BMP. When a war trophy requires you to go to such lengths, the trophy becomes highly prized.

Two Soviet pilots armed with AKS-74U in rarely-seen hip holsters

Think about American forces in WWII and getting Lugers to take home. And getting a Luger didnt require you to first shoot down a gunship and then loot its smoldering wreckage.

Imagine youre a freedom fighter who did all of that. That is why the Krink became so very highly prized and respected.

And while you didnt get an epic loot drop from a Hind or BMP, you can still enjoy the flavor of the Krink.

SPECS

Caliber: 5.56x45mm

Barrel Length: 8.4

Barrel Twist Rate: 1:7

Barrel Material: 4150 Steel

Barrel Finish: Gas Nitride

Muzzle Device: Krink Booster

Muzzle Thread: M24x1.5 RH

Receiver: Stamped Steel

Front Trunnion: Hammer Forged 4340AQ

Bolt: Hammer Forged

Carrier: Hammer Forged

Handguard Type: Bakelite

Grip: Checkered Grip, Bakelite

Brace: JMAC Customs Stock Adapter with Black Triangle Side Folding Brace

Fire Control Group: Single Stage, Single Hook

Side Rail: Yes

Sights: 90 Degree Combo Sight/Gas Block, Dustcover Rear Sight

Magazine: 30 Round Magazine (1); Where Allowed by Law

ON THE RANGE

Honestly, this gun is exactly what you should think it is. A short-barreled 5.56 AK. Soft shooting? Not really. Big fireballs? Hell ya. Fun? Definitely.

Big thanks to TrueShot for providing the GGG 55gr 5.56 used in testing!

The triangle brace is pretty decent, I love the look and it works well enough to get shots on target. Irons for the Krink are surprisingly solid and usable. While just a notch and post with a fairly short sight radius, the rear sight is permanently affixed to the dust cover and came decently zeroed.

What the Krink does have is bark. A lot of bark. 10.5 inches is normally as short as anyone sane will go with an AR-15, but the PSA Krink is 8.4 inches (Soviet Krinks were made with 8.1-inch barrels in 5.4539) making this the Dachshund of AKs. Short, a lot of bite, but a whole lot more bark.

Other than that, its an AK. Manual of arms is AK, disassembly and maintenance (Ya, right, as if any of us clean our AKs!) is AK, grip angle, reload, its all AK.

But it works. From the first shot to the last, the Krink ate every flavor of ammo it was given and rolled through targets with ease.

Furniture

PSAs Krinks are designed for 100-series muzzle devices, so if youre looking for a brake or can, thats what you want.

My Krink features PSAs Bakelite to mimic the look of that old Soviet style. While it looks great, Im not sure I would recommend this style. The bakelite dents and scratches very easy and heats up even faster. Granted, AKs arent known for being cool shooters, but this doesnt soak heat much at all.

Unless you're really into this look, I'd recommend wood.

The triangle brace performs a lot better and is one I like shooting with the most. The downside of it on the Krink is that PSA uses their standard triangle brace that uses 1913 Picatinny rail to attach. Instead of using a normal AK folding rear trunion, the Krink has a 1913 rear.

The good news is that if you want to SBR the Krink, even the models that come with a 1913 rear still have the side folding lower complete with a retention button on one side and a latch hole on the other.

Unlike the original Krinks, PSA has a side mounting optic rail should you choose to go that route.

PRATICAL?

If were getting down to brass tacks, I really cant think of why you should opt for a Krink instead of a normal AK pistol. They are basically the same price at PSA and the normal pistols might have better furniture depending on what youre after.

On the other hand, there isnt a reason to not get a Krink if youre looking for this size and like the furniture.

This isnt a gun that is meant to be 100 percent practical. This isnt designed to be your number one home defense gun or the gun you take to Nationals to try for the gold. The main point of the Krink is the cool factor.

In my view, the PSA Krink nails this. Maybe not for die-hard purists, but for the rest of us who want to enjoy our AKs, the PSA Krink brings a piece of history to life that would otherwise be inaccessible.

Just in case youre wondering, finding a real Krink is almost impossible in the USA. A full-auto, American-made Krink sold at auction for almost $40,000 in 2023. Semi-auto Bulgarian Krinks built from kits commonly go for about $4,000.

At 1/4th the price for PSAs Krink seems pretty good.

My caliber of choice will always be 5.56 because that is the ammo I can source with ease. But if youre looking for something with more flavor, PSA is going to release the Krink in 300 Blk, 5.45, and even 7.6239.

LOOSE ROUNDS

For what it is, I like the PSA Krink. Not every gun needs to be the most tactical highspeed shooter on the range. For a gun that is fun, looks awesome, and shoots well, the Krink nails everything that it is trying to be.
Maria Duminica, 20, first arrived in Australia from Romania when she was 10. If she's forced to leave now she fears being 'homeless' in a foreign land.

Maria Dumenica, 20, has called Australia home since she was just a 10-year-old but is now facing deportation. Source: 9News

A "genuinely outstanding" Sydney woman who has been forced to overcome extremely challenging circumstances while living on her own since she was a teen, may soon face deportation from Australia despite living here for more than half of her life.

Maria Duminica, 20, first arrived in the country when she was just 10 years old, with her Romanian-born mother and her Australia-born stepfather. Upon arrival in Sydney, the family settled into life and Duminica's mother soon married her stepfather and applied for a partner visa, with her daughter as a secondary applicant.

While Duminca remembers her early years in Australia fondly, particularly noting how friendly the people seemed to be, she said her family life deteriorated to the point she was no longer able to continue living with her parents. The tumultuous period continued for "years and years" until eventually, at aged just 16, she left her parents for good, she told Nine News.

Sydney woman's uncertain future after spending half her life in Australia

Duminica first stayed with friends and then moved to temporary crisis accommodation. Some time later, she moved into a youth refuge service for young people who are homeless  Stepping Stone House at Dulwich Hill, located in Sydney's Inner West. It seemed like things were stabilising for the young immigrant, until just a few weeks before her 18th birthday, her future was plunged into doubt.

Maria Dumenica's lawyers are calling on Immigration Minister Andrew Giles to intervene in her case. Source: 9News

Duminica's 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 dependent, subsequently cancelling Duminica's bridging visa  a fact she was not aware of for a month.

"The department didn't even notify me, it was my solicitor at the time, she did a visa check," Duminica told Nine News. "I was very scared. I was kind of in shock as well because I didn't know what steps I could take to fix that."

Dumenica realised she was not eligible for a student visa and was advised to apply for a protection visa, though that was refused in September 2022. A bid to appeal the decision at the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT) was also unsuccessful.

Immigration minister debates intervention

Then, in a rare move, the tribunal member overseeing Duminica's appeal said she could meet the special circumstances required for a ministerial intervention, and referred the case to Minister for Immigration Andrew Giles's office in June last year.

She's been waiting to hear back ever since. "I really don't feel like Romania is my home country," she said.

"I don't know anyone in Romania and I don't know how to speak the language. I don't have any connections there. If I do have to go back, I will be a young woman on the streets. I will be homeless."

A spokesperson for Minister Giles said the office was aware and looking into Duminica's case. Source: Getty

Now living independently and working in the hospitality sector, Dumenica said she's struggling with day-to-day life, not knowing what her future will bring. "There are things I can't even plan for, like getting a car. If I spend the money on a car, and I get sent back, that's money gone," she said.

"I was looking at living with a friend but I'm scared to get a place and sign a six-month contract.

A spokesperson for Minister Giles told Nine News the office was aware and looking into Duminica's case. Yahoo News Australia has also contacted Giles' office for comment.

Stepping Stone House CEO Jason Juretic told Nine Duminica was a "genuinely outstanding" young woman and called for her to be allowed to stay in the country.

Aussies say immigration helpful to society, but too high

While Duminca's lawyer implored the government to take into account her "unique" circumstances when casting a decision on whether she can stay in the country, recent data has suggested Australians are souring on the recently elevated levels of overseas immigration.

Almost one in two people believe there are too many migrants moving to Australia, even though the vast majority of Australians believe cultural diversity is a boon for the nation.

A new poll released last week by the Lowy Institute on Australian attitudes revealed 48 per cent of respondents said the total number of migrants coming to the country each year was too high.

This result was only a slight increase from the last time it was asked in 2019 and remains 6 percentage points lower than its 2018 peak, but it still reflects an 11 point rise since 2014  months after the Coalition government launched its infamous Stop the Boats campaign.

Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com.

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The latest ruling by the Registrar of Companies (RoC) in the LinkedIn Technology Information case for violating significant beneficial ownership (SBO) norms has brought the amended rules into the spotlight.

Experts suggest that more entities, particularly multinational companies (MNCs), are expected to face greater scrutiny.

Companies are closely watching this space.

"If Satya Nadella (Microsoft CEO) can be deemed a significant beneficial owner, then by that logic, several global CEOs would need to declare themselves as significant beneficial owners, a senior executive at a Big Four firm said.

Section 90 of the Companies Act deals with identifying individuals who own a beneficial interest in a company.

It requires companies to disclose SBO details.

On May 22, the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) imposed a fine of Rs 27.1 lakh on Nadella and eight other executives for violating SBO norms related to LinkedIn Technology Information, according to an order by RoC for Delhi and Haryana.

In its 63-page order, the RoC said that the company and its officers failed to send a notice, as mandatorily required by Rule 2A (2) of the Companies (Significant Beneficial Owners) Rules.

LinkedIn, on its website, has disclosed that Ryan Roslansky reports to Nadella and is part of Microsofts senior leadership team... Nadella is also a significant beneficial owner of the subject company under Section 90.

Experts noted that the SBO provisions have faced compliance issues since their introduction due to interpretational challenges.

The recent RoC orders on SBO compliance will force MNCs and other companies to rethink their position on disclosures related to SBO provisions, as it appears that the MCA is viewing terms like control and significant influence from a much broader perspective, said Ankit Singhi, partner at Corporate Professionals.

The RoCs order clarified that the law does not require a significant beneficial owner to necessarily take part in the day-to-day operations of a company or have direct control over its affairs.

All were given time, and now the MCA is checking who has complied with the requirements and who has not. It is a fair ask.

"The law has been in place since 2013. The rules have been there for a long time, and it is fair if the MCA asks companies to comply, Mehul Modi, partner at Deloitte India, said.

The law intends to identify individuals or groups who can influence companies without directly owning shares.

Who is at the end of the line of ownership? You cannot have an individual.

"There has to be a living individual who is the brain behind the entity, Modi added.

Earlier this month, the MCA discovered that the founder and CEO of a large private equity firm had violated the law by not disclosing themselves as significant beneficial owners.

The case involved Leixir Resources, which is owned by Leixir Intermediate Corp, while the ultimate holding company is ComVest Leixir Holdings LLC.

Some company law experts believe that the law specifically targets funds or companies with opaque structures where it is hard to pinpoint an individual as the significant owner.

In Leixirs case, the RoC observed that the general partner and the investment manager of ComVest Investment Partners V LP were corporate bodies.

Thus, in line with the rules, the CEO of the investment manager ought to have been reported as a significant beneficial owner, the RoC order stated.

In January, a similar violation was discovered by the RoC in the case of an Indian company, Metec Electronics, and its associated individuals and entities for concealing their beneficial ownership links to a Chinese group.

The RoC imposed penalties totalling Rs 10.21 lakh on Chinas Metec Electronics and three individuals.

Experts believe that as India aims to become a developed country by 2047 and expects increased economic activity, ensuring transparency in all disclosures is crucial.

The intention of the law is clear.

"We need to protect investors. Reporting has to become more mature.

"It applies to foreign firms as much as it does to domestic ones.

"Big companies have enough resources to ensure these compliances are in place, said Rishi Agarwal, co-founder and CEO of TeamLease RegTech.
The Centre is considering a proposal on increasing coverage under the Ayushman Bharat scheme to Rs 10 lakh from the current Rs 5 lakh.

IMAGE: Narendra D Modi interacts with beneficiaries of Ayushman Bharat and PMAY Rural schemes in Varanasi, his Lok Sabha constituency. Photograph: ANI Photo

Expansion of the Ayushman Bharat scheme and implementation of revised Schedule M (related to quality drug production) and pharma marketing code may be on the priority lists of the health ministry and the Department of Pharmaceuticals as Prime Minister Narendra D Modi leads a coalition government.

The Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Aarogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY), the flagship health care insurance scheme of the Bharatiya Janata Party-led central government, is set to receive a concerted push from the health ministry under the new government.

According to sources, the scheme, touted as the world's largest health protection programme, may see an expansion of coverage.

The BJP, in its manifesto, had said that if elected back to power, the party will expand the scheme to cover senior citizens and transgenders.

'We will expand the Ayushman Bharat Yojana to cover senior citizens and provide them access to free and quality healthcare...We will expand the network of Garima Grahas to cater to the needs of transgender individuals,' the BJP manifesto said.

'We will issue identity cards to ensure their recognition nationwide. Furthermore, all eligible transgender individuals will be covered under the Ayushman Bharat Yojana,' the party added.

According to data available on the National Health Authority dashboard, the scheme has, so far, covered over 345 million citizens who received free health insurance of Rs 5 lakh for hospitalisation.

Industry sources said the Centre was considering a proposal on increasing coverage under the Ayushman Bharat scheme to Rs 10 lakh from the current Rs 5 lakh.

Hospitals have complained of delays in reimbursement related to the scheme.

Ironing out these differences and securing more funding for the scheme could emerge as major challenges.

The health ministry formed a 16-member committee in March to look into the implementation of the scheme and oversee progress in beneficiary identification, hospitalisation and modes of implementation.

According to sources, implementation of the revised Schedule M, which includes good manufacturing practices guidelines to ensure manufacturing of quality drugs, is on the priority list of the Department of Pharmaceuticals that comes under the ministry of chemicals and fertilisers.

Schedule M prescribes good manufacturing practices (GMP) for pharmaceutical products.

Some of the major changes introduced in the revised Schedule M include the introduction of a pharmaceutical quality system (PQS), quality risk management (QRM), product quality review (PQR), qualification and validation of equipment, and a computerised storage system for all drug products.

Sources indicate that the DoP will also work on the Revised Pharmaceuticals Technology Upgradation Assistance (RPTUAS) scheme, aiming to offer financial support to drug manufacturers for upgrading their technological capabilities and aligning with global standards.

Another high-priority policy is the proper implementation of the Uniform Code for Pharmaceutical Marketing Practices (UCPMP) 2024, which aims to curb the unethical marketing of drugs and ban medical representatives from using inducements to access healthcare professionals.

The process has already begun on this, but one challenge could be ensuring compliance with the scheme, monitoring the tens of thousands of small and big pharma companies, as well as the litigations that may arise as a result.

Feature Presentation: Ashish Narsale/Rediff.com
Six decades and more later, we are now captives of our identities.

Every poll is based on elaborate calculations of electability of candidates on the basis of their castes and other narrow definers.

That, along with voter promiscuity, is what defines our political culture, which remains stubbornly resistant to any change, asserts Shreekant Sambrani.

IMAGE: Senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader Narendra D Modi holds up a mace during an election campaign rally in Agartala. Photograph: Jayanta Dey/Reuters

This is the continuation of the election comment Don't Expect Modi To Change! that appeared on Saturday, June 8, 2024.

Throughout the campaign, we heard about Viksit Bharat by 2047.

We also heard about how many new airports we have built, how many Vande Bharat trains are running (not much about the unexpectedly slow progress of the Bullet Train, though), how many smart phones we make and export and numerous other indicators that should tell us that we are well on our way to become a developed economy and a possible economic superpower.

Of course, we daily heard about India being the fifth largest economy in the world, soon to be third, and the fastest growing large economy.

Right on cue, the day after the polling ended, we had the second estimate of economic growth 2023-2024 of 8.2 per cent!

Even if we were believe all the government statistics (unlike earlier, now there are some major concerns about the credibility of our official data), we are now firmly on a change and development path?

I raise this question based on two indicators, one highly personal and the other wholly macroeconomic.

On 1 June, Parvati, who helps clean my home, a Dalit woman whose husband is a sweeper in our housing society and earns a reasonably good salary, asked me at 9 in the morning (she usually arrives not before 10) for the immediate payment of her salary.

She gets paid on the dot on the first of every month.

She said the gas cylinder was about to be delivered and she needed the money right then, before I could even shower, because they had no money (She had spent Rs 10,000 plus on her grandson's birthday 10 days earlier).

Thirty years ago, her counterpart Dahi, also a Dalit lady and also the wife of a sweeper, this time a municipal one, used to approach us with similar urgency for paying for kerosene.

So over 30 years, what has changed is the fuel, but not the hand-to-mouth existence, nor the mode of thinking.

Second, as the government loses no opportunity to tell us, after Covid, some 800 million Indians (nearly 60 per cent of the population) have been receiving free rations and will continue to do so for another five years.

I know of no other claimant for developed status where so large a proportion of population requires a subsistence dole.

IMAGE: Modi waves after flagging off two Amrit Bharat trains and six new Vande Bharat Trains in Ayodhya. Photograph: ANI Photo

When we talk of export of smart phones, we do not mention that we only assemble components, which we import from China.

For our drug formulations export to developed countries, we use the basic chemical agent imported from, you guessed it, China.

The same is true of most telecommunication gear, white goods and consumer durables, machine tools and power generation-transmission equipment and so on.

China is our leading trade partner (and diplomatic-territorial adversary), but it is mostly a one-way traffic: China exports, we import.

They sell us goods worth over $100 billion, mostly manufactured goods and machinery and components, and we export about $16 billion, mostly primary products.

Our global performance shows (mostly, not always or steadily) rising exports.

On closer look, we will find that a big chunk of our exports are primary commodities.

When we export rice or sugar, we are in fact exporting substantially greater quantities of our scarce water (one kg of rice uses up to 5,000 litres of water.

Sugar, the other major commodity we export, is not far behind in its water intensity).

Big ticket items such as pharmaceuticals, gold and jewellery and now, smart phones, are really based on large imports of basic formulation, raw gold, and components.

If we consider only the value-added as true exports, our numbers would shrink greatly.

We are nowhere in exports of manufactured goods; we are overtaken by Bangladesh and Vietnam even in our traditional exports of garments.

We are far from being a second China, or China + 1, we are mostly a supplicant to China when it comes to international trade.

IMAGE: Women plant rice saplings at a paddy field in Assam. Photograph: Anuwar Hazarika/Reuters

China started its economic reforms in the 1980s under Deng Xiaoping's Four Modernisations, when our economy was of a comparable size, and we did the same 10 years later under P V Narasimha Rao's prime ministership.

Reform in Chinese characters meant sustained growth at double-digit rates.

Reform in Indian alphabets meant halting, step-by-step increase in growth rate from around 5 per cent a year to about 7 per cent annually in three decades.

China today has a national income of $19 trillion, nearly five times as large as India's $ 4 trillion.

The funny thing about growth rates is that they don't tell you the full story; they lull you into a false security.

If we grow at 7 per cent annually and China grows at 5 per cent, we fall behind China by $670 billion.

What good is the distinction of being the fastest growing economy if the gap between China and us widens every year?

IMAGE: A farm labourer plucks vegetables in a field in New Delhi. Photograph: Anushree Fadnavis/Reuters

We need to realise that the large size of our economy is a function of the large population.

Even a low per capita income can make the economy large.

This was pretty much the case of India two millennia ago.

India was the largest economy in the world until after 1,000 AD, but had a stagnant low per capita income.

Post industrial revolution, much of Europe and then North America grew because of rising productivity of labour and capital, but India and China stagnated.

China changed gears forty years ago, but eternal India still resists change.

That is why even the slightest reform as envisaged by the agriculture, land acquisition and labour reform legislations, parts of the agenda of the early phases of the Modi regime, have had to be abandoned, with the government paying a heavy price in terms of public support.

And the newly anointed champions of democracy, the more vocal parts of the INDIA group have been very shrill in their critique of NDA for being anti-people.

They also believe in competitive populism, where mai-baap sarkar will not only provide large doles, but also won't touch reform with a barge pole.

IMAGE: A labourer loads boxes on a handcart at a market in New Delhi. Photograph: Anushree Fadnavis/Reuters

If one were to do an honest introspection as to where India is headed economically, one would discover two very large issues which will be the major challenges.

The first is unemployment. No amount of whitewashing through micro start-ups as employment creators can cover the fact that there just are not enough jobs going around to absorb new entrants to labour.

Agriculture is already bulging at seams with absorbing surplus labour it does not need, when it should be providing these hands to other activities.

And service economy for the unskilled means careers such as courier runners or the lowest rung of the hospitality sector.

Even for those labelled as educated, there are no opportunities.

Horror stories of hundreds and thousands of applicants for the most menial government jobs which call for no skills continue to appear in the press as often as they have all through the last six decades.

The fact is that we turn out tens of millions of school and college graduates every year who have zero employable skills.

All this turned up in the election campaign.

The root cause is the continuing inability of our education and training institutions to skill the youth appropriately for the present age.

Add to this the habitual indiscipline of our labour.

The Singapore patriarch Lee Kuan Yew, a hero to many in India including Prime Minister Modi, once said that he would never hire Indians to run assembly lines, because they lack the commitment and ability of the Chinese to do things right every time.

This would require some serious thought and dialogue across the board among leaders of business and politics.

Instead, what we have are competitive offerings of doles for the unemployed, presumably through running currency presses overtime.

That is akin to offering a band-aid for a festering wound on the body economic.

Modi waxes eloquent on the demographic dividend in his speeches even when he is not on stump; what we do not consider is that this could easily turn out to be ticking time-bomb.

IMAGE: BJP supporters hold empty cans during a protest against the water crisis in Bengaluru, March 12, 2024. Photograph: ANI Photo

The other elephant in the room is even larger: Water.

Even in the age of climate change, we have copious, if unpredictable, monsoons, but more than 90 per cent of the precipitation runs off to the sea.

By early summer most regions are thirsty.

At the height of the heat wave and election campaign, the national capital faced a water crisis.

Bengaluru and Chennai are perennially short of water. Other metros and even Tier II cities are not far behind.

The main culprit for this is agriculture, which is a profligate waster of water.

An unfortunate consequence of minimum support prices has been the emergence of a crop-cultivation regime which is at odds with the resource endowment of the region, such as cultivation of paddy-rice in Punjab and Haryana.

It is plain as daylight that we lack a national water policy or a consensus.

Again a dialogue between riparian states on judicious use of water is impossible.

Even when they were ruled by the same party, Haryana and Punjab could never agree on the Satluj Yamuna Link canal.

Karnataka and Tamil Nadu are permanently in the Supreme Court with their Kaveri water dispute.

Other states which share rivers are in similar quarrels.

A new dimension is that even within a state, there are now water issues between regions.

Water wars between areas and people when they break out, will put all other conflicts in shade in terms of fierceness.

IMAGE: Bharatiya Kisan Union Ekta Ugrahan chief Joginder Singh Ugrahan and farmers stage a protest in Patiala, May 23, 2024. Photograph: ANI Photo

These concerns affect all of India, going beyond any subnational geographies; they are also not bound by the quinquennial election cycle.

They are here now and demand urgent action.

That in turn must depend on a national, non-partisan consensus.

But that noble ideal is now ever farther out of reach.

The bitter campaign was an ill wind blowing across the country that did nobody any good.

Arrogance on one side was matched in equal measure by intransigence on the other.

A dialogue among the deaf and the dumb is more likely than among our political elite.

Evan Bayh was a highly popular and respected Democratic senator from the normally Republican state of Indiana between 1999 and 2011.

Although he had won both his terms with more than 60 per cent of the vote, he declined to run a third time, because he felt that 'There is too much partisanship and not enough progress -- too much narrow ideology and not enough practical problem solving. Even at a time of enormous challenge, the peoples' business is not being done.'

That would be an apt summation of the situation that prevails in these days of nation-states, political parties, interest groups, and even corporations following beggar-thy-neighbour policies.

The hope in the early years of Independence, when this columnist was growing up, was that along with education, the importance of identity culture defined by religion, caste, and language loyalties will soon decline.

We will confine religion and rituals to our homes and our new temples would be the development projects such as the Bhakra Nangal dam, as Jawaharlal Nehru eloquently put it.

Six decades and more later, we are now captives of our identities.

Every poll is based on elaborate calculations of electability of candidates on the basis of their castes and other narrow definers.

That, along with voter promiscuity, is what defines our political culture, which remains stubbornly resistant to any change.

IMAGE: Modi supporters cheer his arrival during a roadshow in Mumbai. Photograph: Hemanshi Kamani/Reuters

An analogy may be apt here. The Ganga is the holiest of all our rivers, without any doubt.

It is also among the most polluted. We take what we think is a holy dip in it, holding our noses and hope that we don't fall sick.

We have made numerous attempts to clean it, yet it continues to carry urban waste, tannery effluents and dead bodies floated in it.

The current Varanasi MP made a promise to turn it into an inland port and a hub of commerce, but it is so deeply silted that there is not much draft for larger vessels.

Occasionally, there are floods and the river breaks its banks; but for the most part, it flows ever so slowly as to be mistaken for still water.

Our political culture resembles this real-life Ganga, not its idealised image.

A very well respected business leader, with whom I shared some of these thoughts, said, "I don't know much about politics, but an organisation with sxxt culture will never realise its full potential."

Sir, your very apt analysis makes me cry for my beloved country.

Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff.com
'I have been asking whether the chief minister (N Biren Singh) is in charge of the situation in Manipur.'

'Law and order is a state subject and chief minister is a Constitutional authority. Why did he follow the diktat, if at all there is a diktat from the Union government?'

IMAGE: Prime Minister Narendra D Modi at the inauguration of developmental projects along with Manipur Chief Minister Nongthombam Biren Singh in Imphal, January 4, 2022. Photograph: ANI Photo

Dr Angomcha Bimol Akoijam, who was elected to the Lok Sabha from the Meitei-dominated Inner Manipur seat, tells Prasanna D Zore/Rediff.com what the way ahead could be in strife-torn Manipur where its two major communities, the Meiteis and Kukis, have been at the centre of violence that has engulfed the state since May 3, 2023.

The other Lok Sabha seat of Outer Manipur too was won by the Congress's Alfred Kanngam S Arthur.

In 2019, the BJP's Dr Rajkumar Ranjan Singh, the minister of state for external affairs in the previous NDA government, had won the Inner Manipur seat while Outer Manipur was bagged by the Naga People's Front's Lorho S Pfoze.

"As the violence lingers on, people's sense of anger also increases and gets directed towards both the state as well as against each other's community. When I say state it means the Indian State," says Dr Akoijam, a professor at the Jawaharlal Nehru Unuiversity, as he explains the complexities amid the violence that engulfs the north eastern state even today.

Could you tell us about the ground situation as it exists today in Manipur?

A large part of the urban areas in Manipur is relatively peaceful but the peripheries have always been in a state of alert and vulnerable as usual for the last 13 months (since May 3, 2023 when violence first broke out in the state).

Unfortunately, just after the election, the other side, the western side which has not been touched so far (by instances of violence), a place called Jiribam (on June 6, 2024, Soibam Sarat Kumar, a Meitei resident, was allegedly brutally killed by Kuki militants) and it triggered violence in Jiribam which had remained relatively calm since May 3, 2023.

Since then many Meiteis have reportedly fled Jiribam fearing more attacks from Kuki militants), the violence started after the election (results were announced).

The state of affairs (law and order situation in Manipur) remains more or less the same.

Please give us sense of what the people on the ground are feeling -- especially the Meiteis and the Kukis -- about the violence that has gripped the state since May 3, 2023?

Expectedly, people are angry, people are frustrated, a lot of anger is directed especially among the people in the central valley of Manipur, a lot of dissatisfaction is directed towards the state authorities as well as among the communities.

There is lot of mistrust and anger -- between the Kukis and Meiteis -- which the state has been allowing by not containing the cycle of violence.

As the violence lingers on, people's sense of anger also increases and gets directed towards both the (Indian) State as well as against each other's community. That's the kind of a situation we have (now in Manipur).

What's the reason why Manipur voted for the Congress in the Inner Manipur and Outer Manipur Lok Sabha seats?

People of Manipur are dissatisfied with the BJP governments -- both at the Centre and in Manipur. People believe that the (Indian) State has created the violence and failed to end this violence.

It's a miserable administrative failure and erosion of constitutional machinery.

These parties -- the government in Imphal and Delhi -- are responsible (for this state of affairs in Manipur) and that's why people have voted for the Congress.

What efforts can be made for reconciliation between the two communities in Manipur -- the Meiteis and the Kukis?

The (Indian) State must take over, take charge of the situation and assert its authority and, and make sure that the civilians and civil society are brought together.

First and foremost, the (Indian) State must assert itself. We almost look like a stateless society now.

Secondly, they should facilitate the processes to address the hurt and anger as well as the aspirations of the people of different communities of Manipur.

IMAGE: Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh inspects the situation in the hills adjoining Bishnupur-Churachandpur, July 2, 2023. Photograph: ANI Photo

What roadblocks do you foresee in the reconciliation of the two communities or having a peaceful solution for the problems of people of Manipur?

The (Indian) State has completely withdrawn from Manipur.

We don't have the sense that there is a State whose authority works. Our being stateless is the biggest stumbling block to any process of peaceful situation in the state.

To get life back to normal, the State must take charge. It must assert its Constitutional authority.

There have been allegations, especially from Kuki MLAs belonging to the BJP, about links between the state government and radical organisations like the Arambai Tenggol?

I am aware of these allegations. People forget that it (the ground situation in Manipur) is singularly loaded by the communal narrative. The fact is that the (Indian) State has failed. When I say state, it means the Indian State and the (central and Manipur) government (which is one of the organs of that state).

I have been asking whether the chief minister (N Biren Singh) is in charge of the situation in Manipur.

Is the DGP (of Manipur) under him (taking orders from the chief minister) or in the hands of the Chairman of the Unified Command which is in charge of the law and order and security in the state?

IMAGE: Women demonstrate over violence in Manipur's Kanto Sabal in Imphal West, June 20, 2023. Photograph: ANI Photo

Do you think dismissing the state government and imposing President's rule could help bring some kind of normalcy back?

That is avoiding the reality.

The question is who appointed the DGP? Who appointed the security advisor (Kuldiep Singh)? Who is in charge of the security situation and law order situation? Is the CM in charge?

This is the question the media should be asking and following up on.

As a CM, if he is not the one who has appointed them, then are these officials working under the diktat of the Union government? In that case why did he (the CM) allow that?

Law and order is a state subject and chief minister of a state is a Constitutional authority. Why did he follow the diktat, if at all there is a diktat from the Union government?

If it is not a diktat (from the Union government) then we must ask why did he (Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh) allow these officers to take charge of the law and order situation in Manipur?

If, as he (N Biren Singh) is saying now, that he has already written letters to them (the DGP and Chairman of Unified Command Kuldiep Singh about their failure to handle the law and order situation in Manipur) and that they failed to take care of what happened in Jiribam (on June 6, 2024) and if these people were appointed by him then why didn't he sack them (the state intelligence, according to local newspaper reports, had already appraised the chief minister and the law and order machinery about the steady build-up of 'armed miscreants' from Kuki-dominated Churachandpur district)?

A confusion has been created (about who is in charge of the law and order and security machinery in Manipur) and this must be addressed.

Now that Narendra Modi has been sworn in as prime minister for the third time, and there have been repeated demand from the Opposition that he should have visited Manipur when the state was going through a bout of violence, do you think a visit by the prime minister now could help bring some normalcy back to Manipur?

I think he should (visit Manipur).

The prime minister is the head of the country and if one of the states (Manipur) of the Union has almost witnessed a civil war-like situation and to remain quiet (even in such a situation doesn't do any good).

I hope he breaks the silence now and does what is necessary to restore Constitutional order in that state (Manipur).
The chief executive of EdTech firm Physics Wallah', Alakh Pandey, has moved the Supreme Court against alleged random award of grace marks by the National Testing Agency to over 1,500 candidates who took the controversy-ridden National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test-Undergraduate, 2024 for admission to MBBS, BDS and others courses.

IMAGE: Members of Trinamool Chhatra Parishad stage a protest against the alleged irregularities in the NEET-UG results, in Kolkata, June 11, 2024. Photograph: ANI Photo

The plea urged the top court to set up an expert panel under its supervision to "enquire into the examination process and results of NEET (UG) 2024.

The top court had said on Tuesday the sanctity of the NEET-UG, 2024 has been affected and sought responses from the Centre and the National Testing Agency on another plea seeking holding of the examination afresh on grounds of alleged question paper leak and other malpractices.

Pandey, in his plea filed through lawyer Rohit Jain, the managing partner of law firm Singhania & Co', has also sought a direction to the expert panel he has mooted to come up with improvement in the process of conducting NEET examination and without hampering the interest of the other students.

Issue a writ or direction including ... directing the respondents (NTA and others) to take necessary steps to make the process of conducting the NEET examination without any loopholes, the plea said.

Lawyer J Sai Deepak, who appeared for Pandey, mentioned the plea for urgent listing on Tuesday before a vacation bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath and Ahsanuddin Amanullah. The bench asked him to approach the apex court registry with his plea.

"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. Notices have been issued in regard to those petitions. Our petition is slightly different.

We represent Alakh Pandey, who has collected signatures from about 20,000 students which clearly shows that close to about 70 to 80 marks have been awarded in grace marks randomly to at least 1,500 students. We are challenging the arbitrary award of grace marks. The court has indicated that our matter will also be taken up with the other matters but the court is clear that it will not stay the counselling process at this stage, lawyer Sai Deepak said.

The plea challenges the alleged award of grace marks on account of loss of time apparently due to several reasons. The petition is yet to be listed for hearing.

The NEET-UG 2024 examination was held by the NTA on May 5 across 4,750 centres and around 24 lakh candidates took it. The results were expected to be declared on June 14 but were announced on June 4, apparently because the evaluation of the answer sheets got completed earlier.

The plea said the NTA intimated about the award of grace marks as a "reaction" and not on its own at the time of declaring the results.

So much so this clarification came about only when queries were raised as to how 718/719 marks out of total 720 marks can be awarded when the same was not technically possible as per the marking scheme, the plea said.

It asked on what basis the policy for awarding grace marks was adopted when it was not the practice the NTA had adopted in the preceding years.

It demanded that the NTA must provide the details of the 1563 candidates who were given compensatory marks for the loss of time mentioning therein the original marks of such candidates, the grace marks granted to them and the revised marks they secured.

The plea filed on June 1 emanates from a Bihar police probe into the alleged leak of question paper meant for the exam. As many as 67 students scored a perfect 720, unprecedented in NTA's history, with six from a centre in Haryana's Faridabad figuring in the list, raising suspicions about irregularities.

Scores of students protested in Delhi on June 10 seeking a probe into alleged irregularities. It has been alleged that grace marks contributed to 67 students sharing the top rank.

While issuing the notice on another plea filed by 10 students including Shivangi Mishra, the top court had on Tuesday, however, refused to stay the counselling of successful candidates.

It tagged the plea filed by Shivangi Mishra with a pending petition and asked the NTA to file a response in the meantime. The top court will now hear the pleas on July 8 when the summer vacation which commenced on May 20 comes to an end.

The NEET-UG examination is conducted by the National Testing Agency for admissions to MBBS, BDS, AYUSH and other related courses in government and private institutions across the country.
Activist Manoj Jarange, whose indefinite fast over Maratha reservation entered the fifth day on Wednesday, started taking intravenous fluids after a Maharashtra minister assured to resolve the issue.

IMAGE: Shiv Sena MP from Aurangabad (Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar) Sandipan Bhumare with fasting Maratha activist Jarange Patil at Antarwali Sarati, June 11, 2024. Photograph: Courtesy Sandipan Bhumare/X

Jarange, who launched his fresh round of protest on Saturday at his native Antarwali Sarati village in Maharashtra's Jalna district, however warned that if the government fails to resolve the issue immediately, he would stop taking intravenous fluids again.

In view of the activist's deteriorating health condition, newly-elected Shiv Sena MP from Aurangabad (Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar) Sandipan Bhumare visited Antarwali Sarati and met Jarange on Tuesday.

Jarange has been demanding implementation of the draft notification that recognises Kunbis as "sage soyare" (blood relatives) of Maratha community members and also seeking a law to identify Kunbis as Marathas.

Kunbi, an agrarian group, falls under the Other Backward Classes (OBC) category, and Jarange has been demanding that Kunbi certificates be issued to all Marathas, thus making them eligible for quota benefits.

"I started taking intravenous fluids around 3 am today after a Maharashtra minister assured me to resolve the issue of Maratha reservation. But if the government does not resolve the issue immediately, I will stop taking fluids again and reveal the minister's name if he does not fulfil the promise. We have been protesting for the last 10 years, and they have tested our patience," Jarange said while talking to media persons on Wednesday.

"I reiterated our demands for implementation of the 'sage soyare' notification and the Hyderabad Gazette for Kunbi records of Marathas. Our other demand is withdrawal of all police cases filed against the Maratha protesters during the agitation last year," he said.

Jarange said he warned the minister if the issue was not resolved, he would field candidates from all 288 assembly seats in Maharashtra in the state elections likely to be held in October this year.

"We will become givers of reservation, not takers," he emphasised.

"I will fight for the cause of Maratha reservation till death. I have trusted the government for 10 months, but the notification for the sage soyare committee, issued five months ago, is yet to be implemented," he said.

During their meeting on Tuesday, Bhumare assured Jarange that the government was actively working towards a positive resolution of Maratha reservation.

Talking to reporters on Tuesday, district health officer Jayashri Bhusare said Jarange's blood pressure and sugar level were falling and he needed intravenous fluids and medicines.
As the Supreme Court on Wednesday slammed the Aam Aadmi Party government over the role of tanker mafia in the water shortage-hit national capital, the blame game over the issue intensified with Delhi minister Atishi alleging that senior officials colluded with the mafia to reduce the number of Delhi Jal Board tankers and demanding an inquiry into it.

IMAGE: Residents of Vivekanand Camp gather to collect drinking water from a tanker as they face water scarcity in New Delhi. Photograph: Shrikant Singh/ANI Photo

After the Supreme Court's observations, the Lieutenant Governor Secretariat wrote to the Delhi police commissioner, asking him to take action against the tanker mafia indulging in the theft of water from the Munak canal that carries water from Haryana.

Seeking a compliance report within a week, the LG's communication to the police commissioner directed him to ensure strict vigil along the canal to prevent any theft of water by tanker mafia and other illegal activities.

People in Delhi are suffering due to water scarcity, the Supreme Court observed on Wednesday as it pulled up the AAP government over water wastage and tanker mafia and sought to know what steps it has taken to ease the recurring problem.

The court told the Delhi government it will ask the city police to take action against the tanker mafia if it can't deal with them. If the same water can be transported using tankers, why can't it be supplied through the pipeline, a disquieted court said.

"There are visuals on every channel that the tanker mafia is working in Delhi. What measures have you taken in this regard?... What measures have you taken to control water waste coming through the two barrages if this is a recurring problem? Please show us what action or FIR have you lodged against tanker mafias," the bench observed orally.

The top court was hearing a plea filed by the Delhi government seeking a direction to Haryana to release the surplus water provided by Himachal Pradesh to the national capital to mitigate its water woes.

Delhi water minister Atishi, however, accused government officials of reducing the number of Delhi Jal Board water tankers without her knowledge, claiming it led to the proliferation of tanker mafia.

In a letter to Lt Governor VK Saxena, Atishi demanded an inquiry into the alleged collusion of senior officers with the tanker mafia and requested him to deploy an ACP-level police officer to patrol the stretch of Munak Canal in Delhi to ensure that no illegal water-filling activity takes place there.

"There is a need for an enquiry into the potential collusion by senior officers in the Delhi government with the tanker mafia because it seems that there has been a deliberate and substantial reduction of the tankers deployed by the Delhi Jal Board in the last one year," she claimed.

Atishi said that in January last year, 1,179 tankers were deployed by the Delhi Jal Board and this number was 1,203 in June the same year.

"However, this number was reduced to 888 in January 2024 without any approval from me. In fact, without any consultation with me. I repeatedly kept flagging the issue of grievances regarding water tanker shortage and asking the CEO DJB to increase the number of tankers, but he did not do so," she alleged.

Delhi BJP attacked the AAP government, with its president Virendra Sachdeva along with other party leaders submitting a complaint to the police commissioner for registration of an FIR and a probe into the water theft by the tanker mafia and possible connivance of officials in it.

Sachdeva also alleged collusion of AAP MLAs with tanker mafia.

He alleged water tanker racket was being run by AAP leaders and people close to them. Still, they were "misleading" the people who were facing problems and struggling for water, he said.

With the impact of the prevailing heat wave aggravated further by the water supply crisis, Atishi directed the quick response teams comprising additional district magistrates and sub-divisional magistrates to inspect major pipelines to prevent any leakages there.

The minister said that she directed the chief secretary on March 14, April 3 and April 12 to increase the number of water tankers as in previous years, but he did not do so.

"This reduction of water tankers deployed by the DJB is what has led to the possible proliferation of private tanker mafia, who are illegally selling water.

"If the senior officers of the Delhi government have not increased the number of water tankers deployed in the DJB despite the instructions of the minister in-charge, there is a serious concern regarding their collusion with the tanker mafia," she alleged.

The Raj Niwas officials, however, said the DJB that comes under the AAP government never cared to file a complaint with the Delhi police about the tanker mafia.

"The Delhi Jal Board under the AAP never thought it proper to even complaint to the police about the same, leave apart filing an FIR, that would have automatically ensured police action," said a Raj Niwas official.

"They even never came to the LG asking for action to be taken," the official added.

Atishi lamented that the number of water tankers deployed by the DJB is lesser now than in June 2023 and alleged "collusion between the senior officers of the Delhi government and the tanker mafia".

"Therefore, an enquiry committee should be set up to look into the collusion of the chief secretary and CEO DJB with the tanker mafia. Pending enquiry both officers may be suspended so as to not influence the proceedings," she added.

The Water minister has sought a daily report of the quick response teams regarding any water pipeline leakages.

People across the city faced a shortage with supply dwindling to a few minutes or stopping completely.

"Residents even get into fights and many times people come from far away and don't get water even after requesting others. A water tanker comes only once a day," said a Gita Colony resident Shakuntala Devi.

The Haryana government, meanwhile, rejected the Delhi government's charge that the state was not releasing enough water to the national capital

"Haryana is diligently fulfilling its commitment to provide water to Delhi. Haryana not only meets but exceeds its obligations in this regard" said minister of state for irrigation and water resources Abhe Singh Yadav.

His response came as the Delhi high court asked the governments of Delhi and Haryana to respond to a plea seeking contempt action against Haryana officials for allegedly not supplying adequate water to the national capital.

A vacation bench of Justice Neena Bansal Krishna issued notices and asked the governments of Delhi and Haryana and senior officers of the Department of Irrigation and Water Resources of Haryana to file their replies within three weeks.

The high court listed the matter for further hearing on July 24.

Delhi Congress chief Devender Yadav appealed to the BJP-ruled Haryana government and the AAP dispensation in Delhi "not to play politics" on the water crisis, as the people of Delhi were suffering due to water shortage.
A vigilant villager in Saida Sukhal hamlet prevented a potential tragedy by alerting the locals about two armed terrorists following which they rushed to safety.

IMAGE: Security personnel conduct search operations after an encounter with terrorists at Saida Sukhal village, Hiranagar in Kathua on June 12, 2024. Photograph: ANI Photo

A suspected Pakistani terrorist and a Central Reserve Police Force jawan were killed following the terrorist attack on the village near the International Border (IB) on Tuesday evening, which also left a civilian injured.

The region remains tense following the attack and the ensuing 17-hour operation to track down another terrorist still at large.

"A tragedy was averted because I raised an alarm about terrorists in the village. Many children were playing, and people were out walking. They could have easily killed 15 to 20 people, mostly children. People were heading to Satsang in the evening. It could have been catastrophic," said villager and eyewitness Surinder.

Surinder, who was returning to his hamlet on his motorbike, encountered the armed men who asked for water. Suspicious of their behavior, he immediately sounded an alert.

"It was around 7:30 to 7:45 pm. I was on my bike when a child informed me about two armed youths in the village. I saw them dressed in black with AK rifles, calling me to approach them. I suspected they were terrorists and warned the villagers, leading them to rush home. Shops closed and vehicles stopped," Surinder recounted.

"Moments after my alert, the terrorists started firing. They shot several rounds, injuring a local in the shoulder, followed by a blast," he added.

Surinder quickly informed a district development committee member, who alerted the police. The police arrived promptly, killing one terrorist while the other escaped.

"Thank God for the timely alert," he said.

"Had they come during the day, when the area is crowded, it could have been much worse. At 3 am, they fired again, killing a CRPF officer," added Surinder.

The attack has instilled fear among the villagers, who believe the terrorists might have infiltrated through a tunnel bypassing the strong BSF security fencing.

"There is now a fear of infiltration. This area has not seen such incidents in a long time. It is close to the IB. The government must ensure foolproof security," said villager Trilok Chand.
Emir of Kuwait Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah on Wednesday ordered authorities to probe the massive fire at an apartment building housing foreign workers, mostly Indians, and vowed to hold accountable those responsible for the tragedy that killed at least 49 people.

IMAGE: Officials and rescue workers at the building where fire broke out killing 49 people including Indians, in Kuwait, June 12, 2024. Photograph: ANI Photo

Around 50 people, the majority of Indians, were killed in the fire early Wednesday in a six-storey building housing labourers in southern Kuwait, according to the latest reports.

Director general of the forensic department Maj Gen Eid Al-Owaihan said that the majority of the deceased were Indian nationals from Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and north Indian states.

In a condolence message sent to the families of the victims of the fire incident in Mangaf, the Emir expressed his sincere sorrow and deep sympathy to the families of the victims and wished a fast recovery to the injured.

The Emir directed officials to follow up to the causes of the fire outbreak and hold whomever responsible accountable, the official Kuwait News Agency reported.

Kuwait's Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah and Prime Minister Sheikh Ahmad Abdullah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah also condoled the casualties in the fire incident.

Sheikh Fahad Al-Yousuf Al-Sabah, serving as the First Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Interior, and Minister of Defence, has ordered police to arrest the owner of the Mangaf building where the fatal blaze occurred Wednesday, the building's janitor, as well as the owner of the company responsible for the workers pending the end of the criminal evidence personnel's examination of the scene, the Kuwait Times reported.

"What happened today is a result of the greed of the company and building owners," the minister said in a statement as he visited the fire scene.

The secretary general of the Gulf Cooperation Council Jasem Al-Budaiwi expressed his deep condolences to Kuwait over the death and injuries in the fire incident in the Gulf country.

He expressed his sentiments over the victims of the incident, praying to Allah Almighty to bestow the deceased with mercy and the injured with a speedy recovery, KUNA reported from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has described the fire incident as "saddening" and said the Indian Embassy in Kuwait is closely monitoring the situation.

At the direction of Prime Minister Modi, Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh is rushing to Kuwait to oversee assistance to Indians injured in the fire and to ensure early repatriation of mortal remains of those killed.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar expressed deep shock over the incident and said the Indian embassy in the Gulf nation will render the "fullest assistance" to all concerned.

Indian ambassador to Kuwait Adarsh Swaika visited several hospitals including where the injured have been admitted and has assured all help to the victims.
The Juvenile Justice Board on Wednesday extended till June 25 the observation home remand of a 17-year-old boy allegedly involved in a car crash that killed two IT engineers in Pune after police submitted he was still undergoing counselling sessions and probe in the case was going on.

IMAGE: The Porsche and motorcycle involved in the accident kept at the Yerwada police station in Pune. Photograph: Screen grab/ANI Video

The Porsche car driven by the teenager, son of builder Vishal Agrawal, crashed into a motorbike in the early hours of May 19, killing IT professionals Anish Awadhiya and Ashwini Koshta, both hailing from Madhya Pradesh, in Kalyani Nagar.

The teen was driving under the influence of alcohol, according to the police.

The Pune police through prosecutors sought the extension of the juvenile's custody for another 14 days at the observation home citing his safety.

He was in the observation home remand till June 12.

They also told the board that the teen's release at the current juncture may hinder the ongoing investigation into the case and other related matters, including alleged swapping of his blood samples taken after the May 19 accident.

The defence opposed the Pune police's remand extension plea and told the board the minor must be released from the observation facility.

According to a police official, prosecutors in their remand extension plea told the JJB that the minor boy was still undergoing psychological counselling sessions and that he needs to stay at the facility.

He said the prosecution argued they want to treat the juvenile as an adult for the purpose of trial and his further remand was warranted to complete formalities in this regard.

The official said the board has asked the police to file their say on the defence plea to give the juvenile's custody to his relatives as his parents are in police custody on separate charges related to the accident.

Defence lawyer Prashant Patil, however, opposed the prosecution plea of remand extension and said the juvenile must be released from the observation home and handed over to his relatives.

Patil said the JJB did not touch the grounds cited by the police while seeking extension of the remand.

The defence lawyer said the board, in its order, stated that the Child in Conflict with Law was undergoing psychological counselling sessions at the observation home.

Three counselling sessions have been completed and as many more are remaining. Since the child is showing signs of improvement, remaining in the observation home will help him reintegrate into society's mainstream, said Patil, citing the board.

After hearing arguments of both sides, the JJB extended the boy's stay at the observation home till June 25.

The boy's parents are in police custody in connection with a case related to alleged swapping of his blood samples at the state-run Sassoon General Hospital.

Besides the minor's parents, the police have also arrested his grandfather Surendra Agarwal for allegedly kidnapping the family's driver and putting pressure on him to take the blame for the accident, among other charges.

The other persons arrested in the case are two doctors and an employee of Sassoon General Hospital for allegedly swapping the blood samples of the minor boy with those of his mother's.

The police have registered three separate cases in connection with the accident.

The cases include an FIR in connection with the accident and the second one against the pub that allegedly served liquor to the juvenile.

The police have booked the boy's father for allowing him to drive the car without a valid license.

A third case is about wrongful confinement and coercion of the family driver to take the blame for the fatal accident.
President Droupadi Murmu has rejected the mercy petition of Pakistani terrorist Mohammed Arif alias Ashfaq convicted on December 12, 2000, in the Red Fort attack in which three jawans of Rajputana Rifles were killed, officials said.

IMAGE: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar calls on President Droupadi Murmu, at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi, June 12, 2024. Photograph: ANI Photo

The President took the decisive move on May 27.

She considered the mercy plea of the Pakistani national Arif, who was found guilty of orchestrating the attack and the Supreme Court on November 2, 2022 affirmed the death penalty awarded to the Lakshar-e-Tayiba terrorist for the December 12, 2000, Red Fort Attack case.

The attack resulted in the death of three persons including two army officers.

This is the second time the President has denied a mercy petition since taking office on July 25, 2022.

The details of that fateful day remain etched in the minds of many. The serene and historic Red Fort, a symbol of India's heritage, was suddenly shattered by gunfire and chaos.

The attack left a trail of devastation, claiming lives and wounding many.

In the aftermath, Mohammed Arif was captured and brought to trial, where he was convicted of the heinous crime.

On the night of December 22, 2000, some intruders entered the Mughal-era fort where unit 7 of Rajputana Rifles of the Indian Army was stationed and opened fire at them.

Three Army jawans were killed in the attack.

The intruders later escaped by scaling the rear side boundary of the fort.

Over the years, Arif's case has wound its way through the labyrinth of the legal system.

Appeals and reviews stretched the process, but ultimately, the highest courts upheld his conviction.

In a final bid to avoid his sentence, Arif filed a mercy petition, hoping for a reprieve from the President of India.

However, President Droupadi Murmu, after careful consideration and review of the gravity of the crime, rejected Arif's plea for mercy.

This decision marks the end of a long and arduous legal journey, reaffirming the stance against terrorism and delivering a measure of closure to those affected by the attack.

The rejection of the mercy petition underscores a commitment to justice and the rule of law, sending a clear message that acts of terror will be met with the full force of legal consequence.

Arif was convicted of the attack and sentenced to death on October 31, 2005, by a trial court.

This was confirmed by the Delhi high court in September 2007 and by the Supreme Court in August 2011.

He then filed a review petition, which was rejected by a bench of two judges.

The top court also dismissed his curative petition challenging the rejection of the review petition.

The convict then filed a fresh writ petition praying that his review petitions should have been heard by a bench of three judges and in open court.

Hearing this, a Constitution bench decided in September 2014 that all death sentence cases will be heard by a three-judge bench in open court.

Accordingly, his review petition was heard again by a three-judge bench.

The review plea challenged the trial court's reliance on call data records as evidence.

On November 2, 2022, the Supreme Court bench then affirmed the death sentence awarded to the terrorist.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi who won from Wayand and Raebareli Lok Sabha seats in the 2024 general elections said on Wednesday that he was in a dilemma as to which constituency he should relinquish.

IMAGE: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi addresses a public meeting in Malappuram. Photograph: @INCIndia/X

Gandhi, however, said that whatever decision he takes, both constituencies will be happy with it.

He thanked the people of Wayanad for electing him for a second term in Lok Sabha and said, "I look forward to seeing you soon."

"I have a dilemma before me, whether I should be the MP of Wayanad or of Raebareli. What I will commit to you is that both Wayand and Raebareli will be happy with my decision," the Congress leader said while speaking at a public meeting in Malappuram.

It is his first appearance in the state after winning the Wayanad LS seat by a huge margin for the second consecutive time.

Gandhi took a dig at Narendra Modi by saying that he does not receive any directions from God on what has to be done the way the PM does.

Mocking at Modi, the Congress leader said God directs the PM to hand over the country's major airports and power plants to Adani.

"But, I am a human being. My God are the poor people of the country. So, for me it is easy. I just talk to the people and they tell me what to do," Gandhi said.

During his speech, he also said that the fight in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls was for protecting the Constitution of India and in that fight, hatred has been defeated by love and affection, arrogance by humility.

Gandhi also said that PM Modi will now have to change his attitude because the people of India have sent him a clear message.

The Congress leader called the government formed at the Centre as a "crippled one".
The Prison City Ramblers will host their 31st annual Father's Day Car Show from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, June 16, at Emerson Park.

One of the largest car shows in central New York, it features more than 500 cars, raises more than $5,000 for local charities and draws a crowd of a few thousand people to the Owasco lakeside park.

Trophies are awarded to favorite vehicles as selected by the club, with additional awards for best of show and more.

The show will also include a flea market.

Admission is free and open to the public. Parking is $5. Attendees are encouraged to bring canned food items for local pantries.

Vehicle registration is $10 before June 12 and $15 the day of the show.

For more information, visit prisoncityramblers.org.
BRATTLEBORO  After a five-year hiatus, Shakespeare in the Park is returning to Living Memorial Park with "The Tragedy of Julius Caesar."

"The way I'm approaching the design of the show is, it's not your stuffy toga and marble 'Julius Caesar,'" said Jessica Gelter, director of the play. "It's definitely a completely different world. And I think that the park is really conducive to that sort of fantasy and exploration. I think it allows you to get out of that box."

Vermont Theatre Company is presenting the play at 6 p.m. June 20, 21, 22 and 23 at the Rotary Stage at Living Memorial Park. Tickets are on a sliding scale of $5 to $15 and paid by cash only. Children younger than 12 get in free.

James Gelter said that when he became president of Vermont Theatre Company in December, the return of Shakespeare in the Park was "the first order of business, in part because I'd had conversations with people who had done it in the past, or seen it in the past, saying that they missed this particular program.

"It had been a 30-year program before the pandemic hit and put it on hiatus," he said. "Some of my fondest theater memories were doing this program."

Jessica, who's married to James, also has fond memories of the local Shakespeare in the Park program. When she returned after her first year of college, she participated in a performance.

"It was amazing to come home from the city and be surrounded by nature and out in the sunshine doing theater and doing what I loved," she said. "So, to me, it's always had a really special place in my heart, this Shakespeare in the Park stuff."

Having not solo directed any shows since the COVID-19 pandemic shutdown, Jessica had the itch to direct again. She recounted how she was "so sad to lose" her production of "Mother of the Maid."

When James expressed his desire to bring back Shakespeare in the Park, Jessica said she wanted to direct the show. She described having "a great time" directing "A Midsummer Night's Dream" in 2017 and "Henry V" in 2012.

"I knew this is going to sound silly," she said. "But after my time on the Select Board, I knew I wanted something that dug into politics somehow, not that I wanted to come at it head-on. But I wanted to explore and process some of what I'd experienced as an elected leader."

Jessica, who served for a year on the Brattleboro Select Board during 2022 and 2023, said all the decisions and information that characters have to process are "very complex."

"Every single character, I have such love for," she said, crediting Shakespeare with writing "the real human side of folks."

She said the story isn't a "black-and-white propaganda piece," where the audience clearly knows the bad guys from the good guys.

"It's complicated and messy, and the tragedy is in consequences of making big, risky decisions and what plays out," she said.

Jessica called the play "popular, lovely" and "one of Shakespeare's shortest shows." Its script is the closest to the likely original of what Shakespeare had written, she said.

In reviving a community tradition, Jessica felt an urge to make a huge production and get as many people involved as possible. She reached out to every single actor she's worked with in the last eight years. She said she "tried really hard to get the energy and the love and the enthusiasm there we had."

Nearly 40 people auditioned and she cast every single one of them.

"At this point, I'm figuring it's a community endeavor," she said. "I want to have a big production, and I want to celebrate everyone's enthusiasm and passion for theater by including them in the production."

As of Monday afternoon, Jessica reported that rehearsals are going well. She said the cast and crew are "brilliant."

"We gave ourselves a luxurious amount of time to put the show together, so it's coming together really well and we're in a great place, being two weeks out from closing," she said.

James called the show "an epic."

"It tells a large story, with a large cast, about a momentous event in history," he said. "And one of the great joys and challenges of the park stage is how big it is."

Alex Hacker, who plays Caius Cassius, said he loves the way "Julius Caesar" divides political allegiance in "a really democratic way."

"Everybody has this certain amount of power, and Shakespeare treats them equally, not necessarily good and not necessarily bad," he said. "It's outside, and then it's on that big stage, on that big hill. There's just something, I don't know, that resonates about the public aspect of the play, and just putting it on outside like that. I think it works really well."

A couple of years ago, Hacker acted in "Hamlet" at Main Street Arts in Saxtons River. He performed a two-man version of "Richard III" in Baltimore before he moved to Vermont five years ago. And in high school, he was in "Romeo and Juliet."

Hacker said "Hamlet" and "Julius Caesar" were written around the same time and have some "straightforward parallels" but are two entirely different plays.

"I feel like 'Hamlet' is incredibly intimate, where 'Julius Caesar' is incredibly rhetorically public, and it's been interesting to be in both of them in a two-year span," he said.

Jessica said the story "goes everywhere" and "has everything."

"It's funny," she said. "There's love and friendship. There's fight scenes, there's angry mobs, there's dramatic deaths."

Audiences should expect to be delighted and a little provoked as they stand behind the decisions made by characters they fall in love with, Jessica said.

James said he's "very interested in seeing how people respond to just how timely this story still feels."

"It's a story about the fall of a republic and how people take that," he said. "And what it makes them think about our own global situation is something I'm looking forward to having conversations with audience members about."

Hacker said there's a reason Shakespeare put "the tragedy" in the title of the play.

"It's not quite identifiable in the sense that we think about, 'Oh, there's a character who has a tragic flaw,'" he said. "This is a more universal tragedy that the mistakes and all the things that lead into what happens are spread around. And I think that's really interesting."

Hacker is enjoying working with a big cast. Jessica views it as having "a family of theater people around you" from which she can source different opinions, perspectives and ideas.

Half of the cast is made up of faces that are new to James. Others, he's worked with for many years.

Rose Watson of the Harmony Collective Artist Gallery is helping to build costumes out of trash. Cal Glover-Wessel, musician and composer, will perform a soundscape every night of the show.

When rain comes down hard or thunderstorms occur, shows are canceled. Jessica suggested coming to the first show where the weather looks good in case others don't happen.

The cast includes Kay Becker as Marcus Brutus, James Gelter as Marc Antony, Casey Parles as Calpurnia, Akisas as Portia and Christian Drake as Julius Caesar. Other members include Alicia Zilske, Amanda Bam Bamforth, Arthur Pettee, Aslan Thompson, Brendan McGrail, Cyndi Cain Fitzgerald, Drift Mavyn, Eden Gorst, Geof Dolman, Harral Hamilton, Henry Grobe, Huxley Dove, Ian Bigelow, Jackson Grobe, Jana Pohle, Jessi McFarland, Kira Storm, Kit Mauriello, Laurence O'Brien, Rebecca Saunders, Sabrina Smith, Tim Guarente, Tony Grobe and Tosha Tillman. Dawn Grobe is the producer.

The production features depictions of murder and suicide.
SWANZEY, N.H.  With a name like Pigeons Playing Ping Pong, a rock 'n' roll band better be a little quirky, and a lot of fun. And it doesn't hurt if they're also very good.

The Pigeons are playing for the second straight year at the Northlands Music & Arts Festival, scheduled for Friday and Saturday at the Cheshire Fairgrounds, a few miles south of Keene. Based out of Baltimore, Md., Pigeons Playing Ping Pong has a unique and versatile sound that brings the party to the stage with danceable electro-funk grooves and infectious positive energy.

"Funk is the quick pitch," said Pigeons guitarist and vocalist Greg Ormont last week, when asked to describe the band's musical personality. "But ultimately, it's dance music, whether that's got an island vibe or a heavier rock vibe. It's a lot of funk, a lot of electronica tinges here and there. Most of all, we're going to have you dancing. We're not purely a funk band, but we are certainly high energy and psychedelic."

Pigeons Playing Ping Pong is scheduled to take the Echo Stage Friday at 6:30 p.m., about 90 minutes before headliner Goose plays the Mountain Stage for two sets. Jam-grass favorite Greensky Bluegrass headlines Saturday's lineup.

Other bands scheduled to perform across three stages during the festival include Eric Krasno & Friends, Spafford, Dopapod, Sierra Hull, Bearly Dead, Jatoba, Hayley Jane and Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad. Special guests will include Jennifer Hartswick and Natalie Cressman, two members of the Trey Anastasio Band's horn section. Perennial jam band favorite moe. was scheduled to perform at Northlands on Saturday but had to cancel the appearance because of "extenuating family circumstances"  moe. has been replaced by Andy Frasco & the U.N.

In addition to the music, Northlands includes camping, installation art, live muralists, food trucks, a craft artisan village and a family tent with games, crafts and activities.

Pigeons Playing Ping Pong  consisting of Ormont (vocals, guitar), Jeremy Schon (guitar, vocals), Ben Carrey (bass, vocals) and Alex Petropulos (drums, vocals)  harnesses plenty of energy within a hypnotic hybrid of funk, rock and psychedelic groove. The band has attracted a devout audience of fans, affectionately known as The Flock, and has performed everywhere from Red Rocks Amphitheatre and The Capitol Theatre to festivals such as Bonnaroo, Electric Forest and Jam Cruise.

Aside from Petropulos, who replaced original drummer Dan Schwartz in 2015, the Pigeons have stuck together since Ormont and Schon met while students at the University of Maryland in 2009.

"On the first day of college, I walked down the dorm room with a guitar in hand and started jamming with our guitarist, within minutes of college," Ormont said. "It was almost like a made-for-TV movie, you know? It was just a storybook beginning and, again, it was always just for fun. And I honestly feel the same way now. Yes, this is like our full-time career, and some of us have kids, and it's important for it to be a business. But when it's all said and done, we do it for the fun of it and the joy, and that's what makes all these long drives worthwhile.

"You'll be hard-pressed to find any other band having as much fun as we do. And I hope that feeling is contagious as it reflects back into the crowd. We just love what we do. We have a song, the chorus is, 'We put the fun in funk.' And I think that's something I could stand with two feet on."

Pigeons released its seventh full-length album, "Day In Time," in April, which sees the musicians realizing another level of cohesion in the studio. One of the new songs, an instrumental, is called "Skinner," which is an homage of sorts to the band's namesake, B.F. Skinner, the American psychologist who famously taught pigeons to play ping pong to prove his "principle of reinforcement." Ormont said he saw the phrase in a textbook, thought it was hilarious, and immediately suggested it as a band name. "Little did I know I would see that on a tattoo on someone years down the line."

Asked if the name has been as much a challenge as an attention-grabber, Ormont said, "I don't think it's been a challenge to live up to the quirkiness, because we're pretty nuts. But I do think, if you take it at face value, you might not think that we're serious. And, you know, behind the scenes, we are working constantly on new music, new styles to play, new transitions  we pour our heart into it and give it everything we have. And then once we're up there, we kind of let it rip, and, you know, let the crazy out.

"But I'm really proud of where we started and where we are now. It was such low stakes when we named the band. We were just an acoustic duo at the time, and 'band' was an awfully liberal usage of the word when we were playing in coffee shops and open mic nights. Like, I didn't realize the stakes. Honestly, isn't that the best way to go about things, to not get caught up with what it means, to just kind of trust your gut and roll with it?"

Ormont said the Pigeons are proud to be sharing the festival stage this year with another species of "jam-birds": Goose. The Connecticut quintet is certainly no stranger to Northlands and Schway-zee, as keyboardist Peter Anspach endearingly mispronounced the locale during Gooses live set there in 2020. Goose played at the fairgrounds in October 2020 (when the venue was known as Drive-In Live) and again in June 2021 before taking off in popularity over the last four years. The band's acoustic offshoot Orebolo  Rick Mitarotonda, Anspach and Jeff Arevalo  played at last year's Northlands Festival.

This will be Goose's first appearance at Northlands with Vermont drummer Cotter Ellis, who replaced Ben Atkind earlier this year.

"They are such a powerhouse," Ormont said of Goose. "The (Northlands) lineup is stacked this year. I'm friends with a lot of the bands, so it's going to be a bit of a family reunion for us."

Pigeons has been touring most recently with Andy Frasco & the U.N. and Dogs in a Pile, an up-and-coming band from New Jersey. Ormont said the young guns have provided an "energy explosion" for the Pigeons, who are now relative old-timers on the jam band scene.

"It's funny, I remember when we first started touring with some bands that were 10 years older than us, and they took us under their wings, and now we finally are seasoned enough to pay it forward. And I have no doubt that in 10 years, a band like Dogs will be doing it to another young buck coming up."

Ormont said Pigeons has been touring "relentlessly" for the last 12 to 15 years. He still remembers the early days, such as playing a tiny club on Main Street in Brattleboro called Barnaby's, and he's grateful for the fans that have stuck with the band through the years.

"It always started in those small, little bars that no one's ever heard of, from a band with the craziest name they've seen in a while. And I'm eternally grateful that those people who looked at our name and maybe rolled their eyes still gave us a chance. It's always been a great time."

For tickets and more information about the Northlands Music & Arts Festival, go to northlandslive.com.
One of several air filters placed around Bellows Falls Union High School in Westminster to help with the PCB levels.
John Abdallah Wambere, who left Uganda and settled in the Boston area where he was granted asylum, later founded AmeriGanda, which has a mission, according to its website, "to improve, sustain, and support the standard of living of the LGBTQ community in Uganda as welll as LGBTQ+ refugees in the region." He will be in Westminster West on June 20 to talk about the organization.
Two Cayuga County school districts evacuated their buildings Wednesday morning after receiving a bomb threat.

County Sheriff Brian Schenck told The Citizen the threat was emailed to multiple central New York school districts, including Union Springs and Weedsport. His office's school resource officers at the two districts reported the threat at about 10:30 a.m., and deputies helped the schools execute their lockdown and evacuation procedures.

Schenck said the threat does not appear to be credible, but his office is working with New York State Police and the Central New York Crime Analysis Center to identify the source.

Weedsport resumed normal school activities on the advice of law enforcement after it was determined the threat was not credible, district Superintendent Gregory Stone told parents in a letter.

In the letter, which Stone shared with The Citizen, he said the threat was sent to 10 districts across multiple counties.

"My top priority is always the safety of our students," Stone said in the letter. "We take any threat seriously and respond according to the unique circumstances of each situation."

Union Springs Middle School-High School sent students home after the evacuation, district Superintendent Dr. Jarett Powers told The Citizen. Although A.J. Smith Elementary School was not included in the threat, Powers said the school was secured and law enforcement stayed for the rest of the school day out of an abundance of caution.

Additional law enforcement will be present at all Union Springs schools on Thursday.
Cloud Ready Solutions has signed a distribution agreement with application recovery platform vendor Nimesa for Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands.

Nimesa offers Amazon Web Services (AWS) -native backup and advanced, air-gapped cross-region full stack disaster recovery solutions.

According to Cloud Ready, the agreement will enhance its portfolio and provide clients with tools to protect their AWS environments.

Nicholas Gee, Cloud Ready technical director, said Nimesas platform perfectly aligns with the distributors business mission of protecting business data.

Nimesa automates testing, provides instant recovery of VMs and introduces compute and storage cost savings by managing VMs that dont need to exist 247. It can power down, back up, delete and restore VMs automatically, he said.

This platform provides a comprehensive, secure, and cost-effective approach to disaster recovery and data protection within the AWS environment.
Following the inauguration of Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te on May 20, a claim emerged that Lai complained about his predecessor, Tsai Ing-wen, in a leaked audio.

But the audio is likely to be AI-generated, according to experts. Using an AI-analysis tool, AFCL also found signs of audio digitally manipulated.

A video with purported leaked audio was shared on X, formerly known as Twitter, by a user named Guyan Muchan. AFCL has previously debunked claims shared by this user multiple times.

The one-minute and 33-second video has two parts.

In the first part, a male voice with a Taiwanese accent can be heard describing a longstanding break between Lai and Tsai, both high-ranking members of Taiwans Democratic Progressive Party, or DPP, saying that the two figures once almost came to blows over their differences.

At the 45-second mark, the purported voice of Lai can be heard, complaining about Tsai due to their purported disagreements.

Guyan Muchan claimed in a post on X that leaked audio showed new Taiwan President Lai Ching-te complaining about his predecessor, Tsai Ing-wen. (Screenshot/X)



But there is not enough evidence to show that the audio was a genuine recording of Lai.

AI generated

AFCL used the open source AI detection tool Hive to analyze a 45-second purported recording of Lai, dividing it into four parts.

Three of the parts were judged to be more than 90% likely to have been generated by AI. The audio snippet from 11 to 20 seconds was judged to be 55.9% likely to have been produced by AI.

The AI detection tool Hive judged all four parts of the supposed audio clip of Lai to be likely generated by AI. (Screenshot/Hive)



Experts analysis

Chih-Chung Hsu, an associate professor of statistics at Taiwans National Cheng Kung University specializing in deep learning and image processing, analyzed the purported leaked audio of Lai using an in-house audio-visual detection system.

This system measures AI likeness on a scale from 0 to 1. Hsu found that the voice on the audio measured 0.674, indicating a relatively low similarity to Lais voice.

Hsu added high-quality AI-generated audio and real voice typically score 0.85 or higher, but also warned that the low score could be due to the poor quality of the uploaded audio file.

Paul Liu, a Taiwanese information security expert, pointed out that the audio contained clipping, which should not be present in a secret recording.

The over-distortion suggested the microphone was extremely close to Lai, which Liu found unlikely given the sensitive subject matter.

He added that the flat pace and lack of irregular pauses and breaths resembled AI audio.

I expected Lais voice to rise in pitch due to anger, rather than remain monotone given the emotional nature of the subject, Liu said, adding that the absence of a definite time and place for the recording significantly lowered its credibility.

Taiwans Office of the President also said the audio is fake, citing analysis by the National Security Bureau.

Translated by Shen Ke. Edited by Shen Ke and Taejun Kang.
Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell said the fall of communism would be undesirable right now.

Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell testifies during his confirmation hearing on Capitol Hill, Dec. 7, 2023, in Washington. (Mariam Zuhaib/AP)

The U.S. government does not seek regime change in China akin to the breakup of the Soviet Union in 1991, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell said Wednesday at a forum in Washington.

Responding to a question about a recent article in Foreign Affairs penned by a high-profile former lawmaker and a former Trump administration official calling for the United States to adopt the goal of defeating communism in China, Campbell said he disagreed.

He told the forum at the Stimson Center that such an objective would be reckless and likely unproductive for U.S. interests amid multiple global crises that are already stretching Washingtons capabilities.

We need to accept China as a major player and [accept] that doing constructive diplomacy with them is in American strategic interests, Campbell said, listing the invasion of Ukraine, the Israel-Gaza conflict, famine in Africa and challenges in the Red Sea as priorities.

The world is dangerous and unpredictable enough right now, he said. I do not believe it is in our interest at the current juncture to add to our list: Let's try to topple the other leading power on the global stage.

The article was written April 10 by Mike Gallagher, a now former Republican lawmaker who chaired the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party, and Matt Pottinger, who was former President Donald Trumps deputy national security advisor.

It argued the Biden administrations policy of managing competition with China was short-sighted and that Washington should return to a Cold War-style foreign policy aimed at winning the competition by removing a communist regime and replacing it with a democracy.

Overestimated our ability

Campbell was confirmed as the deputy U.S. secretary of state in February after serving since 2021 as Bidens chief Indo-Pacific foreign policy adviser on the White Houses National Security Council.

President Joe Biden, right, greets China's President President Xi Jinping, left, at the Filoli Estate in Woodside, USA, Wednesday, Nov. 15, 2023. (Doug Mills/The New York Times via AP, Pool)

He previously served as assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific affairs from 2009 to 2013 under then-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton during the Obama administration, and said his experience told him the world views U.S. efforts at regime change poorly.

Allies throughout Asia would be highly critical of an effort to depart along this path and could reconsider their support for America if regime change was the objective, the No. 2 U.S. diplomat said.

He also suggested it was not certain that a non-communist government in Beijing would adopt foreign policy positions any more palatable to Washington than those of the current Chinese government.

For years we have overestimated our ability to fundamentally influence the direction of Chinese foreign policy, Campbell said, advocating for a high degree of modesty of what we think is possible with respect to fundamental changes in how China sees the world.

The worlds two major powers had to learn to live together, he added.

Despite our differences, I do think, at the current juncture, it makes more sense to  send clear signals of areas where we have red lines and concerns, but also to do what you can to coexist, he said.

Edited by Malcolm Foster.
The prime minister and finance minister offered assurances to lawmakers about the national debt this week.

A Chinese high-speed train moves across a bridge over the Mekong River, north of the Laotian city of Luang Prabang on Dec. 12, 2023.

Updated June 13, 2024, 10:20 a.m. ET

The steadily declining value of Laos national currency has made it increasingly difficult for the government to make its regular debt payments, an Asian Development Bank financial expert told Radio Free Asia.

The Ministry of Finance typically has to exchange the kip for U.S. dollars, Thai baht or Chinese yuan before making payments, according to the Vientiane-based financial expert, who requested anonymity due to the diplomatically sensitive information he was conveying.

The kip weakened by 31% against the dollar last year  a trend that was expected to continue in 2024, according to the World Bank.

The government will need at least US$10 billion this year to cover all debt-related expenses, but Laos central bank  the Bank of Lao P.D.R.  has so far only brought in US$3 billion, Minister of Finance Santiphab Phomvihanh told National Assembly lawmakers on Monday.

The government is working to improve tax collection from businesses with the aim of taming the debt payments, he said.

Were requesting the big businesses to pay their taxes regularly and on time, he said. Mega projects like dam construction, mining operations, expressway construction, transport and digital trades  including online marketing  must pay their dues.

Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone also spoke with lawmakers about the debt issue on Monday, saying that the government recently sold bonds worth 8 trillion kip (US$368 million).

Under my watch, I will never allow our country to default on debt, he said.

Whats owed to China

Laos economy continues to face challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. The number of visits by international tourists remains low, for example.

A shortage of foreign currencies needed to pay down debt and fund development projects has been a main driver of the kips depreciation, the World Bank said last December.

A 2010 World Bank study found that countries whose debt-to-gross domestic product ratios exceed 77% eventually undergo notable slowdowns in economic growth.

Laos national debt has risen to 112 percent of its GDP, officials from the World Bank and Asian Development Bank said in December.

According to a 2023 report published by the Ministry of Finance, Laos total debt was US$14 billion. About 51% of the debt is owed to China, according to the ministry.

China helped Laos build the US$6 billion Lao-China High Speed Railway, which was completed in 2021 as part of its Belt and Road Initiative. Other major Chinese investments in roads and hydropower dams have also contributed to the debt.

About 6% of Laos debt is held by Thailand, 7% by the World Bank and 8% by the Asian Development Bank, also known as the ADB, according to the ministry.

In December, an ADB official told RFA that the government was negotiating a restructuring of its debt to China.

The ADB declined to comment when contacted by email on Wednesday.

Translated by Max Avary. Edited by Matt Reed and Malcolm Foster.

This story has been updated with ADB declining to comment.
Victims are part of an ongoing juntas interrogation that has lasted weeks and resulted in more than 70 deaths.

Junta soldiers in Myanmars west interrogated dozens of detained villagers and tortured several to death, residents told Radio Free Asia.

The soldiers beat three of the arrested residents from Byain Phyu village in Rakhine State on Wednesday until they were rushed to the hospital, two eventually dying from their injuries, said one resident, declining to be named for security reasons.

More than 40 people were sent to Sittwe Prison from the [juntas] military interrogation yesterday. Three of them were close to death, he said. The three of them were sent to Sittwe Hospital. Two died yesterday, and the other one is seriously injured.

The bodies were covered in bruises and long cuts, he added.

A family member who wished to remain anonymous for fear of reprisals told RFA that those who were sent to prison also had serious injuries.

The [junta] said residents from the village will be jailed. The villagers were severely tortured when we went to see them, he said. My uncle is also among the people who were sent to prison.

Junta authorities stationed in the area filed a case against the detained residents under Section 17(1) of the Unlawful Association Act and Section 188 of the Penal Code for disobeying an order, said another resident. The charges allege that villagers were connected to the anti-junta Arakan Army.

Juntas move came as clashes intensify between the Arakan Army and junta forces, with the rebel group advancing closer to the state capital, which made Myanmar military ramp up its raids and interrogations in the surrounding areas.

On May 29, junta troops arrested residents of Byain Phyu village and killed over 70 people. The arrested villagers were interrogated about connections to insurgent armies, according to locals. Nearly 200 junta soldiers surrounded the village and detained a large but undisclosed number of men.

Women and children under 15 involved in the arrest were released on May 31, but the remaining 40 men were transferred from an interrogation center in Byain Phyu, Rakhine State, to a prison in Sittwe on Tuesday, residents reported.

Separately, junta troops threatened residents from five villages near the states capital of Sittwe that they must evacuate by Friday.

According to an Arakan Army statement, Byain Phyus death toll following the arrests reached 76 as of June 4.

RFA phoned Rakhine states junta spokesperson Hla Thein to confirm the two additional deaths reported on Wednesday, but he did not respond by the time of publication.

Junta spokesperson Maj. Gen. Zaw Min Tun denied the mass arrests and killings through military-controlled media on June 4.

Translated by RFA Burmese. Edited by Kiana Duncan and Taejun Kang.
Assaulted and tortured during her interrogation, she describes two years in cramped and crumbling prisons.

A Myanmar trade union leader has fled from the surveillance of the military after release from more than two years in prison, to a region controlled by forces opposed to the junta, traumatized but unbowed and determined to fight on, she told Radio Free Asia.

Khine Thinzar Aye, who joined the Myanmar trade movement at the age of 19, was arrested in April 2022 during a strike against the military regime that took power in 2021. After a military truck hit a taxi she was in, soldiers arrested her and two other Confederation of Trade Unions Myanmar members. The union has 65,000 members nationwide.

As head of the unions communications department, the now 29-year-old says she was subjected to intense questioning because of her position in the organization. During interrogations, Khine Thinzar Aye was told to kneel on the ground while soldiers beat her and forced her to confess to protesting in exchange for 30,000 kyat (US$11).

After being moved to the Shwepyithar Interrogation Center, she was checked for life-threatening injuries before being tortured for another seven days. Soldiers told her that they could kill her at any time, she said.

When we arrived at the interrogation, we were blindfolded and handcuffed, then drunken men surrounded us and beat us and brutally cut our legs with knives, Khine Thinzar Aye said, adding that they sexually assaulted her. They put lit cigarettes on our faces and asked us to reveal the location of our trade union leaders homes.

After a week of interrogation, she was sent to Yangons infamous Insein Prison to await trial. That December, she was sentenced to three years in prison with hard labor under the notorious provision 505A of the penal code, which criminalizes comment that can cause fear or spread fake news.

Insein Prison was so packed it was often impossible for prisoners to sleep, she said.

It wasnt humane. It was really crowded. One person was forced to stay in about a foot and half of space, she said. At the time when COVID was happening, if one person slept on their back, the other had to sleep on their side, taking turns.

She was moved to the decrepit Thayarwady Prison in Bago Division for her last year.

"Plaster fell on us from the ceiling, the dormitories in our prison were more than 100 years old, Khine Thinzar Aye said. All the detainees were worried about when it would collapse.''

She was released in April, a few months early under an amnesty.

Unions under attack

Trade unions were among the groups that spearheaded protests that swept the country after the military seized power in early 2021, bringing a brutal end to a decade of reforms that had brought hope for change in a country ruled by generals for decades.

Nearly 1,000 trade union members have been arrested since the coup, another labor leader told RFA. However, because people are moved about the prison system so much, it is difficult to track the precise number.

Thirty percent are released, some workers are sent to prison for life without parole, said the second labor leader who declined to be identified in fear of reprisals. Some union leaders, we cant find them because we don't know what kind of prison theyre in or the place they were arrested. Some were shot on the street and died.

Khine Thinzar Aye protests the Myanmar military dictatorship in Hlaing township, Yangon in March 2021. (CTUM)

Shortly after the coup, the junta banned 16 unions. Since then, workers have faced increasing challenges fighting for fair wages and freedom of association.

The military has become increasingly concerned about union funding, the second labor leader said, adding that they were constantly being questioned about connections to the shadow civilian National Unity Government and Peoples Defense Force militias fighting the regime.

Every evening, when the workers are going home from the factory, they check their phones, she said. If we like or follow some of the PDF or NUG channels, they beat us or arrest the workers.

Returning to work

Khine Thinzar Aye said that during her interrogations, soldiers repeatedly asked her about involvement in terrorist activities, scrutinized the union budget and asked how it spent money.

She was released on April 26 traumatized by her experience.

I had no peace of mind, she said. I knew Id be constantly monitored, and Id have to go to the police station and report.

Escaping the city of Yangon, she fled to a region under the control of ethnic minority insurgents where she plans to stay and continue her work for the labor movement.

Our country was on a path, moving toward democracy, she said of the 10 years of tentative reform that the military ended with their coup.

Our young people, our workers, all of us, will soon actively eradicate this dictatorship and its unjust oppression and illegal coup, she said.

We can do it if were united and push together.

RFA Burmese contributed to this report. Edited by Taejun Kang.
A former army officer says the boats could be modified to fit weapons for use in restive Rakhine state.

A navy patrol boat donated by China is docked at Lanmataw jetty in Yangon, Myanmar, June 12, 2024.

China has delivered six patrol boats to Myanmars military junta, fulfilling a promise made in 2020 to the countrys previous democratically elected civilian government, the Chinese Embassy said in a statement on Wednesday.

The patrol boats that were handed over in Yangon on Tuesday will be used in law enforcement efforts to control gambling and drug trafficking and in rescue and water resources protection activities, the embassy said.

But a former army officer, who wished not to be named for security reasons, told RFA that the vessels could also be useful for naval military operations in Rakhine state, which has several well-traveled rivers and an Indian Ocean coastline.

Rakhine state has seen intense fighting between military junta troops and the ethnic minority insurgent Arakan Army since last November.

If these boats are modified a little bit, weapons could be installed, the former army officer said.

A navy patrol boat donated by China is docked at Lanmataw jetty in Yangon, Myanmar, June 12, 2024. (RFA)





Four of the patrol boats are 48 meters long (157 feet), and the other two are 28 meters long (91 feet), the embassy said.

The civilian government under the National League for Democracy first requested the vessels in 2018.

Chinas projects in Rakhine

An agreement was made in 2020 during Chinese President Xi Jinpings two-day visit to Myanmar, in which several deals were signed to implement multibillion dollar infrastructure projects under the Belt and Road Initiative.

The projects include a US$1.3 billion deep-sea port in Rakhine states Kyaukphyu, as well as the China-Myanmar Economic Corridor, a 620 km (1,000 mile) high-speed railway and road network that will run from Chinas Kunming city through Myanmars major economic hubs and on to the port.

The corridor will ultimately give China crucial access to the Indian Ocean at Kyaukphyu.

The military junta removed the civilian government and seized power in February 2021.

A resident of Kyaukphyu township who closely monitors the Chinese projects told RFA that the Chinese ambassador visited Kyaukphyu on Monday.

Human Rights Watch found in 2022 that the Myanmar junta had used Japan-funded passenger ships during military operations in Rakhine state.

The Myanmar juntas misuse of Japanese development aid for military purposes effectively makes Japan a backer of the juntas military operations, Asia program officer Teppei Kasai said at the time.

When asked via email on Wednesday if the patrol boats could be used for military purposes, the Chinese Embassy in Myanmar directed RFA to a statement posted on its Facebook page.

RFAs attempts to contact junta spokesman Major Gen. Zaw Min Tun to ask about the patrol boats were unsuccessful on Wednesday.

Translated by Aung Naing. Edited by Matt Reed and Malcolm Foster.
New President To Lam said maritime disputes should be better managed in accordance with international law.

Vietnams new President To Lam has asked that Beijing respect Hanois rights and interests in disputed waters, days after Vietnamese officials protested against what they called Chinas illegal activities in the Gulf of Tonkin.

Last Thursday, a Vietnamese foreign ministry spokesperson denounced the operation of the Chinese navy survey vessel Hai Yang 26 in Vietnams exclusive economic zone and continental shelf and said that Vietnam has engaged in multiple diplomatic exchanges with China to demand the ending of such operations.

To Lam, while not mentioning the Hai Yang 26, told Chinese ambassador to Vietnam Xiong Bo that the two neighbors should strictly implement bilateral agreements, better control and resolve disagreements at sea, as well as respect each others legitimate rights and interests, his office said in a statement .

The two countries should also actively seek appropriate ways to settle maritime disputes in accordance with international law, especially the U.N. Convention on the law of the sea (UNCLOS), he said.

The new president stressed that Vietnam saw its relationship with China as a strategic choice and top priority of its foreign policy.

Lam was sworn in as Vietnams state president on May 22 amid an unprecedented reshuffle of the communist partys leadership following the burning furnace anti-graft campaign initiated by party chief Nguyen Phu Trong.

Xiong Bo became the first foreign ambassador to pay Lam a courtesy call to congratulate him on his new post.

Hai Yang 26

In last weeks unusually strong rebuke, foreign ministry spokeswoman Pham Thu Hang said that Vietnam was deeply concerned, resolutely opposed, and demanded that China immediately stop the illegal survey activities of the Hai Yang 26 in Vietnams waters and not repeat them.

Hang told reporters in Hanoi that the Vietnamese government has engaged in multiple diplomatic exchanges with the Chinese side over the case.

Chinese survey vessels have frequently operated in Vietnams exclusive economic zone but it has seldom publicly protested, giving preference to quieter bilateral channels.

Caption: The Chinese navy survey vessel Hai Yang 26 on an unspecified date. (Vietnam Foreign Ministry)





A Vietnamese analyst, who declined to be identified because of the sensitivity of the issue, said that the new leader  who was seen as a hard-liner because of his public security background -- may want to show that he is not pro-China, as some critics say.

Another analyst, Hoang Viet, told RFA that the foreign ministrys reaction was due to the severity of the event, as well as to partially direct attention to Vietnam amid increased tensions between China and the Philippines in the South China Sea.

Hai Yang 26 is one of nine Type 636A hydrographic survey vessels in service with the Chinese Peoples Liberation Army navy.

This kind of survey ship is thought to be utilized by the navy for mapping the underwater topography map in areas where submarines operate, as well as to conduct marine surveys, such as the study of ocean acoustics.

The fact that Vietnam had multiple diplomatic exchanges with China over the vessel suggested it had been operating in Vietnams waters for a prolonged period.

China has yet to respond to Vietnams protest but a Chinese think tank, the South China Sea Probing Initiative, wrote on the social media platform X that the Hai Yang 26 only conducted a freedom of navigation operation, a type of patrol that China itself has deemed provocative on numerous occasions when conducted by other navies.

Edited by Taejun Kang.
The motion recognizes that Tibetans are victims of Chinas systemic cultural assimilation.

Canadian lawmaker Alexis Brunnelle-Duceppe of the Bloc Quebecois introduces a motion advocating for Tibets right to self-determination, at the Canadian Parliament in Ottawa, June 10, 2024.

Canadas Parliament has unanimously passed a motion in the House of Commons advocating for Tibets right to self-determination.

The nonbinding motion recognizes Tibetans as a people and a nation with the inherent right to determine their own social, economic, cultural and religious policies, including the selection of the next Dalai Lama, the spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism.

The measure demonstrates growing international support for Tibetans and their cause as the Chinese government steps up its repressive policies in the western region by eroding Tibetan language, culture and religion.

Sponsored by the bloc Quebecois, the motion was introduced by party lawmaker Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe.

The purpose of the motion was for the House of Commons to recognize that Tibetans are victims of systemic cultural assimilation by China; and to offer unanimous support to the Tibetan peoples efforts and actions towards self-determination, he said in a written response to Radio Free Asia.

The motion says Tibetans can claim the right to self-determination and freely choose their economic, social, cultural and religious policies without interference from external powers

It also says this empowerment prohibits China from interfering in the selection of the next Dalai Lama, whom Tibetans believe should be determined in accordance with their Buddhist belief in reincarnation.

The Chinese Embassy in Ottawa did not respond to RFAs request for comment.

Not forgotten

The motions passage on Monday follows a series of meetings between Sikyong Penpa Tsering, the leader of the Tibetan government-in-exile, Namgyal Choedup, the Dalai Lamas representative for North America, and the Canada Tibet Committee with Bloc Quebecois leaders in Montreal, Ottawa, and Washington.

Canadas unanimous passage of the motion reaffirming Tibetan self-determination sends a strong message to Tibetans in Tibet that their resilience is not forgotten, Tsering posted on his X account.

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Tenzin Lekshey, spokesman for the Central Tibetan Administration in Dharamsala, India, expressed the gratitude of the Tibetan government-in-exile to the Canadian Parliament for supporting the motion.

This motion holds immense significance for the Tibetan people inside Tibet, addressing key issues such as Tibets self-determination, the future reincarnation of the Dalai Lama, Chinese interference, Chinese assimilation policies, and the importance of preserving Tibetan culture, he said.

The adoption of the motion coincides with Canada Tibet Lobby Days 2024 during which Tibetans from across Canada travel to Ottawa to meet with lawmakers and express their concerns about Chinas repression of Tibetans.

In December 2022, Canadas House of Commons unanimously passed a motion endorsing Tibets Middle Way Approach and supporting the resumption of dialogue between Tibetan representatives and the Chinese government.

The approach accepts the formerly independent Himalayan nations status as a part of China but urges greater cultural and religious freedoms, including strengthened language rights, guaranteed for ethnic minorities under provisions of Chinas constitution.

Additional reporting by Yeshi Dawa and Ugen for RFA Tibetan. Edited by Roseanne Gerin and Malcolm Foster.
The legislation calling for Beijing to re-engage in talks with the Dalai Lama now heads to the president.

Updated at 21:35 ET on June 12, 2024.

The U.S. Congress on Wednesday passed a bill urging Beijing to re-engage with the Dalai Lama and other Tibetan leaders to peacefully resolve their dispute over the status and governance of Tibet.

The Promoting a Resolution to the Tibet-China Dispute Act, also known as the Resolve Tibet Act, passed the House of Representatives 391-26 and now heads to President Joe Biden for a signature to become law.

The bill previously passed the House in February but was altered by the Senate, which passed it last month, requiring a second look.

The legislation rejects Beijings position that Tibet has been part of China since ancient times and calls on Beijing to cease its propagation of disinformation about the history of Tibet, the Tibetan people, and Tibetan institutions, including that of the Dalai Lama.

It also calls on Beijing to resume dialogue with the Dalai Lama, who is the spiritual leader of Tibet, and other Tibetan leaders about how Tibet is governed. No formal talks have taken place since 2010.

Rep. Michael McCaul, a Republican from Texas who is chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and the main sponsor of the bill, said it showed the status quo in Tibet is not acceptable.

I can think of no greater message or gift to the Dalai Lama and the people of Tibet than the swift passage of this bill to get to the presidents desk as soon as possible, to help put the people of Tibet in charge of their own future, McCaul said after the bills passage.

The House bill was co-sponsored by 41 other lawmakers, including Rep. Gregory Meeks, a Democrat from New York who is his partys ranking member on the Foreign Affairs Committee, and Rep. Jim McGovern, a Democrat from Massachusetts who is also a member of the Congressional-Executive Commission on China.

McGovern said he was happy to have the opportunity to shine a light on this legislation once more, even as he noted that the Senate made a minor alteration to phrasing in the bill already passed by the House.

The Senate, in its wisdom, changed one paragraph, so the bill has come back to this chamber for final passage, McGovern said.

Charges of interference

A spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in Washington said Tibet was a purely internal matter of China, and that no "external forces" had the right to interfere.

"The 14th Dalai Lama is a political exile who has long been engaged in anti-China separatist activities under the guise of religion, aiming to separate Tibet from China," said Liu Pengyu. "We hope that the global community can see through the true nature of the Dalai clique and respect Chinas core interests and major concerns.

"We urge the U.S. side to cease using Tibet-related issues to interfere in Chinas internal affairs and to avoid actions that could harm Tibets development and stability," Liu said. "The US should not provide a platform for Tibetan independence forces to engage in anti-China separatist activities. China will take all necessary measures to defend its interests.

Namgyal Choedup, the representative of the Dalai Lama and the Central Tibetan Administration  the Tibean government-in-exile based in Dharamsala, India  welcomed the bill and said it came at a fortuitous time ahead of a trip by congressional leaders to visit the Dalai Lama in person in the coming days.

This is great news, and we are hopeful that President Biden will sign it into law soon, especially before the Senate Foreign Affairs chair and a delegation head to Dharamsala, India, to meet with the Dalai Lama and the leaders of the Central Tibetan Administration, he told RFA.

Sino-Tibetan dialogue began in 2002 in an effort to consider prospects of genuine autonomy for Tibet, as called for by the Dalai Lama.

The approach accepts the formerly independent Himalayan nations status as a part of China but urges greater cultural and religious freedoms, including strengthened language rights, guaranteed for ethnic minorities under provisions of Chinas constitution.

But the China-Tibet talks ground to a halt in 2010 following nine formal rounds of discussion and one informal meeting.

With this bill, we hope to restart dialogue between Tibet and China in keeping with the longstanding U.S. policy, McGovern said.

The bill also empowers the U.S. State Department to actively counter disinformation about Tibet promoted by the Chinese government.

Greater autonomy

China invaded the independent Himalayan country of Tibet in 1950 and has controlled the territory ever since. The Dalai Lama fled into exile in India amid a failed 1959 uprising against Chinese rule. Since then, Beijing has sought to legitimize Chinese rule through the suppression of dissent and policies undermining Tibetan culture and language.

Beijing believes the Dalai Lama wants to split off the Tibet Autonomous Region and other Tibetan-populated areas in Chinas Sichuan, Qinghai, Yunnan, and Gansu provinces from the rest of the country.

However, the Dalai Lama does not advocate for independence but rather proposes what he calls a Middle Way that accepts Tibets status as a part of China and urges greater cultural and religious freedoms, including strengthened language rights.

Tencho Gyatso, president of the International Campaign for Tibet, thanked the lawmakers for prioritizing the Tibet issue.

This latest indication of American support of Tibet is a source of hope and encouragement to the Tibetan people who have been struggling nonviolently against the Chinese communist government for more than six decades for their rights, she said in a statement.

Additional reporting by Khando Yangzom and Tenzin Dickyi. Edited by Alex Willemyns and Malcolm Foster.

Updates with comment from Chinese Embassy in Washington.
ALMATY -- Former Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbaev's youngest daughter, Alia, has suffered what would have been unthinkable during her father's long reign: a defeat in court.

But that doesn't necessarily mean she is going to face charges in Kazakhstan anytime soon, despite growing demand.

In 2002, Nazarbaeva was in her early 20s and was just beginning her business career.



But that didn't stop her from meeting with two successful entrepreneurs and making them an offer that they couldn't refuse before raising the threat level when they didn't play ball.



Such is the story being told by a pair of Kazakh businessmen who are now seeking damages from Nazarbaeva for what they call her seizure of their business, which was valued at around $170 million two decades ago.



Their colorful account -- one that implies Nazarbaeva had officers of the state at her beck and call in those days -- is so far being ignored by Kazakh law enforcement.



At the same time, Nazarbaeva's counterattack appears to have fallen flat.



On June 7, an administrative court in the capital, Astana, threw out libel charges Nazarbaeva had filed against the businessmen in response to accusations that they aired for the first time in February.

A draw, then?



Not if the businessmen have their way.



"We have hired lawyers in Britain. We are going to take our case there and to Switzerland. We have a 350-400-page dossier full of evidence of the lawless activities of Alia Nazarbaeva," Zharqyn Qurentaev, a representative for the two men, told RFE/RL.



RFE/RL reached out to Nazarbaeva, who did not participate directly in the online libel proceedings, but received no reply by the time of publication.



Ring-Fenced Relatives?



Unlike her older sister, Darigha Nazarbaeva, and her octogenarian father, the 44-year-old Alia Nazarbaeva has not been seen in Kazakhstan since the events known as Bloody January rocked the country at the beginning of 2022.



Those events, in which at least 238 people died, remain contested and almost impossible to fully unpack.



But two things seem clear.



The protests and violence on the streets of Kazakh cities occurred in parallel with a mighty struggle at the top of the government.



Secondly, that struggle ended in current President Qasym-Zhomart Toqaev's favor, allowing him to finally emerge from the shadow of Nazarbaev, whose family dominated Kazakhstan for three decades and amassed incredible wealth in the process.



After Toqaev emerged from the crisis empowered, Nazarbaev, his relatives, and most of his in-laws relinquished positions of corporate and political leadership.



And yet for all the public clamor -- and longstanding allegations of Nazarbaev-inspired corruption -- neither the strongman nor his children have ever appeared to be in danger of standing trial.

Is that an indicator that deals were struck to protect the foremost members of the former ruling family?



Toqaev has insisted that is not the case.



But Nazarbaeva is proving a particularly stern test of that position.



The claims of Nurlan Bimurzin and Medgat Kaliev, which Bimurzin reiterated in an interview with RFE/RL this week, are shocking.



The pair allege their company, TPK Azia, came under intense pressure from state organs in 2002, at a time when it had amassed nearly 70 gas stations and six large oil depots in different parts of Kazakhstan.



After financial police sealed off the company's depots and storage facilities that year, the men were contacted by an intermediary who suggested a face-to-face meeting with Nazarbaeva.

At the meeting, it is alleged that Nazarbaeva told the men she was aware of their problems and could solve them for a price -- 50 percent of their company.



They claim that under duress they agreed.



A copy of an extraordinary shareholders' meeting dated September 4, 2002, and seen by RFE/RL indicates that TPK Azia's shareholder structure was indeed altered to allow Nazarbaeva to take a 50 percent stake in the company.



That left Bimurzin and his business partner Kaliev with 25 percent each.



The document also details the size of Nazarbaeva's investment in the company: 36,250 tenges (about $250 at the exchange rate then).



At ROP's End



Things got nastier the following year, when Bimurzin and Kaliev say they asked Nazarbaeva to make them offers for the business in order to exit the uncomfortable arrangement.



One of those offers came from Russia's LUKoil and stood at $161 million.



But Nazarbaeva came up with a counteroffer -- hand her the remaining half of the business.



According to Bimurzin, she suggested they do this after plainclothes officers kidnapped Bimurzin's now-deceased father, Serik Bimurzin, and took him to see her in her office.



Nazarbaeva, Nurlan Bimurzin claims, threatened to arrange for all of their personal properties to be seized and their closest relatives jailed if they did not comply.



The men accepted the offer and, more than two decades later, most of their former assets are now controlled by Singapore-headquartered Sinoil, a company they say they have no claim against.



When Bimurzin and Kaliev first told this story, they did so at a press conference with Qurentaev and Kazakh lawmaker Ermurat Bapi.

Two months later, Qurentaev and Bimurzin held another press conference to launch a movement of people -- dubbed Victims Of Old Kazakhstan -- who claim to have suffered wrongdoing at the hands of the former president's relatives.



But the authorities are unmoved.



Prosecutors had appeared to accept Bimurzin and Kaliev's case, it was kicked around law enforcement until police eventually told the entrepreneurs they could not move it forward due to the statute of limitations.



Qurentaev says the frustrations his clients have encountered indicate that Kazakhstan's system is still very much afraid of the 83-year-old man who created it: Nazarbaev.



"It is wrong to think that he doesn't have any influence anymore," Qurentaev said. "He still has a lot of influence."



Nazarbaev has three daughters from his marriage to Sara Nazarbaeva: Darigha, Dinara, and Alia.



He has also publicly recognized two sons born to another woman, Asel Qurmanbaeva, who is some 40 years his junior.



But while Darigha Nazarbaeva held top political positions and Dinara Kulibaeva co-owns Kazakhstan's biggest private lender, it is the youngest Nazarbaeva whose business practices have so often made headlines.

In 2005, authorities seized tens of thousands of copies of the opposition newspaper Svoboda Slova after it published the article How Alia Nazarbaeva Does Business.



The newspaper was also fined.



Since January 2022, there has been increased scrutiny over her involvement in the work of a privately owned monopolist that incurred the wrath of Kazakhs by collecting supersized utilization fees on imported vehicles.



That company -- Operator ROP -- was name-checked in a speech by Toqaev just after the unrest and was dissolved, with its functions passed onto a state-owned company.



But the now-jailed former head of ROP's financial department testified in court last year that Nazarbaeva had earned millions of dollars from the scheme and demanded in court that she face trial.



Another former ROP employee, who headed the company's legal department, died in jail before the trial began in what officials said was a suicide.



And Nazarbaeva was in the news again this month after a garbage-collection company tied to her by company documents managed to win a contract in one of the districts of the capital, Astana.



"Alia Nazarbaeva's company is back in business," read the June 5 headline of the private news website Golos Naroda.
On a visit to the Armenian capital, Yerevan, a top U.S. diplomat welcomed the order demarcation deal signed last month by Armenia and Azerbaijan as a "momentous" step, despite concerns that further progress has been slow. James O'Brien, the U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs, told RFE/RL's Heghine Buniatyan that the two countries have a rare chance to build a lasting peace and open the way for new trade routes across the region.
The leaders of Armenian and Azerbaijan say they are committed to a "momentous" demarcation accord signed last month that is designed to end decades of hostile relations in the volatile region, a top U.S. diplomat said during a visit to Yerevan.

Since the fall of the Soviet Union, Armenia and Azerbaijan have fought wars over the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh -- with more than 30,000 people killed -- as they transitioned into independent countries.

Azerbaijan regained control of Nagorno-Karabakh in a lightening military offensive last year, but much of the border between the countries remained in dispute, with both sides occupying villages that formerly belonged to the other side.

"I think both sides say that they're committed to peace. It's a momentous agreement. It will be a generational commitment by the two countries," James O'Brien, U.S. assistant secretary of state for European and Eurasian Affairs, told RFE/RL in an interview on June 11 during a visit to Yerevan.

O'Brien was referring to an agreement between Yerevan and Baku completed on May 15 that delineated the border between the two bitter rivals who have seen their relations marred by several deadly wars and conflicts.

Some critics have cited the lack of progress following the agreement, with the Armenian side often suggesting Baku has been slow to follow through on efforts to attain an overall peace deal to settle longstanding issues.

"It's appropriate to be careful and take time, so the two countries have had a number of discussions at the level of the leaders, deputy prime ministers, foreign ministers, national security advisers, technical teams, just to be sure that they are aware of all the implications of an agreement," he said.

"I think the recent demarcation arrangement was a very good step forward."

O'Brien said the deal "acknowledged that some territory belonging to Azerbaijan had to be transferred, but also that the basis of further demarcation would be the Alma-Ata agreement, and that, I think, is a very constructive basis for next steps."

The deal, which involved Yerevan returning to Baku four abandoned villages that had been part of Azerbaijan during the Soviet era but which had been occupied by Armenian forces, has sparked protests in Armenia and calls for the country's leadership to resign.

Armenian opposition groups have denounced what they describe as the latest "unilateral territorial concessions" to Azerbaijan. They argue that the border demarcation that affects the infrastructure of border communities leaves local residents more vulnerable to further possible Azerbaijani aggression.

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian has rejected the criticism, saying the demarcation agreement was necessary to assure Armenia's security and end decades of enmity with Azerbaijan.

The United States and the European Union have hailed the demarcation agreement, stressing it contains a reference to the 1991 Alma-Ata Declaration, a document by which a dozen former Soviet countries, including Armenia and Azerbaijan, pledged to recognize each other's territorial integrity within existing administrative borders.

The declaration was named after the city now known as Almaty in Kazakhstan where it was signed.

"In our [U.S.] view, there's a once-in-a-generation -- maybe several generations -- opportunity to build a trade route from Central Asia across to the Mediterranean. That can come only if there is peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan," he said.

When asked whether the United States would be willing to act as guarantor of an agreement between the two sides, O'Brien said that "neither side has asked us to play that role."

"We are very happy to support the peace agreement that the sides reach. And the exact role that we might play, or no role, is really up to the two sides to conclude. We are not looking to serve as intervener or superpower in the region."

James O'Brien spoke from Yerevan. RFE/RL's Armenian Service's Heghine Buniatian conducted the interview from Prague.
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.
BISHKEK -- When Kyrgyzstan's authorities seized a massive sand quarry on the outskirts of the capital city, locals who had complained for years about excessive dust from the site breathed easier. But now the state is skirting environmental laws to build new production facilities at the site despite having seized it on the pretext of environmental protection -- and the mine is now providing materials to at least one major state residential development backed by President Sadyr Japarov, an RFE/RL investigation has found. "When the government took over the quarry, we felt a sense of relief. However, they've increased mining activities, resulting in heavier dust pollution than before," Kenjegul Beishekeev, a resident who lives near the quarry, told RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service. "We don't know how to stop it." Environmental activists, residents, and an opposition lawmaker warn that two new factories that the mayor's office announced would be built at the 67-hectare quarry site in Bishkek's southeastern 12th microdistrict will exacerbate the city's notorious air pollution. The privately owned company whose quarry operations were taken over by the state accuses Japarov's government of engineering the takeover to supply cheap sand and gravel materials to state construction projects. Officials deny this claim, though RFE/RL observed dump trucks loading gravel at the quarry and driving to one of these projects: a $200 million residential development being built under Japarov's ambitious housing initiative. The project's general contractor is owned by the relative of a former Bishkek mayor who served several years in prison on a corruption conviction that was later overturned.

Japarov, who has tightened his control over the political landscape in the Central Asian nation of 7 million since coming to power in October 2020, has faced criticism from anti-corruption watchdogs over decreasing government transparency and a weakening rule of law. Journalistic investigations have found that associates of the president and his son are benefiting financially from state contracts and infrastructure projects. After opposition lawmaker Dastan Bekeshev passed residents' complaints about the plans for the new factories to the Natural Resources Ministry, it responded that initial work on one of the plants had begun without proper environmental permitting.

"Air pollution previously came from the city center and the lower part of Bishkek. With the construction of these plants, dangerous chemicals will be swept into all of Bishkek," Bekeshev told RFE/RL. In the meantime, operations continue at the quarry and the concrete-asphalt factory after the plant was briefly shut down by the government. "The authorities promised us that the factory would be removed, and we hoped for clean air from the mountains," Gulai Apsultanova, who has lived near the quarry for more than two decades, told RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service. "Now the government is building its factories. Every morning we have dozens of trucks here with sand and gravel, stirring tons of dust." 'The Consequences Are Obvious' Mining at the sand quarry dates back to 1968, when the facility, officially called the Alamedinskoye sand mine, opened under Soviet rule. In 1985, the city council of Bishkek -- then known by its Soviet name, Frunze -- shuttered an asphalt-concrete factory at the site, calling it a "significant source of air pollution in the city" and in violation of a ban on such facilities in residential and recreational areas, according to a document from Soviet-era archives obtained by RFE/RL. That document is the lone record that RFE/RL reporters could find referring to the environmental impact of the massive mining pit that is in close proximity to residential buildings.

"There aren't any independent environmental studies on the quarry, but the consequences are obvious: Industrial air pollution and the groundwater deficit will skyrocket," a Kyrgyz environmental activist told RFE/RL in response to questions about the Bishkek City Hall's plans to build two concrete-asphalt plants at the quarry. The activist spoke on condition of anonymity, citing security concerns. Bishkek suffers from some of the worst air pollution in the world, and a UNICEF report in November 2022 called air pollution "the biggest environmental risk factor for premature death and deterioration of health in Kyrgyzstan." Operation of the sand quarry resumed in 1999, eight years after the collapse of the Soviet Union, under Kum-Shagyl, a leading producer of construction materials in the Kyrgyz capital that provided tens of thousands of tons of sand, gravel, concrete, and other materials annually to Bishkek's rapidly growing construction sector. Many residents in the area were less than enthused about the proximity of the quarry to their homes in an area relatively untouched by Bishkek's brutal smog. In a June 2022 letter to Japarov, residents from the nearby settlement of Kok-Jar complained that the amount of dust emanating from the site was "unbearable" and called for the quarry's closure. Kum-Shagyl's land-use license for the site was valid until 2025. But in February, the Bishkek mayor's office and the head of the presidential administration -- with backing from police and Kyrgyzstan's State Committee for National Security (UKMK) -- shut down the company's factory and sand quarry.

Four Plots, One Massive Quarry The area of the quarry covers 67.7 hectares divided into four plots. Prior to the authorities seizure of the site, Kum-Shagyl held licenses for three of these plots and an ownership certificate for the fourth, the 16-hectare plot where its factory operated. Since 2021, the government has made several moves to take over the factory, including not renewing the land-use agreements. Kum-Shagyl has since been involved in several legal disputes with the city. Following the forced closure of the factory in February, the Kyrgyz government placed it under external management and terminated the land-use agreements.

The company's workers staged several days of demonstrations and appealed to Japarov for support but received no response. But less than a month later, the sand quarry and factory were up and running again, only this time under the control of the Bishkek Mayor's Office and Japarov's administration, which had taken over the site thanks to a decree by the government. That decree, which has been extended until August 29, said the move was necessary in order to eliminate environmental violations "that threaten people's lives or health." An environmental assessment commissioned by the UKMK and reviewed by RFE/RL, meanwhile, states that despite having been issued a license for its operations on a 16-hectare plot within the quarry, Kum-Shagyl's operations there were illegal because the area is a source of groundwater and designated as "green space" for public use.

But if local residents had hopes that the factory would be razed in favor of a new park, those would soon be dashed by Bishkek's mayor. On March 30, less than two months after authorities seized the site, Bishkek Mayor Aibek Junushaliev announced the construction of two new asphalt-concrete plants with the stated aim of drastically boosting production of asphalt for road construction and repair. One of these new factories is owned by Bishkek Asphalt Service, a wholly owned subsidiary of the city, and is being relocated to the quarry from a different site. The Natural Resources Ministry told Bekeshev, the opposition lawmaker, that this plant is being put up "without any design estimates or permits" required under environmental laws. Bishkek Deputy Mayor Jamalbek Yrsaliev, who oversees Bishkek Asphalt Service at city hall, told RFE/RL that the company "is in the final process of relocating its factory to the sand quarry in the 12th microdistrict." "The construction of the new plants is expected to be completed within a month," Yrsaliev said. A mayor's office spokeswoman said, however, that the government could halt construction, though she provided no further details.

Nurbek Tenirberdiev, an environmental scientist at Kyrgyz National University, told RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service that quarries "should be located far from residential areas" and that the "first rule of running a quarry is to adhere to environmental standards." "Factors such as wind direction and the quarry's location in a windy area are crucial because the operation of any quarry, regardless of whether it produces metal or other construction materials, will cause air pollution," Tenirberdiev said. "Industrial dust carried by the wind to residential areas can lead to serious consequences." Bishkek City Hall said in April that the mayor, Djunushaliev, visited the quarry to inspect preparations for the installation of a plant at the site owned by Bishkek Asphalt Service. The mayor's office told RFE/RL on June 6 that construction of the planned factories had not begun. One government source told RFE/RL that while the quarry is, on paper, managed by the mayor's office, in reality it is controlled by Japarov's administration. E-mailed questions to Japarov's administration about the quarry's operations went unanswered as of publication. Whoever controls the site, every day dump trucks are carrying gravel and sand away from the quarry -- including to a large development project that is part of Japarov's social-housing program.

'Hostile Takeover' On a recent weekday in Bishkek, RFE/RL observed at least two dump trucks leaving the construction site of the $200 million residential development called Dastan City and driving 1.5 kilometers to enter the sand quarry through one of its western gates. Dastan City, construction of which began in April, is set to feature 9,000 apartments, 500 of which are to be allocated for state workers under reduced mortgage rates. The project is part of Japarov's program to boost social housing for bureaucrats that he launched by decree in January. The state contract to build the Dastan City complex was awarded to the Bishkek company Expostroy Kurulush by the government's State Mortgage Company, though details about the selection process for the government tender have not been made public. Almanbet Shykmamatov, head of the State Mortgage Company, told RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service that he did not have any information about the tender because it was awarded prior to his tenure at the company. The owner of Expostroy Kurulush is the nephew of former Bishkek Mayor Nariman Tuleev, who was sentenced to 11 years in prison in 2013 after being convicted of corruption. His conviction was later overturned by the Kyrgyz Supreme Court. Kum-Shagyl is now challenging in the courts what it calls the state's "hostile takeover" of its mining and production operations at the quarry. And the company alleges that Japarov's government is now using the seized assets to source cheap construction materials for key state construction projects like Dastan City. "Currently, all the materials from our factory -- concrete, sand, and gravel -- are being sent to state construction sites," Kum-Shagyl Director Aidin Ibraev told RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service. The allegation last week made it to the floor of the Kyrgyz parliament, where lawmaker Gulia Kojokulova of the opposition party Butun Kyrgyzstan called on Kyrgyz prosecutors and security services to "pay closer attention to this case." "While I support social housing, it's alleged that these construction companies want to take raw materials like sand and gravel for free," Kojokulova said.

Expostroy Kurulus Director Kubanychbek Tuleev denied sourcing materials from the sand quarry for the Dastan City project but declined to specify which companies were supplying the development. "Currently we don't need sand and gravel for our construction. We are taking concrete from our long-term partners," he told RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service. Bishkek Deputy Mayor Yrsaliev -- who oversees the Bishkek Asphalt Service that is now operating Kum-Shagyl's former factory at the sand quarry -- told RFE/RL that the company had moved "all of its equipment" to the sand quarry in question but was "sourcing sand and gravel from other quarries." The Natural Resources Ministry told RFE/RL that Bishkek Asphalt Service has not been issued "any licenses giving them the right to use subsoil." Yrsaliev said the company is not supplying the Dastan City development. From the nearby hills overlooking the sand quarry, RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service observed numerous orange trucks being filled with gravel at the sand quarry and heading to the Dastan City construction site.
A civil activist has been left bruised and bloodied in an attack after he was criticized in a tweet by Georgia's parliament speaker. Zuka Berdzenishvili, an opponent of the government's "foreign agent" law, says he required surgery after he was assaulted by three men. The attack comes after other activists and opposition figures said their homes and offices had been vandalized.
One year ago, Hamas -- the U.S.- and EU-designated Palestinian terrorist group that controls the Gaza Strip -- carried out an unprecedented attack on Israel, the deadliest in the countrys history.

In response, Israel launched an aerial bombardment and ground invasion of the Palestinian enclave to destroy Hamas and rescue the 251 hostages taken by the group.

Israel has expanded its war in recent weeks by invading Lebanon and launching air strikes targeting Hezbollah, the armed group and political party that controls much of southern Lebanon.

RFE/RL spoke to Lior Yohanani, manager of quantitative research at the Israel Democracy Institute, a Jerusalem-based independent research center, which on October 7 released a wide-ranging survey of Israeli public opinion after one year of war.

RFE/RL: Can you explain what your study found as to how Israelis view the past year since Hamas's October 7 attack?



Lior Yohanani: Well, I think Israelis still don't see October 7 as an event that's over. Sure, the actual horrific events of that day ended, but Israelis are still living with the consequences.

There are two main aspects to this. First, since October 7, Israel has been in this multifront war that doesn't seem to have an end in sight. And then, of course, there is the issue of the hostages still being held in Gaza. So, we're seeing a sharp drop in people's sense of personal security. Almost three quarters of the public feel less safe compared to before October 7, and that's despite a year of war and some significant military achievements. On the flip side, we're also seeing that most people say their lives have returned to normal when it comes to things like work, media consumption, and family and social gatherings.

Another thing we're noticing is that the Israeli public is giving pretty low marks to all the political and military leaders for the performance since October 7. For example, almost two-thirds of Israelis are rating Prime Minister [Benjamin] Netanyahu's performance since then as poor or not good.

RFE/RL: How has Israel's involvement in a two-front conflict, in both Gaza and Lebanon, as well as a confrontation with Iran affected public opinion among Israelis?



Yohanani: It's tough to answer that question, because we're at the point where things could go in a few different directions. In the last few weeks, we've seen a major escalation in the conflict with Hezbollah in Lebanon, and just last week, Iran launched nearly 200 ballistic missiles at Israel, which Israel is expected to respond to. In a survey we just did recently, we asked whether Israeli society and the military could handle fighting on two or more fronts for an extended period of time, and the results were pretty striking. Over 70 percent believe that yes, both Israeli society and the military can handle that kind of prolonged fighting. So, while the situation is complex and evolving, there seems to be a strong sense of resilience and capability among Israelis, even in the face of these multiple threats. But of course, public opinion could shift depending on how events unfold in the coming weeks or months.



RFE/RL: Is there support for Netanyahus response to October 7? Is there debate in Israeli society, as well as political circles, over Netanyahus strategic choices?



Yohanani: First of all, it's important to say that the Israeli public has largely supported significant military operation against Hamas in Gaza. That said, the Israeli discourse around the October 7 events, the ongoing war, and especially toward Prime Minister Netanyahu, is very polarized between right-wing supporters on the one hand and left and center supporters on the other.

People are hoping for a future where Israel can exist without constant threats, rather than expecting a harmonious relationship with its neighbors in the near-term."

So, on the left and the center, there is a high level of distrust and suspicion toward Netanyahu and his government. For instance, Netanyahu's apparent reluctance to pursue a deal for returning the hostages in exchange for ending the fighting in Gaza is seen by large parts of the public, even on the right, as resulting from Netanyahu's dependence on far-right, ultranationalist members of his government who refuse any compromise or ceasefire.

Now for a long time, Netanyahu and his ministers argued that only significant military force would lead Hamas to compromise and release the hostages. Now, with military attention and resources shifting to the north, people are asking, where is this massive military force that was supposed to bring the hostages home?

One question we have asked several times since October 7 in our polls is what should be the main goal in Gaza: Dismantling Hamas or bringing back the hostages? And as time goes on, public opinion is increasingly supporting the return of hostages. In our current survey, 62 percent saw bringing the bringing back the hostages as Israel's main goal, while only 29 percent pointed to dismantling Hamas as the primary objective.

RFE/RL: How do ordinary Israelis see the question of the remaining hostages amid the continued protests by the hostages' families?



Yohanani: As I mentioned before, most of the public supports a deal to release the hostages, even if it means ending the war and withdrawing the military forces from Gaza. There's this widespread feeling that we've left the hostages behind, and that's really hitting at our sense of solidarity, which is a deep and fundamental value, I think, in Jewish history in general and in Israel society in particular.

At the same time, the campaign run by the Hostages And Missing Families Forum has become very politicized. Many right-wing supporters see it as weakening Israel. As time goes on, we're seeing more and more harassment of protesters who support bringing the hostages back. There are cases of passersby cursing, even hitting and throwing eggs, at hostages' families. In our latest survey, we asked about the effectiveness of the protests and actions taken by the hostages' families.

Despite most of the public feeling empathetic toward the hostage issue, only less than a third think these actions are actually helping to advance a deal for the hostages' release, while almost 40 percent think they're actually hurting the cause. So, you've got this complex situation where people want the hostages back, but there is disagreement and some backlash about how to make that happen.

RFE/RL: Can you explain the reasons behind the apparent contradiction in views regarding prioritizing a negotiated return of the hostages, or destroying Hamas?

Yohanani: You're right to point out that apparent contradiction. Let me break it down a bit. As I mentioned earlier, a clear majority of the public sees a deal to release the hostages as the main goal. But there is a big gap between political camps on this issue. In the center and left, about 80 percent support the deal for the hostages' release, while the opinions on the right are evenly split. So, for most of the left and center, the fighting in Gaza has run its course. They feel most military objectives have been achieved, and Hamas's military power has been significantly weakened. From their perspective, continuing the fight now only puts the hostages at greater risk.

It's important to know that about half of the right-wing also shares this view of prioritizing the hostages' release, but the other half of those on the far-right thinks dismantling Hamas is more important.

Why? For a couple of reasons.

First, there's a security stance that Hamas must be wiped out and not allowed to recover. There is also a very strong sentiment of revenge, with minimal consideration for the cost, whether it's the lives of the hostages, soldiers, let alone innocent civilians in Gaza. Another significant component openly discussed in religious nationalist circles is the return of Jewish settlement to the Gaza Strip after Israel evacuated Jewish settlements from there in 2005.

RFE/RL: Is there public confidence that Israel will ultimately be able to remove the threat of Hamas and Hezbollah and come out of this conflict with greater prospects for a peaceful and stable near-term future?



Yohanani: Right now, the Israeli public isn't showing a lot of optimism. In our current survey, when we asked people if they're optimistic or pessimistic about Israel's future, we found more pessimists, 48 percent, than optimists, 45 percent.

I also think it's important to note that a peaceful future, as you put it, or peace in general, isn't really a common concept in the current Israeli discourse. I would say the hope of Israelis is that the military actions against Hezbollah and Iran will lead to a situation where Israel's existence isn't in question, and that Israeli military superiority will prevent events like October 7 from happening again. So, it's less about peace in the traditional sense, and more about security and deterrence. People are hoping for a future where Israel can exist without constant threats, rather than expecting a harmonious relationship with its neighbors in the near-term.
Jockeys from Kyrgyzstan have come to dominate horse racing in Poland. The country is a "first step" for the riders into the lucrative European racing scene, says one trainer. Kyrgyz jockeys have won prestigious races such the Polish Derby -- but say that sometimes local fans do not applaud them for their victories.
Police in Armenia used stun grenades against demonstrators outside the parliament in Yerevan. The protesters, led by Archbishop Bagrat Galstanian, rallied in the Armenian capital on June 12 to demand the resignation of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian. An Interior Ministry spokesman told RFE/RL that 70 people had been detained as of 8 p.m. local time and that both protesters and police were injured in scuffles in central Yerevan.
Shanghai (Gasgoo)- On June 12, 2024, Autoliv marked a new milestone in its strategic expansion in China by holding a groundbreaking ceremony for its new factory in the Economic Development Zone of Feixi County, Hefei city, according to a post on Autoliv's WeChat account.

This new facility represents Autoliv's first industrial deployment in Hefei and underscores the company's commitment to deepening its presence and expanding its business scope in the Chinese market, said the company.

Photo credit: Autoliv

The new factory will primarily focus on the production of steering wheels, with an expected annual output of 4 million units once fully operational.

Fabien Dumont, Vice President of the China Technical Center at Autoliv, stated in his speech, "We are honored to establish our new factory in Hefei, a vibrant city that is one of China's key automotive industry hubs. The comprehensive industrial chain and excellent business environment here are crucial for our future development. Since our formal agreement signed with the local government in March of this year, the project has moved from blueprint to reality in just three months. The construction of this new factory is a significant strategic move for our company in China. Its completion will further strengthen our production capabilities in China, ensuring we can meet the growing market demand promptly and efficiently."

The new factory will cover a total area of 50,000 square meters, with the first phase of construction spanning 20,000 square meters, expected to be completed by 2025. It will feature advanced production equipment and processes, encompassing the entire production process of steering wheels, including foaming, injection molding, leather stitching, and assembly. The company said the factory will adopt a digital management model to create an intelligent, green factory, ensuring continuous high-quality and efficient production output.
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.

NIO to launch 4th-gen battery swap stations in Guangzhou, Lu'an cities

According to NIO's official Weibo announcement, the first batch of the companys fourth-generation battery swap stations will be officially launched in Guangzhou and Lu'an cities on June 13.

Photo credit: NIO

Continental AG invests in INGEEK to boost smart connectivity for cars

On June 12, Continental AG announced a strategic investment in Chinese digital key developer INGEEK, establishing a partnership aimed at advancing digital car key and intelligent automotive connectivity solutions for the Chinese market.

Deepal G318 plug-in hybrid electric SUV to hit market on June 13

The global market launch event for the Deepal G318, a plug-in hybrid electric SUV, under Changan Automobiles DEEPAL brand, will be held on June 13 in Lhasa. Marketed as a tech-powered rugged SUV, the G318 boasts a blend of advanced technology and off-road capabilities.

VOLANT closes Series A++ funding for eVTOL development

Recently, Chinese low-altitude economy company Volant Aerotech (VOLANT) announced the completion of Series A++ funding round, which raised for the company over a hundred million yuan.

Polar Bear Tech secures new funding to develop first independent chiplet product library

Recently, Chinese chiplet design company Polar Bear Tech announced the completion of a new round of financing, introducing V Fund as an investor. The funds will be primarily used for the initial batch of core chiplet tape-outs and packaging tests, propelling the company to establish China's first independently marketable chiplet product library.

GAC Energy, Foshan Communications Development team up to build energy ecosystem for new energy vehicles

On June 11, GAC Energy Technology Co., Ltd. ("GAC Energy"), a subsidiary of GAC Group, signed a cooperation framework agreement with Foshan Communications Development Co., Ltd. ("Foshan Communications Development"), according to a post on GAC Energys WeChat account.

XPENG to deliver G9, P7 models in Egypt

On June 11, XPENG held a press conference at the Grand Egyptian Museum in Cairo to launch the XPENG G9 and P7 models in the Egyptian market. These two products will be delivered to Egyptian customers by the end of this month, making XPENG the first Chinese smart electric vehicle brand to introduce pure electric vehicle models to Egypt and Africa.

Chinas passenger vehicle retail sales edge down 1.9% YoY, but rise 11.4% MoM

In May 2024, China's domestic passenger vehicle (PV) market retailed 1.71 million vehicles, marking a year-over-year decrease of 1.9% but a month-over-month increase of 11.4%, according to data from the China Passenger Car Association ("CPCA").

DENZA about to open first flagship store in Hong Kong, China

DENZA, a premium new energy vehicle brand majority backed by BYD, will open its first flagship store in Hong Kong's Kowloon Bay automotive business district at the end of June, the automaker announced on June 11. Concurrently, the DENZA D9 model will be introduced to the Hong Kong market, with an estimated starting price of HKD 668,000.

Autoliv breaks ground on new factory in Chinas Hefei city

On June 12, 2024, Autoliv marked a new milestone in its strategic expansion in China by holding a groundbreaking ceremony for its new factory in the Economic Development Zone of Feixi County, Hefei city, according to a post on Autoliv's WeChat account.

Huaweis Harmony Intelligent Mobility Alliance unveils Luxeed R7 coupe SUV

On June 11, Huawei's Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Intelligent Automotive Solution BU, Mr. Yu Chengdong, announced via his Weibo account that the first coupe SUV under Huawei's smart selection vehicle alliance, HIMA (Harmony Intelligent Mobility Alliance), the Luxeed R7, is set to debut.

Dongfeng Motor Groups auto sales drop 13.02% YoY in May 2024

On June 11, Dongfeng Motor Group Company Limited (Dongfeng Motor Group) announced that it sold 147,206 vehicles in the fifth month of 2024, representing a 13.02% decline year-on-year.
Politica 11:20, 10 Oct 2024 11:20, 10 Oct 2024

Criza politica cu care se confrunta Romania ascunde interese mari. Prezidentiabilii se folosesc de acest scandal pentru a castiga voturi pe ultima suta de metri inainte de alegeri. Victor Ciutacu a facut o analiza.
Beijing (Gasgoo)- Recently, Chinese chiplet design company Polar Bear Tech announced the completion of a new round of financing, introducing V Fund as an investor. The funds will be primarily used for the initial batch of core chiplet tape-outs and packaging tests, propelling the company to establish China's first independently marketable chiplet product library.

Photo credit: Polar Bear Tech

Originating from the Institute for Interdisciplinary Information Sciences at Tsinghua University and incubated by the Institute for Interdisciplinary Information Core Technology, Polar Bear Tech is a dedicated chiplet design enterprise in China. The core team has extensive expertise in the chiplet field, with globally recognized academic influence and substantial practical experience in product development.

Since its inception, Polar Bear Tech has focused on advancing and perfecting interconnect interfaces across different process nodes and various independent chiplets. These efforts aim to facilitate chiplet integration development for chip design across multiple scenarios. The chiplet architecture allows for any chip design company to expand and develop custom chips based on existing third-party generic chiplets, such as CPU chiplets, SoC chiplets, and I/O chiplets. This approach enhances cost-effectiveness, reduces development risks, and accelerates product iteration, significantly lowering the barriers to high-performance computing chip design.

As of now, Polar Bear Tech's self-developed chiplet interconnect standard PB Link and AI acceleration modules have been externally licensed. Starting from 2024, the company's high-performance general-purpose SoC chiplets, self-developed Zeus Gen2 AI acceleration chiplets, and GPU chiplets will be successively delivered for tape-out.
Roscommon LEADER Partnership in conjunction with the HSE Community Healthcare West is hosting an event to mark National Mens Health Week in Kilbride Community Centre this evening, Wednesday, June 12th, from 6 p.m.  9 p.m..

The aim of this event is to provide individuals and families in County Roscommon and surrounding areas with information and awareness to promote better health among men.

On the evening, there will be the opportunity to have your blood pressure checked, visit the numerous information stands and enjoy the contribution from guest speakers compered by Deputy Editor of the Roscommon Herald, Richard Canny.

Paddy Joe Burke, well known barber and Age Friendly Ambassador for Roscommon who will explain his role and share some of his experiences in business for over 50 years.

Laura Tully, founder and facilitator of Fit Farmers Programme will give an insight of specific practical tips for men to promote healthier lifestyles.

Fergus Farrell, motivational speaker and former rugby player will talk about overcoming his own personal battle with traumatic spinal injury.

Adam Woods, Deputy Editor, Irish Farmers Journal, will speak about challenges and opportunities in living in rural Ireland.

To close out the evening the highly acclaimed Roscommon Mens Choir will sing all out with a repertoire of uplifting songs.

For further information contact Anthony Dockery 086 826 4868.
arom Hara - The Revolt movie OTT Release Update: When and where to watch action-drama online?

Harom Hara - The Revolt is a periodic action drama set in 1989 in Kuppam.

Harom Hara The Revolt movie OTT Release Date Update News: Harom Hara - The Revolt is an upcoming movie scheduled to be released on June 14, 2024. It is a Telugu language action thriler drama film that features Sudheer Babu. It is directed by Gnanasagar Dwaraka and produced by Sumanth G Naidu under Sree Subrahmanyeshwara Cinemas banner.

"Harom Hara" is a captivating story set in a rural village, following the journey of Harom, played by Sudheer Babu, as he dreams of a better life amidst challenges posed by a local landlord, portrayed by Prakash Raj. Along the way, he meets Meenakshi, played by Malavika Nair, whose presence adds complexity to the plot.

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As Harom confronts village politics and societal pressures, he becomes entangled in a web of deception, testing his resilience and determination. Despite facing unexpected hurdles, he strives for justice and redemption for himself and his community.

Through powerful performances and emotional depth, "Harom Hara" explores human relationships and the triumph of the human spirit, making it a compelling watch for audiences.

Harom Hara - The Revolt is a periodic action drama set in 1989 in Kuppam.

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Harom Hara - The Revolt" OTT Platform Release Date Update News:

The makers of Harom Hara - The Revolt" have not yet confirmed any OTT release date or platform, as of now.

(For more stories like Harom Hara - The Revolt movie OTT Release Update, stay tuned to Rozana Spokesman)
Courage is rewarded

To celebrate its 15th anniversary, Agent Green NGO held a special gala to recognise the work of other activists from all areas of society.

Gala curaj sursa foto facebookagentgreenro

Christine Lescu, 12.06.2024, 14:00

Agent Green, an NGO dedicated to the environment, celebrated its 15th anniversary this spring. In all this time, the association has campaigned for the protection of green spaces, has fought against the abusive and illegal exploitation of forests and has lobbied for animal rights, among others. Its actions have often upset various political and economic interests. The founder of the association, Gabriel Paun, was even assaulted by members of the so-called forest mafia when he uncovered acts of timber theft from protected areas. So, in Romania, to campaign against the abuses committed against the environment is a matter of extraordinary courage. And courage deserves to be recognised and even rewarded.

To celebrate Agent Greens 15th anniversary, Gabriel Paun decided to hold a special event called Courage Gala to grant ten awards to social activists. I wanted to show that I am not alone, but also to warn that there is a risk that social activism will end up being a solitary activity, said Gabriel Paun, and he explained further:

It should be natural to be able to show our courage, and yet I see that courage is expressed and exercised less and less. It has made me feel that, at least in my field, that of environmental protection, things are becoming not just difficult, but even impossible. A non-governmental organisation should be the mouthpiece of the whole society. If society is silent, if it feels disillusioned and starts not to care and not to get involved, then my voice is silent, too. I noticed this by talking to people who are active in other areas and who are faced with the same problem. Thats when the idea came to me to organise this Courage Gala to celebrate the courage of people who are more or less well-known, and from all corners of society: education, science, the arts, culture, activism and journalism. It was a successful event, it exceeded all our expectations.

The award gala was held at the Romanian Athenaeum and also featured a music performance by the Violoncelissimo group led by Marin Cazacu, the president of the George Enescu Philharmonics. The diplomas were original creations by the well-known Romanian artist Dan Perjovski. Lets find out who the award winners were from Gabriel Paun:

Rroma actress Alina Serban went up on stage and held a fabulous speech. I was touched and so was Cristian Mungiu, the director of the famous film RMN, a film which must be seen because it is absolutely spot on when it comes to ethnic discrimination in Romania. We also wanted to celebrate the LGBTQ community because thats another area where we are still struggling with a lot of preconceptions and where theres a lot of work to be done. We also wanted to support environmental journalism and awarded Ramona Tintea, who has done a lot of reporting on forests, poisoned food, illegal landfills, etc. We also paid tribute to Stefan Neagu, the unseen hero of the forests. People are used to hearing my name and that of a few other courageous activists and journalists who are uncovering crimes, but there are also many scientists and researchers working in the background and whose work in the field of forests is revolutionary. Stefan Neagu is not only the man behind our famous national forestry register that tells us how much the forest can grow in a year and how much forest we lose forever, but his speaking out against an environment ministry official responsible for forests and revealing his actions led to that officials dismissal in a matter of hours. Its unprecedented and I believe no activist or journalist has achieved something like this.

One of the awards went to the poet Radu Vancu, the winner of a prize for peace, cooperation and anti-fanaticism. Radu Vancu proves, therefore, that writers and intellectuals support civil involvement, much in agreement with the beliefs of the late Israeli writer Amos Oz, the one who first mentioned the Order of the Teaspoon, now a symbol of the Courage Gala in Bucharest. Here is Radu Vancu on Amos Oz:

I dont think he imagined it would become an actual order, as it is now, but he suggested it in 2004, in a book whose title may well be used as a motto for the Courage Gala. How to Cure a Fanatic is an extraordinary book, in which Oz says, among other things, that in principle there are three types of response to a disaster, for instance a fire. The first response is to go with ones self-preservation instinct, to run leaving everyone behind. The second one is to send an angry letter to ones favourite editor, in protest. And the third response, for those who dont have access to media platforms, to newspapers, television and so on, is to grab a bucket or a cup or a teaspoon or anything and help put out the fire. There are many of us, and many teaspoons can put out big fires. And he said, I suggest we introduce an order of the teaspoon, we may even wear a little teaspoon on the lapel of our jackets, so that we know than we are willing to give a few ounces of our altruism to other human beings, trying to rescue what we can rescue.

In 2006, an institution in Sweden implemented this idea of bringing together small gestures to create a strong movement, and created the Order of the Teaspoon, which Agent Green brought to the Courage Gala in Bucharest. Radu Vancu:

I mentioned this order of the teaspoon in the opening address at the Odessa Literature Festival, which was held in exile in Bucharest. Gabriel Paun heard my speech and had the wonderful idea of introducing the order of the teaspoon in the Courage Gala. He even brought some silver teaspoons with edelweiss on them, the symbol of the Agent Green association. And so we proposed the introduction of the Order of the Teaspoon in Romania, based on this elementary arithmetic: a teaspoon of 10 ml of water for each of the 20 million Romanians means 200 tonnes of water, which is enough to put out major fires. There is still enough courage and enough kindness in Romania to deal with many important fires. (CM, AMP)
Europe  focus on Ukraine

Western states are providing support to Ukraine in its fight against Russia and in its future reconstruction

Credits: presidency.ro

Leyla Cheamil, 12.06.2024, 14:00

Russia is and will remain the most significant and direct threat to NATO security, and allies will work on a strategy to challenge, restrict and counter Russia, including by limiting Moscows ability to rebuild its military, the co-chairs of the B9 summit hosted by Riga said on Tuesday. The summit was chaired by the presidents of Romania, Poland and Latvia, Klaus Iohannis, Andrzej Duda and Edgars Rinkevics, respectively. We remain committed to our efforts to maintain international pressure on Russia, including by means of sanctions and other measures, as long as Russia continues its hostile policies and actions, including blatant violations of international law, the joint statement signed by the three officials reads. At the same time, the three presidents reiterated their unwavering support for independent and sovereign Ukraine. It is important that NATOs deterrence posture remains strong, and that the defense capacity is at maximum potential. Romania supports Ukraine, Romania stands with NATO, with Ukraine, together with other NATO allies, as long as it is required, president Klaus Iohannis pointed out.

In this context, the Romanian official announced that next week the Supreme Defense Council will discuss whether or not Romania will grant Ukraine a Patriot military system. The Biden administration called on European NATO member states that have this type of systems to examine the possibility of donating some of them to Ukraine. Germany has already announced it will give Kyiv such a system. Last month, the Romanian president addressed a possible transfer of a Patriot system to Ukraine, dismissing the possibility Romania should remain without anti-missile defense. If Romania gives something up, it should receive something else in return, the president said.

In Berlin, Western allies attending the International Conference for the Reconstruction of Ukraine promised support for this country, although concrete solutions are yet to be established. One such solution would be to boost investments in Ukraine. So far, the European Commission has announced agreements with various banks worth 1.4 bln EUR and an assistance package of 1.9 bln EUR. Italy announced 140 mln EUR in aid. Germany and Ukraine signed a Declaration of Intent to support Kyiv after the war. Chancellor Olaf Scholz also promised Ukraine IRIS-T systems, missiles and ammunition in the coming months, in addition to 100 Patriot missiles, in a joint initiative with Denmark, the Netherlands and Norway. Romania also offered its assistance. Attending the conference in Berlin, the Romanian Foreign Minister, Luminita Odobescu, said Bucharest supports Ukraine with electricity and construction works designed at improving interconnectivity. Bucharests approach is regional, also targeting the Republic of Moldova, the Romanian Foreign Minister said. (VP)
The United States will announce "an impactful set of new sanctions and export control actions" against Russia at the G7 meeting later this week, the White House says.

Announcing this at a news conference, White House National Security Communications Advisor John Kirby said Washington will continue to drive up costs for the Russian war machine.

The actions will target companies and networks that are helping Russia procure materials it needs to wage its war against Ukraine.

"They will make it harder for financial facilitators, for instance, to support Russia's defense industrial base. And they will further restrict Russia's future revenues in key sectors," Kirby told reporters.

President Joe Biden will leave for Italy on Wednesday to take part in the summit of the Group of 7 leaders.

Thursday, he will discuss with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy the U.S. Government's strong support for Ukraine, Kirby said. Following that meeting, both leaders will address a joint news conference.

"Biden will announce new steps to unlock the value of the immobilized Russian sovereign assets to benefit Ukraine and to help them recover from the destruction that Mr. Putin's army has caused," according to the White Huse.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Business News
Palestinian armed groups and Israeli authorities have both committed war crimes and crimes against humanity during the cross-border attack on October 7 and the subsequent Israeli military operations in Gaza, an inquiry by a UN independent human rights body has found.

This was among the conclusions listed in the report of the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and Israel, released on Wednesday.

"Amid months of losses and despair, retribution and atrocities, the only tangible result has been compounding the immense suffering of both Palestinians and Israelis, with civilians, yet again, bearing the brunt of decisions by those in power," the Commission said, stressing the impact on women and children.

The brutal attack of October 7 by Hamas on communities in southern Israel marked a "clear turning point" for both Israelis and Palestinians and presents a "watershed moment" that can change the direction of the conflict, with a real risk of further solidifying and expanding the occupation, the Commission said.

For Israelis, the attack was unprecedented in scale in its modern history, when in one single day hundreds of people were killed and abducted by Hamas.

For Palestinians, Israel's military operation and attack in Gaza have been the longest, largest and bloodiest since 1948, causing immense damage and loss of more than 34000 lives.

The Commission noted that in relation to the attack of 7 October in Israel, members of the military wings of Hamas and other Palestinian armed groups, as well as Palestinian civilians who were directly participating in the hostilities, deliberately killed, injured, mistreated, took hostages and committed sexual and gender-based against civilians, including Israeli citizens and foreign nationals.

Such acts were also committed against Israeli soldiers considered hors de combat - such as injured soldiers.

"These actions constitute war crimes and violations and abuses of international humanitarian law and international human rights law," according to the report.

The independent Commission, established by the UN Human Rights Council, also concluded that during military operations in Gaza, Israel committed war crimes, crimes against humanity and violations of international humanitarian and human rights laws.

"ISF's intentional use of heavy weapons with large destructive capacity in densely populated areas constitutes an intentional and direct attack on the civilian population, particularly affecting women and children," the Commission said, adding that this was confirmed by the substantial and increasing numbers of casualties, over weeks and months, with "no change in Israeli policies or military strategies".

The Commission report called on the Government of Israel to immediately end attacks and the siege on Gaza, implement a ceasefire, and ensure that those whose property has been unlawfully destroyed receive reparations.

It also called on the Government of the State of Palestine and the de-facto authorities in Gaza to ensure the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages held in the enclave.

Israel rejected the findings of the independent Commission.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Business News
The European Commission has proposed to extend the temporary protection being given to people fleeing the war in Ukraine for another year, from 2025 March 5.

The Commission said it took the decision considering that safe and durable conditions for the return of people to Ukraine are not currently possible as Russian attacks on civil and critical infrastructure continue across the country.

Nearly 4.2 million people who have fled Russia's war are already benefiting from temporary protection in the EU Member States.

The Temporary Protection Directive grants immediate protection and access to rights in the EU, including residency rights, access to the labor market, accommodation, social welfare assistance, medical and other assistance. It also helps Member States to manage arrivals in an orderly and effective way.

The European Commission said it will present the proposal to extend the temporary protection to the Ministers at the Justice and Home Affairs Council on Thursday. It is for the Council to formally adopt the proposal.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Business News
With a steep drop in gasoline prices partly offsetting a continued increase in shelter prices, the Labor Department released a report on Wednesday showing U.S. consumer prices were unexpectedly flat in the month of May.

The Labor Department said its consumer price index came in unchanged in May after rising by 0.3 percent in April. Economists had expected consumer prices to inch up by 0.1 percent.

Excluding food and energy prices, core consumer prices rose by 0.2 percent in May after climbing by 0.3 percent in April. Core prices were expected to increase by another 0.3 percent.

Meanwhile, the report said the annual rate of consumer price growth slowed to 3.3 percent in May from 3.4 percent in April. Economists had expected the pace of growth to remain unchanged.

The annual rate of core consumer price growth also slowed to 3.4 percent in May from 3.6 percent in April. The pace of growth was expected to dip to 3.5 percent.

Track market moving Economic Events that impact Commodities, Stock, and Forex by using realtime RTTNews Economic Calendar this week.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Business News
Elon Musk, the founder and CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, moved to dismiss his lawsuit against artificial intelligence or AI startup OpenAI and its CEO Sam Altman.

According to a filing in San Francisco Superior Court, Musk's attorneys asked the California state court to dismiss the lawsuit against the ChatGPT maker without citing a reason.

Musk, who co-founded OpenAI in 2015, had filed the lawsuit earlier this year alleging that the firm is developing AI for profitability instead of its foundational mission of utilizing it for the benefit of humankind.

Musk, in his lawsuit against the company and its co-founders Altman and Greg Brockman, who is currently its president, had sought a jury trial, and to pay back any profit they received from the .

In response, OpenAI, the developer of generative chatbot ChatGPT, had filed a motion to dismiss the case, of which a hearing had been scheduled for Wednesday. OpenAI had fought back against Musk's claims, calling them incoherent and frivolous.

OpenAI also had published a blog post containing many of Musk's emails from OpenAI's initial days. As per the emails, Musk acknowledged the need for the company to make huge money to fund the computing resources so as to power its AI ambitions, which was in contrast to his allegations in the lawsuit.

The move comes as Musk, in a series of posts on his social media platform X, threatened to ban Apple devices from his companies if the tech major incorporates OpenAI into its operating system. Musk was responding to Apple's partnership with OpenAI, which was announced at its annual developers conference on Monday.

Despite being a co-founder, Musk had stepped down from OpenAI board in 2018 over indifferences. In 2023, he established AI company X.AI Corp., doing business as xAI, whose first AI chatbot technology named Grok competes with OpenAI's ChatGPT. Musk, also the owner of brain interface startup Neuralink, recently raised $6 billion in a funding round for xAI.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Business News
Shanghai (Gasgoo)- DENZA, a premium new energy vehicle brand majority backed by BYD, will open its first flagship store in Hong Kong's Kowloon Bay automotive business district at the end of June, the automaker announced on June 11. Concurrently, the DENZA D9 model will be introduced to the Hong Kong market, with an estimated starting price of HKD 668,000.

Photo credit: DENZA

As of now, DENZA's sales network has surpassed 400 directly operated stores across China, covering 149 cities. On the global front, DENZA has showcased its vehicles at various international auto shows in Thailand, Germany, Japan, Indonesia, and Geneva, and plans to expand into more countries and regions in the future.

The DENZA D9 is positioned as a mid-to-large MPV and features the -Motion Aesthetic design language, giving it a commanding presence. The front of the all-electric version boasts a vertical waterfall grille, while the DM-i version employs a parametric design, accentuated by chrome trim for a luxurious feel. The vehicle also features LED-powered meteor arrow headlights, which support intelligent high and low beam functions and dynamic welcome lighting.

The side profile of the DENZA D9 is designed with straight lines, enhanced by a chrome-accented window frame, giving it a stylish appearance. Additionally, the model comes with 18-inch multi-spoke aluminum alloy wheels. The rear is equipped with time-travel-themed star feather taillights featuring an integrated light strip, and vertically symmetrical -shaped lights, which are highly recognizable when illuminated.

Inside, the DENZA D9 adopts a minimalist design style and is equipped with a 10.25-inch embedded full LCD 3D instrument panel and a 15.6-inch ultra-clear floating central control screen with the built-in DENZA Link 5G intelligent network system, offering high practicality and a strong sense of technology. Furthermore, the second row of seats includes independently adjustable seats with 10-way electric adjustment, electric leg rests, and heating and ventilation functions. The vehicle offers both pure electric and plug-in hybrid powertrain options.
In South Africa, an outbreak of monkeypox has been reported, resulting in one death and four confirmed cases, according to a government statement released on Wednesday.

The deceased, a 37-year-old man, passed away on Monday after being hospitalized in Gauteng province.

Health Minister Joe Phaahla has disclosed that these five cases, spanning from May 8 to June 7, are the first reported instances of the virus in the country since 2022. Phaahla expressed significant concern and emphasized the importance of seeking medical assistance for suspected symptoms, as well as initiating contact tracing.

It's worth noting that all recent cases in South Africa involved men in their 30s who experienced severe symptoms, with two individuals currently still hospitalized.

In anticipation of a potential widespread outbreak, Phaahla has mentioned plans to secure a supply of Tecovirimat treatment for rapid deployment. Originally known as monkeypox, this virus spreads through close contact with infected individuals or animals, as well as through contaminated materials. Its symptoms include skin rashes, fever, headaches, muscle pain, and swollen lymph nodes.

Monkeypox was initially identified in humans in 1970 in the Democratic Republic of Congo and had primarily been limited to specific West and Central African countries. However, there has been a recent surge in global infections, particularly impacting men who have sex with men. This has led to the World Health Organization declaring it a worldwide crisis in May 2022.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Business News
Amazon Web Services (AWS), the cloud computing division of tech tech giant Amazon (AMZN), is launching an infrastructure region in Taiwan by early 2025.

The new AWS Asia Pacific (Taipei) Region will give developers, startups, entrepreneurs, and enterprises, as well as education, , financial services, and nonprofit organizations, greater choice for running their applications and serving end users from data centers located in Taiwan, the company said in a statement.

An AWS region is a physical location where data centers are clustered. The new AWS Region will consist of three Availability Zones at launch, adding to AWS's existing 105 Availability Zones across 33 geographic regions globall

As part of its long-term commitment, AWS is planning to invest billions of dollars in Taiwan over the next 15 years.

"AWS is committed to helping customers of all sizes and across all industries accelerate their digital transformation with the highest levels of security and resilience available," said Prasad Kalyanaraman, vice president of Infrastructure Services at AWS. "The new AWS Region in Taiwan will enable organizations to unlock the full potential of the cloud and build with AWS technologies like compute, storage, databases, analytics, machine learning and artificial intelligence to drive innovation and transform the way businesses and institutions serve their customers. We look forward to helping customers and AWS Partners in Taiwan deliver cloud-enabled applications to accelerate growth, productivity, and innovation with lower latency from data centers located in Taiwan."

"We appreciate AWS for offering a diverse array of innovative cloud services to both local and international enterprises. Taiwan boasts a well-established industrial cluster, particularly excelling in sectors such as semiconductors and information and communications ," said Mr. Jung-tai Cho, Premier of Executive Yuan. "We anticipate that the new AWS Region in Taiwan will foster a mutually beneficial, prosperous, and sustainable relationship. This investment is poised to catalyze the growth of related industry chains, generate high-quality employment opportunities, and advance sustainable development initiatives."

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Business News
The Camden County Health Department confirmed that a stray cat found in Voorhees, New Jersey, has tested positive for rabies.

On May 23, a stray cat was brought to an animal shelter to be monitored for symptoms of rabies. Later, when it started showing signs of the disease, the shelter officials arranged for rabies testing at the state Public Health & Environmental Laboratories in Trenton.

The officials at Camden County got the results on June 10, confirming the illness. They immediately notified the Department of Health and Human Services about the case.

Further, the officials noted that the only known human exposure was the veterinarian at the shelter, who later contacted with a physician to take proper precautions against the disease.

"Although rabies is a serious illness, it can be prevented by early treatment," commented Commissioner Virginia Betteridge, liaison to the Camden County Health Department. "If you have been bitten or scratched by a wild animal it is important that you seek immediate medical attention."

Following the incident, the health officials urged the residents to avoid contact with wild animals while traveling, teach children to never touch unfamiliar animals, prevent bats from entering living quarters, keep pets vaccinated and under supervision, and contact animal control or animal rescue agency to remove stray animals from the neighborhood.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Business News
Honda 2W India has already announced that they are working on launching new ADVs  Now, they have showcased a few to select individuals

In a thrilling development for motorcycle enthusiasts, the Honda Sahara 300, CRF300L and CRF300L Rally have been spotted in India, igniting speculation about their potential launch in the burgeoning sub-400cc adventure bike market. These sightings at BigRock Dirtpark in Bengaluru have created a buzz among off-road and adventure biking communities.

Honda 300cc ADVs Spotted in India

Images are credited to adventure motorcyclist, Gauthaman Ramesh. The sub-400cc adventure segment has been gaining significant traction in India over the past few years, drawing the attention of major manufacturers. This segments growth is prompting brands to consider introducing models that are already popular in international markets. Hondas recent sightings suggest that the company might be exploring similar opportunities.

The sighting of these bikes follows the recent spottings of the Kawasaki KLX230 S, indicating heightened interest from Japanese manufacturers in Indias adventure bike segment. However, its important to note that the Honda CRF300L had been spotted in India around two years ago, leading to similar speculation at the time, but no official launch followed those sightings.

Specifications and Features

Both the CRF300L and the CRF300L Rally are powered by a 286cc, liquid-cooled, single-cylinder engine that produces 27.3 PS of power and 26.6 Nm of torque. Despite sharing the same engine, the two models differ in their configurations and intended uses.

The CRF300L Rally is designed with a high-rise handlebar, an LCD instrument console positioned above the handlebar for rally-style riding, a tall windscreen, dual-LED headlight setup, a sump guard, and tank extensions, making it more suitable for long-distance and rugged terrains.

Import and Speculation

The current sightings are believed to be private imports by customers rather than indicative of an imminent official launch. Without an official statement from Honda, the possibility of these models being introduced in the Indian market remains uncertain. If Honda does decide to launch these models in India, they are expected to be available through the Completely Built Up (CBU) route.

Based on the US market prices, where the CRF300L and CRF300L Rally are priced at $5,449 and $6,199 respectively, industry experts estimate that if these bikes are launched in India via the CBU route, their prices could be in the Rs 4-5 lakh range. This pricing strategy would align with other models brought to India through the CBU route, such as the Yamaha R3 and the MT-03, which are priced in a similar price bracket.

If launched via the CKD route, these new Honda ADVs could be priced competitively. This will help them take on the Royal Enfield Himalayan 450, which is also seen in the video parked next to the Honda 300 cc ADVs.
When launched, Next-Gen Apple CarPlay intends to take control of both the infotainment and instrument screens and rival anything Android Auto is offering

International tech giant, Apple Inc., recently held its WWDC24 event (World Wide Developer Conference) and laid down its future roadmap in software, integration and other aspects. One among these was Apple CarPlay which is set to get a major overhaul. First previewed in 2022, Apple CarPlay is on the verge of stepping into its next generation. Heres what we can expect.

Next-Gen Apple CarPlay  What is it?

Since the advent of computing and now smartphones, the way we live in this society has entirely changed, and we co-exist with one another. The same has been true with vehicular ownership experience where connectivity, infotainment and instrumentation are soon becoming decisive factors.

The company has not yet revealed a release date for this next-gen Apple CarPlay. However, the company did preview what their design team have been up to at WWDC24. Apple CarPlay Human Interface Designed, Ben Crick, laid down all the possibilities with the new CarPlay system with endless customisation possibilities.

With the new Apple CarPlay, the company intends to offer a greater sense of versatility and personalization. When connected to an IOS device (Apple iPhone), next-gen CarPlay will take over both infotainment screen and instrumentation screens along with any third or fourth display, if a car has one.

The idea is to offer a seamless infotainment and instrument experience to car owners and one that is fully configurable and customisable. For example, the instrument screen will be able to display usual speed, odo and tacho readings in gauge, gauge with ticks, bars and in multiple other formats. Apple is promising dynamic data too, which should ensure the best experience for users depending on parameters.

Also, the screen will allow incorporation of navigation data, ADAS-related info, camera controls, climate control, vehicular data like TPMS and even show EV-related, off-road or track-focused clusters if said car meets said criterias. The scalable and modular nature of next-gen Apple CarPlay will ensure feasibility with all screen sizes and shapes. OEMs will be able to show specifics like cars name or cars image right on the screens.

How do brands embrace it?

The next-gen Apple CarPlay system will be tailor-made for specific vehicles with tight integration with their respective manufacturers. These OEMs will have to work with Apple Team and come up with a unique Apple CarPlay layout for specific head units and the vehicles they will be implemented in.

It is yet unknown how car manufacturers will embrace Apples vision in redefining in-car infotainment and instrumentation experience. As of writing this article, only Porsche and Aston Martin have announced collaborations with Apple to incorporate the next-gen Apple CarPlay. More OEMs might announce their interest in Apples new system in the near future.

Considering how much control Apple will gain over vehicle informatics, there is a possibility of it having a significant impact on an OEMs willingness to embrace this system. Also, it would be interesting to see how Google responds to this and the changes they will implement to their Android Auto to streamline in-car infotainment and instrumentation experience.
Shanghai (Gasgoo)- On June 11, XPENG held a press conference at the Grand Egyptian Museum in Cairo to launch the XPENG G9 and P7 models in the Egyptian market. These two products will be delivered to Egyptian customers by the end of this month, making XPENG the first Chinese smart electric vehicle brand to introduce pure electric vehicle models to Egypt and Africa.

Photo credit: XPENG

Raya Auto, XPENG's distributor and exclusive partner in Egypt, plans to provide comprehensive after-sales support to local XPENG owners, adhering to strict quality standards to ensure high-quality service and customer experience.

Medhat Khalil, founder and chairman of Raya Holding, praised the partnership with XPENG as a significant achievement, stating, "XPENG Motors enjoys a high reputation, and we are honored to be the exclusive partner in the Egyptian market." Mohamed El Naggar, CEO of Raya Auto, emphasized the necessity of Egypts automotive industry's shift towards electrification, highlighting that creating a zero-emission smart mobility experience will help build a greener future for coming generations.

Currently, Raya Auto has established authorized XPENG service centers in both the eastern and western districts of Cairo and plans to open two large showrooms by the end of the year.

This year marks the tenth anniversary of XPENG and a significant year in its global expansion. Following its successful entry into Western Europe, Southeast Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and Oceania, XPENG has now expanded its dealer network in Egypt and Africa, further enlarging its international presence. XPENG Chairman and CEO He Xiaopeng stated publicly, "This year, we aim to expand XPENG's export reach from the initial three countries to over twenty countries."

In the first quarter of 2024 alone, XPENG's cumulative export sales reached 61.8% of the total export volume for the entire year of 2023.

The global business expansion of XPENG products is underpinned by its long-term focus on AI R&D, which has resulted in significant technological advantages. At the XPENG AI DAY event on May 20, XPENG officially rolled out the AI Tianji system to users. XPENG said it is the industry's first in-car OS to comprehensively apply AI technology to both smart cockpits and smart driving. In the third quarter of this year, the AI Tianji system will receive a major upgrade and will be launched overseas.

Additionally, XPENG's self-developed AI large model has already gone into mass production. Over the next 18 months, XPENG's smart driving capabilities in China are expected to be improved by 30 times. The company also revealed that the XNGP (XPENG Navigation Guided Pilot) ADAS feature, which has been successfully implemented in China, is currently undergoing global testing and validation.
Shanghai (Gasgoo)- In May 2024, China's domestic passenger vehicle (PV) market retailed 1.71 million vehicles, marking a year-over-year decrease of 1.9% but a month-over-month increase of 11.4%, according to data from the China Passenger Car Association ("CPCA").

For the first five months of this year, the country's PV retail sales totaled 8.073 million units, an increase of 5.7% compared to the same period last year.

For clarity, the passenger vehicles hereby refer to cars, MPVs, and SUVs locally produced on the Chinese Mainland.

In May, despite the impact of factors such as holiday shifts and a high base from the previous year, several positive influences emerged, including the implementation of the government's "trade-in" policy, the consumer enthusiasm driven by the Auto China 2024, the rollout of supportive policies across various regions, and a temporary cooling of the price wars in the car market. Additionally, the price protection and buyback policies alleviated consumer concerns, and the release of major products by leading companies stabilized product supply expectations. This combination of factors stimulated the purchasing enthusiasm of previously hesitant consumers, leading to a relatively positive development phase for the new energy passenger vehicle market in May.

According to the CPCA, China's car market witnessed an early onset of price wars this year, with discounts of nearly 20% on some popular models, extending from post-Chinese New Year in February through the end of April. The number of models involved in the price cuts nearly matched the total number of models discounted last year, leading to consumers adopting a wait-and-see attitude towards prices. Additionally, weak consumer expectations temporarily suppressed the spring market launch. However, with the implementation of detailed policies at the end of April, pent-up consumer purchasing power began to be released in May, propelling a strong market performance for new energy vehicles, exceeding the expectations of passenger car manufacturers. The new energy vehicle purchase tax exemption policy, set to exclude entry-level models under 200 kilometers starting June 1, also drove a rush to register vehicles before the policy change, further boosting the new energy vehicle markets growth in May.

In May, PV retail sales of Chinese indigenous brands reached 980,000 units, rising 12% from both the previous year and month. Domestic brands captured a 57.6% share of the retail market that month, up 7.3 percentage points year-on-year. For 2024, Chinese local brands have accumulated a market share of 56%, an increase of 6.6 percentage points compared to the same period last year.

In May, mainstream joint-venture brands recorded retail sales of 490,000 units, a decrease of 21% year-on-year but an increase of 8% month-on-month. German brands held an 18.6% share of the retail market in May, down 2 percentage points year-on-year, while Japanese brands had a 14.8% share, down 3.2 percentage points year-on-year. Besides, American brands accounted for 6.7% of the market, a year-on-year dip of 1.4 percentage points.

Luxury car retail sales reached 240,000 units in May in China, down 3% year-on-year but up 19% month-on-month. The retail market share of luxury brands stood at 14% in May, a slight decrease of 0.2 percentage points year-on-year, indicating that the demand for traditional luxury cars was not particularly strong.

In May, PV manufacturers in China reported wholesale sales of 2.031 million units, marking a 1.2% year-on-year increase and a 3.9% month-on-month increase. Driven by market stabilization and export promotion, the sales in May exceeded the historical high of 2 million units recorded in May 2023 by 28,000 units.

China's local car manufacturers achieved wholesale sales of 1.298 million units in May, representing an 18% year-on-year increase and a 4% month-on-month increase. In contrast, mainstream joint-venture brands recorded wholesale sales of 480,000 units, a year-on-year decrease of 23% but a month-on-month increase of 3%. Luxury car brands saw wholesale sales of 260,000 units, a 9% year-on-year decline but a 5% month-on-month increase.

The overall performance of major passenger car manufacturers in May showed divergence. BYD, Chery Automobile, Geely Auto, and Changan Auto performed relatively well. There were 32 passenger car manufacturers with sales exceeding 10,000 units in May (the same as in April, compared to 30 in the same period last year), capturing 95.4% of the overall market share. Among these, 2 manufacturers achieved a year-over-year growth rate of over 100%, 10 manufacturers saw a growth rate of over 10%, and 17 manufacturers experienced negative year-over-year growth. Additionally, 20 manufacturers with wholesale volumes exceeding 10,000 units showed positive growth compared to April.

China's passenger car production output in May totaled 1.997 million units, showing a slight year-on-year increase of 0.3% and a month-on-month increase of 0.5%. However, production of luxury car brands decreased by 13% year-on-year and 3% month-on-month. Joint-venture brands saw a year-on-year production decline of 24% but a month-on-month increase of 2%. Besides, China's local brands saw production out grow by 18% year-on-year and edge up 1% month-on-month.

This year, China's overall automotive export performance has maintained the strong growth momentum seen at the end of last year. According to customs statistics, China exported 569,000 vehicles in May, a year-on-year increase of 30%, with export revenues reaching $10.5 billion, up 17% year-on-year. From January to May of this year, total vehicle exports reached 2.45 million units, up 27% year-on-year, with export revenues totaling $46.4 billion, an increase of 20% from a year ago.

According to data submitted by passenger car manufacturers, including both complete vehicles and CKD (completely knocked down) kits, China's PV exports in May totaled 378,000 units, a year-on-year increase of 23% but a month-on-month decrease of 9%. Cumulatively, from January to May, passenger car exports reached 1.87 million units, up 34% year-on-year. In May, new energy vehicles accounted for 24.8% of total exports, a decrease of 6.8 percentage points compared to the same period last year. With the recovery of markets in South America and other regions, exports of China's domestic brands reached 319,000 units in May, up 27% year-on-year but down 7% month-on-month. Exports of joint venture and luxury brands totaled 58,000 units, a 5% year-on-year increase.
Shanghai (Gasgoo)- On June 11, GAC Energy Technology Co., Ltd. ("GAC Energy"), a subsidiary of GAC Group, signed a cooperation framework agreement with Foshan Communications Development Co., Ltd. ("Foshan Communications Development"), according to a post on GAC Energys WeChat account.

Photo credit: GAC Energy

The agreement stipulates that both parties will adhere to the basic principles of "long-term perspective, mutual benefit, win-win cooperation, and joint development." They will leverage their respective resource advantages to jointly advance comprehensive cooperation in the energy sector. This includes collaborative efforts in the areas of electric vehicle (EV) charging and battery swapping stations, integrated energy flagship stations featuring solar power storage and EV charging, cross-industry integration, digitalization, and vehicle-to-grid (V2G) interaction. The aim is to deeply integrate transportation networks, information networks, and energy networks to create a unified energy replenishment network in the Foshan region. They plan to pioneer demonstration projects that integrate various functions such as V2G, leisure, and new energy vehicle sales, thereby establishing diverse energy replenishment scenarios that encompass people, vehicles, energy, and lifestyle in a new energy ecosystem.

GAC Energy said it has already built over 100 EV charging stations in the Guangzhou and Foshan areas, forming a comprehensive urban coverage network for EV charging and battery swapping energy replenishment. As a core focus area of the "Ten Thousand Piles Plan," GAC Energy and Foshan Communications Development share the same aspirations and goals, continuously contributing to the travel convenience of Foshan citizens and the development of the new energy vehicle industry.
A team of scientists from Colorado State University, Save the Elephants and ElephantVoices used machine learning to confirm that calls of African savannah elephants (Loxodonta africana) contained a name-like component identifying the intended recipient. When the authors played back recorded calls, the elephants responded affirmatively to calls that were addressed to them by calling back or approaching the speaker.

Dolphins and parrots call one another by name by imitating the signature call of the addressee, said Dr. Michael Pardo, a postdoctoral researcher at Colorado State University and Save the Elephants.

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.

The ability to learn to produce new sounds is uncommon among animals but necessary for identifying individuals by name.

Arbitrary communication  where a sound represents an idea but does not imitate it  greatly expands communication capability and is considered a next-level 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, added Colorado State Universitys Professor George Wittemyer, chairman of the scientific board of Save the Elephants.

The use of arbitrary vocal labels indicates that elephants may be capable of abstract thought.

In their study, the researchers used machine-learning methods to analyze recordings of 469 calls (rumbles) made by wild African elephant female-offspring groups in the Amboseli National Park and Samburu and Buffalo Springs National Reserves in Kenya between 1986 and 2022.

The machine-learning model correctly identified the recipients of 27.5% of these calls, which they note is a higher percentage than the model detected when being fed a control audio.

They also compared the reactions of 17 wild elephants in response to recordings of calls that were either originally addressed to them or another elephant.

They observed that elephants approached the speaker playing the recordings more quickly and responded more vocally in response to calls originally addressed to them, compared to those originally addressed to another elephant.

This suggests that elephants recognize individual calls addressed to them.

Our finding that elephants are not simply mimicking the sound associated with the individual they are calling was the most intriguing, said Dr. Kurt Fristrup, a researcher at Colorado State University.

The capacity to utilize arbitrary sonic labels for other individuals suggests that other kinds of labels or descriptors may exist in elephant calls.

New insights into elephant cognition and communication revealed by the study strengthen the case for their conservation.

Elephants are classified as endangered, due to poaching for their ivory tusks and habitat loss from development.

Because of their size, they need a lot of space and can be destructive to property and hazardous to people.

While conversing with pachyderms remains a distant dream, being able to communicate with them could be a gamechanger for their protection, Professor Wittemyer said.

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.

A paper on the findings was published in the journal Nature Ecology & Evolution.

_____

M.A. Pardo et al. African elephants address one another with individually specific name-like calls. Nat Ecol Evol, published online June 10, 2024; doi: 10.1038/s41559-024-02420-w
DW Burnett

On June 11, General Motors issued a recall notice for some 13,464 C8-generation Chevrolet Corvette models from the 2024 and 2025 model years. The recall notice is due to the cars possibly being equipped with faulty seat belts, potentially increasing the risk of injury for drivers and passengers alike.



According to the automaker, these C8 Corvette models feature driver and/or passenger seat belt retractors that may become locked in a stowed position under certain conditions. This in turn makes it impossible to wear the belts correctly, eliminating their effectiveness as an occupant restraint. It goes without saying that customers who continue to drive without functioning retractors are at a higher risk of injury if their vehicle were to be involved in a crash.

As such, GM has instructed its dealers to pause deliveries of 2024 and 2025 Corvettes, whether they be new, used, or certified pre-owned models. Dealers are also not allowed from selling these cars via an auction, nor are they allowed to be traded from dealer to dealer. In fact, GM doesnt even want the cars used for any sort of dealer demonstration until repairs can be made. All certified pre-owned models currently in the brands inventory system are set to be decertified as well.

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Unfortunately for 'Vette owners and would-be buyers alike, General Motors doesnt currently have the required parts in stock to make these repairs. When parts do get sorted out, the automaker will task its dealers with making the repairs free of charge. The initial recall notice does not contain any estimates related to when parts will be available, nor does it provide dealers with info on the expected length of the job. Owner notification letters are slated to be sent out starting July 22.

Customers can get information about the recall process by contacting Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. The automakers internal code for this recall is N242441390. NHTSA also provides information about active recalls on its website, which you can access at the link provided here.



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Tesla has received construction approval for yet another massive plant in Shanghai, but this time it won't be making EVs, according to a report by Teslarati.

The new Megafactory will focus on producing the Megapack, a large-scale rechargeable lithium-ion battery specifically designed for use by utilities and other companies looking to bulk up on their clean energy storage infrastructure.

This comes on the tail of Tesla's recent earnings call for the first quarter of 2024, when Elon Musk reported an increase in the sector, outpacing that of EVs so far this year.

"The Megapack, in particular, reached an all-time high in Q1, leading to record profitability for the energy business, and that looks likely to continue to increase in the quarters and years ahead," Musk said. "It will increase  we actually know that it will  significantly faster than the car business, as we expected."

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It's actually only the second of its kind, with the first being located in Lathrop, California, which is already supporting a project that can power over 200,000 homes. That Megafactory has been ramping up production to supply a variety of customers across North America and Australia.

Construction on the new China plant should begin this month. Tesla has plans to produce around 10,000 Megapacks per year, with an expected production capacity of 40 gigawatt-hours. It also has an aggressive timeline, with the first Megapacks expected to be delivered in the first quarter of 2025.

It's no surprise that Tesla chose to open this second factory in China. Beyond labor costs, the country has been leading the way in renewable energy adoption. As reported by the Yale School of the Environment, the International Energy Authority noted "the 50 percent increase in global renewable installations in 2023 was largely driven by China."

This new location may help the company save on manufacturing and transportation costs when supplying some of its largest new customers. Neoen, a French company, recently announced plans for a record-breaking storage facility in Western Australia that will rely on Tesla Megapacks.

Building robust energy storage systems like these across the globe is an important step we can take to ensure a more sustainable future.

Join our free newsletter for cool news and actionable info that makes it easy to help yourself while helping the planet.
Kevin Brown and Jim Palmer get ready to call Tuesdays game between the Orioles and Atlanta Braves. Photo Credit: MASN.

As the Baltimore Orioles were getting ready to host the Atlanta Braves on Tuesday, Jim Palmer, a color commentator for the Orioles and one of the greatest players in franchise history, made a not-so-subtle reference to what was, quite frankly, one of the stupidest controversies in franchise history.

Palmer was discussing the teams recent eight-game road trip, which included four-game series against both the Toronto Blue Jays and Tampa Bay Rays. It was a successful trip for Baltimore. The Orioles went 6-2. That included a four-game sweep of the Rays. In a pregame conversation with his broadcast partner, play-by-play man Kevin Brown, Palmer brought that up.

The important thing is you win six out of eight games. And you go to Tampa Bay where you used to have trouble, as you know, winningand now all of a sudden, they win 4 in a row.

Brown smiled, noting Tuesdays pitching matchup. Palmer chuckled, something Brown began to do, as well.

Jim Palmer in a conversation with Kevin Brown: The important thing is you win 6 out of 8 games. And you go to Tampa Bay where you used to have trouble, as you know, winningand now all of a sudden, they win 4 in a row. (H/T @AviMiIIer)pic.twitter.com/r6Eoc1MtXa  Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) June 12, 2024

For anyone who might have forgotten. Before a road game against Tampa in 2023, Brown noted that if the Orioles won that game (which they later did) theyd have as many wins in that series at Tropicana Field  three  as they had from 2020-2022 combined.

Brown was taken off of the air shortly after that game, with Awful Announcing confirming through multiple independent sources familiar with the situation that Brown was taken off the air for the above comments.

The suspension was confusing on multiple levels. One, Browns comments were not opinions but simple facts. Two, they were part of a graphic made well before the comments were made. So, nothing said should have taken anyone by surprise. Three, somehow overlooking both elements, the comments pointed to improvements that the Orioles were making. In a normal world, thats something a teams ownership might want to highlight, not hide.

Citing those points (and more), announcers were vocal in their support of Brown. Fans were as well. Brown returned to the booth. Eventually, even John Angelos, then the teams Chairman and CEO, acknowledged that the situation was handled poorly.

Of course, as the saying goes, time heals all wounds. Additionally  and probably most important  the Angelos family sold the Orioles to a group of investors headed by David Rubenstein in the offseason.

That makes the situation a lot easier to laugh at.

[Photo Credit: MASN]
Tourists sightsee along the historic Pingjiang Road in Suzhou, East China's Jiangsu Province, on May 6, 2024. Various tourist attractions in Suzhou are ushering in a large number of tourists who are traveling off-peak after the five-day May Day holidays, which lasted from May 1 to 5. Photo: VCG



Revolving around the archaeological ruins called the Jincheng Xincun site, literally meaning the Jincheng New village site, an academic meeting was recently held in Suzhou, East China's Jiangsu Province, during which new findings were discussed that show the site was once an urban center during the Qin Dynasty (221BC-206 BC).

The Jincheng Xincun site is located in Suzhou's historical Gusu district. The site became a sensation when it was discovered in 2022 due to the finds such as refined architectural components revealing early human civilization in the area.

"The archaeological ruins have witnessed several historical periods in China including the Qin and Han (206BC-AD220) dynasties," archaeologist Yu Pei'er told the Global Times.

Contextualizing material relics referenced in historical texts like the Book of Han and Records of the Grand Historian, experts at the meeting introduced their latest discovery: the governmental office of the Qin dynasty' s Kuaiji county had been established near the site.

Cheng Yi, head of the Suzhou Institute of Archaeology, said that the area near the Jincheng Xincun site was "highly likely" a major urban center of the Qin Dynasty. The expert also noted that the earliest human activities around the site have been dated back to the Spring and Autumn Period (770BC-476BC).

"Kuaiji county was geographically located along the lower reaches of the Yangtze River. It was widely believed by many that it was in what is today Suzhou, but the location of the center of the county has always been a puzzle," archaeologist Lu Zhaojun told the Global Times.

What made archaeologists firmly believe the Jincheng Xincun site was once this Qin urban center were three architectural remains discovered at the site. Experts noticed that the buildings were highly similar to the typical Qin buildings discovered in Northwest China's Shaanxi Province, long seen as the birthplace of the Qin Dynasty.

A large number of tiles, including a decorative type called wadang tiles, were unearthed at the Jincheng Xincun site. Those wadang tiles, especially their decorations, were "extreme unusual finds for Suzhou," said Fu Jian, an associate research fellow at the Emperor Qinshihuang's Mausoleum Site Museum.

"We speculate that these tiles spread to Suzhou after the Qin state unified China and were one of the symbols used in Suzhou to showcase this unification and power of the Qin regime," Fu emphasized.

Other than tiles, a pottery pipe inscribed with the Chinese character "you," meaning "right" in Chinese, was also discovered. The letter engraved on construction materials with characters engraved upon them were "only used for high-grade government buildings," Zhang Tian'en, a researcher at the Shaanxi Provincial Institute of Archaeology revealed.

"Such discoveries contribute to our exploration of Suzhou's urban construction history as well as helps us to expand the city's historical narrative," Cheng noted.

The first excavation of the Jincheng Xincun site was carried out in 2022. A total of 200 square meters was excavated and investigated. More than 260 relics and fragments of artifacts were unearthed, including bronze coins and pottery-made ritual objects.

A large number of ancient cooking utensils such as the wok-like fu and the steamer zeng were also unearthed along with more than 10 types of remains from animals like horses, dogs and pigs.

"Archaeological works carried out at sites like the Jincheng Xincun site help us to see what our ancestors' lifestyles were like and how their social and cultural lives were formed," archaeologist Yu Pei'er told the Global Times.
US parcel delivery firm FedEx said on Wednesday that it plans to axe between 1,700 and 2,000 back-office and commercial jobs in Europe as it looks to cut costs amid a slump in freight demand.

In a filing with the US Securities and Exchange Commission, the company said the execution of the plan is subject to a consultation process that is expected to occur over an 18-month period.

FedEx expects the pre-tax cost of the severance benefits and legal and professional fees to be provided under and related to the plan to range between $250m and $375m in cash expenditures.

These charges are expected to be incurred through fiscal 2026 and will be classified as business optimisation expenses, it said.

The group expects savings from the plan to be between $125m and $175m on an annualised basis beginning in fiscal 2027.

"FedEx is transforming to best match changing market dynamics and meet the needs of our customers," it said.

"Alongside the work weve done to optimise our networks, were taking necessary actions to streamline many of our functions to reduce structural costs while continuing to deliver outstanding service to our customers. We do not take these decisions lightly, but they are essential to putting FedEx on the right path for the future."
Photos from the public viewing ceremony and funeral procession for late Arizona Police Officer Joshua Briese in Billings on Wednesday, June 12, 2024. A member of the Gila River Police Department, Briese was killed in the line of duty on Saturday, June 1, while responding to a disturbance at the Gila River Indian Community in Arizona. Briese was born and raised in Billings, graduating from Billings West High School in 2020. Briese is the son of late Yellowstone County Sheriff's Office deputy David Briese, who was also killed in the line of duty in 2006.
The owner of South West Water has warned that global heating will increase the risk of outbreaks of the parasite that caused diarrhoea and vomiting in south Devon. Pennon Group said that gradual and significant increasing average and high temperatures could pose risks to water quality and water treatment  including the cryptosporidium parasite  in its annual report, published this week.  Guardian

Investors could seek more than 100m in compensation from the owner of Ladbrokes and Coral for failure to update them on issues with bribery and corruption at the groups former Turkish operation. The planned action, led by the legal firm Fox Williams, follows Entains agreement to pay almost 600m  one of the largest financial penalties ever imposed in the UK  in a deal with HM Revenue and Customs finalised in December 2023 after an investigation into alleged bribery.  Guardian

An investment team formerly run by Neil Woodford is being disbanded amid flagging interest in London-listed shares. Invesco is to close its dedicated UK stock-picking unit and merge it with its European division from January. The teams are being merged as investor interest in British stocks wanes. Money in the Invesco UK Equity Income and High Income funds has shrunk to 6.86bn, compared to 33bn when Mr Woodfood oversaw them.  Telegraph

An oil and gas company run by a Labour campaigner has blamed negative political rhetoric for its decision to abandon work on one of the most significant discoveries in the North Sea. Deltic Energy on Tuesday blamed deteriorating sentiment towards the oil and gas industry as a result of ongoing fiscal volatility and negative political rhetoric in the run-up to the July election for its decision to walk away from the Pensacola field.  Telegraph

Banana firm Chiquita Brands has been ordered to pay $38.3m (30m) to 16 family members of people killed by a right-wing paramilitary group it funded during Colombia's long civil war. The decision by a federal jury in Florida marks the first time the company has been found liable in any of a number of similar lawsuits pending elsewhere in the US.  Sky News
The Cellular Operators' Association of India (COAI), the leading industry body representing major telecom, internet, technology, and digital services companies in India, announced its new leadership for the term 2024-25, effective June 2024. Abhijit Kishore, Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Vodafone Idea Limited, has been appointed as the Chairperson, while Rahul Vatts, Chief Regulatory Officer (CRO) of Bharti Airtel, will serve as the Vice Chairperson.

S.P. Kochhar, Director-General of COAI, expressed optimism about the new leadership coinciding with the third term of the Narendra Modi-led government. "We anticipate that the Digital India program and other forward-looking policies will gain further momentum, empowering citizens with access to digital resources and opportunities", Kochhar stated.

Abhijit Kishore brings over three decades of diverse experience in the telecom industry, having held various roles across functions, organizations, and geographies. Prior to his current position as COO, he was the Chief Enterprise Business Officer at Vodafone Idea Limited, where he spearheaded the company's enterprise segment. Kishore emphasized the industry's commitment to innovation and inclusion. "The telecom sector is advancing rapidly, and together, we are dedicated to fostering a more connected, secure, and inclusive world. On behalf of the industry, I reiterate our commitment to supporting the governments initiatives to bridge the digital divide and accelerate Indias digital transformation", said Kishore.

Rahul Vatts, a veteran with 29 years of experience in the telecom sector, brings extensive expertise in Telecom & Broadcasting Licensing, Economic Regulations, Spectrum Management, and Regulatory Litigation. As the CRO of Bharti Airtel, Vatts manages Government Relations, Policy, and Regulatory interfaces across the companys diverse business operations, including mobility broadband, DTH, data centers, submarine cables, international subsidiaries, and digital lines of business. Vatts expressed gratitude towards previous office bearers and highlighted the ongoing transformation in the telecom sector. "The telecom sector is undergoing significant changes, and we will collaborate with the government and regulators to address key issues. I thank the previous office bearers and look forward to working closely with the members to drive the industry forward", said Vatts.
To enhance India's underwater military capabilities, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is set to develop groundbreaking underwater-launched unmanned aerial vehicles (ULUAVs) with the assistance of a Pune-based defence startup. These ULUAVs, designed to be launched from submarines, will be created in collaboration with Sagar Defence Engineering Pvt Ltd. This startup was awarded the technology development contract by DRDO's Technology Development Fund (TDF) after being selected from 17 competing firms through a competitive bidding process.

The Defence Research & Development Laboratory (DRDL) of the DRDO will support Sagar Defence in developing ULUAV technology. Sagar Defence, which previously created a maritime spotter drone for the Indian Navy, signed the agreement in the presence of DRDL Director Dr. G A S Murthy and Indian Navy officials.

A ULUAV will be designed for rapid, safe, and autonomous deployment from a moving submarine. With high endurance and long-range capabilities, it offers a significant surprise advantage. Additionally, it will facilitate discreet surveillance missions, enabling submarines to monitor potential threats without exposing their location.

Mridul Babbar, Director & Vice-President of Business Development, Sagar Defence, Said, "This ULUAV technology is going to be highly advanced. Only a few countries in the world possess ULUAVs but they are not highly advanced. Like the US ULUAV has a range of 7 km and its endurance is for 30 minutes. However, DRDO has entrusted us to develop a ULUAV that will have a longer endurance of more than one hour and will have a range of over 20 km. And we are the first to develop this technology in India. This ULUAV will be for maritime and underwater domain awareness and will be used for data gathering". This will be expandable, and in the future, weapons can also be installed on it, he added.

The project highlights the Modi government's proactive commitment to promoting indigenous innovation and technological advancement. Sagar CEO Captain Nikunj Parashar said, "This contract not only underscores the trust and confidence that DRDO has in our capabilities but also serves as a testament to the strides we are making in defence innovation".
Olympus Corporation, a global leader in medical technology, has announced Hyderabad as the location for its new Offshore Development Centre (ODC) in partnership with technology firm HCLTech. This initiative, revealed during discussions between a Telangana delegation and Olympus officials in the U.S., signifies Olympus' commitment to leveraging global talent and resources for medical technology advancements.

The decision to establish the ODC in Hyderabad, India's burgeoning medtech hub, underscores the city's conducive environment for research and development activities. This move aligns with Olympus' expansion strategy, with plans to eventually establish an in-house R&D centre in India, complementing its existing centres in Japan, the U.S., and Europe.

The partnership with HCLTech will see the establishment of a dedicated product innovation centre in Hyderabad, catering to Olympus' operations across regions like the U.S., Europe, Middle East, and Africa. Expected to commence operations by July 2024, this centre aims to bolster Olympus' business expansion plans and drive advancements in medical technology.

The Telangana government, which hosted Olympus officials at BioAsia 2024, hailed the investment as a significant milestone for Hyderabad's medical devices ecosystem. Ministers D. Sridhar Babu and Komatireddy Venkat Reddy, along with senior officials, expressed their support for the venture, emphasizing its potential to elevate India's standing in the global medical devices sector.

Olympus' Chief Innovation Officer, Andre Roggan, highlighted the company's longstanding partnership with HCLTech in core engineering and R&D services. This collaboration, he noted, would enhance Olympus' engineering capabilities and foster new innovations to enhance healthcare through technology.

Furthermore, Olympus will collaborate with AIG Hospitals in Hyderabad for joint research projects, aiming to leverage clinical expertise for the development of innovative medical solutions. This partnership underscores Olympus' commitment to addressing the evolving needs of patients globally and advancing healthcare through collaborative research endeavors.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  A South Beach man who authorities said chased an individual in his community with a loaded gun has taken a plea.

The case was headed toward trial when Markim Quick, 36, of Lamport Boulevard, pleaded guilty in state Supreme Court, St. George, to a charge of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  Lawbreakers be warned: If you are driving without a registration or proper plates, there is a multitude of law enforcement agencies in New York City looking to catch you.

The NYPD, along with the New York City Sheriffs Office, MTA, New York State Police, New York State Department of Motor Vehicles, and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey continued their crackdown on so-called ghost cars and toll evaders at the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge this past Friday.

According to a spokesman for the NYPD, law enforcement issued summonses, seized vehicles and made a handful of arrests on the span during the enforcement action.

The operation targeted drivers with improperly displayed plates and unregistered vehicles, according to a tweet from Chief Philip Rivera, NYPD chief of transportation, on the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter.

Another successful Verrazzano Narrows Bridge initiative was conducted with more vehicle seizures, said Rivera. Reminder to all motorists: vehicles need to be registered and plates displayed properly. No Tape! Thanks to everyone involved.

Another successful Verrazano Narrows Bridge  initiative was conducted with more vehicle seizures. Reminder to all motorists: vehicles need to be registered and plates displayed properly. No Tape!

Thanks to everyone involved. pic.twitter.com/F7STxAM40F  Chief of Transportation (@NYPDTransport) June 8, 2024

The operation resulted in 54 impounded cars, 386 summonses, and the arrests of eight individuals, according to the NYPD.

To date, officials have conducted 16 operations across New York City, including one in May at the Verrazzano and two in April at the Goethals and Bayonne bridges.

MTA Bridges and Tunnels previously touted the recovery of more than 98% of the tolls owed by recidivist toll violators since the inception of its DMV Registration Suspension Program.

Since the inception of Open Road Tolling, Bridge and Tunnel officers have intercepted upward of 9,500 vehicles for persistent non-payment of tolls, the agency previously told the Advance/SILive.com.

In early April, the task force took to the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge, George Washington Bridge and the Lincoln Tunnel. In that operation, 14 arrests were made, 413 summonses were issued and 108 improper or covered license plates were confiscated.

Our message is very simple, dont use fake plates, dont cover your plates, and pay the toll when you use MTA Bridges and Tunnels crossings, said MTA Bridges and Tunnels President Catherine Sheridan in a news release issued by her agency following the April operation. New Yorkers are tired of paying their way when too many others are not, and our Bridge and Tunnel officers are committed to stopping this illegal activity.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  DiTommaso Real Estate, which has served Staten Island, Brooklyn and New Jersey since 1987, recently organized a Pet Adoption Day at the agencys New Dorp location.

DiTommaso realtor Lori Hesterhagen-Ficarra brought together several local animal rescue organizations and community members to promote pet adoption and support a number of not-for-profits.

We have so many amazing local rescues here on Staten Island. Today it was an honor to have four of the great ones at DiTommaso!!! said Hesterhagen-Ficarra.

Rescue groups included Pitbulls and Addicts, Victory 4 the Voiceless, the Near and Far Animal Foundation and Louies Legacy.

Frank DiTommaso, owner of DiTommaso Real Estate, has partnered with many local not-for-profits over the years.

Saving one animal may not change the world, but for that one animal, the world will be forever changed, said DiTomasso. Todays pet adoption event at DiTommaso Real Estate saw over a hundred animal lovers with potential interest in the many dogs and cats that were there for adoption. Were happy to share that several found new homes!

In addition to the pet adoption efforts, the event also welcomed the GRACE Foundation of New York.

The GRACE participants sold their Graceful Bites and Bark Special Treat, all-natural dog treats handcrafted by individuals supported by the foundation.

Proceeds from the sales went directly to supporting The GRACE Foundations programs.

Cathy DelPriore, executive director of The GRACE Foundation and a cartoon character who attended the event. (Courtesy/Lori Hesterhagen-Ficarra)Staten Island Advance

Cathy Del Priore, executive director of The GRACE Foundation, remarked: It is wonderful to partner with DiTommaso Real Estate and all the pet rescues. We are all part of the same nonprofit community, working together to make a difference. Our participants were excited to share their Graceful Bites and Bark Special Treats with the community. It was a wonderful experience for everyone involved, and we are grateful for the support.

Organizing this pet adoption day was a truly fulfilling experience, added Hesterhagen-Ficarra. It was incredible to see our community come together to support these wonderful organizations and help find loving homes for these deserving animals. Our goal is to continue fostering a sense of community and support for both local nonprofits and our furry friends.

Dan Ryan and an event participant smile for the camera with a cartoon character during the fun afternoon. (Courtesy/Lori Hesterhagen-Ficarra)Staten Island Advance

Carla Murino from the Near and Far Animal Foundation expressed gratitude for the event. We are grateful to Lori and DiTommaso Real Estate for hosting this event. It provided an excellent opportunity for us to connect with potential adopters and raise awareness about the importance of animal rescue.

Mike Favor of Pitbulls and Addicts had a very successful day. Thank you to DiTommaso Real Estate for hosting todays amazing adoption event, said Favor. We met some amazing people, and we also got our Jessica Rabbit a home of her own! The family came down with their dog and fell in love. We brought Jessica to their home and made sure everything was good!

We are so grateful to have been a part of the DiTommaso annual adoption event, said April Soto of Victory 4 the Voiceless. Every detail of today was perfect, from the red carpet to the snacks and the amazing collection of much-needed donations. They truly went above and beyond, and its refreshing to see local businesses embracing their community! A warm shout out to Lori Ficarra & team for advocating tirelessly for all the rescue communitys animals in need.

And Carla Murino of the Near and Far Animal Foundation, added: Thank you to all that put so much heart into todays event. We had great fun, and the pups enjoyed themselves!

For more information about future events or to learn how you can support these organizations, please contact Lori Hesterhagen-Ficarra at lori.ficarra@gmail.com
RiverStone Health has laid off two of six employees from its team dedicated to providing healthcare services for the homeless.

These were just two of 42 positions cut last month. These layoffs, which shrunk the organization's workforce by 9%, were caused by a $3.2 million loss of anticipated Medicaid revenue caused by the state's widely-critiqued redetermination process.

The Healthcare for the Homeless team will continue to provide the same services despite the loss of a nurse and an administrator, according to Eric Owen, the organization's vice president. Yet the cuts demonstrate the precarity of healthcare providers serving the most vulnerable populations, who continue to serve patients despite their lack of coverage.

These services are essential not only to the wellness of people facing significant health challenges and obstacles to care, but in diverting individuals away from costly emergency services.

We try to emphasize preventative healthcare, Owen said. By the time someones homeless, its beyond preventative, and more of an intervention. That said, we can still do a lot to make sure people use emergency resources for important stuff.

In 2020, the last year for which there is available data, the top 93 high utilizers of emergency services visited Billings hospitals 2,110 times, at a price of $7.7 million, according to the Yellowstone County Continuum of Care.

Healthcare for the Homeless provides care for wounds, feet, behavioral health, respiratory illnesses, diabetes, parasites and bed bugs, to name a few. RiverStone Health provided 6,600 visits to unhoused people last year, serving 945 unique individuals.

The services we provide keep them out of the ER, Owen said.

The team does outreach at the Off the Streets shelter, the YWCA shelter and the Crisis Center, as well as locations where unhoused people congregate during the day.

The teams care manager can help clients get re-enrolled. Of the 135,569 Montanans who lost Medicaid coverage between April 2023 and January 2024, just 31.57% were deemed ineligible, according to the Department of Health and Human Services. Another 62.68% lost coverage due to a "failure to provide requested information" and 1.22% lost coverage because their mail was returned to sender.

The organization can receive retroactive reimbursement for services provided to unenrolled individuals, but only within a three-month window. The turnaround on getting applications approved, however, takes months.

Owen said they are just now getting back results for clients who applied in November and December.

More than 50% of RiverStone Healths patients were covered by Medicaid before the unwinding, though just 40% of patients are now. Despite a loss in coverage, RiverStone Health is still providing services to anyone who needs them and has actually had an increase in the time since redetermination began.

Were still here for the community, Owen said.
Four men who thought they were meeting children for sex were met by undercover officers this month during a multi-agency operation in Middlesex County that targeted people who were allegedly using social media to lure kids, authorities said.

The sting, known as Operation Cruel Summer, was lead by the Internet Crimes Against Children Unit of The Middlesex County Prosecutors Office with the assistance of multiple other local law enforcement agencies, the office said in a release.

The four men were arrested at an undisclosed location in East Brunswick where they expected to find a child over the course of five days, June 3 through June 6, and on June 10, investigators said.

Mohamed Mohamed, 41, of Jersey City, was charged with one count of second-degree luring.

Peter Wissemann, 27, of Colonia, was charged with one count of second-degree luring and one count of third-degree criminal attempt  endangering sexual conduct with a child.

Malyar Baron, 32, of Jersey City, was charged with one count of second-degree luring, one count of second-degree criminal attempt-endangering, one count of third-degree distributing obscene material to a minor and one count of third-degree criminal attempt  endangering sexual conduct with a child.

Edgar Rivera, 65, of Piscataway, was charged with one count of second-degree luring and one count of third-degree criminal attempt  endangering sexual conduct with a child.

This operations success is a beacon of hope for our community and a stark warning to those who attempt to victimize our most vulnerable population: we will relentlessly pursue justice, East Brunswick Police Chief Frank LoSacco said in a statement.

The investigation is ongoing and anyone with information is asked to call the Internet Crimes Against Children Unit of The Middlesex County Prosecutors Office at (732) 745-3300.

Please consider supporting NJ.com with a voluntary subscription.

Chris Sheldon may be reached at csheldon@njadvancemedia.com.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  A bipartisan group of Island elected officials is fighting mad over a bill that adds 12 new Civil Court judgeships throughout the city  but none on Staten Island.

Under the bill passed by the state Assembly and Senate, three judgeships each would be added to Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens and the Bronx, even with a significant backlog of court cases on Staten Island.

In 1968, that was the last time a Civil Court seat was assigned to Staten Island, said Assemblyman Mike Reilly. They had a 300,000 population. Today, the population is approximately 500,000. And yet, we still only have four.

There are approximately 130 Civil Court judges in New York City, Reilly said, and Staten Island has four. Staten Island represents 6% of New York Citys population,' he said. Yet, they represent only 3% of the Civil Court judges in New York City.

In a letter sent to Gov. Kathy Hochul, the group requests an amendment to the legislation that would give Staten Island three judgeships before she signs the bill.

The letter goes on to say that, while the bill expands City Civil Court, it doesnt include any new seats for Richmond County, exacerbating an already significant disparity in judicial resources being allocated to our county compared to the rest of the city.

The letter was signed by Reilly, state Sen. Jessica Scarcella-Spanton, state Sen. Andrew Lanza, Assemblyman Michael Tannousis, Assemblyman Charles Fall and Assemblyman Sam Pirozzolo.

The letter also points out that legislation to add these three seats already exists in the form of a bill written by Scarcella-Spanton.

This is about equity, Reilly said. Unfortunately, every county that is around New York City has gotten judges in this bill as well. I guess New Jersey had a better shot of getting a judge than Staten Island.

That is just unacceptable. Its time that we need to really talk about equity and keep equity for what it really means.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  New Yorkers can now store and access their state identification, such as a drivers license, on their phone via a new state mobile ID app.

New York Mobile ID (MiD) is a new app available in the App Store or on Google Play that will allow residents to keep a copy of their drivers license, learners permit or state ID card on their cell phone.

Were thrilled to give New Yorkers access to this cutting-edge technology, which provides convenience and added security for Mobile ID users and those who accept it, said Gov. Kathy Hochul when announcing the program. Not only will New Yorkers be able to quickly display their IDs, but they will have control over the personal information they share.

To get add your ID to your phone, follow these steps:

Download the New York MiD app.

Register the phone number of the device the Mobile ID will be on. Keep in mind that your Mobile ID is only allowed on one device at a time in order to elevate identity safety.

Open your camera and take a snapshot of your ID cards frontside and backside.

By taking a selfie, the app checks your photo and ID against information on file with the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to ensure you are who you say you are.

Once these conditions have been met, your ID will be linked to your phone. The app additionally has some security precautions to assure that not just anyone can get to your ID: You must use a six-digit PIN number, Face ID, or TouchID to log into New York MiD.

On top of that, only the information you explicitly share with the app will be kept on file  and it will be encrypted. Plus, when you use New York MiD, only the information needed will be available. For example, when a user needs to show their ID to purchase alcohol, the only thing that will be revealed is the customers age.

The number of places that accept New York MiD is blossoming, with the DMV communicating with various businesses, organizations, associations and state government partners to expand their understanding of the New York MiD and how they can accept it.

Presently, almost 30 airports across the country are accepting New York MiD, including all terminals at LaGuardia and John F. Kennedy airports, according to the state.

TSAs Federal Security Director for LaGuardia Airport Robert Duffy said: We are pleased to be able to add this state-of-the-art digital ID to the list of acceptable IDs at our security checkpoints. Travelers who want to take advantage of this new capability will find that their New York mobile drivers license is a convenient option when going through the security process.

This comes as the nation is preparing to transition to the Real ID for hassle-free domestic travel.

Starting May 7, 2025, the federal government will require those boarding domestic flights to carry a drivers license or other identification card that is Real ID compliant.

The DMV offers residents two options: a standard Real ID or an Enhanced ID.

Both the Real ID and Enhanced ID will allow travelers to board domestic flights and enter some federal buildings.

However, Enhanced IDs will also allow residents to cross United States land and sea borders from Canada, Mexico and some Caribbean countries, without the need for a passport.

Enhanced IDs do not authorize air travel between these countries, strictly land and sea travel. Passports are still required for all international flights.

Real IDs are marked with a star logo in the top-right corner, with Enhanced IDs featuring a banner that reads Enhanced, along with an American flag in the bottom-right corner.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  There are few places in the world a person can go where everybody knows their name.

The Island Coffee Shop in Castleton Corners was one of those rare gems.

Now, the community is mourning its cherished staple, the day after a fire ripped through the establishment at 407 Manor Road.

Of course it hurt me, but I am a strong man, I am not going to give up, said George Bakratsas, the owner of Island Coffee Shop. Im going to build up for my people. I love my people. I have people who have worked here for 30-36 years. So I care about them.

Bakratsas said the business had been running for nearly three decades.

The owner speculated the fire could have began in the hood, which has an exhaust to bring the smoke out of the kitchen while the grill is in use.

According to the restaurant employees, the fire went to the roof and the amount of heat that was inside the place melted things on far walls.

Although the fire was pretty bad, firefighters were able to quickly contain it. Workers say the business sustained water damage, broken appliances and a melted air-conditioning system.

Bakratsas says that although his beloved restaurant was severely damaged and he cannot even begin to estimate the daunting cost of repair, he is determined to get his business up and running again one day  hopefully in the near future.

The fire inspector is going to come and let me know, Bakratsas said. I cant lead people to think that we are going to open in a month. I dont know because the insurance and the inspectors  its up to them.

The Double Dragon Martial Arts Academy located next door also sustained damage during the overnight flame. Thankfully, no one was hurt, according to workers.

Kathy Curly, an employee at the coffee shop, said everything is just gone.

He has the hood maintained every three months in accordance with the fire departments guidelines, said Curly. We are a little confused on how this happened.

According to Curly, Bakratsas has been through a lot in his life such as the loss of his teenaged son, Hurricane Sandy and the COVID-19 pandemic, so this is yet another weight on the shoulders of a resilient man.

This is another heavyweight bag on his shoulders. We are a family and we are not together anymore, were all out of work, Curly admitted. Its like somebody died, the grieving process.

Bakratsas said he has received a phone calls, visits and messages of support from customers.

Everybody calls me, I have four generation customers here, said Bakratsas. The same customers, they come and want to know what happened. They love me and I love them too. Its not customers to me, to me its a big family. Thats what we are one big family.

After coming to America in 1968 by way of sea as a teen, Bakratsas was determined to make a name for himself and through hard work and dedication, the one time dishwasher elevated himself by the bootstraps to successful restaurateur, having opened six eateries in the New York metro area.

I started in Brooklyn, New Jersey, New Dorp, Bay Street, Victory Boulevard and here, explained Bakratsas. I lost my son at 18 years old.

Longtime customers, Peggy and Rob Padovano stopped by the shop to lend their support to Bakratsas, whom has become a friend to the couple over the last two decades.

When we moved to Staten Island that was the first community connection we made was going to the Coffee Shop on the regular basis, Peggy said. George is just a staple here of over 20 years.

Its not many old fashioned kind of coffee shops left anymore where it is more of a community thing and people come because they have friends, Rob added. Its almost like Cheers, where everybody knows your name.

In the hours since the fire, a GoFundMe was established to raise money to rebuild the shop. You can find the fundraiser at https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-george-rebuild-island-coffee-shop.
Montana will receive $5.4 million from the federal health department to expand a home visit program for new parents and young babies. It is one of only 11 states and the District of Columbia at the center of a new White House initiative to improve maternal health outcomes and disparities.

Any maternal mortality is too many, said Carole Johnson, the administrator of the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), the office within the federal health agency focused on maternal and child health. But we looked at places where there are higher maternal mortality rates, and where there are unacceptable disparities in these outcomes.

Pregnancies resulted in death at a rate of 29 per 100,000 births in Montana, higher than the national average, according to data from the March of Dimes. These deaths are caused by complications during pregnancy and up to six weeks after childbirth.

Additionally, nearly 10% of babies are born preterm, and the rate of eclampsia is higher in the state than nationally. There are profound disparities in health outcomes between American Indian new moms and babies as compared to their white counterparts. Rural residents are also at higher risk for conditions such as gestational diabetes or hypertension.

Evidence widely shows that access to medical care and psychological support during pregnancy and in weeks following childbirth can prevent complications and improve outcomes. But half of the 56 counties in Montana are classified as maternity care deserts and even more are without a hospital that offers obstetrics. Making an appointment with a health care provider isnt a simple fix.

The HRSA home visit program strives to close this access gap by bringing a support system directly to the home of new parents likely to need it most.

Montana has been a recipient of federal funding for home visits in years past. Between Oct. 1, 2021 and Sept. 30, 2022, there were 931 households across 19 counties that participated in the program. Over half were at or below 100% of the federal poverty line, and almost 10% of pregnant participants were under the age of 21. Families received a total of 11,805 home visits with 97% of caregivers being screened for depression and 79% of children getting a timely screening for developmental delays, information provided by HRSA shows.

The allocation announced this week is the biggest yet for Montana. The state will receive more money each year for the next five now that Congress has reauthorized the program and agreed to double total federal investment over the same period.

Its not always a conducive environment to growing social services programs, Johnson said. But theres been strong bipartisan support for home visiting because theres research that documents its impact.

County health departments partner with hospitals to identify new parents likely to benefit from extra resources at the critical time after childbirth, and they reach out to families directly to give them an opportunity to voluntarily participate.

Home visitors offer all kinds of help based on family needs. They might teach parents how to change diapers or breastfeed, explain developmental milestones for infants or help new moms look out for their own health during a time thats often overwhelming. These skilled care providers also provide referrals to more specialized practitioners or organizations that can support family needs, when appropriate.

Johnson visited Bozeman on Tuesday for a roundtable of county health departments, home visitors and parents who have benefited from the program in recent years. She said she was touched by the stories she heard and left feeling motivated to do her part to support the work of community organizations.

Montana has the advantage of a terrific network of community-based organizations and leaders on the ground who are trying to make a difference, and thats worth its weight in gold, she said. But then what needs to happen is we need to match that capacity with resources to do it, and thats the fight we are taking up in Washington.

Though access to traditional maternal care is a critical part of improving health for new moms, its not a panacea, according to Johnson. Even if you have the best prenatal care, barriers to resources such as child care, transportation, healthy food and behavioral health providers will negatively impact families.

Its necessary but not sufficient to focus on what the health care system does, Johnson said. Until we think holistically about what it takes to deliver services and support healthy pregnancies and outcomes, we are going to see these numbers continue.

A huge piece of that effort is making sure new parents have access to all levels of mental health resources when they need it.

We need to be frank about it, Johnson said. Being a new parent is hard.

Home visits allow experts to screen for early signs of depression or other mental health challenges and refer parents to providers. HRSA also funds Montanas telehealth psychiatric service for people during and after pregnancy. Its called PRISM for Moms, and it allows any Montana provider who is caring for pregnant people to consult with a psychiatry expert. That includes primary care providers, OBGYNs, midwives, social workers and more.

The numbers in Montana may not be large, but the work to reach each of those individuals can be really significant, Johnson said. We dont look at huge numbers, we look at outcomes for families. We know when its a just numbers game, resources wouldnt come to a state like Montana.
News Corp Australia will make up to 80 roles in its sales workforce redundant, while editorial staff await their fate amid the media companys most significant restructure in more than a decade.

The cuts come during an advertising downturn affecting the whole media industry and the companys bid to find up to $65 million in savings.

News Corp Australia owns a range of local assets including The Australian, the Herald Sun and The Daily Telegraph. Credit: Rhett Wyman

The Murdoch-controlled media company has already restructured its individual state sales teams into one national division and streamlined its publishing assets under three divisions.

News Corp Australia executive chair Michael Miller was expected to inform staff in a wider email on Wednesday, said two sources with knowledge of the decision. He told staff this month in an email he would have more information to share by June 12. Some staff have already been made aware of the decision.
The Liberal Partys internal squabbling once again burst into the open this week when Senator Hollie Hughes, effectively dumped by her own party, launched a scathing attack on the Coalitions shadow treasurer Angus Taylor over his support for her successful preselection rival Jess Collins.

Memories in politics are very short. But not ours. Credit: John Shakespeare

Hughes accused her shadow cabinet colleague of treachery and claimed he was using last months preselection contest to bolster his own shot at a leadership tilt should the Liberals move on from Peter Dutton after the next federal election.

Memories in politics might be short, but not ours.

Hughes herself entered the upper house at the 2019 election after successfully toppling another sitting senator, the late Jim Molan, from a winnable spot on the partys ticket. And she did so with a little help from some Liberal frontbenchers.
When the curtain rises on the new oratorio Watershed: The Death of Dr Duncan it reveals a lone male figure suspended high above the stage, twisting and turning seemingly in agony - or is it ecstasy?

Audiences at the Adelaide Festival, where Watershed received its world premiere in 2022, were transfixed by the spectacular, terrible beauty of the opening scene.

It has this kind of miraculous effect on the work, says director Neil Armfield. You can feel the audience gasping as the curtain goes up and a man descending over this strip of water very, very slowly. A vulnerable human body over water seems really rich as a symbol of the human spirit.

Mark Oates and Mason Kelly in Adelaide Festivals 2022 production of Watershed. Credit: Andrew Beveridge

Watershed, which receives its Sydney premiere on Friday, is based on the murder of George Duncan, a gay man who died in 1972 after being thrown into Adelaides River Torrens by a group of men.
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A Safer Care Victoria report at the time, which involved a systematic review by Cochrane Australia, found no strong evidence that spinal manipulation helped childhood conditions such as colic, back/neck pain, headache, asthma, ear infections or torticollis (twisted neck), despite it commonly being spruiked as a solution to these issues. The major finding of this review is that the evidence base for spinal manipulation in children is very poor, it said. A follow-up review last year by Cochrane Australia, commissioned by the national healthcare watchdog AHPRA (the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency), reached the same conclusion. The initial review, provided to all Australian health ministers, recommended that spinal manipulation should not be done on children under 12. It also recommended urgent research to develop an evidence base for spinal manipulation on children and advanced training for those providing paediatric care.

However, in November the Chiropractic Board of Australia put out a statement to clarify to members its expectations regarding paediatric care. It said a range of care could be provided to children, including manual therapy, soft tissue therapy and manipulation, if practitioners understand how childrens needs differ from adults and modify their care appropriately. Neurosurgical Society of Australasia Board executive Dr Patrick Lo, who is also the Victorian chair of the Royal Australian College of Surgeons, said children were particularly vulnerable to injuries from spinal manipulation. Adults have a balanced neck, head and shoulders  everything is supported  whereas kids have a very big head-to-neck ratio, the neurosurgeon said. If you flick it around, the lollipop ball will fall off. Thats our major concern. Those areas are so critical to the function and development of the child and we are putting those at risk.

Lo said he had treated young adults who had suffered disc prolapses following spinal manipulations performed by chiropractors. He said some of his colleagues had treated patients who had experienced strokes following spinal manipulation. Loading Lo will raise his concerns about the new guidelines for chiropractors at an upcoming meeting with Safer Care Victoria. Doctors have been at war with chiropractors over the treatment of babies and children for more than a decade. In 2013, The Age reported on the disputed case of a Melbourne paediatrician who claims he treated a four-month-old baby after one of her vertebrae was fractured during a chiropractic treatment for torticollis, which causes the neck to twist to one side.

And in 2016, the RACGP urged its members to never refer patients to chiropractors after a YouTube video emerged showing a Melbourne chiropractor flexing a newborn babys back before pressing firmly on her spine to produce a cracking sound. The movement, which was meant to treat colic and reflux, caused the baby to cry. Loading A spokesman for the Chiropractic Board of Australia said its updated policy would ensure safe and appropriate care by chiropractors who treat children under 12. He said this guidance was based on current evidence and information. When asked why Safer Care Victorias key recommendation  that spinal manipulation not be performed on children under 12  had not been incorporated into the new policy, he said the board had considered the reviews common themes. He said these included best practice and evidence-based care, proper informed consent, practice within the chiropractors skill. AHPRA has received 335 notifications about chiropractors since 2021, with five of these relating to child patients. A total of 96 notifications resulted in regulatory action, such as cautioning a practitioner, imposing conditions on their registration or accepting an undertaking from a practitioner.

A Safer Care Victoria review identified very little evidence of patient harm occurring in Australia, but noted it was clear that spinal manipulation in children is not wholly without risk. We respect every parents right to choose appropriate healthcare options for their child  when weighing up treatment options, you need to consider any risk associated with that care against any potential benefits, a Safer Care Victoria spokeswoman said. The Australian Chiropractors Association said the review found that chiropractic care for children was extremely safe. It said that in more than 29,000 online submissions, there were no reports of harm to a child receiving chiropractic care. Chiropractors are registered professionals, completing a rigorous five-year university degree-level course, equipping them with the expertise to appropriately tailor their care to children of all ages, a spokesman said.
New Zealand and China on Thursday signed agreements on trade and climate change, with human rights also on the agenda, during a trip by Premier Li Qiang, the highest level Chinese visit to New Zealand in seven years.

New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon is seeking to balance rights and security concerns with the lucrative trade opportunities offered by Beijing, the countrys largest export partner.

New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon looks on while Chinese Premier Li Qiang is welcomed with a powhiri during an official welcome at Government House. Credit: Getty Images

The premier and I discussed our significant economic relationship, which benefits people in both countries with two-way trade in goods worth nearly $NZ38 billion [$35.4 billion], Luxon said.

Li was greeted on the lawns of Government House in the capital, Wellington, by both Luxon and the governor-general and participated in a traditional Indigenous Maori welcome before heading inside for meetings.

We agreed that it is important to expand co-operation on trade and investment, Li said following the meeting.

China is ready to be part of New Zealands endeavour to double the value of exports in the next decade.

China will extend visa-free travel to New Zealanders, while New Zealand will support Chinese language teaching and cultural exchanges though its Confucius Institutes in the country, Li added.

Reuters
Thanks for joining us. Well be back tomorrow morning. Heres what was making news today.

Taylor Swifts record-breaking Eras tour was booked to come to Brisbane this year, but it was Tokyo  not a lack of venue  that caused the star to give Queensland a miss.

Taylor Swift was due to perform in Brisbane on her Eras tour - but decisions surrounding her Japan leg of the tour led to Queensland being snubbed.

Queenslands state LNP opposition leader David Crisafulli delivered his budget reply on Thursday, outlining plans including new supports for small business, boosting housing supply and a regulatory review of the building sector.

Selwyn Cobbo and Kotoni Staggs will be free to negotiate with rival outfits from November 1 for beyond the end of their current 2025 contracts but the Broncos are hoping they can keep the duo in Brisbane.

A top court has rejected Chris Dawsons bid to overturn his conviction for the cold-blooded murder of his wife Lynette, whose disappearance in 1982 became one of Sydneys most enduring mysteries.

A former Neighbours actor and early-2000s pop star Holly Valance has hosted a fundraiser for Donald Trump, reportedly raising $US2 million ($3 million) for the former US presidents 2024 White House campaign.
Police say a much-loved 25-year-old man, who was allegedly lured to his death and whose body was then dumped in an abandoned quarry, was killed in a callous, brutal, unprovoked attack over a small debt.

Jai Gray, from Morayfield north of Brisbane, was allegedly killed by two men whom he had lived with for some time.

Jai Gray was also known as Malakhi Gray and Malakhi Davidson.

Gray, who also went by the names Malakhi Gray and Malahki Davidson, was reported missing on June 4, and had not been seen for a week before that.

Police believe he was lured to a property in the Glass House Mountains where he was stabbed multiple times and his body dumped in a disused quarry on May 28.
Republicans in the Montana Legislature cant seem to figure out whether they want to give legislative power away or try to grab more of it. The only consistent thing about their behavior in past weeks is their desire to advance their partisan goals at the expense of Montanas Constitution and our rights and freedoms.

After the governor tried to use a loophole to deny the Legislature its right to override vetoes, the Montana Supreme Court backed the Legislature and ordered that legislators be polled. Strangely, Republican leaders in the Legislature cried foul and claimed the courts had overreached, and as a result, Republican legislators would not support a veto. The override vote failed.

Since when is it judicial overreach to affirm the constitutional rights of the Legislative Branch? The power to override vetoes is constitutionally guaranteed to the Legislative Branch, and it is the most effective check we have against a governors overreach. Republicans, however, immediately tried to surrender this right when it became politically problematic for Governor Gianforte.

Separation of powers, and the checks and balances that guarantee it, are central to who we are as Montanans, and Americans. Its tempting to just dismiss the absurdity of legislative Republicans argument herethat the way you protect separation of powers is by eliminating it. But this pretzel logic threatens the rights of all Montanans. Even more threatening -- Republican legislators not only giving away their power to the Governor, but also attempting a power grab over the courts.

Why do Republicans need to undermine the judicial branch? Because they keep passing unconstitutional legislation, Montanans keep challenging that unconstitutional legislation in court, and the duly elected courts keep overturning bills that violate the Constitution.

Thats checks and balances at work, plain and simple. But Republicans in the legislature, instead of recognizing this is how our government is designed to work, have thrown a fit and made wild accusations about the courts.

Now theyre wasting time and taxpayer dollars on a sham committee with pre-determined outcomes that will try to bring the judiciary under their personal control. For some Republican legislators that effort is not good enough and they want to waste our time and money with a special legislative session to create partisan judicial elections.

This brazen attempt to seize power is not only outrageous, but also incredibly dangerous. If Republicans in the legislature succeed in undermining the courts it will destroy the Constitutions separation of powers, taking a hammer to our system of checks and balances that will weaken our democracy and threaten Montanans voice in their own government.

Montanans shouldnt get caught on their back foot laughing at such petty political nonsense. We should pay close attention to a governor who is manipulating Republican leadership in the Legislature to consolidate his power, at the expense of the rightful purpose of the Legislature to fairly represent all Montanans.

We also should pay close attention to legislators who try to bully independently elected judges, because it does more than waste taxpayer money. If Montanans turn a blind eye to this Republican scheme, we will be left with very little say over what our government can do to usand very few remedies to protect our rights and freedoms.

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A junk, piece of garbage served up by a desperate prosecution team, he said. Loading Hills history with guns Dann said Crown prosecutor Daniel Porceddu  whom he compared to fictional Pink Panther character Inspector Jacques Clouseau  failed to raise with the jury any history Hill may have had with guns. This, he said, left the defence to question Hills wife, Robyn, and daughter Debra about it, which proved that Hill had a long association with guns.

Hill inherited his fathers guns, which were used on the family farm, after his fathers death in the 1970s. They were later surrendered during a gun amnesty. Debra Hill had once seen her father using one of those guns, Dann said. Hills mental health issues The prosecutions selective and opportunistic approach to evidence, Dann said, had painted Hill as a man at peace with the world and as happy as a pig in shit to be in the valley and share it with others. Defence barrister Dermot Dann, KC. Credit: Wayne Taylor But this had failed to give the jury the full picture, which included a witnesss concerns that Hill may have taken his own life after he was reported missing and the fact that Hill was taking prescription medication at the time of his death.

The shooting death of Hills relative Lynns account was that Hill had told him of the accidental hunting death of a family member in the valley in 1995. Lynns account of that is unchallenged, Dann said. The defence barrister said this supported the credibility of Lynns account about what happened and witness evidence of Hill speaking about the death to other campers. Maybe the concept of an accidental shooting death was a bit too close to home for the prosecution? Dann asked.

How Hill made the rules Dann said Hill was a man of contradictions who had been living a double life with two women for about 20 years. He said this applied to the rules and regulations of camp life, depending on who was around. Dann suggested this was because Hill took a self-policing type role in the valley and that he had been seen by other campers illegally chopping down snow gums on an earlier trip. The drone

Weed sprayer Robbie Williams told the jury he saw a drone fly above him as he finished work for the day in the valley late on March 20, 2020. He said it flapped as if it was waving at him before flying away from above his camp. Dann noted police had doubted this was Hills drone as it was some kilometres away from Bucks Camp at the other end of the open space. He accused the prosecution of wasting the courts time presenting this evidence. Shambles, from start to finish, Dann said. The burnt tent

Forensic fire investigator George Xydias told the jury Hill and Clays tent was L-shaped, but the prosecution later gave manufacturer pictures to the jury to show it was not, and in fact had a canopy at the front, not the side. We know what Mr Lynn said about configuration of the tent was right. We had the photos, the informant had them, Dann said. You cant have any confidence about their submissions. Its been a shambles, no other word to describe it, and were only just starting the process. The vacuum theory The theory, which suggests blood can be drawn back into the barrel of a firearm if a person is shot at close range, was first raised in DNA and blood-spatter expert Mark Gellatlys evidence.

Dann said the prosecutions actual firearms expert, Paul Griffiths, wasnt asked anything about this. When Gellatly raised the theory during his evidence, Dann pressed him on the fact it was allegedly absent from his extensive report and notes. The prosecution have a ballistics expert, Mr Griffiths, so he comes and gives evidence, hes not asked a single question about the vacuum theory. Then we have the DNA man, he said his name was pronounced in different ways. Gelati might be one way of saying it, given the way he melted in the witness box like an ice cream in the sun, Dann said. Hes made a statement in July 2022. No mention of the vacuum theory. Nought. Zero. Nil.

Trajectory testing During Griffiths evidence, Dann said he was asked about Lynns description of Clay being shot as she was crouching and beginning to stand up, at a height of about 110 centimetres. Griffiths agreed this was plausible. Deflection tests Dann said the jury was told 14 car mirrors were used to test whether the bullet may have deflected off Hills vehicle or gone straight through and struck Clay, which was Lynns version of events.

Another one of [the prosecutions] half-baked theories, Dann said. What is the prosecution case about the shot going through the mirror? A sketch of Gregory Lynn in the witness box at the Supreme Court last week. Credit: Paul Tyquin/Nine News The spraying of bullets at Clay Dann said prosecutors had told the jury they didnt know the circumstances of how Clay was killed, other than she was fatally shot in the head.

So where does this, you know, spraying bullets at her  where does that come from? Dann said. It comes straight out of someones imagination, thats where it comes from. Making things up, outside the rules. It just smacks of a prosecution case thats gone off the rails. Its heading down a giant cliff, a giant waterfall if you like. The lead fragment at Bucks Camp Dann noted the prosecution claimed a lead fragment, a partial slug from a 12-gauge shotgun, was found at Bucks Camp two years after the alleged murders.

Dann said photographs showed that the slug appeared to have been turned over after initially coming into contact with the dirt. The prosecution denies this. Look at all the people who searched that area. Its been moved into the area, Dann said. The guy rope Dann said the guy rope theory was also a metaphor for the prosecution case. Russell Hills Toyota LandCruiser ute with a guy rope attached between it and a toilet tent.

In closing submissions, the prosecution raised for the first time that a black guy rope connected from the bonnet of Hills car to a portable toilet tent would have hopelessly tangled Lynn and Hill in it if they were struggling for control of the gun as the former pilot had described. Lynn wasnt asked anything about it in the [police] record of interview, Dann said. No case to answer for Hills murder Dann told the jurors they were being asked to find a man guilty or murder when the prosecution had established no factual foundation and no motive. Does that sit well with any of you? Dann asked the jury.

Dann said that when Lynn was in the witness box last week, at no point did the prosecution challenge his account of how he said Hill had died, from an accidental knife wound to the chest. The evidence of Mr Lynn stands unchallenged as to how Mr Hill died, Dann said. They just dont have a case for charge one. No meat on the bones. How can you find someone guilty in a factual vacuum? No case to answer for Clays murder The same fundamental problems exist with the prosecution case for Clays death, Dann said.

He said there remained no evidence to support the prosecution claims that she may have been killed because she was a witness to Hills murder. Its just a theory; theres no evidence, Dann said. Disposing of the bodies Dann said his client admitted he broke the law by leaving two guns and two magazines  for a rifle and shotgun  unsecured in his car on the evening of March 20, 2020. The deaths of Hill and Clay, Dann said, flowed from this criminality after his client feared his life would unravel if he was caught not storing guns by the rules.

Put yourselves in Mr Lynns shoes, Dann asked the jury. He thought he was going to be blamed for the deaths and he was 100 per cent correct. He is being wrongly blamed. Gregory Lynns Barathrum Arms shotgun and his Ruger American rifle, seized by police. Dann said that in the aftermath of the deaths, his client was thinking about himself and how to protect his career. Of course he was selfish, of course he was callous, of course  terrible, Dann said.

Hes given reason for why hes engaged in this terrible conduct. The final address The lowest lowlight of the prosecution case, Dann said, was the closing address to the jury on Tuesday. Dann said the prosecution made false claims, including a string of statements that were never put to the accused. This included the prosecution telling the jury that Lynns car lights would have come on when the doors were opened to play loud music.

Loading Dann said the car was 25 years old and no evidence was ever produced that the lights worked. Dann said that as a result, the prosecution had turned its back to the courts rules in its closing address To say as he did that Mr Lynns account in the record of interview was completely fanciful, and an elaborate fiction  This is an old building, but its been going for 150 years, and that must rank with the silliest thing ever said here, Dann said. Its got no relationship with reality.
Repairing the states road network to a safe standard will cost governments nearly $3 billion after two years of heavy rains, with Sydney councils needing $470 million to bridge the funding gap.

The NRMAs annual financial assessment of regional and metropolitan councils outlined a near 14 per cent, or $56 million, jump in metro councils funding shortfall in 2022-23, with Bayside, Canterbury-Bankstown, Ku-ring-gai and Sydney all experiencing sizeable increases.

The situation was more dire across regional councils, as the infrastructure bill increased by nearly 8 per cent to $2.4 billion. The aggregate cost was $2.8 billion, prompting the NRMA to call on the federal and state governments to provide councils with a funding injection to ensure roads remained safe.

The Sydney council with the largest funding shortfall was Canterbury-Bankstown, which increased by 87 per cent to almost $75 million. City of Sydneys funding shortfall soared by 35 per cent to $29 million, after enduring a 97 per cent increase in 2021-22.
The news

Queensland is looking into how it could use the expected future $34 billion value of south-east toll roads to borrow the money needed to fund a new proposed tunnel on Brisbanes north.

Planning work on the Gympie Road Bypass Tunnel, pitched by the states Queensland Investment Corporation with an estimated cost of above $7 billion, will push on with $318 million in the budget.

Traffic on Gympie Road could increase from 80,000 vehicles per day to 110,000 each day, prompting calls for a tunnel from Kedron to Carseldine. Credit: Nine

As part of this, Tuesdays budget hinted at parallel QIC work to probe opportunities to optimise the commercial value of tolling rights when deals with operator Transurban end from 2051.
Paris: Olympic champion Tommie Smith, responsible for one of the most famous photos in Games history, has paid tribute to Australias Peter Norman more than 50 years after their stand for civil rights in Mexico City.

Smith was a guest speaker at the Musee de lImmigration (Museum of Immigration) at the Palais de la Porte Doree on Tuesday, just over six weeks from the start of the Olympic Games.

He won the 200m in 1968, with Norman finishing second ahead of Smiths countryman John Carlos.

Standing on the podium, head bowed, he thrust a gloved right fist up in the air. Carlos did the same with his left fist, while Norman wore a badge on the podium with Olympic Project for Human Rights written on it.
Loading

The men leading the Perth consortium vying to be the NRLs next team insist they will be ready to enter the competition by 2027 as they prepare for talks with the North Sydney Bears about a potential marriage, while leaning on Nick Politis for support.

A Western Australian franchise has rocketed into calculations to be the NRLs 18th team  surpassing the federal governments $600 million supported Papua New Guinea push  as the ARL Commission nears an announcement about an expansion road map.

Perths bid boss Peter Cumins, executive chairman of Cash Converters, will visit Sydney this month to discuss a potential alliance with the Bears, despite confirming the consortiums preference to brand the team as exclusively Western Australian.

The meeting between Perth officials and the Bears could prove crucial to the NRLs expansion plan, which is rushing towards a 20-team competition and an 18th franchise as soon as 2027  the final year of the broadcast deal.
Have you ever heard the sound of 100,000 people screaming at once? A full house for the umpires first bounce at the start of a thrilling grand final at the MCG, or the moment Taylor Swift walks onstage. Its a sound like no other.

More than 100,000 Australians have so far signed the 36 Months petition to raise the age children can join social media from 13 to 16  a 36-month difference. At present, there is no minimum age requirement under Australian law to access social media, but kids are supposed to be at least 13 to join a global social network.

Girls are more likely to look at social media online, which is directly correlated with their increasing anxiety levels. Credit: Istock

This is to align with the US federal Childrens Online Privacy Protection Act of 1998, accepted worldwide, as the age from which a child can consent for privacy purposes. Considering that the original adolescents the act was designed to protect are now 24 years old, this dated and unenforceable act might be considered redundant. After all, Facebook was created in 2004, Instagram in 2010, Snapchat in 2011 and TikTok in 2016.

Rob Galluzzo and I, both dads, launched 36 Months  a social initiative to highlight the desperate need for change.
Former High Court chief justice Robert French has defended the decision of Australian judges to remain on Hong Kongs top court amid intensifying concerns about pressure from mainland China, saying mass resignations would further undermine the rule of law in the city.

French is one of four retired Australian judges serving on Hong Kongs Court of Final Appeal facing renewed scrutiny about their future on the court after two UK judges quit last week and a Canadian judge announced on Monday she would not seek reappointment when her term expires in July.

A pedestrian passes the Court of Final Appeal in Hong Kong. Credit: AP

The resignations, which come after the landmark conviction last month of 14 pro-democracy activists for subversion under the Beijing-imposed National Security Law, have refuelled a debate about the place of foreign judges in a system where China has stifled dissent and democratic freedoms.

One of the British judges who quit, Jonathan Sumption, made clear in an editorial in the Financial Times on Monday that he believed the judiciarys role as a bulwark against authoritarianism had been all but extinguished by the impossible political environment created by China. This masthead is not suggesting any judges independence has been compromised.
Rishi Sunak was late for the television interview he left the D-Day commemorations for  and blamed it on the Normandy event which he said, ran over.

The British prime minister cut away from last weeks event with world leaders that marked the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings at Normandy so he could record an interview with ITV as part of the general election campaign.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and his wife, Akshata Murty, arrive at the D-Day ceremony. Credit: AP

Sunak has apologised for missing the remainder of the commemorations  which were attended by King Charles, Joe Biden, Emmanuel Macron, Olaf Scholz and other leaders  and on Monday asked D-Day veterans to find it in their hearts to forgive him.

At the start of the interview for ITVs Tonight program, Sunak apologised to presenter Paul Brand for being late, saying the incredible commemorations in Normandy all just ran over.
Washington: If you needed another example that this years US election will be unlike any other, look no further than the convictions of the former president and the current presidents son.

Two weeks after Donald Trump was found guilty of a criminal conspiracy to cover up a sex scandal, Hunter Biden has now been found guilty of illegally buying a gun while he was addicted to crack cocaine, making him the first child of a sitting president to become a felon.

President Joe Biden talks with his son Hunter Biden as he arrives at Delaware Air National Guard Base. Credit: AP

Both cases have embroiled the two leading candidates vying for another term in the White House.

Both involve offences that took place years ago and could now lead to jail.
Bismarck voters on Tuesday elected two commissioners to both the City Commission and the Park Board.

Three candidates were looking to fill two seats on the Bismarck City Commission. John Risch and Michael Connelly won seats with 37% and 33% of the vote, respectively, with 19 of 19 precincts reporting. Mathew Hull (30%) was defeated.

Four candidates were vying to fill two seats on the Bismarck Park Board. Paula Redmann and Kate Herzog were elected to the board with 30% and 27% of the vote, respectively, with 19 of 19 precincts reporting. Russ Hanson (26%) and Jennifer Odell (17%) were defeated.

City Commission

Connelly is a traveler with DTN staffing and works in independent home health care. Hull, an archeologist, works as a cultural resource team lead-principal investigator for SWCA Environmental Consultants. Risch worked as a railroad engineer for 30 years and is now retired.

Connelly was the only incumbent running this election. He was appointed to the commission in March 2023 following the resignation of Mark Splonskowski.

City commissioners serve four-year terms and receive an annual salary of $17,612. The two commissioners elected Tuesday will take office July 1.

Steve Marquardt decided not to run for reelection, citing increased workplace responsibilities. He was first appointed to the board in 2014 following the resignation of Mike Seminary and was reelected in 2016 and 2020.

Issues during the campaign ranged from city spending to public transit to the future of Bismarck Event Center management.

Park Board

Hanson is an executive vice president for Associated General Contractors of North Dakota. Herzog is the chief operating officer of Bismarck's Downtown Business Association. Odell is a communication officer for the state Department of Public Instruction. Redmann is a retired community relations manager for the Bismarck Parks and Recreation District.

Odell was the lone incumbent in the race. She was appointed to her seat following the resignation of Wayne Munson in 2022.

Park board commissioners receive an annual salary of $2,600. The board members elected Tuesday will assume their duties on July 1.

Andrew Jordan, whose term also expired this year, did not seek reelection.

Park District finances and debt was a big issue during the campaign.
PHILIPSBURG:--- Members of the Windward Islands Civil Servant Union (WICSU) and the Windward Islands Teachers Union (WITU) will begin industrial actions tomorrow, Tuesday, June 11th, 2024. Membership in the two unions representing civil servants and teachers will be held at the Little League ballpark.

President of the WICSU Sharon Cannegieter, who is currently in Geneva attending the ILO and ILC meetings, said that the members have decided to down their tools after listening to the Minister of Finance, who released a video statement on Friday explaining the payment schedule she will be using for the vacation allowance.

Cannegieter said that the membership of the WICSU and WITU is very concerned with the Minister's attitude and the fact that the Minister of Finance, Marinka Gumbs, opted to break the covenant signed by members of the CCSU and former Prime Minister Silveria Jacobs.

Cannegieter said that if the government of St. Maarten did not have the money to make the payments, then the matter could have been discussed, but this, she said, is not the case because the Minister wants to pay 6% of the vacation allowance on the 14th June, then salaries on 24th while the other 1% on June 27th. She said this is not what is stated in the signed agreement, and that agreement must be respected. The WICSU President further explained that while the Minister of Finance spoke about the vacation allowance, she has yet to address the 2% Cost of Living Adjustments.

In the meantime, Windward Island Teachers Union President Roxanna Pantophlet met with the Charlotte Brookson Academy's membership on Monday morning to discuss the 2% vacation allowance that is owed to them. Pantophlet said that while civil servants and teachers working at Government Schools received their 1% in December 2023, the teachers from some of the government-subsidized schools have yet to receive theirs.
PHILIPSBURG:--- The Honorable Prime Minister, Dr. Luc Mercelina, dispatched a crucial letter on Tuesday to the board and members of the WICSU-PSU and WITU. This letter reaffirms the Government's unwavering commitment to the covenant signed on April 29, 2024, reassuring that the sanctity of the agreement will be upheld with all due diligence required.

In this letter, Prime Minister Mercelina underscored the Government's steadfast belief in the vital role that the workers of St. Maarten play in the nation's development. "The workers of St. Maarten are the backbone of our country," stated Prime Minister Mercelina. "It is for this reason that our Government took the proactive step to meet with all unions on May 22, 2024, ensuring that the voices of our hardworking citizens are heard, respected, and honored."

The communication was also sent to Ms. Valya Pantophlet, Chairlady of the CCSU, and all respective unions under the CCSU umbrella. This move reinforces the Government's dedication to fostering transparent and effective dialogue with all stakeholders.

Prime Minister Mercelina further commented, "Our commitment to the covenant is not just about honoring a document; it is about fostering the trust and dedication of our workers who tirelessly contribute to the growth and prosperity of St. Maarten. We remain resolute in our efforts to support and uplift our workforce, ensuring fairness and equity across all sectors."
PHILIPSBURG:--- As the August 19 Snap Election approaches, political candidate Addison Boston says he is highly concerned about the absence of comprehensive planning and proper solutions to critical issues facing St. Maarten.

Boston, a former and current political candidate, has voiced his concerns about ongoing issues that he believes need urgent attention, such as the GEBE saga, the delayed vacation allowances, and the pending retroactive payments for civil servants.

"These matters have been left unresolved for too long." Boston said, "Our elected officials must stop pointing fingers and prioritize finding solutions and taking corrective actions now."

Boston said there are too many critical issues facing Sint Maarten, and the present leadership appears to have no real vision for a positive future or desire to take on the responsibility that comes with being elected to office. "Once you're elected, you inherit the country's pending issues. You must address them, whether they are longstanding or current. It's perplexing to see defensive articles without solutions or substantial ideas," said Boston.

He is apprehensive about the negative press surrounding Sint Maarten, which he believes harms the country's reputation. "Our country feels like it's on a downward spiral, and the constant negative press is doing us no justice. Several videos have surfaced discussing the lack of leadership and recommending against travel to Sint Maarten until we get things in order."

With the Snap Election just around the corner, Boston stresses the importance of multitasking to address pending issues while ensuring a fair and transparent electoral process. He highlights the ongoing challenges faced by the airport, the main entry point to the island, and the tireless efforts of immigration officers. "Why do the monies owed to them keep getting pushed back?

"Why are our teachers, firefighters, police officers, and all civil servants treated this way? It's disheartening that it takes industrial action for quick decisions to be made and funds to become available suddenly."

Boston calls for unity and decisive action. "A country will always face challenges and obstacles. Once you postulate yourself and get elected or appointed, you agree to take up whatever issues are pending and find solutions. I absolutely love my country: stop the blame game and execute the tasks you've signed up for."

He acknowledges the growing number of candidates and parties, attributing it to the people's desire for change. "The people of Sint Maarten are crying for help, and instead of sitting back and complaining, they are exercising their right to be elected and bring about positive change."

Despite the challenges, Boston remains optimistic about the future. "I firmly believe that our country is resilient, and a better tomorrow is still possible. We can overcome these hurdles with dedication and collective effort and move towards a brighter future for Sint Maarten."

"As election day nears, I stand ready to serve and make a meaningful difference for the people of Sint Maarten," said Boston.
PHILIPSBURG:--- Minister of Public Health, Social Development, and Labor (VSA), Mrs. Veronica Jansen-Webster, has issued a compelling call to action, urging all employers in St. Maarten to fully recognize and uphold the rights stipulated in the International Labor Organization (ILO) Convention 87. Known as the Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organize Convention, this critical international standard guarantees workers the right to form and join organizations of their choosing without fear of retaliation or punishment.

Convention 87 is a cornerstone of international labor law, ratified by numerous countries, including St. Maarten. It is designed to protect workers' fundamental rights, ensuring that they can organize freely and advocate for their interests. In support of this, St. Maartens Penal Code was amended in 2015 to revoke articles prohibiting the right to strike, further aligning national law with international standards.

Minister Jansen-Webster emphasized the importance of respecting these principles and encouraged employers to engage in constructive dialogue with their employees. "Punishing workers for exercising their right to strike is unjust and violates the international standards that St. Maarten has committed to," she stated. "While we understand the significant impact a strike can have on public health and safety, it is crucial to approach these situations with respect for legal and ethical labor practices."

Key Points on the ILOs Convention 87:

1. Freedom of Association:

- Workers and employers, without distinction, have the right to establish and join organizations of their own choosing without previous authorization.

2. Protection Against Anti-Union Discrimination:

- Workers shall be protected against acts of anti-union discrimination in respect of their employment, including the right to strike.

3. Organizational Activities:

- Workers and employers' organizations shall not be liable to be dissolved or suspended by administrative authority.

4. Right to Organize:

- Public authorities shall refrain from any interference which would restrict this right or impede the lawful exercise thereof.

The Ministry of VSA is dedicated to facilitating and mediating discussions between workers and employers to find mutually beneficial resolutions. A peaceful and fair resolution serves the best interests of all parties involved. Minister Jansen-Webster remains steadfast in her commitment to promoting a fair, safe, and legally compliant work environment for all citizens of St. Maarten.
PHILIPSBURG:--- The Sint Maarten Police Force (KPSM) is pleased to announce the successful completion of traffic examinations for students from various primary schools across the island. Over the past few weeks, personnel from our Traffic Department have been actively engaged in supervising these critical examinations, ensuring that young participants receive the necessary guidance and support to comprehend road safety and traffic regulations.

Our dedicated officers have collaborated closely with the schools to provide a secure and educational experience for the students. This joint effort underscores the significance of early education in road safety, aiming to instill responsible behavior in our future drivers and pedestrians.

The KPSM extends its heartfelt gratitude to all the primary schools for inviting KPSM to be part of this pivotal initiative. We are honored by the opportunity to contribute to the education and safety of our young citizens. Furthermore, we deeply appreciate the unwavering commitment and effort of our officers who volunteered their time and expertise to ensure the success of these examinations.

We firmly believe that through sustained collaboration and education, we can create a safer environment for all road users in Sint Maarten.

KPSM Press Release.
By Perrin Beatty

and Lisa Baiton

A cursory glance at most of Canadas economic indicators reveals a troubling reality  our great nation is on the cusp of decline. Per capita GDP has stagnated, showing less than one percent growth between the beginning of 2018 and the end of 2023. According to the OECD, Canada is projected to have the lowest real GDP per capita growth among all 38 advanced countries over the next four decades.

Additionally, over the past seven years, Canada has ranked 44th out of 47 countries in investment growth rates tracked by the OECD. The Bank of Canada has issued warnings, citing weak productivity and low business investment as a national emergency.

As a result, Canadas living standards are slumping. A recent poll by Pew Research found that 75 percent of Canadians believe that our children will have a lower standard of living than we do. Moreover, amidst rapid and tumultuous geopolitical transitions in trade, economics, and energy, Canadas longstanding relationships with trading partners and our reputation as a G7 member and NATO partner are at risk.

Canadas economic challenges are large and many and easily identifiable.

But where are the solutions? A recent report on the economic impact of Canadas conventional oil and natural gas sector unequivocally points to some.

The study, conducted by the Canadian Chamber of Commerces Business Data Lab, illuminates the often-underestimated potential of Canadas conventional oil and gas sector to address our most pressing economic and social issues.

The conventional sector (which excludes the oil sands) represents about two-thirds of total oil and gas investment in the country. It contributes significantly to Canadian prosperity while also playing a vital role in environmental stewardship and energy security. Plus, it operates extensively across the nation, serving as the economic backbone of numerous communities.

The sector is deeply undervalued. Consider the Canadian Chambers findings on industry employment: Canadas conventional oil and gas sector supports 493,000 direct, indirect and induced jobs nationwide, accounting for three percent of total national employment. And for every million dollars spent in the sector, nearly five jobs are supported, a ratio that compares favourably to other sectors of the economy.

These are well-paying jobs, too. At $90 an hour, the average conventional oil and gas industry worker earns over twice the national average wage for other occupations.

The industrys total economic contribution extends to government revenues as well. In 2022, the conventional sector and the oil sands contributed $45 billion to government coffers in the form of tax and royalty payments, enabling funding for essential services and infrastructure benefiting all Canadians.

Additionally, the conventional sector plays a pivotal role in maintaining a positive balance of trade for Canada. Without conventional oil and gas exports, Canada would face a significant trade deficit, which would impact economic stability, currency value, and international competitiveness.

The solution to our challenges is staring us in the face. And unlocking Canadas energy advantage and maximizing the benefits of our natural resources requires just four steps  steps we truly can follow.

First, we can adopt a pragmatic approach to energy transition, investing in technology, facilities and infrastructure on an unprecedented scale.

Second, we can streamline our approach to major projects, ensuring timely approvals and permitting processes.

Third, we can create an attractive investment climate by reforming our regulatory regime and actively promoting major investment opportunities.

Finally, we can capitalize on the opportunity presented by liquefied natural gas (LNG), one of the most promising avenues for sectoral growth and a significant contributor to global emissions reduction.

Canadas conventional oil and natural gas sector is more than just an industry; it is a cornerstone of our economy, providing livelihoods for countless Canadians and showcasing our nations ingenuity and resilience. However, to unleash its full potential, we must embrace innovation, foster collaboration, and advocate for policies that forward both prosperity and environmental stewardship.

The road ahead is challenging, but the potential rewards are immense. Together, policymakers and industry can harness Canadas energy advantage and lead the world towards a more prosperous, equitable and sustainable future.

Perrin Beatty is President and CEO of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, and Lisa A. Baiton is President and CEO of the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers.
'Selective' UAE courting US, not China, on AI: minister



Dubai, June 12 (AFP) Jun 12, 2024



The United Arab Emirates is in "complete alignment" with the US on developing artificial intelligence, the oil-rich country's AI minister told AFP, confirming a shift away from China.

Omar Al Olama, Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, was speaking Tuesday after a state-linked Emirati AI firm secured a major investment from Microsoft, reportedly divesting Chinese interests as part of the deal.

"The honest truth is in the AI space today, I think we need to be selective of who we work with," Olama said in an interview, when asked about the UAE's dealings with Chinese AI firms.

"There is going to be a lot of discussions between the UAE and the US of what they are comfortable that we do with other players around the world and what they aren't comfortable (with)," he added.

"But on the AI front, I think there is going to be complete alignment between the UAE and the US."

Abu Dhabi-based G42, chaired by the president's brother and national security advisor Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan, won a $1.5 billion strategic investment from US tech giant Microsoft in April.

According to the New York Times and Bloomberg, the deal followed talks between the US and UAE governments where G42 agreed to drop Chinese partnerships in favour of American technology.



- AI 'top priority' -



AI has become a major battleground between the two powers as the United States moves to retain its leading position in the transformative field and to stop Beijing accessing sensitive data.

Olama, 34, who became the world's first AI minister in 2017, said the UAE -- which is striving to pivot its economy away from oil -- was "very bullish" on AI.

"AI is probably the top priority for the UAE in terms of our investments, in terms of our focus," he said.

Last month G42, powered by the world's biggest supercomputer, unveiled Falcon 2, an open-source generative model that seeks to rival American products such as OpenAI's ChatGPT.

G42 subsidiary Inception and Abu Dhabi's Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence have also produced Jais, billed as the world's highest quality Arabic large-language model.

Olama was confident the models would overcome any potential regulatory hurdles from the European Union, which has introduced a new AI law and has strict standards for data collection, including from government and healthcare sources.

"I think for Europe, for the bloc as a whole, you're going to see that the UAE is a partner that is willing to have a conversation to see how we can be an enabler for European companies to come to the UAE and operate," Olama said.

"But the EU AI law is very new. We still are going through it, understanding it, and seeing what needs to be done there," he added.



- 'Major challenge' -



Industry and government officials met at the AI Retreat on Tuesday, a brainstorming event at Dubai's ellipse-shaped, Arabic-inscribed Museum of the Future.

In a keynote, Olama said the UAE wanted to be a "global player" with companies that "take the world by storm".

Addressing questions about a possible gap in talent in the UAE, he remained upbeat.

"If you look at the progress that was made over the last five years and the snowballing of the talent that has moved into the UAE, I'm not worried that we'll be able to bridge that gap very quickly," he said.

The UAE, which wields some of the world's biggest sovereign wealth assets, is also intent on developing a semiconductor industry to profit from rising demand for AI chips.

"There are definitely discussions and we are open to partnering with the right partners wherever they come from, whether it's in Europe or the US," Olama said.

In response to reports that the US is slowing exports of AI chips to countries in the region, he commented: "We would love to not be put in a bucket with other countries in this domain."

"I am hopeful and I do believe that we are going to come up with a solution that is going to meet the requirements of all parties," the minister added.

th/ho/jsa

MICROSOFT
Incumbent Kirsten Baesler and former state Sen. Jason Heitkamp will advance to the general election in the race to be North Dakota's state superintendent.

Baesler had 55% of the vote and Heitkamp 22% with all 385 precincts fully reporting in Tuesday's primary election. Homeschooling advocate Jim Bartlett had 20%.

Baesler, Bartlett, Heitkamp and former collegiate administrator Darko Draganic were all on the ballot for the nonpartisan role. Baesler, who has held the role since 2013, is running on what she describes as a record of supporting educators and improving student outcomes.

Bartlett's platform focuses on a return of the Ten Commandments to schools, as well as a phasing out the Department of Public Instruction. Bartlett won the backing of the state GOP at its April convention. Heitkamp ran on a platform focused on reducing property taxes as a funding route for school districts, as well as a return to educational foundations.

Draganic, who had 3% of the vote, promoted improved teacher compensation and addressing inefficiencies.

In other statewide races, Public Service Commissioner Randy Christmann ran unopposed in the Republican primary. Human rights advocate Tracey Wilkie ran unopposed in the Democratic primary and will face off against Christmann for the six-year term.

State Auditor Josh Gallion ran unopposed in the Republican primary, while Grand Forks attorney Tim Lamb ran unopposed and moved forward on the Democrat side.

Insurance Commissioner Jon Godfread and State Treasurer Thomas Beadle, both Republicans, are running unopposed for additional terms. Democrats didn't put up challengers for either position.
Kyiv hopes Russia will attend second Ukraine peace summit



Geneva, June 12 (AFP) Jun 12, 2024



Ahead of the first summit on peace in Ukraine, Kyiv said Tuesday it wanted Russia to attend a second summit, to receive an internationally agreed roadmap towards ending the conflict.

Moscow said it had no interest in joining this weekend's meeting and so was not invited by hosts Switzerland, while Ukraine wants to get some concrete outcomes from the meeting to take forward to a second summit.

Andriy Yermak, the head of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's office, said the "bad experience" of previous negotiation formats involving Moscow, prior to Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, meant that the end to the war needed to be built on a broad platform of support from the outset -- and be rooted in international law.

"For the second summit, we will be working with all colleagues, with all countries who will be interested to be involved," Yermak told European media organisations, via video link from Berlin.

"We are planning to prepare together the joint plan which will be supported by all these responsible countries. And we're looking for the possibility, in the second summit, to invite a representative of Russia, and together present this joint plan."

A perspective backed by "100 or more countries" drawn from every continent, rather than just Ukraine's position, "will be a real plan which will be very difficult to dispute... a real road map how to stop this war and how to settle the crisis".



- Summit 'already a success' -



On Monday, Swiss President Viola Amherd said the summit aimed to find paths towards a comprehensive, just and lasting peace for Ukraine, based on international law, and define a framework for involving both warring parties in a future peace process.

More than 160 countries and international organisations were invited by Switzerland to the two-day summit at the Burgenstock resort complex, with more than 90 confirmations received so far.

Roughly half will be represented by the heads of state or government, and roughly half are from Europe.

"We think it's already a success because it's a big number of countries" attending, and "from all continents", said Yermak.

He said Ukraine was "open to discuss all ideas" from attending countries if they could help to stop the war.

"We want our lands liberated, we want back our people, our children, and we want justice," Yermak said.



- Door open for China -



Of Russia's allies, China is staying away, while Brazil and South Africa also seem likely to be absent.

"We know how hard Russia is working against this summit," trying to dissuade countries from attending, said Yermak.

"If Russia is so nervous, it's confirmation that we are on the right way," he said, still hoping that some wavering nations will eventually attend.

"We are ready to listen to the position of China," said Yermak, hoping they would join the process sooner rather than later.

Just as it is for Ukraine, "for China, territorial integrity is important. Nuclear safety is important", he added.

"They have some days to change this position. We will be happy if a high-level representative of China will be in Switzerland," he said.

"If not, we will continue to work with China and try to do the best from our side that they will appear at the second summit."

Yermak said that if the war in Ukraine could be ended, it would show that "world leaders are really able, together, to settle such a serious problem", which could lay a template for resolving future conflicts.
NATO's Stoltenberg meets Hungary's Orban amid tensions



Budapest, June 12 (AFP) Jun 12, 2024



NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg is to meet Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban in Budapest on Wednesday amid tensions between the central European country and the defence alliance over Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

As Moscow's closest EU ally despite its invasion of Ukraine, Orban is increasingly stoking fears of a war between the West and Russia, which he blames on Brussels and NATO.

The nationalist premier recently also suggested that he would like to "redefine" the position of Hungary in the alliance to prevent any participation in operations "outside NATO territory".

Stoltenberg and Orban are to hold a joint press conference around 10 am (0800 GMT).

Stoltenberg, who has been touring NATO members, is trying to hammer out a plan to be announced at a summit in Washington next month for NATO to play a bigger role in coordinating weapons deliveries and training for Kyiv's forces.

Hungary has objected, claiming it could drag the alliance into the war with Russia. It has already refused to supply arms to Ukraine.

NATO officials and diplomats say that Budapest -- one of NATO countries friendliest to Moscow -- is being offered an "opt-out" that would mean Hungary would not be required to participate in any way.

Hungary would also likely be left on the sidelines of efforts by Stoltenberg to get NATO members to pledge to keep supplying at least support worth 40 billion euros ($43 billion) a year to Ukraine for as long as it takes.



- Increasing frustration -



Diplomats from its NATO allies are getting increasingly frustrated that Budapest -- which has already opposed helping Kyiv at the EU -- is now also threatening to block efforts by the US-led alliance to increase support for Ukraine.

One diplomat said that "in recent months especially" Hungary's opposition had become a growing issue inside the alliance.

But another diplomat was still optimistic that Stoltenberg would be able to strike a deal with Orban allowing Hungary to "constructively abstain" from NATO's plans to play a bigger role in coordinating the delivery of weapons to Ukraine.

"There is a landing zone," the diplomat said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

NATO has so far avoided being directly involved in weapons deliveries to Ukraine, for fear it would move it closer to conflict with Russia.

Instead, it has left it to Kyiv's main backer, the United States, to coordinate arms sent by alliance members.

Officials and diplomats say the reason for NATO to take more of a role now is to try to ensure deliveries could continue even if Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump was re-elected president and pulled the plug on US support.
Israel army accused of 'active' support for settlers in West Bank violence



Duma, Palestinian Territories, June 12 (AFP) Jun 12, 2024



As violence surges in the occupied West Bank, Palestinians and human rights groups decry an increasingly blurry distinction between the Israeli army and settlers, emboldened by the current pro-settlement government.

In the West Bank, the "line that never really existed between the army and the settlers" has now "been completely erased", said Joe Carmel, advocacy coordinator for Breaking the Silence, an Israeli anti-occupation NGO made up of former soldiers.

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) recorded 1,096 settler attacks on Palestinians in the territory between October 7 and March 31.

That represents an average of six attacks per day, up from two a day in 2022.

Israeli human rights group Yesh Din, which also records settler violence, said 2023 was already a peak year.

With each attack, a similar story -- armed settlers, sometimes wearing the army's khaki fatigues, attack Palestinian villagers, burn their houses and cars, and steal their livestock, sometimes under the passive gaze of soldiers.

On April 13, Palestinians in the northern West Bank village of Duma watched in terror as hundreds of settlers attacked their village and stabbed a villager after an Israeli teenager who often visited a nearby settlement outpost was found dead.

On April 22, the army announced it had arrested a villager on suspicion of murdering the teenager.



- 'Protect all residents' -



That day, the Israeli army "was present inside the village to ensure the security of settlers and protect them" during their raid, village council chief Suleiman Dawabsha told AFP.

An Israeli military spokesman told AFP that troops in the West Bank were there to "protect the property and the life of all residents, and disperse clashes".

Not counting annexed east Jerusalem, more than 490,000 Israelis live in the West Bank in settlements considered illegal under international law, alongside some three million Palestinians.

The expansion of the settlements has gathered pace under successive governments since Israel's capture of the West Bank in the 1967 Arab-Israeli war but has accelerated sharply under the pro-settlement administations of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Since the start of the war in Gaza on October 7, at least 537 West Bank Palestinians have been killed by soldiers or settlers, according to the Palestinian Authority.

At least 14 Israelis have been killed in Palestinian attacks in the territory over the same period, according to Israeli official figures.

On October 13, a settler shot 20-year-old Zacharia al-Adra at point blank range as he was leaving a mosque in the village of Al-Tuwani in the southern West Bank.

Soldiers "saw everything" but didn't move, according to his wife Shouq al-Adra, 24.

Zacharia was critically wounded.

Pointing to what he said was a sociological change taking place in the army over the past decade, Carmel of Breaking the Silence said religious Zionist settlers have now become more visible in uniform and among senior officers.

Since the war in Gaza began, "we've seen that some settlers were wearing army uniform," Ehud Krinis, a 57-year-old Israeli activist who helps Palestinians in the Hebron region, told AFP.

Human Rights Watch denounced the ambiguity, saying that Israel was responsible for the increase in settler violence over the past eight months.



- 'Active participation' -



Human Rights Watch investigated five attacks perpetrated by settlers in five different Palestinian villages between October and November 2023, and concluded in April that "the Israeli military either took part in or did not protect Palestinians from violent settler attacks in the West Bank".

"Evidence shows that armed settlers, with the active participation of army units, blocked roads and attacked Palestinian communities on several occasions: they have detained, assaulted and tortured inhabitants, and evicted them from their houses and land," HRW concluded.

In April, UN human rights office spokeswoman Ravina Shamdasani told reporters in Geneva that "Israeli security forces must immediately end their active participation in and support for settler attacks on Palestinians".

"Israeli authorities must instead prevent further attacks, including by bringing those responsible to account."

Moayyad Bsharrat, advocacy director for the Palestinian Union of Agricultural Work Committees, said that settlers saw the inclusion of far-right settlement champions Itamar Ben Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich in the Israeli government as a "green light" to attack Palestinians.

Carmel says the Netanyahu government's goal is clear -- "to strengthen the settlement movement and, in so doing, to make it impossible for Palestinians to have any chance of gaining an independent state".

The Israeli army told AFP that it looks into "complaints about soldiers' behaviour that is not in accordance with orders".

But Carmel said that settlers and violent soldiers are only condemned "in very rare cases".

"The state prosecutor and the whole government apparatus is designed in a way that's supposed to protect them."
China says ex-navy captain entering Taiwan acted on his own



Beijing, June 12 (AFP) Jun 12, 2024



A former navy captain arrested in Taiwan for illegal entry was acting of his own accord and would be punished if returned to China, Beijing said Wednesday, after Taipei raised spying suspicions.

Taiwan's coast guard picked up the man on Sunday after his vessel collided with other boats on the Tamsui River, which flows from the self-ruled island's capital Taipei to its northern coast.

The man -- who claimed he wanted to "defect" according to local news reports -- had served as a captain in the Chinese navy, Taiwan's minister of ocean affairs said Tuesday, adding that he was among 18 purported defectors seen recently who claimed to admire Taiwan's "democratic way of life and came for freedom".

The man and his motives for entry would be investigated, Minister Kuan Bi-ling said, as China has stepped up pressures in recent years on the island it claims as part of its territory.

Beijing's Taiwan Affairs Office (TAO), which handles cross-strait issues, said Wednesday that the man's travel by boat to Taiwan was "purely his personal behaviour".

"The DPP authorities do not need to be so alarmed and engage in political manipulation," TAO spokesman Chen Binhua told reporters, referring to Taiwan's Democratic Progressive Party of President Lai Ching-te.

"When the man returns to the mainland, we will punish him in accordance with relevant regulations."

China has ramped up military and political pressures on Taiwan in recent years, including launching war games last month that it called a test of Beijing's ability to seize the island.

It also maintains a near-daily military presence around Taiwan with warships and fighter jets, and its coast guard vessels have entered and exited the island's waters this year.

Military experts say these "grey zone" tactics fall short of an outright act of war, but serve to exhaust Taiwan's military.

Taiwan is routinely on guard for spies from China, and the man's entry on Sunday had raised alarm.

The coast guard said 10 people have received disciplinary punishment over the breach.

Taiwan's National Security Bureau director Tsai Ming-yen said Wednesday during a parliamentary meeting that this could be "one of the cases of collaborating with the Chinese Communist Party's 'grey zone' operations".

The coast guard said Tuesday that a radar operator began monitoring the Chinese boat when it was about six nautical miles (11 kilometres) off the coast of Taiwan, but did not request an inspection as they thought it was a local fishing vessel.

Even after it was later verified as a non-Taiwanese boat, a coast guard unit had failed to immediately instruct patrolling personnel to intercept it until the boat collided with other vessels at a ferry terminal.
NATO, Hungary agree Orban 'will not block' greater Ukraine support



Budapest, June 12 (AFP) Jun 12, 2024



NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban agreed on Wednesday that Budapest would "not block" the defence alliance from contributing more to Ukraine's fight against Russia's invasion.

Stoltenberg, who has been touring NATO members, is trying to hammer out a plan to be announced at a summit in Washington next month for NATO to play a bigger role in coordinating weapons deliveries and training for Kyiv's forces.

Hungary has objected, claiming it could drag the alliance into the war with Russia. It has already refused to supply arms to Ukraine.

As Moscow's closest EU ally despite its invasion of Ukraine, Orban is increasingly stoking fears of a war between the West and Russia, which he blames on Brussels and NATO.

The nationalist premier recently also suggested that he would like to "redefine" the position of Hungary in the alliance to prevent any participation in operations "outside NATO territory".

On Wednesday, the two men agreed on a way forward, including Hungary not blocking efforts by Stoltenberg to get NATO members to pledge to keep supplying at least support worth 40 billion euros ($43 billion) a year to Ukraine for as long as it takes.

"What the prime minister and I have agreed today is that Hungary will not block other allies to agree a pledge for financial support to Ukraine and the leading role for NATO in coordinating support to Ukraine," Stoltenberg told reporters in a joint press conference with Orban following their meeting in Budapest.

Orban hailed "a difficult but constructive negotiation" with Stoltenberg.

"Today, we received guarantees that in the case of the Russia-Ukraine war, Hungary will not have to participate in military actions outside its territory," Orban told reporters at the joint press conference.

"Hungary will neither contribute money nor send people to this war, nor will Hungarian territory be used for involvement in this war," he added.

However Orban warned the "challenging period is not over", vowing to keep advocating for "decisions that align with Hungary's interests" after the NATO summit.



- Increasing frustration -



NATO defence ministers meeting in Brussels Thursday will now look to seal the final agreement on NATO's role in weapons deliveries ahead of the summit.

The other 31 countries in the alliance appear on board with the plan -- although diplomats said there remain some technical details to finalise.

Diplomats from some NATO countries have expressed scepticism about granting Orban a formal opt-out, arguing that sets a bad precedent inside the alliance.

Some diplomats have been getting increasingly frustrated with Budapest -- one of the NATO countries friendliest to Moscow.

One diplomat said that "in recent months especially" Hungary's opposition had become a growing issue inside the US-led alliance.

NATO has so far avoided being directly involved in weapons deliveries to Ukraine, for fear it would move it closer to conflict with Russia.

Instead, it has left it to Kyiv's main backer, the United States, to coordinate arms sent by alliance members.

Officials and diplomats say the reason for NATO to take more of a role now is to try to ensure deliveries could continue even if Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump were re-elected and pulled the plug on US support.
Hezbollah rains rockets on Israel after strike kills commander



Beirut, June 12 (AFP) Jun 12, 2024



Lebanese militant group Hezbollah fired successive barrages of rockets at northern Israel on Wednesday, after an Israeli air strike killed a senior commander in south Lebanon the previous day.

Hezbollah has traded near-daily cross-border fire with the Israeli army since its Palestinian ally Hamas attacked southern Israel on October 7, triggering war in Gaza.

The exchanges have intensified in recent weeks, as Hezbollah has stepped up its use of drones to attack Israeli military positions, while Israel has hit back with targeted strikes against the militants.

Hezbollah said it launched "dozens of Katyusha rockets" at three bases and a barracks in northern Israel.

The Iran-backed militant group said it also struck a "military factory" with guided missiles "in response to the assassination carried out by the Zionist enemy".

The Israeli army said more than 150 "projectiles" had been fired from Lebanon in three successive barrages.

"A short while ago, approximately 90 projectiles were identified crossing from Lebanon," it said, adding that several were intercepted but others struck inside Israel sparking fires in parts of the north.

The initial barrage was followed by a second of around 70 projectiles and a third of around 10, the military added.



- 'Knight of the resistance' -



The army said that in response it struck a rocket launcher in south Lebanon and "four terrorist infrastructure sites... from which projectiles were fired at northern Israel".

As temperatures have soared in recent days, the exchanges of fire have sparked multiple brush fires on both sides of the border.

"Israel Fire and Rescue Services are currently operating to extinguish the fires that broke out as a result of the launches," the military said.

Israel's Magen David Adom emergency medical service said there were no immediate reports of any casualties.

The latest barrages from Lebanon came after an Israeli air strike killed a senior Hezbollah commander on Tuesday.

Hezbollah identified the commander as Taleb Sami Abdallah, also known as Abu Taleb and born in 1969.

He was killed along with three Hezbollah comrades in an Israeli strike on Jouaiyya, 15 kilometres (nine miles) from the border, a source close to the group told AFP.

A Lebanese military source said the commander was "the most important in Hezbollah to be killed up to now since the start of the war".

The group called on its supporters to attend Abdallah's funeral in the southern suburbs of Beirut, describing him as "one of the knights of the resistance".

Hezbollah media channels published a photograph of Abdallah next to Wissam Tawil, another senior commander killed in an Israeli air strike in January.



- ''Harsh blow' -



Pro-Hezbollah newspaper Al-Akhbar described the strike that killed Abdallah as "a harsh blow" to the group.

His killing "represents a... dangerous escalation on behalf of the enemy" raising "expectations that the confrontation will be managed differently," the paper said.

On Tuesday, Hezbollah said it fired some 50 rockets at Israeli positions in the annexed Golan Heights.

More than eight months of cross-border violence has killed at least 468 people in Lebanon, most of them fighters but also including 89 civilians, according to an AFP tally.

Israeli authorities say at least 15 Israeli soldiers and 11 civilians have been killed.

Tens of thousands of people have been displaced on both sides of the border since the violence erupted the day after the Hamas attack on southern Israel.

The October 7 attack resulted in the deaths of 1,194 people in Israel, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official Israeli figures.

Israel's retaliatory offensive against Hamas has killed at least 37,164 people in Gaza, also mostly civilians, according to the Hamas-run territory's health ministry.

burs-jd-aya/kir
Ukraine summit in Switzerland: what Kyiv wants



Kyiv, Ukraine, June 12 (AFP) Jun 12, 2024



Ukraine is bringing together dozens of world leaders and international organisation at the plush Burgenstock resort in Switzerland this weekend to mount pressure on Russia and outline a path towards peace.

Kyiv wants to build global consensus around its plan to end the war without Russian input. But it also has identified several specific issues it wants to rally support around.



- Children, energy, trade -



Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in an interview with AFP last month identified three key concerns it will place at the centre of the conference, as part of his 10-point plan to end the war.

First: he said he wants to secure the return of thousands of Ukrainian children that he says have been forcibly transferred to Russian-controlled territory.

Second: he wants guarantees around nuclear and energy security. Russian strikes have crippled Ukrainian power plants and fighting near the occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant has raised fears of a catastrophic radiation accident.

Third: he wants to ensure that Ukraine will be able to export grain via the Black Sea -- a key corridor for deliveries to food-vulnerable nations that Kyiv wants to win over.

Zelensky told AFP that if Ukraine can rally consensus around these issues: "it means that Russia will not block them further".



- No Russia. Yet -



Russia's exclusion from the summit has prompted criticism from some Kremlin-sympathetic capitals including Beijing, which said Russia should be included in any peace process.

The Kremlin has said it would be "absurd" to work towards resolving the conflict without Russian participation.

However Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis said this week Russia must be included at some point and that it was more a question of "when Russia will be on board" in the process rather than if.

Andriy Yermak, head of the Ukrainian presidential administration, echoed that point on Tuesday, suggesting that Russian representatives could be invited to a later summit.

Zelensky earlier explained why Russia had not been invited: "We do not want any formats of negotiations, any formulas for peace to be imposed on us by countries, even our partners, who are not here, not at war."



- Global South -



Ukraine has invited more than 160 nations to participate at the summit and Zelensky has said garnering support from as many countries as possible, including the global south, will be key to the summit.

Zelensky pointed out several areas of mutual interest to AFP. Countries in Africa are concerned with food security while Qatar and the United Arab Emirates have helped secure the release of Ukrainian children from Russia.

Moscow however has longstanding diplomatic ties with countries in Africa and South America from the Soviet period. Many were represented at an economic forum in Saint Petersburg last week.

Ukraine has accused Moscow of seeking to deter countries in the global south from attending.

"The global majority can ensure that what is agreed upon is actually implemented, and that Russia, which started this brutal war, cannot push us off the path to ending it," Zelensky has said.



- Peace Plan -



Ukraine's agenda for the summit is broadly based around a 10-point "peace formula" that was devised in Kyiv and has been promoted by Zelensky since the war's first year.

Kyiv says the aim of the plan is to achieve a just and lasting peace, guided by international law and principles outlined by the United Nations.

It foresees the restoration of Ukrainian territorial integrity, the withdrawal of Russian troops, and the establishment of a tribunal to investigate war crimes.

Moscow has rejected Zelensky's plan because it would require Russia to return territory it has conquered in Ukraine over the last decade of conflict.
Germany plans revamped military service model: sources



Berlin, June 12 (AFP) Jun 12, 2024



Germany is planning a new military service model as the country looks to revamp its depleted armed forces in the wake of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, parliamentary sources told AFP on Wednesday.

Under the plans, young men will be required to register for potential military service, though it will remain essentially voluntary, the sources said.

Germany suspended compulsory military service in 2011, but the conflict in Ukraine has reignited the debate around whether young men and women should be required to serve in the army -- known as the Bundeswehr.

Defence Minister Boris Pistorius will present plans for a new military service model later on Wednesday.

Under the plans, all school leavers will be sent a questionnaire asking them about their interest in the army as well as their health and physical abilities, the sources said.

All young men will be required to return the questionnaire, while for women it will be voluntary.

Based on their answers, a contingent of young men and women will then be invited to a selection process.

The strongest candidates will be recruited for an initial six-month stint of military service, with the option of extending for those who are interested.

Opposition parties have called on the government to go further and reintroduce compulsory conscription.

The German conservatives in May voted in favour of a temporary return to conscription, approving a motion tabled by the party's youth wing.

Pistorius had earlier hinted he may be considering some form of return to compulsory military service.

"If there are not enough volunteers, we will also have to enlist young people to serve," he told Die Zeit newspaper in May.

Since 2011, military service has been entirely voluntary in Germany, consisting of a period of between seven and 23 months in the armed forces combined with civic engagement.

However, since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the army has struggled to attract new talent as officials seek to boost troop numbers.

Despite a concerted recruitment drive, the Bundeswehr welcomed just 18,802 new members in 2023 -- only 27 more than in 2022.
Russian nuclear-powered submarine arrives in Cuba



Havana, June 12 (AFP) Jun 12, 2024



A Russian nuclear-powered submarine and other naval vessels arrived in Cuba Wednesday for a five-day visit to the communist island off Florida's coast in a show of force amid spiraling US-Russian tensions.

The submarine Kazan, which Cuba says is not carrying nuclear weapons, was accompanied by the frigate Admiral Gorshkov, as well as an oil tanker and a salvage tug.

The Kazan and Admiral Gorshkov, which is one of Russia's most modern warships, could be seen just off Havana, which is about 90 miles (145 km) from the tip of Florida.

The tanker Pashin and the tug, flying the white, blue and red tricolor of Russia, entered the harbor early Wednesday morning, an AFP reporter said.

The Cuban government announced that Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez was meeting his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov in Moscow on Wednesday, as the two former Cold War allies further tighten their links.

The unusual deployment of the Russian military so close to the United States -- particularly the powerful submarine -- comes amid major tensions over the war in Ukraine, where the Western-backed government is fighting a Russian invasion.

Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel met with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin last month for the annual May 9 military parade on Red Square outside the Kremlin.

During the Cold War, Cuba was an important client state for the Soviet Union. The deployment of Soviet nuclear missile sites on the island triggered the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962, when Washington and Moscow came close to war.

Relations between Russia and Cuba have become closer since a 2022 meeting between Diaz-Canel and Putin.
Germany plans revamped military service model



Berlin, June 12 (AFP) Jun 12, 2024



Germany on Wednesday unveiled plans for a new military service model as the country looks to revamp its depleted armed forces in the wake of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Under the plans, young men will be required to register for potential military service, though it will remain essentially voluntary.

Germany suspended compulsory military service in 2011, but the conflict in Ukraine has reignited the debate around whether young men and women should be required to serve in the army, known as the Bundeswehr.

Presenting the plans on Wednesday, Defence Minister Boris Pistorius said the situation facing the armed forces was "completely different from what it was just a few years ago".

"Russia has now been waging a war against Ukraine for almost two and a half years, in violation of international law," he said.

"According to all international military experts, it must be assumed that Russia will be in a position to attack a NATO state from 2029."

Under the plans, all school leavers will be sent a questionnaire asking them about their interest in the army as well as their health and physical abilities, according to a draft document seen by AFP.

All young men will be required to return the questionnaire, while for women it will be voluntary.

Based on their answers, a contingent of young men and women will then be invited to a selection process.

The strongest candidates will be recruited for an initial six-month stint of military service, with the option of extending for those who are interested.

Pistorius said the new model would aim to win over 5,000 extra recruits per year from 2025 and would look to increase this figure going forward.



- 'First step' -



Opposition parties have called on the government to go further and reintroduce compulsory conscription.

The conservative CDU-CSU alliance in May voted in favour of a temporary return to conscription, approving a motion tabled by the party's youth wing.

The conservatives had already pledged to introduce a year of compulsory community service for young people, which could be completed in the army or by working in civil society.

But the youth wing argued this would take too long to introduce and put forward a period of compulsory service for a limited number of people as a stop-gap.

Pistorius had also earlier hinted he may be considering some form of return to compulsory military service.

"If there are not enough volunteers, we will also have to enlist young people to serve," he told Die Zeit newspaper in May.

But on Wednesday he said a return to compulsory conscription was off the table for now, though he also said the new model was a "first step" and "does not rule anything out in the future".

Finance Minister Christian Lindner, from the liberal FDP, called Pistorius's plans "a step in the right direction".

"Instead of a new compulsory service, we should get more people interested in serving in the Bundeswehr and strengthen the reserves," he said.



- Stalled recruitment -



But the conservatives said the new model did not go far enough, accusing Pistorius of watering down his original plans to please opposing voices in Germany's three-way coalition government.

"It would have been right to create all the conditions now for... introducing compulsory military service," conservative lawmaker Florian Hahn told the Funke media group.

Since 2011, military service has been entirely voluntary in Germany, consisting of a period of between seven and 23 months in the armed forces combined with civic engagement.

Since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the army has struggled to attract new talent as officials seek to boost troop numbers.

Despite a concerted recruitment drive, the Bundeswehr welcomed just 18,802 new members in 2023 -- only 27 more than in 2022.

According to AFP sources, lawmakers in the German parliament's defence committee were divided over the question of whether the new model should apply to both men and women equally.

However, making military service compulsory for women would require a change to Germany's constitution, with Pistorius arguing that this would take too long.
NATO to agree Ukraine support plan after Hungary given opt-out



Budapest, June 12 (AFP) Jun 12, 2024



NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban agreed on Wednesday that Budapest would "not block" plans for the alliance to play a bigger role in coordinating arms deliveries to Ukraine.

In return, the Hungarian leader was given a guarantee that his country would not be obliged to contribute to an initiative for NATO to take over the role of overseeing arms supplies and training for Kyiv's forces from the United States.

Stoltenberg said the deal cleared the way for NATO defence ministers to approve the proposal at a two-day meeting in Brussels starting Thursday, ahead of a summit of alliance leaders in Washington next month.

Hungary has objected to the push to get NATO involved in weapon supplies, claiming it could drag the alliance into the war with Russia. It has already refused to supply arms to Ukraine.

As Moscow's closest EU ally despite its invasion of Ukraine, Orban is increasingly stoking fears of a war between the West and Russia, which he blames on Brussels and NATO.

The nationalist premier recently also suggested that he would like to "redefine" the position of Hungary in the alliance to prevent any participation in operations "outside NATO territory".

On Wednesday, the two men agreed on a way forward, including Hungary not blocking efforts by Stoltenberg to get NATO members to pledge to keep supplying at least support worth 40 billion euros ($43 billion) a year to Ukraine for as long as it takes.

"What the prime minister and I have agreed today is that Hungary will not block other allies to agree a pledge for financial support to Ukraine and the leading role for NATO in coordinating support to Ukraine," Stoltenberg told reporters in a joint press conference with Orban following their meeting in Budapest.

Orban hailed "a difficult but constructive negotiation" with Stoltenberg.

"Today, we received guarantees that in the case of the Russia-Ukraine war, Hungary will not have to participate in military actions outside its territory," Orban told reporters at the joint press conference.

"Hungary will neither contribute money nor send people to this war, nor will Hungarian territory be used for involvement in this war," he added.

However Orban warned the "challenging period is not over", vowing to keep advocating for "decisions that align with Hungary's interests" after the NATO summit.



- Increasing frustration -



Diplomats from some NATO countries have expressed scepticism about granting Orban a formal opt-out, arguing that sets a bad precedent inside the alliance.

Some diplomats have been getting increasingly frustrated with Budapest -- one of the NATO countries friendliest to Moscow.

One diplomat said that "in recent months especially" Hungary's opposition had become a growing issue inside the US-led alliance.

NATO has so far avoided being directly involved in weapons deliveries to Ukraine, for fear it would move it closer to conflict with Russia.

Instead, it has left it to Kyiv's main backer, the United States, to coordinate arms sent by alliance members.

Officials and diplomats say the reason for NATO to take more of a role now is to try to ensure deliveries could continue even if Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump were re-elected and pulled the plug on US support.
We urge politicians of all stripes  who may have friends, family or constituents relying on the NHS  to pledge to open talks with the BMA within 10 days of taking office and in return, we call on the BMA to respond by halting this planned disruption. If they can compromise it will be at least one positive thing to come out of this election campaign.
Recalling her time on set, Comer said: It was all men, and I could feel myself shrinking, but not because of anything that was being done. It was fascinating to witness myself doing it. I had to have a word with myself.
She was catnip to the designers of the day, and the melding of her casual glamour - that fringe, scant makeup - with the striking modernity of the clothes of Yves Saint Laurent, Andre Courreges and Paco Rabanne who all took her as muse creating an eternal fashion pitch. Its a blend that has become synonymous with the definition of a carefree attitude to fashion which is still heralded as the pinnacle of taste. When I came to London to perform at the Savoy in the mid-60s, I was well aware that the British press was more interested in the way I dressed than in my songs, Hardy, often touted as the the very essence of French style, told The New York Times in 2018.
He went on: The reason (Child K) was desaturating was because that ET (endotracheal) tube had been displaced and we suggest that the fact Lucy Letby was doing nothing and the fact the alarms were not sounding is evidence from which you can conclude that it was Lucy Letby, the convicted murderer, who had displaced the tube.
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During the election campaign, it has emerged the Home Office had already released some migrants on bail after they had been detained for Rwanda flights but the department has refused to say how many were being held, how many had already been freed and how many more were due to be released.
There have been concerns about the notification of victims, with those not registered with the victim notification scheme having to contact one of four victims support organisations to find out if the offender in their case is among those released early.
Mr Constance said: We are relying on people who are not registered with the victim notification scheme to come forward and I hope as parliamentarians and (through) the work with our partners  whether thats SPS  we can raise as much awareness as possible and we will do everything we can to support victims support organisations.
On June 11, the King left the palace to attend the inaugural awards ceremony for the charity he founded as the Prince of Wales. The King's Foundation strives to build better communities where people, places, and the environment may coexist peacefully. The awards ceremony, which will take place every year, honours partners, educators, students, and alumni for their contributions to the organization's goals in a variety of fields.
I think youve got to give (Labour) a couple of years to get a hold of whats going on  its difficult to put the boot in with someone this new whos just finding their feet when the economys trashed and there isnt any money to spend.
Recalling what had happened, he said: "I thought someone had set the alarm before we got there, like another guest. And finally I went into another room and it was still buzzing so I called downstairs and the woman said in a very calm voice, 'yes, we are all evacuating, you must evacuate right now'. And I left."
North Dakota voters on Tuesday backed a ballot measure that amends the state constitution to impose an age limit on members of the states congressional delegation.

Unofficial election returns showed the measuring passing 61% to 39%, with all 385 precincts reporting.

The initiative, which says that potential candidates cannot represent North Dakota in Congress if they "could attain 81 years of age by December 31st of the year immediately preceding the end of the term," was the only statewide citizen-proposed ballot measure on the June primary ballot. The measure, which began circulating last year, was approved for the ballot in March after supporters submitted nearly 42,000 signatures for consideration in February.

Two other citizen-led ballot measures -- one seeking to eliminate property tax and one that would overhaul the state's electoral processes -- did not submit the required 31,164 verified signatures to qualify for the June ballot, but could submit signatures by July 8 to make it on the general election ballot.

The age limit measure's passage comes amid ongoing discussions about aging politicians. High-profile lawmakers such as Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., who died in office last September, and Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Kentucky, who has frozen multiple times in front of reporters, have drawn attention to the matter through their health issues, adding fuel to the fire. It also comes after a 2022 North Dakota ballot measure implementing term limits for state legislators and the governor received voters' approval.

Initiative chair Jared Hendrix, who also chaired the 2022 term limits measure, has described the proposed measure as "pretty common sense." But some opponents, while recognizing that age in politics has resulted in an overrepresentation of older Americans in Congress, have pushed back on the idea of blanket age limits, on the grounds that age is not the only factor determining a politician's mental acuity. And others say that the lengthy tenure of some elected officials can be an asset, as they have accumulated expertise.

Legal experts have indicated that the measure could face pushback as it would be a state-imposed restriction on a federal office. U.S. Term Limits Inc. v. Thornton, a Supreme Court case surrounding a constitutional amendment that sought to apply term limits to Arkansas' congressional delegation, is an example of a similar state-imposed restriction getting shot down.

North Dakota is the first state to adopt an age restriction for its congressional delegation, meaning the measure will likely serve as a test case that could indicate the legal viability of similar efforts. A group of lawmakers in early April estimated that a defense for potential lawsuits could cost the state more than $1 million -- though the group indicated that figure was on the high end of estimates.
Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu said on Wednesday that the candidate the Social Democratic Party (PSD) will file in for the presidential election will be decided together with all the party's leaders.

Ciolacu was asked, at the PSD headquarters, what option PSD will take for this year's presidential election and if he personally wanted to run for the highest public position in the country.

"The option that PSD will choose will be announced after I talk to my colleagues. (...) We all want a lot in life. I make that decision with my colleagues, because it is not my own wish, we do not say a prayer and we make a wish. Things in politics are more complicated," said Ciolacu, insisting that PSD will have its own presidential candidate.

He added that PSD and the National Liberal Party (PNL), both at rule in a ruling coalition, decided at a coalition meeting to form a majority in the Bucharest General Council.

"What we decided is - where we ran together to create majorities together, such as Brasov, Timis. Where we each have majorities alone is the decision of the organisations, otherwise, we will meet with each chapter chair, both me and Mr. Ciuca, and we will talk about majorities and approach. Moreover, we have decided that we will create a majority in the Bucharest General Council . (...) I tell you what I did together with Mr Secretary General Bode, with Mr Secretary General Stanescu, we on to the fixation of knowledge, that is exactly what Mr. Bode said, and we passed over those points," Ciolacu stressed.
The Romanian language preparatory year is organised and operates in accredited higher education institutions, following the accreditation evaluation carried out by the Romanian Agency for Quality Assurance in Higher Education (ARACIS), on the basis of its own framework methodology on the organisation and conduct of the preparatory year of Romanian language for foreign citizens, according to a draft the Education Ministry put out for consultation.

According to the draft, the evaluation fee for the Romanian language preparatory year programme is established by decision of the Executive Board of the ARACIS Council.

"The Romanian language preparatory year is a study programme lasting a minimum of 28 weeks of teaching activities (60 ECTS credits), which ends with an examination to assess Romanian language skills for the minimum B1 level, defined according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages," the draft provides.

The following are eligible for admission to the Romanian language preparatory year study programme: citizens of the member states of the European Union, citizens of countries belonging to the European Economic Area and the Swiss Confederation, as well as British citizens and their family members, as beneficiaries of the Agreement on the withdrawal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland from the European Union, citizens of third countries, Romanians living abroad.

"The Ministry of Education can finance a number of study places in the Romanian language preparatory year programme, organised by state higher education institutions, for scholarship holders and Romanians from abroad. The level of funding is equivalent to the socio-human area, undergraduate studies. For candidates from third countries, the Ministry of Education will issue letters of acceptance to study, at the proposal of the organising higher education institution, within the tuition capacity approved by ARACIS and in accordance with the legal provisions," the draft also provides.

According to the source, for scholarship holders and Romanians abroad, the Education Ministry will allocate annually, after consultation with the state higher education institution, a number of places / study grants funded from the state budget.

Furthermore, for the citizens of the member states of the European Union, of the countries belonging to the European Economic Area and of the Swiss Confederation, as well as for British citizens and their family members, as beneficiaries of the Agreement on the withdrawal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland from the European Union, the certificate of equivalence of studies will be issued by the National Centre for the Recognition and Equivalence of Diplomas, in accordance with the legal provisions.

"The persons declared admitted and confirmed as being enrolled in the study programme are registered in the Single Romanian Register of Diplomas and Study Documents (...) The examination for the completion of the preparatory year is organised by the higher education institutions, in accordance with their own regulations, approved by the senate of the organising institution," the draft mentions.

The institutions organising the preparatory year in Romanian language shall issue to the graduates who have passed the final exam a graduation certificate, in accordance with the rules in force, on the basis of which they can enroll in university study programmes.
MEP Iuliu Winkler (UDMR - Democratic Union of Hungarians of Romania, EPP - European People's Party) on Wednesday stated, in Deva, that the result obtained by the UDMR in the recent elections is the best in the last 20 years and thanked the citizens for the vote of confidence which the Union obtained on June 9.

"We had extremely difficult areas such as Satu Mare or Targu-Mures, where we kept the positions of mayor, we kept the four counties in Transylvania that remained green on the political map, so we continue to lead the four counties, Covasna, Harghita, Mures and Satu Mare. We won Odorheiul Secuiesc with an extraordinary good result. That's why my first thought is to thank the voters, who decided to support us in a percentage much higher than in recent years," Winkler said.

According to him, through the vote, the electorate gave a message both to Bucharest and to Brussels, that when the elections are very important, the Hungarian community "gathers around the UDMR, and the UDMR is the one that represents the interests of the Hungarian community in Romania".

"Obviously, this message is one of friendship and collaboration both for Bucharest and for Brussels," pointed out Iuliu Winkler.

At the same time, Iuliu Winkler wanted to thank the voters from the Romanian community who voted for UDMR in these elections, stating that both he and his colleagues are honored by these votes.

"I think this is due to the fact that we managed a better mobilization than the general mobilization in the country, which was not easy at all, as well as the votes we received from the voters from the majority community. In Deva, Hunedoara, but also in Maramures, in Resita, in Timisoara or in Brasov, where we are in minority organizations, we certainly benefited from Romanian votes. I in Hunedoara County, my colleagues, are honored by these votes, because this means that they are voters, members of the Romanian community, who observe our conduct, our work, our hardship", he said.
President Klaus Iohannis on Wednesday welcomed Chairman of the Friedrich Ebert Foundation (Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung), Martin Schulz, a former president of the European Parliament, at the Cotroceni Presidential Palace.

According to the Presidential Administration, the meeting was an opportunity for an analysis of the new political configuration of the European Union and its priorities for the next legislature in the wake of the June 6-9 European election.

"The President of Romania underlined the importance of unity and cohesion at European level, amidst a growing influence of extremist forces, and also the need to establish measures through which the European design better meet the needs of citizens and is adapted to current and future challenges."

Discussed at the meeting were the geopolitical situation in the region and globally, including recent developments in the conflict in Ukraine and the ways in which the European Union will be able to strengthen its influence and competitiveness at a global level.

"President Klaus Iohannis stressed that Romania would remain a factor of stability and balance in the region and in Europe, and the consolidation of this status represents a commitment of the Romanian officials."

The talks also revealed the excellent relationships between Romania and Germany, based on close bilateral co-operation, at European, NATO and other international level. The important role of interpersonal relations for the development of Romanian-German co-operation was also underlined, highlighting the important contribution of the German minority in Romania and the Romanian community in Germany.

Iohannis congratulated Schulz on the 30th anniversary of the Friedrich Ebert Foundation's representation in Romania and expressed his appreciation for its sustained activity in strengthening the rule of law, good governance and participatory democracy.
The Minister of Labour, Simona Bucura-Oprescu, submitted to the International Labor Organization (ILO) the ratification document by Romania of the Convention on the Elimination of Violence and Harassment at the Workplace, informs the Labour and Social Solidarity Ministry (MMSS) in a post posted on Wednesday on its official Facebook account.

"The Minister of Labor and Social Solidarity, Simona Bucura Oprescu, is participating these days in the 112th Session of the International Labor Conference that is taking place in Geneva, Switzerland. Today, the Minister Simona Bucura-Oprescu submitted the instrument of ratification by Romania of Convention No. 190/2019 concerning the elimination of violence and harassment in the world of work. The document was submitted in the framework of the bilateral meeting with Gilbert F. Houngbo, the Director General of the International Labor Organization. Oprescu said that Romania has so far ratified 8 of the 10 ILO Fundamental Conventions assimilated to human rights. In total, Romania has ratified 38 of the 57 ILO Conventions and will continue to take all the necessary steps to ratify the last two ILO Fundamental Conventions on health and safety at work," notes the cited source.

Also, the Romanian minister of Labor participated in a bilateral meeting with Beate Andrees, regional director of the ILO for Europe and Central Asia, and the discussions focused on strengthening the cooperation between Romania and the International Labor Office. In this context, Bucura-Oprescu expressed wish for the Organization to open an Office in Bucharest.

"MMSS and the Government of Romania respect their commitment to ensure equal opportunities and access to essential public services for all citizens, but also the development of policies that ensure the green and digital transition that contributes to a solid economy and the creation of new jobs. We will continue to strive for a safe and inclusive work environment, without discrimination and harassment. We will collaborate with social partners to achieve these goals. MMSS and the Government of Romania will continue to cooperate with the ILO to respect standards, policies and good practices in the field of work as an effective response to the current challenges generated by the unprecedented changes in the world of work," stated the head of MMSS.

At the same time, in her intervention in the plenary of the conference, Bucura-Oprescu emphasized Romania's commitment to combating violence and harassment at the workplace, as well as to social dialogue, stimulating the employment of the workforce, ensuring safety and health at work, equality and non-discrimination.

The Romanian official addressed the invitation to the general director of the IOM, Gilbert F. Houngbo, to pay an official visit to Romania in the next period.
Chairman of Save Romania Union (USR) Catalin Drula calls for the immediate dismissal of the president of the Permanent Electoral Authority (AEP), Toni Grebla, alleging that "the biggest electoral frauds" in recent history has been committed at Sunday's elections.

"I call for the immediate dismissal of Toni Grebla: electoral fraud must not be tolerated! Toni Grebla, the PSD-PNL [Social Democratic Party - National Liberal Party] puppet at AEP, must go immediately. Under his leadership, we see the biggest electoral frauds in recent history in full swing. It is clear that Grebla was, from the beginning, just the tool with which Ciolacu [prime minister Marcel Ciolacu] and Ciuca [PNL chairman Nicolae Ciuca] wanted to control the elections at any cost. What is happening in [Bucharest's] districts 1 and 2 is the darkness of democracy. The refusal of the PSD-PNL mafia to recount the votes, despite all the clear evidence of fraud, shows that they are willing to shut down democracy as well," the USR leader wrote on Facebook.

He argued that USR will not allow votes "to be manipulated and stolen by a corrupt system built" by PSD and PNL leaders.

"Hundreds of stolen votes, falsified minutes and a drifting electoral system - all this is happening under the eyes of Toni Grebla, who must resign. The PSD - PNL and their accomplice Toni Grebla are destroying democracy in Romania. We will defend our votes by all means. We will not allow our votes to be manipulated and stolen by a corrupt system built by Ciolacu and Ciuca. Grebla and those who put him there must pay for this fraud in progress and for destroying people's faith in elections," Catalin Drula went on to say.
JEFFERSON CITY  A Missouri lawmaker who plays a key role in writing the state budget is being sued for not paying bills related to his familys farming operation.

Rep. Scott Cupps, R-Shell Knob, faces two lawsuits from businesses that say he and his brother, Matthew, owe more than $113,000 for not repaying lines of credit they received in 2019.

Cupps, who serves as chairman of a House subcommittee on appropriations, also is in the midst of divorce proceedings. He said Tuesday hes not been involved in the farm business since beginning his $37,700-per-year job as a member of the Missouri House.

I dont know all the details. I dont want to know all the details, said Cupps, whose name has been floated as a potential appointee to run the Missouri Department of Agriculture. I dont have anything to do with it.

State business records filed with the Secretary of States office in June 2022 show the brothers each having a 50% stake in Cupps Farms, located in Barry County.

In February, John Deere Financial filed a lawsuit in Barry County attempting to recoup $56,119 from Cupps Farms for a line of credit approved in 2019 to buy farming equipment.

Plaintiff has made demand upon defendants for payment but defendants, without justification or excuse, have failed and refused to pay, the Deere lawsuit says.

In March, MFA Inc., which provides loans and lines of credit to Missouri farmers, filed a suit in Boone County alleging the farm owed more than $57,000 from a line of credit it granted in 2019.

(A)lthough often requested to do so, defendants have failed and refused and still fail and refuse to pay the account in full, the MFA petition said.

I really cant say much because I really dont have anything to do with them. Its all my brother and another one of his partners, Cupps told the Post-Dispatch. I hope they can get to the bottom of it soon.

Cupps entered the House after a 2019 special election to replace then-Rep. Scott Fitzpatrick, who was appointed treasurer at the time by Gov. Mike Parson. Fitzpatrick is now the state auditor.

Cupps is chairman of a House subcommittee that oversees spending by the states elected officials. He also is vice chairman of the House Special Committee on Urban Issues.

In a 2015 interview on In The Field, a farm-related show, the two brothers said they grow grass and row crops and raise cows on their multi-generational farm in the southwest corner of the state.

We raise cattle that are functional and productive, Scott Cupps said.

Our plan is to farm until we fail and then were going to go get jobs, Matt Cupps said, adding that their farming operation, at the time, was spread across multiple counties and multiple states.

Cupps is facing a reelection challenge in November from Democrat Yma Sautbine of Eagle Rock. Missouri Ethics Commission records show Sautbine had $490 in her campaign account as of April 1.

Cupps filed a report in January showing he had $12,012 in his campaign account. He reported not raising or spending enough money to file a more comprehensive report in April.

Federal records show Cupps Farms received a $20,835 Paycheck Protection Program loan in 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic. The loan was forgiven.

As chairman of the House budget subcommittee, Cupps made headlines in February when he successfully pressured state Treasurer Vivek Malek to drop a partnership with a company that has flooded gas stations across the state with unregulated and untaxed slot machines.

Cupps said the cringeworthy arrangement had made a mockery of the state treasurers office.

He also raised concerns about House Speaker Dean Plochers advocacy for an out-of-state election vendor in February while the speaker was under an ethics investigation, suggesting Plocher was acting more like a lobbyist than a legislator.

In 2023, Cupps wife, Kim, filed for divorce. Court records show the lawmaker provided updated income and expenses in a May 2024 filing. Those documents were not available on the states court website.

The case has been transferred from Barry County to Taney County.

The divorce proceedings come four years after Cupps raised eyebrows on the House floor when he introduced his spouse to the chamber as my smokin hot wife.
East St. Louis could face a federal takeover of its troubled public housing authority, funding cuts or other penalties, if city officials dont adopt proper policies and procedures for appointing authority board members, according to a top U.S. housing official.

The warning was part of an April 29 letter from William O. Dawson III, director of the Chicago regional office of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, to East St. Louis Mayor Charles Powell III and the city council.

Dawson sent the letter, obtained by the Belleville News-Democrat, after HUD officials discovered in a review of the local housing authority that two of its board members did not live in the city, a violation of state law and HUD rules, the letter states. One of the members has since resigned, and the city council has replaced her. The status of the other board member is not clear.

Our Agency believes that until such time that the City establishes and implements adequate policies and procedures for its Board appointments, that the federal investment in the HAESL (Housing Authority of East St. Louis), and by extension the City and its most vulnerable citizens, is at considerable risk for fraud, waste, and abuse, the letter states. And that, in the absence of any action to remedy this by the City, HUD will consider imposing grant conditions/restrictions on the HAESLs grants, consider sanctions, and/or consider the potential for declaring the HAESL in default of the Annual Contributions Contract, if again, these conditions are not Remedied.

HUD officials declined to be interviewed or to comment on the situation.

East St. Louis Mayor Charles Powell III did not return phone calls seeking comment. City Manager Robert Betts said City Attorney John Baricevic will respond to the letter.

Baricevic said attorney-client privilege prevents him from revealing whether he had reviewed Dawsons letter and whether he would respond on behalf of the city.

He did say it is his understanding that the city was appointing new people to the board.

Dawsons letter is the latest point of contention between HUD and local officials during a year of controversy and upheaval in the troubled Housing Authority of East St. Louis.

The authority has had at least five major leadership changes since mid-2023. An authority director, an acting director and an interim director, plus a former Board of Commissioners chair and her replacement, have left their posts for various reasons.

At one point, Betts applied for the executive directors post, but eventually withdrew his application after Dawson raised multiple questions about his candidacy and the entire hiring process. The position remains open.

Most recently, HUD challenged the city councils April 4 reappointment of Naomi Purchase Gilbert and the appointment of Natasha Jefferies to the housing authority board.

Purchase Gilbert owns a home in Belleville while Jefferies owns a home in OFallon, according to HUD, citing research by its staff.

Dawsons letter said that Purchase Gilbert and Jefferies should resign or be removed and replaced on the board. HUD sent documents in support of their findings.

During the course of the News-Democrats reporting on this issue, a reporter asked Betts if he knew Purchase Gilbert and Jefferies did not live in East St. Louis.

We are looking into it, Betts said. It is under review.

Later, at a May 23 meeting, the city council appointed Pamela Sargent to replace Purchase Gilbert, who had resigned from the board, according to council records.

No action was taken on Jefferies at that meeting, according to the council agenda packet.

At the same meeting, city council voted to appoint Dinah Campbell to the board, replacing DeMarko M. Ward Sr., who also had resigned from the board.

Ward declined to comment when the News-Democrat asked about the resignation and other board matters.

In a resignation letter obtained by the BND, Ward said:

This decision is not one I want to make, but rather one I feel forced to take to avoid any potential backlash or retaliation for my continued presence on the board. It has come to my attention that there is displeasure with my stance regarding voting matters involving Commissioner Naomi Gilbert Purchase, the letter states. I want to clarify that my intention was never to target Commissioner Purchase, but rather to ensure that issues regarding her residency are appropriately addressed before proceeding with voting matters as to not violate any bylaws, state, or federal laws. Unfortunately, it seems this has been misunderstood, and I regret any unintended implications.

No action was taken on Jefferies at the meeting.

Betts said Friday Jefferies declined the appointment to the board, and the city never formally appointed her. We brought her name forward, but never moved forward with the process, he told the News-Democrat. No action was ever taken with her.

Purchase Gilbert and Jefferies could not be reached for comment.

Asked whether he agreed with HUDs finding that the two individuals didnt live in East St. Louis, Betts said, Not necessarily.

People live in multiple places. You cant dictate where people stay and sleep at, he said. Thats all subjective. We dont sneak around to see where people sleep.

In his April 29 letter, Dawson told city officials they can turn to HUD for assistance as they work on fixing the appointment policy and procedures issues.

Note that HUD may provide technical assistance to the City in order to remedy any deficiency outlined in our letter, should the City request it, the letter states.

If HUD finds the East St. Louis housing authority to be in default of its annual contributions contract, it can take any number of actions, including assuming management of the local agency. The local agency receives millions of dollars annually in federal money to support nine public housing facilities it administers.
GENEVA  U.N.-backed human rights experts say in a report issued Wednesday that Israeli forces and Palestinian militants engaged in sexual and gender-based violence during the first months of the Israel-Hamas war.

The independent experts, in a detailed chronicling of events that have mostly been reported in the media, said Israeli forces and Palestinian militants committed war crimes, while Israel was also said to have committed crimes against humanity.

Israel, which has refused to cooperate with the body and accused it of bias, rejected the allegations.

The report, which covered the time between the Oct. 7 rampage and the end of last year, laid out a wide array of alleged rights violations and crimes by both sides during the conflict. It said Israeli forces had committed acts including forced starvation, murder or willful killing, collective punishment and intentional attacks on civilians, and that the military wings of Hamas and other armed Palestinian groups had performed deliberate killings and mistreatment of civilians and hostage-takings.

The findings come as the conflict has entered its ninth month with few signs of letting up.

The report said that frequency, prevalence and severity of sexual and gender-based crimes against Palestinians by Israeli security forces during the period late last year amounted to signs that some forms of such violence are part of ISF operating procedures.

Despite noting denials by Hamas military wing of sexual violence against Israeli women, the report said the experts had documented cases indicative of sexual violence against women and men near the site of a large music festival, a military outpost and several kibbutzim that the raiders attacked.

The expert panel was commissioned in 2021 by the U.N.-backed Human Rights Council to look into rights violations and abuses in Israel and the Palestinian areas it controls. Led by Navi Pillay, a former U.N. human rights chief, they are independent experts and do not speak for the world body itself. Israel has refused to cooperate with the team of experts.

Israels diplomatic mission in Geneva responded that the report outrageously and repugnantly attempts to draw a false equivalence between IDF soldiers and Hamas terrorists with regards to acts of sexual violence and reiterating longstanding claims of anti-Israel discrimination by the experts.

The report and Israels response marked the latest sign of the growing gulf between the U.N. and its affiliate institutions and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus government over its response to the deadly Oct. 7 rampage and hostage-takings in Israel by armed Palestinian militants.

On Tuesday, the U.N. human rights office  which is separate from the panel of independent experts  cited 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.
Bernie Beck Gate at Fort Cavazos, Texas. (Rose L. Thayer/Stars and Stripes)

A former Army sergeant was sentenced to three years in prison for defrauding millions of dollars from the service in a rideshare scam using illegally obtained personal information from more than 800 soldiers, the Justice Department announced Tuesday.

Kevin Romulus Pelayo, 45, co-owned and operated a rideshare company, Soldiers Vanpools LLC, out of Killeen with his wife, Cristine Furio Fredericks, 40, according to court documents. The company claimed to shuttle military personnel to and from Fort Cavazos, then known as Fort Hood, from Jan. 1, 2014, through June 10, 2020. Killeen is the city just outside the gates of Fort Cavazos.

The rideshare company was funded by the Armys Mass Transportation Benefit Program, a federal subsidy for government workers to use mass transit, according to a statement from the U.S. Attorneys Office of Western District of Texas.

Pelayo and Fredericks submitted the names, Social Security numbers, and other identifying information of active-duty soldiers to the MTBP on a monthly basis from 2014 to midway through 2020, falsely claiming that the soldiers were active participants in the rideshare program, according to federal authorities.

Pelayo was sentenced to three years in prison for one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and two counts of engaging in monetary transactions in criminally derived property, according to the Justice Department. Fredericks was sentenced to five years of probation for two counts engaging in monetary transactions in criminally derived property.

Pelayo, who was a platoon sergeant, arrived at Fort Cavazos in 2010 and set up the van company to give employees rides to and from the base under the transportation program, The Associated Press reported in 2020.

Pelayo had access to the personnel records of soldiers under his command and Fredericks had worked for Army human resources, according to court records. Investigators said Pelayo used this access to sign soldiers up for the transportation subsidy without their knowledge and then routed the payments to his business bank accounts, the AP reported.

The couple also purchased vans, SUVs and other vehicles in order to convince the MTBP that they were operating a legitimate business and transporting the riders that they claimed in their scheme.

The couple spent a large portion of the millions of dollars in funds they received on real estate, personal vehicles, and other property, the Justice Department said. In total, Pelayo and Fredericks purchased 43 vehicles, 129 luxury purses and jewelry items, and 12 real properties in Bell County and Coryell County.

The couple admitted in June 2021 to defrauding the Army in the multimillion-dollar scam. Pelayo and Fredericks agreed to forfeit proceeds from the scheme including a dozen real estate properties in Killeen, Harker Heights, Copperas Cove and Kempner, 43 automobiles, SUVs, ATVs and a trailer, more than 120 designer bags and wallets, and more than $600,000 in cash, federal authorities said.
Coast Guard Commandant Adm. Linda Fagan testifies during a Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs subcommittee hearing on June 11, 2024, in Washington. (Mariam Zuhaib/AP)

Senators on Tuesday berated the Coast Guards top admiral for her handling of the services sex-assault scandal, chiding her for not punishing anyone for the cover-up and stalling their request for more documents about the mishandling of the crisis at the services academy.

[The Coast Guard] is refusing to provide us with documents deemed sensitive, which is another word for embarrassing, said Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn. 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.

Blumenthal is the chairman of the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs subpanel on investigations, which is examining the cover-up of Operation Fouled Anchor  a 2020 report based on a five-year inquiry into the handling of sexual assault and harassment at the Coast Guard Academy prior to 2006.

The Coast Guard only notified Congress about the existence of Fouled Anchor after CNN reporters began digging into it in 2023  three years after the service decided not to disclose the investigative report.

Adm. Linda Fagan, the Coast Guard commandant, sat before the subpanel Tuesday and faced heated questions and statements from senators about transparency, accountability and the Coast Guards ongoing efforts to quiet the voices of sexual misconduct survivors.

Sen. Ron Johnson of Wisconsin, the top Republican on the subpanel, fanned pages of Coast Guard documents covered in black-ink redactions.

This is not full transparency, he said. The sooner that the Coast Guard comes clean, becomes fully transparent, holds people accountable  the finest among us can feel safe at the academy and in service to this country.

But Fagan said she has been compliant, providing roughly 18,000 documents to the subpanel  and she will hold people accountable as investigations conclude and require it.

The services inspector general has an open review into Fouled Anchors cover up, and the admiral said Congress provided $1.5 million for a third-party to investigate. A contract is nearly complete for that to begin, she said.

This is not a cover-up, Fagan said. I am committed to providing documents in good faith. This is an incredible organization and I am committed to bringing the organization forward and making the culture change necessary.

The hearing room was packed with people and required an overflow seating area. The crowd included Coast Guard veterans who have previously testified to the subpanel about Operation Fouled Anchor. They were joined by Shannon Norenberg, who recently resigned as the sexual assault response coordinator at the academy after she said she discovered she was used in 2018 to mislead victims.

Some in the crowd applauded when Blumenthal told Fagan the investigation cannot be used as a shield for inaction.

The U.S. Coast Guard Academy in New London, Conn. (Jack Sauer/AP)

Yet the admiral continued to deflect pointed questions on several occasions, stating she is complying with the inspector generals investigation.

Johnson said he wanted Fagan to provide the original 11-page report written to summarize the Fouled Anchor investigation. The subpanel has only received a six-page version.

Fagan said she has not read the early draft of the report to which he was referring, but Johnson could review the requested document in camera, which means he is not allowed to take notes or retain a copy for himself.

Senators also pressed Fagan for information on allegations that surfaced over the weekend from Norenberg that while she worked at the Coast Guard Academy, she was used by leaders to lie to Fouled Anchor victims and discourage them from speaking to Congress about their assaults.

In 2018, which was Norenbergs fifth year at the academy, she said she was called to the Pentagon to participate in an apology tour with victims identified through Fouled Anchor. On those visits, which were often in peoples homes, she said she was told not to provide any of them with a document that would enable the veteran to get treatment for their assault from the Department of Veterans Affairs.

I had to resign because I could no longer be part of an organization that knowingly lied to me, to the team I was with, and to the victims of OFA. The leadership of the Coast Guard did all of this with forethought, with malice towards the victims, and they used me personally as a part of their cover-up, Norenberg wrote in a letter posted to her attorneys website and provided to the subpanel.

Fouled Anchor reviewed the mishandling of sexual assault reports at the academy from the early 1990s to 2006, though Blumenthal said Norenberg is among 40 whistleblowers to contact the subpanel in last few months.

This problem is not one of the past, he said. It is real and present. It is persistent and unacceptably prevalent. The evidence is not my voice, its the voices and faces of the whistleblowers.

In the last two months, the Coast Guard has weathered two instances of survivors taking their stories online after they felt the service let them down.

In May, an anonymous letter spread online through the Coast Guard community detailing the mishandling of a sexual assault investigation and subsequent retaliation. The letter was sent to Coast Guard email accounts within District 8 and its sector in Mobile, Ala., and then deleted from the computer server because it was spam, Blumenthal said. It later surfaced on social media.

Catherine Herbert, a Coast Guard veteran who is the victim of the case detailed in the anonymous letter, said her case was closed without any disciplinary action. However, Fagan said Tuesday that the case remains open after prosecutors sent it back for further investigation.

The letter revealed there is a problem and got Congress to recognize it, Herbert said.

Sen. Maggie Hassan, D-N.H., called on Fagan to explain an April decision not to publish videos recorded of sexual-assault survivors sharing their stories as part of an internal storytelling series with the Coast Guards sexual assault prevention office. Service leaders decided the prevention office could not share the videos because they could continue to exacerbate the narrative being advanced by some that the Coast Guard is in a sexual-assault crisis and because congressional committees are going to reach out to the Coast Guard and demand accountability, Hassan said, quoting an internal memo leaked online.

This memo reflects continued problems with the Coast Guards commitment to accountability and transparency. It also shows an unwillingness to fully confront ongoing allegations of sexual assault and harassment, she said. Adm. Fagan, when did you become aware of this storyteller program? Were you consulted in the decision on whether to share these videos? And are you concerned that some agency leadership apparently feared accountability?

I was not consulted, Fagan responded. I am not afraid of victims stories being shared and being shared publicly.

Meghan Klement was one of four survivors who recorded a video and chose to share her story publicly after the Coast Guard did not. The service has since shared all the videos.

Klement watched Tuesdays hearing and said she has been contacted by active-duty personnel in ongoing situations and veterans who said they never saw justice.

This sexual assault problem is a Coast Guard-wide problem, not just an academy problem. Its a systemic problem. Its a cultural problem, and our enlisted members, they need to be seen and they need to be heard, she said.
(Joe Kamalick/Stars and Stripes)

Nui Ba Den, Vietnam, Oct. 14, 1969: Soldiers atop Black Virgin Mountain (Nui Ba Den) cover their ears as they fire off a mortar at Viet Cong positions lower down the mountain. The mountain  a solitary block of granite that juts 3,200 feet in the air above Tay Ninh  its summit in the clouds. Multi-service forces have been holding the top of the mountain ever since Special Forces assaulted the mountain in May 1964, pushing the Viet Cong off of its peak and establishing a camp at 3,200 feet. The camp commander estimates that today [October 1969] there are some 1,500 VC underneath the craggy hill in caves that open in crags and crevices in the brush and black granite on the mountains side.

Read the 1969 article on the camp above the clouds here. https://www.stripes.com/history/1969-10-24/black-virgin-mountain:-nice-place-%E2%80%94-to-visit-1826470.html

Looking for Stars and Stripes coverage of the Vietnam War? Subscribe to Stars and Stripes historic newspaper archive! We have digitized our 1948-1999 European and Pacific editions, as well as several of our WWII editions and made them available online through https://starsandstripes.newspaperarchive.com/
An Australian navy sailor signals U.S. Marines to land an MV-22B Osprey aboard the HMAS Adelaide off Australia's eastern coast, June 4, 2024. (Kassie McDole/U.S. Marine Corps)

An MV-22 Osprey touched down on an Australian warship last week, another indicator the tiltrotor is returning to routine service with the Marine Corps after a series of deadly crashes.

The aircraft  part of Marine Rotational Force-Darwin  landed aboard the HMAS Adelaide on June 4 as it cruised off Australias northern coast, Capt. Edwin Myers, who commanded a detachment of Marines on the helicopter flight deck, told Stars and Stripes by phone Tuesday.

The U.S. military grounded its fleet of about 400 Ospreys between Dec. 6 and March 8 as it investigated the Nov. 29 crash of an Air Force CV-22 Osprey that killed eight airmen off Japans southern coast.

An Osprey assigned to last years Marine rotational force crashed in August north of Darwin, in Australias Northern Territory, killing three Marines and injuring 20 others, three seriously.

Neither accident investigation report has been released, although the Air Force initially found a materiel failure of a V-22 component in the November crash, according to a March 8 news release from the Pentagon, which did not identify the component.

The Osprey has been plagued by a problem called hard clutch engagement that caused loss of control in some instances and was blamed for the deaths of five Marines in a June 2022 Osprey crash in California.

After the November crash, the Marines put their Ospreys in the air again less than a week after Naval Air Systems Command cleared them for flight on March 8. Navy Ospreys are not yet flying passengers to aircraft flight decks, The Associated Press reported Tuesday.

Air Force Special Operations Command, whose tiltrotor crashed in southern Japan, has yet to resume flying its aircraft stationed in the country.

Ten Ospreys assigned to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 268 (Reinforced), based at Marine Corps Base Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii, arrived in Darwin last month to join the annual six-month training rotation of about 2,000 Marines.

The crew of the aircraft that landed on the Adelaide were making their first trip to the vessel, the squadrons commander, Lt. Col. Brandon Jammer Pope, said by email Tuesday.

All were experienced shipboard pilots with years of experience landing on multiple types of ships, he said. Shipboard landings are a key skill we maintain as a maritime force.

Since the helicopter-plane hybrids returned to flight, the squadrons pilots have completed a warmup syllabus before advancing into unit-level training, Pope said.

From night system training to low altitude tactics, shipboard operations are just another core skill we continue to train across the squadron, he said.

The return to flight has been methodical to re-establish the aircrew proficiency required to safely execute training such as the deck landing, Pope said.

Since arriving in Darwin, we have invested heavily into the proficiency and training of our aircrew and are now starting large scale aviation operations, he said.

Two Ospreys rendezvoused with 38 Marines and a Navy corpsman who arrived June 8 in Townsville, Queensland, on the amphibious ship. The aircraft flew the troops 1,500 miles to Darwin, Myers said.

Forty-seven Marines, the corpsman and three Navy medical officers departed Darwin on the warship June 3, he said.

The ship is a little more spacious than what we are used to on an American ship, but the capability is similar, Myers said. The Australian amphibious force has similar methods to the U.S. Marines.

The Marines and sailors on the ship worked with the amphibious force, akin to a Marine expeditionary unit, that helps Australian army units conduct amphibious operations, he said.

Logistics Marines brought a pair of Humvees aboard. At sea, the Marines and Australian troops practiced moving the vehicles onto landing craft as they would in a ship-to-shore movement, Myers said.

The Marines practiced target shooting from the warship and established an operations center that allowed them to communicate with their headquarters in Darwin, he said.

During the trip, the Marines called in theoretical strikes on simulated targets at sea and on shore, Myers said.

It proved that regardless of what ship Marines find themselves on, we can be combat effective, he said.

The medical officers and logistics Marines remained on the Adelaide to work with about 500 Australian troops who on Saturday will practice moving from the ship to a beach north of Townsville, Myers said.
Yokota Air Base is home of the 374th Airlift Wing, 5th Air Force and U.S. Forces Japan in western Tokyo. (Seth Robson/Stars and Stripes)

YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan  U.S. Forces Japan pushed back on claims in local media of possible water contamination at its home base in western Tokyo as inaccurate and regrettable.

A June 9 report by the Tokyo Shimbun, citing unnamed Japanese officials, said the Air Force might stop using wells on Yokota because they may not meet new American drinking water standards.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency issued new regulations in April that set maximum contaminant levels of 4 parts per trillion for two PFAS compounds, PFOA and PFOS. Its previous standard, set in 2016, was 70 parts per trillion.

U.S. water utility systems have five years to comply with the new maximum contaminant levels, according to the EPA in April.

Yokota officials did not respond to a question emailed Tuesday about the level of PFAS in base drinking water.

However, in a statement that day, USFJ spokesman Air Force Maj. Tom Barger denied the claims in Tokyo Shimbuns report.

There is no validity to the recent reporting regarding drinking water wells at Yokota Air Base, Barger stated. Any unnecessary angst caused by this inaccurate and speculative information is regrettable.

There is no proposal to stop using on-base wells, the statement said.

USFJ remains committed to protecting the health of personnel, their families and the surrounding communities, the statement added.

We will continue to adhere to all relevant agreements, obligations and procedures as good stewards of our installations and the environment and continue to closely coordinate with the Government of Japan, Bargers statement said.

Tests of people living downstream of Yokota between November 2020 and June 2023 found that more than half of those tested had high levels of PFAS in their blood, a concerned residents group told Stars and Stripes in November.

PFAS, short for poly and perfluoroalkyl substances, is a class of chemicals linked to an increased risk of certain tumors of the liver, testicles, breasts and pancreas, according to the American Cancer Society.

The residents group, which outlined its concerns in a Nov. 2 letter to Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, wants the Japanese government to check for PFAS contamination at Yokota, where the fire-extinguishing foam was used and PFAS spills were reported between 2010 and 2012.

The fire-suppression systems at Yokota that held PFAS are no longer in service as part of a wider effort to replace them with materials other than PFAS at bases across Japan.

Yukio Negiyama, a co-leader of a Japanese residents group, on Wednesday said he welcomes stricter U.S. drinking water standards.
The Great Kremlin Palace is seen in Moscow Sept. 26, 2003. A Russian intelligence operative who is leading a Kremlin disinformation campaign in Africa has helped run influence operations in Europe for years, according to documents seen by Bloomberg and government officials familiar with the matter. (Ian Walton/Getty Images/TNS)

LONDON (Tribune News Service)  A Russian intelligence operative who is leading a Kremlin disinformation campaign in Africa has helped run influence operations in Europe for years, according to documents seen by Bloomberg and government officials familiar with the matter.

Artem Kureyev, identified as a Russian Federal Security Service agent in an Estonian court case in 2022, has had frequent contacts with at least half a dozen European journalists, arranged and covered travel costs for some of them to visit occupied territories in Ukraine, and at times appears to have offered to pay for planted news articles, the documents show.

On other occasions he has adopted more subtle methods to try to sway coverage, by arranging interviews, flagging and debating topics in the news or organizing press events.

The Group of Seven nations and the European Union have made combating Russian disinformation and influence operations a top priority ahead of a leaders summit in Italy this month. Those efforts have included publicly exposing Russian campaigns and methods, sanctioning outlets and individuals, and coordinating responses to Moscows actions, as well as striving to prevent disinformation spreading on major technology platforms.

Still, countering such disinformation campaigns isnt easy as theyre aimed at sowing confusion and doubt in target audiences rather than convincing people of a particular set of facts, in order to polarize societies on issues such as migration, war or the Wests relations with the rest of the world.

The documents provide deep insight into the operations and methods of one Russian intelligence operative involved in influence campaigns in Europe. There will be many others like him running similar operations across the continent and elsewhere.

The U.S. State Department in February called out Russias intelligence services for providing material support and guidance to a new information agency called African Initiative. It said the project spread deadly disinformation about the United States and Europe, including on a mosquito-borne viral disease outbreak in an attempt to undermine public health programs.

It named Kureyev as the initiatives chief editor and said the project had also recruited members from the disintegrating enterprises of the late Wagner mercenary group leader Yevgeny Prigozhin, who died in a plane crash last year.

The Federal Security Service, known as the FSB, and African Initiative didnt respond to requests to comment on Kureyev.

Kureyev was also named by The Insider investigative website in January as a contact of a Latvian lawmaker in the outgoing European Parliament, Tatjana Zdanoka, that the outlet accused of cooperating with Russian intelligence. Zdanoka, who didnt run in the weekends European Parliament elections, denied the allegations in a Facebook statement. Her office said in an email that Zdanoka saw Kureyev once in Brussels at an event in the European Parliament but beyond that she doesnt known anything further about him.

The Kremlin denies Russia is engaged in disinformation campaigns in Europe. Putins spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, in January dismissed espionage accusations against Zdanoka as a witch hunt comparable to the McCarthyism era in the U.S. in the 1950s. How many people were arrested and thrown into prison on charges of having relations with communists or the KGB? he told reporters. This is the same thing.

One of the authors of The Insiders story, ex-Bellingcat reporter Christo Grozev, claimed last year that a journalist from North Macedonia called Darko Todorovski had received payments to get stories published in Bulgaria.

A Russian document seen by Bloomberg indicates that Kureyev had agreed to pay Todorovski 300 euros for articles in two publications. Its not known if or when such payments were made.

Todorovski said he took part in three visits to military zones in Ukraine organized for journalists by Russias Defense Ministry. He knew Kureyev through these press tours as someone with a media company who had been collaborating with many journalists from different countries, including the West, he said Monday in emailed answers to questions.

Todorovski said articles he wrote about these visits were published in Bulgaria, though he denied Grozevs allegation about payments. Statements without evidence that I received money and instructions are not serious, he said.

According to the documents, correspondence between the two men from 2021 to 2023 includes instructions for distributing and finding articles in Russian and English translations on fringe websites such as londonnewstime.com and veteranstoday.com, as well as hotel bookings made by Kureyev for two of Todorovskis stays in Russia in April last year.

Todorovski said he had an invitation at the time to take part in TV programs about Asia and there was a conference and working meeting at the university. He added that since he takes part in many conferences and forums, he cannot know who pays for all his hotels. Todorovski said he met Kureyev in 2022, in Russia.

Some of the exchanges echo the techniques of a typical pro-Russian propaganda campaign, which often include fabricated news stories planted on fringe websites and then amplified through social media posts or picked up by state media outlets.

One European government official said Kureyev and Todorovksi were last year involved in working on a website called antibellingcat, dedicated to discrediting the investigative outlet.

Todorovski said he left the project a year ago and he believed it was no longer active.

The European official, who asked not to be identified because the information is sensitive, said Kureyev has had contact with Russias GRU military intelligence about some aspects of his European influence operations. The GRU didnt respond to a request to comment.

Separate documents show that Kureyev booked and paid the flights for a group of journalists to visit Crimea in 2023, long after Russias full-scale war on Ukraine had begun. Russia seized Crimea in 2014, prompting international sanctions in response.

Kureyev has been in contact with other reporters since Russias February 2022 invasion of Ukraine and for years prior to that.

Documents indicate that he and another intelligence officer met separately with at least one reporter from an EU member state in Russia, Turkey and elsewhere. On at least two occasions, in August 2019 and in March 2022, the journalists Russian contacts covered the travel costs.

Though many of these discussions relate to news coverage, such as facilitating interviews or arranging trips to Russian-occupied areas of Ukraine, the documents dont provide evidence that any of these journalists work is directed or funded by Moscow.

In 2021, Kureyev was in contact with journalists and intermediaries as part of a plan to engage the press in European nations around Russias chairmanship of the Arctic Council, according to some of the documents. One of the intermediaries reached out to several local journalists in a Nordic country but its not clear if any of them replied.

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Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy visits the site where Ukrainian soldiers are training on the Patriot anti-aircraft missile system at a training ground in Mecklenburg, Germany, on June 11, 2024. (Jens Buttner, Pool Photo, Getty Images/TNS)

(Tribune News Service)  First came Frances D-day beaches, then the heart of the once-divided German capital. Starting Thursday: a walled resort in southern Italy, then on to the mountain-ringed shores of Switzerlands Lake Lucerne.

In Europe this month, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy seems to be everywhere.

Theres a steely calculus behind that ubiquity: nearly 28 months into a brutal war with Russia, as Ukraine is struggling to hold its own against a far more powerful foe, maintaining European backing is considered nothing short of mission-critical.

The Ukrainian leaders message has been unvarying: His countrys bloody confrontation with Russian President Vladimir Putin is Europes fight, too. If Russia were allowed to triumph, Zelenskyy warned, the continent would face unthinkable consequences.

It is in our common interest that Putin personally lose this war, he told German lawmakers in an emotional address Tuesday in the cool-gray-toned chambers of the Bundestag, Germanys federal parliament.

As always, Zelenskyy leaned heavily into venue-specific symbolism, invoking Germanys painful Cold War past.

Only a short distance from the snaking path of the Berlin Wall, which fell almost 35 years ago, he appealed to lawmakers not to accept Russias territorial grab in Ukraine, where Moscow lays claim to four provinces and the Crimean peninsula.

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, the Ukrainian leader said. He received a sustained standing ovation at the speechs end.

At first glance, European support for Ukraine seems solid. Together with the United States, EU member governments and the NATO alliance have thrown billions of dollars worth of weaponry and other aid into the battle. Since the start of this extended visit, the Ukrainian leader has been met with pledges of solidarity  and new infusions of cash.

But some cracks have emerged. In the run-up to European Parliament elections last week, far-right political parties denounced expenditures for the Ukraine war as fruitless, counterproductive and warmongering  and found a measure of electoral success with that refrain.

In Berlin, Zelenskyys Bundestag speech was boycotted by two parties  the far-right Alternative for Germany, or AfD, which became the countrys second-ranked political party in the European elections, and the populist Bundnis Sahra Wagenknecht, or BSW.

The AfDs national leaders  noting Zelenskyys attendance this week at Berlin conference focused on reconstruction and other assistance for Ukraine  derided him as a begging president. The BSW, meanwhile, accused him of abetting a highly dangerous spiral of escalation that could lead to nuclear disaster.

For some of Ukraines most important European supporters, these are not the best of times. National leaders in Europes two most influential states  Frances President Emmanuel Macron and Germanys Chancellor Olaf Scholz  suffered stinging setbacks in the European vote.

Macron called snap national parliamentary elections in response to a big defeat for his party at the hands of the far-right National Rally. Scholz declined to accelerate next years parliamentary election timetable after his party was more narrowly outpolled by AfD, and much more substantially by his main conservative opponents, but he faced needling from rivals who demanded a fresh start.

On Ukraine, we could start to see indecision in both Paris and Berlin, said Matthias Matthijs of Johns Hopkins Universitys School of Advanced International Studies. Macron is going to be preoccupied. Scholz is going to be preoccupied.

For Ukraine, not all the news coming out of polling across the 27-member European Union was bad. The far-right party of autocratic-minded Prime Minister Viktor Orban of Hungary, who has consistently sought to undermine support for Ukraine, fared poorly.

But Hungary next month assumes the rotating presidency of the EU Council, giving Orban an opportunity to throw anti- Ukraine spanners into the blocs policymaking process.

Beginning Thursday in Italy, Zelenskyy is expected to be in attendance as a guest at the Group of 7 summit in Puglia, in southern Italy. During their meeting at the plush resort of Borgo Egnazia, the G-7 leaders were reportedly set to unveil loans to Ukraine that make use of profits from frozen Russian assets, a plan that has already drawn howls of protest from Moscow.

On the sidelines of the Italy meeting, President Biden and Zelenskyy were to sign a bilateral security agreement, but national security advisor Jake Sullivan told reporters traveling with the president that the pact would not directly commit any U.S. troops to Ukraines defense.

Unlike at the G-7, where participants will be dealing with a range of issues including immigration, China, and the Israel- Hamas war in Gaza, Ukraine will be center stage at a weekend Swiss-hosted peace summit, held at the initiative of Zelenskyys government.

Switzerland said representatives of nearly 90 countries and organizations would be in attendance  but not Russias. Putins government was not invited, but said it wouldnt have come anyway, because the conferences main underpinning is a list of Ukrainian peace proposals it has spurned.

Despite Ukrainian hopes, though, little of real substance was expected to emerge from the Swiss gathering.

In all likelihood, the emotional center of gravity of Zelenskyys European sojourn came at its onset. The Ukrainian president joined leaders gathered in Normandy, France, last week to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the D-Day invasion, a key turning point in the Allied battle against Nazi Germany.

At Omaha Beach, Biden drew an explicit linkage between that long-ago fight for freedom and democracy and Ukraines struggle for survival today.

The autocrats of the world are watching closely to see what happens in Ukraine, Biden said.

On the ceremonys sidelines came a moment that was captured by cameras and subsequently went viral online. Zelenskyy encountered an 99-year-old American World War II military veteran, identified by a relative as Melvin Hurwitz of Frederick, Md., who reached out to the Ukrainian leader from his wheelchair.

Grasping Zelenskyys hand, Hurwitz made as if to kiss it, calling him the savior of the people. Leaning in and bending down for a warm embrace, Zelenskyy demurred.

No, no, no, he responded. You saved Europe.

2024 Los Angeles Times.

Visit latimes.com.

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Hezbollah and Israel flags are seen in this illustration taken, October 15, 2023. (Dado Ruvic/Illustration/Reuters)

BEIRUT (Reuters)  An Israeli strike on the village of Jouya in southern Lebanon late Tuesday killed a senior field commander of Hezbollah and three fighters for the Lebanese armed group, three security sources said.

Hezbollah confirmed the death of the commander and said in a statement that he was Taleb Abdallah, also known as Abu Taleb.

Abu Taleb was the most senior member of the group killed in eight months of fire between Israel and Hezbollah, a security source told Reuters. He was identified by the sources as the groups commander for the central region of the southern border strip.

There was no immediate comment from the Israeli military.

The security sources said the four Hezbollah members were likely targeted during a meeting.

The sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the commander was senior to Wissam Tawil, a high-level Hezbollah commander killed in an Israeli strike in January.

Some 300 Hezbollah fighters, including commanders and operatives with key responsibilities, have been killed in Israeli strikes on Lebanon since October, when the Gaza war broke out.

The Israeli military says it has killed more than 320 Hezbollah members, including at least 100 targeted after field operatives gathered precise high-quality intelligence on them.

Reporting by Laila Bassam.
U.S. Customs agents monitor and inspect vehicles entering the U.S. from Mexico at the San Ysidro Port of Entry near San Diego in December 2021. (Nelvin C. Cepeda, The San Diego Union-Tribune/TNS)

SAN DIEGO (Tribune News Service)  A former U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer was found guilty Monday by a federal jury in San Diego of accepting hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes in exchange for allowing smugglers to bring drugs and undocumented migrants through his inspection lane at the San Ysidro Port of Entry.

The jury convicted Leonard Darnell George, 41, on one felony count each of receiving a bribe as a public official and conspiring to import methamphetamine and two counts of conspiring to bring undocumented migrants to the U.S. for financial gain. The jury acquitted George of a fifth count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.

The jurors deliberated for about four hours Monday afternoon following five days of testimony.

With this verdict, the jury sent a clear message to anyone considering trading in their badge for cash, U.S. Attorney Tara McGrath told The San Diego Union-Tribune in a statement. Abandoning the integrity of the uniform for the conspiracy of drug trafficking is a path to a criminal conviction.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandon Kimura told the jury during opening statements last week that in the fall of 2021, George befriended two travelers passing through his inspection lane over their shared interest in Hong Kong Gentlemans Club, a Tijuana strip club known for offering prostitution. The two men turned out to be members of a drug-trafficking organization and recruited George in part by throwing him a lavish party at the strip club, the prosecutor said.

The plan was simple: When George was on duty, he would let his smuggling contacts know which inspection lane he was working, Kimura said. The trafficking group would then send vehicles laden with drugs or carrying undocumented migrants through Georges lane.

The government alleges that George, who came to be known as The Goalie among traffickers, made between $300,000 and $400,000 while working for the group between about October 2021 and June 2022.

A plea deal agreed to by one of Georges co-defendants from the trafficking group states that the organization would send four or five vehicles loaded with drugs or undocumented migrants through Georges lane during every shift he worked. The co-defendant estimated in his plea agreement that about 300 undocumented migrants entered the U.S. through Georges lane.

Documents in the case do not specify the total amount of drugs that allegedly went through Georges lane, but one vehicle allegedly sent by the trafficking group contained 223 pounds of methamphetamine and 13 pounds of fentanyl, according to prosecutors.

During opening statements, Kimura showed the jurors text messages and audio recordings between members of the drug trafficking group discussing a corrupt, unnamed CBP officer being on payroll. He also showed the jury text messages, translated from Spanish, allegedly between Georges wife and a high-level member of the drug-trafficking group discussing whether George was supposed to be paid a flat fee for a vehicle full of undocumented migrants or for each person in the vehicle.

I agreed with your husband per car, read the return message from the alleged trafficking group leader.

Defense attorney Antonio Yoon argued that witnesses who had pleaded guilty to drug and conspiracy charges couldnt be trusted and stood to benefit from lighter sentences by agreeing to testify for the prosecution. Yoon said Georges wife felt compelled to testify against her husband because of her potentially incriminating text messages.

Yoon did not respond Tuesday to a request for comment on the verdict.

George joined CBP in 2018 after previously working for CoreCivic, the private prison company that operates the Otay Mesa Detention Center in San Diego.

CBP does not tolerate misconduct within its ranks, Elizabeth Cervantes, the special agent in charge of CBPs Office of Professional Responsibility for the San Diego Field Office, told the Union-Tribune in a statement. The Office of Professional Responsibilitys efforts in this case and this latest court decision are a testament to CBPs commitment to preserving the honor of its overwhelmingly professional workforce, and to its core values of vigilance, integrity, and service to country.

George is scheduled to be sentenced in September.

2024 The San Diego Union-Tribune

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC
A warship takes part in the Kumzha naval exercise held by the Russian navy for attendees of the Military Academy of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces, in the Barents Sea, Russia, on May 24, 2024. A Russian naval flotilla is currently conducting exercises off the Florida coast. (Lev Fedoseyev/Tass/Abaca Press/TNS)

WASHINGTON (Tribune News Service)  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 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 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.

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.

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 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 would arrive on June 12 and stay for a week.

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 Nikolai 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 Wednesday, HMCS Margaret Brooke, a patrol vessel for the Royal Canadian Navy, will arrive Friday and stay until Monday, 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 Saturday and June 19.

2024 Miami Herald.

Visit miamiherald.com.

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Noncommissioned officers in Kaiserslautern, Germany, prepare Thanksgiving meals in November 2022 intended for junior enlisted service members. (Nicole Alberico/U.S. Army)

WASHINGTON  Senate lawmakers will not support an effort by the House to give junior enlisted service members a nearly 20% pay raise, proposing a 5.5% pay hike instead.

The Senate Armed Services Committees personnel subpanel said Wednesday that it will recommend a 1% pay bump for troops ranked E-3 and below in addition to a 4.5% pay increase for all service members.

The House is pushing for a 15% pay boost for troops in ranks E-4 and below, for an overall 19.5% pay increase for the militarys youngest enlisted service members. E-5s with less than 10 years of service would also see a pay bump of about 7% under the plan.

The contrasting proposals are part of the House and Senate versions of the National Defense Authorization Act, annual legislation that sets policies for the Pentagon.

The House began debating its version of the authorization bill Wednesday, and the Senate Armed Services Committee is expected to release its draft of the legislation this week.

The pay increase proposed by the House earned a rebuke Tuesday from the White House, which said it strongly opposed significantly altering pay before the completion of a quadrennial review of military compensation next year.

The White House warned the House proposal would lead to pay compression in some parts of the enlisted military basic pay table. It also cited the steep cost of the targeted pay raises: $3.3 billion in fiscal 2025 and more than $21.9 billion from 2025 to 2029.

Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., said Wednesday that lawmakers were significantly hamstrung by a debt-ceiling deal from last year that imposed limits on defense and non-defense spending. The caps particularly cut into pay increases for civilian employees of the Defense Department who will see a 2% pay raise, she said.

House lawmakers said their 15% pay raise proposal was based on research conducted by a quality-of-life panel convened by the House Armed Services Committee in collaboration with the Defense Department.

The panel said junior service members needed a sizable pay increase to keep up with a rising cost of living that can strain the budgets of troops making as little as $24,000 in basic pay. Rep. Mike Rogers of Alabama, the Republican chairman of the committee, sharply criticized the White House for rejecting the proposal.

President Biden believes providing the men and women who serve in our armed forces with adequate compensation is too costly. This is offensive and wrong, he said in a statement. Too many military families are relying on food banks, [the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program], and the [Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children] in order to put food on the table. Republicans and Democrats on our committee agreed this is unacceptable.

Lawmakers will spend the summer negotiating a final version of the authorization bill. A final vote on the legislation typically takes place before the end of the year.
The State has argued that CCTV footage could not add anything to the established facts

An army captain has appealed his conviction for sexually assaulting a female soldier at a military barracks four years ago, arguing that missing CCTV footage meant he was robbed of a possible line of defence.

The State has argued that CCTV footage could not add anything to the established facts and that the area of contention is vanishingly tiny.

Captain Ross OShea was found guilty by a General Court Martial in October 2022 of sexually assaulting a female non-commissioned officer (NCO) following a social function at a barracks in Leinster on June 25, 2020.

He was tried in September 2022 before Military Judge Colonel Michael Campion and a court martial board.

OShea was convicted on October 14, 2022 of sexually assaulting the woman by moving his open palms up and down her back saying come on, come on or words to that effect at the Officers Mess.

He was also found guilty of one charge of assault against the same officer contrary to Section 2 of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act 1997.

His dismissal was ordered as part of the sentence imposed on these two charges.

OShea remains, pending appeal, a serving member of the army.

The offences occurred when the appellant attended a barbeque hosted by the Covid Joint Task Force during lockdown during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Captain OShea had been brought to the Officers Mess by two female NCOs after he had been found asleep and in a state of inebriation sitting in a chair outside a gymnasium where the barbeque had earlier been held.

At the Court of Appeal today, James Dwyer SC for OShea told the court that these two charges are the subject of his appeal.

Counsel argued that missing CCTV footage which may have captured the incident meant his client was robbed of the opportunity of a particular line of defence.

OShea was charged and tried before the Court Martial with a total of 18 offences. He pleaded guilty to five charges, including charges of conduct contrary to good order and two charges of assault against the two female NCO officers contrary to Section 2 of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act 1997. He was convicted of two other charges and acquitted of a further seven charges while four more were withdrawn during the trial.

Mr Dwyer told the three-judge Court of Appeal that there was evidence of a camera which potentially recorded what happened but that this footage no longer existed by the time his client came to court.

Counsel said there were discrepancies in some of the prosecution evidence, including whether the complainant and OShea went into the officers mess together or whether she proceeded ahead and whether the door to the area where the offences occurred was open or closed at the time. He said there was also an issue in relation to evidence given by the complainant that another junior officer in the area at the time may have been smoking.

He said the footage was never sought out and preserved and that the lost evidence denied Captain OShea a potentially useful line of defence.

Mr Dwyer submitted that as a consequence of the issues surrounding the CCTV, the appellant was subjected to an unfair trial.

We say we have inconsistencies and weve lost the opportunity to CCTV which could have resolved them, he said. In a finely balanced case we say this is a lost opportunity.

Remy Farrell SC, for the Director of Military Prosecutions (DMP), said it was accepted as a matter of fact that the appellant had a physical interaction with the complainant where he essentially hugged her.

What conceivably could CCTV add to that? he said, adding that the area of contention was vanishingly tiny.

He said the issue of whether the complainant went in with Captain OShea or whether she proceeded ahead was an extremely minor detail and one that does not affect the events that occurred thereafter.

He said in relation to smoking, the evidence given by the complainant was simply that as they approached the Mess, she thought that she saw one of the junior officers smoking.

Its really difficult to see how this is anything other than a wholly irrelevant detail, he said.

Mr Farrell said it was wholly unreasonable to suggest there was a significant lost opportunity in respect of the CCTV evidence.

He said Captain OShea accepted that he had his arms around the complainant so even if by some extraordinary circumstance a CCTV with a zoom lens was trained on the situation, what was relevant was what happened behind her.

He said the thesis upon which all of this had been advanced was that maybe, just maybe a camera might have captured what happened. Thats the height of the argument, he said.

Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy said the court would reserve judgement in the matter.
The accused had 48 previous convictions, for offences including theft

A mother of five illegally collected her jailed sisters dole money to help her because she was in danger of losing her home while in Mountjoy Prison.

Michelle Prendiville (54) knew what she was doing was wrong when she went to a post office and got the social welfare payments totalling 492 while her sister was in custody on remand, Dublin District Court heard.

Judge John Hughes adjourned the case to next month for a community service suitability report.

Prendiville, of Rutland Avenue flats, Crumlin, pleaded guilty to three counts of theft of social welfare payments from the Department of Social Protection in 2022.

The court heard she stole 164 on each occasion on November 10, 17 and 25, all at Finglas post office.

A garda sergeant told the court Prendiville collected the basic welfare allowance while her sister was in prison on remand and not entitled to any payment. Prendiville was not authorised to act as her agent, the court heard.

The accused had 48 previous convictions, for offences including theft.

Prendivilles sister was in custody in Mountjoys Dochas Centre at the time of the thefts, her solicitor said.

The sister had asked Prendiville to withdraw her dole for her so she could continue paying the rent on her accommodation, which she was otherwise in danger of losing.

The accused carried out the offences for that purpose, with the consent of her sister who was now out of custody and living with Prendiville.

The accused understood it was wrong and she shouldnt have done it when she assisted her sister, her solicitor said.

They still had a good relationship, he added.

Prendiville had no drug issues but she did have an alcohol problem, which she had battled for most of her adult life. She was now abstaining.

A lot of her previous convictions related to shoplifting offences while intoxicated, the court heard.

Judge Hughes said he wanted Prendiville to be assessed for community service instead of a prison sentence.

He said, however, the options open to the court were limited if she is not found suitable.
The boy, 17, who cannot be identified because he is a minor, is accused of violent disorder at the scene but maintains his innocence.

A youth accused of kicking gunman Tristan Sherry, who was fatally injured after he shot another man in a Dublin restaurant, has been returned for trial to the non-jury Special Criminal Court.

Tristan Sherry, 26, a father of one from Finglas, died of blunt force trauma to the head after shooting Jason Hennessy Sr at Browne's steakhouse in Blanchardstown on Christmas Eve.

The boy, 17, who cannot be identified because he is a minor, is accused of violent disorder at the scene but maintains his innocence.

Judge Paul Kelly refused jurisdiction to keep the case in the Dublin Children's Court, where sentences cannot exceed 12 months.

The teen, whose bail was revoked five weeks ago, appeared again before Judge Kelly and had a book of evidence served on him.

A State solicitor told Judge Kelly that the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) directed that he be tried in the Special Criminal Court.

The DPP furnished a certificate under section 46.2 of the Offences Against the State Act saying that, in this case, "the ordinary courts are inadequate to secure the effective administration of justice."

The judge agreed to grant a return-for-trial order.

Legal aid was granted to the youth, instructed by solicitor Simon Fleming, and will include representation of senior counsel.

Earlier, Detective Garda John Hayes outlined the case and said Mr Hennessy, from Corduff, Blanchardstown, had been with family and associates in the restaurant. Two gunmen entered and "opened fire".

"One gunman fled, and the other was grabbed by Jason Hennessy Sr; this gunman was Tristan Sherry. Both fell to the ground, and the firearm Tristan Sherry had was picked up by a person there," said Detective Garda Hayes.

"A number of people attacked the gunman on the ground," he said, adding that the boy was identified and kicked Sherry two or three times. He hid under a table when the shooting began.

It was claimed he remained there during the initial attack on Sherry and that he emerged and helped another person lift Jason Hennessy Sr to carry him out of the restaurant.

However, it was alleged the teen, who had no prior criminal convictions, then broke away from holding Mr Hennessy as he got closer to Mr Sherry and struck him two or three times with his feet.

Four men charged with murder and another youth accused of a connected firearms offence have already been sent forward to the Special Criminal Court. Three other males are also before the courts on related charges, including assault, violent disorder and a weapons offence during the incident.
Crime World Presents: Caught In The Crossfire tells the story of the shocking double murders of crime boss Martin Marlo Hyland and innocent apprentice plumber Anthony Campbell almost 18 years ago.

Crime World Presents: Caught In The Crossfire tells the story of the shocking double murders of crime boss Martin Marlo Hyland and innocent apprentice plumber Anthony Campbell almost 18 years ago.

The project has been met with huge acclaim since the first episode dropped on May 21 and now sits in the number one spot on the Apple Podcast charts in Ireland, beating out the likes of Diary of a CEO, RTEs The Real Carrie Jade, and The Bookshelf with Ryan Tubridy.

Caught In The Crossfire listeners have heard how Anthony Campbell was just doing an honest days work when he was gunned down as he worked on radiators in a house owned by the niece of Marlo Hyland in Finglas, north Dublin, in December 2006.

But the 20-year-old was not the target that day  Hyland was.

Anthony Campbell and his mum Christine

The notorious criminal was shot six times as he slept in a bedroom after two gunmen snuck inside and crept upstairs.

Fearing Anthony would be able to identify them, one of the hitmen raised his gun and a single shot went straight through the young mans hand and hit him in the head, leaving his dead body lying slumped by the radiator hed been trying to fix.

Almost two decades later, the baby-faced plumbers senseless killing is still unsolved.

Across the series, Nicola Tallant speaks to those most intimately affected by one of the countrys most shocking killings, including Joey OCallaghan, the youngest person ever to enter the Witness Protection Programme in Ireland.

Retired detective Brian Sherry was on the scene on the morning of the murders and describes it as one of the most devastating cases hes ever worked on.

Marlo Hyland

When I walked into the house that morning, I saw him on the floor with a hole in his head and he was lying just under the radiator, he recalls in episode one.

Young Anthony was just left on the ground.

He was a young man; he was 20 years of age, but he certainly didnt look 20.

When I saw him, he looked like a young lad of 15 just lying curled on the ground.

I have seen some horrendous scenes and Ive been in horrendous situations and things like that, and it never affected me.

This was one murder of [several] murders that we didnt solve, obviously, but none of them affected me like this one.

Eamon The Don Dunne was shot dead in a pub in Cabra in 2010

Gardai believe deceased mob boss and former Marlo Hyland gang member Eamon The Don Dunne was behind the hit and ordered the murder of his former boss.

In March 2012, journalist Paul Williams, in evidence given before Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, alleged that the murder was carried out by imprisoned criminals Willie Hynes and John Mangan.

He also alleged the late Eamon Dunne acted as the getaway driver in the hit.

Dunne himself died in a hail of bullets when a gunman opened fire on him in a Cabra pub in April 2010.

However, Sherry admits that while there was a lot of pressure on him and his investigations unit to get to the bottom of the murders, no one has ever served time for Anthony or Hylands deaths.

We put our backs and bones into it. The amount of work that went into it was just incredible. We didnt leave any stone unturned.

It was horrendous. It was one that we all wanted to solve, every one of us.

Anthonys mother, Christine Campbell, also tells her story in Caught In The Crossfire, detailing the horrific moment she learned her only child had been killed by criminals and the nightmare that followed.

You associate gangsters with one another, not innocent people, but it was just like  what way would I put it?  your heads okay, but your body shuts down because youre just in shock, she tells Nicola in a later episode.

As I always say, I wish God had taken me. I think for any mother to lose their child, its the worst feeling ever, no matter what way you lose them. Its your child. We shouldnt be losing kids, should we?

Seeking justice for Anthony has always been the bereaved mums priority, but its taken her a long time to reconcile with the fact that whoever took his life wasnt caught and still walks free today.

As a mum, I can be hard on myself because I dont feel I got the justice I should have for him... Im let down by that, she shares.

After two years I thought, Well, Im getting nowhere here... I had to start protecting myself, saying to myself, dont wish.

You get your hopes up, and then your hopes are crushed. As the years start going on, it does something to you.

You cannot say you havent changed in all the grief, but youre still looking, but you feel like you havent done him proud because you didnt get justice. That will live with me.

Crime World Presents: Caught In The Crossfire is available on all podcast platforms, with new episodes dropping weekly.
Nicola speaks with snapper Ernie Leslie who was bemused and disgusted by The Fixer's successful efforts to get himself back into the news.

Sean The Fixer Fitzgerald staged a dirty protest at the funeral of veteran criminal Fran The Lamb Cunningham when he smeared excrement over a photographer's car.

Nicola speaks with snapper Ernie Leslie who was bemused and disgusted by The Fixer's successful efforts to get himself back into the news.

And we discuss the media's chequered history with the 78-year-old who has regularly made headlines with his strange and odd behaviour.

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MORE EPISODES 
Dublin Fire Brigade and gardai were called to the scene and the fire was put out. No injuries were reported.

Five mummies have reportedly been destroyed after a man set a fire in the crypt of a historic Dublin church.

The shocking 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.

St Michans vicar revealed that five mummified remains were destroyed during efforts to extinguish the blaze, RTE reports.

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.
The incident happened in a field turned into a huge campsite for travellers visiting the historic annual event

Crowds of spectators stood on the bank by the river. Photo: Getty

UK police are investigating if a teenager who suffered a serious injury to his arm at the Appleby Horse Fair is the victim of an assault.

The victim of the suspected attack is an Irish national, according to Sunday World sources.

Five men were arrested on Sunday after an incident which left the teen with what Cumbria police described as 'a significant injury to his arm'.

The incident happened in a field turned into a huge campsite for travellers visiting the historic annual event at the British village.

Officers made the arrests and cordoned off the scene after the youngster was reported to have been hurt.

A sign warns attendees not to use BB guns or catapults. Photo: Getty

An apparently blood-stained van with Irish number plates was photographed as it was taken from the scene on a low-loader on Sunday afternoon.

The suspected assault happened on the Fair Hill field on the outskirts of the market town of Appleby-in-Westmorland in Cumbria.

The annual event attracts thousands of people from Travelling communities from all over Ireland and the UK.

A Cumbria Police statement said: Officers are appealing for witnesses and information as they continue to investigate an incident in Appleby which left a teenager with a significant arm injury.

In the early hours of Sunday morning (9 June) on a residential field at Appleby, police became aware of a 16-year-old with a significant injury to his arm.

The cause of the injury is currently unknown but police believe it may have resulted from an assault.

As such, officers entered the field and arrested five men on suspicion of grievous bodily harm.

All five men have subsequently been released on police bail, with conditions not to enter the county unless to answer bail.

Hundreds of caravans were seen parked at Appleby Horse Fair. Photo: Getty

They added the 16-year-old was in a stable condition in hospital as of Monday evening.

At this time, officers do not believe the incident involved a knife or any other type of bladed article.

Police are appealing for anyone with information about this incident to come forward.

It is regarded as an important event for the gypsy and traveller community and despite over 100 arrests police say things ran smoothly.

Bill Welch, the gypsy and traveller community spokesperson told ITV: "It is the most important date in the gypsy and traveller calendar.

"It is sacred to us, it is more important to us than Christmas. It is a perfect illustration of our culture, rich wonderful culture that goes back thousands of years."

Detective Superintendent Dan St Quintin also told ITV: There were just over 100 arrests this year.

"They were for all manner of offences and people from different communities were arrested as well. A lot of these were around road safety, drink and drug driving."
Welsh teen was brutally assaulted after mugger demanded phone

A teenage tourist is likely to be scarred for life after having his face slashed in an early-morning attack in Dublins city centre.

The 19-year-old Welsh national and his teenage male friend had been staying in a hostel in Smithfield while on a short visit to Dublin.

The two teens were standing outside a supermarket in the area at around 1.30am last Friday when they were approached by a male, who spoke with an Irish accent.

The suspect demanded phones from the young men and managed to steal one device that has since been recovered.

The victim in the case then approached the suspect who threw the phone on a nearby Luas track before slashing the teenager in the face, causing horrific injuries.

It is no exaggeration to say that the victim was slashed from his mouth to his ear, said a source.

The injured teen was taken to the Mater Hospital for treatment. He has since returned home to Wales where he will undergo further medical treatment.

It is feared that he will be scarred for life, the source said.

The 19-year-olds friend was not injured in the attack, which is being investigated by Bridewell gardai, who have obtained excellent-quality CCTV footage from the area. Both young men are described as being completely blameless in the attack.

They came here for a couple of nights to enjoy the city and this ends up happening. Gardai are confident the suspect will be caught, the source said.

No arrests have yet been made in the case.

Gardai have appealed for witnessed to the incident which they described as a serious assault.

Gardai at Bridewell garda station are appealing for witnesses following the assault of a young man in Smithfield, Dublin, on Friday, June 7, a spokesman told the Irish Independent.

Gardai responded to reports of an assault at Smithfield Square, Dublin 7, shortly after 1.30am on June 7.

A 19-year-old male was taken to the Mater Hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries and was later discharged.

It is just the latest in a series of assaults on tourists visiting Dublin.

The US embassy in Dublin issued a warning to visiting tourists last July to keep a low profile in the wake of serious assaults in the capital.

Three teens have been charged over an alleged assault on US tourist Stephen Termini (57) on Talbot Street in Dublins north inner city last July 19.

The three boys  aged, 15, 16 and 17, who cannot be named because they are minors  are accused of violent disorder and causing serious harm to Mr Termini, from Buffalo, New York.
While we are disappointed by the decision, we remain confident that our legal position will ultimately prevail

Victims of violence between FARC and AUC (Getty Images)

Victims of the civil war in Colombia (Getty Images)

The world famous Chiquita Banana company has been found liable by a US jury for financing a far-right Columbian paramilitary group.

Chiquita has been ordered to pay nearly 36m to the families of victims killed by militants from the United Self-Defence Forces of Colombia (AUC).

The AUC is a US-designated terrorist organisation known for human rights abuses, according to EarthRights, a non-governmental organisation (NGO) that helped build the case against the fruit producer.

A Florida court found that Chiquita "knowingly provided substantial assistance to the AUC to a degree sufficient to create a foreseeable risk of harm to others," according to US media.

United Auto-Defense Forces of Colombia (AUC) (Getty Images)

The case was taken by the families of eight victims who were killed by the far-right group, which is known for the murders of individuals it believed were linked to left-wing rebels.

The lawsuit alleged that Chiquita Banana paid the group, which helped fund their violent attacks in Columbia.

The case is a long running dispute and Chiquita pleaded guilty in 2007 to paying roughly 1.5m to the group over the course of more than 100 payments between 1997 and 2004.

The financial transactions were recorded as "security services," but the Justice Department found that Chiquita Banana never actually received any work in return from the paramilitaries.

Chiquita bananas on sale (Getty Images)

Chiquita had previously agreed to pay a fine of roughly 20m, after claiming the payments were made whilst under threat of violence.

Chiquitas management claimed the groups leader, Carlos Castano, made veiled threats against the company's staff.

This week, the US court stated that the company failed to act as a reasonable businessperson would have acted under the circumstances.

The banana producer plans to appeal the ruling.

Victims of violence between FARC and AUC (Getty Images)

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.

Columbia's president, Gustavo Petro, wondered why the Colombian legal system had not been involved.

Why could US justice determine in judicial truth that Chiquita Brands financed paramilitarism in Uraba? Why couldnt Colombian justice? he wrote online.

Victims of the civil war in Colombia (Getty Images)

Agnieszka Fryszman, a lawyer representing the families involved said they "risked their lives to come forward to hold Chiquita to account, putting their faith in the United States justice system.

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."

The AUC laid down arms in 2006, confessing to crimes and agreeing to compensate victims.

Marco Simons, general counsel at EarthRights International, hailed the verdict as "a powerful message to corporations everywhere: profiting from human rights abuses will not go unpunished."

Simons praised the courage of the families who prevailed against a major American company in the judicial process.

Another group are set to launch a similar case against Chiquita in July.
Supply lines to the bars and nightclubs in the Costa del Sol have been cut

Spanish cops have arrested five people after making Europes largest ever seizure of laughing gas.

The five individuals were busted in Malaga over the weekend after the Guardia Civil seized 21,302 litres of nitrous oxide aka laughing gas.

This is the biggest ever the seizure of the substance in Europe.

The gas was stored in different capacity cannisters at a warehouse on the La Rosa industrial estate in Alhaurin el Grande, according to the Olive Press newspaper.

The suspects- of various undisclosed nationalities- have been charged with public health crimes, with one of the detainees having numerous criminal records for the same offence.

Guardia Civil in action

The gang allegedly transported and distributed nitrous oxide to a variety of pubs and clubs along the Costa del Sol.

The Guardia Civil investigation started in February when a warehouse came to their attention, following an intelligence gathering operation.

Detectives were able to evaluate that the building was being used to store cannisters of nitrous oxide.

It is understood a surveillance team was put in place which observed the crew coming and going in the middle of the night, using a variety of rental vehicles.

The cars were then loaded up with the grey coloured bottles of laughing gas for transportation.

It has been further reported that the gang involved used counter surveillance techniques, and drove in tandem along Spanish motorways, in order to alert each other of check points.

Nitrous oxide is used as a recreational drug for its potential to induce a brief "high".

Most recreational users are unaware of its neurotoxic effects when abused, however.
Police also dismantled a laboratory that created fake documents in Kosovo as part of the criminal enterprise

A total of 26 people have been arrested in Tarragona, Spain, for forging documents to help Albanian immigrants reach Ireland and the UK illegally

The dangerous criminal network distributed false documents among other gangs that were involved in robberies, and arms and drug trafficking..

Police also dismantled a laboratory that created fake documents in Kosovo as part of the criminal enterprise.

According to the Schengen. News, a total of 26 people have been arrested on suspicion of providing falsified identification documents to Albanian citizens so they could fly to the United Kingdom or Ireland as their final destination through Spanish airports.

As part of ongoing investigations, the National Spanish Police discovered that some people of Albanian origin involved in the criminal network had travelled weekly from Albania to Spain, through Serbia and Hungary, while transporting Albanian immigrants in vans to Barcelona and Tarragona.

Since investigations were launched in 2019, six operational phases have been carried out that has resulted in a total of 56 people arrested, and various Albanian and Kosovar cells dismantled.

The 26 arrested in this most recent, last phase of the operation resulted in the complete dismantling of the framework, cops say.

In a statement, the Spanish Ministry of the Interior revealed that the police have carried out 47 raids, in Tarragona and simultaneously in Albania.

According to the Ministrys statement, some of the organisations members were known for their dangerousness, as they were involved in shootings due to drug dumps from other rival organisations.

Some of those who had been arrested throughout the investigation were caught with 13 firearms and nearly 3,000 cartridges, as well as more than 160 pieces of stolen jewellery, in addition to blocking mobile phones.

The organisation also had close ties with other criminal groups, especially with marijuana plantations in Catalonia, an activity in which many Albanian citizens have been arrested in recent years.

From 2023 to June 2024, a total of 274 Albanians were arrested at Spanish airports, according to reports.

It has been reported that while the investigation was carried out jointly between the two countries, it also required the support of other countries affected by the illegal activities of this criminal network, such as the UK, Portugal, Canada and Germany.

From 2023 until June 10 2024, 77 Albanians have been detained for falsifying documents at various airports.

During the same period, Spanish police caught 247 Albanian citizens at Barajas and El Prat airports.
The two Ecuadorian nationals, two Colombian nationals and three Mexican nationals were held as the 2.7 tons of cocaine was confiscated

This is what $67 million worth of cocaine looks like when it is set on fire.

El Salvadoran police released images and video footage of the big drugs burn after they seized the narcotics from seven men in boats, roughly 1,630 kilometres off the countrys coast.

According to local authorities, the cocaine was seized on May 10, as the country continues its crackdown on gangs and drug traffickers.

Two Ecuadorian nationals, two Colombian nationals and three Mexican nationals were held as the 2.7 tons of cocaine was confiscated.

According to the Attorney Generals Office of the Republic of El Salvador, it was set alight on Monday in the town of Ilopango, just east of the countrys capital, San Salvador.

It has not been reported exactly what charges or punishments the seven suspects are facing.

Last year, Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele hailed El Salvador as the "safest" country on the continent, two years after declaring war on the street gangs.

The deployment of the military and police made an impact on structures of the gangs, which were financed by extortion, contract killings and drug dealing, backed by threats of death.

In August 2023, the InSight Crime think tank estimated that there were almost 120,000 gang members, including 78,000 belonging to Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) and about 41,000 to Barrio 18.

A total of 78,000 suspected members has been arrested, the government said last year as they claimed the gangs had been unable to recruit new members.

A state of emergency had been declared by the government in San Salvador in March 2022, creating what Amnesty International said was a spiralling human rights crisis.

Although the charity had called the country's war on gangs "disproportionate, authorities had confiscated almost 4,000 weapons, while legal reforms brought in tougher penalties.

Bukele, who was re-elected that February for another five-year term, promised to continue the war "until we eradicate the little that still remains of the gangs."

According to the government, Bukele's campaign ended the dominance that the gangs had over 80% of the country.

The homicide rate in El Salvador  which reached 106 per 100,000 inhabitants in 2015  dropped to 2.4 in 2023, below the world average that stands at eight according to the United Nations.

People were reportedly no longer afraid to go out at night, children play in the parks and anyone can ride a bus or visit another neighbourhood without fearing for their life.

Restaurants stayed open at night and delivered food to homes.

The government seized 8,000 vehicles, almost 21,000 cell phones and hundreds of buses, taxis, houses and commercial premises that were in the hands of the gangs.

And a tourism boom generated income of nearly 2.8 billion dollars in 2023  48% more than the previous year.

However, the economy remains a major challenge for Bukele.

Some 30pc of Salvadorans live in poverty and 10pc in extreme poverty, according to the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean.

An estimated 70pc of workers are informal, while thousands of families depend on foreign remittances that totalled $8.2 billion in 2023  equivalent to 26pc of the country's economic output.
The Buffalo Diocese proposed shuttering 14 churches in Chautauqua, southern Erie and Cattaraugus counties in its latest announcements to clergy and parish leaders.

Diocese officials presented the recommendations Tuesday evening at St. Hyacinth Church in Dunkirk, as part of an effort aimed at addressing a priest shortage, decreased Mass attendance and a decline in contributions.

The churches recommended to close are:

 St. Anthony, 42 Orchard St., Fredonia

 St. Joseph, 145 East Main St., Fredonia

 St. Rose of Lima, 11 Center St., Forestville

 St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, 328 Washington Ave. Dunkirk

 St. Hedwig, 103 East Doughty St., Dunkirk

 St. Hyacinth, 293 Lake Shore Drive East, Dunkirk

 Our Lady of Loreto, 309 West Everett St., Falconer

 Our Lady of Victory, 6 Institute St., Frewsburg

 Our Lady of the Snows, 36 E. Main St., Panama

 St. John, 270 Newton Ave., Jamestown

 St. Isaac Jogues, 119 Miller St., Sherman

 St. Patrick, 16 Central Ave., Brocton

 St. Mary, 36 Washington St., Cattaraugus

 Holy Spirit, 2015 Halley Road, North Collins

Along with the building closures, the diocese recommended the merger of seven parishes, including St. Anthony, St. Joseph, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton and Blessed Mary Angela parishes all merging into Holy Trinity parish in Dunkirk. St. Hedwig and St. Hyacinth campuses in Dunkirk would be sold.

Preservation group will seek landmark status for Buffalo churches slated for closure Bernice Radle, executive director of Preservation Buffalo Niagara, said Tuesday achieving landmark status for several city churches designated to be shut down as part of recommendations announced last week will be crucial in saving the churches  many of which are historic and architecturally significant  from the wrecking ball.

Northern Chautauqua Regional School would remain open and continue at the St. Elizabeth Ann Seton site with ministry provided by Holy Trinity.

Several of the closures involve churches that already were secondary worship sites or had been part of a parish merger under the dioceses previous downsizing effort, Journey in Faith & Grace from 2007 to 2011 that resulted in the merger of about 100 parishes and closing of roughly 70 churches.

Under the current plan, diocese officials anticipate 54 parish mergers and at least 70 church closures.

So far, they have announced 53 recommended building closings, with more announcements scheduled Wednesday evening for parishes in Genesee and Wyoming counties and Thursday for parishes in southern Erie County.

Parishes grouped as families have the opportunity to present alternative proposals by July 15.
A copy of the retired army officers remarkable revelations was obtained by the Sunday World this week

A retired British army officer who openly admitted colluding with UDA bombers 50 years ago is sunning himself in the south of France.

In a recorded contribution to an oral history project, Major Vernon Rees talked freely about his involvement in the 1972 bombing of Aghalane Bridge in Fermanagh  and incredibly admits he was fully aware he was co-operating with loyalist terrorists.

The officers first-hand account of the bombing is held on file and is available to the public at the Imperial War Museum in London.

A copy of the retired army officers remarkable revelations was obtained by the Sunday World this week.

The bridge spanning the border after the blast

Rees also speculates over whether he could still face prosecution because of his illegal dealings with UDA bombers.

He said: I dont know whether they could prosecute me still for this. They probably could.

But when we tracked him down to his luxury villa in the Toulouse region of southern France this week, Major Rees declined to respond to any of our questions about his past life as a senior soldier serving in a cavalry regiment in Northern Ireland.

A voice message on his phone informs callers: If you send me an email, I may respond, but I never answer unknown numbers or listen to voice messages.

We also sent the Sandhurst Military College-trained soldier a series of electronic messages, but again he failed to reply.

Now 79, Major Rees was in charge of security while serving with the Royal Horse Artillery in west Fermanagh during the worst year of the Troubles when more than 500 people were killed.

In the museum archive, Rees says he was a 27-year-old captain when he agreed to create a troops-free zone around a border crossing known as Aghalane Bridge to facilitate a UDA bomb team on November 21 1972.

Rees also revealed how he feared arrest after he acquiesced to a loyalist request to pull his soldiers out prior to a UDA terror attack.

Speaking on the record as part of an history project retained at the Imperial War Museum, Rees admitted he had privately harboured concerns. But he still agreed to withdraw his men after a senior RUC officer introduced him to Ulster Unionist councillor John Leahy, who was also a member of the then legal UDA. Leahy died in 2015.

According to Rees account, the meeting with Leahy took place the day after the IRA shot dead a Protestant farmer and his wife in the Aghalane Bridge area.

Thomas & Emily Bullock

Thomas Bullock  a 53-year-old member of the Ulster Defence Regiment  was murdered alongside wife Emily in their farmhouse home.

Recalling his meeting with Leahy 33 years after the event, retired Major Rees said: He [Leahy] said, Would you feel better if that bridge wasnt there? I said, Of course I would, but theres no way we can doing anything about that.

He said, Your men are forever patrolling in that area, Captain. I said, I know, its one of the worst areas in our patch. According to Rees, the politician who spoke to him was also a leading member of the UDA in south Fermanagh.

Rees added: Anyone who would help me defeat the IRA was a friend of mine. And in those days, that included the UDA.

In a recorded recollection, Rees said Leahy asked him to keep his men away from the Aghalane Bridge area on the night of November 20/21 in 1972.

But Rees was troubled about crossing a legal line which saw him conspire with terrorists.

He contemplated the effect it could have on his army career: Ive nearly been suspended twice. Am I about to co-operate with a terrorist in the Ulster Defence Association in the destruction of a main road in the United Kingdom?

But Rees crisis of conscience soon evaporated and he agreed to go along with the UDA plan. He told RUC Special Branch that his soldiers had been withdrawn, in the knowledge they would pass on the message to the UDA.

And I thought, All those little farmers around here. They have never used that road. Its just far too dangerous. It would be wonderful if that bridge was down.

So I leaked it through the Special Branch that there would be no soldiers in that area between eight and midnight, that Thursday night, said the retired officer.

At 1am on Thursday November 21, 1972, a Garda patrol car in the vicinity of Aghalane Bridge found its route blocked by bales of hay. A handwritten sign bearing the word BOM had been placed on top of one of the bales.

Aghalane Bridge was a picturesque 19th century stone arch construction over the Woodford River, linking Enniskillen in Fermanagh with Belturbet in Co Cavan. Using it saved local people a 12-mile detour.

But the security forces were convinced IRA men based in the Republic were also using the bridge to mount attacks inside Northern Ireland. As gardai were still examining the hay bales near Aghalane, a loud explosion ripped through the stillness of the night, partially damaging the bridge.

The following morning, Captain Rees arrived at the scene as an army explosives expert was still surveying the bomb site.

On realising the bridge could easily be repaired, Rees instructed the soldier to blow up the remainder of the bridge which was still standing. Incredibly, Rees later told the army archive: The central arch collapsed. But I think as a result of that being blown up, we saved dozens of lives of innocent-ish  theres no such thing as innocents  in Northern Ireland.

And with a giggle, Major Rees added: I dont know if they could prosecute me still for this? They probably could.

No one was ever charged or convicted of the Aghalane Bridge bombing.

Members of the Ulster Defence Association (UDA)

The Irish government was seething that a bridge which had linked the two parts of Ireland since partition was demolished on the word of an officer in the Royal Horse Artillery.

Engineers from the Irish Defence Forces were ordered to reopen the road as quickly as possible, and less than a month after the original bridge was demolished, a new Bailey bridge forded the Woodford River. On Christmas Eve 1974, cross-border traffic began to flow normally once more.

But four days later, loyalist paramilitaries  a male and a female  drove a large car bomb across the Bailey bridge to Belturbet in Co Cavan, where it detonated on the Main Street without warning.

Geraldine OReilly (14) died instantly and 16-year-old Patrick Stanley was also killed. At least 12 other people were injured.

The same night, two loyalist bombs were detonated in Clones, Co Monaghan, and in Pettigoe, Co Donegal. It is believed a UVF nest based in Enniskillen was behind all three attacks.

Soldiers from the Royal Engineers dismantled the temporary bridge at Aghalane, and the crossing was closed to local people until April 1999, when a new bridge named after US peace envoy Senator George Mitchell was opened.
The former Xpose presenter turned prominent anti-vaxxer and conspiracy theorist shared the video on her Substack platform, where she engages in what she refers to as a little bit of post-election analysis.

Ex-TV3 star Aisling OLoughlin has declared that the great replacement theory is real in a new video posted online.

The former Xpose presenter turned prominent anti-vaxxer and conspiracy theorist shared the video on her Substack platform, where she engages in what she refers to as a little bit of post-election analysis.

During the half-hour clip she states her belief that the recent Irish elections were subjected to the great replacement theory which holds that some Western elites are conspiring to replace white Americans and Europeans with people of non-European descent, particularly Asians and Africans.

The theory is regularly espoused by white nationalists who chanted You will not replace us during a Unite the Right; rally in Charlottesville, Virginia in 2017.

In spring 2019, the far right Belgian politician Dries Van Langenhove repeatedly posted on social media, We are being replaced.

Last year, far right broadcaster Tucker Carlson said the Irish Government was trying to replace the population of Ireland with people from the Third World, obviously in an interview with disgraced former Trump aide Steve Bannon.

Aisling O'Loughlin

In the video entitled, Votes in return for what? The murky world of asylum seeker gerrymandering, OLoughlin has written: The local elections in Ireland have exposed voter manipulation at a shocking level amongst illegal immigrants reliant on government hospitality. What deals were struck in return for favourable votes?

She then begins by saying: If the newspapers were doing their job, if the mainstream media, the TV stations, the radio stations, were doing their job, their top story would of course, it's so obvious, be the bussing in of newcomers.

They're not even Irish citizens, most of them, they've just arrived, they've got no allegiance to this country and yet they were being bussed in to voting stations all over Ireland.

She claims these people had translators, they had help with voting, even though they wouldn't have known any of the candidates, they wouldn't have known what they stand for and yet they were voting in our local elections.

So obviously something really weird and really dodgy has gone down but we know what we're dealing with, she adds.

We're dealing with a complicit media, we're dealing with the rogue government, so we have to expect a certain amount of this.

She then refers to one account on X, that really caught my attention.

Its called Abolish Direct Provision Campaign and apparently it's a voluntary organisation, she says.

And these guys are really going to a lot of trouble for a voluntary organisation. And I thought, I wonder who's paying them.

But then look at this, she says reading a tweet, from the 7th of June. Thank you team ADPI for transportation, helping us to vote correctly and understanding politics in Ireland. In my country women are not allowed to vote, today was touching for me.

I'm not sure who wrote that but have a look at this, she adds over a picture of a list of candidates.

We've got no markings here but over on the side, like they're trolling us, it says replacement lists so whoever took that made sure to keep that in the shot and then post it up on X for all to see.

Just a very peculiar thing considering we are talking about the great replacement which is looking very, very real and is a reflection in these election results.

We are being replaced by people with absolutely no links to our country apart from they want to get in on the freebies.

She then shares another picture, again from 7th of June and quotes the tweet: We took thousands of refugees in direct provision camps to polling station (sic) this morning to ensure they voted correctly. The government should give all of them the right to remain in Ireland.

Shocking stuff, she adds. We are badly, badly, missing our own mainstream, our own media that will become mainstream. We're missing that very badly. We didn't have Gript and I know Gemma ODoherty in particular really did everything she could to undermine them, but if we didn't have them who else would be sticking it up to the government?

We badly, badly need our own media, our own radio stations, our own TV stations, OLoughlin continues. And I think a radio station and a newspaper would be a great start.

I mean most people don't know what's going on, they don't know about the excess deaths. You know, we're dealing with an ignorant population. They don't want to know, a lot of them have taken part in the deadly medical trial, she adds, presumably referring to the vaccine programme.

They don't want to know with the bad news, theyre living quite comfortable lives, they don't want it interrupted, why would they want it interrupted, so we're going to have to think about things.

I think if we offer just really good analysis and debate and better what the mainstream is offering, which is easy for us, because the conversation is better because we are dealing with very strong facts and figures.

We actually have won the debate, we've won it time and time again. We see that on Twitter when they try to engage we just come up with the facts and figures and it's easy to win which is why they have to censor us which is why they have to cheat.

We're not dealing with very good people, they're not going to hand over the power, she continues. It's not going to be that easy but it takes the strong people with a strong moral code to stand up and say, well, we're not putting up with this.

We're going to block them and interrupt them every way we possibly can. We're not going to roll over and have our tummies tickled we're not going to roll over and die and be replaced.

She then includes clips of Malachy Steensons glorious win and hails the newly-elected anti-immigration councillor as a great speaker who says it like it is.

"He is a man of the people and I'm delighted for him.

She adds: For any of those old naysayers who say, don't bother, deregister, do nothing, lick the ice cream, let them have it. It won't just fall away, dont be so stupid, of course it never fall away on its own.

We have to get in there and wrestle it off them and make sure we have standards again and change the laws so that it doesn't allow people who are just brand new into Ireland the ability to vote. That is disgusting and wrong and should be changed.
The outpouring of support, messages, and calls has been a tremendous source of strength for Tom's family and girlfriend

More than 180,000 has been raised for a young Carlow man who remains in a coma after a tragic accident in Italy

The fundraiser was set up for Tom Eustace who was in Rome for a friend's wedding when the accident occurred.

The Carlow man has been left fighting for his life with life-threatening injuries.

To help cover the medical costs, his family and girlfriend, Miriam, have set up a GoFundMe campaign.

Tom Eustace was involved in a tragic accident in Rome that has left him fighting for his life. Photo: Go Fund Me

Im reaching out to you all on behalf of Tom Eustace, who means the world to me, Miriam wrote on social media. My amazing boyfriend is facing some unexpected challenges right now after being involved in an extremely serious accident in Italy and weve set up a GoFundMe campaign to help cover the costs.

If you can, please consider donating to support him during this tough time. Every little bit helps, and your support means more than words can express.

If you can't donate please share with all your network and pray for his full recovery. He is fighting for his life, she added.

The young man has a long road to recovery ahead of him.

Tom is an amazing person who has always been there for his friends and family. Now, he needs our help more than ever.

The road to recovery will be long and demanding, both physically and financially. Medical expenses, rehabilitation costs, and travel expenses to get him back to Ireland are just some of the challenges we are facing, said the family on GoFundMe.

The family also thanked everyone who sent them messages of support.

The outpouring of support, messages, and calls has been a tremendous source of strength for Tom's family and girlfriend. We deeply appreciate every gesture of kindness and support during this difficult time, they added.

Within hours of it being set up, the GoFundMe page had raised more than over 67,000 as the local Carlow community and beyond come together in support of the young man and his family who have been integral members of the Tullow community.

The money raised will go directly towards medical expenses including surgeries, treatments, transport and hospital stays. Funds will also be needed for rehabilitation and therapy sessions to aid Tom's recovery and for any unforeseen expenses related to his care and recovery.

In the most recent update the family said: We can't put into words the support we have received. The prayers said at today's mass has really helped us. It was so nice to see familiar faces when we are so far away. Please keep Tom in your prayers as its vital at this time.

Tom was a member of Tullow Rugby Club until a few years ago and is currently a member of Fighting Cocks GFC club in Co Carlow.

"We are shocked and saddened to hear of Toms accident during the week. As many of you know, the Eustace family are one of our neighbours and have many family links within the club, along with Tom playing rugby himself, said a spokesperson from Tullow RFC on Facebook.

"Please donate what you can towards Toms recovery fund. As a club, we send our support to Miriam Holden, the Eustace family, wider family members and many friends at this worrying time.

"Sending all our support and strength to Tom.

To donate to the GoFundMe please click here
Those who knew Kenneth described him as the gentlest giant and a warm soul who loved the arts.

A man whose body was recovered by members of the garda water unit in Wexford Harbour on Sunday has been named locally.

Kenneth Walsh (52) was a Dublin native and had been living in Clonard.

A large-scale search operation began when Kenneths phone and bicycle were discovered near the waters edge at Ferrybank. The Coast Guard, RNLI and gardai all combed the harbour area looking for any signs of the missing man and a sniffer dog was employed to establish the point at which Mr Walsh entered the river.

Eventually, the Coast Guard Rescue 117 helicopter was summoned and carried out several sweeps of Wexford Harbour, liaising with crews on the ground and Wexford RNLI who were out on the water.

The search eventually had to be stood down on Saturday evening, but began again in earnest on Sunday with the helicopter once again called.

Mr Walsh's body was recovered from the water shortly before lunchtime.

He was the son of the late James (Seamus) and Elizabeth and the loving brother of Evelyn, Judy, Louise, Aisling, Liam and Seamus.

He is deeply missed by his sisters and brothers, his cherished 13 nieces and nephews and his eight grandnieces and grandnephews, as well as his sister-in-law, brothers-in-law, aunts, cousins, relatives and a large circle of friends.

Those who knew Kenneth described him as the gentlest giant and a warm soul who loved the arts.

A celebration of Kenneth's life is due to take place for friends and family at Dardistown Cemetery Chapel in Dublin on Sunday (June 15) at 10 am with burial afterwards in Fingal cemetery.

Mr Walshs heartbroken family have asked for donations if desired to the RNLI or Wexford K-9 Search and Rescue.
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.
Court rules trio did not keep their part of legal bargain

Colombian authorities have officially revoked the amnesty and probation previously granted to three alleged IRA members known as the Colombia Three .

James Monaghan, Niall Connolly and Martin McCauley were sentenced to 17 years in prison in Colombia in 2004 after being accused of travelling to the country on false papers and teaching FARC guerrillas how to build improvised mortar bombs.

The trio had fled on bail and did not return to Colombia. They were granted an amnesty by a special peace tribunal in Colombia in 2020.

However, two weeks ago the three men appeared before the Colombian Special Jurisdiction for Peace (JEP) via videolink from Dublin where their amnesty was revoked after their contribution to the truth was found to be null and void.

The three men when they were originally arrested

There was a peace agreement between Colombian authorities and FARC rebels in 2016 ending a decades long conflict.

The JEP Amnesty and Pardon Chamber, which is part of the peace process, grants amnesty to people convicted or accused of crimes which formed part of armed conflict, ruled that the three Irishmen seriously breached the terms of their conditional release.

As part of the process those involved have to tell the truth before the JEP about their involvement and knowledge of things that happened during the conflict  but the Irishmen are still denying they were training rebels and claim they are innocent.

Spanish language newspaper El Pais reported that the JEP had wanted the trio to tell them of their involvement and also what possible relationship FARC had with the IRA during the conflict and whether the Colombians paid for the training and what the contact routes were.

During a hearing on May 22, the judiciary revoked the amnesty and the conditional freedom granted to the Irishmen.

Colombian authorities say there was sufficient evidence to suggest the trio were aiming to exchange information on homemade explosives and train FARC guerillas.

In their ruling, the judges say the three men never gave details on unknown facts of the conflict, and failed to justify their visits to the FARC camps.

The JEP said the fact the men were still claiming innocence does not exempt them from the duty to provide the full truth.

 The Irishmen have appealed the courts decision.

Colombia Three appearing before JEP tribunal in Colombia via videolink from Dublin Pics provided by JEP

The Sunday World reported more than a year ago how the JEP was planning to revoke the Irishmens amnesty but the decision was only confirmed at the latest hearing after the JEP felt the trio didnt give comprehensive answers of what happened.

At the time, James Monaghan told the Sunday World he was aware of the latest developments but didnt wish to comment.

Mr Monaghan told our reporter: I dont want to make any statement about that,. Only the lawyers could give a statement. The lawyers are dealing with it.

The trio were arrested at Bogota airport in 2001 at a very sensitive time in the Irish peace process.

Following a series of cases, they were eventually

sentencing them to 17 years in jail in 2004.

However, the day after their conviction, the Colombian Attorney General announced the men had fled Colombia

and had clandestinely returned to Ireland.

They were subsequently questioned by Gardai, but no moves were made to extradite them back to Colombia as no extradition treaty or agreement exists between Colombia and Ireland.
Although some of the dogs are being sold by breeders with papers identifying their lineage, others are being sold with little or no back-ground information in individual sales.

XL bully dogs continued to be advertised for sale on Irish websites just days after the horrific killing of 23-year-old Nicole Morey by one of the breed.

A Sunday World probe discovered ads for the dogs online with prices ranging from 600 to 3,000.

Although some of the dogs are being sold by breeders with papers identifying their lineage, others are being sold with little or no back-ground information in individual sales.

In the wake of the dog attack in Limerick, there is mounting pressure on the Government to ban the breed.

The Government recently established a group chaired by retired Deputy Commissioner John Twomey to examine the area of increased dog controls and restricted breeds.

However, an animal welfare expert warned yesterday that bringing in an effective ban will be difficult to legislate.

He pointed out that XL bullies are not in of themselves a specific or recognised breed  they are the largest of the American Bully breed that also includes pocket bullies and the standard bully.

XL bullies have been bred from a number of breeds including the American pit bull terrier.

The expert said any ban is likely to face challenges in court by affected dog owners. He estimated there is likely several thousand XL bullies in the Republic.

During the pandemic, XL bully puppies were making huge money and there was no shortage of callous individuals breeding dogs of this nature for profit, he said.
"Fire men and fire women are some of my favourite people, they run in when others are running out.

Ron Howard, Henry Winkler as Fonzie on the right, Donny Most, and Anson Williams act together in "Happy Days".

Henry Winkler aka Fonzie from Happy Days thanked Dublin Fire Brigade after being evacuated from a hotel blaze.

A fire at the Shelbourne Hotel in Dublin was brought under control after staff and guests were evacuated from the premises this morning.

"Thank you Dublins fire department  our hotel was evacuated on our first morning !!! Mr Winkler wrote on X.

"When I heard the alarm I thought it was the clock radio, I thought somebody had set the alarm, Mr Winkler later told RTE.

"Fire men and fire women are some of my favourite people, they run in when others are running out.

The fire was reported at the hotel on St Stephens Green shortly before 11am.

Ron Howard, Henry Winkler as Fonzie on the right, Donny Most, and Anson Williams act together in "Happy Days".

Dublin Fire Brigade said the evacuation helped enormously in dealing with the incident.

Firefighters were called to a fire in a premises on St Stephen's Green at 10.38 this morning The fire is under control with an effective evacuation helping enormously, said Dublin Fire Brigade.

Gardai were at the scene of the incident where they assisted Dublin Fire Brigade.

"No injuries have been reported at this time, a garda spokesperson said.

Dublin Fire Brigade said the fire was brought under control around 11.30am and the firefighting operation ceased just before 12 noon.

Traffic restrictions were expected to lift in the area.

Happy Days was an American television sitcom that aired first-run on the ABC network from January 15, 1974, to July 19, 1984, with a total of 255 half-hour episodes spanning 11 seasons.

Mr Winkler played the black leather jacked clad Fonzie who became a cultural icon in the US, as a renowned cool dude.

Fonzie was originally a secondary character, but was soon positioned as a lead character when he began surpassing the other characters in popularity.

The Fonzie character was so popular that in the second season producers considered renaming the show to Fonzie's Happy Days.
For boaties, making the decision about whether to enter or exit the Whakatane Harbour just got easier.

Coastguard Whakatane has installed two new live-feed cameras with funding support from Toi Moana Bay of Plenty Regional Council.

The cameras provide better visibility and coverage of crucial areas around the Whakatane Harbour bar. One camera replaces the existing 10-year-old bar camera to deliver higher quality images.

The second camera pans across the navigational area - The Narrows - at the mouth of the Whakatane River, to highlight potentially hazardous conditions (such as turbulence and standing waves).

Coastguard Whakatane president Jim Williamson highlights the value of these new tools.

"These cameras provide really useful information to our boating community, especially when it comes to helping them make well-informed decisions about navigating the Whakatane Harbour bar and The Narrows leading up to it."

Bay of Plenty Harbourmaster Jon Jon Peters says they're delighted to support the Whakatane Coastguard in making these cameras a reality.

"These cameras, combined with up-to-the-minute weather forecasts, tide information, and wave buoy data, give skippers a comprehensive toolkit to evaluate sea conditions before choosing to head out or not."

The live feed from the cameras is mobile-friendly and can be accessed free of charge on the Coastguard Whakatane website.

Harbour cam

Multi-view cam

Further details on how to cross a bar safely can be found on the Bay of Plenty Regional Council website and Coastguard Whakatane regularly offers seminars in crossing the Whakatane bar.

The decision to cross the bar should always be treated with the upmost of caution and ultimately it is the skippers responsibility to understand the conditions at the time they intend to cross. If in doubt, dont go out.

Whakatane Harbour Navigational area covered by two new live-feed cameras.

Key points
Shocking footage has captured the moment a suspected tourist in a campervan was caught driving for five minutes on the wrong side of the road in the Coromandel into oncoming traffic.

Local resident Clayton was driving on Monday afternoon when he spotted a campervan on the wrong side of Coromandel towns windy and narrow Wharf Rd.

Confused and concerned for their safety, Clayton decided to follow the vehicle while beeping his horn to try to get their attention.

Clayton told the Herald he held down the horn on and off while tailing the campervan for more than five minutes.

However, his efforts were in vain and he feared the wild wrong way ride could end badly, not only for the driver but for himself.

I went to Long Bay and had seen them pulled over on the side of the road. A while later heading back into the Coromandel I saw them again, but this time driving on the wrong side of the road and I didnt know what to do. I was just stunned.

I thought, Theres going to be a crash. I decided to record it and follow them. I held my horn down to try and get their attention to get back on the [left] side of the road. They finally got it after seeing the car coming the other way along the straight, luckily.

I beeped the horn for a good five or six minutes while following behind.

The video has been posted to Facebook.

Viewers questioned why Clayton didnt overtake the campervan and slow it down in a bid to get it off the road.

However, he told the Herald passing the campervan on the left would have been even more dangerous and decided to keep his distance in case he ended up in danger.

I thought a car coming towards them was going to swerve into my lane so I decided to hang back and didnt want to undertake him, thats for sure.

I thought theyre pretty lucky [there wasnt too much traffic]. People arent going slow thats for sure. Its a 50km/h zone but the locals dont go that speed.

Clayton says after the video ended, the campervan driver continued on the left side. He was initially going to follow the campervan out of town but the driver seemed to finally get it.

A witness who followed the campervan claims the driver was on the wrong side of the road for more than five minutes.

After viewing the footage, a police spokesperson told the Herald the incident was highly dangerous and asked anyone who saw such behaviour to contact police.

It is extremely dangerous to drive on the wrong side of the road  both for the vehicle occupants and other road users.

If members of the public witness such driving behaviour, call police on 111 immediately. Alternatively, report the incident after the fact via 105 or online and provide relevant footage and information.

Clayton believes the person driving the campervan was a tourist.

He hopes coming forward with the footage will prove a good reminder for tourists to learn the road rules.

Im wondering how he got to the Coromandel in the first place driving like that down the coast. You dont pick up a campervan locally around here, theyd have had to have come from Auckland or a main city.

Its a good reminder to be cautious. Especially around the corners in the Coromandel.

For tourists to drive in New Zealand, they must have a current and valid overseas drivers licence or international driving permit.

They must also have not been disqualified or suspended in New Zealand and have an overseas licence that is in English or of accurate translation.

All drivers must know the New Zealand road rules and what the road signs mean.

In 2022, according to the Ministry of Transport, there were two fatal crashes, 21 serious injury crashes, and 103 minor injury crashes involving overseas drivers in New Zealand.

In these crashes, two people died, 24 people were seriously injured, and 159 people suffered minor injuries.

The incident comes after an American tourist was charged with driving dangerously following an accident in which he drove on the wrong side of the road for 10 minutes.

Tourist Brett Reck, a finance company manager in Washington DC, appeared in the Nelson District Court in January admitting to the charge.

Judge Tony Zohrab said in convicting him that it was an appalling piece of driving that was not a momentary incursion but a long period at which other people had been put at risk.

Tourist Brett Reck, a finance company manager in Washington DC, admitted to driving dangerously in the Nelson District Court. Photo / supplied.

The 42-year-old had been in New Zealand on a three-week holiday with his wife and young child.

Just before 10pm, he was driving his rented Toyota north on the Shenandoah Highway, State Highway 65, near Murchison. The area of rural highway has a 100km/h speed limit, no lighting and frequent corners.

Reck was driving in the right-hand lane for at least 10 minutes, and despite a following vehicle flashing its headlights and sounding a horn he did not adjust his driving or move to the left lane, police said.

An oncoming Subaru towing a jet ski trailer swerved to avoid Reck, whose car hit the left side of the Subaru and its trailer.

Recks vehicle rolled and was severely damaged, as was the Subaru, which had its rear wheel and trailer sheared off.

Reck told police he was tired and driving on the wrong side of the road because he was used to driving on the right.

Police said Reck was seen to have thrown a beer can from the car at the scene and appeared to be intoxicated, although Recks lawyersaid he did not recall throwing the can, because he was dizzy from the crash.

The judge disqualified Reck from driving for 15 months and fined him $1500.

-NZ Herald.
WARNING: This story refers to child sexual abuse. For help and crisis information, see below.

When she met Geoffrey Muir on Tinder, she never imagined that within two years he would have destroyed her family  abusing and raping her older daughter until her 12th birthday, then turning his attention to her five-year-old.

Muir was trusted with the girls. He was charming. She thought he was a good man.

But now she knows he is a monster  a cunning predator, a manipulator, a sick child sex offender.

And she worries there are more victims out there.

In early 2020, the woman met Muir, then 53, through the dating app Tinder.

The pair ended up as friends and Muir spent a lot of time at the home she shared with her young daughters.

Eventually, he had almost daily access to the girls and was trusted to be alone with them.

No one had any idea what he was subjecting the children to until 2023 when the older girl disclosed Muirs abuse, worried he would do the same to her little sister.

It was too late.

The woman went to police in 2023 and Muir was charged with 12 counts of sexual offending against the older girl, ranging from committing indecent acts to rape and exposing her to pornography.

He was charged with two counts of sexually abusing the younger girl.

A further two charges were laid relating to Muir making or possessing objectionable material including images and video of the sisters.

Muir was arrested and charged in Tauranga, where he was living at the time.

The offending happened elsewhere in New Zealand.

At his first appearance in the Tauranga District Court, he pleaded guilty to most of the charges. At sentencing on Monday he pleaded guilty to the balance as well as several new charges.

Geoff Muir was living in Tauranga when he was arrested and charged with a raft of child sex offences. Photo / Facebook.

Muirs litany of offending was outlined in a 12-page summary of facts, which the Herald was provided.

In November 2021, he began sexually abusing the older of the two girls, who was 10.

During this time, [Muir] took every opportunity to sexually abuse [the girl] with increased frequency to the point where the abuse became normalised and expected  with a measured severity from genital touching and rubbing to sexual violation, the summary said.

To avoid detection of his offending the abuse took place in [the girls] bedroom at night; in her mothers bedroom when no one else was home with windows, curtains and doors closed  and within the privacy of his truck after bribing [the girl] to travel with him as a passenger.

The sexual abuse of [the older girl] stopped in 2021 before her 12th birthday.

Muir then began abusing the younger girl, who was just 5 years old.

[He] was tactful and calculated in his pursuit to sexually abuse [the little girl] and continually ensured that she would keep the abuse as their secret.

The Herald has chosen not to publish the specific details of each charge  most of which were representative, meaning there were multiple offences of the same type that could not be pinned down to a specific date.

Muirs offending against the older girl escalated steadily, with more intrusive violations.

He gave her a sex toy and encouraged her to use it, then hide it under her pillow.

Its fun being naughty, isnt it? he said to her during one assault where he used the toy.

He began to bribe the girl to go with him to the supermarket, among other places, saying he would buy her chocolate and giving her $20 on at least one occasion.

[Muir] employed this tactic to lure her into his truck for the sole purpose of having time and privacy to sexually abuse her, police said.

Typically, before or after touching [her] in her bedroom, [Muir] would give her his cell phone. He instructed and encouraged her to use his cell phone for the sole purpose of watching pornography on Pornhub.

This occurred with such regularity [the girl] lost count of the number of times it happened.

Police said Muirs sole purpose of encouraging the girl to watch porn was to sexualise her behaviour with the express intention to get her to engage in the sexual activity she was exposed to.

Just after the girl turned 12, Muirs abuse stopped.

Police said the only reason for that was because he had turned his focus to her younger sister.

The defendant used the times when playing with [the girl] to sexually abuse her, police said.

While ... alone together, [Muir] would playfully let [the 5-year-old] catch him watching pornography on his cell phone as if it was a game, police said.

He would subsequently let her watch pornography on his cell phone. He knew this piqued her interest to the point where she asked to see more ... the watching of pornography was intertwined with the sexual abuse.

Muir also filmed lewd videos involving the girls and took photos  mostly in their mothers bedroom.

When Muir learned the girls mother was going to police he went into the Tauranga station with a lawyer and made a full confession.

He admitted... that he let [the girls] watch pornography on his mobile phone to manipulate the situation that would lead to sexual offending, police said.

He found this exciting.

Muir was sentenced by Judge Paul Geoghegan, who began proceedings by inviting the girls mother to read a Victim Impact Statement.

The woman said her older daughter only came forward because she feared Muir would abuse her little sister.

Those fears were founded, she said.

She said Muir was sick and monstrous and had manipulated, groomed and used her for years  all to get to her little girls.

The wounds are not physical but they run deep and are real and personal, she said.

He took something so precious  my childrens innocence  their ability to grow up without trauma.

As a mother I am broken. I failed to protect my children from a monster hiding in plain sight  I am living every parents worst nightmare.

It is utterly heartbreaking ... This is a life sentence, a burden of harm we will have to navigate... I cannot take away the memories  I can only tell them that what happened is not their fault.

Geoffrey Muir in a video taken while he was fishing. Photo / YouTube.

She said Muir was a cunning predator who hid behind his charm.

I am firmly convinced my children are not his first victims, she said.

I have absolutely no doubt in my mind that he will reoffend if he is free. He does not deserve to be free when we never will be.

A pre-sentence report stated there was a high risk Muir would harm further children, and serious potential for him to commit similar offences if he had the opportunity in future.

Muir said he was an alcoholic but had been sober for 14 years.

He theorised that he had not fully addressed the underlying issues of that addiction, and simply shifted it from alcohol to sex.

You reported saying you did not set out to do it  it just happened, said Judge Geoghegan.

While you may not have set out at first, your behaviour has all the hallmarks of calculated and predatory offending.

There was planning and premeditation  you took every opportunity to be with them, you engaged in secrecy with them, you regularly exposed both to porn with a view of normalising and encouraging sexual behaviours.

There was a high degree of manipulation... for your own sexual gratification. It will be with the victims, and with their mother forever.

Judge Geoghegan sentenced Muir to 12 years and nine months, ordering him to serve half before he was eligible for parole.

The significant risk you present to the female children of anyone you may be in a relationship with, and the fact your charm and manipulation increases that risk warrants a minimum non-parole period, he said.

What I wish to say to the victims and their mother  and it may come as little or no comfort  is that they have nothing to feel guilty about.

There is one person, and one person only responsible for why we are here today  and that person is you, Mr Muir.

The victims have been manipulated by you in your desire to satisfy your perceived needs  sentencing cannot possibly heal the damage that has been done to this family.
Waipuna Hospice is often misconceived as a place for your final days, where in reality it is there to support terminally ill individuals and their families, ensuring they get the care they need, when they need it.

This vital services existence is only possible through the support of the wider community. Without the generous support from individuals, local businesses and funders, Waipuna Hospice would not be here today.

Each year, Waipuna Hospice cares for up to 1000 patients and supports over 3000 family members throughout what is usually a very difficult journey.

Waipuna Hospice chief executive officer Richard Thurlow understands how important Waipuna Hospices care is to our community.

When we meet patients and families, it is a time with a lot of emotions, fear, and uncertainty, and many feel overwhelmed as they dont know where to turn to or what support they can get.

Richard explains that Waipuna Hospice relieves others' burdens and assists in making the final stages of life more bearable.

Waipuna Hospice offers wrap-around care, looking at not just the physical illness, but considering someones social, spiritual and emotional needs too.

Patients can be cared for onsite in their Inpatient Unit on Te Puna Station Road or at home, with Waipuna Hospice helping ensure they have everything they need to be comfortable and supported.

Today, most of Waipuna Hospices care occurs in patients' homes.

Specialised equipment such as hospital beds, Lazyboy chairs, or shower seats can be provided and delivered to homes around Tauranga and the Western Bay of Plenty, giving patients as much independence as possible.

In 2022-2023 alone, Waipuna Hospice provided 6,557 nurse visits, 10,562 phone calls to patients, and 3334 support calls and visits to family members.

These 20,453 contacts with patients and their families show the true ripple effect of hospice care, and their work to ensure everyone is supported, from the patient to their immediate carers and the wider community.

Erin Goodhue, whose father has stage four cancer, had her perception of hospice changed rapidly once she realised they were a source of practical assistance, and that they genuinely cared about supporting her Dad and their family every step of the way.

The first thing hospice did was come and visit us at home for an initial consultation to meet Dad, understand who he was, his illness and what he might need to be comfortable and see exactly where he needed support.

Although Waipuna Hospice provides medical support and equipment delivery, they also provide emotional, social, and psychosocial care for patients and families.

They have trained physiotherapists, occupational therapists, and massage therapists available to ensure the death process is less painful and less scary for everyone involved by meeting their individual needs. Nothing is one-size-fits-all.

By assisting patients and families through some of the big aspects of their journey, hospice allows them to focus on other things, like spending time with family, final wishes and planning for whats next.

What surprised me during that time was that hospice wasnt just coming to care for Dad. They were coming to care for all of us, says Erin.

They tailored their care to our needs  to the person, not the disease.

Local funder TECT has regularly supported Waipuna Hospice and recently approved a multiyear grant of $495,000. This will provide $165,000 of yearly funding for Waipuna Hospices operating costs, supporting all facets of care for the next three years.

TECT strives for their funding efforts to empower the communities and organisations they support by working together to significantly impact the quality of life and wellbeing for all.

Mark Arundel, TECT Deputy Chair, says Waipuna Hospice exists because the community supports them, and without the community, this key service may not be there, in its current form, helping with end of life care for individuals and support for their families.

For TECT, providing funding allows us to do our part in supporting Waipuna Hospice, by helping them with some of the operational cost burden, so they can continue to meet the needs of their patients and families, and help our community thrive.

History of Waipuna Hospice

Waipuna Hospice is a legacy of Western Bay of Plenty couple Pat and Jack Jenkins, who left provisions in their Wills for a hospice service to be established for the community.

Waipuna Hospice was officially opened on June 30, 1990, in a villa located on Cameron Road, owned by the Tauranga Hospital.

Initially, volunteers worked alongside cancer nurses to provide community care, and the villa was utilised as a drop-in centre before the need to expand their services became apparent.

In 1995 a manager was appointed and in 1996 a professional palliative nursing service was established.

Then in 1998, Waipuna Hospice moved to its current location on Te Puna Station Road thanks to the generosity of Veta May James.
TurboJam sells its products in various shops across Malaga province, as well as online.

Javier Almellones Cutar Wednesday, 12 June 2024, 23:02 Opciones para compartir Copiar enlace

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It all started as a strategy to make their crops more profitable. The Berrino family, who are originally from Italy, turned their plans around to make more money from the fruit they grew, which included mangoes, oranges and lemons.

"The farm pays less and less and production costs are more expensive", says Antonio, the young entrepreneur who, with the unconditional support of his parents, decided to create the TurboJam brand. They started with jams made from their own produce and have already explored and sold other products such as jams using stevia, creams and even juices.

The business took off in 2021 when Antonio Berrino was just 18, he had a business idea to make something sweet but healthy. In fact, TurboJam's jams and other products aim as far as possible to provide as much flavour as possible from fruit, up to 92 per cent in many cases. And most importantly, with minimum sugar content. They only require just enough sugar to preserve the jams and creams.

They use no artificial additives and their slogan is '100% organic, 0% nonsense'. Antonio Berrino is clear that to make the healthiest jam possible, all that is needed is "fruit in its optimum state of ripeness" and sugar or 'healthy' sweeteners such as stevia.

Today TurboJam's wide range of products is available via the online shop, where there is so much variety that it is difficult to choose. Among the most common flavours of the low-sugar jams are apple, strawberry, peach, orange and fruits of the forest. However, there are also some more exotic flavours like mango and kumquat, mango with cocoa and ginger are some of the more unusual taste sensations.

Jams with stevia include plum, lemon and mango, pear, kumquat, mandarin, strawberry and peach, among others. "There, fruit represents 97% and the remaining 3% is an infusion of organic stevia leaf, which leaves a much more pleasant flavour than when prepared stevia powders are used", Antonio explains.

There is even an alcoholic version, with rum as the secret ingredient. With it they mix mango, pear and lemon and orange.

Zoom The company, a member of the Sabor a Malaga marketing group, manufactures its products in Cutar. SUR

Another original proposal from this company which is part of the Sabor a Malaga foodie brand is what Antonio Berrino calls "the savoury collection", as they are perfect for serving with canapes, cheeses, pates or even meat. These include mango chutney and red pepper jam.

The company also has a range of juices where the same philosophy is applied; with as much fruit as possible and no chemical additives.

Through the experience of three years of trial and error, at the age of 21 and with the encouragement of his parents, Antonio Berrino is a successful entrepreneur and has even helped to boost the economy of Cutar, where the family has a small factory.

Today, as well as selling online throughout Spain, they also distribute their products to different parts of Malaga province, including to the Al Grano bakery on Avenida de Moliere, in the western part of Malaga city.

The produce, whenever possible, comes from their own farms or from farmers in the surrounding area, which gives the company an added value of sustainability and a tool to combat the much feared rural depopulation.

Cutar is a charming village situated between Comares, El Borge and Benamargosa in the Axarquia on the eastern side of Malaga province, an hour's drive from Malaga.
Jose Rodriguez Camara Torremolinos Wednesday, 12 June 2024 | Updated 13/06/2024 14:50h. Opciones para compartir Copiar enlace

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The vandalisation of a sunbed rental business which was set on fire in La Carihuela, Torremolinos, in April has reignited the debate on whether these facilities, which cannot be insured due to being outdoors, need extra protection from hooliganism and carelessness. The problem, which the authorities point out usually happens at night when the beaches are empty, is now being addressed by the Malaga beach business association (Aesplayas). Although the association insists that these are isolated incidents, it has now decided to hire a private security firm to monitor the beaches during the early hours of the morning.

Some beach businesses already employ private security for their own peace of mind, but, as Manuel Villafaina, the person in charge of Aesplayas, explained, the Torremolinos coastline will now be monitored by two patrols, who will notify the police of any incidents or acts of vandalism.

Villafaina pointed out that around 30 businesses have signed up for this service, which will also include a large deployment of police officers throughout the summer season. He also claimed that business owners consider it beneficial to have this extra surveillance, which will continue until October.

The increase in the population in Torremolinos, especially during the summer, due to tourist activity and the towns cultural and leisure agenda, requires a proportional increase in security. Given that in the first quarter of this year there has already been a 23 per cent increase in occupancy, the town hall and the National and Local Police forces have already held coordination meetings in which it has been made clear that resources must be reinforced.

The campaign includes the deployment of extra officers from the National Police in the municipality. These, according to the ministry of interior, will be new recruits. Measures will also be introduced to the schedules of the Local Police so that the surveillance patrols can be reinforced.
Mark Fuller was floored when he learned of a big problem for the 150-unit affordable apartment project in North Buffalo hed been working on for seven years.

And Fuller, the CEO of DePaul Developmental Services, was even more surprised when he learned that the problem was that there wasnt enough electricity flowing through the neighborhood between Delaware and Colvin avenues to support those new Pan-American Square Apartments.

After all, it wasnt like the 11-acre complex was in the middle of nowhere. Its right along the heavily commercial stretch of Delaware, with Delta Sonic, Delaware Consumer Square and Applebees across the street. Its adjacent to the Buffalo Municipal Housing Authoritys Holling Homes. And its surrounded by residential neighborhoods.

But there wasnt enough electrical capacity in that immediate area to power the three four-story buildings that are under construction.

It took six months of study and planning to come up with a solution. National Grid will be running an extra 23-kilovolt power distribution line into the site to deliver the needed electricity from elsewhere.

And it isnt cheap: The power upgrade will cost DePaul more than $5 million in additional costs, on top of the $30 million construction project.

Who would have thought there was not enough power on Delaware Avenue? Fuller said.

DePauls experience is not unique. Across the area, sponsors of large-scale economic development and housing projects are discovering their projected power needs far exceed what the local utilities can currently provide, even in highly developed urban areas where electricity is already available.

But theyre only finding out after their plans have already been approved, and often after work has already begun.

By the time you buy the land and start construction, youve got the pylons in, do you stop it? Fuller said, noting his agencys project is 64% complete. I was halfway through the swamps, I may as well keep wading.

Hungry for electricity

The problem is partly about the electric capacity in the overall power grid, but also about where and how that power is distributed. Its a reflection of an older electrical system and the shift away from coal-fired and gas-fired power generation, but also the size and electrical demands of modern development projects, both commercial and residential.

Its an extremely serious challenge for developments, especially in the more Rust Belt neighborhoods or cities in general, said Dennis Elsenbeck, a former National Grid executive who heads up an energy-consulting group at the Phillips Lytle law firm. The system is aged, and its near capacity. If you look at Rust Belt neighborhoods, how much do you think utilities upgraded electrical systems in areas that arent growing? They dont.

While the solutions can vary from project to project, they all entail significant investments in new equipment and power lines to increase the flow of electricity to meet the demand. But because theyre being installed for a particular project, rather than overall community needs, the developers are the ones who have to pay for it.

What developers are now discovering is there is a lack of capacity locally, Elsenbeck said. And then the utility will tell them its up to them, because theyre the only ones requesting additional feeder capacity, to foot the bill of running the feeder solution to meet that new demand.

City officials estimate the total bill for all of these projects exceeds $30 million so far, with DePauls among the highest. And its not just hitting the private-sector or nonprofit projects, but even the Buffalo Municipal Housing Authority and its affiliate Bridges Development, which have started the Commodore Perry Homes redevelopment.

A lot of this is coming after the fact, after theyve closed on financing, said Brendan Mehaffy, executive director of the citys Office of Strategic Planning. So then all of a sudden, its like go find more.

And the problem may only worsen with the states push toward full electrification of buildings and rising demand from electric vehicles. The winter demand for electricity statewide will roughly double by 2040, according to a study released this month by the New York Independent System Operator, which manages the states power grid.

For now, the electricity supply isnt the problem.

Its not that we cant find the capacity. Its whether our infrastructure and the capacity that we need to bring to them is near where theyre locating, said Kenneth Kujawa, National Grids regional executive director for Energy Solution Delivery for Western New York.

In some cases, it works out perfect. Our facilities are right there and we can service them, based on what they need, he said. In other instances, weve got to extend a higher-voltage line to your facility in order to meet your power requirements.

Unpleasant surprises

As with DePaul, it was a big shock for McGuire Development Co. and Utah-based Blackfish Investments when officials learned they would have to spend $1.7 million extra for the Rails on Main project.

Thats a 312-unit market-rate housing development at 2929 Main St., on a former industrial property that was most recently used for steel-plating for several decades. Its across the street from Hertel Avenue, and next to the Bethune Lofts.

Blackfish, which had started the $44 million project in 2018 before it stalled, originally understood that there was adequate power available from overhead lines, and thats what McGuire thought when it joined the project in June 2022. But when the developers submitted work orders to National Grid to start the electrical work, they learned it would be significantly more complicated.

They couldnt draw that much power from overhead, so we had no option, said Eric Ekman, vice president of development and acquisitions for McGuire. We had to go underground.

National Grid said it would have to run a pair of 23-kilovolt power lines from a half-mile away to provide enough power. And not only would McGuire and Blackfish pay for it, but they had to scale back their plans for more electric-vehicle charging stations.

The cost was astronomical, Ekman said. And were bearing the full brunt.

The commercial and industrial sectors are also impacted. The Buffalo Urban Development Corp., which owns and manages the Northland Corridor light-industrial hub, wants to recruit advanced manufacturing to the East Side campus.

But first it has to upgrade the electrical substation that came with its purchase of the former Houdaille Industries facility at 683 Northland, because todays companies use far more power than Houdaille did.

Everybodys trying to be understanding of, as projects come on board, how do we electrify them, said Rebecca Gandour, the agencys executive vice president. I think we could have gotten away with two cables, but working with National Grid, we had to put three cables in.

Push to electrify

Part of the problem stems from a disconnect between energy policy goals and economic development and housing needs.

Pressure is mounting from environmentalists and policymakers to shift toward even more electrification, especially in states like New York, where the 2019 Climate Act requires the state to cut greenhouse gas emissions 40% from 1990 levels by 2030 and at least 85% by 2050. That, in turn, led to the Climate Action Councils recommendations, and last years All-Electric Buildings Act, which goes into effect in 2026.

That state law will require that most new buildings of less than seven stories in height use electric heat and appliances, not gas or coal, unless they are commercial or industrial buildings of at least 100,000 square feet. However, the law will take effect for all buildings in 2029, with some exceptions.

In the meantime, developers are trying to understand the impact, and some are getting a head-start. Thats why there are already all-electric or mostly electric construction projects coming online, especially for housing. And the electric power demand in those buildings is 35% to 40% higher than a traditional building that uses gas, Elsenbeck said.

Then theres the economic development side of attracting new business. About 90% of the production in the semiconductor, battery and other green energy industries still relies on natural gas, said Thomas Kucharski, CEO of Invest Buffalo Niagara, the regions economic development organization. As that shifts to electricity, it will put even more pressure on the system.

Theres also the growth of high-energy technology fields like crypto-currency and artificial intelligence  including the proposed new artificial intelligence center at Tesla Inc. in South Buffalo.

Inadequate power grid

But the power network isnt necessarily ready for that. As utilities sort out what the changes will mean for them, regulators are pushing them to invest heavily in power production and distribution to meet the Climate Act goals. That includes integration of new solar and wind power projects, most of which are on greenfield sites where land is available  not in the middle of cities where the power is needed.

We have to make sure that the grid is capable of being able to move that electricity around, because the way that the grid operates today is different than when it was originally envisioned, Kujawa said.

Over the past two months, National Grid has announced more than $5.8 billion in investments in its electrical network. That includes its $4 billion Upstate Upgrade initiative to rebuild over 1,000 miles of transmission circuit and 45 substations.

And as part of its new rate filing last month, it committed to another $1.8 billion in electric infrastructure upgrades for transmission, distribution and substation work. All that work is a big reason why National Grid rate filing would increase the average residential customers monthly bill by 15%.

However, it still doesnt mean theres enough power at a particular site where someone wants to build.

The electric distribution system simply is not ready. It does not have the capacity to go from a fossil-based economy to an electric-based economy, Elsenbeck said.

Burden for developers

So far, Mehaffy said, developers have been able to come up with the extra money they need, including from the state for affordable housing. But hes worried.

Buffalo has hit its stride with a lot of really important development projects, he said. Now many of those projects are being hit with an unexpected cost. So this is yet another significant complexity that we have for development.

Thats why Mehaffy, along with Elsenbeck and Kujawa, are urging developers and companies with building projects to contact their electric utility early in the process, so that officials can evaluate the power needs and determine if they can be met  or if costly upgrades will be needed. Such capacity studies  to determine if the existing feeder is adequate  can cost as much as $60,000.

Each case is going to be unique, Kujawa said. The utility companies are going to have to be brought into the process a lot more sooner.
John Fogerty returned to Upstate New York Tuesday night for the first time since 2019 on a bill with George Thorogood and Hearty Har at Constellation Brands Marvin Sands Arena (CMAC). The 6,500 fans, ranging in age from 30s through what looked like a lot of retirees were primed and ready for a rock party and thats exactly what they got.

Hearty Har (fronted by Fogertys sons Shane and Tyler) opened with a short set of what could best be described as modern psychedelic garage rock. The band has a significant YouTube presence. The Fogerty boys clearly inherited their musical genes from dad and have honed their skills since forming in 2012. They would return to the stage as John Fogertys band.

Lonesome George Thorogood and the Destroyers, now in their 50th year, were also ready for a rock party. Though the band appeared visibly more subdued than at their New York State Fair appearance last summer, their music was performed with intensity. Their hour long set was non-stop hits, clearly inspired by many of their heroes; John Lee Hooker, Hank Williams and Bo Diddley. Rock Party, Who Do You Love? I Drink Alone, Get A Haircut, One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer and their ultimate bad-ass anthem Bad To The Bone had the crowd constantly on their feet. A huge video screen behind the band displayed colorful artistic graphics for the songs in their set. The double stack of amplifiers on either side of their stage was reminiscent of Led Zeppelin and Who concerts from the 70s. Those were not there for show. Their set was one of the loudest concerts this reviewer has witnessed in a long time.

After a short set change, the video screen behind the stage lit up with a news interview-style introduction of John Fogerty reminiscing about his musical roots laced with memories of Creedence Clearwater Revival as a prelude to his appearance with a customary flannel shirt and blue jeans center stage to a standing ovation. The billing as John Fogerty: The Celebration Tour was apt and for good reason. At 79 years old and with a smile from ear to ear, he proudly announced that finally, after 55 years of turmoil and on-going legal battles with Fantasy Records and then label head Saul Zaentz, Fogerty now owns all of his music -- celebration indeed. He publicly announced that Julie, his wife of 33 years and the love of his life, was instrumental in getting this situation resolved. Years ago, with all the legal complications tormenting him, Fogerty would flatly refuse to perform any of the Creedence Clearwater Revival hits he penned, but now he was beaming.

It took 55 years but I now own all my songs and Im going to play em all for you, he shouted out.

Not only did Fogerty have his family with him on tour (Julie was clearly visible side-stage with cell phone in hand taking photos) but his two sons and their band were backing him up on stage. Bad Moon Rising, Up Around The Bend, Green River, and Born On The Bayou were delivered with ferocity. There was no quiver in his voice. He can still hit all the high notes.

After a short pause, he told the audience the history of the Rickenbacher guitar he was playing.

Years ago after Creedence, I was so dejected that I gave this guitar away to some guy. This was the guitar I played at Woodstock (in 1969.)

He explained how he came to write Wholl Stop The Rain with this very guitar after Creedence appeared at that soggy festival. He held it up to show it off, proudly telling the hushed crowd how Julie had scoured the internet and with a great deal of luck, found the guitar and was able to buy it back, putting it under the Christmas tree for John. The photos taken that Christmas morning were put up on the giant monitor behind the stage to loud cheers and whistling.

Looking Out My Back Door, and later solo hits Centerfield, The Old Man Down The Road, and Rock and Roll Girls (about his daughters) led into more Creedence hits Down On The Corner, Have You Ever Seen The Rain? and perhaps the ultimate protest song of the Woodstock era, Fortunate Son. The encore was topped off with Traveling Band and the song that Creedence is best known for, Proud Mary.

Loyal fans who have waited so many years to hear the Creedence songs performed once again left with smiles on their faces.

Setlist:

Bad Moon Rising

Up Around the Bend

Green River

Born on the Bayou

Wholl Stop the Rain

Lookin Out My Back Door

Rock and Roll Girls

Night Time Is the Right Time (Roosevelt Sykes cover)

Joy of My Life

Fight Fire

Keep On Chooglin

Have You Ever Seen the Rain?

Centerfield

Down on the Corner

The Old Man Down the Road

Fortunate Son

Encore:
A parole hearing was held Monday for Indigenous activist Leonard Peltier, who has spent most of his life in prison since his conviction in the 1975 killings of two FBI agents in South Dakota.

At 79, Peltiers health is failing, and if this parole request is denied, it might be a decade or more before it is considered again, said his attorney Kevin Sharp, a former federal judge. Sharp and other supporters have long argued that Peltier was wrongly convicted and say now that this effort may be his last chance at freedom.
Kevin Lockhart is Central New York area vice president at 1199SEIU, the nations largest healthcare union. Kimberly Townsend, Ed.D., is president & CEO of Loretto, a comprehensive continuing healthcare organization based in Syracuse.

Four years after the pandemic first struck our communities, its no secret that many sectors of the economy have struggled to fully bounce back. Today, New Yorks healthcare providers face a staggering staffing crisis that threatens to undermine our ability to serve those who need our services.

These challenges are acutely felt in Central New York, where just 10% of hospital beds are available  ranking among the lowest in the state, and job openings for clinical staff skyrocketed. According to a 2022 study by the American Health Care Association and National Center for Assisted Living, 86% of nursing homes and 77% of assisted living providers said their workforce situation has gotten worse in recent months, 58% of nursing homes are limiting new admissions and 78% of nursing homes and 61% of assisted living communities are concerned workforce challenges might force them to close.

Fortunately, there is a real opportunity to meet our workforce needs by tapping into newly arrived immigrants to enter the healthcare field. New Americans already power our healthcare industry, accounting for 37% of the healthcare workforce in New York  double the national average. Many of the recently arrived migrants have relevant skills that, if properly cultivated through training and other workforce development opportunities, will make them ideal candidates for nursing assistants, home health aides and other roles.

But this requires real investment and attention  you cant just simply put immigrants into jobs and add water. At Loretto, we offer paid training programs to become Certified Nurse Aides (CNAs) and Certified Home Health Aides (CHHAs) to not only ensure we have the skilled workforce we need to support the demand for care, but include career pathways for growth for those who want to have a successful future in the healthcare field.

This is a model that works. In just the last five years, Loretto has graduated more than 300 CNAs and CHHAS into professional practice, with a strong retention rate. From there, many continue on into our unique paid Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) Apprenticeship Program. The first federally recognized Program of its kind in the country, this successful partnership between Loretto and 1199SEIU has been instrumental in the success of finding collaborative solutions to workforce development, graduating more than 50 LPNs since its start in 2018.

Weve shown this can work locally, and now we need New Yorks leaders to scale these workforce development efforts statewide. Were encouraged by Gov, Kathy Hochuls recent move to ease requirements for entry-level state jobs, and we can do even more to provide pathways to work for migrants and give struggling sectors a much-needed boost.

Importantly, we dont need to wait for the new arrivals to New York to get their work authorizations. New arrivals must indeed wait at least six months to apply for work authorization, and potentially longer to get their documents approved by the federal government. But the state can take steps right now to ensure that migrants can get to work as soon as theyre able, including making it easier to clear the security hurdles and background checks to work in our regulated environments, especially for non-patient care facing roles like food service, housekeeping and maintenance.

And it means sponsoring workforce development programs, English classes, skills training, and certification prep  all of which can be done while these people are waiting for their authorizations, and allows them to step into a job as soon as their approval comes through. There are countless partners statewide, including 1199 SEIU and Loretto, that are ready to step up and support the state with this effort.

The truth is, there are nearly half a million open jobs in New York state. This is a moment for state and local leaders to demonstrate historic leadership by mobilizing our newest neighbors and longtime New Yorkers alike to fill these critical gaps in our workforce.

This is why weve worked with a group of diverse leaders  business, labor, faith and civic institutions  as part of the Ellis Island Initiative to highlight the opportunities and think about how we can leverage the desire of newcomers to come to our region, to create a better future for all.

Healthcare workers offer a lifeline to our state, keeping New Yorkers safe and healthy. Staffing challenges threaten the long-term success of the industry, and our capacity to serve New Yorkers. The solution to this challenge is right in front of us: thousands of New Americans who are ready to work and just need some help to get over the finish line. Lets get them that help. Its a win-win all around, for healthcare providers, unions  and for the patients most of all.
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation forest rangers participated in three wilderness rescues last week involving elderly hikers who were either injured or disoriented while hiking in the Adirondacks.

On June 5, a 72-year-old from Monroe had hiked approximately one-quarter mile from a trail when she suffered a broken leg near Scaroon Manor, a DEC campground on Schroon Lake in Pottersville. Rangers, campground staff, and EMS brought the woman to a waiting ambulance.

On June 6, a 79-year-old hiker from Texas was on the second day of a solo hike up Mount Marcy, New Yorks highest peak, when he ran into trouble. Other hikers who passed him on the Van Ho Trail called ranger dispatch to report an elderly hiker in distress. Seven rangers reached the man around midday and helped him down to Marcy Dam. The man said hed lost the trail overnight.

Also on June 6, a 76-year-old from New York Mills became disoriented while hiking in Hinckley State Forest. Rangers intercepted the elderly hiker on the trail. The hiker said he didnt need medical assistance but was uncertain which trail he was on. Rangers escorted him out of the woods.

The following reports are excerpted from DEC

Rangers assisted state police on June 8 in a search for three teen suspects involved in a stolen vehicle case in Franklin County.NYSDEC

Rangers assisted state police on June 8 in a search for three teen suspects involved in a stolen vehicle case in Franklin County. Two were believed to be armed with long guns. A ranger spotted two suspects running across a field. Multi-agency resources tightened the search perimeter while rangers and the NYSP Special Operations Response Team located the remaining suspects hiding in a camper. All suspects were taken into custody without further incident. State police charged them with criminal possession of stolen property and resisting arrest.

On the afternoon of June 4, a 23-year-old from Saratoga Springs twisted her ankle injury in the Shelving Rock area. Three rangers, along with Fort Ann EMS, splinted her ankle, packaged her into a litter, then brought her to a waiting ambulance.

A group of five college students at the Feldspar lean-to in the Adirondacks High Peaks region called for help on the evening of June 5 because two hikers in their group, a 19-year-old from Vermont and 20-year-old from Texas, were sick; one of the two had hurt their leg in a fall. Five rangers reached group and discovered one hiker was experiencing diabetic issues. Rangers provided glucose to assist and helped the hikers back to the trailhead.

Two hikers got stranded near Weeping Falls on the afternoon of June 1. Rangers assisted rescue crews using a high angle rope system.NYSDEC

Two hikers got stranded near Weeping Falls in the High Tor Wildlife Management Area on the afternoon of June 1. A ranger called one of the hikers, a 33-year-old from Rochester, and determined neither hiker was injured. Naples Volunteer Fire Department and the Ontario County High Angle Rope Rescue Team assisted the hikers down multiple sets of waterfalls and out of a gully using a rope system.

Two ATV riders pulled into a Suffolk County gas station on the evening of May 31 after riding on the highway. As a ranger wrote up two tickets for illegal operation, one of the ATV riders, a 32-year-old man, became non-compliant and made physical contact with the ranger. The ranger arrested the man for obstructing government administration and impounded both ATVs.

Two Canadian children, ages 12 and 15, took the wrong trail and got separated from their parents on the morning of June 1 while climbing Mount Marcy, New Yorks highest peak. The Marcy Summit Steward radioed ranger dispatch, which spread the word about the missing children as rangers began their search. Ultimately a group of hikers found the children and guided them to their parents.



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Rangers rescue ADK hiker badly injured in 20-foot fall - syracuse.com

Elderly man lost in ADKs rescued by forest rangers - newyorkupstate.com

Forest rangers rescue injured ADK hikers; conduct prescribed fires on 100 acres - newyorkupstate.com

Forest rangers conduct controlled burns on 261 acres across New York State - newyorkupstate.com

Rangers find body of missing man in forest near Massachusetts border - 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.
By Alex Gault | Watertown Daily Times

Washington  Former Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo took questions in a closed-door hearing of a House committee focused on reviewing the Covid-19 pandemic Tuesday, part of a wider review the federal government is taking over New Yorks response to the crisis.

While the transcript of the hearing was not made available, Cuomo and some of New Yorks Republican representatives to Congress came out immediately with statements explaining their take on what was said.

Cuomo has faced continued criticism from Republicans over some of his decisions during the pandemic, from enforcing a policy that nursing homes needed to admit Covid-positive patients to his decision to publish a book about his leadership while the crisis continued to progress and some public restrictions remained in place.

Cuomo and a cohort of his top administration officials, including former Department of Health Commissioner Dr. Howard Zucker; Gareth Rhodes, former deputy superintendent of the state Department of Financial Services; Jim Malatras, a former adviser and SUNY chancellor; and Melissa DeRosa, his former secretary, have been called before the House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic to testify in closed-door sessions.

A subset of the House Oversight Committee, it was created in 2020 to review then-President Donald J. Trumps response to the pandemic, and has been maintained since Republicans took over in 2022.

A full transcript of the interview was not immediately available, and a press contact for the committee that conducted the hearing said a full transcript of Cuomos hearing, as well as the other officials from his administration that were called, would be released at a currently undetermined time.

But Cuomos spokesperson Rich Azzopardi released a copy of Cuomos opening remarks to the committee. In those remarks, Cuomo said there are valid questions to be asked of the national response to the Covid-19 pandemic, but put the blame for the failures on the Trump administration of the day.

He acknowledged the high death rate in nursing homes, which officials from his administration have admitted to under-representing at the time out of fear of political reprisal from Trump.

To distract from their own culpability and muddy the waters, four years ago the Republican administration made many accusations and called for investigations into New Yorks Covid response: those investigations have concluded, he said.

Cuomo said that the U.S. Department of Justice has investigated the Cuomo administrations handling of nursing homes during the pandemic three times, as has the Manhattan District Attorney and New York Attorney General, as well as the state Assembly. The Assembly report found that the Cuomo administration had substantially revised their report of nursing home Covid-19 deaths in an attempt to boost his image and reputation, but did not put the blame specifically on Cuomo. The state Attorney General had initially identified that the administration had undercounted nursing home deaths by nearly half  the current estimated count is 15,000 deaths, but the Cuomo administration reported only 8,500.

But Cuomo in his opening argued that politics was more a driver of the federal investigations into nursing home policies in New York  he argued that many states got similar federal guidance from the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services on nursing home admissions policies, but only four states, all run by Democrats, were targeted for investigation by the Trump era DOJ.

I believe we can all agree that political weaponization of the Justice Department is a fundamental violation of our democratic principles and beliefs, he said. It is unethical, illegal and an abuse of government power and resources. Ironically, I have heard President Trump make this case many times over the past few months. Its wrong when Republicans do it, and its wrong when Democrats do it.

Cuomo also released a video address on YouTube, making many of the same arguments. He said that the pandemic is still not getting serious review and reflection, because politics and partisanship have taken center stage over the science.

The nursing home controversy was the most destructive example of the Republicans politicization, deception and abuse of government during Covid, he said. It was a complete fraud, and it created misconceptions that continue today.

He said that nursing homes did see some of the worst outbreaks of Covid, and some of the most tragic breakdowns during the height of the crisis, but said the situation in New York was no worse than the national average and the deaths in New York homes were not a result of state policies he directed.

In reality, New Yorks nursing homes performed well in comparison to other states, Cuomo said, citing a CMS nursing home rate graph that shows New York in the lowest third of nursing home deaths per state in 2020.

Cuomos testimony is likely to cover much more ground than his opening statement  his testimony started at 10 a.m. in a House office building in Washington, D.C., and was still ongoing by 5 p.m.

New Yorks House Republican members planned to host a press conference to discuss the testimony when the hearing concluded, but Rep. Claudia L. Tenney, who does not sit on the committee conducting the hearing, said in a statement on X, formerly Twitter, that she views him as guilty of a crime.

Cuomos decision to admit Covid-19 positive patients into nursing homes to protect his image and secure a lucrative book deal led to 15,000 deaths, she said. New Yorkers deserve justice for Cuomos fatal nursing home policy and the attempts to cover it up. Today, we move one step closer to seeing this criminal behind bars.

Congresswoman Elise M. Stefanik, R-Schuylerville, said in that after-hearing press conference that she was waived onto the committee to ask Cuomo questions, a fact that Cuomos lawyer allegedly tried to protest. Stefanik said she asked many questions over the course of the hearing, and wrapped up by asking Cuomo if he takes responsibility for the deaths in New York under his watch.

Despite hours and hours of trying to blame everybody else, in the final moments of the deposition, he said, ultimately as the New York Governor there is accountability for how they handle nursing homes, Stefanik said. This is an important step. Were going to continue doing the important work of this select committee.

___

(c)2024 Watertown Daily Times (Watertown, N.Y.)

Visit Watertown Daily Times (Watertown, N.Y.) at www.watertowndailytimes.com
Marcellus, NY - Several school districts in the Syracuse area received e-mail threats today that appear to be a hoax, according to the Onondaga County Sheriffs Office.

The Sheriffs Office is assisting school districts in following the procedures they have in place for these threats, a spokesman said.

In Onondaga County, Marcellus, North Syracuse, Fayetteville-Manlius, Tully and Westhill all received these e-mailed threats, said Deputy Doug Roser, speaking for the Sheriffs Office. They are being treated as non-credible threats, Roser said.
If youre a HOKA fanatic like the rest of us, you know that the HOKA website is refreshed every week to include new markdowns. This week, the markdown list is filled with hiking and trail running shoes, but the big markdown on the Clifton 8 is hidden among the deals.

The Clifton 8, originally $140, is now on sale for $112. The Clifton 8 maintains its reputation for offering a balance of softness and lightness. It incorporates a lighter, more responsive midsole while retaining its characteristic ride quality. The updated design includes a streamlined silhouette and an engineered mesh upper.

Related: Columbia is having a sale on its popular outdoor items for up to 40% off

The Clifton 8 from HOKA is on sale today.Courtesy of HOKA

Clifton 8 - $112 (was $140)

The shoe features a breathable mesh upper, an early stage Meta-Rocker for smooth transitions, an extended pull tab for easy on and off, flat-waisted geometry for stability, high-abrasion rubber for durability, a gusseted tongue for a snug fit, and EVA foam for cushioning.

The American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA) Seal of Acceptance acknowledges products that contribute positively to foot health. Each product undergoes evaluation by a panel of APMA podiatrists to ensure it supports and promotes foot health.

More HOKA deals this week

Anacapa 2 Mid GTX - $146 (was $195)

Enhanced with recycled yarn meshes, this hiker now features a 30% sugarcane EVA midsole and a Vibram Megagrip outsole. Complete with metal speed hooks and a rubber toe cap, this shoe is ready to take you on any adventure.

Speedgoat 5 - $124 (was $155)

Check out all the HOKA deals here.
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Buffalo is recommending 40 churches in Western New York to close or merge due to financial struggles.

WIVB reports the Buffalo Diocese plans to cut a third of Western New Yorks 160 parishes, four years after filing for bankruptcy. The diocese is also facing declining numbers in priests, parishioners and donations as it also pays out at least $100 million to settle nearly 900 cases of child sex abuse.
WASHINGTON (AP)  When disinformation researcher Wen-Ping Liu looked into Chinas efforts to influence Taiwans recent election using fake social media accounts, something unusual stood out about the most successful profiles.

They were female, or at least thats what they appeared to be. Fake profiles that claimed to be women got more engagement, more eyeballs and more influence than supposedly male accounts.
By Jessica Schladebeck | New York Daily News

Eight suspected terrorists from Tajikistan have been arrested in major cities across the country, including New York, Philadelphia and Los Angeles, over their alleged ties to ISIS, according to reports.

The group of suspects were taken into custody over the course of several days as part of a joint operation between U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the FBIs Joint Terrorism Task Force, according to reports. They are all believed to have entered the United States by way of the southern border in 2023, with sources telling NBC Philadelphia that none of their background checks raised any reason to block their entry at the time.
Farming for a Better Future 2024  Teagasc Johnstown Castle Open Day

A major Teagasc Open Day is planned for Tuesday, 16th July at the Teagasc Environment, Soils and Land Use Research Centre, Johnstown Castle, County Wexford. This Open Day will demonstrate technologies and practices for efficient, environmentally sustainable, profitable and more resilient farming systems, and the supports available to implement them.

Farming for a Better Future 2024 - A major Teagasc Open Day planned for Tuesday, 16th July at the Teagasc Environment Research Centre, Johnstown Castle, County Wexford was launched this week. Pictured discussing the details of the open day with the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue T.D. were: John Spink, Dr Karen Daly, Professor Frank O Mara, Teagasc Director, and Dr David Wall.

Farmers face significant challenges to maintain sustainability in a changing climate. We invite all farmers to join us at this open day to see the latest research that will help protect water quality, soil health, enhance biodiversity and reduce gaseous emissions.

Dr David Wall, Enterprise Leader at Teagasc Johnstown Castle said; There are an exciting range of technologies, ready and available for implementation by farmers, to help build resilience and improve the economic and environmental sustainability of farming systems. At this open day farmers and the wider agricultural industry will also get insights into what new things are coming in the research pipeline. I would urge all farmers to attend the upcoming open day to see what steps they can take now to improve their businesses, and to inform themselves of what new practices and technologies they could adopt in the future.

Those who attend will be informed of the latest practices and technologies identified by research, and tested at field and farm system scales to help farmers improve their farming business. The open day aims to build understanding of the environmental challenges faced by the sector and to provide support to farmers and practical solutions that they can adopt. Practical management of the winter and spring dairy systems, the calf-to-beef herd and the new organic beef finishing trial at the Teagasc Johnstown Castle Research Centre will be presented and discussed during this open day. Tillage farmers are also encouraged to attend, to engage with the latest research on soil health, crop nutrition and cover crop establishment and management.

Announcing details of the Open Day, Dr Karen Daly, Head of the Teagasc Environment, Soils and Land Use Research Department said; Farmers face significant challenges to maintain sustainability in a changing climate. We invite all farmers to join us at this open day to see the latest research that will help protect water quality, soil health, enhance biodiversity and reduce gaseous emissions.

Launching the Farming for a Better Future Open Day Teagasc Director Professor Frank OMara said; Farmers are being asked to change and adapt their farming practices and farm management to reduce impacts on the natural environment. The science underpinning some of these requested changes arises from the research undertaken by Teagasc in the Environment, Soils and Land Use Research Centre, Johnstown Castle, and in its other research centres. This Open Day will bring together all of this available knowledge, with simple practical advice and messages for farmers to consider.

Among the exhibits at the Open Day will be;

Management of red & white clover and multispecies swards

New information for successful management of grass-clover and multi-species swards under spring calving dairy and dairy calf-to-beef systems will be available. The latest research on red-clover silage swards and associated benefits and resilience of more diverse grassland swards will be presented.

Fertiliser and Manure Technologies

Get the latest information on sustainable fertiliser technologies, soil additives, bio-fertilisers and slurry amendments to help improve nutrient efficiency and grass growth, while reducing gaseous emissions, enhancing carbon sequestration and soil health. Information on how to benchmark Nitrogen (N) use efficiency on your farm and sustain production levels with less chemical N, will be available.

Better Farming for Water: 8 Actions for Change

Get the latest information on strategies to mitigate losses of phosphorus, sediment and nitrogen to water under three pillars of our water quality campaign: nutrient management, farmyard management and land management. Learn how to better target the right nutrient and sediment loss mitigation measures in the right place while optimising nutrient management and soil fertility. The ASSAP programme advisors will be on hand to discuss practical methods to protect water quality on your farm and to prepare for seasonal changes in weather in the future. The knowledge gained from the Agricultural Catchments Programme will also be presented.

Biodiversity

Learn about evidence-based actions to enhance farmland biodiversity. The latest practices to help maintain, enhance and develop new on-farm biodiversity areas, including hedgerow management, will be demonstrated. Find out how your hedges can be managed more effectively to help combat climate change by storing carbon, provide better shelter for grazing animals and promote biodiversity on your farm.

Dairy and dairy-beef systems

Dairy cow nutrition for winter milk production will be discussed, as well as an update on research into home grown protein sources for feed rations. The latest research on feed additives to reduce biogenic methane emissions from grazing livestock will be discussed. The results from the dairy-beef systems studies and insights from DairyBeef500 programme, and age of slaughter studies will be presented. Key benchmarks for measuring the efficiency, and the economic and environmental performance, of dairy and dairy-beef production systems will be disseminated.

The Signpost Programme

The latest learnings from the Signpost programme on climate action for all Irish farmers will be on show. This collaborative programme, led by Teagasc and includes over 100 Signpost farmers, all relevant industry partners, and state bodies, will present progress to date. Tips for reducing gaseous emissions from Irish agriculture, while reducing costs and creating more profitable and sustainable farming enterprises, will be available.

Teagasc Advisory and Education

Teagasc advisory services will be on hand to discuss how the agri-environmental schemes, organic farming scheme, or forestry scheme, including agro-forestry, can support farmers incomes and enhance your farm business. Information on transferring the family farm, applying through TAMS, slurry storage and other requirements will be available on the day. The next generation of farmers can also find information on education and training opportunities on offer through the Teagasc education programme.

Health and Safety for Sustainable Farming

Awareness of farmer wellbeing and aspects of health & safety on farms will be demonstrated at the open day. After the challenging year gone by, farmers will need to assess their resilience to the stresses of farming and ensure that they, their family and employees, are working in a safe and secure working environment.

Visit the Teagasc Environment Research Centre, Johnstown Castle, County Wexford on Tuesday, 16th July to see the Technologies to help you Farm for a Better Future.

Click here for more information on the Johnstown Castle Open Day.
kugo_93 Newbie

Join Date: Feb 2019 Location: Mumbai Posts: 23 Thanked: 45 Times



I have a habit of checking the car fluids before any long journeys.



Lately I found that the coolant expansion chamber has got dull and upon inspection the coolant colour had become dark.





I decided to change the coolant as a precautionary step during this service. The coolant used was the genuine VW G12 evo ready mix which is currently used by the ASC. 7 Litres was procured and 6 litres went in. 1 litre is kept for emergency.

Lot of research and also by refering to our members posts I decided to go with Motul X-cess 5w40 Fully synthetic Engine oil. Rest of the filters were OEM.

The parts used :-







Here are my findings at 57000 kms, ( Last service was carried out at 47150 kms )



The air filter condition since last service :







The new airfilter Going in :-







Oil filter condition :-





New oil filter and o rings :-







Engine oil and coolant filled in:-





The coolant expansion chamber had to be detached and cleaned property to get rid of the discolouration formed. The final outcome was good.





The first crank after the whole service showed a noticeably easier startup and slightly lower idle clatter. A test drive was conducted to make sure all was good and I am happy to note that the response of the motor on this oil is way better than the ASC oil. The engine revs more freely and the gruff note coming in the 2000-3500 rpm range has subdued by a noticeable margin.

(Could be a placebo effect) The temps shown at he mid stayed at the stable 90 degrees as before. The coolant level dropped by about 200ml after the test drive which was topped up till the max mark. ( Total 6 litres )



Any other interesting findings will be updated in the followup posts.

Thank you for staying till here , hope you have a good day ahead. Dear members I would like to share my service experience of my skoda Rapid Tdi Dsg done at a FNG for the first time. The car is about 6 and a half year old and has done close to 57000 kms. The last annual service was done a Skoda ASC at 47150kms. However I was disappointed when I was told that the Diesel filter was not replaced and when inquired they said that the company policy had changed. I am pretty sure their inventory was the problem. Secondly the Engine oil was filled much higher than the max mark on the dip stick. Again I was told that its acceptable. Now as the car is now out of warranty I wanted to get the car serviced at a FNG. Luckily a good friend of mine happens to own a FNG close to my house. This time the 6th annual service was carried out there.I have a habit of checking the car fluids before any long journeys.Lately I found that the coolant expansion chamber has got dull and upon inspection the coolant colour had become dark.I decided to change the coolant as a precautionary step during this service. The coolant used was the genuine VW G12 evo ready mix which is currently used by the ASC. 7 Litres was procured and 6 litres went in. 1 litre is kept for emergency.Lot of research and also by refering to our members posts I decided to go with Motul X-cess 5w40 Fully synthetic Engine oil. Rest of the filters were OEM.The parts used :-Here are my findings at 57000 kms, ( Last service was carried out at 47150 kms )The air filter condition since last service :The new airfilter Going in :-Oil filter condition :-New oil filter and o rings :-Engine oil and coolant filled in:-The coolant expansion chamber had to be detached and cleaned property to get rid of the discolouration formed. The final outcome was good.The first crank after the whole service showed a noticeably easier startup and slightly lower idle clatter. A test drive was conducted to make sure all was good and I am happy to note that the response of the motor on this oil is way better than the ASC oil. The engine revs more freely and the gruff note coming in the 2000-3500 rpm range has subdued by a noticeable margin.(Could be a placebo effect) The temps shown at he mid stayed at the stable 90 degrees as before. The coolant level dropped by about 200ml after the test drive which was topped up till the max mark. ( Total 6 litres )Any other interesting findings will be updated in the followup posts.Thank you for staying till here , hope you have a good day ahead.
shourya_lahiri BHPian



Join Date: Mar 2016 Location: Kolkata Posts: 121 Thanked: 470 Times

Re: The breathtaking, mountainous Cold Desert Valley (Spiti) with my Maruti Jimny Quote: Rohitthebest Originally Posted by Super Awesome thanks for the nice pictures and details. Your travelogue took me back 13 months in time when I did the same stretch solo. Looking forward to do it again next year with my better half once we acquire our first proper 4X4.

Just one question though as I didn't find it mentioned anywhere in your travelogue, were you required to engage 4X4 anywhere in this stretch?

No, I did not need to use 4X4 anywhere, but I did, at some places. This is a very unpopular opinion, that why use 4X4 when it can be done without. And yes all of that is true, There were'nt all 4wd vehicles there, infact majority were FWD and full of Alto's. But my argument is, when you have the advantage, why not use it? Shift on the fly is fairly simple to use. You never know when the section infront might get tricky. Using the 4H gives you much better confidence on loose grounds, momentary slush areas (like where the ice has melted and mixed with mud on the side)..you know the likes.

I did not venture into chandrataal, like I have mentioned. From what I have heard, a good amount of GC is required for those areas.



Quote: Dibyendu Bose Originally Posted by Many thanks for the excellent travelogue.



I have been planning a driving holiday to this region ever since i retired a couple of years back. However in recent vlogs have seen that the road becomes very narrow at places, without any semblance of any crash barriers. While i dont want to bring the subject of Indian road norms here in this page (although i am sure this precarious unsafe situation will not be allowed in most countries), do you suggest that i can embark on this journey (with a slightly bigger SUV, a Discovery Sport?) Or leave my car in Sangla n take a local vehicle till Kaza. (In which case, cant come back via Manali).



To paraphrase the question a bit, are these narrow dangerous un-barriered portions too few and far between, or there are quite a few of them which has made this journey rather risky .



Please include the Sangla Chitkul detour also in your analysis .

Yes, what you have gathered from the vlogs is correct. The roads do get narrow, and yes quite a few sections are without crash barriers. It is in those sections that a smaller dimension vehicle will be more suited, like the locals driving Alto's. That being said, are there no wide body vehicles using the same roads? They are. Infact what about the trucks, they have to cross each other at some place. So the Main factor here is which place . Watch out for traffic from a distance and plan your cross point in advance. Thats how the vehicles there are getting the job done.



The Sangla Chitkul Detour is a bit tricky. Especially because of the HRTC buses, Travelers and trucks along the way. But nothing that cannot be dealt with, or is not being driven on by much wider vehicles. As I have mentioned, I started much early the next day from Chitkul to avoid trucks and buses, but still met with some on the way.



Here's a video footage from my dashcam to give you a fair idea. Note that I atleast met these guys around a paved road section, had I started any later, I would have to deal with them in sections where its all gravel and just enough width for one car to pass. The road to Chitkul is full of these type of stretches.



What I discovered is that North of Kaza, towards Kunzum the roads are much wider. Less paved, but wider.



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9V6PlZT6CBg Glad that I could transport you back to your fond memories.No, I did notuse 4X4 anywhere, but I, at some places. This is a very unpopular opinion, that why use 4X4 when it can be done without. And yes all of that is true, There were'nt all 4wd vehicles there, infact majority were FWD and full of Alto's. But my argument is, when you have the advantage, why not use it? Shift on the fly is fairly simple to use. You never know when the section infront might get tricky. Using the 4H gives you much better confidence on loose grounds, momentary slush areas (like where the ice has melted and mixed with mud on the side)..you know the likes.I did not venture into chandrataal, like I have mentioned. From what I have heard, a good amount of GC is required for those areas.Thanks Sir for the question. I would love to answer this.Yes, what you have gathered from the vlogs is correct. The roads do get narrow, and yes quite a few sections are without crash barriers. It is in those sections that a smaller dimension vehicle will be more suited, like the locals driving Alto's. That being said, are there no wide body vehicles using the same roads? They are. Infact what about the trucks, they have to cross each other at some place. So the Main factor here is. Watch out for traffic from a distance and plan your cross point in advance. Thats how the vehicles there are getting the job done.The Sangla Chitkul Detour is a bit tricky. Especially because of the HRTC buses, Travelers and trucks along the way. But nothing that cannot be dealt with, or is not being driven on by much wider vehicles. As I have mentioned, I started much early the next day from Chitkul to avoid trucks and buses, but still met with some on the way.Here's a video footage from my dashcam to give you a fair idea. Note that I atleast met these guys around a paved road section, had I started any later, I would have to deal with them in sections where its all gravel and just enough width for one car to pass. The road to Chitkul is full of these type of stretches.What I discovered is that North of Kaza, towards Kunzum the roads are much wider. Less paved, but wider.
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Big quote: Finnish state-owned startup Flow Computing claims that its new hardware can boost any processor's speed by orders of magnitude through parallel processing. The technology is supposedly scalable across most devices, architectures, and software. The company plans to reveal the specific details behind what it calls the "holy grail" of CPU performance in August.

Flow Computing has secured around $4.3 million in venture capital funding from Nordic businesses to pursue an IP that it claims can multiply CPU performance. The company says its Parallel Processing Units (PPUs) can usher in a revolutionary "CPU 2.0" era.

A subsidiary of the Finnish state-owned VTT research institute, Flow claims that CPUs have become the weakest link in modern architecture, likely referring to the clock speed plateaus of the last couple of decades. PPUs can supposedly help legacy and future processors climb over that hump by helping to synchronize workloads more efficiently.

The startup's website explains that parallel processing can hide latency and thus minimize the amount of wasted clock cycles. With the extra chip backing them up, CPUs can switch between tasks much faster with the same hardware specs as before.

Flow's system works by integrating the PPU onto the processor die, so the technology requires new hardware. If vendors decide to take a chance on it, the first PPU-equipped devices would probably take a few years to appear on the market.

Click to enlarge

However, anyone using PPUs wouldn't need to dramatically alter their hardware or software pipelines. The chips support existing architectures like x86, Arm, and RISC-V. Furthermore, software that hasn't been rewritten to account for PPUs can see CPU performance double. Recompiling an operating system or programming system library can increase performance by up to a factor of 100. An in-development AI-based tool might help developers take maximum advantage of PPUs.

By changing the amount of PPU cores, the improvements can be applied to numerous form factors. Flow suggests that a 16-core PPU would be ideal for mobile devices, 64 cores for PCs, and 256 cores for servers.

Although parallel processing can supposedly boost performance for any application, the company points toward emerging sectors like AI and cloud computing as the most likely to benefit. More technical details will be available at the Stanford University Hot Chips 2024 event, running August 25-27.
What just happened? Elon Musk has dropped his lawsuit against OpenAI and its CEO Sam Altman without giving a reason why. The billionaire launched the suit in February this year, claiming the pair breached their original contractual agreements by putting profit ahead of developing AI that benefits humanity.

After Musk sued OpenAI and Altman, the ChatGPT maker responded to the suit with a public post, authored by founding members, that included several of Musk's old emails. The post portrayed Musk as a jealous hypocrite who wanted absolute control over OpenAI. He also suggested that OpenAI use Tesla as a "cash cow."

Musk was one of the co-founders, backers, and initial board members of OpenAI, departing the company in 2018 over what he said was a conflict of interest with Tesla.

The case seemed to be going in Musk's favor. In May, the California judge presiding over the case removed himself following a challenge from Musk's lawyers. His legal team cited a law that allows a judge to be removed if it is believed they cannot grant an impartial trial.

Musk filed to voluntarily dismiss his breach of contract claims at a San Francisco court on Tuesday. The filing did not list a reason for the dismissal. However, a hearing regarding OpenAI and Altman's motion to dismiss the case had been scheduled for today, notes CNN.

OpenAI had called Musk's lawsuit "incoherent" and "frivolous," denying that there was any kind of "founding agreement."

Much of Musk's case revolved around the claim that OpenAI has developed an artificial general intelligence, or AGI, which refers to a machine with intelligence and reasoning that can match or outsmart humans, and handed it to Microsoft. Classifying GPT-4 as an AGI is something many experts have called into question.

It certainly isn't as if Musk's feelings towards OpenAI and Altman have suddenly changed. Following Apple's announcement at WWDC this week that it will be integrating ChatGPT into Siri as an optional feature requiring user permission, Musk warned that he would ban Apple devices from his companies if "Apple integrates OpenAI at the OS level." He added that visitors to his firms would have to check their Apple devices at the door, where they will be stored in a Faraday cage.
Rumor mill: Microsoft recently unveiled a new generation of AI-centric Windows laptops dubbed Copilot, and Qualcomm is the only company that currently makes the Arm-based processors for these devices. However, that could change soon, with a new entrant expected to join the scene in the near future.

According to sources quoted by Reuters, Qualcomm's arch rival in the smartphone space, MediaTek, is developing an Arm-based laptop processor for Copilot+ PCs. The report does not reveal any technical details about the new chip, but claims that it might debut late next year after Qualcomm's exclusive deal with Microsoft expires. Neither Microsoft nor MediaTek has commented on the report as yet.

A report from last year claimed that MediaTek was collaborating with Nvidia to develop Arm chips for Windows PCs. However, Reuters claims that the rumored new chip is not part of any collaborative effort, but a completely separate project. It's not immediately clear if the supposed collaboration between the two chip majors is still active or if the Taiwanese chipmaker has ditched the project to concentrate on its own efforts instead.

The news about MediaTek's rumored new PC chip is in line with Microsoft's recent focus on Arm devices to better compete with MacBooks powered by Apple's M-series chips. Based on Arm designs, the M-series processors typically outperform comparable x86-64 CPUs from Intel and AMD in various real-world applications, making it somewhat difficult for Microsoft to compete against Apple in the high-end segment, especially for creative workloads.

Microsoft showcased a slew of laptops powered by the Snapdragon X Elite and Snapdragon X Plus processors at its Surface event last month. Major PC vendors, including Dell, HP, Acer, Asus, Samsung, and Lenovo, announced their first batch of Copilot+ laptops at the event, with the promise of more to come in the near future. Microsoft itself also announced two Copilot+ devices of its own  the new Surface Laptop and the Surface Pro  with prices starting at $999.99.

Microsoft's Copilot+ standard requires laptops to include a built-in NPU powerful enough to process 40+ trillion operations per second (TOPS). The Snapdragon X processors powering the new devices feature an integrated Hexagon NPU, which Qualcomm claims can generate up to 45 TOPS for AI workloads. This performance makes devices equipped with the new chips powerful enough to meet the Copilot+ standard.
What just happened? Bill Gates and TerraPower management have begun constructing a new nuclear reactor in Kemmerer, Wyoming, a town with around 2,400 residents that could host a revolution in how the US (and possibly the world) generates energy from nuclear fission.

The company applied to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) in March for a construction permit to build the reactor, hoping to operate the plant as a proper commercial venture once the NRC officially approves the nuclear part of the project.

The new site isn't far from a polluting plant owned by PacifiCorp, which plans to stop burning coal in 2026 and natural gas in 2036. The utility hopes to source some of the greenhouse-free energy required by its customers from the new plant.

In Wyoming, TerraPower is building the first reactor based on its innovative "Natrium" design. The Natrium reactor uses molten sodium as an energy storage system instead of water. Molten sodium can absorb large amounts of heat, providing a much more efficient and secure way to generate and manage energy from nuclear fission.

The Natrium reactor uses nuclear fuel enriched with a higher percentage of the uranium-235 isotope than conventional plants, which, according to researchers, could be used to build nuclear weapons. However, the risk is currently considered small because low-enriched uranium is still rare. According to NRC spokesman Scott Burnell, the agency is "confident" that TerraPower will be able to comply with its requirements for security and public safety.

The new Wyoming plant is a 345-megawatt reactor that can generate up to 500 megawatts at its peak, enough to power up to 400,000 homes. TerraPower will initially use the reactor to provide electricity but is already planning for a future where Natrium reactors can supply heat for industrial plants.

According to PacifiCorp CEO Cindy Crane, TerraPower is building something new in a "challenging yet exciting time" in the energy industry. There's a need for reliable and affordable energy that must be met, and Natrium reactors could be the answer the utility company is looking for.

Gates said he was proud to have helped develop the "most advanced nuclear project" in the world. The Microsoft co-founder believes that Natrium "will power the future" of the US and the world.
In brief: Steam owner Valve is being sued for 656 million over claims that it has overcharged 14 million PC gamers in the UK. The class action alleges that Valve abuses its market dominance and charges an excessive commission, leading to consumers paying too much for their games and other content from Steam.

The case, which was brought by digital rights campaigner Vicki Shotbolt, accuses Valve of shutting out competition in the PC gaming market by forcing publishers into signing price-parity obligations. According to the suit, these ensure Steam always has the best prices and prevent games from being sold cheaper on rival platforms.

Shotbolt says this has enabled Valve to continue charging publishers an "excessive" commission of up to 30% and led to UK consumers paying too much for their games and DLC. The company is accused of breaching UK competition law for at least six years, writes the BBC. The suit aims to stop Valve's conduct and help people reclaim "what they are owed."

"UK gamers spend billions every year and Valve has a stranglehold on the PC gaming market. Competition law is there to protect consumers and ensure that markets work properly," said Natasha Pearman, leading partner at Milberg London, which has backed the claim. "When they don't work properly and consumers are harmed, collective actions of this kind provide consumers with a voice and a way of holding big companies, like Valve, to account."

The case bears many similarities to a 2022 class-action lawsuit brought against Sony in the UK, which was also filed by Milberg. The Japanese gaming giant is being sued for $7.9 billion over claims it ripped people off by overcharging consumers for games and in-game purchases from its PlayStation Store. It says around nine million people have been affected.

Should the claim prove successful, each person in the Sony suit could receive between $80 and $663 in damages. Like Valve, Sony takes a 30% commission from sales. In November, a UK tribunal blocked Sony's attempt to dismiss the suit.

The size of the cut that platform owners take from developers has long been a contentious area, especially when it comes to Apple and its 30% slice. The fee was a big part of Cupertino's fight with Epic, which likes to point out that it charges devs just 12% commission.

Steam broke its concurrent user record, again, in March when 34,649,583 people were logged into the platform simultaneously. Its record-breaking game sales (over 580 million) in 2023 generated more than $9 billion of revenue globally.
A corporate insider claims social media platform X will soon launch private likes. This modification will hide user likes by default, a functionality currently accessible to X Premium users.

Elon Musk recently shared a screenshot emphasizing enabling users to like posts without facing attacks.

Haofei Wang, X's head of engineering, indicated a few weeks ago that the adjustment would safeguard users' public image since "many people feel discouraged" from enjoying "edgy" content. According to The Verge, the Likes tab on user profiles will disappear. Last month, Wang hinted that the change would be made "soon."

Important to allow people to like posts without getting attacked for doing so! https://t.co/3O1bG7wIGe  Elon Musk (@elonmusk) June 11, 2024

X Possibly To Hide Likes Starting Today

X senior software engineer Enrique Barragan hinted at the debut today in a post that users would still be able to see who liked their posts and the like count for all posts but not who liked other users' postings.

Elon Musk said late last year he wanted to abolish tweet action buttons and promote post views, or "impressions." The tech billionaire thought likes weren't essential, the source said. The insider believes that Elon Musk wants to "distance himself from Twitter more" as social media moves away from counting likes.

This update comes after X implemented allowed pornographic content. However, it blocks adult and violent postings for individuals under 18 and non-opt-in users due to regulatory pressure to protect youngsters from improper social media information, as previously reported by TechTimes.

Previously, the platform formerly known as Twitter did not censor pornographic content. Under the new policy, X users will receive a warning if a post contains adult content, including nudity and graphic sexual activity, per The Guardian. This content is inaccessible to under-18s and those without birthdates.

X said it would recognize user postings and modify account settings if they do not label pornographic content. Similar laws apply to violent speech or material that threatens, incites, praises, or expresses a desire for violence or injury.

In January 2023, the UK children's commissioner discovered that 41% of individuals 16 to 18 had seen pornography on X, compared to 37% on adult sites. Julie Inman Grant, Australia's internet safety authority, attacked Apple and Google for keeping X and Reddit on their app stores despite adult material, citing financial incentives owing to the 30% fee on sales.

Apple's developer standards allow applications that conceal user-generated explicit material to be displayed. X's new policy follows these criteria, keeping the software on Apple's platform.

X is also fighting the Australian eSafety Commissioner over 65 tweets featuring a Sydney stabbing video. For Australian users, X blocks these tweets, but eSafety says VPN connections should also be blocked. The federal court will hear the lawsuit in late June.

Elon Musk Blasts Apple Intelligence

Separately, Elon Musk expressed his opposition to Apple's AI, dubbed "Apple Intelligence" for iOS 18, launched at this week's WWDC 2024. TechTimes recently reported that the tech mogul called OpenAI's ChatGPT integration a "security violation."

Musk shared memes, voiced disgust on social media, and threatened to ban Apple devices from Tesla, SpaceX, and X. He called Apple Intelligence's connection with OpenAI's ChatGPT an "unacceptable security violation," referencing the WWDC 2024 launch.

He called Apple's lack of AI development "patently absurd" and argued that Apple is risking user privacy by providing data to OpenAI without knowing the implications.
Elon Musk's recent decision to drop his lawsuit against OpenAI marks a significant development in the ongoing dispute between the tech mogul and the AI research company.

As legal proceedings unfold, questions arise about the solidity of Musk's claims and the implications for the future of AI development and corporate partnerships.

Elon Musk's Lawsuit Withdrawal

Elon Musk has dropped his lawsuit against OpenAI and its CEO, Sam Altman. The lawsuit accused the company of breaching its contract and allegedly straying from its mission to create AI technology for the benefit of humanity. The lawsuit has been dismissed without prejudice, allowing Musk to refile it.

Musk filed in February in a California state court (case number CGC24612746). The withdrawal comes just one day before a scheduled hearing, during which the judge will review OpenAI's request to dismiss the case.

His withdrawal also follows his recent statement that he would ban Apple devices at his companies if Apple integrates OpenAI's technology into the iPhone and Mac "at the OS level," among other unusual threats.

A hearing was scheduled for Wednesday in San Francisco, where the judge was set to consider the defendant's request to dismiss the case. In March, experts told CNBC that the lawsuit had a shaky legal foundation since the central contract was not a formal written agreement signed by all involved parties.

Elon Musk vs. OpenAI

Musk's lawsuit claimed that OpenAI violated an agreement made with Musk and other founding members. They had all pledged to make OpenAI a nonprofit and keep its technology open source. Musk asserted that OpenAI breached a "Founding Agreement," but no such formal contract was presented in court.

The complaint referred to this agreement, but it was more of an informal understanding conveyed through emails rather than a concrete, signed document. This lack of a tangible contract weakened the foundation of Musk's lawsuit.

OpenAI swiftly denied Musk's claims after the lawsuit was filed, stating that the billionaire aimed for "absolute control" by merging OpenAI with Tesla. The company also clarified that "no agreement at all" exists with Musk.

Last year, Musk launched his own AI startup, xAI, positioning it as a competitor to OpenAI. Just recently, xAI announced a substantial $6 billion Series B funding round, with notable investors like Andreessen Horowitz, Sequoia Capital, and Fidelity Management & Research Company.

According to its website, X.AI's mission is to "understand the true nature of the universe." The company introduced Grok, a chatbot named after "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy," as part of its initiatives last year. The company claims that Grok underwent two months of training and boasted real-time internet knowledge.
Google's Android is always known to bring novel features for users, and sometimes, they get overlooked as it is the first one with them. With the latest WWDC 2024 from Apple, these features are not exactly new.

Many are celebrating Apple for its innovations, especially with Apple Intelligence, but several announcements may seem all too familiar, and this is because Android has these.

Existing Android Features Apple Announced for iOS 18 in WWDC

The competition between Android and Apple's iOS is stronger than ever, especially with the novel features that dropped to the iPhone. Surely, several Android fanboys raised an eyebrow at its announcements of new features, especially with the massive focus on Apple's Green Bubbles by the US DOJ last March.

That being said, here are Android features that were already available when Apple announced new features on iOS 18 via WWDC 2024.

RCS Support and Google Messages Features

It is known that Google has long promoted RCS use with its Google Messages, and it touted the feature as a better way to send messages to other users and high-quality media across different devices. With Screen Effects introduced here, Google recently celebrated 1 billion users who enjoyed its RCS features, similar to iMessage's message effects.

RCS has focused on interoperability and cross-platform. Google patronizes the new standard, and Apple will deliver it later this year alongside iOS 18.

Google Photos and Smart Features

Google Photos has proven to be one of the most important apps on Android. Despite having other built-in Gallery apps, this one from Mountain View offers a lot more. The recent Magic Editor brought AI to Google Photos, allowing easy editing, removing unwanted objects in the background, and more. iOS 18 also gets this through Apple Intelligence.

Moreover, Siri is also equipped to find numbers, cards, and more on iPhone's Photos, similar to Google Photos.

Gemini AI vs. Apple Intelligence

Apple may be releasing its first AI tech, Apple Intelligence, and its promise is a personal intelligence system, on-device AI, but Google's Android already has that for selected devices. Gemini's many multimodal models also offer on-device AI; even with Gemini Nano, its entry-level tier is also free.

On the other hand, Apple Intelligence is still an AI of its own, with Cupertino going all out with what it has to feature, and it is now rising as one of the most advanced there is.

Customizable Home Screen

There were massive requests from iPhone users that Apple has answered this WWDC 2024 with iOS 18, and that is with the customizable home screen experiences that will arrive soon. However, Android users already know this as Google's Material You, which offers significant personalization options like changing app icon colors similar to the home screen and more.

Apple's new take will allow users to add a tint or shade of the specific color they want across apps, one that will tie it together along with the home screen.
According to the Dutch government, China's state hackers hacked the Fortinet VPN via an undisclosed vulnerability that was recently discovered. The massive hack affected 20,000 of Fortinet's VPN appliances. Chinese hackers executed hostile code known for its significant power remotely.

In two years, the company knew about the vulnerability and claimed to have fixed it, but it was kept secret, with China's hacker using CoatHanger for the attack.

Fortinet VPN Hacked by China State Hackers, Over 20,000 Affected

A new report from the Netherlands' Military Intelligence and Security Service (MIVD) and the General Intelligence and Security Service (AIVD) revealed the massive attack by Chinese state hackers against Fortinet VPN. The agencies claimed that in several months in 2022 and 2023, bad actors accessed at least 20,000 FortiGate systems worldwide.

It was revealed that the threat actors were already aware of this vulnerability two months before Fortinet acknowledged the problem.

This centers on a heap-based buffer overflow vulnerability, CVE-2022-42475, that can be remotely launched to execute arbitrary code. Fortinet acknowledged this and dubbed it the CWE-122, labeled with 'Critical' severity.

Fortinet fixed the vulnerability in November but disclosed it two weeks later, in December 2022, yet there was still an attack in 2023.

Netherlands Government: CoatHanger Backdoor

The Dutch government determined the malware dubbed CoatHanger to be aimed at Fortinet's vulnerability, which brought a complex and significant attack against the vulnerable systems.

According to the Netherlands' report, during the zero-day period of the attack, it infected 14,000 devices alone. It could enter through the backdoor vulnerability, live permanently on the device despite rebooting or updating, and escape detection.

VPN Hacks and Vulnerabilities

Virtual Private Network apps and systems have been the go-to for accessing geo-restricted content and hiding one's activity while surfing the web. This is an important tool in this day and age when information can be easily taken. However, there have been worries that VPN use makes users vulnerable to malicious actions, including surveillance and data access.

Previously, there was a VPN fiasco at iOS, and security researchers had already warned Apple about this vulnerability. The problem lasted two years, starting in 2022.

Many VPN companies have looked into boosting their security, with PureVPN previously introducing its quantum-resistant encryption keys, which are available for those using quantum computers.

Many people look to protect their online activity, data, and information on the web by using VPN platforms and services, but not all are secure and immune to getting hacked. The recent problem by Fortinet has been going on for years, with MIVD investigating the China-backed CoatHanger for its attack on Fortinet from 2022 to 2023.
A recent discovery saw AI bots now in place to steal a person's login credentials by only placing weird calls to their targets. Now, they know a way to target those with two-factor authentication enabled.

The bad actors behind these attacks do the prep work before the AI calls, stealing victims' credentials before the call is made, with the bots swooping in to steal the one-time password (OTP).

AI Bots Steal Login Credentials OTPs via Phone Calls

Not everyone you see or hear is legitimate with their intentions, and this also applies to phone calls where it has been reported by The Sun that there are growing attacks with AI bots deployed to steal login credentials like OTPs.

It was discovered that bad actors are now engaging in a scam by subscribing to crypto, which costs them $420 a week. They are given AI bots to do the calling for them. First, the fraud artists obtain a person's login credentials, including usernames, emails, and passwords.

Next, these bad actors would turn on a spoofing technology that would call victims where they would be asked to key in their OTPs during the call and would automatically send it over to the threat actor's Telegram bot, as reported by Kaspersky.

How to Protect Account Against Credentials Theft

The best way to protect against account and credentials theft, including OTPs, is to be wary of unusual events, especially when you are sent a login code despite not logging in to any of your accounts.

In this instance, bots posing as businesses or services that ask for these codes would call them after receiving an OTP. Never give your OTP via calls, messages, chats, or emails.

Also, do not authenticate logins that pop up as notifications for some apps.

Using AI for Elaborate Attacks, Hacks

A British spy agency previously warned all users that cyberattacks may increase because AI's massive presence in the industry today is being used for all the wrong reasons.

Apart from being used to execute attacks or help write codes meant to launch attacks, AI may also be used for other forms of hacks by threat actors. Recently, different phishing or scams were launched that use AI and automated systems to deceive their victims. One attack duped an employee from Arup into sending HK$200 million to criminals by pretending to be executives.

Scams, deepfakes, and using AI to execute codes are growing in the cybersecurity world, and many are falling victim to these manipulations using powerful technology. By using deepfake scams and convincing victims, a person may send over their OTPs via calls , which, in turn, would be used by bad actors to gain full access to their accounts, a hack that could be avoided with awareness and vigilance.
General Motors' Cruise will see its return to testing its robotaxi services in Houston, Texas, after the company's recent suspension of its operations in a new update. However, it would not be a fully autonomous operation for Cruise, as this time, it will be supervised driving, says the company, which means that a human driver would be behind the wheel for the time being.

This follows the company's recent pledge to pour in a new $850 million investment to improve its technology and services.

GM's Cruise Resumes Houston Robotaxi Testing

In the latest update on Cruise's previous press release about its resumption of services, the company announced its return to Houston as part of its robotaxi testing operations. As of this writing, Cruise has resumed its operations with manual driving, meaning that it is running with human drivers in full control of the vehicles in Phoenix, Arizona, and Houston and Dallas, Texas.

The company said that it will soon resume supervised driving for its robotaxi operations in Phoenix and Dallas. This would mean that its autonomous driving tech would take the wheel, with a human driver on board.

It has not yet been revealed when Cruise will resume its supervised driving and fully autonomous rides, but that is underway.

Read Also : GM's Cruise Will Launch Robotaxis in Arizona With Human Safety Drivers

$850m Pledge to Improve Cruise

This latest resumption of Cruise's Houston operations was done after General Motors pledged a new $850 million budget for the subsidiary company, according to The Verge. The announcement was made at Deutsche Bank's Global Auto Industry Conference held in New York. GM's CFO Paul Jacobson announced that this was for Cruise's operational costs amidst its return.

General Motors' Cruise

Back in October 2023, Cruise first stopped its operations nationwide because of safety concerns, which followed a recent pedestrian accident that plagued its service. This was a voluntary suspension of its services in the cities after California revoked its license to operate in the state following the issues regarding safety.

The company later decided to relaunch the service in Texas, centering on the three cities it operates in, including Austin, Dallas, and Houston. This was also after a change in its leadership after Kyle Vogt stepped down as its CEO, following scrutiny that looked at its management after a series of unfortunate events that Cruise faced.

However, Cruise's return would not immediately jump back into the autonomous driving experience; instead, it would first focus on a supervised robotaxi service with human drivers. After restarting its operations in Dallas and Phoenix, AZ, Cruise is now adding a new city where it will resume its robotaxi testing, with Houston as its next one on the list, following GM's massive investment.
NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope has delved into a curious binary star system, providing fresh insights into an explosive event that occurred four decades ago.

A Blast From the Past

The system, known as HM Sagittae (HM Sge), erupted in 1975, transitioning from a nondescript star to a luminous nova, which typically dims over time. However, HM Sge has defied expectations by maintaining its brightness for an extended period, prompting astronomers to reexamine its behavior.

Between April and September 1975, HM Sge exhibited an astonishing increase in brightness, growing 250 times brighter than its previous state. Unlike typical novae, which fade relatively quickly, HM Sge has retained its luminosity for decades, intriguing astronomers with its prolonged display.

Recent observations indicate that while the system has become hotter, it has also experienced a slight decrease in brightness, according to NASA. HM Sge is classified as a symbiotic star, characterized by a white dwarf and a companion giant star in an eccentric orbit. The white dwarf accretes gas from the giant star, forming a hot disk around itself.

Occasionally, this disk undergoes spontaneous thermonuclear explosions, illuminating the system with bursts of energy. According to NASA, this dynamic interaction between the companion stars provides valuable insights into stellar evolution within binary systems.

Ravi Sankrit of the Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI) remarked on the significance of HM Sge's sudden transformation in 1975, describing it as a focal point for astronomers at that time.

Collaborating with Steven Goldman of STScI, Sankrit and their team utilized data from Hubble and the Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA) to investigate changes in HM Sge over the past three decades.

Analysis of ultraviolet data from Hubble revealed a strong emission line of highly ionized magnesium, indicating a substantial increase in the temperature of the white dwarf and its accretion disk since 1989.

SOFIA Detects Gas, Water, and Dust

The team also utilized SOFIA to identify gas, water, and dust surrounding HM Sge, shedding light on the system's composition and behavior. Infrared spectral data revealed intriguing changes in the behavior of the giant star, which produces significant amounts of dust.

Astronomers observed water moving at high speeds around the white dwarf, indicating the presence of a sizzling accretion disk. The team's collaboration with the American Association of Variable Star Observers (AAVSO) has enabled continuous monitoring of HM Sge, allowing astronomers to track changes in the system over time.

Goldman emphasized the rarity of symbiotic stars like HM Sge, particularly those that undergo nova-like explosions. The ongoing study of HM Sge provides astronomers with a unique opportunity to deepen their understanding of stellar phenomena.

"Symbiotic stars like HM Sge are rare in our galaxy, and witnessing a nova-like explosion is even rarer. This unique event is a treasure for astrophysicists spanning decades," Goldman said in a statement.

The initial findings of the team were published in The Astrophysical Journal.

Related Article : NASA Hubble Space Telescope Unveils Breathtaking Image of Spiral Galaxy That Lies in Ancient Egyptian Queen's Hair




US federal judges discussed legal issues to address an attempt to overturn Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes' fraud conviction on Tuesday.



About 2 1/2 years had passed since Holmes' conviction for running a blood-testing fraud through Theranos. After leaving Stanford in 2003, Elizabeth Holmes created the health tech company in Palo Alto, California, to improve healthcare.



Holmes, serving 11 years of prison time in Bryan, Texas, skipped the hearing, but her parents, as well as Billy Evans, the father of her two small children, attended, according to AP News. Three federal prosecutors from the initial trial, including Jeffrey Schenk and John Bostic, now private lawyers, were in attendance.



Appeals court judges Jacqueline Nguyen, Ryan Nelson, and Mary Schroeder of the appeals court stated that compelling evidence would be required to overturn the jury's verdict, but they provided few specifics.



Elizabeth Holmes' attorney, Amy Saharia, said that the jury acquitted Holmes on four charges and deadlocked on three others, warranting an inquiry. The court gave no deadline for the verdict, which may take weeks or years.

Holmes' Lawyers Point Out Trial Flaws

Holmes' legal team argued they should have cross-examined Adam Rosendorff about his qualifications. It provided additional information to discredit him, including details of a federal probe into his work after Theranos. These flaws may have contributed to the "close" case, in which jurors failed to reach a judgment on most Holmes counts after seven days.



The government's Assistant U.S. Attorney, Kelly Volkar, replied that Rosendorff testified based on his firsthand experience at Theranos and that the equipment failed.



The judges posed suspicious questions to both parties without signaling a decision. Even without the challenged testimony, Circuit Judge Ryan Nelson found "pretty overwhelming evidence." Rosendorff spoke mostly about his corporate views, not scientific conclusions, according to Circuit Judges Jacqueline Nguyen and Mary Schroeder, according to The Guardian.

Read Also : Italy Fines Meta More Than $5 Million for Unfair Commercial Practices

Elizabeth Holmes Regret Actions

Once, a famous healthcare company, Theranos, claimed their equipment could screen for hundreds of ailments with a few drops of blood. However, the technology failed, causing the company's bankruptcy and criminal accusations against Holmes and her former business partner, Ramesh "Sunny" Balwani.



Prosecutors challenged the "fake-it-till-you-make-it" attitude of Silicon Valley entrepreneurs. A separate trial convicted Balwani on all counts, resulting in a sentence of nearly is 13 years in prison.



When Elizabeth Holmes received her sentence in November 2022, she told U.S. District Judge Edward Davila that if given the chance, she would have done many things differently. She admitted to regretting her mistakes "with every cell" in her body, as previously reported by TechTimes.

Judge Davila gave Holmes credit for her brilliance but stressed that her ambition and greed caused investors to assume her firm could do more.
An institutional shareholder complaint filed Tuesday accuses Elon Musk of earning billions by selling Tesla stock using insider knowledge.



The Employees' Retirement System of Rhode Island (ERSRI) wants the Tesla CEO to refund "unlawful profits," according to Reuters. The complaint was filed two days before Tesla shareholders' crucial vote on whether to reinstate Musk's $56 billion compensation package, which a Delaware judge annulled in January due to the tech billionaire's inappropriate control.

Elon Musk Allegedly Used Profits to Buy Twitter

The complaint claims that Musk and his brother, Tesla director Kimbal Musk, sold $30 billion in Tesla stock between late 2021 and 2022, before news that would lower the stock. According to the ERSRI, Elon Musk sold the shares at inflated rates by concealing his plan to purchase Twitter, which he eventually renamed X.

According to the lawsuit, Musk traded Tesla shares after learning that Tesla car deliveries were substantially below expectations. Elon Musk has not responded to the allegation as of present reporting.



ERSRI, which owns 140,000 Tesla shares worth $24 million, is not the only shareholder to sue. Mike Perry, another Tesla stakeholder, accused Musk of insider trading last month for selling over $7.5 billion in Tesla shares in late 2022.



Investigators are also looking into Musk for breaking federal securities laws in 2022 by purchasing Twitter shares.



ERSRI accuses Musk of directing Tesla staff to X and forcing Tesla to pay for Twitter advertising after he owned the platform. Insufficient oversight of Musk's conflicts of interest by Tesla's board of directors worried the fund's general treasurer.



The complaint also claims Elon Musk encouraged xAI, where he serves as CEO, to hire Tesla personnel and redirect Tesla AI chips to the X messaging platform and xAI. This raises fears that Musk is favoring AI development outside Tesla.



Elon Musk posted on X that Tesla has no location to store and activate Nvidia AI chips.

Read Also : San Francisco Court Hears Elizabeth Holmes' Appeal to Overturn Conviction

Elon Musk Had Sexual Relationship with Former Employee: Report

In another controversy, a former SpaceX intern claims to have had a brief sexual connection with Elon Musk.



According to a report from Business Insider, Elon Musk met the lady in the early 2010s during her undergraduate work at SpaceX. She told pals that she contacted Musk with company-improvement suggestions, which led to a "Star Wars" date and kiss.



The report, citing an article from Wall Street Journal, stated that Musk flew the lady to Sicily to meet him at a resort, citing records. In 2017, Musk personally approached the lady for an executive position. According to her lawyers, she departed from SpaceX in 2019.



In affidavits submitted by the woman's attorneys, she denied dating Musk while working at SpaceX from 2017 to 2019. The woman noted that Elon Musk did not commit any "predatory or wrongful" act towards her during her employment at the firm.

The attorneys, who also represent Musk, acknowledged her past romance with the SpaceX CEO. Individuals who know the issue said she visited Musk at his house many times while working at SpaceX.

The report did not name the woman, but she and Musk's attorneys submitted letters seeking the removal of the article.



In recent years, SpaceX has faced criticism for sexual harassment.



These developments come after Elon Musk dropped his lawsuit against OpenAI and CEO Sam Altman, previously reported by TechTimes.



The complaint accused the ChatGPT maker of breaking its contract and abandoning its purpose to improve mankind via AI technology.



The tech mogul filed a case in California state court in February. The withdrawal occurs one day before the judge assesses OpenAI's case dismissal motion.
In an unexpected turn of events, a photographer has managed to secure top prizes at a prestigious AI-generated photo contest with a real photograph (via Android Authority).

Real Image Wins AI Photo Contest

Miles Astray, a talented photographer, entered his real photograph into the AI category of the 1839 Awards, a renowned photography contest known for its emphasis on cutting-edge technology and creativity.

The image, titled "F L A M I N G O N E," depicts a flamingo in such a way that it appears headless due to the angle of the shot. Captured in 2022 at a beach in Aruba where flamingos roam freely, the photo was taken with a Nikon D750 camera using a 50mm prime lens at /1.8 and a 1/1600 shutter speed.

Hey guys, I got a little big favor to ask: could you please take 10 seconds to vote for my picture F L A M I N G O N E via this link:https://t.co/HZTuXyVvOl pic.twitter.com/7btnwbuDXY  Miles Astray (@MilesAstray) June 3, 2024

Initially, "F L A M I N G O N E" won both the Bronze award in the judge's category and the People's Vote Award. However, Android Authority reports that this victory was short-lived as the 1839 Awards organizers quickly revised the winners' list, replacing Astray's photo with two other AI-generated images that were previously listed as honorable mentions.

The Creative Resource Collective, the organization behind the 1839 Awards, issued a statement explaining the decision to disqualify Astray's entry. They emphasized their commitment to ensuring fairness and clarity for all participants by maintaining distinct criteria for each contest category.

The jury, composed of esteemed professionals from institutions like The New York Times, Christie's, and Getty Images, initially recognized Astray's photo for its creativity and visual impact. However, upon realizing the image was not AI-generated, the organizers felt it necessary to reallocate the awards to other artists who adhered to the category's specific requirements.

Why The Photographer Did It

Speaking with Android Authority, Astray said his motivation behind submitting a real photograph to an AI contest was to highlight the ethical implications of AI in photography. He sought to demonstrate that real-life scenes could be as fantastical and creative as those generated by artificial intelligence.

Reflecting on his actions, Astray said, "Of course, I feel bad about leading the jury astray, but I think that they are professionals who might find that this jab at AI and its ethical implications outweighs the ethical implications of deceiving the viewer, which, of course, is ironic because that is what AI does."

Astray teased the true nature of his photo on social media, hinting at its authenticity with a caption that read, "We've all seen a flamingo, but have you ever seen a flamingone? Only an AI could make that up. Or did I just make that up?"

AI Wins Art Competition

This incident is reminiscent of a similar case in August 2022 when game designer Jason Allen won a digital arts competition at the Colorado State Fair using an AI-generated image.

Allen's victory with his piece "Theatre d'Opera Spatial" sparked widespread debate about the legitimacy and artistic value of AI-generated works.

Despite winning a $300 cash prize, Allen faced criticism from the digital art community, with many arguing that creating AI-generated images lacked the effort and skill required for traditional digital art.

Stay posted here at Tech Times.
Nitrous oxide emissions surge in climate threat: study



Sydney, June 11 (AFP) Jun 11, 2024



Global emissions of nitrous oxide -- a potent greenhouse gas -- are outpacing expectations and putting climate change goals in peril, a major study published on Wednesday found.

Drawing on millions of atmospheric measurements from around the world, the report revealed a sharp rise in human-related nitrous oxide levels.

The findings raised researchers' concerns that too little is being done to rein in the gas, the vast majority of which is produced by agriculture.

Nitrous oxide heats the Earth's atmosphere 300 times more effectively than carbon dioxide, scientists say, and can linger for more than a century.

Emissions soared 40 percent in the four decades to 2020, said the Global Nitrous Oxide Budget, which relied on the expertise of 58 international researchers.

As a result, levels of the gas in the atmosphere climbed to 336 parts per billion in 2022 -- a 25 percent increase over pre-industrialised levels.

The surge was far greater than previous predictions by the UN panel of climate scientists, the IPCC, said the report's lead author, Hanqin Tian from Boston College.

Nitrous oxide emissions must drop if global warming is to be limited to the Paris Agreement target of 2 degrees Celsius, Tian said.

"Reducing nitrous oxide emissions is the only solution since at this point no technologies exist that can remove nitrous oxide from the atmosphere."

Nitrous oxide, or laughing gas, is one of the three key greenhouse gases, along with carbon dioxide and methane, that contribute to human-driven climate change.

It also pollutes the soil, water, and air, and depletes the ozone layer.



- Agriculture main culprit -



"This emission increase is taking place when the global greenhouse gases should be rapidly declining towards net zero emissions if we have any chances to avoid the worst effects of climate change," said Tian.

Agriculture is the biggest offender, accounting for nearly three-quarters of human-related, or anthropogenic, nitrous oxide in the 10 years to 2020, the report said.

Other culprits were fossil fuels, waste and wastewater, and biomass burning.

In the four decades to 2020, agricultural emissions of the gas surged 67 percent, it found, with most of the blame placed on nitrogen-based fertilisers and animal waste.

While global policies are in place to curb other greenhouse gases, nitrous oxide emissions are climbing virtually unchecked, said Pep Canadell, co-leader of the study.

"We need to be more aggressive with nitrous oxide -- we have no policies anywhere and there are very limited efforts," Canadell, a chief researcher at Australia's national science agency, CSIRO, said in an interview with AFP.

The UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has estimated that nitrous oxide accounts for 6.4 percent of total greenhouse gas emissions.

That figure is expected to grow in the coming years.

But if global warming is to remain below 2C, anthropogenic nitrous oxide emissions need to decline by about 20 percent by 2050, the new study found.



- Farmers taking action -



China, India, the United States, Brazil, Russia, Pakistan, Australia and Canada were the top nitrous oxide emitters, driven in part by their rapidly growing populations and increased demands on the food sector, the report said.

Europe -- once the world's top nitrous oxide emitter -- managed the biggest decrease by reducing the use of fossil fuels. Its emissions related to agriculture are slowly decreasing as well.

Emissions in Japan and South Korea also dropped.

New policies to limit nitrous oxide emissions could take up to 10 years to have an effect, Canadell said.

But many farmers were already seeking to reduce their emissions, including by more precise use of nitrogen fertilisers, genetic modification of crops, better animal waste management and more sustainable farming practices.

"If these emissions were to be reduced by whatever level, it will have a huge impact," Canadell said.
Colombia to deploy 12,000 to secure Cali biodiversity meet



Bogota, June 12 (AFP) Jun 12, 2024



Colombia said Tuesday some 12,000 security personnel will be deployed in October for the major UN biodiversity meeting in Cali, as the region faces a wave of guerrilla violence.

A total of 1,600 soldiers and 4,000 police will be sent to the city to join some 6,000 already deployed to fight guerrillas that have carried out a recent spate of bombings and gun attacks in the area, deputy defense minister Daniela Gomez told reporters.

The city of Cali, associated with a particularly violent chapter of Colombia's deadly drug conflict, is due to host the 16th meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP16) of the Convention on Biological Diversity from October 21 to November 1.

But a recent spate of attacks blamed on fighters of the Central General Staff (EMC) -- a splinter group of the FARC guerrilla army which signed a peace deal with the government in 2016 -- has authorities on edge.

The EMC is estimated to have about 3,500 armed fighters involved in the drug trade and illegal mining, as well as fighting both the military and criminal groups competing for trafficking routes and territory.

Last month, officials said EMC militants opened fire and set off cylinder bombs at a police station in the town of Morales, some 100 kilometers (60 miles) from Cali, killing two officers and two detainees in a "terrorist attack."

On the same day as the Morales assault, three children and a civilian adult were injured when a motorcycle laden with explosives was detonated in the nearby municipality of Jamundi.

"We are very aware of the risks... Various operations have been carried out in recent months to prevent these threats from materializing," said Gomez.

She added nearly half the armed personnel will be deployed in the Cali urban area for the conference.

Ana Maria Sanclemente, secretary for security of the Valle del Cauca department where the EMC is particularly active, said the military will carry out operations in the group's "zones of influence" ahead of the COP.

The event hopes to attract some 12,000 delegates and exhibitors from around the world, as well as heads of state, to one of the world's most biodiverse countries.
4.8 magnitude earthquake strikes southern South Korea



Seoul, June 12 (AFP) Jun 12, 2024



A 4.8 magnitude earthquake struck in southwest South Korea Wednesday, the country's weather agency said, with witnesses reporting a "thunderous roar" although no major damage was reported.

The quake struck four kilometres south of the county of Buan, which is around 205 kilometres south of Seoul, at 8:26 am (1126 GMT), according to the Korea Meteorological Administration.

An alert text message was sent to citizens nationwide, which advised those in affected areas to be cautious of possible falling objects and aftershocks.

Prime Minister Han Duck-soo instructed the government to implement "thorough" measures in response to the earthquake, with local reports saying that noise and shaking were also experienced in the cities of Sejong, Daejeon and Cheonan.

Buan resident Yang Seo-yeon told AFP she heard a "thunderous roar" while she was getting ready to go to work in the morning.

"It sounded as if I was in the middle of a huge construction site. Then my house started shaking."

No significant damage had been reported as of Wednesday morning, according to authorities.

Unlike neighbouring Japan, the Korean peninsula rarely experiences significant quakes.

The country's most powerful quake to date was a 5.8-magnitude tremor that struck Gyeongju, also in the southeast, in September 2016.
Oil and gas industry hops on generative AI bandwagon



New York, June 12 (AFP) Jun 12, 2024



Away from the Microsoft and Googles of the world, a century-old industry -- oil and gas -- is hoping that generative artificial intelligence will make producing petroleum more efficient and easier on its workforce.

Long before the current craze surrounding generative AI (Gen AI), the energy sector employed traditional artificial intelligence through its use of data to identify oil and gas deposits.

But the industry sees even greater potential to save money, reduce accidents and lower greenhouse gases through Gen AI, which exponentially increases and diversifies the data that can be analyzed.

The new AI programs can also be employed broadly in the workforce instead of being limited to programmers and data analysts, as has been the case with traditional AI.

"Extracting this data from the copious amounts of data generated by drilling activities has historically posed a significant challenge for industry leaders," recently wrote Tim Hafke, content marketing specialist with AlphaSense. "That's where Gen AI comes in."

In recent years the downstream industry, which includes refineries that process crude oil into gasoline, has increasingly relied on so-called digital twins -- computer-modeled replicas of actual facilities.

They allow companies to run simulations to assess operational issues in real-life facilities, mitigate potential hazards and do predictive maintenance (PdM).

PdM uses historical and current data to project future performance and determine when parts should be taken down for maintenance or replaced.

Microsoft vice president Matthew Kerner sees this as an entry point to generative AI, a way "to explain why the predictive model is making that prediction" and provide context to better address the situation, he explained during a panel discussion at energy conference CERAWeek.

"Gen AI is useful as a bolt on to some other more predictive AI systems," Kerner said.

Next-generation chatbots similar to the world-famous ChatGPT can also be of help for employees on the ground, said Rob McGreevy, of industry software company Aveva, during the panel.

The data-filled chatbot could allow oil field or refinery workers encountering a problem to measure atmospheric conditions like humidity and operational performance like wellhead pressure to quickly diagnose the issue, McGreevy said.

Getting a detailed report in seconds allows for a quick fix -- saving time and money in the process.



- 'Less risk' -



During refinery maintenance, "you're putting people in dangerous situations to do work. If you can do those turnarounds faster, you're exposing yourself to less risk," said Matthew Babin, head of energy and natural resources at software company Palantir Technologies.

Gen AI can provide "context to people who are in the process of making a decision, even if it's outside their area of expertise," Babin said.

"So if I'm a reservoir engineer, I don't have to know about maintenance, but I do have to know about maintenance when I'm looking at how that resource is going to perform and what that costs my organization," Babin added.

Petroleum installations are regularly checked or taken offline for upkeep.

A Gen AI interface provides "access to a maintenance manual, so you can look at how maintenance for that piece of kit should be done," all laid out in plain English, thanks to a chatbot, McGreevy said.

Such a system could also facilitate the repair work itself, taking the guesswork out of such decisions.

For example, the technology would allow a company to use a computer model of a facility to determine if there is enough room to use a ladder or install scaffolding, McGreevey said.

McGreevy said it could also help new employees: "I think we can shorten dramatically the time it takes for people coming on board to be proficient to safely operate these facilities at scale."

Greater efficiencies linked to Gen AI also create a chance to reduce an oil facility's carbon footprint. But running the technology also requires huge amounts of electricity, mainly in data centers.

tu-jmb/bjt

MICROSOFT

CHEVRON
Shadowy exotic pet trade thrives in Pacific island nation



Honiara, June 12 (AFP) Jun 12, 2024



The Pacific's Solomon Islands has become a key player in the global live animal trade, with foreign collectors sourcing exotic species including some subject to trade bans, an AFP investigation has found.

Conservationist testimony, official documents and UN data show native Solomon Islands lizards being shipped to the United States, wild birds plucked from verdant rainforests and sent to the Middle East, and dolphins destined for Chinese aquariums.

Some wild animals can be captured and sold legally, but the trade in vulnerable species is governed by strict rules or even bans.

That has not stopped traders keen to cash in on the lucrative market for exotic pets.

They are targeting species that are already considered at risk, and are actively threatening the future of others, said Solomons ecologist Patrick Pikacha.

"There's no studies. No monitoring. It's just every man for himself," Pikacha told AFP.

Solomon Islands has stunning ecological diversity and is teeming with vibrantly coloured parrots, tree-dwelling lizards, swooping mega bats and more.

But it is the only Pacific island that participates in the legal wildlife trade, and its most unusual species are increasingly popular pets.

One of the most coveted is the monkey-tailed skink, a striped native lizard that dangles from trees using a prehensile tail.

Designated near-threatened, trade in the reptile was suspended in 2001 under an international conservation treaty overseen by the United Nations.

But UN export figures show a thriving market.

More than 2,000 monkey-tailed skinks were sourced from Solomon Islands in the last eight years, according to the figures, including around 1,300 sent to the United States.

Online listings reviewed by AFP show a single juvenile specimen can sell for up to $1,500.



- 'Insane' trade -



Last October, UN officials urged Solomon Islands to "address compliance challenges" within its live wildlife trade, including the continued export of monkey-tailed skinks.

"It has come to the attention of the secretariat that specimens... that are under trade suspension from Solomon Islands continue to appear... as being traded for commercial purposes," a UN letter read.

Solomon Islands' environment department did not respond to requests for comment.

But it has previously called "sustainable trade in wildlife" an "important source of income" for the developing nation.

In the capital Honiara, clouds of flies buzz around plastic bins of fish at the bustling seaside market.

A faded sign overhead warns against the live wildlife trade, singling out dolphins as a "no sell" species.

Foreign dealers set their sights on Solomon Islands in the early 2000s, paying coastal communities to capture live dolphins for theme parks overseas.

Solomon Islands pledged to shut down the trade in 2011, after a dolphin flown to Mexico died, sparking an international outcry.

But exports appear to have quietly resumed after the furore died down.

Trade records compiled by the UN show China alone imported 56 live bottlenose dolphins from Solomon Islands between 2016 and 2018 for zoos or "commercial" purposes.

Solomon Islands environmental campaigner Lawrence Makili said "foreigners" had exploited the "small, struggling" nation.

And while no dolphins are known to have been exported since 2018, Makili fears the "insane" trade could resume.

"Only early this year I got some information that there was a group attempting to capture dolphins," he told AFP.



- 'Essentially lies' -



There are also signs the Pacific nation is a transit point for threatened birds smuggled from elsewhere.

The chattering lory parrot is found only in the jungles of Indonesia's Maluku Islands -- about 3,400 kilometres (2,100 miles) from the main Honiara port.

Yet UN trade records show around 390 of the striking red-and-green birds arrived in Oman and Bangladesh via Solomon Islands between 2016 and 2020.

Pikacha said the birds, designated a vulnerable species, likely arrived on logging ships travelling through Indonesia and Papua New Guinea.

Ecologists suspect the Solomons wildlife trade is intertwined with powerful logging interests, which own vast tracts of rainforest throughout the nation and wield immense political influence.

Many of the birds sold from Solomon Islands are supposedly bred in captivity, a designation that attracts less scrutiny than wild-caught animals.

But Solomon Islands has no aviaries big enough to breed birds on a commercial scale, conservationists said.

"There are absolutely zero captive-breeding facilities in Solomon Islands," said Pikacha.

"And so what's placed on those trade records are essentially lies."

Animal trafficking expert Chris Shepherd, who has researched Solomon Islands' bird trade, compared the process to "wildlife laundering".

"It's a big concern that these so-called breeding centres in Solomon Islands are still facilitating the laundering of species," he told AFP.

Conservationists also warn that baseline data on species in the Solomon Islands is so thin it is hard to even be sure about the status of the country's wildlife.

"The whole region is a black hole when it comes to understanding what species are in trade -- their volumes, destinations, the conservation impacts," said Shepherd.

"It might seem like a small deal to lose a lizard or bird species here and there.

"But once you start damaging these populations, things are going to fall apart pretty quickly."
Greece, Jordan assist in tackling Cyprus wildfire



Nicosia, June 12 (AFP) Jun 12, 2024



Aircraft from Greece and Jordan were helping Cypriot authorities battle a large wildfire in the southwestern Paphos region believed to have been started by an illegal landfill, officials said Wednesday.

The fire broke out Tuesday east of the village of Giolou, triggering a national emergency plan that saw civil defence evacuate five mountain villages at risk.

Officials said two air tractors from the Royal Jordanian Air Force and two planes from Greece were deployed Wednesday to tackle the blaze in the rugged terrain.

Fire service spokesman Adreas Kettis said later on Wednesday that the fire was subsiding.

"The fire is now subsiding. The active front near the Polemi community has been controlled," he wrote on X.

"Suppression teams continue with final extinguishing efforts and complete containment. The risk of rekindling remains present."

Nicosia had activated the European Union fire assistance protocol to seek help in containing the fire.

Fire service chief Nicos Logginos told state radio Wednesday that seven aircraft, including two Canadair planes from Greece, are operating over the active fronts.

He said that due to harsh terrain, ground forces have been unable to reach the area.

Over 300 people, including fire crews, supported by bulldozers, were working to secure the perimeter of the fire.

Logginos said police have evidence the fire started from an illegal landfill site.

Around 48 people evacuated from the fire zone were taken to hotels, said local daily Kathimerini Cyprus.

The scale of the fire prompted President Nikos Christodoulides to return early from a Gaza aid summit in Jordan on Tuesday to visit the crisis control centre.

During a meeting with King Abdullah II of Jordan, he requested additional aerial support to combat the fire in Paphos.

Kettis said earlier that a number of homes suffered extensive damage or were destroyed, but the scale of the destruction had yet to be determined.

Residents have complained that homes were destroyed because of the slow response to the fire's outbreak.

The community leader in the village of Lemona, Kyriakos Charalambous, told the Cyprus News Agency it took "too long" for aerial firefighting units to arrive.

Wildfires often erupt in Cyprus during the sweltering summer months on the island which suffers from a severe lack of rainfall.

The Department of Meteorology issued a yellow alert for Wednesday for extreme heat, with maximum temperatures expected to reach 41 degrees Celsius.

Cyprus recorded its hottest-ever June day last Friday as temperatures soared to an unprecedented 44 degrees Celsius, the department said.
Brazil's Lula defends oil exploration near Amazon River



Rio de Janeiro, June 12 (AFP) Jun 12, 2024



Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said Wednesday that a controversial offshore oil exploration plan near the mouth of the Amazon River was a key opportunity for the country's growth.

"We want everything to be legal, respecting the environment. But we are not going to let any opportunity to promote the growth of this country pass us by," Lula said in Rio de Janeiro to investors from Saudi Arabia -- one of the world's leading oil producers.

Plans to explore for oil in an offshore basin near the mouth of the Amazon River have angered environmentalists and divided the Lula administration.

His own environment minister, Marina Silva, is openly opposed to the plan, and the IBAMA environmental protection agency denied the oil giant Petrobras an exploration license in May last year.

However, newly-appointed Petrobras boss Magda Chambriard stated last month that she wanted to "accelerate" oil exploration, including in the controversial area near the mouth of the Amazon River, known as the Equatorial Margin.

Environmentalists highlight the contradiction in Lula's defense of fossil fuel exploration while he positions himself as a leading figure in the fight against global warming.

Under his leadership, deforestation in the Amazon rainforest halved last year compared to 2022.

Brazil will host the UN climate conference COP30 next year in Belem, a city in northern Brazil seen as the gateway to the Amazon.

"COP30 will be decisive for the planet. Without everyone's efforts, global warming could reach catastrophic levels," Lula said on Wednesday, recalling the devastation wrought by historic floods in southern Brazil last month.
The ripple effects of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East have made their way to Western New York again.

This time, it led to a dispute between an Orthodox Jewish day school and a local nonprofit arts organization.

Locust Street Art, which offers free or low-cost art classes, initially refused to collaborate with Ohr Temimim School, an Orthodox Jewish day school in Amherst and said so in an email. But following backlash from the community, Locust Street retracted the statement the same day and apologized.

I am incredibly ashamed of our lapse in judgement, Executive Director Rachelyn Noworyta said in her email to the school. At Locust Street Art, we know and believe that the arts are for all, and it would be deeply wrong of us to deny arts access to the youth of Ohr Temimim School.

Rachel Shanowitz, an administrator at Ohr Temimim School, was spearheading the project to get nearly 50 students at the school exposed to the enrichment Locust Street provides through artwork. Having joined its program in March with her children, she found the experience welcoming and accommodating.

However, after six to eight weeks of communication, mainly involving logistics, Shanowitz said she was shocked to receive an email last week that the nonprofit group no longer wished to collaborate with the school, due to ideological disagreements.

Unfortunately, upon further review of your organization, we have found our missions are not aligned and we will not be able to set up programming with your school, said the email sent by Morgan Arnett, an offsite instructor at Locust Street. It seems we are on opposite sides of a great ethical divide and cannot in good consciousness work with a pro-Israel organization that supports the ongoing genocide in Palestine.

Arnett also added that the decision was not taken lightly.

I did not see it coming. It was a very surprising message. There was no hints and other communications that this is about to come, Shanowitz told The News.

About seven hours later, Shanowitz said she received the apology email from Noworyta.

Shanowitz, who had grown up in Argentina and faced antisemitism before coming to the United States, said the letter left her shaken.

The claim was that we support genocide. And that was a little bit appalling to me because I never saw any political aspects or matter of discussion throughout my experience of going there, she said.

Noworytas follow-up email said the school does not take sides in political matters and believes that art has the power to bring people together.

We try to always lead with positive intent and love for all people. We failed to abide by that core philosophy today and let misguided interpretations cloud our judgement, she said, adding that they would aim to do better in the future.

This is not the first time that the current strife in the Middle East has had an impact in Western New York. In November, the Western New York chapter of the Muslim Public Affairs Council bought space on digital billboards on Buffalos most heavily traveled expressways, the I-190 and I-290, calling for the end of violence in Gaza. Lamar Advertising took them down without explanation within a few days, sparking outrage in the community. MPAC-WNY partnered with the Buffalo chapter of Jewish Voice for Peace in January to try to send the same message and criticized the agencys prior decision to crack down on free speech.

In October, The News reported two incidents of students tearing down Israeli flags displayed in a school building at the Sweet Home School District, leading several members of the Jewish community to point out the concerning rise in antisemitic behavior since Oct. 7 when Hamas attacked Israel.

StopAntisemitism, a U.S.-based organization fighting antisemitism, tweeted Tuesday evening about the incident.

Shocking discrimination as a Jewish Day school was denied services by Locust Street Art instructor Morgan Arnett due to the school being pro-Israel, the tweet read, adding, According to their website, Art is for Everyone. Except half of the worlds Jews.

Michael Berger, the attorney associated with Ohr Temimim, sent the arts organization an email condemning its decision to refuse collaboration.

I am in absolute disbelief at the statements set forth in the letter, he said. For her to even begin to allege that our school supports genocide is an absolute libel. Just because a group may support the State of Israel does not by any admission equate to supporting genocide.

Locust Street Art did not make Arnett available to comment on the issue.

A misguided email was sent to the school and within hours, I sent a formal apology and redacted, Noworyta told The News Wednesday. That apology was accepted, and we are looking forward to being able to work with the Ohr Temimim School.

She is working with the board to create a policy that will require any denial to go through the board of directors.

We are an art school that is for everyone, regardless of religious beliefs, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, gender, color of your skin. It does not matter for us, art is for everyone and we staunchly stand by that, Noworyta said.
The Liberal Partys internal squabbling once again burst into the open this week when Senator Hollie Hughes, effectively disendorsed by her own party, launched a scathing attack on shadow treasurer Angus Taylor over his support for her successful preselection rival, Jess Collins.

Hughes accused her shadow cabinet colleague of treachery, and claimed he was using last months preselection contest to bolster his own shot at a leadership tilt should the Liberals move on from Peter Dutton after next years federal election.

Hollie Hughes is the shadow assistant spokeswoman for mental health and the NDIS. Credit: Janie Barrett

Memories in politics are very short. But not ours.

Hughes herself entered the upper house at the 2019 election, after successfully toppling another sitting senator, the late Jim Molan, from a winnable spot on the partys ticket.
A Sydney widow of an alleged Islamic State fighter has avoided a criminal conviction for travelling to a hostile part of Syria during the reign of the Islamic Caliphate.

Mariam Raad, 32, appeared before Goulburn Local Court for her sentencing after pleading guilty in May to remaining in a declared area, a Syrian province called Raqqa, from about December 2014 to March 2016. She is the first person to be charged with this offence.

Mariam Raad arrives at Goulburn Local Court. Credit: Kate Geraghty

After hearing submissions, Magistrate Geraldine Beattie discharged Raad of the convictions on the condition she is of good behaviour for 25 months, reports within a week to community corrections at the NSW town of Young where she now lives and continues to engage with her psychologist and an integrated support program.

Raad sat quietly by herself in court, her lips shaking as she regularly clenched her hands together while listening to submissions, and wiping away tears as she heard her sentence.
A man who claimed he was one of Perths leading cosmetic medical professionals has been struck off this week after the Medical Board of Australia found he tested positive for a long list of illegal drugs and was also having a sexual relationship with a patient.

Dr Ilan Josephs was the owner and medical director at Fresh Faces Cosmetic Medicine in Alfred Cove when he was accused of a string of allegations that breached the medical code of conduct.

Dr Ilan Josephs has been struck off for professional misconduct. Credit: Instagram

The allegations date back to 2021 where Josephs, who specialised in emergency medicine before becoming a cosmetic doctor in 2010, tested positive to methamphetamine, amphetamine, MDMA, cocaine, Cocaethylence, Benzoylecgonine, Diazepam and Nordiazepam via a hair sample.

He later told a psychiatrist he had been taking cocaine since February 2021 and used prescribed and/or self-prescribed diazepam to aid in sleep on occasions where he used cocaine.
News / Local

by Staff reporter

Revelations from Wicknell Chivayo have exposed a corruption scandal involving a US$40 million Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) tender.Chivayo detailed how payments from this deal were distributed, highlighting significant figures, including Pedzisayi "Scott" Sakupwanya, ZEC chairperson Priscilla Chigumba, and Central Intelligence Organization (CIO) Director-General Isaac Moyo.The money, transferred to Better Brands Security (Pty) Ltd in South Africa, was shared among various individuals, with Chivayo receiving US$150,000 and Chigumba US$100,000.Chivayo's leaked audio explains that the first phase of the tender, amounting to about US$20 million, involved inflated invoices to fund rewards and bribes. He accuses Moses Mpofu of indiscretion, which led to internal conflicts and threats from other dissatisfied parties. This fallout resulted in Chivayo excluding Mpofu and Mike Chimombe from future deals, despite their claims to more substantial shares.The tender, meant for acquiring voter registration kits for Zimbabwe's disputed 2023 elections, involved multiple high-level officials, including Chigumba and CIO's Moyo, ensuring the deal's approval.This scandal illustrates deep-rooted corruption and the manipulation of state contracts for personal gain, with Chivayo boasting about his influential connections and future schemes to exploit other tenders.
News / National

by George Tshuma

Senior ZANU PF political figures in Matabeleland North have severed their ties with notorious Italian Mafia boss Francesco Marconati. The move comes amid increasing frustration over Marconati's blatant disregard for advice and his persistent undermining of the rule of law. This dramatic turn of events follows his recent arrest for evading court-mandated community service, which he was supposed to conduct along with his son Alessandro Marconati.Throughout his years of illegal activities, Marconati has been a controversial figure in Matabeleland North. He has been accused of abusing his workers and preventing fellow directors from accessing mines in the Bubi district. However, a tipping point seems to have been reached, prompting even his staunchest supporters to abandon him.A police source based in Matabeleland North, who spoke on condition of anonymity, revealed that one of Marconati's chief protectors, Senator Mbambo, has also withdrawn his support. "Senator Mbambo has been influential in ensuring Marconati's protection, often swaying the police not to arrest him despite his criminal activities," the source disclosed. "But now, even he has had enough and joined other political leaders in distancing themselves from Marconati."The disenchantment with Marconati is palpable in the community. Two local residents, who asked to be quoted, expressed their relief at the news of his arrest. Mthokozisi Ncube stated, "We are happy that Marconati has finally been arrested. He has been abusing our sons who work at his mine, treating them poorly and showing no respect for the community." Another resident, Sipho Dube, added, "We hope he stays in prison for a long time. His actions have caused a lot of suffering here, and it's time for justice to be served."The withdrawal of political protection from senior ZANU PF figures marks a significant shift in the region's power dynamics. Marconati's once formidable shield is seemingly crumbling, leaving him vulnerable to the legal repercussions of his actions. His arrest follows a warrant issued by the Harare Provincial Head of the Judiciary Services Commission, which cited his failure to conduct the community service he was sentenced to after being found guilty of threatening to kill his business partner, Li Song.Marconati's downfall is seen as a victory for the rule of law and a warning to others who might consider similar paths of corruption and exploitation. The community of Matabeleland North is now watching closely, hopeful that this arrest signals a new era of accountability and justice.As the legal proceedings continue, there is a growing expectation that Marconati will face the full weight of the law. The withdrawal of his political protection underscores a broader message: no individual, regardless of their influence or connections, is above the law.
News / National

by Staff reporter

The Zimbabwean Speaker of Parliament, Jacob Mudenda, prevented opposition CCC MP Gladys Hlatywayo from addressing a significant diplomatic incident involving President Emmerson Mnangagwa during a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin.Mnangagwa's comments, which described neighboring Zambia and Malawi as American client states, have exacerbated tensions with these countries, especially amidst ongoing disputes over Zimbabwe's controversial elections last August.Hlatywayo attempted to raise the issue in parliament on a "point of national interest," emphasizing the importance of avoiding statements that could destabilize relations with neighboring countries, particularly as Zimbabwe prepares to assume the role of SADC chair. However, Mudenda, a Zanu PF official, interrupted and redirected the discussion, asserting that foreign affairs are solely the domain of the executive branch.Despite Mudenda's assertion, the constitution mandates that the executive, including the President, is accountable to parliament. This accountability is crucial for democratic oversight and the proper functioning of Zimbabwe's government, which relies on the separation of powers among the executive, legislature, and judiciary.Mudenda has a history of actions that undermine parliamentary scrutiny of the executive, favoring the ruling party and its interests. This includes aiding the pro-Zanu PF faction within the CCC and obstructing efforts by opposition MPs to address issues in parliament. His actions reflect a broader pattern of protecting the executive from accountability, contrary to the principles of Zimbabwe's constitutional democracy.
Les Domaines Paul Mas releases first travel-retail-exclusive range

Les Domaines Paul Mas has announced Astelia, its first wine range exclusive to travel retail. The collection has launched in the Asia Pacific travel retail market.

The Astelia range has been curated by winemaker and owner Jean-Claude Mas, with the aim to embody the rural luxury of its Languedoc region.

Mas commented: Languedoc is a set of micro terroirs that the Astelia range expresses through plots which, although neighbouring, have different soils, humidity, exposure and altitude so that each of them perfectly accommodates a Chardonnay, a Cabernet Sauvignon, a Syrah and a Grenache. I have selected our best plots to create unique cuvees that harmonise with the land, capturing the essence of each terroir.

The collection comprises of Astelia Grangette 111, Chardonnay; Astelia Tannes 122, Cabernet Sauvignon; and Astelia Chalamat 178, Syrah Grenache. Each of the three wines in the range features a number marking the altitude of its vineyard plot, and the bottles will show a map of each plot.

Dependent on location of purchase, the wines may be sold with a Sense of Place sleeve with illustrations inspired by the country of sale.

Kevin Flores, export manager for the Asia market at Domaines Paul Mas, added: We are thrilled to introduce the Astelia range first in travel retail Asia, a market which plays a strategic and significant role for us. These are old world wines with a new world attitude, and each bottle tells the story of its unique terroir and our commitment to outstanding winemaking practices. By launching exclusively in travel retail, we aim to provide travellers with an unparalleled wine experience that captures the essence of French luxury and rural charm.

Alongside the Astelia collection, Domaines Paul Mas is releasing The Masterpiece and Limited-Edition ranges to travel retail. The Masterpiece is the brands collaboration with artist Christophe Heymann, who has created a series of 30 unique hand-painted bottles. The Limited-Edition collection features replicas of the painted bottles, to allow more consumers to access the extremely limited designs.

12 June 2024 - Lucy Schofield
News / National

by Tonderai Ndoro

Phillipe Van Damme, a former European Delegation country representative to Zimbabwe, has once again demonstrated his propensity for spreading misinformation.His recent claim on social media that Zimbabweans are dying due to hunger caused by the El Nino-induced drought is not only misguided but also unfounded, lacking any supporting statistics or evidence.It is astonishing that Van Damme, who does not reside in Zimbabwe, would make such a claim without bothering to verify the facts on the ground. His assertion is a prime example of misinformation and a gross exaggeration, aimed at perpetuating a negative narrative about Zimbabwe's situation.In stark contrast, the Government of Zimbabwe, led by President E.D. Mnangagwa, has been proactive in addressing the drought situation. On April 3, 2024, President Mnangagwa declared a national disaster, mobilizing international support and food aid to mitigate the effects of the drought. This move demonstrates the government's commitment to ensuring the well-being of its citizens.The facts on the ground contradict Van Damme's claims. The government has already distributed food aid to vulnerable communities, reaching 247,576 people with 2,722.46 metric tonnes of grain.Additionally, irrigation schemes have been set up in rural communities to combat hunger, and grain is being imported to ensure food security.It is important to note that even during the severest drought in recent history, which occurred in 1992, there were no reported deaths attributed to hunger. The government at the time ensured that food aid was widely available to all citizens across the country, a precedent that is being followed today.Van Damme's baseless claims should be dismissed with contempt, and people should not be swayed by his misleading narrative. His assertion is a gross exaggeration, lacking factual evidence and credibility.Under President Mnangagwa's leadership, the government is proactively working to combat hunger, ensuring that no one will succumb to it. His administration's efforts demonstrate a commitment to citizens' well-being, and Van Damme's claims only serve to undermine these efforts.
By Victor Ing,

Special to The Post

Honourable Minister Miller:

I am proud to say that I have been serving immigration clients for over a decade since I was called to the British Columbia bar in 2011. A year earlier in 2010, I had my first opportunity as an articled student to help prepare written legal submissions for a Federal Court matter concerning a family whose application for permanent residence was refused because they had a child with a disability. It was an exhilarating experience to advocate for our clients rights and to experience firsthand how the Court oversees the immigration decision-making process to ensure that it is transparent and fair. I was instantly hooked on this work. Fast forward to 2024 and I see a rapidly changing landscape where the Court is so bogged down with cases that it can no longer effectively serve this essential role.

As I am writing this letter, there have been over 10,000 new immigration cases filed with the Federal Court just as we hit the halfway mark of 2024. In practical terms, that represents a staggering and unsustainable average of over 60 cases a day  every single day! The pressure is mounting. The Court backlog is growing with no end in sight and hearings are being delayed. The lawyers at the Department of Justice who represent you in the Court are missing filing deadlines due to the sheer volume of work coming across their desks. Meaningful changes must be made immediately to curb these trends before our clients access to justice becomes illusory.

There are at least two main culprits in the dramatic, year-on-year rise in new court filings, both of which relate to the ways in which IRCC communicates with clients and can be remedied with common sense solutions:

Lack of Transparency for Refusals

It is well known within the immigration community that refusal letters create a tremendous amount of stress for clients. Refusal letters are simply that  a letter conveying the refusal of an application. They are vague and written using boilerplate language that rarely ever informs the client why the application was refused. This causes frustration for clients and lawyers alike because we are unable to advise clients about the next steps and best course of action.

To make things worse, when a decision is refused the client has a limited amount of time to challenge the refusal in the Federal Court under a judicial review. For decisions made within Canada, the client only has 15 days to challenge the decision and 60 days for decisions made outside Canada. Often, this leads to the default position of challenging the refusal in Federal Court just to meet the filing deadline, even though we dont have all the data in front of us to make a fully informed decision.

Thankfully, once the Court application is filed, Court rules require the responsible visa office to provide the detailed reasons for refusals (called Global Case Management System or GCMS notes) to our clients  this typically happens within four to six weeks after a Court application is filed.

In short, immigration clients are presently incentivized to file Federal Court applications. By filing them clients gain access to the officers refusal (GCMS) notes and they preserve their ability to challenge the refusal in Court should the reasons for refusal not withstand scrutiny.

Lack of Justification in Decision-Making

Immigration processing has undergone significant changes since I first began practicing immigration law over a decade ago. Today, immigration processing has been largely digitized, a development which was heavily fast-tracked during the COVID-19 pandemic, and now affects both the ways in which we submit applications and the way that they are processed by IRCC.

One of the more notable changes in immigration processing has been your departments controversial use of decision-making and triaging software, including Chinook, which has been variously described in the media as artificial intelligence and an advanced analytics tool used to streamline processing.

In a 2023 Federal Court decision called Haghshenas, the Federal Court accepted IRCCs use of Chinook as a processing tool based on the understanding that a human (a visa officer) remains in the loop and is ultimately responsible for making the decision. While Haghshenas set a favourable precedent for IRCC, what I have observed is that the use of Chinook and similar tools is backfiring and counterproductive to the lofty objectives of making processing more efficient. Specifically, the expediency afforded by these tools is now leading to the generation of refusals that do not meet even the most basic criteria of justification and transparency that is required by law.

The leading case of Vavilov needs no introduction. In that case, the Supreme Court of Canada held that all administrative decision-makers must render decisions that are transparent and justified  refusals may be explained in brief terms, but the reasons must always be responsive to the submissions made by the client, and they should allow the Court to understand how conclusions were reached.

Sadly, never in my years of practice have I seen poorer quality decisions made by immigration officers than I have in the past few years. Since the pandemic, I have seen an increase in cases that are simply indefensible in law because there is no justification given at all for the refusals. I have had clients refuse for visitor visas to see critically ill Canadian family members because they were unable to provide sufficient documentation to support the purpose of [their] visit, even when we have doctors notes and similarly clear and compelling evidence documenting the illness. I have had other visa applications refused for lack of financial documentation, even after showing that my client owns eight properties, has more than sufficient liquid funds, and works as a successful professional in their home country.

The use of assistive software to increase processing speed has given rise to a new generation of decisions that are loosely justified by a limited number of canned responses that immigration officers are allowed to choose from when writing decisions. More and more the actual reasons of the officer in the GCMS notes are looking like the woefully inadequate refusal letters that are issued to clients.

This is the price of expediency. As a lawyer, I am obligated to ensure that my clients know there are no guarantees that their immigration application will be successful. However, what my clients are never prepared for is receiving decisions that are no more than a few sentences in length, that are written in broken, boilerplate language filled with acronyms and immigration slang that fail to address the key arguments that were made as to why the application should be granted. This, again, leads to frustration and is directly contributing to the rise of immigration cases that are overwhelming the Federal Court with unnecessary litigation files.

IRCC is in the services business where communication is paramount. There are simple and fair solutions to address the issues that are plaguing the current system.

Firstly, to tackle the lack of transparency that is currently endemic to immigration refusals, IRCC should provide the GCMS notes to clients with each and every refusal. The current technology in place already allows for the easy transmission of these notes to clients. For instance, it is now commonplace to receive the GCMS notes through a clients online immigration account that was used to submit the refused application  I have seen this take place several times in response to the filing of a Federal Court application. This straightforward solution will reduce the frustration clients experience in the refusal process. It will allow lawyers to properly advise their clients on how to proceed, and it will undoubtedly and immediately reduce the number of cases that are filed with the Federal Court.

Secondly, IRCC must be transparent as to how its software tools contribute to the decision-making process. Moreover, regardless of what tool is ultimately used by immigration officers, clients are entitled to receive reasons that are responsive and sufficiently clear as to why their applications were refused. IRCC must reject the status quo of providing canned responses to clients in the name of expediency.

Canada has seen a huge influx of applications from immigration hopefuls in the last decade. We have been the victims of our own success in broadcasting to the world that we are welcoming newcomers, and our own ever increasing annual targets for new immigrants reflect that. I fully appreciate that immigration processing is complex and evolving and I hope that Canada will always remain a desirable place for immigration. However, at present we are failing spectacularly at providing clear and consistent communication and, as a result, we are seeing an endless cycle of litigation that is eminently avoidable.

Victor Ing is a lawyer of Sas & Ing Immigration Law Centre. He provides a full range of immigration services.

For more information go to canadian-visa-lawyer.com or email [email protected].
180-days @ Mohan Yadav Government





By Bhavana Aparajita

Shukla

With the change in leadership in the State, the approach of State Government changed. In last six months, Dr Mohan Yadav emerged as problem-solver. He has taken up the decade-old disputes related to textile mills and water treaty agreements with other states on priority basis and came up with solution to a greater extent. In the direction of industrial promotion and resolution of water sharing disputes with other states, Dr Mohan Yadav-led Government has taken many breakthrough steps. In the line of Ujjain Regional Industrial Conclave, the interest of around Rs 12,000 crore investment was expressed and investment proposals totalling Rs 74,711 crore were attracted. State Government will organise such programmes in other belts namely Jabalpur, Gwalior and Rewa.

Notably, earlier Government used to organise global investors meet at prominent places in the State. Most of the meets were organised at commercial capital Indore. This time, Government is focused on region-based development also and making efforts to invite investment in various sectors. Highlighting State Governments achievements in last 180-days and its roadmap for upcoming months, Chief Minister Dr Mohan Yadav interacted with mediapersons at Secretariat on Tuesday. For building consensus on implementation of river link projects, he underlined the meeting with Chief Ministers and top brass of Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh in view of the river linking and water sharing projects. Dr Yadav said that deadlocks pertaining to the usage of water and benefits drawn by a state etc. have been solved to a greater extent.

In coming time, on Ken-Betwa river linking project, Kalisindh-Parvati and Gandhi Sagar Dam project, commencement of further implementation will be seen soon. He also reiterated that ongoing scheme of State Government e.g. Ladli Bahna will not be stopped. Air connectivity will be enhanced and air services connecting various religious centres of the State will be speeded-up. State is the first one in the country, where air ambulance was on duty during the all the phases of the elections. Now, this facility will be available for commoners also. This facility can be availed if treating doctors recommend treatment at some other places. Doctors recommendation is enough in such cases, CM added.
Baloda BazarViolence Nearly 200 arrested





Our Correspondent

Balodabazar,

Nearly, 200 people from various organisations have been arrested for their alleged involvement in vandalism and arson in Baloda Bazar district on Monday. Speaking to the mediapersons, Collector K L Chauhan said that continuous interrogation was under way and more arrests are under way. The Public Works Department (PWD) is assessing the damage and documents are being listed. The accused are being identified through CCTV footage. Those led the protest are also being grilled. The Collector stated that the protesters initially claimed they would only hold a meeting to express their gratitude towards the government. The district administration deployed force based on the information they had received. According to the Collector, some Congress leaders are among those arrested. The names of retired government employees and those associated with social organisations are also included. Collector Chauhan further said that names of public representatives from the Panchayat Department were also included. However, arrests of Janpad members, Zila Panchayat members and Sarpanchs of many villages are impending and police were searching for them.

Most of the people have gone underground fearing arrest. The name of the son of a former MP and senior Congress leader from the Sarangarh Lok Sabha constituency has also surfaced in the arson case, he revealed. If police sources are to be believed, more than 60 complaints have been received regarding vandalism and arson at the Collectorate and SP office in Baloda Bazar. So far, police have registered FIRs against 10 miscreants involved in riots, vandalism, arson and conspiracy. Besides, FIRs have also been registered against unknown accused at Baloda bazar police station. If sources are to be believed, some petrol bottles have also been recovered from the spot. Nearly, 200 vehicles are reported to have been gutted besides four fire tenders. However, actual loss incurred is yet to be estimated. Nevertheless, in the wake of prevailing situation, heavy police force has been deployed to maintain law and order.
Biggest clinical trials on breast cancer in NSCBMC





By Shivanjali Verma

The Surgery Department, Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Medical College (NSCBMC), is soon going to conduct one of the biggest clinical trials on breast cancer Fluroscein Sodium guided versus other tracer guided sentinel lymph node biopsy in patients with early breast cancer. If the surgeons receive results matching their expectation, it will pave way to officially acknowledge the use of very low-cost dyes in sentinel lymph node biopsy for early breast cancer. As still 50% to 60% of the patients in our country deprived of the advanced tracer technique due to its high cost. It is one of the biggest clinical trials on breast cancer Fluorescein Sodium guided versus other tracer guided sentinel lymph node biopsy in patients with early breast cancer (FLUOSENT). It is a Randomized controlled trial to be conducted by the Surgery Department, NSCB Medical College, Jabalpur. Fifteen institutes from India including AIIMS Delhi AIIMS Patna, AIIMS Bilaspur and Nepal and Bangladesh will be participating in this clinical trial led by the Department of Surgery, NSCB Medical College, Jabalpur.

Dean, NSCBMCH, Professor, Dr Navneet Saxena who also heads the executive committee of the research unit of medical college, at the time of joining, opined that the research will be one of his top priorities and now medical college is leading the one of biggest clinical trials in breast cancer. Dr Sanjay Kumar Yadav, Breast, Thyroid and Endocrine Surgeon and Principal Investigator for this trial, said that We will be evaluating sentinel lymph node biopsy for early breast cancer using very low-cost dyes. It has decreased the cost of the breast cancer SLNB surgery significantly. Dr. Yadav added that the usual cost of this technique can range anywhere between Rs. 5000 and Rs. 30000 but here it costs less than Rs 100. It may be mentioned that Dr Sanjay is pioneer of this technique in Central India. Professor Pawan Agarwal, Head of Surgery Department said that our focus is always doing research which is affordable and most helpful for the poorest of the poor patients.
CHINAS INTERFERENCE ALONG THE LoC





By Lt General M K Das, PVSM, SM**,VSM (Retd)

A wise man makes his own decisions. An ignorant man follows public opinions. -Chinese Proverb

RECENTLY, a news about China assisting Pakistan in enhancing the defence capabilities along the Line of Control (LoC) surfaced. In the din of the long-drawn elections, the issue got subsumed to a large extent. In fact, China has been bolstering the defence infrastructure of the Pak Army for the last three years in a methodical and calculated manner. This issue needs serious consideration from the overall security perspective. LoC is 740 km long de facto boundary between Indian part of J&K and Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (POK). The Pak controlled section is divided into two parts: Azad Kashmir which is hilly and mountainous and Gilgit-Baltistan which is high mountains and high-altitude terrain going up to 15,000 feet. Unlike the International Boundary (IB) between two nations which is recognised officially by the countries and the world community, LoC is a disputed border which acts a temporary working arrangement till accepted/converted into the IB. Incidentally, India and China share a similarly contested 3,488 km long Line of Actual Control (LAC). In the military parlance, Pakistan is called our Western adversary and China is named Northern adversary. The LoC is guided by a Ceasefire Agreement between India and Pakistan which was last renewed in February 2021.

There have been occasional violations but largely both the countries, particularly India has honoured its commitment towards the agreement. It may be noted that the maximum violations by Pak sponsored terrorists took place South of Pir Panjaal Mountain ranges in Rajouri -Poonch sector in the last three years. In the last three years, China has actively enhanced the defence capabilities in the POK. China has huge infrastructure development capabilities and it has put it to great effect along the LoC to fortify the fighting bunkers with steelhead protection so as to make the artillery shells, rockets and missiles ineffective against them. China has also assisted in installing highly encrypted communication towers and laying underground fibre optic cables to boost wartime command & control structure for the Pak Army. In addition, Unarmed Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) of varying configuration have also been supplied. Some of such UAVs have also dropped drugs and war like stores into Punjab and Jammu region in the recent past. Given the dismal state of Pak economy, such expensive military assistance provided by China which by no means may be restricted to these alone should be a cause of concern for India. The timing and period of roughly last three years has to be put in the perspective.

Post Galwan crisis of June 2020 vintage, India realised that it has to finally decide which country is the major adversary. From 2021, India carried out a rebalancing of its forces between the western and northern adversary with a focus towards China. It is around this time that China decided to augment the defence capabilities of Pakistan along the LoC. Under the garb of ceasefire agreement, Pakistan effectively exploited the relative peace towards their side of LoC to construct and improve the defence network in the mountainous terrain, so very crucial in a conventional war. It is more or less agreed by the military analysts that India will face a two-front war in case of a full-scale conventional war with either Pakistan or China. A direct one to one war with India does not suit China, given the massive infrastructure development undertaken by India in the last one decade. It is therefore strategically critical for China to tie down Indian forces and defence capability with its western adversary Pakistan. A much-improved defence infrastructure along the LoC backed by strong physical presence of troops makes LoC highly impregnable. Any offensive by India across the LoC is going to require huge manpower resources and considerable employment of expensive military hardware.

So effectively, China is planning to fix Indian Armed Forces in the west to exploit its superior military in the north. Another critical interest of China is served in the security of POK as the ambitious 65-billion-dollar China- Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) gets a boost. Pakistan PM is currently visiting China and he has promised to lend full cooperation to this project undertaken by China, passing through a major portion of POK, right till Gwadar. So, POK becomes strategically important to China too. It is not that India has not improved its defence infrastructure along the LoC. We have gone about enhancing the capabilities but the difference has been uncertain security situation. Moreover, unlike Pakistan, Indian system still remains relatively slow in creating infrastructure at fast pace. Just to give an example, I recall that during Operation Parakram, Pakistan created a new Ditch Cum Bund opposite Amritsar sector in record time of three months in early 2001. This was done by them to prevent capture of Lahore. Alas, such things rarely happen on the Indian side. India has not protested the interference by China along the Pak side of LoC in strong terms.

Contrast this with China even protesting the congratulatory message between Prime Minister Modi and Taiwan President Lai Ching-te. We possibly need to be hyper sensitive when it comes to interference by China or any other nation in the matters of national security. Militarily, India has to rapidly improve the defence infrastructure both along the LoC and LAC. The modernisation of defence forces has to continue with focus on cutting edge technology. The Human Resource issues have to be urgently addressed. Major reforms are needed but these can not be at the cost of the traditional strengths of the Indian Armed Forces, particularly Indian Army which ultimately fashions victory with boots on ground. Among other challenges of nation building, strengthening the security of the country will be paramount for Prime Minister Modi in the NDA Government. The issue of national security is above the party lines and all the stake holders as wise persons have to remain united in thought, process and action to propel India towards the goal of a developed nation.
Dy CM Sharma inspects District Collectorate to assess damage caused





Our Correspondent

BALODA BAZAR-BHATAPARA,

DEPUTY Chief Minister Vijay Sharma visited Baloda Bazar District Collectorate at around 1:30 am on Tuesday to assess the damage caused by the vandalism and arson incident perpetrated by agitators on Monday at the joint district office. Accompanied by Food Minister Dayal Das Baghel and Revenue Minister Tankaram Verma, the Deputy Chief Minister gathered detailed information about the incident from the Collector and Superintendent of Police. The Deputy CM also inspected the entire premises, including the Zila Panchayat, family court and janpad panchayat office, as well as the city, to assess the damages. Sharma expressed deep sorrow over the incident and instructed the concerned authorities to take the stern action against the offenders. During the visit, he found that a large number of vehicles were damaged, some belonging to poor people and officials on duty.

Government property was also damaged, numerous documents in the record room were burnt, and the building, constructed with great effort, was set on fire. Sharma emphasised that those who destroy public property are not social but anti social. Throughout the state, people revere Baba Guru Ghasidas, a symbol of peace. In May, Jaitkhambh was desecrated by unidentified anti-social elements at Amar Cave, following which the Satnami Community had demanded an investigation, dissatisfied with the police inquiry. Following extensive discussions, a judicial inquiry was announced on the instructions of the Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai.

The Satnami Community had planned a programme to express their gratitude to the Chief Minister, but during this event, the crowd went out of control which led to this unfortunate incident some anti-social elements infiltrated the crowd and executed the incident, stated the Dy CM. An investigation has been initiated and strict action will be taken against the offenders, he added. IGs Amresh Mishra, Sanjeev Shukla, Collector K L Chauhan, SP Sadanand Kumar, along with a large number of public representatives and officials were present. Earlier in his X post, Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai wrote, Instructions have been given to the IG and Commissioner to immediately reach the scene of the unpleasant situation that has arisen in Baloda Bazar district.
J&K bus terror attack: Bodies of 4 martyrs arrive in Jaipur





JAIPUR,

THE bodies of four people, including a two-year-old boy, killed in a terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir, arrived here by train on Tuesday, police said. According to them, the bodies arrived here on the Pooja Express and were taken to Harmada and Chomu by the deceaseds family members and relatives. Cloth merchant Rajendra Saini (42), his wife Mamta (40), their relative Pooja Saini (30) and her two-year-old son Titu are among the nine killed after terrorists opened fire at a bus carrying pilgrims in Jammus Reasi district on Sunday evening. The 53-seater bus, on its way from the Shiv Khori temple to Katra, veered off the road following the barrage of gunfire and fell into a deep gorge near the Teryath village of the Poni area. Pooja Sainis husband Pavan (32) has been injured, a police officer said. While Rajendra and Mamta were residents of Chomu town in Jaipur district, Pooja was the resident of Ajmera ki Dhani in the Harmada area on Chomu road. Locals staged a dharna outside the Chomu police station on Tuesday, demanding Government jobs and compensation to the family of Rajendra and Mamta, who are survived by their two sons and a daughter. Rajendra was the sole earning member of the family.

Combing operation enters second day, over 20 picked up for questioning: Extensive efforts to track down terrorists involved in the attack on pilgrims in Jammu and Kashmirs Reasi district continued on Tuesday, with 11 teams of security personnel working on the ground and a multi-directional cordon laid around the Poni-Treyath belt, officials said. Security forces have sounded a high alert in Jammu and Rajouri districts and intensified checking and frisking in the belt following the terror attack that left nine dead and 41 injured, they said. According to the officials, more than 20 people have been picked up for questioning. On Sunday, terrorists opened fire at the 53-seater bus carrying pilgrims when it was en route from the Shiv Khori temple to the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine in Katra near Teryath village in the Poni area. The bus, which was ferrying pilgrims from Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Delhi, plunged into a deep gorge following the gunfire. 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.

The officials said that based on the statements of those injured in the attack, they have not ruled out the possibility of a fourth person being present at the spot who acted as a lookout for the three terrorists. Sources said security forces suspect the Pakistani terrorists are hiding in the mountainous terrains of Rajouri and Reasi and have intensified combing operations in the region. They are taking directions from Pakistans ISI through secured communication, the sources said. There are reports that four terrorists including a local overground worker were involved in the attack which was carried out on the directions of Lashkar-e-Toiba commander Abu Hamza, they said. Armed with surveillance equipment, including drones, and sniffer dogs, the security personnel launched the massive combing operation on Monday. A chopper was also pressed into service to keep an eye on movement in the area. Of the 41 people injured in the attack, 10 sustained bullet wounds. Bus driver Vijay Sharma died of multiple bullet wounds. As many as 11 bullet marks were found at various places on the bus, the officials said. Teams of National Investigation Agency (NIA), State Investigation Agency (SIA) and forensic department visited the attack site and have joined the probe.
Malawis Vice President, nine others killed in plane crash





BLANTYRE (Malawi),

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 nations 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 Mzuzus 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.
News / National

by Nkululeko Nkomo





Wicknell Chivhayo posted a strong statement on his Facebook account, where he came out guns blazing against the circulation of fake and malicious voice recordings that are falsely attributed to him. The statement, titled "Statement on Voice Messages Circulating on Social Media," addresses the alleged voice messages that have been surfacing on various social media platforms.Chivhayo vehemently refuted, denied, and dismissed the recorded voice messages in question, asserting that he has never created or transmitted such messages. He distanced himself from these fraudulent voice notes and suggested that they may have been fabricated using sophisticated technology with the intention of causing alarm and despondency.The content of the voice messages aligns with what Chivhayo described as a sustained attack on his reputation by two individuals, Mike Chimombe and Moses Mpofu, whom he referred to as extortionists and fraudsters. He accused them of making baseless demands for payments without any legal backing and emphasized his readiness to face any legal consequences resulting from their unfounded claims.Chivhayo clarified that he had no business dealings with the said individuals and highlighted that he had not entered into any contracts with government entities such as the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission, Department of Immigration, or the Zimbabwe Republic Police, as insinuated in the false voice messages.Moreover, he expressed concern over the political undertones embedded in the fraudulent messages, which aimed to tarnish his image and that of President E. D. Mnangagwa's administration. Chivhayo distanced himself from any involvement in procurement processes related to elections or government agencies, emphasizing his commitment to transparency and ethical business practices.In a gesture of goodwill, Chivhayo extended apologies to President Mnangagwa, the First Lady, the First Family, and all government officials potentially affected by the misleading voice messages. He acknowledged the adverse impact of the fabricated messages on public institutions' credibility and promised full cooperation in dispelling the falsehoods presented in the circulating recordings.The statement concludes with Chivhayo reiterating his adherence to the law, his condemnation of corruption, and his pledge to cooperate fully with state authorities to investigate the origin and authenticity of the misleading voice messages.
Ministers from State take charge





Staff Reporter

As the portfolios were assigned to the ministers, the Members of the Parliaments (MPs) inducted in the Council of Ministers in the third term of Narendra Modi government took their charge in their respective ministries in New Delhi on Tuesday. Former Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, who was appointed as the Minister of Agriculture, Farmers Welfare and Rural Development, took charge on Tuesday. In a post on X, he wrote, today took charge as Minister, Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Government of India, in New Delhi. The ministry will work as an important link in realising he resolve of PM Narendra Modi to develop India. He wrote. Chouhan also reiterated the rural development is a priority for the PM and in that cause several schemes are being operated by him which are directly benefiting the needy.

There has been a revolutionary work in this field under the visionary leadership of the prime minister. Chouhan also did puja in the ministry before taking charge as the minister and also met the officials submitting them the Sankalp Patra to the officers. Senior leader Jyotiraditya Scindia, who was elected from Guna parliamentary constituency, also took charge as the Minister of Communications. Coining as a new beginning, he said that he feels excited to take over the position under the leadership of PM Modi. Let us build together a future where access to opportunities is never dependant on geographical distance and even remote areas play a key role in countrys development journey through communications. Scindia wrote on social media platform X.

After taking charge, he chaired a meeting with the officials and termed Dak Seva as Jan Seva. Dr Virendra Kumar also took the responsibility of the Minster for Social Justice and Empowerment and also held a meeting with the senior officers with the department of empowerment of persons and disabilities of the ministry. He also directed them to prepare a concrete action plan and roadmap for the next hundred days. Minister of State Durgadas Uike also took charge as the Minister of State for Tribal Affairs.
NEET aspirants get hope as Supreme Court addresses paper leak allegations

Staff Reporter

Finally, hope of justice for NEET aspirants as the Supreme Court of India has addressed allegations of a paper leak in the NEET UG 2024 exam on Tuesday. Candidates have filed petitions requesting a re-examination and a thorough investigation into the claims of malpractices. They argue that the integrity of the exam has been compromised, particularly highlighting incidents in Rajasthan and Bihar where the exam papers were reportedly leaked in advance. However, the court declined to halt the counselling process for admissions, allowing those who passed the exam to proceed with the next steps. Apart from this, retired Madras High Court Judge A K Rajan has recommended that the Tamil Nadu government scrap the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) for medical admissions and instead use Class 12 marks as the sole criterion.

I dont think medical college admission should be based solely on the 12th board exam results. Im not sure about Tamil Nadu but this rule would not be fair to apply across the country. The reason is that students dont have enough practical knowledge in 12th standard. Also, different state boards have varying paper designs and evaluation parameters, making some exams tougher than others. Apart from this, regarding the NEET scam, I believe that re-checking is more important than re-examination. Re-exams may take time and money, causing stress for students. However, NTA should set papers based on NCERT and other sources to make them more challenging. Include diverse question types, such as assertion-reason and multiple-choice questions, to better assess students knowledge. Earlier, students could get into AIIMS with a certain score, but now, even with a good score, AIIMS is out of reach. This shows that the competition is intensifying, and the paper level needs to be upgraded. Its better to upgrade the paper level to make it more challenging and fair. Said, Dr. Amit Gupta, teacher at NEET mentor institute.

I dont think that class 12 marks should be the criteria for medical college admission because its not necessary that every child gets a quality education. Indias education system is not that good yet, and the level of education and exposure that an urban child gets is not the same as what a rural child gets. Maybe, it would be possible in Tamil Nadu but not across the nation. Also, what about the students who have been preparing for NEET for years? What about their hard work? This will raise a question. And during the NEET preparation period, we become academically mature enough, which may not be the case for every child at the school level. So, the NEET exam is necessary, and if scams are happening under NTAs watch, imagine how easy it will be for states to give marks to children, which can lower the competition level and medical standards, said, Shreya Yadav, a medical aspirant. After DMK won the election in 2021, they formed a panel to study how NEET affects students. The panel collected a lot of data and heard from students, parents, and the public. They wrote a report that shows NEET is unfair to poor students and those from lower social classes. Tamil Nadus Chief Minister, M K Stalin, shared the report on social media (X), saying that DMK was the first to recognise the problems with NEET and fought against it.
Signing in: Ministers get into action mode





NEW DELHI :

SIGNALLING both change and continuity, Indias 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. 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 Bhawan, there were flowers and felicitations aplenty in the corridors of power. Some said it with prayers and a few slogans were heard too. NDA 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. 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. BJP President J P 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. 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 Indias global lead in semiconductor and electronics manufacturing and as a technology and digital hub. Jitendra Singh, who took office as Union Minister of State (MoS) 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. 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. Annpurna Devi, the countrys new Women and Child Development Minister, said she will work towards fulfilling Prime Minister Narendra Modis 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 (RSS) pracharak, Haryanas 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.
UNSC adopts resolution to end Israel-Hamas war





By Edith M. Lederer

UNITED NATIONS,

THE UN Security Council on Monday approved its first resolution endorsing a ceasefire plan aimed at ending the eight-month war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza. The US-sponsored resolution welcomes a cease-fire proposal announced by President Joe Biden that the United States says Israel has accepted. It calls on the 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  which was approved overwhelmingly 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. US Ambassdador Linda Thomas-Greenfield said after the vote the council sent a clear message to Hamas to accept the cease-fire 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 cease-fire 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 Biden presented only parts of the proposal and insisted that any talk of a permanent cease-fire before dismantling Hamas military and governing capabilities is a nonstarter. 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 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. Algerias UN ambassador Amar Bendjama, the Arab representative on the council, said that while the text isnt 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 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 per cent of Gazas buildings, according to the U.N.

The Security Council adopted a resolution on March 25 demanding a humanitarian cease-fire in Gaza during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, with the US abstaining, but there was no halt to the war. Mondays resolution underscores the importance of the ongoing diplomatic efforts by Egypt, Qatar and the United States aimed at reaching a comprehensive cease-fire deal, consisting of three phases. It comes as US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is on his eighth trip to the Middle East since Oct. 7 pursuing that goal. Bidens May 31 announcement of the new proposal said it would begin with an initial six-month cease-fire 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 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.
Bangladesh court indicts Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus and others on charges of embezzlement

Dhaka, Jun 12 (AP)

A special judge's court in Bangladesh indicted Wednesday Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus and 13 others on charges in an over USD 2 million embezzlement case.

Yunus, 83, who was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2006 for pioneering microcredit to help impoverished people, especially women, pleaded not guilty and is out on bail for now.

He told reporters that authorities were harassing him and other colleagues and denied being involved in any corruption.

In a packed Dahka courtroom, Special Judge in Dhaka Syed Arafat Hossain dismissed petitions seeking the charges  which centres around Yunus' non-profit Grameen Telecom  to be dropped.

The prosecution has accused Yunus and the others of embezzling 250 million takas (about USD 2 million) from the workers welfare fund of Grameen Telecom, which owns 34.2 per cent of the country's largest mobile phone company, Grameenphone, a subsidiary of Norway's telecom giant Telenor. They are also accused of money laundering.

Hossain, the judge, said the prosecution was able to preliminarily back their argument and proved the charges of misappropriation of funds and sending money abroad illegally, adding the trial is to start on July 15.

In January, Yunus was sentenced to six months in prison on a separate charge of violating labour laws. He was granted bail while awaiting the verdict.

Last year, more than 170 global leaders and Nobel laureates urged Bangladesh's Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to suspend legal proceedings against Yunus. His supporters say he has been targeted because of his frosty relations with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
Chinese defense spokesperson comments on Dutch navy shipborne helicopter's provocation

Xinhua) 08:07, June 12, 2024

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.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Farmers from Chippewa County will again have a dinner thrown in their honor this summer.

The Chippewa Falls Area Chamber of Commerce will hold its annual Farmer Appreciation Dinner from 4-8 p.m. Wednesday, June 19 at the Northern Wisconsin State Fairgrounds.

The event will feature live music by Six Figure Sunrise. Activities for children will also be held. New this year, trucks and tractors will be on display.

Farm families can receive their free tickets for the dinner at the Chippewa Chamber office, located at 1 N. Bridge Street, Chippewa Falls. There is a limit of 10 tickets per farm family.

If you go What: Farmer Appreciation Dinner When: 4-8 p.m. Wednesday, June 19 Where: Northern Wisconsin State Fairgrounds 225 Edward St., Chippewa Falls

With our rich farming community, the annual Farmer Appreciation Dinner sends a big thank you to the farming families of Chippewa County for all theyve contributed to the local agriculture food chain supply and to the Chippewa County community and beyond, said Program and Partnership Director Missy Prissel.

The event serves up a traditional farm-style chicken dinner with all the fixings such as Wisconsin milk, cheese, ice cream, and root beer floats made with custard.

Businesses and community members can purchase tickets at the Chamber for $8.
Once an 80-year-old shepherd was leading his flock in the wilderness of Sinai when he saw a bush that burned and continued to burn but did not burn up. When he moved toward the bush, God spoke to him from the bush and said, I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob.

God was calling Moses to go back to Egypt to bring the children of Israel out of Egypt.

Moses was hesitant to go and asked God what name he should use for God when he spoke to his people, the Israelites.

God said to Moses, I am who I am. And he said, Say this to the people of Israel, I Am has sent me to you ... The Lord, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you. This is my name forever, and thus I am to be remembered throughout all generations. (Exodus 3:14,15)

When we find the word Lord in the Old Testament, it is the word for I am.

When we come to the New Testament we find Jesus using I am in reference to himself over and over in the Gospel of John. When he used those words he was telling us who he is and what he can do for those who trust in him. It is in figurative language, but there are powerful claims he makes in each statement. Lets look at them:

John 6:35 I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.

John 8:12 I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.

John 10:7,9 Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep ... I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture.

John 10:11,14,15 I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep.

John 11:25 I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?

John 14:6 I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

John 15:1,5 I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser ... I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.

The last three statements were spoken to disciples and though they believed in him, they did not yet understand what he was claiming for himself.

If you continue reading after the first four passages you will see that each time Jesus spoke, his Jewish hearers were very disturbed because most Jews would not even speak Gods name aloud. They knew these were no ordinary claims Jesus was making.

After telling those hostile to him, Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am, They picked up stones to stone him. (John 8:58, 59)

Again, in John 10:33 when Jesus asked the crowd why they picked up stones to stone him, what was their reply? ... for blasphemy, because, you, being a man, make yourself God. For the same reason the Sanhedrin later condemned Jesus and took him to Pilate to be crucified. (Matthew 26:63-68)

C. S. Lewis is in Mere Christianity is clear about Jesus claims:

I am trying here to prevent anyone saying the really foolish thing that people often say about him: Im ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I dont accept his claim to be God. That is the one thing we must not say. A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic  on the level with the man who says he is a poached egg  or else he would be the Devil of Hell. You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God, or else a madman or something worse. You can shut him up for a fool, you can spit at him and kill him as a demon or you can fall at his feet and call him Lord and God, but let us not come with any patronizing nonsense about his being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to.
Anthony White was there the day of the shooting at GQ Barbershop in Carlisle.

He witnessed the shooting death of barber Kendell Jerome Cook, took a bullet himself and testified against suspect Michael Baltimore during a preliminary hearing in August.

But now hes dead.

According to his obituary, White, 44, of Mechanicsburg, died June 3, though a cause of death has not been released.

Cumberland County District Attorney Sean McCormack said Baltimores trial is scheduled for October, and Whites death is under investigation through the Mechanicsburg Police Department.

Anytime a witness dies prior to trial, their death has an effect on the case, he said.

McCormack said his office is seeking to have the transcript of Whites preliminary hearing testimony admitted at the trial, a decision Common Pleas Judge Edward Guido will rule on later.

White became a barber at GQ Barbershop in 2016 and worked alongside Baltimore, who started there about two years later and stayed through 2019.

Someone entered the North Hanover Street business around 7:30 p.m. on May 22, 2021, and shot both Cook and White. Cook died at the scene.

Though Baltimore was an immediate suspect, there was a long manhunt for his arrest. In June 2022, Baltimore was placed on the U.S. Marshals Services 15 Most Wanted list, and he was arrested in Florida last January while fleeing a bar fight after about a year and a half on the run.

At last years preliminary hearing, White identified Baltimore as the shooter by his frame and the way he walked, saying he worked across from him for years.
Cumberland County commissioners have approved a method to process the $13 million bulk purchase of radios to implement an upgraded communications system among first responders.

Currently, the county uses an L3 Harris Open Sky system for its emergency calls. The county plans to switch to a P25 system using a Motorola-based platform.

The changeover will require the replacement of many of the 3,765 mobile and portable radio units used by police, EMS, fire units and local and county government agencies.

The county made a bulk purchase of Motorola Solutions radio units for 10 county agencies and 76 partner agencies. During a meeting last week, the commissioners approved a capital project request from the county public safety department for the $13 million in P25 radios.

The county will be paying the invoices on their behalf under the Motorola contract, said Bob Shively, county director of public safety. Those agencies will reimburse the county for the cost of the radios,

The county must pay about $34.8 million to install infrastructure to support a P25 system. This includes radio components for 19 tower sites needed to run the network.

Business Central

In other action, commissioners approved a 10-year agreement with Freehold Enterprises for the lease of four areas totaling 8,832 square feet in the Business Central building, 14-20 N. Hanover St., Carlisle.

The amount the county pays in rent will increase from the current $11.50 per square foot to $15.50 in year one, said Brent Durham, director of facilities management. He said there is a 2% cost escalation each year after that.

In 2014, when Freehold purchased Business Central, the county put money into the renovation of the building, Durham said. In exchange for that investment, Freehold reduced the rent from $20.50 to $11.50 per square foot.

The new agreement factors in common area maintenance charges that will result in a 30% increase in costs from 10 years ago, Durham said. Its still a very competitive rate for our area.

The county is evaluating the future program needs of its departments and functions. The agreement with Freehold includes an opt-out clause if it is determined that space within the Business Central building is no longer needed.

Im not happy with the increase, Commissioner Kelly Neiderer said. I can understand the rate. She said that for years the county has been paying under the market rate.

Court system

The commissioners also approved a capital project request for $215,000 from the court administration office. The money will be used to move the current computer system to a cloud-based platform, said Melissa Calvenelli, district court administrator.

The courts currently use a home-grown system built by a programmer who no longer works for the county information management technology office, she said. We are starting to have significant issues with it. It is difficult to fix.

Switching over to the new platform would save the county about $5,500 in staff costs and make the system more accessible to staff, Calvenelli said. The new platform would enable the judge to have greater access to audio court recordings and would streamline the process for those requesting transcripts, she said.

In other action, the commissioners:

Authorized staff to apply for a $284,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Justice to support the rapid DNA testing initiative in the county forensic lab.

Authorized the county sheriffs office to apply for a $4,348 Department of Justice grant to pay half the costs of the replacement of seven protective vests for personnel.
Over a year and still continuing Hands of geo-politics ?

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The figures should speak for itself. Over 200 killed. Many still missing. Over 60 thousand still surviving in the different relief centres set up all over Manipur. The statistics spelt out here are from May 3, 2023 to June 11, 2024. Clashes continue. Many displaced in Jiribam, with hundreds taking shelter in different relief camps while many others are reported to have fled to neighbouring Assam. Displaced people should be read and understood along with the line, numerous houses destroyed/burnt/dismantled. This is about Jiribam and even as the Western Gate of Manipur continued to burn, reports of clashes and gun battles came in from places such as Koutruk and Senjam Chirang. And when one talks about Jiribam, one cannot forget the ambush laid on the advance security team sent there ahead of the proposed visit of Chief Minister N Biren Singh. Audacious move and the cockiness of it all is something that cannot be missed. So even as Jiribam burnt with many forced to flee to safer places, came the report of RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat advising Prime Minister Narendra Modi to tackle the Manipur issue on a priority basis. Heartening to note that the Opposition Congress took the stand of the RSS chief as the perfect moment to up the pressure on the Prime Minister to come out of the politics of silence and see what may be done. This in short is how Manipur is at the moment and the situation has been like this for well over 365 days and one can imagine the sense of angst and frustration that must be coursing through everyone in Manipur. A sentiment that was reflected when the BJP candidate was made to bite the dust with a record margin in the just held Lok Sabha elections in the Inner Manipur Parliamentary Constituency. It was more or less the same in the Outer Constituency where the BJP backed candidate of the NPF was also made to eat humble pie. The election results reflected the deep angst of the people against the saffron party but there is still no evidence to show that the Manipur BJP has learnt a lesson or two from the sound thrashing it received at the hands of the Congress. Even after more than 400 days, there is nothing to suggest that some sort of a model has been worked out to take Manipur to the road of normalcy and this is what is deeply worrying. Remember the longer the clash continues, the more Manipur stands to lose and it will only be to the gain of those who have their daggers pulled to mutilate the understanding of Manipur as a distinct geo-political reality. What is worrying is the fact that though the much tom-tommed Peace Committee formed during the initial days of the clash failed to take off, there has been no visible efforts to give a fresh breath of life to the Committee and making things more worrying is the emergence of war mongers on either side of the clash divide who have openly stated their stand against any move to bring about a semblance of peace and normalcy.

No one expects anyone to wave a magic wand and bring about an immediate end to the hostility. However a deeper look at the manner in which Central security forces have been conducting themselves perhaps needs a more sincere introspection. The very fact that fingers of accusation have been pointed at them for taking a partisan stand in the ongoing clash deserves a hard, long look. This is where one is compelled to raise a serious question on the conduct of New Delhi for the Central security forces come under the direct bidding of the Centre. Take a look at any theatre of the conflict and one is bound to see allegations flying thick and fast against the Central security personnel and this is something serious, very serious. Does the situation in Manipur right now warrant a state when the men in uniform are being viewed and taken as being partisan ? A question which only Delhi can answer and this is where the seeming indifference of the Prime Minister, best exemplified by his silence, has only made things worse. On the other hand the seeming compulsion of geo-politics, vis-a-vis the emerging influence of China in neighbouring Myanmar, the ongoing clashes in the neighbouring country and the Indias Act East Policy, is getting clearer with each passing day. Should Manipur be made the sacrificial goat in the politics of the great game east ? Only questions at the moment but the fact that these questions have been raised should say so many things.
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Sonu Gupta, the bullet-ridden injured mastermind of the Raniganj gold jewellery showroom heist was arrested by local police from Jharkhand and has been admitted at Burdwan Medical College Hospital.

The alleged mastermind of Siwan district in Bihar was leading the entire operation on that day and was holding a semi-automatic loaded carbine in his hand, but luckily the first bullet fired by SI Meghnad Mondal pierced through his abdomen and he fell on the ground and the loaded magazine separated from the carbine after he slipped from the stairs profusely bleeding.

He limped and was unable to stand on his feet when his other accomplices virtually pulled him in the two wheeler parked outside and fled away with the third dacoit holding him from the back. They later hijacked a four wheeler and fled to Jharkhand by road.

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The gang has also looted a motorcycle at gunpoint at Salanpur and went to Raniganj riding it. Police have seized both the motorcycles and the car.

Sonu was hiding in the forests of Koiridih under Sariya police station area of Giridih district in Bihar. But SP of Giridih, Deepak Kumar Sharma and his team was already alerted and swung into action.

They chased the dacoits on the highway for about one hour blocking all the four corners, but every time the dacoits managed to escape.

The injured mastermind was hiding in the forest and trying to escape to his home state of Bihar when the Jharkhand Police nabbed him. He was admitted to a Dhanbad nursing home and later shifted to Burdwan Medical College Hospital.

A number of teams of DD, Raniganj Police are engaged in combing operation, based on the inputs provided by the arrested dacoits.

Already, Giridih Police has arrested Sonu and court has sent him to 14-day police custody.

The looted amount of the gold and diamond jewellery items was approximately Rs four crore. The Giridih Police has already recovered some looted jewellery from their bags. Two bags have also been seized.

Today, four CID officials and three forensic science experts arrived at Senco Gold Jewellery Showroom and collected samples and interrogated the eye witnesses. The dacoits have done a recce of the area before the operation and have arrived in three motorcycles. There were seven members in the team.

The entire operation lasted barely few minutes before the dacoits were forced to flee after retaliation from SI Meghnad Mondal, who was in his civvies at that time but fought bravely with his pistol which was having only six bullets against seven heavily armed dacoits with mousers and carbines.
Doors of Odisha Secretariat, the epicentre of States administration, were thrown open for journalists on Wednesday hours after Mohan Charan Majhi was sworn in as the eastern States first BJP Chief Minister.

Its pertinent to note here that the Secretariat, otherwise called Lok Seva Bhawan, had remained out of bounds for journalists for almost four years with the outgoing Naveen Patnaik Government having prohibited their entry into the Bhawan.

The prohibition was clamped when the Covid-19 pandemic spread its tentacles. It was not lifted after Covid scourge receded even though scribes besides the Opposition had sought its withdrawal to uphold a healthy democratic norm.

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The important governmental policy decisions including those adopted in the Cabinet meeting were reeled out to the media through press releases. It had left the media fraternity hugely disappointed as many felt that the then Patnaik Government was intent on muzzling the fourth estate.

Opposition BJP and Congress had earlier on the floor of the Assembly demanded the Odisha Government to allow journalists into Lok Seva Bhawan and Assembly Press Gallery and lobby for news coverage. But the outgoing government paid little heed to it leaving the media fraternity high and dry.

The BJP had made it a poll issue during campaigning and committed that the BJP if voted to power will lift the undemocratic practice and will allow the journalists into the Secretariat for performing professional duty.

The Information and Public Relations Department in a departure from outgoing governments practice had extended an invitation on behalf of Chief Minister Majhi to interact with the journalists at the Secretariat. The new CM Majhi later had a healthy interaction with the media men and sought their cooperation for good governance in the State.
Delhi BJP chief Virendra Sachdeva on Wednesday met Delhi Police Commissioner Sanjay Arora and submitted a complaint alleging theft and selling of water by the tanker mafia in the national capital.

The party demanded the formation of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the matter.

Alleging rampant water theft by unscrupulous tanker mafia in the Munak Canal area, extending to Kakori, amid the ongoing water shortage in Delhi, the Delhi BJP complaint read: This alarming situation is happening in collusion with the officials and elected representatives of Delhi government controlling the affairs related to procurement and management of water resources as part of larger criminal conspiracy with malafide intention of causing wrongful loss to both the general public as well as Delhi Jal Board (DJB).

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Citing reports claiming water from the Munak Canal, meant to supply Delhi, is being siphoned off, the party said, This water, released by the Haryana government, is being illegally diverted and filled into tankers by the tanker mafia with the aid of the officials Delhi government under the guidance and connivance of elected representatives of NCT of Delhi holding official positions.

The BJP alleged that the tanker mafia was exploiting the severe water scarcity by selling this stolen water to the residents at exorbitant rates.

This has not only placed an undue financial burden on the people who are already struggling due to the water shortage but also on the DJB as it is not receiving Its due share of water due to theft of water by tanker mafia in connivance with the officials and elected representatives managing the affairs of DJB and ministry of the water department, the party said.

The BJP demanded the formation of a SIT to conduct a thorough investigation into the matter stating the same impacts a large segment of the population of Delhi.
Delhi Mayor Shelly Oberoi on Wednesday held a meeting to discuss and resolve the issue related to Karol Bagh zone.

Chairing a meeting with the councillors and officials concerned, the Mayor obtained information regarding the development works going on in the area and the problems related to the citizens.

The Mayor said that the objective of the meeting is to understand the local issues of the wards, discuss the major problems and resolve them and added that such review meetings are being held regularly for the development of the area.

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During the meeting, the Mayor reviewed the problem of stray animals in the wards, sanitation, parking, encroachment, broken drains, silt from drains, schools, community centers, roads, and condition of parks in the areas.

She directed the officials to present interim and long-term solutions to the problems.

We all have to work together for better development of the area and to provide civic facilities to the citizens, the Mayor said.

She also directed the officials to visit the wards to know the problems of the citizens.

Councillors of Karol Bagh Zone, Zonal Deputy Commissioner Abhishek Kumar and other senior officers were present in the meeting.
Both filmmaker Anurag Kashyap and actor Pankaj Jha are known for their outspoken and blunt remarks. Recently, Pankaj Jha, famed for his role as Vidhayak Ji in the popular series Panchayat, slammed Kashyap for replacing him in the hit neo-noir film Gangs of Wasseypur.

In his interview with Digital Commentary, Jha revealed that he was initially chosen for the role of Sultan Quereshi in Gangs of Wasseypur. However, the role eventually went to Pankaj Tripathi, marking a pivotal moment in Tripathis acting career and Kashyaps directorial journey.

Jha disclosed how Kashyap approached him during his shoot in Pune with the offer, but Jha told him he would be back in two days. Upon his return, Jha found out that they had already finalized Tripathi for the part. Gangs of Wasseypur, the two-part black comedy, achieved immense success and is hailed as one of Kashyaps finest directorial achievements. Jha added, There are so many timid and spineless people here that they cant even keep their word, presumably taking a jibe at Kashyap. However, the actor asserted his love for the filmmaker, saying, Nevertheless, I still love Anurag very much and have no complaints against anyone.

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Reacting to this in an interview with India Today, Anurag Kashyap recounted the incident, saying, I dont remember what exactly happened. But we were shooting for The Girl in Yellow Boots and he had moved to Osho in Pune to paint. We were supposed to start shooting for Gangs of Wasseypur and he (Pankaj Jha) was not available. We were on a tight budget and could not wait for him. We made the film in a very different condition and budget. Now, he may be thinking after 20 years, he could have become Pankaj Tripathi.

In his interview, Jha also proclaimed himself a director-making actor. He claimed that films like Satya and Gulaal not only shape actors but also nurture directors. Jha went on to lash out at big-budget movies, criticizing how their success is a marker of the countrys low intelligence quotient.

Jha and Kashyap had previously collaborated on films Black Friday and Gulaal. In his conversation, Kashyap added that Jha is highly inaccessible. He has actually been my go-to actor I would love to work with him again, but the fact is, he is not accessible at all.
Kangana Ranaut stirring controversies is not a new phenomenon. Now, the Mandi MP has taken a debatable stance on work-life balance. Supporting the obsessive work culture, the Bollywood actress says that the country cannot afford to be lazy.

Taking to Instagram, the Fashion actress posted a snippet from Prime Minister Narendra Modis first address to PMO staff. Accompanying the Instagram story, the new MP penned, 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.

Supporting the Prime Ministers view on work, Kangana Ranaut wrote, We need to normalise obsessive work culture and stop with the waiting for the weekends and crib about Mondays memes. Thats all western brainwashing. We are not a developed nation yet and we cant afford to be bored and lazy at all.

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Kangana isnt the first to support workaholism. Earlier this month, Kotak AMC MD Nilesh Shah suggested that India embrace a 12-hour-a-day work culture. He said that one generation should put in a few extra hours like the Koreans, Japanese, and Chinese do so that the countrys economy can be fast-tracked. He proposed that Indians should work for 12 hours a day every day of the calendar.

Supporting Shah, economist Sanjeev Sanyal also took to X, penning, I agree. One generation will have to put in that effortand unlike the examples mentioned, also remember to procreate. It is doable (with the occasional break). We are that generation and perhaps the next one. On the other hand, Devina Mehra, Founder and Chairperson of First Global, rebuffed Shahs suggestion of working 84 hours a week for nation-building, labeling it impractical and counterproductive.

Earlier, Ranaut revealed that she was slapped by a CISF women constable at the Chandigarh airport. To this, the constable claimed that she did so because of a statement Ranaut made on women joining the farmers protests for 100 rupees. This incident received mixed reactions on social media. Now, how Kanganas comment on workaholism will sit with netizens remains to be seen.
Celebrating a milestone in her career, Kriti Kharbanda, the versatile and beloved actress of Indian Cinema, recently marked 15 incredible years in the industry. From her humble beginnings in the Telugu film Boni back in 2009, where her talent shone despite the films reception, Kriti quickly caught the attention of filmmakers across different regional cinemas.

Her journey has been nothing short of remarkable, transitioning seamlessly from regional hits to Bollywood blockbusters like Raaz: The Reboot, Shaadi Mein Zaroor Aana, Housefull 4, and Taish. What sets Kriti apart is her knack for choosing roles that challenge her as an actress, showcasing her versatility and depth on screen.

Advertisement View this post on Instagram A post shared by Kriti Kharbanda (@kriti.kharbanda)

Reflecting on her journey, Kriti took to social media to share a heartwarming anecdote from her early days in the industry. Recalling a moment in a mall after the release of her Kannada film GOOGLY, she was taken aback by the overwhelming support of fans chanting her characters name, a testament to the profound impact of cinema.

Expressing gratitude to her past self for her resilience and passion, Kriti also thanked her present self for staying true to her dreams and aspirations. She extended heartfelt appreciation to her family, friends, and fans for their unwavering support throughout her journey, emphasizing how their belief in her talent has fueled her artistic endeavors.

In her message to fans, Kriti conveyed her deep appreciation for their trust in her ability to entertain, acknowledging their role in her success story. With a heart full of love and gratitude, she expressed pride in the person she has become, cherishing every moment of her extraordinary journey in Indian Cinema.

As Kriti Kharbanda continues to captivate audiences with her captivating performances and infectious charm, her 15-year milestone serves as a testament to her dedication, talent, and enduring love for the craft of acting. Heres to many more years of cinematic brilliance from this powerhouse performer!
Amid tight security arrangements, 176 buses carrying about 5000 pilgrims, mostly Kashmiri Pandits, were on Wednesday flagged off from Nagrota near here by Divisional Commissioner Ramesh Kumar for the annual Mata Kheer Bhawani mela in Kashmir on 14 June.

The Divisional Commissioner said that all the necessary arrangements have been put in place en-route the Yatra by the concerned district administrations and stakeholder departments. The arrangements include busses for transportation, security, accommodation, meals and other facilities for the devotees.

Around 5000 yatris on board 176 buses left for different destinations of Mata Kheer Bhawani Mela viz Tulmulla (Ganderbal), Tikker (Kupwara), Devsar and Manzam (Kulgam) and Logripora (Anantnag).

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The main congregation will be held at Tulmulla (Ganderbal) on the auspicious occasion of Zyesht Ashtami on 14 June. Relief Organisation, in collaboration with concerned district administration has made all the necessary arrangements for the convenience of the pilgrimage of the devotees of Mata Kheer Bhawani.

The District Administration Ramban extended a warm welcome to the devotees when the convoy carrying them reached Chanderkot.

Deputy Commissioner Baseer-Ul-Haq Chaudhary, alongside SSP, Anuj Kumar and prominent citizens of the area welcomed the pilgrims. They were offered lunch and continued their onward journey after that.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah, and Union Health Minister and BJP president J P Nadda, and a host of senior party leaders are set to attend the swearing-in ceremony of Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister on Thursday. Pema Khandu, who took over as the chief minister in 2016, is set to be retained for the post.

The ceremony, where Khandu and his council of ministers will be sworn in, is scheduled to take place at Indira Gandhi Park in Itanagar tomorrow.

In preparation for this significant event, BJP legislature party leaders are slated to meet today under the supervision of central observers.

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This meeting, to be held in Itanagar this evening, will facilitate the selection of the BJP legislature party leader.

The BJP Parliamentary Board has appointed National General Secretary Tarun Chugh and Member of Parliament Ravi Shankar Prasad as central observers to oversee this crucial process.

To ensure the smooth conduct of the function, elaborate security arrangements have been made across Itanagar.

The ruling BJP has solidified its hold on power in Arunachal Pradesh, winning the state assembly elections for the third consecutive term.

On June 2, the BJP emerged victorious with 46 seats in the 60-member Assembly, securing a clear majority. The elections were held in conjunction with the Lok Sabha polls on April 19, with votes counted for 50 Assembly segments. Notably, the BJP won 10 of these seats uncontested.
The Central government proposed the deployment of a unit of the National Security Group (NSG) commandos in the city of Ram Lalla soon for the enhanced protection of the Ram temple and other religious places.

Sources said here on Wednesday that the Centre is preparing to set up an NSG commando unit here for which the search is on for a suitable land.

After the proposal is approved by the Central Government, the Black Cat commandos of the NSG will be deployed here.

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So far, two security agencies of the Central government and four of the state government are deployed in the district. NSG commandos are called from Delhi on any VVIP visit. After the construction of the Ram temple, VVIP visits have become frequent in the district and there is a huge crowd of devotees all the time.

Besides, Ayodhya has also been the target of terrorists from time to time. In view of this security here is being tightened. This is the reason preparations are on to establish a unit of NSG commando here, sources said.

According to sources, the NSG team contacted the district administration to identify the land and make it available to them.

A senior police officer confirmed the proposed deployment of an NSG unit in Ayodhya but did not give any details.
The Supreme Court on Wednesday came down heavily on the Delhi government for not acting against tanker mafias in the city and cautioned that it would ask the Delhi Police for action to mitigate the water crisis in the national capital.

If water is coming from Himachal Pradesh, where is the water going in Delhi? Have you taken any action or measures against these tanker mafias? There are reports that tanker mafias are working in Delhi and water is engulfed by them and you are not taking any action. If you are not taking any action, we will hand it over to Delhi Police to crackdown on tanker mafias, a vacation bench presided over by Justice P.K. Mishra told the Delhi government.

The Bench, also comprising Justice V.B. Parale, wondered how the water is supplied through tankers to the common public when pipelines are dry and empty.

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If this water crisis is a recurring problem every summer, what measures have you taken to control the loss of water coming from Yamuna? File an affidavit containing action taken from May-June, 2023 to April 2024 to prevent loss of water. Any FIR against any tanker mafia or illegal transportation of water? it asked.

In response, the counsel representing the Delhi government said that Delhi Jal Board (DJB) is supplying water through tankers and most of the visuals reported in media are related to water supply by DJB tankers in lower economic households.

We will file all the material by today itself. There are multiple actions, including massive disconnection. We will be more than happy to have the police take action, added the city governments counsel.

During the hearing, the apex court also questioned the state of Himachal Pradesh for making a false statement that it has excess water in reservoirs.

It asked the Advocate General representing Himachal Pradesh, If you are already releasing it, why was it not made known to the Upper Yamuna River Board? The other day, your Additional Advocate General said that this document (pertaining to 137 cusecs surplus water) was produced before the Board. Why are false statements made in the top court?

Posting the matter for hearing on June 13, the SC asked the Delhi government to file an affidavit regarding the prevention of loss of water and allowed other parties to file additional affidavits if they so desired.

In the previous hearing, the top court came down heavily on the city government for taking the court proceedings for granted and turned furious after it was pointed out that the respondents (Union, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh governments) could not have e-filed the status reports/compliance affidavits in terms of the order of the apex court due to non-curing of defects by the Delhi governments side

We will dismiss this petition. On the last date also, this was pointed out but you did not remove the defects. You do not take court proceedings for granted, howsoever important your case may be! the SC had said.

The Supreme Court had directed the Himachal Pradesh government to release surplus water on June 7 so that it reaches the national capital uninterruptedly and is made available to the Delhiites for drinking purposes.

We direct that Himachal Pradesh shall release 137 cusecs of surplus water available with it on Friday so that the water reaches Hathni Kund barrage and reaches Delhi through Wazirabad. As and when surplus water is released with prior information by the state of Himachal Pradesh, the state of Haryana shall facilitate the flow of surplus water so released, it had ordered on June 6.
India has finally decided to take part in the Global Peace Summit on Ukraine, which is scheduled to take place on June 15-16 in Switzerland.

India will be participating at the Peace Summit which is to be held in Switzerland, at an appropriate level. That consideration is currently going on in the system. As and when we have a decision on the representative from India who will be participating, we will be very happy to share it with you, Foreign Secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra said at a media briefing here this afternoon.

The Global Peace Summit will be held on June 15-16 at Burgenstock Hotel above Lake Lucerne in Switzerland.

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Recently Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during his conversation with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, had said, India would continue to do everything within its means to support a peaceful solution.

I spoke with Prime Minister of India @NarendraModi to congratulate him on his election victory. I wished him a speedy formation of the government and continued productive work for the benefit of the Indian people. We discussed the upcoming Global Peace Summit. We rely on Indias participation at the highest level. I also invited Prime Minister Modi to visit Ukraine at a convenient time, the Ukraine leader said in a post on X while congratulating PM Modi on his recent election win.
The Albany Public Library is running its annual summer reading program, which launched on June 1.

That program works to curb the so-called summer slide, or the learning loss experienced over the long school break, on top of offering prizes for participants who clock-in their reading each day. That's according to April Spisak, supervising librarian at Albany Public Library.

As of June 7, this years summer reading program had over 900 registrations, according to Spisak, and is still open, with plenty of time for children of all ages and adults to venture in and snag a reading log to earn prizes for reading up to 15, 30 and 60 days over the summer.

Those prizes include chapter or picture books, a free pound of blueberries from Blueberry Meadows in Corvallis, and a free ice cream from Hasty Freez in Albany.

This is Spisaks seventh summer overseeing the effort thats run by libraries across Oregon as part of the nationwide Collaborative Summer Library Program. That program also offers themes each year to inform library-related summer reading events and activities.

Albanys theme this year  because Spisak wasnt too crazy about the one selected by the national organization  is simply Bugs, and reflected by the current decor of the librarys childrens section, including colorful insect drawings posted to the wall and a bright blue banner, replete with butterflies, dragonflies and ladybugs, welcoming folks into children's section.

One such bug-themed event this summer: a library visit from an Oregon State University entomologist.

As for their reading logs, participants can read anything, according to Spisak. The goal is to separate the activity of reading from grades or time limits to keep children engaged.

You can read a cereal box and thats it for one day, and then another day you may settle in with a book for an hour and half, she said.

Statistical research has shown that kids tend to stop between 21 and 23 minutes, if you set a 20-minute time limit, she added.

Outreach to children is a big part of the job for Spisak, who visits Albany elementary, middle and high schools and has made partnerships with the YMCA and other agencies to draw students into the program, with literacy skills top of mind.

It only takes about three weeks for those skills to start fading (over the summer), she said.

Calapooia Middle School language arts teacher Shay Brunson said she typically spends her September months reviewing those skills because students arent used to physical text and struggle with independent reading.

Ive been teaching for 24 years, and I can say without a doubt, I can tell which kids read over the summer and which kids dont, especially when I have the same kid two years in a row, she said.

Brunson, who teaches sixth, seventh, and eighth graders and encourages her students to participate in the summer reading program, likens the summer slide to learning to ride a bike for a week, and then taking three months off.

Youre going to have to start back at the beginning, she said.

Learning loss isnt as steep for older children, Brunson said, though the pandemic has taken a toll on middle school students, she added. Her colleague, sixth grade language arts teacher Anna Crociata said she also sees gaps in students reading and writing in the fall, despite their efforts when they return to the classroom.

South Shore Elementary teacher Jadie De Lille Wright knows second and third grades are a pivotal time for reading instruction. A second-grade dual immersion teacher, De Lille Wright said shed be recommending parents and students participate in the librarys summer reading program too.

The Albany Public Library hosts a bilingual and Spanish-language section, along with bilingual reading logs and prizes that include Spanish-language only books, Spisak said.

The program is also for all ages, and this year the library is employing one reading log (as opposed to separate ones for children and adults) to encourage more adult participation. Whether its parents or other family members, their inclusion can be instrumental.

We know that one of the biggest indicators of early literacy success is seeing reading models at home, she said.

The summer reading program is supported by the Albany Public Library Foundation, which contributed $5,000 this year, according to Spisak, along with the nonprofit Friends of Albany Library, which purchased book prizes.

Last year the library had over 3,000 children participate, as well as over 400 teens and over 100 adults, and gave away nearly 12,000 books in the childrens room, according to Spisak.

She said the program captured about 28% of all potential child and teen readers in Linn County, which while falling short of her goal of 45% to 50%, beat the natural average of 12%.

For Crociata, who's also encouraging her students to participate this summer, the program is not only about addressing learning loss. It's also about helping students discover their interests.

I believe everyone likes to read, she said. They just haven't found what they like to read yet.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday took a jibe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the relatively low margin of his victory in the recently concluded Lok Sabha elections, saying the prime minister barely escaped in Varanasi, the parliamentary constituency he contested.

Addressing a public meeting in Keralas Malappuram, the Congress leader said, The truth is the Prime Minister barely escaped (from losing) in Varanasi, and he would have been defeated in Varanasi.

Gandhi further termed the BJPs unexpected defeat in Faizabad (Ayodhya), a message against hatred and violence.

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The BJP was defeated in Ayodhya. The people of Ayodhya have given a message that we do not appreciate hatred and violence, he added.

Modi faced a stiff challenge in Varanasi from Congress candidate Ajay Rai. At one stage, Modi was even trailing behind his Congress rival.

While Modi managed to win the seat for the third consecutive time, his victory margin reduced to just over 1.5 lakh votes as compared to 4.79 lakh in 2019 and 3.71 lakh in 2014.

Moreover, the BJP suffered significant losses in several parts of Uttar Pradesh, a state that has voted overwhelmingly for the saffron party in the last two elections.

The BJP won just 33 of the 80 seats as its tally came down from 62 in 2019. The Samajwadi Party and the Congress bagged 39 seats together.

On Tuesday, Rahul Gandhi had also claimed that Modi would have been defeated from Varanasi had Priyanka Gandhi contested against him.

Addressing the Aabhaar Sabha (thanksgiving meeting) of party workers in Rae Bareli, the Gandhi scion had said, Varansi me jaan bacha ke bhage hai pradhan mantri ji.Had my sister contested the Varanasi seat, the prime minister would have been defeated by 2 to 3 lakh votes.
TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu on Wednesday took oath as the chief minister of Andhra Pradesh for the fourth time in a star-studded programme attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other key BJP leaders and celebrity film stars.

On the occasion, a new cabinet comprising 24 ministers, including JSP leader Pawan Kalyan who is set to be the deputy chief minister, was also sworn in later by Governor S Abdul Nazeer.

The swearing-taking ceremony was held at 11:27 am at the Kesarapalli IT Park near Gannavaram.

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Three of the ministers sworn in today are from the JSP and one from the BJP. However, the Cabinet can accommodate another berth which has been left vacant for the time being.

After taking the oath of office, a visibly emotional Naidu was congratulated by the prime minister with a warm hug. After Naidu, it was Pawan Kalyans turn followed by Nara Lokesh and K Atchen Naidu. P Narayana, who had been instrumental in taking up the Amaravati capital city project during Naidus earlier tenure, was also included in the Cabinet.

There are three women ministers in the AP Cabinet this time. Among the 24 ministers, 17 are newcomers, including those from the JSP and BJP. Apart from Pawan Kalyan, Nadendla Manohar and Kandula Durgesh were sworn in from the JSP while Satya Kumar Yadav is the lone representative of the BJP.

There are eight ministers from backward classes, three from the Scheduled Castes, and one each from a Scheduled Tribe and a minority community.

Although Chandrababu Naidu was part of the NDA in 2014 and his swearing-in ceremony had seen the presence of BJPs old guards like LK Advani and MM Joshi and several Union ministers like Rajnath Singh and Nirmala Seetharaman, todays event was far more star-studded, considering that TDPs support was crucial for the NDA government at the Centre.

Apart from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJPs top leadership, including Union Home Minister Amit Shah and national president and Union Minister JP Nadda, Union Surface Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari, and partys national general secretary BL Santosh were present at the swearing-in ceremony.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, NCP leader Praful Patel and LJP leader Chirag Paswan were also present along with BJP leader Bandi Sanjay Kumar from neighbouring Telangana. Superstar Rajnikanth and Chiranjeevi added to the star quotient.

At the end of the ceremony, the prime minister met megastar Chiranjeevi at the request of his brother Pawan Kalyan and held their hands aloft as the crowd cheered loudly. However, YSRCP leader and outgoing chief minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy stayed away from the event.

Right from early in the morning, every road led to Kesarapalli IT Hub. There was a huge traffic jam at the Kaja toll plaza in Guntur with a large number of vehicles coming from Rayalaseema and Nellore. The atmosphere was electrifying. A huge boat rally was organised on River Krishna by the Amaravati Sand Boat Owners Association to demonstrate their support for the new government. The boats were all adorned with flags of the TDP, JSP, and BJP.

Naidu will take charge tomorrow evening after a family trip to Tirumala. He will reach the Secretariat at the auspicious moment of 4:41 pm and sign several key files pertaining to the large-scale recruitment of teachers, the increase in the amount of pension to Rs4000, and the repeal of the land titling act.

He will also sign files to revive Anna canteens that provided meals at a nominal cost. These were part of the promises made during the poll campaign by TDP.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will leave on Thursday for Italy to attend the G-7 Summit to be held on 14 June in what will be his first overseas trip after assuming office for a third consecutive term.

At a media briefing here this afternoon, Foreign Secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra said at the invitation of Prime Minister of Italy Giorgia Meloni, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be travelling to Apulia, Italy tomorrow to participate in the 50th G7 Summit which is to be held there on 14 June where India has been invited as an Outreach country.

This will be Indias 11th participation in the G7 Summits and PM Modis own fifth consecutive participation.

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On 14 June, the PM will participate in the Outreach Session along with the other countries invited for the Outreach Summit. At this session, the focus would be on Artificial Intelligence, Energy, Africa and the Mediterranean. It will be a block agenda item where the G7 and the Outreach Countries will share their views and perspectives.

Mr Kwatra said Italy has also invited certain other countries, including Algeria, Argentina, Brazil, Egypt, Kenya, Mauritania, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Tunisia, Turkey and UAE, and some international organisations for the summit.

The Foreign Secretary said the PMs participation would also provide a timely opportunity to follow up on the outcomes of the G20 Summit held under Indias presidency last year and deliberate on issues which are significant for the Global South.

On the sidelines of the summit, the PM will hold bilateral meetings with other world leaders. The meeting with the Italian PM has already been fixed while other bilaterals are being finalised, he added.
The Supreme Court on Wednesday pulled up the Delhi government for its inaction against the water tanker mafia, which continues to supply water with impunity, while people suffer from an acute water shortage. It also asked the Aam Aadmi Party government to list the steps it has taken to prevent wastage of water, which exceeds 60%.

Directing the Delhi government to state on affidavit the steps taken by it to prevent water wastage, a vacation bench of Justice Prashant Kumar Mishra and Justice Prasanna Balachandra Varale said that even a 10% reduction in water wastage would help mitigate the serious water shortage faced by the people in the national capital.

The court posted the matter for further hearing on Thursday, June 13.

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Asking the Delhi government to spell out the steps it has taken to rein in the water tanker mafia, Justice Mishra warned that the court would direct the Delhi police to investigate the tanker mafia if the Delhi government fails to take any action.

Water is coming from Himachal Pradesh, then where is the water going in Delhi? Are there such significant transportation losses? There is a tanker mafia operating in Delhi, and you are not taking any action. Have any FIRs been registered against the tanker mafia? Tanker mafias get water while pipelines are running dry, Justice Mishra said, warning the Delhi government, If you dont take any action, we will hand over the case to the Delhi police.

As senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, representing the Delhi government, referred to the problem in previous years  2018, 2019, 2020, and so on  the bench said, It is a recurring problem every summer. What have you done to prevent water wastage coming from all these sources?

The bench said that just as transmission losses in electricity have been addressed, the wastage of water must be dealt with in a similar manner.

There was a loss of electricity; similar measures need to be taken to prevent the loss of water, the bench said.

As senior advocate Singhvi said that tankers belong to Delhi Jal Board, the bench retorted, saying that they have seen reports about the tanker mafia.

Senior advocate Shyam Divan, appearing for Haryana, told the bench that there was more than 60% wastage of water in Delhi. Singhvi urged the court to see the wastage of water in Haryana and the national average.

Taking a serious note of the shift in the stand of the Himachal Pradesh government, which in the last hearing had said that 137 cusecs of surplus water will be released on June 7, but now states that the surplus water was being released to Delhi, the bench ordered the presence of the officer whose statement formed the basis of the June 6 order. The court made it clear that if the statement given by the Himachal Pradesh officer on June 6 is found to be incorrect, consequences will follow.

On June 6, the Supreme Court permitted the Himachal Pradesh government to release 137 cusecs of its surplus water on June 7 to address the acute shortage of drinking water in the national capital. It had also directed the Haryana government to facilitate the flow of water through its canal network so that the water released by Himachal Pradesh from Hathnikund Barrage reaches Wazirabad Barrage in Delhi uninterrupted.

Considering the urgency, we direct Himachal Pradesh to release the water tomorrow (June 7) with prior intimation to Haryana and Upper Yamuna River Board (UYRB) shall measure the water for onward supply. Compliance reports be submitted on Monday (June 10), list on Monday, the court had said in its order on June 6, 2024.

The top court had also asked the Upper Yamuna River Board to measure water released by Himachal Pradesh at Hathnikund Barrage in Haryana.

On June 3, the Supreme Court asked the Upper Yamuna River Board to convene an urgent meeting on June 5 of Delhi, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and the Centre to address the problem of acute water scarcity being faced by the people in the national capital in the midst of an unprecedented heatwave. Posting the matter for today, the vacation bench had asked the UYRB to place before it the minutes of the meeting and the suggestions to deal with the situation in the national capital.

On May 31, the Delhi government approached the top court seeking immediate additional water from neighbouring Haryana. It said that the people of Delhi were facing an acute shortage of water because of the ongoing severe heat conditions in North India, particularly in Delhi.

The Delhi government has sought direction to the Haryana government for immediate and continuous release of water at the Wazirabad barrage. It has sought the surplus release of water by Haryana as a one-time solution to redress the present emergency and resolve the ongoing water crisis in Delhi.

The plea by the Delhi government states that the record-high temperatures and heatwave in Delhi, with maximum temperatures soaring to around 50 degrees Celsius at some places, have led to an extraordinary and excessive surge in water demand in the city.
The Army and other security forces in the Jammu division were on Wednesday put on high alert following intelligence inputs of Pakistani terrorists planning suicide attacks at their camps in the next 48 hours.

Highly placed sources said that the Indian Army, BSF, CRPF and J&K Police camps across the Jammu division have been asked to remain extra alert.

The alert is particularly for the security forces in Sunderbani, Nowshera, Lamberi, Akhnoor and Domana in the Rajouri and Jammu districts. However, the alert has also been ordered in Poonch, Reasi, Doda and other districts.

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Terrorists last night attacked a joint operational post of Indian Armys 4 Rashtriya Rifles (RR) and J&K Police at Chhatragalla in the Doda district leaving six personnel injured.

Meanwhile, keeping in view the heightened terror activities in the region, the authorities have cancelled the holidays on 13 and 14 June for the entire staff of the CID wing.

The three terrorist attacks in three days that have claimed 10 lives, including 9 pilgrims and a CRPF jawan, and also left nearly 50 people injured, have been condemned across the party lines by political leaders.

CPM leader, Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami while condemning the back to back attacks, said; Administrations claims of normalcy starkly contrast with the ground reality. Its crucial to conduct a comprehensive introspection for gaining a thorough understanding & effectively addressing the situation.

Former chief minister and PDP leader Mehbooba Mufti wrote on X; Condemn the senseless cowardly terrorist attack in Doda last night. A huge matter of concern that three terror incidents have occurred in just a span of 72 hours. Why are these security lapses taking place in the first place? Prayers for the swift recovery of those injured.

National Conference President Dr. Farooq Abdullah and vice president Omar Abdullah called upon the people of Jammu & Kashmir to stay united and resilient. They appealed to all political and social organizations to support the affected families and work together towards restoring peace and normalcy in the region.
A CRPF jawan was killed in the ongoing encounter with terrorists in the Saida Sukhal village, near the Pakistan border, in Kathua district, while five soldiers of the Army and a cop were injured in a separate mid-night terrorist attack in the Doda district.

Both these terror strikes have come two days after the killing of 9 pilgrims in the Reasi district.

The CRPF jawan identified as Kabir Dass of 121 Battalion was critically injured during the gunfight with terrorists in the Saida Sukhal village, and later succumbed in the hospital, officials said.

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One heavily armed Pakistani terrorist was killed and an operation is underway to neutralise the other two who attacked inmates of a house in the Saida Sukhal village of the Hiranagar Sector of Jammu on Tuesday evening.

One civilian, Onkar (45) received multiple bullet injuries, including one on his left arm, and was rushed to the hospital at Kathua.

While the top Army, Police and CRPF officers were supervising the operation in the Saida Sukhal village, another terrorist attack was reported at a joint check post at Chattergalla on the Bhaderwah-Chamba road in the Doda district where 5 troops of the 4 Rashtriya Rifles (RR) and a special police officer (SPO) were injured.

Additional DGP (Jammu) Anand Jain was personally monitoring the operations against the terrorists.

Reports said two senior officers of J&K Police, one DIG rank and another SSP rank, had a narrow escape after their vehicles came under firing by the terrorists in the Kathua village. About a dozen bullets were fired at their vehicles, reports said.

Having remained dormant for several years, the Kashmir Tigers terrorist outfit has claimed responsibility for the attack in Doda.

ADGP Jain said that the attack in the Kathua village appears to have been done by freshly infiltrated terrorists.

Police said that the group of terrorists barged into a house yesterday and asked for drinking water that was denied by the inmates. The terrorists fled towards forests and fired in the air to scare the villagers who noticed their suspicious movement at about 7.45 pm.

Thereafter, the area was cordoned by the Army, CRPF and J&K Police and the encounter broke out. Police said the dead terrorist had Rs 1 lakh in Indian currency in his bag. Besides, the items recovered from the slain terrorist included three magazines containing 30 rounds, one magazine having 24 rounds, 75 rounds in a separate polythene bag, three live grenades, eatables (Pakistan-made chocolates, dry chana and stale rotis, medicines and injections, painkillers, one syringe, two packs of A4 batteries, one handset wrapped in tape having antenna and two wires hanging from this handset).

Meanwhile, the Reasi Police has released the sketch of terrorists involved in the attack on the pilgrims bus and has announced a reward of Rs 20 lakh to anyone providing credible information about the whereabouts of these terrorists.

With these attacks, six of the ten districts of Jammu have witnessed terror activity in the past few days.
In a novel gesture, Union Minister of State for Petroleum and Tourism Suresh Gopi on his first trip to Kerala after assuming office visited the house of CPI-M leader and former Chief Minister EK Nayanar at Kalliasseri in Kannur on Wednesday.

Suresh Gopi is an ardent admirer of Nayanar. Suresh had visited the late communist stalwarts house two years ago and shared the photo with Nayanars wife Sarada on social media with the caption: There was a chief minister like this in Kerala. Why did you depart so early, leaving us orphaned? We Malayalees need your presence now more than ever.

Nayanars wife Sarada said: This is not the first time that Suresh Gopi is coming to our house. He has made several visits here whenever he comes to Kannur. If he arrives in the morning, he calls me up and says he will come for breakfast. The same goes for lunch.

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I first saw Suresh Gopi long ago at Thiruvananthapuram Medical College when Sakhavu (Nayanar) was there. Later, a nurse approached me and mentioned that Suresh Gopi frequently inquires at the hospital about poor children who need financial assistance for heart surgeries. I was genuinely surprised and impressed to learn that such kind-hearted people exist, added Sarada.

Earlier on Wednesday morning, Suresh Gopi visited Tali Mahadeva Shiva Kshetram in Kozhikode. From Delhi, he reached Kozhikode airport late on Tuesday.

After visiting Nayanars residence, Suresh Gopi visited Mararji Smriti Mandapam at Payyambalam in Kannur and paid tributes to the late BJP leader KG Marar, who was instrumental in creating the base for the BJP in Kerala. He also visited Parassinikkadavu Muthappan temple, Kottiyoor Mahadeva temple and Raja Rajeswara temple at Taliparamba on Wednesday.
Despite the strong recommendations of the Honourable Justice Sri Krishna Committee of 2017; despite successive amendments to the Arbitration Act, 1996 from 2015 to 2022 during the two terms of Prime Minister Modis Government; despite establishment of International Arbitration Centres by the Government of India in Gujarat and New Delhi, and finally despite the recommendations of the committee led by former law secretary Dr T.K. Viswanathan which was constituted in 2023 by the Ministry of Law and Justice, the Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance, has taken a decision on 3 June advising all Government ministries and departments to tone down their dispute resolution approaches while looking at the option of Arbitration for a court managed litigation.

It could not be said to be a sudden political decision, for there is practically no political party functioning while newly elected parties are mulling to form a new government. It is not known how the bureaucratic set-up could muster the strength in such a situation to advise their subordinates to be careful in resorting to arbitration, but the circular released by the Government of India strongly conveys against the inclusion of an arbitration clause in public contracts. Ironically enough, just two days after the release of the Governments directive, the Chief Justice of India said in the United Kingdom that arbitration is no longer an alternative.

It is, in fact, the preferred method of seeking commercial justice. He added that the shift is driven by the desire of parties to distance themselves from domestic court systems and resolve their disputes through a neutral, third-party arbitrator. The CJI pointed out that the courts in India are overburdened despite high courts disposing of 2.15 million cases and the district courts disposing of 44.70 million cases in 2023, and added that arbitration could be a preferred solution to resolve commercial and other civil disputes. Arbitration is a process in which the parties involved in a dispute consent to submit their dispute to one or more arbitrators, who subsequently render a binding decision on the case. The parties elect to pursue arbitration as a private dispute resolution process rather than litigating in court.

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The Ministry of Finance in its directive stated that arbitration should not be routinely included in procurement contracts or tenders issued by the government and its various entities as a dispute resolution method. The government has further stated in its memorandum that arbitration should be used to resolve disputes arising from procurement contracts, but only for those valued at less than Rs 10 crore. The arbitration clause may only be incorporated into the contract after a comprehensive examination of the matter, which is supported by documented justification, if this approach is necessary to resolve disputes exceeding Rs 10 crore.

The office memorandum further describes the arbitration process in unequivocal terms by saying, The process of arbitration itself takes a long time and is not as quick as envisaged, besides being very expensive too. The reduced formality, combined with the binding nature of decisions, has often led to wrong decisions on facts and improper application of the law. The arbitral process being contractual and intended to be final with very limited further recourse, is also exposed, particularly in matters of high financial value, to perceptions of wrong-doing including collusion. lt is noteworthy that arbitrators are not necessarily subject to the high standards of selection which are applied to the judiciary and to judicial conduct.

Further, proceedings are conducted behind closed doors and not in open court. There have been judicial decisions regarding impropriety on the part of arbitrators and there is little accountability for such wrong decisions, if taken by arbitrators. It further states The benefit of finality has also not been achieved. A large majority of arbitration decisions are being challenged in the Courts both by the Government (or its entity or agency) and by the opposite party, when the decision of the arbitrators is not to the satisfaction of either party. The expectation that challenges to arbitration awards would be rare, has not been realised in practice. Therefore, instead of reducing litigation, it has become virtually an additional layer and source of more litigation, delaying final resolution. The objective of relieving the burden on Courts has generally not been achieved. The intended finality, which is frequently not realised in practice, also has an impact on potential civil and criminal actions related to the subject matter of the disputes.

The memo says that in numerous instances, a commercial and practical approach, if implemented, may indeed result in a peaceful resolution of the issues at the threshold. However, the arbitration clauses existence enables officers to avoid making a decision by allowing the dispute to proceed to arbitration. Afterwards, the adversarial process frequently results in inflated claims, counterclaims, or cross-claims replacing realistic claims and counterclaims. The arbitral process frequently concludes with resolutions that are in-between or extreme in nature, despite the fact that the intrinsic actual claims are significantly smaller.

The office memo states that the instructions are advisory in nature and that decision makers must exercise caution when drafting contractual agreements while advising subordinate offices and other government offices. The memorandum, which spans six pages, provides sufficient guidance to justify the decision to forgo arbitration in favour of mediation. It does so by employing language that invokes protection. However, our bureaucrats are adequately equipped to interpret the nuances of unforeseen vigilance inquiries, safeguard their reputations, and discard arbitration. Now, the inquiry is exceedingly straightforward and unambiguous. Should government offices opt for arbitration over court litigation or defer to the expertise of the upper echelons of the bureaucracy? So why should we engage in a campaign to promote the idea that India is becoming a global centre for arbitration? Responses that are explicit are required.

(The writer is former International Senior Advisor, United Nations Development Programme)
The Bundelkhand region comprising 14 districts (seven each in Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh) in central India has frequently been in the news because of large-scale distress, migration of workers, acute water scarcity and other problems, mostly related to poverty. Unless adequate precautionary steps are taken in time, these and other problems can easily be aggravated rapidly in this region which is regarded as being highly vulnerable to climate change.

These questions are being discussed this year when one of the most acute summer months has been experienced during May and several elderly people have said that they never experienced such terrible heat in their lifetime. While earlier a stretch of days experiencing maximum temperatures of 40 to 45 C would be regarded as a terrible heat wave, now for a stretch of days people are experiencing between 42 and 49 C, they say.

The poorest families suffer the most. Although the poorer and weaker sections of society are least responsible for climate change, they are likely to suffer the most from its ravages. Despite this, their concerns and voices are frequently ignored. A lot can be done by integrating their yearning for improved and sustainable livelihoods with climate change concerns of mitigation and adaptation but often this important task does not get the priority it deserves.

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Instead agricultural/ rural change is pushed in such ways that business lobbies vying for more control of farm and food systems get strengthened, at the same time weakening the sincere and genuine efforts for ecologically protective farming by small farmers. Projects which displace poor people in the name of protecting the environment are wrongly prioritized, alienating them. Hence it is important at this stage to warn against misuse of funds marked for climate change mitigation and adaptation. These funds should reach those who need this help the most and are likely to put this to the most just and ecologically protective use.

This means in practical terms that most funds should reach small peasants and rural landless workers for taking up mitigation as well as adaptation work. Indigenous people and tribal communities have a particularly important role in this as they have been closer to nature. What is more, this concern should be extended to wider planning in which reduction of GHG emissions is linked to meeting basic needs of all people, with emphasis on justicebased resolution of climate change challenges. Small peasants should be supported for ecologically protective farming including soil and water conservation work which can improve organic content of soil in a few years.

Organic content of soil spread over vast areas can be a very big absorber of carbon dioxide. At the same time by avoiding or reducing chemical fertilizers, pollution by nitrous oxide is reduced, which is about 300 times more potent as GHG compared to carbon dioxide. Mixed farming including indigenous trees can be well integrated, supplying more staple foods, produced in healthy ways and close to home, reducing long transport burden. While contributing to mitigation, vast acres under organic/natural farming will make small farmers less dependent on expensive chemical inputs and improve their adaptation capacity. Hence both adaptation and mitigation can be achieved on a sustainable basis at the same time, instead of being segregated.

This is a particularly important aspect of such efforts. In fact the more the organic content of soil improves with the passage of time, the more the mitigation and adaptation capacity will increase. Such efforts improve food sovereignty at the same time, reducing dependence on polluting and expensive inputs. Land reforms can help the landless to emerge as small farmers and be a part of such efforts. In addition the landless should get assured employment close to home in various tasks of ecological rehabilitation of villages and nearby areas.

If properly used, the existing, legally protected, programme of rural employment of India called MG-NREGA can be a big facilitator of such efforts, although unfortunately this potential has not been adequately tapped so far. One possibility is protecting degraded land and giving nature time to regenerate it. Yet another is to increase protection steps for the remaining natural forests. New afforestation with indigenous species of trees should seek to mimic local natural forests. Apart from fair wages, the landless should get longer-term rights to non-timber forest produce. This again helps mitigation as well as adaptation at the same time.

All these efforts should seek to tap and encourage creativity of participants  workers and farmers  for local solutions and innovations. To give just one inspiring example, a farmer from Bundelkhand region of India, Mangal Singh, had invented a special turbine which can lift water from streams and canals without using diesel or electricity. Although the primary aim of the inventor was to help farmers and reduce costs, calculations show that a single unit serving over 15 years can reduce use of 125,400 litres of diesel oil and 335 tonnes GHG emissions. This can increase further if with a few adjustments this innovation is put to additional use like crop processing. This has been highly praised by many senior experts including those in official positions.

Still its tremendous potential has not been tapped yet, even though the Maithani Committee appointed by the Union Rural Development Ministry strongly recommended its rapid spread. Potentially tens of thousands of units can be installed worldwide wherever suitable conditions exist. Innovations such as this by villagers can help greatly in climate change mitigation and adaptation at the same time. If there is better support for such initiatives, the creativity of farmers and workers can contribute much more because they are the most familiar with local conditions. Democratic participation systems based on transparency and honesty should be established to implement such initiatives. Such work is best achieved by grants, not loans.

Hence climate funds should be based on grants and not loans. If implemented properly and sincerely and with the right priorities, climate change mitigation and adaptation can progress a lot in the villages of vulnerable regions like Bundelkhand in such ways that poverty is also reduced in a big way and sustainable livelihoods are also improved significantly.

(The writer is Honorary Convener, Campaign to Save Earth Now. His recent books include Protecting Earth for Children, Planet in Peril and Indias Quest for Sustainable Farming and Healthy Food.)
Many Indians will hope that the 2024 general election marks a shift from personality-driven politics towards a more substantive contest of ideas, a point reinforced by the head of the Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh, Mohan Bhagwat, with his exhortation to treat those on the other side of the political aisle as adversaries and not foes. Mr Bhagwat, in an intervention which many will see as veiled criticism of the party in power, has cautioned politicians to consider both sides of a proposition and reach an informed consensus. For a decade, Prime Minister Narendra Modis persona has dominated Indian politics, encapsulating ideology, party, and state within his figure.

The question Mr Bhagwat has raised is whether this has led to a sense of arrogance within the Bharatiya Janata Party, which failed to secure a majority on its own but has formed a government with the help of allies. In effect, the RSS chief seems to suggest that the era of strongman populism will have to give way to one of accommodation. Certainly, the Indian voter has delivered a verdict that emphasises the plurality and complexity of democratic engagement. The loss of Ayodhya, a site of immense symbolic importance to the BJP, and the victory of Mr Awadhesh Prasad, a Dalit candidate from the Samajwadi Party, stand as potent symbols of this electoral shift.

At the same time, by opting for a coalition government, India has sought a more inclusive and less centralised approach to governance. It is this truth that Mr Bhagwat has spoken to power, and those in government would do well to heed his wise words. After a long time, Indian democracy exhibits two poles: a somewhat rejuvenated Congress and a somewhat diminished BJP. The Congress partys revival signals a return to a more balanced political geography. This resurgence, coupled with the continued relevance of major regional parties like the Samajwadi Party and the Trinamool Congress, ensures that Indian federalism remains robust and dynamic.

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The BJP, despite emerging as the single largest party, faces an existential dilemma. Historically grounded in Hindutva, the partys recent strategy of fielding ideologically agnostic candidates attracted by power rather than principle has led to internal tensions. This identity crisis poses critical questions about the BJPs direction: should it continue its zealous Hindutva agenda, or adapt to a more inclusive approach to expand its base? By asking politicians to adopt a respectful attitude towards opponents, Mr Bhagwat appears to prescribe the latter path. While the RSS chiefs message may be aimed primarily at the BJP, the Congress too would do well to listen.

After a decade in the wilderness, the party has gathered some steam, but it will soon dissipate if it adopts a confrontational path. The 2024 election results have, therefore, recalibrated Indian democracy. The dilution of personality politics and the resurgence of ideological contests signify a return to democratic norms where ideas, rather than individuals, take centre stage. The future of Indian democracy will look promising if all parties learn the lesson of 2024.
Benton Countys elected leaders will forgo detailed accounts of their public deliberation after nixing lengthy meeting minutes Tuesday, June 11 in an uncommon 2-1 vote.

Xan Augerot and Pat Malone said staffers sometimes are backed up for months recording decisions and discussions of the county Board of Commissioners. Commissioner Nancy Wyse said cutting down meeting minutes will fuel claims that the board is not acting transparently.

A Place to Sleep, episode 10: Wrapping up We check back with some of the people we've met along our travels and we catch up with politicos who are trying to come up with solutions.

If it leads to eroding trust, I want to avoid doing that, Wyse said.

Commissioners disagreed at an August 2022 meeting, when Malone pushed to accept recommendations of those who write minutes and cut much of the boards back-and-forth in setting county policy.

Malone at the time said workers responsible for watching meeting footage and producing blow-by-blow accounts were behind by years  many meetings of an elected board empaneled dozens of times each year to decide county business.

Augerot was absent from that meeting. With other commissioners in deadlock, staffers agreed to return with options for commissioners to streamline minutes, required of any public policy-producing body under state law.

She said Tuesday theyre again falling behind.

Since Ive been here, this has been a problem, Augerot said.

She said staff were bringing minutes from 2015 for board approval when she took office in 2017.

I had to sign off on minutes of a board that wasnt there anymore, Augerot said.

Augerot and Malone argue the board potentially is more transparent by relying on video for detailed record and summarizing their meetings in state-required written minutes. The board potentially would publish minutes faster under staffs proposal and free up staff working behind the scenes to focus their work elsewhere.

Many elected bodies produce meeting minutes within three weeks, according to the state Department of Justice.

I think this is a good proposal and I think we should implement it, Malone said.

Wyse campaigned for office in 2019 on improved transparency at the county board. She argued the county is improving efficiency at the cost of transparency.

Wyse said county staff and appointees like those advising the commissioners about budget and land use already struggle to search even detailed minutes for elected officials consensus  let alone constituents unfamiliar with public processes.

Such research, Wyse said, will be more difficult in curtailed minutes.

One of my key goals was improve public records access and transparency, Wyse said.

But weve done that! Malone said.

Please dont interrupt me, Wyse said. Im advocating for what I believe and Ive said my piece.

Wyse said she would have liked to see options for improving minutes timeliness without reducing detail.

I dont think this is the only way, Wyse said.

Benton County exceeds state requirements to commit meetings to the public record.

The executive assistant to Benton Countys top employee said staff need about nine hours to produce minutes from a typical board of commissioners meeting  about three hours long.

Maura Kwiatkowski said the county contacted 15 to 20 potential transcriptionists to contract with someone outside of administrative staff who could produce detailed minutes.

And we werent successful at that time, Kwiatkowski said.

Monroe records similarly detailed minutes and meets once each month  12 times in a year. Corvallis government depends on the city recorder to provide the minutes. The citys elected leaders meet 44 to 46 times each year, as do those in Albany. The latter also used to produce deep, detailed minutes but discontinued the practice several years ago.

Benton Countys elected officials meet 44 times where workers spend potentially 100 hours or more  around three business weeks  typing minutes.

The county now will move toward a model closer to Adair Village, where councilors meet 12 times each year and staff briefly summarizes each item listed on officials regular business agendas. Linn County, which also provides brief agenda item summaries, meets 50 times each year.

Staffers told Benton officials detailed minutes exceed state demands and that they'll save about three to four hours writing up curtailed summaries, a 50 to 66% reduction.

Oregon law requires governments to note who among their elected officials attended a meeting, how they voted, plus legislation and its outcome  like whether they passed any ordinances or resolutions.

Elected bodies also must note when they reference documents and summarize their discussions, according to the states sunshine law, Oregon Revised Statute 192.

Oregon requires public bodies to retain records for one year, and Benton Countys policy is to not destroy records until three years from their origin.

Benton officials said Tuesday that they believe YouTube may serve as a better long-term archive, where meeting footage is uploaded and transcribed.

Wyse pushed to table or reject the decision until at least January, after Augerot retires from a second term and a city recording official likely takes her place on the board.

Gabe Shepherd, nominated by Democrats to fill Augerots seat, is a Corvallis city councilor and works as a deputy city clerk at the city of Albany. No one has filed to run against him in Oregons November general election.

We said we want to build trust back, Wyse said. I know I meant it.

Malone motioned to approve streamlined minutes with Augerot seconding the motion, and both voted aye. Wyse cast a dissenting vote.

"No," she said.

Editor's note: This article has been edited to correct the number of times the Corvallis City Council meets each year and the level of detail included in Albany government meeting minutes.
The 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 Indias 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 sectors contribution to economic growth and job creation, said Dr V. Veerappan, Chairman, the India Electronics and Semiconductor Association (IESA).

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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.
Six Six Palestinians were killed by the Israeli army in the village of Kafr Dan, northwest of Jenin in the northern West Bank, the Palestinian Health Ministry 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 on Tuesday.

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.

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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, Xinhua news agency reported.

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 added. ans were killed by the Israeli army in the village of Kafr Dan, northwest of Jenin in the northern West Bank, the Palestinian Health Ministry 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 on Tuesday.

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, Xinhua news agency reported.

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 added.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has said 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 on Tuesday that the movement accepted the ceasefire proposal, according to a report by Israels state-owned Kan TV news.

Earlier on Monday, 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.

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Yet Blinken expressed his anticipation for Hamas leaders in Gaza to provide a clear confirmation of their stance on the proposal, Xinhua news agency reported.

Thats what counts, and thats what we still lack, he said.

He met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday night and said that the latter 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.
More than 40 people, including several Indians, were killed when a major fire broke out in building housing workers in the city of Mangaf in southern Kuwait early on Wednesday.

The majority of the deceased were Indian nationals working for NBTC group, with ages ranging between twenty and fifty years. The building houses over 195 labourers, primarily Indians from Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and North India, local media reports said.

The blaze, which erupted in a densely populated workers residence, was reported to the fire department at 4:30 am and quickly controlled. Most deaths were due to smoke inhalation while residents were sleeping, and a significant number of occupants were evacuated, reports said.

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The Ministry of Health is closely monitoring the condition of the injured and coordinating with relevant hospitals and authorities to meet all necessary needs and provide the best possible treatment services. Specialised medical teams have also been formed to follow up on the injured and offer psychological and moral support to them and their families, the reports added.

In a post on X, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, The fire mishap in Kuwait City is saddening. My thoughts are with all those who have lost their near and dear ones. I pray that the injured recover at the earliest. The Indian Embassy in Kuwait is closely monitoring the situation and working with the authorities there to assist the affected.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said, Deeply shocked by the news of the fire incident in Kuwait city. There are reportedly over 40 deaths and over 50 have been hospitalised. Our Ambassador has gone to the camp. We are awaiting further information.

He offered his deepest condolences to the families of those who tragically lost their lives and wished early and full recovery to those who have been injured. Our Embassy will render the fullest assistance to all concerned in this regard, he added.
US President Joe Biden is planning to make another Patriot air defence system available to Ukraine to fend off Russian aerial attacks, the media reported, citing unnamed US government sources.

Biden took the decision following several high-level meetings last week, the New York Times reported on Tuesday.

John Kirby, the Communications Director of the US National Security Council, did not confirm the report when asked about it.

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According to the New York Times, the system in question is in Poland and could be deployed to the front line in Ukraine within days.

If confirmed it would be the second US-made Patriot system provided to Kiev by Washington.

Biden gave the go-ahead for the first system nearly 18 months ago when Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky travelled to the US for the first time following Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine to address the US Congress.

The US has also been supplying Ukraine with Patriot missiles.

The Patriot is considered one of the most advanced air defence missile systems in modern warfare. It can be used to combat enemy aircraft, ballistic missiles and cruise missiles.

The defence missiles can hit targets at a distance of around 100 km at altitudes of up to 30 km.

Germany has also provided Ukraine with two such systems and pledged to send another one.

Zelensky, who was in Berlin on Tuesday to attend a conference for the reconstruction of Ukraine, also paid a visit to Ukrainian soldiers currently being trained in Germany to use the Patriot.
Corvallis school board member Sarah Finger McDonald officially declared victory in the tight Democratic primary race for the statehouses 16th District late Tuesday.

She leads her opponent and fellow school board member Sami Al-Abdrabbuh by a roughly 51-49 margin or 163 votes.

Thats down from 181 votes, which was the count as of May 29, but Finger McDonald pledged to hold off on any declaration until June 11, the deadline for voters to resolve any challenged ballots.

There were just over 300 such ballots with missing or non-matching signatures. Those were unlikely to change the outcome of the race because, in general, few are cured before the deadline, according to Benton County Elections Manager Darla Rush.

Still, Al-Abdrabbuhs campaign posted on social media on May 29 that he would wait till every vote was resolved before making any calls himself.

This is a year when our collective commitment to ensuring that every vote is counted is more critical than ever, Al-Abdrabbuh said, a sentiment he reiterated at a union rally outside the Benton County Courthouse a day later.

In a statement from Al-Abdrabbuhs campaign on June 12 following the final Benton County election update, the candidate said he had contacted his opponent and school board colleague of seven years to congratulate her on her win.

"She will make a great Democratic nominee and has my vote in the general election," he said.

Al-Abdrabbuh praised election workers and said he appreciated the community for their patience with the election process. He also said he would continue his legislative advocacy, "especially by advocating for full and adequate public education funding" in his role as president of the Oregon School Boards Association.

In a news release, Finger McDonald said she was grateful to her opponent for a spirited and respectful campaign.

His commitment to our community and the important issues we face is commendable. I look forward to collaborating with him and others to make meaningful progress for our district, she said in a statement.

Finger McDonald can safely set her eyes on Salem given no Republican candidate filed to run. That means the official Democratic primary winner will likely go on to represent Corvallis and Adair Village in the Oregon legislature, and succeed Dan Rayfield, whos currently running to be Oregons next attorney general.

Finger McDonald was first elected to the school board in 2017 and her current term expires in 2027.

Al-Abdrabbuh has been a member of the Corvallis School Board since 2017. He previously ran for the 16th District in 2016, for Benton County commissioner in 2018 and for Congress in 2022.

Related:

Early election results in House District 16 to rep Corvallis, Adair It was Corvallis school board member versus Corvallis school board member. The race is fairly tight.

Who's endorsing whom? District 16 primary candidate retracts endorsements In the Democratic primary race to represent Corvallis in the Oregon Legislature, a mailer sparks a correction.
Saint-Laurent, CA (H4T1V6)

Today

Mainly sunny to start, then a few afternoon clouds. High 62F. Winds WSW at 10 to 20 mph..

Tonight

Cloudy early with some clearing expected late. Slight chance of a rain shower. Low 48F. Winds WSW at 15 to 25 mph.


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Job Title: Human Resources Officer (UN Jobs)

Organisation: United Nations Regional Service Centre Entebbe (RSCE)

Duty Station: Entebbe, Uganda

Job Opening ID: 236694

Reports to: Chief Human Resources Officer

Grade: P-3

About Organisation:

The Regional Service Centre in Entebbe, Uganda (RSCE) was established in July 2010, following the adoption of General Assembly resolution 64/269. The Centre provides efficient, client-oriented and scalable services with the goal of moving transactional, non-location dependent administrative functions to the Centre from its client entities. This includes transactional elements of human resources, finance, multimodal movement and control, personnel and cargo transport and information and communications technology (ICT) support.

Job Summary: The Human Resources and Talent Management Unit is located in the Deputy Director RSCE Pillar of the United Nations Regional Service Centre, Entebbe (UN RSCE). The incumbent reports to the Chief Human Resources Officer in the Human Resources and Talent Management Unit.

Key Duties and Responsibilities:

Within delegated authority, the Human Resources Officer will be responsible for the following duties:

Staff and career development

Develops a framework for continuous assessment of the skills, expertise and knowledge of staff members, ensuring participation of staff in relevant training programmes and designing individual on-the-job and group training programmes on specific subject matters, including in the use of the Organizations systems and ERP (Umoja, Inspira, etc.)

Develops a structured talent management framework and approach and advises managers and staff on the relevant initiatives and programmes for staff and career development.

Identifies staff development needs in relation to the Centres mandate and key operations.

Advises staff on training opportunities in all areas giving particular attention to developing and implementing career development paths for staff members.

Conducts regular research and benchmark exercises in the UN system and globally to identify best practices in the area of staff and career development relevant to RSCE staff.

Acts as a facilitator for career-oriented discussions between Managers and Supervisors and their staff members, for cross fertilization around career development needs and opportunities for staff members.

Provides regular information on global vacancies and opportunities for staff members and works with the relevant stakeholders at all levels as a conduit for Organization-wide initiatives and as the initiator of individual career advice and counselling.

Talent Management/Recruitment and Staff Selection

Helps determine appropriate feedback frameworks and systems for effective talent management programs and initiatives, using the relevant methods and tools.

Designs, assesses, and develops appropriate key talent management indicators relevant to the operations of the Center, including for specific positions and Units.

Assists in the implementation of programs and initiatives aim at attracting, measuring, developing, and managing a RSCEs talent pool, and helps RSCEs management evaluate the effectiveness of its talent strategies.

Monitors vacant posts of assigned level/group and ensures adherence to policies and procedures in filling these posts.

Contributes to the recruitment process and support the development of recruitment strategies and plans, coordinating with client offices in forecasting and identifying vacancies, preparing job openings, reviewing and screening of candidates.

Participates in task forces and working groups identifying issues/problems, formulating policies and guidelines, and establishing new procedures on recruitment and staff selection.

Supports in aligning talent management to training or development programs to ensure organizational goals are met.

Ensures all relevant talent management indicators and actions are set up effectively implemented, liaise with Managers and Supervisors to ensure such plans, strategies and indicators are reviewed and regularly updated

Performance Management

Supports the Center in the implementation of the performance appraisal system and monitors its compliance with the performance management system, providing guidance and substantive support throughout the performance cycle.

Coordinates training/orientation programmes in performance management and supervisory skills, including preparing work plans, conducting mid-term reviews and end-of-cycle assessments.

Advises and supports staff and Managers in cases of underperformance and facilitates the implementation of a Performance Improvement Plan (PIP) or other remedial measures, when required.

Conducts the analysis and interpretation of performance management information to actively drive improvements and embed a performance management culture throughout all levels of the RSCE.

Provides periodic reports and dashboards on Performance Management in relation to the relevant KPIs to Senior Management and the governance bodies of the RSCE, and to support performance and talent discussions.

Identifies bottle necks to effective performance management, both functional and geographical, and proposed solutions that consider best practice experience from the private sector.

Training

Develop the RSCE annual training plan based on the strategic priorities set by the Centre.

Develops tools and methodologies to gather staff training needs from Managers and Supervisors, feeding in the talent management action plan.

Monitors the execution of the training plan by ensuring that all stakeholders comply with the training targets set for the year by the stakeholders.

Ensures that resources are budgeted and allocated to the proper execution of the training plan.

Develops relevant training KPIs to measure the output, outcomes, and impact of the yearly training plan.

Partner with the Managers and Supervisors to provide support to and respond to questions from staff regarding learning opportunities.

Conduct focus groups discussions and interviews with various levels of stakeholders to gather input for talent management programs design and enhancements.

Performs other duties as required.









Qualifications, Skills and Experience:

The applicant for the United Nations Regional Service Centre Entebbe (RSCE) Human Resources Officer job must hold an advanced university degree (Masters degree or equivalent) in human resources management, business or public administration, social sciences, education or related area. A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

A minimum of five years of progressively responsible experience in human resources management, administration or related area is required.

A minimum of two years of relevant experience in developing, executing, and monitoring training plans as well as practices and procedures in the area of career development is required.

Experience in the provision of advice and guidance to staff and management in the area of career development is required.

Experience in the human resources management in an international setting, and particularly sound understanding of talent management and career development issues is desirable.

Experience in designing dashboards and reports on matters pertaining to talent management and career development is desirable.

Languages: fluency in written and spoken English is required. Knowledge of French is desirable.

Competencies

Professionalism: Knowledge of talent management and career development policies, practices, procedures, and tools and ability to apply them in an organizational setting. Ability to identify issues, analyze and formulate opinions, make conclusions and recommendations pertaining to talent management and career development. Strong analytical skills, ability to analyze data, draw conclusions and provide data-driven recommendations and reports. Understanding of the key issues and challenges associated to talent management and career development and proposing workable solutions to address such issues. Shows pride in work and in achievements; demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter; is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results; is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns; shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations. Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work.

Knowledge of talent management and career development policies, practices, procedures, and tools and ability to apply them in an organizational setting. Ability to identify issues, analyze and formulate opinions, make conclusions and recommendations pertaining to talent management and career development. Strong analytical skills, ability to analyze data, draw conclusions and provide data-driven recommendations and reports. Understanding of the key issues and challenges associated to talent management and career development and proposing workable solutions to address such issues. Shows pride in work and in achievements; demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter; is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results; is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns; shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations. Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work. Planning & Organizing: Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies; identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required; allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work; foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning; monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary; uses time efficiently.

Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies; identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required; allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work; foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning; monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary; uses time efficiently. Client Orientation: Considers all those to whom services are provided to be clients and seeks to see things from clients point of view; establishes and maintains productive partnerships with clients by gaining their trust and respect; identifies clients needs and matches them to appropriate solutions; monitors ongoing developments inside and outside the clients environment to keep informed and anticipate problems; keeps clients informed of progress or setbacks in projects; meets timeline for delivery of products or services to client.

Considers all those to whom services are provided to be clients and seeks to see things from clients point of view; establishes and maintains productive partnerships with clients by gaining their trust and respect; identifies clients needs and matches them to appropriate solutions; monitors ongoing developments inside and outside the clients environment to keep informed and anticipate problems; keeps clients informed of progress or setbacks in projects; meets timeline for delivery of products or services to client. Teamwork: Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals; Solicits input by genuinely valuing others ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others; Places team agenda before personal agenda; Supports and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position; Shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings.

Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals; Solicits input by genuinely valuing others ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others; Places team agenda before personal agenda; Supports and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position; Shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings. Leadership: Serves as a role model that other people want to follow empowers others to translate vision into results; is proactive in developing strategies to accomplish objectives; establishes and maintains relationships with a broad range of people to understand needs and gain support; anticipates and resolves conflicts by pursuing mutually agreeable solutions; drives for change and improvements; does not accept the status quo; shows the courage to take unpopular stands. Provides leadership and takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work; demonstrates knowledge of strategies and commitment to the goal of gender balance in staffing.

How to Apply:

All candidates who wish to join the United Nations in the aforementioned capacity should apply online at the online portal link below.

Click Here

Deadline: 11th July 2024

For more of the latest jobs, please visit https://www.theugandanjobline.com or find us on our facebook page https://www.facebook.com/UgandanJobline

Date Posted 2024-06-12T15:41 Valid Through 2024-07-12T00:00 Employment Type FULL_TIME Hiring Organization Regional Service Centre Entebbe (RSCE) Job Location Entebbe, Entebbe, Entebbe, 0256, Uganda

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With a new government in power at the Centre, Indias electric vehicle (EV) industry is awaiting a fresh instalment of an incentive package to save it from the morass it has sunk into.

The good news? It is very much on the cards, as part of Modi 3.0s 100-day Plan, and could well be announced at the earliest.

Just as well, because the expiry of the previous instalment of the incentive package, called Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Electric and Hybrid Vehicles in India or FAME, had seen electric two-wheeler sales plummeting. In fact, when government slashed subsidy from 40 per cent to 15 per cent of a vehicles price last year, EV sales had dropped by as much as 50 per cent, by some estimates.

When FAME-I was first introduced back in 2015, it spurred a 600 per cent growth in EV sales, though on a minuscule base.

However, EV sales had flatlined since the slash in subsidy last year and the eventual expiry of FAME-II on March 31. Unable to announce a new package due to the election model code of conduct being in place, the government had announced a four-month stop-gap arrangement called Electric Mobility Promotion Scheme (EMPS), with a fund of 500 crore rupees.

Expiry of FAME-III is the only reason (behind the drop in electric 2W sales). With EV adoption, we are talking of a long-term shift. There will always be some little bit of ups and downs along the way, said Prtitesh Talwar, president of Lectrix EV, a company that manufactures electric two-wheelers as well as storage solutions.

Ultimately, conversion will happen. In fact, when I look at our data, I am surprised  so many of our sales, as much as 70 per cent, are happening in tier-2, tier-3 towns, not in metros like Bengaluru!

While adoption is picking up pace, sales going up and down based on FAME incentives (falling when the subsidy is cut and growing when new measures are announced) will weigh on the governments mind while rolling out FAME-III, expected soon. Initial estimate is an outlay of Rs 10,000 crore meant as subsidies for electric two-wheelers, electric three-wheelers and electric buses.

To be initially valid for two years, FAME-III is likely to support electric bus buying by government departments and state road transport corporations. It is unlikely that subsidy will be provided for electric cars, though there is a demand for the same from industry quarters.

The bigger question will be what fresh categories would find place in FAME-III  hybrid cars are a possibility, while many have felt that rather than just subsidising sales, the scheme should look at larger issues of the electric mobility sector.

While incentives are crucial to the industry, we expect FAME-III to include certain measures to alleviate the concerns faced by the industry, such as a higher proportion of incentives for charging infrastructure, dedicated incentives towards research and development, as well as expansion towards commercial vehicles, said Saurav Kumar, partner with the law firm IndusLaw.
The Ministry of External Affairs has said that two Indians, who were recruited by the Russian Army to fight against Ukraine, have been killed in combat. Two other Indians had died earlier after being duped into joining the Russian army to fight 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 Defence, for early repatriation of mortal remains," the MEA said in an official release on Tuesday.

The identity of the men and other details have not been revealed in the statement, but a report suggested that one of the deceased was from Amritsar. Tejpal Singh was killed on the war front, his wife Parminder Kaur confirmed to The Times of India.

Kaur added that Tejpal joined the Russian Army three days into his trip to Russia in January. He planned to "undergo both theoretical and practical training." "He knew several people in Haryana and Punjab who had joined the Russian army, which influenced his decision," Kaur told The Times of India.

Though Tejpal was in touch with his family every day during the three-week theoretical training, he stopped contacting his family after practical training began. Kaur added that the last communication Tejpal had with his family was on March 3, when he informed her of his deployment to Tokmak, a city in south-central Ukraine. He told his wife that they would have to surrender their mobile phones.

After the communication stopped, Kaur contacted his friend who got in touch with Russian officials. They forwarded Tejpal's details to the officials, who informed them that he had died in combat.

According to the MEA, they have brought the issue to the attention of Russian officials. "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," the statement added.

The MEA also urged Indian nationals to exercise caution while seeking employment opportunities in Russia.

Two other men, including one from Telangana and another from Surat, had died in combat in Ukraine. This comes as reports emerged that dozens of Indians have reportedly been duped by agents into fighting for Russian forces with the lure of money and a Russian passport.
TDP supremo Chandrababu Naidu will be sworn in as the chief minister of Andhra Pradesh on Wednesday, which will see Janasena chief Pawan Kalyan and the TDP supremo's son Nara Lokesh too take oath as ministers in the Cabinet.

Odisha too will witness the swearing-in of Mohan Charan Majhi as the Chief Minister, the first time a BJP leader is helming the state. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and several Union Ministers, including Amit Shah, are likely to attend the ceremonies in both Andhra and Odisha.



Naidu will take oath at 11.27 am near Gannavaram Airport in Kesarapalli on the outskirts of Vijayawada. Prime Minister Modi is expected to arrive at Gannavaram Airport by 10.40 am and reach the venue by 10.55 am. He is likely to depart for Bhubaneswar at 12.45 pm.



Though there is no official confirmation yet, reports indicate that Janasena chief Pawan Kalyan will be the Deputy Chief Minister in the new Cabinet. Janasena is being offered three cabinet berths and the BJP one.



In the 175-member Andhra Pradesh Assembly, the cabinet can have 6 ministers, including the chief minister. "With all your cooperation, I am swearing in tomorrow (as the CM) and I would like to thank you all for that. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is coming for the swearing-in ceremony, Naidu said after being elected the leader of NDA's legislative team.



The NDA in Andhra Pradesh, comprising TDP, BJP and Janasena, secured a brute majority in the Assembly with 164 seats.



In Odisha, BJP's tribal leader and four-time MLA Mohan Charan Majhi was elected to be the state's first BJP chief minister on Tuesday. Interestingly, Majhi's name featured nowhere in the list of probable candidates for the post. Besides Majhi, six-time legislator Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo and Pravati Parida, a debutant MLA, have been made deputy chief ministers.



"Delighted to announce that Shri Mohan Charan Majhi 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," Singh said on X.



The chief whip of the BJP in the previous assembly, Mahji was elected to the assembly in recently held elections for the fourth time. He defeated Mina Majhi of the BJD from the Keonjhar assembly constituency.


A policeman was injured in a fresh encounter between security forces and militants in Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday evening.

The encounter broke out after terrorists opened fire on a search party in Gandoh area of Doda district around 7.41 pm. Reinforcements have been rushed to the area to strengthen the cordon while intermittent exchange of fire between the two sides was still going on, officials said.

This is the fourth encounter in the Union Territory in the last three days and the second in Doda district in the last 24 hours.

On Tuesday evening, five Rashtriya Rifles personnel and a Special Police Officer were injured in a terrorist attack in Chattargalla pass.

In another encounter on Tuesday in Kathua district, a suspected Pakistani terrorist was killed by security forces. A CRPF jawan also lost his life in the gunfight.

On Sunday, terrorists attacked a bus carrying pilgrims, causing it to veer off the road and fall into a deep gorge in Reasi, killing nine and injuring 41.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, who was elected from both Rae Bareli and Wayanad Lok Sabha seats, said on Wednesday that he is still undecided on which constituency to give up.

The Congress leader, who made his first public appearance in Kerala after winning the general elections, said whatever decision he will take, both constituencies will be happy with it.

"I have a dilemma before me, whether I should be the MP of Wayanad or of Rae Bareli. What I will commit to you is that both Wayanad and Rae Bareli will be happy with my decision," the Congress leader said while speaking at a public meeting in Malappuram in the state.

Taking a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Rahul Gandhi said he does not receive any directions from the Almighty on what has to be done the way Modi does.

"I am a human being. My God are the poor people of the country. So, for me it is easy. I just talk to the people and they tell me what to do," Gandhi said.

The Congress leader further said PM Modi will now have to change his attitude because the people of India have sent him a clear message. "The people of Kerala, Uttar Pradesh and all other states showed the prime minister that he cannot dictate to the people of India what they want. The people of India also so the PM that the Constitution is our voice, do not touch it."

He claimed that the prime minister barely escaped in Varanasi and added that the people of Ayodhya have given a message that they do appreciate hatred and violence as the BJP was defeated there.

Faizabad sitting BJP MP Lallu Singh was defeated by SP's Awadhesh Prasad. Ayodhya falls under Faizabad Lok Sabha constituency.

He also said the fight in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls was for protecting the Constitution and in that fight, hatred has been defeated by love and affection, arrogance by humility.
Google recently published a blog about its sixth annual Google for Brazil event, where it shared news of investments and innovations in the country. Not surprisingly, the innovation that seems to have attracted the strongest press attention has been an anti-theft artificial intelligence (AI) feature for phones.

As the company puts it, these are new Android features that use AI to protect people and their data if their smartphone gets stolen. Announced about a month ago, they are still being tested. Indeed, Google says: Brazilian user feedback inspired these anti-theft features, and the country will be the first to test them out.

Specifically, users will be testing a new theft detection lock, an offline device lock and a remote lock. One lock will use AI to help detect signals of "common movement associated with theft" and block the screen.

The second feature allows a user to lock the device's screen remotely by entering the phone number and completing a security challenge from another device. The last mode involves automatically locking the screen if the device is left without internet access for long periods.

The features will be available to Brazilian users of Android phones version 10 or higher starting in July and will be gradually released to users from other countries over the rest of this year.

Why Brazil? Phone theft is apparently a growing problem in the country, where nearly one million are alleged to have been stolen during 2023. indeed the Reuters news agency says the Brazilian government launched an app in December named Celular Seguro, which allows users to report a stolen phone and block access to it using another device belonging a trusted person.

Googles event also highlighted new search experiences coming to Brazil, digital skills training efforts and the companys local economic impact in 2023.
A terrorist holed up in a border village in Jammu and Kashmir's Kathua district was killed by security forces on Wednesday in a more than 15-hour operation during which his partner was also shot dead and a CRPF jawan lost his life, officials said.

According to them, two senior officers escaped unhurt even as their vehicles were hit by bullets during the operation that began on Tuesday night after two terrorists were spotted in Saida Sukhal village.

In Doda district, five troopers of Rashtriya Rifles and a special police officer (SPO) were injured when terrorists attacked a joint checkpost in the upper reaches of Chattergalla on the Bhaderwah-Pathankot road late on Tuesday night. Traffic on the highway has been suspended as an operation is underway to track down the terrorists.

The two incidents come just 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 people and injuries to 41 others. The incident occurred on Sunday evening.

Police have announced a Rs 20 lakh reward for information about the whereabouts of the terrorists involved in the attack on the bus and released the sketch of one of the terrorists.

Authorities have claimed that attempts by Pakistan to disturb the peaceful atmosphere in Jammu and Kashmir were the reason for the spurt in terror activities in the Jammu region.

In Kathua's Saida Sukhal village near the International Borderaround 60 kms from Jammuthe second holed-up terrorist was killed on Wednesday noon in an intense gunfight after being cornered by the joint security parties of the police, Army and CRPF, officials said.

The terrorist tried to break the cordon by firing indiscriminately at the security forces around 3 am. Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) jawan Kabir Dass, a resident of Madhya Pradesh, was critically injured in the firing and later succumbed to injuries in a hospital, they said.

During the operation official vehicles of Deputy Inspector General of Police, Jammu-Samba-Kathua range, Sunil Gupta and Senior Superintendent of Police, Kathua, Anayat Ali Choudhary were hit by several bullets but the officers escaped unhurt.

Additional Director General of Police (Jammu zone) Anand Jain, who supervised the operation, said, "Two terrorists, who appeared to have freshly infiltrated (from across the border), surfaced in the village around 8 pm on Tuesday and asked for water from a household. The people got frightened and as soon as they informed us, a police team rushed to the village."

"One of the terrorists tried to hurl a grenade at the police team and was killed in the exchange of fire," he said.

Officials said both the slain terrorists are believed to be Pakistanis. A large quantity of arms, ammunition and over Rs 1 lakh in cash were seized from the encounter site, they said, adding the identity and group affiliation of the terrorists were being ascertained.

A civilian was also injured in the terrorist firing and was hospitalised on Tuesday night, the officials said.

In Doda, terrorists fired on a joint checkpost of the 4 Rashtriya Rifles and police at Chattergalla area late on Tuesday night, leading to a fierce gunfight which continued for several hours, officials said.

They said five Rashtriya Rifles personnel and an SPO were injured and taken to hospital. Additional security personnel have been rushed to the area to intensify the operation against the terrorists, they said.

According to the officials, traffic movement has been completely suspended on the busy Bhadarwah-Pathankot interstate highway in view of the ongoing search and cordon operation in Chattergalla, Guldandi, Sarthal, Shankh Pader and Kailash mountain range, the officials said.

Without naming Pakistan, ADGP Anand Jain said the "hostile" neighbour is always making attempts to peace in the Jammu region.
Jammu and Kashmir witnessed a third terror attack on Tuesday late at night in the Doda district after militants targetted a joint checkpost. Three security personnel were injured in the exchange of fire between terrorists and security forces.

The attack comes three days after the firing on a bus carrying pilgrims in Reasi, which saw nine people, including a toddler, die. Another attack was reported in the Kathua district on Tuesday which saw a suspected Pakistani terrorist being neutralised.

In Doda, the terrorists fired upon a joint checkpost of the 4 Rashtriya Rifles and police in the Chattergalla area on the Bhadarwah-Pathankot road. The injured security personnel, a special police official and five soldiers, have been taken to the command hospital in Udhampur. The gunfight was continuing on Wednesday morning too.

#WATCH | Jammu and Kashmir: Search operation underway in Bhaderwah, Doda as an encounter is underway between security forces and terrorists in Chattargala area of Doda.



(Visuals deferred by unspecified time) pic.twitter.com/AyaBVYQDXR  ANI (@ANI) June 12, 2024

The area has been under search and cordon operations since April 27, following the Basantgarh encounter in Udhampur district. Additional forces were deployed after the firefight, and traffic on the Bhaderwah-Bani route was suspended. Tourists have been barred from entering Chattergala, and security has been increased throughout the region. The militants fled after the initial exchange of fire, and a massive manhunt is now underway.

Also Read | How LeT, JeM offshoots owned up Reasi terror attack but walked back after 2-year-old victim's picture drew ire

Kathua attack

Search is on for the second terrorist involved in the attack on civilians in Kathua. The Pakistani terrorist is said to be hiding in Saida Sukhal village near Koota Morhunder Hiranagar police station limits.

The police said with the assistance of the CRPF, they have cordoned off the area and are conducting a house-to-house search.

The attack happened on Tuesday evening when two recently infiltrated terrorists appeared in the Saida Sukhal village. They asked for water from several houses, raising villagers' suspicions. When villagers raised an alarm, the terrorists fired randomly, injuring one person, said police.

The Station House Officer (SHO) of Hiranagar and the Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) engaged the terrorists, resulting in the death of one terrorist who tried to lob a grenade at the police party.

Dr Vijay Raina, Chief Medical Officer, Kathua says, "A CRPF personnel was brought dead to the hospital last night. Our entire team of doctors are present here to tackle any situation. Post-mortem to be conducted"

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.

Additional Director General of Police, Jammu zone, Anand Jain, the terrorist was killed and the operation in the village near Koota Mode in the Hiranagar sector. He added that a rucksack and rifles were recovered from the possession of the slain terrorist whose identity and group affiliation were being ascertained.

A crane being used to pull out the bus which plunged into a gorge following a terrorist attack on pilgrims, in Reasi | PTI

Jain added that the attack seemed to be a ploy to disturb the Amarnath Yatra. "As Amarnath yatra is approaching, this seems to be a ploy to disturb the yatra. One civilian is injured and there is no hostage situation," he added.

The sketch released by the police | ANI

Union Minister Jitendra Singh also took to his official X handle and posted, "I am in continuous online contact with DC Kathua 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. The owner of the house that was attacked (name not to be disclosed) is also in touch on mobile phone. A joint police and para-military operation are going on. One terrorist neutralised so far. I and my office are in constant touch and keeping a close watch on the developments."

Reasi attack: Sketch released

The Jammu and Kashmir Police on Tuesday released a sketch of a terrorist involved in the attack on a bus carrying pilgrims in Reasi district. A reward of Rs 20 lakh has been announced for information about him.

The terrorists had opened fire at the 53-seater bus carrying pilgrims when it was en route from the Shiv Khori temple to the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine in Katra near Teryath village in the Poni area. The bus, ferrying pilgrims from Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Delhi, plunged into a deep gorge following the gunfire, killing nine people and injuring 41 others.

"Reasi police announce a reward of Rs 20 lakh for any fruitful information about the whereabouts of the terrorist involved in the recent attack on the yatri bus in the area of Pouni," a police spokesman said.

The sketch of the terrorist was prepared based on the description given by eyewitnesses, he said and appealed to people to provide information. a man hunt is still in progress to locate and neutralise the terrorists.

(With inputs from Tariq Bhat)
The government of India rushed MoS for External Affairs to Kuwait after a major fire in a six-story building in Mangaf reportedly claimed the lives of scores of Indians. The building, used by Indian laborers, went up in flames on Wednesday morning, killing at least 49 people. Names of the victims suggest most victims hail from Kerala.



FULL REPORT | Kuwait building fire: Scores of Indians, mostly Keralites, feared dead in Mangaf tragedy; many victims identified

Here are all steps taken by the Government of India so far to ensure the well-being of hospitalized survivors. Necessary steps are being taken to bring back the mortal remains of the victims to their families at the earliest:

HELPLINE NUMBER: The Indian Embassy's helpline number (+965-65505246) may be reached by phone or WhatsApp.

6:51 PM: Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan writes to Union Minister of External Affairs S. Jaishankar, urging immediate intervention in the wake of the fire in Kuwait.

ALSO READ | Kuwait building fire: What caused the tragedy that killed many including Indians in Mangaf?

6:06 PM: MoS MEA Kirti Vardhan Singh will visit Kuwait. "As directed by PM @narendramodi, MoS for External Affairs @KVSinghMPGonda is urgently travelling to Kuwait to oversee assistance to those injured in the fire tragedy and to coordinate with local authorities for early repatriation of mortal remains of those who have died in this unfortunate incident," MEA India spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal jotted on X (formerly Twitter) on Wednesday evening.

As directed by PM @narendramodi, MoS for External Affairs @KVSinghMPGonda is urgently travelling to Kuwait to oversee assistance to those injured in the fire tragedy and to coordinate with local authorities for early repatriation of mortal remains of those who have died in this  Randhir Jaiswal (@MEAIndia) June 12, 2024

7:21 PM: Confirming his immediate departure to Kuwait, MoS MEA Kirti Vardhan Singh told news agency ANI,"PM Modi has called us for a meeting and after the meeting we will visit Kuwait. An immediate action will be taken..."

5:31 PM: Prime Minister Narendra Modi condoles the tragedy. "The fire mishap in Kuwait City is saddening. My thoughts are with all those who have lost their near and dear ones. I pray that the injured recover at the earliest. The Indian Embassy in Kuwait is closely monitoring the situation and working with the authorities there to assist the affected," the PM tweeted.

#WATCH | Delhi: On Kuwait fire incident, MoS MEA Kirti Vardhan Singh says, "PM Modi has called us for a meeting and after the meeting we will visit Kuwait. An immediate action will be taken..." pic.twitter.com/MIS4jF0jw2  ANI (@ANI) June 12, 2024

4:36 PM: Ambassador of India to Kuwait Adarsh Swaika visited the Mubarak Al-Kabeer Hospital, amongst other medical institutions, where many of the injured Indians were initially admitted. He ensured the Indian workers of full support from the Embassy's side, an official handle said on X.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired a high-level meeting to review the fire accident in Kuwait, in which 49 people including 40 Indians, lost their lives. The meeting was held at the prime ministers official residence at 7 Lok Kalyan Marg.

The prime minister expressed his deep sorrow at the unfortunate incident and extended condolences to the families of the deceased. He wished speedy recovery of those injured, said an official statement.

Modi announced an ex- gratia relief of Rs 2 lakh to the families of the deceased India nationals from the Prime Minister Relief Fund. He said the the government would provide all possible assistance to the victims of the fire tragedy.

Minister of state for external affairs Kirtivardhan Singh will immediately travel to Kuwait to oversee the relief measures and facilitate expeditious repatriation of the mortal remains.

The meeting was attended by External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, MoS External Affairs Kirtivardhan Singh, Principal Secretary to PM Pramod Kumar Mishra, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra and other senior officials.

The fire broke out in a building housing around 195 migrant workers in southern Kuwait's Mangaf area. Over 50 people have suffered injuries.

The fire in Al-Mangaf building was reported to authorities in Al-Ahmadi governorate at 4.30 am and most of the deaths were due to smoke inhalation, Kuwaiti media reported.

According to officials, most of the Indian victims are from Kerala.

Out of the 35 placed under intensive care, the condition of seven is understood to be critical.
Pakistan Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif embarked on a much-hyped trip to China a week ago, eyeing Chinese investments in the cash-strapped country. Sharif also planned to cajole Chinese leaders to extend the repayment period of the loans from China for an additional five years, all to cushion economic blows from the IMF norms.

The Pakistani government officials hailed the trip a success with images showing a beaming Sharif with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Islamabad called the visit "extremely successful and historic", adding that the "fruits of the historic visit to China will reach the people of Pakistan."

Both even released a joint statement "underscoring the importance of maintaining peace and stability in South Asia and the need for resolution of all outstanding disputes", after Sharif briefed Xi about Kashmir.

However, reports claim this could all be a facade. Sharif and his entourage of cabinet ministers left nearly empty-handed after finishing a five-day official visit this past weekend, reported Nikkei Asia.

The report added that China has cooled on Pakistan and its much-hyped $50 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). "The Chinese have become wary of putting in more money since they know it is a financial black hole due to Pakistan's long-term poor economic circumstances," Jeremy Garlick, an associate professor of international relations at Prague University of Economics and Business, told Nikkei Asia. "China needs to maintain the facade that CPEC is working because it is supposed to be a key part of the Belt and Road Initiative."

Though Pakistan had claimed that an upgraded version of the multibillion-dollar agreement would be formally launched in Beijing, the Chinese response wasn't encouraging. "Earlier CPEC investments in the power sector were rushed by political needs, and might not have been optimal," Stella Hong Zhang, a China public policy postdoctoral fellow at the Harvard Kennedy School's Ash Center, told the Tokyo-based news media.

Many believe the promises related to CPEC will remain a major enterprise in words only.

One of Pakistan's requirements during the Beijing trip was debt restructuring. Chinese officials say around 13 per cent of Pakistans external debt is owed to China, but the International Monetary Fund put the figure at almost 30 per cent in a 2022 report.

However, there was no public statement on the topic. "The Pakistani side entered these meetings with realistically low expectations about winning concessions in the form of restructuring Pakistans outstanding debt to China. Some form of relief may yet come, but is unlikely to be significant," Ali Hasanain, an associate professor at Lahore University of Management Sciences, told VOA.

That said, both countries have 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.

China may invest in non-governmental firms in Pakistan because it is a strategic partner.
Uncertainty still prevailed over the ceasefire proposal mooted by the US with regard to the Israel-Hamas war after the militant group reportedly sought some amendments to the proposal, stating that their priority was to bring a 'complete stop' to the war.

Hamas submitted its formal response on Tuesday to Egyptian and Qatari mediators to the proposal outlined by U.S. President Joe Biden on May 31.

Though the mediators did not reveal the details of Hamas's response, Hamas political bureau Izzat al-Rishq said on Wednesday in a statement the group's answer was "responsible, serious and positive" and "opens up a wide pathway" for an accord.

Hamas spokesperson Jihad Taha too claimed the response included "amendments that confirm the ceasefire, withdrawal, reconstruction and prisoner exchange."

Though the United States has said Israel accepted its proposal, Netanyahu has not publicly acknowledged this. However, Hamas's response has elicited a reaction from Israel, which stated that the militant group's response was tantamount to a rejection. An Israeli official told Reuters on Tuesday the country had received Hamas' answer from the mediators and that Hamas "changed all of the main and most meaningful parameters." The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said Hamas "has rejected the proposal for a hostage release that was presented by President Biden.

The US has said it is evaluating Hamas formal response to its Gaza ceasefire proposal. However, 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. That's what counts, and that's what we don't have yet," Blinken told reporters in Tel Aviv.

What's Biden's ceasefire plan?

According to the ceasefire proposal mooted by Biden, there will be an initial six-week ceasefire and phased release of Israeli hostages in Gaza in exchange for Palestinians jailed in Israel.

In the three-phase plan, the Israeli military will withdraw from the populated areas of Gaza and the release of some hostages while "a permanent end to hostilities" will be negotiated through mediators.
NOIDA, India, June 12, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- startelelogic, a globally recognized leader in technology services providers , proudly announces the achievement of its Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi ) goal for near-term emissions reduction targets. This milestone underscores the company's commitment to sustainable and environmentally responsible business practices as a global technology leader and IT service provider.



The SBTi certification is granted to companies that establish science-based targets aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions. These targets are carefully crafted to align with a global warming trajectory of 1.5C, in line with the Paris Agreement.



This esteemed certification places startelelogic among an exclusive group of technology companies worldwide, highlighting the organization's unwavering dedication to reducing carbon emissions and aligning its strategic vision with the urgent need to address climate change.



Umesh Pande, Co-Founder & CEO of startelelogic, says: "Obtaining SBTi certification for our imminent emissions reduction initiatives reaffirms our strong commitment to combating global climate change. Since last few years, we have made significant strides in reducing emissions and have encouraged similar efforts among our clients. Through our Sustainable Services offerings, startelelogic is poised to continue driving positive sustainability outcomes for our valued customers."



startelelogic's dedication to sustainability goes beyond certification, as the company remains firmly committed to excellence in environmental stewardship. It looks forward to making further contributions to fostering a greener, more sustainable future.



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Renowned as a trusted partner by the world's largest corporations and private sector entities, startelelogic empowers organizations to deploy services that enhance performance, competitiveness, and customer experience across their IT ecosystems.



We are a leader in IT services and innovative solutions development. Our portfolio of communication products, including CCaaS, UCaaS, and AI platforms, is highly regarded in the customer experience domain. By utilizing our LLM for generative AI and AI agents, startelelogic remains at the forefront of industry innovation while also aligning with the near-term emissions reduction targets outlined in the Paris Agreement.



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For more information, please contact:

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Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1997604/3875268/startelelogic_Logo.jpg



(Disclaimer: The above press release comes to you under an arrangement with PRNewswire and PTI takes no editorial responsibility for the same.). PTI PWR

PWR
New Delhi, Jun 12 (PTI) Dredging Corporation of India Ltd (DCIL) has secured a contract worth over Rs 2,000 crore from Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port Authority in West Bengal.

The contract is for maintenance of dredging in the Hooghly Estuary primarily in the shipping channel leading to Haldia Dock, DCIL said in a statement.

The value of the five-year contract is Rs 2,015.88 crore, the company said.

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. The maintenance dredging is crucial for ensuring the navigability of the shipping channel, thereby facilitating smooth and efficient maritime operations in the region, it said.

DCIL Chairman Madhaiyaan Angamuthu said the company will meet the stringent requirements of the project.

Based in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, DCI caters to dredging and allied services to ports, Indian Navy, fishing harbours and other maritime organisations.
Male, Jun 12 (PTI) Highlighting that the Maldives has been spending beyond its means for decades, the World Bank has warned that the archipelagic nation faces high debt distress risk and financing challenges, making it vulnerable to shocks.

World Bank Country Director for the Maldives, Nepal, and Sri Lanka Faris H Hadad-Zervos also said that the island nations annual debt servicing needs are likely to be USD 512 million for the current and following years, and another USD 1.07 billion in 2026.

Hadad-Zervoss statement, posted on his official X account, comes days after the Ministry of Finance here said that the public and publicly guaranteed debt is almost 110 per cent of Maldives GDP. The heavily tourism-dependent nation had suffered badly due to the COVID-19 pandemic-induced lockdowns and started recovering only in 2023.

According to the Ministry of Finances Quarterly Debt Bulletin for Quarter 1, 2024 published on June 1, the public and publicly guaranteed (PPG) debt has risen to USD 8.2 billion  which is 110 per cent of the Maldives GDP.

The Ministry of Finance reports that the states debt rose by USD 90.8 million within the first three months of the year. The total debt had reached USD 8.09 billion by 2023 end.

For decades #Maldives has been spending beyond its means. Sharp spending rise and subsidies have widened the deficit, leading to a vulnerable fiscal situation and unsustainable debt, Hadad-Zervos post on X said on Monday.

Annual debt servicing needs are likely to be USD 512 million for 2024 and 2025, and USD 1.07 billion in 2026, he pointed out and warned: Maldives faces high debt distress risk and financing challenges, making it vulnerable to shocks.

Suggesting urgent fiscal reforms, the top World Bank official said, phasing out blanket subsidies, addressing SOE weaknesses, improving healthcare spending efficiency and streamlining the public investment programme could be some of the measures.

He also posted a video along with his message on X. Last year, the Maldives economy hit choppy waters, Faris begins his video message posted on X, adding that the nations economic engine, the tourism industry, slowed down due to a decrease in tourism receipts.

The decision to halt subsidy reforms, coupled with continued high spending, has strained the nations finances, the World Bank Country Director warned further, news portal Sun.mv said on Wednesday.

Earlier, May 8 released the report Scaling Back and Rebuilding Buffers, which is the latest Maldives Development Update from the World Bank, noted that the countrys tourism and other major industries are seeing a slowdown.

Sun,mv further reported quoting the Update that the increment in tourist arrivals is offset by lower spending per tourist and shorter stays  tampering the positive impact on the overall GDP growth of the Maldives.

The Washington-based lender forecast also highlighted the need for fiscal consolidation in the country, which is expected to impact real household incomes owing to subsidy reforms, and a decrease in governments spending and investment."

Furthermore, the countrys economy was projected to grow by 4.7 per cent this year, lower than previous estimates, reflecting a moderation in growth momentum, the World Bank added.
Mumbai, Jun 12 (PTI) The remuneration of movie stars need to be looked at again and many of them are not in touch with reality, filmmaker Karan Johar said on Wednesday as he weighed in on the debate around the rising star fee in Bollywood.

The lacklustre performance of many big ticket Hindi movies in the recent months has led to a debate around the money charged by some of the big stars whose entourage also adds to the film budget.

At the trailer launch event of his upcoming production "Kill", Johar said actors need to introspect what they are charging for a movie.

"The main remuneration of the actors has to be looked at again. It's very critical for all the actors to understand exactly how the times are, how the climate of our movies are, and how difficult it is to maneuver through making a massive motion picture or a motion picture of any magnitude and size," the director-producer told reporters.

"Every single movie star has to review what they are asking for because many a times there will be certain producers that will pay that money because they want to make that film, but it will eventually cause a lot of damage to the entire system and the ecosystem," he added.

According to Johar, the entourage of actors are not a big issue, even though it does add to the overall cost of making a movie.

"The real issue is the cost. So they have to look at that and say that there can be back end deals or there can be percentages of profit... all that is possible. But every actor has to really look within, because a lot of them are not really in touch with reality," he added.

Recently, "Chandu Champion" actor Kartik Aaryan and director Kabir Khan shared their thoughts on the debate around star fee.

Aaryan, one of the top stars in the industry today, said a film's mathematics should add up at the end of the day.

"There are so many rights of a film when it releases. So you get an 'x' amount of money out of it. If your star value and the entire project's value gives profit to the entire team, I think then the math adds up. If it doesn't, then you have to, you should take a cut... It's a healthy discussion," Aaryan told PTI in an interview here.

Khan, known for directing big budget blockbusters such as "Ek Tha Tiger" and "Bajrangi Bhaijaan", said the discussion around star fee has been prompted by the shift in industry dynamics after the pandemic.
Last year at Digital Transformation World (DTW) Copenhagen, TM Forum President and CEO Nik Willetts (pictured) said the telecoms industry was at a crisis point.

He highlighted how revenue and profits have long stayed stagnant and the telecoms space had come to a halt in the very revolution weve created.

Willetts painted a stark landscape back in September, but laid out how partnerships with so-called hyperscalers can be a key route to bringing the industry back to growth.

The landscape has shifted dramatically since then, particularly after MWC Barcelona and the explosion of artificial intelligence captured the attention of the industry. We will for sure gain more intelligence on this at DTW.

The conference is back again next week and Developing Telecoms will join the almost 4,000 attendees in stomping under the glass roof of the Bella Center. Below are our hot topics that will come up during the two-day event.

AI

Theres no escaping Artificial Intelligence (AI) and with Apples recent alignment with OpenAI to supercharge the next iPhone with ChatGPT, momentum will continue to rise across the board.

AI was widely discussed at MWC Barcelona and Gen AI was the buzzword of the show, as companies sought to learn and equip themselves with it develop new avenues of growth.

Analyst house IDC said the Asia-Pacific will play a pivotal role in driving the next wave of AI innovations and advancement. Purchases of Gen AI hardware, software and services is projected to soar to $26 billion by 2027 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 95.4 percent for the period 2022-2027.

IDC also noted the Middle East, Turkiye, and Africa will see AI spending increase a five-year CAGR of 37% to US$7.2 billion in 2026, as widespread adoption accelerates.

Browsing the DTW agenda, there are 13 sessions/roundtables scheduled that centre around AI, and thats only on day one. Much has been hyped about the technology and but will it actually live up to this or prove a false dawn as so many hailed technologies have in the past.

Digital transformation

Willetts call to action last year stems from an urgent desire to change mindsets, practices, and strategy. This all points to digital transformation.

The world is on the cusp of another technological revolution, but the telecoms space has much work to do in upgrading its own operations to continue being pioneers.

Digital transformation has long been pushed by BSS/OSS providers to get MNOs to upgrade their operations. IDC reported that investments into digital transformation will reach up to US$4 trillion in 2027, with AI and Gen AI driving that figure which represents a CAGR of 16.2% between 2022 and 2027. Digital transformation investments are also projected to potentially surpass two thirds of overall ICT spend in the same period.

Digital transformation is no longer a discretionary investment: companies that want to be competitive and win in the digital economy are leading the way," said Angela Vacca, IDC Data & Analytics Group, Senior Research Manager.

5G

5G was arguably deployed around 2018 in the US with other markets following, but after the last six years operators are still struggling to properly monetise the technology. 5G has yet to deliver on its promises to fulfil operator desire of diversification of revenue and growth.

Despite being quite lacklustre for years, 5G has been highlighted to play a pivotal role in supporting AI and digital transformations, as it can help deliver real-world demand from consumers and enterprises as it develops.

Juniper Research stated that operators will generate around US$400 billion in service revenue from 5G networks in 2023, a year-on-year surge of 32%.

The analyst company warned 5G penetration rates will become saturated among consumers, and it is imperative that operators launch services over 5G networks that can deliver value to enterprise IoT users.

5G-Advanced and 5G RedCap were identified as key emerging technologies to attract high-spending IoT driven companies.

Juniper Research added over 360 million 5G IoT devices will be connected to public networks by 2028, up from 35 million devices in 2024.

Fixed Wireless Access (FWA), otherwise known as superfast mobile broadband, will be enhanced by 5G-Advanced and 5G RedCap and provide operators with similar network conditions as fixed network service providers, argued Sam Barker, Juniper Research VP of Telecoms Market Research.
Sofia (Bulgaria), Jun 12 (PTI) Several Indian film production houses have chosen Bulgaria as a destination for their foreign shoots in recent years, something the countrys senior tourism official describes as a very, very nice success story, which they would like to build on further in their quest to boost tourism from India to the European country.

Georgi Alipiev, Director of International Cooperation in the Bulgarian Ministry of Tourism, believes the countrys pitch as an all-seasons destination and move towards fully aligning with the European Unions (EU) common Schengen free travel area will attract even more film production teams, with tourists from India following in their footsteps. From Shah Rukh Khans Dilwale to Ajay Devgns Shivaay and the epic Bahubali, several big banner films have chosen locations in and around the Bulgarian capital of Sofia.

We have a very, very nice success story with the filming of Bollywood movies and this is because of the fact that we can offer the best quality of shooting; the professionals in Bulgaria can assist their colleagues from India, Alipiev told PTI.

According to the Indian Embassy in Bulgaria, former Indian President Ram Nath Kovind requested his Bulgarian counterpart, Rumen Radev, during his State Visit to Sofia in 2018 to drop in on the sets of the fantasy adventure Brahmastra: Part One  Shiva. The following year the adventure-based television reality show Khatron Ke Khiladi was shot in Sofia.

I think films are the best channel through which we can advertise Bulgaria to the Indian market. We are the 16th largest European country out of 55 nations, so our territory is not small. This is a strong fact. They can enjoy many, many interesting landmarks, many interesting sites. The capital Sofia itself has huge cultural value as a real cradle of Christianity for Europe and for the world, he said.

Alipiev went on to highlight many other spectacular sites in the capital city, which also offers around 30 mineral water springs and is among the top three spa destinations of Europe.

Our other important cities include Plovdiv, the oldest inhabited city in Europe which has many interesting Roman and ancient monuments from other cultures and periods. I will recommend Varna as well, this is our largest city on the Black Sea coast giving the chance for visitors to enjoy the oldest processed gold treasury in the world  6,000 years old, he said, adding that smaller cities with attractions such as the Valley of Roses also offer very scenic spots.

Tourism is booming in Bulgaria. We have already reached our pre-pandemic levels And, we expect to join Schengen fully very, very soon. This is a very important priority for our country. It will influence our tourism industry massively because there is not going to be any queues on the borders, which is a very, very big advantage, he said.

Alipiev also pointed to Bulgarias ambition to join the common Euro currency zone with the EU, one of the other factors to have a wide-ranging impact on international travel and tourism from countries such as India.

India is one of the most important and prospective partners of the European Union because we know that India is, more or less, the largest democracy in the world. We share common democratic values with India and this is the fundament of our bilateral relations, he added.
Lahore, Jun 12 (PTI) Pakistan's popular YouTuber and television anchor Imran Riaz Khan, regarded as a staunch critic of the powerful army, was detained allegedly by officials of the intelligence agencies at the Lahore airport here on Wednesday, his lawyer claimed.

Khan, also a supporter of jailed former prime minister Imran Khan, arrived at the Lahore airport in the morning to depart for Saudi Arabia to perform Hajj.

According to his lawyer Advocate Azhar Siddique, Khan was "kidnapped" by unidentified persons who were accompanied by policemen. He said Khan had also resisted his kidnapping but to no avail. "Khan's kidnappers have taken him to an undisclosed location," Saddique alleged, adding that his client has secured bail in all the fake cases registered against him and of late his name was removed from the no-fly list.

Meanwhile, Khan's brother also filed a petition in the Lahore High Court seeking the journalist's safe release.

Earlier in May last year, Khan was arrested two days after violent protests broke out across Pakistan following the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder leader Imran Khans arrest. After remaining in the custody of "unknown persons" for more than four months, he was released.

The PTI strongly condemned his arrest saying the incident once again represents the complete destruction of moral values of Pakistan in the last two years.

Taking to X, PTI said, Have some sense. Your actions hurt Pakistan only. Is going to Hajj now considered a crime in Pakistan?
Lahore, Jun 12 (PTI) Pakistani authorities on Wednesday demolished the minarets of a 54-year-old worship place of the minority Ahmadi community in Punjab province, an official of the Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya Pakistan said.

A dozen police personnel under the pressure of radical Islamist party - Tehreek-e-Labbiak Pakistan (TLP) - were seen demolishing the minarets of the Ahmadi worship place in Lahore's Jahman Burki area.

Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya Pakistan official Amir Mahmood told PTI on Wednesday that

Ahmadis continue facing the never-ending persecution in the country as the latest act is the desecration of the minarets of the Ahmadi worship place at Jahman, Lahore.

"The demolition action was carried out by a dozen policemen in uniform and four in civil dress in early hours of Wednesday," he said, adding that the acts of atrocities from the law & order agencies clearly reflects that they have no respect at all for the orders issued by the Lahore High Court that Ahmadi worship places built before 1984 needs no alteration as these are legal and hence should not be altered or razed down.

He said the Ahmadi worship place was constructed in 1970 and has been under threat since last year from radical Islamists.

Mahmood said that last year at least 42 worship places of Ahmadis in Pakistan came under attack.

The Ahmadi community in Pakistan has often come under attack for their religious practice.

Although Ahmadis consider themselves Muslims, Pakistans Parliament in 1974 declared the community as non-Muslims. A decade later, they were not just banned from calling themselves Muslims but were also barred from practising aspects of Islam. These include constructing or displaying any symbol that identifies them as Muslims such as building minarets or domes on mosques, or publicly writing verses from the Quran.

Most Ahmadi worship places have come under attack by the TLP activists while in other incidents police on the pressure of religious extremists demolished minarets, and arches and removed sacred writings.

The TLP says that Ahmadi worship places are similar to that of Muslim mosques because they have minarets.

In a landmark decision of Supreme Court's Justice Tassaduq Hussain Jilani in 2014 that a Special Task Force should be made for the protection of the worship places, but police instead of protecting the worship places, are appeasing the radical elements.
Colombo, Jun 12 (PTI) An expert panel appointed by Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe has recommended the right to commemorate the victims of the armed conflict during the three decades of civil war in the island nation.

The panel, appointed by Wickremesinghe a year ago to make recommendations on the vexed question of commemorating those who had fallen victim to armed conflict, political unrest or civil disturbances between 1983 and 2009, submitted its report to him.

The expert Committee recognises the right to memorialise and reveals in its Report that various groups and individuals have been engaging with the question of memorialisation and reconciliation in different ways. This constitutes a rich body of work that should be made part of the attempt to record, comment, or otherwise engage with the countrys conflict-related past.

Every May since 2009, the security forces and civilians in the North and East provinces clash over the right to memorialize those who had perished during the final conflict in the over three-decade-old civil war. The forces claiming that the LTTE is still on the list of banned terrorist organisations resist civilian commemorations by way of restrictions.

The rights groups alleging discrimination point to the state ceremony of marking the war heroes day to honour the fallen soldiers in the same conflict while denying the right to Tamils.

The panel conducted public sessions in the former conflict districts of Jaffna, Mullaitivu, Kilinochchi, Trincomalee, Batticaloa and Ampara.

"The public sessions provided a free and open forum to express aspirations and grievances related to community healing and reconciliation," a release said.

The committee had recommended among others a centrally located iconic building as a repository associated with conflict and reconciliation efforts in Sri Lanka with the collective commitment for non-recurrence and promote community healing and reconciliation among all Sri Lankans.

From the mid-1980s to 2009, more than 100,000 people were believed to have died in the conflict which included 27,000 troops. A large number remains unaccounted for.
Kinshasa (Congo), Jun 12 (AP) A boat carrying more than 270 passengers has capsized on a river near Congo's capital of Kinshasa, leaving more than 80 dead, President Felix Tshisekedi said on Wednesday.

It was the latest deadly boat accident in the central African country where overloading is often blamed, including in February when dozens lost their lives after an overloaded boat sank.

The statement quoting President Felix Tshisekedi says the locally made boat capsized late Monday in Mai-Ndombe province along the Kwa River.

The boat was carrying 271 passengers to Kinshasa when it broke down due to an engine failure, according to the UN-backed Radio Okapi, citing Ren Maker, the water commissioner in the Mushi district where the accident happened.

Eighty-six of the passengers died while 185 managed to swim ashore, some 70 kilometers (43 miles) near the closest city of Mushie, Maker said.

He said the boat hit the edge of the river bank and broke up.

Congolese officials have often warned against overloading and vowed to punish those violating safety measures for water transportation. But in remote areas where most passengers come from, many are unable to afford public transport for the few available roads. (AP) PY

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Copenhagen (Denmark), Jun 12 (AP) Food authorities in Denmark have recalled three types of spicy instant noodle products imported from South Korea over possible risks for acute poisoning. Consumers are asked to discard them or return the noodles to the retailer.

The noodles are made by Seoul-based Samyang Foods, one of South Korea's largest companies, and sold across the globe. The recalled noodles include Buldak Samyang 3 x Spicy; Hot Chicken, Buldak Samyang 2 x Spicy; Hot Chicken and Buldak Samyang Hot Chicken Stew.

The Danish Veterinary and Food Administration said the products contain an overly high dose of capsaicin, an active ingredient in chile peppers but also a chemical that can be a neurotoxin and a health hazard.

Children and teenagers in Denmark have been daring each other on social media to eat a strong bowl of noodle soup, referring to the three South Korean products, the agency said.

The noodle dishes marketed as extremely strong must no longer be sold because consumers and especially children risk acute poisoning, it said late Tuesday. "The capsaicin content is so high that it can pose a health hazard.

Children and frail adults and the elderly are at risk, said Henrik Dammand Nielsen of the Danish Food and Drug Administration. Possibly symptoms include burning and discomfort, nausea, vomiting and high blood pressure, he said.

That is why we are now demanding shops remove the products from their shelves, the agency said.

Samyang Foods said they understood the recall came because of the spiciness of the noodles and not because of the product quality, according to a Samyang Foods company statement provided to the media in South Korea.

Spicy food challenges have been around for years. From local chile pepper eating contests to restaurant walls of fame for those who finished extra hot dishes, people around the world have been daring each other to eat especially fiery foods.

In September, a Massachusetts teen with a congenital heart defect who participated in a spicy tortilla chip challenge on social media died from eating a large quantity of chile pepper extract. An autopsy report obtained by The Associated Press showed that the 10th grader died on September 1, 2023, after eating the Paqui chip as part of the manufacturer's One Chip Challenge.

In Denmark, a puzzled consumer reached out to the Danish Veterinary and Food Administration and asked how the instant noodles could be legal, the agency said, after which it had a lab assessing the products and determined the three noodle brands can be harmful to health, instigating the recall.

"It is important that parents are aware of the extreme noodle varieties and avoid them, Dammand Nielsen said. (AP) PY

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Yerevan (Armenia), Jun 12 (AP) The leader of Armenia on Wednesday declared his intention to pull out of a Russia-dominated security alliance of several ex-Soviet nations as tensions rise between the two allies.

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said his government will decide later when to leave the Collective Security Treaty Organisation, or CSTO, a grouping that includes Russia and the former Soviet Central Asian nations of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan.

Amid the widening rift with Russia, Armenia earlier froze its participation in the alliance, cancelled its involvement in joint military drills and snubbed CSTO summits.

Pashinyan said on Wednesday that for the first time that Armenia will leave CSTO altogether. He spoke during a question-and-answer session in parliament, saying that the government will decide later when to make the final move.

We will leave, Pashinyan said. We will decide when to leave. We won't come back, there is no other way.

Shortly after, in an apparent attempt to soften the blow to Moscow, Armenia's Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan emphasized that Pashinyan hadn't announced the full withdrawal yet.

Those who assert that the prime minister said that Armenia is withdrawing from the CSTO are mistaken, Mirzoyan said.

There was no immediate comment from Moscow.

Armenia's ties with Russia, its longtime sponsor and ally, have grown increasingly strained after Azerbaijan waged a lightning military campaign in September to take the Karabakh region, ending three decades of ethnic Armenian separatist rule there.

Armenian authorities accused Russian peacekeepers who were deployed to Nagorno-Karabakh after a previous round of hostilities in 2020 of failing to stop Azerbaijan's onslaught. Moscow, which has a military base in Armenia, rejected the accusations, arguing that its troops didn't have a mandate to intervene.

Speaking to lawmakers on Wednesday, Pashinyan denounced the CSTO for its failure to offer protection to Armenia and alleged that some of its members sided with Azerbaijan.

It turned out that its members failed to fulfil their obligations under the treaty and planned the war against us alongside Azerbaijan, he said, without elaborating.

Russia has engaged in a delicate balancing act, trying to preserve close relations with Armenia while also maintaining warm ties with Azerbaijan and its main ally Turkiye, a key economic partner for Moscow amid Western sanctions.

The Kremlin has been angered by Pashinyan's efforts to deepen Armenia's ties with the West and distance his country from Moscow-dominated alliances. Russia was particularly vexed by Armenia's decision to join the International Criminal Court, which last year indicted Putin for alleged war crimes connected to Russian actions in Ukraine.

Moscow, however, has sought to downplay the differences as it focused on the war in Ukraine that has dragged into a third year.

Pashinyan's move comes as he faces a wave of large protests demanding he step down over his government's decision to turn over four border villages to Azerbaijan as part of an effort to negotiate a peace agreement with its longtime adversary. (AP) PY

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Brussels, Jun 12 (AP) Hungary agreed on Wednesday not to veto NATO support for Ukraine but Prime Minister Viktor Orban insisted that his government would provide neither funds nor military personnel for any joint assistance effort.

At a summit in Washington next month, US President Joe Biden and his NATO counterparts are expected to agree on a new system to provide more predictable, long-term security help and military training to Ukraine's beleaguered armed forces.

Ukraine's Western allies are trying to bolster military support for Kyiv as Russian troops launch attacks along the more than 1,000-kilometer (620-mile) front line, taking advantage of a lengthy delay in US military aid.

Hungary made it clear at today's meeting that it does not want to block decisions in NATO that  are decisions shared and advocated by the other member states, Orban told reporters after talks in Budapest with NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg.

I asked the Secretary-General to make it clear that all military action outside NATO territory can only be voluntary in nature, according to NATO rules and our traditions, said Orban, who has tried to style himself as a peacemaker. Hungary has received the guarantees we need.

As an organisation, the world's biggest security alliance does not send weapons or ammunition to Ukraine and has no plans to put troops on the ground. But many of its members give help on a bilateral basis, and jointly provide more than 90 per cent of the country's military support.

The other 31 allies see Russia's war on Ukraine as an existential security threat to Europe, but most of them, including Biden, have been extremely cautious to ensure that NATO is not drawn into a wider conflict with Russia.

NATO operates on the basis that an attack on any single ally will be met with a response from them all.

Stoltenberg confirmed that Hungary would not take part in NATO's plans and said: I accept this position. NATO's top civilian official said he and Orban had agreed modalities for Hungary's non-participation in NATO's support for Ukraine, but did not elaborate on how that would work.

At the same time, the prime minister has assured me that Hungary will not oppose these efforts, enabling other allies to move forward, and he has confirmed that Hungary will continue to meet its NATO commitments in full, Stoltenberg added.

NATO takes all its decisions by consensus, effectively giving any one of the 32 allies a veto.

US envoy to NATO, Ambassador Julianne Smith, played down the impact of Hungary's decision.

I think the message that was delivered is not dissimilar from what we've heard from other allies throughout the alliance's history. Not every member of the alliance always participates in every single NATO activity or mission, Smith told reporters.

But Hungary's stridently nationalist government has increasingly become a thorn in the side of NATO  and the European Union  by undermining their efforts to help Ukraine. Orban is also holding up moves to nominate outgoing Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte as the alliance's next secretary-general.

Orban, one of the friendliest European leaders toward Russian President Vladimir Putin, has labelled his EU and NATO partners assisting Ukraine as being pro-war. He has also advocated for former US President Donald Trump's victory in the November election.

Since Russia's full-fledged invasion in February 2022, Ukraine's Western backers have routinely met as part of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group, run by the Pentagon, to drum up weapons and ammunition for Kyiv.

Stoltenberg has spearheaded an effort to have NATO coordinate that process, partly by using the alliance's command structure and drawing on funds from its common budget.

Plans are afoot for NATO's leaders to commit on July 9-11 to maintain the level of military support they have provided Ukraine since the invasion began. Stoltenberg said later Wednesday that this amounts to around 40 billion euros (USD 43 billion) worth of equipment each year.

The purpose of this is to make it possible to end the war, he told reporters at NATO headquarters in Brussels. Now, President Putin believes that he can wait us out and therefore the war continues.

Stoltenberg said that he hoped NATO defence ministers, meeting in Brussels over two days from Thursday, would be able to seal agreement on details of the plan.

At their summit in Lithuania last year, Biden and his counterparts promised that they would be in a position to extend an invitation to Ukraine to join the alliance when allies agree and conditions are met. The consensus among members is that it should not happen while war rages on. (AP) PY

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Kathmandu, Jun 12 (PTI) Deputy Prime Minister Narayankaji Shrestha Prakash, who is also the Foreign Minister of Nepal, on Wednesday called External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and discussed various aspects of Nepal-India relations apart from extending hearty congratulations on his reappointment.

Had a phone call with EAM of India @DrSJaishankar. Extended heartiest congratulations on his reappointment. Discussed various aspects of Nepal-India relations. Look forward to working together for further advancing mutually beneficial cooperation between the two countries, Foreign Minister Shrestha said on X.

Jaishankar in response appreciated and thanked Shrestha.

Appreciated the congratulatory call from DPM and FM@nksthaprakash of Nepal. Thank for his warm sentiments and good wishes. Look forward to working with him to advance our deep-rooted friendship, wrote Jaishankar on X.

Jaishankar, 69, on Tuesday for the second consecutive term took charge of the Ministry of External Affairs. He 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.
Kyiv, Jun 12 (AP) Russian forces launched an overnight aerial attack against Kyiv and five other areas of Ukraine, officials said on Wednesday, a day before the leaders of some of Ukraine's biggest backers were set to discuss how to slow Moscow's war effort.

Ukraine's air force said it shot down more than two dozen air targets, including cruise missiles, a Kinzhal ballistic missile and Shahed drones. Several people were injured, authorities said.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy praised the air force's response, saying it could be a daily achievement if the country had the tools to successfully repel Russian attacks. He has repeatedly appealed to Ukraine's Western partners to provide more air defence systems, and the United States has agreed to send another Patriot missile system, two US officials said late Tuesday.

Kyiv's outgunned and outnumbered forces are battling to hold back the bigger Russian army, which is trying to exploit Ukrainian vulnerabilities. Ukraine has been short of troops, ammunition and air defences in recent months as the Kremlin's forces try to cripple the national power supply and punch through the front line in eastern parts of the country.

Ukraine will need to weather the Russian onslaught through the summer, military analysts say, and in the meantime train more soldiers, build fortifications and hope that the provision of Western military aid picks up speed so that in 2025 Kyiv may be able to mount its own offensive.

Several diplomatic events over the next few days are aimed at how to help Ukraine fend off the Russian invasion or how to bring about an end to the war.

On Thursday, Biden and the other Group of Seven leaders will gather in Italy for their annual summit to discuss ways to help Ukraine, including how to divert more frozen Russian assets to Kyiv's defence.

The Biden administration announced on Wednesday that it had broadened sanctions against Russia by targeting companies that help Moscow's war effort and raising the stakes for foreign financial institutions that work with sanctioned Russian entities.

The more than 300 new sanctions are largely aimed at deterring individuals and companies in countries such as China, the United Arab Emirates and Turkiye from helping Moscow circumvent Western blocks on obtaining key technology. They also threaten foreign financial institutions with sanctions if they do business with almost any sanctioned Russian entity, underscoring the US view that the Kremlin has pivoted the Russian economy on to a war footing.

Biden and Zelenskyy will also sign a bilateral security agreement between the US and Ukraine on Thursday when they meet on the G7 summit's sidelines, the White House said. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said the agreement would not commit US troops directly to Ukraine's defence, but that it would demonstrate US supports the people of Ukraine and serve as a bridge to when Ukraine is invited to join the NATO alliance  a long-term priority of Zelenskyy's that alliance members have said will first require an end to the war.

While the G7 meets in Italy, defence chiefs from the US, Europe and other nations will meet on Thursday in Brussels for their monthly meeting on Ukraine's security needs. US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin will host the event.

And this weekend, representatives of nearly 90 countries and organisations, half from Europe, are expected to attend a summit in Switzerland aimed at charting a path to peace between Russia and Ukraine, though Russia won't be attending.

Both sides in Europe's biggest conflict since World War II have been reaching out to friendly nations to help keep their armed forces supplied. The war has cost tens of thousands of lives on both sides, including more than 11,000 Ukrainian civilians, according to the United Nations.

While Ukraine has looked to Western countries, Russian President Vladimir Putin has turned to nations such as Iran and North Korea for help. Unconfirmed reports suggested Putin may soon make a third visit to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

Moscow showed no signs of relenting in the war. The Kremlin said on Wednesday that Putin met with Defence Minister Andrei Belousov, the chief of the military's General Staff, Gen. Valery Gerasimov, and the commanders of Russia's five military districts.

A readout of the Tuesday night meeting said the officials presented Putin with plans to continue the hostilities.

Fighting along the roughly 1,000-kilometer (620-mile) front line has in recent months focused on the partly occupied Donetsk region of eastern Ukraine, where Russian forces are trying to reach the key hilltop city of Chasiv Yar and other strategic hubs.

Last month the Kremlin's forces also launched an offensive in the northeastern Kharkiv region, which borders Russia. Putin said he wanted to establish a buffer zone there to prevent Ukrainian cross-border attacks. The offensive drew some Ukrainian fighters away from Donetsk.

However, Russia's gains have been incremental and costly.

In the Kharkiv region, Russian units have become bogged down in Vovchansk, Ukraine Commander in Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi said on Wednesday on the Telegram messaging app. (AP) PY

PY
Cape Town (South Africa), Jun 12 (AP) The leader of South Africa's Inkatha Freedom Party said on Wednesday it will join a proposed government of national unity, a step toward ending the country's political deadlock after the long-ruling African National Congress lost its parliamentary majority in last month's election.

The announcement by Velenkosini Hlabisa means an agreement between some major parties to form a coalition government with the ANC becomes more likely ahead of a Friday deadline, when South Africa's new Parliament will sit for the first time since the May 29 election and attempt to elect a president.

The ANC had been the governing party for 30 years since the end of the apartheid system of white minority rule in 1994, but only received 40 per cent of the vote in this election. It remains the biggest party but needs to form an agreement with others to govern and reelect President Cyril Ramaphosa for a second and final term.

South Africans vote for parties in national elections and they get seats in Parliament according to their share of the vote. Lawmakers then elect the president of Africa's most industrialised country.

The ANC proposed forming a government of national unity last week instead of a narrower coalition with one or two parties and invited all 17 other parties represented in Parliament to be part of it. Some have refused.

Hlabisa told reporters that the IFP was willing to join a unity government that includes the ANC and the Democratic Alliance, South Africa's main opposition party that received the second largest share of the vote.

The IFP will do it "for the sake of our country and a stable government, Hlabisa said. The party draws most of its support from the Zulu ethnic group.

The centrist Democratic Alliance has indicated it would also be willing to join a unity government but hasn't made a final announcement while it holds talks with the ANC over the details.

The ANC, DA and IFP would together hold a clear majority of seats.

Two other major parties, the far-left Economic Freedom Fighters and the new MK Party of former President Jacob Zuma, have refused to join the unity agreement. MK has filed court papers to halt the first meeting of Parliament and has objected to the results of the election, claiming there were irregularities.

South Africa's independent electoral commission conceded there were logistical problems and noted objections by several parties, but officially announced the results on June 2 and said the election was free and fair. Independent observers also declared it free and fair.

MK said its 58 new lawmakers would not attend Parliament if it goes ahead on Friday. However, even if MK boycotts, South Africa's constitution says only a third out of Parliament's 400 lawmakers need to be present for a quorum and the vote to elect the president would proceed. (AP) PY

PY
Pune, June 12 (PTI) NCP (SP) president Sharad Pawar on Wednesday warned of agitation if the Maharashtra government did not provide subsidy to milk producers.

He was speaking during a visit to drought-affected villages in Indapur tehsil of Pune district.

"If the government failed to provide subsidy to dairy farmers, we will take to the streets," he said.

The NCP chief also said that the government in the state was needed to be changed if the people's problems were to be resolved.

Asking which government in the past waived crop loans or ensured fair prices for farm produce, Pawar said he was not sure if the current Shiv Sena-BJP-NCP government understood these problems.

"If our requests are not heeded, you must hand over the policy-making power to us in the next four to six months," the veteran politician said, alluding to the coming assembly elections.
Mumbai, Jun 12 (PTI) Newly-appointed Union minister and Shiv Sena leader Prataprao Jadhav on Wednesday said the Opposition was spreading rumours that the BJP-led NDA government will collapse midway because they fear that their own MPs will abandon them.

Jadhav asserted the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) has 21 more Lok Sabha MPs than the majority mark of 272 in the 543-member house, and with the backing of independents this number has gone up to 305.

He was talking to reporters after paying respect at the memorial of Shiv Sena founder Bal Thackeray here during his first visit to Mumbai after taking oath on June 9.

"The Opposition is spreading rumours that the government will collapse out of fear that their MPs will leave them. They (the Opposition) are showing fear (to MPs) that we have to again face polls," noted the Shiv Sena MP from Buldhana in eastern Maharashtra.

Jadhav on Monday assumed charge as the Minister for Ayush (Independent charge) and Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, his maiden innings in the central government.

"It is a fact that two to three Shiv Sena (UBT) MPs have openly expressed displeasure due to the pains suffered in the polls, and non-cooperation from seniors. Privately, they (Shiv Sena UBT MPs) say 'we were just given tickets and left high and dry'," Jadhav claimed.

Last week, Shiv Sena MP from Thane Naresh Mhaske had claimed two Shiv Sena (UBT) MPs were in touch with his party, which is headed by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.

The Shiv Sena (UBT), led by former CM and Shinde's arch political rival Uddhav Thackeray, has nine MPs in the Lok Sabha.

Jadhav urged quota activist Manoj Jarange to withdraw his hunger strike, which entered the fifth day on Wednesday, and advised him to show some patience as the government was looking into the concerns of the Maratha community.

He pointed out that the Eknath Shinde-led government has given a 10 per cent reservation to the Maratha community in Maharashtra in jobs and education and added the quota law enacted in February will stand the test of law.

Besides this, 54 lakh to 57 lakh Kunbi records have been traced and certificates issued to Maratha community members (giving them OBC status which will allow them to avail quota benefits), the Union minister maintained.

Kunbis, an agrarian community, are included among the Other Backward Classes (OBC) in Maharashtra.
Patna, Jun 12 (PTI) Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Wednesday congratulated N Chandrababu Naidu, the Telugu Desam Party chief who has assumed power in Andhra Pradesh.

Kumar spoke to Naidu over phone and hoped that the southern state would progress under the latters stewardship, according to a statement issued by the Chief Minister's Office here.

Kumar heads the JD(U), which has emerged as the second largest ally, after TDP, of the ruling BJP-led NDA at the Centre.

With the BJP falling short of a majority in Lok Sabha, fine electoral performances by the two alliances came in handy for the return to power of Prime Minister Narendra Modi for a third consecutive term.

Both TDP and JD(U) have been rewarded with two berths each in the Union Council of Ministers.

Assembly elections were held in Andhra Pradesh along with Lok Sabha polls and the TDP, which fought in alliance with the BJP and Jana Sena Party, defeated the YSRCP headed by Naidu's predecessor Jaganmohan Reddy.
Guwahati, Jun 12 (PTI) In a major drug haul, Yaba tablets worth more than Rs 66 crore were seized on Wednesday, and three peddlers were arrested from Karimganj district of Assam, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said.

"Breaking the backbone of the Drugs network! In two separate anti-narcotics operations carried out today, @STFAssam & @karimganjpolice seized 2,20,000 YABA tablets worth Rs 66 cr from a vehicle and arrested three accused coming from a neighbouring State," Sarma said in a post on X.

In a separate incident, 36,000 Yaba tablets were from a vehicle in Karbi Anglong district, he said.

The chief minister lauded the efforts of Assam Police towards making the state drug-free.
New Delhi, Jun 12 (PTI) Union Minister of State for Railways Ravneet Singh on Wednesday conducted a high-level review meeting with members of the Railway Board and asked them to cater to all classes especially the poor.

During the meeting, the board members presented a brief overview of the Railways and apprised the minister of the various ongoing activities, an official statement said.

"Ravneet Singh urged the officials to work collectively as a team to realise the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and transform Indian Railways into one of the best Railways in the world," it said.

"He also emphasised that Railways is a convenient mode of transport for the common people. Indian Railways should make all efforts to cater to all classes especially the poor," the statement said.
New Delhi, June 12 (PTI) Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena and Delhi water minister Atishi were on Wednesday involved in a social media spat over the water crisis.

Atishi in a Hindi post on X said that the LG office today sent a press release to all journalists in Delhi and added, "I have been abused a lot in it. Very bad things have been said about me."

The AAP leader also said in the post that she knew that the LG and the BJP hated Aam Aadmi Party because the Delhi people repeatedly made Arvind Kejriwal the chief minister with a huge mandate.

"....While hating us, you have started hating Delhi people. Abuse us as much as you want, say as many bad things to us. But do not stop the rightful water of Delhi people because of hatred against us. Delhi people are deeply distressed due to shortage of water...," she said in the post.

The minister also said that all people in Delhi will get water if the BJP government in Haryana provides water to Delhi.

The Raj Niwas from its official handle hit back at Atishi saying "Mantriji, LG Saheb did not abuse you. The LG office has refuted your abuses for him and white lies with evidence, and has exposed your habit of misleading the people of Delhi..."

The Raj Niwas post also said that Delhi people still expected Atishi to provide them water by stopping wastage and theft.

The "press release" from the LG office that Atishi referred to accused her of issuing a "patently and blatantly false" statement on Tuesday to blame Haryana for the scarcity of water in the capital and charging the LG with "lies".

Citing the affidavit filed by the Haryana government in Supreme Court on June 10, which Atishi had also referred to on Tuesday to allege that the BJP-ruled state was not providing Delhi its rightful share of water, the LG office said a cursory reading of the document "busts her lies and calumnious statements".

Reacting to the water minster's assertion that Delhi was getting less water from Haryana than agreed upon, the LG office said from the various documents annexed with this status report Haryana submitted in the court, it was evident the capital was getting more water than its allocated share and the quantum has not gone below 1,050 cusecs "not even on a single day".

On Atishi's claim that the repair of the Munak Canal was the responsibility of the Haryana government, the LG office said it is done at the "behest, demand and cost" of the Delhi government.

"During the last 10 years, instead of asking the Haryana govt to repair the lining of the Canal, the Kejriwal govt did not even consider sending an engineer to look at the status of the Canal," the LG office said.

The LG office also said despite knowing that a large-scale water mafia was operational in Delhi, the Delhi Jal Board under AAP never complained to the police about the same or filed an FIR.
Nagpur, Jun 12 (PTI) A court on Wednesday remanded Prashant Parlewar, Director, MSME, in Maharashtra government, and four others arrested in connection with the alleged contract killing of Nagpur-based businessman Puroshattam Puttewar, to police custody till June 15.

The court also allowed the police to arrest the prime accused and the slain businessman's daughter-in-law Archana Puttewar, who serves as Assistant Director of Town Planning Department, on a production warrant.

Archana, earlier remanded to judicial custody, will be produced before the court on Thursday, a Crime Branch official said.

Prashant Parlewar, 59, was arrested by the Nagpur Crime Branch on Tuesday night

The other arrested persons are identified as suspected contract killers Neeraj Ishwar Nimje (30), Sachin Mohan Dharmik (29) and Sarthak Bagde (29). Another accused, Payal Nageshwar (28), is the personal assistant of the prime accused.

Dharmik became a part of the murder conspiracy, hatched by Archana Puttewar, Nageshwar, and Bagde, after he was assured to grant a beer bar license, a crime branch official said.

The incident dates back to May 22 when Puroshattam Puttewar (82) was fatally hit by a car. Initially registered as an accident case, further investigation uncovered evidence of a premeditated murder and alleged contract killing.

The murder appears to be linked to a property dispute.

Police have so far seized two cars, an SUV, 140 grams of gold, Rs 3 lakh, seven mobile phones, and other materials from the accused, the official said.
Bengaluru, Jun 12 (PTI) Shocking details have emerged from the probe into the murder of a man who allegedly made derogatory comments against the friend and co-star of leading Kannada actor Darshan Thoogudeepa.





According to police sources, Renukaswamy (33) drew the wrath of Darshan for making lewd comments against Pavithra Gowda on her social media posts.





"It was Pavithra who instigated Darshan to punish Renukaswamy. Accordingly, the plan was hatched," they said.





Renukaswamy hailed from Lakshmi Venkateshwara Layout in Chitradurga and worked with a pharmacy company.



"Darshan engaged the Chitradurga unit of Darshan Fan Club Convenor Raghavendra alias Raghu, who obtained all information about Renukaswamy."



Renukaswamy's wife Sahana said Raghavendra picked up her husband on Friday night from near their house.





The victim was abducted and taken to a shed in Kamakshipalya area in Bengaluru, the sources said.





"Darshan beat up Renukaswamy with a belt. After he fell unconscious, his accomplices thrashed him with sticks. Further, they threw him against a wall, which proved fatal," they said adding there were multiple bone fractures all over his body.





After he died, his body was dumped in a stormwater drain.



A food delivery boy who noticed dogs eating a human body alerted the police.





When the police were working on the case, two accused approached Kamakshipalya police and "confessed" to having killed Renukaswamy over a financial dispute.





As the investigation progressed, police found out Darshan and Pavithra's involvement.



Darshan, his friend and film actress Pavithra Gowda, and 11 others were arrested in connection with Renukaswamy's murder on Tuesday.





The 47-year-old actor has been remanded to six days' police custody by a court.
Kozhikode (Kerala), Jun 12 (PTI) Union Minister Suresh Gopi on Wednesday said he has been given a big responsibility and he got a new role as a member of Narendra Modi-led government due to the support of the people from all walks of life.





Gopi, who returned to Kerala for the first time after becoming MoS for Tourism and Petroleum, visited the Thali Mahadeva temple in Kozhikode city this morning to pray.







Later speaking to reporters, the actor -turned politician said he has a lot of connections with people and temples, and he has taken all that into account.







"People from all walks of life supported me. I cannot cut all that away. I have taken up a responsibility. I have reached here with everyone's support," he said.







Gopi said that it will be the people who will keep him close.







As MoS Tourism of India, Gopi said he has a huge responsibility, and his duties would include identifying the prime spots in the country for tourist activities.







For now, the PM has spoken to him only about Kerala, he added.







Gopi also refused to respond to any political issues, including Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan's "ignorant" remark about a priest and Congress MP M K Raghavan's demand for an AIIMS in Kozhikode, saying that he was not going to be part of any such discussions.







Regarding the CM's ignorant remark, he said that it was "his (Vijayan's) tongue, his thinking."







"I am not going to question that. They (CM and the priest) are from the same party. They will settle it," he said.







On Raghavan's AIIMS demand, Gopi said that the Congress MP has every right to make it.







"I too have some rights. I have conveyed my rights and desires," he said.







Gopi won the Thrissur Lok Sabha seat for the BJP, making history for the saffron party in Kerala.







Thrissur had witnessed a three-way contest for the Lok Sabha polls, with major candidates from the Congress, BJP, and CPI locked in a neck-and-neck battle.







Gopi had taken on the UDF candidate, senior Congress leader K Muraleedharan, and Left leader and former Kerala minister, CPI's Sunil Kumar, in Thrissur this time, and won from the constituency.
Amaravati, Jun 12 (PTI) Three years ago, storming out of the state assembly in anger, Chandrababu vowed to return only as chief minister. True to his word, he has now ascended to the position and is poised to enter the House.











Andhra Pradesh Governor Abdul Nazeer on Wednesday administered the oath of office to the 74-year-old Naidu, marking his fourth term as chief minister, after the Telugu Desam Party-led NDA swept the assembly polls, bagging 164 out of the total 175 assembly seats.











TDP alone secured 135 seats while its partners Janasena and BJP won 21 and eight seats respectively, relegating the former chief minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy-led YSR Congress Party to just 11 seats.











After facing a humiliating defeat in the 2019 assembly elections, Naidu tirelessly worked to maintain relevance in both state and central politics, without giving up.











In the outgoing house, TDP has 23 members.



The TDP also put up a good show in the Lok Sabha polls, winning 16 of the total 25 seats in the state, with allies BJP and Janasena Party securing three and two constituencies respectively.









Naidu has thus emerged as one of the kingmakers, with TDP being the second largest party in the ruling NDA alliance behind the BJP in the 543-member Lok Sabha.









The BJP, which fell short of the 272 majority in the Lok Sabha, has therefore depended on the TDP and Janata Dal (United) to form a government.



This is the latest turn of fortune for the veteran politician who is credited with transforming Hyderabad, the capital of undivided Andhra Pradesh, into a technology and computer software hub.











Born on April 20, 1950, at Naravaripalli in the undivided Chittoor district of Andhra Pradesh, Nara Chandrababu Naidu started his more-than-four-decade-long political career in student politics at Sri Venkateswara University in Tirupati.











Following that solid foundation, Naidu joined the Congress party and went on to become a cabinet minister. However, he later jumped ship to the TDP, founded by his late father-in-law and legendary actor N T Rama Rao.











Naidu first became the chief minister in 1995 and went on to have two terms as CM. 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.











Telangana was carved out of Andhra Pradesh 10 years ago.











During the late 90s, Naidu played a key role in forming the first NDA government at the Centre, which was led by Atal Bihari Vajpayee, with his party TDP supporting it from outside.











In 2014, Naidu emerged as the first chief minister of the residuary state of Andhra Pradesh and served it until 2019.



In his third term as CM, he proposed Amaravati to be the capital city of the state, but losing power in the next term left the capital city project, which he started, unfinished.









In 2019, he suffered a humiliating defeat at the hands of a much younger Jagan Mohan Reddy of the YSR Congress Party, who also dealt a debilitating blow to the Amaravati project.









In 2021, protesting some comments made against his family members in the assembly, Naidu had walked out of the assembly and said he would come back only as the state's chief minister again.









But there was more bad news in store for him, when in 2023 he was arrested under the Skill Development Corporation Scam case by the YSRCP government -- the lowest point in his political career.



After the pre-dawn arrest on September 9, Naidu spent nearly two months in the Rajamahendravaram central jail.





However, an interim bail on October 31, which was made absolute on November 20, set Naidu free to prepare for the 2024 polls, enabling him to join the BJP-led NDA alliance along with the Janasena.



He has now had the last laugh over his opponents and critics, with the spectacular performance of the TDP both in the assembly as well as Lok Sabha elections.
Jaipur, Jun 12 (PTI) A mentally unstable man allegedly hacked his wife to death with an axe and injured his daughter in Barmer district of Rajasthan, police said on Wednesday.

The reason behind the incident, which occurred on Tuesday night, was not known immediately, they said.

Station House Officer, Dhorimanna, Girdhari Ram said, "Chunni Lal (40), who appears to be mentally unstable, hit his wife Jiya (38) with an axe, killing her on the spot. His 18-year-old daughter was also injured in the incident."

Lal has been detained and is being interrogated, he said.

Police said the body has been shifted to a mortuary for post-mortem examination.
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.
Alison Rose (pictured), was forced to step down from NatWest following a row over the closure of Nigel Farage's account with Coutts

Nigel Farage has blasted private equity firm Charterhouse for giving former NatWest boss Alison Rose a job after she was forced to leave her post over the debanking scandal.

'These people look after their own,' said the Reform party leader to Financial News.

Rose was hired by Charterhouse as a senior adviser.

She was forced to step down from NatWest following a row over the closure of Farage's account with Coutts, the private bank run by NatWest.

Rose resigned in July last year after she admitted being the source of an inaccurate story about Farage's finances after a discussion with a BBC journalist.

She was cleared of misconduct by NatWest.

Charterhouse declined to comment.
As we enter tax season, authorities are already warning Australians are to be on high alert for tax scams. Cybercriminals are amping up their scam activity, with a predicted 400% increase of scams during EOFY.

Alarmingly, this year has seen a rise in impersonsation scams targeting individuals during tax time, a period when people are more likely to engage with financial and government agencies and official communication from the Australian Tax Office (ATO). Scammers exploit this heightened activity by posing as ATO representatives, sending fraudulent emails, texts, or making phone calls to steal personal information and money from hard-working Australians.

Small and medium businesses are especially at risk because AI-powered scams are becoming more sophisticated and convincing making it harder to identify a scam attempt. This highlights the importance of staying alert this tax season. This article outlines the top four scams to be aware of this financial year (FY23/24) and provide tips on how to avoid falling victim to them.

Impersonation Scams On The Rise

myGov Email Impersonation Scams

There has been a surge in phishing scams targeting myGov accounts, with scammers cleverly disguising creating fake ATO emails containing links that encourage people to click on a link that directs them to fake myGov sign in pages designed to steal their username and password. This tactic is proving highly effective, with ATO-branded emails being the most commonly reported scam in February 2024. Over the past six months, a staggering 75% of all email scams reported to the ATO involved a fake myGov login link. This highlights just how widespread and sophisticated these phishing attempts have become. The ultimate goal of these scams is to steal your myGov credentials. The following images are examples of the format this scam can take.

Scammers are also exploiting other digital channels such as SMS messaging to get individuals to click on fake myGov sign in pages designed to steal their username and password. Scammers use different phrases to trick people into opening these links. Some examples are:

You are due to receive an ATO Direct refund

You have a new message in your myGov inbox  click here to view

You need to update your details to allow your Tax return to be processed

We need to verify your incoming tax deposit

ATO Refund failed due to incorrect BSB/Account number

Your income statement is ready, click on the link to view

ATO Social Media Impersonation Accounts Scams

This scam is popular on social media (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok etc.). These scams are impersonating both the ATO itself and ATO employees. The intent is to get you to interact with the pages, send messages, and ask questions with the end goal of tricking you into sharing personal information such as email addresses, phone numbers and bank account details.

The ATO does have an official presence on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn, all of which hold the blue tik of authentication. You can see in the two screenshots below that there is no blue tick for authentication, and the follower counts are very low.

The image above is from the ATO website.

The image above is from the ATO website.

How to spot a fake

The ATO prioritises secure communication. Theyll never send email or social media links directing you to log in to myGov or other online services. Treat any such requests as scams.

The ATOs official accounts are on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. However, theyll never initiate contact through these channels. They also have no presence on Instagram, so any ATO message theres guaranteed to be a phish.

Be wary of suspicious ATO accounts. Legitimate profiles typically boast tens of thousands of followers and have been active for years. Steer clear of any new or low-follower accounts claiming to be the ATO.

The ATO wont send you an SMS or email with a link to log on to online services. They should be accessed directly by typing ato.gov.au or my.gov.au into your browser.

While the ATO may use SMS or email to ask you to contact them, they will never ask you to return personal information through these channels.

By keeping these tips in mind, you can easily identify and avoid fake ATO social media scams. Remember, if youre unsure, its always safer to contact the ATO directly through verified channels.

Multifactor Authentication (MFA) Phishing Scams

This scam preys on the growing adoption of MFA. Scammers send emails claiming the ATO requires an MFA update for your account.

The images below are examples of what the scam may look like.

How to spot a fake

The ATO will never ask you to update MFA via email, especially with a QR code, or a link to log in to online services. These codes typically lead to fake myGov login pages designed to steal your credentials.

If you receive an email like this, do not scan the QR code, click on links, open attachments or download files. Forward the email to reportscams@ato.gov.au, and then delete it.

Tax Refund SMS Scams

This scam increased in popularity in 2023 and is a continued concern for 2024. This is a smishing scam (malicious/fake SMS) designed to get you to click on the link. You are then taken to a fake website (that looks real) with a form for you to complete so you can get your money. Once again, scammers are looking for your personal information.

How to spot a fake

The real ATO will never send an SMS with a link on it.

The image above is from the ATO website.

Tax Lodgement email scam

You guessed it, this email scam shares fake information about your tax return lodgment date with a fake receipt number. Then the message is very manipulative as it tells you not to call them. Instead, the email suggests that it is better for you to check the attachment and ensure that all your information is correct.

If you do happen to click on the attachment, you will be taken to another screen that looks like an official Microsoft Sign-in (IT IS FAKE). The intent of this scam is to collect your login details and password. Access to your Microsoft account has the potential for cybercriminals to access your personal device providing access to everything you have. Plus, if you happen to reuse your passwords, there is a high chance that cybercriminals will use these details to attempt to access other applications.

How to spot a fake

The real ATO will never send you an email with a link on it or an attachment to open.

The image above is from the ATO website.

The image above is from the ATO website.

Stay Vigilant And Aware

Remember that scammers, also known as cybercriminals, will refer to their playbook throughout the year and re-use or update scams, especially if they were successful (most of them are). The challenge for you is to be aware of them all and remain vigilant and aware. So remember:

For all incoming communication from the ATO

If you receive an email, SMS, or phone call that says it is from the ATO, STOP and take a breath. If it includes a link  IT IS A SCAM. Do not engage and report it. If it includes an attachment (usually in an email)  IT IS A SCAM. Do not engage and report it.

Remember

The real ATO will never send you any links to click on. If the real ATO does contact you, they will only ever ask you to contact them directly via their official sites, such as https://www.ato.gov.au or https://my.gov.au/, to log into your account. Call the ATO on 1800 008 540 if you are unsure or want to clarify something.

Advice for Business Owners

Communicate to your people, outlining precisely what to expect from your HR or Payroll Department at tax time.

Provide precise details as to what they will receive and warn them that there is a very high chance cybercriminals will be targeting them at tax time.

Step your people through relevant, engaging, and ongoing security awareness training and allow them to test their knowledge with simulated phishing and other social engineering tests.

Share the tips below with your employees, customers, vendors and suppliers, as cybersecurity is everyones responsibility.

Advice for Employees (and everyone else)

Ask your HR Department or Payroll when and how you will receive your Group Certificate.

Only deal with the ATO or MyGov via official channels https://my.gov.au/ or https://www.ato.gov.au

The real ATO will never send links in emails or SMS

The real ATO will never request personal details like bank account details via email, SMS or voice mail.

The real ATO will never ask you to pay for anything with gift cards, credit cards or cryptocurrency (like Bitcoin).

Advice for Tax Professionals

Cybercriminals are actively looking to gain unlawful access to your client data as it is of great value to them. Take a moment to consider all the personal and sometimes business information you hold for each of your clients and the potential repercussions if you suffered a data breach.

They will even pose as a client sending you an email with a malicious attachment in the hope that you open it and grant them access to your system. Once inside, they can access your entire inbox and your clients data. You need to be on the lookout for all suspicious emails and be vigilant at tax time.

Is that all? Sadly no, there are more tax time and ATO-related scams to be found here: https://www.ato.gov.au/General/Online-services/Identity-security-and-scams/

If (or more likely when) you receive an ATO or MyGov related scam, take a screenshot and send it to this email ReportScams@ato.gov.au. Feel free to share these hints and tips far and wide with everyone in your world who will be required to lodge a tax return, to help safeguard against scams this tax season.

Keep up to date with our stories on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
Motorbike theft gang busted, admits to selling over 200 vehicles in Cambodia

Police in the central Nghe An Province have arrested 12 people allegedly belonging to a transnational gang that stole motorbikes in Vietnam and sold them in neighboring Cambodia.

Ly Nhat Cuong, 26, of Nghe An has been identified as its linchpin.

Ly Nhat Cuong, alleged leader of motorbike theft gang, at a police station in Nghe An Province. Photo by VnExpress/Hoa Vang

According to the police, at the beginning of this year Cuong formed the motorbike thieving gang, recruiting members in many provinces, primarily through social media, with most never meeting each other.

In Nghe An, he tasked Nguyen Dinh Son and Le Khac Dung, both 36, with breaking into homes and offices to steal vehicles.

He arranged for trucks to transport them to warehouses in HCMC and Ha Tien City in Kien Giang Province.

From Ha Tien, which is on the Cambodia border, he arranged for the motorbikes to be driven into Cambodia to be sold.

After watching the gang for 10 days until June 9, the Nghe An Criminal Police Department coordinated with their counterparts in Thanh Hoa, Bac Giang, Hanoi, Kien Giang, Soc Trang, and HCMC to simultaneously raid warehouses, arresting the three men and nine others working for them.

The raiding parties seized 75 motorbikes, tools to unlock bikes and transaction records.

Motorcycles confiscated from a theft gang. Photo by VnExpress/Hoa Vang

The police have not disclosed how much money Cuong and the gang earned or how he distributed money to members after an operation.

The suspects confessed to have previously transported over 200 stolen motorbikes across the border into Cambodia.

The case is under investigation.
A Church of Ireland Archbishop has spoken out after mummies at an ancient Irish church were set on fire.

Archbishop Michael Jackson spoke to Newstalk Breakfast this morning (June 12) following the incident at St Michan's Church in Dublin yesterday afternoon (June 11).

Gardai and emergency services including Dublin Fire Brigade attended the scene at approximately 4.30pm to attend to the fire.

No injuries were reported.

However, the Archbishop confirmed there was "significant devastation" in the crypt beneath the church, which houses the mummified remains of people from the Middle Ages.

Describing the incident as "a very dark day", he said, "The combination, as you would expect, of fire and water doesn't give us as much hope as we'd like.

"Inevitably the Fire Brigade had to come and do the work that they do because the crypt is underneath what is a very old church.

"So we need to wait but early signs are not good."

The Archbishop confirmed he has asked the National Museum to come to the church - which was founded in 1095 - for an assessment of the damage.

A man has since appeared in court following the destruction at the church.

He was charged with an offence under the Criminal Damage Act 1991 and was scheduled to appear before a sitting of the Criminal Courts of Justice at approximately 10.30am this morning.

Investigations by Gardai are ongoing and a forensic examination is currently underway.
ELKO  Elko County voters threw their support for incumbents and a Ruby Valley rancher in primary races, according to early, unofficial results.

The Elko County Clerks Office posted unofficial results for local, state and federal races, tallying ballots cast on Election Day, early voting and by mail-in ballots.

Elko County Commissioner Rex Steninger will run unopposed in the general election for District 5. He defeated political newcomer Christopher Mullins with 72.16%, or 2,281 of the ballots cast.

Mullins received 27.84% or 880 votes.

Elko County Clerk Rebecca Becky Plunkett retained her position with 60.72%, or 1,940, votes against challenger Misty Atkins, who received 39.28%, or 1,255 votes.

Plunkett will face Independent American Party candidate Michael Hawkins in November.

Republican Brian Gale will move on to the Elko County Commissioner District 1 race in November, defeating Wells City Councilwoman Laura DelRio.

Gale had 1,758 votes and DelRio received 1,303 votes.

He will face Democrat Jay Dalton in the November election for the seat occupied by Wilde Brough, who declined to run for a second term in office.

In nonpartisan races, Elko County School Board Trustees Teresa Dastrup and Adriana Stanfill appeared on the ballot unopposed, each receiving over 3,700 votes.

Elko Township Justice of the Peace Randall Soderquist also ran unopposed for a six-year term on the bench, receiving 3,311 votes.

Carlin Township Justice of the Peace Brandy Holbrook ran unopposed and received 112 votes.

For Wells Township Justice of the Peace, incumbent Judge Kenneth Calton had 56.75% of the vote, defeating Aaron Bushur with 31.68% of the vote and Noah J. Swett with 11.57%.

State and federal races

The Nevada Secretary of States office posted results on its website for state and federal races that narrowed the field for November.

In the State Senate District 19 race, former Assemblyman John Ellison defeated healthcare executive William Hockstedler and Nye County School District Trustee Chelsy Fischer.

Ellison received 59.24% of the vote, Hockstedler received 28.21% and Fischer 12.55%.

In Elko County, Ellison topped his challengers with 2,773 votes. He will head into the general election, running unopposed.

Republican U.S. Senate front-runner and retired Army Capt. Sam Brown outpaced his challengers in a large field of 12 other candidates.

In Elko County, Brown received 2,153 votes. Jeff Gunter came in second with 255 votes and Jim Marchant took third place with 188 votes.

Brown will move into the general election, facing incumbent Sen. Jacky S. Rosen, D-Nev., for a six-year term.

Incumbent U.S. Rep. Mark Amodei, representing District 2, defeated challenger Fred J. Simon Jr.

Amodei has no Democratic challenger to his seat, but he will face Independent American Party candidate Lynn Chapman, Libertarian Party of Nevada candidate Javi Tachiquin and Robert Gregory Kidd, who is not affiliated with any political party.

For the State Board of Education, incumbent Angela Orr defeated challengers Paul Doc Davis, Matthew R. Buehler and Dorzell King Jr.

For State Assembly District 32, Republican incumbent Alexis Hansen defeated Jason Bushey.

Voter turnout

The Elko County Clerks office reported average turnout for a Primary Election.

Results showed voter turnout was greater among Republicans in Elko County, followed by nonpartisan registered voters and Democratic voters, according to the Elko County Clerks office.

Overall, voter turnout was 18.51%, with 4,543 ballots cast out of 24,548 active registered voters. Statewide turnout was about 14%.

Mail-in voting was higher than Election Day voting by 464 votes. Turnout for early voting showed 911 ballots were cast.

The Clerks office reported 75 ballots were received in the mail on Wednesday, which will be added to the Tuesday nights tallies and updated on the Elko County Clerks website.

Mail-in ballots postmarked on the day of the Primary Election and received by Saturday, June 15, will be counted and added to the results.

The clerks website reported 80 ballots had issues. Voters are encouraged to cure their signatures by 5 p.m. on June 17 on the Secretary of States website.

The Canvass of results by the Elko County Board of Commissioners is scheduled for June 21.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son (R) and General Secretary of the United Left Movement (MIU) Party and Minister of Regional Integration Policies of the Dominican Republic Miguel Mejia (Photo: VNA)

During a June 11 reception for General Secretary of the United Left Movement (MIU) Party and Minister of Regional Integration Policies of the Dominican Republic Miguel Mejia, who is on a working visit to Vietnam, Minister Bui Thanh Son highly valued the Dominican Republic's government for appointing a resident ambassador to Vietnam in 2022 and opening its embassy in the country in 2023.

He said that these efforts have become bridges to promote increasingly effective and substantive development of the bilateral relationship.

The Vietnamese official conveyed State President To Lam's congratulations to President Luis Abinader on his re-election for the second consecutive term in the general election held on May 19.

He expressed his appreciation for the contributions by Mejia to the development of relations between the two countries.

For his part, Mejia emphasised that his visit aims to further deepen the fruitful political and diplomatic relations, and expand the economic, trade, and investment cooperation between the two countries, especially in potential fields such as trade, agriculture, telecommunications, construction, energy, and oil and gas industry.

The two sides agreed to closely coordinate and actively take measures to strengthen the bilateral relations in the time to come through Party-to-Party, State-to-State, and people-to-people diplomacy channels, including promoting high-level delegation exchanges, connecting and supporting businesses, enhancing cooperation, and supporting each other at international organisations and multilateral forums, especially the United Nations./.
A few things we'd like our www.TonysKansasCity.com blog community to consider:

- Yes, there are fewer homicides this year than last year.

- However, last year KCMO broke another ALL-TIME record for killing.

- Moreover, the past 5 years have been the most violent in our history.

Accordingly, here's the latest deadly report from police . . .



Homicide 7000 block of Prospect LATE DEATH

On 06/02/24 around 8AM, officers were dispatched to the 7000 block of Prospect Ave. on a reported Cutting.



Officers arrived on scene and located an adult male suffering from apparent stab wounds. EMS responded and transported the victim to the hospital for treatment.



Responding officers were able to identify, locate, and apprehend an adult male subject on scene where he was placed on a 24 hour investigative hold for further investigation. Detectives presented their findings to the Jackson County Prosecutors office where he was subsequently charged in custody. For further information regarding this incident I would refer you to their office.



On 06/07/24, detectives were notified the victim had succumbed to their injuries and was declared deceased.



Homicide Detectives have assumed responsibility of the investigation.

#################

Developing . . .


Lots of EXCELLENT crime reporting to consider as we check police action, court reports and continued efforts at community outreach.



Check TKC news gathering . . .

Rapid gunfire sends neighbors and businesses next to Kansas City park ducking for cover People in a Waldo neighborhood are nervous about their safety after a shooting Sunday night that sent dozens of people running for cover out and around Sunnyside Park.

Suspect in custody following armed carjacking in Excelsior Springs A suspect is in custody following an armed carjacking Monday evening in Excelsior Springs.

Leawood carjacking, chase ends with suspect behind bars Leawood and Kansas City police arrest a suspect accused of a carjacking and police chase.

Missouri death row inmate maintains innocence in killings, hours before execution David Hosier, the Missouri inmate scheduled to be executed Tuesday evening for a 2009 double murder, is proclaiming his innocence to the very end while reflecting on what he says he's learned.

Woman alleges in lawsuit she was illegally searched after traffic stop in Ray County A woman has filed a lawsuit against two Ray County deputies, Sheriff Scott Childers, the Ray County Sheriff's Office and the county, alleging she was illegally searched during a traffic stop.

Woman forced to squat naked in front of law enforcement sues Ray County Sheriff's Office The woman was arrested for possession of methamphetamines following a traffic stop in 2022, according to a lawsuit. Charges were later dismissed.

KC man sentenced to 16 years in prison for meth conspiracy A Kansas City man was sentenced in federal court Tuesday for his role in a drug-trafficking conspiracy that distributed more than 20 kilograms of meth in the KC area.

MSHP: Teen fell asleep at the wheel before crash that killed OP woman, Colorado man in Warrensburg Two teens were also taken by air ambulance to a Kansas City hospital

Woman celebrates conclusion of 8-year battle for justice in rape case "The crime that occurred was difficult enough, but the way that the justice system and the police handled it was horrendous," Hirth said.

'I don't want any of my deputies hurt.' Cass County Sheriff changes tactics to stop cars The Cass County Sheriff's office is using new technology called "the grappler" to stop car chases before they become more dangerous.

City of Overland Park seeks public input in search for next chief of police The search is on for a new Chief of Police for the Overland Park Police Department, and the city is asking for public input.

Police ID victim in deadly shooting near KC Power & Light District Photo KCPD KANSAS CITY -Law enforcement authorities investigating a Mo

Developing . . .
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.

Editor: WXY
Why does the road less traveled sometimes lead to a big yawn? In this article, we will discuss the underwhelming with our top 5 tourist attractions that simply fail to impress. You know the type-those places you visit with high hopes only to leave wondering what all the fuss was about.

In a world brimming with stunning destinations, not every spot can be a winner, and it seems some are notorious for their ability to disappoint. From the monotonous mile-long walks to the less-than-thrilling historical spots, these tourist attractions have earned a special place on travelers' "maybe skip" lists.

Curious about which sites made the cut? Whether it's the lack of excitement, the overcrowded paths, or the hefty price tags for mediocre experiences, these places might have you rethinking your itinerary.

We scoured reviews and talked to fellow travelers to bring you a reliable list that might just save you from the tourist trap blues.

Branson Scenic Railway

Why take a scenic train ride if you are just going to watch the same old views loop past your window? The Branson Scenic Railway in Missouri might entice with its promise of beautiful Ozark Mountain views, but feedback suggests it falls short of expectations.

Passengers report the scenery becomes monotonous, with the novelty wearing off quickly after the journey begins. The historical beauty of the train is a draw, but for those seeking exhilarating tourist attractions, this ride might not make the grade. Frequent riders recommend setting your sights on more dynamic destinations.

Jurassic Jungle Boat Ride

A boat journey with dinosaurs like the Jurassic Jungle Boat Ride in Tennessee might sound thrilling, but visitor feedback suggests it misses the mark. The animatronic dinosaurs are seen as outdated and the scare factor predictable, reducing its appeal to those who enjoy high-quality attractions.

According to guests, this tourist attraction needs a refresh to revive its roar and capture the imaginations of modern visitors. As it stands, it serves more as a nostalgic ride than a thrilling encounter.

Related Article : 5 Must Visit Tourist Attractions in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico

Salem Witch Museum

The Salem Witch Museum offers a deep dive into the infamous witch trials of 1692, yet struggles to truly engage its visitors. Guests report that the museum's presentations feel static and outdated, lacking interactive elements that might bring the harrowing tales to life.

While it stands as an important educational site, the museum does not seem to deliver an experience as compelling as the stories it aims to tell. This tourist attraction might benefit from innovative updates to captivate and educate its audience more effectively.

Illuminarium Atlanta

Stepping into Illuminarium Atlanta feels like entering the future of virtual reality tourism. Yet, despite its cutting-edge technology, visitors often leave feeling underwhelmed.

According to reviews, the immersive experience lacks depth and fails to live up to its adventurous promise. The lure of digital worlds wanes when the excitement doesn't match the price of admission. This tourist attraction, while innovative, struggles to fully captivate its audience, making it a potentially skippable stop on your travel itinerary.

LEGO Discovery Center Atlanta

The LEGO Discovery Center in Atlanta promises a world of creativity but often delivers frustration, according to families who visit. The center features impressive LEGO setups, but the actual experience can be marred by overcrowding and a lack of new exhibits.

Parents and children suggest that the excitement of building and exploring is often diminished by the space's limitations and the repetitive nature of the attractions. As one of the tourist attractions famed for inspiring imagination, it seems to need a few creative solutions of its own.

These tourist attractions, while famous, consistently receive feedback that they do not meet the high expectations of their visitors. If you're planning your next trip and seeking places that both inspire and excite, it might be wise to look beyond these well-trodden paths. Often, the most rewarding experiences come from the less heralded corners of the world.
In China, a surprising incident involving a sugar glider caused a delay for passengers of a China Eastern Airlines flight. The small nocturnal animal, similar to a flying squirrel, got loose during a flight from Shanghai to Jinan on June 10.

The mishap led to passengers being asked to leave the plane temporarily until the situation was resolved.

Sugar Glider Escape Delays China Flight

The flight, identified as MU5599, originated from Shanghai's Hongqiao International Airport.

The trouble started when the pet, brought aboard by a 34-year-old woman named Guo, escaped from its carrier.

According to CNN, the situation prompted an immediate search within the cabin, with passengers and crew trying to locate the elusive animal. Videos shared on social media showed a flight attendant and passengers searching on the floor of the aircraft.

As the search continued, passengers were required to disembark and wait in the terminal. During this time, there were heated discussions among the passengers and airline staff at the airport.

Some passengers suggested calling the police to address the situation. The authorities later detained Guo for disrupting public transportation and causing safety concerns.

The police reported that the flight was delayed due to the safety issues raised by the loose pet.

The plane finally left the airport, arriving in Ji'nan's Yaoqiang Airport an hour later than scheduled, specifically 62 minutes past the original arrival time.

No compensation or formal apology has been issued by the airline yet. This incident has highlighted the need for strict adherence to airline regulations regarding the transport of animals. It also underscores the challenges and unexpected events that can occur during air travel.

Related Article : China Encourages European Tourism with New Visa-Free Policy Until 2025

China Leads Global Tourism Recovery

The tourism industry is witnessing a significant rebound in 2024 as Chinese travelers are returning to international travel with a notable increase in bookings.

ETurbo News reported that recent data shows a 392% rise in outbound travel from mainland China compared to last year. This marks a substantial return to the global tourism scene after the slowdown during the pandemic.

Before the pandemic, Chinese tourists were among the top international travelers, with 155 million trips abroad, spending around $245 billion.

However, the anticipated surge in Chinese outbound travel in 2023 did not happen due to slow easing of travel restrictions in China.

By March 31, a remarkable turnaround has occurred, with booking data indicating a strong desire among Chinese tourists to explore internationally once again.

Booking insights for 2024 highlight that Chinese New Year travel to the Asia Pacific region has recovered to 106% of the 2019 levels.

Other popular destinations also see soaring booking numbers, with some regions experiencing increases over 2,000%. Airline capacity for outbound flights from China has also expanded significantly, attempting to keep up with the rising demand.

As the global tourism market adapts, the return of Chinese travelers is having a major impact on international travel trends and airline strategies.

The recovery is further supported by reciprocal visa-free agreements and lower airfare prices, making travel more accessible for Chinese tourists.
Singapore Airlines has announced compensation for passengers who were injured during a severe turbulence event last month. The incident occurred on May 20, on flight SQ321 from London to Singapore, when the plane dropped 54 meters in less than five seconds over Myanmar.

This unexpected event led to minor injuries for several passengers and the tragic death of a 73-year-old British man. In response, Singapore Airlines is offering $10,000 to each passenger who suffered minor injuries.

Singapore Airlines Acts After Harrowing Flight

During the flight, the Boeing 777-300ER had to make an emergency landing in Bangkok after the sudden altitude drop.

Out of the 211 passengers and 18 crew members on board, 104 were reported injured. As of Monday, 12 of these passengers are still in hospital care. The injuries ranged from minor bruises to more severe cases requiring intensive care, with some individuals suffering from head, brain, and spinal injuries.

Singapore Airlines has committed to compensating those with minor injuries and engaging in discussions for higher compensation amounts with those more seriously affected.

As per The Guardian, the airline has offered an advance payment of $25,000 to those needing long-term medical care, as part of the final compensation package.

In addition to individual compensations, Singapore Airlines also refunds all flight passengers and offers compensation for delays as stipulated by European Union and United Kingdom regulations.

Furthermore, the airline has taken care of medical expenses for the injured and facilitated travel for their families to Bangkok.

The severe turbulence shows the importance of adhering to safety instructions during flights.

Singapore's Transport Safety Investigation Bureau indicated that the rapid shifts in gravitational force likely caused unbelted passengers to be thrown into the air, emphasizing the dangers of not wearing seat belts during turbulence.

Singapore Airlines Plans to Enhance Safety Measures

Following a turbulent incident last month and a similar situation involving a different airline, Singapore Airlines is examining how to make trips safer for those moving around the cabin, especially when using the restroom.

Caroline Southcott, a passenger from a past incident on a different airline in 2008, still faces the long-term effects of being injured while moving about the cabin. According to ABC News, she suffered significant injuries after being thrown against the cabin structure when her flight unexpectedly dropped.

In the recent Singapore Airlines incident, the plane encountered unexpected turbulence over Myanmar, causing injuries to some passengers and crew. This has led to renewed scrutiny over how passengers can stay safe while moving about the cabin, particularly when the seatbelt sign is off.

The aviation industry is considering changes to improve safety in 'impact zones' such as bathrooms and overhead lockers, areas where passengers are most vulnerable during sudden turbulence.

These proposed changes may include redesigning these areas with materials that could lessen injury during impacts.

Singapore Airlines has already started implementing more rigorous measures in response to these incidents. These include stricter rules regarding the seatbelt sign and suspending certain in-flight services during turbulence to ensure passengers and crew remain seated and secured.

This focus on safety is critical as the airline industry seeks to balance passenger comfort with the increasing occurrences of in-flight turbulence.

Measures taken by Singapore Airlines could set new standards for in-flight safety, potentially leading to widespread changes across the industry.
If you're looking to plan a cruise this summer or even into the next year, Holland America Line's "Summer Savings Event" could be an excellent opportunity for you. The sale features significant discounts on cruise fares, including up to 40% off, along with onboard credits and more, for a range of cruise durations from four to 58 days.

Holland America Unveils Major Summer Discounts

The promotion is applicable for select departures scheduled from June through May 2025, but you need to book by June 28 to secure the savings.

Key benefits of the sale include up to $100 in onboard credits per stateroom, 50% reduced deposits, and a special offer allowing a third and fourth guest to cruise for free when sharing the same stateroom.

For those interested in exploring destinations such as Alaska, Europe, Canada, New England, the Caribbean, Mexico, Asia, and Australia, there are plenty of options.

For instance, you could enjoy a seven-day cruise to Alaska from Seattle in August with prices starting at $599 per person or a more extended two-week voyage around the Northern Isles beginning at $1,459 per person.

Additionally, there's an opportunity to embark on a grand 53-day journey around Majestic Japan starting at $6,999 per person.

Moreover, Holland America also offers a Standby Program for those looking for last-minute deals, which allows guests to sign up for standby on eligible sailings at just $49 per person per day, with confirmation given a few days before departure.

For more information, click here to go to Holland America Line's website.

Related Article : Holland America Line's 2026 World Tour Hits All Seven Continents

About Holland America Line

Holland America Line believes that travel can transform the world by opening minds, fostering connections, and inspiring shared experiences.

For 150 years, they have been a leading name in cruising, known for their spacious ships, top-notch service, excellent dining, and a broad range of activities and educational programs.

Their fleet of 11 modern classic ships conducts over 500 sailings a year across all seven continents.

These cruises include visits to well-known and remote locations in the Caribbean, Alaska, Europe, Mexico, South America, the Panama Canal, Australia, New Zealand, and Asia, as well as special trips to the Amazon, Antarctica, and long Grand Voyages.

Holland America is also dedicated to environmental protection. They first received ISO 14001 certification in June 2006, a globally recognized standard that covers nearly every part of their ship operations.

Holland America has successfully renewed this certification repeatedly, showing their commitment to protecting the environment, their guests, and their crew.

They also focus on giving back to the communities they visit.

Holland America, their employees, and their guests contribute to local and global communities through various actions like donating to orphanages, cleaning parks, organizing onboard fundraisers for cancer research, and providing aid in disasters.

The cruise line is committed to ensuring every guest has an exceptional experience. They are eager to welcome you aboard and show you the world in comfort and style.
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)

Editor: WRX
This photo shows Zongzi-shaped ornaments with hand-written calligraphy on them. (Photo by Cai Cai/Handout via Xinhuanet)

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.

Editor: WRX
Lasers may keep birds out of Fairbanks grain plots

Photo by Kieran Gleason

In May 2024, a laser atop a tower at the Fairbanks Experiment Farm scans the fields using a pre-programmed pattern designed to scare hungry birds away from freshly planted grain.

The resonant, musical rattle of the sandhill crane in May signifies spring for many of us. But the birds can pose a problem for farms.

This summer, a green laser beam has been flashing across the University of Alaska Fairbanks farm fields to scare off the cranes and other birds.



Cranes have a taste for the grains and seeds that researchers plant in the fields, said Kieran Gleason, manager of UAFs Fairbanks Experiment Farm. The fields this year have rows of barley, canola, sunflower, oat and wheat, all part of varietal trials, breeding programs and cover crop research.

To deter any birds looking for a snack, Gleason recently installed the laser. Shining from the top of a 25-foot tower, the beam moves on a preprogrammed path around the fields.

Wayne Ackermann, an employee of the Netherlands-based company that makes the lasers, said the birds likely perceive the light as a physical danger and deem the fields uninhabitable.



This new solution is an upgrade to previous bird-deterring strategies.

One such strategy used an air cannon to scare birds off with blasts of noise, a practice that wasnt favored by the neighbors, according to Jodie Anderson, director of the UAF Institute of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Extension, which oversees the farm.



At other times, research technicians sat in the fields and chased birds away from the research plots 18 hours a day. They even tried housing a dog team in the fields, but it was too easy for the birds to avoid the dogs, Gleason said.

Sandhill cranes travel thousands of miles to reach their summer breeding grounds, many passing through Fairbanks. Some stay here for the summer, rearing their young and fattening up on small animals, insects, bulbs, berries and seeds, according to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game.

But they arent the only birds that can make a meal from a farmer's livelihood. While cranes will eat the freshly planted grain in the spring and the standing grain at harvest, wild geese will eat the grain knocked to the ground in late summer, trampling plants as they go. Geese also like the sprouts. Luckily for farmers in the Interior, by the time crops sprout, geese have already traveled farther north, Gleason said.

Gleason will leave the laser running until all the research crops have sprouted and will reinstall it when the grain is ready for harvest.

The laser is still in its trial period, and farm workers have counted 30 birds in the field since installing it in mid-May. Thats more than researchers would like to see, since even a few birds can decimate the barley nursery, Gleason said.

Keeping birds off the grain means more plants for study. Close monitoring of these plants will help researchers narrow down varieties that do well in Alaska and could be used commercially for oil, feed and food. The work will also provide information on which crops are best for soil health and supply new seed for the breeding program.

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Russia attacked the Ukrainian capital with Kh-101/Kh-555/Kh-55 missiles, ballistic missiles and drones in the early hours of Wednesday, June 12.

The Kyiv city military administration reported this on the Telegram messaging app, according to Ukrinform.

"The enemy launched another missile attack on the capital! The attack was combined, with different types of weapons used. The enemy launched Kh-101/Kh-555/Kh-55 cruise missiles from Tu-95MS strategic bombers. These missiles approached Kyiv from the south in several waves. Enemy UAVs were moving towards the capital from the same southern direction almost at the same time as the missiles," the post said.

According to preliminary reports, the enemy also fired ballistic missiles at the capital during the attack.

The air raid alert in Kyiv lasted almost two hours.

Air defense forces intercepted all enemy targets.

According to preliminary information, there were no casualties or damage in the capital.
The Russian army has already launched 60 attacks today, most of them in the Pokrovsk and Siversk sectors in the Donetsk region.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine said this in a situation update as of 13:00 on Wednesday, June 12, Ukrinform reports.

"The enemy remains most active in the Pokrovsk and Siversk sectors. The occupiers have launched 60 attacks in different areas of the front since the beginning of the day," the update said.

On the Kharkiv axis, fighting is raging near Vovchansk and Tykhe.

In the Kupiansk sector, the enemy launched five attacks today, with two of them still ongoing near Petropavlivka and Pishchane. The aggressors also dropped guided aerial bombs near Petropavlivka.

In the Siversk sector, Ukrainian forces have already repelled half of the 12 enemy attacks today. Enemy offensive operations are continuing near Spirne and Rozdolivka.

The invaders are also active in the Kramatorsk sector. In total, six combat clashes took place here today, one of them still ongoing.

In the Pokrovsk sector, the aggressor is trying to advance near Novooleksandrivka, Novopokrovsk, Novoselivka Persha and Kalynove. Seven battles are raging. In general, the number of enemy attempts to improve their positions has reached 20. Ukrainian defenders are courageously restraining the invaders and inflicting significant losses on them.

In the Vremivka sector, enemy assaults continue in the area of Urozhaine. Ukrainian soldiers confidently hold their lines.

Photo: General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine
Since the start of the day, 74 combat engagements have been recorded on the front lines. The enemy has increased the number of attacks in the Kupiansk sector, being most active in the Pokrovsk sector.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine said this in a situation update as of 16:00 on June 12, Ukrinform reports.

"Since the beginning of the day, 74 combat engagements have occurred on the frontline of the Russian-Ukrainian war. The defense forces are restraining the enemy's offensive, employing a firm and decisive countermeasure to any enemy activity. The invaders continue to strike at Ukrainian border settlements. Today, the enemy used unguided aerial from the direction of Kucherov village in the Myropillia district of the Sumy region," the statement said.

In the Kharkiv sector, the occupiers are actively using multiple launch rocket systems from the territory of Russias Belgorod region. Thus, Vovchansk and Hlyboke were attacked from the direction of Shebekino, Podoliany from the direction of Ushakove, Lyptsi and Terny from the direction of Belgorod, and Veterynarne from the Valke area. In the same direction, the aggressor attacked in the Hlyboke area.

According to the General Staff, Russian troops have increased the number of attacks in the Kupiansk sector. There were six unsuccessful attempts to push Ukrainian forces from their positions. Three more assault operations are underway in the areas of Synkivka, Berestove and Pishchane.

The occupiers are most active in the Pokrovsk sector - 25 attacks have been conducted so far, nine of which are still ongoing. In particular, fighting is taking place in the areas of Kalynove, Yevhenivka and Novoselivka Persha. Russian aircraft drop guided aerial bombs. The areas of Oleksandropol, Vozdvyzhenka, Progres and Vovche came under bombardment.

In the Dnipro River sector, one combat engagement has been recorded today.

The Russian forces launched one attack each on the Kramatorsk, Vremivka and Orikhiv sectors. All of them were unsuccessful for the enemy.

In other areas, the situation has not changed significantly.

As reported by Ukrinform, as of 13:00 on June 12, the Russian army launched attacks 60 times. The situation remained tense in the Pokrovsk and Siversk sectors.
Russia is trying to raise the stakes in intimidating Europe by engaging Belarus in its ongoing nuclear blackmail.

Thats according to Ukraines Center for Countering Disinformation, Ukrinform reports.

Belarusian Minister of Defense Viktor Hrenin announced his participation in the second stage of an exercise, initiated by the Russian military, on the use of non-strategic nuclear weapons. He complained about "aggressive attacks" from the West, assuring that Belarus is prepared to respond to these "threats" jointly with the Russian Federation.

The statement is part of Russias wider campaign of nuclear blackmail, aiming to intimidate Ukraine's partners and influence decision-making regarding further support for the war-torn nation.

The permission to use Western weapons against targets on Russian soil proved that Moscow's nuclear blackmail had failed to achieve its goals. The fact that the Kremlins tantrum continues regardless suggests that Russia has no other plan to this end.

The CCD emphasizes that, for its part, Belarus fulfills Moscow's whims in order to obtain preferences in response to efforts to destabilize Europe. It is not only about nuclear threats, but also about an artificial migration crisis and participation in an information war against Ukraine.

Read also: Russia announces stage 2 of joint nuclear drill with Belarus

As reported, the CCD previously warned that Russian propaganda is spreading manipulation around power outages across Ukraine in order to divide Ukrainians and destabilize the country from within.

This is an illustrative photo
Photos and data of Ukrainian children who were abducted and taken to Russia in the first months of Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022 are posted on adoption websites by the occupiers.

According to Ukrinform, this is stated in an investigation by the Financial Times, which used facial recognition technology, public data, and interviews with Ukrainian officials and relatives of the children themselves.

The journalists identified and located four Ukrainian children on an adoption website linked to the Russian government, usynovite.ru.

One child is pictured with a new Russian name and age, which differ from those listed in their Ukrainian state documents.

Another child is depicted with a Russian version of a Ukrainian name. However, there is no indication of the Ukrainian origin of any of the children.

The children were abducted by Russians from state-run orphanages and separated from their guardians and relatives in cities in southern and eastern Ukraine that fell under the control of the Russian army in 2022.

These are children aged eight to 15.

It is noted that the children, who were found by FT journalists, whose identities have been confirmed by the Ukrainian authorities, together with their families, ended up in the Tula region near Moscow and in the Orenburg region near the Kazakh border. One child was taken to the temporarily occupied Crimea.

Another 17 children found by journalists on a Russian adoption website were confirmed in a recent New York Times investigation. All of them are from an orphanage in Kherson.

Ukrainian authorities estimate that almost 20,000 children have been forcibly transferred from the temporarily occupied territories to Russia since the start of its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Many thousands of minors are still missing.

As reported by Ukrinform, on 17 March 2023, judges of the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants for Russian President Vladimir Putin and Russian Children's Ombudsman Maria Lvova-Belova, who are suspected of war crimes in the form of illegal deportations and transfers of people, including children, from the temporarily occupied territory of Ukraine since at least 24 February 2022.
At the Ukraine Recovery Conference 2024 in Berlin, Ukraine has signed 12 cooperation agreements with financial institutions and energy companies.

Thats according to Ukraines Ministry of Energy, Ukrinform reports.

"The key goal is to develop generation and networks, which is extremely important for the restoration of energy facilities following Russian attacks," the statement said.

In particular, the Memorandum of Understanding with Siemens Energy AG is important for the introduction of energy-efficient technologies, decentralized power generation and increased use of renewable energy sources. Siemens Energy AG and Ukraine's Naftogaz have agreed to cooperate in the field of decarbonization and gas storage.

Siemens Energy Global will cooperate with PJSC Ukrnafta to develop new combined heat and power projects based on combined cycle turbine technology. Ukrnafta has also signed an agreement with Deutsche Bank AG to finance the development of gas-fired and combined-cycle power plants.

The memorandum with GOLDBECK SOLAR Investment GmbH provides for the development of 500 MW of solar panels, and with NOTUS Energy Invest Ukraine - the development of 120 MW of wind generation.

Ukraine also signed the Memorandums of Understanding with Voith Hydro on the construction of new hydroelectric power plants by Ukrhydroproject and the reconstruction of destroyed ones, and with the Swedish Development Financial Institution on the use of biomass-based gas and steam turbines.

In addition, a joint declaration was signed with the German Chamber of Commerce and Industry, which is important for the transition to green energy and ensuring the stability of the Ukrainian energy sector. Agreements were reached with Germany to provide a EUR 30.4 million loan through KfW to support Ukraine's energy infrastructure.

The Norwegian-Ukrainian energy partnership was also launched on the sidelines of the conference.

As reported, the Ministry of Economy presented 95 investment projects during the Ukraine Recovery Conference 2024 in Berlin.

Photo: Ministry of Energy
Stanford University has announced a return to requiring standardized test scores from applicants, ending its four-year test-optional policy initiated during the COVID-19 pandemic.

This new policy, set to take effect in fall 2025, requires applicants to submit either SAT or ACT scores. The decision was based on an internal review by the Faculty Committee on Undergraduate Admission and Financial Aid, which concluded that test scores are "an important predictor of academic performance at Stanford." This shift mirrors actions taken by other selective universities and reignites the ongoing debate about the role of standardized testing in college admissions.

The Internal Review and Its Implications

The Faculty Committee on Undergraduate Admission and Financial Aid at Stanford conducted a comprehensive internal review that played a crucial role in the decision to reinstate the testing requirement. The committee's findings highlighted that standardized test scores serve as a significant predictor of a student's potential academic success at Stanford. This conclusion aligns with similar determinations made by other prestigious institutions, such as Dartmouth, Yale, and the California Institute of Technology, all of which have reverted to requiring standardized test scores.

The committee's analysis was influenced by data from the Opportunity Insights study, which has been pivotal in reviving discussions around the efficacy and fairness of standardized testing. This study and others like it suggest that standardized tests can provide valuable insights into a student's preparedness for the rigors of higher education, thereby assisting admission committees in making more informed decisions.

The Broader Context of Standardized Testing

Stanford's policy change is part of a larger trend among elite universities reassessing the role of standardized tests in their admissions processes. During the pandemic, many institutions adopted test-optional policies in response to widespread disruptions that made it difficult for students to access testing facilities. This shift was seen as a way to level the playing field, particularly for students from disadvantaged backgrounds who might face greater barriers to taking these tests.

However, as the immediate impacts of the pandemic recede, several universities have re-evaluated the utility of standardized tests. Dartmouth, Yale, and the California Institute of Technology, among others, have reintroduced test requirements, citing evidence that these scores provide valuable predictive data on student performance.

Interestingly, unlike some of its peers-such as Brown University and the University of Texas at Austin-Stanford's review did not specifically argue that reinstating test mandates would enhance class diversity. This distinction underscores the multifaceted nature of the debate surrounding standardized tests, where different institutions weigh various factors and outcomes differently.

The Ongoing Debate and Its Future Implications

The decision by Stanford and other universities to reinstate standardized testing requirements has reignited a long-standing debate about the role of these tests in higher education. Proponents argue that standardized tests offer a consistent, objective measure that can help identify academically capable students from diverse educational backgrounds. They believe that these tests can complement other application materials, providing a more holistic view of an applicant's potential.

Critics, however, contend that standardized tests can perpetuate inequalities, as students from wealthier backgrounds often have greater access to test preparation resources, thus skewing results in their favor. They also argue that test-optional policies can encourage a more diverse applicant pool by removing barriers for students who might excel in other areas but perform less well on standardized tests.

The mixed outcomes from different universities' policies indicate that there is no one-size-fits-all answer. The return to test requirements at some institutions has coincided with ongoing efforts to enhance holistic admissions practices, considering a broad array of student achievements and backgrounds. For Stanford, the reinstatement of standardized testing will likely be closely watched and analyzed in the coming years to assess its impact on student diversity, academic performance, and overall admissions fairness.

Stanford University's decision to reinstate standardized testing requirements marks a significant shift in its admissions policy, reflecting broader trends and debates in higher education. As this policy takes effect in fall 2025, it will be critical to monitor its implications for academic performance, diversity, and equity. This move underscores the complexity of admissions strategies and the ongoing evolution of how universities strive to select the most promising students while balancing considerations of fairness and access.
Howard University, a historically Black university in Washington, D.C., has decided to revoke the honorary degree given to Sean "Diddy" Combs in 2014.

This decision comes after a video was released showing Combs physically attacking his ex-girlfriend, Cassie Ventura, in 2016. The decision underscores Howard University's commitment to its core values and its stance against violence and abuse.

A Tarnished Legacy

Sean "Diddy" Combs, a renowned figure in the music industry and a former student of Howard University, has seen his legacy tarnished by recent revelations. The video, released by CNN, depicts a violent encounter between Combs and Ventura at a hotel. This incident, coupled with Ventura's allegations of rape and abuse over their relationship, has cast a dark shadow over Combs's public persona.

Combs attended Howard University from 1987 to 1989 before leaving to pursue his career in music. Despite his departure, he maintained a close relationship with the university, culminating in the awarding of an honorary degree in 2014. This degree recognized his contributions to the music industry and his philanthropic efforts. However, the recent allegations and the video have prompted the university to reassess its association with Combs.

University's Firm Stand

In a unanimous decision, the Howard University Board of Trustees accepted the return of Combs's honorary degree and stripped him of all related honors and privileges. The university's statement emphasized that Combs's behavior, as shown in the video, is fundamentally incompatible with Howard University's core values and beliefs. This decisive action reflects the institution's commitment to upholding its principles and maintaining the integrity of its community.

Furthermore, the university has taken additional steps to sever ties with Combs. The board instructed the administration to dissolve the scholarship program in his name, refund his $1 million donation, and terminate a 2016 gift agreement and a 2023 pledge from the Sean Combs Foundation. Notably, no payments had been made toward the 2023 pledge. This comprehensive response illustrates Howard University's zero-tolerance policy towards behavior that undermines its values.

Broader Implications and Response

The withdrawal of Combs's honorary degree and the subsequent actions by Howard University underscore the wider consequences for high-profile individuals being held responsible. This move by a prominent institution sends a strong message about the consequences of abusive behavior, regardless of the individual's status or contributions.

In addition to the video, four other lawsuits have been filed against Combs, accusing him of sexual assault and sex trafficking. These allegations have further intensified scrutiny on Combs, leading to raids by Homeland Security officials on his homes in March. The legal challenges and the university's response mark a significant moment in the ongoing discourse around accountability and justice.

Combs and Ventura resolved their lawsuit the day after it was submitted, but the effects of the accusations are still unfolding. The swift action by Howard University serves as a reminder that institutions can and will take necessary steps to align their honors and affiliations with their ethical standards.

Howard University's decision to revoke Sean "Diddy" Combs's honorary degree in light of the assault allegations demonstrates a firm commitment to its values. The university's actions reflect a broader societal shift towards holding individuals accountable for their actions, regardless of their prominence. This case underscores the importance of maintaining integrity and ethical standards within educational institutions and beyond. As the legal proceedings against Combs continue, the impact of Howard University's stance will likely resonate across the industry and serve as a precedent for other institutions grappling with similar issues.
This week, the Bipartisan Workforce Pell Act, which seeks to extend Pell Grants to short-term workforce training programs, is advancing. Initially pulled off the House floor at the last minute before a vote, sponsors of the bill are now attempting to attach it as an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for fiscal year 2025.

This legislative maneuver has sparked significant debate and opposition from various groups, highlighting the complexities and controversies surrounding the proposal.

The Legislative Push and Strategic Maneuvering

The Bipartisan Workforce Pell Act is being championed by New York representative Elise Stefanik, a Republican, and Virginia representative Bobby Scott, a Democrat. Their goal is to incorporate the bill into the NDAA, a crucial piece of legislation that must pass before the end of the year. The amendment proposes to equip students with skills needed in high-demand fields such as shipbuilding and cybersecurity, which are integral to national security and global competitiveness.

The House Rules Committee must first determine the relevance of the Pell Grant expansion to the NDAA. If deemed relevant, the amendment will still face a difficult road in the Senate, which has its own version of the bill excluding for-profit colleges and the controversial pay-for mechanism proposed in the House.

READ MORE : Democrats Urge Senate Appropriators To Boost Pell Grant Funding For FY 2025

Opposition and Controversy: Funding and Policy Concerns

Labor groups, consumer protection advocates, and higher education associations have voiced strong opposition to the amendment. A major point of contention is the proposed method of funding the Pell Grant expansion. The bill requires institutions subject to an endowment tax, primarily wealthy private colleges, to reimburse the Education Department for unpaid student loans. Critics argue this would set a harmful precedent, targeting specific institutions and potentially leading them to withdraw from federal financial aid programs.

Ted Mitchell, President of the American Council on Education (ACE), has expressed concern that the pay-for mechanism could harm lower-income students and does not cover the full cost of the expansion. Despite supporting the idea of new Pell Grant eligibility, ACE and other higher education associations urge the rejection of the amendment due to these financial and policy issues.

Broader Implications and Support for Workforce Training

Although facing resistance, there is considerable public backing for the extension of Pell Grants to short-duration workforce initiatives. A recent poll from the National Center for Civil Discourse indicates that many Americans believe this expansion will help low-income students access the training needed for better-paying jobs. Business groups, technology companies, and some higher education institutions back the initiative, arguing it can provide crucial opportunities for economic advancement.

Supporters contend that the eligibility requirements in the House bill are stringent enough to ensure high-quality programs. David Baime, the American Association of Community Colleges' senior vice president for government relations, emphasizes that the bill's safeguards are rigorous. He emphasizes that expanding Pell Grants to short-term programs would provide vital financial support to low-income individuals, potentially making a significant difference in their decision to enroll.

However, critics warn of potential negative consequences, particularly for veterans and military-connected students. Amy Laitinen, senior director for higher education at New America, argues that the inclusion of for-profit colleges could lead to predatory practices, with students ending up in low-paying jobs or none at all. She also criticizes the strategy of attaching the amendment to the NDAA, claiming it is an inappropriate and disingenuous tactic to push through controversial legislation.

The Bipartisan Workforce Pell Act represents a significant legislative effort to expand educational opportunities and address workforce needs. However, the proposal's method of funding and inclusion of for-profit colleges have sparked substantial opposition and debate. As lawmakers navigate the complexities of this legislative maneuver, the outcome will have profound implications for low-income students, higher education institutions, and the broader effort to enhance national security and economic competitiveness through workforce training.
(@FahadShabbir)

LAHORE, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 12th Jun, 2024) Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has launched the Traffic Response Unit

in order to improve the flow of traffic in the city at the earliest.

The CM directed to remove carriages obstructing traffic flow and to provide alternative place for carriages.

Maryam Nawaz Sharif inspected Traffic Response Unit bike, talked to warden, inquired about training and other issues. She observed the message to be delivered through public address in case of a traffic jam.

The CM was briefed by Chief Traffic Officer (CTO) Ammara Athar that Special Traffic Response Unit would reach the traffic jam area on 15 call. A special unit of 50 heavy bikes and 100 wardens will take immediate action to clear the traffic. The Traffic Response Unit has been given special training for one month besides a first aid course by Red Crescent.

The CM was informed that public address system and first aid box would also be installed on each motorcycle, and the traffic warden will also record through a special camera.

Later, the CM chaired a special meeting on traffic management in which enforcement of Intelligence Traffic Signal Management System in Lahore was reviewed. She directed to improve the flow of traffic in Lahore at the earliest.

The chief minister also directed to conduct an effective awareness campaign on lane restrictions for rickshaws and motorbikes, in order to ensure line discipline in any case. She gave directions to carry out effective and sustainable planning for the elimination of encroachments on roads, and directed to restore screens installed for traffic guidance.

Senior Provincial Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb and Information & Culture Minister Azma Zahid Bukhari attended the meeting.

Chief Secretary Zahid Akhtar Zaman, IG Punjab Dr Usman Anwar, Commissioner Zaid Bin Maqsood, Deputy Commissioner Rafia Haider, CCPO Bilal Kamiana, officials of TEPA, Safe City and other relevant departments were also present.
(@FahadShabbir)

The federal government has allocated Rs. 9,870.000 million under the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) for the ongoing and new schemes of the Ministry of Interior during the fiscal year 2024-25

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 12th Jun, 2024) The Federal government has allocated Rs. 9,870.000 million under the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) for the ongoing and new schemes of the Ministry of Interior during the fiscal year 2024-25.

According to the budget document issued here on Wednesday, around Rs.3,790.000 million has been earmarked for the eighteen ongoing schemes and Rs. 6,080.000 million for three new schemes included in fiscal year 2024-25.

Three new schemes include Construction of Three (03) Sewage Treatment Plants and Related Sewerage System to Treat the Waste Water Falling into Korang River, Rawal Lake and their Area of ICT (Phase-I) (Revised) for which Rs. 50.000 million have been allocated, Islamabad Dev. Working Party Schemes (List Annex-A) for which Rs. 6,000.000 million have been allocated and Land Revenue Records Management System in Rural Area of ICT Phase-ll, Islamabad for which the federal government has allocated Rs. 30.000 million in the fiscal year 2024-25.

The ongoing schemes includes, Construction of 10th Avenue , Islamabad, Construction of Additional Family Suits for the Members of Parliament including 500 Servant Quarters at G-5/2, Islamabad, Construction of Buiding for 13 Regional Passport Offices in Sindh Province, Construction of Flyover and Approches at Railway line Sihala, Islamabad, Construction of Model Prison at H- 16.

Islamabad, Construction of office and troops accommodation BOQs with Quarter Guards at Fcon HQs Pehawar, Establishment of Change mangement unit within ICT Police Islamabad, Integrated Border Management System (IBMS Phase-ll) (Ongoing), Operation Management & Maintenance of Metro Bus to New Islamabad International Airport (NIIA), Revamping of Cyber Crime Wing, FIA, Up-gradation of 163 RPOs and 49 Pakistan Foreign Missions abroad, Up-gradation of Biomatric identification System for Passport Application. I & P, HQs Islamabad (revised), Foreign National Security and Allied Facilities, National Police Hospital, Islamabad, Acquisition of Land for construction of National Counter Terrorism Authority HQs, Mauve Area G-11, Islamabad, Construction of 1 x Wing Headquarter at Ahmedwam (South Waziristan District), Construction of 1 x Wing Headquarter at Gomalzam (South Waziristan District) and Rain Water Harvesting in Rural area of ICT Islamabad.
PESHAWAR, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 12th Jun, 2024) The Steering Committee meeting of the deworming initiative was convened on Wednesday at the Health Secretariat's committee room in the chairmanship of Health Secretary Mahmood Aslam Wazir.

The meeting saw the participation of key officials from various government departments and organizations including Planning and Development, Planning Cell, Health Department, Directorate General Health Services, Elementary and Secondary Education, Private Schools Regulatory Authority, Local Government, Afghan Commissionerate, Elementary and Secondary education Foundation, Rescue 1122, IRD Pakistan, and AVI Dance Action.

Secretary Health highlighted the government's commitment to addressing the challenges and risks posed by intestinal worms among school-going children in the next three years.

It was revealed during the meeting that approximately 12 million children in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have already been administered deworming medication, with an additional 850,000 children set to receive effective and safe deworming medication in October this year.

The meeting outlined the goal of protecting over 850,000 children aged 5 to 14 years from intestinal worms in 22 districts of the province.

This target includes children from both public and private schools.

To achieve this goal, over 40,000 teachers and medical practitioners are mobilized annually.

It was announced that training for practitioners will commence in September based on various grading, with the deworming campaign set to be launched in October.

Secretary Health emphasized that the Deworming Initiative has become a part of the Annual Development Plan for the next three years, reflecting a positive and encouraging outlook.
Russian peacekeepers on Wednesday completed their withdrawal from Azerbaijan's Nagorno-Karabakh region, which Baku recaptured last year from Armenian separatists, officials in Baku said

Baku, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 12th Jun, 2024) Russian peacekeepers on Wednesday completed their withdrawal from Azerbaijan's Nagorno-Karabakh region, which Baku recaptured last year from Armenian separatists, officials in Baku said.

Azerbaijan and Armenia had fought two wars -- in 2020 and in the 1990s -- for control of the then-breakaway enclave. "The process of the full withdrawal of the manpower, weapons, and equipment of Russia's peacekeeping contingent (in Karabakh) from Azerbaijan was completed on June 12," the defence ministry in Baku said in a statement.

The withdrawal, which began in April, has been agreed between Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Azerbaijani counterpart Ilham Aliyev.

Last September, Baku took over the territory in a lightning one-day offensive that triggered a refugee crisis. Almost the entire local population of around 100,000 ethnic Armenians left for Armenia, fearing reprisals and repression.

The territory is internationally recognised as part of Azerbaijan despite historically being home to a majority Armenian population.

It was controlled by pro-Yerevan separatists for nearly three decades.

The conflict has seen ties sour between traditional allies Russia and Armenia, with Yerevan accusing the Kremlin of failing to protect it in the face of a security threat from Azerbaijan.

After the loss of Karabakh, Yerevan has sought to forge new security alliances by deepening ties with the West. On Tuesday, Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan and the United States Assistant Secretary of State for Europe and Eurasia James O'Brien issued a joint statement saying Washington and Yerevan have agreed to "upgrade the status of our bilateral dialogue to a Strategic Partnership Commission".

Last month, Yerevan returned to Azerbaijan four frontier villages which it had captured in the 1990s.

The move, which Prime Minister Nikol Prehistorian has defended as aimed at securing a definitive peace deal with Baku, sparked a wave of mass protests in Armenia.

eg-im/dt/bc/
Nicosia, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 12th Jun, 2024) Aircraft from Greece and Jordan were helping Cypriot authorities battle a large wildfire in the southwestern Paphos region believed to have been started by an illegal landfill, officials said Wednesday.

The fire broke out Tuesday east of the village of Giolou, triggering a national emergency plan that saw civil defence evacuate five mountain villages at risk.

Officials said two air tractors from the Royal Jordanian Air Force and two planes from Greece were deployed Wednesday to tackle the blaze in the rugged terrain.

Fire service spokesman Adreas Kettis said later on Wednesday that the fire was subsiding.

"The fire is now subsiding. The active front near the Polemi community has been controlled," he wrote on X.

"Suppression teams continue with final extinguishing efforts and complete containment. The risk of rekindling remains present."

Nicosia had activated the European Union fire assistance protocol to seek help in containing the fire.

Fire service chief Nicos Logginos told state radio Wednesday that seven aircraft, including two Canadair planes from Greece, are operating over the active fronts.

He said that due to harsh terrain, ground forces have been unable to reach the area.

Over 300 people, including fire crews, supported by bulldozers, were working to secure the perimeter of the fire.

Logginos said police have evidence the fire started from an illegal landfill site.

Around 48 people evacuated from the fire zone were taken to hotels, said local daily Kathimerini Cyprus.

The scale of the fire prompted President Nikos Christodoulides to return early from a Gaza aid summit in Jordan on Tuesday to visit the crisis control centre.

During a meeting with King Abdullah II of Jordan, he requested additional aerial support to combat the fire in Paphos.

Kettis said earlier that a number of homes suffered extensive damage or were destroyed, but the scale of the destruction had yet to be determined.

Residents have complained that homes were destroyed because of the slow response to the fire's outbreak.

The community leader in the village of Lemona, Kyriakos Charalambous, told the Cyprus news Agency it took "too long" for aerial firefighting units to arrive.

Wildfires often erupt in Cyprus during the sweltering summer months on the island which suffers from a severe lack of rainfall.

The Department of Meteorology issued a yellow alert for Wednesday for extreme heat, with maximum temperatures expected to reach 41 degrees Celsius.

Cyprus recorded its hottest-ever June day last Friday as temperatures soared to an unprecedented 44 degrees Celsius, the department said.
Israeli authorities are responsible for war crimes and crimes against humanity committed during the military operations and attacks in Gaza since October7, 2023, a UN inquiry commission has found.

UNITED NATIONS, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 12th Jun, 2024) Israeli authorities are responsible for war crimes and crimes against humanity committed during the military operations and attacks in Gaza since October7, 2023, a UN inquiry commission has found.

The Commission also found that Palestinian armed groups are responsible for war crimes committed in Israel.

This was among the conclusions listed in the report of the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and Israel, released on Wednesday.

Amid months of losses and despair, retribution and atrocities, the only tangible result has been compounding the immense suffering of both Palestinians and Israelis, with civilians, yet again, bearing the brunt of decisions by those in power, the Commission said, stressing the impact on women and children.

The attack of October 7 by Hamas on communities in southern Israel marked a clear turning point for both Israelis and Palestinians and presented a watershed moment that could change the direction of the conflict, with a real risk of further solidifying and expanding the occupation, the Commission said.

For Israelis, the attack was unprecedented in scale in its modern history, when in one single day hundreds of people were killed and abducted.

For Palestinians, Israels military operation and attack in Gaza had been the longest, largest and bloodiest since 1948, causing immense damage and loss of life and triggered for many Palestinians traumatic memories of the Nakba and other Israeli incursions.

The Commission emphasized that both the attack in Israel and Israels subsequent military operation in Gaza should not be seen in isolation.

The only way to stop the recurring cycles of violence, including aggression and retribution by both sides, is to ensure strict adherence to international law, it stressed.

That includes ending the unlawful Israeli occupation of Palestinian territory; discrimination, oppression and the denial of the right to self-determination of the Palestinian people, and guaranteeing peace and security for Jews and Palestinians.

The Commission also noted that Israeli authorities failed to protect civilians in southern Israel on almost every front, including failing to swiftly deploy sufficient security forces to protect civilians and evacuate them from civilian locations on October 7.

In several locations, Israeli Security Forces (ISF) applied the so-called Hannibal Directive and killed at least 14 Israeli civilians. That Directive is reportedly a procedure to prevent capture of ISF members by enemy forces and was alleged to have been directed against Israeli civilians on October 7.

Israeli authorities also failed to ensure that forensic evidence was systematically collected by concerned authorities and first responders, particularly in relation to allegations of sexual violence, undermining the possibility of future judicial proceedings, accountability and justice, the Commission added.

The independent Commission, established by the UN Human Rights Council, also concluded that, in relation to Israels military operations in Gaza, Israel committed war crimes, crimes against humanity and violations of international humanitarian and human rights laws.

The Commission further concluded that the immense numbers of civilian casualties and widespread destruction of civilian objects and vital civilian infrastructure were the inevitable results of Israels chosen strategy for the use of force during these hostilities, undertaken with intent to cause maximum damage, disregarding distinction, proportionality and adequate precautions, and thus unlawful.

ISFs intentional use of heavy weapons with large destructive capacity in densely populated areas constitutes an intentional and direct attack on the civilian population, particularly affecting women and children, the Commission said, adding that this was confirmed by the substantial and increasing numbers of casualties, over weeks and months, with no change in Israeli policies or military strategies.

Among its recommendations, the Commission report called on the Government of Israel to immediately end attacks resulting in the killing and maiming of civilians in Gaza, end the siege on Gaza, implement a ceasefire, ensure that those whose property has been unlawfully destroyed receive reparations, and ensure that necessities crucial for the health and well-being of the civilian population immediately reach those in need.

It also called on the Government of the State of Palestine and Hamas in Gaza to ensure the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages held in the enclave.

Stop all indiscriminate firing of rockets, mortars and other munitions towards civilian populations, it added.

The Commission of Inquiry was established by the UN Human Rights Council to, among other points, investigate, in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and in Israel, all alleged violations of international humanitarian law and abuses of international human rights law leading up and since April 13, 2021.

Its report will be presented to the Human Rights Councils 56th session on June 19, 2024 in Geneva. The report is accompanied by two documents providing findings on the October 7 attack in Israel, and on Israels military operations and attacks in Gaza until the end of 2023.
Washington, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 12th Jun, 2024) The US Library of Congress houses more than just books, with a new exhibit opening this week highlighting some of the institution's most diverse and symbolic treasures from the nation's history.

From the contents of Abraham Lincoln's pockets the night of his assassination to early Spiderman sketches, a hundred treasures from the United States and beyond are on display from Thursday.

The library, located in a vast and elegant building in the heart of Washington, will showcase, for example, the first map of the newly independent United States compiled, printed and published in America by an American, which was printed in 1784 by engraver Abel Buell.

Also on hand are jaw-dropping photos of the first atomic explosion in the New Mexico desert, under the eyes of the "father" of the bomb, Robert Oppenheimer.

"The Library of Congress holds more than 178 million items in its collections, perhaps the most comprehensive collection of human knowledge ever assembled in one place," said its director, Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden.

The exhibit, officially titled "Collecting Memories: Treasures from the Library of Congress," features only a tiny fraction of the institution's vast troves of millions of books, audio documents and photographs, as well as objects of all kinds, including numerous musical instruments.

The library, opened in 1800, is home to the largest collection of flutes in the world, says Carol Lynn Ward Bamford, who takes care of instrument collections in the library's music division.

However, only one is a part of the exhibition, a crystal flute that belonged to former US president James Madison, who lived from 1751-1836.
(UroToday.com) During the 2024 American Medical Association (AMA) Annual Meeting, the House of Delegates (HOD) convened to discuss, debate, and vote on healthcare policy that the organization will adopt as official directives. The HOD included a reference committee on Medical Practice related policy. Several reports and policies are of significance to urologists and urology patients. The Board of Trustees of the AMA presented a report entitled, "Transparency and Accountability of Hospitals and Hospital Systems which called for transparent reporting of final determinations of physician complaints against hospitals and health systems through publicly accessible channels, such as the Joint Commission Quality Check reports. The AMA also announced that they plan to develop educational materials on the peer review process and advocate on behalf of doctors who have been subjected to bad-faith peer reviews. This will include information on what constitutes a bad-faith peer review and the options available to physicians navigating the peer review process.Another important report that was adopted was entitled Patient Medical Debt. Through this report, the AMA endorsed innovative approaches to alleviate medical debt for patients. This includes mandating the provision of sliding-scale, interest-free payment plans before any collection or litigation actions are taken. Additionally, the report called for support of public and private initiatives aimed at eliminating medical debt, such as purchasing debt with the intention of canceling it.Next, a policy entitled Insurer Accountability When Prior Authorization Harms Patients was passed by the House. This policy advocates for greater legal accountability for insurers and other payers when delays or denials of prior authorization result in patient harm. This includes prohibiting mandatory pre-dispute arbitration and limiting class action clauses in beneficiary contracts. In addition, the AMA emphasized that low-cost, noninvasive procedures meeting existing Medicare guidelines should not require prior authorization. The policy further supports allowing physicians to bill insurance companies for the full-time employee hours needed to obtain prior authorization. Lastly, it reinforces for patients' right to sue insurance carriers, precluding any restrictive clauses in signed contracts, if there is an adverse outcome due to excessive delays in care.Prior authorization, consolidation in medicine, and improving transparency in a convoluted healthcare system remains a priority, with several other prior AMA policies being reaffirmed in those areas.Written by: Ruchika Talwar, MD, Urologic Oncology Fellow, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, @RuchikaTalwarMD during the 2024 AMA Annual Meeting, June 7 to June 12
(UroToday.com) The 2024 Society of Nuclear Medicine & Molecular Imaging (SNMMI) annual meeting featured a session on prostate cancer, and a presentation by Dr. Yongxiang Tang discussing an assessment of adverse pathological risk and proteomic biomarker correlations in prostate cancer.

Prostate cancer is a highly heterogeneous malignant disease. Therefore, it is crucial to investigate markers to facilitate early identification of adverse pathological features of prostate cancer thereby improve patient prognosis. In this study, Dr. Tang and colleagues applied radiomics machine learning models to predict the aggressiveness of prostate cancer and identify quantitative radiomic features and protein biomarkers associated with poor pathological traits. The aim of the study was to construct a multi-omics marker model to optimize clinical risk stratification.

This was a retrospective study on 191 patients who were diagnosed with prostate cancer or benign prostatic hyperplasia and were pathologically confirmed after undergoing 68Ga-PSMA-617 PET/CT scan. CT imaging was utilized for anatomical localization, while PET/CT scans were employed for image fusion, and manual contouring of the prostate gland was performed. Radiomic features were then extracted from the contours to analyze the imaging characteristics. Six machine learning algorithms were applied to construct radiomics models for predicting malignancies and combinations of adverse pathological features (Gleason score, ISUP group, pathological stage, lymph node infiltration, and perineural invasion). Two methods, minimum redundancy maximum relevance, and LASSO, were utilized to conduct feature selection and identify quantitative radiomic features with high predictive ability. Moreover, proteomics analyses were performed on 39 patients to identify protein biomarkers associated with adverse pathological features at the molecular level in prostate cancer. Correlation analysis was performed to determine the association of quantitative radiomic features with protein biomarkers.

The optimal radiomics model constructed using machine learning methods showed an AUC of 0.938 (95% CI 0.893 to 0.983) for predicting malignant prostate lesions and an AUC of 0.916 (95% CI 0.854 to 0.977) for adverse pathological feature combinations in the test set. Results of the validation set obtained AUC values of 0.918 (95% CI 0.848 to 0.989) for predicting malignancy and 0.855 (95% CI 0.728 to 0.983) for adverse feature combinations. Three quantitative radiomic features and ten protein molecules associated with adverse pathological characteristics were identified:

Moreover, a significant correlation was observed between quantitative radiomic features and protein biomarkers:

The radioproteomic analysis demonstrated that molecular changes in protein molecules could affect the imaging biomarkers.

Dr. Tang concluded this presentation by discussing an assessment of adverse pathological risk and proteomic biomarker correlations in prostate cancer with the following take home messages:

This study underscored the efficacy of radiomics machine learning models using 68 Ga-PSMA-617 PET/CT in stratifying prostate cancer risks

Ga-PSMA-617 PET/CT in stratifying prostate cancer risks These models demonstrated high predictive accuracy for malignancy and adverse pathological features, evidenced by robust AUC values

Notably, critical quantitative radiomic features and protein biomarkers were identified, revealing significant correlations between imaging and molecular changes in prostate cancer

The integration of these findings into a multi-omics marker model marked a significant stride in optimizing clinical risk stratification, potentially enhancing personalized treatment strategies and improving patient outcomes in prostate cancer management

Presented by: Yongxiang Tang, MD, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Hunan, China

Written by: Zachary Klaassen, MD, MSc  Urologic Oncologist, Associate Professor of Urology, Georgia Cancer Center, Wellstar MCG Health, @zklaassen_md on Twitter during the 2024 Society of Nuclear Medicine & Molecular Imaging (SNMMI) Annual Meeting, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, Sat, June 8  Tues, June 11, 2024.
(UroToday.com) The 2024 Society of Nuclear Medicine & Molecular Imaging (SNMMI) annual meeting featured a session on prostate cancer, and the Barry Siegel Award Lecture presentation by Dr. Steven Rowe discussing registrational trials for PSMA PET. Dr. Rowe started his presentation highlighting that PSMA is a transmembrane carboxypeptidase highly expressed on prostate cancer cells with frequent expression observed in prostate cancer tumors. Furthermore, there has been direct correlation between expression levels and tumor aggressive. What we know so far about PSMA PET is that it has (i) moderate sensitivity and very high specificity for preoperative nodal staging, (ii) high detection efficiency for sites of biochemical recurrence, and (iii) effective for guiding focal therapy and selecting patients for PSMA-based therapeutic molecules. 18F-DCFPyL in high risk prostate cancer patients can have vastly different staging results:

Dr. Rowe then discussed the key registrational trials for PSMA staging of high risk patients. In 2021, results of the Observe Prostate Cancer with Accuracy (OSPREY) trial were published.1 This was a prospective, multicenter phase 2/3 trial that included two distinct cohorts (Cohorts A and B), of which Cohort A included 268 men with newly diagnosed high-risk prostate cancer (i.e., clinical stage T3a or PSA >20 ng/ml or Gleason score 8) planned for radical prostatectomy with lymph node dissection. The sensitivity and specificity of 18F-DCFPyL-PET/CT were 40% and 98%, respectively. The positive and negative predictive values were 87% and 83%, respectively. Compared to conventional CT, 18F-DCFPyL-PET/CT demonstrated higher specificity (98% versus 65%), more than threefold higher positive predictive value (87% versus 28%), higher specificity (98% versus 65%), and similar sensitivity (40% versus 43%). Detection outcomes in the OSPREY trial are as follows:

Hope et al.2 published in 2021 a phase 3 imaging trial assessing the accuracy of 68Ga-PSMA-11 PET imaging for the detection of pelvic nodal metastases compared with histopathology at time of radical prostatectomy and pelvic lymph node dissection. In this trial, there were 764 men that underwent a 68Ga-PSMA-11 PET imaging scan for primary staging, and 277 of 764 (36%) subsequently underwent prostatectomy with lymph node dissection. Based on pathology reports, 75 of 277 patients (27%) had pelvic nodal metastasis. Results of 68Ga-PSMA-11 PET/CT were positive in 40 of 277 (14%), 2 of 277 (1%), and 7 of 277 (3%) of patients for pelvic nodal, extrapelvic nodal, and bone metastatic disease, respectively. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value for pelvic nodal metastases were 0.40 (95% CI, 0.34-0.46), 0.95 (95% CI, 0.92-0.97), 0.75 (95% CI, 0.70-0.80), and 0.81 (95% CI, 0.76-0.85), respectively.

In the LIGHTHOUSE trial, the objective was to evaluate the diagnostic performance and safety of 18F-rhPSMA-7.3 in newly diagnosed prostate cancer patients planned for prostatectomy.3 Among 352 patients, the sensitivity for pelvic lymph node dissection detection was 30% (95% CI, 19.6-42.1%) for reader 1, 27% (95% CI, 17.2-39.1%) for reader 2, and 23% (95% CI, 13.7-34.4%) for reader 3, not meeting the prespecified threshold. Specificity was 93% (95% CI, 88.8-95.9%), 94% (95% CI, 89.8-96.6%), and 97% (95% CI, 93.7-98.7%), respectively, exceeding the threshold for all readers. Specificity was high ( 92%) across both risk stratifications.

Moving to the biochemical recurrent disease space and the utility of PSMA PET/CT, Dr. Rowe discussed the CONDOR trial,4 which was a prospective phase III trial that evaluated 18F-DCFPyL-PET/CT in men with biochemical recurrence following prostatectomy or radiotherapy, defined as PSA  0.2 ng/ml after radical prostatectomy and PSA  2 ng/ml post-radiation. All patients in CONDOR had negative or equivocal conventional imaging (including 18F-fluciclovine or 11C-choline PET, CT, MRI, and/or whole-body bone scintigraphy) within 60 days prior to 18F-DCFPyL-PET/CT. This trial included 208 patients with a median PSA level of 0.8 ng/ml (range: 0.2  98.4). 18F-DCFPyL-PET/CT was positive in 59.1-65.9% of patients as assessed by the three independent blinded central readers. The correct localization rate ranged between 84.8% and 87.0% among the three readers. There was a clear association between increasing baseline PSA level and both improved detection and correct localization rates:

The correct localization rates stratified by PSA in the CONDOR trial is as follows:

In 2019, Fendler and colleagues5 assessed 68Ga-PSMA-11 PET/CT accuracy in a prospective multicenter trial among 635 patients with biochemically recurrent prostate cancer after prostatectomy (n = 262, 41%), radiation therapy (n = 169, 27%), or both (n = 204, 32%). On a per-patient basis, positive predictive value was 0.84 (95% CI, 0.75-0.90) by histopathologic validation and 0.92 (95% CI, 0.88-0.95) by the composite reference standard (n = 217), with 68Ga-PSMA-11 PET/CT localizing recurrent prostate cancer in 475 of 635 (75%) patients.

In a recent subsequent analysis of the SPOTLIGHT trial,6 Fleming et al. assessed the performance of 8F-flotufolastat PET/CT for identifying PSMA-positive lesions confirmed by standard of truth in men with biochemical recurrence of prostate cancer and negative conventional imaging at baseline. Among 171 patients with negative baseline conventional imaging and standard of truth by histopathology or post-PET confirmatory imaging, the overall 18F-flotufolastat detection rate among these patients was 95% (95% CI, 91.0%-98.0%), and 110 of 171 of these patients had at least 1 true-positive lesion identified (verified detection rate, 64%; 95% CI, 56.7%-71.5%):

Dr. Rowe then discussed OSPREY Cohort B,1 which included 117 patients with presumptive radiological evidence of recurrent or metastatic prostate cancer on conventional imaging and in whom lesions were considered amenable to biopsy. At the time of study entry, conventional imaging demonstrated locoregional disease in 28% of patients and distant disease in the remaining 72%. The sensitivity and positive predictive value of 18F-DCFPyL-PET/CT in this setting were 96% and 82%, respectively. Significantly, this test performed similarly regardless of site of metastasis:

Dr. Rowe then highlighted several limitations of 18F-DCFPyL-PSMA PET/CT in metastatic prostate cancer, including:



1. Neuroendocrine differentiation:





2. Uptake at the site of a non-pathologic fracture:



3. Uptake in peripheral ganglia:



4. Uptake in ganglion structures (dorsal root and stellate ganglia):





5. Uptake in ganglion structures (celiac ganglia):



6. Uptake in Pagets disease of the bone:



7. Uptake in post-radiation changes (cortical laminar necrosis):

Dr. Rowe then discussed theranostics, specifically 177Lu-PSMA based radioligand therapy. A 2021 meta-analysis of trials assessing 177Lu-PSMA based radioligand therapy reported several important findings:7

Proportion with >= 50% PSA decrease after treatment with PSMA I&T, 617, EB-617, iPSMA: 42% (95% CI 37-48%)

Proportion with any PSA decrease after treatment with PSMA I&T, 617, EB-617, iPSMA: 70% (95% CI 65-74%)

Proportion with neuropathy, any grade, after treatment with PSMA I&T, 617, EB-617, iPSMA: 12% (95% CI 6-22%)

Proportion with xerostomia, any grade, after treatment with PSMA I&T, 617, EB-617, iPSMA: 21% (95% CI 12-35%)

These smaller studies were the lead in/lead up for the phase 3 registration trial, the VISION trial.8 VISION was an international, randomized, open-label phase III study evaluating 177Lu-PSMA-617 in men with PSMA-positive mCRPC who had previously received treatment with a next-generation androgen receptor signaling inhibition (abiraterone, enzalutamide, etc) and one or two prior lines of taxane chemotherapy. Patients must have had an ECOG performance status of 0-2 and life expectancy of at least 6 months. Importantly, patients must have had PSMA-positive disease on the basis of a central review of 68Ga-PSMA-11 staging scans. PSMA positivity was defined as uptake greater in metastatic lesions than in the liver. Further, they could have no PSMA-negative metastatic lesions. Following enrollment, patients were randomized in a 2:1 fashion to receive either 177Lu-PSMA-617 (7.4 GBq every 6 weeks x 6 cycles) plus standard of care or standard of care alone. Standard of care treatments was at the discretion of the treating investigator. However, cytotoxic chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and radium-223 were explicitly excluded. Most patients received alternative androgen-directed therapies while others received palliative radiotherapy and glucocorticoids.



This trial assessed two alternate primary endpoints: (i) rPFS using the Prostate Cancer Working Group 3 (PCWG3) criteria by independent central review and (ii) OS. Secondary endpoints included ORR (RECIST v1.1), disease control rate, time to first symptomatic skeletal event, and safety/AE profile. VISION enrolled 831 patients between June 2018 and October 2019. In keeping with the 2:1 randomization schema, 551 patients were allocated to 177Lu-PSMA-617 + standard of care, and 280 were allocated to standard of care only. Over a median study follow-up of 20.9 months, treatment with 177Lu-PSMA-617 + standard of care significantly improved overall survival by a median of 4.0 months (median overall survival: 15.3 vs 11.3 months; HR 0.62, 95% CI 0.52 to 0.74; p < 0.001, one-sided), compared to standard of care alone, in the overall cohort of all randomized patients (n = 831):







With regards to the other primary endpoint of radiographic progression free survival, treatment with 177Lu-PSMA-617 + standard of care significantly improved radiographic progression free survival by a median 5.3 months (median, 8.7 vs 3.4 months; HR 0.40, 99.2% CI 0.29 to 0.57; p < 0.001, one-sided):







In addition to these primary endpoints, the addition of 177Lu-PSMA-617 to standard of care statistically significantly improved all key secondary endpoints, including objective response rate (29.8% vs 1.7%), disease control rate (89.0% vs 66.7%) and time to first symptomatic skeletal event (median time: 11.5 vs 6.8 months; HR 0.50, 95% CI 0.40 to 0.62):









Dr. Rowe then discussed emerging ideas and what we need from future trials:

It is not all about sensitivity and specificity

We need predictive biomarkers derived from imaging and clinical data

We need to understand response assessment and incorporate serial PSMA PET into therapeutic clinical trials

We need to incorporate artificial intelligence

How PSMA PET/CTs look after prior therapy is still an area of investigation. Dr. Rowe was the senior author of a prospective, single-arm trial evaluating changes in uptake patterns on PSMA-targeted 18F-DCFPyL PET/CT in patients with castration resistant prostate cancer starting abiraterone or enzalutamide.9 Patients were imaged with 18F-DCFPyL PET/CT immediately prior to starting abiraterone or enzalutamide and 2-4 months later:







Among 16 evaluable patients, the median time to therapy change was 9.6 months (95% CI, 6.9-14.2), and median overall survival was 28.6 months (95% CI, 18.3- NA). Patients with a mixed but predominantly increased pattern of radiotracer uptake had a shorter time to therapy change and overall survival. Moreover, the percentage change in PSA stratified by response pattern on PET is as follows:







Men with a low the -percent SUV max (DPSM) had a median time to therapy change of 12.2 months (95% CI, 11.3-NA) and a median overall survival of 37.2 months (95% CI, 28.9-NA), whereas those with a high DPSM had a median time to therapy change of 6.5 months (95% CI, 4.6-NA, p = 0.0001) and a median overall survival of 17.8 months (95% CI, 13.9-NA, p = 0.02). Men with a low the -absolute SUV max (DASM) had a median time to therapy change of 12.2 months (95% CI, 11.3-NA) and a median overall survival of NA (95% CI, 37.2 months-NA), whereas those with a high DASM had a median time to therapy change of 6.9 months (95% CI, 6.1-NA, p = 0.003) and a median overall survival of 17.8 months (95% CI, 13.9-NA, p = 0.002). Time to therapy change stratified by DPSM and DASM is as follows:







Overall survival stratified by DPSM and DASM is as follows:







Bipolar androgen therapy is an emerging treatment for metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer, but how it affects 18F-DCFPyL PET/CT images has only recently been evaluated.10 In a study of six men undergoing bipolar androgen therapy that received a PSMA PET/CT at baseline and 3 months after treatment, three patients had progression on imaging. Early progression was detected earlier for these patients with PSMA PET/CT compared to conventional imaging:





Several new and emerging fields for PSMA PET/CT include:

Radiomics:

Artificial intelligence: in the near term, Dr. Rowe states that we can expect artificial intelligence to level us up by providing (i) lesion classification, (ii) whole body tumor burden assessments, and (iii) prognostication and decision making based on scan findings and clinical data. Dr. Rowe suggests that this may also be extended to PSMA-RADS-AI:

Dr. Rowe concluded his presentation by discussing registrational trials for PSMA PET with the following take home messages:

There are already multiple indications for diagnostic PSMA-based imaging

We are just starting to understand PSMA-targeted PET findings as imaging biomarkers

Artificial intelligence will play an important role in biomarker development. However, only limited aspects of radiomics appear applicable to PET

Presented by: Steven P. Rowe, MD, PhD, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina

Written by: Zachary Klaassen, MD, MSc  Urologic Oncologist, Associate Professor of Urology, Georgia Cancer Center, Wellstar MCG Health, @zklaassen_md on Twitter during the 2024 Society of Nuclear Medicine & Molecular Imaging (SNMMI) Annual Meeting, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, Sat, June 8  Tues, June 11, 2024

References:
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Military experts are warning of an increased risk of war with China following recent announcements by Beijing providing for more aggressive enforcement of its claims to disputed regions of the South China Sea.

Late last month, China announced its coast guard will be empowered to investigate and detain for up to 60 days "foreigners who endanger China's national security and interests" in the disputed waters. The policy will take effect on June 15.

And on June 8, it announced it would permit the Philippines to deliver supplies and evacuate personnel from an outpost on the disputed Second Thomas Shoal, which has been determined by an international tribunal to lie within Philippine waters, only if it first notifies Beijing.

The Philippine National Security Council replied that the country will continue to maintain and supply its outposts in the South China Sea without seeking permission from any other country.

In a formal statement under the council's letterhead, national security adviser Eduardo Ano dismissed the suggestion as"absurd, ridiculous and unacceptable."

According to a June 10 report in the South China Morning Post, a survey released by independent polling agency OCTA Research showed that 73% of Filipinos support further military action to safeguard the Philippines' territorial rights, including expanded naval patrols and the dispatch of additional troops.

Philippine media believe the new procedures will empower the Chinese coast guard to "arbitrarily" arrest Filipinos in their own waters. China's claims to almost the entire sea reach into the internationally recognized economic zones of several Southeast Asian countries.

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. called the new rules "totally unacceptable" and said he will take all necessary measures to "protect citizens" and continue to"defend the country's territory."

In his keynote speech at the Shangri-La Security Dialogue in Singapore on May 31, the president pointed out that if a Filipino was killed in a South China Sea conflict with China, it would"almost certainly" cross a red line and come "very close" to what the Philippines defines as an act of war.

John C. Aquilino, former head of the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, testified before the U.S. Congress last month that Manila could invoke the 1951 U.S.-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty in such a case.

Bob Savic, head of international trade at the Global Policy Institute in London, said last week that this could bring the United States and China into a direct conflict.

"The trigger for the First World War occurred on June 28, 1914, with the assassination of Austrian Archduke Franz Ferdinand in a country in Southeast Europe. This time, the trigger could be the death of a Filipino sailor in the tropical waters of Southeast Asia," he wrote in an article published in the Asia Times.

He believes if Manila is forced to request U.S. assistance under the Mutual Defense Treaty, it is conceivable that China Coast Guard ships would quickly confront U.S. warships maintaining freedom of navigation in the region. \"The U.S. and China must ensure they don't sleepwalk into a repeat of the 1914 tragedy in the second half of June 2024 or, indeed, at any point in the future," Savic wrote.

'It might trigger escalation'

Andrea Chloe Wong, a nonresident research fellow at the Institute for Indo-Pacific Affairs, told VOA at a June 6 seminar hosted by the National Bureau of Asian Research that if the Mutual Defense Treaty is invoked, "it might trigger escalation or conflict between the Philippines and China."

The safety of Filipino personnel has become the focus of recent rounds of South China Sea disputes. On June 7, the Philippines accused a Chinese coast guard ship of ramming a Philippine ship, deterring the evacuation of a sick soldier from a grounded warship which serves as a Philippine military outpost on the Second Thomas Shoal.

Romeo Brawner, chief of staff of the armed forces of the Philippines, told reporters June 4 that Chinese coast guard officers had seized some food that a plane dropped for Philippine naval personnel aboard the aging warship. He also released video of the incident, AP reported.

Despite the rising tension, Oriana Skylar Mastro, a Center Fellow at Stanford University's Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies, told VOA that the possibility of World War III breaking out in the South China Sea is not high.

She believes that China will not choose to fight a war in the South China Sea at this time because they know they would lose.

"They can't project power across those kinds of distances yet. When I talk to the PLA [People's Liberation Army, China's principal military force], they say the only reason they haven't declared internal waters in the Spratly [chain] is because there's no way they can enforce that."

US promises assets, say reports

The United States Coast Guard has promised to send assets to the South China Sea to help Manila uphold sovereign rights in its exclusive economic zone, ABS-CBN News said Tuesday, citing the Philippine Coast Guard.

In a statement, the Philippine Coast Guard said the U.S. Coast Guard will deploy its North Pacific Coast Guard following a proposal by Philippine Admiral Ronnie Gil Gavan. Gavan called for a "greater deployment" in the high seas "to address the forthcoming threat" posed by China's threat to arrest foreigners inside what it claims as its maritime boundaries.

In a research report released last month by the National Bureau of Asian Research, Michael Shoebridge of the Strategic Analysis Australia pointed out that collective action by the Philippines and its allies could effectively reduce risks in the South China Sea.

"The risk of such collective action escalating into conflict is real. However, it could be mitigated by the militaries clearly acting within international law and coordinating a united political response to demonstrate and communicate this, he wrote. "That would counter Chinese efforts"to intimidate others and cast such lawful action as aggression."

Shoebridge, who also attended the National Bureau of Asian Research's June 6 seminar, said at the meeting that "unless we cause Chinese policy and action to fail, we are leaving all the leverage with Beijing, and we are waiting for our servicemen and women to be killed by the PLA. And that's not the future that I want."

Adrianna Zhang contributed to this report.
Finlands Lenin Museum, the most hated" in the country according to its director, is to close its doors at the end of the year for rebranding, as Finlands historically good relations with Russia sour. Henry Wilkins visited the museum in the Finnish city of Tampere and has that story.
Protesters in Georgia have vowed to continue anti-government demonstrations driven largely by the so-called foreign agent law that took effect last week.

Thousands of people have taken to the streets of the Georgian capital, Tbilisi, in the past two months to protest the law, which critics have compared to similar measures in Russia. Many of the demonstrators carry European Union and Georgian flags, while others wave the Ukrainian colors in solidarity with Kyiv following its 2022 invasion by Moscow.

Protesters beaten

Among the most well-known figures at the demonstrations is David Katsarava, a prominent activist who monitors Russian activities in parts of Georgia occupied by Moscows forces since its 2008 invasion of the country.

On May 14, Katsarava was detained by Georgian special forces outside parliament. He says he was severely beaten at least five times in detention, suffering extensive injuries including a broken jaw and eye socket. He was released without charge the following day. The government says it is investigating his treatment.

At his home in the suburbs of Tbilisi, Katsarava told VOA that the protests must go on  and he will rejoin them in the coming days.

We have now the changed reality and we must continue fighting. Georgia has changed and changed its direction to Russia. We must fight until to the end because otherwise if we stop, if we will be scared and we will stay at home, so that will be a finish for free Georgia. And Georgia then becomes Belarus or some branch of Russia or something like this, he said.

Foreign agent

The new law requires any organization receiving more than 20 percent of its funding from overseas to register as a foreign agent. Critics have compared it to Russian legislation and say it is aimed at stifling scrutiny and criticism of the government by media and non-governmental organizations ahead of elections scheduled in October.

The laws supporters say it is aimed at ensuring transparency.

It doesnt make sense why the state budget should be transparent  but any funding from foreign sources should not be transparent in the same way, said Fridon Injia, an member of parliament with the European Socialists party, which is closely aligned to the ruling Georgian Dream party.

The European Union has warned that the foreign agent law is incompatible with Georgias EU membership aspirations. Last week, the United States imposed sanctions on several Georgian lawmakers who supported the legislation.

October elections

The demonstrators insist they will continue their action until the October elections  with the aim of toppling the government, which is led by the Georgian Dream political party and widely seen as increasingly pro-Russian.

Giga Bokeria, chairman of the European Georgia party and a member of the government from 2010 until 2013, compared the coming months to the fall of the Soviet Union, when Georgia regained its independence.

We have elections in October. These protests will continue until then. And our goal will be just like 30 years ago  to achieve a fundamental change. And this fundamental change is to remove the government, which is a proxy of the enemy of our sovereignty [Russia] and enemy of our liberty inside the country.

EU support

Polls conducted before the foreign agent law took effect suggest around 80 percent of Georgians support EU membership.

At a recent protest outside parliament, many demonstrators vowed to stay on the streets until the election.

No matter that the law is already in place, we keep on protesting. Because we want that Europe sees our approach and they support us, said student Elene Ramishvili.

Theres a big chance that [the government] will try to fake the results of the elections and well have to be ready for the action, in case this happens, fellow protester Giorgi Japiashvili told VOA.

Katsarava called on Europe and the U.S. to do more. I would like to appeal to our Western partners and our friends to please support us, he said. We need quick support. And without you, we all will lose Georgia as a free country.
Thousands of people have taken to the streets of the Georgian capital, Tbilisi, in recent weeks to protest a new foreign agent law, which critics have compared to similar legislation in Russia. The law is now in force  but its opponents have vowed to continue their demonstrations until crucial elections scheduled for later this year. Henry Ridgwell reports from Tbilisi.
A 12-member jury in Wilmington, Delaware, federal court found Hunter Biden guilty on all three counts against him, making him the first child of a sitting U.S. president to be convicted of a crime. Hamas' response to a proposed Gaza cease-fire deal. The Humboldt penguin population has dramatically decreased in areas along the central coast of Chile, making them one of the most vulnerable of the world's 18 penguin species. And a private club in Los Angeles  where the dogs are the members, and the humans are the guests.
At least 49 people died Wednesday in an early morning fire that swept through a building housing workers in Kuwait. Officials say code violations are the likely cause. The fire was in Kuwaits Mangaf district, which is heavily populated with foreign workers.

A survivor of the fire, a driver from Egypt, said the blaze started on lower floors of the building and moved higher until smoke filled the structure. Police said many residents were rescued but many died from smoke inhalation.

More than 30 Indian citizens were treated at hospitals, according to the Indian ambassador. Local officials said the nationalities of other victims were being determined.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, My thoughts are with all those who have lost their near and dear ones, in a post on social media platform X.

Kuwait relies heavily on foreign workers in several industries, including construction.

The country is also home to the worlds sixth-largest oil reserves. A previous fire swept through an oil refinery there in 2022, killing four people.

After visiting the site of the latest building fire, Kuwaits interior minister, Sheikh Fahad Yousef Al-Sabah, said, The greed of real estate owners is what leads to these matters.

The interior minister demanded the arrest of the buildings owner and said he would address the issue of labor overcrowding. A senior police commander said police always warn against packing too many people into housing developments.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has said his country is an "invincible comrade-in-arms" with Russia in a message to President Vladimir Putin, state media KCNA said on Wednesday, amid speculation over Putin's impending visit to North Korea.

Marking Russia's National Day, Kim said his meeting with Putin at a Russian space launch facility last year elevated the ties of their "century-old strategic relationship."

The message came after Russia's Vedomosti newspaper on Monday reported 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 foster cooperation with North Korea "in all areas" but has not confirmed the date of the visit.

Kim traveled to Russia's Far East last September, touring the Vostochny Cosmodrome space launch center, where Putin promised to help him build satellites.

Kim also lauded Russia for achieving results from its efforts to build a strong country by "suppressing and crushing all the challenges and sanctions and pressures of hostile forces."

Pyongyang and Moscow have increasingly stepped up diplomatic and security relations, hosting government, parliamentary and other delegations in recent months.

A group of North Korean officials in charge of public security was set to visit Russia this week.

Officials in Washington and Seoul have accused North Korea of shipping weapons to Russia to support its war against Ukraine in exchange for technological aid with its own nuclear and missile programs.
The U.N. high commissioner for human rights delivered a bleak assessment of the situation in North Korea on Wednesday, a decade after an in-depth report shed light on severe and widespread abuses in the country.

Today, the DPRK is a country sealed off from the world, Volker Turk told a special briefing of the U.N. Security Council that North Koreas ambassador did not attend. A stifling, claustrophobic environment, where life is a daily struggle devoid of hope.

DPRK is the abbreviation for North Korea's official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

Turk expressed concern about the regimes tight control over the movements of its citizens, including the ability to leave the country. Most North Koreans cannot obtain the required government permission to leave, and those who attempt to escape face torture, labor camps or death if they fail.

Leaving your own country is not a crime  on the contrary, it is a human right, recognized by international law, he said by video from his office in Geneva.

He said repression of the freedom of expression has also worsened with the enforcement of laws forbidding people from consuming foreign media or culture, such as South Korean television dramas or K-pop music.

Put simply, people in the DPRK are at risk of death for merely watching or sharing a foreign television series, the human rights chief said.

He urged Pyongyang to halt the use of the death penalty throughout its legal system and move toward its complete abolition.

Perhaps even more worrying, is the situation of food security in North Korea.

Every single person interviewed by my office has mentioned this in one form or another, Turk said. In the words of one: Its very easy to become fragile and malnourished because there is nothing to eat.

The World Food Program says more than 40% of North Koreans, nearly 11 million people, are undernourished. Many suffer from chronic malnutrition because of a lack of essential nutrients, especially those living outside major cities. Children are particularly affected, with 18% suffering stunting and impaired development because of chronic malnutrition.

The high commissioner also expressed concern about Pyongyangs use of forced labor, including overseas. He noted that workers they have interviewed described often performing work that is physically dangerous and they endured extreme levels of surveillance.

Western nations accuse North Korea of using these laborers wages to help fund their illicit nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programs.

Turk said there have been some recent positive signs from North Korea in their engagement with the international human rights system, but he did not explain what that included.

Defector speaks

Gumhyok Kim, 33, grew up in privilege in North Korea. His family were Kim regime loyalists and so in 2010, he was able to leave the country and study in Beijing.

At the age of 19, I saw a world for the first time that was different from everything I had learned, he told the council. In particular, the internet enabled me to learn about my countrys history and realize the horrific truth of North Korea that had been hidden from me.

He said his feeling of loyalty to the Kim family that has ruled North Korea for three generations quickly turned to one of betrayal, and he began to connect with other North Korean students in Beijing to discuss the situation.

In the winter of 2011, the North Korean authorities discovered their activities, and he fled China to South Korea to avoid arrest.

I survived and found freedom. But that freedom had come at a great cost, he said. It has already been 12 years since I defected, but I still have no contact with my family.

He appealed directly to North Korean Leader Kim Jong Un, saying nuclear weapons and repression are not the way to maintain leadership.

Allow North Koreans to live in freedom. Allow them their basic rights so they can live full and happy lives, Kim said. Turn away from the nuclear weapons threat and return your country to the family of nations so all North Korean people may lead prosperous lives.

Kim and his South Korean-born wife chronicle their married life on YouTube, where they show what life is like in Seoul. He said he is now a father to a 1-year-old, and he hopes one day to take his son to a changed North Korea.

Council inaction

The U.N. Security Council is divided over the situation in North Korea. The last time its 15 members agreed on sanctions for the regimes nuclear and ballistic missile activity was in 2017. Since then, the geopolitical landscape has changed, the council has become more fractured, and action on the North Korean file has become more difficult.

Both China and Russia objected to Wednesdays human rights briefing, saying such issues do not belong in the Security Council. Russia called for a procedural vote, but lost, as only China joined it in voting against holding the meeting and 12 council members supported it. Mozambique abstained. There are no vetoes in procedural votes.

The efforts by both Russia and China to block this meeting today is another effort to support the DPRK, and is also emboldening their actions, U.S. Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield said.

Venezuelas envoy made a statement to reporters outside the council during the meeting on behalf of the Group of Friends in Defense of Charter of the United Nations, rejecting the convening of a human rights-specific council meeting. The group of 18 like-minded countries includes Russia, China, North Korea, Belarus, Iran, Cuba and Syria.

The council meeting was requested by the United States and Britain, along with Japan and South Korea, who both currently hold non-permanent council seats.

The DPRK nuclear and human rights issues are like two sides of the same coin, and thus, need to be addressed comprehensively, South Korean Ambassador JoonKook Hwang said.

He urged the council to regularly address the human rights situation. Until last August, the last time the council discussed North Koreas human rights situation also was in 2017.

A 2014 Commission of Inquiry report found that North Koreas rights violations had risen to the level of crimes against humanity. The panel said the regime had used extermination, murder, enslavement, torture, imprisonment, rape, forced abortions and other sexual violence, persecution on political, religious, racial and gender grounds, the forcible transfer of populations, the enforced disappearance of persons and the inhumane act of knowingly causing prolonged starvation.
Pakistani authorities arrested journalist and former TV anchor Imran Riaz Khan early Wednesday. Hours later, his legal team was informed the journalist was arrested for fraud.

A vocal critic of the countrys powerful military establishment, Khan was arrested early Wednesday from the airport in Lahore as he was on his way to perform the Muslim pilgrimage of Hajj in Saudi Arabia.

This is Khans third arrest in 13 months. The popular commentator, seen as a supporter of incarcerated former Prime Minister Imran Khan, has 5.7 million followers on social media platform X and 4.83 million followers on YouTube.

Videos posted overnight on Imran Riaz Khans X page show men in plain clothes surrounding his car at the entrance to the airport. Some people present at the scene surround the vehicle, too, demanding that the men stopping Khan identify themselves. Soon, police are seen arriving and forcefully stop some witnesses, including a lawyer, from recording the scene on their mobile phones.

Khans legal team filed a petition in the Lahore High Court seeking reasons for the arrest that they say was made without a warrant. A first information report shared on X by Khans lawyer Mian Ali Ashfaque shows the prominent reporter was accused of fraud in a nearly $90,000 in a real estate deal.

In an earlier post on X, Ashfaque, who was driving his client to the airport, said the arrest made in an illegal manner was a violation of court orders.

Speaking to VOA Urdu, Ashfaque said that Khan was granted bail in all the cases against him, and that the Islamabad High Court gave him permission to leave the country.

In a video recorded before heading to the airport, Khan said he was expecting police action.

I have information right now that there is a heavy presence of Rangers [paramilitary force] and police [at the airport] and they may arrest me, Khan said in the clip posted after his arrest Wednesday.

The prominent media person once enjoyed a close relationship with Pakistans powerful military but fell out of favor for openly criticizing the institution after former premier Khan was removed from power in April 2022 in a parliamentary vote of no confidence.

The popular politician, jailed since August last year, accuses his then-army chief Qamar Javed Bajwa and political rivals of pushing him out of office in collusion with the Biden administration  charges they have all denied.

Past arrests

In May last year, police arrested journalist Khan at the airport in the industrial city of Sialkot in Punjab province. The action came amid a crackdown on former premier Khans supporters after many of them stormed government and military installations to protest his brief arrest on May 9.

The journalist, however, soon went missing and arrived home nearly five months later. Khan has hinted he was in the custody of intelligence agencies.

In February this year, authorities arrested him again  this time on corruption charges. However, officials told VOA Urdu the commentator was accused of spreading religious hate and running an online campaign against the chief justice.

Editors note: The charge was fixed to clarify that it was fraud
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said a Russian airstrike hit his hometown of Kryvyi Rih in southern Ukraine Wednesday, killing at least eight people and wounding 21 others.

Zelenskyy shared a video taken by emergency services showing a man being carried on a stretcher and firefighters as billowing smoke rises from destroyed buildings. Among those damaged were an office building and an apartment block.

Meanwhile, officials in Russias Belgorod region said that Ukrainian shelling killed at least one person and wounded three others.

Vyacheslav Gladkov, the regional governor, said on Telegram the attack hit the town of Shebekino, which is located close to the Ukraine border.

The shelling also damaged residential buildings, Gladkov said.

In Ukraines capital, officials said Wednesday that Russia attacked with cruise missiles and ballistic missiles.

Serhiy Popko, the head of Kyiv's military administration, said on Telegram, Ukraines air defenses destroyed all the missiles and that initial information indicated there were no casualties or damage.

The attacks came a day after Zelenskyy addressed German lawmakers, speaking about Europes long history of war that has denied peace to generations of Europeans.

That is why the dream of a Europe that must be a continent of culture, must be a continent of people, must be a continent without war, has gained so much strength, he said.

I personally have confidence in this kind of Europe, Zelenskyy added.

The Ukrainian leader said Russian President Vladimir Putin must be held liable for Russias war on Ukraine.

The time for compromises is over, Zelenskyy said. It was over exactly when Putin started burning cities and awarding his murderers. When he chose killings over agreements.

Elsewhere on Tuesday, Zelenskyy spoke at a reconstruction conference hosted by Germany, where he stressed the need for air defenses and rebuilding Ukraines energy system. He said Russian drone and missile attacks have destroyed half of the countrys energy generation capacity since winter.

He said that after two years of war, Ukraines military has shown it can hold the front lines 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 to 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.

Some information for this report came from Agence France-Presse and Reuters.
South Korean opposition leader Lee Jae-myung has been indicted on bribery charges connected to an alleged scheme involving transferring funds to North Korea.

Prosecutors are accusing Lee of asking apparel maker Ssangbangwool Group to illegally transfer $8 million to North Korea between 2019 and 2020, when he was serving as governor of northwest Gyeonggi province.

Yonhap news agency says Lees deputy governor, Lee Hwa-young, was sentenced last week to nine-and-a-half years in prison in connection with the illegal money transfer scheme. Prosecutors say Lee Hwa-young funneled the money to boost a commercial program in North Korea sponsored by Gyeonggi and to facilitate a planned visit to Pyongyang by Lee Jae-myung.

Lee Jae-myung, the leader of the Democratic Party, is already on trial on unrelated corruption charges, including those related to a property development scandal during his tenure as mayor of a city near Seoul.

The liberal lawmaker narrowly lost the 2022 presidential election to conservative Yoon Suk Yeol, and is considered to be a leading candidate to succeed the president when Yoons single term expires.

He was seriously wounded in January when an attacker stabbed him in the neck while he was meeting with reporters at the construction site of a new airport in the southeastern port city of Busan. He was airlifted to Seoul National University Hospital for a two-hour surgical procedure to repair the jugular vein in his neck.

Some information for this report came from Reuters.
Some Southern African countries pushing against the United Kingdoms anti-hunting efforts suffered a blow when the Labor Party, expected to form the next government, committed last week to support a ban on hunting trophy imports.

Botswana, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe said in a joint statement that they are disappointed Britains Labor Party will attempt to ban hunting trophies.

The countries said, however, that unlike the Conservative government, the Labor Party has at least pledged a full consultation on a policy with significant ramifications for conservation programs in our countries.

Botswana, with the largest elephant herd in the world at more than 130,000, has been at the forefront of a campaign against efforts by the U.K. and other European nations to ban hunting trophies from Africa.

Adam Hart, a U.K.-based ecologist and conservation scientist specializing in southern Africa, told VOA he is disappointed with the Labor Partys move.

It shows that perhaps they have not listened to the sides that have gone in front of the Conservative Party, and they have not listened to the voices of the affected nations, he said.

In its manifesto, the Labor Party says it will put forward a comprehensive plan to end animal cruelty that includes a ban on the import of hunting trophies from abroad.

I think politicians see this as an easy win, said Hart, who is a professor at the University of Gloucestershire. It's only when they start getting involved more with the issues that they realize that it is nowhere near as straightforward as they thought.

He said the Labor Party must be honest in its consultation with the affected southern African countries.

We have to give [the Labor Party] the benefit of the doubt and suggest that perhaps the consultation will be genuine, he said. Many people when they go into this debate think that they have the answers. They think that its a very ... simple issue, that banning hunting trophies will save endangered species.

Of course, once you start digging into the issue, you realize its much more complicated than that and that, in fact, it can have the opposite effect.

Countries such as Botswana and Zimbabwe are pursuing alternative markets.

Botswanas permanent secretary in the Ministry of Environment and Tourism, Boatametse Modukanele, said, "We are looking at the Middle East. We are also looking at the United Arab Emirates, as an example. We are looking at those countries because they also have a hunting culture, and they do not have the many restrictions that we have currently.

Note: This story has been updated to correct the list of countries issuing a joint statement objecting to the trophy ban.
Thai courts will convene on a trio of politically charged cases next week, including one that could potentially lead to the prime minister's dismissal, increasing the prospect of more government instability in the Southeast Asian country.

In a statement on Wednesday, the Constitutional Court said it would hear a case against Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin on June 18. It stems from a complaint by 40 military appointed senators in May, who alleged that he breached the constitution by making a cabinet appointment. The court also said it would hold a hearing next Tuesday in a case brought by the country's election commission that is seeking to disband the opposition Move Forward Party.

The party was the surprise winner of last year's general election, but failed to form a government after it was blocked by the conservative-royalist establishment.

The court has yet to set a date for the verdicts in both cases.

Meanwhile, influential former premier Thaksin Shinawatra - who returned to Thailand last August after 15 years of self-imposed exile is scheduled to be formally indicted in a criminal court for allegedly insulting the royalty and computer crime on Tuesday.

The court cases have ramped up political uncertainty in Southeast Asia's second-largest economy and roiled its markets.

Srettha, Thaksin and the Move Forward Party deny any wrongdoing.

A government spokesperson declined to comment on the court proceedings.

Decades-long struggle

Thailand's politics has been defined for decades by a struggle between the powerful conservative, royalist camp and their rivals, which initially centered around Thaksin and his political parties but now also includes Move Forward.

A real estate tycoon, Srettha entered politics with the Thaksin-backed Pheu Thai party and has struggled to implement election promises, including firing up the country's laggard economy and a cash handout scheme for 50 million Thais.

Deputy Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai told reporters on Tuesday that Srettha was continuing to work in "full capacity."

"There is no problem at all," he said.

The main opposition Move Forward party is also under scrutiny from the same court that is considering Srettha's case for a campaign to reform the country's royal insult - or lese majeste - law.

The law, which protects the monarchy from insult and defamation, carries a punishment of up to 15 years jail for each perceived offense. It has been applied to prosecute over 270 people since 2020, according to a legal aid group.

Move Forward won massive youth support with its lively progressive agenda that was amplified by a sophisticated social media campaign, brushing aside military-backed parties in the 2023 polls and securing 30% of the seats in the lower house.

If it is found in breach of the constitution, the party could be dissolved and its executives banned from politics for a decade.

A party spokesman did not respond to a call seeking comment.

In January, the Constitutional Court ruled in an earlier case that Move Forward's plan to amend lese majeste laws was a hidden effort to undermine the monarchy. The court ordered the party to stop its campaign, which Move Forward did.

In 2020, the Move Forward's predecessor party, Future Forward, was dissolved over a campaign funding violation.

Future Forward's dissolution was among the factors that triggered massive anti-government street protests in 2020, calling for the removal of then Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha and reform of the monarchy.
The United Nations children's agency says the lives of thousands of children in southern Gaza are at risk because of the escalation of the Rafah offensive.

"Horrific images continue to emerge from Gaza of children dying before their families' eyes due to the continued lack of food, nutrition supplies, and the destruction of healthcare services," Adele Khodr, the UNICEF regional director for the Middle East and North Africa, said Tuesday in a statement.

Almost 3,000 of the 3,800 children receiving treatment for malnutrition have been cut off from their life-saving care because of the conflict, according to UNICEF. There is also a "looming risk of more vulnerable children falling sick to malnutrition," the agency said.

The delivery of humanitarian aid throughout Gaza has been challenging. There has been a slight improvement in food delivery in northern Gaza, but humanitarian aid delivery in southern Gaza "has declined dramatically," UNICEF said.

Only two of the three centers set up to treat seriously malnourished children are open. Plans for new centers have been stalled because of the military offensive.

"UNICEF has more nutrition supplies prepositioned to arrive in the Gaza Strip, if access allows," Khodr said. "We need better operating conditions on the ground, with more safety and less restrictions. But ultimately, it is a cease-fire that children need most."

According to international rights groups and U.S. officials, more than 1 million people have been displaced from Gaza's southern city of Rafah in the last month alone, and many of them have been uprooted multiple times. Ninety-five percent of the population there does not have access to clean drinking water. Most of Gaza's sanitation system has been destroyed, and fewer than a dozen of its 40 hospitals remain open.

The U.S. announced Tuesday that it is providing an additional $404 million in humanitarian aid to the region for Palestinian civilians and includes food, safe drinking water, health care, protection, education, shelter and psychosocial support.

The October 7 Hamas terror attack on Israel 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 the Gaza Health Ministry, which does not distinguish between fighters and civilians in its figures.
Two 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. Each of the Texas men were sentenced 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.
The United Nation's secretary-general has included Israel's military and Hamas on the annual blacklist of perpetrators who harm children.

"I am appalled by the dramatic increase and unprecedented scale and intensity of grave violations against children in the Gaza Strip, Israel and the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem," Antonio Guterres said in the report, which was sent to U.N. Security Council members on Tuesday but has not yet been published.

The annual Children and Armed Conflict report names and shames those who recruit, kill, maim or abduct children, commit sexual violence against them, deny them humanitarian assistance, or attack schools and hospitals. Guterres' special representative Virginia Gamba is mandated by the Security Council to work to prevent and end these violations.

In the report, obtained by VOA, the United Nations said it has verified 8,009 grave violations against Israeli and Palestinian children, but the process is ongoing and slow due to the conflict. Of them, 113 were against Israeli children, and the rest were against Palestinian children in Israel and the Palestinian territories.

The report says most child casualties in Gaza from October 7 to the end of last year were caused by "the use of explosive weapons in populated areas by Israeli armed and security forces."

In addition to Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad was also listed. Both groups are listed for the first time, accused of killing, maiming and abducting children.

The report covers the period from January to December 2023. Hamas carried out its terror attack in Israel on October 7, 2023, triggering the war that is now in its ninth month. The report covers only the casualties reported or verified in 2023.

This is the first time either Israel or Hamas has been included on the report's blacklist, despite the killing and maiming of hundreds of children in at least three previous wars in Gaza.

Israel's armed and security forces are listed for the killing and maiming of children and for attacks on schools and hospitals.

"The inclusion of Israeli forces on the U.N.'s 'list of shame' is long overdue and reflects overwhelming evidence of grave violations against children," Jo Becker, children's rights advocacy director at Human Rights Watch, told VOA in an email.

Israeli officials have expressed outrage at being included on the list, which also includes the Taliban and terror groups al-Qaida and Islamic State.

A U.N. spokesperson said last week that Israel was notified of its inclusion "as a courtesy." The country promptly sought to get ahead of the report's publication, dismissing it as more anti-Israel action by the United Nations.

"Today, the U.N. added itself to the blacklist of history when it joined those who support the Hamas murderers," Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Friday. "The IDF is the most moral army in the world. No delusional U.N. decision will change that."

His United Nations ambassador went further, publishing the video of part of his phone call with Guterres' chief of staff.

"I'm utterly shocked and disgusted by this shameful decision of the secretary-general," Gilad Erdan said in the call on Friday, adding that it would reward Hamas and extend the war.

Russia makes blacklist again

Last year, Russia's armed forces landed on the blacklist for their war in Ukraine. This year, they remained listed despite a significant drop in the number of violations attributed to them. The United Nations verified the killing of 80 children and the maiming of 339 others attributed to Russian forces and affiliated groups.

A senior U.N. official said a decrease was not enough. Russia must continue this trend for at least a year and also sign a joint action plan with Gamba's office to be delisted.

No party previously on the list was delisted this year.

Both sides in Sudan conflict make list

The situation in Sudan, which devolved into brutal violence in April 2023 when two rival generals went to war in a power struggle that continues today, has seen the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces both land on this year's blacklist.

The report found a dramatic increase in 2023 in the military recruitment and use of children in Sudan, as well as their killing, maiming and sexual abuse. Attacks on schools and hospitals were also reported.

"I urge all parties to take preventive and mitigating actions to avoid and minimize harm and better protect children, including to refrain from the use of explosive devices," Guterres said in the report.

The 2023 report verified nearly 33,000 grave violations committed against the world's children in several countries experiencing conflict  an increase of 21% over the previous year. There were 11,649 confirmed child killings and maimings. Recruitment is again on the rise, after trending downward for the past two years.

Grave violations were reported in countries including Afghanistan, Burkina Faso, Colombia, Congo, Myanmar, Somalia and Syria, among others.
The United States widened sanctions on Russia Wednesday, targeting more than 300 new entities and people whose products and services enable Russia to sustain its war effort and evade sanctions.

A U.S. Treasury Department statement said the list includes dozens of China-based companies as well as entities in Russia and other countries, including Turkey and the United Arab Emirates.

Russias war economy is deeply isolated from the international financial system, leaving the Kremlins military desperate for access to the outside world, said Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen. Todays actions strike at their remaining avenues for international materials and equipment, including their reliance on critical supplies from third countries.

U.S. officials have said that they are worried about Russias procurement of advanced semiconductors and optical equipment, despite previous sanctions. These goods are necessary for advanced weapons.

We will continue to use all the tools at our disposal to hinder Russias use of the international financial system to conduct its war, to disrupt networks of support for Russias military-industrial base, and to increase the costs to Russia as [Vladimir] Putin perpetrates his aggression against Ukraine, said a statement by Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

Since the beginning of the war, the United States has imposed sanctions on over 4,000 Russian businesses and individuals.

The U.S. sanctions come as leaders from the Group of Seven richest economies prepare to meet in Italy for a summit. Top priorities include supporting Ukraine and stopping Russian military production.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Wednesday that Hamas has proposed numerous changes to a cease-fire deal on the table and that some are workable, and some are not.

Israel accepted the proposal as it was and as it is. Hamas didn't, said Blinken at a press conference in Doha. In the days ahead, we are going to continue to push on an urgent basis with our partners, with Qatar, with Egypt, to try to close this deal.

The Gulf state of Qatar, along with Egypt, has been mediating between Israel and Hamas over the proposed multi-stage cease-fire in Gaza.

Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani told reporters that Qatar, the United States and their partners are committed to bridge the gap, to find a way to end the war as soon as possible.

The Qatari prime minister also emphasized the need for a permanent and sustainable solution that would allow a Palestinian state and Israel to exist side by side.

The United States has been studying a response by Hamas to the current American-backed Gaza cease-fire proposal, according to a senior State Department official. Blinken, currently on a diplomatic tour of the region, was said to have been up late into the night with officials assessing the text, which was handed by Hamas to mediators Qatar and Egypt on Tuesday evening.

Blinken dispatched two senior administration officials to receive the document from Egyptian intelligence chief Abbas Kamel.

"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 earlier this week.

U.S. President Joe Biden publicized details of the cease-fire proposal, while he and other U.S. officials repeatedly have stressed it is an Israeli proposal. Blinken said Tuesday that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reaffirmed his commitment to the deal.

There remain potential points of contention, including the Hamas demand that Israel withdraw its forces from Gaza, and Israels stated commitment to its goal of defeating Hamas and ensuring the militant group cannot launch any future attacks on Israel.

In its initial phase, the three-stage 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.

Israel-Lebanon border

Israels military reported Wednesday carrying out ground and air attacks in the central Gaza Strip and the southern city of Rafah.

Israel also said it struck targets in southern Lebanon after Hezbollah militants launched more than 150 rockets into northern Israel.

The Hezbollah attack was in retaliation for Israels killing Tuesday of a senior Hezbollah commander.

The two sides have traded near-daily cross-border fire throughout the war in Gaza, raising fears of a widening regional conflict.

Blinken told reporters on Wednesday one of Washingtons primary goals from Day One has been to prevent the war in Gaza from spreading.

We don't want to see that escalation, said Blinken.

U.N.-backed human rights report

On Wednesday, U.N.-backed human rights experts said in a report that both Israeli forces and Palestinian armed groups committed war crimes and other grave violations of international law during the first months of the Israel-Hamas war.

Blinken gave a cautionary word to Israel during Wednesdays press conference in Doha.

"When it comes to the conduct of the war in response to the attacks of October 7, we look, and continue to look very carefully at international humanitarian law, at laws of armed conflict, human rights. And we have a number of our own processes within the U.S. administration, including within my own department, to assess whether Israel or any other combatant in any other conflict is adhering to those."

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 came from The Associated Press, Reuters and Agence France-Presse.
The wars in Gaza and Ukraine and Western competition with China are, not surprisingly, the biggest topics up for discussion at the upcoming G7 summit in Italy. NATO strikes a deal with Hungary to not stand in the way of support for Ukraine as Kyiv is targeted again. North Korea appears to be strengthening ties with Russia as cross-border tensions with South Korea are on the rise. And pilgrims begin arriving for the Hajj.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy delivered an emotional address Tuesday to lawmakers at Germany's Bundestag, speaking about Europe's long history of war that has denied peace to generations of Europeans.

"That is why the dream of a Europe that must be a continent of culture, must be a continent of people, must be a continent without war, has gained so much strength," he said. "I personally have confidence in this kind of Europe."

The Ukrainian leader said Russian President Vladimir Putin must be held liable for Russia's war on Ukraine.

"The time for compromises is over," Zelenskyy said. "It was over exactly when Putin started burning cities and awarding his murderers. When he chose killings over agreements."

Ukraine needs air defense, says Zelenskyy

Elsewhere on Tuesday, Zelenskyy spoke at a reconstruction conference hosted by Germany, where he stressed the need for air defenses and rebuilding Ukraine's energy system. He said Russian drone and missile attacks have destroyed half of the country's energy generation capacity since winter.

He said that after two years of war, Ukraine's military has shown it can hold the front lines 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 to secure billions of dollars in aid for its military and infrastructure needs.

Leaders will discuss peace

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.

A summit of NATO leaders is set for early July in Washington. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said Tuesday in Riga, Latvia, he expects allies at the summit will agree to a "long-term financial commitment to Ukraine."

Stoltenberg told reporters in 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.

Some information for this report came from Agence France-Presse and Reuters.
By Guy Faulconbridge and Vladimir Soldatkin

ST PETERSBURG, Russia (Reuters) - Cut off from the West, Russia is pitching its $2 trillion economy to giants like China and Saudi Arabia and longer-term prospects like Zimbabwe and Afghanistan at its premier investment forum in St Petersburg, which was founded by the tsars as a window to Europe.

The war in Ukraine has led to the biggest upheaval in Russia's relations with the West since the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis, and Western sanctions have forced a once-in-a-century revolution in Russia's economic relations.

Since Peter the Great laid the foundations of the modern Russian state and made St Petersburg the capital in the early 18th Century, Russia's rulers have looked to the West as a source of technology, investment and ideas.

The 2022 invasion of Ukraine, though, has forced President Vladimir Putin to pivot towards Asia and the rest of the non-Western world amid what the Kremlin says amounts to an economic blockade by the United States and its European allies.

Western sanctions have not torpedoed Russia's economy, however, and Moscow has nurtured ties with China, major regional powers in the Middle East and across Africa and Latin America.

It is less clear, though, how much cash these countries are prepared to invest in Russia's economy, and at what price. No blockbuster deals were announced so far.

But Russian officials say it is just beginning - and that relations with the West are ruined for a generation.

Bolivian President Luis Arce, who will join Putin at the main session of the St Petersburg International Economic Forum, said he wanted to share the experience of Bolivia's new economic model - with a big state - since 2006.

"We have our own economic model, which we have been implementing since 2006, and we want to share this experience," Arce told Putin.

Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa is attending, as are 45 other foreign officials including the Saudi energy minister, Oman's minister of trade and commerce, and a senior Taliban official.

Russian trade with Zimbabwe is tiny though - just $168 million in 2023 versus Russian-European Union trade of$300 billion in the year before Russia invaded Ukraine.

Gone from the forum are the Western investors and investment bankers who once flocked to secure a slice of Russia's vast mineral wealth and one of Europe's biggest consumer markets. Reuters saw no major Western companies at the forum.

Largely gone too are the 1990s oligarchs who made fortunes wheeling and dealing in the chaos of a collapsing superpower.

In Putin's Russia the main arbiter is the state, controlled by the former Cold War spies and technocrats in his entourage.

CHINESE DRAGON

State-controlled banks such as Sberbank SBER.MM, VTB <VTB and VEB have massive stands, as do Russian regions and ministries along with resource giants such as Gazprom Neft SIBN.MM and Novatek NVTK.MM.

In a sign of the times, Alfa Bank's stand was a vast Chinese inflated dragon adorned with Chinese characters and an assertion that Alfa was "the best bank for business with China."

Chinese luxury car brand Hongqi featured armored vehicles.

A delegation from the Taliban, still officially banned in Russia, toured the stands. The Taliban originally drew members from fighters who, with U.S. support, repelled Soviet forces in the 1980s.

The theme of the forum is the statement: "The foundation of a multipolar world is the formation of new points of growth."

While Russia's economy has shown resilience in the face of stringent Western sanctions, prices are rising as defense spending balloons.

In dollar terms, the economy is about the same size it was a decade ago, and Putin is locked into an economic war with the West whose financial might is at least 25 times bigger than Russia's on a nominal GDP basis.

From many foreign attendees there was praise for Russia.

"This year's event has grown in size... There are a lot of opportunities," Nebeolisa Anako, an official from Nigeria, told Reuters.

"The West may be actually isolating themselves as they are a minority in the world, although a very important part of the world. It is always better to cooperate with other parts of the world."

Other officials from Africa and the Middle East echoed those words.

Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman met Putin's energy point man, Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak, at the forum.

Novak said "friendly countries" took the vast majority of its oil exports and that about 70% of it was paid for in national currencies.

"We already supply 95% of oil and petroleum products to friendly countries this year in four months," Novak said.

(Reporting by Guy Faulconbridge; Editing by Hugh Lawson)
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)
Photo: Joe Scarnici/Getty Images

Kehlani is putting her money where her mouth is after supporting Palestine in her music video for Next 2 U. The performer raised over $555,000 in aid for Gaza, Sudan, and Congo with merch from the new single. This song is about protection, something that institutions have failed to do for the people of Palestine, Congo, and Sudan, she wrote on Instagram. No one got us the way we got each other. Me & my team feel overwhelmed with gratitude for yall showing out for this fundraiser. Kehlani sold T-shirts that were made in Bethlehem and screen-printed in Ramallah, both on the West Bank. Along with benefitting Palestinian families amid the Israel-Hamas war, the proceeds also go to families in Sudan, which is experiencing a civil war, and Congo, which is facing attacks by armed rebel groups. Were blessed to play a small part in a growing tide towards the truth about Palestine, Kehlani continued. Were invincible together and I feel so inspired by yall.
Puglia is set to bask in international spotlight.

Italy will host the annual summit of the Group of Seven (G7) leaders at the luxury hotel resort of Borgo Egnazia in the country's southern Puglia region from 13-15 June.

The three-day summit, hosted by Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni, will bring together leaders from Canada, France, Germany, Japan, the UK and the US.

The main issues to be addressed during the summit include Africa, climate change and development; the conflict in the Middle East; Russias war against Ukraine; migration; Indo-Pacific/economic security; artificial intelligence and energy/Africa and the Mediterranean region.

The European Union also participates in all meetings and the summit will be attended by the presidents of the European Council and the European Commission.

In addition Italy has invited numerous guests from outside the G7 including Pope Francis who will be the first pontiff to participate in a summit of G7 leaders.

Francis, who will speak on Friday on the topic of artificial intelligence, is set to conduct numerous bilateral meetings while there, at the request of visiting leaders.

From 13 to 15 June, Borgo Egnazia in Puglia will host the G7 Summit of the Italian Presidency. Three days of sessions during which participants will address the main global issues. #G7Italy

See the full programme here: https://t.co/ba4dY1hjp0 pic.twitter.com/tdANFJfy6I  G7 Italy (@G7) June 12, 2024

Italy has also invited the leaders of Algeria, Argentina, Brazil, India, Jordan (King Abdallah II), Kenya, India, Mauritania, Tunisia, Turkiye, Ukraine and the United Arab Emirates, as well as the heads of international organisations, the IMF, OECD, United Nations and the World Bank.

The summit will include the involvement of Italy's president Sergio Mattarella who will host the G7 leaders at an official dinner in Brindisi on 13 June.

Meloni travelled to Borgo Egnazia on Tuesday, with her seven-year-old daughter Ginevra, to prepare for the summit and to relax after her right-wing Fratelli d'Italia party topped the polls in the European elections last weekend, in a result that consolidates her position both in Italy and in the EU.

Located in Savelletri, midway between Bari and Brindisi on the Adriatic coast, Borgo Egnazia has a Michelin-starred restaurant and the G7 guests will be served wine from the winery owned by veteran TV journalist Bruno Vespa.

The luxury hotel is popular with celebrities, including Madonna and the Beckhams, and in 2012 it was the wedding venue of Justin Timberlake and Jessica Biel.

It will be the seventh time that Italy hosts the G7 and the first time that the summit is held in Puglia.

Previous G7 summits were hosted in Venice (1980 and 1987), Naples (1994), Genoa (2001), L'Aquila (2009) and Taormina (2017).

The international media spotlight on Puglia is expected to result in a surge of tourism for the region which is famed for its beaches and stunning coastline.
Exploring the Fashion Scene in Rome: A Journey Through Style and Sizing Challenges

Remember the scene in Pretty Woman when Julia Roberts' character enters a luxury clothing store, only to be turned away by snooty sales associates despite having money to spend? My shopping experience in Rome feels eerily similar, but not because of attitude  its the sizing situation.

Lets get personal. As Ive entered my thirties, my body has changed. No longer a size six, Im now more of a size ten in US standards, sometimes a twelve due to my larger bust. Shopping has become an adventure in finding clothes that fit comfortably yet fashionably. However, Rome seems to have different ideas. Why is clothes shopping here so difficult?

To illustrate, let's embark on a shopping excursion. You can walk to most areas if youre aiming for your daily 20,000 steps or opt for the bus  though be prepared for a crowded ride. Walking, however, offers a chance to enjoy Romes beauty.

First Stop: Mercatino

If youre into resale or vintage fashion, Mercatino is a must-visit. This store buys fashion items from customers, so its inventory is handpicked. However, nothing is categorized by size  its organized by color and style, making the hunt for your perfect piece a bit of a challenge. Despite the effort, most items I liked were too small.

Thrifting in Trastevere

Trasteveres Via di S. Francesco a Ripa has several thrift shops in close proximity. Unfortunately, these shops often stock predominantly smaller sizes with few options for larger sizes. Accessories are plentiful, though often overpriced in my opinion.

OVS: A Reliable Option

In the same area is OVS, akin to a Kohl's in the US. Sizes range from extra small to extra large, though I didnt see a plus-size section. The store features current trends and attracts customers of all ages. I bought two dresses and a pair of pants, though I prefer not to support fast fashion.

Luxury at the Spanish Steps

Fashion lovers, head to the Spanish Steps for luxury brands like Gucci, Prada, Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Armani, and Alexander McQueen. Even if you cant splurge, window shopping here is a delight. However, finding a size 10? Unlikely. My favorite designer, Moschino, had a dress I loved, but not in my size. Ordering was an option, but I declined  I wanted to try it on before committing to such a high price.

Sitting on the Spanish Steps, feeling a bit defeated, I observed the diverse shapes and sizes of tourists. Given Rome's bustling tourism, why isnt there a better selection of inclusive clothing? Europe is supposed to be a fashion leader, yet I struggled to find trendy, size-inclusive options.

An epiphany struck: Rome, The Eternal City, is a blend of ancient history, vibrant culture, and modern life. Its cobblestone streets, piazzas, fountains, and cafes offer glimpses of everyday Roman life. Despite the fashion challenges, Rome is rich with history and contemporary flair.

Just then, a Roman police officer blew her whistle and asked me to move from the steps. As I walked away, I realized Romes fashion scene might not cater to me, but thats okay. Ill spend my money on other experiences, embracing my "Eat, Pray, Love" moment instead.

Ph: Sorbis / Shutterstock.com
High Court Reporters

Contempt of court proceedings against Gemma O'Doherty over her alleged harassment of the mother of a young man who took his own life have been adjourned until next month.

The adjournment was sought to allow lawyers for the young man's mother, Edel Campbell, address a claim made in the proceedings by Ms O'Doherty regarding alleged third party funding of her case.

Ms O'Doherty, who was not in court on Wednesday, has claimed that the law which prevents the third party funding of legal actions, known as 'champerty and maintenance' has allegedly been broken.

She said that an alleged legal expenses fund had been organised for Ms Campbell and it allegedly raised over 24,000.

Many of the donors to this fundraiser were anonymous, Ms O'Doherty has alleged.

Ms Campbell's side deny any wrongdoing, and reject Ms O'Doherty's claims.

Ms Campbell of Kingscourt, Co Cavan, has sued Ms ODoherty, trading as The Irish Light, over the alleged unauthorised use of an image of Ms Campbell's late son Diego Gilsenan.

The photo was used in an Irish Light article linking unexplained deaths to the Covid-19 vaccine.

Ms Campbell secured an injunction restraining Ms O'Doherty, who rejects all Ms Campbell's claims against her, from harassing her.

It is alleged that Ms O'Doherty has not complied with that order and Ms Campbell sought orders that could see the defendant sent to prison for contempt due to the alleged breaches.

Ms O'Doherty strongly rejects that she in contempt of court.

The matter was briefly mentioned before Mr Justice Mark Sanfey on Wednesday.

Paul Comiskey O'Keeffe Bl, instructed by solicitor Ciaran Mulholland, for Ms Campbell said that his side was seeking time to produce an additional sworn statement in the action.

Counsel said it was to address an issue raised by Ms O'Doherty regarding third party funding.

Counsel said while Ms O'Doherty was not in court, the parties had been notified in advance that the matter was due to be mentioned before the courts on Wednesday.

The Judge said that he was prepared to allow the plaintiff's side produce the sworn statement, but said that Ms O'Doherty should be allowed to reply to that document before the matter returns before the court in early July.

The judge, who expressed his concern that the defendant was not in court, also directed the Campbell side to inform the defendant of the court's decision regarding the exchange of further statements in the case.

Previously, another judge of the court rejected Ms O'Doherty's claim that he was biased against her as a basis for not continuing to hear the contempt proceedings against her.

However, Mr Justice Conor Dignam said while he was satisfied she had not met the legal test for bias and for him to recuse himself, another judge can be available to hear further matters in the action.

Last year Mr Justice Dignam had granted the original injunction against Ms O'Doherty.
It is hard to know what Dr Mary Strangman, the first woman elected to a Waterford local authority, would think of the outcome of Waterfords local elections, where 29% of the candidates who contested the election were women, but only 16% were elected. Dr Strangman was recognised in March at City Hall when The Large Room was renamed in her honour.

Born in Carriganore in 1872, Mary entered the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, the first medical school in the UK and Ireland to admit women on equal terms with men, along with her sister Lucia. After graduation she built a pioneering medical career in the UK.

Mary returned to Waterford in 1903 where she set up practice, championing public health and advocating for womens rights. As a suffragist, she was acutely aware of the inequities in womens healthcare and franchise rights, and when in 1911 women became eligible for election to local council, she stood for election, becoming Waterfords first female councillor on January 15, 1912.

Outgoing Mayor of Waterford, Cllr Joe Conway, said: Dr Strangmans dedication to public health marked her out as a remarkable person in any era, but especially in her own. In renaming this function room in City Hall the Dr Mary Strangman Large Room, we reaffirm our commitment to upholding the values she held dear.

The motion to rename The Large Room was proposed by Cllr Mary Roche.

Mary Strangman was ahead of her time. Not only was she a medical professional who championed the introduction of an accessible and fair public health system, she advocated for women. She was a vital catalyst for the foundation and success of Waterfords suffrage activities. Today, her legacy is more relevant than ever.
The Port of Waterford is set to host a Port & Cheese Waterford Chamber Business After Hours event.

CEO David Sinnott and the team at Port of Waterford will be welcoming the business community to the Port to showcase Irelands oldest continuous-running business, its plans for growth and its position as a key driver in the building of the South East economy into the future.

Guests to the event can enjoy an insight into the Port and a guided tour of the facilities, while they savour some locally made cheeses and also enjoy a selection of food from Shirelys Park Road Delicatessen.

Speaking ahead of the event, CEO at Port of Waterford David Sinnott said, At a recent Chamber event I heard Past President Paul Nolan talk about agriculture and it being a 17 billion export business with 9/10 of the benefit being in the local economy.

"There is also a lot of talk about agriculture and sustainability  and specifically in the world of transport emissions, our Port based here in the cornerstone of those rich farmlands of south Leinster and east Munster makes its contribution."

He added, "In 2023, 94% of all the export containers that left the Port of Waterford were from the four counties of the South East - Waterford, Kilkenny, Wexford and Carlow. By using Port of Waterford each business behind these boxes made a 27% carbon saving - a benefit for us all and one that we hope to double in the next couple of years as export container demand from the South East grows and we feel the pressure to install more shipping services to make this happen."

Mr. Sinnott commented that he is looking forward to sharing with the public how Port of Waterford works with local businesses, deliver on carbon emission reduction and recently managed the largest onshore wind cargo in the history of the state.

Members and non-members of Waterford Chamber are welcome to attend the event on June 20, which will take place at Marine Point in Belview Port from 5.30 pm to 7pm.
SIPTU members employed in the National Advocacy Service took to the picket lines across the country on Wednesday morning, June 12, as part of a strike, which they say is aimed at protecting the vital assistance they provide to disabled citizens.

In Waterford, staff went on strike outside St Brigid's Family Community Centre, 37 Lower Yellow Road.

Additional pickets have been placed outside National Advocacy Service offices in Dublin 7, Tallaght, Bray, Athlone, Tullamore, Limerick City, Roscommon, Cork City and Kilkenny.

SIPTU Deputy General Secretary, John King, explained the reason for strike action

The failure to maintain the pay and conditions of National Advocacy Service staff in line with those doing similar jobs is threatening the future of the service due to an inability to recruit new workers and experienced staff leaving," he said.

The workers took their case to have similar pay and conditions as people carrying out similar work to the Labour Court in January.

"They were given a favourable recommendation but their employer has not implemented it.

"This has left them with no option but to take strike action.

SIPTU Activist and National Advocacy Service staff member, Anne Marie Collins, who was on the picket line at 37 Lower Yellow Road, Waterford, said: Many clients are in institutions, inappropriately accommodated or living in the community, with no supports at all, and the National Advocacy Service is essential to supporting them to have their human rights respected as they should be under national and international law.

The unfortunate impact strike action will have on service clients is deeply regretted by the staff, however, it is the outcome of intransigence by those who control the service and the Government.

"The Minister for Social Protection, Heather Humphreys, has allowed a situation to arise where a government-funded body refuses to recognise a Labour Court recommendation, leaving us with no option but strike action.

SIPTU Sector Organiser, Brendan Carr, added: National Advocacy Service staff carry out vital and confidential work with some of our most vulnerable citizens.

The service works with more than 1,500 disabled people each year providing in-person advocacy interventions in areas including housing, access to justice, health care, safeguarding and supporting in decision making.

"This work includes accompanying clients to meetings with state agencies, helping advise them in court cases and working with them in hospitals and long care settings.
Five women have been elected to Waterford City and County Council, which, although still small numbers, is a breakthrough on the long-time male-dominated Waterford Council, where in 2019 only two women were returned by the electorate.

The gender split on Waterford City and County Council.

Lola OSullivan (Fine Gael) topped the poll in Tramore-City West, Joeanne Bailey (Sinn Fein) took a seat in City South on her first bid for election - she was coopted onto Council during the last term, Mary Roche brought home a seat for the Social Democrats, a first in Waterford, while Niamh ODonovan (Fine Gael) snatched victory in Lismore at the expense of outgoing long-time councillor Declan Doocey.

Catherine Burke kept Sinn Feins seat in Portlaw-Kilmacthomas (former party member Declan Clune, now Independent, also got elected in that area).

Cllrs Catherine Burke and Mary Roche, who were both elected. Photo: Joe Evans

As the count took place at SETU Arena, the Waterford News & Star spoke to several women in public office about the current state of gender equity in Government.

There was a general consensus that the political realm is too often fraught with harassment towards women. Waterford TD and Minister for Mental Health and Older People Mary Butler (Fianna Fail) said: I was first elected to Council in 2014, I took the third seat of six in the Comeragh area, which is a five-seater now. There were four women of 32 councillors.

Minister Mary Butler, at SETU Arena for the Local Election Count 2024. Photo: Joe Evans

Ill always remember when I went to the Dail in 2016, I was the chair of an Oireachtas committee, I chaired many, many meetings for the Oireachtas Commission of Business Enterprise and Innovation. Often I was the only female in the room.

She pointed towards the heightened scrutiny that women in office receive.

I personally believe that social media and the abuse women get is definitely a deterrent. Men can run and theres never a comment on what theyre wearing and how they look. But there will always be a comment in relation to female candidates on their weight, their hair, what theyre wearing, how they look. Thats hard on people.

Cllr Lola O'Sullivan, Fine Gael, who was elected on the first count, topping the poll, pictured with her sister Grace O'Sullivan. Photo: Joe Evans

Outgoing MEP Grace OSullivan (Green Party), who is waiting on the outcome of the counts at Nemo Rangers in Cork on whether she will retain her European Parliament seat, spoke about her partys position on gender parity but also the coarsening of public discourse.

She said: The Greens were one of the few parties that had 50/50 representation, more or less. From my perspective its something we need to strive for, much more. We need to acknowledge that if you want to have fair representation, if you want to have equality, were still a long way off.

Grace continued: We have a strong history of good strong women in politics. And we need more, certainly as we see a shift towards male masculinity and the pushback against women.

Grace described this situation as a bit of a shame.

Theres a lot of toxicity there. It is not conducive to women stepping forward. So we need to make sure that we legislate thoroughly to make sure that we do have a gender balance and that we have diversity in politics as well.

As the count progressed into Sunday, multiple female candidates were eliminated, while others fought for a seat.

Cllr Mary Roche shared her thoughts on her own situation as she waited for the counts to come in for her constituency of Waterford City East. Similarly to Minister Butler, Mary has often been in the lonely position of being the only woman in a room of power.

A relieved Cllr Mary Roche, pictured with her family at SETU Arena after her reelection. Photo: Joe Evans

Mary had been an Independent councillor for years (and prior to that a Fianna Fail party member) before joining Social Democrats in late 2022. She briefly stepped away from politics to look after her elderly mother, who has sadly since passed away, and didnt contest the 2019 local elections but returned to Council when she was coopted in place of Matt Shanahan after his election to the Dail in 2020.

I think Id rather be pessimistic and surprised rather than optimistic and kicked in the guts! she said as she awaited the outcome of the numerous counts on Sunday. So, Im pessimistic enough about the chances of holding that seat, which would be a pity because it means there would be no woman in that ward and I have held that seat for, more or less, 25 years, 10 years on my own as the only woman on the Council, in fact, at the time.

In the end, it was Marys day on Sunday, at the expense of the Green Partys Jody Power, and she took the first seat for the Social Democrats in Waterford.

She was disappointed that the vote for women was not higher in Waterford.

The vote for women hasnt come through which is disappointing, but look, thats the way it goes, its the electorates vote and they may do with it what they please.

A triumphant Niamh O'Donovan, Fine Gael, who won the seat, which had also been contested by her party colleague, and outgoing councillor, Declan Doocey. Photo: Joe Evans

Nonetheless, she was glad to see a few fellow candidates succeed: Lola (OSullivan) did very well in Tramore-Waterford City West, she topped the polls, which is great to see a woman top the poll, its reasonably unusual. Niamh ODonovan (Fine Gael) down in Lismore has done quite well, which is great to see a new woman candidate coming in there, congratulations to her.

Catherine Burke, Sinn Fein, who was elected in the Portlaw-Kilmacthomas LEA, pictured celebrating at SETU Arena. Photo: Joe Evans

First-timer Catherine Burke later returned a seat for Sinn Fein in Portlaw-Kilmacthomas, while Joeanne Bailey succeeded in doing likewise in City South, marking progress on the dismal two female return of 2019.

Of those outgoing female councillors who didnt make it, Cllr Mary Roche said: Cristiona Kiely (Greens) is a really excellent candidate in Tramore so it is very disappointing to see her going, as is Stephanie Keating (Fianna Fail) in our Ward.

She added, Its gutting to see vote collapse, you think that, in my case at least, 25 years of keeping your shoulder to the wheel would count for something.

A delighted Joeanne Bailey, Sinn Fein, after being elected. Photo: Joe Evans

But politics is a contrary thing, which men and women will attest to, including fellow ward member Cllr Jim DArcy, who waited in the long grass after losing out in 2014 to finally return a seat this time. In politics, once the counting is done, the way the numbers stacked up rapidly becomes old news, and as Mary takes her seat for the Social Democrats in Waterford another new political era is ushered in.





Read more... A Champion of Women's Suffrage
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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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.
Bruce Lehrmann caused more than $13,000 in damage to a multimillion-dollar Sydney property he rented as part of an exclusive TV interview deal, a tribunal has been told.

Gaenor Meakes, the owner of the home on Sydneys northern beaches, rented the property to Lehrmann with the Seven Network picking up the $100,000 bill.

Bruce Lehrmann leaving the beachside home in April. Credit: Wolter Peeters

She has since lodged proceedings against Lehrmann on the grounds of property damage and loss of rent.

The NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal heard on Wednesday that Lehrmann left the Balgowlah property with $13,250 in damage when he moved out.
Murders, drive-by shootings and firebombings can now be ordered anonymously using a secure black market app that is like an Airtasker for the underworld.

The app, which came online only months ago, could be the missing link connecting a recent surge in seemingly random and unsolved violent crimes suspected to be connected to multiple ongoing feuds between gangland players and extortion rackets.

A new app used by criminals is reminiscent of the John Wick film franchise, where murders are commissioned through a network of assassins. Credit: Sun-Herald

The system bears resemblance to the one depicted in the popular action franchise, John Wick, in which hits are digitally advertised to a network of assassins and payment goes to the successful hitman.

An underworld source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told this masthead that a new phone-based app had been created, allowing a select group of users to commission and pay for violent crimes anonymously using an encrypted platform based outside of Australia.
When the federal government announced last week that foreigners will be able to serve under the Australian flag, Keirin Joyce wasnt overly impressed.

The 46-year-old drone warfare expert has spent most of his life in the Australian Defence Force: 24 years in the army and four years in the air force. He has been deployed to Timor-Leste, Afghanistan and Iraq. While Joyce thinks the governments plan to allow enlistment for permanent residents from Australias Five Eyes intelligence-sharing partners  New Zealand, Canada, the United States and United Kingdom  is sensible, he says that ultimately it wont make a big difference.

The Australian Defence Force is struggling to meet its recruitment targets.

The difference Joyce refers to, and which the ADF is seeking to address, is its ongoing personnel issues; the ADF is 4400 people short of its recruitment target and is battling to maintain its current staffing levels.

Thats a problem given the government wants to increase the number of uniformed personnel by 30 per cent  or 18,500 people  by 2040. Without more recruits, the ADF will struggle to muster enough pilots to fly its F-35 fighter jets or crew the nuclear-powered submarines Australia is acquiring under the AUKUS pact.
The US State Department designated the United Self-Defence Forces of Colombia, known as the AUC, as a foreign terrorist organisation in 2001. Chiquita, as part of a plea deal with the Department of Justice to settle charges of doing business with a terrorist group, admitted in 2007 to having paid the paramilitaries $US1.7 million, as an investigation revealed. A man cycles past a Chiquita banana truck in La Lima, Honduras. Credit: AP The AUC were a product of Colombias brutal civil war, which erupted in the 1960s and killed at least 220,000 people. They formed in 1997 as a coalition of heavily armed far-right groups that drug traffickers and businesspeople turned to for protection from leftist guerrilla groups.

The war ended in 2016 when the government and the main leftist group, which was also responsible for killing civilians, signed a peace deal. Lawyers representing the families in the South Florida trial argued that Chiquitas operations benefited from the companys relationship with the paramilitary group, which sowed fear across an 18,000-square-kilometres fertile farming region connecting Panama and Colombia until it disbanded in 2006. They said the group killed or forced out farmers, allowing Chiquita to buy land at depressed values and expand its operations by converting plantain farms to more profitable banana farms. Lawyers representing Chiquita questioned whether the victims had been killed by the paramilitaries or by other armed groups and said the companys employees had also been threatened by the paramilitaries. Executives and employees, defence lawyers said, were being extorted by the self-defence forces and made payments to ensure their safety. The situation in Colombia was tragic for so many, Chiquita officials said in a statement. However, that does not change our belief that there is no legal basis for these claims.

Lawyers representing the families declined to provide many details about their clients stories outside of court, citing concerns for their safety. But Simons of EarthRights International cited other cases filed in US courts against Chiquita that he said showed similar patterns of violence, including killing family members in front of relatives. Loading In one case, an unidentified girl was travelling to a farm by taxi with her mother and stepfather when they were stopped by gunmen, he said. The men executed the stepfather and then fatally shot the mother as she tried to run away. They then gave the girl the equivalent of 65 cents to take a bus back to town. Chiquita, which was formerly known as the United Fruit Company, is also a defendant in a suit filed in Medellin, Colombias second-largest city, asserting that payments Chiquita made to the AUC rose to involvement in criminal activities. The name Chiquita resonates in the recent history of the country, said Sebastian Escobar Uribe, one of the lawyers in the Medellin suit. When you investigate a corporation with significant financial muscle in a country like Colombia, the judicial system is vulnerable to being co-opted by that company.

In the US, it is unusual to hold a corporation financially liable for human rights violations beyond the countrys borders, said James Anaya, who teaches international human rights at the University of Colorado Law School. The lawsuit that resulted in the South Florida verdict had been winding its way through the court system since it was filed in 2007 and withstood several legal challenges to reach a trial. Its not impossible for these cases to happen, Anaya said. Theres certainly a path for them. But, he added: Its not common. Everything has to fall into place. Human rights advocates in Colombia lauded the jurys verdict.
By David Young, 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. Photo: 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. Photo: 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.
The Jeep brand has unveiled the Avenger 4xe with all-wheel-drive system, writes Trish Whelan.

The 4xe version enhances off-road capability as well as all-weather drivability. It is equipped with the Hybrid 48-Volt powertrain with exclusive Jeep AWD technology along with the automatic 6-speed dual-clutch transmission.

Enhancements include improved off-road angles, a 10mm increase in ground clearance, and the ability to ford up to 400mm of water.

The car will appeal to open air enthusiasts, those who practice sports, 4x4 owners as well as urban customers who enjoy outdoor escapades at the weekend.

The Avenger 4xe will arrive in Ireland late 2024. Prices and specs available closer to launch.
Fastrack Into Information Technology (FIT) held the grand opening of its new community training hub in Ballina on Friday, May 31st.

The hub, located on Teeling Street, was officially opened by Minister for State Dara Calleary. The facility has been successfully running since 2022 and has become a cornerstone for education and training in Ballina and the wider region, offering the LTI Introduction to Manufacturing course and English language classes funded by the Irish Red Cross. It is designed for people who may wish to pursue a role or aspire to work in manufacturing settings and is funded by the Mayo, Sligo, Leitrim Education and Training Board (MLSETB).

The first group of students at FIT Ballina have seen the course through to completion and many have gone on to pursue qualifications and employment opportunities since completing the course.

Students past and present were in attendance to celebrate the official opening and the enhancement of local educational resources.

Officially opening the facility, Minister Calleary said he was delighted that the FIT hub is located in Ballina.

Manufacturing is such an important part of our country and is core to our economy. We have it here in Ballina and Ballina is open for business, he said.

Other notable guests included Danielle Barr, Director of Training and Employment Services at FIT; Tom Grady, Chief Executive of MLSETB; Peter Egan, Director of Further Education at MSLETB; Cllr John Caulfield, Chairman of MLSETB and local councillor Mark Duffy.

Cllr Caulfield said they were all proud of the progress made by the current students and the success of the first group.

The success of the first year gave us the argument to keep going for a second year and it has been terrific, he said.
Pope Francis gives interviews all the time. Generally on informal occasions he tends to favour delivering a few off-the-cuff remarks. Even when his words are misinterpreted and clarifications need to be issued later on, he loses no sweat over it.

An example is the now established feature of an impromptu press conference on his plane journeys home from overseas trips and his folksy response to whatever questions hes asked  to the delight of reporters, ever anxious to file up-to-the-minute copy.

A second style of interview is with the media on formal occasions, when he tends to be much more circumspect in his comments and tends to choose his words more carefully.

A third is the private, closed door meetings with specific groups  usually with bishops, priests and members of his former religious order, the Jesuits. In this case, nothing is off the table as he usually encourages a frank exchange of views and favours a say-what-you-think approach. But, in a context of mutual trust, theres an expectation, even a presumption, of confidentiality.

Unfortunately for Francis, that presumption didnt apply to some who were at his recent meeting with Italian bishops, all 200 of them.

Apparently, during the meeting, some bishop (or bishops) raised the subject of gay priests and gay seminarians and what was described as an anti-gay slur was used in the course of the discussion.

Shortly afterwards a report of the meeting, including the use of the slur-word, was leaked to the press by a bishop or bishops, including that Francis had told the meeting that gay men shouldnt be ordained priests and that gay seminarians were not welcome in seminaries.

It was bad enough that a trust was betrayed in terms of confidentiality  and that it spread across the globe like wildfire  but worse, that it played fast and loose with the truth.

This emerged after an interview in an Italian newspaper with Bishop Savino, the vice-president of the Italian bishops, in which he refuted the reported comments  in that they were incorrect in crucial respects and didnt reflect what Francis had said and the context in which they were delivered.

It had been reported that Francis attacked gays. He didnt.

That he had said that gay men shouldnt be priests. He didnt.

That he had said at the meeting that gay students shouldnt be accepted in seminaries. He didnt.

What he did say was that priests  gay or heterosexual  should keep their promises of obedience, poverty and chastity.

Two things strike me about this. The first is that anyone familiar with Francis knows that it would have been very unlike him to make homophobic comments because Francis  more than anyone else in the long history of the Catholic Church  has been most supportive of gay people. The accusations, running counter to the evidence of the support Francis has given to gay people, are simply incredible.

From early on in his pontificate when, in response to a question about gay priests, Francis said, Who am I to judge?, he opened up the need to draw gay people from the periphery into the centre of the Church; he underlined again and again his consistent policy of favouring an inclusive Church where everyone is welcome and everyone should be included; and recently he introduced a pastoral blessing for gay couples. Invariably the record shows that Francis has been compellingly supportive of gay people and gay priests. As Bishop Savino pointed out, It makes no sense to say that Francis is homophobic. The accusations run against all the evidence to the contrary.

This prompts a second thought: why would bishops (or cardinals) possibly decide to tell untruths and/or exaggerations and betray a pope to whom they had formally sworn an oath of obedience?

For those acquainted with the Catholic Church, what seems scarcely credible is in fact true. And its this. It isnt just that one bishop (or a few bishops) leaked a false version of one meeting. Its part of a worldwide, organised attempt by extreme traditionalists to undermine Francis with the intention of blocking the reforms that were supposed to be implemented 60 years ago after the Second Vatican Council and that Francis is now adamant need to be introduced. Its no secret that theres a strong push-back against Francis and the meeting of Italian bishops was just another effort to damage him and in particular to turn gay people against him. In modern-speak, what happened was that Francis was ambushed or, as we say, set-up.

There are multiple previous examples of this push-back. For instance, in 2018 when Francis was returning to Rome after his visit to Ireland, Archbishop Carlo Vigano, the retired papal nuncio in America, issued a statement accusing Francis of knowing that the former Cardinal of Washington Theodore McCarrick was guilty of sexual abuse but that he had done nothing about it. It was a chilling accusation clearly meant to undermine Francis and his recent meetings with abuse victims in Ireland. Later, Viganos scandalous accusations were shown to be untrue.

It isnt just the occasional recalcitrant bishop who opposes Francis in his efforts to bring the Catholic Church into the 21st century. Some cardinals have walked the same dishonourable path: the Australian, George Pell, who while part of an advisory group of eight cardinals chosen by Francis was later unmasked as the anonymous author of a book that sought to undermine Francis; Gerhard Muller, a German who having reached the requisite retirement age as head of the Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith became a thorn in Francis side because Francis insisted he retire; Robert Sarah, who encouraged Pope Benedict to oppose Francis reforms; and Archbishop Georg Gansweain who published a shameful memoir (inaccurately entitled Nothing But the Truth) and emailed it to journalists even as Benedict was laid out in St Peters.

Little wonder that Francis is nervous that the push-back from traditionalists mentioned above (and others) might lead to a breakdown (or schism) of the Catholic Church. It may well be the reason why Francis is pausing expected and reasonable initiatives at the coming synod this October.
Michael Bolton

Two men have been arrested after 120,000 of MDMA was seized by gardai in Castlebar, County Mayo.

The MDMA was seized following a search, under warrant, of a premises in Castlebar.

A further 0.5 kg of suspected MDMA with an estimated value of 30,000 along with a small quantity of cash were also seized by gardai.

Two men, aged in their 20s, were arrested by An Garda Siochana, and are currently detained at a Garda station in County Mayo under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act, 1996.

The drugs seized will now be sent to Forensic Science Ireland for analysis.

Investigations are ongoing.
Circus and craft events in Achill, creative writing workshops in Claremorris, illustration events in Belmullet, a magic workshop on Inishturk, jiving and country music in Bohola  these are just a few of the exciting events for children on Saturday, June 15th, as part of the Cruinniu na nOg Festival in Mayo.

This years theme, 'Dare to Create', encourages young people to try something new and showcase their talents.

Cruinniu na nOg is Irelands national day of free creativity for children and young people under 18.

"Ireland is the first, and only, country in the world to have such a day," says Mayo Creative Ireland Coordinator Austin Vaughan. "In Mayo, we will have over 60 events covering all areas of creativity, from stop-motion animation workshops to dancing sessions inspired by nature."

Cathaoirleach of Mayo County Council, Cllr Michael Loftus, stated: We know creativity is so important for wellbeing, social connection, and economic development, so its wonderful to have a day of free events for children to showcase and explore their creativity.

Anna livia Cullinan, Creative Communities Engagement Officer and Arts Officer, Ann Marie McGing at the launch of Cruinniu na nOg 2024.

The events are organised through the Cruinniu na nOg Mayo Events Grant Scheme, and this year children and young people helped select the winning entries.

We decided this year to involve children and young people in the panel process for the grants, explained Mayo County Councils Creative Communities Engagement Officer, Anna Livia Cullinan. And honestly, the youth panel was brilliant. They thought of everything from making sure there were events for children with additional needs to having interesting options for all age groups. Their advice for event organisers was to have fun and be genuine. Silly voices are also welcomed but not required.

This year also sees the introduction of Cruinniu Late. Cruinniu Late is funded in partnership with the Nighttime Economy Taskforce as a way to keep our creative spaces open and active by providing a series of evening and late-night, alcohol-free events for older teens.

As part of Cruinniu Late, Brad Heidi, No 1 on the Irish Breakers Chart with his latest single Don't Let Go, will be performing at Aras Inis Gluaire in Belmullet alongside a DJ, open mic, photobooth, and much more. There will be a VR mural session in Ballina Library where young people can step into a virtual world and explore different aspects of the mural in 3D, examining the intersection of art and technology. Additionally, there will be creative tasters and a street art event at Castlebar Library.

Cruinniu na nOg 2024 is a flagship initiative of the Creative Ireland Programmes Creative Youth plan and is organised in Mayo by the Creative Ireland team of Mayo County Council with the support of young people, community groups, creatives, and organisations across the county.

Minister for Arts Catherine Martin expressed her delight at the expansion of the programme.

This year Cruinniu na nOg is everywhere, and all at once! I am thrilled that we are launching Cruinniu Late, providing authentic, alcohol-free spaces for young people to perform. Our partners in local authorities have devised over 31 great events for 14-18 year olds.

Cruinniu na nOg takes place in Mayo and across Ireland on Saturday, June 15th. All events are free. For a full programme of events and to find a Cruinniu na nOg activity near you, visit www.creativeireland.gov.ie.
The House has voted to expel Republican Rep. George Santos of New York following a critical ethics report on his conduct, making him just the sixth member in the chamber's history to be ousted by his colleagues.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 12. The fintech expertise and solutions honed in Uzbekistan present significant opportunities for application in Azerbaijan, Otabek Nasirov, Co-owner and Partner at SBO Insights, said in an exclusive interview with Trend.

"We frequently visit Azerbaijan and see immense potential in its fintech market. Leveraging the expertise and solutions developed by Uzbekistans fintech players, we can collaborate with local partners, including the Azerbaijan Fintech Association, the Association of Banks of Azerbaijan, and regulatory bodies. The strong cultural and economic ties between our countries create a fertile ground for joint fintech initiatives," Nasirov stated.

During a forum organized by the Azerbaijan Banks Association (ABA) in Baku this May, SBO Insights and the Azerbaijan Fintech Association signed a memorandum of cooperation. Nasirov elaborated, "This memorandum focuses on collaborative market research in the fintech and e-commerce sectors across Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan, and other regions in Central Asia and the Caucasus. Our research will offer alternative analytical insights to fintech and e-commerce companies, government agencies, international financial institutions, and other stakeholders. It will illuminate market directions, trends, the number of players, and emerging innovative products. We anticipate a fruitful and long-lasting partnership with the Azerbaijan Fintech Association."

Reflecting on Uzbekistans fintech evolution, Nasirov highlighted its rapid progress since 2020, spurred by the COVID-19 pandemic which transformed banking and financial services.

"Uzbekistans fintech sector has seen remarkable, almost revolutionary growth, outpacing similar developments in neighboring countries like Kazakhstan and Russia. Regulatory support has been pivotal, fostering a competitive environment that benefits consumers by enhancing the services offered by fintech companies in comparison to traditional banks," he said.

However, he noted upcoming regulatory changes in Uzbekistan, effective from July 1, which could significantly reshape the landscape.

"These changes address various challenges such as geopolitical factors, tax evasion, financial literacy, cybersecurity, 'gray' cross-border transfers, gambling, and cryptocurrency regulation. While these regulations could pose challenges, they also offer opportunities for fintech companies focusing on systematic development, innovation, and technology. These companies will likely emerge as key players, providing crucial insights for regulators," Nasirov explained.

He emphasized that this regulatory shift represents the next evolutionary phase for Uzbekistans fintech market, aiming to set new standards for the burgeoning sector. The ultimate impact will depend on regulatory feedback and the experiences of fintech service users.

"This aligns with a global trend where regulators strive to secure markets and protect consumers. Stricter international compliance and transparency requirements for cross-border transfers are becoming standard. Notably, a presidential decree signed in April will permit regulated gambling in Uzbekistan starting January 1, 2025. This decision addresses the persistent outflow of money to unregulated gambling zones and aims to harness the economic benefits of legalized gambling through taxation," added Nasirov.
The Civil Air Navigation Services Organisation (CANSO) Global ATM Summit has started today in Baku, Azerbaijan, hosted by Azeraeronavigation Air Traffic Management (AZANS) of Azerbaijan Airlines CJSC. The organisations 28th Annual General Meeting (AGM) will also take place in the city later this week.

From June 11 to 13, global ATM leaders and CANSO members will participate in discussions on key issues and important decisions for the future of the organisation. The theme of this years event is Environmental Sustainability and more specifically, combating climate change. Participants will be exchanging ideas on reducing carbon emissions, showcasing advanced ATM technologies, and enhancing air traffic management with the goal of having more environmentally friendly flights.

The Global ATM Summit's opening ceremony this morning in Baku featured notable attendees, such as Simon Hocquard, CANSO Director General, Rashad Nabiyev, Minister of Digital Development and Transport of Azerbaijan, Mukhtar Babayev, Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources of Azerbaijan, COP29 President-Designate, and Salvatore Sciacchitano, President of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), who delivered a video message.

In his opening remarks, Simon Hocquard, CANSO Director General, stated: As we convene in Azerbaijan we are reminded of the urgent need for global action and cooperation to mitigate the impacts of climate change. Azerbaijan has taken some significant strides towards environmental conservation. By tabling this important discussion here in Baku, we acknowledge the need for collaborative efforts across borders and industry to safeguard our planet's ecosystems for future generations.

Hosting the CANSO ATM Summit 2024 and 28th AGM highlights Azerbaijan's growing influence and leadership in the aviation industry. Additionally, it reflects our dedication to innovation, excellence, and active engagement in the efforts of international aviation organizations. I want to extend my thanks to CANSO's management for their trust in us, Rashad Nabiyev, Minister of Digital Development and Transport of Azerbaijan said.

"Let us use this event as a platform to exchange ideas, share best practices, and establish new collaborations. Together, the sector can address the global gas emissions and contribute significantly to our collective climate goals", said Mukhtar Babayev, Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources of Azerbaijan, COP29 President-Designate.

About AZANS

Azeraeronavigation Air Traffic Management Department (AZANS), a part of Azerbaijan Airlines CJSC, is the authority responsible for aviation services in Azerbaijan's airspace. AZANS consistently meets the requirements of all international aviation organizations. At present, AZANS manages an average of 18,000 transit flights per month in Azerbaijan's airspace, attesting to its appeal to foreign airlines.

About CANSO

CANSO  the Civil Air Navigation Services Organization  is the global voice of airspace and is shaping our future skies. Its members support over 90% of the worlds air traffic and include air navigation service providers, airspace users and operators, manufacturers, and aviation industry suppliers. CANSO raises the bar on global ATM performance by connecting the industry to share knowledge, expertise and innovation.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 12. Azerbaijan urges France to reduce tensions towards protesters, the Foreign Ministry of Azerbaijan wrote on its X page, Trend reports.

According to the ministry, Azerbaijan is concerned by the deployment of tear gas and police brutality in certain French locations where protests have taken place.

"Protesters exercising their rights to assemble and speak freely should not be subjected to excessive force. We call on the French Government to urgently de-escalate the situation," the ministry added.

Stay up-to-date with more news at Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 12. The executive director of the State Oil Fund of Azerbaijan will have two deputies, Trend reports.

According to the information, this is reflected in the amendment made to the "Regulations on the State Oil Fund of the Republic of Azerbaijan" by the decree signed by President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev.

Currently, the executive director has a deputy appointed and dismissed by the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel


Wu Wanjing is head of Xinyu (a city in east China's Jiangxi Province) Xiabu Embroidery Art Research Institute. As a municipal-level inheritor of xiabu (literally "cloth for summer") embroidery crafts, she has led her team in inheriting and promoting the art form for years. "I think xiabu embroidery is not only a traditional handicraft, but also an expression of culture. I hope my work will help people learn about the craft. I will always do my best to develop intangible cultural heritage," Wu says.

Xiabu, a traditional handmade textile, is made from China grass, also known as ramie. The linen is comfortable, durable and easy to wash. Xinyu has a long history of both planting ramie and producing xiabu. Xiabu embroidery is a unique type of embroidery in Jiangxi. In 2014, China added xiabu embroidery to an extended list of the country's items of intangible cultural heritage.

Zhang Xiaohong, a national-level inheritor of xiabu embroidery, began learning the craft at an early age. For decades, Zhang has been devoted to the study and innovation of xiabu embroidering skills. In 2004, she established a company to develop xiabu embroidery, and to sell relevant products. Wu, Zhang's daughter-in-law, is a member of Zhang's team.



Going All Out for Cultural Inheritance

Wu, 37, has had a keen interest in painting since she was a child. In 2009, she graduated from the department of fine arts history of Guangzhou Academy of Fine Arts. She was recruited by a bank, but she longed for a career as an artist. "After I got to know my husband, he took me to visit some exhibitions of embroideries. Gradually, I developed an interest in xiabu embroidery," Wu recalls. She was deeply affected when she learned Zhang had gone all out to inherit and develop the craft.

"She has built a platform for those who have dreams of and a passion for xiabu embroidery. As I admired her endeavors to inherit xiabu embroidery, I decided to join her. I followed her while collecting embroideries in the countryside, and I supported her idea of establishing a xiabu embroidery museum," Wu says. "My love for traditional culture, and my sense of responsibility, especially regarding the inheritance of intangible culture heritage, are the reasons why I chose the industry, without reservation," Wu explains.

In 2014, Wu resigned her position with the bank so she could concentrate full-time on her work related to xiabu embroideries. She studied embroidery-making skills, and, with Zhang's help, she soon became a skilled embroiderer. In her pursuit of excellence, Wu often attended lectures at art schools, and she consulted masters of xiabu embroidery. Wu also explored ways of integrating intangible cultural heritage into modern life, especially by using her knowledge of fine arts and studying the principles of painting.



"Xiabu embroidery is a carrier of both xiabu and embroidery arts. It is passed down from generation to generation, and it embodies the values and wisdom of Chinese. Traditional xiabu embroidery patterns include flowers, birds and scenery, and the works are usually exhibited or collected as art. To discover more possibilities of xiabu embroidery, I have designed and produced some items for daily use, by combining the craft and other forms of crafts," Wu says.

One of Wu's masterpieces is a collection of furniture. The embroidered patterns on the furnishings come from the original paintings of Pu Sheng. Wu used a technique of xiabu embroidery that allows the threads to blend naturally into the cloth's texture. "The design of the works reflects my ideal life  Sitting on a comfortable sofa, one can listen to music or read, in the company of someone he/she loves," Wu explains.

She has also designed a collection of tote bags embroidered with patterns that represent Jiangxi's culture. During the China International Consumer Products Expo, held in April in Haikou, capital of south China's Hainan Province, Wu showcased xiabu embroideries, and the products attracted many visitors.



Innovative Approaches

"Actually, there are difficulties in the inheritance and development of xiabu embroidery. For example, it is hard to find qualified inheritors, and it is a challenge to make sure all of the inheritors command the crafts in a comprehensive and thorough way. Making innovations on the basis of the traditional characteristics of xiabu embroideries, dealing with the problems of financing, management, and marketing while industrializing intangible cultural heritage  These are challenges we have to meet," Wu says.

Wu has led her team in developing more than 500 items of xiabu embroideries, including bags and furnishings. To better promote the art form, the team has livestreamed seminars, to teach embroidery-making skills. While interacting with netizens, and by analyzing big data based on their livestreaming, the team has gained a better understanding of consumers' needs. That has helped the team develop new products.

Wu's team has promoted the inheritance and development of xiabu embroidery by integrating the cultural industry with tourism, education and science and technology. Their cultural products and services have injected new energy into Xinyu's economic development. "We have demonstrated making xiabu embroidery in some scenic spots, and we have invited tourists to make embroideries. In this way, tourists learn about xiabu embroidery, and relevant cultural products become a kind of tourism resource. Since the Xiabu Embroidery Museum opened in Xinyu, in 2014, it has received 30,000 visits, on average, every year," Wu says.

As for integration with education, Wu's team has established a training system for students, from various age groups, and has cooperated with Jiangxi Tourism and Commerce Vocational College to provide skills training, on a monthly basis, at Master Zhang Xiaohong's Studio.

"We have used modern technologies to protect intangible cultural heritage. We have established a database of Jiangxi's folk embroidery arts, and we have explored the integration of xiabu embroideries with digital products and media," Wu continues. With Wu and her team's efforts, the popularity of xiabu embroidery has increased in recent years.



Telling Stories of Cultural Inheritance

To commemorate the bicentenary of the birth of Karl Marx, the main founder of Marxism, creator of Marxist parties and pathfinder for international communism, several exhibitions on Chinese culture were held in Marx's hometown, Trier, Germany, in 2018. Some xiabu embroideries were exhibited as representative of Jiangxi's culture. "We prepared 20 xiabu embroideries for the exhibition. Zhang Xiaohong, Zhang Suling (a municipal-level inheritor of xiabu embroidery) and I took six months to produce a portrait of Marx, and the portrait was collected by the city museum of Trier," Wu recalls.

She was proud xiabu embroideries were exhibited in a museum outside of China. "To promote and pass down xiabu embroidery is a common dream of all people who care about the art form. I hope our efforts will help more people learn about and fall in love with it," Wu says.

Wu, who was a delegate to the 13th National Women's Congress of China (in 2023), has implemented the spirit of the congress by providing practical services to women. She has helped build platforms to train and guide women college graduates in entrepreneurship, and she has participated in international cultural exchanges, especially among women, to showcase Jiangxi women's positive images through art.

"Given our advanced human resource management methods and achievements in the development of xiabu embroidery, my team won an award during China Women's Handicraft Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition, in 2021. We have also helped talents in our industry attend assessments for professional titles and inheritors of intangible cultural heritage. Seven of our trainees were named national- and/or provincial-level inheritors or masters of arts and crafts," Wu says.

To encourage and help in-need women to create their own businesses, Wu's team has organized skills training in communities. "We have cooperated with women's federations and disabled persons' federations to establish training bases for entrepreneurship and employment promotion. The bases have trained some 30,000 people, and helped more than 2,000 people find employment," she says. Wu said her team will strengthen cooperation with women's federations, especially in providing flexible jobs to full-time mothers.

Wu and Zhang Xiaohong, both National March 8th Red-Banner Holders, have made the same resolution about inheriting and promoting xiabu embroidery. "Sometimes my mother-in-law and I have different opinions about the innovation of traditional crafts, but she supports most of my decisions. She is my role model. I will continue making concrete efforts to fulfill my mission of promoting xiabu embroidery," Wu says.

Photos by Ma Yan, Gu Qinqing and Li Chengsheng

(Women of China English Monthly May 2024)

Editor: Wang Shasha
BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 12. President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has signed a decree on the establishment of Hajigabul Industrial Park and amendments to the decree "On Establishment of Hajigabul Industrial Quarter", Trend reports.

According to the decree, Hajigabul Industrial Park was established in the Hajigabul district based on Hajigabul Industrial Quarter.

The full text of the decree can be found at the link.

Will be updated
The Marshall County Board of Education held a special called meeting on June 11, to discuss recommended policy and procedure updates, as well as the fiscal year 25 salary schedule.
Food and drink hub plans for Chapter Court given the go ahead

This article is old - Published: Wednesday, Jun 12th, 2024

Plans to create a go-to place for people to eat and drink in Wrexham city centre have been given the green light.

The latest set of proposals for the Chapter Court development were submitted to Wrexham Council in December last year.

Inspired by Camden Market in London, owners TBE (Southern) Limited sought permission to transform a rear courtyard off Argyle Street by introducing food and drink outlets and an events space.

The existing site is currently used as a loading bay, bin store and parking area for nearby shops.

The local authority has now granted permission for the scheme, which the company said would help to rejuvenate a part of the city centre that has struggled in recent times.

In a planning statement, agents representing the firm said: The applicant site has seen a downturn in recent years, with lots of retailers moving out of the area to the Eagles Meadow shopping complex in another area of the town.

This area also competes with other retail parks near to town which offer customers the convenience of free parking, longer opening hours and shops all-under one roof.

Chapter Court aims to attract a different type of retailer and therefore add a unique customer offering to the towns current patchwork.

Creating a micro retail and micro food vendor space for Wrexham will be the first of its kind in this area.

With go-to places to eat and drink, the development of the rear courtyard will have the ability to host year-round events.

Permission for the wider Chapter Court scheme to redevelop a group of shops near Queens Square was previously granted in June 2020.

Work to refurbish several of the retail units was initially disrupted by the Covid pandemic, but later went ahead and many are now occupied by businesses.

In April this year, a new craft beer tap room called Rough Hands Tap was opened as part of the development in the old CeX store on Queen Street.

The agents said: With some of the vendors taking up rental space in the internal units of the Queen Street section, the Chapter Court development is already contributing positively to the local community.

Being able to offer a sought-after space, in a central location, has already meant that local businesses can promote their independent companies, displaying the entrepreneurial spirit of Wrexham.

Having an external spill out space that supports and balances the dynamic inside retail areas, will serve to extend the reach of the development and in turn the visitors in Wrexham.

A decision notice showing the application had been approved was published on the councils website at the start of this week.

By Liam Randall  BBC Local Democracy Reporter
BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 12. The process of withdrawing Russian peacekeepers from Azerbaijan's Karabakh, where they were temporarily stationed after the 2020 Second Karabakh War, is complete, the Ministry of Defense of Azerbaijan told Trend.

The personnel, weapons, and equipment of the peacekeeping contingent have completely left the territory of Azerbaijan.

To note, in April, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed the withdrawal of the Russian peacekeeping contingent from Karabakh.

Hikmet Hajiyev, Assistant to the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan and Head of the Foreign Policy Affairs Department of the Presidential Administration, announced that the highest authorities of both countries agreed on the early withdrawal of Russian peacekeepers from Azerbaijan, as per the trilateral statement signed on November 10, 2020. He said that the process was already underway, with the Ministries of Defense of Azerbaijan and Russia coordinating the necessary steps.

April 19 marked a significant milestone in the resolution of relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia. Through bilateral discussions, Armenia agreed to return previously occupied villages in the Gazakh district to Azerbaijan. This resolution, initiated by Azerbaijan in 2020 to commence the delimitation process from the Gazakh district, stands as a testament to President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev's strategic foresight.

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On Saturday, tens of thousands of people marched in Paris against the Israeli regimes genocide in Gaza, and the support for it from the governments of France and other NATO powers. On the eve of the European elections, protesters also criticized French President Emmanuel Macron, his promotion of far-right forces and his military escalation targeting Russia.

Ait, a French Palestinian, told the WSWS he was protesting the Gaza genocide and Macrons complicity:

They are carrying out a criminal policy of mass murder. All the presidents who have supported this genocide are the real terrorists and war criminals.  If Palestine really belongs to [Israel], prove it. Why do it with war, by murdering women and children? No, there will be no deal, we will protest to the last Palestinian.

Ait also denounced French imperialisms plundering of public funds and social programs to finance war in Ukraine:

The biggest terrorist is the state, and Macron is a robber. And, moreover, France is now threatened with World War III because of all this assistance that they claim is helping Ukraine. Thats false. They are buying Ukraine. Its an investment of public money, and we are paying for their fortunes. They are doing all that with public money, and in the meantime, the French people are struggling and cant pay for food.

He added, I am Palestinian 100 percent. I am also Ukrainian, because Ukraine belongs to Ukrainians, not to Europe!

Ait also attacked Macrons lying claims that he fought the far right during his presidential election campaigns against neo-fascist Marine Le Pen. He said:

No one wants this government. They made us choose between plague and cholera. We voted against cholera, and here we are now.  Democracy is dead.

"Bombing children is not self defense."

He said that Macron is trying to silence the opposition of the large majority of the French people to genocide and war:

France is blocked. There is a very big half of the population that wants nothing of this war, but it does not have a voice. It is not given the right to say non, we dont want Macrons policy, we dont want Israels policy, we dont want Americas policy.  There is the police, that is, Macrons militia, and we are hemmed in on all sides. And if we say anything, were called terrorists and given fines.

Melanie told the WSWS she was protesting against Israels genocide against the Palestinians, explaining:

For me, the retaliation against Hamas is not justified, and there are many collateral victims. I think it is ethnic cleansing and an attempt to destroy Palestine to take advantage of what there is there and extend Israels territory. I think its hardcore Zionism. I condemn what Hamas did, but unfortunately I think Palestine had no other choice but to try to get out of that trap with this group. Today there are women and children who are being targeted in the camps, who await being burned alive, and for me this is intolerable.

Melanie

Israel is a sort of base in the Middle East for America and for NATO, she added. The French government is poisoned with Zionism, it is part of a broader agenda.  Now I am somewhat ashamed to be French.

Asked by the WSWS about fighting to unify the working class in a movement to block arms shipments to Israel and stop the genocide and imperialist war, Melanie said she hopes for an uprising of the masses, an uprising of humanity.

She added:

That is why I am here. I encourage as many people as possible to come and to do the same, whether or not they have political labels.  I want a collective uprising, even if we all have left-wing, socialist values that will help this.

Antonin, a high school student, said he had come to protest against genocide and Frances role: It is a horror, its horrific. When we hear what the Israeli government says about Palestinians in Gaza, they are horrible, genocidal remarks.

Antonin denounced the complicity of European governments:

Netanyahus government acts with impunity, it does whatever it wants and all it gets in return are warnings. But warnings are not enough. The UN passes resolutions against Israel, Israel does not respect them and nothing is done. The complicity of the Western governments, that is what is shocking. We say it is serious but we continue giving them weapons. Words are not enough, we must act.

Asked about how a new generation of youth sees the genocide and the danger of military escalation against Russia, Antonin replied: Everyone is concerned, we must be very careful about the war, what is being done to Russia. People are asking themselves about what will come next.

The WSWS interviewed Mustapha, a sympathizer of Jean-Luc Melenchons France Unbowed (LFI) party. He said, I think it is essential to come to support Palestine, the Palestinian people who are suffering, and especially on the eve of European elections that are important elections.

He added:

The Israeli government wants to continue perpetrating a genocide, to have a scorched earth policy, to destroy everything in their path and not to allow the people of Gaza to return and rebuild. In the statements of the Israeli government, we can see that their policy is very simply to eradicate the Palestinian people by giving them no chance, except becoming refugees. This is unacceptable from the standpoint of international law.  And France is not playing its role, it is not condemning the far-right regime in Israel presently.

Mustapha

When the WSWS explained that workers cannot set out to build a national movement to persuade the French government to stop supporting genocide and war, and that an international movement has to be built against imperialism, including the French imperialist state, he replied:

I heard Macron mention several times that he is moved, that he is indignant, looking at the struggle of the Palestinian people. But he is not up to the seriousness of events, nothing can be expected of him. He has opened a path for the far right, which he favors in every sense of the term.

Mustapha also stressed his concerns about military escalation against Russia:

Macron wants to send trainers. We are in a very scary place. Again, its unacceptable. Calling for war, we know very well that this favors those who are in power. This conflict is intolerable and we must always keep international law in mind. Those who will suffer will be those like you and me, who will be sent to fight for interests that are not their own.

When WSWS journalists said that the eruption of genocide and global war shows that workers cannot limit themselves to the purely national, parliamentary strategy proposed by Melenchon, an ex-minister, Mustapha said he could understand people who argued in this way.
May 17, 2024, marked 70 years since the US Supreme Court decision in the landmark case of Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas (1954), which upended the apartheid Jim Crow system in the American South. In one of the most important Supreme Court cases in its history, the unanimous ruling outlawed state-enforced racial segregation in schools.

The plaintiffs argument had two parts. The first premise was that separate but equal was unconstitutional under the 14th Amendment, which guarantees the right to equal protection of the laws. Second, Thurgood Marshall, leading the NAACP team, made the ground-breaking legal argument that segregation was inherently unequal.

Linda Browns case was selected because her school was not underfunded in comparison to the nearby white school; it was separate but not unequal based on dollars spent. This unusual situationmost black schools in the South received unequal fundingallowed Marshall and the other NAACP lawyers to focus on the constitutionality of segregation itself.

Thurgood Marshall, center, celebrating the Brown ruling in 1954 with fellow attorneys George Edward Chalmer Hayes, left, and James Nabrit

They drew on the work of African American psychologists Mamie and Kenneth Clark, who designed a doll test, in which a group of mostly black girls were shown two dolls, one white and one brown, and asked a series of questions. Despite their ostensible race, most of the children preferred the white doll to the black one. Some of the children would cry and run out of the room when asked to identify which doll looked like them. Clarks research showed that segregation damaged children by creating a sense of inferiority that had real, lifelong consequences.

The court agreed. In his conclusion to the 1954 decision, Chief Justice Earl Warren asked, Does segregation of children in public schools, solely on the basis of race, even though the physical facilities and other tangible factors may be equal, deprive the children of the minority group of equal educational opportunities? He concluded on behalf of the assembled justices, We believe that it does.

Chief Justice Earl Warren

With these words, the court vitiated the infamous 1896 ruling of Plessy v. Ferguson, which codified separate but equal and legitimized state laws based on color. In that earlier case, the Supreme Court ruled against Homer Plessy, a mixed-race Creole man who boarded a whites-only railcar in New Orleans in a fight to overturn Louisianas Separate Car Act of 1890. The Supreme Court upheld the Louisiana law and claimed it did not violate Constitutional protections so long as facilities were equal. In the cases sole dissent, John Marshall Harlan insisted the US Constitution is color-blind, and neither knows nor tolerates classes of citizens. Plessy legalized classes of citizens based on race.

Plessy laid the groundwork for an entire edifice of state-ordered segregation in the South affecting all aspects of social life. As Helen Halyard pointed out in her review of Adolph Reeds book The South:

Under Jim Crow, everything was done to humiliate and degrade the African American population. If blacks looked at whites in a certain way, it could mean death. Interracial marriage was illegal Even casual interactions between whites and blacks were not allowed. Beginning in the 1890s, a raft of laws stripped the right to vote from the majority of blacks, and all public space was segregated by law or customschools and colleges; buses, trains, streetcars; water fountains and bathrooms; diners and movie theaters.

This sign separating blacks and whites at a bus station, photographed in Durham, North Carolina in 1940, was typical of the Jim Crow era

Jim Crow education, the focus of Brown, was inadequate for all students, black and white. However, black schools were seldom equally funded. Most black children could not access their schools by public transportation, walking long distances year-round. At many schools in the South, black children learned from outdated textbooks, often hand-me-downs from white schools. It was commonplace for black schools to lack running water, flush toilets or electricity. An NAACP study of funding in the mid-to-late 1920s found that Georgia spent $4.59 per year on each African American child as opposed to $36.29 on each white child.

Though Brown is generally understood to be an important ruling, several common misconceptions surround it. It is often implied that it and similar decisions were gifts handed down from noble Supreme Court justices and enforced by civil rights presidents. The current US president, Joe Biden, commemorating the 70th anniversary on May 17, captured some of this sentiment. He described Brown as a prayer being answered, as if workers and youth did not risk their lives in the struggle for civil rights.

It is true that the US ruling class, in the 1950s and 1960s, was in the heyday of what has turned out to be, in retrospect, a relatively brief period of social reformism. This was made possible by two factors. One was the immense wealth of American capitalism and its domination of markets on a global scale. In this period of economic preponderance, certain concessions were made to the working class, including its most oppressed layerthe black workers of the South.

Second, the ruling class only made its concessions in the face of a mass movement that won the support of radicalizing youth throughout the country. The emergence of that mass movement, in turn, grew out of a specific set of historical conditions, both objective and political.

The civil rights movement would have been inconceivable without the Great Migration of millions of blacks from agricultural work in rural areas to wage labor in the cities of the South, the North and the West. Efforts to challenge Jim Crow under conditions of countryside isolation had been met with racist terror. It is not accidental that the civil rights movement grew first in the industrial and urban areas of the SouthAtlanta, Montgomery, and Birmingham. And it won the support of powerful new detachments of the working class in the cities of the NorthNew York, Chicago, Detroit, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Cleveland, Los Angeles, and many more. Here the NAACP and other political organizations could operate freely and raise funding.

The family of Scott and Violet Arthur, photographed on their arrival at Chicago's Polk Street Depot, Aug. 30, 1920. Only two months earlier two of their sons had been lynched in Paris, Texas. The photo, an iconic image of the Great Migration, originally appeared in the Chicago Defender

In the cities black workers faced discrimination and forms of segregation, but they also gained immense political experience in the labor movement and in the major class battles of the 1930s and 1940s, including the mighty growth of the industrial unions and the sit-down factory occupation movement.

At the same time, beginning in the 1920s, socialism began to assert its influence. The quantum leap came with the 1917 Russian Revolution. The international socialists, led by Lenin and Trotsky, explained to the American workers that there could be no advance in the class struggle without the fighting unity of all sections of the working class. This entailed a direct struggle against the chauvinist conceptions of the American union bureaucracy. Inspired by the Russian example, key leaders of the black labor movement and intelligentsia became socialists.

World War II increased black workers demands for equality. In 1942, the Pittsburgh Courier published a letter from cafeteria worker James G. Thompson calling on his fellow black Americans to adopt the double V for a double victory against the Axis forces abroad and those who perpetrated ugly prejudices here.

A. Phillip Randolph, a member of the Socialist Party and president of the powerful Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters with about 18,000 members, threatened to organize a march on Washington of 100,000 to demand fair employment practices for blacks and protest segregation in the armed forces, prompting President Franklin Roosevelt to issue Executive Order 8802. The order barred racial discrimination in federal employment and among those unions and companies involved in war-related work.

Having returned to the South from fighting the racist Nazis abroad, black workers were not about to tolerate racism at home. Their return coincided with the largest strike wave in US history in 1945-1946, involving an estimated 5 million workers. Meanwhile, millions of workers and peasants across Asia, the Middle East, Africa and the Caribbean rose up to throw off the shackles of colonialism.

The continuation of lynchings into the early 1960s and images of southern police attacking children with dogs and fire hoses exposed the hypocrisy of the American ruling class claims to be defending freedom all over the world.

High school students attacked by police with a fire hose in Birmingham, Alabama in 1963. Photographed by Charles Moore and printed in Life, such images shocked workers and youth the world over and undermined claims of the US ruling class as a defender of democracy [Photo: Charles Moore, represented by the Black Star photo agency ]

These conditions, objective and political, laid the groundwork for the emergence of the movement against Jim Crownot the generous mood of Supreme Court justices and American presidents.

Another misconception is that Brown and similar court rulings summarily ended Jim Crow. The ruling left unanswered how and when desegregation would occur. A follow-up ruling called Brown v. Board of Education II handed down on May 31, 1955, did little to clarify matters. It ordered schools to integrate with all deliberate speed. In fact, integration occurred in the face of ongoing racist opposition organized by the southern wing of Democratic Party and only with the continuing development of the mass civil rights movement.

Immediately after Brown, Senator Harry Byrd of Virginia coordinated a campaign of massive resistance against the ruling. His Southern Manifesto was signed by 101 politicians, 97 of them fellow Democrats. The reactionary document called for states and districts to refuse federal court orders and for defunding any school that complied. Byrds actions led to the shutdown of the public schools in Prince Edward County, Virginia for five full years.

In 1957, Arkansas governor Orval Faubus called out the National Guard to physically block nine students from attending Little Rock Central High School. The youths eventually enrolled, entering the building under the guard of the 101st Airborne. Faubus responded by promoting racist attacks and maneuvered to close all four of the citys public high schools for an entire year. Similar scenes repeated across the South.

The brutality of the segregationists in the wake of Brown led to a widening of the struggle for civil rights. The Montgomery Bus Boycott began on December 5, 1955, lasting a full year. In 1960-61, the sit-in movement began in Greensboro, North Carolina and the Freedom Riders began their courageous challenges to segregation. In the summer of 1964 the Freedom Summer was kicked off in Mississippi with the aim of registering as many African Americans to vote, breaking down decades of disfranchisement. These struggles were interracial and were marked by murders of civil rights workers, black and white, including James Chaney, Andrew Goodman and Michael Schwerner (June 21, 1964), and Viola Liuzzo (March 25, 1965).

Missing persons poster created by the FBI in 1964, showing the photographs of Goodman, Chaney, and Schwerner, three civil rights activists abducted and murdered with the complicity of police

A final misconception is that the sole purpose of Jim Crow laws such as Plessy was to promote racismthat is, that racism was the end in-and-of-itself. In fact, the entire function of segregation from its emergence in the late 19th century had been to separate and divide black and white workers and poor. As Martin Luther King put it, racial segregation as a way of life did not come about as a natural result of hatred between the races but was really a political stratagem employed by the emerging Bourbon interests in the South to keep the southern masses divided and southern labor the cheapest in the land.

King never broke free of the Democratic Party, but by his last years in the late 1960s he had come to reckon with the limitations of the legal focus of the civil rights movement. The very gains of the civil rights movement had brought the class question to the fore. Much of Jim Crow had been dismantled. But the grinding poverty of the South remained, while in the North, the signs of the urban crisisthe shutdown of basic industry were gathering.

Martin Luther King Jr., delivering his I Have a Dream speech during the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, August 28, 1963.

Browns legal achievement confirms this view. It spelled the end of inequality before the law, no small feat. Yet social inequality has remained. Put somewhat differently, while the Supreme Court could mandate the end of legal segregation, Brown said nothing about mandating high-quality, sufficiently funded education for every child. This has never been realized. The trajectory, as the intervening decades have shown, has been in the opposite direction.

As it turned out, Brown represented a high-water mark in the period of social reforms. Little more than 15 years later, as the post-war economic boom began to unravel, the policies of the Democratic Party and the ruling class as a whole underwent a further lurch to the right. The Great Society and the War on Poverty were shipwrecked by the Vietnam War and the protracted decline in the global position of American capitalism.

In 1971, the Nixon administration ended the convertibility of dollars into gold. This was the outcome of American industrial decline, expressed in the growth of international debt and an extreme balance-of-payments crisis. By the end of that decade the ruling elites turned to a program of social counterrevolution, gutting social spending and wielding unemployment as a battering ram against the working class. Public education was slashed in order to subsidize tax cuts for the rich and for large corporations, and other funding priorities such as Americas gargantuan military and its sprawling police and prison apparatus.

Hand-in-hand with this assault on living standards, the ruling class began to promote affirmative action programs and what Nixon dubbed black capitalism. While thoroughly jettisoning the policy of social reform, Democrats and Republicans joined hands to elevate a privileged section of upper-middle-class blacks and other minorities into positions of power. Alongside black mayors, generals, and CEOs, many school systems were placed under black superintendents who carried out the de-funding of education every bit as thoroughly as their white counterparts. Meanwhile, black elites specialized in casting all problems in education as race-based. They advocated for more set-asides and opportunities to for-profit black edu-business firms.

The playground at the abandoned Ford School in Highland Park, Michigan, on May 9, 2023. [Photo: Corey Williams/WSWS]

This social element has, unsurprisingly, used the occasion of the Brown anniversary to denounce it. Bettina L. Love, a professor at Teachers College Columbia University and regular featured opinion contributor to Education Week, penned an article, 70 Years of Abandonment: The Failed Promise of Brown v. Board; Why the nation must revisit the separate but equal doctrine. She writes:

Black people must demand this country revisit the separate but equal doctrine. Centuries have taught us that we cannot force this country to live up to the promise of integration. As we mark the 70-year anniversary of a decision this country has clearly shown it never intended to uphold beyond the window dressing of the rhetoric of integration, let us turn to the reality and not idealism. Our schools are separate, and most white Americans appear unwilling to integrate them based on the evidence. So, if separate is the reality for millions of Black and brown students for the foreseeable future, the demand needs to be for reparations.

The idea that separate but equal should be revisited to argue for reparations is reactionary in the extreme. Love speaks for a social layer that views the conception of universal, high-quality education as a barrier to their personal privilege and profit. Their call for racial re-segregationviewed by Love and other black education consultants as an opportunity to peddle race-based curricula for their own financial gainis a sign that deeply reactionary currents have once again come to hold sway in the Democratic Party. It is a layer that feasts off of poverty and social inequality.

This is itself the outcome of the protracted attack on public education waged by Democrats and Republicans at the national, state and local levels over the last 50 years. Schooling has become deeply riven by class. Currently, 43 percent of all US schoolchildren are poor enough to qualify for free or reduced-price lunches, a standard benchmark for financial distress. Children are overwhelmingly segregated by income. In urban areas, this income segregation has the appearance of being simultaneously racial. Nearly 80 percent of highly segregated schools are found in districts also considered to be highly impoverished. But the reality is that elite black families, like their white counterparts, can send their children to the best schools money can buy.

The only viable answer to the ongoing destruction of public education is ending the subordination of social life to profit and war. The trillions currently spent to fund Israels genocide in Gaza, arm Ukraine to attack Russia, build up for war with China and prepare for World War III must be appropriated by the working class and diverted to schools, public health, mass transit, and social needs.

The urgency of this fight is underscored by the repudiation of Brown and all that remains of democratic rights by the highest levels of American governmentincluding by the justice who replaced Thurgood Marshall.

On May 23, Clarence Thomas made a pointed attack on Brown as an overreach and extravagant uses of judicial power. Thomaswhose wife Virginia played a key role in Donald Trumps coup attempt on January 6, 2021speaks as a leader of the fascist-dominated Supreme Court. Attacking Brown goes hand-in-hand with the evisceration of American democracy.

The defense of democratic rights, including the right to free, high-quality education for all, is inseparable from the fight to abolish capitalism and establish a global socialist society. That struggle falls entirely to the international working class.
On Thursday, June 13, the following letter from the Socialist Equality Party and the International Editorial Board of the World Socialist Web Site was to be delivered to Oksana Markarova, the Ambassador of Ukraine, in Washington, D.C.

Madam Ambassador:

On April 25, 2024, the SBUthe state security service of the Ukrainian governmentarrested Bogdan Syrotiuk, the 25-year-old leader of the Young Guard of Bolshevik-Leninists, a Trotskyist organization active in Russia, Ukraine and other countries that were formerly part of the Soviet Union. For the past seven weeks, Comrade Syrotiuk has been held incommunicado in a prison in Mykolaiv. He has been prevented from securing adequate legal representation to oppose the mendacious allegations that have been brought against him by the government you represent. Lawyers in Kyiv and Mykolaiv with experience in fighting politically motivated prosecutions and frame-ups by the Ukrainian government withdrew their offer to represent Syrotiuk following threats of retaliation that led them to fear for their own personal safety.

The allegations against Bogdan Syrotiuk are without the slightest factual substance. The claim that he has been engaged in treason is based entirely on his public opposition to the Ukraine-Russia war, which he has expressed in articles posted on the World Socialist Web Site [wsws.org].

In a desperate attempt to criminalize Syrotiuks exercise of his democratic right of free speech, the SBU frame-up artists claim in their charging documents that the World Socialist Web Site is a Russian propaganda and information agency.

Bogdan Syrotiuk in his office.

There is not a shred of evidence to support this outrageous allegation. The absurdity of this lie is obvious to every reader of the World Socialist Web Site, let alone to those who are familiar with the history and politics of the International Committee of the Fourth International (ICFI), which is based on the socialist internationalist principles defended by the Trotskyist movement since its founding in 1923.

In hundreds of articles posted on the World Socialist Web Site since the outbreak of the war, the ICFI has made its opposition to the military policies of both the Ukrainian and Russian governments absolutely clear. On February 24, 2022, the day of the Russian invasion, the WSWS, the voice of the International Committee, declared:

The International Committee of the Fourth International and the World Socialist Web Site denounce the Russian military intervention in Ukraine. Despite the provocations and threats of the US and NATO powers, Russias invasion of Ukraine must be opposed by socialists and class-conscious workers. The catastrophe that was set in motion by the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991 cannot be averted on the basis of Russian nationalism, a thoroughly reactionary ideology that serves the interests of the capitalist ruling class represented by Vladimir Putin.

The state police of Ukraine know very well that they cannot substantiate their charge of treason against this young and courageous socialist. They must, therefore, resort to the sort of lies used by the Stalinist regime of the Soviet Union in the era of the Terror and Moscow Trials, when it denounced its Trotskyist opponents as agents of Nazi Germany. Notwithstanding the dissolution of the Soviet Union and the restoration of capitalism in Ukraine, the methods and spirit of the Stalinist police agencies live on.

Contradicting its allegation that Bogdan Syrotiuk and the WSWS are agents of Russian propaganda, the SBU indictment acknowledges that the World Socialist Web Site covers the main socio-political problems around the world from the position of revolutionary opposition to the capitalist market system, with the aim of establishing world socialism through socialist revolution.

This factual description of the Marxist-Trotskyist program of the WSWS  which is anathema to Putins capitalist regime  exposes the fraudulent character of the imprisonment and prosecution of Bogdan Syrotiuk.

He is being persecuted and threatened with life imprisonment because he calls for the unity of the Ukrainian and Russian working class in opposition to a war that is being waged in the interests of the oligarchical capitalist elites of both countries.

Bogdan Syrotiuk in mid-April 2024.

Your government  which glorifies the virulently reactionary ideologies and programs that have characterized bourgeois Ukrainian nationalist movements since the days of Skoropadsky, Petliura, and worst of all, the pro-Nazi Stepan Bandera and his Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists  fears the resurgence of socialist sentiments within the Ukrainian working class, which will inevitably assume the form of a striving for unity with its class brothers and sisters in Russia and the repudiation of the war. That is why the arrest of Bogdan Syrotiuk has been followed by a state directive, dated June 3, 2024, banning internet access to the World Socialist Web Site throughout Ukraine.

It is well known that the Zelensky regime, which has canceled elections and rules on the basis of martial law, has illegalized all left-wing and socialist organizations in Ukraine. Even the US State Department was compelled in a report issued in May by its Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor to call attention to the brutally repressive character of your government.

The report specifically cited as violations of human rights the prevalence of enforced disappearance, torture and cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment; harsh and life-threatening prison conditions; arbitrary arrest or detention; serious problems with the independence of the judiciary; restrictions on freedom of expression, including for members of the media, including violence or threats of violence against journalists

Bogdan Syrotiuk is a victim of your governments lawlessness. His arrest on April 25 occurred amidst numerous reports in the international media of rising opposition to the war among Ukrainian workers and youth. It is obvious that the frame-up of Syrotiuk on treason charges is aimed at intimidating opponents of the war, which your government is waging in the interests of Ukraines capitalist elite and its imperialist allies.

The arrest and prosecution of Bogdan Syrotiuk has aroused outraged opposition throughout the world. Progressive and socialist organizations have denounced the political frame-up.

The international campaign for his freedom is gaining strength every day. Thousands of people from all over the world  workers, youth, artists, and academics  have signed a petition demanding an end to the frame-up and the immediate release of Bogdan Syrotiuk from prison.

Madam Ambassador, we request that you forward this letter and our demand for the freedom of Bogdan Syrotiuk to your government.

With the appropriate sentiments,

David North

Chairman, Socialist Equality Party

Chairman, International Editorial Board of the World Socialist Web Site
In a significant attack on democratic rights and a threat to all those opposing Israelis genocide in Gaza, Australias Full Federal Court last month ruled two-to-one in favour of the University of Sydney, which sacked academic Tim Anderson in 2019, primarily for comparing Israel with the Nazi regime and criticising US war propaganda.

Dr. Tim Anderson [Photo: Facebook/Tim Anderson]

After a contorted series of cases stretching over the past five years, the judges ruled two-to-one on May 17 to overturn an earlier ruling by a single Federal Court judge that the university unfairly dismissed Anderson according to the provisions of the Fair Work Act. By pursuing the case for so long and at such expense, the university management has shown its determination to remove Anderson and set a precedent.

During the protracted litigation, an earlier Full Court judgment in Andersons favour was effectively overturned as well. This indicates that this was not simply a legal ruling but a political one. Last months decision was made in the context of an intensifying witch hunt by the media and political establishment, including the Albanese Labor government, falsely labelling anti-genocide protesters, including anti-Zionist Jews, as antisemitic.

In 2018, the university management charged Anderson, a senior lecturer in political economy, with serious misconduct after he posted on social media numbers of comments condemning the misleading media coverage of the Israeli regimes attacks on Palestinians in 2014 and US allegations against the Assad regime in Syria.

Much of the final outcome rested on the fact that in 2018 Anderson had posted on Facebook a PowerPoint presentation titled Reading Contemporary Controversies that he had displayed at a Centre for Counter Hegemonic Studies seminar. One slide with the heading, Look for independent evidence and/or admissions to test assumptions / qualifiers [emphasis in original] included an image of a swastika superimposed over an Israeli flag.

The graphic noted that Israels aerial bombardment of the besieged Palestinians was widely described in the corporate media as precision strikes targeting militants. This was despite the reality that the barrage resulted in over 1,000 deaths, 75 percent of which were of civilians. By contrast, primitive Palestinian rocket attacks, which resulted in six civilian deaths, were denounced as indiscriminate.

The slide encouraged students to seek out independent evidence and to be wary of moral equivalence claims carrying inbuilt assumptions and recognise that both the objectives and actions of the parties are important.

In court affidavits, Anderson described the graphic as an evocative image consistent with my published view that Zionist racial ideology and racialised violence ... was reminiscent of the murderous, racialised pogroms of Nazi Germany. He said: The purpose of the slide was to encourage critical analysis ... No student raised any issue with the slide during the seminar.

The university accused Anderson of offensive conduct and suspended him in December 2018, following an extensive campaign against him by the then Liberal-National Coalition government, Zionist organisations and the corporate media.

University staff came to Andersons defence, recognising the broader implications of this attack. Within days, 30 prominent academics and lecturers signed an open letter warning that his dismissal would be an unacceptable act of censorship and a body-blow to academic freedom, which, by instilling a fear of arbitrary reprisal stifles the very freedom of debate and of thought that education requires.

However, the National Tertiary Education Union (NTEU) organised no defence campaign. Instead, it channelled the opposition to his sacking into an unfair dismissal case in the federal courts, arguing that the dismissal breached academic freedom clauses in the unions enterprise agreement with the university management.

The initial ruling by Federal Court Justice Thomas Thawley in November 2020 found that the enterprise agreement (EA) does not recognise the existence of, or give rise to, a legally enforceable right to intellectual freedom.

This ruling caused shock and opposition among university workers. NTEU University of Sydney branch president Kurt Iveson told the campus newspaper Honi Soit: This issue is widely and deeply felt across our entire membership. But the union held out the hope that the result would be reversed on appeal.

Anderson and the NTEU appealed to the Full Federal Court, which ruled in October 2021 that Thawley had made eight legal errors in his judgment and sent the case back to him to determine again.

In 2023, Thawley finally ruled that Andersons graphic was not a form of racial vilification intended to incite hatred of Jewish people, and ordered the university to re-instate him. The university appealed that decision, however, and extraordinarily the Full Federal Court heard the case again, though this time with different judges.

In their majority judgments, Justices Nye Perram and Michael Lee relied on clause 317 of the NTEU-management EA, which requires academics to uphold, the principle and practice of intellectual freedom in accordance with the highest ethical, professional and legal standards. They ruled that the burden of proof was on Anderson to prove he had met those standards, not for the university to prove he had not.

In other words, it was not up to the management to prove it was justified in sacking Anderson. He had to prove he met such undefined highest standards, which the two judges said he did not do.

Lee wrote that Andersons graphic is self-evidently offensive and obviously disturbing. Perram labelled Andersons conduct as at least incendiary. This is under conditions in which broad layers of students and workers have protested, week after week, against US-backed genocide in Gaza genocide by the fascistic Netanyahu regime.

Andersons dismissal has dangerous implications, not just for academics but the working class as a whole, with opposition growing to the Labor governments backing for the Israeli onslaught as part of its unequivocal commitment to US militarism globally, including in the war against Russia in Ukraine and the preparations for war against China.

The ruling on Anderson is already being used as a precedent. In late May the Australian launched an attack against University of Sydney sociology professor Sujatha Fernandes for showing students a lecture slide stating that the corporate media facilitates the Gaza genocide by suppressing coverage of the atrocities, peddling fake news (promoted hoaxes that Hamas beheaded babies and carried out mass rape, in order to shore up support for Israel), and distorting events.

The Executive Council of Australian Jewry, which claims to be the peak representative body of Australian Jews, and receives substantial government funding on that basis, demanded an investigation into Fernandes. A university spokesperson duly told Honi Soit it was looking into this matter as a priority and that academics must exercise their intellectual freedom according to the highest ethical, professional, and legal standards. That echoes the language of the EA clause used to sack Anderson.

In response, the current NTEU branch president, Nick Riemer, said that it was up to management to show Zionists that the universitys internal processes are [not] there to be weaponised for their own political purposes.

Andersons case demonstrates, however, that far from management standing up to the Zionists, the University of Sydney has been at the forefront of efforts to intimidate or dismiss academics who call into question Israeli, US and Australian policies.
The Socialist Equality Party (SEP) is standing candidates in the British general election to build a socialist anti-war movement, based on the working class.

Millions of workers and young people in the UK hate the Conservatives and Labour for their backing and arming of the Israeli state as it commits genocide, killing more than 38,000 Palestinians in Gaza, and they want an alternative.

What is not as well understood is that Britain, the United States, and other imperialist powers are taking actions in Ukraine that could result in a nuclear catastrophe threatening to destroy all life on earth. The global capitalist system, whose insoluble global crisis is the underlying cause of genocide and war, is descending into barbarism.

The SEP is using this election to break the conspiracy of silence maintained by the capitalist media, the major parties, the trade unions and what passes for the left over the acute dangers facing the working class. We intend to build a socialist alternative.

Some of the thousands of protesters in Whitehall listen to the speakers at the UK rally against the genocide in Gaza, June 8, 2024

Mass opposition to Israels genocide of the Palestinians in Gaza must become the spearhead of a political struggle against the broader war aims of the UK, the United States and the other NATO imperialist powers. Their support for Israels mass murder and ethnic cleansing is bound up with plans for a new military carve-up of the world and its resources, centred on advanced preparations for war with Russia, Iran, and China.

Building a new anti-war movement demands an irrevocable break with the Labour Party.

Sir Keir Starmer wants to form a government that continues the Conservative Partys support for the Gaza genocide and the UKs leading role in the US-led war with Russia. Labour backs sending NATO troops to Ukraine and missile strikes on Russian soil with NATO-supplied weapons that could drag the UK, Europe and the world into war. It is committed to strengthening Britains nuclear weapons programme, backed by Starmers pledge that he will use them.

Sir Keir Starmer, leader of the Labour Party, delivers a keynote speech on security in West Sussex, May 27, 2024 [Photo by Keir Starmer/Flickr / CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

War on this scale demands an escalation of the savage austerity that has already left young people and working-class families struggling to survive. The ruling class is demanding an end to the peace dividend, which means a final death blow must be delivered to the National Health Service, social care, and all essential services to pay for war.

This is accompanied by a whipping up of nationalism and anti-immigrant xenophobia over the need for strong borders that is fuelling the rise of the far-right. A combined frontal assault on democratic rights has already begun with the campaign to criminalise protests over Gaza using lying accusations of antisemitism.

That is why the SEP is standing its Assistant National Secretary Tom Scripps against Starmer in Holborn and St Pancras. A vote for Starmer and Labour is a vote for austerity, repression, genocide and war! A vote for Scripps and the SEP is a vote for equality, peace and socialism!

In Scotland, Darren Paxton is standing in Inverness, Skye and West Ross-shire.

Tom Scripps (left) and Darren Paxton

Britains war election

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak called the snap general election to create the political framework for a new stage in a European-wide war that demands a major confrontation with the working class and young people.

Mass demonstrations against the horrific crimes being carried out in Gaza by Netanyahus far-right government, backed by Britain, the US, and other major powers, have mobilised millions. The ruling class fears an even larger eruption of opposition as the Israeli government expands its military campaign and as the full consequences of the NATO war with Russia become clear.

The ruins of Shifa Hospital in Gaza City, Monday, April 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Mohammed Hajjar) [AP Photo/Mohammed Hajjar]

Sunak declared the main issue determining the election must be national security, citing the need to combat an axis of authoritarian states like Russia, Iran, North Korea and China. He claimed these global tensions were being exploited by extremists who seek to undermine our values, before denouncing anti-genocide protests as antisemitic.

These statements make clear that the task of the next government will be to drive forward the war plans of British imperialism over any resistance mounted by workers and students. This is confirmed by the announcement of a snap general election in France, where President Emmanuel Macron has responded to the rise of the far-right by seeking to create some form of national unity government to wage the war on Russia for which he has become the main advocate.

In the Middle East, as the death toll mounts in Gaza, Israeli aggression against Hezbollah in Lebanon is being ramped up and missile and drone strikes have been exchanged between Israel and Iran.

In Ukraine, agreeing to Kiev striking Russian territory with NATO-supplied long-range missiles accompanies plans to send soldiers from NATO countries to fight on the frontline and imposing conscription to supply fresh cannon fodder. NATO has established military corridors in Europe to allow for the rapid deployment to the east of hundreds of thousands of troops.

Smoke rises from buildings in Bakhmut, Ukraine, the site of heavy battles between Ukrainian and Russian troops on Wednesday, April 26, 2023. [AP Photo/Libkos]

There is nothing remotely progressive about the Special Military Operation launched by President Vladimir Putin in the interests of the Russian capitalist oligarchs who rose to power on the basis of the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991 and the privatisation and plundering of the state assets nationalised in the aftermath of the 1917 October Revolution. Based on its bankrupt Great Russian nationalist perspective, the Putin government is driven to ever more reckless and provocative military escalations of its own, including threats to use nuclear weapons.

But opposition to Russias invasion must not translate into support for NATO imperialism, which deliberately created the conditions for the Kremlins reactionary responsethrough the constant eastward expansion of the military alliance towards Russia since 1990 and then the seizing of political control of Ukraine through the pro-western coup engineered in 2014.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, portrayed as a champion of democracy, is as much a right-wing stooge of the imperialist powers as Netanyahu. He heads a regime of virulent nationalists and outright fascists, which ruthlessly suppresses strikes, free speech and political opposition to the war as it rounds up its citizens and sends them to die.

Amid mounting opposition to the war and resistance to the draft, the Zelensky government has arrested our comrade, the Ukrainian socialist Bogdan Syrotiuk, on fraudulent charges of serving the interests of Russia. Bogdan is an intransigent opponent of the capitalist Putin regime and its invasion of Ukraine, fighting for the unity of Ukrainian and Russian workers and youth against war.

Bogdan Syrotiuk, April 2023

His fate mirrors that of Julian Assange, detained and imprisoned for 14 years by the UK and facing extradition to the US and a possible 175-year sentence for exposing war crimes.

By waging war against Russia, and ultimately Iran and China, NATO hopes to collapse their governments and implement regime change that gives them direct control of essential natural resources. This reckless escalation risks nuclear war, but the imperialist powers are willing to take this risk because they see no other way out of the desperate situation they facedrained of all legitimacy and ruling over impoverished and restive populations.

The ruling elites in the UK and internationally calculate that war abroad will create conditions for the suppression of democratic rights in the name of war-time national unity. This includes plans to ban strikes and protests that reflect fear of a broader movement in the working class, which will be forced to pay for the war with their lives and the destruction of social programmes.

Starmers Labour Party of genocide and war

Starmer and other Labour leaders are hated for backing mass murder and ethnic cleansing in Gaza, based on their sickening invocation of Israels right to self-defence. But Starmers party of Zionism is also the party of NATO. And what is being concealed from the public gaze is the active and advanced preparation for a Labour government to drag Britain into a war that would see the atrocities of Gaza multiplied a thousand-fold.

Starmer responded to Sunaks snap general election statement with his own call to place Britain on a war-footing. The post-war era is over, he declared. This Labour Party is totally committed to the security of our nation. To our armed forces. And, importantly, to our nuclear deterrent.

Labour Party leader Sir Keir Starmer (lower right) mounts a tank during his visit to British armed forces deployed at the Tapa NATO Enhanced Forward Presence operating base in Estonia, December 21, 2023 [Photo by Keir Starmer/Flickr / CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

He boasted that Labour will build four new nuclear submarines and promised world leaders from the US, Europe and the Middle East his government would always meet our international obligations.

This is why Washington and other imperialist capitals, the British Armed Forces and the City of London stand behind a Labour government. Starmers first act as prime minister would be to attend a NATO summit in Washington D.C. on July 9 to discuss waging war against Russia.

The Socialist Equality Party rejects the lie that a vote for Labour is for a lesser evil than the Tories. They represent a single party of war, with Labour boasting of having a better policy to crack down on migration and promising to form the most business friendly government in history.

Starmers pitch to the ruling class is that he can rely on his allies in the trade union bureaucracy to police and betray the working class and impose the dictates of the major corporations and banks. He can cite as proof the role played by the union bureaucracy in sabotaging the 2022-23 strike wave that at one point encompassed two million workers.

The SEP rejects calls to sink political differences to bring about one big Gaza protest vote. The promise by the Stop the War Coalition and various pseudo-left groups of No Ceasefire, No Vote means supporting some protest candidates while calling for a vote for Labour everywhere else. It ends with the formation of a government that will continue backing Israel and waging NATOs wars. The Labour lefts such as John McDonnell and Diane Abbott are all dutifully campaigning for such a government.

Jeremy Corbyn is standing as an independent in Islington North, but only because he was booted out of the Labour Party. Even now he makes no direct criticism of its support for mass murder and ethnic cleansing in Gaza, NATOs war against Russia in Ukraine or anything else. He has carefully crafted his campaign so as not to clash with Labour except within the boundaries of Islington North, and has made no call for anyone else to leave the party and build a new one.

Jeremy Corbyn (left) and Sir Keir Starmer at an event during the 2019 General Election when Corbyn was party leader and Starmer his Shadow Brexit Secretary [AP Photo/Matt Dunham, File]

The only reason Starmer is poised to enter 10 Downing Street is that Corbyn and his backers, elected by a landslide to lead the Labour Party in 2015, faced down demands from workers and youth to drive out the Blairites. Corbyn capitulated on all fundamental issues, including NATO membership and nuclear weapons, and then politely handed the party over to Starmer. The refusal to fight the lie of left antisemitism laid the basis for mass expulsions and now the grotesque depiction of Gaza protests, also attended by hundreds of Jews, as hate marches.

George Galloways Workers Party of Britain offers no alternative. Advanced as a return to traditional Labour values, its nationalist and pro-capitalist programme includes a clampdown on migration targeting refugees, and has become a political home to Asian businessmen, opportunist officials of the Labour, Tory, Liberal Democrats, and worse.

In Scotland, the ruling Scottish National Party (SNP) calls for a ceasefire in Gaza, but unconditionally supports NATO and the war against Russia in Ukraine. Outside of their divisive proposal for an independent capitalist Scotland, the SNP is virtually indistinguishable from Starmers Labour Party of war.

Build the Socialist Equality Party

The Socialist Equality Party states plainly to workers, especially the young generation: The building of a new and genuinely socialist leadership must begin now. We advance the socialist and internationalist programme on which this new leadership must be built.

The SEP is the British section of the International Committee of the Fourth International (ICFI), the world party of socialist revolution, founded by Leon Trotsky in a fight against the Stalinist bureaucracy and its crimes.

The danger of a new world war arises out of the fundamental contradictions of the capitalist systembetween the development of a global economy and its division into antagonistic nation states, in which the private ownership of the means of production is rooted. This is what drives the US, Britain and other imperialist powers as they seek unchallenged domination of the world.

The international working class is the only social force that can stop this global eruption of war. In its June 2 statement, Stop the US-NATO escalation toward nuclear war! Unite the international working class against imperialist war and genocide! the ICFI explains:

The same contradictions driving imperialism to the brink of nuclear war provide the objective basis for social revolution. The international working class is a massive social force, whose interests collide with capitalist exploitation and imperialist barbarism There is only one way that the spiral toward disaster can be avoided, and that is through the intervention of the working class to force an end to this war.

The SEP fights for the formation of a mass movement against genocide and war based on these four essential principles:

1. A movement against genocide and war must be based in the working class. It is the working class that will fight and die in war, and it is the working class that will be forced to pay for it. The same capitalist crisis that produces war also produces the basis for ending war, in the form of growing struggles against inequality, poverty and the attack on wages, jobs, healthcare, education and all the social rights of the working class.

2. It must be completely independent of and hostile to all political parties and organisations of the capitalist class, the Labour Party above all.

3. It must be international, uniting workers in every country and on every continent on the basis of their common class interests. The escalating global war, like World War I and World War II, arises out of the contradictions of the world capitalist system. A new global conflagration can only be averted through the mobilisation of the world working class, which produces all of societys wealth and therefore has the social and economic power to oppose the conspiracies of the capitalist ruling elites.

4. It must be anti-capitalist and socialist, since there can be no serious struggle against war except in the fight to end the dictatorship of finance capital and the economic system that is the fundamental cause of war.

To mobilise the immense social power of the working class against the capitalist class and its representatives means overcoming the gap between the advanced stage of the global crisis and the present level of mass political consciousness. This is only possible through the building of a Marxist-Trotskyist leadership and the revolutionary renewal of the international workers movement based on socialist policies.

The SEP is dedicated to this historic task. We fight alongside our sister parties for the unity of workers in Russia, Ukraine, and all of the former Soviet Union with their brothers and sisters in Europe, Asia, and America against war and for socialism. We appeal to all workers and youth to join the SEP and take their place in this struggle.

Promoted by Stuart Nolan, Box 338, 254 Pentonville Road, London, N1 9JY, on behalf of Tom Scripps, Box 338, 254 Pentonville Road, London, N1 9JY
David Hosier, 69, was put to death Tuesday evening by the state of Missouri. Hosier long maintained his innocence in the 2009 murders of his former romantic partner, Angela Gilpin, and her husband, Rodney Gilpin.

David Hosier [AP Photo/Missouri Dept. of Corrections]

In a final statement issued to the media on Tuesday, Hosier said, Im the luckiest man on Earth. ... Ive been able to speak the truth of my innocence.

Ive been able to reminisce with family and friends new and old. Ive been able to learn to be, the fullest version of me.

Hosier was strapped to a gurney at 6:00 p.m. local time in the death chamber at the Eastern Reception, Diagnostic and Correctional Center in Bonne Terre. He was administered a five-gram dose of pentobarbital, in accordance with Missouris lethal injection protocol, and was pronounced dead at 6:11 p.m.

Witnesses in the execution chamber included Hosiers attorney, Jeremy Weis, as well as reporters for the Associated Press, Missourinet and the Kansas City Star.

The Missouri State Supreme Court had rejected Hosiers appeals, and the US Supreme Court declined to hear his case in August 2023.

Missouri Governor Mike Parson, a Republican, rejected Hosiers last petition for clemency on Monday, saying that Hosier displays no remorse for his senseless violence. Hosier had recently told the Kansas City Star, You cannot show remorse for something you did not do.

In rejecting Hosiers appeal, Parson said, For these heinous acts, Hosier earned maximum punishment under the law. 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.

Between 2008 and 2009, Hosier became involved with Angela Gilpin, who was separated from her husband at the time. Prosecutors say that when Gilpin decided to end the affair and reconcile with her husband, Hosier became angry, and that this anger eventually led him to shoot the Gilpins. Their bodies were found the next day at the threshold of their Jefferson City apartment. They had been shot to death.

Police found an application for a protective order against Hosier in Angela Gilpins purse, in which she had written that 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 standoff. He told the police, Shoot me and get it over with, according to court documents. When police searched his car, they found 15 firearms, including a STEN submachine gun, ammunition and a handwritten note that read: If you are going with someone, do not lie to them, do not play games with them, do not [expletive] them over by telling other people things that are not true.

On appeal, Hosiers lawyers argued that all the evidence tying their client to the scene of the murder was circumstantial, noting the states ballistics experts inability to identify that the bullets found at the crime scene came from Hosiers weapon. Hosier argued as well that the judge who presided over his capital trial and sentencing had a conflict of interest, having been the one to prosecute him in 1998 for failing to pay child support.

Hosiers attorneys also argued that his trial attorneys failed to call a medical professional to explain to jurors how a 2007 stroke had affected Hosiers mental state.

The prosecution pointed to the apparent animosity between Hosier and Gilpinthe restraining order application, Gilpins communication to her landlord that she could no longer live next to Hosier out of fear (he scares me), a call by Hosier to a friend saying he was going to eliminate his problems.

But these pieces of circumstantial evidence on their own do not prove that Hosier killed Gilpin.

In the clemency petition to the governor, the Federal Public Defenders office produced a video focusing on the trauma he experienced as a 16-year-old, when his father, an Indiana State Police sergeant, was killed in the line of duty.

Multiple family members point to Hosiers fathers death as the beginning of a downward spiral. Hes 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, Hosiers sister, Kay Schardien, said in the clemency video. My dads death was just like a crater and David fell into that crater.

Hosier joined that US Navy at the age of 19, marrying while he was enlisted but divorcing before he was discharged. He remarried in 1980 and had a son and a daughter, but that marriage ended in divorce in 1987, a year after he was involuntarily committed to a state hospital psychiatric ward, according to the clemency petition. In 1993, he pleaded guilty to battering his then-girlfriend. He was sentenced to eight years in prison and was released on parole in 1997.

Hosiers attorneys also argued that he had ineffective counsel at trial, including that they should have struck two unqualified jurors and their failure to present an expert witness, who could have testified about a stroke Hosier suffered in 2007 that caused brain damage.

Weis, Hosiers current attorney, told USA Today that while jurors did see medical records of Hosiers stroke and depressive episodes, a medical professional could have better explained their significance. Weis said, When we discussed with the jurors that this information existed and would [it] have made a difference, Weis said, they almost universally said yes.

But Hosier disagreed with the petitions emphasis on his personal struggles and felt that it should have stressed the lack of fingerprints, DNA or eyewitnesses tying him to the murders. I told them I didnt want the boo-hoo, woe is me, AP reported. All that stuff happened 53 year ago, OK? It has nothing to do with why Im here right now.

Hosiers spiritual adviser, the Rev. Jeff Hood, was in the execution chamber during his lethal injection. As his execution day approached, Hood and the condemned man spent time together. We talk, just trying to get prepared for the state wanting to murder you, Hosier told the Star.

Hosier said that while he may have supported the death penalty following his fathers death, he no longer does after having faced the system himself. I cant see by any justification, the death penalty as being anything but cruel and inhumane, he said. The state says its illegal for us to kill somebody, but they can sanction a murder and its A-OK, no big deal.

Hosiers execution was Missouris second of the year and the United States seventh.

The Missouri Supreme Court has set a September 24 execution date for a third death row inmate, Marcellus Khaliifah Williams, 55, despite a finding by St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney Wesley Bells office that he is innocent.

On two separate occasions, Williams execution was delayed to conduct further investigation and DNA testing. DNA on the murder weapon shows no connection between him and the crime.

Governor Parson has lifted a stay put in place by former Missouri Governor Eric Greitens and dissolved a board of inquiry Greitens convened to look into Williams case, setting the stage for Williams to be put to death for a crime that prosecutors say he did not commit.

Since the US Supreme Court reinstated the death penalty in 1976, 1,589 men, women and individuals convicted of crimes committed as juveniles have been executed. Ninety-nine of these state killings have been carried out in Missouri, putting the state fifth behind Texas (685), Oklahoma (124), Virginia (113) and Florida (105).
BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 12. The process of withdrawing Russian peacekeepers from Azerbaijan's Karabakh, where they were temporarily stationed after the 2020 Second Karabakh war, is complete, the Ministry of Defense of Azerbaijan told Trend.

The personnel, weapons, and equipment of the peacekeeping contingent have completely left the territory of Azerbaijan.

Will be updated
The Democratic Party is escalating its attacks on third-party candidates in an effort to block any challenge to the two-party monopoly. On June 11, the campaign of Green Party candidate for US president, Dr. Jill Stein, reported that the Nevada State Democratic Party has sued the Nevada secretary of state and the Nevada Green Party, in an autocratic bid to keep Stein off the ballot.

Green Party presidential candidate Jill Stein. [AP Photo/Matt Rourke]

Posting on X, Jason Call, the campaign manager for Stein, reported that the Democrats filed their lawsuit less than 24 hours after the Green Party submitted some 29,500 signatures, nearly three times the 10,000 signatures required, to appear on the ballot.

In a follow-up post, Call reported that the Democrats are alleging that we did not have the required distribution among the 4 [Nevada] congressional districtsmeaning that a minimum of 2,500 valid signatures must have come from each.

Call added that the Democrats are also going through the signature sheets and seeking to strike signatures for various reasons. Mostly they are trying to tie up our resources so we cant put them elsewhere. Its a Wal-Mart approach to overwhelming the competition.

Ballot access laws for third parties are different in every state. While the Democratic and Republican parties automatically appear on the ballot, third-party candidates are required to spend thousands (and sometimes millions) of dollars and countless hours to obtain tens of thousands of signatures to gain ballot access. Nearly every state requires the collection of a substantial number of petition signatures, and many also require specific minimum signature amounts from the various congressional districts in the state. Every state requires that the signatures be collected within a specific window of time, which can vary greatly, from a year or more to only a few weeks. In addition, most states mandate the naming of presidential electors from every congressional district.



In a follow-up email to the WSWS, Call explained that the Democrats are attacking the paperwork of the very existence of the Nevada Green Party, saying it was filed late, trying to invalidate any signatures collected prior to January 10.

Call noted that the Democrats are suing the Nevada secretary of state, Democrat Francisco Aguilar, because his office provided an incomplete file of our petitions, which Call surmised would be resolved simply by the Secretary of State providing them the complete file.

Call clarified that the Green Party did not submit the required paperwork late. Instead, he wrote, the Nevada Secretary of State processed it late and we have an affidavit to that effect.

The Democratic Party campaign has mobilized vast resources, with millions of dollars and an army of lawyers deployed to block third-party challengers. Call said, They are trying to bleed us out. A tactic of empire. I used the Wal-Mart analogy due to Wal-Marts strategy of putting its competitor out of business through overwhelming resources.

Responding to the anti-democratic actions of the Democratic Party, Socialist Equality Party candidate for US president Joseph Kishore denounced the efforts of the Democratic Party to keep Jill Stein off the ballot in Nevada. The SEP supports the right of all third-party candidates to get on the ballot.

Kishore wrote that the Democrats efforts to block candidates from obtaining ballot status is an attack on the most basic democratic right, the right to vote. The two parties of the capitalist ruling elite want to prevent workers and youth from having the ability to vote for anyone besides Biden and Trump.

He added
More astute representatives of the Mexican and US financial oligarchiesand their respective military apparatusesrecognized that Mexicos President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador (AMLO) of the Morena party was adept at tamping down popular unrest, by way of limited reforms, such as modest cash transfers and minimum wage and pension increases, and his populist demagogy.

Likewise valued was AMLOs extensive cooperation in stemming migration to the US, as well as Mexico increasingly serving as a willing junior partner in Washingtons sanctions and near-shoring campaigns against China.

Mexico's president-elect Claudia Sheinbaum meets with the CEO of Black Rock Mexico, Sergio Mendez. [Photo: @Claudiashein]

His handpicked successor, Claudia Sheinbaum, won election this month by a landslide, although she was opposed by a coalition of the three other major Mexican parties, the centrist Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI), the right-wing National Action Party (PAN) and the nominally social democratic Party of the Democratic Revolution (PRD).

Mexicos incoming President can be expected, if anything, to increase cooperation with US imperialism and be even more subservient to its predatory interests.

Last Friday, the premier financial and business newspaper of the American oligarchy, the Wall Street Journal, ran a laudatory exclusive piece on Sheinbaum, focusing on her building strong relationships with US law enforcement over five years as mayor of the countrys capital, Mexico City.

According to the article, Sheinbaum took a law-and-order approach to tackling violent crime, boosting the number and wages of police officers and installing a security chief who worked closely with US law enforcement. This is a reference to her security chief Omar Harfuch, who has been tainted with possible cartel connections, and with participating in the initial coverup of the 2014 disappearance and murder in the southern state of Guerrero of the 43 Ayotzinapa rural teaching students by military and drug cartel units.

The Journal reports that US and Mexican officials said Sheinbaums election signals a potential shift in Mexicos relations with agencies like [US] Homeland Security; a move away from AMLOs curb[ing] of the activities of US security officials in Mexico, including the Drug Enforcement Administration.

This anticipated increased cooperation will come at a time that the Biden administration is close to ending the right of oppressed migrants to asylum.

The Journal further reports that:

Sheinbaum demonstrated independence from Lopez Obrador on security during her time as Mexico City mayor. The city government had a more dynamic relationship with US security officials than any other state government in the country, analysts and US officials say.

A spokeswoman for Sheinbaum boasts that as mayor she had a good relationship with the US Embassy, and that is likely to continue when she is President.

Biden called Sheinbaum on Monday of last week and said the two emphasized their commitment to cooperation on security.

Sheinbaum and her transition team are also quickly moving to reassure global finance capital and cement close manufacturing, trade and financial ties with US imperialism.

Following the larger-than-expected majorities won by Morena at all levels of government in the June 2 elections, trepidation among investors over the enormous popular expectations of major social reforms found expression in a sharp drop in the peso and the Mexican stock market.

After only the first day of a fall in share prices on June 3, the Lopez Obrador administration and Sheinbaums transition team turned most of their attention to reassuring the financial oligarchy.

AMLOs Economy Minister Rogelio Ramirez de la O came out of a meeting with Sheinbaum on the morning of June 4 to call investors and notify them that he will remain in the post. The decision was quickly celebrated in a statement by BMV Group, which owns and operates the Mexican Stock Exchange.

During the call, Ramirez de la O stressed: We wish to confirm to international organizations and private investors that our project is based on financial discipline, respecting the autonomy of the Bank of Mexico, adhering to the rule of law and facilitating domestic and foreign private investment.

According to Altagracia Gomez, a business adviser to Sheinbaum, and the board president of Grupo Promotora Empresarial de Occidente, a conglomerate with companies spanning transportation, energy transmission, and food products, high-level discussions to be held in the coming months will help allay concerns over any impediments to US investment in Mexico.

On Thursday Sheinbaum met with Sergio Mendez, director general of BlackRock Mexico, a subsidiary of BlackRock US, the worlds largest asset manager, with over $10 trillion in assets under management. This follows on Sheinbaum meeting with BlackRock President Larry Fink during her campaign in February.

After the meeting Mendez said that BlackRock is committed and enthusiastic about increasing investment projects in Mexico.

Gomez said Sheinbaum has more meetings planned with major local and foreign business leaders.

In a way, this organizes public investment and orients private investment, Gomez said. That is, Sheinbaums groveling will point to where the investment spoils lie.

The trajectory of the incoming Mexican administration is to integrate more closely with the interests of US imperialism. This comes when the US ever more recklessly accelerates its drive to war against Russia, China and Iran.

This exposes the bankruptcy of the illusions that the Democratic Socialists of America and other pseudo-left currents have promoted in AMLO and Morena as pink tide style champions of Mexicos poverty-stricken masses.

There is no way forward for workers living on either side of the US-Mexico border outside of a break with all capitalist parties, including the US Democrats and Mexicos Morena, and a unification of their struggles across national boundaries in the fight to to build a political movement for world socialism.
In a statement invoking the spirit of alliance and friendship that reflects the lasting bonds between our two countries, US President Joe Biden congratulated Mexicos president-elect Claudia Sheinbaum for her election victory. A day later, on June 4, in violation of US and international law, he signed a decree shutting down the border between the two countries to asylum seekers.

Migrants studying a map of Mexico at a temporary camp in Mexico City [Photo by ProtoplasmakKid / CC BY 4.0

In making the announcement, he said: We are going to continue working closely with our Mexican neighbors instead of attacking Mexico. And it has worked. We have built a strong partnership of trust between the Mexican President Lopez Obrador, and I am going to do the same with Mexican elected President [Claudia Sheinbaum], whom I spoke with yesterday.

The decree halts all asylum processes and allows deportations within hours without a proper asylum request for those detained crossing the border. It leaves at the discretion of the fascistic Border Patrol officials the decision on whether the asylum seekers have a legal basis to remain in the US. The ban will not be lifted until the seven-consecutive-calendar-day average of migrant encounters at the border drops below 1,500.

The ruthless and deadly measures employed by the administrations of both Biden and his fascistic predecessor Donald Trump, along with those employed by Texas Governor Greg Abbott and pliant governments across the region have failed to stop the flow of migrants. The conditions of widespread violence, war and utter misery, created by more than a century of US imperialist oppression and deepened by the crisis of global capitalism, have pushed growing waves of migration to the US southern border, reaching record numbers in the past year.

Latin America, in particular, has seen its worst economic decade on the record, with a 0.9 percent growth rate in 2014-23, which is even worse than the infamous Lost Decade of the 1980s.

The US Border Patrol has recorded 2.47 million detentions at the southern border in the past 12 monthsan average of 6,765 per day.

While migrant detentions have dropped continuously so far this year and reached the lowest level in 40 months this May, this is not due to reduced attempts to reach the border.

Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador has proudly attributed the drop to his governments increased crackdown against defenseless migrants, deploying tens of thousands of military and police, and detaining 368,000 migrants in just the first four months of the year, unheard of for Mexico.

The response by President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador and his protege Sheinbaum to the new policy has again unmasked their nationalist bluster about standing up to US imperialist disrespect and defending national sovereignty and the rights of migrants.

The Mexican government has officially agreed to accept the return of migrants, except for Mexican nationals, who continue to make up over a third of those detained at the border, the largest national group. However, the decree applies equally to Mexicans.

In a press conference last week, Lopez Obrador said he spoke with Biden, who was very respectful and very kind. He asked Biden that if they make a decision to deport, why not do it directly? They come to Mexico and we have no problems, we treat the migrants very well, all of them, but why triangulate?

The Mexican President said his government is helping the United States reach deals with other countries to allow for direct deportations, as if sending asylum seekers back to where they are escaping from was any better.

The mention of kindness was an open acceptance of a bribe in exchange for helping Biden end asylum rights. In the same call, Biden said he had approved the construction of new border crossings in Matamoros-Brownsville and Piedras Negras-Eagle Pass, and the expansion of the most important trade crossing in Nuevo Laredo-Laredo.

Lopez Obrador thanked Biden for the measure to expedite the growing volume of trade between the two countries on Wednesday and announced a delegation to Washington to encourage investments in the Tehuantepec Isthmus Inter-Oceanic Corridora rail and highway system launched this year that connects the Pacific Ocean with the Gulf of Mexico (and Atlantic Ocean) at the narrowest point in southern Mexico and seeks to compete with the Panama Canal.

In any case, we cooperate with and assist President Biden, Lopez Obrador said, adding that the American will go down in history as the president who does not build walls, but bridges.

Having previously claimed that Trump was respectful to the Mexican people, Lopez Obrador will go down in history as the Mexican President who has disgraced himself most shamefully before US imperialism.

Sheinbaum has not issued any statement denouncing the asylum ban. During her campaign, she declared: Whoever the people of the United States choose, whether its President Biden or President Trump, were going to come to an agreement. This is despite Bidens sweeping attacks against migrants and his support for the genocide in Gaza, or Trumps proposals to act as a dictator and deploy hundreds of thousands of troops to deport millions of migrants.

Couched in the phrase investments for development, one of Sheinbaums stated goals is to expand the use of migrants as cheap labor in southern Mexico. This development of southeastern Mexico will be very important for the southeast itself, for Mexicans, and also to contain migration in terms of job prospects within Mexico, she said during her campaign.

This economic policy, which is also advocated by the openly right-wing opposition parties, explains why virtually all migrants detained in Mexico are not deported, but rather sent back to the impoverished south of the country. Many have reported to the media being thrown out in the streets without any money or information as to where to go. The Mexican government and media use the Orwellian term humanitarian rescues for these cruel detentions.

Lopez Obrador, Sheinbaum and the Morena regime represent the interests of the Mexican oligarchy, which subordinates all considerations to competing for greater investments from Wall Street and transnational corporations.

Acknowledging that US capital would rather exploit the majority of migrants as cheaper labor within Mexico than north of the border, the Mexican ruling class seeks to become slave runners for US imperialism by exploiting the endless pool of desperate and mostly young workers escaping the social catastrophes around the world.

This is a natural extension of the near-shoring strategy of US imperialism, which has worked for three decades to set up a profitable North American economic platform to prepare for economic and military war against rivals in Europe and Asia, above all, China.

The asylum ban will rapidly worsen the already nightmarish conditions for migrants in Mexico who are being compelled to stay there against their will.

Josue Martinez, a psychologist at the only migrant shelter in Villahermosa, in the southern state of Tabasco, warned the Associated Press (AP), We know that people are going to come to Villahermosa ... we are going to reach a point of collapse. He concluded: Mexico is the wall.

Angel, a young worker who recently arrived to the United States from Venezuela, told the WSWS that Mexico was the most dangerous part of the journey, even worse than the Darien jungle between Colombia and Panama: My brother and his wife are still stuck in Mexico. They have been detained several times and deported to the south. They often ask for bribes, and the intention is clearly to wear us down.

The AP interviewed a migrant in southern Mexico being paid $25 for 12 hours of work under the scorching sun and precarious conditions in a mango plantation. Another said that employers tried to force her into prostitution, the report adds, while others fear becoming forced labor for the drug cartels.
Beginning Monday night and through Tuesday morning, hundreds of police officers alongside private security forces were deployed to the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) campus, where they proceeded to assault and arrest students, demonstrators and academic workers protesting the genocide in Gaza.

The violent police assault lasted several hours and resulted in at least 25 arrests, according to a statement issued by the UCLA Police Department. Those who were arrested are currently facing misdemeanor charges of willful disruption and have been ordered to stay away from the campus for the next 14 days.

Police block pro-Palestinian demonstrators from entering a building on the UCLA campus, Thursday, May 23, 2024, in Los Angeles. [AP Photo/Ryan Sun]

On-the-ground reports and video footage show police snatching and punching peaceful demonstrators and firing less lethal pepper ball rounds at them as they march, rally and, at various points, attempt to construct a third Gaza solidarity encampment following the taking down of two previous encampments.

Photojournalist Shay Horse reported that police kinda just kept throwing people around like ragdolls. Horse later reported that police fired probably a couple hundred pepper balls at peoples and press.



Videographer Sean Beckner-Carmitchel, who posts under the X handle @AcatWithNews, likewise recorded police firing dozens of less lethal pepper ball rounds at protesters.

Photos show that the police transformed the campus into a makeshift prison as the night went on. Marco, a PhD student at UCLA, tweeted:

Really super cool to see the building in which I take classes, hold office hours, and teach my students used as a f***ing holding cell.

Protests at the Los Angeles campus began Monday afternoon, less than 18 hours after UAW Local 4811 President Rafael Jaime ordered UC workers to return to work following a temporary restraining order issued on Friday by an Orange County Superior Court judge. Thousands of academic workers voted to strike last month in response to police and Zionist attacks on students and workers exercising their democratic right to peacefully protest.

The judges order was welcomed by the UAW bureaucracy, which has worked from the onset to isolate and end the political strike. After delaying a strike authorization vote for nearly two weeks following a right-wing Zionist assault on student protesters at UCLA, the union initially sought to limit the action to one or two campuses in the 10-campus University of California system, and only expanded the strike to six campuses, involving 30,000 of the UC systems 48,000 unionized academic workers, under threat of wildcat actions.

The UAW has deliberately kept the general membership in the dark about the California strike so as to isolate the academic workers from their industrial counterparts in the union.

The bureaucracy called the action a stand-up strike, after the tactic employed by UAW President Shawn Fain to drastically limit the impact of the UAW strike called last year against the Big Three US automakers. The vast majority of workers were kept on the job to undermine the impact of the work action and minimize the effect on the auto bosses profits.

The stand up strike, commonly referred to by workers as the stand up sellout, opened up the autoworkers to thousands of layoffs after the so-called historic contracts were ratified.



Fain and other top UAW officials are currently under investigation by the federal court-appointed monitor in charge of overseeing the union in regard to the misuse of funds, retaliation against members and the hiding of documents.



Copying Fain, Local 4811 President Jaime refused to call out the entire membership at UC and from the onset imposed a cutoff date of June 30 for ending the walkout.

While the bureaucracy meekly acquiesced to Fridays strikebreaking order, hundreds of militant UCLA student workers resisted and continued protesting on Monday. Beginning in the afternoon, student protesters marched through the campus, reading off the names of some of the over 46,000 Palestinians who have been killed in the eight-month US-Israeli genocide.

The Daily Bruin reported that beginning at 2:00 p.m., over 100 anti-genocide protesters began marching through campus. Roughly an hour and a half later, the first barricades were erected around Dickson Plaza. At 5:45 p.m., according to the Daily Bruin, campus police declared the encampment unlawful and ordered it to disperse. Shortly thereafter, police began to attack the encampment, causing students to flee.



For the next several hours, students and protesters attempted to set up encampments and barricades around the university, as platoons of police trailed and arrested them. In addition to campus police, elements from the California Highway Patrol, Los Angeles Police Department and APEX private security were deployed against the students.



In a statement issued on social media, the Socialist Equality Party candidate for US vice president, Jerry White, denounced the arrest of the students, noting that it follows the mass arrest of over 3,000 demonstrators, overwhelmingly students and faculty, in the last two months.

He continued:

These arrests have been carried out by police on campuses almost universally controlled by the Democratic Party,. The Democrats are working in tandem with the trade union bureaucracies, which are working to suppress opposition to the genocide and American imperialisms escalating wars for global domination.



White observed that the strike was initiated by rank-and-file workers themselves and added, It signaled the powerful entry of the working class as the decisive social and political force to stop war and police state repression.

He concluded:

The California judge who intervened against the strike did so out of concern that the UAW bureaucracy, which has endorsed the reelection of Genocide Joe, could lose control of the situation. The ruling class feared that the strike could become a catalyst for a far broader movement of the working class against war abroad and austerity and repression at home. The main takeaway from this struggle is not that political strikes are futilewhich is what the UAW bureaucracy would have workers believe. Instead, it is that these struggles cannot be left in the hands of the pro-war and pro-capitalist trade union bureaucracies like those which control the UAW apparatus, which is now enforcing the California judges strikebreaking order. Instead, UC workers must form rank-and-file committees to unite with UAW members and all workers throughout the auto, weapons and aerospace industries and other sections of the working class to prepare common action to halt the war machines of American imperialism and the Zionist state. Such an industrial and political counter offensive by the working class is the only way to put an end to war and repression at home and put an end to capitalism, which is the source of war and dictatorship.
Growing numbers of workers and young people in Australia and the broader region are joining the campaign to free imprisoned Ukrainian socialist Bogdan Syrotiuk.

Arrested on April 25 on bogus charges of treason and frame-up allegations of aiding Russia, Bogdan is in reality a courageous fighter for the interests of the working class. That includes opposing the US-NATO war against Russia from the standpoint of uniting Ukrainian and Russian workers against all the governments involved.

We urge all readers to support the campaign and demand Bogdans immediate release.

****

Scott

Scott, a New Zealand teacher living in Japan

Free Bogdan Syrotiuk! Ukraine has blocked access to the WSWS, a telling move by the fascist Zelensky regime that has fabricated high treason charges against Bogdan to silence opposition to their war. As the capitalist ruling class continues to use the working class as their pawns in war and in pursuit of corporate profits, the threat of nuclear war continues to grow. We must continue fighting against the capitalist ruling class and fighting for the immediate release of Bogdan.

Igor, a youth worker and actor from Melbourne

A student from Monash University in Melbourne

The arrest and detention of Bogdan Syrotiuk by the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) starkly illustrate the fascist tendencies entrenched in the Zelensky regime. This blatant frame-up, rife with lies and political absurdities, aims to suppress and criminalise genuine socialist opposition. Bogdan Syrotiuk, a committed leader of the Young Guard of Bolshevik-Leninists (YGBL), is being falsely accused of high treasona charge devoid of any factual basis and rooted solely in his Marxist principles and opposition to the imperialist war in Ukraine.

The SBUs accusations, built on dubious documents, attempt to paint the World Socialist Web Site (WSWS) and the International Committee of the Fourth International (ICFI) as instruments of Russian propaganda. This narrative is not only false but strategically constructed to delegitimise the socialist critique of both Ukrainian and Russian capitalist regimes. The ICFIs stance against the US-NATO provocations and the Putin regimes invasion of Ukraine stems from a profound understanding of the global capitalist crisis and the reactionary nature of nationalist wars. Only by fostering socialist revolution and the unity of the working class across national borders can we turn our backs on the state of endless war that serves bourgeois interests.

Historically, the bourgeois state has always employed repressive measures to silence revolutionary voices. The SBU's actions echo the suppression of previous socialist movements through brutal state repression. The arrest of Bogdan Syrotiuk marks a continuation of this reactionary tradition, aiming to dismantle any organized resistance to capitalist exploitation and war. The ICFI and WSWS, challenging the dominant Western narrative, have become prime targets for a capitalist class increasingly desperate to maintain its grip on power amidst growing economic and geopolitical crises.

In this context, the working class must rally to defend Bogdan Syrotiuk and all those who resist imperialist wars and capitalist oppression, regardless of whether these forces of oppression originate from Western or Russian bourgeois interests. The struggle for his release is intrinsically linked to the broader fight for socialism and the liberation of humanity from the chains of exploitation. It is imperative to mobilise global solidarity to expose and resist these fascistic tactics, ensuring the voices of the oppressed are not silenced.

The defence of democratic rights and the fight for socialism are connected, and the case of Bogdan Syrotiuk underscores the urgent need for revolutionary internationalism in the face of escalating imperialist barbarism. As Rosa Luxemburg famously stated, humanity faces a stark choice: Socialism or barbarism.

Jenny

Jenny, a retired worker in Sydney

I condemn the arrest of Bogdan Syrotiuk who, prior to his arrest, exercised his democratic right to alert the Ukrainian and Russian working class that their allegiance lay with their class brothers and sisters, not the warmongering oligarchs of their respective countries. He must immediately be released and restored to his family and friends.

The program of uniting the international working class against imperialist war and for the overthrow of capitalism terrifies the leaders of Ukraine and Russia because it is their working-class men and women that they are mercilessly sending into battle against each other. What would Putin and Zelensky do if their soldiers downed arms? They are so sensitive to political currents which are increasingly anti-war, that Bogdan, aligned with the Fourth international founded by Leon Trotsky who led the momentous Russian Revolution of 1917, had to be silenced. They silenced him by locking him up, proving, contrary to the bugles of imperialism which claim Ukraine is fighting this war in the name of democracy, there is no democracy in Ukraine. Fascism is alive and well in the Zelensky regime.

Bogdan is a courageous and principled young man who consciously advocated socialist internationalism. He worked to clarify the Ukrainian war and other critical geopolitical issues to the Ukrainian and Russian workers. He did this in the middle of a vicious and ongoing trench and bombing war resembling a WWI hellscape. With serious health issues, it is imperative he be released from that Ukrainian prison post-haste! I encourage everyone to join the #FreeBogdan campaign.

Linda, a Sydney artist

The accusation by the Ukrainian government that Bogdan Syrotiuk and the World Socialist Web Site (WSWS) are working for Putin is patently absurd given the WSWS's well-documented and vehement opposition to both Putin and the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

The WSWS, affiliated with the International Committee of the Fourth International (ICFI), has consistently denounced the Russian military intervention, condemning it as a reactionary move that exacerbates the plight of the working class.

WSWS has repeatedly highlighted the reactionary nature of Putins regime, critiquing it for safeguarding the interests of the Russian oligarchy at the expense of the working class. This principled stance is in direct contradiction to the claims made by the Ukrainian government, which attempts to portray Syrotiuk and the WSWS as Kremlin propagandists, a narrative that collapses under the weight of the WSWS's clear and unwavering opposition to Russian nationalism and imperialism.

Moreover, the Ukrainian governments recent updates to its exemptions from the European Convention on Human Rights, justified by the ongoing war, further underscore the authoritarian context in which these accusations are made. These exemptions, which erode basic democratic rights, reflect a broader strategy to suppress dissent and opposition, making the persecution of Syrotiuk part of a larger pattern of repressive measures aimed at silencing socialist and anti-war voices.
GM-LG Ultium Cells battery plant in Lordstown, Ohio

Are you an Ultium Cells worker or battery plant worker? Let us know what you think by filling out the form at the end of this article.

The United Auto Workers announced Monday that is has reached a tentative three-year agreement covering 1,600 workers at the Ultium Cells battery plant in Lordstown, Ohio, near the now shuttered General Motors assembly plant. The plant is a joint venture between GM and South Korea-based LG Energy Solution.

In announcing the deal, UAW President Shawn Fain declared, This agreement is a gamechanger for the electric vehicle battery industry, and for the future of Lordstown and towns like it all across this country. This is the kind of agreement that makes thousands of electric vehicle battery workers want to join the UAW and fight for a better future.

Both Ultium Cells and GM management also praised the deal.

While Fain calls the tentative contract a gamechanger, the few details revealed so far demonstrate the deal is an abject betrayal, setting the precedent for substandard pay for battery plant workers and electric vehicle workers more broadly. Though UAW officials boasted that Ultium Cells workers had been brought under the national UAW-GM contract, the settlement fails to even match the terms of the 2023 national auto contract, itself a sellout of workers demands.

In a press release Monday, the UAW said that top pay for production workers after one year would rise to $35 an hour by the end of the agreement. That compares to a final $42.95 top rate for GM workers. Top pay for skilled trades journeymen will increase this year to $38.16 compared to the current GM top rate of $42.52.

If these are the highlights of the agreement, one can only imagine the concessions hidden in the full text of the deal. Ominously Josh Ayers, the UAW Local 1112 shop chairman who helped negotiate the contract, spoke of the agreement containing language specifically tailored for Ultium Cells in Warren, Ohio.

The UAW press release omits any mention of a cost-of-living allowance (COLA). Further, the three-year term of the agreement appears to mean that the contract expiration does not coincide with the national UAW-GM agreement, effectively separating Ultium Cells workers from the rest of GM, something the UAW claimed it had eliminated.

Further, the UAW omits any mention of the exhausting and dangerous 12-hour work schedules that Ultium workers have been subjected to, only stating that time-and-a-half pay will be required after 10 hours. Nor do they state that temps and tiers have been eliminated or that any limits have been placed on the use of lower-paid outside contract workers.

Ultium Cells workers should mobilize to defeat this deal and fight for a contract that meets their needs. This betrayal of battery plant workers poses the need for workers at Ultium Cells to take matters into their own hands by building a rank-and-file committee independent of the UAW apparatus and under the democratic control of rank-and-file workers. Ultium Cells workers should reach out to workers at GM and other workers at the Big Three to fight for a 40 percent wage increase, full pensions, cost-of-living protection and an end to all temp work and tiers.

While workers at Ultium voted in December 2022 to affiliate with the UAW, safety conditions do not appear to have improved. Last October, the US Department of Labor reported that investigators found 19 serious safety violations in a two-week period in 2023. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has proposed a fine of $270,091 for the violations, which included failure to install guards on machines or proper training for workers on control of hazardous materials, and failure to provide eyewash stations, showers or other vital resources for the safe handling of highly volatile and toxic substances.

In one incident in August 2023, a pipeline carrying a highly toxic mix of chemicals, or slurry, ruptured, pouring the dangerous substance onto the floor and around equipment in the mixing area of the plant.

The slurry contained n-Methylpyrrolidon (NMP), a toxin that the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) classifies as an unreasonable risk to human health. The EPA does not list a safe level of exposure to the chemical. While OSHA investigated the incident, it is not clear if a citation was issued.

The proposed contract sets a low-wage standard for other Ultium Cells battery plants, including one recently opened in Spring Hill, Tennessee, and another in Lansing, Michigan. The UAW is also seeking to organize battery plants in Kentucky and Tennessee operated by BlueOval SK, a joint venture between Ford and South Korean SK On.

The UAW earlier had agreed to a substandard, near-poverty wage rate at a battery plant in Marshall, Michigan, that Ford is building.

The Ultium Cells tentative agreement sheds further light on Fains boast of winning a just transition to electric vehicles. In fact, this agreement sets in stone that the cost of the shift to EV production must be placed on the backs of workers with substandard pay, benefits and working conditions.

The UAW rammed through an interim agreement at Ultium Cells Lordstown last year, before the UAW-GM contract talks. While that contract raised wages, it left Ultium Cells workers far behind those at GM. Further, it separated the contract at Ultium Cells from the GM master contract negotiations.

In line with the national chauvinist program of the UAW bureaucracy, the union agreed last year that the Korean workforce at the plant, numbering in the hundreds, would not be covered by the agreement, driving a wedge between the US-born and Korean workers.

According to a report in the New York Times, the UAW says that about 200 workers from the old GM Lordstown Assembly, who had transferred to other GM plants outside the area, would soon return to Ultium Cells Lordstown. Forty will reportedly start next week and other groups of 40 in following weeks.

The UAW sanctioned the closure of the historic Lordstown Assembly Plant in the 2019 contract agreement, forced through following a 40-day strike. The closure was another heavy blow to the Mahoning Valley, already ravaged by decades of deindustrialization, including the virtual shutdown of steel production in Youngstown. The population has plummeted, along with living standards, and the area has been ravaged by the opioid epidemic.

During the 2023 national contract battle, the UAW bureaucracy cynically used the votes of the 1,400 Ultium Cells workers, along with 1,000 workers at GM Subsystems LLC, to get the UAW-GM sellout contract passed. Though they were not GM employees at the time, the UAW included these workers in the vote on the national GM contract to overcome the massive opposition of GM workers. Amid rank-and-file protests over the validity of the vote, the UAW announced in November 2023 that the national contract had passed by a narrow 53.24 to 46.76 percent margin, even though workers at seven of GMs 11 assembly plants had voted to defeat it.

Since the passage of the deal, hailed as historic by Fain and President Biden, GM and the other Big Three automakers have launched a savage job and cost-cutting campaign to boost payouts to their Wall Street investors. On Tuesday, GM announced a new $6 billion stock buyback program at the same time as executives released plans to reduce EV production and squeeze more profits from workers producing gasoline-powered models.

The World Socialist Web Site will publish a further analysis as more details become available.

We urge Ultium Cells workers and other autoworkers to fill out the form below to report on conditions and the reaction to the new contract. All information will remain confidential.
The jury in a Wilmington, Delaware, federal court convicted Hunter Biden, the son of US President Joe Biden, on all three felony charges Tuesday morning after three hours and five minutes of deliberations.

The younger Biden was found guilty of lying on a gun application and to a federally licensed gun dealer about his drug use and illegally possessing a gun while addicted to drugs in October 2018.

President Joe Bidens son Hunter Biden leaves after a court appearance, Wednesday, July 26, 2023, in Wilmington, Delaware. [AP Photo/Julio Cortez]

Although the offenses were committed prior to Joe Bidens term in office, the conviction of Hunter Biden is the first time a member of a sitting US presidents immediate family has been found guilty of a crime.

Responding to the jurys decision, President Biden said he accepted the outcome of the case and will continue to respect the judicial process as Hunter considers an appeal.

The 12-person jury deliberated for one hour on Monday afternoon following closing arguments and two hours on Tuesday morning, reaching a unanimous decision so swiftly that the presidents wife, Jill Biden, did not make it into the courtroom in time to hear the verdict.

Speaking to CNN on Tuesday afternoon, one juror said the jury was not focused on Hunter Bidens lifestyle but on the evidence. Another juror told CNN that all 12 jurors agreed that Hunter had knowingly lied on the gun application about his addiction. A third juror told CNN that the trial should never have been brought and seemed like a waste of taxpayer money.

The presidents son was indicted on the gun charges in September by US Attorney David Weiss, who had been appointed special counsel by Attorney General Merrick Garland a month earlier. After the verdict, Weiss said that it was not just about addiction but about illegal choices Hunter Biden made, and that no one is above the law.

The sentencing of Hunter Biden by Judge Maryellen Noreika is expected to take place in early October. The maximum sentence on the three offenses is 25 years in prison and $750,000 in fines, although it is unlikely as a first-time offender that Biden will receive anything close to this. In addition, all or part of his sentence could, at the judges discretion, be served while on probation.

The guilty verdict brings to a conclusion the first of two cases brought by Weiss against Hunter Biden. The second involves tax offenses in a Los Angeles federal court and is scheduled to go to trial in September. David Weiss began an investigation of Hunter Biden in 2018 after being appointed US Attorney for Delaware by then-President Donald Trump.

Responding to the verdict, the Trump campaign sent a statement to CNN saying the trial has been nothing more than a distraction from the real crimes of the Biden Crime Family. Trumps top adviser Stephen Miller posted on Twitter/X that the Department of Justice charged Hunter Biden with a minor gun violation in order to protect the BIG GUY before the election. DOJ is Bidens election protection racket.

Others within the Republican Party establishment have remained silent on the Hunter Biden trial because they consider laws requiring buyers to complete background applications and answer questions from licensed sellers to be a violation of gun ownership rights.

Like the conviction of Donald Trump on 34 counts in the New York hush-money trial, the gun charge conviction of Hunter Biden is the result of the ongoing warfare between different factions of the US ruling establishment arising from the crisis of the entire capitalist system.

Meanwhile, the trials of Trump and Hunter Biden are being used to divert public attention away from the real crimes being carried out by both the Democrats and Republicans.

While Donald Trump and a substantial faction of the Republican Party attempted to overthrow the US Constitution in the insurrection of January 6, 2021, and Joe Biden, with the backing of both parties in Congress, is funding and arming the Israeli genocide in Gaza and a proxy war in Ukraine against Russia that threatens World War III, these crimes are not the subject of the court cases.

Nor are the massive, bipartisan attacks on anti-genocide protesters and immigrants at the US-Mexico border.

It is now certain that this diversion will intensify with the sentencing of Hunter Biden for his gun-related conviction and his trial on tax charges scheduled to take place within weeks prior to the 2024 presidential election.
After a European election campaign in which he called to send troops to Ukraine for war on Russia, French President Emmanuel Macron dissolved parliament on Sunday night following large gains for far-right parties across Europe. This has triggered an explosive crisis. The political establishment is feverishly discussing far-right alliances, or, among factions historically linked to Stalinism, an electoral Popular Front to limit the far rights expected gains in parliament.

Among workers and youth, there is broad and growing anger. Yesterday, amid a resurgence of protests against the Gaza genocide in France, protests broke out at several high schools against Macrons handing the political initiative to the far right. The decisive task is orienting this growing opposition to building an international movement in the working class against imperialist war, genocide and fascism.

Macron announced the dissolution of parliament in a perfunctory, five-minute pre-recorded video. After criticizing far-right parties as threats to military aid to Ukraine and EU bank bailouts, he proclaimed confidence in our democracy. He continued, The sovereign people must speak, there is nothing more democratic than this.

He claimed the election outcome would be better than all the stitch-ups, the precarious solutions. It is time for an indispensable clarification.

Macrons invocation of democracy is a lie: He rules not for, but against the people.

Last year, he imposed a pension cut to finance a surge in defense spending despite overwhelming popular opposition and mass strikes, which police brutally attacked. He now aims to replace the current legislature, in which there is no stable majority, with a workable parliamentary majority to support a monumentally reckless escalation of the war against Russia and suppress the opposition of a vast majority of the population in France and across Europe.

The snap elections Macron called, ending July 7, fall just after the July 4 snap elections recently called in Britain, and just before the July 9 NATO war summit to be held in Washington to approve the Biden administrations plans for NATO military intervention against Russia.

Macron aims to have a more stable government so as to claim democratic legitimacy to implement NATOs anti-democratic policy of war with Russia.

Significant factions of the ruling class expect that this will require bringing neo-fascistsprimarily Marine Le Pens National Rally (RN)into the halls of power. Amid a massive media campaign asking whether the RN is ready to play a responsible role, Le Pen and her assistant, Jordan Bardella, are giving interviews falling in line with NATO and the banks. Bardella stressed during the campaign that RN statements of sympathy for Russia years ago were a mistake, and yesterday he abandoned the RNs call to rescind Macrons pension cuts.

Factions of the ruling class are rapidly abandoning democratic pretenses and adopting a more overtly pro-fascistic orientation. Yesterday, Eric Ciotti, head of the Gaullist The Republicans (LR) party, called for a national alliance between LR and the RN in an interview on TF1 television. Denouncing France Unbowed (LFI) leader Jean-Luc Melenchon as a left-wing threat, Ciotti called for a right-wing uprising, saying:

We need an alliance, while remaining true to ourselves  with the RN and its candidates.  I hope that my political family will go in this direction. Many are following me.  There is today a force that will rise up, which must rise up against the impotence of Macron and the danger of Melenchon.

A bitter factional struggle has erupted inside LR, as other officials swear public oaths never to form an alliance with the neo-fascists. Melenchon, for his part, intervened in the LR crisis to say he hopes that a right wing of resistance [to fascism] still exists. This morning, Bardella said the RN is preparing electoral coalitions supporting LR candidates in dozens of parliamentary constituencies.

The French ruling class is even less capable of democratic opposition to far-right politics today than it was at the outbreak of the last world war, during which it ultimately collaborated with Nazism. It cannot and does not want to rally working class opposition to militarism, genocide and police-state rule that are the historical heritage of European fascism. This is because it is preparing a continental and, indeed, global war against Russia and ultimately China, backing Israels genocide in Gaza, and ruling at home through naked police violence.

The war escalation and attacks on social and democratic rights cannot be stopped at a national level, by maneuvers inside the parliamentary machine. As with World War I, which was stopped by the October 1917 Bolshevik revolution in Russia and the 1918 German revolution that toppled the Kaiser, it can only be ended by the international struggle of the working class for socialist revolution.

This underlies the bankruptcy and essentially reactionary character of the calls spearheaded by LFI official and Macron ally Francois Ruffin for a Popular Front with Stalinist and social-democratic parties. Ruffin called for an electoral coalition between the Socialist Party (PS), the Stalinist French Communist Party (PCF), the Greens and LFI. While LFI previously called this party coalition the New Popular Ecological and Social Union (NUPES), Ruffin proposed to rename it the Popular Front. In a X/Twitter video, he said:

We must try something. It was President Roosevelt who tried it during the New Deal, saying the country would not be upset if we fail, but it will be if we do not try. So last night we tried something, like a bottle to the sea in BFM-TV, its: Popular Front.  The parties will get there, but the faster they do, the better. And we are not going to wait until the white smoke appears [confirming the election of a new pope].

Currently, LFI is waging factional battles with PS figures like European lead candidate Raphael Glucksmann and former Prime Minister Bernard Cazeneuve, who advocate a unity of the left slogan more directly compatible with participation in a Macron government.

Melenchon endorsed Ruffins proposal, however. Repeating his offer made in the 2022 presidential elections to serve as prime minister under Macron, he tweeted:

Yet again, [LFI members] are throwing away all grudges and building popular unity. France is not condemned to the punishment of Bardella. The New Popular Front knows how to govern.

The decisive feature of this Popular Front is its appeal for alliances with forces, like Glucksmann, who hysterically support waging war with Russia in Ukraine and beyond. Its proponents also acquiesced to the union bureaucracies decision to halt all action against Macrons pension cuts last year.

An urgent warning must be made: Those who invoke Popular Frontism to justify ambitions to serve as Macrons ministers thereby expose their bitter hostility to the working class, Trotskyism and socialist revolution.

The 1934-1938 Popular Front alliance of Stalinists, social-democrats and liberals paved the way to world war. Having blocked a struggle of the working class for power and the overthrow of capitalism amid the 1936 French general strike, the Popular Front collapsed and played a thoroughly counterrevolutionary role as World War II began in 1939. The PCF backed the Stalin-Hitler Pact, which freed Hitler to start World War II by invading Poland. The social democrats and liberals, for their part, voted in their majority to give Nazi-collaborationist dictator Philippe Petain emergency powers in 1940.

The Popular Front endorsed the lies of the Moscow Trials with which Stalin justified his murder of the Old Bolsheviks, the political genocide of Soviet Marxists during the Purges, and the preparation for the murder of Leon Trotsky in 1940.

The Parti de legalite socialiste encourages the widest protests and strikes against Macrons policies, genocide and imperialist war. But war and authoritarianism cannot be defeated by moral appeals to the capitalist class.

The great political lessons of the 20th century must be learned. The mortal crisis of capitalism cannot be resolved without building an independent and, above all, international movement of the working class in the workplaces and factories and a Trotskyist vanguard in the working class to build within that movement support for socialist revolution.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 12. The UK Ambassador to Azerbaijan, Fergus Auld, has expressed hope that a peace agreement between Baku and Yerevan will be reached before COP29, Trend reports.

According to the information, the Ambassador stated this at an event dedicated to the celebration of the official birthday of King Charles III of Great Britain.

''It has been an exciting past six months to be British Ambassador to Azerbaijan, and the next six months will be even more exciting. The agreement for COP29 to be held in Baku was a positive signal six months ago for both climate and peace in the region. I hope that both Azerbaijan and Armenia can continue to lean forward to reach a sustainable peace agreement before COP29,'' the ambassador said.

''One of the key themes of COP29 will be transparency. To make effective change, each government, each business, and each one of us needs to understand the impact of our actions.

I am pleased that for the last few years, British NGO Aether has worked with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Ecology to strengthen their capacity to measure and report on emissions,'' he added.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 12. The Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry has expressed condolences to Kuwait, the publication of the Ministry said on X, Trend reports.

"We are deeply saddened by the news of the fire in the city of Mangafa in Kuwait, which killed and injured dozens of people. We express our deep condolences to the families of the victims and wish a speedy recovery to the injured. In this difficult time, Azerbaijan is next to brotherly and friendly Kuwait," the publication says.

To note, a fire in a multi-story apartment building in the city of Mangaf in Kuwait claimed the lives of 41 people. During the fire, it seriously injured 15 people.

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Charli XCX Tops TikToks Song of the Summer Predictions for U.K. and Ireland; Sabrina Carpenter and Chappell Roan Also Contenders (EXCLUSIVE)

Charli XCXs Brat is dominating TikTok in the U.K. and Ireland.

Two tracks off the newly released album, 360 and Everything Is Romantic, have made TikToks list of song of the summer predictions for the region. Though the predictions are chock-full of hits, including the wildly popular Espresso by Sabrina Carpenter and Chappell Roans catchy anthem Good Luck Babe, Charli is the only artist with more than one song on the list.

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Other contenders include Shes Gone, Dance On by dance duo Disclosure; Kabin Krews The Spark, a viral banger created by a group of Irish kids in Cork; the remix of the TikTok-born Man in Finance sound from Girl on Couch by DJ pair Billen Ted; Cartwheels from up-and-coming indie band Soft Launch; Miss Me Too by Taylor Swift Eras Tour opener Griff; Stargazing from folk-pop rising star Myles Smith; Tommy Richmans earworm Million Dollar Baby; Billie Eilishs catchy track Lunch; and Central Cee and Lil Babys collab Band4Band.

The predictions were forecasted by TikTok staffers across U.K. and Ireland, with nearly half a million videos made on the platform under the hashtag #SongOfTheSummer already.

From Central Cee & Lil Babys newly released Band4Band, to Billie Eilishs hugely anticipated Lunch, its amazing to see the variety of genres, artists and songs which are shaping up to be this years #SongOfTheSummer on TikTok, Nichal Sethi, head of U.K, artist services at TikTok, said in a statement. Bright electro pop beats and quirky lyrics feature heavily in the chosen tracks, so its clear that our community is after a dopamine hit when it comes to their summer playlists. The team at TikTok will be keeping a close eye on the songs our community are connecting with over the next couple of months and look forward to seeing the results.

See the full list of song of the summer predictions below.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 12. The graduation ceremony of the Officer Training Course was held at the Training and Educational Center of the Azerbaijan Army under the National Defense University of the Defense Ministry, Trend reports, referring to the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry.

The ceremony opened with commemorating the memory of the National Leader of the Azerbaijani people Heydar Aliyev, and Martyrs, who sacrificed their lives for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Azerbaijan. The National Anthem of the Republic of Azerbaijan was performed.

The First Deputy Minister of Defense  Chief of the General Staff of the Azerbaijan Army, Colonel General Karim Valiyev, greeted the graduates and congratulated them on behalf of the Azerbaijan Defense Minister and himself.

Colonel General K. Valiyev wished the new officers success in their future service activities and recommended them to serve in accordance with the requirements of the charter, to be fair, to serve the Motherland faithfully, to work responsibly in the combat and moral-psychological training of the personnel under their subordinates, and to increase the sense of patriotism.

The Chief of the General Staff presented certificates to the three advanced graduates who completed the Officer Training Course with high marks.

Then, the Rector of the National Defense University, Colonel Gunduz Abdulov, made a speech, congratulated the new officers, and wished them success in their future service.

Lieutenant Ibrahim Aliyev, speaking on behalf of the new officers, promised to successfully apply the knowledge and practical skills they have gained during the course.

Then, certificates were presented to the graduates who had successfully completed the Officer Training Course, and the course leader attached the graduation emblem to the symbolic stump.

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Renowned talk show host and TV personality, Oprah Winfrey, has been hospitalized following a concerning health issue. Winfrey was supposed to be present at CBS Mornings but did not make it to the breakfast talk show. This left fans concerned and wondering why she was absent.

However, Oprah Winfreys best friend Gayle King has now revealed the details of the talk show hosts illness and why she was taken to the hospital.

Why was Oprah Winfrey hospitalized?

Oprah Winfrey was hospitalized due to a stomach flu.

Although Winfrey was unable to make it to the show, Gayle King, her best friend and fellow CBS anchor appeared on the show and updated fans on Winfreys condition. As per the Los Angeles Times, King said, She had some kind of stomach thing  stomach flu  stuff was coming out of both ends. Taking into consideration the nature of the health issue, she didnt want to get too graphic and reveal more details.

As per Hello Magazine, she stated, Needless to say, she ended up in the hospital, dehydration, had to get an IV. It was a very serious thing. King also disclosed that even though Oprah Winfrey is hospitalized, her condition is stable and she is recovering. She continued by saying, She will be OK. She will be OK. I hope shes not mad at me for sharing that detail, but I wanted to make it clear that it mattered to her and it bothered her that she couldnt be here for you today. In a statement issued by another representative, fans were assured that Oprah Winfreys health is better and that she is resting and feeling better every day.

In the latest clip posted by King on Instagram, she can be seen having a conversation with Winfrey. Her surroundings indicated that she was out of the hospital and back at home. She said, I was in the emergency room, I was so dehydrated. I had a dry mouth and I couldnt keep enough water down to get hydrated, so I went to the emergency room for that, and thats just it.

What is Oprah Winfreys illness?

Fans got an idea about Oprah Winfreys illness from Gayle Kings statement on CBS Mornings. As per King, Winfrey struggled with stomach flu and dehydration because of which she had to be rushed into the emergency room and given an IV.

The post What Happened to Oprah Winfrey? Health Update appeared first on ComingSoon.net - Movie Trailers, TV & Streaming News, and More.
NEW YORK  Joey Chestnut has been kicked out of the Nathans Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest on July 4 at Coney Island for agreeing to endorse plant-based vegan hot dogs.

Major League Eating, which runs the contest, said Chestnut was booted for signing a sponsorship deal with a competing food company, reportedly the famously beef-free Impossible Foods.

We are devastated to learn that Joey Chestnut has chosen to represent a rival brand that sells plant-based hot dogs rather than competing in the 2024 Nathans Famous Fourth of July Hot Dog Eating Contest, Major League Eating said in a statement posted on social media.

The competition said it would welcome Chestnut  an American hero  back with open arms if he returned to their side in the dog fight.

Chestnut has not commented publicly, and he hasnt yet shared any public endorsement of Impossible Foods.

On June 1, he posted a photo of himself on Instagram eating two meat-based hot dogs in Toledo, Ohio.

Heck yeah, I still love hot dogs! Rudys in Toledo does not disappoint!! So good, its hard to stop eating, he captioned the post.

Major League Eating claimed that Chestnut was not banned from the competition, but he will not be allowed to compete if continues his Impossible Foods endorsement.

We would love nothing more than to have him at the Nathans Famous International Hot Dog Eating Contest, which he has dominated for years, the organization said. We hope that he returns when he is not representing a rival brand.

Though Chestnut is easily the face of the Fourth of July competition  he has won 16 of the past 17 events  Major League Eating has seen beef like this before. Japanese star Takeru Kobayashi was kicked out of the competition in 2010 for refusing to sign the required exclusive endorsement deal.

Kobayashi attended the event on Coney Island as a spectator in 2010, and he was dramatically arrested on stage after Chestnut won. All charges against Kobayashi were dropped, but he never returned to the contest, clearing the way for Chestnuts reign of dominance.

After news broke of Chestnuts removal from competition, online commenters shared their anger with both parties.

Ill be representing a different channel during your hot dog eating contest this year #LetJoeyEat, one person replied to Major League Eating.

Please drop this Impossible Brands deal and come back to Nathans, another person wrote on an unrelated Chestnut Instagram post.

______
Thank God for MY PRESIDENT, Donald J. Trump, the one presidential candidate with courage enough to confront the greatest twin threats of our time: sharks and electric boat batteries.

At a recent rally, Trump brought up the dilemma thats keeping so many Americans who ride through shark-infested waters in battery-powered boats awake at night: What would happen if the boat sank from its weight, and youre in the boat and you have this tremendously powerful battery, and the battery is now underwater and theres a shark thats approximately 10 yards over there?

Its truly every electric-boat-using parents worst nightmare, assuming they dont understand how boat batteries work and don't question why the shark thats 10 yards over there wouldnt also be getting electrocuted.

Do I get electrocuted if the boat is sinking, water goes over the battery, the boat is sinking? Trump smartly asked. Do I stay on top of the boat and get electrocuted, or do I jump over by the shark and not get electrocuted?

Unlike Trump, Biden doesn't care if you get eaten by a shark

These are not the kind of sensible, America-loving questions you hear from Sleepy Joe Biden. Does he even care about patriotic Americans like us, the ones who might one day be forced to choose between boat-battery electrocution or death by shark?

I doubt he cares at all. Hes too busy being both dementia-addled AND the devious mastermind of a global crime family while also turning our country into a banana republic by allowing the justice system to use a "jury" to find Trump guilty of crimes.

Obviously Trump is Jesus: Marjorie Taylor Greene compares Trump to Jesus. Which Bible is she reading?

No, you wont hear one word from Biden about sharks or large boat batteries.

Hes either too busy being totally out of it due to severe mental decline OR carefully plotting an elaborate scheme to get his son convicted on federal gun charges so people think that the justice system is legitimate and that Trumps recent 34-count conviction on New York felony charges wasnt actually rigged.

President Joe Biden, seen here ignoring the important issue of sharks and boat batteries.

NICE TRY, SLEEPY JOE!

Maybe for a change you could give a damn about the American people by making sure they arent dying of ocean electrocution or in the razor-toothed mouths of presumably electrocution-proof sharks!

Trump will surely protect us from battery electrocution and sharks

At the same rally where Trump addressed our nations shark/battery crisis  a speech many are saying was as good as, if not better than, President John F. Kennedys 1961 inaugural address  the man who made MAGA noted: By the way, a lot of shark attacks lately, do you notice that? A lot of sharks. I watched some guys justifying it today. Well, they werent really that angry, they bit off the young ladys leg because of the fact that they were not hungry but they misunderstood who she was. These people are crazy. He said theres no problem with sharks they just didnt really understand a young woman swimming now who really got decimated and a lot of other people too, a lot of shark attacks.

Indeed. All these shark attacks, combined with what I assume are innumerable instances of battery-powered boats sinking near sharks, have created a national catastrophe Biden is choosing to ignore.

It might seem as if shark attacks are on the rise after two recent attacks  less than two hours and 5 miles apart  left three people injured on Florida Panhandle beaches in June 2024. Worldwide, there were 69 unprovoked shark bites on humans in 2023, and 36 of them were in the United States. Two of the 36 were fatal: one in Hawaii, the other in California.

Questions abound when it comes to sinking electric-powered boats

There are so many questions. Why are the boats sinking, and why, as Trump mentioned, is there always a shark approximately 10 yards away?

Are these sharks working for the Democratic National Committee? Is the Biden Crime Family having communist China manufacture the boats that keep sinking under the weight of these batteries?

Hunter Biden convicted: Hunter Biden guilty verdict proves Trump's trial wasn't 'rigged'

And why does the electrical current stop mattering if the person jumps over by the shark?

Wouldnt the boater who leaps overboard get both electrocuted AND eaten by the shark that, for some reason, is wholly unfazed by any electric current?

Another Biden term means certain death for electric-boat owners

And why have we never heard of the presumably thousands of people who are being electrocuted by boat batteries? Is this a cover-up by the fake news media?

With shark-lover Biden in office, well surely never know. And unless Trump gets elected this fall, more and more Americans will have to answer the impossible question posed by the man we Republicans think should be leader of the free world: Do I stay on top of the boat and get electrocuted, or do I jump over by the shark and not get electrocuted?

Vote accordingly, folks. Otherwise, the sharks and the batteries win.

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: Trump wisely warns voters of the threat of sharks and electric boats
Love and Hip Hop star was just arrested outside club in Miami. Heres what we know

Tommie Lees recent night out at the club didnt end well.

The ex Love and Hip Hop: Atlanta castmate, whose real name is Atasha Jefferson, was arrested in the wee hours of Monday outside LIV.

According to the Miami Beach Police Department, at a little after 2 a.m. Jefferson was standing outside the nightclub located inside the Fontainebleau hotel when she got into an argument with another individual.

The arrest affidavit obtained by the Miami Herald states that the 39-year-old rapper attempted to hand an item to the man and he refused it.

Things escalated quickly with the defendant becoming aggressive and cursing.

Jefferson allegedly became so agitated that she told the victim that she would have him shot up, and poked him in the face, says the report.

The victim restrained her until police arrived, say cops, who were able to corroborate his story by viewing hotel surveillance footage of the scuffle.

Jefferson, who listed a Miami address, was booked on a battery charge at the Turner Guilfield Knight Correctional Center. She was briefly held on $1,000 bond, court records say.

The entertainer did not comment on the matter on her social media, but her latest Instagram post shows her doing charity work for the 305 community the following day.

In a video on her timeline, Jefferson is seen delivering pizzas to Miami Bridge Youth and Family Services with Broward rapper Melody Rackz.

Believe lifes struggles are about helping others miss some of the mistakes you made, says Jeffersons post. Share your story while learning and growing from it yourself.


"Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links."



My Blackness is not a problem, protagonist Jasmyn Williams says midway through Nicola Yoons One of Our Kind. Racism is the problem. Yoons latest novel is something of a departure from her familiar and beloved YA love stories, including the bestsellers Everything Everything and The Sun Is Also a Star, both of which have since been adapted for film. Not only does this new material come packaged as Yoons adult debut, but its also much more frightening, and, Yoon says, written from a place of deep grief and anger.

One of Our Kind is a social horror set in an all-Black utopia bordering Los Angeles, and among its newest residents are the pregnant public defender Jasmyn and her husband, King, as well as their young son, Kamau. They arrive in the affluent suburb of Liberty seeking peace and solidarity amongst a thriving population of Black families and professionals. But it doesnt take Jasmyn long to clash with her fellow Liberty residents, especially once they reject her proposed Black Lives Matter chapter and their behaviors shift from bizarre to suspicious. Jasmyn cant help but wonder what so many of her neighbors (her husband included) are doing up at the Liberty Wellness Center. Surely King hasnt abandoned his volunteer work with local youth in favor of a sauna? And what of her only friends in Liberty, Keisha and Charles, who begin the novel equally skeptical but soon shed some of their most defining characteristics? As this thriller unfolds, Yoon layers contradictions atop one anotherand ends Jasmyns tale with a resounding cry.

This book is a question, or a series of questions, Yoon says when we meet over Zoom in May. It does not have answers. Its not prescriptive at all, and its not meant to be. She recognizes, she says, that the nature of such a story opens her up to being misunderstood. But, she continues, When Im writing, I cant write to someone who will misunderstand or be ungenerous...Its part of the job that sometimes people are going to misunderstand, and theres not really anything I can do about it.

Yoon, who moved to New York from Jamaica when she was 11, has lived in Los Angeles with her husband, the author David Yoon, since 2003. They not only write novels individually, but together they run the Random House Childrens Books imprint Joy Revolution, which publishes romances written by and starring people of color. As we chat, Yoon repeatedly mentions the inevitability of contradiction in her life and work: She is not merely a writer and publisher of BIPOC love stories, nor is she now, suddenly, only planning to compose BIPOC horror. Her work is simply a reflection of herself, and she is both a proponent of blissful happily ever afters and a woman haunted by the racism at the root of America. She will write, she insists, wherever her best ideas take her.

Ahead, Yoon shares the inspiration behind both One of Our Kind and Joy Revolution, as well as how she navigates dissonant truths in novels and in life.

Shop Now One of Our Kind by Nicola Yoon amazon.com $19.60 Knopf

Was there any particular moment when it became clear this book was what you wanted to write next?

I have a few touchpoints that I can remember leading to the book, and then the rest of it is just magic and I dont know how to explain that part. But the first part is this conversation I had with a friend of mine a few years ago. He is an activist and a writer, and we had done this panel on race and racism, and afterwards we had gone to dinner. At one point, he asked me if I ever wondered who Id be and who wed be as people if it werent for race and racism. It was a question that really struck me, but its a question Ive been thinking about for a long time anyway. Its an interesting question but an impossible one, too, because its hard to tease out who you would be as a person if everything were suddenly different.

Then there was this podcast that I really love called Youre Wrong About, and they were talking about The Stepford Wives and how everyone misremembers that book. I had never read it, and so I went and read the book. First, I was in the shower when I was listening to the podcast, and I remember just saying in my head, Oh, The Stepford Wives, but Black. Then I screamed for my husband and he came running, and I was like, Honey, this is a good idea. And he was like, Oh, its pretty good.

Then there was the summer of 2020 and George Floyds murder, and so many before it, and I was despairing, if Im being honest. There was a lot of despair; there was a lot of anger. Those things just smashed together in my head, and I wrote the first draft in six weeks, which is insane for me because I am a slow writer. Thats never happened before; it will never happen again. I didnt mean to go write a thriller as my adult debut. It just was the book that I needed to write next.



Did your desire to write this book surprise you? I think One of Our Kind is in much the same conversation as your YA books, but its not necessarily a story your fans might expect.

Heres the thing about the business. Once you find success in one area, the tendency isnot only on the publishing and business side, but even on your side [as the author]to do the same thing again. Because why wouldnt you? Its an impossible business, and it is a business. But for me, its about art-making. I used to have this terrible job. I used to work in finance. It was soul-sucking. I got yelled at by very wealthy people all the time on a trading desk. I dont want that anymore. I get the privilege of getting to write for a living, and I have to go where the art takes me, where my interests take me, where the thing I want to say is.

So when we were shopping this book around, there were some editors who were like, Oh, this is not what I want from Nicola Yoon as her adult debut. But fortunately, there were as many editors who liked the material. Theres a part of me thats nervous that this is too outside of what people expect, but I think that if you know me and know my work, then you know its driven philosophically anyway, and its driven by love. So there is a lot of love in this book, but its not romance. I think its still me. Anyway, it is still me.

One of Our Kind is a visceral read, and will likely be a polarizing one for that reason. Did you go in with the intent to write something provocative, or was it simply that the nature of this story is provocative by default?

I understand that people have an intense reaction to it. I didnt know how to tell this story any other way. What I want to talk about and what I want the readers to talk aboutthere was no other way through to get that point across.

First of all, I want you to stay up all night reading it, and then I want you to be like, Oh my God. I want you to talk to people in your inner circle. I want you to talk to people outside of your circle. I want you to say, Why does [the book] end this way? Where are we going? What are we trying to get at?

I am an optimistic person, and I think that most people will do the right thing if they know what the right thing is. I think our dialogue around race and racism lacks a lot of grace and kindness. I think that sometimes we say the wrong thing. Everyone does. I do. I have done it a million times with things I dont understand, cultures I dont understand. I think the only way things change is if we talk to each other genuinely. All movements need everyone. They need the peacemakers, and they need the loud people, and they need lots of things, but I also think they need honesty, so thats what I want.

I thought the book was fascinating in its understanding of threats to a community both from within and from outside. Its really difficult to critique two things at the same time without inviting polarization: Oh, well you didnt talk about this enough, or, Youre criticizing this, but you should have also criticized this. How did you deal with the challenge of fairly critiquing the issues within Liberty itself as well as the outside forces that made Liberty what it was?

Im not very online. Im not thinking what the critics are going to say when Im writing the story... Its bad for art-making, honestly. You cant do it.

I think that when you have an overarching system of systemic racism, it puts us all in boxes. Theres the big thing that creates a place like Liberty, but then within Liberty, you are also in the box because youve been put in there. So you have blinders, too. Its inescapable. The whole job of a writer is to tell the truth, and this is the truth as I see it. I think that there are problems within and without and all of it caused by an overarching system. There are villains in Liberty, but theyre also victims.

I keep coming back to how difficult it is for people to understandmyself very much includedthat two things can be true at the same time.

It is. We live with it so much. The modern society is a study in contradictions all the time. We all have iPhones. We know where they come from. We know that the labor practices arent good. We live with that all the time...To live in the modern society is to open a newspaper and read about a war and also know that Ive got to go pick up cupcakes for my kid. Its living with both of those things: one thing joyful and one thing terrible.

If you don't mind me askingand I hope this isnt too intrusivehow do you manage that in your own work? With the amount of information that we have access to now, it is more or less impossible to not live in that reality: picking up cupcakes for your kids while getting a news alert about children killed in Gaza. So how do you balance art with joy and pain?

I am aware that Im really lucky. Im married to the love of my life. Really, I just think hes the best thing on Earth. And I really love my kid. Shes also the best thing on Earth. We get up at 6:30 because she has to go to school, and she comes into our bed and she snuggles until about 7 A.M. And that is how I start my day. Its a big love. I have that, and I love them more than I love myself.

Because that is the thing that I have, with everything else, theres perspectivebecause they are my people. I grew up in Jamaica, and my best friend was killed by a car. A cop. A drunk cop. I was 8 at the time, and I shifted. I can remember thinking, Oh, anything could happen at any time. All my books are like that: Youve got to live in the moment. You have to be here now, because it could always change.

Having said that, I have despair. This book was written from a profound moment of despair. But I have people to bring me back. I have people to go get cupcakes for, and Im very lucky in that way.

You mentioned your desire for readers to come away from this book and have conversations. Do you have an ideal conversation youd like to result from this book?

To acknowledge that the society that we have right now is crazy. The fact that George Floyd could be murdered like that, thats insane and intolerable. That is not a world we should tolerate. We should want to fix that. I want people to acknowledge that. People do, people have, but I really want it to be visceral. I want people to say, Yeah, youre right. I get that. And then, What can we do? How do we go forward? Is it just that I will check myself when I think something thats not kind, or is it that I will join an organization? Is it that I will donate some money? How am I going to try to help?

You made a point earlier that there are ebbs and flows regarding the broader cultural conversation about racism. There was so much noise and action in the wake of the George Floyd protests, and then, four years later, what has changed? I don't want to presume what you were thinking as you were writing the book, but now that the book is coming out in 2024, how are you thinking about those cultural shifts?

Theres a push and pull. We talk about diversity, and then theres a backlash to talking about diversity, and we keep going back and forth. Thats so frustrating to me.

At some point, it feels like everyone cares, and then everyone is too tired to care. I would really like to get to the other side of the up and down. We hired a lot of people, and we said we were going to do all of these things, and then we did for a little while, and then we pulled back. Everyone got tired of it. There is absolutely a backlash. Sometimes it feels like its a trend, even. The lives of people is a trend.

Its devastating to treat peoples lives and being fair to people as a trend. My dearest wish is that we dont have to talk about it anymore because its fixed. But were not talking about it now. Not because its fixed, but because people are tired of it, I guess.

Do you think you would write a book in this vein again, or do you see yourself doing something completely different next?

I hope that I get to keep doing this job. Especially on the adult side, because I dont have this thing that Im known for. I have this ridiculous idea that I think I might want to write next, and its totally different. I hope I get to do it.

Finally, I want to ask about the work you and David are doing with your imprint, Joy Revolution. How is that work going, and does it continue to feel both as necessary and as rewarding as you go on?

This is my favorite thing to talk about. When David and I met in grad school, we were friends for a couple of years, and one of the things we bonded over was rom-coms. But what we talked about back then, too, was that there were never any people of color in them. If there was a Black girl, she was a sassy side character. And David always says that, if theres an Asian dude, hes the lab tech. Hes the one thats telling you youre pregnant.

Theyre never the main characters, like the ones falling in love. And we were falling in love, so we knew for a fact that people of color fall in love. In high school, I fell in love every day. I was the girl who had a crush on everyone all the time. But you never saw those in media.

Then fast-forward to when we had some success, and I had this relationship with [Random House Childrens Books president and publisher] Barbara Marcus, and we did pitch her and say, We think this is a good idea, and she agreed. Love is transformative, and I think everyone experiences it. I wanted books with people of color falling in love. I want them to be swoony. I want them to be vulnerable. I want them to be beautiful. I want them to get the boy and the girl or whoever at the end. I want it to be about heartbreak and change. I want to tell the truth. The truth is its not only pain; there is joy, and we need to see those stories, too.

Were trying to give people of color the full measure of their humanity, because sometimes we only give them a sliver of it. Anyway, we took a bet that people would want to read these books and want to write them, because people do read them, and people are writing them. We have acquisitions meetings every Friday with our editor at Random House Children Books, and we talk about the manuscripts for hours. Were involved in the design process. Were involved in the whole thing. I do not sleep that much. Summers coming, so usually publishing dies down, so I expect to get a little more sleep. But its great. We are really passionate about it. Seeing those books on the shelves and giving debut authors, especially, their first book deal...its incredible.

This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.

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The post Paddington Returns to South America in Trailer for Paddington In Peru: Watch appeared first on Consequence.

Kindness and manners are so back, thanks to everyones favorite little British bear, Paddington. In the new trailer for the franchises third installment, titled Paddington in Peru, our titular bear is planning to return to to the South America to visit his Aunt Lucy in Lima with his family, the Browns, but an unexpected development sends them into the jungle instead. Watch the trailer below.

While Ben Whishaw is continuing to bring Paddington to life, Emily Mortimer is taking over the role of Mrs. Brown from Sally Hawkins. The trailer also provides a first look at Olivia Colman and Antonio Banderas, both newcomers to the series. Meanwhile, Director Paul King is not returning to the helm after leading the first two film installments, but remained on board in a story capacity.

After ten years of working on the Paddington movies, I feel absurdly protective of the little bear, and Im delighted that Dougal will be there to hold his paw as he embarks on his third big-screen adventure, King shared of incoming director Dougal Wilson.

Paddington in Peru will first premiere in the UK on November 8th, 2024, before sailing over to American theaters on January 17th, 2025.

Paddington Returns to South America in Trailer for Paddington In Peru: Watch

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Paul Mescal is bloody and ready for battle in behind-the-scenes look at Gladiator 2

A behind-the-scenes look at Ridley Scott's Gladiator 2 has been released  and it looks like a bloody good time.

The newly released set photos, one of which can be seen below, show a bloodied and battered Paul Mescal, who plays Lucius, the nephew of Commodus (played by Joaquin Phoenix in the 2000 film) in the upcoming pic.

The cast also includes Connie Nielsen in a reprisal of her role as Lucilla, Joseph Quinn as co-emperor Caracalla, Fred Hechinger as co-emperor Geta, Derek Jacobi in a reprisal of his role as Senator Gracchus, Denzel Washington, Pedro Pascal, May Calamawy, Lior Razm, Matt Lucas, Tim McInnemy and Peter Mensah. Djimon Hounsou was set to reprise his role as Juba, but was forced to drop out due to scheduling conflicts.

Scott returns to direct from a screenplay by David Carpa. Scott previously told Rotten Tomatoes that audiences will meet Lucius as a man living "in the wilderness" after being separated from his family for 15 years. The logo was teased earlier this year alongside the tagline, "What we do in life echoes in eternity."

Production on the sequel was delayed due to the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes, with filming finally wrapping in January 2024. After being primarily filmed in Malta, reshoots are taking place in Sussex  which is where the behind-the-scenes photos come from.

Gladiator is set to hit theaters on November 22. For more, check out our list of the most exciting upcoming movies in 2024 and beyond, or, skip straight to the good stuff with our list of movie release dates.
Random Man on the Street Turns Out to Be the Fonz AGAIN

A national broadcasters dramatic news report about a fire at a historic hotel in Ireland turned somewhat comical Tuesday with a surprise cameo appearance from actor Henry Winkler, of all people.

After hearing from an official with the Dublin Fire Brigade, RTE viewers were then treated to a man on the street interview from the Happy Days star. Bizarrely, its not the first time TV news crews on the other side of the Atlantic have gone looking for random interviewees and found The Fonz.

The Fonz @hwinkler4real has been evacuated from a hotel in Dublin after a small fire  Cool as a cucumber.

Ayyy  pic.twitter.com/TxgRbbeOXd  Vincent  (@Planetwaves20) June 12, 2024

When I heard the fire alarm, I thought it was the clock radio, said Winkler, who was staying in the Shelbourne Hotel overnight. The 78-year-old Arrested Development alum said he didnt realize it was actually a real fire alarm until he went into another room at the hotel and could still hear the buzzing.

I called downstairs and the woman said in a very calm voice: Yes! Were all evacuating! You must evacuate right now! Winkler said, impersonating her words in a decidedly panicked tone. (Local media reports said no one was injured and the fire was quickly brought under control.)

He also posted online a picture of himself alongside three firefighters, captioned with a message of thanks to the fire department. Firemen are some of my favorite human beings, he told RTE. Firemen and firewomen. They run in when other people are running out.

Winkler is in Ireland to promote his memoir Being Henry: The Fonz and Beyond, according to the broadcaster. He seemed remarkably stoic about the fact that his first day in the country involved being evacuated from a burning hotel, cheerily describing the incident as an amazing adventure right here in Dublin.

I cannot wait to see the rest of Dublin, Winkler added.

Henry Winkler Dishes on Happy Days Drama, Dinner With Bette Davis

His unexpected appearance in the coverage of the blaze recalled another, even stranger interview in which he was stopped by a BBC reporter in London who wanted to know his thoughts about plans for a new runway at Heathrow airport.

Winkler patiently explained during the 2013 interview that hes not a British voter and was in the U.K. temporarily because he was doing a pantomime in the Richmond area of the capital (he played Captain Hook in Peter Pan) but nevertheless asked if the airport expansion might bring more people to the economy.

BBC journalist James Landale explained there were concerns it could mean more noise in the area. Richmond is a lovely place, Winkler ventured. I watch the planes go every day. I hear nothing. He then agreed that he was relaxed about the planned expansion as he walked away from the crew.

Landale wrote after the interview that hed already started his spiel before he realized he was addressing no less a figure than the Fonz.

Instantly I became a gabbling, star-struck idiot, the journalist added, [A]sking if he had a vote here (doh! hes an American actor), how his pantomime was going and even if he had a view on Heathrow (what was I thinking?).

It couldve been worse. A TikTok comedian recently conducted an entire interview with Hollywood director Baz Luhrmann without realizing that she was actually grilling a critically-acclaimed filmmaker about his thoughts on orgies.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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When Robert Downey Jr. stepped on the set of The Sympathizer, he wasnt prepared for the miniseries to remind him so much of Oppenheimer. And its all thanks to Hoa Xuandes performance.

I had this great thing that I watched twice. I watched Cillian [Murphy] do Oppenheimer, and all I saw was this guy sacrifice and sacrifice. Then I went right into this, and I was like, Oh, hes doing what Cillian just did. It was all the same moves, Downey Jr. said on Monday during a screening for the finale of the HBO original hosted at The Paley Center for Media in New York.

Did you guys go out to dinner? Im not. Did you guys have a fun weekend? Im not. Ill have fun on set. Ill try to stay alive, and Ill try to keep in touch with my close friends so I dont get inhuman about it. But Im basically doing time and sacrificing so that the result  that you guys just witnessed  can be full,' Downey Jr. said of Xuande and Murphys similar approaches.

Based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel of the same name by Viet Thanh Nguyen, The Sympathizer follows the story of the Captain (Xuande), a North Vietnam plant in the South Vietnam army. He is forced to flee to the United States during the Vietnam War where he continues to spy on a community of South Vietnamese refugees. As the series progresses, it dives deeper into the Captains struggle between his original loyalties and his new life.

For his part, Xuande called his time on the series probably one of the best experiences of my life, noting that he felt supported by the crew, creators and cast.

[They were] people who were masters of their craft, diligent in the ways they wanted to tell this story and supportive and generous, not just to me but to everybody around them, Xuande said. He also called out Downey Jr., Sandra Oh and the series showrunners Park Chan-wook and Don McKellar by name. I was only emulating what was being received.

McKellar explained that Downey Jr.s performance sort of liberated the storytelling of this dense, emotional series and allowed the audience to see the series beyond a dry history. The former Marvel star plays five different influential white men who appear in the Captains life, each with his own schtick. These range from the exploitative and occasionally shirtless Professor Hammer to the sunglass-sporting Francis Ford Coppola-wannabe Niko Damianos.

[The Captains] ultimate liberation is the fact that he cant help but tell a good story. Thats what keeps him from being a sort of doctrinaire communist in the end. He sees the humanity. We want that energy and  wit is the word I often use  as a contrast to the trauma, McKellar said.

Art is  you cant right the wrongs, but you can fix the song a little bit, Downey Jr. added, referring to the super gifted Asian artists who were de-dimensionalized in Western culture. I purposely came in, particularly after Oppenheimer, I was just thrashed. I came in, and I was like, Im here to party, to do as many two-dimensional performances as possible. [The cast] started picking up on it. Theyd go, Oh, great. Were multi-dimensional. You stay right there in that hole that, intentionally or otherwise, you fking put us in.'

The Sympathizer is available to stream on Max.

The post Robert Downey Jr. Says The Sympathizer Star Hoa Xuande Pulled All the Same Moves as Cillian Murphy in Oppenheimer appeared first on TheWrap.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 12. The United States urges Azerbaijan and Armenia to finalize a peace agreement in the coming weeks and months, US Assistant Secretary of State James O'Brien, who is on a visit to Yerevan, told local media, Trend reports.

According to him, Washington supports the legitimate desire of the peoples of the region to conclude a long-term peace agreement.

"In our view, there is an opportunity, which comes along every few generations, to create a trade corridor from Central Asia to the Mediterranean Sea. This is only possible if there is peace between Azerbaijan and Armenia. This will create new lines of industry along the corridor. This can happen now. In a few years, it may not be as important as it is now... So now is the time to do it," O'Brien said.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
Welcome to Mercy Streaming: Watch & Stream Online via AMC Plus

Curious about where to watch Welcome to Mercy online? Youve come to the right place. Welcome to Mercy is an American religion-themed horror-drama film. The plot follows a young mothers calm life turning into a disaster when a fateful event compels her to visit her remote side country home in Latvia. The film received subpar reviews from audiences and critics during its release.

Heres how you can watch and stream Welcome to Mercy via streaming services such as AMC Plus.

Is Welcome to Mercy available to watch via streaming?

Yes, Welcome to Mercy is available to watch via streaming on AMC Plus.

Madeline, a young woman, has settled down abroad. With a high-paying job, she stays with her young daughter. The mother-daughter duo lives a happier and more comfortable life abroad. But a fateful tragedy in her family compels Madeline to arrive in Latvia. When a string of eerie occurrences happens, it alters Madelines life into a living hell.

The film features Lily Newmark as August, Eileen Davies as Mother Superior, Kristen Ruhlin as Madeline, and Tom J. Benedict as Young Father Joseph, among others.

Watch Welcome to Mercy streaming via AMC Plus

Welcome to Mercy is available to watch on AMC Plus, which provides a vast collection of engaging content in multiple formats and languages for viewers worldwide.

You can watch via AMC Plus by following these steps:

Go to AMCPlus.com Create a username and password Choose your plan: $8.99 per month

$83.88 per year

Users can also subscribe to AMC Plus as a channel via Amazon Prime Video if they are current subscribers to Amazons service.

The official synopsis is as follows:

When a single mother begins to experience symptoms of the stigmata, she seeks the help of a local priest and nun to help her understand what is seen and unseen.

NOTE: The streaming services listed above are subject to change. The information provided was correct at the time of writing.

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The post Welcome to Mercy Streaming: Watch & Stream Online via AMC Plus appeared first on ComingSoon.net - Movie Trailers, TV & Streaming News, and More.
It's a creamy, cheesy nod to New Mexico's most famous crop.

Simply Recipes / Adobe Stock

Late summer at my local farmer's market is a time of almost absurd bounty. All of summer's goodness is still pouring intomatoes, melons, cucumbers, you name itand early fall crops like apples are starting to hit the market, but I'm bypassing all that and making a beeline toward the nose-pricking scent of roasted New Mexico chiles.

There's only one prolific local grower of these chiles, and they pull up to the market with a couple of giant metal barrel-like roasters and a truckload of half a dozen different chile varieties. Propane burners feed roaring flames that char and singe the chiles until the skins turn black and peel away from the now-tender flesh beneath. I buy bags and bags of roasted chiles and stack them in my freezer against the long, wet winter to come.

Because I associate these chiles with all things goodgreen chile and pork stew, green chile cornbread, green chile mac and cheeseI'll always jump at the chance to try a new Hatch chile product. That's why you could practically hear the screeching sound as I stopped in my tracks in front of Trader Joe's Unexpected Cheddar Cheese Spread with Hatch Chile.



Simply Recipes / Trader Joe's

Why I Love Trader Joe's Hatch Chile Cheese Spread

For this ultra-creamy product, Trader Joe's turns their fan-favorite Unexpected Cheddar into a smooth spread with butter and whey. The spread is studded with bits of roasted Hatch chiles and bell pepper, which provide a roasted and only slightly spicy flavor. While I like the regular Unexpected Cheddar spread, the Hatch chile version is a major upgrade in the flavor department.

This might surprise some folks with mild palates, but many New Mexico chiles, like Hatch chiles, aren't very spicy. Instead, they provide a rich chile flavor that is distinctly different from the flavor of a bell pepper (and, in my opinion, vastly superior). There is something warm and inviting about the flavor of the chiles used in this spread, but it doesn't quite cross over into spicy territory. In fact, Trader Joe's amps up the spread with a small amount of cayenne, which likely provides the little heat it has.



What Are Hatch Chiles, Anyways?

Hatch chiles are grown specifically in New Mexico's Hatch Valley. In other words, they can only be called "Hatch" if they're grown in this region. All so-called New Mexico chiles, including Hatch, are descended from heirloom chiles bred and grown by Indigenous peoples in the region and the descendants of Spanish settlers known as Hispanos. These heirloom chiles were used to develop the modern New Mexico chile (and its many varieties) starting around the turn of the 20th Century at New Mexico State University.

These days, New Mexico is practically synonymous with Hatch chiles, and if you visit you can sample them in everything from your eggs at breakfast to your cheeseburger at dinner.

How I Use Trader Joe's Hatch Chile Cheese Spread

This spread is ideal for snacking, preferably with something very crunchy. I've been spreading it on Wasa's sesame and sea salt crispbreads, but any very crisp cracker will do nicely. It's also an outstanding sandwich spread. Try it on soft white bread with sliced cucumbers and sprouts or microgreens (cilantro microgreens are elite).

I haven't tried this yet, but I suspect a short stint in the microwave would turn it into something like queso, and it could serve as a quick and dirty cheese sauce for pasta. I doubt you'll need a ton of creative ways to use it because it's so tasty that you'll have no trouble polishing off the nine-ounce container with a box of crackers.



Read the original article on Simply Recipes.
Diesel is celebrating Pride by reuniting with Tom of Finland Foundation, the nonprofit organization established to preserve Finnish artist Tom of Finlands catalog of homoerotic art.

On Tuesday, the Italian denim brand unveiled the 2024 Diesel x Tom of Finland Foundation Pride capsule collection specifically designed to celebrate the LGBTQIA+ community. Through the partnership, Diesel aims to amplify the message of freedom of expression, sexuality and individualisma message the has been a key pillar of the Diesel brand.

More from Sourcing Journal

The collection also marks Tom of Finland Foundations 40th anniversary. It is Diesels third collaboration with the foundation.

The 24-piece capsule features the work of artists including Stuart Sandford, Suzanne Shifflett, Tank, the Hun, Valentine, Henning von Berg and Tom of Finland.

Applied as prints and patchworks, the artwork reflects important voices from Tom of Finland Foundations four decades of preserving the work of queer artists, many of whom have faced discrimination and misrepresentation due to the nature of what they create, Diesel stated.

Spanning T-shirts, denim jackets, jeans, jockstraps and more, each garment is trimmed with a special canvas tape printed with a quotation from the artist. The collection will launch globally in late June on Diesels website and in Diesel boutiques.

Diesel is sponsoring a series of global events, including the annual Tom of Finland Art and Culture Festival, held for the first time in Berlins legendary Halle am Berghain on May 31-June 2. The program of exhibitions and performances continued last week in Fire Island, NY.

Other events will take place during Helsinki Pride and in Los Angeles later this year. Diesel will also have an exhibition at its art gallery in Tokyo.

Through its support of the events and exhibitions, Diesel said it acknowledges the profound social and cultural impact Toms Foundation has made, in providing an open, unique space of freedom and love for this community of artists.
Live theatre is exactly like our favorite cocktails  filled with the same key players we love to see again and again (be it whiskey and rum or Matthew Broderick and Nathan Lane), unexpectedly sour twists, and bittersweet finishes. With the 77th Tony Awards airing live on June 16, what better way to celebrate the art than with a host of beverages that are equally as complex as the shows and characters represented?

While you may have all the best unconventional hors d'oeuvres recipes down pat, your drinks menu needs to be equally as impressive. Filled with on-theme ingredients for every guest's preference, you can use these cocktails and mocktails to simply get through the endless commercials or take a few sips during your personal Tony Awards drinking game. Did Ariana DeBose put on yet another spectacular, viral-worthy opening performance? Sip! Will "Hell's Kitchen" and "Stereophonic" sweep the awards as predicted? Sip! Even if you only mix and muddle your drinks for a cozy, theatre-themed night with a few close friends, these drinks play the perfect role for every moment of your watch party.

Read more: 13 Liquors Your Home Bar Should Have

Tequila Sunrise

Tequila sunrise with cherry and orange slice - Michelle McGlinn/ Tasting Table

Tequila, orange juice, and a splash of grenadine with an orange slice and a maraschino cherry on top  the sunny cocktail isn't exactly what comes to mind when you think of rock and roll, and yet, it's perfect for fans of "Stereophonic." The rock 'n' roll history of the tequila sunrise shares close roots with the dramatic play, as the cocktail was popularized in Sausalito, California, exactly where the stage play takes place.

The characters in the most Tony-nominated play of all time, rumored to be loosely-based on the legendary members of rock band Fleetwood Mac, are a fame-chasing quintet of Brits and Americans who are steps away from true stardom. While the play takes place entirely within the confines of their studio, the audience can only imagine the hazy, orange California sunsets and easygoing, tequila-tinged freeness that inspired the band's songwriting, and thus, propelled their rise to fame. Serve up your citrusy Tequila Sunrise cocktails in some groovy, '70s inspired glasses with their signature orange and cherry garnishes. They can also be spiced up with some jalapeno peppers or made fruitier with pieces of melon as a nod to the popular fruit grown throughout the Bay Area.

Classic Colorado Bulldog

Classic Colorado Bulldog with cherries - Jessica Morone/ Tasting Table

The Classic Colorado Bulldog cocktail may look like a drink straight from a picturesque 1950's movie filled with poodle skirts, romantic (yet respectful) slow dances, and kitschy soda fountains  but one sip quickly reveals that the drink has been corrupted with some perverse spirits. The cola and heavy cream concoction is mixed with vanilla vodka and coffee liqueur, a seemingly random combination that sounds like the brainchild of delinquent adolescents bored with their virgin ice cream floats. That said, the ingredients actually mesh extremely well, with the flavor of a boozy cola deepened by earthy coffee. A salute to the ragtag cast and production crew of "The Outsiders" with 12 Tony nominations between them, this falsely innocent drink is absolutely golden.

The creamy Sodapop-inspired creation has something for every member of the tight-knit Greasers  it's similar to the deep yet innocuous Ponyboy character, with a rebellious streak similar to Dally's. Classic cola works well for the cocktail, but you can switch it up with vanilla or cherry Coke. After stirring the heavy cream into the blend of vodka, soda, and coffee liqueur, top it off with a spritz of boozy whipped cream and a maraschino cherry or two.

Agua De Jamaica (Hibiscus Tea)

Agua de Jamaica in short glass - Michelle McGlinn/ Tasting Table

A glass of agua de Jamaica is the perfect salve in between heady, ingredient-heavy drinks. Made with dried hibiscus petals, water, fresh lime juice, and a bit of sugar if you like it sweet, it's layered, refreshing, and a little sour  a drink that mirrors the highs and lows of finding community in a foreign place. The refreshment draws parallels to the experiences of the stylists in Best Play nominee "Jaja's African Hair Braiding," which chronicles the lives of West African immigrants in a Harlem braiding shop, and the intricate nuances of their sisterhood.

Hibiscus, also known as sorrel or roselle, is a flower widely used across the Black diaspora. There's a great significance of hibiscus drinks throughout African history, although the name of the drink is slightly disparate. Depending on where you are, no one can agree on whether it's dubbed zobo, bissap, or sobolo. Despite the variations, agua de Jamaica continues to be constant and reliable, shape-shifting into whatever you need it to be. While its foremost nature is a revitalizing one, you can mix it with something stronger if desired. Stir in some rum, tequila, or vodka as an ode to the melting pot that is Harlem, or combine the drink with palm wine, a frothy, fermented West African drink derived from the sap of palm trees.

Rhubarb Ginger Fizz

Rhubarb ginger fizz with candied ginger - Jennine Rye/ Tasting Table

An intricate mix of gin, lemon juice, simple syrup, club soda, and egg whites, the gin fizz is a classic cocktail with roots in postbellum New Orleans. Our Rhubarb Ginger Fizz spruces up the original, infusing it with deeper flavors. While a gin fizz itself is refreshing, one sip of the amped up offshoot uncovers a drink that's much more than you bargained for  a sentiment shared by the characters in Best Revival of a Play nominee "Appropriate." The estranged Lafayette family must return to their deceased patriarch's Arkansas plantation home where they discover truths as bitter as rhubarb's bite.

The red plant was never a fixture of the antebellum South, a period that marred and continues to define the convoluted history of the region. It doesn't even take to the soil, preferring the drawn-out winters of the North. Despite its resistance, rhubarb does find itself used in Southern-style pies, crisps, and refreshments, forming a reluctant relationship. The vegetable brings a delightfully complicated touch to the classic gin fizz, with the slight, sweet flavor further coaxed out by spicy ginger. While it ultimately goes down more easily than the secrets the Lafayettes hoped would remain buried, the journey is just as layered.

Grown-Up Shirley Temple

Shirley Temple with orange slice - Ksenia Prints/ Tasting Table

The Shirley Temple is rumored to come from a child's desire to be older. Ginger ale is doubly sweetened by a splash of grenadine and a maraschino cherry  a compromise for a young girl who truly wanted a sip of her parents' old fashioneds. The Shirley Temple is iconic and remains the grandmother of all mocktails. Despite its fame, it's a somewhat stodgy remnant of the past, similar to the bubbly image of its namesake early 20th century star. In comes the Grown-Up Shirley Temple Mocktail. It's a lot spicier, sassier, and grown  just like Ali, the overprotected teenage musical prodigy at the center of "Hell's Kitchen," which is up for Best Musical.

The drink swaps soda for nonalcoholic ginger beer, which is just as fizzy but packs a fiery punch. This revamped version also includes freshly-squeezed juice from a cara cara orange, the Venezuelan original that's a cross between the Brazilian Bahia and Washington Navel. Leaning more sour than its counterparts, the cara cara orange blends beautifully with grenadine's mouth-puckering pomegranate flavor. Rather than garnishing this Grown-Up Shirley Temple with maraschinos, opt for Amarena cherries. The sour Italian fruit, which is often used to finish off true cocktails, remains a playful nod to a child's fervent wish to speed up time.

Smoky French 75

French 75 with lemon peels - Ksenia Prints/ Tasting Table

Although the lively parties at speakeasies made up some the most defining moments of Prohibition in the U.S., the restrictive era still resulted in drinks created from desperation. A notable one, the French 75 relied on hastily-made bathtub gin and Champagne to keep the imbibers satiated. Meanwhile, in 1930's Berlin, where "Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club" is set, the alcohol flowed more freely. The revived Smoky French 75 celebrates this greater access to spirits, and makes the perfect toast to the musical's nomination for Best Musical Revival.

Instead of gin, the upgraded version of the cocktail calls for smooth tequila. Most notable is the addition of absinthe, an herbaceous liquor that loosens one's inhibitions  perfect for a racy night of cabaret. Aside from the potent quality of the spirit, absinthe balances out the lighter elements of the Smoky French 75 with its unique anise flavor. Red vermouth and Cointreau also make an appearance, boosting the tart taste of the lemon curl garnishes. Fun, flirty, and dangerously inviting, this cocktail is sure to be the main event of the night.

Read the original article on Tasting Table
How long have you been in there?! A popular tourist destination in China has installed toilet timers. Reactions are mixed

Boasting 51,000 statues carved into 252 caves and niches some 1,500 years ago, Chinas Yungang Buddhist Grottoes is irrefutably a spectacular attraction.

But in recent days, the restrooms in this UNESCO-listed World Heritage site have been earning more attention than the views.

A video recently shared on various Chinese news and social media sites shows a set of timers installed above a row of toilet cubicles in a female washroom, with each stall getting its own digital counter.

When a stall is unoccupied, the pixelated LED screen displays the word empty in green. If in use, it shows the number of minutes and seconds the door has been locked.

We wont kick people out midway

The original video was reportedly taken by a visitor who sent it to the Xiaoxiang Morning Herald, a state-run local newspaper.

I found it quite advanced technologically so you dont have to queue outside or knock on a bathroom door, the paper quoted the visitor as saying.

But I also found it a little bit embarrassing. It felt like I was being monitored.

A staff member at the attraction reportedly told the Xioxiang Morning Herald that the timers were installed to cope with an increase in visitors to the attraction  and that includes the facilities inside the tourist site.

They arent there to control the durations you could use the bathrooms, the staff member was quoted by the newspaper as saying.

Its impossible that we would kick someone out [of the bathroom stall] midway. And we arent setting a time limit such as five or 10 minutes of how long one could use the toilets.

Chinas Yungang Buddhist Grottoes features 51,000 statues carved into 252 caves and niches. - Emeric Fohlen/NurPhoto/Getty Images

Nanchang Evening News, a state-run newspaper, quoted a staff member of the park as saying the timer has been in operation since May 1 of this year and is primarily a safety measure, ensuring the well-being of all guests, in case some guests use the toilet for an extended period and an emergency occurs.

The news has stirred up plenty of debate on Chinas social media sites.

Some netizens on popular micro-blogging platform Weibo supported the new timers, saying they would discourage visitors from sitting and scrolling on their mobile phones while in the stalls.

A tourist site isnt an office  who would spend their time in the toilets? Is it really necessary? said one netizen.

Why dont they just spend the money on building more washrooms? said another.

Others said that it would help those who have actual medical emergencies and may not be able to call for assistance.

Record-breaking visitor numbers

Inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2001, Yungang Buddhist Grottoes is one of the biggest attractions in northern Chinas Shanxi province.

The ticketed scenic area received 3 million visitors in 2023, a record high for the tourist site and a significant increase from its second busiest year, in 2019 (with 1.98 million visits).

And Yungang Buddhist Grottoes has been upgrading more than just its washrooms. In recent years, officials have introduced new shows and added new mini-attractions within the area to boost its appeal.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
Emily Post would be proud.

A high school class president in Massachusetts who gave a commencement speech wanted to recognize all of his fellow graduates. So he wrote them personal thank-you notes presented at the ceremony  180 to be exact.

I wish I couldve acknowledged you all, but there was simply not enough time, Mason Macuch of Lakeville said in his June 7 speech. Instead, I want you to reach under your chairs, where you will find a personal note that Ive written to each of you as a way to say one final goodbye and thank you for making these years that will soon pass the good ole days.

The seniors at Apponequet Regional High School about 40 miles (64 kilometers) south of Boston found envelopes containing 5-by-7-inch (13-by-18-centimeter) white cards with their messages.

Macuch said it took him about 10 hours to write the cards. As class president, he said he knew most of the students.

I just wrote anything from farewell messages to little memories that I had with whoever I was writing to, or maybe if it was a close friend, a longer message to them, Macuch, 18, told The Associated Press on Wednesday. Anything that I could think of about the person I wanted to say about them before we graduated and went on our separate ways.

Macuch had to clear the idea with school administrators first. He arrived an hour before the ceremony and got help from an assistant principal and a teacher taping the cards under the chairs.

He said a lot of graduates thanked him in person afterward. Many parents sent him nice comments on social media.

Some people I hadnt talked to in a few years were just so thankful for them. It was really nice to see that they were just so appreciative of all the hard work that went into them, and it was a really nice way to say goodbye to everyone, said Macuch, who is starting college in the fall and plans to study biochemistry.

He was trained well.

My mom always pushes to write a thank-you note, he said.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

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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.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 13. Speaker of the Azerbaijani Parliament (Milli Majlis) Sahiba Gafarova met with Prime Minister of Belarus Roman Golovchenko during her official visit to that country, Trend reports.

Describing the last month as a month of Azerbaijani-Belarusian co-operation, the Prime Minister said that this period saw sufficient intensity in the implementation of mutual visits between the officials of the countries. The visits of President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko to Azerbaijan, of the Prime Minister of Azerbaijan to Belarus and of the Speaker of the Milli Majlis to Belarus against the backdrop of the regular session of the Intergovernmental Commission held in Minsk made a very important contribution to the development of relations between our countries whilst also highlighting the high level of our ties.

The role of the high-level ties between the Heads of State in the development of interconnection between the two countries was emphasised duly at the meeting. The instructions of the Heads of State to expand our ties are being successfully implemented by the relevant state bodies.

It was further remarked that the official visit of President Ilham Aliyev to the Republic of Belarus in 2018 and the state visit of President Alexander Lukashenko to Azerbaijan last month as well as the documents inked during those visits had given a special boost to our relations. Azerbaijan and Belarus have signed about 150 documents covering political, economic, social, humanitarian, scientific, technical and regional co-operation to date; those documents have formed a solid legal foundation for the progress of the bilateral connexions.

Prime Minister Roman Golovchenko voiced his satisfaction with the elevated level of our interparliamentary relations and said they were in line with the spirit of interstate relations, whereas the visit of the Speaker of the Milli Majlis was going to make a material input in the further expansion of ties in the parliamentary perspective.

Speaker of the Milli Majlis Sahiba Gafarova spoke about the meetings held during her visit. She mentioned the exchange of views on many aspects of the bilateral co-operation, amongst them useful discussions on deepening the relations in the legislation field further. Joint activities in that field and the intensification of the co-operation between the parliamentary committees are expedient to ensure even greater contribution to the relations between our countries.

As she briefed the Belarusian PM on Azerbaijan's achievements during the independence period, the Speaker of Milli Majlis said that Azerbaijan had taken the path of development after the National Leader Heydar Aliyev had come to power in our country at the insistence of the people. Fundamentals of the countrys economic and social development were formulated. The oil strategy implemented under the guidance of the Great Leader opened great opportunities for our country. At present, Azerbaijan has achieved great successes in all areas under the successful leadership of President Ilham Aliyev.

Prime Minister Roman Golovchenko also said that Azerbaijan had covered a remarkable path of development since gaining independence.

The conversation continued with Speaker Sahiba Gafarova telling PM Golovchenko about the rehabilitation and construction works going on in the Garabagh and East Zangazur economic regions. The smart city and smart village concepts are used in the process and renewable energy sources are utilised. The agreement on the participation of Belarusian companies in the reconstruction works was highly praised during the conversation, too.

It was then emphasised that the collaboration of Azerbaijan and Belarus in the economic area and in trade was advancing dynamically and there are good opportunities to achieve even greater results in agriculture, processing industry and several other spheres.
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A view of en EV charging outside a home.

Want to install an EV charger at home? It's best to hire a pro. Get free, no-commitment project estimates from services near you. Find Pros Now + Electric vehicles (EVs) are becoming more popular with drivers in the U.S. who want to end their reliance on gasoline. While EVs vary in make, model, and color, they all have one thing in common: They must be recharged regularly. Public electric car chargers can be found in parking lots, such as at shopping centers and airports. Theyre also commonly found at hotels and resorts for guests, while some gas stations have even started installing EV charging stations to accommodate the needs of their customers. While public EV charging stations are necessary and appreciated, most owners of electric vehicles will agree that theres nothing like the convenience of having a charging station at home. It provides peace of mind, cost savings, and faster charging speeds. But how much does this convenience cost? According to HomeAdvisor, the cost to install an EV charger at home ranges from $546 to $1,374. On average, homeowners pay $959 to install an at-home charging station, with the cost varying based on the charger type and brand. This guide can help homeowners learn more about how to calculate EV charger installation costs. Photo: depositphotos.com Factors in Calculating the Cost to Install an EV Charger at Home Determining the cost to install an EV charger at home depends on a few key factors. While the national average cost to install an EV charger is $959, several elements can influence the final cost, including the charger type, connection method, and installation location. Homeowners will want to remember the following factors when budgeting for an EV charger installation at home. EV Charger Type There are three types of car charging stations, which are broken down by levels. Level 1 chargers are free with an electric vehicle purchase, though some drivers buy back-up or replacement Level 1 chargers. These chargers does not require any sort of electric car charger installation. Instead, they can be plugged directly into any 120-volt outlet. While theyre simple to set up, they charge slowly and may not hold enough to meet a days mileage. Level 2 chargers are the most common among electric car owners. Theyre affordable and charge batteries much more quickly. Most models offer a full charge in just a few hours. However, they require a 240-volt outlet, so homes tend to require electrical modifications with this charger type. Level 3 chargers are designed for commercial use and can fully charge a battery in under an hour. Most homes cant accommodate such a large and powerful charger. Connection Type Electric car owners have a couple of options when it comes to how their charging station is connected to their home, with the main two being plugged in and hardwired. Plugged-in connectors require a 240-volt wall outlet. Some homes may already have this type of outlet, commonly found in the laundry room for a clothes dryer, or one may already be installed in the garage as well. If not, including EV outlet installation cost in the budgeting process is wise. The main benefit of plugged-in connectors is that theyre portable and can be easily moved, repaired, or replaced as needed. As long as the outlet is installed and available, an EV charger can be connected quickly and conveniently. A hardwired connection is wired directly into a home. It cant be removed easily since its connected to a homes electrical wiring. However, hardwired connections can be used outdoors and are less expensive. Connection TypeAverage Cost (Materials and Labor)Plugged In$1,000 to $2,200Hardwired$850 to $1,800 Charger Brand There are several manufacturers of EV chargers. Some have a better reputation than others and typically have price ranges to match. While some electric vehicle owners have to go with the same brand for their car and charger, other makes and models are compatible with universal chargers. Since different brands offer different features and quality levels, each manufacturer has a unique price range. Generally speaking, chargers that offer higher charging speeds, extended warranties, and dedicated customer support will likely come with a higher starting price point. However, more-affordable brands shouldnt be eliminated on price alone. Electric vehicle owners will want to explore each brand in their price point to find one that meets their needs. BrandAverage Cost (Materials and Labor)Bosch$1,100 to $1,600ChargePoint$1,300 to $1,500Enphase$1,000 to $1,500JuiceBox$1,200 to $1,400Siemens$1,200 to $1,400Tesla$1,100 to $1,600Webasto$1,000 to $1,300 Installation Location One detail for homeowners to consider when preparing for an electric car is where to install the charger. Deciding between an interior or exterior location can influence the overall installation budget and the homeowners experience of an at-home EV charger. Interior locations are more protected from the elements. Theyre also less visible to passersby, reducing the risk of vandalism. However, interior charging stations limit parking options and occupy interior garage space. Exterior locations allow for more flexible parking and keep chargers and cables out of interior living spaces. However, they require weatherproofing and may not be an aesthetically pleasing addition for some homeowners. LocationAverage Cost (Materials and Labor)Interior$800 to $1,500Exterior$800 to $2,500 Labor Labor costs vary for EV charging station installation, depending on which of the three level types of EV charger a homeowner chooses. For example, labor costs for a Level 1 station can be as little as $0 if an available standard wall outlet is already installed. But for highly complex Level 1 station setups, labor costs can be as high as $1,700. For Level 2 stations, homeowners can expect to take on higher labor costs, ranging from $1,200 to $2,000. Its important to remember that labor for charging stations refers to the work required to set up the stations infrastructure, including mounting, connecting wiring, and setting up the network, so more complex setups will have higher labor costs. Finally, Level 3 charging stations can have installation costs as high as $50,000, sometimes even more. But these stations are reserved for commercial and public use. Want to install an EV charger at home? It's best to hire a pro. Get free, no-commitment project estimates from services near you. Find Pros Now + Permits EV charger installation requirements may include obtaining a permit to ensure that the installation and operation of the charging station meet safety and building code regulations. Homeowners can expect to pay an additional $100 to $200 for permits, especially when installing a Level 2 station. While permit pricing varies by location, most breakdowns look something like the following. StageAverage CostPermit application$40 to $60Electrical permit$100 to $200Additional handling charges$20 to $40 Installing an EV charger without a permit is never recommended. There may be fines or penalties and potential legal issues. There are also safety concerns to keep in mind. While electrical car fires are rare, an improperly installed charger can increase the overall risk. Photo: depositphotos.com Additional Costs and Considerations After planning and budgeting for an EV charger at home, homeowners can consider some additional costs, including for electrical work, dual charging requirements, and tax credits. Electrical Work Several electrical projects may be required to install an EV charger at home. In most cases, homeowners are discouraged from doing this work unless they have professional training as an electrician. Instead, its best to hire a professional to step in. But how much does an electrician cost? It depends on the project and the electricians rates, which can be by the hour or at a flat rate; however, adding wiring for a new outlet costs between $6 and $12 a linear foot. Want to install an EV charger at home? It's best to hire a pro. Get free, no-commitment project estimates from services near you. Find Pros Now + New Breaker Box Installation A breaker box, also known as an electrical panel, is a metal box that houses circuit breakers or fuses within a building. It receives power from the utility and distributes it as required throughout a home. When homeowners are installing a new EV charger station, it may be necessary to upgrade the breaker box. This is especially true in older homes that werent built with the same powering capabilities that todays households have. A new breaker box can cost between $1,500 and $4,000. The final cost depends on the distance and load the new box needs to carry. Not updating a breaker box can overload the system and lead to tripped circuit breakers or even electrical fires. Dual Charging and Powersharing For households with more than one electric vehicle, a dual charger helps ensure that multiple vehicles can be charged safely and efficiently at the same time. When equipped with a powersharing feature, a charger can better balance the electrical load between two vehicles. Adding a dual charger with powersharing costs anywhere from $1,000 to $1,500. However, this cost range is for the installation of a basic model. Opting for a model with advanced features, including smart scheduling (charging can be programmed to start and stop at different times), energy monitoring (real-time monitoring limits energy consumption), and mobile app integration. Tax Credit Property owners will want to be aware of several home improvement tax credits, including one for EV chargers. As of January 2023, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is offering a tax credit of up to 30 percent of the cost of purchasing and installing a charging station. Its important to note that this tax credit is subject to change and may expire or undergo significant modifications in the future, so homeowners will want to confirm that they qualify before counting on a credit to help absorb some of their initial charger installation costs. There may also be state or local government incentives or tax credits to explore. Photo: depositphotos.com Types of EV Chargers When homeowners are accurately estimating an EV charging station cost, the most crucial factor is the type of charger. As explored below, there are three EV charging station levels for homeowners to choose from, all with unique advantages, drawbacks, and price ranges. EV Charger TypeAverage Cost (Materials Only)Level 1$300 to $600Level 2$600 to $1,200Level 3$12,000 to $35,000 Level 1 A Level 1 EV charging station is the most affordable type available, though it also has several limitations electric vehicle owners should know about. The main difference between a Level 1 charger and the others is that its portable. Theyre often free with a car purchase, though a replacement can cost between $300 and $600. Installation is as simple as plugging it into a 120-volt outlet. The main disadvantage of Level 1 chargers is that they can take 24 hours to fully charge a battery, with an hour of charging time providing only 2 to 5 miles of driving range. Since the chargers are portable, many electric car drivers keep a Level 1 EV charging station with them when theyre away from home or for long drives where a backup charging solution can be beneficial. Level 2 A Level 2 EV charging station has a higher installation cost than Level 1 stations, but they charge batteries much quicker. A full charge can be reached in just a few hours. Homeowners can expect to pay between $600 and $1,200 to install a Level 2 charging station, with the final cost heavily dependent on whether the station is portable or mounted and hardwired to the home. Level 2 stations require a 240-volt outlet, so some electrical modifications or upgrades may be needed and can raise the installation cost. But with the ability to add 10 to 40 miles of driving range per hour, the added costs can be quite beneficial for homeowners who regularly depend on an electric vehicle to get them from point A to point B with minimal charging disruptions. Level 3 Level 3 EV charging stations are the most expensive but are designed for commercial use and are rarely installed in residential homes. With installation costs ranging from $12,000 to $35,000, theyre typically out of budget for most homeowners and dont provide the appropriate return on investment (ROI) for property owners to consider them. One scenario where they may be worth researching is for those living in multi-unit homes or complexes. Level 3 charging stations can charge multiple batteries simultaneously, adding hundreds of driving-range miles in under an hour. Level 3 charging stations require 480 volts, meaning a second panel will likely need to be installed to support a Level 3 charging station in a private residence, whether for a single family or multiple units. Benefits of Installing an EV Charger at Home There are multiple pros and cons of electric cars and the charges needed to keep them operational. The following are some of the top benefits of installing an EV charger at home for property owners to consider. Want to install an EV charger at home? It's best to hire a pro. Get free, no-commitment project estimates from services near you. Find Pros Now + Convenience The convenience that comes with charging an electric vehicle at home is the most appreciated benefit of installing an EV charger. Instead of finding a public station and taking time to charge an electric car on the way home from work or before heading off on a trip, homeowners with a charging station in their garage can plug in their vehicle and soon continue with their day, minimizing disruptions. Cost-Effectiveness Home electricity rates tend to be lower than those charged at public charging stations, which average between $2.50 and $3.50 per hour. There are also no additional fees to absorb, including membership costs, which can add up to significant amounts over time. Additionally, because theres no wait time at public charging stations, homeowners wont have to worry about lost wages or working opportunities while theyre charging. Some homeowners can also take advantage of off-peak savings when charging their vehicles at home. By charging overnight or during other off-peak hours, homeowners can take advantage of lower rates and reduce their charging costs. Predictability Some public charging stations can see long lines and wait times, especially during high-traffic periods. Theres peace of mind that comes with the predictability of at-home chargers when homeowners know they wont have to wait to charge their vehicles. EV chargers at home help homeowners have better control over their time and budget. Predictable charging metrics allow homeowners to keep their cars operational without a lot of undue stress. Battery Health Studies are beginning to show that frequent usage of Level 3 charging stations can damage electric vehicle batteries. While using them on a road trip or during a busy day of errands is OK, relying on them for regular charging can negatively affect battery performance. Homeowners with their own charging stations can rest easy, knowing that their batteries arent overcharged, since Level 3 stations are rarely installed in residential spaces. Avoiding overcharging will allow batteries to last longer and reduce maintenance costs and premature vehicle replacement. Increased Property Value As electric vehicles become more popular, so will the demand for in-home chargers from home buyers. Whether selling or renting, property owners who can advertise EV chargers are more likely to see less negotiating and potentially higher offers from electric vehicle owners who know the value of an in-home charging station. Just as working with one of the best solar companies, such as SunPower or Tesla, will help a homeowner maximize their return (ROI) on solar panels, choosing the best charging station type, brand, and installation company can help ensure that property value is increased as much as possible when an at-home EV charger is being installed. Photo: depositphotos.com DIY vs. Hiring a Professional While taking a DIY route may seem like the best way to save on home charging station costs, its not recommended. Hiring a professional will always be the safer option for several reasons. Installing an EV home charger requires working with high-voltage electrical lines. Even experienced DIYers may not know enough to avoid mistakes, which could lead to electrocution or fires. When electricity is involved, its always a job best left to licensed electricians. Code compliance is another reason to hire a professional. Improper DIY installation may not meet specific codes and regulations. This leads to the next point, which is permits. DIY installs likely wont pass inspections that come along with the permits required for EV charger installation. Another reason to avoid DIY installation for EV chargers is the insurance risks. Home insurance may not cover any damage or injuries from unpermitted electrical work. Additionally, manufacturer warranties may be void if a licensed electrician does not install the charger. One home charger scenario, though, can be a DIY job: Installing a Level 1 EV charger can be DIY appropriate if done safely. The benefits of Level 1 stations include the following: They dont require voltage over 120 volts, so standard household outlets can often be used. They have fewer high electrical hazard risks than Level 2 stations. They dont need to be hardwired, so they offer a portable charging solution. They dont require permits if an existing 120-volt outlet is being used. Its important to remember that Level 1 stations offer DIY capabilities and cost less, but they also have slower charging times. When homeowners are deciding whether to go the DIY route or hire a professional for an EV charger installation, the answer will depend on the unique charging needs of the household. Want to install an EV charger at home? It's best to hire a pro. Get free, no-commitment project estimates from services near you. Find Pros Now + How to Save Money on the Cost to Install an EV Charger at Home A home EV charging station is an investment, but that doesnt mean there arent ways to minimize costs. What follows are some money-saving tips for property owners to consider that address installation costs and some of the hidden costs of owning an electric car. Research local incentives. Research government incentives and rebates for EV charging station installation to help absorb some of the initial costs. Choose the right charging station. With a variety of charging types, brands, and connection options to choose from, finding the right charging station is essential to avoid overpaying for unneeded features. Consider location carefully. Install the charger as close as possible to the electric panel to minimize costly modifications. Timing matters. To save on labor costs and minimize disruptions, consider installing the charger during another home renovation or when other electrical work is needed. Share costs with neighbors. If anyone nearby may be considering installing an EV charger at home, see if there are ways to save on installation costs through contractor discounts. Harness solar power. To reduce utility bills while contributing to a greener environment, consider using solar panels to charge electric cars. Dont abandon public stations. While a home charging station offers convenience, make use of free EV charging stations while on errands or at work to cut down on home electricity costs. Budget for batteries. While electric car batteries are designed to last, they eventually need to be replaced at a cost of up to $20,000. Start budgeting now to avoid surprise costs down the line. Questions to Ask a Pro Asking a professional the right questions about installing an EV charger at home can minimize hiccups. Consider asking the following questions when searching for one of the best EV charger installers. How long have you been installing EV chargers? Are you licensed and insured for this type of work? Are you familiar with local building codes and permitting requirements for EV charger installations? Is handling the permitting process part of your services, or do I need to address permits? Can you recommend the best home EV charger for my needs and electrical system? Do you have experience with the best brand or model? Does your installation quote include all costs associated with installation, or are there potential additional costs that might arise? How soon can you schedule my installation? How long will the installation take? Do I need to be home during the installation? Will my existing electrical panel and service capacity support an EV charger? Are EV chargers safe? FAQs While there can be initial costs, having an in-house EV charger offers several benefits that can give electric car owners peace of mind and confidence in their vehicles performance. For electric car owners still trying to decide whether an at-home charging station is the more cost-effective option, the following frequently asked questions may provide additional insight. Q. Is it cheaper to charge EV at home or at a charging station? Charging EVs at home rather than at a public charging station is cheaper. While an EV charging stations map may share free stations, many cost between $2.50 and $3.50 per hour. Some electric car owners pay monthly membership fees instead for access to public charging stations. However, residential electricity rates are often the most affordable. Q. Can you install two EV chargers in one house? Yes, one house can accommodate two EV chargers. But there are a few things to consider, with electrical capacity being one. Not all electrical systems can handle two chargers, and modifications may be required. Electric vehicle owners are also encouraged to consider their charging needs, as one charger may be enough to match or exceed driving-range requirements. Q. How long does it take to install an EV charger? Every EV charger installation is unique, and the time it takes to complete the installation can depend on the connection type, location, and the homes existing electrical system. However, trained EV charger installers can typically install a working and thoroughly tested charging station in as little as 2 hours. Q. What size EV charger do I need? There are three EV charger sizes, or types, to consider. A Level 1 is ideal for someone with low driving-range requirements and provides around 3 to 5 miles per hour of charging. A Level 2 charger is the most common and provides up to 12 to 80 miles of range per hour of charging. A Level 3 can provide 3 to 20 minutes of range per minute of charging but is typically used only in commercial locations. Q. Are home electric car chargers safe? Yes, home electric car chargers are safe when installed and used correctly. This is especially true for home charging stations certified by Intertek (ETL) and Underwriters Laboratory (UL). Such stations undergo rigorous testing, with electricity flowing through the cord only once its connected to a vehicle. Professional installation is recommended for optimal safety. Article Sources HomeAdvisor, Fixr, J.D. Power
The second annual Newport Juneteenth celebration promises to be bigger and better than the year before, possibly serving as a test run for other large celebrations that could come to Washington Square Park in the future.

Last year was the first annual, it was a test and it was so successful that now were building the second one and we have new staff and new people involved and sponsors involved, and so were building it, Rhode Island Slave History Medallions founder Charles Roberts said.

Junteenth, originally a local Texan holiday commemorating the date when the enforcement of the Emancipation Proclamation came to Galveston, has grown into a nationwide holiday in recognition of the end of slavery in the United States.

A Juneteenth flag flies atop City Hall in Newport during a celebration in 2020.

The holiday is officially held on June 19, however, RISHMs Juneteenth celebration will be held the weekend before, on Saturday, June 15 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Washington Square Park. This year, RISHM will use its Juneteenth celebration to honor the 1st Rhode Island Regiment. Also known as the Black Regiment, its regarded by some historians as the first Black battalion in U.S. military history although it also included some Native Americans among its ranks. As a part of the celebrations, Roberts plans to read a recently discovered letter from Thomas Nichols, who was freed from enslavement to serve in the regiment.

The celebration will also feature musical performances spanning a host of cultural traditions, including gospel music, colonial music by Bristol Fife and Drum Corps, a traditional dance by Narragansett folk artist Thawn Harris and family, a drum performance by African artist Sidy Maiga. There will also be storytelling by Valerie Tutson of the RI Black Storytellers and a regional historic reenactment.

Revolutionary War re-enactors set up camp on the grounds of the Old Friends Meeting House on the corner of Marlborough Street and Marcus Wheatland Boulevard during Newport's Juneteenth celebration.

While RISHM, a statewide organization dedicated to informing the public on the states historical connection to the slave trade, has hosted past Juneteenth events in other Rhode Island places connected to the slave trade, such as Bristol and North Kingstown, theres a few reasons other than the first years popularity as to why it is returning to Newport for a second time, Roberts revealed to the Newport Daily News. As a member of the 250th Commission, a state-appointed group organizing celebrations to mark Rhode Islands upcoming bicentennial in 2026, Roberts said they used Newports Juneteenth celebration to see the feasibility of hosting a bicentennial celebration in the city.

I cant tell you about what's going to take place there because it's a secret for right now but eventually well be helping to organize that 250th event thats going to take place there, Roberts said.

Additionally, Roberts said RISHM is planning to announce a new walking tour it plans to host at the Juneteenth celebration.

After the Juneteenth celebrations official end at 4 p.m. the organization will host its first Newport Black History Walking Tour, a $20 guided experience that leads guests to the several Slave History Medallion markers around the city and informs them on the areas connection to the slave trade. The tour happening on June 15 will be free and open to the first 20 to 25 people that sign up.

There are so many locations in the historic district where we can tell the stories of the enslaved, Roberts said. Were telling the stories of the enslaver and the enslaved.

This article originally appeared on Newport Daily News: Newport's 2nd annual Juneteenth to takes place Saturday, June 15
Vacation's Orange Gelee sunscreen features a new and updated formula. Vacation

Allow me to take you back to the 1980s, a time when high-cut bikinis were all the rage, Tears for Fears ruled the airwaves and one delightfully tangerine-hued tanning gel could be found in beach bags everywhere. You yourself may be familiar with the iconic aluminum tube of Orange Gelee sunscreen by Bain de Soleil, a product that, despite its dedicated fan base, met a sudden end in 2019  or so we all thought.

Dakota Green is a founding partner of Vacation, a nostalgic sun care brand that seems to be a master in distilling the essence of old-school Miami Beach, Florida, into their leisurely line of sun lotions, tanning oils and paradise-inspired fragrances. Thus, it made perfect sense for Vacation to launch the Orange Gelee Revival Project, a collaborative effort that, according to Green, involved a panel of fans of the original formula, along with modern-day beauty experts, to get a new and improved Orange Gelee back on consumer shelves, with one of the most notable improvements being the level of SPF.

The orange gel, which first launched in the 1920s, was marketed to leave skin with a glowy radiance while helping you develop a deep, dark tan, Green said. Sun protection was later added to the formula, and started [only] at SPF 4.

Now, Orange Gelee offers adequate sun protection in the form of broad-spectrum SPF 30 and, though still tinted orange, the unique texture rubs in completely clear on all skin tones.

We [also] swapped ingredients like mineral oil, petrolatum and paraffin with premium plant-derived alternatives, Green said.

Reef-safe and water-resistant up to 80 minutes, the revamped sunscreen is still shine-inducing, hydrating and nourishing to sun-exposed skin thanks to the inclusion of ingredients like shea butter, jojoba, soothing maracuja oil and vitamin E, a trusted antioxidant that can protect skin against environmental stressors responsible for premature skin aging.

Green assured us that throughout the renewal process, the brand went to great lengths to preserve the elements responsible for making the Orange Gelee so legendary  notably, its bergamot-and-sandalwood-laced scent inspired by the French Riviera and the luscious balm-to-oil format thats different from most sunscreens on the market.

So far, the general response to the upgraded and chicly packaged formula has been overwhelmingly positive, according to both Gelee newbies and longtime fans alike. So positive in fact, that tubes have completely sold out on Vacations own website and at popular beauty retailers like Ulta. Green attributes this to a few things like the sunscreens transportive nature and the way nostalgia, specifically in beauty products, has the ability to conjure up happy memories from another time and place.

Whatever the reason, there seems to be some tawny magic in the Orange Gelee sunscreen gel, and fortunately, there are a few online places you can still manage to get it. Shop any of the listed retailers from the links above or read some promising reviews down below.

Promising Vacation and Ulta reviews:

This brought back so many memories with the first smell. Nothing compares to the scent or the texture of this product.  Krissie Its a wonderful soothing texture and scent. Super happy with coverage and conditioning on my skin.  Nini I have been very excited about this project for awhile. I finally got my tube and I am very happy. It is a lot less greasy than the original which is so much better. I love the higher SPF and the clean ingredients. (All the reasons why I had to stop using the original.) The smell isnt exactly the same but is still really great. It might even be amazing to roll out this formula with different scents; Vacation Mediterranean, Vacation Amalfi, Vacation Hawaii ... that may have a citrus recipe or a coconut recipe. What do you think? In terms of the graininess that some mentioned, it is very slight and quickly melts away upon blending so that doesnt bother me at all in order to get clean ingredients. Love the formula! Keep up the good work!  Serenadipini Just received this new product and its absolutely amazing the fact that its SPF 30 and not 4 is of course better for us! I live in Florida and I will most definitely be a repeat customer! Thank you for making this old best sun product even better!  D

HuffPost and its publishing partners may receive a commission from some purchases made via links on this page. Every item is independently curated by the HuffPost Shopping team. Prices and availability are subject to change.

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CHICAGO -- Sandy Farrers first day on the job at Jewel-Osco started a bit, well, sticky.

She bagged groceries alongside a cashier who liked to move quickly. But when two liter glass bottles of pop bumped together, exploding all over her, Farrer said she spent her first shift soaked in the drink.

But Farrer overcame the bumpy start, recently celebrating her 50th anniversary with the grocery chain. Oh, and that cashier  hes now her husband.

I said this to my husband, God Ive known you for 50 years. It was like, wow, she said. They began dating a few years after they met and married in 1981. Its kind of nice that we met there. If he wouldnt have broke those bottles.

Farrer started out as a service clerk at the supermaket chain when she was 16 and through the years, has also worked as a cashier, an assistant manager and more at eight different stores. Now, at 66, shes a part-time personnel coordinator in Glenview, where she does payroll, explains employee benefits and organizes anniversary parties  the fun part, she said.

Ive met a lot of nice people, nice customers, and its just a good company to work for, she said. Im happy.

While Farrer didnt initially plan to stay with the company that gave her her first job a half a century ago, the mother of three and grandmother to six said she appreciated the jobs flexibility, which allowed her to switch back and forth from full time to part time based on the needs of her family. Her husband is now the vice president of purchasing at a manufacturing company.

When her kids were little, she was able to pick them up from school, and she didnt miss plays or games, she noted. She now babysits her grandkids two or three days a week, which she said keeps me young.

You never know the future, and you never know what tomorrow brings, she said. I want to do it (watch my grandchildren) as long as I can. I want to be with them and spend time with them as long as I can.

To celebrate Farrers 50 years at Jewel-Osco, the store hosted a party last month (which she didnt have to plan). Farrers family as well as current and former co-workers attended the party, which was complete with cake, balloons and Portillos catering.

When we were at the anniversary party, a co-worker came up to me and she said, Oh, Sandy, we love her. She takes care of all of us. And I couldnt help but say out loud that she takes care of all of us too, said Farrers daughter, Rachel French, 36, of Norwood Park.

Because she really does. She takes care of my dad, her siblings, her kids, her grandchildren, French continued, adding that her mom is a very special person. We all feel so very lucky to have her in our lives.

Farrers one-woman grocery delivery is just one example, French said. When Farrer leaves work, she always makes sure to text her kids and ask them if they need groceries. Whether its apples or lunchmeat for the grandkids lunch, French said shes always helping them out (and making good use of her employee discount).

Though a representative from Jewel-Osco did not respond to multiple requests for comment, Farrer said the 50-year milestone is not hers alone. She knows of at least four other employees who have worked there for just as long.

When asked about retirement, Farrer said she gets that question a lot. The first thing she does is find some wood and knock on it, she jokes.

As long as my health allows me to work, I will work, she said. And then I continue to knock on wood.
Gabriela Morales sits in the bedroom she shares with her sister on Friday, June 7, 2024, at her apartment in Sioux Falls.

A Sioux Falls college student has received the highest honor that only 6% of Girl Scouts in the nation can earn during their time with the youth organization, according to the Director of Communications for Girls Scouts Dakota Horizons.

Gabriela Morales, 20, earned the Gold Award last Sunday for her project, Supporting the Rainbow Project: Creating Brave Spaces. Where the project focuses on creating safe spaces in Sioux Falls for LGBTQ2S+ teens and young adults to take part in a community that involves activities, support groups and wellness workshops.

The acronym LGBTQ2S+ stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer, two-spirit identities, and the "+" represents questioning, asexual, pansexual or other identities not represented in the acronym. According to Indian Health Service, Native American two-spirit people are "male, female, and sometimes intersexed individuals who combined activities of both men and women with traits unique to their status as two-spirit people." Two-spirit individuals are regarded in many communities and tribes as holding their own distinct gender status.

The Gold Award recognizes personal growth, leadership and the dedication that go towards making the world a better place for others.

Gabriela, who attends Augustana University and is majoring in Fine Arts, started the project after moving from Miami about a year ago with her sister and mother. Angelica Morales, 22, Gabrielas older sister, came as queer to her and their mother when they arrived in Sioux Falls. Because of her sisters experiences, Gabriela said she felt there was a need for these spaces.

"It's like a big sister, proud moment," Angelica said. "I think this project really helped her for the next stage of her growing as a person and getting out of her shell."

Gabriela's gold award burst keychain on Friday, June 7, 2024, at her apartment in Sioux Falls.

Angel Morales, Gabriela's mother, also expressed how much she is proud of her daughters for making this project happen.

Gabriela began her journey by reaching out to people within the community. After finding the large pride flag on the front of the First Congressional Church, she had reached out to Rev. Becky Pagone. The church was able to then help her get connected with other organizations and businesses, as well as provide a space for all of her events.

Soon after, she was also able to connect with the Transformation Project, Sioux Falls Pride, South Dakota Youth Activism and others listed on her projects website.

Gabriela saw a need in her community and took action, stated Marla Meyer, CEO of Girl Scouts-Dakota Horizons in a Girl Scouts press release. Her extraordinary dedication, perseverance and leadership is making the world a better place, and were honored to present her this award.

Her first event, "Superhero Trivia," was held at the First Congressional Church, where she was able to bring in attendees to take part in testing their knowledge of superheroes. She was able to have prizes for the winners and provide Superhero Sandwiches for attendees to enjoy. Additionally, she also offered a cooking class by bringing in an area chef to help teach younger people how to cook dishes like spaghetti and ravioli.

A photo from an Instagram post of Gabriela Morales hosting her, "Superhero Trivia," event at the First Congressional Church on Sunday, June 25, 2023 in Sioux Falls.

Girl Scouts taught me many things and provided me with experiences I would never have," Gabriela stated in the press release. "Girl Scouts taught me to step out of my comfort zone and speak publicly. For someone who is shy, this is a great achievement."

While working on this project, Gabriela functioned as an independent Girl Scout, also known as a Juliet, since there was no troop available in Sioux Falls. Her mother, Angel acted as her troop leader as she would complete the workbooks and work on her project alongside her younger sister.

"I know it's hard, like hard just being by yourself and not connecting with other girl scouts, because that's a big part of Girl Scouts, the sisterhood and the bond," Gabriela said. "But it pays off in the end, just doing the books and the activities and the events because they'll really help you, like develop yourself and who you are as a person."

Although Gabriela received this award, she still plans to continue Rainbow Project Sioux Falls as a non-profit organization, working alongside her mom and sister. Her mother says they will be planning new events and hope they can get those going by next fall. Additionally, Gabriela attends Augustana University and will be taking courses to receive a major in Fine Arts, concentrating in photography.

To learn more about Rainbow Project Sioux Falls, you can look for information and events on their website at rainbowprojectsiouxfalls.org or check Instagram at @rainbowsufu.

This article originally appeared on Sioux Falls Argus Leader: Sioux Falls Girl Scout wins Gold Award for LGBTQ+ inclusion project
Why Is My Baby Always Fussy in the Evenings?

Often referred to as the witching hour, fussy evenings are common, but can be very distressing for parents.

Medically reviewed by Teja Dyamenahalli, MD, MPH, FAAPMedically reviewed by Teja Dyamenahalli, MD, MPH, FAAP

Your newborn used to do nothing but eat and sleep. Sure, they didnt sleep that many hours in a row, but you might have felt like you were getting into a good routine with your new baby. By now, you probably know to make them happy, how to settle them down, and how to keep their tummy full.

But now, things have gone kind of haywire. Maybe your baby refuses sleep or won't settle, and they whimper and cry often. Sometimes, they may even refuse to eat. (Either that or they seem hungry all the time).

If your baby is experiencing any of these behaviors, while it may be frustrating at times, there is likely nothing to worry about. Starting a few weeks after birth, many newborns start to have fussy evenings. Often referred to as the witching hour, fussy evenings are common and harmless but can be very stressful for parents.

Lets discuss why newborns are fussy at night, when this phase starts and ends, and what you can do to get through these long nights.

Parents / Photo Illustration Michela Buttignol / Getty Images

What Is the Witching Hour?

The witching hour is a period of fussiness that usually happens at the same time each day, typically late afternoon or evening, says Michelle Haas, MD, a pediatrician at Austins First Steps in Texas. Babies are most commonly crying, fussy, and slow to console. The fussiness can seem to start (and stop) without a specific trigger.

According to Dr. Haas, the witching hour is something commonly experienced by babies in their first few months of life and can seemingly come out of nowhere.









Witching Hour

The witching hour is a short period of time in a baby who previously seemed content and happy becomes fussy, cries, seems uncomfortable, and cannot easily be soothed. The witching hour should not involve hours of inconsolable crying, and usually passes at around 4 months old.







When Does Newborn Fussiness Start and End?

Typically, the witching hour starts when your baby is a few weeks old. Dr. Haas says that most babies start to have evening fussiness between 2 and 3 weeks of age. The fussy period tends to peak at 6 weeks old. Further search shows that bouts of inconsolable fussiness drop off dramatically at 9 weeks.

The good news is that even if your baby continues to have occasional periods during which they can't be soothed, even those will eventually endeven though it can seem to last for an eternity. Most babies will completely outgrow this fussy period at 3 or 4 months, says. Dr. Haas.

Dr. Haas reminds parents of premature babies to make sure to recalculate these estimates. If your baby was born prematurely, remember to use their adjusted age, which would mean the phase starts 2-3 weeks past your original due date and may last until 3-4 months after the due date, she says.

Related: How To Handle Separation Anxiety in Babies

What Are the Signs of Nighttime Newborn Fussiness?

Every baby exhibits signs of the witching hour a little differently, and the signs can change from day to day, or even week to week.

As Daniel Ganjian, MD, a pediatrician at Providence Saint Johns Health Center in Santa Monica, California, describes it, babies will be generally fussy and difficult to soothe at times, but here are a few common signs to look out for during the witching hour:

Your baby may want to be constantly held

Often parents will complain that they cant put their babies down.

Your baby cries, grunts, and makes faces that look like they are in pain

They may arch their backs and scream, says Dr. Ganjian, but don't be concernedeventually the discomfort will pass in the regular course of the witching hour.

Your baby's feeding pattern may change

Some babies want to be fed more during this fussy period, Dr. Ganjian explains, but other babies seem to want to be fed less.

According to Dr. Haas, these symptoms may alarm parents, but as long as they are eating well the rest of the day, this is usually not a problem.



Related: A Parent's Guide to Sudden, Uncontrollable Crying in Toddlers

Why Are Newborns Fussy at Night?

Having a fussy period during the late afternoon or evening is very common. Parents often feel blindsided by what is happening and may call a health care provider, thinking something is physically wrong with their baby. They may feel as though they have failed as a parent because they arent able to soothe their baby.

However, usually, there is nothing physically wrong with your baby, and you can rest assured that fussy evenings arent attributable to anything you are doing wrong as a parent.

Developmental changes

For the most part, the witching hour is attributable to the enormous developmental changes that are happening with your baby during these first few weeks and months of life.

Think about it: In the period between birth and 3 to 4 months, your baby goes from being a little human who barely opens their eyes to a tiny little person who begins to become aware of their surroundings. Now, they can react to the sound of your voice and are learning to communicate their needs.







"It is a challenging time because your baby is aware they don't feel happy, but they also don't know how to fix it. And the only way they know how to ask for help is by crying."

Michelle Haas, MD







Dr. Haas says this heightened awareness is caused by rapid changes in your babys brain and nervous system. They are developing a different kind of self-awareness and sensory awareness than they had before, she says, and this can make them fussy.

It is a challenging time because your baby is aware they don't feel happy, but they also don't know how to fix it, Dr. Hass explains. And the only way they know how to ask for help is by crying.

Overstimulation and changes in sleep patterns

Christina Johns, MD, a pediatrician and senior medical advisor at PM Pediatrics, says that these developmental changes can cause your baby to feel overstimulated, which can lead to fussiness. Not only that, but this overstimulation can cause babies to sleep and nap less, which can also contribute to the evening fussies.

As babies grow, they become more aware of their environment and of their own bodies, so being overtired, missing naps, or being overstimulated can contribute to a tough evening, Dr. Johns explains.

Digestive changes

During this time, your baby still has a developing digestive system and may be more prone to gassiness, says Dr. Haas. Gas is a very normal symptom for a baby, she says. Experts have theorized that gassiness can contribute to this fussy period, Dr. Haas explains.

Babies who have upset tummies might show the following signs:

Arch their back and cry

Spit up frequently

Have changes in their stool patterns

If you think your babys upset stomach may be contributing to their evening fussiness, you should contact a health care provider.

Growth spurts

The period of highest fussiness is also a period where your baby is doing a whole lot of growing. Infants tend to have growth spurts at around 2 weeks, 6 weeks, 3 months, and then 6 months.

Growth spurts usually last a week or so. In addition to wanting to feed more frequently than usual, your baby may be extra fussy during these times. If you are breastfeeding, you may notice that your baby gets frustrated at the breast and wants to feed again almost as soon as theyve finished. This is your babys way of driving up your milk supply to meet their demands, and if you follow your babys cue, your milk supply will increase, and they will settle.

Keep in mind, milk supply varies throughout the day: It's the highest in the early morning and drops as the day goes on. Supply is lowest in the evening, which also contributes to the tendency to cluster feed during the witching hour. Cluster feeding is an important part of the supply and demand process because it can lead to an increase in milk supply. At around 6 weeks, breast milk supply tends to stabilize.

Fussy evenings or colic

Parents who have fussy babies often wonder if their babies have colic. Although its very common for babies to have fussy periods in the evening, colic is less common.

Dr. Johns explains that colic is defined as the following:

A baby who cries for more than three hours a day

Is fussy more than three days a week

Experiences symptoms for three consecutive weeks

Fussiness in the evening tends to last for a shorter amount of time each day and don't involve hours in a row of intense crying.

When Is Fusiness Something to Worry About?

If your newborn is fussy at night but is otherwise growing well, is healthy, and doesnt have any concerning physical symptoms, there is likely nothing to worry about. You can take a this too shall pass approach to this part of the newborn phase.

Sometimes your baby may be fussy for more serious reasons, and you should always take these concerns seriously. The following signs warrant a visit to a health care provider:

Fever

Vomiting

Loose or bloody stools

Decreased movement

Sudden crying or behavior changes

In addition, Dr. Ganjian recommends seeing a health care provider if they arent wetting their diapers or are crying for more than three hours in a 24-hour time period.

If any baby is truly inconsolable then its reasonable to have a conversation with a babys pediatrician," Dr. Johns adds.

Techniques for Getting Through Fussy Nights

For the most part, getting through the witching hour with your baby is about finding ways to soothe them and also figuring out how you, as a parent, can cope with the fussiness. Below are a few techniques:

Soothe by swaddling, rocking, and walking your baby in your arms or in a baby carrier.

Use calming sounds, such as white noise machines.

Offer a pacifier, allowing your baby to suck on their fingers, or offering the breast.

Consider talking to a health care provider about changing the type of formula you are feeding your baby.

If you are breastfeeding, you might consider eliminating ingredients like cow milk, soy, egg whites, and any processed foods that could be triggering sensitivities in your infant.

Related: Best for Feeding

Take care of yourself

Youve got to take care of yourself, too. Caring for a fussy baby can take its toll on your mental health. Try to stay as calm as possible, Dr. Haas says. Sometimes babies can pick up on your stress and become even more fussy, she explains.

Whenever possible, get help caring for your baby. Parenting is not something we are meant to do alone, and when you are dealing with a fussy baby, having another parent or caretaker take over sometimes can be immensely helpful.

If you have a supportive partner or friend who can help you take a break during the difficult hours, your patience will last longer, Dr. Johns advises. Take a deep breath and go with the flow, understanding that this tricky period wont last forever.



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TechCrunch

Lawyers representing Sam Bankman-Fried, the FTX CEO and co-founder who was convicted of fraud and money laundering late last year, are seeking a new trial. Following crypto exchange FTXs collapse, Bankman-Fried was found guilty on all seven counts, then sentenced to 25 years in prison and ordered to pay $11 billion in forfeiture. Bloomberg reports that Bankman-Frieds appeal focuses on the behavior of U.S. District Judge Lewis Kaplan, alleging that Kaplans rulings were not just erroneous but unbalanced and that the judge continually ridiculed Bankman-Fried during trial, repeatedly criticized his demeanor, and signaled his disbelief of Bankman-Frieds testimony.
Chronic absenteeism rates in Iowa schools are on the rise compared to pre-pandemic rates, according to a new report. (Photo by Dan Forer/Getty Images)

One in four Iowa students was chronically absent from school during the 2021-22 school year, according to a new report from the Annie E. Casey Foundation.

Officials hope a tiered approach to the problem will encourage schoolwide attendance and remove any barriers to attendance. They also hope additional investments in Iowa schools will counter the growing trend.

Executive Director of Student Services at Dubuque Community School District Shirley Horstman said her district uses a three-tiered approach to improve attendance schoolwide.

The first tier is aimed at all students and encourages schools to lay out a clear school schedule, recognize good attendance and establish the benefits of attendance.

The second tier is for students absent for 5% to 10% of the school year. Schools will reach out to the parents of those students and look for ways to remove any obstacles to regular class attendance.

If its a transportation issue, the school may help the parents set up a local carpool, teach students how to use city buses or recommend having an older sibling walk them to school, according to Horstman.

The third tier is for chronically absent students who miss more than 10% of school days. For those students, schools will set up a more formal conversation with parents and create an attendance agreement outlining joint efforts to improve attendance.

Missing that much school puts students at an educational disadvantage, said Anne Fischer, executive director of Common Good Iowa, which helped with the report. Once you get behind, its hard to get caught up, she said.

Fischer said chronic absenteeism rates have grown across the nation since the pandemic. Iowas rate of chronic absenteeism of 26% is better than the national average of 30%, but both rates are still higher than the pre-pandemic national average of 16%.

Fourth-grade students who never missed a day of school scored proficient or above proficient in reading 40% of the time compared to 14% for students who missed ten or more days, according to the report.

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Its not just grades that are impacted by constant absences, Fischer said. A 2012 John Hopkins University study tracking Rhode Island students for seven years found that chronically absent students were more than twice as likely to get suspended or repeat a grade.

The increasing absenteeism rates negatively affect those who regularly attend class as well. Students in high-absence classrooms are more likely to have lower test scores, according to the report.

Horstman said when teachers have multiple chronically absent students, they are forced to repeat old material, create make-up assignments and spend more time trying to catch students up.

With more funding, Horstman said districts like hers could do at-home visits to discover any barriers to attendance and remind students of the importance of attendance.

If we could do home visits to [chronically absent] students at the beginning of the year and welcome them and let them know we want them here, thats something that I think could really move the needle, Horstman said. And thats a funding issue and its also a staffing issue.

Hedy Chang, executive director of Attendance Works, said addressing chronic absenteeism means addressing the causes behind it.

When kids are not in school its usually a sign that somethings going on that we need to address. We need to not blame kids and families, but we need to understand why and then when we understand why, we can come up with solutions, Chang said.

Students who experience instabilities at home such as divorce, domestic violence or substance abuse are more likely to be chronically absent, according to the report. Students facing such issues are also more likely to repeat a grade and be indifferent to succeeding academically.

Chang praised the Iowa Department of Education for making school-absence data available for all Iowa school districts as it allows them to keep better track of student attendance numbers across the state.

The state agency also provides grants to schools to help them address chronic absenteeism, according to Heather Doe, spokesperson for the Iowa Department of Education.

Fischer said greater investments in Iowa schools are needed to counteract the growing tide of chronic absenteeism.

At a time when costs have been rising faster and when students needs have been rising faster, were not prioritizing our schools in ways that we used to and so maybe its not surprising that were starting to see a little sign of erosion, Fischer said.

The post 1 in 4 Iowa students are chronically absent from school appeared first on Iowa Capital Dispatch.
Editors Note: The sheriffs office later issued a correction on the name of the deceased woman. Law enforcement reports her name is Rita Rookstool and not Rita Cline. This article has been updated to reflect this new information.

SHAWNEE COUNTY (KSNT)  The Shawnee County Sheriffs Office is identifying the woman killed in an incident involving a UTV on Wednesday morning.

Abigail Christian with the sheriffs office told 27 News in a written statement that deputies were called just after 10 a.m. on June 12 to the 3200 block of SW 93rd Street. The call was initially made regarding someone trapped beneath a UTV.

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Deputies responding to the call found a person suffering from significant injuries who was later declared dead at the scene. The sheriffs office later identified the deceased as Rita M. Rookstool, 73, of Topeka.

An investigation into the incident found Rookstool was struck by and trapped beneath a UTV being driven by a friend. This person called 911 with first responders, including fire personnel and sheriffs deputies, arriving at the scene shortly after. Once the UTV was removed, CPR was attempted until AMR arrived at the site of the incident.

Kansas school district loses $121,000 to out-of-state fraudster

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DENVER (KDVR)  An overnight crash reported Wednesday led to the death of a driver, and two others involved in the wreck were transported to a Fort Collins area hospital, according to first responders.

Fort Collins Police Services said the two-vehicle crash occurred at about 2:06 a.m. in the southbound lanes of the 2900 block of South Timberline Road, near Custer Drive. A 1989 Cadillac sedan traveling north on Timberline Road crossed into on-coming traffic and struck a 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee head-on, resulting in severe damage to both vehicles.

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Three men were involved in the crash, according to Fort Collins police, and all had to be extricated by Poudre Fire Authority from their vehicles. According to the agency, all three were also transported to a hospital. However, the man driving the Cadillac died at the hospital.

The Fort Collins Police Collision Reconstruction and Scene Handling Team is investigating the crash.

1 killed after semi flips on US 285, highway reopens after 14 hours

Police are investigating whether illegal drugs were a factor in the crash. The Larimer County Coroner will release the identity of the driver killed.

While the factors regarding the cause of the collision are still under investigation, we implore roadway users to not drive under the influence of any impairing substances. Driving impaired can lead to devastating crashes and is completely preventable, said Sgt. Mike Avrech of the Fort Collins Police CRASH Team in a release.

Due to the seriousness of the crash, southbound Timberline Road was closed at Custer Drive for over five hours. Anyone with information about the crash that has not been provided to police is asked to call Officer Matt Brede at 970-221-6842.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 12. On June 12, another group of former internally displaced persons, consisting of families temporarily settled in dormitories, sanatoriums, pioneer camps and administrative buildings in various territories of Azerbaijan, was sent to the city of Shusha from the Garadagh district of Baku, Trend reports.

At this stage, another 21 families (85 people) moved to the city of Shusha.

Shusha residents thanked President Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva for their comprehensive care, expressed gratitude to the valiant Azerbaijani Army, which liberated the lands from occupation.

Until today, a permanent settlement in the city of Shusha has been provided for 126 families - 491 people.
Antwan Watson was supposed to have graduated high school last week alongside his twin sister and should be planning his next steps into adulthood, Assistant Ramsey County Attorney Madelyn Adams told the court Wednesday.

But, tragically, Antwan will never reach those milestones because Jveon (Brown) senselessly ended his life at 16 years old, Adams said before Brown received his 10-year prison sentence from Ramsey County District Judge Sarah Grewing.

Brown was also 16 years old when he shot Watson four times Oct. 10, 2022, in an alley in St. Pauls Payne-Phalen neighborhood and then returned to Johnson High School, where he was seen on surveillance video reenacting the deadly encounter for other students.

Jveon showed no remorse or mercy, Adams said. Instead, Jveon returned to school and openly reenacted Antwans murder for a group of peers in a crowded hallway.

Brown, who turned 18 in December, was certified to stand accused in adult court. He pleaded guilty to second-degree unintentional murder while committing a robbery in March as part of a plea deal he reached with Ramsey County prosecutors. In addition to the 128-month prison sentence, the plea deal included the dismissal of a second-degree intentional murder charge and two unrelated juvenile felony theft cases.

Brown received credit for 610 days hes already served in custody since his arrest and was ordered to pay $20,000 in restitution to Watsons mother.

Inmates in Minnesota serve two-thirds of their prison sentence incarcerated and the remaining third on supervised release.

Grewing told Brown that unlike Watson you are going to walk around in your 20s, and you will have the opportunity to demonstrate to Antwans family and to your family that youve grown from this and learned from this.

Watsons friend witnessed his killing

Police and medics called to the alley in the 1000 block of York Avenue at 12:25 p.m. found Watson with four gunshot wounds, including two to the chest. He died at the scene. Spent 9mm casings and live 9mm ammunition were near his body.

While processing the scene, officers were told by two people that JB, later identified as Brown, was the shooter. They said he was a student at Johnson.

School surveillance footage showed Brown talking to several students and appearing to reenact the shooting, including holding both arms out in a shooting stance and mimicking chambering a round into a handgun, the charges say.

A 15-year-old told investigators he was walking with Watson and Brown in the alley and heard Watson call out to him. He said when he turned around, he saw Brown point a gun at Watson and shoot him. The boy said he ran.

He told investigators he did not know why Brown shot Watson. He said Brown later sent him a message through social media that read, thats what yall get.

Brown was arrested the next morning in downtown St. Paul, near Fifth and Minnesota streets. He had a loaded 9mm Glock handgun in his front waistband, according to police.

In an interview with investigators, Brown initially said that he was at school when the shooting happened and that he heard about it. He gave several versions of what happened, including that the 15-year-old boy shot Watson. After being told there was video of him running out of the alley seconds after the killing, Brown admitted that he shot Watson.

Brown told investigators he had heard that Watson and the 15-year-old were planning to rob him, so he tried to up first. He also said he was not friends with them.

(Brown) taunted Antwans friend, who witnessed the murder, over Snapchat, prosecutor Adams said Wednesday. And he played games with the police during his interrogation, giving multiple versions of the offense and placing blame anywhere but himself.

Why such an egregious act?

Adams said the presentence investigation shows that Brown now takes accountability for his choices and expresses empathy and remorse. It is a tragic shame that the Jveon Brown described in the PSI is not the version Antwan Watson walked into an alley with on Oct. 10, 2022, she said.

Although Brown cannot change his past, Adams said, he can take responsibility for his future and begin paying society back for the life he stole without justification or excuse.

Brown, in his brief remarks to the court, apologized to Watsons family and more importantly his mom  everything I want to do from here on forward is to make Antwans name live on.

Watsons aunt read a statement in court written by the teens mom, who said having a child murdered changes you. It changes you so deeply, so permanently. It changes your soul.

She is left with unbearable pain and also with this somber question of, why? Why did Jveon choose to take Antwans life? Why such an egregious act? Why did this have to be the outcome?

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WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW)  Olen Mitchell, 102, returned to Hutchinson after a trip to France for the 80th anniversary of D-Day.

The Kansas Honor Flight posted on Facebook saying what was supposed to be a nine-day trip to participate in the 80th Anniversary of D-Day ended up being a 12-day road trip.

On Monday, the Cardiology team at the Medical City Las Colinas in Irving, Texas, decided to pursue medication instead of Electrical Cardioversion for his A-fib condition, the Facebook post reads. Even though Olen is a young 102-year-old, the prevailing thought was that he should go with the medication treatment first.

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The KHF joked that even though the medical team didnt say it, a steakburger and fries from Freddys  which was founded by fellow World War II vet Freddy Simon  helped Olen feel better.

Olen is looking forward to seeing his family and friends at Wesley Towers, Kansas Honor Flight, and the local American Legion. We want to again thank everyone for following along on Olens journey to Paris and Normandy and for all of the thoughts and prayers, the Facebook post said.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSN-TV.
12-Year-Old Boy in Serious Condition After Sand Dune Collapsed on Him at Michigan State Park

The child had been playing with his younger brother in the sand dunes at Silver Lake State Park when the accident happened

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A 12-year-old boy has been hospitalized after being buried in a sand dune at a Michigan state park.

The child and his 8-year-old brother were playing in the sand dunes during a family gathering at Silver Lake State Park when the accident occurred on the evening of Sunday, June 9, USA Today, Fox affiliate WXMI-TV and ABC affiliate WZZM-TV reported.

The Oceana County Sheriffs Office told the outlets that the younger boy called for help after one of the holes, which was roughly 5 feet deep, collapsed on his brother while they were digging in them.

Bystanders began digging the boy out while a nearby sheriffs deputy responded to the call about two minutes after the accident, WXMI reported. The outlet added that it took both first responders and those bystanders to free the 12-year-old from the sand.

Related: Family Shares Final Moments of Girl Swallowed by Sand Hole: Brother 'Couldnt Feel Her Moving Anymore

According to all three outlets, the boy was "unresponsive and not breathing" after he was rescued, with WZZM and USA Today reporting that he had been buried for about 14 minutes.

The sheriff's office told the outlets that the victim was transported to Corewell Health Helen DeVos Children's Hospital in Grand Rapids via Aero Med helicopter. Per WXMI, a spokesperson for the hospital said on Tuesday, June 11 that his condition went from being critical to serious.

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Related: 13-Year-Old Utah Boy Dies After Getting 'Trapped Underneath' Sand Dune That 'Unexpectedly Collapsed'

"We hope that this young man recovers fully and will be out playing with his brother again soon," the Oceana County Sheriff's Office said per a news release obtained by WZZM.

They added, "We are very thankful for our partnerships with all of the agencies who responded. This was a difficult scene and everyone did a fantastic job.

PEOPLE has reached out to the Oceana County Sheriffs Office and Corewell Health Helen DeVos Children's Hospital for comment.



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125th anniversary of Dippy discovery celebrated by Carnegie Museum of Natural History

The Carnegie Museum of Natural History is celebrating the 125th anniversary of the discovery of Diplodocus carnegii, or Dippy, this July at the museum.

The public is invited to events all month long, including a special Super Science Saturday for families, a 21+ night and a day filled with talks by paleontologists and other Dippy experts.

Named Diplodocus carnegii to honor Andrew Carnegies support for the expedition that found it, Dippy proved too massive to be housed in the original exhibition halls, necessitating the expansion of Carnegies museum. Arguably the most-seen dinosaur fossil in the world, Dippys many plaster replicas have been installed in museums in London, Berlin, Madrid, Vienna, St. Petersburg, Paris, Bologna, La Plata and Mexico City.

Were so excited to celebrate the 125th anniversary of the discovery of our iconic mascot Diplodocus carnegii in this way, says the museums senior dinosaur paleontologist and co-chair of research Dr. Matt Lamanna. Dippy is a dinosaurian celebrity, not only for its incalculable scientific significance but also for its extraordinary cultural impact.

Celebratory events include:

Discovering Dippy: The Dinosaur That Changed the World - July 12. Pay what you wish.

Dippys Birthday Party for Members - July 12. Free for Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh members.

Super Science Saturday: Dippys Jurassic World - July 13. Free with museum admission.

Teen Night: Dippy 125 - July 18. Free to everyone ages 13-18.

Dippy & Friends Virtual Event - July 23. Pay what you wish.

Dippys Rockstar Bash After Dark 21+ - July 26.

For more information, visit click here.

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CHICAGO  A 14-year-old boy accused of stealing a rideshare drivers car at gunpoint on the citys West Side is now facing felony charges.

Chicago police say the teen, who has not been identified due to his age, has been charged with one felony count of aggravated vehicular hijacking with a firearm and one felony count of armed robbery.

The charges stem from the teens role in an armed carjacking that allegedly unfolded on Sunday, March 31, in the 1300 block of South Independence Boulevard, in North Lawndale.

Southwest suburban tax preparer convicted in COVID relief fraud scheme

Authorities say the teen allegedly held a 25-year-old rideshare driver at gunpoint before stealing his vehicle.

Police and members of the U.S. Marshals Great Lakes Regional Fugitive Task Force eventually caught up with the teen in the 3100 block of West Harrison Street, where he was taken into custody on Monday.

It is currently unclear when the teen will make his next court appearance.

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CHICAGO  A 14-year-old boy was critically wounded in a Little Village shooting Tuesday night.

The boy was on a sidewalk in the 2700 block of South Komensky just before 8:30 p.m. when shots were fired at him.

He sustained multiple gunshot wounds to the body and was transported in critical condition.

A witness told police the gunman fled southbound.

No one is in custody. Anyone with information can leave an anonymous tip at cpdtip.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 WGN-TV.
A 17-year-old boy has been arrested for a fatal shooting in Seattles Pioneer Square.

At 11:15 p.m. on May 25, Seattle police officers responded to a shooting at Pioneer Squares Sinking Ship Garage near Occidental Avenue South and Yesler Way.

When they arrived, officers found an unresponsive 29-year-old man in the lower level of the garage. Despite life-saving efforts, the man died at the scene.

On June 11, detectives with the Homicide Unit and the U.S. Marshalls Task Force arrested the teen suspect.

The teen was booked into Judge Patricia H. Clark Children & Family Justice Center for investigation of murder.
19-Year-Old Hiker Found Dead After Cellphone Captured Her Going into River

Utah authorities believe Cynthia Ann Grimwood underestimated the speed and strength of the water

Getty Stock image of a hiker

Authorities in Utah have confirmed the death of a 19-year-old woman who went missing while on a solo hike with her dog, adding that a cellphone video of her walking into the water was found among her belongings.

In a statement to PEOPLE on Monday, June 10, Sgt. Garrett Dutson, Utah County Sheriffs Office, provided an update and identification of the victim.

Cynthia Ann Grimwood, 19, of Springville, Utah went hiking with her dog to Horsetail Falls in Alpine on Friday, Dutson's statement read.

Around 3 p.m. our dispatch center received a call from two hikers who had found her dog and personal belongings, including a video on her phone showing her walking into the water, the statement continued. This prompted an hours-long search for the woman. Her body was located Friday night, but because of safety concerns her body wasnt recovered until Saturday morning.

Dutson said Grimwoods pet had been returned to her family, per KSL NewsRadio 102.7.

Getty Horsetail Falls views from hiking trail in Dry Creek Canyon, Lone Peak Wilderness

Related: Missing Hiker Found Dead After 1,000-Foot Fall from Mt. Whitney in California's Sequoia National Park

In an article published by the outlet prior to the discovery of her body, Sgt. Spencer Cannon with the Utah County Sheriffs Office said the department was looking into all possible scenarios of what could have happened to Grimwood.

We are investigating what might have happened to that young woman. SAR and multiple fire agencies are involved in the investigation, including a DPS Helicopter, Cannon said.

After her body was recovered, Dutson said it was likely the victim underestimated the speed and strength of the body of water she had wandered into.

Getty Horsetail Falls hiking trail in Dry Creek Canyon, Lone Peak Wilderness

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[The] water is super high and moving super-fast, he said, per KSL.

At this time, authorities do not believe that foul play was a factor in Grimwoods death, and are calling it a tragic accident.

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Read the original article on People.
LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  Four people shot and killed a 19-year-old in an explosion of gunfire during a marijuana transaction, prosecutors said.

Ammir Foreman died in the shooting on May 14 near Nellis Boulevard and Stewart Avenue, prosecutors said. Police arrested Jeremiah Smith, 21, the day after the murder, records said. A Clark County grand jury later indicted Smith on charges including open murder and conspiracy murder.

Police had not publicly identified the three other co-conspirators as of Wednesday. Smith and three others allegedly conspired to rob Foreman during a marijuana transaction. After meeting outside of the east valley apartment complex, the meeting turned into an explosion of gunfire, prosecutors said.

Police arrested Jeremiah Smith, 21, the day after the murder, records said. A Clark County grand jury later indicted Smith on charges including open murder and conspiracy murder. (LVMPD/KLAS)

Police located 45 spent cartridge cases at the murder scene, including several buried in the dirt under Foremans body, indicating at least one of the shooters stood over him and finished him off, prosecutors said.

Investigators believe Foreman fired two bullets from his weapon in self-defense with the four others firing the remaining 43. In an interview with police, Smith said he did not intend to kill Foreman and only shot into the air, documents said.

Four people shot and killed a 19-year-old in an explosion of gunfire during a marijuana transaction, prosecutors said. (KLAS)

The homicide is the third in a series involving marijuana sales.

Last month, police arrested a man on charges of murder and conspiracy to commit in the 2023 killing of Kaito Thornton, 25. Police found Thorton dead in a car from multiple gunshot wounds on Oct. 22, 2023.

Police suspect Deaundra Talton, 21, agreed to pay Thorton $500 for marijuana and then killed him.

In a third case, several teenagers are accused of conspiring to murder Andre Bryant, 33, a marijuana delivery man killed in September 2023.

A judge will consider setting bail for Smith on Thursday. Smiths attorney asked a judge to grant him house arrest after posting $100,000 bail.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS.
2 charged with manslaughter after man dies from fentanyl overdose in Carroll County

Two people were arrested in connection to a fentanyl death in Carroll County.

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On May 28, Carroll County deputies were called to the Tanner Medical Center in Villa Rica regarding an overdose. An unidentified man was later pronounced dead due to a suspected fentanyl overdose.

Investigators began reviewing digital records, video surveillance, and conducting interviews regarding the case.

Authorities tracked down and arrested Brittany Ridley, 34, and Stacy Dobbs, 51, both of Carrollton, for their involvement in the sale and distribution of fentanyl given to the victim.

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Ridley was charged with possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and aggravated involuntary manslaughter. Dobbs was charged with aggravated involuntary manslaughter.

Their decision to distribute this dangerous poison in our community resulted in another life gone too soon. They will now face the consequences of the new Georgia statute...which was signed into law on April 30th, 2024, by Governor Brian Kemp, the sheriffs office said.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 12. The promoter of Formula 1 in Azerbaijan, Baku City Ring Operating Company, has started registration of accreditation for media representatives, Trend reports via Idman.biz.

Beginning on June 12, media representatives interested in covering the Azerbaijan Grand Prix can access the accreditation portal to submit an online registration form. Media representatives are encouraged to review the portal's rules and regulations in the User Guide before registering.

Registration will continue until 3:00 p.m. on July 22. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

To note, the accreditation of media representatives to each Formula 1 event, including the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, which will be held on September 1315, is carried out by the FIA (FIA) and Formula One Management (FOM). The process of registering local media representatives for the event is carried out by Baku City Ring Operating Company.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
2 men killed in overnight shootings in the District

WASHINGTON (DC News Now)  The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) said two men were killed in two separate shootings that happened within hours of each other on Tuesday night and Wednesday morning in Southeast D.C.

The first shooting happened just before 10 p.m. on Tuesday in the 1900 block of 18th Street SE.

Officers said a man was pronounced dead at the scene.

Police searching for groups of men after shooting in Northwest DC injured 2

Another shooting happened hours later at 2:25 a.m. on Wednesday in the Unit block of K Street SE. A man had walked in for help at a local hospital and was later pronounced dead, a spokeswoman for MPD said.

Anyone with information regarding either shooting is asked to contact police.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | Washington, DC.
Two Palm Beach Central High School administrators who were arrested last year and charged with failing to report sexual assault allegations made by a student have new jobs with the school district after the charges against them were dropped.

Palm Beach County School Board members on Wednesday approved a new position for former principal Darren Edgecomb, who will be a principal on assignment supporting the department of charter schools. The board also approved a new position for former assistant principal Daniel Snider, who will take on the same job at Royal Palm Beach High.

The two men were among five employees at Palm Beach Central who were arrested in July and charged with failing to report the suspected sexual assault of a 15-year-old girl that occurred off campus in 2021. A friend of the girl reported the incident to Snider, who is related to the boy accused of assault.

Investigators found that neither Snider nor the other employees notified the Department of Children and Families. Under Florida law, all employees of the public school district, charter schools and private schools have "an affirmative duty to report all actual or suspected cases of child abuse, abandonment, or neglect."

A judge dismissed the case against Snider in November after Snider said he didn't report the sexual assault to DCF because he didn't believe it happened. Judge Scott Suskauer ruled that Florida law requires the recipient of a sexual-abuse report to decide whether the report has merit before reporting it.

Prosecutors dropped the charges against the remaining employees in March.

Marc Freeman, a spokesperson for the state attorney's office, said that prosecutors felt it would not be in the girl's best interest to endure cross-examination in five separate trials. He added in March that the girl's family agreed with the decision to end the prosecution.

Darren Edgecomb's new job title with department of charter schools remains unclear

The other three employees who were arrested, former assistant principal Nereyda Cayado de Garcia, chorus teacher Scott Houchins and then-guidance counselor Priscilla Carter, have not yet returned to school campuses.

All five employees became subjects of school district investigations in addition to the criminal charges filed against them. Citing the fact that the investigations are open, the school district has previously declined to release documents regarding those reviews.

Snider's start date for his new job has not yet been set. A review of his personnel files showed he has been a district employee since 1997 and has no previous disciplinary history with the district.

Edgecomb will start his new job on July 1, but it's not clear what his role will be in the department of charter schools. District documents show his job title as "principal on assignment," a role typically assigned to principals when they are removed from their schools.

Edgecomb has been with the school district since 1996 and became the principal at Palm Beach Central in 2014.

In 2019, the school districts inspector general found that Edgecomb and then-Assistant Principal Laurence Greenberg raised the grades of at least 11 students without their teachers knowledge.

According to their report, Greenberg said he "changed the student's grades because there were extenuating circumstances where the teachers targeted the students and where teachers unfairly graded the students' class performance or did not accept the students' class work.

Edgecomb was put on probation for three years starting in October 2022.

Egdecomb also got into trouble in 2010, when he was the principal of Turning Points Academy near West Palm Beach. He was accused of punishing assistant principal Anne Williams Dorsey, who went on maternity leave, by demoting her and cutting her pay.

Five years later, the U.S. Justice Department sued the school district over the demotion. The school district reached a settlement that cost taxpayers $350,000.

Katherine Kokal is a journalist covering education at The Palm Beach Post. You can reach her at kkokal@pbpost.com. Help support our work; subscribe today!

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Palm Beach Central High admins in sex assault reporting cases get new jobs
Alliance for a Healthy Kansas Executive Director April Holman said Medicaid expansion would have resulted in less Kansans losing access to state health insurance during the unwinding process. (Rachel Mipro/Kansas Reflector)

TOPEKA  As the dust settles on the states bumpy large-scale review of Medicaid eligibility, numbers show approximately 47% of Kansans kicked off of state health insurance coverage are 18 or younger.

Heather Braum, senior policy adviser with Kansas Action for Children, said health insurance gaps could lead to long-term damaging effects.

Even short gaps in coverage cause children to miss vital prescriptions or not be able to see a doctor when they are sick, Braum said. These data indicate that thousands of Kansas children are likely going without the protection that health coverage provides, which will lead to poorer health in the short and long term while their families are exposed to high medical costs and medical debt. Health insurance coverage and access during childhood can change the trajectory of a childs life, for better or worse.

Of the 75,532 Kansans who lost health care coverage, 24,673 were between the ages of 0-12. Another 10,632 were between the ages of 13-18, according to the latest data.

Why are these numbers so high? Braum said. Because children depend on their parents to turn in their renewal paperwork, and many factors can prevent that paperwork from being returned at all or in a timely fashion, some completely out of a familys control. The mail system could hiccup on either end, incomplete paperwork could be returned and families never learn more information is needed.

Braum pointed to early disorganization in the process. The state started the Medicaid review prograss, called unwinding, in April 2023 to determine who was eligible for state health coverage after pandemic-era federal protections ended.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, federal continuous coverage provisions meant Medicaid administrators couldnt end health care eligibility unless the person in question moved away, died or asked to end coverage. With this stipulation, participation in KanCare increased from 410,000 to 540,000 people during the pandemic.

The early months of Kansas unwinding process, overseen by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, were marked by confusion over signatures, slow mail delivery, and a lack of clear communication from the state about what was needed for the renewal process.

The KDHE help line had more than 37,000 calls in May and June of 2023 as Kansans sought information. Some Medicaid renewal notices sent through the U.S. Postal Service took up to 10 days to reach eligible Kansas, and about an estimated 10 days for the return  causing some to miss the renewal deadline.

As unwinding continued, KDHE added more staff and resources to smooth over the process, but at the end of unwinding, completed May 31, thousands of Kansans still need to reapply for coverage, currently living without health insurance until reinstatement.

Extensive data on county-by-county loss of coverage can be found through the Kansas Health Institute, which provides state data through an interactive map.

The most recent data shows 318,791 people in the state will keep their coverage. Another 75,420 Kansans will need to reapply because they missed the reinstatement window.

Braum urged more KDHE outreach and education, especially to families stuck in the reinstatement window.

Across the country, more than 20 million people have been removed from services since the start of Medicaid unwinding, according to KFF state tracking. The health research institute reported the majority of people removed from services  69% across all states with available data had their coverage terminated for procedural reasons, such as failure to complete the renewal process, or failure to turn in a renewal packet within the mandated time frame.

High procedural disenrollment rates are concerning because many people who are disenrolled for these paperwork reasons may still be eligible for Medicaid coverage, the report states.

A Georgetown University McCourt School of Public Policy analysis of the most recent unwinding data estimates 5.13 million children have lost Medicaid coverage so far.

Alliance for a Healthy Kansas Executive Director April Holman said the organization was deeply concerned over the local loss of coverage.

Nearly half of those who lost their Medicaid coverage were children, through no fault of their own, Holman said. Tens of thousands of Kansans who relied on Medicaid coverage as a lifeline now face everyday health struggles uninsured. All it takes is one accident or illness to put these families in financial jeopardy, where many might feel like they need to choose between seeing a doctor or paying for food, rent, or other necessities. It doesnt have to be this way.

Holman advocated for Medicaid expansion, which would expand state health insurance coverage for lower-income families. Under the Affordable Care Act, the federal government covers 90% of the extra cost of Medicaid services in exchange for expanding eligibility to those at 138% of the federal poverty rate and below. Medicaid expansion would also unlock $700 million in annual federal funding.

Lawmakers in the Republican-dominated Legislature held hearings on Medicaid expansion for the first time in four years during the 2024 legislative session, following intense lobbying by Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly and advocacy groups. Due to top Republican legislative leadership opposition, the bill died in committee.

Holman said Medicaid expansion would have helped more Kansans retain health insurance access during unwinding.

If we had already expanded Medicaid, many of these Kansans would still have access to affordable health insurance, Holman said. More parents would be eligible for coverage, and their children would be more likely to also be enrolled in coverage. Kansas lawmakers should make expanding Medicaid their top priority.

The post 24K Kansas children lose health insurance in Medicaid unwinding review appeared first on Kansas Reflector.
A 27-year-old woman from Granbury died Tuesday night in a plane crash in Gainesville, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety.

Bailey Elaine Maldonado died when the single-engine plane, a Cessna Skyhawk owned by Wings Over Texas Holdings, crashed at 926 County Road 404 in Cooke County around 8:50 p.m. Tuesday, according to DPS.

Maldonado was the pilot on the instructional flight, according to the Cooke County Sheriffs Office. Her student co-pilot, 26-year-old James Donald Watts, of Springfield, Oregon, was taken by helicopter to Medical City Denton hospital with serious injuries, according to the DPS report.

The plane took off from Denton Enterprise Airport and was en route to Gainesville Municipal Airport, according to FlightAware, which tracks flights. The aircraft took off around 7:48 p.m. and was heading south when it crashed, according to DPS and FlightAware.

The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board are investigating the cause of the crash.

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NEW YORK (PIX11)  Some parents of 3-year-olds enrolled in New York Citys 3-K program may have to travel outside of their school district after all, New York City Schools Chancellor David Banks said Wednesday.

Speaking on the PIX11 Morning News, Banks said 94% of families that applied received a seat in the 3-K program, but about 2,000 families are still being placed. Banks said some families will not get a seat in the district where they live  a reversal from last week when Mayor Eric Adams said families would not have to travel.

Banks also discussed the citys budget and Department of Education funding, what programs may stay, and possible changes in graduation requirements for New York City high school students.

Watch the video player for the full story.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11.
SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI)  Some much-needed funding is coming to the aging stormwater system in parts of San Diego.

In a news conference Wednesday, the City of San Diego announced $37 million in funding to upgrade storm drain infrastructure in South Mission Beach, where current infrastructure dates back to the 1940s and is responsible for frequent flooding.

Mayor Todd Gloria was joined by U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and California Water Board officials in announcing the funding, which is part of President Joe Bidens Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to invest $50 billion in water infrastructure across the country.

Construction is slated to begin in spring of 2025 and is expected to take one to two years to complete, City Stormwater Department Director Todd Snyder told KUSI.

Snyder said the updated infrastructure will have the ability to carry more runoff and protect properties from flooding, among other features.

Its also got elements where were going to be capturing that water through these filtration basins so that the water quality will be improved into Mission Bay, Snyder said. Its got sidewalk improvements. Its got curb improvements. Its got ecological improvements in the bay itself, where were going to be planting eel grass, which is important habitat for sea turtles.

Watch Ed Lendermans report for KUSI in the player above.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News.
(PUEBLO, Colo.)  More than $4 million is headed to nine southeast Colorado counties to support education, prevention, treatment, recovery services, harm prevention, and criminal justice related to the opioid epidemic. The Board Members of Southeast Colorado Opioid Region 19 (SECOR) announced the funding on Wednesday, June 5.

The Colorado Attorney Generals Office (AGs Office) was part of a national lawsuit, that sued pharmaceutical companies over the opioid epidemic, and each state was awarded Opioid Settlement Funds. The AGs Office then worked with local governments to develop regions in which the funds would be disbursed each year.

SECOR includes board members from nine counties in Southeast Colorado: Baca, Bent, Crowley, Huerfano, Kiowa, Las Animas, Otero, Prowers, and Pueblo. SECOR is the governing board and the decision-maker on how the Opioid Settlement Funds will be distributed.

In 2023, the nine Southeast Colorado counties received $1.4M. This year they will receive $4.6M from the national settlement.

It is important to our Board that the opioid settlement funds that have come to our region be used to help educate and prevent future opioid abuse, said Commissioner Wendy Buxton-Andrade (Prowers County), SECOR Chair. We are proud of the millions of dollars that have been invested in community programs benefiting all of our counties within Region 19, she added.

SECORs goals are to focus on education, prevention, treatment, recovery services, harm prevention, and criminal justice related to the Opioid Epidemic., explained Commissioner Felix Lopez (Las Animas County), SECOR Vice-Chair. The region is mostly rural so access to services and resources for those affected by opioid addiction and abuse is the ultimate goal and objective, he finished.

The SECOR is also tracking the increase of fentanyl.

We need to choke it off at the source, said Colorado State Representative Ty Witner. First and foremost, we have an issue at the border with an open border. Were seeing tons of drugs stream across to this country with no check. Secondly, we have to allow our law enforcement to do their job. We have to uncuff our law enforcement and we have to allow them to be able to do what they do to keep our streets safe.

To learn more about SECOR resources, please visit their website.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX21 News Colorado.
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Four men from Beaufort County were arrested this week on charges of child trafficking, a very rare filing within Lowcountry courts. Authorities say the four cases are connected, but little else was known Wednesday about the circumstances of the alleged crimes.

In Beaufort County, the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division applied felony sex trafficking charges Tuesday to Alban Bryan, 63, of St. Helena Island; Guy Frank Talley, 27, of Okatie; and William James Youmans, 34, of Beaufort. Bryan and Youmans were also charged with contributing to the delinquency of a minor, while Talley was accused of sexual exploitation of a minor in the second and third degree, offenses encompassing the creation, distribution and ownership of child sexual abuse material.

In Jasper County, Hardeeville police charged 49-year-old Beaufort resident Terrance Fields with trafficking of a minor on Monday. Chief of Police Sam Woodward confirmed the case was related to the other three arrests but deferred questions to SLED, whose personnel could not be reached Wednesday for additional details.

State law defines trafficking as any attempt to forcibly subject a victim to prostitution or involuntary servitude, not necessarily sexual in nature. The felony charge carries a maximum sentence of 30 years if the victim is underage.

This weeks slew of arrests comes three months after Port Royal resident Jaquan Duvall Barnes, already a convicted sex offender, was jailed for the same trafficking charge after Hardeeville police reportedly pulled him over to find a missing underage girl inside his car. Judicial officials believed he was the first person in the region to face the elevated trafficking offense, which was created in 2018 when a rewrite of state law added harsher penalties for cases with underage victims.

As of Wednesday afternoon, Barnes was still on the run following his escape from the Jasper County Detention Center earlier this week. SLED quickly took over the manhunt and assumed an investigation into how the inmate managed to slip away.
The Peoples Temple compound is seen in aerial view as helicopters approach Jonestown. - Credit: National Archives and Records Ad

On November 18, 1978, 918 members of Jim Jones Peoples Temple cult died in Jonestown, Guyana, in the single largest loss of American civilian lives in a deliberate act before 9/11. From the moment media coverage of the massacre began, much of the reporting has characterized the event as a mass suicide, in which people willingly drank cyanide-laced Flavor Aid when their leader instructed them to do so.

The reality of what transpired was far more nuanced  as was life in Jonestown since establishment of the failed utopian community in 1974.

More from Rolling Stone

Even as popular culture has slowly started to shift away from certain types of victim-blaming, Jonestown is still routinely presented as a situation where people consensually died by suicide. But a new three-part docuseries, Cult Massacre: One Day in Jonestown  which premieres on Hulu on June 17 and Nat Geo on Aug. 14  takes a strikingly different approach.

Through archival video and audio footage and interviews with eyewitnesses and survivors, the series provides viewers with a glimpse inside the commune before, during, and after the massacre, from when it was founded as a refuge from capitalism and racism, to when the bodies of the deceased were transported back to the United States.

A few hours before the deaths of more than 900 people, San Francisco Congressman Leo Ryan  who had come to Jonestown to investigate alleged abuse of members  three journalists, and a Peoples Temple defector were killed in an ambush shooting on the Port Kaituma airstrip a few miles outside of the commune. Several other members of his party were wounded, but had survived by playing dead, or hiding behind the wheels of their Twin Otter aircraft.

The result is a complex, empathetic retelling that answers questions about why someone might join a group like the Peoples Temple, or move to a settlement in the Guyanese jungle in the first place, and makes the case that the deaths should be considered a mass murder  not a mass suicide.

The firsthand account of Ret. Gen. David Netterville  one of the first three U.S. servicemen on the ground in Jonestown following the massive loss of life  bolsters this argument. A sergeant at the time, Netterville was a combat controller with the Air Force Special Operations Division, an elite group of highly specialized soldiers that worked with the various branches of the military and Special Ops, similar to the Green Beret Special Forces, the Army Rangers, and the Navy SEALs. He had enlisted five years prior to making the trip to the Guyanese jungle.

While there is no shortage of documentaries about Jonestown, this is the first time Netterville is sharing his perspective on the aftermath. Rolling Stone recently caught up with him to discuss his experience at Jonestown, why he decided to speak out about it now, and what people still dont understand about the massacre nearly 46 years later.

Where were you stationed when you got the call to go to Jonestown?

I was part of a 10-person combat control team out of Howard Air Force Base in Panama. I had been there since September 1977. We learned guerilla warfare, patrolling in the jungle, and did a lot of communications training. At that time, there were 12 of these teams in the entire Air Force; ours was the only one covering Central and South America.

In 77, 78, the Sandinistas were trying to overthrow the Somoza dictatorship in Nicaragua. [When I got the call to go to Jonestown] we had been on alert for two or three months to, at a moments notice, get on an airplane and go to Nicaragua to pick up U.S. embassy personnel and get them out  which we did the next year in 79.

How did you find out you were going to Guyana?

On November 19, [1978] I got a call about 7:30 in the morning on a Sunday. The phone was ringing off the wall, but I was sleeping, and wasnt going to answer it. When I finally did, it was Senior Master Sergeant Alvin Huddleston, our noncommissioned officer in charge. He said: I need you to pack a bag, go over to the armory, get some weapons, some radios, batteries, some water, some C-rations, and put them on the Jeep. Were going to load the C-130 [military transport aircraft] as soon as possible, and well be out of here.

Did you have any knowledge of Jim Jones or the Peoples Temple before going to Guyana?

No, Id never heard of it or him. I had been in Panama for a little more than a year at that point, and you lose track of things going on in the States.

A military air traffic controller directs a helicopter landing in Guyana.

When were you told where you were going?

That morning I asked Huddleston if were going to Nicaragua. He said he couldnt tell me because it was a classified mission, but hed have more information once we were airborne. About 12:30 [p.m.] we were wheels up, and Im trying to notice which direction we were flying out of Howard. Instead of turning north towards Nicaragua, we turned and went east.

An hour later, Captain Mike Massengale told us we were going to Guyana. I looked at Huddleston and Dalton and I go, Guyana? Wheres Guyana?

They tell us that its suspected that theres a hippie commune in Guyana where mass killings are going on, and theyre fighting and shooting each other. They think there may be several thousand people there. So, I look at my two buddies and go, Theres three of us, and there are a few thousand of them. This is really gonna be a tough one.

Then we get word from the pilot that were going to land in Caracas, Venezuela to refuel. But wed only been flying for two hours, and the C-130 can fly for around 10 [hours]. Were told that were going to pick up some people and theyre going into Guyana with us.

They all come out dressed in nice suits. I was going to introduce myself and see who they are. Huddleston says, No, dont bother those guys. Leave them alone. They have nothing to say to you. Now Im really curious, and so I ask about them again. He says that theyre from another government agency  probably the CIA.

I did go over and asked em a few questions and the first answer I got is, You dont have a need to know. Thats their modus operandi.

Where in Guyana did you eventually land?

We left Caracas as soon as these guys got on board, and flew into Georgetowns international airport. We offloaded our Jeep, trailer, and equipment and were sitting on the ramp. There was no one there to meet us. No information. Theres no telephones around. Nothing.

An Air Force C-141 medical evacuation aircraft was [at the airport in Georgetown] when we landed. It loaded the people that were wounded [the previous day in the Port Kaituma shooting]  like Congressman Ryans aide, Jackie Speier  and those who had died, [in order to bring] them back to the States. We tried to get information from the sergeant in charge [of the aircraft] and they didnt know anything.

The captain in charge of the C-130 aircraft taxied over, refueled, and came out and talked to us. He says, Im going back to Panama  I dont know what you guys are supposed to do.

The three of us were just sitting there. Finally, a state department employee from the U.S. embassy comes walking up to us and he asks who we are. He didnt know we were coming, so we introduced ourselves. He said, Oh, I see you have a radio Jeep, yeah? Oh man, we can use you. Dont go away. And he walked off to go to a telephone.

Eventually, the State Department individual came back, and we locked the Jeep up in a hangar. We spent the night at his home in downtown Georgetown, trying to figure out how were going to get to Jonestown. The next morning we went back to the American Embassy for an intel briefing. They showed us pictures of what Jim Jones looked like, and told us who to look for.

Did you fly into Port Kaituma?

They had rented a Cessna 340 twin-engine aircraft. We flew an hour and 15 minutes to Port Kaituma, which is basically a dirt gravel strip about eight or 10 miles from Jonestown.

When we landed there, we saw the Twin Otter aircraft that got shot up, and met a small squad of Guyanese army soldiers. Then, a Guyanese army helicopter landed, but [the soldiers inside] didnt know anything about us coming. We told them we were there to go into Jonestown and find out whats going on, and they agreed to give us a ride.

It was just unbelievable  the carnage. The number of people laying on the ground.

When I first saw it from a distance  we were about five miles out  it looked like someone had scattered clothes all across the ground over about a two- or three-acre site. Colorful clothes, shirts and everything. Im like, Wow, look at all the clothes over there. They must have washed clothes. I had never seen so many clothes. Never. When we got closer, I realized it wasnt clothes  it was people. Corpses.

We landed in a softball field on the complex, got out, and started looking for anybody that survived. We were told there would be survivors, but didnt see any that first time we got into the camp.

Did you ever find any survivors?

We flew back to Port Kaituma and ended up spending the night there in an elementary school with the Guyanese soldiers. While we were there, a guy came in. I think his name was Odell Rhodes, and he said that he was the camp medic. He had survived because when Jim Jones was having people injected with the cyanide, he sent Odell to the little medical hut there to get a stethoscope to make sure that they were dead.

Well, Odell said, You know what? I knew Id be next. So I hid in that medical clinic, I went out the back door, and I was gone. I stayed out in the jungle and followed the railroad tracks back over to Port Kaituma.

He ended up spending the night with us there, sleeping on the floor of the elementary school. He left the next morning  there was a plane that came in and they took him out of there almost immediately. I never saw him again.

While we were there on the airstrip I saw another individual. This guy and his two daughters were in the jungle. He came out and he saw us and he ran back into the jungle. Later he comes out again, so I started hollering, Hey, come over here! Wed like to talk to you! Were United States Air Force! He runs back into the jungle, hides behind a tree.

Finally, he comes out, walks over to us, introduces himself, and asks if we had any water. They had spent almost two nights out there in the jungle. So I said Yeah, we got water. Hungry? We got food. So he was a happy guy, but hes still leery of us because of the weapons and everything. He was just scared to death because I mean, hes witnessed the shootings and the people getting killed.

So once we got his confidence, he went back into the jungle and came out with his two teenage daughters. We give them some C-rations. We could just tell the trauma that they had been through. Not long after that, another airplane came in, loaded them up, and they were gone. We really didnt have a chance to talk with them at all.

That day we flew back into Jonestown on the same helicopter.

David Netterville was part of the first US Special Forces team to arrive at Jonestown to investigate the news of the attack to Congressman Ryan and his group.

What was Jonestown like when you returned?

It was hot and it was humid. We did have fresh water, though. Jonestown had artesian wells where they had put pipes and water was coming out. An Air Force surgeon came in the next day and they tested the water to make sure that we could drink it, and it was safe. It was real cold, and real good.

We were trying to find people that were still alive that maybe had survived. We walked around the edge of the jungle. Every so often wed holler Hey, is anybody here? Can you hear me? Nobody.

Then Sergeant Dalton had the idea to count the beds in these little small wooden frame homes to find out how many people lived there. So we did, and there were approximately 1,000 beds.

While were there, another Guyanese army helicopter came in and had the Guyanese Surgeon General on board. I escorted him over to where Jim Jones was, by the bucket of Kool-Aid  actually, it was grape Flavor Aid mixed in with cyanide and some other things. He did a field autopsy on Jim Jones.

When hes through, he asks what the three of us were going to do. He says that we need to do something with all these bodies. I noticed theres two bulldozers over there in the garage, and a couple of tractors, he says. What you should do is dig a gigantic pit, put all the bodies in there, cover it with lime, and just have a mass burial area right there.

Now, you have to remember that by this time, these bodies were starting to bloat and the stench was terrible.

He said that he would highly suggest wearing a mask.

Well, there were no masks to be had, so I improvised. I went and got a pillowcase and I cut me out a bandana like a cowboy, and I wore that the rest of the time I was there. Id soak it every morning with Old Spice aftershave. To this day, I cant smell Old Spice aftershave. If I do, I throw up.

Peoples Temple founder Jim Jones is pictured in a family portrait with his wife, Marceline Jones, their adopted children (behind Jones) and his sister-in-law (right) with her three children, in California, 1976.

I dont blame you. Were you the one who identified Jim Jones?

The first people to actually find him was the Guyanese army. Jim Jones was shot in the head. Now, I didnt see a pistol laying next to him, so I dont know if he did it himself, or if one of his security guys had shot him. But he was laying on his back, right there behind his pulpit at the entrance of the Peoples Temple [pavillion]. He had on a bright red shirt, tan khaki pants. He was pretty easy to recognize.

What about everyone else?

Most people were laying on the ground on their stomach; many still had syringes stuck in the back of their neck. We also found people that had been shot in the head with a 38-caliber pistol.

Whoever was administering the syringes would just drop people right there as they died and stack [the bodies] on top of each other. Like, youd have four or five people piled up. Unfortunately, I saw a lot of children  a lot of young children  one- and two-year-old kids that had a syringe stuck in their neck like that. It was terrible. Man, how could someone do this.

Thats why we didnt know how many people there really were when we made the initial count. We were estimating 400, 450 from what we could count. We radioed that back on the high frequency radio, and they didnt believe it. They didnt want to believe it.

Were you tasked with counting the bodies?

No, that just happened. I dont know exactly what directives came down to Sergeant Huddleston, but once we got there, we were trying to find people that were still alive.

Did you continue counting after reporting the initial numbers?

No. After that, a group of soldiers flew in to take over. It was a graves registration unit, and thats their job, say, on the battlefield: they go out and recover bodies, put them in body bags, and then evacuate them.

What else did you come across during your investigation?

They had even shot all the animals: dogs, cats, in that little zoo there with a chimpanzee  I think his name was Mr. Muggs  shot him, shot two other monkeys in a cage. Man, they killed everything and everybody.

We did go over to Jim Jones house, and I took a crowbar from the workshed out there and pried open his safe. There were four, five, six boxes of passports and Social Security checks inside.

About this time, one of the CIA guys who came down on the plane with us walked in and asked what we were doing. We said that we were looking to see whats in the safe. So he said, Who told you to do it? And we said, Nobody. Were investigating here. You dont know how bad I wanted to say You dont have a need to know, sir.

He says that hes got to take the boxes back. I said, Have at it, turned around and walked off. I left him there. I had other things to do.

What were your other responsibilities during the mission to Jonestown?

We found an observation tower and set up our radios to talk to any aircraft that may be coming in. It was right by the little building that we slept in  a little hooch [temporary shelter]  and so we set that up as our command post, and we did all our air traffic control out of that tower.

Once I got in that tower, I was talking to 200 or 300 airplanes every day coming in and out of there. If it wasnt one of the military guys, there were a lot of news people that had rented airplanes, and I was trying to keep all those guys separate  you know, vertically.

How long were you in Guyana?

We were there seven days total; we got back to Panama on the eighth day.

Why have you decided to speak out about your experience now?

I think its just timing. [In 2019] I gave a talk at an [Arkansas] college, and Ill be honest with you  I found that by talking about it, I dont have to worry about it anymore. It used to really bother me. The thing that bothered me the most was the children. I dont know the exact number, but something close to 150 [of the dead] were young kids aged 10 and under. It was pretty horrendous.

I imagine you carried that trauma and story with you?

Oh yeah, for decades. It was 46 years ago, but its still pretty vivid. I remember walking through the camp having to step around dead bodies. It was unreal.

What do you wish people understood about Jonestown, nearly 46 years later?

The church that Jim Jones had in San Francisco was actually under investigation for stealing peoples money, taking their homes, stuff like that. He probably brainwashed a lot of these people. He had some of them actually believing that they should all die and go to heaven together.

And the people that didnt [willingly ingest the poison]? Well, they ended up getting shot, or being held down while someone stuck a syringe in the back of their neck. Once it got going, people were dying left and right. Theres really nothing they could do.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 12. A delegation headed by Prosecutor General of the Republic of Latvia Juris Stukans has arrived in Azerbaijan on a working visit at the invitation of Prosecutor General Kamran Aliyev, Trend reports.

The delegation visited the graves of National Leader Heydar Aliyev and outstanding scientist-ophthalmologist, academician Zarifa Aliyeva, as well as the Alley of Martyrs in the Alley of Honorable Burial.

Greeting the delegation at the meeting at the General Prosecutor's Office, Kamran Aliyev noted the successful development of relations between the two countries and emphasized the importance of expanding cooperation in the legal sphere. He also recalled his visit to Riga last February and meetings with Latvian colleagues.

The Prosecutor General informed his colleague about the reforms aimed at strengthening the rule of law and ensuring the rule of law in the country following the priorities of the strategic course and state policy pursued by President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, the complete restoration of the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan under the leadership of the victorious Supreme Commander-in-Chief, and the rapid pace of reconstruction and construction works in Karabakh thanks to the attention and care of President Ilham Aliyev and First Vice President Mehriban Aliyeva.

Expressing gratitude for the invitation and warm reception, Juris Stukans noted that he was glad to witness the dynamic development of the country. He noted that his country is interested in developing ties between the prosecutor's offices of the two countries.

Prosecutor General Kamran Aliyev informed about holding the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29), one of the most prestigious international events, in Azerbaijan in November, and the 29th annual conference and general meeting of the International Association of Prosecutors from September 29 through October 2 this year.

The meeting discussed several issues of interest to the parties, including the fulfillment of requests for legal assistance and asset recovery in criminal cases in the fields of anti-corruption, money laundering, and other areas, as well as the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding soon to develop inter-agency ties.

Latvian Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Edgars Skuja took part in the meeting.

The working visit of the delegation to the country continues.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
5.5% vs. 19.5% Pay Raise: Senate Diverges from House on How Much to Boost Junior Enlisted Paychecks

Junior troops would see a 5.5% pay bump under a Senate plan unveiled Wednesday, setting up a clash with a House proposal to give enlisted members a significantly larger salary boost.

Under the Senate Armed Services Committee's draft of the annual defense policy bill, service members of all ranks would get a 4.5% pay raise next year. Troops in the paygrades of E-1 through E-3 would get an extra 1% on top of that, for a total 5.5% raise.

With the Senate's more modest proposal and the White House's objection to any targeted boost to junior enlisted pay before an administration study on military compensation is finished, the fate of the House plan to give E-1s through E-4s a 19.5% pay hike next year is growing shaky.

Read Next: Army Warns Troops to Be Wary of Job Offers as China Wages Subtle Intel-Gathering Campaign

While senators did not go as far as the House in their initial version of the National Defense Authorization Act, or NDAA, the Senate proposal nods to growing concerns that pay for junior enlisted troops has not kept pace with the economy. Senators argued that budget caps approved by Congress last year prevented them from proposing a higher raise for junior enlisted personnel.

"We've done everything we can to put as much money into pay raises for our active-duty military and particularly for the E-1s through E-3s, the lowest paid," Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., who chairs the Armed Services Committee's personnel subpanel, told reporters Wednesday after her subcommittee approved its portion of the NDAA. "But it's still not enough. I'd like to see more money for our active-duty military and for our civilian workforce that supports our defense effort. But right now, we have to stay under those budget caps that were negotiated in 2023 that the Republicans insisted on."

Under both the House and Senate plans, all service members are on track to get at least a 4.5% raise next year, which matches what the Biden administration requested and what a federal formula for annual military pay raises says troops are entitled to.

But in the House, after months of study of military quality-of-life issues by a bipartisan panel of lawmakers, members are pushing for a 15% boost for junior enlisted troops on top of the across-the-board raise, for a total 19.5% increase.

Asked how senators arrived at 5.5%, Warren said, "We squeezed as many dollars from every place else in the DoD budget that we possibly could."

The House and Senate will need to negotiate a compromise version of their respective bills before this year's NDAA can become law.

Senators will also have an opportunity to make changes to the NDAA when the full Senate Armed Services Committee meets behind closed doors Wednesday afternoon and Thursday to debate the bill.

Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., has said he plans to propose adding $55 billion to the defense budget during the committee's debate, though he has focused on the defense industrial base and military hardware over personnel funding.

Still, asked about budget caps constraining the pay raise proposal, Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., the ranking member of the personnel subcommittee, noted that he expects votes on increasing the defense budget during the full committee debate.

"The question will be where you do allocate those dollars," he told reporters.

Meanwhile, the White House said Tuesday that it "strongly opposes making a significant, permanent change to the basic pay schedule" before the end of its own military compensation review, which is expected to be complete by the end of the year or early next year.

The White House also cited cost concerns with the House's proposal. A Congressional Budget Office analysis released Monday estimated the increase in pay for junior enlisted troops would cost $24.4 billion from 2025 to 2029.

The White House's Tuesday statement has sparked a cascade of criticism from House Republicans. Rep. Don Bacon, R-Neb., who chaired the military quality-of-life panel, called the White House position "outrageous," while House Armed Services Committee Chairman Mike Rogers, R-Ala., said it was "offensive and wrong."

"Too many military families are relying on food banks, SNAP and WIC in order to put food on the table," Rogers said in a statement, using acronyms for government food assistance programs. "Republicans and Democrats on our committee agreed this is unacceptable."

Related: White House 'Strongly Opposes' Proposed 19.5% Pay Hike for Junior Enlisted Troops
(BCN)  The U.S. Coast Guard and Monterey County crews rescued five people from a burning boat earlier this week in waters two miles off the Salinas River near Moss Landing, according to officials.

The Coast Guard received a report of a boat on fire two miles offshore of the Salinas River entrance, in the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary and Salinas River National Wildlife Refuge area, at 3:30 p.m. Monday.

Concord man dies after being struck by car in Monterey County

Upon arrival, rescue personnel found a burning 47-foot water vessel. All five occupants of the boat were evacuated by the Coast Guard while Monterey firefighters contained the burning boat which was towed back to Monterey.

The boat blaze was fully extinguished near the Monterey break wall, rescue personnel said.

According to the Coast Guard, they prevented a potential discharge of 600 gallons of diesel fuel to the environment.

Copyright  2024 Bay City News, Inc.

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President Biden leaves for Italy on Wednesday for his second major international engagement this month, hoping to highlight his leadership on the world stage amid a tough reelection battle.

The annual Group of Seven (G7) summit is expected to involve conversations about Ukraines war against Russia, Israels war in Gaza, and other issues like the global economy and climate change.

The president is expected to put the differences between his partnership with allies and former President Trumps America First agenda in the spotlight at a time when European allies deal with a fresh blow by far-right leaders gaining influence in their own countries.

Here are five things to watch for Bidens trip to the G7.

Bidens trip coincides with far-right election wins

The president heads to Europe immediately after elections in several countries in which right-leaning politicians made gains, putting centrist leaders on their heels and raising questions about the future of issues like Ukraine aid.

The White House responded to the elections by saying it respects democracy around the world, reiterating aspects of a speech Biden gave last week in Normandy during the 80th anniversary of D-Day.

More critically, we respect our allies and partners across the continent of Europe. And we have every confidence that regardless of who gets what seat in the EU Parliament that were going to be able to continue to work with all of our allies and partners, White House spokesperson John Kirby said.

Biden focused his speeches in France last week on the importance of alliances and promoting and strengthening democracy. In the days since, Europe has seen a surge in far-right leaders making gains in elections at the same time Bidens opponent in November, Trump, continues to push an America First vision.

French President Emmanuel Macron called snap national elections after his pro-European centrist party demonstrated a weaker return in European parliamentary elections compared to far-right parties Sunday. Macron announced the move shortly after hosting Biden for a high-profile state visit in Paris following the anniversary events in Normandy.

Kirby added in response to the results that the president will work with the democratically elected leaders of France, no matter who they are.

Germanys conservative opposition party also garnered more votes for the European Parliament compared to the center-left party of Chancellor Olaf Scholz.

Fraught conflict in the Middle East

The summit, which spans from Thursday to Saturday, comes at a fraught moment amid the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas.

Israeli forces on Sunday freed four hostages being held by Hamas, but the raid killed more than 200 Palestinians, according to the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry.

The United Nations Security Council approved a resolution Monday sponsored by the United States calling for an immediate, temporary cease-fire between Israel and Hamas. Biden announced the proposal last month in his clearest indication yet that hes ready for the war to end, declaring at the time that Israel has degraded Hamas to the point that it would not be able to carry out another Oct. 7 attack.

But, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said Israel will not agree to a permanent cease-fire until all the hostages are released, and that Hamas is stripped of its ability to threaten Israel militarily and that it does not govern the Gaza Strip.

Kirby said Tuesday the U.S. had received Hamass reply to the cease-fire proposal and was still evaluating it.

Biden is likely to hear from his European allies on the matter, as Israels place on the world stage continues to take a hit as the war drags on given the tens of thousands of people who have died in Gaza since the start of the war in October.

A second Zelensky meeting

Biden is expected to meet in Italy with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, marking the second time in a week the two men have met while Biden is abroad. The two previously sat down in Normandy during D-Day anniversary proceedings.

At the G7 meeting later this week, our commitment to Ukraine will continue to be right up front and clear, Kirby told reporters. We will take bolster steps to show Mr. Putin that time is not on his side and he cannot outlast us as we support Ukraines fight for freedom, referring to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The president is skipping a Ukraine peace summit being held Saturday in Switzerland to return home for a major fundraiser in California. Vice President Harris will attend in his place.

Another major element of G7 members demonstrating their commitment to Ukraine at the summit will be to come to a consensus on seizing frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine financially.

G7 members froze about $268 billion in Russian assets after the invasion in 2022 and the U.S.-led proposal reportedly calls for countries to use the profits generated on the frozen assets  about $2.6 billion to $3.6 billion a year  to pay back a $50 billion loan to provide Ukraine immediately.

Biden and Zelensky will participate in a news conference after their meeting, and the U.S. is expected to announce new sanctions and export control actions against Russia.

Biden has made a point during each of his international trips to highlight the unified front the U.S. and its allies have shown in supporting Ukraine.

Congress approved roughly $61 billion in additional aid for Ukraine after a months-long standoff, giving Biden a legislative win and the ability to tout continued U.S. leadership in supporting Kyiv.

But Republicans are unlikely to go for any additional aid this year, and the prospect of Trump returning to the White House threatens U.S. support continuing beyond 2024, which could undermine Bidens pleas for allies to keep providing aid to Ukraine.

Global economy improving, powered by US

Biden will enter the G7 summit with good news on the global economic front  the world economy is stabilizing and the U.S. is powering it.

The World Banks economic outlook released Tuesday credited a strong U.S. economy with bolstering the prospects for the global economy.

Growth has remained buoyant in the teeth of the fiercest monetary policy tightening in four decades. U.S. dynamism, in fact, is one reason the global economy enjoys some upside potential over the next two years, the organization wrote.

The G7 includes the worlds most advanced economies, and they are expected to discuss the improving global economy. Any praise for the U.S.s hand in strengthening the World Banks outlook for the international community would be significant for Biden ahead of Novembers election.

Biden will host a side event at the G7 to promote global infrastructures and investments, the White House outlined.

We will continue to offer a path to help countries overcome unsustainable debt burdens, to boost the World Banks lending firepower, to mobilize additional capital for high standard infrastructure investments and to make new commitments on food and health security, Kirby said.

Domestic issues facing Biden

Biden is set to leave for Italy the day after his son, Hunter Biden, was found guilty on all three counts in his gun trial in Wilmington, Del. Biden unexpectedly traveled to Wilmington on Tuesday after the verdict and spent the night at his Delaware home before his trip.

The president and White House are bracing for the fallout from the younger Bidens guilty verdict and the sentencing. Biden released a statement Tuesday saying he would respect the judicial process after the verdict and reiterated his support for his son.

The president also faces backlash at home over domestic policies, including his immigration executive order announced last week that would restrict asylum protections for those who cross between ports of entry if average daily crossings exceed 2,500.

Democrats and immigrant-rights groups have blasted the order as too restrictive while Biden prepares for Republicans to use the influx of migrants at the border against Biden on the campaign trail.

And the international trip comes just two weeks before Biden is scheduled to debate Trump. Biden will reportedly spend time at Camp David preparing for the June 27 showdown.

Laura Kelly contributed to this report.

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ABILENE, Texas (KTAB/KRBC)  Cash rewards are being offered for information leading to the arrest of nine suspects wanted for various crimes in Abilene.

Police are seeking these suspects for the following offenses:

John Flores  Indecency with a Child

Johnathan Lechuga  Child Endangerment

Mario Albarado  Injury to a Child, Burglary of Habitation

Robert Lane  Injury to a Child

Yair Martinez-Ferral  Assault on Peace Officer, Robbery

Caleb Vickers  Injury to a Child, Possession of Meth

Mario Morales  Burglary of Habitation

Jorge Hernandez  Injury to a Child

Broderic Livingston  Robbery and Evading Arrest

Veenus KaylaMarie Gomez (FEATURED FUGITIVE)  Robbery

CrimeStoppers is offering $500 cash rewards for information that leads to the capture any of the suspects, and a $1000 cash reward for information that leads to the capture of the featured fugitive.

Cash rewards will only be given if the information is received during the week their mugshots are aired on Abilenes Wanted Criminals.

Abilenes Wanted Criminals is a police-run social media segment that will highlight wanted suspects from around the City each week.

Episodes will be posted to the Abilene Police Departments YouTube page or APDs PIO Youtube page.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTAB - BigCountryHomepage.com.
Police have launched an investigation after 60 Boxers were rescued from an unsanitary and overcrowded home in Merrimac on Tuesday, in the largest local surrender the MSPCA has seen in a decade.

Police responded to a home on Locust Grove Road in Merrimac after receiving reports of animal hoarding and overcrowding. The Boxer dogs were voluntarily surrendered by the homeowner, police said.

Every domesticated animal has a right to minimum standards of nutrition, sanitation and veterinary care, Merrimac Police Department Chief Eric Shears said. Animal hoarding and overcrowding is dangerous because it jeopardizes the ability of animals to receive appropriate care, and we will investigate any reports of those occurrences.

No charges have been filed at this time.

A multi-jurisdictional investigation is active and ongoing, Shears said.

The 60 dogs, which range in age from newborn puppies to seniors, will not be available for adoption until they have undergone medical and behavioral evaluations, a process that could take weeks, officials said.

Were still doing initial evaluations, so we arent yet sure what kind of care these dogs will need before theyre ready to find new homes, MSPCA-Angell Vice President of Animal Protection Mike Keiley said. But we know the property they came from allegedly had unsanitary and overcrowded conditions.

So, some of the dogs are thin, and many have acute medical issues that need to be addressed, like dental work, Keiley said. Itll take a few days for us to have a clear picture of whats next for them, but we do know that we need help now.

The case is being investigated by police in Merrimac, Haverhill, and Windham, New Hampshire.

Anyone with information for investigators is asked to call Merrimac Police at 978-346-8321.

Shelter capacity pushed to the limits

The MSPCA is working tirelessly to ready the Boxers for adoption as quickly as possible, Keiley said. Some are expected to be available as early as June 17, while others will require more time.

This is the largest local surrender weve had in close to a decade, Keiley said. Thankfully, we adopted out many dogs during our adoptathon last week, but given the immense size of this surrender, were already back at capacity.

He encouraged people to adopt dogs that have been in MSPCA shelters to make space for the Boxers.

Were also looking for people to help us by fostering some of these new arrivals, he said. Its critical that we make space in the shelters so that we can continue to be there for people in the community who need to surrender, but right now that will be extremely challenging.

Anyone interested in learning more about fostering a dog can find information at mspca.org/foster.

Help the Boxers

People interested in donating to help offset the cost of caring for the Boxers may do so at mspca.org/boxers.

Having this many animals come into our care so quickly is extremely taxing on all our resources, said Keiley, estimating that the dogs care will cost more than $10,000.

We want to get these dogs into new homes as soon as theyre ready, so that theyre able to get the love and attention they deserve, while also opening up kennel space that would allow us to take in animals from local surrenders and transfers from local animal control departments, as well as out-of-state transports, he said.

Some of the dogs will need more time before theyre ready for adoption, he said.

Were asking that people be patient as we work to get them there, Keiley said.

The dogs will be adopted out of the MSPCAs shelters in Boston, Methuen, and Salem during open hours, which vary by location.

The Boxers will be added to the MSPCAs available animals page at mspca.org/adoptadog as they become available for adoption. Interested adopters are asked to monitor that page and go to open hours to adopt.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

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DENVER (KDVR)  A 74-year-old woman reported missing Sunday on a Colorado trail was found safe two days later, and her dog helped rescuers find her.

The woman was originally reported missing around 8:39 p.m. The woman had gone on a hike on the steep Triangle Peak trail, according to the Pitkin County Sheriffs Office. The trail reportedly receives limited foot traffic because of its difficult and rocky terrain.

Bustang offered for RTD riders frustrated by delays

Pitkin County said the woman hikes the trail three to four times a week.

She was hiking with her Irish setter dog, who was found around 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday. Rescuers were able to concentrate their search efforts after finding the dog, which led to the womans discovery.

The trail is located in the Snowmass Canyon area of the Roaring Fork Valley, north of Snowmass Village and Aspen.

The search was originally started on Sunday night after she was reported missing but had to stop around 2 a.m. because of a lack of light. The search resumed Monday morning, and the woman and her dog were found Tuesday.

The sheriffs office said Mountain Rescue Aspen, Aspen Ambulance District, Search and Rescue Dogs of the United States, Care Flight of the Rockies, Flight for Life and the Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control contributed to the search and rescue efforts.

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75-Year-Old Woman Found Alive 2 Days After She Disappeared with Her Dog During Hike

Jennifer Hearn was being treated after being found on June 11, according to the Pitkin County Sheriff's Office

Pitkin County Sheriff's Office From left: Jennifer Hearn and her dog Tawny

A 75-year-old woman has been found alive two days after she disappeared with her dog during a hike near Aspen, Colorado.

In a statement shared on Facebook on Tuesday, June 11, the Pitkin County Sheriffs Office confirmed that Jennifer Hearn had been found and was receiving medical care.

Jennifer was reported missing on June 9 after hiking on Triangle Peak, the statement read. Jennifer's dog, Tawny, was located at approximately 9:30 a.m., enabling search crews to concentrate their efforts in a more targeted area, which subsequently led to Jennifer's discovery at around 3:30 p.m.

Getty Aspen, Colorado

Related: Woman Missing 31 Years and Declared Dead Is Found Alive at Care Home in Puerto Rico: 'Very Big Shock'

Tawny, an Irish Setter, was found at a residence near Triangle Peak.

The sheriffs office said in a press release that Hearn was reported missing after not returning from her hike on the trail, which is located in the Snowmass Canyon area of the Roaring Fork Valley. The initial search for Hearn began at 8:57 p.m. on June 9.

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PCSO asks that the public give friends and family the space that they need at this time to recover and care for Jennifer, police added.

Related: Body of Missing Hiker, 61, Found at Bottom of Oregon Cliff After Not Returning from Solo Trip

The Triangle Peak Trail is described as a steep trail that sees limited foot traffic due to its difficult and rocky terrain. According to All Trails, the trail is nearly 5 miles long and takes an average of just under three and a half hours to complete.

On the day that Hearn and Tawny were found, the search team involved 30 members of Mountain Rescue Aspen (MRA), a helicopter from Care Flight of the Rockies and "numerous citizens," per authorities.

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After Tawny was found, the search area was narrowed down to the steep rock-covered hillsides overlooking the Woody Creek area, according to the press release. Hearn was found during the focused search of the scree fields that cover the side of Triangle Peak.



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84-year-old woman speaks out from hospital bed after being shot in Brooklyn

84-year-old woman speaks out from hospital bed after being shot in Brooklyn

EAST FLATBUSH, Brooklyn (PIX11)  Althea Lawson, speaking from her hospital bed in Brooklyn Tuesday evening, was still in pain after being shot in her left arm Monday night.

I feel  little better than yesterday, Lawson told PIX11 News.

The 84-year-old mother of seven has conquered stage four cancer and now shes a different kind of survivor.

I heard pow pow pow pow pow. By the time I looked, I saw blood running down my hand. I said, My god,' she said.

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Two neighbors rushed to her side, one providing a shirt to wrap around her arm.

We ran over She was sitting there bleeding out. He took off his shirt and instructed me to tie it on her hand, a neighbor said.

The temporary tourniquet was effective. Lawson sustained two bullet wounds, likely from gang members who missed their intended target, according to police sources.

Theyre running up on their intended targets shooting and running after them while theyre shooting, Chief Joseph Kenny explained after viewing surveillance video of the incident.

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Gang violence, attributed to the same crew, has plagued the neighborhood, leaving innocent victims like Lawson in its wake, including a 67-year-old woman in January.

Lawson said she hears frequent gunfire from her home.

All the time, you hear shots fired in your house, she said.

This survivor credits a higher power.

Thank God for Jesus. He rescued me, and he saved me, she said.

Doctors and family members anticipate Lawsons recovery will take some time before she can resume her activities, including cooking Jamaican food for the community again.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11.
89 combat clashes occur across warzone, most of them on Pokrovsk front  Ukraine's General Staff report

Since the beginning of the day, the total number of combat clashes on the frontline has increased to 89, with the most intense fighting on the Pokrovsk front.

Source: General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on Facebook, information as of 19:00 on 12 June

Quote: "The enemy attempted to advance five times today on the Kharkiv front, but was unsuccessful. Preliminary reports indicated that the enemy has lost around 90 troops today. An armoured fighting vehicle, an artillery system, five vehicles and one piece of special equipment were all destroyed. Six artillery systems, one vehicle, and six pieces of specialised equipment were damaged.

On the Kupiansk front, the invaders intensified their operations in the area of Terny. Throughout the day, there were 12 clashes on this front, five of which are currently ongoing. The enemy sustains losses."

Details: On the Siversk and Kramatorsk fronts, the Russian forces doubled down on assault actions, with them rising to eight and 13, respectively. In general, preliminary figures show that 73 Russians were killed and 122 injured on those fronts.

The most intense situation is on the Pokrovsk front. Of the 31 attacks, 12 are still underway. Combat clashes take place near the villages of Novoselivka Persha, Novooleksandrivka, Sokol, Novopokrovsk and Netailove.

Battles continue in the area of Krasnohorivka on the Kurakhiv front.

For the second time today, clashes are taking place in the vicinity of Krynky on the Prydniprovske front.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 12. Uniper is looking forward to discussing the potential increase of gas supply from Azerbaijan, Michael Hilmer, VP at Uniper, told Trend in an exclusive interview.

"Azerbaijan is an important country for the EU's energy security and diversification of energy sources. Uniper as a buyer of natural gas from the Shah Deniz II project helps to facilitate the gas supplies from Azerbaijan to Europe. One of the current key issues for Uniper is ensuring the security of supply and diversification of energy flows into its portfolio. Azerbaijan with SOCAR as one of the main players has proven to be a very reliable partner in terms of secure and steady supply. We are looking forward to discussing the potential increase of those gas supplies especially in light of the strategic energy partnership entered mid-2022 by Azerbaijan and the EU Commission consisting of the plan to double the gas export capacity of the Southern Gas Corridor," he said.

According to Hilmer, decarbonization and energy transition are also Uniper's shared paths with SOCAR, and the two companies are actively engaged in various initiatives, arranging meetings, workshops, and site visits.

"We are ready to expand our cooperation to achieve our goals in terms of carbon neutrality. Uniper and SOCAR have been working together since 2008. In 2014, SOCAR and Uniper signed a formal cooperation agreement. Overall it covers best practice exchange in the fields of technology, energy business and HR," the VP pointed out.

Michael Hilmer further noted that the current focus topics of cooperation between Uniper and SOCAR are energy efficiency, energy transition and sustainability, renewables and clean fuels and women in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) and leadership.

Moreover, as Uniper VP reported, at the moment, SOCAR-Uniper LLC is finalizing the first project to improve and enhance energy efficiency.

"The main objective of SOCAR-Uniper LLC joint venture is to carry out joint projects around energy efficiency. Currently, the joint venture is finalizing the first project to improve and enhance the efficiency of the Steam and Power Generator Complex located at Azerkimya PU in Sumgayit," he said.

According to Hilmer, the facility currently provides steam and electricity to the ethylene production unit.

"After adding a new steam turbine and upgrading the existing units, which will result in 52 MW of extra electrical production capacity and a significant increase in energy efficiency. The team is currently putting great effort into commissioning the project," the VP explained.

In general, as Michael Hilmer pointed out, there are ample opportunities for cooperation between SOCAR and Uniper in the renewable energy field.

"Uniper and SOCAR are both companies, that are developing a portfolio of renewable energy sources in their core markets to work on their goals to reduce carbon emissions. It is impressive to see, how many renewable energy projects are under development in Azerbaijan with a strong view of exporting green electricity to Europe," he said.

The VP noted that, as SOCAR just announced the signing of a shareholder agreement for joining a 1 GW renewables project in Azerbaijan, Uniper just entered a development partnership for a 600 MW onshore wind project in Poland.

"Uniper is committed to developing 10 GW of onshore wind and solar farms by 2030, focusing on key European markets," Michael Hilmer pointed out.

He also added that Uniper is currently testing the utilization of a former natural gas storage cavern in northern Germany for storing green hydrogen. "It is planned to develop a total working gas capacity of 250 to 600 GWh by 2030".

At the same time, green hydrogen has also been a topic of knowledge exchange within the cooperation between Uniper and SOCAR.

"For Uniper, hydrogen is a critical component of its decarbonization and energy transition strategy. Uniper published in August 2023 its new strategy named "Accelerating the Energy Transition  Flexible, Balanced, Bespoke". Uniper wants to reach carbon neutrality by 2040 by significantly investing in growth and energy transformation," he said.

According to the VP, the plans include the development of a portfolio of 15-20 GW power production which will be 80 percent green by 2030.

"Furthermore, Uniper is diversifying its gas portfolio to enhance the security of gas supply in Europe. The companys ambition is for 5-10 percent of its portfolio to consist of green gases by 2030, including green hydrogen and derivatives and biomethane," Hilmer elaborated.

He explained that this target will be addressed by developing more than 1 GW electrolyzer capacity to produce hydrogen from green electricity supply, as well as developing a portfolio of green hydrogen and derivative products, and biomethane. "These are some steps Uniper is taking, which would limit the detrimental effects of future energy crises".

"Decarbonization is the dominating topic in current developments and activities of most energy companies. That could be seen here at the forum at various presentations and public announcements. However, the security of supply and diversification are increasingly important topics, as we just experienced during the European energy crisis. One of the main challenges most of the energy markets have in common under is the integration of the existing and new forms of energy. There will be many topics in this regard, where Uniper and SOCAR can learn from each other," he added.

Meanwhile, VP Hilmer also reminded that as a Bronze Sponsor of the 29th Baku Energy Forum, which took place on June 5-6, Uniper hosted a session themed "Gas dialogue: The role of gas supply during the energy crisis".

"This event is valuable for building and strengthening relationships with key local stakeholders and the international business community that operates in Azerbaijan and the region. Furthermore, the forum is a great source of information about new developments in the oil and gas sector, as well as in the fields of decarbonization, renewables, and energy transition projects in the country. These are all topics, which are of high relevance for Uniper in delivering its new strategy to accelerate the energy transition," VP Michael Hilmer concluded.
Nine-year-old Ukrainian girl Valeria was found dead in a forest near the German town of Dobeln, Saxony, a few days after she went missing, Spiegel reported on June 12, citing local police.

Valeria reportedly disappeared on her way to school on June 3. The police confirmed that her body was found on June 11, some 4 kilometers (2.4 miles) away from her home in a forest between the settlements of Hermsdorf and Mahlitzsch.

The girl died as a result of "a violent crime," but the investigation found no signs of a sexual assault, Chemnitz police chief Carsten Kaempf said.

There are no detainees or suspects yet. The investigation is focused on the girl's "social circle," according to the police.

Around 100 emergency workers and volunteers were involved in the search for the child. The investigation later expanded beyond Ukraine as German authorities cooperated with Ukraine, Poland, and the Czech Republic, Bild reported, citing the police.

After the start of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, a number of murders and attacks against Ukrainians abroad have been recorded, including in Germany.

Among the most recent cases was a knife attack on a 41-year-old Ukrainian woman by a 19-year-old Afghan in the German city of Frankfurt am Main on June 10, Bild wrote on June 11. The woman was reportedly hospitalized, and the attacker was detained.

Read also: Russian stabbed to death two Ukrainian soldiers in Germany

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
EAGLE MOUNTAIN, Utah (ABC4)  Its something every dispatcher hopes to do. At least its something dispatcher Chance Chipman has looked forward to the past seven years he has worked for Central Utah 911.

Over the course of the years, every dispatcher hopes and prays that they have a baby call, Chipman said.

Helping to deliver a baby as a dispatcher is rare in Utah County, as deputies usually arrive on the scene within minutes to assist the family. However, last week Chipman helped deliver two babies over the phone as they were born within six minutes of calling 911.

On June 6 just before 10 a.m., Chipman received a 911 call from Eagle Mountain with a father, Matt Harris, saying his wife was pregnant with twins and they couldnt make it to the hospital in time to deliver the babies.

Matt and Mary Harris told ABC4 they were packing their bags to go to the hospital when Mary Harris turned to her husband and told him the babies were coming.

I was like what do you mean by that? Thats when the stress spiked obviously, Matt Harris said.

The father said he called 911 and was so stressed he gave the dispatcher the wrong address twice. Two minutes after calling dispatch  with deputies on the way  the first baby was delivered.

Within 10 minutes of me hanging up at work, we had a baby, so it was so fast, Matt Harris said.

Chipman was walking the father through steps to ensure the baby was breathing normally when the second baby started to show. However, there was one problem: the baby was in a breech position.

The dispatcher instructed Matt Harris through the process and the second baby was born within minutes. She wasnt breathing at first, however, the father said he followed the dispatchers previous advice and turned the baby on her side where she began to cough and breathe.

Utah authorities arrive on scene after a Central Utah 911 dispatcher assisted in the delivery of two baby girls. (credit: Matt Harris)

Minutes after the delivery of the twins, deputies and EMTs arrived on the scene and safely transported the parents and babies to the hospital.

For the rest of the day we kinda just looked at each other and were like, can you even believe that happened? It was incredibly bonding, Mary Harris said.

Matt Harris added that while they wouldnt wish this on other parents it ended up being a great experience for them.

The two girls, Lilian and Clara, were born early at 33 weeks and are currently in the NICU. The parents say they are healthy and breathing on their own, and once they are strong enough to eat by themselves they will come home.

Mary Harris being transported to the hospital after delivering twins at home with 911 on the phone. (credit: Matt Harris)

To be honest, it could have went a hundred different ways but were just so blessed and so happy that it went the way it did, you know that theyre healthy and good, he said. Were just so grateful.

Matt and Mary Harris said the dispatcher did a great job and was calm and collected the entire call. They expressed gratitude for everyone who helped them from Chipman to the EMTs to neighbors who watched their seven kids at home while they took the twins to the hospital.

I think every birth is a miracle, I think kids are miracles, and these were just a little more tender. Our miracles that everything worked out and fell into place for these two, Matt Harris said.

Chipman said he had the crew contact the hospital after they were transported because he was curious about the twins and wanted to make sure they were healthy. He said he was happy to hear they were doing well.

Its very rewarding. Here in dispatch, we dont very often get a positive call or a positive situation. So to have a positive like that you just delivered two twins on the phone and theyre doing healthy and the moms doing good, it is so rewarding, Chipman said smiling. I would do 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 ABC4 Utah.
Student chair and desk in classroom. Credit: Catherine McQueen. Getty Images.

Quality Journalism for Critical Times

Republican Florida Congressman Aaron Bean has introduced legislation that would require public K-12 schools to inform parents about any dealings the school might have with foreign governments of concern.

Bean, representing Clay and Duval counties and part of Nassau County in the U.S. House of Representatives, introduced his Transparency in Reporting of Adversarial Contributions to Education Act on Friday.

The bill would establish that parents have the right to know whether their childrens schools bought or otherwise acquired curricular or professional development material using funds from a foreign country or a foreign entity of concern, according to the bill text.

Foreign entities of concern are defined as those designated as a foreign terrorist organization by the Secretary of State; appears on the list of nationals and blocked persons maintained by the Office of Foreign Assets Control; are alleged by the U.S. attorney general to have been involved in activities for which a conviction was obtained under various listed statutes,; or has been determined by the secretary of Commerce to be engaged in unauthorized conduct detrimental to national security.

The measure also applies if such governments contribute to salaries or donations.

American schools are for education, not espionage, Bean, chairman of the Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education Subcommittee, said in an email to the Phoenix.

We cannot allow our students  the future of our great nation  to be corrupted by foreign adversaries who are systematically and aggressively attempting to influence our nations K-12 schools. Yet this is what happens when our institutions of learning accept the Trojan Horse of foreign funding.

The bill includes the right of parents to view contracts, memoranda of understanding, and financial transactions.

My bill aims to solidify the rights of parents to know how foreign influence may be impacting their childs classroom and deter the ability of foreign nations to reach Americas youth, Bean said.

The bill was referred to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.

Fewer than five

Fox News has associated this legislation with Confucius Classrooms, typically affiliated with Peoples Republic of China-backed Confucius Universities, of which there are fewer than five in the United States, according to a 2023 Government Accountability Office report.

The institutes promote Chinese language and culture, and, according to United States government reports, have a partial goal of improving the image of that country, but have nearly vanished from the United States.

In September, Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Florida Department of Education announced that an investigation found four private schools in the state had direct ties to the Chinese Communist Party and, as a result, they would no longer be allowed to participate in school choice scholarship programs. The schools denied ties to any overseas government.

Florida public school students will be taught the history of communism, required by SB 1264, signed by DeSantis in April.

The Florida Department of Education is responsible for making age- and developmentally appropriate curricula for public schools and is instructed to seek input from victims of communism when doing so.

The post Aaron Bean calls for increased transparency for school funding sources appeared first on Florida Phoenix.
I have to admit, the case of Los Angeles County lifeguard Capt. Jeffrey Little has me scratching my head.

Little is the veteran lifeguard who filed a religious discrimination, harassment and retaliation lawsuit last month against the county Fire Department, which includes lifeguards. Little alleges that he was forced to work under a version of the rainbow-hued Pride flag during June, which is celebrated as LGBTQ+ Pride month, in violation of his deeply held religious beliefs.

Little believes its an infringement of his civil rights to be required to hoist the flag or to supervise people who hoist it. It also seems he doesnt want to work at any beach where the flag is flown. The lawsuit is a little fuzzy on those points.

Anyway, I believe him when he says that he is sincerely offended by displays of queer and transgender pride. But I would also describe his position as bigoted, along the lines of those who invoke their Christian faith to explain why they oppose interracial marriage, for example. I am not a fan of people who use the Bible to deny the very humanity of others.

Read more: Column: How L.A. turned junior high into middle school  and why I can't wait to be done with it

Little claims in his lawsuit that the Progress Pride flag in question symbolizes and advances a range of controversial religious and moral views, including about the family, the nature of marriage and human sexuality including the promotion of certain sexual practices, and the identity, nature and purpose of the human person.

Sexual practices? I think hes reading an awful lot into a swatch of brightly colored fabric.

Little also claims that he is opposed to the flag because it has been featured prominently during Gay Pride parades around the world, including those in which adults wear little to no clothing while in the presence of children.

Excuse me, Los Angeles lifeguard says what?

Has the good captain not noticed how many people are running around L.A. beaches nearly naked on your average sunny day? I mean, youd be hard pressed to tell the difference between a bikini and dental floss these days. In fact, its sometimes hard to tell who is wearing a thong and who is actually naked.

Read more: Abcarian: Here's how antiabortion absolutists plan to drag California back to the 19th century

But hey, as long as they don't ask for your sexual orientation while you are caught in a rip tide, even lifeguards are allowed to be bigots, at least in private.

Imposing their religion on the rest of us is where I draw the line, though. Same-sex marriage was legalized in 2015. Gender is not binary. Trans people exist and deserve respect. Flying the Pride flag is a symbolic way of saying, "You belong too."

I think Littles bosses probably mishandled his complaints; they should have anticipated that their struggles with him would provide fodder for a juicy lawsuit such as the one filed by attorneys who work with the Thomas More Society, a conservative Catholic legal advocacy group.

This saga began In March 2023, when the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to raise the Progress Pride flag at county facilities each June.

This particular flag is a variation on the Pride flag that debuted in San Francisco in 1978. The original flag, as the supervisors noted, contained eight stripes, each a separate color of the rainbow, plus hot pink. The colors represent sex, life, healing, sunlight, nature, magic and art, serenity and spirit.

Over the years, the flags design has evolved. The widely adopted iteration at issue supplements the original colors with chevron shaped stripes of black and brown (representing marginalized LGBTQ+ people of color and those who have died of or are living with HIV/AIDS) as well as pink, blue and white (incorporating the trans flag).

Interestingly, at least in part of the lawsuit, Little does not take issue with the countys right to raise the flag, allowing that the government can speak its own messages. However, he objects to being required to raise the flag himself.

At first, he says, the department accommodated him by letting him work at a beach where the Pride flag wasn't displayed. (Some lifeguard stations lacked the equipment to display the flag.) But he alleges that toward the end of last June, he arrived to work at Dockweiler State Beach to find that the Pride flag had been raised at two lifeguard towers and another building, which he claims was tantamount to religious discrimination.

His first reaction, he recounts, was confusion, as I was under the impression that I would not have to deal with working in these conditions. And then he took the flags down.

That was dumb. As you can imagine, this act of apparent insubordination did not go over well with his bosses. He says they revoked his dispensation to avoid beaches with Pride flags.

This was a classic power struggle. Little claims that lifeguard division Chief Fernando Boiteux, whom the lawsuit characterizes as a lot bigger than Little and "trained in martial arts," physically and verbally intimidated him. You need to stop what you are doing, Little claims Boiteux told him. You are an L.A. County employee; thats the only thing that matters. Your religious beliefs do not matter.

I dont know whether Boiteux actually said that  the Fire Department will not comment on the case  but of course religious beliefs do matter. Even when they are outdated, misguided or bigoted.

If Littles account is correct, his superiors could certainly have been more tactful and less abrasive in their dealings with him. That might have spared them the ordeal of being sued in federal court at a moment when religious bigotry is being enshrined in law by our Supreme Court.

Its too bad, but probably inevitable, that the Progress Pride flag has become a battleground in the culture war. And its too bad that Little didnt try just a little harder to love his neighbor.

@robinkabcarian

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Abilene City Council to vote on new dog park that could displace homeless encampment

The City Council is expected to vote Thursday on construction for a nearly $1 million dog park to be sited behind the new animal services facility.

In a media briefing Monday, however, concerns were raised over a homeless encampment that resides in the new location chosen for Camp Barkeley Dog Park.

Will the city shut down the homeless encampment when construction begins, and where will the residents go?

Over a dozen dog owners participated in the Mardi Gras-themed Krewe of Barkus dog parade March 9, 2019, at Camp Barkeley. Camp Barkeley is temporarily closed until construction begins on the new dog park.

'A balancing act'

This extensive project will include separate large and small dog fenced areas, two covered pavilions with seating, fountains for both areas, bathroom facilities and a parking lot, Director of Parks and Recreation Lesli Andrews said Monday.

She also noted that the new dog park will cost approximately $959,250 and should take about 150 days to complete once construction begins.

According to the city council agenda packet, those funds will come from the Minor Improvement Fund.

The project will cover six acres on the west side of the creek within Cal Young Park, Andrews said.

When a question arose during the media briefing about whether Andrews has concerns about building in that direction due to the homeless encampment, she looked surprised and did not immediately answer.

City Manager Robert Hanna then came to the podium to address those concerns, saying it would be out of the scope of Andrews' duties to reply as the parks director.

Hanna said the city has notified those living in the camps and is monitoring the situation. He said the camp is "unsanitary," and "some bad things can happen" there.

Hanna said the city is just trying to keep citizens safe while also working with the West Texas Homeless Network to find new housing for those in the encampment.

Overall, he said that while it can be uncomfortable for everybody, "it's a balancing act."

There was no mention of when the residents of the homeless encampment could be forced out if the Abilene City Council allows construction to begin on the new dog park.

Texas law likely forces city's hand

A backpack outside City Light Ministries, which serves the homeless in Abilene.

Whether or not city officials wants to enforce the removal of the homeless encampment, their hands are likely tied.

When House Bill 1925 was signed by Gov. Greg Abbott in 2021, it made public camping illegal. It also made camping in a public space a class C misdemeanor by amending the Texas Penal Code.

"The maximum is $500 fine unless otherwise designated in the statute," Taylor County Assistant District Attorney Erin Stamey said.

Stamey noted that class C misdemeanors carry no term of imprisonment.

There was also a provision in the bill that would deny state grant funds to any cities or entities refusing to enforce it or intentionally violating that policy.

The bill went into effect Sept. 1, 2021.

The city of Abilene appears to be bound to abide by that law to continue receiving state grant funds.

The Reporter-News asked the Abilene Police Department if officers would enforce the bill and hand out misdemeanor tickets to the encampment's inhabitants.

"The Abilene Police Department will work to relocate any encampments via the West Texas Homeless Network," APD Public Information Coordinator Rick Tomlin said. "APD's goal is to encourage any transients in the area to voluntarily move to another location. Citations would be the last option."

Homeless numbers on the rise

While California accounts for nearly one-third of the U.S. population of homeless, Texas ranks fifth, according to U.S. News and World Report. As of May 15, Texas has approximately 27,377 homeless people.

Texas falls behind the state of Washington on that list as the U.S. has experienced the highest level of homeless on record since reporting began in 2007  "a more than 12% increase from 2020."

In any case, the question remains, where will the residents of the homeless encampment go?

Abilene has few options for homeless shelters to include the Salvation Army and Abilene Hope Haven. Other organizations such as City Lights, BOBS Breakfast on Beech Street and Love and Care Ministries will feed the homeless but do not provide shelter.

More on Love and Care Ministries A day in the life: The daily miracle of Abilene's Love and Care Ministries

This article originally appeared on Abilene Reporter-News: Tents or dogs: city council to vote on dog park displacing homeless encampment
ACLU sues Biden over border executive order that allows him to turn back migrants

A coalition of civil rights groups is suing President Joe Bidens administration to block an executive order that aims to ban people seeking asylum from crossing the US-Mexico border.

The ACLU and five other immigrants rights groups filed a federal lawsuit in Washington, DC, Wednesday on behalf of two Texas-based groups  Las Americas Immigrant Advocacy Center and the Refugee and Immigrant Center for Education and Legal Services  after the president signed the order earlier this month.

The lawsuit argues the order creates a narrow path to asylum that flies in the face of federal law and mirrors a similar illegal order under former President Donald Trump that was rejected by the courts.

We were left with no alternative but to sue, Lee Gelernt, deputy director of the ACLUs Immigrants Rights Project, said in a statement.

The administration lacks unilateral authority to override Congress and bar asylum based on how one enters the country, a point the courts made crystal clear when the Trump administration unsuccessfully tried a near-identical ban, he added.

US border patrol agents lead a group of migrants seeking asylum towards a van to be transported and processed near Dulzura, California on June 5. Civil rights groups sued the Biden administration on June 12 to block an executive order that significantly limits asylum claims. (AP)

Bidens plan will effectively shut down asylum claims once the number of daily border encounters reaches 2,500 at ports of entry, and will only reopen once those daily encounters decline to 1,500. It remains unclear whether those terms have kicked in since the order was put in place earlier this month.

Critics have warned that such an action upends international guarantees that protect asylum rights for people on US soil, and will endanger the lives of thousands of people fleeing violence, instability and corruption below the southern border.

Around the world, people are fleeing persecution and torture at higher rates than ever before, according to National Immigrant Justice Center litigation director Keren Zwick.

Its shameful that the US government has chosen to respond by shutting out access to asylum to those who come to our border in need.

The lawsuit names six federal agencies and six officials as defendants, including US Attorney General Merrick Garland and Homeland Security Director Alejandro Mayorkas.

President Joe Biden delivers remarks on an executive order limiting asylum in the East Room of the White House on June 4. (Getty Images)

As The Independent previously reported, Bidens order invokes Section 212(f) of the 1952 Immigration and Nationality Act, which allows the president to suspend immigration for anyone determined to be detrimental to the interests of the United States  the same authority that Trump used to unilaterally ban immigrants from majority-Muslim countries, which was later struck down in court.

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the United Nations Refugee Convention have affirmed asylum rights for people fleeing persecution and violence.

In the US, a person granted asylum is legally allowed to remain in the country without fear of deportation, and qualifies for legal work with potential pathways to permanent legal status. Those claims can only be made at the US border or within the US.

The Refugee Act of 1980 enshrined that commitment in law, and the executive officer has never been allowed to categorically ban asylum based on where a noncitizen enters the country, according to the lawsuit.

Bidens order also aims to speed migrants through fast-tracked deportation proceedings, which critics fear will expose already vulnerable people who are seeking protection into volatile and violent circumstances on the southern border.

That screening policy will systematically lead to the refoulement of people seeking protection from persecution, torture, and death, according to the lawsuit.
The Communications Workers of America announced it is filing a complaint with the National Labor Relations Board against an Activision contractor. The union alleges that the contractor, Lionbridge Technologies, laid off 160 workers in retaliation for an attempt to unionize.

Did an Activision contractor wrongfully lay off workers?

The company provided QA testing for the Microsoft subsidiary Activision when it laid off the Boise, Idaho team. Lionbridge justified this latest example of gaming layoffs by telling workers that the project was over. However, work was still underway at the offices in Mexico and Poland. According to the CWA, Lionbridge terminated workers in retaliation for workers engaging in protected organizing activities and protected speech when raising issues regarding their working conditions. Doing so violates federal law.

Workers targeted by this gaming layoff were also allegedly offered a severance package with unreasonably broad confidentiality terms. The Activision contractor also asked the laid-off employees to waive their rights under the National Labor Relations Act, something that the NLRB ruled was illegal. The CWAs statement also notes that this is the second time Lionbridge has engaged in union-busting while working with Microsoft.

In 2022, the union wrote, Microsoft adopted principles for engagement with worker organizations, which recognized workers legal rights to organize and expressed a belief in the importance of listening to our employees concerns. This team of subcontracted workers and all U.S. workers enjoy those same rights and protections. CWA expects Microsoft to hold its contractors to the same standards the company has set for itself, as stated in its principles.

(via GameSpot)

The post Activision Contractor Allegedly Laid Off QA Workers for Trying to Unionize appeared first on PlayStation LifeStyle.
Chas Moore, executive director of the Austin Justice Coalition, center, speaks at a press conference on Wednesday, June 12, 2024, alongside Kenneth Pluet, left, and Chris Harris, policy director of the Austin Justice Coalition. Pluet accused law enforcement of racially profiling and using excessive force against him at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in 2023.

An Austin social justice advocacy group Wednesday called for reforms in racial sensitivity and use of force in the Austin Police Department in light of a man's accusations that officers racially profiled and mistreated him at the Austin airport last year.

On March 9, 2023, Kenneth Pluet was detained by law enforcement officers conducting searches for narcotics at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport.

In a series of videos filmed by Pluet and his girlfriend, he is heard explaining that he does not consent to the search and is later shown being pinned to the ground by multiple officers in plain clothing. On Wednesday, standing in front of the Travis County Jail and accompanied by the Austin Justice Coalition, Pluet shared his story.

They tried to make me seem like a criminal that I wasnt, Pluet said, and that didnt feel good.

In response to questions from the American-Statesman on Wednesday, the Austin Police Department said the incident involving Pluet was reviewed by various units of the department and that all reviews "concluded the detectives involved acted within law and policy."

The statement, shared by police spokesperson Lisa Cortinas, added that anyone who feels that officers racially profiled or used excessive force against them can contact the Office of Police Oversight and file a formal complaint. The complaint is then forwarded to the Police Departments Internal Affairs Unit for investigation.

Clashing accounts

An affidavit for Pluet's arrest says that Drug Enforcement Administration task force officers and Police Department detectives and officers were conducting drug interception operations at the airport on March 9, 2023. Detectives approached Pluet after observing behaviors and other factors suggesting that Pluet was part of a drug smuggling operation, the affidavit said. An Austin police officer wrote that Pluet walked in from outside of the airport toward the baggage claim, appeared to be unsure of which bag on the carousel was his and smelled like marijuana.

Pluet denied coming in from outside of the airport and maintained that he was returning from Chicago, where he had traveled for work. In a video taken by Pluets girlfriend and shared with the Statesman, she is heard offering to provide Pluets flight ticket from Chicago but is ignored by the officers. Pluet claimed that after being detained, he also repeatedly asked the officers to search his bag for marijuana so that he could be exculpated.

I was trying to explain my innocence, Pluet said Wednesday. I was trying to tell them that I had nothing illegal in my bag.

The affidavit claims that after being approached by officers, Pluet immediately became angry and very confrontational, yelling and cursing at both Detectives. The affidavit goes on to describe Pluet threatening and lunging at arresting officers, claims that Pluet denied multiple times at Wednesday's news conference.

Eventually, Pluet was charged with resisting arrest, a Class A misdemeanor, and was taken to the Travis County Jail. Pluet was held there on a $5,000 bond, county records show, and he claimed he was denied medical attention despite being injured from the altercation with police.

Pluet said he went to the hospital after he was released from the jail two or three days later and discovered that he had bruises "all over" his body.

The Travis County attorneys office declined to file charges against Pluet in August 2023, county records show. However, Pluet claimed that he was not alerted to the charges being dropped until two months ago.

The Travis County attorneys office did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Pluet's claim.

Months later, they are going through the process and the case is dismissed, said Chas Moore, executive director of the Austin Justice Coalition. But what wasnt dismissed was his medical bills and that bond that they had to pay, right?

Demanding action from Austin police

Throughout the news conference, Moore and Chris Harris, policy director of the Austin Justice Coalition, emphasized what they said was a lack of meaningful reform from the Police Department despite pledges to end racial profiling and excessive use of force following the 2020 social justice protests.

Unfortunately, we are in a situation right now where our Police Department operates in near total secrecy, Harris said. And we understand what secrecy breeds. It breeds violence, it breeds misconduct.

Moore confirmed that Pluet would be filing an official case against the Police Department for racial profiling and excessive use of force, though he stated that the group was still in the process of connecting Pluet with legal representation.

Kathy Mitchell, senior projects coordinator for Equity Action, expressed disappointment in the lack of reform after spending three years on a panel dedicated to modifying the curriculum at the police academy, which focused specifically on introducing racial profiling training. According to Mitchell, her panel rewrote the training on racial profiling, but she has not observed any meaningful change in outcomes and practices from the department.

We are done waiting, we are done sitting on panels, Mitchell said, It is time for the Police Department to simply say, 'Yes, we are making a change.'

Mitchell went on to say that perhaps such a change from the Police Department would require a formal investigation from the U.S. Justice Department.

The news conference closed with a prayer led by Pastor Sid D. Johnson of Higher Dimension Church in Austin.

Now we are demanding change. We are not asking for change; we are not marching for change, Johnson said. We are getting ready to confront these issues head on, and were knocking on every door.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Accusation of racial profiling sparks calls for Austin police reform
A legislator's voting and call button is shown in the Rhode Island House of Representatives. (Janine L. Weisman/Rhode Island Current)

After a two-year stalemate, Rhode Island lawmakers appear poised to pass legislation making it easier for property owners to build accessory dwelling units, or ADUs.

Amended companion bills advanced by the Senate Committee on Housing and Municipal Government late Tuesday are nearly identical to the original proposal championed by House Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi, and already given the greenlight by the Rhode Island House in February. The Senate panels 5-2 vote returns the revised legislation to the full House of Representatives, and sends it to the full Senate for the first time. Floor votes in each chamber are expected on the final day of session on Thursday, June 13, though there may also be amendments made on the floor, as Sen. Roger Picard, a Woonsocket Democrat and committee chairman, told fellow lawmakers Tuesday.

Picard and Sen. Gordon Rogers, a Foster Republican, voted against advancing the amended legislation to the floor.

The only change from the original House bill: clarifying that the by right allowances to build ADUs in certain circumstances  including for family members with disabilities or for units built within an existing home rather than as add-ons or standalone structures  are limited to one unit per lot.

That was the intent of the bill all along, Rep. June Speakman, a Warren Democrat and bill sponsor, said in an interview on Tuesday. The idea was not that you would build a backyard full of them.

State law already allows ADUs, either within or detached from a single family home. But vast and varied local zoning and building requirements have stifled their spread.

The House legislation, Shekarchis top legislative priority for two years running, aims to cut through the municipal red tape by preventing cities and towns from adding extra conditions around frontage and setbacks or infrastructure requirements beyond what is required for other accessory structures like garages.

Yet town planners and local officials have railed against a perceived loss of local control. Last year, the Rhode Island Senate punted a decision amid municipal outcry.

In March, Sen. Victoria Gu, a Westerly Democrat, offered a compromise version that appeared to appease even the harshest local critics. Unlike the House version, Gus bill gives extra powers to cities and towns to set owner occupancy and minimum lease length requirements for ADUs.

The American Planning Associations Rhode Island chapter (APA RI) threw its weight behind Gus legislation, having helped to draft the bill text itself. But none of those protections were incorporated into the legislation advanced by the Senate committee.

Meanwhile, the compromise bill is still languishing in the same committee without a scheduled vote, much to the chagrin of local planners.

Jane Weidman, Charlestown town planner and legislative subcommittee chair for the Rhode Island chapter of the American Planning Association, praised the compromise ADU bill introduced by Sen. Victoria Gu of Westerly as an excellent example of how legislation should be crafted. But the extra powers the bill gives to cities are absent from the legislation advanced by the Senate Committee on Housing and Municipal Government. (Janine L. Weisman/Rhode Island Current)

It is quite unfortunate that a collaborative effort of many months with countless hours spent by many different advocates, often with competing positions, who came together for a strong ADU bill that will correct the shortcomings of the existing law, give communities the safeguards they specifically requested, and build in the flexibility to encourage communities to develop ADUs beyond those permitted by right, is not being considered, Jane Weidman, Charlestown town planner and APA RI legislative subcommittee chair, wrote in a Monday email to lawmakers and shared with Rhode Island Current. The Senate bill spearheaded by Senator Gu is an excellent example of how legislation should be crafted. It was an open and inclusive process, and the bill is so much better for it.

The Rhode Island League of Cities and Towns also backed the owner-occupancy provision. Lauren Greene, a spokesperson for The League, referred to the organizations prior testimony when asked for comment Tuesday.

However, housing advocates previously warned that requiring owner occupancy would eliminate interested homeowners who cant self-finance the secondary structures because some banks are reluctant to approve home loans with those stipulations.

Speakman also said the owner-occupancy requirement would be too restrictive.

My view is ADUs should not have conditions imposed on them that other rental dwellings do not have imposed on them, Speakman said. If you put too many conditions on them, it defeats the purpose. They are one of the best solutions to the housing crisis that we have, at least for certain areas.

Gu in an interview Wednesday morning acknowledged that she had hoped to include more of the protections from her proposal.

But, she added, its not over yet.

There are still some amendments up in the air, Gu said. There are definitely active negotiations with the House that are probably going to be going on right up until the last minute.

Shekarchi and Senate President Dominick Ruggerio offered a joint emailed statement Tuesday.

It is critical to attack our housing crisis from many different angles, they said. Allowing ADUs in other states has been proven to make a significant impact by immediately increasing available housing supply. We are confident that ADUs will be beneficial for the many Rhode Islanders who need flexibility in housing options, particularly seniors wishing to age in place in their communities.

Updated to include comments from Sen. Victoria Gu.

The post ADUs advance: R.I. lawmakers look ready to make big moves on tiny house legislation appeared first on Rhode Island Current.
Since President Joe Biden signed an executive action last week cracking down on asylum claims at the U.S.-Mexico border, immigrant rights groups and lawyers are drawing on a familiar playbook for how to respond.

Weve been here before in the Trump era, says Lindsay Sara Toczylowski, executive director of Immigrant Defenders Law Center (ImmDef) in California. We know that in the coming days we are going to see people who have been deported without due process. It will be a huge challenge legally because they will potentially have no appeals rights, but we will try to document whats happened and do what we can.

Bidens policy halts asylum claims at the border once apprehensions reach 2,500 per daya number thats already exceeded. The usual asylum screening can restart once there is a daily average below 1,500 for seven days in a row, and an additional two weeks has passed. In addition to the asylum limit, the Biden Administration also directed that the minimum time asylum-seekers have to find consultation was reduced to four hours from 24 hours, a time frame that Toczylowski calls laughably short.

Keren Zwick, litigation director at the National Immigrant Justice Center, is already preparing for the fight against the executive actions in court alongside the ACLU. The ACLU released a memo on June 4, soon after Biden signed the executive action, outlining their intent to challenge the order in court and stating, It was illegal when Trump did it, and it is no less illegal now.

Throughout 2018 and 2019, former President Donald Trump attempted to change asylum rules through multiple policy changes, including the "Remain in Mexico" policy, and an asylum ban on those who passed through another country before reaching the U.S. In response to the asylum ban, The ACLU filed suit, arguing that the Trump Administration had violated the rules set in place by Congress on establishing a safe third country, which is an agreement established with the Immigration and Nationality Act which allows another country to process asylum claims instead of the U.S. In July 2020, a federal judge in Washington, D.C. blocked Trumps asylum ban. Biden also took steps to end Trumps Remain in Mexico policy when he took office.

Zwick says that the real challenge is going to be finding plaintiffs for their lawsuit, which means finding people directly harmed by the rule. Thats going to be particularly difficult if those directly harmed by Bidens executive action are swiftly deported from the United States with the shortened consultation period of four hours. She and her team are potentially going to have to search for people who have already been deported, traveling to their country of origin. During the Trump Administration, we did have to go to Guatemala, so this isn't a new problem for us, Zwick said. It's just new that it's a Biden-related problem. Trumps rule was blocked by the courts in 2021.

The Biden Administration argues that the latest actions are necessary to streamline a backlogged system and pushes back against comparisons to Trumps policies. The Trump Administration attacked almost every facet of the immigration system and did so in a shameful and inhumane way, a senior Administration official said on June 4. The actions that we are taking today will only apply during times of high encounters, the official noted, adding that there are exceptions to the rule that differentiate it from those put forth by the Trump administration. The action will not ban people based on their religion. It will not separate kids from their mothers.

Both in the U.S. and in shelters in Tijuana, ImmDef provides Know Your Rights'' presentations that help migrants understand what is expected of them by border officials, including what will happen in credible fear interviews. When asylum-seekers enter the United States, they are referred to U.S. border officials who conduct a credible fear interview (CFI), in which the official determines whether the migrant seeking asylum has a credible fear of returning to their home country. Toczylowski says ImmDef is redoing its Know Your Rights presentations in light of the new actions and rethinking its strategies, keeping in mind LGBTQ migrants, indigenous language speakers, and those who they see as most vulnerable after this new policy.

Even with Bidens action, people who legitimately fear being tortured or persecuted in their home country can still seek protection in the United States and will be screened by U.S. asylum officers, but with more scrutiny than before. If that screening is passed, they can pursue limited forms of humanitarian protection. The executive action outlines specific exceptions to the asylum rule for humanitarian reasons, specifically unaccompanied children and victims of a severe form of trafficking.

Still, Jennifer Babaie, director of advocacy and legal services at Las Americas Immigrant Advocacy Center, which provides free and low-cost legal services to migrants and refugees in West Texas, New Mexico and Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, says she believes the rule will not change how many people are attempting to cross the border; it will only hinder their ability to receive help. The new rule is punitive in that legally, it's taking away asylum and just access to that kind of relief for the majority of individuals, but it's not doing anything to stem or block people from walking up to the port of entry, Babaie says. It's just increasing the penalty for even being brave enough to do that and requesting asylum.

Toczylowski of ImmDef agrees, and believes that these deterrence policies are not realistic, since those seeking asylum are not fleeing their home countries because of, or in spite of, U.S. policies, but for their safety and survival

Toczylowski says this feels like a betrayal from what she and other immigration rights lawyers and activists were told on Bidens campaign trail. Babaie agrees, noting how often Las Americas has sat down with government agencies to relay on-the-ground needs from group on the border, asking the Administration to focus on human-centered solutions.

Its not a lack of information, its a willful choice, Babaie said. I think its a disservice to the public that theyre being told this was necessary.

Contact us at letters@time.com.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 12. The average price for a one-night stay in Azerbaijani hotels on the online hotel booking platform booking.com was lower than in Istanbul from January to July of this year, regardless of star category, Trend reports via the Azerbaijani State Tourism Agency's (STA) report.

According to the report, the average hotel price in Azerbaijan in January was 87.5 manat or $51.5 (7.3 percent higher than the same period last year), in February - 102.6 manat or $60.4 (29.3 percent higher), in March - 134.3 manat or $79 (43.3 percent higher), in April - 131.7 manat or $77.5 (37.7 percent higher), in May - 131.75 manat or $77.6 (no dynamic specified), in June - 138.75 manat or $81.7 (4.5 percent lower), and in July - 136.75 manat or $80.5 (8.4 percent lower).

Meanwhile, the average price in Istanbul in January was 159.5 manat or $93.9 (2.8 percent lower), in February - 130.6 manat or $76.9 (14.5 percent higher), in March - 138.2 manat or $81.4 (15.7 percent lower), in April - 180.8 manat or $106.4 (0.5 percent higher), in May - 193.2 manat or $113.8 (no dynamic specified), in June - 167.2 manat or $98.4 (18.6 percent lower), and in July - 160.2 manat or $94.3 (37 percent lower).

The average price in Georgia in January was 159 manat or $93.7 (34.7 percent higher), in February - 126 manat or $74.3 (21.5 percent higher), in March - 111 manat or $65.5 (0.1 percent lower), in April - 141 manat or $83.3 (9.2 percent lower), in May - 132.2 manat or $78.1 (no previous year's figure specified), in June - 121.4 manat or $71.8 (46.7 percent lower), and in July - 120.4 manat or $71.2 (50 percent lower).

The STA, founded in 2018, develops and implements a unified state tourism policy, norm-setting activities, governmental regulation, control, and arrangement in tourism, and coordinates tourism development, reserve protection, and coordination with other governmental bodies and organizations.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
When the Taliban retook power in Afghanistan in 2021, a Taliban member asked Razias father for her hand in marriage. Her family, former government workers, felt the marriage was the only way to avoid harassment from the Taliban. When Razia (a pseudonym to protect her safety), who was 18 at the time, refused the marriage, her family beat her so severely that she attempted suicide. The beating continued and eventually, her mother was forced to take her to a local medical clinic.

A few months earlier, a foreign journalist had slipped Razia his number, and told her to call if she needed help. She dialed him from the clinic. I was so scared to go back home, Razia says. My only chance to leave was to call a man I didnt even know.

The journalist gave Razia the number for Payvand Seyedali, an education and gender specialist, who had just started The Khadijah Project , an organization that runs some of the last remaining womens shelters in Afghanistan. Seyedali helped Razia leave her family a few weeks later, and after seeking refuge in one of The Khadijah Project shelters, Razia went on to work with the project, helping more than 60 women and their families to date.

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Razia says Afghan women who find the courage to leave their families face an uncertain futureand the threat of domestic abuse is far from the only challenge. They cant go to school, to university, or to work. They feel there is no use in being alive and they dont feel safe, she says. I was living in a dark place, I lost all my hope also. But The Khadijah Project gave me a purpose and now I am getting my hope back.



Nearly three years after the U.S. withdrawal, women in Afghanistan face more challenges than ever. Since retaking power, the Taliban government have broken their earlier promises to give women the right to work and study. They created an all-male government, banned girls from getting a secondary education, imposed strict dress codes, restricted their movement, right to work , and participation in public life, and they have dismantled the few frail gender-based violence support systems that previously existed in the country. UN experts have said the Talibans treatment could amount to gender apartheid, by implementing a system of total discrimination , exclusion, and subjugation of women and girls.

Among many other violations, there have been targeted attempts to silence female journalists; womens rights protestors have also been beaten and arrested. Many women have fled the country, others are still trying to. But for those without the means to leave, womens shelters and safe houses are crucial lifelines, providing refuge and a variety of support services including legal advice, education, health care, family mediation, and psychological support.

Courtesy of Lynzy Billing

Protecting, enabling, and empowering Afghan women was one of the ostensible goals of Americas 20-year war in Afghanistan, and countries around the world invested hundreds of millions of dollars in the cause. According to the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR), a U.S. watchdog agency, from 2002 to 2020, the U.S. alone spent over $787 million to support women and girls in Afghanistan, including $11 million per year on shelters that supported roughly 2,000 women and girls.

But now, the shelters are struggling to stay afloat as funding from the U.S. and the international community has dried up in the wake of Americas withdrawal. Some shelters have been shuttered or completely dismantledfor example, interviews conducted by the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) in December last year found that all of the countrys 23 specialized women protection centers (shelters sponsored by the previous Afghan government), have now closed, while others now operate on a scaled-down basis.

The American nonprofit Women for Afghan Women (WAW), Afghanistans largest network of womens protection services operating for 20 years, permanently shuttered all of their shelters and family-guidance centers, and their senior staff left the country after the Taliban government returned. WAW co-founder and former board member Masuda Sultan estimates that between 600 and 1,000 women and their children from WAW shelters were left homeless overnight. Some of them went back home, to their abusers, others are in hiding, or on the streets, or in the park on their own, Sultan says. The WAW [response] was, Its over. were not doing shelters anymore. There was just no responsibility. (WAW did not respond to questions sent by ELLE.)

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Sultan says that while WAW tried to evacuate some of the women, many were left behind. She is still working to find and support the women through a new humanitarian organization she formed, ABAAD : Afghan Women Forward, which is run by 30 local volunteers. We have a list of 100 women right now that desperately need help, Sultan says. Three women have been killed since their shelters closed; another was kidnapped and disappeared, Sultan says. So far, we are supporting 60 women and their children in three provinces, but the biggest hurdle is funding. ABAAD is running on individual donations, and its just not sustainable, she explains. Were taking it one step at a time. Its just triage right now and my biggest fear is, how much capacity do the few shelters left open have?

The few shelters that remain today rely on funding from a handful of foreign philanthropists, individuals, and small foundations, but its not enough to cope with increased demand of women and girls who desperately need their support.

Courtesy of Lynzy Billing

In addition to the lack of funding, threats of violence have also forced some shelters to close their doors. Those that remain open do so knowing they could be closed at any moment. In September 2021, Taliban gunmen entered a womens shelter in Kabul, interrogated staff and residents, and forced the head of the shelter to sign a letter promising not to allow the residents to leave without Taliban permission, according to a U.S. state department report . The Taliban told the shelter operator that married shelter residents would have to return to their abusers, while unmarried shelter residents would be married to Taliban fighters. The report also said that sources reported the Taliban were conducting audits of womens shelters and womens rights organizations, including those that provided protection services, enforced with intimidation through the brandishing of weapons and threats of violence.

A month later, in October 2021, the UN secured $1.2 billion in emergency support for Afghanistan , but there were no assurances that any of the funds would go toward protecting Afghan women or girls.

The Khadijah Project was born out of necessity after the Talibans return. Seyedali, who has since transitioned from CEO to president of the nonprofits board, tells me that she didnt intend to start a shelter back in 2021, but when a family who had a daughter that a Taliban member wanted to marry reached out to her, she didnt have a choice. The whole family was seeking refuge, she says. We worked with that family to develop our first home, and the eldest daughter went on to become our manager. Since then, The Khadijah Project has grown from a single shelter to 60 homes, with funding from over 500 individual donors and independent foundations, along with human rights advocates such as Angelina Jolie.



Courtesy of Lynzy Billing

The project was founded by a group of women in Afghanistan, and the staff today is comprised mostly of women, many of whom found refuge in the shelters themselves. Our first three managers came to The Khadijah Project for help, so they understand how people are feeling when they arrive and what they really need, Seyedali says.

Razia is now a manager with The Khadijah Project. She says that the women and girls arrive at the shelter traumatized by their experiences. They are scared and deeply sad. They have just landed in a new province, far from anyone they know. Razia can relateits how she felt when she arrived at The Khadijah Project. Its really hard to not be able to go anywhere and to think how to move forward with my life, she remembers.

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She says that when she and other Khadijah staff members visit the women, she tells them her story to help build trust and instill hope. When they hear my story, they feel they are not suffering alone. They are not isolated, Razia says. In return, the women started sharing their stories with her. They began to feel comfortable and trust us, and I think that was because we treated them like our own sisters and we got closer and became a big family, she adds.

The staff take the time to ensure the girls feel comfortable in her new living situation, calling them daily and visiting them once a week, Razia says, to bring them food, pay their rent, and often deliver school books and other materials for their children.

Most of the women who come to The Khadijah Project are single women without a male chaperone (or mahram). Living in Afghanistan without a mahram is very difficult, Razia says. In the minds of the Taliban, these women are incomplete. Rental contracts need to be in the name of a man, and women are being stopped on the streets when they travel without a chaperone, making it very difficult to seek help privately, particularly if their abuser is a man within their family.

Courtesy of Lynzy Billing

In opening their own shelters, The Khadijah Project aimed to address two glaring issues with the previous system. Under the former government, women could not bring any male children over the age of 12 with them to the shelters. This policy was meant to protect women, but in reality, it broke up families and meant that shelters could never be a viable solution for many women with sons, Seyedali explains. At The Khadijah Projects shelters, women are allowed to bring their young sons with them.

The second problem they tackled was how to house large numbers of women and families together without everyone feeling like they were living in a dormitory. Seyedali says rather than dorms, The Khadijah Project gives women and girls their own rooms in individual houses to give them a feeling of safety and security. Essentially, what we do have are family homes, we support women-led or majority-female families. Often its a woman who has suffered abuse or her husband has left her and her kids and she has no income, Seyedali says. We take the whole family on, work out a budget for them, and support their mental and physical health care and education.

Courtesy of Lynzy Billing

The Khadijah Project provides a variety of services based on what residents need. Sometimes its just a matter of paying a debt, so that a family doesnt sell their daughter, Seyedali says. The worse off the family is, the more likely they are to give their daughter in marriage for a bride price, she says. The more dire the circumstances, the younger they will [be when they] do this.

Afghanistans deeply patriarchal society has meant that violence against womenin particular, domestic violencehas long been widespread. According to the Afghan Ministry of Womens Affairs 2016 strategy on eliminating violence against women, more than half of all Afghan women reported experiencing at least one type of physical, sexual, or psychological violence, and more than 60 percent were married without their consent.

Many of the problems existed long before the Taliban takeover, at varying levels . A 2021 U.S. State Department report said that under the former government at times, women in need of protection ended up in prison, either because their community lacked a protection center or because running away was interpreted as a moral crime. And Afghanistan has faced roadblocks and controversies ranging from who had control over the womens shelters to a lack of implementation of the laws designed to protect Afghan women from domestic abuse, forced marriage, and similar offenses.

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Today, vulnerable women have few options to turn to when fleeing gender-based violence. Complaints of such violence are predominantly handled by male police and justice personnel, and the few mechanisms and policies enabling women to obtain legal redress and protection have all but disappeared, according to a December 2023 UN report . The Taliban have not established procedures for how to deal with such cases. Taliban officials quoted in the report said that women need to be with their husbands or other male family members, not in shelters. They also said that women were being sent to prison, allegedly for their own safety, or in instances where women had no male chaperone with whom they could stay.

Officially filing a complaint has always been complicated for Afghan women. In the past, women could go to the Ministry of Womens Affairs to report domestic violence, but the Taliban replaced the ministry with the headquarters for its morality police, the Ministry for Propagation of Virtue and Prevention of Vice . The Ministry of Interiors Family Response Units, which had helped women register complaints with the police, have also closed in some provinces; the department of womens protection centers no longer exists; and there is no legal aid or protections for women fleeing abuse. Many female prosecutors, judges, and lawyers who had once tried to provide women a measure of justice are now in hiding or have left the country.

Seyedali says that around 40 percent of cases at The Khadijah Project involve domestic violence, while another 30 percent are widows and single women who cannot support their families or women from families that have lost their primary means of income, including former government workers. The women want to learn skills, they want to earn a livingthats the next part of our program, Seyedali says of her plans for the future.

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The shelters cannot support the women forever. The ultimate problem with the shelter model is they never figured out a real exit strategy. There was so much funding to build shelters and take women in, Seyedali says of the level of international investment during the war. But not a lot of progress on what happens if women exit.

The Khadijah Project is working to prepare the women to be able to support themselves, when they are ready to leave the shelter. Were trying to put families on a 12-month plan, so they can work towards becoming independent, but in order to build the model, she says they need consistent, long-term, reliable funding.

The lack of international funding has exacerbated the crisis; with the big international players no longer on the ground, grassroot womens organizations like The Khadijah Project are now facing a myriad of hurdles to obtain funding, Seyedali says. Prior to the Taliban takeover, funding would go either directly to local NGOs, or it would trickle down to them through international NGOs, the UN, or the Afghan governments Ministry of Womens Affairs, she explains. The systems for assistance and funding are now in complete disarray. We still dont have robust referral systems to connect local organizations with international agencies. Its this massive gap, says Seyedali.

Courtesy of Lynzy Billing

Even after grants are awarded, she says that the promised money often doesnt appear or there are long delays. In August 2022, for example, The Khadijah Project was selected to receive a $200,000 grant from the UN to cover the projects annual running costs. But it was a year before they received a portion of the money, Seyedali says.

Despite having nearly three years to adjust to the new context, Seyedali says that the systems in place for distributing money to organizations working on the ground are needlessly complicated and opaque. Applicants are expected to have high levels of English and a deep understanding of how International NGO grant applications work. The most eligible for this grant are displaced young women, which we are, but they were asking our staff how many masters degrees they have and whether we have a professional auditor and so on. I feel like theyre setting up hurdles that you cant pass on purpose. Theyre making it impossible.

The year-long wait for the funds has been catastrophic for the project, as well as the women they support. Without the funds, The Khadijah Project had to downsize from 60 small shelters to about 25, which, as of last month, support 270 women and children, Seyedali says. Now that they have received some of the funds, they are trying to build up the number of shelters again. The need is immense, she adds.

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In June 2023, as the first of the sticky summer heat starts to warm Kabul, an ice cream seller announces his arrival as he rolls his cart down the capital citys narrow streets. A woman named Hasiba (a pseudonym) peeks out from behind heavy curtains at the jubilant children flooding out to meet him, before pulling them tightly shut again, plunging herself back into darkness.



The forty-something woman came to a Khadijah Project shelter two years ago with her two sons, daughter, and her two-year-old granddaughter. Five months before Hasiba arrived in Kabul, on March 8, 2021, armed men kicked in her door, and murdered her son-in-law in front of his family. They wanted to kill me because I was a major in the Afghan Army, but I wasnt at home at the time, so they killed him, Hasiba explains, he was also in the army, she adds, looking down at her hands. She tells me she knew it was the Taliban, because they had been sending her threatening letters.

Months later, the Taliban took over Hasibas home province. She brought bus tickets for her family the same day, and they left their home.

Hasiba arrived in Kabul, hundreds of miles away, and with nowhere to go, she called her American trainer for help. The trainer connected her with The Khadijah Project, where she could seek refuge with her children.

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Now, the shelter has become their new home, but Hasiba says that they are only just starting to feel safe. It was so hard to leave our home. My sons left their school, friends and relatives, and are in a new province, but they are trying to adjust, she says, but at least we are all together here, as a family.

While the issue of gender-based violence shows no sign of abating in Afghanistan, for those who have fled their homes, facing uncertainty, the shelters offer a bare minimum of safety. If they are closed, however, that too, will disappear. The future of these shelters, and the woman they support, is a critical part of the struggle for gender equality in Afghanistan, and a test of the Talibans capacity and willingness to tackle violence against women and girls.

Although the few organizations like The Khadijah Project remain a lifeline for women and girlwhen they have funding, that isthey are, in the end, only allowed to operate with the Taliban governments permission and according to their rules.

Nearly a year after I first spoke with Hasiba, she is still at the shelter in Kabul with her children and granddaughter. She brought her sons school books so they can continue their education, but they dont leave the shelter, as she still fears for their safety. We are living like a person in a jail. Its hard to be here and not know when we can leave or what will be in our futures, she says. I cannot work and my children are too young to work, so we are stuck. Right now, I dont have any hope for our futures in Afghanistan, only worry.

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The Sri Lankan government is stepping up efforts to prevent its citizens from being lured into fighting in Ukraine, after reports of 16 Sri Lankans being killed and 36 injured, AFP reported on June 11.

Ukraine's Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War reported in March that Russia is increasingly involving foreign mercenaries from countries with a "difficult economic situation" in its war in Ukraine.

Sri Lanka experienced a severe economic downturn in 2022 and continues to face rising poverty levels. Around 26% of Sri Lankans lived below the poverty line in 2023, according to World Bank figures.

Sri Lanka's parliament set up an inquiry in May to track down the estimated 2,000 citizens who have "reportedly enlisted on both sides," AFP said.

Police have arrested two retired Sri Lankan generals "for illegally acting as recruiting agents for Russian mercenary firms."

Social media campaigns operating on WhatsApp have reportedly targeted ex-military personnel in Sri Lanka, promising lucrative salaries and Russian citizenship to fight in Ukraine on Russia's behalf.

While the Sri Lankan government does not release figures on how many citizens are fighting in Ukraine, officials said that around 12 citizens are being held as prisoners of war in Ukraine, while at least 22 of those who joined the Russian army have managed to desert and escape back to Sri Lanka, AFP said.

Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Ali Sabry raised the issue of Sri Lankans joining the Russian army while in Moscow on June 10 for a BRICS ministerial meeting.

After discussing the issue with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, Sri Lanka's Foreign Ministry announced that Russia and Sri Lanka agreed that "no further recruitment from Sri Lanka will be done."

Russia has been recruiting foreigners from such countries as Nepal, Somalia, India, Cuba, and others to fight in Ukraine from the very beginning of the full-scale invasion.

In January, Nepal halted issuing foreign work permits for its citizens to work in Russia until further notice after growing numbers of Nepalese mercenaries have been reported killed fighting for the Russian military in Ukraine.

At least 10 Nepalis have been confirmed killed while serving in the Russian Armed Forces, and as many as 200 are estimated to be fighting for Russia as of January, according to Nepal's government.

Read also: Inside Ukraines prison recruitment efforts to bolster front-line troops

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
AG: Police justified in using deadly force in 2023 shooting of armed man in New Hampshire

Police were justified in using deadly force in shooting an armed man outside of a New Hampshire apartment complex in 2023, the attorney general said Wednesday.

Alex R. Naone, 26, of Hooksett, was shot and killed by officers who responded to an apartment complex on Mammoth Road in Manchester around 3:30 a.m. on May 26, 2023, Attorney General John Formella said in a statement.

Officers responding to a 911 call that morning for a report of a person armed with a firearm found Naone outside of the apartment complex and opened fire, authorities said at the time. Four officers fired their guns at the suspect and one additional officer discharged a less-lethal munition.

A final investigation concluded that Manchester Police Officers Jeffrey Belleza, Robert Bifsha, Stephen Choate, and Patrick Ruddell were legally justified in their use of deadly force against Mr. Naone, Formella said, adding that no charges will be filed against the officers.

Video footage from body cameras worn by officers responding to the scene show the officers repeatedly instructing Naone, who was standing close to a building several feet away, to drop his gun before shots were fired.

The full investigative report and video footage from body-worn cameras are available at this website.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

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Vitali Klitschko (R), Mayor of Kiev, and Svenja Schulze (2nd L), Germany's Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development, take part in an event for more city partnerships with Ukraine together with mayors at the Ukraine Reconstruction Conference. Jorg Blank/dpa

The Ukraine Recovery Conference being held in Berlin has seen more than 100 agreements signed, German Development Minister Svenja Schulze said on Wednesday, the final day of the two-day conference.

The agreements, drawing in business and governments, include loans for small businesses, more city partnerships and training initiatives, Schulze said speaking alongside Ukrainian First Deputy Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko, who also serves as minister of the economy.

Four dimensions have been defined: business, human, local and the European Union.

The conference, which is not being seen as a donor conference but rather a networking forum, was attended by more than 3,000 representatives from politics, business and international organizations.

Germany and Ukraine, plus 12 other countries and 17 development organizations have formed an alliance to boost small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

"Ukraine needs a strong economy to survive the war and to reconstruct what has been destroyed," Schulze said.

SMEs are seen as the backbone of the Ukrainian economy, providing two thirds of value creation and providing 80% of jobs, according to German government figures.

The new alliance aims to provide favourable loans for these companies to the amount of 4.5 billion ($4.9 billion), bringing the total from this and current programmes to more than 7 billion.

Svyrydenko said that SMEs were playing "a key role for the country's reconstruction." Medium-sized companies had been hit particularly hard by the Russian invasion, she said, adding that the new alliance would make a decisive contribution to Ukraine's resilience and future.

Vitali Klitschko (L), Mayor of Kiev, meets Svenja Schulze (C), Federal Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development, at a forum of the Reconstruction Conference on stronger cooperation between municipalities in Ukraine. Jorg Blank/dpa
Vitali Klitschko (Center R), Mayor of Kiev, and Svenja Schulze (Center L), Germany's Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development, take part in an event for more city partnerships with Ukraine together with mayors at the Ukraine Reconstruction Conference. Jorg Blank/dpa

The Ukraine Recovery Conference being held in Berlin has seen more than 100 agreements signed, German Development Minister Svenja Schulze said on Wednesday, the final day of the two-day conference.

The agreements, drawing in business and governments, include loans for small businesses, more city partnerships and training initiatives, Schulze said speaking alongside Ukrainian First Deputy Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko, who also serves as minister of the economy.

Four dimensions have been defined: business, human, local and the European Union.

The conference, which is not being seen as a donor conference but rather a networking forum, was attended by more than 3,000 representatives from politics, business and international organizations.

Germany and Ukraine, plus 12 other countries and 17 development organizations have formed an alliance to boost small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

"Ukraine needs a strong economy to survive the war and to reconstruct what has been destroyed," Schulze said.

SMEs are seen as the backbone of the Ukrainian economy, providing two thirds of value creation and providing 80% of jobs, according to German government figures.

The new alliance aims to provide favourable loans for these companies to the amount of 4.5 billion ($4.9 billion), bringing the total from this and current programmes to more than 7 billion.

Svyrydenko said that SMEs were playing "a key role for the country's reconstruction." Medium-sized companies had been hit particularly hard by the Russian invasion, she said, adding that the new alliance would make a decisive contribution to Ukraine's resilience and future.

Speaking to a forum of German and Ukrainian mayors, Schulze called for more city partnerships, "so that each Ukrainian municipality has at least one international partner." Among those attending were Kiev Mayor Vitali Klitschko.

The German-Ukrainian partnership network is made up of more than 200 local authorities, while Ukrainian towns have partnerships with 2,200 municipalities in around 60 countries, in particular in Poland, Germany, Hungary, Romania and Lithuania.

Ukraine's smaller towns lacked such partnerships and it was necessary to get all on board ahead of potential integration into the European Union, Schulze said.

The conference also saw the launch of a training initiative for 180,000 skilled workers for the reconstruction. "No matter how often Russia destroys power lines, hospitals and buildings, the Ukrainians will have the knowledge and the skills to rebuild them," Schulze said on the conference's first day.

Vitali Klitschko (R), Mayor of Kiev, and Svenja Schulze (2nd L), Germany's Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development, take part in an event for more city partnerships with Ukraine together with mayors at the Ukraine Reconstruction Conference. Jorg Blank/dpa
A new report issued by Human Rights Watch reveals that a widely used, web-scraped AI training dataset includes images of and information about real children  meaning that generative AI tools have been trained on data belonging to real children without their knowledge or consent.

The watchdog group says it discovered over 170 traceable photos of real Brazilian children in the LAION-5B image-text dataset, which is comprised of data gleaned from the web-scraped content depository Common Crawl and has been used to train AI models including Stability AI's Stable Diffusion image-generator.

Per the report, some of the retrieved photos were accompanied by alarmingly revealing information. One image of a two-year-old and her baby sister, for example, included details about the children's names and the "precise location" of the baby's birth. The photos also span decades of content: as Wired notes, the images were scraped "from content posted as recently as 2023 and as far back as the mid-1990s."

That AI is being trained on web-scraped images of children at all is, on its face, a revelation that raises serious privacy concerns. Add that AI tools trained on this data are being used to create content like nonconsensual deepfakes and fake child sexual abuse material, and the finding sheds light on a particularly grim reality of AI training processes and the eventual content that AI models can be used to produce.

"Their privacy is violated in the first instance when their photo is scraped and swept into these datasets," Human Rights Watch children's rights and technology researcher Hye Jung Han, who found the images, told Wired. "And then these AI tools are trained on this data and therefore can create realistic imagery of children."

"The technology is developed in such a way that any child who has any photo or video of themselves online is now at risk," Han continued, "because any malicious actor could take that photo, and then use these tools to manipulate them however they want."

It's also worth noting that many of the images discovered were sourced from web content that few folks online would ever stumble across, like personal blog posts or, per Wired, stills from YouTube videos with extremely low view counts. In other words, AI is being trained on content that wasn't necessarily designed for mass public dissemination.

"Just looking at the context of where they were posted," Han told Wired, children and families "enjoyed an expectation and a measure of privacy."

"Most of these images were not possible to find online through a reverse image search," the researcher added.

LAION, the nonprofit AI research group that created LAION-5B, confirmed to Wired that it removed the flagged photos from the dataset. But this is hardly the tip of the iceberg: as noted in the Human Rights Watch warning, the group examined "less than 0.0001 percent of the 5.85 billion images and captions contained in the data set," meaning that the 170+ figure is likely a "significant undercount of the total amount of children's personal data" used in LAION-5B alone.

As far as the History of Posting Stuff Online goes, it's safe to say that few posters ever expected their musings, images, and videos  especially those shared before 2023  to get swept into data-hungry AI models. The reality, though, is that it has, and largely without the express knowledge or consent of anyone. And while AI companies have proven themselves to be very liberal with what they consider fair use, the nonconsensual use of minors' data feels far from ethically gray.

"Children should not have to live in fear," Han said in a statement, "that their photos might be stolen and weaponized against them."

More on AI misuse: AOC Announces Bill That Would Let Women Sue People Who Make Deepfake Porn of Them
PORTAGE, Mich. (WOOD)  Work continues to assess what was lost and make repairs after a tornado damaged the Air Zoo Aerospace and Science Museum in Portage.

Crews spent weeks removing the artifacts from the shelves. They are still trying to figure out what can be salvaged.

Empty shelves where artifact were previously stored at the Air Zoo. Crews had to clear out this room so the roof could be repaired. (June 11, 2024)

Empty shelves where artifact were previously stored at the Air Zoo. Crews had to clear out this room so the roof could be repaired. (June 11, 2024)

The Air Zoo didnt take a direct hit from the May 7 tornado that swept through the Portage area, but the strong storm still caused damage to the roof and flooding. Troy Thrash, the president and CEO of the nonprofit museum, says when the water stopped gushing through the holes in the roof, the work began to save as much as possible.

I regret that a lot of photographs, they were not salvageable, Thrash said. That was tough to take over the first few days.

Air Zoo prepares to reopen after storm damage

About 80,000 items  documents, works of art and clothing  had to be removed to allow for repairs to be made to the roof. It took about four and a half weeks to clear the space. There was no shortage of people wanting to help.

Weve had local organizations like the Kingman museum (in Battle Creek), like the Kalamazoo Valley Museum, came down the next day with some of their collection specialists, Thrash said.

A severe storm on May 7, 2024, caused flooding at the Air Zoo and damaged some artifacts. (Courtesy Air Zoo)

A severe storm on May 7, 2024, caused flooding at the Air Zoo and damaged some artifacts. (Courtesy Air Zoo)

A severe storm on May 7, 2024, caused flooding at the Air Zoo and damaged some artifacts. (Courtesy Air Zoo)

A severe storm on May 7, 2024, caused flooding at the Air Zoo and damaged some artifacts. (Courtesy Air Zoo)

A severe storm on May 7, 2024, caused flooding at the Air Zoo and damaged some artifacts. (Courtesy Air Zoo)

A severe storm on May 7, 2024, caused flooding at the Air Zoo and damaged some artifacts. (Courtesy Air Zoo)

A severe storm on May 7, 2024, caused flooding at the Air Zoo and damaged some artifacts. (Courtesy Air Zoo)

A severe storm on May 7, 2024, caused flooding at the Air Zoo and damaged some artifacts. (Courtesy Air Zoo)

A severe storm on May 7, 2024, caused flooding at the Air Zoo and damaged some artifacts. (Courtesy Air Zoo)

A severe storm on May 7, 2024, caused flooding at the Air Zoo and damaged some artifacts. (Courtesy Air Zoo)

A severe storm on May 7, 2024, caused flooding at the Air Zoo and damaged some artifacts. (Courtesy Air Zoo)

A severe storm on May 7, 2024, caused flooding at the Air Zoo and damaged some artifacts. (Courtesy Prism Specialties)

A severe storm on May 7, 2024, caused flooding at the Air Zoo and damaged some artifacts. (Courtesy Prism Specialties)

A company called Prism Specialties was on site the next morning and is assisting in the effort at its Grand Rapids area and Livonia locations.

We do specialty restoration for electronics, art, documents and textiles, Prism general manager Steve Smith explained.

The items are being kept in a climate-controlled environment as workers assess what can be saved.

We can go through and take those items that were affected  because not everything in there was affected, there were areas that were affected more than others  so were able to go through and clean and restore the items that were affected so that we can bring them back to the Air Zoo, Smith said.

Despite the amount of damage, the Air Zoo is grateful it was not worse.

We didnt take that direct hit from the tornado, which could have destroyed 15 World War II aircraft in our east wing, Thrash said.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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Airlines are adding RNC, DNC flights. What to know if you're flying from Phoenix

People who plan to attend the Democratic and Republican nominating conventions this summer will have more flight options to get there, including from Phoenix.

American Airlines and United Airlines plan to add flights and seats on some routes to the convention cities. The boost in capacity includes an additional United Airlines flight from Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport.

"These conventions are steeped in tradition and have now evolved to become a weeklong celebration of our political process," Patrick Quayle, United's senior vice president of Global Network Planning and Alliances, said in a statement. "We're proud to give people even more options to visit two great cities, and participate in these historic events and make their voices heard."

Heres when and where the political conventions will be held, what airlines added flights and what airlines fly to the host cities from Phoenix.

When and where is the Republican National Convention in 2024?

The Republican National Convention is July 15-18, in Milwaukee.

New flights to Milwaukee for RNC convention 2024

Brian Dranzik, airport director at Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport, said he expects a considerable uptick in travelers for the Republican convention in July.

American Airlines will add nonstop round-trip flights from LaGuardia Airport in New York City to Milwaukee on peak arrival days plus return flights on July 19. The airline will use a bigger plane for its flights to and from Milwaukee out of Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in Washington, D.C.

American does not yet plan to add Phoenix-Milwaukee flights for the convention beyond its once-daily flight, airline spokeswoman Gianna Urgo told The Arizona Republic.

United Airlines plans to introduce a route between Milwaukee and Reagan Airport, add 72 more flights from hub airports such as Chicago OHare, Newark, Denver, Washington Dulles and Houston, and fly bigger planes on 20 flights. United does not offer nonstop service to Milwaukee from Phoenix.

What other airlines have Phoenix-Milwaukee flights?

Two airlines fly nonstop year-round to Milwaukee from Phoenix: American and Southwest. (Sun Country Airlines seasonal route does not fly in July.) United, Delta Air Lines, Spirit Airlines and Alaska Airlines offer connecting flights to Milwaukee.

When and where is the 2024 Democratic National Convention?

The 2024 Democratic National Convention is Aug. 19-22 in Chicago.

(Center) Democratic National Convention Chair Jaime Harrison speaks at a press conference before the start of the Wisconsin Democratic Convention on Saturday June 8, 2024 at Potawatomi Hotel in Milwaukee, Wis.

New flights to Chicago for 2024 DNC

United Airlines said it will operate its largest flight schedule to Chicago OHare International Airport since 2019 for the DNC.

It will add more than 80 flights to OHare from at least 11 cities, including Phoenix.

What other airlines have Phoenix-Chicago flights?

American Airlines also flies nonstop to Chicago OHare from Phoenix. Spirit, Delta, Frontier and Alaska airlines offer connecting flights.

Frontier Airlines has a Phoenix nonstop to Chicago Midway International Airport. Delta has connecting flights to Midway.

Southwest has dozens of nonstop and connecting flights daily to both Chicago airports, although it recently cut service between Sky Harbor and OHare from three daily nonstop flights to one daily nonstop to cut costs.

Michael Salerno is an award-winning journalist whos covered travel and tourism since 2014. His work as The Arizona Republics consumer travel reporter aims to help readers navigate the stresses of traveling and get the best value for their money on their vacations. He can be reached at Michael.Salerno@gannett.com. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter: @salerno_phx.

Support local journalism. Subscribe to azcentral.com today.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: United, American airlines add flights to DNC, RNC
BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 12. In recent years, Azerbaijan has been making significant strides to modernize its oil refining industry - an essential step in the global push towards a green transition. However, despite these efforts, RON 92 gasoline and diesel fuel still dominate the market, hindering the country's progress toward environmental sustainability. One major factor discouraging consumers from switching to more eco-friendly fuels is the low price of RON 92 gasoline, which remains affordable due to its relatively low quality.

The use of RON 92 gasoline and diesel fuel significantly harms the environment. When burned, these fuels release large amounts of harmful substances like nitrogen oxides (NOx), hydrocarbons (HC), and fine particulate matter (PM), which contribute to air pollution and negatively impact public health. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), air pollution causes over 4 million premature deaths each year. Diesel fuel, in particular, is a major source of fine particulate matter that can penetrate deep into the lungs and even enter the bloodstream, leading to cardiovascular and respiratory diseases.

Moreover, RON 95 gasoline offers several advantages over RON 92. It contains fewer impurities and has a higher octane rating, which promotes more complete and efficient combustion. This leads to reduced harmful emissions into the atmosphere. Studies show that using RON 95 can reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by 10-15 percent compared to RON 92 and decrease NOx and HC emissions by 5-10 percent.

At the same time, by the end of June 2024, the Heydar Aliyev Baku Oil Refinery will start producing automotive gasoline that meets the Euro-5 environmental standard, marking an important step in improving fuel quality. The refinery started producing Euro-5 standard diesel fuel in May 2023. This shift to higher environmental standards will significantly reduce harmful emissions.

Speaking of other examples globally, Germany was one of the first European countries to actively implement programs to improve fuel quality. German gasoline has long met Euro-5 and Euro-6 standards, which require the use of high-octane fuels. In 2011, Germany began promoting E10 gasoline, which contains 10 percent bioethanol, reducing carbon dioxide emissions.

In the US, efforts to improve gasoline quality and phase out low-octane fuels have also advanced. In 2007, the US Congress passed the Renewable Fuel Standard, encouraging the use of biofuels. Japan actively promotes high-octane gasoline and has stopped using gasoline with an octane rating below 95. As part of its strategy to reduce carbon emissions, Japan is also advancing hybrid and electric vehicle technologies.

China stands as one of the world's largest consumers of automotive fuel. In recent years, the nation has been actively tackling the reduction of harmful emissions by enhancing fuel quality. In 2017, China implemented new fuel quality standards on par with European Euro-5 and Euro-6.

These instances shed light on how various countries address the enhancement of gasoline quality and the phase-out of low-octane fuels. This encompasses both legislative measures and market incentives geared toward improving environmental conditions and optimizing the efficiency of automotive fuel usage.

Certainly, environmental protection measures also affect fuel markets. For instance, Fitch Solutions predicts that gasoline prices will face slight upward pressure in the coming years. This is due to increased expenses related to higher quality standards and environmental regulations. However, this impact will be softened by advancements in fuel efficiency and the gradual shift towards electric vehicles, which could slow down overall demand growth.

BMI Research highlights that gasoline prices will vary significantly by region. Developed markets may experience higher prices due to stringent environmental regulations and higher production costs, whereas emerging markets may see slower price increases as they balance economic growth with fuel accessibility.

So, while gasoline prices are expected to stay relatively steady worldwide, regional disparities and specific market conditions will bring about changes in pricing trends. Key factors include crude oil prices, legislative shifts, technological advancements, and the ongoing transition to alternative energy sources.

Currently, there's a swift global move towards electric vehicles, which stands as a pivotal part of the shift towards cleaner fuel options.

As per the International Energy Agency's (IEA) forecasts, global electric vehicle sales could hit 17 million units by 2024, compared to the 14 million sold worldwide in 2023 (a 35-percent increase from 2022).

The IEA foresees that, by 2020, every third car on China's roads will be electric, and in the US and EU - every fifth.

Competition and innovation will drive down the cost of electric vehicles globally, paving the way for increased sales, the agency expects. Regarding electric vehicle charging infrastructure, its global production surged by 40 percent in 2023 compared to 2022. According to the IEA, by 2035, there will be six times as many charging stations worldwide as there were in 2023.

In Azerbaijan, efforts have been underway for several years to incentivize the adoption of environmentally friendly vehicles, particularly those with electric or hybrid engines. Tax and customs incentives are applied to such vehicles and their charging equipment. This initiative has led and will continue to lead to a rise in the import of such vehicles into the country.

According to the State Customs Committee of Azerbaijan, the country's import of electric vehicles from January through April 2024 totaled 1,012 units, compared to 568 units for the same period last year, marking a 1.8-fold increase year-on-year. The import of hybrid cars amounted to 5,111 units, up more than 14 percent year-on-year (4,474 units in the same period last year). In 2023, the country imported 3,102 hybrid cars and 14,098 electric cars, compared to 486 and 11,337 units respectively in 2022.

If this positive trend persists, the share of electric vehicles in the country's vehicle fleet will significantly rise in the coming years.

Alongside the growing number of electric vehicles, more charging stations are also being installed.

In March this year, President Ilham Aliyev issued a directive to promote the use of electric vehicles. According to the decree, Azerishiq OJSC continues its efforts in this direction. Ahead of COP29, necessary charging infrastructure is being set up in both the capital and regions of the country, ensuring a stable supply of electricity.

These charging stations are powered by green energy. Installed by Azerishiq OJSC, these stations boast high capacity and provide electric vehicles with quality electric power quickly and reliably.

From March through May 2024, installation works were completed in the capital at the Training and Innovation Center of Azerishiq OJSC, as well as at the "Icherisheher" and "Sea Breeze-1" substations with capacities of 110/35 kV. These substations are located in the settlement of Nardaran, Sabunchu district, and at a trading enterprise along the Gala-Mardakan road.

In the regions of the country, charging stations were installed at various locations, including the "Gadzhialyly" substation in Gabala, the 71st kilometer of the Alat-Astara road in Salyan, and in six sites across Karabakh and Eastern Zangazur. Additionally, they were set up in the centers of digital power grid management in Zangilan and Jabrayil, at the "Khojaly" and "Shusha-1" substations, the "Fuzuli" digital substation, and at the nodal substation "Hadrut". This initiative will continue both in the capital and across the regions.

In Azerbaijan, where 2024 has been declared the "Green World Solidarity Year", significant strides are being made in developing alternative energy sources. The installation of charging stations in Karabakh and Eastern Zangazur, earmarked to become green energy zones, is a continuation of these efforts. Embracing alternative energy sources and the increasing interest in electric vehicles will undoubtedly have a positive impact on Azerbaijan's ecosystem, particularly in Karabakh and Eastern Zangazur.

Thus, for Azerbaijan's successful green transition, there's a need to enhance the quality of RON 92 gasoline. This would incentivize a shift towards more environmentally friendly fuels like RON 95 and significantly reduce air pollution levels.

As of April 29, 2024, Azerbaijan stands among the countries with the most affordable gasoline prices. According to data from the Global Petrol Prices portal, gasoline costs $0.588 per liter in Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan's inclusion in the top countries with the cheapest gasoline, alongside Libya, Venezuela, Egypt, and others, underscores the importance of seizing this economic opportunity to improve fuel quality.

Examples from other countries show that raising fuel quality standards can result in a certain price increase. For instance, in Germany, the introduction of Euro-5 and Euro-6 standards led to higher gasoline prices, but it also significantly improved the environmental situation. Similar measures in Norway and Sweden resulted in price hikes but also reduced harmful emissions and encouraged the use of alternative energy sources.

Implementing stricter gasoline quality standards in Azerbaijan could lead to long-term economic and environmental benefits, despite the initial cost increase. This strategic change would not only help enhance air quality and public health but also hasten the shift to more sustainable and clean energy sources, in line with global trends and commitments to carbon emission reduction.
Airlines sometimes turn their planes around and fly thousands of miles home when they have problems. Here's why.

Airlines sometimes turn their planes around and fly thousands of miles home when they have problems. Here's why.

Airlines take into account safety and cost when deciding how to divert flights.

British Airways typically sends flights back to London when possible, making repairs and rerouting easier.

American Airlines has an automated tool called HEAT that helps it make calls on where to divert.

Plane diversions can be a nuisance for passengers and costly for airlines, especially if they end up back where they started in a so-called flight to nowhere.

On Monday, a British Airways flight destined for Houston made it across the Atlantic Ocean before turning back over the coast of Newfoundland, resulting in a nine-hour flight to nowhere.

An airline spokesperson said the diversion was "a precaution due to a minor technical issue."

The Boeing 787 returned to London Heathrow, where BA has maintenance facilities. In fact, returning to London is a relatively common practice in such situations for the UK flag carrier: it would be cheaper and easier to rearrange replacement flights for customers as well as repair any issues.

For European carriers, a flight to nowhere is likely preferable to the situation involving an Air France jet last month. A burning smell in the cabin prompted an emergency landing in Canada's far north  causing a different flight to be canceled so that plane could rescue the passengers. It took them to New York, where they again had to be re-routed to Seattle, the intended destination.

Diversions usually occur due to safety issues.

Last month, a United Airlines flight from Switzerland to Chicago turned around over the Atlantic before landing in Ireland, after a passenger's laptop got stuck in their seat.

This posed a safety risk due to the potential for a lithium battery fire. Travelers are told to pack electronic devices in their carry-on instead of in the hold so that the crew can notice if it catches fire. If a fire happened over the ocean, there would be nowhere convenient to land.

The laptop was removed and the plane took off the following day. The delay in the second flight  more than 24 hours later  was due to the flight crew reaching their maximum time on the clock.

Pilots also typically land at the nearest airport in cases of medical issues and unruly passengers, due to the urgency required.

However, when it comes to bad weather, it isn't always a clear decision between returning to the original aiport or landing at an alternative airport. Such confusion was seen during a storm in January when a Ryanair flight between Ireland and Scotland landed 540 miles away in Germany.

Some carriers have their own automated software that helps in these situations. In 2023, American Airlines launched its tool, the "Hub Efficiency Analytics Tool," or HEAT, to help dispatchers, coordinators, and other employees make decisions.

It considers when a crew member exceeds their regulated duty period, which flights have the greatest number of connecting passengers, and how many top-tier loyalty customers are flying.

In short, decisions about diversions are made on a case-by-case basis. From bad weather to technical issues, the cost of rerouting passengers is often at the forefront except in an emergency.

Read the original article on Business Insider
The logo of the Retirement Systems of Alabama features the letters RSA floating over an outline of Alabama in the center, surrounded by a circle. The logo is done in gold.

A logo of the Retirement Systems of Alabama (RSA) seen in Montgomery, Alabama on January 24, 2023. (Brian Lyman/Alabama Reflector)

Retirement Systems of Alabama CEO David Bronner wants a special session on gaming to increase education retirees benefits, but state leaders seem determined not to.

Bronner said after the State Employee Retirement System board meeting Tuesday that to provide a cost-of-living adjustment for education retirees, the state must fund such liability, and suggested that Gov. Kay Ivey, the only official who can call a special session in the state, could change some nay votes in the Senate.

All it is is one rotten vote, said Bronner. One vote out of 15  and I think the governor has the ability- the power to call them in and get two or three votes that decide that.

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Education retirees have not had a cost-of-living adjustment in benefits since 2007. The gaming legislation failed by one vote in the Senate in the 2024 session.

After the House passed the gambling proposal, it faced several obstacles in the Senate. After the legislation stalled in the Senate for some time, a more narrow version of the legislation was passed, which the House rejected, sending it to a conference committee. The House passed the compromised version of the legislation, but the proposal died in the Senate after Sen. Greg Albritton, R-Atmore, a proponent of gambling expansion who handled the gaming package in the Senate, voted against the proposal.

The gaming package would have provided an estimated $1.2 billion in revenue for the state, with some funding going to cost-of-living adjustments for education retirees.

Gina Maiola, spokesperson for the governor, said that Ivey has long supported letting Alabamians decide on gaming, but that the governor does not plan to call a special session.

While she remains supportive of legislation to address gambling in Alabama, she has made it clear that she has no plans to call a special session at this time, Maiola said in a statement.

In early May, Ivey asked, Why would I do that? when asked whether she would call a special session, according to an al.com report, and added that [lawmakers] cannot come to a consensus among themselves. Why would I spend the time and effort and money on a special session?

Charles Murry, spokesperson for House Speaker Nathaniel Ledbetter, R-Rainsville, said the Ledbetter no intention of asking [Ivey] to do so.

Speaker Ledbetter is proud that the House passed legislation twice that would have eliminated illegal gambling and given the people of Alabama an opportunity to vote on an education lottery, he said in a text message.

Albritton said in a phone interview that he doesnt think Ivey will call a special session unless they have the votes in both chambers on a bill that all parties agreed to. He does not think votes can be flipped.

I think we tried everything we could in the Senate to get this accomplished, and it failed miserably, he said.

Education retirees have not had a cost-of-living adjustment in benefits since 2007. The gaming package would have provided an estimated $1.2 billion in revenue for the state, with some funding going to cost-of-living adjustments for education retirees.

If you listen to the unfunded liability of up to a $1 million, I cant agree to such a thing. I wont agree to one unless they put up the money or have a funding source, Bronner said.

House Democrats pushed for a cost-of-living adjustment to be included in the bill, with House Minority Leader Anthony Daniels, D-Huntsville, saying that Democrats would not support the gaming legislation without that provision.

Daniels said in a text message that he has not had any discussion with the governors office about a special session.

There was also a bill introduced in the 2024 session that could have increased benefits for retirees. The bill was amended throughout the process and was passed by both chambers, but the differences were never fixed in conference committees.

Bronner also pushed for a special session in the June 2024 newsletter from the Retirement Systems of Alabama, asking members of the RSA to encourage Governor Ivey to continue to make Alabama a little better and get the essential funds to continue improving the state.

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Alameda County DA Price says recall campaign opened the gates of hatred

OAKLAND, Calif. (KRON)  Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price told reporters on Tuesday that a recall campaign opened the gates of hatred in local political discourse.

Price held a news conference to field questions from Bay Area reporters about several recent controversies.

The district attorney was publicly slammed by the Alameda County Sheriffs Office last month when prosecutors declined to file charges against a stabbing suspect in Hayward. Price said her office received 535 cases from ACSO this year. Nearly half of those cases  49 percent  were rejected and no charges were filed by prosecutors.

The most recent controversy stemmed from a rally held by a recall campaign, Save Alameda County For Everyone, on the steps of Oaklands courthouse on Saturday.

SAFE leaders and crime victims family members held posters with photographs of homicide victims. Justice will not be served under Prices leadership, SAFE claims, because her office does not seek charges for maximum sentences. The campaign is seeking to boot Price from office in November.

Widow of slain KRON4 security guard wants Alameda County DA Price recalled

Desmond Jeffries, Prices director of recruitment and retention, confronted the rallys leader while he recorded a Facebook Live video. Jeffries repeatedly called SAFE leader Brenda Grisham, Brenda Gruesome, and referred to the campaign as a violent gang.

Jeffries held up his own campaign poster, reading Protect the Win, in reference to Prices election victory.

On Tuesday, Price said the SAFE campaign opened the gates of hatred. The attacks have been unreasonably focused on myself. The public should be very concerned that what we are seeing is a lowering of the public discourse.

On Monday, SAFE sent a letter to the Alameda County Board of Supervisors, KRON4, and Price calling for Jeffries to be fired. Grisham wrote in the letter, Enough is enough. The disrespect of myself and the families must stop.

Price said sending the letter to the board was absurd because Jeffries does not work for the board. Mr. Jeffries is not facing any disciplinary actions. Mr. Jeffries as far as I know, exercised his First Amendment rights on a Saturday morning, Price said. We dont fire people for exercising their First Amendment rights.

Asking the board to fire Jeffries was equivalent to someone sending a letter to KTVU and asking KTVU to fire KRON4 News Reporter Dan Kerman. That would be ridiculous, Price added.

Price also accused SAFE of weaponizing crime victims by bringing them into a highly-charged political arena, such as a recall campaign rally, she told reporters.

The district attorney said she won the election on a platform promising to address root causes of crime, such as lack of housing, education, and mental health treatment.

The recall vote will be on the 2024 Election Day ballot for Alameda County residents in November.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRON4.
Albania, Cyprus, Ireland: Europes best non-Schengen countries for when youve used up your 90 days

Albania, Cyprus, Ireland: Europes best non-Schengen countries for when youve used up your 90 days

Planning a year out to explore Europe? The 90-day rule is likely to catch you out: it stipulates that non-EU nationals with a valid visa can only enter Schengen Area countries for a total of 90 days in a 180-day period.

That applies in 25 out of the 27 EU countries, as well as Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.

It might feel like that leaves little time to explore the continent - but dont pack up your bags to go home just yet.

Heres where to break up your stay so you remain on the right side of Europes 90-day rule - and avoid a potential one-year ban - as recommended by travellers.

Take time out on Albanias stunning beaches

Albania is not a Schengen country, meaning many non-EU nationals - including Brits - can spend 90 days there without it counting towards the wider 90-day rule.

Albania is rising as a hot destination for tourists in Europe thanks to its beautiful beaches, mountains, affordable cost of living and welcoming locals.

Vlore, on the Adriatic coast, has the best beaches, large promenades, great restaurants and cafes, says one user of Reddits r/travel forum. For longer stays, the apartments are super cheap to rent and the cost of living is incredible, they add.

Further north, travellers rave about the stunning Komani Lake Ferry journey, which transports you between the towns of Koman and Fierze between the Albanian Alps, and is part of the famed Valbona to Theth hike.

Continue north and youll hit Montenegro, another Balkan gem with a stunning coastline that isnt bound by the 90-day rule.

Chill out on Lake Komani, Albania. - Canva

Combine nightlife and culture in Cyprus

Cyprus is one of just two EU countries not bound by the 90-day rule as it is not part of the Schengen zone. However, it does have its own 90-day limit for visa applicants.

That gives you a whole three months to lounge on its Mediterranean beaches, explore ancient Roman sites and get stuck into the vibrant nightlife scene.

After partying into the early hours in Ayia Napa, walk off your hangover along the cliffs of Cavo Greco National Park or take a boat trip to the sea caves.

Paphos is also a great place to combine nightlife and culture, from Aphrodites Rock to the mosaiced House of Dionysus and the UNESCO-listed Tombs of the Kings.

For a glitzier escape, head to Limassol to marvel at superyachts in the marina and explore the 4th century castle. Read more in our full guide to Limassol.

For an active adventure in Cyprus, venture into the Troodos mountain range for beautiful villages, wine tours and hiking.

Discover the Tombs of the Kings in Cyprus. - Canva

Try your luck in Ireland and the UK

Besides Cyprus, Ireland is the other EU country thats not in the Schengen Area. Similarly though, it has its own 90-day limit for tourists.

Ireland also remains a good option for Brits, who still enjoy freedom of movement there under the Common Travel Agreement (despite being cut off from other EU countries after Brexit). This means their stay in Ireland is not limited in any way.

After sinking a few pints of Guinness in Dublin, take a day trip to Galway and the Cliffs of Moher. Alternatively, take it all in on a road trip of Irelands Wild Atlantic Way, which spans 2,500 kilometres of green, luscious coastline from Donegal to West Cork.

If the UK isnt your homeland, it also offers plenty to explore without racking up days on your Schengen visa. Catch a music festival in London, go surfing on Englands Cornish coast, climb Mount Snowdon in Wales or head north to experience Scotlands rugged beauty.

Head to the Cliffs of Moher in Ireland for stunning views. - Canva

Break up a 90-day stay in Europe in intriguing North Macedonia

North Macedonia offers many tourists visa-free access for up to 90 days. As it is not part of the Schengen Area, this will not count towards your 90-day limit.

Bordering northern Greece, its a great place to break up your Schengen stay if youve been exploring the mountainous region of Zagori.

If you are looking for a country with stunning nature, cheap prices and beautiful architecture, Macedonia is the place for you, says one Reddit user.

Chill by Lake Ohrid in North Macedonia. - Canva

Head to the Shar Mountains for more high-altitude exploration or the capital, Skopje, for a quirky blend of old and new.

Though the Balkan country is landlocked, watery respite can be found in the lakeside city of Ohrid: One of the most beautiful places Ive ever visited. The water is so clear and perfect for swimming, says one Reddit user.

You can also head to the Treska River, which weaves past limestone cliffs before pooling in the emerald Matka Lake.
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE)  A non-profit focused on helping people recover from drug addiction has a new location. Its looking to open in the heart of the city and its making a group of Albuquerque neighbors worried about who might be passing by their homes.

Story continues below

Its an amazingly wonderful neighborhood and I would hate to see it teeter into something that is tainted, said Fair West Neighborhood Association VP, Katherine Turner.

People in the Fair West Neighborhood, near Lomas and San Pedro, say theyre worried after hearing about one of their new neighbors moving into the old, empty Barber College. Just to have more traffic of people like that right over here and especially neighbors whose backyards literally face the Barber College, they are really concerned, said board member, Hillary Malu.

The non-profit called State of the Heart Recovery just bought the building across from the fairgrounds where it will launch new services for recovering drug addicts. Its a methadone support clinic so it doesnt fall under the same property zoning laws as a methadone clinic, said Turner.

Turner says theyre told the support clinic will not serve methadone. Instead there will be a rage room, escape room, and therapy options. Those resources are not the issue. The problem is they do have friends that come that arent part of the program. They are still in process of living an addicted life, said Turner.

That fear comes after what neighbors say theyve seen at other State of the Heart locations, like a methadone clinic at nearby California and Linn. There are a lot of problems with loitering, drug sales, there was a death, an overdose death outside one of the business owners back doors, said Turner.

Turner asked the non-profit previously to tell clients to be respectful of their neighbors like the historic Microsoft headquarters.

He said he could not control his clients in that way and that the only thing the client understood in the beginning is drugs and being arrested, said Turner. If he cant have them be respectful of a historic monument, how is he going to make them be respectful of our neighborhood?

State of the Heart Recovery has not responded to KRQE News 13s email or call. The clinic is expected to open July 1.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRQE NEWS 13 - Breaking News, Albuquerque News, New Mexico News, Weather, and Videos.
JACKSON COUNTY, Fla (WDHN)  Authorities in Jackson County are asking for help locating a missing woman near Compass Lake.

UPDATE: As of 11 a.m., Jackson County Sheriffs Office has confirmed Christina Marie Wright has been found and is safe.

UPDATE: As of 4:30 p.m., Jackson County Sheriffs Office has confirmed to WDHN that Christina Marie Wright is still missing. There has been no update on their search efforts.

According to the Jackson County Sheriffs Office, Christina Marie Wright, from Alford, Florida, was last seen on City Square Road beside the lake.

It is currently unknown what Wright was wearing at the time of her disappearance.

If you Wright or have any information on her whereabouts, you are encouraged to call the JCSO at (850) 482-9648 immediately.

May be an image of 1 person and text that says 'MISSING p CHRISTINA MARIE WRIGHT AGE: 44 HAIR: BLONDE EYES: BLUE LAST SEEN: NEAR CITY SQUARE ROAD IN THE COMPASS LAKE AREA IF YOU HAVE ANY INFORMATION CHRISTINA MARIE WRIGHT'S WHEREABOUTS, CONTACT THE JACKSON COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE AT (850) 482-9648.'

Wrights disappearance comes not long after a Dothan man was found dead in Compass Lake.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WDHN - wdhn.com.
Editors Note  The story has been updated to reflect the circumstances under which the man was found and events that followed as hospital staff members attempted to help him.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. (DC News Now)  Police said it was investigating the death of a man whom someone found shot outside of Inova Alexandria Hospital early Wednesday morning.

The Alexandria Police Department (APD) officers went to the hospital, located at 4320 Seminary Rd., at around 3 a.m. after they received a report that a man was on the ground outside of an entrance there. The man had been shot. Hospital staff members tried to save him, but they werent able to do it.

Loudoun County School Board advances possibility to rename schools with Confederate ties

APD said it was looking for a 2008 dark gray, 4-door Mercedes Benz C Class with the Virginia license plate: RX22K. Police said that car may be involved in the mans death.

(Photo courtesy of the Alexandria Police Department)

(Photo courtesy of the Alexandria Police Department)

Police asked anyone who sees the car to call 911. Anyone with other information that could help with the investigation should call (703) 746-6225.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | Washington, DC.
A new audio recording reveals Supreme Court justice Samuel Alito bashing ProPublica, a nonprofit news organization, for its coverage of him and other justices receiving undisclosed gifts from billionaires who have had cases before the court. According to the conservative justice, the outlet is not engaged in legitimate journalism about public officials but going after the court because "they don't like our decisions."

The recording was made by liberal documentary maker Lauren Windsor, who attended a $500 dinner hosted by the Supreme Court Historical Society on June 3. Posing as a religious conservative, she secretly recorded Alito making several dubious remarks in conversation with her; earlier in the week, she shared another recording from the same event in which Alito suggests that compromise with the left is not possible and that the era of political polarization can only end with one side "winning."

In the ProPublica-bashing tape, Windsor and her colleague, Ally Sammarco, approach Alito, flattering him as an "American hero" and asking him why he thought the Supreme Court "is being so attacked and being so targeted by the media these days?

Alito was generous with his time.

They dont like our decisions, and they dont like how they anticipate we may decide some cases that are coming up. Thats the beginning of the end of it, he said. There are groups that are very well-funded by ideological groups that have spearheaded these attacks. Thats what it is.

Asked to elaborate, Alito brought up ProPublica, whose coverage of Justice Clarence Thomas forced him to finally admit that a luxury vacation in Bali was paid for by a major Republican donor.

ProPublica gets a lot of money, and they have spent a fortune investigating Clarence Thomas, for example. You know, everything hes ever done in his entire life, Alito said. And theyve done some of that to me, too. They look for any little thing they can find, and they try to make something out of it.

ProPublica's series of investigative reports, titled "Friends of the Court" and published in 2023, cast fresh scrutiny on the apparent lack of standards when it comes to some Supreme Court justices accepting gifts without reporting them. The series earned the outlet a Pulitzer Prize last month.
The secret recording of conservative Justice Samuel Alito endorsing the idea that the country should return to a place of godliness has further plunged the Supreme Court into controversy, evoking outrage from Senate Democrats and forcing Republicans to play defense.

Senate Democrats are firing off new salvos of criticism at Alito  and at Chief Justice John Roberts for not reining in his conservative colleague  after he appeared to endorse the idea that the nation should embrace Christian principles and failed to distance himself from his wifes outspoken hostility to a neighbors gay pride flag.

Alito is an extremist who is out of touch with mainstream America. His rising power on the Supreme Court is a threat to our democracy, Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) said.

Warren is one of many Democrats who think Alito is bringing a partisan political agenda to the bench, and theyre highlighting it whenever they can ahead of Novembers election.

I am most concerned about the appearance that Justice Alito has prejudged cases that will come before him. That is one of the biggest sins that a judge or justice can commit, and his willingness to align so publicly in the middle of a hotly contested political battle is deeply worrisome, Warren said.

It undermines whatever last shreds of credibility the Supreme Court might have had, she said.

Alito has come under intense scrutiny from Democrats, liberal activist groups and the media since penning the majority opinion in Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health Organization, the case that overturned the right to abortion in 2022.

His draft opinion came under sharp criticism for citing 17th-century English jurists Sir Edward Coke and Sir Matthew Hale to claim a historical tradition of treating abortion as a crime.

Critics of the opinion argued it was driven as much by religious doctrine as legal reasoning, noting the Catholic backgrounds of the conservative justices who voted for it.

Then, speaking to a liberal advocacy journalist who posed as a Catholic conservative and secretly recorded her conversation with Alito at a recent Supreme Court gala, the justice appeared to embrace the idea of the country returning to more theological underpinnings and that compromise on some issues are impossible.

One side or the other is going to win, Alito told the journalist. 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.

And when asked about the need to return our country to place of godliness, Alito replied, I agree with you.

Those comments sparked outrage from Democratic senators who have pressured Alito to recuse himself from cases related to former President Trump, including a pending case on whether he should be immune from prosecution for crimes related to his official acts as president.

Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), the chair of the Judiciarys Federal Courts and Oversight Subcommittee, posted on the social platform X that Alito answered like a movement activist. Movement activists have their role but its not on the Supreme Court.

Alito is becoming a loose cannon turned on the Court itself. He mocks ethics, Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, posted on X.

Blumenthal also criticized Roberts for not responding more assertively to Alitos behavior.

Really discouragingin fact, outrageousthat Roberts is implicitly condoning Alitos behavior, so demeaning to the Court & degrading to himself, the senator posted.

Alitos candid remarks follow reports that two flags linked to the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol flew at his Virginia home and New Jersey beach house.

Alito says his wife was responsible for the incidents and he didnt have anything to do with hoisting an upside-down American flag, a symbol of the Stop the Steal movement, at his home, or an Appeal to Heaven flag, which was also carried by Trump supporters on Jan. 6, at his vacation house.

Senate Judiciary Committee Chair Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) told reporters Tuesday that Democrats will try to advance Supreme Court ethics reform legislation on the Senate floor this week.

Were planning on making a move on the floor this week to move the ethics bill for the Supreme Court by unanimous consent, he said.

The Supreme Court Ethics, Recusal and Transparency Act, which is sponsored by Whitehouse and Durbin, would require the Supreme Court to adopt a binding code of conduct and create a mechanism to investigate alleged violations of the code and other laws.

Durbin said hes also open to adding language to the Supreme Courts annual funding bill to require it to adopt an enforceable ethics code.

I dont rule out any tactic at this point. Our initial effort is to enact the law that passed the committee 11-10. Were going to try to do that this week with a [unanimous consent request,] he said.

The Judiciary Committee chair also hinted at other tactics to ramp up pressure on the conservative justices, citing their failure to properly disclose lavish gifts and hospitality from conservative donors.

There may some new evidence that comes out, he said.

The reports about Alitos comments at the gala sent Senate Republicans scrambling to his defense.

They slammed the deception by the advocate journalist who posed as a Catholic conservative as the latest example of liberal harassment of conservative justices.

Its a pattern of harassment. These are people who want to destroy public confidence in all of our institutions and they are focused on the Supreme Court in particular, said Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas), a senior member of the Judiciary Committee.

Cornyn said the Democratic-sponsored Supreme Court ethics bill wont go anywhere on the Senate floor this week.

It doesnt have a single Republican co-sponsor.

Senate Republican Whip John Thune (S.D.) said its more attempts by the left to try to delegitimize the court.

Even Durbin acknowledged he had some misgivings about the journalist speaking with Alito under a false pretext, noting that conservatives have tried to target Democrats in the same way.

I have mixed feelings commenting on this because of the nature of it. It was obviously a surreptitious recording that was not done with his knowledge, and weve seen that happen before where right-wingers did the same thing to Democrats, he said.

The battle over future control of the Senate is becoming more focused on the Supreme Court itself, as Novembers election will decide whether President Biden will have another chance to appoint a liberal to the high court or whether Trump will get a chance to expand the conservatives 6-3 majority.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
ASTANA, Kazakhstan, June 12. There are over 700 joint ventures in Kazakhstan with South Korean capital involvement at the moment, said President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Trend reports.

"Today, the bilateral trade between Kazakhstan and South Korea has reached $6 billion. It's undoubtedly a result of our combined efforts. We've executed extensive economic projects, and our investment collaboration expands annually," President Tokayev said, as he met with his South Korean counterpart Yoon Suk Yeol in Astana.

In turn, Yoon Suk Yeol pointed out that South Korea aims to broaden cooperation with Kazakhstan in promising sectors such as critical raw material extraction, nuclear energy, and renewable energy sources.

"Numerous Korean companies are investing in Kazakhstan, aiding in job creation and industrial growth. Moreover, they're actively involved in modernizing Kazakhstan's national infrastructure through projects like the construction of the Big Almaty Ring Road (BARR) and a combined-cycle power plant," the president added.

Meanwhile, President Yoon Suk Yeol embarked on his trip to Central Asia on June 10.

As part of this visit, South Korea intends to convene a six-party summit with Central Asian nations next year, including Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, and Kyrgyzstan, with the initial round of meetings to be hosted in South Korea.
An alligator went missing from a KC middle school. What really happened? Whos to blame?

Reality Check is a Star series holding those with power to account and shining a light on their decisions. Have a suggestion for a future story? Email our journalists at RealityCheck@kcstar.com.

It was a celebration of the end of the school year at Lakeview Middle School in the Kansas City Northlands that brought Alex, a 14-inch alligator, to the school on May 23, courtesy of Thorni Ridge Exotics, a mobile petting zoo based in Smithton, Missouri.

But, by mid-afternoon, Alex had escaped. The gator was missing for 10 days before it was recovered from the grounds of the middle school, despite extensive searches. And this isnt the petting zoos first time coming under fire for mishandling  and even losing  animals.

The alligator  dubbed Alex according to a Facebook post from the Park Hill School District  is now in the custody of KC Pet Project, which coordinated search and rescue efforts and still has a hold on him pending an investigation.

Hes eating, hes mobile, and just making sure were obviously limiting a lot of traffic to where he is housed and making sure that everybodys safe, said KC Pet Project chief communications officer Tori Fugate. But hes doing great.

Alex is being housed in his own room, Fugate said, where he has access to water, food and heat.

The gator was found near the schools back doors on the first day of summer school at Lakeview Middle.

The school said in a Facebook post that it had security footage of the alligator walking across the parking lot around 2:30 the same morning it was found by a custodian outside theschool.

Alex the alligator was found outside the back door of Lakeview Middle School by a member of the schools custodial staff. He was seen walking around the schools parking lot around 2:30 that morning, according to the school district.

School staff members still have questions about how Thorni Ridge handled the escape.

At the end-of-the-year celebration which brought Alex to Lakeview, only one staff member from Thorni Ridge was present, said Kelly Wachel, chief communications officer for the Park Ridge school district. The staff member left the school before staff and animal control stopped searching for the night, according to Wachel.

I think there was some nonchalance in his attitude, or his approach to the missing alligator, Wachel said.

Lakeview had hired the petting zoo in the past. However, Wachel believes it was the employees first time helping with Thorni Ridge events at the middle school.

Smithton native Eric Smith, who co-owns and manages the petting zoo, believes the alligator was stolen from the school. Smith found the circumstances of its return suspicious, he said.

When the gator went missing, Thorni Ridge filed a police report, Smith said.

Were thrilled that its back, Smith said. It showed up on the first day of summer school at the back door of the school. Whoever had it brought it back, because the alligator wouldnt have come back and been at the door.

Fugate previously told the Star that KC Pet Project planned to pursue citations against all parties involved in the alligators flight, including Thorni Ridge.

Were still very much investigating that and working with all the respective parties involved, Fugate said.

Smith says KC Pet Project has not contacted Thorni Ridge since the incident. He declined to comment further on potential citations.

Was the alligator legal?

Keeping wild animals is banned in Missouri, including any dangerous, deadly or poisonous reptile, which is a Class C misdemeanor under state law if the animals are not registered.

Alligators are not allowed in Kansas City, Missouri city limits, the Star previously reported.

Its also against city ordinance to permit a snake or lizard to escape from a cage or while being handled.

Smith said Friday that Thorni Ridge was allowed to have the alligator, which they raised from infancy. All of Thorni Ridges animals are imported as babies and domesticated as they are raised, Smith said.

We have lots of animals that were allowed to have, Smith said. Were not someone that just owns an alligator. We raise them.

KC Pet Project had no update as of Friday regarding its investigation into the incident.

The missing alligator was found outside the back door of the middle school with the tape still covering its mouth. The gator is still being evaluated by staff and professionals, but was mobile in its carrier on the way to KC Pet Project.

A lost kangaroo

Thorni Ridge Exotics opened in 2017, according to property records. It is not accredited by the Better Business Bureau.

The petting zoo has a four star rating on Google Reviews and a 1.3 star rating on Yelp. It has previously partnered with the St. Louis Petting Zoo to bring animals to events in eastern Missouri.

The Austin Daily Herald previously reported that Thorni Ridge brings animals to upwards of 300 engagements a year. The petting zoo charges upwards of $250 per event, according to third-party booking websites. Churches, schools and retirement homes are common destinations for Thorni Ridge. The zoo advertises that it serves Missouri and surrounding states, according to its website.

But the alligators disappearance isnt the first time its been alleged that an animal in Thorni Ridges care has gone missing. The zoo faced backlash last year for its alleged treatment of a baby kangaroo.

In June 2023, a baby kangaroo was found injured near Kansas 32 highway near Bonner Springs and Edwardsville.

Bonner Springs Police Capt. Mike Krauze told The Star at the time that it was believed the animal escaped from Thorni Ridge Exotics mobile petting zoo.

Unbeknownst to the vehicles driver, during transport back to their facility, the kangaroo escaped the vehicle through an open window, Edwardsville Police Chief Mark Mathies said in an email when the incident occurred.

Edwardsville police received a tip via Facebook Messenger that Thorni Ridge had participated in an event at the Kansas City, Kansas, Public Library earlier that day, The Star reported. A kangaroo was among the animals there.

Smith denies that the kangaroo came from Thorni Ridge. He said Thorni Ridge was not named on police reports regarding the kangaroo at the time. According to Smith, the kangaroo could not have belonged to Thorni Ridge because it did not behave like a domesticated animal.

That was not a docile kangaroo, Smith told the Star Friday. Just like anything on social media, people run with things that arent true.

Thorni Ridge Exotics co-owner Eric Smith, 54, denies that the kangaroo came from Thorni Ridge. The company responded to a Yelp review mentioning the kangaroo 10 months ago. Smith said Thorni Ridge was not named on a 2023 police report regarding the kangaroo.

However, the Thorni Ridge Exotics website advertised a kangaroo at the time, according to website archives. In fact, Thorni Ridge keeps several animals native to Australia, including a wallaby, an eland and an emu.

Online reviews of the petting zoo ranging from November 2022 to November 2023 have also detailed animal mistreatment, most pertaining to a kangaroo.

The animals had no water, no handler, and were left in the sun for hours, one reviewer wrote in a Yelp review. Very disappointed to see them being treated this way.

Other reviews detailed a kangaroo wrapped in a urine-soaked blanket, a kangaroo put on display in freezing temps and low staffing at petting zoo events. Some reviewers have also taken issue with the way Thorni Ridge transports animals to and from events.

Despite more negative reviews of the zoo appearing online after Alexs ten-day absence, Thorni Ridges operations have not been significantly impacted by the gator incident, Smith said Friday. However, the zoo will no longer allow visitors to get as close to enclosures during school visits.

Were still doing our thing, Smith said. The sad thing is, were going to have to block people off a little bit further now, Smith said. For schools, theres a lot of kids that dont often have an opportunity to see anything like this.
Amarillo is 2nd Texas city in weeks to vote against becoming Sanctuary City for the Unborn

Within weeks, Amarillo became the second city in the Panhandle and across Texas to vote against joining the growing list of "Sanctuary Cities for the Unborn."

Amarillo City Council voted, 4-1, to reject both the original and amended versions of the Sanctuary City of the Unborn" ordinance on Tuesday night, according to the Amarillo Globe-News.

It follows a similar effort of Clarendon City Council, which voted 3-0 against the proposed ordinance to declare itself a sanctuary city on May 10. The 2,000-person town sits about halfway between Amarillo and the Texas-Oklahoma border, roughly 60 miles from each.

2024 Texas Democratic Convention: Education, abortion rights key to turning state blue

What is a 'Sanctuary City for the Unborn'?

Abortion is illegal in Texas after the Supreme Court voted to overturn Roe v. Wade, which established the legal right to abortion nationally in 1973. In June 2022, the Supreme Court granted states permission to create their own abortion laws.

Texas has already implemented near-total bans on abortion, but activist Mark Lee Dickson is advocating for municipalities to establish themselves as Sanctuary Cities for the Unborn.

This initiative entails prohibiting abortion within the city limits, extending the ban to residents of "sanctuary cities" regardless of where the procedure is performed anywhere in the world, restricting the sale and possession of specific medical drugs within the city, and aiming to deter people from traveling through "sanctuary cities" to access abortion services.

Enforcement relies on citizens filing lawsuits against other people and abortion providers, according to the proposed ordinance.

More: UT professors sue Biden administration over new Title IX abortion, gender identity rules

Why did Amarillo vote against the ordinance?

More than 25 people commented on the measure during Tuesday's council meeting, which came months after the 18-page ordinance was brought before the council last fall.

It did not receive council approval, and advocates pushed to bring it back to the council during the last city council meeting, according to the Globe-News.

Audience members celebrate the rejection of the Amarillo abortion ordinance Tuesday at the Amarillo City Council meeting.

Councilmember Tom Scherlen expressed concerns over the impact of the proposed anti-abortion ordinance on local companies. He said it may impact those that provide travel for abortion in their insurance plans and could impede economic development as future businesses may avoid relocating to the area if the ordinance was in effect.

Others claimed it was more about making a political statement than saving lives, since Texas has already tightened abortion law so stringently over the last few years.

What's the existing law on abortion in Texas?

Texas has enacted various laws prohibiting abortion, most recently the 2021 Human Life Protection Act, which classifies elective abortions as felonies, imposes civil penalties and revokes the licenses of medical practitioners involved in such procedures.

Some laws predate the landmark 1973 Roe v. Wade decision, which the U.S. Supreme Court overturned in June 2022, in Dobbs v. Jackson. These statutes regained effectiveness after that ruling.

Consequently, Texas laws ban nearly all abortions unless, in the exercise of a reasonable medical judgment, a doctor determines that the patient is experiencing a life-threatening physical condition aggravated by, caused by, or arising from a pregnancy that places the female at risk of death or poses a serious risk of substantial impairment of a major bodily function.

How many abortion sanctuary cities are there?

There are 69 cities across the U.S. that have voted to declare themselves "Sanctuary Cities for the Unborn," and 52 are in Texas.

This embedded content is not available in your region.

In June 2019, Waskom in East Texas became the first city in the United States to pass an ordinance outlawing abortion within its city limits. The latest to join the list is also in Texas; the Muenster City Council unanimously voted to declare itself a Sanctuary City for the Unborn on April 8.

Most of the cities have populations of 25,000 or fewer, and only four, all in West Texas, have more than 100,000: Abilene, Odessa, San Angelo and Lubbock  the largest "Sanctuary City for the Unborn," with a population of 264,000. Its citizens voted in a citywide election to outlaw abortion with 68% of the vote.

See the complete list.

Amarillo Globe-News reporter Michael Cuviello contributed to this report.

This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: 2nd Texas city votes against 'sanctuary city' anti-abortion ordinance
Editors Note: The video above shows a delivery theft.

NORTH LAWRENCE, Ohio (WJW)  The North Lawrence Fire Department is giving a shout-out to an Amazon driver who helped a family in a crash.

The crash happened on Sunday, June 9, around 9:30 a.m. on State Route 94.

Officials recover body of 11-year-old boy who went missing in Lake Erie

According to the fire department, when they arrived on the scene, they found a car that had rolled off the road and crashed into a pole, causing power lines to fall.

Everyone inside the vehicle made it out safely, thanks to an Amazon driver.

The North Lawrence Fire Department said the Amazon driver was just passing by and stopped to help.

Courtesy: OSHP

Courtesy: OSHP

We would like to thank the Amazon driver that extricated the mother and children prior to our arrival and secured them away from the power lines, the department said.

Fire officials said no one was hurt because of one big reason.

Oprah Winfrey hospitalized, misses TV appearance

We also want to point out that there were no injuries resulting in this rollover crash because of the proper use of seatbelts and the proper fitting car seats, the fire department said.

State Route 94 was closed for several hours after 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 Fox 8 Cleveland WJW.
Will American Airlines flight attendants strike? If so, when? What travelers should know.

In Reality Check stories, Star-Telegram journalists dig deeper into questions over facts, consequences and accountability. Read more. Story idea? RealityCheck@star-telegram.com.

Recent headlines have suggested that American Airlines flight attendants are moving closer than ever to a strike, after yearslong negotiations with the Fort Worth-based carrier have yet to yield a contract.

Last week, their union  the Association of Professional Flight Attendants  opened a strike command center at its headquarters in Euless, near Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport. The union said it has started advising its members to consider saving money and moving medical appointments, and its website has a strike handbook posted.

A strike would disrupt air travel across the country, particularly at DFW  Americans biggest hub where 7,600 flight attendants are based and the airline has more than 900 daily flights at peak times.

If you have American Airlines tickets for a trip this summer or fall, should you be worried? How likely is it that flight attendants could walk off the job, and how soon could that happen?

Will American Airlines flight attendants strike? When?

Labor negotiations in the transportation industry are governed by the Railway Labor Act of 1926, which dictates a series of steps that parties must go through before a strike can happen.

The Railway Labor Act is designed to very, very, very significantly minimize the possibility of a disruption to the transportation system, said Steve Johnson, American Airlines vice chair and chief strategy officer, in an interview with the Star-Telegram. Its structured in a way for which theres more oversight of collective bargaining.

On Monday, the union and management resumed negotiations in Washington with the National Mediation Board.

The National Mediation Board could schedule additional days beyond this week for bargaining. But if it declares that this weeks negotiations have no path forward  an impasse  the union and the airline will be released into a 30-day cooling-off period, during which they can choose to continue negotiations. Flight attendants have already sought unsuccessfully to be released.

We are not at the place, at the end of negotiations this week, where were looking at a strike of some kind right away, said Gary Leff, a travel expert who runs the blog View from the Wing. Were looking at an increased chance that the National Mediation Board could authorize the parties to go into self help after 30 days, at which point they have the discretion, at some point to do so.

What happens after those 30 days? The unions members could take action. Or, the White House could intervene.

Under the law, President Joe Biden could declare that negotiations must continue.

It has happened before. In 1997, American Airlines pilots union called a strike after rejecting a final proposal from management. President Bill Clinton stepped in within minutes, enacting the seldom-used power to create a Presidential Emergency Board.

That board has 30 days to come up with recommendations for how the dispute should be handled, and both sides would then have 30 days to consider them.

If the parties still cant reach an agreement during that time, only then could the flight attendants go on strike.

But would Biden intervene? It would be a politically fraught decision. He may be reluctant in an election year to anger labor unions who support him and harm his image with that voting bloc before November. Not intervening, though, would cause a transportation crisis.

However, its rare for negotiations to ever reach that stage.

[The process] has resulted in, for American Airlines and its merger constituents more than 40 agreements since 2005 without going further, Johnson said.

The last time labor action resulted in a strike at a commercial carrier was in 2010, when Spirit Airlines pilots walked off the job for four days amid a wage dispute.

Johnson said Monday that American was very confident that both sides will be able to reach an agreement. A representative of APFA didnt immediately respond to a request for comment.

The airline said in a statement Monday: We continue to meet regularly with the APFA and recently increased our current offer to include an immediate 25% increase to flight attendant pay, which includes the addition of boarding pay. Were ready to get a deal done quickly and are back at the negotiating table this week to do that.

As negotiations roll into Thursday, the flight attendants union was preparing to picket.

American Airlines flight attendants want and need a complete contract addressing all our concerns, the union said in a statement last week. We have a strike vote authorization of 99.47 percent, have picketed for months, and have demonstrated our resolve and solidarity. Our message has been crystal clear: we need an industry-leading contract.
57-year-old Eric Calibet has been missing since midday Tuesday - Municipality of Amorgos

A retired American policeman has gone missing while hiking on a small Greek island as a record early heatwave hits.

Eric Calibet went missing just days after Michael Mosley, the British TV doctor, died on a walk across rugged hills on the island of Symi, in the Dodecanese.

Mr Calibet has been missing since Tuesday, when he set off on a hike on the island of Amorgos in the Cyclades group of islands.

It comes as Greece is set for its earliest recorded heatwave, which has forced the closure of the Acropolis and some schools as the mercury rose to 43C in Athens.

Authorities on Amorgos released a photo of the missing 57-year-old American to help with search and rescue operations on the island, which has a network of well-kept hiking trails.

He set off from the village of Aegiali, in the north of the island, and was heading for the town of Katapola, the main port. The hike takes around four hours under normal conditions.

It is a well-known and well-maintained trail.

When he failed to turn up, a friend reported him as missing. The island is subject to a severe high temperature warning this week.

A search operation has been launched, with additional emergency personnel arriving from the nearby island of Naxos.

The American is well known on Amorgos, having visited several times.

He had completed the Aegiali to Katapola hike several times in the past, Calliope Despotidi, the deputy mayor of Amorgos, told Greek Reporter, a news website.

It is strange because he is not a person who walked the route for the first time. He knows Amorgos better than me.

She said she was concerned that scorching temperatures may have been a factor in his failure to turn up at his destination.

He may have lost consciousness because of the heat and hopefully found shade in one of the caves along the route, Ms Despotidi said.

She said she hoped the American hiker had not met the same fate as Dr Mosley, 67. His body was found among rocks on the coast of Symi on Sunday, four days after he was reported missing.

Greece is set for its earliest recorded heatwave, which has forced the closure of the Acropolis and some schools - Freeartist/iStockphoto

As Athens was hit by scorching temperatures, the Greek Red Cross took to the streets to hand out free water and information leaflets on how to deal with the heatwave.

Extreme heat doesnt have to become a disaster if cities and communities are well prepared, said Birgitte Bischoff Ebbesen, Europe regional director for the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.

Sheltering under a parasol, electrician Fotis Pappous said he had started his workday at 6am to try to avoid the hottest part of the day.

With this kind of heat, it would be too risky otherwise, the 46-year-old told AFP news agency as he worked on an electricity meter near Athenss central Syntagma Square.

Last July, high temperatures forced the closure of the Acropolis during a two-week heatwave that was unprecedented in its duration.

The Unesco-listed site, which sits on top of a sheer-sided rocky crag and dominates Athens, attracted almost four million tourists last year.

The stifling conditions in Athens were worsened by thick black smoke from a fire that broke out at a factory in the north of the city.

Authorities have warned of a high risk of wildfires in the countryside of Attica, the region that surrounds Athens.

The high temperatures were expected to continue into Thursday, driven by southerly winds from North Africa.

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Public office is not for the faint of heart. Anyone who enters the arena can expect to deal with a political version of the gladiatorial bloodbaths of the Roman Colosseum  only less civilized.

Given that, I have no problem with the not-so-nice things members of the public may say about politicians, or the way some politicians (especially these days) viciously trash other politicians.

But family members of those politicians  at least the ones who do not choose to enter the political fray  should be off limits.

And for the most part, they are. Except to politicians who have no sense of decorum. No empathy. And who have no business throwing stones when they live in glass houses.

For example, Arizona Republican Rep. Andy Biggs.

Is it fair to trash Biden for the sins of his son?

Following the conviction of President Joe Bidens son Hunter on charges of illegally possessing a firearm, Biggs posted on X, formerly Twitter:

GUILTY. Accountability for the Biden Crime Family at last?

Crime family?

Following his conviction, Hunter Biden said he was disappointed with the verdict.

But unlike a certain former president  and his toadies, like Biggs  Biden did not claim he was a victim of rigged system, or of lawfare, or of a prejudiced judge, or of a weaponized justice department.

He respected the process.

No one trashed Biggs for his son's mistake

Rep. Andy Biggs at a campaign rally

We cant say the same for Biggs, who tried to pressure then Arizona House Speaker Rusty Bowers into helping those who wanted to overturn the 2020 election.

And who defied a subpoena from the Jan. 6 committee looking into the attack on the Capitol, then demanded that Hunter Biden appear before a committee Biggs sits on in the House.

And besides, Biggs, like President Biden, has a son who acted questionably in the past.

Back in 2009, Biggs son was stripped of his duties as a Gilbert police officer for shooting a man in the groin during an off-duty confrontation involving suspected shoplifting.

Biggs hangs with racists: Like it's no big deal

The younger Biggs appealed his demotion and lost. And then took it to court and lost.

His father was not responsible, at all, for his sons actions. And no one Im aware tried to smear the politicians entire household by calling them the Biggs Gun Violence Family.

Pick on politicians, but not their family members

Biggs should know better. He was a member of the Arizona Legislature when Republican Gov. Jan Brewer was in office.

Never once did he or any other politician try to smear Brewer because she had a mentally ill son who was a patient at the state hospital for decades after being found not guilty by reason of insanity in the 1989 sexual assault of a woman.

If anything, Brewer was praised, rightly so, for being open about her family and advocating for the mentally ill.

Adult offspring of famous and not-so-famous individuals make bad choices all the time. But they are their choices, not their parents choices.

Hunter Biden made bad choices during his drug addicted days. I do not blame his father for that.

Gilbert police determined Biggs son made bad choices in shooting a man. I do not blame his father for that.

Just as I dont blame Biggs son for his fathers inability to recognize the difference.

Reach Montini at ed.montini@arizonarepublic.com.

For more opinions content, please subscribe.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Andy 'Glass House' Biggs has no room to trash Hunter Biden
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 Ann Wagner joins bipartisan U.S. House caucus planning for post-war Middle East appeared first on Missouri Independent.
When it comes to how the kids in our area are doing, theres some work to do.

A new report by the Annie E. Casey Foundation examined the well-being of children across the nation. The data looked at everything from healthcare to school absences and test scores.

The study found that the COVID-19 pandemic continues to impact academic achievement. Overall, the 2024 kids count data book found huge drops in both reading and math scores. Only 32% of fourth graders were at or above reading levels in 2022, and just 26% of eighth graders were proficient or higher in math.

The study ranked North Carolina 33rd in the country for health, education and economics. South Carolina ranked 40th in the nation.

The federal government provided emergency funding to hire more teachers and staff, but that funding expires in September. Channel 9 has reported on the push to renew the funding.

The new report also found that a third of U.S. kids and teens are considered to be overweight or obese. Last month, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced its taking steps to address childhood obesity. Starting this fall, there will be limits to the amount of added sugars that can be served in school lunchrooms.

I think that in general, kids are kind of fed a little too much processed foods, and anything to kind of give them a head start is going to be good, said Josh Megyesy, a parent.

There was one positive finding. The percentage of children without health insurance actually improved from 2019 to 2022.

(WATCH: Eat these foods for better sleep, study says)
The new NC congressional map creates 10 Republican districts, 3 Democratic districts and a district that is trending Republican (Source: NCGA)

Updated at 4:55 pm Wednesday with comments from Bob Orr.

A redistricting lawsuit claiming that gerrymandered districts deprive voters of fair elections is scheduled for a court hearing on Thursday.

A three-judge panel will consider Republican legislative leaders request to dismiss the case.

Bob Orr, a former state Supreme Court justice, filed the lawsuit against GOP leading legislators and the state Board of Election in January on behalf of voters. It says legislators stacking districts to determine political winners unconstitutionally deprives voters of fair elections.

Plaintiffs, individually, and on behalf of all the citizens of North Carolina contend they are guaranteed fair elections  otherwise their other constitutional guarantees are of little or no value, lawyers for the plaintiffs wrote in the argument against dismissing the case. They argue that fair elections are an unenumerated right, one thats not explicitly stated in the constitution, but is implied.

This is the only one of four lawsuits filed over the latest round of redistricting to be heard in state court.

Two federal lawsuits challenging election districts as racial gerrymanders have been combined and will be heard next year.

In another federal suit focused on northeastern North Carolina Senate districts, courts denied two Black voters request to have boundary lines redrawn in time for this years election.

Philip Strach, the lawyer representing House Speaker Tim Moore and Senate leader Phil Berger in the state case, wrote that the state Supreme Court has already decided that redistricting complaints dont belong in court.

Strach called the lawsuit meritless, in his motion to dismiss the case. He cited last years Supreme Court decision that redistricting is a political issue controlled by legislators, not judges.

Last years opinion by the Republican Supreme Court majority represents an encyclopedic and binding explanation of the General Assemblys redistricting authority and the limited role of the judiciary in reviewing redistricting plans, Strach wrote.

With that 5-2 opinion, the Republican majority reversed decisions of a Democratic majority that had decided the year before that extreme gerrymandering violated the state constitution. That 2022 Democratic court majority required congressional, state House, and state Senate plans that Republicans in the legislature approved and wanted used in 2002 be redrawn.

The congressional districts used in the 2022 elections were approved by a court and drawn by three special masters. Orr was one of the special masters. Former judge and UNC System President Tom Ross, one of the other special masters, is one of the 11 plaintiffs in the case being heard Thursday.

The court-drawn 2002 congressional plan resulted in seven Democrats and seven Republicans winning election to the US House from North Carolina.

With the Republican-majority Supreme Court decision, legislative Republicans were able to redraw the congressional map to guarantee that Republicans will win 10 seats and Democrats will win three. Incumbent US House member Don Davis, a Democrat, represents the only district considered a toss-up.

Speaking to reporters Wednesday afternoon, Orr said this new case is very different from the case that resulted in Republican justices invalidating the previous ruling on extreme partisan gerrymandering.

Its a different theory, he said. Its our contention and argument that the unenumerated rights contain and have the right to fair elections as the foundational underpinnings of the whole system government.

Chief Justice Paul Newby wrote the 2023 court opinion that overturned the Democrats opinion on redistricting. He wrote that judicial interpretations of the constitution should stick to its text and historical context.

By law, Newby appoints the panel of Superior Court judges who first consider cases like this. To hear this case, Newby appointed Superior Court Judges Jeffrey B. Foster from Pitt County, Angela B. Puckett of Surry County, and C. Ashley Gore of Columbus County, all Republicans.

Im confident of a fair hearing, Orr told reporters. Plaintiffs plan to appeal if they lose in trial court, he said.

The post Another challenge to partisan gerrymandering in a North Carolina court appeared first on NC Newsline.
Another caregiver at Choate Mental Health and Developmental Center in Anna is facing charges for abusing a patient.

A grand jury indicted Joseph A. Clark, 24, of Grand Chain, on a felony charge of aggravated battery and a misdemeanor charge of battery.

Clark pinned a Choate resident to the ground with his leg on Feb. 28, according to the charges that were filed on May 16 but not made publicly available until the end of May.

Clark has been on paid administrative leave since the incident was reported by other staff. Since criminal charges were filed, Clark will soon be suspended without pay, pending a disposition in the case, according to a written statement provided by spokesperson for the Illinois Department of Human Services, the agency that operates the facility in far southern Illinois.

Clark could not be reached for comment. Alan McIntyre, his attorney, declined to comment.

Clark was indicted by the same grand jury that indicted John Curtis Spaulding last month. Spaulding was captured on video grabbing a patient by the shirt, throwing him to the floor and punching him in the stomach, according to felony aggravated battery charges filed against him.

Because there was an 11-day delay between Spauldings February incident and when it was reported to the IDHS inspector general, security officers were only able to review the footage once the complaint was received. They then provided it to the OIG investigators who gave it to the Illinois State Police, leading to the grand jury indictment.

Spaulding resigned within hours of security viewing the footage. During a phone interview last month, Spaulding denied abusing any patients. He said he resigned because he was tired of the poor working conditions and difficult schedules at Choate.

IDHS did not comment on whether the incident involving Clark was caught on camera.

Clark will be the 20th Choate employee charged with a felony related to misconduct and abuse at the facility in the last five years. To date, no one has received a prison sentence in those cases.

The charges come more than a year after Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzkers administration announced reforms at Choate in the wake of an ongoing news investigation by Capitol News Illinois and ProPublica that uncovered a culture of cruelty and abuse at the facility. Those reforms included installing cameras in communal areas and moving patients with developmental disabilities to other facilities or to group homes in the community.

Clark and Spaulding are scheduled to appear in Union County court on July 1 to enter their pleas to the charges.
ASTANA, Kazakhstan, June 12. South Korea ranks 4th in terms of foreign trade turnover with Kazakhstan and is among the top ten largest foreign investors in the country, said President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Trend reports.

"South Korea has emerged as a genuine economic and technological powerhouse globally, with its globally renowned corporations serving as significant assets in advancing the country's position on the international stage," said President Tokayev, as he met with his South Korean counterpart Yoon Suk Yeol in Astana.

President Yoon Suk Yeol added that the Republic of Korea is committed to advancing together hand in hand towards a brighter and more prosperous future with Kazakhstan, its "key strategic partner".

During the talks, the sides discussed the prospects of bilateral cooperation across various sectors including energy, infrastructure, manufacturing, engineering, trade, transportation, logistics, digitization, aerospace, finance, education, healthcare, pharmaceuticals, tourism, culture, ecology, and more.

The trade turnover between the countries in 2023 exceeded $6 billion. Exports to South Korea during the reporting period totaled $3.8 billion, while imports from South Korea reached $2.2 billion.

Meanwhile, President Yoon Suk Yeol embarked on his trip to Central Asia on June 10.

As part of this visit, South Korea intends to convene a six-party summit with Central Asian nations next year, including Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, and Kyrgyzstan, with the initial round of meetings to be hosted in South Korea.
A group of parents who don't want their kids to be forced to use other students' preferred pronouns, among other grievances, has sued the Croton-Harmon school district, alleging violations of their children's free speech rights.

The three parents, who are not identified by name in the lawsuit, are represented by the conservative advocacy group Parents Defending Education. The parents hold a litany of conservative views on social issues and say that the school district's policies prohibiting hateful speech and harassment are stymieing their children's ability to express conservative views at school.

Jackie Burton, a spokesperson for the Croton-Harmon schools, said in a statement that the district "is not aware of this lawsuit and has not been served with any papers." The lawsuit was filed Wednesday in the federal district court in White Plains.

One parent, identified in the lawsuit as Parent A, opposes gay marriage and abortion, does not believe in white privilege and does not want to call people by their preferred pronouns. Another parent, Parent B, also opposes using other people's preferred pronouns and laments that schools in New York "have been forced to hold classes online" because of the arrival of migrants.

Carrie E. Tompkins Elementary School in the Croton-Harmon school district in November 2023.

They say they have raised their children to share their views, but worry that their children could be disciplined by the school district for expressing these views, among other controversial opinions.

The parents argue that Croton-Harmon's policies dealing with hate speech and harassment illegally infringe on their children's First Amendment rights because these policies "prohibit speech that offends" others.

"The First Amendment envisions the United States as a rich and complex place where all persons are free to think and speak as they wish, not as the government demands," the lawsuit says. "So the district cannot impose its preferred viewpoint (e.g., persons can "transition" genders) over another (e.g., sex is immutable)."

Bennett Gershman, a constitutional law professor at Pace University's Elisabeth Haub School of Law, disputed the legal theory advanced by Parents Defending Education.

Gershman said that public schools have "broad power" to limit offensive and controversial speech on campus.

"Schools can always regulate offensive speech," Gershman explained. "The Supreme Court has made very clear that schools can regulate offensive speech. And if schools deem this speech is offensive, the schools can prohibit it."

Without rules enforcing community standards and decorum, students "are going to be growing up in a cacophony of profanity and screaming and yelling," Gershman observed. He added that courts will "give a lot of deference to school authorities" in determining what kind of speech is abusive and what speech is not.

The end goal of the parents' lawsuit, however, may not be to win at the trial court. Daniel Vitagliano, one of the lawyers representing the parents, previously represented a woman challenging Westchester's bubble-zone law for abortion clinics. In that case, the woman acknowledged that the Supreme Court's own precedent completely foreclosed her challenge, but she attempted to get the Supreme Court to overturn its precedent on the issue.

In December, the Supreme Court declined to take up the woman's case.

Asher Stockler is a reporter for The Journal News and the USA Today Network New York. You can send him an email at astockler@lohud.com. Reach him securely: asher.stockler@protonmail.com.

This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Croton Harmon NY schools sued by conservative parents over free speech
AOC backs Hunter Biden verdict and says its proof Dems are willing to accept when our justice system works

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has said the Democratic reaction to the Hunter Biden verdict demonstrates that the party is willing to accept negative legal outcomes, unlike their Republican counterparts.

The New York congresswoman, who is known for her liberal stance and activism, blasted previous accusations of a two-tiered justice system from the GOP.

Her statement comes after a jury found the presidents son guilty on felony gun charges. The decision marks the first time a sitting presidents child has been found guilty of a crime. It also comes weeks after Donald Trump was found guilty of 34 felonies for hush money payments to a porn star. Trumps conviction caused right-wing backers to lash out and blasted the justice system.

Speaking to CNN, Ocasio Cortez said the party was not interested in contesting the results of legal proceedings.

What would Republicans point to as a two-tiered system of justice when the presidents son was just convicted of a crime? she said.

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has said Democratic reaction to the Hunter Biden verdict demonstrates the party is willing to accept negative legal outcomes, unlike their Republican counterparts (EPA)

If anything, this shows the difference that Democrats are willing to accept when our justice system works as functions and as designs, she said.

Were not here contesting the results. Were not here trying to defund the FBI or the Department of Justice because we dont like the outcome of a given trial. We respect the judicial process.

Hunter Biden was found guilty of three counts in his gun case and now faces 25 years in prison. In Joe Bidens statement after the verdict, the president said: I will accept the outcome of this case and will continue to respect the judicial process as Hunter considers an appeal.

AOC: What would Republicans point to as a two tiered system of Justice when the Presidents son was just convicted? This shows the difference We're not here trying to defund the FBI or the DOJ because we don't like the outcome of a given trial pic.twitter.com/tykDQwE5Sb  Acyn (@Acyn) June 11, 2024

Jill and I will always be there for Hunter and the rest of our family with our love and support.

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.
FBI Director Christopher Wray speaks during a hearing of the Senate Intelligence Committee on Capitol Hill, March 11, 2024, in Washington. Eight individuals from Tajikistan with suspected ties to the Islamic State have been arrested in the United States in recent days. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein, File)

WASHINGTON (AP)  Eight people from Tajikistan with suspected ties to the Islamic State group have been arrested in the United States in recent days, according to multiple people familiar with the matter.

The arrests took place in New York, Philadelphia and Los Angeles and the individuals, who entered the U.S. through the southern border, are being held on immigration violations, said the people, who were not authorized to discuss the ongoing investigation by name and spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity.

The nature of their suspected connections to the IS was not immediately clear, but the individuals were being tracked by the FBI's Joint Terrorism Task Force, or JTTF. They were in the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, which made the arrests while working with the JTTF, pending proceedings to remove them from the country.

The individuals from Tajikistan entered the country last spring and passed through the U.S. government's screening process without turning up information that would have identified them as potential terrorism-related concerns, said one of the people familiar with the matter.

The FBI and Department of Homeland Security issued a statement confirming the immigration-related arrests of several non-citizens but did not detail specifics. The agencies noted that the U.S. has been in a heightened threat environment.

FBI Director Christopher Wray has said the U.S. is facing accelerating threats from homegrown violent extremists as well as foreign terrorist organizations, particularly in the aftermath of the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas on Israel.

He said at one recent congressional hearing that officials were "concerned about the terrorism implications from potential targeting of vulnerabilities at the border. The Biden administration in August said that it had detected and stopped a network attempting to smuggle people from Uzbekistan into the U.S. and that at least one member of the network had links to a foreign terrorist group.

The FBI and DHS will continue working around the clock with our partners to identify, investigate, and disrupt potential threats to national security, the agencies said.
Gender Queer, a graphic memoir by Maia Kobabe, was the most challenged book in America in 2022, according to the American Library Association. (Photo by New Jersey Monitor)

Attorneys for the state of Iowa and civil liberties groups clashed in court Tuesday over an injunction blocking enforcement of a law that restricts school libraries from carrying books with material related to sex acts, sexuality and gender.

The injunction was imposed by U.S. District Court Judge Stephen Locher in December 2023, days before enforcement of the law was expected to begin. It was issued after Penguin Random House Books and the Iowa State Education Association sought an injunction in one of the two lawsuits now challenging the measure, with the other lawsuit filed by American Civil Liberties Union of Iowa and Lambda Legal.

The lawsuit filed by Penguin Random House in conjunction with the ISEA, educators and authors argues that Iowa students constitutional rights of free speech and equal protection are restricted by the law, as the measure unreasonably limits their ability to freely access and share ideas.

Books removed from schools due to the law include classics like Brave New World and Ulysses, but also include several books focused on LGBTQ+ and race issues, including The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian and Gender Queer.

Books related to sexual assault and rape have also been removed from several Iowa school library shelves. Laurie Halse Anderson, author of Speak and Shout and one of the plaintiffs in the case, told reporters in November that restrictions on books like hers on sexual assault and violence could isolate and harm students looking for support in the aftermath of traumatic incidents.

During Tuesdays hearing before a three-judge panel of U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit, Eric Wessan of the Iowa Attorney Generals Office told the judges the law is not violating constitutional free speech protections, as these books can still be found and obtained at a bookstore. The laws restriction of materials in public-school libraries is a regulation of government speech, not private speech, he argued.

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, Wessan wrote in his brief on the case. And removing from school library shelves books that describe or depict sex acts is reasonably related to that legitimate interest.

Christy Hickman, ISEA chief legal counsel, said in a news conference that U.S. Supreme Court precedent has not favored arguments that books can still be found by students outside of school libraries as a reason for allowing the removal of books from the schools shelves.

Public school libraries are intended to provide access to books to all children, regardless of whether or not they can buy it at the bookstore, Hickman said. So such an argument, while it might make sense in other contexts, doesnt make a whole lot of sense in the context of our K-12 public schools, because some of our kids cant afford to go across the street  to the bookstore and buy it. Thats the purpose of our public school libraries.

The ACLU and Lambda Legal lawsuit, filed on behalf of Iowa Safe Schools and seven students and families in the state, similarly argues that the Iowa law violates the U.S. Constitution. Wessan argued that the student plaintiffs did not have standing in the lawsuit, because the law is enforced against school districts and school employees, not students.

While the law was blocked before enforcement began, there have been a significant number of books removed from Iowa K-12 public schools due to the law and potential violations. The Des Moines Register found school districts across the state have removed nearly 3,400 books from their libraries. While the state has repeatedly argued that not all of the books were removed correctly or would count as violations of the law, education advocates have said that ambiguity about the laws scope have caused school districts and teachers to err on the side of caution.

In August 2023, the Iowa Department of Education chose not to release any guidance on schools should proceed in light of the law, despite requests from educators for more information to ensure compliance.

Bird calls book ban a common sense law

During Tuesdays court arguments, a judge said that school districts could be sued on an individual basis for removing books that do not fall under the laws restrictions as a means to address inappropriate removals. But Hickman, the ISEA attorney, said the lawsuit against the state is the appropriate action, as individual school districts are trying their best with current resources to follow the law as intended.

If we had to start all over and start suing individual school districts  think about the court and school and public resources that go in into that, Hickman said. I hope that that is not where we end up. What the education community needs, what our members need, is some guidance in how to implement this law.

Another judge expressed concerns about questioning the laws constitutionality before it has been implemented, an argument presented by Wessan. The law was created to help address the way Iowa students learn, he said, and the injunction against portions of the law has stymied that objective.

The state believes that if this injunction is vacated, the school districts, the schools and the students will understand what the law means, he said. And as time moves forward, this will become an integral part of Iowas educational landscape.

Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird said in a statement that her office is defending a common sense law that she said protects kids, families, and parental rights.

Inappropriate books do not belong in the hands of school children, Bird said. As a mom, I know how important it is for parents to have a say in what books and materials their kids have access to.

Attorney Thomas Story with the ACLU said that the law has already had a negative impact on Iowa schools and students.

It restricts expression in terms that are so vague and overbroad that no two schools seem to agree on what they mean, Story said in a news conference. But the fact is that over 3,000 books were removed, student (gay-straight alliances) were closed, and LGBTQ+ students across the state were forced into silence. That is unconstitutional and we will continue to defend the rights of Iowa students as this case moves forward.

The Eighth Circuit appeals panel did not provide a timeline as to when it might issue a ruling.

The post Appeals court hears arguments on injunction blocking Iowa school book law appeared first on Iowa Capital Dispatch.
Amid a war, designers and activists are fighting to ensure the countrys heritage doesnt disappear with reconstructionand in some cases, theyre assuming the role of social-worker.

In April 2022, just two months into Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine, at the second UN Forum of Mayors, British architect Norman Foster presented the mayor of the eastern city of Kharkiv with a masterplan for its reconstruction. "[He] was like, Oh, we need to rebuild Kharkiv," architect Varvara Yahnysheva recalls. "People instantly want and need to rebuild whole areas, whole districts, and, if money comes, they really are able to do it very fast, but they dont have time for preparation, consideration, or research."

Postwar architecture usually happens when it is safe to move forward with rebuilding, ideally with thoughtful consideration of historic and social context and optimistic ideas about the future. Wartime architecture, on the contrary, is often little more than temporary refugee housing like tents and flat-packed prefabs. But in Ukraine, where millions have been displaced from their homessome for the second or third time in their livesreconstruction cant wait. So, while the current invasion rages on, a young generation of Ukrainians are reimagining what home means and how to preserve the essence of what is being physically destroyed.

Yahnysheva left her home city of Donetsk in 2014 after finishing high school. By then, Moscow-backed separatists had established breakaway "republics" in the east, and Yahnysheva refused to live under occupation. In February of 2022, she joined many internally displaced people (IDP) in the western city of Ivano-Frankivsk, including her colleague Anastasiya Ponomaryova, cofounder of the Ukrainian design agency Urban Curators. Together with Metalab, an architectural NGO founded in 2017 that provides affordable housing and community workshops, Yahnysheva and Ponomaryova collaborated with other architects on Co-Haty, an initiative to convert unused buildings into homes for IDPs.

CO-HATY Pilot project, dormitory in Ivano-Frankivsk.

When starting Co-Haty, Yahnysheva and her colleagues thought they could easily adapt a communal co-living/co-working model to house large groups. That changed when they started work on converting a university dormitory. "We came to meet the people who would live in this house: one hundred people who had lived in a school gym for half a year," she says. "They were all kinds of people: grandmas, families, young guys, young girls. We met them and saw that, sometimes, they hate each other."

They pivoted, focusing instead on providing as much private space and as many private bathrooms as possible. "The plans are really not that appealing and spacious, but its all for giving people more privacy and less reasons to fight," Yahnysheva says. To ensure the projects success, some architects remain onsite for months to guide the new residents through the unfamiliar conditions, assuming a social workertype role. "It was not our focus to be involved in the [buildings] operation, because its a lot of work, and we are not experts in this," she says. "But then we had to become experts."

Other areas require different kinds of expertise. In smaller towns near Kyiv, where residents were able to return home only to find them heavily damaged, debris cleanup is an immediate need. From the capital, Ilia Serha leads fundraising efforts at the rebuilding NGO Smilyvi. Serha relocated to the capital from his home in Kherson, one of the many southern cities terrorized by the Russian military. Before February 2022, he ran a shading net manufacturing family business. Then, for six months, he was forced to live under occupation. "At that time, I had a young daughter, and my wife was eight months pregnant. Due to military clashes on the city outskirts and the absence of humanitarian corridors, we couldn't leave in time," he writes over text. "In August 2022, we left with our newborn son towards [Ukrainian-controlled territory], passing through 34 enemy checkpoints. It was a long journey."

Svitlana Didenko  resident of the CO-HATY Sadok project, a former kindergarten building in Ivano-Frankivsk.

After settling in a friends apartment in Kyiv, Serha soon joined Smilyvi, run by a group of volunteers who were repairing homes. What started with a handful of people is now a larger organization backed by international partnerships. Aside from the completed and planned restoration of educational facilities for children in regions across the country, Smilyvi has documented and shared online more than 400 stories of families and individuals that the organization has pledged to help.



Storytelling is important to many reconstruction groups. Livyj Bereh, another volunteer-led organization, has replaced the roofs of more than 350 houses in shelled areas, and it shares the harrowing accounts of each one on its Instagram account. The group is often able to complete a roof installation in one day, but it is in constant need of fundingeach installation costs about 2,000 euros. Like many others, the group also organizes vehicle, drone, uniform, food supply, and ammunition deliveries to support Ukrainian defense in frontline regions.

"This resilience and mobilization doesnt come from nowhere. It comes from generations of memories and pain that have been translated verbally and emotionally through people," says architect Sasha Topolnytska who, with architect Ashley Bigham and artist Betty Roytburd, curated the exhibition Constructing Hope: Ukraine at New Yorks Center for Architecture, on view through September 3. The exhibition focuses on grassroots initiatives transforming the future of Ukraine, including Co-Haty, Livyj Bereh, and BRDA, a foundation repurposing discarded windows from Poland in Ukraine.

Livyj Bereh project.

See the full story on Dwell.com: How Architects In Ukraine are Preserving Their History

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In a highly surprising development, Argentina is said to be working out a plan to transfer French-made Super Etendard naval strike aircraft to Ukraine. Still in its early phases, the unlikely proposal has reportedly been approved by Argentinian President Javier Milei but will still need support from France to progress further. Should it be successful, the result would be Ukraine taking delivery of a combat-proven aircraft known for its anti-surface-warfare capability, thanks to the Exocet anti-ship missile. On the other hand, these are old, subsonic jets that exist in very small numbers. Ukraine investing time and personnel into them could be a questionable move. According to a report in Argentinas Infobae newspaper, the plan to transfer five Super Etendard jets from Argentina was crafted by Argentinas Minister of Foreign Affairs Diana Mondino, and Minister of Defense Luis Petri. After Milei green-lit the plan, Mondino and Petri have reportedly been working for weeks on negotiations with France, the original manufacturer of the aircraft, which would have to agree to their transfer and assist in making them fully airworthy. Argentinian President Javier Milei (right) is greeted by his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky after delivering his inaugural speech before the crowd during an inauguration ceremony at the Congress in Buenos Aires on December 10, 2023. Photo by LUIS ROBAYO/AFP via Getty Images The plan has also reportedly been discussed in a Washington meeting between Mondino and U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan and with NATO officials in Brussels. The five Super Etendards are among those that were flown by the French Navy until they were finally retired in 2016, in favor of the Rafale M. The five aircraft were then acquired by Argentina, which had planned to introduce them to reinstate a capability lost when the last of its original 14 Super Etendards  which saw notable combat service in the Falklands War  ceased being operational around 2014. A French Navy Super Etendard takes off from the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle at sea off the coast of Toulon, southern France, in January 2015, ahead of the ships departure to take part in operations against the Islamic State group in the Gulf. ANNE-CHRISTINE POUJOULAT/AFP via Getty Images The five aircraft arrived in Argentina in 2019 and underwent engine tests and taxi runs, but never entered service. An engine test and ground taxi for one of the five Super Etendards transferred from France to Argentina in 2019: According to Argentine accounts, the main problem in getting the Super Etendards operational has been the U.K. governments arms embargo on Argentina. In particular, this has prohibited the supply of cartridges needed for the aircrafts British-made Martin-Baker ejection seats. The jets remain at Comandante Espora naval air base in the southwest province of Buenos Aires, Argentina. Now that Argentina has finally sealed a deal to receive 24 secondhand F-16s from Denmark in a much-needed overhaul of its combat aircraft fleet, including replacing its veteran A-4 Fightinghawks, there is little point in hanging onto Super Etendards that cannot realistically be flown. We welcome President Milei's statement earlier this week that Argentina will purchase second-hand US-built F-16 fighter jets from Denmark that offers @FuerzaAerea_Arg a low cost high performance multirole aircraft. pic.twitter.com/10VahifwH7 Political-Military Affairs, US Dept of State (@StateDeptPM) March 22, 2024 With the Super Etendards grounded, but still otherwise apparently in working order, and with additional engines, spare parts, and a flight simulator also available, Argentina decided to try and make them available to Ukraine. Argentinas plan reportedly involves handing the jets back to France, which would fit the ejection seat cartridges and otherwise prepare them for service with Ukraine. At the same time, Argentina would buy military equipment  reportedly drones and/or helicopters  from France to cover the costs. A French Navy Super Etendard lands on the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle. ANNE-CHRISTINE POUJOULAT/AFP via Getty Images ANNE-CHRISTINE POUJOULAT/AFP via Getty Images This proposal would ensure that Argentina is not directly providing heavy weapons to Ukraine, while also bypassing the British embargo. For Argentina, it also solves the problem of what to do with five Super Etendards that it still pays to store and maintain, but which are operationally useless. A sticking point may be the position of the next French government after French President Emmanuel Macron called a snap legislative election after the far-right National Rally won the European election in France by a wide margin. Should the next French government be headed by National Rallys Marine Le Pen, the country would likely drastically scale back the military support its providing to Ukraine. Emmanuel Macron, the French president, welcomes Volodymyr Zelensky, his Ukrainian counterpart, at the Palais Elysee. Photo by Telmo Pinto/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images Le Pen, in contrast to Macron, has long called for France to reduce its role in the war in Ukraine and she has long maintained close ties with Russias President Vladimir Putin. If the transfer does go through, Ukraine will be in possession of a combat aircraft developed by Frances Dassault-Breguet in the mid-1970s as a successor to the previous-generation Etendard IV carrier-based strike fighter. First flown in October 1974, the Super Etendard was Frances first series-built combat aircraft with an inertial nav/attack system and one of its key weapons was the Exocet missile, a pioneering sea-skimming anti-ship weapon. Of the 14 Super Etendards initially acquired by Argentina, only four were available at the time of the 1982 Falklands War, but these accounted for the destruction of the Royal Navy destroyer HMS Sheffield and the merchant ship Atlantic Conveyor. Super Etendards loaned by France to Iraq during the Iran-Iraq War also achieved some notable successes against shipping in the Gulf. On this day in 1982, British Royal Navys HMS Sheffield Type 42 guided missile destroyer was sunk by French-made Exocet missiles during the Falklands War in 1982 by two Argentine Super Etendard fighter jets.Argentina had only a total of five Exocet missiles during the war. pic.twitter.com/MZl7w8BAPI Clash Report (@clashreport) May 4, 2024 The French Super Etendard fleet was continually upgraded during its service, eventually being brought up to Super Etendard Modernise (SEM) standard, which featured a new radar, improved cockpit including night-vision goggles, enhanced self-defense capabilities, and a targeting pod compatible with various precision-guided munitions. French Super Etendards saw combat in Lebanon, the Balkans, Afghanistan, Libya, and finally against Islamic State militants in Iraq and Syria. While five aircraft is only a token force, it wouldnt be the first time that Ukraine has been offered a handful of fighters to help rebuild its air force. Last week, President Macron disclosed plans to transfer Mirage 2000-5 fighters to Ukraine. It later emerged that, as it stands, France has only six examples ready to deliver to Kyiv and a more meaningful contribution would require contributions from other nations with the jets: Greece and Qatar would be the most likely candidates. The Super Etendard is somewhat different, with the only other possible sources being long-withdrawn and less-advanced Argentine jets or any others  perhaps no more than 10  that still survive in French storage. Nevertheless, for Ukraine, a niche air-launched anti-ship capability of the kind offered by the Super Etendard and Exocet missile, even with such a small fleet, might be interesting. Since the start of Russias full-scale invasion, the Black Sea Fleet has been squarely in the sights of the Ukrainians, with a string of successful attacks on surface combatants, submarines, and support craft that have involved cruise missiles, ballistic missiles, and various types of drones. The air-launched version of the Exocet  a weapon not so far transferred to Ukraine  has a range of up to around 45 miles, depending on the altitude and speed of the aircraft. This allows the launch aircraft to remain outside the range of at least some medium-range enemy air defenses. A French Navy Atlantique 2 maritime patrol aircraft, or ATL 2, launches an Exocet. MBDA Although subsonic, the missile is optimized for low-altitude attack, and it can be launched under the target ships radar coverage before approaching at wave-top height, complicating its detection and interception by naval air defenses. For Ukraine, adding this element to its anti-surface warfare armory would provide another means by which to take on the Black Sea Fleet and continue its process of pushing the Russian naval threat further away from Crimea. It is also conceivable that the Super Etendards could work in conjunction with Ukraines forthcoming Saab 340 AEW&C aircraft, which offer a significant capability to detect maritime targets at long range. An air-launched Exocet is prepared for loading on a Rafale M aboard the French Navy aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle. MBDA As of February this year, the Ukrainian Armed Forces was claiming that 33 percent of the Black Sea Fleets warships had been disabled or destroyed, including 24 ships and one submarine. Sustained Ukrainian attacks have already forced the large-scale redeployment of the more valuable Black Sea Fleet assets away from Crimea. As well as putting more pressure on the Russian occupiers in Crimea, this strategy also helps protect Ukraines vital grain exports out of its Black Sea ports. While anti-shipping strike is the best-known Super Etendard role, these aircraft are more than capable of attacking ground targets, too. In their last years of service, the French SEM version made extensive use of 500-pound dual-mode GBU-49 Enhanced Paveway II and 250-pound GBU-58 Paveway II laser-guided munitions, which have the ability to hit moving targets. Operating these weapons is achieved using a digital kneepad, providing the pilot with rapid and easy access to targeting pod video and digitally annotated maps. A 500-pound Paveway series precision-guided bomb is prepared for loading on a Super Etendard aboard the Charles de Gaulle in the Indian Ocean in May 2006, during operations in Afghanistan. Photo by Eric BOUVET/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images On the other hand, the subsonic Super Etendard doesnt have a robust air-to-air capability and there is no existing training pipeline that can be tapped into. The jets were showing their age years ago, with serious questions about how much useful airframe life might be left, especially among those in storage in France. Supporting the jets could be problematic, as well. All these factors make it questionable whether even the capabilities from a full squadron of these jets would be worth the burden for Ukraine, especially as dozens of F-16s are set aside for them and more modern and capable Mirage 2000s appear to be on the way as well. Other types may be in the works too, like the Saab JAS 39 Gripen. On the other hand, Ukraine could gain Exocet capability with the Super Etendard, but possibly even more importantly, an additional launch platform for some of the variety of Western weaponry that is now equipping its Soviet-era air combat fleet. While Argentinas plan to put Super Etendards into Ukrainian hands might make sense for Argentina, at least, there remain several obstacles still to be overcome. Aside from questions over the utility of the jets for Ukraine, the delicate political situation in France could threaten to derail the plan as well as alter the course of future French military support to Kyiv. Contact the author: thomas@thewarzone.com

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An Arizona man was arrested in May for planning a mass shooting in Atlanta targeting African Americans in the city to incite a race war.

Mark Adams Prieto is accused of selling rifles to people to provide weapons to begin a race war ahead of the 2024 Presidential Election, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.

He was indicted Tuesday by a federal grand jury, following a months-long investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and his arrest in mid-May.

An affidavit submitted in court by members of the FBIs Joint Terrorism Task Force in Phoenix, Ariz. detailed how the investigation into Prieto began in October 2023.

According to the affidavit, a reliable source reported that a man later identified as Prieto expressed a desire to incite a race war prior to the 2024 United States Presidential Election.

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The affidavit says the source told FBI agents that theyd spoken to Prieto at various gun shows over three years, eventually including political conversation.

During the past year, Prietos comments became suspicious and alarming, according to the affidavit, including advocating for a mass shooting, and specifically targeting Blacks, Jews or Muslims.

The source told FBI agents that Prieto believes that martial law will be implemented shortly after the 2024 election and that a mass shooting should occur prior to the implementation of martial law, and asked the source in late 2023 if they were ready to kill a bunch of people.

The FBI said in the affidavit that this showed Prietos desire to recruit people to help him carry out an attack.

The investigation by federal agents found that Prieto worked as a gun show vendor in Prescott, Ariz., where he sold numerous firearms from his personal collection. The source told the FBI that Prieto also likes to conduct trades off book through cash or trade to avoid possible issues or interactions with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives.

At the end of 2023, agents contacted the person running the Arizona-based Crossroads of the West gun shows, where Prieto was a vendor, who confirmed his status there, matching a description given to agents by their confidential source.

The FBI put Prieto under surveillance from January to March. At a gun show in mid-January, undercover agents met with Prieto and their confidential source.

While Prieto only made small talk with the source and undercover agents on the first day of the gun show, the next day, Prieto spoke about his plans for an attack, the affidavit says.

Prieto divulged his plan to commit crimes of violence against African Americans in Atlanta, Georgia. Specifically, Prieto told the source and undercover agents that he wanted their help to carry out a mass shooting at a yet-to-be-determined rap concert in the city, according to court documents.

According to court documents, that was when Prieto also explained why he wanted to carry out the proposed attack in Atlanta, saying:

The reason I say Atlanta. Why, why is Georgia such a [expletive]-up state now? When I was a kid that was one of the most conservative states in the country. Why is it not now? Because as the crime got worse in LA, St. Louis, and all these other cities, all the [expletives] moved out of those (places) and moved to Atlanta. Thats why it isnt so great anymore. And theyve been there for a couple, several years.

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He also said he wanted to perform the proposed attack at a rap concert because there would be a high concentration of African Americans at the event.

Part of the plan included leaving Confederate flags to send a message that were going to fight back now, and every whitey will be the enemy across the whole country, according to the affidavit.

Prieto also told the confidential source and undercover agents that he would show no mercy, no quarter, telling them that they could not have any feeling, theyre not people. Theyre monsters as far as Im concerned.

While under surveillance in February, the FBI saw Prieto go to a gun show in Phoenix, Ariz. While there, he was seen going into the gun show with two rifles and walking to the confidential sources vendor booth. When he got to the booth, he immediately asked if the source and the undercover agent were still planning to participate in his attack, the affidavit says.

On multiple occasions, the affidavit notes that Prieto made it clear the attack was racially motivated, and that he wanted it to be explicitly not a gang-related thing, saying he planned to shout KKK all the way, among other slogans and emphasizing that having a high body count of victims was the most important part of his plan, according to court documents.

In February, he sold a firearm to the undercover agent for $2,000. Later, in March, undercover agents spoke to Prieto at his vendor table at a gun show, where he told them he still planned to commit the attack in Atlanta, saying that if they waited until after the presidential election, they might have everything in place you cant even drive, youll be stopped, the documents say.

He later told the undercover agents that the targeted event would likely be a rap concert scheduled for State Farm Arena in midtown Atlanta for May 14 and May 15. Later plans involved pushing the attack back to sometime in June, according to USDOJ.

While traveling to Florida to visit his mother, USDOJ said officers stopped Prieto on Interstate 40 in mid-May.

Prieto was stopped by law enforcement driving east from Arizona through New Mexico along Interstate 40. Prieto was in possession of seven firearms and was taken into federal custody. Law enforcement then executed a search warrant at his home in Prescott. Law enforcement found more firearms in his residence, including an unregistered short-barreled rifle, USDOJ said in a statement.

Now indicted, Prieto faces charges for firearms trafficking, transfer of a firearm for use in a hate crime and possession of an unregistered firearm.

Justice officials said each conviction for trafficking firearms and transfer of firearms for a hate crime carries a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison, a fine of $250,000, or both. A conviction for Possession of an Unregistered Firearm carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, a fine of $250,000, or both. Separately, each charge could also result in a maximum of 15 years in federal prison.

Being convicted of possessing an unregistered firearm carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

A trial date for Prieto has not been set yet.

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IN OTHER NEWS:
BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 12. A new industrial zone is being created in Nakhchivan, Advisor to Azerbaijan's Economy Minister Khagani Abdullayev said during the meeting of the Azerbaijani Parliament Committee on Economic Policy, Industry, and Entrepreneurship, Trend reports.

"Two industrial parks have started functioning in Aghdam and Jabrayil. More than a thousand new jobs are expected to be created in industrial zones in Karabakh in general. In Nakhchivan, work is underway to create a new industrial zone. Moreover, the process of changing the status of the Hajigabul industrial quarter to an industrial park is underway," Abdullayev said.

''The creation of a new industrial zone has also started in Ganja,'' he added.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
Insights from the Financial Times, Politico, Nikkei Asia, and Foreign Affairs

The News

Armenias Prime Minister said on Wednesday that the South Caucasus country plans to leave the Collective Security Treaty Organization, an alliance often described as a Russias answer to NATO.

Nikol Pashinyan told the Armenian parliament that the timeline for departure was not yet finalized, but said that there is no other way. The members of the alliance are not fulfilling their contractual obligations, but are planning a war against us with Azerbaijan, he said.

Armenian officials have previously criticized Russia and the CSTO for failing to come to Armenias aid during clashes with Azerbaijan. On Wednesday, Russian peacekeeping forces completed their withdrawal from Nagorno-Karabakh, a disputed border enclave that Azerbaijan gained control of last year, marking a strategic win for Baku, according to the Russian newspaper Kommersant.

SIGNALS

Semafor Signals: Global insights on today's biggest stories.

Armenia looks for alternatives to Russia

Sources: Nikkei Asia, Politico, Just Security

Armenia is looking for new security partners, including to the West. Yerevan signed a deal to collaborate with France on air defense and held joint drills with US troops last year, but it is also looking to build ties with non-Western countries, such as India. Yet Armenias economic dependency on Russia means its complete departure from Moscows orbit does not seem realistic, an expert told Politico. Armenia will likely try to balance fostering ties with the West with the need not to incur the Kremlins wrath, two RAND analysts wrote in Just Security.

Russia loses influence in its near abroad

Sources: Carnegie Europe, European Council on Foreign Relations, Financial Times

Armenias attempt to loosen its ties to Russia is part of a wider trend of Russias neighbors pushing for greater autonomy from Moscow, Thomas de Waal wrote in Carnegie Europe. Moldova and Armenia are currently the only post-Soviet states considering a dramatic transformation of their relationship with Russia, but others are pushing for increased independence, the Caucasus expert argued. For example, Kazakhstan has distanced itself from Russias invasion of Ukraine, and strengthened its ties with China, Turkey, and the EU, according to an expert at the European Council on Foreign Relations. Across the region, Russias prestige and power are not what they were even three years ago, a Financial Times reporter said.

Concessions to Azerbaijan unpopular, but Armenia has few alternatives

Sources: Voice of America, Radio Free Europe, Reuters, Foreign Affairs

In the last few days, thousands of Armenians have taken to the streets to protest against the prime ministers concessions to Azerbaijan, demanding that the government resign. The prime ministers decision to give four abandoned villages to Baku that were part of Azerbaijan during the Soviet era sparked significant anger, as many Armenians feel they are getting little in return for significant territorial concessions. The prime minister has said a peace treaty is approaching completion. Armenia may have little choice but to push for a diplomatic resolution: Azerbaijans military is far more powerful than Armenias; it could within a matter of hours take control of swaths of Armenian territory, according to an analyst at the International Crisis Group.
YEREVAN, Armenia (AP)  The leader of Armenia on Wednesday declared his intention to pull out of a Russia-dominated security alliance of several ex-Soviet nations as tensions rise between the two allies.

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said his government will decide later when to leave the Collective Security Treaty Organization, or CSTO, a grouping that includes Russia and the former Soviet Central Asian nations of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan.

Amid the widening rift with Russia, Armenia earlier froze its participation in the alliance, canceled its involvement in joint military drills and snubbed CSTO summits.

Pashinyan said Wednesday for the first time that Armenia will leave CSTO altogether. He spoke during a question-and-answer session in parliament, saying that the government will decide later when to make the final move.

We will leave, Pashinyan said. We will decide when to leave. We won't come back, there is no other way.

Shortly after, in an apparent attempt to soften the blow to Moscow, Armenia's Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan emphasized that Pashinyan hadn't announced the full withdrawal yet.

Those who assert that the prime minister said that Armenia is withdrawing from the CSTO are mistaken, Mirzoyan said.

There was no immediate comment from Moscow.

Armenias ties with Russia, its longtime sponsor and ally, have grown increasingly strained after Azerbaijan waged a lightning military campaign in September to take the Karabakh region, ending three decades of ethnic Armenian separatist rule there.

Armenian authorities accused Russian peacekeepers who were deployed to Nagorno-Karabakh after a previous round of hostilities in 2020 of failing to stop Azerbaijans onslaught. Moscow, which has a military base in Armenia, rejected the accusations, arguing that its troops didnt have a mandate to intervene.

Speaking to lawmakers Wednesday, Pashinyan denounced the CSTO for its failure to offer protection to Armenia and alleged that some of its members sided with Azerbaijan.

It turned out that its members failed to fulfill their obligations under the treaty and planned the war against us alongside Azerbaijan, he said, without elaborating.

Russia has engaged in a delicate balancing act, trying to preserve close relations with Armenia while also maintaining warm ties with Azerbaijan and its main ally Turkey, a key economic partner for Moscow amid Western sanctions.

The Kremlin has been angered by Pashinyans efforts to deepen Armenia's ties with the West and distance his country from Moscow-dominated alliances. Russia was particularly vexed by Armenia's decision to join the International Criminal Court, which last year indicted Putin for alleged war crimes connected to Russian actions in Ukraine.

Moscow, however, has sought to downplay the differences as it focused on the war in Ukraine that has dragged into a third year.

Pashinyans move comes as he faces a wave of large protests demanding he step down over his governments decision to turn over four border villages to Azerbaijan as part of an effort to negotiate a peace agreement with its longtime adversary.

Violent clashes erupted Wednesday when thousands of protesters gathering outside the parliament building tried to break through police cordons. Demonstrators threw bottles and stones at police, who used stun grenades to ward off the crowds. About 100 people, including 17 police officers, were injured and 98 demonstrators were detained by police, officials said.

There were at least 10 journalists among the injured, and the country's Union of Journalists issued a statement condemning what it described as unproportionate police response and demanding to prosecute the culprits.
Armenian PM says his country will withdraw from Russian-led military alliance

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has announced the country's withdrawal from the Collective Security Treaty Organisation, a de facto Russian-controlled military alliance.

Source: Pashinyan during a speech in the Armenian Parliament on 12 June, writes Radio Azatutyun, as reported by European Pravda

Details: In response to an opposition MP's question about leaving the CSTO, Armenian Prime Minister Pashinyan stated that some members of the alliance failed to fulfil contractual obligations and "planned a war against us together with Azerbaijan." The Armenian Prime Minister added that they will decide when to withdraw from the CSTO.

He emphasised that Yerevan does not desire to return to the CSTO: "Do you think we'll be back? No, there are no other options. Don't worry, we're not going back."

Nikol Pashinyan has previously criticised the alliance's de facto leadership in Moscow.

He stated last month that at least two Collective Security Treaty Organisation members were assisting Azerbaijan in preparing for the war against Armenia, which began in 2020.

Journalists were later hinted that he referred to Russia and Belarus.

In early May, Armenia announced that it would no longer fund the activities of the CSTO.

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Widespread flooding brought parts of South Florida to a standstill Wednesday. The National Weather Service issued a flash flood emergency in Broward and Miami-Dade Counties through 8 p.m. ET, saying "life-threatening" and "catastrophic" flooding was possible from heavy downpours that began Tuesday.

Yahoo News spoke with Gerry Dworkin, a consultant for aquatic safety and water rescue for Lifesaving Resources, a school that provides emergency training in water safety and rescue, and Stephanie Fox, national spokesperson for the American Red Cross, about what people should know and do in the event of a flash flood. Responses have been lightly edited for length and clarity.

What do the different flood advisories mean?

Fox: Its really important for folks to know the differences between a watch, an advisory and a warning, because each is going to trigger different types of actions.

A watch traditionally means that the weather is incoming but not immediately. Its important to just be prepared and be aware of what kind of weather hazard is forthcoming.

An advisory means its probably going to occur but maybe not to the severity of a flood warning, but theres probably going to be some sort of nuisance flooding.

A warning means that the weather is imminent or its already happening, and you need to make sure that you are taking action in that moment and knowing what your action is long before that warning is actually issued.

What are some ways people can plan ahead of a flood?

Fox: You want to know what your risk area is. Do you live in an area that would typically see a high amount of water coming in, or is there maybe poor drainage in your area?

You want to stay in touch with local officials and your office of emergency management to see if any kind of evacuation order is going to be issued before this weather comes in. Certain areas that are predisposed to flooding will issue evacuation orders before that hazard arrives, knowing that once it does get there, its more of a rescue operation.

Youll want to make a plan and identify multiple ways out of your community as well as have an emergency kit, which should be able to sustain you if you are stuck in your home and not be able to go anywhere for at least two weeks.

Then youll want to have a kit that can sustain you for three days if you evacuate to a shelter, with things like food, water and creature comforts.

What are some things people should know once flooding has started?

Fox: Refer back to the plan of multiple ways out of your community, so if you do have one route that is blocked, you have other options and ways to get out.

Stay in lockstep with your office of emergency management and your local meteorologist as they talk through the current hazards and what to expect in the next several hours or days, as we kind of see flooding come and go.

And then ensure that youre leaving when you feel most comfortable doing so. You dont necessarily have to wait until an evacuation order is issued if you know you may be at risk in your community and you would feel more comfortable going to higher ground.

What should people know about flooded roadways?

Dworkin: First and foremost, we advocate to turn around, dont drown and dont attempt to drive around barriers.

If you see flooded roads, you have no idea what the integrity of the road is below the surface of the water, nor do you have any idea how fast the water is moving. It only takes 6 inches of water to take a person off their feet if theyre standing in the water, and it only takes a foot of water to float a vehicle off its wheels, and then the person has no control.

What should you do if you get swept away by floodwaters in your car?

Dworkin: If you end up in water and you need to get out of your vehicle, dont grab your phone. Dont waste any time trying to call 911, but rather what we advocate is to disengage your seat belt; open your window, because you may not be able to open your door due to the water pressure; disengage your seat belt; open your window; get children out; and get out of the vehicle as quickly as you can. The vehicle is only going to float for 30 seconds to several minutes, depending on the integrity of the vehicle seals [before the vehicle becomes submerged in water].
Reality Check is a Star series holding those with power to account and shining a light on their decisions. Have a suggestion for a future story? Email our journalists at RealityCheck@kcstar.com.

Missouri Republican Secretary of State Jay Ashcrofts campaign for governor faces a second ethics complaint alleging that it illegally coordinated with a political action committee on a letter promoting his campaign.

The complaint was filed last week by Penny Quigg, the chair of the Cole County Republican Central Committee. It asserts that Ashcrofts campaign committee, Ashcroft for Missouri, coordinated with Committee for Liberty, the PAC supporting Ashcroft, on an April 10 letter.

The letter is very likely an in-kind contribution from the PAC to Ashcrofts campaign that violates Missouris campaign finance laws, the complaint sent to the Missouri Ethics Commission alleges.

The Letter is an obviously coordinated communication, according to the complaint. Every dime Committee for Liberty spent on it is an in-kind contribution to Ashcroft for Missouri.

Ethics complaints are typically confidential. The Star obtained a copy after it was sent to the Ethics Commission.

The complaint is similar to another complaint filed against Ashcrofts campaign last month alleging that the PAC and campaign illegally coordinated on a March 8 letter. Together, the filings draw attention to the complexities of the states campaign finance laws and the outsized role that PACs  which can receive unlimited donations  play in Missouri politics.

The complaints come as Ashcroft, a Republican, faces a tightly contested primary for governor against Lt. Gov. Mike Kehoe and Sen. Bill Eigel from Weldon Spring. Eigels campaign was also hit with an ethics complaint last week, alleging several violations of campaign finance law.

Quigg said in an interview that she was asked to sign the complaint against Ashcrofts campaign by Lowell Pearson, a longtime Republican attorney with the Jefferson City-based law firm Husch Blackwell. She was critical of Ashcrofts time as secretary of state and said she supports Kehoes campaign for governor.

Its not unusual for people in Cole County for us to be asked to do stuff because were right here in the capital city, she said. The element of the issue was the coordination between the PAC and the campaign and that shouldnt be happening regardless of who the candidate is.

A copy of the complaint obtained by The Star was stamped delivered to the Ethics Commission. Quigg said she was awaiting a letter from the commission about whether the complaint was accepted.

Pearson did not immediately respond to a call and email seeking comment. The lobbying firm affiliated with Husch Blackwell has been paid for advising the PAC supporting Kehoe, according to campaign finance reports.

Ashcroft spokesperson Jason Cabel Roe shrugged off the complaint in an email to The Star.

Another Kehoe supporter, another manufactured complaint, he said.

Unlike the earlier complaint, the complaint from Quigg does not state an exact dollar amount that Ashcrofts campaign allegedly failed to report.

The April 10 letter at the center of the complaint outlines parts of Ashcrofts campaign platform, including putting St. Louis police under state control, boosting the economy and making state government accountable to taxpayers. It touts Ashcrofts lead in the polls but states that he is lagging in fundraising and asks for donations.

The letter also issues a jab at Kehoe, pointing to his support of a gas tax increase. It then goes on to champion Ashcrofts tenure as secretary of state.

Missouri law allows PACs and campaigns some level of coordination on fundraising. However, Quiggs complaint alleges that the letter egregiously advocates for Ashcrofts campaign and therefore should have been reported as a contribution to his campaign.

When one views the Letter in its totality, it is quite plain it is a piece advocating

for candidate Ashcroft and against candidates two opponents, the complaint said. The purpose of the Letter is revealed by the volume of discussion of electing candidate. Sixteen paragraphs are advocacy, while only one is fundraising.

Voters in 2016 reimposed campaign contribution limits after Missouri spent a decade as one of a very small number of states without limits. In 2020, voters also approved lower limits for state legislative candidates.

However, those limits have not taken money out of politics and have instead funneled money into PACs that are often harder to track and dont have strict limits. While PACs cant be controlled by a candidate, the committees are allowed to support or oppose ballot measures and candidates.

Jean Evans, a former executive director of the Missouri Republican Party, signaled in an interview that campaign limits have created less transparency for voters.

Voters voted to limit campaign contributions thinking that that would somehow bring greater accountability in campaigns, she said. However, it has had the opposite effect.

PACs have a large impact on statewide races in Missouri due to the amount of money needed. That money is much harder to raise through a campaign committee due to the campaign limits, Evans said.

The ethics complaints against Ashcroft and Eigel come as the Missouri Ethics Commission is relatively toothless in its ability to investigate complaints. The commission lacked a quorum until last week when Gov. Mike Parson appointed Whitney Smith of Des Peres to the commission  filling the fourth of sixth commission spots.

However, one member is still unable to attend meetings, which means that the commission remains one person short of being able to take action on complaints. The commission has taken no action on six complaints since mid-May.
ASHEVILLE - Outside of the vacant Arby's on Patton Avenue, wedged between a Starbucks and Master's Lube N' Tube, Rob Robinson watches the evening rush on Patton Avenue. The traffic light at the intersection flicks between red and green and the line of cars grows as rush hour nears.

Last October, armed with a microphone, camera, and the guts to stand on a median as cars whizzed by him, Robinson turned to YouTube to vent his frustrations about the busy road.

The video, titled "The Worst Places in American Cities Were Intentional," begins with Robinson declaring that "everyone hates this," a claim he makes near the Louisiana Avenue Patton Avenue intersection, which is generally considered one of the worst for pedestrians in Asheville.

Not long after he posted the video on YouTube, it took off  accumulating nearly 100,000 views by the end of May 2024. His channel on the platform has now surpassed 10,000 subscribers.

Rob Robinson on Patton Ave in Asheville, June 5, 2024.

"I was very surprised that people cared at all," the 24-year-old YouTuber said.

Yet, amid the highest fair market rent in North Carolina, a lack of housing supply and as the I-26 Connector project bears down on the region, Robinson's videos advocating for the reimagination of Asheville's urban landscape have struck a chord with local residents and lawmakers alike.

Robinson's videos have covered topics ranging from the infamous "stroad"-like traffic patterns on Patton Avenue and Asheville's downtown parking standards to why an Arby's hasn't been redeveloped despite being vacant for 10 years.

Until a few months ago, Robinson would've considered himself primarily an electronic musician, piecing together graphic design and video production gig work. There was no inkling of a budding career talking about Asheville's urban development or videos on Patton Avenue, and certainly no video on an Arby's that's been empty for nearly 10 years.

"I honestly didn't come into it with the belief that I could have any impact on things," Robinson said. "It was really just let me just shake people by the shoulders and be like: 'This is this is the world you live in.'"

The energy to create the videos came from a life-long interest in "comparing how things used to look versus how they look today" and a passion for watching long-form YouTube videos from video creators like CGP Grey or former-MythBuster Adam Savage.

Rob Robinson at an abandoned Arbys on Patton Ave in Asheville, June 5, 2024.

Robinson, who moved to the area from Pittsboro in 2021 to attend school, has learned about city codes and creating renderings of new developments on his own.

"That's a lot of hard work, but it was work that I had to do in order to really be able to claim any level of expertise on this issue," Robinson said.

The rapid growth of his videos has allowed Robinson to take a wild turn into what can only be described as "land use influencing," a side-gig on top of his regular work that he hopes might blossom into a new career, recently launching a Patreon, a platform that allows viewers to offer their financial support.

A ball cap, a microphone and a camera

The growth of Robinson's channel and platform has not gone unnoticed to those involved in Asheville's development policies.

After he positively spoke in support of a housing development during public comment to City Council, Mayor Esther Manheimer thanked Robinson for his "educational YouTube work." Council Member Sage Turner shared the sentiment.

Turner recently shared a short back and forth with Robinson on social media, disagreeing with his perspective on allowing more one-story buildings downtown, but also encouraging him to get involved on a city board. Since then, Turner has tuned into his work.

Rob Robinson

"It's amazing. He delivers his videos with well researched images and history, pairs them with pointed new urbanism messaging and accomplishes all this while sporting a ball cap and t-shirt and standing alone in a parking lot," Turner told the Citizen Times.

Even urban planners have chimed in to support Robinson's work. Private urban planner Joe Minicozzi compared Robinson's work to a "punk" like ethos of being able to convey uncomfortable ideas on your own.

"There's an honor in having that curiosity and applying yourself and stepping into the uncomfortable space of saying: This is awkward. This is difficult. This is silly. Why do we keep on doing the silly stuff?" Minicozzi said of Robinson's work.

"I'm tickled by his work, I think it's awesome," he continued.

Visions for the future

Robinson said he was "shocked" by the response from community members reaching out, and the engagement from city council. The engagement has come with more pressure "to be getting things right and not be getting things wrong," he said.

Not all engagement has been positive, however, with some decrying on social media that he can't comment about Asheville because he's not a native, and others poking fun at the Patton Avenue redevelopment prospects, stating "Patton is for cruising," not redevelopment, in reference to Patton Avenue cruising culture.

Rob Robinson at an abandoned Arbys on Patton Ave in Asheville, June 5, 2024.

The original Patton Avenue video received a number of responses pointing to the fact that he didn't propose a solution for the road.

But Robinson does have a vision for Patton  make it more "street like," which became the subject of subsequent follow-up videos.

"The difference between a street and a road is that: a road is for getting between places and a street is a platform for building wealth," Robinson says. In his opinion, Patton does neither particularly well right now, giving it the title of "stroad," a mix-mash of road and street.

"The answer is a mix of uses, increased density because it's a transit corridor, slow vehicle speeds and maybe the most important answer is it needs to have people who care about it enough to take care of it," Robinson said. A graphic in one of his Instagram videos imagines new side roads and new housing complexes that replace parking lots and the Arby's. One commenter noted it might be possible after the completion of the I-26 expansion project.

After explaining his vision for Patton Avenue while sitting in a Chipotle, a man sitting next to him lit up with a smile, asking: "Is your name Rob?"

The man turned his phone toward Robinson, and on the screen was one of Robinson's videos.

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Will Hofmann is the Growth and Development Reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA Today Network. Got a tip? Email him at WHofmann@citizentimes.com. Please help support this type of journalism with a subscription to the Citizen Times.

This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Asheville YouTuber highlights Patton Avenue dangers in popular videos
ASHEVILLE - The city schools board chair said June 11 that he stands behind a historic proposal that would give teachers more power in decisions over salaries, staffing levels and the budget in what would be a potential first for North Carolina.

Chair George Sieburg's support for a new policy committee follows a tumultuous period for Asheville City Schools that saw the highest teacher turnover in a state suffering a widespread teacher shortage. The period also included the tripling of membership in the Asheville City Association of Educators, making it the first North Carolina teachers' association to represent more than 50% of school staff, according to ACAE organizers. ACAE refers to itself as a union, despite long-time state anti-union laws that block public sector workers from key powers of collective bargaining and striking.

"These are folks who are working in our buildings every day. They're working with our students, and they really have a lot of insight into what's happening, and they should be part of finding some really good solutions for whatever challenges we're facing," Sieburg told the Citizen Times. "So, in that respect, I really like that concept."

Also voicing support for what ACAE calls a "Meet, Confer, Collaborate" policy was school board member Liza Kelly, who during a June 10 board meeting asked that the committee idea be added to a "theory of action" plan presented by Superintendent Maggie Fehrman.

"I would like to see that included in some portion of this as a commitment to our staff," she said.

The meeting followed a rally of about 30 ACAE members outside the district central office calling for creation of the new committee.

Asheville City Schools teachers held a rally before the school board meeting in Asheville, June 10, 2024.

Board member Amy Ray also offered a measure of support, telling the Citizen Times June 11 she fully backs "a close working relationship" with ACAE.

"We will have to negotiate exactly what a meet-and-confer process or policy will include," Ray said.

Board members Sarah Thornburg, Rebecca Strimer and James Carter did not respond to requests for comment. Board member Jesse Warren declined to comment, saying he wanted to learn more about the idea.

What teachers want

The change presented by the teachers would create a committee of up to 10 members with an even number of association members as well as members appointed by the superintendent. Co-chairs would oversee monthly meetings on policies covering pay, professional development, staffing levels, workload, personnel policies, the budget, student learning, classroom conditions and more.

The superintendent would provide the committee with budget numbers, student data and other information within five days of requests and policy recommendations would advance with a majority vote to the school board for final decisions. It would be the first such committee in the state, according to local and state teacher association officials. A similar committee exists in Alabama, ACAE President Tim Lloyd said.

Asheville City Schools teachers held a rally before the school board meeting in Asheville, June 10, 2024, outside the central district office. They are calling for a new policy that would give teachers more power in decisions over salaries, staffing levels and the budget.

Fehrman agreed to recognize the ACAE as an employee representative organization, they said. But ACAE members said Fehrman in a meeting with them rejected many components, such as the makeup of the committee, how it would advance recommendations and how quickly she would respond to requests for information.

Responding to the Citizen Times, the superintendent said the positions she took were part of a negotiation.

"I am eager to work alongside ACEA and identify ways to support all our staff. The response I provided ACAE leaders is the initial step in that work," she said.

Fehrman said there already is an Educator Advisory Council that she meets with monthly for feedback and also noted that there are many staff that are not association members.

Asheville Board of Education Chair George Sieberg, left, and Asheville City Schools Superintendent Maggie Fehrman, listen at a March 2024 school board meeting. Sieberg voiced support this week for a new policy that would give teachers more power in decisions over salaries, staffing levels and the budget.

"As the superintendent, I need to ensure that policies and procedures are equitable and supportive for every staff member regardless of their affiliation with an organization," she said.

Speakers at the rally noted pressures teachers faced, such as state money given to private schools in the form of vouchers  rather than to public schools  the high cost of living and local decisions to close schools such as the district's Montford North Star Academy. A majority of the district's parent-teacher organizations, or PTOs, supported the committee as a way to deal with these issues, supporters said. Incoming Claxton Elementary PTO Co-President Carolyn Small said the change would lead to "better outcomes."

"Asheville City Schools employees belong at the center of decision-making about whether the very real challenges facing our district," she said.

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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: Asheville school board chair backs historic increase in teacher powers
ASTANA, Kazakhstan, June 12. President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev expressed his support for the initiative to hold the first Central Asia - South Korea summit in Seoul in 2025, proposed by his South Korean counterpart Yoon Suk Yeol, Trend reports.

"We agreed to further develop dialogue in the Central Asia - South Korea format. Kazakhstan supports the Republic of Korea's K-Silk Road concept. We discussed this issue in detail during todays negotiations. I endorse the Korean side's proposal to hold the first summit in this format next year in Seoul. This initiative will give a new boost to bilateral and multilateral cooperation," President Tokayev stated during a briefing after the talks.

The leaders also exchanged views on international and regional issues. "We shared our concerns about ongoing conflicts worldwide. We emphasized the need to resolve conflicts through dialogue and diplomacy, in strict adherence to the UN Charter and international law. We explored ways to improve approaches to ensuring global security and peace," Tokayev added.

Meanwhile, President Yoon Suk Yeol embarked on his trip to Central Asia on June 10.

As part of this visit, South Korea intends to convene a six-party summit with Central Asian nations next year, including Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, and Kyrgyzstan, with the initial round of meetings to be hosted in South Korea.
GREEN BAY, Wis. (WFRV)  Officials at the Austin Straubel International Airport (GRB) celebrated five years of fun and flying for local travelers on Frontier Airlines on Wednesday.

Airport officials held a special event with themed giveaways, themed candy items, cut-out displays of animals that appear on the tails of Frontier planes, and more.

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We were very excited to welcome Frontier to Green Bay Austin Straubel International Airport (GRB) in 2019, said Airport Director Marty Piette, A.A.E. We knew this low-fare carrier, offering seasonal nonstop flights would be extremely popular with local travelers, but it has exceeded our expectations, Piette adds that Frontier has responded to support for its flights by extending service for additional months as well as the days services are offered. Currently, Frontier is offering nonstop service to/from GRB to Denver International Airport (DEN).

Green Bay Austin Straubel International Airport has been a great partner for Frontier Airlines, stated Josh Flyr, vice president of network operations and design at Frontier Airlines. We appreciate the support of the team at GRB as well as area residents who are taking full advantage of our Low Fares Done Right. The recently introduced New Frontier, featuring upfront, transparent, bundled pricing options, no change or cancellation fees when purchasing a bundle, and enhanced customer service, provide even more reasons to fly Frontier.

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Brown County Executive Troy Streckenbach stated, We are pleased Frontier Airlines chose GRB for service and continues to serve our airport and local travelers. Its a direct reflection of our regions strong economy and support for the airport.

The anniversary celebration was held prior to Frontiers 1:46 p.m. flight from Green Bay to Denver.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
(Bloomberg) -- Australia is realistic about the challenges in its diplomatic relationship with Beijing, Treasurer Jim Chalmers said, as the country prepares for the first visit by a Chinese premier in more than seven years.

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While ties between the trading partners had been on a steadier footing over the past two years, the government wasnt naive or unrealistic about the challenges of managing what is a complex relationship, Chalmers said on the sidelines of the Morgan Stanley Australia Summit in Sydney.

Our job is to engage, to do that in a meaningful and respectful way, to speak up for and stand up for our national interest when thats necessary, but overwhelmingly to manage that relationship in the interests of our people and our economy, the Treasurer told Bloomberg Television. I think we have made some good progress there.

Premier Li Qiang will visit Australia for four days starting Saturday, touring Adelaide, Canberra and Perth as part of the most high-profile diplomatic trip by a Chinese official to the country since relations began to deteriorate in 2017.

While the visit is the latest sign of warming relations between Australia and China, both countries are facing strategic and political tensions across a range of fronts, from strengthening security ties between Canberra and Washington to the global struggle over critical mineral supply chains.

Beijing has been pushing for Chinese businesses to be given greater access to Australias critical minerals sector over the past year with little success. Earlier this month, Chalmers ordered a China-linked investor to divest its stake in a rare earths miner.

Weve been very upfront about our interest here, and where we need to advance our interests well do so, whether its in the foreign investment review board process or in other ways, Chalmers said. We see critical minerals really as the opportunity of the century for Australia.

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By Kirsty Needham and Lucy Craymer

SYDNEY/WELLINGTON (Reuters) - Regional security concerns will overshadow lucrative trade ties when China's Premier Li Qiang visits New Zealand and Australia this week, with the mood markedly different from the last Chinese premier's visit seven years ago.

Li arrives in New Zealand on Thursday, before travelling to Australia at the weekend, China's foreign ministry said.

Australia is the top supplier of iron ore to China, its largest trading partner, but there is competition for Australia's rare earths needed for electric vehicles and defence from Western security allies.

New Zealand was the first Western nation to strike a free trade agreement with China in 2008, and China remains its largest export market for milk and agriculture products, with two-way trade of nearly NZ$38 billion ($23 billion).

New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said Li's visit was an opportunity for businesses to strike deals, and there was "massive areas of cooperation with China, particularly in the areas of trade, energy, climate change".

Differences would also be discussed, he added.

Once a moderate voice on China, New Zealand has toughened its stance, this year calling out Beijing for hacking the country's parliament and noting the growing threat China poses to security in the Pacific.

"Since 2017, the relationship has moved from one which was primarily focused on opportunity to one that is also concerned about resilience and over-dependency," said Jason Young, director of the New Zealand Contemporary China Research Centre at Victoria University.

China's ambassador, Wang Xiaolong, last month told a China Business Summit in Auckand that Beijing was not a threat, cautioning against "groundless accusations, which would erode the precious trust we have built up".

PANDA DIPLOMACY

In Australia, Li first visits the city of Adelaide, where a panda pair are due to return to China but locals are anticipating their stay to be extended or replacements to be sent.

The panda diplomacy, and lunch with wine exporters until recently shut out of the Chinese market, will smooth over a political dispute that saw A$20 billion ($13 billion) in Australian agriculture and mineral exports suspended by Beijing between 2020 and last year.

A poll released on Wednesday by the Australia China Relations Institute in Sydney showed the fallout of the trade blocks was deep public mistrust: 74% said Australia was too economically reliant on China, and 71% saw Beijing as a security threat.

Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has said Li's visit shows ties had stabilised, even as the two nations compete for influence in the Pacific, and defence force encounters are tense.

Australia and China will sit down in Canberra with a "more realistic attitude of what they have in common", said Richard McGregor, Lowy Institute senior fellow for East Asia.

"China still sees value in Australia as a reliable supplier of commodities and they are especially keen to head off any efforts to restrict their access to critical minerals, from rare earths to lithium," he said.

While China was Australia's biggest customer and an early investor in its mining sector, the U.S., Japan and Europe are catching up and now want Canberra to restrict Chinese investment, he said.

"But how do you cut off your biggest customer? And will Australia's friends make up for the lost income and investment?"

In Western Australia, Li is expected to tour Chinese company Tianqi Lithium's processing plant, and Australian mining and energy company Fortescue.

In an opinion article published in The Australian on Wednesday, Albanese underscored both the importance of trade with China and his government's ambition to cater to global demand for critical minerals with a "made in Australia" policy.

"As more nations draw an explicit link between their economic security and their national security, we will ensure Australia's foreign investment framework is more efficient and transparent and more effective at managing risk," he wrote.

Businessman Warwick Smith, who will attend a business leaders roundtable with Li and Albanese in Western Australia, said China was likely to raise Australia's screening of foreign investment, particularly rare earths, as an issue where it wanted partnership.

Australia China Business Council president David Olsson said the council expects China's remaining trade ban, on seafood, to be lifted, and also hoped for an easing of visas.

"There is a real need for Australian businesspeople to reconnect and refresh their relationships in China," he said.

($1 = 1.6284 New Zealand dollars, or 1.5124 Australian dollars)

(Reporting by Kirsty Needham in Sydney and Lucy Craymer in Wellington; Editing by Lincoln Feast.)
BECKLEY, WV (WVNS)  Tony Martin said on Tuesday, June 11, 2024, that he and a business partner opened The Axehole, a venue which offers beer and wine and allows patrons to throw axes at wooden bullseyes, on Neville Street after seeing a similar business in another state in 2021.

He said they invested around $80,000 for renovations, hiring his partners family-owned construction business and buying material from the local Means Lumber store.

Martin said they have a good landlord, the local Harper Rentals, and that they have paid $3,000 a month, or about $100,000, on rent.

That money came right out of The Axehole and into our economy, Martin said.

Martin announced that he was being forced to close The Axehole, after around three years in existence.

Martin made the announcement days after Clint Blunt, the owner of Vinyl Tracks, a Prince Street record shop, announced the record store was closing.

Martin said the decision to close The Axehole was heart-wrenching.

When I look at Fruits of Labor getting a million dollars to supplement their rent, its like why bother? Why take this risk? Martin asked rhetorically. Right?

Martin was referring to Fruits of Labor Cafe, a business situated across the street and just up the block.

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The cafe is a for-profit but has a nationally recognized non-profit arm which trains and employs those addicted to opioids through the non-profit Seed Sower Inc., a womens residential treatment program which shares a space inside of Fruits of Labor.

The City of Beckley owns the Fruits of Labor building and, as of Tuesday, had allowed the business to operate without paying rent for around two years.

Beckley Common Council was in the process of setting a lease agreement on Tuesday.

Owner Tammy Jordan had said city officials (not members of Council) had, before she moved into the building, promised she would pay $1,000 a month in rent.

City officials are also set to grant Fruits of Labor a million dollars in opioid funding monies to help pay the lease.

Beckley officials have said that the goal with establishing Fruits of Labor in downtown was to help address the opioid problem in southern West Virginia and to promote business development in the citys downtown.

Martin said on Tuesday that, in his opinion, the citys plan was failing.

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He said Fruits of Labor is only open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., which doesnt offer an option to dinner crowds and doesnt draw foot traffic to the area throughout the day.

Martin posed a question: If the city can afford to subsidize the lease for Fruits of Labor, why couldnt public funds be used to help incubate other newly-formed businesses in downtown buildings for the first six months?

So when I hear that Fruits of Labor is here for economic development, my question is how? said Martin. If I had free rent, it would be no problem for me to stay open all day. Because at that point, what revenue I was generating could pay my employees.

He said the city has also failed to address a number of unemployed people who loiter along downtown streets and deter paying customers.

At-Large Councilman Cody Reedy, an incumbent, said on Tuesday that he does not believe public funds should be used to subsidize rent as a way of revitalizing downtown.

I dont think thats a possibility, Councilman Reedy said. I was fully against Fruits of Labor not having a lease. I wasnt in favor of them even moving in the building without a lease agreement.

Reedy said a lease will be developed with Fruits of Labor for use of the city building in the near future.

Vinyl Tracks on Prince Street in Beckley is now closed

He said he understands Martins frustrations, particularly with the lack of paying customers coming into downtown Beckley.

The obvious is the street problems we have with wandering people, whether theyre homeless or not, said Reedy. The foot traffic downtown needs to be switched up to good foot traffic of customers and citizens.

Martin said he would like to see the Beckley Code Enforcement office develop more flexible guidelines for business owners who are moving into downtown buildings.

Councilman Reedy said many of the guidelines are adopted from state standards but added that it could be possible for the citys elected officials to work with code enforcement officers in some ways to promote business growth.

Martin also said the City of Beckley utilizes the city-owned Historic Black Knight for city events, rather than doing business with downtown small businesses, such as The Axehole, which could use the support.

He pointed out that, in addition to Historic Black Knight, the city operates Raleigh Theatre on Neville Street, across from The Axehole.

Martin said the theater draws a crowd during shows, supplying downtown businesses with customers, but he said that the city had set booking fees which are too high for many art groups to afford, decreasing foot traffic to The Axehole.

Martin said that city officials could lower booking fees for art groups and the public, since tax dollars are already being paid to the building.

Beckley Common Council is soon set to begin operating with a strong council and with a majority of new Council members.

Martin said he hopes Council will consider input from business owners.

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Veteran Democratic strategist David Axelrod predicted Hunter Bidens conviction on federal gun charges wont likely have a massive impact on voters opinion of President Biden, but warned the case could have a toll on the president personally.

Hunter Biden was convicted Tuesday on 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 focused significantly on his past addiction to crack cocaine, and featured testimony from multiple current and former Biden family members.

What normal human being would not be torn apart to see his familys anguish played out in a courtroom in front of the world? Axelrod, a former top adviser to then-President Obama and a political commentator, told The Washington Post.

And to see people you love having to testify, not just your son, but your daughters-in-law and your granddaughter, all reliving the most painful moments of their lives  who wouldnt be shattered by that?

First lady Jill Biden repeatedly attended Hunter Bidens trial in Delaware ahead of the verdict Tuesday. President Biden is visiting Delaware on Tuesday evening, the White House announced after the verdict was revealed.

I dont think voters are going to hold Biden accountable for his sons addiction or his sons misbehavior, Axelrod continued to the Post. But I think the real question is the toll it takes on him and his family.

The verdict has been met with mixed reactions from conservatives, with some pointing to it as a distraction from former President Trumps conviction, which they see as unjust, and others highlighting it as part of broader GOP claims about the Biden family.

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, with that trial set to begin in September.

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BA passengers stuck on nine-hour flight to nowhere after minor fault

The British Airways passenger jet flew from Heathrow to Heathrow  via Newfoundland - Steve Parsons/PA

Passengers were stuck on a nine-hour flight to nowhere after a British Airways plane from London to Texas was forced to turn around in mid-air.

The flight departed from Heathrow Airport at 10am on Monday and had reached Newfoundland, Canada, when a minor technical issue forced it to turn back.

It meant passengers on flight BA195 travelled 4,834 miles only to arrive back in the UK at 7pm.

BA apologised to customers for the disruption and rebooked them on alternative flights to Houston.

Warning message

The plane had been approaching Canada when one of its Rolls-Royce Trent engines flagged a warning message, The Times reported.

It is not believed to have posed an immediate safety risk, but the crew chose to return to the UK to carry out inspection and engineering work.

A spokesman for BA told The Times: The flight returned to London Heathrow as a precaution due to a minor technical issue.

It landed safely and customers disembarked as normal. Weve apologised to our customers for the disruption to their journey.

An earlier problem

The same aircraft was forced to make a diversion in October when a passengers mobile phone fell into a seat and began filling the cabin with smoke.

On that occasion, the jet was flying from Tokyo to London. It was forced to divert to Anchorage, Alaska, and passengers arrived in the UK 33 hours late.

In January, another BA plane was forced to turn around three hours into a flight to Delhi and return to the UK after seven hours in the air.

The term flight to nowhere refers to an aircraft that takes off from and returns to the same airport.

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A Florida jury ordered Chiquita Brands International on Monday to pay $38.3 million to the families of eight victims of a Colombian paramilitary group that "murdered innocent victims." Chiquita said it plans to appeal, stating there are "no legal basis for these claims." File Photo by Aaron Kehoe/UPI

June 12 (UPI) -- After 17 years of litigation, banana producer Chiquita Brands International has been found liable for financing a Colombian paramilitary group that "murdered innocent victims."

A Florida jury in the civil case ordered Chiquita on Monday to pay $38.3 million to the families of eight victims of the paramilitary group United Self-Defense Groups Columbia, or AUC, which was designated a terrorist group by the United States and disbanded in 2006, according to Stanford University's Mapping Militants Project.

"Chiquita knowingly provided substantial assistance to the AUC to a degree sufficient to create a foreseeable risk of harm to others," the jury in the Southern District of Florida found.

EarthRights originally filed the case in July 2007, "accusing Chiquita of financing torture, war crimes and other human rights abuses."

"Chiquita made regular monthly payments, totaling more than $1.7 million to security forces controlled by AUC, a brutal paramilitary organization known for mass killing and designated by the U.S. government as a terrorist organization. That designation made supporting the AUC a federal crime," EarthRights said in a statement.

Chiquita pleaded guilty to funding the group between 1997 and 2004, following an inquiry by the U.S. Justice Department, but had not compensated the families of those murdered. The company, which claimed the payments were "security services," settled with the Justice Department in 2007 and paid a $25 million fine for funding terrorism.

According to court documents, an unnamed Chiquita executive had told the Justice Department it was forced to pay the AUC under threat of violence.

"Chiquita's claim that it was forced to support the terrorists because it was itself the victim of extortion was a defense expressly rejected by the jury," Searcy Law, which represented the AUC victims and their families, wrote in a statement.

"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 of EarthRights International General Counsel.

According to EarthRights, Monday's ruling marks the "first time that an American jury has held a U.S. corporation liable for complicity in serious human rights abuses in another country."

In response, Chiquita said it plans to appeal.

"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 to CNN. "While we are disappointed by the decision, we remain confident that our legal position will ultimately prevail."

A second case against Chiquita brought by another group of plaintiffs is scheduled to start next month.
Blood Bananas

Chiquita Brands International is being forced to pay out tens of millions of dollars to the families of people slain by a paramilitary force in Colombia that it funded.

As the Washington Post reports, a federal court in Florida has ruled that the company known for its cheery vintage banana jingle must pay $38.3 million to the families of eight men killed by the United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia (AUC)  a designated terrorist group known for its violent human rights abuses, of which the company was aware.

Back in 2007, Chiquita pleaded guilty in a federal case brought by the Department of Justice to paying the AUC $1.7 million for protection against left-wing groups that allegedly threatened its operations in the South American country in the late 1990s and early 2000s. The DOJ characterized the company's support of the AUC as "prolonged, steady, and substantial."

Marissa Vahlsing, the director of the EarthRights non-governmental organization that brought the case on behalf of the victims' families, told WaPo that the company paid the AUC "even though they knew at the time that these groups were carrying out massacres against any civilian or any suspected sympathizer of left-wing ideas."

Trial Balloon

While Chiquita claimed during this most recent trial that it was "clearly extorted" by the AUC, jurors in the South Florida court weren't convinced that the company had offered sufficient evidence for that allegation in this first of two so-called "bellwether" trials that will help determine the company's liability in the hundreds of similar claims made against it.

Despite admitting more than 15 years ago to making the hefty payments to the group, the company maintains its innocence and said it's planning to appeal the decision.

"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," Chiquita said in a statement to WaPo. "However, that does not change our belief that there is no legal basis for these claims."

Chiquita's legal maneuvering, however, does not deter the sense of justice felt by Agnieszka Fryszman, the chair of the Cohen Milstein human rights practice who brought the case on behalf of the victims' families.

"Our clients risked their lives to come forward to hold Chiquita to account," Fryszman said in a statement released by the firm. "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."

More on terrorism: Researchers Say Russia Is Using AI to Predict Terrorism at Paris Olympics
Bastrop could be the next Texas town to decriminalize low-level marijuana offenses

BASTROP, Texas (KXAN)  Bastrop could be the next Central Texas town to see a marijuana decriminalization measure go in front of voters.

Inspired by a recent effort in Lockhart, Desiree Venable, whos running for the Texas House of Representatives in District 17, is collecting signatures to get a measure in front of voters this fall that, if passed, would decriminalize low-level marijuana offenses in the city.

Weve only been doing this for less than two weeks, and we have over 200 signatures so far. So were pretty well on track, Venable said.

Venable is running against incumbent Rep. Stan Gerdes for House District 17. Gerdes didnt respond to our request for comment.

Venable said she needs the signatures of 5% of registered voters in Bastrop, which is around 400 signatures, to get the question in front of voters.

Were going to shoot for 600 to be safe, she added.

This effort follows successful campaigns in several cities across Texas, including San Marcos and Austin. But getting on the ballot does not ensure anything changes. For one, voters may reject the measure, as they did in Lubbock earlier this month.

Additionally, cities where voters have approved the ballot are getting pushback from the state. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton previously announced hes suing five of the cities where voters approved these marijuana decriminalization measures, arguing these measures violate Texas law.

If you get a marijuana conviction, it can have federal implications, student loan implications, it can cause you to have a criminal record. And while some people overlook it, others dont, said David Sergi, a Cannabis Attorney.

Sergi said since the U.S. Congress passed the 2018 farm bill  that, among other things, legalized hemp production  he has seen fewer people getting convicted for marijuana offenses than before.

He said he supports the decriminalization efforts that have caught fire across Central Texas cities.

Some states are mass pardoning people which I think is a great idea  especially for low level. It just makes sense, he said.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin.
Senator Tolentino cites peace as the foundation of development

Lucena City, Quezon - Senate Majority Leader Francis 'Tol' Tolentino highlighted the importance of achieving peace to sustain national progress in his keynote speech at the Quezon Province Peace Summit 2024, which was held in conjunction with the province's 126th Independence Day celebration.

Addressing Quezon public officials led by Governor Angelina 'Doktora Helen' Tan, Vice Governor Anacleto 'Third' Alcala III, and representatives from the armed forces, police, and national government agencies, Tolentino expressed gratitude to the province for being among the first in the country to eliminate insurgency in their localities.

"This demonstrates that the government firmly believes that the proper foundation for development is peace," Tolentino stated

"Itong provincial peace summit na ito na ginagawa ay hindi lamang para sa Quezon kundi para sa kapayapaan. Ito ang adhikain natin para sa kaunlaran, katatagan, sa kinabukasan ng ating mga kababayan," he concluded.
ASTANA, Kazakhstan, June 12. Kazakhstan's KazMunayGas (KMG, the national oil and gas company) discussed prospects for cooperation in the oil and gas sector with the Democratic Republic of the Congo, in particular with its Societe Nationale des Petroles du Congo (SNPC, the Congo's national oil company), Trend reports.

According to Kazakh Company, these issues were discussed during the meeting of Chairman of the Management Board of KazMunayGas Askhat Khassenov in Astana with the personal representative of the President of the Republic of Congo for strategic issues and international cooperation Francoise Joly, as well as Director General of the SNPC Maixent Raoul Ominga.

During the meeting, the head of KazMunayGas spoke about the company's activities, in particular the ongoing work to expand the resource base, increase production efficiency, and develop oil refining and petrochemistry, noting that reforms have been carried out in the country to attract investment in exploration and petrochemistry.

In turn, representatives of the Congo said that their country is the third (after Nigeria and Angola) largest player in the oil and gas sector in Africa.

They noted that SNPC actively cooperates with international companies (TotalEnergies, Chevron, Eni, etc.) and intends to attract new investments in order to maximize the potential of its projects in the energy sector.

The parties exchanged views on the prospects for cooperation in various areas of the oil and gas sector, including trade in oil and petroleum products, human capital development, and other areas, and also agreed to work out the signing of a cooperation agreement between KMG and SNPC.

Meanwhile, SNPC, established in April 1998, is a state-owned industrial and commercial entity under the Ministry of Hydrocarbons of the Republic of Congo, tasked with managing all assets and representing the state's interests in contractual relationships with third parties.
Its a worthy idea on paper. In The Documentary: Whose Truth? (BBC Sounds), four Nobel Prize-winners speak about the dangers of misinformation in their fields, from journalism to war. Listeners, though, might feel short-changed.

The series begins next week, but is already up on Sounds to binge in any order, so I started with an episode on climate change denial, featuring Paul Nurse. Sir Paul is a widely respected figure, but a slightly odd booking here, being a geneticist rather than a climate scientist. (His Nobel, back in 2021, was for work on protein molecules, though he commissioned a climate report some years ago for the Royal Society.) I wondered if the producers had tried and failed to get hold of the scientists who were made Nobel laureates in 2021 for their work on climate modelling.

Still, Nurse was able to speak in broad, general terms about the scientific method. What dogmatic climate change deniers sometimes forget, he said, is that sciences central pillar is to constantly attack your own ideas and your own position.

He had good points to make, but was bizarrely only given about four minutes to make them, being squeezed in as one voice among five in a 17-minute episode. When youve got hold of a Nobel laureate for each episode, underusing them in this way feels like a colossal missed opportunity.

Any one of the other guest climate-experts could have filled the episode on their own. Instead, this quarter-hour jumped frantically between them, trying to cover everything from UK schools, where pupils are surprisingly being encouraged to re-educate their teachers, to farms in Uganda, where activist Nyombi Morris is trying to convince local sceptics that flooding is, in fact, down to environmental factors, and not the punishment meted out by an angry god.

Episodes on Covid vaccines and the Russia-Ukraine war were stronger, having a narrower scope. The propaganda in the latter was harrowing: the Russian Defence Ministry kept denying that the Bucha massacre happened, even after satellite images showed the masses of dead bodies were visible from space.

An episode about the online abuse used to smear female journalists reminded us that social media is a cesspit  but simply didnt have space to debate solutions. Its a series as well-intentioned as it is frustrating.

Author Max Porter - Geoff Pugh/The Telegraph

Some problems just cant be solved in a quarter of an hour. Those bitesized slots beloved of radio commissioners rarely give us the full picture. At best, theyre an intriguing snapshot  which is exactly what author Max Porter (Shy, Grief is the Thing with Feathers, Lanny) gives us in each 15-minute chapter of his new novella-for-radio, The Photographer (Radio 4). Its a captivating study of guilt, in blacks, whites and greys.

Across five episodes, a depressive photographer retells the story of his life in slant fashion, by closely describing five of the shots that made him famous. The way he speaks about them  slowly, carefully, drawing our attention to one detail after another  youll be convinced youve seen them before. The last photo, were tantalisingly told at the beginning, shows the death of his closest friend; for the how and why, youll have to wait till the final part.

Porter tried something similar with his short, strange book The Death of Francis Bacon, which presented each chapter as a stream-of-consciousness portrait of the artist. As surreal and nightmarish as Bacons own paintings, it wasnt an easy read.

The Photographer couldnt be more different. Like its subject, its outwardly straightforward  this point-and-click protagonist isnt given to philosophising. His specialism, he tells us, is: The weird emptiness. The shocked after. The awkward before. Hes famous for black-and-white war scenes, but happiest when shooting giant metal beasts crouched over unremarkable English fields I took that nice shot of Jodrell Bank in the electrical storm.

Hes been taking EMDR therapy: The moving pen thing, you know? Not hypnotism, just repetition. We hear that exact line in more than one episode  both a concession to the mini-recaps required by the radio serial format, and a sly joke about repetition.

The prose is self-consciously poetic at times  Porters tends to be  but always believably in keeping with the characters voice. If the odd line sounds obvious or heavy-handed (I have become my camera, he declares), the man himself rings true. This is largely due to the narrator, Blackadders Tim McInnerny, who gives a performance so brilliantly grounded and quietly despairing it might finally banish my mental picture of him in silly tights as Lord Percy once and for all.

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Registered voters in Beaufort and Jasper Counties helped place four candidates on the November general election ballot alongside former president Donald Trump and President Joe Biden at the top of the ticket.

U.S. House. District 1

Shortly after 8:30 p.m. and with 30% of the precincts reported, The Associated Press called the Republican primary for incumbent Rep. Nancy Mace.

This was the race garnering outsized state-wide and national attention and resulted in the Trump and McMaster-backed incumbent turning aside challenges from Republicans Catherine Templeton and Bill Young.

With 100% of precincts reporting and 49,805 votes counted on the states election website, Mace maintained her evening-long lead at 57% over Templetons 29% and Youngs 13%. The races split locally with Beaufort County voters largely mirroring the district-wide percentages.

After being declared the Republican winner at her campaign event in Charleston, Mace had some sharp comments for her general election challenger, Michael B. Moore, It sounds like the Democrats elected Bernie Bro so I look forward to educating Lowcountry voters in South Carolina what socialism is because thats what my opponent is going to represent. Her comments clearly suggesting a similarity between Moore and Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders.

On the Democratic side, Moore defeated Mac Deford 51% to 48% with a total of 21,081 votes counted. This earned Moore a spot to take on the Republican winner Mace in November. In Beaufort County, voters gave Deford a 60% to 40% lead against Moore but the rest of the district didnt agree and carried Moore into the final lead by 3%.

Moores press release issued shortly after 9 p.m. thanked supporters and added, This November, we have a real shot at replacing Nancy Mace and finally delivering for the Lowcountrys working families in Congress. He wasnt shy about starting his general election campaign with some pointed messaging at Mace, The good people of this district deserve a dedicated representative in Washington who prioritizes their needs and gets real results  not a Donald Trump acolyte focused on booking Fox News appearances and banning IVF.

The SC District 1 runs from north of McClellanville and includes Charleston, Hilton Head Island, Beaufort and Bluffton.

U.S. House. District 6

With 100% of the precincts counted, Republican Duke Buckner defeated Justin Scott 55% to 44% to win the partys nomination. Buckner will face 16-term incumbent Jim Clyburn in November. Clyburn has held that seat since 1993 and ran uncontested in this primary.

Buckner battled Scott to a nearly dead heat in Jasper County where a 11 vote margin of victory went to Buckner and his 938 supporters. Scott registered 927.

Buckner is from Walterboro and according to his website he is a, a 1994 Graduate of South Carolina State University. Mr. Buckner began his career as a 7th grade English teacher at Colleton Middle School. He then taught 11th grade American Literature at Walterboro High School . Mr. Buckner left the school system to start the first African-American owned and operated weekly newspaper in Colleton County....Mr. Buckner received his J.D. from Nova Southeastern University Shepard Broad Law Center in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida in 2007. As an attorney, Mr. Buckner began his legal career as a public defender fighting for the legal rights of indigent people in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.

SC State House, District 122

With 100% of the precincts reporting Audrey Hopkins-Williams defeated Johnny Lee Jackson Jr. by a wide margin of 62% to 37%. There were 2,877 votes counted in this race.

According to her Facebook page, Hopkins-Williams lives in Estill and works for the town of Gifford. She will face Republican incumbent Bill Hager for the State House of Representatives, District 122 seat in November. Hager lives in Hampton and is a retired engineer. He has held the seat since November of 2022.
A lot of things happened. Here are some of the things. This is TPMs Morning Memo. Sign up for the email version.

A Never-Ending Stream Of Disinformation

A year and half after Republicans captured the House majority, Im still not sure it has sunk in how all-encompassing their effort has been to yoke the powers of the lower chamber to the Trump Republican Partys 2024 electoral aims.

In particular, House Republicans have done a phenomenal job of taking advantage of the existing constructs and conceits of traditional journalistic outlets to peddle their disinformation campaign.

Investigations, contempt of Congress, and impeachment have been rolled out one after the other by the GOP House. We know the predictably slavish and uncritical amplification these efforts get in right-wing media. But more mainstream news outlets continue to be hobbled by their own institutional and competitive imperatives to cover these House machinations with the same breathless procedural myopia that they would bring to their news coverage if these were legitimate legislative efforts grounded in facts, evidence, and some modicum of good faith.

The House GOP keeps running the same tricks up the flagpole, and mainstream outlets continue to salute. The latest gambit is to hold Attorney General Merrick Garland in contempt for failing to turn over to Congress audio recordings of President Bidens interview with Special Counsel Robert Hur in his classified documents investigation.

But the particular flavor of the latest gambit hardly matters, or is at least secondary to the broader pattern. Institutionally, it remains incredibly difficult for news outlets to conclude that these are bad faith efforts and adjust their coverage accordingly. Even harder still seems to be placing these efforts in the larger disinformation ecosystem created by Trump Republicans and contextualizing each episode accordingly.

Good disinformation coverage exists at the mainstream outlets. The WaPo published a strong example just yesterday. But the disinformation coverage tends to exist separate and apart from the political coverage, especially Hill coverage, which is its own beast and operates according to long-held traditions.

The James Comers and Jim Jordans of the world have been churning out disinformation at a staggering rate since even before they won the majority. But each story they package exists in its own little universe in the media coverage instead of as another in the long and never-ending stream of disinformation.

That larger pattern tells its own story, one that is a much clearer distillation of the House GOP effort to tear down and delegitimize Joe Biden, his administration, their top officials, and their agenda items while elevating Donald Trump. Its going to continue right on through Election Day but without the coverage ever coming to grips with whats actually happening.

A For Effort

Its impossible to debunk each and every falsehood, half truth, and conspiracy ginned up by MAGA world  and thats largely the point of their exercise. But MSNBCs Lisa Rubin does a nice job deconstructing the false notion that President Biden was pulling the strings on the prosecution of Trump in the New York hush-money case.

In The Aftermath Of Tina Peters

A really good read from TPMs Khaya Himmelman on the effort to repair the damage that former Mesa County, Colorado clerk Tina Peters did while spewing lies about the 2020 election.

Our Work Continues

I wrote at length yesterday about the Hunter Biden conviction, but let me note one other bit of news from yesterday. In his post-verdict news conference, Hunter Bidens bespoke Special Counsel David Weiss said, Our work continues. That suggests that even with one trial done and another scheduled for the fall in California, the investigation of Hunter Biden is not done. Whether thats FARA-related or connected to other business dealings is not clear.

Bannon Makes Final Push To Avoid Prison

With his July 1 deadline to report to prison looming, former Trump White House aide Steve Bannon filed an emergency motion with the DC Circuit to allow him to remain free while he seek Supreme Court review of his case.

House Dems Prep Resistance Playbook

Semafor:

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.

AP:

Kevin Roberts, the president of The Heritage Foundation and Heritage Action for America, scoffed at the unserious effort and said the left is in a frenzy as Project 2025 tries to wrest control of the federal bureaucracy. Project 2025 will not be stopped, Roberts said in a statement. He said the Democrats fighting Project 2025 are more than welcome to try. We will not give up and we will win.

Seems Reasonable

Reps. Jamie Raskin (D-MD) and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) are proposing to impose on Supreme Court justices the same $50 cap on gifts that members of Congress are subject to:

Raskin: Under what circumstances would a Supreme Court justice be accepting millions of dollars in foreign travel or paid tuition or a recreational vehicle? We want a $50 gift ban for justices. They make $300k a year. Pay for your own lunch and vacation pic.twitter.com/LT7NC0jMKM  Acyn (@Acyn) June 12, 2024

In Case You Need A Primer 

I cant imagine anyone who reads TPM needs the barebones survey of the Christian Right that the NYT published, pegged to the secret recording of Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito and his wife, but here it is just in case.

What Makes Them Think They Cant Trust Trump?

WaPo: Some abortion opponents worry about Trumps Republican platform rewrite

2024 Ephemera

SC-01 : Rep. Kevin McCarthys effort to avenge his ousting as speaker of the House by supporting a primary challenger to Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) fell far short of success.

SC-04 : Rep. William Timmons (R-SC) held off a tough challenge from his right flank in a race that pitted the Trump-backed incumbent against several members of the House Freedom Caucus.

NV-Sen : Trump-backed Sam Brown won the GOP Senate nomination and will face incumbent Sen. Jacky Rosen (D-NV) in the general election.

OH-06: Republican state Sen. Michael Rulli (R) won as expected in a special election to fill the remainder of Republican Rep. Bill Johnsons term  but by a fraction of the margins that Johnson and Donald Trump had run up in the recent elections.

Oops, The Pope Did It Again

Pope Francis has reportedly again used a gay slur while voicing in a private meeting his opposition to ordaining openly gay men, just two weeks after apologizing for an earlier utterance of the pejorative.

Noted

WSJ: Elon Musks Boundary-Blurring Relationships With Women at SpaceX

Paul Ryan, Never Trumper

Following up on his confirmation last week that he will not be supporting Donald Trump in 2024, former Speaker of the House Paul Ryan took that message to Fox News:

Ryan: You swear an oath to the Constitution and if youre willing to suborn it to yourself, I think that makes you unfit for office pic.twitter.com/IPVavHopvt  Acyn (@Acyn) June 11, 2024

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(COLORADO SPRINGS)  For more than a decade, Momma Pearls Cajun Kitchen has been the go-to place for the Colorado Springs community when craving Louisiana fare. Chef Robert Brunet, known as Chef BB, and his wife Rebecca, serve delicious Cajun cuisine inspired by the family recipes of Chef Brunets mother, Momma Pearl Theriot.

According to Chef Brunet, the restaurant enjoyed an impressive 27% average growth year-over-year, and they were eventually able to expand from their first location in Rockrimmon to a larger space in the Northgate Polaris Pointe shopping center in 2020. After the move, the restaurant was serving nearly 1,000 guests per week and receiving rave reviews.

However, the COVID pandemic struck a hard blow to numerous restaurants, and Mama Pearls was no exception. Despite financial devastation, Chef Brunet and Rebecca were able to keep their doors open to continue serving their authentic cajun food to the community.

The pandemic was an incredibly challenging time for us, but we persevered, said Chef Brunet. We adapted and kept pushing forward because we believe in what we do and the community we serve.

Despite surviving the pandemic, the restaurant was hit with further financial blows with rising food and labor costs and a substantial increase in their building lease. According to Chef Brunet, The lease hike alone added nearly $1,000 to their monthly expenses.

We have no control over these factors, yet we still have to meet our obligations, Chef Brunet explained. Weve had to adjust our prices multiple times just to keep up with the rising costs. Its heartbreaking to think that so many beloved restaurants might simply disappear because of circumstances beyond their control.

Momma Pearls remains dedicated to serving the best Cajun cuisine in the city, even with these obstacles. The restaurant has consistently been voted the Best of Cajun restaurant in the area.

Our business is on the verge of collapse, but well keep going as long as we can, Chef Brunet asserted. We urge the food lovers of Colorado Springs to support their favorite local restaurants. Regular visits are essential for our survival. Cash flow is key, and without guests, we simply cant continue.

Momma Pearls Cajun Kitchen is just south of Northgate Boulevard, near the Bass Pro Shops in the Polaris Pointe Mall. For more information, or to make a reservation, call (719) 964-0234 or visit www.MommaPearls.com.

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PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  Blockbuster enthusiasts near and far travel to Central Oregon to experience the last remaining location. But anyone who visited the video rental store sometime last weekend may have noticed one important landmark was missing: the lawn sign.

In an Instagram post shared on Friday morning, General Manager Sandi Harding informed Blockbuster fans that the sign in its front yard had been nabbed. She told KOIN 6 she assumes the sign was stolen within just a few minutes overnight, because staff would have noticed it had been missing for longer than a day.

WNBA All Star, former Oregon Duck Sabrina Ionescu joins Team USA roster for 2024 Paris Olympics

Unfortunately, our surveillance cameras dont hit that particular spot, Harding explained.

Her social media post led to an outcry from supporters, some of whom offered to fundraise for a new sign or create one themselves. However, the manager said the original sign held sentimental value as the first one that was created when the store became Blockbuster in 2000.

Original Blockbuster lawn sign (KOIN)

Luckily, Darryl Cox with Carlson Sign  the company behind the original landmark  found the same file that was used to design the original decades ago. The business donated a replacement sign that third-generation-owner Peter Carlson estimated would typically cost $400.

He also said his business, which started in 1948, has a long-standing relationship with Blockbuster owner Ken Tisher. Tisher has owned the current store since it opened as Pacific Video in 1992.

Portland area will see first 9 p.m. sunset of year Wednesday

According to Carlson, the sign company has already seen positive messages pour in since Harding gave it a shoutout for its good deed. The manager said she is still sad the original sign has gone missing, but she is grateful for the love the store has received worldwide and in its own community.

Just goes to show, you know, the kindness in the world and, I mean, people really do care about small businesses, Harding 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.
BEXAR COUNTY, Texas (KXAN)  A capital murder warrant was issued for a man accused of a shooting spree that spanned from Bexar County to Austin in December 2023, the Bexar County Sheriffs Office told KXAN on Tuesday.

Shane James, 35, was accused of shooting and killing two people, who were later identified as his parents, inside their home in Bexar County. He then drove to Austin and continued the series of violent events that all happened on Dec. 5, 2023.

The Bexar County Sheriffs Office is investigating a double homicide on Port Royal Street on Dec. 5, 2023. The homicide is connected to a deadly shooting spree in Austin the same day, according to police. (KXAN Photo/Blake DeVine)

In total, James is accused of killing six people and injuring three others throughout Austin.

Central Texas shooting spree suspect faces 10 charges, including 4 for capital murder

As of Tuesday, James remained in the Travis County Jail on multiple capital murder charges, Travis County online court records state.

Mugshot of Shane James (APD photo)

First update from attorneys in case of accused Austin spree shooter, Shane James

Back in April, attorneys for James in Travis County provided an update on the status of the case, saying they were working on discovery  which was taking time due to the volume of information, as well as the fact that discovery in this case was multi-jurisdictional.

A hearing was scheduled Tuesday for James in Travis County, but there were no updates in the case. We will update this article if any details are obtained.

KXAN has reached out to James attorneys for comment. We will update this story if a statement is received.

Dalton Huey and Kate Winkle contributed to this report.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin.
President Joe Biden has decided to send a second US Patriot air defence system to Ukraine following a series of meetings and debates.

Source: The New York Times (NYT), citing unnamed senior officials from the US administration and military

Quote: "Mr Bidens decision came last week after a series of high-level meetings and an internal debate over how to meet Ukraines pressing needs for bolstered air defences without jeopardising US combat readiness."

Details: The New York Times, citing officials, noted that the second Patriot system will come from Poland, where it has been protecting the rotation of American troops who are returning to the United States.

US officials said the system could be deployed at the front in Ukraine within the next few days, depending on the maintenance or modifications it requires.

"Administration officials hope the deployment of another US Patriot system will nudge allies to do the same," the NYT pointed out.

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President Biden on Wednesday celebrated that the Port of Baltimore is fully reopened after the Francis Scott Key Bridge was struck and collapsed in March.

I made clear that my Administration would move heaven and earth to reopen the Port of Baltimore  one of our nations largest shipping hubs, the president said in a statement. Today, thanks to the tireless work by the men and women in the Unified Command, the full navigation channel is now open to all vessel traffic, allowing a full return of commerce to the Port of Baltimore.

The president outlined that the U.S. Coast Guard arrived on the scene within minutes of the collapse, establishing Unified Command to support rescue operations and work with the Army Corps of Engineers to remove wreckage. He thanked the Small Business Administration, Departments of Transportation and Labor, and Maryland Gov. Wes Moore (D), as well as others, for their work to reopen the port.

Our hearts remain with the families of the victims of the bridge collapse, and we will continue to stand with the community throughout this period of recovery. Thank you to the people of Baltimore for showing us what it means to be Maryland tough and Baltimore strong. Baltimore can count on us to stick with them every step of the way, and we will continue to have your back until the bridge is rebuilt, Biden said.

The news of the full reopening comes after the shipping lane into the Port of Baltimore fully reopened on Monday evening, which allowed full capacity cargo traffic into the port for the first time since the collapse.

The full recovery also came faster than expected, in about three months instead of the anticipated six, for the port, which was the East Coasts busiest for automobile shipments before the bridge collapse.

The Francis Scott Key Bridge, on Interstate 695, collapsed into the water after it was hit by cargo ship Dali, which was headed to Sri Lanka. Biden quickly vowed at the time that the federal government will foot the bill to rebuild the bridge, which was been met with backlash from conservative spending hawks.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
President Joe Biden championed his administrations work on gun reform during a speech Tuesday while attacking his predecessor, Donald Trump, and his boast that he had done nothing on guns while in the White House.

Biden made the remarks at an annual conference for Everytown for Gun Safety, the nations largest gun control group. In his speech, the president reiterated his calls for a ban on assault-style weapons and urged voters to cast a ballot in November to overcome the unrelenting opposition of the gun lobby.

More children are killed in America by guns than cancer and car accidents combined, Biden said Tuesday, also calling for lawmakers to pass a bill requiring universal background checks for firearm purchases. My predecessor told the NRA convention recently, hes proud of, quote, I did nothing on guns when I was president. And by doing nothing, he made the situation considerably worse.

Thats why Everytown, why all of you here today are so damned important, the president went on. We need you. We need you to overcome the unrelenting opposition of the gun lobby, gun manufacturers, so many politicians when they oppose commonsense gun legislation.

Its timeonce againto do what I did when I was a senator: Ban assault weapons. - @POTUS at #GSU2024https://t.co/eQp8d5O6SY  Everytown (@Everytown) June 11, 2024

The Biden administration is hoping to use his work on gun reform to galvanize voters during the election, particularly at the ballot box in some battleground states, according to The Associated Press. That includes highlighting 2022s Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, which expanded key reforms meant to make it more difficult for some people to obtain firearms.

Trump, the presumptive Republican nominee, recently addressed thousands of NRA members at the groups annual meeting in Texas last month and pledged to protect gun rights if he wins reelection in November. The former president said he would roll back every Biden attack on the Second Amendment and claimed that American gun owners were under siege.

The NRA recently endorsed his candidacy.

Biden added Tuesday that he remained frustrated with Republican opposition to gun reform, pointing to common refrains calling for thoughts and prayers after tragic shootings.

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, the president said, noting both Republicans and Democrats wanted their families to be safe. 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.

President Joe Biden speaks to Everytown for Gun Safety Action Fund's "Gun Sense University" on Tuesday in Washington. Mark Schiefelbein/AP

Bidens remarks came just hours after his son, Hunter Biden, was found guilty of illegally owning a gun in 2018. He was convicted of three felony counts and faces up to 25 years in prison, although he could see a much smaller penalty as he is a first-time offender.

The president has said he will not pardon his son and will accept the outcome of the case. He did not address the verdict in his speech on Tuesday.

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How Biden Could Borrow a Page From Trump's Playbook to Energize Black Voters

Love him or hate him, Donald Trump is good at politics. He gets what Democrats often overlook: the enduring value of fear.

Fear is a much more effective motivator than hope. And what about asking Black voters to cast ballots for you because you got them some policy wins? I was going to describe that strategys ineffectivenessbut I had to stifle a yawn.

Yes, President Joe Biden has followed through on his promise to provide student debt relief, but will voters who didnt have college debt care that much?

Yes, Biden got a huge and hugely important infrastructure deal done. But if that deal didnt give you a job, will you be thinking of that as you drive to your polling place?

And, sure, democracy might well be under threat from a Republican candidate who has talked about canceling the constitution and being a dictator on Day One of his presidency. But Im voting for Biden because Trump might end democracy wont exactly fit on a yard sign. Cant imagine brothers talking about the threat to democracy at the barber shop, either.

So, if describing Trumps threat to democracy or seeking credit for legislative or policy wins wont work, how might Biden generate energy among the Democrats most loyal voters? Go to the Trump playbook. Be the biggest fear-monger in the field.

Tell Black voters theres a red-tie-wearing boogeyman under their beds, waiting to jump out.

Tell them Trump will put another Clarence Thomas on the U.S. Supreme Court.

Tell them Trump and his GOP pals are coming for womens birth control, no matter what theyre saying today.

Tell them Trump, despite palling around with never-have-been Black rappers, will make it even harder to vote.

Tell them Trumps Justice Department will ignore rogue local policing and will give the green light for officers to brutalize Black people.

Remind Black voters about the Goon Squad, a marauding group of white police officers in Rankin, Mississippi, that beat and tortured a pair of Black men. Ask Black voters if a Trump Justice Department would ignore demands that those officers face federal prosecution. Ask them if Trump himself would laugh at the horror and praise the self-appointed goons?

Black voters know the answer to those questions, but Biden and his surrogates should ask them anyway.

The presidents message to Black voters should mimic Geena Davis in The Fly when her character, mindful of a terrifying danger, said: Be afraid. Be very afraid.





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President Joe Biden delivers remarks Tuesday at Everytown for Gun Safety Action Fund's annual "Gun Sense University" conference in Washington, D.C., where he touted his administration's efforts to reduce gun violence hours after his son was convicted on federal firearms charges. Photo by Ken Cedeno/UPI

June 11 (UPI) -- President Joe Biden touted his administration's efforts to reduce gun violence and called for a ban on assault weapons during a speech Tuesday, just hours after his son was found guilty on federal gun charges.

Biden delivered the speech at Everytown for Gun Safety's annual training conference at Gun Sense University in Washington, D.C., where he shared his sorrow with those in attendance who have lost loved ones to gun violence.

"Because I've gotten those phone calls too, saying I lost a son, a daughter, a wife. I know what it's like," Biden told the crowd. "But, guess what? Never give up on hope, hope, hope, hope."

Biden's speech touted his administration's work to pass gun legislation, as he pushed for more to be done.

"In two weeks, we'll mark the second anniversary of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, the most significant gun legislation in nearly 30 years. We passed it only because you got out and worked to get it done," Biden said. "It was designed to reduce gun violence and save lives and I'm so proud of the tremendous progress we've made since then."

President Joe Biden touts the "second anniversary of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, the most significant gun legislation in nearly 30 years," Tuesday at Everytown for Gun Safety Action Fund's annual "Gun Sense University" conference in Washington, D.C. Photo by Ken Cedeno/UPI

"It makes gun trafficking a federal crime for the first time, giving prosecutors a legal tool to charge traffickers and hold them accountable for the more severe penalties that are available," the president added.

While Biden made no mention, the president's speech came hours after his son Hunter Biden was convicted by a jury in Delaware on charges related to purchasing a firearm while using and being addicted to illegal drugs. He pleaded not guilty.

President Joe Biden calls for "a ban on assault weapons" at Everytown for Gun Safety Action Fund's annual "Gun Sense University" conference in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday. Photo by Ken Cedeno/UPI

"Additionally, the law strengthens background checks for anyone under the age of 21 trying to purchase a firearm, and it's about time," President Biden told the gun safety training conference as he claimed "the act helps stop mass shootings" and makes schools safer with enhanced security and 14,000 mental health professionals.

"There's still so much more to do to maximize the benefits of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act. That's why last September, I established the first-ever White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention," Biden said to applause, as he called for a ban on assault weapons.

President Joe Biden delivers remarks at Everytown for Gun Safety Action Fund's annual "Gun Sense University" conference in Washington, D.C., where he said kids should not be going to school to learn "how to duck and cover for God's sake!" Photo by Ken Cedeno/UPI

"Who in God's name needs a magazine that can hold 200 shells?" Biden asked before answering, "Nobody, that's right! They're weapons of war."

During his speech, Biden also called for universal background checks, the end of gun dealer immunity and the safe storage of firearms.

"We should hold families responsible if they don't provide those locks on those guns. More children are killed in America by guns than cancer and car accidents combined," Biden said as he wrapped up his speech with a call to fight the gun lobby and opposing politicians.

"Whether we're Democrats or Republicans we all want our families to be safe. We all want to drop them off at a house of worship, at a mall, a movie theater, a school without worrying it's the last time I'm going to get to see them."

"We all want our kids to have the freedom to learn how to read and write at schools instead of learning how to duck and cover, for God's sake!" Biden said, adding, "We are not finished!"

Shortly after his speech, Biden left for Wilmington to be with his son after the White House canceled a Tuesday afternoon press briefing.
Biden to sign security agreement with Ukraine, sending signal of our resolve to Russia

President Biden will sign a bilateral security agreement with Ukraine during a Thursday meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, sending what a top White House official called a signal of our resolve to Russia almost two and a half years into the war.

The two leaders will sign the pact, which will pledge continued defense and security cooperation, during a sit down at the Group of Seven (G7) summit in Italy, national security adviser Jake Sullivan told reporters aboard Air Force One.

Our goal here is straightforward. We want to demonstrate that the U.S. supports the people of Ukraine, that we stand with them, and that well continue to help address their security needs, not just tomorrow but out into the future, Sullivan said.

Biden is scheduled to meet Thursday with Zelensky. The two will hold a press conference following their discussions.

The agreement will outline a vision for how the U.S. and its allies can work with Ukraine to strengthen its ability to defend itself against Russia and deter future aggression by Moscow.

Sullivan said the pact will make clear that the White House intends to work with Congress to find a path for sustainable resources for Ukraine, a potentially challenging goal given Republican resistance to continued aid for Kyiv.

The agreement also makes clear there is no commitment for U.S. forces to join the fight in Ukraine, Sullivan said.

By signing this, well also be sending Russia a signal of our resolve, Sullivan said. If [Russian President] Vladimir Putin thinks he can outlast the coalition supporting Ukraine, hes wrong. He just cannot wait us out and this agreement will show our resolve and continued commitment.

Biden has made a point during each of his international trips to highlight the unified front the U.S. and its allies have shown in supporting Ukraine, and that topic is again likely to be central to this weeks events at the G7.

Leaders is Europe are reportedly deeply alarmed about former President Trumps potential return to the White House and what that would mean for Ukraine support and broader Western alliances. Trump has promised to end the Ukraine war almost immediately upon entering office, though he has offered few specifics about what a peace deal might look like.

Biden is skipping a Ukraine peace summit being held Saturday in Switzerland to return home for a major fundraiser in California. Vice President Harris will attend in his place.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
President Biden told members of the advocacy group Everytown for Gun Safety that they helped power a movement. (Photo by 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 New Jersey Monitor.
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 Minnesota Reformer.
President Joe Biden speaks to a conference hosted by Everytown for Gun Safety in Washington on June 11, 2024. (Screenshot from CSPAN livestream.)

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.

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The post Biden touts gun safety record to advocates, as son found guilty on felony charges appeared first on Maine Morning Star.
President Joe Biden speaks to a conference hosted by Everytown for Gun Safety in Washington on June 11, 2024. (Screenshot from CSPAN livestream.)

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.

SUPPORT NEWS YOU TRUST. DONATE

The post Biden touts gun safety record to advocates as son found guilty on felony charges appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
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 Rhode Island Current.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 12. A meeting called 'Road from Dubai to Baku - Pre-COP29' was held in Ashgabat with the organization of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan, the Office of the UN Resident Coordinator in Turkmenistan, the embassies of Azerbaijan and the UAE in Turkmenistan on June 12, 2024, Trend reports.

The speakers at the event, according to the Azerbaijani Embassy in Turkmenistan, discussed topics such as reducing emissions of methane, transitioning to green energy, and preparing for the COP29 summit in Azerbaijan in November 2024. They also shared their thoughts on innovative ideas for the 28th Session of the Conference of Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP28).

The meeting, which took place under the motto Our land. Our future. We are # GenerationRestoration." emphasised the special contributions of Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) ambassadors, students, volunteers, and eco-activists in conferences on climate change and pointed out their close participation in the Global Youth Climate Conference (LCOY2023) within COP28 in Dubai in 23.

The Ambassador of Azerbaijan in Turkmenistan, Gismat Gozalov, gave a speech and said that the year 2024 was declared the "Year of Solidarity for the Green World" in Azerbaijan. He also drew attention to the projects implemented by Azerbaijan related to climate change and the completed work in the direction of green energy in our country. The ambassador informed the participants about the globally important COP29 to be held in Azerbaijan and also said that volunteers will play an important role in the organization of COP29. In this regard, he noted that the volunteers.cop29.az portal has been launched to organize the participation of volunteers at COP29, and about 16,000 candidates have registered on the portal. It is expected that approximately 3,000 local and international volunteers will be involved in the process. The Ambassador drew attention to the COP Torika Presidency, co-chaired by Azerbaijan, the UAE, and Brazil, and mentioned the importance of cooperation between the Presidency countries of the current and future COP sessions, as well as the significance of the three COP Presidencies (Troika) to increase sustainability.

Gozalov pointed out that Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan are making great strides in tackling crucial matters concerning renewable energy and environmental issues.

"It is wonderful that both brotherly countries contribute to climate change programs by keeping to the methane emissions commitment despite their oil and natural gas wealth. We believe Fraternal Turkmenistan will contribute to COP29 in November 2024," he said.

Additionally, the ambassador shed light on the devastating consequences of mines and discussed the ongoing landmine peril in the territories of Azerbaijan.

"A major obstacle to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is the persistence of landmines and other forms of unexploded ordnance (UXO), which endanger human lives, destroy cultural artifacts, and harm the environment," he concluded.

Furthermore, the meeting featured presentations of videos and photos pertaining to COP29.
President Joe Biden speaks to a conference hosted by Everytown for Gun Safety in Washington on June 11, 2024. (Livestream screenshot courtesy of CSPAN)

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 Source New Mexico.
President Joe Biden speaks to a conference hosted by Everytown for Gun Safety in Washington on June 11, 2024.

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. The conflict 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.

SUPPORT NEWS YOU TRUST. DONATE

The post Biden touts gun safety record to advocates, as son found guilty on felony charges appeared first on Louisiana Illuminator.
President Joe Biden speaks to a conference hosted by Everytown for Gun Safety in Washington on Tuesday. (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.

SUPPORT NEWS YOU TRUST. DONATE

The post Biden touts gun safety record to advocates, as son found guilty on felony charges appeared first on Oklahoma Voice.
President Joe Biden speaks to a conference hosted by Everytown for Gun Safety in Washington on June 11, 2024. (Screenshot from CSPAN livestream.)

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.

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. (Photo by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)

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 Tennessee Lookout.
President Joe Biden speaks to a conference hosted by Everytown for Gun Safety in Washington on June 11, 2024.

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 all right, 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 Kansas Reflector.
A man watches far-right Israeli demonstrators march through the Muslim Quarter in the Old City in East Jerusalem on June. 5. (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)

The Israel-Hamas war has thrust Israel and Palestinians back on the front burner of United States policy, and abruptly injected some long-standing divisive issues into the 2024 presidential race.

Both President Biden and former President Trump express baseline support for Israel, but they diverge significantly on a two-state solution, settlements and other key questions.

Heres a comparison of their positions and track records:

Israel

Biden has generally continued what had for decades been a bipartisan approach to Israel: strong support but always with varying degrees of inclusion and assistance for the Palestinians.

The president has used U.S. power on occasion to attempt to influence Israeli behavior , such as in its conduct of the current war or in resisting controversial changes to Israels judiciary, which many saw as undemocratic.

He has not gone as far as President Obama, for example, who insisted Israel freeze construction of settlements in areas claimed by the Palestinians.

But when push comes to shove, Biden has sided with Israel , declining to significantly hold back military aid and vetoing United Nations measures opposed by Israel, including a recent one to formally recognize a Palestinian state.

President Biden and former President Trump

Even so, Biden  like most past U.S. leaders  has sought to maintain some balance and support for Palestinians and to present the United States as a potential mediator in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

By contrast, Trump was the first U.S. chief executive who gave near-absolute, unconditional support to Israel, handing the government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu everything it asked for and then some.

Trump moved the U.S. Embassy from Tel Aviv to the disputed capital of Jerusalem, the first major country to do so. He also endorsed Israeli control of the Golan Heights, a contested fertile plateau that Israel seized from Syria in the 1967 Middle East war. He did so without concessions from Israel.

A U.N. peacekeeper stops a car at a checkpoint on the outskirts of the Lebanese village of Ghajar, which has been an area of contention between Israel and Lebanon for years. (Hassan Ammar / Associated Press)

Trump was so popular among right-wing Israelis that Netanyahu used him as he campaigned for reelection, adorning cities across Israel with huge posters of the two men together. A Jewish settlement in the West Bank named itself after Trump.

Trumps one-sided approach won him praise from some pro-Israel advocates, but critics say he also sacrificed valuable U.S. leverage in negotiating broader peace in the region.

Israel-Hamas war

Biden voiced U.S. support for Israel and its right to self-defense after the Oct. 7 Hamas attack that left nearly 1,200 Israelis and others dead.

The United States stands with the people of Israel in the face of these terrorist assaults  [U.S. support] is rock solid and unwavering, Biden said from the White House, within hours of the attacks and before traveling to Tel Aviv to stand by Netanyahu. Israel has the right to defend itself and its people, full stop.

Biden nevertheless has advised the Israeli government to show more restraint in its attacks on Palestinians in Gaza to minimize civilian casualties and to rein in vigilante violence against Palestinians in the West Bank.

Read more: 'Are you a Zionist?' Checkpoints at UCLA encampment provoked fear, debate among Jews

With mounting international condemnation over an Israeli military response that has left more than 37,000 Palestinians dead, critics say that the Biden administration hasnt done enough to restrain Israel. The president recently stepped up pressure for an immediate cease-fire and unveiled a plan that would free hostages and bring about a final end to the war.

By contrast, Trump hasnt expressed concern for Palestinian casualties. He has urged Israel to get the job done to destroy Hamas. You have to finish up your war, Trump told the right-wing Israeli newspaper Israel Hayom in late March. You gotta get it done.

Trump accused Biden of abandoning Israel when the administration briefly suspended the shipment of 2,000-pound bombs to Israel as Israel threatened to move into the southern Gazan city of Rafah.

Trump criticized Israel for losing the PR battle by allowing images of the war in Gaza to be disseminated. He did not explain how Israel could prevent that.

Palestinian statehood

Biden supports an independent Palestinian state alongside Israel, an idea that remains dominant in the international communitys position toward the region.

As we look to the future, the only real solution to the situation is a two-state solution over time, Biden said in his State of the Union address this year. There is no other path that guarantees Israels security and democracy. There is no other path that guarantees ... that Palestinians can live in peace [with] dignity.

Read more: Is Zionism patriotism or racism? Big disagreements over a word in use for 125 years

Trump has been dismissive of the aspiration of a Palestinian state, although on occasion he has not discounted it completely. He shut down the de facto Palestinian Embassy in Washington and generally refused to meet with Palestinian leaders as president.

Worshipers pray outside the entrance to the Al Aqsa Mosque in the Old City of Jerusalem in March. (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)

Most importantly, Trumps decision to move the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem reversed decades of U.S. and international policy that held that ultimate designation of the capital of Israel would be determined in a final peace agreement. Palestinians also claim parts of Jerusalem as their capital.

Biden has not reversed the Trump move, leaving the embassy in Jerusalem, nor has he made good on a promise to reopen the U.S. Consulate in East Jerusalem, which historically had served Palestinians and was closed by Trump.

Gaza's future?

Biden has been adamant that any future arrangement for the Gaza Strip leave it intact and in Palestinian hands.

Trump has not pronounced one way or the other. But he has previously been receptive to plans floated by Israel to annex Gaza and even the West Bank.

Trumps son-in-law, Jared Kushner, who served as the then-presidents point man for the Middle East, voiced some ideas.

He told an interviewer he believed the best option in the conflict was to bulldoze something in the Negev, the desert in southern Israel that borders Egypt, and move Palestinians there so that Israel forces could finish the job in Gaza. Kushner made the comments to the Middle East Initiative , a program at Harvard University.

Palestinians flee from the southern Gaza city of Rafah during an Israeli ground and air offensive in May. (Jehad Alshrafi / Associated Press)

Kushner added that Gazas waterfront property could be very valuable and said that allowing Palestinians to have a state was a super bad idea. It is not clear what if any role he would have in a possible future Trump administration or whether his views reflect those of his father-in-law.

Settlements

The Biden administration has revived long-standing U.S. policy that the Jewish settlements Israel erects in the West Bank are an impediment to peace. Most of the world goes a step further, saying they are illegal. Still, Israel continues to build them, despite protests from the State Department.

The administration in December did take the unusual measure of sanctioning a small number of Israeli settlers deemed responsible for deadly attacks on Palestinians in the West Bank. Settlers have seized Palestinian land, destroyed their olive tree orchards and burned their homes.

Trump took no steps as president to rein in settlements; his administration moved to legitimize them.

Trump Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo said in 2019 that contrary to decades of U.S. policy, the Jewish settlements built in the West Bank and other territory claimed by the Palestinians were not inconsistent with international law.

Avigail, an Israeli settlement in the West Bank. (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)

Democratic and Republican administrations had until then considered settlements at the minimum unhelpful to a peaceful resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and in some cases illegal.

On this issue, the Biden administration reversed Trumps policy, returning to the traditional  if vague  U.S. description of settlements as problematic and unhelpful, while declining to explicitly call them illegal.

Read more: Lebanon captures gunman following U.S. Embassy attack

Approach to Arab nations

Biden has formed an alliance with several Arab countries to confront the Gaza war and to negotiate with Hamas.

He is also seeking to build on efforts by Trump to establish a coalition of Arab states that recognize Israel as a way to promote better regional integration.

But Biden is resisting some of the demands the countries have in order to recognize Israel. The biggest prize is regional superpower Saudi Arabia, which is conditioning its agreement on help with a nuclear power program and establishment of a NATO-like mutual-defense security pact.

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and then-President Trump meet in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (Evan Vucci / Associated Press)

From his first days in office, Trump aggressively courted Saudi Arabias wealthy leaders, making a trip to the desert kingdom the first of his administration. (Usually presidents make the first trip to an established ally.)

To foster closer ties with Saudi Arabia, Trump showed a willingness to overlook the human rights record of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, including the 2018 government-ordered murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

Trumps crowning achievement was the so-called Abraham Accords, wherein two Gulf states, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, for the first time recognized Israel and opened diplomatic ties.

It was a breakthrough seen as the beginning of a possible new regional diplomatic order. Saudi Arabia did not join the detente but clearly endorsed it, allowing the UAE and Bahrain to act. That left Riyadh as the dangling carrot, which the Biden administration now pursues, and which Trump, if elected, would like to make a priority.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
US President Joe Biden (R) shakes hands with Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky (L) as they hold a bilateral meeting at the Intercontinental Hotel in Paris. Presidential Office Of Ukraine/ZUMA Press Wire/dpa

President Joe Biden and President Volodymyr Zelensky will sign a bilateral security agreement between the United States and Ukraine on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Italy on Thursday.

Biden's National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan announced the deal to journalists on Wednesday during the flight to Italy, which is hosting the two-day summit of Group of Seven (G7) leaders in the southern city of Bari.

Fifteen countries have already concluded similar long-term security agreements with Ukraine, including Britain, France and Germany.

Sullivan said the Biden administration's negotiations with Kiev have now been finalized. He did not give any concrete details about the content of the agreement, which he described as a "framework" for how the two countries work together to address security issues.

However, he emphasized that the pact would not include the obligation for Washington to deploy US troops to Ukraine, nor would it contain commitments to supply specific weapons systems.

"Our goal here is straightforward," Sullivan said. "We want to demonstrate that the US supports the people of Ukraine, that we stand with them, and that will continue to help address their security needs, not just tomorrow, but out into the future."

Sullivan also indicated that the agreement would state that the White House would work with Congress to find a way to provide "sustainable" support for Ukraine.

The Biden adviser said the security deals Kiev is negotiating help serve as a "bridge" until Ukraine's "ultimate membership in NATO."
US President Joe Biden (R) shakes hands with Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky (L) as they hold a bilateral meeting at the Intercontinental Hotel in Paris. Presidential Office Of Ukraine/ZUMA Press Wire/dpa

President Joe Biden and President Volodymyr Zelensky will sign a bilateral security agreement between the United States and Ukraine on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Italy on Thursday.

Biden's National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan announced the deal to journalists on Wednesday during the flight to Italy, which is hosting the two-day summit of Group of Seven (G7) leaders near the southern city of Bari.

Fifteen countries have already concluded similar long-term security agreements with Ukraine, including Britain, France and Germany.

Sullivan said the Biden administration's negotiations with Kiev have now been finalized. He did not give any concrete details about the content of the agreement, which he described as a "framework" for how the two countries work together to address security issues.

However, he emphasized that the pact would not include the obligation for Washington to deploy US troops to Ukraine, nor would it contain commitments to supply specific weapons systems.

"Our goal here is straightforward," Sullivan said. "We want to demonstrate that the US supports the people of Ukraine, that we stand with them, and that will continue to help address their security needs, not just tomorrow, but out into the future."

Sullivan also indicated that the agreement would state that the White House would work with Congress to find a way to provide "sustainable" support for Ukraine.

The Biden adviser said the security deals Kiev is negotiating help serve as a "bridge" until Ukraine's "ultimate membership in NATO."

Sweeping new sanctions on Russia

The United States also said it was imposing sanctions on more than 300 individuals and entities connected to Russia's war on Ukraine, including financial institutions, the Moscow Stock Exchange and Chinese companies.

The latest set of sanctions is chiefly focussed on trade, finance and industry.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the sanctions hit "across multiple sectors essential to Russia's war effort," including energy, metals and mining production.

China was singled out for its support of Moscow.

"The United States remains concerned by the scale and breadth of exports from the Peoples Republic of China that supply Russias military-industrial base," Blinken's statement said.

To that end, the US is sanctioning Chinese companies that provide duel-use goods that "fill critical gaps in Russia's defence production cycle," he said.

It is not just China, however. Individuals and organizations in countries elsewhere in Asia, the Middle East, Europe, Africa and the Caribbean are also subject to new restrictive measures.

Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said Russia "is deeply isolated from the international financial system, leaving the Kremlins military desperate for access to the outside world."

She said the sanctions go after critical supplies Russia needs from other countries.

Several Russian banks also saw their foreign locations put on blacklists to make it harder for financial transactions to be fulfilled. Other corners of Russia's financial infrastructure were hit, including the Moscow Stock Exchange and two subsidiaries, and insurance and reinsurance providers.

The Treasury Department said it was trying to choke off military supply chains by sanctioning dozens of individuals and entities in a slew of countries besides Russia and China. Some of the newly listed targets will help close sanction loopholes or go after evaders, it said.
President Joe Biden and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will sign a bilateral security agreement at the G7 summit Thursday that will pledge long-term defense and security cooperation.

"We want to demonstrate that the U.S. supports the people of Ukraine, that we stand with them, and that we'll continue to help address their security needs, not just tomorrow but out into the future," national security adviser Jake Sullivan told reporters aboard Air Force on his way to the G7 summit site of Bari, Italy. "We'll be sending Russia a signal of our resolve."

A U.S. official tells me this is an "executive agreement," which means a future president could withdraw from it.

PHOTO: President Joe Biden shakes hands with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Paris, June 7, 2024. (Evan Vucci/AP)

MORE: At G7, Biden to push $50B loan to Ukraine using frozen Russian assets

The possibility of a second Donald Trump presidency looms large over the summit -- Trump has not made clear whether he would continue to support Ukraine and has said he'd "encourage" Russia to attack NATO allies who don't contribute enough towards defense spending.

The official told me negotiations on this bilateral agreement started last fall, but the U.S. was not able to complete negotiations while waiting for Congress to pass the supplemental funding for Ukraine. Once that was passed, negotiations were accelerated.

The agreement states that the U.S. intends to work with Congress over the coming months to find a path to sustainable resources for Ukraine.

PHOTO: President Joe Biden boards Air Force One as he departs for the G7 summit in Italy, from Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, June 12, 2024. (Kevin Lamarque/Reuters)

MORE: Exclusive: Biden tells Muir US weapons will not be used to strike Moscow, Kremlin

The agreement does not include any commitment to use U.S. forces to defend Ukraine. It will outline a vision of how the U.S. and its allies will work with Ukraine to strengthen its defenses and deter future aggression from Russia.

The pledge will be similar to bilateral agreements that Ukraine has already signed with more than a dozen other countries.

"If Vladimir Putin thinks he can outlast the coalition supporting Ukraine, he's wrong," Sullivan added. "He cannot just wait us out."

Zelenskyy and Biden will meet Thursday on the sidelines of the G7 and will hold a joint news conference.

Biden, Zelenskyy to sign US-Ukraine security agreement at G7 summit originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
Photo: Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of the Republic of Azerbaijan

BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 12. Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources of Azerbaijan, COP29 President-Designate Mukhtar Babayev has discussed preparations for COP29 with the head of the EU delegation to the country, Ambassador Peter Michalko, a source in the Azerbaijani Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources told Trend.

The sides reportedly also spoke about potential areas of future environmental protection cooperation between Azerbaijan and the European Union.

To note, this November, Azerbaijan will host COP29. This decision was made at the COP28 plenary meeting held in Dubai on December 11 last year. Baku will become the center of the world and will receive about 7080,000 foreign guests.

The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change is an agreement signed at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro in June 1992 to prevent dangerous human interference with the climate system. COPthe Conference of the Partiesis the highest legislative body overseeing the implementation of the Framework Convention on Climate Change. There are 198 countries that are parties to the Convention. Unless the parties agree otherwise, the COP is held annually. The first COP event took place in March 1995 in Germany's Berlin, with its secretariat in Bonn.

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EVANSVILLE  A vision for a more lean and ideologically driven Vanderburgh County Republican Party is emerging from those who claim they seized control of the GOP in precinct-level elections last month, but now must prove it.

The implications for the local political scene are massive: Republicans arguably have been the dominant force in countywide, statewide and federal elections in Vanderburgh County since 2010. Democrats dominated last year's city elections in Evansville, although a case could be made that GOP infighting contributed to that much as Democratic fratricide helped Republicans elect a mayor in 2011.

The local GOP is one of Indiana's largest political organizations.

Current Chairman Mike Duckworth successfully moved last week to get intraparty critics Michael Daugherty, Ken Colbert and Cheryl Batteiger-Smith banned from seeking office as Republicans until 2030, even though they had just been elected to party offices by GOP voters. Should they now succeed in removing Duckworth sooner than later as planned, Duckworth's enemies say they will have more in mind than revenge.

More: Ousted candidates say they're committed to removing Duckworth as GOP chair

It starts with bringing into GOP operations more people  many more  than the community of professionals, local officeholders and longtime party loyalists who have for years made the donations and shown up at the Lincoln Day dinners, breakfast events and election night parties.

The insurgent conservatives who seek Duckworth's ouster envision a reimagined Republican Party that would shift the focus from fundraising to expanding the GOP's activist and volunteer bases among values-oriented voters.

It has already started. Batteiger-Smith, Colbert and others reportedly recruited nearly 100 candidates for positions on the GOP precinct committee throughout Vanderburgh County's precincts.

"They didnt know how they could be (involved) and then we explained how they could be and now theyre excited to be there," Batteiger-Smith said.

Vanderburgh County GOP Chairman Mike Duckworth.

The local GOP would be more conservative

In a new local Republican Party, Daugherty said, adherence to conservative principles espoused in state and national Republican Party platforms would carry more weight than past participation in local GOP events.

When Duckworth challenged Daugherty's right to serve as a Republican after this year's May 7 primary election because he had opposed 2023 GOP mayoral nominee Natalie Rascher as a Libertarian, Daugherty didn't deny it. His formal answer in a June 3 party hearing pointed instead to priorities he thinks should be more important.

"'We believe in the sanctity of human life from conception to natural death,'" Daugherty said, quoting the 2022 state GOP platform. "Which policy in our platform do I not align with?"

Daugherty punctuated the point by noting that Duckworth had been sent Right to Life of Southwest Indiana's survey for 2024 candidates  the GOP chairman ran for party offices too  and had received a grade of F for failing to return it.

Colbert said local Republican candidate recruitment in recent years has produced too many party nominees who try to blur rather than sharpen differences with Democratic candidates in an apparent bid for broad appeal. The lack of compelling, principles-oriented messaging leaves conservative voters uninspired  and it leads to losses.

Republican candidates lost every contested election in last year's city elections.

"Theyve been trying to run these candidates that the people dont want, and theyre spending millions of dollars to try to get them over the threshold," Colbert said. "The public consistently has been rejecting these people. This is why weve lost the City Council seats, all of this because theyre bringing forward candidates who are weak."

Pro-Daugherty, Colbert and Batteiger-Smith protesters outside the June 3 hearing distributed copies of 2019 Facebook posts that showed Rascher, then a Republican City Council candidate, being endorsed by then-Democratic Pigeon Township Trustee Mariama Anika Black-Wilson. Rascher, who lost that campaign, also was endorsed by Progressive Evansville, a committee chaired by former Democratic City Council member Connie Robinson.

Local GOP officials can't stop eligible Republicans from trying to seek local elected office, but they can encourage other candidates and work to steer party members to those candidates.

"These people that would be running, wed know that they would be supporting the Republican platform," Colbert said.

It wouldn't be a country club kind of scene

"The grassroots approach is my vision," said Batteiger-Smith, a former vice chair of the Posey County GOP. "Go back to having picnics and ice cream socials and make people feel welcome."

Maybe the Lincoln Day dinner doesnt have to be at the Evansville Country Club, Batteiger-Smith mused. The lowest ticket price for this year's event was $100, and that price was exclusive to officeholders and precinct committee members; other individuals had to pay $125. Sponsorships ran up to $2,500. The Vanderburgh County GOP paid the country club more than $15,000 last year, according to its campaign finance reports.

"It weeds out a lot of people with a normal, you know, smaller income, and we want to be inclusive with everybody," Batteiger-Smith said. "So if it means a big picnic, then its a picnic. If we have a sit-down dinner, itll be a reasonable sit-down dinner."

More: Unified Vanderburgh County Democrats don't have what awaits Republicans Monday

The GOP should have a modest headquarters, preferably in space donated by a supporter, that would be manned for as many hours as possible by volunteers, Batteiger-Smith said. Currently, the GOP rents The Foundry on Main, which describes itself as "Evansville's premier cowork space" with "fabulous amenities," for events at prices as high as $750 a pop. The party paid The Foundry nearly $10,000 last year.

More: GOP official: Party rules more important than votes for 3 who were banned

'We just chipped away at it'

Of the 100 precinct committee candidates conservatives recruited, 66 of them won in May's primary election without opposition. In all, 84 "PC" candidates were elected after being recruited by anti-Duckworth conservatives. Their victories were certified by the Vanderburgh County Election Board on May 15.

Duckworth had been relying on his power as party chairman to appoint PCs to unfilled positions on the committee when no one living in a given precinct stood for election. Those appointees don't have to live in the precincts they represent, and many didn't.

To illustrate the point, there were 41 contested elections for PC slots in this year's Republican primary election. In presidential election year 2020, there were just eight.

"We've been growing the local GOP through these efforts," Colbert said recently outside Seek and Find Consignments, a North First Avenue consignment store he has owned for nearly 20 years.

"We went all around finding people. If someone didn't meet the criteria (of having voted in Republican primaries in the two most recent Indiana primary elections they participated in), they'd often refer us to their neighbor and say, 'This would be the ideal person who could represent our community.'"

Colbert found many recruits for PC positions, he said, through his customer base at Seek and Find. According to Colbert's Linkedin profile, the business has "6,000+ clients." Others he found through his long-time involvement with the Evansville Philharmonic Chorus.

Batteiger-Smith recalls recruiting "a couple of couples" at a large church she has attended for 40 years.

"We had to contact people that we maybe knew, we thought we knew the name and that kind of thing," she said of a recruitment campaign carried out over a period of months. "We got referrals, and one thing led to the next.

"They didnt know that they could run for the office because PCs have always been appointed. We just chipped away at it. We knew different names and different people, and thats just how it was."

Past grievances are part of future vision

The Vanderburgh County Republican Party's website describes the GOP as the "Community Party."

"We represent conservative Hoosier values and morals. Whether you're a lifelong member, new to the party, or from the other side of the aisle, we welcome you," it says.

Talk of recruitment and rebellion against Duckworth inevitably leads Batteiger-Smith, Daugherty and Colbert to some of their grievances, namely that the newly elected conservative PCs were not sent welcome messages and some candidates aligned with them were prevented by Duckworth from running.

People who are willing to get involved would be appreciated in the next Republican Party, not blocked from participating, Batteiger-Smith declared.

She pointed to Levi Christmas, a young man who attempted at age 18 to run for a Republican PC position this year but whose right to run was successfully challenged by Duckworth. Having never voted, Christmas couldn't meet the state "two-primaries" law's requirement that a candidate's two most recent votes in Indiana primary elections must have been cast in primaries held by the party he or she seeks to represent.

"There should have been a waiver granted," Batteiger-Smith said. "His father was very active in politics, I understand, and he wanted to start. But he has to wait now. We want to welcome the young Republicans.

Christmas did apply for a PC position, but county data indicates he did not vote in the May 7 Republican primary that followed his rejection by Duckworth in February.

Duckworth has said he doesn't know the people whose candidacies for Republican Party positions he challenged. They had never reached out to him or been involved in any of the GOP's events.

"I have no idea who these people are  so I don't know if they're friendly Republicans or what they are, because they've not given me the courtesy to give me a call," he said.

But Daugherty said Duckworth acted against him and Colbert and Batteiger-Smith after the primary, and against others beforehand, specifically because he knew they are conservatives who want him removed or would cooperate with others who do.

Daugherty spit out a name: Steve Ary.

Steve Ary

Ary is the conservative pastor who came within a few votes of defeating Duckworth in the 2021 GOP caucus to choose a party chairman.

Duckworth persuaded the four-member 8th District Republican Congressional Committee on June 3 to ban Daugherty from running for office as a Republican until 2030 because Daugherty's 2023 Libertarian campaign for mayor put him in direct opposition to unsuccessful Republican nominee Rascher. That is openly opposing a Republican nominee in opposition to party rules, Duckworth argued.

Ary directly opposed Republican Mayor Lloyd Winnecke's 2019 re-election campaign by running against him as an independent in that year's election. He criticized Winnecke, too, insinuating that the Republican mayor showered campaign funds on local organizations to buy their votes. But when Ary sought a precinct committee position and a delegate slot at the June 15 state GOP convention this year, Duckworth did not try to stop him.

Daugherty says that lays bare Duckworth's true motivation for going after Batteiger-Smith, Colbert and himself.

Duckworth did not respond to a Courier & Press message about Ary.

In the new, post-Duckworth Republican Party that Daugherty, Colbert and Batteiger-Smith envision, they said, individuals who sign up to run for party positions would not be viewed with suspicion. That includes Republicans such as Duckworth and those who support him now. Invitations to events would not be withheld from anyone the chairman may not feel is aligned with him, as they allege Duckworth does now.

The two-primaries law would be considered but not used as a weapon to exclude people, they vowed. In a few instances, anti-Duckworth conservatives did try to use the two-primaries law this year against intraparty opponents in an effort to keep them off the May 7 primary ballot, but Duckworth stopped them by granting violators the required waiver from a party chairman.

Michael Daugherty

'Its all about building relationships'

The insurgents bring some assets to the fight.

Daugherty has some demonstrated voter appeal, having beaten another Republican for a precinct committee slot in May with 73% of the vote. He received 1,260 votes to finish fourth in a field of 24 Republicans seeking 10 seats at the state convention. His Libertarian candidacy for mayor last year garnered 11% of the vote, making it modern history's most successful third-party campaign for mayor of Evansville.

Batteiger-Smith has experience as a party vice chair and a longtime precinct committee member in Posey County and as a delegate to last year's state GOP convention.

A new Republican organization would be in the hands of people who believe party affairs should be conducted in close contact with the rank-and-file, Batteiger-Smith said.

"Its all about building relationships, and when you build relationships, then you get that cohesiveness that you need to unite and be a stronger party instead of one thats divided," she said.

This article originally appeared on Evansville Courier & Press: Big changes would follow turnover in Vanderburgh GOP
Bill cracking down on masks headed to Gov. Coopers desk

A bill cracking down on masks in North Carolina is now heading to Gov. Roy Coopers desk.

State House members passed the bill Tuesday along party lines. A previous bill removed the health and safety exemption from the states mask ban.

ALSO READ: Charlotte City Council approves 2025 budget

The new bill will allow people to wear surgical or medical masks to prevent the spread of contagious disease. It also increases punishment if someone wears a mask to conceal their identity while committing a crime.

It also bans people from blocking a road during a protest.

The bill also changes finance laws to allow federal super PACS to donate limited funds to state political parties. That money can then be given to candidates.

(WATCH BELOW: Hunter Biden found guilty of federal gun charges)
"Abortion Should Not Be a Crime" billboard in Omaha, near 43rd and Dodge Streets. (Cindy Gonzalez/Nebraska Examiner)

OMAHA  After the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade and sent abortion law back to the states, Nebraska lawmakers made it harder for women to get an abortion later in a pregnancy.

The officially nonpartisan Legislature banned most abortions occurring after 12 weeks gestational age, or roughly 10 weeks after conception, tightening the previous 20-week ban.

But women still seek reproductive care later than Nebraska law allows. A group of local funders with national help and ties are raising funds and awareness of out-of-state options.

Billboards and web ads

The group, Nebraska Abortion Resources, says it is doing so by spending tens of thousands of dollars on a billboard campaign along major highway and interstate corridors in Omaha and Ashland.

The billboards are located near 43rd and Dodge Streets, Interstate 80 near the 42nd Street exit and I-80 near Ashland. The group is also advertising on Instagram and Facebook.

The billboards say, Abortion Should NOT Be a Crime. They hint at legal consequences in Nebraska and other states when women have sought care too late, including a Norfolk-area case.

In that case, a Nebraska mother and daughter were convicted of charges that followed the daughter aborting a fetus at 29 weeks of gestation, beyond the states then-allowed timeline.

Investigators said in court documents that the mother bought the oral medication online to end her daughters pregnancy and that the two women buried the fetus.

Organizers say the billboards focused on crime because Nebraska has shortened how long a woman has to decide the fate of her pregnancy, and many women cant get an appointment in time.

Opponents call ads misleading

Abortion-rights opponents call the ads misleading and say they are meant to draw attention to the ballot initiative and drum up support from people willing to consider other options.

Shelley Mann, who spoke for the group behind the billboards, has spoken publicly in support of the ballot initiative to put a right to an abortion in the state constitution.

Staff time to Nebraska Abortion Resources is listed as an in-kind donation from Protect Our Rights, the group pushing the abortion-rights amendment campaign.

She considers the complicated Norfolk case a cautionary tale of what can happen when states make women feel they have few choices other than to break the law.

Thats two people who have had to go to jail because of seeking abortion care, she said. How could we have put an environment where they wouldnt have had to do this secretly?

Costs the group covers

The billboards list the website, AbortionNotACrime.com, where women who need care but might not be able to afford it can apply for financial assistance for travel costs and care.

Among the parts of the process the group will help pay for: flights, gas, lodging, meals, care and missed wages for people who lack paid sick days from their job or jobs.

The website says part of its funding comes from the Chicago Abortion Fund, an Illinois-based group that raises money to make reproductive care more affordable.

An appointment for an abortion often costs $800, she said. Out-of-state appointments often cost more, Mann said, and costs can skyrocket quickly if you dont have a place to stay.

We collect donations  and our whole purpose is to make sure the financial implications of having an abortion are never a concern when somebody is making that decision, Mann said.

Hundreds have sought help

Her group has helped about 900 people seek care, she said. She makes social media posts on TikTok and has supported women seeking care at an abortion clinic in Bellevue.

Nate Grasz of the Nebraska Family Alliance said he sees the effort by Nebraska Abortion Resources as very deceptive and part of an effort to stoke fear into voters.

The proposed abortion-rights amendment would allow abortion until fetal viability, as determined by the patients treating health care professional. Doctors describe viability as the time when a fetus can survive outside of the womb without extraordinary medical help. They typically place that timing between 22 and 24 weeks gestation. Its language would allow abortions as needed to protect the health and life of the mother.

His group supports a competing amendment initiative that would prevent lawmakers from loosening abortion restrictions beyond current law but would let them ban or restrict it further. Their proposal includes exceptions for rape, incest and the life of the mother.

Neither he nor Sandy Danek of Nebraska Right to Life said they knew much about the billboard group. Danek said it could be the start of funding other states have seen with abortion on the ballot.

Mann said she hopes voters will see her groups point.

Nebraskans want health care not handcuffs, she said. Why are we putting ourselves in position where we have to think about what is happening criminally?

The post Billboard campaign aims attention at fund for out-of-state care appeared first on Nebraska Examiner.
Billy Ray Cyrus files for divorce from Firerose alleging 'fraud' after just seven months of marriage

Billy Ray Cyrus files for divorce from Firerose alleging 'fraud' after just seven months of marriage

Billy Ray Cyrus has filed for divorce from third wife Firerose after seven months of marriage.

The 62-year-old country musician filed papers against the 36-year-old, whose legal name is Johanna Rose Hodges, in a Tennessee court on May 22, citing irreconcilable differences and inappropriate marital conduct.

The Achy Breaky Heart hit-maker is also seeking an annulment due to alleged fraud on Hodges part, saying in the filing that he would not have married Hodges had he known about the alleged fraud.

The filing gives no further details on the alleged inappropriate conduct of fraud, but says each should be able to keep property that they own separately.

According to TMZ, who have viewed the documents: Billy is also asking the court to grant him an outright annulment, claiming the marriage was obtained by fraud. It also looks like Billy gave Firerose a deadline of May 24 to get the hell out of the house  while also initially putting up $500/night over a period of ten days for temporary housing.

Firerose and Billy Ray Cyrus in happier times (Instagram @billyraycyrus)

The US news outlet then reported that Cyrus is set to pay Hodges $5,000 (3,922.90) per month for her to find suitable housing in Tennessee for 90 days or until the divorce is finalised.

The Standard has contacted representatives for Cyrus and Hodges for comment.

After getting married in October 2023, the musicians lived in Tennessee and released several songs together over the course of their relationship.

In an Instagram post in April, commemorating their six-month anniversary, Hodges wrote: Life isnt always easy but it sure helps when your husbands also your best friend. Thank you Lord!

Neither Hodges nor Cyrus has commented on the divorce via their social media accounts.

Billy Ray Cyrus pictured with second wife Tish Cyrus whom he divorced in 2022 (Getty)

Cyrus has been married twice before, splitting from first wife Cindy Smith in 1993 following five years of marriage.

He then walked down the aisle with Tish Cyrus in 1993, and they welcomed Miley, Noah and Braison together  while he also adopted Tishs children, Brandi and Trace, from a previous relationship.

They divorced in 2022 after nearly three decades together.

They had previously attempted divorce twice during their relationship, but called it off in 2010 and 2013.

The 2022 divorce kicked off a highly publicised rift in the Cyrus family.

When Miley won her first Grammy Award in February, she said I dont think Ive forgotten anyone after a long list of thank yous and shoutouts to her family that included her mother, who was in attendance, but excluded her father and one-time Hannah Montana co-star.
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.

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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 Wisconsin Examiner.
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  A black bear was spotted in the Lacamas Lake area and caught on camera while hiking along a nearby trail.

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife was notified of the bear sighting, but did not find the animal when they arrived. However, local resident Arianne Melton took a photo of the bear in a tree.

3 Portland-area sushi restaurants among best in the US, according to Yelp

It isnt uncommon to spot a black bear in this area, with several black bear sightings in the Lacamas Lake area each year, WDFW shared in a statement. The area is located near contiguous green spaces between the Washougal River watershed and the southern end of Lacamas Lake. Black bears use these areas as travel corridors.

While it may feel exciting to see bears up close, wildlife officials say it is best to leave the animals alone and avoid leaving food out for them to find.

God help him: Gresham firefighter still in critical condition after responding to burning duplex

Often people leave food out for bears so they can take pictures of them or show them to visiting friends. Over 90 percent of human-bear conflicts result from bears being conditioned to associate food with humans, according to WDFW.

KOIN 6 spoke with two hikers who had different reactions to the bear when they saw it.

A bear was spotted in a tree in Lacamas Lake near Camas, June 11, 2024 (Arianne Melton)

It was so up close. And it was definitely like adrenaline pumping. I think I was like my hands were shaking for a little while after, said Arianne Melton, who was able to snap a photo of the bear. I hike all the time where Im in more remote areas where Im like really vigilant and the fact that there could be a bear, there could be a cougar.

I heard rustling on the right side and then I saw a bear run off, added hiker Sue Francisco. I forgot everything youre supposed to do. And I looked at him and I thought he was cute. I tried to make him feel less scared so I could get a picture of him. So I said its okay.'

Wildlife officials say if youre in a situation where a bear is coming at you, dont run from it. Instead, make yourself big and make yourself known, so clap your hands and use bear spray if you have it.

Residents in the area are also encouraged to keep their garbage away from where bears could find it. On pickup days, residents can bring their bins out shortly before collection.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Melina Abdullah is trying to revive a lawsuit over the Los Angeles Police Department's response to a "swatting" incident at her home in 2020, drawing attention to previously undisclosed evidence. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

Black Lives Matter-L.A. co-founder Melina Abdullah is trying to revive a lawsuit over the Los Angeles Police Department's response to a "swatting" incident at her home in 2020, saying previously undisclosed evidence suggests the original 911 call could have been a "fiction" made up by police.

In her original suit, Abdullah alleged police ignored signs that the hostage emergency reported by the 911 call wasn't real and proceeded to surround her home with more than a dozen officers in tactical gear. Abdullah's suit said police turned over information to her attorneys suggesting that the false report was made by a teenager living in Maryland, who was identified as "X" in court documents.

Attorneys for the city countered that police should not be held liable for any damages, because they were responding to what they believed was a legitimate hostage situation. After five days of testimony last month, a jury ruled in favor of the city and the two police officials named in her suit, Sgt. James Mankey and Officer Jose Perez.

During the trial, jurors heard a recording of the fake hostage report by someone calling himself "Dale Brooks" or "Dale Brook." Speaking in a pronounced Southern accent, the caller told a 911 operator that he wanted $1 million or he would shoot the three people hed taken hostage inside a home. He gave Abdullah's address, without saying her name.

Read more: Black Lives Matter co-founder takes LAPD to trial for 'swatting' prank response

But in a motion filed Monday, Abdullah asked for a new trial on the grounds that police withheld material information calling into question their investigation of the 911 call. Notably, the motion filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court alleges police failed to disclose that the "swatting" call may have been carried out by "a group of teen gamers who lived out of the state," instead of one individual, and that the original teenage suspect, "X," had since left the country.

"If Plaintiffs investigation of 'X' were to determine that neither 'X' nor the other gamers were real people, then that would be evidence that LAPD knew that the 911 call was a hoax and did not perform a diligent investigation before sending the full force of the LAPD to Plaintiffs home," Dermot Givens, Abdullah's attorney, wrote in a declaration supporting the motion.

Givens wrote that he first learned of this during the cross-examination of a Major Crimes Division detective, despite repeatedly pressing the department for details about that investigation but getting no answers.

"Such evidence would have allowed the jury to reach a different verdict at trial," Givens wrote, "because it would likely have convinced the jury to determine that LAPD knew the 911 call was a hoax, and even potentially that LAPD had made up the 911 call themselves to harass Plaintiff."

By all appearances, investigators made little effort to try to track down and interview the suspect, Givens argued in the motion. This, he said, raised questions about whether the incident was part of a larger campaign by the department to silence Abdullah, one of its staunchest critics.

Had they known that "X" left the country, Abdullah's legal team argued, they would have contacted the Department of Homeland Security to "determine if 'X' was a real person and was available for an interview about the 911 call." That disclosure also might have changed the outcome of the trial, they contended in the Monday motion.

"The jurors having evidence that 'Dale Brook' was a complete fiction created by the Defendants would have allowed the jurors to reach a different verdict," Givens wrote.

Read more: Jury rules against Black Lives Matter co-founder in LAPD 'swatting' lawsuit

When reached Tuesday, an LAPD spokesperson referred questions to city attorney's office, which didn't immediately respond to an email seeking comment.

In response to the alleged hostage threat, police dispatched more than a dozen officers from the nearby Wilshire Division to Abdullahs home, along with a helicopter.

Abdullah sued the city over the incident in 2021, saying she and her three children were left fearing for their lives when officers aggressively approached their home, some with guns at the ready.

The city argued in court that the police response had nothing to do with Abdullah's stature in local political circles. Mankey testified that he didn't recognize Abdullah; body-camera video played at the trial showed him looking her up on Facebook.

At the time, numerous city officials called for an investigation of the police response. The incident came in the wake of a summer of widespread protests over the murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis, during which Abdullah emerged as a visible local critic of policing in general and the LAPD in particular.

Numerous celebrities and public figures have over the years been victims of so-called swatting incidents, in which an individual or group of people intentionally reports a fake threat to provoke a heavily armed law enforcement response at a specified location.

Authorities say perpetrators often go to great lengths to mask their digital identity and location, making prosecution challenging.

Abdullah had previously been the target of numerous swatting calls . Authorities have said a group of teenagers, motivated by racial hatred , were responsible for two previous swatting incidents at her home. Abdullah and her attorneys said they were prevented from showing the jury evidence about these prior incidents.

Her lawsuit said she was not aware of any investigation or findings stemming from the incident, but still lives in fear of another similar police incident. Her defense team has argued that the presence of a police helicopter hovering overhead and scores of armed police officers outside her home was a brazen show of intimidation rather than an attempt to come to her rescue.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Blaze caused by Russian attack in Kyiv Oblast took over 15 hours to put out  photos

A fire at an industrial facility in Kyiv Oblast that was caused by a Russian attack took more than 15 hours to put out.

Source: State Emergency Service of Ukraine

Quote: "Kyiv Oblast: a blaze at an industrial facility caused by Russias armed aggression is being put out.

247 firefighters, 111 appliances and four fire trains are working on site."

Photo: State Emergency Service of Kyiv Oblast

Photo: State Emergency Service of Kyiv Oblast

Background:

The fire broke out at an industrial facility in Kyiv Oblast due to a Russian attack on the night of 11-12 June.

Ukraine's air defence shot down 29 out of the 30 Russian aerial targets launched on the night of 11-12 June, including five missiles and 24 kamikaze drones.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 12. Cutting-edge technologies, the digital revolution, streamlining flight paths, embracing state-of-the-art aircraft, and the eco-friendliness of their engines will bring down greenhouse gas emissions in Azerbaijan's aviation sector, Director of the State Civil Aviation Administration Arif Mammadov told reporters on the sidelines of today's CANSO (Civil Air Navigation Services Organization) ATM Summit 2024 in Baku, Trend reports.

In general, according to him, the global aviation industry plans to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 50 percent by 2030, and Azerbaijan is following these goals.

The CANSO international organization's summit in Baku on June 1113, with the participation of representatives of 80 countries, is discussing the safe organization of flights and problems of environmental damage when using civil aviation in the airspace. The solution is the use of digital, high-tech, Mammadov emphasized.

The official added that organizing the CANSO summit in Baku on the eve of COP29 is of utmost importance.

To note, this November, Azerbaijan will host COP29. This decision was made at the COP28 plenary meeting held in Dubai on December 11 last year. Baku will become the center of the world and will receive about 7080,000 foreign guests.

The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change is an agreement signed at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro in June 1992 to prevent dangerous human interference with the climate system. COPthe Conference of the Partiesis the highest legislative body overseeing the implementation of the Framework Convention on Climate Change. There are 198 countries that are parties to the Convention. Unless the parties agree otherwise, the COP is held annually. The first COP event took place in March 1995 in Germany's Berlin, with its secretariat in Bonn.

Stay up-to-date with more news at Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
Insights from The New York Times, CNN, and Al-Monitor

The News

The Hamas response to the US-backed Gaza ceasefire agreement includes changes that may not all be achievable, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Wednesday. The changes mean that the war in Gaza will go on until the disagreements are hashed out, he said.

Blinken did not give any specifics on the exact wording in the Hamas response, but stressed Washington would continue negotiations until both sides can agree on a proposal. I believe those gaps are bridgeable  it doesnt mean they will be bridged, Blinken warned.

SIGNALS

Semafor Signals: Global insights on today's biggest stories.

Ceasefire agreement would avert war with Hezbollah

Source: New York Times

Attention is focused on Gaza, but northern Israel has become a hotspot in the fighting as Lebanon-based militant group Hezbollah has ramped up shelling and sending rockets across the Lebanese border. The situation is at risk of spiraling into another war, the International Crisis Groups Mairav Zonszein wrote for The New York Times. Stabilizing the north, Zonszein wrote, requires a conclusive resolution of the conflict in Gaza that Hamas accepts. Israeli authorities have prioritized defeating Hamas, but Hezbollah has a far more potent arsenal and is becoming increasingly advanced. Hezbollah may also be prolonging its provocation to study Israels defense capabilities in preparation for war, Zonszein argued.

Hamas negotiator believes group has advantage in talks

Source: CNN

Yahya Sinwar, a top Hamas leader and negotiator in any ceasefire deal, believes that his group remains strong enough to survive Israels attempts to destroy it and ultimately has an upper hand in negotiations, US officials told CNN. Thats a discouraging assessment from Washington: It could mean Hamas doesnt yet feel sufficient pressure to reach an agreement that would end the fighting  even as Palestinian civilians continue to perish.

Israels Rafah offensive jeopardizing peace treaty with Egypt

Source: Al-Monitor

Israels offensive in Rafah has continued in the absence of a ceasefire deal, and the militarization of the border city is jeopardizing Israels decades-long peace treaty with Egypt, according to Al-Monitor. While both Israeli and Egyptian officials are confident the rising tensions will not lead to a full-fledged war between the two countries, they could further complicate ceasefire negotiations. One potential pressure point: Egypt will not let aid trucks pass through the border crossing with Gaza at Rafah until it is not under Israeli control. If Israel let Palestinian authorities take control, that might be a step in the right direction to lower tensions with Egypt and, in turn, push Hamas into accepting a ceasefire agreement, Al-Monitor argued.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Wednesday expressed frustration that Hamas has submitted numerous changes to a US-backed proposal for a ceasefire and release of hostages in Gaza  a development that casts further doubt on the prospects of quickly securing the deal the US hopes will bring an enduring end to the war.

Some of the changes are workable. Some are not, Blinken said at a press conference in Doha, describing some of those changes as going beyond positions (Hamas) had previously taken.

Blinken, unlike an Israeli official who spoke to CNN earlier, did not go as far as to describe the response by Hamas as a rejection of the proposal, and said he believed that the gaps are bridgeable. Still, the top US diplomat made clear his exasperation at both the changes Hamas proposed and the length of time it took to reply  12 days. He did not go into specific details about the changes, but he continued to cast exclusive blame for the stalling of the deal  and the prolonging of the suffering of the Palestinians in Gaza  on the US-designated terrorist group, not on Israel.

Israel accepted the proposal as it was, he reiterated, despite repeated public statements from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu seeming to cast doubt on his approval of the proposal.

Hamas could have answered with a single word  yes, he said.

At some point in a negotiation  and this has gone back and forth for a long time  you get to a point where if one side continues to change its demands, including making demands and insisting on changes for things that it had already accepted, you have to question whether theyre proceeding in good faith or not, Blinken said in reference to Hamas.

Its time for the haggling to stop and a ceasefire to start. Its as simple as that, he said.

US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan on Wednesday described many of Hamas proposed changes as minor and not unanticipated, but said others differ more substantively from what was outlined in the UN Security Council resolution.

That resolution, which passed the UN body on Monday, laid out the three phrases for the ceasefire and hostage release. In the first phase, there would be an immediate, full, and complete ceasefire with the release of hostages and withdrawal of Israeli forces from the populated areas in Gaza. In phase two, upon agreement of the parties, 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. Phase three would see the start of a major multi-year reconstruction plan for Gaza and the return of the remains of any deceased hostages still in Gaza to their families.

A diplomatic source told CNN the Hamas 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.

A senior US administration official told CNN that the goalposts are moving, in Hamas response, and the group is now pressing for even greater specificity than it did before.

The official had previously told CNN that what was on the table was pretty thin once you get past that first phase.

Hamass requests would ultimately undermine the phased nature of the proposal on which agreement rests, the senior administration official said Wednesday. It will be difficult to get Israel to agree to automaticity that the ceasefire will become permanent.

While much of Blinkens trip to Egypt, Israel, Jordan and Qatar had been centered on ratcheting up pressure on Hamas to take the proposal for an immediate ceasefire, it was also focused on developing plans for when a ceasefire is put into place.

It is crucial to move from an immediate ceasefire in Gaza to an enduring end to the war, Blinken said Wednesday in some of his most straight-forward comments yet calling for the end to the eight-month long conflict.

In the coming weeks, we will put forward proposals for key elements of the day after plan, including concrete ideas for how to manage governance, security, reconstruction, the top US diplomat said, without providing further details.

Still, any movement on any of those aspects is contingent on an end to the fighting in Gaza, which has claimed the lives of more than 37,000 Palestinians and left the strip in what aid officials have described as an unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe.

In the days ahead, we are going to continue to push on an urgent basis with our partners, with Qatar, with Egypt, to try to close this deal, Blinken said Wednesday as he wrapped up his eighth round of shuttle diplomacy since the October 7 Hamas attack.

Hamas submitted its reply to the multi-phased ceasefire and hostage release proposal to mediators on Tuesday. According to a senior State Department official, Blinken, who was in Amman at the time, dispatched two of the senior staff traveling with him to retrieve Hamas response from Egyptian Intelligence Chief Abbas Kamel, who was also in the Jordanian capital.

Izzat al-Rishq, a member of the Hamas political bureau, described their response as responsible, serious and positive.

CNNs Becky Anderson, Hamdi Alkhshali and Benjamin Brown contributed to this report.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
Duval Countys next top educator has a new contract and $320,000 salary approved by board members in a 6-1 vote during a special meeting Wednesday.

>>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<<

Dr. Christopher Bernier, who was previously superintendent in Lee County, will officially start at Duval County Public Schools on July 1st for his four-year contract.

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Theyre not reading the room. Were firing teachers. Were consolidating schools. Teachers barely get minimum raises, Chris Guerrieri, a veteran DCPS teacher, said.

Board Member Warren Jones was the only vote against the contract, citing concerns only about the salary itself.

I know our union and employees are looking  well if he can get that much, why cant we as an organization doing the work each and every day in our district, he said.

RELATED: Dr. Christopher Bernier proposes $350,000 contract, negotiations with DCPS continue

The majority argued DCPS needs to stay competitive with Floridas other larger districts.

This is a huge job and our kids deserve it. Our kids deserve the best possible leader they can, Board Chair Darryl Willie said.

DCPS is the sixth largest district. Dr. Berniers $320,000 salary would make him the sixth highest paid superintendent. The other top paid include:

Miami-Dade: $370,000

Broward: $350,000

Palm Beach: $340,0000

Orange: $330,000

Hillsborough: $330,000

Dr. Bernier addressed the districts financial situation after his contract was approved Wednesday.

Im looking forward to the opportunity now to work on what I said in my interview is the three-legged stool. One of the most important parts of that stool is the compensation of our employees, he said.

The districts financial situation, teacher pay, and school consolidation including enrollment round out what the incoming superintendent said will be his top priorities on day one.

All board members agreed, theyd like to see an incentive for performance. That is something that wasnt in this contract, but Willie said will likely be in future ones. However, he assured the community theres other systems in place.

RELATED: Duval County School Board chair responds to concerns over investigation linked to superintendent

We evaluate the superintendent on a regular basis yearly. So, we have things in place  that would be an advanced enhancement to it, he said.

Action News Jax told you last week, Dr. Bernier first proposed a $350,000 salary. The district came back with a counteroffer that was $70,000 less at $280,000. They met somewhere in the middle at $320,000.

The contract also includes a district car and up to $15,000 in moving expenses. The incoming superintendent said hes still working out the details of his move to Duval.

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Bob Menendezs Lawyer Cant Get Over the Claim He Rang a Little Bell to Summon His Wife

Sen. Bob Menendezs defense lawyers grilled a key prosecution witness on Wednesday, repeatedly asking about a backyard meeting over an alleged bribe in which the witness claimed the New Jersey Democrat summoned his wife with a little bell.

Jose Uribe, a New Jersey insurance executive who pleaded guilty to bribery and obstruction charges in March, spent his fourth day on the witness stand answering questions about his alleged years-long bribery agreement with Menendez. Prosecutors allege that Uribe was one of three businessmen who bribed Menendez for years with gifts, money, and gold bars in exchange for political favors.

Menendez has pleaded not guilty to 16 federal bribery counts and his defense attorneys have blamed the senators wife for allegedly taking the gifts without his knowledge.

On the stand, Uribe told jurors about a September 2019 meeting in Menendezs then-girlfriends Englewood Cliffs backyard to discuss targets of a state criminal investigation that he feared would interfere with his insurance and trucking companies.

How a House Race Explains Bob Menendezs Grip on New Jersey

Over cigars and cognac at a patio table, Uribe said the senator rang a little bell and called out for his mon amour Nadine. He said Nadine was summoned to bring him a piece of paper to write down the names of the investigation targets.

Was it bigger than my fist or smaller, defense attorney Adam Fee grilled Uribe about the bell, according to Courthouse News.

After demanding Uribe hold up his fist to show the size of the bell, U.S. District Judge Sidney Stein intervened. His recollection of the size of the little bell is important? Stein asked. OK, proceed and lower your voice.

When you left that night, you did not send a text message to Wael Hana, saying It was super weird when Senator Menendez rang a little bell to summon Nadine, Fee asked Uribe, referring to another businessman who allegedly bribed Menendez.

Uribe previously said he ultimately paid a $15,000 down payment for Nadine Menendezs 2019 Mercedes-Benz convertible and handled the car payments until June 2022 in exchange for the senators help to ensure his company was not affected by the criminal investigation.

Before Uribe left the witness stand on Wednesday, however, Fee once again questioned whether Menendez was ringing a little bell in a subsequent meeting the pair had at a restaurant.

The little bell is on the patio, its not at the reception desk, Stein interjected after sustaining an objection about another bell question.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.) is looking to overcome numerous unflattering headlines and allegations of carpetbagging as she seeks to win her GOP primary in a new House district this month.

The Colorado firebrand, who represents the 3rd Congressional District in the western part of the state, announced she would run in a new district late last year. Shes now looking to beat out a handful of Republican challengers in the June 25 primary for the 4th District in eastern Colorado.

Observers say shes the likely front-runner, both in her primary and in November, representing a remarkable reversal of fortune for the second-term congresswoman after she was barely reelected in 2022 and has faced mounting public scrutiny.

I think a lot of people knew as soon as she got in the race that she was the person to beat, said Douglas County GOP Chair Steve Peck, who said hes neutral in the primary.

When she announced that she was getting into the race, I immediately had several candidates reach out to me and ask me what I thought, how the campaign changes, because all things being equal, she is a national figure, he said, adding that Boebert had to fight and earn the respect of local Republican leaders and grassroots activists in the community.

Boebert entered Congress in 2021, ousting an incumbent Republican in the primary for a House seat in the Western Slope.

Since then, she has become one of the most polarizing figures in Congress. For several years, Boebert has drawn scrutiny and outrage over her actions, such as her insinuation Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) was a terrorist  for which she later issued an apology to the Muslim community  or her heckling of President Biden during an annual State of the Union address.

Some of those antics almost cost her her House seat in 2022, when she won reelection by just more than 500 votes, prompting her to switch districts and move to the eastern 4th District after former Rep. Ken Buck (R-Colo.) announced he wouldnt seek reelection.

Until a few months ago, there were serious questions over whether Boebert would be back in Congress next year: Buck resigned from his seat early, prompting a special election to serve out the remainder of his term  one that was scheduled on the same day as the GOP primary for the regular two-year term.

Boebert opted against running in the special election because doing so would have required her to step down from her current seat in Congress, triggering a special election to finish out the remainder of her term  a precarious move that would have narrowed Republicans already slim majority. But by not running in the special election, it could have placed her at a disadvantage for the regular GOP primary because voters may have been more likely to vote for the same candidate in both races.

Adding to her woes, Boebert also was forced to publicly apologize for an incident last year when she was ejected from a Beetlejuice musical in Denver after she was caught vaping and being disruptive. She has also had to dodge attacks from her rivals, who have called her a carpetbagger in the new district.

Some of those controversies have weighed on the minds of Republicans in the district. Gregory Martin, the GOP chair for Cheyenne County, told The Hill former radio host Deborah Flora and former state Sen. Jerry Sonnenberg (R) were among his top picks, noting the drama around Boebert.

At the same time, Boebert has scored some significant wins: The Republican who won the GOP primary to compete in the special election, businessman Greg Lopez, said he only wanted to run to fill out the remainder of Bucks term, giving Boebert a better chance to win the primary for the full term.

The Colorado Republican also saw another boost in April when she clinched 41 percent of the delegate vote during the nominating assembly, allowing her to be placed first on the ballot over the rest of her competitors.

It was her audience, it was her core base, said Jeff Hunt, a radio show host and former director of Colorado Christian Universitys think tank Centennial Institute, referring to the atmosphere in the room during the nominating assembly.

Boebert also benefits from a crowded field that inevitably made it difficult for Republicans to coalesce around one of her challengers. She also has plenty of name ID and cash on hand  not to mention former President Trumps all-important endorsement.

Some Republicans are still skeptical of Boebert. Mike Benson, who chairs the Sedgwick County Republican Committee, said the congresswoman wasnt his favorite.

I just dont see how shes really going to represent the agriculture community, Benson said.

Other Republicans acknowledge some of her antics, such as the Beetlejuice incident, initially damaged her reputation. But many seemed to have largely moved past those incidents.

Not knowing Lauren very well until she came over to CD4, I think that Beetlejuice was something that definitely hurt her, said Pamela Kuhns-Valdez, chair of the Bent County GOP, who saw Boebert at a party meeting earlier in the week and said she was received very well.

But in retrospect  were all sinners who fall short of the glory of God, Kuhns-Valdez said.

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Boeing Leaks

After years of delays and technical problems, Boeing's Starliner finally made it to the International Space Station with NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams on board last week.

But when exactly it'll be able to undock and deliver its crew of two back to the surface remains to be seen.

Teams have discovered an astonishing five different helium leaks so far, each representing yet another thorn in the spacecraft's already cursed development. The gas is "used in spacecraft thruster systems to allow the thrusters to fire" while navigating through space, according to Boeing.

NASA is giving Boeing another four days, extending Wilmore and Williams' mission onboard the ISS from June 14 to no earlier than June 18, though it's unclear whether the leaks are to blame for the delay. Boeing is still "assessing what impacts, if any, five small leaks in the service module helium manifolds would have on the remainder of the mission," according to an update.

Boeing has been through hell and back in its attempts to get its first crewed test flight off the ground, including countless delays, scrubs, technical screwups, and an unsuccessful uncrewed test flight back in 2019.

Where that leaves Starliner's future viability for providing NASA with a reliable way to get astronauts to the space station remains to be seen. While it has managed to dock with the ISS, its mission isn't over until Wilmore and Williams are safely back on the ground.

Hole Story

Last month, officials discovered the first helium leak, which was later underplayed by officials and determined not to be severe enough to delay its journey to the ISS.

On its way up, the capsule sprang even more helium leaks. Even docking procedures didn't initially go as planned, with Boeing calling off its first attempt due to reaction-control thrusters malfunctioning.

There's a lot we still don't know about Starliner's current status. Fortunately, engineers have determined that the capsule will have plenty of helium for its return mission, roughly ten times as much as it needs to maneuver through the near vacuum of space.

"While Starliner is docked, all the manifolds are closed per normal mission operations preventing helium loss from the tanks," Boeing explained in its update.

Meanwhile, NASA is making the most out of the situation.

"The additional time in orbit will allow the crew to perform a spacewalk on Thursday, June 13, while engineers complete Starliner systems checkouts," ISS officials tweeted, referring to two different space station crew members.

More on Starliner: Boeing's Starliner Has Trouble Docking With Space Station
A federal jury has found a man from southwestern Kentucky guilty of several terrorism charges related to his involvement with the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham, colloquially known as ISIS, the U.S. Attorney's Office of the Western District of Kentucky announced Wednesday.

Mirsad Hariz Adem Ramic, a 34-year-old from Bowling Green, has been charged with providing material support to ISIS and receiving military-type training from the organization. He faces a statutory maximum penalty of 50 years in prison, a fine of $750,000 and term of supervised release up to life.

Ramic is believed to have flown to Turkey with two other people in 2014, then traveled into Syria to join ISIS, which has been designated a foreign terrorist organizations by the U.S. Secretary of State.

After joining ISIS, Ramic attended an ISIS training camp, where a photo of Ramic posted on social media depicted him "wearing camouflage clothing and standing in front of a truck outfitted with an anti-aircraft gun and the ISIS flag," according to a press release.

Ramic, a dual U.S.-Bosnian citizen, then joined a fighting unit comprised primarily of Bosnian foreign fighters and participated in ISISs offensive in Kobane, Syria.

He was brought into federal custody in December 2021 after being deported to the United States from Turkey.

His sentencing hearing has been set for September 24.

Reach reporter Rachel Smith at rksmith@courierjournal.com or @RachelSmithNews on X, formerly known as Twitter.

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Kentucky man found guilty of supporting ISIS, other terrorism charges
BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 12. Baku is an ideal place for holding the June 1113 World Summit on Air Navigation, CANSO (International Civil Aviation Services Organization) Director General Simon Hocquard told reporters on the summit's sidelines, Trend reports.

"Holding this event in Baku is appropriate and important, as this city will host the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29) in November. Baku is therefore a perfect location because here the problems that will be on the COP29 agenda are being addressed, including the potential of employing alternative energy sources and lowering emissions. Climate change causes major problems and is pertinent to the aviation sector. Particularly, the worldwide aviation industry wants to have zero carbon dioxide emissions by 2050. There is much work ahead of us to do this, Hocquard said.

At present, he said, 2-3 percent of the world's emissions come from the aviation industry.

"However, without implementing climate and technological measures, there is a possibility that this figure could increase to 22 percent within the next 20 years, which is something we must avoid at all costs," he concluded.

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BRISTOL, Va. (WJHL)  The Bristol, Virginia City Council passed an ordinance on first reading Tuesday evening to consider a parcel of land on the former Virginia Intermont Colleges property as blighted and raise property taxes for its owner by 5%.

The property, located at 1013 Moore Street, was purchased in 2016 by U.S. Magis International, a Chinese-owned company based out of New York. Leaders of the City of Bristol, Virginia said theyve been trying for years to work with the owners of the property on restoration efforts.

Its as everybody knows, its in the center of the city, sitting just abandoned, Vice Mayor Jake Holmes told News Channel 11 after the meeting. Its starting to fall apart. Its not in great shape. And its time to time to do something.

Missing Smyth County man last seen fishing on Jerrys Creek Trail near Chilhowie

City Manager Randall Eads said during Tuesday evenings meeting that the city assessor determined after an exterior inspection that the property and its buildings were considered blighted. The ordinances first reading to officially consider the property as blighted and to raise U.S. Magis Internationals property taxes by 5% passed unanimously.

Council member Michael Pollard said in the meeting that the move wasnt to hurt anyone locally, specifically those unhoused in Bristol.

Id like to reiterate we do not want to make use of abilities that we may have, to make things harder on residents who are just going through a rough time, Pollard said during member discussion. But unfortunately, the owner of this particular property has repeatedly and regularly not wanted to cooperate with us, even for basic safety issues unless absolutely forced toright now with that particular property, we need all the tools we can make use of.

A blighted property is defined by Virginia Code  36-3 as any individual commercial, industrial, or residential structure or improvement that endangers the publics health, safety, or welfare because the structure or improvement upon the property is dilapidated, deteriorated, or violates minimum health and safety standards, or any structure or improvement previously designated as blighted.

We dont want to use this ability frequently, but I think this is a case where its completely honestly within our legal right to do so, but I think its completely within reason, so Im glad this is coming for a vote, Councilman Neal Osborne said during the meeting.

The ordinance must be approved on a second reading. It would then be formally adopted and go into effect 30 days after its adoption.

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Britain has been lucky with its recent populists. Farage is a real conservative who would have been at home in Thatcher's Tories. That may well not be true of his successors - Christopher Pledger

Be in no doubt: the next few years are going to be calamitous for Britain. Almost everything that is bad today will get worse, and everything that, for now, is still working will be vandalised or destroyed. The public is clamouring for change, but there will be no great rupture under Sir Keir Starmers Labour, no break with the dismal status quo, just a further acceleration in our national decline.

We should be grateful for small mercies. Jeremy Corbyn would have imposed full-on socialism; many of his allies wanted to ban private schools altogether and savagely expropriate wealth. Starmer will misinterpret his likely super-majority as an endorsement of technocratic rule, giving him carte blanche to double-down on the neo-Blairite consensus that has been hegemonic in the UK since 1997, with an added dollop of class warfare, punitive taxation and wokery.

But Starmers plan stands no chance of success. It will merely make a bad situation worse, further ruining an already broken Britain, and will be remembered as the last hurrah of an ancien regime that never learnt from its mistakes. Our taxes will go up to even more extortionate levels, especially on capital and property, making it even less worthwhile to work, invest or create; our drift to European-style social democracy will accelerate; our ultra-regulated economy will carry on stagnating in terms of per capita GDP, delivering paltry wage growth and ensuring children can no longer expect to be better off than their parents.

The NHS, pensions and the welfare state will career ever-faster towards bankruptcy; immigrants will arrive at extraordinary rates, fuelling problems of integration and exacerbating the housing crisis; the gap between London and the rest will grow; the somewheres will still be pitted against the anywheres; the education system, state and private, will be trashed by egalitarian fanatics.

Quangos and human rights lawyers will be handed even greater powers. The woke revolution will tear through more institutions; the family will continue to wither, intensifying the baby-bust; criminals will run riot; energy costs will rocket further in a mad rush to net zero, while the war on mobility will be intensified; and our Armed Forces will remain preposterously small.

There is a small chance that Labour might improve the housing crisis, but if so it is concealing its real plans. Our foreign policy will worsen substantially, especially vis-a-vis the Middle East, and a hideous anti-Semitism will continue to gnaw away at our society.

Nobody of a conservative bent should wish for a Labour victory, or for a 1906-style Tory defeat or worse. It would be a catastrophe were the Lib Dems to become the official opposition. Starmers popularity will undoubtedly collapse in two to three years time, when it becomes apparent that he doesnt have any answers, but by then great damage will have been done.

Yet the terrible truth is that it is the Tories embrace of neo-Blairite ideas, camouflaged by a thick coat of blue veneer, that is the fundamental reason they are set to be rejected by the electorate. Bad ideas never work, regardless of which rosette is pinned on them. Britain needs a cultural conservative, free-market and democratic revolution, a massive shock to the system, not a narrow choice between bad and worse.

The Tories, especially those who saw themselves as the heirs to Blair, have only themselves to blame for the fact that Nigel Farage is now polling almost as highly as them. There is no future for the Tory party unless it breaks with todays pseudo-centrism and invents a new mass market Thatcherism for the modern era.

If that doesnt happen, Britain will go the way of much of Europe, where the mainstream centre-Right and centre-Left stand utterly discredited for failing to fix any of their countries economic or cultural problems, and are being replaced by radical parties, some sensible (such as Giorgia Melonis in Italy) and some unpalatable (such as the AfD in Germany, which is rife with extremists).

Growing up in France, I dearly hoped that the centre-Right would pull itself together, and reform Frances failing institutions, economy and society, lest demagogues of the far-Left or Right fill the vacuum instead. It never did, and now, 30 years later, and after a succession of useless centre-Right and centre-Left presidents, it is too late. Les Republicains, the successor to de Gaulles party, are down to 7 per cent and are tearing themselves apart over their leaders decision to subordinate himself to Marine Le Pens party in the forthcoming general election. This is one possible nightmarish future for our own Tory party.

Frances anti-establishment rage has been building for much longer than Britains, partly because it never had a Thatcher and because it has mismanaged mass immigration to a far greater degree than we have. Emmanuel Macron, a narcissist who pretended to break the Left-Right dichotomy, was the last chance for Frances old order, just like Boris Johnson and now Starmer were the final hope for the Tory-Labour duopoly.

Macron blew it spectacularly, his record of abject failure crowned by a humiliating downgrade of Frances national debt. In a fit of pique, dressed up as a Machiavellian calculation, he decided to take his ungrateful country down with him days ahead of the Paris Olympics.

There is a high chance that Jordan Bardella, Le Pens 28-year old number two, will be prime minister after July 7. The consequences will be nuclear. There were runs on the pound after the Brexit vote and Liz Truss budget; with no franc, a Rassemblement National victory would see the markets turn on French IOUs. Protestors will descend on to the streets. In time, if Le Pens party survived contact with reality, her proposed referendum on migration would amount to the start of a Frexit in all but name, blowing up many of Starmers assumptions.

Britain has been lucky with its populists in recent years. Farage is a real conservative who would have been at home in Thatchers Tories and who, unlike many European Right-wingers, believes in free markets and a smaller state. But far less salubrious characters and parties could easily start to spring up when the next government fails, as it inevitably will.

The Tories have a duty to the country not to go the way of Frances Gaullists, and instead to help reunite the mainstream Right to defeat the neo-Blairite consensus for good.

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(Bloomberg) -- The UK economy lost more than 257 billion ($327 billion) in potential output because of demotivated workers last year, adding to a productivity crisis thats left the country falling behind other wealthy nations.

Most Read from Bloomberg

Just one in 10 UK workers were classified as engaged at work, which means putting in discretionary effort on the tasks theyre asked to do, according to Gallup research published Wednesday that tracked a slow erosion in motivation over the last decade.

The finding represents a reversal for the UK, which in the early 2010s had the second highest proportion of engaged workers in the Group of Seven industrial nations. Thats now dropped below the averages in both the G-7 and the rest of Europe. Its now well below the global figure of 23%.

The Gallup researchers said that level of engagement means the UK has an issue with quiet quitters, or people doing the bare minimum at work instead of being actively engaged. Engagement is also dragged down by another category of workers who even oppose the efforts of bosses.

The study looked at the link between worker motivation and output at firm-level across sectors and found that including lost output and lost potential could be costing the UK 11% of gross domestic product.

The dangerous threat to the UK economy right now is a workforce that has essentially given up, and the politics are not making that any easier, said Jeremie Brecheisen, UK managing partner at Gallup, adding that workers feel abandoned by politicians to deal with the consequences of events like Britains exit from the European Union. There is an impact of failure of the government or mistrust in the system.

That sentiment is on full-display in the run-up to the general election on July 4. Polls suggest voters are likely to end 14 years of Conservative rule, with Prime Minister Rishi Sunaks party losing ground to both the Labour opposition and the right-wing Reform UK party.

Gallups work also underscores challenges for Labour if it wins office, with hurdles to reviving the economy and lifting livings standards.

The UK is struggling to boost an economy that tipped into a mild recession last year. The Bank of England expects weak growth for much of this year. Economists forecast a small drop in output when Aprils figure is published later on Wednesday.

Productivity is a big part of the problem. Output per hour worked has stagnated since the financial crisis, falling behind the US and other rich countries. At the same time, Britain has fewer workers than before Covid after more than 800,000 people dropped out due to long-term sickness, to retire or for education.

Gallup found that a lack of clarity around what needs to be accomplished is one of the main drivers of low engagement. While part of that is due to poor management, in the UK the situation has been exacerbated by a series of shocks from Brexit to the pandemic and macroeconomic uncertainty, Brecheisen said. External factors like politics account for about 30% of the variance in engagement levels overall, he added.

Britain scores well on some measures. About 40% of UK employees are experiencing stress daily, below the European average. But a demotivated workforce makes it harder for the country to draw in and retain skilled workers. And Britons are also more likely to experience other negative emotions like sadness or anger on a daily basis, Gallup found.

Theres still a lot of things that are very attractive about the UK but the risk in the future is that this starts to erode the employee value brand of the country, Brecheisen said. The best and brightest are not going want to come to England if this is a terrible place to work, theyre much more likely to want to go to Canada or America or Germany or somewhere else where they know its going to mean better work experience.

--With assistance from Andrew Atkinson.

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MOBILE, Ala. (WKRG)  The father of Brittany Robinson, a 14-year-old who has been missing for almost 12 years, has pleaded not guilty to her murder.

2 shot at Lucedale Walmart  what weve learned from police

Demetric Hooper was in court Wednesday, where he made his plea.

Brittany was last seen on June 14, 2012, after her mother dropped her off at Hoopers home on McCovery Road. She was supposed to be staying with Hooper for two days but was never seen again.

Brittany Robinson (File Photo)

Her remains were never found, which made investigating the case more difficult according to Mobile County District Attorney Keith Blackwood.

However, we felt after some further investigation and a fresh look at the case, that there was sufficient evidence to make this arrest, Blackwood said. And we will move forward with this to a jury trial.

After her disappearance, Hooper left town and was found by authorities at a mental health facility in Arkansas.

Experts explain reasons for increase in shark sightings along the Gulf Coast following recent attacks

Hooper was arrested in February 2024 after a Cold Case Investigation Team presented the case to a grand jury.

He was booked in jail in Oklahoma City and was extradited back to Mobile in May.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRG News 5.
NEW YORK  Bling Bishop Lamor Whitehead should spend 12 1/2 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.
BROOKLYN, N.Y. (PIX11)  As Fleet Week kicks off in New York City, students gathered at Brooklyn Bridge Park Pier 2 to accomplish their accomplishments.

Over 215 students designed, built, and launched their own sailboats through the Brooklyn Boatworks program  a nonprofit organization that bridges the gap in STEM education.

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What I feel like I created is the best thing. Its so awesome. I really love sailing the boat, said Julian Monica, a 12-year-old student at M.S. 88 in Brooklyn. We started in the beginning of the year, and we start with just wood scraps. They teach us how to do basic things like saw, and they teach us how to outline the boat on the wood. Then, as we go on, we start cutting out more pieces of the wood and as we get later and later, we start attaching them.

The ambitious 12-year-old has his sights set on a future in engineering.

I think its gonna be really enjoyable because I can apply this to, like, an engineering job, which I think I might do. The actual process of making the boat, as well as the physics of the boat and how the water interacts with it, Monica said.

Monica said the journey to this launch day was no easy feat, but Brooklyn Boatworks mission extends far beyond this event.

Were trying to take it to the next level for kids, explained Maggie McNicholas, the executive director.

She said that by 2030, there will be a projected 11.6 million STEM, trade, and maritime jobs. The program aims to open students eyes to lucrative career paths they may have previously dismissed.

A lot of them dont know about it. And whats even sadder is that 70% of kids in middle school are deciding that they are bad at math and science for no reason other than perception, McNicholas stated.

Fleet Week sails into NYC

Through in-the-field experience, she says the program is changing that narrative.

Were trying to show kids maybe you just dont learn traditionally. By learning through hands-on experiences, things can be different, and you can be really good at math or science or engineering. McNicholas said.

As Fleet Week celebrations continue, Monica and his fellow builders can take pride in their achievements, skills gained, and bright futures ahead.

I really love it. Its like one of my favorite things to do, Monica said.

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The homes of Brooklyn Museum director Anne Pasternak and several Jewish board members were targeted by vandals on Tuesday night, according to local elected officials who condemned the attacks.

New York City Comptroller Brad Lander posted images online showing what appeared to be red paint on the front of one house. A banner hanging between two columns outside the property read: ANNE PASTERNAK BROOKLYN MUSEUM WHITE-SUPREMACIST ZIONIST, one of the pictures shows.

Smoke, Palestinian Flags and Protest Chants Fill the Air as Thousands Surround White House

Last night vandals defaced the homes of the Jewish director & several Jewish board members of the @brooklynmuseum, Lander captioned the images on X. The cowards who did this are way over the line into antisemitism, harming the cause they claim to care about, and making everyone less safe.

Its not clear how many homes were targeted, but the New York Police Department is investigating multiple incidents involving paint being thrown or sprayed onto homes, according to WNBC-TV.

Last night vandals defaced the homes of the Jewish director & several Jewish board members of the @brooklynmuseum.



The cowards who did this are way over the line into antisemitism, harming the cause they claim to care about, and making everyone less safe. pic.twitter.com/MzEVgJYCwQ  Brad Lander (@bradlander) June 12, 2024

City Council Member Lincoln Restler (D-Brooklyn) similarly condemned the disgusting, horrible, and despicable vandalism that he said had occurred in Brooklyn Heights & other locations affiliated with the museum. There is video & PD is investigating, he added.

This is not peaceful protest or free speech, Mayor Eric Adams wrote in a post, which also included images of the defacement. This is a crime, and its overt, unacceptable antisemitism. Adams added that such actions will never be tolerated in New York City and said he was sorry to Anne Pasternak and members of @brooklynmuseums board who woke up to hatred like this.

I spoke to Anne this morning and committed that this hate will not stand in our city, Adams wrote. The NYPD is investigating and will bring the criminals responsible here to justice.

This is not peaceful protest or free speech. This is a crime, and it's overt, unacceptable antisemitism.



These actions will never be tolerated in New York City for any reason. I'm sorry to Anne Pasternak and members of @brooklynmuseum's board who woke up to hatred like this.



I pic.twitter.com/vi17PumBoM  Mayor Eric Adams (@NYCMayor) June 12, 2024

Its not clear who was responsible for the vandalism. It comes after pro-Palestine protesters clashed with police during a march on the Brooklyn Museum last month, with 34 demonstrators detained in the melee. One group calling for sustained action against the museum accused it of complicity in the ongoing genocide in Gaza.

More protesters were arrested on Monday night when crowds of activists gathered outside a memorial exhibition in Lower Manhattan commemorating the hundreds of people killed by Hamas at the Nova music festival in southern Israel on Oct. 7. Signs celebrating the massacre were seen at the demonstration, according to a report, and some were filmed chanting: Long live the intifada.

One demonstrator also warned Zionists on a New York City subway car to raise their hands and warned them to take their chance to get out on Monday, according to the New York Post.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 12. A seminar on the digitalization of companies within the framework of COP29 is planned to be held in Azerbaijan, UNESCAP representative Heather Strauss told reporters on the sidelines of a seminar on the intellectual industry readiness index taking place in Baku, Trend reports.

"The seminar will be held tomorrow, and 15 startups will take part in it. Among them are 11 projects from Azerbaijan, as well as two each from Turkiye and Tajikistan. The event will be dedicated to the digitalization of companies within the framework of COP29. Furthermore, a two-month capacity-building program will be launched during the workshop. It is aimed at training companies on how to attract corporate venture capital to expand their technologies and products, as well as to enter international markets," she said.

To note, the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29) will be held in Azerbaijan in November this year. The decision was made at the plenary meeting of COP28 held in Dubai on December 11 last year. Within two weeks, Baku, having become the center of the world, will host about 70,00080,000 foreign guests.

The UN Framework Convention on Climate Change is an agreement signed at the Rio Earth Summit in June 1992 to prevent dangerous human interference in the climate system. The acronym COP (Conference of Parties) stands for Conference of Parties, which is the highest legislative body overseeing the implementation of the Framework Convention on Climate Change.

A total of 198 countries are parties to the convention. Unless the parties have decided otherwise, COP is held annually. The first COP event was held in March 1995 in Berlin, and its secretariat is located in Bonn.

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Broward prosecutors are taking a measured approach as they determine whether the 14-year-old accused of beating her grandmother to death will be charged as an adult.

At a Wednesday hearing, prosecutor Gloria Moschella said shes working with defense attorneys to have the girl sit through a psychological evaluation. She added the state attorneys office wants the police investigation into the murder to conclude before making a decision.

The teen, whom the Miami Herald isnt naming because of her age, is facing a second-degree murder charge in connection to the May 23 deadly beating of 79-year-old Yevheniia Koval.

READ MORE: Is mental health linked to 14 year old accused of killing her grandmother in Broward?

Amid the pending decision on how shell be charged, both prosecutors and defense attorneys agreed to extend the teens detention for 21 days. If that agreement hadnt been reached, the girl could have been released by Friday.

Our prosecutors will thoroughly review all of the evidence, facts and circumstances of the case and a decision will be made regarding any formal charges and whether the case would be handled in adult or juvenile court, the state attorneys office previously told the Miami Herald in a statement.

Seated in the jury box with other minors, the girl remained quiet throughout the proceeding. When her potential charges were read out, some of the children seated nearby flinched, with shocked expressions on their faces.

A Ukrainian interpreter beside the teen translated what the attorneys  and Broward Circuit Court Judge Elijah Williams  were saying. She had moved to the United States from Ukraine about eight months ago.

The teens mother, who is still in Ukraine, attended the court appearance via Zoom. Her father, however, stood behind the assistant public defenders.

Is mental health a concern?

Shortly after midnight on May 23, Broward deputies and paramedics arrived at an apartment in the 4100 block of Northwest 41st Street in Lauderdale Lakes, where they found Koval on the ground with bruises on her body, court records show.

Kovals son, who told deputies he had left the house at 7 p.m. to visit a friend, was the one who found Koval, according to an affidavit. She had bruising all over her body and abrasions to her neck, face and head.

An autopsy determined that Koval had bleeding inside the brain.

The girl had been exhibiting behavioral issues after witnessing the war in Ukraine and being separated from her mother, a police affidavit states.

Kovals son, whos the teens father, told investigators that she hadnt been diagnosed with mental health problems, though she had been showing signs of aggression, the affidavit said. He also noted she hadnt been eating or sleeping.

The teen, determined to be a possible harm to others and herself, was Baker Acted, or admitted to a psychiatric hospital by first responders, according to documents. She was transported to Fort Lauderdale Behavioral Health Center, where she was reportedly aggressive with hospital staff.

The girl will return to juvenile court in early July.
Brunswick will see millions in opioid settlement dollars. Heres what it could fund.

Acacia Alston, a licensed clinical social worker and addiction specialist, speaks to the Brunswick County Board of Commissioners about the proposed ARROW Program during the June 3, 2024, meeting.

Hundreds of thousands of opioid settlement dollars could be used to help addicted inmates in Brunswick County get treatment while in custody.

The Brunswick County Sheriffs Office hopes to implement a program using opioid settlement funds that would provide treatment to inmates suffering from substance abuse and mental health disorders related to opioid use. Its called the ARROW Program  Addiction Response and Rediscovering Ones Worth.

In 2022, a $26 billion settlement was reached following negotiations with drug manufacturer Johnson & Johnson and drug distributors Cardinal Health, McKesson and AmerisourceBergen, for their role in the opioid epidemic. North Carolina will see $750 million of that Wave One settlement money  85% of which will go to local governments to attack the crisis across the state.

In late 2022, national settlements were reached with CVS, Walgreens, Walmart, Allergan and Teva. North Carolina is set to receive an additional $600 million of the $21 billion in Wave Two settlements. A memorandum of understanding outlines that those funds are to be distributed over 15-18 years.

From 2022 to 2038, Brunswick County is estimated to receive over $24 million in opioid settlement funds. As of May 2024, the county had already received $5.5 million in settlement disbursements.

Brunswick County Sheriff Brian Chism said reducing recidivism and increasing public safety are the ultimate goals of the ARROW Program.

Acacia Alston, a licensed clinical social worker and addiction specialist, said incarcerated individuals have a high rate of substance abuse and mental health disorders. The ARROW Program, she said, looks to contract with Coastal Horizons to provide treatment prior to release, a service the county detention center does not currently offer.

The program would target adults who are expected to be confined to the jail for more than 90 days and whose criminal justice involvement is attributed to a diagnosed substance use disorder, Alston said. The program would prioritize individuals charged with or convicted of driving while impaired or low-level felonies.

Brunswick County operates two other substance use services  the sheriffs offices Anchor Initiative and the Brunswick County Treatment Courts.

The Anchor Initiative looks to offer assistance to addicted individuals by offering them criminal protections as law enforcement helps them find a detox facility or other care.

Treatment court programs are charged with handling adult criminal, juvenile, abuse, neglect and dependency cases involving chemically dependent individuals, according to the North Carolina Judicial Branch. Individuals are offered counseling, supervision, drug testing, sanctions and incentives as part of their individualized treatment plans.

Brunswick County has done a great job at offering substance use services to our community through both of those programs, Alston said. ...Essentially, the ARROW Program would close that gap and offer services for those that are waiting for their criminal cases to be handled in the detention center that normally wouldnt have any access to treatment.

The program would consist of two full-time employees: a civilian program coordinator and a jailer. The program coordinator would oversee the program, conduct eligibility screenings and devise a treatment plan with Coastal Horizons, who will then provide treatment services to the participant. The jailer would facilitate the movement of participating inmates to their treatments.

We have no idea the quality and what we have in this county thats hidden because of addiction, Chism said. So, if we can do anything to offer them a second chance and get them to be productive citizens in the county, Im all for that and I know everybody else is too.

But, the program isnt moving forward just yet.

The sheriffs office asked the Brunswick County Board of Commissioners to approve the implementation of the program and allocation of $252,336 of opioid settlement funds to cover the cost of the program for the next year at the boards June 3 meeting.

Commissioner Pat Sykes said she was concerned the program was redundant to services already being offered and would create more work for detention officers. Alston said a similar program was operating in Pitt County, and Sykes wanted to wait until more information could be brought before the board regarding that programs success.

Sykes also said she was concerned with starting a program using opioid settlement funds that would eventually expire, leaving the county to foot the bill through its general fund. County Manager Steve Stone clarified that opioid settlement funds will continue to funnel in past the next decade.

It could need county money in the future, but it would be 15 or 16 years in the future, Stone said.

Alston added grant funding could also be acquired to fund the program.

Mike Forte, vice-chair of the board, said the program has his full support and moved to approve the request to implement the program.

Ive seen it thousands of times, so many people that have gotten clean because theyve gotten that second, third, fourth chance, Forte said.

STAY CONNECTED: Keep up with the areas latest Brunswick County news by signing up for the Brunswick Today newsletter and following us on Facebook and Instagram.

Sykes asked the board to table the item until the boards second June meeting, and Forte withdrew his motion.

Jamey Cross covers Brunswick County for the StarNews. Reach her at jbcross@gannett.com or message her on Twitter/X @jameybcross.

This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: Brunswick County, NC, explores uses for opioid settlement funds
Brussels is expected to announce new tariffs on Chinese car imports - AFP/Getty Images

British car brands including MG and Lotus have been caught up in a European Union crackdown on Chinese electric vehicles.

Brussels has announced tariffs of up to 48pc on EVs made in China, included those manufactured by MG, Volvo and BYD, in a row over what the EU claims are unfair subsidies from Beijing.

The measures offer protection for European carmakers, who have complained they are being undercut unfairly.

However, the tariffs threaten to push up the price of electric cars for drivers in the bloc.

It also risks a diplomatic spat with China.

Beijing has reacted angrily to the threat of a proposed European crackdown and warned it will impose its own tariffs on European goods in retaliation.

Imported EVs already face tariffs of 10pc in the EU but the European Commission said on Wednesday it was prepared to impose extra duties on the biggest Chinese manufacturers of between 17pc and 38pc.

Brands facing higher tariffs include BYD, as well as British and European brands that are owned by Chinese parent companies. These include MG, Lotus and Volvo.

Following the investigation, the commission proposed an extra duty of 17.4pc on cars made by BYD, 20pc on those made by Volvo-owner Geely and 38pc for those of MG-owner SAIC.

Other Chinese carmakers face extra duties of 21pc or 38pc, depending on whether they cooperated or refused to cooperate with the EUs inquiry.

The commission said Tesla, which makes electric cars in China and exports them to Europe, may get its own individual rate.

The provisional measures were introduced following an eight-month investigation that found electric carmakers in China benefit from unfair subsidies.

The investigation found the entire BEV [battery electric vehicle] value chain is heavily subsidised in China, and that imports of Chinese BEVs presented a threat of clearly foreseeable and imminent injury to EU industry.

In its announcement, the European Commission said it would now discuss the issue with Chinese authorities to explore possible ways to resolve the issues identified.

But it added: Should discussions with Chinese authorities not lead to an effective solution, these provisional countervailing duties would be introduced from July 4.

The tariffs could also potentially be imposed retrospectively, back to a date of April 5, although that has not been decided yet.

On Wednesday, a spokesman for the Chinese foreign ministry branded the commissions decision a typical case of protectionism and warned it would damage trade ties. The spokesman added that Beijing would do what was necessary to firmly safeguard its interests.

The EUs measures fall short of the 100pc tariffs imposed by the Biden administration in the US and are narrowly below the 50pc level that analysts at Rhodium Group said would be necessary to make the Continent unattractive for Chinese brands.

Chinese EV makers have been flooding Europe with their vehicles over the last year amid brutal price wars at home.

It has triggered fears that the European automotive industry faces an existential threat from a wave of low-cost Chinese EVs, although EU member states have been split on how to respond.

France and Spain have been pushing for a tougher approach, while Germany and its carmakers have opposed the idea.

Will Roberts, head of automotive research at Rho Motion, said carmakers were wary of retaliation from China, which could hurt sales.

He said: The true test from todays announcement will be whether Beijing will retaliate in kind, or come to an amicable solution.

Europes manufacturers still rely on the Chinese market, so declining profits from the East would only slow their ability to transition effectively.

The European Commission insisted its aim was not to shut Chinese EVs out of the domestic market but to level the playing field between Europe and Chinas respective automotive industries.

Some of the carmakers caught up in the crackdown have already put in motion plans to manufacture more EVs in Europe to avoid the threat of tariffs.

BYD is building a car factory in Hungary, while Volvo is shifting EV production from China to Belgium and SAIC  which relocated production of MG cars to China in 2016  is also hunting for a European manufacturing site.

However, there are concerns that hindering the introduction of cheaper cars will slow the adoption of EVs, which has so far been hampered by high prices.

Addressing concerns that the move would hurt the push towards net zero, the European Commission said on Wednesday: The EUs green transition cannot be based on unfair imports at the expense of EU industry.

The EU launched its investigation last October amid concerns that Beijing had artificially tipped the scales in the favour of Chinese brands by pumping tens of billions of dollars worth of subsidies into its own industry, alongside loans, land deals and tax breaks.

The UK has been silent on whether it will impose tariffs of its own, with ministers previously saying they would wait for the findings of the EU investigation.

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This is part of The Hills ongoing series looking at Donald Trumps possible vice-presidential picks.

Less than a year ago, North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum jumped into the Republican presidential primary with little fanfare. Now, hes one of the leading candidates to be the partys nominee for vice president.

Burgum is a former businessman who first built his name by developing a company into a major success before entering the political arena with no experience.

He won his first political campaign in 2016, when he was elected governor. He secured a second term in 2020 and launched a presidential bid last year.

His path to the national political spotlight in many ways resembles that of former President Trump  and Trump has taken notice.

Burgum is now among a handful of candidates being seriously considered to be Trumps running mate. Those who know Burgum say hes well versed on the issues, is well-liked in his home state and has a strong personal relationship with Trump that has boosted his chances in the veepstakes.

Hes done a lot of good in North Dakota and is very well regarded, and I think hes bolstered his national name ID, said Dan Eberhart, a GOP donor and CEO of Canar LLC, a drilling services company with business in North Dakota. I dont think any of us really know what Trump is going to do, but it wouldnt surprise me if Burgum overperforms peoples expectations.

Burgum, who is 67, is a native North Dakotan. He was born in the eastern part of the state in Arthur and attended North Dakota State University for undergraduate studies before getting his Master of Business Administration at Stanford University.

He built a successful technology company, Great Plains Software, which grew significantly under his leadership until it went public in 1997 and was sold to Microsoft in 2001 for roughly $1 billion.

Burgum worked for several years as a senior vice president at Microsoft until 2007, and he took on various other business ventures until launching a run for North Dakota governor in 2016.

As governor, he has put a major emphasis on energy and agricultural investments in the state. Burgum also oversaw North Dakotas Vision Zero project, a strategy aimed at eliminating motor vehicle crash fatalities through infrastructure and traffic law enforcement.

Burgum has been largely aligned with GOP orthodoxy on culture war issues, signing bans on gender-affirming care and the teaching of critical race theory. Like Trump, Burgum has said abortion policy should be left to the states, and as governor he signed a near-total ban in North Dakota in 2023.

He is the type of person that if youre going to visit with him about an issue, you need to know what youre talking about or know your issue, said Rick Clayburgh, the head of the North Dakota Bankers Association, who has known Burgum for decades.

He is well-read, well-versed on issues and he asks a lot of questions and if youre asking for something and coming and discussing a piece of legislation you really need to know all sides of it, Clayburgh said.

The governors presidential primary campaign in 2024 was focused on three key issues: the economy, energy and national security. He pledged to cut taxes, dramatically increase energy production and take on common enemies like China and Putin.

Burgum positioned himself on the trail as a China hawk, warning that Washington and Beijing were locked in a cold war.

Upon suspending his campaign last December, Burgum quickly endorsed Trump and announced roughly a month later that he would not seek reelection. He has traveled with Trump in the months since, introducing him at rallies and making frequent television appearances to defend the former president.

Notably, the North Dakota governor made an appearance outside the courthouse in New York to voice his support for Trump as he took part in a trial looking at a hush money scheme. Other potential vice-presidential candidates who appeared during the trial were Ohio Sen. JD Vance (R) and Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.).

This guy is the most solid guy, Trump said of Burgum after winning the Iowa caucuses. Theres no controversy whatsoever. And hes one of the best governors in our country. And I hope that Im going to be able to call on him to be a piece of the administration, a very important piece of the administration.

Trump has also gotten to know Burgums wife, Kathryn. The former president praised both of them from the stage during a May 11 rally in Wildwood, N.J., where the governor introduced Trump to the crowd of thousands.

You wont find anybody better than this gentleman in terms of his knowledge. And you know he made his money in technology, but he probably knows more about energy than anybody I know. So just get ready for something, Trump said, comments that were widely interpreted as a sign that Burgum could be in the running for Energy secretary, if not vice president.

Republican strategists noted there are some similarities between Burgum and Trumps last vice-presidential pick, Mike Pence. Like Pence, Burgum is from a deep red state and is a traditional conservative without deep ties to the MAGA movement.

And like Pence at the time, Burgum has shown he could be exceedingly loyal to Trump without going off message and without overshadowing the former president, something Trump is keenly aware of.

Burgum is not term-limited as governor, but he is not running for reelection. That means hes largely staking his future on a potential role in a second Trump administration, something those back home will be watching closely.

The excitement probably is building a bit more now seeing that his name is being considered as a vice presidential pick, said Clayburgh, the head of the North Dakota Bankers Association. So I think theres some excitement there.

I think in the beginning it was more, this is very exciting that hes doing this, but what are his chances coming from a small state? he added. I think it shows his ability and his good political acumen and business leadership that he is being noticed.

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Anti-gerrymandering protest. (Photo by Olivier Douliery, Getty Images.)

This article delves into the history of redistricting of the Ohio General Assembly and presents the business case for rejecting partisan gerrymandering. It also identifies the Citizens Not Politicians amendment, which its supporters believe will end partisan gerrymandering by assigning redistricting to an independent 15-person commission composed of five Democrats, 5 Republicans, and five independents.

The Focus on State-Level Gerrymandering

Partisan gerrymandering at the state results in the election of highly partisan super-majorities within the General Assembly. I focus on the state legislature, not Congress, because of the outsized impact of what happens in Columbus on all Ohioans. And with the July 3, 2024, deadline approaching for the submitting of the 413,487 valid signatures to place the Citizens Not Politicians amendment on the ballot, those contemplating signing the petition for the amendment (or ultimately voting on it) should be aware of the threats posed by partisan gerrymandering.

The History of Redistricting in Ohio

The seeds for partisan gerrymandering in Ohio were planted in our first constitution, the Constitution of 1802, which brought us into the Union as the 17th state. That constitution established a system of legislative supremacy and gave the General Assembly unlimited power to draw district lines for both the General Assembly and the U.S. House of Representatives. The only standard was that state legislative lines were to be based on the number of white male inhabitants above twenty-one years of age in each county.

Reform of the Ohio Constitution was the major political issue in Ohio in the late 1840s, and it took a gerrymandering crisis in Hamilton County to break the legislative deadlock and put a constitutional call on the ballot.

The voters approved the call for a constitutional convention, and the resulting Ohio Constitution of 1851 curtailed many of the powers of the General Assembly. This included removing the General Assembly completely from the process of state legislative redistricting. In its place, this power was given to three statewide officers  the governor, the secretary of state, and the State Auditor.

In 1903, Ohio abandoned its commitment to population equality with the adoption of the notorious Hanna Amendment to the Ohio Constitution. This amendment guaranteed every county at least one representative in the Ohio House of Representative, leading to significant population inequality and rural dominance.

The iconic 1912 Ohio Constitutional Convention did not address redistricting, but it created the constitutional initiative, a tool for a future generation to tackle such issues.

Substantial changes have occurred since 1802 regarding who is responsible for redistricting. But after losing its role in redistricting in the 1851 Constitution, the General Assembly gradually clawed back its power, leading to the current legislator-dominated Ohio Redistricting Commission.

The Impact of One Person, One Vote

In the 1960s, the U.S. Supreme Court revolutionized redistricting by embracing the principle of one person one vote for both state legislatures and Congress. This led to efforts to amend the Ohio Constitution, resulting in the 1967 amendment that repealed the Hanna Amendment and required that districts be equal in population as well as compact and contiguous. Despite these reforms, the General Assembly regained some of its lost power by adding two legislators to the redistricting commission.

How Partisan Gerrymandering Produces Super-Majorities

Partisan gerrymandering involves the drawing of legislative district lines to protect incumbents, to seek partisan advantage, or  in most instances  both.

Practitioners of partisan gerrymandering use cracking and packing to skew electoral results, diluting the opposing partys power by spreading their voters across multiple districts (cracking) or concentrating them in a few districts (packing). These tactics, combined with the magic of advanced computer modeling, can result in a state with a 55-45% partisan split in the voting population having a legislature composed of 60-67% of the dominant party. If this sounds familiar, it essentially describes what has happened in Ohio.

How Partisan Gerrymandering Hobbles State Government

Partisan gerrymandering typically results in the election of the most extreme members of the majority political party. In primaries, candidates have little incentive to move to the center, resulting in partisan super-majorities that can ignore the constitutional guardrails that our state constitution places on the General Assembly. Specifically, this leads to:

The emasculation of the governors veto power as partisan gerrymandering makes it too easy for the General Assembly to reach the three-fifths majority in each House necessary to override a veto;

The unchecked power to put proposed constitutional amendments on the ballot, which requires a three-fifths vote in each House of the General Assembly; and

The power to include emergency provisions in legislation with a two-thirds vote of the vote in each House of the General Assembly, allowing laws to take effect immediately and preventing the voters from using the referendum to challenge adopted statutes.

The Substantive Impact of Partisan Gerrymandering

A strong case can be made that partisan gerrymandering in Ohio has contributed to or will contribute to:

The erosion of municipal home rule;

The abdication of the states constitutional responsibility to fund a thorough and efficient system of common schools;

The decline in the quality of higher education;

The denial of a respectable minimum wage for Ohio workers;

The fouling of our environment;

The undermining of our new reproductive rights amendment;

The vilification of the LGBTQ community;

The weakening of our system of public health system; and

The desirability of our state as a venue for conferences and a destination for tourists.

Cumulatively, partisan gerrymandering threatens Ohios business climate, risking its reputation as a business-friendly state.

Redistricting in the 1960s and the Persistence of Gerrymandering

Although embracing the principle of one person one vote in its decisions in the 1960s, the U.S. Supreme Court did not address partisan gerrymandering. Nor did the 1967 Ohio amendment. And every decade since its adoption has been marked by redistricting controversies with both Democrats and Republicans seeking partisan advantage at various times.

And in 2011, the Ohio Supreme Court washed its hands of the issue, holding that [t]he Ohio Constitution does not mandate political neutrality in the reapportionment of house and senate districts

Recent Reform Efforts

In the 21st century, partisan gerrymandering has been the subject of reform efforts through ballot measures.

In 2005 and 2012, good government groups proposed amendments to create an independent redistricting commission and to bar partisan gerrymandering. But there was no broad understanding of the pernicious effect of partisan gerrymandering and thus no groundswell of support for ending it. Significantly, the opponents were able to control the message and skillfully employed the traditional tool of ballot measure opponents: obfuscation  a fancy word for misleading advertising. And the voters rejected these proposals by wide margins.

Unfortunately, the U.S. Supreme Court, which had once been seen as the place where partisan gerrymandering would die, declined to get involved. Though the Court had barred racial gerrymandering in 1960 five years before the adoption of the historic 1965 federal Voting Rights Act, in 2019 it refused to address the constitutionality of partisan gerrymandering, thus leaving the issue to the states.

Meanwhile, partisan gerrymandering was the target of two Ohio constitutional amendments proposed by strong bipartisan majorities in the General Assembly less than a decade ago.

In 2015, Ohio voters approved an amendment to alter redistricting of the General Assembly, and in 2018, the voters approved a separate amendment to alter redistricting of Congress. Both amendments, which were sold to the voters as ending partisan gerrymandering, were approved by more than 70% of Ohio voters. Both included detailed standards to govern redistricting by, among other things, barring the drawing of district lines that favor or disfavor a political party. Neither amendment created an independent redistricting commission.

2022 and the Failure of the Rule of Law

In retrospect, we now know that these amendments had two fatal flaws. First, in providing that a redistricting plan adopted by a bipartisan majority would last 10 years, the proponents assumed that the prospect of having to redistrict more than once in a decade would be an incentive to bring the parties together. Second, the amendments appeared to deny the Ohio Supreme Court the power to prepare its own plan in the event of an impasse.

The proponents were wrong on both counts. In late 2021, the Ohio Redistricting Commission adopted by partisan votes four-year redistricting plans for the General Assembly.

On January 12, 2022, the Ohio Supreme Court in a 4-3 bipartisan decision written by Justice Melody Stewart held the state redistricting plan was unconstitutional,

All that seemed like good news to those who wanted to eliminate partisan gerrymandering, but one member of the majority  former Chief Justice Maureen OConnor  in a prescient concurring opinion in the first state redistricting case saw the handwriting on the wall. In effect, she told us that this was not going to work, and she argued that Ohio should look to the model of other states that had created independent redistricting commissions.

And Justice OConnor got it right.

Despite five rulings in 2022 by the Ohio Supreme Court holding that state redistricting plans violated the Ohio Constitution, the court effectively concluded that it lacked the power to enforce its judgments. And the rule of law took a serious hit when a majority of the members of the Ohio Redistricting Commission refused to abandon their unconstitutional redistricting plans.

2024  Unique Challenges and The Business Community

So here we are in 2024, and the question before us is: what is different?

Today there is a broader understanding of the impact that partisan gerrymandering has on the functioning of our representative democracy, on the business climate of our state, and on the quality of life in Ohio.

Ohioans, however, have the tool  the constitutional initiative  to address partisan gerrymandering. Adopted in 1912 to provide a way around an unresponsive legislature, the initiative is not a substitute for representative democracy; rather, it is a supplement. It permits the citizenry to have a voice when they believe that the General Assembly has become an obstacle to the common-sense resolution of the challenges that our state faces.

And there is an important ally in this effort  prominent members of the business community.

In the past, the business community has played an important role in campaigns on state ballot issues. Often this has been in opposing initiated amendments that it viewed as flawed. For example, think about business opposition in 2015 to the proposal to grant a marijuana monopoly to a group of investors.

The business community has also played an important supportive role on ballot issues that enabled economic development, and no better example is the adoption of Governor Bob Tafts ground-breaking Third Frontier program.

To date, the major business organizations in the state have not taken positions on the proposed Citizens Not Politicians amendment, but in the past two years, a relatively new organization, the Leadership Now Project, has added a business voice to the effort to protect the Ohio Constitution and support representative democracy. Leadership Now opposed the infamous August 2023 ballot measure that would have undercut majority rule by imposing a 60% threshold on proposed constitutional amendments.

And Leadership Now, which is composed of prominent business and thought leaders throughout the state, is strongly supporting the proposed Citizens Not Politicians amendment and the use of a truly independent redistricting commission to draw state legislative district lines and to eliminate partisan gerrymandering.

Conclusion

Partisan gerrymandering poses a serious threat to Ohios democratic processes and business climate. The proponents of the Citizens Not Politicians amendment believe that Ohioans can ensure fair representation and foster a more stable and attractive state for businesses and residents alike. And they view the business communitys support as being an important part of the effort to drive the necessary change for a fair and prosperous Ohio.

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Stew Milne/States Newsroom

A legislative proposal in the next state education budget could hurt private childcare providers, individuals working in the industry said at a Tuesday press conference in Lansing.

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced plans to offer free pre-K for 4-year-olds by the end of this year in her January State of the State address. The state is expected to pour additional millions of dollars into the Great Start Readiness Program (GSRP), which will extend state-funded access to pre-K in Michigan during the next fiscal year.

But that funding might come with some baggage that makes it harder for smaller community childcare providers to pull a profit, Brian Calley, the GOP former lieutenant governor whos now president of the Small Business Association of Michigan (SBAM). This could lead community childcare services to increase prices or even close, Calley said.

There is a proposal within the legislature today, competing proposals that are equally problematic on both sides of the Capitol to really undermine the sustainability of community-based organizations, nonprofits and small businesses that today provide such a critical role for our workforce in providing childcare, early childhood education, particularly in the Great Start Readiness Program, Calley said.

Calley called for lawmakers to reinstate Whitmers original budget for universal pre-K. Childcare experts and Calley expressed concern for two different changes made by the House and Senate separately in the Fiscal Year 2025 education budget.

Lawmakers have passed their first versions of budget bills, but have not approved a final budget yet. Negotiations between legislative leaders and Whitmer are ongoing. The next fiscal year starts Oct. 1.

Chana Edmond-Verley, the CEO of nonprofit childcare service Vibrant Futures, said this is a critical time for expanding access to childcare, and the House and Senate proposal would go against that.

The governor recognizes that we are in a time where there is widespread systemic lack of childcare, and folks are trying to go to work, and so even economic developers are calling it now, critical infrastructure, Edmond-Verley said.

In the House, lawmakers made a change to the education budget (HB 5206) that removes funding requirements to community-based providers. In Whitmers proposal, private, independent providers could team up with a public provider to assist with their services and the private childcare would receive a 30% allocation.

However, House lawmakers struck this language in the budget, raising concern for private childcare providers. Now, public and private childcare services will compete with one another, rather than working together, said Marcus Keech, the director of government affairs at the Grand Rapids Chamber.

This is not just concerning, but it gives those public providers control over all GSRP funding and no reassurance that private providers will be part of this model, Keech said. We jeopardize these providers not being able to keep their doors open.

The Senate proposed a change in SB 751 that would require teachers at community-based providers to make as much as an average GSRP educator in the state-designated region, after adjusting for years of experience.

Keech said this is not fair to the community provider because public child care receives additional revenue from state and local taxes, which would equip them to pay teachers more.

Edmond-Verley and Matt Gilliard, a Democratic former lawmaker whos now president of advocacy group Michigans Children, said the House and Senate plan would disproportionately impact women and people of color who work and own small childcare businesses.

As an entrepreneur, these women-owned businesses and women-led organizations make dreams possible for families to go to work, to better their lives, to provide care for the children, Edmondy-Verly said.

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The post Business leaders, advocates concerned education budget may fail community childcare services appeared first on Michigan Advance.
After two children of the late Columbus Councilor Jerry Pops Barnes vehemently criticized the councils majority for appointing a successor they contend their father wouldnt approve, the appointee disputed their allegation.

Simi and Clairmont Barnes told the Columbus Council during Tuesdays meeting their fathers phone records indicate the councils appointee, Byron Hickey, hadnt communicated with Pops since April 18, 2023. They offered those records as evidence Pops wasnt mentoring Hickey to be his successor, refuting part of the rationale councilors used in their explanation for appointing Hickey.

Hickey, however, claims he had numerous interactions with Pops in person as recently as March, and he insists Pops indeed wanted him to be his successor.

I extend my deepest condolences to the family of Pops Barnes during this time of mourning, Hickey wrote Tuesday in an email to the L-E after the council meeting. Pops Barnes often expressed his desire for me to be his successor, and he communicated this to several council members and constituents as well.

If Pops Barnes had changed his mind, he did not convey this to The Council. It raises the question of why the Council would misrepresent his wishes.

Pops Barnes and I had numerous interactions, both at events and in public., Hickey continued. Our last conversation took place on the evening of Friday, March 29, 2024, when he was in room 207 at Piedmont North Hospital in Columbus, GA. I was accompanied by Sgt. Williams (CPD) at the hospital, but only one of us was permitted to visit him.

During my visit, I observed that he was struggling to speak, so I advised him to rest and assured him that I just wanted to see him. He expressed his gratitude and asked me to request prayers on his behalf. I promised him I would, and I prayed with him before I left.

How we got here

In a 6-3 vote May 28, the council appointed Hickey, a retired Columbus police officer, to succeed Pops as the District 1 representative and fill the remaining two years of the four-year term. Barnes, who died April 14 at age 80 from an undisclosed illness, was the District 1 representative on the 10-member council for 17 years.

Hickey was scheduled to be sworn in June 4, but a conflict in city law about the pension plan indefinitely has postponed his appointment. The council is expected to consider amending the pension plan ordinance so Hickey wouldnt have to suspend withdrawals from his pension while serving on the council.

In 2010, a federal jury awarded Hickey $306,000 in a lawsuit claiming the city officials discriminated against him because he spoke out against racial and gender bias.

In a letter dated three days after Barnes died, three state legislators representing Columbus urged the mayor and city councilors to appoint former state Rep. Calvin Smyre to the council. The letter was from state Sen. Ed Harbison, state Rep. Carolyn Hugley and state Rep. Teddy Reese.

Then on May 13, WTVM reported that Smyre and those three legislators instead supported one of Barnes daughters, licensed professional counselor Simeone Simi Barnes, to be the successor.

During the May 28 council meeting, the councilors who voted yes on Hickeys appointment are Glenn Davis of District 2, Toyia Tucker of District 4, Charmaine Crabb of District 5 (who made the motion), Joanne Cogle of District 7, Walker Garrett of District 8 and Judy Thomas of citywide District 9.

Bruce Huff of District 3, Mayor Pro Tem Gary Allen of District 6 and Tyson Begly of citywide District 10 are the councilors who voted against Hickeys appointment. Allen nominated Simi, but the council didnt vote on that motion because a majority already approved Hickey.

Columbus councilors respond to criticism

The Ledger-Enquirer also asked the councilors for their reaction to the criticism from Simi and Clairmont, as well as from the Rev. Adrian Chester, who told the council the citizens of District 1 have been silenced as our city council tries to figure out how to make this concocted plan work when there are persons who are ready, able and available to represent 25,750 people on this very day,

Garrett and Begly are the only councilors who have replied.

I chose Mr. Hickey based on his experiences with the Public Safety Advisory Committee, years in CPD, leadership in the Police Benevolent Association, and the many constituents of District 1 who reached out directly to me supporting his nomination, Garrett wrote to the L-E in an email Tuesday after the council meeting. I was strongly considering Rep. Calvin Smyre based on his years of governmental experience and knowing he had been elected by the same constituents, but when he withdrew his name from consideration, Mr. Hickey had the most relevant experience for the position.

Columbus Councilor Walker Garrett, shown in this file photo from 2017, represents District 8.

I did not support anyone based on a position being left to them or being mentored for the spot because I had no personal knowledge that Councilor Barnes had someone in mind to one day assume his position, Garrett added.

Begly said he didnt discuss Hickey with Pops.

I have the utmost respect for Councilor Barnes and his family, Begly wrote to the L-E in an email Tuesday after the council meeting. I took the opportunity to pay my respects at his beautiful funeral service and was happy to take Simis call when she reached out.

Columbus Councilor Tyson Begly, shown in this file photo from 2023, represents citywide District 10.

Reverend Chester raised an important point about filling vacant political seats, which people are sometimes uncomfortable discussing, Begly added. Some find it disrespectful to talk about filling vacancies shortly after someone passes, and I understand their point from an emotional perspective. However, the reality is that any delay results in a group of people who arent represented. In this case, District 1 didnt have anyone at the table to comment on the recent budget that was passed.

The council appointed Begly in April 2023 to succeed John House, who resigned to spend more time with his ailing wife.

Huff is the only councilor who voted against Beglys appointment. Huff said he had promised to nominate KuWonna Ingram, who ran for Georgia House District 137 in 2012 but lost to incumbent Debbie Buckner.

Begly will serve until the winner of the June 18 runoff election between John Anker and Travis Chambers is sworn in. Begly didnt run for election, complying with the unwritten rule but expectation from the council that appointees doesnt seek to retain their seat so they dont have an unfair advantage as an incumbent without being elected.

Muscogee County elections director Nancy Boren told the Ledger-Enquirer in April that it was too late  at least 90 days are needed  for a District 1 special election to be on the May 21 ballot, when the even-numbered seats on the council were up for election. So as the person the council appointed to represent District 1 now, Hickey will serve until the May 2026 election if his swearing-in is completed.
Thought leaders gathered in Ojai this week to discuss the current state of DEIA in the U.S. at CAAs 2024 Amplify Summit, where a mix of crisis and hopeful progress seemed to be the theme.

The summit  which was attended by A-listers like Colin Kaepernick and Storm Reid and included a fireside chat with First Lady Michelle Obama  zeroed in on key issues impacting or assisting marginalized communities today, including online misinformation/disinformation and voting rights, while assessing the overall state of diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility in the country at this point in time.

CAAs Maha Dakhil opened up the event by greeting the diverse participants and highlighting the purpose of the summit, while also acknowledging the crisis many feel DEIA is in as Hollywood sheds roles dedicated to inclusivity.

Amplify began at CAA with the idea of convening multicultural leaders and innovators to dismantle systemic racism and discrimination, including within our own organization, Dakhil said. And this year feels particularly crucial. Im having deja vu because I think I stood up here last year and said, I think this year feels particularly crucial. But I think we can agree that this year is giving trauma, it is giving chaos, its giving crisis.

Dakhil added that everyone at the event was representing the unrepresented as discussions got underway with a little over 100 attendees among the mountains at Ojais Valley Inn hotel. In four sessions and 16 events, thought leaders, C-suite-level executives, celebs and industry tastemakers came together to discuss the status of DEIA in the midst of what appears to be a war against its efforts in Hollywood, while also calling for environmental change and more awareness.

During a panel on whats at stake for our democracy, American Civil Liberties director Anthony Romero pointed to the Dobbs v. Jackson ruling, which held that the Constitution does not confer a right to abortion, as an example of how freedom in the U.S. depends on where you live.

Ive been a public interest lawyer for now 35 years, and Ive worked on all sorts of cases from voting rights, marriage equality, affirmative action and reproduction. Dobbs [v. Jackson court case ruling] was kind of, Oh my God, because whats going on here?' Romero questioned, adding that Black, Brown, AAPI and Indigenous folks are often strategically boxed out from receiving regular privileges based on their homes location or the demographic they fit into.

He continued: Your rights and liberties are determined by your zip code. Depending on where you live, you have fuller freedoms and than where you dont. And part of what this is all about is about creating the base for these basic freedoms and basic rights all across the country.

Christy Haubegger, Fatima Goss Graves and Anthony Romero at the 2024 CAA Summit (Randy Shropshire)

Romero went on to say that hes working with a team of people of color from different organizations who are assisting him in his preparation for a potential Trump reelection to counter new angles that could shred any other human, fundamental or civil rights.

Weve got to be thinking about whats on the horizon. Weve got to anticipate where the opportunities are, where the battles are. We are spending a lot of our time right now We are planning on [Donald] Trump in a way that we have 13 different memos that Im driving like a train, an excel spreadsheet Ive got in my office with all the different threats, with red, yellow, greenand Im just like, We are going to get this ready because were not going to wait until November to figure it out.'

Human Rights Campaign president Kelley Robinson followed up that panel by addressing the state of LGBTQIA+ rights.

Everyone in this room is talking about not only how we can restore democracy, but how we can reimagine it in the way that looks like us. That for once, ensures that Americas promise lives up to people who look and love like we do. That is incredible progress to make. So to me, you cant tell me that progress isnt happening. You cant tell me that change isnt possible because we are living proof of it, Robinson said, adding that LGBTQIA+ people have been at the center of progress throughout the history of the United States.

Kelley Robinson at the 2024 CAA Summit (CAA)

Look, there would not be a Pride Month celebration if it werent for Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera. There would not be a Civil Rights movement without Bayard Rustin. There would not be no Fast Car without Tracy Chapman, yall. And we certainly would not have these boots or Beyonces Renaissance without Kevin Aviance or Uncle Johnny. We have been always part of the story, an integral part.

But Robinson also cautioned that LGBTQIA+ rights are in grave danger.

But what Im also very clear about now right now is that all of this progress that weve fought for and more, it is at risk. Like they said in the last panel, theyre not just coming for the progress made in the last 10 years or 20 years or 50 years, theyre coming for the progress of the last 400, she said. Last year, the Human Rights Campaign declared a national state of emergency for LGBTQIA+ people, the first time weve ever done that in our history.

Another danger impeding progress is misinformation, and Center for Countering Digital Hate CEO and founder Imran Ahmed pointed out the ways in which on and offline misinformation and disinformation disproportionally impacts people of color  specifically how anti-vaxxers targeted Black people during the pandemic.

Telling them that African blood is different to white blood and so therefore dont give vaccines to Black boys because it will damage them more than white boys, which is appalling given that African American communities have a disproportionate brunt of the harm that was being done by the pandemic, Ahmed said before talking about election disinformation.

Youve got elections where youve got specific disinformation targeting in Spanish language to Hispanic voters, telling them that they shouldnt go to the elections on a specific day. Weve been testing AI platforms and found that they will generate convincing audio of Trump or Biden or politicians around the world telling people not to go to the polls that day, and thats being targeted specifically in minority communities.

Cindy Uh, Erinn Haines, Imran Ahmed and Laura Coates at the 2024 CAA Amplify Summit (Randy Shropshire)

On a brighter note, TikTok phenomenon Tareasa Reesa Teesa Johnson  who CAA signed after she released her 50-part TikTok series Who TF Did I Marry?  shared a speech about the importance of finding community in the places least expected. The influencer opened up about how negative comments about her online story eventually turned into people supporting and uplifting her.

I learned that my community is not the people who I see every single day. My community is actually made up of all shapes, colors, genders, ethnicities, Teesa said, referring to the millions of followers and fans she acquired from her TikTok video over the span of just three weeks. I have learned that the people who will ride with you and the people who support you and the people who will stand by you may not even be people youve ever met, but they identify with your story.

Teesa said shes grateful to pay it forward by continuing to share her stories, saying, You never know who youre helping.

Tareasa Reesa Teesa Johnson at the 2024 CAA Amplify Summit (Randy Shropshire)

Theres also progress being made inside the industry as Lionsgate announced Story Spark, a new tool for creatives to help them spark discussions about the inclusivity of their work, the company said in a statement announcing the tool that asks simple, multiple-choice questions about a projects characterstheir diversity and intersectionality, the role they play in the story, and the way they play into or subvert tropes and stereotypes. Its not AI or a greenlight tool, but instead is meant to get a conversation going.

Story Spark is a simple, friendly, easy-to-use partner in content development that feels more like a Buzzfeed quiz than a checklist, Kamala Avila-Salmon, head of Inclusive Content for Lionsgates Motion Picture Group, said. Its a tool to start discussion, a dialogue prompt and a step in the right direction for constructive collaboration.

Developed by Lionsgate, the tool has been tested internally and externally on over 300 projects and aims to put inclusivity in the creatives hands.

Finally, Saturday Night Live star Ego Nwodim, former The Daily Show correspondent Roy Wood Jr. and Mo star and comedian Mo Amer closed the event out with a panel on how comedians are navigating telling jokes in a more politically sensitive world. CAAs Erica Lancaster moderated the conversation.

Im still wrapping my head around the job that I have now, and this audience that I am performing for that I dont necessarily feel always connected to, so I think viewers of the show that Im on tend to be  I mean, its a spectrum of people, Nwodim said of her time on SNL.

There are conservative people, there are very liberal people watching the show. Everything I try to do, I try to write from my perspective and know that someone in our audience is going to enjoy it, she continued. And anytime youre doing comedy, in my opinion, youre also going to piss somebody off. But youre trying to make your people laugh, and thats certainly what really matters.

Chiming in, Wood said that most good comedy will prompt a conversation the world should be having.

Because the line keeps moving, and the line continue to move as we evolve as a culture. I know where my heart lies. I think the issue we have now as a populace is that we assumed intent with mistake, Wood said. I think that intent matters. If I wasnt trying to make you feel a particular way, then that has to count for something. But I think if youre always thinking about how somethings going to be taken, youre never going to live at the line, which is where I think most meaningful and change-making comedy making comedy exists. You have to challenge people to think a different way about something. Its always going to be something that evolves.

The post CAA Amplify Summit Provides Overview of DEIA in the US: Its Giving Crisis appeared first on TheWrap.
TechCrunch

Arne Schepker, the CEO of the popular Berlin-based language learning platform Babbel, is stepping down, and the company's co-founder and former CEO Markus Witte is stepping back in to lead the company "into a new phase while searching for Arnes successor with patience," the company said. Witte will not claim the CEO role for the time being, but instead will be executive chairman and managing director. After almost exactly five years as the sole CEO  and a few months prior as co-CEO together with Witte, who had held the position in the preceding years  Schepker decided not to renew his contract, he told me.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 12. The Smart Industry Readiness Index (SIRI) fully meets Azerbaijan's strategic digital goals, Heather Strauss from UNESCAP (United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific) said during today's seminar on SIRI in Baku, Trend reports.

"The manufacturing industry is changing dramatically right now, and SIRI is essential to navigating this new environment where the fourth industrial revolution will be built on the sector's fast digitalization. The basis that SIRI offers helps manufacturing enterprises shift within Industry 4.0," she emphasized.

According to her, SIRI is not just a diagnostic tool.

"Today we'll discuss how SIRI can help enterprises implement data-driven smart manufacturing strategies and open new avenues for growth. It is important to note that SIRI is not just a diagnostic tool. It's a comprehensive solution promoting a more effective approach to data management, allowing businesses to better prioritize investments, optimize resources, and accelerate the path to operational excellence and increased competitiveness.

The strategic digital goals of Azerbaijan are completely compatible with SIRI. Businesses in the nation are helping to create a knowledge-based economy, boost innovation, increase exports, and entice international investment by implementing smart manufacturing methods," the official pointed out.

Strauss also mentioned that SIRI offers a common language and framework for collaboration between the government, industry, and academic community.

"This helps create a more dynamic ecosystem capable of supporting growth and competitiveness in the manufacturing sector. During today's seminar, we will delve into the details of the SIRI framework, explore examples of successful smart factory transformations, and provide practical recommendations on interpreting assessment results and developing roadmaps for their implementation.

By the end of this session, we aim to provide you with a comprehensive understanding of how SIRI can drive your digital transformation and contribute to the growth of your industry," she added.

To note, the Smart Industry Readiness Index (SIRI) was created by the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB) in partnership with a network of leading technology companies, consultancy firms, and industry and academic experts.

SIRI offers a comprehensive range of frameworks and tools designed to assist manufacturers of all sizes and industries in initiating, expanding, and maintaining their manufacturing transformation endeavors. It encompasses the essential components of Industry 4.0, including process, technology, and organization

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
California beach is most polluted seen in new study. People are 'getting sick left and right'

California is home to one of the most polluted beaches in the country, according to a new study  a stretch of surf so toxic officials have made repeated calls for a state of emergency.

Last year, the Surfrider Foundation tested thousands of water samples from coast to coast, as well as in Puerto Rico, Costa Rica and Vancouver, Canada, and found that 64% of the 567 sites tested had at least one sample with unsafe bacteria levels. Each location was tested multiple times, said Mara Dias, the foundation's senior manager for the Clean Water Initiative.

"This is a measure of basically safety for swimming or surfing," Dias told The Times. "Is the water safe for people to be in? Or could it cause them to be sick?"

The organization, a nonprofit environmentalist group, collected 9,538 water samples from the 567 sites, including rivers and creeks that discharge into the ocean, as well as the beaches nearby where people surf and swim. A quarter of the samples came from sites in California, from Marin County to San Diego County.

Among the top 10 most polluted locations mentioned in the report, three are in California. At the top of this list is Imperial Beach in San Diego, where every sample collected turned up bacteria counts that exceeded the state's health standard for recreational waters, the report said.

That beach has been closed for more than two years because of toxic water from the Tijuana River Watershed flowing into the ocean, said Mayor Paloma Aguirre of the city of Imperial Beach, who has urged Gov. Gavin Newsom to declare a state of emergency there  a call she and others renewed last week.

"People in my community are getting sick left and right," she said Tuesday of the effects of the sewage pollution on the water as well as the air. "We cannot afford to continue to punt the responsibility across the border because we have a dire situation here on United States soil, on California soil, that is harming California constituents."

Read more: Tijuana sewage isn't only in Imperial Beach waves. It's in the air. And San Diegans are breathing it

The other polluted California locations are Linda Mar Beach in Pacifica, where more than half the samples had unsafe bacteria levels; and the mouth of the San Luis Obispo Creek in San Luis Obispo, where 35% of the samples yielded those levels. Linda Mar Beach, a popular surf break, is at the mouth of the polluted San Pedro Creek, and the San Luis Obispo Creek discharges into the ocean at Avila Beach, Dias said.

"Any creek that flows through an urban area is certainly going to be susceptible to similar sources of pollution, road runoff, sewage infrastructure issues, pet waste that isn't picked up properly," Dias said. "It's when they discharge at the ocean where people are recreating, that's where it's particularly problematic."

Dias said those creeks are also tested because children often splash around and play in those shallow waters.

"The parents think it's safe, right? But those creeks receive a lot of pollution," she said.

Dias said that, typically, ocean water tends to be clean, except after it rains, when urban runoff and stormwater end up down at the beach, or if there's a sewage failure nearby.

She advised beachgoers to avoid going into the water for 72 hours after it rains in California, to pay attention to local pollution advisories, and to wash their hands and rinse off with fresh water after swimming.

"I worry as climate change creates more of those storms that we're going to be seeing more problems," Dias said.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
In less than two weeks, Assembly Bill 886  the California Journalism Preservation Act  will be heard in the Senate Judiciary Committee.

The bill reemerged this week with amendments aimed at making it more palatable to critics including the tech industry, which would be taxed for news links shared on their platforms. Big Tech is continuing to make its displeasure with the bill known.

AB 886 is set to be heard in committee on June 25.

Google and Meta, the two primary targets of the bill, declined to comment to The Sacramento Bee. However, NetChoice, a group that represents both companies, released a statement Tuesday.

NetChoice Vice President and General Counsel Carl Szabo framed the bill not just as bad for the tech industry, which he represents, but also for the free press itself.

With AB 886, the free press in California hangs in the balance. If enacted, journalists will unquestionably face new financial pressures from government officials and politicians to report favorably on them or lose funding, further undermining the publics trust in news media, Szabo said in a prepared statement.

Brittney Barsotti, of the California News Publishers Association, said that NetChoice was introducing red herring arguments about the bill.

What does AB 886 do?

If AB 886 were to become law, tech companies like Google and Meta would have to pay for accessing, crawling, indexing and displaying news links that appear on their platforms.

The bill applies to companies with online platforms with at least 50 million monthly U.S. users, with a market capitalization greater than $550 billion and at least 1 billion users worldwide.

Under the bill, the companies would either be required to enter into arbitration with California news organizations to agree on a journalism usage fee or pay directly into a fund that would be distributed to news outlets, based on how many journalists are employed. The bill specifically requires that payouts should be made only for reporters who are employed for the specific purpose of covering California news.

In order to ward off criticism that the bill would benefit only billionaire media moguls, 1% of the funds collected would be distributed specifically to small news organizations, including many ethnic media outlets, on top of the money they already would receive.

News organizations would be required to spend 70% of the money to pay journalists and other staffers. For publications with five or fewer employees, that threshold would drop to 50%. They also would be allowed to consider freelancers and part-time employees as employees for the purposes of the bill.

NetChoices argument

In his statement, Szabo warned that AB 886 would defang the independent news media.

Californias government through AB 886 would make the press dependent on government handouts, terminating the independence and credibility of news organizations based in the Golden State, he said.

He added that free access to news online and on social media would significantly decrease  largely due to platforms like Google and Facebook removing news links from their sites  and that cronyism will increase.

The NetChoice release contained a number of inaccurate statements.

 It said that AB 886 doesnt recognize freelancers as employees for the purposes of the bill. While that is true for large publications, organizations with five or fewer employees may count freelancers as employees for the purposes of the bill.

 The release contends that the bill would affect sites like Reddit and Pinterest. However, neither company would qualify under the language of the bill.

 It said that the bill would create a new government claims administrator to decide who is a news outlet and who is not. The bill does not create any new position, and it is the legislation, not the claims administrator, that determines which news outlets are eligible.

 The statement said the bill would not result in journalists seeing any more pay, as the money their news corporation would receive is ultimately fungible. However, the bill contains language requiring participating news outlets to publish reports about how the money they receive is being spent.

Supporters arguments

The Bee reached out to the author of AB 886, Assemblywoman Buffy Wicks, D-Oakland. She did not respond before deadline.

Barsotti said that the bill contains robust reporting requirements for news outlets, in order to prevent them from just shifting money around.

She disputed the argument that AB 886 would make the media beholden to the government.

Our bill just creates a table that the platforms and the publishers have to come to, she said.

She added that the government is stepping in to create that table because of the power of the tech companies and their refusal to come to the table otherwise.

All the government is doing is saying, Platforms who have immense power, you have to come to the table.

Martha Diaz-Aszkenazy, publisher of the San Fernando Valley Sun/El Sol, released a prepared statement that AB 886 was designed to help publications like hers. She disputed Szabos assertion that the bill is a threat to the free press.

As the publisher of a local, ethnic publication, I can say with complete certainty that the most dire threat to the free press are large monopolies like Google, who exploit the work of hardworking newsrooms without paying a dime for our journalists content, she said.

McClatchy, the parent company of The Sacramento Bee, The Fresno Bee, The Modesto Bee, San Luis Obispo Tribune and Merced Sun-Star, supports AB 886.
A highly anticipated California initiative that would make changes to Proposition 47 became eligible this week to appear on state ballots in November.

The Secretary of States Office announced on Tuesday the Homelessness, Drug Addiction, and Theft Reduction Act had enough valid signatures to go before voters during the general election. The measure needed at least 546,651 valid petition signatures to become eligible for the ballot.

The Secretary of State on June 27 will certify the measure has qualified for the November ballot, unless proponents withdraw it.

The initiative, backed by the California District Attorneys Association, would change parts of Prop. 47, a 2014 ballot measure that reduced certain lower-level crimes to misdemeanors and set a $950 threshold for shoplifting.

The new initiative would hike penalties for a handful for drug and theft offenses. One of the major provisions would increase punishments for someone convicted of shoplifting with two or more prior theft-related convictions.

The backers argue theft and other crimes have increased in recent years. They blame Prop. 47, though experts said its unclear whether the measure has actually been a factor.

Measure proponents had been confident their initiative would qualify for the ballot by the June 27 deadline.

Gov. Gavin Newsom; Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas, D-Hollister; and Senate President Pro Tem Mike McGuire, D-Healdsburg, each oppose the measure. The legislative leaders have their own 14-bill package meant to address retail theft, which they are currently rushing through the Capitol.

The bills recently drew criticism from Republicans and initiative-backers after McGuire and Rivas announced they plan to add amendments that would void the legislation if voters approve the ballot measure in November. Another change would cause the bills to take effect immediately after Newsom signs them.

Democrats claim this would prevent potential conflicts between the ballot measure and the retail theft bills. But Republicans say the amendments set a dangerous precedent, forcing our constituents into a false choice between legislative reforms and necessary modifications to Proposition 47.

Legislative leaders hope to get their measures to the governors desk during the next two weeks.
Fresno police Chief Paco Balderrama is under investigation by the city for an extended affair with the wife of one of his officers, according to a high-ranking city official.

Balderrama has been under investigation since February after informing Mayor Jerry Dyer and City Manager Georgeanne White that he might be accused of an inappropriate relationship, the city confirmed last week. He has been chief since the beginning of 2021 when he moved to Californias fifth-largest city from Oklahoma City, where he was deputy chief.

Officials at the city of Fresno declined to comment on Wednesday, according to Fresno Mayors Office spokesperson Sontaya Rose. We cannot comment further until the investigation has concluded, she wrote in a text message to The Bee.

A high-ranking Fresno official, who requested anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the situation publicly, said Balderramas affair of about two years with the wife of an officer was at the center of the citys ongoing investigation of the police chief.

The officer has been with the department for more than a decade.

The chief of police position in Fresno is an at-will job, which means the person holding it can be terminated at any time for any reason, according to the wording of the contract. It is not protected by the police union.

The investigation into the chief led by the Fresno City Attorneys Office, according to a city news release, was meant to determine if Balderrama had violated any department or city policies.

The relationship between Balderrama and the wife of an officer also was corroborated by The Bee through a second source close to the investigation who requested anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the details publicly.

Rank-and-file members of the police department have expressed anger over word of the affair, affecting morale and internal support for the chief. The Fresno Police Officers Association, which is the union for officers, said the city of Fresnos news release last week omitted pertinent information about the nature of the relationship in question.

The FPOA executive board was expected to meet on Wednesday afternoon to discuss the details of the investigation while under attorney-client privilege, according to a memo to union members obtained by The Bee.

Balderrama, who is a married father of three, appealed to officers Monday in a memo in which he admitted wrongdoing and asked forgiveness. The memo did not address the nature of the relationship under investigation or the people involved.

I humbly come to you and ask for your forgiveness as your leader, who clearly has flaws and imperfections, Balderramas memo says. I realize many of you may be upset and disappointed. I understand those feelings and I dont fault you for it.
WASHINGTON (DC News Now)  A popular Northwest D.C. bagel shop is fighting to stay open amid a battle between the business and some of its neighbors in Georgetown.

Call Your Mother delis bright pink and teal facade sits at 35th and O St NW in a sea of rowhouses and homes in Georgetown.

The debate over whether the shop should stay open or shut its doors came to a head Wednesday during an hours-long city zoning meeting.

Right now, Call Your Mother has a special exception that allows it to operate as a corner store that sells prepared foods, something several advisory neighborhood commissioners (ANCs) recently voted against. If that exception is taken away, it means the deli may have to close its doors.

The first floor and basement 3428 O St NW have only ever been used as a commercial space in the buildings 175-year history. Theres an apartment on the upper floor.

The chief complaints from neighbors and ANCs are long lines and crowds along 35th St NW and people grabbing food to-go and perching on nearby stoops to snack on their bagels.

Read the letter from the neighborhoods ANCs here.

The business owner Andrew Dana says it has tried to mitigate those concerns by hiring for positions specifically to help with crowd control and shooing people away from neighboring homes during busy hours.

Paul Maysak, neighbor and ANC, says it hasnt been enough.

The applicant has made attempts and promised plans to address these crowds and the detrimental impact they have, but these attempts have not and will not succeed without a fundamental shift in shop operations, said Maysak during Wednesdays zoning meeting.

A lot of the more upper-class people are so against the idea of just living in an environment that has any sort of commerce or any sort of young life whatsoever. I think getting rid of Call Your Mother would get rid of a huge part of Georgetown culture, Brady Condon, who lives right across the street.

The shops future is still not clear, the zoning board meeting was still ongoing as of 5 p.m. Wednesday.

Representatives for Call Your Mother earlier told DC News Now the business felt positive going into Wednesdays meeting.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | Washington, DC.
A man stabbed June 2 on Prospect Avenue has died, Kansas City police said Wednesday.

Before the mans death, police arrested a suspect, a Kansas City man, at the scene, and he faces a pair of charges in Jackson County Circuit Court.

Officers were called to the 7000 block of Prospect Avenue on a reported cutting around 8 a.m. June 2, according to Officer Alayna Gonzalez, a spokesperson for the Kansas City Police Department. Investigators found a man who was suffering from apparent stab wounds, and medical personnel took the man to a hospital for treatment.

On June 7, police learned the victim had died. Homicide detectives have taken over the investigation, Gonzalez said.

Police have not yet released the victims identity.

Ronald E. Moore, 51, of Kansas City, was arrested at the scene, and Jackson County prosecutors charged him with first-degree assault and armed criminal action. Moores bond was set at $100,000, according to court records.

Michael Mansur, a spokesperson for the Jackson County Prosecutors Office, said Wednesday the charges would be reviewed in light of the victims death.

Moore does not have an attorney listed in court records. He was screened for a public defender and was found to be ineligible, according to court records. Moore is appealing that finding and is scheduled for a hearing Thursday morning.

Came out of nowhere

Police found a black folding knife and a large amount of blood inside a bus shelter at the Gregory Boulevard-Prospect Avenue intersection, and Moore was found at the scene with blood on his clothing and hands and a laceration on one of his palms, according to court documents.

A witness who knew the victim told a detective they and others had been at the bus shelter when the victims roommate, Moore, began to attack the victim. The witness said Moore came out of nowhere, adding that there was no argument or words between the two before the victim was stabbed multiple times in the head. Moore walked away, returned and stabbed him again, the witness said.

The witness yelled, Youre gonna kill him! and Moore reportedly said, I want him to die! court documents state.

Another witness who was at the bus stop said she had turned away from the victim but saw him fly off a bench. He was bleeding, and people there helped him back onto the bench. Moore, she said, was angry they helped the victim, and began to punch him. The witness said Moore walked away but returned and stabbed the victim in the neck roughly 20 times.

The mans death is the 67th homicide this year in Kansas City, according to data tracked by The Star, which includes fatal police shootings. The city had seen 84 homicides by this time last year, the deadliest year in Kansas Citys recorded history.
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH)  A Canal Winchester man charged with sexually molesting two girls has pleaded guilty and could face more than 26 years in prison.

Michael Downin, 65, pleaded guilty Tuesday to one charge of first-degree felony rape and two counts of third-degree felony gross sexual imposition. In exchange for his guilty plea, the Franklin County prosecutor dropped eight rape, three gross sexual imposition, and two sexual battery charges.

Downin was charged with sexually abusing four girls under the age of 13 at various points between March 2005 and 2019.

One victim reported being between the ages of 12 and 17 from 2013 to 2018, when she was molested, forced to perform sexual acts, and raped during the alleged time periods. Another girl said she was assaulted for four years starting in 2015 when she was under 13.

According to the plea agreement, Downin faces a maximum definite sentence of 10 years in prison plus an additional 11 to 16 1/2 years in prison. He is scheduled to hear that sentence on July 18.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Incumbents across the Upstate won their primaries: Runoffs ahead, Alvarez and White concede

South Carolina on Tuesday held its statewide primary ahead of the general election this November.

In the Upstate, many of the statehouse races featured incumbent lawmakers aiming for another term in the states General Assembly.

South Carolina has an open primary, meaning registered voters can choose to vote in the Democratic or Republican primary election. They cannot vote in both.

In November, the winners will see their names on the ballot a second time before the Palmetto State officially decides who its next round of elected officials will be.

One of the key Upstate races was between incumbent Rep. April Cromer, a Republican from Anderson, and Anderson attorney Kyle White for House District 6. Cromer won a spot on the November ballot when White conceded about 10:30 p.m.

With 100% of precincts reporting, Cromer won against White 3,150 votes to 2,492 votes.

Cromer, 45, has served in the state House of Representatives since 2023. During her first session, she joined the South Carolina Freedom Caucus, a group of hardline conservatives. Per the Clemson Tiger, she was recently part of an effort to restrict menstrual hygiene products to womens bathrooms, as opposed to the schools efforts to offer the products in all bathrooms regardless of gender.

Dan Harvell, left, looks over voting results with State Representative Seat 6 incumbent April Cromer, right, at the Voter Registration Elections of Anderson County in Anderson, S.C. Tuesday, June 11, 2024.

White was endorsed by South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster and backed by Conservation Voters of South Carolina, a group that promotes environmental conservation at the state policy level.

In his concession statement, White congratulated Cromer and said he was proud of the campaign he ran despite not getting the results he hoped for.

"This journey further affirmed what I have long believed: Anderson County is a special place because of the great businesses and people who call it home," White said. "I will forever love this community and do my part to make it a better place. I urge everyone to do their part by staying engaged, voting, and even running for office."

After winning the primary, Cromer was to face off with Democratic candidate Eric Childs of Anderson, a combat veteran who advocated against bans on certain medical care for transgender youth. Childs passed away after suffering injuries from a car accident on May 31. It was not clear whether Democrats would have a candidate to oppose Cromer in November.

More: Huff leads competitive SC Statehouse District 28 race as results come in

Voters in state Senate District 6 also saw a contested race on Tuesday. Rep. Jason Elliott won the most votes, but will again face Greenville native Ben Carper later this month in a runoff election.

With 100% of precincts reporting, Elliott received 6,882 votes, Carper 4,466, and dentist Dan Nickels 2,883.

But because no candidate won more than 50% of the vote, Elliott and Carper will head to a runoff election June 25.

The winner will replace Sen. Dwight Loftis, a Republican from Greenville who announced he would not seek re-election after serving in the Senate since 2019 and had a stint in the House of Representatives beginning in 1996.

The race has no Democrat challenger in November.

Elliott, 54, made headlines as the Palmetto States first openly gay lawmaker. He has served in the statehouse since 2017 and is backed by Gov. McMaster. During his tenure in the House, hes sponsored successful bills increasing Industry Fund Partnership tax credits and authorizing a baccalaureate degree in advanced manufacturing.

"I'm honored to win the most votes in the primary -- it's clear voters want a proven conservative in the State Senate. I look forward to meeting voters between now and June 25," Elliott said in a statement.

Carper, a real estate broker with a background in teaching high school and college, is backed by Bob Jones III, the current chancellor of Bob Jones University. Ahead of the election, he said he planned to work with the SC Freedom Caucus.

Nickels received the support of Sen. Josh Kimbrell, a Republican from Spartanburg, but also nabbed an endorsement from the departing Loftis. In a letter posted to Nickels campaign site, Loftis wrote that Nickels is capable, sincere and dedicated to service for the betterment of our state.

Darren Wells, 58, who typically votes republican, casts his vote at Heritage Elementary School precinct in Travelers Rest on Tuesday, June 11, 2024.

Here are other Upstate races:

House District 5: Collins wins

With 100% of precincts reporting, incumbent Rep. Neal Collins led Brandy Tarleton 3,215-2,633.

Collins, a 41-year-old Republican from Pickens who has served in the House since 2015, faced off against Upstate native Tarleton. Tarleton assembled many conservative endorsements. Collins does not face a challenger on the November ballot.

House District 7: Gilreath wins against West

With 100% of precincts reporting, Lee Gilreath unseated incumbent Rep. Jay West 2,747-1,551.

West, 59, has served in the House since 2017 and previously served on the Belton City Council. He faced off against Gilreath, a farmer and businessman from Belton, who prides himself on not being a career politician.

Gilreath will face Libertarian Hunter Savirino in November.

House District 8: Don Chapman wins

With 100% of precincts reporting, Rep. Don Chapman won a second term against Sherry Hodges. Chapman led Hodges 2,748-1,607.

Freshman incumbent Chapman, 58, began serving in the House of Representatives in 2023. The Republican from Townville faced off against Hodges, a self-described California refugee who has criticized Republicans for not being conservative enough.

Chapman will challenge Jackie Todd of the Alliance Party in November.

House District 9: Sanders leads despite Galyean's early lead, runoff ahead

With 100% of precincts reporting, former mayor Blake Sanders led James Galyean 1,852-1,724 and Rick Bradshaw 1,852-870.

Sanders and Galyean will head to a runoff election June 25.

Bradshaw, who has served on the Anderson Board of Trustees, faced off against Galyean and Sanders for Rep. Anne Thayers (R-Anderson) spot after she announced she would not seek reelection. Galyean previously worked for the Supreme Court of South Carolina before founding Reason and Republic Charter School. Sanders, who is a landscape architect and a lecturer at Clemson, also served as mayor of West Pelzer. He was elected in 2015 and has received support from several mayors throughout the Upstate. He is also endorsed by Conservation Voters of South Carolina (CVSC).

The winner of the runoff does not have a challenger in the November election.

House District 10: Beach wins

With 100% of precincts reporting, incumbent Rep. Thomas Beach leads Pam Anthony 2,660-1,327.

Beach, 49, and Anthony faced off for the House seat in District 10. Anthony has served as the academic program director at Greenville Technical College for 30 years. Beach, a realtor, is also part of the South Carolina Freedom Caucus and is endorsed by former President Donald Trump.

Beach will not face a challenger in November.

Senate District 7: Allen wins

With 100% of precincts reporting, incumbent Sen. Karl B. Allen defeated Michelle Goodwin-Calwile 2,572-1,210.

"I am very honored to continue the work we have started to improve the quality of life for all as we strive to make Senate District 7 first," Allen said in a statement.

Allen, an attorney and Democrat from Greenville has served in the state legislature for more than 20 years. Allen, 53, began as a House Representative in 2001 before moving to the Senate in 2013. The CVSC also endorsed him. He faced Goodwin-Calwile, a retired teacher who serves on the Greenville County School Board of Trustees. She is also part of the District 25 Neighborhood Association.

Goodwin-Calwile conceded late Tuesday night.

"We will be holding the incumbent accountable for all the things he said on his platform like fully funding base student cost, and women's reproductive rights among other things," Goodwin-Calwile said in a statement. "Now maybe he will do right by our community."

Allen will not have a challenger in November.

Senate District 11: Alvarez concedes, Geter moves forward

Just before 9:30 p.m., candidate Seni Alvarez conceded to Angela L. Geter, who led 1,063-412 with 100% of precincts reporting.

"I'd like to congratulate Angela Geter on her victory," Alvarez wrote in a statement. "Angela has my full support in her upcoming contest against Josh Kimbrell, and I will do whatever I can to help her win in November, because we deserve better representation in the Upstate, and Josh Kimbrell does not reflect the values of our district."

Alvarez, an activist and accountant from Spartanburg who previously ran for city council, faced Geter in the Democratic primary. Geter previously ran for the House of Representatives in Spartanburg and the Spartanburg Democratic Party. She owns an accounting consulting firm.

Geter will oppose Republican incumbent Sen. Josh Kimbrell (R-Spartanburg) on Novembers ballot.

Senate District 12: Bright leads, runoff ahead

With 100% of precincts reporting, Former Sen. Lee Bright won against his three opponents. Bright had 4,185 votes, Skip Davenport 2,090, Hope Blackley, 2,517 votes, and incumbent Sen. Roger Allen Nutt, 2,654.

Next, Bright and Nutt will head to a runoff election June 25.

Bright, 54, who prides himself on being very conservative, hoped to return to the statehouse after losing a runoff in 2017. In a jam-packed race, he faced Blackley, a former clerk of court in Spartanburg who also worked for U.S. Rep. William Timmons (R-SC). Shes endorsed by the CVSC.

Blackley and Bright also faced Davenport, who has worked with the Greenville County Republican Party and is the third-generation owner of D&D Motors. Nutt, 58, is an engineer and pastor from Moore. He started his Senate tenure in 2021 and is endorsed by the National Rifle Association.

Sarah Swetlik covers climate change and environmental issues in South Carolina's Upstate for The Greenville News. Reach her at sswetlik@gannett.com or on X at @sarahgswetlik.

Have a question for Sustainability with Sarah? Ask here or email sswetlik@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Greenville News: South Carolina statehouse candidates vie for Senate and House seats
HENRY COUNTY, Va. (WFXR)  One captain with the Henry County Sheriffs Office is in the spotlight after winning the Distinguished Alumni Award from Patrick & Henry Community College (PHCC).

Captain Sandy Hines, joined the team in April 2024. Since the Sheriffs Office says he has demonstrated exceptional dedication and leadership throughout his career.

The Patrick County High School alumni studied at Liberty University where he earned his Bachelors degree in Criminal Justice: Public Administration in 2022.

Captain Hines began his career in law enforcement as a patrol officer with the Martinsville Police Department. There, he took on several roles including Patrol Sergeant, Patrol Lieutenant, Criminal Investigations, SWAT team commander, and more.

In addition to his accolades, Captain Hines achieved the FBI LEEDA Trilogy, the Virginia Association of Chiefs of Police Institute for Leadership in Changing Times, and the Police Executive Research Forum Senior Management Institute for Police.

Captain Hines was also the recipient of the Crime Stoppers Award and ATF Distinguished Service Medal.

(Photo Courtesy: Henry County Sheriffs Office )

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFXRtv.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 12. SIRI will support the development of Azerbaijan's digitalization roadmap, Technical Director for Europe and Asia at the International Center for Industrial Transformation (INCIT) Aykut Yeni told reporters, Trend reports.

He made the remark on the sidelines of a seminar on the Intelligent Industry Readiness Index being held in Baku.

"Our initial step is to create SIRI, one of the world's most advanced and valuable instruments for digitalization processes. It is also crucial to us that everyone understands SIRI. It will help Azerbaijan create its digitalization strategy. We have laid the groundwork for the steps we will take in this direction today at this event, and we are now planning for the next objectives. I believe SIRI will make a significant contribution to the beneficial operations of the entire digital business, he said.

To note, the Smart Industry Readiness Index (SIRI) was established by the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB) in partnership with a network of leading technology companies, consulting firms, industry, and academic experts. SIRI comprises a set of frameworks and tools to help manufacturers, regardless of industry, start, scale up, and sustain the manufacturing transformation process.

SIRI covers the three core elements of Industry 4.0: process, technology, and organization.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
A California Catholic school has booted a 13-year-old student after accusing his parents of starting a smear campaign when he was allegedly barred from giving a MAGA-inspired speech for his school election.

In a letter posted to social media by the boys mom, Saint Bonaventure Catholic School in Huntington Beach, California, said the family was no longer welcome after they threatened administrators and posted disparaging remarks about faculty online.

The mom, Hattie Ruggles, has alleged that her son was humiliated by his school principal Mary Flock when he was prevented from giving a MAGA-style speech as he ran for commissioner of school spirit and patriotism as part of the schools elections, according to a social media post.

In the Trumpy speech, the 13-year-old talks about his love for America and claims some people take their citizenship for granted by eating nachos during the national anthem at sporting events.

My love for America is my motivation for running for Commissioner of Patriotism and School Spirit. It is my honor to live in this country. Sadly, some people take their citizenship for granted, whether it is disrespecting the people who protect us or eating nachos during the national anthem at sporting events, he allegedly wrote in the speech.

Many people recite the Pledge of Allegiance without understanding the meaning. If someone doesnt truly know what they are pledging to the United States of America, they might as well be reciting the lyrics to Shake it Off by Taylor Swift.

If elected, the boy said he would undertake the crucial task of making SBS more patriotic  and gave a sign-off similar to that of former President Donald Trump.

I will make the school spirit great again! I will make patriotism within SBS great again! And most importantly I will MAKE SBS GREAT AGAIN! Thank you and God Bless Saint Bonaventure Catholic School! the speech added.

His mother claims her son was told to remove all parts about patriotism from his campaign speech or he would not be allowed to deliver it before the school assembly.

Jimmy stood up to her and said he wasnt going to take the parts about patriotism out of his speech, Ruggles wrote in a Change.org petition calling on Flock to be fired. She then told him he would not be speaking. Jimmy sat on stage with all the other candidates while they said their speeches. Mary Flock directed the kids hosting the rally to skip Jimmy entirely. He was on the stage for an hour in front of his peers/teachers/parents being completely humiliated by Mary Flock.

The school has denied Ruggles accusations, claiming that the boy was actually banned from giving his speech because it did not receive prior approval from school officials, as per requirements.

The termination letter allegedly sent by Saint Bonaventure Catholic School (Hattie Ruggles via Facebook)

The parents insist this is not true and that their sons final speech draft was submitted on time and viewed by the principal.

Following the disagreement, Ruggles posted the letter from the Catholic school, which accuses them of serious violations of the Christian Code of Conduct and the Parent Electronic Communication Policy.

Finally heard from St. Bonaventure. This morning we received an email terminating Jimmy, Alice, and Livia from the school and will not allow them to return next year, Ruggles alleged in a post on Facebook.

Ruggles also shared a photo of the termination letter on Facebook, in which the school said the three children were being expelled for violating the Christian Code of Conduct and the Parent Electronic Communication Policy, including speaking to administration in a way that is not in line with our expectations for respectful and courteous communication; posting disparaging remarks about the administration and faculty on social media; as well as inviting outside community members to join in an unsanctioned gathering on parish grounds.

The letter made no mention of the speech, and the school has disputed Ruggles account of events.

St. Bonaventure Catholic School is dedicated to fostering a Catholic, Christ-centered learning environment that builds a community valuing respect and integrity. We encourage freedom of speech, recognizing that allowing students to express their thoughts and ideas is crucial for their growth and development. In line with this, our longstanding policy requires all student speeches delivered on campus to undergo an administrative approval process. This practice ensures that the content is appropriate, aligns with school values and our Christian Code of Conduct, and maintains a respectful tone. The process is applied uniformly to all students without exception, the school said.

If a speech does not receive final approval, we adhere to our established guidelines, which means the student will not be permitted to deliver the speech. In this recent case, school administrators felt encouraged by the words of patriotism but were discouraged by what is perceived as some negative comments and sought adjustments to make it more positive.

According to a mass email dated May 23 sent by the school and shared by Ruggles on Change.org, Flock left her position at the school last month.

It is with sadness that I inform you that Principal Mary Flock will not be returning to St. Bonaventure next school year, the email read.
RUIDOSO  The New Mexico Cattlegrowers Association met Sunday through Tuesday, June 9-11, at the Ruidoso Convention Center for its annual mid-year meeting, in conjunction with the New Mexico Wool Growers Inc.

The event with a slate full of seminars, subgroup meetings, key speakers from throughout the state and region, and more than 40 vendors also featured a joint awards dinner and dance.

At the dinner, the Rural Roots endowment of the Community Foundation of Southern New Mexico presented checks of $15,000 to the NMCGA and $7,500 to NMWGI.

New Mexico Wool Growers Inc. President Antonio Manzanares presents the 2024 Sheepman of the Year Award to Bronson Corn.

The Sheepman of the Year Award was presented to Bronson Corn, also the current NMCGA president.

Mondays policy and legislative priority session covered dozens of critical issues facing New Mexicos farming and ranching industry and featured four current New Mexico state legislators.

NMCGA president-elect Tom Paterson moderated the policy session, which included results from an in-depth survey of members regarding their most important concerns.

More: UPDATE: Evacuation order for Timberon expected to lift at noon Saturday

You all really went to bat on this survey, Paterson said.

Responses included such topics as range and pasture issues, production, costs of production, roads, rural healthcare, education and more.

Some of the topics literally got into the weeds, such as battling invasive plants and noxious weeds. Others were universal concerns, such as how to get access to veterinarians when the number of doctors practicing in the state has reduced and the needs are so geographically distant and remote. Human healthcare in rural areas is of equal concern for essentially the same reasons.

One concerned rancher worried about a proposed bill in the state legislature to add a 40-80 cents per gallon tax on diesel gasoline, a measure that could cripple many already operating on tight margins.

Two things continually popped out, Paterson said of the survey responses. Healthcare and education.

Near the end of the legislative session, Senator (Gregg) Schmedes (Dist. 19) gave a passionate speech on tort reform and how it drives doctors out of New Mexico, Paterson said.

More: New Mexico dairy cattle positive for H5N1; Human case of bird flu detected in Texas

Rep. Candy Spence Ezzell has served District 58 since 2005, and will move into the Senate in January, having won the primary for District 32. She was in attendance and brought up another issue: feral horses.

They are not wild, theyre feral, and what about the damage they do to our properties? Spence Ezzell asked.

Rep. Gail Armstrong of District 49 gave an illustration of one difference between childhood education in urban versus rural New Mexico, where someone who lives 40 miles away can be considered a neighbor.

As legislators discussed a possible mandate of requiring students to be in school 180 days, Armstrong pointed out what that means for children who have to spend 90 minutes or more, one way, on a bus to school.

State Rep. Gail Armstrong of District 49 spoke at the New Mexico Cattle Growers Associations mid-year meeting at the Ruidoso Convention Center Monday, June 10.

I offered the governor and the education secretary to come ride the bus in Catron County, Armstrong said. The (public education department) secretary came over and rode with us. We had to change buses in the middle of it, in Pie Town. The Quemado bus goes into Arizona and picks up kids.

Despite many legislative issues that adversely affect farmers and ranchers, Armstrong said, We cant just be the naysayers. We have to come with solutions. And if youre invited to the table, please take a seat.

As the only nurse in the legislature, Dist. 32 Rep. Jenifer Jones has had the benefit of bipartisan support. Its good to know my experience is useful in the legislature.

The top three healthcare-related issues for the legislature, according to Jones, are healthcare workforce, behavioral health and the Children, Youth and Families Department.

State Rep. Jenifer Jones of Dist. 32, and the only member of the state legislature who is a nurse, talked about issues of healthcare, which can be more problematic for rural residents of New Mexico.

We have seen this mass exodus of physicians, Jones said. Our medical malpractice tragedy has limits set so high doctors cant get insurance.

Sen. Pat Woods of District 7 described another problem with insurance for farmers and ranchers.

Insurance companies leave, Woods said. They just quit selling insurance in the state of New Mexico.

More: NM Department of Agriculture proposes to add Otero County to pecan weevil quarantine

As a businessperson, you have to eliminate some of your risk, Woods said. But as premiums go up it makes it harder and harder to pay your insurance.

Longtime New Mexico newspaperman Richard Coltharp is publisher at the Ruidoso News and Alamogordo News. He can be reached at rcoltharp@elritomedia.com.

This article originally appeared on Carlsbad Current-Argus: Cattlegrowers hold midyear meeting in Ruidoso
Who will challenge Russell Fry to represent the Myrtle Beach area in Congress? The results

Myrtle Beach area voters have cast their Democratic primary candidate for South Carolinas Seventh Congressional District race. The winner will face incumbent Russell Fry in the November 2024 general election.

With all eight counties of the seventh district reporting, according to unofficial results from the South Carolina Election Commission, former Coker University professor Mal Hyman received 12,610 votes. Conway resident and veteran Daryl Scott received 12,205 votes, about a 1.64 percent margin of difference between the two candidates.

According to South Carolina law, mandatory recounts are called when the margin of difference is less than one percent. The Associated Press reports that more than 99 percent of ballots were cast.

Mal Hyman is one of two Democratic candidates in the 2024 primary for the U.S. House from South Carolinas Seventh Congressional District. primary. A former professor at Coker University in Hartsville, Hyman has previously run twice for the seat.

This wasnt either candidates first political race for statewide office. Hyman and Scott had previously run for the Seventh District in the general election after winning the primary.

Hyman said he wanted to conduct debates in all eight counties with Fry and said his common sense agenda is resonating.

We need health care for all, and we need to tax the wealthy their fair share so that we can responsibly invest in the American dream and create more opportunity and security, Hyman said.

Daryl Scott of Conway is one of two Democratic candidate for U.S. House from South Carolinas Seventh Congressional District. Its Scotts second time running for the seat.

Scott said he would wait to comment until the election is officially called, saying he could still win.

Hyman will now prepare to face Fry in the November 2024 general election. This is Frys second election cycle; he defeated former incumbent Tom Rice in 2022.

In a statement provided to The Sun News via a spokesperson, Fry focused on national efforts by Republicans to gain control of Congress and the White House and bashed Democrats far-Left agenda have left Americans in the dust.

South Carolina Seventh Congressional District Incumbent Russell Fry will run for re-election in November 2024. Fry first won the seat in 2022. Photo originally taken November 8, 2022.

This November, we must elect leaders up and down the ballot who will secure our border, grow our economy, make gas and groceries affordable again, and always put America First, Fry added.

A Democrat hasnt represented Frys seat since the district was re-established in 2013.

The last Democrat that represented South Carolinas Seventh Congressional District was in 1933 when the seat was abolished.
Challenger Mucarsel-Powell surges in US Senate poll, closing in on Rick Scott

U.S. Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., is in a tighter-than-expected contest with his leading Democratic challenger, former U.S. Rep. Debbie Mucarsel-Powell.

A Florida Atlantic University Poll released Wednesday shows Scott with support from 45% of likely voters. Mucarsel-Powell has 43%. Effectively thats a tie, within the surveys margin of error.

The contest between Scott and Mucarsel-Powell is much tighter  a difference of just 2 percentage points among likely voters  than it was in FAUs last statewide poll in April.

Scott had support of 53% of likely voters in the previous poll, 17 points ahead of Mucarsel-Powells 36%.

In April, a lot of people didnt know who Mucarsel-Powell was. Her name recognition has improved considerably. With that, the support for her has improved, said Kevin Wagner, an FAU political scientist.

If that trend line holds it suggests that it could be a competitive race, he said, adding that it is still early to make that assessment. Its still June, so well see how that turns out.

Wagner is also co-director of FAUs PolCom Lab, a collaboration of the School of Communication and Multimedia Studies and Department of Political Science, which conducted the poll.

Scotts reelection contest hasnt garnered as much attention as other key U.S. Senate races from national political prognosticators, given Floridas increasingly Republican leanings.

Democrats had a voter registration advantage when he was first elected to the Senate in 2018; now Republicans are far ahead of Democrats.

And Scott is the wealthiest member of the U.S. Senate, with an estimated net worth of $300 million. He has shown in previous races  including two successful campaigns for Florida governor  that he is willing to spend his own money on his political efforts.

Mucarsel-Powell, who served one term in Congress before she was defeated in 2020, isnt especially well known statewide. Shes the leading Democratic candidate, but faces an August primary.

The most recent reports from nonpartisan analysts have Scott favored to win.

The nonpartisan Inside Elections rates the Florida contest as solid Republican, and both the Cook Political Report and the Crystal Ball at the University of Virginia Center for Politics both list it as likely Republican.

A matchup between Scott and Mucarsel-Powell isnt quite as close when considering all voters, as opposed to likely voters.

Among all voters, Scott had 44% to 40% for Mucarsel-Powell. In April it was 51% to 35%.

Among likely voters in the June poll, there werent any significant differences among men and women.

Both Scott and Mucarsel-Powell performed better among voters aged 50 and older than among voters under age 50.

Among younger voters, 21% said they were undecided or preferred another candidate. Among voters 50 and older, 6% said they were undecided or preferred another candidate.

Democrats overwhelmingly favored Mucarsel-Powell and Republicans overwhelmingly favored Scott. The incumbent also had a significant advantage among independent voters, 48% to 30%.

The Senate is closely divided and many analysts see it likely to switch from Democratic to Republican control. Scott has already announced, assuming he wins reelection, that hes a candidate for Republican Senate leader following the November elections.

Trump remains ahead

The FAU poll found that former President Donald Trump continues to lead President Joe Biden in Florida.

Among likely voters, Trump has 49% to 43% for Biden, a lead of 6 percentage points.

In April, Trump led 51% to 43%, an advantage of 8 points.

Many political analysts see Trump as heavily favored to win Floridas 30 electoral votes. Dukhong Kim, an FAU political scientist, said in a statement that the numbers suggest that Biden has kept the race competitive in Florida.

The overall parameters of the Florida contest dont change much when factoring in Robert F. Kennedy Jr.s third-party candidacy.

When the pollsters put him in the mix, Trump had 45% of likely voters to 40% for Biden and 8% for Kennedy.

Wagner said its still too early to assess Kennedys impact on the contest. Its still early enough that people feel comfortable trying out third party candidates. That tends to decline pretty sharply when you get toward November.

2026 governor

A month ago, Gov. Ron DeSantis downplayed the notion that his wife, Casey, might run to succeed him in 2026 when he cant run again because of term limits. He said she had zero interest in running for governor.

But plenty of Florida Republicans continue to like the idea.

Pollsters asked who theyd support for governor if the election were held today.

By far the largest share, 43%, cited Casey DeSantis.

Three other candidates were in double digits: Congressman Byron Donalds, 19%; state Attorney General Ashley Moody, 14%; and Congressman Matt Gaetz, with 13%.

None has said they are running; all are seen as considering the possibility.

Donalds has been receiving enormous publicity as hes been on the campaign trail in support of Trump and considered as a long-shot candidate for vice president; Gaetz, the firebrand Panhandle Republican was instrumental in the ouster of House Speaker Kevin McCarthy; and Moody has been a champion of DeSantis priorities in her role as state AG.

Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis, also seen as eyeing the governors race, was the choice of just 5%. Pollsters didnt ask about another potential candidate, Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson.

One takeaway from the results, Wagner said, is the strength of the DeSantis brand among Florida Republicans.

The DeSantis name, especially in the Republican Party, is very, very powerful, he said.

Issues

The top issue for Florida voters in the presidential election is the economy, cited by 38% of Florida voters, followed by immigration at 25%, and abortion with 15%.

Democrats, Republicans, independents, men and women all cited the economy as their top choice.

Abortion was by far the No. 2 issue for Democrats, and immigration was by far the No. 2 issue for Republicans and independents.

The economy was overwhelmingly the top issue for voters under age 50, cited by 50%. Among older voters, 29% said immigration was their top issue and 29% said the economy was their top issue.

Fine print

The poll of 878 Florida adults was conducted June 8 and 9 by Mainstreet Research for Florida Atlantic Universitys PolCom Lab.

The survey used an online panel and automated phone calls to reach other voters. It has a margin of error equivalent to plus or minus 3 percentage points.

However, the margin of error for smaller groups, such as Republicans or Democrats, or men and women, would be higher because the sample sizes are smaller.

____
Chapel Hill has a new location for its police headquarters. Heres where it could go.

As one door closed this week on plans to move the Chapel Hill Police Department, another opened up on the northern side of town.

The Town Council will hold a public hearing Wednesday (June 12) to talk about leasing 58,000 square feet of commercial space at 7300 Millhouse Road for up to 15 years. The rent could start at roughly $1.4 million a year, plus fees, additional costs and regular increases.

The town is still negotiating with Merritt Properties, which owns the building, town spokesman Alex Carrasquillo said Tuesday.

The council voted last week to spend $1.7 million renovating a future space and buying furniture and fixtures for the Police Department. The town could also house its emergency operations center and some IT employees on Millhouse Road while cleaning up the coal ash dump under the existing headquarters at 828 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.

Wednesdays meeting begins at 6 p.m. in the Town Hall council chamber and will also be livestreamed on the towns website.

Didnt the town already sign a lease?

The town started negotiating a lease last year with the State Employees Credit Union, which owns The Parkline building (formerly Blue Cross and Blue Shield) on Fordham Boulevard near Interstate 40. That lease would have been for 10 years and started at $1.5 million a year.

That deal fell apart before being signed when it became clear that the property couldnt meet the needs of a police department, Carrasquillo said in an email Tuesday.

The department, which is open to the public from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, needs ample parking for vehicles, office space for over 100 sworn officers and staff, and a secure area to hold suspects before taking them to the Orange County Detention Center in Hillsborough.

The Millhouse Road building is almost three times the size of the current Chapel Hill Police Department.

What else is on Millhouse Road?

The buildings at 7300 Millhouse Road are located in the towns light-industrial conditional zoning district, which was created in 2017 to attract industrial, research and commercial uses generally not allowed in other parts of town. Projects in the district can be rezoned and approved in five months, compared to the towns typical 12- to 18-month process.

Only one other project has been built in the 60-acre commercial district. HonorBridge  formerly Carolina Donor Services  moved its headquarters, including office, clinic and lab space, into a new building in 2023.

Merritt Properties also completed both buildings on its property last year. A pickleball center, Pickles and Play, opened in one building earlier this year.

Chapel Hills Public Works Department, regional fire training facility and Chapel Hill Transit are on Millhouse Road near the site. The Carraway Village mixed-use development and a Chapel Hill Transit park-and-ride lot are around the corner on Eubanks Road.

What happens next?

The council could vote Monday (June 17) to authorize the town manager to sign a lease. State law also requires the town to get the lease approved by the N.C. Local Government Commission, which is part of the State Treasurers office.

The town is continuing to work with the N.C. Department of Environmental Quality on a Brownfields agreement for how to clean up the coal ash on MLK Jr. Boulevard.

The federal Environmental Protection Agency contacted the town earlier this year in response to a petition from the Center for Biological Diversity and will conduct its own study of the site sometime this year.

The Orange Report

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After decades of stalls and derailed dreams, Charlottes ambitious and long-planned Red Line project appears to be full steam ahead.

On Monday, the city of Charlotte notified the Surface Transportation Board that it intends to acquire the O-Line from Norfolk Southern. A city of Charlotte spokesperson confirmed the filing and said this is part of the process.

Todays filing with the Surface Transportation Board is a procedural step in the citys on-going process to acquire the O-line from Norfolk Southern, a spokesperson for Charlotte said. The agreements are non-binding, and any details included in the filling are part of on-going discussions as the city continues its due diligence and are subject to change. This is another step in the process, and the city remains committed to the Red Line as part of the regions larger transit and transportation vision.

The filing says Charlotte wants to acquire 29.04 miles of railroad right-of-way in Mecklenburg and Iredell Counties, stretching from milepost O-0.04 in Charlotte to O-29.08 in Mooresville. The notice to the Surface Transportation Board says Norfolk Southern will still be able to operate freight on the line.

Charlotte will acquire the assets from NSR subject to NSRs retention of a permanent and exclusive easement as necessary for NSR to continue to fulfill its common carrier and related freight services, the filing states. NSR will retain the easement to provide rail service to customers over, on, and connecting to the assets, pursuant to a contract of purchase and sale and comprehensive rail agreement between Charlotte and NSR.

READ MORE:

The filing says the purchase and comprehensive agreements will ban Charlotte from providing freight service to customers along the line and interfere with Norfolk Southerns freight service rights.

In May, Channel 9 broke the news that the city of Charlotte had reached an agreement in principle with Norfolk Southern to acquire the rights to the O-Line. The deal could close by the end of September.

The city of Charlotte is hoping the North Carolina General Assembly will authorize a sales tax increase referendum. If the proposed penny sales tax increase is approved by voters, funds from the hike would benefit transit, with a bulk of the proceeds going toward road projects.

The Red Line, which would run on the O-Line, is the most highly prioritized rail project. It would bring commuter rail from Uptown to Mooresville.

The project was first proposed in 1998. It stalled in 2013 when Norfolk Southern changed its policy for passenger rail on its tracks. In July 2023, Norfolk Southern expressed a willingness to work with the City of Charlotte on the O-Line.

The Surface Transportation Board is a federal agency that regulates primarily freight rail operations.

VIDEO: Silver Line to Matthews left out of Charlottes new light rail plan
Chihuahua Mix Eats Heroin Off a Table and Survives Thanks to Narcan

A tiny Chihuahua mix puppy in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina is recovering after ingesting heroin that his owners had left on a coffee table.

The puppy consumed about a gram of heroin when a home health aid who was visiting a motel room brought the chihuahua mix to the station.

After the full nasal dose of narcan, the puppy was revived and taken to an animal hospital for further treatment.

Komo News reports, "Shane Harris, 39, was also at the station and claimed ownership of the dog.

Harris told police that a man came into his motel room and left the bag of heroin on the table, which the dog then ate, per police report.

Officers searched the motel room and allegedly found a full syringe in a purse in the bathroom.

Related: Dog in the UK Became Addicted to Alcohol After Owner Left Out Drinks

According to police, the syringe tested positive for heroin and cocaine.

Young, 38, was summoned and reportedly admitted to police that the syringe was hers.

Myrtle Beach City Government posted the following to Facebook:

The post reads in part, "Firefighters sprang into action, grabbing Narcan and administering it to the small puppy to revive her. Between Narcan and oxygen, the firefighters were able to get Sophie breathing. They saved her life."

Thankfully, the dog's owners Shane Collins Harris and Serrena Danielle Young are charged with abandonment of animals. Young is additionally charged with manufacturing, distribution, possession of drugs.

This is Sadly Not The First Dog Overdose Recently

The most bizarre aspect of this story is that it also involves a Chihuahua dog! The fire department for their city of Spokane posted on their Facebook page that firefighters were dispatched to a distress call where a dog owner was holding a lifeless tiny Chihuahua in her arms. The owner explained that she had found the dog chewing on a pipe in her backyard, and since then, it had been difficult to rouse and keep awake.

The fire station shared on Facebook, " Due to the dog's slow breathing, pinpoint pupils, and lethargy, the firefighters administered a small dose of Narcan and contacted an emergency veterinarian. Following the veterinarian's orders, they administered an additional dose. After the second dose, the dog quickly became more alert and showed purposeful movement, much to the owner's relief."

These stories are just terrible. I guess the horrible state of drug addition in our country is also hurting dogs too.

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MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (WBTW)  The owners of a 15-pound chihuahua have pleaded guilty to charges after the dog allegedly overdosed on heroin and cocaine at a motel in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, according to police documents.

Myrtle Beach police charged Shane Harris and Serrena Young with mistreatment of an animal after the May 27 incident at the Palmetto Vista Motel. Young was also charged with possession with intent to deliver heroin. They were both taken to the Myrtle Beach Jail.

According to a police report, a Myrtle Beach firefighter gave the dog Narcan, the opioid-reversal medication, using a nebulizer machine after a home health aide who had been with Harris and Young at the motel brought it to the fire station.

The dog received a full nasal dose of Narcan, and after it was revived, it was given oxygen and taken to the Animal Emergency Hospital of the Strand for further care, a police report said.

Harris, who accompanied the health aide to the fire station, allegedly told authorities that a man came to his motel and left about one gram of heroin on a table and that the dog ate it and became ill.

Oprah Winfrey hospitalized, misses TV appearance

Police then went to the motel and met with Young, the report said.

While executing a search warrant, detectives say they found a syringe with clear, brown-tinted liquid in a black purse in the bathroom, which later tested positive for heroin and cocaine.

Young admitted to officers that the syringe was hers, the police report shows.

Court records show Harris pleaded guilty to abandonment or mistreatment of an animal, was sentenced to 15 days in jail, and owes more than $1,000 in fines. Young also pleaded guilty to the same charge and was sentenced to 15 days in jail and more than $700 in fines.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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Rev. Rob Stephens of NC Repairers of the Breach discusses the child care cliff at a Wednesday press conference. (Photo by Greg Childress)

Emma Biggs, a Charlotte daycare advocate and provider, reminded a crowd gathered at Freedom Park in Raleigh on Wednesday, that there are only 18 days left before the federal pandemic-era subsidy runs out for daycare providers.

When that happens on June 30, Biggs said, the state could lose three in 10 childcare programs, which would impact more than 90,000 children.

What is happening in our state is not just injustice to our children and our families and our economy and our businesses, it is actually criminal what theyre trying to do to our children, especially our Black and Brown children, Biggs said.

Biggs was one of several speakers who gathered at the park in downtown Raleigh to demand that the General Assembly step in to stop the states child care industry from toppling over a funding cliff. She called on lawmakers to make an emergency appropriation of $300 million to keep preschools open and teachers in classrooms. Anticipating the funding cliff, Biggs said some teachers see the handwriting on the wall and are leaving the profession.

Were here because we cant wait, Biggs said. We need an emergency appropriation issued immediately.

Biggs is part of a coalition of advocacy groups, faith communities and child care facilities that are coordinating a week-long phone blitz targeting House speaker Tim Moore, R-Cleveland and Senate leader Phil Berger, R-Rockingham, with calls every three minutes to demand they take immediate action to avoid the jobs cuts and closures that will happen at the end of this month.

Leaders of the NC Poor Peoples Campaign and their partners say Berger and Moore have refused to meet with them to discuss the child care crisis.

There needs to be a moral outcry, said Rev. Rob Stephens, NC Repairers of the Breach Organizing Committee coordinator. The fact that theyre [the states Republican leadership] willing to spend hundreds of millions of dollars on vouchers for private schools that discriminate and are hesitating on passing funds for 100,000 zero to 5 year-olds is evidence of a radical misalignment of values.

Stephens said the state GOP ought to be ashamed to brag about having a budget surplus. Lawmakers project a budget surplus of just under $1 billion.

Their so-called surplus is a direct result of not actually funding what the people of this state need most, and instead using the budget as their personal bank account to score political points, Stephens said. After billions of dollars in tax cuts for corporations and millionaires, they now want to fill the gap with gambling and casino money, interests that have donated huge sums to their campaigns. We will not let them gamble with our childrens future.

As Newsline has previously reported, the state will soon spend the last of $1.3 billion in federal grant money that helped child care providers make it through the pandemic. Some of the money was used to increase worker pay.

NC Newslines Lynn Bonner reported in April that a North Carolina Child Care Resource and Referral Council survey found that 88% of childcare providers will need to increase parent fees when the federal money runs out. Forty percent said they would have to raise parent fees immediately. About half said they would lose administrative and teaching staff and about two-thirds said they would have trouble hiring new employees with comparable experience and education.

Nearly one-third of the programs surveyed said they would have to close within a year. Thats equivalent to more than 1,500 programs and close to 92,000 childcare and early education slots.

Rev. Wayne Wilhelm, tri-chair of the North Carolina Poor Peoples Campaign and Durham pastor said working families are being left without options.

Instead of rushing to fund kids and schools, they [GOP lawmakers] are campaigning on spending hundreds of millions of dollars on private school vouchers for wealthy families that can already afford private schools, Wilhelm said.

During the 2023 legislative long session, lawmakers took no action on legislation asking for $300 million this fiscal year to extend the compensation grant portion of the federal Childcare Stabilization Grant. Supporters said the money would reduce teacher turnover, improve the quality of child care and keep rates affordable for parents.

Eshawney Gaston, a mother of two from Durham who is expecting her third child in November, said families like hers need help.

We have to fight for the kids, Gaston said. Im not going to have any maternity leave. Im working and trying to figure out after school and child care for my son and daughter while Im working and trying to find babysitters. Its a struggle out here..

The post Child care advocates sound the alarm as funding cliff for providers draws near appeared first on NC Newsline.
This year, California had another opportunity to ban child marriage in the state, but a division inside the Democratic Party is dashing those hopes in a disturbing display of indifference.

In February, Asm. Cottie Petrie-Norris, D-Irvine, introduced Assembly Bill 2924 to finally end the gruesome act of state-sanctioned child marriage in California. Last month, Assembly Judiciary Committee Chairman Ash Kalra, D- San Jose, demanded amendments that would have gutted the bill before the legislation received a hearing. In effect, the Democratic chairman killed the bill before it ever went to a vote.

California is one of just four states in the nation with no minimum age for marriage. Minors of any age can be married if a judge and, in most cases, a parent or guardian approve. In 2021 alone, California witnessed an estimated 8,789 minors, ages 15 to 17, entering into marriage, as reported by the American Community Survey.

The practice, typically involving girls wed to much older men, is often exploited by fundamentalist religious and culturally conservative communities and lacks full, free consent.

Opinion

AB 2924 would set a minimum age of 18 to marry, with no exceptions. The bill has more than 30 bipartisan legislative co-authors and support from the Legislative Womens Caucus, dozens of California and national organizations and child marriage survivors.

The same month the bill stalled in the legislature, Gov. Gavin Newsom was chastising Missouri State Senator Mike Moon in a tweet for advocating for 12-year-old kids to be married off to adults. Why isnt Newsom championing the end of child marriage in California? Why does this state allow a 15-year-old girl to be married off by her father without her mothers knowledge?

Kalra and a few other Democrats appear to have caved to pressure from the American Civil Liberties Union of California and Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California. These two California groups support child marriage, unlike their counterparts in almost every other U.S. state that has supported minimum marriage ages or stayed neutral.

The ACLU claims banning child marriage would be denying these young people the right to marry. But children, as minors, do not have that right. Under the current law, a judge and a parent may enter a child into marriage, with no real recourse for a minor who does not want to marry. Child marriage is not a right. It is a human rights abuse. The United Nations seeks to ban the practice worldwide by 2030.

Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California cited fears of impinging on minors reproductive rights. However, Californias legal system, which upholds minors rights to access abortion and contraception without parental consent, already delineates these boundaries. In 2022, California voters approved an amendment to the state constitution that specifically protects access to abortion and contraception. Moreover, the global stance of the International Planned Parenthood Federation advocates to end child marriage, calling it one of the most persistent forms of sanctioned sexual abuse of girls.

The current legal framework in California runs the risk of forced child marriages due to substantial loopholes in the law. California must seize this opportunity to reform its policy resulting in a spectrum of risks, including forced sexual relations, unwanted pregnancies and psychological trauma.

Passing AB 2924 is a critical step toward protecting the states youth and ensuring their rights to autonomy, safety, and health. The governor and leadership in the Legislature should get behind this bill and file a rule waiver to put it up for a vote. This is not just a legal or political issue but a clear-cut case of protecting the vulnerable.

Kevin Bolling is executive director of Californias Secular Student Alliance.
Children who are in residential treatment facilities are at risk for sexual and emotional abuse, physical restraint and overmedication, a new Senate report found.

The report, conducted by the Senate Committee on Finance and the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, was created after an investigation examined allegations of abuse and neglect at residential treatment facilities (RTFs) operated by four companies.

The committees found that children are at harm because of the facilities operating model, which incentivizes providers to optimize revenues over proper treatment. The companies examined are Universal Health Services, Acadia Healthcare, Vivant Behavioral Healthcare and Devereux Advanced Behavioral Health.

In a statement, Senate Finance Committee Chair Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) criticized the facilities, arguing they are warehouses to store as many children as possible while keeping costs low.

Too often, abuse and neglect is the norm at these facilities, and theyre set up to let this happen, his statement said. These findings demand bold action.

The report earned bipartisan support, as ranking member Sen. Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) delivered remarks at Wednesdays hearing urging his colleagues to intervene. He said work must be done so RTF placement is a last resort and efforts are made to reintroduce children to the community as soon as possible.

The children who are placed in RTFs often need mental and behavioral help, but the organizations fail to individualize treatment to adequately treat each child, the report found.

Additionally, the report found children suffer routine harm inside the facilities like sexual, physical and emotional abuse; unsafe and unsanitary conditions; and inadequate behavioral health treatment.

The report detailed one incident in Oklahoma, where a staff member admitted to molesting a girl, but the facility moved the staffer to another place after the misconduct was reported instead of terminating the employee. The staff member continued to stand outside the patients bedroom window each night, the report said.

Physical restraints and seclusion are often used as punishment and can injure children. It is often used without documentation, the report found. At one Arkansas treatment center, staff routinely simultaneously chemically restrained and secluded children.

The report noted that the facilities are short staffed and often staffed with unqualified people, and it said this has led to tragic incidents including child fatalities.

It also found that many facilities cut children off from their parents and outside community support instead of allowing them to maintain connection in an unfamiliar environment.

In a statement sent to The Hill, Universal Health Services said it cooperated with the two-year investigation and finds the report to be incomplete and misleading. The company also acknowledged there have been incidents but said the rates of such occurrences are rare and disproves the committees inaccurate portrayal.

The companys CEO, Marc Miller, declined an invitation from Wyden to testify at Wednesdays hearing in a letter. NBC News obtained the letter, which said the company provided more than 12,000 pages of documents and spent hundreds of hours answering questions.

In a statement to NBC, Acadia said the stories in the report are heartbreaking. The company said the industry can and must do better and said it was committed to ensuring all Acadia patients receive support and compassionate treatment.

Leah Yaw, a senior vice president at Devereux, said in a statement to The Hill that its been the nonprofit organizations honor to work with the committee on the issue but said its unfortunate that its been lumped together with the three other for-profit companies. The company denied that children in its care are placed in abusive or unsanitary conditions.

Devereux said it is extraordinarily careful with its use of medication, and it helps fund college programs to address staffing shortages.

NBC reported that Vivant said in a statement that controlling staffing levels is a normal business concept and is not synonymous with understaffing, and the company complied with the committee.

The committee outlined several recommendations so as to recognize each childs dignity and worth and to ensure that federal dollars are spent as Congress intended.

The senators said standards in the facilities must be raised across the board. Government funding should be prioritized on community-based solutions to decrease the number of children entering the facilities, and oversight mechanisms for the facilities must be implemented at all levels.

At its core, the RTF model typically optimizes profit over the wellbeing and safety of children. The rampant civil rights violations that children experience in RTFs are a direct consequence of the industrys model, the report said.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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Lawmakers in the House and Senate are pushing legislation to ban Chinese-made drones from entering the United States. But the leading Chinese companies manufacturing those drones are making moves to stay a step ahead of them.

One of Chinas biggest drone makers, Da Jiang Innovations (DJI), is already partnering with a U.S.-based company Anzu Robotics to license its technology for sale in the American market.

Another firm, the Hong Kong-based Cogito Tech Company Limited, registered through the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in August 2023 to sell drones in the United States. Experts on drones say two of its drone products approved for sale in the U.S., the Specta Air and Specta Mini, are nearly identical to products produced by DJI.

The new businesses suggest Chinas dominant drone companies are taking steps to make sure that their products reach U.S. consumers even if Congress does pass a ban similar to the one that just hit TikTok.

The Chinese drones are being sold at prices below their U.S. counterparts and have raised worries that any U.S. industry will essentially be squashed. DJI already controls around 70 percent of the global commercial drone market and about 80 percent of the U.S. market.

Derek Scissors, a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute who specializes in Chinas economy and U.S. economic relations with Asia, said the issue with drones is data can be actively collected during flights.

If you [fly] enough of them, you might get something useful. And if U.S. government offices are buying them, which they have been, you definitely could get something useful, he said. U.S. government offices should not be using Chinese drones, because both the data collection in the field and with regard to the use [it] could be sensitive.

Congress takes aim

Seven states already have banned the use of Chinese-produced drones by state agencies, including by law enforcement.

DJI and another big Chinese drone company, Autel, have links to the Chinese Communist Party and Chinas military, and the Pentagon has expressed concern with the companies. The Defense Department is prevented by legislation from purchasing Chinese drones.

DJI and Autel have also been criticized for assisting with surveillance activities and human rights abuses against the Uyghur population in China.

Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.), a close ally of former President Trump who has been mentioned as a possible vice presidential candidate, has sponsored the Countering CCP Drones Act, legislation that would add DJI to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) covered list, effectively banning it from operating in the country by prohibiting it from using U.S. communications infrastructure. The bill has passed the House Energy and Commerce Committee.

Stefanik is also targeting DJI with the Drones for First Responders Act, which would slap tariffs on Chinese drones starting at 30 percent and increase them by 5 percent annually. The U.S. now has a 25 percent tariff on Chinese drones. The bill would also require drones imported to the U.S. not contain components from China by 2030.

This bills provisions would not explicitly limit sales of drones in the U.S. market by Cogito or Anzu. However, Stefaniks legislation includes affiliates of DJI, meaning they would be subject to the ban if the FCC identifies them as an affiliate.

Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), vice chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee and another potential Trump vice presidential contender, has previously co-sponsored legislation targeting Chinese drone companies. When asked about the drones made by Cogita and Anzu, he made it clear in a statement that he wanted a broad targeting of Chinese drones and affiliates.

Any drone affiliated with the Chinese Communist Party should be on the Federal Communications Commission Covered List, regardless of which brand name it is sold under, he said in a statement.

The FCC covered list designates technology from certain companies that are deemed a national security threat, effectively banning their products and services in the U.S. market. Several Chinese companies, including telecommunications giant Huawei, are on that list.

DJI, in a statement to The Hill, didnt directly confirm a connection with Cogito or Anzu but said it frequently gets requests for collaboration.

We will defer to these companies to provide specific details about our partnerships, DJI said in the statement. However, this approach aligns with our continuous and long-term dedication to making our flying platforms as adaptable as possible.

Anzu Robotics and a licensing deal

Randall Warnas, the founder of Anzu Robotics, said he had discussions with DJI about a venture in which an American business would license its technology a few months before his firm first registered in Delaware in April 2023. Warnas formerly worked at DJI from 2015-17.

Warnas said the discussions centered on structuring a licensing agreement to meet the changing tide of the moment.

It was a conversation, just like many business conversations, where you decide to put on the brainstorming hat and try to figure out a solution, Warnas said, adding that licensing DJIs drone technology was hardly a novel idea.

I can say that there are hundreds of people that have had that idea  if only someone could do it, if only someone could pull it off, he said. I just happen to have had the relationships necessary to actually make that happen.

Lawmakers are concerned about the drones because of data collection, which drove President Biden in April to sign into law a bill that would ban TikTok unless it divests from its Chinese parent company ByteDance.

Communist China is using their monopolistic control over the drone market and telecommunications infrastructure to target Americans data and closely surveil our critical infrastructure, Stefanik said in a March statement. It is critical that we continue to advance both of my bills to counter these threats and strengthen Americas national security.

Consumers would be negatively impacted by a drone ban. So would law enforcement agencies and fire departments that need to use drones for their civic duties.

Jack Towne, a drone influencer based near Chicago, questioned if DJI has access to any valuable data, and said banning the company would impact thousands of customers looking for affordable commercial drones.

There just arent good alternatives, he said. Theyve already handicapped first responders, police officers and firefighters that cant use DJI drones, and it doesnt make sense to me.  It doesnt help the people that use these things on a daily basis.

At the core of drone technology are cameras and thermal imaging sensors, which transmit data through servers. DJI and other drone companies also use apps that by default capture data. And still others are concerned about Chinese-made drones with cameras flying near sensitive U.S. military sites.

Anzu Robotics says all data captured by its drones are encrypted and that it has worked with a third party, a U.S.-based cybersecurity consultancy firm called White Knight Labs, to verify safety. While the drones are manufactured outside of the country, Anzu says they operate on U.S. servers and are otherwise entirely connected to American services.

Stefanik bill seeks to help US industry

Stefaniks first responders bill also seeks to help the U.S. commercial and enterprise drone industry, which has long struggled to compete in the market against DJI and Autel. It would provide grant money to certain U.S. customers for the purchase of secure drones.

Warnas argued against a ban.

For us as a country to get behind the idea of stunting competition for the purpose of making sure our guys win, its weird, he said.

Haye Kesteloo, who runs a website and blog about drones, agreed, saying national security threats should be addressed, but not through a blanket ban based on a country of origin. Theyre using the threats of cybersecurity to go after Chinese-made drones. I think that is wrong if you use it in a way to eliminate competition.

But Michael Robbins, president and CEO of the Association for Uncrewed Vehicle Systems International, said Chinese drones pose legitimate national security threats  pointing to both DJI and Autels affiliations with Chinas military.

Robbins said banning Chinese companies is only part of the solution, and pushed for a greater effort to revitalize commercial American drone companies.

We support reasonable timelines for moving away from Chinese drones, he said, and pursuing options like that will really help create demand for non-Chinese drones, which would help spur investment into other drone companies that struggle to raise capital right now because of the Chinese drone companies.

Warnas said his interest was to ensure the American public can use the worlds best drone technology without any concerns about where it comes from, and that DJI and Anzu were not trying to avoid a potential ban but complying with country-of-origin ownership concerns.

That is not subversion of anything, he said. Its not that we saw some ban coming and responded to it. There was a market that was shrinking, or a market that was changing, and there were new rules to comply with.

Warnas said his company officially came together just four weeks ago and that, while he is the only employee so far, he will be expanding in the future. Anzu has received thousands of inquiries already for its drones, he added.

Anzu Robotics is focused solely on enterprise drones. Its main product, the Raptor, is designed for mapping and other commercial uses, while the Raptor T is suited for thermal missions, inspections and search and rescue.

Under the deal with DJI, Anzu receives drone technology and a blueprint from its Chinese partner, but assembles them through manufacturers in Malaysia. Warnas compares the process to purchasing a recipe but cooking the food independently.

A little groundbreaking

Warnas acknowledged that licensing DJI technology was a little groundbreaking, but that from the beginning, it was mandatory for us to say we are an independent organization licensing technology and manufacturing in our own way and running this business independently.

Cogito, which produces the Specta line of drones, has denied any connection with DJI. In an email, a spokesperson said: SPECTA is a proud independent innovator in the industry and has no relationship with other drone companies.

The Cogito drones first appeared around March, popping up on Amazon pages under the name Specta Air.

Towne, a high school teacher outside of Chicago who runs a YouTube channel and website about drones called Half Chrome, noted the Cogito drones and DJI drones have the same flight time, camera, range and software  completely identical parts, minus the brand name. The devices even use similar radio frequencies, which experts say would be impossible unless the companies shared technology.

He said it was all but impossible for a company to copy a drone like the DJI Air 3, especially a part like the camera, which is incredibly unique and valuable.

What the most likely scenario is DJI is producing these in Malaysia and licensing them to Cogito, he said.

The Specta drones also share the same radio frequency as both DJI and Anzu Robotics drones, according to FCC records. No other company is on those frequencies besides California-based Skycatch, a geospatial data software company that has a formal partnership with DJI.

A former DJI employee who spoke on background to discuss a sensitive topic said Cogito being on the same frequency would be impossible without using technology from the Chinese company itself. Specifically, that technology is called OcuSync, a proprietary radio system produced by DJI.

Ian Lewis, a longtime drone and tech enthusiast who runs a YouTube channel called Mads Tech, said he and other investigators believe the Specta drones have unique chipsets that are patented by DJI and cannot be sourced anywhere else.

We have never seen these chipsets in any other product, Lewis said. You cant just replicate it. Its almost impossible.

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By Michelle Nichols

UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) -Life for North Koreans is a "daily struggle devoid of hope," the United Nations human rights chief told a Security Council meeting on Wednesday that Russia and China unsuccessfully tried to block.

The 15-member council last met on the issue in August 2023, which was its first public discussion since 2017.

The U.N. Security Council is charged with maintaining international peace and security. China and Russia argue that the Geneva-based U.N. Human Rights Council is the appropriate venue for discussions on human rights.

"It is not possible to divorce the state of human rights in the DPRK from considerations around peace and security in the peninsula, including increasing militarization on the part of the DPRK," U.N. human rights chief Volker Turk told the council.

North Korea, formally known as the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), has repeatedly rejected accusations of abuses and blames sanctions for its dire humanitarian situation.

It has been under U.N. sanctions over its ballistic missile and nuclear programs since 2006, but there are aid exemptions. Russia's U.N. Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia again called on Wednesday for a review of sanctions.

Gumhyok Kim - who grew up in an elite North Korean family - was visibly emotional as he described learning from the internet about rights abuses in his country while at university in Beijing. He had wanted to become a North Korean diplomat.

"The country that supposedly had nothing to envy in the world was nowhere to be seen. In its place were political prison camps with death from starvation, public executions and people risking their lives to escape," he told the Security Council.

"I realized the Kim family that I had to wanted to serve were not my heroes, but dictators denying ... people's freedom just to build their own power, wealth and honor," he said.

He began working with other North Korean students on a plan to go home and share what they had learned in the hope it could drive change. But North Korean officials discovered their plans and Kim fled to South Korea from Beijing in 2011.

'AGGRAVATE CONFRONTATION'

China and Russia had tried to block the Security Council meeting by calling a procedural vote. The meeting had been requested by the United States, Japan, South Korea and Britain.

"Pushing the council to intervene in the human rights issue of the DPRK will not help to ease tensions on the Korean peninsula. On the contrary, it will intensify antagonism and aggravate confrontation," China's deputy U.N. Ambassador Geng Shuang told the council.

A minimum nine votes were needed to hold the meeting and China, Russia, the U.S., Britain and France could not wield their vetoes. Twelve members voted for the meeting on Wednesday, Russia and China voted against and Mozambique abstained.

U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Linda Thomas-Greenfield said human rights abuses in North Korea were "inextricably linked" to Pyongyang's threats to international peace and security.

"The regime relies on forced labor and the exploitation of DPRK workers both domestically and overseas to develop weapons of mass destruction. What is shameful here is the obvious efforts by China and Russia to protect the DPRK," she said.

North Korea did not address the Security Council. But Venezuela's deputy U.N. Ambassador Joaquin Alberto Perez Ayestaran read a statement to reporters on behalf of a group of 18 states, including North Korea, China and Russia.

He said the Security Council should not be discussing human rights and commended North Korea for its efforts "in many fields, including on human rights, with the purpose of ensuring the wellbeing and prosperity of its people."

Between 2014 and 2017 the Security Council held annual public meetings on North Korean abuses. It held annual formal meetings behind closed doors on the issue between 2020-2022.

A landmark 2014 U.N. report concluded that North Korean security chiefs - and possibly leader Kim Jong Un himself - should face justice for overseeing a state-controlled system of Nazi-style atrocities.

(Reporting by Michelle Nichols; Editing by Hugh Lawson and Deepa Babington)
By Lucy Craymer and Stella Qiu

WELLINGTON (Reuters) -New Zealand and China on Thursday signed agreements on trade and climate change, with human rights also on the agenda, during a trip by Premier Li Qiang, the highest level Chinese visit to New Zealand in seven years.

New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon is seeking to balance rights and security concerns with the lucrative trade opportunities offered by Beijing, the country's largest export partner.

"The Premier and I discussed our significant economic relationship, which benefits people in both countries with two-way trade in goods worth nearly NZ$38 billion ($23.43 billion)," Luxon said.

Li was greeted on the lawns of Government House in the capital Wellington by both Luxon and the governor-general and participated in a traditional Indigenous Maori welcome before heading inside for meetings.

"We agreed that it is important to expand cooperation on trade and investment," Li said following the meeting.

"China is ready to be part of New Zealand's endeavour to double the value of exports in next decade."

China will extend visa-free travel to New Zealanders, while New Zealand will support Chinese language teaching and cultural exchanges though its Confucius Institutes in the country, Li added.

TOUGHENED STANCE

Previously a more moderate voice on China, New Zealand's relationship with China has changed since the last time a Chinese premier visited in 2017.

New Zealand has toughened its stance this year, calling out Beijing for hacking the country's parliament and noting the growing threat China poses to security in the Pacific.

"I raised with Premier Li a number of issues that are important to New Zealanders and which speak to our core values, including human rights and foreign interference," Luxon said in a statement.

"New Zealand will continue to engage predictably and consistently with China, including on issues where we disagree, Luxon said.

Luxon said other issues discussed included the disputed South China Sea, where China has become increasingly assertive, China's bid to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership trade bloc and the AUKUS security alliance.

New Zealand, however, has largely avoided trade disputes with Beijing that have until recently impacted neighbouring Australia, where Li heads next in a trip aimed at boosting China's standing in the region.

Chinese-New Zealanders gathered at a central city hotel to greet the premier, holding banners supporting Chinas relationship with New Zealand and waving Chinese flags and beating drums. Others held banners protesting China's treatment of its citizens.

Im just very excited to be here, said Ling Wang, who had travelled two hours from city Palmerston North to greet the premier, having made the same trip in 2017 when Premier Li Keqiang visited.

($1 = 1.6218 New Zealand dollars)

(Reporting by Lucy Craymer and Stella Qiu, Writing by Alasdair Pal; Editing by Sonali Paul and Michael Perry)
PROVIDENCE  After a half hour debate about the "creepy" prospect of allowing people to have their bodies composted, instead of cremated or buried, the Rhode Island House of Representatives approved the practice Tuesday, but the bill still needs to go to the Senate.

The bill, H7212, would allow for people to have their bodies composted, under a set of rules created by the Department of Health. "Green" burials, where un-embalmed bodies are buried by themselves, are already allowed in Rhode Island, as well as burials in caskets (with and without embalming) and cremation.

While the General Assembly is set to adjourn on Thursday, the "natural organic reduction" bill has not been scheduled for a Senate vote.

Rep. Arthur Corvese, D-North Providence, said the issue is "visceral" and that constituents will complain that the legislature took time to consider a bill to allow people to choose how their bodies are dealt with, a trivial matter, compared to more important issues like the Washington Bridge failure, infrastructure problems and the housing crisis, and that it would be divisive.

Other bills heard on Tuesday in the House, on the consent calendar, included a change to allow for the harvesting of blue crabs at night, the renaming of an intersection in West Warwick to "Veterans' Square," to allow Hopkinton to increase the fines for the violation of dog ordinances and to allow people to share the road kill they hit.

"On the other end, the darker side, where I reside, that is where you can't shake the nagging image, the feeling, the part and parcel of continuation of disrespect for life, the continuation of the culture of death and callousness, we see permeating through the country," Corvese said.

Recompose, a Seattle-based company, demonstrates the human composting process. Over 30 days, the body and plant material form nutrient-dense soil.

Rep. Teresa Tanzi, D-South Kingstown, shot back that she was "one of them" and that there was no need to make the issue divisive.

"This is not something that's being thrust upon anyone, this is the way we as individuals will be choosing how we return to the earth," Tanzi said.

Rep. Charlene Lima, D-Cranston, said human remains aren't refuse and should be treated with "respect after death" and that allowing people to choose to be composted was roughly equivalent to treating human remains as trash.

One staunch advocate, Rep. Camille Vella-Wilkinson, D-Warwick, said what's more offensive than allowing bodies to be composted is the state "moving" a burial ground by removing the headstones and then building highways over the graves, noting there is "something beautiful" about composted remains helping a forest grow.

"Talk about a tree of life," she said.

Rep. Barbara Ann Fenton-Fung, D-Cranston, said she thought the prospect "still creeps me out."

Where else is organic natural reduction allowed?

Last year, bill sponsor Rep. Michelle McGaw, D-Portsmouth, said she introduced the bill to start a conversation and this year reintroduced it with a few tweaks requested by the state Department of Health, which supports the bill.

Seven states have legalized the practice: Washington, Colorado, Oregon, New York, Vermont and Nevada. California has legalized it as well, but it will not be allowed to begin until 2027.

What is natural organic reduction?

Natural organic reduction is a nice way of saying a body is quickly decomposed, a process usually aided by high temperatures.

One of the handful of businesses to offer the process, Earth Funeral in Auburn, Washington, started a year ago. Its process takes about 30 days, leaving behind a cubic yard of rich soil and some bones that are ground into powder, just like with cremation, spokeswoman Haley Morris said in 2023.

How do religions view natural organic reduction?

The Catholic Church relaxed its prohibition against cremation in 1963 but also maintained it has an "adverse attitude" toward the practice, favoring burial, while Judaism also requires burial, as does Islam.

"Sky burials," where a body is left in an elevated location exposed to the elements  and scavengers  is a Buddhist practice and a Zoroastrian practice, while cremation is generally a Hindu practice.

Thanks to our subscribers, who help make this coverage possible. If you are not a subscriber, please consider supporting quality local journalism with a Providence Journal subscription. Here's our latest offer.

Reach reporter Wheeler Cowperthwaite at wcowperthwaite@providencejournal.com or follow him on Twitter @WheelerReporter

This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Human composting closer to reality in Rhode Island after House vote
Experts are sounding the alarm on chronic absenteeism and the serious obstacles it represents for U.S. students, but not only do most parents not consider it a high priority, they struggle to specify what it really means.

An NPR/Ipsos poll released this week showed only a third of parents can correctly define chronic absenteeism as missing at least 10 percent of school days  working out to around two a month  and when asked if it is a major concern for students, it ranked below most other issues in education such as gun violence, restrictions on teaching certain topics and teacher salaries.

Advocates say the culture around absences in school has changed and officials have not adequately articulated to parents the dire consequences of what it means to miss class, outside of punitive measures for the family.

I think fundamentally that this is a major communications problem that schools are not really telling parents what it is to be chronically absent. They dont really define it well, and frankly, they dont talk to us about it until there is a major problem in their eyes, so I think that parents are getting a lot of conflicting information said Keri Rodrigues, the president of National Parents Union.

While it is too early for data on the 2023-2024 school year, the Return 2 Learn Tracker from the American Enterprise Institute (AEI) showed chronic absenteeism jumped from 15 percent in 2018, before the pandemic, to 29 percent in 2022.

The Economic Council of Advisors found chronic absenteeism is responsible for up to 27 percent of the declines in math scores post-pandemic and 45 percent of declines in reading.

From the 2021-2022 school year to 2022-2023, there were mixed signs of both improvement and decline in chronic absenteeism across the country, according to a collaborative report from student success organizations. Only two states, North Carolina and Michigan, saw substantial improvements in that time frame.

Im not really that shocked about it, said Nat Malkus, senior fellow and deputy director of the Education Policy Studies at AEI, when asked about parents struggling to define chronic absenteeism.

I think the public should understand whats happening with attendance, but whether they actually know what chronic absenteeism is, I dont think its actually that important, Malkus said. I do think its important that parents understand that that their kids showing up regularly to school is a big deal, and that thats going to continue to be a big deal.

Chronic absenteeism is a relatively new term in education and has only been tracked since right before the pandemic began, but it has quickly gained the attention of top officials due to the ramifications it has on schools and students.

At the end of the 2022-2023 school year, the National Assessment of Education Progress found a four point decline in reading and nine point decline in math test scores for students, compared to scores before the pandemic.

The White House hosted a summit last month focused on chronic absenteeism where the Biden administration announced measures it would be taking to combat the issue such as creating federal grant programs, providing new resources on effective strategies to lower student absences and addressing transportation issues that can affect attendance.

Hedy Chang, founder and executive director of Attendance Works, said the latest numbers indicates chronic absenteeism is slowly declining, but still well above what it was before the pandemic.

When I go to the schools that have really reduced chronic absenteeism, its because theyve really invested in parent engagement and youth engagement, Chang said.

Chang emphasized that environment should be created where if you didnt show up to school, this is what youve missed. If you didnt show up to school, we missed you and your presence and you lost out in this opportunity for connecting in the classroom.

So its that we have to deepen our immediate engagement with kids and families, deepen our relationship building, deepen our connectedness, and make sure that kids and families know that when theyre not in school, they were missed and when theyre not in school, this is what they missed out in terms of opportunities for learning and opportunities for connecting with other kids and adults, she said.

The NPR poll shows when it comes to parents concerns on education, most put chronic absenteeism at the bottom of the list: Only 5 percent see it as a major concern. Making sure young people are prepared for the future comes in first at 40 percent, bullying at 39 percent and gun violence at 31 percent.

Mental health sits at 29 percent, sensitive topics in the classroom get 28 percent and learning loss from the pandemic draws 14 percent.

I think its important to note that on that list are some very basic things that would be incredibly hard for parents to put behind absenteeism, like my children are not being bullied and so forth, Malkus said.

And addressing those other issues is also key to getting students in the classrooms, experts say.

I think that what [schools are] missing is having that communication with parents and saying why its important that your child be in school every single day. This is what theyre missing. This is what theyre at risk of missing, Rodrigues said.

Parents actually report that theyre concerned about whether or not their child is safe, whether theyre mentally safe, whether or not they are being bullied at school, being a major issue, she added. I think its really a question of schools doing a better job of being in communication with parents letting them know that it is important to show up at school every single day and wanting to create that FOMO culture in the building that fear of missing out so that kids want to be there.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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After vilifying one of the city's biggest property owners, Cincinnati city leaders have agreed to "not discriminate" against Vinebrook Homes after a lawsuit against the single-family rental home operator was dismissed.

Those were the terms of a settlement agreement reached earlier this week between Vinebrook and the city of Cincinnati, which sued Vinebrook and its affiliates in January 2023.

The lawsuit alleged Vinebrook  a Dallas-based real estate investment trust with a corporate office in Dayton  violated a previous settlement agreement in a 2021 lawsuit brought by the city.

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The 2021 lawsuit alleged Vinebrook repeatedly violated laws governing landlords in Ohio as well as the city's building, health and safety codes.

The city filed a handful of similar lawsuits last year in what city leaders described as a crackdown on negligent or absentee landlords, most of which are still pending.

We have no tolerance for investors who come into Cincinnati, let properties degrade, and exploit tenants,'' Cincinnati Mayor Aftab Pureval said when the lawsuit against Vinebrook was filed last year.

'We are coming for you': Cincinnati sues Williamsburg Apartments owners

The settlement reached Tuesday dismissed all claims against Vinebrook, which owns and operates 734 single-family rentals in Cincinnati, with prejudice. That means the city cannot refile the same claims against Vinebrook in Hamilton County Common Pleas court.

As part of the settlement, Vinebrook has agreed to adhere to the city's municipal codes and promptly comply with any code enforcement orders issued by the city.

"VineBrook Homes looks forward to working with the City of Cincinnati to continue our long-standing mission of providing safe, clean and functional homes to our residents at affordable prices,'' co-founder Dana Sprong said in a joint press release with the city.

Mayor Aftab Pureval announced the city of Cincinnati had sued the owner of the Williamsburg Apartments in Hartwell during a press last year at City Hall. The lawsuit was one of several filed last year against rental property owners in Cincinnati, including Vinebrook Homes, which recently settled its lawsuit with the city.

Neither Vinebrook nor the city admitted any wrongdoing in the settlement, and both sides have agreed to pursue "a more collaborative, productive relationship,'' according to the press release.

"We are pleased to reach this resolution after productive communication and coordination with the VineBrook team,'' City Manager Sheryl Long said in the press release.

Both sides declined further comment.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: City ordered not to discriminate against landlord in settlement
On June 11, during a meeting with young people, President Salome Zourabichvili addressed a question about the Georgian army, expressing her concern over remarks made by the Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze. She emphasized that labeling the president a traitor in front of the troops constituted an "unprecedented insult to the Georgian army"."When the prime minister dares to call the president a traitor in front of the troops, it is an unprecedented insult to the Georgian army, because this president is its supreme commander-in-chief," Salome Zourabichvili remarked."I want to apologize to them on behalf of the prime minister and assure them that everything will be done to strengthen the Georgian army and uphold the legacy of those who won battles and brought Georgia to this day," the President stated.According to the president, the army requires strengthening, with the United States of America being the primary partner in this endeavor."The army needs to be strengthened, and the main partner in this effort has been and continues to be the USA. If it weren't for the USA, we wouldn't have an army that meets the standards necessary for pursuing Euro-Atlantic integration and NATO membership, which our country now has the opportunity to pursue," said Zourabichvili.The Public Defender of Georgia responded to recent attacks against citizens, including human rights defenders, and urged relevant bodies to investigate these incidents promptly."Today, on June 11, the information was spread about the physical attack on civil activist Zuka Berdzenishvili. The incidents of physical retaliation against citizens are alarming, especially if the reason for the attack is related to their professional activities or expressed opinions. It is necessary for the state to give a strict and appropriate response to each violent incident to prevent such cases from becoming mass organized persecution and violence, and to discourage such actions in society.The Public Defender also emphasizes that defamatory statements made by politicians against the civil sector and human rights defenders create an even more intimidating environment for them and, considering the current context in the country, pose substantial threats of encouraging violence against them.The Public Defender of Georgia calls on investigative bodies to immediately respond to the incidents of physical attacks on citizens and to inform the public about the measures taken," the statement reads.
ASTANA, Kazakhstan, June 12. Kazakhstan and South Korea have signed extensive bilateral memoranda and agreements, Trend reports via the Kazakh president's office.

The signing ceremony of the bilateral documents took place within the framework of the meeting between the President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and the President of Republic of Korea Yoon Suk Yeol.

The following documents were signed by members of the official delegations:

- agreement on cooperation in the field of energy industry development;

- agreement on cooperation in the oil and gas and petrochemical industry;

- memorandum of understanding between the Ministry of Energy of Kazakhstan and the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy of the Republic of Korea on comprehensive cooperation in the field of electric power;

- memorandum between the Ministry of Industry and Construction of Kazakhstan and the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy of the Republic of Korea on comprehensive cooperation in the field of critical minerals and metals;

- memorandum of understanding between the Ministry of National Economy of Kazakhstan and the Ministry of Economy and Finance of the Republic of Korea on cooperation in the field of knowledge exchange and development;

- memorandum of understanding between the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of Kazakhstan and the Ministry of Science and ICT of the Republic of Korea on cooperation in the field of science and technology;

- memorandum of understanding between the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of Kazakhstan and the Korea Forest Service on cooperation in the field of forestry;

- memorandum of understanding between the Agency of the Republic of Kazakhstan for Civil Service Affairs and the Ministry of Personnel Management of the Republic of Korea on cooperation in the field of personnel management in the civil service;

- memorandum of understanding between the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of Population of Kazakhstan and the Ministry of Employment and Labor of the Republic of Korea in the field of employment and labor;

- memorandum of understanding between the Agency of the Republic of Kazakhstan for Regulation and Development of the Financial Market, the Financial Services Commission of the Republic of Korea and the Financial Supervision Service of the Republic of Korea in the field of banking supervision;

- memorandum of understanding between the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of Kazakhstan and the Ministry of Environment of the Republic of Korea on cooperation in accordance with Article 6 of the Paris Agreement.

Meanwhile, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol visited Kazakhstan as part of a working visit to Central Asian countries such as Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan 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.
(COLORADO SPRINGS)  On Tuesday, June 11, the City Council concluded voting on the motion for the Colorado Springs Fire Department (CSFD) to take over medical transport from American Medical Response (AMR), a private company currently responsible for emergency medical services in the city. The motion failed, with four council members for the motion and five against.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Mayor Mobolade hopeful for city run ambulance proposal

During the meeting, several community leaders spoke in favor of the proposal, including Mayor Yemi Mobolade and CSFD Chief Randy Royal, as well as representatives from the Colorado Springs Police Protective Association, the Fire Foundation of Colorado Springs, emergency physicians, and more.

Those arguing for the change emphasized their belief that it would reduce response times for emergency calls and increase quality care for the community.

Curt Crumb, President of Local 5 Colorado Springs Professional Firefighters Union, pointed out that if there was one entity to handle all aspects of transportation, run by firefighters with decades of experience, it would lessen response times and allow proper resources for calls.

Royal said this has been the most scrutinized project he has ever worked on.

Before the vote, city council members expressed concerns about the proposals financial viability. A recent auditors report reviewed the data and indicated that, due to the complexity of the revenue, there was a risk that funding would not support the program. In contrast, AMR covers the cost of its own funding.

After the proposal was voted down, CSFD Chief Royal posted a statement, saying, I am incredibly disappointed to say the Colorado Springs City Council voted against the proposal for an Ambulance Transport Enterprise. This proposal would have been a historic step for our community and would have been the best possible outcome for our community.

He further expressed that he would not give up the fight to bring the responsibility of ambulance transport in-house.

Mayor Mobolade also posted about the decision, saying that he was disappointed by the City Councils choice to vote down the proposal.

I still believe this was the right time to implement this new model that would have improved ambulance response times, lowered costs to users and allowed for more innovative programs, said Mobolade. And I still believe in the excellence of our fire department.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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TOPEKA (KSNT)  City work crews are cleaning up another homeless camp along the Kansas River in Topeka this week in ongoing efforts to enforce a new camping ordinance.

City workers began clearing this homeless camp, located on the levee near the Kansas Avenue bridge on the north side of the river, on June 11. The cleanup operation is being enforced by an ordinance put in place last year which enacts the following restrictions on camping activities in city limits:

No camping within 500 feet of the centerline of any trail

No camping within 50 feet of the centerline of any sidewalk inside city limits

No camping within a levee-critical zone

A rare opportunity: Heartland Motorsports Park goes to auction, some land on no reserve

City of Topeka spokeswoman Rosie Nichols told 27 News workers got started with the latest cleanup operation in the early morning hours on Tuesday, June 11. Rain and muddy elements on the ground in recent days delayed the start of this abatement.

For more homeless issues 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.

Follow Matthew Self on X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/MatthewLeoSelf

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
In the Golden State, we pride ourselves on our future-facing environmental values and our climate leadership. At the same time, nearly 1 million residents, primarily in disadvantaged communities, are without access to clean drinking water, and California cities such as Los Angeles, Long Beach and Fresno are burdened year after year by some of the dirtiest, most polluted air in the nation.

This glaring duality underscores the failure of our current legal framework to ensure the fundamental rights of all Californians to clean air, water and a healthy environment. Its time for a change. Its time for California to enshrine this right into our state constitution.

The inalienable rights of life, liberty, safety and happiness guaranteed in the state constitution are under threat by a climate crisis that negatively impacts the health and well-being of all Californians. From raging wildfires to toxic air pollution and coastal erosion, the consequences of environmental degradation are felt in communities across the state.

Opinion

Low-income communities and communities of color are disproportionately burdened by pollution and environmental hazards, exacerbating existing inequalities. A state constitutional amendment affirming the right to clean air and water and a healthy environment would be a bold step, safeguarding the health and rights of all our residents.

Los Angeles Assemblymember Isaac Bryan is proposing a green amendment to the state constitution. If passed by the Legislature and signed by the governor, voters would decide in November if Californians shall have a right to clean air and water and a healthy environment.

Assembly Constitutional Amendment 16 would provide a legal basis for holding the government and polluters accountable  and empower communities to advocate for their own environmental well-being.

Opposition to the proposed amendment has begun to line up. The California Chamber of Commerce has placed it on its Job Killer list, arguing that existing environmental regulations are sufficient to protect Californians.

The reality is that these regulations are often inadequate, under-enforced and subject to political maneuvering. By enshrining environmental rights in our state constitution, we create a firm foundation upon which future environmental policies and regulations can be built. As history has taught us, we dont have to choose between the environment and the economy.

A healthy environment can lead to a healthy bottom line. By prioritizing environmental protection, we can foster sustainable economic growth that benefits all Californians. Conversely, the climate crisis continues to harm both our public health and our economic health.

California would not be the first state to enact a green amendment to its constitution. Montana, New York and Pennsylvania have already done so. Were not used to following other states when it comes to matters of the climate and environment, but in this case we should.

The legislature should pass ACA 16 and give voters a chance to decide if a healthy environment is a constitutionally guaranteed right. After all, if fishing on public lands and waters is recognized in our constitution as a protected right, shouldnt a healthy environment be as well?

By enacting a green amendment into our constitution, it sends a powerful inter-generational message that environmental protection is a fundamental human right.

It will also help ensure that future generations of Californians inherit a state that is cleaner, healthier and more prosperous than the one we know today. Lets seize this opportunity to protect our planet, our health and our future.

Terry Tamminen and James Strock are former secretaries of the California Environmental Protection Agency. Alan Lloyd, who also contributed to this piece, is also a former secretary of the California EPA.
Ocean Power Technologies, a leading renewable energy company that specializes in wave power technology, recently announced a major clean energy milestone.

In a company news release, OPT revealed that it's nearing 15 megawatt-hours of production from its PowerBuoys, which harvest wave energy to supply reliable power to offshore industries, the defense and security sectors, and scientific research endeavors.

The PB3 PowerBuoy maintains a constant charge from the power of ocean waves and can operate in depths of over 65 feet to nearly 9,900 feet. It also contains an onboard battery pack to store excess electric energy in periods of calm seas, ensuring an uninterrupted power supply.

The PB3 was put to the ultimate test when the powerful Hurricane Irene struck New Jersey in 2011. Despite stormy seas, OPT said it succeeded in its mission to supply power to coastal security networks for a U.S. Navy project.

According to the news release, OPT recently deployed its Next Generation PB off the New Jersey coast, resulting in "materially accelerated average energy production by combining solar, wind, and wave energy production capabilities."

However, the company's clean energy production milestone is based on installations throughout the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, and the Mediterranean and North seas. OPT reported that the energy generation comes from both commercial leases and sales, and clean energy investments from government programs.

Some of its notable customers include ExxonMobil, Chevron, Shell, and the Office of Naval Research.

"These numbers show that non-grid-connected marine energy production is not just for the [research and development] community, but is a commercially available solution," Philipp Stratmann, CEO and president of OPT, said in the news release.

"Charging USVs [unmanned surface vehicle], monitoring the marine environment, including during whale migration season, and supporting the defense and security industry is all possible. We have worked with customers in defense, offshore wind, oil and gas, and general ocean sciences and look forward to announcing more deployments," he continued.

While wave energy is still in its infancy, companies and investors worldwide are showing a growing interest in researching and developing this clean power source.

Some companies are already making waves in the industry, such as Sea Wave Energy Limited, which has been working on a special device that could one day power cities with ocean energy.

Oneka Technologies is even using wave energy to turn ocean water into freshwater, helping to tackle water scarcity in coastal communities in Chile.

The World Economic Forum noted that if fully utilized, wave energy has the potential to meet the entire world's electricity demand. Harnessing the power of the ocean, along with solar, wind, and geothermal energy, could help cool the planet, safeguard communities, create jobs, and ensure a healthier future for everyone.

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TAMPA  The cargo ship captain arrived in New Orleans feeling ill. He got an antibiotic from an urgent care center, then returned to his vessel. By the time he reached Port Tampa Bay early last year, the Myanmar man was barely conscious and had to be carried off in a stretcher.

He was suffering from necrotizing fasciitis or flesh-eating bacteria.

The man, who was in his 40s, was taken to St. Josephs Hospital. He spent months recovering in the Tampa area before heading back to Southeast Asia, said Steve Finnesy, senior chaplain and executive director of the nonprofit Tampa Port Ministries.

Working on cargo ships can be dangerous, and migrant seafarers rarely seek medical care, research says. They work under temporary contracts and some fear that their employers wont hire them for another voyage if they get injured and incur health care expenses.

A new clinic at Port Tampa Bay aims to expand access to treatment for seafarers, many of whom make low wages and come from countries such as the Philippines, India, Indonesia, Russia and Ukraine, according to Finnesy.

The facility will offer preventive care, which means minor health issues can be caught before spiraling into serious, life-threatening problems, said Eric White, a ship inspector for the International Transport Workers Federation, a coalition of trade unions. If the Port Tampa Bay clinic had been in New Orleans, White said he believes the man who contracted flesh-eating bacteria would have fared better.

The University of South Florida College of Nursing in late May opened the clinic at the port. The small, light blue building is tucked away near a shipyard and looming petroleum tanks. Amalie Arenas namesake, Amalie Oil Co., is just down the road.

Port Tampa Bay, Floridas largest port by tonnage and land, is the first port to launch a nurse-managed clinic in the world, according to the university. The port authority renovated the building so medical providers could move in.

Seafarers that might be avoiding going for health care wont have to, Finnesy said. Theyll be able to comfortably go see medical help and not have to worry about any reprisal.

The workers play a pivotal yet often unseen role in the global economy  and at Port Tampa Bay. The port handled 35 million tons of cargo last year and over 3,100 vessels arrived and departed, said Wade Elliot, the port authoritys senior vice president of marketing and business development.

There are nearly 2 million seafarers on internationally trading merchant ships, and the industry carries around 90% of world trade, according to the International Chamber of Shipping, a trade association for shipowners and operators.

The clinic, which has four exam rooms, will also offer care to other port workers, including longshoremen and harbor pilots. They have demanding jobs that often leave little time for health checkups.

Nurse practitioners will staff the facility with initial hours of 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. three days a week. They aim to expand to five days a week by August, said Duellyn Pandis, director of clinical practice at the College of Nursing. Appointments can be booked online and walk-ins are welcome.

Services will include U.S. Department of Transportation and Coast Guard physicals required for certain jobs, urine drug screens, flu and tetanus vaccinations, primary care visits and treatment for pain and communicable diseases.

Basic health evaluations such as blood pressure checks will probably be free, Pandis said. But the clinic will charge patients for prescribing medications, stitching wounds and conducting mandatory physicals. Prices for services can be as low as $60 and are comparable to routine urgent care centers and walk-in clinics, Pandis said.

Amalie Oil Co. executives recently visited the Port Tampa Bay clinic. The company, which blends motor oils and industrial lubricants, is within walking distance of the clinic and works 24/7 five days a week  but sometimes goes six or even seven days.

Logistically, its amazing, Jeff Smith, who heads compliance operations for the company, said of the clinic.

But those who live at sea may benefit the most from the facility.

Many cargo ship workers stay aboard for nine months at a time. Half of those that Finnesy meets are from the Philippines. Boats have basic medical supplies but no doctors, he said. Hazards include the potential of falling on slippery surfaces. Social isolation can cause depression, too, Finnesy said. And infections are a known problem. Pandis, from the College of Nursing, recalled a visit she made to a cargo ship in early 2020 for her private travel medicine practice. A seafarer was stricken with malaria.

The International Labour Organization, a United Nations agency, plans to create a database of seafarer deaths. Tracking is set to begin later this year.

Seafarers get a job on a ship, eventually fly home, rest for a couple of months, then take another contract to return to the ocean. Cargo ship crews usually have up to 25 people, and theyre almost always men, Finnesy said. Their wages are low for the U.S. but considered good in their home countries, he said. An International Labour Organization panel in 2022 adopted a minimum wage of $658 per month for able seafarers. That took effect last year and increased to $666 in January. It will rise to $673 in 2025.

Contracts require that companies pay for seafarers health care, said Finnesy, whose organization visits ships and provides access to portable WiFi hotspots so workers can contact family members. His group also drives those with U.S. visas to Walmart and Brandon Exchange, formerly known as the Brandon Mall, so they can enjoy time away from their vessels and buy supplies like shampoo and toothpaste.

But some seafarers dont seek medical care because they worry about losing future employment, according to research that calls the profession a largely hidden industry. White, of the International Transport Workers Federation, said crew members are terrified of complaining or doing anything that would cost companies even $5. Getting added to a blacklist, however, is typically a myth, he said.

The International Chamber of Shipping didnt immediately provide comment.

Seafarers without U.S. visas, in particular, may be discouraged from accessing health care. They must remain aboard ships. But if they need medical treatment on shore and get permission from the federal government to walk on U.S. soil, companies have to pay for security to escort them, White said.

Finnesy estimated that about 30% of seafarers arriving on cargo ships at the port dont have a visa.

Medical care here in the U.S. is very expensive already, then you add on four or five hours of armed guard service to take them to the doctors office and back, Finnesy said. With the clinic at the port so close to ships, they can probably cut down on much of that expense, he said.

This could make seafarers who lack visas more willing to seek treatment, White said.

Finnesys organization will drive workers from their ships to the clinic.

It just really brings health care to the crew members that may not otherwise be able to access it, he said.
Theres some confusion over the Israeli peace proposal, which President Joe Biden publicized, the U.N. Security Council endorsed, and Hamas has now rejected. First, if Israel proposed it, why has Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declined to endorse it more than faintly? Are there differences between the proposal and Bidens recitation of its terms? Finally, is there anything new about Hamas rejection and counterofferor are the U.S., Egyptian, and Qatari diplomats who have been trying to negotiate a cease-fire and hostage exchange simply disgorging the same arguments over and over and over?

On May 31, Biden gave a speech revealing that Israel had drafted and submitted a comprehensive new proposal  a roadmap to an enduring ceasefire and the release of all hostages. He outlined a three-phase, six-week plan, with very detailed terms and timing on a cease-fire, hostages-for-prisoners exchange, boost in humanitarian aid, reconstruction, and settlement of the ancient Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Hopes fluttered that peace in Gaza might be at hand.

A close reading of the speech should have dashed such hopes. Now Ill be straight with you, Biden said at one point. There are a number of details to negotiate to move from Phase 1 to Phase 2i.e., from the initial pause in fighting to an actual end of the war. Israel, he added, will want to make sure its interests are protected. As for Phase 3 (the political and physical reconstruction of Gaza), no details were set whatsoever.

To the extent that Bidens caveat was reported at all, it was taken as fine print. In fact, it should have been highlighted in italicized boldface. Doing so might have preempted much of the confusion that followedand would have signaled that the roadmap to an enduring ceasefire wasnt quite shovel-ready for a real road.

In some ways, the proposal is a remarkable documentthe most detailed to date, outlining precisely how many Israeli hostages to release for how many Palestinian prisoners, on what timetable, and precisely how far from populated areas (even citing street names) Israeli troops should pull back while moving toward a complete withdrawal.

However, paragraph 15 (of the proposals 18 paragraphs) is where the obstacles come into clear view. Up to this point (paragraphs 114), the terms are pretty straightforward: the temporary cessation of fighting, the return of Gazas residents to their homes, the partial pullback of Israeli troops. Then comes the beginning of Phase 2, or as paragraph 15 dictates:

Announce restoration of a sustainable calm (cessation of military operations and hostilities permanently) and its commencement prior to the exchange of [all remaining] hostages and prisoners between the two sides  and the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Gaza strip. [Italics added.]

When I first read this, I was puzzled. Sustainable calm and cessation of military operations and hostilities permanently are not synonymous. Then I realized: The parentheses surrounding the latter phrase indicated a disagreement over the terms. Israel agreed to a sustainable calma phrase coined by the U.S. negotiator, CIA Director William Burns. Hamas was insisting on an end to all military operations permanently. Burns phrase was an attempt to finesse the dispute; Hamas phrase was a dismissal of the effort.

And that is where the dispute lies: Israelis (not just Netanyahu but many Israeli officials, even some opposition leaders, and a large segment of the population) want to resume the fighting after the deal is complete, should Hamas remain in control of Gaza. Hamas wants the war to end, period, in the hopes that it can remain in control.

Shortly after Bidens speech, Netanyahu said that Israels war aim remains the destruction of Hamas military and governing capabilities. Some took this as a pushback against Bidens reading of the proposal. But it was not. Israels version (sustainable calm) was not inconsistent with its long-term goal of destroying Hamas. Bidens speech (if you read the whole thing) indicated that a number of details still needed to be negotiated in order to move from Phase 1 to Phase 2 and that Israel will want to make sure its interests are protected.

Biden did depart from the text in one crucial way: He urged the combatants to go ahead with Phase 1 even before the rest of the deal is fully negotiated. David Horovitz of the Times of Israel summed it up succinctly back on June 2: Bidens game plan, he wrote, seemed to be Lets get phase one moving, with a hope that the start of the process could itself yield further benefits.

This hope is, in fact, worked into the proposal. Paragraph 14 notes that the results of Phase 1the temporary cessation of military operations by both sides, the stepped-up humanitarian aid, and the partial withdrawal of forceswill continue  so long as the negotiations on the conditions for implementing Stage 2 of the agreement are ongoing.

In other words, the cease-fire and the rest of it will continue for as long as negotiations go on. Even if the negotiations arent resolved, the cease-fire will continue. This is Bidens goal, above all: to end the war.

The problemand this has been the problem all alongis that the wars combatants, Israel and Hamas, dont want it to end, not on these terms anyway. Neither wants to proceed with Phase 1 until the details of Phases 2 and 3 are worked out. And since they disagree fundamentally on those details (Israel wants the right to resume the war after the hostages are released, Hamas wants a permanent end to the war), Stage 1 is not likely to get underway.

In other words, the two sides have irreconcilable interests and aims. Conflicting interests and aims are what often start warsand keep them going, even after much brutality has ensued. (See also Russia versus Ukraine.) Until those disputes are somehow settled, clever efforts at finessing (e.g., Burns sustainable calm) wont work.

As I noted in a column last month, the war will end in one of three ways: One side will win; both sides, exhausted, will come to the table; or a peace will be imposed on one or both sides by outside powers.

The problem at the moment is that the leaders of both Israel and Hamas think they have a chance of winning. In a speech leaked to the Wall Street Journal, Yahya Sinwar, the leader of Hamas, said the deaths of Palestinian civilians work to Hamas favorthey are necessary sacrifices to defeating Israel, if not on the battlefield, then in the arena of world opinion. On the other side of the conflict, the more Israel alienates world opinion, the more many Israelis are determined to ignore that opinion. (If they cant sympathize with us after the attack of Oct. 7, this line of thinking goes, then screw em. The recent pro-Palestinian protests in the U.S. and Canada that included masked radicals waving Hezbollah flags and chanting Hamas slogans probably harden both Sinwar and the Israelis in their views.)

Many have hoped Qatar would pressure Hamas into accepting various peace proposals that have been advanced the past few months. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has also racked up millions of flight-miles trying to convince Qatari leaders, as well as those of Egypt and Saudi Arabia, to apply this pressure. The hope seemed plausible. The tiny Gulf emirate is an official major non-NATO ally to the United States, mainly because it is host to the largest U.S. military base in the Middle Eastbut it is also one of Hamas main suppliers, the host of several Hamas political leaders, and the intermediary between Hamas and the rest of the world. (The last role was long ago approved by U.S. Central Command and other Westerners, who wanted some way of communicating with Hamas.)

Nonetheless, the Qataris have been unable to exert that much leverageperhaps, in part, because they agree with Hamas position in the talks and with its hostility to Israel.

In any case, there is an Israeli peace proposal; Bidens description of it is accurate; and Hamas has rejected it. But the dispute is not over language. Its over the interests and aims the language reflects. Until those are somehow reconciledthrough military defeat or diplomatic pressurethe war is likely to go on.
Kyiv Oblast police warn residents of the region about dangerous items discovered after another Russian attack that took place on the night of 11-12 June.

Source: Kyiv Oblast National Police on Facebook

Details: It is stated that on the morning of 12 June, while documenting Russian war crimes, the police discovered elements of deadly cluster submunitions.

Explosive objects represent an immediate threat to human life as they can detonate with minimal movement.

As a result, the police advise that residents avoid visiting the targeted area and notify appropriate services immediately if strange items are discovered: touching or moving such objects is strictly prohibited.

It is recommended that specialists conduct examinations and investigations for the presence of such elements.

Previously: According to Telegram channels, cluster munition pieces may be spread across the land in Vasylkiv, Hlevakha, and other adjacent towns in Kyiv Oblast.

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CNN host Abby Phillip showed a supercut comparing Fox News reactions to the guilty verdicts in the trials for Donald Trump and Hunter Biden. (Watch the video below.)

Phillip noted that the right-wing channels talking heads seem to be singing from a completely different tune after Tuesdays conviction of the presidents son on gun charges. Then she offered the split-screen footage as an example:

Fox News host Jeanine Pirro decried the eroding faith in the criminal justice system after the Trump conviction and then is shown celebrating Hunter Bidens conviction as proof that no ones above the law.

Laura Ingraham said the Trump hush money decision made her feel like shes in a banana republic but claimed Hunter Bidens outcome meant that the family was finally held accountable for its sleazy, corrupt conduct.

Jesse Watters went hyperbolic in declaring the Republic has been wounded when Trump got nailed on all 34 counts for concealing hush money payments to Stormy Daniels. But Tuesdays determination that Hunter Biden was guilty of withholding his drug addiction on a gun-purchase form gave me a little boost of confidence in the American legal system, Watters said.

The shift in tone caught the attention of the CNN host.

You cant claim the justice system is dead because of a single conviction while also praising it for another, Phillip said. And you cant claim President Biden is weaponizing the Justice Department to go after his enemies when that same department just convicted his own son.

Related...
Senators on Tuesday questioned the Coast Guards top official about the services cooperation with a congressional inquiry into a report that detailed decades of sexual assaults at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy.

Lawmakers on the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Subcommittee on Investigations blasted what they viewed as lackluster efforts by the service to provide documents related to a secret report known as Operation Fouled Anchor, which outlined years of sexual assault and inaction by at least 43 academy staff from the late 1980s to 2006.

Ranking Member Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wisc., during the hearing flipped through a stack of documents provided by the service to show numerous pages containing significant redactions. The Coast Guard also did not provide documents that were attached to some emails, including an initial draft of the Operation Fouled Anchor report, Johnson said.

This is not full transparency, Johnson said. I think it requires subpoenas, requires a hearing like this to lay this all out. I wish it didnt have to be so.

Coast Guard Commandant Adm. Linda Fagan said the service provided the committee with a total of roughly 18,000 pages of redacted documents after reviewing nearly two million. Lawmakers and investigators could review the documents in full during an in camera review, Fagan said, which entails a private screening of evidence.

Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., chairman of the panel, questioned the Coast Guards motives for refusing to send documents it deemed too sensitive  or ultimately embarrassing.

Blumenthal also criticized what he called a last-minute document dump by the Coast Guard on Monday before the hearing, when the service provided about 1,000 pages, some of which were redundant and filed in an order that made analysis difficult, he said.

The 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 and predecessors, Blumenthal said.

It amounts to a cover-up, Blumenthal later added.

The hearing came just a day after the academys sexual assault response coordinator resigned from her position, alleging she was directed to withhold documents that victims used to report sexual assaults.

Shannon Norenberg wrote in a blog post that those documents would have otherwise been processed, leading to a spike in reported sexual assaults that would eventually draw the ire of Congress.

To date, nearly 40 whistleblowers have come forward in the scandal, Blumenthal said.

Fagan, meanwhile, defended the services cooperation in the congressional inquiry and called the effort to provide documents to the panel an unprecedented undertaking. The furnished documents, along with their redactions, had been approved by Coast Guard attorneys, she said.

This is not the cover up, Fagan said. I am committed to providing documents in good faith. ... I continue to work with my own lawyers and the [Department of Homeland Security] to ensure that we are providing documents consistent with executive branch and constitutional process.

Fagan, who is the first uniformed woman to lead a branch of military, said she is also fully cooperating with the Coast Guards inspector general investigation.

Following the initial reports of Operation Fouled Anchor, Fagan in July 2023 announced a 90-day accountability and transparency review for the Coast Guards sexual assault and harassment policies. Later in December, Fagan introduced 33 recommendations to address policy issues that would help stifle sexual assault in the service.

A Government Accountability Office report found that by February 2024 the Coast Guard had only completed five of the 33 recommendations.

All 33 recommendations are in various forms of implementation, Fagan said.
'The Coast Guard Lied to Me': Official in Charge of Sexual Assault Response at Coast Guard Academy Resigns

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
ASTANA, Kazakhstan, June 12. Kazakhstan's KazMunayGas (KMG), Kazakhstan's national oil and gas company, and South Korea's Hyundai Engineering Company have signed a cooperation agreement focusing on collaboration in the oil, gas, and petrochemical industries, Trend reports.

According to the Kazakh company, the agreement was signed by the Chairman of the Management Board of KazMunayGas, Askhat Khassenov, and Hyundai Engineering President, Hyeon-Sung Hong.

The partnership will involve technology exchange, specialist training, and the transfer of technical knowledge and expertise.

Hyundai Engineering is renowned for its extensive experience as an engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) contractor, offering comprehensive solutions throughout the project lifecycle. Their services include feasibility studies, conceptual design, Front End Engineering Design (FEED), procurement, construction, and commissioning.

Additionally, the company provides top-tier project management, maintenance, operation, technical audits, and facility refurbishment in the oil, gas, petrochemical, fertilizer, and renewable energy sectors.
Colgay Pride president arrested for drug possession and weapon charges in Columbus

The president of Colgay Pride was arrested Wednesday morning on multiple drug charges after a months-long investigation, according to the Columbus Police Department.

According to Colgay Prides website, the group does ...advocate for pride, health, and equality for LGBT individuals and allies in Columbus and the surrounding Chattahoochee Valley area.

Police said that Jeremy Hobbs, 49, was taken into custody and charged with:

 Possession of Cocaine with Intent to Distribute

 Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute

 Possession of VGCSA Schedule I Drug with Intent to Distribute

 Possession of Drug-Related Objects

 Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Crime

Police said a search warrant was executed Wednesday morning at a residence in the 4200 block of 16th Ave. leading to the seizure of 5.4 grams of crack cocaine, 20.7 grams of methamphetamine, 23.8 grams of liquid GHB and an .38 revolver.

Hobbs is expected to appear in Recorders Court Thursday at 9 a.m., according to police.
Columbia Law Review article critical of Israel sparks battle between student editors and their board  highlighting fragility of academic freedom

Editors of Columbia Law Review, a prominent journal run by students from the prestigious universitys law school, say the publications board of directors urged them on June 2, 2024, to refrain from publishing an article critical of Israel.

After the students published the article online the following day, the board, which includes Columbia Law School faculty members and alumni, had the law reviews website taken down.

The board soon relented and allowed the website back online on June 6, including the article in question. But it issued a statement accusing the student editors of failing to properly review the article prior to publication.

The student editors have rejected the assertions in the boards statement and say theyre on strike  refraining from some of their review duties  to protest the boards attempts to stifle them.

This dispute has garnered far less attention than the campus protests at Columbia University and hundreds of other schools that expressed solidarity with the Palestinian people and objected to school ties to Israels military operations in Gaza in spring 2024.

But as a scholar of academic freedom and free speech in higher education, I believe the controversy is worth paying attention to. If, as the students allege, there was inappropriate interference with the scholarly independence of one of the nations most influential law reviews, this incident has few, if any, precedents.

Sharing research in law reviews

Student-run law reviews, which are an important way that legal scholars share their research about legal issues with law professors, judges, attorneys and other readers, typically have high levels of editorial independence.

If the students allegations are accurate, the board violated widely accepted standards of academic freedom in higher education that scholars see as critical. Academic freedom is part of what makes colleges and universities places where new views and knowledge can be shared and where accepted ideas can be questioned.

Most law schools have at least one journal with law review in its name. Some also have other journals that focus on specific legal topics such as education, civil rights or international issues.

Law reviews and other law school journals are usually published by the law school, despite typically being run by students. This means that student editors select the articles for publication and are responsible for the editing process.

Serving on a law review is considered an honor and can be valuable to law students in obtaining clerkships with judges and jobs with law firms or other employers.

Law reviews are a main way for sharing research on legal topics by authors such as law and other professors, attorneys and judges. The importance of law reviews to legal research means student editors of law reviews should not be improperly pressured in deciding to accept or reject articles.

The Columbia Law Reviews structure is unusual: It operates as an independent nonprofit, separate from the law school, and is overseen by a board of directors.

More typically, law reviews are part of a law school.

Like other law reviews, however, Columbias is run by students who attend its law school. Its also typical in that its articles, written in a formal and academic style, are intended for legal experts rather than the general public. This particular article has instances of rarely used words such as instantiation and multifarious.

Presenting a new legal framework

Rabea Eghbariah, a Palestinian human rights lawyer with a law degree from an Israeli university who is enrolled in a doctoral legal degree program at Harvard Law School, wrote the article at the center of this dispute.

In it, he proposes a new legal framework to describe Israels displacement and abuses of the Palestinian people as a crime against humanity comparable to apartheid or genocide.

Harvard Law Review previously commissioned and edited a similar article before deciding not to publish it.

Fears of backlash for publishing an article critical of Israel prompted the belated rejection, according to a statement from 25 student editors at Harvard released in November 2023.

Its not uncommon for law reviews to publish articles making potentially controversial claims. For example, the previous issue of the Columbia Law Review included an article in which the author argued that prisoners made to perform work as a part of their sentences were being treated like enslaved people.

Centrality of academic freedom

Campus unrest over the Israel-Hamas conflict has raised questions about the rights of students to express their personal views when they participate in campus protests.

Likewise, this dispute raises questions about the academic freedom of student editors and their rights to free speech.

The First Amendment clearly protects free-speech rights for students who attend public colleges and universities. But it applies only to those institutions.

Technically, private institutions  such as Columbia University and the associated nonprofit that oversees the law reviews finances but has, until now, not sought to intervene in decisions on articles  arent bound by the First Amendment.

Still, most of them consider freedom of speech and academic freedom as central to their mission.

Academic freedom relies on customs and practices to protect the rights of faculty members to exercise independence in their teaching, research and other job responsibilities without inappropriate interference from their employers.

Its not completely clear that students enjoy the same kinds of academic freedom.

Nearly all colleges and universities accept, however, that students should have the right to express their own views and have access to all sorts of arguments.

The students who edit Columbia Law Review probably have limited legal options to challenge the boards actions. Instead, as shown by their decision to strike, the students likely must use strategies besides legal action to establish that the board violated academic freedom principles.

The board may also respond with additional statements of its own to defend its actions.

Overriding institutional commitments

The Columbia Law Review dispute can be seen as part of ongoing tensions on campuses across the nation over the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

One argument is that bias against Palestinians has overridden institutional commitments to free speech and academic freedom. An opposing view is that pro-Palestinian protests or other efforts, such as this law review article that refers to Israels government as a regime, are too often marked by antisemitism.

Either way, its now clear that these tensions arent limited to campus protests. Ultimately, I believe, they could directly challenge institutional commitments to academic freedom and independence in scholarly inquiry.

This article is republished from The Conversation, a nonprofit, independent news organization bringing you facts and analysis to help you make sense of our complex world.

It was written by: Neal H. Hutchens, University of Kentucky.

Read more:



Neal H. Hutchens works for the University of Kentucky.
CHICAGO  Comcast is warning customers on the citys North and South sides that they may be without service.

Around 1 p.m. Wednesday, Comcast Illinois representatives took to social media to explain that some customers would be without service due to a construction crew doing work on behalf of another entity inadvertently damaging our network lines.

Comcast told customers to check the Xfinity app for updates.

Restoration efforts could last through the Wednesday evening.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WGN-TV.
Fox News host Jesse Watters and House Oversight and Accountability Committee Chair James Comer (R-Ky.) on Tuesday suggested Hunter Biden is taking the fall for President Biden after being convicted of federal felony gun charges in Delaware.

Watters, speaking with Comer on Tuesday night, asked the Kentucky Republican if the presidents son is taking the fall to save his dad.

Well, it sure looks like that, Comer said on Fox Newss Jesse Watters Primetime.

So, until the Department of Justice takes the real serious crimes into account, justice has not been served, Comer continued. If I listed the top 10 crimes the presidents son committed, lying on a gun application wouldve even make the cut.

Hunter Biden was found guilty on Tuesday of three felony counts over lying on federal forms about his drug use to illegally purchase a gun, making him the first child of a sitting president to be criminally convicted.

President Biden reaffirmed last week he would not pardon his son and would accept the outcome of the case.

You know what? He [Hunter Biden] looks like someone thats got a pardon in his back pocket, Comer said, despite Bidens remarks. People asked today, Will the President pardon Hunter Biden? Well theyre not finished, the Department of Justice isnt finished with him.

Comer pointed to Hunter Bidens upcoming tax evasion trial in California, along with the criminal referral sent by Comer and two other GOP leaders asking the DOJ to bring criminal charges against the presidents son and brother, James Biden.

The 65-page referral accuses Hunter and James Biden of lying to lawmakers during conversations with investigators and withholding information as part of what appears to be a conscious, calculated effort to insulate Joe Biden from the duly authorized impeachment inquiry.

The matters in question, however, have limited connection to the president.

As I said many times before in the past week, were not finished. The criminal referrals are just the beginning of the accountability phase, Comer said. Weve gone through great lengths and weve been very transparent and substantive with the American people about the money this familys taken.

Comer has been a central figure in the House GOP impeachment inquiry into President Biden. The inquiry, however, has struggled solidify evidence that the Biden family engaged in corruption and that Biden was involved in his sons foreign business deals while serving as vice president.

The Hill reached out to the White House for further comment.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.


The Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks is hosting a Wild Foods Cook-Off Competition this June, encouraging people to forage, eat locally, and center invasive plant and animal species on their menus, KSNT reported.

The last iteration of the event attracted between 250 and 300 attendees. The organizers said that they expect as many people "if not more, especially as we're planning more in advance this time around."

The event's popularity has led the department to make it biannual, with one cook-off in the summer and one in the fall.

The fact that so many people seem interested in cooking with locally sourced food and invasive species is a good thing for the community and for our planet.

Contestants at the Cook-Off will compete in six categories: Wild Game, Wild Fish, Wild Plants, Wild Mushrooms, Wild Sweets, and Wild Invasive/Nuisance Species.

Many of the foods in those categories (excluding Wild Game and Wild Fish) can be foraged. Foraging for food can be a great way to get out in nature, save money on groceries, and reduce your reliance on the food industry, which creates a lot of planet-overheating air pollution by transporting food.

According to some calculations, a pound of transported food creates 0.18 pounds of carbon pollution  and the more distance the food travels, the more air pollution it creates. Foraging in your backyard creates no air pollution and is delicious and rewarding to boot.

Cooking with invasive and/or nuisance species is similarly rewarding and helpful to the environment. Invasive species can wreak havoc on an ecosystem, outcompeting native species for food and resources and upsetting the delicate balance. This has consequences for all the plants and animals in the area.

Which sustainable cooking change are you most interested in trying?

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Many ecologists recommend eating more invasive species to help control their populations. The invasive/nuisance species in Kansas that qualify for use in the Cook-Off include garlic mustard, white perch, Asian carp, autumn olive, and more.

"What I really love is how this event and events like it bring a very eclectic mix of community members together," Amy Bousman, KDWP's KC District Education Specialist, told KSNT. "You get your very traditional hunters who are rural-based, urban community members who care about sustainability and the planet and you get a very diverse mix between those extremes."

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Community remembers 49 lives lost 8 years after Pulse nightclub shooting

Central Florida is remembering the 49 people who died eight years after the Pulse nightclub shooting.

>>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<<

Dozens of people were also hurt in the shooting early in the morning on June 12, 2016.

People will be honoring the victims and survivors on Wednesday in several ways.

Read: Man in critical condition after sedan lodges under dump truck, catches fire on I-95

The day marking the Pulse nightclub attack is a difficult and emotional time for people around Central Florida.

The City of Orlando has organized multiple events to honor and remember those 49 lives lost.

CLICK HERE to read the full story by WFTV.

Read: Attorneys for Jared Bridegans ex-wife file motion to keep certain evidence away from persecutors

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Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live.
WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR)  Competing bills in the Senate seek to protect in vitro fertilization, but in very different ways. Democrats and Republicans are at an impasse on how to pass legislation on the issue.

On Capitol Hill, many lawmakers have a personal story about IVF.

Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) often shares how she used IVF to have her own children.

IVF is the reason that Ive gotten to experience the chaos and beauty, the stress and the joy that is motherhood, Duckworth said.

Meanwhile, Senator Rick Scott (R-Fla.) explained how his daughter is currently using IVF.

I have a daughter going through IVF right now. As a grandparent you hope that shes successful, Scott said.

However, Republican and Democratic lawmakers have opposing views about what to do when it comes to protecting IVF access at the federal level.

Senate Democrats are teeing up a Thursday vote on their Right to IVF Bill, which would establish a federal right for patients to access IVF and for doctors to provide it.

Tomorrow will be a chance for senators on both sides to show their support for strengthening treatments that help people start families, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said.

Though, its not expected to get enough Republican support to pass. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) says he believes the Democratic bill infringes on religious freedoms and goes too far.

This isnt about IVF. This is about their continuing war on people of faith, their continuing war on anybody who wont go along with their abortion agenda, Hawley said.

Senator Rick Scott accuses Democrats of playing political games with the issue.

They want to have a message, oh Republicans are against something. Republicans arent against IVF. I dont know one Republican in the country against IVF, Scott said.

Some Republican lawmakers are pushing their own IVF bill that would block federal Medicaid funding in any state that bans IVF.

But Senator Patty Murray (D-Wash.) argues that bill would still allow states to put burdensome restrictions on IVF.

That bill is nothing more than a PR stunt, providing cover for Republicans to keep somehow pretending theyre going to control womens bodies, Murray said.

Senator Tim Kaine (D-Va.) says Republicans who want to protect IVF access should join the Democratic effort instead.

If they support IVF, theyll vote for the bill thats on the floor today, Kaine said.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News.
Rep. Troy Nehls, R-Texas, on Wednesday, accused Army officials of political attacks against him following questions about his continued wear of a Combat Infantry Badge that was revoked by military leaders last year.

In a letter to Army Human Resources Command, Nehls, an Army veteran, asked for an investigation into the handling of the award, given to infantrymen involved in ground combat operations. The 56-year-old served 21 years in the Army Reserve, deploying to both Iraq and Afghanistan.

Nehls was awarded his CIB while serving as a civil affairs officer with the 101st Airborne Division in Afghanistan in 2008. Last month, CBS News reported the award was revoked in 2023 after an Army review determined he was not eligible for the badge.

According to the CBS News investigation, Nehls Combat Infantry Badge was revoked because he was serving as a civil affairs officer and not as an infantryman at the time of his award.

But Nehls has continued to wear a CIB lapel pin while tending to business around Capitol Hill and on campaign stops, prompting scrutiny from a host of media outlets.

In Wednesdays letter, Nehls accused Army officials of ignoring his previous requests on the issue and insisted that he was eligible for the combat badge.

I further believe this is a concerted effort to discredit my military service and continued service to the American people as a member of Congress, he wrote. He also urged officials to get it right in regards to revising his military records and reauthorizing the award.

Nehls did not respond to requests for comment on the letter or the badge.

In an interview with NOTUS this week, Nehls said that his service records show a designation as an infantry soldier and suggested that he was being targeted by Army leaders because he is Mr. MAGA guy.

Earlier this year, the Office of Congressional Ethics announced it would look into reports that Nehls improperly used campaign funds for personal use, unrelated to the combat badge controversy.

Nehls congressional website says he earned two Bronze Star medals during his time in the service, but CBS News also reported that only one of those awards is in his official military record. He retired at the rank of major in 2009.
ASTANA, Kazakhstan, June 12. South Korean companies are planning to start the next stage in the development of the automotive industry - the creation of a cluster for the production of automotive components in Kazakhstan, President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said, Trend reports.

He spoke during the Kazakh-Korean business forum held in Kazakhstan.

According to the president, a good basis for mutually beneficial industrial cooperation between the two countries has been created in the automobile industry.

"Hyundai automobiles are already successfully assembled in Kazakhstan. Next year, we expect the launch of a full-cycle KIA plant with an investment of $200 million. It should be noted that the company, for the first time in its history, invested in the construction of the plant outside of South Korea, choosing our country for this purpose," Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said.

Meanwhile, there are over 700 joint ventures in Kazakhstan with South Korean capital involved at the moment.

"Numerous Korean companies are investing in Kazakhstan, aiding in job creation and industrial growth. Moreover, they're actively involved in modernizing Kazakhstan's national infrastructure through projects like the construction of the Big Almaty Ring Road (BARR) and a combined-cycle power plant," the president of Kazakhstan added.
3rd Congressional District Rep. John R. Curtis, left, shakes hands with 1st District Rep. Blake Moore, R-Utah, after filing to run for the U.S. Senate at the Capitol in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, Jan. 3, 2024. On Wednesday, June 12, 2024, Moore endorsed Curtis for the open U.S. Senate seat. | Kristin Murphy, Deseret News

On Wednesday, Utah Congressman Blake Moore endorsed fellow Rep. John Curtis for the open U.S. Senate seat.

Curtis, who was elected in 2017 to represent Utahs 3rd Congressional District, is in the running to replace Sen. Mitt Romney against fellow Utah Republicans Trent Staggs, Jason Walton and Brad Wilson.

I often ask for, and usually take, John Curtis advice, but not this time. He told me early in my time in politics to avoid endorsing other candidates because its usually just trading political favors. But I feel compelled to share my opinion on why I am supporting John Curtis in this Senate race, free of any request from John or his team in any way, Moore said in a press release.

I trust John Curtis completely  he is honest, doesnt pander, knows what is best for Utah, and leads in a conservative and productive manner! Ive worked with him closely for almost four years and he has shown me how to get things done in a toxic and unproductive environment, he added. His wife Sue always comes first, hes a proud dad and grandfather, and he treats his role in Congress like a mayor. Mayors solve problems and their first priority is always their constituents, so it is no wonder he is so popular in Utahs 3rd District. John will be ready on Day 1 with a team in place and legislation and relationships already created.

In the coming decade, Utah will desperately need a voice in the U.S. Senate and there is no better voice than John Curtis. He will continue to represent Utah with the same honest, productive approach and further elevate our great states reputation.

Moore, who serves as Utahs 1st District representative, announced his endorsement just shy of two weeks before the June 25 Republican primary election. Moore himself is also fighting for reelection in his district, and if he beats out his Republican challenger Paul Miller in the GOP primary, he will then go against Democrat Bill Campbell and Libertarian Daniel Cottam in the general election.

In response to Moores endorsement, Curtis said in a statement given to the Deseret News:

Im honored by Blakes support. In the Senate, Im eager to work with him on key issues that impact Utah  standing against Chinese influence, protecting our lands, securing the border, and opposing the Biden administrations spending.
Admiral Linda Fagan, the Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard, testified in Congress on July 13, 2023 about the investigation known as Operation Fouled Anchor. (C-SPAN)

As the Coast Guard seeks to grapple with the fallout of a once-hidden investigation about decades-old sexual assault allegations, federal lawmakers argued that the controversy is not a thing of the past as they questioned Commandant Linda Fagan on Tuesday about Operation Fouled Anchor and the current handling of misconduct reports.

At a hearing, U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., said that the Coast Guard faces a present, ongoing and persistent problem related to claims of sexual harassment and assault. He has said the subcommittee he leads has heard from dozens of whistleblowers and victims since it started its investigation last year.

And in recent weeks, there has been growing attention as more survivors who attended the Coast Guard Academy in New London as well as those who are enlisted have been sharing their stories online.

That includes an anonymous Facebook post sharing an email that was scrubbed from Coast Guard servers about sexual misconduct claims. Survivors also filmed videos recounting their stories as part of a series through the Sexual Assault Prevention, Response, and Recovery Program. An April Coast Guard memo questioned whether posting them would exacerbate the narrative that the Coast Guard is in a sexual assault crisis now.

Blumenthal and other senators on the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations pressed Fagan about why the Coast Guard has been slow to produce documents requested by Congress and if it has held any leaders accountable who were involved in concealing the six-year investigation into sexual assaults at the Coast Guard Academy.

Nearly six months ago, when we began this investigation, we were assured that the problem of sexual assault in the Coast Guard was a thing of the past  that mishandling of problems of sexual assault and harassment were over, and that cooperation would be full and complete. Unfortunately, we have found the opposite to be true, Blumenthal said.

These statements reflect a broken culture  not at some point in the past, but again, right now in the present, he continued. I hope that we can begin a different era in the Coast Guard. But it will take facing the truth and disclosing it.

Fagans testimony got heightened attention with the damning new allegations from whistleblower Shannon Norenberg, a Coast Guard Academy official who said she is resigning from her role as sexual assault response coordinator and claimed the service used me to lie to victims about Fouled Anchor.

The hearing room was packed with attendees, including a number of survivors and whistleblowers like Norenberg. At one point in the hearing, Blumenthal noted her attendance and asked if Fagan would like to address her. Fagan called Norenberg a great employee and noted her work as an advocate for sexual assault survivors.

Fagan said she had not read Norenbergs detailed statement about her time working at the Coast Guard Academy but was aware of reports about it. She said Norenbergs allegations will be included in the ongoing investigation conducted by the Office of the Inspector General at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

Blumenthal pressed Fagan about the part of Norenbergs account that Fouled Anchor victims were not offered CG-6095 forms, which is 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. Fagan said when the DHS investigation wraps up, she will make sure any victims have access to veterans benefits.

When asked about whether she has taken certain actions in the wake of Fouled Anchor, Fagan repeatedly pointed to the open inspector generals investigation.

She said they have worked to implement changes within the Coast Guard, like a safe-to-report policy for victims who fear punishment for minor, unrelated infractions while reporting sexual misconduct. And she said she has met with a number of victims.

I cannot change the past, but as the commandant today, I reaffirm to our workforce past and present that I remain steadfast in my commitment to making lasting cultural change, Fagan said.

Fagan first testified before Congress nearly a year ago after CNN broke the news of Fouled Anchor. In that hearing last July, Fagan apologized before a different Senate committee about the Coast Guards inaction and failure to disclose to Congress.

Adm. Karl Schultz served as head of the Coast Guard from 2018 to 2022, during which time Fouled Anchor was underway and concluded. Fagan took the helm in June 2022. She previously told Congress she knew of the investigation generally but became aware of the totality of the investigation only when CNN started asking questions.

At Tuesdays hearing, Fagan gave a more detailed answer with dates. She testified she first learned of Fouled Anchor in the fall of 2018 when senior leaders were briefed. She said she was aware of the investigation in general terms at that time but testified she did not know the full extent of the number of victims until the summer of 2023.

Fagan, who reports to Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, said she has discussed Fouled Anchor with him on a few occasions. The Department of Homeland Security oversees the Coast Guard, while other military branches report to the Department of Defense.

When asked if she knew who made the decision to withhold Fouled Anchor, Fagan said she was unsure. She gave the same answer when asked if her predecessor, Schultz, made the call to not disclose the report to Congress when it concluded in 2020.

The reality is we did not disclose, she said.

Members said they have been unsatisfied about the Coast Guards response to requests for documents, which became a major point of contention during the hearing. They noted the document dump of hundreds of records sent to them a day before the hearing. And they raised issues about redactions in many of the records.

In an interview before the hearing, Blumenthal said he was likely to ask Fagan to come back to testify because of the continuing discovery of relevant information in these documents that theyve delayed disclosing.

Fagan said her team has been working to locate all of the documents and produce them to Congress. Blumenthal and Ranking Member Ron Johnson, R-Wis., countered that they have not received them all and many are redacted or duplicates.

This is not full transparency, Johnson said, claiming that Fagan was using the open investigation as an excuse when answering questions. I view this as a coverup.

Fagan pushed back on that assessment, saying, This is not a coverup. Im committed to providing documents in good faith.

Lawmakers also questioned Fagan on whether the Coast Guard has taken any actions regarding survivors who have faced retaliation for reporting allegations or leadership who played a role in keeping Operation Fouled Anchor hidden. She said she is waiting on the conclusion of the inspector generals investigation, which she added will provide insights into whether non-criminal misconduct occurred or not.

Fagan said she was not aware of any officer who was guilty of retaliation. And when asked if there is enough information already available to reprimand those who hid Fouled Anchor, she responded, At this point, I dont have any direct evidence of misconduct.

That prompted an incredulous response from Blumenthal, Really?

We failed to disclose the Fouled Anchor report to Congress. That was a mistake, Fagan said. I cant go back and change that. I remain committed to moving the organization ahead.

The Connecticut Mirror/Connecticut Public Radio federal policy reporter position is made possible, in part, by funding from the Robert and Margaret Patricelli Family Foundation.

Connecticut Mirror is a content partner of States Newsroom. Read the original version here.

The post Connecticuts Blumenthal: Coast Guard sex assault reports are persistent issue appeared first on Rhode Island Current.
North Carolina House Speaker Tim Moore (Photo: NCGA video stream)

On Tuesday, North Carolina House Republicans voted in favor of a controversial bill that would restrict mask wearing in public, crack down on protesters, and change the states campaign finance laws. The House voted 69-43, sending the measure titled Unmasking Mobs and Criminals to the governors desk.

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 and voted on today, 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.

Still, some Democrats on the House floor complained that the bill does not offer enough legal protection for mask wearers.

This bill makes it possible for those who do choose to mask for health reasons to be discriminated against and harassed by making it possible for anyone, and I mean anyone, to ask somebody to remove their mask, almost for any reason, said Rep. Sarah Crawford, D-Wake.

The bill moved quickly through the Rules Committee earlier in the afternoon and then was sent to the House floor for a vote.

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.

The legislation would increase criminal penalties for those who commit crimes while wearing a mask in public. It comes in the wake of protests that 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.

Earlier in the day, advocates spoke out against the fast-moving piece of legislation.

Jovita Lee, policy director of Advance Carolina, said the bill targets the fundamental right to protest.

My ability to enter a city bus and stand or be able to sit behind the driver rather than in the back is a direct result of the power of protest. My ability to cast a ballot and not have to pay a poll tax or complete illiteracy test is rooted in the power of protest. My ability to walk into a restaurant or store and utilize the front entrance is rooted in the power of protest. My very being as a Black woman in this current state in this country at this time is rooted in the power of protest. Its a power that they are trying to eliminate, said Lee outside the legislature Tuesday morning.

The bill also contains a provision that would significantly change campaign finance laws, which Republicans have said will level the playing field.

Veteran political watchdog Bob Hall said this aspect of the bill amounts to legalizing a money laundering scheme.

Governor Cooper will now decide whether to sign or veto HB 237.

For more on the mask and campaign finance bill read this and this.

The post Controversial anti-masking, campaign finance bill heads to governors desk appeared first on NC Newsline.
New controversial state policy reduces regulations on pollutant spill reporting: 'It is going to be detrimental to the health of the community'

A new Kansas policy is loosening pollutant spill reporting rules  at the environment's expense.

What's happening?

Kansas just changed its rules for reporting pollutant spills. Now, small spills no longer need to be reported to state environmental regulators, according to NPR.

Previously, companies had to alert the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) about spills of any size. But under the new policy, only spills above certain thresholds require reporting.

For example, oil spills under 25 gallons or liquid fertilizer spills under 100 gallons can now fly under the radar  unless they impact state waters or happen repeatedly.

Why is this new rule harmful?

While the KDHE says this aligns Kansas with federal standards and neighboring states' rules, some residents worry it favors industry over community wellbeing.

"What they've done is best for the corporations, not for the communities," one neighborhood leader in Wichita, where many recently learned they live above a 2.9-mile contaminated groundwater plume, told NPR.

"It is going to be detrimental to the health of the community," they added.

Even if small spills go unreported, companies are still technically required to clean them up. But without oversight, experts say the pursuit of profits could trump environmental cleanup.

The change stems from a 2021 state law directing KDHE to set minimum reporting levels. Agricultural industry groups, who later gave input on the specific thresholds, supported the legislation as reducing "confusion" and excessive reporting of low-risk spills.

What's being done to reverse this rule?

KDHE expects the new rules to reduce spill reports by 1025%. But those frustrated by the policy change want to ensure all spills get addressed, not swept under the rug.

Make your voice heard by contacting your state legislators. Share how you feel about prioritizing industry interests over public transparency and environmental safety.

Support community groups working to hold polluters accountable and get neighborhoods the cleanup help they need. Donate, volunteer, or spread the word to raise awareness.

Most importantly, keep an eye on your local environment. Notice any suspicious substances in your soil or waterways? Don't hesitate to alert authorities. Your vigilance can help catch unreported spills that threaten your community's health.

Together, we can demand that policymakers put people and the planet over polluter convenience. Small spills can add up to big problems  and Kansans deserve to know what's happening in their own backyards.

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President Joe Bidens wobbly re-election campaign might have 99 problems, but a group of savvy women championing the Equal Rights Amendment could prove to be a giant one nobody expected.

Third-party candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr., already a thorn in Bidens side, has decided to make the ERA a campaign issue.

The document was ratified by the necessary 38th state, Virginia, in January 2020, after a five-decade struggle beginning in 1972, when Congress proposed the amendment. Biden has repeatedly lavished praise on the ERA but as president he has refused to order the United States Archivist to publish it in the Federal Register, which would give it the force of law.

Seeking to capitalize on Bidens reluctance, Kennedy told The Daily Beast: The constitution provides a process for its amendment. Those conditions have been fulfilled. The Biden administration should respect the constitution and publish the amendment in the federal register. The amendment has the support of the majority of the American people, and my support as well. [If elected president] I will direct the archivist to publish.

RFK Jr.s declaration comes as welcome news to ERA activists led by the nonprofit advocacy group Equal Means Equal (EME), which is mobilizing in three battleground statesMichigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsinto pressure Biden to tell Archivist Colleen Shogan to publish.

The unconstitutional governance by the Biden administration is being challenged, and rightfully so, said EME President Kamala Lopez, who founded the organization in 2009. This is very good news for our democracy, and it means that Biden needs to publish right away or he will jeopardize his ability to win the election.

Fringe candidates Cornel West, Marianne Williamson and Jill Stein have also promised to publish the amendment, but polls indicate it is Kennedy who could pick up double-digit support in some battleground states, possibly draining votes from Biden where the 81-year-old president is locked in a knifes-edge contest against convicted felon Donald Trump, the presumptive Republican nominee.

We need this thing published before the election, because we have no leverage after that, Lopez said. It takes one three-minute phone call from President Biden to do so. And the fact that hes not doing it really means that we need to withhold our vote from this president until he agrees to do so.

Longtime Democratic strategist James Carville, doubtless speaking for many Biden supporters, condemned the tactic of withholding votes from the president.

Its a really stupid position to say that when youre running against someone I would consider a traitor and a criminal, if you dont do what we want, then well stay home, Carville told The Daily Beast. Its childish. And this idea of election-year blackmail is, on its face, reprehensible.

Carville added: The country can survive without an Equal Rights Amendment. But it cant survive Donald Trump.

EME Vice President Natalie White countered: We would love to turn our campaign into Thank you, Joe Biden, for publishing the amendment. But until he publishes, we dont believe his lip service. We need to make sure that Biden fulfills the promises that he made to women, which is why we went out and voted for him in 2020.

Women march in Washington in support of the Equal Rights Amendment, in August 1977. Circa Images

The text of the ERA, barely modified since it was first written by womens suffrage activists a century ago, reads as follows: Section 1: Equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of sex. Section 2: The Congress shall have the power to enforce, by appropriate legislation, the provisions of this article. Section 3: This amendment shall take effect two years after the date of ratification.

Lopez notes that while Biden recently asserted that it is long past time that we heed the will of the American people and make this amendment the law of the land, there is little substantive difference between the Biden administration and former president Trump.

Indeed, the Biden Justice Department has kept the policy of Trump attorney general William Barrs Office of Legal Counsel which argued, just before the Virginia legislature voted to ratify the ERA four-and-a-half years ago, that the amendment is illegitimate because the ratification process busted a constitutionally debatable deadline imposed by Congress in the 1970s.

While five states voted during the last 50 years to revoke their ratifications, a previous archivist, David Ferriero, declared in October 2012 that any proposed Amendment becomes part of the Constitution as soon as it is ratified by three-fourths of the states[and federal law] also states that my certification of the legal sufficiency of ratification documents is final and conclusive, and that a later rescission of a states ratification is not accepted as valid.

Lopez said: If we cant get this president, who talks up and down about this stuff, to put his money where his mouth is and make a three-minute phone call, then we are already living in a failed American experiment.

Former Wisconsin senator Russ Feingold, now president of the American Constitution Society, said hes baffled by the Biden White Houses adherence to the Trump DOJs position.

Its bizarre, said Feingold, who has lobbied top White House advisers to discard the Trump policy. There is no reason not to reverse it. It is not a legitimate opinion. And the archivist really has no right to not move forward. The archivists role is merely ministerial. There is no suggestion in the constitution that the executive branch has any right to do anything other than acknowledge that there are 38 states ratifying and it is now in the constitution.

Feingold disagrees with EMEs pressure tactics, but adds: I would think that the last thing the Biden administration would want is to be accused of having killed this amendment and not letting it go through when it seems to have met the basic requirements that the founders intended.

And while there would be predictable legal challenges from rightwing groups and Republican attorneys general, the president telling the archivist to publish would be the ultimate political no brainer, Feingold said.

In Congress, Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and Rep. Cori Bush (D-MO) have been gathering co-sponsors for a joint resolution urging the Archivist to publish.

Despite repeated requests, spokespeople for both the Biden campaign and the White House declined to offer comment. Lopez said that since Bidens inauguration on Jan. 20, 2021, White House and DOJ officials, as well as the presidents campaign, have rebuffed efforts to engage.

Lopezs pro-ERA colleague, Washington attorney Nicole V. Bates of the womens advocacy group Shattering Glass, managed to get four meetings about the ERA with staffers of the White House counsels office from January to September of 2022.

In those meetings and written communications, the White House was less than forthcoming, Bates said.

We were repeatedly told that they could not discuss the ERA as it was the subject of litigation. The very litigation where the Trump administration fought against the ERA, and the Biden administration continued the Trump fight, despite Bidens public statements of support for the ERAa reference to the Biden administration repeatedly deploying DOJ attorneys to oppose ERA advocates in federal court.

Batess efforts to meet Jennifer Klein, executive director of the White House Gender Policy Council, were also unavailing, as was her Freedom of Information Act request for email communications concerning Biden DOJ policy opposing publication of the amendment.

Its been a complete ghosting, she said.

Protesters call for the passage of the Equal Rights Amendment at federal court in Washington in September 2022. Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images

Legal scholars including Drexel University Law Professor David S. Cohen argue that the ERA would not only ensure equal treatment for categories of people beyond womenincluding LGBTQ+ communitiesbut it could also effectively reverse the U.S. Supreme Courts 2022 Dobbs v. Jackson ruling that overturned the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision that affirmed a privacy right to abortion.

The argument would be that the Equal Rights Amendment is a strong statement about equality based on sex, and if youre banning reproductive health care that women get but not any reproductive health care that men get, thats discrimination based on sex, Cohen said.

He added a caveat, however: Any constitutional amendment would be subject to the interpretation of the Supreme Court, and the current justices of the Supreme Court certainly are not very hospitable to any claims around reproductive rights.

In a soon-to-be-published article in The Ohio Northern University Law Review, EMEs top attorney, Wendy Murphy, draws an implicit parallel between the way in which the American political establishment viewed the suffragettes of a century ago, especially the ERA co-author Alice Paul, and the reception accorded to todays ERA activists.

Paul and her cohort were effective in getting women the right to vote in 1920, Murphy suggests, precisely because they were, as a Southern congressman put it, annoying and persistent and troublesome and being just like the sand that gets into your eyes when the wind blows.

Thus the current controversy over the ERA is likely to become yet another troublesome irritation for the White House and the Biden campaign.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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Tens of millions of people across the European Union had the opportunity to go to the polls between June 6-9 to exercise their democratic right and decide which 720 MEPs would make up the European Parliament's 2024-2029 legislative term.

While some countries, such as Belgium, Luxembourg, and Malta, recorded high voter turnout, others did not.

According to European Parliament provisional results published this afternoon, the following Member States recorded the most eligible voters skip election day.

Croatia  21%

Croatia saw exceptionally low voter turnout levels, setting a new record lower than Slovakia's in 2019. Only one in five eligible Croatian voters cast their ballots, choosing 21 MEPs over the weekend. The coastal European country recorded 21% voter turnout  well under half the European Union national average of almost 51%  and saw nearly 10% less voters turning up on election day than in 2019.

Apart from the major parties, the centre-right Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) party gained two additional seats in the election, securing a majority with 34.6% of support. Meanwhile, the Social Democratic Party of Croatia (SDP) coalition gained 25% voter support and four seats.

Lithuania  28%

Only 28% of eligible Lithuanians, just over one in four, went to the polls on Sunday. This is lower than in 2014 and 2019 when respective voter turnouts were 47% and 54%.

There were 11 European Parliament seats up for grabs in the Eastern European country, with the Lithuanian Christian Democrats (TS-LKD) received the lions share of support (21%) and snatching three seats while the centre-left Social Democratic Party (LSDP) trailed behind with 18% of votes and only securing two MEP spots.

Bulgaria  31%

Bulgarias voter turnout figures have taken a successive nosedive over the last four European parliamentary elections, sliding from a strong 38% in 2009  almost on par with the then 43% European average  to a meagre 31% in 2024. There were 17 MEP seats up for grabs at this election, but turnout was apathetic.

Despite being one of the five European Union countries where voting is mandatory by law, Bulgaria still experiences a decline in turnout.

Constituents also cast their ballots in a sixth National Assembly election in three years over the weekend. The conservative populist Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria (GERB) secured five seats, while the remainder were distributed among a variety of parties and independent candidates.
SUMNER COUNTY, Tenn. (WKRN)  The Court of Criminal Appeals of Tennessee has revoked the recent bond filed for Lindsey Lowe, a Sumner County woman who killed her newborn twins by suffocation in 2011.

Lowe was re-released from custody once she posted a $75,000 on Friday, June 7, after the court restored her murder 2013 conviction. The court has ordered her to immediately be taken into custody of the Sumner County Sheriffs Office and held without bond.

Court reinstates double murder conviction for woman who killed newborn twins

Lindsey Lowe 2024 (Courtesy: Sumner County Sheriffs Office)

In October 2022, a Sumner County Judge granted a new trial for Lowe after her attorney argued she had poor legal representation at her first trial and at least one juror was biased against her. She was released on her own recognizance under the condition she stayed with her parents.

The Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals determined there was no biased juror and Lowes conviction was reinstated.

State asks to revoke bond of Sumner County woman who killed newborn twins in 2011

In a new filing on Monday, Lowes attorney wrote that the states motion was tardy and they repeatedly missed opportunities to challenge her bond over the past week.

Lowe has already served nine years of a 56-year sentence. According to testimony at trial, Lowe hid her pregnancy and killed her newborn twins hours after giving birth to them on a toilet at her parents home in Sumner County in September of 2011. She was arrested two months later.

Lowe was booked into the Sumner County jail Wednesday morning.

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Travelers and airline crew members at Los Angeles International Airport in May. Increases in COVID-19 cases have the attention of doctors and health officials as the summer travel season begins. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)

Californias COVID-19 numbers are on the rise thanks in part to new subvariants, suggesting an earlier-than-normal start to the summer season.

The percentage of COVID tests coming back with positive results in the state rose to 5.3% for the week that ended June 3, up from 2.2% the month before.

The numbers are still relatively low  last summers peak positive test rate was 13.1%  but the increases have the attention of doctors and health officials as the summer travel season begins.

Numbers are definitely going up, said Dr. Elizabeth Hudson, regional chief of infectious disease at Kaiser Permanente Southern California. Among Kaisers 4.8 million Southern California members, the increase in COVID-19 is mostly among non-hospitalized people.

The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health reported an average of 106 COVID cases for the week ending June 2. Thats up from 67 cases a day for the week that ended May 12.

We have seen this happen over the last 4 years. We know we tend to see another wave around this time, Hudson said. This one started a little bit earlier, so it may crest a little earlier, and oftentimes we dont see those hospitalized cases until a little further in.

COVID levels also are rising in wastewater. In Los Angeles County, sewage levels were at 16% of the winter peak for the week that ended May 25, up from 8% for the week that ended May 4. In Santa Clara County  the Bay Areas most populous county  COVID levels in wastewater are considered high from San Jose to Palo Alto. There also is a notable rise in samples in San Franciscos sewage.

Across California, COVID in wastewater entered the high level for the week that ended June 1, the first time since February.

New subvariants are increasingly making a mark nationwide. For the two-week period that ended Friday, 55% of estimated COVID specimens in the U.S. were of the FLiRT variants  up from 28.6% a month earlier. Another upstart, LB.1, is estimated to make up 14.9% of specimens nationwide, up from 6.7% last month.

The parent of the FLiRT and LB.1 subvariants, the winter dominant strain JN.1 , now accounts for an estimated 3.1% of strains nationwide. LB.1 is similar to the FLiRT subvariants  known officially as KP.1.1,KP. 2 and KP.3  and none are very different from JN.1, said Dr. Peter Chin-Hong, an infectious diseases specialist at UC San Francisco.

Theyre different enough so that theyre increasing and theyre probably exploiting vulnerabilities, and theyre very transmissible, but not so different from JN.1 that they pose a higher risk of severe disease, Chin-Hong said.

Still, doctors remain concerned about the risk of serious illness and death among seniors and immunocompromised people  especially those who havent received an updated vaccine since September . More than 44,000 COVID deaths have been reported since October; by contrast, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Preventions weekly flu surveillance report estimates 24,000 flu deaths during the same time.

Read more: Despite its 'nothingburger' reputation, COVID-19 remains deadlier than the flu

One report published in March by the CDC, which looked at adults with immunocompromising conditions, found that only 18% had received an updated COVID-19 vaccine since September.

The CDC urges everyone 6 months and older to get vaccinated with the updated shot, and for those 65 and older, two shots  as long as four months have passed since their first.

But with only 36% of Californias seniors having received any COVID shots since September, doctors say its important the remaining population 65 and older get one shot now.

A number of racial and ethnic groups have started to see even lower vaccination rates among seniors. In California, only 31.6% of Black seniors, 29.9% of Asian American seniors and 22.8% of Latino seniors have received an updated COVID-19 vaccination.

Senior vaccination rates also vary by region  below the statewide average in much of Southern California, and highest in the San Francisco Bay Area. Los Angeles County reports 30.8% of its seniors with an updated vaccination; in San Diego County, 38.6%; Orange County, 34.2%; Riverside County, 28.1%; San Bernardino County, 26.3%; Ventura County, 37.4%; and Santa Barbara County, 40.4%.

The percentage is about 46% in Santa Clara County, more than 50% in San Francisco County and nearly 60% in Marin County.

So many people havent even gotten one shot. How about just even making sure that happens? Chin-Hong said of seniors. Everybody over 65 should probably get a shot before the new one comes out in the fall.

If a senior got a COVID vaccination now, there would still be enough time to get this falls upcoming formulation around Halloween, which is a good time to get vaccinated to protect against the winter rise in COVID infections, Chin-Hong said.

For those who are more vulnerable, I would certainly recommend getting either that first shot or that second, Hudson said.

Chin-Hong said the patients he has seen hospitalized for COVID have not had an updated shot in the last year.

Read more: New COVID subvariants are rising: How bad will California get hit this summer?

There continues to be good data demonstrating the vaccines effectiveness, even though the last version was designed against the XBB.1.5 subvariant, which was supplanted by JN.1 in the winter .

In a report to a U.S. Food and Drug Administration advisory committee last week, CDC epidemiologist Ruth Link-Gelles said Septembers vaccine brought increased protection against symptomatic illness as well as COVID-associated hospitalizations and emergency-room and urgent care visits, compared with those who didnt get an updated shot.

But scientists also have observed weakening immunity over time  no surprise, given the same phenomenon has been seen in prior COVID vaccines. As before, the most durable protection afforded by the new vaccine guarded against critical illness, Link-Gelles said.

The latest vaccine provides protection against JN.1, although perhaps less than if someone is exposed to an XBB subvariant , Link-Gelles said.

The FDAs Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee last week voted unanimously to recommend that this autumns updated COVID vaccine formula be designed against JN.1 rather than FLiRT or another descendant of JN.1.

Gambling on one of the later descendants like FLiRT might make for a bad match if another descendant overtakes that one. But sticking with a shot that guards against the parent strain may ensure a better match this winter.

COVID vaccination still really does provide really good protection against severe disease and against folks ending up in the hospital, Hudson said. But COVID is very, very new to us as a species, still, and just by nature of what coronaviruses do, they tend to mutate quickly. So its not something that would be unexpected to see that with time, the protection that you would get via that COVID vaccine would tend to wane a bit.

One promising development that still is not available is getting a flu and COVID vaccine in one shot. That probably wont happen until autumn 2025, but its unveiling could be a game-changer that could improve COVID vaccination rates. An estimated 22.5% of adults nationwide reported receiving the latest COVID vaccine, according to survey data reported to the CDC, compared with an estimated 48.5% for the flu.

If you can get two things with one needle, Im all for that, Chin-Hong said.

The Moderna version of the combined flu-and-COVID shot was actually more effective than getting COVID and flu shots separately, Hudson said. Other manufacturers are expected to develop combined flu-and-COVID shots as well.

Read more: Signs of rising COVID in California as new FLiRT subvariants dominate

The L.A. County Department of Public Health reported a small increase in new COVID hospital admissions  an average of 19.6 a day, up from 16.9 a day about three weeks ago. Nine percent of hospitalized patients are in intensive care, but deaths remain relatively low and stable, with an average of one daily death, the agency said.

Previously, the mid-year COVID rise in cases and hospitalizations in L.A. County began in early July  in 2021 and 2023  but in early May in 2022.

With traveling and gatherings increasing during summer, protection from COVID-19 infection remains important as a new group of variants has begun to circulate nationwide, the Public Health Department said. Summer plans can easily be disrupted by COVID-19 illness and increased transmission continues to pose more risk for the elderly.

Besides getting up to date on vaccinations, officials suggest commonsense steps to reduce the risk of spreading disease and getting sick: having sick people stay home and washing hands often, especially before eating and after sneezing or coughing. Testing for COVID is important to help limit spread of the illness, and can also help people know when they should ask for anti-COVID medicine such as Paxlovid , which can reduce the risk of severe illness or death among higher-risk people.

People with COVID who are contagious should stay home, and if they need to be around others, should wear a mask. Those who want to reduce the risk of getting infected can wear a mask in indoor public settings and crowded areas.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
ASTANA, Kazakhstan, June 12. The South Korean Doosan Enerbility company intends to implement projects for the construction of gas-fired power plants in the Turkestan and Atyrau regions of Kazakhstan, Trend reports via the Kazakh president's office.

This was stated by the President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, speaking at the Kazakh-Korean Business Forum in Astana.

"In the context of the global energy transition, the expansion of cooperation in the field of green energy is becoming increasingly relevant. Today, Kazakhstan's significant renewable energy potential attracts the attention of many global players. We hope for a systematic expansion of cooperation with South Korean companies in this direction, from the exchange of experience to the implementation of specific projects and technology transfer," the president said.

At the same time, he noted an interest in the development of traditional energy sources.

"We are also interested in the development of traditional energy sources. Therefore, we welcome the plans of Doosan Enerbility to build gas-fired power plants in the Turkestan and Atyrau regions," Tokayev added.

Meanwhile, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol visited Kazakhstan as part of a working visit to Central Asian countries such as Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, 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.
Shauna Murphy, left, and Alesia Smith, right, will be leading Cincinnati Public Schools after Iranetta Wright's departure. Murphy and Smith have worked in the district for years prior to these interim appointments.

Cincinnati Public Schools Board member Ben Lindy recently explained the "drive-by" selection process for the new interim superintendent for the district. Facing budget cuts and an abrupt resignation of the past superintendent, the school board chose the do-as-I-say-not-what-I-do process and selected a superintendent without doing their due diligence, of using informed data.

I understand that time was an issue but delaying the selection a few days to make sure the right decision was made is what the board was elected to do. Lindy is right to be disenchanted with the current leadership of the board who allowed this quick selection process to occur.

I am a huge supporter of hiring from within the current talent pool, but it is not enough to just have been professionally raised here; you must possess skills that allow you to work for all stakeholders and with six bargaining unions. The only way to be sure of this would have been to take a day or two and allow the process of hiring to work. By shortcutting this process, you have now added an additional burden to these two individuals by having people question if they have the skills needed to help the CPS ship sail.

I would encourage the entire leadership of the Cincinnati Public Schools to remember what brought you to teaching. Many of you were called to teach, called to improve the community through your teaching and most came to impact the next generation of young citizens. I truly believe if you hold on to what brought you here tight enough and fight for it, you can continue to make the right choices as you move up the administrative ladder and run the business of teaching.

Gary Favors, Avondale

Democrats attack against Sonza desperate and pathetic

The recent Democrat attack against Orlando Sonza might be the laziest, most out of touch political attack I have seen in years. Somehow, they've concocted a way to go after a West Point graduate and former Army infantry officer for taking a position that allows him to help his fellow veterans. What could be more pathetic than that?

Sonza is a military veteran, earned his master's degree in taxation from the University of Cincinnati and a law degree from Georgetown Law  but Democrats want you to believe he cant walk and chew gum at the same time. Sonza is a tireless and tough individual who absolutely is capable of running for public office while holding a job of great importance.

Unfortunately, Id expect nothing less than this kind of underhanded narrative from do-nothing Democrats in Hamilton County. Unfortunately, anything to deflect from the unbelievable failures of Democrats in Washington is good enough for them.

A true public servant always seeks new opportunities to give back to the community. Joining the Veterans Service Commission board is simply the latest example of him doing just that. I am confident that many veterans will be better off for his service.

Alex Triantafilou, Chairman, Ohio Republican Party

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: CPS leaders would do good to remember what brought them to teaching
Crime Reports: Abilene man says girlfriend stabbed him with pin

Editors Note: The following arrest and incident reports were supplied by the Abilene Police Department. All information below comes from reports made by responding officers, and all suspects are considered not guilty unless determined otherwise in a court of law.

Incidents

4300 block of N 7th Street  Assault Family Violence

A report was taken for assault family violence.

1800 block of S Clack Street  Assault

A report for assault was taken in south Abilene.

2300 block of S 33rd Street  Theft of Property

A theft report was taken in south Abilene.

1000 block of Chriswood Drive  Misappropriation of Fiduciary Property

A victim reported a suspect misapplied funds given to him for construction work.

500 block of N Judge Ely Boulevard  Assault Family Violence

A victim reported his girlfriend stabbed him with a pin twice.

1300 block of Pecan Street  Criminal Mischief

A victim reported they saw an unknown person by their car and noticed their tire had been punctured.

2300 block of Bishop Road  Burglary of Habitation

Boots worth $400 were reported stolen.

500 block of S 18th Street  Theft of Motor Vehicles

A south Abilene business reported an unknown suspect took an $800 gate.

2200 block of Huckleberry Lane  Theft of Property

Tools worth $6,000 were reported stolen.

Arrests

Charley Phillips  Warrant

Jose Villarreal  Failure to Comply Sex Offender Duty to Register

Evan Walser  Warrant

Samuel Fernandez  Warrant

Audrey Spells  Public Intoxication

Kathleen Turner  Public Intoxication

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Haiti welcomed a new government on Wednesday, completing the final step in a new political transition that many are hoping will bring a reprieve to the countrys ongoing gang-fueled crisis and pave the way for long-overdue general elections.

A new cabinet of ministers was presented by newly selected Prime Minister Garry Conille at a ceremony. Conille this week finalized his government after days of negotiations with members of the transitional presidential council. Conille, 58, a former regional director with UNICEF, the United Nations child welfare agency, managed to reduce the cabinet from 18 ministers to 14 by combining some ministries.

Like former Prime Minister Ariel Henry, who was forced to resign by the United States to pave the way for a transition amid gang attacks that erupted on Feb. 29, Conille will keep for himself the portfolio of interior minister. In Haiti, the interior ministry is responsible for issuing passports and staging elections.

Most of the members of Conilles new cabinet are unknowns or relative newcomers to Haitian politics. Most of their names, however, were put forward by the sectors represented on the nine-member presidential council, where seven members have voting rights and two serve as observers. Still, there are some notable names among them. They include Carlos Hercule, the new minister of justice; Dominique Dupuy, the minister of foreign affairs and Haitians Living Abroad, and Ketleen Florestal, the minister of finance and planning.

Hercule, a lawyer, formerly headed the Port-au-Prince bar association. In his role he will need to rebuild the justice system that today is wrestling with the escape of more than 4,000 inmates after armed groups raided the countrys two largest prisons in early March. There is also the thorny issue of the investigation into the assassination of President Jovenel Moise. More than 50 people, including the presidents widow, have been indicted and Hercule will face pressure to continue to pursue the case.

The justice ministry has also been intimately involved in the negotiations with the government of Kenya over the deployment of the Multinational Security Support mission to help the countrys beleaguered police take on powerful gangs.

Dominique Dupuy, Haitis former ambassador to UNESCO, has been named Haitis foreign minister.

Dupuy was Haitis ambassador to UNESCO and had been previously named as one of the seven members of the presidential council by a political party coalition led by former prime minister and foreign minister Claude Joseph. She resigned, citing threats to her life. She will be charged with not only overseeing Haitis foreign policy but cleaning up a ministry saddled with corruption allegations in some of its foreign embassies.

A Columbia University graduate, Florestal is an economist who began her career as a law intern and briefly served as chief of staff in Haitis justice ministry in the early 1990s. She replaces finance minister Michel Patrick Boisvert, who served as interim prime minister after Henrys resignation Florestal has worked on the Haiti portfolio at the three leading international lending institutions including the World Bank, the Inter-American Development Bank and the International Monetary Fund. Florestal holds a masters degree from Columbia University in economic policy management and a masters from Johns Hopkins University in applied economics.

The new government faces a host of challenges, from restarting the economy to addressing the ongoing violence.

Armed violence that escalated nearly four months ago has brought Haiti to the brink of both economic and humanitarian collapse. The most recent numbers from the United Nations show that theres been a 60% increase in the number of people displaced between March and June, from 360,000 to nearly 580,000.

On Wednesday, a court in Kenya postponed for two weeks a hearing on a new lawsuit against the governments efforts to deploy police officers to Haiti. Days earlier three Haitian police officers were killed after armed gang members set a trap, leading to their ambush in the Delmas neighborhood of the capital.

In March, the Caribbean Community, along with the U.S. and other nations, brokered a deal with Haitian political and civic leaders that led to the formation of a nine-member presidential council. Last month, after wading through more that five dozen applications, the council selected Conille, a former U.N. development expert who briefly served as prime minister between 2011 and 2012 , as the new prime minister.

Over the weekend, Conille needed medical care after experiencing breathing problems. He was discharged from a hospital after spending the night. Though he immediately addressed the population in a video about his ordeal, Conille has yet to provide specifics about his priorities or how he intends on governing Haiti.
June 12 (UPI) -- Firefighters in California conducted an unusual rescue when a crow spotted struggling high up in a tree turned out to be entangled in sewing thread.

The Orange County Fire Authority said Truck 56 responded to a report of a bird in distress near the top of a Ladera Ranch tree on Tuesday.

Firefighters ascended the ladder and discovered the distressed crow was entangled in sewing thread.

The Fire Authority shared a video of the rescue on social media.

"We can't translate what the crow is saying, but we do know the kids' cheers mean they are happy the firefighters on Truck 56, located in @RanchoMissionV, rescued a crow that was entangled in sewing thread in a tree in Ladera Ranch today," officials wrote.

We can't translate what the crow is saying, but we do know the kids' cheers mean they are happy the firefighters on Truck 56, located in @RanchoMissionV, rescued a crow that was entangled in sewing thread in a tree in Ladera Ranch today.@OCFirefighters pic.twitter.com/Jy1OQ5csL8 OCFA PIO (@OCFireAuthority) June 11, 2024
Cumberland County man pleads guilty for trying to pay girl $500 for sex: DAs Office

CUMBERLAND COUNTY, Pa. (WHTM) A man pled guilty in Cumberland County court to attempting to pay a girl for sexual acts, according to officials.

William Stum, 62, of Enola, pleaded guilty to a charge of criminal attempt to patronizing prostitution in front of Judge Albert Masland on June 5, the Cumberland County District Attorneys Office said in a news release.

Charges of indecent assault without the consent of another and criminal solicitation were dismissed, online court documents show.

Sentencing for Stum is scheduled to take place Aug. 6.

Pennsylvania State Trooper, passenger injured in Cumberland County crash

A daughter of a person who Stum knew reported to police on Dec. 8 at about 7:20 p.m. that he made sexual comments and tried to get her to have sex with him by offering her $500. This was after she picked him up at his home and drove him to Giant and Planet Fitness. The District Attorneys office says Stum smacked the victim in the buttocks during a workout.

Stum would try to pay her again to have sex with him when the two met up at a pizza place in Mechanicsburg in January, the DAs Office says. The conversation between them was recorded by police who then took Stum into custody afterward.

The investigation was handled by Hampden Township Police and the county DAs Office.

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DA: Suspect in deadly double stabbing in Brockton arrested in Vermont

A man suspected in a double stabbing at home in Brockton that left one person dead and another injured has been arrested in Vermont, authorities announced Wednesday.

Officers responding to a home at 23 Melrose Avenue around 7:40 p.m. Monday learned two people had been stabbed, according to the Plymouth District Attorneys Office.

William Hewlett, 59, was taken to Good Samaritan Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. The second victim, a 61-year-old man, was treated and released from South Shore Hospital.

Following a preliminary investigation, Massachusetts State Police obtained an arrest warrant for 33-year-old Kevin Digregorio, of Randolph, according to the DAs office.

Vermont State Police and the U.S. Marshals Service found Digregorio sleeping in a vehicle parked along a roadway in Lunenberg, Vermont, and arrested him on Wednesday morning.

Digregorio will be arraigned in Brockton District Court on charges including murder when he is extradited to Massachusetts.

An investigation is ongoing.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

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Use of dangerous chemicals in plastics expected to lead to wave of 'astronomical' lawsuits: 'The floodgates are opening'

As more evidence emerges about the health and environmental impacts of PFAS, or forever chemicals, lawyers are warning plastic industry leaders they could soon face a "wave of lawsuits," according to the New York Times.

What's happening?

As the Times reported, defense lawyer Brian Gross spoke to executives of plastic companies at an industry conference earlier this year about the fact that coming lawsuits could have "astronomical" costs and could "dwarf anything related to asbestos."

Lawsuits have already been filed against chemical giants DuPont and 3M, with the latter agreeing to pay up to $12.5 billion over 13 years to help water utilities pay for PFAS contamination cleanup costs. But lawyers say the legal battle is just getting started.

Thirty state attorneys general have filed lawsuits against PFAS manufacturers. A class-action suit has also been brought against Bic, as plaintiffs claimed the company failed to warn consumers that some of its razors contained forever chemicals, per the Times.

The outlet explained that new PFAS regulations set by the Environmental Protection Agency requiring companies and public water utilities to clean up the chemicals could trigger a fresh wave of lawsuits from city water systems and communities.

"To say that the floodgates are opening is an understatement," Emily M. Lamond, an environmental litigation attorney, told the Times. "Take tobacco, asbestos, MTBE, combine them, and I think we're still going to see more PFAS-related litigation."

Why are PFAS lawsuits important?

Holding companies accountable for the damage they've caused will send the message that the public will no longer tolerate greenwashing and that corporations must take responsibility to ensure a healthier future for all.

While studies are ongoing about the health impacts of PFAS, they have so far been linked to decreased fertility, developmental delays in children, increased cancer risks and cholesterol levels, and hormone disruptions, per the EPA.

According to the Times, one community in Belmont, Michigan, sued footwear company Wolverine Worldwide for disposing of tannery waste that contained PFAS in the town, contaminating water sources.

Local resident Sandy Wynn-Stelt reached a settlement with Wolverine and 3M  which manufactured Scotchgard for the shoemaker's waterproof footwear  after she sued both companies following a thyroid cancer diagnosis and a blood test that revealed PFAS levels hundreds of times above average.

"We're being exposed without our knowledge or consent, often by industries that knew how dangerous the chemicals were, and failed to disclose that," Erik Olson, the Natural Resources Defense Council's environmental health senior strategic director, told the Times. "That's a formula for really significant liability."

In addition to contributing to health risks such as cancer, PFAS are also detrimental to the environment since they don't break down easily, harming wildlife and ecosystems long after they're produced.

What's being done about PFAS?

While researchers say it's difficult to prove a correlation between health problems and PFAS in some cases, victories like Wynn-Stelt's show what's possible. Scientific research continues to evolve, which could make it easier to provide evidence in court.

PFAS are unfortunately widespread, but significant steps have been taken to clean up the harmful chemicals. 3M announced it would stop manufacturing PFAS by the end of 2025 and has invested in cutting-edge water filtration technology for processing chemicals.

The Biden administration has also made major moves to regulate the toxic chemicals, reforming the Superfund law to require polluters to clean up contamination in communities. In addition, the EPA introduced a mandate for city water systems to remove six chemicals from water supplies, including PFAS.

In our daily lives, we can minimize the risk these chemicals pose by avoiding plastic products as much as possible. Nonstick cookware, grease-resistant food wrappers, cleaning products, and water-resistant fabrics such as rain jackets are some of the worst offenders.

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This week marks a grim milestone in Puerto Ricos weather record: For the first time, virtually every inch of the U.S. Caribbean territorys 311-mile coastline is roasting in temperatures that feel like 114 degrees Fahrenheit. Federal forecasters say heat exhaustion or stroke are likely with prolonged exposure.

For Gloricela Santiago, 59, staying cool these nights means sleeping outside on her balcony, breathing in the fumes of neighbors generators roaring through sunrise.

Thats because Santa Isabel, the seaside town where Santiago lives and works as a technician at a public housing complex, is one of three municipalities on Puerto Ricos southern shore facing power outages that could last for seven weeks. Experts say workers can restore electricity in a matter of days, but the private utility that now controls Puerto Ricos power system would need to use its own money rather than federal dollars.

It is horrible. The heat is terrible. People cannot sleep and no longer have the budget to buy food, Santiago said in Spanish, speaking over text message Monday night to save battery on her phone. This is a crisis.

Santa Isabel is one of three municipalities on Puerto Ricos southern shore facing power outages that could last for seven weeks. RICARDO ARDUENGO via Getty Images

Americas most populous unincorporated territory hasnt had steady electricity since Hurricane Maria laid waste to the aging power grid in September 2017. The storm triggered an 11-month blackout  the second-longest in modern history, leaving thousands to die without refrigerated medicine or filtered water.

The territorys government hired private companies from the U.S. to run the state-owned utilitys power plants and distribution system. But a secretive bidding process yielded a contract that virtually guaranteed profits regardless of service quality. Nearly seven years after the hurricane, blackouts plague Puerto Ricans across the territory every week, if not daily, and rates keep going up.

The bill gets higher every month, Santiago said.

Last month, it was $80, even though she said, Im never at home. Im always at work or church.

Its the kind of squeeze few Americans living in the states can imagine. Puerto Rico has worse poverty than the poorest U.S. state, yet pays some of the highest electricity rates in the entire country.

LUMA Energy, the joint venture between two Texas and Canadian energy companies that took over electricity sales three years ago, has repeatedly ratcheted up rates to pay for whatever parts of the grid reconstruction the billions of federal dollars dont already cover. But service has seen little improvement. Puerto Ricans who can afford generators, solar panels or batteries buy them, yet those units are expensive to purchase and fuel, and the routine power surges frequently destroy batteries or appliances.

Thanks to a long-standing federal law that prevents Puerto Rico from importing goods from anywhere but the U.S., groceries can cost nearly a quarter more than the average in the States. The lack of cheaply available fresh produce has created a heavy reliance on processed foods, increasing the rates of diseases such as diabetes. With such unstable electricity, Puerto Ricans who try to buy more healthful, fresh foods risk wasting money when the latest outage leaves dairy or fruit to spoil in the Caribbean heat without refrigeration.

If that wasnt enough, the bankruptcy courts handling the mammoth debt Puerto Ricos utility accrued before the storm want to add a surcharge to every ratepayers bill for the next three decades to pay off what critics call the Wall Street equivalent of loan sharks.

A broad coalition of activists and business groups opposed the rate hike last year. Negotiations over how to restructure the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authoritys outstanding $9 billion in bond debt are ongoing, with recent proposals appearing to yield some progress.

In the meantime, however, system problems that might take a few hours or days to fix in the U.S. cause ongoing disasters in Puerto Rico.

A wind farm remains idle on Sept. 20, 2022, in Santa Isabel, Puerto Rico. The island awoke to a general island power outage after Hurricane Fiona struck this Caribbean territory. Jose Jimenez via Getty Images

Last week, a transformer blew out at one of LUMAs substations on the south coast, a region already beset by deadly pollution from the territorys largest coal-fired power plant and water shortages linked to overuse by a nearby cluster of agrichemical industrial facilities.

In response, LUMA instituted a schedule of rolling blackouts in the area, cutting off service every day for eight hours at a time in Santa Isabel and the neighboring towns of Coamo and Aibonito. With the U.S. facing a nationwide transformer shortage, LUMA said repairs could take five to seven weeks, effectively cutting off electricity for much of the day during what is forecast to be a particularly hot summer. The mayors of the towns called the wait time unacceptable.

Before Hurricane Maria, five transmission lines connected the substation in Santa Isabel to the power system directly to the east to the industrial town of Guayama, with one serving as the primary conduit and the other four providing backup. After the storm, the area around Santa Isabel became a closed-loop system, meaning losing a transformer causes major problems.

Erecting poles and stringing insulated power lines to reconnect the substation to Guayama would take five to six days, according to Rafael Machado, the retired southern regional director in charge of transmission at PREPA who happens to live in Santa Isabel. Doing so, however, would require LUMA to spend its own money now rather than wait for federal funds to come through for an already planned project nearby.

For as bad as it was, PREPA was a service agency, Machado said of the state-owned utility that ran the electrical system until 2021. LUMA is a business.

If LUMA can put less money into the operations of the system, that money is going to go back to their pockets and their shareholders, he said.

I can handle this, but theres a lot of people who dont have a generator in their house, and dont have family to help them out. It is crazy. It is fucked up.Rafael Machado, retired utility worker whose town lost power

The cost of waiting for federal dollars to come through is borne by the 80-year-olds, even 90-year-olds, and the kids 10 years and under who have been suffering this, said Machado, who retired in 2014.

I can handle this, but theres a lot of people who dont have a generator in their house, and dont have family to help them out, he said. It is crazy. It is fucked up.

LUMA did not respond to questions emailed Monday.

An official from the bankrupt government utility whose services LUMA privatized said fixing the substation should take no longer than two weeks but admitted he has no power over the companys operations.

Puerto Rico Gov. Pedro Pierluisis office said LUMA is taking short term works to restore service in the southern towns, including increasing capacity on one of the electric lines and installing a portable generator.

The permanent works to address the cause of the issue include replacing a transformer unit are ongoing and will still take additional time to be completed as this includes a complex transportation among other specialized works, Francisco Berrios, the governors assistant chief of staff for energy affairs, told HuffPost in an emailed statement. As the works to modernize the electric system continue to accelerate, we are requiring LUMA to improve their performance during this type of emergency situations where customers suffer interruptions.

Last June, just days after LUMA celebrated its second anniversary as Puerto Ricos new private power seller, a record-breaking heat wave sent thermometers soaring to 125 degrees Fahrenheit. The still-tattered grid heaved under demand for air conditioning, triggering a blackout that saw more than 100,000 lose power.

The prolonged blackouts over the past year cast doubt over LUMAs capacity to quickly restore power after the next major hurricane. Combined with the effects of human-caused climate change, the regular El Nino climate patterns that intensified heating in the Caribbean Sea this year are expected to drive a fierce hurricane season in the Atlantic. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicted with 85% certainty that this season will be above normal for hurricanes, with as many as 25 storms strong enough to earn names.

Santiago feels helpless  and scared. She cannot afford a generator, so she charges her phone in her car or at the emergency room in nearby Salinas. A diabetic, she said her body reacts worse to heat than someone with naturally regulated insulin. When she gets dehydrated, she said, Its twice as bad.

When electricity is out, the water pumps stop working, so shes dependent on bottled water. But no one brings water, so shes on her own to purchase that, too. Her one reprieve, she said, comes from going to the shopping mall  not to buy anything, just to cool down with the retailers air conditioning.

There is no word for it, she said. You almost feel like you are going to faint.

Hours after this article initially published, equipment exploded at a San Juan electrical facility and left as many as 186,000 without electricity, El Vocero reported, showing photos of black smoke billowing from the disabled plant. By about 9 p.m. EDT, more than 40,000 households across the densely populated capital region remained cut off from the grid.

This article was updated to include details of the San Juan blackout.

Related...
ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan, June 12. Turkmenistan discussed the current state of cooperation and identified promising areas for its development with Turkiye's Ronesans Holding, Trend reports.

According to the official source, these issues were discussed during the meeting of the Chairman of the People's Council of Turkmenistan, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov with the Chairman of the Board of the Turkiye's Ronesans Holding Erman Ilcak.

During the meeting, Ilcak noted the successful long-term work of his company in Turkmenistan, the implemented projects of which comply with international quality standards.

The parties discussed the current state of cooperation and identified promising areas for its development.

Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov stressed the fruitful and mutually beneficial relations between Turkmenistan and Turkey, based on historical, cultural, and linguistic ties between the two peoples.

"In Turkmenistan, we welcome the establishment of new partnerships with large international companies for a long-term period, based on the principles of equality and mutual respect for the interests of both sides," he stressed.

The Chairman of the People's Council of Turkmenistan appreciated the active participation of Ronesans Holding in the implementation of significant projects in Turkmenistan, especially in the fields of urban planning, oil and gas, and chemical industries, and also expressed readiness to consider proposals from Turkish partners to expand cooperation in the oil and gas sector.

To note, during the past fourteen years, Ronesans Holding has built numerous substantial structures in Turkmenistan. These include an oil and gas university, a hotel, and a plant for producing gasoline from natural gas in the Ahal region, among others.

Founded in 1993, Ronesans Holding is an investing and contracting company based in Turkiye that works in the fields of health, industrial facilities, construction, energy, and real estate development. Among the regions where the holding is active are Europe, the CIS, and the MENA region.
SOUTH OZONE PARK, Queens (PIX11)  A woman who allegedly stabbed her 70-year-old father to death in their Queens home claims the man sexually abused her as a child, authorities said.

Peter Cavaks wife found her daughter on top of her blood-soaked husband in the bedroom of the house on 109th Avenue in South Ozone Park at around 7 a.m. on June 5, according to NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny.

My husband has been murdered, the woman told the cops, Kenny said during a briefing Tuesday.

More Local News

Anna Cavak, 30, allegedly stabbed her dad to death with a rectangular object. She was heard yelling, Hes trying to kill me, before her mother rushed into the bedroom, according to police.

The suspect had filed a recent complaint alleging her father sexually abused her when she was a minor, authorities said. The younger Cavak also told police she had a sister who committed suicide because of similar abuse.

She made statements when she was interrogated that her father was in a cult and that he was abusive, Kenny said.

The daughter then left the home after the alleged attack and drove to New Jersey, where she was arrested at a rest stop the same day, cops said.

The suspect is expected to be extradited to New York City on Wednesday to face murder charges, according to the NYPD.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11.
U.S. Rep. John Curtis, left, reacts to a statement made by Trent Staggs, right, following the Utah Senate primary debate for Republican contenders battling to win the seat of retiring U.S. Sen. Mitt Romney Monday, June 10, 2024, in Salt Lake City. | Rick Bowmer

Riverton Mayor Trent Staggs accused Rep. John Curtis of benefiting from his position through stock trades in the final moments of the Senate Republican primary debate on Monday evening.

Heres what Staggs said, how Curtis responded and what the record shows about Curtis past investments.

What did Trent Staggs say about Rep. John Curtis at the debate?

In the last minute of a nearly hour long debate, Staggs used his closing statement to verbally attack the polling frontrunner in the race to replace Sen. Mitt Romney.

On March 4 of 2020, Abbott Laboratories was awarded a federal grant. On that same day, John Curtis purchased stock in that company, said Staggs, who won the GOP convention nomination. This is the problem in Congress. At a time when somebody should be looking out for their constituents, they end up looking out for their own profit. Thats why Ive signed a contract with Utah. I want to ban the trading of individual stocks for members of Congress and their families.

Following Staggs remarks, Curtis interrupted the debate moderator who was wrapping up the event to respond to the personal attack. Curtis said Staggs had waited until he would not have time to respond to insert his allegation of what Curtis later called insider trading. Staggs did not say Curtis committed a crime.

That is such a low shot. You wait till I have no response. You throw something out I cant respond to. Youve accused me of a felony here tonight. You better have very good evidence. And Id like to challenge you to produce that evidence that somehow Ive committed a felony, Curtis said looking directly at Staggs. If thats how youre going to work in the Senate, the people of Utah would be very disappointed.

After the debate, Curtis told reporters he tried a number of things to insulate himself from criticism over his financial holdings. I tried a blind trust, a whole bunch of things. And none of those things have worked. And so my conclusion is part of the price of service is to divest yourself of those things. And thats what Ive subsequently done.

Was Staggs accusation against Curtis true?

Staggs misspoke during his criticism of Curtis, his campaign confirmed. The 3rd District congressman did invest in Abbott Laboratories, but not on March 4, 2020.

On March 27, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration publicly announced they gave emergency use authorization for Abbott Laboratories to produce a new coronavirus testing system. That same day, Abbott Laboratories stock was purchased in Curtis name, according to a monthly Periodic Transaction Report produced by the U.S. House of Representatives and signed by Curtis on April 9, 2020.

Staggs likely mixed up the Abbott Laboratories investment with Curtis purchase of Zoom Video Communications, Inc. stock on March 4, which experienced a surge in stock prices as COVID-19 spread, a campaign spokesperson said.

In April of 2020, a watchdog group filed a complaint with the Office of Congressional Ethics to investigate Curtis pandemic-related investments. The office declined to open an investigation into the accusations, Curtis campaign manager said at the time.

Curtis did not make these stock purchases directly, according to his chief of staff, Corey Norman. They were made by Private Client Services, a financial advising system that is part of the Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Company.

This is a desperate and dishonest attack by a failing campaign, Norman said in a statement to the Deseret News. As a Congressman, John has always followed all legal and congressional rules for investment decisions which are publicly disclosed through the House Ethics Committee and can be reviewed by any member of the public. The stock in question was made independently by PCS which was managing Johns portfolio.

Does John Curtis still own stocks in Abbott Laboratories?

Curtis has divested himself of individual stocks, he told reporters after the debate. As a businessman prior to entering politics, Curtis said he had invested in stocks and later as a first-time candidate.

A congressional stock tracker shows Curtis with scattered investment activity until Dec. 4, 2023, when Curtis sold his shares in nearly 60 different stocks. Norman confirmed that Curtis sold out of all of his individual stock positions at the end of last year.

An analysis done by The New York Times in 2022 found that Curtis was one of 97 members of Congress that had bought or sold stocks that intersected with their areas of legislative oversight.

Following the debate, Staggs doubled down on his closing statement. Its factual, he said. We need to be able to ban the trade of individual stocks from members of Congress. I dont think its right.

Curtis agreed that congressional conflicts of interest with the stock market could present a problem. Trading stocks hasnt been banned for members of Congress because investment alternatives, including bundled investment tools like Exchange-traded funds (ETFs), would have the same problems, Curtis said, and because forcing members of Congress to sell their stocks all at once would create a huge taxable event for them.

Well, is that the cost of serving in Congress? Thats fine if it is. But that shows some of the complications of why Congress actually hasnt acted on this, Curtis said.
SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4)  Taberon Honie is scheduled to be executed shortly after midnight on Aug. 8, which will make him the eighth person in the state of Utah to be executed since 1972.

On Monday, Senior Judge Jeffrey C. Wilcox signed a warrant of execution for Honie after his previous appeals had been denied. Honie was convicted of aggravated murder in 1999 after sexually assaulting and killing his ex-girlfriends mother in the presence of three of her grandchildren.

Utah history of the death penalty

According to the Utah Department of Corrections, Honie will be the eighth person executed in Utah since the death penalty was reinstated in 1976 following a brief suspension due to the monumental case of Furman v. Georgia.

The Death Penalty Information Center (DPIC) says approximately 600 death row inmates across the country had their sentences commuted in 1972 before the death penalty was reinstated four years later in Gregg v. Georgia.

The Utah State Correctional Facilitys execution chamber in Salt Lake City. (credit: Utah Department of Corrections)

In 1977, Gary Gilmore became the first person not only in Utah but in the nation to be executed following the Supreme Court decision. Gilmore had said he accepted his death penalty sentence and refused to appeal it.

The most recent execution in Utah took place in 2010 when Ronnie Lee Gardner became the third person to be executed by firing squad since the 1970s.

While several states allow firing squads in their constitutions, Utah is the only state to have actually executed an inmate by firing squad, according to DPIC.

RELATED The Justice Files: The execution of Gary Gilmore

Utahs current death row

The UDC says seven people are currently on Utahs death row: Taberon Honie, Ralph Menzies, Troy Kell, Douglas Lovell, Douglas Carter, Michael Archuleta, and Von Taylor.

Menzies and Kell both selected their method of execution to be a firing squad before the Utah State Legislature eliminated it as an available method in 2004. The law will allow them to keep their selection.

While Utah death row inmates are no longer allowed to request death by firing squad, should lethal injection be unavailable or deemed unconstitutional, the firing squad would be the states backup option.

A table in the Utah State Correctional Facilitys execution chamber in Salt Lake City. (credit: Utah Department of Corrections)

Over the past several years, this seemed like a greater possibility as drug companies began refusing to provide the lethal drugs, saying they were meant for saving lives not taking them, according to the Associated Press.

However, last week the UDC said it made arrangements to secure the lethal drug combination necessary for the upcoming execution of Honie, meaning he will not have to face a firing squad.

Execution day

Honie will have a few choices for his last day. First, he will get to choose what he eats for his last meal. Next, he can request up to five people to be there during the execution, such as religious representatives or family and friends. Last, he will be given the opportunity to say his last words.

Executions take place in the Utah State Correctional Facilitys execution chamber in Salt Lake City. This will be the first execution to take place in the facility as it was opened in 2022, according to the UDC.

Witnesses requested by the inmate, related to the victim(s), or brought by the state will sit in the witness rooms and watch through bulletproof, reflective windows. Honie will be secured to a gurney and executed using ketamine, fentanyl, and potassium chloride.

According to DPIC, more than 1,500 people have been executed across the United States since the 1970s. There are a total of 2,262 people currently on death row, including the seven in Utah.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah.
Decatur Fire Dept. battles suspicious pair of fires at same house

DECATUR, Ill. (WCIA)  Firefighters were called to the same Decatur address two days in a row for a pair of fires that theyre now deeming suspicious.

Around 8:45 p.m. on Tuesday, the Decatur Fire Department responded to a vacant house in the area of North Summit and West Garfield Avenues. Half of the house was already heavily engulfed in fire by the time crews started arriving. It was determined that the fire started in the garage.

Decatur Police ID suspects in 2011 murder investigation

As firefighters attacked the flames, the Incident Commander alerted Decatur Police and The Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal to the fires suspicious nature.

Photo provided by the Facebook page of the Decatur Fire Department.

Photo provided by the Facebook page of the Decatur Fire Department.

On Wednesday, crews were called to the address again for another fire. This time, officials said it appeared to have a started elsewhere.

Battalion Chief Elder, the Decatur Police Department, and the State Fire Marshal continue to investigate.

WCIA reached out to the Decatur Fire Department for more details and awaits their response.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WCIA.com.
A highly decorated, veteran Broward officer turned himself in following an investigation into accusations that he threatened and extorted at least one person, officials said.

Sunrise police announced Tuesday that Sgt. Daniel Rodriguez surrendered on a criminal warrant, though hes since bonded out of the Broward County Main Jail. Rodriguez faces charges of tampering with evidence, extortion in addition to written or electronic threats to kill or do bodily harm.

The charges stem from an incident on Jan. 22, when Rodriguez threatened to kill or injure two different people via text message and accused one of them of grand theft, according to an arrest warrant obtained by NBC 6 Miami. The warrant said the accusation was brought forth to prevent the person from continuing their administrative investigation into Rodriguez, the news outlet reported.

Additional details on what moved Sunrise police to arrest one of its officers are sparse. The department said it conducted a criminal probe that found enough probable cause to charge Rodriguez.

When the investigation began, Rodriguez was put on administrative leave. The department also took his police-issued firearm, badge, ID and patrol car.

Since then, he has not interacted with the public as an officer. Police added Sunrise Chief Daniel Ransone intends to put Rodriguez on administrative leave without pay.

The Sunrise Police Department upholds the highest standards of conduct among its members, and any breaches of public trust are treated with utmost gravity, the actions attributed to Rodriguez stand in stark contrast to the mission, vision, and core values upheld by the dedicated men and women of the Sunrise Police Department, a statement read.

Police did not reveal when investigation started, what alleged criminal actions Rodriguez committed and specifics pertaining to his arrest.

Since 2007, Rodriguez has worked for Sunrise police, where he rose through the ranks and wore several hats, the department said. During his tenure, hes been a road patrol officer, school resource officer, sex crimes detective, homicide detective and a SWAT Team leader.

However, Rodriguez came under scrutiny in 2010 when he was accused of brutally assaulting 18-year-old Ewan Rose, whod been arrested twice by Rodriguez for charges that include burglary, sexual battery and battery on a police officer, according to Miami Herald archives. Rose was acquitted of both crimes.

It was revealed that Rodriguez and another officer battered Rose  engaging in official misconduct. He was ultimately put on administrative leave with pay, having his gun and badge confiscated.

Its unclear when Rodriguez returned to the department.

Prior to joining Sunrise police, he was a confinement officer at the Florida Department of Corrections and Miami-Dade Corrections Department. Upon graduating from high school, he joined the Army and served in Iraq.

Rodriguez won 16 awards in his career, including receiving the Officer of the Month Award four times.

Miami Herald reporter Devoun Cetoute contributed to this report.
Senators blasted the head of the US Coast Guard at a contentious hearing on Tuesday, saying she has fostered a culture of concealment, withheld critical information from congressional investigators and failed to hold leaders and perpetrators accountable for serious misconduct.

Our investigation has shown a deep moral rot within the Coast Guard now, said Sen. Richard Blumenthal, chair of the Homeland Security Committees Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, which has been looking into the Coast Guards past mishandling of sexual assault cases. One that prioritizes cronyism over accountability, silence over survivors.

Are you aware that there are more survivors who leave the Coast Guard than perpetrators? asked Sen. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut. - Andrew Harnik/Getty Images

Blumenthal and other lawmakers from the subcommittee told Commandant Adm. Linda Fagan that their investigation has found that sexual assault remains a persistent and unacceptably prevalent issue across the service, despite her initial assurances that it was a problem of the past.

Nearly 40 whistleblowers have come forward to the subcommittee in recent months, lawmakers said. At the hearing, Fagan was questioned about what specific steps she was taking to ensure those who commit serious misconduct, as well as those who cover up their crimes, are removed from the service.

Are you aware that there are more survivors who leave the Coast Guard than perpetrators? asked Blumenthal, a Democrat from Connecticut, where the Coast Guard Academy is based. This problem is not one of the past. It is real and present  and the evidence is not in my voice, it is the voices and faces of the whistleblowers  they are in my view heroes in this story.

The hearing was sparked by CNNs reporting on the results of a secret investigation  dubbed Operation Fouled Anchor, which was quietly closed and hidden from Congress and the public despite substantiating dozens of sexual assaults that had previously been mishandled at the Coast Guards prestigious academy. At a previous hearing led by the same subcommittee, four sexual assault victims testified about how they were silenced, retaliated against and left battling severe mental trauma while alleged perpetrators continued to thrive within the service.

We are taking action, the work is not done  we have not waited, Fagan said, repeatedly pledging to change the culture but saying she needs more time and resources to do so. I want to stop creating victims, but for the victims that we do have in the organization, I am 100% committed to fully supporting them and their needs.

Fagan had previously said she only learned of the totality of the so-called Fouled Anchor probe when CNN inquired about the issue, though she had heard of it because she had previously taken steps to remove a commanding officer caught up in the investigation.

When pressed by senators Tuesday on how much she had known about the investigation prior to becoming commandant in 2021, she acknowledged that she had formally learned about it when the agencys leadership council was briefed in 2018,and she said that when we closed it out in 2020, there was conversation around whether to disclose or not.

Fagan refused to say whether she believed her predecessor, Admiral Karl Schultz, was behind the ultimate decision to keep the findings of Fouled Anchor from Congress after the probe concluded. She said she did not have any direct evidence of misconduct surrounding this decision, even though minutes earlier senators had displayed a giant poster of a handwritten list made by Schultzs second in command with pros and cons about whether to be transparent with lawmakers and the public about the probe. Schultz previously declined to comment to CNN about Fouled Anchor.

Sen. Ron Johnson, a Republican from Wisconsin, flipped through page after page of records produced by the Coast Guard that were almost entirely redacted. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images - Andrew Harnik/Getty Images

The hearing Tuesday came as Fagan was already facing immense pressure, as new controversies and increased congressional scrutiny have shined a light on how sexual assault is continuing to plague the agency. This includes explosive allegations from the academys longtime head of sexual assault prevention, Shannon Norenberg, who recently announced her resignation and said top leaders had directed her to lie to sexual assault victims and Congress, making her an unwitting accomplice in the Fouled Anchor coverup.

Several lawmakers seized on Norenbergs allegations, specifically that she had been barred from providing survivors with key paperwork that would help them access veterans benefits available to sexual assault survivors. Fagan said she couldnt speak about specifics of that allegation, as well as other issues raised by the senators, because of an open Inspector General investigation. That prompted Blumenthal to criticize her for using the investigation as a shield, eliciting applause from the audience.

Youre the leader, these decisions are yours, said Blumenthal.

Fagan said she hadnt actually read Norenbergs full statement, just the CNN article about it.

Senators also focused on an email alleging a recent assault coverup that went viral after being deleted from Coast Guard servers and a leaked internal memo showing that Coast Guard officials recently worried that publishing testimonials from assault survivors could continue to exacerbate the narrative  that the Coast Guard is in a sexual assault crisis now. Sen. Maggie Hassan, a Democrat from New Hampshire, argued that the reluctance to release the videos indicates a real failure of leadership and lack of understanding of the agencys current sexual assault problem.

Throughout the hearing, lawmakers pressed Fagan on what they described as a lack of transparency and cooperation with their investigation.

The only way you can change the culture, the only way this can be fixed  is with truth, transparency and accountability, said Sen. Ron Johnson, a Republican from Wisconsin and Ranking Member of the subcommittee, adding that he thinks subpoenas will be necessary. Johnson flipped through page after page of records produced by the Coast Guard that were almost entirely redacted.

A group of bipartisan lawmakers from the House Oversight committee, who were not part of the hearing but have their own investigation underway into the agencys handling of a variety of misconduct, including sexual assault, racism and hazing, joined the voices of criticism. They sent a letter to Fagan on Tuesday saying that the Coast Guard has provided fewer than 1% of records identified as potentially responsive to the requests to date.

Fagan repeatedly pledged to change the culture of the Coast Guard, but said she needs more time and resources to do so. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images - Andrew Harnik/Getty Images

They also said they have heard from whistleblowers who revealed additional cultural deficiencies and alleged incompetence and misconduct by current and former leaders, who whistleblowers say may have willfully concealed evidence relevant to criminal investigations and misrepresented material facts to Coast Guard Investigative Service (CGIS) investigators to conceal the depth of the culture of misconduct and the identities of other potential suspects.

At Tuesdays hearing, Fagan said the Coast Guard has been fully cooperating with the subcommittees investigation. But senators said it appeared that the records it deemed sensitive and refused to provide were more likely withheld because of fear of further public embarrassment.

Whats required of the Coast Guard at this moment is an unsparing commitment to truth-telling, following the facts and the evidence wherever they lead, even if they are embarrassing to former members of the Coast Guard or present members, said Blumenthal.

What should we investigate next? Email us at blake.ellis@cnn.com or melanie.hicken@cnn.com.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
The Supreme Court is, person for person, the most powerful ruling body in the United States. Nine jurists, appointed for life, get to determine the everyday rights of Americans. These jurists can be conservative or liberal, but theyre supposed to rule according to the Constitution, not their political beliefs.

Whether this is whats happening has come into question, most recently through reporting about Justice Samuel Alito and his wife, Martha-Ann, who were revealed to have flown two flags associated with the Stop the Steal movement outside their residences. In the wake of these reports, journalist Lauren Windsor recorded Alito and his wife candidly expressing political bias at the Supreme Court Historical Societys annual dinner. The recordings, which were provided exclusively to Rolling Stone, have elicited another round of calls for accountability.

Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) was incensed by the audio released on Monday, which included Alito saying he agrees that the United States should return to godliness, and arguing that the nations political differences cant be compromised and that one side has to win.

Really discouraging  in fact, outrageous  that Roberts is implicitly condoning Alitos behavior, so demeaning to the Court & degrading to himself, he wrote in response to the first story. Alito is becoming a loose cannon turned on the Court itself. He mocks ethics.

Really discouragingin fact, outrageousthat Roberts is implicitly condoning Alitos behavior, so demeaning to the Court & degrading to himself. Alito is becoming a loose cannon turned on the Court itself. He mocks ethics. https://t.co/OS8eflmE2k  Richard Blumenthal (@SenBlumenthal) June 11, 2024

The batch of audio also included a recording of Chief Justice John Roberts, whose comments were far more measured than those of Alito. Roberts has roundly rebuffed efforts by Democrats to discuss concerns about Alito pertaining to two flags associated with the Stop the Steal movement that were flown outside of two of his residences. Alito has refused to recuse himself from Jan. 6-related cases, blaming his wife, who he wrote in a statement that she is fond of flying flags.

Later on Monday, Rolling Stone published Windsors recording of Martha-Ann Alito, who bashed Pride flags, liberals, and vowed retribution against the media.

Stomach turning & scary, Blumenthal wrote in response. Such repugnant threats of revenge reveal a mindset  apparently shared by Alito himself, since hes declined to disown it. Also unacceptable is Roberts lack of leadership & Congressional inaction because of Republican resistance.

SCOTUS did not return multiple requests for comment from Rolling Stone, and Alito has yet to respond to the recordings.

Samuel Alitos legacy on the Supreme Court is homophobia and bigotry, and now his wife is being exposed as a homophobe and a bigot. Does it shock you? Rep. Ritchie Torres (D-N.Y.), who is gay, wrote of the recording of Martha-Ann Alito. The MAGA Republican judicial project seeks to bring America backwards. We cannot let them win.

Democrats on the House Oversight Committee convened to address the Supreme Court ethics crisis on Tuesday, with Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) appearing on MSNBC hours later to discuss what needs to be done.

Under what circumstances would a Supreme Court justice be accepting hundreds of thousands of dollars or millions of dollars in foreign travel or paid tuition or a recreational vehicle? Its outlandish for us to contemplate, Raskin said, referring to Justice Clarence Thomas controversial relationship with right-wing megadonors, and how members of Congress are banned from receiving gifts exceeding $50 in value.

We want a $50 gift ban for justices, Raskin continued. They make $300,000 a year. Pay for your own lunch and pay for your own vacation.

Raskin: Under what circumstances would a Supreme Court justice be accepting millions of dollars in foreign travel or paid tuition or a recreational vehicle? We want a $50 gift ban for justices. They make $300k a year. Pay for your own lunch and vacation pic.twitter.com/LT7NC0jMKM  Acyn (@Acyn) June 12, 2024

Democrats, however, have not done anything significant to rein in the Supreme Court since ProPublica first reported on Thomas vacations last year. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), who chairs the Senate Judiciary Committee, has come under fire for not being more aggressive. Durbin pushed the court last year to create an ethics code. They did, but it was vague and nonbinding. He then subpoenaed conservative Supreme Court architect Leonard Leo, and threatened to subpoena Harlan Crow, but Leo has said he wont comply. Late last month, Durbin, along with Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), wrote a letter to Roberts asking to discuss Alito recusing himself from Jan. 6-related cases. Roberts refused.

Durbin hasnt publicly weighed in on the recordings released this week, although he said on Tuesday that the Senate will vote on Wednesday to implement a code of ethics. The vote will be held by unanimous consent, which means all 100 senators will need to sign onto the idea. Republicans are of course not going to do this, which means the vote is essentially a stunt designed to get Republicans on the record as opposing something everyone already knows they oppose.

Just take it from Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), the top Republican on the Judiciary Committee, who is planning to object to Durbins unanimous consent request. NBC News asked Graham on Tuesday if he was worried about the Alito recordings. Im more worried about ISIS killing us all, he said.

More from Rolling Stone

Best of Rolling Stone
Democrats are split over the continued pro-Palestinian protests that rocked college campuses across the country, a new poll shows, possibly previewing a generational divide on the issue heading into the November election.

The Politico-Morning Consult poll found 26 percent of Democratic respondents said they think student protesters are in the right and doing the right thing, while 48 percent said they are in the right but taking things too far.

But the poll, conducted near the end of the school year for many campuses, found younger voters are more likely to be sympathetic to the Palestinian movement and student protesters. Half of Gen Z and millennial registered voters surveyed said they hold a favorable view toward the campus demonstrations, while just 44 percent of all Democratic respondents felt the same way. Nearly a third of Democrats as a whole said they view the campus demonstrations unfavorably.

The polls generational divide illustrates the fine line President Biden and other Democrats are trying to toe heading into the November election, which will fall a little over a year after Hamas deadly Oct. 7 attack on Israeli citizens that sparked the war in Gaza.

Thousands of people gathered outside the White House over the weekend in protest against the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza.

About 75 percent of respondents said they are aware of the ongoing demonstrations, while more than 60 percent of respondents said they are aware of students advocating for their universities to divest from companies with Israeli ties.

More than 75 percent of the polls respondents across parties said they view the Israeli-Palestinian conflict as important in deciding how to vote.

Pro-Palestine protesters interrupted Bidens address Tuesday during a gun violence prevention conference in Washington, D.C.

At least 25 people were arrested during the protest against the Gaza conflict Monday evening on the University of California, Los Angeles, campus. The Associated Press reported they were given 14-day orders to stay away from campus before they were released.

The Politico-Morning Consult poll was conducted May 28-29 among 3,996 registered voters via online interviews. The margin of error is 2 percentage points.

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A 900-page plan drawn up by former Donald Trump aides and endorsed by a powerful right-wing think tank is giving the former president a roadmap for his second administration.

Project 2025  a blueprint for Trumps presidency spearheaded by the Heritage Foundation and more than a dozen former Trump administration officials  is essentially a wishlist for his administration with plans to expand his executive authority, replace civil servants with ideologically aligned appointees, crush abortion rights and impose an anti-immigrant agenda, among other policies.

Following President Joe Bidens announcement on Sunday that he would be stepping aside to let Vice-President Kamala Harris mount her own bid for the Oval Office, Harris posted on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, I will do everything in my power to unite the Democratic Party  and unite our nation  to defeat Donald Trump and his extreme Project 2025 agenda. If youre with me, add a donation right now.

The former president is desperately trying to distance himself from the plan, claiming that he knows nothing about it or who is behind it, despite its authors coming from Trumps White House and the GOPs close ties to the group that launched it.

At a rally in Michigan on Saturday, just one week after a 20-year-old gunman opened fire at a Trump rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, killing one attendee and injuring two others while only slightly injuring the candidates right ear, Trump told the crowd, Some on the right, severe right, came up with this Project 25, I dont even know, some of them I know who they are, but theyre very, very conservative. Theyre sort of the opposite of the radical left.

You have the radical left and the radical right and they come up  I dont know what the hell it is, its Project 25, Trump went on, bungling the initiatives name, perhaps intentionall. Hes involved in project  and then they read some of the things and they are extreme, theyre seriously extreme. But I dont know anything about it, I dont want to know anything about it.

Project 2025s core policy book Mandate for Leadership: The Conservative Promise outlines major changes across the federal government, from the White House to lesser-known agencies, with chapters written by former Trump officials. Further, many of Project 2025s policies are virtually identical to ones proposed by Trump.

As The Independent previously reported, the plan would gut checks and balances to give Trump unprecedented, concentrated executive authority over federal agencies. An incoming Trump administration would roll out a blitzkrieg of firings across federal agencies to open the door for an army of loyalists to weaponize the government against his rivals.

The plan recommends abolishing the US Department of Education, slashing funds for federal law enforcement agencies, and subverting agencies that regulate the airwaves and campaign financing to choke out dissent.

Donald Trump holds a campaign rally in Las Vegas on June 9. Now, Democrats have created a task force to go against a think-tanks conservative road map if he returns to the White House. (Getty Images)

That consolidation of power would also insulate him against legal threats and usher in a wave of attacks against immigrants, reproductive healthcare and civil rights protections for LGBT+ people.

The plan also would revoke the federal governments approval of widely used abortion drugs, expand the nations nuclear footprint and restart nuclear weapons testing, and activate active-duty military to make arrests at the US-Mexico border, among other proposals.

A group of House Democrats and civil rights groups have launched a task force to combat the Project 2025 agenda, while President Joe Bidens campaign and the Democratic National Committee are going full court press against the plan in advertising and in campaign messaging.

House Democrats led by California Rep. Jared Huffman created a Stop Project 2025 Task Force to coordinate with members of Congress, pro-democracy and civil rights groups and impacted communities to coordinate on examining, highlighting, preempting, and counteracting this right-wing plot to undermine democracy.

Project 2025 is more than an idea, its a dystopian plot thats already in motion to dismantle our democratic institutions, abolish checks and balances, chip away at church-state separation, and impose a far-right agenda that infringes on basic liberties and violates public will, Huffman said in a statement on June 11.

This is an unprecedented embrace of extremism, fascism, and religious nationalism, orchestrated by the radical right and its dark money backers, he said. We need a coordinated strategy to save America and stop this coup before its too late.

Heritage Foundation president Kevin Roberts. (AP)

Project 2025 was drafted by dozens of former Trump administration officials and other loyalists, nearly half of which are the recipients of dark money contributions from groups tied to conservative donor Leonard Leo, who helped usher in Trumps radical restructuring of the federal judiciary.

The plans overhaul of the federal government also poses threats to marriage equality and public school funding and could trample the wall of church-state separation and upend our democracy, according to Rachel Laser, president of Americans United for Separation of Church and State.

The nearly 1,000-page plan opens with a promise to eliminate abortion access, and abortion is mentioned nearly 200 times.

And their attacks dont stop with abortion, according to Karen Stone, vice president of public policy and government relations with Planned Parenthood Action Fund. Theyre also planning to restrict funding for birth control and other preventive care and attacking gender-affirming care and sex education.

The task force also will serve as a public messaging campaign as interest on Project 2025 surges on social media.

Members will hold public forums in the months leading up to Election Day. But the task force could also function as a key bulwark in Congress against Trumps agenda, if elected.

Democratic US Rep Jared Huffman is leading a task force against Project 2025s plans for Donald Trumps presidency. (AP)

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, Heritage Foundation President Kevin Roberts said in a statement. The task force launched by House Democrats only underscores the Lefts fear of losing its grip on their authoritarian bureaucracy ... We will not give up and we will win.

Trump campaign advisers Susie Wiles and Chris LaCivita said last year that the any personnel lists, policy agendas, or government plans published anywhere are merely suggestions.

Efforts from outside groups like the Heritage Foundation are appreciated but do not speak for the campaign, they said.

In a statement denying connections to the campaign, the Heritage Foundation said the plan is merely a guideline for the next conservative president.

But it is ultimately up to that president, who we believe will be President Trump, to decide which recommendations to implement, the group said.

This story was initially published in June 2024 and has been updated with developments
ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan, June 12. South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol called for accelerating the development of economic cooperation with Turkmenistan, Trend reports.

Speaking at the Turkmen-Korean Business Forum on June 11, he noted that Turkmenistan, the world's fourth largest owner of natural gas reserves, and South Korea, which has experience in industrialization and advanced technologies, have a lot to do together in the future.

"First of all, we need to further strengthen cooperation in the field of energy resources between the two countries," he said.

At the same time, Yoon Suk Yeol expressed hope that South Korean companies will continue to actively participate in projects for the construction of industrial facilities in Turkmenistan.

"We hope that exchanges and cooperation between companies from both countries will become more active on the basis of the Trade and Investment Promotion Framework concluded this time," he continued.

The South Korean President added that, for his part, he would help ensure that the investment guarantee agreement was completed as soon as possible.

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.
Denmark bans ramen noodles for being too spicy

Denmark bans ramen noodles for being too spicy

Denmark's food safety agency has nixed three varieties of instant ramen.

Their capsaicin content could be harmful to kids, the agency said.

Ramen brand Samyang said it's the first time its products have been recalled for being too spicy.

These Korean-made ramen packets are too hot to handle  literally, if you ask the Danish.

The Danish Veterinary and Food Administration (DVFA), the nation's food safety agency, announced it was recalling three varieties of instant ramen, saying the noodles are so spicy that they could harm young children and some adults.

In its note about the recall, the DVFA claimed that kids were filming themselves eating super-spicy food for social media challenges.

Several children in Germany were hospitalized after attempting to eat spicy chips, it noted.

DVFA said a customer alerted them to the noodles, which it then assessed through its DTU National Food Institute to determine if they were harmful.

The DVFA said capsaicin content in the noodles could cause burning, nausea, vomiting, and high blood pressure.

The three recalls involve Korean maker Samyang.

The packets consumers should discard or return include: Samyang Buldak 3x Spicy & Hot Chicken, Samyang Buldak 2x Spicy & Hot Chicken, and Samyang Buldak Hot Chicken Stew.

Samyang did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Business Insider, but insisted in a statement to the BBC that the food quality wasn't the issue.

"We understand that the Danish food authority recalled the products, not because of a problem in their quality but because they were too spicy," Samyang told BBC in a statement, adding that "this is the first time they have been recalled for the above reason."

The company added it's looking into local regulations, the BBC reported.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Denmark's food safety agency has issued recalls for three ramen noodle products made by the South Korean company Samyang, saying the amount of capsaicin chili extract in them could poison consumers.

The agency announced the recall, in a post on its website, of three instant ramen flavors: Hot Chicken Stew, Buldak 3x Spicy & Hot Chicken and 2x Spicy & Hot Chicken. The agency said the products should be returned to the store where they were purchased or disposed of.

"We understand that the Danish food authority recalled the products, not because of a problem in their quality, but because they were too spicy," Samyang said in a statement to CBS News partner network BBC News. "The products are being exported globally. But this is the first time they have been recalled for the above reason."

Denmark's food safety agency has some ramen noodle products for being too spicy. / Credit: Danish Veterinary and Food Administration

In a statement, Denmark's Veterinary and Food Administration said that children and young people were challenging one another on social media to eat extremely spicy bowls of ramen, and that in Germany, several children had been hospitalized after being poisoned from eating extremely spicy chips.

After a member of the public asked the agency about the safety of the extremely spicy ramen products, the agency said it found that the amount of hot chilli in the ramen was even higher than in the chilli chips that had caused the poisonings in Germany.

"Chili in large quantities poses a risk to children and frail adults in particular. Possible symptoms include burning and discomfort, nausea, vomiting and high blood pressure. That is why we are now demanding that the shops remove the products from their shelves," Henrik Dammand Nielsen from the Danish Food and Drug Administration said.

In its recall announcement, the agency said that if a child has eaten strong chili peppers with no acute reaction, there is no cause for concern, but if they show an acute reaction shortly after having eaten the products, parents can call Denmark's national poison hotline.

Samyang told the BBC it planned to "closely look into the local regulations" in Denmark.

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In this photo illustration two packets of Samyang noodles are pictured in London on June 12, 2024. Credit - Associated Press

Danish officials have issued a recall on three types of spicy instant noodle products from a popular South Korean brandclaiming that the amount of peppery flavor is too intense and even poses a risk of acute poisoning.

The three instant ramen flavors are made by the company Samyang Foods: Hot Chicken Stew, Buldak 3x Spicy & Hot Chicken, and 2x Spicy & Hot Chicken, the Danish Veterinary and Food Administration said in a post on its website Tuesday. Denmarks food and safety agency encouraged the public to return those flavors to the store or throw them away.

The agency said it was recalling the noodles because children and young people have been daring each other on social media platforms, such as TikTok and Instagram, to eat spicy noodles.

The challenge consists in tolerating the soups high content of capsaicin from chili sauce. However, the capsaicin content is so high that it can pose a health hazard, the agency said in a press release Tuesday. In Germany, several children have been hospitalized with poisoning after being challenged to eat strong chili chips.

The agency said that the amount of hot chili in the noodle products is even higher than that in chili chips, which led to the hospitalizations in Germany. The One Chip Challenge was a global social media trend, for which young people ate a single spicy Paqui tortilla chip. A Massachusetts teen who had a congenital heart defect died after participating in the trend, according to the Associated Press.

The Denmark agency did not mention whether it has received any reports of injuries associated with consuming the noodles made by Samyang Foods.

Read More: Heres What to Know About the Cucumber Recall

Children and frail adults are still at risk, the agency said. People who eat the noodles could experience symptoms such as burning and discomfort, nausea, vomiting, and high blood pressure. Henrik Dammand Nielsen, head of the Danish Food and Drug Administration, demanded that stores remove the three noodle flavors from their shelves.

But Samyang Foods said in a statement to BBC that its understanding was that Denmark officials recalled the noodles because they were too spicy, not because there was an issue with the quality of the products.

The products are being exported globally. But this is the first time they have been recalled for the above reason, Samyang told BBC.

Samyang Foods is one of South Koreas main food manufacturerson its website, Samyang Foods said it created the countrys first ramen in 1963. The company exports halal products to nearly 80 countries, including its ramen instant noodles, according to Al Jazeera. In the first three months of this year, the company reached $270 million in export sales, Al Jazeera reported.

Buldak 3x Spicy & Hot Chicken, one of the flavors that Denmark issued a recall for, was ranked number two on a list of the top 10 spiciest instant noodles in 2024 by The Ramen Rater, a blog that reviews instant noodles from around the world. Tasting Table, an U.S.-based digital media company that focuses on food and drink, ranked the flavor Buldak 2x Spicy & Hot Chicken as number one on its list of 14 spicy instant ramen noodles.

The Danish Veterinary and Food Administration said in its recall announcement that if a child eats the noodles and does not experience any symptoms, there is no need to worry. But if the child is experiencing symptoms immediately after eating the noodles, then the agency advised people to contact the Poison Line at 82 12 12 12.

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Chelan County Sheriffs Office is searching for 37-year-old Joshua Dean Griffin, who has been missing since August 2023.

Griffin was first reported missing out of Colorado in March of 2023. He was found the following June in Wenatchee, where he reportedly found temporary work and stayed for a couple of months until he was reported missing in August.

In April of 2024, a backpack containing some clothing and Griffins wallet with ID and cash was found on a hiking trail just outside of Leavenworth. Deputies searched the area but did not find any evidence of his whereabouts.

According to deputies, Griffin lived a transient lifestyle and had a history of using narcotics. Family and friends say he walked regularly, sometimes long distances.

The Washington State Department of Licensing shows that Griffin is 5 feet 7 inches, and weighs around 155 pounds.

Anyone with information about Joshua Dean Griffin or his possible whereabouts is asked to call Detective Paul Nelson at (509) 667-6843.
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET)  A hearing regarding a domestic violence restraining order brought by a Kern County sheriffs deputy against a colleague was postponed Wednesday to late September.

The postponement in the case of Carly Snow versus Stephen Wells was granted after attorneys said theyre awaiting the results of a criminal investigation on the matter. A temporary restraining order remains in effect.

Snow also filed a restraining order against another deputy as well as a lawsuit against the county alleging sexual battery, assault, gender discrimination and retaliation. A hearing on the lawsuit is set for later this month.

What is Griffin Resources LLC, the company under investigation for Bakersfields water contamination?

Snow alleges in court filings she and Wells had a one-year relationship that had recently ended when, in 2018, he entered her house while drunk and demanded sex. She says she declined and he tried to rip her clothes off.

Snow says she refused his advances and Wells apologized and left. She claims he continued to text and stalk her.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
A Riverside County Sheriffs deputy shot and killed a woman in Corona while authorities claim she and a man were attacking him and the man was reaching for his gun early Tuesday morning.

The woman, whose identity was not released, was shot at about 1:10 a.m. in the 1000 block of West 6th Street in Corona, the Sheriffs Department said in a news release.

A deputy was in pursuit of subjects [that] took off running as he tried to talk to them, and as the deputy turned a corner, a man lunged at him, and a fight ensued, officials said. The deputys identity was also not released.

While the deputy was engaged in a struggle with the male suspect, a female began assaulting the deputy, and a deputy-involved shooting occurred, the release added. The female suspect was struck by gunfire. The deputy continued to fight off the male suspect, who was attempting to take his firearm, until good Samaritans arrived and assisted in detaining the male suspect.

A Sheriffs Department spokesperson declined to say why the deputy wanted to speak to the people or provide more details on how the good Samaritans assisted, The Press-Enterprise reported.

Sheriffs officials said the woman was pronounced dead at a local hospital, though they did not detail if the deputy shot the woman intentionally, if she was struck inadvertently or if the gun was fired by mistake.

The deputy sustained moderate injuries, while the man was minorly injured.

The deputy has been placed on paid administrative leave as the state Department of Justice investigates the shooting.

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Gov. Ron DeSantis in Tampa on June 12, 2024. (Photo by Mitch Perry/Florida Phoeix)

Quality Journalism for Critical Times

Gov. Ron DeSantis said Wednesday that re-election campaigns of the two state attorneys hes suspended as well as the constitutional amendment that would legalize recreational cannabis for adults in Florida are some of the top priorities of a political action committee that hes involved with this election cycle.

The would be the Florida Freedom Fund, a political action committee that will have the ability to collect unlimited donations from individuals and corporations. The stated purpose of the PAC is to promote and support principled conservative causes and candidates in the state of Florida, according to its website.

During a press conference in Tampa following his signing of the 2024-25 state budget, the governor pounced on a question about how he intended to use that PAC this year.

Obviously, Im going to be involved, DeSantis said, adding that there was a number of things that are going to be important for the states future, beginning with the campaigns of the two Democratic state attorneys he has suspended over the past two years: Andrew Warren in Hillsborough County and Monique Worrell in Orange and Osceola counties.

Both are running for re-election for those positions.

In the case of Warren, DeSantis suspended him in August 2022 for alleged neglect of duty and incompetence. In August 2023 he suspended Worrell, claiming in an executive order that she had neglected her duty to faithfully prosecute crime in her jurisdiction.

Both Warren and Worrell have fought in the courts to get their jobs back. A federal judge ruled in January 2023 that Warren had done nothing wrong and that the governor had acted for his own political benefit, but that he was powerless to reinstate the twice-elected prosecutor.

Worrell took her case to the Florida Supreme Court, which upheld DeSantis decision to suspend her last week.

Here in Hillsborough, I mean obviously, you need to elect a prosecutor that is going to put criminals away and hold them accountable, and you have someone in office right now whos doing that, DeSantis said, referring to Suzy Lopez, the former Hillsborough County judge whom DeSantis appointed to replace Warren. So, I think thats an important race.

Political agenda

He added that the Worrell race was equally important.

The number one thing that has caused these cities to collapse  theres been a bunch of factors, but the minute a prosecutor goes in and wants to do a political agenda and think that theyre somehow pursuing social justice by releasing criminals, the quality of life goes down, he said. The areas become more dangerous.

Both Warren and Worrell have said in their campaign appearances that they had kept crime down in their respective communities. DeSantis discounted such proclamations.

What theyll do in some of those jurisdictions is theyll say, Oh, well, theres fewer crimes now because theres fewer reports of these crimes. If you get mugged in some of these places, nobody even bothers to report it, because they know nothings going to happen, he said. So, I think those two races are significant.

The Phoenix reached out to both Warren and Worrell for responses.

Looks like the governor finally realized the legal and constitutional way to keep someone from serving in office, Warren said. Im sure hell keep repeating his false talking points, but voters wont be fooled: They know we had tremendous success reducing crime, fighting for victims, and improving the system  and that crime has gone up significantly without me in office.

If Ron DeSantis truly prioritized reducing crime over playing politics, he would never have replaced a prosecutor who effectively drove down crime rates with a legal novice like Andrew Bain, who blindly supports every extreme agenda coming from the governors office, said Keisha Mulfort, a spokesperson for Worrell.

DeSantis failed at his abysmal presidential bid, so now hes back to undermining the will of local communities. He ignores the fact that crime was not only decreasing under Monique Worrells leadership, but was at its lowest over the past decade, reflecting her effective approach to justice. His implication that crime was down because people didnt report it is ludicrous. DeSantis doesnt seem to know what he wants  lower crime rates or to continue pushing these culture wars that voters have consistently rejected in Orange and Osceola counties. Its clear that neither DeSantis nor his handpicked state attorney have a genuine plan to keep our communities safe.

Legal weed

The governor segued into once again attacking Amendment 3, the proposed constitutional amendment on the ballot this November that would legalize recreational cannabis for adults 21 and over, saying that marijuana would reek everywhere across the state because of the way the ballot language is written.

How the [Florida Supreme] Court let that language on the ballot, I will never ever understand, he said.

It does not do justice  I mean, the amendment language says that there can be no penalties for use or possession  civil, criminal, anything. I think its going to be very difficult for businesses to operate without that infringing on them. I think youre going to see people  youll be able to bring what, 20 joints to an elementary school. Is that really going to be good for the state of Florida? I dont think so.

DeSantis went on to voice what could become a slogan for an anti-Amendment 3 campaign: Even if you have no interest in marijuana, marijuana will have an interest in you.

Morgan Hill, spokesperson for Safe & Smart Florida, the committee supporting Amendment 3, responded to the governors comments.

The governor is remarkably wrong, she said in an email.

Not only is Amendment 3 specifically for adults 21+, schools across the state and nation have drug-free policies. Regulated marijuana dispensaries have a strong history of prohibiting underage sales. Additionally, we have great confidence in the state Legislature and know they will enact appropriate regulations to prevent consumption in other public spaces, in the way that they have successfully prevented alcohol from being consumed in schools and elsewhere.

If the Florida Freedom Fund does intend to campaign against Amendment 3 and Amendment 4, the constitutional amendment that would restore a womans right to an abortion up until the time of viability (a new law bans abortions in the state after six weeks), it probably needs to get busy soon. A Fox News poll published last week showed that 69% of Floridians support the abortion-access initiative and 66% support legalizing the adult use of cannabis.

The post DeSantis mentions state attorney races when asked about new political committee appeared first on Florida Phoenix.
Deseret News archives: Tear down this wall. ... If it were only that easy

A spectator jumps up as President Ronald Reagan gives a thumbs up sign after his speech in front of the Brandenburg Gate in West Berlin, where he had said, "Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!" in this June 12, 1987, file photo. According to news reports then and now, the Berlin Wall had been erected in 1961 in response to the Republikflucht (republic flight), the mass migration of East Germans to West Germany. | J. SCOTT APPLEWHITE

A look back at local, national and world events through Deseret News archives.

On June 12, 1987, U.S. President Ronald Reagan, during a visit to the divided German city of Berlin, stood before the Brandenburg Gate and exhorted Soviet leader Mikhail S. Gorbachev to tear down this wall.

According to news reports then and now, the Berlin Wall had been erected in 1961 in response to the mass migration of East Germans to West Germany. Between the end of World War II in 1945 and the creation of the Berlin Wall in 1961, approximately 3.5 million East Germans escaped to the West. One of the easiest ways for East Germans to do this was simply to go to East Berlin, cross the street into West Berlin, then take a flight from Tempelhof airport to West Germany.

Most of the people who defected to the West were educated professionals, people who realized that they and their families could enjoy a much greater standard of living in the West, as well as the basic freedoms they had been denied. From the communist perspective, since these people had been educated at state expense, they were thieves who had stolen their education, and it was humiliating that its societys most educated people rejected the communist system and fled West in droves.

Reagan was in Germany to help Berlin commemorate its 750th anniversary, but took the opportunity to prod Gorbachev into further action on his openness policies.

Photo taken Oct. 31, 2009, at the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin shows a photo of U.S. President Ronald Reagan acknowledging the crowd after his speech in front of the Brandenburg Gate in West Berlin, where he said, "Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!" on June 12, 1987. | Franka Bruns

History will show that within two years, the wall had been symbolically torn down. But there is much more to that story, and certainly other factors within that proud country that played a more significant role than one speech by a foreign president.

In 2024, its hard to imagine anyone taking such a stand, or making such a bold statement, and surviving the X-verse or the weekend talk shows or the next election. But as a moment in time, the lessons to be learned from that moment are fascinating.

Here are some archived Deseret News stories from that period of time and in reflection.

Reagan says wall is dramatic proof of a failed dream

Gorbachev hails Reagan as great peacemaker

Reagan and Gorbachev hail year of achievement

Gorbachev, Reagan nominated for Nobel

Reagan asked Gorbachev to autograph magazine cover

The sultan of sound bites

And two years later:

This week in history: The fall of the Berlin Wall

Germany marks day wall fell

A look at the 1989 Associated Press report from when the Berlin Wall crumbled

In our opinion: The collapse of the Berlin Wall brings its own set of obligations for Americans
Steve Bannons last-ditch effort to avoid going to prison is eliciting more punch lines than sympathy.

The engineer behind the MAGA movement was convicted of contempt of Congress and originally sentenced in October last year. But he has evaded his prison sentence by demanding to see through an appeals process, which finally came crashing down last month.

Undeterred, the former White House strategist and staunch Trump ally filed an emergency request with the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals on Monday, begging it to spare him from carrying out his long-awaited four-month prison sentence, which is set to begin July 1.

Bannon put on a brave face, making threats Tuesday against the last two FBI directors, Andrew McCabe and James Comey, should another Trump presidential term come to pass. Get your passport, get the hell out of the country because hey, were coming, he said. We will hunt you down.

But behind closed doors, he seems to be shaking in his boots. This just in from the man promising to hunt us all down, wrote user Bradley P. Moss on X, linking to Bannons latest filing.

On camera: Bring itthey can lock me up but theyll never shut [me] up! In Court filings: Please, oh please dont make me go to jail, wrote X user Mike Stivala.

Im not sure who needs to hear this, but Steve Bannon is going to prison, wrote political consultant Rick Wilson in a post on X. Perhaps hell have time to write a manifesto about His Struggle.

The reference to Mein Kampf is especially apt, seeing as Bannon once said that Donald Trump reminded him of Hitler, a comparison he actually thought was complimentary. Bannon worked to build a MAGA party that could rule for one hundred years.

Now Bannon plans to take his appeal to the Supreme Court, according to the new filing. Good luck to him: Former director of the White House National Trade Council Peter Navarro, who was also convicted of contempt of Congress and imprisoned, tried a similar gambit, which Chief Justice John Roberts dismissed without even referring it to the full court.
Despite bankruptcy filing, documents show Rudy Guiliani spent over $200,000 in last 6 months

Georgia election interference defendant and former New York Mayor Rudy Guiliani has spent more than $200,000 in the last six months.

Giuliani filed bankruptcy after a jury awarded Fulton County election workers Ruby Freeman and Shay Moss $148 million after they said he continued to spread lies about them tampering with votes from the 2020 election.

When Giuliani filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in December, he said he had less than $10 million in assets but more than $100 million in debt.

Last month, creditors asked a bankruptcy judge to appoint a trustee to oversee Guilianis finances because they claim he is hiding his spending and income from them.

In previous court filings, attorneys said they had significant questions regarding the Debtors disclosures and spending, including with respect to his Amazon and Apple purchases.

According to documents filed on Monday, Giuliani has spent $206,000 since filing for bankruptcy.

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He used the funds to pay expenses over the past six months related to his business Giuliani Communications, his apartments in New York and Florida, a $150 yacht club fee, and care expenses of his ex-wifes mother, his counsel stated in a Monday objection to a trustee appointment motion, Bloomberg reported.

Currently, Giuliani is living off of income that he is making from speaking events, personal services, his podcast, and his line of coffee called Rudy Coffee.

His goal is to generate enough income from his personal services to cover his expenses, Giulianis lawyer Gary Fischoff said, according to Bloomberg. He is working hard to reach that goal.

Giuliani may also be suffering from 911 lung disease, the court documents said. A doctor told Giuliani to investigate the possibility that he is suffering from symptoms of the disease, Fischoff said.

A hearing in the case is currently scheduled for June 17.

RELATED NEWS:
Despite recent headlines surrounding violent and threatening encounters with catalytic converter thieves, data from the Los Angeles Police Department shows that the crimes have dropped significantly over the past two years.

The data, which was analyzed and summarized by independent news organization Crosstown LA, shows that catalytic converter thefts peaked in late 2022 but have been on the decline since.

LAPD Interim Chief Dominic Choi said in a recent Los Angeles Police Commission meeting there were 2,313 catalytic converter thefts citywide through from Jan. 1 to June 4, while there were 3,857 thefts over that same time frame last year  a roughly 45% decrease year over year.

In late 2019 and early 2020, when the problem was at its worst, police received as many as 900 reports of stolen catalytic converters per month.

For much of the last year there have been in the vicinity of 350500 reports each month, Crosstown wrote.

The dropoff, according to Crosstown, can likely be attributed to multiple factors, including an onus by law enforcement to prevent the crimes and a set of new laws that are making the thefts less lucrative.

Catalytic converters are regular targets for thieves because they can be cut from the undercarriage of a car with relative ease and sold to recyclers for anywhere from $25 to $300 for a standard vehicle and up to $1,400 for hybrid vehicles, according to the vehicle data company Carfax.

The critical piece of automobile tech is used to filter out harmful byproducts from your cars exhaust. They use precious metals like platinum, palladium and rhodium to accomplish this, and those metals can sell for hundreds to thousands of dollars per ounce.

But Crosstown suggests that a flurry of news stories has prompted law enforcement agencies to devote more focus on the crimes and new legislation now requires recyclers and scrap buyers to have documentation showing that any purchased catalytic converter was not stolen or illegally removed.

Other strategies involve specific campaigns to make the crucial vehicle part more easily identifiable with its proper owner.

The LAPD and other law enforcement agencies host occasional events in which a vehicle identification number can be etched on the device.

The findings from Crosstown are consistent with reports from other sources, including some insurance providers that show repair requests to replace catalytic converters also began going down in 2023  the first decline seen since 2019.

However, Carfax, known for tracking repairs and accidents on vehicles across the country, cautioned that the problem might actually be significantly underreported, in part because drivers might not file insurance claims to get the part replaced.

But local data at least shows that something has changed in recent years, Crosstown says.

Despite high-profile crimes, including the killing of actor Johnny Wactor who confronted a group of thieves, as well as a homeowner seemingly receiving a warning from another, the crimes arent as prevalent as many might think.

To read the full report from Crosstown LA, click here.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA.
Ginny Dudek lives with a severely weakened immune system. She survives by injecting herself twice a week with antibodies and rarely venturing out.

I pretty much live in a bubble, she told me. But when she does leave her home, she wears a mask over her nose and mouth to avoid getting infected.

On Tuesday morning, the 72-year-old Durham resident traveled to Raleigh where she stood with others in front of the Legislative Building to object to the latest bit of divisive maliciousness to emerge from the Republican-controlled General Assembly. That is House Bill 237, an act that would restrict the wearing of masks in public.

Its like insanity. Its like what in the world? Dudek said. Dont you have more important things to do as a legislature? It makes no sense to me.

The bill arose out of Republican concerns over Black Lives Matter and pro-Palestinian protesters wearing masks during marches and demonstrations. Its justification is that restricting masks will make it easier for police to identify protesters who engage in obstructive, destructive or violent behavior.

That justification has its own problems  such as violating the First Amendment and inviting China-style facial recognition surveillance  but it also overlooks people such as Dudek, who rely on masks to protect themselves from frequent and potentially deadly infections. When the bill surfaced, health advocates objected and lawmakers tweaked the wording to allow masks worn for medical reasons..

Dudek thought that was the end of the issue, but she said the wording about who can wear a mask  and who can ask to have it removed  is so vague that it puts those with compromised immune systems at risk. The way the wording is, it just reduces my freedom to feel safe in the world, she said.

As a practical matter, Dudek is unlikely to be told to remove her mask. Most of her outings are to Duke Medical Center or to restaurants during hours when there are few customers. But she worries about more active people who may be told to take off their masks.

Im not so concerned about me, but Im concerned about the people much younger that go out to places, concerts and whatever, she said.

Causes of immune deficiency vary. In Dudeks case, she was infected with Lyme disease at age 50 and the illness eroded her ability to fight off infections. Cancer treatments can weaken immunity. Some people are born with immune deficiencies.

In her remarks at the Legislative Building news conference held by mask bill opponents, Dudek said: This bill added language that gives anyone who is in the same space as me, whether it is in a public or private location, the right to request that I remove my mask to show them my face.

Republican lawmakers were not moved by the objections. They passed the bill on Tuesday and sent it to Gov. Roy Cooper. Ironically, it includes an unrelated provision that effectively would allow national political donors to North Carolina campaigns to mask their identities.

Cooper will veto this ill-conceived measure that would be hazardous to people and to politics. And the Republicans will likely override the veto. That will enter into law changes that could expose the vulnerable to illness.

Dudek said, Today I have the privilege of wearing a mask and tomorrow I may not.

Associate opinion editor Ned Barnett can be reached at 919-404-7583, or nbarnett@ newsobserver.com
State Sen. Nicole Mitchell, DFL-Woodbury, sat silently in the front row Wednesday as her lawyer informed an ethics panel that her first-degree burglary case would take months to resolve and that she may plead not guilty next month.

The four-person Senate's ethics subcommittee, chaired by Senate President Bobby Joe Champion, DFL-Minneapolis, met for about 10 minutes before taking no action other than setting the next hearing for July 25 at 11 a.m.

At the urging of the two Republicans on the subcommittee, Sen. Jeremy Miller of Winona and Andrew Mathews of Princeton, the panel left open the option of meeting sooner if the police body-camera footage of Mitchell's April arrest becomes available. Conservative website Alpha News has asked Becker County District Court Judge Gretchen Thilmony to release the footage sooner rather than later. The judge has yet to make a decision.

In May, when the panel took up the initial complaint filed by numerous Senate Republicans, Mathews and Miller both agreed there was probable cause that an ethics violation had occurred and they wanted to push forward with an ethics investigation that could result in the finding of a violation. But their effort failed on a tie vote.

The two DFLers, Champion and Sen. Mary Kunesh, DFL-New Brighton, wanted to wait for the criminal process to play out.

Mitchell, who has said she doesn't plan to resign from her Senate seat, was initially set to appear in court on Monday, but that date was pushed back to July 1 because her lawyer, Bruce Ringstrom Jr. is in trial. Ringstrom, addressing the panel remotely, said the charge won't be resolved at the next hearing, although he did say Mitchell could enter a not guilty plea on that date.

Ringstrom said he expects the first-degree burglary charge will be pending for months, possibly into November.

Mitchell sat in the front row with another attorney from the firm, Dane DeKrey. She did not address the committee nor did she speak to reporters before or after the session. She was charged with first-degree burglary in April after police arrested her at the Detroit Lakes home her step-mother shared with her late father.

At the time, Mitchell was dressed in all black and carrying a flashlight with a sock over it. The first-term senator was arrested in the basement of the home after allegedly having driven from Woodbury after midnight. As she was being detained, she told her stepmother "something to the effect of, 'I was just trying to get a couple of my dad's things because you wouldn't talk to me anymore,'" the charges said.

Through the remaining month of the 2024 legislative session, the DFL majority maintained that Mitchell should remain in her seat to represent her constituents. With a 34-33 majority, they also needed her vote.

After the session wrapped, state DFL Party Chairman Ken Martin and Gov. Tim Walz said Mitchell should resign as did DFL Sens. Heather Gustafson of Vadnais Heights, Matt Klein of Mendota Heights and Bonnie Westlin of Plymouth.

Others, including Sen. John Marty, DFL-Roseville, have said she is entitled to due process in the criminal courts. DFL Sens. Omar Fateh of Minneapolis, Jen McEwen of Duluth and Tou Xiong of Maplewood agreed with Marty that Mitchell was entitled to wait for a resolution of criminal due process.

Mathews and Miller said the dynamic has shifted since the session ended - with the calls from Martin and Walz for a resignation. Miller acknowledged that a decision to resign rests with Mitchell. "She has to do what she feels is best for the constituents she represents," he said, adding, "How it plays out from here, I think a lot will depend on the criminal hearings."

Another post-session change was the resignation of Sen. Kelly Morrison, DFL-Deephaven. She stepped down and a special election was set for November for her seat. Morrison is seeking to succeed U.S. Rep. Dean Phillips in Congress. Morrison's departure put the Senate at 33-33 partisan split.

After Wednesday's hearing, Champion was asked why he held such a brief ethics meeting given that he knew the criminal matter had been postponed. He said he wanted the session in the open "so people don't think I'm behind the scenes trying to do something."

Staff writer Ryan Faircloth contributed to this report.
HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, Fla. (WFLA)  A residential treatment program in Tampa meant to help troubled teens has shut down. It comes after 8 On Your Side reported on the death of a teenager at the facility. Were now hearing more about conditions at the facility from someone who was there.

Its been nearly two weeks since 17-year-old Zykiria bell died in state custody and her family still doesnt have answers.

The facility that she was at, they refused to speak with us, said Sophia Bing, Zykirias aunt. They refuse any phone calls that weve had.



A judge placed Zykiria at Lake Academy in Hillsborough County for behavioral issues. Its one of the states high-risk residential facilities.

Zykirias family says she was making progress and looking forward to leaving.



The last time I spoke with her the last conversation, Grandma, I love you, said Dianetta Thompkins, Zykirias grandmother. Ive been doing good. I want to come home.



Zykiria was expected to be released around her 18th birthday in August, but on May 29, she died at the facility. The Department of Juvenile Justice has not said how she died.



This family deserves to know what happened to their daughter, said an employee.

This employee does not want to share their identity, but said they wanted us to know what its like inside Lake Academy.



The things that Ive seen in there shouldve never happened to a lot of these girls, had somebody been involved and cared and been around maybe this wouldve not happened, they said.



Days after our report on Zykyrias death, the DJJ shut down the site.



On Wednesday, transport vans from counties, all around wherever the girls were from, the transport vans were on their way to pick them up, said the employee.

While this investigation is underway, out of an abundance of caution, the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice has removed all youth currently residing at Lake Academy in Tampa. They will be temporarily moved to juvenile detention centers in surrounding counties and then relocated to residential commitment programs that can meet their specialized treatment needs, Deputy Communications Director Elaine Guiler said in a statement sent to 8 On Your Side.

Private contractor TrueCore Behavioral Solutions operated Lake Academy for the state. But despite numerous calls and emails from 8 On Your Side, the company has not responded to our questions about Zykirias death.

When asked why it took over a week for the state to shut down the facility and move the girls out, the employee said because theyre not in a rush to do anything, and if you can find a facility administrator on that property on a daily basis, youre lucky.

The employee claims the environment at Lake Academy was not a safe one for the students who lived there or the teachers who taught them.



Ive seen some horrendous interactions multiple teachers assaulted beat up so badly, that they cant go back, said the teacher.

When asked who was failing the kids, they said I believe both the state, I think the judges, I think the facilities, and I believe the district. The judges keep putting the kids back in the same facility.



That was the case for Zykiria. Her family said she was sent to Lake Academy twice. When her Aunt Sophia Bing would visit, she had her own concerns.



The way the staff interacts with them; their attitudes, theyre not animals, theyre kids, said Bing.



With more questions than answers, a family is left grieving, while employees like this one fight for the truth to come to light.



They should have to tell the family what happened and they dont want to admit to lack of supervision; that has been going on going for years and theyve been cited, said the employee. The states been in there, but the state doesnt come around as much.

8 On Your Side does not know what the state of Florida is doing to investigate the Bells death, but we do know the Hillsborough County Sheriffs Office has opened an investigation.

Lake Academy is being cleaned out and signs are being removed. We are told another agency is making a bid to move in.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA.
Weeks after he was convicted of 34 felony counts in his hush-money trial, Donald Trump confessed to having a gunwhich would be illegal with his felony conviction.



New York City Department of Probation officials questioned the convicted felon and Republican presidential nominee Tuesday in a presentencing interview, and part of the discussion concerned a gun registered to him in the state. Under federal law, convicted felons are not allowed to have guns or ammunition.



A city official told CNN that Trump mentioned a gun of his in Florida, possibly one of the three firearms listed on his New York City concealed weapons permit.

Trump turned over two of his three licensed guns to the New York Police Department on March 31, 2023, before he was arrested for paying hush money to adult film actress Stormy Daniels. The third gun was supposed to be lawfully moved to Florida. Palm Beach police told CNN that they werent aware of any gun Trump owned and that he hadnt submitted one to them since his felony conviction.



After his 2023 hush-money arrest, the Manhattan District Attorneys Office suspended Trumps gun license, and with his conviction, his license will be revoked, city police told CNN. A New York official said the information on the third gun will be referred to local authorities in Florida to take whatever steps are necessary.



Its ironic that Trump may be in trouble for illegally having a gun weeks after his conviction at the same time that President Bidens son, Hunter, was convicted on federal gun charges. But Trump doesnt like to give the authorities what he believes is his property, even when the law says otherwise. Just look at the classified documents he tried to hoard at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida. He might be storing his gun not too far away.
FAYETTEVILLE, WV (WVNS)  A Disaster Recovery Center is set to open in Fayetteville for people who were affected by severe weather at the beginning of April 2024.

The Disaster Recovery Center will open at 8:00 A.M. on Wednesday, June 12, 2024 at the Memorial Building at 200 West Maple Avenue in the Fayetteville area of Fayette County.

More than $1 million provided to April disaster survivors in West Virginia

The recovery centers, open from 8:00 A.M. to 6:00 P.M. Monday through Saturday, are meant to assist people affected by the severe weather in Fayette, Boone, Cabell, Kanawha, Lincoln, Marshall, Nicholas, Ohio, Putnam, Wayne, and Wetzel counties by helping them apply for FEMA assistance.

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) representatives will be found at the Disaster Recovery Centers, where those who visit the center can ask them questions.

Those who got a letter about their application status from FEMA can go to a Disaster Recovery Center to find out more about the next steps they can take. Staff members at the recovery centers can answer questions, as well as help people submit further information or documentation to FEMA to continue processing applications.

People affected by the April 2, 2024 through April 6, 2024 storms do not have to visit the centers in person to register with FEMA, they can go to the disaster assistance website, call 800-621- FEMA (3362), which is a toll-free line that is open from 7:00 A.M. to 11:00 P.M. seven days a week.

Manchin announces nearly $1 million in funding for improvements for Greenbrier County Economic Development and BridgeValley Community and Technical College

Many things could be included as a part of disaster assistance, such as necessary home repairs, personal property replacement, grants to help renters and homeowners pay for temporary housing, and other serious disaster-related needs that are not covered by insurance.

Low-interest disaster loans for businesses of any size, renters, homeowners, and private non-profit organizations, are offered by the U.S. Small Business Administration. The loans can cover rebuilding, repairs, and replacing personal and real estate property that is lost or damaged by the severe weather.

More information about disaster recovery in West Virginia, go to the West Virginia Emergency Management Division website, FEMAs website, or their respective Facebook pages.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WVNS.
A split Upper Arlington school board has voted to join a lawsuit that aims to strike down universal school vouchers, ignoring a letter from Lt. Gov. Jon Husted urging members not to join the suit.

The Vouchers Hurt Ohio lawsuit has gained support from more than 200 school districts in Ohio that have paid dues to help fund it, but not all who joined have continued to pay every year. The universal EdChoice vouchers the lawsuit seeks to end give families sending children to private schools state money to help pay for tuition.

The Upper Arlington school board voted 3-2 on Tuesday to join, with Board President Jenny McKenna and members Liz George Stump and Nidhi Satiani voting in favor of the resolution. Board Vice President Lou Sauter and member Lori Trent voted against it.

Proponents of the lawsuit argue the vouchers hurt public school districts because the money spent on vouchers comes out of the same line item in the state budget as public school funding. Supporters of the universal vouchers maintain it is an important way to ensure families have the freedom to choose to send their children to private schools.

Upper Arlington City School District Board of Education

"For me, joining this lawsuit is not about whether or not I'm in support of vouchers," McKenna said before the vote. "It is about the fact that there's no cap on the number of vouchers awarded. My concern is,as the number of applicants grows, the overall state pool of public education shrinks  increasing the financial responsibility of local taxpayers. Having an uncapped voucher system is not good for our students or our community."

Sharp increase in voucher use in Upper Arlington

Last year, lawmakers expanded eligibility for EdChoice vouchers to all Ohioans, which has resulted in a large rise in vouchers, even in suburban schools like Upper Arlington.

More on Upper Arlington: Upper Arlington library officially becomes union, despite leadership pushback

In the 2022-2023 school year, 11 Upper Arlington families received an EdChoice voucher. The number of families who received the voucher shot up to 304 the following year, according to data from the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce.

Board members opposed to joining lawsuit question its worth

During the board meeting, Trent and Sauter questioned the value of spending money on this lawsuit and said the vouchers are important to families in the district because they provide avenues for parents to choose where their child gets an education.

Trent said that if the lawsuit is successful it is unclear if the money that was being spent on vouchers will continue to be spent on public education or a different state initiative.

The Legislative Service Commission estimated that EdChoice Expansion vouchers would cost $398 million in fiscal year 2024 but reports indicate it has gone over budget. The LSC estimated it will cost $439 million in FY 25.

The Vouchers Hurt Ohio lawsuit will be heard on Nov 4 in Franklin County Common Pleas Court.

Lt. Gov. Husted urged board not to join lawsuit

Ohio Lt. Gov. John Husted, a resident of Upper Arlington, had sent a letter to the Upper Arlington City School District Board of Education urging the board not to join the lawsuit against the state's universal EduChoice voucher system. A 3-2 majority of the board decided to proceed anyway.

Husted, who is a resident of Upper Arlington, sent the school board a letter dated June 6 urging the board to not vote to join the lawsuit.

In the letter, Husted claims that the district would waste thousands of taxpayer dollars by joining the lawsuit because the case law was settled in a 2002 U.S. Supreme Court case, Zelman v. Simmons-Harris.

The nation's highest court ruled in that case that a voucher program in Cleveland did not violate the establishment clause of the U.S. Constitution.

More on Husted: Lt. Gov. Jon Husted lays groundwork for potential Ohio governor run in 2026

The lawsuit requires that districts who join pay $2 for every district pupil. Upper Arlington City School District had more than 6,600 students in the 2023-2024 school year, according to a report by the district. So, joining the lawsuit would cost the district about $13,200.

Claims in Husted letter challenged by former Ohio SUPCO justice

Former Ohio Supreme Court Chief Justice Eric Brown, who serves as chair of the Vouchers Hurt Ohio steering committee, spoke during the school board meeting about the validity of the U.S. Supreme Court decision. He said the Vouchers Hurt Ohio lawsuit is based on the state violating the Ohio Constitution, and the cases Husted cited do not apply to it.

The judge presiding over the case accepted all five of the lawsuit's counts despite the state's attempt to have the case dismissed. Brown said the lawsuit would have been dismissed if the case had already been settled like Husted wrote in the letter.

Husted wrote that 130,000 students receive EdChoice vouchers and that most of them are low-income and rely on the voucher to go to school. Supporters of the lawsuit disagreed, saying during the meeting that the state voucher program has become a refund and rebate plan for primarily wealthy families who never intended to send their children to public schools.

Husted also claimed that the lawsuit aimed to deny students who received vouchers for autism or other special needs. Supporters of the lawsuit noted that Ohio has separate voucher programs for autism and special needs students and those are not the target of the lawsuit, only the universal EdChoice vouchers.

Supporters speak up at board meeting

About 35-40 people came to the meeting in support of joining the lawsuit, including parents, former teachers, members of the Vouchers Hurt Ohio steering committee.

More on UA school board: Dozens speak at packed Upper Arlington school board meeting in wake of covert video

Betsy O'Brochta, a retired kindergarten teacher who taught at Barrington Elementary School, spoke in support of the lawsuit. She said she and others have been trying to push the board to take this action for 14 months and is very proud of the decision it made.

"Do you want public schools to thrive, or do you want to continue the expansion of the voucher program, which is the biggest threat to public education in our lifetime?" Elaine Long, a retired Columbus City Schools kindergarten teacher who worked with O'Brochta on promoting the lawsuit, asked the Upper Arlington board.

Dennis Willard, spokesperson for Vouchers Hurt Ohio, said he agreed with Satiani, who during the meeting said the vote would put the district on the right side of history and that it is a signal for districts similar to Upper Arlington to join the lawsuit.

Columbus-area schools in the lawsuit

Willard said more than 200 Ohio school districts have paid dues to the lawsuit, but only 156 districts are listed on the lawsuit's website because some have not continued to pay dues every year. Among the other local school districts who have joined the lawsuit are Columbus City Schools, the state's largest school district; South-Western City Schools, the second largest district in Franklin County and the state's fifth largest; Bexley City Schools, Gahanna-Jefferson Schools, Reynoldsburg City Schools, Westerville City Schools and Worthington City Schools.

The Groveport Madison school board was expected to vote on whether to join the lawsuit at its board meeting Wednesday.

DHunt@dispatch.com

@donovanhunt9

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Upper Arlington Schools joins lawsuit to end universal school vouchers
LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  Two docks remain closed at Las Vegas Boat Harbor after a weekend fire that damaged 36 watercraft.

Were pretty much in limbo, Gail Kaiser at Las Vegas Boat Harbor told 8 News Now on Tuesday. Not even allowed to walk around on the dock yet.

The fire started around 12:30 a.m. early Sunday and is still under investigation. Kaiser confirmed that the fire started on a houseboat.

Henderson resident Bretaishe Stewart told 8 News Now the fire jumped to a jet ski and, It just blew up. The fire spread to other watercraft from there.

Kaiser said there were 20 mph winds on the lake at the time. Fiberglass is a very hot fire, she said.

Boating Lake Mead, the harbors Facebook page, reported Monday that 11 boats were destroyed and a total of 36 boats were damaged.

Customers at the marina are required to maintain a $300,000 insurance policy for property and liability, Kaiser said.

The I and R docks will remain closed while investigators work. Utilities havent been restored to those docks, but the rest of the marina remains open to the public.

Emergency responders fought the fire initially, but firefighters from Clark County, Henderson, Boulder City, the National Park Service (NPS) and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) also came to the scene as the fire burned for several hours. NPS and the Nevada Department of Public Safety are handling the fire investigation, according to Lake Mead Public Affairs Officer John Haynes. No indication at this point of how long it will take to wrap up, he said Tuesday.

Booms are in place to prevent the spread of oil and fuel from damaged watercraft, and the Environmental Protection Agency has been on the scene.

Kaiser said TowBoatUS is the lead on salvage operations. Las Vegas Scuba is also involved.

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TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, June 12. Uzbekistan and Rothschild & Cie Bank reached agreements to intensify efforts to attract investors to promising projects, Trend reports.

The news followed a meeting between Minister of Investment, Industry and Trade of Uzbekistan Laziz Kudratov with Managing Director of Rothschild & Cie Bank Arielle Malard de Rothschild.

During the meeting, the parties discussed practical aspects of the development of joint investment projects and the prospects of cooperation in the banking and finance spheres.

In particular, both sides reviewed the course of complex transformation and pre-privatization preparation of state enterprises on the basis of wide competitive selection.

Earlier in 2022, the Ministry of Energy of Uzbekistan and the UKs Rothschild & Co. investment bank signed a cooperation agreement.

This agreement helps to attract the Rothschild & Cie and NM Rothschild & Sons Limited banks as strategic consultants for the analysis of current promising projects in the energy sector of the country. In particular, to identify and attract potential investors through project financing, loans, and direct participation in energy projects.
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)  An El Paso man is facing a charge of collision involving death after a hit-and-run crash that killed another man back in April in West El Paso.

Police: Man arrested in fatal hit-and-run from April

KTSM has obtained court documents that show what led up to the incident.

Hector Julian Velasquez, 22 was arrested on Tuesday, June 11, and was charged with collision involving death from a hit-and-run crash that happened on April 28 at the intersection of North Mesa and Castellano.

Court documents say Velasquez was traveling northbound on the 4800 block of North Mesa in a black GMC Sierra pickup truck. At the same time, Eric Leal, 23, and his front passenger were traveling westbound on the 100 block of Castellano in a silver Dodge Charger.

Court documents say Leal drove through a red light at the intersection and Velasquez struck the left side of the Dodge Charger and traveled onto the center median of North Mesa after striking a traffic light pole.

Court documents say Velasquez fled the scene after the crash without rendering aid to the occupants in the Dodge Charger. The pickup truck was also left at the scene.

Court documents say Leal suffered life-threatening injuries and was transported to a local hospital where he later died. The front passenger was also transported with serious injuries.

A witness who was present at the time of the incident told police that Velasquez fled the scene on foot towards the Outlook Apartments, according to court documents.

Another witness who was living at the apartment complex at the time of the incident saw Velasquez walking through the area. The witness told police that Velasquez was on the phone asking for someone to pick him up and was coughing and struggling to maintain his balance, according to court documents.

Investigators then received an anonymous tip that Velasquez may have been picked up by family/friends who lived in the area after the accident, according to court documents.

Court documents say Velasquezs girlfriend told a family member that Velasquez was in a crash and that they both got into an argument at El Jaguar that night. Velasquez got upset and left the bar in his pickup truck, court documents said.

Velasquezs girlfriend then met with police later on and said that Velasquez had told her that he had a green light and it was the other vehicles fault, according to court documents.

An arrest warrant was then issued for Velasquez after investigators revealed that the pickup truck was registered in his name along with other evidence that was corroborated, according to court documents.

On June 7, Velasquez was taken into custody after he attempted to re-enter the United States at a port of entry in Downtown El Paso, according to El Paso Police.

Velasquez was booked into the El Paso County Detention Center with a $150,000 bond.

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Unionized doctors and dentists who work at hospitals and other health facilities run by Los Angeles County will get cost-of-living increases and bonuses under new agreements with the county, reached after more than two years of bargaining and threats of a strike.

The tentative agreements with a pair of bargaining units represented by the Union of American Physicians and Dentists are expected to be voted on this month by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors.

Members of the Union of American Physicians and Dentists had geared up to go on strike in December, complaining that inadequate benefits had hampered recruitment and retention and driven up vacancy rates for crucial positions in county facilities, including for psychiatrists in its jails.

Much of the dispute centered on the "Megaflex" benefits package that L.A. County provides to more than 14,000 employees including managerial and administrative staff, most of whom are not unionized. That package gives workers an additional 14.5% to 19% over their base pay to buy benefits and allows them to keep any unspent portion as income, according to county officials.

UAPD pushed for its members to get those benefits. The Department of Health Services countered that they already had an "extensive benefits package"  the same one in place for more than 35,000 other county workers  and that giving all of them a more costly package would prevent the county from concentrating its incentives on the hardest-to-recruit workers.

The two sides also sparred over the costs of expanding Megaflex: At one point, UAPD officials estimated the added costs at roughly $20 million a year based on current wages, but county officials had pegged the expected expense at more than $86 million a year, with costs rising with any salary increase.

Read more: This anesthesiologist is L.A. County's highest paid employee. He works 94 hours a week

The planned strike in December was put on hold after the county and the union agreed to seek opinions from outside experts about the implications of expanding Megaflex.

In late April, the UAPD announced that its negotiating teams had reached tentative agreements with the county, which were ratified by union members by the end of May.

Under the deal, the workers would get cost-of-living increases that match those received by other county employees, with additional hikes for some positions ranging from 2.75% to 19.25%, according to the county chief executive office. Starting wages were also increased for some medical specialties such as neurology.

In addition, the county agreed to bolster benefits "no later than January 1, 2026," according to the chief executive office. The added benefits include a 401(k) plan, as well as short-term disability benefits for physicians, who had complained that doctors were not getting enough paid time off to recover from childbirth.

The existing set of benefits put female physicians planning to become pregnant "at a disadvantage compared to private hospitals in the area," said Dr. Michelle Armacost, a physician specializing in neurology at one of the county facilities, in a statement released by the union. "We demanded equitable benefits, and we were willing to strike for them. The county heard us, and we prevailed."

Beyond those increases, county workers who are not covered by Megaflex will get an annual bonus of $14,000 on top of their base salary, according to the chief executive office. Union officials also said the deal features a "physician loyalty bonus for residents who choose to remain with the county after residency."

"These new agreements set competitive wages and attractive benefits that we hope will allow us to fill critical vacancies at our county-run hospitals and other facilities and retain the talented healthcare workers already providing essential services to our county residents," the chief executive office said in a statement.

County officials did not immediately provide an estimate of the costs of the new contract with the unionized doctors.

Read more: Five arrested over 'sham hospices' alleged to bilk Medicare for over $15 million

Benefits have long been a bone of contention for county physicians. Doctors employed by L.A. County were cut off from Megaflex benefits more than two decades ago, a few years after they had voted to unionize.

At the time, county officials said such benefits were available only to nonunionized employees. "The doctors, they knew full well what they were getting into," then-Supervisor Don Knabe said in 2001.

Labor officials decried it as a move to break the fledgling union, calculating the value of the benefits package at $19,000 or more to some senior doctors at the time. State lawmakers then banned the county from removing workers from a benefits plan because they unionized, making the law retroactive to before the L.A. County move. The UAPD also sued the county, eventually securing over $10 million in settlement.

The union later negotiated a new agreement with the county that grandfathered in existing workers on Megaflex, but put new hires on a different plan, the county chief executive office said. As of December, only a small number of UAPD members  fewer than 200  had Megaflex benefits, according to the county.

In a report last year to county supervisors, Dr. Christina R. Ghaly, director of the Department of Health Services, said that over the years, "steady increases in salary were negotiated while factoring in that this group does not receive Megaflex benefits."

UAPD President Dr. Stuart Bussey rejected the idea that they had "bargained Megaflex away" at a public rally last year. In the past, "recruitment wasn't as bad as it is now," and a state law limiting pension benefits for government employees wasn't in effect, Bussey told the crowd. "Times have changed."

In a recent statement to union members, Bussey said that UAPD members had "refused to settle until we secured a collective bargaining agreement that prioritizes patient care with competitive pay and benefits."

"Your determination and patience paid off, and we look forward to collaborating with the county to fill vacant positions."

Read more: Older men die by suicide at steep rates. Here's how the VA is trying to change that

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
ABILENE, Texas (KTAB/KRBC)  An Abilene man arrested in a SWAT incident Tuesday night is accused of robbing a Long John Silvers.

Samuel Fernandez was taken into custody at a south Abilene home after a SWAT team deployed multiple rounds of gas.

Court documents state Fernandez was a former employee at the Long John Silvers on Westwood Drive.

IN CUSTODY: APD, SWAT uses gas at South Abilene home to remove suspect with felony warrant

Fernadezs former coworkers told police he was not wanted there as he was suspected of stealing money and using narcotics on the job.

Sunday, one of these coworkers saw Fernandez ringing something up to get the register open and when he confronted Fernandez, he noticed Fernandez had a knife in his hand and felt fear.

Fernandez was able to take nearly $200 in cash before fleeing the scene.

He was apprehended during this SWAT incident a few days later.

Fernandez now remains held in the Taylor County Jail on a $150,000 bond.

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Aircraft shelters with varying degrees of hardening are seeing a renaissance of sorts in response to growing drone and missile threats. China alone has built over 400 new hardened aircraft shelters across various bases in recent years, not to mention many other shelters offering lower tiers of protection. This trend is being seen in other countries like Russia, North Korea, and Iran. At the same time, a debate is now heating up between the U.S. military and Congress about the value of building new defensive infrastructure for its aircraft. Aside from a few forward locales, the United States does not invest in robust shelters for its combat aircraft, which is increasingly looking like a stark vulnerability. This all comes as drones, in particular, have completely reshaped discussions in the United States about what is necessary to adequately defend air bases and the aircraft they host, both abroad and at home. Ukraines recent attacks targeting Russian Su-57 Felon next-generation fighters sitting out in the open at a major test base far from its border have only underscored this threat. To Harden Or Not To Harden? In May, a group of 13 Republican members of Congress penned an open letter to the heads of the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Navy seeking information about plans for new hardened aircraft shelters and other passive defensive measures at bases across the Pacific region. John Moolenaar, the Chairman of the Houses Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party, and Marco Rubio, the ranking member of the Senate Intelligence Committee, were among the letters signatories. Despite the grave threat to U.S. bases over the last decade, it is China, not the United States, that has built more than 400 hardened aircraft shelters, the letter noted, citing analysis from the Center for a New American Security and Hudson Institute think tanks. During the same period, the United States built only twenty-two additional hardened shelters in the region, on U.S. bases in Japan and South Korea. Notably, there are no hardened aircraft shelters in Guam or CNMI [Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands]. How many hardened aircraft shelters the U.S. military has in total currently is unclear. As of 2014, there were nearly 210 such structures spread across bases in the Pacific region, specifically, the majority of which were in South Korea, according to a report from Air Force Magazine. This number reflects an almost minimal increase of 2.5 percent in [U.S.] HAS [hardened aircraft shelter] construction over the past 12 years, that piece noted at the time. A picture from a ceremony in 2020 marking the completion of construction of new hardened aircraft shelters at Kunsan Air Base in South Korea, where elements of the U.S. Air Force are forward-deployed. USAF Hardened aircraft shelters exist at U.S. air bases outside of the Pacific region, too. Much of this existing infrastructure traces its roots back to the Cold War and is in need of upgrades. Unsurprisingly, in recent war games [conducted by the Center for Strategic and International Studies think tank] simulating a conflict with China over Taiwan, 90 percent of U.S. aircraft losses occurred on the ground, rather than from air combat, the recent letter from the 13 members of Congress added. An outlying U.S territory, Guam is an extremely strategic hub for U.S. military operations in the Western Pacific and, by extension, is expected to be a major target in any future high-end conflict in the region, especially one against China. The U.S. military is currently engaged in a major effort to expand the air and missile defenses on the island, which you can read more about here. Concerns about its continued vulnerability have prompted efforts to expand air base and other military infrastructure elsewhere in the region, including on Tinian in the Northern Mariana Islands. A map showing radar arcs and areas of restricted airspace associated with the Enhanced Integrated Air and Missile Defense system. MDA While active defenses such as air and missile defense systems are an important part of base and force protection, their high cost and limited numbers mean the U.S. will not be able to deploy enough of them to fully protect our bases, the May letter added. In order to complement active defenses and strengthen our bases, we must invest in passive defenses, like hardened aircraft shelters Robust passive defenses can help minimize the damage of missile attacks by increasing our forces ability to withstand strikes, recover quickly, and effectively continue operations. While hardened aircraft shelters do not provide complete protection from missile attacks, they do offer significantly more protection against submunitions than expedient shelters (relocatable steel shelters), the letters authors conceded. The very high speeds that ballistic missiles and unpowered hypersonic boost-glide vehicles, in particular, hit in the terminal phases of their flights help penetrate deeply into hardened targets. A number of modern cruise missiles feature specialized penetrating warheads, as well. However, hardened aircraft shelters would also force China to use more force to destroy each aircraft, thereby increasing the resources required to attack our forces and, in turn, the survivability of our valuable air assets, the open letter noted. Curiously absent from the letter was any explicit mention of the ever-growing danger posed by drones, including to air bases at home and abroad, where even less robust shelters could offer important extra layers of defense. Just weeks after it was sent, Air Force officials at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base in North Carolina put out a call for information about potential physical barriers that could be erected to protect F-15E Strike Eagles there from attacks involving smaller drones. A look at the kind of open canvas-topped shelters in use on the flight line at Seymour Johnson now (seen here after a snowstorm in 2022). USAF The War Zone has highlighted in the past how an adversary, even just using weaponized commercial drones, could wreak havoc on prized aircraft sitting exposed on flight lines. The growing risk of drone attacks, even localized ones against air bases within the United States, is not idle speculation. Over a period of weeks last December, Langley Air Force Base in Virginia experienced waves of still-mysterious drone incursions, which The War Zone was the first to report. This is not the first time Langley has seen worrisome drone activity, either. One day last week I had two small UASs that were interfering with operations At one base, the gate guard watched one fly over the top of the gate check, tracked it while it flew over the flight line for a little while, and then flew back out and left, now-retired Air Force Gen. James Mike Holmes, then head of Air Combat Command (ACC), said back in 2017. Imagine a world where somebody flies a couple hundred of those and flies one down the intake of my F-22s with just a small weapon on it. USAF The War Zone noted at that time that jets simply parked in the open would be even easier targets and could give an adversary a way to knock out large numbers of aircraft on the ground before they would ever get a chance to get into the fight  a general scenario the letter from the members of Congress explicitly highlights. The dangers drone attacks present extend beyond Langley and even aircraft on flight lines. The War Zone was also first to report on drone incursions over a sensitive missile defense site at Andersen Air Force Base on Guam in 2019. These are just some of the concerning drone incidents that have occurred in recent years over or near U.S. military facilities, as well as warships offshore, along with critical civilian infrastructure, that we know about. Multiplying Aircraft Shelters At Chinese Bases Satellite imagery has called attention to Chinas efforts to increase available aircraft shelters at bases across the country. A recent update to Google Earths catalog includes an image of Tuchengzi Air Base (also sometimes referred to as Dailan Tuchengzi Air Base) showing some of its relatively new fully-enclosed circular aircraft shelters. Tuchengzi, which is located in northeastern China near the Bohai Strait that links to the Bohai Sea and the Yellow Sea, now has 16 of these structures along a stretch of its flight line. Some of the 16 aircraft shelters at Chinas Tuchengzi Air Base seen here in a partial image of the facility taken on May 3, 2024, that recently became available through Google Earth. Google Earth Construction of the shelters at Tuchengzi, each one of which is close to 200 feet in diameter, began in 2022 and work looks to have been completed early last year. The shelters were built in distinct pairs that share a wall on one side. A satellite image showing the 16 aircraft shelters at Tuchengzi under construction. Maxar via USAF Work on the 11 similar, if not identical shelters at Laiyang Air Base, which lies on the opposite side of the Bohai Strait from Tuchengzi, also began in 2022 and construction there looks to have wrapped up last year. Both Tuchengzi and Laiyang are Peoples Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) facilities. Laiyang Air Bases 11 new aircraft shelters seen under construction. Maxar via USAF The shelters at Tuchengzi and Laiyang are sized to accommodate large airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) and maritime patrol aircraft. Pictures have previously emerged showing KJ-200 AEW&C and KQ-200 maritime patrol planes in the shelters at Laiyang. Another picture of a KJ-500 AEW&C aircraft in one of these shelters has also been circulating online, though the base where the image was taken is not entirely clear. A picture said to have been taken at Laiyang Air Base showing a KJ-200 airborne early warning and control aircraft inside one of the large circular shelters. Chinese Internet A picture of a KQ-200 maritime patrol plane inside one of the circular hardened shelters, also said to have been taken at Laiyang Air Base. Chinese Internet The picture gives a good sense of the scale of the circular hardened shelters. Chinese Internet Another view of two of the new shelters at Laiyang Air Base. Two KQ-200 maritime patrol planes are also seen here. Chinese Internet The Peoples Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) Naval Aviation forces have been undergoing a large scale divestment of its shore based aviation capabilities through 2023. However, since then, PLAN Aviation has clearly sought to retain not only is fixed wing anti-submarine warfare (ASW) assets, but also its other shore based special mission aircraft (SMA), notably its intelligence collection aircraft and airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) fleet of KJ-200s and KJ-500s, a report the U.S. Air Forces China Aerospace Studies Institute (CASI) published in September 2023 noted. These aircraft enable the PLAN to conduct modern combined arms tasks such as ASW, supplement a currently non-operational carrier based fixed wing AEW capability, continue to collect electronics intelligence (ELINT) and signals intelligence (SIGINT), and enable further range and jointness when fulfilling air defense and domain awareness tasks. Given the importance of these capabilities, the PLA has been undertaking an effort to expand the land-based facilities which support these aircraft to allow for more airframes to operate from these bases, that same report, which mentioned the shelter work at Tuchengzi and Laiyang, added. Since 2021, airfields supporting PLAN SMA in the Eastern Theater Command (ETC) and Northern Theater Command (NTC) have completed or started renovations of their runways or expansions of apron space to enable airfields to house more aircraft or to otherwise continue to generate sorties. A map showing the general locations of Tuchengzi Air Base (to the north) and Laiyang Air Base (to the south) on opposite sides of the Bohai Strait. Google Maps Its unclear exactly what level of added protection the shelters at Tuchengzi and Laiyang might provide. Even a less robust enclosed shelter design provides a layer of defense against drone attacks and shrapnel. It also complicates targeting as what is inside cannot be easily discerned by satellite. In this specific context, providing even a limited amount of extra protection for high-value, but low-density assets like KJ-500 and KJ-200 AEW&C planes and KQ-200 maritime patrol aircraft from various threats is logical. As already noted, aircraft, in general, are highly vulnerable when parked out in the open on the flight line or even under more basic shelters designed primarily to shield them from the elements. An example of open shelters intended primarily to protect aircraft from the elements in use at air bases in China. China Military Online Tuchengzi and Laiyangs new shelters are certainly less robust than the truly hardened designs referred to in the May open letter from the members of Congress. The social media post below shows examples of fully enclosed heavily hardened aircraft shelters with heavy reinforced doors at another base in China designed around J-10 fighters. The PLA has been building fighter-sized shelters of this general type since at least 2016. Hardened Aircraft Shelters of J-10 Fighters pic.twitter.com/pjb2lAPsu6 Hurin (@Hurin92) September 8, 2023 A Global Trend China is not the only country investing in the construction of new aircraft shelters at air bases. Another recent update to the satellite imagery available through Google Earth highlighted 12 aircraft shelters now on the flight line at Marinovka Air Base in Russias Volgograd region, the construction of which began in November of last year. The exact level of protection the shelters provide is unknown. Aircraft at the base continue to be seen parked in the open, as well. A satellite image of Marinovka Air Base taken on April 24, 2024, that is now available through Google Earth. The shelters are seen on the apron to the right. Google Earth A closer look at the shelters. Google Earth The specific impetus for the erection of the shelters at Marinovka is not known, but Russian forces did claim to have downed a presumed Ukrainian drone over Volograd in September 2023. Ukraines widespread and daily employment of weaponized uncrewed aerial systems, including long-range kamikaze types and ones launched much closer to their targets, poses a real threat, including to aircraft exposed on aprons at air bases deep inside Russia. There had also been some speculation that the bases new infrastructure could be a response to Ukrainian strikes using U.S.-supplied Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) short-range ballistic missiles with cluster munition warheads. Marinovka is some 186 miles (300 kilometers) just from the Ukrainian border, which is also the maximum range of the ATACMS variants with the longest reach, and that all also only have unitary warheads. However, it is even further from the front lines and is, as such, out of range of the U.S.-supplied ballistic missiles. A map showing the general location of Russias Marinovka Air Base in relation to Ukraine. Google Maps What role Marinovka, which has been seen hosting swing-wing Su-24 Fencer and Su-34 Fullback combat jets, has been playing in the current conflict in Ukraine is also unclear, but the Fullbacks, in particular, have been tasked heavily in the conflict. Russias armed forces certainly have already implemented new non-shelter-related defensive measures at air bases inside the country in response to Ukrainian drone and missile strikes. However, the value of having shelters available that offer protection even just against threats like smaller drones was underscored over the weekend by a new drone strike on Akhtubinsk Air Base, a major Russian aviation test facility, which targeted Su-57 Felon advanced combat jets. As has been made clear by satellite imagery The War Zone has since obtained, prized Su-57s have continued to be parked outside at Akhtubinsk despite the clear dangers of doing so. Its also worth noting that the Su-57 that was targeted was under a latticework for a shelter, as can be seen in the satellite image below. There is the possibility that some kind of netting was suspended on the framing, similar to what forces in the field in Ukraine often use to defend against drones, but that is not visible in the imagery. However, this seems unlikely as it would make more sense to just cover the framing completely in some way, even just to provide protection from the weather and to help prevent prying eyes from seeing what might be going on underneath. A Maxar satellite image taken June 8 after the attack shows damage to one and possibly two Su-57 Felon new generation fighters. Satellite image 2024 Maxar Technologies It is worth pointing out here that Russias military is well aware of the threats aircraft face, including from drones, when parked in the open along airfield flight lines based on its experiences in Syria. Russian forces quickly erected shelters at the countrys Khmeimim air base outpost in that country between 2018 and 2019 expressly in the wake of repeated drone attacks, as well as ones involving the use of other indirect fire weapons. The long-range kamikaze drone strikes on the base in January 2018 were the first of their kind and provided a glimpse of what was to come, as we noted at the time. The row of hardened shelters at Khmeimim in Syria, which were built between 2018 and 2019, can be seen in this satellite image from 2022 on the apron to the left of the main runway. Google Earth The recent trend toward erecting new shelters at air bases, as well as pursuing other kinds of physical hardening efforts, is also visible in adversary countries with far smaller airpower fleets. Between 2022 and 2023, North Korea built 16 new shelters at Sunchon Air Base, which is situated some 27 miles northeast of the countrys capital Pyongyang, as part of a larger expansion and improvement project. Late last year, North Korean state media released a picture showing the countrys leader Kim Jong Un, his daughter Kim Ju Ae, and other officials at Sunchon in front of the shelters with MiG-29 Fulcrum fighters parked inside them. Geolocation: 39.4069444, 125.8983333Sunchon AB, DPRK (North Korea)10/27/23 Sentinel-2 L2A pass shows paving and shelters (16 total) completed. Sunchon is home to the KPAAF 57th Air Regiment (MiG-29s).@GeoConfirmed https://t.co/hvZj7apAiq pic.twitter.com/rHJ7b5BY9v Evergreen Intel (@vcdgf555) December 1, 2023 Last year, Iran officially unveiled a new air base, called Eagle 44, which has extremely hardened hangars and other facilities built directly underneath a mountain. This offers a level of protection far beyond even that provided by above-ground hardened aircraft shelters, but takes significant time and resources to build, as we will come back to later. /                    .https://t.co/0udat3NJrM@Tasnim_military pic.twitter.com/O5qTfeJmCy  -  (@Tasnim_military) February 7, 2023 Iran has a long history now of building extensive subterranean military facilities. So do North Korea and China, the latter of which has been especially prolific in building underground military infrastructure, including to help protect aircraft at dozens of bases around the country. Is Hardening A Waste? The appearance of new aircraft shelters at air bases around the world in recent years is not surprising and reflects real threats that only continue to expand in scale and scope. The danger that drones, in particular, pose to critical military and civilian infrastructure, including facilities well away from immediate conflict zones, has now fully emerged thanks in large part to the war in Ukraine. This is not a new reality, though, as The War Zone has been highlighting routinely for years now. #BREAKING Ukraine attacked Alabuga, Republic of Tatarstan (Russia) with kamikaze aircraft for the first time. The strike hit a dormitory on the territory of the Alabuga special economic zone, and two people were injured.This is where Russia produces Shahed-136 kamikaze UAVs. pic.twitter.com/eJnOEpSela Clash Report (@clashreport) April 2, 2024 #Ukraine: A Kamikaze drone struck the Novoshakhtinsk oil refinery, in #Rostov Oblast, Russia; causing a large fire.Although the precise type is unclear, it appears to be based on the UA PD-1 or PD-2 series of reconnaissance UAVs. The area is around 150km from the front line. pic.twitter.com/EssUu6PxyB Ukraine Weapons Tracker (@UAWeapons) June 22, 2022 The steady emergence of new and improved cruise and ballistic missiles, as well as novel hypersonic weapons, are part of the equation, too. Many of these capabilities are steadily proliferating among smaller nation states and even non-state actors, as well. At the same time, attempting to physically defend against conventionally armed ballistic and hypersonic weapons requires much more than just hardened shelters. This is typically the realm of deeply buried facilities, including ones built underneath mountains like Irans Eagle 44 base. With all this in mind, in the United States, the Air Force, specifically, has signaled some support for additional base hardening efforts, and not just limited to new aircraft shelters, including the Pacific region. With timely investments, we can substantially improve our forward tactical air resilience, Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall said in his keynote address at the Air and Space Forces Associations main annual symposium in 2023. We can move forward with hardening our forward bases without having to wait for a development program. Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall. USAF At the same time, top Air Force officials have openly pushed back on the cost-effectiveness and utility of hardened aircraft shelters specifically. Im not a big fan of hardening infrastructure, Gen. Kenneth Wilsbach, then head of Pacific Air Forces, the top Air Force command for that region, also said at a roundtable at the 2023 Air and Space Forces Association symposium. The reason is because of the advent of precision-guided weapons you saw what we did to the Iraqi Air Force and their hardened aircraft shelters. Theyre not so hard when you put a 2,000-pound bomb right through the roof. Air Force ground crew personnel tow an F-117 Nighthawk stealth combat jet past a destroyed hardened aircraft shelter at Ahmad Al Jaber Air Base in Kuwait in 1998. U.S. forces had knocked out this shelter during the first Gulf War in 1991. DOD The Air Force has been investing heavily in capabilities to support distributed concepts of operations, as well as camouflage, concealment, and deception efforts. It is worth pointing out here that hangars and other shelters inherently make it more difficult for an opponent to see what might be inside and whether it is worth attacking. An adversary could well be forced to expend valuable munitions and other resources to destroy what could turn out to be completely empty shelters. It could also just make it harder for the enemy to keep track of friendly movements. The prototype portable hangar intended to support camouflage, concealment, and deception efforts in use during an Air National Guard-led exercise in 2023. Air National Guard In their open letter this month, the 13 Republican lawmakers did acknowledge that constructing hardened shelters for all our air assets may not be economically feasible or tactically sensible At the same time, the fact that the number of such shelters on U.S. bases in the [Pacific] region has barely changed over a decade is deeply troubling. More recently, as part of the process of drafting the annual defense policy bill, or National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), for the Fiscal Year 2025, members of the House Armed Services have also demanded a briefing from Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin specifically about efforts to harden military facilities on Guam. Among other things, legislators explicitly want to know more about the utility of hardened structures on Guam to ensure continuity of operations and the safety of military and civilian personnel. The debate in the United States over how best to defend air bases, and whether to build more hardened aircraft shelters specifically, is clearly not over. In the meantime, other countries, including Americas top competitors China and Russia, are moving ahead with expanding their use of aircraft shelters offering various tiers of additional protection. Contact the author: joe@twz.com

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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 Sheriffs 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.

Catastrophic Failure: Teton Pass road collapses, long-term closure expected

His family located his car the following day and called 911 as they couldnt reach it in the steep terrain. When authorities arrived, they found the man about 100 yards 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 sheriffs office showed.

In this image provided by the Baker County Sheriffs Office, responders aid in rescue efforts after a vehicle 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 Sheriffs Office via AP)

In this image provided by the Baker County Sheriffs Office, responders aid in rescue efforts after a vehicle 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 Sheriffs Office via AP)

In this image provided by the Baker County Sheriffs 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 Sheriffs Office via AP)

In this image provided by the Baker County Sheriffs Office, responders aid in rescue efforts after a vehicle 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 Sheriffs Office via AP)

The man was airlifted to a regional hospital, authorities said. His three other dogs were found alive at the scene of the crash.

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EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)  Dona Ana Community College (DACC) and the New Mexico Educational Assistance Foundation are partnering to host a free federal student aid event this weekend.

The event will be held on from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, June 15 at the following three DACC locations:

 East Mesa campus, 2800 Sonoma Ranch Blvd.

 Sunland Park campus, 365 McNutt Rd.

 Gadsden campus, 1700 E. OHara Rd.

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is due yearly for students. Last year, the DACC Office of Financial Aid paid out more than $13.4 million in federal aid alone, according to a news release sent out by the college.

This event will assist students who have not yet completed the 2024-2025 FAFSA. There will be free food, prizes and professionals available to answer all financial aid questions.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Donald Trump, recently convicted on 34 felony charges related to falsifying business records, admitted to New York officials that he had not surrendered a gun he possesses in Florida but that was registered in New York, according to CNN. It is a federal crime for someone convicted of a felony to possess a firearm or ammunition.

An official who was briefed on the pre-sentencing meeting told CNN that Trump admitted to still possessing one of the three fireams listed on his New York City permit to carry concealed weapons. Two of the three pistols he was licensed to carry were handed over to police in March 2023, after his gun license was suspended in light of his arrest by the Manhattan District Attorney's office. The third gun was "lawfully moved to Florida," presumably to his estate at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, where Trump was for the remotely-conducted hearing.

Palm Beach police told CNN that they were not told of any gun that Trump might have, and none were turned over to them since his conviction in May. The New York City Police Department has now notified police in Florida and asked them to take appropriate action.

Trump, who promised the National Rifle Association to reverse President Joe Biden's gun control measures, has long bragged about his guns and what he would do with them. After the deadly 2016 terrorist attacks in Paris, Trump told a French magazine that "I always carry a weapon on me" and that if he was there, he would have opened fire on the assailants.
The Donald Trump and Hunter Biden trials are over  the consequences will linger

WASHINGTON  Another milestone came Wednesday in Campaign 2024: No ongoing criminal trial of a former president or a current president's son.

The felony convictions of Donald Trump and Hunter Biden after a pair of trials over the past two months are changing the presidential race in ways the Trump and Biden teams are trying to assess. Both verdicts are expected to be fodder in the first presidential debate between Trump and President Joe Biden on June 27.

Trump is touting increased fundraising and trying to persuade voters that his trial was a "scam," and will be overturned on appeal.

President Joe Biden, meanwhile, said he "will accept the outcome of this case and will continue to respect the judicial process as Hunter considers an appeal."

Some other takeaways:

Trump's legal problems are probably bigger

There's more of a political impact on Trump  he's the convicted felon actually running for president  but it's uncertain how it will play out in the fall election.

So far, polls do not show much of a shift. Biden has picked up a few points in some surveys since the former president's end-of-May verdict, including in the six or seven battleground states. But those gains are within the margins of error.

The Trump team has also claimed a significant uptick in fundraising - from staunch supporters - since his conviction.

Trump still faces sentencing in the hush money case. He likely won't go to prison because he has vowed to appeal the case, but the ongoing legal fight will shadow the rest of his campaign.

Hunter Biden has another trial coming up on tax charges

The gun registration case was only Hunter Biden's first time in the courtroom this year.

The 54-year old businessman and attorney faces another federal trial Sept. 5 in Los Angeles on tax charges. A plea agreement that collapsed last July called for Hunter Biden to admit two misdemeanors for not paying taxes in 2017 and 2018.

The indictment on three felony and six misdemeanor charges alleges he 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.

Sasha Dadan (L), a lawyer for Walt Nauta, an aide to former President Donald Trump, and Christopher Kise, a lawyer Trump, leave the Alto Lee Adams Sr United States Courthouse on May 22, 2024 in Fort Pierce, Florida. The two appeared before U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon as they filed separate motions to have their client's cases thrown out regarding the allegations that former President Donald Trump mishandled classified documents.

Trump may (or may not) face another trial before the election

Trump has been indicted in three other cases, but it's uncertain whether he will go on trial on any of them.

The U.S. Supreme Court is considering Trump's request for immunity from prosecution for actions of a president.

The high court cases are part of pre-trial appeal in a federal case that accuses Trump of engaging in a conspiracy to steal the 2020 presidential election from Biden.

Trump also faces similar charges in Georgia, but it is also on hold while Trump asks the state Court of Appeals to remove the prosecutor.

And a federal judge in Florida hasnt set a trial date yet while she holds pretrial hearings on criminal charges Trump hoarded classified documents after leaving the White House and obstructed justice during the subsequent investigation.

Trials as soap operas

An already unusual election - Trump is trying to become the first candidate since Grover Cleveland in 1892 to re-take the White House after losing it four years previously - was made more unusual by the sordid details of this trial.

The Trump trial featured details of his assignation with porn star Stormy Daniels. She described the future president's appearance in a bath robe, and reported that he did not wear a condom.

Former first lady Melania Trump did not attend any part of the trial.

As for Hunter Biden, the evidence included pictures from his electronic devices of him holding a crack pipe and a text about waiting for an alleged drug dealer named Mookie. Former romantic partners including his ex-wife and his sister-in-law, Hallie Biden, the widow of brother Beau Biden, testified about searching his belongings for drugs and paraphernalia to protect their children.

Current first lady Jill Biden attended the trial every day.

Trials offer crash course in legal vocabulary

Neither the Trump nor Hunter Biden trials were broadcast on live TV. Court rules prevented that. But the nonstop news coverage of two people with such famous last names helped give Americans a crash course in their judicial system, albeit one filled with arcane terms, practices and decisions.

The language is literally foreign. Voir dire, a French term for speaking the truth, is the term for questioning potential jurors about whether they can judge a case fairly. Jurors remained anonymous in both cases to prevent harassment in the highly politicized cases.

Oh man, I dont want to be here, one juror said after learning Hunter Biden was the defendant in her case, although she said her fears were unfounded. 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.

Defendants are presumed innocent and neither Trump nor Biden testified in their trials. Trump offered hallway statements to reporters but decided against testifying because his lawyer said prosecutors could delve into other litigation. Defense lawyer Todd Blanche provided Trumps explanation for his actions and defense lawyer Abbe Lowell provided Bidens explanation.

The juries in both trials reached verdicts relatively quickly. But Bidens jurors said their first-blush vote was 6-6 during the first hour of deliberations before reaching a unanimous decision.

If either jury had deadlocked, Judge Juan Merchan in Trumps case or Judge Maryellen Noreika in Bidens case could have offered nudge to keep deliberating. The instruction is formally called an Allen charge, after an 1896 Supreme Court decision, but sometimes more casually called a dynamite charge, to get an answer after an arduous trial.

Another vocabulary lesson dealt with terms for relieving the burden of a conviction.

President Biden told ABC News during the trial he would respect the jurys decision and not pardon his son, a power that could wipe out the guilty verdict.

But White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre refused to rule out Wednesday that Biden could commute  or shorten  his sons sentence. Hunter Bidens sentence hasnt been scheduled yet but he faces a maximum of up to 25 years in prison and could realistically be given months behind bars.

History books and law books

Every presidential campaign makes history; this one has made an inordinate amount of legal history.

Trump, already the first president to be impeached twice in the House (and acquitted in the Senate), is now the first former president and current presidential candidate to be charged with crimes  four times over.

The New York hush money verdict bestowed the title of first former president to become a convicted felon.

Hunter Bidens case was also a landmark, as the first child of a sitting president to be charged and convicted.

Supreme Court decisions could affect Trump and Biden cases

As appeals moved forward, the embattled U.S. Supreme Court could become a refuge for each defendant.

Trump has argued he should be immune from federal charges as a former president or the post will be weakened by the threat of criminal charges for any contentious decision while in office.

Lower courts ruled that Trump could be charged and tried like anyone else. But when the high court heard arguments in April, justices sounded sympathetic to granting some immunity to presidential actions such as appointments and vetoes, and perhaps creating a test for whether former presidents could face charges for other actions.

Another case before the high court could affect Bidens gun charges.

Zackey Rahimi is asking the justices to overturn his conviction under a law that was also the foundation of charges against Biden. Rahimi seeks to overturn restrictions against owning a gun while under a protective order.

Biden has argued the gun charges against him owning a gun because of drug use are unconstitutional.

Frequency of prosecutions criticized

Trump and Biden each complained they were charged under laws that are rarely enforced.

But Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg said it is common to prosecute charges of falsifying business records. After Trumps arrest a year ago, New York state court records showed 9,794 cases arraigned in local and superior courts under the same law as Trump since 2015, according to a report in the New York Law Journal.

Legal experts at Just Security, an online forum for analyzing legal issues, national security and rights, found dozens of cases in the past decade where felony charges were filed over failing to pay taxes or workers compensation, or for insurance fraud.

The gun charges against Biden are rarely prosecuted. A Justice Department study in 1990 described the difficulty in pursuing charges because the defendant must be proven to have knowingly lied about drug use, while federal law prohibits the disclosure of medical records about engaging in a drug rehabilitation program.

For example, fewer than 300 cases were filed against people who allegedly lied to buy firearms, according to a Washington Post review. The cases totaled 271 in 2018, 298 in 2019 and 243 in 2020.

Out of 8.6 million federal background checks in 2017, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives denied 112,090 applications and referred 12,710 cases to U.S. attorneys offices, according to a Government Accountability Office report. Only 12 cases were prosecuted.

The campaign and consequences

The personal consequences for Trump and Hunter Biden remain unclear at this point, but will become more evident as the presidential campaign progresses.

Technically, each of Trumps 34 counts of falsifying business records carries a maximum four-year sentence. Hunter Biden faces a maximum sentence of 25 years.

Each defendant is a first-time offender convicted of a nonviolent crime, and legal experts anticipate their sentences will be shorter than the maximum sentences possible.

Appeals could push off penalties indefinitely. Trump has vowed to appeal and Bidens lawyer, Abbe Lowell, said he will pursue all legal challenges available.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Donald Trump, Hunter Biden trials are over  the impact will linger
Donald Trump never paid $380,000 a British court said he owed over the 'golden showers' dossier, former spy says

Donald Trump never paid $380,000 a British court said he owed over the 'golden showers' dossier, former spy says

Trump has not complied with a British court order to pay $380,000 in legal fees, said a former spy.

The fees stem from Trump's lawsuit against ex-MI6 agent Christopher Steele.

Steele's dossier alleged Trump-Russia ties. Trump called it a "pile of garbage."

Donald Trump has failed to comply with a British High Court order to pay $380,000 in legal fees and has also ignored an offer to settle with a former British spy who compiled a document that claimed Russia had interfered in the 2016 US election, Sky News reported.

Christopher Steele, a former MI6 agent, produced a report commissioned by the Democratic National Convention and the Hillary Clinton presidential campaign that made a series of mostly unsubstantiated allegations.

The most salacious claim in the dossier alleged that prostitutes visited Trump in the presidential suite at the Ritz-Carlton hotel in Moscow, and they performed an act of urination in front of him, a practice known as '"golden showers."

Trump has dismissed the claims as a "pile of garbage," saying that the Steele dossier contained numerous inaccuracies and breached his rights under the Data Protection Act.

The former president sued Steele's company, Orbis Business Intelligence, in the UK earlier this year, but the case was dismissed because it was filed after the six-year limitation period.

Trump was ordered to pay 300,000 ($380,000) in legal fees, said Steele in a tweet, on Friday.

Neither the Trump campaign nor Trump's office responded to a request for comment.

Thus far, Trump has only paid 10,000 ($12,700), ahead of the hearing as a security payment. This was transferred to Steele in February.

Earlier this year, when he lost his English High Court case against us, the judge ordered Donald Trump to pay Orbis an initial 300k in costs. Trump, who claims to respect the UK, has now been in breach of this order for two months and faces enforcement if he travels here again.  Christopher Steele (@Chris_D_Steele) June 7, 2024

Speaking to Sky News, Steele said, "Cost is the key issue in all litigation, and particularly in what we call lawfare, which we think this is. It is an attempt to take vengeance against us or to keep us quiet."

Neither the Trump campaign nor Trump's office immediately responded to Business Insider's request for comment.

"I think he's trying to put off a lot of these legal cases and these fines and these costs until after what he thinks will be his reelection in November, in which case he will just tell us all to go and jump," Steele told Sky News.

It is the latest in Trump's legal battles coming after the former president and GOP presumptive nominee was found guilty of charges relating to a hush-money payment made to the porn star Stormy Daniels at the end of May.

The Steele dossier consisted of 16 separate reports that total 35 pages. It was leaked to and published by BuzzFeed in 2017 and alleged collusion between Donald Trump's campaign and Russia.

In 2022, the Clinton campaign and the Democratic National Convention agreed to pay $113,000 to settle a Federal Election Commission investigation into whether hiding payments to Steele had breached federal campaign finance laws.

Read the original article on Business Insider
TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, June 12. Trade and commercial relations between the United States and Uzbekistan were reviewed by the Uzbek minister with the US trade representative, Trend reports.

The news followed a meeting between the Minister of Investment, Industry and Trade of Uzbekistan Laziz Kudratov and US Trade Representative Katherine Tai.

During the meeting, the sides discussed ways to boost trade volume, fast-track Uzbekistan's entry into the World Trade Organization (WTO), and tackle other pressing matters in bilateral cooperation.

The US Trade Representative noted the Congressional efforts to revitalize the Generalized System of Preferences program and recognized its role in promoting export diversification from Uzbekistan.

Both parties expressed a mutual readiness to collaborate on harmonizing legislation to foster the growth of digital trade.

The U.S. delegation pushed for changes to bring Uzbekistan's trade policies in line with WTO principles and standards and reaffirmed Uzbekistan's dedication to joining the WTO.

Both parties noted the importance of transparency and mutual consultations as keys to developing more effective regulations, mitigating non-tariff barriers, ensuring adherence to international trade obligations, and enhancing the long-term stability of the economy to attract sustainable investments.
Would Donald Trump return a shopping cart? No way  and neither would Elon Musk | Opinion

Have you heard about the shopping cart theory?

It basically states that a persons character can be judged by whether they return a cart when they finish shopping  versus leaving it stranded in the parking lot, where it could impede other drivers or even roll and do damage to parked cars.

I only learned of the theory recently, when a mom posted a video on TikTok in which she bravely  or foolishly, depending on your point of view  admitted that she does not return shopping carts because she does not want to expose her young children to danger by leaving them alone in her car.

The post got millions and millions of views. The response was immediate and overwhelmingly negative. In the words of one TikToker, the mom was dragged to filth by her many critics.

Shopping cart mom  who is a forensic and clinical psychologist, according to the Los Angeles Times  responded with another TikTok in which she somewhat haughtily reeled off statistics about the bad things that happen in parking lots.

There are actually lawyers who specialize in parking lot crimes and they sue the grocery stores and guess what  Ive been a part of those cases, she said.

Ramifications to the social order

I dont really care about this particular mom and Im not going to drag her to filth because she believes she would put her children at risk by leaving them in a car, unattended.

Opinion

Whats far more interesting is this idea that we can judge a persons character by whether or not they complete the mundane task of returning shopping carts to their designated corrals.

According to internet research, this theory has been kicking around online since 2020, though even earlier, in 2017, Scientific American published an article headlined, Why dont people return their shopping carts?

It never really answered the question, though it did make this astute observation:

That guy who didnt return his cart may not be a complete jerk. He may just be using the example set by others so he can get home a little more quickly. But if everyone does that, then were shifting the balance of what is acceptable, which may have greater ramifications to the social order.

There may be some truth to the shopping cart theory, though surely external circumstances have something to do with shoppers behavior. For instance, if it suddenly pours rain and the cart corral is, say, the equivalent of a half-a-block away, could anyone blame a shopper for finding some other safe space to park a cart?

Also, wouldnt it be more accurate to have some other data points, such as whether diners bus their dishes at fast-casual restaurants or move over if someone wants to merge into their lane of traffic or  this is a big one  pick up after their dogs, even when no one is looking?

What would Oprah do?

Yet for what its worth, there could be value in applying the shopping cart litmus test to public figures.

Granted, they may no longer be in a position to push their own carts  or even shop for themselves  but based on our knowledge of their past behavior, we can make educated guesses as to whether they would pass the shopping cart test.

I believe we can unequivocally say that Donald Trump  indeed, most members of the Trump family  would flunk.

Consider: Would anyone who thinks he is doing a public service by tossing rolls of paper towels into a crowd of hurricane survivors be inclined to return a shopping cart?

U.S. President Donald Trump throws rolls of paper towels to a crowd of local residents affected by Hurricane Maria as he visits a disaster relief distribution center at Calgary Chapel in San Juan, Puerto Rico, U.S., October 3, 2017.

Would someone who pushes another world leader out of the way in order to be front and center at a photo op be inclined to worry about whether an errant shopping cart might inconvenience or even endanger others?

And would a man who breaks a rule of royal etiquette by walking in front of the queen of England be at all concerned about doing the polite thing in an anonymous parking lot?

Joe Biden, on the other hand, would pass the test though he would later exaggerate the distance he had to walk from his car to the cart corral and the hardships he encountered along the way.

Moving on, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene would abandon her shopping cart smack in the middle of a meat department aisle and storm out of the store in anger after spotting fake meat that grows in a peach tree dish.

South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem would dutifully return every cart  except for the defective ones. Shed take those into the alley and shoot them.

South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem was considered a possible vice presidential candidate, but that was before she admitted to shooting her young, untrainable dog that behaved like an assassin.

Gov. Gavin Newsom might neglect to return his cart if he thought he could get away with it. If he did have the misfortune to be caught in the act of abandonment, he would issue a sheepish apology that includes these words: I should practice what I preach.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis would regularly return his, if for no other reason than to one-up Newsom.

Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito would occasionally forget to return his cart while preoccupied with Godlier matters  and would later blame his wife for his lapse in judgment.

Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, on the other hand, would have his wealthy benefactor Harlan Crow not only return his cart, he would also rely on him to unload the groceries and cook his dinner .... in Bali.

Jeff Bezos would dutifully push his cart back to its rightful place, but only at Whole Foods markets.

Elon Musk would be too busy plotting world domination to ever bother with such a petty chore.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle would return their carts to prove to the world that they are just ordinary, non-royal people  unless they were running late for dinner with the Clooneys, the Beckhams and Oprah.

Speaking of Oprah, that is one celebrity we can count on to always, always wheel her cart back to the corral.

Not only that, if she spotted a harried mom with a couple of kids buckled up in the back seat, struggling to load groceries in a car, Oprah would return that womans cart as well. She might even offer to buy her a new minivan so shed have more space for all those shopping bags

Now thats what I call true character.
A shipwreck in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has killed more than 80 people, the Congolese presidents office said Wednesday.

The President of the Republic is calling for an investigation into the true causes of this unfortunate incident, to prevent such a disaster from happening again in the future, the office said in a statement.

The ship sank in the Kwa River, 70 kilometers away from the city of Mushie, in the province of Mai-Ndombe, according to the statement.

The president of the DRC, Felix Tshisekedi, expressed his condolences to the families of the victims.

Deadly shipwrecks are unfortunately frequent in the DRC as the country lacks road infrastructure and many people rely on boats to cross the many branches of the Congo River which runs alongside the countrys western border.

In October last year, at least 52 people were killed in the northwestern part of the country after a boat carrying more than 300 passengers capsized in the Congo River, authorities said at the time.

Another six people were killed months earlier in the DRCs Lake Kivu after a boat carrying 150 villagers overturned.

The DRC only has one kilometer of paved road per 1,000 square kilometers compared to the 16 kilometers average for low-income countries, according to a report published by the World Bank.

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At a busy farmers market on the outskirts of Annapolis, Maryland, the line in front of the raw dairy table moved briskly. A pregnant woman paid for a half-gallon, as My Sharona blared from the overhead speakers.

A man wearing a brown cowboy hat pulled jug after jug out of a cooler next to the table. Some people wanted raw milk cheeses, but most of them were there for the milk itself. He brought 140 half-gallons that Saturday, and a little after nine in the morning, there were only nine bottles left.

Selling raw milk for human consumption is illegal in Maryland. Each jug the man sold was labeled Pet Milk on the side, along with a required warning that unpasteurized milk can cause foodborne illness. But at no point in our conversation did the man ever talk about feeding the milk to pets. Instead, he told me that milk-borne pathogens are a myth, and that raw milk is key to staying healthy.

Sales of unpasteurized milk have increased by as much as 65 percent in the United States since bird flu was detected among cows in March. One raw milk vendor told the Los Angeles Times last month that customers are keen to drink milk contaminated with H5N1 in order to gain immunity. With the dairy industry in turmoil, raw milk influencers came out in force on social media, introducing millions of people to the evidence-free claim that pasteurizing milk is bad, actually.

When cows are infected, research shows that enormous quantities of the bird flu virus pass into their unpasteurized milk. Researchers have also found that mice ingesting tainted milk then got sick. So even if the line of people at the farmers market really were buying it for their pets, thats still a very bad idea. Barn cats on affected dairy farms were extremely susceptible to the highly pathogenic avian influenza, including symptoms like blindness, and half of the cats died. Infecting your cat with H5N1 also means you would be exposed to the virus.

All this is on top of the many germs already found in raw milk. E. coli, salmonella, campylobacter, listeria, and some parasiteswhat Benjamin Chapman, department head and professor of agricultural and human sciences at North Carolina State University, called the hit listcan all be transmitted in milk that hasnt been pasteurized. None of these illnesses are pleasant, and some can be very dangerous and even deadly, especially in pregnant people, immune-compromised people, children, and the elderly.

The upsides to raw milk, meanwhile, dont seem to exist. Pasteurization may slightly affect levels of nutrients like vitamin C, but milks not really a good source of vitamin C anyway, Chapman said. Generally, youre not losing anything by pasteurizing, Celine Gounder, infectious disease specialist and epidemiologist at NYU and Bellevue Hospital and editor at large for public health at KFF Health News, told me. The nutritional value isnt changed by heating the milk.

Yet drinking raw milk has become, as with so many matters of health, a politicized issue. Legislation to legalize raw milk recently passed the House in Louisiana, with a 950 vote and the slogan Taste the liberty. Iowa and Delaware are also in the process of legalizing raw milk sales. One virologist recently called for a temporary ban on raw milk sales, even in places where its legal, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture on Thursday recommended limiting raw milk sales.

It is already legal in 32 states to sell raw milk for people, sometimes with restrictions. States where its legal had 3.2 times more outbreaks of illness due to unpasteurized milk from 1998 to 2018. Raw milk is risky. Its riskier than a lot of other foods, Chapman said. And when you add in the highly pathogenic avian influenza, its only adding to that risk.

But the problem isnt just that raw milk drinkers could make themselves sick. By potentially infecting themselves with avian influenza, they risk endangering others as well.

Every time someone comes into contact with H5N1, the virus has a new opportunity to mutate, spread, and sicken everyone else. Its like a coin flip, Gounder said. If you flip a coin once, your chance of getting heads is only 50-50. But if you flip it a hundred times, the chance of getting heads at least once is very high. Viral evolution is the same way. The probability of seeing the kind of mutation that would allow for person-to-person spread goes up with each person that infects themselves, Grounder said. And thats a situation in which this could become an epidemic or pandemic.





At a break in the dairy line, I approached. The man beamed at the opportunity to tell me about the benefits of raw milk. Pasteurized milk, he said, can lead to heart disease, whereas unpasteurized milk wouldnt.

Is it still OK to drink given, you know, all this? I gestured vaguely at someone masked nearby. If possible, he beamed harder. It wasnt just safe; it was good for me, he said, like breast milk is good for my baby. (Breast milk is also pasteurized before being shared with babies who need it.)

I asked whether he worried at all about bird flu. Its not real, he said. Its not real? I asked. He shook his head and slid a printout toward me. This will answer all your questions, he said.

The printout was a blog post from the Weston A. Price Foundation, a group spreading health misinformation, claiming pathogens arent carried in milk. But this is talking about brucellosis, I said. He shook his head. Read the whole thing. Bird flu isnt in cows, he said. There was only one case in a dairy worker, he said, and that was only an eye infection. That man works in a large confinement dairy, he said, even though no identifying data like this has been released for human cases of H5N1, of which there have been three so far. He probably gets pink eye every other week in a place like that.

Kyle, 25, snagged one of the last bottles of raw milk. He was thrilled when he searched online and found a raw milk vendor so close to where he lived. Hed started drinking the unpasteurized milk three weeks earlier, and he believed it gave him more energy, which made him more sore after his workouts, which was what he wanted. I asked if he was worried about negative health effects; he wasnt. As for bird flu, he said, that was affecting the bred-to-produce-milk dairy cows, like the ones that are government subsidized. With this local dairy, their herds are isolated, so theyre not going to be in contact with any of those genetically modified sick cows.

Theres a grain of truth there. The more animals there are on a farm and the closer they live together in unsanitary conditions, the more likely it is that pathogens will spread. But that doesnt mean small operations are off the hook for germs like H5N1. The virus spreads through domesticated and wild birds and other animalsand, possibly, through human workers from other farms. Small farms have to worry about it as much as a large producer, Chapman said. Its not like small farms are immune to the pathogen.

H5N1 infections among cows have by and large been detected in larger commercial operations, Gounder said. But thats not to say that other cattle are impervious to this. The results may also be a product of who is doing the testing. If small dairy operatorsfor instance, the man I met at the farmers marketdont take the virus seriously, they likely wont test.

Right now, dairy producers are only required to test their milk if they are shipping cows across state lines. Yet commercially available milk has high quantities of inactive fragments of H5N1, which researchers believe indicates that the virus is spread among many more cows than official tallies indicate. And its not always clear when a cow is infected; some do not display symptoms.

Unfortunately, not testing does not mean that something does not exist. It means youre just not looking for it, Gounder said.





But what about the idea that drinking raw milk could give you immunity against bird flu? If you were to get sick from drinking tainted milk, you may gain immunity, if youre lucky, to the current strain thats circulating among dairy cattle, Gounder said. However, if the virus mutates to be transmitted from person to person, the chances that you would still have immunity to the virus at that point, and that that immunity would be protective against what would be a mutated virus, is pretty unlikely.

And there is always that tricky part about first knowingly infecting yourself with a virus that has a 50 percent mortality rate among people, just so you can protect yourself against the same virus. Drinking raw milk could potentially lead to a real illness that [you] might not be able to recover from, Chapman said. The best way to get immunity for any disease is really through vaccinations. Seasonal flu vaccines, for instance, provide good protection against many of the strains that make humans sick.

The appeal of raw milk may have to do with a different but related phenomenon in food: the idea that processed food is bad for us and that the closer it is to its natural source, the healthier it is. Ultraprocessed foods, after all, can be terrible for our health. But cooking doesnt change the nutrition of milkit makes it safer.

People want a sense of control, Gounder said. And I think unfortunately our health care system in this country is so dysfunctional, people feel disempowered and out of control. And this is a way of taking that back.

While flagging trust in regulatory bodies is understandable given some recent failures, sidestepping regulations entirely is even more dangerous. Parachuting out of an airplane can be thrilling, even make you feel invincible, Grounder said. But its not because jumping out of an airplane per se makes people stronger. Its the high of doing something risky and surviving it.
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  The Clackamas County Sheriffs Office announced Tuesday that a new drug-detecting K9 is working inside the Clackamas County Jail to combat the ongoing fentanyl crisis.

The 2-year-old, Wirehaired Pointer Black Lab mix named Gregor will mostly patrol the County Jail. However, Gregor will also work to catch drug traffickers on the streets with the Clackamas County Interagency Task Force.

The Sheriffs Office is excited to announce that K9 Gregor and his handler, Deputy Bryson Ricker, are now on duty, CCSO said. Gregor has undergone rigorous training to become certified by the Oregon Police Canines Association before being deployed.

Man accused of damaging $500k in traffic cameras throughout Portland

Gregor and Ricker join K9 Abbie and Deputy Eliseo Ramos, who have patrolled the jail for drugs since 2018. With the addition of a second nose, the CCSO can now perform drug searches throughout the week.

Deputy Ramos and K9 Abbie have played a pivotal role in significantly reducing the influx of illegal drugs within the facility, CCSO said. The duos efforts alone have cut the total amount of contraband smuggled into the jail by about half since their work began.

God help him: Gresham firefighter still in critical condition after responding to burning duplex

Abbie suffered an accidental overdose while sniffing out drugs inside the jail in 2018. Ramos revived Abbie with Narcan, saving the dogs life. Both handlers carry Narcan for their K9 partners as a precaution.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR)  Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond announced on Wednesday his support for a congressional measure targeting the use of artificial intelligence for child exploitation.

Drummond and a coalition of 43 other state and territory attorneys general penned a letter to U.S. Rep. Nick Langworthy endorsing the Child Exploitation and Artificial

Intelligence Expert Commission Act of 2024. Langworthy is the bills chief sponsor.

Oklahoma AG Drummond joins multistate settlement with Johnson & Johnson

While the rapid development of AI can hold great promise for humanity, it also has the potential to be extremely dangerous. In this quickly evolving high-tech environment,

we must ensure there are laws in place to protect children.

Attorney General Gentner Drummond

According to the AGs office, the Act would establish a commission to investigate and make recommendations on solutions to improve the ability of a law enforcement agency to prevent, detect, and prosecute child exploitation crimes committed using artificial intelligence.

In the letter, the attorneys general note that while AI can be a useful tool for changing the world for the better, it also carries risks.

A knife or hammer is a useful tool in the right hands. But in the wrong hands, its a dangerous weapon. Its the same with AI, wrote the attorneys general. We are hopeful the creation and work of this commission will result in appropriate safety measures and updates to existing laws so we can protect children from being digitally exploited and hold criminals accountable.

Oklahoma lawmakers are also addressing the use of AI in child pornography. A measure in the recently concluded state legislation session, House Bill 3642, expands the definition of child pornography to include computer-generated or altered images of children being forced to engage in sexually explicit conduct. Drummond had requested the bill, which was authored by Rep. Toni Hasenbeck and Senate President Pro Tempore Greg Treat.

In addition to Oklahoma, the endorsement includes Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Guam, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, U.S. Virgin Islands, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington and Wyoming.

Read the full letter 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 KFOR.com Oklahoma City.
FILE - Dutch crime reporter Peter R. de Vries looks on prior to attending a live TV show in Amsterdam, Netherlands, on Jan. 31, 2008. A Dutch court is delivering verdicts Wednesday, June 12, 2024 in the trial of nine men suspected of involvement in the 2021 assassination of popular campaigning journalist Peter R. de Vries on a downtown Amsterdam street. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong, File)

AMSTERDAM (AP)  A Dutch court on Wednesday convicted three men of murder for their roles in the 2021 shooting of investigative reporter Peter R. de Vries, a brazen attack in downtown Amsterdam that sent a shockwave through the Netherlands.

His assassination appeared to be linked to a string of gangland hits in and around the Dutch capital, although the gang leader convicted of ordering some of them has not been charged in De Vries killing.

The shooter, getaway driver and organizer of the attack were convicted of direct involvement in the killing. The shooter and driver were sentenced to 28 years. The man who organized the slaying was sentenced to 26 years and one month.

The three demonstrated unprecedented ruthlessness and unscrupulousness. Their actions and the recklessness they showed demonstrate that they do not care about human life, said presiding Judge Gert Oldekamp of Amsterdam District Court.

De Vries was gunned down on July 5, 2021, on a busy Amsterdam street and died nine days later of his injuries, at age 64.

He had been an adviser and confidant for a protected witness in the trial of the alleged leader and other members of a crime gang. The witness brother and lawyer were both murdered.

The groups top gangster, Ridouan Taghi, was convicted of his role in five gangland killings and sentenced to life behind bars in February. Judges called him the undisputed leader of a murder organization. Taghi has appealed the convictions.

Taghi has not been charged with involvement in the assassination of de Vries and prosecutors have not charged any suspects with ordering de Vries killed.

Whether Taghi was involved in the murder of Peter de Vries and what intention he may have had is expressly not up for assessment in this criminal case, Oldekamp said.

De Vries' son, Royce, told national broadcaster NOS that the issue was something for lawyers to discuss.

The fact is that there is a conviction today and tough punishments imposed. For me, that is the most important now, he said.

Annemiek van Spanje, a lawyer for de Vries' family, said they were satisfied with the judgment, but that the bottom line is ... it won't bring back their father.

A total of nine men were charged in connection with the murder. Three were convicted of complicity and were given sentences ranging from 10 years to 14 years. One man was convicted of drug possession but was cleared of complicity in the murder. He was sentenced to four weeks.

Two were acquitted because they were charged only with involvement in a criminal organization, and the judges said prosecutors did not prove the existence of such an organization.

Prosecution spokesperson Justine Asbroek welcomed the convictions.

We are happy that this criminal case has come to an end  at least for the time being," she told reporters at the courthouse. "We are happy for the family that there is finally clarity about those involved in the murder.

The full names of the suspects were not released in line with Dutch privacy regulations.

Prosecutors had sought life sentences for the gunman, getaway driver and organizer of the killing and sentences ranging from three to 21 years for the six other suspects in the case. The sentences were generally shorter than requested because the court said prosecutors did not prove that the suspects were part of a criminal organization or that some had acted with a terrorist motive.

Asbroek said prosecutors would likely appeal that element of the verdicts.

The slaying sparked outrage, grief and anger throughout the Netherlands. Dutch King Willem-Alexander called the shooting of de Vries an attack on journalism, the cornerstone of our constitutional state and therefore also an attack on the rule of law.

Oldekamp said the murder sent a shockwave through the Netherlands.

Earlier this year, the de Vries family lawyer, van Spanje, lamented the fact that no suspect was on trial for ordering the murder.

The fact that the person who ordered the killing is not known and is not on trial here naturally hangs like a shadow over this trial, she told The Associated Press.

The shooter was arrested less than an hour after the attack, along with a Polish man identified only as Kamil E. who was the getaway driver. Prosecutors told judges at Amsterdam District Court that the weapon used to shoot de Vries was found in their car.

___

This story corrects that three people, not four, were convicted of complicity.
EVs face a lot of headwinds, including unreliable public charging and price. But a new report posits that sales will continue to grow  they're already way up in some parts of the world. (Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times)

The electric vehicle market is steeped in uncertainty. EV sales growth has slowed; automakers are pulling back on EV production; politics around the subject is growing nasty, as the very idea of driving an EV has entered the culture wars.

But one analyst says don't fret: Our long-term outlook for EVs remains bright."

That's according to market researcher BloombergNEF, which released the 2024 version of its annual electric vehicle outlook report on Wednesday.

In 2023, EVs made up 18% of global passenger-vehicle sales. By 2030, according to the report, 45% will be EVs. That number jumps to 73% by 2040  still short of what the world needs to reach net zero emissions in transportation, the firm says, but enough to achieve major reductions in climate-changing carbon emissions.

The long-term outlook adds a bit of glow to more recent news, especially in the U.S. and in California, where an EV sales slowdown, led by Tesla, has spanned two quarters, challenging the states climate goals.

A global survey conducted by consulting firm McKinsey, also released Wednesday, included this shocker: 29% of EV owners told McKinsey they plan to replace the EV they bought with a gasoline or diesel car, a figure that jumps to 38% for U.S. EV owners.

Phillip Kampshoff, who leads McKinseys Center for Future Mobility in the Americas, said he'd seen EV sales as "a one way street. Once you buy, youre hooked on an EV. But thats not what the data shows.

Under a 2020 edict by Gov. Gavin Newsom, auto manufacturers must phase out California sales of new fossil fuel cars between now and 2035, when only what the state calls "zero-emission vehicles" will be allowed. (The mandate allows 20% of those vehicles to be plug-in hybrids, which can run on fossil fuels.)

Eleven other states are following Californias lead, although Virginias Republican governor plans to drop out by years end.

In the U.S., hard-knuckle politics are affecting consumer attitudes toward electric vehicles, as presidential candidate Donald Trump and his supporters in Congress have turned government regulations on emissions technology into a red meat issue for MAGA conservatives. Or, as BloombergNEF more gently puts it: In the U.S., market jitters inflamed by upcoming presidential elections helped slow down adoption this year.

Beyond politics, the road to EV growth is chock full of hazards, and different countries are moving at different speeds and with different levels of commitment.

Today, China, India and France are still showing signs of healthy growth, but the latest data from Germany, Italy and the U.S. is more concerning, BloombergNEF said. Global EV sales are set to rise from 13.9 million in 2023 to over 30 million in 2027, despite the lagging U.S.

Whatever the geography, consumer concerns about price, driving range, battery lifespan, and unreliable public charging continue to dampen many buyers' enthusiasm for EVs. BloombergNEFs findings are echoed by consulting firm McKinsey and the AAA motor club, in recent forecasts of their own.

But EV prices are coming down, range is improving, and large numbers of public chargers are being installed, all of which could revive sales growth.

Read more: Can California pull off the epic transition to EVs? Read our coverage here

Intent to buy

Consumers around the planet are warming to the idea of buying an electric car, but theyre moving slowly. According to McKinsey, 14% of 30,000 global survey respondents in 2021 said their next vehicle would be an EV. This year, its 18%.

In the U.S. its a different story, where consumer interest in an EV purchase declined to 18% this year, according to AAAs survey, down from 23% in 2023. And nearly two-thirds reported they were unlikely to buy an EV next time they buy a car.

Interest in hybrids is on the rise. One in three said they were likely to buy a hybrid, a vehicle that adds a small battery to an internal combustion engine to improve fuel efficiency.

Thats bad news for pure EV sales, at least in the immediate future, said Greg Brannon, head of automotive research at AAA. Early adopters already have their EVs, he said, while mainstream buyers remain skeptical.

Teslas sales decline, overcapacity and price cuts, plus the antics of Chief Executive Elon Musk, bode ill for the U.S. market as a whole. Tesla is a leading indicator of whats happening in the EV market, Brannon said. When we see softening at Tesla, we see softening across the board.

Major automakers are losing billions of dollars in their EV divisions. Tesla, Mercedes-Benz, General Motors and Ford have all cut back their EV goals for the U.S., at least temporarily. Companies such as Hyundai and Kia, however, arent retreating. The market is moving from early adopters to "early majority customers," Kia CEO Ho Sung Song told Automotive News.

"Once we start going into early majority customers, the speed of transitioning to electrification will be fast," Song said. "Our commitment remains resolute."

Read more: Are Tesla Superchargers really open to other EVs in California? It's complicated

Global markets

In China, India, and even in France, the pictures different. China is the worlds largest seller of automobiles of any type, including EVs. The country has managed to make EVs far cheaper than carmakers in the U.S. and in Europe, and theyve begun a big export push. (The Biden administration is slapping a 100% tariff on China-made EVs to protect domestic manufacturing.)

For the first quarter in China, EV sales were up 37%, according to BloombergNEF. In India, its 39%, and in France, 20%. The U.S. was a laggard, up just 4%.

Read more: Chinas highflying EV industry is going global. Why that has Tesla and other carmakers worried

Gliding on the S curve?

Both BloombergNEF and McKinsey said that EV sales appear to be on the flat part of whats known in business circles as the S curve. Sales of a popular new technology take off fast among early adopters, then glide along flat for awhile as mainstream customers mull their options, and then shoot up again if the mainstream buys in.

McKinsey's Kampshoff said he personally believes the mainstream will get on board  but maybe not as aggressively as the industry once hoped. The consulting firm has reduced its growth projections for 2030 by 15% to 20% he said.

Still, while we expect slower adoption, overall, were still pretty bullish.

Read more: Should clean air and water be the right of every Californian? Not everybody thinks so

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, June 12. Uzbekistan and Latvia reached an agreement on granting forms of special permits for organizing cargo transportation by road through Latvian ports, Trend reports.

The news followed a meeting of the Uzbek-Latvian joint commission on international road transportation.

During the meeting, the parties discussed issues related to the development of trade and economic relations and the increase in the volume of international cargo transportation.

The importance of the route passing through Latvian ports is growing in terms of expanding trade relations between Uzbekistan and EU countries. Both parties discussed aspects related to the effective utilization of Latvia's port infrastructure potential.

Head of Public Transport Service Department at Latvian Ministry of Transport Annija Novikova noted that Latvia is ready to provide comprehensive assistance in creating favorable conditions for national carriers of Uzbekistan within the framework of mutual cooperation.

In addition, the parties established a quota of interchangeable permits for 2024.

Meanwhile, Latvia has expressed its readiness to boost investments in Uzbekistan through the implementation of an additional project, the construction of a phosphorite processing plant.

Preliminary estimates indicate that the construction of the plant is valued at $12 million, all of which will come from direct foreign investments.
The Earth May Be Swimming Through Dark Matter, Scientists Say

Dark Wave

Researchers suggest our planet is being battered by waves of dark matter, the elusive stuff that's believed to make up 27 percent of the universe, though scientists have yet to observe it directly.

As science communicator extraordinaire Paul Sutter explores in a piece for Live Science, the European authors of a yet-to-be-published paper posit that radio waves detected in the Earth's ionosphere  the part of the upper atmosphere where UV and X-ray radiation from the Sun ionizes atoms to create plasma  could be the result of particles interacting with dark matter, and therefore a great place to hunt for the evasive substance.

It's an intriguing albeit speculative theory that could take decades of research to prove. Nonetheless, the prize is certainly worth playing for, potentially putting to rest one of the biggest unanswered questions about the universe that persists today.

Cosmic Slog

Over the years, scientists have proposed several candidates for dark matter, including extremely massive particles called "Weakly Interacting Massive Particles" (WIMPs) or extremely light ones called "axions."

Thanks to axions' highly unusual lightness, these hypothetical particles may act more like "large waves that slosh around the cosmos," as Sutter explained.

That would also make them exceedingly difficult to observe. Instead of hunting for the particles themselves, scientists have long suggested looking for any interactions they have with other matter around them, including plasma, which is made of highly charged particles.

Now, a team of researchers from the University of Geneva and the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN)  which is at the forefront of our hunt for exotic particles  are suggesting a new place we could look: the Earth's ionosphere.

By studying how "waves of hypothetical dark matter" interact with ionized particles, per Sutter, we could come one small step closer to answering one of the biggest puzzles facing astrophysicists today.

While it's what Sutter calls a "long shot," with the right instruments, we may just have a chance to finally uncover dark matter's hidden identity.

"An electrically-small dipole antenna targeting the generated radio waves can be orders of magnitude more sensitive to dark photon and axion-like particle dark matter in the relevant mass range," the researchers write.

Better yet, the ionosphere is extremely close to us, making it a tantalizing place to hunt for dark matter.

"This form of dark matter is highly theoretical, and it would take years, if not decades, to perfect the observation technique to search for these radio waves," Sutter concluded. "But if it works, it would be a gold mine, allowing us to study one of the most mysterious elements in the universe right on our cosmic doorstep."

More on dark matter: Our World May Be Connected to an Anti-Universe, Scientist Says
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - MAY 24: In this photo illustration, marijuana joints and buds, also known as 'flower', are viewed on May 24, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. A new study by Carnegie Mellon University has found that marijuana consumption has overtaken alcohol as more Americans now use marijuana on a daily or near-daily basis than those who drink alcohol at a similar frequency. (Photo Illustration by Mario Tama/Getty Images)

Nearly three weeks after the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration proposed loosening a federal prohibition on marijuana, the next phases of policy fights over the drugs status are starting to take shape.

Public comments, which the DEA is accepting on the proposal until mid-July, will likely include an analysis of the economic impact of more lenient federal rules.

Administrative law hearings, a venue for opponents to challenge executive branch decisions, will likely follow, with marijuanas potential for abuse a possible issue.

Congress, meanwhile, could act on multiple related issues, including banking access for state-legal marijuana businesses and proposals to help communities harmed by the decades of federal prohibition.

U.S. Rep. Earl Blumenauer, a Democrat from Oregon and longtime advocate for legalizing marijuana whos retiring at the end of the year, is encouraging his colleagues to build on the administrations action by taking up bills on those related issues.

The politics of the issue should favor action, even in the face of an upcoming campaign season that typically slows legislative action, Blumenauer said in a May 17 interview, noting the popularity of a more permissive approach to the drug.

Congress may not do a lot between now and November, but they should, the 14-term House member said. Because its an election year, theres no downside to being more aggressive.

Economic impact

In a proposed rule published in the Federal Register last month, the DEA specifically asked commenters to weigh in on the economic impacts of moving the drug from Schedule I to the less-restrictive Schedule III list under the federal Controlled Substances Act.

That will likely mean the agency will consider the impact of allowing state-legal marijuana businesses to deduct business expenses from their federal taxes, Mason Tvert, a partner at Denver-based cannabis policy and public affairs firm Strategies 64, said in an interview. Under current law, no deductions are allowed.

That issue is seen by advocates, including Blumenauer and fellow Oregon Democrat Ron Wyden, who chairs the tax-writing U.S. Senate Finance Committee, as paramount for the industry.

Thousands of state-legal businesses struggle to earn a profit or operate at a loss under the current system, Blumenauer said.

Potential for abuse

The DEA typically looks at three factors when assessing how strictly to regulate a drug: its medicinal value, potential for abuse relative to other drugs and ability to cause physical addiction.

A 2023 analysis by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that looked at data from states where medicinal marijuana is legal showed that there exists some credible scientific support for the medical use of marijuana.

That finding could lead DEA to look at other factors, Tvert said.

The battleground that well see will be around how we define potential for abuse, he said.

Agencies split?

But the DEA proposed rule revealed a divided view among government agencies about the drugs potential harms, Paul Armentano, the deputy director for the longtime leading advocacy group National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, told States Newsroom.

The text of the proposed rule shows a lack of consensus among HHS, the Attorney Generals Office and the Drug Enforcement Administration, he said.

There are several points in the DEAs proposed rule where they express a desire to see additional evidence specific to concerns that the agency has about the potential effects of cannabis, particularly as they pertain to abuse potential and potential harms, Armentano said.

The HHS addresses those issues, but the DEA essentially says, Wed like to see more information on it.

Kevin Sabat, the president and CEO of the anti-legalization group Smart Approaches to Marijuana, agreed that the DEA did not appear to agree with the HHS conclusion that medical uses exist.

The proposed rule just brings up all these issues with the HHSs determination and it basically invites comment on all those issues, he said.

Administrative law hearing

Sabats group will also be petitioning for a DEA administrative hearing, he said. An administrative law judge could rule that the proposal should not go through or that it should be amended to remain stricter than the initial proposal described.

Were going to highlight the fact that, first of all, this does not have approved or accepted medical use, he said.

Tvert said the accepted medical value question is likely not to be a major factor in an administrative law hearing. Several medical organizations and states that allow medicinal use have already endorsed its medicinal value, he said.

Instead, the focus will turn to the drugs potential for abuse, he said.

What will be critical is looking at cannabis relative to other substances that are currently II or III or not on the schedule, and determining whether cannabis should be on Schedule I when alcohol is not even on the schedules and ketamine is Schedule III.

As of June 6, nearly 12,000 people had commented on the proposal in the 18 days since its publication.

While opinion polls show that most Americans favor liberalizing cannabis laws  a Pew Research Center survey in March found 57% of U.S. adults favor full legalization while only 11% say it should be entirely illegal  the public comments so far represent a full spectrum of views on the topic.

This rule is a horrible idea, this should remain in Schedule I, one comment read. Marijuana is a gateway drug and ruins lives.

There are no negative side effects to its use, another commenter, who favored fully legalizing the substance, wrote. Its not harmful. The only harm is what the government has done to me and America. Shame on the people that continue to oppose this. Seriously shame on anyone that would stand in the way of this change.

Congressional action?

Blumenauer authored a memo last month on the path forward for reform as the rescheduling process plays out.

He listed four bills for Congress to consider this year.

One, sponsored by House Democrats, would remove cannabis from the Controlled Substance Act schedule entirely and expunge prior offenses.

A bipartisan bill would make changes to the banking laws to allow state-legal businesses greater access to loans and other financial services.

Another, cosponsored with Florida Republican Brian Mast, would allow Veterans Administration health providers to discuss state-legal medicinal marijuana with veteran patients.

Blumenauer has also co-written language for appropriations bills that would prevent the Department of Justice from prosecuting marijuana businesses that are legal under state or tribal law.

All of these things are overwhelmingly popular, theyre important, we have legislative vehicles and supporters, he said.

Still, there may be disagreements about what to pursue next.

Recent years have seen disagreements among Democratic supporters of legalization over whether to prioritize banking or criminal justice reforms.

A banking overhaul has much greater bipartisan support, and advocates on all sides of the issue agree its the most likely to see congressional action.

But some who support changes to banking laws in principle object to focusing on improving the business environment without first addressing the harms they say prohibition has caused to largely non-white and disadvantaged communities.

As recently as 2021, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer described banking reform legislation as too narrow. Sen. Cory Booker, a New Jersey Democrat, called it a common-sense policy but said that he favored a more comprehensive approach.

Ive gone around with Cory on that, Blumenauer said. More than anybody in Congress, Im in favor of the major reforms, and weve been fighting for racial justice and equity  but (racial justice and banking reforms) are not mutually exclusive.

In September, Booker agreed to co-sponsor the banking reform bill after winning a promise from Schumer that a separate bill to help expunge criminal records would also receive a vote. Neither measure has actually received a floor vote.

In a statement following the administrations announcement on rescheduling, Booker praised the move, but called for further action from Congress.

That includes passing a bill hes sponsored that would decriminalize the drug at the federal level, expunge the records of people convicted of federal marijuana crimes and direct federal funding to communities most harmed by the failed War on Drugs, according to a summary from Bookers office.

We still have a long way to go, Booker said in the statement on rescheduling. Thousands of people remain in prisons around the country for marijuana-related crimes. They continue to bear the devastating consequences that come with a criminal history.

Blumenauer said Congress should act on the proposals that have widespread support from voters.

This not low-hanging fruit, this is having them pick it up off the ground, he said. There is no other controversial issue that has as much bipartisan support thats awaiting action.

SUPPORT NEWS YOU TRUST. DONATE

The post Easing federal marijuana rules: Theres still a long way to go appeared first on Virginia Mercury.
Easing federal marijuana rules: Theres still a long way to go

In this photo illustration, marijuana joints and buds, also known as flower, are viewed on May 24, 2024 in Los Angeles. Photo Illustration by Mario Tama/Getty Images.

Weeks after the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration proposed loosening a federal prohibition on marijuana, the next phases of policy fights over the drugs status are starting to take shape.

Public comments, which the DEA is accepting on the proposal until mid-July, will likely include an analysis of the economic impact of more lenient federal rules.

Administrative law hearings, a venue for opponents to challenge executive branch decisions, will likely follow, with marijuanas potential for abuse a possible issue.

Congress, meanwhile, could act on multiple related issues, including banking access for state-legal marijuana businesses and proposals to help communities harmed by the decades of federal prohibition.

U.S. Rep. Earl Blumenauer, a Democrat from Oregon and longtime advocate for legalizing marijuana whos retiring at the end of the year, is encouraging his colleagues to build on the administrations action by taking up bills on those related issues.

The politics of the issue should favor action, even in the face of an upcoming campaign season that typically slows legislative action, Blumenauer said in a May 17 interview, noting the popularity of a more permissive approach to the drug.

Congress may not do a lot between now and November, but they should, the 14-term House member said. Because its an election year, theres no downside to being more aggressive.

Economic impact

In a proposed rule published in the Federal Register last month, the DEA specifically asked commenters to weigh in on the economic impacts of moving the drug from Schedule I to the less-restrictive Schedule III list under the federal Controlled Substances Act.

That will likely mean the agency will consider the impact of allowing state-legal marijuana businesses to deduct business expenses from their federal taxes, Mason Tvert, a partner at Denver-based cannabis policy and public affairs firm Strategies 64, said in an interview. Under current law, no deductions are allowed.

That issue is seen by advocates, including Blumenauer and fellow Oregon Democrat Ron Wyden, who chairs the tax-writing U.S. Senate Finance Committee, as paramount for the industry.

Thousands of state-legal businesses struggle to earn a profit or operate at a loss under the current system, Blumenauer said.

Potential for abuse

The DEA typically looks at three factors when assessing how strictly to regulate a drug: its medicinal value, potential for abuse relative to other drugs and ability to cause physical addiction.

A 2023 analysis by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that looked at data from states where medicinal marijuana is legal showed that there exists some credible scientific support for the medical use of marijuana.

That finding could lead DEA to look at other factors, Tvert said.

The battleground that well see will be around how we define potential for abuse, he said.

Agencies split?

But the DEA proposed rule revealed a divided view among government agencies about the drugs potential harms, Paul Armentano, the deputy director for the longtime leading advocacy group National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, told States Newsroom.

The text of the proposed rule shows a lack of consensus among HHS, the Attorney Generals Office and the Drug Enforcement Administration, he said.

There are several points in the DEAs proposed rule where they express a desire to see additional evidence specific to concerns that the agency has about the potential effects of cannabis, particularly as they pertain to abuse potential and potential harms, Armentano said.

The HHS addresses those issues, but the DEA essentially says, Wed like to see more information on it.

Kevin Sabat, the president and CEO of the anti-legalization group Smart Approaches to Marijuana, agreed that the DEA did not appear to agree with the HHS conclusion that medical uses exist.

The proposed rule just brings up all these issues with the HHSs determination and it basically invites comment on all those issues, he said.

Administrative law hearing

Sabats group will also be petitioning for a DEA administrative hearing, he said. An administrative law judge could rule that the proposal should not go through or that it should be amended to remain stricter than the initial proposal described.

Were going to highlight the fact that, first of all, this does not have approved or accepted medical use, he said.

Tvert said the accepted medical value question is likely not to be a major factor in an administrative law hearing. Several medical organizations and states that allow medicinal use have already endorsed its medicinal value, he said.

Instead, the focus will turn to the drugs potential for abuse, he said.

What will be critical is looking at cannabis relative to other substances that are currently II or III or not on the schedule, and determining whether cannabis should be on Schedule I when alcohol is not even on the schedules and ketamine is Schedule III.

As of June 6, nearly 12,000 people had commented on the proposal in the 18 days since its publication.

SUPPORT NEWS YOU TRUST. DONATE

While opinion polls show that most Americans favor liberalizing cannabis laws  a Pew Research Center survey in March found 57% of U.S. adults favor full legalization while only 11% say it should be entirely illegal  the public comments so far represent a full spectrum of views on the topic.

This rule is a horrible idea, this should remain in Schedule I, one comment read. Marijuana is a gateway drug and ruins lives.

There are no negative side effects to its use, another commenter, who favored fully legalizing the substance, wrote. Its not harmful. The only harm is what the government has done to me and America. Shame on the people that continue to oppose this. Seriously shame on anyone that would stand in the way of this change.

Congressional action?

Blumenauer authored a memo last month on the path forward for reform as the rescheduling process plays out.

He listed four bills for Congress to consider this year.

One, sponsored by House Democrats, would remove cannabis from the Controlled Substance Act schedule entirely and expunge prior offenses.

A bipartisan bill would make changes to the banking laws to allow state-legal businesses greater access to loans and other financial services.

Another, cosponsored with Florida Republican Brian Mast, would allow Veterans Administration health providers to discuss state-legal medicinal marijuana with veteran patients.

Blumenauer has also co-written language for appropriations bills that would prevent the Department of Justice from prosecuting marijuana businesses that are legal under state or tribal law.

All of these things are overwhelmingly popular, theyre important, we have legislative vehicles and supporters, he said.

Still, there may be disagreements about what to pursue next.

Recent years have seen disagreements among Democratic supporters of legalization over whether to prioritize banking or criminal justice reforms.

A banking overhaul has much greater bipartisan support, and advocates on all sides of the issue agree its the most likely to see congressional action.

But some who support changes to banking laws in principle object to focusing on improving the business environment without first addressing the harms they say prohibition has caused to largely non-white and disadvantaged communities.

As recently as 2021, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer described banking reform legislation as too narrow. Sen. Cory Booker, a New Jersey Democrat, called it a common-sense policy but said that he favored a more comprehensive approach.

Ive gone around with Cory on that, Blumenauer said. More than anybody in Congress, Im in favor of the major reforms, and weve been fighting for racial justice and equity  but (racial justice and banking reforms) are not mutually exclusive.

In September, Booker agreed to co-sponsor the banking reform bill after winning a promise from Schumer that a separate bill to help expunge criminal records would also receive a vote. Neither measure has actually received a floor vote.

In a statement following the administrations announcement on rescheduling, Booker praised the move, but called for further action from Congress.

That includes passing a bill hes sponsored that would decriminalize the drug at the federal level, expunge the records of people convicted of federal marijuana crimes and direct federal funding to communities most harmed by the failed War on Drugs, according to a summary from Bookers office.

We still have a long way to go, Booker said in the statement on rescheduling. Thousands of people remain in prisons around the country for marijuana-related crimes. They continue to bear the devastating consequences that come with a criminal history.

Blumenauer said Congress should act on the proposals that have widespread support from voters.

This not low-hanging fruit, this is having them pick it up off the ground, he said. There is no other controversial issue that has as much bipartisan support thats awaiting action.

The post Easing federal marijuana rules: Theres still a long way to go appeared first on Minnesota Reformer.
Easing federal marijuana rules: Theres still a long way to go

In this photo illustration, marijuana joints and buds, also known as flower, are viewed on May 24, 2024 in Los Angeles. (Photo Illustration by Mario Tama/Getty Images)

Nearly three weeks after the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration proposed loosening a federal prohibition on marijuana, the next phases of policy fights over the drugs status are starting to take shape.

Public comments, which the DEA is accepting on the proposal until mid-July, will likely include an analysis of the economic impact of more lenient federal rules.

Administrative law hearings, a venue for opponents to challenge executive branch decisions, will likely follow, with marijuanas potential for abuse a possible issue.

Congress, meanwhile, could act on multiple related issues, including banking access for state-legal marijuana businesses and proposals to help communities harmed by the decades of federal prohibition.

U.S. Rep. Earl Blumenauer, a Democrat from Oregon and longtime advocate for legalizing marijuana whos retiring at the end of the year, is encouraging his colleagues to build on the administrations action by taking up bills on those related issues.

The politics of the issue should favor action, even in the face of an upcoming campaign season that typically slows legislative action, Blumenauer said in a May 17 interview, noting the popularity of a more permissive approach to the drug.

Congress may not do a lot between now and November, but they should, the 14-term House member said. Because its an election year, theres no downside to being more aggressive.

Economic impact

In a proposed rule published in the Federal Register last month, the DEA specifically asked commenters to weigh in on the economic impacts of moving the drug from Schedule I to the less-restrictive Schedule III list under the federal Controlled Substances Act.

That will likely mean the agency will consider the impact of allowing state-legal marijuana businesses to deduct business expenses from their federal taxes, Mason Tvert, a partner at Denver-based cannabis policy and public affairs firm Strategies 64, said in an interview. Under current law, no deductions are allowed.

That issue is seen by advocates, including Blumenauer and fellow Oregon Democrat Ron Wyden, who chairs the tax-writing U.S. Senate Finance Committee, as paramount for the industry.

Thousands of state-legal businesses struggle to earn a profit or operate at a loss under the current system, Blumenauer said.

Potential for abuse

The DEA typically looks at three factors when assessing how strictly to regulate a drug: its medicinal value, potential for abuse relative to other drugs and ability to cause physical addiction.

A 2023 analysis by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that looked at data from states where medicinal marijuana is legal showed that there exists some credible scientific support for the medical use of marijuana.

That finding could lead DEA to look at other factors, Tvert said.

The battleground that well see will be around how we define potential for abuse, he said.

Agencies split?

But the DEA proposed rule revealed a divided view among government agencies about the drugs potential harms, Paul Armentano, the deputy director for the longtime leading advocacy group National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, told States Newsroom.

The text of the proposed rule shows a lack of consensus among HHS, the Attorney Generals Office and the Drug Enforcement Administration, he said.

There are several points in the DEAs proposed rule where they express a desire to see additional evidence specific to concerns that the agency has about the potential effects of cannabis, particularly as they pertain to abuse potential and potential harms, Armentano said.

The HHS addresses those issues, but the DEA essentially says, Wed like to see more information on it.

Kevin Sabat, the president and CEO of the anti-legalization group Smart Approaches to Marijuana, agreed that the DEA did not appear to agree with the HHS conclusion that medical uses exist.

The proposed rule just brings up all these issues with the HHSs determination and it basically invites comment on all those issues, he said.

Administrative law hearing

Sabats group will also be petitioning for a DEA administrative hearing, he said. An administrative law judge could rule that the proposal should not go through or that it should be amended to remain stricter than the initial proposal described.

Were going to highlight the fact that, first of all, this does not have approved or accepted medical use, he said.

Tvert said the accepted medical value question is likely not to be a major factor in an administrative law hearing. Several medical organizations and states that allow medicinal use have already endorsed its medicinal value, he said.

Instead, the focus will turn to the drugs potential for abuse, he said.

What will be critical is looking at cannabis relative to other substances that are currently II or III or not on the schedule, and determining whether cannabis should be on Schedule I when alcohol is not even on the schedules and ketamine is Schedule III.

As of June 6, nearly 12,000 people had commented on the proposal in the 18 days since its publication.

While opinion polls show that most Americans favor liberalizing cannabis laws  a Pew Research Center survey in March found 57% of U.S. adults favor full legalization while only 11% say it should be entirely illegal  the public comments so far represent a full spectrum of views on the topic.

This rule is a horrible idea, this should remain in Schedule I, one comment read. Marijuana is a gateway drug and ruins lives.

There are no negative side effects to its use, another commenter, who favored fully legalizing the substance, wrote. Its not harmful. The only harm is what the government has done to me and America. Shame on the people that continue to oppose this. Seriously shame on anyone that would stand in the way of this change.

Congressional action?

Blumenauer authored a memo last month on the path forward for reform as the rescheduling process plays out.

He listed four bills for Congress to consider this year.

One, sponsored by House Democrats, would remove cannabis from the Controlled Substance Act schedule entirely and expunge prior offenses.

A bipartisan bill would make changes to the banking laws to allow state-legal businesses greater access to loans and other financial services.

Another, cosponsored with Florida Republican Brian Mast, would allow Veterans Administration health providers to discuss state-legal medicinal marijuana with veteran patients.

Blumenauer has also co-written language for appropriations bills that would prevent the Department of Justice from prosecuting marijuana businesses that are legal under state or tribal law.

All of these things are overwhelmingly popular, theyre important, we have legislative vehicles and supporters, he said.

Still, there may be disagreements about what to pursue next.

Recent years have seen disagreements among Democratic supporters of legalization over whether to prioritize banking or criminal justice reforms.

A banking overhaul has much greater bipartisan support, and advocates on all sides of the issue agree its the most likely to see congressional action.

But some who support changes to banking laws in principle object to focusing on improving the business environment without first addressing the harms they say prohibition has caused to largely non-white and disadvantaged communities.

As recently as 2021, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer described banking reform legislation as too narrow. Sen. Cory Booker, a New Jersey Democrat, called it a common-sense policy but said that he favored a more comprehensive approach.

Ive gone around with Cory on that, Blumenauer said. More than anybody in Congress, Im in favor of the major reforms, and weve been fighting for racial justice and equity  but (racial justice and banking reforms) are not mutually exclusive.

In September, Booker agreed to co-sponsor the banking reform bill after winning a promise from Schumer that a separate bill to help expunge criminal records would also receive a vote. Neither measure has actually received a floor vote.

In a statement following the administrations announcement on rescheduling, Booker praised the move, but called for further action from Congress.

That includes passing a bill hes sponsored that would decriminalize the drug at the federal level, expunge the records of people convicted of federal marijuana crimes and direct federal funding to communities most harmed by the failed War on Drugs, according to a summary from Bookers office.

We still have a long way to go, Booker said in the statement on rescheduling. Thousands of people remain in prisons around the country for marijuana-related crimes. They continue to bear the devastating consequences that come with a criminal history.

Blumenauer said Congress should act on the proposals that have widespread support from voters.

This not low-hanging fruit, this is having them pick it up off the ground, he said. There is no other controversial issue that has as much bipartisan support thats awaiting action.

The post Easing federal marijuana rules: Theres still a long way to go appeared first on Michigan Advance.
Ukrainian delegation at the hearing in the ECHR. Photo: Office of the President of Ukraine

Oral proceedings were held at the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) in the case "Ukraine and the Netherlands against the Russian Federation". The proceedings concern Russia's violations of human rights in the occupied territory of Donbas.

Source: Office of the President of Ukraine, as reported by European Pravda

Details: Based on the findings of the oral hearings, the Ukrainian government expects the ECHR to acknowledge the existence of human rights abuses by Russia and proceed to the stage of just satisfaction.

In this case, the court considers Ukraine and the Netherlands' collective complaint against the Russian Federation that, following the occupation of Donbas in 2014, Russia systematically violated human rights in these territories, or failed to investigate the violations committed there, and that as the occupying state, it should be held accountable for the events in this territory.

Marharyta Sokorenko, Ukraine's Commissioner for ECHR cases, stated on Facebook that Kyiv presented its view on the merits of the interstate Donbas case, which began in 2014, as well as the legitimacy and substance of the full-scale invasion.

The government of the Kingdom of the Netherlands presented its position on Russia's downing of Flight MH17, including a speech by a representative of the Foundation Air Disaster MH17, who represented the victims' relatives.

The UK and Poland's governments presented their positions independently, while Norway proposed the collective view of all other third parties. Their inquiries focused on extraterritorial jurisdiction and the relationship between international humanitarian law and the Convention on the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms.

Representatives from Russia did not attend the hearing.

In turn, Iryna Mudra, Deputy Head of the President's Office of Ukraine, stated that the Russian Federation's violent and savage behaviour breaches the fundamental norms of international law.

"The government of Ukraine demonstrated this with evidence during the proceedings in this interstate case," the President's Office stated.

The interim ruling of 25 January 2023 was an undeniable success for Ukraine, particularly because it clearly stated that Russia's de facto war on Ukraine has been ongoing since 2014, not 2022.

The European Court of Human Rights has chosen to continue to consider claims against the Russian Federation, notwithstanding its removal from the Council of Europe immediately after the outbreak of the full-scale war.

Ukraine's Ministry of Justice states that Russia remains interested in the proceedings against it in the European Court of Human Rights, despite public statements to the contrary.

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Ed Stone, who led JPL for a decade and worked on the La Canada Flintridge institution's Voyager mission for five decades, has died. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

Ed Stone, the scientist who guided NASAs breakthrough Voyager mission to the outer planets for 50 years and led the Jet Propulsion Laboratory when it landed its first rover on Mars, died Tuesday. He was 88.

A physicist who got in on the ground floor of space exploration, Stone played a leading role in NASA missions to Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune. The discoveries made under his watch revolutionized scientists understanding of the solar system and fueled humanitys ambition to explore distant worlds.

Carolyn Porco, who worked on imaging on JPL's Voyager and Cassini missions, called Stone "a thoroughly lovely man" who was "as close to perfect as a project scientist could ever be."

"When two science teams were in contention over some spacecraft resource, and Ed had to decide between the two, even the guy who lost went away thinking, 'Well, if this is what Ed has decided, then it must be the right answer,'" Porco said by email Tuesday. "I feel blessed to have known Ed. And like many people today, I'm very sad to know he's gone."

Stone was a 36-year-old Caltech physics professor in 1972 when he was asked to serve as chief scientist for an audacious plan to send a pair of spacecraft to explore the solar systems four giant planets for the first time.

It was the opportunity of a lifetime, but he wasnt sure he wanted the gig.

I hesitated because I was a fairly young professor at that point. I still had a lot of research I wanted to do, he recalled 40 years later.

He took it anyway, and from the missions first encounter with Jupiter in 1979 to its final flyby of Neptune in 1989, Stone became the scientific face of the Voyager mission. He guided the science agenda and helped the public make sense of revolutionary images and data not just from Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune, but from many of their fascinating moons.

Read more: After months of silence, Voyager 1 has returned NASA's calls

Stone and his more than 200 science collaborators were the first to discover lightning on Jupiter and volcanoes on its moon Io. They spotted six never-before-seen moons around Saturn and found evidence of the largest ocean in the solar system on Jupiters moon Europa, as well as geysers on Neptune's moon Triton.

"It seemed like everywhere we looked, as we encountered those planets and their moons, we were surprised, Stone told the Los Angeles Times in 2011. "We were finding things we never imagined, gaining a clearer understanding of the environment Earth was part of. I can close my eyes and still remember every part of it."

The Voyager 1 spacecraft became the first manmade object to reach interstellar space in 2012, and Voyager 2 followed suit in 2018.

The twin probes continue to send weekly communications to Earth from interstellar space. Stone retired in 2022 on the mission's 50th anniversary.

"A part of Ed lives on in the two Voyager spacecraft. The fingerprints of his dedication and keen leadership are woven into the Voyager mission," said Linda Spilker, who joined the mission in 1977 and succeeded him as project scientist.

The Voyager mission was Stones crowning achievement, but hardly his only one.

He was a principal investigator on nine NASA missions and a co-investigator on five others, including several satellites designed to study cosmic rays, the solar wind and the Earths magnetic field.

He became director of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in La Canada Flintridge in 1991, a role he held for a decade.

It was an era of cost-cutting at NASA, but Stone still managed to launch Galileos five-year mission to Jupiter and send the Cassini spacecraft to Saturn. He was also at the agencys helm when Mars Pathfinder delivered the Sojourner rover to the Red Planet. It marked the first time that humans had put a robotic rover on the surface of another planet.

Read more: Too expensive, too slow: NASA asks for help with JPL's Mars Sample Return mission

Throughout his tenure at JPL, Stone continued to work and teach at Caltech, even teaching freshman physics during some of Voyagers long cruise times between planets.

He also served as chairman of the board of the California Assn. for Research in Astronomy, which is responsible for building and operating the W.M. Keck Observatory and its two 10-meter telescopes on Mauna Kea, Hawaii.

Edward Carroll Stone Jr. was born in Iowa on Jan. 23, 1936, and grew up in Burlington, where his father ran a small construction business and his mother kept the company books.

The eldest of two brothers, Stone was attracted to science from a young age. Under his father's watchful eye, he learned how to take apart and reassemble all varieties of technology, from radios to cars.

I was always interested in learning about why something is this way and not that way, Stone told an interviewer in 2018. I wanted to understand and measure and observe.

After studying physics at Burlington Junior College, he received his masters and doctorate at the University of Chicago. Shortly after he began his graduate studies, news broke in 1957 that the former Soviet Union had launched Sputnik, the worlds first artificial satellite.

"Just like that, because of the Cold War and our need to match Sputnik, a whole new realm absolutely opened up," he said.

Read more: Bill Anders, Apollo 8 astronaut who took iconic 'Earthrise' photo, dies in plane crash

Stone built a device for measuring the intensity of solar energetic particles above the atmosphere that hitched a ride to space aboard an Air Force satellite in 1961. Unfortunately the spacecrafts transmitter didnt work, so only a very limited quantity of data was returned to Earth. However, it was still enough to indicate that the intensity of the particles was lower than expected.

Despite the transmitter glitch, Stone said the project was thrilling. We were taking the first steps in a whole new area of research and exploration, he said. We were right at the beginning.

He joined the faculty at Caltech in 1964 and created more space experiments, this time for NASA.

Stones particular area of interest was cosmic rays  high-speed atomic nuclei that can originate from explosive events on the sun or from violent events beyond the solar system.

One of his cosmic-ray experiments was included among the 11 major Voyager experiments.

Ed Stone in 2011, about a year before Voyager 1 entered interstellar space. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

Colleagues praised Stone for his leadership of the Voyager science team.

"He was a great hero, a giant among men," said Porco, adding that Stone was known to treat everyone  from top scientists to graduate students  with respect.

Voyager team scientist Thomas Donahue put it this way: Over the years, Ed Stone has proved to be remarkably adept at keeping a bunch of prima donnas on track.

Stone was elected to the National Academy of Sciences in 1984 and received the National Medal of Science from President George H.W. Bush in 1991 in recognition of his leadership of the Voyager mission. He won the Shaw Prize in Astronomy in 2019, an honor that comes with a $1.2-million award. In 2012 his hometown of Burlington, Iowa, named its new middle school after him.

"This is truly an honor because it comes from the community where my exploration journey began," Stone told a local newspaper.

Decades after Voyagers launch he was asked to select his favorite moment from the mission. He chose the discovery of volcanoes on Jupiters moon Io.

Finding a moon that's 100 times more active volcanically than the entire Earth, it's really quite striking, he said. And this was typical of what Voyager was going to do on the rest of its journey through the outer solar system.

Time after time, we found that nature was much more inventive than our models, he said.

His wife, Alice, whom he met on a blind date at the University of Chicago and married in 1962, died in December. The couple are survived by their two daughters, Susan and Janet Stone, and two grandsons.

Read more: America's first Black astronaut candidate finally goes to space 60 years later on Bezos rocket

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
A child attends an online class at a learning hub inside the Crenshaw Family YMCA on Feb. 17, 2021. The learning hub program offers free WiFi, electricity, staff support, academic tutoring and recreation activities to support low-income and minority communities. (Patrick T. Fallon / AFP/Getty Images)

This month more than 23 million households will lose affordable internet access as part of a pandemic-era federal program that provided low-income households with a credit of between $30 and $75 toward their monthly service bill. Without this aid millions of people risk losing their access to the web  or already have.

Some lawmakers had been trying to allocate more funds to prevent the program from expiring or ending on June 1, but they were not able to get a vote. On Wednesday, a key Senate committee will vote on the Spectrum and National Security Act of 2024, which includes $7 billion to reinstate the aid to the end of this year while Congress works on long-term solutions to broadband affordability.

The House would need to pass the act as well. Given that digital access is no longer a luxury, but an essential requirement of daily life, an extension of the program is reasonable.

Read more: Editorial: Newsom throws South L.A. under the broadband bus

The depth of the digital divide was brought to light during the COVID-19 pandemic, when so much of our lives went online. Many people were required to work from home and students forced to attend classes on Zoom. But those with limited financial resources were unable to transfer their lives online smoothly.

Congress passed the Affordable Connectivity Act in 2021 to provide $14.2 billion in aid to qualifying households to pay for monthly internet service and obtain laptops, tablets or desktop computers with a one-time discount of up to $100. But the funding has run out.

Read more: Millions could lose internet access in California if this program expires

There is a similar federal aid program that is still available called Lifeline, which was established in 1984 to help low-income households afford landline connections. Currently, the households that qualify can receive a credit of up to $9.25 a month and apply it to landlines, cellphone service or broadband services.

There was this big assumption that everyone was connected, and the pandemic showed we are not," said Norma Fernandez, chief executive officer of EveryoneOn, a nonprofit that focuses on providing connectivity to communities that are in need.

The ACP program was one of the first federal programs that directly addressed affordable broadband access and it had an immediate effect. California has the most ACP enrollments of any state, with nearly 3 million households, or about 20%, relying on that funding. And only 47% of eligible households in California enrolled in this program, meaning there were still families that could have had more financial support.

Read more: L.A. County to offer discounted home internet to lower-income residents in some neighborhoods

To be eligible for ACP, applicants had to qualify for other federal programs such as Medicaid, be at or below 200% of the federal poverty guidelines or meet eligibility for other low-income internet programs.

A temporary extension of funding for ACP is a short-term solution to the connectivity issue, and lawmakers know that. The internet is constantly evolving with new technologies being introduced daily. We need permanent programs that help those on the wrong side of the digital divide or the gap will continue to grow.

In California at least, there are many organizations, local leaders and activists working on this issue. For example, the city of Long Beach used grants and other funds to hire staff to focus on digital equity and to provide temporary subsidized broadband internet for residents, small businesses and nonprofits, said Rebecca Kauma, director of digital equity at L.A. County's Internal Services Department.

ACP was one of the resources that helped the nation shrink the digital divide. Let's not take a step back.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
To appreciate just how little the state of Florida cares for its children, look no further than the states arguments for kicking more kids off KidCare, a low-cost health insurance program.

The count was already at 22,500 when a federal judge last month dismissed Floridas suit against the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).

Floridas goal: Tossing kids off insurance rolls if a parent misses a premium payment, despite being warned that taking that benefit away might break federal rules.

All states have some version of KidCare, also known as Title XXI. The federal- and state-subsidized program offers insurance for children whose parents make too much to qualify for Medicaid.

How it works

Florida KidCare can require parents to pay premiums, typically no more than $15 or $20 a month. That generates $30 million a year for state coffers.

The federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, or CMS, concluded that even if a premium goes unpaid, a child must remain insured until eligibility can be re-determined, usually annually.

Florida balked.

Without the threat of losing their kids insurance, the state argued, parents could just make one premium payment at the beginning of the policy year, and get free health care for the next 11 months.

Thousands will do just that, the state predicted, costing as much $48.5 million under an expanded KidCare plan That number seems to be pulled from thin air.

Sue first, ask later

Florida sued. But it sued poorly. The judge found the state jumped the gun. It sued in federal court before taking up the issue with CMS.

And although the ruling did not mention money, Florida also sued before it had lost even a penny under the new rule. It was speculating about future financial harm.

In court filings, the $48.5 million reads like a figure based less on math and more on the presumption of scheming parents exploiting a loophole.

Even if accurate, the cost represents little more than lint in the states pocketbook: It works out to 3.3% of this years $14.6 billion budget surplus, in a $117 billion budget.

Indeed, the same state now squawking over a speculative future $48.5 million cost involving uninsured children also set aside $450 million this year  nearly 10 times as much  to offset the very real current cost of E-Pass toll relief for drivers.

But the states argument is not just about the money. Its about building character.

KidCare, state lawyers solemnly argued, is a personal responsibility program for parents.

Its a Florida thing

In other words, Florida argued not only that parents needing health insurance for their kids are lying in wait to rob the state of $15 a month, but they are also in dire need of lessons in personal integrity, which our state claims it provides  by taking away childrens health insurance.

Never mind if the family car needs a new tire or the kids need school supplies. Never mind if a childs premium money is required to pay for a childs prescription.

Nowhere in decades of federal laws, amendments and rulemaking for this insurance program are requirements that parents be threatened and their childrens health jeopardized as a necessary part of its success.

Its a Florida thing.

And its not just KidCare. Last year, when states began unwinding a Medicaid eligibility policy adopted in the middle of the pandemic, Florida said it successfully reached out to 93% of families at risk of losing coverage.

Even so, the number of children disenrolled from Medicaid and KidCare combined was pushing 600,000 last December, when U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra wrote to Florida, deeply alarmed by the numbers.

Worse, between April 2023 and March of this year, the Center for Children and Families at Georgetown University found more than six of every 10 Florida disenrolled children had been dropped because of procedural issues, not because they had been ruled ineligible.

Becerra had offered federal help. Florida just said no.

The state still retains an opportunity to shed children from KidCare if parents miss payments. It can press the same argument it lost in federal court with CMS. If it loses there, it can plead its case before an appeals court.

If Florida wins, Florida children will lose. How irresponsible is that?

____

The Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board includes Editor-in-Chief Julie Anderson, Opinion Editor Krys Fluker and Viewpoints Editor Jay Reddick. The Sun Sentinel Editorial Board consists of Editorial Page Editor Steve Bousquet, Deputy Editorial Page Editor Dan Sweeney, editorial writer Martin Dyckman and Anderson. Send letters to insight@orlandosentinel.com.
Eight people with suspected ISIS ties arrested in New York, Philadelphia and LA after crossing southern border

Eight people with ties to ISIS, who crossed the US southern border last year have been arrested in Los Angeles, Philadelphia and New York City (Getty Images)

Eight people with ties to ISIS, who crossed the US southern border last year have been arrested in Los Angeles, Philadelphia, and New York City, according to officials.

The suspects, from Tajikistan, were allowed to enter the country last year after being vetted. No national security risks were detected at the time, a source close to the investigation told ABC News.

In recent weeks authorities uncovered derogatory information which indicated the individuals had links to the terrorist group.

They were searched for and arrested, the source told the outlet. Despite this, authorities are still developing evidence to bring terrorism charges, which will result in the suspects being deported.

They are now being detained in ICE custody.

"Over the last few days, ICE agents arrested several non-citizens pursuant to immigration authorities," the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security said in a statement.

Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas said last month that a new proposed rulemaking on the border would help safeguard the US (Getty Images)

"The actions were carried out in close coordination with the FBIs Joint Terrorism Task Forces. The individuals arrested are detained in ICE custody pending removal proceedings.

"As the FBI and DHS have recently described in public and partner bulletins, the U.S. has been in a heightened threat environment.

The FBI and DHS will continue working around the clock with our partners to identify, investigate, and disrupt potential threats to national security.

Last month, the DHS, through the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) that would allow statutory bars to asylum to be applied much earlier in the process.

It allows DHS to expeditiously remove individuals who pose a threat to the United States much sooner than previously with the intention of better safeguarding the security of our border and the country.

Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas said at the time: The proposed rule we have published today is yet another step in our ongoing efforts to ensure the safety of the American public by more quickly identifying and removing those individuals who present a security risk and have no legal basis to remain here.
An El Paso man was arrested accused of running away after a hit-and-run collision in April that killed another driver at a West Side intersection, police officials said.

Hector Julian Velasquez, 22, was arrested on Tuesday, June 11, after crossing the border at a port of entry in Downtown El Paso. A warrant for his arrest had been issued four days earlier on a charge of collision involving a death, police said.

Hector Julian Velasquez was arrested Tuesday on a charge of collision involving a death in connection with an April 28 hit-and-run that killed Eric Isaac Leal Jr., 23, at a West El Paso intersection.

Special Traffic Investigations Unit investigators allegedly identified Velasquez as the driver of a black GMC Sierra who fled after colliding with a silver Dodge Charger shortly before 2 a.m. on April 28 at the intersection of North Mesa Street and Castellano Drive. One of the vehicles ran a red light before the fatal crash, police said.

Traffic deaths: Socorro man arrested for intoxicated manslaughter after passenger dies in wreck

The driver of the Dodge, Eric Isaac Leal Jr., 23, of El Paso, died at a hospital a day later. A passenger in the car was seriously injured, police said.

Velasquez is being held on a $150,000 bond at the El Paso County Jail in Downtown, according to a jail log. He doesn't have an attorney listed on court records.

Cocaine seized, woman arrested in Tornillo traffic stop

A traffic stop by an El Paso County deputy constable resulted in the seizure of nearly six pounds of cocaine found in an SUV in Tornillo, officials said.

The SUV's driver, Genoveva Esparza Carrillo, 27, of Fabens, was arrested on a felony charge of manufacture/delivery of a controlled substance, Precinct 6 Constable Javier Garcia stated in a news release.

Crime: El Paso woman accused in string of gym thefts at Planet Fitness

About 8 a.m. Monday, June 10, a deputy constable on patrol pulled over a gray SUV for having an expired Texas buyer tag on Cobb Avenue near Tornillo Elementary School, officials stated. Esparza was accompanied by a woman passenger and three children, ages 5 to 12, in the rear seat.

Genoveva Esparza Carrillo was arrested on a charge of manufacture/delivery of a controlled substance by an El Paso County deputy constable in Tornillo, Texas.

After "the driver became extremely nervous during the traffic stop," the women were questioned separately and the deputy found their stories didn't match. The deputy received permission to search the vehicle and found two packages of cocaine under the seat, where the children were sitting, the constable's office stated.

Esparza was arrested and is being held at the El Paso County Jail in Downtown on a $100,000 bond. The Precinct 6 constable's office covers far east El Paso County.

Man stabbed at Circle K gas station in far East El Paso

El Paso police detectives continue investigating a stabbing during a fight inside a Circle K convenience store that sent a 34-year-old man to the hospital last week in the far East Side.

The wounded man was found after police officers responded to a call of a disturbance and a fight with weapons at about 7:40 p.m. Thursday, June 6, at the Circle K at 12190 Montwood Drive at the intersection with Zaragoza Road and Joe Battle Boulevard, police spokesman Officer Adrian Cisneros said.

Gun violence: El Paso shooting wounds one when driver shoots couple's car at far East Side gas station

It has not been disclosed what may have spurred the altercation leading up to the stabbing. There have been no arrests. An investigation by detectives with the Crimes Against Persons Unit continued on Tuesday, June 11.

Anyone with information on the stabbing or any other crime may call the police nonemergency number at 915-832-4400 or may anonymously call Crime Stoppers of El Paso at 915-566-8477 (TIPS).

This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: El Paso crimes: Circle K stabbing; cocaine and hit-and-run arrests
CCTV: Yesterday, Foreign Minister Wang Yi attended the BRICS Foreign Ministers Dialogue with Developing Countries, could you share more details with us?



Lin Jian: On June 11 local time, Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Foreign Minister Wang Yi attended the BRICS Foreign Ministers Dialogue with Developing Countries (BRICS+) in Russia. The dialogue saw participation from the 10 BRICS countries and 12 major developing countries with regional influence, including Thailand, Laos, Viet Nam, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Kazakhstan, Belarus, Turkiye, Mauritania, Cuba, Venezuela and Bahrain.

Foreign Minister Wang Yi stated at the Dialogue that BRICS+ serves as an important platform for dialogue between the BRICS countries and the vast emerging markets and developing countries. It has long been a source of dynamism for BRICS development and has become a banner of South-South cooperation. We live in an era marked by turbulence and transformation, and certain country, in order to maintain its unipolar hegemony, is rallying allies to impose massive unilateral sanctions, create deep protectionist barriers and weaponize economic and financial tools. The North-South divide is widening, and the global economic recovery is facing setbacks. That said, this is also an era marked by the rise of the Global South and a world transformed like never before. The Global South is no longer the silent majority but a new awakened force.

Foreign Minister Wang Yi made a three-point proposal on how developing countries can open up new horizons on a shifting landscape and foster new opportunities amidst crises. First, uphold universal security and jointly tackle challenges. Global challenges should be jointly tackled by the international community, solidarity is the only right way forward and division will lead nowhere. President Xi Jinping put forward the Global Security Initiative and proposed a vision of common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security, providing important guidance for solving security challenges and creating a synergy for peace. Second, prioritize development and pool strength for progress. China remains true to its original aspiration of forging ahead hand in hand with fellow developing countries. The Global Development Initiative put forward by President Xi Jinping has been warmly received by more than 100 countries and international organizations. We should jointly oppose the politicization of economic issues, strengthen the synergy of our development strategies and the coordination of our macroeconomic policies, keep global industrial and supply chains stable and unimpeded and push for a globalization that is more open, inclusive, balanced and beneficial for all. Third, uphold fairness and justice, and improve global governance. Seventy years ago, the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence emerged from the historical trend of the rise of emerging forces and has become norms governing international relations followed by the international community, especially developing countries. We should learn from the history, adhere to a global governance philosophy of extensive consultation and joint contribution for shared benefit, uphold true multilateralism, and work for an equal and orderly multipolar world. China supports BRICS in pursuing development and cooperation with open arms, and welcomes more like-minded partners to join the BRICS family.

Participants spoke highly of the strategic significance of the Dialogue, noting that the BRICS+ model helps promote solidarity and cooperation among developing countries, enhance the Global Souths influence, and build a more just and equitable international order. The parties all believe it is important to uphold the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, oppose unilateralism and hegemonism, resolve conflicts and differences through dialogue and consultation, and promote the political settlement of international hotspot issues. They also called for reforming the international financial system, enhancing cooperation in digital economy, infrastructure and other areas, keeping global industrial and supply chains stable, narrowing the development gap, and achieving common development.

AFP: Its reported by UK-based Financial Times today that starting from next month, the EU will levy 25 percent tariffs on the electric vehicles imported from China. Has the Chinese side been informed of this decision? Whats your comment?

Lin Jian: We have stated our position on the EUs anti-subsidy investigation into Chinese EVs on multiple occasions. I remember answering a similar question yesterday. I would like to stress that the anti-subsidy probe is typical protectionism. To levy additional tariffs on EVs imported from China violates market economy principles and international trade rules, disrupts China-EU economic and trade cooperation and the global automotive industrial and supply chains and will eventually hurt Europes own interests. We noted that senior officials and business leaders in multiple European countries recently stated opposition to the European Commissions probe and said that imposing more tariffs on Chinese EVs to protect the European industry would be a wrong approach. Protectionism has no future, and open cooperation is the right way forward. We urge the EU to act on its commitment to supporting free trade and opposing protectionism, and work with us to uphold the overall economic and trade cooperation between the two sides. China will take all measures necessary to firmly defend our lawful rights and interests.

Dragon TV: Recently, Japanese scholars Seiya Matsuno and Shigeo Nasu donated a large amount of historical files on Japans bacterial warfare to the Yiwu archives hall and the Historical Facts Exhibition Hall of Bacterial Warfare of the Japanese Invaders in Yiwu, with a written message that says Japan-China friendship and Never again should there be war between Japan and China. Whats Chinas comment?



Lin Jian: During WWII, in blatant violation of international law, the Japanese army launched horrendous bacterial warfare against the Chinese people and conducted gruesome human experimentation, which were heinous crimes against humanity. The historical files you mentioned show once again there are solid proofs for the bacterial warfare launched by Japanese militarists and theres no room for denial.

We commend the courage of those in Japan who reveal the historical truth and face it squarely. Japan needs to face up to and reflect on its history of militarist aggression, draw lessons from it, get rid of the specter of militarism that still haunts it, and never let history repeat itself.

China News Service: In a national address delivered on June 11, Malawis President Lazarus Chakwera said the Malawi Defense Force plane that carried Vice President Saulos Chilima and nine others crashed on June 10, and the aircraft was found completely destroyed with no survivors. Whats Chinas comment?



Lin Jian: China expresses deep condolences over the unfortunate passing of Malawis Vice President Saulos Chilima and other victims in the plane crash. Our thoughts are with their families. China and Malawi are development partners. At this difficult time, the Chinese government and people stand firmly with the Malawian government and people. We believe that under President Lazarus Chakweras leadership, Malawi will emerge from this tragic incident and heal from the grief.

Reuters: Reuters understands that Myanmars military junta has procured a large number of drones from China in recent months that it is using on the frontlines against the growing anti-junta resistance. Does the Ministry have any comment on this, and what is Beijings broad policy toward the export of such Chinese goods to Myanmar?



Lin Jian: China always handles the export of military products and dual-use articles in a prudent and responsible way.

AFP: Hong Kong authorities said today that they have cancelled the passports of six fugitives who fled to the UK. They were charged with crimes including inciting secession and colluding with foreign countries. What is the Foreign Ministrys comment?



Lin Jian: Nathan Law and the others have long engaged in anti-China activities and sought to destabilize Hong Kong. Their nefarious behavior gravely undermines national security and Hong Kongs fundamental interests and has a serious impact on One Country, Two Systems which is a bottom line that must not be crossed. The Hong Kong police took measures in accordance with the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance, which is the right and necessary thing to do in order to uphold the rule of law in Hong Kong and national security. This is fully justified, legitimate and lawful. Once again, Hong Kong affairs are purely Chinas internal affairs that allow no external interference.

The Paper: The US Department of Homeland Security announced yesterday the addition of three Chinese companies to the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act Entity List and barred imports from the companies for alleged involvement in Uyghur forced labor. Whats Chinas response?



Lin Jian: The US again spread false stories on Xinjiang and illegally sanctioned Chinese companies in the name of human rights. We firmly oppose and strongly condemn the move.

What Xinjiang has achieved in its development is there for all to see and the central governments Xinjiang policy is widely endorsed by the people. We have proven with ample figures and facts that the so-called forced labor and genocide accusations are complete false and egregious lies told by a handful of individuals wanting to vilify China. Their goal is to destabilize Xinjiang, frame China and hold back Chinas development. The US chooses to enforce this malicious legislation on Xinjiang and blacklist Chinese entities on the basis of those lies. This seriously interferes in Chinas internal affairs, disrupts market order and violates international trade rules and basic norms governing international relations. What the US is doing is essentially creating forced unemployment in Xinjiang, and hurting the right to subsistence, employment and development of people in Xinjiang in the name of human rights. Clearly, the US is seeking to turn Xinjiang into a tool to contain China. If the US truly cares about human rights, it might as well start dealing with the mounting issues at home, such as racial discrimination, gun violence, drug abuse, etc. instead of deflecting blame on other countries, interfering in their affairs and slapping sanctions.

We urge the US to immediately stop smearing China, lift illegal unilateral sanctions on Chinese businesses, stop interfering in Chinas internal affairs and undermining Chinas interests under the pretext of human rights. We will continue to take resolute measures to firmly defend the legitimate and lawful rights and interests of Chinese companies.

Bloomberg: Two questions from Bloomberg. The first one is that the Biden administration is considering further restrictions on Chinas access to chip technology used for artificial intelligence. The measures being discussed would limit Chinas ability to use a cutting-edge chip architecture known as gate all-around or GAA. Does the Foreign Ministry have any comments on this? And the second question is on Argentina. The International Monetary Fund expects China to reschedule payments on part of the US$18 billion swap line that it has extended to Argentina. We know that Argentina owes the Peoples Bank of China about US$2.9 billion this month and US$1.9 billion in July. Were wondering if the Foreign Ministry can confirm this or have any comments?



Lin Jian: On your first question, we have more than once made clear our position on the USs malicious attempts to block and suppress Chinas semiconductor industry. The US behavior seriously undermines international trade rules and destabilizes global industrial and supply chains. China firmly opposes what the US has done. When it comes to AI, the US says it wants to have dialogue with China, while mulling steps to go after Chinas AI sector. This says everything about US hypocrisy. The US action will not hold back Chinas technological progress, and will only motivate Chinese companies to pursue excellence by relying on ourselves. We will closely follow the developments on this front and firmly defend our lawful rights and interests.

On your second question, China supports Argentinas efforts for national stability and development and values our monetary and financial cooperation with Argentina. For any specifics on the currency swap arrangement, Id refer you to competent authorities.
Jackie Terribile narrowly defeated Michele Branning for the S.C. House District 66 seat, according to unofficial results from the South Carolina Election Commission.

Final results from the Republican primary contest across York County didnt post until shortly before midnight. The Herald reported the House District 66 result two hours before Branning posted a reel and update on her campaign Facebook page conceding the race. Terribile also claimed victory on her campaign Facebook page.

This is a victory not just for District 66, but for the conservative cause in our state, she posted.

Terribile garnered 52% of the vote with 48% for Branning, in the closest primary race the Rock Hill region saw on Tuesday, based on those unofficial results. Branning had received 54% of early voting and mail-in ballots but Terribile won out during the election.

Terribile will occupy the seat since theres no opposition on the Nov. 5 general election ballot.

The primary campaign was tough, she said a little before 11 p.m., but a grassroots effort got her through it. Messages of transparency in education and reduced taxes resonated, Terribile said.

People in the community wanted somebody like myself who was really not a politician but felt like they needed to get involved in government to hold our officials accountable, she said.

With no opponent this fall, Terribile plans to meet with outgoing Rep. David ONeal to get up to speed on important state issues. Her goal is to listen to the people who elected her and work on the issues that impact them.

Im very grateful that people felt like I would do a great job representing them, Terribile said.

Terribile has a background in business and marketing, and she founded a consulting company. She also was an organizer for York Countys chapter of Moms For Liberty. Shes been involved with education advocacy, and is a member of the South Carolina State Board of Education.

Branning came to the area in 2007 and works as a Realtor. Shes been elected to the Fort Mill School District board three times since 2014 and shes president of the South Carolina School Boards Association.

Terribile will serve Tega Cay and parts of Fort Mill west of Interstate 77.

The other election that will determine a seat Tuesday is House District. 43. Incumbent Randy Ligon defeated challenger Elias Irizarry, according to unofficial results, and wont face opposition this fall.

That contest was clearer with Ligon collecting 72% of the vote, according to unofficial results, to 28% for Irizarry. House District 43 represents southeastern Rock Hill and eastern Chester County.

Ligon has lived most of his life in Chester and spent time as a farmer, commercial Realtor, businessman and auctioneer. The incumbent was first elected to serve District 43 in 2018. The Ligon Company, which he owns in Rock Hill, specializes in auctions and commercial properties.

Irizarry is a Rock Hill resident who grew up in Fort Mill. The Citadel graduate spent time as a firefighter, construction manager and student campus director for the Trump campaign in this years presidential primary, according to Irizarrys campaign site.

Last year, Irizarry pleaded guilty to a role in the Jan. 6, 2021, U.S. Capitol riot. His campaign page references Irizarry being one of thousands of Americans arrested for nonviolent actions in that event.

Other races are Republican primaries where the winners, according to unofficial results, will face challenges this fall. They include:

S.C. Senate District 17

Everett Stubbs won with 58% of the vote against Tripp McCoy, with 26%, and Tibi Czentye who had 16%.

Incumbent Democrat Mike Fanning awaits Stubbs in the Nov. 5 general election for the southeastern Rock Hill district that also includes some of the Lancaster County panhandle, plus all of Chester and Fairfield counties.

S.C. Senate District 27

Allen Blackmon received 82% of the vote against incumbent Penry Gustafson who had 18% according to unofficial results, with all three of the counties in that contest reporting.

Blackmon faces Democrat Yokima Cureton in November. The district covers Lancaster County below its panhandle, with most of Kershaw and Chesterfield counties.

S.C. House District 26

David Martin defeated Elizabeth Enns with 54% of the vote compared to 46%. The final result almost mirrored pre-election day ballots.

Martin will run against Workers Party candidate Kiral Mace and Democrat Matt Vilardebo this fall. The district represents the Fort Mill area between I-77 and Lancaster County.

S.C. House District 45

Incumbent Brandon Newton defeated challenger Vic Dabney, earning 77% of the vote compared to Dabneys 23%. All counties have reported.

Newton takes on Democrat Nicole Ventour this fall for the western Lancaster and Kershaw counties district, below the Indian Land panhandle.

This fall, candidates will run in 18 state legislature seats that represent at least part of York, Lancaster or Chester counties.
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)

Quality Journalism for Critical Times

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 includes the Criminal Divisions Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section, the Civil Rights Division, the National Security Division, and the FBI. It 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 more than 2,000 reports of threats or harassment submitted by the election community to the FBI since the task force was launched in 2021. Around 100 of those were investigated, according to the Justice Department.

The small number of investigations and prosecutions is largely due to free speech concerns. Legal experts say that anything short of a direct and explicit threat to cause physical harm may well be protected speech under the First Amendment.

A true threat is a serious expression of an intent to commit an act of unlawful violence, Keller has said. If they dont cross that line into invoking violence, they are generally not going to constitute a criminally prosecutable threat.

Still, as the 2024 vote approaches, theres little evidence that the volume of attacks against the people who run elections has declined, or that election workers feel safer.

A recent Brennan Center survey found that more than half of local election officials said they were concerned about the safety of their colleagues or staff  around the same number as in 2022, the year of the last federal election. Around a quarter worry about being assaulted at home or at work.

This is a widespread issue in the elections community, said Tammy Patrick, the CEO for programs for the National Association of Election Officials and a former election official in Maricopa County. Its happening all across the country. Its not just a question of it being in swing states, or just being in the city or whatever. Its happening in a way that is a concerted campaign to create and sow chaos.

There is some feeling that the task force is a political tool, said another election expert, that allows the administration to say they care and theyre doing something.

Troubling episodes but little follow-up

In March 2022, anti-fraud activists, accompanied by the local GOP chair, showed up at the office of Michella Huff, the election director for Surry County, North Carolina.

Huff said the activists tried to pressure her to give them access to county voting machines, citing what they said were flawed voter rolls. The group repeatedly threatened to have Huff ousted from her job if she didnt cooperate, and said they planned to return with the local sheriff, although 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.

Although 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 have at times spurred little law enforcement follow-up.

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  although 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 Florida Phoenix.
An IBEW Local 46 electrician on strike. (IBEW Local 46)

More than 1,000 electricians in the Puget Sound region will remain on strike after voting to reject a proposal from the National Electrical Contractors Association that would have offered higher pay but could have taken away the electricians right to strike.

The strike, which began April 11, has lasted nearly 10 weeks and has disrupted construction at major job sites, including Microsoft and Amazon office buildings.

The offer from the contractors was not endorsed by the limited energy electricians union, the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 46, and nearly 90% of the unions members who voted were against it.

The electricians are asking the National Electrical Contractors Association for paid holidays, higher pay and increased safety measures like ensuring radios are available to workers on all job sites.

The contractors proposal included a memorandum of understanding to discuss paid holidays  but no paid holidays  and a wage increase of $12.75 over three years.

A lead negotiator for IBEW Local 46, Megan Kirby, said the negotiating team decided to bring the contract up for a vote without its endorsement because it was the highest wage offer presented in the unions history.

The contractors also really pushed us to bring it to a vote, Kirby said, even though the unions negotiating team said their members would not accept a contract stripping their ability to strike. Kirby said the electricians didnt need much convincing from the union.

Members recognized how terrible it was of a deal and how it would strip away their rights, Kirby said.

The full membership of the unions limited energy electrician unit, which totals around 1,025, hasnt gone on strike by themselves since 1945. Limited energy electricians install and repair systems like fire alarms, building security systems and phone and fiberoptic lines.

Kirby said that while the union has a strike fund, many members are struggling to get by.

We had a member facing eviction, and our members who hadnt had a paycheck in 10 weeks literally pulled the change from their pockets to help out our brother and raised over $2,000, Kirby said.

Our members are ready to go back to work. They love their jobs, Kirby added. They want this to be over more than anyone, and theyre just hoping that NECA will come to the table today with us and come to an agreement that can be voted on.

The National Electrical Contractors Association did not immediately return a request for comment but has previously told the Standard that the association cannot comment on ongoing negotiations.

The post Electricians in Puget Sound region vote down contract offer as strike nears 10 weeks appeared first on Washington State Standard.
Elon Musk accused of pursuing women at his company for sex

The plaintiffs cited a series of tweets by Elon Musk, several of which reference his penis - AP

Elon Musk pursued women at his company for sex, including a former intern more than 20 years his junior with whom he had a relationship, according to a report.

Former executives at Mr Musks SpaceX wrote in signed affidavits  first reported by The Wall Street Journal  that the billionaire also had a month-long affair in 2014 with a second female employee who reported to him directly.

The newspaper claims she faced recriminations when the relationship ended badly, and she left the company and signed an agreement prohibiting her from discussing her work for Mr Musk.

Mr Musk, SpaceXs chief executive, is also alleged in 2013 to have asked a third member of staff to have his children.

According to the affidavit, the employee refused Mr Musks advances and he then denied her a raise.

Mr Musk and SpaceX have been approached for comment.

Former SpaceX executives told the newspaper that company policies are not enforced with Mr Musk, and that contributes to a culture of sexism and harassment.

SpaceXs president, Gwynne Shotwell, told the newspaper that the company fully investigates all complaints of harassment and takes appropriate actions in response.

In a separate case, SpaceX and Mr Musk were sued on Wednesday by eight engineers who say they were illegally fired for raising concerns about alleged sexual harassment and discrimination against women.

The engineers  four women and four men  claim that Mr Musk ordered them to be sacked in 2022 after they circulated a letter calling the billionaire a distraction and embarrassment and urging executives to disavow sexually charged comments he had made on social media.

In the lawsuit, which was filed in a state court in Los Angeles, the plaintiffs cited a series of tweets by Mr Musk, several of which reference his penis, including one from 2022 telling the former chief executive of YouTube if you touch my wiener, you can have a horse.





Hi Chad, long time no see!



Fine, if you touch my wiener, you can have a horse.  Elon Musk (@elonmusk) May 20, 2022

The lawsuit says Mr Musks conduct fostered a pervasively sexist culture at SpaceX where female engineers were routinely subjected to harassment and sexist comments and their concerns about workplace culture were ignored.

Senior engineers, for example, used euphemisms for sexual acts and male genitals to describe rocket components, according to the lawsuit.

These actions ... had the foreseeable and actual result of offending, causing distress, and intruding upon Plaintiffs well-being so as to disrupt their emotional tranquility in the workplace, the plaintiffs said in the filing.

SpaceX did not respond to a request for comment on the California lawsuit but it has in the past denied wrongdoing, saying the 2022 letter was disruptive and the workers were properly fired for violating company policies.

The company has also denied that Musk was involved in the decision to fire the engineers.

The plaintiffs are seeking unspecified damages and an order barring SpaceX from continuing to engage in its allegedly unlawful conduct.

Allegations of sexual harassment and retaliation at SpaceX have been raised in previous legal filings, including California civil rights complaints earlier this year.

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Elon Musk Maybe Not So Mad At OpenAI After All, Drops Benefit Of Humanity Suit One Day After Trashing Company & Apple

Elon Musk can huff, post and puff, but looks like he wont be blowing the OpenAI house down.

Three and a half months after declaring that he was sueing to compel the Sam Altman-led firm he co-founded to stop chasing profits and return to its mission to develop AGI for the benefit of humanity, the X owner today withdrew the lawsuit.

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No reason was given for dropping the action. However, being that Musk dismissed his own suit without prejudice, the tempestuous billionaire is free to file again if he chooses.

Noticeably, the dismissal comes about 24 hours before a Bay Area judge had set a hearing on OpenAI and Altmans motion to toss the case out. Musks self-dismissal also comes just over 24 hours after the Tesla boss went on a social media rant about Apple bringing OpenAIs ChatGPT on board as a backup of sorts for its new AI program Apple Intelligence.

At one point getting into Scarlett Johanssons squabble with OpenAI, Musk declared that all Apple products will be banned from X, Tesla, SpaceX, the Boring Company and any other company he owns. Musk called it an unacceptable security violation if Apple integrates OpenAI at the OS level.

Musk initially sued OpenAI and its top executives in March for breach of contract.

This case is filed to compel OpenAI to adhere to the Founding Agreement and return to its mission to develop AGI for the benefit of humanity, not to personally benefit the individual Defendants and the largest technology company in the world, the filing stated.

With Musk raising billions in funding for his own xAI, OpenAI slapped aside the South Africans lawsuit as incoherent.

They further exclaimed: Were this case to proceed to discovery, the evidence would show that Musk supported a for-profit structure for OpenAI, to be controlled by Musk himself, and dropped the project when his wishes were not followed. Seeing the remarkable technological advances OpenAI has achieved, Musk now wants that success for himself.

In this busy week for one of the worlds richest men, Musk faces a defining moment at a June 13 Tesla shareholder meeting.

Whether or not, the shareholders will vote to reinstate $56 billion payout Musk was to receive from the company before a judge crushed the absurdly outsized board package. Like the payout, an official move of Tesla from the regulations of Delaware to Texas, where its HQ is now, is also expected to pass.

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Landlords who have worked with housing voucher recipients say they've had good experiences with the program, writes our columnist. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

Ailsa Hayes has been property manager at Country Meadows Residences since 2022. Before she took on her current position, the residential complex already accepted prospective tenants who utilized housing choice vouchers to find rentals in the private market. As the former director of the HCV program in Talladega, Alabama  a town of about 15,000 residents located one hour east of Birmingham on Interstate 20  Hayes was pleased to learn that Country Meadows was providing decent, safe, and sanitary housing to families in need.

Housing denied

Income discrimination in Manhattan, Kansas, rentals.

Now acting as a landlord, Hayes has work experience with the voucher program in both the public and private sectors. Speaking from both perspectives, Hayes shared a positive review of the program.

I think its a good program, she said. Were guaranteed our payment from the program, and if we have any problems we just reach out.

Hayes said when potential renters with vouchers apply at Country Meadows, she is able to conduct the standard screening process applied to all residents. Additionally, all of her current HCV tenants are paying the full market-value rent for their units.

Weve been pretty blessed with all of our rent collection with everyone, she said.

When asked why other landlords should participate in the HCV program, Hayes emphasized the importance of helping neighbors in need.

Having a voucher doesnt make them a good resident or a bad resident, she said.  The voucher program is like giving out a helping hand to someone in need, to get them to a point where they can do it on their own.

Nan Malott is property manager at Birchwood Villas, which is owned by Wilhoit Properties out of Springfield, Missouri. Birchwood Villas is a senior residential complex, housing those over age 55. Malott also manages a second property for Wilhoit in Manhattan. Voucher tenants are welcome at both locations.

As the property manager for senior living apartments, Malott is grateful for how the HCV program helps her tenants find good homes.

I am a firm believer in the housing voucher program because I see so many people that wouldnt be able to afford anywhere to live, let alone a decent one, without the housing vouchers, Malott said. Lots of older folks that have limited income couldnt afford (housing) on their own.

Malott also addressed the stigma surrounding HCV tenants.

For the most part, the people with housing vouchers are better (tenants) than the people without vouchers, she said. Theyre aware they receive assistance, theyre appreciative of it, and want to make sure they dont lose their voucher.

Malott is also thankful for the quality of service she receives from the Manhattan Housing Authority, such as timely communication and rental payments from the agencys HCV director and the courteous manner in which the inspector evaluates units occupied by voucher tenants.

Jon Harper is co-owner of Live Manhappiness, LLC, managing 11 units. Hes been leasing to voucher tenants for about two years. His company follows a community-centered approach to providing adequate housing to anyone, which Harper attributes to his humble upbringing.

My mom worked her butt off to have what we had, Harper said. It pissed me off when things went bad and they (management) wouldnt come fix anything, and I wanted to be a part of changing that.

Like Malott, Harper is impressed with the local housing authoritys 24-hour response time to questions or problems and the knowledgeable inspection reports shared with him.

Speaking from first-hand experience, Harper recognized that not all voucher holders are good tenants. But he noted thats the risk taken by landlords with any potential tenant, adding that a negative experience with one HCV household shouldnt ruin another voucher holders opportunity to lease.

Ultimately, Harper said participating in the program is an effective way for landlords to give low-income families in their community a way to find the right home.

Everyone needs housing. There are different pockets that everyone is going to fit in. If you have apartments that are sitting empty, give these folks a chance. You dont have to accept everyone that comes your way. Youre still allowed to do your own vetting process. Theres no use in letting housing sit empty and letting some people go without housing. Give em a chance.

Landlords and property managers interested in making units available to families with vouchers can reference the A Landlords Guide to Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers, produced by the Manhattan Housing Authority.

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 Give em a chance: Landlords explain why families with vouchers shouldnt be turned away appeared first on Kansas Reflector.
Before Florida A&M announced a questionable $237 million donation, the university 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

This embedded content is not available in your region.

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.
COLUMBUS  A father charged with neglect in the death of his 2-year-old daughter, whose body was found in a Bartholomew County river in 2021, has been ordered to spend four decades behind bars.

Jeremy Sweet, of Columbus, was sentenced Tuesday after pleading guilty in Bartholomew Superior Court to neglect of a dependent resulting in the death, a felony, in connection with the death of his daughter, Emma Sweet.

Jeremy Sweet received a 30-year sentence in the Indiana Department of Correction for his neglect charge, and an additional 10 years because of his past criminal history, which largely involved drug-related offenses.

The father and daughter were reported missing on Thanksgiving Day in 2021. One day later, duck hunters found Jeremy Sweet inside his pickup that was partially submerged in the White River. Emma remained missing, prompting a search that drew investigators from 14 law enforcement agencies.

Emma Sweet

Sweet was taken to a Columbus hospital to be treated for hypothermia and frostbite. Sheriffs deputies learned the child had been with her father when the pickup went into the water.

Emmas body was found three days later about 2.5 miles downstream from where duck hunters discovered her father. The Bartholomew County Coroners Office ruled her death a homicide, specifically complications of hypothermia and asphyxia due to drowning.

Bartholomew County law enforcement officials said Sweet gave conflicting accounts about what happened, originally stating he dropped off his daughter before the pickup went into the river. He then said Emma was in the vehicle with him when he drove off an embankment.

According to an arrest affidavit, Sweet revealed he picked up his daughter Nov. 24 and drove a friend to work. He estimated that about 45 minutes after dropping off his friend, he took a wrong turn and drove into some fields. He drove to the top of an embankment to see the river, where the pickup became stuck and tipped into the river.

Water began to fill the pickup, Sweet said, so he took Emma to sit on the top of the vehicle's roof. They remained there overnight, he recalled.

He told police he last saw Emma on top of the pickup, yelling for her mom. He held her for a while, records state, then sat her on top of the roof again.

He woke up the next morning and Emma was gone.

Investigators said Sweet later told them he had used methamphetamine and marijuana the night before the crash. Bartholomew County paramedics found a syringe and an empty baggie with a corner cut inside the pickup when Sweet was found.

Contact IndyStar reporter Sarah Nelson at sarah.nelson@indystar.com

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Emma Sweet: Columbus father sentenced in 2-year-old daughter's death
As the Supreme Court nears judgment on Moyle v. United States and Idaho v. United States, it is important to understand the real-world health and ethical consequences that will become daily occurrences for doctors and citizens if Idahos abortion laws are allowed to stand.

This summer, a Supreme Court decision is expected on whether a federal law that currently protects access to emergency medical care can override Idahos near-total abortion ban. This decision could have sweeping consequences for pregnant patients and their doctors across the country.

The Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA) was enacted by Congress in 1986, and signed into federal law by the- President Ronald Reagan. It has allowed any patient at nearly any ER in the country with an emergency condition the assurance that theyll be seen and stabilized. It allows doctors to treat everyone without first having hospital administrators assess their ability to pay.

But in the aftermath of the Dobbs case, states like Idaho are attempting to rewrite what EMTALA means. In the case under consideration by the Supreme Court, Idaho argues that the emergency abortion care cannot be provided to stabilize that patient.

There are narrow exceptions, but they do not apply to every medical situation. If a doctor, to stabilize a patient, proceeds with emergency abortion care, they are subjected to numerous penalties  prison time, license suspension or revocation and civil fines  in addition to reputational impact  expense and trauma of a criminal trial regardless of the ultimate verdict.

Perhaps the authors of this bill intended to prevent elective abortions from happening. However, pregnancy termination in some medical situations is standard of care, even if the woman is not about to die immediately.

Lets take, for example, a pregnancy complication known as HELLP syndrome, which can cause excessive bleeding (sometimes in the brain), kidney and liver failure in the mother, and placental separation in the fetus (abruptio placentae). When treated, mortality in HELLP is 1-2%, but if care is delayed or untreated, up to 24% of pregnant women with HELPP die from this condition. Treatment includes the removal of the fetus or termination of the pregnancy if fetal age is less than 20 weeks.

This case exemplifies how Idahos law becomes problematic by stepping into the sacred space between a patient and their doctor.

How would you respond in this situation? Imagine that youre a doctor in a modern and well-staffed ER, and a young woman arrives in great pain, seeking help. She expects you to diagnose and treat her. She trusts you. You asses and explain that she has HELLP syndrome  not yet life-threatening, but maybe headed that way. Now, you are faced with the choice of providing evidence-based treatment (abortion) and a tragic scenario that unfolds in up to 1 in 4 cases (death) if left untreated.

As a doctor, you are trained and bound to the Hippocratic Oath to do no harm and save your patients life.

Yet in Idaho, its a crime to give definitive treatment that would save this womans life.

In a recent case involving a pregnant patient with HELPP syndrome, Idaho doctors had to have the patient airlifted to Oregon where she arrived in a terribly weakened state. Idaho doctors chose this option because they could not risk prison time for providing standard of care treatment. They had to subject this patient to the trauma and medical risk involved in sending her hundreds of miles away for a procedure they were perfectly capable of providing.

What would you do in this situation? By treating this woman with standard of care medical services, you risk losing your livelihood and your freedom. Engaging in watchful waiting without intervention subjects her to suffering and further complications. Must you wait until death is imminent so you can assert affirmative defenses in criminal court once youre charged? Do you discuss these options with the patient or just tell her you have to airlift her away from her family for help because you cant risk losing your ability to practice medicine?

How do we expect doctors to practice medicine under these circumstances?

As a whole, doctors are a committed force for good, practicing medicine between the hard edges of policy and the sacred space that exists between a patient and their doctor and care team. For many doctors, it is a calling, one they take seriously and have dedicated their lives to, one that can be painful at times. Society allows doctor and the patient to occupy a sacred space in confidence and trust. Its a space that should be honored at all costs, with grace, as it allows doctors to connect with patients, give them the information they need, and develop a bond in which the most profound, life-impacting subjects are discussed.

So, accustomed to living between the hard edges of life and the grace of sacred spaces, doctors make the best decisions they can for and with the patient in front of us, balancing it all with the reality of life and death outcomes. When we cannot make these decisions with and for our patients, we call that a moral injury  that is, being prevented from doing something we know we can do and are sworn to do in the service of others.

Idaho has a fragile system of medical care for its population of about 850,000 women. There are less than 200 practicing OB/GYNs in the state (down more than 22% since the Dobbs case was decided). That is approximately one OB/GYN for every 412 square miles, giving Idaho the dubious distinction of having the lowest doctor/female patient ratio in the country. Idahos OBs stretch their practice over 303 distinct locations, and most smaller counties only have OBs supplied by larger metro areas. The state of Idaho has no obstetrics residency, and so OBs must be recruited from out-of-state. Not surprisingly, out-of-state applications dropped dramatically when Idaho started threatening to jail and fine doctors for doing their jobs. In the entire state, there are now only four doctors who specialize in high-risk obstetrics.

Idaho is ranked 51st (after Puerto Rico) in physician supply in the USA, and in the 10th percentile of maternal pregnancy outcomes in the USA. That means that 90% of the country has better pregnancy outcomes than Idaho has. Of the 44 counties in Idaho, only 22 counties have OB coverage, and only 12 counties have over 3 OBs in practice. It takes a minimum of three doctors to have 24/7 OB coverage. Three Idaho hospital labor and delivery departments have entirely closed since Dobbs.

The Idaho medical system is on the brink of failure.

Of the 200 remaining OBs, who are are well-trained, hard-working, dedicated, and brave, many are being recruited away or are considering leaving Idaho, or leaving the practice of obstetrics so that they dont have to live with a moral dilemma that forces them to choose between the life of a vulnerable patient or going to jail and losing their livelihood and freedom.

Would you blame them?

What happens when just 10% more of the doctors leave? For those remaining, nights on-call become harder, there is more stress and less joy in their work, and then they, too, start looking for options out. Then what happens to the ongoing, non-emergency care of the women and girls in Idaho? Their care is in jeopardy, too, as the vast majority of what OB/GYNs do is take care of everyday issues, issues OBs are able to prevent from developing into life-threatening situations.

Years ago, one of the authors, Dr. Edward McEachern, was at the autopsy of a 27-year-old woman. He can still see her face vividly. She died of pregnancy complications, leaving two young children and her husband behind. This mothers death could have been prevented, yet the same situation could occur in Idaho today.

In the ensuing morbidity and mortality conference, there were 32 people in attendance who had laid hands on this dear young woman. She had some of the worlds best caregivers, who were with her in her last moments as her collision of bad luck and bad disease occurred. Not one person there would have wanted to wait, to not act or to just keep watch. They gave everything we had to try to save her life that day, and the life of her baby. They felt defeated and sickened at the loss, even to the literal point of nausea.

She had two young girls, ages 2 and 4, and a solid hard-working husband. They were a thriving family. McEachern can still see the braid in her hair tied with a blue ribbon by one of her daughters. It all happened long ago, but he will never forget.

Imagine what it must feel like to our 200 or so dedicated Idaho OB/GYNs who are being told to stand by when a pregnant person, not yet on the brink of death but in a medical emergency situation, presents in front of them. Instead of providing standard-of-care treatment, they must now follow medical decisions being made by politicians who are not in the sacred space between doctor and patient.

The Idaho experience compels us to speak up and advocate for the Supreme Court to uphold EMTALA to protect a doctors ability to do what is best for their patient in the sacred space of care. Not only for Idaho, but for our country as a whole.

Dr. Edward McEachern, a pathologist and internist, is a distinguished scholar in residence at Boise State Universitys College of Health Sciences. He co-chairs the Idaho Physician Well-Being Action Collaborative. Leslie Kelly Hall is a patient advocate, former hospital administrator, former HHS appointee advocating for patients and technology. Wendy Heipt is a staff attorney at Legal Voice and a certified EMT.
BEREKELY, Mo.  The Berkeley Police Department has issued an Endangered Silver Advisor for a 61-year-old man.

James Wilmas was last seen at his care facility located at 4401 North Hanley Rd. around 6:30 a.m. Monday. According to police, he left the building and is without his necessary medications.

Wilmas is described as a white male, 5 feet 11 inches tall, and weighs 170 lbs. He has brown and gray shoulder-length hair, green eyes, and was last wearing a dark blue shirt with jeans.

The advisory states that Wilmas has paranoid schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, and major depressive disorder.

Anyone with information on Wilmas whereabouts is urged to call 911 immediately or contact the Berkeley Police Department at (314) 524-3311.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
The silhouette of a drill head, backlit by a vibrant sunset, is visible from Route 550 just outside Farmington, N.M., on Oct. 26, 2021. A hub of energy production in rural northwestern New Mexico, Farmington has deep ties to the oil and gas industry that stretch back a century. (Photo by Isabel Koyama / Howard Center for Investigative Journalism)

Environmental groups are asking the New Mexico Ethics Commission to determine if a board member must step aside from decision-making as the state attempts to create new uses for the extremely salty and often toxic wastewater from oil and gas operations.

An environmental nonprofit, New Energy Economy and Navajo Nation citizens Daniel Tso and Samuel Sage filed a motion Monday afternoon requesting the Water Quality Control Commission (WQCC) to recuse board member Krista McWilliams for alleged conflicts of interest.

The complaint and motion follows the week of May hearings over new rules for oil and gas wastewater, which have drawn unprecedented public attention for the usually nondescript rule-making body, and raised questions about financial disclosures.

McWilliams has said she has followed state laws on disclosures and that her employment with Farmington-based oil and gas company, LOGOS Energy, poses no conflicts of interest.

The 23-page motion (with 300 pages in attachments) said that McWilliams position at LOGOS Energy, where her husband is CEO, and her position on the board of Independent Petroleum Association of New Mexico (IPANM) poses a real or potential, conflict of interest.

The motion alleges McWilliams positions make her a regulated and regulator with regard to her financial interests.

The outcome of this rulemaking, will substantially, favorably or unfavorably, directly impact her business and financial interests and that of her husband, and the organizations of which their business is a member, including the New Mexico Oil & Gas Association (NMOGA), the motion states.

Jay Paul McWilliams was a former member of the New Mexico Oil and Gas Association, which is now a party in the hearings on the produced water reuse rule. He was listed on the board from 2017 through 2021 tax filings, but is no longer a member, according to the New Mexico Oil and Gas Association 2022 tax documents.

The New Mexico Oil and Gas Association does not publish information on its members publicly.

The motion also alleges that LOGOS Energy has recorded 16 spills of produced water since 2019, attaching a sheet from the New Mexico Oil Conservation Division.

In an interview Tuesday, Tso, a former Navajo Nation Council delegate, said he joined the motion to recuse McWilliams because LOGOS has spilled produced water, that connection should disqualify her from building the rules on oil and gas wastewater use.

I really feel like the violators dont need to be sitting on that commission, Tso said.

In a statement to Source NM, McWilliams denied having any conflict of interest.

I do not have any conflicts of interest directly or through LOGOS, as I do not expect that the current draft of the Reuse Rule will give any material benefit to me personally or to LOGOS, she wrote in an email. LOGOS has not used produced water for any purpose other than recycled-reuse use in oil and gas applications, and does not plan to do so in the future.

She further said neither she, nor LOGOS is a member of any participant group including the New Mexico Oil and Gas Association.

McWilliams said she did not have a detailed comment when reached Tuesday, saying Source NM alerted her to the motions existence. She stated that from a brief review that there were inaccuracies in the motion, but did not further elaborate what those were in her statement.

It is extremely unfortunate that New Energy Economy is attempting to discredit and disqualify a female, native New Mexican engineer with expertise to utilize relevant technical testimony to produce a science-driven vote that is best for all stakeholders in our state, she said.

Mariel Nanasi, the executive director for New Energy Economy, called part of McWilliams statement irrelevant to the issue.

The complaint is about her ethical and professional conflicts, and has nothing to do with whether shes a woman engineer, Nanasi said.

A copy of the ethics complaint obtained by Source NM showed that it was the same as the motion filed in the rulemaking process. Sixteen environmental groups signed onto an ethics complaint, according to a press release.

A spokesperson for the States Ethics Commission said that confidentiality provisions prevent any comment confirming whether a complaint was filed with the commission.

Its unclear what the next steps are for the rule-making proceeding.

Bruce Thomson, the chair for the Water Quality Control Commission, said he does not know what the motions impact on the rulemaking hearings  which will continue in early August.

I do not know the rules or laws regarding whether it is possible for the Chair or the Commission as a whole to take action in this matter, he said.

Further, he said he trusted McWilliams previous statements that she has no conflicts.

I believe Commissioner McWilliams is an honest and ethical Commissioner, and I accept and respect her statement made at the start of the hearings that she has no conflict of interest, Thomson wrote in an email.

Attorneys for the Water Quality and Control Commission did not respond to questions asking about the next steps, and if theres any history or procedure for disqualifying a commissioner.

Rulemaking hearings are scheduled to resume on Aug. 5 and will continue as necessary.

The post Enviro group files ethics complaint; request for board member removal appeared first on Source New Mexico.
Wetzel County Superintendent Cassandra Porter said that due to health concerns about Paden City High School being located on top of an Environmental Protection Agency designated Superfund site, students will have to attend other schools in the county for the upcoming school year. (Lexi Browning | West Virginia Watch)

Students at a Wetzel County school will be relocated for the upcoming academic year because of environmental concerns with the schools location.

In a letter to faculty and staff Wednesday, Wetzel County Superintendent Cassandra Porter wrote that due to health concerns about Paden City High School being located on top of an Environmental Protection Agency designated Superfund site, the schools seventh and eighth graders will attend class at New Martinsville School, while ninth through 12th grade students will relocate to Magnolia High School.

A safe learning environment for our students is fundamental and imperative, Porter wrote to staff and faculty. Fortunately, in Wetzel County, we can prioritize student safety without interrupting the instructional process during this temporary school closure. As county superintendent, I am charged with and given the authority to protect the health, safety and welfare of our students and employees.

Having an environmental hazard like an EPA Superfund site underneath PCHS leaves little room for error or half-measures, Porter said. Decisive action is needed.

According to the federal Environmental Protection Agency, the site, located in the 200 block of North Fourth Avenue, has soil and groundwater plumes contaminated with tetrachloroethylene, a likely carcinogen used for dry cleaning fabrics.

An EPA site inspection that began in 2020 determined that the site poses a risk and would require long-term clean up. It was added to the National Priorities List in March 2022.

Public health concerns associated with the water prompted the former Department of Health and Human Resources to issue a do-no-consume order for Paden City residents for nearly a month last summer.

According to the EPA, exposure to the chemical can cause adverse effects in the kidney, liver, immune system and hematologic system, and on development and reproduction. Studies of people exposed to the chemical in the workplace have found links to cancer, including bladder cancer, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, and multiple myeloma.

The post Environmental concerns prompt relocation of Paden City students appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
MILAN  Estonian-made THeMIS unmanned ground vehicles operating in Ukraine will feature Starlink satellite connectivity, enabling their operation from thousands of kilometers away, the robot manufacturer announced on Wednesday.

A vehicle equipped to that effect, made by United Arab Emirates-owned and Estonia-based Milrem Robotics, will be unveiled at the companys during Eurosatory 2024 trade show that begins next week, according to a company statement,

Specifically, a THeMIS variant devoted to cargo transportation will feature the Starlink hookup, a constellation of internet satellites operated by Elon Musks SpaceX. Milrem has given more than dozen THeMIS vehicles to Ukrainian forces.

The Estonian company sought out the expertise of the Dutch datalinks firm AEC Skyline for the integration of the vehicles latest add-on feature, Milrem said.

By leveraging satellite connectivity, the THeMIS robotic vehicle, which is currently assisting Ukrainian soldiers in the war with Russia, can seamlessly transmit data, receive commands, and relay vital information in real-time, regardless of its location on the battlefield, the Milrem statement reads.

Using the Starlink satellite system requires a ground terminal, which SpaceX started shipping to Kyiv only hours after Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, according to the BBC. As of June 2023, the British broadcaster reported that there were tens of thousands of terminals in Ukraine, including 500 bought by the U.S. Department of Defense.

Starlink satellites operate in low-Earth orbit at less than 600 kilometers (370 miles) above the earth, according to the company. Being closer to Earth translates into better performance for the systems intended applications.

Last month, Russian Telegram channels published photos of what they alleged showed a badly damaged, captured model of the combat robot. A Milrem spokesman declined at the time to comment, stating only that the company was aware of the images.
By Karolina Tagaris

ATHENS (Reuters) - When ethnic Greek politician Fredi Beleris was voted into the European Parliament on Sunday while jailed in Albania, supporters in his Albanian hometown lit flares and fireworks in celebration.

Beleris, who ran for election with a Greek party, is due in court on Friday to appeal a conviction on charges of vote-buying in a local mayoral election a year before, which he said on Wednesday were false and motivated by politics.

"The only just decision would be my acquittal," Beleris told Reuters in a telephone interview from prison. "There is no evidence against me. There is no way the decision would be different in any other state."

Beleris' case has strained relations between Albania and Greece, Balkan neighbours whose ties have often soured over cultural and historical differences, as well the many Albanian immigrants in Greece and the Greek minority in Albania.

He was arrested in May 2023 during a mayoral election campaign in his hometown of Himare, on the scenic Albanian Riviera, which has an active ethnic Greek community. He subsequently won, but was never sworn in while being held in pre-trial detention. He was jailed in March this year for election fraud.

Beleris, who won a seat in the EU parliament representing Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis' New Democracy Party, said his victory was a message to formerly communist Albania, which is seeking to join the EU.

"It cannot behave like a non-European country," he said.

After Beleris was jailed last year, Greece demanded his immediate release, warning it could impact Albania's EU bid. Athens' longstanding position has been that Albania should respect the rights of an elected mayor and that its EU quest depends on it respecting the rule of law.

Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama has said the Beleris case was a judicial, not political, matter.

Beleris said Albania's EU accession was in the best interest of both countries.

"Neither I nor, I believe, the Greek government has any intention of hurting the accession of any country," he said.

"(But) an Albania that is a member of the EU but does not respect the rule of law and the will of the people does not belong there," he said.

Beleris, who has dual citizenship, has been viewed by some in Albania as being a polarising figure. He said the fact that he won the votes of both ethnic Greeks and Albanians in Himare, an ethnically-mixed area, proved he was a unifying candidate.

"There is nobody who wants Albania to be a normal European country more than I do," he said.

"Those who accuse me of being divisive should look to the people of Himare and the Greek people for the answer."

(Reporting by Karolina Tagaris; editing by Mark Heinrich)
EU Tariffs on China EVs to Reach as High as 48% With New Levies

(Bloomberg) -- The European Union will impose additional tariffs on electric cars shipped from China starting next month, taking levies to as much as 48% in a move that further escalates trade tensions and adds to the cost of buying an EV.

Most Read from Bloomberg

The bloc formally notified carmakers including BYD, Geely and MG owner SAIC of the charges on battery-electric cars due to be implemented around July 4, the European Commission said, following an investigation of subsidies that started last year. Chinas EV manufacturers have been pushing more aggressively into Europe amid a domestic price war and years of building a lead in the technology.

The individual duties vary depending on the level of cooperation with the probe, the EU said, and will hit SAIC Motor Corp. hardest. The state-owned company owns the British brand MG, whose mass-market models like the MG4 are among those leading the charge into Europe. SAICs tariffs are set to increase by 38.1% on top of the existing duty of 10%.

The EU ignored the facts and WTO rules, ignored repeated strong objections from China, and ignored the appeals and dissuasions of many EU member states governments and industries, Chinas Ministry of Commerce said in a statement. Beijing will take all necessary measures to firmly safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese companies.

Aside from SAICs top rate, BYD will have to pay an additional 17.4% levy, and Geely  which owns Volvo Car AB  faces an extra 20% charge. While the probe targeted Chinese-owned EVs, Western carmakers including Tesla, BMW and Renault that produce in China and ship to the EU also face higher costs. Those cooperating with the probe are set for extra charges of 21% based on a weighted average.

The measures are a speeding ticket aimed to slow China, said Bill Russo, founder and chief executive officer of Shanghai-based advisory firm Automobility. This is Chinese companies being ahead of the game  lets slow them down and lets encourage them to maybe mitigate the tariffs with localization.

Almost one-fifth of battery-electric vehicles sold in the EU in 2023 were made in China, according to lobby group Transport & Environment. That figure is set to rise to 25% this year, T&E said.

China has threatened retaliation across agriculture, aviation and cars with large engines. Beijing has already launched an investigation into some types of European liquor.

Our goal is to restore the level-playing field and ensure that the European market remains open to electric vehicles producers from China, provided that they play by globally agreed trade rules, Valdis Dombrovskis, the European Commissions vice president in charge of trade, said Wednesday.

Shares of Chinese EV makers declined in Hong Kong. Geely and Xpeng Inc. fell by more than 5%, while sector leader BYD lost as much as 3.9%.

The measures come as the EU walks a tightrope in trying to protect the regions car industry with millions of well-paid jobs while also pursuing a green agenda focused on removing CO2 from transportation. The EUs EV ambitions, with an effective combustion-engine sales ban for new cars by 2035, have run into trouble in recent months after markets like Germany withdrew subsidies for consumers.

The tariffs will likely cut imports from China by a quarter, amounting to a value of roughly $4 billion, according to Moritz Schularick, president of Germanys Kiel Institute for the World Economy.

While the decision was justified in light of local government aid, the expected increase in electric vehicle prices will make the climate transition more expensive, Schularik said. Finding the right balance between fair competition and promoting green technologies remains a key challenge.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has warned against restricting automotive trade with China, saying earlier this month that we do not close our markets to foreign companies, because we do not want that for our companies either. German automakers including Volkswagen and BMW would be hit hardest in a trade spat, as they collectively sold 4.6 million cars there in 2022.

Western manufacturers have broadly rejected the tariffs, with Mercedes-Benz Group AG Chief Executive Officer Ola Kallenius leading calls for open markets. The luxury-car maker counts China as its biggest market, at 36% of total deliveries, and is especially vulnerable to retaliation as it imports all of its lucrative S-Class sedans and Maybach limousines into China. The country is also the biggest market for VW and BMW.

The timing of the decision is detrimental to the current demand of EVs, VW said in a statement Wednesday. The increase in import tariffs in the EU could trigger a fatal dynamic of measures and countermeasures and result in an escalation of trade conflicts.

The EU has opened a barrage of trade probes against Beijing on the grounds of anti-dumping and unfair subsidies, especially in the clean-technology sector after losing much of its solar sector to China a decade ago. The steps on EVs follow the US, which last month introduced a more than 100% duty on Chinese EV imports, though that measure is more symbolic with hardly any vehicles currently shipped.

Final duty levels are expected to be adopted by November.

The EUs move comes as the outlook for EV sales dims, with BloombergNEF reducing its battery-electric sales projections by 6.7 million vehicles through 2026 in a new report Wednesday. BNEF sees China continuing to dominate EVs, batteries and the global supply chains for raw materials and components.

China has urged Brussels to refrain from imposing the penalties and indicated its prepared to levy tariffs as high as 25% on imported cars with large engines, hitting the likes of Porsche, Mercedes and BMW. In recent weeks, Commerce Minister Wang Wentao and other officials have been crisscrossing Europe to push their case for Brussels to back down.

This included a letter Wang sent to Dombrovskis, the EU trade chief, threatening action against the aviation and agriculture industries. Brussels has long argued that its procedure is based on WTO rules.

--With assistance from Charlotte Yang, James Mayger, Ocean Hou, Christoph Rauwald, Craig Trudell, Ben Holland, Colum Murphy, Albertina Torsoli, Wilfried Eckl-Dorna, Anthony Palazzo and Monica Raymunt.

(Updates with comment from EU official in ninth paragraph. An earlier version of this story corrected the day of the announcement and the spelling of Geely Automobile.)

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

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The European Union is proposing to impose sanctions on Sovcomflot Private Joint-Stock Company, a Russian state-owned energy shipping giant, to curb the Kremlin's ability to finance its war against Ukraine.

Source: Bloomberg, referring to the relevant document seen by the news agency

Details: Bloomberg reported that the EU, following suit with the US, proposes imposing sanctions on Sovcomflot and 14 oil tankers associated with the company in order to reduce Russian oil sales.

The European Union is also proposing to sanction 13 vessels involved in transporting goods and technologies for the defence and security sectors as well as oil and oil products, or aiding the expansion of the Russian energy sector.

Potential EU sanctions reportedly require the approval of all member states.

The news agency noted that Sovcomflot, Russia's largest shipping company, is one of the key firms helping to transport Russian oil under Western restrictions imposed on the country after its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The company also provides offshore production and marine transportation services for liquefied natural gas.

In response to Russia's war against Ukraine, the Group of Seven industrialised countries imposed a price cap on Russian exports of oil and oil products to limit the country's access to Western transport and insurance services. Moscow has adapted to the restrictions, including the European Union's ban on Russian oil imports, by employing a vast shadow fleet of tankers and selling its oil to Asian customers.

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Insights from Financial Times, The Driven, CNN, and South China Morning Post

The News

The European Commission said on Wednesday it would impose tariffs of up to 38% on Chinese electric vehicles after its investigation concluded that the countrys vehicle makers benefit from unfair subsidisation from Beijing.

The bloc has reached out to the Chinese government to discuss the findings, which it argues cause economic losses for EU-based EV makers.

On Thursday, the Chinese government said it would file a suit with the World Trade Organization to challenge the blocs decision that Chinas commerce ministry spokesperson characterized as naked protectionist behavior.

SIGNALS

Semafor Signals: Global insights on today's biggest stories.

European automakers have mixed feelings about tariffs

Source: Financial Times

European EV manufacturers struggle to keep up with Chinese car makers, in part because the low costs of Chinese-built vehicles mean that European makers cant make a profit. Tariffs on Chinese imported cars could relevel the playing field, Olof Gill, the EU Commission spokesperson for trade, told the Financial Times Tech Tonic podcast. But European automakers arent universally thrilled about the prospect of tariffs, the podcast noted: German car companies make a lot of money in China, and the risk is an EU investigation into Chinese electric vehicles could lead to retaliation or even a trade war, said FT journalist James Kynge.

Western manufacturers reining in plans

Source: The Driven

Despite US and European tariffs on Chinese vehicles, Western manufacturers seem to be coming to a realization: China has won the contest for EV supremacy, Morgan Stanley auto analyst Adam Jonas recently said. American companies, including GM and Ford, have probably given up on being leaders in EVs given the high cost to consumers, the Australian auto outlet The Driven noted: US and European car makers have shown that they can make very nice electric vehicles, but none of them are cheap.



Tariffs are unlikely to halt Chinese giants completely

Sources: CNN, South China Morning Post

Tariffs below 50% are unlikely to stop all imports of Chinese EVs to the EU, since duties are higher in other countries like the US, which has imposed its own 100% tariff, a Rhodium Group analysis said. For BYD, which leads the market for Chinese EV imports to the bloc, theres even room to grow, one analyst told CNN. BYD is already building a factory in Europe, and is likely to still profitably export to the EU even with 17% duties, the analyst said. Other manufacturers, like state-owned automaker SAIC, are expected to feel the impact of the tariffs more.
(Bloomberg) -- The European Union needs more and cheaper electric vehicles. Brussels decision to impose new tariffs on Chinese-made models will keep prices higher for longer, and act as a deterrent to sales.

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The bloc waded into a messy battle over global EV trade on Wednesday, announcing that it will hike tariffs to as high as 48% on vehicles imported from China. In messaging that chimed with the case Washington has been making for months, the European Commission vowed to protect a mainstay industry from what it said were illegal subsidies.

Reactions were swift: this is unhelpful for getting down high EV prices, and may hurt rather than help homegrown companies like Volkswagen AG and Renault SA, as China threatens to retaliate.

Shielding automakers from competition and stopping consumers from accessing affordable EVs today is not going to help them meet their climate goals, nor will it help their domestic industries, Aleksandra ODonovan, who leads BloombergNEFs Electrified Transport research team, said in an interview. At the moment, it feels as though the decarbonization targets might not be the priority.

Europes ambitious green goals to phase out sales of new gas guzzlers by 2035 were already under strain. After phenomenal growth, EVs remain too expensive for average consumers from Berlin to Bulgaria. Chinese companies led by BYD Co. and MG maker SAIC Motor Corp. have been gearing up cheaper imports, but with the new levies, prices are set to remain out of reach longer for many potential buyers.

In its annual Electric Vehicle Outlook published Wednesday, BloombergNEF cut its global EV sales projections by 6.7 million vehicles through 2026, seeing a much slower ramp-up than forecast only a year ago. A few Nordic countries and the state of California are the lone places on pace to eliminate passenger vehicle fleet emissions by 2050, BNEF said.

The EUs tariffs will likely cut imports from China by a quarter, or roughly $4 billion worth of cars, according to Germanys Kiel Institute for the World Economy.

SAIC stands to be hit the hardest, after the EU deemed the state-run company uncooperative with its probe. The manufacturer started shipping electric MGs into Europe about five years ago and has gained more traction than Chinese brands with cars like the relatively affordable MG4 sedan at 34,990 ($37,960).

BYDs push to sell its low-cost Seagull city car in Europe as soon as late 2025 for less than 20,000 may now be at risk as well.

The impact isnt limited to Chinese carmakers. While almost one-fifth of fully electric vehicles sold in the EU last year were made in China, shipments are dominated by Tesla Inc., which imports Model 3 sedans from Shanghai. The share is set to rise to 25% this year, according to lobby group Transport & Environment, with BMW, Volvo Car and Renault also shipping significant numbers of vehicles.

These carmakers will also have to pay up, with those cooperating with the investigation set for a 21% additional levy that takes effect July 4. Tesla and potentially others could see an adjustment based on individual factors.

This decision for additional import duties is the wrong way to go, BMW Chief Executive Officer Oliver Zipse said in a statement. Protectionism risks starting a spiral: tariffs lead to new tariffs, to isolation rather than cooperation.

China has threatened retaliation across agriculture, aviation and cars with large engines, saying its deeply disappointed and firmly opposed to the measures on EVs.

Beijing will nevertheless likely be careful to maintain access to the European market as a lucrative destination for exports. At home, EV makers like Nio Inc. and Xpeng Inc. are struggling with losses amid significant overcapacity.

Todays announcement is more likely to accelerate the extent to which Chinese OEMs and suppliers manufacture their products within Europe - something that we have already started to see, said Andrew Bergbaum, global co-head of the automotive practice at consulting firm AlixPartners.

Growth Options

Shares of Chinese manufacturers rose on Thursday after investors concluded that the carmakers have several options to keep growing.

Shifting production to Europe will help carmakers recoup some of the lost sales, new markets in the Middle East, Latin America and Southeast Asia could also absorb more EVs as demand grows from a small base.

BYD shares jumped as much as 8.8% in Hong Kong trading Thursday, leading gains among Chinese EV makers.

The EU has made the levies provisional for now, signaling it could adjust course before a Nov. 4 deadline, should further talks produce a negotiated settlement. The blocs slide to the political right following this past weekends parliamentary elections could also alter the course of events.

There is now an opportunity to try and hopefully succeed in stopping this spiral that is threatening, Germanys Economy Minister Robert Habeck said. If we enter into a tariff race with China, then the baby would be thrown out with the bathwater.

--With assistance from Petra Sorge and Jorge Valero.

(Updates with stock reaction of Chinese OEMs from 16th paragraph)

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European Commission lays out plan to use new migration rules by 2026

Vice-President of the European Commission in charge of promoting our European Way of Life Margaritis Schinas speaks during a press conference on the Common Implementation Plan for the Pact on Migration and Asylum. Lukasz Kobus/European Commission/dpa

The European Commission published a strategic plan comprising 10 parts on Wednesday to roll out controversial new migration and asylum rules for the European Union.

The aim is to make the regulations a "reality on the ground" in EU countries, European Commission Vice President Margaritis Schinas said in a statement.

The new body of migration law is the product of years of fierce debate between member states, but the EU finally adopted new legislation in May.

The new laws require all 27 EU member states to take some responsibility for managing asylum applications - including those who voted against the reforms - but the package also makes the rules much stricter for applicants.

After the adoption, EU member states have two years to introduce the legislation into national law. The commission strategy is to help the bloc's countries do this by mid-2026.

"Not all member states are starting from the same place," said Schinas. "For example, some member states already have experience with advanced screening procedures at the borders," he said.

Applicants who come from a country with an asylum recognition rate in the EU of less than 20%, as well as countries decided to be a public security risk, will be subject to such border checks.

According to the legislation, arrivals in the bloc will also be registered with fingerprints and photos to screen for threats to public security.

A major part of the commission's plan is a large IT system called Eurodac, in which the data of people seeking asylum is to be stored and processed to better monitor applicants between EU countries.

An expanded role for the EU return coordinator, a commission position set up in 2022, is to play a key part in centralizing the bloc's deportation procedures to ensure that they are efficient and fair.

Vice-President of the European Commission in charge of promoting our European Way of Life Margaritis Schinas (L) and European Commissioner for Home Affairs Ylva Johansson speak during a press conference on the Common Implementation Plan for the Pact on Migration and Asylum. Lukasz Kobus/European Commission/dpa
Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, is in a strong position to obtain a second five-year term following her center-right faction's strong showing on Sunday. Rolf Vennenbernd/Associated Press

HuffPost conducted reporting for this story in Amsterdam and Berlin as part of a trip funded by the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung, a think tank affiliated with the center-left Social Democratic Party of Germany.

Defenders of European liberal democracy breathed a qualified sigh of relief on Sunday after European Union voters gave mainstream center-right and center-left parties the largest number of votes, preventing the far right from the kind of surge that would reshape EU politics.

But Europes nationalist far-right parties still picked up a significant number of seats, shaking the political firmament in France and Germany  the EUs two largest nations  in particular.

Leaders of Europes centrist conservative group, the European Peoples Party, which will once again have the largest share of EU parliament seats, must now decide whether to solicit the support of the less extreme European far-right parties as partners in governance. How they choose to proceed could shape EU policy on immigration, climate change, rule of law, relations with the United States, and even support for Ukraine. It could also indicate what kind of international support former President Donald Trump, an ideological ally of the European far right, could solicit should he win a second term in November.

Katjana Gattermann, a politics expert at the University of Amsterdam who spoke to HuffPost and other reporters in Amsterdam last week, put it succinctly. The question facing European centrists and conservatives, she says, will be, Do we normalize the far right more by collaborating with them? Or do we have a clear kind of cordon sanitaire against them?

Germanys Ursula von der Leyen, leader of the European Peoples Party group, currently serves as president of the European commission, the executive body tasked with running the EU. Following Sundays vote, she still needs a majority of EU parliamentarians support to obtain a second five-year term at the helm, though she is seen as a prohibitive favorite for the post.

In 2019, von der Leyen relied on the votes of two centrist groups, the center-left Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats and the centrist liberal Renew Europe, to win the presidency.

The EU parliamentarian elected president of the council then tapped allies resulting in a makeup of the commission that included many left-of-center politicians and none from the nationalist right parties. But this time, von der Leyen has expressed openness to cooperating with the Brothers of Italy, the far-right party of Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, which is part of the European Conservatives and Reformists bloc in the EU parliament.

Ursula von der Leyen (left) has said she is open to cooperating with Giorgia Meloni, Italy's far-right prime minister. Meloni has won goodwill by backing EU support for Ukraine. Pier Marco Tacca/Getty Images

Meloni has won over one-time skeptics like von der Leyen with her stalwart support for EU backing of Ukraine in its war against Russia. The topic, which has surged to the top of mainstream EU lawmakers priority list, is a major wedge between far-right parties eager to build bridges with the center and others who are adamant in their support for rapprochement with Russia. In contrast with Meloni, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who has sought to obstruct greater European backing for the Ukrainian war effort and has clashed with the EU over his domestic efforts to undermine the rule of law, is perhaps the most powerful figure in the latter camp.

She is clearly pro-European, against Putin, shes been very clear on that one, and pro-rule of law, if this holds, and then we offer to work together, von der Leyen said in a late May interview.

Some centrists approve of mainstream conservatives willingness to co-opt Meloni and other far-right leaders, arguing that far-right parties are either capable of genuinely moderating once in power, or can be checked by stronger conservative parties.

In the Netherlands, for example, Geert Wilders, leader of the far-right Party for Freedom, has become a junior partner in the Dutch right-wing coalition government where his most authoritarian instincts are being reined in, according to Simon Otjes, a Dutch politics expert at the University of Leiden. During his latest campaign, Wilders toned down his normally vicious Islamophobic rhetoric, declaring his commitment to be prime minister for all Dutch, regardless of their religion, sexuality, color, gender or whatever, and vowed to respect the Dutch constitution. And during coalition talks, Wilders  whose newfound moderation earned him the moniker Geert Milders by some commentators  submitted to an arrangement where he would not become prime minister, despite his party getting the most votes.

This is part of how the system functions. Its good that theyre moderating.Simon Otjes, University of Leiden

Theres no indication in [Wilders party] that theyre going to abandon the key elements of democracy, Otjes told HuffPost and other reporters in Amsterdam last week. This is part of how the system functions. Its good that theyre moderating.

But progressive Europeans see mainstreaming figures like Meloni or Wilders as a slippery slope that risks more dramatic leaps to the right down the road.

Meloni, they note, has proposed amending Italys constitution to enable direct elections of prime ministers  a system more akin to the American or French presidential systems  rather than the current model of election through party lists that is the norm in parliamentary democracies. Under the changes, the prime ministers party would also automatically get 55% of the seats in the Italian parliament.

Meloni has billed the changes, which are likely to be subject to a public referendum, as a way to ensure government stability in a country where the collapse of governing coalitions has historically been frequent. But detractors see a power grab reminiscent of the infamous Italian fascist dictator, Benito Mussolini, whose Acerbo Law in the 1920s automatically granted the largest vote-getter two-thirds of seats in parliament.

Shes really dangerous, because she comes up really moderate when shes in the European turf, said Orkan Ozdemir, a member of the Berlin regional parliament affiliated with the Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD). But in Italy, she goes hard core.

Populist waves in Europe have often been early harbingers of hard-line nationalist winds in the United States. In June 2016, the United Kingdoms Brexit vote to leave the European Union, driven by opposition to the EUs relatively open immigration system, was retroactively seen as an early warning sign of Donald Trumps election as president some five months later.

Trump and allies like Steve Bannon maintain relationships with European far-right leaders, who have been known to show up at the Conservative Political Action Conference.

The transatlantic far-right pilgrimages head in the opposite direction as well. In April, CPAC held its third annual conference in Orbans Hungary, where American right-wing activists rub elbows with their European colleagues.

The National Rally party, led by Marine Le Pen (left) hopes to capitalize on a strong showing in the EU election in France's snap parliamentary elections. JULIEN DE ROSA/Getty Images

Maja Wallstein, a German parliamentarian affiliated with the SPD, noted her surprise at the degree of support for Trump among her rural constituents in a part of East Germany near the Polish border.

Trump is really a thing here, she said in Berlin last week.

At the same time, numerous European far-right leaders have lost elections to mainstream candidates without disputing them in the way Trump did in the 2020 presidential election. And the appetite among those parties for a departure from the EU has waned after far-right leaders witnessed the chaos and economic costs that accompanied Brexit.

A number of European analysts have decided against interpreting their own election results as tied to developments in the United States or the United Kingdom.

A lot of people looked at the Dutch and European landscape through the lens of what had happened with Trump and Brexit. And then to some extent, I would say it didnt really happen, said Coen van de Ven, a political journalist for De Groene Amsterdammer, a weekly magazine that leans center-left.

The greatest shock waves from Sundays EU elections are instead likely to be felt in Europe itself, and specifically in France, the EUs second-largest nation.

Marine Le Pens National Rally was the leading vote-getter in Sundays EU elections there, picking up nearly one-third of the vote.

French President Emmanuel Macron, whose centrist Renaissance party came in a distant second, responded by dissolving the French parliament and calling for snap elections. In Frances hybrid governing system, the country elects its presidents every five years, but the president also assembles a working coalition in the countrys separately elected bicameral parliament. When a governing coalition is in crisis, or a president seeks to strengthen their hold on it, they can disband parliament and call for new legislative elections. The first round of the elections are now set to take place on June 30, followed by a runoff among the top two vote-getters on July 7.

In his remarks on Sunday announcing the decision, Macron, who has twice defeated Le Pen in presidential elections, suggested he was confident voters would reject National Rally at the polls.

This is a serious and weighty decision. Above all, it is an act of trust  confidence in you, my dear compatriots, the ability of French people to make a just choice for themselves and for future generations, he said.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni (right) shares a light moment with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban in March. Meloni's critics say she is more like Orban than she lets on. Geert Vanden Wijngaert/Associated Press

As it has sought mainstream acceptance, National Rally, which backs a more conciliatory approach toward Russia, has tempered some of its hard-line rhetoric and distanced itself from more extreme far-right voices. National Rally ejected the German far-right party, Alternative fur Deutschland, from its Identity and Democracy bloc in May following AfDs lead EU candidate Maximilian Krahs sympathetic comments about the SS. Krah, who subsequently resigned from AfD leadership, had said a person who served in the SS  a paramilitary tasked with enacting the Nazi regimes worst atrocities  was not automatically a criminal.

Le Pens National Rally got another big boost on Tuesday when Eric Ciotti, the leader of The Republicans, Frances mainstream conservative party, called for the two parties to form an alliance in the coming parliamentary elections. The Republicans  previously known as the Union for a Popular Majority  was the party of many recent French presidents, but is now content to serve as a junior partner in coalition with Le Pen, while lending some of its mainstream credibility.

Janan Ganesh, a columnist for the Financial Times in London, sees even a strong showing for Le Pen in the snap elections as a potentially positive development, since far-right parties face greater accountability from voters when they must actually make the trade-offs involved in governance.

Right now, in much of Europe, populists have a goldilocks level of success: enough to foul the atmosphere, to spread the idea that simple answers to big problems exist if governments would but enact them, but not enough to have to prove this in office, Ganesh wrote on Tuesday.

For Americans fearful that time in government didnt soften Trumps appeal, Ganesh maintained European voters are different, noting former Tory Prime Minister Boris Johnsons rapid fall from grace in the U.K. after Brexit buoyed him into power.

High office didnt temper the 45th U.S. president, did show voters his worst, and still he is favorite to be the 47th. All true. But Europe, for now, is different, he wrote. Most of its democracies arent quite as divided or tribal as the U.S., where, eventually, the question of what day of the week it is will generate a 50-50 polling result. Gross misgovernment would still discredit a leader in most of the continent.

But those who take a more pessimistic view see Orban, not Trump or Johnson, as the foretaste of a future of co-governance with the far right. The Hungarian prime minister, who began his career as a liberal, became more authoritarian once in power.

Democratic backsliding doesnt happen overnight, warned Gattermann of the University of Amsterdam.
EV Slowdown Steers the World Further Off Course From Net Zero

(Bloomberg) -- Electric vehicles have swiftly gone from a bright spot in the global climate fight to cause for concern, leading BloombergNEF to slash sales estimates and warn that the auto industry is falling further off the track toward decarbonization.

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In its annual Electric Vehicle Outlook, BNEF reduced its battery-electric sales projections by 6.7 million vehicles through 2026. While the demand deceleration isnt universal across countries and EVs will be buoyed somewhat by the resurgence of plug-in hybrids, a few Nordic countries and the state of California are the only places on pace to eliminate passenger vehicle fleet emissions by 2050.

Some markets are experiencing a significant slowdown and many automakers have pushed back their EV targets, BNEF analysts led by Colin McKerracher wrote in the report released Wednesday. The window for achieving net-zero emissions in road transport is closing quickly and there is no room left for complacency.

The outlook for fully electric vehicles has markedly deteriorated in the past year. BNEF began the 2023 edition of its EV Outlook by highlighting the profound transformation sweeping the auto sector and the rapid spread of electrification across almost all vehicle types. This year, the researcher recaps how several of the worlds largest manufacturers  including Ford Motor Co., General Motors Co., Volkswagen AG and even Tesla Inc.  have dialed back ambitions in recent months.

BNEF sees China continuing to dominate EVs, batteries and the global supply chains for raw materials and components, spurring pushback by Washington and Brussels in the form of higher tariffs. Indeed, the European Union announced Wednesday that it will slap additional levies on EV imports from manufacturers including MG maker SAIC Motor Corp. and BYD Co.

Calls for a level playing field have fallen on deaf ears in Beijing. China warned last month that it may retaliate by subjecting some imported cars to 25% tariffs that would hit German manufacturers including Mercedes-Benz Group AG and BMW AG.

China has doled out incentives likely totaling in the tens of billions of dollars and can now make far more batteries than it needs, which is driving down prices in dramatic fashion, BNEF said. The nations cell manufacturing capacity already was more than three times domestic demand last year and will rise to more than six times in 2025, if all factories planned for the country come online.

This has helped drive prices for China's lithium iron phosphate battery cells  a cheaper chemistry rapidly gaining adoption  down to $53 per kilowatt hour, roughly half the global average. As a result, the nation is the only large auto market that has reached the point of consumer-led takeoff for EV sales, BNEF said.

Battery price declines haven't been nearly as steep in other major markets, contributing to BNEF cutting its overall EV sales projections  which include plug-in hybrids  for this year and each of the next four years in the US, Germany, Japan, Italy and the UK.

The reasons BNEF cites for the reductions across five members of the Group of Seven vary by country:

Ford and GMs lackluster performance, Teslas aging lineup and uncertainty about the US presidential election

Germany abruptly ending subsidies in December and the countrys challenging economic conditions

A lack of commitment to EVs among Japans major carmakers and few new electric models in the nations minicar segment

Inconsistent regulatory support in Italy and the UK

The transformation might take longer than expected, Mercedes Chief Executive Officer Ola Kallenius said at the carmaker's annual meeting last month. The maker of S-Class sedans and G-Wagon SUVs now expects to continue making combustion-engine and hybrid vehicles well into the 2030s, backing off a goal to go all-electric in some markets by the end of the decade.

Before Mercedes altered its targets, Volkswagen scrapped plans for a 2 billion ($2.15 billion) EV factory in Germany; Ford, GM and Tesla pumped the brakes on plant investments; and Tata Motors Ltd.s Jaguar Land Rover announced a slower rollout of battery-electric models, citing surprise at the level of demand for its plug-in hybrids.

JLR is far from alone in this regard. One of the more upbeat themes of BNEFs report is the boom in demand for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, or PHEVs.

In response to PHEV sales rising at a faster rate than battery-electric or conventional hybrid vehicles since 2019, BNEF dramatically increased its estimates for sales through the middle of the next decade. As of last year, the researcher expected sales to top out just shy of 6.5 million vehicles by 2026, then fade to around 325,000 by 2035. Now, BNEF sees a peak of almost 9.2 million in 2030, and for more than 4.7 million to be sold in 2035.

China became the worlds top market for PHEVs in 2022, thanks to the introduction of affordable models from BYD and Li Auto Inc. PHEVs now sell for virtually the same average price in China as vehicles running entirely on internal combustion engines.

Its a well-conceived move by the Chinese automakers to use this technology to try to tempt the more resistant consumers in those not-yet-saturated parts of China, said Aleksandra ODonovan, who leads BNEFs Electrified Transport research team. Its a big country.

But BNEFs positivity about PHEVs comes with a caveat.

Studies by the nonprofit International Council on Clean Transportation and the advocacy group Transport & Environment have found that PHEVs emit more in real-world driving than in tests used for regulatory compliance and ratings advertised to consumers. This is largely because the procedures assume vehicle owners will drive in electric mode more than they actually do.Theres a bit of risk in putting too much faith in PHEVs, ODonovan said. How decarbonization-friendly they are will depend on how much theyre charged, and the evidence so far on that front is not great.

While the uptick in PHEV demand helps keeps BNEFs forecast for 2024 electric vehicle sales broadly in line with what was expected in previous years, the rate of growth in the next four years is expected to average 21% annually, compared to 61% between 2020 and 2023.

The global fleet of internal combustion engine vehicles is expected to peak next year, but sales would need to end altogether by around 2038 for the world to get to a completely zero-emission fleet by 2050.

Only Nordic countries, including Norway, are on pace to fully phase out ICE vehicle sales in the necessary time frame, BNEF said.

--With assistance from Wilfried Eckl-Dorna.

(Updates with EU putting additional tariffs on Chinese EVs in the fifth paragraph.)

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Ex-cop and former prison cellmate of Jeffrey Epstein sentenced to life in prison for murder of 4 men

A former New York police officer and former cellmate of disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein was sentenced to life in prison for murdering four men, prosecutors said.

Nicholas Tartaglione was sentenced Monday to four consecutive life sentences for the 2016 kidnappings and killings of Martin Luna, Miguel Luna, Urbano Santiago and Hector Gutierrez, United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York Damian Williams, said in a news release.

Tartaglione, who was described by Williams as a former police officer-turned drug dealer, was convicted in April 2023 of 11 counts of murder, four counts of kidnapping resulting in death, one count of kidnapping conspiracy and one count of narcotics conspiracy.

Unfortunately, the life sentences were mandatory given the convictions at trial, Inga Parsons, lead attorney for Tartaglione, said in a statement to CNN. We are appealing and will continue to fight to show Nicks innocence.

Tartaglione shared a prison cell with Epstein at the federal Metropolitan Correctional Center in New York City and had been moved before Epsteins suicide in August 2019, CNN previously reported.

The former officer was one of the first people FBI agents sought to interview after Epstein was found dead in the special housing unit of the facility.

FBI investigators remove a backhoe seized from the Crawford, New York, property of former Briarcliff Manor Police officer Nicholas Tartaglione on December 21, 2016. - James Nani/AP/FILE

According to prosecutors, Tartaglione suspected Martin Luna had stolen money from him and planned to confront him during an in-person meeting, to which Martin Luna brought along his nephews, Miguel Luna and Santiago, and his family friend Gutierrez.

During the meeting, which turned out to be a deadly trap, Tartaglione tortured Martin Luna and then forced one of his nephews to watch as he strangled him to death with a zip-tie, according to a statement from Williams following the conviction.

Tartaglione and two of his associates then brought Miguel Luna, Santiago and Gutierrez to a remote wooded location, forced them to kneel and fatally shot them in the back of the head before burying their bodies in a mass grave, the statement said.

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, Williams said a news release after the sentencing.

CNNs Emma Tucker and Sabrina Souza contributed to this report.

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A driver accused in a North Richland Hills hit-and-run that killed a 16-year-old was released from jail after his bond amount was reduced by 80%, according to Tarrant County court documents.

Fernando Peralta Berrios, a previous Fort Worth City Council candidate and the former head of Las Familias de Rosemont neighborhood association, is charged with one count of intoxication manslaughter and one count of collision involving personal injury or death, both second-degree felonies.

Authorities said 16-year-old Luis Anthony Luna was hit by Peralta Berrios around 8:45 p.m. on May 16, when the teen was walking in the 8600 block of Airport Freeway. Police received a call that a car hit a pedestrian and then fled the scene. Luna was taken to Cook Childrens Medical Center in Fort Worth, where he died.

Peralta Berrios bond was initially set at $500,000 for all combined charges, but his attorneys argued in court documents that it was an unreasonable amount. On Friday, a magistrate reduced the bond to $100,000, which the defendant has posted, according to court records.

Records showed Peralta Berrios was no longer in jail on Wednesday.

He ran for the District 9 City Council seat in the 2021 election and lost in a runoff to Elizabeth Beck.

An email from the suspected drunk drivers attorneys to Tarrant County Magistrate Judge Rainey Webb mentioned that Peralta Berrios, 32, is a former council candidate who they said has strong ties to the community, according to a series of emails reviewed by The Dallas Morning News. Those emails have since been sealed from public view in the court record, after attorneys filed a motion stating that the messages contain private information about their client, such as his employment history and financial situation.

Peralta Berrios was arrested with assistance from the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission, police said. His attorneys said he turned himself in on June 2.

One of his lawyers, Frank Sellers, told The Morning News, While our team is actively investigating, we have not received any discovery or reports, so do not know much at this point. ... We do know this: Mr. Peralta Berrios is a good man, father, and soldier. And he is presumed innocent unless a jury says otherwise.
Ex-officer in Mississippi gets 1 year in prison for forcing man to lick urine off jail floor

FILE - Former City of Pearl, Miss., police Officer Michael Christian Green walks out of the federal courthouse in Jackson, Miss., March 14, 2024, after pleading guilty to a federal misdemeanor charge after authorities said he forced a man he had arrested to lick urine off the floor of a jail cell. Green was sentenced Wednesday, June 12, to one year in federal prison, the maximum penalty for the charge. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis, File)

JACKSON, Miss. (AP)  A former Mississippi police officer was sentenced Wednesday to a year in federal prison for forcing a man he had arrested to lick urine off the floor of a jail cell.

Michael Christian Green received the maximum prison time on the misdemeanor charge of acting under the color of law to deprive a person of their civil rights. Green, 26, pleaded guilty March 14 and is scheduled to go to prison July 26.

Green lost his job as a Pearl Police Department patrol officer in late December, four days after security cameras showed the violent encounter in Pearl, a suburb of the capital city of Jackson.

Although court documents did not mention race, Green is white and a Pearl city spokesperson said the man he arrested is Latino. A charging document said Green arrested the man Dec. 23 after a disturbance at a store.

Police department security footage showed that once the man was in a holding cell, he knocked on the door and tried to tell Green that he needed to urinate, according to the court document. After waiting for some time, the man went to the back of the cell and urinated in a corner, the document said.

The man who was arrested is identified in the court document only by his initials, B.E. The security camera footage showed Green threatening to beat B.E. with a phone.

Green took the man back into the cell and told him to get on the ground and suck it up, then used his phone to take videos of B.E. while the man got on the ground and licked his own urine, the document said. After the man gagged multiple times, Green told him, dont spit it out, according to the document.

The city of Pearl said in a statement that officials learned about the disturbing event during Christmas weekend and opened an investigation, using an independent attorney. Mayor Jake Windham said Green resigned Dec. 27.

Windham said Green had worked for the Pearl Police Department for about six months after having worked at other law enforcement agencies in the Jackson area.

Its rare for law enforcement officers in Mississippi to be charged with brutality, although authorities typically investigate several cases each year of shootings by police.

Pearl is in Rankin County, where six white former law enforcement officers  including some who called themselves the Goon Squad  were sentenced on federal and state charges this year after pleading guilty in a January 2023 racist assault on two Black men.
Troy Kelley, a former Washington state auditor, was in front of the state Supreme Court on Tuesday June 11, 2024 fighting efforts to disbar him due to convictions on eight felonies, crimes that led to a federal prison sentence. (Jerry Cornfield/Washington State Standard)

Disgraced former state auditor Troy X. Kelley returned to a Washington courtroom Tuesday to fight his disbarment as a result of his 2017 conviction on eight felonies, crimes that landed him in federal prison.

Kelley urged the state Supreme Court to reject the recommendation for disbarment made by the Washington State Bar Associations Disciplinary Board and, instead, consider his suspension the last six years as time served and reinstate him to inactive status. Kelley told the court he has no plans to practice law again.

He asked justices to take into account his public service in the military and as an elected official, and the length of time since the incidents underlying his convictions occurred. Those are mitigating factors he said the disciplinary board should have weighed.

Attorney discipline is intended to protect the public. Does the public need to be protected more than the last six years Ive been suspended? Kelley said.

This case is different. This is not a typical case of theft. This is not a typical case of an attorney taking money from a client, he said in the 40-minute hearing. Thats why Im fighting so hard.

If disbarred, Kelley could have to wait up to five years to seek reinstatement.

An attorney representing the bar association argued disbarment is the appropriate sanction for the integrity of the legal profession.

It would send a terrible message to the public for this court to determine that a lawyer who has been convicted of eight federal felonies, all of which were crimes of dishonesty, would be allowed to continue practicing law and would not face disbarment as other lawyers have, said Benjamin Attanasio, disciplinary counsel for the Office of Disciplinary Counsel of the Washington State Bar Association.

Kelley won a seat in the state House in 2006 and served three terms before getting elected Washington state auditor in 2012.

His designs on a second term were dashed with his indictment in April 2015 on a cache of charges arising from his operation of a real estate services business from 2006 to 2008. Those charges, which were not related to his elected position, included money laundering, possession of stolen property, lying to federal officials and filing false tax returns.

Federal prosecutors argued as Kelley tracked transactions for mortgage title companies, he kept about $3 million in fees that he was supposed to refund to homeowners. He later started paying himself from the proceeds, investigators said.

In May 2015, Kelley took unpaid leave from the $120,459-a-year elected post. He said he intended to stay away until his legal fight was done but returned in December after several state lawmakers said they would try to impeach him for dereliction of duty.

I said I would not be back until the conclusion of my legal issues. Now I am being impeached solely because Im taking a leave of absence. Thats why I am back, Kelley said in an interview at the time.

Kelley faced two trials. The first ended in April 2016 with the jury finding him not guilty of making a false statement to the IRS and deadlocking on the remaining counts. A second trial resulted in convictions in December 2017 on eight felonies, including possessing stolen funds, making false declarations and filing false tax returns. He was acquitted of money laundering.

His convictions led to his interim suspension from the bar in January 2018. Hes been fighting disbarment efforts since then, he said.

In the meantime, in June 2018, a federal judge sentenced Kelley to a year and a day in prison, plus one year of supervised release, according to press accounts. He entered federal prison in July 2021 and records show he was released in February 2022.

On Tuesday, he told justices he is still fighting to erase those convictions. He declined to comment further following the hearing.

The post Ex-Washington state auditor fights disbarment following prison time appeared first on Washington State Standard.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 17. NATO member states have begun consultations regarding the need to place nuclear weapons on alert, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said, Trend reports.

"I wont discuss operational specifics about the number of nuclear warheads that should be active or in storage, but these issues require consultation. Thats precisely what we are doing," he stated. Stoltenberg added that transparency on this matter "helps to communicate the clear message" that NATO remains a "nuclear alliance."

"While NATO's ultimate goal is a world without nuclear weapons, as long as they exist, we will maintain our nuclear capabilities. A world where Russia, China, and North Korea possess nuclear weapons, and NATO does not, is more dangerous," Stoltenberg stressed.
Experts warn of billion-dollar septic problem threatening US South: 'These are ticking time bombs under the ground'

Rising seas are causing septic systems across the South to fail, leading to public health concerns and costly repairs for homeowners.

What's happening?

As detailed by The Washington Post, there are millions of septic tanks across the American South, but rising seas associated with a warming planet are turning them into a public health concern.

The publication explains that septic systems need to sit above a certain amount of dry soil to work properly. The soil filters the wastewater, removing most bacteria and viruses, before it reaches local waterways and subterranean drinking water sources like wells and aquifers.

Now, rising seas combined with more frequent bouts of torrential rain are leading to shallower soil buffers. In some cases, the systems become submerged by water, the Post said, leading to failure and wastewater that is not properly treated.

Why is septic system flooding concerning?

As our world continues to warm, the South can expect more rising seas and frequent flooding from storms. According to journalist and climate tech investor Molly Wood, rising global temperatures function as "steroids" for extreme weather.

While extreme weather has always existed, a hotter planet makes these events more frequent and severe. For instance, Hurricane Idalia brought massive floods to Florida in August 2023, submerging streets and displacing residents.

If a conventional septic system is submerged, toilets can stop working, and waste can flood yards and streets. This can easily become a public health emergency, putting communities at risk for gastrointestinal diseases and other health hazards.

In Alabama's Lowndes County, hookworm has become a problem due to raw sewage from failing septic systems inundating yards and even belching out of bathtubs.

"These are ticking time bombs under the ground that, when they fail, will pollute," Andrew Wunderley, executive director of the nonprofit Charleston Waterkeeper, told The Washington Post.

Repairs to these systems can also prove costly for homeowners. The Post reported that replacing them with more advanced wastewater treatment systems can cost more than $30,000.

All of these negative impacts are expected to disproportionately affect lower-income and minority communities.

What's more, septic system failures can devastate the local environment. That's partly because leaking nutrients can get absorbed into porous limestone, leading to algae blooms that can decimate fish populations, per the Post.

"It's really pretty gross," Florida International University hydrogeologist Michael Sukop told the news outlet.

What's being done about septic systems in the South?

In Miami-Dade County, where seas have risen 6 inches since 2010, at least 120,000 septic systems remain, the Post reported. Of these, about half are at risk of being "periodically compromised," according to the article. That's why the county is "racing to replace" as many as possible as quickly as possible, according to the Post.

However, replacing septic systems is an expensive endeavor, and so far, the Post said, officials lack the billions of dollars necessary to complete the job.

So far, about 100 homes in the county have been connected to publicly run sewage lines, the Post reported, and officials have a plan to convert another 775.

Meanwhile, in South Carolina, the Post said environmentalists are suing the state for failing to consider the effects of rising seas and stronger storms when approving new septic tank permits.

Plus, scientists are trying to get a better hold of the scale of the problem across the South and its environmental impacts.

To combat rising seas and more frequent storms, it is important that reduce planet-warming pollution. To that end, you can make a difference by voting for climate-friendly candidates. You can also change the way you get around by biking or using public transportation more often.

Join our free newsletter for cool news and cool tips that make it easy to help yourself while helping the planet.
The Russians fired missiles on Kyiv on the night of 11-12 June, and Ukrainian air defence units repelled the attack.

Source: Kyiv City Military Administration; Ukraines Air Force

Quote: "An air-raid warning has been issued! Air defence is responding in the capital. Stay in shelters until the all-clear is given!"

Background: An air-raid warning was issued throughout Ukraine due to the launch of missiles and Shahed attack drones by Russian forces.

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PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  A 16-year-old teen who went missing in what Vancouver police described as an extremely suspicious incident was found safe early Tuesday evening, hours after the search began, authorities told KOIN 6 News.

Details of where the teen was found have not yet been released by authorities. KOIN 6 News will update this story later.

How it began

The teen  biologically male  identifies as female and goes by the name Crystal. Shortly before 1 p.m., Crystals cell phone was found discarded just outside the mall, police said.

Vancouver PD spokesperson Kim Kapp told KOIN 6 News the family members had been at the mall and went their separate ways to shop but agreed to meet at the car at a specific time. When Crystal didnt show up the family became concerned.

God help him: Gresham firefighter still in critical condition after responding to burning duplex

The family said this is very unusual for her to be outside of any planned event or structure, Kapp said.

Vancouver police said this is an extremely suspicious incident and is currently being investigated as a high priority and with all available resources.

Officers canvassed the area and Kapp said there are detectives from their Digital Evidence Cybercrime Unit working the case.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com.
The businesses argue in a new court filing that Daniel's Law is unconstitutionally vague, impermissibly restrictive, and unsuccessful in guarding officials' addresses. (Illustration by Alex Cochran for New Jersey Monitor)

A legal fight is brewing over an increasingly expansive New Jersey statute called Daniels Law that bars the release of addresses and other personal information belonging to judges, prosecutors, and a growing list of public officials.

On Monday, scores of data brokers, real estate firms, marketing businesses, and other companies asked a federal judge to declare Daniels Law unconstitutional, saying it is an impermissibly overbroad violation of the First Amendment.

Although Daniels Law was intended to serve the states interest in enhancing the safety of judges, law enforcement officers, and other public officials, it is not sufficiently tailored to advancing that purpose, as required by the Constitution, and it is also unconstitutionally vague in critical respects, the filing reads.

This represents the latest legal challenge to Daniels Law, a statute enacted in 2020 after the attempted assassination of federal Judge Esther Salas left the judges son, Daniel Anderl, dead and her husband critically wounded.

It also comes after lawmakers have moved to expand the list of officials the law covers. Last year, Gov. Phil Murphy signed a bill that would bar disclosure of personal information concerning child protective investigators and made a host of other changes that enabled lawsuits.

A bill introduced in May would cover court administrators and deputy court administrators.

The filing is a consolidated response to more than 100 lawsuits lodged by a company called Atlas Data Privacy that allege it asked the companies to remove the addresses and other personal information of people covered by the statute and the companies failed to comply. The firm was founded after the enactment of Daniels Law.

Atlas lawsuits were filed on behalf of more than 19,000 individuals covered by Daniels Law after sending tens of thousands of takedown requests.

In these tumultuous times, it is critical that the most sensitive personal information of those who serve the public be protected from unwarranted disclosure, says one of the lawsuits, which alleges that police officers have been targeted by ex-inmates and others who find the officers home addresses online.

Atlas alleges the companies it has sued owe it damages that would likely creep into the tens of millions of dollars. In a statement, Atlas President Matt Adkison charged the companies motion was a bid to keep their businesses afloat.

At a time when threats against judges, prosecutors, and law enforcement officers are skyrocketing, the message from these multi-billion-dollar companies is clear: Daniels Law is too great a threat to their business models and must be overturned no matter the human cost, he said.

But the companies sued by Atlas say the law has failed to accomplish its stated purpose of protecting individuals personal information and that Atlas misuse of the law illustrates its over-broadness.

The law requires private entities to remove information that also appears in property records that governments, by law, are barred from redacting, the defendants note. Names and addresses for some of the named plaintiffs, each of whom is covered by Daniels Law, were readily available online from government websites, the defendants said.

These contradictions and holes in the statutes coverage imply that, as currently constructed, Daniels Law is not effectively designed to reduce danger to public officials, reads Mondays filing, a motion to dismiss Atlas lawsuits.

The defendants further argue that Daniels Law includes no verification requirement to confirm that takedown requests to private entities are filed by people covered by the law. That requirement was removed in 2023 by the same bill that made damages mandatory under Daniels Law.

They added the short timeline to respond to takedown requests  private entities get only 10 business days while governments get 30  all but ensures businesses will pay damages when tens of thousands of notifications are intentionally sent en masse within a short time period in a purposeful effort to frustrate timely compliance, as Atlas did here.

Raj Parikh, an attorney for the plaintiffs, did not respond to a request for comment. Attorney General Matt Platkin will intervene in the case to defend Daniels Law.

Daniels Law is a critical law that protects the safety of our judges and law enforcement officers, and we look forward to defending its constitutionality in court, said a spokesperson for the Office of the Attorney General.

Judge Harvey Bartle III of Pennsylvanias Eastern District is presiding over the case. Salas is a judge in the District of New Jersey.

Bartle is due to rule on the defendants motion to dismiss on July 15, and hes set a June 15 deadline for outside parties to seek to join the case as friends of the court.

The case isnt the first to challenge the constitutionality of Daniels Law. Last September, a Superior Court judge ruled against Charlie Kratovil, the editor of New Brunswick Today, after he asked the court to bar criminal charges over Daniels Law.

The editor argued the law violated his freedom of speech. Officials cited the law when it sought to bar him from publishing the address of the citys now-former police director, who lives hours away from New Brunswick in Cape May County.

Kratovil did not publish the police directors address but named the street he lives on during a council meeting and gave council members documents obtained through the Open Public Records Act that showed his address.

A panel of appellate judges affirmed the lower court ruling in April, and Kratovil has petitioned the case, which turns on different arguments than the Atlas suit, to the New Jersey Supreme Court.

The post Facing hefty fines, companies ask judge to declare Daniels Law unconstitutional appeared first on New Jersey Monitor.
Claim:

A photograph shared to social media in mid-2024 genuinely showed an estimated 280-million-year-old fossil found in Australia.

Rating:

Rating: True

A photograph of tentacled arms and octagonal-shaped heads, said to depict a group of ancient, "alien-looking" organisms, made the rounds of social media channels in June 2024. Such online posts claimed to show a "280 million-year-old Australian fossil." Many of these posts credited the photo to Tom Kapitany, including the Reddit post below, which had more than 41,000 upvotes at the time of this publication.

To investigate this claim, Snopes first conducted a Google keyword search on Kapitany's name, which returned a result of Crystal World Exhibition Centre in Australia, an Australia-based exporter of minerals and fossils. Snopes contacted Kapitany, who confirmed that both the picture and fossil were genuine, and we have rated this claim "True."

In an email to Snopes, Kapitany identified the fossil as a mortality plate, or a fossilized representation of a mass dying event of an assemblage of species. The fossil contains more than a dozen specimens of a species known as Jimbacrinus bostocki. J. bostocki was a type of marine organism called a "crinoid," described by the Crystal World Exhibition Centre in Australia below:

Crinoids are marine animals (not plants), with this particular species inhabiting the deep-sea seafloor. As the crinoids belong to the Echinoderm phylum, it is related to starfish, brittle stars and sea urchins. Crinoids have kept the same basic body shape throughout time. As they are seafloor animals, the Jimbacrinus bostocki had a stalk to attach itself to the seafloor substrate. These stalks are made up of flexible, porous columnal "discs" connected by soft tissue. The stalk is also hollow, like an internal tube and this is where the nervous system is located. Oxygen is absorbed through thin walled tube feet.

J. bostocki could reach lengths of more than 8 inches long. With five arms lined with feathery-looking, tentacle-like structures called pinnules, they fed on planktonic particles and detritus  or sloughed-off organic material  in the surrounding water column.

(Crystal World Exhibition Centre in Australia)

The mortality plate was found along a dry creek bed of the Gascoyne River in Western Australia. This location is home to the Cundlego Formation, a sandstorm formation created during flooding and storm deposits during the Permian era, about 275 million years ago.

"This fossil deposit also gives us a snapshot into the extinction events of the Permian Period," according to the Crystal World Exhibition Centre website.

( Crystal World Exhibition Centre in Australia)

The end of the Permian and beginning of the Triassic eras is known as the "Great Dying" and represents the largest and most severe great extinction events recorded over geological time. It's unknown what caused this catastrophic event. Still, NASA reports that it may have been caused by "severe volcanism, a nearby supernova, environmental changes wrought by the formation of a super-continent, the devastating impact of a large asteroid  or some combination of these."

An estimated 90% of marine species and 70% of land species "vanished" from Earth. "Life on our planet almost came to an end," according to NASA.

Kapitany referred Snopes to a research article he co-authored that was published in Alcheringa: An Australasian Journal of Paleontology on Feb. 21, 2024. It described the crowns of the J. bostocki as being preserved in the protective "trauma" posture. It is thought that storm-driven ocean currents may have transported large groups of these species to deeper waters that were possibly anoxic or lacking oxygen. Scientists hypothesize that individuals in the mortality plate were "smothered by sediment and rapidly buried."

The fossil was since sold to a party in China, Kapitany told Snopes.

Sources:

"15+ Things We Never Expected To Discover About Our World." Diply, 8 Sept. 2020, https://diply.com/141953/15-things-we-never-expected-to-discover-about-our-world.

"About Us." Crystal World Exhibition Centre and Sales, https://www.crystalworldsales.com/pages/about-us. Accessed 10 June 2024.

"---." Crystal World Exhibition Centre and Sales, https://www.crystalworldsales.com/pages/about-us. Accessed 10 June 2024.

EarthWordMortality Event | U.S. Geological Survey. https://www.usgs.gov/news/science-snippet/earthword-mortality-event. Accessed 10 June 2024.

JIMBACRINUS BOSTOCKI  Crystal World Australia. https://www.crystalworld.com.au/2021/02/25/jimbacrinus-bostocki/. Accessed 10 June 2024.

Large Block of Early Permian Cundlego Formation Siltstone | Western Australian Museum. http://museum.wa.gov.au/research/collections/earth-and-planetary-sciences/fossil-collection/large-block-early-permian-cundle. Accessed 10 June 2024.

Log in or Sign up to View. https://www.facebook.com/login/. Accessed 10 June 2024.

---. https://www.facebook.com/login/. Accessed 10 June 2024.

The Great Dying - NASA Science. https://science.nasa.gov/science-research/earth-science/the-great-dying/. Accessed 10 June 2024.

Tom Kapitany - Google Search. https://www.google.com/search?q=Tom+Kapitany&oq=Tom+Kapitany&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUqBggAEEUYOzIGCAAQRRg7MgYIARBFGDsyBggCEEUYOzIGCAMQRRhAMgYIBBBFGD0yBggFEEUYPTIGCAYQRRg90gEHNjg3ajBqN6gCALACAA&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8. Accessed 10 June 2024.

Willink, Robbert J., and Tom Kapitany. "The Crinoid Jimbacrinus Bostocki from the Lower Permian Cundlego Formation near Gascoyne Junction, Western Australia." Alcheringa: An Australasian Journal of Palaeontology, Mar. 2024, pp. 115. DOI.org (Crossref), https://doi.org/10.1080/03115518.2024.2323461.
Fact Check: Posts Claim Trump Said 'I Don't Care About You, I Just Want Your Vote' at Las Vegas Rally. 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.

In June 2024, dozens of viral posts on X slammed former U.S. President Donald Trump for reportedly saying a Las Vegas rally, "I don't care about you, I just want your vote. I don't care." Supporters of Trump claimed the clip was taken out of context.

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 morning after the rally, President Joe Biden's X account posted the clip, with the caption "I approve this message."

I approve this message. pic.twitter.com/IajfDVy72C  Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) June 10, 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 lasted only 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 excessive heat in Las Vegas on June 9  which exceeded 100 degrees  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.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 12. Members of parliament belonging to Emmanuel Macron's coalition are shaking in their boots, fearing that the president's decision to hold new parliamentary elections could be a recipe for disaster, the publication Politico said, quoting sources, Trend reports.

The French president's allies are worried that Emmanuel Macron's sudden decision to call for special elections for the National Assembly following his loss in the elections for the European Parliament could spell doom for them, the publication reads.

The Bloomberg agency claims that Macron's decision to pull the plug on the National Assembly and call for fresh parliamentary elections stirred up a hornet's nest of chaos and anger among his entourage, including the Renaissance party, which he leads.

To note, the National Unity parliamentary faction won 31.36 percent (7.7 million votes) in the European Parliament elections. Emmanuel Macron's supporters managed to win the trust of 3.6 million citizens, which is 14.6 percent of the vote. Thus, National Unity managed to more than double ahead of the coalition of the head of the French state. Also in the elections, third place was taken by the Socialists led by Raphael Glucksmann. They were supported by 3.4 million people, or 13.83 percent of voters.

Emmanuel Macron announced on June 9 that the National Assembly would be dismissed and extraordinary elections would be held after the failure of his party in the elections. The first round of extraordinary elections to the French parliament is scheduled for June 30, and the second round is scheduled for July 7.

To recall, the last time the National Assembly (the lower house of the French parliament) was dissolved by President Jacques Chirac was in 1997.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
Fact Check: The Truth About That 'Giant Rat' Supposedly Caught on Film in New York City Bodega

Claim:

A video shared online in June 2024 authentically showed a giant rat on the loose in a New York City bodega.

Rating:

Rating: Miscaptioned

Context:

Rodent experts told Snopes the large rodent in the video is either a muskrat or a nutria, not a rat.

On June 12, 2024, an X user posted a video purportedly showing a giant rat on the loose in a New York City bodega.

The caption read: "Rats in New York City are built different."

Rats in New York City are built different pic.twitter.com/46YgsUSqj6  Nature is Amazing  (@AMAZlNGNATURE) June 11, 2024

Similar posts appeared elsewhere on X in June, as well as on Facebook. The claim was also in numerous TikTok videos in September and October 2023.

One Reddit user called the animal a "New Yorker Rat" in October 2023.

Together, the posts had amassed more than 11 million views at the time of this writing.

However, although the video is genuine and the creature in the footage is unquestionably a rodent, four rodent experts told Snopes it is not a rat, which is why we have rated this claim and video as "Miscaptioned."

Kansas State University Associate Professor Adam Ahlers, who had researched muskrat populations, told Snopes via email the animal was a muskrat, an amphibious rodent.

"That is a muskrat (Ondatra zibethicus). I'm 100 percent sure of this," Ahlers said.

Likewise, Siena College Associate Professor Tom Giarla, who studied the evolutionary history of rodents, told Snopes via email it was "definitely not a rat (Rattus norvegicus)."

He said the video quality made it difficult to be certain, but it could be a muskrat or, due to its whitish whiskers and large body size, a nutria  another amphibious rodent and an invasive species in North America.

Professor Jane Hurst of the University of Liverpool, who had also researched rodents, told Snopes via email: "This is not a brown rat (Rattus norvegicus) but looks like a muskrat from the tail which looks hairless and keeled in the video (Ondatra zibethicus)."

Meanwhile, Steven Belmain, professor of ecology at the University of Greenwich's Natural Resources Institute, told Snopes via email the creature "looks most like a muskrat." However, he added, some people loosely define large rodents, such as muskrats, as "rats," despite them not technically being rats.

Snopes also contacted the American Veterinary Medical Association, the United States Department for Agriculture and other ecological experts for confirmation and will update this article if we receive responses.

Sources:

Adam Ahlers, PhD. https://hnr.k-state.edu/about/people/faculty/ahlers-adam/. Accessed 12 June 2024.

Ahlers, Adam A., and Edward J. Heske. 'Empirical Evidence for Declines in Muskrat Populations across the United States'. The Journal of Wildlife Management, vol. 81, no. 8, Nov. 2017, pp. 140816. DOI.org (Crossref), https://doi.org/10.1002/jwmg.21328.

Muskrat | Description, Habitat, Pictures, Tail, & Facts | Britannica. 30 May 2024, https://www.britannica.com/animal/muskrat.

Nutria | Description, Invasive Species, Muskrat, & Facts | Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/animal/nutria. Accessed 12 June 2024.

'Thomas Giarla'. Siena College, https://www.siena.edu/faculty-and-staff/person/thomas-giarla/. Accessed 12 June 2024.

Updates:

June 13, 2024: This report was updated to include a comment from Professor Jane Hurst.
Fallen hero Cpl. Glenn Hilliard to be honored today in Salisbury. How to join in.

Together, the Wicomico County Sheriffs Office and Hilliard Family are hosting an event to be held today in honor of the late Cpl. Glenn Hilliard.

Here's everything you need to know about today's special event, held in tribute to one brave man who paid the ultimate sacrifice on June 12, 2022.

WHO WAS CPL GLENN HILLIARD?: 'A super compassionate guy:' Who was Wicomico County Sheriff's Deputy Glenn Hilliard?

When and where is the event honoring Cpl. Hilliard being held?

The event honoring Cpl. Glenn Hilliard is set for Wednesday, June 12, 2024, from 4-6 p.m. at the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) Lodge 111, located at 814 Albert St. in Salisbury. This event is free and open to the surrounding community.

Hilliard's family would like to express their thanks to all first responders, including law enforcement, emergency medical services, fire service, the States Attorneys Office and everyone who has assisted and shown support to their family over the last two years.

There will be a brief ceremony, followed by refreshments. The Sheriffs Office and Hilliard Family thank FOP Lodge 111, Operation We Care, The Deli at Pecan Square and DJ Mark Shores for their assistance in making the event happen.

PROM DRESS TO HONOR DECEASED: JMB graduate honors her late godmother, her 'second mother,' with personalized prom dress

What happened to Cpl. Glenn Hilliard?

Cpl. Glenn Hilliard, a 16 year veteran with the Wicomico County Sheriff's Office, was fatally shot in the line of duty in Pittsville in August.

Glenn Hilliard, 41, was a 16-year veteran of law enforcement and a member of the highly trained Warrant Fugitive Taskforce.

On June 12, 2022, the Wicomico County Sheriffs Office received a call advising that Austin Davidson, a wanted person, was in the area of the Pittsville Park. Cpl. Hilliard was among the deputies dispatched to the area to locate Davidson who, at the time, had four open warrants for his arrest.

While patrolling the area, Cpl. Hilliard observed a subject matching Davidsons description walking along Gumboro Road. As Hilliard turned his patrol vehicle around, Davidson ducked into the Talbot Apartments complex and entered the stairwell of a building, Delmarva Now previously reported.

Deputy First Class Glenn Hilliard's vehicle is displayed outside the Wicomico County Sheriff's Office Monday, June 13, 2022, in Salisbury, Maryland.

As Cpl. Hilliard pulled his patrol vehicle to the end of the parking lot and in close proximity to the stairwell, Davidson exited and began to flee around the building.

Hilliard drew his agency-issued Taser and began to pursue Davidson. As Davidson fled, Cpl. Hilliard closed the gap to a distance of less than about 10 feet, while repeatedly warning Davidson that he would be Tased if he did not stop fleeing, Delmarva Now previously reported.

Davidson, who refused to surrender, drew a fully loaded illegal Taurus 9mm handgun, activated the laser sight, turned and fired multiple rounds at Cpl. Hilliard. Two of the rounds struck Cpl. Hilliard. He was later pronounced dead at TidalHealth Peninsula Regional in Salisbury.

Davidson was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole, plus an additional 66 years of incarceration on July 6, 2023, after he was found guilty on all counts in a six-day trial.

GUIDE TO GREAT POCOMOKE FAIR: Country music stars headed to Great Pocomoke Fair 2024: Everything to know

Olivia Minzola covers communities on the Lower Shore. Contact her with tips and story ideas at ominzola@delmarvanow.com.

This article originally appeared on Salisbury Daily Times: Fallen hero Cpl. Glenn Hilliard to be honored today in Salisbury
Ukraines air defence units shot down 11 Russian Shahed attack drones over Dnipropetrovsk Oblast on the night of 11-12 June. A family with a 13-year-old teenager was injured in the nighttime drone attack, and houses were damaged.

Source: Serhii Lysak, Head of Dnipropetrovsk Oblast Military Administration, on Telegram

Quote: "Sadly, the occupiers attack was not without consequences. A family suffered in Synelnykove district. A 13-year-old boy has had an acute stress reaction. A 39-year-old man and a 40-year-old woman suffered from cut wounds. They received medical aid and will be treated on an outpatient basis. Nine houses were damaged."

A house damaged in the Russian attack.

Photo: Lysak

Details: Lysak specified that four drones had been shot down in the Novomoskovsk and Synelnykove districts. The rest were downed in the Dnipro, Pavlohrad and Kamianske districts.

A house damaged in the Russian attack.

Photo: Lysak

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GASTONIA, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS)  A mother of six is dead after a drive-by shooting in Gastonia that happened early Tuesday morning at a home on Morgan Street. Police are still searching for suspects.

Thirty-nine-year-old Latasha Cureton was sleeping in her bed when someone drove by and shot at her house with multiple adults and children inside. Her loved ones say they are devastated from the loss but they are keeping the faith that justice will be served and a suspect will come forward.

Photo: Latasha Cureton, courtesy of family

It was like being like an explosion, Curetons daughter said. We thought it was a loud bang like something fell in the kitchen all of a sudden, it was multiple bangs like fireworks but then it got louder and louder. We ran and took cover and covered up the babies.

The shooter or shooters sprayed the home with bullets while multiple adults and children were inside. The bullets pierced the door, windows, walls and more.

It doesnt make sense, they had no care for nobodys life regardless of whatever the issue was, everybodys life matters, Sydney Weaver, Curetons best friend said. Just to be so careless, if it hadnt been her, it couldve been one of the kids, and for what?

PREVIOUS: Mother shot and killed in Gastonia identified, investigation underway

Weaver says she and Cureton were planning Curetons wedding and now after tragedy, theyll be planning a funeral instead.

She wouldve said man what you crying for, Im good, Im resting. Im at peace. I lived my life, Weaver said. She wouldnt want us to cry, but what else can you do?

Gastonia Police canvassed the neighborhood Tuesday morning looking for witnesses or camera footage, but at this time no suspects have been named. Curetons daughter is keeping the faith.

I pray that if anyone knows anything, I pray that God pricks your heart to come forward and let the truth be revealed. No one has to know anything. Just come forward. God convict him, Curetons daughter said. Mark my words, the Lord will handle this situation count your remaining days of freedom because my God will come through in the name of Jesus.

Gastonia Police say the investigation is active and open at this time. If you know anything call Crimestoppers of Gaston County at 704-861-8000.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News.
According to our sister station at WFXT, 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.

Read: Federal judge throws out Florida law blocking treatment for transgender kids, adults

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.

Read: 4 shot at food court in Atlanta

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.

Read: Embark on a new destination with Disney Cruise Line

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.

Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
Burn Ward

A dangerous heat dome  basically, a boiling pot of atmospheric heat and humidity that sits over a region  continues to boil the American southwest, sending temperatures in several states skyrocketing north of 20 and even 30 degrees Fahrenheit above their normal June temperatures. And yet, thousands of MAGA supporters have braved the heat to attend recent Donald Trump rallies in Las Vegas and Phoenix  where, as The Associated Press reports, dozens have been wound up hospitalized due to heat-related illness.

Per the AP, at least six people were sent to the hospital and 24 were treated onsite over the weekend in Vegas, where temperatures hovered around 105 degrees Fahrenheit. And in Phoenix the week prior, where temperatures climbed to a record-breaking 113 degrees, a total of 11 rally-goers were hospitalized and treated for heat exhaustion.

Heat exhaustion can obviously happen at any event where human beings stand outside in hot temperatures for hours. But climate experts widely agree that this year's heat domes have been directly linked to global warming. So the fact that Trump is a well-documented climate denier with a long history of calling climate change a "hoax" lends a salient bit of irony to the unfortunate situation of these rally attendees.

And that's before we mention that the presidential candidate has been chanting "drill, baby, drill" at his 2024 campaign events in reference to his plans to keep Big Oil and the heavily polluting American fossil fuel industry chugging right along.

"He's making promises to big oil executives who are fueling the climate crisis," Alex Glass, a campaigner at the climate advocacy group Climate Power, told The Guardian, "while people are passing out at his rallies from very real, very dangerous heatwaves that he says are caused by a hoax."

Walking Through Hell

Thankfully, all attendees who needed medical attention seem to be okay. And despite the danger, some Trump supporters said being at the rally was still "worth it."

You know what? It's worth it," one rallier, a 65-year-old retired nurse from a Vegas suburb, told the AP. "Too bad it wasn't indoors, but that's OK."

"This is a dry heat," added Nevada GOP Chair Michael McDonald, who was one of the MAGA figures to take the stage at the rally, as quoted by the AP. "This ain't nothing for Las Vegas people."

According to McDonald, the unbearable temps were symbolic of the MAGA base's loyalty to the 2024 Republican frontrunner.

"What it symbolizes for the rest of the United States," McDonald continued, is that many Americans "will walk through hell" to elect former president Trump.

On a certain level, maybe they're right: if we keep pumping fossil fuels into the environment without meaningful mitigation, a "walk through hell" might be what much of the globe starts to feel like.

More on the same Trump rally in Vegas: Marjorie Taylor Greene Mocked for Saying the Gas Prices for Electric Cars Are Too High
Since were surrounded by farmland here in the QCA, have you ever thought about all the different kinds of planting in our area? Rachel Curry with the Illinois State Extension Service spoke with Our Quad Cities News about edge of field practices.

For more information, click here.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WHBF - OurQuadCities.com.
ST. LOUIS Two men have admitted to their involvement in a three-person marijuana conspiracy that led to a fatal shooting in University City in 2022. Nathaniel Brown-Shatto, 21, pleaded guilty to knowingly discharging a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime resulting in death. Carlos Albert Castellanos Jr., 22, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

The incident occurred after they believed the victim used counterfeit money to buy marijuana. On February 19, 2022, all three suspects, armed, drove to the victims home, where Brown-Shatto shot the victim, and a third man began shooting with an AK-style rifle. Investigators found 22 spent casings and later stopped Brown-Shatto and Castellanos in a matching vehicle, finding them armed and in possession of marijuana.

The third man, Emanuel Benito Vasquez, 21, is facing multiple charges but has not yet been arrested. Brown-Shatto and Castellanos are scheduled for sentencing in November and December, respectively.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Crimson Florida is more competitive than most red states with presumptive GOP White House nominee Donald Trump and incumbent U.S. Sen. Rick Scott in closer races than conventional punditry would suggest.

That's according to a new Florida Atlantic University-Mainstreet Research poll of Sunshine State voters released Wednesday that finds former President Trump leading President Joe Biden by just four points, 46% to 42%.

However, that lead grew to six points among those identifying as "likely" voters. It also extended to six points among all voters when independent Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was added to the selections.

The poll showing the 45th president with a lead outside the "dead heat" three-point margin of error was released as Trump plans to celebrate his 78th birthday Friday with a speech at one of his fan clubs, Club 47, in West Palm Beach and preps for a June 27 debate with Biden.

And it is a lead beyond his margin of victory in Florida in 2020, when he beat Biden 51.2% to 47.9%, and in 2016, when he defeated Democrat Hillary Clinton by 49% to 47.8%.

FAU pollster and political science professor Kevin Wagner said Trump continues to run strong among Hispanic voters and, especially, white voters without college degrees.

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.

"That's the base for Donald Trump and he does particularly strong there," said Wagner. "You can see the margin between Donald Trump and Joe Biden among that group is pretty stark and that's where a lot of the strength for the Trump vote is coming from."

Just as tight is the contest for the U.S. Senate seat, with Republican incumbent Scott topping potential Democratic challenger Debbie Mucarsel-Powell among likely voters by just three percentage points, 46% to 43%, with 8% of those asked saying they were uncertain.

The poll found Mucarsel-Powell could be the clear choice among Democratic voters in the August primary. She led another Democratic candidate, Alan Grayson, by 31 points, 44% to 13%  but with 39% undecided.

"This is probably the biggest change we've seen since we started polling in Florida," said Wagner, who is associate dean of Research and Creative Achievement at FAU.

He noted that in an April poll Scott led Mucarsel-Powell, the Miami-area former congresswoman, by a double-digit margin, 52% to 36%.

"We still have Scott with a lead but the race has tightened quite a bit," Wagner said. "Some of that is, no doubt, due to the fact that Mucarsel-Powell really wasn't well known when we first started to poll this race ... As people get to know her, they tend to like her and you can see that in these tightening numbers."

The poll also found that the economy (37%) and immigration (18%) topped the list of concerns for poll respondents, and those are two issues Republicans are campaigning on in Florida and across the United States. Abortion rights, an issue many state Democrats here and elsewhere are making a central theme of their campaigns, ranked third (15%).

Antonio Fins is a politics and business editor at The Palm Beach Post, part of the USA TODAY Florida Network. You can reach him at afins@pbpost.com. Help support our journalism. Subscribe today.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: FAU elections poll: Donald Trump, Joe Biden, Rick Scott Florida races
BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 12. France has suspended a planned electoral reform in its overseas territory of New Caledonia, said President of France Emmanuel Macron, Trend reports.

"The constitutional project on the electorate in New Caledonia has been suspended," the president told reporters at a briefing.

Meanwhile, the unrest in New Caledonia erupted over a proposed reform to expand the voting rights of French citizens residing in these territories.

Previously, an agreement had guaranteed three referendums on independence, granting voting rights solely to residents before 1998 and their offspring. Between 2018 and 2021, three referendums were held, all yielding outcomes favoring Paris.

However, in April 2024, France opted to extend voting rights to residents of over 10 years, including Europeans. This decision sparked protests, escalating into disorder and clashes with law enforcement. Macron responded by deploying troops to the islands.
FBI agents search the Shakopee townhome of Abdimajid Mohamed Nur, who was convicted Friday in the Feeding Our Future case. Photo by Deena Winter/Minnesota Reformer.

The FBI raided the homes Wednesday of four men convicted Friday in the Feeding Our Future fraud, as federal investigators continue their investigation into an attempt to bribe a juror in the massive federal pandemic relief fraud case.

The day before the jury was set to begin deliberations, a woman dropped off a gift bag with $120,000 in cash at a jurors home. The juror was not home at the time and the woman left the money with the jurors father-in-law, promising to to bring another if she voted to acquit the seven defendants.

The juror reported it to the Spring Lake Park Police Department and was excused from jury duty, by U.S. District Judge Nancy Brasel, who said the juror was terrified. The judge ordered all of the defendants jailed, their cell phones turned over to the FBI, and the jury sequestered for five days until it reached a verdict on Friday, convicting five of the seven defendants.

FBI agents searched the homes of Abdimajid Mohamed Nur of Shakopee, Mohamed Jama Ismail of Savage and Mukhtar Shariff of Burnsville on Wednesday according to multiple media reports. Agents also searched the home of Abdiaziz Shafii Farah of Savage for the second time after searching his home last week. Prosecutors said Farah was a ringleader of the group of seven, as co-owner of Empire Cuisine & Market in Shakopee, around which the case revolved.

FBI Public Affairs Specialist Diana Freedman confirmed searches took place, but would not release any details about what was found.

As rain poured down, agents in several SUVs descended on Nurs gray townhome, some wearing blue latex gloves, others lugging large canvas bags. At one point, four of them took photos of a black Jeep parked in the street.

Nurs neighbor said she didnt know him or that he was involved in the federal court case until FBI agents arrived that morning, all parking the wrong way on the quiet suburban street not far from Canterbury Park.

Im trying to rack my brain like, What could they possibly be doing?

She said Nurs family lived next door for years, but never spoke to her family, except an older man who would wave hello.

The jury found Farah guilty of 23 charges: six counts of wire fraud; one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud; conspiracy to commit federal programs bribery; two counts of federal programs bribery; 11 counts of money laundering; making false statements in a passport application; and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering. He was acquitted of one wire fraud count.

Nur was convicted of four counts of wire fraud, one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud; four counts of money laundering and one count of conspiracy to money launder. He was acquitted of three money laundering counts.

Nur was just 20 years old when he got involved in the food program, where his lawyer Edward Sapone said he may have been in over his head. His sister, Hayat Mohamed Nur, 25, of Eden Prairie, also was involved in the scheme, and was convicted Friday of four wire fraud counts. She was acquitted of money laundering.

Shariff was convicted of two wire fraud charges and two money laundering charges and acquitted of two bribery charges. He was the chief executive officer of Afrique Hospitality Group, which used federal funds to build an East African community center called Afrique in Bloomington. Prosecutors said he used Afrique as a shell company to obtain and launder federal funds, pocketing $1.3 million. Shariff was the only defendant who testified in his own defense. His attorney filed a motion Thursday to get him released from jail, noting his home hadnt been searched as part of the bribe investigation.

Ismail was a co-owner of Empire Cuisine & Market, and prosecutors say he pocketed over $2 million in the scheme, buying a GMC pickup, two trucks for $167,000, and spending $137,000 to pay off the mortgage on the house hed bought six years earlier. He was convicted of one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and acquitted of another count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud; and convicted of money laundering and conspiracy to money launder.

The group of seven were the first to go to trial in the sprawling $250 million case, facing seven 41 charges alleging they falsely claimed to give away 18.8 million meals to needy children from 50 sites statewide. Prosecutors said they fabricated invoices and submitted thousands of phony names of children to get $49 million in federal funds, most of which was spent on fancy cars, upscale homes and lavish vacations.

The post FBI raids suburban homes in connection with attempted juror bribe in Feeding Our Future case appeared first on Minnesota Reformer.
Federal court strikes down Florida transgender care ban. What it could mean for Idaho | Opinion

A federal district court Tuesday permanently blocked Florida from enforcing a law that banned medical care for transgender adolescents and restricted it for transgender adults.

Floridas law is similar to Idahos law, which Republican state legislators passed in 2023 to ban gender-affirming care, such as puberty blockers and hormone treatments.

The ACLU of Idaho is suing the state on behalf of two plaintiffs, and the case is pending.

The ruling in Florida could be a good sign for opponents of Idahos ban.

Its a tremendous victory for transgender people in Florida and across the country, Chris Stoll, senior staff attorney for the National Center for Lesbian Rights, which brought the suit in Florida, told the Idaho Statesman in a phone interview. Its a very clear statement that these laws have absolutely no basis in medical science and really are being enacted for political purposes, unrelated to the provision of quality health care to young people.

The Florida court ruling hinges on the U.S. Constitutions guarantee of equal protection under the law, finding that Floridas law was motivated by disapproval of transgender people, and violated the equal protection rights of transgender individuals and of transgender minors parents.

That was the same conclusion that U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill came to in December when he temporarily blocked Idahos law from going into effect.

Time and again, these cases illustrate that the 14th Amendments primary role is to protect disfavored minorities and preserve our fundamental rights from legislative overreach, Winmill wrote at the time. That was true for newly freed slaves following the Civil War. It was true in the 20th century for women, people of color, interracial couples and individuals seeking access to contraception. And it is no less true for transgender children and their parents in the 21st century.

Floridas district court echoed that point, noting that some transgender opponents invoke religion to support their position, just as some once invoked religion to support their racism or misogyny.

Transgender opponents are of course free to hold their beliefs, the court 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.

Unfortunately, in Idahos case, the conservative-dominated U.S. Supreme Court in April allowed Idahos ban to go into effect, leaving transgender teens seeking gender-affirming care in limbo while the case is pending.

I felt really kind of hopeless, Liliana Rauer, 17, told the Idaho Statesmans Ian Max Stevenson about learning of the Supreme Courts ruling.

Cases in other states, such as Montana, Tennessee, Kentucky, Arkansas and North Dakota, are making their way through their respective U.S. district courts. A federal judge in Arkansas struck down that states ban last year.

The Associated Press found that many of these bills are simple copy-and-paste legislation from national anti-transgender organizations.

Stoll suspects the Florida case will be appealed to the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals, and the case ultimately could wind up before the U.S. Supreme Court.

But in the meantime, this weeks ruling was a clear victory.

This is a clear message to states that simply passing laws to express disapproval of transgender people is something thats going to be reviewed and looked at closely by the courts and will not be allowed to stand, Stoll said. Its not a legitimate act by the government to pass a law like this simply because of disapproval of transgender people.

Unfortunately, it looks as if Idaho is once again spending taxpayer dollars trying to defend a Republican-passed law that ultimately will be found unconstitutional. Although given the political nature of todays Supreme Court, maybe not.
(Aristide Economopoulos/for NJ Monitor)

This article was first published by CalMatters.

You can talk about guns at California state fairgrounds. You can advertise guns there, too. You can even, in the words of a gun rights group, host a celebration of Americas gun culture.

What you cannot do, according to a ruling today by a three-judge panel on the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, is buy or sell a firearm on property owned by the state.

The ruling upholds Californias ban on gun sales on state property, dismissing a challenge from gun show operator Crossroads of the West. The judges distinguished between the free speech rights of gun enthusiasts on public property and the sales that often take place at gun shows.

California gun laws prohibit accepting an offer to sell firearms or ammunition on state property, the panel ruled.

Crossroads of the West first sued in 2018 when one of Californias agricultural district associations barred gun shows at Del Mar Fairgrounds in San Diego County. In 2021, a new state law also barred gun sales at the state fairgrounds in Orange County, which inspired another Crossroads lawsuit.

The cases were consolidated, and as they wound their way through the courts, California passed a 2022 law barring all gun sales on state property.

In the meantime, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled on a major gun case, New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen, which tossed out New York state regulations on who can carry a gun in public and threw Californias restrictive gun laws into chaos. Gov. Gavin Newsom has since proposed a federal constitutional amendment restricting gun ownership.

The new ruling ends an injunction from a lower court that blocked the restriction on gun sales at fairgrounds.

The restoration of my ban on gun shows on state properties  including most of the county fairgrounds sites that are owned by the state  will make us all safer, said state Sen. Dave Min, an Irvine Democrat who advocates for limits on gun sales.

The California Rifle and Pistol Association, a Second Amendment advocacy group, called the ruling extremely disappointing and signaled that it would appeal.

The three-judge panel clearly did not understand the connection between First Amendment and Second Amendment rights, the organization wrote in a statement. CRPA will continue to protect the despised gun culture and fight back against an overreaching government that seeks to limit disfavored fundamental rights and discriminate against certain groups of people on state property.

Crossroads of the West argued in court that restrictions on gun sales at state fairgrounds violated its First and Second Amendment rights and that forbidding those sales would effectively kill gun shows at state fairgrounds. The appeals court panel ruled that thats not a First Amendment issue.

The organization may choose not to provide a forum for pro-gun speech if it decides gun shows are not profitable without firearm sales, but doing so would be its own decision, not the inevitable effect of the laws, the judges ruled.

Crossroads of the West said some California legislators described the legislation as a ban on gun shows, but that alone doesnt prove that the laws themselves were passed to suppress speech.

It is virtually inevitable that elected officials will have underlying ideological views on political issues, the judges ruled. But even if California legislators hold personal animus against pro-gun speech, the statutes they enact only implicate the First Amendment if that animus manifests as legislation with the direct or inevitable impact of restricting speech.

To the question of whether the laws violate the Second Amendment, Crossroads of the West argued that forbidding gun sales at one location impedes peoples constitutional right to acquire firearms  something the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has held is part of the Second Amendments right to bear arms.

The three-judge panel disagreed, ruling that forbidding gun sales on state property doesnt prevent people from access to firearms or ammunition.

There are six licensed firearm dealers in the same zip code as the Orange County Fairgrounds, according to the ruling. Merely eliminating one environment where individuals may purchase guns does not constitute a meaningful constraint on Second Amendment rights when they can acquire the same firearms down the street.

The post Federal court upholds Californias ban on gun sales on state property appeared first on Washington State Standard.
TALLAHASSEE  A federal judge has blocked a 2023 Florida law that required municipal elected officials to disclose detailed information about their personal finances, ruling that the law likely violated First Amendment rights.

U.S. District Judge Melissa Damian on Monday issued a preliminary injunction, siding with municipal officials throughout the state who challenged the law. The decision came three weeks before a July 1 deadline for filing the information.

The requirements caused an uproar among local governments, with more than 125 municipal elected officials resigning in the months after Gov. Ron DeSantis signed the measure in May 2023, according to Damians ruling. The law took effect Jan. 1, though the deadline for filing financial-disclosure reports is July 1.

In Palm Beach County, 27 elected officials have resigned because of the new law, including the majority of two local government councils  North Palm Beach and Lake Clarke Shores.

Damian, who is based in Fort Lauderdale, wrote that the Legislature did not adequately justify a need for the law after decades of the state requiring less-detailed financial disclosures by municipal officials. She wrote that a law compelling speech, as with a statute forbidding speech, falls within the purview of the First Amendment.

After a thorough and careful consideration of the record, this court concludes that defendants have failed to establish that the state seriously undertook the consideration of less intrusive means to address the identified interests, Damian wrote.

The law (SB 774) required mayors and other elected municipal officials, such as members of city councils, to file annual reports detailing issues such as their net worth, incomes and assets. Other elected officials, such as the governor and state legislators, have long faced such requirements.

Jamie A. Cole, the lead attorney for the plaintiffs and a partner at the firm Weiss Serota Helfman Cole + Bierman, issued a statement Tuesday praising the preliminary injunction.

In the past, municipal officials were required to file what is known as a Form 1, which provided less-detailed financial information. The new law required them to file this, a more-detailed Form 6, the type of disclosure filed by state elected officials.

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, Cole said in the statement. This legislative overreach has already resulted in the mass resignation of about 125 municipal elected officials and, if allowed, would discourage many others from serving their communities.

In the past, municipal officials were required to file what is known as a Form 1, which provided less-detailed financial information. The law required them to file a more-detailed Form 6, the type of disclosure filed by state elected officials.

Supporters of the law said, in part, that disclosure of detailed information can help show officials potential conflicts of interest while conducting government business. The Legislature this year rejected a proposal that would have pushed back the effective date of the requirement for municipal officials to 2025 and exempted officials in communities with 500 people or fewer.

The new law led to 27 elected officials to resign in Palm Beach County, including the majority of two local government councils  North Palm Beach and Lake Clarke Shores.

Rep. Spencer Roach, a North Fort Myers Beach Republican who led the effort to prevent changes in the law, said during a March debate that it is an issue for me of transparency.

In February, local officials filed the federal lawsuit and a separate challenge to the law in Leon County circuit court. The Leon County case is pending.

Damians decision Monday delved into legislative staff analyses and debates before the law passed. She wrote that both sides agree that SB 774s goals of deterring corruption, increasing transparency and public trust in government, and avoiding conflicts of interest all constitute compelling state interests.

But Damian, who was nominated to the federal bench by President Joe Biden, said the state did not show a need for the change.

Defendants have not demonstrated the need for SB 774s heightened disclosure requirements for municipal elected officials and candidates by showing, for example, that the disclosure requirements previously in place (Form 1) were not adequate, she wrote. This conclusion is borne out by the absence of any evidence, data, or studies in the legislative record indicating that Form 1s disclosure requirements were inadequate to address the compelling interests at stake here (deterring corruption and conflicts of interest, bolstering public confidence in state government, and educating the public).

It was devastating for us. Form 6 will destroy local government, Valentin Rodriguez, an attorney who resigned from the Lake Clarke Shores council, told The Palm Beach Post in December.

Its hard to believe that you do public service and then youre expected to reveal this stuff and maybe lose clients because the client doesn't want you to reveal who they are.

This story was provided by The News Service of Florida.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Form 6: Federal judge blocks Florida financial disclosure law
June 11 (UPI) -- Florida's ban on gender-affirming care for adults is discriminatory and has no legitimate state interest, a federal judge ruled Tuesday.

U.S. District Court for Northern Florida Judge Robert Hinkle ruled a 2023 Florida law is unconstitutional and violates the equal protection rights of transgender people.

"Florida can regulate as needed but cannot flatly deny transgender individuals safe and effective medical treatment," Hinkle said in his decision.

Hinkle said the state allows the use of similar "treatment with medications routinely provided to others with the state's full approval so long as the purpose is not to support the patient's transgender identity."

Florida's Republican leaders intend to appeal the ruling.

"We disagree with the court's erroneous rulings on the law, on the facts and on the science, said Jeremy Redfern, spokesman for Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, said in a prepared statement.

Hinkle said the law and relevant rules for respective boards of medicine are based on opposition to transgender people.

Parents of transgender children and others in May 2023 filed a lawsuit in federal court seeking to overturn the law.

Hinkle said many American medical institutions and medical professionals accept the standards of care for transgender people and those diagnosed with gender dysphoria.

"I'm so relieved the court saw there is no medical basis for this law," Lucien Hamel, a transgender man who testified before the court, told Axios.

The law "was passed just to target transgender people like me and try to push us out of Florida," Hamel said.
U.S. House candidate Julie Fedorchak speaks to delegates during the 2024 NDGOP convention in Fargo on April 6, 2024. (Michael Achterling/North Dakota Monitor)

North Dakota Public Service Commissioner Julie Fedorchak won the Republican primary Tuesday night, defeating four challengers to compete for the states at-large congressional seat.

Fedorchak received 46% of the vote in early results, with The Associated Press declaring her the winner at 9:19 p.m.

Former Bismarck lawmaker Rick Becker received 29%, former Miss America Cara Mund had 20%, NDGOP convention-endorsed candidate Alex Balazs had 4% and Williston woman Sharlet Mohr had 1% with 332 out of 385 precincts reporting.

More election news

For more coverage of the June 11 primary, visit our North Dakota Election 2024 page.

Sean Cleary, Fedorchaks campaign manager, said Fedorchak was happy to be able to spend the night with her supporters and that she was feeling great.

Im really proud of her and the race we ran, and its been a really special night to spend it with supporters who devoted a lot to helping us be successful in the last couple months, Cleary said.

He said the campaign plans to continue their conservative messaging into the November race.

Fedorchak has served on the Public Service Commission since 2013 and is president of the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners. She stood for reelection three times as a Republican member of the commission and garnered more than 66% of the statewide vote in those elections.

Fedorchak received the endorsement of former President Donald Trump over the Freedom Caucus hopeful Becker during the final days of the campaign. She also received endorsements from multiple state office holders and members of the North Dakota Legislature.

Earlier in the day, Fedorchak alleged election interference during a news conference after multiple text messages surfaced saying she had dropped out of the race.

The campaign alleges the text messages were sent to thousands of North Dakotans and is in the process of filing a complaint with the Federal Election Commission, requesting an investigation into the incident.

In an interview with the North Dakota Monitor, Becker denied the text messages were from him, or his campaign. In a statement, the Becker campaign condemned any effort to try and mislead or misinform the voters.

After The Associated Press called the race for Fedorchak, Becker said he wanted to wait for more votes to come in before calling his opponent and making a concession speech.

It looks like the handwriting is on the wall, but we wanted to let a few more precincts come in, he said.

Republican moderate candidate Cara Mund said she was grateful to receive 20% of the vote, but she still has concerns that Fedorchak will do whatever former President Donald Trump says.

I do have concerns, too, during the last debate when she said there are post-birth abortions and just the misinformation on womens reproductive health care is really concerning, Mund said.

She also thanked her supporters and said she would not rule out another run at elected office in the future.

Becker said he plans to support Fedorchak in her November general election campaign against Democratic-NPL candidate Trygve Hammer.

Hammer easily defeated his primary challenger Roland Riemers with 75% of the vote, which sets up a showdown with Fedorchak in the November for the two-year term in the U.S. House.

Republican U.S. Sen. Kevin Cramer and his Dem-NPL challenger Katrina Christiansen both ran unopposed in the statewide primary and will face off during the Nov. 5 general election.

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The post Fedorchak wins by double digits in 5-way Republican House primary appeared first on North Dakota Monitor.
North Dakota state official Julie Fedorchak has won the Republican nomination to represent the state in the House in its at-large seat, according to a projection from Decision Desk HQ.

Fedorchak, a member of the North Dakota Public Service Commission, defeated a group of several candidates for the seat, including former state Rep. Rick Becker and Cara Mund, an attorney and former Miss America who ran as an independent for the seat in 2022.

Rep. Kelly Armstrong, who defeated Mund two years ago in his reelection bid, chose not to seek a fourth term in the House to run for governor to succeed outgoing Gov. Doug Burgum (R).

Fedorchak had the endorsement of former President Trump, Burgum, North Dakota Sen. John Hoeven (R) and numerous other state officials.

She will be the favorite to win the seat in the strongly Republican state.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
This months European Parliamentary elections shaped a new period of intense debate on the current state of European integration. Among several key issues, few are considered as important among European policy makers as the question of European Union (EU) enlargement. Amidst rising global instability, characterized by the increasing willingness of states to resort to the use of force, discussions on European security are likely to overshadow most other policy areas. Although this issue has not generated unanimity, the majority of EU officials argue in support of enlargement and view as essential the further diffusion of a European project that has become increasingly vulnerable to far-right nationalism domestically and the threat of military aggression externally. The first factor is reinforced by the results of these elections. Even though the centre appears to have held ground, the ability of far-right parties to maintain and even, in some cases, strengthen their presence remains undeniable. President Macrons abrupt decision to call a snap election highlights that European leaders are aware of this, with some, like the French leader, willing to take the challenge to the polls almost immediately.

However, the process of enlargement, on a technical level, is continuing to experience various obstacles which, depending on the country in question, manifest themselves in different ways. One would assume that given its status as the largest free trading bloc in the world and a successful model of regional cooperation, candidate states and their governments would do their utmost to secure membership and deepen engagement. However, in an era of international affairs where actions are taken predominantly on the basis of geopolitical calculations and the fight for regional influence, there are significantly more factors at play than just collective will. It is therefore essential to carry out an analysis on the state of the EUs enlargement ambition, focusing on this occasion on Georgias candidacy and what it might reveal for the broader enlargement dynamic. Crucially, is the rather static nature of this process an indication that, due to the superiority of geopolitical processes at play, further EU enlargement remains distant from reality?

Enlargement: The Georgian case

The EU currently has ongoing accession procedures with nine states, each considered to be at different stages of the integration process. This includes Georgia, currently experiencing an intense domestic dispute on the nature of the countrys foreign policy trajectory. The Georgian case is unique in that the vast majority of the countrys population, both in a widespread and consistent manner, has indicated that it views its future as part of the European project. Taking into consideration its immediate neighbours, Azerbaijan and Armenia, this is certainly a more categorical position that pushes for the country to side with a major power or alliance, in this case the EU. As argued by regional experts, Azerbaijan, for example, is guided by a balanced foreign policy approach that is best characterized by its chairmanship of the Non-Aligned Movement. The country has firmly positioned itself at the heart of international cooperation and is displaying an increasingly multi-faceted foreign policy, with balanced integration as a way of taking advantage of its unique strategic position. Armenian internal dynamics, on the other hand, are not as clear cut as in Georgia. Despite heavily relying on Russia since its independence following the collapse of the Soviet Union, Armenian leadership appears to have shifted away from cooperation within Russian-centred institutions such as the CSTO, which it considers to have failed in protecting its interests. Nevertheless, attitudes in favour of integration with the West are not currently at the levels witnessed in Georgian society. More than 80% of the Georgian population is said to be pro-European, preferring a future that is shaped by profound integration into a European framework. This, to a certain extent, differentiates Georgia from other accession candidates, with the younger population as the most passionate advocates of EU membership. However, recent actions of the Georgian government (composed predominantly of the Georgian Dream), do not indicate a pro-European preference for the future. As mentioned, the highly complex nature of accession requires a comprehensive compliance with EU norms at all levels of society. In the case of the ruling Georgian Dream party, however, critics point specifically to a degree of reconciliation with Russia on a governmental level. Even though the countries continue to have no official diplomatic relations, given the situation in Abkhazia and South Ossetia, minor steps such as the resumption of flights and other diplomatic gestures have been taken, indicating a reluctance on the Georgian side to further deepen an already severe fracture.

Recent events and their impact on the EU-Georgia relationship

The recently introduced foreign agents bill by the government demonstrates that Georgias path to a European future will involve serious complications. The bill has been categorized as being Russian in style and a clear message that the government is not willing to prioritise or facilitate an accession process that had been making considerable progress. The bill (now law) requires civil society groups based in the country to register themselves as foreign agents should more than 20% of their funding be received from abroad. This extends to private individuals, with law recently modified to include requirements for individuals to comply with government authorities upon the request of information on the source of funding. Logically, this bill has been severely criticised by European policymakers, who have labelled its potential ratification by the Georgian parliament as a fatal step for the countrys prospects of EU membership. On May 28th, the Parliaments decision to overrule the veto of the Georgian President became official. This was met with fierce criticism, labelling the development as being highly incompatible with core EU values and principles any candidate state should aspire to achieve. Moreover, for the first time during this crisis, the EU publicly stated that it is open to undertaking some form of action against the government for introducing the bill. A European Commission press release suggests that as part of a broader institutional response, member states are actively considering all options. This is a clear and significant indication by Brussels that domestic laws considered to be non-aligning with European expectations will not be ignored and are likely to significantly complicate the integration process.

The EU has, in fact, invested considerable time and effort into institutionalizing Georgias potential accession to the Union. The country first applied for EU membership in March 2022 and was granted candidate status in December 2023. At the core of this rapidly evolving process was a list of twelves priorities that, according to the European Council, Georgia needed to prioritise if it was to reach the status of a candidate that is fully aligned and compliant with key European values. This includes Priority 10, which calls for a civil society that is free to influence decision-making at all levels. The European Commissions 2023 Georgia Report is clear in its rejection of any type of direct influence on civil society. This had been in response to the Georgian Parliament adopting a similar draft law on civil society restrictions, eventually overturned by protests. This explains why the EUs response to the bills recent re-introduction was carried out in equally unreserved fashion. Essentially, the prospect of further integration has been hanging in the balance for some time now. Ever since the governments refusal to publicly condemn Russias invasion of Ukraine began, policymakers in Brussels have expressed the awkwardness of working together with a government that is unwilling to support a potentially pivotal effort by the EU to uphold Ukrainian sovereignty. There is, however, an inherent contradiction here given the EUs own struggles to reach a consensus on supporting Ukraine, with member states like Hungary actively refusing to contribute with military assistance. This is a factor that will be considered further below.

Supporters of the law among the countrys leadership argue that the bill would help protect the nations sovereignty by minimising external interference via its civil society. There is a concern that appetite for European integration amongst the Georgian population might be used by Brussels and other Western governments for political purposes, seeking to accelerate the Unions expansion into regions that are not traditionally considered to be under its immediate sphere of influence. This would be a continuation of what is believed to be a policy of double standards, attempting to enforce a certain mode of conduct on candidate states without first enforcing the same level of expectation on states that are already members. Hence, the Georgian Dream argues that similarly controversial measures are adopted by European countries, with there being an evident lack of consensus on several social issues among the member states themselves. According to this line of thinking, it is unfair to single out Georgia for an approach that is already existent within the Union itself. Essentially, as long the inability of Brussels to effectively mediate between the increasingly conflicting positions of its member states continues, the EU is not in a position to interfere and impose expectations on the domestic affairs of its membership candidates. Crucially, the government views that by pursuing its own independent approach to its domestic affairs, without relying on pre-defined external models, it secures a degree of political independence for the country in what is an increasingly unstable international and crucially for Georgia, regional environment. This would grant Georgia significant room for manoeuvre, allowing it to shape its own future according to geopolitical realities in its own region and without external influence. One could argue, by relying on international relations theory, that this is a more realist approach in that Georgia prioritises its immediate security by maintaining some sort of balance in its relationship with Russia. There exists a feeling that a path of full-scale European integration would not serve as a guarantee for the countrys security. Moreover, there appears to be a consensus that the further rupturing of relations with Russia by supporting Ukraine and joining a key Western institution would compromise its immediate security. This is reinforced by the view that the major effort of both the EU and US in supporting Ukraine and the potential toll of this support on their respective domestic economic performance could limit the protection provided to Georgia in case of further Russian military aggression. In Russia, Georgia has and is surrounded by a powerful neighbour that has made its intention to revert to the use of military force clear. Following the annexation of Crimea in 2014, Russia resumed its operation with a full-scale war in February 2022. With Georgian territory already under Russian occupation, a radical and officialised approximation with the EU risks further compromising the countrys security and therefore, the survival of its ruling elite.

Broader implications for the South Caucasus

This particular case is likely to continue developing, with the EU seemingly determined to influence the overruling of the law in one way or another. However, this is a highly useful example for assessing current dynamics in the South Caucasus and the geopolitical tug of war that has recently characterized the approach of great powers to the region. Russias invasion of Ukraine and the subsequent sanctions programme that followed isolated, or at least attempted to isolate, the country from the Western world. Apart from inflicting damage on the Kremlins war effort, this approach also sought to finalize the recapturing of what is considered as Russias traditional sphere of influence by the West. Following Azerbaijans restoration of its territorial integrity and Armenias apparent decisiveness to move away from the Russian domain, Georgias immediate future, however, remained an unresolved matter due to the uncomfortable dichotomy of a largely pro-European population and a government that resists the urge to side with Europe and prefers to maintain some degree of diplomatic contact with Russia. Therefore, in Brussels, there is a shared assumption that with initiatives such as the foreign agents bill, the Georgian government is deliberately positioning itself closer to the Kremlin. Crucially, given upcoming Georgian parliamentary elections, the bill would facilitate the partys re-election and prevent pro-European parties from gaining a real foothold in the domestic political process. It is evident that a Georgian Dream victory would reinforce Russias position as it would further reduce the momentum of EU enlargement and would allow Russia to maintain some degree of authority over a region that is has gradually lost a grip of. With an Azerbaijan that is rapidly broadening its foreign policy portfolio and an Armenia that seems determined to become more Western, Russia sees a clear opportunity in Georgia that would allow it to maintain some degree of influence in the South Caucasus.

For the EU, this case serves as an opportunity to reassess the extent to which its normative power remains a powerful foreign policy tool in its neighbouring regions. Even though the majority of Georgians appear determined to fight for a European future, the countrys accession is complicated by a government that is not willing to proceed with full-scale integration at the cost of further upsetting Russia and potentially jeopardizing its national security. Given that the underlying objective of EU enlargement into the South Caucasus was to push back Russian influence and export EU values, this example should act as a reminder that Russian influence in the region remains a factor to be considered. Moreover, in addition to candidate states meeting conditions outlined by the EU, there are significant geopolitical factors at play that governments of the countries in the region now appear to prioritise. The fact that Georgia was granted official candidate status was a consequence of it cooperating with the EU on various areas of reform, culminating with the European Commissions approval of progress made on the 12 priorities. Nevertheless, it is unclear the extent to which the momentum that was initially created for the securement of candidate status will be carried on to achieving full accession. Even though the government does not publicly express a preference for either path, it is clear that the level of cooperation required by EU officials will not be encountered in Georgia as long as the current government remains in place. This should force EU leaders to assess the extent to which their current rhetoric on EU enlargement, which is one of fierce optimism, remains appropriate, especially given the evident challenges the process is likely to continue experiencing down the line.

Elsewhere in the region, Azerbaijan, fresh from finalizing the restoration of its territorial integrity following the withdrawal of the final Russian peacekeepers from Karabakh, has reinforced its position as an independent state that is powerful enough to determine its own foreign policy direction. Even though Azerbaijan and the EU are engaged in mutually beneficial cooperation in the oil and gas industries, the country has not shied away from expressing its discontent with Europes approach to its internal issues and particularly the attitude of the EUs foreign policy chiefs. The country, for several decades, felt that it was abandoned in the fight against illegal occupation. This feeling guided the shaping of its renewed foreign policy strategy, focusing on strengthening relationships with its traditional allies, like Turkey, whilst pursuing an independent strategy of comprehensive economic and military development. Azerbaijan has made it clear that future membership of international institutions like the EU or NATO is not on its radar, underlining the preference to build up the countrys capability as an independent actor that is in a position to choose its own future. Even though the Georgian Dream has never publicly said it is against EU membership, its actions suggest it is preparing Georgia for a future that is outside the European Union and one that is marked by both regional and external geopolitical challenges the country must be adequately prepared for.

Georgias complex domestic political situation further exacerbates the situation. In fact, the Georgian President vetoed the passage of the foreign agents bill and has been consistent in condemning the law by making pledges to European authorities. The Georgian Parliament, primarily because of the ruling partys dominant position, managed to overrule the vote and the bill can now be categorized as official law. However, the President is showing no signs of slowing down her efforts at re-establishing momentum for European integration. Recently, President Salome Zurabishvili, during a speech at Independence Day, called for political parties to sign the Georgian Charter. The document essentially outlines a path for the country to return to integration with Europe, calling for the removal of any legal or judicial obstacles to this process. Crucially, the Charter seeks to restore compliance with the 9 factors outlined by the European Commission which would eventually allow Georgia to accede to the EU. The President introduced the Charter to the European Commission, with her pledge being met by local opposition parties that joined forces and signed the document.

For this reason, the October elections in Georgia are likely to serve as a crucial turning point. The current government shows no sign of stepping away from its revised foreign policy approach, maintaining a balance between cooperating with the EU and protecting itself from the threats that come with pursuing an openly anti-Russian policy. It would be logical to closely observe whether the EU decides to push for a further deepening of institutional ties with Armenia whilst its struggles to push forward its Georgian agenda. The Armenian government has repeatedly expressed its discontent with the CSTO, an alliance it considers as one that failed in meeting its underlying obligations of preserving collective security. It is no coincidence that European countries like France are stepping up their support to Armenia, especially through the provision of military alliance. Moreover, a European Union Border Mission (EUMA) was deployed in Armenia in February 2023. Although such efforts are de-stabilizing and could potentially be detrimental to peace in the region, it confirms the EUs desire to persist with its aim of being an influential actor in the South Caucasus. The principal state through which this objective is implemented, however, could soon change.

Conclusion: Is Georgias membership candidacy still a potent one?

In short, EU enlargement remains a highly debated and popular topic in Europe. EU enthusiasts are adamant that it is via enlargement that European security can be maximized, and prosperity can be brought to neighbouring regions. However, this appetite for European integration, despite enjoying from different levels of public support in different countries, is likely to prove insufficient for any serious materialization. Russias war in Ukraine initially seemed to weaken the countrys influence in the region, with many analysts predicting a complete collapse of its presence and authority in the region. Nevertheless, as Ukraine struggles to contain recent Russian offensives and the West continues its indecisiveness on the extent of its support to the Ukrainian armed forces, other actors in the region appear to have entered a period of profound reflection. Paradoxically, with a powerful neighbour on their borders and also an increasingly assertive China on the horizon, it will be leading applicants like Georgia that will likely end up freezing what seemed an inevitable diffusion of the European project.

Huseyn Sultanli

Analyst - Geopolitical Risk, European Cooperation, Azerbaijani foreign policy

MSc International Relations, LSE

London, United Kingdom
BATTLE CREEK, Mich. (WOOD)  A Battle Creek man who had more than 4 kilograms of meth will spend years in prison, the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Western District of Michigan says.

Travon Deshaun-Roderick Mansker, 26, was sentenced to 10 years in prison, according to a Wednesday release from the attorneys office.

He pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, according to court documents. As part of the plea agreement, other charges were dismissed, the documents show.

Court docs: Drug, gun suspect kept rifle in bassinet

We choose our cases carefully, focusing the longer sentences we often secure on those who pose the greatest threat, said U.S. Attorney Mark Totten in a statement. Travon Mansker is one of those people. He was a large-scale pill dealer selling methamphetamine masked as Adderall. And he was trafficking illegal firearms calibrated to cause maximum harm.

When investigators searched his Battle Creek home in April 2023, they found more than 4 kilograms of orange powder meth, drug paraphernalia, 14 guns  including two that had been modified into machine guns and five ghost guns, which are designed so that police cannot trace them  and hundreds of rounds of ammunition, the release says. Investigators found the guns throughout his home, including one rifle in a babys bassinet, according to court documents.

Mansker was arrested in May 2023.

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East St. Louis could face a federal takeover of its troubled public housing authority, funding cuts or other penalties, if city officials dont adopt proper policies and procedures for appointing authority board members, according to a top U.S. housing official.

The warning was part of an April 29 letter from William O. Dawson III, director of the Chicago regional office of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, to East St. Louis Mayor Charles Powell III and the city council.

Dawson sent the letter, obtained by the BND, after HUD officials discovered in a review of the local housing authority that two of its board members did not live in the city, a violation of state law and HUD rules, the letter states. One of the members has since resigned, and the city council has replaced her. The status of the other is not clear.

Our Agency believes that until such time that the City establishes and implements adequate policies and procedures for its Board appointments, that the federal investment in the HAESL (Housing Authority of East St. Louis), and by extension the City and its most vulnerable citizens, is at considerable risk for fraud, waste, and abuse, the letter states.  And that, in the absence of any action to remedy this by the City, HUD will consider imposing grant conditions/restrictions on the HAESLs grants, consider sanctions, and/or consider the potential for declaring the HAESL in default of the Annual Contributions Contract, if again, these conditions are not Remedied.

HUD officials declined to be interviewed or to comment on the situation.

East St. Louis Mayor Charles Powell III did not return phone calls seeking comment.

City Manager Robert Betts said City Attorney John Baricevic will respond to the letter.

Baricevic said attorney-client privilege prevents him from revealing whether he had reviewed Dawsons letter and whether he would respond on behalf of the city.

He did say it is his understanding that the city was appointing new people to the board.

Dawsons letter is the latest point of contention between HUD and local officials during a year of controversy and upheaval in the troubled Housing Authority of East St. Louis.

The authority has had at least five major leadership changes since mid-2023. An authority director, an acting director and an interim director, plus a former Board of Commissioners chair and her replacement, have left their posts for various reasons.

At one point, Betts applied for the executive directors post, but eventually withdrew his application after Dawson raised multiple questions about his candidacy and the entire hiring process. The position remains open.

Most recently, HUD challenged the city councils April 4 reappointment of Naomi Purchase Gilbert and the appointment of Natasha Jefferies to the housing authority board.

Specifically, during our review of the governance of the Authority, including the Citys administration of the HAESLs Board of Commissioners appointments during our on-site Risk Review the week of April 15th, we learned that the City knowingly reappointed Mrs. Purchase Gilbert and appointed Ms. Natascha Jefferies in violation of Section 3 of the Illinois Housing Authorities Act, which states: Every commissioner shall be a resident of the area of operation of the Authority, Dawson wrote in his April 29 letter to city officials. Neither Ms. Purchase Gilbert, nor Ms. Jefferies are residents of the area of operation of the jurisdiction with the jurisdiction defined here as the City of East St. Louis.

Purchase Gilbert owns a home in Belleville while Jefferies owns a home in OFallon, according to HUD, citing research by its staff.

Dawsons letter said that Purchase Gilbert and Jefferies should resign or be removed and replaced on the board. HUD sent documents in support of their findings.

During the course of the BNDs reporting on this issue, a reporter asked Betts if he knew Purchase Gilbert and Jefferies did not live in East St. Louis.

We are looking into it, Betts said. It is under review.

Later, at a May 23 meeting, the city council appointed Pamela Sargent to replace Purchase Gilbert, who had resigned from the board, according to council records.

No action was taken on Jefferies at that meeting, according to the council agenda packet.

At the same meeting, city council voted to appoint Dinah Campbell to the board, replacing DeMarko M. Ward Sr., who also had resigned from the board.

Ward declined to comment when the BND asked about the resignation and other board matters.

In a resignation letter obtained by the BND, Ward said:

This decision is not one I want to make, but rather one I feel forced to take to avoid any potential backlash or retaliation for my continued presence on the board.It has come to my attention that there is displeasure with my stance regarding voting matters involving Commissioner Naomi Gilbert Purchase, the letter states.  I want to clarify that my intention was never to target Commissioner Purchase, but rather to ensure that issues regarding her residency are appropriately addressed before proceeding with voting matters as to not violate any bylaws, state, or federal laws. Unfortunately, it seems this has been misunderstood, and I regret any unintended implications.

No action was taken on Jefferies at the meeting.

Betts said Friday Jefferies declined the appointment to the board, and the city never formally appointed her. We brought her name forward, but never moved forward with the process, he told the BND. No action was ever taken with her.

Purchase Gilbert and Jefferies could not be reached for comment.

Asked whether he agreed with HUDs finding that the two individuals didnt live in East St. Louis, Betts said, Not necessarily.

People live in multiple places. You cant dictate where people stay and sleep at, he said. Thats all subjective. We dont sneak around to see where people sleep.

In his April 29 letter, Dawson told city officials they can turn to HUD for assistance as they work on fixing the appointment policy and procedures issues.

Note that HUD may provide technical assistance to the City in order to remedy any deficiency outlined in our letter, should the City request it, the letter states.

If HUD finds the East St. Louis housing authority to be in default of its annual contributions contract, it can take any number of actions, including assuming management of the local agency. The local agency receives millions of dollars annually in federal money to support nine public housing facilities it administers.
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission granted approval on Tuesday to Equitrans Midstream Corp. to start operations at its Mountain Valley Pipeline, the final hurdle for the controversial natural gas project that had draw sharp opposition from environmental activists.

The commissions director of the office of energy projects, Terry Turpin, delivered the green light to the company in a letter Tuesday, stating the pipeline is in compliance with all necessary safety and environmental regulations.

The approval marks the end of a lengthy regulatory and legal battle over the pipeline that dates back to its first FERC application in 2015. Final work on the pipeline that will ship natural gas from the Marcellus Shale in West Virginia into Virginia commenced after Sen. Joe Manchin (I- W.Va.) included its approval in the 2022 debt ceiling deal.

MVP has faced a patchwork of state and federal legal and regulatory challenges including a warning from the Department of Transportations Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration last year that the pipeline may pose safety and environmental risks to the local region.

The pipeline had been scheduled to start operations last month but it delayed the service date in order to run additional tests. The pipeline ruptured May 1, leading to concerns from local residents and environmental groups, who called for further review.

But in the Tuesday letter, FERC wrote the pipeline developer was in compliance with FERC environmental conditions based on recent status reports, FERC compliance monitoring and a staff inspection in mid-May. FERC has also been in communication with PHMSA, according to the letter.

Following those assessments and communications, the commission found Mountain Valley has adequately stabilized the areas disturbed by construction and that restoration and stabilization of the construction work area is proceeding satisfactorily.

FERC first approved the project in 2017, but the projects permit was booted back to FERC by by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit. The court questioned why the commission did not more thoroughly assess the projects environmental impact given unexpectedly severe erosion and sedimentation along the pipelines right-of-way.

But FERC approved all remaining construction for the pipeline last year, finding the debt ceiling deal released the commission from needing to respond to the courts order.

In an emailed statement, MVP spokesperson Natalie Cox said the company is "pleased with the agencies' decisions and the related communications regarding in-service authorization for the MVP project. Final preparations are underway to begin commercial operations."
He was a first-generation high school graduate. Now hes KYs Principal of the Year

Eric Hale, principal at Bryan Station High School, has been named the 2024 Kentucky Principal of the Year. The award is given by The Kentucky Association of School Administrators and recognizes those who have demonstrated exceptional leadership and commitment to educational excellence.

Hale has been the executive principal at Bryan Station High School since he started working there in 2020. He credits others for his success.

This Is a team award and not a solo recognition, Hale said. The positive impact that others have had on me is immeasurable, and I can never thank them enough.

Growing up, Hale experienced generational poverty and was raised by a single mother.

The principal of the year honor means a lot to him.

It means that a kid who was a first-generation high school graduate, who had a community of support from his educators, can pay It forward, Hale told the Lexington Herald-Leader in an interview.

Bryan Station under Hales leadership

Bryan Station, located in Lexington and a member of Fayette County Public Schools, serves over 2,000 diverse students including students from more than 40 countries, according to a press release.

Under his leadership, student academic performance and graduation rates have significantly improved, and postsecondary readiness has reached record highs, the press release stated. Bryan Station has also achieved top district scores in staff working conditions, reflecting a culture of mutual respect and teacher empowerment.

Principal of the Year praised by his peers

Hales peers praised his work as a principal and recognized his achievement.

Kentucky Association of School Administrators Chief Executive Officer Rhonda Caldwell said Hale is an outstanding leader and represents excellence in education. She stated in the press release that Hale is committed to creating an inclusive and high-performing environment within the school.

The National Association of Secondary School Principals Chief Executive Officer Ronn Nozoe stated in the release that Hale transformed what is possible for his students and staff during the most challenging time for American education.

Hale will represent Kentucky in 2025 for National Principal of the Year, a competition supported by the National Association of Secondary School Principals. Three finalists will be chosen from the state winners, and the national winner is determined from the three finalists.

I am looking forward to the continuation of the positive momentum we have built as a school community over the past couple of years to Increase our collective commitment to Improving outcomes for students, Hale said.
WASHINGTON (AP)  First lady Jill Biden is kicking off her husbands outreach to older voters, an effort that will blend rallies and phone banks with social events like bingo nights and pickleball games.

While President Joe Biden is in Italy attending the Group of Seven summit, the First Lady will travel to four swing states to launch the Seniors for Biden-Harris effort. Older adults are more likely than the average American to vote, and they make up larger shares of the population in some key swing states. Biden, who outperformed previous Democrats with the demographic in 2020, is looking to expand on the gains as his campaign seeks to maximize its chances of defeating former President Donald Trump, the Republican presumptive nominee.

First Lady visits Green Bay to talk education

Jill Bidens travels will take her to Green Bay, Wisconsin; Duluth, Minnesota; Reno, Nevada; and Phoenix, the campaign said. While her events will feel like traditional rallies, the campaign also plans to use pickleball events and bingo nights to motivate older voters and keep them activated to help the campaign heading into November.

Seniors are such a critical part of our coalition, and it is vitally important that we engage them this election cycle because they know President Biden is the only candidate in this race fighting for lower prescription drug and health care costs and to protect and safeguard Medicare and Social Security, Biden campaign manager Julia Chavez Rodriguez said. Dr. Biden is both a trusted voice for seniors speaking to the issues that matter most to them and a galvanizing force to activate our supporters ahead of the election.

Jill Biden had spent much of the last 10 days at a federal courthouse in Wilmington, Delaware, supporting her son Hunter Biden, who on Tuesday was convicted on federal firearms charges. The swing marks her return to the campaign trail after the trying experience for her family.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 12. Australia will provide an additional $6.6 million in humanitarian aid to residents of the Gaza Strip, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong said, Trend reports.

The minister noted that the funds will go to the World Food Program to deliver food aid to civilians suffering from hunger in the Gaza Strip.

According to her, to date Canberra has provided the population of the Palestinian enclave with food, water and basic necessities worth more than $47 million and is ready to provide additional support to the region.
Flagship Brig Niagara will sail again in Erie. But when?

The Flagship Niagara won't be sailing or inviting guests aboard until at least the latter part of the 2025 sailing season as plans move ahead for the vessel to be sent out of town for repairs.

But the Niagara  which has been under new management since Jan. 1  will remain an Erie-based asset of the Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission and it will continue to sail and participate in Tall Ships events.

Those are assurances offered by PHMC, which sailed the reconstructed U.S. Brig Niagara from the time it was completed in 1992 until 2009 when the Erie-based Flagship Niagara League was contracted to sail and maintain the ship.

The U.S. Brig Niagara sits covered in her berth just north of the Erie Maritime Museum and Blasco Library in Erie.

That arrangement ended Jan. 1, when PHMC again took over those roles and invited the Flagship Niagara League to serve instead as a support or an affiliate organization for both the Niagara and the Erie Maritime Museum.

That transition did not proceed as planned.

In April, eight of the League's 13 board members resigned. Together, PHMC and the Flagship Niagara League concluded they would not move ahead with a partnership.

The Flagship League continues to offer daily sails on the Lettie G. Howard, a historic fishing schooner, launched in 1893, that has operated in Erie since 2018 under agreement with its owner, New York City's South Street Seaport Museum.

Questions still remain

It's the sailing future of the Niagara that has some concerned.

Despite assurances from PHMC, questions continue to swirl about the future of the Niagara, which is expected this summer to be moved to dry dock in Cleveland for repairs and to return to dock again next year for structural repairs.

Some of those questions have been raised by local supporters of the flagship, including the authors of an online petition and a blog called Protect Brig Niagara.

The group, whose members include former Flagship volunteers Ginny Sivak and Steven Perry, describes its mission as "to ensure that the Brig Niagara is in the hands of people who can maintain her and operate her safely, successfully, and transparently as an actively sailing vessel in her role as ambassador for the people and history of Pennsylvania."

Concerns about the two-masted warship, which Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry used as a relief flagship during the Battle of Lake Erie, were fueled earlier this year when the U.S. Coast Guard placed Niagara on inactive status.

PHMC said that's a normal procedure for a ship being readied for repairs.

But inactive status comes with limitations. Until it's returned to active status, the Niagara can't be used for normal sailing or to host tours. The Protect Brig Niagara website has questioned how the ship can be moved to port without a captain and crew and has suggested the process of hiring a crew has not even begun.

The blog's authors raised other questions, including concerns about PHMC's treatment of volunteers, readiness to operate the ship and the absence of a nonprofit organization to raise money on its behalf.

Saying no to the Navy's invite

The blog's authors also want to know why the Brig Niagara, which played a pivotal role in the Battle of Lake Erie and the War of 1812, won't be in Philadelphia next fall when the U.S. Navy marks its 250th anniversary.

One blog entry suggests that PHMC is bound by Title 37 of the PA Consolidated Statutes and that PHMC "may have a legal duty to take Niagara to the 250th anniversary celebration of the US Navy."

The Erie Maritime Museum addressed those and other issues in a series of questions and answers posted on its website.

PHMC confirmed that the ship would undergo extensive repairs over the next two years and would not be able to attend the celebration in Philadelphia.

According to the museum's post: "PHMC could not responsibly commit to participating in Homecoming 250 Navy-Marine Corps in 2025. Furthermore, factoring in the cost of approximately $1.5 million, or 6.7 percent of PHMCs total annual budget, for transporting Niagara to Philadelphia made participation even more unfeasible."

Commission member weighs in

Cal Pifer, who is executive director of the Hagen History Center and was appointed by Gov. Josh Shapiro in August to serve as a member of the Commission, said it's important to remember that PHMC has sailed the Niagara before.

Cal Pifer, executive director of the Hagen History Center, also serves on the Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission.

"Erie should keep in mind that PHMC safely and effectively operated the ship from 1991 until 2010," said Pifer, who previously served as vice chairman of Tall Ships America.

The process of making repairs and returning the Niagara to service will take time, Pifer said. The process is expected to begin this summer when the ship is taken to Cleveland for propeller repairs. Later, he said, the ship will be evaluated to determine what structural repairs are needed and where best to have that work done.

PHMC is working to hire a captain and crew, according to the Erie Maritime Museum website.

"These hiring processes are progressing," PHMC reported. "Once positions have been filled, we will make a public announcement introducing our new team members."

The pace of the process has been called into question, Pifer said.

"I think there are some folks who are taking the delay of hiring a captain as a signal that PHMC is being (deceptive)." he said. "That is simply not the case. These things take time. They don't happen overnight. There is a process that has to play out."

The U.S. Brig Niagara, background, sits covered in her berth just north of the Erie Maritime Museum.

The timetable

No one expects the Niagara to resume deck tours or sail training in 2024. PHMC is hoping however, that the ship might be available for the Tall Ships Erie 2025 in the latter part of the summer.

While PHMC is committed to sailing for the nation's 250th anniversary in 2026, the organization says it's being careful what to promise when it comes to the 2025 sailing calendar.

'People are paying attention'

Pifer said he wants to shoot down what he called the most outlandish rumor, the unfounded idea that the Niagara will be moved to Philadelphia.

PHMC addressed those concerns in an emailed statement to the Erie Times-News.

According to that statement, "PHMC appreciates the significance of Erie and its maritime history in the Pennsylvania story and is enthusiastic about positioning the Erie Maritime Museum as a premier maritime history center. To realize this vision, PHMC is making a substantial investment in the Erie Maritime Museum Complex, including the U.S. Brig Niagara."

More: Lettie G. Howard's captain hopeful ship remains in Erie, Tall Ships gets more support

On balance, though, Pifer said he has no problem with all the questions that have been raised

"I see it as a positive," he said. "People are paying attention. That shows how beloved the ship is to the people of Erie. I am glad people are watching this like a hawk."

Billy Sabatini, previously the captain of the U.S. Brig Niagara, watches the Tall Ships Erie Parade of Sail in this 2016 file photo.

Billy Sabatini, the longtime executive director and fleet captain of the Flagship Niagara League, claims no special insights into either the current or future operations of the Niagara.

More: Out-of-town attendance soared during Tall Ships Erie 2022, but ticket sales declined

"I don't know what is going to happen next in terms of the Niagara," said Sabatini, who was named sail trainer of the year at the 2023 Tall Ships America conference. "I have had no part in it since Jan. 1."

But Sabatini, who is sailing the Lettie G. Howard, does know what he hopes.

"I want the Niagara to sail again," he said. "It's such an important part of who we are as a community. My hope is that PHMC gets the ship sailing as they have said they would. Just because I am not the captain doesn't mean I don't want it to sail."

'It's not going to be mothballed'

State Rep. Pat Harkins, of Erie, D-1st Dist., said that along with several of his fellow stage legislators, he's been in regular contact with PHMC and others concerning the future of the flagship.

"I's almost a daily thing for me," he said. "It's like a side job. We are trying to bring everyone together for the sake of the legacy of this ship."

Harkins said he's emerged from those conversations with a sense of confidence.

"It's not going to leave and go to Philadelphia and be stored there. It's not going to be mothballed," he said. "It's going to be back here and we are going to get a structured group of people who make sure it stays vital for years to come. It's our state flagship and we are not going to give it up."

Contact Jim Martin at jmartin@timesnews.com.

This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: The Flagship Niagara needs repairs, captain and crew
Beginning this week, youll be able to fly nonstop from MidAmerica St. Louis Airport in Mascoutah to McGhee Tyson Airport near Knoxville, Tennessee, and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

The Allegiant flights begin Thursday. Flights will be offered twice weekly, Sundays and Thursdays, the airport stated in a press release on Tuesday

We are continually working to increase the number of flights and destinations for our leisure travelers, and given that we are in the midst of our busiest travel season of the year, the timing of this service rollout couldnt be better, Darren James, director of MidAmerica St. Louis Airport, said in the press release. We are excited to offer this nonstop option to area travelers looking for a low-cost, convenient way to experience the city of Knoxville and Great Smoky Mountain National Park.

Allegiant already serves the following areas with flights out of MidAmerica: Ft. Lauderdale, Destin/Ft. Walton Beach, Jacksonville, Sanford/Orlando, Sarasota/Bradenton, Punta Gorda/Ft. Myers and St. Pete/Tampa in Florida, as well as Las Vegas, Myrtle Beach, S.C. and Savannah, Ga.
Flood of dark money? What the new campaign finance provision in NCs mask bill does

Dawn Blagrove, executive director of Emancipate NC, speaks 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.

Before Republican state lawmakers gave their approval Tuesday to a bill that restricts masks, they tacked on changes to how campaign money is regulated.

While the additions to the bill span less than two pages, the new provisions significantly modify current laws on political committees and corporate campaign contributions.

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.

What were really concerned about is out-of-state billionaires flooding money into our state, without any accountability, Democratic Sen. Mary Wills Bode told The News & Observer Thursday after the Senate vote.

Republican leaders have said the bill would level the playing field for the two political parties when it comes to the national groups that fund state candidates for governor and attorney general.

All this bill does is to treat the Republican groups and the Democratic groups exactly the same, House Speaker Tim Moore said.

Under current law, the way that Democrats fund these groups allows them to pump in unlimited sums of money and the Republican groups cannot bring in money to counteract that, he said.

Asked if the provisions were added to help Robinson, Moore said, the law will be settled and will be fair by this election.

We dug into the bill and found that it cuts state oversight of federal groups. And while it does not change a prohibition in North Carolina on corporations being able to donate to state parties or candidates, it opens the door for entities that can receive unlimited corporate funds to gain further influence in elections, advocates and experts who spoke with The N&O said.

It also changes the rules for people who can afford to make big donations.

What were talking about is individual mega-donors are giving to a special bank account held by some of these federal committees, which up to now have not been able to then just transfer those funds directly, to, lets say, the state-level committee coordinated by someone running for governor, for example, Ann Webb, policy director of Common Cause NC, told The N&O.

And so those limits under state law about how much those individual donations can be, had been kind of a safeguard against unlimited individual mega-donors pouring money into the state, she said. And this changes that. It really makes a big change.

The Senate passed the bill Thursday and the House passed it on Tuesday. The bill now moves to Democratic Gov. Roy Coopers desk, who could veto it. As the General Assembly has a Republican supermajority, a veto would likely be overturned.

We break down what the bill says, key definitions, and possible consequences of the legislation, according to experts.

First, some definitions

 Through its board of elections, the state regulates contributions and expenditures for elections for North Carolina offices. The Federal Election Commission regulates federal election funding.

 Political committees, or PACs, are a combination of two or more individuals who make contributions or expenditures.

 Affiliated party committees include committees established by the party caucuses in the legislature to support candidates, and those established by Council of State members to elect candidates into executive offices.

 Under state law, no individual or political committee can make a donation of more than $6,400 to a candidate or political committee, but affiliated party committees are not subject to that rule. They can accept unlimited contributions.

 Federal PACs, which are subject to federal disclosure and contribution limits, can make contributions in North Carolina elections. But theyre also largely subject to the states contribution limit and must report to the State Board of Elections.

 Most PACs, including affiliated party committees, cannot accept contributions from corporations or labor unions. But that doesnt apply to independent expenditure PACs, which only spend money and dont make contributions.

 Super PACs are the federal version of these independent expenditure PACs. They can raise unlimited funds from corporations and other entities. Theyre not subject to spending limits under federal law, but cant donate to political candidates.

 527 political organizations are dubbed this way as this is the federal tax code that governs them. These organizations can raise unlimited funds from individuals, corporations or labor unions.

What does the campaign finance part of the bill say?

The campaign finance part of the bill excludes federal PACs and 527s from the definition of a political committee under state law.

Thats important because the State Board of Elections said in May 2020 that the ban on state independent expenditure PACs making donations also applies to federal super PACs.

The bill sets up some new rules for donations from federal committees. It says:

No federal political committees or 527s may contribute to state candidates or political committees if they accept contributions from prohibited sources such as corporations, business entities, labor unions, professional associations or insurance companies.

Despite this prohibition, if these PACs or 527 organizations keep money not from prohibited sources in separate accounts, they can contribute to a political party or an affiliated party committee from these accounts.

Committees and organizations making contributions must comply with federal limits and reporting requirements. They must also file with the State Board of Elections copies of their federal filings.

Ok, so what does that mean? What are the implications?

A few things.

The bill doesnt change the prohibition on corporations being able to give to state parties or candidates. And federal political committee contributions would still be limited to $6,400 to most political committees for an election.

However, the bill allows federal PACs and 527s to use separate accounts, funded only through unlimited contributions by individuals, to donate to a political party or an affiliated party committee.

According to a State Board of Elections analysis, the bill also eliminates the limits on federal super PACs contributions that were set by the board in its May 2020 opinion.

In that advisory opinion to the Democratic Governors Association, the board 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.

But now federal super PACs will be subject to the new limits in the bill, if it becomes law.

Earmarks would remain prohibited, says the analysis. This means a contribution can not be made to a federal entity with the intent it go to a political party or its affiliate. This is a mechanism to hide funding origins.

This bill also helps federal entities shift their money around, said Bob Hall, a longtime elections watchdog.

Under the bill, a big entity  federal entity  that has corporate money and individual money can use the individual money to make donations, said Hall.

And of course, it has many uses for its money. In some states, they cant use corporate money (for donations) and so they can use corporate money to pay salaries  so if you get First Union (a corporation) to send $100,000 to a federal committee, then that frees up individual money, that then can be sent back to North Carolina, Hall said.

And while North Carolina political parties can already accept unlimited contributions and also give unlimited amounts of money to their candidates, this pass-through helps conceal donors names, Hall said.

You will have a hard time to see their name, under this new mechanism, he said.

Itll be a new arms race kind of thing and will be a vehicle for more money to come into state politics, and all players will use it, he said.

Webb said that some of what weve been hearing is that the federal committees coordinated by the Democrats and by the Republicans are structured slightly differently. And so in particular, this appears to benefit the structure thats currently held by the Republican Party at the federal level.

Still, this bill is likely to benefit both parties. Webb said.

It is a laundry scheme in a way, Hall said. It does allow large, particularly individual donations, millionaires, billionaires to send $600,000 to the Republican Governors Association, the Democratic Governors Association. Both groups are 527s.

The bill also cuts requirements for the federal committees to register with the State Board of Elections or comply with the boards reporting requirements.

Instead, theyd need to comply with federal reporting requirements. These federal committees would also no longer need to appoint an assistant treasurer who is a resident of North Carolina.

Its going to be easier for these federal fundraising committees to not register with the state and simply sort of mail their reports from the federal report into the state, Webb said. So that makes it harder for the state board  which has an electronic reporting system  and will lead to much longer delays in terms of understanding whats going on with those donations.

This story is one of a series of News & Observer reports called Power & Secrecy. It explores the rise of both in the N.C. General Assembly.

Capitol Bureau Chief Dawn Baumgartner Vaughan contributed.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is gearing up his fund-raising aimed at supporting favored candidates this fall and defeating ballot measures intended to preserve abortion access and legalize marijuana.

DeSantis recently opened a new Florida Freedom Fund political spending committee, chaired by James Uthmeier, the governors chief of staff who formerly served as the governors campaign manager during his unsuccessful run for president.

DeSantis federal political action committee, Never Back Down, spent more than $130 million on that White House run, which ended in January. Most of the cash came from money hed raised in Florida through his Friends of Ron DeSantis political committee, which later was renamed Empower Parents.

The transfer was targeted as a violation of federal campaign finance laws in a complaint filed with the Federal Election Commission by the Campaign Legal Center. The FEC has not yet acted on the charge.

Fund awaits donations, many from those tied to state

The Florida Freedom Fund, opened in May, will be the latest repository for DeSantis to collect unlimited donations from individuals and corporations, many with interests in state government.

As of May 31, it reported no contributions or spending.

As Gov. Ron DeSantis continues to lead our great state, the Florida Freedom Fund will be championing issues and candidates committed to preserving Floridians freedom, said Taryn Fenske, a DeSantis spokeswoman. From up and down ballot races to critical amendments, were steadfast in our mission to keep Florida free.

DeSantis has derided the Amendment 4 abortion measure and Amendment 3, which would make recreational marijuana legal in Florida. He called them very, very extreme.

The measures are set for the November ballot and need approval from at least 60% of voters to become part of the state's governing document.

Abortion measure would erase DeSantis' 6-week law

Amendment 4 would erase the restriction signed by DeSantis that prohibits most abortions after six weeks of pregnancy.

The ballot measure would allow abortions up to fetal viability, usually about 24 weeks of pregnancy, restoring a standard in place across the nation until the U.S. Supreme Courts 2022 Dobbs ruling that ended the constitutional right to abortion.

Amendment 4s Floridians Protecting Freedom committee raised $11.8 million from April 1 through May 31, leaving it with $7.4 million cash-on-hand, according to state campaign finance records.

Abortion, marijuana could drive turnout: Measures raise hope for Democrats in Trump's home state

Inside Florida Politics: Marco Rubios MAGA makeover

Amendment 3s Smart & Safe Florida committee reported raising $5.2 million in April and May, with most of the money coming from Trulieve, the Gadsden County-based firm that is one of the nations largest marijuana purveyors.

Trulieve is a major financier of the recreational marijuana effort, which has $13.6 million cash-on-hand, its report to the state shows.

DeSantis has promised to fight these measures. Hes also expected to get involved in school board races, like he did in 2022, when he endorsed 30 candidates, most of them winning.

Gov. Ron DeSantis and First Lady Casey DeSantis welcome the state's heroes to the Florida Governor's Mansion, April 26, 2024.

DeSantis' earlier spending still troubles

DeSantis also has pledged to help former President Trump with fundraising for his presidential campaign.

The governor came out and immediately endorsed Trump after ending his own White House campaign, a stumbling and costly effort in which he was regularly ripped by his leading rival.

DeSantis Never Back Down presidential spending committee still had just under $7 million in the bank, according to federal filings at the end of March. Its unclear whether the governor could attempt to regain these funds for state efforts.

Along with the complaint over the transfer of funds, the Campaign Legal Center also filed an FEC complaint last December accusing DeSantis of illegally coordinating his campaign with the Never Back Down super PAC. That complaint still is pending before the FEC.

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: DeSantis seeks money to fight abortion, marijuana on Florida ballot
Gov. Ron DeSantis ordered the U.S. and state flags at half-staff Wednesday to honor the victims of the 2016 Pulse Nightclub mass shooting in Orlando.

"Eight years ago, on June 12, 2016, a shooter claiming alliance to the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant committed a horrific act of terrorism against the LGBTQ and Hispanic communities at Pulse Nightclub in Orlando," a memo from the governor said.

"As a mark of respect for the victims, their families, and the many affected by this tragedy, I hereby direct the flags of the United States and the State of Florida to be flown at half-staff at all local and state buildings, installations, and grounds throughout the State of Florida from sunrise to sunset on Wednesday, June 12, 2024," DeSantis said.

Pulse shooting was deadliest at that time

The June 12, 2016 shooting at the LGBTQ+ nightclub on a "Latin Night" was, at the time, the deadliest in modern U.S. history. A lone gunman, who later was shot and killed by police after a three-hour standoff, left 49 people dead and 53 others wounded.

The site was intended to be the location of a memorial to the victims and a museum, and the onePULSE Foundation was created to honor and preserve the legacy of those killed and to create a sanctuary of hope, according to prior reporting by the USA TODAY Network-Florida.

Plans had been put on hold indefinitely until late last year, when "Orlando's mayor pledged to design, build and dedicate a permanent memorial ... by 2026," the 10th anniversary of the shooting, WESH has reported.

Who were the Pulse Nightclub shooting victims?

According to the City of Orlando's website, those killed were:

Stanley Almodovar III, 23 years old.

Amanda L. Alvear, 25.

Oscar A. Aracena Montero, 26.

Rodolfo Ayala Ayala, 33.

Antonio Davon Brown, 29.

Darryl Roman Burt II, 29.

Angel Candelario-Padro, 28.

Juan Chavez Martinez, 25.

Luis Daniel Conde, 39.

Cory James Connell, 21.

Tevin Eugene Crosby, 25.

Deonka Deidra Drayton, 32.

Simon Adrian Carrillo Fernandez, 31.

Leroy Valentin Fernandez, 25.

Mercedez Marisol Flores, 26.

Peter Ommy Gonzalez Cruz, 22.

Juan Ramon Guerrero, 22.

Paul Terrell Henry, 41.

Frank Hernandez, 27.

Miguel Angel Honorato, 30.

Javier Jorge Reyes, 40.

Jason Benjamin Josaphat, 19.

Eddie Jamoldroy Justice, 30.

Anthony Luis Laureano Disla, 25.

Christopher Andrew Leinonen, 32.

Alejandro Barrios Martinez, 21.

Brenda Marquez McCool, 49.

Gilberto R. Silva Menendez, 25.

Kimberly Jean Morris, 37.

Akyra Monet Murray, 18.

Luis Omar Ocasio Capo, 20.

Geraldo A. Ortiz Jimenez, 25.

Eric Ivan Ortiz-Rivera, 36.

Joel Rayon Paniagua, 32.

Jean Carlos Mendez Perez, 35.

Enrique L. Rios, Jr., 25.

Jean Carlos Nieves Rodriguez, 27.

Xavier Emmanuel Serrano-Rosado, 35.

Christopher Joseph Sanfeliz, 24.

Yilmary Rodriguez Solivan, 24.

Edward Sotomayor Jr., 34.

Shane Evan Tomlinson, 33.

Martin Benitez Torres, 33.

Jonathan A. Camuy Vega, 24.

Juan Pablo Rivera Velazquez, 37.

Luis Sergio Vielma, 22.

Franky Jimmy DeJesus Velazquez, 50.

Luis Daniel Wilson-Leon, 37.

Jerald Arthur Wright, 31.

The U.S. and Florida flags fly at half staff above the Florida Historic Capitol during a vigil and speakout event held at the Florida Historic Capitol to remember the lives of those lost at Pulse Nightclub four years ago Friday, June 12, 2020. Gov. Ron DeSantis ordered the flags fly at half-staff at all local and state buildings throughout Florida to honor the lives of the victims on Pulse Remembrance Day.

Is it half-mast or half-staff?

On ships and at naval stations ashore, flags are flown at half-mast.

On shore, flags are flown at half-staff.

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Flags at half staff to honor Pulse shooting victims eight years after
Use of force being investigated in arrest of fan who crashed Reds game, police say

Cincinnati police said theyve opened an investigation into the use of a Taser to arrest a fan who crashed the field during a Reds game Tuesday.

In a viral video, a police officer is shown chasing William Hendon after he ran onto the field at Great American Ball Park. Hendon performed a backflip before he was subdued by the officer, who shocked him with a Taser.

In a statement Wednesday, Cincinnati police Lt. John Cunningham said, "As with any instance of use of force, this incident will be investigated in accordance with CPDs policies and procedures."

Cunningham added that officers attempted to stop Hendon "to prevent further disruption to the game or safety risks to players and ballpark staff."

Hendon, 19, of Cleves, was charged with felony criminal trespass and obstructing official business, a misdemeanor. He appeared in court Wednesday, where the judge reduced the criminal trespassing count to a misdemeanor. He pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Police are investigating the arrest of William Hendon, who ran onto the field at Great American Ball Park.

This investigation opened by Cincinnati police marks the second within the span of a week that regards the use of a Taser by an officer.

On June 5, police announced they opened an investigation into a Downtown arrest, which was captured on video and posted to social media. The video went viral and shows an officer shocking an unidentified man with a Taser before arresting him at a bus stop in Government Square.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Cincinnati police investigate arrest of man who crashed Reds game
A U.S. Forest Service worker in Central Idaho is in jail on a $1 million bond after SWAT teams were called in to help end a six-hour armed standoff between him and police last month at his home in Challis.

The incident occurred when police arrived to arrest Curtis Lee Caton, 47, a geologist and mineral administrator on the Salmon-Challis National Forest, at his home over a report that he shot a handgun toward people in vehicles in two separate events on the same night.

Caton was charged with three felonies: unlawful firearm discharge at an occupied vehicle, assault with intent to murder and malicious injury to property. He also faces one misdemeanor count for resisting police.

Amy Baumer, spokesperson for the Salmon-Challis National Forest, declined to answer questions from the Idaho Statesman about Caton, citing a policy against disclosing employee information. She would not say how long Caton has worked for the U.S. Forest Service, address his roles and responsibilities in the Central Idaho region, or state whether he remains employed by the federal agency in light of his May arrest.

Josh Johnson, the Idaho Conservation Leagues Central Idaho director, told the Statesman that Jervois Mining USA, which owns a cobalt mine in the Salmon-Challis National Forest, directed the environmental group to Caton as the designated U.S. Forest Service contact for the project. Caton also was listed as the U.S. Forest Service contact in an approval document from summer 2023 that allowed Jervois to pursue additional exploratory drilling for more cobalt deposits near the mine site.

Caton remained in custody Tuesday at the Lemhi County Jail in the city of Salmon. His preliminary hearing is scheduled for July 1.

If convicted on the four charges, Caton could face up to 35 years in prison and more than $100,000 in fines, not including possible restitution to the victims.

Peaceful resolution after police standoff

Police said Caton fired several 10mm rounds from a handgun near three minors in a vehicle in the remote area of Bradbury Flat in Custer County, according to a police probable cause affidavit. The kids reported seeing a silver Toyota Tacoma at a campsite in the area at about 10 p.m., and sheriffs deputies later found 10mm shell casings at Bradbury Flat and a 10mm handgun in Catons home.

Approaching midnight, the parents of at least one of the kids discovered the silver Toyota pickup truck in the driveway at a home in the 330 block of East Summit Circle in Challis, the affidavit read. They called 911 dispatch after an individual standing near the truck fired several 10mm rounds at their vehicle, including some that struck the driver-side door, pierced the interior and also shot out their back window, police reported.

At no point did the couple enter the property as they tried to read the trucks license plate, they told police. Neither of the parents was hit as they left the area and met sheriffs deputies at a nearby fire station, according to the affidavit.

Police officers arrived at Catons home shortly before 1 a.m. and spoke with him, the Custer County Sheriffs Office wrote in a news release about the incident. Several local news outlets reported on the incident the day of Catons arrest.

At one point, Caton answered his door while wearing body armor and holding an AR-15 assault-style rifle and made a statement to Custer County Interim Sheriff Levi Maydole along the lines of, This is how it is now, as he motioned to the tactical gear, the affidavit read. Then Caton kicked the door shut, police said.

Catons wife was safely evacuated from the home, the affidavit said. Catons adult daughter also lives at the home, according to the court filing. A 23-year-old woman was eventually released from inside during negotiations with Caton that extended into the early morning hours, police said in the news release.

The SWAT team from Bonneville County arrived as police worked to set up a perimeter around the Caton home, alongside a separate multi-county police tactical team based in Southeast Idaho, police said.

About six hours into what the Custer County Sheriffs Office described as a standoff with the suspect, Caton agreed to exit his home without further incident. He was arrested and booked into the county jail.

I am thankful we were able to reach a peaceful resolution without any loss of life or serious injury in our community, Maydole said in the news release. The end result showed the value of collaboration with our local and regional law enforcement partners who can assist rural counties such as ours, which do not possess the manpower or resources necessary to handle these types of incidents on our own.

Suspect involved in permitting cobalt mine

Jervois, based in Melbourne, Australia, worked to open the cobalt mine in fall 2022 at the Idaho site  what would be the only primary cobalt mine in the U.S. But by spring, operations were suspended as global cobalt prices collapsed.

The Jervois Mining USA-owned cobalt mine in the Salmon-Challis National Forest, has had operations suspended since March 2023.

Cobalt is contained in rechargeable lithium-ion batteries and seen as critical to the climate-driven transition away from fossil fuels to more sustainable energy sources. The element also is used in munitions and high-grade alloys for aerospace, drawing interest in the mine from the U.S. government to help establish a reliable and fully domestic supply chain.

The U.S. Department of Defense last year awarded $15 million to Jervois to spend on additional exploration activities for other deposits near the existing mine, which rests in the Idaho Cobalt Belt  the largest known unmined site for the rare metal in the nation. Those drilling operations are active and ongoing while the mine remains at a standstill, Matt Lengerich, the mines executive general manager, told the Statesman.

Lengerich confirmed prior work between Jervois and Caton on the Idaho cobalt mine project.

Lengerich said he was unaware of any potential impacts to mine permits that involved Caton, including whether his recent legal issues could lead to reversing past approvals or delay any cobalt mine activities going forward. He referred further questions about Caton to the U.S. Forest Service.

Caton requests $1 million bond reduced

After his initial court appearance, Caton was transferred to the jail in neighboring Lemhi County as a matter of usual course, because Custer Countys jail has a third of the space for those in custody, Lemhi County Deputy Lonny Miller, who works in detention, told the Statesman by phone.

The magistrate judge in the case issued a no-contact order between Caton and the parents of the minor. The parents have each been subpoenaed to testify in Catons pending criminal case.

Last week at a court hearing, Catons defense attorney, Justin McCarthy, asked that the judge reduce his clients initial $1 million bond and also move Caton back to the Custer County Jail in Challis so he can be closer to his family while the legal process plays out. At the request of Custer County Prosecuting Attorney Justin Oleson, Catons bond has gone unchanged. He remains at the jail in Salmon, Miller said.

Reached by phone at his office, McCarthy declined to comment to the Statesman about the case.

Prior criminal incident in suspects past

Caton, who previously lived in Kamiah in North Idaho, had a prior arrest for a violent incident, court records showed.

Caton physically attacked his neighbor in late 2018 after the neighbor lit off a firework in his own backyard, a Lewis County deputy reported. Caton entered the property and punched his male neighbor several times before throwing him to the ground by his throat and placing him in a choke hold, leaving the neighbor with injuries to his face, head, neck and chest, according to the court record.

Three women at the neighbors home who witnessed the incident also said Caton shoved them as he left the property, the police report read. Officers questioned Caton at his home shortly after, and he was witnessed with dried blood on his right hand but denied it was blood, the deputy wrote.

Caton told the deputy he heard an explosion and went to investigate, when he had an AR-15 assault-style rifle pointed at him, according to the report. He said the three women laughed at him when he entered his neighbors backyard.

The deputy doubted Catons story and placed him under arrest on suspicion of misdemeanor battery. The charge was later dismissed at the city prosecutors request on an agreement that Caton serve probation, for which the length of time was not defined in the court record.

Caton waived his right for his latest criminal proceedings to the required timeline after charges were filed for a preliminary hearing and Caton is set to make his next court appearance on July 1.

Statesman reporter Ian Max Stevenson contributed.
Former Cherokee County deputy arrested as part of federal investigation into child exploitation

Federal authorities have arrested a former Cherokee County sheriffs deputy following a child exploitation investigation.

The Cherokee County Sheriffs Office said Steven Bunte was arrested Tuesday morning at his home in Gordon County.

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According to jail records, Bunte has been charged with five counts of computer/ electronic pornography and child exploitation.

The Cherokee County Sheriffs Office said Bunte was employed at the adult detention center for five years.

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We are working to learn more about his arrest.

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Brazilian supermodel Adriana Lima is an innovator in her niche who turned the masses' perception of the beauty of the female body around almost 30 years ago. Becoming a Victoria's Secret "angel" and signing contracts with the world's top fashion houses, the star with seductive forms put an end to the fashion for unhealthy thinness and proved that all women are beautiful.

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Of course, in the distant 00s, this thesis was just beginning to gain popularity, but Lima is considered the founder of the popularization of curves in modeling. Now 43 years old, she is raising three children, has less time to devote to her career, and has to deal with hate because of her external changes. OBOZ.UA decided to tell you about the supermodel, who was once one of the highest-paid fashion models in the world.

The start of her career

The Brazilian beauty never dreamed of a modeling career until she was 13. At the time, the niche was full of skinny celebrities who posed on the catwalks and in the frame. But one day Adriana's friend asked her to take part in a beauty contest, where the schoolgirl unexpectedly won.

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Two years later, she took second place in the Supermodel of the World contest. This was the beginning of Lima's successful career. Already in the 90s, she was swept up in a whirlwind of advertising contracts, fashion shows, photo shoots, and New York social life.

Giorgio Armani, Vera Wang, Valentino, Versace, Louis Vuitton, Givenchy, Christian Dior, John Galliano, Alexander McQueen, Marc Jacobs, Prada, and other world-famous brands wanted to work with the dark-haired beauty.

Once a photo of the young model was hung in Times Square, which was another significant step towards popularizing seductive figure proportions. Even the lingerie brand Victoria's Secret broke its own tradition of thinness and signed a contract with Lima.

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The heyday of her career and problems with men

For 19 years, the "angel" built a successful career, during which Lima managed to star in popular projects such as Ocean's 8, How I Met Your Mother, and others, give birth to children, and become the face of GQ, ELLE, Esquire, Vogue, Marie Claire, and more.

In 2021, Business Insider named her the third highest paid model in the world. However, this is not the best position for a star. In 2011, she was ranked fourth among her colleagues in the Forbes ranking, and thanks to a contract with Maybelline, she rose to second place, behind only Gisele Bundchen.

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Despite such a successful career, Adriana did not find happiness in her personal life. She had affairs with famous athletes, writers, businessmen, and showbiz stars, but the beauties cheated on her, did not appreciate her, and did not agree to move to the United States.

Since 2021, Lima has been dating producer Andre Lemmers, whom she has no plans to marry, but the couple often appears on the red carpet.

Children and scandals

Recent years have not been the most successful in the model's life. In 2018, she terminated her contract with Victoria's Secret, gave birth to her third child, and gained weight. For this, as well as for the obvious external changes in her face, the model is often hated.

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She once lost it and told critics that she did not recognize herself in the photo. However, despite this, the star accepts her age and does not want to change because of the opinions of strangers.

"The face of a tired mother of a teenage girl, one active boy and a one-year-old who is learning to walk, and three dogs. I was not offended or anything, I laughed. The thing is, I'm not 16 years old. I started modeling at 16, but I will never be 16 again. I'm 42, and I'm happier than ever," Adriana assured Harpers Bazaar.

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Now the star has disappeared from the media and fans' view. Her page, which is subscribed to by more than 17 million people, is almost never filled with new photos, and Lima stopped attending social events back in 2023.

Only verified information is available on the OBOZ.UA Telegram channel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
A former federal prosecutor in a Tuesday interview predicted Hunter Biden will get prison time, following the guilty verdict in the federal gun case against the presidents son.

I do. I do, Thomas Dupree said in a CBS News interview, when asked whether he thinks Hunter Biden will go to prison.

Dupree, a partner at Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP in Washington, said he does not expect the sentence to be unduly severe, noting Hunter Biden has not previously been convicted of a crime.

Really, hes effectively a first-time offender, Dupree said. I suspect that the judge will look somewhat sympathetically on this case.

The interview comes just after the jury announced its verdict, convicting Hunter Biden on two charges of making false statements about his use of illicit drugs when buying a gun in 2018 and another charge of unlawfully possessing the firearm for 11 days.

The trial, which lasted just more than a week, spotlighted Hunter Bidens addiction to cocaine around the time he checked no on a federal gun purchase form questioning whether he unlawfully used or was addicted to narcotics or other drugs.

Hunter Biden faces a maximum of 25 years in prison and $750,000 in fines, though first-time offenders are rarely given the maximum penalty.

According to the United States Sentencing Commission, which determines recommended sentencing guidelines, a defendant like Hunter Biden would typically face between 15 to 21 months in prison.

Ultimately, however, its up to the judge to determine the sentence.

I dont see this as a case where the judge is going to be looking at an upper range of the sentencing guidelines, Dupree said.

My sense is that the likeliest outcome would be a sentence of incarceration, but for a fairly limited period, you know? Wed be talking a year or two, not five or six, he added.

Before Hunter Biden is sentenced, he will likely meet with a federal probation officer who will interview him and create a report with recommendations, while both federal prosecutors and Hunter Bidens attorneys will file memos to the judge with their own recommendations.

President Biden said recently he would not pardon his son if he were convicted on the federal charges. He reiterated that sentiment after the verdict was announced Tuesday, saying he respects the outcome of the case and will continue to 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, Biden said. I love our son, and we are so proud of the man he is today.

Hunter Bidens attorney, Abbe Lowell, said in a statement after the verdict that they are naturally disappointed but respect the jury process. They intend to vigorously pursue all available legal challenges.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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 retired Army sergeant who used his rideshare company to con the Army out of millions was sentenced to 36 months in prison on June 11.

Kevin Romulus Pelayo, 45, and his wife Cristine Furio Fredericks, 40, illegally obtained social security numbers along with other identifying information of more than 800 soldiers and submitted them from 2014 to 2020 to the Armys Mass Transportation Benefit Program without the soldiers knowledge.

Pelayo and Fredericks company Soldier Vanpools, LLC, received millions of dollars in funds from the program over the course of those six years in exchange for the false claim that the soldiers were using their service for transportation to and from Fort Cavazos, Texas, according to court documents. Pelayo was a platoon sergeant at Fort Cavazos, Stars and Stripes reported.

The Mass Transportation Benefit Program subsidizes transportation costs for soldiers and civilian employees.

In 2019, Pelayo routinely paid a criminal confidant for personal information about hundreds of soldiers that he would then use to fraudulently enroll them in the Mass Transportation Benefit Program, according to court documents.

Pelayo and Fredericks used their earnings to stockpile vans, SUVs, and other vehicles to create the illusion that their business was legitimate and engaged in the shepherding of large amounts of soldiers to and from the military base.

But the couple didnt only invest in their company.

They spent lavishly on themselves as well.

The couple spent a large portion of the millions of dollars in funds they received on real estate, personal vehicles, and other property, according to the Department of Justice.

They amassed a treasure trove of extravagant items, including 43 vehicles, 129 purses and pieces of jewelry, and 12 properties.

Pelayo pleaded guilty to defrauding the Army on June 29, 2021, and the couple agreed to turn over a majority of the criminally earned possessions.

Fredericks was sentenced to five years of probation.

The IRS Criminal Investigation and the Department of the Army Criminal Investigation Division led the investigation.
A Middle Tennessee council member who resigned from office last week says she will not retract bullying allegations made against a former colleague, his wife and his supporters after he sent a letter this week threatening legal action if she does not apologize.

Gallatin's Eileen George issued her resignation during a four-minute statement at the June 4 city meeting, citing comments she said she received from Councilman Pascal Jouvence, his wife and supporters via text message, voicemail, social media posts and physical confrontations.

Jouvence responded by retaining Nashville-based Clements Law Firm, which sent George a cease and desist order on June 10 asking her to publicly retract the statements she made or risk possible legal action.

George said Tuesday that she had not received the letter.

Gallatin Councilwoman Eileen George submitted her resignation after a four-minute speech where she accused another councilmember of bullying during a meeting on Tuesday, June 4, 2024.

A copy provided to The Tennessean calls George's comments against Jouvence and his wife, Michelle, patently false.

"Your allegations, insinuations, and implications that Councilman Jouvence or Mrs. Jouvence are, or even may be guilty of, bullying or of the crimes of harassment and abuse must cease. You have maliciously and recklessly made these statements with no proof whatsoever. We are looking forward to you clarifying the public record with a retraction. If you refuse to cooperate in this matter, my clients are prepared to engage in any legal action necessary to clear their name," attorney Kirk Clements wrote in the letter. He also noted that George made statements against the couple without providing proof.

Standing her ground

But George told The Tennessean Tuesday she is standing by her comments.

"Absolutely, positively no," George said when asked if she will apologize. "Everything I said was from the heart and the truth."

George said she has received harassing voice messages that she shared with Gallatin police. The department did not return messages seeking comment on whether it is investigating.

George came under scrutiny after a May 21 ethics complaint was filed against her by Erin Bookout, who said during the June 4 meeting that she filed the complaint against the councilwoman after being told that George improperly forwarded a letter council members received from Holleman Law Group about a new development.

City Attorney Susan High-McAuley confirmed that an ethics complaint had been filed against George during the city's May 21 council meeting.

George said she could take criticism, but what drove her to resign was a personal attack on her business partner Maureen Linder. The two operate Golden Girls of Real Estate in Gallatin. They were forced to sever their partnership after "disparaging things" were said about Linder, George said.

"That's what bothered me," she said, recalling that her friend and business partner came to her in tears. "It's very sad."

Gallatin Mayor Paige Brown told The Tennessean Tuesday that the city council will appoint someone to fill the remainder of George's term, which was set to expire this year. George said she was not planning to seek reelection in November.

The mayor said she was not surprised George resigned after seeing some of the things people posted on social media about the former councilwoman.

"It's just such a difficult situation," Brown said Tuesday. "This woman is hurt. This is a man who thinks he has done no wrong, and there's a conflict. I'm very disappointed that this is the conversation happening about our city when there's so many people working hard to make it better.

"It's kind of the way the world is these days."

Reach reporter Craig Shoup by email at cshoup@gannett.com and on X @Craig_Shoup. To support his work, sign up for a digital subscription to www.tennessean.com.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Tennessee councilman sends legal letter in response to bullying claims
Former US diplomat warns Biden policy on Israel is putting America at risk

For 18 years, Hala Rharrit was a career veteran diplomat who took pride talking about American values such as human rights and freedom of the press.

Now, she's the first U.S. diplomat to resign her post in protest of Biden administration policies toward Israel and the war in Gaza.

In an interview with ABC News this week, Rharrit said she believes the steady stream of U.S. bombs and other weapons sent to Israel with few conditions is putting America's national security at risk as the Arab world grows more volatile -- and hostile to U.S. interests -- than ever.

"None of this is helping Israel," Rharrit said of Israel's ongoing war in Gaza. And the policy of shipping military aid with few conditions to Israel is "fundamentally bad for America," she added.

PHOTO: Former State Department diplomat Hala Rharrit. (U.S. Department of State)

The idea of diplomats and career government workers quitting their posts isn't new. Resignations also occurred in the George W. Bush administration during the Iraq War as officials questioned the rationale for the U.S. invasion and deaths of American service members.

Those protest resignations are back on the rise this spring as Rharrit has been joined by nearly a dozen government workers in recent months who have abruptly resigned in protest of Biden administration policies toward Israel and the Gaza conflict.

Others to leave their federal government jobs include Josh Paul and Stacy Gilbert  both longtime officials at the State Department who had direct roles in overseeing U.S. policy toward Israel  and U.S. Army Maj. Harrison Mann, an executive officer at the Defense Intelligence Agency's Middle East-Africa Regional Center.

PHOTO: Palestinians children search through the rubble of their home a day after an operation by the Israeli Special Forces in the Nuseirat camp, in the central Gaza Strip on June 9, 2024. (Eyad Baba/AFP via Getty Images)

The State Department declined to discuss personnel issues, but said officials have sought feedback from its employees throughout the war.

I can say broadly that our staff have many ways to provide feedback and recommendations, both through the dissent channel and through more routine mechanisms including cables, emails, meetings, and spot reports, a State Department spokesperson wrote in a statement.

Since October 7, the Department has held multiple listening sessions specifically designed to give policy feedback related to the conflict. The Secretary, Deputy Secretaries, and Undersecretaries have participated in these sessions, the statement added.

MORE: US holds off on sanctioning Israeli military units accused of human rights violations in West Bank before start of war with Hamas

From the Biden administration's standpoint, the steady flow of ammunition to Israel and statements of "ironclad" support were necessary to deter Iran and its proxies in the region, as well as terror groups like Hamas.

Officials also note that Hamas is to blame for the startling civilian death toll by hiding in encampments and in hospitals and schools. Hamas could lessen hostilities, they say, by releasing the remaining hostages and surrendering to Israel, even as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has rejected the notion of a permanent cease-fire.

U.S. advisers close to Biden also insist they haven't given Israel a pass -- repeatedly calling out Israel for not doing enough to allow humanitarian aid into Gaza and publicly demanded that Israel do more to protect civilians, including thousands who has sought shelter in the southern Gazan city of Rafah.

Meanwhile, Israel also has accused Hamas of operating from civilian sites and insisted Israel won't be safe until every Hamas fighter is eradicated.

PHOTO: Hala Rharrit traveling overseas during her work as a US diplomat. Rharrit resigned April 24 in protest of US policies in Gaza. (Courtesy of Hala Rharrit)

For Rharrit, part of her job at the State Department immediately following the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel was to report back to Washington how Arab audiences viewed the conflict. As an Arab-language spokesperson based in Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates, Rharrit would scour local media outlets and track popular personalities on social media reporting on the war.

What Arab audiences watched, she said, was mostly traumatizing images of children being killed or severely wounded in Israel's bombing campaign. Young people, freshly orphaned, were everywhere, too -- vowing revenge against Israel and the U.S. for supplying the weapons. There were also images of aid trucks backed up along the border juxtaposed with infants dying of malnutrition.

At the same time, Rharrit said she was given talking points to deliver to those Arab outlets -- carefully crafted phrases approved from State Department headquarters in Washington.

"Israel has a right to defend itself" and "the U.S. stands with Israel" were the oft-repeated phrases that omitted any mention of the heavy death toll of civilians, journalists and aid workers inside Gaza.

MORE: UN Security Council adopts US draft resolution supporting Gaza cease-fire plan

Rharrit said she pushed back, telling higher-ups the talking points were "disconnected" from what Arabs were seeing on their phones. The statements also were at odds with Biden administration statements on other conflicts like Ukraine that frequently called out attacks on civilians, offered condolences to communities and called for the protection of journalists, she said.

Then in January, her headquarters in Washington asked her to stop filing reports because they were no longer needed, she said.

When asked about the details, the State Department said reporting written by "the Dubai Regional Media Hubs reporting after the October 7 attacks was read at the highest levels of the Department."

From Rharrit's viewpoint, senior officials at the State Department were willfully choosing to ignore how the nearly unconditional flow of offensive weapons to Israel was damaging support for U.S. policies overseas and its standing on the international stage.

"We [the U.S.], in the Arab world were seen as complicit because we were surging munitions" to Israel, said Rharrit, who resigned April 24.

In May, Biden took the unprecedented step of withholding a single shipment of 2,000-pound bombs to Israel -- devastating, non-precision weapons he said Israel could use to kill civilians -- in a bid to urge restraint in Rafah. The move was met with swift and angry pushback from Republican lawmakers who said he had no right to withhold an aid package Congress had approved.

MORE: US withheld bomb shipment to Israel out of fears it could be used in Rafah

Other military aid continues to flow to Israel, as it has for decades, including both offensive and defensive weapons.

A recent report by the State Department concluded that it was "reasonable to assess" that U.S. weapons have been used by Israel in a way that is "inconsistent" with Israel's obligation under international law. At the same time, the report concluded the U.S. didn't have "complete information" and would not withhold weapons to Israel.

MORE: Biden admin doesn't have 'complete information' to verify whether Israel used US arms to violate international law in Gaza

Hamas killed some 1,200 Israelis, mostly civilians, and more than 240 were kidnapped in the Oct. 7 attack that triggered the war, according to Israeli officials.

The Hamas-run Gaza Ministry of Health estimates more than 37,000 people have been killed in the conflict, although those numbers could not be independently verified.

Israel has denied that it has violated international humanitarian laws and said it has the right to eliminate the same Hamas fighters that attacked civilians on Oct. 7.

Rharrit said she believes more staff resignations are possible. Still, she acknowledges many of her former colleagues are hoping the war will end before that happens and are waiting it out.

Either way, Rharrit said she believes there is a heightened risk for Americans working abroad, including U.S. service members stationed in the Middle East and diplomatic staff, because, she said, the U.S. is now inextricably bound to this war.

"The administration is willfully putting a target on our backs," she said.

Former US diplomat warns Biden policy on Israel is putting America at risk originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
Former Yukon man extradited from UK years after fleeing before OKC sentencing

A former Yukon man convicted of fraud has been extradited from the United Kingdom to the United States

After having been convicted more than a decade ago of defrauding Nortel Networks by submitting bogus warranty claims for computer networking equipment, Mehran Koranki fled the United States.

Following his conviction in 2011, Koranki wrote a letter to the Oklahoma City federal court that said in part: I sincerely regret to inform you I am no longer in the United States and will not be attending the sentencing hearing.

On Tuesday, U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester announced that Koranki, 63, formerly of Yukon, has been extradited from the United Kingdom to the United States.

In 2010, a federal jury convicted Koranki of 50 counts of mail fraud and money laundering in a scheme that exceeded $6 million. He faced up to 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and mandatory restitution.

Three years later, U.S. District Court Judge Timothy D. DeGiusti sentenced Koranki in absentia to serve 13 years in federal prison and ordered him to pay $6,010,157.90 in restitution.

Authorities said Koranki, who owned SMC Electronics and Allied Solutions Technical Center, obtained thousands of dollars worth of electronic equipment between February 2005 and March 2006 by using SMC's extended warranty agreement with Nortel.

SMC fraudulently claimed it needed more than 850 replacement parts over a 15-month period, even though the company did not use a Nortel computer network, prosecutors said.

Those parts were sold for profit.

In 2015, the United States submitted to United Kingdom government officials an official request to extradite Koranki, prosecutors said.

On Feb. 5, Koranki was arrested pursuant to an Interpol Red Notice after traveling on a flight from Doha, Qatar, to Manchester, United Kingdom. Koranki consented to extradition, and on June 3, the U.S. Marshals Service brought him back to the United States.

Those who seek to evade justice will eventually be apprehended and held accountable for their crimes, Troester said in a news release.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Former Yukon man brought back to US after skipping his sentencing.
Fort Lauderdale and Hollywood are under a state of state of emergency Wednesday as torrential rains led to flooded roads and a partial closure of Interstate 95.

Due to ongoing heavy rainfall, several roadways throughout the City of Fort Lauderdale, including major thoroughfares like Broward Boulevard and Federal Highway near downtown, are experiencing high water levels, Mayor Dean Trantalis tweeted on X, formerly known as Twitter.

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A state of emergency also went into effect for Hollywood around 5 p.m. All community centers in the city are closed for the evening, as well as all city-sponsored activities and meetings.

Due to ongoing heavy rainfall, several roadways throughout the City of Fort Lauderdale, including major thoroughfares like Broward Boulevard and Federal Highway near downtown, are experiencing high water levels.



I am currently in the process of declaring a State of Emergency for pic.twitter.com/lff46Uixxj  Mayor Dean J. Trantalis (@DeanTrantalis) June 12, 2024

Trantalis said emergency management staff is actively monitoring the situation in Fort Lauderdale and mobilizing resources across the city. High-water vehicles have been strategically deployed throughout the city and are prepared to respond as needed, he said. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission will also be sending boats and buggies to the area.

A city spokeswoman said Trantalis spoke to Florida Division of Emergency Management Executive Director Kevin Guthrie after making the emergency declaration and that Guthrie pledged to devote any available resources to Fort Lauderdale.

This embedded content is not available in your region.

People are urged to avoid driving if possible and to not attempt to drive through high water. I-95 southbound at Oakland Park Boulevard is closed.

City of Fort Lauderdale administrative offices are closed. All city board and committee meetings and parks activities are also canceled.
Fox News

Former House Speaker Paul Ryan, in a scathing rebuke of Donald Trump on Fox News Tuesday, reiterated his view that the former president is unfit for office, adding that he has cost Republicans in Congress a lot of seats over the years.

Ryan, a Fox Corporation board member, clashed with Trump in a war of words last month after he confirmed he would not support the 77-year-olds 2024 re-election bid.

On Your World, anchor Neil Cavuto asked Ryan about the fiery response from Trump after the Wisconsin Republican announced his decision to not vote for him in November because character is too important. Ryan seemed unfazed.

I got death, taxes and weird stuff from Donald Trumpthese are the three certainties in my life, he said. So to me, its just another day in a life.

At various points throughout the interview, Ryan criticized Trumps worldview, character, and actions as president.

Im a conservative Republican. Trump is a populist. Hes not a conservative. I would prefer a party that is based on principles not personality or populism. This populism is untethered to principles, Ryan said.

You swear an oath to the Constitution, he said later, and if youre willing to suborn it to yourself, I think that makes you unfit for office.

Ryan, who said he wouldnt be supporting President Joe Biden, either, but rather a to-be-determined write-in candidate, also blamed Trump for dragging down the Republican ticket and doubted his ability to win in November, as he has several times in recent years.

Trump has cost us a lot of seats, Ryan said. He cost us the Senate twice, he cost us the Housebecause he is pushing through the primaries people who cannot win general elections, but who pledge fealty to him. Ever since 2016, weve been losing.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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Fox News

Fox News spent much of Tuesday night suggesting that Hunter Bidens conviction on gun-related charges is a plotby the Department of Justice, Democrats and othersto protect President Joe Biden from being brought up on unspecified charges of his own.

Greg Gutfeld kicked off the conspiracies on The Five, saying that he foresaw Biden being imprisoned as part of some backroom deal involving the president.

My sense is that Hunter is going to jail so Joe doesnt have to, Gutfeld said, not specifying for what reason he might be sentenced.

And when he comes out, he will be rewarded for his loyalty like a made man in the Biden crime family. This is a distraction from the influence peddling and the kickbacks, Gutfeld added, echoing the way Trumps campaign reacted to the verdict.

In a statement to CNN, the campaign said that the week-long Delaware 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.

Meanwhile, co-host Jesse Watters, who has repeatedly suggested that the Justice Department has been biased in its prosecution of Hunter Biden to the point of even helping him by charging him with crimes, stuck to that train of thought on Tuesday.

Hunter Biden Can Thank Merrick Garland for His Conviction

While the verdict gave him a little boost of confidence in the American legal system, he said, they still have a lot of work to do to win me back.

Its kind of like watching an Eagles game and the refs throw 20 flags on us in the first half and then finally throw one flag on the other team. Okay. It is still not a fair game, he argued, similar to the arguments many in Trumpworld have used in the hours since the verdict came down.

Remember, Bidens prosecutors tried to sweep this under the rug last year and have this guy not go to jail at all and have lifetime immunity until the judge was like, Say what? Watters said, referring to the plea deal that fell apart last summer.

Now he might have to serve some prison. He might actually have to serve prison on this and the taxes, he added.

Hunter Bidens trial for allegedly dodging his taxes is scheduled to begin in September.

Joe and Hunter Biden Share Emotional Embrace After Conviction

On his primetime show later Tuesday night, Watters said similarly that President Biden is going to have to save his son to save his own hide, alleging that prosecutors havent been allowed to follow the facts.

The CIA and FBI and the Treasury Department are all in on the cover up, he claimed.

As for Gutfelds suggestion that Hunter Bidens conviction occurred to spare the president, House Judiciary Committee Chairman James Comer (R-KY)whose effort to impeach the president has crumbled in recent monthsseemed to agree.

After Watters asked if Hunter Biden is taking the fall to save his dad, Comer replied: It sure looks like that. He looks like someone thats got a pardon in his back pocket.

President Biden, in a recent interview with ABC News, ruled out pardoning his son, adding that he would accept the jurys verdict, whatever it was.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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Stay informed and gain unlimited access to the Daily Beast's unmatched reporting. Subscribe now.
Russian actress Tatyana Kravchenko, known for her role as Valyukha Budko from Svaty (The Matchmakers), continues to slander her Ukrainian colleagues who have not mentioned her for a long time. The Russian woman, who was not spared by alcoholism, invented new stories about Ukrainian actors and "pro-Russian" residents of Lviv.

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In a new interview, Kravchenko sincerely wondered why Ukrainians speak out about politics if they "don't know anything about it." She apparently thought of herself as at least a political scientist with many years of experience, because she speaks out quite boldly about the situation in a foreign country.

Kravchenko recalled that she had visited Lviv before the collapse of the Soviet Union in the 1990s, and for some reason she remembered that the locals asked Russians to bring their newspapers. Analyzing this now, the Putinist concluded that Lviv residents dream of becoming part of Russia.

"A long time ago we played with Mikhail Kozakov and came to Lviv. And even then the locals asked us to bring Russian newspapers. It was in the 90s. Nothing portended anything yet," the Russian woman said.

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At the same time, she does not understand why the Ukrainian actors of Svaty do not want to become part of the terrorist culture. The Russian woman believes that they are fulfilling an "order" and therefore support the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of their country.

"Politics is such a terrible thing," the actress grabbed her head as if she hadn't prayed for the Russian occupiers two months ago, introducing herself as Valyukha.

As a reminder, Ukrainian actress and star of Svaty Anna Koshmal has repeatedly stated that Russia is an aggressor country for her, so she no longer wants to appear on the same set with Russian actors. Hearing this, Kravchenko attacked her colleague, called her mean and reminded her of how the Ukrainian was treated in Moscow.

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According to the Putinist, this is enough to forgive her and another actor, Fyodor Dobronravov, for their desire to destroy Ukrainians as a people.

Earlier, OBOZ.UA described in detail how the Russian stars of the TV series "Svaty" reacted to the war in Ukraine.

Only verified information is available on the OBOZ.UA Telegram channel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
Paris  While most of France is still reeling from President Emmanuel Macron's announcement of snap elections, in the far-flung French Pacific territory of New Caledonia, many people were heaving a sigh of relief on Wednesday. Macron announced that he was "suspending" proposed legislation that would have extended voting rights there to non-indigenous residents.

The plan to change the election rules prompted violent protests last month, leaving nine people dead, hundreds injured and causing considerable property damage. The unrest even drew a rare in-person visit by Macron to the territory, which is about 10,000 miles away from the French mainland. Hundreds of tourists were stranded for days as the clashes forced a closure of the airport in the capital Noumea.

At a Wednesday news conference in Paris, the French leader said his decision on New Caledonia was taken to "give every chance to dialogue and a return to order" in the territory.

Separatists hold a Kanak flag as they stand in the middle of a road in Paita, in France's Pacific territory of New Caledonia, June 4, 2024. / Credit: DELPHINE MAYEUR/AFP/Getty

The bill aimed at reforming voter eligibility in New Caledonia was passed by both houses of France's parliament in April, and it was scheduled to go before a joint session of both houses before June 30 to gain final approval and become law. However, as Macron dissolved the lower house, the National Assembly, on Sunday when he announced the upcoming elections, he cannot recall the deputies to hold that required joint session.



"There can be no ambiguity during this period," Macron declared in his remarks Wednesday.

Earlier in the day, the Kanak Liberation Party led by members of the indigenous people of New Caledonia, said "our priority now must be rebuilding peace and social ties."



France has ruled New Caledonia since the 1800s, when it was a global imperial power, but many Kanaks still resent Paris' power over their islands and want fuller autonomy or independence.



Many were concerned that extending the right to vote to residents of New Caledonia who are not citizens, many of whom are from the French mainland or elsewhere in Europe, would further reduce their influence in the archipelago. Kanaks now account for just 41 per cent of the population.



There have been several referenda in New Caledonia over the years on the issue of independence from France. All have failed, and many Kanaks believe that is at least in part because the majority of voters are not Kanak and have stronger ties to the French mainland.



Last month's violence was among the worst since a major political crisis in the archipelago in the 1980s. In one incident in 1988, 21 people were killed during a lengthy hostage taking.

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Friends rallying behind man killed in murder-suicide by GA police officer for his young daughter

Friends and family are rallying to help the young daughter of a man shot to death by a Georgia police sergeant in a murder-suicide last week.

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Christian Chestnut, 37, was shot to death last Friday night on Rainbow Drive in DeKalb County. Police said they found the shooter, 38-year-old Michael Durieux, dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound in his crash car not far away.

Durieux was a reserve sergeant with the Fort Valley Police Department.

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Police said the shooting stemmed from an argument.

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Friends at work set up a GoFundMe to support Chestnuts 11-year-old daughter, Sarynity, his mother and sister.

Chris was a Responsive Support Technician at Kinetix and was incredibly loved by many for his magnetic, genuine, humorous, loving personality, Tyler Long wrote. Chris constantly expressed how much he loved working at Kinetix, took immense pride in his work, and proved to be one of our clients favorite technicians to work with.

Chestnut celebrated his one-year anniversary with the company the day he was killed.

Long shared several photos of Chestnut smiling and laughing with his friends and co-workers.

The GoFundMe has raised more than $5,000. You can donate HERE.








Four children who were abducted and deported to Russia at the beginning of the full-scale invasion were possibly put up for adoption on a government-linked adoption site, according to an investigation released by the Financial Times (FT) on June 12.

At least 19,500 children have been confirmed as abducted by Russia since the start of its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, and less than 400 of them have returned home, according to the Ukrainian government's database.

The FT's investigation, which used facial recognition tools, public records, and interviews with family members of the abducted children, identified four Ukrainian children aged eight to 15 on the Russian government-linked adoption website usynovite.ru. The children were reportedly abducted from state-care homes.

One of the children had a new Russian name and a different age than the one listed on their Ukrainian document, and another had a Russianized version of their name. None of the information about the children indicated that they came from Ukraine.

The Ukrainian Child Rights Protection (CPRC), a government institution, confirmed the real identities of the children, the FT said.

The FT said that the relatives of the children declined to publicly comment on the abduction and adoption site, citing fears that doing so could prevent their possible return home.

Ukrainian children who have been forcibly deported to Russia are subject to systemic re-education efforts by Russian authorities, according to a report published in the Guardian on Feb. 4.

In March 2023, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants for Russian President Vladimir Putin and Russian Children's Rights Commissioner Maria Lvova-Belova for allegedly overseeing the forced deportations of Ukrainian children to Russia.

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Moles Farewell Tributes & Crematory has a lease with Whatcom County to provide storage of bodies of the deceased.

In the Spotlight is a Bellingham Herald series that digs into the high-profile local issues that readers care most about. Story idea? Email newsroom@bellinghamherald.com.

The Whatcom County Medical Examiners Office will no longer be using a local funeral home that was providing space for the countys temporary morgue after the state and county began investigating claims that bodies of the deceased in the care of the Medical Examiners Office were stored without refrigeration at one of the funeral homes facilities in May.

John Moles, fourth-generation owner and funeral director for Moles Farewell Tributes & Crematory Center, said they requested last week that the medical examiners office move staff and equipment off of Moles property, according to a statement sent through a public relations representative on Wednesday, June 12.

At the request of Moles Farewell Tributes & Crematory Center, the Whatcom County Medical Examiners Office is no longer using the Bellingham property of Moles Farewell Tributes for conducting autopsies and storing decedents, Moles statement said.

We agreed last year to temporarily provide the county use of our preparation room for autopsies, plus office space and a space to place a storage cooler for decedents, Moles statement said. However, we wont tolerate substandard operations and the countys refusal to immediately make clear that Moles Farewell Tributes wasnt responsible for the negligent care of the decedents.

Whatcom County has since entered into a new contract with Simple Cremation, a public crematory that aims to help make the service more efficient for locals who choose to cremate a deceased family member. The county entered into a contract with Simple Cremation on Friday, June 7, according to Jed Holmes, public affairs and strategy manager for the Whatcom County Executives Office.

Information emerged last week indicating that bodies may have gone unrefrigerated after the Medical Examiner conducted autopsies at Moles Bayview facility. Our information appears to be incomplete, and there are discrepancies in the information we have received from our two contractors, Hunt Forensics and Moles. With the advice and counsel of the Whatcom County Prosecuting Attorneys Office, an independent inquiry is being conducted in order to get a more complete picture of what transpired, Holmes said in a prepared statement sent to The Herald on Wednesday.

As of June 6, the medical examiners office stopped conducting autopsies using Moles Bayview Chapel location in Bellingham and conducted them at Peace Health St. Josephs hospital and Simple Cremation, where the county has a storage and use agreement, Holmes said in his statement.

All of the Medical Examiners equipment and County-owned property have been removed from Moles facilities. The County is acquiring a reefer truck that will be stationed at a secure County-owned property by the end of this week in the case that more storage capacity is needed, Holmes statement said.

Holmes said all bodies under the jurisdiction of the medical examiner were removed over several days from Moles facilities and stored at the new Simple Cremation location.

Dr. Allison Hunt became Whatcom Countys medical examiner in January 2022 following the retirement of Dr. Gary Goldfogel, who previously held the position for more than 30 years. Deborah Hollis is Hunts operations manager and chief investigator. Whatcom County contracts with Dr. Hunts business  Hunt Forensics PLLC  to provide medical examiner services for the county. The county is currently in the process of transitioning the medical examiners office into a county office, making Hunt and her staff county employees.

Holmes said the change in location has not impacted the countys medical examiner services.

Holmes said Whatcom County has not formally received a phone call or message from Moles requesting that the Whatcom County Medical Examiners Office no longer use Moles Bayview Chapel location in Bellingham. The county has also not received notice of an official cancellation of the lease it has with Moles.

In a phone call Wednesday, Holmes told The Bellingham Herald that hes not aware of any communication to Whatcom County regarding the removal of Whatcom County Medical Examiner property from the Moles facility.

The Herald has asked the law firm representing Dr. Hunts business whether it has received such a request from Moles.

When asked whether the county began exploring additional options for temporary morgue space before Moles requested the medical examiners office no longer use the Bayview Chapel space, Holmes said when it became apparent that there was a potential conflict between our two contractors, we moved quickly to secure space to continue to provide these critical medical examiner services.

John Moles, the funeral director, declined through a spokesperson to elaborate on what went into his decision to no longer continue providing space for the county medical examiners office.

Lease agreement

Whatcom County had entered into a lease agreement with Lengesot LLC  also known as Moles  on Aug. 1, 2023 to provide temporary space at its Bayview Chapel location in Bellingham for the Whatcom County Medical Examiners Office to conduct autopsies, store bodies and perform other duties required by the examiners office while the countys morgue and medical examiners offices on State Street in downtown Bellingham are being renovated.

The lease was originally slated to end in March but was extended by the Whatcom County Council at its May 21 evening meeting due to construction delays with the State Street project. The lease was expected to last through the end of the year, according to county documents.

Whatcom County Executive Satpal Sidhu has since directed the countys Facilities Division to prioritize completion of the renovation of the county morgue at the State Street location, Holmes said in his prepared statement Wednesday.

As part of the lease agreement, Moles was expected to provide space in its garage at its Bayview Chapel location for a cooler that could store up to three bodies. If additional storage space was needed, Moles was expected to transport the bodies to its Greenacres Memorial location east of Ferndale.

The lease agreement stated that Whatcom County will pay Moles $250 per autopsy performed by the county medical examiners office at Moles Bayview Chapel location. The county also agreed to pay $50 for Moles to transport bodies to its Greenacres location for purposes of overflow cases, according to the lease agreement.

To accommodate overflow, transportation will be provided by the Landlord when mutually determined necessary through coordination with the Medical Examiners Operations Manager. Transportation to the Green Acres facility will occur when capacity at the leased facility is limited, the lease agreement stated.

The county has paid Moles $36,803 for autopsies and transports from Aug. 1, 2023 through February 2024, The Herald previously reported.

Investigations launched

In May the Washington State Department of Licensing and Whatcom County started inquiries into Moles and the Whatcom County Medical Examiners Office after becoming aware of allegations that multiple bodies under the care of the medical examiners office went unrefrigerated in mid-May while at the countys temporary morgue, resulting in severe decomposition, The Bellingham Herald previously reported.

The state licensing department received a phone call from a local funeral director on May 16 alleging that a dead body they picked up from the temporary county morgue had not been refrigerated while in the care of the county medical examiners office. The funeral director alleged that when they received the body May 16, roughly six days after the person died, they found the decedent severely decomposed and covered in flies, according to Christine Anthony, a funeral and cemetery inspector, investigator and trust examiner with the state licensing department.

When the state licensing department became aware of the temporary lease agreement between the county, medical examiners office and Moles, and that a funeral home was involved, it launched an investigation May 17, The Herald previously reported.

The state licensing departments Funeral and Cemetery Board licenses funeral directors, embalmers and cemetery operators within the state. It also investigates violations of state regulations related to the funeral and cemetery industries, according to the Washington State Governors website.

The state licensing departments Funeral and Cemetery Boards investigation is looking into possible violations by Moles of state regulations that govern the refrigeration or embalming of human remains. The licensing department does not have regulatory authority over the medical examiners office, but does over Moles, Anthony said.

Theres no expected timeline for when the state licensing departments investigation will be completed, but it could take several months, Anthony previously told The Herald.

The county launched a fact-finding inquiry into the matter at the beginning of June, The Herald previously reported.

Whatcom County is in the process of hiring the investigator, and for the sake of fairness to all parties involved we will not comment on the details of the incident until the inquiry is completed, Holmes, the county spokesperson, said in his June 12 statement.

As of June 12, that investigator has not yet been hired, Holmes said.

Care of decedents

In a statement released June 6, John Moles, the funeral home director, refuted the notion that it was at fault for the improperly stored human remains.

Moles statement said the funeral home was acting as a landlord and couldnt move the bodies without a request from the Medical Examiners Office, which Moles contends had a legal responsibility for the bodies.

We offered to transport their decedents to our refrigerated space at Greenacres Memorial Park near Ferndale only upon the request of the Medical Examiners Office and when we had staff available or were already heading there. We didnt receive a request on Friday, May 10, Moles June 6 statement said. On May 10, we told the Medical Examiners Office that it needed to make arrangements for the decedents under its care. They told us that funeral homes were coming to pick up the decedents later that day. When we returned to work Monday, May 13, we discovered that no one had picked up the decedents.

It was the sole responsibility of the Medical Examiners Office to make arrangements for the proper handling of those decedents. Its understandable why families are distraught over this situation, and we are heartbroken over this mismanagement and negligence by the Medical Examiners Office, the statement said.

Four days later, on Monday, June 10, the Whatcom County Medical Examiners Office had removed its equipment and vacated the temporary space at Moles Bellingham location.

Our condolences go to the families whose loved ones didnt receive a high level of professional care while the Medical Examiners Office was responsible for them, Moles June 12 statement says.

Moles Farewell Tributes & Crematory Center has been owned by the Moles family for four generations and has provided funeral care in Whatcom County for more than 100 years, according to its website.

Editors note (6:35 p.m. June 12): This article was revised to include comment from Whatcom County.
G7 adopts US$50 billion loan for Ukraine at expense of Russian assets, France says

The leaders of the G7 member states have reached an agreement concerning the allocation of US$50 billion for Ukraine through the use of frozen Russian assets.

Source: the Elysee Palace on the evening of 12 June, as reported by European Pravda with reference to the AFP agency

Details: The administration of the French president reports that Ukraine will receive the loan by the end of 2024.

Quote: "There is an agreement. As always in the G7, the leaders adopt decisions, and then technical experts do their job to shape them."

The decision is expected to be officially adopted at the G7 Summit on 13-14 June, after which the countries will have to outline the technical aspects of its implementation.

This is about the proposition of the US, which provides for a US$50 billion loan for Ukraine from the G7 to be paid using the income received from Russias frozen assets.

Earlier, the EU made an alternative proposal under which it would provide a loan for Ukraine itself, using its seven-year 1.2 trillion budget as a deposit.

Last week, the EU member states failed to decide which of these proposals to support.

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G7 agrees on transfer of $50 billion in profits from frozen Russian assets to Ukraine

The G7 has reached an agreement to provide Ukraine with $50 billion by the end of the year using profits from frozen Russian assets, the French presidency said on June 12 in comments reported by AFP.

"We have an agreement," a presidency official said, ahead of a G7 summit in Italy, which starts on June 13.

On June 11, it was reported the G7 will create a fund to support Ukraine using the income generated from frozen Russian assets, Nikkei Asia reported.

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.

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 French official quoted by AFP cautioned that "if for some reason or another, if the Russian assets are unfrozen or the proceeds from the Russian assets are not enough to finance the loan, then we'll have to consider how to share the load" of the loan.

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

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G7 nations poised to announce agreement on new loan for Ukraine as soon as Thursday, sources say

Ukrainian soldiers with the 57th Motorized Brigade operate at an artillery position on June 9, near Vovchansk in the Kharkiv Region of Ukraine. - Nikoletta Stoyanova/Getty Images

Leaders representing the Group of Seven nations are set to announce as soon as Thursday an agreement to loan money to Ukraine backed by the profits from frozen Russian investments, according to sources familiar with the discussions, providing a new source of revenue to a war-torn nation facing a steep and costly road to recovery.

Negotiators had focused discussions on a loan amount of roughly $50 billion, a figure that would represent the annual proceeds on the investments  which generate profit of about EUR 3 billion per year  over the course of 10 years. The loan is expected to be delivered by the end of 2024, which would ensure the money would get to Ukraine before a potential change in US presidents. President Joe Biden is facing off against former President Donald Trump in Novembers US presidential election and Trump has refused to commit to sending additional funding to Ukraine.

Western nations froze Russias assets in bank accounts located within Europe and the US as part of a massive wave of sanctions enacted after Vladimir Putin ordered the invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Hundreds of billions of assets are frozen in Europe, with just a small amount  roughly $3 billion  located in banks in the US.

That led European officials to raise concerns that they could be on the hook if Ukraine failed to pay back the loan, the investments generated less profit, or the assets get delivered back to Russia as part of a peace deal.

A senior US official says negotiators, who have continued working out final details in Brindisi, Italy, ahead of the G7 leaders arrival, have structured the deal so that all countries participating share the risk.

This loan will mostly be provided by the United States and will be supplemented by money from Europe, an Elysee source told journalists at a briefing.

Countries are still discussing how to partition the cost if the profits from Russian assets are not sufficient to cover the need, the French source added.

The source spoke on the condition of anonymity, citing professional norms in Europe.

The $50 billion will be transferred before the end of 2024, the source said.

US national security adviser Jake Sullivan told reporters traveling with Biden to the summit that the discussions were moving toward a common understanding of how the loan would be structured, though multiple countries would participate and work out the technical details after the summit.

I believe that we are making good progress in generating an outcome in which those proceeds from those frozen assets can be put to good use, Sullivan said.

G7 countries began brainstorming ways to identify longer-term sources of funding for Ukraine in late 2023, as lawmakers delayed in greenlighting the White Houses funding request. Amid doubts on future political and financial wherewithal to continue spending taxpayer money in Ukraine  and facing a calendar stacked with elections on both sides of the Atlantic  officials began zeroing in on the Russian money gathering dust and interest payments in accounts around the world.

Beginning in early 2023, working groups led by Treasury, State and the National Security Council officials held three, two-hour meetings each week beginning at 7 a.m. ET to accommodate time differences around the world.

Banks and clearing houses that hold and process the funds raised concerns that simply taking the money would open up companies and countries alike to lawsuits and retribution from Russia. Utilizing the profits generated while Russia has no access to the money was conceived as a workaround that satisfied international legal concerns.

Its the difference between someone seizing your home and renting out your home, said Tim Adams, president and CEO of the Institute of International Finance.

The United States has provided $175 billion to Ukraine since Russias invasion, a total that now surpasses the $171 billion in 2024 dollars that the US provided to the Marshall Plan to rebuild Europe after World War II. The European Union has delivered $107 billion in aid.

The World Bank estimates that Ukraine would need more than $500 billion to rebuild, a figure that climbs each day the war continues.

CNNs Xiaofei Xu contributed to this report.

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Qatar, Egypt receive Hamas response to Gaza truce proposal: ministry

Xinhua) 08:14, June 12, 2024

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.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Fatime Letifova

Today, two mineral deposits will be auctioned for the first time in Eastern Zangezur economic district, Azernews reports.

The auction will be held by the State Agency for Utilization of Mineral Resources of the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources in Agali.

Investors will be offered the "Hajili" limestone deposit in Gubadli district and the "Ahmedli" sawstone deposit in Lachin district. In the auction, 4 operating companies will compete for 10 lots.

The purpose of the auction is to ensure the legal and efficient use of the underground in the territories freed from occupation. The process will take place with the participation of officials of relevant state institutions and media representatives.
A 9-year-old girl from Ukraine who disappeared on June 3 on her way to school was found dead in Germany . Valeria had been living in Germany with her mother since 2022. The child's body was found in the woods three kilometers from her home in Debelle, Saxony. The cause of death was presumed to be murder.

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This was announced on June 12 by representatives of the German police at a press conference, German media reported. As noted, the child had been actively searched for since the disappearance, and on Tuesday, June 11, the police found her body.

The autopsy confirmed the identity.

More than 400 police officers, helicopters and sniffer dogs were involved in the search for the child, BLICK.de reports.

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Gabby Petito pleaded with her abusive fiance and killer Brian Laundrie to stop calling [her] names, according to an undated letter included in a trove of documents released by the FBI on Tuesday.

Among more than 360 documents from the case posted online by the Federal Bureau of Investigation are images of the handwritten letter; a list of evidence collected in a search of the house Laundrie, 23, shared with his parents; witness statements; and stills of surveillance footage showing the couple traveling together  and then, showing Laundrie alone.

Body camera footage shows Gabby Petito talking to a Moab police officer after she and her fiance Brian Laundrie were pulled over in the van they were traveling in. Her remains were found two months later and Laundrie admitted he had killed her. The Moab Police Department via AP)

Petito vanished in August 2021 while the couple were on a cross-country road trip in her van, which theyd been documenting on social media. The case drew massive attention from people around the world. Laundrie returned to his parents Florida home alone on Sept. 1, and Petitos remains were found more than two weeks later near Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming. A medical examiner determined that Petito had been strangled.

The investigation then turned to finding Laundrie, who disappeared from his parents home into a nearby nature preserve on Sept. 14. His remains were found in October 2021 along with a journal in which he admitted that he killed her. He died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Petitos letter provides an inside look at her relationship with the man who ended her life. In the wake of her death, Petitos family created a foundation in her name to aid in efforts to help survivors of domestic violence by raising awareness about the issue.

You know how much I love you (and Im writing this with love), Petito writes. Just please stop crying and stop calling me names because were a team and Im here with you. Im always going to have your back.

Petito also apologizes for upsetting Laundrie over a dumb piece of paper, though what she means by that is unclear, as is the broader context of the letter.

The couple fought repeatedly shortly before Petitos disappearance. She and Laundrie were stopped by police in Moab, Utah, after witnesses to their fights called 911.

Petitos family has sued the Moab Police Department for disregarding the classic hallmarks of an abused partner when Petito blamed herself for the couples fight, despite having visible injuries on her face. The lawsuit is ongoing. The Petito family settled a separate lawsuit against Laundries parents for emotional distress in February.

The newly released FBI documents also provide more information about other evidence connected to the case. In Laundries bedroom, investigators found handgun ammunition and what they described as incriminating statements in a journal.

Need help? In the U.S., call 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) for the National Domestic Violence Hotline.

Related...
Gas workers and military began to develop protection for underground gas storage facilities after heavy attacks

Hand wheels are seen fixed to valves at the Dashava. Stock photo: Getty Images

On 30 May, Ukrtransgaz, a subsidiary of Naftogaz of Ukraine (the country's largest national oil and gas company), signed an agreement with the Central Design Institute of the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine without a tender to develop protection for its facilities worth UAH 1.16 million (USD 29,000).

Source: Nashi Hroshi, a Ukrainian outlet focused on finances, with reference to Prozorro, Ukraine's public state procurement system

Details: The publication wrote that the first powerful attack on gas storage facilities in Lviv Oblast took place this spring. In it, the Russians used Kinzhal aeroballistic missiles, in particular.

"Some of the equipment was damaged in March-April as a result of the attack. But so far, there have been no critical consequences. Lviv gas storage facilities are accumulating gas for the heating season throughout Ukraine," Nashi Hroshi writes.

The designers of the Ministry of Defence have to develop conceptual engineering proposals for the construction of protective structures at critical infrastructure facilities. The procurement was carried out without trading in accordance with the Features of Public Procurement during Martial Law, as it concerns the protection of oil and gas facilities.

Nashi Hroshi wrote that the economic reasoning states that Ukrtransgaz is a particularly important facility in the oil and gas industry.

As a result of air attacks on its facilities, production facilities, equipment and underground gas storage systems were damaged.

"The purchase was made to bring the technical security of Ukrtransgaz's critical infrastructure and critical facilities to a state that will meet the security and defence requirements of martial law. The goal is also to prevent damage and destruction of technological equipment, components and assemblies used for underground gas storage," the publication wrote.

Background:

As a result of the Russian attack on 7 June, two oil depots in Ukraine were hit by drones.

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(Bloomberg) -- For two decades, a California law has helped workers sue the worlds biggest companies. Drivers for Uber Technologies Inc. won a $20 million settlement, Google employees secured $27 million over complaints of free-speech violations, and Walmart Inc. agreed to pay $65 million for allegedly not providing seating to their cashiers.

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Now, Governor Gavin Newsom is quietly overseeing talks about changing that law after prodding from some of Californias largest business interests, who say a cascade of progressive policy wins in the state  like raising the minimum wage for fast-food workers to $20 an hour and increasing paid sick days  are eating away at their bottom lines.

Newsoms office has brought together the states powerful California Chamber of Commerce with the California Labor Federation to hash out a compromise over the Private Attorneys General Act, or PAGA, people familiar with the negotiations said. The law has cost big and small businesses $10 billion over the past ten years, according to one study, and is viewed by labor advocates as a model of worker protection.

The negotiators are in a race against time: June 27 is the deadline to strike a measure from Californians November ballot that would give voters the opportunity to repeal the law. The Chamber of Commerce is negotiating on behalf of a broad alliance, which includes the billionaire owner of the Wonderful Company, Stewart Resnick, car dealership owners, Walmart and McDonalds Corp., along with small businesses across the state. The business coalition committed more than $31 million to entities backing the ballot measure, including the signature-gathering effort and an advertising blitz.

Seeking Compromise

Yet both sides would rather strike a compromise, according to people familiar with the negotiations, in order to forgo the massive expense of a ballot fight. The governor is also eager to get PAGA off the ballot, according to a person familiar with his thinking, to keep focus on a separate ballot measure that he opposes which would require voter approval for new taxes.

Newsom, who started his career running a hospitality group, has often sought to appease the business leaders who are perennially frustrated by policies enacted by the states liberal lawmakers.

PAGA is a California-only issue that businesses in California are subjected to, and it adds a huge layer of costs for them, said Jennifer Barrera, president of the California Chamber of Commerce.

Outlines of a possible deal remain vague, with the business coalition saying it wants to bolster state enforcement and reduce avenues for civil litigation. Labor leaders are willing to reform aspects of PAGA in ways that would lead to fewer lawsuits based on minor violations of state labor code. But they insist that workers retain the ability to use PAGA claims to get around forced arbitration, according to people familiar with the negotiations.

Were willing to work on reforms that do two things, said Lorena Gonzalez, head of the California Labor Federation, a coalition of unions. One: change the working conditions that are illegal. Two: make the worker whole.

The push to overhaul PAGA is an effort by business interests in California to fight back against a series of major wins the states progressive leaders have notched. Last year, after hundreds of thousands of workers went on strike around the state, lawmakers approved a hike in the minimum wage for health-care workers to $25 an hour. In October, Newsom approved sweeping climate change legislation forcing companies to disclose carbon emissions across their entire supply chain.

The governors office took notice of the PAGA reform effort last year during talks that led to a $20 minimum wage deal for California fast-food workers. Franchisees requested that Newsom pair the wage hike with a PAGA deal to offset new costs, according to a person familiar with the negotiations. While PAGA wasnt addressed, the governors staff said they would try to tackle PAGA in a future compromise.

The business groups playbook is a familiar one in California politics. Companies often look to sidestep the legislature by funding a ballot measure that would take their issue directly to voters. They then use the prospect of a costly ballot fight to force negotiations overseen by the governors office. If an agreement is reached, the legislature approves the compromise with the governors blessing, and all sides avoid spending tens of millions of dollars trying to drum up support or opposition.

Theres an opportunity of course, just like with any other ballot measure that qualifies, for the legislature to step in and fix PAGA, said Brian Maas, president of the California New Car Dealers Association. Weve got $20 million in our bank account and were prepared to push the measure forward.

PAGA passed the California legislature in 2003. The law is unique in that it allows employees to act as private attorneys general, bringing lawsuits on behalf of the government for workplace violations.

The parts that especially exasperate businesses are the ability for workers to file suits on behalf of their colleagues and duck forced arbitration clauses. As forced arbitration clauses become increasingly common, workers are turning to PAGA more than ever. In 2022, the number of PAGA settlements topped 3,165, an 1,100% increase from 2016, according to a study funded by the California Chamber of Commerce.

We had signed our rights away by agreeing to forced arbitration, said Melissa Viviana Covarrubias, a janitorial worker in San Diego whos accusing her company of illegally misclassifying employees as independent contractors and depriving them of minimum wage, overtime and rest breaks. PAGA allowed us to sue on behalf of the state. Its pretty awesome to be able to do that.

Cottage Industry

PAGA settlements are divided between the state, workers and their lawyers. The laws success  built on a cottage industry of attorneys that specialize in PAGA claims  nabbed the state more than $200 million in civil penalties in the 2022-2023 fiscal year. In New York, a PAGA-like bill has been introduced every session since 2017.

Unions worry wage theft will go unpunished if PAGA is repealed. Workers can file claims seeking unpaid wages with the state labor commissioner, but a recent investigation found that office took a median of 854 days to issue decisions. The delay contributed to a backlog of 47,000 unprocessed claims by the middle of last year, according to the state auditor.

Weakening PAGA would force even more workers to rely on that chronically underfunded agency, opponents of its repeal argue.

PAGA is the only way most workers can escape arbitration agreements specifically designed to silence them, said Lea-Ann Tratten, political director for Consumer Attorneys of California. Without PAGA, workers have nowhere else to turn.

Opponents of PAGAs current structure say the law largely benefits lawyers who file lawsuits for technical violations of the states sprawling labor code like spelling errors. They point to cases where attorneys reap payouts that are larger than what the workers get. The business coalition says instead of lawsuits, the state should bolster enforcement of the labor code and raise penalties for certain violations to deter bad actors.

Its insulting that attorneys get the majority of the fees, said Heath Flora, the top Republican on the Assembly Labor and Employment Committee.

--With assistance from Daniela Sirtori.

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'Without water, one dies' - Gazan families struggle with water pollution and scarcity in Jabalia refugee camp

'Without water, one dies' - Gazan families struggle with water pollution and scarcity in Jabalia refugee camp

By Mahmoud Issa

GAZA (Reuters) - It is not only the ever-present danger from Israeli bombardment or ground fighting that makes life a trial for Gaza's Palestinian civilians. It is also the sheer daily slog to find bare necessities such as water, to drink or cook or wash with.

For the Shenbary family, that can be a walk of 90 minutes, jerry cans at the ready, in the hope of finding a makeshift distribution point among the mounds of grey, dusty rubble of the Jabalia urban refugee camp in northern Gaza.

"Now that Jabalia has all been bulldozed, all the wells are bulldozed with it. There's not a single water well left," family father Ahmed Al-Shenbary said last Saturday. "Water is a big tragedy in Jabalia."

The war started on Oct. 7 when Hamas, the group ruling Gaza, killed 1,200 people in Israel, according to Israeli tallies, and took another 250 or so to hold as hostages in Gaza, one of the most crowded places on earth.

Israel's retaliatory offensive has not only killed more than 37,000 people but created a humanitarian crisis with shortages of food, fuel and medicine as well as water in a territory whose housing and infrastructure is now little more than rubble.

Children and their families are having to use water from unsafe sources that are highly salinated or polluted," said Catherine Russell, executive director of the U.N. children's fund UNICEF.

"Without safe water, many more children will die from deprivation and disease in the coming days.

People have dug wells in bleak areas near the sea where the bombing has pushed them, or rely on salty tap water from Gaza's only aquifer, now contaminated with seawater and sewage.

Children walk long distances to line up at makeshift water collection points. Often not strong enough to carry the filled containers, they drag them home on wooden boards.

"As you see, we bathe our children in a small basin. It's water from washing dishes, not clean water, because of the water shortages," said Ahmed's wife Fatima.

She bathes her son on the floor in the concrete shell of a wrecked school that now passes for their latest home after several forced relocations.

"We have hepatitis, which causes yellowing of the eyes," she said. "We also have intestinal infections - not just me but the whole school ... Even 'filtered water' isn't really filtered. We fool ourselves and pretend."

(Reporting by Mahmoud Issa; Writing by Michael Georgy; Editing by Kevin Liffey)
A New York City protest tied to the war in Gaza prompted a large police response early Wednesday and the closure of a block on the city's Upper East Side, where the Palestinian Mission to the United Nations was vandalized and demonstrators littered the street with leaflets smeared with red paint and encouraging the intifada, according to police.

Other vandalism incidents suspected to be linked to the protest were discovered in four other areas of the city overnight, including at the homes of the Jewish director of the Brooklyn Museum and several of the museum's board members, officials said. Also, a video surfaced Wednesday showing apparent protesters chanting antisemitic threats on a crowded New York City subway car this week.

"The cowards who did this are way over the line into antisemitism, harming the cause they claim to care about, and making everyone less safe," New York City Comptroller Brad Lander said in a post on X accompanied by photos of red paint smeared on the doors and windows of the home of Brooklyn Museum Director Anne Pasternak.

PHOTO: A New York City protest tied to the war in Gaza prompted police on June 12, 2024, to shut down a block on the city's Upper East Side where the Palestinian Mission to the United Nations is located. (WABC)

According to Lander's photos, protesters also unfurled a sign at the museum director's home, which read, "Anne Pasternak Brooklyn Museum white supremacist Zionist."

"While no one deserves this, worth noting that few museums have done more to grapple w/hard questions of power, colonialism, racism & the role of art," Lander also wrote in his post.

PHOTO: Protesters linked to the war in Gaza allegedly vandalized the home of Brooklyn Museum Director Pasternak, who is Jewish, on June 12, 2024. (New York City Mayor's Office)

An inverted red triangle was also painted on Pasternak's door, a symbol that has been used by Hamas to mark Israeli military targets and which has also been seen recently at some university protests.

We are deeply troubled by these horrible acts, a spokesperson for the Brooklyn Museum said.

New York City Mayor Eric Adams said he spoke to Pasternak on Wednesday and told her "These actions will never be tolerated in New York City for any reason."

PHOTO: Protesters linked to the war in Gaza allegedly vandalized the home of Brooklyn Museum Director Pasternak, who is Jewish, on June 12, 2024. (New York City Mayor's Office)

"This is not peaceful protest or free speech," Adams said. "This is a crime, and it's overt, unacceptable antisemitism."

New York City Councilman Lincoln Restler also posted on X, calling the vandalism "disgusting & horrible."

"This anti-Semitic incident is despicable," Restler wrote, adding that the NYPD is reviewing security video of the vandalism to identify those responsible.

No arrests connected to the protests and vandalism have been announced.

PHOTO: New York City police investigated the aftermath of a protest tied to the war in Gaza on June 12, 2024, that prompted them to shut down a block on the city's Upper East Side where the Palestinian Mission to the United Nations is located. (WABC)

Numerous police officers responded to the Palestinian Mission to the United Nations on 65th Street in New York around 6 a.m. to investigate reports of vandalism, officials said.

When officers arrived, they found the street littered with pamphlets covered in red paint, apparently signifying blood, and accusing the Palestinian Authority of not representing the Palestinian people and being too close to Israel and the United States. The pro-Hamas leaflets also read, "Long live the intifada," using the Arabic term for the Palestinian uprising against Israel.

Witnesses told ABC New York station WABC that about 15 demonstrators showed up in a U-Haul truck outside the Palestinian Mission around the time of the vandalism and began protesting. Witnesses said the roughly 15 demonstrators were briefly at the scene before piling back into the U-Haul truck and leaving.

PHOTO: Buckets of rocks and leaflets litter a block on New York City's Upper East Side where a protest tied to the war in Gaza prompted police to shut down the street where the Palestinian Mission to the United Nations is located. (WABC)

The overnight demonstrations and vandalism came a day after a large protest against the war in Gaza was held outside a new exhibit in lower Manhattan honoring the 364 concertgoers killed at the Nova Festival in Israel during the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas terrorists. Hundreds of protesters waved Palestinian and Hamas military flags and the flag of Hezbollah, the Lebanese militant group that has vowed to destroy Israel.

MORE: College encampments protesting Israeli military operations in Gaza grow nationwide: What students are saying

Some protesters even tried to storm the doors of the exhibit as relatives of those killed at the Nova Festival were touring the displays, which featured photos of loved ones murdered by Hamas.

Mayor Adams, who attended the exhibit, condemned the protest as "not a representation of our city."

MORE: Pro-Palestinian protests block New York City bridges, Holland Tunnel; over 300 arrested

"Our Constitution and our way of life in our city permits free speech and part of that free speech that is protected is some of the ugly things we heard," Adams said. "We have also the right to say, 'This is not who we are as a city,' and I'm exercising that right, right now."

Democratic Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York also condemned the protest at the Nova Festival exhibit in a speech Tuesday on the Senate Floor.

"How repugnant! How despicable!" Schumer said. "How terribly unnerving that humanity could sink that low."

Meanwhile, a video obtained by ABC News shows apparent pro-Palestinian protesters on a crowded subway car at New York City's Union Square subway station, yelling as part of a call-and-response chant, "Raise your hand if you're a Zionist...this is your chance to get out."

Gaza protest, vandalism targets Palestinian UN Mission in New York originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
General Mills  the multinational manufacturer of several notable cereal brands  has been sued by eight Black employees who say they faced race-based discrimination at the hands of white managers in one of the companys Georgia-based plants.

The class-action complaint was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia on June 2. The plaintiffs include Gary Davis, Joe Davis, Devahn Jefferson, Keith McClinton, Donald Outlaw, E.J. Rivers and Naaman Smith, who filed individually and on behalf of all other workers who were under similar circumstances at the manufacturing plant located in Covington, Ga. The plaintiffs are current and former employees of General Mills who either work, or have worked, at the plant during the last four years.

In the federal lawsuit, the plaintiffs allege that General Mills and its managers violated the Civil Rights Act of 1866 along with the Georgia and Federal RICO Acts. The suit states that both the company and its managers favor white employees over Black employees, explaining that the former are awarded more promotional opportunities while the latter face more disciplinary actions.

The plaintiffs claim that the plant itself is controlled by a group of male white supremacists operating in management and HR, who collectively refer to themselves as the Good Ole Boys.

The Good Ole Boys believe that history and symbols that have been co-opted or misappropriated by the Ku Klux Klan and other white supremacist hate groups are useful to keep Black people in their place and discourage Black people from speaking or taking action against the disparate treatment of Black employees at the Covington facility, the lawsuit states.

The suit continues, saying that since the plant opened in 1988, certain policies and systems have been implemented to benefit white employees and threaten Black employees. It goes on to list more than 20 pages of instances, which prove that the managers embraced a racially hostile work environment perpetuated by white supremacists who deny black employees, the plaintiffs allege.

In one incident, the plaintiffs took issue with a mural of Stone Mountain  the largest Confederate monument in the world  which was commissioned by the Good Ole Boys and featured General Mills characters as Confederate generals. The monument touted three mascots, including Cocoa Puffs Sonny the Cuckoo Bird as Jefferson Davis, Cinnamon Toast Crunchs Chef Wendell as Robert E. Lee, and the Cheerios honey bee as Stonewall Jackson, according to the lawsuit.

The Confederate Mural was approximately twelve feet tall and more than twenty feet wide and was displayed from approximately 2005 until 2021 at the East Plant, just outside of a production area where Black employees were required to pass every day, per the plaintiffs.

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In another incident, plaintiff Keith McClinton says that in 2006 he found the letters KKK written on his personal lunchbox. After reporting the incident, management reportedly asked McClinton to provide a handwriting sample to prove it wasnt him who wrote those letters.

The lawsuit mentions a separate incident that took place in 1993 where a noose was left at a plaintiffs desk. The same plaintiff says that just one year later, he was told by a white employee to go back to Africa.

The eight plaintiffs say the egregious incidents of racism have been ignored by the human resources departments, both locally and on the corporate level, for 20 years. They claim HR also informs the plants white managers about the complaints and which Black employees made the complaints.

The plaintiffs are currently seeking a jury trial in hopes of acquiring a declaratory judgment that the systemic pattern and practice of racially hostile and discriminatory employment practices caused catastrophic harm to the plants Black employees. They are also asking for financial losses in the form of threefold the damages they sustained plus the cost of this lawsuit and attorneys fees.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN)  A Georgia woman is facing federal charges in Middle Tennessee after authorities executed multiple search warrants, including one for her home, officials announced Wednesday.

The U.S. Attorneys Office for the Middle District of Tennessee said a federal grand jury returned an indictment on May 15, charging Gabryele Gabby Watson, 26, of Athens, Georgia, with two counts of cyberstalking and one count of interstate transmission of threats to kidnap or injure.

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Watson is accused of engaging in an adoption scam targeting an elderly couple living in Middle Tennessee, as well as making an interstate threat while communicating with the couple. The U.S. Attorneys Office provided a more detailed breakdown of the charges in a statement updated earlier this month:

As it relates to count one, beginning on or about May 26, 2023, and continuing through at least on or about August 30, 2023, in the Middle District of Tennessee and elsewhere, the defendant, GABRYELE WATSON, with the intent to kill, injure, harass, and intimidate another person, that is, Victim One, did use an electronic communication service, and an electronic communication system of interstate commerce, and a facility of interstate and foreign commerce, to engage in a course of conduct that caused, attempted to cause, and would be reasonably expected to cause, substantial emotional distress to Victim One. As it relates to count two, beginning on or about May 26, 2023, and continuing through at least on or about August 30, 2023, in the Middle District of Tennessee and elsewhere, the defendant, GABRYELE WATSON, with the intent to kill, injure, harass, and intimidate another person, that is, Victim Two, did use an electronic communication service, and an electronic communication system of interstate commerce, and a facility of interstate and foreign commerce, to engage in a course of conduct that caused, attempted to cause, and would be reasonably expected to cause, substantial emotional distress to Victim Two. As it relates to count three, on or about June 7, 2023, in the Middle District of Tennessee and elsewhere, the defendant, GABRYELE WATSON, did knowingly and willfully transmit in interstate and foreign commerce a communicating to Victims One and Two, that is, text messages threatening to kidnap and injure Victims One and Two, including by sending a hitman to murder them.

Henry County woman charged for trying to rent out house for sale

If convicted, Watson reportedly faces up to five years in federal prison for each count.

According to officials, the case was investigated by the Nashville Resident Agency of the FBIs Memphis Field Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Monica R. Morrison of the Middle District of Tennessee and Senior Trial Attorney Mona Sedky of the Department of Justices Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section are prosecuting the case.

The FBI believes Watson primarily targeted couples seeking adoptions from 2015 to the present.

If you or someone you know may be a victim of or have any information about this case, you are asked to contact your local FBI field office, visit the FBIs website, or visit the U.S. Attorneys Offices website.

 Read todays top stories on wkrn.com

No additional details have been released about this case.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2.
Swedish scientists have created the world's first "living computer" from the human brain. It can solve the global energy crisis.

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The computer consists of 16 organoids, or clumps of brain cells grown in the laboratory, which transmit information to each other. They work like traditional computer chips: they send and receive signals through their neurons, which act like circuits, MailOnline writes.

But what makes this computer special is that this living machine consumes less energy as living neurons can consume a million times less than the current digital processors currently in use.

Compared to the best computers in the world, such as the Hewlett Packard Enterprise Frontier, scientists have found that the human brain consumes 10 to 20 watts compared to a modern computer that requires 21 megawatts at the same speed and 1000 times more memory.

One megawatt is equal to one million watts.

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The living machine was developed by scientists at FinalSparks, a startup that focuses on creating solutions with biological neural networks.

"This idea is common in science fiction, but there hasn't been a lot of real research on it," Dr. Fred Jordan, co-CEO of FinalSpark, said.

The scientists took stem cells and cultured them for about one month until they formed functions such as neurons. The FinalSparks mini brain is built from about 10,000 living neurons with a diameter of about 0.5 mm. The organoids are trained with doses of dopamine: when they perform a task correctly, they receive a stream of the chemical as a reward. Scientists administer dopamine by exposing a specific area of the brain's organoid to light, just as it is released in the human brain when a particular area is activated.

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The mini brain is surrounded by eight electrodes that measure activity in the organoids, and researchers can send a current through the electrode to act on the neuron. These electrodes have a dual role: they stimulate the organoids and record the data they process. The organoids are also contained in a microfluidic incubator, which acts as a mini-plumbing system for tiny amounts of fluid that provides nutrients to the cells, and also provides the nutrients needed to keep them alive. The incubator maintains the body temperature of the organoids and automates the flow and maintenance of the cellular medium, providing a stable environment free of bacteria and viruses.

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Cells in the "living computer" live and die within 100 days, assembled together in a three-dimensional organoid structure. But they are similar to those in the real human brain and have similar electrical activity.

"Neurons in your brain live for about 80 years: when you die, they will be the same as when you were born. We are not as good as nature at keeping them alive, so our artificial neurons live for 100 days. And then we just grow new ones to replace the dead ones," the scientist explained.

The team recently launched the brain computer as an online platform that allows global researchers to conduct remote experiments on biological neurons in vitro. Three dozen universities have already expressed interest in using the platform.

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"The platform offers round-the-clock access to 16 human brain organoids. To be more precise, these are neural tissues placed on microelectrode arrays (MEAs) that fully support electrophysiological experiments. Three-dimensional neural structures have a long service life and are therefore suitable for experiments lasting several months," Finalspark writes.

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German Minister of Defense Boris Pistorius presents plans for a new form of military service at a press conference. Kay Nietfeld/dpa

German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius on Wednesday proposed that the country require young men to register for potential military service, in a move that comes 13 years after Germany effectively abolished national conscription.

The step would not reinstate conscription. Pistorius instead stressed that he anticipates using the registration questionnaires to see who might have interest in voluntarily doing service with Germany's military, known as the Bundeswehr.

Pistorius described the idea as "selective military service," designed to allow the military to call up only "the fittest, most suitable and most motivated" for training.

Young men would be required to fill out the questionnaires, but young women would also be given copies and be asked to voluntarily submit the form as well, Pistorius said at a news conference on Wednesday afternoon.

Pistorius said that's because the military service requirement, which remains in Germany's constitution, applies only to men.

Around 40,000 expected to be mustered

Pistorius said that military planners estimate that 400,000 people will have to complete the planned questionnaire each year, and about a quarter of the men could express an interest in entering the military.

Some 40,000 candidates could then take part in the physical check-up. That call-up would be mandatory for those who receive it, but Pistorius stressed that he anticipates only summoning those who indicate a voluntary interest.

"We don't want a boring, meaningless military service," Pistorius said. "But rather a military service that is meaningful and makes sense."

There is currently capacity to train between 5,000 to 7,000 recruits, but this is set to grow. The military service is expected to last six or 12 months.

The proposal represents a first step towards potentially reinstating some form of mandatory military service, a controversial issue in Germany, and would require a change to the military service law.

Pistorius stressed on Wednesday that no one would be forced to serve in the military against their will or beliefs: "Of course people will have the right to refuse military service. That remains unchanged."

Military struggling to recruit

Germany effectively abolished conscription in 2011 after 55 years, with a system that also generally allowed men to opt out of the military and do civilian service instead.

Although many of the institutions and facilities for the conscription system have since been dismantled, the country's law continues to allow for mandatory service in the event of war or other tensions.

The Bundeswehr has struggled to recruit enough volunteers to fill the ranks, and last year shrank to 181,500 soldiers despite new efforts to attract volunteers.

Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine has put the military's shortfalls into renewed focus, and Chancellor Olaf Scholz has pledged to rebuild the armed forces.

Adding more recruits is intended to help make the army "war-ready," as Pistorius describes it.

Pistorius commissioned studies of various models of compulsory service ahead of Wednesday's announcement.

Mixed reaction from politicians

The proposal met with a mixed response from leading German politicians in parliament. The idea of bringing back compulsory military service is very controversial in the country.

Some lawmakers welcomed the proposal as a useful idea to address military manpower shortages, even as many expressed hesitation over the mandatory elements.

Florian Hahn of the centre-right CDU/CSU opposition bloc said he expected Pistorius to unveil more far-reaching plans that may have included actually bringing back compulsory service, and suspected that Scholz and the coalition had "let him run out of steam" during a nine-month review of the issue.

Dirk Vopel, who like Pistorius is a member of Scholz's Social Democrats (SPD), expressed support for Pistorius' proposal.

"In case of defence, we need a stronger reserve," he said, adding that it's now crucial to "revive structures that have been completely destroyed with the suspension of compulsory military service."

Vopel, however, did not comment specifically on the compulsory questionnaires and a physical examinations proposed by Pistorius, which are controversial within the SPD.

"Regardless of what the legal requirements will look like in concrete terms, the aim must be to recruit significantly more young men and women to serve in the Bundeswehr than before," he said.

Sara Nanni of the Greens said her party was prepared to engage constructively with the proposal, even if there were still many unanswered questions. She said Germany needs an impetus that tells young people "your country needs you," but said the mandatory elements raise legal and social questions.

Alexander Muller of the free-market liberal Free Democrats (FDP) called it an interesting concept but remained uncommitted. He said a light version of compulsory service would be difficult for his party to back.

Rudiger Lucassen of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD), meanwhile, dismissed the proposal as insufficient while also accusing Pistorius of escalating tensions with Russia.

"It puts our entire population in turmoil, because of course it clearly creates a mood of war, which he [Pistorius] also feeds by saying that the Russian Federation and [Russian President Vladimir] Putin would be ready to attack in 2029," said Lucassen.

German Minister of Defense Boris Pistorius presents plans for a new form of military service at a press conference. Kay Nietfeld/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

German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius is to present his plans for a new military service model on Wednesday.

After informing the parliament's defence committee, he plans to explain his proposals at a press conference in the afternoon.

Pistorius has indicated he supports some form of compulsory military service, at least to a limited degree, a controversial issue in Germany.

The country effectively abolished compulsory military or civil service for men in 2011 after 55 years, although German law still provides for possible conscription in the event of war or other tensions.

Germany's military has faced manpower shortages in recent years and last year shrank to 181,500 soldiers despite new efforts to attract volunteers.

Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine prompted a reckoning over the state of Germany's depleted military and a pledge from Chancellor Olaf Scholz's government to rebuild the armed forces.

Pistorius commissioned studies of various models of compulsory service. The minister indicated during a debate in parliament that he does not believe that Germany can rely entirely on volunteers for military service.
German Minister of Defense Boris Pistorius presents plans for a new form of military service at a press conference. Kay Nietfeld/dpa

German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius on Wednesday proposed that the country require young men to register for potential military service, in a move that comes 13 years after Germany effectively abolished national conscription.

Pistorius presented the plan as the basis for a rapid reinforcement of Germany's military, known as the Bundeswehr, which has seen recruitment numbers flag.

From the pool of 400,000 candidates in a given year, an initial 5,000 additional conscripts are intended to be recruited each year from 2025 onwards, with more to follow. "The aim is to let this number grow year on year and thus increase capacities," said Pistorius, adding: "We have to manage this growth."

The new model will consist of basic military service of six months with an option for additional voluntary military service of up to an additional 17 months.

The step would not reinstate conscription. Pistorius instead stressed that he anticipates using the registration questionnaires to see who might have interest in voluntarily doing service with the Bundeswehr.

Pistorius described the idea as "selective military service," designed to allow the military to call up only "the fittest, most suitable and most motivated" for training.

Young men would be required to fill out the questionnaires, but young women would also be given copies and be asked to voluntarily submit the form as well, Pistorius said at a news conference on Wednesday afternoon.

Pistorius said that's because the military service requirement, which remains in Germany's constitution, applies only to men.

The threat situation is completely different to just a few years ago and Russia is waging a war against Ukraine in violation of international law, Pistorius said in justification.

Russia has massively increased its defence spending, is stockpiling weapons systems and has switched to a war economy. "The verbal attacks against NATO countries and other neighbouring states are visibly and audibly increasing," Pistorius said.

Around 40,000 expected to be mustered

Pistorius said that military planners estimate that 400,000 people will have to complete the planned questionnaire each year, and about a quarter of the men could express an interest in entering the military.

Some 40,000 candidates could then take part in the physical check-up. That call-up would be mandatory for those who receive it, but Pistorius stressed that he anticipates only summoning those who indicate a voluntary interest.

"We don't want a boring, meaningless military service," Pistorius said. "But rather a military service that is meaningful and makes sense."

Pistorius said: "According to estimates by the Bundeswehr and NATO, we need around 200,000 more reservists. That means we are talking about a total of around 460,000 soldiers."

The target is therefore 203,000 standing forces, 60,000 current reservists and 200,000 additional reservists. The Bundeswehr currently has just under 181,000 men and women and around 60,000 reservists.

The proposal represents a first step towards potentially reinstating some form of mandatory military service, a controversial issue in Germany, and would require a change to the military service law.

Pistorius stressed on Wednesday that no one would be forced to serve in the military against their will or beliefs: "Of course people will have the right to refuse military service. That remains unchanged."

Those who sign up will receive more than 1,800 ($1,952) per month and a bonus of, for example, 5,000 if they sign up for more than six months.

Military struggling to recruit

Germany effectively abolished conscription in 2011 after 55 years, with a system that also generally allowed men to opt out of the military and do civilian service instead.

Although many of the institutions and facilities for the conscription system have since been dismantled, the country's law continues to allow for mandatory service in the event of war or other tensions.

The Bundeswehr has struggled to recruit enough volunteers to fill the ranks, and last year shrank to 181,500 soldiers despite new efforts to attract volunteers.

Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine has put the military's shortfalls into renewed focus, and Chancellor Olaf Scholz pledged to rebuild the armed forces as a reaction in what he called a turning point, or Zeitenwende in German.

Adding more recruits is intended to help make the army "war-ready," as Pistorius described it.

Pistorius commissioned studies of various models of compulsory service ahead of Wednesday's announcement.

Mixed reaction from politicians

The proposal met with a mixed response from leading German politicians in parliament. The idea of bringing back compulsory military service is very controversial in the country.

Some lawmakers welcomed the proposal as a useful idea to address military manpower shortages, even as many expressed hesitation over the mandatory elements.

Bundeswehr association sees test case for "Zeitenwende"

The chairman of the Bundeswehr Association, Colonel Andre Wustner, had called for decisive steps to be taken in favour of a new military service before Pistorius' plans became known.

Personnel numbers in the Bundeswehr had fallen this month to their lowest level since 2018, Wustner told dpa in Berlin.

"In the coming days, it will become clear who has actually achieved a turning point, at least in terms of defence policy, since the turning point was proclaimed," said Wustner.

"Because anyone who claims this - and I hope that at least the specialized politicians do - will not be able to make a blanket statement against a new form of military service or a new type of compulsory military service."

Chancellor Olaf Scholz declared a "Zeitenwende," or historic turning point, in the country's defence policy following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

German Minister of Defense Boris Pistorius presents plans for a new form of military service at a press conference. Kay Nietfeld/dpa
Robert Habeck, German Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection, pictured at the Ukraine conference. The international reconstruction conference for Ukraine will take place in Berlin on June 11 and 12. Britta Pedersen/dpa

German government ministers urged talks with China and warned of a potential trade escalation on Wednesday after the European Commission publicly warned of possible punitive tariffs on Chinese electric vehicle imports.

Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck, a Green, backed negotiations with China to solve the trade impasse and credited the European Commission with presenting a nuanced report - but also cautioned that the European Union risked an escalating trade conflict.

"It is crucial that we talk now," Habeck said on Wednesday in Berlin. "Tariffs are always only the last resort as a political measure and often the worst way forward."

Germany is a trade and export-oriented country that needs an open market and a level playing field, said Habeck, who is also Germany's economy minister. Violations must be sanctioned, but there there remains an opportunity to attempt to prevent an impending spiral.

"It would be really bad if tariffs were used as a protectionist tool, if we entered into a tariff race with China," Habeck said. "Then the baby would be thrown out with the bathwater."

German Transport Minister Volker Wissing, a member of the free-market liberal Free Democrats (FDP), warned of potential consequences of punitive tariffs.

"The European Commission's punitive tariffs will hit German companies and their top products. Vehicles must become cheaper through more competition, open markets and significantly better production conditions in the EU, not through trade wars and market foreclosure," Wissing wrote in a post on X.
Police officers stand in front of a mosque during a raid. German police and prosecutors carried out raids on a Muslim organization on Wednesday morning, searching properties in both Berlin and the central German city of Braunschweig. dpa

German police and prosecutors carried out raids on a Muslim organization on Wednesday morning, searching properties in both Berlin and the central German city of Braunschweig.

Authorities were enforcing a ban on the German-speaking Muslim Association (DMG), a spokesman for the Lower Saxony Interior Ministry told dpa.

"This ban prohibits any continuation of the association's activities by the previous members and any activity by third parties for the benefit of the banned association," the spokesman said.

He declined to provide any further details, but authorities said that additional information would be provided later in the day.

A report from Lower Saxony's domestic intelligence agency in June 2023 alleged that the Braunschweig-based DMG had become a nationwide meeting point for Salafist preachers, and had significantly expanded its online presence with content on YouTube, TikTok, Spotify and Telegram.

"Every week, the appearances of these nationally known Salafist preachers are also made accessible to a large number of viewers via the various online channels of the DMG Braunschweig," the state's Interior Ministry said in a statement at the time.

According to the ministry, the DMG Braunschweig's YouTube channel alone had around 70,000 subscribers as of May 2023.

"The risk of self-radicalization is and remains high, especially in light of the digital possibilities for information and communication," the ministry said at the time.

The group's website includes postings for numerous opportunities aimed at children and young people. These include Koran camps, children's camps, youth conferences and study circles.
Police officers stand in front of a mosque during a raid. German police and prosecutors carried out raids on a Muslim organization on Wednesday morning, searching properties in both Berlin and the central German city of Braunschweig. dpa

Authorities in Germany have moved to ban a Muslim association based in the central city of Braunschweig, accusing the group of spreading extremist views.

Police also launched several raids aimed at the Braunschweig-based German-Speaking Muslim Association (DMG) on Wednesday morning, which sources told dpa also included searches of two apartments in Berlin.

The Interior Ministry in the state of Lower Saxony, which includes Braunschweig, moved to prohibit the DMG, claiming it conflicts with Germany's constitutional democratic order.

"We do not tolerate associations in which supposed non-believers, women and Jews, as well as our social order as a whole, are regularly devalued and followers called upon to fight them," said Lower Saxony's interior minister, Daniela Behrens. "The ban on the DMG is a hard blow against the Salafist scene in Lower Saxony and beyond."

Behrens said that no arrests were made in the raids, but that assets belonging to the DMG were confiscated.

A report from Lower Saxony's domestic intelligence agency in June 2023 alleged that the Braunschweig-based DMG had become a nationwide meeting point for Salafist preachers, and had significantly expanded its online presence with content on YouTube, TikTok, Spotify and Telegram.

"Every week, the appearances of these nationally known Salafist preachers are also made accessible to a large number of viewers via the various online channels of the DMG Braunschweig," the state's Interior Ministry said in a statement at the time.

According to the ministry, the DMG Braunschweig's YouTube channel alone had around 70,000 subscribers as of May 2023.

"The risk of self-radicalization is and remains high, especially in light of the digital possibilities for information and communication," the ministry said at the time.

The group's website includes postings for numerous opportunities aimed at children and young people. These include Koran camps, children's camps, youth conferences and study circles.
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

Germany's domestic intelligence service has said the number of right-wing extremists being monitored continues to grow, as the nation grapples with the aftermath of the European elections which saw Germany's far-right AfD party win second place.

"We are seeing a renewed increase in the number of violent right-wing extremists," the head of the domestic intelligence services, Thomas Haldenwang, told dpa.

His agency plans to present its annual report for 2023 next week.

An increase of about 14.5%, or 38,800 individuals, reported for 2022 has been mainly attributed to the fact that for the first time parts of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) are being monitored as a known right-wing extremist group.

According to the domestic intelligence agency, some 10,200 members of the party and its youth wing can be classified as right-wing extremists.

The recent rise in right-wing extremism, on the other hand, can be traced back to several, separate movements, Haldenwang said.

The domestic intelligence service classified the AfD as a suspected extremist group in March 2021. Since then, "right-wing extremist tendencies within the party have increased," Haldenwang said.

A higher regional court upheld the label on appeal last month, after the AfD had challenged the intelligence service's classification.

In Germany's eastern states of Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt and Thuringia the party's state-level groups have been classified as confirmed right-wing extremist.

The AfD's signature issue is a hard-line anti-immigration stance, and the party is profiting from increased concern among many German voters over the rising number of people seeking asylum in the country.

In the European elections on Sunday, the AfD placed second in recent European Parliament elections with 15.9%, the AfD's best nationwide result to date and ahead of Chancellor Olaf Scholz's Social Democrats (SPD).
German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius addresses the media during a press conference in Berlin, Germany, Wednesday, June 12, 2024. Germanys defense minister is lobbying for legislation that would help refill the depleted ranks of the armed forces to bolster the country's defense capabilities. (Kay Nietfeld/dpa via AP)

BERLIN (AP)  Germany's defense minister announced on Wednesday plans for new legislation that would help refill the depleted ranks of the armed forces to bolster the country's defense capabilities.

Boris Pistorius said the proposed bill would allow the government to send letters to all young men who turn 18  about 400,000 every year  asking about their willingness and ability to serve in the military.

Under the law, those who receive the letter would have to fill out the questions. The army would then invite those interested in serving for a medical checkup and choose the most qualified to serve in the military for a period of 6-23 months.

Speaking to reporters in Berlin, Pistorius explained that the threat levels have changed from what they were a few years ago.

Russia has now been waging a war against Ukraine for two and a half years  it is not only calling the rules-based international order into question, it is destroying it," he said. This is a new threat situation.

The campaign is part of efforts to boost active forces numbers to 203,000 from the current just under 181,000 figure. Germany had over 500,000 troops during the Cold War.

If the bill passes, the new military service would still be voluntary and a far cry from compulsory conscription for young men, which was suspended in Germany in 2011, after 55 years. Since then, there has been no mandatory military and civilian service in the country.

Germanys conscription act still stipulates that compulsory military service for men can be revived if the parliament declares a state of emergency for defense.

Women who turn 18 would also receive the letters, Pistorius said, but would not be obliged to answer, since Germany's constitution does not foresee mandatory service for them.

After Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, leading to one of most brutal wars in Europe since World War II, calls have steadily grown in Germany to reintroduce some kind of military service to be better prepared for possible future wars.

Only days after Russia attacked Ukraine, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz pledged to increase Germanys defense spending to a NATO target of 2% of gross domestic product and set up the 100 billion-euro ($107 billion) special fund. He said that the invasion marked a turning point.

Pistorius himself has repeatedly said that Germany must become fit for war in order to be able to act as a credible deterrent together with its NATO allies.

If the proposal becomes law, Pistorius expects that of the about 400,000 young men who fill out the questionnaire each year, around a quarter would express an interest in serving in the military. Of those, the army is likely to choose 5,000 most qualified men but hopes to increase that number in the long-term.

Germany's lack of military personnel and equipment is a known problem. In March, the parliament's commissioner for the armed forces said in her annual report that Germanys military still has too little of everything.

The Bundeswehr is aging and shrinking, Eva Hoegl said and acknowledged at the time that the issue of personnel has very clearly arrived on the political agenda.

In the face of perceived growing threats by Russia, other European countries are also considering new forms of military service.

In Britain, the governing Conservative Party said in May that all 18-year-olds in the country would have to perform a year of mandatory military or civilian national service if it wins the July 4 national election.
The Rheinmetall AG logo can be seen on the facade of the company headquarters. Henning Kaiser/dpa

Rheinmetall is to start building its Lynx infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) in Ukraine, the German arms manufacturer announced from the company headquarters in Dusseldorf on Wednesday.

A memorandum of understanding had been signed on the sidelines of the Ukraine Recovery Conference in Berlin, Rheinmetall said. The Lynx has to date been produced only in Germany and Hungary.

Rheinmetall chief executive Armin Papperger plans to begin manufacture in Ukraine soon, according to the statement. "We also want to hand over the first Lynx infantry fighting vehicles to the country this year and start manufacturing these systems in Ukraine in the near future," Papperger said.

Ukraine's Strategic Industries Minister Oleksandr Kamyshin told the German business daily Handelsblatt: "We will produce the first Lynx this year."

A Rheinmetall spokesman said production would be managed by the Rheinmetall Ukrainian Defense Industry company, in which Rheinmetall holds a 51% stake, with the remainder held by Ukraine's UDI state concern.

The Rheinmetall statement indicated that the aim was to supply several hundred of the IFVs under an agreement that is yet to be signed, along with training, maintenance and repair.

Ukraine and Rheinmetall are engaged in several projects, including a Ukrainian competence centre for ammunition agreed in February to produce shells for NATO standard 155 millimetre artillery systems.

"One day Ukraine will join the EU and NATO - and both organizations will have a strong partner with a strong defence industry that does not compete but complements. Let's build the arsenal of the free world together," Kamyshin said according to the Rheinmetall statement.
The Peace Summit in Switzerland is not a platform for direct negotiations between Ukraine and Russia. About 100 countries will take part in the event, and its goal is to develop common parameters for peace based on international law and the UN Charter.

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This was stated by EU High Representative Josep Borrell in a blog post on the website of the European External Action Service. He confirmed that he would come to Switzerland and take part in the Peace Summit in person.

"The Peace Summit organized in Switzerland will bring together almost 100 countries from all parts of the world to discuss how to start the process of ending this war against Ukraine. The EU fully supports these efforts. No one wants peace more than the people of Ukraine, but a lasting peace can only be achieved if it is based on the key principles of the UN Charter," Borrell wrote.

At the same time, Josep Borrell noted that the Peace Summit will also focus on practical issues that also concern Russia: how to strengthen nuclear security, exchange prisoners of war and prisoners of war, and ensure the return to Ukraine of thousands of children abducted by Russia, which is reminiscent of the darkest pages of European history.

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The summit participants will also focus on ensuring freedom of navigation and protecting port infrastructure in the Black Sea.

"The consequences of the war of aggression against Ukraine go far beyond its borders. A protracted or frozen conflict will only prolong instability and threaten global food security and economic stability. Progress in these areas could eventually open up opportunities for engagement with Russia in other areas," Borrell said.

He emphasized that the outcome of this war is existential not only for Ukraine but also for European security. A temporary ceasefire will only allow Moscow to maintain its repressive regime in the occupied territories, undermine international law, and facilitate further Russian territorial expansion.

"Yes, wars usually end with a peace agreement, but the content of this peace agreement is critical for European and global security, as well as for the rules-based international order. Let's turn the Peace Summit in Switzerland into a first step towards a just and UN Charter-based peace in Ukraine," Borrell called.

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As reported by OBOZ.UA:

Earlier, the Office of the President of Ukraine reported that 107 countries and international organizations confirmed their participation in the Global Peace Summit. The Associated Press reported on June 10 that there would be about 90 participants. It is expected that this will be finalized by June 14.

Argentina's President Javier Milei changed his mind "almost at the last minute" and will go to Switzerland for the Peace Summit. He responded to a "special message" sent to him by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Only verified information on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
(Bloomberg) -- Italys prime minister knows her reputation precedes her. Shes also learned that can work to her advantage: When they paint you as Attila the Hun, you might reassure people simply by being Giorgia Meloni.

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Though she takes a gentler approach to disarming critics than the fifth century despot, she has been swift to set the agenda in Europe. Shes won round a skeptical Joe Biden and earned the grudging respect of Olaf Scholz and Emmanuel Macron. While the premiers of France and Germany were humbled by the European elections, she stands out as a rare leader on the front foot as she prepares to host the Group of Seven summit this week.

Through her pragmatism Melonis consolidated more than votes. Shes gained the respect of leaders who were, as recently as two years ago, suspicious of her origins in Italys euroskeptic hard right. But, while her eminence on the international stage owes to a radical break with her own past, that of Italy may yet catch up with her. After a benign period where the countrys had great success wooing bond investors, a mounting debt pile more reminiscent of the bad-old-days is threatening to cause ructions.

Qui per leggere la versione italiana di questo articolo.

The task of repairing public finances augurs decisions that could imperil the loyalty of voters whove just returned her party to the European parliament with an improved tally of seats, and might even force a standoff with the neighbors she has otherwise done so much to impress.

Officials at the finance ministry are painfully aware of the growing strain on the countrys coffers, people familiar with the matter said, and expect to take action imminently either through cuts to spending or extra taxes. But they were under strict orders to do nothing, and say nothing, until after the weekends elections, the officials added, asking for anonymity because they werent authorized to speak publicly.

This account of Melonis attempts to consolidate her position as Europes foremost right-wing politician is based on interviews with dozens of people familiar with her thinking.

As the young leader of Azione Giovani, the youth movement of the hard-right party that rose from the ashes of Italian post-war fascism, Meloni would insist that her schedule be faxed to her the day before, according to a long-time ally. While her politics may have shifted, these exacting habits have not: as prime minister she continues to draw observations for her fastidious note-taking.

She has left nothing to chance at the G-7, tying up as many loose ends as possible and closing in on a major announcement on what to do with Russian assets that were frozen after the 2022s invasion of Ukraine. There is a risk that all that careful choreography is undone by the political chaos recently unleashed in France.

And looming in the background is a curveball even Italys fastidious prime minister may not be able to control. The European Commission is poised to declare the country to be in breach of bloc-wide spending rules, turning the spotlight on its dysfunctional economy.

By failing to keep its deficit within bounds, Italy is in good company. But its wayward euro-zone peers include a couple of borderline cases that could be spared, people familiar with the matter said. An unfortunate distinction for the EUs 3rd biggest economy is that its debt is projected to keep expanding.

A demanding adjustment could spell trouble for Meloni and complicate relations inside her coalition, if ministries spending is reined in. Her finance minister Giancarlo Giorgetti has privately told allies that he doesnt want to take the blame when Brussels comes calling, Bloomberg reported last week.

Officials unveiled a deteriorating fiscal outlook in April, when they acknowledged the trajectory for Italys debt had shifted to one where borrowing will rise for years to come. The IMF now reckons that Italys debt pile will breach 140% of output as soon as next year, while it sees that ratio in the wider euro zone falling slightly to 88.3%.

And just when last thing Italys economy needs is an exogenous shock, Frances Macron has engineered drama which is threatening to contaminate his neighbors. The yield premium that investors demand to hold Italian 10-year bonds over those of Germany suddenly rose to the highest in four months yesterday, amid uncertainty about Frances snap election.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will attend the G-7 talks at a resort overlooking the Adriatic Sea. She and Meloni have forged an unlikely friendship, with Von der Leyen, who remains well placed to retain the presidency, signaling in advance of the elections her openness to formalizing a partnership with parts of Melonis bloc. Its a sign of how far Italys premiers evolved  but also of how the center of European politics has shifted toward her.

In her short tenure shes worked hard to project a renewed sense of importance for Rome in the European Union, in part by making signature policies such as her plan to process asylum applications in Albania, and the Mattei plan for Africa, marketable to other bloc capitals, according to people with knowledge of her governments diplomatic efforts.

The Albania arrangement has drawn controversy but also unlikely acceptance, with even Germanys center-left chancellor committing publicly to study the model.

No one else at the EUs top table has demonstrated an ability to so easily cross ideological divides and do business with Scholz, von der Leyen and even Hungarys Viktor Orban at the same time. Meloni was instrumental in demolishing the latters opposition to EU aid for Ukraine, even though her own domestic coalition partners retain the warmer stance toward Russia thats at odds with the policy she was enforcing. In recognition of her pragmatic transatlanticism she and Biden have developed a very close relationship, according to one US official.

Beyond her dexterity on the world stage, Meloni attracts reluctant admiration from ideological opponents at home. Opposition figures and even left-leaning civil servants repeatedly sound out one message: you may dislike her politics, ma e brava, but shes good.

That feeling is not always returned. You were either alongside her 30 years ago hanging posters as a student politician or you cant be on her team now, one person said, citing the experiences of several journalists affiliated with the public broadcaster whove attempted to switch allegiances to her party under her mandate  and been rebuffed.

The paranoia represents an accurate read of sentiment toward her in large swathes of the country. Even though her partys 29% share of the vote in EU elections represents a mild improvement on the polls that brought her to power, support for the center-left parties opposing her coalition has grown faster.

This leaves the prime minister turning more isolated and distrustful, according to those around her. This, the people say, makes it hard for her to delegate, with every decision needing her approval before it can be moved forward. That could herald problems when it comes to orchestrating a sensitive economic adjustment.

Click here to listen to Donato Paolo Mancini discuss Melonis challenges on the Europe Daybreak Podcast.

Until now, Meloni has seemed to have it all figured out. She is, in her very own words, that bitch. At least, thats what she told a regional governor last month, after hed been caught  on a hot mic  bestowing the epithet on his countrys first female prime minister.

That ability to turn barbs into strengths is one way shes retained the adoration of her populist base even while cleaving to EU orthodoxy. There are signs that she may yet apply this tactic to the economy. Rather than letting the public finances undermine her, shes already started to seed the argument that theyre a reason to strengthen her mandate.

In late May, the prime minister acknowledged Italys precarious fiscal situation, but blamed it on the constant need to secure trade-offs between coalition parties.

Meloni said: When you have, on average, a political horizon of about a year and a half, you cant start a strategy, you cant invest. What you can do is spend  spend to attain immediate consensus.

The solution shes been campaigning for is to strengthen the office of prime minister.

That could deal the final blow to the underdog persona she knows is key to retaining support at home. I have always been and always will be proud of being an ordinary person, she told party members at a recent rally, amid roaring chants of Giorgia, Giorgia.

--With assistance from Jorge Valero, Alessandra Migliaccio, Chiara Albanese, Michael Nienaber, Alberto Nardelli and Giovanni Salzano.

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Girl who went missing on way to school in Germany found dead

(L-R) Carsten Kaempf, Chief of Police of Chemnitz, Mandy Kuerschner, Head of the Criminal Investigation Department of the Chemnitz Police Department, and Ingrid Burghart from the Chemnitz public prosecutor's office leave the podium after a press conference held by the Chemnitz Police Department. A nine-year-old girl who vanished on her way to school in eastern Germany last week has been found dead in a wooded area following a massive search effort. Robert Michael/dpa

A nine-year-old girl who vanished on her way to school in eastern Germany last week has been found dead in a wooded area following a massive search effort.

Police said the girl, Valeriia, was the victim of a crime and that the "absolute focus" is now on identifying the perpetrator.

"The loss of a child is heartbreaking," said Carsten Kaempf, the chief of police in the nearby city of Chemnitz.

Valeriia is Ukrainian and moved to Germany with her mother in 2022. They settled in the town of Dobeln, about 40 kilometres north-east of Chemnitz. The girl's father reportedly has remained in Ukraine, and has been in close contact with German authorities.

She was last seen on June 3 as she was on her way to school, but she never arrived. Her disappearance became major news across Germany, and the subject of an intense search and investigation.

Her body was discovered on Tuesday during a search that involved more than 400 police officers from the surrounding region.

The location was about 4 kilometres away from her home, "away from any forest paths, deep in the undergrowth," said Mandy Kurschner, head of the Chemnitz criminal investigation department, at a press conference on Wednesday.

Prosecutors believe the place where her body was found was also the scene of the crime. Kurschner said the body likely wouldn't have been discovered without the intensive search.

There are no indications she was the victim of a sexual crime, said Ingrid Burghart, spokeswoman for the public prosecutor's office in Chemnitz. She stressed that the criminal investigation is proceeding on suspicion of murder or manslaughter against an unidentified perpetrator.
Pexels.com photo by Katerina Holmes.

Whos smarter in school, girls or boys? You would think girls are, based on lots of evidence.

On the gold standard National Assessment of Educational Progress tests, boys trail girls in reading while math scores are roughly equivalent. In Marylands own tests, girls hold a big lead in reading while boys have a small edge in math.

The divergence begins early. Girls are 14 percentage points more likely to be school ready at age 5  a much bigger gap than the one between rich and poor children, or Black and white children. By high school, boys have significantly lower grade point averages and higher dropout rates.

And its a worldwide phenomenon.

Why does the gap exist and what can be done about it?

Before we answer these questions, it should also be of deep concern that on the surface, girls may not be that academically smart either. In Maryland, though doing better than boys, only 52 percent of girls are achieving proficiency in reading. So maybe the problem lies less with boys and girls and more with adults in public office and educators who fail to provide enough opportunity for all schoolchildren to succeed.

Still, the gap matters. Alas the reasons for it are, you guessed it, complicated. To start, lets dispose of IQ as the cause. As reported in Neuroscience News, Psychology and intelligence researchers are unequivocal: men and women do not differ in actual IQ. There is no smarter sex.

Rather, the most credible explanation for the gender gap is that boys develop important skills and good habits later than girls. According to research, the prefrontal cortex in the brain matures about 2 years later in boys than in girls.

By the end of kindergarten, boys were a whole year behind in such traits as capacity to pay attention, follow directions, finish school work, and stay organized. This is often fatal. Their late start puts them at a huge disadvantage since all students who fall behind in the early grades in learning foundational skills for reading rarely catch up.

Up the grade ladder, the differences in learning styles between boys and girls widen. Girls are more apt to plan ahead, set academic goals, and put effort into achieving those goals. Boys have less discipline and are less conscientious.

All the while, boys tend to overstate their intelligence while girls underestimate theirs: Its been called the male hubris, female humility syndrome.

A related reason for the gender gap may be that boys, who equal girls in innate academic abilities, get lower grades because teachers  may subconsciously reward students exhibiting traditional female behaviour, such as quietness and neatness, which makes life easier for them.

No easy answers

There are no easy ways to unravel these developmental, psychological and social threads. But a standout effort to try is found in a 2022 book: Of Boys and Men: Why the Modern Male is Struggling, Why It Matters, and What To Do about It, written by Richard V. Reeves, a Brookings Institution scholar.

Reeves serves up three main school policy prescriptions. The most intriguing is to redshirt all boys; that is, enroll all boys in kindergarten a year later than girls. (Redshirting is a common term for when colleges hold athletes out of competition for a year to improve their skills or maturity.)

While redshirting boys is a novel proposal, it has roots in longstanding practices under which some kindergarten or first-year students are held back and placed for a year in a transitional program. This happens predominantly in some private schools where parents can afford to pay for an extra year of school. But why shouldnt an extra year be available for all children, as advocated by policy expert Michael J. Petrilli and others? The extra year up front, its argued, avoids the later loss of self-esteem and stigma of retention.

Still, Reevess proposal is a political non-starter. Redshirting boys only, notwithstanding the gender gap, may be illegal discrimination against girls. Plus, the additional year of school for boys would be a budget-buster for already underfunded public schools.

The second policy Reeves advances is recruitment of more men as teachers. According to some evidence, male teachers might improve the academic outcomes for some boys.  Its a national shame, Reeves writes, that only 3% of preK and kindergarten teachers are men.

The catch here is that almost all school systems are already making such an effort, with scant success. In Maryland, Black men comprise just 4% of all teachers.

Reevess third proposal is a massive investment in male-friendly vocational education and training. Thats a great idea. The pillar on career as well as college preparation in the Blueprint for Marylands Future is particularly well designed and potentially beneficial. It aims to equip students to graduate and get good jobs if thats their choice. Key is upgrading career and technology education (CTE) so that students have a menu of career preparation programs developed in collaboration with employers.

Still, giving girls second-class treatment in CTE is unfair (even if were legal and thats dubious). It seems all the more unacceptable in the context of gender inequality in the workplace. As one author put it, girls beat boys at school and lose to them at the office. Women are still up against the glass ceiling, old boys networks and sexual harassment.

One more possibility is single-sex schools, but they have a checkered track record. (Ironically, three successful single-sex schools in Baltimore City are exclusively for girls.)

So where are we? Ive shot down Reeves remedies, but what recommendations do I have to offer? Sorry dear readers: I dont think that any initiatives that focus only on boys will do little more than tweak the system. Boys scores are unlikely to rise unless girls do, too. A rising tide of public school reform lifts all boats.

So boys and girls alike, all aboard the Blueprint ship and, hopefully, full steam ahead for passage to school success.

The post Are girls smarter than boys? Not exactly appeared first on Maryland Matters.
Giuliani lawyers argue "possible" 9/11 cancer should keep him out of bankruptcy woes

In a hearing on former New York City mayor Rudy Giulianis 2023 bankruptcy  and whether a third-party financial overseer would be necessary after he allegedly hid assets and blew past spending limits set by a Manhattan court  lawyers argued he was possibly suffering from lung cancer stemming from 9/11.

Per his attorneys in a Monday court filing, Giuliani is suffering from possible 9/11 lung disease and his future earning capacity is limited both by his age and future health, according to Newsweek.

Giuliani, who led the countrys largest city in the wake of the September 11th terrorist attacks, spent much of the subsequent weeks on site at Ground Zero coordinating rescue and clean-up efforts, a task that earned him the title of Americas Mayor and a 79% percent approval rating 6 weeks after the attack.

Giulianis reputation has taken a hit since, becoming closely tied to far-right movements and election conspiracy theories and falling into financial and legal trouble.

Beyond potential health complications, Giulianis earning capacity may be limited due to threats to his Bar standing in multiple municipalities due to his role in the Trump campaigns attempts to overturn the 2020 Presidential election. The advisor to Donald Trump also faces a felony indictment in Arizona, served to him at his 80th birthday party last month.

9/11 first responders and those present in the wake of the attack are subject to significant health risks. Lung cancer, asthma, post-traumatic stress disorder, and other diseases are tied to ground zero exposure, with new research from Stony Brook University suggesting a link between 9/11 responders and higher incidence of dementia. The study focused on responders who, like Giuliani, were present at the rubble without personal protective equipment, and found a ninefold increase in dementia incidence.
Children play in the water at the Foxboro North Regional Park splash pad in North Salt Lake on Wednesday, June 12, 2024. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News

Climate scientists at Oxford University Physics say they demonstrated in a first-of-its-kind study how high tech weather forecasts can be used to connect global emissions and their impact on extreme weather.

In new studies of recent events in both the United Kingdom and the United States, they assessed the impact of global warming at a local scale and found that human activity both worsened specific weather events and made them more likely to happen.

We have shown for the first time that the same top-quality models used for weather forecasting, which are tested relentlessly every day, can be used to show the impacts of global warming, said Myles Allen, who leads the Oxford University Physics research team.

Weather forecasters could  and should  both warn people of extreme weather and explain how it is being affected by climate change, Allen added. It isnt a simple case of climate change making all weather worse: some events, like prolonged winter cold, have become less likely.

The National Weather Service in Salt Lake City, in fact, issued a warning Wednesday about Utah heat in a social post.

High temperatures for most of Utah will range from the 90s-100s Wednesday and again Thursday. Stay hydrated, wear light colored clothing, and take breaks, especially if working or recreating outdoors! #utwx pic.twitter.com/xb3TldGaqO  NWS Salt Lake City (@NWSSaltLakeCity) June 12, 2024

Researchers say their findings showed a direct connection between human behavior and extreme weather events, such as relentless heat waves.

Climate change and human influence is having a very clear impact on certain extreme weather like storms and heatwaves, said Nicholas Leach, who led the U.S. study. Human influence made this 2021 heatwave at least eight times more likely, and we also found the risk of similar heatwaves occurring is doubling every 20 years at the current rate of global warming.

The study published in late May in Nature Communications applied the same approach to the U.S. Pacific Northwest heat wave, thought to have killed over 800 people in June 2021.

The heat persisted nearly 30 days and caused an estimated $8.9 billion in damage, helping to fuel wildfires that charred more than 18 million acres.

Another study published in April detailed the dangerous effects of the heat dome that swamped the Pacific Northwest and warned that extreme wildfires could easily outpace the resources available to quell them.

Resulting smoke swamped the West, including Utah  driving up dangerous levels of harmful pollutants like PM 2.5, for fine particulate matter.

Firefighters battle a wildfire from the ground as a helicopter drops water above them in Springville on Monday, Aug. 1, 2022. The fire started when a man tried to burn a spider with a lighter. | Kristin Murphy, Deseret News

The exceptional heat and wildfires have undercut many of the pollution-reduction achievements made under the Clean Air Act, with a study by the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration pointing to widespread impacts in 2020.

That year on a day in August, 43 million people felt the effects of harmful pollutants, with 68.5% of the West suffering under heat and wildfire smoke.

Such extreme weather events do not come without costs and risks to public health.

In the United States, the cost of dealing with 28 separate weather and climate disasters in 2023 alone topped a record $90 billion, according to the National Center for Environmental Information.

The Oxford study underscored the uncertainty built into modeling, but researchers say they overcame that by using high-resolution weather forecasting models to simulate extreme weather as if it had occurred in a world without human influence on climate, and in a warmer world of the future. Their models could simulate and predict even unprecedented weather events and can also be used to understand and quantify how human behavior is changing them, according to researchers.

Logan Mitchell, climate scientist and energy analyst with Utah Clean Energy, said the Oxford study represents important research that will inform the public.

Utilizing weather forecasting tools to better understand how the changing climate is contributing to extreme weather events will help us get a better understanding of the true societal costs of continued emissions of greenhouse gases, he said.

Mitchell added: Historically, weather forecasters have been more cautious about attributing extreme weather to the changing climate. This new research shows how weather-forecast based climate attribution can be done, which will help educate the public and policy-makers about the significant impacts that the changing climate is having already and will increase in the future.
The Glynn County Police Department wants to warn you about phone and internet scams after a recent scam arrest.

A St. Simons Island woman was scammed out of several thousand dollars, the department announced in a news release Wednesday. When scammers tried to repeat the scam, the victim contacted the police, and they set up a sting operation.

During the second scam attempt, the scammers told the victim her home computer was breached and her bank account compromised. The scammers told her to withdraw several thousand dollars and deliver the money to a courier who would pick up the money to help her establish new safer accounts.

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The sting operation resulted in the courier, Linzhou Song, being arrested. Song faces one count of criminal attempt to commit theft by deception.

Officers found evidence that the scammers targeted people in Georgia and Florida, and other law enforcement agencies have been notified.

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Culture war amendments that could be added to the Houses mammoth annual defense bill threaten to turn the normally bipartisan measure into a partisan one, potentially complicating its path to final approval and creating headaches for GOP leaders down the line.

The House will vote this week on whether to attach those amendments to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). Any number of them would sink support from Democrats, who supported the bill as it came out of committee and had praised its bipartisanship.

With the House GOPs extremely thin majority, an NDAA with the culture war amendments would mean Republican leaders have little room for error.

And if approved, the measures will be a point of contention again down the line as the House negotiates a final version of the defense bill with the Democratic-led Senate.

One top priority for conservatives, led by Rep. Beth Van Duyne (R-Texas), would block a Biden administration policy to reimburse service members for the travel costs when obtaining an abortion.

Other items led by Reps. Matt Rosendale (R-Mont.) and Ralph Norman (R-S.C.) would prohibit the Department of Defense from covering gender-affirming surgeries for transgender individuals. Amendments led by Norman and Reps. Jim Banks (R-Ind.) and Clay Higgins (R-La.) would take aim at diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) offices and programs, through hiring freezes or eliminating entire offices and positions.

This Republican leadership wouldnt know bipartisanship if it hit em in the back of the head, said Rep. Jim McGovern (D-Mass.), the ranking member on the House Rules Committee. Bottom line is, this is a bill that passed 57 to 1 out of committee, and theyre going to load it up with all of these crappy poison pill MAGA right-wing amendments, and itll be a partisan bill. Its just wasting time, because the Senates not going to go for what theyre proposing, and neither will the White House.

The risk of losing Democratic support for the traditionally bipartisan bill is prompting opposition to some amendments from Rep. Don Bacon (R-Neb.), a moderate member of the House Armed Services Committee.

I may vote against some of these, even though I may agree with them personally. But I want to make sure were going to pass it. Were probably going to need some Democrat support, Bacon said. Youve got 10 or 20 of these guys who arent going to vote for the defense bill, and theyre the ones who put these poison pills up.

Other members, though, are not as concerned about the effect that the socially conservative amendments will have on the must-pass legislation, which also includes a pay raise for troops.

Its important to draw the line, and I think its a very mild line, Rep. Dan Crenshaw (R-Texas) said. Sometimes I think were trying to go a little too far and its so unrealistic as to be counterproductive. But on some of this stuff, I really dont think it is  Were just trying to put the [Department of Defense] back into kind of the same cultural footing that it was in just not very long ago. Were not asking for anything crazy here.

The culture war amendments had been a point of contention in the House GOP last year, getting added to the Houses defense bill after pressure from the right flank. Many of the same amendments are on this years list.

A few of the items made it in the final version that was signed into law, including measures to restrict critical race theory at military academies and ban unauthorized flags on military bases, having the effect of prohibiting the flying of LGBTQ flags.

But the abortion, transgender surgery and DEI provisions did not make it into the final version. Speaker Mike Johnsons (R-La.) handling of the final NDAA negotiation had earned him sharp criticism from the House Freedom Caucus, saying the negotiation on the final bill had undermine[d] many of the most critical House GOP positions.

To hard-line conservatives, the point of the amendments is to have the opportunity to negotiate to get some of them signed into law down the line  and to get members on the record on the provisions.

Its always kind of about the process and making sure you can get the shot to have some votes on these things, said Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas), a Freedom Caucus member.

But while the hard-line conservatives were aggressive in pushing for their priorities last year, the NDAA amendments so far have been much less of a public battle. Whether they take a more aggressive stance on the bill later on will likely depend on which amendments are approved this week.

It depends on how many there are that dont get voted out, and then well make a judgment call, Norman said.

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GOP hack tries to hijack new No Labels political party from 20,000 Kansans | Opinion

Kristian Van Meteren already has a firm hold on one political party in Kansas. Its hard to figure out why he needs another.

Van Meteren is the owner of Singularis group, the go-to resource for Republican candidates in Kansas and Missouri who need their image burnished or an opponent slimed. When your mailbox is stuffed with sleazy and misleading boilerplate political mailers every election season, chances are they originated in Van Meterens shop in Olathe.

But apparently, dominating Republican Party consulting and mailing isnt enough to fulfill Van Meterens political ambition, because hes actively trying to hijack one of Kansas new minor parties, the No Labels Party.

More than 20,000 Kansans signed petitions for the No Labels Party to get it on the ballot. Theyre tired of politics as usual, especially as practiced by Van Meteren with his slash-and-burn attacks on local Democrats as tools of Nancy Pelosi, Antifa and various other imaginary boogeymen of the far right.

No Labels qualified for a line on the Kansas ballot in January, making it Kansas fourth political party and second minor party.

The national organization worked to gain ballot access in a number of states with the express purpose of running a national unity ticket for president and vice president, but ultimately abandoned that effort.

In Kansas, minor parties dont get to participate in the August primary election, which is reserved for Republicans and Democrats. But they can nominate candidates for the November general election by holding a party caucus or convention.

Although he had no previous involvement with No Labels or the petition drive to earn its ballot line, Van Meteren filed paperwork to incorporate under three names: No Labels Kansas, Inc., No Labels Kansas Party, Inc. and No Labels Party of Kansas, Inc.

Then came the weird part.

Hes released a bizarre video of what he claimed to be the No Labels Party convention, of which he was the sole attendee. He nominated and voted himself in as chairman of his party of one.

Then, he nominated two candidates: His wife, Echo Van Meteren, for the Leavenworth-based 5th Kansas Senate District, and incumbent 2nd District Sen. Marci Francisco, a Democrat from Lawrence.

The certificate of nomination filed by Kris Van Meteren for Echo Van Meteren.

The apparent purpose of nominating Francisco is to throw a wrench in her re-election bid. Shes being challenged in the Democratic primary by state Rep. Christina Haswood, also of Lawrence.

Lawrence is the only real Democratic stronghold in Kansas, but the presence of two popular Democrats on the Senate ballot in November could split the vote and create an opening for Republican David Miller, a friend of Van Meteren, to steal the seat for the GOP.

Fortunately, Secretary of State Scott Schwab saw through the scam and rejected Van Meterens personal nominees. Schwab also has raised the possibility that Van Meteren violated a Kansas law against impersonating a political party official.

So now Van Meteren is trying to play the victim card, saying: 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.

Thanks Kris. Except for the part about you showing up yesterday, I couldnt have said it better myself.

Van Meterens been in this column before and not in a good way.

In November 2022, he put out a deceptive mailer urging pro-choice Kansans to vote out members of the Kansas Supreme Court  when the court is the only thing standing in the way of the Legislature banning abortions. He laundered the money for that little exercise in dishonesty through a charitable foundation he owns, changing its name twice to try to cover his tracks.

But possibly the worst part of all this is that the real chairperson of the Kansas No Labels Party, Glenda Reynolds of Whitewater, is in no position to defend herself or the fledgling party. Shes in hospice care and reportedly non-communicative.

So not only did Van Meteren try to take advantage of more than 20,000 Kansans who signed petitions to do things in a different way, he did it by climbing over the body of a dying woman.

Thats reprehensible and inexcusable.

No Labels is supposed to be about, well, no labels.

But Kristian Van Meteren has earned this one: Charlatan.
House Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Republicans are looking for ways to advance their agenda next year if former President Donald Trump were to win back the presidency. Top of the list: a tax overhaul.

In a meeting with Senate Republicans on Wednesday, Johnson highlighted using a procedural tool known as reconciliation to move ahead with the GOP agenda. Reconciliation allows the Senate to pass legislation with just a simple majority vote and has been used by both parties in the past to advance changes to health care and tax policy among other issues. The GOP used the process under Trump to re-write the countrys tax laws, many of which will expire at the end of next year.

Republican Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina said that the roughly 30-minute discussion largely focused on potential changes to tax policy.

We were really talking more about future transactions, you know, the way that well go about tax reform, those sorts of things, if we get a good outcome in November, that was really the extent of it, Tillis told CNN, adding later that what were talking about now is just getting everybodys expectations right on what you can do with reconciliation, what you cant do.

But other senators argued that reconciliation could be used far beyond just tax changes. Sen. Kevin Cramer of North Dakota told CNN that Republicans also brainstormed how they could address the border as well as other mandatory spending besides Medicare and Social Security.

The main idea is lets think big. Lets think bigger than just taxes, Cramer said.

Sen. John Cornyn of Texas echoed this sentiment.

He made clear they werent giving up on trying to contain spending, Cornyn said of Johnson. I suggested to him that we need to look at more than just discretionary spending. We look at mandatory non-Social Security and non-Medicare, because both Biden and Trump have said they dont want to go there. But theres a bunch of money to be spent on mandatory spending that he said we ought to look at that, and then the tax code, as well.

Cornyn said one of the goals of the meeting was to demonstrate a plan to hit the ground running if Republicans sweep in 2024.

The conversation was an opportunity for Johnson and GOP senators to align themselves behind an agenda that the entire party could rally around and unite the GOP ahead of the election in November.

Johnson left the Senate GOP lunch Wednesday encouraged, and laid out some of the potential priorities for the next Congress if Republicans make a sweep of the House, Senate and White House.

Theres a lot of interest in fixing the great problems that have besieged this country, he told reporters. I think theres a lot of anticipation about what can be accomplished when we have unified government again.

Johnson told reporters that there was a lot of discussion around policy priorities they could pass under reconciliation and that he believes they need to be aggressive.

But the Democrats have used reconciliation much more aggressively than the Republican party has in recent years. And so, were not going to make that mistake again. We have big policy changes that wed like to enact, he said. To us these are important fixes, and I think things that can be done early in the Congress.

Specifically, Johnson indicated that they are focusing on major changes to tax policy if they have a unified government.

Theres going to be regulatory reform, reducing the size and scope of government, and then with regard to other forward thinking, pro-growth policies, things that we can enact in a number of policy areas, Johnson added. Thats what we are looking at very creatively and, I think, deliberately.

Not everyone, however, was sold on Johnsons message.

Missouri Sen. Josh Hawley said the meeting surrounded Johnsons efforts to sync up the house in the Senate to plan reconciliation bills going forward. He was very skeptical leaving the meeting and said the chief focus should be on winning.

The Trump tax cuts expire next year, and so, Im sure that if we have control of both chambers at the White House, well try to do that through reconciliation, as youd expect, Hawley said. Number one, we better focus on winning the majority, because Ive heard this song and dance before.

Cornyn said Johnson wanted to tell us that there have become some preliminary discussions about reconciliation, of course, all thats going to depend on whether we hit the trifecta or not.

Its better to plan now, and I think hes, you know, hes got a little bit more difficult job, trying to get 450 people you know, roughly moving in the same direction, Cornyn said.

During his weekly news conference, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell said the elections in November will determine what Republicans are able to do in January.

The first step is we need to have a Republican president, a Republican House and a Republican Senate, or there will be no reconciliation at all, McConnell said. It is an important tool. We hope to have an opportunity to use it and well find out the first Tuesday in November.

On a lighter note, Johnson also did a pretty convincing Trump imitation that provided some levity in his meeting with Senate Republicans that was otherwise bogged down by heavy policy subjects.

Cornyn was asked if the presumptive GOP presidential candidates name came up during the lunchtime meeting. Cornyn replied, not really before recalling that Johnson slipped into character at one point.

He mimicked Trump a little bit. Hes pretty good. A pretty convincing Trump imitation, Cornyn told reporters after the meeting.

Hes pretty good, Cornyn added. An impression is what I meant.

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House Republicans are blasting Wall Street firms over climate-minded investing, the latest flare in the partys criticism over environmental, social and governance (ESG) investing.

House Judiciary Committee Republicans on Tuesday released a report accusing leading investment firms of colluding with climate groups.

Specifically, they accused major asset managers BlackRock, State Street and Vanguard of being part of a climate cartel that also includes activist groups.

The report itself primarily focuses on the actions of activist organizations that seek to move these and other asset managers away from investing in planet-warming industries like fossil fuels.

It alleged specifically that a group called Climate Action 100+ Bullies and Threatens Asset Managers, Weaponizing Their Clients to Force Them to Join and Obey the Climate Cartel.

The group, which promotes climate-friendly investing, denied the accusations, saying in a statement that it was unduly politicized.

Investors who undertake investor stewardship on climate change are pursuing a common-sense approach driven by the pursuit of delivering the best long-term returns for their clients and beneficiaries, said a Climate Action 100+ spokesperson in a written statement.

Climate Action 100+ investors act as independent fiduciaries, responsible for their individual investment and voting decisions, the spokesperson added.

State Street left Climate Action 100+ earlier this year, and BlackRock transferred its participation to its international division. Vanguard is not a member, and left the Net Zero Asset Managers Initiative in 2022.

Vanguard spokesperson Netanel Spero said in a written statement that as an independent asset manager owned by the investors in our funds, Vanguards singular mission is to help individual investors achieve their financial goals by giving them the best chance for investment success.

Meanwhile, the GOP report also blasts the Biden administration, saying it has failed to meaningfully investigate the climate cartels collusionlet alone bring enforcement actions.

The panel described its findings as part of an interim report and says it will continue its investigation.

It also said that it will continue to look into whether Congress should pursue legislative reforms to protect competition in the American economy.

Any legislative efforts are unlikely to gain traction in the current Congress, as the Senate is controlled by Democrats and President Biden is also unlikely to sign Republican reforms into law.

But the effort, alongside the GOPs broader push against ESG investing, could provide a window into the partys agenda if its able to win the presidency and both chambers of Congress this fall.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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US President Joe Biden has approved the transfer of another Patriot missile system to Ukraine. The decision was made last week: the system is currently in Poland.

ADVERTISIMENT

This was reported by The New York Times. Meanwhile, the Norwegian Ministry of Defense announced the allocation of 240 million euros to strengthen Ukraine's air defense against Russian attacks.

The New York Times, citing senior White House and military officials, reported that Biden had approved the deployment of another Patriot missile system in Ukraine. The decision is due to the need to strengthen Ukraine's defense against Russia's increasingly brutal air attacks.

"Biden's decision was made last week, officials said, after a series of high-level meetings and internal debates on how to meet Ukraine's urgent needs for enhanced air defense without jeopardizing U.S. readiness," the report said.

The system to be delivered to Ukraine is currently in Poland, where it has been protecting rotational forces of U.S. troops returning to the United States.

ADVERTISIMENT

"According to U.S. officials, the system could be deployed to the front lines in Ukraine in the next few days, depending on any maintenance or modifications it requires. One of the best air defense systems in the United States, the Patriot includes a powerful radar system and mobile launchers that effectively shoot down air weapons," the publication notes.

At the same time, Patriot is one of the most scarce systems in the US arsenal. A Pentagon official told the publication that the US Army has deployed only 14 of them in the United States and around the world.

"American allies also have Patriots, and two of those countries have sent a couple to Ukraine, but U.S. officials say they hope European nations will send more," The New York Times writes.

So far, two countries have responded to the call. Germany has deployed one Patriot system, and Chancellor Olaf Scholz said the second will be deployed by the end of June. The Netherlands has also deployed one such system, and negotiations are underway to send a second one.

ADVERTISIMENT

Meanwhile, the Norwegian Ministry of Defense said that the country will allocate 240 million euros to strengthen Ukraine's air defense.

"Today Germany confirmed that together with Norway, Denmark and the Netherlands it will finance the re-procurement of the Patriot system so that 100 Patriot missiles can be quickly delivered to Ukraine. Norway will provide 125 million euros for this cooperation," the statement said.

Only verified information on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber . Do not fall for fakes!
GOPs Robinson tells Moms for Liberty he wants to get DEI out of schools, government

Republican gubernatorial candidate Mark Robinson made a rare appearance at the North Carolina Legislative Building on Wednesday to speak to the conservative group Moms for Liberty, telling them he wants to replace DEI.

DEI stands for diversity, equity and inclusion, and has been targeted by Republicans so far in the UNC System, which is eliminating DEI programs. Robinson wants more such eliminations.

These agendas need to be removed from our schools, Robinson told the Moms for Liberty members. They need to be removed from our government. We need to get back to back to doing what we do best.

Robinson, who is now the lieutenant governor, said that DEI standing for diversity, equity and inclusion sounds nice, but we all know, its wrecking systems all across the nation, all across the state.

Robinson is running this fall against Democratic Attorney General Josh Stein.

Our teachers deserve our respect and appreciation, Morgan Hopkins, a spokesperson for Steins campaign, said in a statement. Mark Robinson calls them wicked people and demons.

He just wants to fight job-killing culture wars. Josh Stein understands the importance of strengthening public education and as Governor, he will fight for badly-needed investments that support teachers and students and help strengthen North Carolinas future.

Robinsons definition of DEI

Speaking to Moms for Liberty, Robinson said, Well, Ive got a plan to replace DEI with something I call DEI.

My version of DEI is not diversity, equity and inclusion. My version of DEI is something ... this nation, this state, our institutions need to bring back.. ... Its what we used to search for in this country: ... discipline, excellence and intelligence.

He was met with cheers from the crowd.

Robinson praised Moms for Liberty for standing up for what is right.

The ultra-conservative group of mothers arose during pandemic school closures for its opposition to mask requirements in schools, as well as what members call indoctrination in schools.

Republican Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson, who is running for governor, speaks at a Moms for Liberty rally outside the Legislative Building in Raleigh, N.C., Wednesday, June 12, 2024.

Jessica Lewis, a parent of two children in the Wake County school system, is vice chair of the Wake County chapter of Moms for Liberty. She told The News & Observer that she liked Robinsons speech because he stands for parental rights. Everything that we believe in the school systems, getting the indoctrination away from the kids and gender ideologies. Hes a strong lieutenant governor right now, and I hope he is our next governor.

She claimed that DEI is hurting our kids and said she plans to fight the Wake County School Board until they get the basics of reading and writing and math for my kids, and get DEI and CRT, social-emotional learning, out of the equation.

Moms for Liberty and Robinson events

The Moms for Liberty group was there Wednesday for a legislative advocacy day. Last year on that day, they were at the lieutenant governors office a block away.

Brooke Weiss, the Mecklenburg County chapter chair of Moms for Liberty, said that in addition to speaking at their legislative day a year ago, Robinson also attended the groups national summit last year.

Hes always supported us, Weiss said. I dont even think we gave him a copy of our legislative agenda. But we like him, because he talks about a lot of the same things that we talk about.

Republican Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson, who is running for governor, speaks at a Moms for Liberty rally outside the Legislative Building in Raleigh, N.C., Wednesday, June 12, 2024.

Anti-government extremist group

Last year, the Southern Poverty Law Center labeled Moms for Liberty as an anti-government extremist group. The center has given the same label to the John Birch Society, which had a speaker at Wednesdays Moms for Liberty event.

A repeated theme from speakers was the charge that LGBTQ groups are trying to indoctrinate and sexualize students.

If only our world was filled with sunshine and dad jokes and rainbows, said Charlie Misseijer, national director of policy and legislative affairs for Moms for Liberty. Well, I suppose its currently filled with rainbows.

But its the shoving down of our throats with agendas like that during the month of June, celebrating adult sexual choices and forcing our children to accept those choices or pay the consequences.

Misseijer told the audience that its getting harder to fight that agenda because Satan is like a roaring lion, seeking who he may devour. He said moms have chosen to arm themselves to fight the wiles of the devil.

After the rally, Weiss told reporters she hadnt heard Misseijers Satan comments.

Weiss said Moms for Liberty is not against LGBTQ individuals, pointing to a speech given Wednesday by Tia Best, a lesbian who is the groups national director of engagement. Weiss said theyre not trying to drive culture wars.

Were accused of being right-wing Nazis, you know, lunatics, Weiss told reporters. We sit down with a lot of Democrats in these buildings, and were concerned about the same things they are. When you talk about one-third of North Carolina fourth-graders not reading at a proficient level, thats a problem. I dont care what your politics are.

Moms for Liberty is making a national push to get states to require high school students to pass a citizenship/civics test in order to graduate.

North Carolina high school students are required to take civics. But a state-mandated end-of-course exam in civics was dropped several years ago as part of an effort to cut down on standardized testing.

If were expecting these kids to go out into the world and be our leaders  future elected leaders  and we expect them to take an oath to the Constitution, shouldnt they know what that means? Weiss said during the rally.

Robinsons stance on education

As he has in previous speeches, Robinson talked about certain subjects and certain things that have no place in schools. Though he was not specific in this speech beyond DEI, in the past he has accused teachers of indoctrinating students to support LGBTQ+ people and previously was behind anti-Critical Race Theory legislation that would regulate how race is taught in schools.

Robinson is the first Black lieutenant governor and would be the states first Black governor if he wins this fall.

Children are not supposed to be learning about adult topics. In our schools, theyre supposed to be taught to read and write and do mathematics, Robinson said. We are supposed to be teaching them about civics and real history and financial literacy and getting them career ready.

Robinson, whose job as lieutenant governor is to preside over the Senate, did not go inside for the Senate session, nor did he take questions from reporters after speaking to the group and taking photos with them.
FILE - South Carolina Sens. Sandy Senn, R-Charleston, left, Katrina Shealy, R-Lexington, center, and Penry Gustafson, R-Camden, right, show off model spines they were sent by groups who want to outlaw almost all abortions. Gustafson and Senn lost in their reelection bids in the Tuesday, June 12, 2024, Republican primary while Shealy faces a runoff. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Collins, File)

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP)  A near-total abortion ban was defeated in South Carolina with the help of the only three Republican women in the Senate, but after Tuesdays primary, theyre losing their election bids.

Voters handed the senators  and winners of the John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage award for people who risk their careers for the greater good  two losses and a runoff after they joined with Democratic women to defeat the measure, saying a pregnant woman shouldnt lose control of her body as soon as an egg is fertilized.

But the state had only men in the Senate in 2012 and may end up without a single Republican woman in the chamber in 2025. There are just two Democratic women among the 46 members.

You cant tell me thats not a slap in the face of women, said Sen. Katrina Shealy who is gearing up for a runoff. Republican women lose like this over one issue when we fought so hard for other things.

Bucking the tide

Voters on Tuesday went against a trend of having second thoughts about more restrictive abortion law.

Statewide polling has indicated a near total ban doesnt have wide support. But turnout was low and races were in Republican-drawn districts, where experts say voters tend to be more fervent about issues like abortion.

The Republican women had forced a compromise, and the state eventually implemented a ban once cardiac activity is detected, typically around six weeks after conception.

Its easier to fight mini battles than it is to take on a whole statewide war, said Dave Wilson, a conservative political consultant who has worked with groups opposing abortion. In the mini battles, voters can turn around and say they arent happy with the stance you took and the way you went about it. It doesnt take a lot of them.

The races

Abortion wasnt the only reason Penry Gustafson lost, said her sole opponent, Allen Blackman, who believes life begins at conception. Gustafson had less than 20% of the vote in a freshly redrawn district that no longer included her base, and where constituents complained she didnt solve their problems.

Sen. Sandy Senns loss by just 31 votes to state Rep. Matt Leber is close enough for a recount, but those rarely alter a race by more than a few votes in South Carolina. The race was fraught with accusations. She posted signs with Lebers mugshot, which he said were from inflated accusations that never led to convictions.

Lebers attacks misconstrued Senns record and manipulated photos to make her look like the Joker, a DC Comics villain.

Redistricting may have hurt Senn too; her redrawn Charleston district includes more conservatives.

Gustafson thanked her supporters in a Wednesday statement, promising to continue serving the community. Senn isn't going to talk about the race until the recount is finished later this week, she said in an email. Neither woman mentioned abortion.

Leber did not responded to messages.

Shealy' s runoff

Shealy was the only Republican woman to survive the night, but she got just 40% of the vote. She will face attorney and political newcomer Carlisle Kennedy in the June 25 runoff.

Billboards saying Shealy was not pro-life were all over her district in Lexington County, which led the charge to flip the state from Democratic to Republican control over the past five decades. Kennedy did not respond to messages Wednesday.

Shealys strategy for the primary was to stay above the fray. She will likely change tactics for the runoff, even if that alienates people uncomfortable when a woman raises her voice or takes a stand, she said Wednesday.

South Carolinas Senate had been all-male for four years when Shealy was first elected in 2012 and rarely had more than one woman in the chamber. If she loses, there is a very good chance the Senate in 2025 will have just two women, both Democrats.

That means the perspective of women, who make up 55% of the registered voters in South Carolina, can get lost and issues she champions like free lunch for all schoolchildren may be ignored, she said.

I broke that ceiling not for abortion rights  I broke it because we needed someone to care about children and families and veterans and old people, Shealy said. All these people no one was taking care of. I came in there and gave them a voice.
Gov. Pillen, soon to control History Nebraska, wants to pick his own director

The headquarters of History Nebraska (formerly called the Nebraska State Historical Society) is just north of downtown Lincoln. The agency changed its name to History Nebraska in 2018. (Paul Hammel/Nebraska Examiner)

LINCOLN  Gov. Jim Pillen, who is soon to control the states historical society, wants to pick his own director.

Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen (Paul Hammel/Nebraska Examiner)

Pillen on Wednesday called for applicants for the job of director of History Nebraska, setting a July 3rd deadline for a position that paid its last top administrator $164,800 a year.

In doing so, the governor abandoned a search process by the History Nebraska Board of Trustees that had identified four finalists by January.

New law changed process

The board was ready to begin interviewing finalists when a bill was introduced in the Nebraska Legislature to change History Nebraska from an independent state agency, managed by its director and board, to one overseen by the governor.

Under the measure passed by the Legislature, Legislative Bill 1169, the governor appoints the director subject to the approval of state lawmakers. The director serves at the pleasure of the governor under the bill, which becomes law on July 18.

In the past, they served at the pleasure of the History Nebraska Board of Trustees, a 14-member panel partly elected by History Nebraska members and partly appointed by the governor. That board now becomes an advisory committee to the director.

At this point, were just trying to make it as smooth of a process as possible and make it as easy as we can on the staff while keeping the agency operating.

 Sean Flowerday, current president of History Nebraska Board of Trustees

Sean Flowerday of Lincoln, the current president of the Board of Trustees, said that the board had offered the governor to pick from among the four finalists already vetted. Pillen, though, opted to conduct his own selection process, which is his prerogative now under the new law.

Flowerday said those four finalists have been forwarded to the governor to be considered in his selection process.

At this point, were just trying to make it as smooth of a process as possible and make it as easy as we can on the staff while keeping the agency operating, he said. Were waiting to see what changes the administration wants to make, and well do our best to work with those.

Interestingly, Pillens media release referred to History Nebraska under its old name, the Nebraska State Historical Society. A governors spokeswoman didnt immediately respond to a question about whether that signaled a possible return to the old name or if it was unintentional.

Trevor Jones, the former director, implemented the name change in 2018 to reflect a more friendly name that showed what we do.

Turmoil

The proposal to change governance grew out of recent turmoil at the historical agency. That included the resignation two years ago of Jones, an audit critical of a $270,000 diversion of funds orchestrated by Jones, and then the filing of a felony theft by deception charge against Jones by the Nebraska Attorney Generals Office.

Jones, 52, awaits trial in Lancaster County District Court after his attempts to get the charges dismissed were rejected. He faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted. Jones has pleaded not guilty.

State Sen. Steve Erdman of Bayard (Courtesy of Unicameral Information Office)

State Sen. Steve Erdman of Bayard, who introduced the bill shifting the governance of History Nebraska, had said the Jones affair and a past embezzlement case involving an assistant agency director called for more oversight of the historical society. Some members of the board of trustees disputed that there was a current lack of oversight, but the Erdman bill passed easily, on a 39-4 vote.

The future of a fund-raising foundation set up by Jones, the History Nebraska Foundation, remains unclear. That foundation currently lacks an executive director and Flowerday said there have been no discussions to hire a replacement.

Jones had set up the new foundation amid a spat with the long-running, and better funded Nebraska State Historical Society Foundation, over the use of donated funds. The History Nebraska Foundation was intended to replace the established foundation, however, the new entity never gained traction or donations  the $270,000 diverted to it by Jones, allegedly illegally, was the largest.

Independent since 1878

Jill Dolberg, who had headed History Nebraskas historic preservation office, has served as interim director since Jones resigned.

At least four other states, including neighboring Iowa and Kansas, have historical societies in which the governor picks the director, according to the American Association for State and Local History.

Nebraskas historical society had operated as an independent entity since its founding in 1878.

Applications for director of History Nebraska can be submitted via the website: https://governor.nebraska.gov/board-comm-req or mailed to: Office of the Governor, P.O. Box 94848, Lincoln, NE 68509-4848.

The post Gov. Pillen, soon to control History Nebraska, wants to pick his own director appeared first on Nebraska Examiner.
TechCrunch

ByteDance's TikTok is laying off hundreds of employees, mainly in Malaysia, according to Reuters. The cuts come as the social network is increasingly turning to AI for content moderation. Although TikTok did not provide the exact number, it said that less than 500 people were affected.
From the G-File on The Dispatch

Hey,

Ive always wanted to visit Morocco, and not just to thank it for being the first country to recognize the United States of America. I like fez hats and old cities. Nuff said.

But Morocco has problems, starting with corruption. Among the 180 countries scored by Transparency International, its squarely in the meaty part of the bell curveat 97. Its just slightly more corrupt than India, Lesotho, and the Maldives and slightly less than Argentina, Albania, and Belarus. Such rankings are more art than science and these distinctions are pretty fine. I mean, anyone looking to do business in Morocco who is concerned about corruption wont have their fears allayed with the assurance, Hey, were marginally less corrupt than Belarus and Albania. But well be coming back to that in a moment.

The country is in a bit of a pickle of late because Moroccos economy is largely run out of the royal court, and since 2018, King Mohammed VI has all but vanished thanks to a bromance hes struck up with Abu Azaitar, a German MMA fighter, who did a three-year stint in prison for brutally beating up a businessman. Azaitar, along with his brothers, monopolize the kings time and benefit handsomely from his largesse. They use military jets, they have carte blanche to function in the palace as they want, they can go to the garage and pick up the cars they want, a royal insider told The Economist.

This isnt super-relevant, its just interesting, like the fact that the symbol of love in Morocco isnt the heart, but the liver. Given the role that the liver plays in drinking, theres a certain logic to this. Alcohol is notoriously unreliable in the quest for Miss Right, but it is a storied matchmaker in the quest for Miss Right Now. Still, I find the idea of liver-shaped boxes of chocolate to be hard to get my head around. In fairness though, some claim that the familiar valentine heart symbol is derived from the netherly shape of a woman bending over. So its possible that the symbol of loveoutside of Morocco, that isis really an ass. So, who are we to judge? The liver wants what the liver wants.

Anyway, I bring up Morocco because around the time the king started dotting the eyes in Azaitar with little livers, Morocco debuted its high-speed rail system, the al Boraq. Morocco announced that construction would begin in 2008, but delays in financing pushed back construction until 2011, when the French rail company SNCF was brought in to expedite the project.

SNCF made the decision to work in Morocco after years of frustration in an even more opaque and confusing realm: California (the C is pronounced with a K sound). It wanted the contract to build Californias bullet train, but it found that dealing with Californias politicians and bureaucrats was maddening. There were so many things that went wrong, a veteran project manager told The New York Times in 2022. SNCF was very angry. They told the state they were leaving for North Africa, which was less politically dysfunctional.

Seven years later, Morocco has a bullet train. California still has bupkis.

Now, I am not known for celebrating the wisdom of French retreats, but in this case the French were right.

Rails to nowhere.

In 2008, voters in California approved the high-speed rail project. It was perfectly timed with the incoming Obama administrations agenda of transforming America. It started pouring shmundo into what would become the administrations signature transportation project13 high-speed rail corridors across the country. That investment is how we can break ground across the country, putting people to work building high-speed rail lines, Obama explained, because theres no reason why Europe or China should have the fastest trains when we can build them right here in America. This was back in the days when the Obama-Biden administration was insisting the country was strewn with shovel-ready jobs.

If you define high speed as exceeding 150 mph, America has exactly one such corridor, the Acela. But this designation would be generous sincein the entire corridor from Washington, D.C., to Bostonit can only reach these speeds on one 50-mile stretch. The initial price tag for Californias high-speed rail system, for the 500 miles between San Francisco and Los Angeles was supposed to be $35 billion. The project is now estimated to be $128 billion, and the state is $100 billion short. Estimates for the 171-mile starter segment in Central California alone are now about $35 billion.

Now, I like the idea of America having high-speed trains. You could even say, in Berber-accented Arabic, I Liver High Speed Trains. I also think itd be cool to have moving sidewalks, flying cars, and giant playpens of basset hound puppies in the waiting areas of airports. I even think bullet trains make some sense in some places. The Houston to Dallas corridor is one such place, because its very flat (every foot of elevation costs kazillions when constructing high speed tracks) and sparsely populated. Population density matters because NIMBYism is the most expensive factor for such projects. Florida is very flat, but good luck getting all those densely populated counties to greenlight a bullet train barreling through them. My main objection to high-speed rail in the U.S. isnt that I love trains so muchI want to savor the experience by riding them slowly. Its that America already has a fantastic rail system for moving stuff. Our freight system is universally recognized in the industry as the best in the world, according to The Economist. In America, which is very big and demographically sprawling, we move stuff by rail and people by vehicles. In Europe, they tend to do it the other way around.

Administrative entropy.

But I didnt start this newsletter with the aim of writing about trains, transportation, or even infrastructure. I want to write about government, or really, governing. Corrupt political systems have an upside. The king of Morocco really wanted a bullet train. Once he figured out how to pay for it, there really wasnt much standing in his way. Think of it this way, red tape in Morocco is probably a big problem for most people. But if youre a German MMA fighter and the king likes your musk, red tape isnt much of a problem. Just walk onto a military base and borrow a plane. You might not even need to fill out a form or leave a deposit.

In political philosophy this is the appeal of the philosopher-king. Frederick the Great was the poster boy of enlightened absolutism. Of course, the idea would be that the enlightened part would guide the absolutism part. Frederick the Great worked like a dog for his people, waking every morning predawn to go over the books. King Mohammed, on the other hand, spends 200 days a year at his beach pad in Gabon or in places like Paris sparring with his MMA pals.

In the West, the dream of enlightened monarchical absolutism gave way to technocratic absolutism. Hence all the man-crushes Western intellectuals of the 19th, 20th, and 21st centuries had for everyone from Otto von Bismarck to Mussolini, Stalin, Lee Kuan Yew, and the Chinese Communist Party. In America, the progressiveswho envied the efficiency of autocracy and authoritarianismset up a system of administrative law which they believed would empower cadres and castes of disinterested experts to pursue optimal policies without much heed to traditional concepts of the rule of law, separation of powers, or democratic accountability. They were hugely successful in setting up the system they wanted, but that system is what Public Choice Theorists would describe as a hot mess.

The way I see it, the vast system of bureaucratic agencies and the government workers who populate them, along with the countless special interests including unions, environmental groups, trial lawyers, and people named Todd, have become a class. This is not a new idea. I am a bit obsessed with the intellectual history of what used to be called the new class. I wont get in the weeds here, but the basic idea is that the modern state and the modern economy created, well, a new class of workers, intellectuals, bureaucrats, etc. Different thinkers had different groups in mind for who made up the new class, depending on the societies they were writing about and the time they were writing in. The easiest place to grasp the idea is the Soviet Union. The Communist Party, as designed by Lenin, was above and separate from the government, the military, the church, the media, and the economy generally. It was, to use terms considered archaic by these scientific socialists, a priesthood and an aristocracy all at once. As political theorist Max Shactman put it, the Communist Party is unique, in that it does not own the national property which it rules but does own the state. It derives its vast economic power and privilege exclusively from the political power it exercises through its chosen instrument, the Communist Party.

James Burnham had a wider lens. The philosopher wouldnt have disagreed with that description of the Soviet Union, but he believed there was a worldwide revolution in political economy in which the managerial elite was becoming a recognizable class everywhere. The ruling classes in the Soviet Union and Nazi Germany ruled by bureaucratic fiat, but so did the new administrative state in New Deal America. Laws today in the United States, in fact most laws, are not being made any longer by Congress, Burnham wrote in his book The Managerial Revolution, but by the NLRB, SEC, ICC, AAA, TVA, FTC, FCC, the Office of Production Management (what a revealing title!), and the other leading executive agencies. Burnhams book had been influenced by fellow theorist Bruno Rizzis book The Bureaucratization of the World (though its more accurate to say he was influenced by Trotskys outraged response to the book). George Orwells 1984 was directly inspired by The Managerial Revolution.

Okay, enough of all that. The relevance of this eggheadery is that we now have a system of government that is not government per se. The best you can say about public sector unions is that they have a dual mission: the stuff we think of as their jobsteaching, policing, road-building, paper-pushing, safety inspections, whateverand protecting their fiefdoms and privileges. This was put on stark display during the pandemic when teachers unions had a choice between their two missions and decisively chose the latter. One of the reasons the D.C. economy is such a mess is that the Biden administration is terrified of telling government agencies that the era of telecommuting needs to end now that the pandemic is over.

Then theres the fact that government workers have in effect lifelong tenure (a point often left out of calculations about their total compensation). I havent been able to find recent numbers, but in 2011, the top driver of job turnover at many government agencies wasnt firing or lay-offs, but death by natural causes. In 2013, the firing rate of government employees was .47not surprising given that it takes between six months and a little over a year to fire a federal employee. Im not trying to put undue blame on the workers. The point is that these rules speak to the fact that the mission of their bossesunion bosses and government bosses alikeisnt necessarily the work. Red tape is a problem, but red tape isnt just a function of petty-mindedness. If your job is to grant permits, the incentives to make permitting complicated and expensive are enormous. If getting a permit is simple and easy, why have the permitting process in the first place? The complexity of the process is what justifies the existence of the processand the processorsin the first place.

The Biden administrations biggest stumbling block in getting electric vehicle charging stations built is that it cannot get permits quickly. Its amazing how if you oppose funding for electric car infrastructure you hear a lot of shrieks about an existential crisis and how theres no time to waste. You dont hear nearly as much shrieking about the sometimes years-long permitting process.

These are just some of the facets of what writer Jonathan Rauch, drawing on Mancur Olsons work, dubbed demosclerosis, the artery-hardening of the body politic. It took 410 days to build the Empire State Building beginning in 1930; four years to erect the Golden Gate Bridge a few years later. The Pentagon took 16 months in the early 40s; the Alaska Highway just nine months in 1942. Meanwhile, Bostons Big Dig, from planning to completion, took more than 24 years. Californias high-speed rail, if its ever completed, might take twice as long. Deny it all you want somewhere in the system, those delays arent considered bugs, but features.

I am a huge fan of Rauch and Olsons work, and I think it has massive explanatory value. But I think theres another part of the explanation. This system, defended by the new class and given legalistic legitimacy by the administrative state, is a kind of second government. Id call it the deep state but I dont want to encourage the jabroneys who love to talk about the deep state like its Hydra or an extension of the Biden Crime Family.

The first problem with this second government is that it doesnt govern well. And the reason for that is ancient. As I wrote in Suicide of the West, its really an ancient form of government more similar to feudal aristocratic and guild systems than we moderns want to acknowledge or even see.

But the primary problem with the second government is that it is unaccountable.

Yuval Levins wonderful new book American Covenant gets to the heart of a lot of this. The system set up by the Founders is about governing, administration, and getting things done that voters want done. It has mechanisms for holding elected officials accountable in no small part because it puts elected officials in charge of getting things done. In a world of competitive elections, leaders have to keep on their toes like Robert Reich at a urinal. Congress and state legislatures are supposed to be the places where elected representatives hash out what is to be done and at what cost. They do very little of that now because over the last century they have handed the keys to the actual government to largely unfireable and invisible administrators with conflicting missions. The administrators constituencies arent primarily the public, the voters, or the taxpayers, but their own workers and the special interests most concerned with maintaining the status quo. This hybrid system elects people merely to nudge the managerial class in one direction or anotherand poorly at that. To the extent we elect people to govern, we elect them to push for more funding for this bureaucracy or that one. We dont elect anybody to actually run the bureaucracies, which thanks to old growth jungles of administrative law, are essentially on auto-pilot anyway.

One of Yuvals core points is that our political system was set up to be competitive. Competition, between candidates, parties, branches of government, and even litigants in a court of law, is how we discover best practices and satisfy the desires of voters. But in Washington and in places like California, the actual people running the government have protected themselves from the competitive system established by the Founders.

This was by design. It was what Woodrow Wilson and his crowd wanted. They thought they were inventing a new, better, form of government that took politics out of governing. But go back to Aristotle: How to govern is politics. We still have politics, of course. Politics is a permanent feature of any community larger than a hermit. But the politics we have arent new, or even newer than the science of politics envisioned by the Founders. Theyre older. Theyre the politics of guilds, priesthoods, aristocrats, mandarins, Roman equestrians, and other unelected stakeholders in static, sclerotic, systems.

The frustrating thing for me is that the ambitions of our politicians have become ever more grandioseFundamental Transformation of America! Make America Great Again!even as their ability to do the basics of governing has atrophied. You want high-speed rail? Fine, lets have high-speed rail. But dont lie about the cost or the returns for the environment or the economy when you do so. But more importantly dont promise high-speed railnever mind the fundamental transformation of America or the restoration of Americas soul, or world historic greatnesswhen you cant even manage to do the things we all agree government is for. If the political class was just killing it delivering excellent schools, fighting crime, maintaining roads, balancing the books, etc. Id be much more open to saying, Well done! Lets see what else you can do. But when you cant do that stuff well, dont come to me with promises of a Green New Deal or socialized medicine.

Demosclerosis is a form of authentic corruption. Not the corruption of bribery and graft, or kings flattered by MMA bros. Its the atrophy, decay, and retreat into the self-dealing of unaccountable elites that, from time immemorial, sees the people as resources to be exploited, not citizens to be served. And the cure for it isnt to move past the constitutional vision of the Founders. Its to restore it.

Read more at The Dispatch

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A pedestrian carries an umbrella while walking in San Francisco's Civic Center Plaza during a storm in November 2022. (Jeff Chiu / Associated Press)

As climate change unleashes ever-more powerful storms, worsening floods and rising sea levels, San Francisco remains woefully unprepared for inundation, a civil grand jury determined in a report this week.

The critical assessment  written by 19 San Franciscans selected by the Superior Court  found that the city and county lacked a comprehensive funding plan for climate adaptation and that existing sewer systems cannot handle worsening floods. Among other concerns, the report also concluded that efforts toward making improvements have been hampered by agency silos and a lack of transparency.

Members of the volunteer jury serve yearlong terms and are tasked with investigating city and county government by reviewing documents and interviewing public officials, experts and private individuals. Jury foreperson Michael Carboy said it made sense to look into the issue of climate-related flooding because San Francisco is a "peninsula surrounded by water on three sides  and some would argue four sides, because the water is coming up from underneath."

"There's a couple hundred thousand people here, and at least 24,000 people, that are very much in harm's way that will arise from both sea level rise as well as the consequences of extreme precipitation meeting the reality of a combined sewer system that was designed 40 or 50 years ago," Carboy said. "We're all going to be getting our feet wet."

The report, titled "Come Hell or High Water: Flood Management in a Changing Climate," focused on several city and county agencies, including ClimateSF, which was created by the mayor's office in 2021 to bring together the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission, the planning and environmental departments, and the office of resilience and capital planning in an effort to coordinate and oversee climate resilience projects.

But the jury found that ClimateSF was better designed for planning, not implementation  and that it was struggling to bring projects to fruition. The report outlined a lack of coordination among departments, absenteeism at high-level meetings and a failure to publish annual reviews among its issues.

"Now that we are actively thinking about spending money on projects, the existing information-sharing platform is no longer the right platform," said Carboy, a 29-year resident of San Francisco. "It doesnt have the right governance model in place. It doesn't have the right senior people working together as peers.... There is no coordination at the most senior levels with regard to planning, definitions of desired outcomes, and what victory looks like in this case."

A woman crosses a street in San Francisco's Chinatown following a storm in January 2023. (Godofredo A. Vasquez / Associated Press)

In a statement, officials with the city and county of San Francisco said they appreciated the civil grand jury's work and will closely review its recommendations before responding formally to the report within 60 days.

"To meet our climate goals, climate resilience must be embedded into every departments work," the statement said. "ClimateSF brings together city departments to coordinate climate initiatives that reduce San Francisco's climate risks and prepare the city to survive, adapt, and recover from climate hazards. Interagency coordination, planning, and strategic investments that ClimateSF facilitates are critical to meeting our climate goals."

Read more: California has underestimated the epic potential of future flooding, research shows

The 71-page report outlines additional items of concern, including that San Francisco lacks a plan to aggregate the costs of climate adaptation, and that it pays for avoidable costs, such as compensating claims for flood damage that might be obtained by insurance underwriting.

While the jury is precluded from commenting on items beyond the confines of the report, the findings should speak for themselves, said Jonathan Cowperthwait, a Bay Area native and another member of the jury.

"This is not just a problem of governance and information sharing," he said. "I would encourage every citizen who reads the report to remember the storms within recent memory that have led to water up to people's knees."

It was less than two years ago that California was hammered by a relentless series of atmospheric rivers. The storms caused extensive flood damage, landslides, downed trees and power outages in Monterey County, Santa Cruz and the San Francisco Bay Area, as well as at least 22 deaths across the state. More rain and snow pounded this region this winter.

Traffic moves along the Golden Gate Bridge as pedestrians carry umbrellas on a path to the Golden Gate Overlook during a March 2023 storm. (Jeff Chiu/Associated Press)

San Francisco's Hazards and Climate Resilience Plan, released in 2020, identified 23,700 residents at a risk of inland water flooding, or 2.7% of the city's population. But increased warming driven by climate change will bring more extreme precipitation and put even more people in harm's way, the jury's report said.

It also noted that the sea level along the West Coast of the United States is projected to rise 4 to 8 inches by 2050, and possibly more than 3.5 feet by 2100. The increase will cause tide and storm surge heights to increase and reac farther inland, with "moderate" (typically damaging) flooding expected to occur 10 times more often on average than it does today, it said.

Carboy said the projections underscore the need for San Francisco's politicians and leaders "to be honest with the city on what's it going to cost to defend and protect the city with climate resilience and climate mitigation investments."

"We have to do that, otherwise we are going to be ruining business areas. We're going to be ruining neighborhoods from all areas of the economic stack  from the very well-heeled to the economically disadvantaged neighborhoods," he said. "So it's in our collective interest to understand just how big the problem is, to not pretend it's not a problem, and to start taking planning action to do that."

Read more: How California's storms are projected to become more extreme with climate change

Finances were a key part of the report. Climate resilience projects are not easily identifiable in the city's accounting, which is hindering both management and audits, according to the report.

What's more, the grand jury found that self-imposed limits on debt financing were keeping San Francisco from funding essential adaptation projects.

For example, policy dictates that some annual budgets approved by the Board of Supervisors limit the use of general obligation debt so as not to increase property owners' tax rates above fiscal 2006 levels. Projections show that the city's ability to issue additional general obligation debt will become hamstrung by this constraint as soon as 2028  even without factoring in the billions that will need to be spent on seawall projects and improvements to the sewer system.

"As you can clearly see, we are at maximum debt capacity in 2028, and that's before we're even spending on some of these projects," Carboy said.

But city officials said San Francisco has been, and continues to be, a nationwide leader on climate resilience  making strides on flood management, sea level rise and extreme heat and precipitation.

Since ClimateSF launched, the city has moved forward with Federal Emergency Management Flood Map Insurance Program implementation, and has launched a heat and air quality resilience plan, sea level rise guidance, a climate action plan and studies on extreme precipitation and groundwater, the city said in its response.

Officials also pointed to specific projects underway, such as the Ocean Beach Climate Adaptation Project. Ocean Beach, adjacent to Golden Gate Park, has experienced significant erosion in recent years, and the project outlines a managed retreat strategy that includes constructing a buried seawall to protect key infrastructure and enhancing coastal access and recreation. The project is slated for completion in late 2025.

Other projects include the Islais Creek Mobility and Adaptation Strategy, which will help protect the low-lying district against worsening flood hazards, and the Yosemite Slough Neighborhood Adaptation Plan, which aims to address disparities in climate adaptation planning in the coastal area.

"It's clear that city departments share the goal of making San Francisco safer and more resilient to the impacts of climate change," city officials said. "We recently hired a new program manager for ClimateSF, and we will continue to work on breaking down department silos and facilitating interagency collaboration on climate initiatives."

Read more: 'Rivers in the sky' have drenched California, yet even more extreme rains are possible

The San Francisco Public Utilities Commission similarly pointed to a variety of investments in capital projects that will help reduce the risk of flooding in low-lying neighborhoods, improve wastewater infrastructure and enhance stormwater capture capabilities. Since 2019, its Green Infrastructure Grant Program has awarded 20 properties with a total of $20 million for projects that will divert nearly 13 million gallons of stormwater from the collection system each year  or enough to fill more than 19 Olympic-size swimming pools, agency officials said.

"When it comes to infrastructure, we took a fresh look at our entire capital plan through a climate lens," said John Cote, communications director. "Nearly every capital project in the latest iteration of the SFPUC's 10-year plan is either as a result of climate change or seeks to ready our systems for the worsening impacts of climate change."

The commission's plan includes $11.8 billion in infrastructure investments over the next decade, he said.

Cowperthwait said the civil grand jury cannot make policy, only recommendations.

Among the recommendations outlined in the report are greater transparency around resilience projects; a rethinking of debt cap restraints; the creation of annual public reports summarizing the status of projects; and the development of a cross-departmental financial plan to relay the anticipated costs and potential funding sources for climate change resilience.

However, Cowperthwait said the city was cooperative and helpful throughout the process of creating the report.

"Everybody with whom we spoke was interested in helping explain and ultimately helping improve," he said.

Carboy concurred.

"The goal of the city is to improve," he said. "It's just sort of how to get them to move toward improving."

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Republican Scot Kerns of Great Falls resigned from his House seat in June of 2024. (Photo courtesy of the Montana Legislature)

Great Falls Republican lawmaker and pastor Scot Kerns announced he will resign from the legislature at the end of the month to move to Pennsylvania to serve a Lutheran congregation.

Kerns, who was in his second term as a state representative, wrote in a June 3 resignation letter to the Secretary of State he was resigning effective June 30.

While I am establishing residence in Pennsylvania to serve a Lutheran Congregation that has called me to be their Pastor, I will continue to look at my time in Montana with great love and affection, Kerns wrote. Montana remains in my prayers!

Kerns made headlines last year after the Montana Free Press reported he had a driving under the influence conviction in 2021 and attempted to pass legislation to help clear DUI records and get driving privileges back in the 2023 session. The bill died in committee.

The Cascade County Republican Central Committee will have 45 days to pick three replacement candidates from which county commissioners will choose a replacement. Committee Chairperson Eric Hinebauch told the Daily Montanan the committee will likely select the top three vote getters from the House District 23 primary, which would mean Eric Tilleman, John Proud and Pete Anderson would be considered. Tilleman won the primary with 61% of the vote, 39 percentage points ahead of second-place Anderson.

Sandor Hopkins ran unopposed in the Democratic primary in the district.

Kerns is a former U.S. Air Force captain and went to a military boarding high school in Virginia, according to his legislative biography.

He told the Daily Montanan he was raised in Peoria, Illinois and first moved to Great Falls as part of the military, but eventually felt he could do more to serve and help people in a suit and tie getting involved with politics than I could in a military uniform .

Kerns chose not to weigh in on the selection process for his replacement but hoped the commissioners selected the best person for the position. The church he is moving to is in Easton, Pennsylvania, a little more than an hour away from both New York City and Philadelphia. He said the church called on him to become their pastor and after visiting he decided to accept.

Did not plan on making a significant life changing move, he said. But God calls you where he wants you to be.

He served on the Transportation Interim Committee, and during the session he served on the Transportation, Local Government and Taxation Committees.

Editors Note: This story has been updated to include comment from Scot Kerns.

The post Great Falls legislator Scot Kerns to resign, move to Pennsylvania appeared first on Daily Montanan.
RYE  Six tagged great white sharks were detected off beaches in Rye last year, all but one of which swam north from Cape Cod, according to data compiled by the University of New Hampshire and the Atlantic Shark Conservancy.

With the 2024 beach season now here, Rye Fire Chief Mark Cotreau updated town Select Board members Monday night on the shark detection efforts, which began in the summer of 2022. Shark buoys located off the shores of Sawyer Beach, Cable Beach, Foss Beach, and Wallis Beach can detect any tagged great white shark passing through ocean waters within a 1,500-foot radius of the buoys.

Data on great white sharks' presence in Rye waters is being collected and discussed. Officials say beachgoers shouldn't be alarmed.

The World Wildlife Fund reports the worlds great white shark population is at vulnerable status. The largest known predatory fish in the world, great white sharks can weigh upwards of 4,000 to 7,000 pounds and can grow up to 20 feet long, although the average sharks are smaller; females average 15-16 feet and males 11-13 feet, according to the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History.

Should Rye, NH beachgoers be concerned about sharks?

Cotreau said the tagged great white shark activity along Rye waters is really well in the expected range, and he will continue going to the beaches this summer. But in the future, buoys that alert lifeguards and public safety personnel in real time of a shark swimming within close distance could be considered by the town.

Swimming in the water is still extremely safe, Cotreau said in a Tuesday interview. There is a very, very, very low chance of an interaction with a shark, from what the experts are telling us. Nobody in the industry is recommending that folks in New Hampshire curtail their beach activities. Nobody is recommending that. Were monitoring that. If that changes, we'll let people know.

The town initiative began in response to the July 2020 death of a New York City woman after a rare shark attack while she was swimming off Bailey Island, the first fatal shark attack in Maine history. Each buoy deployed in Rye, visible in the Atlantic Ocean from the four beaches and bobbing at around 25 feet at high tide, has a sensor hanging about four feet into the water.

The town of Rye has purchased four buoys that can track the movement of tagged great white sharks within 1,500 feet of the buoy's locations. The buoys compile the information about the shark, such as its location and time spent within the designated distance.

What was learned from 2023 shark data in Rye?

In 2023, sharks were detected off Sawyer Beach, Cable Beach and Wallis Beach, while none were detected off Foss Beach, according to the town. Last years tagged great white shark activity off the Rye beaches represents an increase over 2022, when a single 12-foot-long male was detected by the Foss Beach buoy.

The first great white shark, a 10-foot female named Celia, was detected off Cable Beach the afternoon of July 28, 2023. On Sept. 23, 9.5-foot female Peg was detected off Cable Beach and Sawyers Beach, followed by 9-foot male Pete on Sept. 30 off the same two beaches. Guinevere and Reese, both 9-foot females, were detected on Oct. 4 at Wallis Beach and Cable Beach, and Punk, an 11-foot male great white shark, swam near the Sawyers Beach buoy on Oct. 5.

Reese was originally tagged in South Carolina, while the other five sharks were tagged by researchers in Cape Cod. The Atlantic White Shark Conservancy reported its team encountered 80 sharks during a five-month stretch in Cape Cod last year, though that doesnt account for all sharks in the area, according to the Cape Cod Times.

Cape Cod Times: Cape Cod shark researchers release 2023 findings. How many sharks did they encounter?

How many more sharks are in NH area waters?

Are other un-tagged sharks swimming out within a few thousand feet of Seacoast beaches? Its likely, though its unknown how close they are to the shores.

We have to remember that all these buoys are counting interactions with tagged sharks, which are the minority of sharks, Cotreau added. The majority of sharks are not tagged. We want to make sure the public is aware of what were doing. We dont want to seem like were being alarmists because frankly the data that were finding is not unexpected and its not a high volume of sharks. The sharks are in the waters. We want to have a balanced approach as we look at the data over the years.

At Mondays Select Board meeting, Cotreau stated that other tagged marine species, including sturgeons, striped bass, herring and cod, led to thousands of detections among the four buoys.

Rye residents share concerns about sharks

Rye has placed four buoys that can track the potential movement of tagged great white sharks off town beaches.

Alehson Street resident Joseph Marttila surfs and snorkels locally and shared his concerns about sharks near Rye beaches at the Select Board meeting. He said he went surfing with his children in October, right around the time when three of the tagged great white sharks were detected.

Marttila said sharks could be in the region to feed on the seal population and suggested the town invest in tourniquet kits for the beaches in case of emergency.

I get worried about it. I know a lot of people are. I know the odds are pretty low of being attacked by a shark. But, someone always wins the lottery, he said.

What it costs to collect data on sharks

The cost of a real-time detection shark buoy costs upwards of $17,000, in addition to another potential $2,000 for the tracking dashboard, according to marine biologist Gregory Skomal with Massachusetts Marine Fisheries. The current shark buoys cost approximately $2,500 each, also accounting for the process of dropping them in the ocean.

Although we have been deploying them for several years, we still consider them in beta testing because we have experienced many problems ranging from hardware to software failures, Skomal shared in a report to Cotreau. Moreover, given that only a fraction of sharks (are) tagged, the deployment of a live receiver can give the public a false sense of security.

Rye Town Administrator Matthew Scruton says live-transmitting buoys come with high costs and logistical challenges but could be considered in the future in a possible joint venture.

Our current focus remains on leveraging the historical data collected and analyzed by our partners to enhance our understanding of shark activity in the region. Implementing real-time monitoring buoys is a significant financial undertaking that goes beyond our current town budget, Scruton said Tuesday. The town is open to discussions with our residents, other Seacoast communities, and partners to see if a regional need exists for real-time monitoring.

The data from the Rye shark buoys is collected annually in November and processed by the University of New Hampshire and the Atlantic Shark Conservancy.

"The buoys we have in place provide invaluable historical data that allows us and our partners to monitor and better understand shark activity off our coast, Scruton added. While the buoys don't offer real-time alerts, the data we gather annually, with the help of our partners, plays a crucial role in enhancing safety and conservation efforts."

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Sharks detected off Rye NH beaches: Chief says ocean is 'still safe'
A group of Swifties missed out on seeing the Eras Tour after a bird flew into their plane

A group of Swifties missed out on seeing the Eras Tour after a bird flew into their plane

A bird strike delayed an easyJet flight, preventing Swifties from attending the Eras Tour.

The flight from Belfast to Edinburgh was delayed by seven hours due to safety checks.

Kathryn Gallagher worked two jobs to afford the trip but missed the show despite her efforts.

A Taylor Swift fan from Northern Ireland said she and her fellow Swifties were prevented from attending the Eras Tour after a bird flew into their plane.

Kathryn Gallagher, 25, planned to fly from her hometown of Antrim, Belfast, to Edinburgh on Sunday for the third and final night of Swift's Scotland shows.

Gallagher told Business Insider that she originally planned to attend the show with a friend who lives in the Scottish capital. But she said she had to miss it after her easyJet flight was delayed by around seven hours.

Kathryn Gallagher. Kathryn Gallagher

"When I spoke to people in the airport, most people were on that flight to go specifically to the Eras Tour," Gallagher said in a video on TikTok.

Gallagher said staff explained that safety checks were required to ensure the plane would be able to fly.

The Federal Aviation Administration reports that the number of wildlife that are striking aircraft is increasing. In 2023, the agency recorded around 19,400 strikes at 713 US airports.

Bird strikes can cause aircraft damage, delays, and cancellations, all of which can cost US airlines around $1.2 billion each year, BI previously reported.

Speaking to BI, Gallagher estimated that at least 100 other people waiting to board the flight had also planned to see the concert. (BI could not verify this number).

According to Gallagher, the 55-minute easyJet flight was originally due to take off from Belfast at 12:45 p.m., but it didn't leave the airport until 8 p.m. Swift took the stage at around 7:15 p.m., and the show ended just after 10:15 p.m.

After waiting for more than six hours, Gallagher gave her ticket away and returned home at 6 p.m.

Gallagher said she worked 2 jobs to be able to afford the Eras Tour

Gallagher said she spent an estimated 400, or around $510, on her round-trip flight, the concert ticket, and outfit: A purple dress embroidered with butterfly pins, inspired by Swift's "Speak Now" album.

The 25-year-old said she had been able to afford the trip by working two jobs. During the week, Gallagher works full-time as a sales consultant; at the weekend, she works at a bar.

Kathryn Gallagher in her "Speak Now" inspired dress. Kathryn Gallagher

"With the cost of living and stuff at the minute, one salary really isn't enough to enjoy the little luxuries you might've enjoyed a couple of years ago," she said.

A previous BI report showed that some fans in the US spent up to $20,000 on Eras Tour expenses in 2023. According to a Forbes estimate, the tour grossed around $1.04 billion from the first 60 shows in 2023.

Gallagher said easyJet informed her that she wouldn't be eligible for compensation because "it was out of their control that a bird hit the plane."

"We are very sorry that flight EZY326 from Belfast to Edinburgh yesterday was delayed," an easyJet spokesperson said in a statement to BI on Monday.

"This was due to a bird strike on the aircraft's previous flight which meant the scheduled plane was unable to operate and so we flew an alternative aircraft in from Luton to operate the flight later in the day," they said.

"While this was outside of our control, we did all possible to minimise the disruption for customers and provided refreshment vouchers.

" We understand the disappointment this will have caused to customers and we always advise customers to have travel insurance in place to cover unforeseen issues. The safety and wellbeing of our customers and crew is easyJet's highest priority," the statement concluded.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Since the beginning of this day, 74 direct combat engagements have already taken place on the frontline between Russian occupants and Ukrainian defenders. The enemy has increased the number of attacks in the Kupiansk sector and is covering the border with anti-aircraft guns.

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The Ukrainian Defense Forces are resolutely restraining the onslaught and responding decisively to any enemy actions. This is stated in the report of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine as of 16:00.

The occupiers continue to shell the border settlements of Ukraine. The enemy fired unguided aerial missiles from the direction of Kucherov village at the area of Myropillia in the Sumy region.

In the Kharkiv sector, the enemy is actively using guided aerial bombs from the territory of the Belgorod region of the Russian Federation. The strikes were carried out from the direction of Shebekino on Vovchansk and Hlyboke, from the direction of Ushakove on Podoliany, from the direction of Belgorod on Liptsi and Terny, and the area of Valkovske on Veterynne. The enemy also attacked the area of Hlyboke.

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In the Kupiansk sector, the enemy increased the number of attacks, making six unsuccessful attempts to push our troops, as well as three assault actions in the areas of Synkivka, Berestove, and Pishchane.

The enemy is most active in the Pokrovsk sector, where 25 attacks took place today, nine of which are still ongoing. In particular, fighting continues in the areas of Kalynove, Yevhenivka, and Novoselivka Persha. Russian aviation used guided aerial bombs, which resulted in the bombing of the areas of Oleksandropol, Vozdvyzhenka, Progres, and Vovche.

One combat engagement took place in the Prydniprovskyi sector.

In addition, one enemy attack was registered in the Kramatorsk, Vremivsk, and Orikhivsk sectors, all of which were unsuccessful for the enemy.

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The situation in other sectors remained without significant changes.

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The Boys and Girls Clubs in the South Bend, Indiana area had to turn away 800 students from its summer learning program last year  even though many of the children who didnt get a spot were academically two years behind after the pandemic.

That bothered Jacqueline Kronk, CEO of the clubs in St. Joseph County, so she leapt at a chance to add students this summer as part of statewide expansion of a promising Indianapolis effort.

Started in 2021 to help students catch up after the pandemic, the Indy Summer Learning Labs will receive more than $5 million from Indiana to expand into the Gary and South Bend areas, along with more rural Salem and Wabash. The five-week mix of academic work and fun activities for first through ninth graders has grown each year and is credited by the state with giving students strong gains in both math and English.

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The Expanding What Works grants let Kronk grow her program from 1,500 students last year to 2,500 in five counties around South Bend. She has also hired more teachers from local schools and upgraded the programs curriculum.

Wed be foolish to not address the fact that COVID and the implications of that are still here and rampant amongst our young studentsand their ability to learn and thrive, Kronk said. We should be really, really scared about that reality and realize that we need to be throwing all but the kitchen sink at this issue.

The nonprofit The Mind Trust and the United Way of Central Indiana created the Indy Learning Labs in 2021 for 3,000 students at 35 sites around the city, allowing students a chance to catch up on lost school time. The labs also offer field trips and other activities students in more affluent students can afford.

The labs have grown each year and The Mind Trust expects to have up to 5,500 students at 49 sites in the city  schools, churches, youth centers, or nonprofits  this summer. Though there are no income limits, nearly 90 percent of children qualify for free or reduced school lunches, a common measure of low family income, allowing the labs to reach families eight times less likely to enroll in summer programs than affluent ones.

Summer programs like the labs have been a widespread strategy for cities and school districts to catch students up after the pandemic. A Rand Corp. survey in 2023 found more than 70 percent of school districts have added or expanded summer programs since the pandemic, making them the most common use of federal COVID relief dollars.

Related

Summer Boost Shows Promise in Halting COVID Slide

Results are usually low on math and reading gains, but a new study this week found large gains last year from the Summer Boost program funded by Bloomberg Philanthropies in eight cities, including Indianapolis.

Researchers have found the small reading and math improvements in summer programs are often because programs dont offer enough academic work.

Results from both the Bloomberg study and last summers Learning Labs are more promising because the programs offered more academic work  about three hours a day devoted to math and English instruction.

Bloomberg based Boost on the Indy Summer Learning Labs and sponsored the labs last summer. The study did not include any lab programs.

The Bloomberg study found 22 days of summer learning helped students make, on average, three to four weeks of reading gains and about four to five weeks in math gains.

That let students make up 22 percent of COVID losses in reading and 31 percent of math, researchers estimated.

The Learning Labs had previously released data from tests given to students at the start and end of the program. Last year, those tests showed proficiency rates in both math and English increased more than 20 percent during the program.

Organizers credit time spent on learning, hiring teachers from local schools to teach some of the sessions and using a curriculum carefully chosen to align with state learning standards for the gains.

Those results, along with the ability to add more students and upgrade the curriculum were all appealing in South Bend, Kronk said.

The impact that we saw that it had down in Indianapolis for the last several years and for us to be able to scale and replicate that and bring that to counties that were serving up herethat really excited us, she said.

Indianapolis parent Chavana Oliver said the labs were a huge help last year for her son Leanno, 7, who was about to enter first grade but has issues with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and needed extra help.

He saw a lot of improvement, Oliver said. She signed him up again this year, as well as her older son Kaden, 8.  Now hes very excited, because it will help even more for the second grade.

Deborah Hendricks Black, a former teacher who helped the Urban League and others apply for the state grant to bring the labs to Gary, said the test score gains and reports from parents in Indianapolis like Oliver caught her eye. The grants will allow 750 students from high-poverty Gary and surrounding communities including East Chicago to avoid summer learning loss and catch up when behind.

Now well have a chance to at least affect a small amount of students, she said. But we know they will be supported effectively with a proven curriculum that provides gains in a short amount of time and were looking forward to that.

Cassandra Summers-Corp, executive director of the Creating Avenues for Student Transformation (CAST) nonprofit in Salem said her rural area about 100 miles south of Indianapolis has a lack of tutors to help students who have fallen behind. Her organization has offered summer programs focused on reading lessons to about 40 students in surrounding counties the last few years. The new grant will let her add math classes and grow to 75 students, along with increasing from three days a week to five.

We really wanted a partner to help us to expand, Summers said. Even though a lot of COVID learning loss money is sunsetting, we know that the crisis of COVID learning loss is not over.

Disclosure: The Mind Trust provides financial support to The 74.
Department of Justice

Mark Adams Prieto wasnt the most clandestine about his plans to incite a race war, the FBI says. The 58-year-old, who was arrested last month, unknowingly blabbed to an FBI agent about his spine-chilling plan to shoot up a rap concert and even allegedly sold two automatic rifles to the agent on the assumption that they were going to help him realize his terrifying plans.

Thats according to an indictment unsealed by the U.S. Attorneys Office of Arizona on Tuesday, charging Prieto with firearms trafficking, transfer of a firearm for use in a hate crime, and possession of an unregistered firearm.

Prieto, of Prescott, Arizona, a small retirement community nestled in the North West corner of the state, began expressing his violent plans against minority groups to an informant at a weapons show in 2023, the indictment says.

Prieto asked the informant, who had met and chatted with Prieto at the Crossroads of the West gun shows over the past three years, if he was ready to kill a bunch of people in late 2023, the feds say.

The informant said that Prieto had allegedly begun advocating for mass shootings against Blacks, Jews, or Muslims, and that he believed, the shooting should take place before martial law is enacted following the 2024 election.

Prieto also allegedly claimed to have been a Ukrainian mercenary and to have killed Russian soldiers. He also told the informant that he only dealt in cash as to avoid the ATF, the indictment says.

Prieto stands around his booth, where the FBI alleged he had nine guns strewn about. Department of Justice

An FBI agent accompanied the informant to a Crossroads of the West show on Jan. 20 this year to meet Prieto, who, the next day, allegedly asked the agent and informant to help execute his plans to shoot-up a rap concert in Atlanta, Georgia.

According to the indictment, Prieto told the pair that he planned to target the concert because there would a lot of Black people there, who he blamed for increasing crime rates in Georgia.

You want to corral them. And some people might be trying to leave out of a corner, and you want to blast those guys. Once [they] get the idea that they are trapped, then there is pandemonium. Now theyre in a panic. And they cant get out. Now they are going to be crawling over each other to get out, Prieto allegedly told the pair.

Prieto planned to put up Confederate flags around the concert after the shooting with the message that were going to fight back now, and every whitey will be the enemy across the whole country, the indictment says.

Prietos plan was to have the agent and the informant help him cache weapons in Atlanta before the shooting and then on a separate trip, the feds say.

Then, at a February 24-25 Crossroads of the West gun show, he allegedly sold an AK-47 to the agent for the attack and bought a pistol for himself for the attack. The next month, Prieto was boothing at the Crossroads of the West gun show where he had machine guns, rifles, shot guns and pistols strewn about. Prieto is accused of selling an AR-15 to the agent at this show, intended to be used for the shooting.

Yeah, yeah we gotta do it, he allegedly told the agent, adding that waiting too long might jeopardize the plan.

The indictment says Prieto then identified a concert being held on May 14-15 at the State Farm Arena as the target of the attack. According to the State Farm Arenas website, Bad Bunny performed on those days.

Prieto, allegedly, planned to scout the concert venue in May after visiting his mom in Florida, and then meet his two purported accomplices back on June 1 and 2 during the next gun show.

However, on May 14, while Prieto was driving through New Mexico en route to Florida, he was arrested and admitted to planning an attack on a rock concert where young people and minorities [would be], according to the indictment.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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A gunman shot dead a passenger on board a commuter bus in Georgia on Tuesday and held a firearm to the drivers head during a terrifying police chase, authorities said.

Law enforcement responded to a 911 call made at around 4:30 p.m. about an armed suspect on a bus in Atlanta holding hostages and the possible discharge of a weapon, Atlanta Police Chief Darin Schierbaum said. Around a minute later, an officer confronted the perpetrator who then forced the bus driver to drive off, Schierbaum said.

Woman Drives Into Pacific Ocean While Fleeing Cops in High-Speed Chase

The chief said another 911 call came in from a relative of one of the 17 people who were on board the Gwinnett County Transit bus who had received text messages saying a hijacking had taken place and hostages were being held against their will. TV news choppers following the police chase captured the bus smashing into other vehicles and driving into oncoming traffic before it was finally disabled and penned in by a BearCat in DeKalb County.

It was then that the passengers were able to escape the dramatic ordeal and the suspectidentified by police as 39-year-old Joseph Grierwas taken into custody. Authorities said they found an adult victim on board the vehicle with what was believed to be a gunshot wound who later died from their injuries, according to the Associated Press.

Schierbaum said authorities would not publicly identify the victim until the family had been notified. He described Grier, whose last known address was in Stone Mountain, as a convicted felon who had previously been arrested 19 times.

The chief also said the driver was a hero who was forced to deal with a very dangerous situation. Hes been through a very harrowing experience, Schierbaum said.

Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens praised the law enforcement response as multiple agencies and 911 call operators were trying to navigate what was a gunman with a gun to the head of a bus driver, saying: Dont stop this bus or else worse will happen. It seems like the movies, Dickens said at a news conference Tuesday.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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Gunman wounds 3 in Atlanta food court before being shot by officer, police say

ATLANTA (AP)  A gunman shot three people at a food court in downtown Atlanta before he was shot by a police officer Tuesday afternoon, authorities said.

All four people who were shot at the Peachtree Center food court are expected to survive, including the suspect, according to Atlanta Police Chief Darin Schierbaum.

During a news conference, Mayor Andre Dickens praised the responding officer who wounded the gunman.

Had he not been there, things could have gotten worse, Dickens said.

Peachtree Center is a complex of office towers and an underground mall within blocks of multiple hotels that anchor Atlantas busy convention business.

Police respond to the scene of a shooting outside the Peachtree Center complex, Tuesday, June 11, 2024, in downtown Atlanta. (AP Photo/Jeff Amy)

The shooting happened around 2:15 p.m. Schierbaum said.

The three people shot by the suspect were a 47-year-old man from Grayson, a 69-year-old woman from East Point and a 70-year-old woman from Atlanta, Schierbaum said.

The suspect, a 34-year-old man from Morrow, just south of Atlanta, had a brief altercation with one of the victims and pulled out a gun and shot the person, Schierbaum said. He then shot two other people, Schierbaum said. Its not clear yet if the shooter knew the victims.

All four people were taken to hospitals and two are in critical condition, the Schierbaum said.

An off-duty Atlanta police officer who was working security at the food court engaged the man and then shot and injured him. The officer acted decisively, placed himself in danger and ended that threat to the community, Schierbaum said. He said the malls video cameras recorded the shooting and response.

The suspect had previously been arrested multiple times and had served prison time for armed robbery. Because of that prior felony conviction, he shouldnt have had a gun, Schierbaum said.

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation is looking into the circumstances surrounding the shooting, which is standard practice in the state when a police officer shoots someone.

In the aftermath of the shooting, crowds of people milled around at a nearby intersection, many of them asking each other what had happened. Several blocks of Peachtree Street were blocked off with crime scene tape as police officers and firefighters converged on the scene. Nearby, there were security guards on alert at hotels and the citys main library.

Elizabeth Ingram, of Atlanta, said she was leaving the break room of the Chick-fil-A where she works when she heard the first shots. She said a manager pushed her back into the break room and down to the floor along with other coworkers.

We relaxed for a minute and then we heard more shooting, she said. So we got right back down.

Tab Tambe of Atlanta said he had just bought lunch at the Chick-fil-A and sat down to eat when the shooting broke out. Tambe said he fell down while he and others ran away from the still-busy food court and there was blood all over the place near a pizza place and a Mexican restaurant. Tambe said he ran around a corner, but didnt leave the building because he had left his phone.

I dont know if was just me being bold or worried about my phone, but I was just staying back to see what was going to happen, he said.

Tambe said shots were exchanged between a police officer and the man and then he saw officers approach the shooter bit by bit as he peeked around the corner of a wall.

He was on the ground, the police were surrounding him, Tambe said.

Schierbaum said a second officer kicked the gun away from the wounded shooter, and then officers provided first aid to the four wounded people, including applying a tourniquet to stop the shooters bleeding, before all were taken to hospitals.

Ingram said she saw people wheeled away on gurneys.

You never know what can happen, she said. It just happened out of nowhere. It was so scary my thought was I was never going to make it home to my son and that scared me. My heart was beating so fast.

The Peachtree Center complex includes 10 office buildings, three large hotels, four buildings that hold trade shows and four parking garages. Developed by architect John Portman, it sprawls over 14 blocks of Atlantas downtown. Six of the office buildings were foreclosed on in 2022 after a previous owner defaulted on a loan as office vacancies grew.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Insights from Al Jazeera, Human Rights Watch, and Foreign Policy

The News

Haitis transitional council announced it has formed a new government and appointed cabinet ministers as the country struggles to restore political normalcy and tackle spiraling gang violence amid an ongoing humanitarian crisis.

The ministers replaced all those who served under the former prime minister, Ariel Henry; he was booted from the role by gangs. Haitis interim Prime Minister Gary Conille, who briefly led Haiti over a decade ago and was appointed in May, will now also be the countrys interior minister, overseeing the Haitian National Police.

Gang violence killed more than 1,500 people and injured hundreds more in the first three months of 2024, according to the United Nations.

SIGNALS

Semafor Signals: Global insights on today's biggest stories.

Haiti needs credible elections

Source: Foreign Policy

Theres broad consensus that Haiti needs fresh elections to restore political stability, but making them credible is a challenge, a Haiti expert argued in Foreign Policy, and will require careful organization and buy-in from Haitians. The international community has too often seen elections in Haiti or other conflict zones as a simple box to check before proclaiming that democracy has been restored, the expert said. Before a vote, Haiti will need to conduct what will be its first census in 20 years to work out who can vote, for example, and create electoral institutions, including a permanent electoral council, he added.

Questions remain regarding UN-backed security support mission

Sources: Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International , Al Jazeera

A UN-backed Multinational Security Support Mission, led by Kenya and largely funded by the US, is set to deploy to Haiti within the next few weeks. But many questions remain unanswered regarding its purpose and accountability mechanisms, Human Rights Watch has said, while Amnesty International has urged for more transparency. Many Haitians are wary of foreign intervention, especially militarized ones, one Haitian columnist argued in Al Jazeera. Haitians are doubtful that another foreign military intervention would solve the systemic problems in the country, like poverty and healthcare shortages, she wrote.

There may be no good alternative to foreign intervention

Sources: The New Humanitarian , The New York Times

The Caribbean Community group, a regional organization of Caribbean nations, backed the formation of Haitis transitional council  and made sure members supported the UN-backed security mission, leaving little room for push back, the executive director of the National Human Rights Defense Network in Haiti told The New Humanitarian. But some Haitians see no alternative method to tackling rampant gang violence in the short term, potentially setting up future dilemmas: [W]e ask foreigners to come, but we also [dont want them] to lead us towards a path we dont wish to take, one Haitian politician said. The US and its allies have an opportunity to play midwife by supporting Haitian leaders to build a new future, one New York Times columnist wrote.






Argentine President Javier Milei has changed his mind and will travel to Switzerland for the Peace Summit. He responded to a "special message " sent to him by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

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Javier Milei made his decision at the last minute. This was reported by the Clarin newspaper.

According to the newspaper, Zelenskyy sent Milei a special message in which he asked that "his Argentine friend be present at least at the opening ceremony of the summit, which will be held in Burgenstock, Switzerland, this Saturday, 15 and Sunday, 16, in support of Ukraine in its war against Russia."

Also, about 20 Argentinean organizations of the Ukrainian diaspora sent a petition to the Libertarian government with the same content.

In addition, according to the newspaper's sources, the Argentine president has also received messages from Washington asking him to travel to Switzerland.

So far, Argentina has made it clear that it adheres to two points of the Peace Formula, which will be presented in Switzerland this weekend: radiological and nuclear safety and the restoration of Ukraine's territorial integrity.

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In addition, Argentina has also agreed to join the IInternational Coalition for the Return of Ukrainian Children.

Earlier, the media reported that Argentine President Javier Milei would not go to Europe to participate in the G7 summit in Italy and the Global Peace Summit in Switzerland. He preferred to stay in the country during the national holidays.

As reported, Volodymyr Zelenskyy personally invited Argentine President Javier Milei to participate in the Peace Summit in Switzerland. Zelenskyy said this himself and emphasized that he was constantly in touch with Javier Milei.

Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber . Do not fall for fakes!
War will go on because Hamas chose not to accept peace deal, warns Blinken

Hamas has sent back an unworkable counter-offer to a US-backed ceasefire proposal for Gaza, Antony Blinken warned on Wednesday.

The US secretary of state said the war will go on because Hamas was unable to agree to the plans that would include a release of hostages in exchange for a ceasefire.

He added that Hamas had made a choice to continue the war that they started.

The accusations come after leaked notes from Yahya Sinwar, the Hamas military leader  and mastermind of the Oct 7 attacks  suggested he was prolonging the war to improve his negotiating position.

Full details of the peace deal and the amendments demanded by Hamas have not been made public. The US says Israel has accepted the deal, but Israel has not publicly backed it.

Hamas said it had submitted a positive response that opened a wide pathway for agreement on the US-backed three-stage truce plan, prompting Israel to say it was tantamount to a rejection of the deal on the table.

Yahya Sinwar, head of Hamas in Gaza - Adel Hana/AP

A speech by Joe Biden almost two weeks ago outlined the broad proposal which would involve an initial six-week ceasefire, with Hamas releasing some hostages in exchange for Israel releasing an as yet undetermined number of Palestinian prisoners.

Phase one would then evolve into a permanent end to hostilities and the release of all hostages, before the final stage which would involve a major reconstruction effort in the devastated Gaza Strip.

It has been widely accepted that the transition between the first phase on to the path towards a permanent ceasefire would be a delicate manoeuvre where talks could become unhinged.

Mr Biden introduced the plan, which was approved by the United Nations on Monday, as an Israeli initiative, although the government of Benjamin Netanyahu, the prime minister, which has far-Right members, has not publicly endorsed it.

Mr Blinken, who was in Jerusalem on Monday during a diplomatic tour of the Middle East to drum up support for a peace deal, reiterated on Wednesday that Israel had backed it.

Look, Israel accepted the proposal, Hamas didnt ... if Hamas continues to say no then it will be clear that they have made a choice to continue the war that they started, he told reporters in Doha, Qatar.

A deal was on the table that was virtually identical to one that Hamas put forward on 6 May ... Hamas could have answered with a single word: Yes, he said.

Instead, Hamas waited nearly two weeks and then proposed more changes, a number of which go beyond positions that it had previously taken and accepted.

As a result, the war will go on, he said, before adding that he would do everything he can to get a deal done.

Mr Blinken argued that the divide between the two sides could be overcome. He did not elaborate on the Hamas proposals that have been deemed unacceptable.

An official with knowledge of the talks told the Washington Post that Hamass amendments had included a timeline for a permanent ceasefire and the complete withdrawal of Israeli troops from the Gaza Strip.

Two Egyptian security sources told Reuters that Hamas wanted written guarantees from the US for a permanent ceasefire and Israeli withdrawal and had concerns that the current proposal did not provide explicit guarantees over the transition of the first to the second phase.

There have been reports of a split between the groups political leadership and its more hardline Gaza-based military leadership under Mr Sinwar. Secret messages from Mr Sinwar to his negotiators suggested he was using the mounting Palestinian death toll to his advantage.

We have the Israelis right where we want them, Mr Sinwar said in one of dozens of messages to ceasefire negotiators obtained by The Wall Street Journal.

Earlier this week, Mr Blinken said the onus to accept the peace plan was on one guy hiding 10 storeys underground in Gaza to make the casting vote.

The spiralling death toll in Gaza and growing public anger in Israel over the governments handling of the war are adding to pressure on both sides to reach a deal.

On Wednesday, a United Nations commission investigating the Oct 7 attacks on Israel and the ensuing conflict in Gaza accused both Palestinian armed groups and Israel of committing war crimes.

A panel led by Navi Pillay, the former UN human rights chief, found that Israels conduct during the war included crimes against humanity.

The report does not carry any penalties but provides a legal analysis that could feed into future action by the International Court of Justice.

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.
US says Hamas seeks changes to ceasefire plan; Hamas denies proposing new ideas

US says Hamas seeks changes to ceasefire plan; Hamas denies proposing new ideas

By Daphne Psaledakis, Emma Farge and Nidal al-Mughrabi

DOHA/GENEVA/CAIRO (Reuters) -U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Wednesday that Hamas had proposed numerous changes, some unworkable, to a U.S.-backed proposal for a ceasefire with Israel in Gaza, but that mediators were determined to close the gaps.

Senior Hamas official Osama Hamdan denied that the Palestinian Islamist group had put forward new ideas. Speaking to pan-Arab Al-Araby TV, he reiterated Hamas' stance that it was Israel that was rejecting proposals and accused the U.S. administration of going along with its close ally.

White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said many of Hamas' proposed changes were minor "and not unanticipated" while others differed more substantially from what was outlined in a U.N. Security Council resolution on Monday backing the plan put forward by U.S. President Joe Biden.

"Our aim is to bring this process to a conclusion. Our view is that the time for haggling is over," Sullivan told reporters.

Hamas also wants written guarantees from the U.S. on the ceasefire plan, two Egyptian security sources told Reuters.

Late on Wednesday, Hamas issued a statement stressing its "positivity" in the negotiations and urging the U.S. to pressure Israel to accept an agreement leading to a permanent ceasefire in Gaza as well as full withdrawal from the enclave, reconstruction and release of Palestinian prisoners.

The Palestinian group said that while U.S. officials have said Israel has accepted a ceasefire proposal outlined by Biden on May 31, "we have not heard any Israeli official confirm this acceptance."

Biden's proposal envisages a truce and a phased release of Israeli hostages in Gaza in exchange for Palestinians jailed in Israel, ultimately leading to a permanent end to the war.

At a press conference with Qatar's prime minister in Doha, Blinken said some of the counter-proposals from Hamas, which has ruled Gaza since 2007, had sought to amend terms that it had accepted in previous talks.

MONTHS OF TALKS

Negotiators from the U.S., Egypt and Qatar have tried for months to mediate a ceasefire in the conflict - which has killed tens of thousands of Palestinians and devastated the heavily populated enclave - and free the hostages, more than 100 of whom are believed to remain captive in Gaza.

"Hamas could have answered with a single word: Yes," Blinken said. "Instead, Hamas waited nearly two weeks and then proposed more changes, a number of which go beyond positions that it had previously taken and accepted."

In its late Wednesday statement, Hamas said it had expressed its readiness to cooperate while Israel did not. Blinken's stance was "a continuation of the American policy complicit in the brutal genocide against our Palestinian people." The group said the U.S. was providing political and military cover for Israel to press ahead with its assault on Gaza.

The U.S. has said Israel has accepted its proposal, but Israel has not publicly stated this. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has repeatedly said Israel will not commit to ending its campaign before Hamas is eliminated.

Major powers are intensifying efforts to defuse the conflict in part to prevent it spiralling into a wider Middle East war, with a dangerous flashpoint being the escalating hostilities along the Lebanese-Israeli border.

The fighting in Gaza began on Oct. 7 when militants led by Hamas burst across the border and killed 1,200 Israelis and took more than 250 hostage, according to Israeli tallies.

Israel's air and ground war since then has killed more than 37,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza's health ministry, displaced most of Gaza's population of 2.3 million and devastated housing and infrastructure.

The head of the World Health Organization said on Wednesday many people in Gaza were facing "catastrophic hunger and famine-like conditions", with over 8,000 children under five years old diagnosed and treated for acute malnutrition.

A U.N. inquiry found that both Israel and Hamas had committed war crimes early in the Gaza war, and that Israel's actions also constituted crimes against humanity because of the immense civilian losses.

ISRAEL CONTINUES ASSAULTS IN GAZA

As diplomats sought a ceasefire deal, Israel continued assaults in central and southern Gaza that are among the bloodiest of the war.

Israeli forces stepped up air and tank bombardment on Wednesday night in Rafah and central Gaza, residents said. An Israeli air strike on a house in Al-Nuseirat refugee camp killed three people, medics said.

Residents earlier said Israeli forces pounded areas across Gaza on Wednesday as tanks advanced towards northern Rafah, which skirts the Egyptian border.

Palestinian health officials said six people were killed in an airstrike on Gaza City in the north, and one man had been killed by a tank shell in Rafah.

(Reporting by Daphne Psaledakis in Tel Aviv, Maayan Lubell in Jerusalem, Nidal al-Mughrabi and Enas Alashray in Cairo, Andrew Mills in Dubai, Idrees Ali, Phil Stewart and Rami Ayoub in Washington; writing by Cynthia Osterman, Kevin Liffey and Mark Heinrich; editing by Lincoln Feast, Toby Chopra and Alex Richardson)
Hamas says it has sent response to US proposal for Gaza ceasefire

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 Palestinian militant group Hamas said it has sent its response to the US proposal for a ceasefire in the Gaza war to Qatari and Egyptian mediators, as Washington insists Israel has already agreed to the three-phase plan.

Hamas and the militant group Palestinian Islamic Jihad 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 the militants' response to the mediators was initially not disclosed.

The joint statement said that the priority for Hamas and Islamic Jihad was to completely end the war in the Gaza Strip, triggered when their fighters attacked Israel on October 7, and that Israel's army should withdraw completely from the territory.

The statement 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 news comes 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.

"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 initially 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 said.

According to the US, only Hamas is yet to agree to the plan. However, the Netanyahu government has not given its clear and public approval to the plan yet 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 doesn't 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, who is currently on a Middle East tour to garner support for the latest ceasefire proposal, met Israeli President Isaac Herzog earlier Tuesday.

Efforts to negotiate an end to the war have stalled for months.

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 was 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.

Head of UN calls 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
FILE PHOTO: Hamas official Hamdan speaks during a press conference, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, in Beirut

By Ahmed Mohamed Hassan and Andrew Mills

(Reuters) - Hamas wants written guarantees from the United States for a permanent ceasefire and withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip in order to sign off on a U.S.-backed truce proposal, two Egyptian security sources said.

Mediators Qatar and Egypt said Hamas had responded on Tuesday to the phased ceasefire plan for an end to the eight-month war between Israel and the Palestinian militant group, without giving details.

The plan was made public at the end of May by U.S. President Joe Biden. It entails the gradual release of Israeli hostages held in Gaza and pullback of Israeli forces over two phases, as well as the freeing of Palestinian prisoners, with the reconstruction of the war-shattered territory and return of the remains of deceased hostages in a third phase.

The United States has said Israel accepted the proposal, but Israel has not publicly stated this.

The Egyptian sources and a third source with knowledge of the talks said Hamas had concerns that the current proposal does not provide explicit guarantees for the transition from the first phase of the plan, which includes a six-week truce and the release of some hostages, to the second phase, which includes a permanent ceasefire and Israeli withdrawal.

The Egyptian sources said Hamas would only accept the plan if the guarantees were in place, and Egypt was in contact with the U.S. about the demand.

"Hamas wants reassurances of an automatic transition from one phase to another as per the agreement laid out by President Biden," the third source said.

Hamas and Egyptian authorities did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

When he announced the plan, Biden said that if negotiations to move to the second phase lasted longer than six weeks, the ceasefire would continue as those negotiations were extended.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Wednesday that Hamas had proposed numerous changes to the ceasefire proposal, some of them unworkable.

Earlier, an Israeli official speaking on condition of anonymity said Hamas had "changed all of the main and most meaningful parameters", characterising the group's response as a rejection of Biden's proposal for a hostage release.

One non-Israeli official briefed on the matter, who also declined to be identified, said that in its response, Hamas had proposed a new timeline for a permanent ceasefire with Israel and withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza, including Rafah.

But senior Hamas official Osama Hamdan denied that the group had put forward new ideas, accusing the U.S. of going along with Israel to "evade any commitment" to a blueprint for a permanent ceasefire. Hamas has described its response as "positive" and as opening a "wide pathway" to an agreement.

More than 37,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israel's offensive in the Gaza Strip, according to health officials in the Hamas-ruled coastal enclave.

The war began when Hamas militants attacked Israel on Oct. 7, killing 1,200 people and abducting some 250 others, according to Israeli tallies.

Negotiators from the U.S., Egypt and Qatar have been trying for months to mediate a ceasefire and free the hostages, more than 100 of whom are believed to remain captive in Gaza.

(Reporting by Ahmed Mohamed Hassan and Andrew Mills; writing by Aidan Lewis; editing by Toby Chopra and Mark Heinrich)
What Happened to Dorothy Arnold? N.Y. Socialite's 1910 Disappearance Is Oldest Missing Persons Case in U.S.

The heiresss disappearance captured imaginations and highlighted societal woes in one of Americas earliest true crime stories

Alamy Dorothy Arnold.

Dorothy Arnold told her mother to stay home that December morning.

I will telephone you, she said, heading out in New York City for some supposed dress shopping on her own.

Walking down Fifth Avenue, she stopped at Park & Tilford for some chocolates and made her way along the icy streets to Brentanos bookstore for Emily Calvin Blakes Engaged Girl Sketches. She told a friend in passing that she would return home through Central Park.

That was Dec. 12, 1910. No one saw Dorothy again.

The missing Upper East Side heiress made headlines across the country. Forty years later, The Times heralded the case as one of New Yorks greatest mysteries.

Still unsolved, it's the oldest missing persons case included in The Charley Project, a database tracking over 15,000 missing persons cases. More than a century later, the circumstances surrounding her disappearance continue to fascinate and confound: Was she kidnapped, murdered  or, did she simply choose to leave one life for another?

Alamy Dorothy Arnold bumped into a friend at the corner of 5th Avenue and 27th Street. They spoke briefly, and then Dorothy vanished.

Dorothy Harriet Camille Arnold, the daughter of a wealthy perfume importer and the niece of a Supreme Court justice, seemed  to outsiders  to have everything. But in her final months with family, the unmarried 25-year-old seemed to crave something else: independence.

In the fall of 1910, the Bryn Mawr College literature graduate asked her father for permission to get her own apartment in Greenwich Village, a haven for artists. But her father was not supportive, according to American Heritages 1960 magazine story The Girl Who Never Came Back.

From her Upper East Side mansion, Dorothy wrote several short stories  Poinsettia Flames and Lotus Leaves  which she sent off for publication. McClures Magazine rejected the first. She reportedly never heard back on the second.

Dorothy often corresponded with the older George S. Griscom, Jr., telling him in a letter of McClures rejection: Failure stares me in the face. All I see ahead is a long road with no turning. And in a line, which The National Geographic recently reported, kept her mother believing in her daughters eventual return: Mother will always think an accident has happened.

Alamy Dorothy Arnold.

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That December day, dressed in a blue skirt suit, her hair in a very full pompadour under a black velvet hat with blue silk roses, Dorothy, police later said, per The Times: carried a large black fox flat muff with white points, along with $20 or $30, cards, and possibly other papers of various kinds.

By January, New Yorks police commissioner had mailed to the police of every city and town of consequence, per The Times, a set of three excellent portraits of Miss Arnold, one in walking costume, another in evening dress, and the third a bust portrait.

Police claimed they had minutely searched without result for the 5-foot, 4-inch woman with dark brown hair, grayish blue eyes, bright complexion, and good color. Further, every steamer for Europe has been traced and the passengers scrutinized.

There were mistaken sightings in Philadelphia, Muskegee, Okla., and San Antonio, Texas.

After finding Dorothys correspondence with Griscom, her mother and a brother traveled to Italy, where, per The Times, the familys lawyer had not denied reports that the brother struck [Griscom] in the face with his fist and followed the blow up with another that floored Griscom, securing his sisters letter, which Griscom had kept in his pocket.

Alamy Dorothy Arnold.

Dorothy and Griscom had spent a week together in Boston just months before she went missing. There, she pawned $500 worth of her jewelry to a pawnbroker who later spoke to the press.

In a grisly ending to the unknown story, two Pennsylvania doctors and a nurse were arrested in April 1914 for operating a private hospital offering abortions out of a Bellevue, Pa., home, in which was found an operating table and in the cellar were two large furnaces, per The Times. One of the doctors later claimed that Dorothy had been cremated, after a presumably botched abortion.

From early weeks, Dorothys father publicly claimed he believed his daughter to be dead, but his descendants recently told The National Geographic that he spent $1 million in a search for his daughter that ended only with his own death.

More than a decade after she vanished off Fifth Avenue, the head of the citys Bureau of Missing Persons announced that the case has been solved and Dorothy Arnold is no longer listed as a missing person. But he recanted soon after.

The familys lawyer responded in The Times: The disappearance of Dorothy is as much of a mystery today as the day she disappeared.

And so it remains.



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What happened at Waupun: A timeline of prisoner deaths, investigations, lawsuits and resignations

On March 30, 2023, Waupun Mayor Rohn W. Bishop told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that Waupun Correctional Institution was under lockdown.

Since then, prisoners, their families, advocates and public officials have been forced to reckon with difficult conditions at the aging prison that has long been understaffed and overcrowded.

The situation at Waupun has led to a larger debate about causes of, and potential solutions for, deeply rooted problems within Wisconsin's prison system.

The state has one of the highest incarceration rates in the nation and has the third highest Black-white imprisonment disparity in the country.

Over the past year, four prisoners have died at Waupun, prison workers have been criminally charged, officials have resigned and a series of investigations have been launched at the local, state and federal levels.

Heres a timeline of key events:

March 29, 2023: Waupun Correctional Institution enters lockdown

The Department of Corrections transitions Waupun Correctional Institution to what it calls modified movement.

The phase restricts movement throughout the prison, resulting in prisoners locked in their cells typically 24 hours a day, are not permitted visitors, and are banned from gathering in communal spaces, like recreation time, educational opportunities, and religious services.

The department says some of the prisons population were breaking rules that are in place to assure everyones safety.

Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle cite ongoing staffing shortages at Waupun and across the prison system as the reason for many problems inside the facilities that can result in a lockdown. Waupun is particularly understaffed.

Spring 2023: Prisoners tell reporters about poor conditions inside facilities

Prisoners began to tell reporters of the conditions inside the prison, from plumbing problems to a lack of air conditioning and poor food options.

Prisoners say they are only allowed one shower a week and are sharing cells. Others report they can not visit the law library, which is closed for a short period of time.

FOR USE AS NEEDED  The Waupun Correctional Institution is shown Monday, April 22, 2024 in Waupun, Wisconsin. It is a maximum security prison for men and is on the National Register of Historic Places. The first permanent building was completed in 1854, and is still in use today as the South Cell Hall. Mark Hoffman/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

June 29, 2023: Dean Hoffmann dies at Waupun prison

Dean Hoffmann, 60, dies by suicide in solitary confinement.

Hoffmann has a long-documented history of bipolar disorder and suicidal thoughts.

It is later learned through records that in the two and a half months leading to his suicide prison staff failed to provide his bipolar and antidepressant medications as prescribed more than three-quarters of the time.

(Center) Deborah Hoffmann holds a photo of Dean Hoffmann as her children (left) Megan Kolb and (right) Barry Hoffmann hold urns on Saturday September 9, 2023 in Cedarburg, Wis.

October 2, 2023: Tyshun Lemons dies of a drug overdose

Tyshun Lemons, 30, dies of an accidental overdose of acetyl fentanyl and fentanyl while in general population.

Lemons' family members say they have concerns about the medical examiner's ruling and how the drugs found their way into the maximum-security prison. Lemons brother, Levi Lord, says his brother also had mental health conditions.

Tyshun Lemons

October 26, 2023: Waupun prisoners file class action lawsuit

Lonnie Story, a Florida-based attorney licensed in Wisconsin, files a class action lawsuit on behalf of nearly a dozen prisoners at Waupun.

The suit alleges prison officials have not adequately provided proper health care to prisoners amid the ongoing lockdown, including a waiting list for dental services stretching out 18 months.

Story also ends up representing three families of prisoners who died in custody.

October 30, 2023: Cameron Williams dies of a rare stroke

Cameron Williams, 24, dies of a rare stroke in solitary confinement. Prisoners who were in the same unit at Williams tell the Journal Sentinel that in the days leading up to his death he begged for help from staff and was ignored as his health quickly deteriorated.

Court records later reveal that medical passes and hourly rounds were skipped or barely meeting procedural requirements, no reports were ever written up, and no medical assistance was provided.

Cameron Williams, 24, died inside his cell at Waupun Correctional Institution in October. Prisoners allege he was sick days prior and prison staff failed to properly care for Williams.

Nov. 1, 2023: Gov. Tony Evers says he has not visited any of the state's troubled prisons recently

Gov. Tony Evers tells reporters he hasn't recently visited the state prisons that have been the site of at least three deaths in four months. He says he is in "constant contact" with prison staff and Department of Corrections Secretary Kevin Carr visits Waupun daily.

November 14, 2023: Gov. Tony Evers, DOC Secretary Kevin Carr announce plans to loosen prison restrictions

Evers and Carr announce plans to loosen the restrictions at Waupun, as well as Green Bay Correctional Institution.

The plans include opening access to more services in the prisons, reducing the prisoner population at Waupun, updating solitary confinement policies, and continuing to recruit more staff with the enticement of higher pay.

Soon, prisoners are allowed to attend recreation, classes and religious services again, but many advocates say too many restrictions on movement remain.

Gov. Tony Evers, center, and Corrections Secretary Kevin Carr speak with resident Richard Gray at an NBA and Bucks event in 2019 at the Racine Correctional Institution in Sturtevant.

February 7, 2024: Hoffmann family files civil rights lawsuit against DOC

The family of Dean Hoffmann files a lawsuit against the Wisconsin Department of Corrections, alleging Hoffmanns civil rights were violated in the months leading up to his death. Hoffmann's daughter, Megan Kolb, says it is "time to hold somebody accountable."

February 22, 2024: Donald Maier dies of probable dehydration and malnutrition at Waupun

Donald Maier, 62, died of probable dehydration and malnutrition in solitary confinement. The death comes after prison staff began intermittently shutting off the water to prevent him from flooding his cell, court records show.

The manner of his death is later ruled a homicide.

The Waupun Correctional Institution is shown Monday, April 22, 2024 in Waupun, Wisconsin. Mark Hoffman/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

March 1, 2024: DOC Secretary announces his departure

Wisconsin Department of Corrections Secretary Kevin Carr announces he is leaving his position as the agency's leader.

The past five years have been quite memorable, and I could not be prouder to have worked with some of the finest public servants in the country who are doing amazing work every day under very difficult conditions, Carr says in a statement.

Carr was among the first secretaries Evers named to his cabinet.

Former Secretary of Corrections Kevin Carr appears before the Milwaukee Plan Commission in 2022.

March 7, 2024: Federal investigation into smuggling allegations at Waupun becomes public

After a DOC sweep of housing units at Waupun turned up contraband, state officials notify federal authorities.

As a result, the U.S. Department of Justice launches an investigation into an alleged conspiracy within Waupun Correctional Institution to bring in cell phones, illegal drugs and other contraband.

Britt Cudaback, a spokeswoman for Evers, tells reporters in early March an initial DOC probe "revealed allegations of potential employee involvement in those illegal activities, including information suggesting financial crimes may have occurred."

The Waupun Correctional Institution is shown April 22, 2024 in Waupun, Wisconsin. It is a maximum security prison for men and is on the National Register of Historic Places.

April 18, 2024: DOC says prisoner workers have resigned or been fired as a result of federal probe

The DOC tells the Journal Sentinel five employees have resigned or were fired since the U.S. Department of Justice began its investigation into the smuggling allegations. Another six employees remain on administrative leave.

May 10, 2024: Cameron Williams' family files lawsuit

The mother of Cameron Williams files a federal civil rights lawsuit against the Wisconsin Department of Corrections.

Raven Anderson believes her son suffered cruel and unusual punishment as his physical and mental health quickly deteriorated.

He did have a mental illness and I dont think that they took the time to recognize that, Anderson tells the Journal Sentinel.

May 24, 2024: New DOC secretary takes over

The deputy secretary of the Department of Corrections, Jared Hoy, is promoted to head of the department by Evers.

There is no more noble calling than maintaining community safety by caring for justice-involved individuals. It is why I have devoted my entire career to public service as a corrections practitioner," Hoy says in a statement.

Jared Hoy was appointed as the new Department of Corrections secretary in May 2024.

May 28, 2024: Waupun warden tells staff he is leaving his post

Waupun Warden Randall Hepp announces his resignation in an email to prison staff.

June 5, 2024: Dodge County sheriff announces charges against warden, other prison staff

Dodge County Sheriff Dale Schmidt announces criminal charges against nine prison employees, including Hepp, in two of the in-custody deaths  Williams and Maier. No criminal charges are issued for the other two deaths  Hoffmann and Lemons.

"'Persons in our care' is not a phrase I would use in Waupun Correctional Institution," Schmidt said, referring to the DOC's language for prisoners.

"These people were not cared for," he said. "Theyre people, and they were not cared for."

The Sheriff's Office later confirms the death investigations remain open.

Dodge County Sheriff Dale J. Schmidt releases the findings of his agency's investigation into four deaths at Waupun Correctional Institution on June 5, 2024.

Three employees are charged in connection with Williams' death.

Gwendolyn Peachey Vick, 50, a registered nurse, and Tanner Leopold, 27, a correctional sergeant, each face one count of abuse of residents of penal facilities. Brandon James Fisher, 29, a correctional lieutenant, faces two counts of abuse of residents of penal facilities in Williams' death.

Fisher also is charged in connection to Maiers death with two counts of abuse of residents of penal facilities. Hepp, the former warden, is charged with one count of felony misconduct in public office in that case.

The other employees charged with misconduct or abuse of resident in a penal facility in connection with Maier's death are correctional officers Jamall Rabb Russell, 39, and Sarah Anne Margaret Ransbottom, 35; correctional sergeants Jeramie Heyward Chalker, 41, and Alexander John Hollfelder, 31; and registered nurse, Jessica Ann Hosfelt, 47.

June 6, 2024: Lawmakers call for more oversight of prisons, closing facilities in Waupun and Green Bay

Republican state lawmakers signal interest in requiring more oversight of the state's prisons and call for closing the facilities in Waupun and Green Bay, something advocates have long pushed for.

The Joint Finance Committee co-chairs, Sen. Howard Marklein, R-Spring Green, and Rep. Mark Born, R-Beaver Dam, blame Evers, a Democrat, and Carr for the state of prisons. Evers' administration has said in the past that the governor inherited many problems in the prison system from the prior Republican administration.

Democratic lawmakers from Milwaukee, Rep. Darrin Madison and Rep. Ryan Clancy, also call for action on the prison system and closing the two troubled facilities.

Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers makes remarks at the Wisconsin Democratic Convention on Saturday June 8, 2024 at Potawatomi Hotel in Milwaukee, Wis.

June 7, 2024: Tyshun Lemons' family files lawsuit

The sister of Tyshun Lemons, who died of an accidental overdose, files a lawsuit against the Wisconsin Department of Corrections, alleging that Lemons constitutional rights were violated.

The lawsuit claims that DOC officials "willfully and deliberately ignored their duties," and that their "deliberate indifference to the conditions" at Waupun resulted in Lemons being able to obtain the drugs and overdose on them.

Drake Bentley can be reached at DBentley1@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: What happened at Waupun: A timeline of events at Wisconsin prison
Heading to a lake or river this summer? California law may require you to pack a life jacket

With summer rolling in  and temperatures rising  its more than expected for Californians to seek relief from the heat and spend a day by the rivers and lakes the state has to offer.

Unfortunately, its also the season where communities across the Central Valley see an increase in deaths by drowning. This past weekend, a man in his 20s drowned in the San Joaquin River near Kerman, a 16-year-old drowned in Shaver Lake while boating with friends, and a 6-year-old girl was in critical condition after nearly drowning in a pool.

Specifically, when it comes to spending time in the water on paddle boards, kayaks and boats, there are state safety rules and laws to follow in an effort to increase water safety and prevent fatal events.

Under California law, children 13 years old or younger must wear a Coast Guard-approved life jacket on a moving recreational vessel of any length. According to the states Department of Parks and Recreation, the only three exceptions are when a child is:

on a sailboat and are constrained by a harness tethered to the sailboat

in an enclosed cabin

on a vessel engaged in an emergency rescue situation

Recreational vessels can be motorized, including boats and jet skis, or non-motorized, like paddle boards, sailboats, kayaks and canoes.

Life jacket requirement laws apply to adults, too. For anyone 13 years of age and older, when engaging in recreational activities with vessels 16 feet in length or shorter, there must be one wearable U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket per person on board.

For example, if two adult people are on a paddle board or kayak, theyre not required to wear life jackets but must have two available on the non-motorized vessel.

Firefighter Ross Palmerton of the Sacramento Fire Department assists in a mock rescue behind a life jacket rack and sign on Tiscornia Beach, part of the American River, on Tuesday, May 23, 2023. Ahead of Memorial Day weekend, city officials from the office of emergency management, fire department and youth, parks and community enrichment hosted demonstrations including drowning rescue and CPR administration.

Also, not all personal flotation devices sold at sporting and outdoor gear stores are compliant with the Coast Guards requirements and state law.

There are many different styles of life jackets, but not all styles are approved for all boating activities, said an email from the California State Parks Division of Boating and Waterways. The inside label [of a flotation device or life jacket] will provide the US Coast Guard approval number and the intended boating activity.

Some inflatable styles of life jackets could be used for specific activities  not all  and strictly cannot be used for other activities, like when being towed behind a vessel.

The California State Parks Division of Boating and Waterways supplies life jackets for Californians to borrow at 120 stations in 30 out of Californias 58 counties.

However, at the time of writing this article when The Bee called locations listed on the states website, those in Stanislaus, Kings and Kern counties were either no longer participating in the program or had changed names or addresses. Both, the locations and state, have been notified of the outdated information listed.

Families or individuals can check out lifejackets for a day or weekend. In the Central Valley, those interested in getting an approved and compliant life jacket can contact these stations:

Fresno County

Friant Station: Millerton Lake SRA, 5290 Millerton Road in Friant, 559-822-2332

Sanger Station: Pine Flat Lake, 27295 Pine Flat Road, 559-787-2589

Madera County

Eastman Lake Station: in the park, 23 miles northeast of Chowchilla, 559-689-3255 (three locations: Upper Boating Ramp near Chowchilla Day Use Recreational Area, Upper Boating Ramp in Cordones and Main Cordones Campground)

Raymond Station: Hensley Lake, 25207 Road 407, 559-673-5151 (three locations: Main Office at the address, Buck Ridge Day Use Area and Hidden View Campground)

Merced County

Gustine Station: San Luis Reservoir, ONeill Forebay Kiosk at San Luis Creek Day Use Area (South Beach), 31426 Gonzaga Road, 209-826-4714

Paddlers make their way in kayaks and canoes to the new Neece Drive Boat Launch at Tuolumne River Regional Park in Modesto, Calif., Friday, May 10, 2024.

San Joaquin County

Manteca Station: City of Manteca Fire Department Station 2, 1154 S. Union Road, 209-456-8310

Stockton Station A: Stockton Fire Department Station 10, 2903 West March Lane, 209-937-8030

Stockton Station B: Stockton Fire Department Station 14, 3019 McNabb St., 209-937-8034

Stanislaus County

Modesto Station A: Modesto Fire Dept. Station 1, 610 11th St., 209-572-9597

Modesto Station B: Modesto Fire Dept. Station 2, 420 Chicago Ave., 209-491-4388

Modesto Station C: Modesto Fire Dept. Station 5, 200 W Briggsmore Ave., 209-572-9555

Modesto Station D: Modesto Fire Dept. Station 10, 148 Imperial Ave., 209-572-9650

Modesto Station E: Stanislaus Consolidated Fire Dept. Station 22, 4845 Yosemite Blvd., 209-549-8402

Modesto Station F: Stanislaus Consolidated Fire Dept. Station 23, 7737 Yosemite Blvd., 209-549-8403

Ceres Station: Ceres Fire Dept. Station 15, 2755 Third St., 209-577-6450

Oakdale Station A: Oakdale Fire Dept. Station 27, 450 S Willowood Drive, 209-577-6260

Oakdale Station B: Oakdale Fire Dept. Station 28, 325 E G St., 209-577-6263

Knights Ferry Station: Modesto Fire Dept. Station 29, 17700 Main St., 209-577-6266

Riverbank Station: Stanislaus Consolidated Fire Department Station 26, 3318 Topeka St., 209-549-8406

Turlock Station: Turlock Fire Dept. Station 31, 540 E Marshall St., 209-668-5580

Waterford Station A: Stanislaus Consolidated Fire Department Station 24, 129 E St., 209-874-2123

Waterford Station B: Modesto Reservoir Regional Park, 18142 Reservoir Road. 209-525-6750 (these life jackets are provided by the Sea Tow Foundation, not the state, to Stanislaus County)

Woodward Station: Woodward Reservoir, 14528 26 Mile Road, 209-847-3304

For a full list of counties and their stations, to request more life jackets for an already existing station or to request to open a new life jacket loaner station, those interested can visit https://bit.ly/3yVDcLZ.
Heavy snows and drought of deadly 'dzud' kill more than 7 million head of livestock in Mongolia

In this photo released by Mongolian Red Cross Society, a Mongolian herdsman prepares wood to provide heating for the family ger past near a member of the Mongolian Red Cross Society in Ulaangom Soum, Uvs province of Mongolia, on March 1, 2024. An extreme weather phenomenon known as the dzud has killed more than 7.1 million animals in Mongolia this year, more than a tenth of the countrys entire livestock holdings, threatening herders livelihoods and way of life. (Mongolian Red Cross Society via AP)

HANOI, Vietnam (AP)  An extreme weather phenomenon known as the dzud has killed more than 7.1 million animals in Mongolia this year, more than a tenth of the countrys entire livestock holdings, endangering herders livelihoods and way of life.

Dzuds are a combination of perennial droughts and severe, snowy winters and they are becoming harsher and more frequent because of climate change. They are most associated with Mongolia but also occur in other parts of Central Asia.

Many deaths, especially among malnourished female animals and their young, occur during the spring, which is the birthing season.

Herding is central to Mongolias economy and culture  contributing to 80% of its agricultural production and 11% of GDP.

In Mongolian, the word dzud means disaster. Dzuds occur when extremely heavy snows cause impenetrable layers of snow and ice to cover Mongolias vast grasslands, so the animals cannot graze and they starve to death. Drought at other times of the year means theres not enough forage for the animals to fatten up for the winter.

Dzuds used to occur once in a decade or so but are becoming harsher and more frequent because of climate change. This years dzud is the sixth in the past decade and the worst yet. It followed a dzud last year and a dry summer. Snowfall was the heaviest since 1975.

The toll on Mongolias herds has soared, with 2.1 million head of cattle, sheep and goats dead in February, rising to 7.1 million in May, according to state media.

Thousands of families have lost over 70% of their entire herds. And the total death toll may increase to 14.9 million animals, or nearly 24% of Mongolias total herd, said Deputy Prime Minister S. Amarsaikhan, according to state media.

Nomadic herding is so vital for resource-rich Mongolias 3.3 million people that its constitution refers to the countrys 65 million camels, yaks, cattle, sheep, goats and horses as its national wealth.

Livestock and their products are Mongolias second-largest export after mining, according to the Asian Development Bank.

The loss of the livestock has dealt an irreversible blow to economic stability and intensified the peoples already dire circumstances, Olga Dzhumaeva, the head of the East Asia delegation at International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent or IFRC, said in an interview with The Associated Press.

High costs for fuel, food and fodder made the situation much worse for herders like Gantomor, a 38-year-old herder in mountainous Arkhangai province. Like many Mongolians, he goes by one name.

Warnings of a dzud prompted Gantomor to sell his entire flock of about 400 sheep. He only kept his sturdier yaks and horses, hoping that that hed be able to take them to pastures that wouldnt be as badly affected, said his sister-in-law, Gantuya Batdelger, 33, a graduate school student.

Even after spending more than $2,000 to transport the remaining 200-odd animals 200 kilometers (124 miles) to a place he thought would be safer, he didnt escape the dzud. Seventy yaks died and 40 horses left the herd, leaving him with less than 100. By selling the sheep, (the family) had wanted to save some money. But they spent all of it, said Batdelger.

Batdelger's brother-in-law was better off than others. A friend had all but 15 of her 250 yaks die.

The Mongolian countryside was filled with hundreds of carcasses, piling up in the melting snow, she said.

Disposing of the carcasses quickly to ensure they dont spread diseases is another big challenge. By early May, 5.6 million, or nearly 80%, of the dead animals had been buried.

Warmer temperatures can bring forest fires or dust storms. Heavy runoff from melting snow increases the risk of flash floods, especially in urban areas. Many pregnant stock, weakened from the winter, lose their offspring, sometimes because they cannot adequately feed them, said Matilda Dimovska, the UNDPs resident representative in Mongolia.

Its really devastating to see, how (the baby animals) cry for food, she said.

The dzud is a perfect example of how interlinked climate change is with poverty and the economy, she said. Herders who lose their herds often migrate to cities like the capital, Ulaanbaatar, but find few opportunities for work.

They enter into the cycle of poverty, she said.

The increasingly routine nature of the dzuds has raised the need for Mongolia to develop better early warning systems for natural disasters, said Mungunkhishig Batbaatar, the country director of the nonprofit People in Need.

Combining technology with community-level approaches works best: It is estimated that countries with limited early warning coverage have disaster mortality that is eight times higher than countries with substantial to comprehensive coverage, he said.

Meanwhile, international aid has been very insufficient, said Dzhumaeva. An IFRC appeal launched in mid-March has not reached even 20% of its target of 5.5 million Swiss Francs ($6 million). Budgets strained by urgent responses to crises like Ukraine or Gaza are a factor, she said, But this leaves little room for addressing the devastating effects of dzud in Mongolia.

Mongolia needs help but it also needs to adapt to dzuds with strategies such as better weather forecasting and measures to stop overgrazing. Herders need to diversify their incomes to help cushion the impact of livestock losses.

Khandaa Byamba, 37, a camel herder who lives in Dundgobi province in Mongolias Gobi Desert said in an online interview that she has learned from her elders and also the hard experience of repeated dzuds.

Seeing early signs of yet another dzud, she let her camels wander, relying on their own instincts to find pastures. The family earlier decided to just herd camels to cope with climate change, drought and deteriorating pastures that have been turning into deserts. Khandaa Byamba's husband followed the animals for the first 100 kilometers (62 miles) while she stayed behind with some younger animals.

As the snow piled up, other families reported losing scores of animals. But after the winter, most of her camels returned. They only lost three adult camels and 10 younger ones in their herd of more than 200.

This year has been the hardest, she said.

______

The Associated Press climate and environmental coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find APs standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org.
Hungary has reconsidered its position and dropped its objections to the creation of a military assistance fund for Ukraine. Instead, NATO agreed not to include Budapest in this initiative.

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This was reported by Bloomberg, citing its own sources. On Wednesday, June 12, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg met with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban to discuss further cooperation between Budapest and the Alliance.

One of the key topics of discussion was support for Ukraine.

Orban noted that Hungary's position in the context of the war in Ukraine differs from the views of most NATO countries. He promised that Budapest would not obstruct assistance to Ukraine and emphasized that Hungary remains a loyal member of the Alliance.

Stoltenberg supported Hungary's decision to "not participate" in NATO's efforts in Ukraine. The Secretary General also agreed to guarantee that Hungary will not be required to participate in any further expansion of the Alliance's support for Ukraine.

As reported by OBOZ.UA:

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- Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban announced his intention to create a so-called "coalition of peace" in the European Parliament. He also portrays his domestic and international opponents as warmongers who allegedly seek to directly involve Hungary in the conflict.

- And in an interview with an Italian publication, Orban said that only Hungarian citizens are allegedly dying on the Ukrainian front, so, he said, this country has the right to block support for Ukraine.

Only verified information is available on the OBOZ.UA Telegram channel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
What the hell are you waiting for? Senators grill FDA, DOJ about lack of action on youth vaping epidemic

Republicans and Democrats on the US Senate Judiciary Committee showed rare agreement Wednesday as they took to task the US Food and Drug Administration and the US Department of Justice for what they described as inaction on the countrys youth vaping epidemic.

Nearly three years ago, a federal court ruled that the FDA was violating the Tobacco Control Act by allowing e-cigarette products that did not have FDA pre-authorization to stay on the market.

An FDA official testified Wednesday that the topic was a top priority, but the agency has missed the September 2021 deadline that the court set to for the agency to complete its review of e-cigarette makers applications to sell their products.

Since that time, one study found, an estimated 2.1 million children have used e-cigarettes regularly, and the majority use flavored products.

After the court-ordered deadline passed on September 9, 2021, the FDA could have ordered every single unauthorized e-cigarette off the market, and thats what it should have done, Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Illinois, told Dr. Brian King, director of the FDAs Center for Tobacco Products, at Wednesdays hearing. Instead, thousands of unauthorized e-cigarettes flooded the market.

In fact, Durbin said, his staffers found vapes in flavors like Red Bull, strawberry, dragonfruit and watermelon bubble gum at a shop just a mile from FDA headquarters.

Not a single one of these products has been authorized by the FDA. None of them. These illegal products, clearly designed for kids by their flavors, are being sold even in the shadow of FDA headquarters, he said.

Placing one of the products in front of him, Durbin asked how the FDA could let such sales happen.

The volume of those applications and the volume of the market requires us to prioritize our enforcement efforts, King testified.

Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tennessee, also told the representatives from the FDA and the Department of Justice that she was displeased.

I think its disappointing to hear you kind of talk in circles about what you are planning to do, but you havent established a plan, and youre not certain what your way forward is going to be, she said.

King said the FDA has received 27 million applications for e-cigarette products. But unlike with companies that make drugs and medical devices, which pay user fees that fund the agencys work, the FDA is not allowed to collect fees from e-cigarette makers. King asked the Senate committee for the authority to fund this increased workload.

The rapidly evolving tobacco product landscape presents an unprecedented time and resource challenge that no other center at FDA has ever faced, King said.

Since June, the FDA has authorized only 23 e-cigarette products  none of them flavored  and has denied many more. Hundreds of thousands of additional applications are still pending.

From 2020 to 2023, there was a 1,500% increase in flavored tobacco products sold in the US, said Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas. He also brought in flavored vape products that his staffers bought, including watermelon bubble gum, apple melon berry and one called Tyson Heavyweight.

Dr. King, those are clearly designed for consumption by children, correct? Cornyn asked.

I cant speak to the intent of the manufacturer, but I can say that flavors do appeal to kids. Ninety percent of youth who use e-cigarettes use flavored varieties, King testified.

About 10% of high school-age adolescents and nearly 5% of middle school students use e-cigarettes, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Over the past five years, there has been a 60% decline in the number of middle and high school students using e-cigarettes, King said. But when they do vape, teens and young adults are much more likely to use flavored e-cigarettes than adults.

More work is definitely needed, he testified.

Enforcement of the law is the other challenge, the FDA and DOJ said at the hearing. The FDA has conducted thousands of inspections of e-cigarette manufacturers and distributors resulting in nearly 900 warning letters, King said. More than 500 warning letters have gone to retail stores, King said, but if the letters are ignored thats as far as the FDA can go, so it must rely on the DOJ and other agencies. It was only this week that the FDA and several law enforcement agencies announced that they were creating a task force that will use the criminal and civil tools available to fight the illegal sale and distribution of e-cigarettes.

What in the hell have you been waiting for? Durbin asked Arun Rao, deputy assistant attorney general for the Civil Divisions Consumer Protection Branch in the Department of Justice.

Senator, we have been acting on a number of fronts, Rao replied. He said the Justice Department has been working with the US Marshals Service and the FDA on seizures of illegal products, but he admitted that many manufactures have exploited the premarket authorization process.

Rao testified that many manufacturers whose products have been denied FDA authorization make minimal alterations and resubmit for approval. Some overseas e-cigarette makers will also misrepresent shipments in an effort to slip past regulators, and some stores make their own products.

Taken together, these factors have made illegal e-cigarettes all too accessible, Rao said.

Many products come from China, but that country has banned flavored e-cigarettes, and the products are not sold in Chinese stores  a point that wasnt lost on the committee.

You cant sell them in China, but you can sell them in the United States and essentially victimize and addict our children to these nicotine delivery devices, Cornyn said.

Nicotine is highly addictive and hurts kids, testified Dr. Susan Walley, immediate past chair of the American Academy of Pediatrics Section on Nicotine and Tobacco Prevention and Treatment. Nicotine can permanently hurt a teens developing brain, studies show, impairing working memory and attention.

Flavored products are too tempting and easy to access, said Walley, who brought with her a flavored e-cigarette product called OMG Blow Pop that she said she purchased within walking distance of a school.

Simply put, this is unacceptable, she said. We need the federal government to get these illegal products off the market.

Even representatives of the vaping industry testified that they were unhappy with the FDAs authorization process.

This is a hot mess right now, said Tony Abboud, executive director of the Vapor Technology Association. He complained that there was no clear pathway through the approval process and said that without one, we are going to persist in having an illicit market.

A high school senior, Josie Shapiro of Seattle, told the committee that vaping products are too easy to access. She said she started vaping after several friends did.

They thought vapes were harmless because of the fun flavors and colorful packaging, Shapiro testified.

Shapiro said she has tried to quit several times, but vaping has taken over her and her friends lives.

Ive felt completely out of control, helpless and alone, she said. I couldnt spend quality time with my friends without thinking about when we were going to get our next hit.

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A map on a concept plan for Rabbit Run Farms shows the total area of the 125-acre project. The small community of Winfield can be seen in the left of the picture. Cobbham Road runs along the bottom of the property.

A Columbia County developer is planning a rural home neighborhood near Thurmond Lake with each lot covering several acres.

Red Rock Land Development, affiliated with Ivey Residential, submitted plans recently to Columbia County showing Rabbit Run Farms, a proposed 125-acre development off Cobbham Road, just east of the countys tiny Winfield community.

Running through the middle of the property is a small tributary of Cliatt Creek. Building roads around the stream would create longer cul-de-sacs whose construction could potentially affect the environment, according to the developers zoning variance request.

The county has identified two valleys on the property that contain state waters, which describes just about any body of water, natural or artificial, within a states boundaries. Georgia law requires buffers to nearby construction around such bodies of water.

The neighborhoods 20 lots would have shorter, more convenient roads if they could bridge the streams. Every effort has been made to prevent the impact to sensitive state waters, according to the request.

Each home lot measures about 5 acres.

More: Augusta University vice president named as sole finalist to be AUs next president

This article originally appeared on Augusta Chronicle: Columbia County neighborhood's roads must bridge streams, builder says
People carry the coffin of Hezbollah senior commander Taleb Sami Abdullah, 55, known within Hezbollah as Hajj Abu Taleb, who was killed late Tusday by an Israeli strike in south Lebanon, during his funeral procession in the southern suburbs of Beirut, Lebanon, Wednesday, June 12, 2024. Hezbollah fired a massive barrage of rockets into northern Israel on Wednesday to avenge the killing of the top commander in the Lebanese militant group as the fate of an internationally-backed plan for a cease-fire in Gaza hung in the balance. (AP Photo/Bilal Hussein)

BEIRUT (AP)  Hezbollah vowed Wednesday to intensify its attacks along the Lebanon-Israel border to avenge the killing of its most senior military commander by Israel since the latest round of violence began eight months ago.

Our response after the martyrdom of Abu Taleb will be to intensify our operations in severity, strength, quantity and quality, senior Hezbollah official Hachem Saffieddine said during a funeral ceremony for Taleb Sami Abdullah. Let the enemy wait for us in the battlefield.

Earlier Wednesday, Hezbollah fired a massive barrage of rockets into northern Israel, further escalating tensions as the fate of an internationally backed plan for a cease-fire in Gaza hung in the balance.

Hezbollah, an Iran-backed ally of the Palestinian Hamas group, has traded fire with Israel nearly every day since the Israel-Hamas war began on Oct. 7, and says it will only stop if there is a truce in Gaza. That has raised fears of a regional conflagration.

Abdullah, 55, was killed in an airstrike late Tuesday. On Wednesday afternoon, his coffin was brought to Hezbollahs stronghold in southern Beirut. Hundreds of Hezbollah supporters and senior officials with the militant group attended the ceremony. The body was taken for burial in Abdullahs hometown of Aadschit.

"It is natural that Abu Taleb was a permanent target, Saffieddine said, adding that Abdullah had taken part in Hezbollahs military operations including the 34-day Israel-Hezbollah war in 2006.

Air raid sirens sounded across northern Israel on Wednesday morning, and the military said about 215 projectiles were fired from southern Lebanon  one of the largest attacks since the latest fighting began. There were no immediate reports of casualties. Some projectiles were intercepted, while others ignited brush fires.

Hezbollah said it fired missiles and rockets at two military bases in retaliation for Abdullahs killing.

The Israeli strike on Tuesday destroyed a house where Abdullah and three other officials were meeting, about 10 kilometers (6 miles) from the border. The Israeli military said the attack was part of a strike on a Hezbollah command and control center used to direct attacks against Israel in recent months.

Abdullah was one of Hezbollahs most senior commanders in southern Lebanon who planned, advanced and carried out a large number of attacks against Israeli civilians, the military said.

A Hezbollah official told The Associated Press that Abdullah was in charge of a large part of the Lebanon-Israel front, including the area facing the Israeli town of Kiryat Shmona, which Hezbollah has repeatedly attacked in recent days.

The official, who was not authorized to speak to media and spoke on condition of anonymity, said Abdullah had joined Hezbollah decades ago and took part in attacks against Israeli forces during their 18-year occupation of southern Lebanon that ended in May 2000.

Another Hezbollah official, who spoke on condition of anonymity in line with regulations, said Abdullah was the commander of the groups Nasr Unit that is in charge of parts of south Lebanon close to the Israeli border.

Israeli airstrikes on Lebanon since October have killed over 400 people, most of them Hezbollah fighters, but the dead also include more than 70 civilians and non-combatants. On the Israeli side, 15 soldiers and 10 civilians have been killed since the war in Gaza began.

Abdullahs sister Zeinab said her brother had been seeking martyrdom for the past month, adding that his death will encourage more young men to join the militant group.

May God destroy Israel, she told the AP.
NEW YORK  Hillary Clinton helped deal another blow to vulnerable Rep. Jamaal Bowman on Wednesday, endorsing his formidable challenger just hours after Bowman yet again accused him of racism.

Clintons is one of the highest-profile nods in the primary, which has grown increasingly vitriolic as Westchester County Executive George Latimer gains ground against the incumbent member of The Squad. Among Bowman's big-name supporters are Sens. Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren.

Clinton's backing came shortly after Bowman leveled harsh criticism of Latimer at an unrelated event Wednesday in suburban Mount Vernon.

Hes in the pocket of Republican billionaires  who are racist, the incumbent said. He is also not just anti-Black racist, hes anti-Muslim racist.



Allegations of racism have begun to dominate the bitter primary for the congressional seat in Westchester County and the Bronx.

With Trump on the ballot, we need strong, principled Democrats in Congress more than ever, the former secretary of state and 2016 Democratic nominee for president posted on X. In Congress, @LatimerforNY will protect abortion rights, stand up to the NRA, and fight for President Bidens agenda  just like hes always done.

Clintons reference to supporting Bidens vision for the country tracks with the Latimer coalition's messaging. His coalition has been highlighting Bowmans vote against the bipartisan infrastructure plan that Biden had championed. Bowman has noted that his vote wasnt critical to the passage of the law and he wanted to advocate for social spending.

Bowman is battling for a third term against a well-known local leader in a primary that will test Democratic sentiment on the Israel-Hamas war.

Latimer, who is benefiting from a multi-million-dollar support campaign by pro-Israel AIPAC, has said Bowmans criticism of the Jewish state stands in stark contrast to mainstream Democrats.

In a statement responding to Clintons endorsement, Latimer said: Her voice gives even more momentum to our grassroots campaign, which keeps gaining strength because we stand strongly and honestly for our values and for our belief in delivering meaningful results for the communities we serve.

His campaigns announcement of Clintons support came ahead of the first day of early voting in the primary, and was accompanied by a list of local leaders and labor groups now supporting him.
Ohio lawmakers are worried about feral pigs becoming an even wilder problem and want to nip it in the snout.

The Ohio House passed House Bill 503 in a unanimous 89-0 vote on Wednesday, which would prohibit bringing wild pigs into the state and allow landowners to shoot them without a license and require them to report the harvest to state officials.

Feral hogs live in eight southeastern Ohio counties. Ohio legislators are debating a bill to allow landowners to kill feral hogs without hunting licenses and prohibit transporting possessing or releasing garbage-fed hogs in Ohio. Garbage feeding can encourage feral hogs.

Co-sponsors of the bill warn that Texas already spends more than $320 million on its feral hog mitigation program and Ohio does not want to follow suit. Wild pigs' foraging and wallowing habits cause soil and crop damage.

Feral swine are found in eight of Ohio's 88 counties, mostly in the southeast part of the state. Rep. Don Jones, R-Freeport, said other states have been overrun by feral swine and Ohio wants to be proactive.

Rep. Bob Peterson, R-Sabina, said these animals aren't like Porky Pig. "These are mean, wild, destructive animals."

The bill also would outlaw feeding garbage  treated or untreated  to pigs in Ohio. Garbage feeding swine attracts feral swine. Bringing a wild pig into Ohio, possessing it or releasing it could result in a $500 fine, if the bill becomes law.

The bill would eliminate a current state license that allows for garbage feeding swine  no one holds it anyway.

The bill is backed by Ohio agriculture groups including pork producers, cattlemen, dairy farmers, poultry farmers and soybean, wheat and corn growers.

Reporter Jessie Balmert contributed to this article.

Laura Bischoff is a reporter for the USA TODAY Network Ohio Bureau, which serves the Columbus Dispatch, Cincinnati Enquirer, Akron Beacon Journal and 18 other affiliated news organizations across Ohio.

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Ohio seeks to control feral hogs and ban garbage-fed pigs
Jefferson Davis was president of the Confederate States of America, a white supremacist government, from 1861 to 1865. Since 1901, Alabama has marked Jefferson Davis' Birthday as a state holiday on the first Monday in June. (Netterville Briggs via Getty Images)

Even Jim Crow Alabama couldnt muster any enthusiasm for Jefferson Davis.

When an Alabama House representative filed a bill in 1900 to make his birthday a holiday, the Birmingham Post-Herald called it an event which the general public does not remember and has no wish to be reminded of.

Vast numbers of Southerners do not place their faith in Jefferson Davis as a figure in history, and very few of them do so much as remember him except when they see his name in the newspapers, the newspaper said.

The bill passed despite  or because of  this inertia, a few months before white planters in the Black Belt committed massive fraud to deprive Black Alabamians of their constitutional rights.

And so Alabama offices are closed on the first Monday of June to honor a man who, along with other members of his class, went to war to ensure that some Americans had the legal status of animals.

Which is the only reason we would ever remember him. Because as a person, Jefferson Davis isnt that interesting.

That doesnt mean hes unimportant or insignificant. All government leaders influence events and leave an archive for historians to analyze.

But it says a lot about Davis as a historical character that Lost Cause propaganda, which shamelessly jammed halos on murderers, struggled to transform the leaden soul of the Confederate president into a golden legend.

You can put him on a pedestal, like Abraham Lincoln, but the marble will have a lot more life and warmth than Davis ever did.

And the arcs of their lives are much different. Lincoln rose out of poverty  one of our few presidents to do so  and showed a capacity to grow and change throughout his life. His writing carries profound reflections on faith and democracy in a style that at its best echoes Shakespeare and John Bunyan. He could laugh at stories, and himself.

That was beneath the dignity of Davis, a replacement-level oligarch. His older brother set him up on a plantation and loaned him money to purchase enslaved human beings. He ended up holding hundreds of men, women and children against their will and was happy to murder his fellow countrymen to keep them there. He made deeply racist statements, often rooted in religion, to justify this oppression.

All of this, plus leading a white supremacist state, is enough to consign Davis to villainy. But dont forget that Davis was bad at his job. He was hypersensitive to slights; showed no aptitude for finance and promoted generals who did not deserve the honors. (Davis made Braxton Bragg  maybe the worst general of the Civil War and certainly the most unpleasant  his military adviser.)

After the war, he published a 1,500-page book about his failures that relentlessly complained about Black Americans having a brief share in their governance and ended with a statement that the deaths of over 620,000 men showed secession to be impracticable, but this did not prove it to be wrong.

Its an embarrassment that we honor this racist traitor a week after remembering all the Americans who died in this nations wars. Davis helped dig many of those graves.

In some ways, I understand why Davis holiday survives any efforts to get rid of it. The Confederate president created a mold for Southern politicians.

A man who emerges from privilege, whose entire public life focuses on fortifying its boundaries.

A man who rises thanks to an unbending alliance with power, not any innate political talent.

A man who sees cruelty and uses his office to explain it as divinely ordained.

A man who demands a respect he refuses to extend to others.

Its familiar. But its not worth celebrating.

Its doubly embarrassing that we commemorate Davis when we cant make Juneteenth  honoring American perseverance amid American horror  a state holiday. There are many, many Alabamians who passed through that ordeal more worthy of remembrance. Like Martha Bradley of Mount Meigs, who told an interviewer in the 1930s about abuse she had witnessed and endured, and her own resistance (which once included attacking an overseer with a hoe).

In recent years, weve found more places in the state to remember the people worth remembering, like Birminghams civil rights district and Montgomerys memorials to the victims of slavery and lynching.

Unfortunately, we also have the First White House of the Confederacy, where Jefferson Davis lived briefly in 1861. Our state government not only bought the house in 1920 but moved it from its original location to a spot near the Alabama State Capitol.

It was a thin gilding of heritage that couldnt cover the hollow malevolence of Davis. But it reflected the values of a regime that violently upheld the feudal arrangements of contemporary Alabama.

And as long as Alabama continues to honor Davis and other white supremacists, it will tell the world that its values havent really changed.

This column was originally produced by the Alabama Reflector 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 The hollow malevolence of Jefferson Davis appeared first on Daily Montanan.
There was a time when Bruce Hood viewed everything surrounding positive psychology with skepticism. He thought it was a sphere filled with naivety and platitudes, with its universal recipes and direct highways to happiness. Intermingled in a sweet-smelling haze were beatific smiles, spirituality for modern times, definitive bestsellers and, on occasion, a certain scientific substratum. To Hood, it all seemed too vague, like an apothecarys shop offering suggestive balms that are not very effective in the long-term.

Something changed in 2018, when this British-Canadian developmental psychologist  famous for his analyses of the notion of the self and superstitious beliefs  found out that a former student of his, Laurie Santos, was teaching a course called Psychology and the Good Life at Yale University. She is very rigorous, I knew that she would not be promoting something that did not have good science behind it, he says via videoconference.

At that time, Hood had begun to detect alarming levels of disquiet among his students at the University of Bristol in the United Kingdom. Anguish was rampant, fueled by excessive demands, social media and the pressure to display joy 24/7. Hood wanted to give evidence-based wellness a chance. He created a program similar to one developed by Santos, which he named The Science of Happiness. His latest book of the same name brings together six years of experiences, his own research and dozens of studies on the habits and attitudes that we know  based on data  make us feel better in a lasting way.

The work revolves around one central idea: living happier means eliminating egocentrism, that powerful temptation that crosses eras and countries. With his commitment to allocentrism, Hood encourages us to stop navel-gazing and start looking at others. His book invites us to adopt an expansive perspective that goes against the current trend. In recent years, we have been told that, to be happy, we have to take care of ourselves, put on our oxygen mask before helping others. Losing sight of ourselves, he argues, doesnt mean embracing an extreme altruism in which our needs dont count at all. Rather, it is a matter of avoiding falling into a loop of self-absorption: Happiness focused on oneself does not go very far; it is very limiting to be both the origin and the recipient of our actions.

Countering egocentrism is about more than turning outward. It also requires us to question who we think we are, and what we think defines us. In his 2012 book The Self Illusion, Hood had dismantled the permanence of the self, which is inherent to every human being. The Science of Happiness expands on the idea of the self as a mirage. It is nothing new, Buddhism has been asking the same thing for millennia; I have limited myself to giving this idea a scientific vision.

The self as a coherent narrative helps make sense of our confusion, Hood continues, and that perception of continuity, that we will always be essentially the same person, makes us believe that we make decisions independently. The ego (which means I in Latin) seems real, it feels very true. The experience of the ego, Hood admits, is undeniable. But it is, at its core, a fallacy, a subtle deception: There are many factors, most in fact, that are beyond our control, both external issues and unconscious internal dynamics.

Do these quasi-ontological reflections contribute to our happiness? Hood is convinced that they do. If you want to be happier, you have to give yourself the opportunity to see yourself as a product of your interaction with the world and not as an isolated island, the book reads. Conceiving ourselves as a reality that is under construction, the author argues, is enormously liberating. It allows us to flow more freely and look at ourselves from a greater distance. It helps us to loosen our moorings and navigate through life without deterministic judgments, always open to change.

With an allocentric gaze and an ego in the process of being destroyed, everything becomes softer, less severe. We become more compassionate with ourselves and with others, it is automatic. If you start to see yourself in a more detached way, you see that the emotional pain that we all suffer originates from a set of causes for which, to a large extent, we are not responsible. It also reduces pessimism, a mental pattern that tends to take root among egocentrics, who tend to extrapolate negative events  if something bad has happened once, it will happen again  and to continually blame themselves.

Hood argues that optimism, like any beneficial cognitive habit, requires continuous learning. It is not enough to grasp the message and expect it to remain in our minds forever: we must apply the teachings every day. There are, of course, truths that help us understand why we grapple with stress, struggle with intrusive thoughts, or battle with anxiety. One basic truth is that the brain is optimized to look for negative information, to detect problems to solve, instead of enjoying things when everything is going well.

There is a strong evolutionary reason for so-called negativity bias: Threats, real or imagined, acquire more value. Countless studies show that we pay more attention to what we judge as negative. In his new work, Hood refers to anxiety (fear in the absence of pressing danger) as a hangover from our times on the savanna. Even without the threat of lurking lions, our neurons are still experts at generating worry. Knowing that they are just doing their job (albeit through often dysfunctional mechanisms), and that the fight or flight response  with its unpleasant physical sensations  is activated for strange reasons, can help us stay calm in moments of psychoemotional turbulence.

With the awareness that our minds are designed to create unnecessary torment, we must strive to focus our attention on other things that are more worthwhile. Ruminating less is not always an easy task, but it is key if we are striving for solid well-being. To achieve this, The Science of Happiness offers a wide range of recommendations: meditation, immersing ourselves in our hobbies, admiring nature, trying psychological distancing... According to Hood, these are resources that have been sufficiently proven in reliable studies.

Much of the book addresses the relational component of a more or less stable joy. Hood recalls that loneliness consistently comes up as the factor that most reduces life expectancy, and that social death tops the list of human fears. Our priority goal is not to be excluded, since evolutionarily we have needed to belong to a group to survive. Although it is not entirely impossible to be a lonely and happy person, anyone who achieves this will be the exception that proves the rule.

When we relate to others, it is important to be clear that comparison  validating ourselves as a system with respect to others  is an inexhaustible source of sadness and is sure to pave the way to feelings of unhappiness. As children, we are our only reference point. But as soon as we become aware as social beings, we begin to score ourselves in a growing market that is getting so big that, thanks to the online world, it encompasses the whole of humanity. Once again, this is fertile ground for recalcitrant navel-gazers: When an egocentric view of the world predominates, we make endless erroneous comparisons. And theres always going to be someone better than you in every aspect. Gratitude proves to be an excellent antidote to envy and self-flagellation. For one obvious reason: It teaches you to feel fortunate.

The Science of Happiness synthesizes the most relevant research on the great aspiration of human beings. Hood is aware that he is facing a devilishly complex field of study, multifactorial like few others and highly dependent on context. Happiness means different things in different places and to different people. Among the hundreds of questions raised by this issue, Hood highlights the link between socioeconomic and emotional well-being. What is the minimum amount needed to be happy? For the moment, its a shadowy figure: Psychologists and economists continue arguing about it without reaching a consensus. There is ongoing debate.

Given the proliferation of scientific literature around what makes us happy, a meta-analysis published earlier this year in Annual Review of Psychology dissected the scientific aptitude of dozens of publications. Few passed the test. I think that too rigorous criteria were applied, leading to a somewhat unfair evaluation, says Hood, who acknowledges, however, that there are no shortage of studies that are statistically poor, with dubious methods or samples that are too small.

The professor from the University of Bristol insists that, although there is still a long way to go, a robust body of evidence is emerging that illuminates the path to happiness. He says that happiness requires a pick and a shovel: Perseverance is essential. Certain habits must be consolidated; if not, you are likely to experience setbacks. And he warns of the counterproductiveness of aiming for perpetual joy: You have to experience problems and the ups and the downs. We must not seek a delirium of happiness, but rather learn to be resilient, to look forward, with a certain idea about how we want our life to be.

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MARYLAND (DC News Now)  After multiple tornadoes touched down around Maryland in early June, the states Department of Emergency Management was encouraging affected residents to contact the states home cleanup hotline.

The Maryland Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster Home Cleanup Hotline is available until June 23 for anybody who needs help cleaning up fallen trees, insulation, flooring, furniture, appliances, removing drywall and other things.

5 Gaithersburg buildings collapse, people trapped inside, officials say

The service is free but may not be available to all due to its enormous need.

The hotline will not be able to help with social services such as offering food, clothing, shelter insurance or questions about state and federal help.

Volunteers will be working for free. They will bring their own tools and equipment.

Anyone who needs the service is encouraged to call (410) 449-5415.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
(Bloomberg) -- Hong Kong canceled the passports of six UK-based activists including former lawmaker Nathan Law, in an unprecedented move as city officials continue their crackdown on dissent.

Most Read from Bloomberg

Security Chief Chris Tang exercised the powers conferred by the citys new security law over the pro-democracy figures, according to a government statement published Wednesday. Police put those named on a wanted list last year, with HK$1,000,000 ($128,060) rewards offered for information leading to their arrest.

The six people  also including unionist Mung Siu-tat, activist Finn Lau, Simon Cheng, Johnny Fok and Tony Choi  were accused by authorities of continuing to engage in activities that endanger national national security while residing abroad.

They also make scaremongering remarks to smear and slander the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, said a government spokesperson. We therefore have taken such measure to give them a strong blow.

Hong Kong earlier this year passed a long-delayed security law, known as Article 23, which gives authorities the right to cancel the passports of wanted figures who live overseas. Authorities also used the new legislation to ban anyone from funding, renting property to, or having joint ventures with the six people.

The citys leader John Lee has pledged a lifetime of police pursuit for wanted democracy activists who fled abroad to evade charges under national security charges, including under the law Beijing imposed in 2020.

Last month, a Hong Kong court found 14 opposition figures guilty in a landmark national security case and acquitted two others. The 16 were among 47 who were accused of conspiring to subvert state power by holding unofficial primary elections.

--With assistance from Alan Wong.

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FILE - In this image taken from video, former employee at the British consulate in Hong Kong Simon Cheng speaks during an interview in London, on July 3, 2020. The Hong Kong government on Wednesday, June 12, 2024 canceled the passports of six overseas-based activists including Cheng under the new national security law, stepping up its crackdown on dissidents who moved overseas. (AP Photo)

HONG KONG (AP)  The Hong Kong government on Wednesday canceled the passports of six overseas-based activists under the new national security law, stepping up its crackdown on dissidents who moved abroad.

Among them were former pro-democracy lawmaker Nathan Law, unionist Mung Siu-tat and activists Simon Cheng, Finn Lau, Johnny Fok and Tony Choi  all accused of endangering national security by authorities in the southern Chinese city. The government said they have absconded to the U.K.

Last year, police offered rewards of 1 million Hong Kong dollars ($128,000) each for information leading to their arrests and drew sharp criticism from Western governments.

Authorities also banned anyone from providing funds or economic resources to the six, leasing properties to them or forming any joint venture with them, or risk a penalty of up to seven years in prison.

The government said it acted because the six were continuing to engage in activities that endanger national security, smearing the city and colluding with external forces.

We have to combat, deter and to prevent those people who have committed the offenses relating to endangering national security through absconds, said Secretary for Security Chris Tang said. He said the six activists were sheltered in the U.K. and accused some British officials and media outlets of attempting to damage the rule of law in the financial hub and influence judicial decisions in some national security cases.

Tang, when asked whether subscribing to the activists' accounts on Patreon and YouTube is illegal, said anyone who provides funds to them would be seen as violating the rules, regardless of the platform.

The measures were taken under the new powers granted by Hong Kong's homegrown national security law enacted in March.

Beijing imposed a similar national security law on the territory in 2020 that has effectively wiped out most public dissent following huge anti-government protests in 2019. Many activists were arrested, silenced or forced into self-exile.

Both the Chinese and Hong Kong governments insisted the law restored stability after the protests.

Over 144,400 people from Hong Kong have moved to the U.K. using a special visa that allows them to live and work in the country and apply for British citizenship after six years. The U.K. introduced the pathway in 2021, in response to the 2020 security law.

Additionally, the British government granted asylum to activists Law and Cheng.

Law said on Facebook he had submitted his passport to U.K. authorities when he applied for asylum in 2020, and has not collected it back, calling the government's statement "a redundant move." He urged people who remain in Hong Kong to prioritize their safety if the other restrictions under the new law worry them.

Lau said on X that he never owned a Hong Kong passport, so it is ridiculous to cancel something that never exists. He said the latest measure is an act of transnational repression, but that it would not deter him from advocating for human rights and democracy.

Mung also vowed to continued to fight for Hong Kong, while Cheng said the government's moves were politically motivated and ineffective, adding that their lives in the U.K would not be affected.

In Beijing, China's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said the measures taken by Hong Kong authorities were legitimate and necessary to safeguard the city's rule of law and national security. He stressed that the city's affairs are China's internal affairs and brook no external interference.

Hong Kong's political changes have long been a source of tension between the U.K. and the city government, as well as with Beijing due to the territory's unique history as a former British colony that was returned to China in 1997 with a promise to keep freedoms of expression and assembly.

Last week, two British judges confirmed they resigned from the city's top court, with one citing as the reason "the political situation in Hong Kong. The other published a strongly worded article on Monday that said the rule of law in the city is in grave danger and that judges operate in an impossible political environment created by China.

That article drew swift criticism from the Hong Kong government.

In May, U.K. authorities charged three men with agreeing to engage in information gathering, surveillance and acts of deception that were likely to materially assist the Hong Kong intelligence service. One of the trio was later found dead in a park.

Chinese authorities in the U.K. and Hong Kong have decried the charges, saying they were the latest in a series of groundless and slanderous accusations that the U.K. government has leveled against China.
HORRY COUNTY, S.C. (WBTW)  Horry County agencies are using the power of the purse to help battle opioid addiction.

South Carolina received more than $300 million several years ago as part of national settlement, and officials from Conway, Horry County, Myrtle Beach and North Myrtle Beach came together in late 2023 to try and tackle the problem at home.

Their goal is to decrease overdoses  and leaders say their efforts ae working.

When it comes to this problem  specifically substance use when its in conjunction with mental health and homelessness  its a community problem, opioid program director Michelle Smith said. It also holds a large amount of stigma. Coming together at such a large level and such a high level is something that really is going to fuel a positive change throughout our area.

Officials are looking for community feedback via a survey as they develop a regional action plan. Participants can remain anonymous and have until July 7 to offer insight.

We can then use the information  to build our overall plan on how were going to attack this. Its not just one part of the county. Its everywhere, Assistant County Manager Randy Webster said.

* * *

Gracie is a multimedia journalist at News 13 and is from Cleveland, Ohio. Gracie joined the team in June 2023 after graduating from the University of Alabama in May. Follow Gracie on Facebook, Instagram and X, formerly Twitter, & read 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 WBTW.
HORRY COUNTY, S.C. (WBTW)  Nearly 21,000 people voted in Horry County in the June primary  including more than 5,100 early ballots cast, election officials said.

Sandy Martin, who runs the countys elections, said the only race to appear on every ballot across districts was the contested GOP auditors contest between incumbent Beth Calhoun and challenger Tina Hardee.

A total of 20,948 people voted on Tuesday and early, compared to 57,504 in the 2022 June primary. However, Martin pointed out that the governor was on the ballot in that primary.

Poll workers told News13 that lines remained light throughout most of the day, despite competitive primaries for several state House and Senate seats.

Martin said the busiest time at the polls is typically between 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. In some cases, whoever wins on Tuesday will be the de facto victor in November since several races are uncontested.

Martin said with so many races on the ballot, she hoped overall voter turnout would touch 25,000.

News13 will have full coverage of tonights results on-air and online.

* * *

Gabby Jonas joined the News13 team as a multimedia journalist in April 2024. She is from Columbus, Ohio, and graduated from Kent State University in May 2023. Follow Gabby on X, formerly Twitter, Facebook or Instagram, and read 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 WBTW.
Hospital Director's Ex Fatally Shoots Her And Her 4-Year-Old Son In Bank Drive-Thru

A Florida hospital director and her 4-year-old son were fatally shot at a Chase Bank drive-thru on Friday by a man Miami-Dade police identified as her ex-boyfriend.

Odalys Maria Bancroft, 43, was with her son Theodore Couto, 4, when Michael Andres Pineda Lozano, 41, pulled up next to their minivan and opened fire, according to a police press release shared with HuffPost. Pineda Lozano then shot and killed himself, the release says.

A sergeant who was already in the area responded to the scene immediately after hearing gunshots, and found Bancroft and her son dead inside the minivan, according to the release. Pineda Lozano was reportedly lying on the ground on the passenger side.

Odalys Bancroft and her 4-year-old son, Theodore, were killed Friday by a man police say was Bancroft's ex. GoFundMe

In an internal memo shared with HuffPost, Jackson Health CEO Carlos Migoya said Bancroft was the health networks director of regulatory affairs.

Migoya described Bancroft as a valued staff member known for her unwavering dedication, kindness, and exceptional talent. Bancroft was hired in 2015 as a clinical staff nurse in the operating room at Holtz Childrens Hospital in Miami, according to the memo.

Odalys believed deeply in the work we do, and never shied away from showing off her Jackson pride, Migoya said. Jackson is better because of Odalys and the indelible mark she made on our organization.

Bancrofts brother Michael Trujillo told WTVJ that the way his sister and nephew had died was unimaginable.

I just cant imagine any situation that would bring a normal person to do this sort of thing to a woman and her child, Trujillo said.

Bancrofts sister described her nephew as the best kid in the world in an interview with local news station WSVN. She said Bancroft was an incredible mother.

She was a great mom, she was a great nurse, she was a great sister, she was amazing, she told the outlet. They didnt deserve to die like this.

According to law enforcement data from 2021, 76% of female murder victims are killed by someone they know and more than one-third are killed by an intimate partner.

Need help? In the U.S., call 1-866-331-9474 or text loveis to 22522 for the National Dating Abuse Helpline.

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A ransomware attack has left NHS doctors locked out of its blood testing system - coldsnowstorm/E+

One of the hospitals hit by a cyber attack has asked its staff to donate blood amid fears the disruption could last for months.

The NHS issued an urgent plea for members of the public with blood type O to donate on Monday after a pathology service provider was hit by a Russian cyber gang.

Kings College Hospital in London has encouraged its staff to donate as part of the NHS campaign, with experts warning that it may take months for services to be restored.

Julie Lowe, deputy chief executive of Kings College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, said in an internal memo to staff: NHS Blood and Transplant is calling for O blood type donors (both positive and negative) to book appointments in order to support the response to the ransomware cyber attack incident. Staff are also encouraged to donate blood as well.

King's College Hospital has encouraged its staff to donate blood after a cyber attack - ANDY RAIN/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

A spokesman for the hospital said they were supporting the NHS drive.

Like all hospitals, we are supporting the NHS Blood and Transplants campaign to encourage people with O blood type to book appointments and donate, and we are encouraging staff to do the same if they choose, the spokesman said.

It has been more than a week since the ransomware attack against Synnovis, which provides blood test services to Kings, Guys and St Thomas NHS Foundation Trust, and other NHS services in south east London.

The attack has seen procedures and operations cancelled as well as all routine blood testing paused, although emergency care is unaffected, the NHS has said.

Hospitals affected have used mutual aid arrangements with neighbouring hospitals to transfer the care of some patients, including inpatients with heart conditions.

GPs in south east London have said they are ordering fewer than five per cent of the total blood tests they would typically request on a daily basis.

The Bromley GP Alliance said all routine blood tests were cancelled until further notice and patients would not be able to book an appointment until August at the earliest.

Others in south east London have cancelled slots for the rest of this month at least.

It means delays for patients who require routine tests for conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and cancer.

The internal memo from Kings College Hospital, first seen by Bloomberg, also said disruption was likely to continue this week and beyond.

We still do not know when Synnovis systems are likely to be restored, so we should expect to be dealing with this incident for the rest of this week, and beyond, Ms Lowe said.

A disruptive ransomware attack

Ciaran Martin, the former head of the National Cyber Security Centre, said the NHS could be facing a prolonged period of disruption.

We should not be surprised that the time it takes to completely recover services is in the weeks or even months. Thats fairly typical for these types of disruptive ransomware attacks, he told the Guardian.

He said it would be highly unusual for services to return to normal quickly.

The NHS has issued a plea for type O blood donors, with O negative able to be administered to anyone needing a transfusion, and O positive the most common type.

The attack by Russian cyber criminals Qilin has locked doctors out of the blood testing system, which is also used to pair patients with donated blood.

It means they do not know what blood type incoming patients are, making it vital to have adequate supplies of type O.

Services at Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust, South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust, Bromley Healthcare, and primary care services across Bexley, Bromley, Lambeth, Lewisham, Greenwich and Southwark all continue to be impacted.

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FILE - Attorney General Merrick Garland answers a question from Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, while testifying during a House Judiciary Committee hearing on the Department of Justice, June 4, 2024, on Capitol Hill in Washington. The House is expected to vote on a resolution holding Attorney General Merrick Garland in contempt of Congress for refusing to turn over audio of President Joe Bidens interview in his classified documents case. The contempt action represents House Republicans latest and strongest rebuke of the Justice Department and of Garlands leadership.(AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin, File)

WASHINGTON (AP)  The House voted Wednesday to hold Attorney General Merrick Garland in contempt of Congress for refusing to turn over audio of President Joe Bidens interview in his classified documents case, Republicans' latest and strongest rebuke of the Justice Department as partisan conflict over the rule of law animates the 2024 presidential campaign.

The 216-207 vote fell along party lines, with Republicans coalescing behind the contempt effort despite reservations among some of the party's more centrist members. Only one Republican  Rep. David Joyce of Ohio  voted against it.

Garland said in a statement late Wednesday, It is deeply disappointing that this House of Representatives has turned a serious congressional authority into a partisan weapon. Todays vote disregards the constitutional separation of powers, the Justice Departments need to protect its investigations, and the substantial amount of information we have provided to the Committees."

He added, "I will always stand up for this Department, its employees, and its vital mission to defend our democracy.

Garland is now the third attorney general to be held in contempt of Congress. Yet it is unlikely that the Justice Department  which Garland oversees  will prosecute him. The White Houses decision to exert executive privilege over the audio recording, shielding it from Congress, would make it exceedingly difficult to make a criminal case against Garland.

Nonetheless, Speaker Mike Johnson defended the decision to push ahead with what is now a mostly symbolic effort.

Look, we did our job on the contempt, and I think it sends an important message, the Louisiana Republican said following the vote. "Well see what happens next, but, I mean, the House has to do its work and Im pleased with the outcome today.

The White House and congressional Democrats have slammed Republicans motives for pursuing contempt and dismissed their efforts to obtain the audio as purely political. They also pointed out that Rep. Jim Jordan, the GOP chair of the House Judiciary Committee, defied his own congressional subpoena last session.

This contempt resolution will do very little, other than smear the reputation of Merrick Garland, who will remain a good and decent public servant no matter what Republicans say about him today," New York Rep. Jerry Nadler, the top Democrat on Judiciary Committee, said during floor debate.

Garland has defended the Justice Department, saying officials have gone to extraordinary lengths to provide information to the committees about Special Counsel Robert Hurs classified documents investigation, including a transcript of Bidens interview with him.

There have been a series of unprecedented and frankly unfounded attacks on the Justice Department, Garland said in a press conference last month. This request, this effort to use contempt as a method of obtaining our sensitive law enforcement files is just most recent.

Republicans were incensed when Hur declined to prosecute Biden over his handling of classified documents and quickly opened an investigation. GOP lawmakers  led by Jordan and Rep. James Comer  sent a subpoena for audio of Hurs interviews with Biden during the spring. But the Justice Department only turned over some of the records, leaving out audio of the interview with the president.

On the last day to comply with the Republicans' subpoena for the audio, the White House blocked the release by invoking executive privilege. It said that Republicans in Congress only wanted the recordings to chop them up and use them for political purposes.

Executive privilege gives presidents the right to keep information from the courts, Congress and the public to protect the confidentiality of decision-making, though it can be challenged in court.

Administrations of both political parties have long held the position that officials who assert a presidents claim of executive privilege cant be prosecuted for contempt of Congress, a Justice Department official told Republicans last month.

Assistant Attorney General Carlos Felipe Uriarte cited a committees decision in 2008 to back down from a contempt effort after President George W. Bush asserted executive privilege to keep Congress from getting records involving Vice President Dick Cheney.

Before Garland, the last attorney general held in contempt was Bill Barr in 2019. That was when the Democratically controlled House voted to issue a referral against Barr after he refused to turn over documents related to a special counsel investigation into Trump.

Years before that, then-Attorney General Eric Holder was held in contempt related to the gun-running operation known as Operation Fast and Furious. In each of those instances, the Justice Department took no action against the attorney general.

The special counsel in Bidens case, Hur, spent a year investigating the presidents improper retention of classified documents, from his time as a senator and as vice president. The result was a 345-page report that questioned Bidens age and mental competence but recommended no criminal charges for the 81-year-old. Hur said he found insufficient evidence to successfully prosecute a case in court.

In March, Hur stood by his no-prosecution assessment in testimony before the Judiciary Committee, where he was grilled for more than four hours by both Democratic and Republican lawmakers.

His defense did not satisfy Republicans, who insist that there is a politically motivated double standard at the Justice Department, which is prosecuting former President Donald Trump over his retention of classified documents at his Florida club after he left the White House.

But there are major differences between the two probes. Bidens team returned the documents after they were discovered, and the president cooperated with the investigation by voluntarily sitting for an interview and consenting to searches of his homes.

Trump, by contrast, is accused of enlisting the help of aides and lawyers to conceal the documents from the government and of seeking to have potentially incriminating evidence destroyed.

__ Associated Press writers Kevin Freking and Alanna Durkin Richer contributed to this report.
House Finance Chairman Marvin Abney, a Newport Democrat, looks over a copy of the legislation to double the amount of credit Bally's patrons can borrow during debate on the House floor June 11, 2024. (Screenshot/CapitolTV)

A pair of bills to double the credit limit at Rhode Islands two casinos cleared the State House Tuesday evening, but not without some confusion from lawmakers on whats in the legislation  including from legislative leaders.

The House of Representatives voted 57-11 to pass an amended bill by Rep. Gregory Costantino, a Lincoln Democrat, and 55-11 to pass the identical bill sponsored by Sen. Frank Ciccone III, a Providence Democrat.

Ciccones bill was approved by the Senate on June 6.

Confusion on the House floor centered on a provision that would allow casino operator Ballys Corp. to negotiate a new debt ratio with the states Division of Lottery and the Department of Business Regulation (DBR). Rep. Edith Ajello, a Providence Democrat, asked why that provision was not underlined in blue, as is standard practice to note new language to existing law.

Im not sure exactly what youre getting at, responded House Finance Chairman Marvin Abney, a Newport Democrat. Nothing was changed from the old law from where we are now.

But the legislation does contain new language allowing Ballys take on net debt instead of gross debt. House spokesperson Larry Berman said in an email Wednesday said this section was not underlined because it is a change to public law, not general law.

The format used in the bill is the same format that has been used many times when authorizing an amendment to a contract between DBR/the Division of Lottery and the facility, Berman said.

There was also brief discussion about the potential increase in problem gambling from expanding the maximum line of credit Ballys can offer its customers, from $50,000 to $100,000.

People do still lose their homes, people do still have an addiction to gambling and $100,000 would be an awful amount of debt for some people, said Rep. Patricia Morgan, a West Warwick Republican. There should be an accreditation.

The bill requires an application and vetting process based on personal income and credit history before extended credit is approved.

Costantinos bill is scheduled for a concurrence vote in the Senate on Thursday. Olivia DaRocha, a spokesperson for Gov. Dan McKees office, did not respond to multiple inquiries Wednesday whether the governor supports the legislation.

The post House passes bill to double credit limit at Ballys casinos appeared first on Rhode Island Current.
WASHINGTON  Republicans on Wednesday held U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland in contempt of Congress, a symbolic rebuke of the nations top law enforcement official.

Garland refused to hand over tapes of President Joe Bidens October 2023 interview with former special counsel Robert Hur during Hurs investigation of Bidens mishandling of classified information after he was vice president.

As Hur explained in his report, one reason he decided against prosecuting Biden is that the president wouldve come off to a jury as an elderly man with a poor memory.

The Justice Department had already made the interview transcript public, but Republicans said they need the audio to check its accuracy.

The transcripts alone are not sufficient evidence of the state of the presidents memory, House Judiciary Committee Chair Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) said before the vote.

And House Oversight Committee Chair James Comer (R-Ky.) told reporters last month that he suspected the transcript could have been edited by a Justice Department that supposedly protects the Bidens.

We have every reason to doubt some of the things that they would do, Comer said. Someone has protected this family for many, many years.

But ifthe Justice Department edited the transcript to protect Biden, however, it didnt do a great job. Biden at one point struggles to place the year of his own sons death in a sequence of major life events that included his decision not to run for president in 2016.

All Democrats and one Republican, Rep. David Joyce (Ohio), opposed the resolution.

Todays vote disregards the constitutional separation of powers, the Justice Departments need to protect its investigations, and the substantial amount of information we have provided to the committees, Garland said in a statement after the vote.

Contempt resolutions typically ask the Justice Department to prosecute the person held in contempt  an unlikely outcome in Garlands case. Biden has asserted executive privilege over the raw audio, and Garland said releasing it would discourage future witnesses from cooperating with investigations like Biden did.

Jordan said the contempt resolution would likely wind up in court.

House Republicans issued subpoenas for Hurs investigative materials as part of their impeachment inquiry against Biden, which has mostly focused on whether the president participated in his sons overseas business deals. With actual articles of impeachment looking unlikely,the Garland contempt vote could be the climax of the impeachment effort.

This contempt vote is MAGA Republicans desperate attempt to save face following their many failed investigations, Rep. Hank Johnson (D-Ga.) said during debate before the vote. They promised Trump and the American people that they would impeach President Biden, but after spending more than $20 million investigating conspiracy theories, MAGA Republicans have nothing to show for it.

Both the House judiciary and oversight committees approved contempt resolutions against Garland. The oversight committees markup will live in infamy as one of the most chaotic committee meetings of all time, during which Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas) insulted Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greenes (R-Ga.) bleach blonde, bad-built butch body.
Since the war in Gaza began eight months ago, Israeli authorities have been quietly hindering the work of NGOs by not issuing temporary work visas to aid workers, nor renewing existing ones. Dozens of foreigners working for NGOs focusing their work in Palestine have had to leave their homes, usually in Jerusalem, as their visas have expired. Israel has also changed its policy toward U.N. system organizations, amid the biggest crisis in the region in decades. Now U.N. staffers must renew their visas every two months as a general rule. Joseph Kelly, acting director of the coalition of 80 humanitarian organizations (AIDA), calls the obstacles a mixture of political decision and administrative negligence, while the Israeli authorities insist that it is only a bureaucratic problem aggravated by the war.

The situation has plunged into uncertainty the hundreds of (mainly Western) employees of the 150 or so international NGOs working in the Palestinian territories of Gaza, the West Bank and East Jerusalem. The vast majority of these organizations  which are registered as non-profit organizations with the Israeli Ministry of Welfare and Social Affairs  work with local partners (counterparts, in the jargon of the sector) in Gaza (in areas that have become particularly important, such as medical care and aid distribution) and in the West Bank, where the population is also most in need of assistance.

Kelly estimates that around 50 humanitarian workers have had to leave the country since the start of the war. Since then, the outcome has varied, depending on personal situations (the visas of the family members of aid workers also depend on them) and the internal rules of each organization. When their visas expired, some 15 aid workers ended up working remotely, sometimes from other regional headquarters, such as Cairo or Amman, according to the latest survey of the situation carried out by AIDA, dated April 30. It is damaging our capacity because Jerusalem is where many strategic decisions are made, says Kelly.

Others enter and leave with a tourist visa. A dozen have stayed illegally, or without being clear about their legal situation, with the consequent risk of being deported and banned from entering for years. And 16 have received an extension of between three and six months. They are, in any case, partial figures, because only some of the NGOs responded to the survey and there are dozens of other groups outside AIDA, explains Simone Manfredi, country director of the Terre des Hommes foundation, based in Switzerland, and a member of the executive committee of the coalition.

Beyond personally affecting the aid workers, the measure has had a clear impact on the work of NGOs, almost all of which have programs in Gaza. Up to 111 requests for new visas are still in a drawer waiting to be processed. They are mostly from the first three or four months, after that they have almost stopped being requested, says Manfredi. These are work visas, both for new hires abroad and for those who change NGOs in the country.

Twenty-eight percent of the requests are for the position of country director. This is the case for Manfredi. This means we cant have a power of attorney, exercise legal representation, sign contracts, open a bank account in Israel... Fundamental things to operate, he explains. Its very random. In meetings [with Israeli authorities] they tell us that they are thinking of putting another inter-ministerial system in place, but there is nothing in writing. Its a gray area that complicates the personal and professional situation. I am always at the risk of an agent at the border suspecting something and not letting me in.

The situation affects NGOs on several fronts. For example, 195 Palestinian workers from the West Bank have not received permits to enter Jerusalem. In another case, emergency technicians from organizations with permission to access Gaza are entering through Jordan and going directly to the Gaza Strip. Their colleagues without valid Israeli visas have no guarantees that they will be able to return from Gaza.

And then, of course, there is the ability to reach people, adds Manfredi. The work of NGOs has a very technical part (project management, administration) that is relatively easy to carry out remotely, but another face-to-face part (visiting projects on the ground, identifying needs or meeting with administrations or counterparts) that has been hindered by the loss of dozens of aid workers.

Helplessness

Israeli lawyer Yotam Ben Hillel, who represents several of the affected NGOs, criticizes the opacity of the system and has asked Attorney General Gali Baharav Miara to take action. He has not received a response. The Interior Ministry says that it has made an extension [of the visas], but it has not communicated it. It is not a transparent or formal process, he says.

The extension also only applies to air workers who were already in the country, penalizing precisely the NGOs that evacuated their staff (and their partners and children) in the first months of the conflict due to protocols that ensure the safety of their staff, as well as the aid workers who were on vacation or did not want to push the limits of their legal stay. Ben Hillel argues that these individuals have been placed in a situation of helplessness: they cross borders or live in Israel with a visa that appears in their passport as expired, trusting in the Interior Ministry guarantees that it will appear to have been extended in the computer system.

Dozens of aid workers have left their rental accommodation and packed their things to return to their countries. This newspaper spoke with six affected people. None of them wanted to reveal their name, fearing Israeli authorities would retaliate against them or the NGOs they work for. One, for example, waited for a solution until February 8. That day, the Interior Ministrys extension expired for them and the many others who had been waiting up to half a year in vain for the letter to start the renewal process. Resigned, they packed their belongings, notified their landlord and returned to their country. Another desperately approached the Interior Ministry before heading to Tel Aviv airport with their suitcases. They discovered that they had a last-minute extension until July that had not been formally communicated.

In fact, as the Palestinian territories lack an airport and Israel controls all exit points, including the crossing between the West Bank and Jordan, one of the main fears of the aid workers who remain in the area is that if they leave temporarily  for work meetings, family reunions or vacations  the border agent, unaware of the situation, will prevent them from returning, not even to notify their landlord and collect their belongings. The B1 tourist visa  which some aid workers are on  lasts three months, but can be reduced to nothing more than a few weeks at one of the border crossings.

Aid workers immediate family members also depend on these visas: they receive a different one (B2) that allows them to reside temporarily, but not to work. It is the same visa that the Israeli military authorities provide to NGO workers in West Bank cities, such as Ramallah, Bethlehem and Hebron, which are under administrative control of the Palestinian Authority.

No letter, no visa

The process has had its ups and downs in the past, but has been in place for years and weathered the Covid-19 crisis better. Upon arrival, foreigners working for NGOs registered in Israel need to apply for a work visa. And renew it every year. In both cases, they require a letter in which the Ministry of Welfare and Social Affairs requests the visa from the Interior Ministry. But the Ministry of Welfare and Social Affairs, which began delaying or ignoring requests for the letter last summer, has not issued a single letter since October, when the Hamas attack triggered the invasion of Gaza. And the Interior Ministry insists that, without a letter, there is no visa, creating a vicious circle.

For aid workers with a visa  but without a letter from the Interior Ministry  whether they stay or not is, above all, a matter of luck. If they renewed their visa shortly before the start of the war (October 7, 2023), they have months of margin. The rest have left the country, are depending on the opaque extension process, or are working with a tourist visa.

The two ministries involved in the process continue to pass the buck. The Population and Migration Authority  the Interior Ministry agency responsible for visas  has referred the issue to the ministry which issues the letter. As a general rule [aid workers] must present a letter of recommendation from the Ministry of Welfare and Social Affairs. At the moment, the difficulty has arisen in finding what is required [sic], so we must contact the Ministry of Welfare and Social Affairs, it responded in writing to this newspaper. In addition, it stressed that it has automatically extended visas for three months, without specifying until what date.

Sharona Mann, the spokesperson for the Ministry of Welfare and Social Affairs, referred the issue to the Interior Ministry and refused to explain why her office has stopped sending the letter.

U.N. staffers follow a different procedure, but this process has also been changed. Since October, they have had to renew their visas every two months, instead of every year or half a year, explains Juliette Touma, the Communications Director of the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA). This is a decision of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which has not responded to the repeated requests for comment this newspaper has made since April. Last December, the then foreign minister, Eli Cohen, announced that he would not renew the visa of the United Nations humanitarian coordinator, Lynn Hastings, accusing her of bias towards Hamas. She had to leave the country.

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Members of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees rally Tuesday at a Division of Parole and Probation office in Catonsville. The union issued nearly a dozen demands for improved safety and staffing following the May 31 death of Parole Agent Davis Martinez, the first agency employee to die in the line of duty. Photo by Bryan P. Sears.

Four House and Senate committees are planning joint hearings into the death of a parole and probation agent in Montgomery County last month, the first agent killed in the line of duty.

Leaders in both chambers said members of the House Appropriations and Judiciary committees will join with Senate Budget and Taxation and Judicial Proceedings to review issues related to the May 31 death of Agent Davis Martinez, including budget and staffing, and policies governing supervision of offenders on release.

It comes as leaders of the union that represents correctional and parole and probation officers expressed a lack of confidence in Public Safety and Correctional Services Secretary Carolyn J. Scruggs and issued a list of demands they said will improve safety.

House Judiciary Committee Chair Luke Clippinger (D-Baltimore City) said its important for us to understand whats happening at the agency.

We need to ensure that people working at parole and probation are safe when theyre doing their jobs, Clippinger said. We need to understand better what didnt work here  and get a better understanding of how these problems have been ongoing for some time and how theyve been raised to many different administrations, and we havent been able to solve these issues.

Clippinger said he expected his committee and its Senate counterpart, the Judicial Proceedings Committee, to focus on policies related to people released into the supervision of Parole and Probation. The two budget committees will likely focus on issues like staffing levels, hiring and vacancy rates. The hearings could result in legislative action in the 2025 session.

American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Council 3 President Patrick Moran. Photo by Bryan P. Sears.

A lot of this sort of overlaps, so well have to work together on it, said House Appropriations Chair Ben Barnes (D-Anne Arundel and Prince Georges).

Union officials said last week they had no faith in vacancy rates provided by Public Safety. Barnes said the legislature does not have an independent ability to collect that sort of data and that he has no reason to believe that numbers being reported by agencies would not be correct or accurate. But he also said he is not dismissing workers concerns.

Listen, if people representing the employees believe that these numbers arent accurate, I think that is part of the charge when were looking into the stuff globally is to find out what is accurate, said Barnes.

Are they accurate numbers? What are the staffing levels? And then, what are the policies in place in terms of best practices for safety and to make sure that these personnel are safe? he said. We do know, its not a big surprise, that correctional services have been understaffed for some time.

A spokesperson for Senate President Bill Ferguson confirmed the two committees will participate. A joint announcement from Ferguson and House Speaker Adrienne Jones is expected later this summer.

It is expected that the joint panel will be limited in size and include senior lawmakers from the four committees.

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Martinez, a six-year veteran of the agency, was found dead after visiting the home of Emanuel Edward Sewell, 54, a sex offender who was released from prison in 2021. Martinezs body was found inside Sewells residence by Montgomery County Police who were sent to the Chevy Chase address after the agent failed to check in at work.

Police said Martinez died as the result of multiple injuries, including blunt-force trauma.

Sewell was arrested in West Virginia and extradited to Maryland. He is being held without bail on a charge of first-degree murder following a Monday hearing in Rockville.

Since Martinezs death, the state has temporarily suspended in-home visits by agents. An internal investigation is ongoing.

Last week, leaders of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees state council and the local chapter representing parole and probation officers demanded the firing of three top officials. Included on the list were Scruggs, Division of Parole and Probation Director Martha Danner and Deputy Director Walter E. Nolley.

Danner and Nolley have since been replaced, according to a departmental memo from Scruggs.

The Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services is dedicated to ensuring the safety and security of its staff and the community and is committed to working closely with the union to bring about meaningful change, according to a statement issued by the department. In the wake of the recent death of Division of Parole and Probation (DPP) Agent Davis Martinez, the Department has taken immediate and decisive action to reassess and enhance our current policies and practices.

The shakeup has done little to assuage the anger of union leaders and rank and file members who rallied Tuesday outside a Parole and Probation field office in Catonsville.

I will deal with the governor's office. We're going to deal with people that want to get stuff done.

 Patrick Moran, president of American Federation of State, County and Muncipal Employees Council 3

We are sad. We are angry and we are frustrated, said Rayneika Robinson, president of AFSCME Local 3661, which represents parole and probation agents. Its clear we have a problem to fix regarding health and safety and well-being of our agents, monitors and office professionals. This tragedy could have been prevented had the agency listened to our many attempts to discuss health and safety in caseloads.

Robinson said union leaders took their concerns to department leaders in meetings dating back to September.

We tried to discuss our concerns, and time and time again, our concerns were ignored. And on May 31, just over a week ago, our cries and concerns became our reality, said Robinson. As we continue to process the loss of agent Martinez, we remember his legacy and everything he stood for. It should not have taken this tragedy for our concerns to finally be heard.

Union leaders issued an 11-point list of demands that includes independent reviews of internal safety policies and procedures as well as problems that led to Martinezs death. The union also demanded better protective equipment, more agents and suspension of all in-home visits until a new policy is negotiated with the union.

AFSCME Local 3661 President Rayneika Robinson (center) said Parole Agent Davis Martinezs death was preventable but that Division of Parole and Probation leaders ignored union concerns. Photo by Bryan P. Sears.

When your staff raises an issue with you or has a concern around health and safety, you must address them, you must listen, you must work out a solution and take next steps for everyone safety before it is too late, said Patrick Moran, president of AFSCME Council 3.

The governor and his team have committed to meeting with us to change policies and procedures, and to address health and safety issues that actually members have been raising over the last year time and time, Moran said. Again, the governors office is now directly engaged to ensure there is follow through accountability and action.

Moran last week called for Gov. Wes Moore (D) to fire Scruggs. On Tuesday, he said the final decision was Moores to make but added that he had not softened his position. Moran said he is no longer dealing directly with Scruggs or the agency.

I will deal with the governors office. Were going to deal with people that want to get stuff done, Moran said. Im going to the boss and Im going to the governors office, these people, everyone ultimately works for the governor so thats who were dealing with. And the governor has made some decisions that we think are good steps forward, and we are embracing those decisions. But you know, we have a long way to go.

The post House, Senate plan hearings on problems at Division of Parole and Probation appeared first on Maryland Matters.
US Attorney General Merrick Garland testifies before the House Judiciary Committee in the Rayburn House Office Building on Capitol Hill on June 04, 2024 in Washington, DC (Getty Images)

The House of Representatives has voted to hold US Attorney General Merrick Garland in contempt of Congress, in Republicans latest attempts to salvage their so far unsuccessful investigations into President Joe Biden and his allies.

The House voted 216 to 207, with only Representative David Joyce of Ohio joining the Democrats to oppose the contempt vote.

The resolution specifically holds Garland in contempt of Congress for refusing to comply with a congressional subpoena that would have compelled him to turn over audio recordings Biden conducted with former special counsel Robert Hur.

Democrats have charged that Republicans want to use the audio recordings for political purposes and to shame Biden after the special counsel report said that the president, 81, is an elderly man with poor memory.

House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer told The Independent that the vote for contempt was not political.

Republicans have failed to keep their conference on message in their investigation of the Biden White House. Last month, the House Oversight Committee conducted a markup of the resolution that devolved into a shouting match after Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene mocked Democratic Representative Jasmine Crockett for her fake eyelashes. Crockett hit back that Greene had a bleach blonde bad-built butch body in a response that went viral.

Garland criticized the vote in a statement on Wednesday.

It is deeply disappointing that this House of Representatives has turned a serious congressional authority into a partisan weapon, he said. Todays vote disregards the constitutional separation of powers, the Justice Departments need to protect its investigations, and the substantial amount of information we have provided to the Committees.

Republicans voted overwhelmingly late last year to launch an impeachment inquiry at the behest of former president Donald Trump.

They're all part of a cult and they just try to please the leader of the cult Donald Trump, sais Representative Jim McGovern, the top Democrat on the House Rules Committee. McGovern noted that Republicans were hypocritical because Republican Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan did not comply with a congressional subpoena related to the January 6 hearing.

Comer denied that the vote had anything to do with Trumps visit.

The Democrats continue to prove they're not serious about oversight or accountability, he told The Independent.

But so far, the investigation has failed to gain much traction, and resolutions to impeach the president have not come up.

They can't impeach Joe Biden so they keep bringing up other people to try to please their base, Representative Jared Moskowitz of Florida told The Independent.

Garland is now the second attorney general to face a full House vote to be held in contempt of Congress. In 2012, the House voted 255 to 67 to hold Eric Holder in contempt of Congress. In 1998, the House Oversight Committee voted to hold Janet Reno in contempt of Congress.

The move is just the most recent effort to reprimand officials in the Biden administration. In February the House voted to impeach Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas after an initial failed vote. Similarly, last week, the House Select Committee on the Coronavirus Pandemic brought former National Institute of Allergies and Infectious Diseases director Anthony Fauci before the House, when they repeatedly berated him and Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene said he deserved to be in prison.
The Liberian bulk carrier Tutor was struck by a Houthi uncrewed surface vessel (USV) while transiting the Red Sea, the first such successful strike since the Yemen-based rebel group began attacking shipping in the region, an official with the Ambrey maritime security firm told The War Zone. Its a dead ship now, Joshua Hutchinson, Ambreys Managing Director of Risk and Intelligence confirmed to The War Zone. Salvage operations are required. Hutchinsons statement bolstered information provided by the Royal Navy-managed United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations that a ship was struck 66 nautical miles southwest of Al Hudaydah, Yemen. UKMTO said that the vessel was hit on the stern by a small craft described as being white in color and five to seven meters in length. The ships master reports the vessel is taking on water, and not under command of the crew. Military authorities are assisting. It was then struck again by a missile, Hutchinson told us, confirming a subsequent UKMTO report. UKMTO WARNING INCIDENT 083 ATTACK UPDATE 003Update 003: The Master reports the vessel was hit for a second time by an unknown airborne projectile.https://t.co/fX3hWupPWO#MaritimeSecurity #MarSec pic.twitter.com/O656WZaEZ2 United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) (@UK_MTO) June 12, 2024 Weve reached out to the Pentagon, White House, U.S. Central Command and the European-run Operation Aspides maritime security task force for additional information and will update this story with any details provided. The Yemeni militant group has used kamikaze drone boats before  they actually pioneered the operational use of kamikaze USVs years ago. We first reported about this capability in January 2017, when an explosive-laden Houthi USV struck a Saudi frigate. Iran developed various crude kamikaze USVs years ago and those weapons soon migrated to their Houthi proxies, which used them first operationally. A U.S. Department of Defense briefing slide from 2017 highlighting Iranian-supplied components of a captured Houthi suicide drone boat, referred to as the Shark-33, including a guidance system with GPS-assisted navigation and optical sensor capabilities. American authorities said at the time that it was capable of tracking and engaging moving targets, as well as stationary ones. DOD Government of Saudi Arabia A video of the 2017 Houthi USV strike on a Saudi frigate operating in the Red Sea: As we reported back in January, the Houthis began launching USVs at Red Sea shipping in its current campaign, but had yet to hit any vessels until today. The Houthi drone boat in the January incident detonated in international shipping lanes, Vice Adm. Brad Cooper, Commander of U.S. Naval Forces Central Command (NAVCENT), told reporters, including from The War Zone, at the time. Fortunately, there were no casualties and no ships were hit, but the introduction of a one-way attack USV is of concern. Ukraine has made kamikaze USVs a signature weapon in its efforts to repel Russia from its borders, with repeated strikes on Russian shipping. You can see video of one of those attacks below. These weapons are far more advanced than what we have seen the Houthis use prior to the current Red Sea crisis, but its likely their capabilities have evolved significantly, as well. U.S. and allied naval forces have repeatedly destroyed USVs that threaten shipping in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden in recent months, with helicopters being a primary weapon for doing so. Now the Houthis, after months of trying, have finally hit their target. This is a developing story. Update: 2:58 PM Eastern  In an email to The War Zone, officials at Operation Aspides confirmed our reporting: 1. On 12 June 2024, a MV was hit by a Houthis USV in the Red Sea. 2. The name of the Greek-owned cargo MV is TUTOR . 3. The MV was not under the close protection of EUNAVFOR ASPIDES. 4. The responsible authority to respond, is the Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Cell of Eritrea. Contact the author: howard@thewarzone.com

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Howard Fineman, a titan of the Washington journalism establishment, died of pancreatic cancer Tuesday, his wife said in a statement. He was 75.

Fineman spent three decades at Newsweek, traveling the nation as the magazines chief political correspondent. He interviewed presidents and presidential wannabes, and provided a critical look behind the curtain of Capitol Hill as a regular analyst on cable television, dissecting the daily machinations of politics with a sharp wit and the mind of a journalism historian that spanned decades.

Fineman began his career in the late 1960s at Colgate University in Hamilton, New York, as a cub reporter and, later, editor-in-chief of The Colgate Maroon student newspaper.

Fineman, seen on the left at age 20, began his career as a cub reporter at Colgate University. His time there would leave a lasting impression. Bettmann via Getty Images

Colgate would leave a lasting impression. Fineman mentored a stable of young alumni who followed in his path, some of whom remain at HuffPost and other prominent news outlets.

If I am any guide  and today I am supposed to be  this lovely college will be a constant star, a steady torchlight, as influential as family, faith or profession, he recounted during Colgates 2011 commencement address. Friends I made here remain my friends. My great teachers still guide me through the years. The town of Hamilton and its genial people, the beauty of the campus and the Chenango Valley, forever remind me of what is best about our country and its history.

Howard Fineman, a prolific journalist and former HuffPoster, has died. Damon Dahlen/HuffPost

Fineman was born in 1948 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where he was raised in the very large and very wonderful Jewish community of Squirrel Hill, he recalled in an interview. He recounted traveling to Ukraine  then part of the Soviet Union  in 1970, shortly after graduation, with plans to drive a Volkswagen bus to explore his Jewish roots.

Shortly into his trip, he waspicked up by the KGB and shipped back to Odessa.

I understood why my grandparents  had gotten out, had left that part of the world, he recounted on theColgate podcast 13 in 2023. Because they couldnt be free to be who they were.  I came back thankfully to the United States, realizing just how lucky I was that my family had come to America.

After graduating and completing a masters program at Columbia, Fineman moved to Kentucky to work at The Courier-Journal in Louisville. He wrote about environmental issues and turned his attention to coal and strip mining. He attended night classes and earned his law degree at the University of Louisville before moving to the papers Washington, D.C., bureau in 1977.

Three years later, he moved to Newsweek, where he stayed for three decades.

Fineman recalled the fierce competition between Newsweek and Time magazine after becoming the magazines chief political correspondent during a time in the industry when the mastheads slugged it out on the newsstand.

It was a tremendous amount of fun, and some of my best friends are actually from Time magazine, he recounted on the Colgate podcast. I had carte blanche to travel the country reporting on national politics starting in 1983.

Fineman worked at HuffPost for seven years. Damon Dahlen/HuffPost

In 1984, Fineman married his wife, Amy Lee Nathan, in Washington, D.C., while she was a law student studying for the bar and Fineman was covering his first presidential campaign for Newsweek.

Four decades later, we know how lucky we still are to love each other so completely, hewrote during their anniversary last year.

Howard Fineman and his wife, Amy Nathan, in 2015 in Washington, DC. Mark Sagliocco via Getty Images

He went on to report in 49 of the countrys 50 states, speaking with lawmakers on both sides of the aisle. Fineman covered nine presidential campaigns, interviewed every president and major presidential candidate from Jimmy Carter to Barack Obama, and would go on to feature in regular appearances on MSNBC, including Hardball with Chris Matthews.

He has appeared on The Daily Show, Face the Nation, Charlie Rose and Larry King Live, among many other programs.

Arianna Huffington wooed Fineman away from his role at Newsweek in 2010 to become HuffPosts political editor.

It really wasnt a difficult decision at all once I really began to think about it because this is where the action is, hesaid at the time. The chance to dive headlong into the future is one that I dont think anyone could pass up.

Fineman joined HuffPost when we had ten journalists in Washington, one edition and 20 million unique visitors, Huffington said in a statement to HuffPost.

His brilliant mentorship, insightful voice and fearless embrace of the new as our Global Editorial Director helped HuffPost scale to 17 international editions and over 200 million unique visitors  and, importantly, deepen the collegial and supportive culture that he was so proud of, Huffington said of Finemans HuffPost tenure. American journalism is better because of Howard Fineman, and I will miss him dearly.

Fineman speaks to his colleagues at The Huffington Post. Damon Dahlen/HuffPost

Fineman left HuffPost in 2017 to take his commentary to NBC News, a departure he described as a bittersweet homecoming after his stint as one of the first print reporters to file for MSNBC.com. He described his time at HuffPost, which began when the site was just a fledgling new media upstart, as one of the most impactful in his long career.

I have been in and worked in a lot of newsrooms, and there is NO PLACE where people care about and cheer for each other the way HuffPosters do, he wrote in a note to staffers. That spirit abides not only in DC and NY but around the world.

Fineman is survived by his wife, Amy, his children Meredith and Nick and his daughter-in-law Summer.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said that he had agreed with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg that Hungary would not block decisions in the Alliance regarding Kyiv, but it would not participate in supporting Ukraine, either.

Source: European Pravda with reference to Orban's words during a press conference with the NATO Secretary General in Budapest

Details: Orban said that at the meeting, they reviewed relations between Hungary and NATO.

The Hungarian Prime Minister said that "everyone knows that Hungary's position on the Russian-Ukrainian war differs from that of most NATO states." But he thanked the NATO secretary general for always letting Budapest have its own, different opinion.

Quote: "Hungary has made it clear that it does not intend to block any decisions in NATO that may differ from our, as we believe, analysis of the situation. What we focused on at today's meeting is that any operations outside (NATO) should be voluntary, and Hungary was given the guarantees it requires," Orban said.

He added that such an agreement meets the request of the Hungarian society, which in the European Parliament elections "gave the government a mandate not to participate in the war."

The NATO Secretary General, for his part, said that he and Orban "approved the opportunity for Hungary not to participate in NATO support for Ukraine", which the Alliance plans to provide in the future. Orban said Hungary would not participate in these NATO efforts, and Stoltenberg "accepted that position."

Quote: "None of the Hungarian staff will participate in this activity, and no Hungarian finances will be used to support it. At the same time, the prime minister stressed that Hungary would not oppose these efforts and would allow other allies to move forward," Stoltenberg said.

Background: In May, Orban said his country was working to "reconsider" its NATO membership status, which would allow it to potentially avoid participating in future operations outside the Alliance and increase support for Ukraine from NATO.

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Hungary wont have to send military aid to Ukraine in Nato carve-out deal

Jens Stoltenberg (L), Nato's secretary-general, and Viktor Orban, the Hungarian PM. Hungary will not veto any Nato plans to support Ukraine - ATTILA KISBENEDEK/AFP

Hungary will not have to contribute money or military personnel to support Ukraine under a Nato carve-out deal negotiated with the bloc.

The concession was granted to Budapest to ensure smooth passage for the Western alliances planned Mission for Ukraine, which will raise and co-ordinate an estimated 40 billion in annual military support for Kyiv.

In exchange Hungary will not veto any Nato plans to support Ukraine, despite Budapests harsh criticism of the war and soft stance on Vladimir Putin.

The Mission for Ukraine scheme will hand Nato control of the US-led Ramstein group of more than 50 countries and allow the military alliance to manage deliveries of lethal aid to Ukraine for the first time since Russias full-scale invasion in February 2022.

Hungary has raised objections to the mission, arguing it could drag Nato into a direct conflict with Russia.

Support must be voluntary

Viktor Orban, the Hungarian prime minister, has refused to supply arms to Ukraine, and recently suggested he would redefine Budapests position in the alliance to prevent any participation in operations outside Nato territory.

The nationalist leader has been repeatedly accused of cosying up to Putin throughout the war by delaying sanctions, refusing to provide military support to Ukraine and objecting to its accession to the EU.

But Mr Orban assured Jens Stoltenberg, Natos secretary-general, that he wouldnt stand in the way of the alliances plans to support Ukraine, as long as they were voluntary.

Hungary has made it clear she does not intend to block decisions in Nato that might be different from our, we believe rational, analysis, the Hungarian said in a joint news conference in Budapest.

I have asked the secretary-general to make this clear that any out-of-area military operation can be voluntary. Therefore, Hungary has been granted the guarantees that she requires.

Demands approved

Deals inside Nato require the backing of all 32 members before they can be fully signed off, often leading to months of tricky negotiations.

But with Mr Stoltenberg stepping down from his role in October, he is determined to reach an agreement before the Nato leaders summit.

To prevent Hungary from blocking, the top official approved demands to make the scheme voluntary.

At the summit I expect allies to agree on a leading role for Nato in coordinating and providing security assistance and training for Ukraine, Mr Stoltenberg told the news conference.

I also expect that allies will agree to a long-term financial pledge prime minister Orban has made it clear that Hungary will participate in these Nato efforts, and I accept his decision.

Im glad the prime minister and I have agreed the modalities for Hungarys non-participation for support to Ukraine. No Hungarian personnel will take part in these activities and no Hungarian funds will be used to support them.

He recently urged member states to commit to providing Ukraine at least 40 billion a year in military aid to ensure long-term support for the war-torn country against Russian aggression.

The pledge is part of a strategy known internally as the three Ms  money, mission and membership.

The money will help sustain Ukraines war efforts for at least two more years, with future negotiations expected to tweak the figure depending on the state of the conflict.

Trump proofing

Contributions from Natos 31 participating members will likely be determined by a percentage of Gross Domestic Products  in line with alliance defence spending goals  to ensure the burden of supporting Kyiv is shared equally, sources said.

This particular element of the package has been dubbed as Trump proofing ahead of Novembers US presidential elections because the expected Republican candidate has previously railed against European nations not paying their way.

The envisaged model would still see the US foot the bill for over half of future aid to Ukraine because of the size of the countrys economy compared to its European allies.

The mission will see Natos Supreme allied commander, a US general, take over Ramstein  also known as the Ukraine Defence Contact Group  as well as a separate training scheme run by the UK.

It will leave Nato commanders making decisions on arming Ukraine and drilling its troops while the conflict is still raging as well as developing a post-war force capable of deterring Russian aggression and preparing Kyiv to join the alliance.

However, Nato will not take over any role in assisting Ukraines armed forces with targeting advice or battle plans from the US because this could trigger escalation from Moscow.

There are certain elements that will stay where they are, a source said.

The Ukrainian bid to join Nato will not be progressed from a previous promise that the country would one day become a member at the Washington summit, as The Telegraph previously reported.

But Kyiv will be offered language in a summit communique that suggests promises of future finance and weapons deliveries will act as a bridge or stop-gap until the alliance is ready to extend a full invitation.

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The o on the Welcome sign at the entrance to the European Parliament is made up of the 12 stars that make up the EU flag. Behind the table, two ushers are alert to anyone who walks in looking clueless: it is likely that they are one of the many new MEPs who will be making their debut in the chamber starting next month. The idea is to help them with any doubts they may have at a time when the labyrinthine headquarters of the European Parliament in Brussels is filled with lawmakers who are coming and going, moving boxes and, above all, initiating negotiations to establish alliances and secure the main positions for the new term.

But if the newly elected MEPs have unresolved questions on their minds, they are generating many more questions among their future colleagues. Most of all, the questions revolve around the 50-odd new lawmakers classified for now as Other. A good number of them will probably end up in the most peripheral parties, especially on the political right, because the majority of these newcomers defend disruptive ideas.

They are arriving without sponsors, as they say in Brussels slang, that is to say, without any direct connection with one of the seven political families that make up the bulk of the chamber. The rest do not belong to any family or have been expelled. This is what happened in the previous term to the 13 lawmakers from Fidesz  the party of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban  who were asked in 2021 to leave the European Peoples Party (EPP).

Although the so-called traditional pro-European groups  EPP, the social democrats of S&D and the liberals of Renew  together have enough representation to guarantee a comfortable majority if they manage to reach an agreement, the extremist forces have acquired so much weight that these balances are more precarious than ever. Each seat counts, if possible, more than ever before. These other lawmakers generate anxiety due to their capacity to break the increasingly fragile balances now in place. This group will disappear when the first session of the new European Parliament is held on July 16. By then, anyone who is not in a political family will end up as Non-Inscrits or non-attached to one of the recognized political groups.

There are more than reasonable doubts whether Renew, which has dropped from 102 seats to 79, will be able to maintain its position as the third force in Parliament, since the European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR)  with far-right members such as the Brothers of Italy and Spains Vox  currently have 73 and, if they manage to attract some of these newly arrived lawmakers, they could take that third place.

And there are more candidates than ever who could generate this kind of disruption in Brussels: currently, the European Parliament has classified 55 lawmakers as others. In 2019, there were only 31.

Popular YouTuber and TikToker Fidias Panayiotou holds his cell phone after his proclamation as the winner of one of six seats allotted to Cyprus in the EU Parliament. Petros Karadjias (AP)

Among those who generate the most doubts are the newcomers not only to Brussels, but to politics itself, such as Spains Alvise Perez, a self-styled anti-establishment and anti-corruption crusader who has been convicted of spreading fake news on the internet and who has openly acknowledged that he ran for office in Europe to seek immunity from prosecution. And then there is the Cypriot YouTuber Fidias, who at 24 years of age has a record number of followers on social media, 2.6 million, and who readily admits to having no idea about European political issues.

New German left-wing populist group

But having political experience does not always serve to dispel doubts. Just ask the six new MEPs from Germany who are representing the new group led by Sahra Wagenknecht, the charismatic politician who left the post-communist party Die Linke to found her own populist party, with which she has achieved better results in Brussels. This confrontation raises doubts, since it will be very difficult for Die Linke, which is active in the European family of The Left, to allow Wagenknechts MEPs to sit in their group. On the other side of the political spectrum, there are several others such as the Romanian ultranationalists of AUR (five MEPs) whose pro-Russian position could block their way in a family led by Giorgia Meloni, who has accepted the pro-Ukraine position of the EU Twenty-Seven.

Sahra Wagenknecht, top candidate of Germany's BSW party, attends a press conference after EU election results in Berlin. Annegret Hilse (REUTERS)

The thing is, it is not enough for a MEP to want to enter a political family; the latter also has to accept the applicant. Both parties have to communicate this desire in writing to Parliament before being formally registered in a given group. If they do not succeed, MEPs may end up in the group of non-attached members, which in the previous term included 62 lawmakers.

Few people want to end up in that undefined group, and with good reason: only if you belong to a political family can you aspire to institutional positions (such as vice-presidencies or committees), be part of decision-making meetings, or even have more speaking time. And if there is one thing that everyone in the EU Parliament wants, it is to be heard from the loudspeaker that is Europe.
President Bidens son was found guilty on Tuesday of three felony counts over lying on federal forms about his drug use to illegally purchase a gun making him the first child of a sitting president to be criminally convicted.

The verdict followed about three hours of deliberation from a jury of 12 Delaware residents after the defense rested its case on Monday without calling the presidents son to the witness stand.

The trial lasted roughly a week and primarily focused on the younger Bidens addiction to crack cocaine, which he has openly admitted became worse after the 2015 death of his brother, Beau Biden.

Multiple women from Hunter Bidens life were called to testify about his drug use, including his ex-wife Kathleen Buhle, his late brothers widow; Hallie Biden, whom he had a brief relationship with; and an ex-girlfriend. His daughter, Naomi Biden, also testified, detailing her fathers drug use and stints in rehab.

Heres what to know about the conviction and what comes next:

What was Hunter Biden convicted of?

Hunter Biden, 54, was found guilty of all three felony gun charges for lying in 2018 on a mandatory firearm-purchase form on which he claimed he was not using or addicted to illegal drugs. He then purchased the gun and unlawfully possessed it for 11 days.

The charges include two counts of failing to disclose drug use when seeking to buy a weapon and a third charge for the unlawful possession of a firearm while addicted to a controlled substance.

President Biden reaffirmed last week he would not pardon his son and would accept the outcome of the case.

In remarks Tuesday, Biden said, 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.

Will Hunter Biden go to prison?

The presidents son faces a maximum penalty of 25 years in prison and $750,000, though actual sentences for federal crimes are often less than the maximum penalties, especially for first-time offenders.

The United States Sentencing Commission, which issues recommended sentencing guidelines, said a defendant like Hunter Biden would usually face 15 to 21 months in prison.

This will be wholly determined by the judge. Prior to sentencing, the younger Biden will likely meet with a federal probation officer who will interview him and issue a report with recommendations, while his lawyers and federal prosecutors will file memos to the judge with their own recommendations.

Some legal experts believe Hunter Biden will not be incarcerated given he has no record and has complied with terms of his pretrial release, which includes monthly drug testing. He also did not use the firearm to commit a violent crime, another factor that could be taken into consideration during sentencing, Reuters noted.

When will Hunter Biden be sentenced?

U.S. District Judge Maryellen Noreika has not set an exact sentencing date.

Defendants convicted in Delaware federal court are usually sentenced within 120 days of the conviction. If this carries through for Hunter Biden, sentencing will take place no later than a month before the November presidential election.

Hunter Bidens upcoming tax trial

Over on the West Coast, Hunter Biden is expected to stand trial on federal tax charges in September after the proceedings were pushed to the fall, given the gun trial.

He is accused of failing to pay at least $1.4 million in federal taxes from 2016 through 2019. The nine felony and misdemeanor tax offenses allege the younger Biden tried to evade the assessment of taxes in 2018 by filing false returns and instead used the money to fund an indulgent lifestyle that included drugs and alcohol.

He has pleaded not guilty to the charges, and his attorneys claim the case, like the gun one, is politically motivated and influenced by the separate House GOP investigation into Bidens business dealings.

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WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR)  A jury found President Joe Bidens son guilty of three felony charges related to buying a gun while addicted to drugs.

President Biden said he accepts the outcome, but lawmakers reactions are more of a mixed bag.

After a week-long trial and just several hours of deliberations a Delaware jury found the son of a sitting president guilty.

No one in this county is above the law, said Special Counsel David Weiss.

Special Counsel David Weiss brought the case against Hunter Biden who is now convicted of lying about his drug use when he bought a gun in 2018.

This case was about the illegal choices the defendant made while in the throes of addiction, said Weiss.

President Biden said in a statement he accepts the outcome of the case and respects the judicial process.

We believe in the rule of law, said Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.).

Maryland Democrat Congressman Jamie Raskin said the conviction undercuts Republican arguments that President Biden uses the Justice Department to target former President Donald Trump.

I have not heard a single Democrat anywhere in the country cry fraud, cry fixed, cry rigged, said Raskin.

However, New York Republican Congresswoman Elise Stefanik remains critical of the Justice Department.

This was Joe Bidens corrupt DOJ that tried to negotiate a sweetheart plea deal, said Stefanik.

Hunter Biden faces up to 25 years in prison.

Georgia Republican Congressman Rich McCormick said hell hold off on judging the conviction until he sees the sentence.

That will be more telling about the Justice Department and what we think is going to actually happen, said McCormick.

The judge didnt immediately set a sentencing date. Hunter Biden is considering an appeal. Hell be back in court in September in California for a federal trial over allegedly avoiding more than $1 million in taxes.

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Following Tuesdays guilty verdict, Hunter Biden now faces the next phase in the criminal justice system: sentencing.

While the three felonies Biden was convicted of carry a maximum sentence of more than two dozen years behind bars, the sentencing guideline, former federal prosecutor Tim Jansen told CNN, is between 15 and 21 months in prison.

The actual sentence, however, will up to the judge.

They can go above or below the guidelines, said Jansen, who now works as a criminal defense attorney. And they usually have to put on the record why theyre doing that.

The judge knows that this is the presidents son, Jansen said, adding that given the security concerns and involvement of Secret Service protection, the judge could sentence Hunter Biden to a period of house arrest and probation.

Federal District Judge Maryellen Noreika said the exact date for determining Bidens sentence would be decided later but noted that in Delaware, pre-sentence reports usually take four months, which would place the sentencing in October, just before the November general election.

During this time, pretrial services will, along with other things, investigate whether Biden has a previous criminal record or anything else that the judge would need to know before issuing a sentence.

He has no enhancements that I can see, Jansen said, noting Bidens lack of a previous criminal record.

Jansen also said there was no mandatory minimum for the crimes Biden has been convicted of and that defense attorneys will likely ask the judge for a downward departure from the sentencing guidelines while prosecutors could ask for an increase

President Joe Biden before the verdict said he would rule out a pardon for his son. But he was not asked about commuting a sentence, which he has the power to do in federal cases. The White House press secretary on Wednesday said she has not discussed the matter with the president.

I have not spoken to the president about this. And what Im saying is he was asked about a pardon, he was asked about, he was asked about the trial specifically, and he answered it very clearly, very forthright, Karine Jean-Pierre said.

This conviction in Delaware could spur the two sides to come to a plea agreement in Bidens tax case, which was also brought by special counsel David Weiss.

That trial is scheduled for September in Los Angeles.

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Hunter was on trial. But the Biden women were really the ones in the spotlight

While Hunter Biden was on trial this past week, he was not alone in the spotlight: the women in his life were a focus throughout.

The presidents youngest son was found guilty on all three felony gun charges in Wilmington, Delaware on Tuesday after he bought a firearm while under the influence of crack cocaine.

During the trial, three of Hunters exes took the stand, as did his daughter Naomi Biden Neal. His wife, Melissa Cohen Biden, was by his side each day in the courtroom, while his stepmother, First Lady Jill Biden, was absent only once  to attend the 80th anniversary of D-Day in France with the president. His aunts, Valerie Biden Owens and Bonny Jacobs, were also spotted at court.

The Biden women in particular have rallied around at the trial of Hunter, whose long battle with addiction caused the breakup of his marriage; the public scandal of a romantic relationship with his brother Beaus widow; and a long list of embarrassing incidents seized upon by his fathers political rivals.

Naomi Biden Neal leaves federal court on 7 June after her emotional testimony at her fathers trial (Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

There is also the matter of his lovechild by an Arkansas woman, Lunden Roberts, with whom he recently resolved child support issues, and reports of 2018 texts where he referred to the First Lady using multiple expletives in arguments over rehab.

For his 30-year-old daughter Naomi, who was called to testify by the defense, the trial seemed particularly grueling.

She recalled her efforts to reach her dad as he struggled with substance abuse, and how he wasnt communicative at the height of his addiction.

Her painful texts, from October 2018, were also read out in court. After they failed several times to set up a time to meet, Naomi wrote: Im really sorry, dad, I cant take this.

First Lady Jill Biden, Hunter Biden, and his wife Melissa Cohen Biden, leave the courthouse hand in hand on June 11, 2024 in Wilmington, Delaware after the guilty verdict was read (Getty Images)

The prosecution suggested that Hunter Biden had been missing his daughters texts to communicate with drug dealers instead.

I dont know what to say, I just miss you so much, I just want to hang out with you, Naomi wrote in 2018. Following her testimony, during which Hunter and First Lady Jill Biden shed tears, she gave her father a long hug.

His aunt, Valerie Biden Owens, also grew emotional during Naomis time on the stand. Otherwise, she appeared stonyfaced, seated directly behind Hunter.

Joe Bidens siblings, Valerie Biden Owens and James Biden arrive to court on June 10 in time for closing arguments (EPA)

The jury had clearly felt Naomis pain. Following the verdict, Juror 10, who asked to remain anonymous, told The Independent: I actually thought the defense made a mistake by using her.

I felt sorry for Naomi, I dont think they shouldve called her as a witness.

Naomi had admitted that she was nervous when she took the stand last Friday. She told the court that after my uncle died, things got bad.

Beau Biden, died of brain cancer in 2015, which President Biden believes was caused by the burn pits used in Iraq where his son served in the US military.

During the trial, jurors also heard deeply personal testimony regarding Hunter Bidens drug use, and viewed photos and video evidence as well as excerpts from his 2021 memoir, Beautiful Things.

Hunter Biden and his wife Melissa Cohen Biden arrive at court on 7 June as the trial was nearing its end (EPA)

Biden thanked his family for their constant support following the verdict on Tuesday. 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 in a statement.

Biden left the trial holding hands with the first lady and his wife, and kissed the first ladys sister, Bonny Jacobs, before climbing into a waiting SUV.

Jacobs was seen in court sitting next to the first lady, at times chatting during breaks in the proceedings.

Bonny Jacobs was seen sitting next to her sister, the first lady, during the trial (Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

The first lady faced intense scrutiny during her attendance at the trial, and was criticized for using Air Force Two to fly between Delaware and France for the D-Day anniversary events.

She was not the only one that the trial took a toll on. Ashley Biden, Hunters sister, exited the courtroom in tears last week when the prosecution played parts of Hunter describing his drug use from his audiobook.

Hunters wife, Melissa, was a stoic presence throughout, arriving at court each day hand-in-hand with him, in a series of glamorous power suits and sunglasses.

Biden married the 38-year-old South African in 2019, proposing within a week of their first meeting.

At the courthouse, she showed her protective side.

Ashley Biden leaves the courthouse on 10 June. She was seen in tears during parts of the trial (Getty)

She got into a tense exchange during a brief recess in the trial on 4 June. According to NBC News, she confronted Garret Ziegler, who Hunter Biden is suing for his supposed role in publishing emails and photos from Bidens computer.

You have no right to be here you Nazi piece of s****," she told Ziegler, as she pointed in his face. Ziegler didn't respond before she walked away. Ziegler worked in the Trump White House under trade advisor Peter Navarro.

Its sad Ive been sitting here the whole time and havent approached anyway," he told NBC. For the record, Im not a Nazi, Im a believer in the U.S. Constitution. I havent said one thing to them.

Hunter has credited his wife for his sobriety, describing how she took his phone, car keys, wallet, and computer shortly after their meeting, deleted all his contacts apart from close family, and turning to steel when drug dealers appeared at the door as she made them leave.

Hallie Biden leaves court on 6 June following her at times explosive testimony (Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

Other women from the extended Biden clan who were subpoenaed to testify at the trial met the proceedings with grim determination.

Hallie Biden, the widow of Beau Biden, agreed with a suggestion from the defense that her on-off romantic relationship with Hunter was at times intense but always complicated during her testimony.

She also spoke of her 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 last Thursday. After disposing of the gun he had bought, she urged Hunter to go to rehab but at the depth of his addiction, he rejected her efforts.

Then there was the testimony of his ex-wife Kathleen Buhle and an ex-girlfriend, Zoe Kestan.

Buhle testified that Biden became angry and short-tempered after smoking crack cocaine. She testified about how their relationship unraveled after she found a crackpipe on her side porch in July 2015 in Washington, DC.

Like Hallie and Naomi, Buhle seemed uncomfortable on the stand, testifying that she found a broken pipe, pipe-cleaning materials, a white powder, and remnants of crystals in Bidens car.

She added that she looked for drugs in his vehicle on more than one occasion so that their daughters wouldnt drive with drugs in the car.

Kathleen Buhle, Hunter Bidens ex-wife, leaves court on 5 June after speaking about how she found drugs at their DC home (Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

Buhle was married to Hunter for 24 years and they have three children, including Naomi.

She spoke of the moments that she had supported Hunter as he went to rehab in 2003 and 2012 for alcoholism, and about the time in 2015 when she found out about his drug use and subsequently his extramarital affairs.

While both Hallie Biden and Kestan received immunity for their testimony, Kestan appeared at ease in her role as a witness.

Kestan testified that she saw Hunter Biden smoke crack about once every 20 minutes when they were in private and that he would go to a bathroom about once an hour to smoke in public settings.

Zoe Kestan, a former girlfriend of Hunter Biden, departs on 5 June after testifying how she met Biden at a gentlemens club (REUTERS)

At the start of their relationship, Kestan was 24 while Biden was 48.

She described him as charismatic and charming following their December 2017 initial meeting at a gentlemens club in Manhattan when she gave him a private dance.

Kestan said Biden began smoking something within 15 minutes of meeting him, adding that she assumed it was crack cocaine.

Throughout her testimony, she said Bidens behavior didnt change after smoking until later in their relationship when he appeared stressed and scattered.
HUTCHINSON, Kan. (KSNW)  Dr. Nataliya Biskup is a plastic and reconstructive surgeon in Hutchinson. She wanted to bring plastic surgery to a new area of Kansas and improve the availability of services.

Plastic surgery is deeply impactful, Biskup said. I think sometimes it might get a bad rap as very superficial, but I think the way we look externally really impacts our functioning and how we perceive ourselves, and that applies to both my reconstructive patients as well as my cosmetic and aesthetic patients. Plastic surgery is that beautiful field where you really get to innovate, and you get to restore form, and you get to restore function, and you get to help people look better, feel better, function better, and so its just an amazing field to be in.

She has been on two mission trips to Ukraine  one in October of 2023 and one in February. During those trips, she has worked on kids with cleft and cranial facial differences, taught local surgeons, and worked on soldiers with post-traumatic injuries.

Local dementia Care Homes incorporate pets to help residents

It was one of the most amazing and impactful experiences that Ive ever had, Biskup said. It was so rewarding, so incredible to be able to help these men that have been changed and have been injured in this war. And, for me, very personally meaningful as a Ukrainian myself to be able to help these young men but also just very emotionally difficult seeing the extent of these injuries and the revocable impact that this war has had on these young lives.

She was born in Ukraine and moved to the U.S. when she was 8 years old.

Ive lived here ever since, but Ukraine has always been very near and dear to my heart, and its always felt like still a bit of home, Biskup said.

Dr. Biskup learned a lot while she was in Ukraine.

So much from just a technical surgical standpoint, they were some of the most challenging cases that Ive ever encountered, Biskup said. The extent of scar tissue and just impact from these ballistic injuries is intense. It really forces you to up your game as a surgeon to be able to address those and kind of also be innovative and creative and how to reconstruct those kinds of defects.

It keeps me young at heart: 84-year-old Wichitan enjoys two-stepping every week

It also was eye-opening for her from a personal standpoint. The soldiers she worked with were resilient.

These soldiers have been through so much, and some of them have such devastating injuries, but yet their spirit, and you know, their positivity just shines, Biskup said. Theres so much to be learned just from that, to be able to recover from something like that and go on and be a positive influence. Its just amazing. The kind of triumph of the human spirit over such adversity was truly just amazing and inspirational.

She says that the forefront of Ukrainians minds is not being forgotten.

I think theres a sharp change from when I went to in October to when I went in February of people being scared that the rest of the world is going to forget this grave injustice thats going on and this very aggressive Russian attack and war thats being fought against innocent people, Biskup said. I really, I hope this stirs people to remember about Ukraine that that conflict is going on, but its unfair, its unjust, and that we shouldnt just turn a blind eye to it and forget about it.

If you would like to nominate a person or business for Positive Connections, fill out KSNs online contact form.

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ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE)  Telling the complex stories of space can be difficult and the business accelerator, Hyperspace Challenge is utilizing the world of art to share part of the story and how they are commissioning the work might surprise you.

An image is worth a thousands words, but in the case of project SOS, its worth thousands of objects orbiting hundreds of miles above Earth. Kelly Stafford is senior program manager at Hyperspace Challenge, a business accelerator founded in 2018 with a mission to build a bridge between private enterprise, academia, and governmental agencies working towards the next generation of space exploration.

Story continues below

For several years now, theyve utilized the artistic talents of college student Madeline Ingram to create works that visually tell the complex stories of the final frontier. We love the vibrancy. We love what she brings to it, what she brings to it. and we shes graduating this year. So we were trying to think of ways that we could incorporate student artwork in our, work, said Stafford.

Their solution? Take the creative challenge to high schools across New Mexico and see what they can come up with. Stafford and her team reached out to two high schools; Digital Arts & Technology Academy in Albuquerque and The New Mexico School for Arts in Santa Fe.

Working with faculty, they created a curriculum that would last a semester, giving students three subjects on which to create satellite necessity, the growing problem of space debris and collaborative solutions for the problem.

While combining math and art in Albuquerque, Nicholas Chiarella in Santa Fe, employed coding along with old-school mediums like photography and illustrations to bring the works to life. At first, it sounded too foreign to them, I think. but as weve gotten in, theyve really, embraced it and been able to to jump in, said Chiarella.

The results, according to Stafford, were 80 entries. Some were digital prints, some 3D sculptures and some interactive works utilizing JavaScript. Ultimately, 13 winners were chosen, but as Stafford stresses the challenge is a win for all stakeholders involved. Its an opportunity for us to get them interested and excited. Its also an opportunity to show that space and the field of space technology is not just for scientists. Its not just for, mathematicians, artists. We need people from all different areas to, make space successful, said Stafford.

Stafford said Hyperspace Challenge hasnt planned future competitions, but the organization is interested in developing future relationships with student artists.

About New Mexico Frontiers

New Mexico is the doorway to the new frontier  leading the way into the future of Aerospace, Bio-science, Renewable Energy, Digital Media and Film, Advanced Manufacturing, and so much more. Join us as Chad Brummett and New Mexico Frontiers profile the movers and shakers from our state who are changing the world.

New Mexico Frontiers celebrates the enterprising spirit of the states businesses, scientists, creators, and entrepreneurs.

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Nazrin Abdul

Hosting COP29 in Azerbaijan will give impetus to the "green development" of the Middle Corridor.

This idea was voiced at a conference dedicated to maximising the benefits of the Middle Corridor, organised by the Caspian Policy Centre in London, Azernews reports.

The event, attended by ambassadors of regional countries in Britain, the diplomatic corps in London, academic circles, economists, climate scientists, and media representatives, discussed priorities related to the Middle Corridor, views on ensuring sustainability and green development in the context of COP29, as well as the importance of cooperation between regional countries and with other states on these issues.

During the opening session, Afghan Nifti, the CEO of the Caspian Policy Centre, his advisor on Britain and former British diplomat David Moran, and James Sharp, a member of the Centre's Advisory Council and a former British diplomat, spoke about the economic, trade, and cooperation opportunities created by the Middle Corridor.

Ambassadors from Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan, and Turkiye participated in the first ambassadors' panel of the conference.

Georgia's Ambassador, Sofio Katsavara, expressed support for her country's effective infrastructure projects like the Middle Corridor and highlighted the exemplary coordination between Azerbaijan and Georgia. She also touched upon the importance of peace and stability in the region for the development of the Middle Corridor.

Subsequently, Azerbaijan's Ambassador to Britain, Elin Suleymanov, discussed the importance of the Middle Corridor as a multimodal transport route, highlighting the significant role of exemplary cooperation between Azerbaijan and Georgia supported by Turkiye in the project's inception. The ambassador emphasised Azerbaijan's continuous contributions to the development of the Middle Corridor and outlined steps taken to increase cargo carrying capacity.

In the context of Azerbaijan hosting COP29, E. Suleymanov underscored the necessity of developing the Middle Corridor as a green corridor. He noted that the Baku International Sea Trade Port received a green port certificate from the UN Maritime Organisation. The Azerbaijani ambassador emphasised the importance of promoting continuous dialogue among the countries located along the Middle Corridor for the stable future of the region and avoiding divisive actions.

Touching on the ongoing peace process between Armenia and Azerbaijan, the ambassador noted that direct dialogue between the two countries is highly effective and tangible results are evident. He stated that the decision to host COP29 in Azerbaijan was made as a result of direct negotiations between the two countries. Highlighting that most of the countries located along the Middle Corridor are members of the Organisation of Turkic-Speaking Countries, Ambassador Suleymanov also noted that these countries are not only close partners for Azerbaijan but also close friends and brotherly countries.

Kazakhstan's Ambassador Maghzan Ilyasov emphasised the importance of discussing issues such as the reduction of water resources and the level of the Caspian Sea for the region during COP29.

Turkiye's Ambassador, Osman Koray Erta?, highlighted the commendable support of international institutions such as the World Bank, EBRD, and European Union to the Middle Corridor. He noted that within the framework of the peace process, the positive trend between Armenia and Azerbaijan, as well as between Armenia and Turkiye, further enhances the opportunities opened by the Middle Corridor. The Turkish ambassador added that his country is ready to support Azerbaijan in the direction of successfully hosting COP29.

Speaking at the second ambassadors' panel of the conference, Armenian Ambassador to Britain Varujan Nersesyan said that his country is interested in discussions dedicated to connectivity projects in the region.

Speaking on the same panel, the Kyrgyz ambassador drew attention to the importance of cooperation between countries located along the Middle Corridor.

Representatives of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the World Bank, "The City of London" Corporation, the British-Azerbaijani Chamber of Commerce, bp, the Institute of Export and International Trade in London, and the Centre for Strategic Studies in the Middle East and South Asia in Washington spoke at the expert panels of the conference. They shared their recommendations on what further steps would be useful for the development of the Middle Corridor in the Caspian Basin region and for the full use of the potential of the Middle Corridor in general, and how to ensure coordination with additional partners. The speakers congratulated Azerbaijan on hosting COP29 and emphasised that it is commendable that Azerbaijan shares responsibility for important international initiatives and successfully hosts international events.

bp's adviser on international affairs, Michael Denison, noted that Azerbaijan's commitment to all its international obligations for decades has made it a reliable and exemplary partner for other countries.

Chairman of the British-Azerbaijani Chamber of Commerce, John Paterson, said that under the leadership of President Ilham Aliyev, Azerbaijan has passed a successful and progressive development path, adding that Baku is one of the most beautiful and progressive cities in the world.
Azov is the best-known name of the Ukrainian extreme right that emerged in 2014, following the Maidan Revolution. It is a political and military movement founded by extremist and ultranationalist elements that contributed to the overthrow of pro-Russian president Viktor Yanukovych. They quickly formed a paramilitary battalion to combat the pro-Russian separatist uprising in Donbas. Since the war in Donbas, the United States had prohibited the weapons it sent to Ukraine from ending up in the hands of Azov. This has been the case until Tuesday, when the White House State Department announced that the Azov Brigade will finally be able to receive U.S. war equipment.

Today, the Azov brigade is an assault force that forms part of the National Guard of Ukraine and the Interior Ministry. It is one of the best prepared regiments that Ukraine has for its defense against the Russian invasion. For years, it has been accused by international organizations of violating fundamental rights. The U.S. State Department, as reported by The Washington Post, believes that Azov now complies with the Leahy Law. This rule, which came into force in 1961, stipulates that the government cannot provide foreign aid to organizations that commit crimes against humanity.

The U.S. decision follows two months of pressure from Ukraine to lift the ban. The agreement between Democrats and Republicans last April in Congress to unlock more than $50 billion in military assistance for Ukraine included an amendment against Azov. The commander of the brigade, Denys Prokopenko, released a statement condemning the move, arguing that the decision was primarily based on the characterization of Azov by Western media, which apparently formed their attitude towards the unit under the influence of Moscow propaganda. The Kremlin frequently points to Azov to claim that Ukraine is being governed by neo-Nazis. No far-right force has representation in Ukraines parliament, the Rada.

There is no evidence or confirmation of the accusations that Russian propaganda has been spreading about Azov for 10 years, Prokopenko wrote, if there were, delegations of Azov fighters would not have been received in the United States, in European countries, and in Israel.

According to leading analysts such as Ivan Gomza, head of the Department of Political Studies at the Kyiv School of Economics (KSE), Ukraine wants the international community to accept that Azov has become a patriotic organization, far from its ultranationalist origins. Indeed, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has paid tribute to the brigades fighters on several occasions despite the fact that the Azov movement was  until the Russian invasion  one of his fiercest opponents as they considered the president to be too friendly with Russia.

In an essay published in April 2022  three months after the start of the invasion  Gomza stressed that Nazi symbology and other distinctive neo-fascist elements in Azov have lost their original meaning and essentially serve to maintain community spirit. Another important issue that academia must sincerely discuss is the weaponization of academic research by states with malicious intentions for informational war purposes, Gomza argued. The scholarly community should be aware that disproportionate attention to phenomena of their narrow professional interest might be greatly abused and purposefully misrepresented in the age of social media warfare.

The KSE professor stated that only 15% of Azov members consider themselves to be neo-Nazis. In the more than two years of Russias war in Ukraine, the EL PAIS war correspondent has spoken with combatants from this brigade, and they all argued that they are not neo-Nazis, but rather nationalists. When asked about their political position, their ideas about social and identity rights, the fighters expressed radical nationalism and conservatism.

Numerous studies from outside Ukraine define Azov as an extreme right group, including the 2022 book From the Fires of War by Michael Colborne, a renowned Canadian researcher of far-right movements in the former Soviet Union. The Azov Regiment is probably the only official military unit in the world that was born from a core of far-right extremists and continues to be connected to a broader far-right social movement, he said in the book. A military unit like the Azov Regiment has no place in a democratic countrys armed forces and should be disbanded.

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MEMPHIS, Tenn.  Owners looking to keep their Hyundais out of the hands of thieves can receive a free software update on Thursday, Friday and Saturday at the Old Fairgrounds.

MPD Police Chief CJ Davis along with executives of Hyundai Motor America announced the three-day software clinic for certain Hyundai owners.

As you know, our Hyundai vehicles  our Hyundai owners in our city and across the country have experienced an increase in car thefts, Davis said.

Teen accused of breaking into employee cars at fire station

Police have learned that the vehicle brand is highly sought after by Memphis youngest thieves.

Unfortunately, our young people are leading in stealing vehicles around our city, Davis said. The top ages are 16 and 17-years-old.

While the numbers from MPD show a nearly 32 percent decrease in auto thefts and attempted auto thefts compared to this time in 2023, some Hyundai models are still easy targets thanks to a social media trend called the Hyundai/Kia TikTok Challenge.

So, 2011 through 2021 Hyundai vehicles that use the key-turn to start ignition system  we have a software update that specifically addresses the type of theft popularized on the TikTok video, Vice President of Hyundai Motor America, Dave VandeLinde said.

Kia owners line up for anti-theft software upgrade

Hyundai is in the process of setting up a 40-foot by 100-foot covered auto clinic on Tiger Lane in the shadow of Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium, where technicians will install immobilizing software at no charge.

Technicians will install a vehicle communication interface, also known as a VCI, underneath the dashboard.

Once it lights up, it will play a little song and let the technician know its connected. It should take 12 to 15 minutes for the software update to install.

Hyundai is expecting as many as a thousand vehicles to be serviced during the free event.

On Thursday and Friday, they will be there from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. On Saturday, they will be there from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WREG.com.
An eastern Idaho man shot a grizzly bear in defense of life after it behaved aggressively toward his girlfriend. It was later found dead near a road, Idaho Department of Fish and Game officials said in a news release.

According to Fish and Game, the couple were getting out of their vehicle to go into their home near Last Chance, an unincorporated community just south of Island Park, last week when the man heard his girlfriend scream.

Officials said the man was unloading items from the car, including a shotgun. When he saw the bear running toward his girlfriend, he raised the firearm and shot at the bear, which then ran away.

Fish and Game said it later received a call about a dead bear near the roadway. The bear was a yearling male, officials said.

Grizzlies in the contiguous United States are protected under the Endangered Species Act, making it illegal to harm or kill them unless in instances of self-defense or defending another person. Fish and Game said an investigation showed the Idaho man acted to defend his girlfriend during a surprise bear encounter.

Its the third time in less than a year that a grizzly in Idaho has been killed in self-defense. All three incidents occurred near Island Park, which is part of the Greater Yellowstone ecosystem  home to one of the largest grizzly bear populations in the Lower 48 states. The previous two incidents happened when hunters encountered grizzlies.

Fish and Game urged people in grizzly territory to secure or remove any possible bear attractants, including garbage, pet food and bird feeders.
Grappling with a funding shortage after a failed levy, the Kuna School District will cut the positions of about 20 teachers and staff members  one of several budget cuts district administrators are planning for the next year.

The $2.5 million budget cuts that the school board approved Tuesday for the 2024-2025 school year follows a May election when voters rejected a $5.3 million per year supplemental levy that would have provided funding for salaries, curricula and maintenance.

Kuna is one of several districts across the state that are wrestling with budget cuts after failed levies and other drops in funding.

We have been preparing for this, but it doesnt matter, Kunas Chief Financial Officer Elimira Feather said. You can prepare for it way ahead of time, but it really hurts when it happens.

District to close annex building, make staff cuts

Beginning next year, the district plans to temporarily close an annex at Hubbard Elementary School and move the students in that building  special education pre-K and kindergarten  to the main building.

The community Head Start program, which has a center on Hubbards campus, will be displaced and Hubbard will be full, Feather said during the meeting.

The staff positions that will be cut include five district office positions, five classroom teaching positions and about 10 non-classroom school-based certified and administrative positions. The district will also cut about $75,000 in curriculum spending and eliminate student device replacements, which administrators said will save about $320,000. The district has provided a Chromebook for every middle and high school student in recent years.

The district had savings in its fund balance, which gave it more leeway to be able to spread out the budget cuts over two years, if they dont pass another supplemental levy. But for the 2025-2026 school year, the district could have to cut more than $3 million more from its budget.

The board in the future could consider other options to reduce its spending, such as moving to a four-day week  a shift dozens of districts across the state have made to save money and attract teachers. It could also look at additional position cuts or reorganizing its middle school structure.

Treasure Valley districts struggle with passing levies

During the May primary election, the supplemental levies in Kuna and Caldwell both failed to reach the simple majority needed to pass. Both districts had relied on the levies for routine operations. Within the Treasure Valley, West Ada and Wilder school districts were able to narrowly pass their levies.

Kuna cant re-run its supplemental levy until November  one of only two dates left that school districts can run bonds and levies after the Legislature eliminated the March and August options over the past few years.

Ahead of the budget discussion during public comment, teachers and parents urged the board to consider the impacts of their decisions on students and teachers. They said the school board should focus on student success, and that children should be at the forefront of their decisions.

Its hard to do this, board chair Kim Nixon said during the meeting. And Im hoping that if we go for another levy, we will have more community members help us, so that we dont have to do these cuts again.
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WCIA)  As wild turkeys hatch throughout the summer, the Illinois Department of Natural Resources is looking for volunteers to help observe their population trends.

WATCH: Champaign firefighters rescue ducklings from storm drain

IDNR officials said many factors can be assessed simply based on the number of turkeys we observe. For example, counting hatchlings can indicate survival rates, and counting adult female turkeys can point to reproductive success. The number of adult male turkeys can also help estimate total wild turkey abundance, male-to-female ratios, and adult survival.

Throughout June, July, and August, the IDNR is asking participants to report their turkey sightings, as well as the county and date of the observation.

Those interested can submit their information online. For those who cannot access the electronic form, email IDNR.Turkey@illinois.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 WCIA.com.
DANVILLE, Ill. (WCIA)  Drivers in Danville are advised to take into account a lane closure on Gilbert Street during their travels this week.

The Illinois Department of Transportation is performing maintenance on the bridge carrying the road over the Vermilion River. On Monday, the bridge was reduced to one lane between Bluff Street and Main Street, with the closure expected to last until Friday.

Free carnival coming to downtown Danville in July

The Danville Police Department said traffic is backing up and causing delays, which IDOT expected. Drivers are advised to consider using a different route altogether; if not, they should allow for extra time to travel through the area and be alert, refraining from use of mobile devices and paying attention to signs and road conditions.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WCIA.com.
IEDC representatives Mark Wasky (left) and Brock Herr defend their agency's decisions during questioning from Rep. Ed DeLaney at a Tuesday, June 11, 2024 meeting of the State Budget Committee. (Leslie Bonilla Muniz/Indiana Capital Chronicle)

The Indiana Economic Development Corp. (IEDC) on Tuesday won approval to spend about $59 million buying Boone County acreage already under contract for a massive industrial park.

The quasi-public agency will use funds repurposed from a stalled deal to fill gaps in ownership. An additional $29 million will be used for area infrastructure improvements.

Three unnamed companies  in advanced computing, biopharmaceutical manufacturing and information technology component manufacturing and  have expressed interest in building at LEAP, according to the State Budget Committee agenda.

IEDC officials were on defense over an hour of intense questioning.

Rep. Ed DeLaney, an Indianapolis Democrat, asked why IEDC needed more land: So, the 9,000 acres was not enough?

IEDC Senior Vice President Mark Wasky said the land buys would be part of that total. Some acres are within the site envisioned for the Limitless Exploration/Advanced Pace (LEAP) Innovation District, he added.

You have holes in that?  Youre trying to close that off? DeLaney asked.

Wasky said the IEDC needed control of the land in order to make the investments work.

IEDC representatives Brock Herr (left) and Mark Wasky defend their agencys decisions at a Tuesday, June 11, 2024 meeting of the State Budget Committee. (Leslie Bonilla Muniz/Indiana Capital Chronicle)

Thats despite not having an accepted commitment from the firms, said Brock Herr, IEDCs senior vice president of business retention, expansion and attractions.

IEDC would spend about $500,000 on options on 1,400 new acres of land. It would use $58.5 million to buy 1,100 acres of land already under contract.

That averages out to more than $53,000 per acre  lower than the $88,000 Wasky said the IEDC has paid on average for LEAP land.

The money isnt new.

The State Budget Committee, during a December meeting, approved $100 million to lure an advanced manufacturing project, dubbed Project Nora, to Indiana.

But that deal hasnt come together  yet.

It has not disappeared. Due to company and industry changes, they have delayed a decision, Herr said. We were very candid and clear with that company that it had an expiration date, should the project not proceed.  The funds would be de-obligated and potentially repurposed, which is what were here today to do.

Wasky said the IEDC learned it should wait to seek State Budget Committee funding approval until agreements are finalized.

The company made clear that they needed to have the confidence, and having all the legal approvals taken care of, before they made a final decision, he added.

DeLaney said the company didnt have the confidence it shouldve had in December. He said he wanted to learn from this mistake  so we dont do that again.

Water worries reemerge

Skeptical lawmakers also pinned IEDC officials on water supply for LEAP.

Indiana has targeted advanced manufacturing firms for the district, like semiconductors and batteries, but theyre water-intensive industries.

Wasky, during further questioning from DeLaney, said an initial investment phase by homegrown pharmaceutical giant Eli Lilly & Co. essentially has brought the capacity of Lebanon Utilities to its fullest.

Lilly in 2022 said it would spend $2.1 billion into a project on 600 acres of land, but increased that to $3.7 billion at the groundbreaking in 2023.

Last month, the company added a whopping $5.3 billion  for a total of $9 billion  all on the original 600-acre lot.

Asked about projected water need on non-Lilly land, Wasky said, Weve been in discussion with water utilities about capacity they can bring to the area, and its  somewhere between 10 and 25 million gallons a day from existing water resources.

But as other companies join LEAP, water need could increase, he said.

Gov. Eric Holcomb, right, speaks with Eli Lilly and Company Chair and CEO David A. Ricks, middle, Friday at an economic summit event. Lilly announced an additional $5.3 billion investment in the Lebanon LEAP district. (Photo courtesy governors office)

Across current and prospective companies, and when operating at full capacity in 18 to 20 years, LEAP could need as much as 55 to 60 million gallons of water per day, according to Herr. He said most would be non-contact  or used for cooling.

The state hoped to pipe up to 100 million gallons of water a day from the Wabash River in Tippecanoe County to LEAP, but residents have pushed back.

The IEDC, in early results from a study, claimed there was enough water to support the diversion. Still, Gov. Eric Holcomb directed the Indiana Finance Authority to take over the study and widen it for a more comprehensive examination.

Preliminary data were expected in late spring or summer, but IEDC officials indicated that the studys not yet ready.

They also said electrical supply isnt a concern, as long as utilities have enough time to build new capacity.

IEDC officials additionally requested to repurpose $29 million from Project Nora to use on infrastructure improvements at LEAP.

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The money would go toward local road improvements, engineering and design for interchange improvements and road realignment, utility improvements and relocations and other site prep and planning efforts for infrastructure and sites within the district. It would support five projects, according to the meeting agenda.

The State Budget Committee approved requests by voice vote, in one lump adoption of the agenda. Rep. Greg Porter, who has been openly critical of the IEDCs plans, abstained.

Ive never heard of a voting member abstaining from a vote on a State Budget Committee agenda. But I felt like I had to be the first one to abstain today, Porter said in a statement. I couldnt move myself to vote for the agenda when I have no clue what Im investing in. Weve given the IEDC billions of state dollars for projects, but theyve shared no information. We dont know the investors, and we dont have answers on the utility situation.

My goal is to protect the taxpayers and how their dollars are spent. Hoosier taxpayers deserve to know how were using their money, he continued. Once I get those answers, Ill vote to approve a State Budget Committee agenda.

Correction: This articles first paragraph was updated to clarify that the purchases involve land already under contract.

The post IEDC nabs approval to repurpose $88M for LEAP, fill holes in land ownership appeared first on Indiana Capital Chronicle.
U.S. Rep. Rashida Tlaib, Democrat of Michigan, speaks at an event outside the U.S. Capitol on June 12, 2024, calling on the Biden administration to use its executive authority to protect people in the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals immigration program. (Photo by Ariana Figueroa/States Newsroom)

WASHINGTON  Ashly Trejo Mejia is eager to attend medical school, but shes not sure she can pursue that dream because of an upcoming court decision that could end the Obama-era program meant to temporarily protect immigrants like her who were brought into the country illegally as children.

Youre frozen in time, she said.

The 23-year-old from Hyattsville, Maryland, was one of dozens of organizers and a handful of lawmakers outside the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday, urging the administration to instill permanent protections for the nearly 579,000 recipients of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program before a 5th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals decision that could deem the program unlawful.

Its a case that is likely to head to the Supreme Court.

Democratic lawmakers Sen. Alex Padilla of California, Reps. Sylvia Garcia of Texas, Delia Ramirez of Illinois and Rashida Tlaib of Michigan called on President Joe Biden to use his executive authority to enact protections for beneficiaries for the deferred action program, which then-President Barack Obama created 12 years ago this week.

The lawmakers suggested the president could grant parole or Deferred Enforced Departure status, which allows those covered to be exempt from deportation for a certain period of time.

This was a promise made by the Biden administration, that they would address this issue and we gotta keep them on this promise, Tlaib said.

Padilla acknowledged that because of the makeup of Congress, where Republicans control the House and Democrats hold a slim majority in the Senate, any action on the program, often called DACA, must come from the White House.

He has an executive authority to provide relief for caregivers, for Dreamers, for DACA recipients and the undocumented spouses of United States citizens, Padilla.

DACA recipients are often called Dreamers, based on never-passed legislation called the Dream Act.

The White House did not respond to States Newsrooms request for comment on any executive action related to DACA.

Court challenge

A case brought by seven states threatens the program.

In the lawsuit, which Texas led along with Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Nebraska, South Carolina and West Virginia, the states argue that DACA places an undue burden on the states and that the Obama administration didnt follow proper procedures when implementing the program in 2012.

The Biden administration implemented its own final rule on DACA, but a federal judge deemed it unlawful in a September 2023 decision. The Biden administration has appealed to the 5th Circuit and is awaiting its decision.

Under the federal court order, the program remains in place for people who are already covered, but an injunction was placed to bar any future applicants, like Reyna Valdivias Solorio, from being able to apply.

Valdivias Solorio came to the U.S. when she was a year old and recently graduated from Nevada State University.

Ive been undocumented my whole life, she said. The hardest part is the emotional stress that comes from living in fear that one day, my older siblings, my parents and I could be deported and be separated from my younger siblings in this country we call home.

There are about 94,500 pending applications for the DACA program, according to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services data.

Additionally, the immigration advocacy and research organization FWD.us estimates there are 400,000 eligible undocumented youth who are unable to meet DACA eligibility requirements because they came to the U.S. too recently.

The program has seen legal challenges before, including a move by President Donald Trumps administration in 2017 to rescind the program.

The move was ultimately blocked by the Supreme Court in a June 2020 decision. The high court ordered the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services to accept first-time DACA applications, but the Trump administration didnt until December 2020.

Spouses

Americans with undocumented spouses have expressed their frustration with the White House.

Speakers at Wednesdays event pushed for executive action to grant relief for the more than 1.1 million Americans who fear their spouses could face deportation.

Ramirez said her husband, who is a DACA recipient, first entered the program when he was 14, and that many in the program are adults still waiting for a pathway to citizenship.

I get to call him my husband, she said. Unfortunately, this country calls him undocumented.

The post Immigrant advocates, congressional Dems press Biden for permanent protections appeared first on Iowa Capital Dispatch.
U.S. Rep. Rashida Tlaib, Democrat of Michigan, speaks at an event outside the U.S. Capitol on June 12, 2024, calling on the Biden administration to use its executive authority to protect people in the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals immigration program. (Ariana Figueroa | States Newsroom)

WASHINGTON  Ashly Trejo Mejia is eager to attend medical school, but shes not sure she can pursue that dream because of an upcoming court decision that could end the Obama-era program meant to temporarily protect immigrants like her who were brought into the country illegally as children.

Youre frozen in time, she said.

The 23-year-old from Hyattsville, Maryland, was one of dozens of organizers and a handful of lawmakers outside the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday, urging the administration to instill permanent protections for the nearly 579,000 recipients of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program before a 5th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals decision that could deem the program unlawful.

Its a case that is likely to head to the Supreme Court.

Democratic lawmakers Sen. Alex Padilla of California, Reps. Sylvia Garcia of Texas, Delia Ramirez of Illinois and Rashida Tlaib of Michigan called on President Joe Biden to use his executive authority to enact protections for beneficiaries for the deferred action program, which then-President Barack Obama created 12 years ago this week.

The lawmakers suggested the president could grant parole or Deferred Enforced Departure status, which allows those covered to be exempt from deportation for a certain period of time.

This was a promise made by the Biden administration, that they would address this issue and we gotta keep them on this promise, Tlaib said.

Padilla acknowledged that because of the makeup of Congress, where Republicans control the House and Democrats hold a slim majority in the Senate, any action on the program, often called DACA, must come from the White House.

He has an executive authority to provide relief for caregivers, for Dreamers, for DACA recipients and the undocumented spouses of United States citizens, Padilla.

DACA recipients are often called Dreamers, based on never-passed legislation called the Dream Act.

The White House did not respond to States Newsrooms request for comment on any executive action related to DACA.

Court challenge

A case brought by seven states threatens the program.

In the lawsuit, which Texas led along with Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Nebraska, South Carolina and West Virginia, the states argue that DACA places an undue burden on the states and that the Obama administration didnt follow proper procedures when implementing the program in 2012.

The Biden administration implemented its own final rule on DACA, but a federal judge deemed it unlawful in a September 2023 decision. The Biden administration has appealed to the 5th Circuit and is awaiting its decision.

Under the federal court order, the program remains in place for people who are already covered, but an injunction was placed to bar any future applicants, like Reyna Valdivias Solorio, from being able to apply.

Valdivias Solorio came to the U.S. when she was a year old and recently graduated from Nevada State University.

Ive been undocumented my whole life, she said. The hardest part is the emotional stress that comes from living in fear that one day, my older siblings, my parents and I could be deported and be separated from my younger siblings in this country we call home.

There are about 94,500 pending applications for the DACA program, according to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services data.

Additionally, the immigration advocacy and research organization FWD.us estimates there are 400,000 eligible undocumented youth who are unable to meet DACA eligibility requirements because they came to the U.S. too recently.

The program has seen legal challenges before, including a move by President Donald Trumps administration in 2017 to rescind the program.

The move was ultimately blocked by the Supreme Court in a June 2020 decision. The high court ordered the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services to accept first-time DACA applications, but the Trump administration didnt until December 2020.

Spouses

Americans with undocumented spouses have expressed their frustration with the White House.

Speakers at Wednesdays event pushed for executive action to grant relief for the more than 1.1 million Americans who fear their spouses could face deportation.

Ramirez said her husband, who is a DACA recipient, first entered the program when he was 14, and that many in the program are adults still waiting for a pathway to citizenship.

I get to call him my husband, she said. Unfortunately, this country calls him undocumented.

The post Immigrant advocates, congressional Dems press Biden for permanent protections appeared first on Wisconsin Examiner.
Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.) speaks at an event outside the U.S. Capitol on June 12, 2024, calling on President Joe Biden to use his executive authority to protect people in the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals immigration program. Photo by Ariana Figueroa/States Newsroom

WASHINGTON  Ashly Trejo Mejia is eager to attend medical school, but shes not sure she can pursue that dream because of an upcoming court decision that could end the Obama-era program meant to temporarily protect immigrants like her who were brought into the country illegally as children.

Youre frozen in time, she said.

The 23-year-old Hyattsville resident was one of dozens of organizers and a handful of lawmakers outside the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday, urging the Biden administration to make permanent the protections for the nearly 579,000 recipients of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, before a 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals decision that could deem the program unlawful.

Its a case that is likely to head to the Supreme Court.

Sen. Alex Padilla of California and Reps. Sylvia Garcia of Texas, Delia Ramirez of Illinois and Rashida Tlaib of Michigan  all Democrats  called on President Joe Biden to use his executive authority to enact protections for beneficiaries for the program that was enacted 12 years ago this week under then-President Barack Obama.

The lawmakers suggested the president could grant parole or Deferred Enforced Departure status, which allows those covered to be exempt from deportation for a certain period of time.

This was a promise made by the Biden administration, that they would address this issue and we gotta keep them on this promise, Tlaib said.

Padilla said that with Republicans in control of the House and Democrats holding only a slim majority in the Senate, any action on the program must come from the White House.

He has an executive authority to provide relief for caregivers, for Dreamers, for DACA recipients and the undocumented spouses of United States citizens, Padilla.

DACA recipients are often called Dreamers, based on never-passed legislation called the Dream Act.

The White House did not respond to States Newsrooms request for comment on any executive action related to DACA.

Court challenge

A case brought by seven states threatens the program.

In the lawsuit, which Texas led along with Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Nebraska, South Carolina and West Virginia, the states argue that DACA places an undue burden on them and that the Obama administration did not follow proper procedures when implementing the program in 2012.

The Biden administration implemented its own final rule on DACA, but a federal judge deemed it unlawful in September 2023. The Biden administration appealed to the 5th Circuit and is awaiting its decision.

Under the federal court order, the program remains in place for people who are already covered, but an injunction bars any future applicants, like Reyna Valdivias Solorio, from applying.

Solorio came to the U.S. when she was a year old and recently graduated from Nevada State University.

Ive been undocumented my whole life, she said. The hardest part is the emotional stress that comes from living in fear that one day, my older siblings, my parents and I could be deported and be separated from my younger siblings in this country we call home.

There are about 94,500 pending applications for the DACA program, according to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services data. Additionally, the immigration advocacy and research organization FWD.us estimates there are 400,000 eligible undocumented youth who are unable to meet DACA eligibility requirements because they came to the U.S. too recently.

The program has seen legal challenges before, including a move by President Donald Trumps administration in 2017 to rescind the program.

The move was ultimately blocked by the Supreme Court in June 2020. The court ordered U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services to accept first-time DACA applications, but the Trump administration didnt do so until December 2020.

Spouses

Americans with undocumented spouses have expressed their frustration with the White House.

Speakers at Wednesdays event pushed for executive action to grant relief for the more than 1.1 million Americans who fear their spouses could face deportation.

Ramirez said her husband, who is a DACA recipient, first entered the program when he was 14, and that many in the program are adults still waiting for a pathway to citizenship.

I get to call him my husband, she said. Unfortunately, this country calls him undocumented.

The post Immigrant advocates, congressional Dems press Biden for permanent protections appeared first on Maryland Matters.
Immigration group pleads for help bringing deported relatives back to the U.S.

Jennifer Shutt/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.

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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.

SUPPORT NEWS YOU TRUST. DONATE

The post Immigration group pleads for help bringing deported relatives back to the U.S. appeared first on Louisiana Illuminator.
In a corner of his laboratory, Professor Abel Mendez, director of the Planetary Habitability Laboratory of the University of Puerto Rico, preserves one of his most cherished memories about the Arecibo radio telescope, which was, for more than 50 years, the biggest in the world. On simple sheets posted on the wall, you can see the schedule that astronomers and scientists from around the world were assigned to spend between two and four hours using the radio telescope and listening to the universe. His own initials, Mendez shows, are there: AM.

Abel Mendez, at the facilities of the University of Puerto Rico in Arecibo. Gladys Serrano

Obsessed with exploring habitability on other planets or exoplanets, starting in 2017 the professor frequently went to the Arecibo Observatory, about 30 minutes by car from the university, to focus on the stars. There are some very active stars, like red dwarfs, and others like the Sun, which could be said to be rather quiet, he explains. What I used the radio telescope for was to observe which are the most stable stars because, around them, it is more likely that planets with a more habitable atmosphere exist. Arecibo, in some way, allowed him to know what to prioritize in his research.

That was until, on December 1, 2020, the radio telescope collapsed.

In Puerto Rico, and among the scientific community, everyone seems to remember how they found out about the fall of the giant telescope, which had a 300-meter spherical reflector dish, only surpassed in 2016 by Chinas Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical Telescope (FAST). I was at my house and, although it didnt take me by surprise, I was silent for about two minutes, Mendez recalls. The press called me and I didnt want to go on air or go see what had happened up close.

Abel Mendez points to a map in his office at the University of Puerto Rico in Arecibo. Gladys Serrano

Professor Angel Acosta, a physicist and geologist who used the radio telescopes data for teaching and scientific communication, found out from the media. To this day I have not been able to finish watching the video of the collapse, he says, referring to a series of images that were recorded with a drone and captured the moment when the Gregorian reflector of the radio telescope fell on the platform.

Luisa Fernanda Zambrano, a Colombian planetary scientist who has worked with the Arecibo radio telescope in Puerto Rico since 2013, observing and characterizing asteroids, remembers that day with pain: I cried, my team cried, we were all crying, she says from her office in the United States, where she works with the Florida Space Institute of the University of Central Florida.

But, beyond the tragedy, Arecibo left an unimaginable scientific legacy. For example, in 1965, it revealed that Mercurys rotation lasts 59 days; in 1974, it discovered the first binary pulsar, which led physicists Russel Hulse and Joseph Taylor to win a Nobel Prize. In 1981, it produced the first map of the surface of Venus, and in 1992 it identified the first exoplanet. Over the years, it revealed that there were asteroids that passed by in pairs or in trios. In November 1974, furthermore, and thanks to the fact that Arecibo not only listened to the Universe, but also had a radar that allowed it to emit signals  the most powerful in the world  it sent the first message into space. It was information about our Solar System, the Earth and human beings, and it was sent to a star cluster called M13, which is at a distance of 25,000 light years.

Karen Delgado Vega, Angel A. Acosta Colon and Abel Mendez. Gladys Serrano

But Arecibo also crept into popular culture. It appeared in the movies Golden Eye, Contact and Species. It was a tourist destination and a mandatory stop for scientists from the island or who were coming to the island, says Acosta. In 2023, when there were only ruins of the telescope left, Ashley Ann Carino represented Puerto Rico at the Miss Universe pageant with a typical costume that paid tribute to Arecibo. It was an allusion to nostalgia, to how the island had lost one of the most captivating and powerful instruments for listening to space.

Zambrano, passionate about asteroids and part of the NASA program that used the radio telescope to characterize which ones could be a danger to Earth, is still working with the observations she made with Arecibo. The data taken with this telescope continue to be processed, because they are an enormous legacy that it left us, he says. She recognizes that in part she left Puerto Rico because her work instrument had ceased to exist and, without Arecibo, the possibilities of maintaining a good salary were low.

What comes after the collapse

Narrating the collapse of Arecibo is a scientific horror story. The radio telescope had just survived Hurricane Maria in 2017 and the earthquake in January 2020, when an auxiliary cable broke in August of that same year. All observations stopped while another cable was brought from the United States for repairs. But in November, just months later, a main cable came loose and the entire observatory was evacuated. In December, the radio telescope collapsed and, despite a strong campaign for the National Science Foundation (NSF) to repair it, a forensic study showed that it was not viable. In August 2023, all facilities closed and it was learned that the NSF opened a call for projects that wanted to use the space.

A giant receiver suspended by a cable above the Arecibo radio telescope in a 1992 photograph. Corbis

The project that was chosen was Arecibo C3, an initiative that hopes to open its doors in June of this year through a pilot program. There is still a bit of a mystery about what is going on in there. The new Arecibo Center for culturally relevant and inclusive science education, with computational skills and community participation (C3), will continue the Arecibo Observatorys legacy of leadership within Puerto Rico and the STEM community through education, outreach and workforce development, the NSF told this newspaper in a brief statement.

That is, Arecibo will no longer devote itself to astronomy, but to various sciences. Mendez, however, believes that there will be an emphasis on space sciences, since its executive director will be the Puerto Rican astronomer Wanda Diaz Merced, known for converting data into audible sound, since she is blind.

There is expectation about what will happen next. Arecibo is now surrounded by a certain enigma. Something that worries Mendez and other scientists is what will happen to the other instruments that the Arecibo Observatory had besides the fallen radio telescope. In particular, we want to know what will happen with a 12-meter radio telescope that continues to allow important observations, says Mendez, explaining that together with a group of scientists they asked the NSF to be able to enter the premises to check its status.

Although this question remains without a specific answer, the NSF explained in a message that a spectrometer and two photometers were sent to Culebra Island, also in Puerto Rico, to continue doing atmospheric research. The Arecibo C3 team has access to the instrumentation that remains on site and can choose to incorporate it into some science, technology, engineering and mathematics educational activities, said the note, adding that they will consider proposals to use them under subsidy.

In Puerto Rico, there are feelings of suspense and hope. But C3 wont have it easy. What Arecibo left to the island, to science and to humanity, are shoes that are difficult to fill.
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 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 New Jersey Monitor.
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. (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 percent 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 New Hampshire Bulletin.
Immigration group pleads for help bringing deported relatives back to the U.S.

Omar Toumbou of Maryland speaks Tuesday at a press conference hosted by the Ohio Immigrant Alliance on the U.S. Capitol grounds. (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.

SUPPORT NEWS YOU TRUST. DONATE

The post Immigration group pleads for help bringing deported relatives back to the U.S. appeared first on Missouri Independent.
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 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 Kentucky Lantern.
A York County Council member lost her race for re-election, while a Lancaster County Council incumbent cruised in his.

Challenger Andy Litten defeated York County Councilwoman Allison Love and opponent Jason Amentler in a Republican primary vote Tuesday. With all 18 precincts reporting, Litten had 68% of the vote, according to unofficial results from the South Carolina Elections Commission. Love received 26% and Jason Amentler got 6%.

Litten is a North Carolina native who moved to York County more than two decades ago. He works as an engineering and operations manager for the public water supply agency serving Chester County.

Love finishes her second council term this year. Shes a lifelong York County resident and owns a jewelry business in Rock Hill. Love faced more competition Tuesday than she has thus far in her political career. She had one Republican challenger in the 2016 primaries but none in 2020. She won general elections unopposed both years.

Amentler is a Clover High School graduate and political newcomer. He works in fabrication and had no prior government work experience, which he said makes him able to go into the council role with an open mind to serve residents. He lives in Clover and works in Lake Wylie, something he said could help bridge the gap between those communities.

District 2 includes Lake Wylie and Clover. It runs from the North Carolina line at Gaston County to Campbell and Allison Creek roads on the south end. Distrist 2 has York Countys fifth biggest municipality in Clover, and one of its busiest unincorporated areas in Lake Wylie, which was more than twice Clovers size at the 2020 Census.

All three candidates ran on platforms shaped by rapid community growth, like impacts on small business, traffic, schools and public service needs.

The race also involved ethics questions after Litten filed a complaint against Love over council votes to allocate money to the nonprofit Nation Ford Land Trust.

York County GOP councilwoman faces ethics complaint filed by a political rival

Lancaster County Council

In Lancaster County, incumbent Brian Carnes handily won his county council race for District. 7.

With all precincts in, Carnes tallied 83% of the vote, according to unofficial results from the South Carolina Elections Commissions. Challenger Jarrika Coutchure collected 17%.

Carnes said he and poll runners visited each precinct in his race and he quickly learned hed won by a wide margin win.

Im just thankful for all the people that supported me and helped me, Carnes said about an hour after polls closed Tuesday. You dont win these things by yourself. Youve got other people that are behind you.

District 7 covers the Indian Land panhandle east of U.S. 521, or Charlotte Highway. It includes the massive Walnut Creek neighborhood, the Promenade at Carolina Reserve shopping center, the CrossRidge mixed-use development, the RedStone movie theater shopping center and the Red Ventures employment hub just south of the state line.

Carnes is an Indian Land native who served eight years on the Lancaster County School District board before winning his county seat. Hes now vice chairman as he finishes his third council term. Coutchure is the founder and head of school at Marvin Academy Christian School. Tuesdays primary is Coutchures first run for public office.

School officials at Marvin Academy began work last year to move into Indian Land, but ran into county zoning issues at the industrial park off Fort Mill Highway where it wanted to go.

Why a major Lancaster County employer doesnt want a Christian private school next to it

Its gratifying to receive so high a percentage of votes as an incumbent, Carnes said, since voters are basing their choice on a record of service. Hes also glad to return when issues such as a penny sales tax for road construction, U.S. 521 upgrades, a massive new regional park and others are still on the table.

I think we have some of the most important issues coming up in the next few years that weve probably faced as a county, Carnes said.

Carnes will run unopposed in November.

The new council seated after the general election will remain heavily Republican. Carnes will join Chairman Steve Harper in District 5 and Billy Mosteller in District 3 as unopposed Republicans. The only challenged seat this fall will pit Republican Stuart Graham and Forward Party candidate John Delfausse for District 1.

Returning council members whose seats arent up for election this year are Democrat Charlene McGriff in Distrct 2, Republican Jose Luis in District 4 and Republican Allen Blackmon in District6. Those council members each won seats two years ago.

Blackmon defeated fellow Republican Penry Gustafson on Tuesday for the S.C. Senate District 27 seat. Blackmon got 82% of that vote, according to unofficial results from the election commission. He faces Democrat Yokima Cureton in the general election. A special election will be held to finish the remainder of his county council term.
LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  Four of seven Clark County School Board seats were on the line during Tuesdays primary election in Nevada, and three of those incumbents had already withdrawn from the race.

The only Clark County trustee who ran for reelection Tuesday was the school board president. As of 8 a.m. Wednesday, Evelyn Garcia Morales had received 29 percent of the vote, with Tameka Henry taking 37 percent. Those two are headed to a November face-off for the spot.

Its not just about my student, its about all our students, its about our staff members, Henry said Tuesday. Were ready to stop being at the bottom.

CCSD School Board Trustee for District E, the position currently held by Lola Brooks, who is not running for reelection, was a tight race Tuesday night between Kamilah Bywaters and Lorena Biassotti, who both held 20 percent of the vote, and Ryan Kissling, who had collected 19 percent of the vote.

My constituents can be assured that I will fight for their issues and do my best to ensure that we are bringing solutions, Bywaters said. I am absolutely going to be tackling the disproportionality of our Black students and our Hispanic students.

It was a virtual tie in CCSD School Board District A between Emily Stevens, who held a 26 percent share of the vote, and Karl Catarata, with 25 percent Tuesday night. Stevens said she believes more professionalism is needed on the CCSD School District Board.

We need to see folks who have an acumen in business and finance to understand the CCSD budget, Stevens said.

Catarata pledged to be an independent voice in the school board.

It is a non-partisan race, so I truly encourage families all across [] District A who are Republican, Democrat, non-partisan, independent, and whatever they like to identify because we truly all need to work together, Catarata said.

Finally, voting for the seat currently held by embattled trustee Katie Williams, who is not seeking re-election, saw Lydia Dominguez bring in 30 percent of the vote while Eileen Eady took in 24 percent.

I definitely want to thank [] all of the moms and parents who came up and showed up for their kids, all the grandparents who showed up for their kids, Dominguez said.

With no candidate receiving more than 50 percent of the vote, each seat will be decided in a November run-off election. The next members of the Clark County School Board will oversee a district with a new superintendent as Jesus Jara departed the office. However, the new trustees will not choose the new superintendent. Instead, current board members hope to make that decision in the coming weeks.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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Indiana cop testifies he was 6 feet away when suspect who killed his police dog shot at him

Gary, Indiana, police Sgt. Angel Lozano testified Tuesday that Spencer Patterson shot his K-9 police dog Falco before shooting at him. Patterson was 6 feet away and the shots missed the officer.

Patterson, 30, of Gary, later said he shot the dog because it was biting him as he ran from the cop.

He is on trial this week for felony counts of attempted murder, battery by means of a deadly weapon, resisting law enforcement, striking a law enforcement animal and misdemeanor resisting law enforcement. He has pleaded not guilty.

The dog was shot five times, an expert testified earlier. Lozano testified he was a U.S. Army Iraq combat veteran and had trained the K-9 dog from when it was a 9-month-old pup.

Around 1:45 p.m. July 13, 2023, police said a Ford Fusion belonging to Patterson crossed the intersection of Ridge Road and Grant Street in Gary, where a license plate reader determined that Patterson had multiple active felony warrants pending against him out of Gary, including charges of aggravated battery and criminal recklessness.

Lozano and his K-9 partner, Falco, proceeded to the area of the 1000 block of East 35th Place to search for Patterson. At first, he ordered Patterson, who was fidgety, to put his hands on the car. He gave the officer a fake name. As Lozano tried to handcuff him, Patterson took off.

They engaged in a foot pursuit in an area with knee-high overgrown grass, according to the probable cause affidavit. A witness told police that Patterson jumped over a fence and Falco followed him, hopping over the fence as well. Lozano couldnt climb the fence, so he ran along its east side when he heard a few shots go off, records state.

Falco was shot during the short chase and he died from his wounds in the back of the residence. The animal was lying on the ground and had shallow breathing, Lozano told jurors. The dog served eight years with the Gary Police Department, with more than 1,000 deployments, apprehending suspects and seizing numerous drugs, according to Gary Police Chief Anthony Titus.

In the backyard, Lozano noticed Falco was down but couldnt initially locate Patterson, court records state. He told investigators that as he approached the west side of the residence, Patterson fired at him and he fired back at Patterson. At that point, Patterson gave up and was taken into custody, the affidavit states.

At some point, Lozano called for backup. Two other officers arrived.

Richard Cooper, a contractor, testified Tuesday he was working on a home on E. 35th Place when an armed man appeared outside in a blue shirt. He heard two shots, a police dog fall back, then three more shots.

He went toward the front to avoid the shooting and directed an officer to the back fence gate. Cooper said he was an ex-U.S. Marine and could tell that different guns were fired. In total, he heard a handful of shots, then a shotgun blast.

Im done, Im done. I give up, he heard the armed man say.

The whole incident lasted under a minute. How did the suspect look, Deputy Prosecutor Michelle Jatkiewicz asked.

Actually, he looked pretty good, Cooper said. Police showed great restraint.

The trial is before Judge Salvador Vasquez. Defense lawyer John Cantrell is representing Patterson. Deputy Prosecutor Adam Martin is assisting Jatkiewicz.

____
The Indiana Court of Appeals weighed the constitutionality of handgun restrictions during pending criminal charges on Tuesday, June 11, 2024. (Leslie Bonilla Muniz/Indiana Capital Chronicle)

The Indiana Court of Appeals heard arguments Tuesday on whether prohibiting individuals under indictment from carrying a handgun violates the Second Amendment.

Arthur Moore believes the state violated his right to bear arms when it charged him with a misdemeanor for unlawful carrying of a handgun while he had 0ther pending criminal charges.

However, an attorney for the state argued the statute used to convict Moore is consistent with the nations historical tradition of regulating firearms and was necessary to protect public safety.

Restricting rights based on allegations

At the center of Tuesdays hearing was an Indiana statute that prohibits a person under indictment from carrying a handgun in public. Moores attorney, Joel Schumm, said the state restricted his clients Second Amendment right based on allegations that he committed a crime, rather than a conviction.

Moore was involved in a car accident Dec. 19, 2022. According to court filings, police found a handgun, magazine and a loose round of ammunition in Moores car when they responded to the scene. At the time of the accident, Moore had already been charged with three separate Level 6 felonies for sexual battery, dealing marijuana and maintaining a common nuisance, but had not been convicted.

Prosecutors used the statute to charge and later convict Moore with a Class A misdemeanor carrying a one-year jail sentence.

Moore previously filed a motion to dismiss the handgun charge in May 2023, but a lower trial court denied this motion. He filed a notice of appeal in September 2023, and asked the appeals court to vacate his conviction.

Deputy Attorney General Ellen Meilaender said Indiana used judicially determined probable cause to charge Moore with having the handgun in this case. However, Court of Appeals Judge Paul Felix  who oversaw the hearing along with Judges Elizabeth Tavitas and Dana Kenworthy  pointed out the statute does not explicitly require judicial review and determination to restrict a person under indictment from carrying a handgun.

We have a presumption of innocence until proven guilty, Tavitas said. How do you reconcile that?

The three judges questioned Schumm about if his client sought a facial challenge  where the appellant argues the statute is unconstitutional under all circumstances  or an as-applied challenge, where the court could deem the statutes application to Moores specific case unconstitutional. Schumm said he was seeking an as-applied challenge, but that there are still constitutional issues with the regulation.

This is a very targeted challenge to a very broad provision, Schumm said.

Historical tradition of regulating firearms

Meilaender said Indiana Code is consistent with founding-era surety laws. According to the South Carolina Law Review, colonial surety laws allowed an individual, who others think is likely to breach the peace while carrying a weapon, to appear in front of a justice of the peace. If the judge thought the individual was likely to breach the peace, they could require a surety bond. If the individual broke the requirements of the bond, they could face a jail sentence or other punishment.

However, Moores attorney argued this is not an accurate historical comparison for his conviction, since the surety laws allowed the accused person to simply post a bond to carry a handgun  an option not afforded under Indiana Code.

Schumm also said a pending felony charge does not automatically mean Moore is dangerous. He argued the state did not consider Moores individual case to determine his dangerousness  instead it relied on the blanket restriction  and that he has not been accused of violent conduct.

Meilaender pushed back on the argument that Moores crimes were low-level felonies, especially his Level 6 felony charge for sexual assault.

These are violent crimes, Meilaender said.

Schumm also said the code prevents Moore from carrying a handgun for self-defense in his car.

Self-defense is so important to Hoosiers, Schumm said.

Meilaender, on the other hand, said Indiana Code allows Moore to still have a handgun at home and does not prevent him from carrying other weapons, including a rifle, for self-defense.

There is no time limit for the Court of Appeals judges to issue a decision in the case.

The post Indiana Court of Appeals weighs constitutionality of handgun restrictions for indicted persons appeared first on Indiana Capital Chronicle.
Last month, auroras that may have been the strongest in the past 500 years wowed observers around the world for a full weekend. Now, a space probe has revealed just how chaotic the sun was during this historic light show.

Images of the sun's disk by India's Aditya-L1 spacecraft, the country's first-ever solar mission, a week after the strongest auroras witnessed on May 10 reveal storm-spewing active regions crowding the sun's equator.

Between May 3 and May 9, NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory recorded 82 "notable" solar flares emerging primarily from two active regions near the sun's equator, called AR3663 and AR3664. These clusters grew complex enough that they erupted multiple times during the week, hurling at least seven coronal mass ejections , or CMEs, toward Earth. These huge clouds of solar plasma began impacting our planet on May 10, sparking incredibly strong, and possibly historic , auroras.

Two instruments onboard Aditya-L1 with capabilities for in-situ measurements, named ASPEX and MAG, captured the event during its peak on May 10 and May 11 when the storm passed through the probe's location, the Earth-sun Lagrange Point 1 . This is a gravitationally stable spot about 930,000 miles (1.5 million kilometers) from Earth, in the direction of the sun.

Two other instruments, SoLEXS and HEL1OS, had recorded sharp spikes in a light curve corresponding to the family of X-class and M-class solar flares blasted out of the sun last month , according to the Indian Space Research Organisation ( ISRO ), which operates the Aditya-L1 mission.

Related: We may have just witnessed some of the strongest auroras in 500 years

four fuzzy orbs against black. The top left is green with a few spots. The top right is pink with the same spots. The bottom left is blue with the same spots. And the bottom right is orange-ish with the same spots.

The storm was also witnessed by the Indian moon orbiter Chandrayaan 2 , which recorded X-rays from the solar flares as well as a spike in nearby high-energy particles, ISRO previously said .

Last month's sun outburst was so intense that it spurred the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to issue its first solar storm warning in two decades. In the days following the intense auroras, the active region responsible for them, AR3664, rotated out of view of Earth and into the view of Mars , which witnessed a supreme X12 flare on May 20. The flare was so strong that an astronaut standing next to NASA's Curiosity rover at the time would have been showered with a radiation dose equivalent to 30 chest X-rays, NASA said in a statement on Monday (June 10).

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The storm was, perhaps unsurprisingly, the biggest surge recorded by Curiosity's Radiation Assessment Detector instrument, or RAD, since the rover touched down in Mars' Gale Crater 12 years ago. Black and white images snapped using the rover's navigation cameras "danced with snow" as the storm's charged particles hit the cameras, NASA said. The energetic particles also inundated a camera onboard the Mars Odyssey orbiter, causing it to momentarily power down.

By the end of May, the sunspot-clustered region had circled back within view of our planet, and earned the new designation AR3697.

"I wouldn't be surprised if this active region on the sun continues to erupt, meaning even more solar storms at both Earth and Mars over the coming weeks," Don Hassler, RAD's principal investigator at the Southwest Research Institute in Colorado, said in the NASA statement.
Metis community member and Canadian Forest Service researcher Amy Cardinal Christianson at an Indigenous visitor center in Rocky Mountain House, Alberta, on Sept. 9, 2022. ED JONES via Getty Images

ThispastApril, the Metis Nation held the first Youth Summit on Climate Change, highlighting and celebrating just how strong Metis activism still is. I was invited there to speak on a panel about how storytelling is, and has always been, an important tool for mitigating climate change and healing nature.

At the summit, I was surrounded by brilliant Metis and First Nations youth activists from across Turtle Island, also known as North America. I felt immersed in the powerful energy of young minds gathering to collaborate, learn, and tell stories that reinforce our commitment to the environment.

If you live south of the Canada-U.S. border, its entirely possible that you have not heard of the Metis peoples. Any time Ive spoken this term after moving from Canada to New York City, Ive been met with confused expressions, whether Im talking to Natives or non-Natives.

The purpose of the Youth Summit was to unveil the Climate Action Strategy that Metis governments across Canada and the Metis National Council had been developing for the past few years. Photo: Metis National Council

There was a time when Metis were referred to as halfbreeds. In the U.S., your right to Native identity is measured in blood quantum, a hotly debated concept that the measurement of how much Indian blood you have dictates the authenticity of your lineage. Traditional Native communities, however, practiced from kinship systems, which establish community through mutual obligation rather than blood relations. This means that tribes would adopt members, so to speak, based on community involvement.

In Canada, a distinct cultural group emerged from Natives and European settlers having children together and building community. However, that doesnt mean anyone with mixed European and Native heritage qualifies. The term Metis refers to a distinctive mixed peoples who developed their own customs, language, ways of life, cultural practices and recognizable group identity. There are no blood quantum requirements, but Metis rights holders must have ancestral connections to a historic Metis community.

In 1982, Metis peoples were constitutionally recognized as a distinct Indigenous group, alongside the First Nations and Inuit. Originally, Metis were going to be left out of the new constitution because they were not federally recognized as Natives in the Indian Act, a piece of legislation created to control Indigenous peoples in Canada. But Indigenous activists from around the country gathered, demonstrated, and stormed Parliament, demanding recognition. Among those activists was my great-grandmother, waving her Metis flag across the country. Those activists fought against systems of erasure that have always tried to eradicate Indigenous peoples from our lands and extinguish our very existence.

The Metis lived in the land thats now Canada before it was named as such in 1867, and they served as liaisons at the heart of the fur trade, having a foot in both the European and Native worlds. They have always played a pivotal role in land protection and land conservation, and so the work done at the summit felt like an organic space for activism.

The impacts of climate change continue to be keenly felt by the Metis Nation, said Cassidy Caron, president of the Metis National Council. Now, more than ever, it is vital that we work together to protect and preserve the land, water, and air, and to develop and advance strategies to deal with the environmental issues that affect us all.

Outside of organizing, the purpose of the Youth Summit was to unveil the Climate Action Strategy that Metis governments across Canada and the Metis National Council had been developing for the past few years. From all over the country, Metis artists, activists, policy workers, local government officials and more all collaborated on plans to find and nurture clean and renewable energy, and encourage international advocacy and climate leadership.

One immediate action item was the transition of infrastructure and energy systems to achieve net-zero carbon emission by 2050. Among the initiatives born out of this goal is the Metis Crossing Solar Project in Albertas Smoky Lake County  a collaboration between MNA, the county, and the town of Smoky Lake. While most electricity grids are powered by generators fueled with coal and natural gas, this model for community-scale solar generation reduces greenhouse gas emissions through partnership with Indigenous communities.

Metis science and technology adviser Brendan Struthers, who attended the summit, described to me some of the direct effects climate change has had on his community, which led him to relocate.

When I was young, minor events may have happened once every five years, he told me. Now, its an expectation that nearly every year we will experience a severe wildfire and/or drought. In the Okanagan, its now too difficult to live with the smoke, and I could no longer rely on the water because lake levels would be too low or not safe to fish.

The climate strategy aims to address these kinds of disruptions to everyday life  Struthers experience is only one among a sea of people navigating this crisis. Its an ugly truth that as much displacement as our communities have faced historically, there will be even more to come if our land is robbed of resources.

We all walked away with something that made us feel empowered, even amid the chaos of the constant abuse of our planet: a plan to address climate change that is actionable and focused. Its five priorities are economic development and prosperity; nature stewardship; sustainable energy and infrastructure; emergency management and climate resilience; and health and well-being. Each priority outlines long-term outcomes and proposes a list of actions to achieve those goals, to be executed in tandem between community members and government officials.

The entire creation of the strategy is a celebration of Metis collaboration and agency. After the climate conversations came parties and performances by members of the community. The artwork displayed at the summit was selected based on an art competition held by the Metis National Council.

I aspire for my artwork to encapsulate the urgency of strategizing against climate change, said artist Teagan Neufeld, who designed the cover for the climate change action strategy. We must unite to navigate the flames and emerge on the other side before the fire engulfs us all. I hope future generations will look back on their childhood with the same fondness for nature that I do. There is an abundance we must safeguard and advocate for.

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KYODO NEWS - Jun 12, 2024 - 17:51 | All, Japan

Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike said Wednesday she will seek reelection for her third four-year term in July's gubernatorial election, setting the stage for a battle with high-profile opposition lawmaker Renho and a proxy war between the national ruling and opposition parties.

The Tokyo chapter of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party has decided to support Koike, a former lawmaker with the party. The LDP fared poorly in recent elections, with Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's Cabinet facing sluggish support rates due to a political funds scandal.

The announcement by the 71-year-old incumbent came after Renho, a House of Councillors member of the main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, earlier declared her candidacy for the July 7 election, with official campaigning slated to begin on June 20.

Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike said Wednesday she will seek reelection for her third four-year term in July's gubernatorial election, setting the stage for a battle with high-profile opposition lawmaker Renho and a proxy war between the national ruling and opposition parties.

The Tokyo chapter of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party has decided to support Koike, a former lawmaker with the party. The LDP fared poorly in recent elections, with Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's Cabinet facing sluggish support rates due to a political funds scandal.

The announcement by the 71-year-old incumbent came after Renho, a House of Councillors member of the main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, earlier declared her candidacy for the July 7 election, with official campaigning slated to begin on June 20.

Related coverage:

Tokyo Gov. Koike plans to run for third term: source

Japan PM's LDP loses 3 Diet seats to main opposition amid scandal

Ruling LDP not to run candidates in 2 of 3 lower house by-elections
FRESNO, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE)  Information is wanted to solve the Halloween party shooting in 2022 that killed a 19-year-old in Fresno, the Fresno County Sheriffs Office said.

According to sheriff officials, shortly after 1:30 a.m. on Oct. 29, 2022, the Sheriffs Office dispatch received a 911 call of shots fired at a home on the 8000 block of E. Hedges Ave. in Fresno.

Deputies say a Halloween costume party was taking place at the location and there were approximately 200 guests in attendance. A disturbance broke out and shots were fired.

IDENTIFIED: Teen killed at Halloween party in Fresno

Sheriff officials say 19-year-old Angel Zuniga was struck and he died at the scene. The majority of partygoers quickly left the home.

Deputies say they arrived on the scene and detained the remaining party guests for questioning and no arrests have been made.

Officials say Zuniga would have turned 21 years old last week.

I pray for justice every day. It has been extremely hard, said Angels mom, Christine. I just ask, if there is any hope, please, come forward and say something.

On Tuesday, the Fresno County Sheriffs Office held a press conference Tuesday with Angels family to speak more about the case. You can watch the full press conference using the video player above.

Anyone with information on the case should call the Fresno County Sheriffs Detective Jose Diaz at 559-600-8204

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
PORT HURON  Construction on a site off 10th Avenue north of the Blue Water Bridge over the last year has been hard to miss as crews erect a new electric substation, replace underground infrastructure, and crane over nearby transformers in bucket trucks.

Site plans for the new DTE Energy facility were first OKd by the city two years ago.

Now, however, organizers from the company said theyre expecting the substations construction to wrap up by the end of this year with other work to transition power distribution from DTEs current, nearly century-old facility off Pine Grove Avenue continuing into 2025 and 2026.

Its all part of a massive investment of over $100 million to rebuild the distributors Port Huron infrastructure, which services 5,000 customers in the area. Sandeev Sarna, DTE's regional customer operations director, said theyre upgrading from the 4.8 kilovolts of power fed into the Pine Grove substation to 13.2 kilovolts at the new site, which he called the Neon Substation, in addition to the replacement of overhead and underground infrastructure, electrical poles, and more.

The scope of the electrical system in an area of current and future work to upgrade DTE Energy's overhead infrastructure is shown over a map of Port Huron's northern side. Green shows current conversion work areas, while red shows future sites.

DTE strategy around circuit improvement work, automation, tree-trimming, conversion, is all encompassed in this project, Sarna said during a tour Tuesday afternoon. So, in order to start, tree-trimming was completed to reclaim our easements, to get us access to the poles.

From there, we are converting, enhancing, or upgrading the assets. You saw bigger poles. In some instances, were putting concrete poles and steel poles in, fiberglass cross arms that offer us more strength, less failure points, and then, bigger wire to support the voltage. So, youve got bigger equipment, which is more sturdy, and can also withstand higher winds.

What does the project entail?

Although multiple DTE officials reflected onTuesday that the existing Pine Grove facility has long-remained reliable, Irene Lynn, a principal specialist for DTE, said the new substation infrastructure should last at least 50 or more years, citing a big reason that infrastructure can be replaced is because of new technology  and not necessarily because of age or wear and tear.

A lot of reasons why things might be changed out would be, say, theres a new way for us to capture the data, right? Then, we probably replace the switch here, the breakers, things like that, she said.

In addition to the Pine Grove substation, the affected footprint of DTE infrastructure entails 20 miles of circuitry overhead.

Including the underground, were looking at 30 miles, Sarna said.

Crews work to upgrade infrastructure on a power pole on Tuesday, June 11, 2024, near the Comfrot Inn in Port Huron. Over 1,700 new poles will be affected by DTE Energy's ongoing infrastructure rebuild.

That also includes 1,714 poles.

As of Tuesday, there were often new tall electrical poles installed beside the old wooden ones theyll replace in that area of northern Port Huron  something crews were on site addressing high up at transformer level in multiple areas.

Sarna said they have a dozen groups of three to five subcontractors and DTE facilitators, or 50 to 60 linemen, out at any given time.

By the end of the year, into maybe the first quarter, well be completing all the pre-conversion work, he said. There may be some spots that well continue to work on the next two years, but Id say for most of our customers here  the pre-conversion work will end by the end of the year.

Then, by 2025-26, were expecting Pine Grove will be decommissioned, Sarna said, and I believe the state at that point, MDOT will take over the property.

Sandeev Sarna, regional customer operations director for DTE, motions out around the company's current substation off of Pine Grove Avenue on Tuesday, June 11, 2024, in Port Huron. Sarna said the facility, which was built in 1926, was set to be decommissioned in 2025 or 2026 before the property is taken over by the Michigan Department of Transportation.

Why is this happening now?

The new substation site is on just under four acres. It was previously green space left by the Michigan Department of Transportation following a massive of acquisition of residential and neighborhood properties nearly two decades ago ahead of plans for the long-awaited U.S. Customs plaza expansion.

DTE formally took over the parcel off 10th Avenue from MDOT late last year, according to the St. Clair County register of deeds.

Sarna said MDOT and still-pending plaza plans remain a contributing factor to the timing of their substation construction.

We have put this on an accelerated timeline, and so, thats why youre seeing parallel activities, he said. The substation work and the overhead pre-conversion work (are) happening at the same time. Typically, a project like this can span over several years.

At just under four acres, facilities for a new DTE Energy substation off 10th Avenue in Port Huron, as seen on Tuesday, June 11, 2024, is expected to see construction finished by the end of this year as part of converting power output over the next couple years.

An aim overall with the project, Sarna said, was in part to introduce a larger capacity for power, or enough that supports a lot of the future of EVs and other community growth.

On Tuesday, Lynn said even with the capacity upgrade, the primary load used in Port Huron, which is roughly 15 to 16 megavolt-amperes, doesnt change offhand. Still, earlier mid-tour, she said, the upped capacity would be "easily enough to cover a new hospital (and) a couple new industry buildings.

Based on transformer sizes, Sarna later added, Youre going to get right away about a 30% increase, agreeing facilities such as a hospital, a large manufacturing site, or several light industrial builds could definitely be supported.

The other piece pushing the project forward, DTE officials said, was reliability.

This project also helps us get to our commitment, which we have made recently and committed to by 2029 reducing outages by 30% and reducing the amount of time people are out by half, said Dave Akerly, a senior communications strategist for the company.

How will this affect customers?

As with ongoing work over the last several months, Sarna said any resident affected by construction or who lives near a pole or transformer being upgraded should get a heads up or knock at home before crews begin work.

Both he and Akerly said DTE tries to make sure residents are aware of the work, particularly if theres going to be some sort of hindrance to a property owner, or interruption in services.

Overall, customers should receive notification of any planned interruption. And once the conversion happens in each area, Sarna said theyre generally able to get power back up within a couple hours.

Sarna said the infrastructure upgrade wouldnt directly affect rates charged to customers.

However, what this will allow us to do is be more efficient and help drive down our cost to maintain this grid and to respond to outages, he said. So, eventually, through these investments, we will be driving down the cost to maintain for our customers.

Contact reporter Jackie Smith at (810) 989-6270 or jssmith@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Port Huron Times Herald: Inside DTE's massive $100 million rebuild of its Port Huron infrastructure
An inside look at the right-wing Israeli attacks on Gaza aid convoys

Jerusalem  For months, images of Jewish settlers and right-wing extremists attacking aid convoys destined for Gaza have drawn global outrage. Widely circulated on social media, photos and videos have shown far-right Israeli activists blocking aid trucks from entering crossings into the war-torn Palestinian territory, looting the vans and throwing aid to the ground.

The attacks have drawn the ire of the White House, with U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan telling reporters last month it was "a total outrage that there are people who are attacking and looting these convoys coming from Jordan and going to Gaza to deliver humanitarian assistance."

"We are looking at the tools that we have to respond to this," Sullivan said. "We are also raising our concerns at the highest level of the Israeli government and it's something that we make no bones about  this is completely and utterly unacceptable behavior."

Where things stand on an Israel-Hamas cease-fire deal

It's not just the aid that's been attacked. There's also been physical violence.

In video shared with CBS News, Palestinian truck driver Mohsen Shaheen can be seen lying bloodied on the ground next to his vehicle. He says he was beaten by a group of settlers who had wrongly assumed he was hauling aid to Gaza.

"The window to my truck was open and a settler came and sprayed me with pepper spray," Shaheen told CBS News. "Then there was a rock or iron bar smashing the other window. It hit me in the face. Blood was everywhere I thought I was going to die."

Shaheen said Israeli soldiers at the scene did little to assist him.

Last month, Sapir Sluzker Amran, an Israeli peace activist who witnessed an attack by right-wing activists on an aid truck in the occupied West Bank, told CBS News a similar story.

Amran said one member of the far-right group slapped her as she tried to stop the attack on the aid trucks, and that Israel Defense Forces personnel at the scene refused to help her.

Amran also said the right-wing extremists were often tipped off about humanitarian aid convoys by Israeli military and police officials.

"They know, so they have information beforehand about when the trucks are coming, and they publish it on social media and they publish it on their groups, WhatsApp groups, and asking people to join and block or damage the aid," she said.

Right-wing Israeli protesters ambushed trucks carrying food supplies that were headed into Gaza on Monday in the latest disruption to humanitarian relief for the war-torn Palestinian territory. / Credit: Adv. Sapir Sluzker Amran, Co- director of Breaking Walls movment

CBS News gained access to a WhatsApp group used by one such group called "we won't forget."

It cataloged in detail how many trucks would be in a convoy, what routes they would travel on, and the crossings they moved through on any given day.

In one message, a member of the chat appeared to explain where the information was coming from. "Methods for Blocking Acts: We get preliminary info from border crossing workers, police and soldiers," the WhatsApp message read.

CBS News reached out to Israel's security forces for comment on the allegations that some members have tipped off far-right groups who've blocked aid, or not intervened when convoys were attacked. The Israeli military referred CBS News to Israeli police authorities, who said in a statement that, "to the best of its knowledge," the claims were "baseless" and "unfounded rumors."

Another message made reference to Bezalel Smotrich, Israel's ultranationalist Finance Minister.

"For those who ask, the following information came from Minister Smotrich who wrote to the Prime Minister and asked him how come he approved aid to Gaza," the text read.

Israel's Finance Minister and leader of the Religious Zionist Party Bezalel Smotrich attends a meeting at the parliament, known as the Knesset, in Jerusalem, March 20, 2023. / Credit: GIL COHEN-MAGEN/AFP/Getty

Smotrich, an influential figure in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's cabinet, used his position to block a U.S.-funded flour shipment to Gaza in February, after making an unfounded claim that the flour, which was being transferred to the United Nations, would go to Hamas.

CBS News sought comment from Smotrich on the claims that he has assisted the extremist groups. The query was met with a firm denial by the finance minister's office.

Withholding humanitarian aid from Gaza is not an entirely fringe view in Israel. A March poll from Shiluv I2R, a leading Israeli survey and research firm, found 44% of Israelis believe the country "should make aid conditional on a hostage release deal."

22% said no aid should be provided until the war was over.

Yosef de Bresser is among those who don't want aid to get into Gaza. A key organizer behind the blockade movement, he told CBS News he'd been detained 12 times for obstructing supplies to Gaza but, so far, had yet to be charged.

"In every war there is someone who loses and someone who wins," he said when asked why he thought it was right to block humanitarian assistance for Gazans. "Either the people in Gaza will die, either the people in Israel will die... It's black and white."

After nearly nine months of devastating violence and destruction, aid agencies say the amount of aid reaching desperate Palestinians in Gaza is still woefully insufficient.

While the settlers and activist groups' attempts to block those supplies only have a limited impact, aid agencies say the real obstruction comes from the Israeli government.

Multiple agencies say Israel routinely and arbitrarily prevents legitimate humanitarian goods from entering Gaza through a highly complicated inspection and approval process and without clear or consistent instructions.

The U.N. says 1.1 million people  nearly half the population in Gaza  now face catastrophic levels of hunger, and that the territory is on the brink of famine.

Shaheen Mohsen says he hasn't been able to work since he was attacked, and he doesn't believe he'll receive any justice.

"I don't expect justice. The whole world sees that there is no justice," he said.

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ZHYTOMYR, KYIV OBLASTS  Taras Netavrovanyi, an inmate at the medium-security prison in Zhytomyr Oblast, eagerly seized the chance to break free of his two-and-a-half-year sentence.

New Ukrainian legislation allowing military service for prisoners convicted of certain felonies, including manslaughter, offers a unique opportunity: parole in exchange for joining an assault unit, monthly pay, and social welfare for soldiers.

But Netavrovanyi says his primary motivation for wearing a pixel-camouflage uniform is redemption.

Im motivated enough to make such a decision. I needed to decide how to be useful in this life, Netavrovanyi told the Kyiv Independent inside the prison in Zhytomyr Oblast.

As Ukraines new mobilization law comes into effect, the country is also turning to prisons to replenish its troops. The government has said its looking to recruit 20,000 convicts, with an initial campaign seeing around 5,000 inmates trading their cells for trenches.

Taras Netavrovanyi, convicted of illegal possession of ammunition, in the prison in Zhytomyr Oblast, Ukraine, on May 28, 2024, less than two weeks before he was released on parole and joined the Ukrainian military. (Alexander Khrebet / The Kyiv Independent)

The military had already recruited some 300 inmates with combat experience since the start of the full-scale invasion. The new law allows a wider range of convicts to enlist with the exception of those serving for premeditated murder, the murder of two or more people, sexual violence, drug production, and crimes against national security.

If caught trying to violate their parole while serving, by deserting, for instance, convicts will face five more years on top of their original sentence, according to the new law.

The legislation is the brainchild of the Justice Ministry, which found itself inundated with applications after the law went into effect in May. Deputy Justice Minister Olena Vysotska said applications they received equaled the anticipated amount for the entire campaign.

Read also: Justice Ministry: Over 3,000 Ukrainian convicts have applied to join military

This is a motivating program to change their life, fate, and if you can say so, to cleanse their sins with their blood, or the blood of invaders, Vladyslav Shahan, a recruiter of the 5th Assault Brigade, told the Kyiv Independent at separate visit to the medium-security prison just outside Kyiv.

Prison jumpsuit for military uniform

Clangs of thick doors and heavy locks echo through the Zhytomyr Oblast prison's labyrinthine corridors. Two prison guards escort the Kyiv Independent into the heart of the facility, where inmates live, work, and walk.

Among them is Netavrovanyi, a chiropractor with 15 years of experience whos serving for illegal possession of ammunition. Hes applied to serve as a combat medic in the 153rd Infantry Brigade where five former fellow inmates are now serving.

My knowledge will be needed more (in the army) than here, he told the Kyiv Independent in a room where an officer was present but never interrupted. While Netavrovanyi asserted the prison administration hadn't selected him to talk to reporters, he glanced at the officer before addressing certain questions.

A group of convicts walks through the prison in Kyiv Oblast, Ukraine, on May 30, 2024. (Alexander Khrebet / The Kyiv Independent)

Netavrovanyi is confident that he can join the military this time around after two failed attempts: once in his hometown weeks before the onset of the full-scale war and again after applying from a pre-detention center following his arrest in February 2023.

Passing a medical examination is Netavrovanyis final hurdle before he can join. After this stage, the remaining steps are simply a formality.

(The military) doesn't shepherd us with a stick. It's all voluntary, he also said.

In the prison in Kyiv Oblast, Andrii Fetisov, 28, longs to enlist but doesnt meet the legal criteria. He is serving a 14-year sentence for a double homicide and was upset to discover his charge prohibits him from joining the military under the new law.

(It would be) good if I could help my country, Fetisov told the Kyiv Independent.

The law was designed to consider victims and their loved ones' feelings. However, Vysotska does not rule out expanding the list of criteria later if the military requests it.

Andrii Fetisov, who is serving a 14-year sentence for a double homicide, wants to join the army but doesnt meet the legal criteria for mobilization under the new Ukrainian legislation, in the prison in Kyiv Oblast on May 30, 2024. (Alexander Khrebet / The Kyiv Independent)

Parliament will need to be presented quite strong arguments to accept this or that amendment, she says.

At this stage, its unclear whether the law will be amended. But Fetisov hopes it will be as he has been trying to join the army since the start of the full-scale invasion.

If you look at the felony  murder  you don't go to war to guard corn in the field, you go to fight and possibly kill, Fetisov said.

Recruitment

The prison in Zhytomyr Oblast is on the sprawling list of 86 facilities throughout Ukraine that recruiters tour. They inform sold-out-like audiences of inmates on training and service in the military.

The 5th Assault Brigade aims to headhunt at least 600 motivated and strong inmates for a separate battalion where only prisoners serve. After two months of boot camp, they will be deployed to the eastern front in Donetsk Oblast, where the brigade fights the endless Battle of Donbas.

This will strengthen the defense line and the offensive and ignite the desire in other people serving sentences to consider joining the Armed Forces. Life will show how it will be, but hopes for this battalion are high, says Shahan, a captain.

A group of convicts lined up in the prison in Kyiv Oblast on May 30, 2024. (Alexander Khrebet / The Kyiv Independent)

An open-air corridor inside the double-fenced perimeter with barbed wire of the prison in Kyiv Oblast, Ukraine, on May 30, 2024. (Alexander Khrebet / The Kyiv Independent)

Ukraines move to mobilize prisoners echoes Moscows tactics deployed in 2022 when the now-late warmonger Yevgeny Prigozhin, the Wagner Group boss, toured Russia to recruit tens of thousands of inmates for brutal assaults on Ukrainian positions.

The Russian Defense Ministry later ousted Wagner, a notorious mercenary outfit now fading into oblivion, from prisons. Moscow continues inmate recruitment regardless of crimes committed, offering pardons if they make it through six months of endless assaults.

Nonetheless, Deputy Justice Minister Vysotska insists Ukraine is avoiding Russias indiscriminate recruitment methods when crafting the new legislation, focusing on the legal status of recruits. She also says Ukraine is the first country in the world to introduce a legal mechanism allowing convicts to join the Armed Forces.

(Ukrainian prisoners) have a court decision with parole in their hands. Free men sign a contract with the Armed Forces, says Vysotska.

Prisoners embark toward enlistment with a written plea for parole and application to join the army. As momentum gains, military medics arrive at the prison to assess the inmate's fitness for service.

Read also: Nearly 20,000 Wagner mercenaries died taking Bakhmut, media investigation confirms

If deemed fit, the prison commission and army officer decide on the sentence suspension. Their decision moves the prisoner's file to court for parole hearings.

When the ink dries on the parole papers, the National Guard escorts the now-former convict to the enlistment office. Here, they sign a contract with the brigade, sealing their commitment and marking the end of their journey from prison to service.

We monitor how (convicts) train for combat missions with the military. There will be no meat grinder assaults, as we see with captured former Russian convicts who share their stories, Vysotska says, referring to the Russian strategy of deploying waives of poorly-trained inmates to attack.

On the fence

While many prisoners have applied, some are still on the fence, waiting to see what happens to their fellow former inmates after deployment to the front.

Maksym Kryvenko, a 26-year-old convict at the prison in Zhytomyr Oblast, is considering joining the military but is wary of rushing into it  his haste has already landed him in an unpleasant situation once.

"I don't want to make decisions about my life impulsively because I am already in prison. My previous decision (of committing a crime) was also made impulsively. Therefore, Im now thinking more constructively," Kryvenko told the Kyiv Independent.

Kryvenko landed in prison on drug offenses in April 2023 after several years of investigation and rounds of trials.

Maksym Kryvenko, a convict considering joining the army but wary of rushing into it, in the prison in Zhytomyr Oblast, Ukraine, on May 28, 2024. (Alexander Khrebet / The Kyiv Independent)

When the Covid-19 lockdown strained his family budget, Kryvenko worked in food delivery, a booming sector during the pandemic. After clashing with his manager, he found a new delivery job promising the same pay for fewer hours.

Instead of restaurant food, he delivered drugs. He was 22, married, planning to have children, and studying.

Police caught him planting amphetamine packages for online buyers on the second day. He confessed where he had planted the remaining 200 grams of drugs, earning a five-year sentence instead of 12 for cooperation.

He spends days overseeing cleanliness in the residential block, occasionally cooking and reading, like the fantasy novel The Witcher. Kryvenko, undecided about mobilization, aims to use his prison time productively, taking technical courses.

A group of convicts walks through the prison in Kyiv Oblast, Ukraine, on May 30, 2024. (Alexander Khrebet / The Kyiv Independent)

Some will be the first to walk this path. And we, who are hesitant, will see their experience and make our decisions, he says.

Kryvenko says he would enlist now if recruiters were looking for tech-savvy people. In the meantime, he is waiting and considering options.

Im not a marksman, but maybe Id be more useful in programming areas. That's why Id like to go there and bring more benefits rather than just die quickly.

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
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Graduation speaker booed by entire stadium, Cringe-worthy speech peddling Bitcoin and The worst Ohio State commencement speech ever. These are just a few headlines written about the speech given by Christopher Pan, a social entrepreneur, during the 2024 Ohio State University (OSU) commencement ceremony.

But the 1999 OSU alumnus wouldnt change his speech nor message if given the opportunity to go back in time. I don't have any regrets because I did what I believe is right, Pan tells NextShark.

Pan, the founder of service project company MyIntent.org, delivered a keynote address to more than 12,000 students and their families on May 5 at the Ohio Stadium in Columbus. As the son of Chinese immigrants and grandson of refugees, he has dedicated his life to community-building efforts, particularly focusing on emotional and spiritual wellness. He says his challenging upbringing as an Asian American who struggled to fit in has fueled his passion for this work. With professional experience at PepsiCo and Facebook, his journey into social entrepreneurship was motivated by a desire to go beyond conventional success and address what he believes the world needs more of: healers.

Pan was selected as the 2024 commencement speaker because the university wanted to highlight the achievements of an alum who had made substantial contributions to the OSU community. With his involvement in speaking engagements and recognition in the alumni magazine, Pan emerged as the top choice. He remembers being told by a senior vice president of the university: Our community needs your inspiration more than ever. Thank you for modeling compassion, integrity and truly what it means to be a buckeye.

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In his roughly 17-minute speech, Pan centered his message on attaining freedom in financial, emotional and spiritual realms. He prompted audience participation by leading a singing exercise of the 4 Non Blondes 1993 hit single "What's Up" and guiding them through a breathing exercise purportedly utilized by Navy SEALs. However, his message that Bitcoin could potentially grant students "financial freedom"  advice that was accompanied by a magic trick involving the university president  elicited boos from the crowd. Pan concluded with another group sing-along to This Little Light of Mine and emphasized the importance of healing global divisions.

To say the least, the commencement address was characterized by unusual moments. On LinkedIn, Pan disclosed that he sought help from AI (Ayahuasca Intelligence) to compose his speech, seeking to convey a heartfelt message during difficult times. His unconventional approach and advocacy for cryptocurrency stirred mixed reactions and generated widespread media coverage in the past month.

I don't take it personally. I know my intentions were to be helpful and to leave them with actionable advice, Pan says. I think what's different about what I did versus the average commencement speech is I think the majority of commencement speeches feel good in the moment and then they're kind of forgotten about. I didn't want that. I wanted to actually have an impact. I wanted to actually leave people with actionable advice that they could use. I think a lot of people are not used to it. But for me, it just means that I pushed the envelope. And anytime you push the envelope, there are going to be people who will not get it right away, and that's OK.

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Pan attributes the backlash against his speech to an article by The Rooster titled Inside the worst Ohio State commencement speech ever. He claims that its writer and editor had not done their homework, contributing to a culture of contempt exacerbated by social media echo chambers. He says he spoke to both, who allegedly admitted to fabricating details. He believes the article ignited the negative commentary surrounding his speech across social media.

It's interesting, because most of the headlines talk about either psychedelics or drugs, and then they talk about Bitcoin, right? And it's interesting that that ends up being the fuel to get the attention, because people don't understand these two things, Pan points out. They're just like cheap shots, you know. It's easy to be the critic, and it's easy to just write a headline, but no one's actually doing the real research. At OSU, there's a handful of research centers doing ayahuasca research, and it's just people don't understand that, but I'm gonna do a lot of educating to help people understand what this stuff really is.

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Pan responds to criticism labeling him as an "idiot," a "disgrace" and an "embarrassment" by attributing it to misunderstandings, lack of knowledge about Bitcoin and ayahuasca and underlying societal issues and personal biases.

I think what people experience on the inside is how they view the world, he says. So like, if you are pretty negative on the inside, then I think you view everything with negativity. If you've been scammed before, then you view everything as a scam. I think it's a reflection of what they're feeling inside. Maybe they're angry at the world, maybe they're not happy about certain things, and they're taking it out on my speech.

Pan shares his desire to shift the conversation toward understanding how society has arrived at a closed-minded, disrespectful state. He says his remarks on Bitcoin were intended to foster open-mindedness and comprehension, rather than advocating for its purchase. He criticizes the negative reaction he has received, highlighting the expectation that a college education should instill skills such as listening, embracing diverse perspectives and engaging in civil discourse. He also questions whether universities are effectively imparting these essential skills, stressing the need for reflection on education's role in fostering a harmonious world. And although he reiterates that he harbors no animosity toward his critics, he believes that vital skills may be missing in the current educational framework.

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Following the widespread attention garnered by his speech, Pan says that he has also received numerous messages praising his originality and altruistic intentions to help the recent graduates. He noted that his speech has been translated into various languages, including Korean, Chinese and Portuguese. Pan believes this signifies its global reach and impact as a global wake-up call rather than the usual follow-your-heart speech.

There's real economic slavery happening, Pan says. I think people are emotionally repressed and spiritually disconnected. These are real issues. My mission is to be a catalyst for meaningful conversations and positive action. So I wanted to have a meaningful conversation about the fact that housing is unaffordable right now and that our savings are going to sh*t if you don't invest.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Chris Pan (@chrispan)

Pan believes that like meditation and yoga  once niche practices that are now mainstream  Bitcoin, ayahuasca and, according to him, group singing, will gain wider acceptance over time. Despite all the backlash, he remains committed to helping people understand and embrace these new ideas, confident that they will be widely adopted in the future. But while topics such as ayahuasca and Bitcoin were attention-grabbers, he says his core message is about overcoming hate and spreading love.

Moving forward, Pan plans to establish a nonprofit organization focused on educating people about psychedelics, financial literacy, emotional wellness through singing and intention setting and spiritual connection. He says he aims to invest at least a million dollars over the next five to 10 years in these initiatives. The entrepreneur is particularly interested in engaging with the Asian American community, addressing mental health and promoting leadership. He hopes to help more Asians overcome trauma and embrace new ideas.

This is just the beginning of a conversation, he says. The speech is just the tip of the iceberg. I have a much bigger message for the world.

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A transcript that claimed to be the log of the Titan Sub crew's last words has been declared a fraud.

An investigation into the sub's implosion confirmed that the log was "made up." The submersible imploded in June 2023, killing the five people onboard, including OceanGate CEO Stockton Rush.

OceanGate confirmed the deaths of the passengers and paid tribute to them as "true explorers."

Since the final log of the crew's last words was revealed to be fake, several have taken to social media to question if the Titan Sub actually imploded.

The Titan Sub's Log Was Determined To Be A Fake

MEGA

A log that previously claimed to contain the final words of the Titan submersible crew has been declared a fake.

According to the New York Times, a federal team of investigators has concluded its investigation into the incident and "found no evidence" that the sub's crew was aware of the implosion.

The log appeared online a few days after the Titan sub disappeared in the Atlantic Ocean and quickly went viral. It offered a detailed explanation of the events leading up to the sub's implosion and the conversations that occurred within the vessel.

Captain Jason Neubauer, the Chairman of the Marine Board of Investigation, spoke about the transcript and said he was "confident" that it was false. He added that the log was entirely "made up" and said, "Somebody did it well enough to make it look plausible."

The transcript claimed that the crew warned their mothership about alarms ringing in the vessel just before its implosion. However, real records of the sub's final communication with the mothership have confirmed that the log is false.

The Revelation Of The Fake Log Has Raised Eyebrows

Since the investigation revealed the log's fraudulence, many have taken to social media to question whether the Titan submersible actually imploded.

On TikTok, netizens are claiming the entire incident was "made up," with one user stating in a viral video that the recent finding regarding the log is proof of no implosion.

The TikToker said, "So here we are, a year later, the anniversary of the Titan Submersible mysteriously vanishing, and they have just told us that that whole ideology was false."

She continued, "There was no long indicating when there was a dissent and when the Titan submersible ran out of oxygen and, in fact, imploded. Which means there was no implosion..."

Several others agreed with the TikTok user, with many noting that they always suspected the entire incident.

While the fake log has sparked fresh controversy, there is no concrete proof that the implosion did not happen, and parts of the submersible were discovered following the unfortunate incident.

All Five Passengers Onboard The Titan Sub Died

MEGA

The Titan submersible was on an excursion to view the remains of the Titanic wreckage when it lost contact with the mothership, The Polar Prince.

A massive search was soon launched in the area around its disappearance, and four days later, the sub's wreckage was located at the bottom of the Atlantic.

All five passengers, including OceanGate CEO Stockton Rush, billionaire Shahzada Dawood and his son Suleman Dawood, billionaire Hamish Harding, and Titanic expert Paul-Henri Nargeolet, died in the sudden implosion, leaving behind no remains.

OceanGate Confirmed The Deaths Of The Titan Sub's Crew And Paid Tribute

MEGA

OceanGate, the company hosting the expeditions, confirmed the deaths of the passengers.

Their statement read, "We now believe that our CEO Stockton Rush, Shahzada Dawood and his son Suleman Dawood, Hamish Harding, and Paul-Henri Nargeolet, have sadly been lost."

The company further paid tribute to Rush and the other men who lost their lives. They called them "true explorers" who shared a "spirit of adventure and a deep passion" for exploring and protecting the oceans. The statement concluded with, "Our hearts are with these five souls and every member of their families during this tragic time. We grieve the loss of life and joy they brought to everyone they knew."

The U.S. Coast Guard also confirmed the deaths of the five men in a press conference. They revealed that a debris field was found close to the wreckage of the Titanic and it was confirmed to be the sub. The implosion was described as a "catastrophic pressure implosion," which would have definitely killed the five men.

The Victims' Families Have Also Released Statements

MEGA

The loved ones of the crew who died in the Titan Sub have been sharing their grief. Harding's family paid tribute to him in a statement, calling him a "loving husband" and "dedicated father."

According to People Magazine, the statement read, "Today, we are united in grief with the other families who have also lost their loved ones on the Titan submersible. Hamish Harding was a loving husband to his wife and a dedicated father to his two sons, whom he loved deeply. To his team in Action Aviation, he was a guide, an inspiration, a support, and a Living Legend."

The family of Shahzada and Suleman Dawood also released a statement. It read, "Our thoughts are with the victims of this tragedy, one which has been followed around the world. The family remains overwhelmed with the love and support that it has received and is grateful to those who showcased the best in humanity."
When the federal government opened a $28.6 billion pandemic relief fund for restaurants in May 2021, an Oakland County businessman dusted off old records to make his case for a grant: the financials from a collection of restaurants and catering companies he had walked away from two years earlier.

Within weeks of applying, the Small Business Administration awarded Ryan Moores company, Conlan Abu, more than $5 million, one of the largest single grants handed out to thousands of dining establishments across Michigan.

While Moore applied using the books from the restaurant group he no longer managed, SBA records show that he listed his business address as a separate apple orchard that Conlan Abu owned in Washington Township.

That orchard never had sales in excess of $210,000 a year during the time Conlan Abu owned it, and was open only for the season from Labor Day to Halloween.

The SBA launched the Restaurant Revitalization Fund (RRF) to help the nations second-largest private employer a year into the pandemic. The grants were supposed to cover pandemic losses for a wide variety of businesses that serve food and drink, from bowling alleys to wineries.

But a Free Press investigation found nearly $7 million in dubious RRF grants, including those that went to businesses that arent even allowed under Michigan law to prepare or serve food or drinks  not even a glass of water.

One business didnt exist in state records until after it was approved for the money. Another applied as a caterer but had no kitchen of its own or license to prepare or serve food. And after questions from the Free Press, the lawyer for another restaurant owner said, his client returned most of a grant of nearly $900,000, given for a restaurant he closed and sold in 2019.

A little due diligence could have prevented some of these schemes, said John Mogk, a Wayne State University law professor who teaches courses in state and local government. Why werent they looking more closely at this?

Others, like Pete LaCombe, owner of the now shuttered vegan coney island restaurant in Detroit, Chili Mustard Onions, got no financial help.

When he turned to the SBA for aid, his business was struggling, and open just four hours a day, four days a week because of staffing shortages  not enough to make things work.

Chili Mustard Onions owner Pete LaCombe prepares an order for a customer while working in the kitchen of the vegan Coney Island restaurant in Detroit on Thursday, Sept. 22, 2022. He did not get a Restaurant Revitalization Fund grant he applied for and had to shut down in 2022.

We were doing fantastic; 2019 was huge for us, LaCombe said. Then COVID-19 hit and everything just came crashing down.

He applied for a grant of $400,000 in part to help hire more people but got nothing, not even a denial letter, and then, all of a sudden the money is gone.

Costly mistakes were made

Within two months of the programs launch, the money ran out and in mid-July 2021, the SBA stopped taking applications. Just over 100,000 businesses received funding, or 40% of eligible applicants, according to the federal Government Accountability Office, a congressional watchdog agency.

Qualifying establishments included restaurants, bars and saloons, food trucks and caterers. Bakeries, breweries, wineries and distilleries were also eligible if a third of their receipts were from on-site sales to the public.

They could spend the money on payroll, utilities, rent or mortgage payments, food and beverages, and construction of outdoor seating.

Besides being oversubscribed, congressional watchdogs found the agency didnt aggressively investigate potential fraud, reporting that the SBA did not use data analytics or information from law enforcement to identify potentially fraudulent award recipients.

A March 2024 audit by the SBAs Office of Inspector General, said the SBA gave out nearly $6.7 billion to RRF applicants without sufficiently verifying they were eligible for award. (The report did not cite specific businesses.)

When Congress appropriated less than the full need, the SBA rushed to get money out the door and, in doing so, made costly mistakes in allocating funds, said Erika Polmar, executive director of the Independent Restaurant Coalition, a nonprofit that advocates for independent restaurants and bars.

SBA officials defended the program, saying they ran applicants through extensive fraud checks before sending out grants, and that their job is to identify and refer suspicious activity to federal prosecutors or the SBAs Office of Inspector General.

In 2021, the SBA worked to balance speed without sacrificing accuracy in the setting up and launch of the Restaurant Revitalization Fund, said Han Nguyen, a spokesperson for the agency, in a statement to the Free Press.

The SBA worked to ensure the hardest-hit small business owners were reached through targeted outreach and delivered billions in aid to businesses across the nation, helping them weather the storm of the pandemic, Nguyen said.

A sign on a downtown Detroit restaurant states the dining room is closed due to COVID-19 on March 17, 2020.

But even with limited information available to the public about thousands of applicants, the Free Press was able to identify examples of questionable spending in metro Detroit.

The agencys list of recipients is public record, but SBA declined a Free Press request under the federal Freedom of Information Act for copies of individual RRF applications.

The Free Press used other public documents, including court and corporate filings, property records, health department records and federal reports. Reporters interviewed dozens of people, including experts, business owners and local, state and federal officials.

The SBA declined to answer questions about the businesses identified by the Free Press.

But at least one example appears to have gotten the attention of federal investigators.

Orchard gets millions in taxpayer help

Orchard owner Ryan Moore has defended his application for a $5 million restaurant relief grant, saying that he followed the rules and did nothing improper.

Only four other businesses in Michigan received more than the $5,020,064 paid to Conlan Abu. Not even Zehnders of Frankenmuth, which is famous for its family-style chicken dinners and has a seating capacity of 1,500, got as much as Conlan Abu, the company named after what Moore has said was his familys Irish war cry.

The story of Moores grant began on Jan. 1, 2019, when his company purchased the management of several restaurants and catering operations from Detroit businessman and lawyer Stanley Dickson Jr. Moores longtime friend and Cranbrook Schools classmate Jeff Mulholland introduced the two.

The businesses were among the remnants of the empire of the late, prominent restaurateur Matt Prentice, that ended up with Dickson, a Prentice friend. The portfolio included the No. VI Chophouse, Nomad Grill, Soul Cafe, and catering and food service at Temple Israel, the Jewish Community Center and the Michigan Design Center, all in Oakland County.

Moore did not buy the physical buildings from Dickson but took over management of the Epicurean Group of establishments and employees. The $1.3 million price included equipment and inventory, and the purchase came with an accounting team, human resources, marketing and vendor relationships.

The manager typically runs the restaurant operations, collects the revenue, pays the expenses and makes a payment to the owner, a percentage or a flat fee.

That same year, Conlan Abu separately purchased the Big Red Orchard on 32 Mile Road in Washington Township. The goal was to create a farm-to-table business and supply the restaurants with produce and meat from a passel of pigs from the orchard.

Big Red Orchard on 32 Mile Road in Washington Township, pictured here in July, 2019.

Moore, however, had no farming and restaurant business experience, according to records in a lawsuit Conlan Abu would later file in Oakland County Circuit Court against Dickson. (The lawsuit accused Dickson of selling Conlan Abu the restaurants and catering businesses without first getting the written consent of the owners of the buildings or kitchens to let the company take over management.)

The Epicurean Group unraveled in just seven months. Money was tight, key staff had left and there were issues with vendors, according to court records reviewed by the Free Press. In an email, sent to the staff just after midnight in mid-July, 2019, Moore said they were fired.

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Moore said in the email he was turning management of the businesses over to Dickson, who declined to take management of the restaurants back. They remained open with some employees staying on, either bringing in a new manager or taking over the operations themselves.

Moore's company continued to own and operate the orchard. And in May 2021, he used its address to apply for government money through the RRF.

Conlan Abu checked several boxes on its application for funds, telling the SBA it operated as a restaurant, snack bar, food truck, and caterer. It received about $5 million.

Overall, SBA grants were largely based on a business revenue in 2019, minus any receipts from 2020, the first year of the pandemic.

Yet in the four years that Conlan Abu owned the Big Red Orchard, its revenues totaled just $700,000, according to Moores testimony in an Oakland County lawsuit.

Conlan Abu sold the orchard in December 2022.

Moore testified in his court battle with Dickson that he used the financials from the restaurant group he abandoned in 2019 to receive the $5 million RRF grant.

He testified the application required him to submit his revenues from 2019. Thats when he turned to Dicksons records.

Using Mr. Dicksons accounting, bookkeeping, whatever you want to call it, we applied for  I believe our total revenue was like $5.3 million through July 20. So that, in addition to our tax returns from 2019 stating the revenue, is what gets submitted, Moore said.

Dickson's lawyer questioned the legitimacy of Moore's RRF application at trial.

The Restaurant Revitalization Act was designed to help restaurants who were suffering during the pandemic because they had to shut down for periods of time, said attorney Daniel Quick in his opening argument.

(Moore) got that $5 million because he claimed the restaurant revenues that existed in 2019, that of course, didnt occur in 2020 or 2021 because he shut them down in July of 2019. But the government ends up  he doesnt disclose that those were shut down and the government gives him $5 million.

But Moore said that he did disclose in his application that the Epicurean Group restaurants had closed and that he had two operating restaurants in 2020 and 2021: one at the orchard and the other was a food truck.

"We told them how many affiliates we had and we listed each legal entity, and then there's a box that says opened or closed," Moore testified.

Moore said there were no inaccuracies in his RRF application and he followed all the governments reporting requirements.

You have to create a report and track every dollar that you spend and then sent it back to the SBA, Moore testified.

Quick pressed Moore during the trial, saying "But those permanently closed locations didn't need  didn't suffer a revenue loss related to COVID-19, they suffered a revenue loss because on July 20, you sent an email firing everybody and shutting down operations."

The U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan filed an affidavit with the Oakland County Register of Deeds showing the feds may seize his home.

Filed in December 2022, the affidavit is essentially a lien against the house in Bloomfield Township that Moore and his wife purchased in September 2021 for $665,000.

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A spokesperson for the U.S. Attorney did not return a call from the Free Press.

The Free Press tried to ask Moore about the SBA grant, but he did not answer the door at the Bloomfield Township home in the spring of 2023 and did not return recent phone calls.

Moores lawyer, Christopher Cataldo, spoke briefly last year with the Free Press but didnt answer specific questions and did not return further calls for comment.

Jurors in Moores lawsuit against Dickson found in Moores favor and awarded him $1.1 million in damages in November 2022 stemming from their dispute over the sale of restaurant operations. Quick, Dicksons lawyer, declined comment.

Dickson has appealed the verdict to the Michigan Court of Appeals.

Restaurant owner returns government cash

Other businesses around Michigan also received what experts are calling questionable grants, including nearly $900,000 that went to a company tied to Brian Kramer, a well-known businessman who owns four Ferndale restaurants.

Kramer sold a Chesterfield Township restaurant in October 2019, about 19 months before he applied for and received the grant for that restaurant.

Businesses that were permanently closed were not eligible to apply for the RRF, unless actively working on opening, according to the SBA application.

The Chesterfield Township restaurant operated as Rosie OGradys on 23 Mile Road through Kramer's company, Chesterfield Good Times Food & Drink, for more than 10 years. Property records show he sold the building in October 2019 for $1.77 million.

Rosie O'Grady's in Chesterfield Township seen in October 2018.

In a brief interview in spring of last year, the Free Press asked Kramer about the Chesterfield Township grant. He said his company, Chesterfield Good Times Food & Drink, still files a tax return and does catering.

Its a catering business, operates out of a kitchen, a remote kitchen, he said.

Asked the location of the kitchen, and Kramer said: Its not important.

When Kramer initially filled out the relief funds application, which his attorney supplied to the Free Press, Kramer described it as both a restaurant and caterer. Kramer declined further comment.

Then in early May 2023, Kramers attorney, Fred Foley of Lake Orion, wrote in a letter to the Free Press saying that Kramer had repaid the federal government $659,298 that month. Thats the bulk of the $875,026 grant that the SBA awarded his company for the Chesterfield Township restaurant.

Foley said Kramer did not consider the business to be permanently closed because he had planned to find a new location, but the pandemic made it impossible to develop a path forward. Foley said Kramer considered using the Chesterfield business to do catering.

He said the remainder of the grant Kramer didnt return to the Treasury was used to reduce debt and other expenses. None went to Kramer, his relatives or other businesses, Foley said.

The SBA allowed recipients to use the money for debts dating to the start of the pandemic.

In an interview Monday, Foley said the SBA did a cursory audit of Kramer's Rosie's paperwork but was satisfied with his submissions. He said the SBA has had no further contact with Kramer, and has not requested additional information. He said Kramer considers the SBA's investigation "to be complete."

Another Kramer business, Ferndale Good Times Food & Drink, received $941,274 from the relief fund. The SBA awarded the grant on June 4, 2021, for the Rosie OGradys on Nine Mile in Ferndale. Kramer closed the restaurant later that same month.

Rosie OGradys is in the heart of busy downtown Ferndale and remains shuttered.

Rosie O'Grady's, a once bustling bar and restaurant sits vacant in the heart of Ferndale's downtown on Saturday, June 8, 2024. Pedestrians make their way past the empty and gutted restaurant.

In late May 2024, weeds around the building were waist-high, plywood and drywall draped some of the windows, and stone from the facade had fallen off. Broken stones filled a fire pit, while a single weed grew out of a second pit.

A sign on the front window, thanking a long list of people, including truck drivers, grocery store clerks and hospitality workers, was starting to peel off. A rusted chain padlocked a gate to the restaurants patio.

Kyle Bryce, senior planner for Ferndale, said Rosies has been cited four times since closing for violations, including grass and weeds, debris and graffiti.

Foley, the lawyer, said in an email to the Free Press a year ago that Kramers plans for the building included two new restaurants and enclosing part of the patio. Kramer had hired an architect and equipment engineer, and hoped to open in the first quarter of 2024 at the latest.

In the interview Monday, Foley said Kramer was still exploring possibilities for the Rosie's site.

Bryce, the citys senior planner, said Kramer told Ferndale officials earlier this year that he intended to develop a restaurant concept at the site.

No food service license. No problem.

The Free Press found two Detroit businesses that got tens of thousands in RRF grants despite not having licenses to prepare and serve food in the city when they sought the SBA grants and even as of spring 2024, according to the Detroit Health Department.

Located in a Detroit Riverfront Towers apartment, Boss Ladies of Detroit LLC got $260,881 as a caterer, according to SBA data.

But a spokeswoman with the Detroit Health Department said Boss Ladies has not had a food service license, a requirement for catering in Detroit.

Ayanna Williams-Jones is a member and organizer of Boss Ladies of Detroit, according to state records from 2018 and 2021, which list a different address on East Jefferson in Detroit. That building housed another business connected to Williams-Jones, Pedicure & Shoes 2 Go Day Spa.

Around the time of Free Press questions, the Detroit Health Department sent investigators in the fall of 2022 to the address in the Riverfront Towers apartment complex and the building on East Jefferson and, a spokeswoman said, the results of our investigation did not reveal any evidence of any catering business at either location.

Reached at the spa by the Free Press in spring 2023, Williams-Jones told the Free Press that Boss Ladies throws events at concerts, and we rent out the kitchen in order to be able to cook the food.

Ayanna Williams-Jones, owner of Pedicures & Shoes 2 Go on Oct. 26 in Detroit.

She said one such event was the Detroit Summer Fest at The Aretha Franklin Amphitheater. She also mentioned doing events at Bleu Detroit, a downtown Detroit nightclub.

We do different catering gigs, she said.

Williams-Jones said a food service license isnt necessary.

Im not supplying any drinks or anything like that so  I dont have to have actual catering licenses, she said.

According to the Detroit Health Department, a food service license is required in the city, regardless of whether alcohol is served.

Last year, Erica Banks, a spokeswoman for The Aretha Franklin Amphitheatre, said in an interview that Williams-Jones rented the venue for a performance in 2021. There was no catering, and the kitchen was not used, Banks said.

Aurelia Jaworski of Bleu Detroit said last year her club doesnt have a kitchen. She and her husband, Mitchell Jaworski, said its possible that Williams-Jones brought in food but they dont know where she may have done the cooking. They described Williams-Jones as a promoter who provides services for clubs, including go-go dancers.

A Free Press profile on Williams-Jones in January 2021 said she is a mother of six who manages a nail salon, entrepreneurial consulting firm, popular podcasts, and rental homes. At that time, the salon had a massage room in the back, and an empty space that was going to be used to display designer shoes.

Williams-Jones later told the Free Press the RRF grant helped her weather the pandemic.

Im actually with a client right now and really dont want to be in the paper, she said. A lot of things going on with the spa right now. I am focused on that right now.

The Free Press tried unsuccessfully to reach Williams-Jones again through calls and a letter.

A Free Press reporter stopped by the building on Monday but did not see any signs for the pedicure shop. The Free Press called the shop and got a recording for another company, Pure Relaxation.

Another address in the SBA list of recipients led the Free Press to a residential property on San Juan Drive in Detroit, home of BOSS SRV, which collected $200,000 for a restaurant.

BOSS SRV appears not to be connected to Boss Ladies.

The SBA awarded BOSS SRV the money on May 26, 2021. At that time, BOSS SRV told the SBA it was a limited liability company, SBA records show.

The woman who started the company, Camille Elam, however, didnt file paperwork to organize the limited liability company with the state until the next month, on June 14, 2021.

When the Free Press interviewed Elam in spring 2023, she said she was looking for a place to start a restaurant. And she said she had not yet spent the SBA money, with just nine days left to go.

The SBA told businesses they had to spend the grants by March 11, 2023, or return the money to the U.S. Treasury.

Were in a revitalization area where were trying to purchase property, where theyre revitalizing areas in Detroit, so that we can finally open a restaurant and also give back to the city in which were trying to operate, Elam said.

Asked whether she had a restaurant in 2021, when she applied for the RRF money, she said: We were serving plates, we were making plates from home and from church. She declined to name the church.

Elam said she didnt have a brick and mortar location but applied for RRF so she could get one so "we dont have to rent out commercial kitchens and we dont have to rent out small basements or we dont have to do a lot of catering in churches.

She said that part of the problem was that a lot of buildings are not being sold right now. They need to be updated. They need to be rezoned.

The Detroit Health Department said in June it had no record of any food license issued to BOSS SRV or to Elam at another address. Churches are not required to have licenses when cooking for their members.

Hookahs get aid, despite lack of food, drink

Seven hookah lounges around the state collected $534,000 from the RRF, according to the Free Press analysis. RRF was specifically designed to help business that serve food or drink, according to the SBA.

But because hookahs serve tobacco, state law prohibits these establishments from storing, preparing or serving food or drink, except for incidental amounts of prepackaged beverages.

State law is clear that an establishment cant be both a licensed food establishment and also be approved as a tobacco specialty retail store, according to a 2014 memo to local health departments from state officials spelling out the rules.

Nationwide, hookahs regulations vary with some states and municipalities allowing the businesses to serve food, unlike Michigan.

The SBA asked establishments that were seeking a grant to check one or more boxes on the application that best described their business. Six of the Michigan hookahs checked the box for bar, saloon, lounge and tavern.

One of the seven hookahs checked both restaurant and other. The SBA box for other states that it is a place of business in which the public or patrons assemble for the primary purpose of being served food or drink.

But that business, the Sahara Hookah Lounge on Fulton Street in Grand Rapids, did not have a food service license from Kent County as of last summer, according to a county spokesman.

It received nearly $66,000.

In a brief conversation with the Free Press in spring of last year, owner Shadi El-Zaghir said his accountant filed the paperwork and that he was not sure what grants we were given at the time.

El-Zaghir also operates a restaurant in Grand Rapids, Sahara Bistro, which did not get an RRF grant. He declined to identify his accountant.

According to local health departments, the six other hookah lounges that got RRF grants also do not have food service licenses.

The first R in the name of the fund is restaurant and its frustrating to see that businesses with no ties to food service licenses got grants, while some restaurants got nothing, said Justin Winslow, president and CEO of the Michigan Restaurant & Lodging Association .

The fact that someone without any food service license had the opportunity to get these dollars is a clear dereliction of duty by the SBA, Winslow said.

(Clarification: In an earlier version of this story, a statement about the intent of the Restaurant Revitalization Fund appeared to be attributed to attorney Christopher Cataldo, due to an editing error. Cataldo did not speak with the Free Press about the purpose of the federal grant program.)

Contact Jennifer Dixon: jbdixon@freepress.com. Contact Detroit Free Press food and restaurant writer Susan Selasky: sselasky@freepress.com. Follow @SusanMariecooks on X, formerly known as Twitter.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Free Press uncovers millions in questionable COVID-19 payouts to Michigan businesses
Iowa Workforce Development manages unemployment claims filed on behalf of Iowans. (Photo by Getty Images, logo courtesy the State of Iowa)

An Iowa nursing home worker who was fired for dismissing residents complaints of pain as mere drug-seeking behavior is not entitled to unemployment benefits, a judge has ruled.

Leann McVay, a state-licensed practical nurse, was employed by one of Iowas largest nursing home chains, Care Initiatives, until March 18 of this year when she was fired due to issues at Avoca Specialty Care where she worked, according to state records.

According to evidence presented by Care Initiatives at a recent hearing, the daughter of a resident at the Avoca facility contacted a supervisor at the home in March and complained about the care McVay was providing to her mother. After the supervisor told McVay to call the residents doctor for guidance, McVay allegedly responded that there was no need for that because the resident was drug seeking and only wanted pain medication the doctor would not provide, the company alleged.

The supervisor allegedly reminded McVay such decisions were for the doctor to make, not the nursing staff, and inquired as to whether McVay had examined the resident for signs of a yeast infection. According to Care Initiatives, McVay replied that she was not doing that and refused to make the assessment.

The residents doctor subsequently ordered that an anti-fungal medication be administered by the staff, but within minutes the residents daughter contacted the supervisor again  this time upset and crying. Care Initiatives alleged the daughter reported that when she inquired as to the doctors orders, McVay was unkind to her and rolled her eyes. The daughter indicated she did not want McVay to ever again provide care for her mother.

Around that time, another resident who was in pain and in tears allegedly went to the supervisor and complained about the care McVay was providing for her chronic pain. When McVay was asked whether she had contacted the womans doctor about the pain issue, McVay replied the resident was a junkie merely seeking access to pain medications the doctor wasnt likely to authorize, the company alleged.

According to Care Initiatives, McVay then refused a directive to contact the womans doctor, although the physician had previously warned the staff that the woman might be needing additional pain medications to treat a diagnosed medical condition.

McVay subsequently agreed to call the doctor, but allegedly reported back to her supervisors that the physician was out of the office and would not be back for a few days. She also was alleged to have made no effort to contact the on-call physician who was covering for the absent doctor.

Within days of those incidents, an overnight nurse at Avoca Specialty Care reported to the facility administrator that McVay had thrown a set of tube-feeding devices at her and asked whether she was f-ing blind due to her inability to locate the items, Care Initiatives claimed.

State records indicate that in February 2024, McVay was reprimanded in response to complaints made by another Care Initiatives facility, Atlantic Specialty Care. The complaints included an allegation that McVay had simply sat in the director of nursings chair for an hour while she was on the clock, as well as allegations that she was unavailable to assist the certified nursing assistants.

The company also alleged that in 2022, during the pandemic, McVay was disciplined for using her cell phone during work hours, having her protective mask pulled down while at the nurses station, and failing to assist aides with resident care.

After being fired, McVay sought unemployment benefits, which led to a hearing before Administrative Law Judge James Timberland.

After hearing evidence in the case, Timberland recently ruled McVay was not entitled to benefits due to workplace misconduct stemming from her callous disregard of residents and their needs. Timberland ordered McVay to repay the $841 in benefit already collected.

State records indicate McVays license is in good standing with the Iowa Board of Nursing, and that she has no history of any prior disciplinary action imposed by the board.

Other Iowans whose unemployment cases were recently decided include:

 Nichole Van Houten, who worked for the City of Bondurant as a communications and events coordinator until she resigned in April. Van Houten had allegedly posted a message on Facebook seeking comments in support of her professional growth and asking her followers to voice support of parks and recreation  a city department she hoped shed soon be leading  by providing feedback.

After the post was published online, City Administrator Marketa Oliver mistakenly sent an email to Van Houten that contained written notes surrounding Olivers personal thoughts as to terminating Van Houtens employment with the city. Oliver then met with Van Houten and told her she had violated policies prohibiting the use of social media during work hours and that her social media post was self-serving. She was given the choice of resigning or being fired, and chose the former. An administrative law judge recently awarded Van Houten benefits, finding that the city had not proven workplace misconduct.

 Stephanie Coble-Day, who worked as the school principal for Community Christian School of Fort Dodge until her dismissal in March for allegedly failing to properly complete numerous applications for program funding, failing to properly report a threat of gun violence, and fostering a negative work environment.

Her employer also accused Coble-Day of using a grant to secure large procurements of supplies for the school that teachers did not want and which served no immediate, legitimate purpose. She denied the allegations and argued the threat she had failed to report was a 5-year-old child who was mimicking information heard on a television show. An administrative law judge recently awarded Coble-Day benefits, finding that Community Christian School had not proven workplace misconduct.

The post Iowa care facility nurse fired for callous disregard of residents needs appeared first on Iowa Capital Dispatch.
KYODO NEWS - Jun 12, 2024 - 09:41 | All, World, Japan

Hiroshi Tamon, a deaf Japanese civil rights lawyer, was elected Tuesday to serve as an independent expert on the U.N. Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

"I'm feeling very happy that I won, however burdened with this very large undertaking," Tamon, 57, told Kyodo News after the vote through a sign language interpreter.

Tamon is one of nine experts newly elected to serve on the 18-member committee for a term of four years starting in January 2025.

Besides Tamon, experts nominated by Brazil, the Dominican Republic, the European Union, Jamaica, Mongolia, Morocco, Nigeria and Uruguay were also elected.

The panel meets in Geneva to monitor the implementation of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities that has been signed by 180 U.N. members including Japan.

"I want to start dialogues and keep those dialogues open," Tamon said. "And with those dialogues, I would like to also connect to each country's organization for people with disabilities."

Tamon, who was born in Fukushima and works at a law firm in Tokyo, has been deaf since birth.

He said he was inspired to seek the position after his experience during the massive earthquake and tsunami that devastated northeastern Japan in March 2011.

Noting that during the disaster his friends with disabilities in the northeastern Japan city faced difficulties accessing information about where to evacuate or shelter, Tamon said he wanted to encourage countries to adopt international best practices for disaster preparedness.

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Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al Thani, Qatar's prime minister and foreign minister, listens to a question with U.S. Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken in Doha, Qatar, in October 2023. (Jacquelyn Martin / Pool Photo)

The United Nations Security Council's unanimous endorsement of a U.S. cease-fire proposal in Gaza has buoyed hopes that the devastating, eight-month-old war might come to an end.

On Tuesday, the militant group Hamas issued its long-awaited, formal response, presenting several amendments to Qatari and Egyptian mediators.

But despite intense urging from the U.S. and other world powers, both Israel and Hamas still seem at odds over what they are willing to agree to  differences that could doom the deal.

The plan  which is similar to one submitted by Hamas weeks ago and was presented by President Biden on May 31 as an Israeli proposal  comprises three phases.

Read more: Biden vs. Trump: Where they stand on Israel, Palestinians, Middle East

The first phase includes a six-week cease-fire and the release of 33 Israeli hostages, including women, men over age 50 or those who are ill or wounded. For every hostage, Israel would release 30 to 50 Palestinian detainees.

Israeli troops would also withdraw from populated parts of the Gaza Strip, according to the U.N. Security Council resolution, and allow displaced civilians to return home, including to northern Gaza. Humanitarian aid, including food and medicine for Palestinians, would increase significantly.

While the first phase is being implemented, negotiations would continue for the second phase. That would see the full withdrawal of Israel's military, including from the Rafah crossing and the Philadelphi Corridor between Gaza and Egypt. More hostages and detainees would be exchanged. It would also lead to a permanent cease-fire.

In the third phase, the bodies of hostages who died in Gaza would be returned. A multiyear reconstruction plan for the enclave would commence.

The U.N. resolution rejects any demographic or territorial change in Gaza, including any actions that reduce the Palestinian territory. That has been the U.S. position as well. The language differs from a previous draft, which said that any buffer zones created in Gaza would be considered territorial change.

An important detail is that the cease-fire would remain in place between Phase 1 and Phase 2 while negotiations continue, even after the six weeks envisioned in the first phase are over.

Hamas said its proposed amendments were aimed at guaranteeing the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from all of Gaza. It also sought a firmer timeline for the cease-fire, including a permanent end to the fighting, which according to the U.S. plan is supposed to be implemented during Phase 2, after more negotiations.

Read more: In Europe, even if 'center is holding,' far right ascends

Nevertheless, Hamas insisted both it and Islamic Jihad, another militant group operating in Gaza, "voiced willingness to deal positively" with the negotiations "in order to reach an agreement."

Hamas leaders remain suspicious that Israel will use an initial acceptance of the proposal to free Israeli hostages being held by the militants  a stipulation in the first phase of the deal  and then renege on the rest of the deal and resume its military campaign.

Despite U.S. assurances to the contrary, it remains unclear whether Israel has accepted the deal.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has not publicly endorsed it, repeatedly ruling out a permanent cease-fire or a withdrawal from Gaza until Israel's goals  the destruction of Hamas, both militarily and as a governing entity  are fulfilled. Full withdrawal is a step that is supposed to be part of negotiations.

Netanyahu is also facing dissent within his government that could jeopardize the chances of a deal. His political fortunes became more tenuous this week after the Israeli centrist politician Benny Gantz left the government in protest over Netanyahu's conduct of the war and refusal to publicly endorse the cease-fire plan.

The departure of Gantz, a former defense minister and one of the few members of Netanyahu's government widely respected by the Biden administration, leaves the Israeli prime minister even more beholden to the most radical right-wing elements in his coalition: National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich, the finance minister.

The two have outsized sway over control of the Israeli occupation of the West Bank. Both favor annexation of land claimed by Palestinians, including Gaza, and the forced removal of some Palestinians. Gantz's presence kept some of those moves at bay.

On Wednesday, U.S. Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken criticized Hamas, saying that it took too long to respond and that some of the group's "numerous changes" were "workable," while others were not.

"Hamas could have answered with a single word: yes," Blinken said in a news conference in the Qatari capital, Doha, with Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al Thani. "Instead, Hamas waited nearly two weeks and requested numerous changes."

"The time for decision is now," Blinken said. "The longer this goes on, the more people will suffer."

Blinken is making his eighth trip to the region since the war began, shuttling to capitals to push for the release of hostages, more humanitarian aid and a cease-fire, and in a largely unsuccessful attempt to urge Israel to minimize civilian casualties in its bombardments of Gaza.

More than 36,000 Gazans have been killed in the war, according to Palestinian figures. About 1,200 Israelis were killed during the Oct. 7 Hamas attack in southern Israel.

Mohammed, the Qatari prime minister, said that pressure would have to be exerted on both Hamas and Israel to accept the proposal.

"It is frustrating, lots of times. We have seen the behavior from both parties on different occasions being counterproductive to the efforts," he said, emphasizing that the primary aim was for a permanent solution, including the establishment of an independent Palestinian state alongside Israel.

"What we are aiming for is one specific goal is to end the war, to end the suffering of the people, to get the hostages back. And then we will think about the day after."

Bulos reported from Amman and Wilkinson from Washington.

Get the L.A. Times Politics newsletter. Deeply reported insights into legislation, politics and policy from Sacramento, Washington and beyond, in your inbox three times per week.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
The Iran-backed Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, a Hamas ally, fired around 160 projectiles at Israel Wednesday after Israel killed one of its top commanders, Taleb Sami Abdullah, on Tuesday, the Israel Defense Forces said.

Hezbollah militants and Israeli forces have exchanged fire across Israel's northern border with Lebanon almost every day since the Oct. 7 Hamas attack, which sparked the ongoing war with Hamas in Gaza. Hezbollah says it will only stop firing rockets into Israel if there is a cease-fire in Gaza.

Hezbollah said it fired missiles and rockets at two Israeli military bases in retaliation for the Israeli strike on a house about six miles from Israel's northern border, inside Lebanon, that killed Abdullah, 55, and three other Hezbollah officials who were meeting there, The Associated Press reported. Abdullah was in charge of Hezbollah's military operations along the central region of the Lebanon-Israel border, a Hezbollah official told the Reuters news agency.

What is Hezbollah and what does Lebanon have to do with the Israel-Hamas war?

There have been fears for months that the war between Israel and Hamas could escalate into a wider regional conflict. Like Hamas and several other groups operating in the region, Hezbollah is supported by Iran. Both groups have long been designated as terrorist organizations by the U.S., Israel and the European Union, but Hezbollah is considered a far better organized and better equipped fighting force.

Israeli strikes have killed at least 400 people in Lebanon since Hamas launched its Oct. 7 terrorist attack on Israel, including 70 non-combatants, according to The Associated Press. In Israel, officials say 15 soldiers and 10 civilians have been killed in the north by the Hezbollah fire.

Tens of thousands of people have been displaced from their homes on either side of the border as a result of the violence. Hezbollah has said it isn't seeking a full-scale war with Israel, but the intensity and scope of the cross-border attacks has increased in recent weeks.

Last week, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned that Israel was prepared to mount an "extremely powerful" response to continuing attacks from Hezbollah during a visit to the border area, and Israel has increased the number of reservists it can call up from 50,000 to around 350,000, the Guardian newspaper reported.

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Israel has killed its most senior Hezbollah commander since the Oct 7 Hamas attack, prompting the Lebanon-based terror group to retaliate with a barrage of up to 160 rockets.

The militants response, one of the largest attacks in the escalating conflict on Israels border with Lebanon, targeted the city of Tiberias for the first time.

It was largely intercepted by Israels sophisticated Iron Dome air defence system.

No injuries have been reported so far as sirens wailed across Mount Meron and the Upper Galilee, urging citizens to seek cover.

However, several new blazes were reported in an area that has already seen widespread bushfires caused by rockets.

Members of Hezbollah carry the coffin of Taleb Abdallah, also known as Abu Taleb, - Mohamed Azakir/REUTERS

Taleb Abdullah, also known as Abu Taleb, was killed in an alleged Israeli strike on Tuesday night - AFP

Hezbollah said it targeted several military sites in response to the killing of Taleb Abdullah, also known as Abu Taleb, in an alleged Israeli strike on Tuesday night on the southern Lebanese town of Jouaiyaa, nine miles from the border.

He had been identified by security sources as the terror groups commander for the central region of the southern border strip.

He is the most senior commander to have been killed in the ongoing exchange of fire between the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and Hezbollah over the past eight months.

The intensifying conflict in northern Israel comes as the US, Egypt and Qatar examine the response by Hamas to a proposed ceasefire deal.

Hamas submitted its formal response to the US-backed three-stage truce deal late on Tuesday night, calling it a positive response that opened a wide pathway to reach an agreement, but Israel said it was tantamount to a rejection.

Escalating conflict

Hezbollah has said it will not withdraw from the Lebanon border until the war in Gaza is over.

Although both sides of the Israel-Lebanon border have so far kept a lid on the conflict, the increasing frequency of rocket attacks and use of heavier weapons has fuelled fears of a major regional war.

Some 60,000 Israelis have been forced to evacuate their homes in the worst-affected areas, and about 100,000 Lebanese civilians, including many farmers, have also been displaced from the border region.

Israels air defence shield has been able to withstand most incoming fire, but slow-moving explosive drones have proven more difficult to block.

These are not fireworks to celebrate the holiday of Shavuot. These are our aerial defense systems defending our civilians against a barrage of Hezbollah rockets in northern Israel. pic.twitter.com/Z6hoGDvpT8  Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) June 11, 2024

On Tuesday evening, the IDF released a video of terrified Israeli families grabbing their children and running for shelter during a festival to celebrate the holiday of Shavuot as blasts destroyed incoming missiles overhead.

These are not fireworks to celebrate the holiday of Shavuot. These are our aerial defence systems defending our civilians against a barrage of Hezbollah rockets in northern Israel, the IDF said on its X account.

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Israeli special forces disguised themselves as displaced Gazans to infiltrate a refugee camp and rescue 4 hostages, reports say

Israeli special forces rescued four hostages in Gaza by posing as displaced Gazans, reports said.

Israel's elite Yamam unit took part in the operation, and one of its officers was killed.

The raid resulted in 274 Palestinian deaths in the Nuseirat camp, said Gaza authorities.

Israeli special forces liberated four hostages held by militants in Gaza by disguising themselves as displaced Palestinians, reports said.

Two Israeli security sources confirmed to ABC News that Israeli soldiers posed as refugees from Rafah to carry out the rescue mission on Saturday.

According to residents interviewed by the Saudi Arabian-owned Asharq news channel, male and female Israeli soldiers impersonated Palestinian refugees from Rafah to infiltrate the Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza, per The Times of Israel.

They arrived in a white vehicle with mattresses. When questioned by residents, the disguised soldiers who spoke Arabic claimed they were fleeing the IDF's offensive in the south of Gaza, said the Saudi report.

They pointed out apartments where hostage Noa Argamani was held which they claimed they had rented, witnesses told Asharq news channel. Three other hostages  Andrey Kozlov, Shlomi Ziv, and Almog Meir Jan  were detained in a building nearby.

The Israeli sources who spoke to ABC News confirmed the disguised soldiers used the cover-story that they were looking for a place to live.

BBC News spoke to a witness who said the Israelis came in a truck filled with furniture.

"Suddenly, special forces came out of it and started shooting," Isaam Jameel Arouqi told BBC News.

Eye witnesses told CNN that some Israeli soldiers were also dressed as Hamas fighters.

L: Civil defense teams and locals investigate the rubble after Israeli attacks on Nuseirat camp in Gaza on June 08, 2024. R: Noa Argamani embraces her father after Israeli forces rescued four hostages from the central Gaza Strip, on June 8, 2024. L: Anadolu/Getty Images R: Israeli Army/Handout via REUTERS

The hostage rescuers included the elite Yamam counter-terrorism unit, and one of its officers was killed in the operation.

Yamam, which is part of Israel's Border Police, was supported by the special forces troops of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). Intelligence from US sources was also used in the raid, The New York Times reported.

The four hostages were among 40 people kidnapped by Hamas from the Nova music festival on October 7, where at least 260 people were massacred.

Noa Argamani's abduction went viral when she was taken hostage via motorbike eight months ago.

Meanwhile, Hamas-run Gaza's Health Ministry said at least 274 Palestinians in the Nuseirat refugee camp were killed during the operation, AP News reports.

The IDF said it launched an air attack when the hostage-rescue mission came under fire from gunmen, some armed with rocket-propelled grenades, AP said

In January, Israeli soldiers dressed as medics entered a hospital in Jenin on the West Bank and killed three alleged Palestinian militants.

The strategy of disguise used in the Gaza rescue raid echoed the Israeli political thriller series "Fauda." The hit Netflix show portrayed Arabic-speaking undercover agents impersonating locals to infiltrate West Bank Palestinian militant groups planning attacks on Israelis.

The creators of "Fauda" are developing a film about the events of October 7.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Supporters of pro-Iranian Hezbollah raise hands as they bid farewell to the coffin of party commander Taleb Abdallah during his funeral in Beirut southern suburbs. Abdallah, aka Abu Taleb, who was killed in an overnight Israeli air raid in south Lebanon, is the most senior leader of Hezbollah to be killed in eight months of deadly border fighting with Israel. Marwan Naamani/ZUMA Press Wire/dpa

A senior commander from the pro-Iranian Hezbollah movement was killed in an Israeli strike overnight in southern Lebanon, security sources said Wednesday, as Lebanon responded with massive airstrikes.

Taleb Abdallah and three Hezbollah fighters were killed in the Israeli drone strike on a house in the southern town of Jwaya, sources said.

Hezbollah said the commander's funeral will be held later in Beirut's southern suburbs, a stronghold of support for the movement.

Hezbollah referred to Taleb as a commander, but did not give his rank.

Lebanese security sources said Taleb was the head of the so-called al-Nasr Brigade in Hezbollah, which is responsible for military operations in the central sector of south Lebanon.

Lebanese local media said he is one of the highest-ranking officers to be killed after Wissam al-Tawil, another senior Hezbollah commander who was killed in January by Israel in Majdel al-Selim in south Lebanon.

There was initially no information about the incident from the Israeli army.

The Israeli army said Wednesday around 90 rockets have been fired from Lebanon into northern Israel. Some of these were intercepted by the missile defence system, while others hit several locations in northern Israel.

A number of fires broke out. According to the police, all of the missiles fell in uninhabited areas. There were no reports of casualties.

Supporters of pro-Iranian Hezbollah carry the coffin of party commander Taleb Abdallah during his funeral in Beirut southern suburbs. Abdallah, aka Abu Taleb, who was killed in an overnight Israeli air raid in south Lebanon, is the most senior leader of Hezbollah to be killed in eight months of deadly border fighting with Israel. Marwan Naamani/ZUMA Press Wire/dpa
The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has found evidence of two giant asteroids slamming into each other in a nearby star system. The colossal collision ejected 100,000 times more dust than the impact that killed the dinosaurs .

The violent impact occurred recently in Beta Pictoris, a star system located 63 light-years away in the constellation Pictoris.

Beta Pictoris is a baby compared to our own solar system  having existed for only 20 million years compared with our system's venerable 4.5 billion years. It was first detected in 1983 by NASA's Infrared Astronomical Satellite (IRAS) spacecraft and is thought to have formed from the shockwave of a nearby supernova.

While the young star system currently contains at least two gas giant planets it has no known rocky worlds like our own. But rocky inner planets may be in the process of forming, thanks to large dust-producing collisions like the one spotted by JWST, the researchers behind the new findings said in a June 10 presentation at the 244th Meeting of the American Astronomical Society in Madison, Wisconsin.

Because it is still very young, the star system's circumstellar debris disk  the vast ring of gas and dust surrounding the star  is a significantly more violent place than our own, making it the perfect place for astronomers to study the tumultuous early years of planet-forming systems. The team added that their findings could offer a rare insight into the history of our own solar system.

"Beta Pictoris is at an age when planet formation in the terrestrial planet zone is still ongoing through giant asteroid collisions, so what we could be seeing here is basically how rocky planets and other bodies are forming in real time," lead study author Christine Chen , an astronomer at Johns Hopkins University, said in a statement .

Related: James Webb telescope spots wind blowing faster than a bullet on '2-faced planet' with eternal night

snapshots 20 years apart of the same area around the star called Beta Pictoris

To capture a snapshot of the distant asteroid crash, the astronomers trained JWST's powerful eye on the system and found that giant masses of clumped silicate dust spotted by the Spitzer Space Telescope between 2004 and 2005 had completely disappeared.

This means that, sometime 20 years ago, a gigantic collision between two asteroids likely occurred, pounding the bodies into vast quantities of dust with particles smaller than pollen or powdered sugar, Chen said.

"With Webb's new data, the best explanation we have is that, in fact, we witnessed the aftermath of an infrequent, cataclysmic event between large asteroid-size bodies, marking a complete change in our understanding of this star system," Chen said.

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The researchers suggest their findings will help astronomers to better understand how the architecture of star systems is constructed, and how often habitable systems like our own come into being.

"The question we are trying to contextualize is whether this whole process of terrestrial and giant planet formation is common or rare, and the even more basic question: Are planetary systems like the solar system that rare?" study co-author Kadin Worthen, a doctoral student in astrophysics at Johns Hopkins University, said in the statement. "We're basically trying to understand how weird or average we are."
KYODO NEWS - Jun 12, 2024 - 09:08 | All, World

The United States will announce an "impactful set" of additional sanctions and export control actions against Russia as part of efforts to deprive the Kremlin of resources used to sustain its invasion of Ukraine, the White House said Tuesday.

White House national security spokesman John Kirby told reporters that the Group of Seven's commitment to Ukraine will also continue to be "right up front and clear" and it will take "bold steps" to show Russian President Vladimir Putin that "time is not on his side."

Kirby refrained from providing details, but added that new actions to be taken by the world's leading industrialized democracies will include unlocking the value of frozen Russian assets to benefit Ukraine and help the country recover from the war's destruction.

At the group's summit this year in southern Italy, starting Thursday, a major topic will be how best to use the interest earned by the immobilized Russian assets to aid Ukraine.

Diplomatic sources have said the G7 members, including Britain, Japan and the United States, are finalizing arrangements to establish a fund to support Ukraine.

As for the upcoming U.S. sanctions, Kirby said they will follow through on some of the commitments G7 leaders have made to date, making it more difficult for financial facilitators to support Russia's defense industrial base.

On the sidelines of the three-day summit at a luxurious hotel in the southern Italian region of Puglia, U.S. President Joe Biden will sit down with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to discuss Washington's next steps for the war-torn country, he said.

The bilateral meeting, followed by a joint press conference by the two presidents, is scheduled for Thursday, according to Kirby.

He said that during the G7 summit, the leaders will also advance efforts toward an Indo-Pacific region that is "free, open, secure, prosperous, resilient and connected," and discuss China's deepening ties with Russia as well as Beijing's non-market policies that are triggering "harmful global spillovers."

Related coverage:

G7 to condemn deepening Russia-N. Korea military ties at Italy summit

Japan PM mulls talks with Ukraine's Zelenskyy next week

G7 leaders to vow to promote responsible use of AI in military field
Japan's prime Mount Fuji views are so prized, a Japanese developer is destroying a nearly complete apartment building to keep complaining neighbors happy

Japanese property developer Sekisui House is planning to demolish one of its newest developments.

The decision came after neighbors complained that it blocked their view of Mount Fuji.

Japan's also erected mesh barriers to try to deter tourists from flocking to Mount Fuji hot spots.

First, Japan erected an eight-foot mesh barrier in front of a popular spot in the resort town of Fujikawaguchiko, where tourists flock to take pictures of Mount Fuji.

Then it announced plans to build a tall, anti-tourist metal fence at another popular photo spot, the Mount Fuji Dream Bridge.

The quest to preserve these pristine views, however, just got more intense  a Japanese property developer has decided to knock down its nearly-finished 10-storied condominium after neighbors complained that it would block their view of the snowy peak.

The Grand Maison Kunitachi Fujimi Dori condominium, built by developer Sekisui House, is located in western Tokyo, in an area famous for its views of the country's highest mountain. The building is located on Fujimi Street, a picturesque viewing street.

A spokesperson for the developer told Business Insider that the company first tried to appease irate neighbors by changing the design of the building  but that didn't pan out.

"After continuous info sessions with local residents and Kunitachi City, we made design changes such as changing the building from 11 stories to 10 stories and lowering the building height," the spokesperson said.

However, the developer eventually decided to knock the building down entirely.

"We have concluded that the current situation has a significant impact on the landscape, and have come to the conclusion that the despair from Fujimi Street is a priority, and have independently decided to cancel this project," Sekisui House said in the statement on Tuesday.

The condominium comprised 18 housing units, priced from around $445,000 to $646,000, per the report by Bloomberg.

Its tenants were due to move into the condominium in a month's time, per Bloomberg.

A spokesperson for the developer told Bloomberg that the company would compensate its apartment buyers and assist them with finding housing if required.

That said, Japan's efforts to prevent Fuji-hunting tourists from creating a nuisance for the locals have been aggressive  but travelers yearning for the perfect picture have found ways to foil these plans.

For one, the authorities found about 10 finger-sized holes in the mesh in Fujikawaguchiko just a week after the barrier went up.

June 13, 2:36 a.m. This story has been updated with responses from a Sekisui House spokesperson.

Read the original article on Business Insider
JCPS is offering teachers raises in their next union contract. Here's how much

Teacher Malachi Cambron checks on students work while they build a tower at Echo Trail Middle School Wednesday morning, Aug. 9, 2023.

Teachers in Kentucky's largest school district could see a pay bump next year, if members of the Jefferson County Teachers Association agree to the latest contract negotiations with Jefferson County Public Schools.

The contract has been approved by the union's board, and members will vote on it electronically this week, JCTA President Maddie Shepherd said. The proposed contract outlines a 5% raise over the next two years, along with a new paid parental leave program.

If approved, teachers, along with most other certified staff members, will see a 2% pay increase for the 2024-2025 school year and a 3% increase the following year.

"We were really pleased with what we were able to bargain for this go-around," Shepherd said of the raises.

The state budget that passed this year did not give districts funding specifically for raises and districts will no longer receive federal COVID-19 funds.

"Our teachers always deserve more, but funding is limited right now," Shepherd said.

Contact Krista Johnson at kjohnson3@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: JCPS offers teachers raises in next union contract
TRENTON, N.J.  No matter how difficult the conversation may be, New Jersey lawmakers are looking for new tools to prevent teen suicides.

A new bill, sponsored in part by Assemblyman Benjie Wimberly, looks to do just that.

More Local News

The importance, unfortunately, is to remove the stigma that you cant talk about suicide, said Wimberly (D-NJ 35th District). The mental health aspect of this is paramount for us to address whats the best practice and whats the best studies to prevent suicide.

If passed into law, each NJ hospital would be required to create an annual report of the number of suicides and attempted and completed suicides involving minors, in which a drug is used. The hospitals would be required to report demographic information and what drug was used.

The reports would be sent to the New Jersey Poison Control Center at Rutgers, which would then submit a report to the Governors desk and the Legislature.

Unfortunately, this has been taboo, particularly in many minority communities, said Wimberly. Nobody wants to talk about somebody trying to commit suicide or thinking about committing suicide or having those discussions.

New Jersey officials seek to improve living standards for seniors

According to the CDC, suicide is the second leading cause of death for youths ages 10 to 24.

Weve seen an increase of suicides unfortunately that have been completed by young folks and attempts over the years, said Wimberly.

Working with Assemblyman Herb Conaway on the bill, Wimberly says the data compiled from these reports would give lawmakers information they didnt have before.

This bill is really targeted towards teens and hopefully will work towards the prevention, with us having the knowledge of what triggers it, what is the drug, what is the demographic that is most at risk when it comes to suicide attempts, said Wimberly, so all of these things will definitely work in our favor as far as prevention.

The bill is set to be discussed in committee on Thursday.

Suicide prevention and mental health resources for those in need

If you or someone you know is considering suicide, call the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988. It is a free, 24/7 service that offers support, information, and local resources. You can also click here for additional hotlines within your state.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11.
Steven Fulop spent years engaged in New Jerseys boss-driven machine politics. Now hes waging war against the machine as he tries to win the states highest office.

The Jersey City mayor is battling the states unique and highly influential county party system, which gives local party leaders the power to effectively select candidates of their choosing in primaries. If hes successful, it could be the death knell for the once-legendary political machinery that has dictated New Jerseys political future for decades  and has already been weakened significantly over the last six months thanks to a lawsuit driven by Democratic Rep. Andy Kim.

The boss system will never be the same in New Jersey. And some people are reluctant to accept this, but that's just the truth  that the damage has been done, Fulop said in an interview. What you're going to see is a cleansing of the system of elected officials over the next two, three years.

Fulop has been aggressive in his bid  far from the rule-following early front-runner he played in 2017, when he bowed out of the governors race without officially entering it. He has been taunting Democratic Party leaders on social media and in court. He publicly defected from the Senate campaign of the governors wife and endorsed Kim, her rival. Hes trying to recruit fresh blood to politics, and hes issuing policy papers with the hope that he will win over New Jersey voters directly.

That has him racking up the enemies here, no doubt about it, said Michael Suleiman, the Democratic chair in Atlantic County. He has nothing to lose.

Its shaping up to be a new era for New Jersey politics, where party leaders are weakened and long-shot candidates stand a chance.

Fulop is not the only candidate for governor flouting conventions, highlighting the vulnerability of the Democratic Party machine after Kim upended the system with his bid for the states open Senate seat and became the partys nominee. Newark Mayor Ras Baraka has described state leaders as too afraid to see through progressive policies and urged Gov. Phil Murphy to veto a public records reform bill that he called anti-democratic and a step backwards after Murphy signed it June 5.



Baraka also called for the permanent end of New Jerseys so-called county line, the ballot design that effectively gives local party leaders the ability to pick candidates and increase their odds of winning by putting them together on ballots.

Kim scored a state-changing victory in court earlier this year, when a federal judge ruled that the party-line system likely violated the Constitution, scrapping it for the June Democratic Senate primary while the case continues.

The other declared Democratic gubernatorial candidate, former state Senate President Steve Sweeney, has kept a low profile since announcing his candidacy in December. And another anticipated candidate, Rep. Josh Gottheimer, has embraced the line system and is likely to contend with Sweeney for the partys more centrist path.

At times, Fulops unorthodox approach has seemed prescient.

Months before a grassroots revolt helped kill the line  at least temporarily  in the Democratic Senate primary, he was the most prominent elected official to say it should go. And he publicly bashed New Jersey first lady Tammy Murphy in her flailing Senate run and endorsed Kim less than a week before she dropped out of the primary.

That is not to say the 47-year-old mayor of New Jerseys second-largest city is driving political or policy decisions  and Fulops growing number of critics view him more like a broken clock thats right twice a day than some fortune teller.

Its a drastic turn for someone who until recently played by all the rules of Jersey politics and says he abandoned a much-anticipated run for governor in 2017 because of them. Fulop vaulted to statewide prominence in 2013 when, as a young City Council member, he upset incumbent Jersey City Mayor Jerramiah Healy, who had the support of then-President Barack Obama and Sen. Cory Booker.



Then Fulop immersed himself in New Jerseys machine politics. He awarded city contracts to politically connected firms in counties that could boost his anticipated bid for governor in 2017. When he was laying the groundwork for that run, he did what many would-be candidates do and donated nearly $350,000 to state and local Democratic Party organizations around the state, according to campaign finance records.

Thats because securing the county line in primary elections has been crucial for any candidate, particularly one for governor. Phil Murphy, for example, kept Fulop out of the 2017 race because hed spent heavily on the parties and secured every county line.

I spent a lot of time with the traditional political structure in New Jersey, and that ended up proving to be my demise, Fulop said. I said to myself that if I ever got a second chance at this, I would do it my way.

But even after he announced his 2025 gubernatorial run in 2023, Fulop courted party bosses and touted the endorsements of Democratic Party chairs in Hudson and Warren counties. So Fulop saying in October that the line is undemocratic and that hed seek to end it if elected comes across as hypocritical and opportunistic to Democratic insiders with intimate knowledge of him courting party leaders support.

His politics are very clear  its Steve-focused, said a Democratic operative who has known Fulop for many years and was granted anonymity to speak candidly.

Anthony Vainieri, who recently left as Hudson County Democratic chair and is backing Fulop, said Fulop is taking a different approach to running for governor that could pay off.

Hes reaching out to the people that maybe never voted before, they dont like the politics of the line and the organizations, Vainieri said. You could say, yes, hes not making friends with some of the chairs. But he may be getting more people in the county that respect him.

At any other point in the last century, Fulops candidacy would likely be dead on arrival because he picked a fight with some of the biggest party bosses who effectively control their county lines. Multiple studies have shown the line has reliably delivered for party-backed candidates, with one showing it gave them a 38 percentage point advantage.

But Kims lawsuit changed that calculus, raising questions of whether the line can survive long term, and giving candidates like Fulop who dont have strong party support a much better chance to win.

Fulop said hes going to be more than competitive in every corner of New Jersey regardless of whether the line exists in 2025 and one element of his campaign is to recruit reform-minded candidates for the state Legislature and local offices because wholesale change is needed at the moment.

Fulop called the line undemocratic before Kims lawsuit, and later argued in favor of Kims lawsuit in a brief. In doing so, he took aim at Middlesex County Democratic Organization Chair Kevin McCabe, one of the most influential party leaders in the state.



After the judge ruled in favor of Kim and ordered new ballot designs, Fulop called out another immensely powerful leader: LeRoy Jones Jr., chair of the Democratic State Committee and the Democratic Party in Essex County, whose support is typically crucial to any governor hopeful. Fulop criticized the new design in deep-blue Essex, where Newark is located, saying it was a manipulation of the intent of the court.

His defection from the Tammy Murphy Senate campaign was an even rarer and more audacious move. Hed grown publicly critical of how she handled her campaign as she faced intense backlash from a segment of the Democratic base that felt she embodied New Jerseys machine politics. Then he rescinded his endorsement and backed Kim instead, issuing a statement saying Murphy should leave the race. She did, six days later, though a person familiar with the campaigns strategy said Fulop was a non-factor.

Fulop was also early on two significant policy issues  a corporate tax surcharge to help pay for New Jersey Transit and an overhaul to the states affordable housing rules  weeks or months before Murphy backed similar proposals.

One of the housing overhauls prime sponsors, Sen. Troy Singleton, said lawmakers have spent several years trying to reform the system and pointed out that some of Fulops ideas arent new. But whether people agree with him or not, Fulops engagement in the campaign has shaped the discourse in the gubernatorial election.

He's staked out a position on a whole host of things and said, Here's what I believe in, Singleton said. I'm hopeful that others will do the same.
Police watch the crowds on the boardwalk in Ocean City, N.J., on Memorial Day weekend, Sunday, May 26, 2024. On Wednesday, May 29, New Jerseys statewide police union called for changes in laws and policies governing police interactions with disorderly young people following disturbances that led to the temporary closure of the boardwalk in Wildwood, and the stabbing of a 15-year-old boy in Ocean City. (Elizabeth Robertson/The Philadelphia Inquirer via AP)

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (AP)  Parents should be held civilly or criminally responsible for the actions of their children that create disturbances or damage in public places, a group of New Jersey police chiefs and Republican lawmakers said Wednesday during a forum held after a second consecutive year of disturbances at some Jersey Shore boardwalks over Memorial Day weekend.

The disturbances included the stabbing of a teenager in Ocean City, and waves of unruly young people that prompted the city of Wildwood to shut down its boardwalk overnight.

The panel consisted solely of Republican state and local legislators, whose party has blamed juvenile justice reforms enacted in recent years under the administration of Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy for creating an atmosphere of lawlessness and disrespect for law enforcement among teens and young adults who feel there are no consequences for their behavior.

The changes included restrictions on what officers could say or do to juveniles suspected of underage drinking or marijuana use.

State Republicans did not respond to messages asking which, if any, Democratic lawmakers were invited to participate in the online forum.

Democrats said the reforms were necessary to keep young people out of the criminal justice system. But numerous law enforcement officials and the statewide police union say the measures have handcuffed officers in dealing with unruly young people.

The juveniles and their parents should be held accountable, said Ocean City Police Chief William Campbell. The entire juvenile justice system needs to be reformed.

Campbell cited a recent instance in which a disruptive young person was taken into custody and held at the police station while his parents were called, a tactic recommended under the juvenile reforms in lieu of arrests in some situations. Six hours later, the youth's parents still had not come to the station, so Ocean City police contacted police in the youth's hometown, who went there to speak with the parents.

The mother was annoyed that she had to come to Ocean City, Campbell said. You tell me she should not be held accountable.

The governor's office declined comment, and the attorney general's office did not respond to requests for comment Wednesday. A spokeswoman for the leadership of the Democrat-controlled state Assembly declined comment, while a Senate counterpart did not respond to a request for comment.

Wildwood Police Chief Joseph Murphy said New Jersey's juvenile justice reforms seem to not be working.

We are not holding these kids accountable, and it's not rehabilitating these kids, he said.

At a minimum, he said, diversionary programs designed as an alternative to criminal prosecution for young offenders should take longer than 24 to 36 hours to complete. And issuing warnings to young people is not practical when there are groups of 300 or more people creating disturbances, he said.

Sen. Michael Testa said the Jersey Shore remains safe for visitors, but he worries that hard-won reputation could be lost if vacationers no longer think of the area as family-friendly.

They shouldn't be thinking of unruly behavior, clouds of weed smoke they have to bring their children through, he said.

Assemblyman Don Guardian, the former mayor of Atlantic City, said he was walking on the city's Boardwalk a few days ago when a group of 80 loud, disruptive young people were blocking the walkway.

When a police car arrived, Guardian said, they spit on the car. They mooned (the officers) and gave them the finger.

Wildwood said the city was forced to close its boardwalk overnight on the Sunday of Memorial Day weekend when it feared it was losing control of the situation and was unable to respond to a cascade of calls for help.

New Jersey Attorney General Matthew Platkin blamed Wildwood for not having enough officers assigned to patrol its boardwalk. But Mayor Ernest Troiano Jr. said there were 40 police officers deployed there.

When you have to put 40 police officers on the boardwalk for 26 blocks, that speaks volumes, he said.

Republicans have introduced numerous bills in the aftermath of the disturbances, including ones that would allow municipalities to create alcohol and cannabis-free zones, impose traffic and other restrictions during large pop-up parties, and increase penalties for assaults on police officers or first responders.

___

Follow Wayne Parry on X at www.twitter.com/WayneParryAC
A search team says they discovered the wreckage of a private jet missing for more than half a century on the floor of Lake Champlain.

For decades authorities believed the plane carrying two crew members and three employees of an Atlanta real estate firm had crashed into the lake as it headed from Burlington, Vermont, to Providence, Rhode Island. In more than a dozen operations since 1971, each using increasingly sophisticated and newer technology, searchers tried to locate the aircraft, but always came up empty.

Now, experts say, the long-suspected fate of the plane and the five people on board has been confirmed.

I'm just thrilled that we discovered it, and I'm really happy for the family members that are still around, Garry Kozak, the undersea searcher who led the recent effort, told USA TODAY. They were hoping for many years that this would be located, and hopefully this brings some closure.

Wreckage found in the depths of Lake Champlain that experts believe to be a jet that went missing 53 years ago. The private plane vanished after it left Burlington, Vermont, on a snowy evening in late January 1971.

Snowy weather, missing jet

It was a snowy evening in January 1971 when the team from Cousins Properties real estate left Burlington, Vermont.

After a successful takeoff around 8 p.m. and normal communications between the crew and the control tower, the jet made a turn over Lake Champlain, which runs from the borders of Vermont and New York to Canada, and extends 14 miles across at its widest point.

Not long into the flight, the controller lost all radar contact with the plane, according to Kozak. No mayday or emergency communication was ever received. Officials suspected that the plane had most likely crashed into the lake, though there was no physical evidence at the time.

Immediate searches concentrated on Lake Champlain, with aircrafts flying over the surface in hopes of finding the jet or its passengers, according to Kozak. Authorities were set to bring in a submarine to scour the lake, but temperatures dropped and the lake froze over, delaying searches until the spring.

Months later, after some of the ice melted, debris from the plane was found on Shelburne Point, just southwest of Burlington, according to Kozak. A team combed the area to no avail. And so followed days, months and years of unsuccessful searches. Between 1971 and 2014, more than 17 failed attempts were made at finding the jet.

How was the jet discovered?

Enter Kozak.

The undersea search expert, who has previously assisted in the discovery of sunken ships and crashed planes, was first introduced to the story of the missing jet in the 1980s. Over the decades, the 77-year-old kept up with the search efforts but he did not get involved until 2014, when he heard an autonomous underwater vehicle scanned the depths of the lake and found nothing.

Convinced the plane could be found, Kozak got to work. He contacted a pair of researchers who had conducted a low-resolution scan of the lake to find shipwrecks. They agreed to share the data, which proved vital as Kozak used the scan to identify four "suspicious anomalies," one of which eventually led him to the wreckage.

In 2022, Kozak joined up with two colleagues  Hans Hug and Bruce Stebbins  who agreed to help scour the locations using a remote operated vehicle. Their first dive was unsuccessful. But last July, the men returned to the lake, and, during their second search, discovered a plane. They initially thought it was the corporate jet they were looking for, but upon closer inspection it appeared to be a military aircraft, as indicated by some of the stencils.

Unfatigued, Kozak went through the sonar data again and picked out one location west of Juniper Island, about three miles southwest of Burlington, as a target of interest. On May 19, Kozak and Hug returned to the lake to inspect the area with Hug's high resolutions sonar system. The search revealed a large debris field that was "very representative of a jet aircraft crash," Kozak said.

While there was little doubt that this was the jet  especially considering the size of the debris field  the men wanted photographic evidence. Within a week, a remote operated vehicle captured a broken plane fuselage, painted white with red and black accent striping  the same custom paint job as the missing jet. Nearby were the remains of two turbine jet engines along with a broken wing.

"With all indications it's absolutely the right plane," Kozak said.

Discovery leaves families with mixed emotions

But while the mystery of the missing jet has been solved, families of the men who died in the crash are now grappling with reopened wounds and new questions.

To have this found now ... its peaceful feeling, at the same time its a very sad feeling, Barbara Nikitas, niece of pilot George Nikita, told the Associated Press. We know what happened. Weve seen a couple of photos. Were struggling I think with that now.

Frank Wilder's father, also Frank Wilder, was on the jet when it went down. The younger Frank Wilder told the Associated Press that while the uncertainty was "distressing," the plane's the discovery brings a set of complicated questions.

Im feeling relieved that I know where the plane is now but unfortunately its opening other questions and we have to work on those now," he told the AP.

NTSB reviews findings

Kozak said he shared videos of the underwater debris field with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) to assist their forensic team in determining, with as much certainty as possible, that the wreckage is the same jet that disappeared 53 years ago.

The agency said in an email to USA TODAY it received information about the plane and the crash from the Federal Aviation Administration, and that it plans on examining the debris as well as any wreckage that may be recovered.

"We will be evaluating the specifics of what was found, and the degree of certainty to which we are able to positively link it back to the wreckage that was located," said NTSB spokesperson Peter C. Knudson. "Following that, if and when any of that wreckage were recovered, we would determine what level of examination would be appropriate given what is recovered and what condition it is in."

Meantime, Kozak shared the exact coordinates of the debris field only with the families of the victims.

"Out of respect, the location will be kept confidential because it is a grave site," he said.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Searcher tells story behind finding 53-year-old jet in Lake Champlain
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN)  Two members of the Nashville Metro Council have filed a resolution supporting an end to violence between Israel and Palestine.

Councilmember Jacob Kupin (District 19) and Councilmember At Large Zulfat Suara filed the resolution Tuesday.

The resolution declares Metro Councils support for the ongoing ceasefire negotiations between the Israeli government and Hamas.

Click here to read the complete resolution.

In the resolution, the Councilmembers said they want to see an end to, violence between Israel and Palestine, release the remaining hostages, and begin to heal our hurting communities here in Nashville and Davidson County.

Court revokes bond for Sumner County woman who killed newborn twins

The two councilmembers come from different faith backgrounds: Kupin is Jewish and Suara is the first Muslim elected to Metro Council.

The resolution will be on the agenda for next Tuesday, June 18.

 Download the News 2 app to stay updated on the go.

 Sign up for WKRN email alerts to have breaking news sent to your inbox.

 Find todays top stories on WKRN.com for Nashville, TN and all of Middle Tennessee.

This is a developing story. WKRN News 2 will continue to update this article as new information becomes available.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2.
Joey Chestnut was kicked out of Nathan's eating contest after he endorsed plant-based hot dogs

Joey Chestnut was kicked out of Nathan's eating contest after he endorsed plant-based hot dogs

Joey Chestnut won't compete in Nathan's hot-dog-eating contest this year.

Major League Eating, the event overseer, cited Chestnut's partnership with a rival brand.

"Meat eaters shouldn't have to be exclusive to just one wiener," Impossible Foods told BI.

The competitive-eating champ Joey Chestnut has been kicked out of an upcoming contest over a beef between him and the Coney Island hot-dog-eating competition he's won a whopping 16 times.

Chestnut, 40, won't participate in this year's Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest on July 4  an event he won last year after pounding 62 hot dogs.

In a statement posted to X on Tuesday, Major League Eating  the governing body that oversees the event  said Chestnut had "chosen to represent a rival brand that sells plant-based hot dogs rather than competing."

The League cited "hot dog exclusivity provisions" that have been enshrined for nearly two decades.

The New York Post reported that Chestnut's deal was with Impossible Foods.

"We love Joey and support him in any contest he chooses," an Impossible Foods spokesperson told Business Insider in a statement. "It's okay to experiment with a new dog. Meat eaters shouldn't have to be exclusive to just one wiener."

Chestnut, in his own statement to X, said he was "gutted to learn from the media" that he'd been "banned" from Nathan's hot-dog-eating contest after 19 years.

He said he'd been training to defend his title.

"I do not have a contract with MLE or Nathans and they are looking to change the rules from past years as it relates to other partners I can work with," Chestnut wrote.

MLE told Business Insider in a statement that it paid Chestnut to appear and compete for more than a decade  and that the competitive-eating star had promised not to promote rival hot-dog brands.

"The idea that Nathan's or MLE changed the rules of this provision this year is as ridiculous as it is silly," the organization said.

"What company would pay someone an appearance fee of several hundred thousand dollars and knowingly let them endorse a direct competitor immediately afterwards?" MLE said in a statement.

A rep for Nathan's Famous did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Business Insider.

"To my fans, I love you and appreciate you," Chestnut concluded. "Rest assured that you'll see me eat again soon!!"

Read the original article on Business Insider
KYODO NEWS - Jun 12, 2024 - 10:02 | All, Podcast

What are the limits of "the customer is always right"?

Three Kyodo News reporters -- Horiuchi-san, Eduardo and Yamaguchi-san -- talk about how Japan is trying to tackle abusive customer behavior toward staff, in a culture where customers are often treated like royalty. Listen as they discuss differing staff-customer relationships in other countries and their own experiences with customer abuse.

Article mentioned in the podcast:

Japan service-sector staff set to get protection from abusive customers

Kyodo News presents a bilingual podcast for English learners about the ins and outs of news writing and how to translate tricky Japanese phrases into English. Have fun listening to journalists discuss recent articles as they occasionally go off on unrelated tangents.

Recent episodes:

Podcast [English World] Episode 48: Palestinians in Japan

Podcast [English World] Episode 47: Gadgets for the visually impaired

Podcast [English World] Episode 46: Tour of Lies
A version of this story appears in CNNs What Matters newsletter. To get it in your inbox, sign up for free here.

The funny thing about secret recordings made of public figures is that they generally confirm what everyone already knew.

The propriety of liberal activist Lauren Windsor pretending to be a religious conservative in order to surreptitiously record Supreme Court justices attending a dinner hosted by the Supreme Court Historical Society can certainly be debated.

The effectiveness of publishing these recordings is clear. Putting the word secret in a headline about a recording guarantees more people will read it.

The implication is that the subject is saying something they shouldnt, even if they are actually saying exactly what youd expect. For example: The secret recording of Mitt Romney talking at a fundraiser  about how the 47% of the population that would oppose him no matter what probably dont pay income tax  contributed to his 2012 presidential election loss in part because the comments rang true to the narrative of the campaign.

Alitos comments are no surprise

Did we need a secret recording to know that Justice Samuel Alito feels that religious Americans are being persecuted? We did not. Its written all over his opinions and his public appearances.

Did we need a secret recording to know that Alitos wife, Martha-Ann, would bristle at having to look at Pride flags flown across the lagoon from their New Jersey beach house? Probably not, after she was scrutinized for flying an upside-down American flag  a distress signal  at their home in Virginia before Joe Bidens inauguration and a religious-themed Appeal to Heaven flag in New Jersey. Her German view of revenge against her detractors, which she explains in the recordings, is a new development.

CNNs Joan Biskupic writes the following about Justice Alito: Over the years, Alito has demonstrated an us-versus-them attitude on religion, as well as ideological and political matters. He has declared religion under siege and cast himself on the side of the persecuted. Read more from Biskupic about how the Alito recordings will reinforce growing skepticism of the court and Alitos objectivity.

Roberts said something interesting about the current state of politics

Chief Justice John Roberts, who was also recorded, similarly sounded just like his public persona  carefully choosing words and avoiding controversial statements, such as when he argued that his Jewish and Muslim friends do not view the US as a Christian nation.

Where Alitos aggrieved view of his own persecution inflames partisan divides, Roberts argued, with examples, for a more optimistic view of the current political moment, which he said is not nearly as bad as previous eras in US history.

Its a view that explains how Roberts may see the courts role in the upcoming election, in which Biden says Donald Trump is a threat to democracy and in which Trump has promised to use victory as a path to retribution.

Here are some key quotes from the recording of Roberts:

This is indeed a broad historical view. The 1857 Dred Scott decision, which is a blot on the history of the court, ruled that slaves were not citizens of the US and not protected under the Constitution. It came a few years before the Civil War, which was fought over the issue of slavery.

During the New Deal, then-President Franklin D. Roosevelt essentially remade the US government to handle the Great Depression. He was frequently at odds with the Supreme Court and unsuccessfully tried to pack the court to make it more to his liking.

In the 1960s, the Civil Rights Movement and protest movement, along with a series of assassinations and the Vietnam War, tested the nation and the court.

Roberts has long felt that one key piece of legislation, the Voting Rights Act of 1965, which was enacted to protect Black votes in the South, was an improper use of federal power. As chief justice in 2013, he oversaw a key decision that whittled away at the power of the Voting Rights Act, allowing Republicans in Southern states to draw more and more noncompetitive congressional districts that solidify their majorities in those states. Last year, however, Biskupic noted that he seemed to change course and helped uphold part of the Voting Rights Act.

This is not the view of someone who sounds particularly concerned that American democracy is in danger.

Roberts has also been loath to entertain the concerns of lawmakers. He refused to meet with Democratic senators, for instance, about mounting concerns over gifts Justice Clarence Thomas accepted from a billionaire buddy and after reports of the partisan flag displays at Alitos home. Democrats have also complained that Roberts has not done more to address the issue of partisan lawyers gaming how to get cases before judges they hope will be friendly.

Windsor asked if Roberts believes whats happening right now is normal. His response:

And the Supreme Court has not acted as if anything special is going on. Justices refused to allow Colorado to remove Trump from its primary ballot in a case involving the insurrectionist clause. They denied special counsel Jack Smiths request for an expedited review of Trumps argument that, as a former president, he should enjoy some kind of super immunity from prosecution. Taking their time, the justices may effectively push Trumps federal criminal trials past Election Day.

Windsor worries in the recording that polarization today is so extreme that it might be irreparable. In response, Roberts said this:

Note: Roberts did not serve in Vietnam, but he was a young man as American troops were withdrawing in 1973, a year before then-President Richard Nixon resigned as a result of the Watergate scandal.

By the end of the decade, Roberts was a young attorney bound for the Ronald Reagan administration. Today, hes the chief justice exuding calm and acting aloof even as confidence in the branch of government he leads has fallen.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
John Lee, in a 2022 campaign video.

Policy, politics and progressive commentary

Only one of Nevadas U.S. House primaries saw no victor declared on election night.

John Lee, the former North Las Vegas mayor backed by President Donald Trump, as of late Tuesday was ahead by around 800 votes over David Flippo in the Republican primary for Nevadas 4th Congressional District. The winner will in November face Democratic U.S. Rep. Steven Horsford, who, like his fellow incumbents, sailed to an easy victory in a noncompetitive primary.

In Nevadas 3rd Congressional District, Democratic U.S. Rep. Susie Lee is now set for a challenge from Drew Johnson, a think tank founder and policy analyst. The Associated Press called the crowded race for Johnson on Tuesday night.

The AP also projected retired Army colonel Mark Robertson as the winner in the Republican primary for Nevadas 1st Congressional District. Robertson will go on to face Democratic U.S. Rep. Dina Titus, who had no primary challenger.

The Nevada delegations lone Republican, U.S. Rep. Mark Amodei easily won his primary. He will face no Democrat in the general.

Democrats are attempting to flip the House, which Republicans control with a razor-thin majority. In their efforts to regain control, they must retain their current seats.

Trump pick leads in CD4 GOP primary

The 4th Congressional District, which is currently deemed likely Democrat according to The Cook Political Report, has been held by a Democrat every cycle except in 2014, when Horsford lost.

He regained the seat in 2018 and has held it since.

John Lee was the only House candidate in Nevada to receive Trumps endorsement. Lee is also backed by Republican Gov. Joe Lombardo.

Lee was ahead by around 2,000 votes as of Tuesday night.

Trailing Lee is David Flippo, a retired Air Force lieutenant colonel who previously came in third in an Assembly Republican primary in 2022. In a distant third is Bruce Frazy, a former attorney and accountant.

Lee previously served as a Democrat in the Nevada State Assembly and Senate but was ousted in a primary in 2012. The next year, he was elected North Las Vegas mayor, a nonpartisan position. He switched his party affiliation to Republican ahead of a failed gubernatorial run in 2022.

During that race Lee wrote an op-ed for the Reno Gazette Journal citing his opposition to abortion rights as a key reason he left the Democratic Party.

Horsford won against first-time candidate Levy Shultz.

Johnson wins competitive CD3 GOP primary

U.S. Rep. Susie Lee, who has represented the 3rd Congressional District since 2018, won her primary against RockAthena Brittain, who sought to be the first transgender woman elected to Nevadas congressional delegation.

Drew Johnson, who narrowly lost a bid against Clark County Commissioner Justin Jones in 2022, emerged as the winner of the Republican primary, which included Dan Schwartz, who made his second bid to win a Republican CD3 primary, music composer and first-time candidate Marty ODonnell, who was endorsed by Lombardo and Elon Musk, and former state Sen. Elizabeth Helgelien.

The pundits didnt give us a chance, but we outworked our opponents and overperformed expectations, Johnson said in a victory statement.

The statement goes on to say Lee is ethically bankrupt and has failed the state by using her office to enrich herself and serving as a rubber stamp for the failed Biden administration.

Lee, in her own statement earlier, took her own jabs, saying, Southern Nevadas strong future is under attack by far-right extremists who will bow to big corporations and the ultra-wealthy and make the working class pay. They want to ban abortion including here in Nevada with no exceptions for rape and incest, put a stranglehold on job creation, gut Social Security and Medicare, and leave our veterans behind. They are in it for themselves, not to help the hardworking families and seniors in southern Nevada.

Titus to face 2022 challenger

In Nevadas 1st Congressional District, U.S. Rep Dina Titus is now set for a rematch against Mark Robertson, who she beat by nearly 6 percentage points in 2022.

I have beaten Mr. Robertson before and I look forward to beating him again this November, Titus said in a statement after Robertson was declared the winner.

Robertson faced off against Flemming Larsen, who narrowly lost a state Assembly run in 2022.

And Amodei

In Nevadas 2nd Congressional District, U.S. Rep. Mark Amodei easily fended off a longshot challenge from Dr. Fred SImon, a trauma surgeon. Amodei will not face a Democratic challenger in November, as nobody filed to compete in the reliably red congressional district.

The post Johnson, Robertson secure Nevada GOP House primary wins. John Lee leads Flippo. appeared first on Nevada Current.
How Jordan Bardella has helped give the far right an acceptable face in France

At just 28 years old, Jordan Bardella has led the French far right to a landslide victory and humiliated President Emmanuel Macrons camp in the European Parliament elections. Hes poised to become the next prime minister if the French president loses his gamble in the upcoming snap election. But who is far-right doyenne Marine Le Pens slick protege?

Bardella, the National Rally party leader, grew up an only child in social housing in Seine-Saint-Denis, a working-class suburb in the northeast of Paris. He joined the far-right party at 16 and then briefly attended the prestigious Sorbonne university in the French capital before dropping out.

Like many families, many people who live in these neighborhoods, I was confronted with violence, and my mother struggled to make ends meet. The truth is that the sense of urgency that led me into politics has never left me, Bardella told public television channel France 2 in April.

In clinching 31% of the vote in the European parliamentary election  a record score for the National Rally  he trounced Macrons centrist party by a wide margin.

A wind of hope is sweeping across France and its only just the beginning, he said Sunday, as he urged Macron to call a national election  a bluff the president called, with the first round of voting to take place June 30.

Le Pen handpicked the young politician to head the party in 2022  ending a 50-year-rule by the Le Pen dynasty  and bring a fresh boost to the French populist right.

Hailed as the answer to the National Rallys attempts to detoxify the party and attract a younger crowd, he helped distance the party from its founder and Marines father, 95-year-old Holocaust-denier Jean-Marie Le Pen. While Bardella continues to try to rid the party of its antisemitic and racist overtones, the populist rhetoric remains much the same.

We will act by expelling delinquents, criminals and foreign Islamists who pose a threat to national security, Bardella said, as he campaigned on promises of limiting free movement of migrants and threats of mass expulsions.

Entrenched in the mainstream

Bardellas popularity is proof that what was once unpalatable and reserved to the fringes of French politics is now normalized and entrenched in the mainstream. Voting for the far right is no longer something to be ashamed of in much of France. He appeals to the working class, the unemployed and young people in rural areas.

On Sunday, 32% of people aged between 18-34 voted for him compared to 5% for the candidate representing Macrons party, according to an Elabe poll for BFMTV.

National Rally volunteers paste up campaign posters ahead of last weekend's elections. - Jeff Pachoud/AFP/Getty Images

According to political analyst Dominique Moisi, Bardella has galvanized a new generation of voters who worry about the future, particularly as regards jobs and the cost of living, and who believe France has an identity crisis.

They (the youth) think the world is too dangerous and they say we dont want to be inundated by migrants coming from the Middle East or Africa. We want to be at home, said Moisi.

TikTok charm offensive

The selfie-taking, clean-shaven Bardella has led a successful charm offensive on TikTok with videos of him wine tasting and doing shots. Even something as banal as him eating a cereal bar racks up thousands of views.

His carefully curated social media presence makes him seem familiar and relatable to his 1.5 million followers. Hes known for his videos with brutal put-downs, such as drinking a beer with a caption reading drinking the tears of Macron fans.

Far-left figurehead Jean-Luc Melenchon has accused Bardella of being all bluster and no substance. What does Mr. Bardella want? We dont know. He says nothing. Hes a good-looking guy, but whats his program? Throwing immigrants into the sea.

Critics also point to Bardellas short career and lack of concrete experience as well as his many absences from the European parliament, to which he was first elected in 2019.

Despite his inexperience, Bardellas ability to rally people behind him was evident this week when Eric Ciotti, the head of The Republicans, Frances traditional right-wing party, announced a surprise coalition with the National Rally for the upcoming legislative elections. The move was immediately attacked by senior members of Ciottis own party while Marine Le Pen welcomed the announcement calling it a brave choice.

Effective political match

Bardella  who dated Le Pens niece  has said the two politicians have a very trusting relationship.

Im a loyal, well-behaved boy and Ill always be her first supporter, he said.

Le Pen, a self-described Bardella groupie, has said shes always been a great admirer of his and that he shows great maturity.

Bardella and Le Pen attend the National Rally party's Congress in Paris, France, November 5, 2022. - Christian Hartmann/Reuters

The 55-year-old has run for president three times since 2012, made it into the final runoff for the past two, and is largely expected to be a candidate in the next presidential election in 2027.

The young Bardellas electoral success in the European elections look set to help boost that ambition.

These two deeply political animals, one a fixture of French political life, the other an up-and-coming disruptor of it, appear to have found in each other a remarkably efficient political match. Its one that threatens to bring a party long considered too far to the right to be electable to power.

CNNs Emma Leyo contributed reporting.

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A federal judge has temporarily blocked the Biden administration from enforcing a federal rule in four states that requires people who sell firearms online and at gun shows to conduct background checks on their potential customers.

In a preliminary injunction issued Tuesday, US District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk said the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives cannot enforce the rule intended to close the so-called gun show loophole in Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Utah.

The injunction also temporarily prevents enforcement of the federal rule against several gun rights groups and an individual gun owner in Texas who are also part of the lawsuit.

Kacsmaryk, a Donald Trump-appointed conservative judge known for ruling against Biden administration policies, said in his 21-page ruling that the administration violated federal rulemaking procedures when it finalized the new rule earlier this year.

The new ATF rule, which took effect May 20, seeks to close what gun control advocates have long called the gun show loophole by increasing the requirements to obtain a federal firearms license. The more specifically define what it means to be engaged in the business of selling firearms.

By making the term more definitive, the Justice Department has said it aims to better regulate the market and encourage higher compliance with the federal background check requirement.

Texas has secured an injunction against Bidens unlawful ATF rule that would criminalize the private sale of guns. Bidens unconstitutional rule cannot be enforced in Texas, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton said in a statement Wednesday. Im proud to fight and win for our Second Amendment rights.

The judge previously blocked ATF from enforcing the rule against some of the plaintiffs while he considered whether to grant the preliminary injunction. The new block on the rule will last pending the resolution of this lawsuit, Kacsmaryk said in his ruling.

CNN has reached out to the Justice Department for comment.

More than a dozen other GOP-led states are also challenging the new rule in a separate lawsuit spearheaded by the attorney general of Kansas.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
A senior judge who liked a post on social media that described Israel as a terrorist state and called for a free Palestine has been given a formal warning for misconduct.

Tan Ikram, 58, a deputy senior district judge, was disciplined for allowing a perception of bias by liking the post on LinkedIn which had been put up by a barrister who had previously promoted conspiracy theories claiming that Israel allowed the Oct 7 terror attack by Hamas.

The post stated: Free Free Palestine. To the Israeli terrorist both in the United Kingdom, the United States and of course Israel, you can run, you can bomb but you cannot hide  justice will be coming for you.

Three weeks previously, Judge Ikram had decided not to punish three women displaying parachute images at a pro-Palestine protest seven days after the Oct 7 attack. He gave them 12-month conditional discharges after they were found guilty of an offence under the Terrorism Act.

Judge Ikram referred himself to the Judicial Conduct Investigations Office (JCIO) which revealed that it had received more than 60 complaints about the issue. It referred 43 of them to a nominated judge to consider.

The nominated judge found that Ikram had breached the social media guidance for the judiciary by identifying himself as a judge on LinkedIn and that his action in liking the post had resulted in a perception of bias.

A statement about the nominated judges findings said: This was demonstrated by the fact that a link had been inferred between this issue and a case heard by Judge Ikram, which involved pro-Palestinian protesters and that the risk of undermining public confidence had been heightened by the fact that he had identified himself on social media as a judge.

Judge Ikram, who has a CBE and is on the judicial appointments committee, claimed that he had inadvertently liked the post, the contents of which he described as repulsive.

He told the judicial conduct investigation that he had done all he could to mitigate the impact of his action and closed his LinkedIn account, which he said he had primarily used for his work as a diversity and community relations judge.

He commissioned a technical report that said he had no direct social media connection with the poster of the comment and stated that it was abundantly simple for a LinkedIn user to inadvertently trigger a like using their iPhone, by double-tapping an image.

Liked the post accidentally

The judge accepted his argument that he had liked the post accidentally and noted that there were no other inappropriate posts or likes and that his posts primarily demonstrated his connection to his diversity work.

While the senior judge found Judge Ikrams act not deliberate or the result of carelessness, they still found that his actions amounted to misconduct and taking into account that he had taken full responsibility and shown genuine remorse, recommended a sanction of formal advice.

However, Alex Chalk, the Lord Chancellor, and Dame Sue Carr of Walton-on-the-Hill, the Lady Chief Justice, increased the sanction to a formal warning.

The ruling said that after careful consideration, Mr Chalk and Baroness Carr were not satisfied that a sanction of formal advice was sufficient.

In increasing the sanction, they said: In addition to having breached the guidance on social media use, the judges actions caused significant reputational damage to the judiciary, as evidenced by the extraordinary number of complaints made to the JCIO.

The ruling added: They also considered it important for their decision to underline their shared view on the seriousness of misuse of social media by judges.

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Containers in a vehicle's interior do not enjoy greater protections from warrantless searches, even if they are locked, judges ruled Wednesday. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

A legal exception that allows police to search vehicles without first obtaining a warrant in some circumstances extends to locked glove boxes and other secured compartments within a vehicles interior, a state appellate panel ruled Wednesday.

The three-judge panels decision overturns a trial court ruling that found police exceeded the authority afforded them under the automobile exception to the warrant requirement for searches when they opened a locked glove box during a November 2018 traffic stop search initiated after an officer smelled marijuana.

The three defendants  Tavius Wilson, James Hooks, and Sadale Loatman  faced a series of firearms charges over three handguns found in the glove box and argued that evidence should be suppressed because a locked container carried a greater expectation of privacy and could not be opened while the vehicle was running.

They said the search violated protections against unreasonable search and seizure in the Fourth Amendment and the New Jersey Constitution.

The judges rejected those arguments in Wednesdays decision, reasoning they would all but eviscerate the automobile exception, which exists to allow searches where evidence might be destroyed or hidden if police were to leave the scene and seek a warrant.

Whether locked or not, a glove box is just as readily mobile as the vehicle and thus its contents are subject to the same inherent risks associated with mobility that gives rise to the automobile exception, the court ruled.

The court turned down defendants arguments that the glove box could not be searched because it was locked and inaccessible to them, noting the automobile exception pays no heed to accessibility.

Court precedent limits warrantless searches of locked trunks if such a search would be unreasonable or unrelated to the initial justification for the warrantless search. Wednesdays ruling says that does not also shield a locked container inside the vehicles interior.

As a matter of common experience as well as common sense, a glove box that opens directly onto the front passenger seat is part of the passenger compartment. It is not part of the engine compartment or trunk/rear storage area, the judges wrote.

They added the method police use to open a locked interior container could taint a warrantless search. The automobile exception does not contemplate disassembling a vehicle or using the jaws of life to find the objects of the search, they said, but it would allow containers to be opened by a key or another less damaging method.

Searching a locked glove box or other container during a warrantless search may be a lesser intrusion than impounding the vehicle and holding its occupants while authorities obtain a warrant, the court added.

The odor of marijuana no longer constitutes probable cause to initiate a warrantless search in New Jersey, but the 2022 law that barred the practice was not applied retroactively.

The post Judges OK warrantless searches of locked glove boxes appeared first on New Jersey Monitor.
Senate lawmakers on Wednesday unveiled plans for a small pay boost for junior enlisted troops next year, staking out a middle ground between House plans for a sizable salary hike for young servicemembers and White House opposition to any targeted military pay increase.

As part of an initial draft of the Senate Armed Services Committee annual defense authorization bill, panel members announced plans for a 4.5% pay raise for all servicemembers in 2025 (in line with White House plans) and an extra 1% boost for troops ranked E-3 and below.

The extra money is designed to recognize the financial strain facing some young military families and the low base pay junior troops receive. Currently, some young enlisted service members can make as little as $24,000 in basic pay, although that total does not include other compensation such as housing allowances and free health care.

Id like to see even more for our active-duty military, but right now we have to stay under budget caps, said Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass. and chairwoman of the committees personnel panel. We squeezed as many dollars from every place else in the Defense Department budget that we could to get this.

Junior enlisted pay bump to cost as much as two new aircraft carriers

For troops ranked E-2 with less than two years of service, the pay boosts will bring their annual base salary to almost $29,000, about $1,500 more than this year. Thats about $280 more than the White Houses plan for those servicemembers.

But its far short of House lawmakers plan for a major rewrite of the military basic pay tables next year.

Under that plan  being considered on the House floor this week  troops ranked E-4 and below would see pay raises up to 19.5%, bringing nearly every servicemembers annual salary above $30,000 a year. All troops regardless of rank would see a 4.5% pay raise under the plan.

Servicemembers ranked E-3 with two years of service would see their annual salary jump about $4,500 in 2025 under the plan. E-5s with less than 10 years service would see smaller increases too, to ensure their pay stays above lower-ranked troops.

Those targeted pay raises would cost more than $24 billion over the next five years, according to the Congressional Budget Office.

On Tuesday, White House officials announced the president strongly opposes the idea, saying the plan would lead to pay compression in some parts of the enlisted military basic pay table and should be delayed until a full review of military compensation rules is completed next year.

That statement drew a sharp rebuke from House Armed Services Committee Chairman Mike Rogers, R-Ala.

President Biden believes providing the men and women who serve in our armed forces with adequate compensation is too costly. This is offensive and wrong, he said in a statement. Too many military families are relying on food banks, SNAP, and WIC in order to put food on the table. Republicans and Democrats on our committee agreed this is unacceptable.

The Senate plan unveiled Wednesday may indicate support in both chambers of Congress for a compromise path, one less ambitious than the House pay table revisions but still providing more cash-in-hand to junior enlisted troops.

The House authorization bill draft also includes more money for military housing stipends and other quality of life improvements left out of the Senate plan. Senators could still add in some of those provisions later this week, when the armed services committee finishes its bill markup, or when the legislation heads to the chamber floor.

Lawmakers are expected to spend most of the summer negotiating a compromise between the two measures, with an eye towards passing a final bill sometime this fall.

The authorization bill has passed out of Congress for more than 60 consecutive years, making the budget policy measure one of the few areas of bipartisan agreement despite ever-present partisan tension on Capitol Hill.
Jury convicts man who fired at CMPD officer outside of a Budget Inn in Charlotte

A man who shot at a Charlotte police officer outside of a Budget Inn in May 2021 was found guilty of attempted first-degree murder by a jury on Tuesday.

Shelton Jamal Smith, 36, encountered officers in the 4300 block of Old Interstate Road after police were investigating an armed robbery at a nearby Royal Inn.

CMPD Officer Trey Hinton attempted to speak with Smith after Smith matched a description of the suspect, according to prosecutors. Smith began to run away from Hinton before pulling out a gun and firing in the direction of the officer. Hinton perceived the gunfire as a lethal threat and shot and wounded Smith, according to CMPD.

Smith was taken to a hospital and stabilized.

A trial for Smith in 2022 ended in a mistrial, so Mecklenburg prosecutors took the case before a jury again starting June 4.

Smith was also found guilty on Tuesday of assault on a law enforcement officer with a firearm and for being an armed habitual felon.

Judge Robert C. Ervin sentenced Smith to at least 27 years in prison.
KYODO NEWS - Jun 12, 2024 - 20:56 | All, Japan

Two women were arrested Wednesday on suspicion of murdering a high school girl in April by forcing her off a bridge into a river in Hokkaido, northern Japan, police said.

Riko Uchida, 21, and a 19-year-old woman were served with fresh arrest warrants for allegedly causing 17-year-old Runa Murayama to fall 10 meters from the girder of a suspension bridge into the water in a mountainous area of Asahikawa on April 19, police said.

Police suspect the incident occurred after the victim posted a photo of Uchida on social media without her permission. The police did not disclose the relationships among the three or whether the suspects have admitted to the allegation.

The two suspects, who have been arrested on suspicion of non-consensual sexual misconduct against Murayama, are believed to have threatened her, locked her up in a car and taken her to the bridge, police said.

Uchida has also been arrested along with a 16-year-old boy for allegedly threatening Murayama and taking her money on April 18, while Uchida, the boy, the 19-year-old suspect and a 16-year-old girl have been apprehended on suspicion of locking the victim up in a car from April 18 to 19.

The victim's body was found downstream of the river in late May after she was reported missing by her relatives on April 22. The cause of death was drowning.
SMYRNA, Tenn. (WKRN)  A juvenile was injured in a Tuesday night shooting that occurred at an apartment complex in Smyrna.

According to the Smyrna Police Department, the shooting was reported Tuesday, June 11 at the MAA Sam Ridley apartments located in the 1000 block of Colonnade Drive.

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Authorities reported a juvenile was shot and taken to local hospital where they are expected to recover.

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Police did not release any details about what led to the shooting or what charges the juvenile shooter faces at this time.

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We are making it so that medical debt cannot be used against you when you apply for a car loan, a home loan or a small-business loan or something of that nature, U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris told reporters Tuesday. Photo by Ting Shen/UPI

June 11 (UPI) -- The Biden administration Tuesday proposed taking medical debt off U.S. consumers' credit reports in a change that could affect more than 15 million Americans if it goes forward as planned.

Vice President Kamala Harris said Tuesday on a call with reporters that more than 100 million Americans struggle with medical debt.

"No one should be denied access to economic opportunity simply because they experienced a medical emergency," she said.

Medical debt is a growing problem that makes insured and uninsured Americans sicker and poorer, according to a 2023 survey by The Commonwealth Fund.

About 46 million people in 2020 had medical debt listed on their credit report. The proposal by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau will seek to make it zero.

U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris (C) dances on Monday with gospel singer and choirmaster Kirk Franklin (L) during a Juneteenth concert on the South Lawn of the White House. In 2021, President Biden signed legislation establishing Juneteenth as the nation's newest Federal holiday. Photo by Ting Shen/UPI

The federal government's Consumer Financial Protection Bureau "is seeking to end the senseless practice of weaponizing the credit reporting system to coerce patients into paying medical bills that they do not owe," CFPB Director Rohit Chopra said Tuesday on the call after Harris spoke.

The new rule will be open for public comment until August 12 and the earliest it would take effect is next year after the presidential election. But that's a big if, given the possibility of a Republican presidential victory this fall.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is seeking to end the senseless practice of weaponizing the credit reporting system to coerce patients into paying medical bills that they do not owe, CFPB Director Rohit Chopra said Tuesday on the call after Harris spoke. File Photo By Bonnie Cash/UPI

A recent budget proposal by Congressional Republicans cuts Medicaid, Medicare, the Affordable Care Act "and would prevent Medicare from directly negotiating lower prescription drug prices," the White House said, adding that "instead of supporting the CFPB's efforts to bar medical debt from credit reporting, the Republican proposal would defund the CFPB entirely."

The average amount of medical debt owed was about $2,000 for an adult and about $4,600 per U.S. household, a study last year showed, indicating how medical debt affects 1 in 5 U.S. households.

But the majority of medical debt is owed to hospitals, according to a study last year. The Biden administration has taken a number of steps to reduce medical bill costs for Americans over the last few years.

"We are making it so that medical debt cannot be used against you when you apply for a car loan, a home loan or a small-business loan or something of that nature," Harris told reporters Tuesday.

Medical debt, or personal debt incurred from unpaid medical bills, is one of the leading causes of bankruptcies with as many as 40 percent of U.S. adults currently in debt because of medical or dental bills, according to The Commonwealth Fund.

The administration says "millions of Americans" would see an average credit score increase of 20 points if the new rule change is sanctioned. And it could lead to the approval of roughly 22,000 new U.S. mortgages annually.

Harris called on states, local governments and health care providers to take further action in order to reduce the burden of medical debt of the more than 100 million American citizens struggling with medical debt.

New York City in January unveiled their new program that will retire about $2 billion in medical debt for thousands if city residents -- who have an annual household income at or below 400% of the federal poverty line with medical debt equal to 5% or more of their annual household income -- which is estimated to cost the city around $18 million over three years.

"Medical debt makes it more difficult for millions of Americans to be approved for a car loan, a home loan, or a small-business loan, all of which, in turn, makes it more difficult to just get by, much less get ahead," Harris said Tuesday.

Specifically, the federal government is suggesting they leverage already-available public dollars -- like American Rescue Plan Act funding -- to purchase and eliminate medical debt, prevent medical debt accumulation and "protect patients from aggressive debt collectors by expanding access to charity care" and by "limiting coercive debt collections practices by health care providers and third-party debt collectors."

ARPA funds are getting used to eliminate an estimated $7 billion in medical debt for up to nearly 3 million Americans, according to the White House.

"We have forgiven over $650 million so far, and we plan to forgive another $7 billion -- with a 'B' -- for millions of Americans across the nation," the vice president said Tuesday at the end of her talk with reporters.
Kamala Harris visit to Charlotte expected to cause afternoon traffic delays

Traffic delays are expected near Charlotte Douglas International Airport Wednesday during Vice President Kamala Harris visit to Johnson C. Smith University.

Charlotte-Mecklenburg police said traffic delays are expected between 11 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. in the area and advised people to find alternate routes.

Observer news partner WSOC reported there were also traffic delays on the I-485 inner loop early Wednesday morning following a deadly crash. One person died and two people were injured around 5:20 a.m. between Brookshire Boulevard and Mount Holly Road.

WSOC said the interstate reopened around 9 a.m.

Harris is being joined by Gov. Roy Cooper for a presidential campaign event to discuss efforts by President Bidens administration to invest in Black-owned small businesses and minimize crippling student loan debt.

Wednesdays stop on the nationwide tour will mark Harris fifth time visiting North Carolina in 2024.

In 2020, Republican Donald Trump defeated Biden by 1.3% in North Carolina. Because of this, the state is considered a battleground state, despite President Barack Obama being the only Democrat to win it since 1976. Bidens administration has made a concerted effort to increase campaigning in the state in hopes of flipping it for the Democrats in 2024.

Check charlotteobserver.com later for a news report on the vice presidents visit.
Scott Gordon, an attorney with the Kansas Department of Education, served as hearing officer in a dispute that led Nemaha Central school district to petition the Kansas State Board of Education for transfer of 80 square miles of school territory held by the Prairie Hills district. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)

Scott Gordon, an attorney with the Kansas Department of Education, served as hearing officer in a dispute that led Nemaha Central school district to petition the Kansas State Board of Education for transfer of 80 square miles of school territory held by the Prairie Hills district. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)

TOPEKA  The territory dispute between neighboring school districts in northeast Kansas came to a head Wednesday as a divided Kansas State Board of Education voted to reject the Nemaha Central districts petition to wrest control of 80 square miles of land from the Prairie Hills district.

Student, family and community loyalties in Sabetha, Bern and Seneca contributed to years of conflict and prompted filing of a petition by Nemaha Central to unilaterally assume jurisdiction of land in the service zone of Prairie Hills. A series of school consolidations helped bring the issue to a boil, and culiminated with the 6-3 vote by the state Board of Education to deny the application for expansion by Nemaha Central.

It has been an exceedingly fair and democratic process, said Todd Evans, superintendent of Prairie Hills schools. They evaluated the facts, studied the law, took public input, debated the issues in open session and have ultimately ruled in the best interests of Kansas children.

The conflict produced hundreds of pages of information laying out implications of maintaining status quo and making the land transfer. Last year, there was a failed attempt at mediation. On Tuesday, the state board listened as hearing officer Scott Gordon outlined reasons for his recommendation to reject the petitition. His briefing on the issue was followed by oral presentations by attorneys for the opposing school districts.

Nemaha Central USD 115 targeted territory in and around Bern, which had its school closed a decade ago but remained within USD 113 Prairie Hills orbit.

The state board of Education had the option of accepting or rejecting the petition. In the alternative, the state board could have crafted a compromise boundary map.

Gordon, general counsel to the Kansas State Department of Education, told the state board that his review of available evidence led to a conclusion the unilateral maneuver by Nemaha Central couldnt be justified under state laws or board regulations. He said a well-attended public hearing in Bern produced no claim Prairie Hills and Nemaha Central provided anything other than excellent educational opportunities for students.

This was not an easy decision to come to, Gordon said. When I looked specificially at the guidelines youve provided and the law thats been in place  for a decade or more, thats how I came to those conclusions. He discouraged the state board from trying to draft an alternative map. Based on my experience and based on reviewing the past precedent, that is a bad idea. Theres a really good chance that you would come up with something that no one is happy with.

Both districts enrolled more than 100 out-district students in the 2023-2024 school year, which meant parents of those students didnt pay property taxes to the public school district where their children attended. Niether can those parents vote in local school board elections where their children chose to attend school. Much of state education funding must follow a student, but Nemaha Central has paid dearly to transport its nonresident students by bus. The land transfer would qualify Nemaha Central for supplemental state transporation funding.

Since 2021, enrollment has been growing at Nemaha Central and falling in Prairie Hills. Nonresident enrollment in both districts escalated 10% to 12% during that period, but three-fourths of students in the territory sought by Nemaha Central choose to attend Nemaha Central schools.

Because the state Board of Education rejected Nemaha Centrals petition, the district cannot bring a comparable boundary reform proposal to the state board for two years.

Gordon said 24 land transfer agreements between school districts were forwarded to the state board since 1987. All but one was approved. Of the other 23 negotiated proposals, four were withdrawn by petitioners. Among the remaining 19, the state board approved eight and rejected 11.

To me, Gordon said, this information shows that the preferred means of the Kansas State Board of Eduction to handle transfers of territory has always been by agreement between two districts.

We have better facts

Josh Ney, an attorney representing the Nemaha Central district, asked the state Board of Education to toss out the hearing officers recommendation. He bristled at Gordons conclusion Nemaha Central should have proposed the land transfer years ago. He said the hearing officers view created a disincentive for districts dealing with enrollment declines or school closures to take a wait-and-see approach to consolidations or land transfers.

We think we have better facts, Ney said. We think we have a more compelling argument. Ultimately, were looking for an equitable solution for the region.

He said the state board shouldnt reject the petition due to fear it could open a Pandoras Box of petitions from school districts inspired to initiate land grabs to add students or snag land with higher potential for property tax collections.

If the state board was uncomfortable with unilateral land acquisition petitions, Ney suggested they draw a new map for Prairie Hills and Nemaha Central. He said that would be a better outcome, even if neither side could claim victory.

Get out the red pin and draw your own map, he said. This is the time to resolve this dispute. Pick something that no ones happy with, because when you get to the messy middle, at least theres finality.

Ney said Prairie Hills proposed a land swap during negotiations rather than concede to the land transfer proposed by Nemaha Valley, but Nemaha Valley rejected that approach. He said Prairie Hills offer was about acquiring land in Nemaha Valleys territory with low student enrollment and high property-tax revenue potential.

This has always been about the students for us and not about the money, Ney said.

Emotion, passion at work

David Cooper, a Topeka attorney with experience representing school districts in Kansas, said the state board should be asking itself important questions about how often it wanted to deal with land-grab petitions.

What precedent do you want to set? he said. Do you want to be spending your springs and summers doing what were doing right now? Considering these petitions and refereeing these disputes? If you approve this petition in any way, shape or form, this will not be the only one you get.

Kansas State Department of Education statistics showed 7.3% of students in Kansas public schools lived outside their chosen districts territory. A significant number of those students were likely enrolled in online courses, but Cooper argued authorizing a land seizure by Nemaha Central would open flood gates of all sorts of appeals for territory adjustments.

Cooper said during the 2023-2024 academic year, USD 115 Nemaha Central had 105 out-of-district students. USD 113 Prairie Hills had 123 nonresident students during that school year, and 83 of them were from western Brown County.

So, if youre going to approve this petition, should 113 come back next year and say, We want the land were 83 students live? We want western Brown County becuase weve been educating those kids. The same arguments are being advanced before you today, Coooper said.

He said the state board should consider land transfer proposals in terms of the effect on students, what influence the change had on other school districts, if there was a material change in circumstances driving the petition and whether the result equalized benefits and burdens among impacted communities. The state boards members must rely on laws, rules and guidelines rather than emotion and passion to make the decision, he said.

The petition should be denied because there has been no material change of circumstances. The proposed transfer does not improve public schools in Kansas. It doesnt improve the interest of childen in either district, he said.

Cooper said Prairie Hills was able to negotiate territory transfers with the Vermillion and Jackson Heights districts, but a deal with Nemaha Valley proved elusive. The state Board of Education approved those land arrangements in May, effective July 1.

The post Kansas Board of Education rejects Nemaha Centrals bid to seize territory from Prairie Hills appeared first on Kansas Reflector.
COLUMBUS, Kan.  The Kansas wheat harvest is well underway despite recent rains.

This years crop is going to be phenomenal. And then we had six weeks of rain, said John Hutto, Hutto Gran, owner.

Local farmer John Hutto says despite the rain, theyre expecting a good harvest.

The yield is up there. So it looks like it looks like itd be probably our second best year ever. Were going to have some great yields. Last year was a phenomenal yields. This year not quite as good, but its going to be good, said Hutto.

Wheat farmers throughout Kansas are expecting good quality this harvest, with some experts suggesting harvest weights will come in slightly over the five-year average.

Test weights been very, very acceptable. Very little damage. Is like a shaping up to be an excellent harvest, said Matt Case, Columbus Co-op, general manager.

But not everyone agrees.

During the last six weeks, being too wet has got to hurt the quality of the crop. The crops kind of judged on test weight and protein and moisture hurts both those, said Hutto.

While there was some concern heavy rains this spring would impact the quality of the grain, reports have indicated that isnt the case overall.

This wheat just cant handle as much rain as what weve had. And its bound to have to take some toll on the quality. This wheat, these new varieties have been very resilient. Weve been very pleased with now the combine in the field seeing whats coming out, said Case.

Hutto says at this point, hes about through harvesting.

Were about a 10th done with harvest. Its going to be a really good year. We had a great year last year. This years not quite as good. We had a little too much rain, but its going to be a really good year, said Hutto.

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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.

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The post Kansas legislative forum sparks debate over treatment of Black female candidates appeared first on Oklahoma Voice.
Scottsdale attorney Bryan Blehm (right) represents Kari Lake (left) in her lawsuit aiming to overturn her loss in the 2022 election. Screenshot via AZ Courts.

Republican U.S. Senate hopeful Kari Lake has lost yet another appeal in her effort to overturn the 2022 election for Arizona governor.

Lake lost that election to Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs by more than 17,000 votes, but never conceded, claiming that malfeasance, incompetence or fraud on the part of Maricopa County led to her loss.

Shes been unsuccessfully fighting the loss in court ever since, but has lost at every turn, in the trial and appeals courts, as well as in front of the Arizona Supreme Court.

A three-judge panel for Arizonas Division Two Court of Appeals affirmed the lower courts rulings on June 11, in an opinion authored by presiding Judge Sean Brearcliffe.

In a hearing before the appeals court panel on May 2, Lake attorney Kurt Olsen focused on what he called newly discovered evidence that he claimed showed that Maricopa County didnt conduct required logic and accuracy testing for its ballot tabulators and ballot-on-demand printers ahead of the 2022 election, leading to issues with those tabulators reading ballots on Election Day.

Maricopa County has repeatedly denied Lakes allegations that it failed to perform logic and accuracy tests required by law.

The appeals court panel ruled that Lakes evidence was not, in fact, discovered recently, making it impermissible. Instead, what happened is that the expert Lake hired to analyze the evidence didnt have time to do so before the trial in May 2023.

The appellate court also agreed with trial court Judge Peter Thompson that Lake did not prove that any misconduct on the part of Maricopa County election officials or workers led to printer and tabulator problems on Election Day in 2022.

Brearcliffe wrote that the appeals court concurred with Thompson that Lakes allegation(s) of fraud leap[ed] over a substantial gap in the evidence presented.

We noted that Lake had presented no evidence that voters whose ballots were unreadable by on-site tabulators were not able to vote, and only sheer speculation that issues on election day discouraged a substantial number of predominantly Lake voters from voting, Brearcliffe wrote.

The appeals court also agreed with Thompson that Lakes expert witness who testified that a population equaling approximately 16% of the total election-day turnout across Maricopa County had been deprived of their right to vote, and that the deprivation derived from printer/tabulator issueshad no reasonable basis for his claims of disenfranchisement.

The purported expert based his claims on exit polling following the election, not on any concrete evidence.

Additionally, Brearcliffe concluded that Lake failed to prove allegations that Maricopa County Elections Director Scott Jarrett lied on the witness stand at trial. She and her attorneys claimed that Jarrett misled the court about a problem with ballot-on-demand printers, but Brearcliffe chalked that up to a misunderstanding between Jarrett and Lakes lawyers.

The appeals court also agreed with Thompson in dismissing Lakes assertion that 8,000 ballots cast on Election Day that were rejected by tabulators at polling sites were never counted, saying she had tried to leap a gap in proof with unsupported bare assertions.

Those ballots were not counted at the polling location, but were instead sent to the countys elections headquarters, where they were tallied. Brearcliffe also pointed out that, even if Lake were correct that 8,000 ballots went uncounted, and all of them were cast for Lake, it wouldnt change the outcome of the election in her favor.

Here, in regards to Lakes new evidence and what she purports it shows, the court found its impact lacking, Brearcliffe wrote. For example, the court concluded Lakes characterization of the Maricopa BOD (ballot on demand printer) Reports contents was inconsistent with what the report actually said.

The report showed that all of the ballots rejected by tabulators were later counted.

What Lake needed to do at trial was provide competent evidence that the ballots did not match the canvass in numbers that could have resulted in her election day victory, Brearcliffe wrote. She failed to do so.

Again, the appeals court agreed with the trial court that Lake failed to prove her claims that Maricopa County did not perform voter signature verification on early ballots in 2022.

While Olsen argued that Thompson ignored the testimony of her expert witness and others regarding signature verification, the appeals court didnt see it that way.

Lakes experts methodology was contradicted at trial by election officials put forward by Hobbs, Brearcliffe wrote. In the courts ruling, it specifically weighed Lakes evidence against testimony offered by election officials, and found that the election officials testimonythat meaningful verification had occurredwas more credible.

Lake still has the option to appeal this case to the Arizona Supreme Court.

During the May 2 hearing before the appeals court, the judges had to repeatedly remind Olsen, a Washington, D.C., employment attorney, that the function of the appeals court is to determine if the trial judge made mistakes in interpreting and applying the law, not to decide the facts of the case.

In all of the previous proceedings in this case, dating back to December 2022, Lake was represented by both Olsen and Scottsdale divorce lawyer Bryan Blehm. However, Blehm is not listed on the opinion after a disciplinary panel on June 7 suspended his law license for 60 days for lying in filings to the Arizona Supreme Court in this case.

Olsen also faces discipline for making the same false statements, but because he is licensed to practice law in Maryland and not Arizona, the panel does not have the power to suspend his license.

The Arizona Supreme Court imposed $2,000 in sanctions on the lawyers last year for claiming that it was an undisputed fact that 35,000 fraudulent ballots were mixed in with legal ones on election night 2022 in Maricopa County.

This is not the only legal case in which Lake is mired. She has already legally admitted fault in a defamation suit brought last year by Maricopa County Recorder Stephen Richer, for repeatedly falsely accusing him of perpetrating election fraud in Maricopa Countys 2022 election.

A trial date to determine what damages Richer is owed has not been set, but a pre-trial conference is scheduled for Sept. 10.

Lake also recently attempted to revive another 2022 suit in which she and then-candidate for Secretary of State Mark Finchem tried to convince a court to ban Arizonas most populous counties from using electronic ballot tabulators, claiming they were susceptible to hacking.

After the U.S. Supreme Court declined to take up the case in April, Lake and Finchem filed a motion on June 5 asking the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit to reverse the trial courts 2022 decision to dismiss the case. The court had not ruled on the motion as of June 12.

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The progressive cause in El Paso has taken a series of hits over the last several months.

While El Paso remains home turf for the Democratic Party, attempts to press a progressive agenda forward in the Sun City have been repeatedly stifled  the ambitious El Paso Climate Charter was overwhelmingly rejected by voters; liberal firebrand Alexsandra Annello lost her bid for the Texas Legislature; and activist Veronica Carbajal was narrowly defeated in the El Paso City Council District 2 contest.

But Kenneth Bell, a grassroots organizer, veteran and member of the U.S. Army Reserves, is looking to change that trend with his run for the District 3 seat on the City Council, which is now up for grabs with current East-Central city Rep. Cassandra Hernandez's term coming to a close.

Kenneth Bell, a board member with Justicia Fronteriza, speaks as El Pasoans join Planned Parenthood on Tuesday, May 3, 2022, on the sidewalk outside the U.S. Federal Courthouse in El Paso, Texas, raising their voice to protect abortion access.

With issues like campaign finance reform and LGBTQ+ advocacy at the center of his campaign, Bell's run for City Council represents an opportunity for progressive politics to make headway at City Hall, but only time will tell if that message will resonate with District 3 voters.

"I am a dedicated public servant, whether it's military service, volunteer work, issue advocacy or political organizing," Bell said in an email. "I'm running to represent folks who feel disenfranchised and forgotten about."

Progressive bona fides

Bell's progressive resume is extensive, stretching back more than a decade across numerous campaigns.

A veteran and current Army Reserve member, Bell set to work in advocacy after graduating from the University of Texas at El Paso with a bachelor's degree in communications.

Kenneth Bell, a candidate for the District 3 seat on the El Paso City Council, talks with a group of young men in Guatemala City Zone 7. Use of Bell's photographs in uniform does not imply endorsement by the Army Reserves, the Army, or the Department of Defense.

"This August will mark 12 years of service for me," he said. "I work as a campaign field organizer for political candidates and issue advocacy. I have worked on campaigns in El Paso and other parts of the country."

Among those efforts were campaigns for El Paso County Commissioners David Stout and Iliana Holguin when they ran for office and campaigns for Andy Beshear during his run for Kentucky governor. Bell also worked with the Kentucky Democratic Coordinated Campaign, Texas Rising and Fair Shot Texas.

Between 2020 and 2022, Bell served as a State Democratic Executive Committee member and in 2021 he and Carbajal founded Justicia Fronteriza PAC, which has been at the forefront of local efforts to enact campaign finance reform.

Despite that history of progressive activism, Bell's run for the District 3 seat marks his first bid for public office.

Long list of priorities

Like many candidates for public office in El Paso, tackling high property tax bills is among Bell's top priorities.

"Property taxes should not be used to subsidize the wealthiest El Pasoans while parts of our city fall apart," he said, noting that he opposed the Downtown arena project over its rising cost to taxpayers. "The sweetheart deals that have been made in the past are an unfair burden to people."

Perhaps guided by his military background, Bell is also focused on public safety with an emphasis on deterring and preventing crimes, an effort that should be made easier by the El Paso Police Department's new Cielo Vista Command Center in District 3.

Kenneth Bell, a candidate for the District 3 seat on the El Paso City Council, talks with voters during his campaign kickoff event at Andale Mexican Restaurant and Cantina on Wednesday, April 17, 2024.

"The need is to reduce 911 call times," he said. "We must ensure that we have law enforcement presence at night, when a lot of catalytic converters are being stolen from vehicles.

"We must fully utilize the Crisis Intervention Team to prevent folks who are having mental health crises from being mistaken for criminals," Bell added. "This protects the individuals in question and protects the department and the city from lawsuits."

But it's not just the police department  Bell hopes to ensure the El Paso Fire Department has the tools it needs "to fight fires citywide."

Infrastructure is another area where Bell sees room for improvement, but not on the backs of taxpayers via city-issued certificates of obligation, which require no voter approval before being issued.

"We must ensure that the city properly budgets funds for street and sidewalk maintenance," he said. "The city should not rely on certificates of obligation to fund projects that should come from the general fund. The city should aggressively seek funds."

Although last on his list, there is no doubt that campaign finance reform  something he has already advocated tirelessly for as a community organizer  is a key priority for Bell.

"One of the reasons why the city has subsidized the rich is because they fund the campaigns for many Council members," he said. "Then they get what they want once those folks are elected."

"(We) need to impose a $1000 campaign contribution limit on individuals per candidate per election," Bell added. "This will ensure that candidates for office seek the support of all El Pasoans, not a handful of oligarchs."

This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: Progressive Kenneth Bell mounting bid for El Paso City Council seat
Todd Brocesky places an "I voted" sticker on his shirt on Super Tuesday in Denver, March 5, 2024. (Kevin Mohatt for Colorado Newsline)

Coloradans are expected to vote this November on a ballot initiative that would make major changes to state and federal elections, abolishing the party primary and assembly system and instituting four-candidate general elections decided by ranked choice voting.

Connecting the news in Colorado to the big picture.

The Colorado Voters First initiative marks the third time in a decade that Kent Thiry, former CEO of Denver-based dialysis services giant DaVita, has bankrolled a substantial set of Colorado election reforms at the ballot box. Thirys nonprofit, Unite America, already helped enact its top-four model in Alaska in 2020 and is pushing similar measures in Colorado and at least four other states in 2024.

Advocates for the Unite America model believe theyve found the cure for the polarization and extremism that ails U.S. politics. And theyre hardly surprised, they say, that their vision is drawing heavy flak from both sides.

There are the conservatives who decry ranked choice voting as a scheme to rig our electoral system, a charge with no basis in reality. A group of Republican activists has launched a parallel ballot measure aiming to ban the practice in Colorado, a step that many GOP-controlled state governments across the country have already taken.

And there are progressives who look with deep suspicion on any plan hatched by Thiry, who made his fortune in an industry long accused of aggressive profit-seeking, leading a company that has paid over $1 billion to settle multiple major federal and patient lawsuits alleging Medicare fraud, illegal kickbacks and wrongful death. Some top Democrats worry that the top-four system would privilege wealthy candidates by replacing party nomination procedures with a single all-candidate or jungle primary, for which candidates could qualify either through the assembly process or expensive signature-gathering campaigns.

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If voters approve Thirys initiative in November, its implementation stands to be delayed by a last-minute amendment to an elections bill passed by bipartisan majorities in the Legislature last month, though state leaders have promised to take up a legislative fix that would respect the will of the voters.

Between now and then, Coloradans are likely to be inundated with bold claims from across the political spectrum about the effects that the top-four system would have on state politics. Opponents on the left warn of the rise of a new plutocracy. Opponents on the right fear it could spell the end of former President Donald Trumps MAGA movement. And in the center, the measures supporters promise a solution to polarization and dysfunction, the return of civility and restored faith in democracy.

But political observers and Colorado voters also shouldnt forget to weigh what scientists call the null hypothesis  the possibility that the reforms in question wouldnt produce any of these outcomes, at least not to a meaningful degree.

It would hardly be the first time that a Thiry-backed campaign made big structural reforms to Colorado elections but ultimately produced little measurable political effect.

His first attempt at healing Colorados partisan divide came in 2016, when he sponsored a pair of initiatives, Propositions 107 and 108, abolishing presidential caucuses and allowing unaffiliated voters to vote in either partys primary in all state and federal elections. At the presidential level, the initiative followed closely on the heels of centrist fretting over both Trumps rise in the GOP and Vermont U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders victory in Colorados low-turnout Democratic presidential caucus in 2016. Thiry pitched open primaries as a fix for a system in which a small faction of each party advanced two extreme candidates to the general election.

But four years later, Sanders handily won Colorados primary election anyway, and Trump hasnt lost a Centennial State primary since. Theres little evidence that open primaries have had an effect on down-ballot elections, either; research cited by Unite America itself found that polarization in Colorados General Assembly increased between 2016 and 2020.

The same is true of Thirys second big set of reforms, Amendments Y and Z, which were approved by voters in 2018 and aimed to combat partisan gerrymandering by creating independent redistricting commissions for the state Legislature and congressional districts.

New maps drawn in 2021 for the General Assembly made few wholesale changes and left Democrats near-supermajority virtually unchanged. And far from fulfilling its promise of ending political gamesmanship and the practice of protecting incumbents, the new process ultimately produced a congressional map that further advantaged all seven of Colorados sitting representatives and created a new coin-flip 8th District, in a decision the panels swing vote openly described in calculated political terms.

In short, its hard to imagine any of the most important outcomes in Colorado politics over the last eight years  the candidates elected and the policies enacted  would have been substantially different if Propositions 107 and 108 and Amendments Y and Z hadnt passed.

None of these past results necessarily mean the Colorado Voters First plan will have the same negligible impact. Its top-to-bottom election overhaul is significantly broader in scope than anything Thiry has backed before. As the campaign heats up, all sides in the battle over the future of Colorado elections deserve scrutiny: Democrats who preside over the longest period of one-party rule in state history; GOP leaders who have reaped personal rewards as their party has descended into irrelevance; and, not least, an influential centrist megadonor who has spoken publicly about his desire to seek elected office one day.

But the forces driving political polarization in the U.S. are complex and deeply rooted  as are the ways in which concentrated wealth and corporate power influence electoral and legislative outcomes. Though it may be too early to draw definite conclusions about Unite Americas top-four model, theres little support among political scientists for the notion that tweaks to the electoral system like ranked choice voting or jungle primaries can heal the nations widening partisan divide. Its especially unclear how such a system would mean the undoing of a far-right, pro-Trump movement increasingly defined by distrust in elections no matter how theyre conducted.

And Coloradans have every right to be troubled by a system in which a wealthy moderate with a history of quirky interests and odd fashion choices and a general distaste for taxes and regulation can spend tens of millions of dollars to get himself elected governor. But that, of course, describes a system that already exists.

Editors note: This story was updated at 6:55 a.m., June 12, 2024 to clarify that candidates would be able to qualify for the all-candidate primary either through party assemblies or signature gathering under the version of the election reform plan being pursued by Colorado Voters First.

The Trendline offers analysis on public policy in Colorado. Articles explore ways to think about the news based on research, history and other important context, helping Coloradans connect the headlines to the big picture.

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Kentucky is set to receive more than $9 million over the next four years following a national settlement with Johnson & Johnson. (Getty Images)

Kentucky is set to receive more than $9 million over the next four years following a national settlement with Johnson & Johnson over products containing talc, the attorney generals office announced Wednesday.

The company agreed to pay out $700 million after Kentucky  along with 42 other states and Washington D.C.  investigated the company for an alleged connection between baby and other powder products and cancer.

J&J hasnt admitted to wrongdoing, Reuters reported, but will stop selling the products of concern. As part of its settlement, Kentucky is set to receive $9,381,168.34 over the next four years. Thats about $2.3 million a year.

Our Office works diligently to protect Kentucky families from potentially dangerous products, Attorney General Russell Coleman said in a statement. The Attorney Generals Office of Consumer Protection helps Kentuckians rest assured when they go to the store, they find safe and reliable products for their family.

Kentuckys portion of the settlement will go into the states general fund, which the General Assembly can then appropriate, an AG spokesman said.

The post Kentucky to receive $9 million in settlement with Johnson & Johnson appeared first on Kentucky Lantern.
KYODO NEWS - Jun 12, 2024 - 09:30 | All, World

Hunter Biden, the second son of President Joe Biden, was found guilty Tuesday on charges related to the purchase of a gun in 2018, becoming the first child of a sitting U.S. president to be convicted of a crime.

The jury reached the historic verdict as the Democratic president has been gearing up his campaign for a second term ahead of the Nov. 5 presidential election against his presumptive Republican rival and predecessor Donald Trump.

At a federal district court in Delaware, the jury found Hunter Biden, 54, guilty on all three felony counts related to his purchase of a gun in the state in October 2018 without reporting his drug use.

The 81-year-old 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."

The indictment alleged Hunter Biden illegally possessed a gun from around Oct. 12 to Oct. 23 in 2018 after falsely stating on a firearms application that he was not using narcotics.

Prosecutors have said the younger Biden was using cocaine around the time he bought the gun and he mentioned waiting for a drug dealer in a text message that he sent on the day after the gun purchase to a woman he was seeing, according to U.S. reports.

Hunter Biden said in a statement that he was "disappointed" with the verdict but "more grateful" for the love and support he received during the trial, the reports said.

The younger Biden has also been indicted on charges including tax offenses in California with a trial expected to begin in September.

In late May, Trump was found guilty on charges related to a cover-up of hush money paid on his behalf to a porn star ahead of the 2016 election, making him the first former U.S. president to be convicted in a criminal case.

Trump and his supporters said the trial was politically motivated, a claim dismissed by Biden who said "no one is above the law."

Related coverage:

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Biden, Trump to face off in 1st 2024 presidential debate on June 27
Britain's Prime Minister and Conservative Party leader Rishi Sunak delivers a speech to launch the general election manifesto in Silverstone, England, on June 11, 2024. Credit - Benjamin CremelAP Photo

At the end of May, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak surprised British voters by announcing a snap election on July 4, several months earlier than expected. But with most polls predicting an electoral wipeout for the Conservative Party, which is behind the opposition Labour Party by almost 20 points, Sunak has attempted to rescue a faltering campaign by putting forward policies seen more in line with traditional Tory strengths.

On Tuesday, June 11, the prime minister unveiled the 2024 election manifesto, acknowledging that people are frustrated with our party and frustrated with me, before claiming the Tories were still the only party with the big ideas to make this country a better place to live. The 67-page documenttitled Clear Plan, Bold Action, Secure Futureoutlines the Conservative Partys vision for another five years in power with sweeping reforms.

In response, Labour leader Keir Starmer said the Conservative Party had presented a Jeremy Corbyn-style manifesto, referring to the former leader of his own party, by offering policies that would "load everything into the wheelbarrow" without explaining how to pay for it. Under Starmer, the Labour Party is eyeing a return to power with a cautious, center-left campaign focused on change.

Below, some of the key promises outlined in the manifesto:

A 17 billion ($22 billion) package of tax cuts

The Conservative Party has pledged tax cuts worth 17 billion ($22 billion) by 2030, which it hopes to achieve by reducing the main rate of National Insurancea tax employees pay to qualify for a state pensionby two percentage points. The Party previously cut the rate down twice, from 12% to 10%, and then to 8%, and a further reduction to 6% is expected to benefit around four million people. It also wants to support self-employed individuals by abolishing the main rate of national insurance entirely by the end of the next parliament. And it has promised to increase the personal tax-free allowance for pensioners. The Tories propose paying for the lowered taxes by slashing welfare, which Sunak described as being at an unsustainable rise since the pandemic, and by cracking down on tax avoidance, which is expected to generate around 6 billion ($7.7 billion).

But analysts from the Institute for Fiscal Studies, an independent think tank based in London, have responded with skepticism, describing the cuts as definite giveaways paid for by uncertain, unspecific and apparently victimless savings. The opposition Labour Party called the manifesto the most expensive panic attack in history and pointed out that the tax burden had risen to its highest level in decades during the 14 years of Conservative rule.

Boosting home ownership

Admitting that buying a home in the UK had become more difficult under the Conservative government, Sunak said he hopes to build an ownership society by setting an ambitious target of building 1.6 million new homes in England in the next five years. As part of the plan, he has promised to abolish stamp duty (a tax paid when buying residential property or land) on properties up to a value of 425,000 for first-time buyerswhich would help eight out of every 10 first-time buyersand to resurrect the Help to Buy scheme, which would assist first-time buyers with an equity loan of up to 20% towards the cost of one of these new homes. He has also promised capital gains tax relief for landlords who sell to their existing tenants.

However, a House of Lords report published last year concluded that such schemes have instead pushed up house prices and benefitted developers, rather than buyers, in the past. Moreover, landlords say promises to help sell to existing tenants would not address the shortage of homes available for rent.

Halving net immigration to the UK

Under Sunaks leadership, net migration to the UK was at an all-time high of 764,000 people moving from outside the EU to work and study in the UK in 2022, according to figures from the Office for National Statistics. In 2023, that number was 10% lower, at 685,000 people. The Conservatives have responded to the increasing numberswhich stood at around 250,000 when they first came to power in 2010by promising a legal cap on migration by curbing the annual number of work and family visas.

The manifesto states this will in turn help protect public servicesbut it goes against the advice of the governments own Migration Advisory Committee, which in 2018 stated that the cap on high-skilled migrants should be scrapped because of the positive contributions they make to public finances. The government spending watchdog, the Office for Budget Responsibility, has also stated that more net migration helps the economy as a whole to grow.

Sending asylum seekers to Rwanda

A divisive deportation scheme proposed by the government would deport asylum seekers to Rwanda in an attempt to stem the flow of migrants entering British shores on small boats through the English channel. The flagship scheme, which has already cost around 310 million ($395 million), continues to be part of the Conservative Partys election manifesto. Sunak has vowed that the first flights would take off within days if the Conservatives returned to office, while the manifesto stated that there will be a regular rhythm of flights every month, starting this July. Some members of the Conservative Party have also called for the UK to pull out of the European Convention on Human Rights. If we are forced to choose between our security and the jurisdiction of a foreign court, including the ECHR, we will always choose our security, states the manifesto.

The first flight, which would see the deportation of 300 migrantsless than half the number of arrivals in this month alonewas already delayed by ministers last month. Over a dozen legal challenges have been filed in the courts, while a unanimous report published earlier this year by the Public Accounts Committee, an influential parliamentary committee, concluded that the Home Office does not have a credible plan for sending asylum seekers to Rwanda.

Write to Astha Rajvanshi at astha.rajvanshi@time.com.
KHP offers easier way to get a VIN inspection

WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW)  The Kansas Highway Patrol is now scheduling VIN inspections online. The KHP says the online system should prevent the long wait times at many of its inspection stations.

Kansas requires any vehicle purchased out-of-state, or those that have incurred damage requiring a Salvage Title, to receive a VIN inspection before being tagged by a county treasurer.

The KHP says scheduling online appointments begins immediately for Monday, June 17, and beyond.

AGCO Hesston sending some work to Mexico

The new online scheduler will apply to any VIN Inspection station operated by the Kansas Highway Patrol. The KHP says scheduling appointments online will be mandatory at these high-volume locations:

Wichita Metro: Douglas and Kechi

Kansas City Metro: Olathe, Lamar, and I-70

Lawrence

Leavenworth

Topeka

Click here to schedule an appointment or to learn more.

Appointments for VIN Inspections done by a designee location, such as a county sheriffs office, will be handled through the designee location and not through the online service.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSN-TV.
Who Killed a Beloved Mother and Her 4-Year-Old Daughter Found Dead Off Turnpike in Florida?

Beatrice Saintvil and her 4-year-old daughter were found with gunshot wounds inside a car off the turnpike in Hollywood, Fla., on June 7

gofundme Beatrice Saintvil with her 4-year-old daughter Janelle.

A beloved mother and her young daughter were found shot in a car off a turnpike in Hollywood, Fla., under mysterious circumstances, and now her family is searching for answers.

Beatrice Saintvil and her 4-year-old daughter, whose name authorities have not shared, were found with gunshot wounds inside a vehicle parked off the Florida Turnpike near Hollywood Boulevard on June 7, according to a press release from the Broward County Sheriffs Office. Investigators believe the shooting occurred about 30 minutes before troopers with the Florida Highway Patrol responded to the scene at 11:50 p.m.

The sheriffs office said the girl was pronounced dead at the scene while Saintvil died at a local hospital a short time later. Authorities are now investigating the shooting as a double homicide, but have not identified any suspects.

We want to know who did it, Saintvils sister, Kyanna Librun, told NBC Miami. We want to see their face and ask them why. Why? A 4-year-old baby girl and 27-year-old mother who never had a problem with anyone, why? We want to know, why?

Librun described her sister as "a dancer, a party maker" and a "lover," who was often the peacemaker in the family, NBC Miami reported.

According to WSVN, authorities released a 911 that details the mother and daughters possible last moments. The outlet reports that a man who called 911 can be heard on the other end of the line seemingly trying to help the pair.

Get up! Get up! (Unintelligible) gonna be OK, the caller can be heard saying. Its unclear if the caller witnessed the shooting.

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 GoFundMe campaign created to help offset the mother and daughter's funeral expenses states they "touched the lives of many with their warmth, kindness, and unwavering spirit."

The Broward County Sheriffs Office is asking for the publics help in identifying a shooter. Anyone with information on the deadly shooting is asked to contact BSO Homicide Detective Ryan Schnakenberg at 954-321-4247 or submit a tip through the SaferWatch app.

Those who wish to remain anonymous can contact Broward Crime Stoppers at 954-493-TIPS (8477). Any Crime Stoppers tip that leads to an arrest in this case is eligible for a reward of up to $5,000, according to the sheriffs office.



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Read the original article on People.
The Osceola County Sheriffs Office said a law enforcement officer was arrested for soliciting a minor for nude photographs in exchange for payment.

The Sheriffs Office said it was notified by the Ninth Judicial Circuit State Attorneys Office of an incident involving a Kissimmee Police Department Officer.

Detectives with the Internet Crimes Against Children unit were notified of the incident and began an investigation.

Detectives said ICAC was able to meet with the victim and obtain a statement and evidence which led to the identity of the suspect as 25-year-old Dariel Javier Quiles-Davila.

Read: Remains of a man found 30 years ago in Orange County have been identified

The news release said that during an interview with the victim, it was learned that the KPD officer met with the victim in October 2023 during a call for service.

Based on evidence, the ICAC said it issues several search warrants for the social media accounts of the victim and suspect.

Detectives said they learned Quiles-Davila had pornographic photographs of the minor within his social media account along with evidence of payment and sexual conversations with the minor.

Read: Police: 17-year-old charged with DUI crash at 120 mph that killed Ocala husband and wife

OCSO said Quiles-Davila was interviewed regarding the incident on Monday.

The Sheriffs Office said Quiles-Davila is being charged with eight counts of possession of photo and video of sexual performance by a child, one count of solicitation of a minor for unlawful sexual conduct and unlawful use of a two-way communication device.

Investigators said Quiles-Davila was booked into the Osceola County Jail and has a $25,000 bond.

Watch Channel 9 at 4 p.m. for updates on the story.

Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
Greenville County voters cast their primary election votes in six council races during the South Carolina Statewide Primary on Tuesday, June 11.

In total, 58,268 ballots were cast in Greenville County for the 2024 South Carolina primary as the election day surprises include Kelly Long winning over Michael Barnes in the District 18 race and Gaery Collins unseating Butch Kirven, who is the incumbent in District 27.

"The people have spoken, and we need to collectively come together and take care of the people," Collins said to The Greenville News. He emphasized the importance of infrastructure control and growth, transparency on the council and putting the community's voices into action.

The polls opened from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., and election results were expected shortly after the polls closed, according to Conway Belangia, director of Greenville County Voter Registration and Elections.

Around 8 p.m., Belangia announced a machine-tallying malfunction at the Thornblad voting location. The ballots were later brought to the McAlister Square building to be counted in the Greenville County Elections Office.

Here are the candidates and vote tallies for each of the contested Greenville County Council races:

Henry Dirton Jr., 75, casts his vote at Greenville Senior High School during the democratic primary election in Greenville, S.C., on Saturday, Feb. 3, 2024.

Greenville County District 18

With 100% of precincts reporting, Kelly Long won over Michael Barnes 3,216-2,196.

Michael Barnes serves on the Planning and Development Committee and is chairman of the Public Safety and Human Services Committee. He is the incumbent for District 18 and has previous experience serving on the Greenville County Planning Commission.

Kelly Long has more than 30 years of banking and finance experience. She also is a mortgage broker. Her key issues are ethical growth over overdevelopment, transparency with the budget and constitutional conservatism.

Greenville County Council District 20

With 100% of precincts reporting, Steve Shaw leads Alex Reynolds and Ken Matesevac, 2,923-2,400-1,578.

Shaw and Reynolds will face off in a runoff election on June 25.

Steve Shaw has been in the Greenville County Council District 20 seat since 2020. He is a lawyer seeking to revoke new taxes, stop overdevelopment, and obtain money from the state to benefit the county's roads.

Ken Matesevac is a Bob Jones University graduate and District 20 resident since 2011. He has worked in the press department at his alma mater since 2010.

Alex Reynolds is a native of Greenville, Tennessee, and graduated from North Greenville University with a Bachelor of Arts in Media Ministry. His campaign issues include countywide development, road infrastructure, and fully funding law enforcement and first responders.

Greenville County Council District 21

With 100% of precincts reporting, Curt McGahhey won over Chris Harrison 3,003-2,370.

Chris Harrison is the District 21 representative with experience serving on the Greer Planning Commission and the Greenville County Planning Commission. Harrison works in commercial real estate and serves on the County's finance committee. He is chairman of the Planning and Development Committee and the Communication and Government Affairs Committee.

If elected, Curt McGahhey plans to focus on taxes, growth and accountability. He wants to ensure responsible planning and ordinances to foster Greenville's growth. McGahhey is a retired U.S. Marine and runs an aviation service and school.

Greenville County Council, District 22

With 100% of precincts reporting, Frank Farmer leads Jay Rogers, Nia Thomas, and Ethan Jedziniak, 3,070-1,758-953-390.

Farmer and Rogers will face off in a runoff election on June 25.

Frank Farmer is a U.S. Army veteran and Greenville native. His key campaign issues are raising taxes, stabilizing infrastructure, and creating a countywide identity.

Ethan Jedziniak is a Furman University graduate and part of a family law firm that practices personal injury, criminal defense, and more. His campaign focuses on land development, preserving Highway 276, and balancing government spending.

Jay Rogers has practiced private law in Greenville since 1989 and plans to focus on public safety, taxpayer protection and a plan for countywide road infrastructure.

Greenville County Council, District 25

With 100% of precincts reporting, Ennes Fant tallied more votes than Derrick Quarles, Lisa Sweeney and Patrick Prince, 974-713-349-66.

Ennis Fant, the only Democrat up for re-election this year, will head to a run-off against Derrick Quarles on June 25.

Ennes Fant is running a campaign on sustainable transit growth, environmental preservation, infrastructure renewal, and more. Fant, the incumbent for District 25, served in the South Carolina House of Representatives, where he worked on planning and development and affordable housing. He graduated from the University of South Carolina.

Derrick Quarles's six-point campaign model focuses on infrastructure, environment and sustainability, affordability, public health and safety, and transit.

The Greenville News reached out to Patrick Prince and Lisa Sweeney; no response has been received yet.

Greenville County District 27

With 100% of precincts reporting, Gaery Collins won over Butch Kirven, 3,011-1,317.

Incumbent Butch Kirven has served five terms as representative for District 27 and served as council chairman between 2005 and 2013 and then again from 2017 to 2020. Kirven is a military veteran, a graduate of Presbyterian College and a Simpsonville native.

Garey Collins' campaign focuses on addressing taxes and population growth. Collins is a Five Forks resident, an Air Force veteran, and has more than 25 years of experience in the human resources field.

This article has been updated to reflect the upcoming run off races on June 25.

 A.J. Jackson covers the food & dining scene, along with arts, entertainment and downtown culture for The Greenville News. Contact him by email at ajackson@gannett.com, and follow him on X (formally Twitter) @ajhappened. This coverage is only possible with support from our readers. Sign up today for a digital subscription.

This article originally appeared on Greenville News: Greenville County Council: Long defeats Barnes; Collins unseats Kirven
Kosovo marks the 25th anniversary of its liberation, when Serb forces withdrew after NATO bombing

FILE - Ethnic Albanian refugees cheer as a British tank passes next to the Stenkovec refugee camp near Skopje, Macedonia on its way to Kosovo Saturday, June 12, 1999. NATO troops entered Kosovo on June 12, 1999. A military parade and celebratory speeches, a new statue of former British prime minister, and visits from many international officials have marked Kosovos 25th anniversary of withdrawal of Serb forces after NATOs air campaign Wednesday, June 12, 2024. (AP Photo/Boris Grdanoski, File)

PRISTINA, Kosovo (AP)  Kosovo on Wednesday celebrated what it considers a liberation day, marking the 25th anniversary of the withdrawal of Serb forces.

During the 1998-1999 war with ethnic Albanian Kosovo Liberation Army separatists, Serbian forces failed to meet Western demands on reconciliation, which pushed NATO to launch a 78-day bombing campaign against Serbia that resulted in its withdrawal. About 13,000 people, mostly ethnic Albanians, died under Serbian repression. Some 1,600 are still missing.

Neighboring Serbia refuses to officially accept the independence its former province declared in 2008. More than 100 countries have recognized Kosovo, including the U.S. and most other Western countries, but not Russia and China, which have shut it out of the United Nations.

But Kosovos Prime Minister Albin Kurti has said that the European Union is our political goal while NATO is our military destination.

Kosovo-Serbia ties have tumbled even further in the past year, and years of European Union-facilitated normalization talks have failed to make progress. NATO-led peacekeepers have increased their numbers along the border.

Kosovo on Wednesday held a military parade with celebratory speeches.

Visiting Kosovo earlier this week, former U.K. Prime Minister Tony Blair said that had we allowed Kosovo and its people to continue to be brutalized, their rights stripped from them, their futures stolen, our own future in countries like mine would have been diminished.

Writing on social platform X, former U.S. President Bill Clinton said the NATO air campaign gave an end to a decade of repression and a brutal campaign of ethnic cleansing.

___

Semini reported from Tirana, Albania.

___

Follow Llazar Semini at https://x.com/lsemini
Wednesdays Top Stories

Wednesdays Five Facts

[1] Attorney speaks after former BCSO deputys DWI case is dropped  The attorney for a former BCSO deputy is speaking out after the former deputys DWI chase was dropped. On January 1, former deputy Adrienne Seay was arrested for DWI. The District Attorneys Office says the claims from the offer who arrested her were not backed up by lapel video and her field sobriety tests were inconclusive. Seay resigned from BCSO after her arrest.

[2] Bernalillo County Commissioners select top 3 candidates for county manager  Bernalillo County commissioners narrowed their search for the next county manager to three candidates. The top three candidates are Cindy Chavez, Marco Gonzales and Joseph Lessard. Current Bernalillo County Manager Julie Morgas Baca plans to retire at the end of the month.

[3] Record heat returns to New Mexico  Temperatures will be heating up today, rising back into the 80s, 90s and 100s. The heat wave will continue Thursday, thanks to high pressure overhead. The low elevations will stay dry and mostly sunny, with increasing clouds around sunset. Similar conditions are expected Thursday. The next storm will arrive on Friday, bringing more widespread showers and storms to the northern half of the state.

[4] Albuquerque neighborhood concerned over new drug recovery center  State of the Heart Recovery Center recently bought a building near Lomas and San Pedro. The group is planning to launch new services for people recovering from drug addiction. Neighbors in the area say they are worried about the type of people that would be around their homes. The clinic is expected to open July 1.

[5] New Mexico State Parks to offer free admission on Friday  This Friday, the New Mexico Tourism Department is opening all 35 state parks to residents for free in honor of National New Mexico Day. the parks division says they hope people will take time to explore the parks. You must show a valid New Mexico ID to enter the parks. Camping and rental fees still apply.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
KANSAS (KSNT)  The Kansas Board of Education (KBOE) has decided on a land transfer petition of 81 square miles from USD 113 to USD 115.

On Wednesday, June 12 the KBOE voted 6-3 to deny a petition to transfer roughly 81 square miles of land currently belonging to USD 113 Prairie Hills School District to USD 115 Nemaha Central School District.

District 1 Board Member Danny Zeck made the motion to deny the move which was seconded by District 4 Board Member Anne E. Mah. Zeck said he hoped the two districts could come together for a more equitable solution.

Since this is my district Ive been very fortunate to be in both towns, theres a lot of going on great in both areas and support from the families, Zeck said. And this is hard because both towns are really great, the schools are really great, good people, good support, good board members and on and on and on. But, on the other side, Im going to make a motion that we deny the land transfer petition from 115.

Putting America last: Kobach sues Biden admin over farm union rule

All those parents made the same choice as those in the disputed area, Mah said. They pay taxes in one district and send their kids to another, that happens all over the state and the fact is, now with open borders thats just an unknown quantity that we also have to consider. We could have thousands of more kids across the state where they are attending school in one district and their parents are paying taxes in another and the legislature made no notion at all that the land would follow the kid or the property taxes would follow the kid.

USD 115 Board of Education President Amy Sudbeck told 27 News the issue dates all the way back to a multi-district merger in 2010. She said there was an agreement between USD 113 and nearby Bern schools as part of the merger. The agreement promised the land would follow Bern residents to whichever district they moved to if Bern schools closed.

Over a decade is certainly long enough, Sudbeck told 27 News on June 11. For somebody to say no this is settled and this is where we go to school now, so our land needs to be moved with us.'

Bern schools closed in 2012 and according to Sudbeck an overwhelming majority of those students began attending Nemaha Central Schools, but the land stayed with USD 113.

Over 650 Kansas cattle sent to landfill or buried in 2023

When 27 News reached out to USD 113 Superintendent Todd Evans on June 11, he said their lawyers advised the district not to speak with the media and provided a statement indicating Prairie Hills believed the Kansas Board of Education would reject the petition.

This has been the toughest thing I think weve faced as a board since weve been at it for a year and a half together District 7 Board Member Dennis Hershberger said. What we do today will make, cause some, philosophies whatever to stand for maybe a generation.

The council will now make a final order consistent with the discussion and have the board chair sign the order no later than June 20.

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.
KYODO NEWS - Jun 12, 2024 - 13:34 | All, Japan

Japan's parliament enacted Wednesday a law to promote competition in smartphone app stores by restricting tech giants Apple Inc. and Google LLC from limiting third-party companies from selling and operating apps on their platforms.

The law will prohibit the providers of Apple's iOS and Google's Android smartphone operating systems, app stores and payment platforms from preventing the sale of apps and services that directly compete with the native platforms' own.

The change is aimed at stopping the dominant players from gatekeeping and forcing them to engage in price competition with smaller challengers in hopes of benefiting consumers and promoting innovation.

The law will also prohibit the tech giants from giving priority to their own services in internet search results.

Violations of the new law will bring a penalty of 20 percent of the domestic revenue of the service found to have breached the rules. The fine can increase to 30 percent if the companies do not cease the anticompetitive practices.

The new penalty is more than triple the existing fine under the antimonopoly law, which imposes fines of 6 percent of revenue gained through services deemed to be using an anticompetitive edge.

The new law, expected to take effect by the end of 2025, follows a similar regulation introduced by the European Union in March.

The technology giants, which will be designated by the Fair Trade Commission, are to be required to submit regulatory compliance reports and will be monitored by the commission to ensure they are following the rules.

The legislation, which was approved by the House of Representatives in May, was enacted after being passed by the House of Councillors on Wednesday.

Related coverage:

Japan Cabinet OKs bill to challenge Apple-Google app store duopoly

Meta sued in Japan for investment ads with fake celebrity endorsement
The Lake County Council interviewed two candidates  including one who has expressed opposition to vaccine and mask mandates  to fill the citizen appointment of the Lake County Health Board at its Tuesday meeting.

Dorian Patel, who has had a career in radiology, and Cynthia Hoess, who has been a physician for 30 years and currently works as a pediatrician for Methodist Hospitals, both said they would like to serve the board to ensure its transparency with the public.

I am very interested in finding out how the health board operates, what theyre goals are, Patel said. Were here to find out more about how the health board operates.

The board wasnt expecting to conduct interviews at the meeting as the opening had not been posted or advertised. But Hobart resident Barbara Koteles told the board she spoke with Lake County Commissioner Michael Repay who informed her about the citizen appointment to the health board. Koteles said she told Patel and Hoess about the opening.

When the council was considering $4.87 million in state funding for the health department last year, Patel and Koteles spoke out against it, expressing concern that the money would be used for vaccine and mask mandates.

Lake County Council President Christine Cid said three people sent in resumes or letters of interest for the position, but only Patel and Hoess attended Tuesdays meeting. The council agreed to accept resumes for the position through June 28 and to conduct further interviews at its July 9 meeting.

The health board meets four times a year, Cid said, and when asked both women said they could be available for the meetings.

Koteles said she and others are curious who has oversight over the health board, who evaluates the board members and who checks the political backgrounds of each board member.

Past performance is a predictor of future performance, Koteles said. We want to see how they operate and what they were doing.

Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb advocated strongly for the Health First Indiana initiative, which was created in 2023 by the Indiana legislature through Senate Enrolled Act 4 to improve overall health of Hoosiers, a metric where the state consistently ranks among the worst in the nation.

As part of its spending plan, the Lake County Health Department plans to open a maternal and child health center in both the north and south sides of the county.

As a physician, Hoess said shes worked in a tuberculosis clinic, an HIV clinic and in a clinic that provided home visits to asthmatic patients in Gary to help them with their medications so they can avoid hospitalization, among other things.

There really isnt much that I have not seen, Hoess said. I have a passion for what I do.

Hoess said shed like to see the health department work toward decreasing the number of patients with diabetes, hypertension and obesity, which have increased since the COVID-19 pandemic. The department should also find ways to support people with mental health issues, which have also increased since the pandemic, she said.

Im a team player. Im active. I want the best health for everybody, Hoess said. Im interested in being part of the Lake County Board of Health so that we can  get back and make up for time that we lost from COVID.

The board must follow guidelines established by the CDC, Cid said, so she asked both candidates if they are aware of that. Patel said, yes that was brought to our attention, and Hoess said, right.

In her work, Hoess said she follows guidelines and best practices set by various government health departments.

We pretty much have to follow it, Hoess said.

Councilman Ted Bliski said he knows people were upset about the mask and vaccine mandates during the COVID-19 pandemic, which has caused some people to become more involved in local politics.

Bilski said he wouldnt want to appoint someone with a specific political agenda to the health board.

I hope people arent taking this job to move forward a political agenda but for the public health of Lake County, Bilski said.

akukulka@chicagotribune.com
SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI)  The Lakeside Union School District is now trying to get in on the ongoing legal battle over when teachers should inform the parents of transgender students about their identities.

In new court filings, the attorneys for two teachers at Rincon Middle School in Escondido, Elizabeth Mirabelli and Lori Ann West, requested their ongoing lawsuit be expanded to a class-action that ropes in the Lakeside school district, two sets of unnamed parents, and two additional teachers as new plaintiffs.

It comes four months after the teachers added California Gov. Gavin Newsom, Attorney General Rob Bonta and state education officials as defendants in an effort to set up a wider legal battle that could settle constitutional clashes between the rights of parents and LGBTQ+ students.

The lawsuit was initially filed in May 2023, challenging an Escondido Union School District policy that requires teachers to get consent from students who identify as transgender or non-binary before disclosing their identity to their parents.

Lakeside Union School District unanimously approves new Parents Bill of Rights

The policy also required teachers to use the students preferred names and pronouns at school before reverting to biological pronouns and legal names when speaking with their parents until they give permission for them to disclose that information.

District officials said the policy was put in place to protect transgender students who may not be comfortable with coming out to their parents yet, due to safety risks at home. It echoed existing guidelines from the states Department of Education on how to better accommodate its LGBTQ+ students for better academic outcomes while protecting their right to privacy.

Research has shown a majority LGBTQ+ youth do not live in homes they view as supportive of their identity, and those who live in such environments but are outed before they are ready often see higher rates of experiencing homelessness, familial abuse and suicidal ideation.

In their lawsuit, however, the teachers argued the districts policy forced them to lie to parents about issues tied to their childrens well-being, contradicting other existing policies. The two also argued it was a violation of their right to freedom of expression and free exercise of religion.

The federal judge hearing the case agreed with the teachers in a request for a preliminary injunction to temporarily halt its enforcement while the case continues, arguing that the policy harms all parties involved as parental involvement is essential to students well-being.

However, the decision has only contributed to a landscape of conflicting legal interpretations on how schools are supposed to balance privacy for LGBTQ+ students and inclusion of parents in their childs education.

Tired of the ocean? Here are some lakes to visit in San Diego County

Outside San Diego County, Bonta has filed lawsuits against school districts that implement what he describes as forced outing policies, or rules that require teachers to disclose to parents if a transgender student comes out to them or asks to use a different name or pronouns.

A handful of these cases, which were filed in state court as opposed to federal court, have resulted in pauses on parental disclosure district policies over state law violations  something Mirabelli and West argue runs afoul the injunction issued by the federal judge in their case.

According to the attorneys for the educators, Lakeside Union is hoping to join the case to ask a court what exactly they can do with respect to parental notification policies, without adverse legal action by state officials.

Last month, the school district unanimously passed a new Parents Bill of Rights that allows parents to restrict their childs access to certain books, opt out of certain topics, and notify them of anything pertaining to the wellbeing of their students, including transitioning their gender.

Meanwhile, the two anonymous couples added to the class-action, who say they have transgender children in middle school, and additional unnamed teachers argue they have already been harmed by the districts policy, objecting on religious and moral grounds.

Our clients hope to put this issue to rest once and for all  by obtaining class-wide relief on behalf of similarly situated teachers, parents, and school districts, Paul Jonna, special counsel with the Thomas More Society and attorney for the Escondido teachers, said in a statement.

Despite the previous court rulings, it is unclear how a judge may redress the competing constitutional interests between parents, teachers and LGBTQ+ students with respect to their right to privacy.

Ex-Poway school district superintendent suing over termination

[The lawsuit aims to] get all the different interests rights settled at one time, legal analyst Dan Eaton said, adding that the question ultimately facing the court is how do you reconcile these  not which right is more important, but which right is entitled to greater protection.

It also remains to be seen how this litigation could impact another effort by state officials to prevent school districts from implementing the so-called forced outing policies relating to LGBTQ+ students: a state bill currently making its way through the legislature.

The proposed law, Assembly Bill 1955, was introduced earlier this year by Asm. Chris Ward (D-San Diego). It would bar school districts from implementing rules that mandate educators inform parents about their students gender identity or sexual orientation if they are open about it at school.

The bill was passed through the Senate Appropriations Committee on Monday, making progress towards a floor vote. Should this bill be signed into law later this year, Eaton said it will likely be blocked from enforcement due to the ongoing litigation.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Aerial view of Louisiana State Capitol building. (Photo credit: Wesley Muller/Louisiana Illuminator)

Gov. Jeff Landry signed a bill into law Tuesday that restructures the Louisiana Economic Development (LED) agency, eliminates labor union representation from its board and exempts the agency from certain state purchasing laws that critics say have caused bureaucratic delays.

Senate Bill 494, sponsored by Sen. Beth Mizell, R-Franklinton, attracted scant attention during a recent legislative session with a number of more controversial measures. Nevertheless, the governor held a news conference to commemorate his signing of the bill.

It gives the LED secretary discretion to reverse the denial of any LED incentives for businesses that lose them by missing a filing deadline or failing to meet a requirement as the result of an event beyond their control. LED offers billions worth of corporate incentives with generous tax breaks, such as the Quality Jobs tax credit, film tax credit, Industrial Tax Exemption Program (ITEP), Restoration Tax Abatement, Angel Investor Tax Credit, and many others.

Mizells bill also eliminates several of the agencys executive positions, including the undersecretary and assistant secretaries, giving the secretary more autonomy to tailor LEDs leadership roster.

Additionally, the bill changes some of the qualification requirements that were in place for appointees to the board of directors for the Louisiana Economic Development Corporation, a financial arm of LED. Notably, it removes a requirement that one of the board seats be chosen from a list of private sector individuals submitted by the Louisiana chapter of the AFL-CIO, which is the largest labor union federation in the country. The new qualification for that seat is a private sector individual with experience as a startup founder.

Mizells bill further establishes a separate 11-member advisory committee called the Louisiana Economic Development Partnership. It is charged with advising LED on project opportunities, strategies and incentive programs to promote growth in the state.

The governor has authority to appoint nine of the committee members  one from within each of the states eight economic regions, and one at-large member. The Louisiana Legislature gets to appoint the remaining two committee members.

Lastly, the new law exempts LED from state procurement laws related to the purchasing of information technology (IT) equipment, software and services. LED no longer has to go through the state Office of Technology Services for those kinds of purchases, though it will still be subject to state bid laws and legislative oversight.

Its taking them ridiculous amounts of time to get simple services and get programs mobilized  Its time-intensive, and its cost-intensive, Sen. Heather Cloud, R-Turkey Creek, said on the Senate floor last month.

The Senate Finance Committee had heard testimony during a May 6 hearing that the procurement process for basic IT services was taking between nine and 12 months, Cloud said.

At Tuesdays press conference, LED Secretary Susan Bourgeois praised the legislation, which takes effect immediately, though the changes to the procurement process will occur through a transition that will be final by June 30, 2025.

Senate Bill 494 is one of the most consequential pieces of legislation ever passed as it relates to economic development in Louisiana, Bourgeois said. It completely reimagines the visioning, planning and oversight of our economic development efforts. It creates a private-sector-focused advisory board. It gives LED the freedom to streamline procurement, leverage new technology and compete at the speed of business.

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LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  The driver accused in a wrong-way crash that left a Nevada Department of Corrections officer seriously injured was previously cited for driving 124 mph on the freeway, the 8 News Now Investigators have learned. The ticket was amended to a parking violation.

Donovan Garcia-Moreno, 31, faces charges of DUI resulting in substantial bodily harm and reckless driving resulting in substantial bodily harm for the May 31 crash on U.S. 95, records said.

On May 31 around 4 a.m., dispatchers reported a wrong-way driver going southbound on U.S. 95 near Lee Canyon. About seven minutes later, dispatchers reported that the wrong-way vehicle had crashed into another vehicle, resulting in both of them overturning, Nevada State Police said.

In October 2016, a trooper cited Garcia-Moreno for driving 124 mph on U.S. 95 in Boulder City, records said. The speed limit on that section of road was 75 mph, according to a copy of the ticket the 8 News Now Investigators obtained.

Police investigate a wrong-way, rollover crash on U.S. 95 near Lee Canyon Road on May 31, 2024. (KLAS)

The trooper cited Garcia-Moreno for driving 21 miles or more over the speed limit. The charge was later amended to a parking violation.

The parking violation yielded a $608 fine. Garcia-Moreno paid the fine in 2018 and the case was closed.

In the May crash, Moreno collided with Nevada Department of Corrections Lt. Jonathan Rivera, who was on his way to work at High Desert State Prison, police said. Rivera was seriously injured in the head-on crash and was airlifted from the scene to a hospital.

While at the hospital, Moreno asked if anyone was seriously hurt, and when the trooper told him yes, he showed no remorse in stating that people die every day, his arrest report said.

In court Monday, a pro temp judge released Moreno on $15,000 bail and an alcohol-monitoring bracelet, records said. The judge also ordered Moreno not to drive. A preliminary hearing was scheduled for June 27.

Last fall, federal investigators said systemic deficiencies with how Nevada agencies and courts share information led to a devastating crash in 2022 that killed nine people. The board cited Nevada officials failure to address the drivers repeated traffic infractions, including the practice of knocking tickets down to parking violations.

On Jan. 29, 2022, Gary Dean Robinson, 59, of North Las Vegas, was behind the wheel of a Dodge Challenger when he ran a red light at 103 mph at the intersection of Commerce Street and Cheyenne Avenue, crashing into a minivan carrying a family of seven. Robinson had cocaine and PCP in his system at the time of the crash, investigators said.

According to court records, Robinson had pleaded guilty just days earlier for speeding up to 10 miles over the limit on Dec. 9, 2021. He paid a $150 fine. Records the 8 News Now Investigators obtained reveal Robinson was actually traveling 19 miles over the speed limit before the officer cited him on a lesser charge.

Though he was stopped several times for speeding, Robinsons driving record included just one documented speeding ticket, the NTSB reported. The speeding tickets were lowered to other violations, records the 8 News Now Investigators reviewed indicated.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS.
LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  A woman accused of hitting and killing a man on a freeway allegedly googled news of the crash in the hours after, before bringing her car to be fixed at an auto repair shop more than an hour away, officials said in documents the 8 News Now Investigators obtained.

Rachel Terranova, 27, faces a charge of duty to stop at the scene of an accident involving death, documents said. Police arrested her on May 30.

On Sunday, April 28, a person called police saying there was a deceased person on the 215 Beltway near the Far Hills offramp, documents said. Officers learned a person in a Honda Civic collided with Darrel Pingleton, 35, of Alpine, California, who was walking near the offramp.

Officials determined Pingleton was killed around 11:45 p.m. the night before. Troopers also found pieces of a Honda Civic near the crash scene and then attempted to find a similar car with front-end damage.

On May 1, police received a call from a Pahrump auto repair worker about a Honda Civic that was dropped off with front-end damage and blood on it. The investigation led to Terranova, who said she collided with construction equipment on April 27. The drive from Las Vegas to Pahrump is more than 60 miles and can take more than an hour.

Troopers inquired with the Nevada Department of Transportation and Las Vegas Paving about any construction equipment in that area on the night of the crash, learning there was none.

Troopers responded to the Pahrump auto shop, finding hair on the outside of the cars windshield, they said. A stain on the bumper also tested positive for human blood. Investigators also said pieces missing from the car at the repair shop matched ones found near the crash site.

State police obtained video from a shopping area, which showed Terranova getting into a similar car, which did not show any damage, but then returning to a home in a similar car with front-end damage.

Terranova also allegedly took photos on her phone of the damaged car and injuries to her arm from broken glass, documents said. After the crash, Terranova allegedly googled, news today and continued searching through the night and the next day, police said.

Also on the phone, police said they located several texts where Terranova said a truck lost its load and hit her.

Earlier this month, prosecutors asked a judge to set bail at $250,000. Judge Joe Bonaventure released Terranova with electronic monitoring pending an Aug. 5 preliminary hearing.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS.
LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  Police had previously warned a man arrested with six dead dogs inside a U-Haul box truck that he had too many dogs in his possession, prosecutors said in court Wednesday.

Christopher Winter, 53, faces several charges of animal abuse after his arrest Tuesday. The 8 News Now Investigators first reported Winters name Tuesday.

In all, prosecutors said police 15 found animals in the U-Haul and another vehicle, consisting of 12 dogs  six of which were dead  and three cats. They said Winter admitted ownership of both vehicles  and had keys to both  when police questioned him.

Police said Winter was living in the U-Hauls cabin, which was parked in a MountainView Hospital parking lot. The temperature inside the cabin was 125 degrees, police said.

Officers noted the dogs looked to have been deceased for a long time, documents said. Winter later told police he was driving with the dogs after being evicted.

In court Wednesday, Judge Rebecca Saxe ordered Christopher Winter, 53, be held on $50,000 bail despite Winter having no prior criminal record.

Defendant had been previously admonished by North Las Vegas officials that he had too many animals, and defendant agreed with that, a prosecutor said in Las Vegas Justice Courts initial appearance courtroom. Yet here we are.

The courts concern is the extremely serious nature of the charges in this case, Saxe said. That as the state pointed out, there were prior admonitions by the police that you possessed too many animals, that clearly  based in this instance  you were not capable of taking care of those animals.

Saxe pointed out that one of the animals found in the U-Haul was covered in blood. She ordered Winter to stay away from animals and set a court date for June 17 in Las Vegas Justice Court.

A public defender, making the case that Winter should be released on his own recognizance, claims that Winter says he was recently evicted and has no verifiable residence. She said, however, that Winter has lived in area 15 years, and that his spouse and mother also live in Las Vegas.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
His laugh will always be my favorite sound: Funeral held for Levi Wright, toddler swept away in creek

SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4)  The funeral for Levi Wright, the 3-year-old boy who died after riding his toy tractor into a swift-moving creek, was held Tuesday in southern Utah.

Levi, the son of rodeo star Spencer Wright, was taken off life support on June 2 after nearly two weeks at a Salt Lake City hospital.

Levi Wrights mother explains how toddler fell into creek at their southern Utah home

During the funeral service, which was streamed online, his mother, Kallie Wright, spoke to those gathered inside the church in Beaver, describing her son as a dream baby whose giggle was infectious.

His laugh will always be my favorite sound, she said.

The accident that led to Levis death happened on May 21. The boy was riding his favorite toy tractor when he fell into a creek on his familys 24-acre property. The current swept him roughly a mile downstream before emergency crews pulled him from the water.

In a social media post last week responding to messages blaming her for the accident, Kallie Wright explained that the creek is dry most of the year and runs over a gravel road that leads to the house of Levis grandparents.

Levi asked her if he could ride his tractor that evening and she told him that he could, but he needed to stay off the road and out of the water. As he rode off, Kallie ran back inside the home in what she described as a decision that will haunt me for the rest of my life.

Levi did not do anything he hasnt done before, but this time the water was at its peak and strong enough to push his tractor off the road into the creek as he drove through, she said.

Per his obituary, Levi is survived by his parents, his two siblings, and his grandparents, among whom is Utah rodeo hall-of-famer Bill Wright.

The obituary thanked the first responders who pulled Levi from the water and the staff at Primary Childrens Hospital who treated him for 12 days after the accident.

While Levi was in the hospital, his mother and a family spokesperson gave updates on the toddlers condition to people across the world who were following the story.

When Levi briefly awoke from a coma after a few days in the hospital, it sparked hope that he might recover. But brain scans revealed serious injuries and attempts to wean the boy off a breathing tube and sedation were unsuccessful.



Kallie Wright wrote that she and her husband spoke with several medical professionals and suffered many sleepless nights before deciding to take Levi off life support. When speaking at the funeral, she said that her son is now in a place where he can stay that sweet, tender and soft-hearted little boy that we know and love.

We are anxiously awaiting the day we can see him again, she said.

According to the family spokesperson, a benefit barrel race is being held in Levis honor at the end of the month at the Bastian Agricultural Center in South Jordan. The proceeds will go to help the Wright family cover funeral and hospital 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 ABC4 Utah.
At least 40 Indians die in a fire at a building housing foreign workers in Kuwait

Rescuers arrive at the site of a building that caught fire in Kuwait, Wednesday, June 12, 2024. At least 41 people died when a fire swept through a building that housed workers in Kuwait early Wednesday, and officials said the blaze appeared to be linked to code violations. (Kuwait TV via AP)

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP)  A fire swept through a building that housed foreign workers in Kuwait early Wednesday, killing at least 40 Indian nationals and injuring more than 50, India's external affairs ministry said. Local officials said the blaze appeared to be linked to code violations.

Interior Minister Sheikh Fahad Al-Yousuf Al-Sabah confirmed the toll and ordered the arrest of the buildings owner during a visit to the site, local media reported.

We will address the issue of labor overcrowding, he said. "Im now going to see what violations were committed here and I will deal with the owner of the property.

Col. Sayed Hassan al-Mousawi, head of the firefighters' Accident Investigation Department, said there were dozens of casualties and that the final death toll may be higher.

Indias external affairs ministry said late Wednesday in a statement that around 40 Indians are understood to have died and over 50 injured."

The injured are being treated in five government hospitals in Kuwait and receiving proper medical care and attention, the statement added. It said that Indias junior External Affairs Minister Kirti Vardhan Singh will be traveling to Kuwait to work toward early repatriation of mortal remains and provide medical assistance to those injured.

India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi offered condolences to the victims and said the Indian Embassy is closely monitoring the situation and working with the authorities there to assist the affected.

The fire mishap in Kuwait City is saddening. My thoughts are with all those who have lost their near and dear ones. I pray that the injured recover at the earliest, Modi wrote on X, formerly Twitter.

Kuwait, like other Persian Gulf countries, has a large community of migrant workers who far outnumber the local population. The nation of some 4.2 million people is slightly smaller than the U.S. state of New Jersey but has the worlds sixth-largest known oil reserves.

A fire at an oil refinery in 2022 killed four people.
At least 9 dead, 29 injured in Russian missile strike on Kryvyi Rih

Editor's note: This is a developing story, and is being updated regularly.

At least nine people have been killed and 29 injured after a Russian missile strike on the central Ukrainian city of Kryvyi Rih in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, Ukraines Prosecutor Generals Office said on June 12.

Five of the injured are children, it added in a post on Telegram.

No further details on the missile used or the victims have been disclosed so far.

"The police are documenting another Russian war crime," Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko said in a post on Telegram.

An explosion was initially reported in the city by Kryvyi Rih mayor Oleksandr Vilkul at 3:51 p.m.

Soon after, Dnipropetrovsk Oblast governor Serhii Lysak reported that a missile had struck a residential area in the city.

"My condolences to the families and loved ones of the victims," President Volodymyr Zelensky said on social media.

"Every day and every hour, Russian terror proves that Ukraine, together with its partners, must strengthen air defense. "

Read also: Inside Ukraines prison recruitment efforts to bolster front-line troops

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
KYODO NEWS - Jun 12, 2024 - 17:36 | World

Signs that North Korea is making preparations for a visit by Russian President Vladimir Putin as early as this week were confirmed at a Pyongyang airport, with planes completely cleared from the tarmac, according to a report Wednesday based on satellite imagery.

NK News, a website that provides news and analysis on North Korea, said the removal of planes is rare and normally associated with visits by a foreign leader, but it could be intended to "make room for Putin's advance team."

The Russian leader plans to visit North Korea and Vietnam in the next few weeks, Russian newspaper Vedomosti reported Monday, citing a diplomatic source. It added he will likely go to North Korea first.

Reuters has quoted an official in Vietnam as saying Putin's trip to Hanoi was planned for June 19-20 but has not yet been confirmed.

NK News also said repaving and renovation work was recently detected at a Russian war monument as well as North Korea's defense ministry campus in Pyongyang, suggesting Putin and the country's leader Kim Jong Un may meet there.

A number of large objects have appeared at Kim Il Sung Square as well, possibly in preparation for an event the two leaders will attend, the website said based on satellite imagery.

Russia and North Korea have been enhancing ties following Moscow's invasion of Ukraine, which started in February 2022, with Pyongyang being accused of providing arms to Moscow.

Putin met Kim last September at the Vostochny Cosmodrome space launch center in the Russian Far East. At the time, Kim invited Putin to visit his country, according to the official Korean Central News Agency.

If it goes ahead, Putin's visit to North Korea would be his first since July 2000, when the country was led by Kim's late father, Kim Jong Il.

Related coverage:

North Korean missile facilities updated to raise morale: think tank

G7 to condemn deepening Russia-N. Korea military ties at Italy summit

Putin says no talks with Japan unless it alters stance on Ukraine
Letters to the Editor: The real problem at the Supreme Court isn't ideology. It's billionaire influence

The group Demand Justice projects a message calling for reform onto the Supreme Court building in Washington on May 21. (Paul Morigi / Getty Images for Demand Justice)

For the record:

8:46 a.m. June 12, 2024: A previous version of the letter by Janet Polak of Beverly Hills mistranscribed her first name as Janey.



To the editor: Law professor Ian Ayres attempts to define the problem with the U.S. Supreme Court as Republican versus Democratic appointments and Republican versus Democratic positions. We have always had a court more conservative than the public majority, and we have always had justices who wrapped their personal prejudices into legal theories, just as today.

What is different today began with the so-called Powell memo of 1971  named for Lewis F. Powell, who would go on to serve on the court  outlining how American businesses could assert their power. Since then, there has been an organized, well-funded operation to seize the judicial system by conservative billionaires.

The simple mechanistic changes proposed by Ayres would not break that chain. Only a Congress that uses its power of the purse and its ability to regulate certain aspects of the court can bring the necessary balance between the branches as envisioned in the Constitution.

Norman Rodewald, Moorpark

..

To the editor: It is rather disingenuous to claim that the "Supreme Court has come unmoored from American society and is losing credibility."

Why is this a concern now? It certainly didn't appear to be a problem when there was a liberal court majority for so many years.

It is quite apparent that Ayres and the Democratic Party are furious that the court, a separate branch of government, has a conservative majority, and they will now try to use whatever means to change that.

Janet Polak, Beverly Hills

..

To the editor: I can maybe give Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr. a pass when he says he didn't know that the upside-down flag was used by MAGA Republicans, but Thomas?

How can any reasonable person not understand that accepting gifts worth hundreds of thousands of dollars will call your ethics into question?

And this is a court that has refused to create an ethical overseer? Does anyone remember the name Anita Hill?

Anne Beaty, Eagle Rock

..

To the editor: In an authentic democracy, "we the people" would have the right to vote in or vote out justices in secret, legal and honest elections.

The justices would not be beholden to the party of the presidents who appointed them. That way, the justices would serve at the will of the people.

A real democracy is of the people, by the people and for the people.

John Rodriguez, Laughlin, Nev.

..

To the editor: Alito in effect tells every woman in America what she can do with her own body  but he cannot tell his own wife what to do with the family flagpole?

Marla Allard, Washington

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Lexington whooping cough outbreak has more cases than in the past five years combined

The number of cases of whooping cough in Lexington in the past six weeks has surpassed the total number of cases in the previous five years combined.

The Lexington-Fayette County Health Department said Tuesday the number of cases of pertussis, or whooping cough, has risen by six in the past week, for a total of 27 confirmed cases since April 26.

Before this outbreak, the city had just 16 cases of whooping cough in the previous five-year period, the health department said in a post on the social media platform X.

Because immunity in vaccinated people tends to wane over time, the health department reiterated the importance of boosters for adults and older children.

The highly contagious illness spreads through coughing and sneezing. Babies, people with asthma and those with compromised immune systems are at greatest risk for severe illness, according to the CDC.

Early symptoms of whooping cough are similar to a cold  a runny or stuffy nose, low-grade fever and mild cough. A week or two later, the cough becomes much more severe, resulting in violent fits of coughing that can cause vomiting, fatigue, difficulty breathing and even fractured ribs, the CDC says.

Lexington has more pertussis, or whooping cough, cases in the last 6 weeks than the previous 5 years combined! Fayette County is now up to 27 confirmed cases reported since April 26 (including 6 in the past week), compared to 16 total the previous 5 years.

1/4 pic.twitter.com/ebUHUiAUTQ  Lexington-Fayette County Health Department (@LFCHD) June 11, 2024

Whooping cough cases jump to 24 in Lexington. How to spot symptoms for the disease
Following a spate of new laws targeting transgender youth and students, advocates for the LGBTQ+ community gathered at the state legislature on Wednesday to condemn the legislation and push for further protections.

Organized by Equality NC, a coalition of progressive groups met with lawmakers and delivered speeches outside the Legislative Building as part of the groups annual LGBTQ Advocacy Day.

Speakers railed against new laws aimed at LGBTQ+ people that the Republican-dominated General Assembly passed last year.

Voting almost entirely along party lines, Republican lawmakers banned transgender women from participating in womens school sports, banned gender-affirming medical care for minors and passed restrictions on LGBTQ+ curricula in elementary schools.

We are united, unwavering, to protecting the progress weve made, creating safer and more supportive environments for our youth, and ensuring all individuals regardless of their gender identity can live free from discrimination and fear, said Gaby Garcia-Vera, interim deputy director of La Fuerza NC.

Republican lawmakers who sponsored the bills argued last year that they were intended to protect children and female athletes.

Last year, Sen. Amy Galey, an Alamance County Republican, accused critics of the bills of supporting the pushing of parents out of their childs public school education, adding that they support keeping the truth about a students mental health from parents and telling lies and resist every effort to keep sex out of elementary schools or to remove inappropriate materials.

Natalie Frazier, the gender-affirming care program director for Planned Parenthood South Atlantic, noted that leading medical organizations oppose bans on gender-affirming care.

We need a government that supports all people  not one that bullies our trans youth by passing hateful, medically unnecessary laws, Frazier said.

Sen. Lisa Grafstein, the only openly LGBTQ+ member of the state Senate, joined the speakers and noted that Wednesday marked the eighth anniversary of the Pulse nightclub shooting, where a gunman killed nearly 50 people at a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida.

What we know from that is that theres still danger, theres still hatred, theres still violence directed at the queer community, she said. What we also know is that that kind of violence is fueled by the ways in which people are talked about in public forums, by the ways that our elected representatives talk about the LGBTQ community, by the policies that are enacted, that are marginalizing and that are harmful to our lives.

Discussions surrounding LGBTQ+ issues have been top of mind as the country celebrates Pride Month.

Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper started off the month by officially proclaiming June to be LGBTQ Pride Month in North Carolina.

This month, we celebrate LGBTQ+ North Carolinians who make our state stronger even in the face of targeted attacks, Cooper said in a press release. We salute the pioneers whose decades-long fight for equality has brought great progress, yet we recognize that prejudice and hatred still persist and must not prevail.

President Joe Bidens reelection campaign hosted a Pride Month press conference with several of North Carolinas LGBTQ+ lawmakers last week.

Rep. Allison Dahle speaks at a pride month press conference hosted by President Joe Bidens reelection campaign.

As a member of the LGBTQ+ community in North Carolina and one of only six LGBTQ+ legislators in the state, I feel a responsibility to sound the alarm about the greatest threat to our community: Donald Trump going back to the White House, Rep. Allison Dahle said.

Joined by Reps. Vernetta Alston, Marcia Morey and Deb Butler, Dahle warned that another Trump presidency could result in more anti-LGBTQ+ judges being appointed, the promotion of conversion therapy and the potential repeal of same-sex marriage protections.

They praised Bidens record on LGBTQ+ issues, noting that he was an early supporter of same-sex marriage and signed the Respect for Marriage Act in 2022.

With Joe Biden, we have a president who fights for the freedom and respect and the dignity of every American  no matter who they are or who they love, Morey said. With Donald Trump, we are all at risk.

Last month, Trump said he would repeal an executive order issued by the Biden administration that includes sexual orientation and gender identity as protected classes under Title IX.

Were gonna end it on day one, he said on a Philadelphia conservative radio show. Dont forget, that was done as an order from the president. That came down as an executive order. And were gonna change it  on day one its gonna be changed.

Under the Dome

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The South Carolina senator Lindsey Graham, the top-ranking Republican on the Senate judiciary committee, said that he will block Democrats attempts to pass an ethics bill to rein in the US supreme court.

Graham told NBC News that he will object to the bill on Wednesday, meaning it will not move forward on its legislative journey.

The Senate judiciary committee chairman, Dick Durbin, from Illinois, told reporters that Senate Democrats were working to unanimously move the bill forward, the Hill reported. Durbin co-authored the bill with Senator Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island.

Were planning on making a move on the floor this week to move the ethics bill for the supreme court, Durbin said.

It follows a series of scandals focusing on the rightwing justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito in relation both to gifts and to their capacity to serve with political neutrality.

Durbin added that new evidence might emerge concerning ethics on the supreme court, elaborating that the evidence relates to the ethical considerations from some of the justices for gifts theyve taken and not reported, the Hill reported.

US representatives have also criticized what they call a crisis of legitimacy affecting the court.

While speaking at a round table on Capitol Hill in Washington DC on Tuesday, the New York progressive representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez said the court has been captured and corrupted by money and extremism.

A group of anti-democratic billionaires with their own ideological and economic agenda has been working one of the three co-equal branches of government, she said.

The Democratic congressman Jamie Raskin of Maryland, who was also at Tuesdays round table, said: The highest court in the land today has the lowest ethical standards.

In recent weeks, Alito has faced calls to recuse himself from election-related cases and for a broader investigation after a flag associated in modern times with the far right was reportedly flying above one of his homes.

And Alito, along with his wife, Martha-Ann Alito, came under additional scrutiny after Alito said that one side in the USs partisan left versus right ideology battle has to win, in remarks captured in a secret recording.

Martha-Ann also criticized the LGBTQ+ Pride flag, as heard in the same recording.

Thomas has repeatedly faced criticism for failing to disclose in the official record that he took lavish vacations paid for by the conservative billionaire Harlan Crow, ProPublica first reported. Thomas belatedly disclosed the luxury trips for the court record last week.

Public confidence in the court has also swiftly fallen in the last year to near record lows, according to polling from Gallup.
Lithuania will send Ukraine 14 M113 armored personnel carriers to assist in the country's demining efforts, the country's defense ministry announced on June 12.

"The transferred armored vehicles are intended to strengthen the demining capabilities of the Ukrainian army and are Lithuania's gratuitous contribution to the support mobilized by the Demining Coalition jointly led by Iceland," it said in a statement.

The U.S.-built vehicles will arrive this week, it added.

Nearly a third of Ukraine's territory, totaling around 174,000 square kilometers, has been mined since Russia's full-scale invasion began in February 2022.

Minefields between Ukrainian troops and entrenched Russian positions played a significant role in halting the 2023 counteroffensive and preventing the liberation of occupied territories.

The Ukrainian government reported on April 4 that mine-related explosions had killed 296 civilians and injured 665 others.

At the beginning of the full-scale invasion, Russia had a stockpile of 26 million landmines the largest in the world, according to various estimates.

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.
Lithuania has approved the transfer of 14 M113 armoured personnel to the Ukrainian army.

Source: European Pravda with reference to the Lithuanian Defence Ministry

Details: The transfer of the M113 armoured personnel carriers was initiated by the Ministry of Defence and the Armed Forces of Lithuania in response to a request of the Ukrainian government towards the allies to help the Armed Forces of Ukraine repel Russian aggression.

Armoured personnel carriers will help the Ukrainian Armed Forces in demining and are a donation from Lithuania to the support provided by the demining coalition led by Iceland.

"The shipment is estimated to reach Ukraine by the end of this week," Lithuanias Defence Ministry adds.

Background:

At the end of May, the Lithuanian government approved the allocation of 13.5 million for the purchase of air surveillance radars, which will be delivered to the air defence coalition led by Germany to support Ukraine.

The same month, it was revealed that Lithuania would supply Ukraine with six AMBER-1800 radar systems with a range of approximately 350 km.

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All clear given after police investigate suspicious package at southeast Austin school

AUSTIN (KXAN)  Police cleared the scene Wednesday afternoon after determining a suspicious package spotted by staff members outside of a southeast Austin elementary school was not an explosive device.

A lieutenant with the Austin Independent School District Police Department told reporters that officers responded at about 9:53 a.m. based on a report from a worker at Perez Elementary School, located at 7500 S. Pleasant Valley Road. That person said they saw a suspicious package outside the school building.

District police requested the help of the Austin Police Departments bomb squad after doing a visual inspection of the item first. Other agencies responded, too, Austin ISD police said.

They ultimately determined the package posed no safety risk and gave an all-clear to the campus at about 1:23 p.m.

This embedded content is not available in your region.

Austin police initially asked people to avoid the area, but now law enforcement are leaving the campus Wednesday afternoon.

The school districts police department thanked the staff members for reporting something they felt was suspicious and encouraged others to follow their example in the future.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin.
Weather updates: Severe flood warning issued for Naples, Collier County. What to know

The Naples Daily News is monitoring the weather today in Collier County. Here's what to know:

Note to reader: The most current information regarding Collier weather, alerts, and closures can be found HERE.

48-hour rainfall amounts in Collier County, Florida

Everglades City | 14.45 inches

North Naples | 8.86 inches

Naples | 7.92 inches

Lely | 6.96 inches

Immokalee | 6.58 inches

Marco Island | 6.09 inches

Current flood warnings in effect for Naples, Collier County

A severe flood warning is in effect for Collier County until 8 a.m. Thursday June 13.

Slow moving thunderstorms are casuing very heavy rainfall around the area. You may see flooding of rivers, creeks, streams,and other low-lying flood-prone environments.

Look out for extreme flash floods throughout the night.

Roads around the area may be closed due to flooding. Expect many areas of slow moving or standing water.

These are the areas that will experience flooding:

Naples

Marco Island

Everglades City

Ave Maria

Chokoloskee

Golden Gate Estates

Golden Gate

Naples Manor

Big Cypress National Preserve

What's the difference between a flood watch and a flood warning?

A flood watch is issued when flooding might happen.

A flood warning is issued when flooding is imminent or occurring.

Collier County is under a flood watch until Friday evening, but there's also a flood warning currently in place. The flood warning expires tomorrow morning.

More rain in forecast for Wednesday night, Thursday

More rain is expected tonight and Thursday, according to the latest National Weather Service forecast for Collier County.

Showers and thunderstorms are likely after 10 p.m. tonight and could bring 1-2 inches of rain, while an 80% chance of rain Thursday could bring an additional one to two inches of precipitation.

A flood advisory is in effect for Collier County until 8 p.m.

Locations expected to experience flooding include:

Naples

Golden Gate Estates

Vineyards

North Naples

Golden Gate

Naples Park

East Naples

West Toll Gate On Alligator Alley

Quail Creek Estate

Pelican Bay

Tropical rainstorm swamps Marco roads

Marco Island flooding

Much of Barfield Drive on Marco Island was underwater Wednesday afternoon, due to flooding rains.

Street flooding on North Barfield Drive on Marco Island Wednesday.

NWS issues special weather statement for Collier County

At 4:28 p.m., the National Weather Service in Miami issued a Special Weather Statement for Collier County.

NWS meteorologists were tracking a strong radar-indicated thunderstorm 7 miles west of Loop Road Ee Center, or 17 miles east of Chokoloskee, moving east at 20 mph.

The storm could bring winds in excess of 40 mph and gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around unsecured objects, the weather service warned.

Locations that may be impacted include:

Shark Valley Observation Tower

Loop Road Ee Center

Big Cypress National Preserve

Dade-Collier Training Airport

Fortymile Bend

Everglades National Park

Naples roads closed due to flooding

As of 4 p.m., Trade Center Way and Shirley Street at Pine Ridge Road are closed due to flooding from heavy rains, the Collier County Sheriff's Office reported.

Flash flood warning for Collier County extended

A flash flood warning for southeastern Collier County has been extended until 5:45 p.m.

According to the National Weather Service in Miami, at 3:51 p.m. Doppler radar and automated rain gauges indicated thunderstorms producing heavy rain across the warned area. Between 3 and 5 inches of rain have fallen. Additional rainfall amounts of 2 to 4 inches are possible in the warned area. Flash flooding is ongoing or expected to begin shortly.

Big Cypress National Preserve is expected to experience flash flooding, the NWS said.

Is Collier under a flash flood warning?

The National Weather Service has issued a flash flood warning for East Central Collier County. The warning is in effect until 3:15 p.m.

There's been three to five inches of rain so far with an expected rainfall rate of four to six inches in one hour.

Flash flooding is ongoing or expected to begin shortly. It'll impact small creeks, streams, urban areas, highways, streets, underpasses, and poor drainage in low-lying areas.

Big Cypress National Preserve is expected to experience flash flooding.

Florida weather radar

Is Collier experiencing any flooding?

There's a flood advisory in effect for Collier County until 2 p.m. today.

Collier has gotten between two and three inches of rain today and forecasters expect an additional one to three inches today. The additional rain will result in minor flooding.

There was a "radar confirmed" tornado at the section of Alligator Alley near the Miccosukee Service Plaza earlier today. The tornado warning has since expired.

What areas of Collier may experience flooding today?

Naples

Golden Gate Estates

Vineyards

Golden Gate

North Naples

Naples Park

West Toll Gate on Alligator Alley

East Naples

Quail Creek Estate

Pelican Bay

Workers trim trees along Copeland Avenue in Everglades City during a heavy storm that caused widespread flooding in Southwest Florida June 12, 2024.

How many inches of rain did Naples get yesterday?

According to the National Weather Service, Naples had 3.9 inches of rain on Tuesday June 11.

This amount of rain sets a new record for daily maximum rainfall in the city. The previous record was set in 2005 with 2.8 inches.

Video: Bonita Springs neighborhood

Is there still a flood watch in effect for Collier County?

Coastal Collier County is under a flood watch until midnight on Friday June 14.

Wednesday's weather forecast: How much more rain will we get in Naples, Marco Island, Florida?

According to AccuWeather:

THIS MORNING: Mostly cloudy and humid with showers and thunderstorms. Areas of flooding with difficult travel likely.

THIS AFTERNOON: Mostly cloudy and humid with showers and thunderstorms. Areas of flooding with difficult travel likely.

FLOOD ADVISORIES/WARNINGS: Check the National Weather Service for conditions where you live.

More: Weather Words: 10 creative ways we've heard experts describe all of this rain in Florida

3 links to weather-related stories for you: flooding, safety tips and more

FINDING YOUR FLOOD ZONE-COLLIER COUNTY: Here

WHAT'S CLOSED, CANCELED, POSTPONED: Here

TAX-FREE SUPPLIES INFO: Here

PHOTO GALLERY: See flooded streets in and around Naples

This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: How many inches of rain has been recorded in Naples, Marco Island?
South Florida loves its spiny lobsters, meaning loves to catch and eat them. But theres another lesser-known lobster species whose value extends beyond the dinner plate.

The spotted lobster doesnt just live on coral reefs, it also protects them  including in one peculiar way. Spotted lobster pee appears to act like a repellent to coral predators, creating what a new study by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission describes as a landscape of fear.

That surprising finding (who even knew that lobster pee?) is just one of several fascinating facts from FWC studies about the role that lobster play in the marine food chain and in South Floridas struggling reef system. Researchers also documented lobster foraging on coral-damaging fireworms and  for the first time  observed spiny lobster eating a fish. In this case, it happened to be an invasive lionfish that the state is trying to stop from overrunning reefs.

The findings could help shape efforts to save and restore the South Florida reef tract, which has lost an estimated 90 percent of its hard corals over the last 40 years  devastating damage caused by ocean temperatures driven higher by climate change, a string of coral-killing diseases, pollution, boat anchors and a number of other factors.

Theres so much effort going into coral reefs right now trying to safeguard them and restore them as well as you can, said Casey Butler, the FWCs spiny lobster research program lead. But is there a way to let you know the biology of the system works in your favor, so you dont have to do as much work?

Mini-season targets

Lobsters are an important part of the Florida commercial seafood industry and the annual frenzy of mini-season for recreational divers packs boat ramps in Miami-Dade and Broward counties and fills hotel rooms in the Florida Keys.

The primary target is the Caribbean spiny lobster, a species that migrates as it grows, moving from shallow nearshore seagrass beds out to shallow reefs, then deeper waters that provide shelter and food. But the FWC studies focused more on the spotted lobster, which appear do the heaviest lifting when it comes to protecting reefs.

They actually start life on coral reefs and stay there, playing that coral-protecting role as part of a healthy reef ecosystem. There are no season limits or regulations protecting spotted lobsters, aside from releasing egg-bearing females, but they face little fishing pressure and are only occasionally caught in traps or by divers.

The spotted spiny lobsters are sort of the knights in spiny armor, if you will. Theyre cryptic, but nobody fishes for them, Butler said. So we dont have to worry about people really going for them and saying, Oh, you cant fish for lobsters anymore because of the coral reef. No, thats not what were saying.

Natural repellent

There are a couple of ways they do their work. One recent study suggests a previously unknown power of lobster pee as a predator repellent. Lobsters urinate frequently and lab tests, Butler said, show coral-eating snails dont like seawater with lobster pee in and tend to avoid areas where the lobsters inhabit. While both spiny and spotted lobster produce prodigious volumes of pee, its the spotted lobster that seem to have the most powerful natural deterrents, particularly when including its dining habits. They tend to target more coral predators.

The spotted lobster, on the left, isnt a regular commercial or recreational target in Florida. But new studies by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission suggest its important to protecting declining corals on Floridas reef tract.

Based on these studies, Butler believes that simply protecting spotted lobsters on a reef might be a more beneficial preservation step than trying to remove snails or fireworms that eat coral.

Last summer, Florida coral reefs experienced the deadliest bleaching event in history, mainly from record hot water temperatures. And the numbers arent better this summer.

That historic heat also unintentionally provided a new variable for the states lobster studies. Butler and scientists found that lobsters at healthier reefs ate damaging predators like fireworms. But as reefs decline, along with food options, spotted lobster can turn to eating herbivores that protect corals instead, leaving the damaged reef even more vulnerable.

Think about it like if you wanted to go out and you said, Tonight, I really want to go eat scallops and crab legs or something, and thats what you wanted, but instead, you ended up at the Golden Corral and had had to just sort of achieve what was available, Butler said. I think thats sort of whats happening as we go from less degraded to a more degraded system as a result of our changing quality.

Butler said the FWC hopes to eventually publish its findings in scientific journals.

The study on the spotted lobsters appetite was funded by the Fish and Wildlife Foundation with a $37,000 grant to FWC.

Michelle Ashton, FWF director of communications and events, said funding backing the work was a no brainer. She said it was important to understand what happens when a reef is stressed and the cascading ripple effects on the food web.

To pinpoint one part of that ripple is fascinating, Ashton said.
Laman Ismayilova

The June plein air titled "Under the Open Sky" has been held at Arts Council Azerbaijan art residence in Mardakan, Azernews reports.

Organised by the NGO Arts Council Azerbaijan, this interactive creative event aims to support and develop talented artists.

The main purpose of plein air events is to provide artists with the opportunity to gather frequently in an informal setting to create paintings together, share experiences and energy, and create works of art outdoors. Such events promote constant communication between artists, stimulate their development, and promote their creativity.

Traditionally, from early morning, the participants of the event, among whom were both young artists and older generation masters, worked in the open air. Well-known artists Dadash Mammadov, Malak Abbaszade, Laman Hajiyeva, Huseyn Kangarli, Samira Faizova, Ruslan Rustamov, Aliya Asadullayeva, and Naila Maharramova took part in the plein air.

Such events help develop talent and strengthen cultural ties within the artist community.

Arts Council Azerbaijan is an international and independent art platform aimed at promoting Azerbaijani culture and art.

The organisation is the head of the International Arts Council Network, which operates in different countries around the world. Arts Council Azerbaijan has been headed by Dadash Mammadov since 2006.

Many projects have been operating for many years under the auspices of the organisation. Among them are Art Gazette, Production Studio, Azerbaijan Animation Museum named after Nazim Mammadov, Art School Drawing School, "Under Open Sky" plein air, Art Residence, and Youth Network.

Media partners of the event are Azernews.Az, Trend.Az, Day.Az, and Milli.Az.
Tsering Geden's wife and daughter have fun at the hall of their family hotel located at a gateway to Mt. Qomolangma in Dingri County, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, May 23, 2024. (Xinhua/Ding Ting)

LHASA, June 11 (Xinhua) -- It was already 10 at night, but Tsering Geden and his wife were still bustling around their restaurant filled with tourists from all over the world. The warm atmosphere inside formed a stark contrast to the chilly air outside at the foot of the world's highest peak -- the 8,848-meter Mount Qomolangma.

As Xizang Autonomous Region in southwest China enters its peak tourism season, the couple's three-story hotel located at a gateway to Mt. Qomolangma in Dingri County is often fully booked.

The mountain deep in the Himalayas is not only a dream destination for climbers and tourists, but also serves as a source of hope of prosperity for locals.

Tsering Geden grew up in Basong Village at the foot of Mt. Qomolangma. When he was young, his family relied mainly on herding to make a living. Tsering Geden and his father also served as guides for climbers to earn extra income.

Tsering Geden recalled that in the past, visitors could only stay in the county seat located more than 100 km away from the base camp, due to a lack of adequate infrastructure closer to Mt. Qomolangma. Back then, travelers would often stop at Tsering Geden's home asking if there was a place to stay over.

To cater to travelers' needs, Tsering Geden's father converted their two-story Tibetan house into the village's first homestay.

"Although there was only a single light bulb for illumination and a stairway with only one person's width leading to the second floor, the homestay was the best in the village for a long time," said Tsering Geden, now 32.

In recent years, Xizang has developed rapidly, and improved infrastructure has brought more tourists to Mt. Qomolangma. As the old homestay could no longer accommodate the growing number of guests, in 2019 Tsering Geden built a new three-story building with 35 guest rooms.

The rooms are equipped with underfloor heating, as well as tap water, bringing an end to the days when only a yak dung stove was available for heating.

"Every time I come to Xizang, there are new changes. The development at the foot of Mt. Qomolangma is rapid," said Mike Thomsen, a tourist from Denmark, who was on his fourth trip to Xizang.

Thomsen, 49, rode a motorcycle there from the regional capital Lhasa along with his pals and checked in at Tsering Geden's hotel.

"It's incredible that in such a remote, high-altitude place, our hotel can provide underfloor heating and laundry services," he said.

In 2023, the hotel earned the family 3 million yuan (about 422,000 U.S. dollars) in revenue.

Figures show that from Jan. 1 to May 20 this year, the Mt. Qomolangma scenic area received more than 136,000 tourists, a 27 percent year-on-year increase.

To protect the ecosystem, the scenic area banned fuel cars in 2018 to reduce emissions, and has been offering electric shuttle bus services for tourists ever since. The fleet has grown from 20 to 84 vehicles and nearby villages have started investing in the shuttle bus business this year as well, with more buses purchased to boost transport options for tourists.

Over the years, Basong Village has transformed into a hot destination with ample tourist accommodation, and almost every household is running homestays or hotels. Tsering Geden's hotel is no longer the best one in the village.

The ambitious Tsering Geden plans to further expand his business this year by building a high-end Tibetan-style hotel with an investment of 9 million yuan. Thanks to support from the government, he will be able to borrow 4 million yuan from a bank.

"With more visitors expected, I am confident in the prospects of my business," he said. 
MEMPHIS, Tenn.  Bail in Shelby County has been an issue that WREG has extensively reported on. One nonprofit, Memphis Crime Beat, has released its own findings regarding bail settings in courts.

We have a data analysis team, we have a couple of engineers on the team  one of them myself, President and Executive Director of Memphis Crime Beat, Leslie Taylor said. We also have a data analyst with 30 years of experience.

In March, the WREG Investigators team talked about this group, as we sat with them as they observed Shelby County courtrooms.

Taylor said they have about 20 people doing this every day.

Citizens sick of crime start watching courts, need your help

Its very difficult for the public to know who is setting bail in Shelby County. On the judicial commissioners and on the judges side sometimes theyre using a code, rather than their name and the public doesnt have the key to the code. So we cant tell which judicial commissioner or judge is setting the initial bail, Taylor said. Based on our findings, we believe that people are behaving differently based on how theyre identified. So, the people that are reducing the bond the most are the ones that are unidentified in the database. The ones that are reducing the least are the ones that are identified by that code that I mentioned.

They say the goal of their data is accountability.

We want people to be accountable for the decisions that might be made and however they came up with the idea. There is bail, there is no bail, theres reduced bail and these are the things that need to be addressed for public safety, Vice President of Memphis Crime Beat, Norman Blake said.

These people work for us. Theyre elected officials or theyre appointed by elected officials and we all know that we have managers that work for a reason. Those people are watching our performance, making sure that were doing a good job, right, Taylor said. When were not paying attention to the type of work our local leaders are doing what kind of outcome do we expect? So our elected leaders are only as good as we make them.

A spokesperson with the Memphis Police said the group has the support of Interim Chief CJ Davis.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
(Getty Images)

Policy, politics and progressive commentary

State funding for private attorneys and expert witnesses who take on post-conviction work, including appeals for death row inmates, is depleted, according to officials, leaving legal professionals struggling to keep their employees and families afloat while ensuring the rights of their clients.

Those bills are just sitting on someones desk in the governors office, says Betsy Allen, a Las Vegas attorney who estimates close to half of her practice consists of post-conviction work for the state. She says shes owed close to $30,000. Would you work for six months without being paid? The governors office wont even respond.

Gov. Joe Lombardo is refusing to acknowledge the lack of funds. His spokeswoman, Elizabeth Ray, said via email the Governors Finance Office is conducting a routine review of the post-conviction claims related to the public defenders budget account. Following sufficient review and approval, the claims will be paid according to the correct operating procedure.

But an email from the director of appointed counsel for Clark County, Susan Bush, to Allen and other attorneys in March says a budget shortfall, not a review, is holding up payment. Bush wrote that because of a mid-year hourly rate increase the STATE (emphasis included) has exhausted their PCR (post-conviction relief) budget for Clark County this year.

Bush went on to say invoices received after March 20 will take 60-90 to be paid. The State must now request additional funds as the invoices come in, and it is a lengthy process. Please keep this timeframe in mind and plan accordingly.

For Allen, who has three children attending the University of Nevada, Reno, and a small business to run, planning accordingly is a challenge.

Its been 20 years since we got a raise, and because of the raise, the money has been depleted from the account. Its been 90 days since we submitted invoices and now theyre saying it could be August or later before we get paid, said Allen.

The reimbursement rate for private attorneys increased this year from $100 to $172 an hour, except for capital cases, which were previously billed at $125 an hour, and increased to $230.

Additional funding is not on the agenda for Thursdays meeting of the Interim Finance Committee, which appropriates money outside the biennial legislative sessions.

A number of attorneys plan to comment during the IFC meeting.

These cases are all extremely difficult, demanding, intricate, time consuming and time sensitive, attorney Karen Connolly, who currently has three capital post-conviction cases, wrote in a letter to IFC. They require daily work and commitment from me and my team; they all require experts and investigators who are waiting to be paid.

The attorney adds she may not be able to continue working without being paid, a move that could have legal ramifications.

Defendants have right to post conviction counsel who are in turn entitled to be paid for work done, she wrote. The lack of funding could be infringement upon their constitutional rights.

Attorney Michael Lasher wrote to the IFC that the states failure to pay the attorneys and experts is not only unfair, but amounts to a Fifth Amendment takings issue for which the state is liable for the amount owed and reasonable interest.

Lasher says he intends to shift his practice to work that has a funding source.

I saw that Governor Lombardo wrote an Op-Ed for the New York Times, professing to care for working families, Lasher wrote. I am one of those people, with a small law practice funded exclusively by state and local governments.

A state website detailing budgets indicates an account titled post conviction relief began the fiscal year with $1.2 million, which has all been spent. A second account labeled statutory contingency  post con had $417,000, which has also been depleted.

The governors spokesperson declined to say how much is owed to attorneys.

Following the review process, we can provide you with a dollar amount of outstanding claims, said Ray, who did not respond to additional questions about the review.

The governor cannot unilaterally decide that someone doesnt get the PCR work, said Allen.That is a breach of the separation of powers. I bet what they owe me there is zero review going on. They ran out of money and just dont want to ask for more.

About 20 attorneys in Clark County are affected by the lack of funds according to Bush, who says no one has stopped taking cases from the state as a result of the delay.

An attorney who asked not to be named said she takes post-conviction cases only sometimes because of the delay in getting reimbursed.

There is a long history of us getting screwed and not being paid timely, says Allen.

When the Department of Indigent Services took over, we finally started getting paid on time.

The Department of Indigent Services (DIDS) annual report for 2023 says it is committed to reducing economic disincentives by promptly compensating appointed counsel and reimbursing counties for their public defense expenses over their maximum contribution, adding direct payments from DIDS should make reimbursement even more certain and rapid for the counties.

Allen, in an email last week, asked DIDS whether attorneys can expect to wait two to three months for current invoices.

I am hoping not, but in all honesty, I have no idea, Cynthia Atanazio of DIDS responded. We have been asked to accumulate as many claims as possible so that the Governors Finance can appropriate the best estimate of the amount needed prior to fiscal year end (June 30, 2024).

This is such an important issue to us, so it is our priority to get an answer, Marcie Ryba of DIDS wrote in another email to Allen on June 5.

DIDS declined to speak with the Current after it was directed by the governors spokesperson to send inquiries to her.

Allen says Lombardo is defying the statute by not paying the attorneys for their court-appointed work. She and others are contemplating legal action against the state. For now, shes sending Lombardo a letter asking for late fees.

[Editors Note: This article is updated with additional quotes from affected attorneys.]

The post Lombardo mum on shortfall for death penalty, post-conviction attorney fees appeared first on Nevada Current.
The royal portrait was defaced by protestors making a statement about one of the King's patronages

HENRY NICHOLLS/AFP via Getty Visitors view King Charles' portrait by Jonathan Yeo at the Philip Mould Gallery in London on May 16, 2024.

The condition of King Charles' portrait attacked in London has been revealed.

On June 11, the Philip Mould Gallery shared that Jonathan Yeo's dramatic painting of the King, 75, is in good condition after it was defaced by activists from the group Animal Rising with posters inspired by Wallace and Gromit earlier that day.

"We are pleased to report that contrary to any speculation, #TheButterflyPortrait by Jonathan Yeo remains unblemished and resolute," the team said in a statement on social media. "The portrait remains on view at the gallery until Friday 21st June."

The large framed painting, measuring 8  by 6  feet and displayed behind a rope, was protected by a sheet of plastic and remained undamaged, according to the gallery, reports the AP.

Gallery director Philip Mould further revealed that the posters were removed within moments and that the venue is now reviewing its security.

"It's difficult to predict when and how such things can be done by people who are determined," Mould told The Times.

Stringer/Anadolu via Getty A visitor views King Charles' portrait by Jonathan Yeo at the Philip Mould Gallery in London on May 16, 2024.

Related: King Charles Mentioned His Cancer Treatment to Rod Stewart at Celebrity-Filled Awards Ceremony

A commotion erupted at the gallery on London's Pall Mall on June 11 when two Animal Rising protestors vandalized the royal portrait with an image from the Wallace and Gromit cartoon. The portrait holds significant importance as it is the first completed image of King Charles after his historic coronation in May 2023. Commissioned by The Drapers Company, it commemorates Charles 50 years as a member.

The activists overlaid the King's face with the character of Wallace, adding a speech bubble reading, "No Cheese Gromit. Look At All This Cruelty On RSPCA Farms!" The stunt was meant to draw attention to the findings of a new report by Animal Rising, which claimed that "cruelty and suffering" were found across 45 randomly sampled farms within the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals' (RSPCA) Assured program.

King Charles follows Queen Elizabeth as the Royal Patron of the patron of the RSPCA, and Animal Rising wants the sovereign to drop his support around the Assured farms.

Animal Rising An image of Animal Rising's action against Jonathan Yeo's portrait of King Charles on display at Philip Mould Gallery in London on June 11, 2024.

Related: King Charles Joins Star-Studded Event as Rod Stewart Tells David Beckham His Knighthood Is 'Coming Soon'

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The monarch did the honors of unveiling the portrait at Buckingham Palace on May 14 in an event he attended with Queen Camilla. The vivid illustration depicts him in the uniform of the Welsh Guards (a regiment he was Colonel of for nearly 50 years) with a sword in hand and a butterfly on his shoulder.

Yeo is regarded as one of the world's leading portrait artists and joked on social media that the image "sparked a million memes" after it was revealed. The painting came through four sittings, starting in June 2021 at Highgrove House (when Charles was the Prince of Wales), and concluding with a session at Clarence House in November 2023 when he was King.

PA Images / Alamy King Charles unveils Jonathan Yeo's painting commissioned by The Draper's Company at Buckingham Palace on May 14, 2024.

Despite the drama on June 11, it will remain on display for the public, free of charge, through June 21. From there, it's expected to move to Drapers Hall from the end of August.

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MARLBORO COUNTY, S.C. (WBTW)  Longtime Marlboro County Coroner Tim Brown, who investigated Michael Jordans fathers death, was defeated in Tuesdays Democratic primary.

With 100% of precincts reporting, challenger DeAron Dee Smith secured a big win, grabbing 1,878 votes (62%). Brown, who celebrated 40 years in his role earlier this year, grabbed 1,133 votes (38%).

Tuesdays results are unofficial until theyre certified.

* * *

Caleb is a digital producer at News13. Caleb joined the team in January 2023 after graduating from Liberty University. He is from Northern Virginia. Follow Caleb on X, formerly Twitter, and read more of his work here.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WBTW.
Laureen D. Hom, the author of the new book The Power of Chinatown: Searching for Spatial Justice in Los Angeles, concedes that she had originally dismissed Chinatown as too personal and wanted to move on, like so many other Chinese Americans of her generation, when solidifying her dissertation plans as a PhD candidate in urban planning and public policy at UC Irvine. The deaths of both her grandmothers while she was in graduate school, however, forced Hom to reckon with what Chinatown meant for her family, now that these first-generation elders whod lived there had passed on.

Hom took up Chinatown as an intellectual project, engaging in rigorous research and field work into the development history, political power and intimate human stories of the legacy neighborhood in Los Angeles. The result is a rich community history that illuminates the heterogeneity of Chinese (and more broadly, Asian) American racial politics in forging the evolving, continuously contested identity of an urban ethnic space  and a call to action for Asian Americans to imagine a just and equitable Chinatown for the next generation.

Homs research interests in gentrification and civic engagement in Asian American communities had led her in 2012 to Irvine, where Asian Americans had been settling in newer, often suburban areas rather than the historic urban ethnic spaces like San Franciscos Chinatown, where Hom grew up.

That same year, however, Homs interest was piqued by the contentious development proposal for a Walmart Neighborhood Market in Los Angeles Chinatown. Residents, business owners and grassroots organizers all had starkly disparate ideas of whether a Walmart best served the community.

Chinatown in San Francisco, where author Laureen D. Hom grew up. (Christopher Reynolds / Los Angeles Times)

The Walmart opened in 2013 and closed three years later. Community leaders argued that it would bring resources to the predominantly low-income residents. Progressive activists, however, pointed to Walmarts history of labor violations and its potential to drive out small businesses in Chinatown. The controversy also created questions about who has a say in controlling preservation and change. What role did members of the geographically dispersed Chinese American community in greater Los Angeles, such as Hom, play in shaping Chinatowns future?

Hom wanted to know more: She embarked on an ethnography about the political culture in L.A.s Chinatown as it pertains to gentrification, community development and cultural preservation. Homs fieldwork in 2014 to 2018 includes interviews with 52 community leaders. She also attended and participated in more than 90 community events and public meetings, and conducted meticulous archival research into the history of the neighborhoods development.

Historic Chinatowns across the U.S. are facing the pressures of gentrification, contributing to the belief that these legacy neighborhoods are dying out and will soon disappear from the North American urban landscape. Hom argues against this narrative, asserting that ethnic enclaves are sites where racial community identities are reproduced, challenged, and rearticulated, and thus, the political processes that contribute and respond to gentrification are also a critical race project. The conflicts over gentrification in the community, Hom maintains, are a critical intersection of how we define community, the commodification of land, and the impacts of the racialization of our communities. Homs intervention as an urban theorist adds a powerful perspective to existing social and political case studies of L.A.s Chinatown as a singular expression of race, class and culture.

In the late 1800s, Asian immigrants were perceived as unassimilable others and legally denied citizenship. Since the 1965 Immigration and Nationality Act scrapped quotas favoring Europeans , the racialized identity of Asian Americans has largely become the image of the model minority: educated, upwardly mobile, white-adjacent.

Hom theorizes that certain elites in L.A.s Chinatown have steered development to support this simplified representation of Chinese Americans, including those with business interests in the neighborhood who have manufactured a narrative of the communitys transition from an ethnic ghetto formed out of racial exclusion to a vibrant enclave with emerging socioeconomic power. Yet Hom also highlights progressive Asian American antigentrification organizers in L.A.s Chinatown whose civic engagement grew out of the antiracist, anticapitalist and anti-imperialist philosophies of the 1960s.

Hom begins with a history of L.A.s Chinatown through an urban planning lens, giving readers a racialized, political context for contemporary development issues. Hom traces the trajectory of the neighborhoods development, informed by the intersection of immigration and urban development policies. Throughout the book, Hom shares interview excerpts from community members; it is a pleasure to hear directly from these voices, as Hom then expertly weaves together a number of dissenting narratives into a fascinating overview of a diverse community.

An acronym-heavy chapter studies the array of community organizations that have historically provided space for public participation in discussions over the neighborhoods development. Homs survey gives readers a poignant view into the internal tensions that arise with place-based community work. Another chapter is devoted to how community leaders eschew the term gentrification for balance in Chinatown. Though there is, of course, dispute over the correct balance, such as maintaining affordable housing and luxury amenities in new residential developments, and creating new businesses that attract tourists without threatening legacy institutions that serve the communitys working-class residents. Later, she offers a multi-layered picture of how the neighborhoods built environment  businesses such as galleries and restaurants, and public cultural events  all contribute to cultural displacement. This fascinating chapter interrogates the problem of defining ethnic culture amid a lack of policy tools to protect and preserve the neighborhood, while Hom returns once again to the question of who has the right to advance and control change in Chinatown.

The Power of Chinatown lucidly examines why historic urban Chinatowns still matter: Place-based racial politics are continuously reshaping the physical neighborhood environments, amid gentrification and forced displacement. Hom effectively argues that Chinatowns simultaneously persist and change; they are static sites with radical potential for equitable development, if the myriad Chinese and Asian American stakeholders across generations, socioeconomic status and immigration cohorts commit to a vision of spatial justice that foregrounds histories of resistance and collective power.

Jean Chen Ho is the author of Fiona and Jane and assistant professor of creative writing at Chapman University.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
BENTON COUNTY, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA)  Two people were arrested in Benton County for stealing from a store damaged by the Memorial Day weekend storms, according to court documents.

Valeria Andrade, 28, and Juan Parra-Rodriguez, 26, were arrested on felony property theft and commercial burglary charges on May 27.

Valeria Andrade, 28 (Courtesy: Benton County Detention Center)

Juan Parra-Rodriguez, 26 (Courtesy: Benton County Detention Center)

Due to the current state of emergency in Northwest Arkansas, the theft charges were enhanced to a class D felony.

According to an affidavit, Rogers police found multiple beauty products inside of the couples vehicle and in a backpack. Parra-Rodriguez admitted during the arrest that the items were taken from Sallys Beauty in Rogers.

Rogers police warn about looting, barricade violations as clean-up efforts continue

Benton County Prosecutor Joshua Robinson said the county plans to prosecute looters to the fullest extent.

If youre victimized, tell us and well do something about it and to warn people that think they might want to try and be opportunistic and commit a crime, you shouldnt do that, Robinson said Because if you do that, were gonna pay special attention to you. Were gonna deal with it, and were gonna prosecute you.

Robinson says these crimes of opportunity can become more common after a natural disaster.

Both were booked on a $20,000 bond. Andrade was released on May 29 and Parra-Rodriguez has yet to be released. They have a court date set for July 8.

While communities continue to rebuild, if you have become a victim of a crime or see one taking place, you are encouraged to contact your 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 KNWA FOX24.
When flames began to consume the Temple Court Apartment buildings on Monday morning, resident Zoraya Marquez, 66, felt the heat.

The flames were right on top of me, so I had to run out of there, she said. I knocked on my neighbors doors, but they couldnt hear me, so they had to be rescued through their balcony. The only thing I could do was take my wallet with documents and I shot out running.

The historic apartment building in Miami was destroyed in a 3-alarm fire on Monday that police say was set by a resident who also shot the buildings maintenance man. He has since been apprehended and formally charged, and the former residents of the apartment complex are waiting at friends homes  or a nearby motel  to learn about what happens next.

The man who did all this who destroyed the lives of over 60 people, was in 307, said Marquez, who lived in until 304. I would see him around; he never looked like a nice person.

READ MORE: Police take custody of man who they say shot another, ignited apartment fire in Miami

A breast cancer survivor, Marquez now faces a new challenge: accessing her essential daily medications, which were lost in the fire. She is currently working with the Red Cross to get her medication as soon as possible.

Im so thankful to everyone who has helped us, said Marquez. Theres too many people to thank.

A victim of the Temple Court Apartment fire arrives by trolley at the Jose Marti Gym on 434 SW and 3rd Ave. to receive aid on Monday, June 10, 2024 in Miami, Fla.

Now she and the dozens of former residents are waiting to see if their homes or belongings can be recovered.

For the first couple days, they were given shelter at the Jose Marti Park Gym. The Red Cross provided mealsdinner, breakfast, and lunchalongside health and mental health services.

The temporary shelter, which opened at 3 p.m. Monday, housed 47 overnight clients. This number increased to 54 Tuesday morning as more people arrived seeking assistance, according to Tiffany Gonzalez, regional communications director for the Red Cross.

Theyre very grateful for the help that theyre receiving, said Gonzalez. Many of them have lost pretty much everything that they have there. They came with the clothes on their backs, so they definitely have a long road to recovery.

In a statement, Atlantic Housing Management gave an update on housing for the residents.

The Red Cross provided shelter for the first night. Some residents have been able to stay with family, and we are providing hotel accommodations for the rest over the next two weeks while we work with HUD and the Department of Health and Human Services to help them find alternative housing during the interim.

Victims of the Temple Court Apartment fire arrive at the Jose Marti Gym on 434 SW and 3rd Ave. to receive aid on Monday, June 10, 2024 in Miami, Fla.

Miriam Valdes, 69, lived in the building since 2015 and says she never could have imagined something like this ever happening.

I left early to go to physical therapy and as I was getting there, my sister called me and told me what was happening, said Valdes. I rushed home, but by the time I got there, it was too late and I couldnt get back home again. We lost everything we had: clothes, shoes, medication, our passports just everything.

Victims of the Temple Court Apartment fire are guided by policemen to the Jose Marti Gym on 434 SW and 3rd Ave. to receive aid on Monday, June 10, 2024 in Miami, Fla.

The residents were transported to Motel 6 Tuesday afternoon where they will be staying for about two weeks until they can be provided with permanent housing according to City of Miami District 1 Commissioner Miguel Angel Gabela.

Weve secured 19 units so far and were working on furnishing them so they can have a resemblance of home, said Gabela. Were reaching out to Goodwill, United Way and my office will be donating more money.

READ NEXT: Man charged with shooting in Miami apartment fire, convicted of attempted murder in 1990s

Atlantic Housing Management also gave an update on Feder Biotte, the 30-year-old man who was shot during the fire.

Our Lead Service Technician, Feder Biotte, who was shot on-site at Temple Court Apartments in Miami on the morning of June 10, 2024, is currently in stable condition. He is loved by his family, friends, co-workers, and Temple Court residents, and we are all rooting for his recovery, the statement said.

Resident Juan Francisco Figueroa was arrested and charged in the shooting with attempted murder, first-degree arson and displaying a firearm while committing a felony.

Victim of the Temple Court Apartment fire is greeted by Commissioner Manolo Reyes after arriving by trolley at the Jose Marti Gym on 434 SW and 3rd Ave. to receive aid on Monday, June 10, 2024 in Miami, Fla.
RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN)  Republican Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson, who is running for governor, spoke to the conservative group Moms for Liberty outside the legislature Wednesday, criticizing DEI programs and adult topics in schools.

But, he declined to answer any questions, including about his campaign or recent controversies, saying he was on a tight schedule.

Children are not supposed to be learning about adult topics in our schools. In our schools, they are supposed to be taught to read, to write and to do mathematics, he told the crowd. Its not diversity, equity and inclusion. Its what we used to search for in this country. And, what we used to search for in this country was discipline, excellence and intelligence.

Robinson is in a competitive race against Atty Gen. Josh Stein (D). He hasnt held a press conference since March.

The lieutenant governor spoke Wednesday as Moms for Liberty planned to meet with lawmakers about various issues. Among them, they want high schoolers to be able to pass the U.S. citizenship test. They also want the State Board of Education to become an elected body instead of being appointed by the governor.

The Associated Press recently reported the group recently announced a $3 million advertising campaign to reach voters in key swing states, including North Carolina, and to boost membership.

The group pushes for parental rights in education. It also calls for equality and expectation of excellence in education while opposing DEI initiatives and queer/gender theory propaganda in schools.

Were accused of being right-wing, Nazi lunatics. We sit down with a lot of Democrats in these buildings. Were concerned about the same things they are, said Brooke Weiss, vice chair of the groups state legislative committee. We want as much local control as possible because we believe thats where it really matters in education.

Robinson declined to answer questions about what hes doing to try to advance any of the policy goals he has during the current legislative session. He has not been present during this years session to preside over the Senate, which is one of his duties as lieutenant governor.

On Tuesday, the General Assembly passed a bill on a party-line vote that would impact how funding flows into North Carolina for this years election. Republicans say it was meant to level the playing field following a 2020 opinion by the NC State Board of Elections that favored the Democratic Governors Association. Democrats criticized the bill, saying it would allow more dark money to influence the governors race and help Robinsons campaign.

In a statement, Morgan Hopkins, a spokesperson wrote in an email:

Our teachers deserve our respect and appreciation. Mark Robinson calls them wicked people and demons. He just wants to fight job-killing culture wars. Josh Stein understands the importance of strengthening public education and as Governor, he will fight for badly needed investments that support teachers and students and help strengthen North Carolinas future.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to CBS17.com.
This rendering shows a proposed student apartment complex near 14th Street and Avenue X, as presented to the Lubbock Planning and Zoning Commission on May 2.

A zoning change for the site of a future student housing development in central Lubbock's historic South Overton neighborhood received its final nod of approval from the Lubbock City Council Tuesday, despite some nearby residents' best efforts to keep the project out.

The council voted 6-1 in favor of the zoning change on second reading, with Councilwoman Shelia Patterson Harris dissenting. The Tuesday vote was identical to the first-reading vote taken two weeks ago following hours of public comment.

The project will be located between 14th and 15th streets at Avenue X, on the western edge of the South Overton neighborhood and just east of Texas Tech. The council needed to approve a zoning change for the property from medium-density residential to high-density residential before the project could move forward.

More: Lubbock City Council advances South Overton student housing proposal

This map shows the location and current zoning at the site of a proposed student housing development, outlined in black, in the South Overton neighborhood, as presented to the Lubbock Planning and Zoning Commission on May 2.

The proposed concrete-and-brick building will be 75 feet tall, featuring more than 670 beds and 570 parking spaces.

Discussions around the housing proposal have been tense, with residents of the adjacent neighborhood clashing with developer Parallel and landowner Thomas Kenneth Abraham for nearly a year.

Some South Overton residents spoke during the public comment portion of Tuesday's meeting in an effort to get councilmembers to change their minds. Others pointed fingers at specific councilmembers when they didn't switch their vote.

"(I'm) extremely disappointed, and disheartened, and regretful that our representative ended up on the opposite side of her constituents," Tonja Hagy-Valdine, who has led much of the opposition to the project, told reporters after the meeting. "Councilmember Martinez-Garcia has said repeatedly that she did her due diligence. I guess that's up for interpretation."

South Overton resident Tonja Hagy-Valdine speaks in opposition to a zone change to build a large student housing complex at a Lubbock City Council meeting Tuesday, Aug. 22, 2023.

Councilwoman Christy Martinez-Garcia represents District 1, including the site of the future project. She voted no on the zoning change when it first came across the dais in August last year. She said she switched her vote to yes when the project came back to the council this May because developers listened to neighbors' concerns and adjusted their plans accordingly.

Residents have shared concerns about the height of the proposed building as well as increased traffic congestion, safety, noise, trash and other problems that could come with the development. The most recent iteration of the project's plans show the height of the building reduced by nearly 20 feet compared to the initial pitch. Developers also reduced the bed count by about 35 and added 25 more parking spaces.

"The project's changed, and the city's changing. There's so many changes, and that included my thoughts on the project itself," Martinez-Garcia said.

The councilwoman said she has caught some flak for her May vote even though she did what she felt was the right thing. She said some individuals bullied her and even called her racial slurs.

"It was a very difficult decision for me, but at the same time, I did my due diligence. I met with everybody. And I felt like I had to do what I thought was right for the city and for my district," Martinez-Garcia said. "You follow the rules, you follow the process, and then you get attacked individually.  These types of matters require respect."

Martinez-Garcia said she hopes the developers and existing residents near the site can learn to be good neighbors now that the project is slated to move forward.

"I hope that the developer and the neighborhood will put some more effort into connecting with each other, because now I'm out of it. It's between them," she said. "I really believe that they have to put in some effort and try to rebuild their trust to create a dynamic neighborhood and make it even better than it has been."

For Hagy-Valdine's part, she said she and her neighbors will keep looking out for each other as the project moves forward.

"I think our plans are to stay vigilant, and stay positive, and just stay organized and in contact with one another, and just keep moving forward as a community to do the best that we can do to advocate for us since the city government didn't," Hagy-Valdine said.

This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Lubbock City Council gives final approval to South Overton project
Lee McKine Jr., 33, is escorted to the 364th District Court where he is standing trial for murder in the September 2022 shooting death of Alexandria Garcia on the Marsha Sharp Freeway.

A Lubbock prosecutor told jurors Tuesday that a 22-year-old mother's life was taken two years ago because of a 33-year-old man's senseless act of "impulse, anger and revenge."

Tyler Smotherman gave his opening statements before a jury of eight women and six men in the 364th District Court who were seated Monday to hear testimony in the trial of Lee McKine Jr., who pleaded not guilty to murder in the Sept. 17, 2022 death of 22-year-old Alexandria Garcia.

Prosecutors charged McKine under the felony murder statute, alleging he caused Garcia's death in the course of commiting an act that was clearly dangerous to human life, namely, discharging a firearm at a moving vehicle.

The offense is a first degree felony that carries a punishment of five years to life in prison. However, court records indicate that prosecutors plan to enhance McKine's punishment range using a 2013 conviction for manufacture of methamphetamine in Georgia for which he was sentenced to eight years in prison.

McKine, who has been held at the Lubbock County Detention Center since his arrest hours after the shooting, is represented by Lubbock attorney Kris Espino, who reserved making an opening statement until after prosecutors rest their case.

McKine's charge stems from a Lubbock Metropolitan Special Crimes Unit Investigation that began about 4:15 a.m. Sept. 17, 2022 after Lubbock police responded to Covenant Medical Center where Garcia was taken for a gunshot wound after the vehicle she was in was fired upon, according to an arrest warrant.

Garcia died from her injuries shortly after.

Prosecutor Tyler Smotherman in his opening statement told jurors the shooting stemmed from a fight at an after-hours club near the intersection of 50th Street and Research Boulevard.

Security camera footage from the club showed Garcia was with a group of people who fought another group of people that included McKine, according to police officials.

During the fight, a man armed with an AK-style pistol could be seen walking around in front of the club, then out of the cameras' view. Investigators believed the man began shooting because people could be seen running away, the warrant states.

Investigators recovered multiple shell casings from 7.62 caliber rounds from the area of the shooting, the warrant states.

Meanwhile, Garcia and her group drove away.

However, the video showed the gunman, identified by officials as McKine, and two women enter a dark-colored Ford Mustang, which speeds away, the warrant states.

Garcia's group were in the 4600 block of Marsha Sharp Freeway unaware that they were being hunted by the gunman, who caught up to them and began firing at their vehicle.

Garcia, who was sitting in the back seat behind the driver, was struck by a bullet in the neck, which ripped through her throat and carotid artery, Smotherman said.

Her driver headed to Covenant Medical Center."But it's too late," Smotherman told jurors. "22-year-old Ally is already dead."

Investigators believe McKine resembled the gunman seen in the after hours club video and obtained a warrant for his arrest.

By then, he was already being held at the jail after he was arrested by Lubbock County Sheriffs deputies about 5:30 a.m. for speeding in a Ford Mustang in the area of County Roads 6900 and 1340.

Meanwhile, deputies released the vehicle to the women McKine was with. One of the women was identified in court records as 20-year-old Cysili Quintanilla.

Investigators obtained a search warrant for Quintanilla's home in the 1900 block of East Auburn. The search yielded a 7.62 caliber AK-style pistol hidden under a mattress. Smotherman told jurors he expected to present evidence that will show that pistol fired the bullet that killed Garcia.

Smotherman told jurors to expect to hear about the investigation into the shooting that identifies McKine to the shooting, including jail phone calls and interviews with investigators during which he admits to the shooting.

Quintanilla, who is expected to testify as a witness for the prosecution, faces four pending charges of aggravated assault in connection with a separate case that resulted from a separate investigation about a year after the shooting during which she is accused of fighting with a group of people at a central Lubbock bar then tried to run them over with her car, according to a police report.

Smotherman told jurors that Quintanilla reportedly told investigators she was sitting in the passenger seat as McKine drove the Mustang that chased after the Chrysler Garcia was in.

He said Quintanilla told investigators that McKine asked her to move back before he leaned over the passenger seat and shot at the Chrysler.

However, he said since Quintanilla is a close friend of McKine's, and he didn't know if her testimony will be consistent with her statements to police.

This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Trial begins for Lee McKine in 2022 deadly shooting on Marsha Sharp
Mo Dianjin sells jasmine potted plants via livestream at a jasmine planting base in Hengzhou, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, May 10, 2024. (Xinhua/Zhao Huan)

NANNING, June 12 (Xinhua) -- The iconic Chinese folk song Jasmine Flower begins with the lyric "Beautiful jasmine flower." In Hengzhou City, known for cultivating 60 percent of the world's jasmine flowers, visitors are greeted with banners reading "Beautiful Hengzhou jasmine flower."

The beautiful white flowers, propelled by the surge of e-commerce that seamlessly connects cultivators with consumers, have created a thriving industry for the city in south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. Additionally, the industry has enticed young locals to return and start businesses in their hometown.

Hengzhou, dubbed the "hometown of jasmine in China," boasts over 80 percent of the country's total output of both jasmine flowers and jasmine tea. It's home to over 330,000 jasmine flower farmers and over 130,000 mu (about 8,666.67 hectares) of jasmine fields. Amid the rapidly evolving e-commerce landscape, livestreaming has emerged as a new driver for the sales of jasmine products.

In a cosy 12 square meter room, Mo Dianjin stood surrounded by blooming jasmine potted plants. In front of a cellphone camera, he meticulously presented each plant he held, providing detailed explanations to his livestream viewers.

"The fresh and fragrant scent of jasmine makes it a beloved home adornment. Through livestreaming, I can sell nearly 20 pots of jasmine a day. This has been made possible thanks to our stable customer base," said Mo, a senior student from Guangxi Economic and Trade Vocational Institute majoring in e-commerce. He is currently interning at a jasmine planting base in Hengzhou.

Thanks to the expansive reach of e-commerce and robust consumer demand, the jasmine industry in Hengzhou has diversified from the traditional duo of flowers and tea. It now offers a wide array of products that have boosted its added value, including potted plants, jasmine related foods and medicinal items.

Bi Donghai, general manager of the jasmine planting base Mo interns at, sources premium jasmine seedlings and old roots from local farmers, cultivating and processing them into jasmine potted plants and bonsai. Through livestreaming and online platforms, jasmine potted plants can be distributed nationwide.

A livestreamer can achieve sales exceeding 1,000 yuan (about 140.58 U.S. dollars) per day, with top performers earning a monthly income exceeding 10,000 yuan, said Bi, adding the promising financial prospect has attracted young locals to work in the industry and even drawn back those previously seeking employment outside Hengzhou.

Chen Rilian is one of the retired businessmen. "During my time working in the city Hangzhou, the frontrunner in China's e-commerce landscape, I stumbled upon this industry. So I decided to leverage e-commerce to expand the reach of jasmine flowers and tea in my hometown," said Chen, now the owner of a tea company in Hengzhou, reflecting on his decision to venture into e-commerce upon returning to Hengzhou in 2011.

Chen acknowledged that the early days of his entrepreneurial journey were tough due to the limited awareness of e-commerce at that time. "As they watched me purchase numerous sets of computers, my friends and family thought I was about to start an internet cafe."

However, through perseverance, Chen has made great progress, to the extent where he now runs his own tea processing factory and has established his own brand.

To aid more farmers in transitioning and diversifying their sales channels, Hengzhou organized various training activities to cultivate young e-commerce talents for rural industrial development and promote local products.

The number of e-commerce businesses in Hengzhou has now surpassed 6,500, an increase of over 100 compared to the same period last year. Huang Zhenwu, a local official responsible for the e-commerce business, noted that this surge has infused new vitality into rural economic development.

In 2023, the city witnessed a whopping 6.695 billion yuan in e-commerce transactions, marking a year-on-year increase of 12.17 percent. Notably, online retail sales hit 2.73 billion yuan, creating jobs and business start-ups for over 19,000 people.

The robust expansion of the e-commerce business has also spurred the enhancement of express logistics networks. In March 2023, the city's logistics express joint distribution center commenced operations. Through closer collaboration with express logistics platforms, the transportation costs of agricultural produces have continued to fall.

"We are currently promoting the use of AI digital human livestreaming technology across our entire jasmine industry chain. This not only reduces labor costs, but also improves operational efficiency," said Huang. 
Lucy Letby is on trial - EPN/Newscom / Avalon/Avalon

Convicted multiple murderer Lucy Letby was caught virtually red-handed as she attempted to kill a premature baby on the neonatal ward at the Countess of Chester Hospital where she worked, a court has heard.

The 34-year-old was discovered by a doctor standing over the cot of an infant, known only as Baby K, having allegedly dislodged her breathing tube and switched off the alarm monitors.

As the babys oxygen levels plummeted, rather than shouting for help or trying to resuscitate her, Letby was observed by a consultant doing nothing, it was claimed.

Jurors at her retrial at Manchester Crown Court, were told Letbys status as a multiple murderer and attempted murderer was an important piece of evidence when assessing whether she was guilty of this single additional offence.

The former nurse from Hereford stood trial on the same charge last year but jurors were unable to reach a verdict and were eventually discharged.

Opening the prosecution case in the retrial, Nick Johnson KC, explained to the jury: As you probably already know there was another very long trial about a year ago, In that Lucy Letby was convicted of seven murders and seven attempted murders. Those seven attempted murders related to six children.

He said this case related to a single offence of attempted murder against Baby K, who had been born extremely prematurely at just 24 weeks and six days in February 2016.

Mr Johnson said despite being born so prematurely Baby K had been doing remarkably well but had required help with her breathing and had a tube inserted into her main airway.

The jury was told that Baby K was being looked after by two nurses in Nursery One, while Letby had responsibility for two other children in Nursery Two.

But shortly after 3.40am on Feb 17 2016, the two nurses caring for Baby K had temporarily left the nursery leaving Letby alone with her.

It was about this time that Baby K collapsed, Mr Johnson told the jury.

The court heard that the heavily sedated infant was attached to a ventilator to help her breath and to other machines that monitored her heart and blood oxygen levels.

Those machines were alarmed so that if there was an issue the alarms would have sounded, but the jury was told on this occasion they had not.

Mr Johnson said: The reason the alarms did not sound was that somebody had disabled them. So when Dr [Ravi] Jayaram walked into the nursery he saw Lucy Letby was standing over Baby K. Her saturation blood levels were falling but the alarm was not sounding . Not only that but Lucy Letby was doing nothing.

The prosecutor explained that the reason Baby Ks oxygen levels were falling was that her ET tube had become dislodged.

He went on: We suggest the fact Lucy Letby was doing nothing...is evidence you can conclude it was Lucy Letby, the convicted murderer, who had displaced the tube.

We say Lucy Letby was caught virtually red handed by Dr Jayaram.

Arrangements had been made to transfer Baby K to a more specialist hospital, but before that could happen there were two more desaturations, the court heard.

Mr Johnson said despite not having responsibility for Baby K, the evidence would show that Letby had been there on both occasions.

Despite having responsibility for two babies in nursery 2, she was very much making Baby K her business, he said.

Mr Johnson suggested that having been almost caught red handed Letby had attempted to cover her tracks by suggesting that despite being extremely premature and heavily sedated, Baby K had dislodged her own breathing tube.

The jury was told that Baby K had been transferred to Arrowe Park Hospital in Birkenhead where she had died on Feb 20, 2016.

Mr Johnson said while it was not the Crowns case that she had died as a result of Letbys actions, it was alleged that she had attempted to murder her.

He told the jury: Ultimately this case may come down to a single issue. Do you believe what Dr Jayaram says he saw? Are you sure, will you be sure, that he is telling the truth about what he saw?

Ben Myers KC, Letbys defence barrister also addressed the jury, urging them to put aside sympathy, emotional reaction and unfair bias and focus on the evidence before them.

He said Letbys multiple murder and attempted murder convictions did not prove this allegation.

He said the defence would seek to show that Baby K had been extremely fragile when she was born and the Countess of Chester hospital had not equipped to deal with her.

But he said it would be the evidence of Dr Jayaram and whether the jury believed what he claimed he had seen, that was central to the whole case.

Letby denies one charge of attempted murder and the trial continues.

06:29 PM BST

Thats all for today

Thank you for following The Telegraphs live coverage which saw the prosecution and defence make their opening statements to the jury at Manchester Crown Court.

Here is a summary of todays events:

Judge reminded jurors to only use evidence before them

Nick Johnson KC, prosecuting, said Letby searched for parents of babies on social media

Court heard how Baby K did remarkably well for such a premature baby

Mr Johnson explained the intubation process and how the tube was moved on multiple occassions

Jury heard how Letby signed for morphine to be given to Baby K

Mr Johnson said Baby K collapsed around same time Letby was alone with her

Vital alarms were disabled and Letby was doing nothing when consultant arrived at the scene, the court heard

Jury heard how Letby suggested sedated Baby K dislodged intubation tube herself

Prosecution says the third collapse of Baby K was a coincidence too far

Court heard how Letby searched Baby Ks surname on Facebook years later

Defence barrister Ben Myers KC, began his opening statement by telling the jury it is vital to avoid emotional reaction, sympathy or unfair bias in trying the case

He outlined three key issues the defence case would be based on

Mr Myers then concluded his statement by telling the jury: Convictions do not prove this allegation

04:26 PM BST

Opening statements conclude

That concludes the opening statements from the prosecution and defence. The jury has been sent home until Thursday morning.

04:25 PM BST

Defence: Convictions do not prove this allegation

Referring to Letbys convictions from the previous trial, Mr Myers said: She said she is not guilty of the allegation. The prosecution relies on the convictions from the first trial. She has maintained, always, she is not guilty of that. She is guilty of nothing.

Well you have those convictions and you will consider them and they are potentially powerful and emotive aspects of this case.

But he went on: Convictions do not prove this allegation.

04:22 PM BST

Defence outlines cases three key issues

Mr Myers said the defence case would be based on three key issues, firstly how fragile Baby K was when she was born so prematurely.

He said she should have been born at a Level 3 hospital, rather than the Countess of Chester Hospital, which was not equipped to deal with such a premature baby.

Secondly he said the defence would focus on the care and intubation of Baby K, who he said had not been able to breathe by herself during her short life.

Thirdly he said was the evidence of Dr Jayaram and what he claimed to have seen, which was key to the whole case.

04:12 PM BST

Defence says it is vital jury avoid sympathy in opening statement

Defence barrister Ben Myers KC, who is representing Letby also made an opening statement to the jury and he began by acknowledging sympathy for the family of Baby K.

Nothing I do or say is intended to diminish that, he said.

He said it would be very easy for people to conclude that Letby must be guilty, but he said it was vital the jury tried the case on the evidence before them, avoiding emotional reaction, sympathy or unfair bias.

04:08 PM BST

Jury told case may come down to whether they believe on-call consultant

Mr Johnson finished his opening statement by saying: Ultimately this case may come down to a single issue. Do you believe what Dr Jayaram says he saw? Are you sure, will you be sure, that he is telling the truth about what he saw. And if you do, do you accept what we allege Lucy Letby was trying to do, bearing in mind what we have also proved.

04:00 PM BST

Letby searched Baby Ks surname on Facebook years later

The court was told that Baby K was transferred to Arrowe Park Hospital in Birkenhead where she sadly died on 20 February.

Mr Johnson said the prosecution was not saying her death was the result of what Letby allegedly did, but he added: We are making it clear she tried to kill Baby K.

Jurors heard that on 20 April 2018, more than two years later, Letby had searched on Facebook for the surname of Baby K.

Mr Johnson said: That in of itself proves nothing but when you take it in conjunction with all the other circumstances that happened to Baby K it has significance.

03:53 PM BST

Third collapse of Baby K a coincidence too far

The jury was told that there was a third collapse of Baby K as the night shift was handing over to the day shift at around 7.30am. Mr Johnson said this was a coincidence too far.

Mr Johnson said: We say, Lucy Letby was trying to create the impression, of her being caught almost red handed, that this child had a particular problem.

03:49 PM BST

Jury hears Letby suggested sedated Baby K dislodged tube herself

Mr Johnson said Lucy Letby after almost being caught red handed was seeking to create the impression that Baby K, who was heavily sedated had dislodged her own tube.

03:46 PM BST

Intubation tube was dislodged a second time

There was a second collapse at 6.15am and Mr Johnson said Letby was taking a close interest in Baby Ks care.

He said an x-ray taken of Baby K showed the tube was in the correct position but a short time later it had been dislodged again.

03:42 PM BST

Prosecutor: Letby made Baby K her business

The court heard that it was not the only time Baby K had suffered a desaturation. It happened twice more and Mr Johnson said the evidence showed that Lucy Letby was there on each occasion.

He said: Despite having responsibility for two babies in nursery 2, she was very much making Baby K her business.

03:35 PM BST

Prosecutor claims to jury Letby caught red handed

Mr Johnson told the jurors: We say Lucy Letby was caught red handed by Dr Jayaram.

03:31 PM BST

Vital alarms disabled and Letby doing nothing when consultant arrived

The jury was told that Baby K was attached to a ventilator to help her breathe and other machines that monitored her heart and blood oxygen levels.

He said those machines were alarmed so that if there was an issue the alarms would have sounded, but on this occasion they did not.

Mr Johnson said: The reason the alarms did not sound was that somebody had disabled them. So when Dr Jayaram walked into the nursery he saw Lucy Letby was standing over Baby K. Her saturation blood levels were falling but the alarm was not sounding . Not only that but Lucy Letby was doing nothing.

He went on: We say that in those circumstances the only reasonable thing for a nurse to have done is either or both, to call for help or use the Neopuff to breathe for the child.

The reason Baby K was desaturating was that the ET tube had become displaced. We suggest the fact Lucy Letby was doing nothing...is evidence you can conclude it was Lucy Letby, the convicted murderer who had displaced the tube.

03:17 PM BST

Prosecutor details events leading to Letby being alone with Baby K

Mr Johnson told jurors: The allegation we make against Lucy Letby we say is very straightforward. Nurse Joanne Williams, who was the designated nurse for Baby K, will tell you that she left, having stabilised Baby K, and went to see Baby Ks mum in the delivery suite and so she left the ventilated and very premature Baby K for that sole purpose and could not have been gone long and she was not gone long.

Dr Jayaram was distracted, and the other nurse had been out of the unit that would leave another nurse and Lucy Letby covering four nurseries. While nurse Williams was out of nursery one, Lucy Letby was in there with Baby K. She was in there on her own and Baby K collapsed.

03:06 PM BST

Jury told Baby K collapsed around same time Letby was alone with her

Mr Johnson explains that there were two other nurses in the nursery with Baby K, but at 3.40am door swipe data showed that one of the nurses had left the unit.

At 3.41am Dr Jayaram was on the telephone at the nurses unit, speaking to the transfer department.

The jury was told that around this time Letby was alone in the nursery with Baby K

Mr Johnson went on: It was about this time that Baby K collapsed.

02:54 PM BST

Letby signed for morphine to be given to Baby K

The jury is told that at 3.30am Letby signed for morphine to be administered to Baby K to sedate her because she had been intubated and it would stop her interfering with the tube.

02:50 PM BST

On-call consultant arranged transfer for Baby K

Going through the sequence of events, Mr Johnson explained that at 3.15am, Dr Ravi Jayaram, who was the on-call consultant, made a call to the transport service to arrange Baby Ks transfer to a Level 3 hospital elsewhere in the North West.

At the same time Letby was administering medicine to one of the other babies she was looking after.

02:47 PM BST

Baby K admitted to separate nursery from one Letby was working in

The court is told that Baby K was admitted to nursery one and Letby was in nursery two, where between 3.02am and 3.12am, she was making notes on one of the other babies she was looking after.

02:38 PM BST

Baby K admitted after intubation

Mr Johnson said after being intubated, Baby K was admitted to the neonatal unit at 2.40am.

02:35 PM BST

Prosecutor explains tube used for intubation moved on multiple occassions

Pausing the video, Mr Johnson explained that the tube is secured in place and a measurement is taken to show how far it was inserted.

He said the reading for Baby K was 6.5cm.

He told jurors this was an important detail because during the trial they would hear that the tube had moved on multiple occasions. He went on: This is really what this case is all about.

02:24 PM BST

Proceedings resume

Mr Johnson is resuming his opening address following the lunch break. He is telling jurors about the care of Baby K immediately after her birth.

He explained that she was intubated, which means a tube was inserted into the main airway of the baby so that the lungs can be inflated.

To explain the procedure, jurors are being shown a video which demonstrates how it works.

02:21 PM BST

Trial set to begin

The trial is set to restart soon, following a break for lunch.

01:08 PM BST

Court breaks for lunch

Mr Johnson is now pausing his opening address and the court is breaking for lunch.

Jurors have been told to return to court at 2.15pm.

01:07 PM BST

Baby K did well for premature child

The court heard that Baby K was born at 2.12am on February 17 2016 and did remarkably well for such a premature baby.

01:05 PM BST

Mother transferred to Countess of Chester Hospital

The jury was told that given how premature she was the original intention had been to transfer the mother to another better equipped hospital, either Liverpool Womens Hospital or Arrowe Park hospital in Birkenhead.

But Mr Johnson said medics had to balance the risk between moving her to another hospital and her giving birth in an ambulance on the motorway and so the decision was taken to keep her at the Countess of Chester Hospital.

Countess of Chester Hospital in Chester - Peter Byrne/PA

01:00 PM BST

Mother of Baby K called hospital over worrying symptoms

Turning to Baby K, Mr Johnson explained that just after 9am on February 15 2016, her mother had called the hospital with worrying symptoms

She arrived at the hospital just before 10am in labour despite being very premature at just 24 weeks and six days gestation.

12:58 PM BST

Letby searched for parents of babies on social media

Mr Johnson said after murdering and attempting to murder a number of babies, Letby had carried out Facebook searches for their parents.

He explained that she had also searched for parents of other children who had not featured in any criminal case.

He told the jury: So we are not saying that the simple fact of searching proves anything but she undoubtedly murdered these children and then searched for their parents.

12:54 PM BST

Prosecutor speaks about alleged attempted murders

Mr Johnson told jurors Letby had also attempted to murder a baby twice on June 9 and 10 of 2015, had attempted to murder another child on August 5 2015 and had twice attempted to murder another baby on dates between September 7 and 21 2015.

The prosecutor went on: After what we allege she did to Baby K, Lucy Letby went on to murder two of three triplets on consecutive days on 23 and 24 of June 2016. By then she had tried to murder two other children, a pair of twins on April 9 2016 and finally so far as this case is concerned a baby boy on June 3 2016.

12:50 PM BST

Jury told of critical date

The critical date as far as this case is concerned is the 17th February 2016, Mr Johnson explained.

He added: What you will hear in due course is that by this stage Lucy Letby had murdered five children.

He said she had murdered one child on June 6 2015, another child on June 14 2015, another baby on June 22 2015, a further baby on August 4 2015 and another on October 23 2015.

12:21 PM BST

Morphine features in case

In the video Mr Johnson pointed out the secure cupboard where controlled drugs were kept.

He said drugs such as the painkiller morphine were kept in the cupboard and explained that drug features in this case.

12:18 PM BST

Letby sitting in glass walled dock

Letby is sitting in the glass walled dock at the back of the court listening to proceedings.

12:15 PM BST

Jury shown video of neonatal unit

The jury is now being shown a walkthrough video of the neonatal unit as it would have been in 2016.

The purpose is so that the jury have a clear understanding of the ward where the alleged offence took place.

12:04 PM BST

Jurors shown hospital neonatal unit floor plan

The jurors are also being shown a floorplan of the neonatal unit at the Countess of Chester Hospital, where Letby worked when the alleged offence took place in 2016.

12:01 PM BST

Jury shown documents related to case

Mr Johnson is taking the jury through the large volume of documents they will be required to refer to throughout the case.

This includes the sequence of events, the indictment and the medical glossary.

11:59 AM BST

Prosecutor tells jury about previous convictions

The case relates to an infant who can only be identified as Baby K, who Letby allegedly attempted to murder in February 2016.

Mr Johnson said he was telling the jury about her previous convictions, not because they should convict her of this offence on the basis of what she had previously been found guilty of. But he explained: We are suggesting the relevance gives you significant evidence as to what her intention was at the time we allege she did something to Baby K.

We are saying that her status as a multiple murderer and attempted murderer is an important piece of evidence you can, if you wish, take into account when you are considering whether we have made you sure she attempted to murder Baby K.

11:48 AM BST

Prosection opens case

Nick Johnson KC, the prosecutor in the case, has begun his opening by telling jurors that Lucy Letby is charged with a single offence of attempted murder.

He said: As you probably already know there was another very long trial about a year ago in that Lucy Letby was convicted of seven murders and seven attempted murders.

Those seven attempted murders related to six children.

11:42 AM BST

Trial to begin shortly

The trial is set to begin.

11:21 AM BST

Proceedings delayed

There will be a slight delay to proceedings while the jurors are given a tutorial on using iPads which are going to be used to show some of the evidence related to the case.

10:41 AM BST

Prosecution to open its case

Nick Johnson KC will open the case on behalf of the Crown by outlining the prosecution evidence.

Letbys barrister Ben Myers KC is also expected to make an opening statement on behalf of the defendant.

10:34 AM BST

Judge has reminded jurors to only use evidence before them

Mr Justice Goss has explained to jurors that Letby had faced the same charge at the previous trial last year but that jury had been unable to agree on a verdict.

However he reminded them that their task was to try the defendant on the evidence in this case alone and to ignore anything they had read or heard about previously.

He explained: Anyone accused of a crime is innocent until proven guilty, it is for the prosecution to prove the case.

You know the defendant has been tried by another jury. You are to try the defendant on a charge of attempted murder upon which that jury could not agree and were discharged from giving a verdict.

I repeat it will be for you to decide this case on the evidence placed before you as to whether the defendant is guilty or not.

He went on: It is highly likely you know something about the case last year when the verdicts were announced that is something we accept that you will know about

You can only make the decisions on the evidence placed before you in the trial and not what you may have read or heard about in any media reports.

10:32 AM BST

Letby trial to begin in Manchester

Lucy Letbys will begin at Manchester Crown Court on Wednesday with statements expected from the prosecution and defence.

We will be covering the case throughout the day - you can follow all the latest in this blog.

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'I am dismayed by the disconnect between Conservatism and the Government's actual policies' - Andrew Crowley

For long-standing Tory supporters, the outlook has been bleak for quite some time, and it has only worsened since the election announcement. The campaign is being dubbed as the worst ever, especially following the prime ministers widely criticised decision to cut short his D-Day commemorations.

Leading pollster Sir John Curtice has declared there is a 99pc certainty of a Labour victory in the upcoming election. Meanwhile, Westminster is buzzing with anticipation for the crossover moment when Reform UK overtakes the Conservatives in the polls.

The party is reportedly heading for extinction. Like many Conservatives, I am dismayed not only by the incompetence of the campaign, but also by the disconnect between Conservatism and the Governments actual policies.

Fourteen years in power have left Britain over-governed, over-spent, over-taxed, over-borrowed  to borrow a phrase from Sir Keith Joseph in 1976 (during a Labour Government).

The party should return to core Conservative principles, where the state is kept small, and family, education and community are highly valued. Citizens should be encouraged and empowered to shape their own destinies.

We should champion entrepreneurship, innovation and risk-taking  rewarding excellence, and ensuring that regulations are practical and sensible. There has been lots of talk along these lines but little, if any, action.

While the current government has undoubtedly faced significant challenges, there is no justification for deviating so significantly from its stated principles. The glaring contradiction between advocating for low taxes while imposing the highest overall tax burden in over 70 years is just one prominent example.

Many of the UKs challenges are shared with other developed nations, including an ageing population, significant fiscal debt, high healthcare demand, border control challenges, elevated living expenses, persistent lockdown repercussions, cultural conflicts, the shift towards renewable energy and readiness for an AI-driven future.

However, other countries appear to be managing these challenges more effectively.

Americas economy has been performing well, and high-quality healthcare is readily accessible in many European countries. Meanwhile, Britain faces specific challenges, many of which have troubled us for decades: poor public services, regional inequalities, scarce and expensive childcare and a shortage of affordable housing.

As Nigel Farage stated when announcing his election bid and leadership of Reform, nothing works  and we all know it. Farage emphasised another clear point  bold action is needed.

At this pivotal moment in our nations history, nothing should be considered too difficult. In this context, the Conservative election manifesto seems to be merely a collection of tactical measures.

What we need is a comprehensive strategy that provides a clear vision of how Britain will look in 10 or 20 years, aligning with the calls from this newspapers editors for a coherent narrative.

Here are a few thoughts. Its by no means an exhaustive list, just a taste of whats needed.

Education

The future economic growth of Britain depends on equipping the next generation with skills relevant to the world a decade or two from now. A smart, forward-looking education strategy should prioritise the humanities and creative arts, as artificial intelligence is expected to dominate many other fields.

Prioritising life skills in education, such as financial literacy and promoting apprenticeships, is essential. Students need to be taught how to create business plans, and teachers need to be prepared to keep up with a rapidly evolving world  and appreciated for their efforts.

Modernising teacher training is imperative. Despite financial education being part of the curriculum, my children have not received it at school. Teachers admit they lack the necessary skills.

University funding also needs a revamp. While Britain still offers some of the worlds finest higher education, the current funding model is unstable.

If our young people are not being prepared for the world of 2035 and beyond, neither is Britain.

Tax

Recently, I had the chance to spend an evening with economist Arthur Laffer, renowned for the Laffer Curve he introduced in the 1970s. This curve illustrates the trade-off between tax rates and tax revenue.

Its quite straightforward. If people are taxed at 100pc of their income, they have no incentive to earn, leading to zero tax revenue  just like it would be at a 0pc tax rate. The ideal tax rate lies somewhere in between. Right now, with tax burdens at their highest in 70 years, we are far from that optimal point.

The manifestos promises to reduce National Insurance, especially for the self-employed, and to eliminate stamp duty for first-time homebuyers are steps in the right direction, but again not part of a coherent narrative.

There were notable oversights, such as scrapping stamp duty on share trading (which could practically fund itself), removing inheritance tax and lowering corporation tax.

These measures  even if planned over time  would enhance the UKs reputation as a leading financial hub and a business-friendly environment. They would also facilitate intergenerational wealth transfer. We need all these things to create the vision of a prospering Britain, and to reflect Conservatism.

Healthcare

Britains population is ageing, and in a decades time, the demand for high-quality healthcare will be even more significant. The Conservatives should develop a budgeted, practical strategy to address the pressures on the healthcare system, rather than leaving it to the Labour Party or Reform UK to overhaul the funding model.

Farage mentions the French model, while I have in-laws in Germany who benefit from a hybrid private/public healthcare system. They are pleased with the services, can schedule appointments quickly, and see a doctor in person. Their doctors are well-respected and better paid than ours.

Piecemeal interventions and occasional funding wont solve the deep-rooted issues in our system. Whats needed is a thoughtful strategy.

An increased supply of quality healthcare, including improved mental health care, will help those with long-term illnesses recover, enhancing their health and happiness while reducing their financial dependence on the state.

If we can develop a sustainable funding model for healthcare, it can be extended to other essential services as well, helping to address the issues with water companies and trains.

Family

Bizarrely, this is a tiptoe-around policy area for the Conservatives, with a few brave notable exceptions like Danny Kruger and Miriam Cates.

A happy family life is fundamental for most of us, perhaps even more so in our increasingly self-centred world, and this will only become more evident in the next decade. It should be a given that family-friendly tax policies and a robust childcare strategy (addressing the lack of childcare places as well as the costs) are prioritised.

Many people still desire to have children but are often discouraged by financial constraints, causing them to postpone starting a family, or to have fewer children than they wish.

An increasing number are choosing not to have children, a personal decision that is further influenced by the prevalent sense of pessimism and has potential long-term economic implications for the country.

Immigration

This has indeed been a significant concern for the current government, although their efforts have yet to yield substantial results.

As a matter of principle, withdrawing the UK from the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) is crucial as it allows us to have control over our own decisions. These decisions should be made by a dedicated immigration task force separate from the Home Office, possessing the necessary expertise and influence.

For example, the Australian Border Force operates as a distinct entity focusing on immigration and customs. Its mission is to protect Australias borders and facilitate legitimate travel and trade.

Although Australias circumstances differ from ours, convening experts to address immigration issues is likely to yield better outcomes than assigning generalists to handle random ideas.

Law enforcement and defence

My local Conservative MPs re-election leaflet promises to deploy an additional police officer on the streets in my neighbourhood, where criminal and threatening behaviour is a daily concern.

Just last Sunday afternoon, a drunk woman spat at my 15-year-old daughter and then attempted to follow her into the house while yelling abuse. I felt there was no point in calling the police.

While I welcome the manifestos pledge to deliver 8,000 more full-time police officers, there is no consistent strategy for tackling crime in a way that could help more of us feel less anxious in our own streets.

I am equally perplexed about the stance on defence spending. Having steadily reduced this in real terms since 2010 to a low point in 2016-17 before gradually increasing spending again, it is still below the 2010 level  but the manifesto plans full funding by 2030.

Both law enforcement and defence should be consistent Conservative priorities, not switched off and on.

Whether its a total calamity or not as bad as expected for the Conservatives on July 4, there must be no glossing over the litany of mistakes. Whoever emerges as the next leader must articulate a vision that provides a cohesive narrative and instil confidence in the partys ability to govern effectively once again.

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Rep. Nancy Mace (R) is looking to secure a win in Tuesdays South Carolina primary as she faces backlash from some members of her party.

Mace, who flipped her seat in South Carolinas 1st Congressional District back in 2020, is the front-runner heading into Tuesdays primary against Catherine Templeton, a former agency official in the state government. However, recent polling has shown the incumbent is under the 50-percent mark, suggesting she could be forced into a runoff.

The primary comes as Mace has endured allegations of flip-flopping on key issues, criticism over her shifting support for former President Trump, anger from within the Republican ranks over her vote to oust ex-Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), and turnover within her Capitol Hill office.

Follow live results from DDHQ here:

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) speaks to reporters as she leaves the U.S. Capitol Building on Jan. 27, 2023, in Washington, DC. (File/Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

COLUMBIA  U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace trounced her GOP challengers in the coastal 1st District and U.S. Rep. William Timmons of Greenville hung on Tuesday, while the race to replace Rep. Jeff Duncan headed to a runoff.

Mace easily defeated Catherine Templeton, a former director of two state agencies, and longshot candidate Bill Young in the GOP primary.

The Associated Press called the race for Mace at 8:40 p.m. Tuesday, with less than 30% of the vote counted. When all votes were counted, Mace led by 27 percentage points over Templeton.

She will face Democrat Michael Moore in November.

We did it  You, Lowcountry voters did it! Mace posted on X/formerly Twitter. A thousand times over  THANK YOU!

The two-term GOP incumbent, who likes to cast herself as independent-minded, had the endorsement of former President Donald Trump this time  two years after he endorsed her Republican challenger. But Templeton, who ran unsuccessfully for governor in 2018, campaigned to the right of Mace.

On Wednesday morning, Templeton put out a statement saying she would support the Republican Party and our nominee.

I ran to provide a hopeful message of consistent conservatism and serious results, Templeton said in the statement. Im proud of our campaign.

With relatively minor differences in policy, Mace and Templeton sparred over past votes, conduct in office, and, in an extensive-back-and forth, Templetons role in a 13-year-old state immigration law.

Despite never serving in the state Legislature, Templeton claimed credit for the final form of the 2011 immigration law from her time serving as head of the Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation. After Templeton aired an advertisement claiming about the law, Maces campaign sent a cease-and-desist letter to the stations that aired it.

Although rated as one of the top 10% most bipartisan legislators in the House, Mace has not always stuck with the center of her own party. Last fall, she joined the hard right flank of the House GOP to oust former Speaker Kevin McCarthy.

McCarthys political action committee gave Templeton $10,000 in April, and other organizations affiliated with the former speaker have spent large amounts of money on Templetons challenge.

In the week before the primary, Mace caught national press attention for being one of the top users of a new reimbursement program for House members. On Saturday, the New York Times reported that the House Ethics Committee will look into Maces spending under the program.

Templeton faced a challenge from within her own family. In April, Templetons 18-year-old son, Hampton, was arrested for first-degree assault, accused of beating up a classmate outside a party in January. It was his second arrest in seven months, though a road rage incident in September was dropped, according to reporting by The Post and Courier.

Templeton received the backing of Speaker Newt Gingrich from neighboring Georgia, who won South Carolinas GOP presidential primary in 2012. She was also endorsed by U.S. Rep. Joe Wilson, who represents South Carolinas 2nd Congressional District.

Beside Trumps endorsement, Mace also picked up the endorsement of Gov. Henry McMaster, who defeated Templeton in 2018, and U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson of Louisiana.

The 1st Congressional District centers on Charleston and runs along the states southern coast.

South Carolina Congressional candidate Michael B. Moore speaks at a rally outside of the U.S. Supreme Court on October 11, 2023, in Washington, D.C. (File/Shannon Finney/Getty Images for Rooted Logistics)

On the Democratic side, Moore defeated Mac Deford.

Moore is a businessman and former CEO of the International African American Museum. He is also the great-great grandson of Robert Smalls, a Civil War hero, Reconstruction-era state legislator and five-term congressman. Deford is a Coast Guard veteran and attorney who most recently served as attorney for the town of Hilton Head Island.

Moore will have an uphill climb in the district, which has moved in the Cook Political report, a non-partisan political analysis publication, from likely Republican to solid Republican.

Mace narrowly flipped the seat back to red in 2020 by ousting one-term Democratic Rep. Joe Cunningham, who similarly narrowly won in 2018. In the post-census redrawing of district lines, the GOP-controlled Legislature moved precincts around to make the seat safer for a Republican to win. And in 2022, Mace prevailed against a GOP and Democratic challenger.

The American Civil Liberties Union of South Carolina and NAACP sued over the new lines, which they argued were racially discriminatory. A federal three-judge panel agreed. But in late May, the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the panels conclusions, saying the lower court clearly erred in finding the lines were racially gerrymandered. Regardless of the Supreme Court ruling, the election this year was going to proceed with the lines as signed into law in early 2022.

3rd District

In the 3rd District, Mark Burns, a pastor who has Trumps backing, and Sheri Biggs, a lieutenant colonel in the Air National Guard, are heading into a runoff election in two weeks, according to the Associated Press.

That contest was one South Carolina race where McMaster and Trump split on endorsements. The governor backed Biggs, who is a longtime donor to his campaign.

The crowded, seven-way GOP primary kicked off after Duncan announced he would not be running again after 14 years in Congress.

The five Republicans defeated Tuesday include Kevin Bishop, the recently retired longtime communication director for U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham and state Rep. Stewart Jones, a founding member of the hard-right Freedom Caucus.

The district covers 11 counties along South Carolinas northern border with Georgia, from Edgefield to Oconee.

Burns finished with about a third of the vote, while Biggs had just under 30%.

The winner of the runoff will face Democrat Bryon Best in November for the solidly Republican seat.

4th District

Timmons narrowly fended off House Rep. Adam Morgan, chair of the chambers Freedom Caucus.

Preliminary results show him winning by 3 percentage points, or less than 2,300 votes.

Timmons, first elected in 2018, received a broad range of endorsements  including from Trump, McMaster, Johnson, and nationally known conservatives U.S. Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene, Byron Donalds and Jim Jordan. Donalds is a member of the congressional Freedom Caucus, while Greene was booted from the caucus last year.

Morgan, meanwhile, picked up the support of U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida, who backed several challengers to his fellow Republican incumbents despite the opposition of House GOP leadership.

I want to thank the voters for once again putting their trust in me, Timmons said in a statement late Tuesday. In Washington I am focused on policy  not headlines, on representing my constituents  not myself, and working with my colleagues instead of working against them.

Timmons is a former prosecutor, military lawyer and captain in the South Carolina Air National Guard. Morgan is an attorney and president of Majesty Music Inc., a family-owned Christian music and book publishing company.

In April, Morgan told the SC Daily Gazette he was running because weve had an empty seat for too long. Timmons accused Morgan of opposing Trump and lying about his own record and Timmons record.

Morgan also made headlines during the race when he said that state agencies were sending voter registration information to non-citizens. The Freedom Caucus sent McMaster a letter requesting an investigation and the State Election Commission received a number of calls and even some threats. The State Law Enforcement Division found no wrongdoing.

Timmons will face Kathryn Harvey, the Democratic candidate.

The district is the most compact in the state, covering most of Greenville and Spartanburg counties.

In 2022, Timmons was accused of having an affair, which he denied at the time. Later that year, his wife filed for separation, saying in a public statement that they were divorcing with love and mutual respect.

6th District

Duke Buckner beat Justin Scott to face U.S. Rep Jim Clyburn, the states only Democratic congressional representative, in November.

Clyburn is running for his 17th term. He faced no primary opponents, and is expected to win the seat easily.

Three other candidates have filed to run as third-party candidates.

The district runs from Columbia to Charleston and from the states western boundary with Georgia to the Pee Dee.

2nd District

Wilson, first elected in a 2001 special election, cruised to a win Tuesday against a largely unknown GOP challenger, Hamp Redmond of Swansea. In November, Wilson will face David Robinson II, who defeated Daniel Shrief in the Democratic primary.

Both the Republican and Democratic races in that district were called at 8:15 p.m. by The AP.

The 2nd Congressional District stretches from Aiken and Barnwell counties at the Georgia border to northern Richland County.

U.S. Reps. Ralph Norman of the 5th District and Russell Fry of the 7th District did not have a GOP challenger.

The post Mace easily wins GOP primary in 1st District; 3rd District heads to a runoff appeared first on SC Daily Gazette.
French President Emmanuel Macron delivers a speech, Wednesday, June 12, 2024 in Paris. President Emmanuel Macron is addressing French voters on Wednesday for the first times since he has called snap national election following a crushing defeat of his party by the far-right in the European vote. (AP Photo/Michel Euler)

PARIS (AP)  French President Emmanuel Macron defended his decision to call snap parlimentary elections after his partys crushing defeat in the European parliamentary vote, insisting on Wednesday that voters will ultimately choose the progressive bloc" over the far-right.

In France, legislative elections decide the makeup of the parliament, not the occupant of the presidential Elysee Palace. Macron has a presidential mandate until 2027, and said he would not step down before the end of his term.

The somber-looking French leader said his move to call early polls  the voting will take place in two rounds, on June 30 and July 7  showed his confidence in the French people. He urged moderate politicians from the left and the right to regroup with his own centrist alliance to defeat the far-right.

I think the French are intelligent, they see whats being done, whats coherent and whats not, and they know what to do, Macron said. He added: I dont believe at all that the worst can happen. You see, Im an indefatigable optimist.

The 46 year-old addressed French voters in his first news conference since his stunning Sunday decision to dissolve the National Assembly, Frances lower house of parliament, after the far-right National Rally party of Marine Le Pen triumphed at the vote for the European Parliament.

Macron sought to address concerns of those who fear the risky move could result in the French far-right leading government for the first time since World War II.

Since Sunday evening, crowds have been gathering every day in Paris and across the country to protest against the National Rally.

Macron was adamant in his faith in the voters to refuse to choose the extremes of both sides of the political spectrum. He assured that he was not falling into defeatism and said he would serve out his second presidential term regardless of the outcome of the legislative vote.

Macron said his decision is about allowing political forces chosen by the French to be able to govern. He added that its awkward to think it has to be the extreme right or political extremes. Or maybe youve got the spirit of defeat spread everywhere.

If thats what people are afraid of, its time now to take action, he said.

Macron justified his decision by the fact that he could not ignore the new political reality after his pro-European party was handed a chastening defeat and garnered less than half the support of the National Rally with its star leader, Jordan Bardella.

Unlike in his recent national addresses in which Macron focused on Russias war in Ukraine and ways Europe should forge a common defense policy, independent of the United States, and shore up trade protections against China, the French president stuck to his countrys internal issues favored by the surging right, including curbing immigration, fighting crime and Islamic separatism in France.

Macron, who is in his second and last presidential term, said he hopes voters will band together to contain the far-right in national elections in a way they didnt in European ones. He called on men and women of goodwill who were able to say no to extremes on the left and the right to join together to be able to build a joint project for the country.

Things are simple today: we have unnatural alliances at both extremes, who quite agree on nothing except the jobs to be shared, and who will not be able to implement any program," Macron said.

While he seemed to project the kind of enthusiasm that helped bring him to the presidency in 2017, analysts say French voters are more pessimistic about their future, and see Macron as increasingly out of touch with real life and pocketbook problems.

The French president acknowledged some faults committed by his pro-business centrist party while harshly criticizing some conservatives who have decided to team up with Le Pens National Rally, which has a history of racism and xenophobia. He scathingly called an alliance formed by parties on the left as unusual and incoherent after they included the hard-left France Unbowed of Jean-Luc Melenchon who, Macron said justified anti-Semitic policies in the wake of the Israel-Hamas war.

Were not perfect, we havent done everything right, but we have results... and above all, we know how to act, Macron said of his Renaissance party, adding that the far-right (is) the main danger in the upcoming election.

The question is who will govern the country tomorrow?" he asked. The far-right and a few associates, or the democratic, progressive bloc? Thats the fundamental question.

Potential alliances and Frances two-round voting system in national elections make the outcome of the vote highly uncertain.

Opposition parties on the left and right have been scrambling to form alliances and field candidates in the early legislative balloting.

While sharp differences between parties remain on either side of the political spectrum, prominent figures calling for a united front appear to have one thing in common: They dont want to cooperate with Macron.

Despite their divisions, left-wing parties agreed late Monday to form an alliance that includes the Greens, the Socialists, the Communists and the far-left France Unbowed.

Le Pen is working to consolidate power on the right in efforts to translate the European triumph into a national win and come closer to claiming power. Her party is expected to win the most French seats in the European Parliament, potentially as many as 30 of Frances 81.

___

Surk reported from Nice, France.
French President Emmanuel Macron gives a press conference following his decision to dissolve the National Assembly. Antonin Burat/Le Pictorium via ZUMA Press/dpa

French President Emmanuel Macron attacked moves towards new political alliances among opposition parties on Wednesday as he called on mainstream parties to join forces to defeat extremists on both the left and the right.

"At both extremes, there are unnatural alliances that are in agreement effectively on nothing," Macron said in Paris. These alliances were being cobbled together without having governing majorities, he said.

Reacting to the defeat of liberal groups and the strong showing of right-wing nationalists in the European elections on Sunday, Macron has dissolved the National Assembly and called elections to be held in two stages on June 30 and July 7.

In response politicians on the left of French politics, including communists, greens and socialists announced that they would join forces.

Eric Ciotti, the head of the conservative The Republicans, said that he would seek to cooperate with the right-wing nationalists of the National Rally, whose parliamentary leader is Marine Le Pen.

Ciotti's announcement provoked outrage within his own party along with calls for his resignation.

Macron said that party members following Ciotti's lead were turning their backs on France's conservative heritage, including figures like Charles de Gaulle, Jacques Chirac and Nicolas Sarkozy.

"We have been observing the masks falling since Sunday evening," he said. The struggle regarding values was beginning. "I would say that that this is a trial of truth between those who decide they want to own affairs to flourish and those that want France to flourish," Macron said.

Macron said he was prepared to cooperate with all those not in extreme alliances on the left or the right. "This is a re-founding of political life, for which I call with great humility and determination," he said.

Macron said he was convinced that social democrats, radicals, environmentalists, Christian democrats, Gaullists and many French compatriots and politicians in the wider sense, who were not stuck in extremism and who backed certain clear approaches, could work together to create a new governing project.

"I firmly believe that only the political forces that form the presidential majority today have the ability to put forward a coherent, realistic and future-oriented government project," Macron said. His term of office runs to 2027.

French President Emmanuel Macron gives a press conference following his decision to dissolve the National Assembly. Antonin Burat/Le Pictorium via ZUMA Press/dpa
French President Emmanuel Macron speaks after visiting the martyred village of Oradour-sur-Glane. French President Emmanuel Macron and German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier commemorate the victims of the SS massacre of 1944. On June 10, 1944, members of the SS division "Das Reich" murdered 643 civilians in Oradour-sur-Glane and completely destroyed the village. Bernd von Jutrczenka/dpa

French President Emmanuel Macron called on Wednesday for mainstream conservatives, social democrats and greens to cooperate with his centrists in forming a future government weeks before snap parliamentary elections.

Macron said he was prepared to cooperate with all those not in extreme alliances on the left or the right. "This is a re-founding of political life, for which I call with great humility and determination," he said.

Macron said he was convinced that social democrats, radicals, environmentalists, Christian democrats, Gaullists and many French compatriots and politicians in the wider sense, who were not stuck in extremism and who backed certain clear approaches, could work together to create a new governing project.

He issued a warning against the dangers from the extreme left and the extreme right. These blocks were not united on any of the questions of the future and would be unable to form a governing majority, he predicted.

"I firmly believe that only the political forces that form the presidential majority today have the ability to put forward a coherent, realistic and future-oriented government project," Macron said.

Reacting to the defeat of liberal groups and the strong showing of right-wing nationalists in the European elections on Sunday, Macron called a snap National Assembly election to be held in two stages on June 30 and July 7.
(Bloomberg) -- French President Emmanuel Macron said he wont resign if his party suffers a poor result in a snap parliamentary election as he appealed to voters not to succumb to the fever of the extremists.

Most Read from Bloomberg

French bonds tumbled on Tuesday following a report that the president had discussed resigning if he suffers a second big defeat in succession with investors on edge about a potential takeover by Marine Le Pens far-right National Rally.

I will kill this false report, the French leader said at a press conference presenting a hastily assembled campaign program. Its absurd.

The 46-year-old president caught investors by surprise on Sunday night when he dissolved the National Assembly in response to a crushing defeat by Le Pen in elections for the European Parliament.

The vote confronts Frances European partners with the risk of Le Pens party taking control of the legislature for the first time. That would threaten Macrons response to the war in Ukraine and his effort to rein in the budget deficit, while reverberating across Europes relations with China and the US in the face of the potential return of Donald Trump to the White House.

Polls show Marine Le Pens National Rally party has a substantial lead going into the first round of voting on June 30. However, the two-round system in France means rival parties can unite to block the far-rights path in the second vote July 7.

French government bonds inched to a session high after the announcement, with the 10-year yield slipping to 3.20%. The rate has jumped more than 10 basis points this week as Macrons call for a snap vote rattled investor confidence. It touched a high of 3.33% on Tuesday, the highest since November.

Frances CAC 40 Index rose 0.6% at 1:43 p.m., adding on to gains from before Macron started speaking.

Macron said he will appoint a prime minister as the constitution requires after the election, but urged supporters not to resign themselves to the idea that it will necessarily be someone from Le Pens party.

The day after these elections I will have to draw conclusions, as the constitution demands, and choose a prime minister, he said. But thats not giving away the keys to power. Its allowing the political groups that will have been chosen by the French to govern.

Under Frances constitutional framework the choice of the premier is down to the president, but it is accepted practice that the head of state picks someone from the new parliamentary majority, and thats what happened in 1997, 1993 and 1986, when the legislature and the presidency were controlled by different parties.

The president held out the possibility of a far-right prime minister as an extra incentive for French people to engage in the political process. If people are scared of that, now is the time to wake up, he said.

Why Macrons French Election Call Is a Risky Move: QuickTake

Macron made a broad pitch to what he called social democrats and the republican right to ally with his centrist group to produce a majority. He said efforts to form alliances on the far right and far left were riddled with contradictions over policies such as pension reform and supporting Ukraine.

He set out five key policy areas, ranging from boosting the economy to investing in public services and military independence. As he looked to appeal to right-wing voters, he began by focusing on boosting security and responding firmly to crime, cutting illegal immigration, and making sure religious laws dont trump those of the state.

The president had previously focused his economic policy on measures he said would boost growth and bolster public finances, such as raising the pension age and trimming the generosity of unemployment welfare. But Le Pen has latched onto concerns about the cost of living to bolster her popularity over the last two years.

Our citizens have sent us a clear message that their lives havent improved enough, he said. The forces of the majority must therefore build concrete responses on this subject and the prime minister has begun working on it, on the cost of energy, spending power and work that must pay better.

While Macrons comments may have stabilized markets in the short term, questions over his political future are likely to return if Le Pen does emerge from the elections next month with a stronger hand.

Charles de Gaulle, Frances dominant post-war leader, set the precedent in this respect after losing a referendum in 1969. While the plebiscite was nominally about creating new regions and changing the operation of the Senate, the underlying question for most French people, according to the newspaper Le Monde, was whether they still had faith in him.

If I am disavowed by a majority of you, de Gaulle said in a televised address. My current role as head of state will obviously become impossible, and I will immediately cease to exercise my functions. After a narrow majority voted against the changes, de Gaulle followed through on his commitment and announced his resignation.

When Macron announced that he was calling snap elections on Sunday, he posed a similar test of faith as the one failed by De Gaulle more than half a century earlier, though it didnt include an ultimatum.

This is a serious, weighty decision, but it is above all an act of confidence, Macron said on Sunday. Confidence in you, my dear compatriots, in the ability of the French people to make the right choice for themselves and for future generations.

--With assistance from Alice Gledhill.

(Updates with additional details and comment throughout)

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French President Emmanuel Macron gives a press conference following his decision to dissolve the National Assembly. Antonin Burat/Le Pictorium via ZUMA Press/dpa

French President Emmanuel Macron has called on representatives of the social democrats, conservatives and greens to work together with his centrist camp to form a future government ahead of the snap parliamentary election he called.

Macron said in Paris on Wednesday that there was a willingness to work together with all those who did not find themselves in the alliances of the extreme left and right.

"It is this refoundation of political life that I am now calling for with great humility and determination," said Macron.

In response to the defeat of his liberal forces in the European elections at the weekend and the resounding victory of the right-wing nationalists, the president had surprisingly dissolved the National Assembly on Sunday evening and announced new elections in two rounds for June 30 and July 7.

Macron's presidency is not at stake. His term of office runs to 2027.

Macron attacked the new political alliances announced by the opposition parties in light of the parliamentary elections. "At both extremes, there are unnatural alliances that are in agreement effectively on nothing," said Macron. The alliances were cobbled together, but did not have majorities to govern, he added.

Politicians on the left of French politics, including communists, greens and socialists, have announced that they would join forces.

Eric Ciotti, the head of the conservative The Republicans, surprisingly declared on Tuesday after a meeting with National Rally leader Jordan Bardella that he wanted to make common cause with the right-wing nationalists who made big gains last weekend.

Following a meeting of the party's executive committee in Paris on Wednesday, the secretary general of the Republicans, Annie Genevard, announced that Ciotti had been expeeled from the party as a consequence.

"He has conducted secret negotiations without consulting our political family and activists, thus completely breaking with the statutes and the line of LR," Genevard said.

The party will pursue an independent course in the parliamentary elections with its own candidates instead of entering into an uncertain alliance with the right-wing nationalists, she said.

Ciotti described the meeting of the party executive as invalid. It had been held in blatant violation of the party statutes, Ciotti wrote on the social media platform X.

"None of the decisions taken at this meeting have legal consequences. I am and remain the chairman of our political grouping elected by the members," Ciotti said.

Prior to the meeting, Ciotti had instructed employees at the party headquarters to leave and lock up in order to sabotage the meeting. He himself was not present at the time.

Macron said that members of The Republicans - following Ciotti's lead - were turning their backs on France's conservative heritage, including figures like Charles de Gaulle, Jacques Chirac and Nicolas Sarkozy.

"We have been observing the masks falling since Sunday evening," he said.

"I would say that that this is a trial of truth between those who decide they want to own affairs to flourish and those that want France to flourish," Macron said.

Macron justified his decision in favour of a snap election, which was met with incomprehension in many quarters in France, with the political blockade of the government.

As his centre camp has not had an absolute majority in the National Assembly for two years and efforts to form coalitions and cross-party cooperation have failed, the government is being blocked, which is becoming dangerous for France, he said.

In addition, the opposition has announced a vote of no confidence for the autumn, Macron said on Wednesday.

According to a poll conducted by the Ifop Institute on Wednesday, the National Rally has 35% support, the left-wing alliance 25% and the government camp 18%. For the Ifop survey, 1,089 representatively selected people in France aged 18 and over were interviewed online on June 10 and 11.

As France has a majority voting system, these values do not directly relate to the future distribution of seats in the National Assembly.

French President Emmanuel Macron gives a press conference following his decision to dissolve the National Assembly. Antonin Burat/Le Pictorium via ZUMA Press/dpa
Latitude 47N is a mysterious line that stretches from North America to Eurasia, where the world's finest ingredients thrive. Qiqihar City in NE China, lies along this latitude, offering an excellent environment that helps raise high-quality cattle and a unique related economy.
A pro-Trump mob breaks into the U.S. Capitol on January 06, 2021 in Washington, DC. Congress held a joint session today to ratify President-elect Joe Biden's 306-232 Electoral College win over President Donald Trump. A group of Republican senators said they would reject the Electoral College votes of several states unless Congress appointed a commission to audit the election results. (Photo by Win McNamee/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.

Ohio Capital Journal is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Ohio Capital Journal maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor David Dewitt for questions: info@ohiocapitaljournal.com. Follow Ohio Capital Journal on Facebook and Twitter.

The post As MAGA pursues an agenda of gaslighting and cruelty, timid responses wont cut it in 2024 appeared first on Michigan Advance.
A jury in Delaware found Hunter Biden guilty on Tuesday of three felony counts related to his lies on a federal firearms application, capping an end to a trial that exposed the crack addiction and out-of-control personal life of President Bidens deeply troubled son.

The reaction from MAGA personalities was swift. Many expressed relief that the criminal justice system decisively meted out punishment to the offspring of a sitting Democratic president, and acknowledged that their previously expressed fears that the system is rigged against Trump have proved unfounded.

Just kidding! MAGA personalities are already claiming the opposite: Incredibly, they are declaring that this guilty verdict slapped on Bidens son also proves that the system is rigged against Trump. Which reveals something essential about how dependent the MAGA worldview is on elaborate fantasies about the movements alleged persecution.

Hunter Biden guilty. Yawn, tweeted MAGA thought leader Charlie Kirk. 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.

The gun charges are a giant misdirection, added Stephen Miller. He added that the verdict is an easy opportunity for the Justice Department to hoodwink 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.

Translation: How the heck are we going to raise money off of this? The law being applied equally to the presidents son is an utter disaster for us!

Actually, I should probably revise that notion a bit: MAGA figures very well may find a way to raise money off of this outcome, after all.

Trumps campaign also got in on this sordid act, putting out a deranged statement claiming that Hunter Bidens conviction is a distraction from the real crimes of the Biden Crime Family. For some reason, MAGA Nation seems disappointed by the outcome, as if they were secretly hoping for the opposite.

Its worth dwelling on how convoluted the new MAGA claim truly is. First, recall that the special counsel who secured Hunter Bidens conviction, David Weiss, was originally appointed as a U.S. attorney by Trump. Did he deliberately handle his prosecutorial task skillfully in order to serve this sinister end of making the justice system appear balanced, thus secretly doing Bidens 11-dimensional-chess bidding?

Whats more, remember that the right exploded with fury last spring when prosecutors originally reached a plea deal with Hunter Biden (which subsequently fell apart), seeing the impulse to spare him a trial as another sign of a pro-Biden conspiracy. On top of that, during Hunter Bidens trial, right-wing media figures relentlessly charged that Biden family members, including the president, were secretly trying to influence the jury and tamper with witnessesmore evidence of dark and dastardly Biden family machinations, this time geared toward getting Hunter Biden off. Now that the thing the MAGA right warned against (Hunter skating free) did not happen, it too has magically been repurposed into the same Biden-orchestrated conspiracy.

Finally, recall that the MAGA rights primary purpose in focusing so relentlessly on Hunter Biden has been to gin up a case for impeaching and prosecuting his father, mostly around a tortured series of claims about the Bidens foreign dealings. Why havent either of these things happened? Well, House Republicans failed to find any basis for impeachment after months of trying. Despite all that effort, they still havent found any grounds for criminal referrals about President Biden to the Justice Department (they have referred their claims about Hunter Biden). Meanwhile, another special counsel, Robert Hur, did not recommend charging the president with criminal mishandling of classified documents because he couldnt find evidence of it. Hur too was originally appointed U.S. attorney by  President Trump.

For the MAGA right, the problem here cant possibly be that President Biden didnt actually commit any crimes. It can only be that the Justice Department is too corrupted to prosecute them and that House GOP leaders are too weak-kneed and feckless (another bizarre MAGA claim) to ferret them out themselves. Bizarrely, after all that, now that Hunter Biden actually has been found guilty of crimes, that also cannot possibly mean the justice system is operating as it should, because that would be exonerating to the president and affirm his claims that he is keeping his hands off the department.

The enormous contortions required to portray the justice system as rigged at every turn show yet again that pretty much everything the MAGA right is saying about these matters is about laying a pretext for Trump, once back in office, to launch prosecutions of Biden and Democrats without cause, under the guise of tit-for-tat payback for something that wasnt actually done to Trump and his followers. As Ive argued, Trump and his MAGA allies relentlessly claim that he will seek revenge and exact retribution with such prosecutions, to reverse-engineer the deceptive impression that Trump was the victim of what he is threatening, i.e., prosecutions without a legitimate basis. Additionally, MAGA Republicans have constantly claimed that law enforcement has relentlessly targeted ordinary conservative parents (which is a lie) and that the prosecutions of January 6 rioters are illegitimate (they are absolutely in keeping with the rule of law).

The sum total of all this monumental deception is that Trump and his followers are being massively victimized by our justice system, and that only carrying out mass prosecutions against the opposition will set that right. That the presidents son was found guilty by a jury of his peers who evaluated actual evidence presented by prosecutorsjust as happened to Trump in his hush-money trialis kryptonite to this sleazy scam. Nothing is more devastating to the MAGA worldview than the idea that the justice system is actually functioning fairly.
What are the main sticking points in the cease-fire talks between Israel and Hamas?

FILE - Israeli soldiers operate inside the Gaza Strip, as seen from southern Israel, on Feb. 13, 2024. The latest proposal for a cease-fire in Gaza has the support of the United States and most of the international community, but Hamas has not fully embraced it, and neither, it seems, has Israel.(AP Photo/Ariel Schalit, File)

The latest proposal for a cease-fire in Gaza has the support of the United States and most of the international community, but Hamas has not fully embraced it, and neither, it seems, has Israel.

Hamas this week accepted the broad outline but requested amendments." Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has publicly disputed aspects of the plan, raising questions about Israel's commitment to what the U.S. says is an Israeli proposal.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who is on his eighth visit to the region since Hamas' Oct. 7 attack triggered the war, told reporters in Qatar on Wednesday that the negotiations will continue.

But he said Hamas had requested numerous changes, adding that  some of the changes are workable; some are not.

Blinken declined to elaborate, but recent statements by Israeli and Hamas officials suggest they remain divided over many of the same issues that mediators have been trying to bridge for months.

Here's a look at the main sticking points.

Ending the war

Hamas has insisted it will not release the remaining hostages unless there's a permanent cease-fire and a full withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza. When President Joe Biden announced the latest proposal last month, he said it included both.

But Netanyahu says Israel is still committed to destroying Hamas' military and governing capabilities, and ensuring it can never again carry out an Oct. 7-style assault. A full withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza, where Hamas' top leadership and much of its forces are still intact, would almost certainly leave the group in control of the territory and able to rearm.

That's in part because Israel has yet to put forward a plan for Gaza's postwar governance, and has rejected a U.S. proposal that has wide regional support because it would require major progress toward creating a Palestinian state.

Hamas spokesman Jihad Taha told a Lebanese news outlet on Wednesday that the amendments requested by the group aim to guarantee a permanent cease-fire and a complete Israeli withdrawal.

Hamas is also seeking the release of hundreds of Palestinians imprisoned by Israel, including political leaders and senior militants convicted of orchestrating deadly attacks on Israeli civilians. But it's unclear if the sides have agreed on a list of who will be freed, or on whether they will be released in Gaza, the occupied West Bank or sent into exile.

Getting to the second phase of the plan

The cease-fire plan calls for an initial six-week phase in which Hamas would release some hostages  including women, older adults and wounded people  in exchange for an Israeli withdrawal from populated areas. Palestinian civilians would be able to return to their homes and humanitarian aid would be ramped up.

But then things get tricky.

The two sides are supposed to use that six-week period to negotiate an agreement on the second phase, which Biden said would include the release of all remaining living hostages, including male soldiers, and Israel's full withdrawal from Gaza. The temporary cease-fire would become permanent.

But only if the two sides agree on the details.

Hamas appears concerned that Israel will resume the war once its most vulnerable hostages are returned. And even if it doesn't, Israel could make demands in that stage of negotiations that were not part of the initial deal and are unacceptable to Hamas  and then resume the war when Hamas refuses them.

Israel's ambassador to the U.N., Gilad Erdan, said Israel would demand in those negotiations that Hamas be removed from power. We cannot agree to Hamas continuing to be the rulers of Gaza because then Gaza will continue to pose a threat to Israel," Erdan told CNNs The Source on Monday.

Israel also appears wary of the plan's provision that the initial cease-fire be extended as long as negotiations continue over the second phase. Erdan said that would allow Hamas to continue with endless and meaningless negotiations.

Resolving mistrust between longtime enemies

There are other issues that could unravel cease-fire efforts, beginning with the utter lack of trust between Israel and Hamas, which have fought five wars and are committed to each other's destruction.

Then there are the intense and contrasting pressures on Netanyahu, which may explain his mixed signals about the proposal.

Thousands of Israelis, including families of the hostages, have protested in recent months to demand the government bring the captives home, even at the expense of a lopsided deal with Hamas.

But the far-right partners in Netanyahu's increasingly narrow coalition have rejected the U.S.-backed plan and have threatened to bring down his government if he ends the war without destroying Hamas.

They want to reoccupy Gaza, encourage the voluntary emigration of Palestinians from the territory and rebuild Jewish settlements there. Netanyahu's ultranationalist allies have more leverage over him than at any time since the start of the war after Benny Gantz, a centrist political opponent, resigned Sunday from Israel's war Cabinet.

It's hard to imagine either Israel or Hamas entirely giving up on the talks. For Israel, that would likely mean abandoning scores of hostages still held in Gaza. For Hamas, it would prolong the suffering of Palestinians in Gaza and give Israel more time to annihilate the militants.

But Blinken hinted that the negotiations would not continue indefinitely.

At some point in a negotiation, and this has gone back and forth for a long time, you get to a point where if one side continues to change its demands, including making demands and insisting on changes for things that it already accepted, you have to question whether theyre proceeding in good faith or not.

___

Follow APs coverage of the war in Gaza at https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war
An electric vehicle charging station in Damariscotta, Maine. (Evan Houk/Maine Morning Star)

The next step in Maines commitment to building a network of electric vehicle chargers will come in the form of new high-speed charging stations opening in the next year.

With 52 new chargers across 17 different locations, the stations will be placed on heavily traveled highways and roads such as Interstate 95, U.S. Route 2, parts of Portland and Bangor, and near outdoor recreation areas, according to a news release from the governors office Wednesday morning.

As drivers choose electric vehicles for environmental reasons and other benefits, Gov. Janet Mills said in the release that Maine must have a robust charging infrastructure to help ensure that you can get there from here.

The cost of the charging stations comes to about $8.5 million, with the money coming from multiple sources, the release said. Most of that money ($5.7 million) is coming from the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Program, which is part of the federal bipartisan infrastructure law. The remaining $2.8 million is coming from the Governors Maine Jobs and Recovery Plan and settlement funds from the New England Clean Energy Connect project.

Nine of the 17 new locations  in Bangor, Bridgton, Hermon, Newport, Portland, Rumford and Windham  will be funded by the federal program and have at least four chargers per station. The other eight stations will have at least two chargers each.

This expansion of high-speed charging infrastructure will help reduce range anxiety for current and future Maine EV drivers and will help communities attract commerce and tourism, said Joyce Taylor, chief engineer at the Maine Department of Transportation.

The new high-speed chargers will be placed at these locations:

Cumberland County Hannaford Supermarket, Main Street, Gorham Nouria, Ossipee Trail, Gorham University of Southern Maine, School Street, Gorham Marginal Way Parking Lot, Portland Hannaford Supermarket, Forest Avenue, Portland Shaws Plaza, Roosevelt Trail, Windham Nouria, Portland Road, Bridgton

Franklin County Rangeley Hideaway, Main Street, Rangeley

Oxford County River Street Parking Lot, Rumford

Penobscot County Tractor Supply Plaza, Central Street, Millinocket Dysarts Restaurant and Truck Stop, Coldbrook Road, Hermon Airport Mall, Union Street, Bangor Hannaford Supermarket, Stillwater Avenue, Bangor Hannaford Supermarket, Moosehead Trail, Newport Alltown Market, Park Street, Orono University of Maine, Beddington Road, Orono

Piscataquis County Indian Hill Trading Post, Moosehead Lake Road, Greenville



Maine intends to install charging stations at least every 50 miles along the states major corridors in urban areas and in rural service centers using grant money it expects to receive over the next several years, the release said. The state is supposed to receive an additional $12 million from the federal program that funded these new high-speed chargers and another $15 million from the Charging and Fueling Infrastructure Grant Program.

Currently, Maine has more than 1,000 EV charging ports across nearly 500 locations, according to a map from Efficiency Maine.

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AUSTIN (KXAN)  The majority of staff at The University of Texas at Austin will return to work in person full-time in the fall, UT officials announced Wednesday.

UT President Jay Hartzell said the change is in an effort to best support an environment that fosters collaboration, innovation, availability, and reliability, the announcement read in part. Come early July, university leadership will finish plans outlining full-time, on-site work for the majority of staff.

Staff members can most effectively serve our students, faculty, fellow staff members, and other stakeholders when working together in an environment that fosters collaboration, innovation, availability, and reliability. Our vibrant campus community helps distinguish our great University, and as members of our staff, you contribute to that vibrancy each day. We are here because of our students, and your consistent presence will help provide a more complete and engaging learning experience for students throughout campus. UT President Jay Hartzell

All in-person work plans will be finalized and implemented by Aug. 19, the announcement added. Some positions will continue to be available for remote or hybrid work opportunities at the discretion of the supervisor and college, school, or unit leader.

The full letter is available online.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin.
By Danny Freeman, CNN

(CNN)  The man accused of fatally shooting Philadelphia journalist Josh Kruger last October pleaded guilty to third-degree murder on Monday, according to court documents.

Robert Davis, 20, was sentenced to 15 to 30 years in prison for the murder charge based on a negotiated plea deal, as well as 1 to 2 years for a separate incident of carrying a firearm without a license.

Both the Philadelphia District Attorneys Office and the Defenders Association of Philadelphia declined to comment on the plea deal when reached by CNN.

Kruger, 39, was shot and killed in his home in the South Philadelphia neighborhood of Point Breeze in the early morning hours of October 2, 2023. Davis, who was 19 at the time, was arrested for his murder three weeks later.

Court documents revealed police found Davis and Kruger had an intimate/sexual relationship prior to Krugers death.

Kruger had been a well-known journalist and columnist advocating for issues such as LGBTQ+ rights and homeless support in publications including The Philadelphia Citizen and The Philadelphia Inquirer. In 2014 and 2015, Kruger won the Society of Professional Journalists award for newspaper commentary in Pennsylvania. He also worked for the city government of Philadelphia.

Krugers work built on his own personal experiences living with HIV and experiencing homelessness, according to LinkedIn. In his profile, he described himself as a destroyer of stigma and bureaucratic silos and a believer in the common good. He used social media as a platform to write about his own experience surviving addiction and continuing to work with people dealing with addiction in Philadelphia.

He worked for the city of Philadelphia for five years, according to his website and LinkedIn profile. He worked with the Department of Public Health, the Office of Homeless Services and the mayors office.

We are shocked and saddened by Joshs death, then-Mayor Jim Kenney said in a statement given to CNN in October.

Josh cared deeply about our city and its residents, which was evident both in his public service and in his writing, said Kenney. His intelligence, creativity, passion, and wit shone bright in everything that he did  and his light was dimmed much too soon. We were exceedingly fortunate to call him a colleague and our prayers are with everyone who knew and loved him.

The-CNN-Wire

 &  2024 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved.
The man Atlanta police say shot three people in the food court of Peachtree Center in downtown Atlanta Tuesday afternoon before he was shot by an APD officer has been identified.

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation said 34-year-old convicted felon Jeremy Malone of Morrow got into an argument inside the food court just after 2 p.m. He is accused of shooting the person he was arguing with before continuing to shoot, injuring two more people.

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Early Friday morning, Malone was booked into the Fulton County Jail on charges including aggravated assault, cruelty to children and more.

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. Their identities have not been released.

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Police said Malone has served time in prison and has 11 previous arrest cycles.

I hear one shot and then Im thinking somebody dropped something, and then I hear another shot and another shot and another shot, witness Kemba Walker Jr. said. And then I see people scattering, running around.

Malone is currently being held in the Fulton County Jail

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Li Xi, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and secretary of the CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, meets with a delegation of the Communist Party of Cuba (PCC) led by Gladys Martinez Verdecia, member of Politburo of the Central Committee of the PCC and first secretary of Artemisa Provincial Party Committee, in Beijing, capital of China, June 12, 2024. (Xinhua/Yue Yuewei)

BEIJING, June 12 (Xinhua) -- Li Xi, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, met with a delegation of the Communist Party of Cuba (PCC) led by Gladys Martinez Verdecia, member of Politburo of the Central Committee of the PCC and first secretary of Artemisa Provincial Party Committee, in Beijing on Wednesday.

Li, also secretary of the CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, said that China and Cuba are both socialist countries led by communist parties and share common ideals and convictions.

The two sides should firmly implement the important consensus reached by the top leaders of the two parties and countries, intensify strategic communication, deepen pragmatic cooperation, strengthen the exchange of experience in governance, guide the better development of their respective socialist causes, and work together to build a community of shared future between China and Cuba, Li said.

The PCC thanks the Chinese side for its firm support and valuable assistance to Cuba's just cause, Martinez said, expressing the willingness to work with the CPC to implement the consensus reached by the top leaders of the two parties and countries, deepen the exchange of experience on party and state governance, promote practical cooperation in agriculture and other fields, and push for greater development of China-Cuba relations. 
A man was booked Wednesday in connection to sex trafficking two teenage girls, including a 13-year-old girl allegedly forced to perform sexual acts for multiple traffickers, the Sacramento County Sheriffs Office said.

Deputies on patrol Tuesday in North Highlands came across the girls  ages 13 and 16  each believed to be engaging in prostitution near Watt and Myrtle avenues. The stretch of roadway is frequented by human traffickers who force victims into sex work, the Sheriffs Office said.

The suspect, an 18-year-old man, was with the two teens and said to deputies he was dating the 16-year-old girl while holding money for the younger child, deputies said. The 13-year-old was allegedly forced into sex work just five minutes before deputies approached the victims, authorities said.

The 13-year-old girl had been trafficked earlier this year by couple Jacob Andrew Reyes and Itzel Anahi Medina-Nieto, the Sheriffs Office said. The pair was arrested in February for sex trafficking the then-12-year-old girl, as well as other victims, in Sacramento and the Bay Area, according to The Bees previous reporting.

MAN ARRESTED FOR SEX TRAFFICKING 13 AND 16-YEAR-OLD GIRLS



Last night, Sacramento County Sheriff North Patrol Deputies encountered two juveniles engaging in prostitution on Watt Avenue, ages 13 and 16. Deputies contacted an 18-year-old male probationer hanging out with two pic.twitter.com/IA6hu0FXZs  Sacramento Sheriff (@sacsheriff) June 12, 2024

Both suspects are in custody and were scheduled to appear in court Wednesday for a settlement conference.

Unfortunately, our minor returned to the cycle of victimization, which is far too common in these cases, especially with young victims, deputies said.

Investigators arrested the 18-year-old suspect in Tuesdays case, who now faces three felony charges of pimping, pandering and trafficking minors.

He is being held on $1 million bail and is scheduled to be arraigned Friday.

The Sheriffs Office said the 18-year-old could have trafficked other victims. Residents can report tips by calling the Sheriffs Office 916-874-5115 or Sacramento Valley Crime Stoppers at 916-443-4357.

Callers may be eligible for a $1,000 reward and can remain anonymous. To leave anonymous information, call 916-874-8477.
Man arrested, charged with second-degree murder in southeast Wichita killing, official says

One of the two people police were looking for in connection with a June 4 killing at a southeast Wichita apartment complex has been charged with second-degree murder, Wichita police Capt. Aaron Moses said Wednesday.

Jeremiah Zyimondre Markis Walker was arrested Wednesday morning at City Hall after going there, Moses said. He was booked into Sedgwick County Jail at 10:17 a.m.

Police asked for help finding the 23-year-old Wichita man on June 6 in connection with the June 4 killing of 27-year-old Quentin Vonta Gordon.

Moses said they are no longer looking for the other person and dont have any other suspects.

The shooting was reported at 9:27 p.m. in the 4800 block of East Funston, which is next to L.W. Clapp Park. Gordon lived at the apartment complex where he was shot.

This is at least the citys 22nd homicide of the year, according to reports from police. There were 14 at this time last year.

Walker has been wanted since March 18, 2020 since he absconded in connection with a 2019 Shawnee County case involving criminal damage to property, according to Kansas Department of Corrections records.

Its unclear if those records are outdated. The suspect was arrested in December in Wichita in a case hes been charged in for aggravated endangering of a child and fleeing and eluding, according to court and police records.
Man arrested after gunfight in the middle of busy crowd in downtown Augusta

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation released new details about a man who shot into a crowd of people in downtown Augusta over the weekend.

On Monday, the GBI identified the shooter as 19-year-old Amazing Lee Blessed Brigham of Hephzibah.

According to the state agency, during the early hours of June 8, three Richmond County deputies were downtown on Broad Street in Augusta working off-duty jobs at Soles restaurant.

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The GBI said the area had heavy pedestrian traffic from the many bars and restaurants nearby.

Around 1:15 a.m., deputies heard multiple gunshots and responded to the shots fired, finding a man outside a restaurant holding an assault pistol, according to the GBI.

Previous information released by members of law enforcement in Augusta and reported by Channel 2 Action News said initially that the weapon was an assault rifle.

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Two of the three deputies fired at Brigham, hitting him at least once. Two other bystanders were also hit by gunfire and were wounded by the gunshots, according to the GBI.

All three were taken to a local hospital for treatment of their gunshot wounds, the GBI said.

After further investigation by the GBI, agents learned the gunfire outside the restaurant was between Brigham and multiple other unidentified individuals and the gunfight spread across two to three blocks.

So far, it is not known what led to the gunfight, according to the GBI. Agents recovered multiple weapons at the crime scene, as well as evidence of the crime, including seven vehicles hit by gunfire, officials said.

Multiple businesses in the area also took damage from the gunshots fired during the incident, the GBI said.

After being treated for his injuries, Brigham was taken into custody by Richmond County deputies and was charged with two counts of aggravated assault and possessing a firearm during the commission of the crime.

The GBI continues to investigate the incident.

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BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET)  A 30-year-old man was arrested after an hours-long standoff in a northeast Bakersfield neighborhood Tuesday evening.

The Bakersfield Police Department said officers were dispatched to the 6000 block Hill Dale Court near Fairfax Road at around 6 p.m. Tuesday for reports of a domestic violence incident.

Officials said when officers arrived, the victim and children safely exited the residence.

Officers began communicating with the suspect, who was identified as Paul McCormack, 30, via telephone to arrange his safe surrender.

According to police, McCormack allegedly made threats to officers and refused to surrender.

After two hours of communicating via telephone, the SWAT Team, bomb squad, crisis negotiators and an unmanned aircraft systems team were called to the scene.

A kinetic breaching tool was used to access the front door. Police said the tool sounds similar to a firearm but at no point was a firearm discharged.

McCormack was taken in custody and booked on suspicion of crimes associated with domestic violence, false imprisonment, child endangerment and restraining order violation.

Anyone with information regarding this case is asked to contact the Bakersfield Police Department at 661-327-7111.

McCormack is set to appear in court Thursday.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Man convicted of 16 felonies in connection with 2016 L.A. area home invasions

A man from Las Vegas charged with 17 felonies stemming from a 2016 home invasion spree throughout the Los Angeles area has been convicted of all but one charge, authorities said.

According to the Santa Monica Police Department, Vacho Shahen, 39, shot a homeowner during a failed robbery attempt in the 600 block of Adelaide Drive in Santa Monica on Aug. 28, 2016.

According to the homeowner, who survived the shooting after sustaining a single gunshot wound to the torso, Shahen was wearing a mask similar to the one used in the movie Scream during the botched robbery.

Southern California man gets 30 to life for killing grandmother, granddaughter

After a multi-year investigation aided by DNA evidence, law enforcement officials were able to link Shahens failed robbery in Santa Monica to additional home invasions in Beverly Hills and Downey, all of which took place within a two-week period in 2016.

Shahen was eventually arrested in Philadelphia in 2018, SMPD said; the circumstances surrounding his arrest were not released.

After a three-week trial, a jury found the Las Vegas man guilty on 16 of 17 felony charges. His sentencing is scheduled for June 24.

Anyone with additional information surrounding the investigation into Shahen is asked to contact Sgt. Chad Goodwin at 310-458-8931 or Lt. Erika Aklufi at 310-458-8493.

8 people with alleged ISIS ties arrested in L.A., other U.S. cities

The Santa Monica Police Department offers free home security assessments to all residents. The assessments help identify potential vulnerabilities and provide recommendations to better secure homes.

To schedule an assessment, contact SMPDs Community Affairs Unit by calling 310-458-8474.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
One person died after a fistfight between two men staying at a homeless shelter in Lawrence, the Lawrence Police Department said Wednesday.

George Luke Miller, 34, was arrested at the scene on suspicion of first-degree murder in the killing of Christopher Allen Lickteig, LPD said in a news release, adding that the victim died at the scene.

Officers were called at 10:33 p.m. Tuesday about the fight at intersection of E 25th Terrace and Franklin Road, which is near the Lawrence Community Shelter where the men were staying.

A deputy who arrived first found both of them on the ground. The 43-year-old victim was unconscious. The 34-year-old suspect was taken into custody at the scene.

The events and circumstances of the evening, including whether the two men knew each other, are still being investigated, LPD said in a news release. At this early stage of the investigation, detectives do not believe weapons were involved, nor did they recover one at the scene.
A Connecticut man is facing charges after allegedly leading police on a pursuit in New Hampshire before triggering a shelter-in-place at a university.

Shortly after 6:30 p.m. Tuesday night, New Hampshire state troopers were notified to be on the lookout for a vehicle that drove off from an attempted traffic stop by the Lee Police Department. Police were made aware that the driver had also caused a crash, damaging property damage in Rochester before fleeing from Lee police.

A trooper then notified the BOLOd vehicle, a black 2000 Mercedes ML320 driving south on Route 125 in Epping. The trooper tried to stop the car but state police say the driver sped off, driving erratically before turning onto Route 101 westbound and Interstate 93 northbound.

After turning into the Southern New Hampshire University campus in Hooksett, the driver reached a dead-end and bailed out of the vehicle, racing into the woods on foot. As the SNHU was alerted and told to shelter in place, troopers being assisted by the State Police Canine Unit and the State Police Unmanned Aerial Systems Unit began to comb the forest.

Michael J. Delucco, 23, of Cromwell, Connecticut was found in a wooded area next to East Side Drive in Hooksett and taken into custody by a K9 unit.

State police say Delucco is facing charges of felony reckless conduct and misdemeanor charges of disobeying an officer, aggravated driving under the influence of drugs, driving under the influence of drugs  second offense, operating after suspension  DUI conviction, resisting arrest or detention, and disorderly conduct. The Cromwell native also received a civil violation for reckless operation.

Delucco was held in preventative detention at the Rockingham County House of Corrections pending a scheduled appearance in Brentwood District Court on Wednesday,

The incident is still under investigation by New Hampshire State Police.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

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An anti-missile system intercepts rockets fired from Lebanon, as it seen from the northern Israeli town of Rosh Pina, June 12, 2024. About 160 rockets were fired from Lebanon at northern Israel on Wednesday morning, said the Israeli army, after Israeli airstrikes killed four Hezbollah officials, including a senior commander. (Ayal Margolin/JINI via Xinhua)

JERUSALEM, June 12 (Xinhua) -- About 160 rockets were fired from Lebanon at northern Israel on Wednesday morning, said the Israeli army, after Israeli airstrikes killed four Hezbollah officials, including a senior commander.

The barrage marked the largest rocket attack by militants in Lebanon on Israel since the beginning of the new round of Israel-Hamas conflict on Oct. 7, 2023.

In the early morning, the military said approximately 90 projectiles were identified launched from Lebanon. The National Fire and Rescue Authority said that the rockets caused fires in several areas.

Later in the morning, a barrage of some 70 rockets was fired toward Western Galilee and Mount Meron in Upper Galilee region, where a key aerial defense control unit is located.

"A number of the projectiles were intercepted, most of them fell in open areas, and several fell in a number of locations in northern Israel," the military said, adding that the details were still under review.

So far, no injuries have been reported by the Israeli side.

In response to the latest barrage, Israeli aircraft struck the launcher in the area of Yaroun.

The Upper Galilee Regional Council called on residents to reduce outdoor activities to essential ones only, citing fear of additional barrages. 

An anti-missile system intercepts rockets fired from Lebanon, as it seen from the northern Israeli town of Rosh Pina, June 12, 2024. About 160 rockets were fired from Lebanon at northern Israel on Wednesday morning, said the Israeli army, after Israeli airstrikes killed four Hezbollah officials, including a senior commander. (Ayal Margolin/JINI via Xinhua)

Fire burns after rockets launched from Lebanon landed in northern Israel's Galilee region, on June 12, 2024. About 160 rockets were fired from Lebanon at northern Israel on Wednesday morning, said the Israeli army, after Israeli airstrikes killed four Hezbollah officials, including a senior commander.

The barrage marked the largest rocket attack by militants in Lebanon on Israel since the beginning of the new round of Israel-Hamas conflict on Oct. 7, 2023. (Ayal Margolin/JINI via Xinhua)

Fire burns after rockets launched from Lebanon landed in northern Israel's Galilee region, on June 12, 2024. About 160 rockets were fired from Lebanon at northern Israel on Wednesday morning, said the Israeli army, after Israeli airstrikes killed four Hezbollah officials, including a senior commander.

The barrage marked the largest rocket attack by militants in Lebanon on Israel since the beginning of the new round of Israel-Hamas conflict on Oct. 7, 2023. (Ayal Margolin/JINI via Xinhua)

Fire burns after rockets launched from Lebanon landed in northern Israel's Galilee region, on June 12, 2024. About 160 rockets were fired from Lebanon at northern Israel on Wednesday morning, said the Israeli army, after Israeli airstrikes killed four Hezbollah officials, including a senior commander.

The barrage marked the largest rocket attack by militants in Lebanon on Israel since the beginning of the new round of Israel-Hamas conflict on Oct. 7, 2023. (Ayal Margolin/JINI via Xinhua)

Fire burns after rockets launched from Lebanon landed in northern Israel's Galilee region, on June 12, 2024. About 160 rockets were fired from Lebanon at northern Israel on Wednesday morning, said the Israeli army, after Israeli airstrikes killed four Hezbollah officials, including a senior commander.

The barrage marked the largest rocket attack by militants in Lebanon on Israel since the beginning of the new round of Israel-Hamas conflict on Oct. 7, 2023. (Ayal Margolin/JINI via Xinhua)

Fire burns after rockets launched from Lebanon landed in northern Israel's Galilee region, on June 12, 2024. About 160 rockets were fired from Lebanon at northern Israel on Wednesday morning, said the Israeli army, after Israeli airstrikes killed four Hezbollah officials, including a senior commander.

The barrage marked the largest rocket attack by militants in Lebanon on Israel since the beginning of the new round of Israel-Hamas conflict on Oct. 7, 2023. (Ayal Margolin/JINI via Xinhua)

Fire burns after rockets launched from Lebanon landed in northern Israel's Galilee region, on June 12, 2024. About 160 rockets were fired from Lebanon at northern Israel on Wednesday morning, said the Israeli army, after Israeli airstrikes killed four Hezbollah officials, including a senior commander.

The barrage marked the largest rocket attack by militants in Lebanon on Israel since the beginning of the new round of Israel-Hamas conflict on Oct. 7, 2023. (Ayal Margolin/JINI via Xinhua)
SAN ANGELO, Texas (Concho Valley Homepage)  Court records filed in Tom Green County state that a San Angelo man recently indicted for aggravated kidnapping was a known risk to public safety responsible for multiple offenses committed across two decades, some against the same victim.

The May 2024 indictment report states that 39-year-old Hector Lopez was indicted on one charge of aggravated kidnapping that caused bodily injury.

According to an affidavit filed in Tom Green County, the charge comes from an incident that occurred on Jan. 11 at a Zips Car Wash. Law enforcement responded to the business in reference to a domestic disturbance call. Officers began to speak with the victim when Lopez fled the scene, and no successful detention was made despite search efforts.

RELATED: SAPD takes wanted individual into custody near ASU

Witnesses at the scene confirmed with the investigator that the victim had been forced into a vehicle, also stating that the victim was terrified and that screams were heard from the victim. Witness reports also corroborated surveillance footage obtained from cameras at the car wash.

A statement written by the victim indicated that Lopez walked up on her, took her phone and demanded she drive him somewhere, adding that he grabbed her and forced her into the vehicle when she refused. This use of force resulted in visible injury to her arm.

The investigator stated that this tactic is a common method utilized by Lopez and aligns with his previous known stalking behavior. This tactic, as per the affidavit, involves Lopez posting in a place where he can view before conducting an ambush style approach, whereupon he would use surprise and aggression to make victim go or take him somewhere she doesnt want to with utilization of unwanted physical assault and restraint to accomplish his intentions.

A review of Lopezs criminal history conducted by the investigator noted previous arrests and convictions for several offenses over the past 22 years, with certain offenses indicating that he is a known and confirmable risk to public safety as well as a known flight risk. These offenses include the following, as shown in the affidavit:

Violent and Public Safety Risk Offenses Assault, disorderly conduct, assault (family violence), assault (dom/house-strangulation), sexual assault of a child, possession of child pornography

Flight Risk-Related Offenses Bond revocations, failure to appear, failure to identify fugitive from justice, bail jumping, probation revocations



The affidavit stated that Lopez was most recently released to deferred adjudication probation on a previous series of offenses involving the same listed victim and her child, which includes the following offenses:

Possession of child pornography

Several counts of harassment

Assault (family violence with bodily injury)

Assault (dom/house strangulation)

Stalking with a previous conviction

Failure to identify fugitive from justice

The investigator also said in the report that it has not even been 6 months since defendant had begun reoffending while released into the public on probation. This release came after Lopez failed to comply with previous unsuccessful attempts to release him to probation for his previous offenses before this last series of offenses.

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OPELIKA, Ala. (WRBL)  The man killed in a police-involved shooting in Opelika on Tuesday has been identified as Damion Ladeal Jones, 31, of Easley, South Carolina. The incident occurred following a traffic crash involving an 18-wheeler and a vehicle on Interstate 85.

Witnesses who reported the crash near mile marker 58, just after the Opelika Tiger Town exit, say Jones, the driver involved in the crash, was seen wielding a knife and allegedly cutting himself. Investigators confirm Jones had a knife; however, the alleged self-harming has not been confirmed.

Upon responding to the scene, officers encountered Jones. Sergeant Jeremy Burkett of the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) stated, Once on scene, officers encountered an individual with a knife. Eventually, the individual charged officers, causing them to engage and shoot the suspect.

Per standard procedures, the officer involved in the shooting has been placed on paid administrative, leave pending the investigation. Opelika Police spokesperson Allison Duke says all evidence, including video footage, will be submitted to the State Bureau of Investigations (SBI) for a comprehensive and impartial review. Once they have completed a full and thorough investigation, the results will be turned over to the Lee County District Attorneys Office, who will present the findings to a Lee County Grand Jury, Duke said.

Jones was pronounced dead at the scene at 2:54 p.m. His body has been sent to the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences Montgomery Medical Facility for a postmortem examination. Jones family has been notified of his death.

As the investigation continues, motorists are advised to use caution due to ongoing interstate repairs resulting from the crash.

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Man killed on Gwinnett County bus identified; GBI says he was shot with his own gun

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation says the man who hijacked a Gwinnett County transit bus, killed someone aboard and led officers on a chase took the gun from another passenger.

The GBI said the incident started around 4:20 p.m. on Ivan Allen Boulevard in downtown Atlanta. The Gwinnett County bus picked up passengers, including Joseph Grier.

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Grier had been on the scene of a mass shooting at Peachtree Center hours before.

According to the GBI, Grier was engaging with passengers on the bus and got into an argument with another man. The other passenger, identified on the warrants as Ernest Byrd, pulled out a gun. Grier then took the gun from Byrd and started to threaten passengers with it.

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Grier then shot Byrd in the leg with his own gun and ordered the bus driver to drive away, according to the GBI.

Numerous law enforcement agencies then chased the bus as it traveled on I-85 north into Gwinnett and then DeKalb counties. During the chase, the bus hit multiple other cars and several police vehicles.

Officers flattened the tires on the bus, but it kept moving. A Georgia State Patrol officer then fired his gun into the engine compartment of the bus in order to get it to break down.

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The chase came to an end on Hugh Howell Road in Stone Mountain. Grier was taken into custody. Byrd was taken to a local hospital and pronounced dead. The bus driver was also taken to the hospital.

The GBI didnt reveal the bus drivers identity or current condition.

More than a dozen other passengers on the bus were able to get off safely.

The GBI will conduct an independent investigation of the use of force.

Grier is now facing more than a dozen charges, including murder.
Man in photo Noem used as alleged proof of cartels says its hindered his right to a fair trial

Charles Merrival, front, pictured during a 2019 march in Rapid City. (courtesy Charles Merrival family)

EDITORS NOTE: This story is the third in a series exploring the influence of drug cartels in South Dakota, on and off the states reservations. The first story can be found at this link; The second can be found at this link.

A Native American man said Gov. Kristi Noem hindered his ability to receive a fair trial when she displayed a photo of him recently as alleged proof of cartel activity on reservations.

Noem flashed three photos during a May 17 press conference while talking about the Mexican drug cartel activity she said is happening in tribal communities. She did not provide any names with the photos at that press conference, but Noems office had previously shared the photo with South Dakota Searchlight.

The images were sent to Searchlight in late April when the outlet asked for proof of the governors repeated allegations of cartel activity on reservations, and for proof of Noems claim that tribal leaders are personally benefiting from a cartel presence on their lands. Tribal leaders have denied those allegations.

Searchlight has independently determined and verified that the most identifiable image  a close-up of a mans face  is a picture of Charles Cain Merrival, 32, a member of the Oglala Sioux Tribe.

South Dakota Searchlight is not publishing the photo used by Gov. Noem. The photos in the story were offered by Merrivals family members.

Merrival has been in custody at the Pennington County Jail in Rapid City since January 2022 and for all but a few months since 2020. He wore an ankle monitor during his release and was restricted from traveling more than 25 miles from Rapid City.

He is currently being held on federal charges for methamphetamine distribution stemming from separate incidents in July 2021 and January 2022. Hes also being held on state charges for a robbery alleged to have taken place in 2020.

Kristi Noem herself falsely labeled me a gang member that is affiliated with Mexican drug cartels and the commission of murders, Merrival said in a phone interview. Because of Kristi Noems decision to personally intervene, any presumption of innocence that I had is gone forever.

Merrival said hes never been the target of a murder investigation, cartel-related or otherwise. An internet search for Merrivals name does turn up a 2021 homicide case, but that involved a different Charles Merrival. That man, whose middle name is Joe, was released from federal prison last summer after serving time for involuntary manslaughter.

Charles Cain Merrivals mother, Darla Merrival, said she feels that her son was targeted because hes Native American. Shes taking care of one of Merrivals children at the moment and said shes been able to shield the girl from anything about her father, his charges or the press conference that used him to make a point about drug cartels.

But she was shocked and appalled by Noems actions.

I dont think she even knows whats going on herself, you know what I mean? Darla Merrival said. It just fit her narrative.

Noems office did not respond to an email asking about the use of Merrivals photo.

Ghost Dance club connection

Noem has repeatedly asserted since a Jan. 31 speech that President Joe Bidens border policies have made tribal communities vulnerable to infiltration by Mexican drug cartels.

Murders are being committed by cartel members on the Pine Ridge Reservation and in Rapid City, and a gang called the Ghost Dancers are affiliated with these cartels, Noem said.

Tensions between Noem and tribal leaders flared after that speech, with some expressing concern about her use of the phrase ghost dancers. It was originally applied to participants in a Native American spiritual ceremony that grew in popularity prior to the Wounded Knee Massacre of 1890. At a press conference the day after her January speech, Noem responded that I didnt name the gang.

Merrival said the Ghost Dancers ceased to exist as a club in July 2021.

Theres no way its possible that a motorcycle club that no longer exists is currently responsible for anything, let alone associations with cartels, Merrival said.

When asked if the Ghost Dancers club is still active in the state, a spokesman for Attorney General Marty Jackley said the office cannot comment on pending criminal cases.

All three of the biker pictures displayed by Noem show men in leather biker jackets bearing the words Ghost Dance and support your local Bandidos.

The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration linked members of Bandidos motorcycle gangs in New York and Texas to cartel drug trafficking in its 2018 National Threat Assessment. The 2024 assessment does not mention outlaw motorcycle clubs.

Charles Merrival (courtesy Charles Merrival family)

During her press conference, Noem not only flashed the biker photos but also shared some video clips, quotes from tribal leaders and anonymous tribal members, and referenced the Pine Ridge-area kidnapping of an FBI victim specialist by men from El Salvador and Guatemala.

Ace Crawford, a spokesperson for the U.S. attorneys office, told South Dakota Searchlight that the kidnapping had no clear connection to cartels.

Legal motion: Pending case impacted by press conference

Merrival had a jury trial for his federal drug charges in September, but it ended in a mistrial. His new trial is scheduled to begin on July 9, despite his recent efforts to delay it.

Noems use of his photo has complicated the federal case, according to documents filed by Merrivals lawyer, John Rusch of Rapid City. Rusch declined to comment on the case while its pending.

The Monday after Noems Friday press conference, Rusch filed a motion for a continuance because Governor Kristi Noem has publicly made statements that the Defendant and Ghost Dance which Defendant is a member of, are part of the cartel operating in South Dakota.

This information was published in a wide variety of news sources and included pictures of the Defendant, Rusch wrote. The Defendant is asking for time to address these new allegations and counteract the negative and untrue statements being made about him in the press. The Defendant has requested discovery from Law Enforcement provided to the Governor that these claims are based upon.

Judge Karen Schreier denied the motion three days later, writing that the case has been pending for years.

Defendants attorney was not appointed to respond to allegations in the press, only to represent defendant with regard to the criminal charges that have been brought against him in the indictment, the judge wrote.

Darla Merrival, Charles mother, is concerned that Noems choice to connect him to cartels in such a public fashion taints not only potential jurors but feeds into an inaccurate public perception of anyone who chooses to be a part of a motorcycle gang.

I have friends that are members of motorcycle clubs, but that doesnt mean that theyre all involved in illegal activities, she said. But their whole agenda is to fit him in with the Bandidos, so it looks like he was definitely doing what they think hes doing.

Steven Bell, special agent in charge for the Drug Enforcement Administration office in Omaha, did not comment on Merrivals case and told South Dakota Searchlight it would be way outside our lane to comment on biker gangs and connections to drug cartels.

He did, however, say that membership in a biker gang or the presence of a Bandidos patch on a leather jacket alone doesnt signal illegal activity.

Youd be talking about profiling, Bell said. And we dont profile.

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An Arizona man planned a mass shooting targeting Black concertgoers in Atlanta in an attempt to spark a race war before Novembers U.S. presidential election, federal prosecutors said.

Mark Adams Prieto, a 58-year-old gun show vendor, intended for the violence to unfold at a rap concert at the State Farm Arena on May 14 and May 15, court documents say.

The venues calendar shows Puerto Rican rapper and singer Bad Bunny was the only artist scheduled for those dates.

Prietos plan unraveled because he was unaware that the two people he discussed it with between January and May were working with the FBI, according to prosecutors.

Prieto, who is white, revealed the details of his plot  including how he said he planned to leave confederate flags after the shooting  with both individuals at gun shows in Arizona, an FBI special agent wrote in an affidavit in support of a criminal complaint.

He was mistaken in believing they shared his racist beliefs, prosecutors said.

Prieto, of Prescott, was indicted by a federal grand jury June 11 on charges of firearms trafficking, transfer of a firearm for use in a hate crime and possession of an unregistered firearm, the U.S. The Attorneys Office for the District of Arizona announced in a new release.

Information regarding his legal representation wasnt immediately available.

Suspicious and alarming comments

Prieto landed on the FBIs radar in October, when one of the people working with the agency informed the FBIs Phoenix office that Prieto expressed a desire to incite a race war before the election, the affidavit says.

Over the past three years, this individual had made small talk with Prieto at multiple gun shows, according to the affidavit.

Within the last year, the person told the FBI that Prieto began making suspicious and alarming comments, including advocating for a mass shooting, and specifically targeting blacks, Jews, or Muslims, the affidavit says.

They said Prieto was convinced that martial law will be enforced following the election and that a mass shooting should occur prior to the implementation of martial law, the FBI agent wrote in the affidavit.

Why Atlanta?

At a gun show in Phoenix on Jan. 20, Prieto made small talk with this individual and an undercover FBI agent, the affidavit says.

On Jan. 21, the second day of the gun show, Prieto revealed he wanted to carry out a mass shooting against Black people at an Atlanta rap concert, according to the affidavit.

The affidavit says Prieto told them:

The reason I say Atlanta. Why, why is Georgia such a (expletive) state now? When I was a kid that was one of the most conservative states in the country. Why is it not now? Because as the crime got worse in LA, St. Louis, and all these other cities, all the (racial slurs) moved out of those (places) and moved to Atlanta.

On Feb. 24, at a gun show in Phoenix, Prieto told the two people working with the FBI that he wanted to cause panic and pandemonium at the concert, and for the concertgoers to be corralled during the shooting, according to the affidavit.

This photo shows Prieto arriving at the gun show on Feb. 24, according to court documents.

The next day, he sold one of them an AK-style rifle and later sold them an AR-style rifle on March 24, prosecutors said.

On March 23, Prieto had a vendor table with nine firearms at a gun show in Prescott, where he confirmed he wanted the mass shooting to happen May 14 and 15, according to the affidavit.

He then proposed pushing back the date of the attack to June or July, saying The hotter the weather, the better because people will want to be outside more. When it gets hot, people cant think straight, the affidavit says.

Arrest made

Prieto was under constant FBI surveillance as he developed his plan, according to prosecutors.

After leaving Arizona, he was arrested in New Mexico while heading east on Interstate 40 on May 14, prosecutors said.

Inside his car, authorities found seven firearms and located additional guns at his home, including an unregistered short-barreled rifle, according to prosecutors.

If convicted on a firearms trafficking charge he could be sentenced up to 15 years in prison and fined up to $250,000, the U.S. Attorneys office said. If Prieto is convicted of transfer of firearm for use in a hate crime, the charge carries the same maximum penalties.

For the charge of possession of an unregistered firearm, Prieto could be sentenced up to 10 years in prison and fined up to $250,000 if hes convicted, according to prosecutors.

Prieto was ordered to be detained ahead of trial because the nature and seriousness of danger to the community is extreme, court records show.

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Man Pleads Guilty To Federal Charges In Connection To The Death Of Toddler At Bronx Day Care

A man connected to the death of a 1-year-old who was exposed to fentanyl at a Bronx day care in September pleaded guilty to federal charges on Monday, according to the U.S. Attorneys Office.

Felix Herrera Garcia, 35, is facing 20 years to life in prison after he pleaded guilty to the possession of and conspiracy to distribute narcotics resulting in death and serious injury, along with other federal charges.

Herrera Garcia, who had fled after the incident in September and was found in Mexico later that month, pleaded guilty the same day he was scheduled to face trial.

Prosecutors alleged that Herrera Garcia, his wife and two others conspired to distribute drugs, and possessed large quantities of fentanyl despite being in the presence of children daily at the day care operated by Garcias wife in her apartment.

On Sept. 15, Herrera Garcias wife, Grei Mendez, 36, called the police to report that some of the children at her day care were unresponsive. Three of the children affected received treatment at a hospital. The fourth child, 1-year-old Nicholas Feliz-Dominici, died of a fentanyl overdose, his autopsy revealed.

Herrera Garcia, Mendez and two others were arrested in connection to the case and were charged Monday. In a statement, U.S. Attorney Damian Williams described the four co-conspirators disregard for the childrens lives as simply staggering.

As alleged, instead of diligently safeguarding the well-being of those children, she and her co-conspirators put them directly in harms way, running a narcotics operation and storing deadly fentanyl out of the very space in which the children ate, slept, and played, Williams said.

During a search of the apartment, police found a large quantity of fentanyl, other narcotics, and drug paraphernalia hidden in compartments beneath the floor of the day cares playroom.

Herrera Garcia, along with one of his co-conspirators, admitted in court to operating an illegal fentanyl operation out of the day care, where they processed the drugs for sale, according to Williams.

Renny Antonio Parra Paredes, one of the co-conspirators, pleaded guilty last month to conspiring to distribute narcotics, and admitted that his actions caused bodily harm and injury in connection to the childrens poisoning last year. He faces 20 years to life in prison, just as Herrera Garcia.

We said at the time that this case shocks the conscience of the City, and now Herrera Garcia and Parra Paredes have been brought to justice for this heinous crime, Williams said in a statement Monday.

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Man pretending to be law enforcement, making threats to get his case dropped receives 5 years in prison

MACON, Ga. (WRBL)  A Georgia resident with a lengthy criminal history of making death threats and arson was sentenced to serve 60 months behind bars in federal prison after falsely claiming to be a U.S. Secret Service and FBI agent in an attempt to get his case drop while in custody on Wednesday.

The U.S. Attorneys Office for the Middle District of Georgia said 56-year-old Travis Leroy Ball from Barnesville, Georgia, received a 60-month-long prison sentence along with three years of supervised release on Wednesday. Ball previously pled guilty to mailing threatening communications on Jan. 19.

Based on court records and statements filed in court, the FBI obtained a letter on March 10, 2023, addressed to U.S. Court Judge Marc. Treadwell, where the writer pretended to be a U.S. Secret Service agent who investigated the defendants prior case. The letter, which authorities later determined was written by Ball, demanded that charges in Balls recent case should be dismissed and that he should be released.

Ball also used the name of a former cellmate to write letters to the U.S. District Court in Valdosta, Georgia, and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development in Washington D.C. in March and May of 2023. The letters threatened to kill employees and demanded that Balls photos and personal information be removed from jail records.

The U.S. Attorneys Office said Ball even sent a letter to the Upson County Sheriffs Office in July 2023, pretending to be an FBI agent working on a top-secret case demanding Balls photos and personal information be deleted from jail records.

After obtaining the letters, the FBI compared the letters, handwriting, postage stamps, letterhead, verbiage and the INMATE MAIL stamps and determined that Ball wrote the letters while in custody.

Balls DNA was also compared to the letter sent to the U.S. Courthouse in Valdosta and the letter sent to Treadwell. The results confirmed Balls DNA on each letter. Authorities found writing materials and stamps in Balls cell as well.

The FBI the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Federal Protective Services, the U.S. Secret Service, the U.S. Marshals Service and the Upson County Sheriffs Office investigated Balls case. Deputy Criminal Chief Will Keyes prosecuted the case.

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A man arrested during a Sacramento County Sheriffs Office retail theft operation last year was convicted and sentenced to jail after he tampered with thousands of Target gift cards as part of a scheme to siphon money through a nationwide organized crime network, prosecutors said.

Ningning Sun pleaded no contest to felony charges of being involved in organized retail theft, attempted grand theft, receipt of stolen property and unlawful possession of an access card and a misdemeanor charge of resisting a police officer.

Deputies arrested Sun as part of a widescale operation dubbed Bad Elf in which 285 people accused of stealing from 12 stores were arrested, Sacramento County Sheriff Jim Cooper announced in December.

Sun was sentenced to three years and eight months, prosecutors said. The first year of his sentence will be spent in Sacramento County Main Jail, with the remaining time to be served as mandatory supervision. Sun is also prohibited from approaching all Target locations and must pay restitution to Target in an amount that has not yet been determined, prosecutors said.

The 39-year-old was arrested after he acted suspiciously at a Sacramento Target. He took gift cards from a rack and replaced them with ones from his own jacket, prosecutors said. Sun attempted to flee the store without paying for the items.

When confronted, deputies saw about 200 gift cards fall out of Suns jacket, prosecutors said. A search led investigators to find more than 5,000 gift cards from Targets statewide in his car.

These operations are very sophisticated and modifications to the gift cards are often virtually undetectable, even to the trained eye, the Sacramento County Sheriffs Office said previously.

Sun tampered with gift cards barcodes so money would be routed to him, prosecutors said.

Victims are completely unaware it is happening, and the money is often siphoned to an off-shore account within seconds, deputies said previously.

This scheme played out in Target stores across the U.S. from Nevada to Tennessee, prosecutors said. Sun acted as an organizer and runner for a large crime network shown by a spreadsheet he managed containing names and payment information of his contacts.

The amount of intended loss from the gift cards ranged from $31,125 to $2,869,000, depending on how much was placed on the cards by possible future victims who purchased them, the Sacramento District Attorneys Office said in a news release.
LYNCHBURG, Va. (WFXR)  The Commonwealths Attorney in Lynchburg has announced that a man has been sentenced for a felony conviction of object felony penetration on May 29.

According to the Commonwealths Attorney, Richard Elton Whitted has been sentenced to 40 years in prison with 30 years suspended upon the condition of 24 months of supervised probation and 40 years of good behavior.

LPD charges man after allegedly violating protective order, attacking woman with knife

Whitted was convicted by a jury on January 24, 2024, after a two-day trial for an incident in October 2019. According to court records a complaint was filed on the morning of Oct. 27, stating that Whitted sexually assaulted a female at a party. DNA samples taken later during the investigation matched Whitted.

On Wednesday, June 12, Whitted requested to remain on bond while his attorney appealed his conviction; however, that request was denied by Lynchburg Circuit Court Judge F. Patrick Yeatts.

Whitted is currently held at the Lynchburg Adult Detention Center with the Blue Ridge Regional Jail. He will be transferred to the Virginia Department of Corrections and has been registered as a sex offender with the Virginia Sex Offender Registry.

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ULAN BATOR, June 12 (Xinhua) -- Mongolia and Laos have signed several cooperation agreements, according to the Mongolian presidential office's website on Tuesday evening.

These documents, including a memorandum to strengthen bilateral cooperation in the health and medicine sector, a protocol on hygiene requirements for the export of goods derived from livestock, and a memorandum of understanding on cooperation in civil service reform, were signed in the Mongolian capital, Ulan Bator, in the presence of Mongolian President Ukhnaa Khurelsukh and his visiting Lao counterpart Thongloun Sisoulith.

Thongloun arrived in Ulan Bator on Tuesday for a two-day state visit, accompanied by a high-ranking delegation.

The visit marks the first by a Lao president to Mongolia in 17 years and serves as a return visit following President Khurelsukh's state visit to Laos in 2023. 
The man who shot and wounded 3 people in a downtown Atlanta food court has been identified

Authorities have identified the suspected gunman in Tuesdays shooting at a downtown Atlanta food court as Jeremy Malone, according to a news release from the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.

Malone, 34, is accused of wounding three people during a shooting at the Peachtree Center, a popular downtown Atlanta food court.

The Morrow, Georgia, resident is a convicted felon who has served prison time for an armed robbery and has 11 previous arrest cycles, Atlanta Police Chief Darin Schierbaum said.

This is an individual that should never have been possessing a gun and an individual that should never have placed this community in harm, Schierbaum said.

Malone was shot by an Atlanta Police officer at the food court before he was taken into custody. He was transferred to a local hospital but has since been discharged.

He is currently in the Fulton County Jail facing several charges including aggravated assault, reckless conduct, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and possession of a firearm or knife during the commission of or attempt to commit certain felonies.

The victims, all three of whom are being treated at area hospitals, include a 47-year-old man, a 69-year-old woman and a 70-year-old woman. They are all expected to survive, authorities said.

Shortly before 2:15 p.m. Tuesday, Malone entered the food court armed with a handgun and had a brief altercation with a person before shooting that individual, the police chief said in a news conference, later clarifying the shooter physically attacked the person before shooting them.

The suspect then went on to shoot two other people who were in the food court, Schierbaum said.

Its unclear how Malone may have been connected to the individual he first attacked.

Peachtree Center, at the heart of the citys downtown, boasts more than 1.5 million square feet of office space across four buildings, as well as 50 restaurants and retail shops and three hotels, according to its website.

The building was placed on lockdown after the shooting but had reopened by late Tuesday afternoon, Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens said. He had earlier warned residents to avoid the area.

Just over two hours after the shooting unfolded, another man in Atlanta held the driver of a commuter bus at gunpoint, leading police on a rush-hour chase while more than a dozen passengers remained in the vehicle, police said.

The suspect in that case was taken into custody, and one person who was found shot on the bus has died, police said.

Authorities said they dont believe the two incidents are connected.

Malone waived his initial court appearance, Natalie Ammons, Fulton County Sheriff spokesperson, told CNN. Its unclear if he has legal representation at this time.

CNNs Alisha Ebrahimji contributed to this report.

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LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  The man who crashed into two Nevada state troopers investigating a car pulled over on the side of a Las Vegas freeway off-ramp was sentenced on Tuesday.

The courtroom was full Tuesday as Jemarcus Williams, 46, prepared to be sentenced. This prompted the opening of a next-door courtroom to act as an overflow room for those wanting to be present during the sentencing.

Williams received a 16-40 year sentence with 195 days already served. He will be eligible for parole 16 years after the date of the crash in November 2023.

For both counts, Williams was sentenced to 8-20 years. Trooper Alberto Felixs family is set to receive a $7,674 restitution for the funeral and Sergeant Michael Abbates family does not plan to seek restitution.

Once Williams is released from prison an interlock device will be installed into any vehicle he drives. He pledged in court Tuesday to become an advocate against drinking and driving, without stating how he would do that, to the fallen state policemens family, friends and coworkers.

A full courtroom Tuesday as the man who pleaded guilty to two counts of felony DUI resulting in death after striking and killing two Nevada Highway Patrol officers in a November crash. (KLAS/Ryan Matthey)

It was an irresponsible and senseless act that Im so sorry for, and my heart and prayers go out to both your families, Williams said Tuesday afternoon, looking back to the families while handcuffed. His own family sat directly behind him.

The district court judges sentence came after two and a half hours of sentencing, most of which were occupied by the family members of the fallen state troopers.

I had to see him in a state I wouldnt want no one to ever experience, Alyssa Belle Yabut, Felixs oldest child, said about seeing her fathers body. Not even the tallest tower can reach him and no amount of money can bring him back.

To almost daily have our 3-year-old son, Vince, cry to me that he wants his daddy to come home, down from heaven to play with him for real, and to have to remind him that, Daddy cant. He can only visit you in your dreams, is gut-wrenching for us both, Vanessa Abbate, Michael Abbates wife, said. As a widow, I now experience panic attacks, shower screams, crippling anxiety, crying on the floor, the list goes on.

Williams pleaded guilty in April to two counts of category B felony DUI resulting in death. As a result, he was ordered to pay restitution to the victims. At the time, Nevada District Court Judge Susan Johnson said if Williams driving privileges were ever reinstated, he would be required to have a breathalyzer installed for at least one year and up to three years maximum.

Sergeant Michael Abbate and Trooper Alberto Felix were struck and killed in the early morning hours of Nov. 30 by Williams vehicle on northbound I-15 at the D Street offramp while responding to a car with a driver who might have been asleep. The crash happened a minute later as the two men were outside of their cruisers to the left side of the parked vehicle, Metro police said in the documents the 8 News Now Investigators received.

Jemarcus Williams awaits his sentencing on Tuesday. (KLAS/Ryan Matthey)

In court Tuesday, it was revealed Williams began drinking after he was off work at 5 p.m. on Nov. 29. He began at the Westgate sportsbook before purchasing more alcohol at a gas station and ending at the Palms Casino where he reportedly shared more drinks with a friend.

After the crash, Williams blood draw returned a blood-alcohol level of 0.19. A second blood draw resulted in a 0.17, documents said. The legal limit in Nevada is 0.08.

Around 1 a.m. on the morning of the crash, Willams and another man were recorded on surveillance video entering the Palms Casino Resort, police said in documents the 8 News Now Investigators obtained. The men then ordered the bottle of Hennessy and the three vodka drinks at the propertys Ghost Bar, police said.

At 1:46 a.m., Williams ordered another drink, police said.

At 3:01 a.m., Williams returned to the casino floor but then took the elevator to the Ghost Bar again, police said. There, hotel security officers approached him. Two minutes later, security [generated] a report that they are escorting an intoxicated man out, documents said.

At 3:15 a.m., Williams left the casino with the security officers, police said. Williams then hid behind a tree and, six minutes later, got into the car, prosecutors said.

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Man wanted for two Miami murders caught in middle Georgia

A man connected to two homicides in Florida was found hiding in Georgia.

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The Miami Police Department contacted Monroe County deputies regarding a homicide suspect hiding in the area.

The suspect, Wayne Sanders, was wanted for two counts of homicide and one count of armed robbery. Officials believed Sanders to be armed.

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Authorities found Sanders in a subdivision in the City of Forsyth and was later arrested.

Sanders is behind bars at the Monroe County Jail without bond. Hes awaiting extradition to Florida.

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IN OTHER NEWS:
Manatee County under flood watch as stormy weather continues. Heres the forecast

The National Weather Service updated its forecast for Manatee County after issuing a flood watch late Tuesday night.

The county remains under a flood watch until Thursday at 8 p.m., but the projected chance of rain has dipped.

Originally, the NWS Tampa Bay forecasted 100% chance of rain on Thursday, with a 90% chance of rain on Friday and Saturday before decreasing to 70% on Sunday.

In the latest forecast, Thursday has a 30% chance of rain and Friday has a 50% chance. Saturdays chance of rain is a little more at 60%, but its less than originally predicted.

Sunday also has a 60% chance of rain.

The NWS Tampa Bay reported 6 to 10 inches of rain hit coastal Sarasota County, with an additional 6 to 10 inches falling in parts of Southwest Florida the rest of the week.

Do not drive or walk through flood waters, part of a NWS Tampa Bay post on X, formerly Twitter, said.

A Flood Watch in effect through 8 PM Thu for parts of SW FL. Areas along coastal Sarasota County saw as much as 6-10" of rain yesterday. Parts of SW FL could see additional rain of up to 6-10" over the rest of the week. Do not drive or walk through flood waters! pic.twitter.com/ggB3OQu8X9  NWS Tampa Bay (@NWSTampaBay) June 12, 2024

Dangerous rip currents are also expected through Thursday morning, an NWS alert said.











Earlier this week, the Manatee County Commission voted to extend a burn ban through June 17, despite recent rain, due to the persistent drought conditions.
MIDTOWN, Manhattan (PIX11)  Police are searching for a man who fractured a 34-year-old mans jaw with a metal object in Midtown, Manhattan, late last month, according to officials.

The victim was walking near Madison Avenue and East 27th Street when he started to argue with the suspect around 9:30 a.m. on May 28. Police said the suspect hit the victim in the face with an unknown metal object.

More Manhattan News

According to police, the suspect ran into the 23rd Street and Broadway subway station. The victim was taken to a hospital to be treated for a fractured jaw.

(NYPD)

Submit tips to police by calling Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477), visiting crimestoppers.nypdonline.org, downloading the NYPD Crime Stoppers mobile app, or texting 274637 (CRIMES) then entering TIP577. Spanish-speaking callers are asked to dial 1-888-57-PISTA (74782).

Jonathan Rizk is a digital journalist who has covered local news in New York City and Washington, D.C. He has been with PIX11 since August 2022. See more of his work here, and follow him on X and Facebook @OfficialRizk. Get in touch at jonathan.rizk@pix11.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 PIX11.
Firefighting foam, used at airports and military bases, has been identified as a source of toxic PFAS chemicals. (Photo courtesy of the U.S. Fire Administration)

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, have risen from relative obscurity to household name recognition in recent years.

But a stealth opposition campaign mounted by an industry group of companies that make products containing the forever chemicals has driven end-of-session legislative debate deep into the weeds of molecular chemistry.

At issue: whether a proposed phaseout of PFAS-containing consumer products sold in Rhode Island should apply to all 14,000 toxic chemicals that contain at least one fully fluorinated carbon atom  the criteria used by 23 states, the U.S. Department of Defense and a broad group of scientists. Or, should the banned list only cover a smaller subsector within this chemical class with two sequentially fully fluorinated carbon atoms, excluding polymers, case and volatile liquids, but including side chain fluorinated polymers, as suggested by Kevin Fay, executive director for Sustainable PFAS Action Network, in a March 20 letter to state lawmakers.

Since then, legislative leaders and industry groups have worked to find common ground on the proposed PFAS product legislation  sans any changes to the PFAS descriptor.

Lawmakers agreed to delay the start date on banned sale of artificial turf and outdoor wet weather gear from 2027 to 2029. They also scrapped a separate section that would have required manufacturers to register and publicly share which chemicals are in their products, based on feedback from local companies including Raytheon Corp. and FUJIFILM Electronic Materials.

Rather than put in a whole bunch of exemptions for this industry and that industry, it was easier to remove that section, Jed Thorp, Rhode Island director for Clean Water Action, said in an interview on Wednesday. The most important piece was the ban on products that people come into high contact with.

The amended legislation, sponsored in the House by Rep. Terri Cortvriend, a Portsmouth Democrat, sailed through the chamber under a unanimous vote Monday. Companion legislation sponsored by Sen. Meghan Kallman, a Pawtucket Democrat, is slated for a floor vote Thursday.

But the battle to ban toxic chemicals from everyday consumer goods wages on, with the network Fay leads and its local lobbyist, Bill Walsh of Government Strategies, making an eleventh-hour push for the industry-preferred alternative definition.

Walsh and Fay did not immediately return inquiries for comment Wednesday.

However, several lawmakers, including Cortvriend and Kallman, confirmed that Walsh was in their ear, and the ears of top leadership, in the final days of session.

They are definitely trying, Cortvriend said.

Kallman, who caught wind of the opposition campaign, blasted the organization for skirting the legislative committee process, which would have allowed for more thorough and transparent vetting.

Theres a bad faith movement afoot, Kallman said in an interview Wednesday. Substantive amendments are supposed to go through committee.

Especially because of the highly technical and scientific distinctions between how the industry network wants to define PFAS  which to the laypersons eye and ear seem credible  and the definition in the existing bill.

There is a scope for a lot of misunderstanding, Kallman said.

Indeed, Fays letter refers to 2023 rules released by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) narrowing the definition of the toxic chemicals from the one fully fluorinated carbon atom description. Fay fails to mention that this is one of several PFAS definitions put forth by the EPA, not intended for applications to human health, Thorp said.

Theres no such thing as a safe PFAS chemical, or at least, a proven safe PFAS chemical, Thorp said. If you dont have a broad enough definition in the law, what can happen is you end up playing this chemistry whack-a-mole game.

Hardly a game that state lawmakers are ready, or qualified, to take on.

Kallman and Sen. Alana DiMario, a Narragansett Democrat and chair of the Senate Committee on Environment and Agriculture, each said they were uninterested in amending the bill on the Senate floor.

Jed Thorp, Rhode Island state director for Clean Water Action, testifies before the House Committee on Environment and Natural Resources at the State House on Wednesday, June 5, 2024. (Nancy Lavin/Rhode Island Current)

If you don't have a broad enough definition in the law, what can happen is you end up playing this chemistry whack-a-mole game.

 Jed Thorpe, Rhode Island director for Clean Water Action

The majority of other states with bans on PFAS-containing consumer products use the broader definition for toxic chemicals.

We have more of an opportunity to shift markets and manufacturing standards in one direction when were moving in lockstep with other states, DiMario said.

Thorp remained on edge that the Sustainable PFAS Action Network, and its $7,000 monthly investment in a State House lobbying presence, might sway Senate leadership.

I am going to be nervous until I see what happens, he said.

Senate President Dominick Ruggerio offered an emailed response Wednesday, though he did not specifically address controversy over the definition of PFAS.

As the public health risks associated with forever chemicals have become increasingly clear, the Senate has worked diligently with the advocates and interested parties to address this issue, Ruggerio said. This bill will put our state on the leading edge of action to address PFAS and bring us more closely in line with the rest of New England. Through the committee process, the bill has been updated to address concerns and has received support from a broad range of stakeholders.

Gov. Dan McKee remained noncommittal.

The governor will review the bill, or any potential changes to the bill, in the event that it passes and makes its way to his desk, Olivia DaRocha, a spokesperson for McKees office, said in an email Wednesday.

If signed into law, the legislation would ban sale of PFAS-containing consumer products  including carpets and rugs, cookware, cosmetics, fabric treatments, juvenile products, menstrual products, ski wax and textiles  starting in 2027. Firefighting foam would be banned beginning in 2025. The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management would oversee operations, exemptions and enforcement.

The post Manufacturing group lobbies R.I. legislators to narrow definition of forever chemicals appeared first on Rhode Island Current.
Marijuana could be legalized on NC tribal land by August

Marijuana could be legalized on NC tribal land by August

CHEROKEE, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS)  The sale and use of recreational marijuana could become legal as early as this summer for anyone over the age of 21, as long as its bought and consumed on the Qualla Boundary of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians.

Tribal council members voted to approve the new ordinance on June 6, just a few weeks after opening North Carolinas first medical marijuana dispensary.

Officials estimated The Great Smoky Cannabis Company could generate $385 million in gross revenue in its first year if it sold to anyone over the age of 21, compared to $200 million if it catered to only medical patients.

In September, EBCI members voted in a referendum about whether they would support recreational marijuana sales. 70 percent said they would.

Medical marijuana dispensary opens on 4/20 with NC bill still pending

Now that the ordinance has passed, leaders said recreational sales will likely begin to tribe members in July and will expand to anyone over the age of 21 by mid-August.

We exercised our sovereignty, and we use the best practices possible, said Carolyn West with Qualla Enterprises, the Cherokee-owned company that manages the tribes cannabis operation.

The Great Smoky Cannabis Company started selling medical marijuana to adults with medical marijuana cards on April 20.

Meanwhile, marijuana use in North Carolina remains illegal. Any cannabis purchased on the Qualla Boundary cannot be taken off of it.

A bill to legalize medical marijuana in the state is still sitting in the general assembly, but Speaker Tim Moore said he doesnt believe it has enough support to get off the ground.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Stock.adobe.com photo by WESTOCK.

Maryland is expected to receive nearly $15 million as part of a $700 million multistate settlement with Johnson & Johnson for deceptive practices to promote its talc-based baby powder and shower products that allegedly caused cancer.

Attorney General Anthony Brown (D), along with 42 other attorneys general, announced the settlement Tuesday, pending final court approval.

Many Marylanders who, for decades, trusted that the personal care products they were using were safe and pure, are now suffering horrific consequences. It is inexcusable, Brown said in a statement. We will hold companies who jeopardize public health by promoting and selling products that may contain harmful, cancer-causing substances accountable for their actions.

If approved, the settlement filed in Baltimore City District Court calls for four payments, beginning this July 30 and continuing for the next three years, to 42 states and the District of Columbia. The total for all states over the four years would be $700 million: Marylands share would be four annual payments outlines four payments of more than $3.7 million.

According to a complaint filed by the attorney generals Consumer Protection Division, Johnson & Johnson (J&J) and its subsidiaries misrepresented, misled and failed to disclose risks associated with the use of talc products. The complaint charged that the company knew its talc powder products were sometimes tainted with asbestos, a carcinogen, and that women who used them in the genital area had an increased risk of ovarian cancer compared to those women who do not.

In marketing its Talc Powder Products, J&J and its subsidiaries failed to disclose the presence of asbestos in their Talc Powder Products and asbestos link to cancer, according to the complaint.

As part of the settlement, Johnson & Johnson will not manufacture baby powder or cosmetic products that contain talcum powder in the U.S., will not market, promote, sell, or distribute any of those products nationwide directly or through a third party, and will not sell or distribute any of those products.

Last month, Johnson & Johnson proposed a $6.4 billion settlement to resolve much of the other litigation pending against it through a third-party bankruptcy filing.

The amount would be paid over 25 years, which is a far better recovery than the claimants stand to recover at trial, according to a company statement last month.

The post Maryland could receive nearly $15 million from Johnson & Johnson settlement appeared first on Maryland Matters.
Poultry industry leaders are lauding a court ruling that bolstered Right-to-Farm protections in Maryland, a decision that also has implications for the rest of the Eastern Shore.

The Delmarva Chicken Association, Maryland Farm Bureau and Maryland Grain Producers Association applauded the Appellate Court of Maryland ruling that affirmed a Talbot County farms ability to use modern nutrient management techniques.

The May 30 ruling, in the case of Cheryl Lewis, et al., written by Judge Glenn T. Harrell, Jr., affirmed the principle that Marylands Right-to-Farm law broadly shields farmers and their operations from vexatious lawsuits. Marylands Right-to-Farm law protects farm operations from litigation asserting that the farm is a nuisance or that a farm interferes with others use of their property, as long as they are using standard agricultural practices.

More on oyster numbers on the shore Oyster numbers see big rebound in Chesapeake bay as Maryland harvest also hits new record

What the ruling on Maryland's Right-to-Farm law means

Soybean plants laden with bean pods turn from green to yellow on farmland belonging to Hebron-area farmer Edmond "Biff" Burns, Monday, Sept. 30, 2019. Burns is embroiled in a neighborhood controversy over a tank he intends to install behind the field of soybeans to store rendered poultry biosolids to be used as a soil amendment.

As Marylands rural regions face increasing pressure from development, its crucial to protect farmers rights and to keep commonly accepted agricultural practices in their toolboxes, said Holly Porter, Delmarva Chicken Association's executive director. Even though this lawsuit did not directly involve a chicken grower, a loss in court would have been detrimental to every farmer and grower in the state. Were heartened that the Appellate Court of Maryland made this ruling.

In the case, the Circuit Court for Talbot County had previously reversed a Talbot County Agricultural Resolution Board ruling that a particular Talbot County farm was protected by Marylands Right-to-Farm law.

The circuit court decision had questioned "a suspected discrepancy in the law," setting a precedent that could allow farmers to be sued while following normal agricultural practices. However, Judge Harrells May 30 ruling overruled the circuit court opinion and found that the Talbot County Agricultural Resolution Board had made the correct decision.

The Maryland Farm Bureau, Delmarva Chicken Association and Maryland Grain Producers Association submitted friend-of-the-court briefs in the appeals process arguing that the Right-to-Farm law rightfully covered the farm in question.

More on the latest on the bridge Maryland moves to starting line for bridge rebuild process. Public meeting scheduled.

When Marylands General Assembly modified the Right-to-Farm law in 1998, it contemplated a scenario like the one at issue here: an expanded nutrient management system. That regulation does not require a particular agricultural operation to exist for one year in order to enjoy liability protection, wrote Judge Harrell in the decision.

The ruling speaks directly to other similar cases filed by the community in other jurisdictions about agriculture on issues including the smell from fields using certain soil amendments, possible health issues as a result of the odors,and runoff issues in local waterways.

"Maryland introduced a Right-to-Farm law in 1981 to shield agricultural activities from complaining nonfarm neighbors by providing a defense for nuisance actions brought against farms and other agricultural operations, said Jamie Raley, president of the Maryland Farm Bureau. "Maryland Farm Bureau initiated the appeal of the Talbot County case to protect the RTF for our farmer members. We are pleased that the Appellate Court of Maryland upheld the RTF and brought clarity and certainty to the law."

More on the fire agreement stalement Salisbury-Wicomico stalemate over fire service continues as firefighters voice concerns

This article originally appeared on Salisbury Daily Times: Maryland ruling bolsters Right-to-Farm protections. All to know.
Aerial photo taken on Jan. 8, 2022 shows people performing silk fan dancing at Langzhong ancient town in southwest China's Sichuan Province. (Photo by Wang Yugui/Xinhua)

CHENGDU, June 12 (Xinhua) -- The ongoing Silk Road culture exhibition held in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province, has captivated visitors with a collection of artifacts that tell the story of how silk became a key international trade commodity, tracing its journey back to the Western Han Dynasty (202 BC-25 AD) about 2,000 years ago.

The Jinsha Site Museum showcases silk artifacts, a replica of a Han Dynasty loom, and ancient silk-woven texts excavated from various sites along the Silk Road. This captivating collection has sparked visitors' curiosity about the early mastery of silkworm domestication, silk utilization, and the creation of vibrant brocades by the Chinese.

Centuries ago, civilizations around the globe developed distinct textile traditions. While silk, wool, cotton, and linen are all nature's gifts, silk stands out as a unique Chinese innovation that spread globally via the Silk Road.

"Chinese silk has a 5,000-year history, characterized by its origins, evolution, dissemination, and exchange," explained Zhou Yang, deputy director of the China National Silk Museum.

Chinese silk not only is crafted through ingenious technological inventions but also embodies profound philosophical ideologies, reflecting the Chinese interpretation of life, death, and the harmony between humans and nature, Zhou noted.

The transformative life cycle of a silkworm, with its four distinct stages, inspired ancient Chinese thinkers to ponder profound cosmic and existential questions. Historical records reveal that silk played a vital role in ancient Chinese rituals, symbolizing the connection between heaven and earth.

While historical records serve as valuable references, recent archaeological discoveries have provided tangible evidence of early silk production in China, predating the Silk Road by millennia, as Zhou pointed out.

Although limited archaeological finds directly related to the early origins of silk in China, due to the decomposition of most ancient silk into residue or microtraces, recent technological advancements have shed light on these ancient origins.

Over the past decade, with support from the State Administration of Cultural Heritage of China and various research institutions, the China National Silk Museum has developed an affordable and convenient silk micro trace detection technology based on immunology. This breakthrough enables the detection of ancient silk traces within approximately 15 minutes.

Utilizing this technology, Chinese experts have discovered significant amounts of silk in the ash of sacrificial pits at the Sanxingdui Ruins, marking the earliest silk found in the upper Yangtze River region. The technology has also been effectively applied to the South China Sea No. 1 shipwreck site, challenging the notion that maritime Silk Road sites lacked silk and providing new archaeological evidence for World Heritage applications.

"We are continuously refining our silk microtrace detection technology, enhancing its sensitivity. Now we can confidently state that if silk was present, we can detect its traces," Zhou said.

Looking forward, Zhou plans to collaborate closely with archaeologists, applying this technology to prehistoric sites to further expand the temporal and spatial boundaries of silk's origins. 
This tribe helped win the Revolution, then were expelled and migrated to Wisconsin. What's changed now?

When George Washington was struggling to keep his army together during the early days of the Revolutionary War, he received critical help from one of America's most unlikely allies.

The Mohican tribe from Stockbridge, Mass., built fortifications, ambushed British forces, scouted movements of the Redcoats and acted as colonial emissaries to other Indigenous tribes. The Oneida also aided the revolutionaries.

Shannon Holsey is the president of the Stockbridge-Munsee Mohican Nation.

How were the Mohicans rewarded?

They were driven from Stockbridge and from Massachusetts, eventually settling on Menominee land in Wisconsin, where they were joined by a group of Delaware people known as the Munsee. The Stockbridge-Munsee Mohican Nations 22,139 acres is still adjacent to the Menominee Reservation in northeast Wisconsin.

Now, more than two centuries later, Stockbridge and Commonwealth of Massachusetts officials are looking to renew ties with the tribe, and offering funding to support that effort.

I feel like we have an opportunity to welcome people back, said Patrick White, selectman for the Stockbridge Town Board, whos helping to lead the effort to renew ties. I personally have had enough of the division (in America).

Stockbridge was an experiment that worked, until new settlers flooded in

Stockbridge was founded in 1739 as a kind of experiment in which Indigenous people and colonists would live, work and govern together. The town board had both Indigenous and colonial representatives, according to White and Stockbridge historians. The experiment worked for decades.

However, in the wake of The Seven Years' War, which ended in 1763, white settlers poured into the community and had little interest in maintaining any balance. They took over Mohican land by squatting or making illegal purchases, and consolidated power on the town council and in the courts.

When the Revolutionary War erupted, tribal leaders saw a kinship in those protesting the government, as well as an opportunity to win back their land and sovereignty. Soon, they found themselves enmeshed in the struggle, earning a reputation for bravery.

In one legendary battle, Mohican Chief Abraham Ninham and 17 Mohicans were killed by the British in 1778 after tracking their movements throughout the Bronx and reporting back to the Americans, according to the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation. A monument today marks where the battle took place at New York Citys Van Cortlandt Park.

Appreciation for Revolutionary War contributions faded quickly

After the war ended, there was some appreciation for the Mohican contributions.

Tribal historians in Stockbridge have uncovered evidence of a great feast in 1783 that Washington had with Mohican tribal members to celebrate and thank them for their service. Based on our own documentary evidence, we feel very confident that theres significant evidence (it) did take place, said Bonney Hartley, historic preservation manager for the tribe. We have specific information listed, such as the weight of the ox.

More: Stockbridge-Munsee Mohican officials aim to prove feast with George Washington happened

Bonney Hartley is the historic preservation manager for the Wisconsin-based Stockbridge-Munsee Mohican Nation.

That sentiment faded quickly.

More immigrants came from Europe, and they coveted lands and developed properties held by Indigenous people, including property held in Stockbridge by Mohican widows and children of Mohicans who fought and died in the Revolutionary War. The Mohicans were forced out.

For decades, the Stockbridge-Munsee Mohican Nation has sought to renew ties with its ancestral home either through official tribal government efforts, such as opening an office in Stockbridge, Mass. or through non-governmental tribal organizations.

Finally, officials in Massachusetts reciprocated.

In 2021, White  the Stockbridge selectman  helped successfully lead an effort to change a commonwealth law in order to return historic documents to the Mohican Nation. The documents, including Mohican proprietor records from before the Revolution, were discovered in the trash at the old Stockbridge Town Hall as the building was being cleaned out.

Last summer, commonwealth legislators voted to approve an award of $2.6 million to the Mohican Nation to purchase land known as Monument Mountain. With the award, the tribe is now responsible for implementing tribal conservation and forest management strategies on about 350 acres of land near the town.

This tribal land stewardship is an effort to help mitigate climate change.

"The Tribe has always engaged the Commonwealth of Massachusetts for purposes of repatriation and historic preservation," said Stockbridge-Munsee Mohican Nation President Shannon Holsey. "With increases in climate-related events, such as droughts, flooding, wildfires and extreme storms, state officials and tribal leaders are working nimbly across political lines to mitigate the costly human, natural and financial impacts of these climate-related disasters."

The funds are part of the commonwealth's Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness Program, which was created to help local governments address climate change effects, such as flooding and extreme heat.

White also is leading an effort to include Mohican tribal members on an official Stockbridge committee similar to how the town was governed before the Revolution. He said it would be up to individual tribal members if they want to move back to the land of their ancestors, but they certainly would be welcome.

Tribe welcomes new relationship with Massachusetts. To a point.

Dennis Zack of Oshkosh has not been to his tribes ancestral homeland, but is looking forward to making the trip soon.

I think its good no matter who is reaching out to us from Massachusetts and we Mohicans should welcome those talks and revisit the past and look forward to the future together, he said.

More: Oshkosh-based Tribal Sun Soap features Native-inspired products

Dennis Zack with some of the soaps from his family's business, Tribal Sun Soap, in Oshkosh.

Zack recently started a successful personal soap retail business, Tribal Sun Soap, out of his home making Native-inspired natural soaps in a good way that represents Mohican beliefs and gives back to Indian Country.

He thinks he could possibly sell his soap in Stockbridge, Mass., especially one called Monument Mountain Apples after the mountain that the Mohican Nation recently reclaimed. Zack hopes to use the soap not only to expand his business, but also as a way to open dialogue.

We tend to waste our voices on those not open to listen about the past and what happened after 1492 and are told to get over it, he said. But when you have folks willing to talk, do it.

Holsey welcomes the new efforts of Massachusetts officials, but said the tribe will remain realistic.

"Our connection to our homelands is inherent," she said. "We try to stay engaged and visit as often as possible ... and remind people we are not remnants of the past, but rather a 21st-century nation that is thriving in spite of the systematic barriers and challenges we have faced for centuries.

"Yet, we recognize that without active participation, the current system will continue to disenfranchise, harm, erase and ignore the beautiful contributions of our Native people into the next century."

More: New York island returned to Wisconsin-based Mohican Nation after hundreds of years

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Frank Vaisvilas is a former Report for America corps member who covers Native American issues in Wisconsin based at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Contact him at fvaisvilas@gannett.com or 815-260-2262. Follow him on Twitter at @vaisvilas_frank.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Massachusetts would like renew ties with Wisconsin tribe it drove out
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR)  Law enforcement from several agencies converged on a warehouse in north Oklahoma City on Tuesday as part of a massive marijuana raid.

Agents on the scene told News 4 they found 15,000 pounds of finished marijuana products and 10,000 pounds of marijuana plants inside the building on West Wilshire Blvd, near N. Classen.

LOCAL NEWS: He could have died: OKC woman wants justice after boyfriend stabbed

For hours, agents including teams from the Attorney Generals office and Oklahoma City Police, could be seen going in and out of the warehouse. They would come out with their hands full.

Black and white trash bags were stacked feet high outside the building. Marijuana could be seen spilling out onto the ground.

Around 4 p.m. Tuesday, a pair of dump trucks pulled up to the doors of the warehouse and crews started throwing trash bags into the back before hauling them off.

Law enforcement has not confirmed what sparked the bust, but KFOR did a license search of the property and could not find a valid marijuana grow license for the address.

Several workers at nearby businesses told KFOR that every morning when they would arrive to work they could smell the strong scent of marijuana in the area.

The estimated street value for the amount of marijuana found inside the building was upwards of $30 million dollars.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
There may be some new attractions coming to Bluefield, WV

BLUEFIELD, WV (WVNS)  Big things are happening in the City of Bluefield, West Virginia.

Things are starting to wrap up with the Bluefield demolition project.

15th annual Hoops Drills and Life Skills Basketball Camp offers kids a great start to summer

They are preparing to demolish one last building with the project starting back in February.

Throughout the summer, traffic patterns throughout the city will be changed due to work.

Jim Spencer, Executive Director of the Bluefield Economic Development Authority, said they are calling on Bluefield residents for advice on what to do next.

Were taking input from the community as far as what we built back. We got a couple options with some green space, park, almost like Chicory Square on a larger scale. Maybe an amphitheater, food truck park, meeting space. Things like that. Also maybe some potential retail, said Spencer to 59News.

Senator Manchin announces more than $1 million for arts and music initiatives in West Virginia

Spencer said he is excited for the future of Bluefield, West Virginia.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WVNS.
You may want to avoid weekend travel on this metro-east interstate, starting Friday night

Lanes will be closed in both directions for road repairs this weekend along Interstate 270 between Illinois 3 and Riverview Drive in Missouri, according to an announcement from the Illinois Department of Transportation.

Only one lane will remain open during the road work beginning Friday at 9 p.m., the announcement states. All lanes will reopen at 5 a.m. Monday.

Motorists should expect delays and are encouraged to use alternate routes during this closure, the announcement states.

For updates, follow @IDOTDistrict8 on X or get construction at traveler information map on GettingAroundIllinois.com.
FILE PHOTO: The pyramid of Kukulcan is seen during sunrise at the archaeological zone of Chichen Itza in Yucatan State

FILE PHOTO: The pyramid of Kukulcan is seen during sunrise at the archaeological zone of Chichen Itza in Yucatan State

By Will Dunham

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - In 1967, an underground cistern known as a chultun was discovered near a sacred body of water at Chichen Itza, an important ancient Maya city on Mexico's Yucatan peninsula. Skeletal remains of more than 100 children were found inside.

Now, DNA obtained from 64 of them is offering insight into child sacrifice at Chichen Itza in the centuries before Europeans reached the New World. Those entombed were all boys - some of them brothers, including two sets of identical twins - killed during religious rituals, scientists said on Wednesday. Most were ages 3 to 6.

Most were interred in the mass grave during the pinnacle of Chichen Itza's political and cultural clout, from about 800 AD to 1000 AD, though some were buried in the centuries before and after that, covering a 500-year span ending at around 1100.

Twins figure prominently in ancient Maya religion and art, and sacrificing twins is described in sacred writings, including a book called the Popol Vuh. The Mayan Hero Twins, Hunahpu and Xbalanque, underwent cycles of sacrifice and resurrection as they confronted gods of the underworld. Subterranean structures like the chultun were considered entrances to the underworld, central to Maya cosmogony.

"Ritual sacrifice was a common practice among ancient Mesoamerican populations. However, the biological relationships between the sacrificed individuals had not been described before," said archaeogeneticist Rodrigo Barquera of the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology (MPI-EVA) in Germany, lead author of the study published in the journal Nature.

"We think that the people from Chichen Itza were trying to symbolically replicate the Mayan mythological stories and the representation of the twin heroes in this ritual burial," Barquera added. "For Maya, and Mesoamerican cultures in general, death is the ultimate offering, and as such, sacrifices bear high importance to their beliefs system."

Chichen Itza is known for its stunning architecture, including an impressive pyramid structure now called El Castillo. Nearby is a sacred water-filled sinkhole called a cenote, where the bodies of more than 200 people were found. And close to that is the chultun where the boys were buried.

"The original purpose of chultuns was to store fresh water. This one had been repurposed into a funerary chamber adjacent to a small natural cave. Both the chultun and the cave were filled with human remains," Barquera said.

DNA was extracted from the petrous portion of the temporal bone, which houses the inner ear. This small bone has proven optimal in preserving ancient DNA.

"We sampled only the left portion because that would make sure we sampled every individual only once. It was not preserved for every individual in the chultun, therefore we sampled only a subset," said MPI-EVA archaeogeneticist and study co-author Kathrin Nagele.

"From the genetic similarities of two individuals, we can calculate the degree of genetic relationship. In this case, we found two pairs who were so similar they could only be identical twins, and at least three more who were full siblings. They could have also been twins, but fraternal twins, coming from two different egg cells," Nagele said. "This is the first time we are able to confidently identify identical twins in the archaeological record."

The research contradicted an idea popularized in the 20th century that the ancient Maya preferred female sacrifices.

The researchers also compared the genomes of the boys to those of present-day Maya communities, including people from the village of Tixcacaltuyub near Chichen Itza's ruins. They identified genetic traits in modern Maya likely arising from immune system adaptations by their ancestors to an epidemic bacterial infection during Spanish colonization.

It remains unclear how the boys died.

"There are no cut marks or evidence of trauma, which tells us how did they not die. But we have not found a cause of death for them yet," Barquera said.

"During the Spanish colonial period, thousands of Maya books and texts were systematically burned, and there were concerted efforts to stamp out Maya religious beliefs and activities and replace them with Christianity," said Harvard University biomolecular archaeologist and study co-author Christina Warinner.

"As a result, there are many gaps in our knowledge about the specific ritual practices performed by the ancient Maya - and especially their meaning," Warinner added. "Among these, human sacrifice remains one of the most misunderstood ritual acts."

(Reporting by Will Dunham, Editing by Rosalba O'Brien)
Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.) agrees with Democrats that the future of democracy may be at stake in the upcoming election, but in an op-ed published in the Wall Street Journal he says the biggest threat is posed by liberals who want to bury democratic accountability under bureaucracy.

Across all three branches of the federal government, liberals are working to undermine democratic accountability over their exercise of power. Their philosophy of the administrative state has one unifying thread: the abrogation of democratic legitimacy in deference to unelected bureaucrats, he wrote in an op-ed published this week.

The Senate GOP leader pointed to Democrats intensifying pressure on the Supreme Court to adopt an enforceable code of conduct in response to press reports about lavish gifts and hospitality accepted by conservative Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito, as well as the political activism of those justices spouses.

Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee have pressed Alito to recuse himself from cases involving former President Trump after two flags associated with the Jan. 6, 2021, effort to overturn the results of the last presidential election, were displayed at the justices Virginia home and New Jersey beach house.

As the court has maintained for decades, recusal is a judicial act. It isnt, as Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) said in response to my criticisms, an administrative matter, McConnell wrote.

This misunderstanding suffuses efforts to force ethics reform on the high court. Liberals complain that the courts binding ethics rules lack an enforcement mechanism to ensure recusal when they want it. But this complaint would throw the Constitution out the window, he argued.

McConnell contends that Article III of the Constitution vests judicial power in the court itself and that Democrats are trampling on the independence of the court and the constitutional separation of powers by wanting a bureaucracy to administer it.

This misbegotten trust in bureaucrats also undermines the democratic legitimacy in the executive branch, McConnell wrote, noting Attorney General Merrick Garlands decision to appoint special counsels to investigate criminal allegations against President Biden and Trump.

But he argued that prosecutions should be handled under the direct authority of the attorney general who is appointed by the sitting president in order to maximize the democratic accountability of those prosecutions.

I dont doubt Mr. Garlands sincerity that moving prosecutors outside the chain of command makes them independent. The problem is the underlying assumption that prosecutors should be independent at all. Such as arrangement insulates them from democratic accountability, McConnell wrote.

He argues that a federal prosecution is legitimate in so far as it is vested in the executive branch headed by an elected official.

Up and down the chain of command in the Justice Department, decisions are, and should be, made by people responsive to the president and Senate, he said.

The buck stops with the attorney general because he, through the president, is accountable to voters. Liberals seem to struggle with this reality, he wrote.

And McConnell said liberals have outsourced their legislative power for decades by allowing unelected executive branch officials to fill in the regulatory details of enacted laws under the Chevron deference, under which courts have traditionally deferred to federal agencies interpretations of ambiguous laws.

McConnell noted that he filed a legal brief in support of overturning the Chevron deference because he views it as a power grab by Washingtons bureaucracy.

The Constitution vests each branch of the federal government with an exclusive power, responsive to the people in elections. In each branch, liberals seek to remove that power from democratic accountability and vest it in unelected bureaucrats, he wrote.

This practice might come from a good-faith trust in experts or a sincere belief that sound policy is too valuable to risk in elections. But at its core, it is a rejection of democratic accountability in favor of the administrative state, he argued.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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Left to right, Deputy House Speaker Raymond Hull, a Providence Democrat, Woonsocket Police Chief Thomas F. Oates III, and Gov. Dan McKee pose for a photo after McKee signed into law legislation to reform the Law Enforcement Officers Bill of Rights (LEOBOR) on Tuesday, June 11, 2024, in a State Room ceremony. (Office of the Governor)

A historic overhaul for investigating and disciplining police officers accused of misconduct was signed into law by Gov. Dan McKee on Tuesday.

Calls to change, or even eliminate, the Law Enforcement Officers Bill of Rights (LEOBOR) have dominated debate on Smith Hill since the murder of George Floyd by Minneapolis police in 2020. Rhode Islands 1976 law has been criticized by social justice advocates who say its unfair for police to review internal misconduct.

Legislative stalemate finally broke after House and Senate leaders reached a compromise on the makeup of the new hearing panels.

Todays bills answer the publics call for greater transparency around potential police misconduct, while safeguarding officers rights to due process, McKee said in a statement Tuesday. By signing this legislation into law today, we have made sure that police chiefs are able to be more transparent with the public about misconduct investigations.

The new law, sponsored by Senate President Dominick Ruggerio, a North Providence Democrat, and Deputy House Speaker Raymond Hull, a Providence Democrat, increases the size of panels that will review LEOBOR cases from three to five members. Panelists must include three randomly selected officers, a retired judge, and an attorney selected in consultation with the Rhode Island Supreme Courts committee on racial and ethnic fairness.

The updated measure also removes the prohibition preventing police chiefs from making public statements about cases that have not yet had a LEOBOR hearing or releasing video evidence.

Police chiefs can also suspend officers for longer: five days for those accused of minor infractions and 14 days for those facing more serious complaints, such as excessive force or felonies.

Under the law passed in 1976, suspension without pay is now two days before the right to a LEOBOR hearing kicks in.

While there will be some who say this bill goes too far and others who say it doesnt go far enough, I think the bill strikes a responsible balance that brings necessary and appropriate reforms to LEOBOR, Ruggerio said in a statement.

Rhode Island Police Chiefs Association President Bradford Connor said in a statement the new reforms will increase transparency and help local departments grow trust within their communities.

Public trust is the most important tool we have as police officers, said Connor, who is the police chief for Warwick Police Department. We are grateful for the opportunity to collaborate with legislative leaders and community advocates on this legislation and to have a true voice in this legislative process.

Following its passage in the Senate June 6, Black Lives Matter Rhode Island PAC Director Harrison Tuttle issued a statement lamenting that lawmakers excluded a provision to let police chiefs immediately fire officers found to have used deadly force in violation of departmental rules.

The changes take effect Jan. 1, 2025.

The post McKee signs LEOBOR reform into law appeared first on Rhode Island Current.
Editor's Note: This is a developing story and is being updated.

Explosions were heard in missile attacks in multiple cities across occupied Crimea, as well as in a community in Russia's Krasnodar Krai overnight on June 12, the Telegram channel Crimean Wind reported.

At around 2:47 a.m. local time, explosions were heard in Sevastopol. Immediately afterwards, explosions rang out in the western cities of Yevpatoria and Saky, as well as the northern community of Krasnoperekopsk.

A small number of explosions was also heard in the community of Armyanskii in Russia's Krasnodar Krai around 4 a.m. local time, according to Crimean Wind.

According to Crimean Wind, unconfirmed reports suggest that an S-400 air defense system may have been damaged as a result of the attack. No official information is currently available on damage to infrastructure.

Russian-installed proxy Governor of Sevastopol Mikhail Razvozhayev claimed that there were damage of injuries reported as a result of the attack.

The Kyiv Independent cannot independently verify any of the claims.

Ukraine's Armed Forces have yet to take responsibility for the attack, nor have they provided comment.

Ukraine's General Staff confirmed on June 10 that Armed Forces attacked Russian S-400 and S-300 anti-aircraft missile systems in several areas in occupied Crimea overnight.

Ukraine has carried out a number of successful attacks against Russian targets in Crimea and its vicinity, heavily degrading the Russian Black Sea Fleet.

Read also: Russia has seized almost $24 million in Ukrainian assets from occupied Crimea since 2022, proxy leader says





Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
What was your first full-time job? Perhaps you were a lowly administration assistant in a local firm or stacking supermarket shelves overnight. Or perhaps you had slightly grander ambitions, very much like the bunch of 20-somethings that are standing in Julys election. For this summer, Gen Z will make its full political debut.

Generation Z  the bracket of people born in 1997 to 2012, making them no older than 27 today  had just one representative before parliament was dissolved last month: baby of the house Keir Mather, 26, the MP for Selby and Ainsty.

But now, at least 15 Labour parliamentary candidates at the forthcoming election will be in their early 20s, with many others the same age running for the Lib Dems, Greens, Conservatives or the Scottish National Party, and for other small parties or as independents.

Parties selecting candidates in their teens or 20s to contest their oppositions safe seats has long been standard practice. This year however there is an atypically large crop of unusually young candidates who stand a good shot of getting in, says Lord Hayward, polling expert and former Conservative MP.

This year the most dominant factor in the amount of young people selected in winnable seats will be that both Labour and the Conservatives are looking to select more local candidates and people whove worked for councils in the areas they want to represent, says Hayward. As a result, both parties might be more willing to consider people younger than normal.

The Telegraph spoke to some of the youngest Labour candidates who could soon be representing you in government.

Heres what they had to say about their post-election plans, their political ambitions, and why they think theyre ready for the job...

I went to private school but I still back the VAT plans

Issy Waite, 21, North West Essex: Labour 24.4%, Conservatives 39.1%

Issy Waite is hoping to go straight into the House of Commons as she leaves university this summer  and would unseat senior Tory minister Kemi Badenoch in the process.

Waite handed in the final piece of coursework for her degree in international relations at the University of Sussex just two days before the Prime Minister announced the snap election  which the candidate admits was good timing. She knew this would be coming, just not when exactly, having been selected to stand for Labour in North West Essex in March.

The student has been a campaigner since she was eight years old, she says, when she successfully saved her local library from closure; at 19 she fought to save a local bus route and won again. Currently shes national secretary for Labour Students, which organises university clubs around the country, a post to which she was elected in April.

We have a complete lack of people in my age bracket in parliament, Waite says. My generation wants to have someone in parliament who goes through what they go through and understands what needs to be done. Young people deserve that as much as anyone else.

Issy Waite, 21, candidate for North West Essex

Labour has long promised to one day abolish tuition fees, but Sir Keir Starmer recently said that would have to go on the back burner in order to tackle NHS waiting lists instead.

What does Waite make of that? Id like to see the whole system reviewed, which Labour wants to do, but in terms of abolishing fees completely, the last 14 years of Conservative government have left us in a dire situation where we cant promise to do that, she says.

Most students in the know about these things dont believe that we ought to scrap fees entirely.

So committed is Waite that she supports Labours plans to impose VAT on private schools despite having attended a fee-paying school herself, covered in full by a family member.

I did go to a private secondary school, and definitely benefited from a good education, she says. I really want to ensure that children today are getting that same quality of education. Its something Im really concerned about because I think they are being let down. The VAT imposition is just wanting every child to have the best start.

Theres an unease in society sometimes about young people in politics

Sam Carling, 22, North West Cambridgeshire: Labour 37.3%, Conservatives 32.9%

Sam Carling, a postgraduate researcher and Cambridge city councillor, was selected to contest North West Cambridgeshire for Labour a week before the election was called.

Carling is not your average 20-something. By day he teaches undergraduate students at Cambridge University; by night, in his work as a councillor, he manages a department of 250 staff and with a budget of 17 million in public funds.

Carling was first elected to Cambridge City Council in 2022 as a second-year undergraduate, and re-elected in 2024.

When I was knocking on doors the first time round, people would see me and theyd certainly be uneasy about my age, Carling says. But when I came back the second time, people recognised me and they were happy to see me because of what I achieved in my time in office. I think that says a lot.

Carling has family in Cambridgeshire but hails from a deprived area in the north-east of England. At home we didnt talk about politics, we were quite apolitical as a family, so it was never something I really considered.

Sam Carling, 22, candidate for North West Cambridgeshire

It was at sixth form that everything changed. My school had to close its sixth form because of budget cuts, which opened my eyes to the importance of politics and who the decision-makers are, because I noticed the impact on the people around me, he says.

I ran to be a councillor in Cambridge because I thought that was an effective way to make a change in the local area, and seeing how I could make a difference there is what made me want to run for parliament.

According to the most recent YouGov poll, Carling is projected five points ahead of sitting Tory MP Shailesh Vara, who was first elected in 2005. A win would make Carling the first ever Labour MP to represent the seat.

Is he nervous? Im incredibly excited by the possibility but nothing is set in stone. Im not a believer in listening to polls too much, Carling says.

Im out fighting for every vote, and Im cognisant of it being a huge responsibility, and I dont consider my age as a barrier, he explains. Theres this unease in society sometimes about young people in politics but as far as Im concerned, the only way to give solace to that is for more people to do it and to show that were capable.

Like Waite, he also backs Labours tuition fee plans, despite being a trustee of Cambridge University as well as a researcher there.

Im paying back my student loans now and I know how horrible it is, and in an ideal society wed all pay no tax and have amazing public services. But its all about priorities and its better we fix the NHS and bring down crime rates than make universities free for everyone, Carling says.

Sam declined to answer our set of additional questions.

Not all young people are the same

Josh Dean, 24, Hertford and Stortford: Labour 34.4%, Conservatives 34.5%

A similar combination is seen in other youthful candidates like 24-year-old Josh Dean, the Labour hopeful in Hertford and Stortford and a student at Westminster University, studying politics and international relations.

Dean grew up in Hertford, dropping out of sixth form at 17 to go into full-time work first in our town centre coffee shop, then working in marketing in London for a bit, and then coming back to Hertford to work in recruitment, he says.

It was only during lockdown that he then applied for university, so hes opposed to the idea that all students have the same amount of life experience.

Not all young people are the same, were not just this homogenous group, Dean says, but almost all are all on the sharp end of a lot of the big problems facing the country. He points to shortfalls in mental health support, climate change and a lack of affordable housing as examples.

Josh Dean is 'opposed to the idea' that all students have the same amount of life experience

Dean has served on Hertford Town Council since last year, and though hes also a student at Westminster University, hes well known locally  I visited my old school to get grilled by the A-level politics students after the first TV debate, and the night beforehand, I knocked on someones door and a little boy came out who knew I was going to his school, he says.

At the moment, the race over Hertford and Stortford is neck-and-neck: according to the latest YouGov polling, Dean is 0.1 percentage points behind Tory MP Julie Marson. Dean would also be the first Labour MP to represent the seat since it was drawn up in 1983.

Speaking to people of all ages in Hertford and Stortford, theres a lot of overlap when it comes to what people are concerned about, Dean says.

I wouldnt say, for example, that young people are any less worried about protecting our rivers. When it comes to things like housing, which is a big thing for young people, older people want their children to get on the local property ladder too.

Dean says his local community will come first if he makes it to parliament this summer. People in my constituency often have to travel outside the area to get hospital care and its often impossible to see a GP. On top of that, almost half of dentists arent taking patients. Im passionate about making sure that my community has a real voice in parliament because it doesnt at the moment, he explains. Getting surgeries going and making sure people can come to me and share their concerns would be at the top of my list.

The current leadership has inspired me so much

Rosie Wrighting, 26, Kettering: Labour 39.8%, Conservatives 34%

Like Dean, 26-year-old Rosie Wrighting says she is keen to be a local MP for her constituency of Kettering, Northamptonshire, where she grew up and still lives. Wrighting joined Labour in 2020, when she was 22 and had just graduated into a huge amount of economic uncertainty, and I was also renting in an insecure renters market, she says.

Her first job was at Topshop on Kettering High Street, around which time she learned that people here dont feel inspired at the moment and need more opportunities.

My involvement in politics is based on my real world experience of the UK and of growing up here. I joined the party because I realised that Labour was offering the most for people my age and the opportunity to get our future back as well, and thats why I started campaigning for them too.

Rosie Wrighting, 26, candidate for Kettering

Her desire to stand was fomented in Labours current leadership. The current leadership has just inspired me so much, Wrighting says. I really trust the Labour party and Keir [Starmer] and Rachel [Reeves] and really all the shadow cabinet and our policies, that inspired me to get involved and also to run myself.

Top of her agenda post-election would be housing, she says. Like many her age, Wrighting is still living at home with her mum, and would continue doing so when spending time in her constituency as an MP.

But Ive rented in Kettering and London so I know how difficult it is to be scared of facing no-fault evictions, and what its like to live in a flat thats covered in damp, she says.

Wrighting would prioritise improving mental health support if elected, she says. Access to mental health care comes up a lot when Im knocking on doors, and not only among young people, she says. Its a concern I share, given the waiting times people face. The lack of early intervention and prevention we have in Kettering and the UK means people are only accessing care when theyre at a crisis point, and I think its only Labour that will fix this.

We are pretty thoughtful as a generation

Martha ONeil, 26, Caerfyrddin: Labour 31.4%, Plaid Cymru 29%

Martha ONeil lives at home with her mum in Caerfyrddin, the seat she hopes to win from Plaid Cymru.

I grew up in a small post-industrial town in Wales called Ammanford, which had a strong Labour tradition already. A really galvanising moment for me was when my dad passed away when I was 10 and my brother was six, says ONeil.

We were raised by an incredible single mother who worked hard to make sure we had as close to the life we would have had as possible, but part of the reason she was able to do that was because of the bereavement support from the Westminster Labour government at the time.

That same support isnt there to the same degree and I cant imagine what its like for families now. It made me so aware of how important decision-makers at the top of that chain are and their impact on normal people. So I joined Labour when I was a teenager, and Ive always been aware of those social issues at the heart of politics.

Twenty-six-year-old Martha O'Neil joined Labour when she was a teenager

The former civil servant, who won a scholarship to study politics at Cambridge and was the first in her family to attend university, is also passionate about protecting women and girls online, having previously worked as a civil servant at the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology and the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport before that.

When it comes to digital policy, there are ongoing conversations about online safety that really affects people my age, she says. Ive worked with charities in the womens space and theres a lot of work to be done when it comes to issues around domestic abuse and violence. Its important that we include young people in that conversation.

ONeil is also keen to do more for her area and for Wales if she becomes an MP, as well as for people her age.

Gen Z as a generation has suffered incredible hardship when you think about the pandemic and impact that had on young people, as well as the massive economic insecurity weve seen over the past 14 years, ONeil says. We are pretty thoughtful as a generation, and I think that [characteristic will] be a good addition to policy more generally, and when it comes to thinking strategically and more long term. In Wales, our legislative body has a focus on that and on this idea of being a good ancestor.

But I do feel like the region I come from has been forgotten about by Westminster too. I want to make sure we have strong voices who can advocate for the area and work with the next government to bring important changes in.

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Russell Ray speaks as the keynote at a power conference. Ray is running for Corporation Commissioner.

Editors note: This is the final of three profiles on the candidates seeking the Republican nomination for Oklahoma Corporation commissioner. The other candidates are Brian Bingman and Justin Hornback.

Russell Ray is running for Corporation Commission because he said voters in Oklahoma deserve an honest choice and more diversity on the powerful governing board.

Right now we have a commission with two politicians, and we have another career politician running for office, said Ray, who is director of communications and marketing for the Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education. I think we need a more practical skill set on the commission.

The Edmond resident said his two decades of experience as an energy reporter make him qualified. Hes worked as an editor at The Journal Record and Power Engineering Magazine and as an energy reporter at the Tulsa World. He has also been chairman of POWER-GEN International, which hosts a conference and exhibition for the power and energy sector.

Ive got 20 plus years of experience analyzing, investigating and evaluating energy markets, pricing, policy and trends, Ray said.

Ray is one of three Republican candidates running for commissioner. Ray and his opponents, Brian Bingman and Justin Hornback, will face off for the Republican nomination during the June 18 primary election.

Elections for the post have normally attracted little attention despite the fact that the three-person commission regulates various industries, from the states public utilities to its towing industry.

The commission, though, has faced scrutiny over its handling of debt securitization following Winter Storm Uri that saw a nearly 40,000% spike in natural gas prices. The event generated more than $4.5 billion in additional energy costs over a matter of days. The Corporation Commission later allowed some of the states largest public utilities to securitize the debt by adding a monthly surcharge to consumers bills that will last for decades.

Recent rate increase requests from two of the states public utilities  OG&E and PSO  have also generated public scrutiny and frustration.

Ray said the utilities should have been more prepared for Winter Storm Uri.

That was a very extraordinary event that led to extraordinary costs, he said. It raises the question in this state about what the incentive is for utilities. I dont think the commission has been providing them much of an incentive to keep their fuel costs as low as possible.

If elected, Ray said transparency would be his priority, something he believes is under attack at the Corporation Commission.

We had two of the three commissioners back legislation this session that would have allowed them to meet behind closed doors to discuss private business, Ray said. It would squeeze the sunshine out of state sunshine laws.

Corporation Commissioner Bob Anthony, who is terming out after 36 years in office, has endorsed Ray.

Hes extremely qualified and knows how to read and write, Anthony said. Ive known him for many years, starting 25 years ago when he was a reporter covering the Corporation Commission.

Ray said one week after he filed to run he had a heart attack and quadruple bypass surgery. While he said hes not back to 100%, he will be soon.

Ray wants to bring greater transparency to the Corporation Commission. Hes calling on the Commission and state to disclose as much information as possible to consumers about the winter weather events costs.

It is imperative now more than ever, that the Commission strikes the right balance between business interests and consumer interests. And right now, I dont think it is, Ray said.

When it comes to rate increase requests, Ray said its a numbers game and thinks he can do a better job of balancing business concerns and whats fair to consumers.

Right now the vote is going the way of big corporations every time because I think the career politicians on the commission are playing politics with electric bills and siding with the big corporate interests instead of the consumer, Ray said.

Ray said because he filed to run last minute, his campaign has not had to report campaign contributions and expenditures yet. That deadline is June 10.

Its not clear yet who is funding his campaign.

Ray said he will not accept any donations from political action committees or companies that he would regulate. He plans to only raise a few thousand dollars to cover the cost of filing and printing some campaign materials.

That is something Ray said sets him apart from one of his opponents.

Oklahoma Voice is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Oklahoma Voice maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Janelle Stecklein for questions:info@oklahomavoice.com. Follow Oklahoma Voice on Facebook andTwitter.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Russell Ray running for Oklahoma Corporation Commission
BEIJING, June 12 (Xinhua) -- China deeply mourns the tragic death of Malawian Vice President Saulos Chilima and other victims in a recent plane crash, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said on Wednesday.

Spokesperson Lin Jian conveyed China's condolences to relatives of the victims at a regular press briefing.

The vice president and nine other individuals, who were on board a military aircraft, have been confirmed dead after the plane went missing Monday morning, Malawian President Lazarus Chakwera said Tuesday.

Lin said that China expresses deep condolences over the tragic death of Malawian Vice President Saulos Chilima and other victims and extends sincere sympathies to their bereft families.

China and Malawi are sincere and friendly partners for development. At this difficult time, the Chinese government and people stand firmly with the government and people of Malawi and believe that Malawi will surely tide over the difficulties and walk out of grief under the leadership of President Lazarus Chakwera, the spokesperson said. 
Jose Uribe has testified that he agreed to make payments for a new Mercedes-Benz for Nadine Menendez in exchange for Sen. Bob Menendez's help in killing a state probe of Uribe's company. (Photo by David Dee Delgado/Getty Images)

After Jose Uribe, the star witness in Sen. Bob Menendezs corruption trial, spent two days detailing how he bribed the three-term Democrat, defense attorneys spent Tuesday painting Uribe as a habitual liar and longtime criminal whose cooperation deal with prosecutors makes his testimony unbelievable.

Uribe, a failed insurance broker, faces 95 years in prison for seven federal crimes he pleaded guilty to in March. But he acknowledged on the stand Tuesday that he agreed to testify against Menendez, the senators wife, and co-defendant Wael Hana in hopes of dodging prison altogether.

Menendez attorney Adam Fee and Ricardo Solano Jr., who represents Hana, spent six hours on cross-examination Tuesday working to taint Uribes credibility.

Youre a very good liar, arent you? Fee asked Uribe.

This prompted an immediate objection from prosecutors, which Judge Sidney H. Stein sustained.

Solano was up first, asking about Uribe practicing his testimony with prosecutors. Uribe told jurors he met prosecutors and investigators 10 to 15 times since December, when he agreed to cooperate with their investigation.

I dont like the word practicing, Uribe responded. I would say I was preparing for the questions and the answers.

Fee and Solano reminded jurors Uribe initially lied to prosecutors, telling them the tens of thousands of dollars he spent on a luxury car for Nadine Menendez was a loan she planned to pay back, before he changed his story after signing the cooperation agreement.

He bristled at any suggestion he would lie in court.

When I took the stand, I took an oath, he told the jury. The truth is the truth.

But Solano and Fee spent the day reminding jurors of Uribes long career of lying.

Uribes career in the insurance industry should have ended in 2011, when he pleaded guilty to insurance fraud and theft by deception for defrauding customers of his company Inter-America Insurance.

But after he lost his license and shuttered Inter-America, he started another insurance business, Phoenix Risk Management, and installed his son Omar Contreras, and later his daughters friend Ana Peguero, as the licensed brokers and firm owners, even though he continued to run it, he testified.

Phoenix was one of five companies Uribe ran, and he put his relatives and friends in charge of most of them, he testified. That allowed him to avoid paying taxes, he agreed under cross-examination.

He also admitted he invented a phony tax preparer and submitted fake income figures to secure a pandemic-era small business loan he didnt qualify for. He fudged documents to cover his crimes, testimony showed, prompting Fee to call him a sophisticated liar.

The activities are, in fact, crimes, correct? Solano asked Uribe.

Yes, he responded.

Uribe has presented himself during his three days on the stand as a dedicated family man with a strong code of honor. He has testified that he decided to host a fundraiser for Menendez, which raised $50,000, and buy a Mercedes-Benz convertible worth more than $67,000 for Nadine Menendez in exchange for Sen. Menendez pressuring state authorities to kill and stop all investigation.

His goal, he has repeated throughout his three days on the stand, was to protect his family  especially Peguero, who he called my Ana  from the New Jersey attorney generals expanding insurance fraud probe.

But Solano and Fee suggested that was just another lie, saying he exposed his family to legal trouble by putting his companies in their names and then committing tax evasion and other crimes.

Was the real concern about yourself? Solano said.

Under the cooperation deal, prosecutors wont investigate or prosecute Uribe further, and neither will the federal Department of Justices tax division. Uribe has pleaded guilty to bribery, wire fraud, conspiracy, obstruction of justice, and related offenses. His sentencing is scheduled for Friday.

What jurors wont hear

Some of the points defense attorneys tried to make on cross-examination might have little impact on the trial because Uribe repeatedly professed to have no memory of what they asked about.

At least 80 times Tuesday, he said some variation of I have no recollection of that. Jurors are supposed to consider only witnesses answers in their deliberations, and not attorneys questions or comments.

Uribe told jurors he couldnt remember how many victims he fleeced in his 2011 insurance fraud case (seven), how much he took from them ($76,819), or how lawsuits against his companies unfolded. Testimony showed that Hana was one of the businessmen whose companies failed after Uribe took their money for insurance premiums but failed to secure policies for them, according to the cross-examination. But Uribe said he didnt remember that either.

Defense attorneys wanted to tell jurors about Uribes past failures to pay child support and credit card bills, as well as his conduct at strip clubs, which Lawrence Lustberg, one of Hanas defense attorneys, didnt detail but described as absolutely antithetical to the family values Mr. Uribe has expressed.

Such details would undermine his claim that everything he does is for the benefit of his family and show his lying and criminal troubles were not an isolated incident but continuous conduct, Lustberg and Solano said.

But Stein refused to allow any of it, calling it prejudicial, personal, and potentially confusing to the jury.

Tuesdays testimony revealed a few scandalous details, including Fees revelation that Menendez had broken off his relationship with Nadine Menendez in December 2018 because she was causing too much drama.

Fee has said that Nadine concealed the bribes shes accused of taking, and asked Uribe if he concealed his criminal history from Menendez for similar reasons  to get what he wanted from one of New Jerseys most powerful public officials.

If you had told him these things, he would have stood up and walked out of the room, Fee said, prompting an objection from prosecutors that Stein sustained.

Uribe is expected to take the stand for a fourth day Wednesday, when Fee will continue his cross-examination. The trial is expected to last into the first week of July.

The post Menendez defense team blasts prosecutions star witness as a very good liar appeared first on New Jersey Monitor.
After Jose Uribe, the star witness in Sen. Bob Menendezs corruption trial, spent two days detailing how he bribed the three-term Democrat, defense attorneys spent Tuesday painting Uribe as a habitual liar and longtime criminal whose cooperation deal with prosecutors makes his testimony unbelievable.

Uribe, a failed insurance broker, faces 95 years in prison for seven federal crimes he pleaded guilty to in March. But he acknowledged on the stand Tuesday that he agreed to testify against Menendez, the senators wife, and co-defendant Wael Hana in hopes of dodging prison altogether.

Menendez attorney Adam Fee and Ricardo Solano Jr., who represents Hana, spent six hours on cross-examination Tuesday working to taint Uribes credibility.

Youre a very good liar, arent you? Fee asked Uribe.

This prompted an immediate objection from prosecutors, which Judge Sidney H. Stein sustained.

Manhattan, NY  October 18, 2023 -- Jose Uribe involved in the bribery case involving Senator Robert Menendez enters the Federal Courthouse in lower Manhattan for a hearing on corruption charges.

Solano was up first, asking about Uribe practicing his testimony with prosecutors. Uribe told jurors he met prosecutors and investigators 10 to 15 times since December, when he agreed to cooperate with their investigation.

I dont like the word practicing, Uribe responded. I would say I was preparing for the questions and the answers.

Fee and Solano reminded jurors Uribe initially lied to prosecutors, telling them the tens of thousands of dollars he spent on a luxury car for Nadine Menendez was a loan she planned to pay back, before he changed his story after signing the cooperation agreement.

He bristled at any suggestion he would lie in court.

When I took the stand, I took an oath, he told the jury. The truth is the truth.

But Solano and Fee spent the day reminding jurors of Uribes long career of lying.

Uribes career in the insurance industry should have ended in 2011, when he pleaded guilty to insurance fraud and theft by deception for defrauding customers of his company Inter-America Insurance.

But after he lost his license and shuttered Inter-America, he started another insurance business, Phoenix Risk Management, and installed his son Omar Contreras, and later his daughters friend Ana Peguero, as the licensed brokers and firm owners, even though he continued to run it, he testified.

Phoenix was one of five companies Uribe ran, and he put his relatives and friends in charge of most of them, he testified. That allowed him to avoid paying taxes, he agreed under cross-examination.

He also admitted he invented a phony tax preparer and submitted fake income figures to secure a pandemic-era small business loan he didnt qualify for. He fudged documents to cover his crimes, testimony showed, prompting Fee to call him a sophisticated liar.

The activities are, in fact, crimes, correct? Solano asked Uribe.

Yes, he responded.

Uribe has presented himself during his three days on the stand as a dedicated family man with a strong code of honor. He has testified that he decided to host a fundraiser for Menendez, which raised $50,000, and buy a Mercedes-Benz convertible worth more than $67,000 for Nadine Menendez in exchange for Sen. Menendez pressuring state authorities to kill and stop all investigation.

His goal, he has repeated throughout his three days on the stand, was to protect his family  especially Peguero, who he called my Ana  from the New Jersey attorney generals expanding insurance fraud probe.

But Solano and Fee suggested that was just another lie, saying he exposed his family to legal trouble by putting his companies in their names and then committing tax evasion and other crimes.

Was the real concern about yourself? Solano said.

Under the cooperation deal, prosecutors wont investigate or prosecute Uribe further, and neither will the federal Department of Justices tax division. Uribe has pleaded guilty to bribery, wire fraud, conspiracy, obstruction of justice, and related offenses. His sentencing is scheduled for Friday.

Special Report: Jose Uribe flipped. Here's why he bribed Bob Menendez with a new Mercedes

What jurors wont hear

Some of the points defense attorneys tried to make on cross-examination might have little impact on the trial because Uribe repeatedly professed to have no memory of what they asked about.

At least 80 times Tuesday, he said some variation of I have no recollection of that. Jurors are supposed to consider only witnesses answers in their deliberations, and not attorneys questions or comments.

Uribe told jurors he couldnt remember how many victims he fleeced in his 2011 insurance fraud case (seven), how much he took from them ($76,819), or how lawsuits against his companies unfolded. Testimony showed that Hana was one of the businessmen whose companies failed after Uribe took their money for insurance premiums but failed to secure policies for them, according to the cross-examination. But Uribe said he didnt remember that either.

Defense attorneys wanted to tell jurors about Uribes past failures to pay child support and credit card bills, as well as his conduct at strip clubs, which Lawrence Lustberg, one of Hanas defense attorneys, didnt detail but described as absolutely antithetical to the family values Mr. Uribe has expressed.

Such details would undermine his claim that everything he does is for the benefit of his family and show his lying and criminal troubles were not an isolated incident but continuous conduct, Lustberg and Solano said.

But Stein refused to allow any of it, calling it prejudicial, personal, and potentially confusing to the jury.

Tuesdays testimony revealed a few scandalous details, including Fees revelation that Menendez had broken off his relationship with Nadine Menendez in December 2018 because she was causing too much drama.

Fee has said that Nadine concealed the bribes shes accused of taking, and asked Uribe if he concealed his criminal history from Menendez for similar reasons  to get what he wanted from one of New Jerseys most powerful public officials.

If you had told him these things, he would have stood up and walked out of the room, Fee said, prompting an objection from prosecutors that Stein sustained.

Uribe is expected to take the stand for a fourth day Wednesday, when Fee will continue his cross-examination. The trial is expected to last into the first week of July.

Editor's note: This story was originally published by the New Jersey Monitor, for which Dana DeFilippo is a staff writer. The New Jersey Monitor is part of States Newsroom, the nations largest state-focused nonprofit news organization.

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Bob Menendez defense team blasts Jose Uribe as 'very good liar'
NEW YORK  Sen. Bob Menendezs legal team tried Wednesday to unring a bell  literally.

The governments star witness had testified in the trial that Menendez used a bell to summon his wife to help in a conversation that involved bribery. Menendezs defense attorney asked repeated questions about the bell, trying to fight back against the damning account.

The witness, Jose Uribe, a New Jersey trucking and insurance industry figure, has pleaded guilty to bribing the senator and his wife, Nadine, in order to disrupt a state investigation circling his business. Nadine Menendez will stand trial separately following a cancer diagnosis just before this trial.

Uribe told jurors earlier this week about the September 2019 meeting with the senator in Nadines backyard.

Uribe said the senator called out mon amour and rang a little bell that summoned his then-girlfriend from her house. After that, Uribe said she brought out a piece of paper that Uribe used to write down the names of the people he wanted the senator to disrupt an investigation into.

Beyond a detailed recollection from a man who has admitted to bribing the Menendezes, the bell also stood out in a trial that has turned in many ways on the relationship  sometimes strained and perhaps even strange  between Bob and Nadine.

Menendez attorney Adam Fee pulled out all the stops to try to undermine the story. For instance, Fee pointed out Uribe had stopped at a bar before the meeting, which Uribe admitted. He said Uribe had been known to use Xanax without a prescription, which Uribe admitted. Fee also got Uribe to admit he wasnt sure if Nadine brought out the paper immediately or she came out and then went back inside to get the paper.

And Fee  saying what most people who have heard about the bell might be thinking  asked Uribe if he had shared the super weird incident with anybody before Uribe told the story to government authorities.

Fee, apparently using notes from government interviews of Uribe that have not been made public, also suggested that the FBI and prosecutors may have challenged Uribe on the bell story and told Uribe it would be very rare for someone to use a bell on a table to call someone.

But Uribe stood by his story.

Then, after Uribe left the stand on Wednesday after several days of testimony, government prosecutors called a paralegal to read two text messages investigators obtained during their multi-year investigation of the Menendezes.

In one of them, sent by Nadine weeks before the backyard incident Uribe described, she texts someone that she was looking for the perfect bell.

The prosecutor then sat down.

All Fee could do on cross examination was ask the witness  who otherwise did not appear to have extensive knowledge of the case  if she knew about a collection of antique Greek bells that dont ring that Nadine apparently kept at her home.
TOPEKA (KSNT)  A local Mexican restaurant and bar in South Topeka is closing its doors at one of its locations.

Tequilas Mexican Restaurant & Bar announced on social media Tuesday that its closing its doors at the Brookwood Shopping Center, located at 2911 Southwest 29th Street.

This embedded content is not available in your region.

A heartfelt thank you to all our amazing customers for more than 15 years of support and memories! Tequilas Mexican Restaurant & Bar social media excerpt

Drivers should share the road for 8-day Bike Across Kansas

According to the social media post, a new restaurant, Eddys, will be taking over the Brookwood Shopping Center location. The restaurant does have another location that will remain open. The restaurant encourages the community to go to Tequilas Mexican Restaurant & Bar North at 520 Northwest Elm Row Avenue.

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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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSNT 27 News.
FILE PHOTO: Mexico's former Senator Ricardo Monreal, one of the candidates pursuing the ruling MORENA party's candidacy for the 2024 presidential election, takes part in a campaign rally in Mexico City

MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Mexican Senator Ricardo Monreal expects open discussion forums on a proposed judicial reform to begin next week, local media reports showed on Tuesday, with judges, ministers, lawyers, and bar associations invited to take part.

The lawmaker said the forums could take place through August, before the next Congress, dominated by the ruling Morena party and its allies, begins its legislative period at the beginning of September.

Mexico President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador proposed a series of constitutional reforms in February, including one which would replace an appointed Supreme Court with popularly elected judges.

While the newly elected Congress will take office in September, President-elect Claudia Sheinbaum will not be inaugurated until a month later, giving Lopez Obrador and lawmakers a window to try to enact his reforms.

(Reporting by Ana Isabel Martinez; Editing by Brendan O'Boyle)
New Mexico 50th in child welfare, showing both improvements and declines in several areas

New Mexico's K-12 Plus Program is mentioned in the report as an example of a state bolstering services and resources that equip kids to learn. (Getty Images)

For the third year in a row, New Mexico is last in the nation for child welfare, according to the 2024 KIDS Count Data Book released this week.

The Annie E. Casey Foundation prepares the report for all 50 states. Its mission to track child well being in the country focuses on compiling federal data on four factors: family and community, education performance, overall health and economic reality.

New Mexico historically falls at the bottom of this report. Its best placement was in 2021 when the state climbed to 49th in the rankings.

The 2024 report shows Arizona (42nd) and Texas (43rd) as states with similar issues to New Mexicos. Colorado (17th) and Utah (3rd) are neighboring states leading on child welfare, the report shows.

Utah was also listed as number one in the nation for the Family and Community indicator that measures teen pregnancies, the number of children in single parent households, living in poverty and the education outcomes in their households.

New Mexico sits near the bottom of the list for that indicator but it is also the one where the state has shown the most improvement since 2019 with more kids living in economically stable homes with better educated parents. Teen births are also down in New Mexico since 2019.

On the other hand, education outcomes in New Mexico and across the country saw declines in three of the four indicators, specifically in reading and math proficiency.

Deficiencies in education

New Mexicos education performance tracked with the rest of the nation while starting with a notably higher rate of children not proficient in fourth grade reading (79% up from 76% in 2019) and eighth grade math (87% up from 79% in 2019).

New Mexicos ranking in the education domain is heavily impacted by national standardized test scores, including fourth grade reading proficiency, Emily Wildau, KIDS COUNT coordinator at New Mexico Voices for Children, said in a news release. These scores do not reflect the ability of our children, but rather an education system that is not designed with our multicultural, multilingual students in mind.

The states K-12 Plus Program is mentioned in the report as an example of a state bolstering services and resources that equip kids to learn. The program was created by a new state law passed during the 2023 regular legislative session and signed by Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham.

House Bill 130 changed part of the Public School Code to extend instructional time requirements for elementary and secondary education. It also allows for an increase in funding from the state if local school districts and charter schools extend the learning calendar past 180 days, or 155 days for districts with four-day school weeks.

However, the decision to extend the school year is a topic lawmakers, schools boards, educators, students and parents have had differing opinions on. The law setting school calendars based on hours, not days, is currently held up in court and might not be in effect before the new school year begins.

Health indicators help then hurt New Mexicos score

Health indicators over the last decade have helped improve the states scores, but improvements appear to have stagnated over the last couple of years.

The number of New Mexico children without health insurance improved between 2019 and 2022, according to the data book. But the state also reported an increase in babies born at a low birth weight and an increase in deaths of children and teens.

In 2022, New Mexico experienced 40 child or teen deaths per 100,00 compared to the national average of 30 deaths per 100,000. And nearly 10% of babies born in New Mexico were born at low birth weight.

Meanwhile, the state also reported some improvement in the family and community sector, including a decrease in teen births.

Solutions for addressing overall child well being

The KIDS COUNT report offered several solutions for states to consider when addressing overall child well being, including the implementation of more community schools throughout the school districts in the states.

Community schools are public schools that work to meet the needs of children outside of traditional education. This includes providing regular meals to children and families, mental health services and connections to other areas of support.

According to the New Mexico Public Education Department, there were 150 community schools in the state as of September 2023, with 91 schools receiving state grant funding through the department.

The wraparound services provided through community schools were highlighted in the databook as beneficial for addressing factors in childrens home life that might make it a struggle for them to learn in school.

The post New Mexico 50th in child welfare, showing both improvements and declines in several areas appeared first on Source New Mexico.
NEW MEXICO (KRQE)  The New Mexico Department of Game and Fish announced an upcoming closure of the Tres Piedras shooting range. The closure is due to road repairs and range maintenance between June 24-28.

Esquibel Prescribed Fire planned for Carson National Forest

Officials say no public access will be allowed during the time. People can contact Shooting Program Coordinator Cody Johnston via email at cody.johnston@dgf.nm.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 KRQE NEWS 13 - Breaking News, Albuquerque News, New Mexico News, Weather, and Videos.
Hip-hop artist Money Rod called his North Miami Beach company Dreams Come True Records.

But Rodney McClain  his official name  is not exactly living the dream. The music producer may be headed to prison.

On Tuesday, McClain, 35, pleaded guilty to a wire-fraud charge involving fleecing a COVID-19 pandemic loan program. He faces as much as 20 years in prison, and though hes not likely to get that kind of prison time based on the outcome of hundreds of similar prosecutions in South Florida, incarceration seems likely. His sentencing is scheduled for Aug. 29 before U.S. District Judge Kathleen Williams in Miami federal court.

McClain, who is based in the Atlanta area, admitted that he submitted false information about the number of employees, payroll expenses, revenue and taxes for his music business in his application for a Paycheck Protection Program loan, according to court records. As a result, in May 2020 the hip-hop artist received a PPP loan for $600,157  the basis of his fraud offense, according to court records. He illegally spent more than $100,000 of the proceeds on himself instead of his production companys overhead, authorities said.

His defense attorney, Paul Petruzzi, said authorities have clawed back nearly all of the money that McClain received from his PPP loan and plan to collect the rest through forfeiture.

McClain, who was arrested in March and remains free on bond, grew up in the North Miami area and initially gained notice for underground solo recordings and then commercial releases, including his single No Help in 2023. He also produces other rappers.

McClains loan was guaranteed by the Small Business Administration as part of the emergency CARES Act passed by Congress after the coronavirus swept the country in March 2020. Congress authorized $800 billion in loans through private banks to help companies across the country. The loans under this and other pandemic programs were forgiven by the SBA as long as they were used for legitimate purposes, such as employee wages, leases and utility costs.

McClain spent $113,413 of the fraudulently obtained PPP loan proceeds on himself for impermissible expenses rather than on any employees, as required under the SBA program, according to prosecutor Emily Stone with the U.S. Attorneys Office and agents with the Internal Revenue Service. But authorities dont say in the court records whether the rapper spent the money on luxury cars, jewelry or travel, as so many others convicted of PPP loan fraud did during the pandemic.

Authorities are seeking to recover the money McClain spent on himself as part of his upcoming judgment, according to court records.

McClains offense was commonplace during the COVID-19 pandemic in South Florida, recognized as the nations capital of fraud for ID theft, healthcare and other financial schemes.

A week ago, a Broward Sheriffs Office deputy who had served on the SWAT team was found guilty of defrauding the governments loan program that helped businesses during the pandemic. Alexandra Acosta, a 10-year BSO veteran, was convicted of using a real estate company with help from a tax preparer to obtain a $20,180 loan from the Paycheck Protection Program in 2021. Prosecutors said she falsified income, tax and other records to qualify for the SBA-guaranteed loan.

Acosta was the last of 17 BSO deputies  all arrested last fall on PPP and other loan fraud charges  to go to trial or cut a plea deal. Acosta, 38, now faces prison time, like one other BSO employee who was recently imprisoned.

Although the amount of lost loan money, about $500,000 in total, was relatively modest compared to dozens of other COVID-19 relief fraud cases in South Florida, the sheer number of law enforcement officers charged with breaking the law in one police agency stood out as shocking, authorities said.

In South Florida, about 200 people have been charged with defrauding the PPP program, submitting hundreds of millions of dollars in applications deemed bogus by federal prosecutors. Almost all have been convicted, including Carillon Hotel developer Eric Sheppard, who was sentenced to one and a half years in prison on Friday.

Among others convicted: a businessman using PPP money to buy a $318,000 Lamborghini; a nurse who lied about his business to get $474,000 that was used in part to pay a Mercedes-Benz lease and child support; and a North Miami suburban couple who claimed to be farmers to qualify for $1 million in relief benefits.
House Speaker Mike Johnson has a tendency to think that when things go bad for his party, its the product of gross legislative mismanagement, judicial weaponization, and a vast executive conspiracy. But when his party wants to do something, its because justice is swift and everything is proceeding according to plan. House Republicans efforts to hold Attorney General Merrick Garland in contempt are no exception to this trend.

The GOP quest to hold Garland in contempt of Congress for refusing to respond to a subpoena was not dampened by any sense of irony, even though the Judiciary Committee is chaired by Representative Jim Jordan. Jordan famously refused to comply with requests from the House committee investigating the January 6 insurrection, alongside Representatives Scott Perry, Kevin McCarthy, Andy Biggs, and Mo Brooks.

During a press conference Wednesday, a reporter asked Johnson if he was concerned the run of rogue Republicans would undermine his argument for holding Garland in contempt. Apparently, he doesnt think the two cases are alike at all.

Oh, Im so glad you brought up the January 6 committee. Well be talking a lot more about that in the coming weeks. Theres been a lot of investigation about that committee, I dont think it was properly constituted, I dont think it was properly administered, and now we know that apparently, some of the evidence was hidden, and some maybe even destroyed, he said.

You talk about apples to oranges, there couldnt be a more clear contrast between that and what were talking about here, Johnson continued. This is the Judiciary Committee. This is the weaponization committee. He went on to laud Jordans leadership and extraordinary work.

REPORTER: You talked about the importance of Garland complying with a subpoena. I'm curious since Chairman Jordan and four other colleagues declined under the J6 committee, if you worry that undermines the argument.



MIKE JOHNSON: You talk about apples to oranges ... pic.twitter.com/M4vg9QWWtE  Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) June 12, 2024

With this statement, Johnson makes it clear there are different rules for Republicans in Congress, special exceptions that prevent them from facing the consequences of their actions. Those who break the rules to defend Donald Trump are doing so bravely, while those who break the rules to defend Joe Biden are subject to the most serious condemnation.



Johnson did not elaborate on how he could so casually call the GOP-led committee the weaponization committee, a conspiracy theory buzzword Republicans have adopted to discredit the federal government.

Johnsons logic, or lack thereof, mirrors his untethered reframing of the guilty verdicts of Trump and Hunter Biden. One is evidence of a two-tiered justice system; the other, which would disprove it, is a separate instance not worthy of consideration in Johnsons ongoing weaponization case study.

The House Judiciary and Oversight and Accountability Committees had demanded the audio from Bidens interview with special counsel Robert Hur, who described the president as a well meaning, elderly man with a poor memory, be turned over by the end of April. Their attempt to obtain the audio was blocked by the White House, which invoked executive privilege. The move summoned the ire of House Republicans, who became set on holding Garland in contempt.
HARARE, June 12 (Xinhua) -- Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa on Wednesday sent a message of condolences to his Malawian counterpart Lazarus Chakwera following the death of Vice President Saulos Chilima in a plane crash.

Mnangagwa said he was shocked and saddened to receive the devastating news of the fatal aircraft crash.

Mnangagwa paid tribute to Chilima, saying he will be remembered for his selfless efforts in promoting bilateral relations between Malawi and Zimbabwe and in integrating Africa.

"On behalf of the Government and people of the Republic of Zimbabwe, and on my own behalf, I wish to extend to you, and, through Your Excellency, to the Government and the people of the Republic of Malawi, as well as the families of the deceased, our heartfelt condolences and deep sorrow. We wish you fortitude on your road to recovery from this tragedy," Mnangagwa said.

Chilima and his entourage, including former first lady Patricia Shanil Dzimbiri, were on their way to the funeral of former attorney general and justice minister Ralph Kasambara, when the crash happened due to bad weather, according to authorities. 
Ukraine's military intelligence (HUR) can confirm that two of the Russian Su-57 fighter jets were hit during a strike on the Akhtubinsk airfield in Astrakhan Oblast, but one of them suffered only light damage, the agency's spokesperson, Andrii Yusov, said on air on June 12.

"We can now say that one Su-57 suffered significant damage, and the other one suffered lighter damage and may be possible to restore," Yusov said.

The military intelligence agency reported on the attack on June 9, marking the first hit against this model of aircraft. The Su-57 is Russia's most modern fighter jet, with only a few units in service in the Russian Air Force.

Satellite imagery published after the attack seemed to have confirmed a successful strike against the Akhtubinsk airfield in southern Russia, lying around 590 kilometers (over 360 miles) from the front line.

Already on June 10, Yusov said that according to preliminary information, two Su-57s may have been hit.

Military intelligence does not usually claim public responsibility for attacks on Russian territory, but sources told the Kyiv Independent that Ukraine has carried out a number of long-range strikes against military and industrial targets deep inside the Russian borders.

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.
In October 1962, Cold War tensions between the U.S. and Soviet Union crested during a perilous 13-day standoff after Soviet nuclear missiles were deployed to the island of Cuba. Dozens of social media posts this week floated the idea that the U.S. might be approaching a repeat of the crisis.

BREAKING: Possible Cuban Missile Crisis 2.0 developing, one Facebook post read. Cuban Missile Crisis 2.0? asked Fox News Radio in another.

Earlier this week, Russian ships were spotted off the coast of Florida, leading to claims that U.S. and Canadian naval forces were engaged in a standoff with the vessels.

BREAKING: Russian warships clash with US, Canadian ships near Florida Keys. In an unexpected and tense development, Russian warships have sailed into the Atlantic and are currently involved in a standoff with American and Canadian ships near Key Largo, Florida, reads one X (formerly Twitter) post with more than 29,000 views.

BREAKING



Russian warships clash with US, Canadian ships near Florida Keys



In an unexpected and tense development, Russian warships have sailed into the Atlantic and are currently involved in a standoff with American and Canadian ships near Key Largo, Florida.



Image captured pic.twitter.com/m0XIvZf9V3  Insider Corner (@insiderscorner) June 11, 2024

These posts are misleading. Russian military ships are operating in the Atlantic and Caribbean, but they pose no direct threat to the U.S. The vessels are in Cuba, less than 250 miles from Miami, for planned military exercises. No clashes or standoffs are occurring.

On Wednesday morning, Cuba was set to welcome four Russian naval vesselsa frigate, an oil tanker, a salvage tug, and a nuclear submarineinto its territorial waters ahead of air and naval exercises taking place later this month. The two nations are longtime allies. The Russian ships sailed within 30 miles of southern Florida, according to U.S. officials, but military officials characterized the drills as typical. Russias deployments are part of routine naval activity which pose no direct threat or concern to the United States, a U.S. Northern Command spokesperson told The Dispatch Fact Check in an emailed statement.

Three U.S. Navy destroyers, along with submarine reconnaissance aircraft, were tasked to shadow the Russian vessels during their approach to the Caribbean. In accordance with standard procedures, weve been actively monitoring the Russian ships as they transited the Atlantic Ocean within international waters, the statement said. Air and maritime assets under U.S. Northern Command have conducted operations to ensure the defense of the United States and Canada.

U.S. naval vessels responded similarly in 2023 when Chinese and Russian vessels were detected off the coast of Alaska. In that instance, four U.S. Navy destroyers and a P-8 Poseidon aircraft were deployed to shadow the patrolling ships.

Relations between the U.S. and Russia have become increasingly strained since Russian forces invaded Ukraine in February 2022. The U.S. has provided Ukraine with more than $100 billion in aid in support of its war effort, and earlier this week expanded sanctions aimed at Russias technological links with China.

If you have a claim you would like to see us fact check, please send us an email at factcheck@thedispatch.com. If you would like to suggest a correction to this piece or any other Dispatch article, please email corrections@thedispatch.com.

Read more at The Dispatch

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German Chancellor Olaf Scholz (R) speaks with Boris Pistorius, Germany's Defence Minister, talk at the start of the Cabinet meeting. Kay Nietfeld/dpa

Plans to bring back registration for possible military service in Germany met with a mixed response from politicians in the country on Wednesday.

The proposal from Defence Minister Boris Pistorius would require young men to complete a questionnaire, and some to also undergo physical examinations, but would not reinstate mandatory military service in the country.

Many lawmakers welcomed the proposal as a useful idea to address military manpower shortages, but some also expressed hesitation over the mandatory elements.

Florian Hahn of the centre-right CDU/CSU opposition bloc said he expected Pistorius to unveil more far-reaching plans that may have included actually bringing back compulsory service, and suspected that Chancellor Olaf Scholz and the coalition had "let him run out of steam" during a nine-month review of the issue.

Germany effectively abolished conscription in 2011, although the country's law continues to allow for mandatory service in the event of war or other tensions. The country has since dismantled many of the institutions and facilities used for conscription.

But the Bundeswehr, as Germany's military is known, has struggled to recruit enough volunteers to fill the ranks, an issue that's drawn renewed focus as Germany and other NATO countries have sought to rebuild their armed forces in the wake of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Boris Pistorius (C), Germany's Defence Minister, comes to the Bundestag's Defence Committee to present plans for a new military service. Kay Nietfeld/dpa

Boris Pistorius (C), Germany's Defence Minister, Siemtje Moeller, Parliamentary State Secretary to the Defence Minister, and Marcus Faber (R), Chairman of the Defence Committee, present the plans for a new military service in the Bundestag's Defence Committee. Kay Nietfeld/dpa
WASHINGTON (NewsNation)  The military hasnt been reaching recruitment goals to refill its ranks, and shortfalls are now impacting some branches more than others.

Politicians on both sides agree that the military recruitment shortfall is a concern. Could a national service mandate could fix the problem?

Why are military recruitment numbers so low?

Officials at the Department of Defense say recruiting challenges are complex and multi-faceted.

Some contributing factors include a strong job market and a smaller eligible population.

Credit: NewsNation

A Pew Research Center report shows that only 23% of young people qualify for the military, and a majority of Americans aged 18 to 29 have a negative view of the armed forces altogether.

This year represents the smallest active-duty force since 1940.

North Korean soldiers briefly crossed South Korean border

After missing recruitment goals in 2022, the Army and Navy fell far short of those goals again in 2023. According to federal data, across all U.S. military branches, the shortfall for 2023 was about 41,000 recruits. The Marines and Space Force were the only branches to meet their objectives, according to the Defense Departments 2023 recruiting and retention report.

Credit: NewsNation

A Defense Department report published last year revealed the number of service members has been down overall since 2005.

The military has tried various initiatives to boost recruitment, including the Air Force and Space Force raising the maximum enlistment age to 42.

Recruitment is particularly challenging for Generation Z, people born between 1997 and 2012. Videos discouraging joining the military have been swirling on TikTok.

However, the Pentagon remains hopeful it will close the recruitment gap.

Could a military service mandate be possible?

A draft hasnt been instituted in the country since 1973  and enlisting in the service is voluntary.

Despite the worries over recruitment, voters in a 2023 Rasmussen poll were not convinced a draft is the solution. Only 27% said the United States should have a military draft, while 55% remain opposed.

Lt. Gen. Richard Newton, a former U.S. Air Force assistant vice chief of staff and a NewsNation contributor, called the countrys recruitment efforts a national security crisis but said he couldnt fathom forcing our civilians to serve.

I dont think its realistic at all. I think it would be a very difficult thing to mandate that all eligible males and females, for that matter, serve the United States military, Newton said. I think if you flood the ranks of the services, I think that does a disservice to the capabilities and effectiveness of our fighting force, as well as those who volunteer.

How Kansas City soldier liberated Hitlers personal stationery

Newton believes theres a need for a more comprehensive national security strategy to address the root causes as officials search for ways to help boost service member numbers.

Newton said even if the president wanted to enact something like this, hed need Congress to sign off, too.

The Associated Press reported in October that the U.S. has no plans for instituting a draft, despite some internet rumors.

Trump responds to mandatory military service report

Former President Donald Trump shot down the ridiculous idea that he could push for mandatory military service if he wins reelection this year and slammed a Washington Post article on the issue as an effort to damage him with voters.

The Fake News Washington Post came up with the ridiculous idea that Trump will call for mandatory military service, he said in a post on Truth Social on Tuesday.

Credit: NewsNation

The Story is completely untrue. In fact, I never even thought of that idea, he said. This is only a continuation of their EIGHT-YEAR failed attempt to damage me with the Voters.

A look at the World War II aircraft still flying today

Trump has not taken a public position on whether young people should be required to serve in the military.

The Washington Post story notes that Trumps campaign was contacted about the article and declined to address whether the former president supports mandatory military service.

How many countries mandate military service?

Most nations in the world have some form of military. However, the methods used to fill the ranks of those armed forces vary from one country to the next.

Across the globe, 66 countries mandate military service in 2024, according to World Population Review.

The Hill contributed to this report.

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The Millcreek Township School District has been taken to court over another claim of discrimination during the tenure of former Superintendent Ian Roberts.

It is third discrimination claim brought against the district since Roberts announced his departure from Millcreek a year ago to head the public schools in Des Moines, Iowa. The district settled the other two cases for a total of more than $330,000.

In the latest case, a former top administrator at the Milllcreek School District, Timothy P. Stoops, is claiming he suffered sex discrimination when Roberts demoted him in the spring of 2023 with the approval of the Millcreek School Board. Stoops before his demotion had been the school district's director of assessment and alternative learning.

In a lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court in Erie on Monday, Stoops, the plaintiff, is claiming he was discriminated against because the school district as part of the demotion passed him over for two principal positions in favor of two women.

The school district, the lone defendant in the case, "was motivated in selecting the two females for the positions, not Plaintiff, because of a bias against males in favor of females," the suit claims. "This was sex discrimination."

Ian Roberts was the superintendent of the Millcreek Township School District from Aug. 12, 2020, to June 30, 2023.

The suit claims that Stoops was more qualified than the two women who got the principal jobs based on his "education, experience and performance."

Millcreek School District has paid $337,500 to end other claims

The two previous discrimination claims against the Millcreek School District settled for a total of $337,500. A payment of $250,000, approved in June 2023, went to Melody Ellington, who had been human resources director under Roberts and a payment of $87,500, approved in April, went to Joe Orlando, whom Roberts demoted from a top administrative post.

Both of those disputes were resolved at the administrative level, with Orlando's case involving the filing of a complaint with the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

Stoop's case is different. It has gone from a complaint docketed with the EEOC  where litigation is typically confidential and disclosures are sparse  to the filing of a lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Erie, where the case is public.

The suit states that Stoops, 54, who had worked at the Millcreek School District since 1996, had previously been principal at the high school and middle school levels in the district  the two positions for which Stoops unsuccessfully applied after Roberts eliminated his administrative post, according to the lawsuit.

"Instead of placing Plaintiff in either of these principal positions," the suit claims, the school district "placed two females who were less qualified than the Plaintiff for these positions."

Ex-administrator claims discrimination was 'willful'

Stoops and his lawyer, Joseph Chivers, of Pittsburgh, sued in federal court after Stoops filed complaints with the EEOC and the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission, according to the lawsuit.

Stoops is seeking compensatory and punitive damages in unspecified amounts. Punitive damages are warranted, the suit claims, because the school district's "violations of the law were knowing and willful and with malicious intent."

Though Roberts is not listed as a defendant in the suit, the suit names him as the person who told Stoops that his administrative job of director of assessment and alternative learning was being eliminated  a move that led Stoops to apply for the principal positions.

The Millcreek Township School District has been hit with a third discrimination claim related to the tenure of former Superintendent Ian Roberts, who left the district on June 30.

All of the other administrative changes cited in the seven-page lawsuit, including the hiring of the two female principals, also occurred while Roberts was in charge of the 6,500-student Millcreek School District. The School Board approved all the changes, according to district records.

No comment from Millcreek School District

The solicitor for the Millcreek School District, Tim Sennett, said the district would have not comment on the lawsuit. A spokesman for Des Moines Public Schools, the largest public school district in Iowa with more than 30,000 students, did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Roberts.

Roberts started in Des Moines on July 1, after serving nearly three years at the Millcreek School District. He was sworn in as Millcreek's superintendent on Aug. 12, 2020.

The Millcreek School District will get a chance to respond to the suit in court. The case is assigned to U.S. District Judge Susan Paradise Baxter.

Stoops' lawsuit resembles case of ex-administrator Orlando

With its claim of sex discrimination, Stoops' lawsuit is similar to the case of Joe Orlando, whose administrative post was like Stoops'. The district in April agreed to pay Orlando $87,500 to end the gender discrimination complaint he filed with the EEOC.

Like Stoops, Orlando who had been the district's director of elementary education  had his job eliminated, was passed over for two principal positions and was demoted in a staff restructuring under Roberts.

The Millcreek School District's settlement agreement with Orlando does not detail his claims of discrimination, but based on Stoops' lawsuit, Orlando would also have been passed over the two principal positions that went to two women. The settlement agreement states that Orlando "alleged that the District discriminated against him on the basis of gender."

Des Moines Public Schools Superintendent Ian Roberts, speaks with students during lunch at North High School in Des Moines, Iowa, on May 1.

Orlando had been making $119,700 a year as the district's director of elementary education. After Orlando failed to get hired as a principal, Roberts demoted him to a sixth-grade English teacher at J.S. Wilson Middle School with a salary of $80,279, according to court records. Orlando left the district for a job at Erie Insurance.

After Stoops failed to get hired as a principal, Roberts demoted him to an eighth-grade English teacher at J.S. Wilson, according to school district records. Stoops had been making $123,067 as director of assessment and alternative learning. He resigned from the district following his demotion, according to district records.

Millcreek paid out $250,000 in another claim

The other discrimination claim against the Millcreek School District came from Melody Ellington, who had worked as the district's director of human resources from July 1, 2021, until she resigned effective Sept. 30, 2022.

On June 26, four days before Roberts' final day at the Millcreek School District, the Millcreek School Board unanimously approved a $250,000 deal with her. The board at the meeting also unanimously approved the demotions of Orlando and Stoops.

Ellington never filed a lawsuit, but the $250,000 settlement resolved her claims that she was subjected to "unlawful treatment" at the school district and that the treatment left her no choice but to resign, according to the agreement in her case, which the Erie Times-News obtained under the Right-to-Know Law.

Roberts is the only school district official identified by name in the agreement, but still unclear is whether his name appeared because he was the subject of the claims or because he was in charge of the school district when Ellington made the claims.

Both the Ellington and Orlando settlement agreements included confidentiality clauses that prohibit school district officials and other parties in the cases from commenting. The school district admitted no fault in the Ellington and Orlando deals, according to the settlement agreements.

Budget cuts or administrative realignment?

In his lawsuit, Stoops challenges what he claims Roberts told him during the course of his demotion.

In mid-April 2023, according to the suit, Roberts told Stoops that his job as director of assessment and learning was being eliminated due to budget cuts. However, the suit claims, Stoops learned during a School Board meeting in May 2023 that his position was being eliminated due to a realignment of upper management positions rather than budget constraints.

Stoops, the suit claims, "was not offered any of the realigned positions or even told he could apply for one of them."

The suit states that Stoops applied for the two principal positions, but was not offered either "because of his sex, male, and a preference for females."

Roberts' management realignment focused on the top three administrators in the school district's curriculum department, according to court records. They were Orlando, Stoops and John Cavanagh, director of secondary education.

Roberts eliminated the positions of Orlando and Stoops and created the job of director of K-12 education, according to court records and school district records. Cavanagh filled the new post.

After Roberts left the Millcreek School District on June 30, the School Board named Cavanagh the new superintendent on July 17.

Contact Ed Palattella at epalattella@timesnews.com or 814-870-1813. Follow him on X @ETNpalattella.

This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Sex discrimination: Millcreek School District sued over a new claim
Iowa State University professor Pete Evans, left, and instructor Dan Oswald stand with an Erectorbot printer at Iowa Central Community College in Fort Dodge, where they're trying to find a way to produce concrete printed homes that can stand up to Iowa's weather swings.

Ron Monahan calls the decision to part ways with startup company Alquist 3D mutual.

Together, they had worked since 2022 with a goal of building 10 3D-printed homes in Muscatine. The concrete homes, hailed as cheaper to produce than traditionally built houses, could take as little as 22 hours apiece to print and would be less costly to heat and cool than conventional houses. They were supposed to hold revolutionary potential for easing the affordable housing shortage in Muscatine and across much of Iowa.

But 3D printing, once heralded as a quick solution, turned out to be more laborious than expected.

We actually completed the walls for one house, said Monahan, the housing initiative manager of the Community Foundation of Greater Muscatine, which was overseeing the project. But concrete cracks, and ours was cracking. Cracking isn't horrible unless it's not where you want it to be.

It wasn't, and in November 2023, Iowa's first 3D-printed home  a roughly 1,300-square-foot structure built using RIC Technology's robotic-arm printer and Quikrete's printing mix  was torn down.

The Community Foundation of Greater Muscatine demolishes Iowa's first 3D-printed home in November 2023.

The community foundation demolished the incomplete home when it became apparent it wouldnt have held up to environmental wear and tear, Monahan said.

Zachary Mannheimer, the founder of Alquist 3D, Muscatines subcontractor on the project, said that despite the cracking, the concrete could have met the required 5,000-pounds-per-square-inch threshold when completed. Still, he said, Alquist planned to absorb the cost of the rebuild, and the mishap wasn't supposed to be reflected in the future listing price of the home.

The work, however, never resumed.

We both decided, since the goal was to build quality, affordable housing, what we were doing at the moment didn't fit that, Monahan told the Des Moines Register.

While the process can look as simple as squeezing frosting from a piping bag, the reality is that the technology behind 3D-printed homes is new, and guidelines are still being developed. Few homes have actually been finished  roughly 140 worldwide, according to a report from COBOD International, a company that develops 3D-construction printing technology. Only 41 of those are in North America.

Alquist 3D founder Zachary Mannheimer gives an interview during a prototyping session in Stanton in 2022. His company has since moved to Colorado.

Up to 70 printed houses were once projected to join Iowas housing stock by 2025. The Register found no evidence that any were completed.

The Iowa Economic Development Authority and Iowa Finance Authority invested a combined $3.2 million in the Muscatine project and in the purchase of a 3D concrete printer by Iowa State University, which received additional state and federal grants as well as American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds totaling $670,000 to launch a hands-on training program.

Pete Evans, assistant professor of industrial design at ISU, said in 2022 that three prototypes would be completed by the end of that year. The goal was to eventually print homes in Hamburg, a far southwest Iowa town hit hard by Missouri River flooding in 2019. Now, he said, he's cautiously optimistic that the university will be able to build a single demo home by the end of 2024.

Muscatine pushed forward fast, and kudos for being willing to try, try and fail, Evans said. I think that episode was a massive learning experience, not only for Iowa, but the whole, entire industry.

The startup that was supposed to change everything

Ryan Hasler, center, a print operator with Alquist 3D, watches a new machine designed to print homes from cement during a training session in Stanton in 2022.

The process of buying a 3D house was intended to be simple. After a prospective customer has selected a builder and a lot, a hulking printer is delivered to the prepared site. A crew of three to six workers oversees the printer as it lays layer after layer of wet concrete mix, following the shape of the home's foundation until the walls reach from the ground to roof height.

The concrete takes the place of a traditionally built home's framing, siding and drywall. Tradespeople then install the plumbing, electricity, heating, air conditioning and other mechanical systems, as well as the roof, doors and windows.

Muscatine's homes were expected to cost about $300,000 each, though prices vary from project to project.

There are typically two kinds of 3D home-printing companies: a printer manufacturer that partners with a construction company, or a construction firm that buys or leases the printers from a manufacturer. ICON and COBOD, two of the biggest names in the industry, are manufacturers. Alquist 3D, on the other hand, is a construction company.

Mannheimer founded the startup three years ago in Iowa City. He's most famous for founding another pioneering venture, the Des Moines Social Club, which fell into debt and dissolved in 2019. Alquist claims to have become synonymous with 3D concrete printing by completing the first owner-occupied 3D-printed home in the world in December 2021 in Williamsburg, Virginia, using a COBOD printer.

Since then, according to Mannheimer, Alquist has printed a total of three other houses  all in Virginia.

Back at home in Iowa, he was making big plans to print 20 homes in rural southwest Iowa, with eight lots ready in New Market and up to three in Stanton. Alquist 3D had been in conversations with leaders in Avoca and Red Oak too.

In summer 2022, the Register toured the Stanton site, where workers used a 3D printer to make vaults that would house junctions for underground fiber optic cables. The goal was to train the workers to use a similar machine to make homes.

Iowa U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst also came to see Stantons printer and chatted with Mannheimer, KMA Radio reported. She left saying she was confident that the 3D-printed home industry could be an "economic driver" in Iowa, citing its potential to produce "not only a quality, solid-built home, but then potential savings down the road."

"We're not talking about a home that'll last 20 or 30 years; we're talking about a home that would last 100 years or more," Ernst said.

The home Alquist built for Habitat for Humanity in Williamsburg, Virginia.

But back in Virginia, a community was wondering where its contractor had gone.

Just months prior to his homecoming with Alquist 3D, Mannheimer had made waves when he announced plans to print 200 homes in rural southwest Virginia. With two successful builds under its belt, Alquist boasted that it would embark on what would be the world's largest 3D-printed construction project, surpassing the record ICON aimed to set with its still-in-progress 100-home community in Austin, Texas.

Alquist was prepared to start in the town of Pulaski, which needed homes for the 3,000 workers to be hired when several manufacturers, including Volvo, expanded there. Town Manager Darlene Burcham later told a local TV news station that Alquist 3D had seemingly underestimated the cost of construction.

The project quietly died after multiple delays, and Burcham acknowledged in 2023 that the town hadnt heard from Alquist since the prior summer.

As time passed, the companys projects in Iowa dwindled and disappeared too.

When asked if any homes had been built since Alquist came to town, Stanton Community Development Director Jenna Ramsey told the Register there was nothing to report. City leaders in New Market, Avoca and Red Oak did not respond to requests for comment.

3D-printed homes aren't a 'shiny, quick solution'

An Alquist 3D printer lays down layers of concrete during a training session in Stanton in 2022.

Alquist 3D was learning that the process of printing a concrete home is chemically complicated and weather dependent. A 3D printer lays down layers of specialized concrete that need to cure. Theoretically, the concrete is mixed to handle the temperature and humidity levels for each site.

That's difficult in Iowa, where temperatures can swing up to 120 degrees or more across the course of a year.

Texas, by comparison, can be very hot, but the highs and lows don't vary nearly as much.

In Austin, your average temperature is 73 degrees year-round, said Tamara Brunow, owner of Council Bluffs-based Brunow Contracting. But anybody that's been in construction for more than a few years figures out very quickly that the Midwest is quite possibly one of the most difficult climates to build in.

Brunow, who typically works under contracts with the U.S. departments of defense and agriculture, has been asked to take charge after ISU proves its 3D-printing process can yield a home. Once the university hands over the proverbial guidebook, her company will be responsible for rolling out a single demonstration home in Hamburg and 33 panel-built homes made with wood  which the Iowa Economic Development Authority had at one time hoped would all be concrete-printed.

Despite the limited scope of the project, Brunow still isnt quite sold. ISU and Brunow's crew will have to figure out how to pour at 6 a.m., when it's 40 degrees, and keep pouring till 5 p.m., when it's 95.

If as construction companies we can crack the nut on how we build in Iowa, effectively and efficiently, we could replicate that just about anywhere in the world, she said.

To get around the hazards of Iowa weather, ISU opened a lab in a massive warehouse in Fort Dodge formerly used by a trucking company. When it's ready to print its first prototype, it can do so in a completely controlled environment.

Temperature isnt the only barrier. The equipment ISU needed was extremely expensive, with printers costing anywhere from $500,000 to over $1 million. Not to mention, printers that were on the bleeding edge just two years ago are woefully outdated by todays standards. For that reason, ISU passed up an opportunity to purchase the printer Alquist used for its Stanton demonstrations.

The 3D-printing lab at Iowa Central Community College in Fort Dodge.

But the biggest issue, Brunow and Evans agree, is expectations.

"The big, shiny promises came from leadership in the state of Iowa that wanted it to be a big, shiny, quick solution," Brunow said. "I think it had great intentions. They were excited about it, and they were seeing it in other parts of the country. But they had absolutely zero construction experience."

ISU hopes to work out the question of whether 3D-printed houses can be the high-performing, affordable homes they've been touted as. Though Evans didn't disclose who said it, he pointed to a claim he heard from a contractor's representative in Iowa that with the insulating properties of the concrete in a 3D-printed home, energy costs would be half what a wood-framed structure's would be. Some companies, like Citizen Robotics in Detroit, suggest that heating and cooling one of the homes would run about $30 a month, compared with $150 in a traditionally built home.

In a study presented at the Architectural Research Centers Consortium in Dallas last year co-authored by Evans and led by Chengde Wu, an associate professor in ISU's department of architecture, a code-compliant wood-frame home was found to use 115 kilowatt-hours of electricity per meter squared annually.

A 3D concrete-printed home with 6-inch insulation used 110.

"Our job is to try to come at this, for Iowa, and to say, 'Are these claims just for sales?'" Evans said. "Is this a real thing, or is it just a shiny object?

With Iowa projects incomplete, Alquist 3D hits the road

Aaron Hackett, materials director with Alquist 3D, watches a machine designed to print homes from concrete during a training session in Stanton in 2022.

While ISU was looking to work out the kinks of concrete printing in Iowa, Alquist 3D made an exit from the state.

Last October, the company announced it was relocating to Greeley, Colorado, receiving over $4 million in incentives from the city and state. It revealed in a news release that it had been searching for a new headquarters site, and Colorado emerged as the ideal fit, with Greeley throwing in $100,000 for relocation expenses.

Earlier that month, Alquist also hired a new CEO, Patrick Callahan, who had been CEO of Airboss Defense Group, a contractor specializing in "survivability solutions." Mannheimer is now the company's chair.

Were excited to have a home where all the pieces of the puzzle to commercialize this industry are coming together, Mannheimer said in a statement. Were thankful to Colorado for sharing this vision.

When asked if Iowa had made an attempt to keep the company in the state, Iowa Economic Development Authority Director Debi Durham shot down any speculation there had been a bidding war.

When we looked at their package, there wasnt anything we could incentivize, Durham said.

According to a news release from Alquist 3D, the company had planned to partner with Greeley-Weld Habitat for Humanity to print at least 100 of the nearly 500 structures in a project called Hope Springs along the citys southern border. Cheri Witt-Brown, the Greeley-Weld Habitat for Humanity CEO, says that isn't the case. Alquist 3D is contracted to print only the walls of one prototype duplex, which will be closely monitored and strength tested.

The startup didn't have Habitat for Humanity's permission to announce any other projects, she said, adding that Alquist 3D started printing June 6 and has since had to take down the walls due to them being uneven.

"I'm the CEO. I would know," Witt-Brown said. "I'm sure Alquist would love to build more of our homes, but we already have a private-sector builder that we've been working with for a number of years."

A rendering of the proposed Hope Springs development by Habitat for Humanity in Greeley, Colorado, Alquist 3D's new home.

In a later interview with the Register, Callahan denied that Alquist 3D made claims that it would build 100 homes. The news release was still posted to the company's website as of June 13.

We have never stated that we have a contract to do more than one, he said. There have been some mistakes in the press. There have been some mistakes in multiple environments, but that is not the reality.

Alquist 3Ds spokesperson, Marc Silverstein, declined to comment on whether Alquist intended to still print homes in Iowa. Mannheimer later clarified that Alquist did not walk away from the Iowa projects because the company was getting paid to move to Colorado. Rather, Alquist couldn't yet build the homes at an affordable price point for buyers, he said.

Witt-Brown said Alquist's Hope Springs home will cost $450,000 or more to build  a price well above the level Mannheimer says he is aiming for.

Did I believe that 3D was going to come in and we were going to be able to print a house in a day, and it was going to cost $10,000? Yes, because those are the same things I heard and read about back in 2018, Mannheimer said. Then we started doing it, and we learned the reality of it.

Mannheimer said Alquist will be taking time to hone its craft and train its new employees, who now number 25, up from just five in October. In the meantime, the startup will be printing planters and benches for the city of Greeley.

I got a lot of people excited about the 3D world, but it wasnt just me. We had a lot of discussions with Iowa State about the 3D world and what was possible, and they were new at it just like we were. I wanted to learn together, Mannheimer said. It didnt work out that way.

"It's been a humbling process for me," he added. "I want to help create community. Housing is the base of that."

Brunow believes the company should be more straightforward about its struggle to find a concrete formula that will suit Iowa's climate.

"I've heard people badmouthing (Mannheimer) because it didn't work out," Brunow said. "People have been quick to judge me in the past too, so I try to give everybody the benefit. And in Iowa, it's just gonna take a lot of time to figure this bad boy out. That's OK.

"But be honest about it and say, 'We don't know how to print this concrete material as 3-to-1 mortar mix, and make it meet compressive strength yet,'" she said.

The future of 3D printing in Iowa

Iowa State University professor Pete Evans describes designs at the 3D printing lab at Iowa Central Community College in Fort Dodge.

Behind the 3D-printing facility at Iowa Central Community College sits the Boneyard  an assortment of broken, cracked and partially disintegrated mounds of Quikrete that serve as evidence of the university's efforts.

Evans, along with instructor and contractor Dan Oswald and their students, is getting ready to make a big push to meet the grant deadlines for the construction of a home by the end of this year. The house wouldn't be occupied by a homeowner, but those involved may explore renting it to someone on Brunow Contractings crew.

Even if ISU doesnt succeed, the university will continue to develop a curriculum to train students in advanced home construction. Moving forward, Evans said, means being ready to fail.

"If it doesn't work, that's going to be hard," he said. "But tomorrow, it's going to continue to advance, and these are the many lessons that we learned that the industry and constituents of Iowa can use to be better prepared."

Muscatine won't be printing homes anytime soon, and Alquist is still paying back the Community Foundation of Greater Muscatine. With deadlines to meet and residents in need of houses, the foundation will push to develop its empty lots with other methods. Both ISU and Muscatine see their end goal as creating an "ecosystem"  teaching the workforce, attracting manufacturers and adapting the materials needed to establish the 3D-printing industry in Iowa.

The future of housing may not be fully printed structures  Evans said he's "0%" positive of that. It could be in pre-fabricated or modular homes, with walls or entire rooms printed and trucked to sites.

Iowa Central Community College instructor Dan Oswald with students Noah Niemeyer and Dairin Oropeza.

"This is coming," Oswald said. "The construction industry is really hard to make changes in. It's old-school guys, for the most part, that don't want to change. But we need a way to build more energy-efficient homes. We need a way to build better homes that are cheaper. I think kids recognize this."

Outside Iowa, other 3D-construction startups are taking off. Mighty Buildings, which specializes in recycled materials and prefab parts, raised $52 million in its latest funding round, and 3D-printing robotics manufacturer Apis Cor just announced an investment from the largest homebuilder by volume in the United States, D.R. Horton.

Dairin Oropeza, a freshman studying carpentry at ISU, already is confident that she could have a career in 3D, though she admits it would be difficult to work in Iowa.

Earlier this month, Oropeza and another student, Noah Niemeyer, were tasked with printing 12 layers in a circular formation at ISU's lab. They pushed their project to 19 before their equipment shut down.

"To have a house by the end of the year, I'll go with a 45% chance," Oropeza said. "We've still got to adjust the machines, but if we work almost every day this summer, we'll probably get somewhere."

This article has been clarified to reflect that the 34 homes planned in Hamburg were not all contracted to be built with 3D-printing technology. It also has been updated to add responses from Zachary Mannheimer and Patrick Callahan.

Addison Lathers covers growth and development for the Des Moines metro. Reach her at 608-931-1761 or alathers@registermedia.com, and follow her on X at @addisonlathers.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Big plans for 3D-printed homes meet a big challenge: Iowa's climate
Minnehaha County Auditor Leah Anderson says she's planning on performing a hand-counted audit of the 13,058 ballots cast in the county's June 4 primary election.

Minnehaha county auditor Leah Anderson assists ballot counters during primary day on Tuesday, June 4, 2024, at the Minnehaha County Administration building in Sioux Falls.

Anderson informed county officials of the plan at Tuesday's meeting of the county's canvassing board, saying that as long as she's within her budget she has the authority to decide to go above and beyond the state requirements, which call for auditing five percent of precincts.

County commissioners, and in some cases their representatives, had questions about the process, though none seemed actively opposed to it.

More: Minnehaha County auditor says shes not sure she can trust countys voting system

Anderson said she was planning to do the audit June 25, and said it would take less than a day, citing an experiment she ran where she says volunteers were able to count 636 ballots in 35 minutes.

The process would be run by groups of five people who were registered Minnehaha County voters: two people reading ballots to two people marking them, overseen by a supervisor. Anderson said she'd like to see equal representation of political parties.

Mike Mathis, the county's elections coordinator, said during public input that with 64 people the audit could be completed in three hours, citing a cost of $3,840, though both he and Anderson said they believed many people would volunteer to help with the audit for free.

More: 'It was a bull rush': Minnehaha poll board denies activist's request to toss absentee ballots

Anderson and Mathis have both been at odds with commissioners, state officials and the vendors of the county's election software. The two have connections to and support from the South Dakota Canvassing Group, who want to see hand counting votes as the only legal method in the state, along with a ban on mail-in voting and ballot harvesting.

The group helped get bans on voting tabulator machines on the ballot in three counties June 4, all of which were defeated.

The group's president, Jessica Pollema, made two challenges in Minnehaha County on June 4, calling for ballots to be rejected in precincts 4-16 and 5-16, claiming that the voters didn't live in Sioux Falls.

The challenge in 5-16 was rejected, but Anderson told board members on Monday that 132 ballots had been rejected in 4-16. She said she did not know why the two precincts had come to different decisions or whether the precincts were able to get in touch with each individual voter about the challenge.

This article originally appeared on Sioux Falls Argus Leader: Minnehaha County auditor wants hand-counted audit of every June 4 primary vote
Yahoo Sports

Of course, on the week of the craziest college football game slate ever, the pod is filled with its own craziness. Dan Wetzel, Ross Dellenger, and SI's Pat Forde preview key matchups for the week, pitching the most intriguing games to know. All while this is happening, Dellenger is forced to evade the the staff of the hotel that is hosting the SEC and Big Ten's mega important meeting. They additionally predict what will happen in Ohio State vs. Oregon and Colorado vs. Kansas State.
Missing mom IDd 40 years after her body was found in the Columbia River in Tri-Cities

Patricia Kay Rodriguez stopped at a Yakima restaurant on her way to work in 1983 and was never seen again.

For more than 40 years, the disappearance of the mother of four haunted her family and stumped detectives.

Now, with the help of DNA testing, they know her body turned up nearly three years later about 85 miles away in the Tri-Cities.

After 40 years, Tri-Cities investigators have identified a woman found dead in the Columbia River and buried as Jane Doe in Richland.

The mystery of some partial remains pulled from the Columbia River near the blue bridge in Kennewick has been laid to rest thanks to a Texas-based forensic firm, the Benton County coroner and detectives.

Its been nine months since Coroner Bill Leach and the Benton County Sheriffs Office exhumed the remains of a Jane Doe from her grave in Richlands Resthaven Cemetery.

Leach was working with the Spokane Medical Examiners Office and Texas-based Othram Labs on trying to identify the woman.

She had been buried there since she was found in the river on Sept. 2, 1986, by construction workers on the Highway 395 blue bridge.

An autopsy at the time showed shed given birth to at least one child, and officials were hoping that clue could lead to identifying family members.

Officials from the Benton County Coroners Office and the Benton County Sheriffs Office lift a box in September 2023 with the remains of an unidentified woman buried at a Richland cemetery nearly 40 years ago.

After at least one false positive result, the coroner, detectives and Othram were able to find one of Rodriguezs relatives living in the Midwest.

From there they found one of her daughters in North Dakota.

Rodriguez was 33 when she went missing from Yakima, according to the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System.

She was last seen at the Peking Palace in Yakima after leaving to go to her office. Investigators found her car at the restaurant.

Benton County sheriffs officials say many of the circumstances around her disappearance remain a mystery.

We have reviewed relevant reports to the extent that they still exist, the sheriffs office said in a statement to the Tri-City Herald. Information and witnesses from this period have been difficult to reach due to relocation, name changes and/or death.

Search for a Name

Leach initially started searching for the womans identity after getting a call in July 2023 from someone researching grave markers in the Richland area.

The caller was wondering if the coroners office had any information on the woman who had been buried as Jane Doe in the Richland cemetery.

At that time, the case had been forgotten by people working in the coroners office and the Benton County Sheriffs Office. There werent many existing records, and others who might have known more had since died.

The only documentation found about the womans death were two Tri-City Herald stories written at the time she was found.

With no more information to go on about her identity, she was buried.

Once he learned about the mystery, Leach was determined to find out who the woman was. He wanted to at least bring closure for her family.

Officials from the Benton County Coroners Office and the Benton County Sheriffs Office document the 2023 exhumation of an unidentified womans remains from 1986.

Leach found that the Spokane Medical Examiners Office had an existing grant to pay for work with Othram to help solve some of their cases.

Their laboratory has helped solve a 1978 murder in Spokane, identify the body of a man found in a wooded area near Newport and identify a man from a small fragment of his skull found in the Spokane River.

So, in September 2023, a team made up of Benton County sheriffs detectives and coroners office employees exhumed Rodriguezs remains.

They sent one of the leg bones to Othram to extract DNA, Leach said. They received back a list of possible relatives of the woman, identified using a genealogy database.

9-month search

Rodriguez was not the first possible person to be linked to the body. Instead, they thought it might be someone related to a Spokane man whose brother had a missing child.

But it soon became apparent that it was not the same woman who was discovered, most importantly because this woman had been adopted, Leach said. So she wouldnt share DNA with her uncle.

As Benton County was tracking down their best chance, Othram was reaching out to other potential matches. One of those was a woman named Heather Richardson, who had been third on their list,

She contacted Patricias sister Beverly, who Leach said called him.

She said, I believe its my sister you have that you are trying to identify, Leach said. She told me all of that information. I took it down and passed it on to the detectives, and then the next day I got a call from Patricias daughter. She had spoken to Othram.

Once Othram looked at Rodriguezs daughters DNA, they were able to confirm who it was.

Leach is still working on how to get the remains to her family in North Dakota. But he is satisfied with learning who she was.

He also credited Benton County commissioners for their support of the search.

This is the ultimate positive outcome, Leach said. I cant imagine having people buried without knowing who they were.

While Rodriguez was identified, there are still a number of mysteries that remain and some of them may never be solved.

Its unclear how she died and how she ended up in the Columbia River.

Officials from the Benton County Coroners Office move Jane Doe to a coroners van in 2023 after exhuming the partial remains from her burial site at the Resthaven Cemetery in Richland.

3 more unidentified bodies

There are three other unidentified bodies buried in the Tri-Cities, including a baby who was found in the Richland landfill in 1989.

Leach hopes to continue his efforts and plans to ask the commissioners to budget some money in the next two years to conduct other searches.

The search for Rodriguez cost about $10,000, a little less than half of which was paid by the grant, Leach said. He doesnt have enough money in his current budget to fund another searches.

But continuing to those efforts important to him.

What price is too much to pay for finding out where your loved ones are? he said. It doesnt make logical sense to me that we cant find who these people are because that is the right thing to do.
Peng Qinghua, vice chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress of China, addresses the Russia Day reception at the Russian embassy in Beijing, capital of China on June 12, 2024. (Xinhua/Ding Lin)

BEIJING, June 12 (Xinhua) -- Peng Qinghua, vice chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress of China, attended the Russia Day reception at the Russian embassy in Beijing on Wednesday.

Peng said China is ready to work with Russia to follow the consensus reached by the two heads of state, take the celebration of the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations as the main line of the development of bilateral relations this year, seize opportunities and promote cooperation, to contribute to the development and revitalization of respective countries. 
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 spokesperson 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.

Related: Rise in US executions masks deep divide between states on use of death penalty

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 the 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.

In a statement after the execution, his lawyers said: David was a man worthy of mercy and was far more than the labels being assigned to him. We are thankful that David is now reunited with his [parents]. We are also thinking of Davids sisters as they process their grief. We will miss David as our client and friend.

The Republican governor, a former sheriff, has overseen 10 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
Sen. Doug Beck speaks during a Senate Education and Workforce Development Committee hearing in January (Annelise Hanshaw/Missouri Independent).

The Independence School District recently completed its first school year on a four-day-a-week schedule  a change that made headlines and stirred state officials.

Now, with the passage of a new state law, the district will have to ask voters to keep the four-day week by July 1, 2026.

Is that enough time to test the concept of the abbreviated week? Dale Herl, the districts superintendent, told The Independent that he is already seeing benefits just a year into the schedule.

At one point, we were fully staffed with bus drivers in the school district, he said. We were also fully staffed with nurses, and neither one of those has happened during my 15 years within the school district (prior to the four-day week).

Jon Turner, an associate professor at Missouri State University who researches the four-day school week, is studying the Independence School District. He backed up Herls claims about a full roster of bus drivers, adding that a wave of teacher applications was a result of the new schedule.

Its very clear that the four-day school week was a strong reason that Independence application rates were so much higher, Turner said. There is something so attractive about the four-day week within personal-life balance between certified educators that theres no doubt that theyve reaped the reward.

Herl said the districts hiring looks very different. More veteran teachers are applying to come to Independence, pulling in educators from affluent communities in the Kansas City area.

Turner, who serves on the board of the Missouri Association of Rural Education, was keenly interested if Independence was attracting teachers from rural communities. He only saw one applicant from a rural area.

Independence is the largest Missouri school district to adopt the four-day week. The shortened week has been part of rural Missouri schools since 2011, and around a third of the states schools have adopted the schedule  comprising 11% of Missouris K-12 students.

Herl chose the four-day week to help recruit teachers into the districts open positions. Rural schools may have done so a decade earlier, but Herl said he sees the need growing now.

I dont think anyone anymore is immune to the teacher shortage, he said. You look at very large school districts across the United States, and they have hundreds and hundreds of teacher openings. We are in a crisis in the United States, but especially in Missouri regarding the teacher shortage.

During the 2022-2023 school year, almost a quarter of new teachers were not properly certified or were substitute teachers, according to a State Board of Education report. The same report showed that nearly a quarter of student teachers serve as the teacher of record, or primary educator, in the classroom.

State Sen. Sen. Doug Beck, a Democrat from Affton and former local school board member, sponsored the legislation on four-day school weeks that became part of the large education package signed into law earlier this year. He, too, said the core issue was teacher recruitment and retention, pointing out shallow pay for educators and a culture war surrounding teachers.

A four-day week isnt the solution, he told The Independent.

Nobody has given me a report that says a four-day school week increases kids education or our test scores or anything like that, he said. Theyve all said its either been a little bit less or almost not noticeable, but that isnt what we should be striving for in education.

The State Board of Education in February reviewed a report that concluded that the four-day schedule had no statistically significant effect on either academic achievement or building growth.

Academic achievement looks at one year of scores whereas building growth compares students scores over time.

Beck wanted to make his legislation effective statewide, meaning rural schools would have to take a vote for a four-day week. Instead, Becks proposal focused on schools in counties with a charter form of government or in cities with over 30,000 residents, knowing the inclusion of rural schools would draw the ire of some lawmakers and sabotage its chances of passage.

The great part about this bill is that if it is a great thing for Independence, when they go for a vote, the people should vote for it, he said. It is democracy in action.

Herl said he received positive feedback from a survey sent to parents about the four-day week. He believes voters would approve the four-day week if it was limited to district parents, but he worries that older voters without any kids attending school may come out against the new schedule.

Turners research bares that fear out.

Looking at key stakeholders in the community and how they perceive the four-day week, the only group that we found that opposed the four day week were people that no longer have kids at school, Turner said.

Herl has not thought about what he would do to retain teachers if he had to revert to a five-day week.

The bill that contained the four-day-school-week provisions also included a raise to the formula that funds public schools and other teacher-recruitment initiatives.

All of the things contained within (the law) is based upon appropriations, Herl said. So just because it is in the bill does not mean its going to happen. The money has to be appropriated, and the state legislature has a very long history of not fully funding education. So my fear is if things get tight financially in Missouri, then education is just going to be the first thing to get cut.

He said the incentive written for five-day weeks would give his teachers an extra $500 a year.

The financial incentive is so small that its not going to keep a particular teacher in the profession, he said.

As he prepares for a future vote, there are a few tweaks planned for the four-day program in Independence, Herl said. But overall, he is enthusiastic about the first year on the schedule.

The post Missouri education law will require a vote for large districts to have 4-day schedules appeared first on Missouri Independent.
BONNE TERRE, Mo.  A Missouri man who killed the woman he was having an affair with and her husband in 2009 was put to death late Tuesday afternoon.

David R. Hosier, 69, died via a lethal dose of pentobarbital. The execution was carried out just after 6 p.m. on June 11 at the Eastern Reception, Diagnostic and Correctional Center in Bonne Terre, Missouri. He was declared dead at 6:11 p.m., according to a Missouri Department of Corrections statement.

Two days before his execution, Hosier released his last statement: a direct quote from the New Testament.

6. For I am already being poured out as a drink offering and the time of my departure is at hand,

7. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.

8. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day.

2 Timothy 4:6.7.8 Final statement of David Hosier, courtesy of the Missouri Dept. of Corrections

The Associated Press received a separate statement from Hosier through his spiritual advisor, Rev. Jeff Hood.

Hosier was served his final meal around 11 a.m., which consisted of a New York strip steak, a baked potato with butter and sour cream, Texas toast, a Dutch apple pie, orange juice, and milk.

Hosier was convicted on Oct. 23, 2013, of first-degree murder, first-degree burglary, armed criminal action, and possession of a firearm for the murder of Angela Gilpin. He was sentenced to death on Nov. 26, 2013, with jurors believing he was also responsible for Rodney Gilpins murder.

Both Angela and Rodney Gilpin were gunned down near the doorway to their Jefferson City apartment in September 2009. David Hosier admitted that he and Angela had an affair earlier that year but said Angela broke it off to reconcile with her husband.

Hosier was later arrested in Oklahoma after authorities tracked his cellphone. Police found more than a dozen guns and 400 rounds of ammunition, along with other weapons. A note was also in the vehicle, which read, in part, Be honest with them if there is something wrong. If you do not this could happen to YOU!!

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Hosier claimed he was taking a long drive to clear his head and denied he was fleeing the state. He said the weapons in his car were for hunting. He also had no recollection of the note.

Governor Mike Parson rejected a clemency petition by Hosiers attorneys on Monday, paving the way for Tuesdays execution. The appeal focused on Hosiers father, a former Indiana State Police sergeant, being killed in the line of duty in 1971 when David was just 16. David Hosier went on to spend four years in the U.S. Navy and eventually became a firefighter and EMT in Jefferson City.

Parson, a former county sheriff, has not granted clemency for capital punishment during his tenure as governor. In a statement confirming the state would carry out the sentence, Parson said Hosier has not shown remorse for killing Gilpin or her husband.

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, Governor Parson said. For these heinous acts, Hosier earned maximum punishment under the law. 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. Hosier murdered Angela and Rodney Gilpin at their apartment in Jefferson City, Missouri, in a jealous rage. 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. Hosier then fled but was apprehended with the help of law enforcement in Oklahoma to answer for his crimes. Although Hosier did not receive an additional conviction for murdering Rodney, the jury in Angelas trial determined that Hosier murdered both victims, as it related to Hosiers sentence. No court has ever found any error in Hosiers case. Gov. Mike Parson

Hosiers attorneys said they had no other appeals pending. For his part, Hosier disagreed with his lawyers tactic of focusing on childhood trauma in the appeal. Hosier believed the appeal should have centered on the lack of fingerprint or DNA evidence and no eyewitness testimony.

The Missouri Supreme Court previously upheld Hosiers conviction in 2019.

Hosier is the second person executed in Missouri this year. In April, Brian Dorsey was executed for killing his cousin and her husband in 2006.

Missouris next execution is scheduled for Sept. 24. Marcellus Williams is slated to be put to death for the 1998 fatal stabbing of Lisha Gayle.

Williams, 55, was hours away from being executed in August 2017 when he received a reprieve from former Governor Eric Greitens, who requested an investigation based on possible new DNA evidence not yet available at the time of the trial. DNA tests show the DNA on the murder weapon matches someone else and not Williams.

St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney Wesley Bell has filed a motion to vacate the conviction, per a 2021 Missouri law. However, a hearing date on the motion has not been scheduled.

The Missouri Supreme Court set the Sept. 24 execution date earlier this month and affirmed Parsons right to dissolve a board of inquiry established six years ago to examine Williams case. The board of inquiry, comprised of five retired judges, could not reach a definitive conclusion on the matter.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Sen. Rick Brattin, R-Harrisonville, speaks during a Freedom Caucus news conference in January, accompanied by, from left, Sens. Denny Hoskins, R-Warrensburg, Nick Schroer, R-Defiance, Jill Carter, R-Granby, and Andrew Koenig, R-Manchester. Brattin, Hoskins and Schroer are being sued for defamation over social media posts after the Chiefs victory parade shooting. (Annelise Hanshaw/Missouri Independent)

The Kansas man suing three Missouri lawmakers for defamation is challenging their assertions that their statements accusing him of being involved in the shooting at the Kansas City Chiefs Super Bowl celebration were made in the course of official business.

In filings Monday in the federal lawsuits Denton Loudermill is pursuing against the three state senators, his attorneys demand a chance to test those assertions. Loudermills attorneys  Arthur Benson, LaRonna Lassiter Saunders and Katrina Robertson  filed three almost identical responses Monday to the motions for dismissal by state Sens. Nick Schroer, Rick Brattin and Denny Hoskins.

The three senators are being represented by Attorney General Andrew Bailey and their filings have claimed legislative immunity for their social media posts and that the Kansas federal court where the case was filed has no jurisdiction over them.

Defendants assertion of immunity depends on a facts not conceded by plaintiff: whether or not Defendant was engaged in legitimate legislative activity, Loudermills attorneys wrote in a response to Schroers motion to dismiss the case. And that factual contention involves issues of whether or not defendant was formulating, making, determining, creating or opposing legislative policy.

The filings demand a chance to conduct an investigation of the immunity claim if the case cannot move forward without a determination.

No hearings have been scheduled in the case.

Loudermill was detained briefly by law enforcement after gunfire erupted near Union Station in Kansas City as the Super Bowl celebration was ending.

The violence, tied to a dispute among the partiers, led to the death of Lisa Lopez-Galvan and left 22 others injured. Three men, none of whom is an immigrant, face state murder charges for their role in the shootings and three others face federal firearms charges for selling guns involved in the shootings.

Loudermill, who was born in Kansas, was detained briefly because he was too slow to leave the area of the shooting, he told The Independent in an interview earlier this year.

He was photographed with his hands behind his back, sitting on a curb. An account on X, formally known as Twitter, with the name Deep Truth Intel used the photo and labeled Loudermill an illegal immigrant under arrest as the shooter.

It then showed up in posts from the Missouri Freedom Caucus, the group of six Republican state senators who battled with the Senates GOP leadership. The post was deleted and replaced with one that affirmatively stated he had nothing to do with the shootings.

Brattin, Hoskins and Schroer, as well as U.S. Rep. Tim Burchett, a Tennessee Republican, also spread the incorrect information on social media, including the Deep Truth Intel post or a similar post with Loudermills photo.

Burchett is also being sued by Loudermill and is challenging the jurisdiction in the federal court in Kansas. Burchett is not claiming any form of official immunity for his post.

In the filings written by assistant attorney general Jeremiah Morgan, Brattin, Hoskins and Schroer have sought to tie their statements to their official duties.

Brattins first post linking Loudermill to the shooting, since deleted, demanded #POTUS CLOSE THE BORDER and incorporated the deleted Deep Truth Intel post.

That is a policy statement by an elected official, Morgan wrote about Brattins post.

Defendants statement, directed at the President of the United States, was a statement on border security at the southern borderan issue of clear national and political importance, he wrote.

Hoskins version on X shared a screenshot of the Deep Truth Intel post and blamed President Joe Biden and political leaders of Kansas City for making the shooting possible.

Fact  President Bidens open border policies & cities who promote themselves as Sanctuary Cities like #Kansas City invite illegal violent immigrants into the U.S., Hoskins posted.

That post has been deleted, but in a Feb. 14 post without a photo, Hoskins wrote that information Ive seen states at least one of the alleged shooters is an illegal immigrant and all 3 arrested are repeat violent offenders.

Hoskins hedged it with IF THIS IS ACCURATE and repetition of conservative rhetoric to stop immigration and restrain cities that help immigrants, blaming crime on catch and release policies of liberal cities.

Morgans defense of that statement is almost identical to the one raised for Brattins post.

Defendants statement, directed at the President of the United States, was a statement on policies related to border security and the rights of citizens protected under the Second Amendmentissues of clear national and political importance and salience, the filing states.

Schroer was the least certain post about the immigration and arrest status of Loudermill among the three now being sued.

Schroers post included a link to one from Burchett stating, over Loudermills photo, that One of the Kansas City Chiefs victory parade shooters has been identified as an illegal Alien.

Can we get any confirmation or denial of this from local officials or law enforcement? Schroer wrote on X. Ive been sent videos or stills showing at least 6 different people arrested from yesterday but officially told only 3 still in custody. The people deserve answers.

That post, Morgan wrote on Schroers behalf, is a call for transparency.

A statement calling for greater government transparency in the investigations surrounding a tragic event is exactly the kind of policy formulati[on] that legislative immunity exists to protect, Morgan wrote.

The assertions of official business mask the nature of the posts, Loudermills attorneys wrote.

Labeling plaintiff as an illegal immigrant and a shooter was highly offensive to plaintiff and caused him injuries, they wrote.

All four Republicans being sued by Loudermill have asserted that they did not direct their posts to a Kansas audience and that they have no personal connections to Kansas that gives the federal court there jurisdiction.

Loudermills attorneys responded that large numbers of people in Kansas saw the post and that Loudermill sustained the injury to his reputation in the state where he lives.

The entry of Baileys office to defend the lawmakers has drawn a sharp rebuke from some quarters.

On May 16, the day before this years legislative session ended, Sen. Mike Cierpiot, a Lees Summit Republican and a bitter foe of the Freedom Caucus members, tried to amend the daily journal to read that it is the opinion of the Missouri Senate that the office of the attorney general should not expend any money from the state legal expense fund to defend Hoskins, Schroer and Brattin.

And Gov. Mike Parson issued an order last month that no payments related to the lawsuits should be certified from the state Legal Expense Fund without my approval or a court order.

Missourians, Parson wrote, should not be held liable for legal expenses on judgments due to state senators falsely attacking a private citizen on social media.

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The post Missouri senators immunity claims challenged in Chiefs parade shooting defamation suit appeared first on Missouri Independent.
Montana GOP Senate candidate Tim Sheehy failed to disclose his role at the Property and Environment Research Center, a property rights and environmental research nonprofit that has a history of advocating for privatizing Americas federal lands and rolling back environmental laws including the Endangered Species Act.

Sheehy, a former Navy SEAL and wealthy businessman who is running against three-term incumbent Sen. Jon Tester (D-Mont.), joined PERCs board in 2022, according to the organizations filings with the IRS. But he failed to include his position at the think tank in his campaign financial disclosure, in violation of Senate rules, HuffPost has learned.

Public lands have emerged as a key issue in the race, with Tester painting Sheehy as a threat to their future and the Montana way of life. Sheehys failure to disclose his work at PERC could further complicate his already messy messaging on public lands policy.

Sheehy did report being a board director at other nonprofits; however, PERC does not appear on his disclosure form.

Sheehys campaign told HuffPost that Sheehy stepped down from the board prior to entering the Senate race last June. Asked why he didnt disclose his role at PERC, campaign spokesperson Katie Martin said, This omission was an oversight. We are working on amending the report.

Senate rules require candidates to report both paid and unpaid positions held in the two years prior to their candidacy at any business enterprise, nonprofit organization, labor organization or educational institution.

PERC confirmed that Sheehy left its board before announcing his campaign last year. But as of Wednesday, PERCs website still listed Sheehy as a board member.

Tim was elected to the board in Fall 2022 due to his relevant background as a successful local entrepreneur in the area of forest health, wildfires, and ranching, all conservation issues we are engaged in, Kat Dwyer, the organizations marketing and media manager, said in an email.

Tim Sheehy secured the Republican nomination to take on Democratic Sen. Jon Tester last week. It is one of the most contested races in 2024. Tim Sheehy for Montana

Founded in 1980 and based in Bozeman, Montana, PERC describes itself as an independent, nonpartisan think tank that advocates for free market environmentalism  the idea that private property rights and market incentives lead to better environmental and conservation outcomes than government regulation.

Sheehy founded Bridger Aerospace, a Bozeman, Montana-based aerial firefighting company that relies almost exclusively on federal contracts. As HuffPost previously reported, Bridger has continued to pitch itself as a leader in the fight against climate change, even as Sheehy has toed the GOP line on the campaign trail and railed against what he calls the climate cult and radical environmentalists.

The millionaire businessman also owns a sprawling 7,000-acre ranch in Martinsdale, Montana, where he co-founded a cattle company and once offered exclusive, pay-to-play hunting excursions.

PERC is widely viewed as a right-wing outfit. It has deep historical ties to the fossil fuel industry and Donors Trust, a conservative group Mother Jones once dubbed the dark-money ATM of the right that has funneled millions of dollars to climate change-denier groups. Kimberley Dennis, the co-founder and board chair of Donors Trust, is a current member of PERCs board of directors.

PERC says it is inaccurate to characterize the group as right-wing.

PERC is a non-partisan conservation organization dedicated to conserving land, water, and wildlife through innovative market and incentive-based solutions, Dwyer said. PERC proudly works with policymakers across the political spectrum, including with the Biden administration on issues like forest restoration, wild horse adoption incentives, migration corridor conservation, and virtual fencing technology.

Oil giant ExxonMobil and Koch family foundations have historically given PERC money, but PERC told HuffPost that it has not received funding from fossil fuel companies in the past 10 years.

Yet it remains a partner of the State Policy Network, a web of right-wing, industry-allied think tanks that for decades have waged war against environmental regulations, renewable energy and climate science. PERC supported the Trump administrations industry-friendly rollback of Endangered Species Act protections and urged the Biden administration not to reverse the Trump-era changes.

PERC has a well-established, 44-year history of advocating to gut and undermine our nations bedrock environmental laws in favor of private property rights, said Matthew Koehler, media director at Wilderness Watch, an environmental organization based in Missoula, Montana. Over the past five years or so, Ive noticed them kind of going on a full court press to rebrand themselves and to soften some of their rhetoric, and through creative marketing make unsuspecting people think that their solutions  quote, unquote  are more palatable. But at the end of the day, this is an organization that is far-right.

PERC simply cant run away from its history, Koehler added.

Over its four decades, the group has advocated for privatizing federal lands, including national parks, increasing fees for visiting parks and other federal lands, and covering park maintenance backlogs by diverting funding from the Land and Water Conservation Fund, a decades-old program that uses offshore fossil fuel revenues to establish and protect parks, wildlife refuges, forests and wildlife habitat.

In a 1999 policy paper titled How and Why to Privatize Federal Lands, PERCs then-director, Terry Anderson, and others laid out what they called a blueprint for auctioning off all public lands over 20 to 40 years.

Local control has to be returned, whether that means, you know, some of these public lands get turned over to state agencies, or even counties, or whether those decisions are made by a local landlord instead of by, you know, federal fiat a few thousand miles away.GOP Senate candidate Tim Sheehy in an October interview with "Working Ranch Radio Show"

PERC says its support for public land privatization is in the past. Andersons 1999 paper is not representative of PERCs current thinking, Dwyer said.

PERC firmly believes that public lands should stay in public hands. We do not advocate for nor support privatization or divestiture, she said. We support improved management of our public lands and using market-based incentives to achieve better management such as conservation leasing to allow conservation to be a use on public lands, addressing deferred maintenance, streamlining permitting for more forest restoration, and a more creative application of user fees in our national parks to support our superintendents and their parks unique needs.

Much like PERC, Sheehy, a staunch supporter of former President Donald Trump, is trying to distance himself from a once full-throated embrace of pawning off federal lands. As HuffPost first reported, he advocated last year for federal lands to be turned over to states  a wildly unpopular position among voters in Western states, including Montana.

Local control has to be returned, Sheehy told the Working Ranch Radio Show in October, whether that means, you know, some of these public lands get turned over to state agencies, or even counties, or whether those decisions are made by a local landlord instead of by, you know, federal fiat a few thousand miles away.

Despite those comments, which came several months into his campaign, Sheehy says he opposes the sale and transfer of federal lands and has accused Tester and his allies of lying about his position.

Tim believes public lands must stay in public hands, Sheehys spokesperson said in a statement. Tim believes Montanans know best how to manage our land, not the Washington bureaucrats.

Sheehy and PERC apparently now agree on the issue of keeping public lands public, but theyve been at odds when it comes to other policies.

PERC has long supported the idea of leasing federal lands for conservation and applauded the Biden administrations recent rule to begin issuing such leases to put conservation and ecosystem restoration on equal footing with drilling, mining and other traditional land uses.

But like most Republicans in Congress, Sheehy has condemned the Biden administrations changes to public land leasing.

Instead of supporting the producers that theyre supposed to be enabling, they are putting constrictions in place that could potentially put them out of business, he told Working Ranch Radio last year, referring to federal land managers. So taking some of these leases out of agricultural production and moving them into conservation is deeply concerning.

Nico Delgado, a spokesperson for Democratic super PAC American Bridge 21st Century, told HuffPost that Sheehys failure to disclose his role at PERC is part of a trend of bending the truth with Montanans. Among other things, Delgado noted, Sheehy admitted to lying to a national park ranger about how he received a gunshot wound, as the Washington Post first reported.

Now hes hiding being part of a group that wanted to jack up fees at national parks, Delgado said.

Related...
BETHESDA, Md. (DC News Now)  Police arrested a Montgomery County student for allegedly making a bomb threat towards a high school.

On June 7, at around 10:45 a.m., Montgomery County Department of Police (MCPD) officers responded to Walt Whitman High School, located in the 7100 block of Whittier Blvd., for a bomb threat.

District Heights market reopens after triple shooting, man killed identified

Everyone was evacuated from the building, but the threat was deemed invalid. Officials said there was no danger to the school.

While investigating, police found out that a 15-year-old Montgomery County Public Schools student was involved in making the bomb threat. Police did not say if the student attended that high school.

That student was charged with threats of mass violence and disrupting school operations.

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Muslim pilgrims circumambulate the Kaaba, the cubic building at the Grand Mosque, during the annual Hajj pilgrimage in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, Tuesday, June 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool)

MECCA, Saudi Arabia (AP)  Muslim pilgrims have been streaming into Saudi Arabia's holy city of Mecca ahead of the start of the Hajj later this week, as the annual pilgrimage returns to its monumental scale.

Saudi officials say more than 1.5 million foreign pilgrims have arrived in the country by Tuesday, the vast majority by air, from across the world. More are expected, and hundreds of thousands of Saudis and others living in Saudi Arabia will also join them when the pilgrimage officially begins on Friday.

Saudi officials have said they expect the number of pilgrims this year to exceed those in 2023, when more than 1.8 million people performed Hajj, approaching pre-pandemic levels. In 2019, more than 2.4 million Muslims made the pilgrimage. Saudi authorities control the flow of pilgrims through quotas, allowing each country one pilgrim for every thousand Muslim citizens.

The pilgrims included 4,200 Palestinians from the occupied West Bank who arrived in Mecca earlier this month, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Awqaf and Religious Affairs. Palestinians in the Gaza Strip were not able to travel to Saudi Arabia for Hajj this year, because of the 8-month war between Israel and Hamas.

We are praying for Palestine to be free and (for Palestinians) to liberate their land and to be like other nations, to live in peace and not always to have war," said Ibrahim al-Hadhari, an Algerian pilgrim, as he was standing in the Grand Mosque court waiting for evening prayers.

On Tuesday, pilgrims thronged the Grand Mosque in Mecca, performing a ritual circuit walking seven times around the Kaaba, the cube-shaped structure inside the mosque that is considered Islam's holiest site. They wore ihrams, two unstitched sheets of white cloth that resemble a shroud.

Many were seen sweating heavily from the burning sun, Others were carrying umbrellas against the sun as temperatures reached 42 degrees Celsius (107 Fahrenheit) and 45 degree Celsius (113 Fahrenheit) during the day on Tuesday and Wednesday respectively.

I was relieved when I arrived at the Al-Masjid Al-Haram and saw the Kaaba, said Rabeia al-Raghi, a Moroccan woman who came to Mecca for Hajj along with her husband and their daughter. I am very happy.

Mohammad Abdel-Baset, an Iraqi pilgrim, said he was overjoyed to perform Hajj.

We congratulate the great crowd and thank God for gathering us from all regions, globally and not from the Arab world only, from all the global Muslim regions (who) came to the Grand Mosque," said Abdel-Baset, a lawyer from Baghdad.

At night, the vast marble court around the Kaaba was packed with the faithful, walking nearly shoulder to shoulder and often jostling with barricades set up by security forces to direct the giant flows of people in and around the Grand Mosque.

Shopping in Mecca flourishes during Hajj. Pilgrims were seen shopping from malls and stores in the citys centerpiece, the monumental Makkah Royal Clock Tower which faces the Grand Mosques main entrance. Makkah is an alternative spelling of the citys name.

Trade movement is always excellent during Hajj, said Bander Mohammed al-Juwayri, who owns a watch store a few meters from the Grand Mosque. Hajj season strongly helps the economy.

Pilgrims do the circumambulation, known as Tawaf in Arabic, upon arriving in Mecca. The large crowds circling the Kaaba will last into the Hajjs first day.

On Friday, pilgrims will move to Mina, before heading the following day to the Mountain of Arafat for a daylong vigil. They will then head to Muzdalifah, a rocky plain area a few miles away. In Muzdalifa, pilgrims collect pebbles to be used in the symbolic stoning of pillars representing the devil back in Mina.

One of the worlds largest religious gatherings, the Hajj is one of the Five Pillars of Islam. All Muslims are required to undertake it at least once in their lives if they are physically and financially able to do so.

Those in the Hajj view the pilgrimage as an opportunity to strengthen their faith, wipe out old sins and start new.

___

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.
Out of more than 1K entries, these two Utah students won these national awards

SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4)  Two high school seniors in Utah won national scholarship awards in June  and there were only six awards available.

Allison Curletto and Kellen Hunnicutt won two of the six available awards and will be granted $10,000 each in scholarship funds for their upcoming college endeavors. Curletto graduated from Fremont High School and Hunnicutt attended West High School.

READ NEXT: Heres how your kids can get free meals this summer

Curletto was the recipient of the inaugural Freedom of Expression Award in the Penguin Random House Creative Writing Awards. Curlettos entry was titled The Impact of A Wrinkle of Time by Madeline LEngle.

According to a press release, The Freedom of Expression Award was specifically created in response to the rise in book bans across the country, and to celebrate the power of books and stories.

Hunnicutt won the Maya Angelou Award for Spoken Word in the Penguin Random House Creative Writing Awards for his entry titled Our Light.

According to the release, Hunnicutt is planning to attend Johns Hopkins University in the fall, and Curletto will attend Utah State University.

More than 1,000 students entered into the competition, from high schools in all 50 states, according to the release. This competition marked 31 years of the contest, and each first-place winner received $10,000.

Those who received honorable mentions in the competition were awarded a Creativity Kit, which provided them with books and writing resources.

Director of Corporate Communications and Social Responsibility Claire von Schilling of Penguin Random House said the team is blown away by the entrants talent every year.

Together with We Need Diverse Books, we are excited to uplift these captivating and diverse storiesand proud to champion young peoples voices in the face of rampant book bans and censorship efforts, von Schilling said.

We Need Diverse Books, a nonprofit organization working to diversify the publishing industry, partnered with Penguin Random House for the competition.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah.
The big story: The effort to continues to restrict student cellphone use in schools as a way to refocus attention on learning and reduce mental health problems.

The Pinellas and Pasco county school boards are the latest to tighten up their usage policies, each adopting new rules on Tuesday.

At the crux of each plan is an expectation that students will have their phones off or silenced and out of sight during class periods, unless they have teacher permission. Pinellas offers a bit more flexibility than Pasco outside the classroom.

Both districts still are working out details for implementation, with plans to make the rules clear to students, families and staff before classes resume in August. Gov. Ron DeSantis has applauded districts that restrict cellphones in schools, saying its a significant way to improve performance and behavior. Read more here.

Hot topics

Charter schools: Despite some community objections, the Pasco County School Board approved a new charter high school for a growing part of the county.  The Newberry City Council approved four members to serve on a board overseeing an elementary school that is converting to charter school status, MainStreet Daily News reports.

Elections: In one Hillsborough County School Board race, one of the candidates added the word Principal to his name on the ballot. In response, another added Teacher to her name.

FAMU gift: Florida A&M University officials received a bank letter warning them a $237 million gift offer might not be legitimate. It came before they publicly announced the offer, the Sun News reports.

Graduation day: Fourteen sets of twins and one family of triplets graduated from Broward Countys Cooper City High this year, Today reports.

Job cuts: Alachua County School Board members questioned whether the district can afford keeping several positions that had been paid for by federal pandemic relief funds, MainStreet Daily News reports.

Reassigned: Two Palm Beach County high school administrators cleared of accusations that they failed to report sexual assault between two students were assigned new jobs in the district, WPTV reports.

School leadership: Eight Pinellas County schools are getting new principals for the 2024-25 academic year.

Security: The Brevard County School Board agreed to allow select staff members trained by the Sheriffs Office to carry weapons in schools, Florida Today reports. The board previously had said it would not vote on the measure.

Special education: The process to get an individualized education plan can be lengthy in Brevard County schools, Florida Today reports.

Taxes: The Duval County school districts 2022 local option property tax has generated about $113 million so far, with the majority of revenue going into teacher pay, WJXT reports.  Seminole County commissioners will ask voters to renew a local sales tax that supports capital projects for schools, county government and seven cities, the Orlando Sentinel reports.

From the court docket ... Two St. Johns County moms say they sued the state over its book challenge laws because it gives more rights to some parents than others, Jacksonville Today reports.

Dont miss a story. Heres a link to yesterdays roundup.

Before you go ... Chaka Khan. That is all.
Laman Ismayilova

Azerbaijan Culture Minister Adil Karimli has met with his Uzbek counterpart, Ozodbek Nazarbekov, within the framework of Days of Azerbaijani Culture in Tashkent, Azernews reports.

Ozodbek Nazarbekov, who greeted his Azerbaijani minister at the Uzbekistan Palace of Forums, stressed the importance of the Days of Azerbaijani Culture held in Tashkent.

He expressed his satisfaction to see Azerbaijan's culture and art figures in his country again, noting that Uzbek people always have love and sympathy for the Azerbaijani culture.

Expressing his gratitude for the bilateral meeting and the high hospitality shown to the Azerbaijani delegation, Minister Adil Karimli drew attention to the fact that art masters from our country came to Uzbekistan with great love and enthusiasm.

It was noted that the reception of the Azerbaijan Culture Minister by the President of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, is a bright manifestation of the great attention paid to relations with Azerbaijan.

During the meeting, the President of Uzbekistan underlined the importance of implementing joint cultural projects and made a proposal to produce a film dedicated to prominent Uzbek and Azerbaijani poets Alisher Navai and Muhammad Fuzuli.

This proposal of the head of state was discussed at the meeting of the ministers. During the conversation, there was an exchange of views on other issues of mutual interest.

Recall that the last time the Days of Azerbaijani Culture were organised 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 presentations, exhibitions, and other events that aimed to highlight Azerbaijani-Uzbek relations.
MAZAR-I-SHARIF, Afghanistan, June 12 (Xinhua) -- A three-day industrial exhibition opened Tuesday in Mazar-i-Sharif city, capital of north Afghanistan's Balkh province, provincial head for commerce and investment Asadullah Asadi said Wednesday.

The businesspeople including 80 women have put on display their products in 130 stalls in two separate areas, where 80 booths have been allocated for female entrepreneurs.

The event is aimed at boosting local products and small-scale business activities, Asadi said, adding that the caretaker administration wants to support business activities and local products as part of efforts to help locals achieve self-sufficiency.

Local products including carpets, handicrafts, embroidery, medicines and vehicles are being exhibited.

To highlight local products, two more larger exhibitions to showcase local manufacturing goods including agricultural products have been held in Afghanistan's capital city of Kabul since March.

In the meantime, Khadim Mohammad Abid, who is in charge of holding exhibitions with the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, said that the ministry plans to hold 50 more exhibitions at home and abroad by the year-end. 
Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito accused news organization ProPublica of operating with political motivations because they dont like our decisions, according to new audio published Tuesday by Rolling Stone.

Alito was secretly recorded at the Supreme Court Historical Society annual dinner on June 3 by Ally Sammarco, a colleague of journalist Lauren Windsor, who herself recorded frank comments by Alito and his wife, Martha-Ann, which were reported on Monday.

When asked why the Supreme Court is being so attacked and being so targeted by the media these days, Alito replied:

Well, 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. Thats the beginning of the end of it, he said, adding: There are groups that are very well-funded by ideological groups that have spearheaded these attacks. Thats what it is.

EXCLUSIVE UNDERCOVER AUDIO feat. the debut of my colleague @Ally_Sammarco:

Alito v @ProPublica



Justice Alito rants on ProPublica and minimizes Justice Thomas extraordinary ethics breaches as any little thing they can find" pic.twitter.com/HXFlaxRpWm  Lauren Windsor (@lawindsor) June 12, 2024

Alito then named ProPublica, which has reported on his and other justices lack of financial disclosures, saying they get a lot of money, and they have spent a fortune investigating Clarence Thomas, for example. You know, everything hes ever done in his entire life.

And theyve done some of that to me, too, he said. They look for any little thing they can find, and they try to make something out of it.

Last year, ProPublica reported on Alitos luxury Alaska fishing tripwhich he failed to reportwith a GOP donor who later had cases come up at the high court. The publication has also delved into Thomas receiving several undisclosed vacations and gifts from billionaires like Harland Crow, including private school tuition for his grandnephew. A 2014 real estate deal also saw Crows money go into Thomas pocket, according to the publication, which won a Pulitzer Prize this year for its court reporting.

Thomas, in a disclosure for 2023 that was released last week, acknowledged that he should have reported two vacations that Crow paid for, and which ProPublica exposed.

Samuel Alito Gets Remarkably Candid in Secret Audio Recording

Regarding Alitos comment about ProPublica look[ing] for any little thing they can find, Windsor told Rolling Stone that Alito was thumbing his nose at ethical standards he thinks he should not be subjected to.

I dont think anybody in their right mind would consider a free RV, your nephews tuition, or buying your mothers house a little thing, she said. These are all purchases from a donorgifts from a donorthat I think any reasonable person would consider to be extraordinary.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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Most drivers in US support anti-speeding technology in vehicles, survey shows

New vehicles are seen at a parking lot in the Port of Richmond, California

(Reuters) - More than 60% of the drivers in the United States would find it acceptable if their vehicle provided an audible and visual warning when they exceeded the posted speed limit, a survey by Insurance Institute for Highway Safety showed on Wednesday.

The IIHS surveyed a total of 1,802 drivers to gain insight on how they would feel about intelligent speed assistance systems (ISA).

WHY IT IS IMPORTANT

Over-speeding is consistently a factor in more than a quarter of U.S. traffic fatalities. In 2022, that amounted to more than 12,000 deaths, according to the report.

Yet about half of the drivers admitted to driving at least 15 mph over the limit in the past month, the report said, citing the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety.

CONTEXT

As of next month, the European Union will require all new vehicles to be equipped with ISA systems.

ISAs are in-vehicle technologies that use speed sign-recognition video camera and/or GPS-linked speed limit data to advise drivers of the current speed limit and warn them if they are exceeding it, according to the European Transport Safety Council.

KEY QUOTES

"With the technologies we have now, we could stop virtually all speeding and eliminate speeding tickets to boot. Instead, we seem to be going the opposite direction, with adaptive cruise control and partial automation systems that allow drivers to peg their speed at 90 mph if they want," said IIHS senior research scientist Ian Reagan.

BY THE NUMBERS

Of the total drivers surveyed, more than 80% agreed they would want a feature displaying the current speed limit.

More than 70% of all drivers also agreed that they would want an unobtrusive tone to sound when the speed limit changes.

About half said they would not mind a vehicle technology that makes the accelerator pedal harder to press or automatically restricts speed.

(Reporting by Abhinav Parmar in Bengaluru; Editing by Shilpi Majumdar)
A motorcyclist is dead and the driver of a car suffered minor injuries in a collision involving the vehicles late Wednesday afternoon on Frederick Garland Road, west of West Milton.

>> Driver says concrete from highway overpass fell on his car

The motorcyclist, a male believed to be in his 70s, was killed at the scene, Miami County Sheriffs Deputy Justin Miller told News Center 7.

The preliminary investigation suggests that the motorcycle, after coming to a stop at the intersection of South Shiloh and Frederick Garland roads, entered the intersection and was struck by a car headed east on Frederick Garland, Deputy Miller said.

No one witnessed the accident, he said, but the sheriffs fatal crash reconstruction team interviewed a nearby homeowner who saw the injuries and the driver of the car, a young female.

Deputies and medic unit were dispatched just before 4:30 p.m. on the report of a fatal motorcycle accident, the deputy said.

Neither speed, alcohol nor drugs are suspected on the part of either driver, Deputy Miller said, noting that the reconstruction team is trying to determine whether the late afternoon sun may have obscured the motorcyclists vision.

The cars driver has been taken to Upper Valley Medical Center. The sheriffs and coroners office are working to identify the motorcyclist, who did not live in Miami County, Deputy Miller said.

The Miami County coroner was on scene and the intersection has been shut down as the investigation of the accident continues.

We will update this developing report as more information becomes available.




MEMPHIS, Tenn.  A man is facing multiple charges after Memphis Police say they executed a search warrant on his home and found guns and illegal drugs.

On June 11 at 9:34 a.m., members of the Memphis Police Departments Organized Crime Unit Drug Team executed a drug search warrant in the 4400 block of Sun Valley Drive.

The target of the search warrant was 50-year-old Victor Locke, who was located inside the residence and was taken into custody.

South Memphis intersection targeted by crime operation

Inside the residence, detectives located three handguns, 7.1grams of cocaine, 1.2 grams of crack cocaine, 70.3 grams of fentanyl, 72.9 grams of methamphetamine, 29.1 grams of mushrooms, 16 oxycodone pills and eight Xanax pills.

Locke has been charged with three counts of convicted felon in possession of a handgun, three counts of possession of a firearm during the commission of a dangerous felony, possession of a controlled substance with intent to manufacture, deliver, sell to wit: marijuana, cocaine, crack cocaine, fentanyl, psilocybin mushrooms, oxycodone and Xanax.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
This is Totally Normal Quote of the Day, a feature highlighting a statement from the news that exemplifies just how extremely normal everything has become.

I made a flag in my head. This is how I satisfy myself. I made a flag. Martha-Ann Alito, wife of Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito, to liberal activist Lauren Windsor at a dinner reception last week

Martha-Ann Alito just really cherishes the freedom to fly controversial flags outside her homes, and her husbands job is cramping her style!

During a dinner reception in Washington last week, the wife of Supreme Court Associate Justice Samuel Alito spoke at length about her grudges and the flag she dreams about flying from her yard one day. She thought she was speaking to a conservative Christian supporter at a private eventbut, unbeknownst to her, she was actually talking to liberal activist Lauren Windsor, who was secretly recording their conversation.

Windsor approached the Alitos to express faux dismay with how theyve been treated in the media recently, after the New York Times reported that insurrectionist-linked flags were spotted flying over two of their homes. It immediately sparked concerns about the legitimacy of the court, since Samuel Alito will be weighing in on cases about presidential immunity and the ways that Jan. 6 rioters can be charged. He has refused calls to recuse himself. The justices are supposed to be impartial arbiters of the law, but the flag incidents tip Alitos hand about his real agenda.

Meanwhile, though Martha-Ann is trying to curb her flag addiction after her husband asked her to, she cant help but dream.

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 says on the recording.

Sure, shell restrain herself for now because of her husbands pesky job holding one of the most powerful unelected offices in the land. But after hes retired? Watch out, world! Hes like, Oh, please dont put up a flag,  Alito said of her husband. 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.

Even more than that, she has a dream flag shes longing to fly. I made a flag in my head. This is how I satisfy myself. I made a flag, she told Windsor, sounding uncannily like a villain in a Bravo reality show. Its white and has yellow-and-orange flames around it. And in the middle is the word vergogna. Vergogna in Italian means shamevergogna. V-E-R-G-O-G-N-A. Vergogna.

Guess Justice Alito wasnt kidding when he said, My wife is fond of flying flags!
MS Coast man said he felt threatened before he shot a hotel guest. Heres what police say

A Gulfport man charged with first-degree murder told his attorney he shot and killed a man at an extended stay hotel because the man lunged at him, though witnesses told police otherwise.

Antwon Duane Williams, 32, is accused in the May 6 shooting death of 40-year-old Charles Martel Oatis in a room at InTown Suites on Highway 49.

During a preliminary hearing, Harrison County Justice Court Judge Nick Patano found enough evidence in the case to send it to a grand jury for indictment.

Williams wanted his bond reduced, but Harrison County prosecuting attorney Herman Cox objected based on the details of the crime. The judge kept Williamss bond at $1 million.

Before issuing the ruling, the judge heard testimony from Gulfport police Officer Eli Zacharias, who shot down the story Williams had told his attorney, Lee Russell.

MS Coast police searching for armed and dangerous man in killing at an extended-stay hotel

Those questions included whether Williams had told the truth when he suggested that Oatis had threatened his life the week before the shooting and that he was acting in self-defense.

There was bad blood between them, the police officer said, but he didnt know of any threat to kill Williams.

Zacharias said the investigating officers had spoken to five or six witnesses in the hotel room with Williams at the time of the shooting.

As soon as Oatis walked into the hotel room, Zacharias said, the witnesses saw Williams pull out a 9 mm handgun and shoot Oatis once in the stomach.

Afterward, Oatis managed to make it back out of the hotel room but collapsed and died outside the hotel managers apartment before he could get any help.

Oatis died of a single gunshot wound to the stomach.

Wiliams attorney questioned whether the witnesses had been truthful with investigating officers after Zacharias confirmed the others in the room at the time of the shooting had been arrested on methamphetamine charges.
LANSING, Mich. (WLNS)  Michigan State University experts are staying vigilant for bird flu in the states dairy cows, saying rising cases could put a squeeze on your grocery budget. While experts and farmers say pasteurized dairy products are safe, more infected cows means less milk on store shelves.

FILE  Dairy cattle feed at a farm on March 31, 2017, near Vado, N.M. The U.S. Department of Agriculture said Monday, March 25, 2024, that milk from dairy cows in Texas and Kansas has tested positive for bird flu. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd, File)

In late May, a farmworker in Michigan became the second person to contract bird flu linked to American dairy cows.

Michigan cow herds have been at risk of infection of avian influenza or bird flu since late March. Infected herds have been found as far north as Isabella County to as south as Calhoun County, according to the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.

James Averill is the assistant director of MSUs Agbioresearch. He spoke with the 6 News ABC affiliate in Detroit and say testing is the only way to know for sure that a cow is healthy.

They have to do some diagnostic testing to get verification that an animal has influenza, says Averill. As for the herd in East Lansing, he says they are healthy. We have not had a case. We are continuing to watch the situation closely, said Averill.

Dairy farmers have been growing worried about keeping up with customer demand as cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza appear in herds.

The symptoms showing up in cows look like high body temperature, decreased rumination, severe dehydration, and needing medical help.

Phil Durst is an expert in the health and production of dairy and beef cattle for MSU Extension.

He says several unanswered questions could determine whats next for the infection, which could further drive up the cost of products at the store.

Could it potentially mutate and spread faster or could it mutate and infect cows greater? Those are all possibilities we dont know that, said Durst.

CDC officials say the risk of H5N1 bird flu is low for the public. However, they recommend people wash their hands frequently and use protective clothing if they work with farm animals.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WLNS 6 News.
MTA workers on edge after string of assaults, stabbing of bus driver in New York

NEW YORK  A Brooklyn bus driver says she was punched in the face in East New York after a passenger missed his stop on Friday, one of at least three assaults on transit workers in four days including a brutal stabbing.

The driver of a B6 bus, who spoke on the condition that her name be withheld because she feared for her safety with her assailant on the loose, wore a patch over her right eye Tuesday while speaking to reporters at the Transport Workers Union Local 100 hall in Brooklyn.

A guy gets up and he says, you passed my stop, can you let me off?' she said. I said, I cannot let you off,'

The driver said he asked again, and she gave the same answer.

Before I finished it, I was getting punched in my face  driving, and I still had to make sure that I dont crash, she continued.

Then he said to me, Bh, open the door or Im going to kill you,' she said. So I stopped and I opened the door, because I thought about my precious kids that I wanted to get home to.

The driver was hit in both of her eyes, according to an MTA incident report reviewed by the Daily News.

Sometimes people come and they just take their anger out on us, she said.

Police sources confirmed the details of the assault Tuesday.

As previously reported by The News, another bus driver was attacked in East New York on Saturday. An angry passenger stabbed 60-year-old MTA driver Isaac Egharevba in the neck after striking him with a bottle, cops said. Egharevba has since been released from Kings County Hospital.

NYC Transit president Rich Davey denounced the attacks on his bus drivers Tuesday.

The senseless attacks of the last few days on bus operators who were doing their job of moving New York City simply cannot continue, period, he told The News in a statement.

Thankfully, our high-quality network of bus cameras have produced clear images and we are confident as ever that the NYPD will find the individuals responsible and deliver maximum justice for our colleagues.

Union officials said a third transit worker  a conductor working on the D train  was punched while working at 145th St. Monday night.

We are not the publics punching bag, J.P. Patafio, TWUs vice president for buses, said Tuesday.

Eventually, somethings going to happen, Patafio said, and transit workers are going to march with their feet.

New York state prohibits work stoppages and other actions by public sector workers under the Taylor Law.

MTA leadership accused TWU of violating that prohibition in February, when crews slowed down A train service after conductor Alton Scott was violently slashed in an overnight attack.

Asked if he was threatening a strike, Patafio demurred.

Let me put it this way, he said. If theres a house thats burning, people are going to leave the house.
(This June 11 story has been corrected to remove Carlyle Aviation Partners from the list of lessors involved in the Dublin case and to add Hermes Aircraft, in paragraph 3)

DUBLIN (Reuters) - Some of the world's largest aircraft lessors faced off against their insurers in a Dublin courtroom on Tuesday at the start of a months-long battle over around 2.5 billion euros ($2.7 billion) of insurance claims related to jets stranded in Russia.

Lessors are suing dozens of insurers around the world over losses of at least $8 billion after more than 400 planes were prevented from leaving Russia when Western sanctions over Moscow's war in Ukraine forced the termination of their leases.

The world's second and third largest lessors, SMBC and Avolon, as well as BOC Aviation, CDB Aviation, Nordic Aviation Capital and Hermes Aircraft, are pursuing their claims in Ireland, where more than 60% of the world's leased aircraft are owned or managed.

Lloyd's of London, Chubb and Fidelis are among the insurers contesting the claims.

Insurers are balking at payouts, with some alleging that there has not been a physical loss of the planes yet or that the planes are still in the course of being repossessed. Others have argued that lessors voluntarily ended leasing agreements or that Western sanctions prevent insurers from providing cover.

The variety of arguments made by lawyers - including whether the issue only relates to narrower "war risk" policies or also to broader "all risk" insurance - are "bewildering and confusing," Senior Counsel Paul Gallagher told the court in an opening statement on behalf of four lessors.

"Insurers cannot agree on the meaning of their own policies," said Gallagher, the first to speak in an opening by lessors that is to run until June 19. The case is expected to last around seven months.

The case is the largest ever heard in Ireland by number of lawyers and is being held in a makeshift court as no courtroom in the country is large enough to accommodate the 180 legal professionals expected to attend each day, a courts service spokesperson said.

On Tuesday, around 50 lawyers were allowed into a courtroom in an open-plan office, with a similar number watching via a video link in an adjoining former canteen.

The world's biggest aircraft lessor, Irish-based AerCap, is pursuing its insurance claims through London's High Court, with what its lawyers have described as a "mega trial" due to start in October. Other lessors have taken cases to the United States.

Since launching their lawsuits, lessors have secured settlements with Russia totalling more than $2.5 billion for more than 100 jets, with ownership transferred to Russian airlines.

($1 = 0.9298 euros)

(Writing by Conor Humphries; Editing by Mark Potter)
AMMAN, June 12 (Xinhua) -- Motaz, a 16-year-old boy living in Jordan's capital Amman, is just one of many working children in the kingdom. With his family facing economic hardships and struggling to make ends meet, Motaz and his four siblings are all required to take jobs to support their household.

"I earn around 5 Jordanian dinars (about 7 U.S. dollars) daily on the weekend as a day laborer," Motaz said.

He expected to earn even more in the upcoming three-month summer vacation to assist with the family's rent and other expenses. "I will do whatever job I can find because I need the money myself ... also to pay the rent and for whatever I can help with," Motaz told Xinhua.

To rein in the expected rise in child labor during the summer months, Jordan's Labor Ministry is ramping up inspections and enforcement measures.

According to the ministry spokesperson Mohammad Al-Zyoud, in the first quarter alone, 7,539 establishments were inspected, with 68 cases documented, 40 fines issued, and 43 warnings given.

Several awareness-raising sessions were also held to educate the public and employers on compliance with the provisions of labor law and related regulations and instructions, Al-Zyoud added.

Despite being one of the world's first countries to ratify international conventions related to the protection of children from economic exploitation, child labor remains a challenge in Jordan.

Afflicting both local underprivileged families and refugees living in the country, poverty, unemployment, and economic woes have become the most compelling factors that drive children into the workforce at an early age, said Amjad Khaleel, an economic news analyst at the Jordan Press Foundation.

For Um Hosam's family, who took refuge in Amman from Syria's Daraa province, the need for extra income led to her youngest son, Samer, finding a job in a grocery store. The 12-year-old boy earns 3 or 4 dinars per day to help support the seven-member family.

"My husband has diabetes and has been unable to work. I asked Samer to find a job to help support the family as we need money," Hosam told Xinhua.

According to the government, there are 1.3 million Syrian refugees in Jordan, many of whom rely on their children's additional income, even very small amounts of money, to help support households and cover living expenses.

"We need more comprehensive measures beyond punitive actions. We need to address the root causes, which requires more efforts to cure unemployment," Khaleel said.

However, with an unemployment rate of 21.4 percent at the end of 2023, addressing the root causes of child labor in Jordan remains a pressing issue and a big challenge.

Jordan's labor law prohibits the employment of minors aged under 16 and the involvement of those under 18 in hazardous, strenuous, or health-damaging jobs. 
UPDATE: The story below has been updated to reflect the number of animals rescued and the number found deceased in the incident following a news conference by Las Vegas Metro police on Tuesday evening.

LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  The owner of multiple dogs was taken into custody in the northwest Las Vegas area after the animals were found dead inside a truck, according to police.

The owner of multiple dogs was taken into custody in the northwest Las Vegas area after they were found dead inside a truck, according to police. (Brian Will/KLAS)

Las Vegas Metro police located the truck at 3 p.m. on Tuesday in the 3100 block of North Tenaya Way near Cheyenne Avenue after reports of a dog locked inside a U-Haul.

When officers arrived, they rescued the dog. During the investigation, officers also found six deceased dogs of mixed breeds in the back of the truck, police stated during a news conference on Tuesday night. Officers were also able to rescue six other dogs and three cats, according to police.

The owner of multiple dogs was taken into custody in the northwest Las Vegas area after they were found dead inside a truck, according to police. (KLAS)

The 8 News Now Investigators identified the suspect as Christopher Winter, 53. Winter was due to appear in court Wednesday at 1:30 p.m. Winter faces six charges of animal abuse and one drug-related charge, records said.

The dogs were described as both small and large breeds. The incident remains under investigation by the LVMPD Animal Cruelty Section.

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DIXON, Ill. (AP)  Multiple people have been reported shot Wednesday in northern Illinois in what authorities are calling a mass casualty incident.

Ambulances and two medical helicopters were called to the scene in Dixon where there also was a massive police presence, according to a post on the Winnebago Boone & Ogle County Fire/Ems Incidents Facebook page.

A person answering the phone at the Ogle County Sheriffs Department would not comment when reached by The Associated Press. The department website said a news conference would be held at 3:30 p.m.

The reported shooting occurred in the Lost Lake community near Dixon, about 105 miles (168 kilometers) west of Chicago.

Aerial video by local media Wednesday afternoon showed law enforcement and personal cars parked on the side of unpaved roads throughout the neighborhood and officials occasionally gathering in small groups but little ongoing activity. Yellow police tape blocked at least one driveway and an Ogle County sheriffs mobile command center was parked at the end of the drive.

Lost Lakes property owners association describes the area as a country style community with about 700 owners in an unincorporated area close to the cities of Dixon, Franklin Grove and Oregon.

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Musk voluntarily dismisses lawsuit against Altman and OpenAI on eve of hearing

(BCN)  The lawsuit Elon Musk filed with grand fanfare against Sam Altman and OpenAI on Feb 29  has ended, at least for now, not with a bang but a whimper.

Musks lawyers filed a four-page pre-printed form Tuesday in the Superior Court for San Francisco County, voluntarily dismissing the case without prejudice, meaning that the case may be filed again, either in the same court or elsewhere.

The dismissal came on the eve of a hearing in which the defendants sought to dismiss the lawsuit based on their contention that the so-called Founding Agreement, that is, the contract that was the basis for Musks suit, was make believe.

Defendants argued that Musk hadnt shown that there was any contract at all  written, oral, or implied  that supported his claim. They said, Musk cannot bring suit on an agreement that he cannot even plead into existence.

FTC issues AI advisories on heels of Apple AI rollout

The suit attracted a great deal of media attention.

Musk, a co-founder with Altman of OpenAI, claimed that the founders formed the company to serve as a foil for the generative artificial intelligence or AGI being developed at Google. AGI describes artificial intelligence that is able to equal or exceed humans in virtually all areas of human endeavor.

According to Musk, the co-founders agreed that OpenAI would pursue AGI as a nonprofit corporation and make its technology available on an open source basis for the benefit of humanity.

Musks complaint said that under Altmans leadership, OpenAI has veered from the humanitarian goals emblazoned in its nonprofit corporate charter. Musk portrayed the fight in grand terms  some would say grandiose  as a fight for the future of humanity.

The defendants painted a different picture. They contended that Musks suit was sour grapes.

Their counter-narrative described Musk as a disgruntled competitor in the AI space who was angry, not over the fate of humanity, but because Altman had blocked his plan to take control of OpenAI himself.

In light of the dismissal, it does not appear the San Francisco court will weigh in on the questions that Musks suit raised about the governance of OpenAI.

While Musks lawsuit was primarily based on a contract theory, it opened the door to the question of whether OpenAI is operating within the limitations of its charter and applicable nonprofit law.

Musk focused on the documents filed in Delaware when OpenAI, Inc was founded. Musk quoted sections of those documents that said:

OpenAI shall be a nonprofit corporation organized exclusively for charitable and/or educational purposes

The companys purpose is to provide funding for research, development and distribution of technology related to artificial intelligence that will benefit the public

The company is not organized/or the private gain of any person

Company property is irrevocably dedicated to such non-profit purposes

The technology would be owned by the foundation and used for the good of the world'

OpenAI will seek to open source technology for the public benefit when applicable.

In some instances, state law gives the attorney general responsibility for making sure that corporations with a charitable mission do not ignore their corporate purposes.

OpenAI was formed in Delaware and questions about its governance could be heard there.

However, OpenAI, Inc. was also registered with the Registry of Charitable Trusts maintained by Californias Attorney General. The registration requirement, subject to some exemptions, applies to charitable corporations holding assets for charitable purposes or doing business in the State of California

When the act applies, Government Code 12588 says, The Attorney General may investigate for the purpose of ascertaining whether or not the purposes of the corporation or trust are being carried out in accordance with the terms and provisions of the articles of incorporation or other instrument.

California Attorney General Rob Bonta had not sought, at least according to court records, to get involved in Musks suit before its dismissal.

Why Musk decided to dismiss the suit is not known. Requests for comment directed to the lawyers for the parties were not immediately returned.

Copyright  2024 Bay City News, Inc.

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Illustration of a space telescope orbiting earth, with the sun in the background.

A central component of NASA's science work is to help answer whether life has emerged elsewhere in the cosmos. So far, NASA has been looking tentatively in our own backyard  the solar system  for signs that Earth may be just one of many homes to life.

There are, however, a number of other stellar systems in the Milky Way with planets that life could call home, and NASA aims to search those planets for the markers of life with a concept mission called the Habitable Worlds Observatory (HWO).

To carry out its objectives, the HWO  a proposed infrared/optical/ultraviolet space telescope  will need brand-new technologies, and NASA recently selected three proposals that will help deliver the tech necessary for searching for life outside of the solar system .

Related: The search for alien life (reference)

"The Habitable Worlds Observatory will be a historically ambitious mission, so we are taking a deliberate, strategic approach to its development and laying the groundwork now," Mark Clampin, director of the Astrophysics Division at NASA Headquarters in Washington, said in a press release .

"We will need to bring together diverse expertise from government, academia and industry, while building on technologies and lessons learned from our previous large space telescopes," he continued.

Part of the mission's aims will be to directly image 25 potentially habitable exoplanets around stars that are similar to our sun, and to use spectrographic analysis to study the chemical components of these worlds' atmospheres, in the hopes of detecting chemical signatures that we associate with life.

One example of a novel technology that the HWO will need is a far more capable coronograph. This is an instrument that blocks out light from a star so that its planets can be imaged. The HWO will also need an extremely stable optical system that cannot move more than the width of an atom during its observations. The potential observatory's targets  habitable exoplanets  are very small and far away, so any deviation would muddy our images of them.

A planet that looks like Earth but with yellowish shades and a distant star are seen in space.

An illustration shows an Earth-like world in the habitable zone of its star, a prime target for NASA's proposed Habitable Worlds Telescope. (Image credit: NASA Ames/JPL-Caltech/T. Pyle)

RELATED STORIES:

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Earlier in the year, NASA solicited industry proposals to help achieve these key technologies, and these three awards  worth a total of $17.5 million  will help build on technologies that were necessary for the construction of the James Webb Space Telescope and the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope .

"With these awards, were excited to engage industry to help close technology gaps to make this groundbreaking mission a reality," said Clampin.

You can find more details on the proposals here .
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN)  A rape suspect has been added back to Nashvilles Top 10 Most Wanted list as police continue to search for his whereabouts.

The Metro Nashville Police Departments list of Most Wanted fugitives is updated every Wednesday on the Criminal Warrants Divisions Facebook page. According to police, those featured on the list are often considered to be some of the most violent offenders in the city.

More than 100 of Nashvilles Most Wanted fugitives arrested since 2022

Of the suspects on this weeks list, all but three are wanted for either homicide or charges related to alleged sex crimes. The rest of Nashvilles Most Wanted suspects are accused of crimes such as aggravated burglary, aggravated assault and aggravated stalking.

Many have reportedly been on the run for nearly a year now, including the rape suspect who was recently added back to the list. But while the search for these suspects continues, the list has aided police in several arrests.

About a month after appearing among Nashvilles Most Wanted, 41-year-old Jose Alvarez-Diaz turned himself in for attempted incest, attempted rape and sexual battery charges. Authorities said his alleged crimes date back to December 2022.

Another Most Wanted suspect, 30-year-old Marques Diamond, was taken into custody last week, ending a months-long search that began after officials said he fired shots at a vehicle that had three small children inside.

Man wanted for attempted incest, rape turns himself in to Metro police

In total, at least 115 Most Wanted fugitives have been taken into custody since the program was launched in October 2022. Investigators have largely attributed the programs success to tips theyve received from the public.

Below is a list of the suspects who made the police departments Top 10 Most Wanted list the week of June 12, 2024.

1. Adrian L. Cameron

Adrian Cameron (Courtesy: Metro Nashville Police Department)

At number one, Adrian Cameron, 19, is considered this weeks Top Most Wanted fugitive, according to the MNPD. This is the fifth week in a row Cameron has appeared on the list. However, police have been looking for him since mid-April.

Investigators said Cameron is one of three suspects in the death of 32-year-old rapper Chris King, who was shot and killed just before 2:30 a.m. on Saturday, April 20. King and his friends were reportedly hanging out in an alleyway between Hayes Street and Church Street that night.

RELATED: 1 killed, 1 injured in shooting along Hayes Street

Eventually, three other men began interacting with the group. Kings friends told police it started out cordial, but after some time, the three suspects allegedly tried to rob them. Thats when gunfire ran out, injuring King and his 29-year-old friend.

Both of them were brought to Vanderbilt University Medical Center, but King did not survive. Cameron, who was out on bond for the 2021 murder of 50-year-old Josh Evans at the time, was identified as a suspect in the shooting only days later.

Officials believe Cameron cut his ankle monitor shortly after the shooting. Cameron had just turned 17 years old when police said he turned himself in for Evans murder. Evans was found shot and wrapped in trash bags in the Cumberland River in Sept. 2021.

Unbelievable: Mourning Lebanon family outraged teen murder suspect was out on bond, accused of killing again

Cameron was arrested again for gun charges in Rutherford County less than four months after turning himself in for the 2021 murder. Hes now charged with criminal homicide in connection with Kings death, as well as failure to appear.

However, efforts to locate him have been unsuccessful. Anyone with information on Camerons whereabouts is asked to contact the MNPD at 615-862-8600 or Crime Stoppers at 615-742-7463.

2. Lagarrion L. Blacksmith

Lagarrion Blacksmith (Courtesy: Metro Nashville Police Department)

Lagarrion Blacksmith, 35, has been at the top of Nashvilles Most Wanted list for several months as police continue to try to track him down.

He was initially added to the list on Nov. 29, 2023, after investigators said they were able to connect him to a deadly shooting that took place outside a Dickerson Pike bar last year.

Officers found 35-year-old Chancellor Eddins lying on the ground just outside of Trvth Lounge on Feb. 18, 2023. He had been shot and later died at the scene. Another man who had also been hit by the gunfire was able to give officers an account of what happened.

RELATED: Man wanted for homicide, other charges following fatal February shooting on Dickerson Pike

According to police, the injured man told them he and Eddins had gotten into an argument with the suspect inside of the bar. Then, shots were fired as they left the location. At the time, the identity of the alleged shooter was unclear.

Months later, investigators announced Blacksmith had been identified as a suspect. On Nov. 22, 2023, officials said arrest warrants had been issued against Blacksmith for criminal homicide, attempted homicide, and felon in possession of a handgun.

However, efforts to locate him have reportedly been unsuccessful.

3. Jaylen Bender

Jaylen Bender (Courtesy: Metro Nashville Police Department)

Jaylen Bender, 22, was recently indicted by a grand jury on charges for aggravated assault with intent and assault with bodily injury, according to police. He was added to the Most Wanted list on May 1. Authorities said his last location is unknown.

4. Raceme Crutcher

Raceme Crutcher (Courtesy: Metro Nashville Police Department)

Police have been looking for Raceme Crutcher, 22, since July 2023, when he was named as one of two suspects in a deadly Fourth of July shooting.

Officials said the shooting happened at the Fallbrook Apartments on Dellway Villa Road. Etabo Malanda, 16, was reportedly standing on the porch of an apartment when two armed individuals came from around the corner and confronted him.

RELATED: Teen killed in shooting at East Nashville apartment complex

Malanda allegedly tried to pull out a pistol that was inside his hoodie, but he was shot. Police said he died shortly after he was taken to Vanderbilt University Medical Center.

According to investigators, four guns were recovered from the apartment, including one that was reported stolen. Crutcher and 17-year-old Jaylin Brown were reportedly connected to the crime through witness accounts.

Investigators also obtained surveillance footage and additional information from community members that they said pointed to Crutcher and Brown as suspects in the case. Officials believe the motive may have been an ongoing dispute between the suspects and Malanda.

SEE ALSO: Teen wanted in connection with deadly Fourth of July shooting arrested

Brown was taken into custody on Aug. 31, 2023, after police said they caught him driving a stolen car. However, Crutcher is still on the run. He was added to the Most Wanted list on Nov. 15, 2023. His last location is unknown.

5. Michael A. Yarlett

Michael A. Yarlett (Courtesy: Metro Nashville Police Department)

Michael Yarlett, 29, is wanted on three counts of aided and abetted rape, according to authorities. Court documents indicate he is one of two suspects in the incident, which happened in September 2022.

Yarlett was added to the Most Wanted list on Nov. 22, 2023. Officials said his last location is unknown.

6. Diego Camaja-Santiago

Diego Camaja-Santiago (Courtesy: Metro Nashville Police Department)

Police are continuing to search for Diego Camaja-Santiago, 24, after he initially appeared on the Most Wanted list nearly a year ago on Aug. 16. He was added back to the list this week after being indicted by a grand jury on several charges related to alleged sex crimes.

According to authorities, Camaja-Santiago has outstanding warrants for two counts of aggravated rape with bodily injury, two counts of statutory rape and probation violation. His last location is unknown.

7. Charles E. Mallory

Charles E. Mallory (Courtesy: Metro Nashville Police Department)

Charles Mallory, 31, is wanted on an outstanding warrant for one count of aggravated rape with bodily injury, according to officials. Mallory was added to Nashvilles Most Wanted list on May 29. Police said his last location is unknown.

8. Adrian Abernathy

Adrian Abernathy (Courtesy: Metro Nashville Police Department)

Adrian Abernathy, 30, is believed to have been behind the wheel of a stolen car in a deadly October 2022 crash on the Rosa L. Parks Boulevard exit ramp from I-65 North.

Abernathy has outstanding warrants for vehicular homicide, three counts of aggravated assault, felon in possession of a weapon, theft of a motor vehicle, theft of a firearm, reckless endangerment and making a false report.

RELATED: Man wanted after allegedly lying about driving stolen car involved in deadly crash

According to police, Abernathy initially said he was a backseat passenger in the stolen Lincoln Navigator SUV. However, over the course of the investigation, detectives determined the seating positions were reversed and Abernathy was the one driving the car.

Authorities said he was traveling over 100 mph shortly before the crash, which killed 29-year-old Todd Bryant of Antioch.

Abernathy has been featured on the Most Wanted list several times since early February 2023. He was added back to the list on May 1 after last being featured in November. Officials said he was last seen in Hermitage.

9. Dewayne E. Humbles

Dewayne E. Humbles (Courtesy: Metro Nashville Police Department)

Dewayne Humbles, 21, has a total of 21 outstanding warrants for multiple violent offenses and violations of court orders, according to police.

The charges against him include three counts of aggravated stalking, three counts of aggravated assault, two counts of domestic assault, four counts of criminal contempt, three counts of failure to appear, four counts of violation of a protection order, one count of probation violation and one count of vandalism.

Humbles was added to the Most Wanted list on May 29. Officials said his last location is unknown.

10. Elijah D. Maitland

Elijah D. Maitland (Courtesy: Metro Nashville Police Department)

Elijah Maitland, 23, is wanted on outstanding warrants for aggravated burglary, false imprisonment, domestic assault and two counts of interference with an emergency call, according to authorities.

Maitland was added to the list last week. Police said his last location is unknown.

CRIME TRACKER | Read the latest crime news from Middle Tennessee

Anyone with information on any of the suspects listed is asked to contact the MNPD at 615-862-8600 or Crime Stoppers at 615-742-7463.

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National Western Center to open new hotel, arena and more

DENVER (KDVR)  The National Western Center already hosts events like concerts, trade shows, educational research and the National Western Stock Show.

Soon, its going to get even bigger.

Analysis: $171M spent at National Western Stock Show in 2023

In early June, the center announced the redevelopment plan for the site in the Elyria Swansea neighborhood. According to the centers press release, it plans on opening an arena, a horse barn, a parking garage and a hotel.

Here are the latest renderings from May 31:

Most recent updates on the National Western Center (Courtesy of City of Denver)

Most recent updates on the National Western Center (Courtesy of City of Denver)

This is among one of the many changes throughout the years.

In 2022, the Colorado State University Spur campus opened at the complex with a laboratory, veterinary clinic, market, museum, art studio, classroom and more.

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Now, more renovations include a 4,500-seat arena, a 550-stall horse barn, at least 580 campus parking spaces and a hotel with 200 rooms.

The equestrian center and hotel will drive additional activation on the campus by providing event space, which will contribute to overall campus revenue. The revenue generating spaces will benefit the community by providing dedicated community space, jobs, as well as increased contributions to the Globeville Elyria Swansea Community Investment Fund (CIF), said the center in the press release.

While there isnt a specific date for the project to wrap up, construction appears to be underway at the location.

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Native American history to be added to Sutters Fort. More than Ive seen in my lifetime

Changes are coming to Sutters Fort. While the name and space of the midtown landmark wont change, the substantial role that Native Americans played  and how they were treated by European settlers  will be taught for the first time where Sacramento and California first took root.

The commission that oversees Californias Department of Parks and Recreation approved a plan Tuesday that will amend the content of learning materials, tours and other guides at Sutters Fort State Historic Park to include Native American history and perspectives.

The changes were approved unanimously 6-0, after commissioners heard final feedback from State Parks officials, historians and members of Native American communities in Northern California, during their meeting in West Sacramento.

John Fraser, the superintendent of the State Parks Capital District, which administers eight museums and parks in the Sacramento region, said he was happy to see approval of the plan, which had been in the planning stages since September. He said district officials worked with tribal communities to build an amendment to the forts general plan, which lays out the parks goals for educating the public on its history.

The original 1990 general plan made little mention of the Indigenous communities  Miwok and Nisenan communities, among other tribes  that called the land home prior to John Sutters arrival to California in 1839. Under a new interpretation master plan, laid out in an 80-page document, much of the parks educational and interpretative approach will reflect a more inclusive, complex and accurate history of Sutters Forts role in the colonization of California.

Fraser said there has been a statewide push in recent years to re-evaluate the perspectives that are shown in Californias historical and educational institutions.

Theres too many stories that havent been told that need to be told, he said.

A parent dressed in character stands outside Sutters Fort in 2011. The state Department of Parks and Recreation approved a plan Tuesday that will amend the content of learning materials, tours and other guides at Sutters Fort State Historic Park to include Native American history and perspectives.

State Parks sought input from tribes on a plan

The effort to revive historical accuracy and context began in response to 2020s global movement for racial equity in the wake of the police killing of George Floyd. That movement grew to include the removal of statues throughout the country that featured racist and problematic historical figures, such as the removal of John Sutters statue across from the fort on Sutter Health property.

Sutters monument was one of several statues in the citys core to be removed of white settlers and colonizers  along with Spanish missionary Junipero Serras likeness in Capitol Park and the Capitol Rotunda statue of Queen Isabella and Christopher Columbus.

The State Parks Capital District worked with tribal leaders to understand what lessons were important to tribes today and what the public could learn about a complex history, according to Fraser.

That includes the realities of colonization that a state analysis called dark, uncomfortable, and unpleasant.

Human beings exploited other human beings using power, force, and violence. ... The effects of this racialized dynamic created significant distortions in how the history of California has been examined and presented at places like Sutters Fort, the analysis concluded. The forts previous interpretive principles too often failed to provide an accurate portrayal of 1840s California life and culture.

Officials said that the fort would become a laboratory of learning that addresses the subject of Native labor inside and around the fort and the oppression of Natives that carried on well past Mexican rule into California statehood in 1850.

Officials said the plan would explain how settlers and the fort catalyzed a pattern of change in California leading to the introduction of diverse immigrant communities, disruption of Native life, and ultimately a forced convergence of cultures that affects present-day California relationships.

This happened because Native people in the region made it happen, Fraser said. It was their call to change that spurred us into taking this action.

Appropriate place to provide an accurate education

What wont be lost is the forts name or Sutters contributions to the states founding, even if considered controversial. Fraser said the State Parks Capital District will continue to evaluate and tweak the plan as it rolls out.

Goals for the park include fostering an environment that encourages learning history from various perspectives, connecting with audiences through expanded outreach efforts, and educating the public on Sutters Forts legacy and consequences.

Representatives from the Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians, Parks California, the California League of Parks Associations and the office of state Sen. Angelique Ashby, D-Sacramento, publicly voiced their support for the changes.

Parks are truly a keeper of history, said Geoff Kish, the vice president of programs at Parks California, a nonprofit partner of California State Parks. To make California parks more welcoming and inclusive, we must first recognize the historical contributions of people who are often omitted from narratives, including tribes, women and communities of color.

Morning Star Gali, of the Achomawi band of the Pit River Tribe, advocates on behalf of the Statewide Coalition Against Racist Symbols at Sutters Fort State Historic Park in 2020. The state Department of Parks and Recreation approved a plan Tuesday, June 11, 2024, that will amend the content of learning materials, tours and other guides at Sutters Fort State Historic Park to include Native American history and perspectives.

Racism, harassment still experienced today

At the meeting, Native American community members shared how past experiences were shaped by that lack of understanding.

This movement is more than Ive seen in my lifetime, said Calvin Hedrick, director of the 5th Direction, a Sacramento-based program that works with Native youth. Hedrick, who is of Mountain Maidu heritage, was part of the effort to rename Miwok Middle School and Suy:u Elementary School last year. He gave presentations to staff, parents, community members and alumni to emphasize how important changing the school names are to Native American communities.

I just simply read from the books of people who were here at the time, Hedrick said. Thats all I needed to do. ... Not one single person who had pushback stepped up to say anything.

Anthony Burris, an assistant professor of ethnic studies with a focus on Native American studies at Sacramento State, shared instances of harassment he faced throughout his life because of his heritage. Burris, who is Miwok, recounted being called racial slurs by neighborhood kids at 9 years old and mocked for his cultural practices.

Four months ago  in 2024  a cousin approached me at one of our tribal meetings, he said. Her daughter was being violently harassed by other students because of her Miwok identity and little was being done by those in charge.

Sutters Forts plan will begin with the creation of an advisory committee, made up of Indigenous representatives who will review new interpretive services. That may include partnerships with local universities as they craft new self-guided and group tours aimed at creating a platform for historically significant cultural groups to share their histories with the community. The plan specifically named Native Californian and Native American tribes, as well as those with Hawaiian, Mexican, Spanish, and Russian backgrounds among others.

Burris said the State Parks efforts to showcase Native American history across California is crucial to addressing systemic racism against Native Americans and other marginalized communities in the state.

Burris emphasized the importance of teaching Indigenous history and said courses he teaches at Sac State are often the first time many of his students have learned anything about Native American history in California.

Sutters Fort is an obvious and most appropriate place to provide an accurate education on local Nisenan and Miwok people and to highlight their historical experiences with this landmark and the man whose name it bears.
BEIRUT, June 12 (Xinhua) -- From a high vantage point above Tripoli, the second-largest city in Lebanon, one can spot a striking 1.4-km-long bright green zone.

It's the rooftops of 85 buildings across various neighborhoods, which have been painted in a uniform color to form the Arabic word "salam," meaning "peace."

The art project was initiated by twin brothers Omar Kabbani and Mohamed Kabbani. Omar Kabbani, 41, told Xinhua that the area is the frontline of the fighting between the local Alawite and Sunni neighborhoods.

The long-running sectarian conflict has claimed hundreds of lives, with piles of rubble and bullet-riddled buildings everywhere, and even walking on rooftops has become a perilous act due to the constant threat of sniper attacks.

In 2017, Omar and his twin brother, Mohammed, self-funded a three-week initiative. They engaged local residents to clear their rooftops of debris and coat them with paint.

To encourage participation, the paint selected not only offered a waterproof shield for the roofs but also helped cool the buildings during hot weather.

The initiative has received a lot of attention and helped bring rare tranquility to the area that lasts to this day.

"In the past, the media has portrayed Lebanon as a place of violence and radicalism, but this is a country of infinite creativity and talent. We wanted to send a big message that we really care about peace," said Omar.

For the Kabbani brothers, the idea of employing street art as a medium to advocate for peace had been brewing for quite some time.

They were born in 1983 during the Lebanese civil war when Beirut was divided and occupied by different armed forces.

During their childhood school commutes, the brothers frequently encountered militiamen carrying assault rifles in one hand, spray-painting slogans on walls to assert control over their neighborhood.

The scene made a lasting impact on them at a young age, and they dreamed of one day reoccupying their neighborhood with art rather than violence.

In 2001, they founded Ashekman in Beirut, which means "car exhaust" in Lebanese slang.

"The exhaust pipe takes the dirt from the inside of the car to the outside, and we do the same thing through art. We expose the evils of society and expose everything through art," Omar said.

When selecting the theme for their graffiti, the brothers found inspiration in the Japanese animated figure Grendizer. Throughout their childhood, Grendizer served as a heroic symbol, safeguarding the Earth from adversaries in the cartoon. Consequently, they opted to utilize his image to advocate for the idea of peace and saving the planet.

In the beginning, the brothers often rose at 4 a.m. to create graffiti under bridges or on building walls. Leveraging social media for visibility, they gradually garnered attention.

"When people see that someone has the courage to go out on the street and spray paint and stand on the same side as them, they are inspired and have the passion to speak out," Omar said.

The streetscape of Beirut is quietly changing thanks to a growing number of graffiti artists. From Hamra to Gimmeyeh and many unknown corners, vibrant and contemporary street art has brought a visual impact to the urban space and redefined the relationship between the city and its people.

Driven by the growing popularity, the brothers have established their own clothing brand and graffiti studios, which have empowered them to achieve self-reliance, ensuring their sustained involvement and viability within the art industry.

"We want to be globally oriented and represent our culture, our country, and get our voice out to the world," Omar said. 
Hungary agrees not to veto NATO support to Ukraine as long as it's not forced to help out

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, right, and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg hold a press conference following their meeting in the government headquarters in Budapest, Hungary, Wednesday, June 12, 2024. (Zoltan Mathe/MTI via AP)

BRUSSELS (AP)  Hungary agreed on Wednesday not to veto NATO support for Ukraine but Prime Minister Viktor Orban insisted that his government would provide neither funds nor military personnel for any joint assistance effort.

At a summit in Washington next month, U.S. President Joe Biden and his NATO counterparts are expected to agree on a new system to provide more predictable, long-term security help and military training to Ukraines beleaguered armed forces.

Ukraines Western allies are trying to bolster military support for Kyiv as Russian troops launch attacks along the more than 1,000-kilometer (620-mile) front line, taking advantage of a lengthy delay in U.S. military aid.

Hungary made it clear at todays meeting that it does not want to block decisions in NATO that  are decisions shared and advocated by the other member states, Orban told reporters after talks in Budapest with NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg.

I asked the Secretary-General to make it clear that all military action outside NATO territory can only be voluntary in nature, according to NATO rules and our traditions, said Orban, who has tried to style himself as a peacemaker. Hungary has received the guarantees we need.

As an organization, the worlds biggest security alliance does not send weapons or ammunition to Ukraine and has no plans to put troops on the ground. But many of its members give help on a bilateral basis, and jointly provide more than 90% of the countrys military support.

The other 31 allies see Russias war on Ukraine as an existential security threat to Europe, but most of them, including Biden, have been extremely cautious to ensure that NATO is not drawn into a wider conflict with Russia.

NATO operates on the basis that an attack on any single ally will be met with a response from them all.

Stoltenberg confirmed that Hungary would not take part in NATO's plans and said: I accept this position. NATO's top civilian official said he and Orban had agreed modalities for Hungarys non-participation in NATOs support for Ukraine, but did not elaborate on how that would work.

At the same time, the prime minister has assured me that Hungary will not oppose these efforts, enabling other allies to move forward, and he has confirmed that Hungary will continue to meet its NATO commitments in full, Stoltenberg added.

NATO takes all its decisions by consensus, effectively giving any one of the 32 allies a veto.

U.S. envoy to NATO, Ambassador Julianne Smith, played down the impact of Hungarys decision.

I think the message that was delivered is not dissimilar from what weve heard from other allies throughout the alliances history. Not every member of the alliance always participates in every single NATO activity or mission, Smith told reporters.

But Hungarys stridently nationalist government has increasingly become a thorn in the side of NATO  and the European Union  by undermining their efforts to help Ukraine. Orban is also holding up moves to nominate outgoing Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte as the alliance's next secretary-general.

Orban, one of the friendliest European leaders toward Russian President Vladimir Putin, has labelled his EU and NATO partners assisting Ukraine as being pro-war. He has also advocated for former U.S. President Donald Trump's victory in the November election.

Since Russias full-fledged invasion in February 2022, Ukraines Western backers have routinely met as part of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group, run by the Pentagon, to drum up weapons and ammunition for Kyiv.

Stoltenberg has spearheaded an effort to have NATO coordinate that process, partly by using the alliance's command structure and drawing on funds from its common budget.

Plans are afoot for NATOs leaders to commit on July 9-11 to maintain the level of military support they have provided Ukraine since the invasion began. Stoltenberg said later Wednesday that this amounts to around 40 billion euros ($43 billion) worth of equipment each year.

The purpose of this is to make it possible to end the war, he told reporters at NATO headquarters in Brussels. Now, President Putin believes that he can wait us out and therefore the war continues.

Stoltenberg said that he hoped NATO defense ministers, meeting in Brussels over two days from Thursday, would be able to seal agreement on details of the plan.

At their summit in Lithuania last year, Biden and his counterparts promised that they would be in a position to extend an invitation to Ukraine to join the alliance when allies agree and conditions are met. The consensus among members is that it should not happen while war rages on.

___

Associated Press journalist Bela Szandelszky in Budapest, Hungary contributed to this report.
(Bloomberg) -- NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg agreed to Hungary having an opt-out from deepening support for Ukraine, in exchange for Prime Minister Viktor Orbans pledge to not block any related decisions within the military alliance.

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Orban said the agreement was an acknowledgment that most members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization dont share his views on how to end Russias war against Ukraine, namely by halting military aid for Kyiv.

Im glad that today the prime minister and I have agreed on modalities for Hungarys non-participation in NATO support to Ukraine, Stoltenberg said at a joint briefing with the Hungarian leader in Budapest on Wednesday. At the same time the prime minister has assured me that Hungary will not oppose these efforts, allowing other allies to move forward.

Orbans call for an opt-out of future military aid for Ukraine has raised concern among NATO allies about the precedent it could set, both for Hungarys future steps within the alliance, but also for other members potentially paring back support for Kyiv.

More broadly, his repeated calls for the West to stop aiding Ukraine altogether  and efforts to torpedo support packages in the European Union  have raised questions about his standing within the alliance, particularly in light of Budapests deepening economic links with Russia.

Orban said on Wednesday that his country remained a loyal NATO member that meets defense spending targets and takes part in other missions, such as helping in joint air patrols over the Baltics.

Further NATO support for Ukraine is high on Stoltenbergs agenda. After allies questioned the viability of his proposal for a $100 billion, five-year fund for Ukraine, his latest proposal is for spending a total of at least 40 billion ($43 billion) per year on lethal and non-lethal aid for Kyiv, with spending goals determined by each nations gross domestic product.

The funding commitment proposed by Stoltenberg, which could receive broad backing by NATO defense ministers when they meet in Brussels this week, is part of a larger package of support for Ukraine due to be approved by leaders when they gather in Washington in July. In addition, NATO is proposing it take on a more active role with coordinating training and weapons deliveries to Ukraine.

In a Bloomberg interview on Tuesday in Riga, Stoltenberg said the current proposal on the table was significantly more than his original one, on an annual basis.

We have to communicate very clearly to Ukrainians that we will stand by them for as long as it takes, Stoltenberg said in the Latvian capital.

He also said there that Hungarys opt-out request wasnt setting a precedent, since other alliance members have decided to stay away from past missions, including in Libya and Afghanistan. Thats a point he returned to in Budapest.

Its not a NATO obligation to participate in all NATO missions and operations or activities as long as all NATO allies adhere to the core obligations in the Washington treaty, our collective security and defense guarantee, Stoltenberg said.

--With assistance from Natalia Drozdiak, Megan Howard and Thomas Hall.

(Recasts with NATO chief, Hungarian premier comments.)

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Jens Stoltenberg, Secretary General of NATO, takes part in a press conference with Chancellor Scholz in the Chancellery. Hannes P Albert/dpa

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg called on Wednesday for allies to approve a project to coordinate military aid and training for Ukraine in defence against the Russian invasion.

Speaking ahead of a two-day meeting of NATO defence ministers in Brussels, Stoltenberg called for allies to "approve a plan for NATO to lead the coordination of security assistance and training to Ukraine."

The project is a major part of defence package for Ukraine that the 32-member alliance wants to approve at a leaders summit in Washington in July.

There is also talks ongoing between allies to seal a commitment to long-term financial support to Ukraine. Stoltenberg said previously that 40 billion ($43 billion) is needed each year for Ukraine at a minimum.

The NATO secretary general said he expects defence ministers in the alliance to approve the training and support project on Friday.

Ahead of the meeting, Stoltenberg secured an agreement from Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban that he will not block the NATO initiative from going ahead.

Orban in exchange was assured that Hungary would not have to take part or finance the project.

Ahead of Thursday's defence ministers meeting, NATO agreed a new name for the project. Instead of NATO Mission Ukraine (NMU), the initiative is to be called NATO Security Assistance and Training for Ukraine (NSATU).

Diplomats have told dpa that the new name is being seen as a victory for Germany, because it clarifies the mission is about support and training activities.

Most allies had backed the name NATO Mission Ukraine, but the German government argued that this could be misinterpreted to mean the alliance intended to send troops to Ukraine, and might be used by Russia for propaganda against the alliance.

Other allies argued that the Kremlin would condemn the NATO project in its propaganda whatever it was called.

NSATU's role will primarily be the international coordination of arms deliveries and training activities for the Ukrainian armed forces.

It is also viewed as a precautionary measure in the event that Donald Trump returns to the US presidency in January 2025.

Statements made by the former US president in the past have raised doubts as to whether the United States will continue to support Ukraine under his leadership.

There are fears within the alliance that a change of policy in Washington would affect the coordination of weapons deliveries and training activities for the Ukrainian armed forces.

This task has so far been carried out by the US. At the end of 2022, they set up a unit of around 300 soldiers called the Security Assistance Group-Ukraine (SAG-U) at the European headquarters of the US armed forces in Wiesbaden in Germany.

The NATO mission will now have roughly the same number of personnel.

Stoltenberg shied away from the description of the NATO mission being an attempt to "Trump proof" western support for Ukraine. Instead, he described it as means to make pledges of military aid for Ukraine "more reliable."

The secretary general pointed out that "the United States spent six months agreeing a supplement for Ukraine," and highlighted that European allies have also failed in delivering on their commitments.
Jens Stoltenberg, NATO Secretary General, has stated that he discussed the decision of the forthcoming NATO Summit in Washington with Viktor Orban, Prime Minister of Hungary, during a meeting. Stoltenberg believes that Budapest will not block the decision.

Source: Stoltenberg at a press conference in Brussels on 12 June ahead of the meeting of the defence ministers of NATO member states, as reported by European Pravda

Details: Stoltenberg said he had stated at the meeting with Orban that NATOs goal is peace, and the Alliance "is called to prevent war, prevent conflict, but to do that by ensuring that we have a credible deterrence and by making sure that there is no room for miscalculation by Moscow or any other adversary about our ability to defend all allies".

"Im also absolutely confident that Hungary will agree to statements that well make at a NATO Summit, reflecting the core values and the core purposes of NATO," Stoltenberg believes.

He admitted, however, that "there was one particular issue"  the framework for supporting Ukraine where NATO will have a lead role in coordinating security assistance and training for Ukraine  "where there were different views".

"Orban has made it clear that Hungary will not participate in these NATO efforts. I have stated that I accept this position," Stoltenberg commented.

He added that Budapest had promised to adhere to all commitments within NATO and continue to finance the common budget of the Alliance.

Background:

In May, Orban said that Hungary was "reconsidering" its NATO member status to potentially avoid participating in future operations outside the Alliance and increasing support for Ukraine from NATOs side.

Following the meeting with Stoltenberg, Orban stated that they had determined the interaction format concerning the non-blocking of the decisions about Ukraine in NATO by Budapest.

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NC bill advances to force Chemours, others to pay for harm done to drinking water by PFAS

Cape Fear Public Utility Authority in Wilmington built eight wells filled with granular activated carbon to remove PFAS from its drinking water. Other utiliies across the state are exploring which filtration technology to build to remove forever chemicals in time to comply with new EPA rules by 2029.

A renewed legislative effort to force Chemours and other forever chemical manufacturers to pay for drinking water contamination cleared its first hurdle on Tuesday.

The House Environment Committee voted unanimously for House Bill 864, legislation sponsored by a pair of Wilmington-area Republicans who failed to win support for a similar bill two years ago.

Under the legislation, the N.C. Department of Environmental Quality would be able to order manufacturers of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances to pay for water utility upgrades if it can be proven that their discharge is resulting in levels higher than the U.S. Environmental Protection Agencys recently enacted drinking water standards that cover five individual compounds and a chemical mixture.

This legislation is about protecting us to have clean drinking water, and also to protect the ratepayers for the utilities not to have to foot the bill for the humongous expense to buy all this equipment to make the water be able to be safe to drink, said Rep. Ted Davis, a New Hanover County Republican.

Under the legislation, Chemours would have to pay any costs downstream utilities incurred since Jan. 1, 2017, to protect themselves from elevated levels of PFAS coming from the factory. The public learned of PFAS contamination in the drinking water of Wilmington and other nearby communities that draw from the Cape Fear River in June 2017, when the Wilmington StarNews reported on findings from researchers at N.C. State University.

PFAS have been linked to a wide array of health effects, with specifics varying depending on the compound. Animal studies found that the chemical known as GenX, for example, can increase the weight of livers and kidneys, suppress immune system antibodies and has some links to liver and pancreatic cancer, according to the EPA.

To protect its drinking water, the Wilmington-area Cape Fear Public Utility Authority installed eight new granular activated carbon filters to capture forever chemicals coming downstream. The public utility has spent nearly $75 million in total, including $54 million to build the new filters and ongoing $5 million costs to swap out the carbon in the filters.

All these millions of dollars are coming from the rates CFPUA customers pay, not from those who are financially benefiting from the manufacture and sale of these PFAS chemicals, Beth Eckert, CFPUAs deputy executive director of environmental management and sustainability, told the committee.

Neighboring Brunswick County has embarked on a $170 million project to build a reverse osmosis plant that can remove the chemicals from drinking water drawn from the Cape Fear River. Once that plant becomes operational, likely next year, it will cost $2.9 million to operate annually, said John Nichols, the director of Brunswick County Public Utilities.

So far, the average water bill in the county has increased from about $25 to about $35, Nichols added, with rates likely to continue rising.

In the regulatory world, there is a polluter-pays principle and so that is not currently being applied. We think it is important for that to be applied so that the cost burden is on the appropriate individuals, Nichols said.

Responsibility for PFAS contamination

Davis was careful to make clear that only companies that manufacture PFAS would need to pay for pollution, under the terms of the bill. Companies that use PFAS to make a given product would not be subject to it, Davis said.

Beyond that, a PFAS manufacturers discharge would need to make its way into a public drinking water source at levels higher than the drinking water maximum contaminant levels set by the Environmental Protection Agency earlier this year.

As in 2022, members of the business community said they had concerns about the bill.

A Chemours representative asked that the bill not advance out of committee, saying the company built a thermal oxidizer to control PFAS-laden emissions and built a seven-story underground barrier wall and treatment system to control the chemicals in groundwater.

This bill really targets my company and the 560 colleagues of mine who work at the Fayetteville Works plant in Fayetteville, said Jeff Fritz, Chemours state government affairs lead.

The bill could have a chilling effect on efforts to grow the states manufacturing base, warned Lu-Ann Perryman, a lobbyist for the N.C. Manufacturers Alliance. Perryman was one of several who questioned the appropriateness of legislation forcing companies to bear costs borne by utilities since 2017.

It applies the 2024 regulations to incidents that occurred as far back as 2017, irrespective of when (a maximum contaminant level) was established by the EPA, Perryman said

Davis, the Wilmington-area Republican, said the bill is not intended to specifically affect Chemours, even if it certainly would apply to them. And the 2017 date is simply leveling the playing field, he said.

This bill is targeted at anyone  anyone  in this state that makes this stuff from scratch. Chemours happens to do that, but I will say they knew very well what they were doing and they didnt do any of this remediation efforts until they got caught in 2017. Thats why we have that date in this bill, Davis said.

Previous effort failed

A similar bill seemed poised to move through House committees in 2022, which would have allowed it to come up for a vote on the House floor.

But representatives from powerful business groups  including the N.C. Chamber, N.C. Manufacturers Alliance and the American Chemistry Council  all argued that House Bill 1095 was anti-business and would threaten growth in the state, The News & Observer reported.

The arguments from Wilmington-area utilities and Chemours were also similar to those heard Wednesday.

But the outcome was different. There was no vote in the 2022 committee. HB 1095 was ultimately withdrawn and not voted on that session..

The new bill, House Bill 864, will next be heard in the House Appropriations Committee. If it is approved there, it goes to House Rules. From there, it would be voted on by the full House before moving over to the Senate.

This story was produced with financial support from the Hartfield Foundation and Green South Foundation, in partnership with Journalism Funding Partners, as part of an independent journalism fellowship program. The N&O maintains full editorial control of the work. If you would like to help support local journalism, please consider signing up for a digital subscription, which you can do here.
RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN)  The state House of Representatives approved a controversial bill impacting masks, protests and campaign finance regulations with a final vote of 69-43 Tuesday. The bill now goes to Gov. Roy Cooper, who has publicly criticized it.

The revised bill emerged last week following closed-door talks among Republicans in the House and Senate.

PREVIOUS: NC GOP adds surprise campaign finance proposal to protest mask bill

Senate Republicans initially sought last month to repeal a COVID-era exemption to the states mask law, which would have eliminated the ability to wear a mask for health and safety reasons.

After facing pushback, including from some Republicans in the House, they agreed revised language that would allow people to wear a medical or surgical grade mask for the purpose of preventing the spread of contagious disease.

The bill came in part as a response to recent protests on college campuses, including at UNC-Chapel Hill, where some people wore masks to conceal their identities. The bill includes enhanced penalties for wearing a mask while committing another crime.

So, we wanted to craft the bill in such a way that it really dealt with those that are breaking the law but wasnt written in such a way that theres loopholes that criminals could work through, said House Speaker Tim Moore (R-Cleveland). We really worked hard to craft language that would allow people to wear a mask for a bona fide health reason. In fact, we consulted with the Department of Health and Human Services.

NC House Speaker Tim Moore speaks ahead of the June 11, 2024 vote on the revised masking bill. (Courtesy NC General Assembly)

NCDHHS officials told state lawmakers Tuesday in an email obtained by CBS 17 that the agency objects to the bill.

DHHS is not supportive as DHHS continues to recommend not repealing the existing physical health and safety exception, writes Janssen White, assistant secretary for government affairs for NCDHHS.

White also noted the agency offered potential changes if Republicans planned to move forward with the legislation and said the bill had been improved from what was originally proposed.

The bill also allows law enforcement as well as the owner or occupant of public or private property to request someone remove their mask temporarily in order to identify them.

Cheryl Carter, co-executive director of Democracy NC, said that provision concerns her because of how quickly viruses can spread. She talked about her own experience with COVID and the ongoing effects of it.

I was miserable. It took me more than seven months to recover and because of that I also have times where I continue to deal with brain fog, she said. I mask everywhere.

Carter was among several speakers at a press conference ahead of the vote Tuesday who also raised concerns about the bills potential to have a chilling effect on protests.

It includes penalties for blocking roads and would hold organizers of protests liable if those roadblocks impede emergency vehicles from getting to people and that leads to serious injury or death.

Last Thursday, Senate Democrats walked off the floor after learning Republicans included a new, unrelated provision allowing political action committees to funnel money to state parties, which Democrats say would increase the amount of so-called dark money coming into state elections, including in the governors race.

Gov. Cooper blasts GOP school voucher expansion as larceny

Republicans say that provision came in response to an opinion issued by the NC State Board of Elections in 2020 that they say advantaged the Democratic Governors Association.

It will essentially level the playing field when it comes to outside groups that are gonna be playing in various elections in the state, said Speaker Moore. The fairest thing to do if youre going to allow this outside money is, one, just make sure its a level playing field to make sure the rules dont advantage one side or the other.

Ann Webb, policy director for Common Cause North Carolina, said itll make it more difficult to know whos trying to use their money to influence elections.

It also makes it much easier for wealthy mega donors to mask their identities when pouring money into political campaigns in our state, she said. Well, were calling a foul because neither party should be hiding money and allowing mega donors to pay to play.

On Monday, Jordan Monaghan, a spokesman for Gov. Cooper, said hes against the bill.

Governor Cooper opposes Republicans changing campaign donation rules behind closed doors just months before an election to let out-of-state billionaires rescue their extreme right wing statewide candidates. This goes against the guidance of the State Board of Elections and political donations should be more transparent, not less, he said.

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House Bill 939 would make transcranial magnetic stimulation more available to those suffering with serious forms of depression. (Photo: Getty Images)

Members of the House Health Committee advanced legislation Tuesday that would require insurers offering a health benefit plan in North Carolina that provides coverage for transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) to provide coverage for those procedures performed by any properly licensed healthcare provider or healthcare facility.

Representative Wayne Sasser (R-Montgomery) told members that the bill would allow primary care doctors to use TMS therapy to treat depression.

As pharmacists, we use medication to treat depression. The reality is that only like 30% of people that take medications for depression are successful, explained Sasser. This particular treatment has a 62% success rate.

Representative Wayne Sasser (R-Montgomery)

Sasser told the committee that eight percent of the American people have major depression, 27% of Americans have been diagnosed with depression, and 11% of the population currently is dealing with some form of depression.

With a shortage of licensed psychiatrists and therapists, Rep. Sasser said House Bill 939 is simply trying to make transcranial magnetic stimulation more available.

The National Institutes of Health describes transcranial magnetic stimulation as a non-invasive stimulation of brain tissue. A coil from a TMS machine is placed against the scalp delivering magnetic pulses to the brain. It is considered a safe treatment for those struggling with depression.

Most insurance companies do pay for this treatment but this bill has nothing to do with mandating who pays for it, who doesnt pay for it. Its just making the treatment more accessible to the people that need it, explained Sasser.

Just want to make sure I understand, so the primary care physician can actually do the

procedure? asked Rep. Cynthia Ball (D-Wake).

Well, can have the procedure done. They dont specifically own the machine that does it.they will send the patient to have that procedure done, responded Sasser.

Tammy George told legislators that she is a firm believer in the TMS treatment.

I have had a lot of trauma starting at age 4 and at age 48, two life events pushed me off the cliff, George said in offering her support of TMS.

George said when her nephew died and her daughter disappeared, she would have be institutionalized without this treatment for her depression.

Thank God I was in a psychiatric practice that knew about TMS and got me in the system quickly. Had my general practitioner or my primary care physician known about this, I could have gotten

help and been the woman that I am today, said George.

George told lawmakers she is a successful business owner today, but might have realized that success 20 years earlier has she been treated sooner by her primary care physician.

She told lawmakers that she felt a difference within seven days of starting after suffering depression since age four.

Please reach deep down in your heart and think hard about this. Its a no-brainer for me because Ive lived it.

House Bill 939 moves next to the House Appropriations Committee.

The post NC legislators advance new treatment to aid with depression appeared first on NC Newsline.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS)  Attorney General Josh Stein and Attorney Generals of Florida and Texas led a bipartisan coalition to reach a $700M nationwide settlement with Johnson & Johnson to resolve allegations of deceptive marketing of the safety and purity of its baby and body powder products containing talc.

Talc is a clay mineral mostly made of magnesium, silicon and oxygen that is often used in cosmetic products such as talcum powder and makeup. Medical research has linked the use of talc powder to ovarian cancer.

In North Carolina, ovarian cancer is the eighth leading cause of cancer-related deaths among women. Only about half of women diagnosed with ovarian cancer survive with more than 400 projected to die from it in 2024. There are also disparities in access to treatment and higher mortality rates for women of color.

As part of the investigation and resulting settlement, which is pending a judges approval, Johnson & Johnson stopped and will not resume manufacturing, promoting, marketing, distributing and selling talc-containing powder or products in the United States.

Johnson & Johnson sold these products for more than 100 years; the company only stopped the sale after the investigation began.

In the $700M settlement, North Carolina will receive $27M. Attorney General Stein is urging the General Assembly to use these funds for the Ovarian Cancer Strategic Response Initiative with the NCDHHS. These funds would be used to implement prevention, screenings and early diagnosis, particularly in underserved and rural communities.

Companies cannot deceive people about the safety of the products they are selling, said Attorney General Stein. People need to have accurate information so they can buy the right products for their health. Im pleased that Johnson & Johnson will not be selling these questionable products anymore, and I urge the General Assembly to use these funds to help protect womens health.

While the lawsuit targets deceptive marketing, numerous other lawsuits filed by private plaintiffs alleged the talc caused serious health issues including mesothelioma.

Attorney General Stein, Attorney Generals of Florida and Texas were also joined by Attorney Generals of 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, West Virginia and Wisconsin.

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CHARLOTTE, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS)  Broad River Greenway officials ask swimmers to take extra caution in the water following the drowning of a 10-year-old girl near Shelby this weekend.

Officials with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said drowning deaths are on the rise for the first time in a decade.

Several bystanders jumped into the water to save the group of three girls struggling in the water Saturday evening.

Officials find 10-year-old girls body who drowned in Broad River Greenway

Experts in swim instruction at Aqua-Tots Swim School say that those actions from people not trained in water rescues are risky.

If you are comfortable in the water, but youre not someone that has practiced rescues before, especially in lakes or somewhere that has a current, its very easy in a stressful situation to kind of end up in that predicament yourself, said Keina Gularte, general manager of Aqua-Tots Ballantyne.

Gularte said adult supervision from the shore might not be enough to protect swimmers when it comes to rivers and creeks. She compared the dangers in the unpredictable flow of water to the dangers in the flow of traffic on a highway.

There are cars coming and going. There are rushes of people on the highway and thats a very dangerous and unpredictable environment. Thinking of the pool, or bodies of water, as that highway and making sure were understanding, there could be currents in here or theres unexpected things that might come up, she said. Stay vigilant because you wouldnt let your child just roam free on the highway and a pool or what body of water can be very similar to that.

Instructors teach swimmers to remain calm and float, not fight the current.

They hope swimmers of all ages understand the basics of drowning prevention.

A Charlotte man in his late 20s drowned near the same stretch of Broad River in 2021, and a man in his 30s drowned two years prior.

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State lawmakers are advancing changes in North Carolina law in response to a high school student who was suspended for saying that illegal aliens need green cards.

The N.C. Senate Education Committee on Wednesday approved legislation that would require public schools to allow high school students to appeal short-term suspensions of five days or more. The bill would also let high school students get short-term suspensions expunged from their records if they meet conditions such as not being suspended again that same school year.

The bill stems from Christian McGhee receiving national attention after he was suspended for three days for asking his English teacher at Central Davidson High School whether her reference to the word aliens referred to space aliens, or illegal aliens who need green cards..

Sen. Steve Jarvis, a Davidson County Republican, is the primary sponsor of the bill and has been in contact with McGhees family.

It addresses important issues in the education system surrounding policies around short-term suspensions, Jarvis told the committee.

House Bill 207 now goes to the Senate Rules Committee before it gets a floor vote. The bill has gotten bipartisan support from Democratic lawmakers.

Family wants suspension expunged

McGhee was formerly a 16-year-old sophomore at Central Davidson High in Lexington, which is south of Winston-Salem and about 110 miles west of Raleigh. He has since left the school after the family said he became a victim of bullying because of the incident.

He was suspended for three days in April, according to school records, for making what the school called a racially motivated and racially insensitive comment. The family was unable to appeal. State law only requires appeals for long-term suspensions, which are for longer than 10 days.

The Liberty Justice Center filed a federal lawsuit last month, on behalf of the family, accusing the Davidson County school system of violating the students rights to free speech, education and due process. The family wants monetary damages and for the suspension to be removed from school records.

Weve all done stupid stuff

Most short-term suspensions given to high school students are for five days or more.

Sen. Tom McInnis, a Moore County Republican, said the bill is an important piece of legislation. He cited the case of the daughter of a constituent who recently received a 10-day suspension for a school prank.

McInnnis said the student has a 4.0 grade-point-average. But he said her college plans could be affected if the suspension isnt removed from school records.

Weve all done stupid stuff, McInnin said. Some of us got caught and some of us didnt.This young lady happened to get caught.
The China-proposed Global Development Initiative (GDI) is conducive to achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), said UN's trade and development chief Rebeca Grynspan. #GLOBALink




The Dutch government will provide 60 million euros ($64.4 million) to bolster Ukraine's aerial and naval drone purchasing and production, Dutch Defense Minister Kajsa Ollongren announced on June 11.

A total of 17.5 million euros ($18.8 million) will be allocated towards the purchase of naval drones, while the remaining 42.5 million euros ($45.6 million) will go towards bilateral drone deliveries through the international drone coalition - including at least 20 million euros for the purchase of first-person view (FPV) drones.

The drone coalition was established in January to bolster Ukraine's arsenal of unmanned aerial vehicles. Nine countries have joined the alliance, including Germany, Canada, the Netherlands, Lithuania, Sweden, Estonia, and Denmark. The coalition was founded and co-led by the U.K. and Latvia.

In April, Denmark and the Netherlands announced a joint procurement of drones worth 400 million euros ($535 million), making the largest contribution to the coalition.

Latvian Defense Minister Andris Spruds announced on April 16 that Ukraine would soon receive the first batch of drones within the coalition's framework. Ukraine is also working to scale up domestic production, aiming to produce at least 1 million drones in 2024.

Ollongren made the announcement following a visit to Kyiv, where she had meetings with Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal and Defense Minister Rustem Umerov.

The officials discussed Ukraine-Netherlands joint defense production, the exchange of technologies, the upcoming global peace summit in Switzerland, and Ukraine's Euro-Atlantic integration.

Read also: Latvia to allocate $22 million for drone coalition for Ukraine in 2024













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Dutch Defence Minister Kajsa Ollongren has said that her country is considering supplying Ukraine with an additional Patriot air defence system.

Source: Kajsa Ollongren in an interview with European Pravda

Details: Ollongren noted that the Netherlands is now discussing with its partners that more needs to be done to help Ukraine than has been done so far.

She stressed that her country is participating in the fighter and drone coalitions and is working with Ukraines allies to supply the country with Patriots.

Quote: "We need to strengthen [Ukrainian] air defence. Thats why we are also looking into donating more Patriots," Ollongren said.

The minister says that all projects to support Ukraine are already in progress and will continue under the new Dutch government which will soon come to power.

Background

In May, Germany reported the start of training for Ukrainian crews on the third Patriot air defence system to be supplied to Kyiv.

In addition, there have been media reports that US President Joe Biden has approved the sending of another Patriot missile system to Ukraine.

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Netherlands to provide its first F-16s to Ukraine in summer, Dutch minister says

The Netherlands will deliver its first F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine already this summer, shortly after Denmark, Dutch Defense Minister Kajsa Ollongren said in an interview with European Pravda published on June 12.

The minister presented a more pessimistic timeframe in May when she said that the first Dutch F-16s would start flowing to Ukraine only in autumn.

The Netherlands has pledged to deliver 24 of its fourth-generation U.S.-made jets to Ukraine as Kyiv seeks to bolster its Air Force, in addition to F-16s promised by Denmark, Belgium, and Norway.

As Ollongren explained, the joint plan evinsages Denmark supplying its aircraft first and the Netherlands starting its continuous deliveries right afterward, as early as this summer. She did not provide a more specific timeframe.

The minister said that everything is "moving according to plan" regarding the preparation of Ukrainian infrastructure and technical personnel needed to operate the aircraft.

Ollongren reiterated her country's position that Ukraine will be able to use Dutch-supplied F-16s "to target military targets  when necessary for self-defense  that are on the other side of the border" with Russia.

In turn, Belgium previously said that its F-16s may be used by Ukraine only within Ukrainian territory.

According to Politico, Kyiv is growing frustrated with the slow pace of training Ukrainian pilots in the U.S. and elsewhere, which threatens to further delay the supply of F-16s.

Ollongren also added during the interview that this was her last visit to Ukraine as the Dutch defense minister, a position she held in Mark Rutte's decisively pro-Kyiv cabinet since January 2022.

The largest party in the incoming coalition government is the far-right Party for Freedom (PVV), which has often been critical of the support for Ukraine. The leaders of the new coalition issued a statement in May where they pledged to maintain their support for Kyiv.

Read also: Russias Su-57  hype vs. reality

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PARIS  The Netherlands will deliver the first Dutch-built and financed BAE Systems CV90 infantry fighting vehicles to Ukraine in 2026, the Dutch Ministry of Defence said.

The Dutch are investing 400 million (U.S. $430 million) in a Swedish fund to build the CV90s for Ukraine, the government said June 7. That amount is the Dutch share and will pay for several tens of vehicles, Netherlands Ministry of Defence spokesman Kaj Leers told Defense News in an emailed reply to questions.

The Dutch government also agreed with Sweden to set up CV90 production in the Netherlands, and expects to partly produce at least 180 of the vehicles, according to Leers. Negotiations are ongoing for local firm Van Halteren Technologies and a whole chain of Dutch suppliers to handle an important part of production, he said.

The Netherlands is joining an initiative by Denmark and Sweden to provide Ukraines armed forces with modern armor to fight off Russias invasion. The CV90 is just what is needed at the front, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in a statement in August on the occasion of a visit to Stockholm, and Ukrainian soldiers have reportedly praised the Swedish IFV for its armor, heat-signature reducing camouflage and firepower.

Sweden and Denmark signed a joint declaration in December to send additional CV90s to Ukraine, after an initial Swedish donation of 50 vehicles last year. Ukraine and Sweden in February discussed terms and conditions for purchasing more of the vehicles.

Van Halteren will play an important role in supplying dozens of new CV90s to Ukraine, Sweden and possibly Denmark, which are buying vehicles to the same modernized standard as the Netherlands, Dutch State Secretary for Defence Christophe van der Maat said in a video posted on X on Friday. The Defence Ministry together with the Economic Affairs Ministry and Van Halteren is looking how the Dutch CV90 production line can be scaled up further, according to Van der Maat.

We want to really help the Dutch know-how contribute to the growing requirement for CV90 fighting vehicles in Europe, Van der Maat said.

The Netherlands last week took delivery of the first of its CV90s that are part of a more than 660-million mid-life upgrade aimed at keeping the IFV operational through to 2039. The Dutch are upgrading 122 vehicles, with final delivery scheduled for 2027.

The midlife upgraded for the Royal Netherlands Army is being done by BAE Systems Hagglunds in cooperation with Van Halteren, and includes a new turret with improved networking and observational capabilities, such as an electronic-optical panoramic sight. The upgrade also adds the Spike anti-tank missile by Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, and 90 vehicles will get the Iron Fist active protection system from Elbit Systems.

BAE Systems signed a contract with Sweden in May for new CV90s built to the Dutch upgrade standard to replace the vehicles donated to Ukraine. Slovakia and Czechia last year agreed to buy CV90s in deals totaling more than 3.5 billion. Leers declined to say whether the Netherlands expects to order additional new CV90s once local production has started.

The Dutch Ministry of Defence also declined to say whether the CV90s for Ukraine will be delivered with a cannon. The CV90s operated by the Dutch Army are equipped with a 35mm Bushmaster III auto-cannon, while Sweden operates a version of the CV90 equipped with a 40mm Bofors auto-cannon in a stabilized turret, which is the version first delivered to Ukraine.

Separately, the Netherlands said Tuesday its buying 120mm mortar systems from BAE Systems Hagglunds to mount on its CV90s, replacing the unmounted 81mm mortars currently in use with the Dutch army. The mortar systems will be installed on the vehicles after their mid-life upgrade, which should be completed in 2028. Sweden also uses the 120mm mortar on its CV90s, according to the Ministry of Defence.

The new mortars will have a range of 7 to 12 kilometers, compared with 6 kilometers for the current system, as well as a higher rate of fire, and can be operated from inside the vehicle, the ministry said. The goal is to increase accuracy by adding GPS-guided munition.
Democratic Sen. Jacky Rosen of Nevada and Republican challenger Sam Brown will face off in one of the most important Senate races of the 2024 election, with both winning their primaries Tuesday.

Senate Democrats are facing a difficult political landscape this fall, having to defend seats in the red states of Montana, Ohio and West Virginia as well as in several other swing states. So Rosens seat is crucial to the partys hopes of holding on to its slim majority in the chamber.

Nevada is poised to play a key role in Novembers elections, as Republicans aim to reverse years of Democratic dominance in federal races there. The last time the GOP won a Senate race in Nevada was 2012, and the partys last presidential nominee to carry the state was George W. Bush in 2004. But Republicans flipped the governors office in 2022 and hope to build on those gains this year.

Brown, a retired Army captain who earned a Purple Heart when he was wounded by a roadside bomb in Afghanistan, unsuccessfully sought the GOP nomination for the states other Senate seat in 2022. But national Republicans identified him as a top recruit this cycle, and he received a late endorsement from former President Donald Trump over the weekend.

In Tuesdays primary, Brown defeated a field that included Jeff Gunter, a wealthy dermatologist who was Trumps ambassador to Iceland and spent $2.2 million of his own money on ads casting himself as the former presidents real ally in the race and portraying Brown as beholden to Washington interests.

Brown ran about $840,000 worth of advertising ahead of the primary, but hes also been supported by several outside groups that poured hundreds of thousands of dollars into the primary, including: Duty First Nevada PAC, which spent more than $900,000; the Republican Leadership Fund, which spent nearly $470,000; and Americans for Prosperity, the influential conservative organization funded by the Koch family, which spent about $420,000 on the race.

Browns ads have focused on his support for Trumps agenda, particularly curbing illegal immigration. They also regularly highlight his decorated military service.

As a veteran, Ill never compromise Americas security. Ill finish Trumps wall and stop the invasion of the border. As a small-business owner, Ill lower prices and make Trumps tax cuts permanent, Brown says in one ad.

Rosens campaign, meanwhile, has already aired $7.5 million in TV ads. She had $10.2 million in her campaign coffers as of May 22 compared with $2.5 million for Brown.

Rosens ads have sought to portray the senator as a moderate, invoking her support for measures that would lower prescription drug prices and give health care benefits to veterans exposed to toxic burn pits. They also cast Rosen as breaking with Democratic leadership on border security.

Six years ago, I promised to do whats right for Nevada, not my party leaders. I wont walk the party line and I never have. Im proud to be named one of the most bipartisan senators, Rosen says in one ad.

Rosen was first elected to the Senate in 2018, unseating Republican incumbent Dean Heller. She previously served a single term in the House representing a Las Vegas-area swing seat.

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Newark man on bicycle hospitalized with life-threatening injuries after hit-skip

NEWARK, Ohio (WCMH)  The Newark Division of Police are investigating a hit-skip involving a vehicle and a cyclist Tuesday night.

According to police, the collision occurred at around 10:55 p.m. near the intersection of North 21st Street and West Main Street. There, a 60-year-old man was struck by a vehicle while riding his bicycle.

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Police said the vehicle fled the scene after the crash, which left the victim hospitalized with life-threatening injuries.

Newark police is asking that anyone with information to call the non-emergency line at 740-670-2700 or email derrick.beach@newarkohio.net.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (WBTW)  News13 and the American Red Cross are teaming up to host a blood drive on Thursday in Myrtle Beach and Florence.

The annual blood drive will take place from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Coastal Grand Mall in Myrtle Beach and the Magnolia Mall in Florence.

The Red Cross must collect enough blood every day to meet the needs of accident and burn victims, heart surgery and organ transplant patients, and those receiving treatment for leukemia, cancer or sickle cell disease, said Michael Hesbach, executive director of the Eastern Red Cross Chapter. Thats why were grateful to partners like WBTW News and the generous blood donors who roll up a sleeve to help patients right here in the PeeDee Region and across the country. An hour of your time this June can truly help save a life.

Each day, the Red Cross needs to collect about 12,500 blood donations and nearly 3,000 platelet donations to meet the needs of patients at about 2,500 hospitals and other facilities across the country.

To schedule an appointment, visit RedCrossBlood.org and enter the sponsor code WBTW, call 800-RED CROSS or download the Red Cross Blood Donor App. Donors will receive a $15 e-gift card for a merchant of their choice.

* * *

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.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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JERUSALEM, June 12 (Xinhua) -- The Israeli military confirmed on Wednesday that it killed a senior Hezbollah commander, Sami Taleb Abdullah, in southern Lebanon in an airstrike on Tuesday.

"As part of the strike, Sami Taleb Abdullah, the commander of the Nasr Unit in Hezbollah, was eliminated," the military said in a statement, adding that he was "one of Hezbollah's most senior commanders in southern Lebanon."

The military released video footage of the attack, showing a bombing of a building which, as the military said, was a Hezbollah command and control center in the town of Jouaiya in Tyre district.

The center was used to direct attacks from southeastern Lebanon against Israel, and 55-year-old Abdullah, known within Hezbollah as Hajj Abu Taleb, was its commander, according to the Israeli military.

Lebanese TV channel Al-Jadeed confirmed the death of Abdullah, adding that three other people were killed and 10 others injured during the attack.

On Wednesday morning, Hezbollah announced it had launched retaliatory attacks using rockets, drones, and missiles on military sites in northern Israel. According to the Israeli military, at least 170 projectiles were fired from Lebanon toward Israel.

Israel and Hezbollah forces have been exchanging fire along the Lebanon-Israel border since Oct. 8, 2023. 
Nighttime Russian attack on Kyiv: no casualties or damage

An air-raid warning map in a phone. Stock photo: Getty Images

The Kyiv City State Administration has reported no casualties or damage after a nighttime Russian air attack on the capital.

Source: Kyiv City State Administration on Telegram

Quote: "No damage was recorded in the capital as a result of another air attack. Fortunately, there are no casualties."

Details: The Kyiv authorities expressed their gratitude to the Ukrainian Air Force.

Background: The Russians fired missiles on Kyiv on the night of 11-12 June, and Ukrainian air defence units repelled the attack.

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CEDAR GROVE, N.J. (PIX11)  Parents in Cedar Grove, N.J., are upset their elected officials are not doing more to show support during Pride Month.

They said it was a battle just to fly Pride flags outside schools, and that this was a separate decision made by the Superintendent and Board of Education.

The Pride flag is absent this year at Cedar Groves Panther Park, where its flown during previous Pride Months.

Resident Christine Dye, whose daughter is part of the LGBTQ+ community, emailed Mayor Kerry Peterson to ask why and was told no one requested it.

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I think its a little bit ridiculous and I think they did it purposely not to have to fly the pride flag, said Dye.

When reached for comment, Cedar Grove Mayor Kerry Peterson explained in detail the townships flag policy:

As with all other organizations who wish to exercise their free speech to support a variety of causes on the Townships flagpole at Panther Park, consistent with the Townships flag policy adopted on August 9, 2021, these organizations submit their request, in writing, to the Township Manager for approval. To date, no organization has applied to fly a flag on the pole at Panther Park for the month of June. This policy is on a first come, first serve basis and the Township will provide assistance in affixing the flag to the pole if the organization purchases the flag. After the months end, it is the organizations responsibility to remove their flag. Cedar Grove Mayor Kerry Peterson

Peterson said the township has not been contacted to hang a flag or to hold a ceremony. She said the onus is on residents or groups to contact the township for either. She said they are happy to comply, and that it is an equitable process to all organizations.Mayor Peterson went on to write:

While I have not received any complaints about students feeling unsafe, despite the pride flag being raised at every school, there is no circumstance that a student should feel unwelcome [if anyone] would like to raise the flag, the Township would be happy to facilitate and support it. Cedar Grove Mayor Kerry Peterson

Dye believes that putting up a pride flag should be done automatically.

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It shouldnt have to be a request for an organization or anything like that, said Dye. Its Pride Month. Everybody celebrates Pride Month. They celebrate it on Sesame Street.

Chris Cannella is a teacher in Cedar Grove and the chair of the New Jersey Education Associations Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Committee.

Just seeing that flag tells them that people really do care about them, and then when you take that away, it hurts, said Cannella.

Cedar Grove previously made headlines in 2022, for initially cancelling a high-school production of The Prom, which tells the story of a lesbian student banned from bringing her girlfriend to prom. The school board reversed its decision following backlash.

The ACLU also called out Cedar Grove Public Library in 2023 for restricting access to the LGBTQ+ memoir Gender Queer. It was moved from the Young Adult to Adult section.

Dye wants Cedar Grove to follow the lead of neighboring towns like Verona, Montclair, and Little Falls, which all held Pride Month ceremonies.

I really hope the town council would reconsider and do what all these other towns around us are going, said Dye. Theyre recognizing Pride Month, theyre raising the flag, and theyre doing the right thing.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11.
The 95-year-old activist is under medical care after suffering a massive stroke in June 2023, his wife Valeria confirmed

HEULER ANDREY/AFP via Getty Noam Chomsky

Linguist and activist Noam Chomsky is hospitalized in Brazil amid his recovery from a stroke he had a year ago, his wife has confirmed.

The 95-year-old was transported to a hospital in Sao Paulo in his wifes native country after having a massive stroke in June 2023, his wife Valeria Chomsky told the Associated Press via email on Wednesday, June 12. Valeria said her husband was transported to Sao Paulo once he could more easily travel from the U.S.

She also confirmed the details of Chomskys hospital move to Brazilian newspaper, Folha de S. Paulo, who were the first to report the news on Monday, June 10.

According to the newspaper, Valeria decided to bring her husband to Sao Paulo, where the couple has had a residence since 2015, in a bid to speed up his recovery with modified treatment after the stroke left him with speech difficulties and the right side of his body numb."

Brill/ullstein bild via Getty Images Noam Chomsky

Chomsky had been treated by local doctors in Arizona, where he and his wife reside, and he was given medication and intravenous feeding which was eventually minimized," per the outlet.

After seeing her husband gradually regain consciousness and communicate with less difficulty, Valeria brought him to the Brazilian hospital in an ambulance jet with two nurses and he was admitted to the ICU, according to the newspaper.

Chomskys condition has since improved significantly and he is now out of the ICU, per the outlet. The 95-year-old is visited by a neurologist, speech therapist and lung specialist daily as he continues his recovery, per AP.

Valeria did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's request for further information.

AP Photo Noam Chomsky pictured at his home in 1977

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Chomsky is regarded around the world as an influential activist, political campaigner and founding figure in the study of modern linguistics.

He was a longtime faculty member at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). In 2017, Chomsky joined the University of Arizona as a laureate professor in the Department of Linguistics in the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences. He is also the Agnese Nelms Haury Chair in the Agnese Nelms Haury Program, per the universitys website.

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Read the original article on People.
Noam Chomsky at a climate change forum in Mexico City on Nov. 15, 2017. Credit - Luis CortesAgencia el Universal/RDB/GDA/AP

Renowned linguist and social critic Noam Chomsky suffered a stroke last June and is recovering in a hospital in his wifes native country of Brazil.

Chomskys absence from the public eye over the past year fueled speculation about his health, culminating in an outpouring of tributes over the weekend.

On Monday, Brazilian newspaper Folha de Sao Paulo reported that the 95-year-old American public intellectual has not commented on the ongoing war in Gaza, despite requests from his supporters and the press, because he had a massive stroke in the U.S. last year. He has difficulty speaking, and the right side of his body is numb, it said.

According to the report, after American doctors said little more could be done, Chomskys wife Valeria decided to fly him to Sao Paulo, where the couple has had a residence since 2015, to receive specialized treatment. Upon arriving via a rented ambulance jet, Chomsky was reportedly admitted to an intensive care unit, and he is visited daily by a neurologist, speech therapist, and pulmonologist. His condition has improved significantly, the paper added. He left the ICU and is now in a regular room.

Folha de Sao Paulo also reported that Chomsky, a vocal anti-war advocate, would raise his left arm in a gesture of lament of anger when he sees images in the news of the war in Gaza. The paper added that, given the progress in Chomskys recovery, the University of Sao Paulo is considering appointing him an ad hoc professor of linguistics and political science. While reportedly pleased by the idea, Valeria Chomsky is instead considering moving the couple to an apartment near the beach in Rio de Janeiro, because she read that it is beneficial for stroke victims to live in a sunny, flat city.

Valeria Chomsky confirmed the details of the Brazilian report in an email to the Associated Press on Tuesday.

Noam Chomsky, one of the most prolific and most cited living scholars, is known for his transformative theories in linguistics as well as his political activism and criticisms of U.S. foreign policy, capitalism, and mass media.

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FILE PHOTO: Bangladeshi Nobel peace laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus gestures in front of the court after being sentenced for six months of imprisonment, in Dhaka

By Ruma Paul

DHAKA (Reuters) - Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus and 13 others were indicted by a Bangladesh court on Wednesday on charges of embezzlement of 252.2 million taka ($2 million) from the workers' welfare fund of his telecoms company.

Yunus, 83, and his Grameen Bank won the 2006 Nobel Peace prize for work to lift millions out of poverty by granting tiny loans of under $100 to the rural poor of Bangladesh, pioneering a global movement now known as microcredit.

The prosecution accuses Yunus and the others of embezzling 252.2 million taka from the welfare fund of Grameen Telecom, which owns a 34.2% stake in Grameenphone, the country's largest mobile phone company and a subsidiary of Norway's telecom giant Telenor. They are also accused of money laundering.

Yunus denied any involvement in corruption, telling reporters that he and his coworkers were being harassed by the authorities.

Special Judge Syed Arafat Hossain dismissed petitions seeking the charges to be dropped, saying the prosecution had preliminarily demonstrated the misappropriation of funds and the illegal money transfers abroad.

The trial will begin on July 15, he said.

In January, Yunus was sentenced to six months in prison for violations of labour law, which he denied.

Although he is not in prison after securing bail in that case, Yunus faces more than 100 cases regarding the violations and graft accusations, which he said in an interview with Reuters last week was "very flimsy, made-up stories".

During the interview, Yunus said Bangladesh had turned into a "one-party" state as the ruling party stamps out political competition. The government denied his allegations on the cases and the style of rule.

($1 = 117.0000 taka)

(Reporting by Ruma Paul; Editing by Alison Williams)
Nora Cortinas stands with a poster depicting her son Gustavo, alongside other Mothers of the Plaza de Mayo in Buenos Aires in 1982

Nora Cortinas, who has died aged 94, was an Argentine social psychologist who joined the Mothers of Plaza de Mayo activist group in 1977 after her student son Gustavo became one of the Disappeared, abducted and presumably murdered by the military junta.

It is estimated that as many as 30,000 Leftists were killed between 1976 and 1983 during what became known as the Dirty War  many, notoriously, dropped from aeroplanes into the sea  and as a member of the Peronist Justicialist Party and of the Montoneros revolutionary guerrilla group, Nora Cortinass student son Gustavo, who was married with a two-year-old son, was a prime target, especially given his support for the Rev Carlos Mugica, an activist priest who had been assassinated by a Right-wing death-squad operative in 1974.

In April 1977, 24-year-old Gustavo was arrested by members of the armed forces in Castelar, a town in Buenos Aires province, while carrying out work for the Ministry of Economy. When his mother asked the police what had happened to him, she was told to stop poking around or risk being arrested herself. I entered into a spiral of madness, she recalled.

Nora Cortinas in 2017 speaking against a court ruling that benefited a man serving time for crimes against humanity - Gabriel Sotelo/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

By then, a group of mothers and grandmothers of the Disappeared had begun gathering in the Plaza de Mayo opposite the presidential palace, and a fortnight after her sons disappearance Nora Cortinas made her first appearance, joining a crowd of what was then only about 20 strong. We were very few and trembling with fear and anguish, she said.

Assembling every Thursday, many of them wore white nappies to evoke the childhood of their offspring, later switching to white headscarves, which became a potent symbol of resistance to the junta. There must be justice, Nora Cortinas told American reporters.

Three of their leaders were hauled away and never seen again, but the women were uncowed, and their numbers swelled to hundreds  though they were largely ignored by fearful passers-by: It was like we were invisible, said Nora Cortinas.

She began wearing a laminated photograph of Gustavo round her neck, and there were soon regular marches through the streets of Buenos Aires, protesters chanting: The Disappeared  tell us where they are.

Nora Cortinas, with a laminated photograph of her son Gustavo, outside court in Buenos Aires in 2018 during he trial of two former Ford executives in Argentina accused of participating in the Dirty War - Juan Mabromata/AFP/Getty

Defeat in the Falklands War meant that the countrys economic woes could not be masked, and the military regime fell in 1983, but the Mothers of Plaza de Mayo continued their work, still demanding answers, still wanting accountability. We are not the mothers of just one child, Nora Cortinas later said, we are the mothers of all the Disappeared.

Nora Irma Morales was born on March 22 1930 in Buenos Aires to Spanish immigrants who had met in Argentina. Her father ran a printing business while her mother was a seamstress.

Nora adopted her mothers trade, and in 1949 married Carlos Cortinas, who worked in the Ministry of Economy, and set up an atelier at their home to teach sewing skills to other young women.

In 1986 the Mothers of Plaza de Mayo movement became divided over tactics, and when Hebe de Bonafini and her followers wanted to move in a more radical direction, Nora Cortinas founded Madres de Plaza de Mayo Linea Fundadora (Mothers of Plaza de Mayo  Founding Line).

Nora Cortinas in January 2024 in front of a mural of herself - Natacha Pisarenko/AP

She went on to study social psychology, graduating in 1993 from the University of Buenos Aires and embarking on a successful academic career, researching the relationship between the junta, foreign debt and Argentinas ever-beleaguered economy. She continued to fight for social justice and was a vocal supporter of legalising abortion (which happened in 2020) and better care for victims of HIV/Aids.

For decades, every Thursday she would meet other women at the Plaza de Mayo, still wearing her white headscarf. In 2019 she published a memoir, Norita, the Mother of all Battles.

Nora Cortinass husband Carlos died in 1994, and she is survived by their younger son.

Nora Cortinas, born March 22 1930, died May 30 2024

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KUWAIT CITY, June 12 (Xinhua) -- A fire broke out Wednesday morning in the Mangaf area in southern Kuwait, resulting in at least 41 fatalities and dozens of injuries, according to the First Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defense and Minister of Interior Sheikh Fahad Yusuf Al-Sabah.

"41 people have died so far," he said in a statement broadcasted by Kuwait TV, attributing the tragedy to the "greed and avarice of company and building owners."

The minister also ordered the detention of individuals involved, including the building owner, until the forensic evidence team completes its investigation.

Mohammed Al-Gharib, director of public relations at the General Fire Force, said in a statement that the fire broke out in a six-story residential building densely populated with labor workers.

The majority of fatalities were attributed to smoke inhalation during sleep, while many of the residents were evacuated from the building, added Al-Gharib.

"We responded to the scene, and the fire brigade managed to control the blaze," Eid Al-Owaihan, director of the Interior Ministry's criminal division, was quoted as saying by Kuwait TV, adding that "the forensic evidence team had begun their examination of the site."

Al-Owaihan said that some of the injured individuals were transferred to various hospitals, and efforts to identify the victims were still underway.

Local newspaper, citing anonymous sources, reported that the fire started in the guard's room, spread to a lounge on the first floor, followed by a storage area containing gas cylinders, and eventually engulfed the rest of the building.

According to the sources, around 160 workers were inside the building, with many of the fatalities being of Indian nationality. 
Norfolk psychics, start your readings.

Norfolk City Council members repealed a decades-old, unenforced ban on psychic readings Tuesday. The 7-1 vote repealed a section of the city code that forbade the practice of palmistry, palm reading, phrenology or clairvoyance for money or other compensation in the city.

Carol Peterson owns the Crystal Sunflower store in West Freemason, which sells items like crystals and tarot decks and routinely hosts tarot readers and other mediums. Peterson said she was relieved to see the fortune telling ban repealed.

As a business owner, it makes me feel a little safer, Peterson said.

Norfolk City Attorney Bernard Pishko, who placed the item on the agenda, said in a text message the repeal effort was due to the elimination of a protection that is no longer needed. Pishko said the repeal was not due to any current litigation.

According to Pishko, prior to being alerted to its existence, he did not know the law existed. He said he did not believe the law had been enforced during his four decades with the city.

However, the ban did attract a 1997 lawsuit from card reader Barbara DeLong. DeLong planned to conduct readings at a Ghent bookstore, but heard about the ban from a friend. DeLong, who said she has conducted readings for many lawyers and judges through her career, half-jokingly asked a Gloucester lawyer if she would represented her on the off chance she got arrested.

That lawyer helped DeLong get in touch with the Virginia chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union, who helped her file a lawsuit against the city in federal court. The ACLU argued the ban violated DeLongs right to freedom of religion and speech, according to a Virginian-Pilot story.

Before I knew what was happening, I was in federal court there, and they put me on the stand, DeLong said.

A city attorney even asked her if she could predict the future for her clients. DeLongs answer: I can give them possibilities and potentialities, but only God knows for sure.

The case was eventually dismissed. DeLong said it was because, as an ordained minister, the court determined the ban did not apply to her.

Afterwards, I said to someone, Well, this is a message to any psychic out there: You just become an ordained minister and you are free to go,' she said.

DeLong said the city didnt bother her and she conducted her Ghent readings without any issues. She has since moved to Nashville, Tennessee, started a podcast and released a card deck, among other accomplishments.

As to the bans repeal, DeLong said it was sad that it took another 27 years to finally undo the law. She thought many other old, similar laws may still be on the books in the country.

But the reality is, its a little scary that so many are still functional and chargeable, she said.

According to The Virginian-Pilot archives, the city ban goes back as far as 1915.

Norfolk County, which included Chesapeake and other cities, banned the practice in 1956, according to the archives. Violators could be fined up to $500 and spend up to six months in prison.

That ban passed unanimously despite objections from a lawyer representing fortune tellers in what is todays Portsmouths Cradock neighborhood, who said the law would put his clients out of business. Explaining the ban, Norfolk County supervisors said they had received complaints from residents and civic groups about the businesses.

Peterson began her career practicing vibrational sound therapy  a process in which she said she places metal bowls on a clients body and helps them relax by ringing the bowls, producing sounds and vibrations  then ventured into tarot reading. Rather than predicting the future, Peterson said the practice is akin to getting inspiration from a Bible verse or a beloved book.

What I use it for is to give me the messages I need in the day to inspire me to improve myself and to kind of direct my personal journey, Peterson said.

During the meeting, Norfolk City Council member Tommy Smigiel voiced his thoughts about the repeal vote.

Im sure somebody out there predicted this was going to pass, Smigiel said to chuckles.

Trevor Metcalfe, 757-222-5345, trevor.metcalfe@pilotonline.com
Mark Robinson has made inflammatory comments that could jeopardize his gubernatorial bid  and the GOP's quest to gain complete statewide power in the swing state of North Carolina.

The lieutenant governor is also being crushed in fundraising by his Democratic opponent, Attorney General Josh Stein.

It is against this backdrop that Republicans on Tuesday approved a campaign finance proposal that changes how funds flow to state parties and the reporting requirements attached to that money. But Democrats are crying foul, saying the GOP rushed through surprise changes to state law that would allow donors to back Robinson without having to directly attach their names to his candidacy.

If you dont want the accountability that you get as a donor supporting somebody who is a very extreme candidate, like a Mark Robinson, this is a way to hide your money, said Morgan Jackson, senior adviser to Stein and North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper. The Democratic governor is expected to veto the legislation  setting up a potential override from the Republican supermajority.

Republicans in North Carolina have been tantalizingly close to total control. The battle for governor in this rare split-ticket southern state, where former President Donald Trump leads in polls, underscores the gamble by the GOP to put forward a hot-button candidate. Democratic lawmakers and strategists argue that Republicans' action in Raleigh was motivated by the coming Stein-Robinson matchup this November, one of only two gubernatorial races in battleground states this year.

Republicans argue the bill was necessary to undo parts of a 2020 advisory memo from the State Board of Elections that they say unfairly benefits Democratic-leaning groups.

The campaign finance reform simply aims to level the playing field that tilted in Democrats favor following a 2020 collusive agreement, said a statement from the North Carolina Republican Party provided to POLITICO. That decision locked out Republican groups while favoring Democratic groups who wished to get involved in North Carolina elections. This change restores parity in campaign finance laws and shows, once again, why partisan control over election administration in North Carolina must end.

The bill would allow national political groups to give unlimited amounts to state parties and affiliated political committees and work around campaign finance reporting requirements. These national groups, called 527 organizations, collect donations from individuals, corporations and labor interests, and route some of those funds to state political committees, who then give to preferred candidates.

Critics say the change allows wealthy donors to support candidates with untraceable donations by empowering state committees to act as intermediaries.

"Mark Robinson is so uniquely dangerous for North Carolina that even many Republicans are increasingly concerned about supporting him, said Meghan Meehan-Draper, executive director for the Democratic Governors Association, in a statement. It's exactly why they're pushing for this new scheme to let megadonors spend millions to back Robinson without having to answer for his extremism and fringe conspiracies."

A spokesperson for the Robinson campaign declined to comment. The RGA did not respond to requests for comment.

But Republicans backing the change argue it levels the playing field, in part because the DGA and RGA, both 527 groups, classify their donations differently. The DGA segregates donations from corporate sources, while the RGA does not. Under current state law, corporations and labor groups are banned from donating directly to political candidates.

In addition to obscuring disclosure requirements, the changes also make it harder for the State Board of Elections to provide oversight of contributions.

We have this incredibly important gubernatorial race and it's really important the public understands what money comes into the state and where it is coming from, said Ann Webb, policy director for the advocacy group Common Cause North Carolina. It is really concerning that there is an effort here to make that more difficult.

Democrats are also objecting to how Republicans pushed the changes. It was added on to an unrelated bill about face masks and penalties for protesters, and was approved by the state Senate without a period of debate because Senate Democrats walked out in protest. But Republicans hold a supermajority in the legislature and the bill passed through the House easily on Tuesday.

Cooper's likely veto will tee up a potential override from the Republican-controlled legislature.

Already, Stein has a huge cash advantage in the race and has outraised Robinson nearly two-to-one: Stein has $18.6 million to Robinsons $10.55 million.

But despite the fundraising discrepancies between the candidates, it remains a close race. Cook Political Report recently changed its rating from lean Democratic to a tossup, guaranteeing that national political donors will steer more dollars toward North Carolina as the election approaches.

The Stein campaign last week launched its first attack ad against Robinson, part of a seven-figure buy highlighting the lieutenant governors past comments on abortion. Abortion in this country is not about protecting the lives of mothers, Robinson is seen saying on a 2019 Facebook livestream in a clip used in the ad. Its about killing a child because you werent responsible enough to keep your skirt down, he said in the clip.
North Carolina lawmakers on Tuesday approved legislation to increase penalties for people who wear masks in public while committing crimes or while blocking traffic during protests.

A previous version of the bill  which amends the state statues on masking  failed to get the necessary support after facing blowback for removing a health exemption added in 2020 to allow people to wear masks in public for health purposes.

The crux of the new bill still looks to crack down on those who wear masks while committing crimes in public. But the new bill now includes language that allows people to wear medical or surgical grade masks to prevent the spread of contagious disease.

The state General Assembly passed the measure in a 69-43 vote. The state Senate approved the reworked bill last week. It now heads to Gov. Roy Coopers (D) desk.

The effort to revise the masking laws came in response to a wave of campus protests across the country that saw many protestors wearing masks  or otherwise covering their faces  while demonstrating against the war in Gaza.

The state statutes on masking date back to 1953, when the state legislature passed a slew of new restrictions as a way to curb Ku Klux Klan membership in North Carolina, The Associated Press reported.

When Republican lawmakers initially tried to move the legislation through the legislature last month, the Senate approved the measure, but one Republican held it up in the General Assembly, taking issue with the removal of the health exemption. With a narrow supermajority, all Republicans must vote together in order to reach the veto-proof threshold.

The measure was sent back to a committee of GOP lawmakers, who negotiated a deal on the bill last week.

The Associated Press contributed.

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North Carolina lawmakers under pressure to fund early education

RALEIGH, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS)  Childcare workers, families of school-aged children, and activists from across the state traveled to Raleigh Wednesday morning to pressure lawmakers to continue to fund early education.

On June 30th, stabilization grants rolled out during the pandemic are set to expire.

If funding is cut, nearly 30% of all programs across the state are expected to close. The North Carolina Childcare Resource and Referral Council estimates that more than 90,000 children would be impacted.

Last month, educators held a rally at an East Charlotte School for a Day without Child Care. Similar events were held throughout the state.

PREVIOUSLY: Thousands of NC childcare programs could be forced to close

Once June 30th happens, a lot of programs are going to have to close their doors or their classrooms. The North Carolina Childcare Referral Council in that report at the end of March said one in three programs in North Carolina are going to have to either close classrooms or close their doors which would directly result in about 91,000 losing their care in North Carolina, Childcare Changemakers organizer Emma Biggs said.

Biggs says a month after the rally took place, educators still feel that they are not being heard by lawmakers.

This week, the organization is holding a Child Care Phone Blitz. Educators across the state are calling the offices of Sen. Phil Berge and House Speaker Tim Moore every three minutes. By the end of the week, it is estimated that each politician will receive a minimum of 800 calls.

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RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN)  As the United States ramps up $25.7 billion of military aid to Ukraine, an obscure port at the North Carolina coast is turning out to be a major player in ammo shipments and the logistical battle in the war following Russias invasion in 2022.

The largest military port in the world is tucked along the west side of the Cape Fear River in Brunswick County near the town of Southport. Known by locals simply as Sunny Point, the Military Ocean Terminal Sunny Point handles the import and export of weapons, ammunition, explosives and military equipment for the United States Army.

Sunny Point is well known to locals, but with so many new residents to moving to the area each year  not to mention the constant coastal vacationers  the port is not known or mystery to many.

Hidden behind the 16,000 acres of high security is a complex of bunkers where bombs and other explosives are stored to separate them from other groups in case of an explosion.

Military Ocean Terminal Sunny Point. DVIDS image

The entire Sunny Point complex  which features its own military rail line  has a blast area of three miles around to help protect a fast-growing population from explosions of items such as rockets, missiles, howitzers, grenades, projectiles, and pyrotechnics.

The blast area expands east across the Cape Fear River onto Pleasure Island in New Hanover County, where nothing is allowed to be built.

Sunny Point is the key ammunition shipping point on the Atlantic Coast, the Armys primary East Coast deep-water port, and one of a handful of Department of Defense terminals equipped to handle containerized ammunition.

Shipping at Sunny Point since Ukraine invasion

Since 2019, the port has seen a more than 50 percent increase in tonnage shipped, according to data provided to CBS 17 by the 596th Transportation Brigade, which oversees Sunny Point.

Shipments to Ukraine as of last month include 2.1 million rounds of artillery, about 5,000 air defense missiles, 308,000 anti-tank rounds or systems and 408 million rounds for small arms, according to U.S. Transportation Command, which oversees Sunny Point.

Military Ocean Terminal Sunny Point. DVIDS image

In a high-profile report in late 2022, the U.S. Transportation Command general noted Sunny Point handled 2,000 containers of ammunition and other equipment headed for Europe in the opening months of the war.

The amount of ammo and other military gear shipped at Sunny Point has soared since 2020 when there was 120,522 measurement tons handled. In 2022 and 2023, the number was around 183,000 for each year  an increase of just over 50 percent, the 596th Transportation Brigade reports.

Built during the Korean War, Sunny Point serves as a transfer point between trucks, railroads, and ships for moving weapons, military equipment, and ammunition.

Over the last six years, the lowest year for shipping was in 2019, but 2020 was only slightly higher.

Here are the yearly totals of measurement tons handled by Sunny Point, according to the 596th Transportation Brigade.

Fiscal year 2018: 132293

Fiscal year 2019: 119413

Fiscal year 2020: 120522

Fiscal year 2021: 155208

Fiscal year 2022: 183923

Fiscal year 2023: 182966

With three wharves, the terminal can handle six container vessels simultaneously and has a greater ammunition handling capability than all other Department of Defense munitions terminals combined.

Military Ocean Terminal Sunny Point. DVIDS image

Security concerns at the North Carolina coast

Poland has recently witnessed a string of fires, and officials have been investigating whether these could be the results of sabotage by Russian or Belarusian secret services in reaction to Polish support for Ukraine.

Wherever were fighting is where were likely sending or receiving cargo, Steven Kerr, the Sunny Point deputy to the commander, said last year.

Harbor police on the Cape Fear River at Military Ocean Terminal Sunny Point. DVIDS image

At Sunny Point, a large buffer assists with security. On the Cape Fear River, there are special security rules ordering all but cleared vessels to enter the Sunny Point area. Even boats in the main Cape Fear channel are ordered to keep moving past Sunny Point as they head upstream to the main Port of Wilmington or exit the river.

But, a large study by the Cape Fear Council of Governments in 2019 found the rail line to Sunny Point is an issue. That study recommended the U.S. Government obtain full ownership of the rail corridor to Leland to explore options for sealing the corridor, to the extent practical, to limit trespassing and other unauthorized entry.

Google maps image

Also of concern in the report is access to the road leading to Sunny Points northern gate on Plantation Road. That road poses security issues given the remoteness of the area and lack of other activity along the road, officials said.

Coastal population growth a worry

The 2019 report, which focused joint land use, found the growing population is a concern. Brunswick County is the states fastest-growing county by population.

When the U.S. Army first scouted for a military terminal location in 1950, Brunswick Countys population stood at just over 19,000, and Southport, just downriver from Sunny Point had only 1,700 residents.

Military Ocean Terminal Sunny Point. DVIDS image

The county now has more than 150,000 residents  and a massive amount of seasonal vacationers to various beach towns and communities.

Boiling Spring Lakes and Leland have grown along either end of the Sunny Point rail corridor, with estimated populations of 6,400 and nearly 29,000.

The concerns about Sunny Point include traffic  and how people might evacuate during an explosion or massive safety problem. Other concerns are the large populations along the rail corridors  where all the explosives are carried and where an incident could create a deadly and damaging explosion.

In addition, the rail crossings now must deal with much more road traffic than in the past, making a collision between a vehicle and train more possible. One recommendation in the plan includes spending money to create more overpass crossings.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to CBS17.com.
Voters participate in the primary election on June 11, 2024, at the Bismarck Event Center. (Kyle Martin/For the North Dakota Monitor)

North Dakota voters approved a ballot measure Tuesday that would limit the age of members of Congress, though its likely to face a court challenge.

About 61% of voters supported the measure while 39% opposed it, with 374 of 385 precincts reporting.

The measure creates a constitutional amendment prohibiting North Dakotans from being elected or appointed to Congress if they would reach their 81st birthday before the end of their term.

Jared Hendrix, chair of the sponsoring committee, and Deputy Chief Attorney General Claire Ness have both said they expect the measure to be challenged in court. The state estimates the measure could cost up to $1 million to defend in court, a figure Hendrix called inflated.

The measure would not affect any North Dakota members of Congress in office or any candidates seeking election this year.

The Secretary of States Office approved the measure for the ballot in March after verifying it had received more than the 31,164 required signatures from North Dakota voters.

Hendrix has said age limits are necessary to make sure North Dakotas congressional delegates are healthy enough for the job and can adequately represent their constituents.

We just decided talking about it, thinking about it, that 81 was a good number where theres virtually no opposition at that point, Hendrix told the North Dakota Monitor in a February interview.

Voters cast ballots during the 2024 primary at a voting precinct at Midway Lanes in Mandan on June 11, 2024. (Michael Achterling/North Dakota Monitor)

Two Mandan voters had split opinions on the ballot measure.

Judy McDowall said she supported it because she doesnt have confidence that someone approaching 80 can adequately represent constituents in Washington.

I dont like all these people with the age that they are in the U.S. Senate. I think that should be changed, absolutely, McDowall said.

Ken Hoff, meanwhile, said he opposed the measure. He said voters can make the ultimate decision with their ballots if they believe a candidate is too old.

Everybody should be able to run, even if theyre 90, Hoff said.

The post North Dakota voters approve age limit for Congress appeared first on North Dakota Monitor.
Voters participate in the primary election on June 11, 2024, at the Bismarck Event Center. (Courtesy of Kyle Martin)

North Dakota voters approved a ballot measure Tuesday that would limit the age of members of Congress, though its likely to face a court challenge.

About 61% of voters supported the measure while 39% opposed it, with 374 of 385 precincts reporting.

The measure creates a constitutional amendment prohibiting North Dakotans from being elected or appointed to Congress if they would reach their 81st birthday before the end of their term.

Jared Hendrix, chair of the sponsoring committee, and Deputy Chief Attorney General Claire Ness have both said they expect the measure to be challenged in court. The state estimates the measure could cost up to $1 million to defend in court, a figure Hendrix called inflated.

The measure would not affect any North Dakota members of Congress in office or any candidates seeking election this year.

The Secretary of States Office approved the measure for the ballot in March after verifying it had received more than the 31,164 required signatures from North Dakota voters.

Hendrix has said age limits are necessary to make sure North Dakotas congressional delegates are healthy enough for the job and can adequately represent their constituents.

We just decided talking about it, thinking about it, that 81 was a good number where theres virtually no opposition at that point, Hendrix told the North Dakota Monitor in a February interview.

Two Mandan voters had split opinions on the ballot measure.

Judy McDowall said she supported it because she doesnt have confidence that someone approaching 80 can adequately represent constituents in Washington.

I dont like all these people with the age that they are in the U.S. Senate. I think that should be changed, absolutely, McDowall said.

Ken Hoff, meanwhile, said he opposed the measure. He said voters can make the ultimate decision with their ballots if they believe a candidate is too old.

Everybody should be able to run, even if theyre 90, Hoff said.

This article first appeared in the North Dakota Monitor, a sister site of the Nebraska Examiner in the States Newsroom network.

The post North Dakota voters approve age limit for Congress appeared first on Nebraska Examiner.
A ballot measure to institute an age limit on members of Congress will pass in North Dakota, according to a projection from Decision Desk HQ.

The measure will prohibit anyone from being elected or appointed to represent the state in the Senate or the House if they would be 81 years old by the end of the year preceding the end of their term. But the measure will likely face legal challenges before it can go into effect.

The Constitution sets minimum age requirements for those serving in Congress  25 years old for the House and 30 years old for the Senate  but it does not reference any upper limit. A 1995 Supreme Court ruling that decided states cannot impose additional restrictions on candidates for Congress, like term limits, may be a barrier for the measure to proceed.

The measure would not affect presidential candidates. But its passage comes as questions have been raised about how old is too old, or if any limit should exist, to serve in public office. The two major parties presumptive presidential nominees, President Biden and former President Trump, are both the two oldest individuals to be major nominees for president in U.S. history.

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NORTH KINGSTOWN  The Town Council on Monday voted to deny a request to fly the rainbow Pride flag in front of Town Hall moments after adopting a policy barring all but official government flags from town-owned flagpoles.

The move was in part a reaction to a 2022 Supreme Court decision that found the City of Boston improperly discriminated against a Christian group by refusing to raise its flag in Boston City Hall Plaza. The court ruled unanimously that because any group could have a flag raising, the "content" of the flag was private speech and couldn't be regulated by the government.

At Monday's meeting, North Kingstown's lawyer, James Callaghan, told the Town Council that it needed to adopt a policy governing what flags flew in front of Town Hall. If you dont have a policy, you cant deny one group or the other, Callaghan said, according to a recording of the meeting. Opening the door to any other flags opens us up to potential litigation down the line.

Council members voiced support for Pride flag and Pride month

All five of us walked in the Pride parade. And so I think that its pretty common knowledge that we feel that we support the gay community, Councilwoman Kimberly Ann Page said. We dont have any problems personally having that flag here, but if we dont have a flag policy, we open ourselves up.

I believe that North Kingstown should be an inclusive town, welcoming to everybody, Councilman Matthew B. McCoy said. But, he added, I do not want to open the door, and then start going down this path that we have to have lengthy discussions about Confederate flags, neo-Nazi group flags or Trump flags.

"I just think, if you want to display those things on your property or your vehicle, thats your business, McCoy said. I think its in the best interest of the town to have a more conservative flag policy.

What's North Kingstown's 'more conservative flag policy?'

McCoy also said, I dont want to see the flagpole in front of Town Hall become the battleground for our nations culture war.

In the end, the council voted 3-1 to adopt a policy limiting the flags flown at Town Hall to the U.S. flag, the Rhode Island flag, the town flag and the POW-MIA flag. Page voted against and Councilwoman Katherine K. Anderson was absent, caring for a sick child.

"That's what most municipalities are now doing" in response to the Supreme Court decision, Steven Brown, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Rhode Island, told The Providence Journal on Tuesday. He added that it's permissible for municipalities to fly Pride flags  and other non-government flags  if they adopt a policy making flag flying government speech, rather than private speech.

"It's the government's flagpole and government speech," said Brown. "It's the municipality itself saying this is their view."

Indeed, after the Supreme Court ruled against it, Boston adopted a new policy saying that its flagpoles are not a forum for public expression and that, in addition to government flags, it can fly flags in connection with official events proclaimed by the mayor or approved by the City Council.

This month, Boston raised a Pride flag over City Hall Plaza.

This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: North Kingstown nixes Pride flag, limits policy to government flags
BEIJING, June 12 (Xinhua) -- China deeply mourns the tragic death of Malawian Vice President Saulos Chilima and other victims in a recent plane crash, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said on Wednesday.

Spokesperson Lin Jian conveyed China's condolences to relatives of the victims at a regular press briefing.

The vice president and nine other individuals, who were on board a military aircraft, have been confirmed dead after the plane went missing Monday morning, Malawian President Lazarus Chakwera said Tuesday. 
(KRON)  All northbound lanes of Highway 101 were blocked in Morgan Hill after a fatal crash on Tuesday night, according to California Highway Patrols traffic log. The lanes were reopened as of Wednesday morning.

The crash happened at about 9:20 p.m. in the area of Cochrane Road. A 19-year-old San Jose woman riding a motorcycle died, CHP said.

Four vehicles were involved in the crash. One was stopped on the highway due to a separate crash that had just happened.

The motorcyclist crashed into the back of two cars for reasons still under investigation, CHP said. The driver was thrown off and came to rest underneath a stopped pickup truck.

None of the other drivers were injured. It is unclear whether drugs and/or alcohol were factors in the crash.

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Oslo will allocate 240 million euros ($257 million) to Ukraine as air defense support, Norway's Foreign Ministry announced on June 11.

The ministry said that 125 million euros ($134 million) of that sum would be devoted to the re-procurement of Patriot missiles for Ukraine under a German-led initiative.

While 32 missiles have already been sent over the past two days, an additional 68 will be delivered in the coming weeks, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said on June 11. Denmark and the Netherlands will also join the deliveries.

Berlin launched the air defense initiative in April amid Kyiv's increasingly dire need for air defenses, facing heavy Russian aerial attacks against population centers and the energy grid.

Norway did not specify what the rest of the pledged sum would be spent on.

Oslo has recently ramped up efforts to increase defense production, both for domestic needs and for aid to Ukraine. Norway announced a new package of military aid for Kyiv in late May worth around $190 million.

Read also: Norway to allocate over $600 million for Ukrainian air defense, ammunition

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
The Lee Board of County Commissioners approved an amendment to an agreement with the city of Bonita Springs to expand the scope of Bonita Beach nourishment efforts south to the county line.

Crews build an and berm at Bowditch Point on Fort Myers Beach on Monday, April 15, 2024. For this part of the project, according to the Fort Myers Beach town website, over 50,000 tons sand from a mine is being trucked in and then dispersed on the beach from Bowditch Point to Crescent Beach to aid in sea turtle nesting among other benefits. Fort Myers Beach Town Council approved a $1.89 million dollar grant from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection to fund the North Estero Berm project by the Town Council of Fort Myers Beach at their April 1st meeting. The project is expected to be completed in May. A beach renourishment project is is expected to follow this project.

The expanded scope was important due to damage caused by Hurricane Ian in 2022.

The northern 0.9 miles of Bonita Beach is designated by the State of Florida as a critically eroded shoreline. Lee County has worked to manage the erosion since 1995, including cooperation with Bonita Springs since its incorporation.

Hurricane Ian damaged all of Bonita Beach including the historically stable shorelines to the south of the designed nourishment project. The city requested and was granted over $4 million in state funding for a one-time repair of beaches from the nourishment project limits south to the county line to cover all the costs associated with this extension.

The work will restore the storm protection, environmental benefits such as sea turtle nesting, and recreational opportunities along the South Bonita Beach area, including county parks and beach accesses.

The Terraces to host celebration of 72-year wedding anniversary

Residents and staff from The Terraces at Bonita Springs joined in the celebration of a 72-year wedding anniversary of Don and Pat King on June 8.

The Kings met in high school and were married in the summer of 1952 in Albion Indiana. This couple have 4 children, 11 grandchildren and 20 great grandchildren.

MY Self Wellness to expand access to ketamine therapy

MY Self Wellness  a ketamine clinic who operates in the psychedelic space in Bonita Springs has partnered with Enthea to expand access to ketamine therapy through employee benefit packages. Enthea is a third-party administrator of health insurance plans and the only one offering psychedelic healthcare as a workplace benefit.

MY Self Wellness is the first ketamine clinic in Florida to accept Enthea.

Ketamine therapy is not covered by most insurance companies, forcing those seeking treatment to pay out of pocket.

For more information, visit myselfwellness.com.

Bonita Springs native recognized on SRUs spring 2024 deans list

Sophia Condit of Bonita Springs was named to Slippery Rock Universitys deans list for the spring 2024 semester. The dean's list consists of SRU undergraduate students who earned an adjusted semester grade-point average of 3.5 or higher, based on a schedule of at least 12 newly attempted and earned credits.

Slippery Rock University is a four-year, public, coeducational, regional comprehensive university that offers a broad array of undergraduate and select graduate programs to more than 8,000 students. SRU is one of 10 institutions and 14 campuses that make up Pennsylvanias State System of Higher Education. SRU is fully accredited by the Middle State Commission on Higher Learning.

This article originally appeared on Naples Daily News: Now You Know: Commissioners include Bonita Beach in nourishment effort
Exeter Hospitals Lucille Marvin, RN, honored with 2024 Excellence in Nursing Award

Lucille "Cille" Marvin, BSN, RN, CDCES, NEA-BC, program manager and director of the HealthReach Diabetes, Endocrine & Nutrition Center of Exeter Hospital, receives the 2024 Excellence in Nursing Award for Ambulatory Care Nursing from Ernesto Burden, publisher of New Hampshire Magazine.

EXETER  Lucille Cille Marvin, BSN, RN, CDCES, NEA-BC, program manager and director of the HealthReach Diabetes, Endocrine & Nutrition Center of Exeter Hospital, was honored recently for her outstanding contributions to the nursing profession as a recipient of a 2024 Excellence in Nursing Award from New Hampshire Magazine in partnership with the New Hampshire Nurses Association.

Marvin received the Ambulatory Care Nursing Award for her dedication to the health and well-being of her patients and colleagues and her commitment to the highest standards of nursing at all levels.

The Excellence in Nursing Awards honor nurses in the states health care community who go above and beyond to comfort, heal and educate while demonstrating the critical role of nursing in achieving comprehensive health care. Marvin was one of 13 nurses statewide recognized this year at the seventh annual Excellence in Nursing Awards ceremony presented by New Hampshire Magazine and the New Hampshire Nurses Association on May 22 at Grappone Conference Center in Concord.

Person-centric care is central to what we do, Marvin said. We have an amazing team at HealthReach Diabetes, and we are always seeking the gold standard as a center of excellence in diabetes care with an emphasis on compassion and engagement. I am thrilled to have the opportunity to nurture our talented team, bring about change and find partners to allow us to provide extraordinary care to our patients.

Marvin began her career as a staff nurse in the Intensive Coronary Care Unit at Lahey Hospital & Medical Center in Burlington, Mass. In 1996, she joined Exeter Hospital as a nurse in the cardiovascular rehabilitation program and wellness services department, where she became interested in managing chronic conditions such as diabetes and developed the hospitals Diabetes Fitness Program. In 2007, she was named program manager and director of HealthReach Diabetes, Endocrine & Nutrition Center, charged with managing both inpatient and outpatient diabetes care for Exeter Hospital.

A certified diabetes care and education specialist, Marvin oversees the Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support team in helping individuals better manage their health and live well. The teams specialists provide individual consultations, group education classes, insulin pump and continuous glucose monitoring programs, a diabetes fitness program, and community education sessions.

Marvin is a member of the American Diabetes Association and the Association of Diabetes Care and Education Specialists, of which she serves as an executive member and past president of its New Hampshire Coordinating Body. She is also an executive member and past officer of the New Hampshire Society for Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation.

Valerie Greene, DNP, RN, NE-BC, CEN, director of cardiovascular services, HealthReach, and community education at Exeter Hospital, who nominated Marvin for the award, called her a visionary who is always proactively seeking new ways to improve patient care and build engagement with her team.

Families First and Goodwin Community Health earn national recognition

PORTSMOUTH AND SOMERSWORTH  Families First Health and Support Center and Goodwin Community Health, operating together as Greater Seacoast Community Health, have met the requirements to renew their highest-level recognition as a Patient-Centered Medical Home.

The Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH) is a health-care delivery model that focuses on putting each patient at the center of a care team. Providers and other health care services coordinate with one another and include the patient in the design of their individual care plan. The model is meant to connect patients with the people and organizations from which they receive care and drive improvements in patient satisfaction and quality of care.

PCMH recognition is given by the National Committee for Quality Assurance, a private, nonprofit organization dedicated to improving health care quality. To obtain the recognition, practices must demonstrate that they adhere to specific clinical standards, including care coordination, care management, patient-centeredness, access and quality. More information is at tinyurl.com/PCMHconcepts.

To support the patient-centered mission of reducing costs while improving quality, Families First and Goodwin have focused on improving the tools and systems used by patients and staff and forming closer relationships between patients, their providers, and the other services located at the two health centers.

Families First and Goodwin had each been recognized as Patient-Centered Medical Homes since 2011, prior to merging in 2018 under the Greater Seacoast Community Health umbrella. For more information, visit GetCommunityHealth.org.

Exeter Hospital named 2024 LGBTQ+ Healthcare Equality Leader

EXETER  Exeter Hospital, part of Beth Israel Lahey Health, has earned the distinction of LGBTQ+ Healthcare Equality Leader for 2024, the highest honor awarded by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation (HRC) in its annual Healthcare Equality Index.

The distinction recognizes Exeter Hospital for its inclusive care for LGBTQ+ patients, visitors and employees.

A record 1,065 health care facilities participated in the 16th iteration of HRCs 2024 HEI survey; only 36% (384 facilities) achieved the LGBTQ+ Healthcare Equality Leader designation. Exeter Hospital is the only facility in New Hampshire, and in the tri-state region of New Hampshire, Maine and Vermont, to receive the top honor.

Exeter Hospital earned perfect scores in four categories: Non-Discrimination and Staff Training, Patient Services & Support, Employee Benefits & Policies, and Patient & Community Education. The hospital was credited for its LGBTQ+-inclusive patient, visitation and employment non-discrimination policies; providing LGBTQ+ clinical services; offering at least one health plan that covers medically necessary services for transgender individuals; and its community outreach and promotion efforts to the LGBTQ+ community to further awareness that the healthcare facility is a welcoming and affirming setting. Exeter Hospital also received a perfect rating in the area of Responsible Citizenship.

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Nursing award, LGBTQ+ Healthcare Equality Leader: Seacoast health news
(Bloomberg) -- The long-delayed $16 billion rail tunnel project connecting New York and New Jersey has received the final nod from the federal government that it will be receiving its $6.88 billion full funding agreement.

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It has taken so much work, and so many steps that I feel very exhilarated, but not surprised, New York Senator Chuck Schumer said in a phone interview. And now its there even if there is a new president, the money has to be used for this.

The project seeks to ease congestion under the Hudson River by adding a new tunnel and making upgrades to the more than a century-old existing channel. The rail structure that runs up and down the US East Coast comes to a choke point at the border of New York and New Jersey.

Both NJ Transit and Amtrak trains now have to pass through a single tunnel to enter Manhattan. One minor disruption to that narrow passage can ripple across both agencies and cause headaches for commuters.

The Gateway plan is designed to alleviate that stress by providing a critical update for the Northeast corridor  Amtraks busiest route  which carries more than 2,200 daily trains and stretches from Washington to Boston.

Gateways sponsors had been rushing to get the full funding agreement in place ahead of the November election. Politics have derailed the effort in the past. In 2010, then New Jersey Governor Chris Christie canceled the project, saying the state couldnt afford it. The Gateway project was proposed a year later but eventually stalled under the Trump administration.

The full funding agreement for the $6.88 billion CIG grant is the puzzle piece that completes $12 billion in federal funding for the Hudson Tunnel Project, the largest ever federal commitment to a mass transit project, Gateway Development Commission spokesperson Steve Sigmund said in an emailed statement, referring to the capital investment grants.

The federal government is required to notify Congress 15 business days in advance that it plans to award to funding to the project.

The massive plan includes construction of a new underwater tunnel as well as replacement of the existing one that was damaged by Hurricane Sandy in 2012.

The Gateway tunnel is one of a number of efforts to revamp the nations roads, rail and bridges that President Joe Biden has been touting. Biden has said the project is key for the entire Northeast region.

(Updates with details on Hudson River chokepoint in third paragraph.)

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NYC dad who fatally shot brother, killed himself left manifesto, snapped after family ridicule over failed grocery store: cops

The father of three who fatally shot his brother inside the familys Queens home before killing himself snapped after his family ridiculed him over financial shortcomings and his failed grocery store, cops said Tuesday.

Karamjit Multani, 33, left a detailed, prolonged text message that officials described as a manifesto about ongoing tension in the family before he shot his 27-year-old brother Vipanpal Multani Saturday night nine times in the tragic murder-suicide.

NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny said Karamjit Multani sent a message to his wife before the shooting, describing the abuse he suffered allegedly at the hands of his family.

33-year-old Karamjit Multani (right) and 27-year-old Vipanpal Multani (left) with their sister. CBS2

There was some indication that he made his son a sheikh [religious title] where apparently the only person supposed to do that is the eldest male in the family, which would have been the father, Kenny explained Tuesday.

But they were fighting about that and fighting about financial problems and fighting about the preferential treatment he felt his brother was getting because he was more successful.

The turmoil took a deadly turn after the familys patriarch gifted both of his sons money and property so they could start their own businesses, Kenny said.

Vipanpal Multani started a deli in Valley Stream that was a success while his murderous brother attempted to open a grocery store in Indiana that failed miserably and went bankrupt.

A lot of tension between him and a brother over snide comments about how hes a failure, Kenny said. The fathers giving him a hard time about the store not being successful out of Indiana.

The night before the shooting, the father told his killer son he wanted him out of the house, leading Karamjit Multani to put his wife and three kids on a plane back to Indiana.

And then while the family was having dinner on Saturday, an argument broke out leading everyone to go their separate ways before gunshots rattled the South Richmond Hill neighborhood.

Karamjit Multani had a failed business in Indiana, cops said. CBS2

The 27-year-old brother goes to his room to go to sleep where the shooter comes in, begins to shoot him with two pistols, Kenny said, adding, The father comes into the room, manages to grab one pistol from the shooter. Mom throws herself on top of her 27-year-old son while hes still shooting as she gets shot.

Karamjit Multani then fled from the house and ran down the street before he died by suicide.

We have him on video removing his turban and shoots himself one time in the head, killing himself, Kenny said. As hes running he drops the gun picks it up has an accidental discharge, runs once a few more steps, stops and just shoots himself in the head.

Vipanpal Multani was shot nine times, including four times in the torso and once in the chest and chin, police said. The mother was shot in the arm and torso, and rushed to the hospital.

While police said the shooting stemmed from simmering acrimony, a family friend, Mandeep, told The Post Tuesday murder-suicide was out of the blue.

Family and friends were seen coming and going from the house as they were ushered in a Rolls Royce SUV .

The shooting has rocked the Queens neighborhood. CBS2

Neighbors were also left stunned, describing the family as super quiet.

Thats why we cant believe [it]. They looked nice, Zah, who only have her first name, said of the two brothers.

Another neighbor, Gina Fernandez, 35, she used to see Karamjit playing outside with his three kids and noted the two siblings appeared to be close.

We never heard the brothers fighting, she added. Theyre always together so I dont know what happened. Theyre the best brothers, you know, hang out togetherThey were nice persons. All of them.

The grieving father previously told CBS 2 he wasnt sure what sparked the shooting.

Not big problems, he said when asked about if the two brothers had issues. Sometimes little disagreements, no problems.
New York City will receive $27 million as part of a year-old settlement against Juul Labs, the controversial purveyor of vape pens that was ordered to pay out a total of $462 million as part of a court deal in April 2023, city and state leaders announced Wednesday.

The payout to the city is part of a larger pot of money  $112.7 million  that went to New York State as part of the total e-cigarette settlement. Five other states, including California and Illinois, as well as Washington, D.C., are also receiving payouts are part of the settlement.

New York State Attorney General Letitia James, who sued Juul in 2019 for deceptive and misleading marketing, said Wednesday the money would pay for education, for prevention, for research and enforcement programs to prevent kids and young adults from vaping.

Juul lit a nationwide public health crisis and put addictive products in the hands of minors who thought they were doing something harmless, she said during a press conference at the Maxine Greene High School on the Upper West Side. E-cigarette use among middle- and high school students more than doubled after Juul was first introduced in 2015.

A substantial portion of the cash to the city, $14.9 million, will go toward its schools. Where exactly Mayor Adams administration will put the rest of the money was not immediately clear, though it could presumably go toward enforcement efforts and public health research. Adams deputy mayor, Fabien Levy, said there are limits on how the money can be spent and that permissible options include vaping prevention, nicotine cessation and enforcement.

It allows us to be forward thinking on education and driving a real program towards addressing this issue, Mayor Adams said. It must be youth led. Its impacting our young people, and theyre smart enough to come up with the right strategies and the right information to go after how this has just really permeated their youthfulness.

One possible use for the money could be disposing of the seized vape products.

Councilwoman Gale Brewer pointed out Wednesday that disposal remains a challenge because of the expense associated with it.
NEW YORK (PIX11)  The NOVA Music Festival Exhibition remembering the Oct. 7 terrorist attacks in Israel will remain open in New York City until late June, organizers said.

The four-week festival opened on April 22 at 35 Wall St. in Downtown Manhattan before it was extended until June 22, organizers said. The interactive installation focuses on remembering those who were killed at a music festival in Israel on Oct. 7, 2023.

The exhibition premiered in Tel Aviv for 10 weeks before it opened in the 50,000-square-foot space in Lower Manhattan.

The exhibit drew hundreds of pro-Palestinian protesters on Monday, leading Gov. Kathy Hochul to speak out against the protest in a social media post.

The Nova exhibit memorializes the victims of the October 7 attack. The antisemitic displays that took place outside of the venue last night are abhorrent. Hateful acts like these have no place in New York, Hochul posted on X.

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NEW YORK (PIX11)  Renters and real estate agents are expected to rally in front of City Hall on Wednesday during a hearing on broker fees.

New York City apartment availability is at its lowest level in 50 years. Renters argue that theyre paying for a broker they never even hired, on top of upfront costs of first and last months rent and moving fees.

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The fees can be as much as a months rent or 15% of an entire years lease.

The City Council will discuss the Fairness in Apartment Rental Expenses Act, also known as the FARE Act. It proposes that whoever hires the broker has to pay them, instead of automatically putting the expense onto the renter.

Bronx woman won affordable housing lottery after 2 years of trying

Real estate agents argue that they should be paid for their work, and if the system changes, then landlords will find another way to squeeze tenants for more money.

The FARE Act also proposes transparent and negotiable broker fees and renters having the choice to use a broker.

NYC affordable housing lotteries with security cameras

Tenants rights groups argue nearly every other major city in the U.S. has these protections.

The hearing will be held at 10 a.m.

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.

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Participants communicate during the seventh edition of the International Conference on Financing Investment and Trade in Africa (FITA2024) held in Tunis, Tunisia, June 11, 2024. (Photo by Adel Ezzine/Xinhua)

TUNIS, June 12 (Xinhua) -- Tunisia could benefit from its membership in the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and become a gateway to Africa with its huge investment potential, Tunisian officials have said.

"Our country offers various investment opportunities with the African market, particularly in the pharmaceutical, textile and automobile components sectors," Tunisian Minister of Industry, Mines and Energy Fatma Thabet Chiboub was quoted by Tunis Afrique Presse (TAP) as saying Tuesday.

Meanwhile, president of Tunisia Africa Business Council (TABC) Anis Jaziri said that Tunisia, through its membership in the AfCFTA, could benefit in many ways, including exemption from customs duties.

"Tunisia is a strategic investment destination, due to its openness to both Europe and Africa," Jaziri told the seventh edition of the International Conference on Financing Investment and Trade in Africa - FITA2024, currently underway in the Tunisian capital city Tunis, reported TAP. 

This photo taken on June 11, 2024 shows a scene during the seventh edition of the International Conference on Financing Investment and Trade in Africa (FITA2024) held in Tunis, Tunisia. (Photo by Adel Ezzine/Xinhua)
(KRON)  A thief who broke into a U.S. Postal Service mail truck in Oakland and led police on a wrong-way high-speed chase on Interstate-880 was sentenced to serve two years in prison.

Craig Curtis Freeman, 35, of Sacramento, pleaded guilty and was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Haywood Gilliam on May 29, according to the U.S. Attorneys Office Northern District of California.

The case stems from an incident on Dec. 30, 2022, when a mail carrier heard a gunshot and saw two people grabbing mail out of his U.S. Postal Service truck.

At the time, there was a surge in burglaries, robberies, and assaults targeting postal workers in the San Francisco Bay Area, prosecutors said.

In his plea agreement, Freeman admitted that he was driving a stolen car when he pulled up behind the mail truck in Oakland, broke the lock of the trucks rear cargo door, removed more than 700 pieces of mail, placed it into the stolen car, and drove away.

Law enforcement officers caught up with Freeman within minutes. While fleeing from officers, the duo crashed the stolen getaway vehicle into a truck. Freedman then jumped into the damaged truck and used to as a second getaway vehicle, prosecutors said.

Freeman drove the truck at a high rate of speed through the streets of San Leandro before entering I-880 North through the exit off-ramp. Freeman was able to evade police while driving the stolen truck in the wrong direction on the freeway but was later apprehended, the U.S. Attorneys Office wrote.

Pending eviction for people living in RVs near Lake Merced

A federal grand jury indicted Freeman on March 28, 2023 for breaking into a mail carrier facility, and possession of stolen mail, and mail theft. He pleaded guilty to all counts.

Postal Inspector in Charge Rafael Nunez said, There is no more important mission for us as federal agents than protecting postal workers from crime and violence. To any copycats or wannabes out there who might consider robbing a postal worker, I ask you to consider the years you will face in federal prison, the price on your head, and that postal inspectors will not stop hunting you.

U.S. Attorney Ismail Ramsey said federal laws are carefully crafted to protect the sanctity of the mail, including the sensitive information we entrust to the mail system; the safety of the federal employees and contractors who deliver the mail; and the federal property that is used to ensure mail delivery.

The case was the result of an investigation by the Alameda County Sheriffs Office, Oakland Police Department, and U.S. Postal Inspection Service.

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When guests arrived at the Kresge Foundation's centennial celebration Tuesday evening at the Detroit Institute of Arts, they weren't handed a program.

Instead, the program was included in the gifts that were handed to guests on their way out at the end of the evening.

That's because the keynote speaker and special surprise guest was 44th U.S. President Barack Obama, who was involved with Detroit's Grand Bargain that helped restore the city from bankruptcy. He also was involved in the bailout that saved the American auto industry during his time in office.

Former President Barack Obama participated in a fireside chat with Kresge CEO and President Rip Rapson as part of the foundations centennial celebration on June 11, 2024 at the Detroit Institute of the Arts.

Security was intense and tight at the DIA going into the invitation-only event, which started at 5 p.m. on a beautifully mild, sunny day in Midtown Detroit. 500 attendees were present for the bash, which chronicled the rise of the S.S. Kresge empire and advent of the foundation which has, to date, invested more than $1 billion in Detroit.

Kresge Foundation President and CEO Rip Rapson, in a fireside chat-style armchair conversation with the former POTUS, asked why Obama chose to throw his weight behind Detroit at a time when no one else would.

"The beginning of your term," Rapson recalled, "was a convergence of terribles. We had the automobile industry going into a bankruptcy/foreclosure crisis session. You have the mayor (Kwame Kilpatrick) and most of his colleagues headed to the penitentiary  a tough time. And yet, you and your administration put an unequivocal stake in the ground about Detroit's future.  So why do you do it?"

Obama explained that at the time, despite putting out fires around the world regarding China and the Greek financial crisis, Detroit remained a priority.

"We recognized that if Detroit doesn't bounce back, the auto industry doesn't bounce back. But also, not only Detroit as a city does not bounce back  that will have ripple effects across the region, across Michigan, across neighboring states, in the same way that our part of the imperative of saving the auto industry was that the supply chains, the restaurants that depended on workers who, once they got off work, going to eat on Main Street. It had so many ripple effects.  Well, that was true of the city of Detroit as well."

He said the scope of Detroit's turnaround is astounding, but it's just the beginning.

"Mayor Duggan came in, and congratulations to him for having exactly the attitude that the city needed at that point, which was not an ideological blocking  fixing street lamps, getting abandoned, dangerous buildings pulled down, revitalizing with the limited resources to the city and parts of the city that really needed help. And I could not have been prouder of the progress that was made. I think everybody here, including your report, can acknowledge there's still more progress to be done.  You're looking at 30 to 40 years of disinvestment and racial conflict and decisions that were often made from outside the city that made it more difficult for residents in the city to access opportunity. Some of those legacies still exist today.

"But what you are seeing here in the city is a testament to the capacity and people of good will working together  taking some risks and making some investments, strategic investments and calculated risks, but being willing to plant a flag and people converge around that. That creates a sense of hope and momentum."

Before Obama's introduction, Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan spoke about the Kresge Foundation's important role in the city's history. He said that people think Detroit's recovery started downtown, but it really began with Kresge's investment in Midtown Detroit.

"No city is more important to us than our hometown," Rapson said. "We have stood proudly with Detroit through its struggles, and we thrill at its triumphs  the increasing health and vitality of neighborhoods, the stunning residential and commercial revitalization of Woodward Avenue and the urban core, the pathbreaking formation of a streetcar that will soon be absorbed into a broader regional transit system, the creation of the pioneering cradle-to-career educational campus at Marygrove and so many others."

Obama said the exciting thing about the Kresge Foundation as a philanthropic organization is that "it hasn't always played it safe," because it has to adapt to new circumstances and opportunities.

"What Kresge has been willing to do is say, 'We'll take some calculated risks. And we're going to use these resources to jumpstart people coming together to change their surroundings.'

"One of the benefits of being President is you have this amazing vantage point to see across the landscape, people in every walk of life, people in every circumstance.  The highs and lows, and the variety of lives that are living on this planet, and those of us who have so much. The least we can do is to take some risk on behalf of those who don't."

Rapson asked the former President for advice as the foundation enters its second century.

"I've said this to my daughters," Obama said from the stage. "I think they've internalized it. People who are really successful? Who don't attribute about 90% of it to luck and other people helping them along the way? Aren't that bright.

"Keep doing what you're doing. You don't need advice. You just need a thank you."

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Obama surprises Kresge centennial guests at Detroit Institute of Arts
Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) and Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) said Tuesday they will introduce legislation in response to the increased ethics concerns related to the Supreme Court.

Raskin and Ocasio-Cortez, who serve as the ranking and vice-ranking members, respectively, on the House Oversight and Accountability Committee, were part of a committee roundtable Tuesday regarding these concerns. They explored various avenues for holding Supreme Court justices accountable, they told MSNBC anchor Chris Hayes.

And so, it is not a question  of if Congress has jurisdiction and power over the Supreme Court. It is, what power are we going to exercise in order to rein in a fundamentally unaccountable and rogue court? Ocasio-Cortez said Tuesday night.

Congressman Raskin and myself will be introducing forthcoming legislation to even have the Supreme Court be subject to the same $50 gift rule that he and I are subject to, as everyone else who are members of Congress, she added later.

The Supreme Court has come under scrutiny over the past year following a series of reports detailing various undisclosed luxury trips, gifts, and questionable extrajudicial activities involving multiple justices. The reports spiked interest in congressional oversight of the justices behavior and the gifts they accept.

Senate Judiciary Committee Democrats have repeatedly pushed for legislation to increase oversight of the Supreme Court. This pressure increased last month after reports surfaced about a pair of flags flown over Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alitos homes, including an upside-down American flag over his Alexandria, Va., residence in the days surrounding the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot and President Bidens inauguration.

Its the highest court in the land with the lowest ethical standards. These are the only governmental officials in the land who are not governed by a binding ethics code. Theres no process by which we can hold any of them accountable, Raskin said.

And so, we need to clean that up. And thats why we said were going to start with something simple that the whole country will be able to understand immediately and intuitively, Raskin said. We want a $50 gift ban for U.S. Supreme Court justices. They make $300,000 a year. Pay for your own lunch and pay for your own vacation.

Earlier on Tuesday, Senate Judiciary Committee Chair Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) told reporters Democrats are planning to try moving legislation on Supreme Court ethics on the floor this week via unanimous consent. A Republican senator is widely expected to deny consent.

The Supreme Court adopted a new code of ethics in November, but Democrats said its impact is hampered by the ability for each justice to enforce it upon themselves.

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Oct. 7 survivors describe horror of anti-Israel protesters taunting them at NYC Nova memorial: Why do they hate us?

Horror gripped Menashe Manzuri as he watched on Monday as an anti-Israel mob swarm the Manhattan exhibit memorial for the Oct. 7 terror attacks and viciously echo the chants of terrorists who murdered his two daughters.

I cannot find the right words how I felt when someone is shouting and supporting the people who murder your daughters, Manzuri said Tuesday.

It was like they killed me again and again and again.

The anti-Israel protesters lit red flares outside the exhibit on Monday night. FreedomNewsTV

The protest Monday outside Nova Music Festival Exhibition on Wall Street rattled exhibit goers, including survivors of the attack on the festival and family members of victims.

They described being trapped inside while protesters supporting Hamas raged outside.

At least four Oct. 7 survivors huddled at the exhibit in a panic as protesters mobbed outside, lit flares and chanted Long live in the Intifada.

Menashe Manzuri, whose daughters were killed in the Oct. 7 attacks, recounted how protesters outside a memorial killed him. Steven Vago/NY Post

An anti-Israel mob swarmed the Nova Music Festival Exhibition Monday. FreedomNewsTV

Manzuri, 58, clutched pictures of his daughters Roya, 22, and Norelle, 25, as he recounted to Mayor Eric Adams  who visited the exhibit Tuesday  how they were slaughtered and burned by Hamas terrorists armed with hand grenades.

He broke down in tears and collapsed into Adams, who embraced him.

Nova festival cofounder Ofir Amir, 41, who was shot in both legs fleeing from Hamas terrorists, had left the exhibit five minutes before protesters arrived Monday, lit flares and chanted Long live in the Intifada.

The callous display left Amir, questioning how he could face such a scene in the US.

We came here just out of the love for the music and the festival. It has nothing to do with politics, he told The Post.

Why do you hate us so much?

He said he wishes he could speak to the protesters. They dont want to talk, he added.

The protest Monday was widely condemned. NY Post

Tal Shimony had finished telling the story an audience of 100 about her escape from terrorists at Nova when a producer delivered the shocking news: Theres an intifada outside.

It was triggering, said Shimony, 25.

I had a panic attack. I was shocked. I thought, How can this be happening? said the Israeli, adding that she saw a mob armed with Hamas and Hezbollah flags outside. I thought, How can this be happening again?

Even those who hadnt lived through the terror attacks were left shaken by the protesters.

The protest was described as triggering by one Oct. 7 survivor. FreedomNewsTV

Jessica Brucker, 29, a sales manager who develops events for Bisnow, found the exhibit itself especially profound, given her Jewish heritage and love of music.

But she had little time to reflect, because as she neared the end security guards had blocked the exits to keep exhibit goers safely inside as the protest cleared.

People are outside lighting fires and wishing for more deaths, she said. To me, that doesnt make sense.

The best word to describe it, honestly, is just sad.

Jessica Brucker called the protests sad. Courtesy of Jessica Brucker

A day later, exhibit goers condemned the contrast between the memorial and the actions of protesters outside.

I think they should be arrested or put in an insane asylum, said emotional Manhattan resident Denise after leaving the exhibit. I think they dont have a clue.
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR)  A Tribal Sovereignty Institute is coming to the Oklahoma City University School of Law in downtown OKC.

Anytime people can be more knowledgeable about tribal sovereignty as well as state law and how those come together and how we can unify and form better relationships and better law, thats whats going to be the key to success, said Chief Gary Batton of the Choctaw Nation.

Cleveland Co. Commissioners bailout sheriff for $3.2 million in overspending

The announcement was made Tuesday at the 36th annual Sovereignty Symposium.

It would be a logical next step if we could extend the work of this symposium year round, said Mayor David Holt, who is also the OCU Law Dean. There is a need in Oklahoma for independent, credible scholarship about tribal sovereignty.

Hold added that policymakers need more independent, credible information about the topic.

All government entities, law firms, and tribes need attorneys who are knowledgeable in these areas, said Holt. Considering our existing work and our location, we think that OCU and OCU Law are ideal institutions to meet this need. This Institute will further establish our law school, our university and our city as leaders at the forefront of these sovereignty conversations.

This comes as tribal leaders say they see sovereignty issues daily.

We need to be at a point where we dont continue to revisit the same issues, said Gov. Bill Anoatubby of the Chickasaw Nation. Conflicts that arise arent always known from one group to the next.

Chief Batton also weighed in.

I think sometimes with law enforcement on a day to day basis is what we deal with, sometimes they dont understand jurisdiction for example, said Batton.

The institutes first phase is hiring an executive director, who will also be a full time faculty member at OCU School of Law.

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Everyone can learn about sovereignty, what it means, what the benefits are, how it can be utilized and I truly believe this is a great step, said Anoatubby.

Holt said he hopes the executive director will be selected by next years symposium.

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SEATTLE (AP)  An off-duty security guard in a Seattle suburb has been charged with second-degree murder by prosecutors who said that he fatally shot a 17-year-old six times in the back as the teen and his friends tried to return a toy gun that the guard believed was a firearm to a sporting goods store.

King County prosecutors charged Aaron Brown Myers on Monday in the death of Hazrat Ali Rohani outside a Big 5 Sporting Goods Store in Renton, Washington. Myers, 51, also faces a second-degree assault charge after authorities say he held another teen at gunpoint.

Oregon State Police shot at Amber Alert suspect in self-defense, DA says

Rohani and two other teens were headed into the store at about 7:30 p.m. on June 5 to return a malfunctioning airsoft gun, Rohanis friends told police. They walked in front of Myers, who was sitting in his vehicle waiting to pick up his son from a martial arts class.

Myers told police that he noticed one teen carrying what he believed was a Glock handgun, and thought he saw another teen put a firearm into his waistband. Thinking he needed to stop an armed robbery, Myers told police that he didnt have time to call 911, and instead got out of the car and pointed his gun pointed at the teens.

As Myers approached, one of the teens moved to the side and the other two stopped, raised their hands and one placed the airsoft gun on the sidewalk, telling Myers numerous times that it was a BB gun, not a firearm.

Myers then pushed one of the boys onto the sidewalk and straddled him, according to the probable cause document filed by Renton police. Myers continued to point his firearm at Rohani as he held his hands out in front of him, showing Myers that they were empty, police said. Rohani started to back away and Myers opened fire, hitting the teen once in the right side and six times in the back.

Video shows Rohani clutching his abdomen as he falls to the ground, calling out for his mother. The other teen ran for cover and called 911.

Rohani died at the scene and police immediately took Myers into custody.

Myers lawyer, Michelle Scudder, said in an email that Myers sincerely believed he was witnessing the beginning of a violent crime and wanted to stop it before anyone got hurt.

Mr. Myers and his family are devastated by this tragedy and the fact that it resulted in the loss of a young mans life, Scudder said. We are confident that over the course of this investigation the evidence will show that Mr. Myers only intent that day was to protect himself and others from serious harm or death.

Myers said he had a duty to intervene, prosecutors said.

The defendant failed to take the obvious step of securing the toy gun, rather than assaulting the teen who had carried it, King County Senior Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Lauren Burke said in a court filing.

Myers was being held in King County jail on $2 million bail. A preliminary hearing was scheduled for June 24 in Kent, Washington.

Only a high bail, electronic home detention, and surrender of all firearms will protect the community from an untrained civilian who believes he has a duty to shoot people who have not hurt anyone, Burke said.

Its unclear where Myers works as a security guard.

Myers had tried to intervene in what he thought was a crime in March 2022, police said. He called 911 and told police that he saw a person on a bicycle pointing a gun at people, police said. He followed the person to a store until police arrived. Officers determined the person did not have a gun and posed no threat, police said.

In this case 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, Burke said.

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Mayor Brandon Johnson and Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle stood among Northwest Side elected officials Tuesday night hailing the opening of a shelter for newly-arrived migrants in the Portage Park neighborhood as the city approaches the second anniversary of receiving buses of migrants from the southern border.

About 43,330 asylum-seekers have arrived in Chicago since Texas Gov. Greg Abbott began sending them from the southern border in August 2022, according to a city census conducted daily. The city has at times struggled to house and keep up with the needs of the arriving people, but on Tuesday, officials had an unequivocal welcoming message.

You are our neighbors now, Johnson said to a crowd of volunteers, migrants and elected officials. I know that your journey here has been long and difficult, but today we welcome you.

Originally scheduled to open in April, the shelter faced delays and pushback from community members. On Tuesday, leaders officially opened the facility to about 300 people yet to arrive from the city landing zone.

Unlike the other 17 city and state-run shelters currently housing hundreds of asylum-seekers, the nonprofit Zakat Foundation of America is assuming the costs  partnering with the city, county and Archdiocese of Chicago. Zakat President Halil Demir said about 50 people were staying in the former convent on the campus of St. Bartholomew Catholic Church while renovations on the shelter building itself wrapped up.

He enthusiastically welcomed migrants gathered in the sanctuary Tuesday night, urging them to join in on the city life. Chicago is a hardworking city, Chicago is a great place to be, he said. Chicago needs you.

St. Bartholomew pastor, the Rev. Michael OConnell said shelter plans had been developing since late 2023. Zakat Foundation will administer the shelters staffing, social services and other logistics and work with Chicago Public Schools to enroll children in school, according to a news release from the organization.

The shelter will only house migrants, officials said. City and state officials announced in April that the city would consolidate its shelters for newly-arrived migrants and American-born homeless people into one system.

State Rep. Lindsey LaPointe, D-Chicago, applauded the opening of the shelter in a statement before calling on local and state leaders to funnel further aid to U.S.-born homeless people. Anti-homelessness advocates have praised the idea of a unified shelter system as a way to curb competition for limited affordable housing resources among the migrant and homeless populations.

At a reception for families and officials, LaPointe said she eventually hoped to see a strong shelter and service system for anyone experiencing homelessness but said the facility about to open was a step in the right direction.

The area has needed shelter services for some time, she said: Its a marker of the progress we have made and and need to continue to make.

Deacon Jaime Rios said hed been working with arriving migrants through the Our Lady of the Rosary Parish, which covers St. Bartholomew and another nearby church, since last year. Some of the earlier migrants to arrive have apartments and jobs now, he said.

Daniela Diaz and Franger Bermudes, with Rios translating, said theyd arrived in Chicago from Texas last month with their 6-year-old son.

In Texas we were nervous, said Diaz, 28, adding that they felt much safer in Chicago. We are OK now, but we want to be better.

Rios said he urged the families hes worked with to keep their faith in the American Dream.

The dream is true, he said. But you have to be patient.

Chicago Tribunes Nell Salzman contributed.
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH)  Public libraries found displaying books harmful to juveniles could lose funding under a new Ohio bill that teachers and librarians said is part of a Statehouse effort to censor materials that promote diversity and inclusion.

House Bill 622 would require each board of public library trustees to adopt a policy that prohibits its libraries from displaying matter harmful to juveniles and to redistribute the public library funds of libraries that fail to do so, the measure states.

The legislation would allow Ohio residents to file a complaint against any library system, and those who violate the law would be stripped of their state funding.

The bill will identify materials that are harmful to juveniles and therefore required to receive parental consent, said Rep. Al Cutrona (R-Canfield), the bills primary sponsor. This legislation protects Ohios minors and supports the authority of parents to have a say in what their children are consuming.

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Cutronas bill uses the Ohio Revised Codes definition of harmful materials, which includes content describing or representing sexual conduct and excitement, nudity and sexual abuse. Library patrons under age 18 would be banned from borrowing or viewing these books unless the library has received parental consent, the bill states.

The proposal would also require Ohios public libraries to hide these books by placing them behind blinder racks, behind a circulation counter or by wrapping the materials to conceal at least the lower two-thirds of the cover.

Now, the Ohio Federation of Teachers is speaking out against the proposal and another recently introduced measure, House Bill 556, which would charge teachers and school librarians with felonies for handing out books and materials deemed obscene. Melissa Cropper, Ohio Federation of Teachers president, said the bills are censorship dressed up as bills to protect children.

These two bills go much further than other book and curriculum bans that have been proposed in Ohio because they will also apply to public library systems, said Cropper. Even though the bills are aimed at protecting children, they are so vague that theyll create a chilling effect and restrict the materials, resources, and services that public libraries provide.

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Cropper claimed there has been a coordinated effort to censor materials that Ohio students have access to, with these bills part of a backlash against elements of education that promote diversity, equity and inclusion.

Another proposal limiting content distributed to students is House Bill 8, named the Parents Bill of Rights, which passed the Ohio House last June. The measure would allow parents to opt their children out of sexuality content, defined as any oral or written instruction, presentation, image or description of sexual concepts or gender ideology. Despite H.B. 8s advances, Rep. Adam Mathews (R-Lebanon), H.B. 556s primary sponsor, said his new bill is still necessary.

H.B. 8 is a fantastic bill, and I hope the Senate takes it up and passes it quickly, Mathews said. H.B. 556 is more targeted just to the obscenity, looking at that space, and distinct from instruction. H.B. 556 would also be making sure that obscenity is not existing in the passive bookshelves of the library.

Mathews stressed that the point of the legislation is to continue challenging students but without obscenity. The representative pointed to other classic authors and books that would still be permitted, such as Shakespeare, The Scarlet Letter and 1984. Teachers dont need to have the dominant focus of those materials being prurient interests  that is a high bar to become deemed obscenity, Mathews said.

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Still, both bills are concerning Ohio librarians like April Overly, a librarian at Worthington Libraries, who argued the proposals would be too easily weaponized by bad faith actors, and said politicians are infringing on intellectual freedom by deciding which books, music, films, and other media were allowed to make available to our patrons.

Families should decide together what materials are appropriate for their children, but not every family is the same, said Overly. Our libraries strive to offer collections representing a multitude of views, opinions and life experiences so everyone can find something that meets their particular needs.

Amy Bloomberg, a school librarian at Cleveland Heights High School, said H.B. 556 would threaten the schools ability to provide engaging, relevant books for students by instilling fear in teachers and school librarians and threatening felony charges based on the legitimate educational materials we choose to use.

The best way to inspire a lifelong love of reading in our students is to give them access to books that they want to read, said Bloomberg. This includes books where the characters face the same problems and feel the same doubts and emotions that our students have, and it includes books where the characters look and sound like our students.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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An Ohio Boy's Foster Family Wanted to Adopt Him. He Was Sent Back to His Biological Mom, Who Murdered Him

Timmeka Eggleton, 31, pleaded guilty to murder, felonious assault and endangering children

Cuyahoga County Sheriff's Department Timmeka Eggleton

An Ohio mother has pleaded guilty to murdering her 3-year-old son in 2023.

On Tuesday, June 11, Timmeka Eggleton, 31, pleaded guilty to murder, felonious assault and endangering children in the death of her son Curtis.

According to the Cuyahoga County Prosecutors Office, Eggleton was with her son when he was found unresponsive in his stroller inside a store on June 14, 2023. He was transported to a local hospital where he died.

The Medical Examiners office ruled that Curtis died from blunt force trauma to his body that could not have been accidentally inflicted, the prosecutor's office said.

Eggleton was arrested on June 19, per WKYC.



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The boys aunt LaTorya Witcher-Mosley told FOX8 last April that Curtis had been in foster care for two-and-a-half years but in March of 2023 a judge returned the boy to his mother. He was killed just months later.

Curtis' foster parents spoke to FOX8 in June 2023, after Eggleton was charged with murder. The parents, who were not identified by name in the article, said they had cared for the boy since he was seven days old and wanted to adopt him before he was sent back to live with Eggleton.

Our son should be alive today, the foster mother told the station. She added: He brought so much joy.

Eggleton is scheduled to be sentenced on July 22.

She faces life in prison, according to WKYC.



In a statement to PEOPLE, Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Michael C. OMalley said, "This conviction was a significant step in seeking justice for Curtis Witcher  who was just 3 years old when his mother killed him. My deepest condolences remain with all who loved this child.

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Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine says he would sign a higher education overhaul if further revisions are made

Jamie Pipik from the University of Akron holds up a sign during a protest led by the Ohio Student Association in opposition to Senate Bill 83, June 14, 2023, at the Statehouse in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Graham Stokes for Ohio Capital Journal. Republish photo only with original story.)

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine recently said he would potentially sign a bill that would dramatically change Ohio college and university campuses  if the bill continues to undergo further revisions.

But he did not elaborate when the Ohio Capital Journal asked him what changes he would like to see made to Senate Bill 83 in order for him to sign it.

I think (Senate Bill 83) will continue to evolve and will then be a bill that I would be comfortable signing, DeWine said last week while talking to reporters after speaking during the Ohio Department of Higher Educations Trustees Conference. I would anticipate signing a bill. But as in all things, I cant make a final decision until I see the language and the language in this bill, of course, continues to change.

State Sen. Jerry Cirino, R-Kirtland, introduced SB 83 last year and it has already gone through nearly a dozen revisions. DeWine said Cirino has had many conversations with university presidents and board of trustee members about SB 83 bill.

Ill wait till I see the bill, DeWine said. But I think theres room for a bill as he envisions it because hes had a lot of input.

SB 83 has not seen any movement in the legislature since it passed out of the House Higher Education Committee shortly before Christmas. The bill is not on the agenda for Wednesdays House session and there is only one more House session on June 26 before the legislature goes on summer break.

Ohio House Speaker Jason Stephens, R-Kitts Hill, said there have been discussions among lawmakers about SB 83.

Theres talk of a couple of changes on the bill, he said. Were still discussing that. Weve got a lot of other bills that were working on, obviously, this week and then here in a couple of weeks, so well continue those discussions.

I think the question is and always has been  are there enough votes available? said Ohio House Minority Leader Allison Russo, D-Upper Arlington.

Cirinos office did not respond to questions sent by the Capital Journal.

What is in Senate Bill 83?

The 66-page bill prohibits mandatory diversity, equity and inclusion training unless it is required to comply with state and federal law, professional licensure requirements or get accreditation or grants.

A controversial anti-striking provision was removed from SB 83, but now has a new retrenchment provision that would block unions from negotiating on tenure.

If the bill were to become law, universities could fire tenured professors for a broad list of reasons including reduction in student population. Faculty with between 30-35 years of tenure would be protected.

SB 83 defines controversial beliefs or policy as any belief or policy that is the subject of political controversy, including issues such as climate policies, electoral politics, foreign policy, diversity, equity, and inclusion programs, immigration policy, marriage, or abortion.

The bill would allow students to reach their own conclusions about all controversial beliefs or policies and shall not seek to indoctrinate any social, political, or religious point of view.

DeWines higher education remarks

DeWine touched on various higher education topics during his speech at the trustees conference and acknowledged the challenges facing colleges and universities.

We live in a time when families are deeply concerned about the debt that their students are incurring, he said. A lot of people are questioning the need, or the value of higher education, whether its a two year or four year institution.

He also talked about the science of reading initiatives he signed into law last summer as part of the state budget.

The science of reading is based on decades of research that shows how the human brain learns to read and incorporates phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension.

Starting this fall, every public school in Ohio will be using the science of reading and this legislation also affects teacher preparation programs.

Ohio Department of Higher Education Chancellor Mike Duffey is required to create an audit process that shows how every educator training program aligns with teaching the science of reading instruction.

Universities have to switch over, DeWine said. Because if you dont, no school in the state of Ohio in a few years is going to take your graduates because they dont want to retrain them. They dont want to teach them again how to do it.

Teachers across the state are receiving professional development in the science of reading.

While talking to reporters, DeWine said Ohio colleges and universities handled the campus protests over the Israel-Hamas war at the end of spring semester well.

I think the key is that the university is supposed to be a place where you can protest, it should be a place of great discussion, different points of view, and that certainly should be respected, DeWine said. On the other hand, universities have a right to say no encampment, as long as that rule is enforced against everybody.

Ohio State University, Case Western Reserve University, Oberlin College, Ohio University, Miami University, Kent State University and Denison University all had campus protests in April and May. About 40 people were arrested at Ohio State during various protests.

Our role was to make the Ohio State Highway Patrol available to backup the local police to backup the campus security or campus police, DeWine said.

He said he expects to see more campus protests this fall.

We should not fear those, DeWine said. Thats part of what we do in this country.

Follow OCJ Reporter Megan Henry on X.

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MOSCOW, June 12 (Xinhua) -- Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a presidential decree on Tuesday to update the composition of the Military-Industrial Commission and its board by appointing new members including Defense Minister Andrei Belousov.

The commission is a government body responsible for supervising Russia's defense industry. The newly appointed members also include Anton Alikhanov, minister of Industry and Trade, and Alexey Dyumin, a presidential aide.

The positions of Denis Manturov, first deputy Prime Minister, Maxim Oreshkin, deputy chief of staff of the Presidential Executive Office, and Sergei Shoigu, secretary of Security Council, have been updated to reflect their current roles.

Nikolai Patrushev, previously the secretary of the Security Council and now an assistant to Putin, has been removed from the commission.

Additionally, the commission board has been refreshed to incorporate chief designers and leaders of several enterprises, indicating a strategic emphasis on innovation and leadership within the defense sector.

Chaired by Putin, the Military-Industrial Commission was formed to implement state policy in the field of the military-industrial complex, and military-technical support for the country's defense, state security and law enforcement. 
Jay Weitz earned his master's in library service in 1976 from Rutgers University. In June 2023, he retired after working for 41 years at Dublin-based OCLC, a global nonprofit library membership organization that serves tens of thousands of libraries.

As a card-carrying library user for all of my literate life and a recently retired librarian, I proudly second much of the praise Philip Derrow heaped on libraries  the Columbus Metropolitan Library in particular  in his June 9 Dispatch column.

Late in his piece, however, Derrow states, While many libraries have put themselves in the middle of the culture wars, the Columbus Metropolitan Library has consistently worked to stay centered on its mission while staying politically centered as well.

Apr 24, 2024; Reynoldsburg, Ohio, USA; Shortly after the building first opened, guest peruse the book selection at the Reynoldsburg branch of the Columbus Metropolitan Library. The new library nearly doubles the size of the former library on the same site.

He goes on to say, What I care most about from any of our public institutions is that they actually serve the public, spend our tax money wisely and with full public accounting, and reject partisan politics.

Setting aside the thorny debate regarding the fabled neutrality of libraries, no libraries of which I am aware have ever put themselves in the middle of the culture wars.

Columbus library devoted to serving diverse communities

It is my strong suspicion, given the tone and context of his essay, that Derrow did not purposely intend to suggest that any library has deliberately volunteered to engage in the culture wars.

Jailing librarians? Bill latest attempt to control thoughts of Ohio students, censor truth

Precisely like the Columbus Metropolitan, libraries everywhere have for decades been devoting themselves to their missions of improving access, serving diverse communities, expanding inclusiveness and promoting equity.

Befitting the library stereotype, most of this work has been going on quietly, behind the scenes throughout the modern era. It has been discussed, debated and absorbed by library workers. It has been built into the services and materials that libraries offer.

It permeates everything that libraries are and do.

Librarians and teachers being turned into criminals

Libraries have not put themselves into the middle of the culture wars. Instead, they are doing what they have always done, while also defending themselves from forces on the political right that are trying to restrict access to materials and to criminalize teachers and librarians for trying to perform the jobs for which they have been trained.

Such restrictions have been introduced across the country, as well as right here in Ohio.

On May 15, Rep. Adam Mathews, R-Lebanon, introduced House Bill 556, which aims "to create criminal liability for certain teachers and librarians for the offense of pandering obscenity.

From USA TODAY Network Ohio Bureau: School librarians in Ohio could face felony charges if kids access 'obscene' material

On June 3, Rep. Al Cutrona, R-Canfield, introduced House Bill 622 to require each board of public library trustees to adopt a policy that prohibits its libraries from displaying matter harmful to juveniles and to redistribute the public library funds of libraries that fail to do so.

Politics is limiting what can be served to the public

Derrow expresses his preference for public institutions, including libraries, that actually serve the public  and reject partisan politics, but one has to examine what public is being served and the source of the partisanship being injected.

As reports by such organizations as the American Library Association and PEN America have shown, the materials most often challenged as obscene or harmful tend to be those by and about the LGBTQIA+ community and communities of color.

Those such as Derrow who understand and value the roles of libraries in a free and democratic society know that partisan efforts such as those proposed by Reps. Mathews and Cutrona run counter to freedom and democracy. Furthermore, such partisan efforts have been purposely and maliciously designed to limit the public that is actually served.

Robinson: I'd rather be stuck in the woods with a drag queen than most Ohio lawmakers

Jay Weitz

Integral to their foundational principles is the obligation libraries have to defend themselves from partisans who have brought the culture wars to library doors.

Jay Weitz earned his master's in library service in 1976 from Rutgers University. In June 2023, he retired after working for 41 years at Dublin-based OCLC, a global nonprofit library membership organization that serves tens of thousands of libraries of all kinds.

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Librarians under attack by Ohio politicians out to censor knowledge
Oklahoma City University and the Oklahoma City University School of Law on Tuesday announced the formation of a new institute for the advancement of tribal sovereignty.

The OCU Tribal Sovereignty Institute will be housed at the Oklahoma City University School of Law in downtown Oklahoma City, with the aim of producing scholarship on the topic of sovereignty; elevating understanding about sovereignty; educating and training lawyers with expertise in American Indian law; and ultimately pursuing sovereignty initiatives beyond the legal realm through cultural preservation, language revitalization and economic development, according to OCU Law Dean David Holt.

Holt made the announcement during the opening day of the 36th annual Sovereignty Symposium on June 13, an annual event established to provide a forum where Oklahoma 39 tribes can come together with federal and state officials to discuss common legal issues.

Holt said the OCU Tribal Sovereignty Institute will address a critical need.

Policymakers need more independent, credible information on this topic, Holt said of the Tribal Sovereignty Institute. All government entities, law firms, and tribes need attorneys who are knowledgeable in these areas. Considering our existing work and our location, we think that OCU and OCU Law are ideal institutions to meet this need. This Institute will further establish our law school, our university and our city as leaders at the forefront of these sovereignty conversations.

Holt said that the first step in developing the Tribal Sovereignty Institute will be hiring an executive director over the next year, who will also serve as a full-time faculty member at the OCU School of Law.

Gov. Bill Anoatubby of the Chickasaw Nation said at the symposium that he believes the forthcoming OCU Tribal Sovereignty Institute will provide an important new platform to expand the conversation around sovereignty year-round.

Osage Nation Principal Chief Geoffrey Standing Bear said that as a practicing attorney and an elected tribal leader, he sees the prominence of sovereignty issues every day.

We need information that is accessible to attorneys and policymakers and members of the public, Standing Bear said on Tuesday. We need focused training as well. I think this Institute can play a critical role in this regard and Im pleased to see it launch.

About the Author: "Native News Online is one of the most-read publications covering Indian Country and the news that matters to American Indians, Alaska Natives and other Indigenous people. Reach out to us at editor@nativenewsonline.net. "

Contact: news@nativenewsonline.net
FILE - The Oklahoma Supreme Court is pictured in the state Capitol building in Oklahoma City, May 19, 2014. The Oklahoma Supreme Court on Wednesday, June 12, 2024, dismissed a lawsuit of the last two survivors of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre, dampening the hope of advocates for racial justice that the government would make amends for one of the worst single acts of violence against Black people in U.S. history. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki, File)

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP)  The Oklahoma Supreme Court on Wednesday dismissed a lawsuit by survivors of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre, dampening the hope of advocates for racial justice that the city would make financial amends for one of the worst single acts of violence against Black people in U.S. history that left as many as 300 people dead and a once-thriving district in smoldering ruins.

The nine-member court upheld the decision made by a district court judge in Tulsa last year, ruling that the plaintiff's grievances about the destruction of the Greenwood district, although legitimate, did not fall within the scope of the state's public nuisance statute.

Plaintiffs do not point to any physical injury to property in Greenwood rendering it uninhabitable that could be resolved by way of injunction or other civil remedy, the court wrote in its decision. Today we hold that relief is not possible under any set of facts that could be established consistent with plaintiff's allegations.

Messages left Wednesday with the survivors' attorney, Damario Solomon-Simmons, were not immediately returned.

The city said in a statement that it respects the courts decision and affirms the significance of the work the City continues to do in the North Tulsa and Greenwood communities, adding that it remains committed to working with residents and providing resources to support" the communities.

The suit was an attempt to force the city of Tulsa and others to make recompense for the destruction of the once-thriving Black district by a white mob. In 1921  on May 31 and June 1  the white mob, including some people hastily deputized by authorities, looted and burned the district, which was referred to as Black Wall Street.

As many as 300 Black Tulsans were killed, and thousands of survivors were forced for a time into internment camps overseen by the National Guard. Burned bricks and a fragment of a church basement are about all that survive today of the more than 30-block historically Black district.

The two survivors of the attack, Lessie Benningfield Randle and Viola Fletcher, who are both now over 100 years old, sued in 2020 with the hope of seeing what their attorney called justice in their lifetime. A third plaintiff, Hughes Van Ellis, died last year at age 102.

The court also determined the plaintiffs allegations did not sufficiently support a claim for unjust enrichment, which it said are typically limited to contractual relationships.

Other defendants in the case included the Tulsa Regional Chamber of Commerce, the Board of Tulsa County Commissioners, the Tulsa County Sheriff and the Oklahoma Military Department.

The lawsuit was brought under Oklahomas public nuisance law, arguing that the actions of the white mob continue to affect the city today. It contended that Tulsas long history of racial division and tension stemmed from the massacre.

The city and insurance companies never compensated victims for their losses, and the massacre ultimately resulted in racial and economic disparities that still exist today, the lawsuit argued. It sought a detailed accounting of the property and wealth lost or stolen in the massacre, the construction of a hospital in north Tulsa and the creation of a victims compensation fund, among other things.

Public nuisance claims are typically used to address local concerns like blighted homes, illegal drug-dealing or dangerous animals. Such claims were used in lawsuits that states brought against tobacco companies in the 1990s and against opioid drug makers, but many of those led to settlements rather than trials.

In 2019, Oklahomas attorney general used the public nuisance law to force opioid drug maker Johnson & Johnson to pay the state $465 million in damages. The Oklahoma Supreme Court overturned that decision two years later.
Two Tulsa Race Massacre survivors sit at a long conference table in a meeting room at the Oklahoma state Capitol

Tulsa Race Massacre survivors Viola Ford Fletcher (left) and Lessie Benningfield Randle appear on Thursday, Oct. 5 at the Oklahoma state Capitol. The Oklahoma Supreme Court dismissed their case alleging ongoing public nuisance and unjust enrichment on Wednesday. (Photo by Carmen Forman/Oklahoma Voice)

OKLAHOMA CITY  A case brought by survivors of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre was dismissed on Wednesday by the Oklahoma Supreme Court.

The court issued an opinion concluding that while the grievances of the plaintiffs are legitimate, they do not fall within the scope of Oklahomas public nuisance statute or support claims of unjust enrichment.

According to the opinion, the Plaintiffs claim that the lingering economic and social consequences of the Massacre  do not constitute a public nuisance, as that term has been construed by this Court.

This decision upholds a previous decision issued July 7 by a Tulsa County judge. The district court judge determined the case failed to state a justifiable public nuisance claim.

The survivors, Lessie Benningfield Randle, Viola Fletcher and the late Hughes Van Ellis Sr., appealed the case, bringing it to the Oklahoma Supreme Court. Among the claims of the plaintiffs is that the defendants appropriated the name Black Wall Street to promote tourism in the city of Tulsa without returning benefits to the community.

Defendants in the case include the city of Tulsa, the Board of County Commissioners for Tulsa County, the Tulsa Regional Chamber and the Oklahoma Military Department.

Damario Solomon-Simmons, attorney of the plaintiffs, was not immediately available for comment.

The massacre occurred between May 31 and June 1, 1921. White mobs attacked, burned and destroyed 35 blocks of Black homes and businesses in the Greenwood district in Tulsa. The governor declared martial law and brought in the National Guard.

Officially, 36 Black residents were killed, though some estimates indicate up to 300 people died in the area known as Black Wall Street.

The Tulsa Race Massacre Commission, established by the state legislature in 1997 to investigate the massacre, reported in 2001 that no criminal acts were prosecuted by any level of government.

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FILE - The Oklahoma Supreme Court is pictured in the state Capitol building in Oklahoma City, May 19, 2014. The Oklahoma State Supreme Court, in a lawsuit by a suburban Oklahoma City school district, on Tuesday, June 12, 2024, has rejected the state Board of Education's attempt to determine what books are available in public school libraries. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki, File)

EDMOND, Okla. (AP) 

Local school boards in Oklahoma will retain the right to determine what books are available in public school libraries after the state Supreme Court shut down efforts to shift that discretion to the state Board of Education.

The state Board of Education is attempting to exercise unauthorized quasi-judicial authority in enforcement proceedings before the board, Justice James E. Edmondson wrote in the unanimous ruling Tuesday in a lawsuit brought by Edmond Public Schools.

State statutes give a local school board power and a type of statutory discretion to supply books for a school library that meet local community standards, the ruling added.

The board, led by state Superintendent Ryan Walters, had recommended the suburban school district remove two books  The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini and The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls  after new rules were approved in June 2023 that banned books and other media that contain pornographic and sexualized content.

The lawsuit was filed days before a hearing the board scheduled on the district's appeal of its recommendation.

The district welcomed the decision in a statement. It said the ruling "protects our locally elected school boards role in creating policies that determine how library materials are selected and reviewed.

Walters said he was disappointed, calling in a statement for the Legislature to act and reign out of control access to pornography in schools that our kids are exposed to.

The ruling came the same day attorneys for LGBTQ+ youth, teachers and major publishers asked a federal appeals court to affirm a lower court order that blocked key parts of an Iowa law banning books depicting sex acts from school libraries and classrooms.

There has been a wave of similar legislation around the country, typically 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 of the laws have prompted court challenges.

Earlier this month, the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans ordered the return of eight books dealing with subjects including racism and transgender issues to library shelves in a rural Texas county. Llano County had 17 total books from a library in Kingsland in an ongoing book-banning controversy.
The Oklahoma Supreme Court ruled in favor of Edmond Public Schools on Tuesday, agreeing with the district that local school boards, not state officials, have the power to decide which books to include in school libraries. (Photo by Nuria Martinez-Keel/Oklahoma Voice)

OKLAHOMA CITY  The Oklahoma Supreme Court unanimously agreed with Edmond Public Schools that the state Department of Education overstepped its bounds by attempting to force the district to remove The Kite Runner and The Glass Castle from its library shelves.

In a decision released Tuesday, all nine justices agreed that a districts local school board, not the state agency nor the Oklahoma State Board of Education, has the power to decide which books to include in school libraries.

The Education Department demanded in a Jan. 19 letter that the Edmond district remove The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini and The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls from its high school libraries because the books contain sexual content. The agency threatened a potential downgrade to Edmonds accreditation status if it didnt comply.

On Feb. 20, Edmond asked the state Supreme Court to intervene. The Court issued an order blocking the state Education Department from taking any further enforcement action against the district.

Edmond schools said it is grateful for the Courts decision.

We appreciate their willingness to take the case and their decision today, the district said in a statement. Todays decision protects our locally elected school boards role in creating policies that determine how library materials are selected and reviewed.

State law explicitly gives the responsibility of maintaining school libraries to local school boards, according to the Courts opinion, which Justice James E. Edmondson wrote.

Although the state Education Department has general authority to oversee public schools, it doesnt have the power to overrule a local board decision on library books, Edmondson stated.

The Education Department relied on these general powers when it established administrative rules prohibiting school libraries from having books that contain pornographic material or sexualized content.

Attorney General Gentner Drummond issued a binding opinion that these rules are invalid because they lack statutory authority, but Gov. Kevin Stitt approved them and the agency pressed on with enforcing them anyway.

The Court decided the Education Department attempted unauthorized quasi-judicial authority when trying to supersede a local districts decision on library content.

The agency also created a Library Media Review Committee to check if any books violate its library content rules. The agency has so far refused to disclose the names of any of the committee members except for one  far-right conservative social media personality Chaya Raichik, who runs the controversial account Libs of TikTok.

The committee deemed The Kite Runner and The Glass Castle, both acclaimed bestsellers, to be pornographic and to include sexualized content. The books both reference incidents of child sexual abuse.

State Superintendent Ryan Walters accused Edmond schools of choosing to peddle porn by keeping the two books in its high school libraries.

Although we are disappointed the Court issued this decision, it was made on very narrow grounds, Walters said in a statement Tuesday evening. The Court did not sign on to any of the claims made by the districts that would have affected the State Board of Educations broad authority over school districts or the Governors ability to approve our administrative rules.

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A rare eruption of light from a dead star will likely be visible to people on Earth this summer in a fleeting but potentially stark celestial display that scientists are calling "a once-in-a-lifetime event."

The technical term for the impending cosmic explosion is nova, which happens when a white dwarf lights up suddenly and often strikingly in the night sky. "White dwarf" is how astronomers describe a star at the end of its life cycle, after it has exhausted all of its nuclear fuel and only its core remains. As opposed to a supernova  another solar phenomenon visible from Earth, when a star effectively explodes  a nova instead refers to a dramatic ejection of material that a white dwarf has accumulated over time from a younger star in its close proximity.

"It's a once-in-a-lifetime event that will create a lot of new astronomers out there, giving young people a cosmic event they can observe for themselves, ask their own questions, and collect their own data," said Rebekah Hounsell, an assistant research scientist at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center who specializes in nova events, in a statement. "It'll fuel the next generation of scientists."

Sometime between now and September, scientists expect that a nova in the Corona Borealis, or Northern Crown, of the Milky Way will send a flash so powerful into space that the naked eye can witness it, NASA announced recently. It will materialize in a dark spot in the constellation, where violent interactions between a white dwarf and a red giant are set to culminate in this massive blast.

This image from NASA shows how to find Hercules and the

A red giant is a dying star in the final phase of its life cycle, becoming increasingly turbulent as it expands and periodically expels material from its outer layers in intense episodes.

A red giant star and white dwarf orbit each other in this animation of a nova similar to T Coronae Borealis. The red giant is a large sphere in shades of red, orange, and white, with the side facing the white dwarf the lightest shades. The white dwarf is hidden in a bright glow of white and yellows, which represent an accretion disk around the star. A stream of material, shown as a diffuse cloud of red, flows from the red giant to the white dwarf. / Credit: NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center

Known together as T Coronae Borealis, also named the "Blaze Star," the white dwarf and red giant forecasted to create a nova this summer compose a binary star system in the Northern Crown, located around 3,000 light-years from Earth. The red giant in this pairing is constantly being stripped of hydrogen as it continues along its path toward total collapse, while the white dwarf nearby pulls that material into its own orbit, according to NASA. The hydrogen siphoned off of the red giant accumulates on the surface of the white dwarf over a number of decades, until the heat and pressure has built to such an extent that it prompts a full-blown thermonuclear explosion.

The blast, akin to a nuclear bomb in its appearance, rids the dead star of that excess material. The eruption will probably be visible on Earth for about one week before it disappears again, but both the white dwarf and red giant in the Blaze Star system will still be intact whenever it fades. At that point, the process of hydrogen buildup between the two stars restarts, and it will continue until the accumulation of material on the white dwarf reaches its threshold the next time and abruptly explodes.

Different binary systems like T Coronae Borealis move through this cycle at different speeds. A nova typically erupts out of the Blaze Star about every 80 years or so.

With the possible nova eruption of T Coronae Borealis in the coming months, skywatchers are at the edge of their seats! Scientists are ready to observe it with space- and ground-based telescopes to learn more about this recurring cosmic phenomenon. https://t.co/jlo4loldUo pic.twitter.com/I1c6RUhwVF  NASA Universe (@NASAUniverse) June 7, 2024

"There are a few recurrent novae with very short cycles, but typically, we don't often see a repeated outburst in a human lifetime, and rarely one so relatively close to our own system," Hounsell said. "It's incredibly exciting to have this front-row seat."

When the nova in T Coronae Borealis eventually occurs, it will be the first one out of that pairing witnessed from Earth since 1946, according to NASA. The agency advised hopeful stargazers to look for the Northern Crown, which it describes as "a horseshoe-shaped curve of stars west of the Hercules constellation," on clear nights. NASA also encouraged citizens to observe the phenomenon as best they can, even though its own scientists will study the nova at its peak and throughout its decline.

"But it's equally critical to obtain data during the early rise to eruption," said Hounsell, "so the data collected by those avid citizen scientists on the lookout now for the nova will contribute dramatically to our findings."

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BUCHAREST, June 12 (Xinhua) -- The World Bank has upheld its forecast for Romania's economy, projecting a 3.3 percent growth for 2024 and 3.8 percent in 2025, consistent with its January estimates.

The WB's latest Global Economic Prospects report also anticipates a 3.8 percent gross domestic product (GDP) increase for Romania in 2026.

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has maintained its forecast of a 3.2 percent growth for 2024, unchanged from its September 2023 estimates, with an expected acceleration to 3.4 percent in 2025. The EBRD cautioned that Romania's main economic vulnerability lies in its fiscal position.

The European Commission's spring economic forecasts, published in May, project that Romania's real GDP growth will surpass 3 percent over the forecast horizon.

The Commission said that this growth is driven by accelerating private consumption supported by higher real disposable incomes. Financial conditions are expected to ease, and public investment is projected to remain robust, although external demand from main European Union trading partners is anticipated to be weak in 2024.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has revised its growth estimates for Romania, lowering the forecast from 3.8 percent in October to 2.8 percent, according to the April World Economic Outlook report. 
This article was originally published in Stateline.

When outreach worker Leah Marks shows up at homes in Sanford, Maine  a small manufacturing city 18 miles inland and a world away from tony Kennebunkport  the kids know its time to walk with her to the school bus.

Her walks often involve snow and ice this time of year. But what they really involve is connection.

Marks, outreach coordinator for the Sanford schools, said a boy she walked in the morning went from missing 45 days last school year to missing just one so far this school year. Marks said his single mom is raising him and two siblings, one with a disability, and the family was struggling to get him to the bus on time.

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But with the walking support, he chats up his friends and looks forward to greeting the assistant principal at school. Chris is just so proud of his improvement, and so is his mother, Marks said of the child.

She said having their children walked to school is reassuring for parents. It means being able to tell a parent who is seeing their kid off to school that weve got them and we will see that they get breakfast.

Experts say students lack of connection to school is one of the biggest factors leading to high absenteeism across the country. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, regular school attendance has plummeted.

One-on-one connection is key to bringing the kids back, education workers say, but its painstaking and requires funds and commitment. Some states, including Maine, are spending more money or implementing programs to tackle absenteeism.

Nearly 30% of public school students were chronically absent nationwide in the 2021-2022 school year, compared with about 16% in 2017-2018 before the pandemic, according to Attendance Works, a nonprofit that addresses chronic absences, and the Everyone Graduates Center at Johns Hopkins University School of Education. Chronic absenteeism is defined as a student missing a tenth or more of the school year for any reason.

Research has shown that student absences can harm test scores and lead to a higher dropout rate.

In Maine, the number of students considered chronically absent fell slightly last school year, from 31% in 2021-22 to 27% in 2022-23, according to the Maine Department of Education. Department spokesperson Marcus Mrowka said while state officials are encouraged by the drop, the numbers are still too high.

He noted that the COVID-19 pandemic has led to parents keeping kids home at the first sign of illness, and cited other factors including increased stress, mental health and other well-being issues for students feeling less engaged in school.

Maine is using $10 million in federal emergency funds to implement programs for attendance, Mrowka said.

For attendance to rise, schools must be safe and academically engaging, and students must feel a sense of belonging and that adults care about their well-being, according to Attendance Works.

Relationships are absolutely essential to every piece of this, said Hedy Chang, founder and executive director of Attendance Works.

The pandemic eroded these conditions for a huge number of students. When we closed schools  we said its not healthy to be at school. Now, we are saying, You can be back at school, its healthy.

In addition to homes with financial or social challenges, Chang said sometimes even affluent parents dont recognize the necessity of school attendance because the pandemic and remote learning appeared to show them that you can always make up the work.

When we have a lot of churn in the classroom, it affects the ability of teachers to teach and other kids to learn, she said. I think we need to think about how our actions have consequences. Sometimes your family might need time together and something really challenging is going on; there are times when its really discretionary and we need to think twice.

Connecticut had an almost 22% chronic absenteeism rate in 2022, up from 9% in 2017, according to Attendance Works and the Everyone Graduates Center. The state in 2021 launched the home-visiting Learner Engagement and Attendance Program, known as LEAP, which came out of the governors office and serves students who feel disconnected from school.

Initially, the program was not intended to be directed primarily at absenteeism, but as absenteeism escalated, the program pivoted, according to Mike Meyer, director of family and community engagement in Stamford public schools.

Sometimes, Meyer said, the program pays teachers extra to do home visits with students and their families after school or on weekends. But the program has begun hiring outreach workers to intervene with families who are really struggling, having challenges getting their kids to school.

Stamford schools have partnered with the Stamford Youth Services Bureau, a city agency, to address absenteeism. Lily Villanueva, a family outreach worker contracted by the school district from the nonprofit Domus Kids, set up a study group for high schoolers who were chronically absent. Since then, the failing grades of students in the group have turned into passing grades and two are headed to college, she said.

One student, the son of a Haitian immigrant, also connected with an after-school video game program at his school. They looked forward to going to school that day so they could go to their after-school program, she said.

I try to build a relationship with the family, Villanueva, 26, said in an interview. Its all about trust and getting the families to open up to you. We have even gone so far as picking up students from their home and transporting them directly. We do that so we can help them build their routine.

Kari Sullivan-Custer, director of the Connecticut LEAP program, which initially used $10.7 million in federal pandemic funds for the absenteeism program in 2021, said the program is targeting 15 school districts. In 2023, the state legislature appropriated $7 million in federal funds to carry the program through 2026.

She said the program targets districts with free lunch programs, or multi-language learners. They tended to have high levels of chronic absence, she said.

The District of Columbia found that career-focused programs help high school students connect to skills they enjoy, which keeps them coming back to school, said Clifton Martin, state director of career and technical education for D.C. schools. The program, which began last year, includes cybersecurity/IT training and general nursing.

We found that those students are more engaged; they are more excited to be in this environment around other young people with similar interests. He said the students who participate in the career programs have about a 5 to 7% increase in attendance compared to those who dont participate. Absenteeism, he said is going in the right direction, partially due to the career programs.

Attendance Works numbers for D.C. show the chronic absentee rate in 2022 was about 44%, up from almost 27% in 2017.

Some school districts are hiring private companies to help address chronic absenteeism. In Maryland, several districts have hired Concentric Educational Solutions, a Baltimore-based tutoring and outreach company, to help with student engagement, according to David Heiber, founder and CEO of the company. The company is now working in 12 states, he said.

Heiber said he can relate to the problems his company tries to address. I started Concentric because I was one of those students, he said in an interview. I was kicked out of five high schools, my parents died and I went to prison.

But he went back to school, became a teacher, got a Ph.D. and then became an administrator, before founding the firm.

Heiber said that knocking on doors is an effective way to connect with students and families, but that many districts dont have the personnel for it. He says his company can do that, at a cost of about $70 a visit and a general total of about $175 to $350 per student for several visits, depending on how many visits are made.

The company, he said, addresses what I experienced and what I saw. Before he was kicked out of school, he was an all-state athlete in cross country, he said. But even that wasnt enough to keep him engaged.

If I was an all-state athlete and I managed to fade, imagine whats happening to students who [dont have] that, Heiber said.

Stateline is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Stateline maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Scott S. Greenberger for questions: info@stateline.org. Follow Stateline on Facebook and Twitter.
With as many as 750,000 wild coyotes estimated to be living in California, conflicts with humans and pets are inevitable.

Among the recent cases, a coyote was captured on a Ring doorbell camera charging at a house cat inside a home in Mission Viejo, only to be stopped by a child safety gate. In Los Angeles Mar Vista neighborhood, a pack of coyotes has been stalking pets, and even attacked an older dog in its backyard.

In perhaps the most egregious case in recent years, a coyote attempted to drag away a child in broad daylight in Woodland Hills in 2022. The child survived, and the animal was later euthanized.

coyote attack Woodland Hills

Coyote management plans in Southern California vary from city to city and are generally focused on conservation, coexistence and tolerance. Neighbors are taught how to avoid attracting coyotes in the first place by cutting off their access to human and pet food.

Killing the animals as a form of population control is almost never discussed.

In fact, a 2021 report from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife said a majority of Southern Californians oppose lethal controls of the coyote population, even in cases when they injure or kill pets and livestock.

This mirrors the sentiment toward other predators, such as bears and mountain lions; California tends to protect its wildlife, regardless of whether the populations are abundant or endangered.

In other western states, however, that isnt the case.

Coyote Attack

In Utah, for example, killing coyotes is not only encouraged but rewarded  with cash.

Since 2012, the Beehive State has offered a bounty program that might seem cruel to many Californians. Hunters and trappers are paid $50 for each coyote jaw or scalp they bring to state wildlife officers.

The best method is to store them in a plastic ziplock bag placed in a freezer, the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources advises on its bounty website.

The jaw (at least the front two-thirds of the jaw) and scalp (with both ears attached), however, must be sufficiently thawed so the ears can be notched and a tooth can be removed at the reimbursement location. Before freezing an entire head, place something in the mouth to keep the jaws open completely.

Officials say the controversial programs goal is to protect Utahs big game population, specifically mule deer (which are also hunted).

Through 2022, Utah wildlife officials paid out $3.5 million on nearly 70,000 coyotes killed, according to The Salt Lake Tribune.

While the divide over wildlife management isnt inherently a liberal vs. conservative issue, public opinion on hunting for sport often falls along party lines. South Dakota, Texas and Virginia also offer bounties on coyotes, although they are more limited than Utahs program.

In California, hunters are allowed to freely kill coyotes with a valid hunting license, assuming they adhere to local firearm restrictions. Homeowners, of course, can legally kill a threatening animal on their own property  if they have the ability to humanely do so.

In most cases, homeowners will want to contact a professional instead. Tap here to report a coyote encounter to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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James Riding In talks about his experience with NAGPRA on April 11, 2024, in Tempe. Riding In is a professor emeritus at Arizona State University and former director of the American Indian Studies program. Photo by Chad Bradley | Cronkite News and the Howard Center for Investigative Journalism at ASU

Thirty-four years ago, Congress granted Native American tribes a pathway to reclaim ancestors that were dug up, stored and sometimes displayed in museums. The Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act or NAGPRA required American institutions to return them.

The road to repatriation has been long at Arizona State University. The university has made under 2% of its Indigenous human remains available to Native American tribes, among the lowest rates in the nation, according to an investigation by Cronkite News and the Howard Center for Investigative Journalism at ASU.

ASUs School of Human Evolution and Social Change is built on the lands of the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community, whose ancestors stewarded the desert landscape for millennia.

About two miles south sits the schools Center for Archaeology and Society Repository, one of four locations that hold the remains of some 800 Native Americans  none of which have yet been made available to be returned to their descendants.

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To find out why, investigative journalism students with Cronkite News and the Howard Center for Investigative Journalism at ASU reviewed hundreds of pages of records from archives and open records requests, and interviewed dozens of people connected to the universitys compliance with NAGPRA.

The investigation found that:

Until 2018, ASU worked primarily on repatriating the remains and artifacts held by federal agencies that were housed at the university, not its own.

ASU tried to hire its first full-time staff position dedicated to repatriation in 2019 but did not fill the position until 2022. At first, the contracting office did not understand why the position was needed, records show. Then, the pandemic derailed the process.

In 2019, ASU acknowledged that its initial assessments of Native American collections were likely inaccurate and actually held even more remains and artifacts than previously thought.

In reports to the National Park Service in 2020, which oversees NAGPRA, ASU disclosed that it had lost track of some Native American remains; that some remains were stored in old boxes and ripped bags; and that wastewater entered the collections room in one facility and flooded the library. The disclosures raise questions about the universitys care in handling the ancestors and artifacts in its collections.

Since 2021, new leadership has worked to accurately count collections, improve how human remains and artifacts are stored and tracked, and increase the staff dedicated to repatriation.

The universitys compliance with NAGPRA is at odds with its history. Key university officials  including a former dean of the law school and a prominent ASU archaeologist  played major roles in drafting and passing NAGPRA.

James Riding In, a co-founder and former director of ASUs American Indian Studies program and a citizen of the Pawnee Nation who has written extensively on repatriation and NAGPRA, called ASUs inaction immoral and unethical and was highly critical of what he sees as a lack of commitment to repatriation.

Im shocked that ASU has not moved forward with repatriation, Riding In said of the universitys own collections. Its appalling.

In a statement to Cronkite News and the Howard Center, ASU did not address questions about the universitys prior record.

Nationally, some higher education institutions and museums remain disengaged and unsupportive of the repatriation process. That is not ASU, Jacob Moore, ASUs vice president and special advisor to the president for American Indian Affairs, said in the statement. We are fully engaged and supportive of the repatriation process and are respectfully fulfilling the tenets of NAGPRA.

Representatives of the Salt River Pima-Maricopa and the Gila River tribal nations declined to comment about their relationships with the university.

ASUs NAGPRA record

Up until the late 20th century, archaeologists in North America legally excavated Indigenous grave sites, collecting objects and human remains to store in their repositories for decades to come. Some excavations were sanctioned for development purposes, others were done for funded scientific research.

After several years of debate among Indigenous activists, archaeologists and Congress, NAGPRA was passed in November 1990.

NAGPRA required institutions to inventory Native American remains, along with any artifacts they were buried with, and create itemized lists within five years for an expeditious return. It also mandated that institutions return other artifacts that tribes considered sacred or of special cultural value.

Once inventories of remains and burial objects were complete, institutions were required to publish a notice in the Federal Register and begin consulting about repatriation with tribes considered to be culturally affiliated.

Since 1990, ASU has published only three notices in the Federal Register alerting tribes to human remains and funerary objects that could be returned to them, according to federal records. The first two came simultaneously in 2009. The next one came in 2023, 14 years later.

Those notices identified the remains of only 15 individuals and 32 burial objects, or roughly 2% of its NAGPRA collection. That rate puts ASU in the bottom quarter of institutions nationally. Among institutions with similar numbers of remains, only one has a lower rate than ASUs.

John McClelland, the former NAGPRA coordinator for the Arizona State Museum at the University of Arizona, said that ASU now finds itself in a difficult position, having to convey the very disturbing realities of its failure to comply with the law to tribes whose ancestors remain on ASUs shelves.

The only solution to that is being as open as you can, McClelland said. Offer genuine apologies where they are appropriate and continue to build a relationship of trust because this process cannot succeed if theres not a relationship of trust.

ASM, with a much larger collection than ASUs, made available for repatriation roughly half of its collection of Native American remains and 90% of its burial objects, according to an analysis of park service records. Since 1990, it has published more than 50 Federal Register notices alerting tribes of remains and artifacts that belonged to them.

In a statement June 4, ASUs Moore wrote that ASU was making progress.

While the initial data in your report captures where we are with NAGPRA according to public records, it does not paint a complete picture of the comprehensive approach required to respectfully return ancestors, Moore said. We are directly engaged in the intense and confidential consultation needed to repatriate the artifacts in an appropriate manner. There is much work to be done, but we have made great progress and fostered meaningful relationships with tribal partners that are not reflected in the national NAGPRA numbers.

ASU declined, without explanation, multiple requests to make archaeology staff available for interviews and instead outlined its recent efforts to comply with NAGPRA in a written statement March 20.

In a press release on ASU News, published the same day as the statement, the university said it did not grant interviews about repatriation at the request of tribes.

ASU also declined a request for reporters reporting on NAGPRA for a class to tour the anthropological collections at the repository. The facility is closed but allows such tours for ASU students in the context of a class.

As of May 28, the university had also not fulfilled a public records request submitted Feb. 2 for staffing, budgetary and other records associated with its collections.

Cronkite News and the Howard Center, however, obtained hundreds of pages of federal records through a Freedom of Information Act request to the park service that shed light on ASUs collections and NAGPRA record.

Those documents included applications for federal NAGPRA grants in 2019 and 2023, along with progress reports from 2020 to 2023.

Separately, Timothy McKeown, a legal anthropologist who has been deeply involved in implementing NAGPRA since 1991, provided Cronkite News with a database of institutional holdings of Native American remains and burial objects, including ASUs, that he obtained through FOIA requests.

ASU: Collection inventories inaccurate and out of date

Records reviewed by Cronkite News show that ASU did help repatriate some Native American collections  just not its own.

In a March 2023 NAGPRA grant application with the park service, the university said virtually all its NAGPRA compliance efforts had focused on the collections of federal agencies such as the U.S. Forest Service and the Bureau of Reclamation, adding that much work remained to repatriate the ancestors and artifacts in its own collections.

Some institutions around the country failed to repatriate Native American remains and artifacts because they said they could not identify where they had come from or to whom they belonged.

ASU did not have this problem, according to the database reviewed by Cronkite News and the Howard Center. ASU reported to the park service that virtually all the human remains and artifacts in its collection came from Maricopa County and were associated with the Huhugam, the ancestral people of the Salt River and Gila River tribes surrounding Phoenix.

As for the size of its collection, ASU told the park service in 2019 that its initial inventories were erroneous, contained inaccurate information about the numbers of human remains and funerary objects and had not been revised since they were created in the 1990s.

One of the key tenets of NAGPRA was that institutions hold respectful consultations with tribes about the human remains and artifacts in their collections.

ASU met with representatives of Arizonas four southern tribes  the Gila River Indian Community, the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community, the Ak-Chin Indian Community and the Tohono Oodham Nation  in the fall of 2018 to enlist tribal support for its 2019 grant application to the park service. The meeting included the former curator of collections and Moore, ASUs VP for tribal relations.

The tribes supported the universitys grant application at the meeting, according to the universitys account, and provided a letter of support with the application.

However, ASU told the park service that it had not kept detailed records of consultations with tribes in years prior, raising questions about how engaged ASU was with tribal communities prior to 2018.

David Martinez, a member of the Akimel Oodham and Hia-Ced Oodham tribes, is a professor of American Indian Studies at ASU who collaborated with the universitys archaeologists on a digital archive of Huhugam culture.

ASU has been dragging its feet with respect to the collections that it holds, Martinez said in an interview. There are institutions everywhere that have been dragging their feet for the last 30 years. It was astounding the amount of items that are still held in these collections that havent been touched at all by NAGPRA.

Misplaced remains, uncatalogued collections and a wastewater flood

ASUs grant filings to the park service also raise questions about the manner in which the university stored and safeguarded Native American human remains prior to 2021.

The university said in a progress report from December 2021 that its archaeological collections and records had not been properly housed for long-term preservation, as required by federal standards and professional museum practices. The collections archaeological records were also incomplete, the report noted.

ASUs collections were spread between four different buildings, according to a 2020 progress report. Two of the buildings were in poor condition and did not have adequate space for NAGPRA work, the report said. That meant collections housed in those buildings had to be brought to an off-campus facility, which the report said was of inadequate size for all of the concurrent NAGPRA projects. While human remains were mainly housed in one building, the report noted that additional ancestors were still being found in mixed bulk archaeological collections in the other three spaces.

Some collections and human remains appeared to have been moved from their original locations without being tracked in a database, the progress report said, and the older inventories seemed to only be based on site reports or databases created without physically verifying what was in the collections. Parts of collections, including human remains, had not been cataloged, according to the report.

Some boxes werent marked or tracked in a database, the report said, and the database frequently listed incorrect physical locations of remains and items. Many items did not include details about land status or ownership, the report said without elaborating.

As for the boxes themselves, they were in bad shape, too. ASUs 2019 grant application included money for new storage materials because many of the ASU NAGPRA-related object collections and human remains are housed in old boxes and original paper bags which are beginning to rip.

In June 2020, one of the four buildings housing Native American collections, known as the Alameda curation facility, flooded with shallow wastewater. Water entered the main collections room and flooded the library, although no collections were directly damaged, ASU reported to the park service in December 2020. The university did not elaborate on the severity of the damage in subsequent reports.

In follow-up questions, ASU declined to comment on the flood or the current state of its collections beyond what it said in its March statement to Cronkite News and the Howard Center.

Our number one priority at the repository is living up to our NAGPRA responsibilities, Christopher Caseldine, curator of collections for the Center for Archaeology and Society Repository, wrote in the statement. We are the caretakers of Native American ancestors and their belongings until they go home.

A failed search for help

In 2019, ASU told the park service that it had an insufficient amount of staff for the substantial amount of NAGPRA work it needed to do in the years ahead, and required money to hire a dedicated NAGPRA specialist. At the time, ASUs archaeological repository had only one staff member.

The park service awarded ASU nearly $90,000  more than half of which was to be used to hire a NAGPRA collections specialist.

The effort quickly became mired in delays when, according to the first progress report ASU submitted to the park service, various hiring officials were unaware of NAGPRA or what it required.

The universitys contracting office first rejected the candidate ASU selected because the office was unfamiliar with NAGPRA and did not see the need for the repository to hire a contractor, the report stated.

The then-curator of the repository appealed the decision to the contracting offices supervisor, but that person was also unfamiliar with NAGPRA, according to the report.

The then-curator reached out to the departmental business team at the university  including the senior business manager, the grant specialist and a human resources representative  but they werent able to help and said that it might not be possible to hire a contractor to fill the role.

Frustrated with the delay, the candidate withdrew their application. After that, the pandemic impeded the search, the report noted.

Despite working remotely, the then-curator of collections and a postdoctoral scholar in the school made substantial progress documenting NAGPRA materials, namely by creating a detailed and transparent system for recording human remains and estimating age at death, sex, and minimum number of individuals, according to the December 2020 progress report.

ASU involved in NAGPRAs beginnings

ASUs NAGPRA record over the first 30 years of the laws existence contrasts with the universitys deep engagement with NAGPRAs passage. Key ASU faculty testified in favor of the law before Congress, and several were part of a historic dialogue that formulated some of the laws guiding principles.

Beginning in December 1988, the Heard Museum in Phoenix hosted a year-long dialogue between Native Americans and museum representatives to resolve serious differences over how human remains should be repatriated.

The dialogue included two professors from ASUs anthropology department and two professors from ASUs law school. In February 1990, the panel sent a report to Congress that said respect for Native human rights should be the paramount principle when a tribe says it has a cultural affiliation with human remains or objects in a museums collection.

Our hope is that this will result in solutions that will meet outstanding Native American concerns while allowing scientific investigation in appropriate situations, the authors of the report wrote at the time. Our further hope is that the adoption of these recommendations will lead to a new era of cooperation rather than conflict between Indian nations and museums with consequent benefits to both and to the general public.

The panels moderator, the then-dean of ASUs law school and a Heard Museum trustee, went on to endorse NAGPRAs passage before the Senate committee considering the legislation in 1990.

That year and in the years prior, however, some members of the archaeological community were raising concerns about what a law like NAGPRA would mean for scientific research.

Others, such as former ASU archaeologist Keith Kintigh, were advocates for the statute.

Kintigh testified at Senate and House hearings on the drafting of NAGPRA the year it was adopted. At the time, he chaired a repatriation committee at the Society for American Archaeology, and appeared in that capacity when he testified in favor of NAGPRA before the congressional committees.

Anthropologists are painfully aware that repatriation results in the destruction of information about the past, Kintigh said during the House hearing. However, we recognize that where a modern group has a reasonably clear affiliation, that groups desire to control its own heritage takes precedence over scientific and public interests.

Kintighs sway with the archaeological community played a critical role in NAGPRAs passage, according to McKeown, a member of the NAGPRA review committee who wrote a book about the four years leading up to the repatriation law and worked on implementing it for decades.

For all its promise, NAGPRA did not resolve how institutions and tribes should treat human remains that institutions believed were not clearly identified with present-day tribes.

Some tribes came to believe that institutions were failing to recognize obvious descendants of tribes that were relocated or displaced, allowing institutions to sidestep NAGPRA requirements and avoid consultations with tribes.

The issue simmered in the first years of NAGPRA and splintered the coalition between Native Americans and institutions that led to NAGPRAs passage.

In the early 2000s, ASUs law school led a dialogue between tribes and institutions to mediate the issue.

The park service made two attempts to adopt new regulations about so-called culturally unidentifiable human remains in the mid-to-late 2000s. But it faced fierce opposition from the museum and archaeological communities, including the Society for American Archaeology.

In 2008, ASUs Kintigh called the proposed rules on culturally unidentifiable remains a serious threat and urged the society to fight them in every way we can, he wrote in SAAs magazine. Kintigh served as president of the society from 1999 to 2001.

SAA has consistently used a moderate tone in its repatriation positions, Kintigh wrote. Strategic considerations and our responsibilities to the archaeological record demand that we now play hard ball.

The park service finally adopted a new rule on culturally unidentifiable remains in 2010. That same year, ASU hosted a national conference on the 20th anniversary of NAGPRAs passage, attracting a whos who of Native American scholars, legal professionals and advocates.

The park service ultimately did away entirely with the designation of culturally unidentifiable remains in a revision of NAGPRA that went into effect in January.

Cronkite News and the Howard Center interviewed Kintigh and another former ASU archaeologist to learn more about the universitys NAGPRA record after 1990.

Kintigh confirmed he was the chair of the Society for American Archaeologys task force on repatriation when NAGPRA was passed and was intensely involved in drafting the legislation, advocating for the interests of the scientific community and working to find a balance between traditional interests  those of lineal descendants and contemporary tribes  and what we believed, and I still believe, are valid scientific and public interests.

Kintigh worked at ASU for more than three decades, beginning in 1987. Despite his involvement in the drafting and passage of NAGPRA, he said he did not work on repatriation for the university or inquire about ASUs compliance in regards to its own collections.

We were mainly coordinating with the federal agencies, Kintigh said. I think my understanding when I retired was that we had done what we were supposed to do.

Cronkite News and the Howard Center also interviewed Frank McManamon, another retired ASU archaeologist with extensive NAGPRA credentials.

McManamon led the Center for Digital Antiquity at ASU, a research center aimed at preserving digital records of archaeological resources, from 2009 to 2019. Before coming to ASU, he served as the chief archaeologist of the park service for almost 15 years. In this role, he directly oversaw the implementation of NAGPRA from 1990 to 1999. For a brief period from late 2018 to 2019, he worked at ASU while serving as a member of the NAGPRA Review Committee.

McManamon said his many years working on NAGPRA for the park service were difficult and included uncomfortable moments where his objectivity was questioned by people from other organizations. He was reluctant to engage with repatriation work at ASU, he said.

I didnt actually go looking for new NAGPRA frontiers to explore or get myself involved in, McManamon said. I knew how complicated it could be.

Cronkite News and the Howard Center unsuccessfully attempted to locate the former curator of the repository who wrote the 2019 NAGPRA grant application and 2020 progress report. Reporters also reached out to another archaeologist who worked as the curator of the repository in the mid-2010s who declined to comment.

NAGPRA work picks up under new director

In August 2021, ASU named a new interim curator of the repository after the unexpected resignation of the one who led the universitys 2019 NAGPRA grant.

Christopher Caseldine earned his doctorate in archaeology from ASU in 2020 and wrote his dissertation on the Hohokam in the Lower Salt River Valley.

ASUs repatriation work accelerated under Caseldines direction, according to park service records.

According to a NAGPRA grant progress report from December 2021, Caseldine established more transparent and respectful communication with tribes, added staff and focused on documenting archaeological sites with fewer ancestors and artifacts to demonstrate immediate progress to tribes.

The report said progress had been made in producing an accurate NAGPRA inventory, that dated collection management practices had been abandoned and that every effort is being made to reunite ancestors with their objects. A new database tool was created to help identify materials in the collection that are subject to NAGPRA, the report said.

The progress report also said that ASU had been close to completing an inventory of remains and artifacts that were potentially associated with 15 tribes, which all received invitations to consult with the university. But then ASU discovered additional items in an off-campus facility that caused the process to be delayed.

At a meeting, representatives of the Salt River and Gila River tribes expressed optimism by recent efforts to return ancestors and their associated funerary objects quickly and respectfully, the progress report read. It also noted that staff intended to hold monthly meetings with the two tribes and quarterly meetings with the four southern tribes.

In March 2022, the long-delayed NAGPRA specialist finally began work after three rounds of job postings and the setbacks caused by the pandemic.

By late 2022, however, Caseldine was coming to grips with the enormous task ASU faced to comply with NAGPRA. In a letter to the park service in January 2023, Caseldine recited a litany of challenges.

Finding additional staff had proved difficult, Caseldine said, and there were only so many projects the university could do at once, regardless of resources.

The university conducted 15 job searches and multiple listings to secure enough staff, he said, and those positions were collectively costing $500,000 a year, he wrote.

He urged the park service to provide more money for institutions such as ASU to comply with NAGPRA.

Caseldine said the university was supportive of the repositorys compliance work, but it hadnt provided enough space.

We scaled up our work to the point that we no longer have room for additional staff or projects, Caseldine wrote. We have been working with the highest levels of our university administration, but additional space has yet to appear.

In March 2023, Caseldine worked with the Arizona Board of Regents grant writers to submit two large grant requests to the park service. That August, the park service awarded ASU two grants totaling almost $200,000  the largest by far of any NAGPRA grant awarded to an institution in 2023.

ASU said it planned to use the funds to hire a specialist to compile federal notices of completed inventories of human remains and burial objects and another specialist to compile inventories of artifacts of cultural significance to tribes.

In its statement to Cronkite News and the Howard Center in March, the university said it had secured more than $500,000 in internal and federal funding to support repatriation work.

Staffing for NAGPRA work has increased to six full-time employees, three part-time graduate student NAGPRA associate positions, and 11 student worker positions, the statement said. In addition, the university said that over 50 student interns have worked on NAGPRA-relevant collection inventories.

Only individuals with human osteology training interact with Native American ancestors, the university said in response to follow-up questions from reporters. It is only a few of our staff to minimize access and disturbance. Undergraduate students do not interact with ancestors.

Other progress, according to ASUs statement, includes creating a repatriation handbook for university staff, launching an undergraduate NAGPRA learning track and developing a new museum studies masters program focused explicitly on NAGPRA management.

The university said it has discussed both its undergraduate learning track and museum studies masters program with tribal partners. The masters program will provide students with formal NAGPRA training, ASU said, and will begin accepting applications this fall.

ASUs Moore wrote that the university is also preparing for a repatriation and reburial this fall, following a cleansing ceremony it sponsored with its tribal partners.

ASU remains committed to the repatriation of ancestors in a timely manner, Moore said.

This story was produced by the students at the Howard Center for Investigative Journalism at Arizona State Universitys Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication, an initiative of the Scripps Howard Foundation in honor of the late news industry executive and pioneer Roy W. Howard.

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An Austrian Airlines flight went viral this week after it flew through a hailstorm on Sunday that ripped off part of the plane's nose and shattered its cockpit windows. And one expert tells CBS News that while incidents like this are rare, they can happen very easily  and very fast.

The incident involved Austrian Airlines flight OS434, en route from Palma de Mallorca to Vienna, the airline told CBS News. As seen in photos shared by passengers and passersby, the airline also confirmed that the two front cockpit windows and the aircraft nose, also known as the radome, were damaged, as well as "some coverings." An investigation is now underway.

This Austrian Airlines plane was left heavily damaged after it suddenly encountered hail while flying into Vienna on June 9, 2024. / Credit: Anonymous via Storyful

"Due to the damage, a Mayday distress call was made," an airline spokesperson said. "The aircraft was able to land safely at Vienna-Schwechat Airport. All passengers on the flight were unharmed."

The spokesperson also confirmed that "the incident lasted only a few seconds." According to meteorologist Renny Vandewege, general manager of weather and climate intelligence at DTN, that's all it takes to cause damage.

He told CBS News that "because of an airplane's high speed, hail doesn't have to be all that large to wield damage to an aircraft."

"The radome, at the nose of the plane, is particularly vulnerable because of the thin material used on that part of the plane," he said. "Because of the aircraft speed, only as little as a 5-second exposure to a hail shaft can shatter noses and cockpit windows."

The nose of an Austrian Airlines flight was left shredded on June 9, 2024 after the flight encountered a sudden hail storm. / Credit: Anonymous via Storyful

However, he added that few airplanes ever get caught in hail shafts because of the onboard radar systems. In most situations, these kinds of weather systems are avoided, he said.

Austrian Airlines told CBS News that Sunday's situation happened after the plane encountered a thunderstorm cell while it was approaching Vienna, and that "according to the cockpit crew, [it] was not visible on the weather radar." Single-cell thunderstorms, according to NOAA's National Severe Storms Laboratory, are "small, brief, weak storms that grow and die within an hour or so" and are known to produce brief heavy rain and lightning.

It's the thunderstorm core where things can be particularly dangerous, Vandewege said, as that's where the updraft is at a maximum.

"It is the input of the energy source of the storm originating at the surface where the storm ingests warm moist air," he said. "...These updrafts are what enables storms to produce hail because they can circulate ice up and down with the storm until it is too heavy to circulate. Therefore, the storms with the strongest updrafts can produce the largest hail."

An Austrian Airlines flight was left with shattered cockpit windows and a torn-apart nose after it encountered a hail storm on June 9, 2024. / Credit: Anonymous via Storyful

As global temperatures rise, so does the frequency and intensity of extreme weather, including thunderstorms. And while flying through hail can quickly become damaging, Vandewege said that it doesn't mean flying isn't safe.

He told CBS News that building materials "are ever evolving" to make aircraft "lighter and tougher," and that the information and technology used to avoid hail shafts is also undergoing substantial advancement.

"Of course, keeping your seatbelt on, light or not, is also recommended," he said. "...Considering the level of advancement of avoidance technology, I don't think there is any more reason to fear safety from thunderstorms than before. In fact, the past was more dangerous from relying on weaker technology for avoidance."

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Editors Note: David Zurawik is a professor of practice in media studies at Goucher College. For three decades, he was a media critic at the Baltimore Sun. The opinions expressed in this commentary are his own. View more opinion on CNN.

As a journalist and professor who teaches media ethics, I have long been against the kind of undercover secret recording activist Lauren Windsor made of Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito and his wife, as well as Chief Justice John Roberts.

David Zurawik - Mich Rouse

But as a citizen living in this perilous moment for our democracy, I am grateful for the information she obtained and shared on Monday  particularly about the extent of Alitos right-wing, religious views.

Alito has often ruled in favor of conservative religious groups. In response to a statement from Windsor suggesting theres a war between those who believe in God and those who do not, and that believers have to fight to take the nation to a place of godliness, Alito says, I agree with you. I agree with you.

That raises questions about his impartiality on questions of separation of church and state and whether his rulings would move us from a secular democracy toward a theocracy.

I realize there is a major contradiction in being against a behavior and being grateful for what it produces. But living within such contradictions and being honest about it are necessary in these revolutionary media days if we are going to find a way to both maintain high standards of journalism and serve  maybe even help save  democracy.

Here is the core issue I came up against in trying to morally reason my way through Windsors actions and my reactions to them: If I wanted to accept or endorse what Windsor did, then perhaps I also had to accept some of the work the right-wing activist group Project Veritas and its founder, James OKeefe, did. And that is a highly disagreeable notion.

Remember, for example, when he and a fellow activist, Hannah Giles, went undercover in 2009 in Baltimore as a prostitute and her pimp to try to uncover alleged corruption at ACORN, a grassroots community organizing operation?

I had absolute clarity back then. I denounced their actions in print and on cable TV: Journalists do not deceive and misrepresent themselves to get information. Period.

Fifteen years later, I no longer have that kind of clarity. As a journalist and ethicist, I am still against misrepresentation to get information. I would not do it. I think it is wrong.

But as we approach a possibly monumental Supreme Court ruling on whether former President Donald Trump enjoys presidential immunity from federal charges related to his alleged role in the storming of the Capitol on January 6, 2021, we need all the information we can get on the people making those rulings. And members of the court have not exactly been forthcoming about anything.

As a citizen and voter, I welcome any information I can get as we approach Election 2024 and Supreme Court rulings that could have a profound effect on the outcome. Even before Windsor made her recording public, Alito had said he would not recuse himself from ruling on Trumps claim of absolute immunity, so we need all the information we can get on what Alito thinks and how he behaves.

Given the upside-down American flag (a symbol of those who question the results of the 2020 election) The New York Times reported flying at the Alitos home shortly after the Jan. 6 insurrection, some have questioned Justice Alitos impartiality when it comes to the 2020 election and Trumps false claims of having the election stolen from him. Some of those who stormed the Capitol carried the same kind of flags.

The issue here is yet another strand of the great media question of the last eight years: If you believe that American journalism must serve democracy, how do you cover someone who you believe is trying to destroy it?

There is a case to be made for what Windsor did. Yes, she was dishonest in presenting herself as a conservative Catholic and secretly recording their answers. But she does not claim to be a journalist. Should we then judge her by journalistic standards? And what about all the journalistic institutions that ran with her findings? Did not every major mainstream media outlet, including The New York Times, publish the information she recorded whether or not they had heard the full recording themselves and knew what she did or did not include? So it seems perhaps a little hypocritical for journalists to denounce her when their organizations are making money off her work  even if we describe her as a liberal activist and filmmaker.

What Windsor discovered does not tell me as much as ProPublica and The New York Times have about the secrecy and shocking lack of ethics in the Supreme Court. And they both did it without any deception. But she did make me think Alito is even farther to the religious right than I thought. And that matters to me as a citizen, especially as it relates to reproductive rights and other matters before the court.

There is a role for activist filmmakers to try and get information that will help voters make informed choices. And that role is now more important than ever. But we should not call it journalism and we should be candid as to what has or has not been verified by our own outlets when we reproduce their findings.

As for comparing Windsors work to that of Project Veritas, yes, she was dishonest in presenting herself as a conservative Catholic, posing questions to the Alitos that suggested a camaraderie with them against secular liberals and secretly recording their answers. But while the approach was similar, Maryland has a law against secret recordings; two-person consent is required. Washington, DC, where Windsors recordings took place, does not. She did not flout any law in gaining her information. Traditional journalistic standards, yes. But she broke no law in taking us behind closed doors and a little further into the mind of Alito.

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This is a photo of a student with their head on a chalkboard with math written on it.

In many states and districts, post-pandemic learning recovery began with literacy. Not only had students fallen behind in reading, but a new body of research pointed to deep flaws in the way reading had been taught for decades.

Now, policymakers and education leaders are beginning a pivot to math, where drops in scores on both the PISA and NAEP exams have been far more acute.

Whats the plan?

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One strategy states will assuredly consider is to focus on the continued adoption of High Quality Instructional Materials  curriculum aligned to college- and career-ready standards. The trend toward these materials in both reading and math accelerated when troubling evidence emerged that disadvantaged students were not getting equitable access to high-quality teaching. Federal recovery dollars then helped to turbocharge adoption across the country.

These materials have been a major step forward for teachers who, for decades, were provided with low-quality textbooks or online resources that didnt reflect high standards or research-based teaching practices. Introducing an objective quality rating into the textbook adoption process disrupted the K-12 publishing industry for the better and helped to ensure that all students had access to educational programs rooted in high expectations.

But before going all-in on HQIM in math, state and district leaders should consider the implications of an important nuance in how instructional materials are evaluated by EdReports and other ratings agencies: to qualify for an acceptable rating, the materials must focus on grade-level work.

Related

Textbook Adoption Was Once About Going to the Right Dinner With Publishers. Now EdReports Is Disrupting the $8 Billion Industry by Putting Teachers in Charge

In reading, most students can benefit from grade-level instruction so long as they have passed the decoding threshold. They become better readers when they build knowledge and vocabulary, learn to navigate more complex texts and exercise critical thinking  all of which can happen regardless of the students starting point. A seventh-grader at a fifth-grade reading level can grapple with seventh-grade content and become a better reader. The struggle can be productive.

But in math, specific topics that are taught during one school year are foundational for whats taught in the next. If students fall behind, gaps in learning can quietly accumulate, making it harder to catch back up. A student who didnt quite grasp enough about the concept of decimals in elementary school can struggle to understand percents in sixth grade and then to apply them in seventh. Teachers can have a hard time addressing unfinished learning when their materials are focused largely on grade-level content. Math is cumulative  a fact that doesnt change when a student happens to move on to the next grade level.

Each day, we see a clear relationship between foundational concepts and grade-level mastery in the data we gather within our supplemental math program, Teach to One Roadmaps. For example, when students attempt to learn the Pythagorean Theorem having already understood concepts such as estimating square roots and classifying triangles, they have a 72% chance of achieving mastery. When they dont know these predecessor concepts, that success rate drops to 32%. Similar rates exist for nearly all the topics in the program.

The importance of addressing unfinished learning in math proficiency is also consistent with learning science. Among the most foundational principles of cognition is that students have limited working memory capacities, which can be overwhelmed by tasks that are too cognitively demanding. Once students memorize information and master skills, their brain is free to use their working memory on other, higher-order tasks. But if they dont master those lower-order skills, their working memory strains and their understanding of new ideas is impeded.

Does this mean that students should instead spend all their time addressing every learning gap from previous grades? Of course not  instructional time is too limited. If students spend an entire school year working only on unfinished learning, they finish the school year behind again, having missed out on grade-level content thats foundational to the next year. The cycle continues, year after year, making it nearly impossible for them to ever catch back up.

But it also doesnt mean that instruction can ignore those gaps. As Dan Weisberg and I argued in 2019, teachers need strategies to both maintain high expectations and address unfinished learning from prior years. Advances in technology, and especially in artificial intelligence, make both objectives more achievable than ever. However, a curriculum that does both would have a hard time qualifying as High Quality Instructional Materials, since it would not focus on the major work of the grade.

Related

Rose & Weisberg: Do Kids Fall Behind in Math Because There Isnt Enough Grade-Level Material, or Because Theres Too Much? Its Both

Teachers clearly recognize that students are behind. So do advocates for HQIM, many of whom guide schools to access resources that help teachers better understand predecessor relationships. But guidance documents arent the same as instructional materials that could actually help teachers address foundational learning gaps. And since those materials dont fit a grade-level-only definition, teachers often need to source their own materials to diagnose and address foundational learning gaps and then somehow integrate it into their classroom workflow. Not only is this difficult to do, but its what HQIM was supposed to avoid.

What can be done to ensure students have access to both grade-level content and pathways to proficiency?

Some states are broadening their definition of HQIM to allow for more than just grade-level content. Texas recently launched a curriculum review process in math that allows publishers to include both on- and off-grade material so long as the grade-level standards are fully covered. California seems to be on a similar path, as its new math framework is now more focused on grade bands (i.e. grades 6-8), as opposed to individual grade levels. (Most states use grade-level bands in their science standards.)

Others who prefer to hold tight to grade-based core instruction can consider changing the definition of HQIM when it comes to evaluating supplemental resources. Rather than simply applying the same grade-level-only filter, evaluation criteria for intervention solutions can focus on the ability to accurately diagnose relevant skill gaps (no matter how far back), embed rigorous content and assessments, develop custom learning pathways, activate student engagement and integrate with core instruction.

High-quality instructional materials help to ensure students have access to an academic trajectory thats aligned to college and career-readiness. But access alone is not enough to unlock social mobility  mastery is what matters. For as long as the nations schools have taught math, they have struggled to serve students who, for whatever reason, are not performing at grade level. Thats been true regardless of the quality of the curriculum or the training of the teacher.

Instructional materials are the most important tool an educator can put to use in the classroom. But as with any tool, quality should reflect both an aspirational vision for what it can do and the science to make sure it can deliver.

The current definition of HQIM sets an appropriately high aspirational vision. But for students to meet that bar in math, their teachers need more than what HQIM  as currently defined  can offer.
Postsecondary educational attainment in America is lagging behind many other countries, and with the predicted demand for skilled labor in the 21st century economy, Americans will be at a competitive disadvantage. Federal and state financial incentives, such as making community college free or reimbursing colleges and employers for the cost of apprenticeships and internships, can be aimed at making sure students gain skills in a variety of ways. At the same time, the country needs to focus on getting more of the population to and through four-year college. Despite reports of overeducated baristas, all the evidence supports the economic returns from attaining a bachelors degree.

Data confirms that high school students who complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) are more likely to attend college than those who do not. This, of course, is the whole purpose of the federal financial aid program  to help lower- and middle-income students pursue higher education.

Related

Groups Ask Higher Ed to Postpone Enrollment Deadlines Due to FAFSA Delays

Despite the recent unfortunate  to put it mildly  rollout of the simplified FAFSA, the country would still be better off if all high school students completed the form. But even before the current fiasco, data on the number of high schoolers filing the FAFSA was worrying. Access to federal aid is contingent on the FAFSA, and if students do not fill it out, they cannot access a major source of financial support for college.

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Several states have moved in the right direction in requiring completion. One of the first, Louisiana, saw a 20% increase in FAFSA completions in one year after requiring high school seniors to complete the form to graduate. But the state is rolling back its universal FAFSA mandate over concerns about sharing financial information with the federal government, invading families privacy and jeopardizing their liberty.

Worries about privacy seem misguided, as families share financial information with the government every year by filing tax returns, and much of the data in the FAFSA comes directly from these. Dropping a statewide mandate will not only hurt those students and families who might not learn about available financial aid; if fewer students go on to postsecondary education, it will make it more difficult for states to meet their higher education attainment goals. This, in turn, will jeopardize the economic benefits to the state that accrue from having a more educated workforce.

Related

In a Disastrous Year, States That Mandate FAFSA Completion Fared a Bit Better

Hopefully, more states will require high school graduates to fill out the form. But beyond hoping, there is a way to make sure this happens: All colleges and universities could require the FAFSA as part of their application for admissions, whether students are applying for financial aid or not.

This would create much stronger incentives for more states to mandate that high schools take on the responsibility of mandating FAFSA for their graduates. Even students who dont require need-based financial aid receive large subsidies from both public and private nonprofit colleges and universities, because the full sticker price does not cover the actual cost of the education received. The difference can be quite large  in many cases greater than the value of a Pell Grant  both at public flagships and more selective private schools. The more selective the university, the larger the subsidies, since selectivity is closely related to the resources that colleges have available to spend on students. These are covered in a variety of ways that are supported by federal and state policies: direct government subsidies to colleges and universities; contributions from donors who receive tax benefits; exemptions from income tax on earnings on endowments; and local property taxes.

If the FAFSA became a routine part of the college application process for all, it would level the playing field for all students in terms of required submissions and make it more likely that more high school students would receive the financial aid they need. Families that pay full freight might object, but the checks they write dont cover the full cost of their childrens education any more than the small contributions asked of students who receive large scholarships. Why should the wealthiest families be treated differently than those applying for Pell Grants? Both are receiving public financial benefits, just in different forms. The burden on these families would be minimal since most of the information would come directly from the IRS.

Related

West Virginia Gov. Justice Declares State Of Emergency Over FAFSA Issues

Requiring the FAFSA from all applicants would also offer more information to policymakers on the income distribution of students attending college. Since both the federal and state governments heavily subsidize higher education, understanding how those subsidies are distributed across the population is important for making good public policy. These subsidies are, in part, justified on the basis of supporting economic and social mobility. Without knowing who is receiving them, it is impossible to evaluate their effectiveness.

Having all families fill out the FAFSA whether they are applying for need-based financial aid or not would make possible better federal and state policies in support of the countrys higher education goals.
A meeting was held between the head of the representation of the European Union in the Republic of Azerbaijan, Ambassador Mr. Peter Mikhalko, and the Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources Mukhtar Babayev, Azernews reports, citing the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources.

Current and future opportunities for cooperation between the European Union and Azerbaijan in the field of environmental protection were discussed at the meeting.

At the same time, there was an exchange of views on preparations for the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29), which will be hosted by our country this year.
IRKUTSK, Russia, June 12 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Wednesday met here with Igor Kobzev, governor of Russia's Irkutsk region.

Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, expressed congratulations on Russia Day and wished for the successful realization of the development and revitalization goals of both Russia and the Irkutsk region.

Wang noted that Irkutsk has a long history of exchanges with China. The regional capital, the city of Irkutsk, was once an important hub on the ancient tea road, and Lake Baikal is well-known among the Chinese people.

Recently, Russian President Vladimir Putin successfully conducted a state visit to China, during which President Xi Jinping and President Putin had in-depth strategic communication, setting the course for the development of China-Russia relations, Wang said.

China is actively advancing Chinese modernization, while Russia is accelerating the development of its Far East region, presenting a historic opportunity for cooperation between the two countries, he added.

Local cooperation is a vital part of China-Russia relations, Wang noted, adding that the Irkutsk region, with its abundant natural resources and strong industrial base, has unique advantages for developing cooperation with China.

China supports closer mutually-beneficial cooperation at sub-national level between the two countries, including that with Irkutsk, to benefit the people of both sides, he said.

Kobzev expressed his great honor to welcome Wang on Russia Day and noted that China is Irkutsk's largest trading partner, accounting for 70 percent of the foreign trade and maintaining a strong growth momentum.

The region highly values cooperation with China and hopes to expand further exchanges and cooperation in such fields as agriculture, energy resources, culture, education and tourism, and to attract more Chinese investment, Kobzev said, adding that the region is willing to provide a better business environment for Chinese enterprises. 
Orban says he can't change other countries' minds about supporting Ukraine

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has admitted that his country, which has its own position on Russia's war against Ukraine, cannot influence the stance of other allies.

Source: Orban during a press conference with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg in Budapest, European Pravda reports

Details: The Hungarian Prime Minister said that his country is aware that its position is "different from others".

"We have always had the right to share our opinion. Hungary does not have the ability or power to really change opinions that far exceed it in weight and influence," Orban said.

"We have made it clear that we do not want to block decisions in NATO that differ from our interpretation of the situation", he added.

Orban said that at a meeting with Stoltenberg, he agreed on a format of cooperation with Budapest not blocking the Alliance's decisions on Ukraine.

The NATO Secretary General, for his part, said that he and Orban "approved the opportunity for Hungary not to participate in NATO support for Ukraine", which the Alliance plans to provide in the future. Orban said Hungary would not participate in these NATO efforts, and Stoltenberg "accepted that position."

Background:

In May, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said that Hungary is working to "redefine" its NATO membership status to allow it to opt out of NATOs deepening support for Ukraine.

Orban also said that his country should stay out of the war, in which he said Ukrainians would involve the EU and even the world.

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Ore. Dad Who Drugged Girls at Daughter's Sleepover Gives Bizarre Excuse for Why He Did It

Michael Meyden has been sentenced to two years in prison after pleading guilty to the 2023 incident

Dave Killen/The Oregonian via AP Michael Meyden on June 10, 2024

An Oregon father has been sentenced to two years in prison after admitting to drugging the drinks of his daughters friends, according to reports.



Micahel Meyden, 57, received his sentencing in Clackamas County Circuit Court on Monday, June 10, after he pleaded guilty to spiking the smoothies of three of his daughters friends with sedatives at a sleepover on Aug. 25, 2023, NBC News and The Oregonian reported. Meyden was charged with three felony counts of causing another person to ingest a controlled substance.

Per the outlets, Meyden gave the bizarre excuse in court of supplying the girls, who were 12 years old at the time, with spiked drinks because he wanted them to go to bed by 11:00 p.m. I was overly fixated on them going to bed, yes, that is true, he said in court, according to The Oregonian. My whole life is destroyed. Everything that was important to me up until that point is gone.

Dave Killen/The Oregonian via AP Michael Meyden in court on June 10, 2024

Related: A Girl Refused to Drink Smoothie Allegedly Spiked by Oregon Dad: How Her Texts Led to His Arrest

An affidavit obtained by NBC News confirmed that the three girls tested positive for benzodiazepine, a depressant drug typically prescribed for anxiety and insomnia. Meydens daughter also tested positive for drugs, though he was not charged over this, his attorney Jeff Turnoy said, per the outlet.



Following the sentencing, Clackamas County District Attorney John Wentworth issued a statement to NBC News, saying, "Mr. Meyden's actions are inexcusable and reckless and required a punishment commensurate with the crime. The impact this event has had on the child victims, their families, and our community has been enormous."

Mr. Meyden is incredibly remorseful and humbled by his conduct and choices. He understands appropriately that he hurt a lot of people and is very regretful of all that, Turnoy said, per the outlet. And his demeanor in court was authentic and genuine, showed nothing but sincerity in being apologetic and remorseful for his behavior.

Victor Habbick Visions/Science Photo Library/Getty Images Stock photo of crime scene tape

Related: 'What Happened?' Girls Allegedly Drugged by Friends' Dad at Sleepover Displayed Alarming Symptoms

In a probable cause affidavit obtained by PEOPLE in March, police alleged Meyden to have laced smoothies of his daughters friends. He turned himself in to the police and pleaded not guilty to nine felony and misdemeanor charges, according to the Lake Oswego Police Department.

According to the affidavit, one of his daughters friends drank two cups of smoothies, a second girl drank one and a third barely any, allegedly causing Meyden to get "upset" with the girl.

The girl then pretended to be asleep as Meyden frequently checked on the other girls, who were sleeping in the basement. She eventually texted her mom and several other friends to be picked up as she told them what happened, per the affidavit. The mother told police the next morning.

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Meydens sentencing on Monday included dismissals of three additional felony counts and three misdemeanor counts in a negotiated plea deal, authorities said, per NBC News. He also received three years of post-prison supervision.

PEOPLE has contacted Clackamas County District Attorney John Wentworth for further comment on this case.



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Read the original article on People.
The location of the 2016 Pulse Nightclub shooting. Credit: Wikipedia.

Quality Journalism for Critical Times

Eight years have passed since 49 people were killed and 53 were wounded in a shooting at Pulse, a nightclub in Orlando.

To mark that anniversary on Wednesday, Gov. Ron DeSantis ordered state and national flags flown at half-staff as a mark of respect for victims, their families, and the many affected by this tragedy.

DeSantis has made the order each year since taking office and former Gov. Rick Scott did the same in 2017 and 2018. Both are Republicans.

The shooter, who pledged his loyalty to ISIS, opened fire as the gay nightclub in Orlando hosted a Latin night on June 12, 2016.

Florida Rep. Anna Eskamani, a Democrat who represents the area that included Pulse, posted the names and photos of all 49 people who were killed.

Remembering our 49 angels on this eighth year of the Pulse nightclub shooting. My heart is so heavy. Please continue to uplift their stories and honor them with action. pic.twitter.com/EGoDrKPKnj  Rep. Anna V. Eskamani (@AnnaForFlorida) June 12, 2024

The National Democratic Party released a statement criticizing Republicans efforts to stop gun reform, including by the NRA, and praised President Joe Bidens efforts toward gun safety, including the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act.

This Pride month, as we celebrate love, equality, and inclusion, this anniversary reminds us of the work left to ensure all LGBTQ+ Americans can live their lives without fear of harassment, discrimination, and violence, the statement reads.

Vice President Kamala Harris posted about the shooting Wednesday.

Eight years ago, 49 innocent lives were taken at Pulse nightclub in Orlando, FLthe deadliest attack on the LGBTQI+ community in American history. Today, we pause to grieve and remember alongside their families, their friends, and the entire LGBTQI+ community. Every person   Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) June 12, 2024

Brandon Wolf, a survivor of the shooting who now serves as national spokesman for the Human Rights Campaign, posted to X calling for a safer future in which young people know they are loved and valued exactly as they are.

Our job is to honor them. Not with empty words or hollow sympathies, but with action  a defiant demand for a better future for all of us. A future where we can go to school, the store, or out for a drink without the fear of coming face to face with the barrel of an AR-15.  Brandon Wolf (@bjoewolf) June 12, 2024

A national memorial was approved by Congress to honor the club in 2021, although work on a physical structure is still in progress. The City of Orlando is filling seats on the newly created Pulse Memorial Advisory Committee after a private effort to build a permanent memorial failed.

Carlos Guillermo Smith, a former member of the Florida House and Democratic candidate for the Florida Senate, posted to X that there is a need for a memorial for the shooting.

This years remembrance has me reflecting on the need to create a respectful Orlando memorial for the 49, and to continue our fight to #HonorThemWithAction by creating a world theyd be proud of  a world where love conquers hate and we can all live free from gun violence.

Florida Republican state Rep. Randy Fine took to X with the hashtag, BombsAway.

Today we remember that #MuslimTerror came to Florida eight years ago today, killing 49 innocents. May we stop it over there so it can never again come over here. #BombsAway  Rep. Randy Fine (@VoteRandyFine) June 12, 2024

The mass shootings in Orlando and Parkland were a moment of change for gun law in Florida. In 2018, the Legislature approved a law to expand background checks, ban types of guns, and impose a three-day waiting period for handgun purchases. It included red flag language allowing authorities to remove firearms from people deemed dangerous.

The post Orlando nightclub shooting reactions eight years later appeared first on Florida Phoenix.
HAZLETON, LUZERNE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU)  Police are searching for a man who has been listed as one of the most wanted in Pennsylvania for allegedly raping a 14-year-old girl.

The Hazleton City Police Department says the investigation began in September 2019 when a 14-year-old girl told officers that she had been raped repeatedly by 57-year-old Freddy Calle.

A warrant was issued against Calle, it was the second time being charged with child sex crimes and the victim was the fourth child that came forward with allegations, stated officers.

6 businesses cited for alleged liquor violations

Police say Calle fled to Ecuador shortly before the warrant was issued for his arrest and he is currently one of the ten offenders on the Pennsylvania Most Wanted List.

Calle is facing the following charges of

Rape by forcible compulsion

Involuntary deviate sexual intercourse of a person less than 16 years of age

Corruption of minors

Indecent assault of a person less than 13 years of age

The investigation into Calles crimes will be profiled in an episode of Americas Most Wanted on Wednesday, June 19 at 10:00 p.m. You can tune in on the ID Network or stream it on MAX to learn more about how to bring justice to the victims.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PAhomepage.com.
The U.S. Supreme Court released a new ethics code on Monday, Nov. 13, 2023 but Sen. Dick Durbin, chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, said the new rules fall short of what we could and should expect when a Supreme Court issues a code of conduct. Photo by Al Drago/Getty Images.

WASHINGTON  U.S. House Democrats echoed Senate colleagues Tuesday in calling for U.S. Supreme Court Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito to recuse themselves from Jan. 6 cases, and for congressional Republicans to support passing an enforceable ethics code for the entire bench.

Reps. Jamie Raskin, ranking member of the U.S. House Committee on Oversight and Accountability, and vice ranking member Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez brought together fellow progressive Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse with experts and advocates for a roundtable discussion on the ethics crisis facing the nations highest court.

Recent revelations of flags sympathetic to the Stop the Steal movement flown outside Alitos home have reignited simmering concerns over justices conflicts of interest as they decide politically divisive issues. This year, justices are set to rule on access to the abortion pill and whether former President Donald Trump enjoys immunity from criminal charges alleging 2020 election interference, among other cases.

Raskin and Ocasio-Cortez delivered searing remarks, admonishing decades of court actions beginning with the 5-4 decision in 2000s Bush v. Gore that ultimately decided the presidential victory for George W. Bush. The lawmakers continued on to recent events that Ocasio-Cortez characterized as corruption that is almost comical.

The Supreme Court as it stands today is delegitimizing itself through his conduct, the New York Democrat continued in her opening statement. Americans are losing fundamental rights in the process  reproductive health care, civil liberties, voting rights, the right to organize clean air and water because the court has been captured and corrupted by money and extremism.

Raskin, of Maryland, said the highest court in the land today has the lowest ethical standards.

In his opening statement, Raskin characterized the court as the judicial arm of the Republican Party, drawing a throughline from Bushs appointments to the bench of Chief Justice John Roberts and Alito to Trumps appointments of conservative Justices Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett.

Now this right-wing corporate court, carefully designed to destroy Roe v. Wade and marry right-wing religion to untrammeled corporate power, has been demolishing womens abortion rights and contraceptive rights, civil rights law, voting rights law, civil liberties, environmental law, workers rights and consumer rights, enshrining government power over people and corporate power over government, Raskin said.

Raskin and Ocasio-Cortezs roundtable came less than a week after progressive House Reps. Pramila Jayapal of Washington and Hank Johnson of Georgia rallied with activists outside the Supreme Court urging an ethics overhaul.

That same day, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky posted to X: As the Supreme Court term ends, the Left is once again bullying Justices who refuse to take orders from liberal Senators. The Court should take any action it deems appropriate to reprimand unethical conduct by members of its Bar. And Justices should continue to pay this harassment no mind.

Keep the pressure on

Whitehouse told Democratic members of the Oversight and Accountability Committee that Senate Democrats are shining a heavy spotlight on the mischief.

The Rhode Island Democrat has championed an ethics bill titled the Supreme Court Ethics, Recusal and Transparency Act, which advanced out of committee along party lines in July 2023 but has not received a floor vote.

We need to keep the pressure on until they join the rest of the government in having a real ethics code with real fact finding and some prospects for comparing the facts that are found to the rules, Whitehouse said.

The bill was introduced during the fallout from a 2023 ProPublica investigation revealing that Justice Clarence Thomas received gifts from and traveled with a major Republican donor.

A recent analysis by watchdog group Fix The Court illustrated that over the last 20 years the value of gifts received and likely received by Thomas dwarfs that of his colleagues.

Whitehouse again pressed the court in May after the New York Times published that an upside-down U.S. flag hung outside Alitos Alexandria, Virginia, home just days after former Trumps supporters breached the Capitol. The Times later revealed another flag carried by Jan. 6 insurrectionists flew outside the justices New Jersey beach house.

Along with Sen. Dick Durbin, who chairs the Senate Committee on the Judiciary, Whitehouse requested a meeting with Roberts to urge Alito to recuse himself from cases related to the Jan. 6 attack. Roberts declined, and Alito responded to the senators, declaring he would not recuse himself.

Thank you Sen. Whitehouse for always flying the flag right side up, Raskin said.

The court will decide all of this for all of us

Kate Shaw, University of Pennsylvania law professor, told the lawmakers that the court is conducting itself in ways that are fundamentally inconsistent with basic separation-of-powers principles that are a core feature of our democracy.

This is crystal clear right now, as it is every June, as the country waits with bated breath to learn whether and how the court will upend huge swaths of American law, she continued.

This year questions include whether and how the court could further erode the capacity of agencies to regulate in ways that protect our health and safety and well being, and major firearms decisions, Shaw said.

The court will also decide whether laws on the books will be used to hold accountable individuals charged with the attack on the Capitol, including the former president, Shaw said. And the court is asserting that it and essentially it alone will decide all of this for all of us.

Over two dozen opinions are expected from the Supreme Court by the end of June.

Two decisions related to two Jan. 6 cases remain pending  one involving a former police officer who breached the Capitol and is seeking to have an obstruction charge dropped. The decision could affect hundreds of Jan. 6 defendant cases, and the 2020 election interference case against Trump, who faces the same obstruction charge.

The court is also set to decide whether Trump is immune from four federal criminal counts alleging he schemed to overturn the 2020 presidential election results and knowingly spread false information that whipped his supporters into rioting on Jan. 6.

The post Pair of U.S. House Dems add to chorus calling for Alito, Thomas recusals appeared first on Minnesota Reformer.
The U.S. Supreme Court pictured on September 28, 2020. Congressional Democrats have called for ethics reforms for the court in the wake of recent controversies. (Photo by Al Drago/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON  U.S. House Democrats echoed Senate colleagues Tuesday in calling for U.S. Supreme Court Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito to recuse themselves from Jan. 6 cases, and for congressional Republicans to support passing an enforceable ethics code for the entire bench.

Reps. Jamie Raskin, ranking member of the U.S. House Committee on Oversight and Accountability, and vice ranking member Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez brought together fellow progressive Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse with experts and advocates for a roundtable discussion on the ethics crisis facing the nations highest court.

Recent revelations of flags sympathetic to the Stop the Steal movement flown outside Alitos home have reignited simmering concerns over justices conflicts of interest as they decide politically divisive issues. This year, justices are set to rule on access to the abortion pill and whether former President Donald Trump enjoys immunity from criminal charges alleging 2020 election interference, among other cases.

Raskin and Ocasio-Cortez delivered searing remarks, admonishing decades of court actions beginning with the 5-4 decision in 2000s Bush v. Gore that ultimately decided the presidential victory for George W. Bush. The lawmakers continued on to recent events that Ocasio-Cortez characterized as corruption that is almost comical.

The Supreme Court as it stands today is delegitimizing itself through his conduct, the New York Democrat continued in her opening statement. Americans are losing fundamental rights in the process  reproductive health care, civil liberties, voting rights, the right to organize clean air and water because the court has been captured and corrupted by money and extremism.

Raskin, of Maryland, said the highest court in the land today has the lowest ethical standards.

In his opening statement, Raskin characterized the court as the judicial arm of the Republican Party, drawing a throughline from Bushs appointments to the bench of Chief Justice John Roberts and Alito to Trumps appointments of conservative Justices Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett.

Now this right-wing corporate court, carefully designed to destroy Roe v. Wade and marry right-wing religion to untrammeled corporate power, has been demolishing womens abortion rights and contraceptive rights, civil rights law, voting rights law, civil liberties, environmental law, workers rights and consumer rights, enshrining government power over people and corporate power over government, Raskin said.

Raskin and Ocasio-Cortezs roundtable came less than a week after progressive House Reps. Pramila Jayapal of Washington and Hank Johnson of Georgia rallied with activists outside the Supreme Court urging an ethics overhaul.

That same day, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky posted to X: As the Supreme Court term ends, the Left is once again bullying Justices who refuse to take orders from liberal Senators. The Court should take any action it deems appropriate to reprimand unethical conduct by members of its Bar. And Justices should continue to pay this harassment no mind.

Keep the pressure on

Whitehouse told Democratic members of the Oversight and Accountability Committee that Senate Democrats are shining a heavy spotlight on the mischief.

The Rhode Island Democrat has championed an ethics bill titled the Supreme Court Ethics, Recusal and Transparency Act, which advanced out of committee along party lines in July 2023 but has not received a floor vote.

We need to keep the pressure on until they join the rest of the government in having a real ethics code with real fact finding and some prospects for comparing the facts that are found to the rules, Whitehouse said.

The bill was introduced during the fallout from a 2023 ProPublica investigation revealing that Justice Clarence Thomas received gifts from and traveled with a major Republican donor.

A recent analysis by watchdog group Fix The Court illustrated that over the last 20 years the value of gifts received and likely received by Thomas dwarfs that of his colleagues.

Whitehouse again pressed the court in May after the New York Times published that an upside-down U.S. flag hung outside Alitos Alexandria, Virginia, home just days after former Trumps supporters breached the Capitol. The Times later revealed another flag carried by Jan. 6 insurrectionists flew outside the justices New Jersey beach house.

Along with Sen. Dick Durbin, who chairs the Senate Committee on the Judiciary, Whitehouse requested a meeting with Roberts to urge Alito to recuse himself from cases related to the Jan. 6 attack. Roberts declined, and Alito responded to the senators, declaring he would not recuse himself.

Thank you Sen. Whitehouse for always flying the flag right side up, Raskin said.

The court will decide all of this for all of us

Kate Shaw, University of Pennsylvania law professor, told the lawmakers that the court is conducting itself in ways that are fundamentally inconsistent with basic separation-of-powers principles that are a core feature of our democracy.

This is crystal clear right now, as it is every June, as the country waits with bated breath to learn whether and how the court will upend huge swaths of American law, she continued.

This year questions include whether and how the court could further erode the capacity of agencies to regulate in ways that protect our health and safety and well being, and major firearms decisions, Shaw said.

The court will also decide whether laws on the books will be used to hold accountable individuals charged with the attack on the Capitol, including the former president, Shaw said. And the court is asserting that it and essentially it alone will decide all of this for all of us.

Over two dozen opinions are expected from the Supreme Court by the end of June.

Two decisions related to two Jan. 6 cases remain pending  one involving a former police officer who breached the Capitol and is seeking to have an obstruction charge dropped. The decision could affect hundreds of Jan. 6 defendant cases, and the 2020 election interference case against Trump, who faces the same obstruction charge.

The court is also set to decide whether Trump is immune from four federal criminal counts alleging he schemed to overturn the 2020 presidential election results and knowingly spread false information that whipped his supporters into rioting on Jan. 6.

The post Pair of U.S. House Dems add to chorus calling for Alito, Thomas recusals appeared first on Rhode Island Current.
The U.S. Supreme Court pictured on September 28, 2020. Congressional Democrats have called for ethics reforms for the court in the wake of recent controversies. (Photo by Al Drago/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON  U.S. House Democrats echoed Senate colleagues Tuesday in calling for U.S. Supreme Court Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito to recuse themselves from Jan. 6 cases, and for congressional Republicans to support passing an enforceable ethics code for the entire bench.

Reps. Jamie Raskin, ranking member of the U.S. House Committee on Oversight and Accountability, and vice ranking member Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez brought together fellow progressive Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse with experts and advocates for a roundtable discussion on the ethics crisis facing the nations highest court.

Recent revelations of flags sympathetic to the Stop the Steal movement flown outside Alitos home have reignited simmering concerns over justices conflicts of interest as they decide politically divisive issues. This year, justices are set to rule on access to the abortion pill and whether former President Donald Trump enjoys immunity from criminal charges alleging 2020 election interference, among other cases.

Raskin and Ocasio-Cortez delivered searing remarks, admonishing decades of court actions beginning with the 5-4 decision in 2000s Bush v. Gore that ultimately decided the presidential victory for George W. Bush. The lawmakers continued on to recent events that Ocasio-Cortez characterized as corruption that is almost comical.

The Supreme Court as it stands today is delegitimizing itself through his conduct, the New York Democrat continued in her opening statement. Americans are losing fundamental rights in the process  reproductive health care, civil liberties, voting rights, the right to organize clean air and water because the court has been captured and corrupted by money and extremism.

Raskin, of Maryland, said the highest court in the land today has the lowest ethical standards.

In his opening statement, Raskin characterized the court as the judicial arm of the Republican Party, drawing a throughline from Bushs appointments to the bench of Chief Justice John Roberts and Alito to Trumps appointments of conservative Justices Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett.

Now this right-wing corporate court, carefully designed to destroy Roe v. Wade and marry right-wing religion to untrammeled corporate power, has been demolishing womens abortion rights and contraceptive rights, civil rights law, voting rights law, civil liberties, environmental law, workers rights and consumer rights, enshrining government power over people and corporate power over government, Raskin said.

Raskin and Ocasio-Cortezs roundtable came less than a week after progressive House Reps. Pramila Jayapal of Washington and Hank Johnson of Georgia rallied with activists outside the Supreme Court urging an ethics overhaul.

That same day, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky posted to X: As the Supreme Court term ends, the Left is once again bullying Justices who refuse to take orders from liberal Senators. The Court should take any action it deems appropriate to reprimand unethical conduct by members of its Bar. And Justices should continue to pay this harassment no mind.

Keep the pressure on

Whitehouse told Democratic members of the Oversight and Accountability Committee that Senate Democrats are shining a heavy spotlight on the mischief.

The Rhode Island Democrat has championed an ethics bill titled the Supreme Court Ethics, Recusal and Transparency Act, which advanced out of committee along party lines in July 2023 but has not received a floor vote.

We need to keep the pressure on until they join the rest of the government in having a real ethics code with real fact finding and some prospects for comparing the facts that are found to the rules, Whitehouse said.

The bill was introduced during the fallout from a 2023 ProPublica investigation revealing that Justice Clarence Thomas received gifts from and traveled with a major Republican donor.

A recent analysis by watchdog group Fix The Court illustrated that over the last 20 years the value of gifts received and likely received by Thomas dwarfs that of his colleagues.

Whitehouse again pressed the court in May after the New York Times published that an upside-down U.S. flag hung outside Alitos Alexandria, Virginia, home just days after former Trumps supporters breached the Capitol. The Times later revealed another flag carried by Jan. 6 insurrectionists flew outside the justices New Jersey beach house.

Along with Sen. Dick Durbin, who chairs the Senate Committee on the Judiciary, Whitehouse requested a meeting with Roberts to urge Alito to recuse himself from cases related to the Jan. 6 attack. Roberts declined, and Alito responded to the senators, declaring he would not recuse himself.

Thank you Sen. Whitehouse for always flying the flag right side up, Raskin said.

The court will decide all of this for all of us

Kate Shaw, University of Pennsylvania law professor, told the lawmakers that the court is conducting itself in ways that are fundamentally inconsistent with basic separation-of-powers principles that are a core feature of our democracy.

This is crystal clear right now, as it is every June, as the country waits with bated breath to learn whether and how the court will upend huge swaths of American law, she continued.

This year questions include whether and how the court could further erode the capacity of agencies to regulate in ways that protect our health and safety and well being, and major firearms decisions, Shaw said.

The court will also decide whether laws on the books will be used to hold accountable individuals charged with the attack on the Capitol, including the former president, Shaw said. And the court is asserting that it and essentially it alone will decide all of this for all of us.

Over two dozen opinions are expected from the Supreme Court by the end of June.

Two decisions related to two Jan. 6 cases remain pending  one involving a former police officer who breached the Capitol and is seeking to have an obstruction charge dropped. The decision could affect hundreds of Jan. 6 defendant cases, and the 2020 election interference case against Trump, who faces the same obstruction charge.

The court is also set to decide whether Trump is immune from four federal criminal counts alleging he schemed to overturn the 2020 presidential election results and knowingly spread false information that whipped his supporters into rioting on Jan. 6.

The post Pair of U.S. House Dems add to chorus calling for Alito, Thomas recusals appeared first on Michigan Advance.
U.S. Supreme Court Associate Justice Samuel Alito (Alex Wong/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON  U.S. House Democrats echoed Senate colleagues Tuesday in calling for U.S. Supreme Court Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito to recuse themselves from Jan. 6 cases, and for congressional Republicans to support passing an enforceable ethics code for the entire bench.

Reps. Jamie Raskin, ranking member of the U.S. House Committee on Oversight and Accountability, and vice ranking member Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez brought together fellow progressive Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse with experts and advocates for a roundtable discussion on the ethics crisis facing the nations highest court.

Recent revelations of flags sympathetic to the Stop the Steal movement flown outside Alitos home have reignited simmering concerns over justices conflicts of interest as they decide politically divisive issues. This year, justices are set to rule on access to the abortion pill and whether former President Donald Trump enjoys immunity from criminal charges alleging 2020 election interference, among other cases.

Raskin and Ocasio-Cortez delivered searing remarks, admonishing decades of court actions beginning with the 5-4 decision in 2000s Bush v. Gore that ultimately decided the presidential victory for George W. Bush. The lawmakers continued on to recent events that Ocasio-Cortez characterized as corruption that is almost comical.

The Supreme Court as it stands today is delegitimizing itself through his conduct, the New York Democrat continued in her opening statement. Americans are losing fundamental rights in the process  reproductive health care, civil liberties, voting rights, the right to organize clean air and water because the court has been captured and corrupted by money and extremism.

Raskin, of Maryland, said the highest court in the land today has the lowest ethical standards.

In his opening statement, Raskin characterized the court as the judicial arm of the Republican Party, drawing a throughline from Bushs appointments to the bench of Chief Justice John Roberts and Alito to Trumps appointments of conservative Justices Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett.

Now this right-wing corporate court, carefully designed to destroy Roe v. Wade and marry right-wing religion to untrammeled corporate power, has been demolishing womens abortion rights and contraceptive rights, civil rights law, voting rights law, civil liberties, environmental law, workers rights and consumer rights, enshrining government power over people and corporate power over government, Raskin said.

Raskin and Ocasio-Cortezs roundtable came less than a week after progressive House Reps. Pramila Jayapal of Washington and Hank Johnson of Georgia rallied with activists outside the Supreme Court urging an ethics overhaul.

That same day, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky posted to X: As the Supreme Court term ends, the Left is once again bullying Justices who refuse to take orders from liberal Senators. The Court should take any action it deems appropriate to reprimand unethical conduct by members of its Bar. And Justices should continue to pay this harassment no mind.

Keep the pressure on

Whitehouse told Democratic members of the Oversight and Accountability Committee that Senate Democrats are shining a heavy spotlight on the mischief.

The Rhode Island Democrat has championed an ethics bill titled the Supreme Court Ethics, Recusal and Transparency Act, which advanced out of committee along party lines in July 2023 but has not received a floor vote.

We need to keep the pressure on until they join the rest of the government in having a real ethics code with real fact finding and some prospects for comparing the facts that are found to the rules, Whitehouse said.

The bill was introduced during the fallout from a 2023 ProPublica investigation revealing that Justice Clarence Thomas received gifts from and traveled with a major Republican donor.

A recent analysis by watchdog group Fix The Court illustrated that over the past 20 years the value of gifts received and likely received by Thomas dwarfs that of his colleagues.

Whitehouse again pressed the court in May after the New York Times published that an upside-down U.S. flag hung outside Alitos Alexandria, Virginia, home just days after former Trumps supporters breached the Capitol. The Times later revealed another flag carried by Jan. 6 insurrectionists flew outside the justices New Jersey beach house.

Along with Sen. Dick Durbin, who chairs the Senate Committee on the Judiciary, Whitehouse requested a meeting with Roberts to urge Alito to recuse himself from cases related to the Jan. 6 attack. Roberts declined, and Alito responded to the senators, declaring he would not recuse himself.

Thank you Sen. Whitehouse for always flying the flag right side up, Raskin said.

The court will decide all of this for all of us

Kate Shaw, University of Pennsylvania law professor, told the lawmakers that the court is conducting itself in ways that are fundamentally inconsistent with basic separation-of-powers principles that are a core feature of our democracy.

This is crystal clear right now, as it is every June, as the country waits with bated breath to learn whether and how the court will upend huge swaths of American law, she continued.

This year questions include whether and how the court could further erode the capacity of agencies to regulate in ways that protect our health and safety and well being, and major firearms decisions, Shaw said.

The court will also decide whether laws on the books will be used to hold accountable individuals charged with the attack on the Capitol, including the former president, Shaw said. And the court is asserting that it and essentially it alone will decide all of this for all of us.

Over two dozen opinions are expected from the Supreme Court by the end of June.

Two decisions related to two Jan. 6 cases remain pending  one involving a former police officer who breached the Capitol and is seeking to have an obstruction charge dropped. The decision could affect hundreds of Jan. 6 defendant cases, and the 2020 election interference case against Trump, who faces the same obstruction charge.

The court is also set to decide whether Trump is immune from four federal criminal counts alleging he schemed to overturn the 2020 presidential election results and knowingly spread false information that whipped his supporters into rioting on Jan. 6.

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The post Pair of U.S. House Dems add to chorus calling for Alito, Thomas recusals appeared first on Louisiana Illuminator.
BEIJING, June 12 (Xinhua) -- A mainland spokesperson on Wednesday slammed the Taiwan authorities led by Lai Ching-te for an attempt to internationalize the Taiwan question by trying to discuss issues concerning a cross-Strait economic agreement through WTO.

The move harbors a hidden agenda of seeking "Taiwan independence," said Chen Binhua, spokesperson for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, noting that this approach will not succeed.

Chen made the remarks at a press conference in response to a media query regarding expectations by Taiwan's mainland affairs council to resolve issues related to the Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement (ECFA) through the WTO mechanism.

"The 1992 Consensus is the political foundation for cross-Strait consultation, and 23 cross-Strait agreements, including the ECFA, have been signed on the common political basis of the 1992 Consensus," Chen said.

The two sides of the Taiwan Strait signed the ECFA to promote cross-Strait trade liberalization, which should have been carried out based on the normalization of cross-Strait trade, Chen noted.

However, considering that both sides belong to the same family, the mainland agreed to advance trade normalization and liberalization simultaneously and implement the "early harvest program" of the ECFA, despite the abnormal and discriminatory situation in which the Taiwan authorities continue to restrict the entry of over 2,000 agricultural and industrial products from the mainland, Chen added.

Besides, in light of the economic conditions of both sides, the mainland did not require equal quantities or trade volumes of products during the implementation of the "early harvest program," he said.

Chen noted that such a favorable agreement, which unilaterally benefits Taiwan, would not have been possible if everything had been in line with WTO rules. 
The U.S. Supreme Court. (Al Drago/Getty Images)

U.S. House Democrats echoed Senate colleagues Tuesday in calling for U.S. Supreme Court Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito to recuse themselves from Jan. 6 cases, and for congressional Republicans to support passing an enforceable ethics code for the entire bench.

Reps. Jamie Raskin, ranking member of the U.S. House Committee on Oversight and Accountability, and vice ranking member Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez brought together fellow progressive Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse with experts and advocates for a roundtable discussion on the ethics crisis facing the nations highest court.

Recent revelations of flags sympathetic to the Stop the Steal movement flown outside Alitos home have reignited simmering concerns over justices conflicts of interest as they decide politically divisive issues. This year, justices are set to rule on access to the abortion pill and whether former President Donald Trump enjoys immunity from criminal charges alleging 2020 election interference, among other cases.

Raskin and Ocasio-Cortez delivered searing remarks, admonishing decades of court actions beginning with the 5-4 decision in 2000s Bush v. Gore that ultimately decided the presidential victory for George W. Bush. The lawmakers continued on to recent events that Ocasio-Cortez characterized as corruption that is almost comical.

The Supreme Court as it stands today is delegitimizing itself through his conduct, the New York Democrat continued in her opening statement. Americans are losing fundamental rights in the process  reproductive health care, civil liberties, voting rights, the right to organize clean air and water because the court has been captured and corrupted by money and extremism.

Raskin, of Maryland, said the highest court in the land today has the lowest ethical standards.

In his opening statement, Raskin characterized the court as the judicial arm of the Republican Party, drawing a throughline from Bushs appointments to the bench of Chief Justice John Roberts and Alito to Trumps appointments of conservative Justices Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett.

Now this right-wing corporate court, carefully designed to destroy Roe v. Wade and marry right-wing religion to untrammeled corporate power, has been demolishing womens abortion rights and contraceptive rights, civil rights law, voting rights law, civil liberties, environmental law, workers rights and consumer rights, enshrining government power over people and corporate power over government, Raskin said.

Raskin and Ocasio-Cortezs roundtable came less than a week after progressive House Reps. Pramila Jayapal of Washington and Hank Johnson of Georgia rallied with activists outside the Supreme Court urging an ethics overhaul.

That same day, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky posted to X: As the Supreme Court term ends, the Left is once again bullying Justices who refuse to take orders from liberal Senators. The Court should take any action it deems appropriate to reprimand unethical conduct by members of its Bar. And Justices should continue to pay this harassment no mind.

Keep the pressure on

Whitehouse told Democratic members of the Oversight and Accountability Committee that Senate Democrats are shining a heavy spotlight on the mischief.

The Rhode Island Democrat has championed an ethics bill titled the Supreme Court Ethics, Recusal and Transparency Act, which advanced out of committee along party lines in July 2023 but has not received a floor vote.

We need to keep the pressure on until they join the rest of the government in having a real ethics code with real fact finding and some prospects for comparing the facts that are found to the rules, Whitehouse said.

The bill was introduced during the fallout from a 2023 ProPublica investigation revealing that Justice Clarence Thomas received gifts from and traveled with a major Republican donor.

A recent analysis by watchdog group Fix The Court illustrated that over the last 20 years the value of gifts received and likely received by Thomas dwarfs that of his colleagues.

Whitehouse again pressed the court in May after the New York Times published that an upside-down U.S. flag hung outside Alitos Alexandria, Virginia, home just days after former Trumps supporters breached the Capitol. The Times later revealed another flag carried by Jan. 6 insurrectionists flew outside the justices New Jersey beach house.

Along with Sen. Dick Durbin, who chairs the Senate Committee on the Judiciary, Whitehouse requested a meeting with Roberts to urge Alito to recuse himself from cases related to the Jan. 6 attack. Roberts declined, and Alito responded to the senators, declaring he would not recuse himself.

Thank you Sen. Whitehouse for always flying the flag right side up, Raskin said.

The court will decide all of this for all of us

Kate Shaw, University of Pennsylvania law professor, told the lawmakers that the court is conducting itself in ways that are fundamentally inconsistent with basic separation-of-powers principles that are a core feature of our democracy.

This is crystal clear right now, as it is every June, as the country waits with bated breath to learn whether and how the court will upend huge swaths of American law, she continued.

This year questions include whether and how the court could further erode the capacity of agencies to regulate in ways that protect our health and safety and well being, and major firearms decisions, Shaw said.

The court will also decide whether laws on the books will be used to hold accountable individuals charged with the attack on the Capitol, including the former president, Shaw said. And the court is asserting that it and essentially it alone will decide all of this for all of us.

Over two dozen opinions are expected from the Supreme Court by the end of June.

Two decisions related to two Jan. 6 cases remain pending  one involving a former police officer who breached the Capitol and is seeking to have an obstruction charge dropped. The decision could affect hundreds of Jan. 6 defendant cases, and the 2020 election interference case against Trump, who faces the same obstruction charge.

The court is also set to decide whether Trump is immune from four federal criminal counts alleging he schemed to overturn the 2020 presidential election results and knowingly spread false information that whipped his supporters into rioting on Jan. 6.

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The post Pair of U.S. House Dems add to chorus calling for Alito, Thomas recusals appeared first on Maine Morning Star.
The U.S. Supreme Court released a new ethics code on Monday, Nov. 13, 2023 but Sen. Dick Durbin, chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, said the new rules fall short of what we could and should expect when a Supreme Court issues a code of conduct. (Al Drago/Getty Images)

The U.S. Supreme Court pictured on September 28, 2020. Congressional Democrats have called for ethics reforms for the court in the wake of recent controversies. (Photo by Al Drago/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON  U.S. House Democrats echoed Senate colleagues Tuesday in calling for U.S. Supreme Court Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito to recuse themselves from Jan. 6 cases, and for congressional Republicans to support passing an enforceable ethics code for the entire bench.

Reps. Jamie Raskin, ranking member of the U.S. House Committee on Oversight and Accountability, and vice ranking member Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez brought together fellow progressive Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse with experts and advocates for a roundtable discussion on the ethics crisis facing the nations highest court.

Recent revelations of flags sympathetic to the Stop the Steal movement flown outside Alitos home have reignited simmering concerns over justices conflicts of interest as they decide politically divisive issues. This year, justices are set to rule on access to the abortion pill and whether former President Donald Trump enjoys immunity from criminal charges alleging 2020 election interference, among other cases.

Raskin and Ocasio-Cortez delivered searing remarks, admonishing decades of court actions beginning with the 5-4 decision in 2000s Bush v. Gore that ultimately decided the presidential victory for George W. Bush. The lawmakers continued on to recent events that Ocasio-Cortez characterized as corruption that is almost comical.

The Supreme Court as it stands today is delegitimizing itself through his conduct, the New York Democrat continued in her opening statement. Americans are losing fundamental rights in the process  reproductive health care, civil liberties, voting rights, the right to organize clean air and water because the court has been captured and corrupted by money and extremism.

Raskin, of Maryland, said the highest court in the land today has the lowest ethical standards.

In his opening statement, Raskin characterized the court as the judicial arm of the Republican Party, drawing a throughline from Bushs appointments to the bench of Chief Justice John Roberts and Alito to Trumps appointments of conservative Justices Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett.

Now this right-wing corporate court, carefully designed to destroy Roe v. Wade and marry right-wing religion to untrammeled corporate power, has been demolishing womens abortion rights and contraceptive rights, civil rights law, voting rights law, civil liberties, environmental law, workers rights and consumer rights, enshrining government power over people and corporate power over government, Raskin said.

Raskin and Ocasio-Cortezs roundtable came less than a week after progressive House Reps. Pramila Jayapal of Washington and Hank Johnson of Georgia rallied with activists outside the Supreme Court urging an ethics overhaul.

That same day, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky posted to X: As the Supreme Court term ends, the Left is once again bullying Justices who refuse to take orders from liberal Senators. The Court should take any action it deems appropriate to reprimand unethical conduct by members of its Bar. And Justices should continue to pay this harassment no mind.

Keep the pressure on

Whitehouse told Democratic members of the Oversight and Accountability Committee that Senate Democrats are shining a heavy spotlight on the mischief.

The Rhode Island Democrat has championed an ethics bill titled the Supreme Court Ethics, Recusal and Transparency Act, which advanced out of committee along party lines in July 2023 but has not received a floor vote.

We need to keep the pressure on until they join the rest of the government in having a real ethics code with real fact finding and some prospects for comparing the facts that are found to the rules, Whitehouse said.

The bill was introduced during the fallout from a 2023 ProPublica investigation revealing that Justice Clarence Thomas received gifts from and traveled with a major Republican donor.

A recent analysis by watchdog group Fix The Court illustrated that over the last 20 years the value of gifts received and likely received by Thomas dwarfs that of his colleagues.

Whitehouse again pressed the court in May after the New York Times published that an upside-down U.S. flag hung outside Alitos Alexandria, Virginia, home just days after former Trumps supporters breached the Capitol. The Times later revealed another flag carried by Jan. 6 insurrectionists flew outside the justices New Jersey beach house.

Along with Sen. Dick Durbin, who chairs the Senate Committee on the Judiciary, Whitehouse requested a meeting with Roberts to urge Alito to recuse himself from cases related to the Jan. 6 attack. Roberts declined, and Alito responded to the senators, declaring he would not recuse himself.

Thank you Sen. Whitehouse for always flying the flag right side up, Raskin said.

The court will decide all of this for all of us

Kate Shaw, University of Pennsylvania law professor, told the lawmakers that the court is conducting itself in ways that are fundamentally inconsistent with basic separation-of-powers principles that are a core feature of our democracy.

This is crystal clear right now, as it is every June, as the country waits with bated breath to learn whether and how the court will upend huge swaths of American law, she continued.

This year questions include whether and how the court could further erode the capacity of agencies to regulate in ways that protect our health and safety and well being, and major firearms decisions, Shaw said.

The court will also decide whether laws on the books will be used to hold accountable individuals charged with the attack on the Capitol, including the former president, Shaw said. And the court is asserting that it and essentially it alone will decide all of this for all of us.

Over two dozen opinions are expected from the Supreme Court by the end of June.

Two decisions related to two Jan. 6 cases remain pending  one involving a former police officer who breached the Capitol and is seeking to have an obstruction charge dropped. The decision could affect hundreds of Jan. 6 defendant cases, and the 2020 election interference case against Trump, who faces the same obstruction charge.

The court is also set to decide whether Trump is immune from four federal criminal counts alleging he schemed to overturn the 2020 presidential election results and knowingly spread false information that whipped his supporters into rioting on Jan. 6.

The post Pair of U.S. House Dems add to chorus calling for Alito, Thomas recusals appeared first on Pennsylvania Capital-Star.
The U.S. Supreme Court pictured on September 28, 2020. Congressional Democrats have called for ethics reforms for the court in the wake of recent controversies. (Al Drago/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON  U.S. House Democrats echoed Senate colleagues Tuesday in calling for U.S. Supreme Court Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito to recuse themselves from Jan. 6 cases, and for congressional Republicans to support passing an enforceable ethics code for the entire bench.

Reps. Jamie Raskin, ranking member of the U.S. House Committee on Oversight and Accountability, and vice ranking member Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez brought together fellow progressive Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse with experts and advocates for a roundtable discussion on the ethics crisis facing the nations highest court.

Recent revelations of flags sympathetic to the Stop the Steal movement flown outside Alitos home have reignited simmering concerns over justices conflicts of interest as they decide politically divisive issues. This year, justices are set to rule on access to the abortion pill and whether former President Donald Trump enjoys immunity from criminal charges alleging 2020 election interference, among other cases.

Raskin and Ocasio-Cortez delivered searing remarks, admonishing decades of court actions beginning with the 5-4 decision in 2000s Bush v. Gore that ultimately decided the presidential victory for George W. Bush. The lawmakers continued on to recent events that Ocasio-Cortez characterized as corruption that is almost comical.

The Supreme Court as it stands today is delegitimizing itself through his conduct, the New York Democrat continued in her opening statement. Americans are losing fundamental rights in the process  reproductive health care, civil liberties, voting rights, the right to organize clean air and water because the court has been captured and corrupted by money and extremism.

Raskin, of Maryland, said the highest court in the land today has the lowest ethical standards.

In his opening statement, Raskin characterized the court as the judicial arm of the Republican Party, drawing a throughline from Bushs appointments to the bench of Chief Justice John Roberts and Alito to Trumps appointments of conservative Justices Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett.

Now this right-wing corporate court, carefully designed to destroy Roe v. Wade and marry right-wing religion to untrammeled corporate power, has been demolishing womens abortion rights and contraceptive rights, civil rights law, voting rights law, civil liberties, environmental law, workers rights and consumer rights, enshrining government power over people and corporate power over government, Raskin said.

Raskin and Ocasio-Cortezs roundtable came less than a week after progressive House Reps. Pramila Jayapal of Washington and Hank Johnson of Georgia rallied with activists outside the Supreme Court urging an ethics overhaul.

That same day, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky posted to X: As the Supreme Court term ends, the Left is once again bullying Justices who refuse to take orders from liberal Senators. The Court should take any action it deems appropriate to reprimand unethical conduct by members of its Bar. And Justices should continue to pay this harassment no mind.

Keep the pressure on

Whitehouse told Democratic members of the Oversight and Accountability Committee that Senate Democrats are shining a heavy spotlight on the mischief.

The Rhode Island Democrat has championed an ethics bill titled the Supreme Court Ethics, Recusal and Transparency Act, which advanced out of committee along party lines in July 2023 but has not received a floor vote.

We need to keep the pressure on until they join the rest of the government in having a real ethics code with real fact finding and some prospects for comparing the facts that are found to the rules, Whitehouse said.

The bill was introduced during the fallout from a 2023 ProPublica investigation revealing that Justice Clarence Thomas received gifts from and traveled with a major Republican donor.

A recent analysis by watchdog group Fix The Court illustrated that over the last 20 years the value of gifts received and likely received by Thomas dwarfs that of his colleagues.

Whitehouse again pressed the court in May after the New York Times published that an upside-down U.S. flag hung outside Alitos Alexandria, Virginia, home just days after former Trumps supporters breached the Capitol. The Times later revealed another flag carried by Jan. 6 insurrectionists flew outside the justices New Jersey beach house.

Along with Sen. Dick Durbin, who chairs the Senate Committee on the Judiciary, Whitehouse requested a meeting with Roberts to urge Alito to recuse himself from cases related to the Jan. 6 attack. Roberts declined, and Alito responded to the senators, declaring he would not recuse himself.

Thank you Sen. Whitehouse for always flying the flag right side up, Raskin said.

The court will decide all of this for all of us

Kate Shaw, University of Pennsylvania law professor, told the lawmakers that the court is conducting itself in ways that are fundamentally inconsistent with basic separation-of-powers principles that are a core feature of our democracy.

This is crystal clear right now, as it is every June, as the country waits with bated breath to learn whether and how the court will upend huge swaths of American law, she continued.

This year questions include whether and how the court could further erode the capacity of agencies to regulate in ways that protect our health and safety and well being, and major firearms decisions, Shaw said.

The court will also decide whether laws on the books will be used to hold accountable individuals charged with the attack on the Capitol, including the former president, Shaw said. And the court is asserting that it and essentially it alone will decide all of this for all of us.

Over two dozen opinions are expected from the Supreme Court by the end of June.

Two decisions related to two Jan. 6 cases remain pending  one involving a former police officer who breached the Capitol and is seeking to have an obstruction charge dropped. The decision could affect hundreds of Jan. 6 defendant cases, and the 2020 election interference case against Trump, who faces the same obstruction charge.

The court is also set to decide whether Trump is immune from four federal criminal counts alleging he schemed to overturn the 2020 presidential election results and knowingly spread false information that whipped his supporters into rioting on Jan. 6.

SUPPORT NEWS YOU TRUST. DONATE

The post Pair of U.S. House Dems add to chorus calling for Alito, Thomas recusals appeared first on Missouri Independent.
The U.S. Supreme Court building in Washington, D.C. (Jane Norman | States Newsroom)

WASHINGTON  U.S. House Democrats echoed Senate colleagues Tuesday in calling for U.S. Supreme Court Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito to recuse themselves from Jan. 6 cases, and for congressional Republicans to support passing an enforceable ethics code for the entire bench.

Reps. Jamie Raskin, ranking member of the U.S. House Committee on Oversight and Accountability, and vice ranking member Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez brought together fellow progressive Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse with experts and advocates for a roundtable discussion on the ethics crisis facing the nations highest court.

Recent revelations of flags sympathetic to the Stop the Steal movement flown outside Alitos home have reignited simmering concerns over justices conflicts of interest as they decide politically divisive issues. This year, justices are set to rule on access to the abortion pill and whether former President Donald Trump enjoys immunity from criminal charges alleging 2020 election interference, among other cases.

Raskin and Ocasio-Cortez delivered searing remarks, admonishing decades of court actions beginning with the 5-4 decision in 2000s Bush v. Gore that ultimately decided the presidential victory for George W. Bush. The lawmakers continued on to recent events that Ocasio-Cortez characterized as corruption that is almost comical.

The Supreme Court as it stands today is delegitimizing itself through his conduct, the New York Democrat continued in her opening statement. Americans are losing fundamental rights in the process  reproductive health care, civil liberties, voting rights, the right to organize clean air and water because the court has been captured and corrupted by money and extremism.

Raskin, of Maryland, said the highest court in the land today has the lowest ethical standards.

In his opening statement, Raskin characterized the court as the judicial arm of the Republican Party, drawing a throughline from Bushs appointments to the bench of Chief Justice John Roberts and Alito to Trumps appointments of conservative Justices Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett.

Now this right-wing corporate court, carefully designed to destroy Roe v. Wade and marry right-wing religion to untrammeled corporate power, has been demolishing womens abortion rights and contraceptive rights, civil rights law, voting rights law, civil liberties, environmental law, workers rights and consumer rights, enshrining government power over people and corporate power over government, Raskin said.

Raskin and Ocasio-Cortezs roundtable came less than a week after progressive House Reps. Pramila Jayapal of Washington and Hank Johnson of Georgia rallied with activists outside the Supreme Court urging an ethics overhaul.

That same day, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky posted to X: As the Supreme Court term ends, the Left is once again bullying Justices who refuse to take orders from liberal Senators. The Court should take any action it deems appropriate to reprimand unethical conduct by members of its Bar. And Justices should continue to pay this harassment no mind.

Keep the pressure on

Whitehouse told Democratic members of the Oversight and Accountability Committee that Senate Democrats are shining a heavy spotlight on the mischief.

The Rhode Island Democrat has championed an ethics bill titled the Supreme Court Ethics, Recusal and Transparency Act, which advanced out of committee along party lines in July 2023 but has not received a floor vote.

We need to keep the pressure on until they join the rest of the government in having a real ethics code with real fact finding and some prospects for comparing the facts that are found to the rules, Whitehouse said.

The bill was introduced during the fallout from a 2023 ProPublica investigation revealing that Justice Clarence Thomas received gifts from and traveled with a major Republican donor.

A recent analysis by watchdog group Fix The Court illustrated that over the last 20 years the value of gifts received and likely received by Thomas dwarfs that of his colleagues.

Whitehouse again pressed the court in May after the New York Times published that an upside-down U.S. flag hung outside Alitos Alexandria, Virginia, home just days after former Trumps supporters breached the Capitol. The Times later revealed another flag carried by Jan. 6 insurrectionists flew outside the justices New Jersey beach house.

Along with Sen. Dick Durbin, who chairs the Senate Committee on the Judiciary, Whitehouse requested a meeting with Roberts to urge Alito to recuse himself from cases related to the Jan. 6 attack. Roberts declined, and Alito responded to the senators, declaring he would not recuse himself.

Thank you Sen. Whitehouse for always flying the flag right side up, Raskin said.

The court will decide all of this for all of us

Kate Shaw, University of Pennsylvania law professor, told the lawmakers that the court is conducting itself in ways that are fundamentally inconsistent with basic separation-of-powers principles that are a core feature of our democracy.

This is crystal clear right now, as it is every June, as the country waits with bated breath to learn whether and how the court will upend huge swaths of American law, she continued.

This year questions include whether and how the court could further erode the capacity of agencies to regulate in ways that protect our health and safety and well being, and major firearms decisions, Shaw said.

The court will also decide whether laws on the books will be used to hold accountable individuals charged with the attack on the Capitol, including the former president, Shaw said. And the court is asserting that it and essentially it alone will decide all of this for all of us.

Over two dozen opinions are expected from the Supreme Court by the end of June.

Two decisions related to two Jan. 6 cases remain pending  one involving a former police officer who breached the Capitol and is seeking to have an obstruction charge dropped. The decision could affect hundreds of Jan. 6 defendant cases, and the 2020 election interference case against Trump, who faces the same obstruction charge.

The court is also set to decide whether Trump is immune from four federal criminal counts alleging he schemed to overturn the 2020 presidential election results and knowingly spread false information that whipped his supporters into rioting on Jan. 6.

The post Pair of U.S. House Dems add to chorus calling for Alito, Thomas recusals appeared first on Wisconsin Examiner.
Congressional Democrats have called for ethics reforms for the U.S. Supreme Court in the wake of recent controversies. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON  U.S. House Democrats echoed Senate colleagues Tuesday in calling for U.S. Supreme Court Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito to recuse themselves from Jan. 6 cases, and for congressional Republicans to support passing an enforceable ethics code for the entire bench.

Reps. Jamie Raskin, ranking member of the U.S. House Committee on Oversight and Accountability, and vice ranking member Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez brought together fellow progressive Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse with experts and advocates for a roundtable discussion on the ethics crisis facing the nations highest court.

Recent revelations of flags sympathetic to the Stop the Steal movement flown outside Alitos home have reignited simmering concerns over justices conflicts of interest as they decide politically divisive issues. This year, justices are set to rule on access to the abortion pill and whether former President Donald Trump enjoys immunity from criminal charges alleging 2020 election interference, among other cases.

Raskin and Ocasio-Cortez delivered searing remarks, admonishing decades of court actions beginning with the 5-4 decision in 2000s Bush v. Gore that ultimately decided the presidential victory for George W. Bush. The lawmakers continued on to recent events that Ocasio-Cortez characterized as corruption that is almost comical.

The Supreme Court as it stands today is delegitimizing itself through his conduct, the New York Democrat continued in her opening statement. Americans are losing fundamental rights in the process  reproductive health care, civil liberties, voting rights, the right to organize clean air and water because the court has been captured and corrupted by money and extremism.

Raskin, of Maryland, said the highest court in the land today has the lowest ethical standards.

In his opening statement, Raskin characterized the court as the judicial arm of the Republican Party, drawing a throughline from Bushs appointments to the bench of Chief Justice John Roberts and Alito to Trumps appointments of conservative Justices Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett.

Now this right-wing corporate court, carefully designed to destroy Roe v. Wade and marry right-wing religion to untrammeled corporate power, has been demolishing womens abortion rights and contraceptive rights, civil rights law, voting rights law, civil liberties, environmental law, workers rights and consumer rights, enshrining government power over people and corporate power over government, Raskin said.

Raskin and Ocasio-Cortezs roundtable came less than a week after progressive House Reps. Pramila Jayapal of Washington and Hank Johnson of Georgia rallied with activists outside the Supreme Court urging an ethics overhaul.

That same day, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky posted to X: As the Supreme Court term ends, the Left is once again bullying Justices who refuse to take orders from liberal Senators. The Court should take any action it deems appropriate to reprimand unethical conduct by members of its Bar. And Justices should continue to pay this harassment no mind.

Keep the pressure on

Whitehouse told Democratic members of the Oversight and Accountability Committee that Senate Democrats are shining a heavy spotlight on the mischief.

The Rhode Island Democrat has championed an ethics bill titled the Supreme Court Ethics, Recusal and Transparency Act, which advanced out of committee along party lines in July 2023 but has not received a floor vote.

We need to keep the pressure on until they join the rest of the government in having a real ethics code with real fact finding and some prospects for comparing the facts that are found to the rules, Whitehouse said.

The bill was introduced during the fallout from a 2023 ProPublica investigation revealing that Justice Clarence Thomas received gifts from and traveled with a major Republican donor.

A recent analysis by watchdog group Fix The Court illustrated that over the last 20 years the value of gifts received and likely received by Thomas dwarfs that of his colleagues.

Whitehouse again pressed the court in May after the New York Times published that an upside-down U.S. flag hung outside Alitos Alexandria, Virginia, home just days after former Trumps supporters breached the Capitol. The Times later revealed another flag carried by Jan. 6 insurrectionists flew outside the justices New Jersey beach house.

Along with Sen. Dick Durbin, who chairs the Senate Committee on the Judiciary, Whitehouse requested a meeting with Roberts to urge Alito to recuse himself from cases related to the Jan. 6 attack. Roberts declined, and Alito responded to the senators, declaring he would not recuse himself.

Thank you Sen. Whitehouse for always flying the flag right side up, Raskin said.

The court will decide all of this for all of us

Kate Shaw, University of Pennsylvania law professor, told the lawmakers that the court is conducting itself in ways that are fundamentally inconsistent with basic separation-of-powers principles that are a core feature of our democracy.

This is crystal clear right now, as it is every June, as the country waits with bated breath to learn whether and how the court will upend huge swaths of American law, she continued.

This year questions include whether and how the court could further erode the capacity of agencies to regulate in ways that protect our health and safety and well being, and major firearms decisions, Shaw said.

The court will also decide whether laws on the books will be used to hold accountable individuals charged with the attack on the Capitol, including the former president, Shaw said. And the court is asserting that it and essentially it alone will decide all of this for all of us.

Over two dozen opinions are expected from the Supreme Court by the end of June.

Two decisions related to two Jan. 6 cases remain pending  one involving a former police officer who breached the Capitol and is seeking to have an obstruction charge dropped. The decision could affect hundreds of Jan. 6 defendant cases, and the 2020 election interference case against Trump, who faces the same obstruction charge.

The court is also set to decide whether Trump is immune from four federal criminal counts alleging he schemed to overturn the 2020 presidential election results and knowingly spread false information that whipped his supporters into rioting on Jan. 6.

The post Pair of U.S. House Dems add to chorus calling for Alito, Thomas recusals appeared first on Iowa Capital Dispatch.
The U.S. Supreme Court pictured on September 28, 2020. Congressional Democrats have called for ethics reforms for the court in the wake of recent controversies. (Courtesy of Al Drago/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON  U.S. House Democrats echoed Senate colleagues Tuesday in calling for U.S. Supreme Court Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito to recuse themselves from Jan. 6 cases, and for congressional Republicans to support passing an enforceable ethics code for the entire bench.

Reps. Jamie Raskin, ranking member of the U.S. House Committee on Oversight and Accountability, and vice ranking member Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez brought together fellow progressive Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse with experts and advocates for a roundtable discussion on the ethics crisis facing the nations highest court.

Recent revelations of flags sympathetic to the Stop the Steal movement flown outside Alitos home have reignited simmering concerns over justices conflicts of interest as they decide politically divisive issues. This year, justices are set to rule on access to the abortion pill and whether former President Donald Trump enjoys immunity from criminal charges alleging 2020 election interference, among other cases.

Raskin and Ocasio-Cortez delivered searing remarks, admonishing decades of court actions beginning with the 5-4 decision in 2000s Bush v. Gore that ultimately decided the presidential victory for George W. Bush. The lawmakers continued on to recent events that Ocasio-Cortez characterized as corruption that is almost comical.

The Supreme Court as it stands today is delegitimizing itself through his conduct, the New York Democrat continued in her opening statement. Americans are losing fundamental rights in the process  reproductive health care, civil liberties, voting rights, the right to organize clean air and water because the court has been captured and corrupted by money and extremism.

Raskin, of Maryland, said the highest court in the land today has the lowest ethical standards.

In his opening statement, Raskin characterized the court as the judicial arm of the Republican Party, drawing a throughline from Bushs appointments to the bench of Chief Justice John Roberts and Alito to Trumps appointments of conservative Justices Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett.

Now this right-wing corporate court, carefully designed to destroy Roe v. Wade and marry right-wing religion to untrammeled corporate power, has been demolishing womens abortion rights and contraceptive rights, civil rights law, voting rights law, civil liberties, environmental law, workers rights and consumer rights, enshrining government power over people and corporate power over government, Raskin said.

Raskin and Ocasio-Cortezs roundtable came less than a week after progressive House Reps. Pramila Jayapal of Washington and Hank Johnson of Georgia rallied with activists outside the Supreme Court urging an ethics overhaul.

That same day, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky posted to X: As the Supreme Court term ends, the Left is once again bullying Justices who refuse to take orders from liberal Senators. The Court should take any action it deems appropriate to reprimand unethical conduct by members of its Bar. And Justices should continue to pay this harassment no mind.

Keep the pressure on

Whitehouse told Democratic members of the Oversight and Accountability Committee that Senate Democrats are shining a heavy spotlight on the mischief.

The Rhode Island Democrat has championed an ethics bill titled the Supreme Court Ethics, Recusal and Transparency Act, which advanced out of committee along party lines in July 2023 but has not received a floor vote.

We need to keep the pressure on until they join the rest of the government in having a real ethics code with real fact finding and some prospects for comparing the facts that are found to the rules, Whitehouse said.

The bill was introduced during the fallout from a 2023 ProPublica investigation revealing that Justice Clarence Thomas received gifts from and traveled with a major Republican donor.

A recent analysis by watchdog group Fix The Court illustrated that over the last 20 years the value of gifts received and likely received by Thomas dwarfs that of his colleagues.

Whitehouse again pressed the court in May after the New York Times published that an upside-down U.S. flag hung outside Alitos Alexandria, Virginia, home just days after former Trumps supporters breached the Capitol. The Times later revealed another flag carried by Jan. 6 insurrectionists flew outside the justices New Jersey beach house.

Along with Sen. Dick Durbin, who chairs the Senate Committee on the Judiciary, Whitehouse requested a meeting with Roberts to urge Alito to recuse himself from cases related to the Jan. 6 attack. Roberts declined, and Alito responded to the senators, declaring he would not recuse himself.

Thank you Sen. Whitehouse for always flying the flag right side up, Raskin said.

The court will decide all of this for all of us

Kate Shaw, University of Pennsylvania law professor, told the lawmakers that the court is conducting itself in ways that are fundamentally inconsistent with basic separation-of-powers principles that are a core feature of our democracy.

This is crystal clear right now, as it is every June, as the country waits with bated breath to learn whether and how the court will upend huge swaths of American law, she continued.

This year questions include whether and how the court could further erode the capacity of agencies to regulate in ways that protect our health and safety and well being, and major firearms decisions, Shaw said.

The court will also decide whether laws on the books will be used to hold accountable individuals charged with the attack on the Capitol, including the former president, Shaw said. And the court is asserting that it and essentially it alone will decide all of this for all of us.

Over two dozen opinions are expected from the Supreme Court by the end of June.

Two decisions related to two Jan. 6 cases remain pending  one involving a former police officer who breached the Capitol and is seeking to have an obstruction charge dropped. The decision could affect hundreds of Jan. 6 defendant cases, and the 2020 election interference case against Trump, who faces the same obstruction charge.

The court is also set to decide whether Trump is immune from four federal criminal counts alleging he schemed to overturn the 2020 presidential election results and knowingly spread false information that whipped his supporters into rioting on Jan. 6.

The post Pair of U.S. House Dems add to chorus calling for Alito, Thomas recusals appeared first on Nebraska Examiner.
Pamela Smart, convicted of plotting her husband's murder with a high school student more than three decades ago, took responsibility for her role in the murder in her latest request to shorten her life sentence.

"I found myself responsible for something I desperately didn't want to be responsible for  my husband's murder," Smart said in a videotaped statement included with her petition and shared with USA TODAY.

Smart asked Gov. Chris Sununu and the state's Executive Council for the opportunity to have an "honest conversation with you about my incarceration, my acceptance of responsibility, and any concerns you might have," either in person or via videoconference.

"I am such a different person than I was, and more thoughtful than before," Smart said. "Thirty-four 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."

Pamela Smart, convicted of being an accomplice to her husband's murder, is asking the Governor of New Hampshire to make her eligible for parole.

What did Pamela Smart do?

Smart, 56, was convicted in 1991 for her role in the murder of Gregg Smart by William "Billy" Flynn, a teenager with whom she was having an affair, days before the pair's one-year anniversary.

Smart is currently serving a life sentence for being an accomplice to first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit murder, and witness tampering. If her request is granted, she will be eligible to ask a parole board for her release.

She has unsuccessfully asked to have her sentence shortened multiple times. The Executive Council and New Hampshire Supreme Court rejected her last request in 2022, The Portsmouth Herald, part of the USA TODAY Network, reported.

Mark Sisti, Smart's attorney, pointed to a "tremendous change" from past petitions.

"Pam is ready, willing and able to take full responsibility for the murder of her husband Gregg," he told USA TODAY. "We think there's been a wonderful turn around. We think that the governor and council should take notice of this and deal with her one-on-one."

The family of Gregg Smart did not immediately return a request for comment from USA TODAY.

Since her last request two years ago, Smart has finally reached the "correct conclusion" about her role in the crime, Sisti said.

"She's been running from it for over three decades," he added.

Smart's latest petition, submitted by Sisti, also includes a written statement from Smart and letters of support from the superintendent and several inmates from Bedford Hills Correctional Facility, where she is currently incarcerated.

Sisti said there is no set schedule for the governor and council to come to a decision. "When she gets a hearing is entirely up to them," he said.

New Hampshires process for commutation or pardon requests is fair and thorough," Sununu said in a statement emailed to USA TODAY. "Pamela Smart will be given the same opportunity to petition the Council for a hearing as any other individual.

Pamela Smart's trial was the first to be broadcast live in full in New Hampshire.

More: Karen Read on trial for death of boyfriend John O'Keefe as defense claims police cover up

Pamela Smart trial sparked media craze, inspired movies

Smart's trial in 1991 stirred a media firestorm, piqued worldwide attention, and inspired a Hollywood movie.

Smart, then a 22-year-old media coordinator at a high school in Hampton, New Hampshire, convinced Flynn, a 15-year-old sophomore at the school, to murder her husband with the help of three friends.

Flynn and his friends drove to the condo where Smart and her husband lived to await his return from work while Smart was at a school board meeting on May 1, 1990. One of Flynn's friends held a knife to Gregg Smart's neck while Flynn shot him at close range.

During the trial, prosecutors said Smart had a sexual relationship with Flynn, and had coerced him into the crime. They said Smart also told Flynn to ransack their home and steal jewelry to make the murder look like a burglary gone awry.

The trial, the first in the state to air in full on live TV, drew a frenzy of public interest. News crews from around the world descended on the Exeter courtroom.

Media coverage dubbed Smart an "ice princess" and "black widow" who had seduced Flynn into the crime. The case inspired documentaries, TV series, and the 1995 film "To Die For," which starred Nicole Kidman as a woman who seduces a teenaged boy, played by Joaquin Phoenix, into murdering her husband.

Cybele Mayes-Osterman is a breaking news reporter for USA Today. Reach her on email at cmayesosterman@usatoday.com. Follow her on X @CybeleMO.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Pamela Smart accepts responsibility in her husband's 1990 murder
A Parole Agent Went to Check on a Sex Offender. He Wound Up Dead and Stuffed into Plastic Bag

Emanuel Edward Sewell, 54, has been charged with second-degree murder

The Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services Davis Martinez

Maryland parole and probation agent Davis Martinez, 33, was on a routine resident check on Friday, May 31 for 54-year-old convicted sex offender Emanuel Edward Sewell.

But when Martinez didn't report back, officers from the Montgomery County Department of Police were dispatched to Sewells apartment in Chevy Chase.

Officers found the residence secured with blinds drawn. After they tried to establish communication with both Martinez and Sewell, they forced entry into the apartment, according to a charging document obtained by PEOPLE.

Inside, they found Martinez wrapped in multiple plastic bags underneath a bed, according to the documents.



Officers noted the body appeared to be in the fetal position and observed a bloodied towel near the front door, states the document.

Martinez had been stabbed multiple times, including to his head, face, brain and neck, prosecutors said, according to the The Washington Post.

A neighbor told investigators that she heard loud knocking on Sewells door that morning around 9 a.m. Hours later, around 2 p.m. the witness claimed to have seen Sewell walking towards a dumpster before returning to his apartment. Soon after, he was allegedly spotted leaving his apartment with two clear trash bags full of clothes. He drove away in his Hyundai Elantra, the charging document claims.

Montgomery County Department of Police Emanuel Edward Sewell

Sewell was taken into custody the next day in West Virginia, per the Post. He was charged with second-degree murder and ordered held without bail on Monday, June 10, according to the Post.

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The convicted sex offender had been on supervised release since 2021 after serving decades in prison for the 1996 rape of a physicist, the Post reported.

According to a charging document from October 31, 1996 obtained by PEOPLE, Sewell climbed through the mans unlocked ground level kitchen window and confronted him in his bed with a knife, bound his hands and feet, and then sexually assaulted him. After the assault, he stole the victims ATM card, video cassette recorder and 1991 Plymouth Colt. He allegedly admitted the attack to police, per the charging document.

Sewell has yet to enter a plea. His attorney could not be reached for comment.

If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, please contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) or go to rainn.org.



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Read the original article on People.
A Russian satellite communication station was destroyed in a sabotage attack in Moscow Oblast by pro-Ukrainian Atesh partisans, the group reported on June 12.

In a video posted by Atesh partisans on Telegram, an Atesh "agent" is seen pouring a flammable liquid on an R-441 Liven communications satellite. The communications station is seen subsequently catching fire.

The incident allegedly occurred in the Klin district of Moscow Oblast - approximately 85 kilometers (over 50 miles) northwest of the Russian capital.

According to Atesh, the communications station is part of the 584th Guards Anti-Aircraft Missile Regiment and serves as part of the region's air defense systems.

Atesh claimed in their social media post that "air defense systems of the entire Moscow region has been weakened" as a result of their attack.

The Kyiv Independent cannot independently verify the claims and cannot determine when the incident took place.

The Ukrainian military has not commented on the purported attack.

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BEIJING, June 12 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping has encouraged Andrew Chi-Chih Yao, a professor of Tsinghua University, to further contribute to the nation's talent development and sci-tech innovation.

Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks in a reply letter recently sent to Yao, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences who returned to China and commenced his teaching career at Tsinghua 20 years ago. 
After serving 12 years in the New Hampshire House of Representatives representing Stratham, I have decided to run for state Senate in District 24, which includes Rye, Greenland, Stratham, Exeter, Hampton, North Hampton, and Hampton Falls.

When I met with Senate President Jeb Bradley several months ago about running, he said that I would be a great senator and I would hit the ground running since I know my way around the State House and all of state government. In my six terms at the State House, I was known for my 12 years on the Ways and Means Committee, where I quickly became the vice chair, working closely with the perennial Chair Norm Major.

Pat Abrami

Throughout my years at the University of Buffalo, where I received both a bachelor of science and master's of science in industrial engineering/operations research, most of my class work and projects were problem-solving. As a principal/owner of a hospital operations consulting firm for 43 years in which I personally consulted in 37 states and D.C. in over 400 hospitals, I was always formulating solutions to my clients' problems. It is these problem-solving skills that I brought to the House and will to the Senate.

I was assigned to 13 commissions and joint committees with the Senate and was elected chair to nine of them, covering a wide range of topics, all requiring problems to be solved. On all of these assignments, I worked closely with many senators from both parties. In Ways and Means, I was asked to chair many sub-committees where we would fix bills the committee felt were worthy of fixing.

Philosophically, I always start with keeping New Hampshire a business-friendly state. The why is simple: business-friendly equals the creation of high-paying productive jobs for our citizens. Our business taxes are our largest source of tax revenue, which provides us with the revenue needed to support our government functions and help those who need a hand-up.

In my tenure on Ways and Means, we lowered the business tax rate, which has led to a record high level of business tax revenues because of the growth in the number of businesses who moved to New Hampshire or expanded here. When on an airplane the announcement is always, "place the oxygen mask over your face first, before your child." The message is if you pass out, your child will not have a chance. The analogy is if we do not create a business-friendly environment, all of the programs that help our citizens in need will be curtailed due to decreased tax revenue. This is the only way to prevent personal income, sales, capital gains, or inheritance taxes, all of which I have fought against successfully in Ways and Means and on the House floor.

I am also a proponent of an efficient, effective and nimble government, which we certainly have, but we can always do better. Unlike other states fraught with fraud, corruption, and cronyism, we have an environment and culture that prevents this type of abuse. We do not need to open the spigot of revenues brought on by broad-based taxes that will lead to bloat and inefficiency in government.

I also will always side with having a strong family structure, an ethos of individual responsibility, and a strong work ethic among our citizens; a strong educational system with high academic standards that recognizes one type of education environment does not fit all; an energy policy that is sensitive to the ratepayers; a voting system that prevents any chance of fraud; and a judicial system that is just without forsaking the victim. These are just some of my guiding principles.

My major goal is to keep New Hampshire, New Hampshire  the best state to raise a family and open a business. We are unique among states with the way our government is structured and raises revenues, leading to the overall lowest tax and fee rate (all taxes including property taxes) of any state, except Alaska because of the oil tax revenue shared with individuals. We should not emulate other states, but other states should emulate us. We are already, as a state compared to other states, ranked near the top in the health of our citizens, education of our children, quality of our environment, low crime rates, and as mentioned low taxes. We are always ranked number one in quality of life and always have the fewest number of citizens living below the federal poverty level. Once we lose our uniqueness, we will never get it back.

So, as a senator, I will fight every day to protect what makes New Hampshire the best place to live. I grew up in New York, and lived in Massachusetts, Maine, and New Jersey before moving to New Hampshire, as well as consulted in 32 other states and D.C. I know first-hand what we have in New Hampshire and need to preserve. Please take a look at states like Massachusetts, New York, California, Illinois, and New Jersey to see what I mean.

I would appreciate your vote on Nov. 5. To learn more about me, please go to my website: patabramifornh.com.

Pat Abrami, R-Stratham, is a former state representative and a candidate for N.H. Senate District 24.

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Pat Abrami: Here's why I'm running for NH Senate in District 24
Former Republican House speaker Paul Ryan said he will not be voting for Donald Trump in the upcoming election, slamming his character in a Fox News interview on Tuesday.

When Fox News host Neil Cavuto asked Ryan, who voted for Trump in 2016, what put him off, Ryan said it is a contribution of things but namely Trumps lack of moral principles.

I think it really is just character at the end of the day, and the fact that if youre willing to put yourself above the Constitution  an oath you swear when you take federal office, whether as president or a member of Congress, you swear an oath to the Constitution  and youre willing to suborn it to yourself, I think that makes you unfit for office, Ryan told Cavuto.

Its not the first time Ryan has made his contempt for Trump known. He called Trump a populist, authoritarian narcissist, who thinks in an authoritarian way, in an interview last year. Having served as a speaker of the House for two years of Trumps term, Ryan began openly criticizing the former president after he left office. Did I think he was going to improve and grow in the job? Yeah. He didnt," Ryan told The New York Times Magazine in 2023.

In the Fox News interview on Tuesday, Ryan, who is a Fox Corporation board member, also criticized Trumps negative impact on the GOP.

Hes cost us a lot of seats, Ryan said. He cost us the Senate twice. He cost us the House because he is nominating, he is pushing through the primaries people who cannot win general elections but who pledge fealty to him.

Ryan made it clear he does not support President Joe Biden either, whose policies he called terrible." He sympathized with American voters who he said have been given two terrible choices for the upcoming November election.

In a country with 350 million people, this is the choice we have? Ryan said. I, like the majority of Americans, wish we had a different choice.
(PUEBLO, Colo.)  The Pueblo County Sheriffs Special Investigation detectives arrested a second suspect on Tuesday, June 11 in connection to a child abuse case.

Detectives arrested 29-year-old Brittany Farmer for felony child abuse resulting in serious bodily injury and child abuse. Farmer has been booked into the Pueblo County Jail.

The arrest was made in connection with the June 8 incident involving two children. A 3-year-old who remains in critical condition with life-threatening injuries and a 14-year-old.

PCSO: Child abuse arrest; 3-yr-old in critical condition

On Saturday, June 8, deputies responded to a Pueblo West home to a report of an unresponsive 3-year-old child. Officers found the child and transported him to a local hospital. The 3-year-old was then transferred to a Colorado Springs hospital via flight. A 14-year-old who also had visible injuries was taken to a local hospital where he was treated and released. The teen has been placed with the Department of Human Services.

The childrens mother, 38-year-old Samantha Kimberly was also arrested on June 8 on felony child abuse resulting in serious bodily injury and child abuse. Kimberly remains in Pueblo County Jail on a $50,000 bond.

No child should have to experience what these two children have been through, said Pueblo County Sheriff David J. Lucero. My detectives will continue to work to ensure that those responsible for this heinous crime are held accountable.

Detectives have been actively investigating the case and obtained the warrant to arrest Farmer on June 11. Both women shared the Pueblo West home.

The investigation is active and ongoing, anyone with information about the case is asked to call (719) 583-6250.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
HARRISBURG, Pa. (WHTM)  For the first time in the Commonwealths history, Pennsylvania lawmakers have advanced legislation for Marriage Equality.

The bill, introduced by State Representative Malcolm Kenyatta (D-Philadelphia) passed the House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday by a bipartisan 17-8 vote with three Republicans joining all Democrats on the committee.

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The legislation would repeal a Pennsylvania statute that the public policy of Pennsylvania is that marriage is between one man and one womanmarriage between persons of the same sex which was entered into in another state or foreign jurisdiction, even if valid where entered into, shall be void in this Commonwealth.

LGBTQ Pennsylvanians deserve to get married to their spouse without having to worry about the whims of political tensions and the actions of a United States Supreme Court, said Preston Heldibridle, Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Youth Congress. Todays vote affirms that updating the language in our state statute to put aside past exclusion has bipartisan backing, and embraces the reality that marriage equality is broadly supported today. Marriage should be about celebrating a loving union between two adults. Marriage equality is simply the right public policy for Pennsylvania  what more needs to be said?

The right to same-sex marriage in the United States has been recognized since the Supreme Courts 2015 Obergefell v. Hodges ruling. However, Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito has renewed criticism of the ruling, leading many advocates to worry about the future of marriage equality.

The legislation faces additional votes in the House and Senate before being considered by Governor Josh Shapiro.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
PALMYRA, Pa. (WHTM)  A Pennsylvania man is facing charges after allegedly stealing tens of thousands of dollars of wiring and electrical components and causing just as much damage in Lebanon County.

Western Lebanon County Regional Police say on June 11 officers responded to the former PACMA Mill on East High Street in Palmyra. Police say they found Timothy Costello, who attempted to flee but was taken into custody.

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Police say Costello admitted to stealing wiring and electrical components from the building over the course of several weeks. Its estimated that Costello stole approximately $60,000 worth of property from the building and a repair estimate indicated it would cost $70,000 in labor to repair the damage.

Costello is facing felony charges of burglary, criminal trespass, theft by unlawful taking, receiving stolen property, and criminal mischief. Hes being held in the Lebanon County Prison on $100,000 bail.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC27.
CUMBERLAND COUNTY, Pa. (WHTM)  A State Police cruiser and a pickup truck collided on the outskirts of Carlisle, injuring the trooper and a passenger in the truck.

The crash happened around 8 p.m. Tuesday on Alexander Spring Road in South Middleton Township.

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According to a release from the State Police at Carlisle, a trooper was responding along Alexander Spring Road with lights and sirens to a reported cardiac emergency involving a young child.

A 27-year-old man from Bellefonte, driving a 2003 Chevrolet Avalanche, pulled out of a parking lot and into the path of the police cruiser. The cruiser struck the pickup, troopers said, disabling both vehicles.

The trooper and a passenger from the truck were taken to UPMC Carlisle for treatment of minor injuries.

Troopers did not release the names of anyone involved or say if any citations would be filed.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
The Pentagon is downplaying Wednesday's arrival of four Russian Navy ships in Cuba as U.S. officials acknowledge that U.S. Navy ships "actively monitored" the Russian ships as they made their way to a port of call in Havana.

On Thursday the U.S. military announced that a U.S. submarine had arrived at the U.S. Naval base in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba in an apparent show of U.S. force in the Caribbean region.

At Wednesday's Pentagon press briefing, spokesperson Sabrina Singh downplayed the Russian naval flotilla's arrival in Havana noting that it's happened multiple times over the years but acknowledged that U.S. military assets had been tracking the ships on their way to Cuba.

"We've been tracking the Russians plans for this," Sabrina Singh, the Pentagon's deputy press secretary told reporters Wednesday.

PHOTO: Russian frigate Admiral Gorshkov enters Havana's bay, Cuba, June 12, 2024. (Stringer/Reuters)

MORE: Permission to win: Ukraine needs more from Biden than weapons to defeat Russia, according to experts

The Russian ships' transit towards Cuba was monitored by six warships from the United States Navy, Canada, and France. They included the U.S. Navy destroyers USS Donald Cook, USS Delbert Black, USS Truxton, U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Stone, the Canadian frigate HMCS Ville de Quebec, and a French Lafayette class frigate.

"This is not a surprise we've seen them do this these type of port calls before and these are routine naval visits that we've seen under different administrations," Singh said.

PHOTO: A tug boat manoeuvres Russian nuclear-powered cruise missile submarine Kazan as it docks in Havana's bay, Cuba, June 12, 2024. (Alexandre Meneghini/Reuters)

"We're always constantly going to monitor any foreign vessels operating near U.S. territorial waters," she added. U.S. territorial waters stretch out 12 nautical miles from the coastline.

A U.S. official said the Russian ships came 30 miles from the American coastline as they transited the Atlantic Ocean.

On Thursday, U.S. Southern Command disclosed that a U.S. submarine had pulled into the U.S. Naval base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba in an apparent show of U.S. force in the region though it was labeled as a "routine port visit".

"The fast-attack submarine USS Helena is in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba as part of a routine port visit as it transits the U.S. Southern Command geographic area of responsibility while conducting its global maritime security and national defense mission," said a SOUTHCOM statement posted on X. "The vessel's location and transit were previously planned."

STATEMENT: The fast-attack submarine USS Helena is in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba as part of a routine port visit as it transits the U.S. Southern Command geographic area of responsibility while conducting its global maritime security and national defense mission. The vessel's location pic.twitter.com/icbeuonjgp  U.S. Southern Command (@Southcom) June 13, 2024

Russia's Defense Ministry has been very open about the port of call in Havana being made by the frigate "Admiral Gorshkov," the nuclear-powered submarine "Kazan," the sea supply tanker "Akademik Pashin" and the ocean rescue tug "Nikolai Chiker."

PHOTO: The rescue and tugboat Nicolay Chiker, part of the Russian naval detachment visiting Cuba, arrives at Havana's harbour, June 12, 2024. (Adalberto Roque/AFP via Getty Images)

Cuba's defense ministry has described the visit as "keeping with the historical friendly ties between Cuba and the Russian Federation and is fully consistent with international rules." In a statement, the ministry said "none of the ships carry nuclear weapons, due to which our country does not pose any threat to the region."

Even though the Russian ships are in port, Singh said the U.S. was "going to continue to monitor what's happening in the region."

According to the Pentagon, Russia has sailed warships into the Western Hemisphere yearly from 2013 to 2020 with regular port visits into Havana.

The most recent docking of a warship was in June 2023 though the most recent military exercise in the region was in 2008 with Venezuela.

A U.S. official said that the port visit to Havana will last a few days and that sometime next week the Russian flotilla is expected to make a port of call in Venezuela.

The Russian Navy ships will not be the only warships from a foreign military power making port in Havana this week.

The Canadian patrol vessel HMCS Margaret Brooke will conduct a port visit to Havana from June 14 to 17, the first time that a Canadian warship has made a port of call there since 2016.

Pentagon downplays Russian warships arriving in Cuba originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
Person hospitalized after an argument led to a shooting at Azle home, police say

Authorities are investigating a shooting that Azle police say stemmed from an argument on Tuesday, according to a news release.

At 12 p.m. Tuesday, Azle police received a 911 call reporting a shooting in the 100 block of Richard Lane. The caller reported that he had been shot in the chest by a family member.

Officers responded to the scene and located both the victim and a suspect outside of a home.

The suspect was taken into custody without incident.

Azle Fire Department medics transported the victim to a local hospital with potentially life-threatening injuries, according to the release.

The investigation determined this was an isolated incident and there was no immediate threat to the public, police say. The shooting happened at the home following an argument between the suspect and the victim.

Other family members, including a small child, were also at the home at the time of the shooting, according to police.

This is an ongoing investigation.
Person hospitalized after being hit by car in Bostons Fenway neighborhood

A person was rushed to the hospital after being struck by a car in Bostons Fenway neighborhood Wednesday afternoon.

Boston police say the individual was hit at the intersection of Boylston Street and Park Drive around 4:05 p.m.

The pedestrian was were rushed to a nearby hospital to be treated for serious, but non-life-threatening injuries.

The driver of the vehicle stopped and was issued a citation for speeding, Massachusetts State Police said.

A Bluebike could still be seen under the front of the blue sedan around half an hour after the collision.

An Investigation is ongoing.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

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by Xinhua writers Hu Tao, Zhang Wenjing

LANZHOU, June 12 (Xinhua) -- Chinese scientists are endeavoring to safeguard the smooth and safe operation of a high-speed railway in the windy Gobi Desert by better understanding the movement of sand.

New progress has been made in revealing the sediment movement by strong winds along the Lanzhou-Xinjiang high-speed railway, one of northwest China's railway arteries, according to the Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources (NIEER) under the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

The new study is of practical importance to the safe operation of such an important railway artery. Moreover, it could serve as a theoretical foundation for preventing and managing eolian disasters along this railway, said NIEER researcher Liu Benli.

The 1,776-km high-speed railway links Urumqi, capital of northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, with Gansu Province's capital Lanzhou. It spans Xinjiang and the provinces of Qinghai and Gansu in the country's vast northwestern region.

It is also the country's first high-speed railway through four major wind areas of the Gobi Desert.

Under strong wind conditions over vast Gobi surfaces, eolian transportation can cause significant environmental problems and infrastructural damage. However, scientific understanding of the underlying mechanisms and dynamics of this process in the Gobi region remains limited, according to Liu.

Therefore, it is of practical and academic importance to investigate and better understand the eolian transportation over the Gobi surface along this railway.

The NIEER researchers selected one of the windy areas along the railway to carry out field observation on the transportation process of wind-blown sand on the Gobi surface.

The study results indicate that sand transportation heights can reach 9 meters in this region, with the saltation layer approximately three to six times higher than that of other gravel deserts.

The study provides insight into the wind-blown sand movement mechanism over the surface of Gobi Desert under strong winds, according to NIEER associate researcher Wang Tao.

It also proposes suggestions to current wind-blown sand protection system of this railway.

According to the study results, the annual eolian transported quantity recorded in this region exceeds that of most deserts worldwide. Notably, fine sand and total suspended particulates contributed to around 90 percent of the sediment deposited on railway tracks and drawn in by passing trains.

"To control transportation of these fine particles, we propose increasing the height of sand-blocking fences within the current railway wind-blown sand protection system from two to three meters," said Wang.

Simultaneously, anthropogenic damage to the Gobi surface should be minimized to reduce excessive dust release, he added.

The results of the study have been published in the journal Land Degradation & Development. 
VERONA  Arielle and Nat Carroll werent able to have children for over 10 years.

While living in Arizona, the couple instead turned to animal rescue and rehabilitation. Over the years, they took on four dogs, two chickens, a few tortoises, and one miniature potbelly pig named Circe.

Before she was surrendered to us, Circe had been underfed and mistreated, Arielle explained. However, now that she is a well-fed potbelly pig, she is still a completely different animal in comparison to a commercial hog.

Her name comes from the Odyssey, Nat explained, from the sea witch who turns all of the sailors into pigs.

The couple, and their rescued animals, eventually moved to a residentially-zoned area of Augusta County. Just over 14 months ago, their son was born.

The Carrolls found themselves presenting their, and Circes, case to the Augusta County Planning Commission on Tuesday night. The board acts as advisors to the Augusta County Board of Supervisors, deciding to recommend ordinance changes or special use permits.

Arielle and Nat Carroll make their case for Circe the minipig.

The planning commission was considering a recommendation, or not, for two ordinances acting in unison to allow companion pigs in single-family residences. Arielle told The News Leader someone anonymously reported Circe to the county, part of why they came to present their case to the board.

Companion pigs are a specific type of miniature pig including pot-bellied pigs, Vietnamese pot-bellied pigs, Juliana pigs, or veterinarian-certified similar breeds.

When people think of domestic pigs, they often envision large animals weighing between 300-700 pounds, said Nat Carroll. These massive creatures are indeed challenging to accommodate in an everyday home setting. In stark contrast, minipigs are significantly smaller. Our minipig, Circe, weighs roughly 125 pounds and has always lived comfortably indoors with us, becoming a beloved member of our family.

Arielle and Nat Carroll make their case for Circe the minipig.

The planning commission was not persuaded.

I have an issue with these companion pigs as you call them, said Boardmember Larry Howdyshell. We've got one request out of how many, seventy-something-thousand people in the county. If we open the door for this, what's next? It'll be companion small horses or whatever.

Howdyshell noted the Carrolls adopted their pig, You probably rescued this because somebody didn't want it. It creates a problem for our animal shelters. I don't feel we need to go in this direction.

A majority of the county is in ag, so there's very few places that residential would apply, said Carolyn Bragg, who serves as both a member of the planning commission and as a supervisor. I do not feel that the pigs should be in a residential area, so I'm really not supportive of adding this to our definitions.

Between the two ordinance public hearings, both Carrolls and one other Augusta County resident spoke. The resident, Tammy Lockridge, was opposed to miniature pigs, saying her family intentionally moved out of the agriculture districts.

We've passed on certain households we looked at behind because they were in farm country or near chicken farms, Lockridge said. Everybody has a right for that, so we made a choice to live where we are, to be away from that.

The board voted six to one against recommending both ordinance changes to the Augusta County Board of Supervisors.

The sole dissenting vote was Boardmember Kyle Leonard. Leonard explained hes spent time around the miniature pigs and compared them to dogs, It's not so much about the animal, it's about the owner. They're bad dog owners too, and they cause problems in communities. If he could set policy, he would allow just one pig in the ordinance, if I had my choice. I don't think that it would be an issue.

As far as having a companion pig as a pet, I think it's a wonderful thing, said Leonard just before the second vote. I commend them for rescuing that one, but I don't share the same sentiments as the rest of the commission.

Boardmembers Larry Howdyshell (left) and Kyle Leonard (right).

The Carrolls spoke with The News Leader after the meeting.

It's really heartbreaking because I don't think they realize that, to follow the ordinance right now, we need five acres of land, Nathan told The News Leader. A house on five acres of land is over three quarters of a million dollars right now. So essentially it's a half a million-dollar hit for us to keep our pig if we want to stay in Augusta County.

Carroll noted they were already looking at moving to accommodate county code on rescue animals. They have rescued four dogs, two chickens, a couple of tortoises, and Circe. However, should the ordinance be denied by the supervisors, keeping Circe alone would require selling their home and moving to an agriculture-zoned district.

Arielle noted they are not the only miniature pig owners in the county, Weve tried to come forward, and comply with the county, and talk through it, and I don't feel like that was a very reasonable conversation. I dont feel like were a unique case.

The ordinances next go to the Augusta County Board of Supervisors.

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.

More: Juneteenth observances and ceremonies to be held in Staunton, Virginia, area 2024

More: Where did the money come from and where did it go? US Senate candidates raise millions

This article originally appeared on Staunton News Leader: Pet miniature pigs don't get a recommendation from Augusta Planning Commission
Russian sailors were seen standing on a nuclear-powered submarine as it entered Cuban waters Wednesday with three Russian naval ships.

The vessels are expected to stay in Havana through the weekend ahead of military exercises in the Caribbean in the coming weeks.

The Russian nuclear-powered submarine Kazan, part of the Russian naval detachment visiting Cuba, arrives at Havana's harbor, June 12, 2024. / Credit: Adalberto Roque/AFP via Getty Images

Photos taken in Havana showed the submarine, identified as the Kazan, cruising into the Cuban capital city's harbor about 100 miles southwest of Key West, Florida.

The U.S. intelligence community assessed that while the submarine is nuclear powered, it isn't carrying nuclear weapons, a U.S. official told CBS News national security correspondent David Martin.

Crowds were seen onshore watching small boats accompany the parade of ships into Havana's harbor.

People watch Russian frigate Admiral Gorshkov as it enters Havana's harbor in Cuba, June 12, 2024. / Credit: Reuters/Alexandre Meneghini

Cuba's Foreign Ministry had identified the Russian ships as the frigate Admiral Gorshkov, the fleet oil tanker Pashin and the salvage tug Nikolai Chiker.

Russian frigate Admiral Gorshkov, part of the Russian naval detachment visiting Cuba, arrives in Havana's harbor, June 12, 2024. / Credit: Yamil Lage/AFP via Getty Images

The Admiral Gorshkov was previously used to test Russia's hypersonic cruise missiles, according to the Reuters news agency.

The Russian ships were shadowed by U.S. Navy ships as they made their way to the island nation, the U.S. official told Martin. The American shadowing will continue when the ships leave Havana, which is expected to be next week.

The salvage tug Nikolai Chiker, part of the Russian naval detachment visiting Cuba, docks at Havana's harbor, June 12, 2024. / Credit: Yamil Lage/AFP via Getty Images

The ships' arrival coincided with Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez's meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Moscow.

White House national security spokesman John Kirby told CBS News that the Russians' time in the Caribbean wasn't expected to pose a threat to the U.S.

"Clearly this is them signaling their displeasure about what we're doing for Ukraine," Kirby told CBS News senior White House and political correspondent Ed O'Keefe last week.

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(KRON)  A Piedmont resident who responded to the police departments request for video footage related to recent sexual assault incidents helped investigators locate the suspect who subsequently admitted to the crimes, according to authorities.

On the morning of May 31, the Piedmont Police Department reported that a suspect grabbed a womans buttocks while she was walking on Bonita Avenue and fled the scene. Shortly after, a similar incident occurred on Pala Avenue. Authorities asked anyone with information or video footage to contact the police department.

In a case update, Piedmont police said that one resident with a camera system provided crucial video evidence of the crime. Using the residents video, investigators used a Flock license plate reader camera to identify the suspects vehicle.

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Detectives located the cars previous owner in San Jose, who told police that they had sold the vehicle. The previous owner provided information about the new owner, and the new owner provided police with information on who was driving the vehicle at the time of the incidents.

On June 5, the suspect voluntarily went to the police department upon request from investigators, Piedmont PD said. In an interview, police said that the suspect confessed to being involved in the crimes.

The man was arrested for sexual battery and booked into Santa Rita Jail.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRON4.
Two men who federal prosecutors described as high-level members of a drug ring associated with a white supremacist prison gang pleaded guilty Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Tacoma to drug and gun crimes.

Gregory Beers, 31 of Edgewood, and Ronald McComb, 59 of Ridgefield, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Western District of Washington announced in a news release. Beers also pleaded guilty to possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime. McComb additionally pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm.

Prosecutors and the defendants attorneys agreed to recommend 12-and-a-half years in prison for Beers and 13 years in prison for McComb. They are expected to be sentenced before Chief Judge David Estudillo in September.

The men were among 27 indicted in March last year who were tied to Aryan prison gangs and Mexican cartels. A number of the defendants had connections to Pierce County. Beers and two others were still wanted by authorities when federal and local officials announced the conclusion of an investigation into the drug-trafficking conspiracy.

Beers managed to elude authorities March 22, 2023 when law enforcement tried to execute a search warrant for his arrest at a residence where he was staying in Edgewood, according to a copy of his plea agreement. That week, authorities were serving search and arrest warrants in 18 locations in Washington and Arizona.

When police tried to arrest Beers, prosecutors said, he tossed a loaded pistol and then jumped a fence into a neighbors yard. Inside the residence, law enforcement found two firearms and bullet-proof vests. In his car, police found seven more guns and additional bullet-proof vests. Police also recovered illegal drugs, cash and drug ledgers.

The FBI led a drug trafficking investigation involving wiretaps, confidential informants and numerous drug and firearm seizures in Washington state and Arizona in 2022 and 2023.

Beers was arrested April 11 when he was found living in an RV parked at a Tacoma home. Police found more guns in the trailer and $7,271, according to court records. Law enforcement also seized six pieces of jewelry worth more than $35,000, including a 14-karat gold Miami Cuban link chain, a diamond bracelet and a gold ring.

Prosecutors said Beers admitted in his plea agreement that he sent video messages to inmates in the state Department of Corrections showing off multiple high-powered firearms and large amounts of cash and gold he earned through drug trafficking. The plea agreement detailed multiple calls in which Beers discussed his drug trafficking involving tens of thousands of fentanyl pills and multi-pound quantities of methamphetamine.

McComb acknowledged in his plea agreement multiple recorded phone calls with co-conspirators, according to prosecutors. In the calls, McComb discussed his drug-trafficking activity and the creation of a distribution network to move fentanyl pills to Alaska.

He further admitted to possessing large amounts of heroin and a 9 mm handgun that was seized from his vehicle after a traffic stop in February 2022, prosecutors said. He was later arrested March 22, 2023.
UPDATE: She has been found safe.

Pittsburgh police are looking for a missing and endangered teenager from Sheraden.

Aaliyah Layne, 17, was last seen leaving her house in the 2900 block of Merwyn Avenue on Wednesday.

Police said Layne is in need of medical attention.

Layne is described as being 5 feet, 1 inch tall and 130 pounds. She has brown hair and brown eyes. Her most recent clothing description is unknown, but she may be carrying a white tote bag.

Police said she is known to spend time in Pittsburghs Allentown neighborhood and around Mt. Oliver Street.

Anyone with information is asked to call (412) 323-7141 or 911.

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by Murad Abdo

ADEN, Yemen, June 12 (Xinhua) -- Eid al-Adha, a joyous occasion for Muslims across the world, has become a bitter reminder of the dire economic conditions plaguing Yemen after more than nine years of unrelenting conflict.

As the festive season approaches, the exorbitant prices of sacrificial livestock have cast a shadow over the celebrations, leaving many Yemenis unable to partake in the traditional rituals.

On the outskirts of the southern port city of Aden, livestock traders have observed a significant decrease in residents' willingness to buy Eid sacrifices this year compared to previous years.

Fatima Mohamed, a mother of five, voiced her despair as she surveyed the livestock market.

"Every year, I look forward to Eid as a time of joy and togetherness," she lamented. "But this year, the prices are simply beyond our reach. How can we celebrate when we can barely afford to put food on the table?"

Across the war-ravaged Arab country, similar stories echo through the streets. Abdul-Aleem Galal, a livestock trader in Aden, shook his head solemnly as he recounted the dwindling demand for sacrificial animals.

"Families that once eagerly awaited this occasion now turn away, their faces etched with disappointment," he said. "The cost of importing livestock from neighboring countries, coupled with the plummeting value of our currency, has made these traditions a luxury few can afford."

Walid Ali, another livestock merchant in Aden, said that the escalating prices have impacted even locally sourced livestock from other neighboring provinces owing to high transportation expenses and increasing fuel costs.

In the local market, the price for a single sheep or goat hovers around 180 U.S. dollars, a cost that remains unattainable for many families grappling with the repercussions of the country's prolonged conflict.

"I scoured the livestock markets with money in hand but ultimately returned home empty-handed, unable to afford the exorbitant prices," Salah Mahmoud, an Aden-based employee, recounted his fruitless quest to procure a sacrificial animal.

Mahmoud, along with thousands of fellow Yemenis, will be forced to resort to purchasing poultry on the morning of Eid, a symbolic gesture to maintain the tradition of sacrifice.

The exorbitant costs of sacrificial animals have become an annual challenge plaguing Yemen, a nation torn asunder by the ravages of war and economic strife. The country's plight has been compounded by the division of its economic system between the warring factions in Aden and Sanaa, further exacerbating the hardships endured by its citizens.

Yemen's descent into turmoil began in late 2014 when the Houthi group seized control of the capital, Sanaa, prompting a Saudi-led military intervention months later. This sparked a civil war that has since escalated into a humanitarian crisis, according to the United Nations.

Millions have been displaced, facing the specter of famine, disease outbreaks, and a severe lack of basic services after years of relentless bombing and economic collapse. 
Educator Terri Kistler-Calderon broke into tears as she spoke during the public comment section of a Plato Academy Charter Schools board meeting Tuesday.

She is an early learning and extended care director for Superior Schools, an organization that provides pre-K, after-school and summer camp opportunities for Plato Academys nine campuses across Pinellas, Pasco and Hillsborough counties.

The Plato board voted Tuesday to replace Superiors services with the YMCA at all nine of its campuses, although the move wont be finalized until there is a secondary board vote at another meeting.

Kistler-Calderon works at Platos Clearwater campus and was at the meeting to protest the YMCA move. She is one of many impacted in this latest chapter of a yearslong legal battle between one of Tampa Bays largest charter school systems  which has about 4,000 students  and its service provider.

In March, Plato accused Superior of violating state school safety rules and mandated that Superior vacate its campuses by June 7. Superior responded with three lawsuits in May alleging that Plato is violating its exclusive provider agreements, as well as leases on its Clearwater and Pinellas Park campuses. Superior recently sold those two properties to Plato on the condition that Superior would be a tenant offering early learning programs.

As of now, Superior is still operating summer camps on four Plato campuses, Superior CEO Jenny Tsantilas said in an interview. But about 100 Superior employees could be affected if things continue to go south.

The panic of what may come next is very disheartening, Kistler-Calderon said at the meeting.

Plato has fully vetted the YMCAs safety processes/procedures, and the YMCA might charge parents less for its services, per the boards meeting agenda.

Around 16 speakers at the meeting, most of whom were employees at Superior, objected. They stated that Superior employees had complied with Platos safety requirements, and that they are concerned about previous safety violations from the YMCA.

We are licensed programs, Tsantilas said. So we are licensed in that space. We are not leaving from that space. We have (had) this business for 20 years. Its great that they dont want to do business with us anymore. But thats not a choice that they can make.

Platos four board members declined to comment.

Plato filed three new lawsuits on May 30 aiming to evict the company from Platos nine campuses, including the three  St. Petersburg, Trinity and Tarpon Springs  that Superior still owns and leases to Plato. The executive provider agreements between the two parties are not set to expire until 2027. However, the lawsuits allege that Superior has committed numerous incurable breaches of the exclusive provider agreement, giving Plato the means to terminate them early.
Dmytro Pletenchuk announced on June 11 that he is leaving his position as the spokesperson of the Southern Defense Forces and returning to his duties as a Navy press officer.

"This was planned from the start. Please, do not look for any hidden meaning," Pletenchuk said on Facebook.

"I have fulfilled my role as a 'crisis manager' and returned to the duties of the Navy spokesperson."

Pletenchuk, who has served as the Navy spokesperson since May 2023, took over as the press chief of the Southern Defense Forces on April 22 after the dismissal of Nataliia Humeniuk.

Humeniuk lost the job following criticism by the media that she allegedly prevented journalists from properly covering Russian crimes in Kherson Oblast.

On June 5, Humeniuk was appointed to a new position of a deputy head of the Southern Operational Command's communications department.

It remains unclear who will now take over as the spokesperson of the Southern Defense Forces.

Read also: Humeniuk dismissed as press chief of Southern Defense Forces

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Police arrest daredevil in Argentina jersey for attempting to climb 30-storey skyscraper without ropes

Polish climber Marcin Banot was arrested as he tried to scale a 30-storey building in Buenos Aires without harness, wearing the iconic number 10 Argentina football jersey.

The 36-year-old daredevil managed to scale 25 floors of the 410ft Globant building as surprised onlookers gathered to watch him perform the live stunt.

More than 30 firefighters, ambulances, and rescuers were deployed under the building after someone inside called the police.

He wore the Argentinian football teams number 10 jersey  a number considered iconic due to its association with soccer legends such as Diego Maradona and Lionel Messi.

Video footage zoomed in to show him trying to climb up as firefighters rushed to rescue him and onlookers watched in anticipation.

Known by his nickname BNT on social media, the urban climber has pulled similar stunts in other countries as well and has 2.7 million followers on YouTube.

Firefighters intercept Polish climber Marcin Banot (2nd-R) as he climbed a building in Puerto Madero wearing an Argentina national football team jersey with Lionel Messi's number 10 (AFP via Getty Images)

However, his ambition was cut short after he was plucked from the building in a safety harness by firefighters and brought back to the ground.

Mr Banot did not resist arrest as he was taken into custody. He could be ordered to pay the cost of rescue operations, officials said.

Marcin Banot being taken in a police car (AFP via Getty Images)

It was his second attempt to climb the same building after he was taken down during his first attempt earlier.

Arrests and legal troubles are not new for rooftoppers. It is not known if he was scaling for a cause or a campaign as usually the urban climbers do.

Earlier this year, a free climber known as the French Spiderman scaled a skyscraper in Manila to bring attention to the South China Sea dispute amid incidents of standoffs between the Philippines and China.

Firefighters intercept Polish climber Marcin Banot (2nd-R) as he climbed a building in Puerto Madero (AFP via Getty Images)

Alain Robert, 61, briefly brought traffic to a standstill and drew a crowd of shocked onlookers in the Philippine capitals financial district as he scaled a 47-storey building without a harness. He was swiftly arrested by the police as they waited for him to climb down.

Last year, a British man was taken into custody after he attempted to scale the worlds fifth tallest building without a harness. The man, identified by the Chosun Ilbo newspaper as George King-Thompson, managed to climb half-way up the building to the 73rd floor before South Korean authorities forced him to abandon his attempt to reach the top of 123-storey Lotte World Tower in Seoul.
German police have officially confirmed that a dead person found in a forest is a 9-year-old girl from Ukraine who had been missing for a week.

Source: European Pravda, citing Bild

Details: At a press conference in Chemnitz, the police confirmed that the body found the day before in a forest near Dobeln in Saxony (Germany, part of the Mittelsachsen district) was that of missing 9-year-old Ukrainian girl Valeriia, who had been missing since 3 June after she went to school and disappeared.

"Valeriia was the victim of a crime. We are investigating it as a murder," said police chief Carsten Kempf.

The police said that the victim was found far from the trails she had left, in an inaccessible area with low vegetation. Investigators believe that this was the murder scene.

The body was examined at the Leipzig Institute of Criminal Expertise.

"After the examination and autopsy, there were no signs that the girl was a victim of sexual violence," said Ingrid Burkhard, Senior Public Prosecutor of Chemnitz.

Law enforcement officers involved in the search have interviewed about 400 people in the area in recent days and checked the whereabouts of people who have previously committed sexual offences. So far, no suspects have been identified.

"Our investigation is currently focused on the immediate circle of acquaintances of the family," the prosecutor said.

It was reported that Valeria came from Dnipro Oblast and has been living in Germany with her mother since 2022. Her parents are divorced, and her father serves in Ukraine's defence forces.

Valeria was reported missing by her mother after the girl did not return home at the usual time. Law enforcement officials launched an investigation against the school administration, which reported the girl's absence with a delay.

Background:

On 11 June, a 41-year-old Ukrainian woman was injured in the German city of Frankfurt am Main after an Afghan man attacked her with a knife.

In March, a high-profile murder of a young Ukrainian woman and her mother took place in Germany, which is suspected to have been plotted to kidnap the woman's baby.

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Cluster munitions have been found at the site of a Russian missile attack in Kyiv Oblast, the region's police reported on June 12.

Kyiv and the surrounding region came under a Russian drone and missile attack in the early hours of June 12. There were no reports of casualties, but falling debris from intercepted missiles caused damage in Kyiv Oblast.

While documenting the impact of the attack on the morning of June 12, "law enforcement officers discovered fragments of dangerous cluster submunitions," the Kyiv Oblast Police said.

"Explosive objects pose a threat to human life and health and can detonate at the slightest movement," the police warned, advising civilians to refrain from visiting the site of an attack.

"Specialists are conducting an inspection and research for the presence of similar fragments," the police said.

Russia attacked Odesa on April 29 with an Iskander missile armed with a cluster munition warhead, killing at least five people and injuring around 30, including children.

Ukrainian officials have repeatedly accused Russia of using cluster munitions to target civilian areas. These weapons "spray" small bomblets across a wide area, with some of them detonating long after the attack, posing a continued danger to the local population.

Read also: At least 9 dead, 29 injured in Russian missile strike on Kryvyi Rih

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KANSAS CITY, Mo.  The Independence Police Department is searching for two different men who robbed the same bank within the last 24 hours.

Robbery #1

According to police, on Tuesday at 4:30 p.m., a white man with a thin build, approximately 60 years old and standing between 5-foot-3 and 5-foot-6, entered Central Bank  located at 10801 East 23rd Street  and demanded money with a knife.

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IPD said the man wore a black skull cap, a COVID-19 mask and a black hooded sweatshirt. He ran away after with an undisclosed amount of money.

There were no reported injuries during the first robbery.

Here is a photo of the first suspect from IPD:

Robbery #2

The second robbery took place Wednesday just before 9:30 a.m.

According to the suspect description, he is a lone black man around 20 years old. He is described as standing around 5 feet 4 inches tall and wearing dark sunglasses.

IPD said this man also entered the bank with a weapon and demanded money. He ran from the scene with an unknown amount of money.

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No injuries were reported in this incident, police said.

Here is a photo of the second suspect provided by IPD:

There are currently no updates regarding the identity of the two suspects, however, once more details are released and investigations continue, FOX4 News will update this story with the latest information.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports.
Amid an uptick in gun violence in Cincinnati's Avondale neighborhood, a juvenile was shot Tuesday evening in the parking lot of an elementary school, according to the Cincinnati Police Department.

Officers responded to South Avondale Elementary School in the 600 block of Prospect Place just before 8 p.m. after the gunshot detection system ShotSpotter flagged gunfire there, Lt. Tim Lanter said.

The juvenile was shot in the ankle during a drive-by shooting, Lanter said. He said someone the juvenile was with returned fire.

The youth was taken to the University of Cincinnati Medical Center and is expected to survive, Lanter said.

Police have not released any further information about possible suspect or details about what led to the shooting. No arrests have been reported.

Cincinnati police responded to the 600 block of Prospect Place near South Avondale Elementary School Tuesday for a report of a shooting.

Pastor Ennis Tait, who has worked in Avondale for years to address the violence, said the juvenile shot Tuesday was a youth he has been working with for more than two years.

Tait said Avondale has seen an uptick in gun violence this year and he's working with the community to address it quickly.

In the first five months of this year, 17 people were shot in the neighborhood and six of those victims died, according to Cincinnati police data. During the same period last year, 12 people were shot in Avondale and three of them died

More: It's not just adults. These Cincinnati teens are working to end gun violence too

The rise in shootings in Avondale is happening as shootings citywide have decreased. From Jan. 1 to May 31, a total of 127 people have been shot citywide this year compared to 145 last year, according to Cincinnati police data.

Shootings among teens 13 to 17 also fallen more than 50% compared to last year, the data shows.

Tait is working on a comprehensive summer plan to engage with young people in Avondale, a larger and more comprehensive version of a plan that has worked previously to reduce violence. The Avondale Community Council, the library, the Boys and Girls Club, the recreation center and the community council have all joined forces to provide youth with safe activities, food and places to be this summer.

"We expect to see some results," Tait said.

Police investigate the shooting of a juvenile in Avondale Tuesday.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Juvenile shot in Avondale school parking lot
Port Orange police said this man robbed the Vystar Credit Union in their city on Tuesday.

Port Orange police said Wednesday they are working to identify a man who robbed a credit union there on Tuesday.

The robbery occurred at the Vystar Credit Union at 750 Dunlawton Ave. at 3:15 p.m., police said.

The suspect was last seen leaving the area on foot. Port Orange police searched for the suspect with the help of the New Smyrna Beach and Edgewater police departments, and the Volusia County Sheriff's Office, but were unable to find him, according to a news release.

Anyone who can identify the suspect or has information on the robbery, is asked to contact Port Orange Police Department Detective James Fischetti at 386-506-5897.

This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Police: Florida credit union robbed by masked suspect
BEIJING, June 12 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese mainland spokesperson on Wednesday issued a stern warning to Taiwan's Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities, cautioning that they should not "play with fire" by citing the "right to self-defense," as any reckless move will only hasten their own undoing.

Chen Binhua, a spokesperson for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, made the remarks while answering a question about a Taiwan official's recent statement that the island may respond to the actions of the People's Liberation Army by exercising "self-defense" or launching "counterattacks" under certain circumstances.

Noting that Taiwan is a part of China, Chen said the island does not have the "right to self-defense."

"The DPP's attempts to impose limits on our just actions to safeguard our national sovereignty and territorial integrity are entirely futile," he said.

The spokesperson also slammed the DPP's attempts to collude with external forces, as well as its attempts to deceive the people of Taiwan and mislead the international community by creating false narratives such as the need to counter the "mainland threat."

"Taiwan independence" separatism and external interference are the biggest sources of danger and instability in the Taiwan Strait, Chen said. 
DIXON, Ill. (WTVO)  Three deputies and the suspected gunman were shot and injured after officers responded to a home inside a gated community in northern Illinois Wednesday, authorities said.

Law enforcement went to the Lost Lake gated community near Dixon after being told just before 8:40 a.m. CT that someone was threatening to kill themself or others, according to Ogle County Sheriff Brian VanVickle.

He said the SWAT team responded and hostage negotiators tried repeatedly to make contact with the person, without success.

(Credit: WTVO)

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At 11:51, due to the lack of communication, it was determined that our emergency response team would enter the house and determine the wellbeing of that individual, VanVickles said. Immediately upon entering the house, our deputies were struck by gunfire.

Three victims were transported to Katherine Shaw Bethea Hospital in Dixon, according to Nancy Varga, Chief of Staff. VanVickle said during a 3:30 p.m. CT press conference that the deputies and the suspect, who wasnt identified, were all alive.

(Credit: WTVO)

Multiple agencies, including the Ogle County Sheriff and first responders from Dixon, Oregon, Mount Morris, and Polo were called to the scene.

VanVickle said during the press conference that the sheriffs office requested that the state police take over the investigation into the officer-involved shooting.

Aerial video by local media Wednesday afternoon showed law enforcement and personal cars parked on the side of unpaved roads throughout the neighborhood and officials occasionally gathering in small groups but little ongoing activity. Yellow police tape blocked at least one driveway and an Ogle County sheriffs mobile command center was parked at the end of the drive.

Lost Lakes property owners association describes the area as a country style community with about 700 owners in an unincorporated area close to the cities of Dixon, Franklin Grove and Oregon, about 105 miles (168 kilometers) west of Chicago.

This is a developing story; the Associated Press contributed to this report.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News.
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET)  Police are searching for a man who allegedly brandished a firearm and stole a beer from a gas station in northeast Bakersfield.

The suspect allegedly entered Circle K, located at 5600 Auburn Street, and brandished a firearm at store employees before stealing a single beer, BPD said through a news release.

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Investigators released a photo and a description of the robbery suspect on Tuesday.

Photo courtesy of Bakersfield Police Department.

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Police describe the suspect as a man in his 30s with a medium build. He stands between 5 feet, 7 inches and 5 feet, 9 inches tall. The man was last seen wearing a hooded Lakers starter jacket, and glasses and had a full beard.

Anyone with information on the suspects whereabouts or identity is encouraged to call Detective Steven Glenn at 661-326-3554 or 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.
Police try to identify two in connection to robbery

OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR)  The Oklahoma Police Department is searching to identify two people in connection to a robbery.

OKCPD seek to identify two individuals, Image courtesy The Oklahoma City Police Department

Authorities say, robbery investigators want to identify these two individuals in connection to a case theyre currently working. The photos were taken at a business near NW 10th/Meridian.

Cleveland Co. Commissioners bailout sheriff for $3.2 million in overspending

If you have any information on the case, contact Crime Stoppers 405-235-7300/okccrimetips.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 KFOR.com Oklahoma City.
Then-LAPD Chief Michel Moore with Mayor Karen Bass in December 2023. Two internal affairs detectives had accused Moore of ordering an investigation of Bass' ties to USC. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

A months-long probe has cleared former LAPD Chief Michel Moore of misconduct, after he was accused by two internal affairs detectives of ordering an investigation of Mayor Karen Bass' ties to USC, the Los Angeles police inspector general's office announced Tuesday.

Florence Yu, the acting inspector general, said investigators from her office determined the complaint against Moore was unfounded, meaning they proved no misconduct had occurred. Yu announced the inquiry's results during a meeting Tuesday of the Board of Police Commissioners, a five-member civilian panel that oversees the department.

Greg Smith, an attorney for the detectives, called the investigation part of a cover-up effort by a commission that "has been politicized and protected Chief Moore for years." As proof, he said, investigators didn't even bother to interview his clients, the detectives who lodged the original complaint.

Moore said in an interview Tuesday that he was pleased by the outcome of the investigation into an allegation he described as "without any foundation."

"It didn't make any sense, and it was highly sensationalized," he said. "I'm glad to know the investigation found what I said from the beginning  [the detectives' complaint] was not true."

The allegations against Moore were first reported by the Los Angeles Times late last year after the two detectives filed the complaints with the inspector general's office contending that they were ordered to investigate Bass shortly after her election. Moore has strongly denied the allegations.

The two senior detectives who filed the claims said they were summoned to a meeting with then-Capt. Divyesh John Shah, the head of internal affairs, who relayed the request to investigate Bass and suggested the order had come from Moore.

In their complaints, the detectives said they found Moores alleged request troubling to the point that they ultimately refused the assignment. Its unclear why internal affairs investigators would have been asked to handle such an inquiry.

Read more: Detectives claim LAPD chief sought investigation of Mayor Bass over USC scholarship

Shah has since left internal affairs after his promotion to commander.

While speaking to the commission Tuesday, Yu did not offer specifics about her office's investigation. Nor did she comment on the question raised by a whistle-blower claim about the possibility that Moore's underlings may have misinterpreted the chief's words and made the request to investigate Bass without his knowledge.

Questions about Bass $95,000 scholarship to USCs social work school were raised by her opponent in the 2022 mayoral race, Rick Caruso. He criticized Bass, a former Assembly speaker and six-term member of Congress, for accepting it and later offering legislation that would have given USC and other private universities wider eligibility for federal funding.

Bass has long denied any wrongdoing. The House Committee on Ethics cleared her request to accept the tuition award.

Though federal prosecutors did not charge Bass, they said in court papers that her scholarship and her dealings with USC were critical to a corruption case involving the university and a top Los Angeles County elected official.

Read more: Karen Bass got a USC degree for free. It's now pulling her into a federal corruption case

Moore announced his abrupt resignation in January, saying he would not serve out his second five-year term so he could spend more time with his family. He and Bass have repeatedly said the allegations had nothing to do with his decision to retire.

Commissioner William Briggs said Tuesday it was clear from the inspector general's inquiry that the allegations against former Chief Moore are completely false, theyre defamatory, in fact theres not a scintilla of evidence that he acted inappropriately.

Its unfortunate that we live in a time that individuals could make completely baseless allegations," Briggs said, while adding that the motivations of those officers who made those allegations are the subject and will be the subject of further investigation.

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, interim Police Chief Dominic Choi said he could not comment on the matter because he wasn't privy to the investigation's findings.

A spokesperson for Bass didn't immediately respond to a text message seeking comment.

The findings were dismissed as political theater by Smith, the detectives' attorney.

"I can think of no instance when the IG or the Commission [ever] found any wrongdoing by Moore, it appears that they are protecting his image as opposed to investigating wrongdoing," Smith, said in a statement.

"Multiple officers complained that Moore wanted the Mayor investigated," Smith wrote, "now the Commission intends to retaliate against those officers in a blatant attempt to chill the rights of employees who wish to file complaints against high ranking LAPD officials who commit misconduct and abuse their positions."

He also said given Moore's close relationship with the recently departed inspector general, Mark Smith  who cited Moore as a reference when applying for a police watchdog job in Portland, Ore.  the investigation amounted to a conflict of interest.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
The Polish Armed Forces Operational Command has reported that some of their fighter jets had been scrambled because of a Russian attack on Ukraine with missiles and Shahed attack drones.

Source: Polish Armed Forces Operational Command on X (Twitter)

Quote: "Please note that in the southeastern part of the country, there may be an increase in noise levels due to the launch of Polish and allied aircraft in our airspace."

Details: The military reported that they were observing the Russians launching cruise missiles and Shahed attack drones at targets located, among other regions, in Ukraines west.

The Polish military pointed out that the last such intensified activity of Russian aircraft, during which strikes were carried out on Ukraines west, was recorded on the night of 6-7 June this year.

"All necessary procedures have been initiated to ensure the safety of Polish airspace, and RSZ Operational Command is constantly monitoring the situation," the statement said.

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Some pols blame fentanyl on the undocumented. Its mostly citizens who are bringing it

VANDALIA, OHIO -Former U.S. President Donald Trump and Ohio Republican U.S. Senator JD Vance. (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images.)

Following the lead of former President Donald Trump, some Ohio Republicans are saying that undocumented migrants are bringing the deadly scourge of fentanyl with them.

Several experts say such statements are highly misleading. And anti-hate groups say such statements paint yet another target on the backs of a population thats already been victimized by racist violence.

Trump has been conflating undocumented migrants and crime since he announced his candidacy in 2015, when he said people crossing the border from Mexico are bringing crime. Theyre rapists. And some, I assume, are good people.

Trump and his allies relentlessly whip up anger over individual, horrific crimes committed by the undocumented. But research shows that the group commits crime at substantially lower rates than the native born.

Isolated incidents are magnified, Michael Debruhl, a former Border Patrol chief, said during a recent press conference hosted by the National Immigration forum. Things are said over and over, so I dont blame people for thinking theres a migrant crime wave. Unfortunately, there are crimes committed by migrants. But when you look into the facts regarding migration and crime, that (notion of a) migrant crime wave just does not hold up.

Heedless of the facts, Trump persists in his attacks on migrants, which many observers say are part of a larger, authoritarian bent that increasingly dominates his rhetoric.

In 2022, he called to terminate the Constitution, and in December he said he would be a dictator on his first day in office if hes reelected. Last November, Trump seemed to echo Adolph Hitler when in a speech he called his political opponents vermin.

Many also heard such echoes last December, when in a speech in Iowa Trump told his followers that immigrants crossing the southern border were poisoning the blood of the United States. Trump said he didnt know that his rhetoric on immigration echoes that of Hitler.

Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance, who is said to be in the top tier of candidates to be Trumps vice presidential pick, also denied the Hitler connection. Vance said the former president  and current convicted felon  wasnt mimicking Germanys genocidal maniac, he was referring to a crisis that has killed hundreds of thousands of Americans.

First of all, he didnt say immigrants were poisoning the blood of this country, Vance told the Washington, D.C. news organization The Hill after Trump made the remarks. He said illegal immigrants were poisoning the blood of this country, which is objectively and obviously true to anybody who looks at the statistics about fentanyl overdoses.

Problem is, thats misleading, according to several experts.

A lot of people think that all the drugs are being brought in by migrants, but the truth is that between 92% and 94% of all the drugs that come into the country come through the ports of entry, Debruhl, the former Border Patrol official, said.

That makes sense when you consider that people smuggling narcotics are are 97% less likely to be stopped at ports of entry than are undocumented migrants crossing between them, Cato Institute analyst David J. Bier reported in 2022.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection reports that 98% of private vehicles and 83% of commercial vehicles are currently coming through the ports of entry unscanned. It hopes to reduce those figures to 60% and 30%, respectively, once advanced scanning equipment is installed by 2026.

In addition, the vast majority of people convicted of fentanyl trafficking are American citizens  86.3% in 2021, Bier said.

In addition, Bier said in a May press conference hosted by the Immigration Forum that in all their encounters with migrants in 2023, Border Patrol Agents found fentanyl just 0.009% of the time.

It doesnt make sense to put a backpack (of fentanyl) on a bunch of people and send them across the border, Bier said.

Thats not to say, however, that no drugs are crossing between the ports of entry, or that none are on the backs of the undocumented. The Drug Enforcement Agency in 2021 said theyre predominantly coming through the ports in vehicles, but in 2024 some were coming overland and through tunnels.

John Modlin, Chief Patrol Agent for the Tucson Sector in early 2023 told the House Oversight Committee that agents in his sector in 2022 seized 364 pounds of fentanyl that had been backpacked across the border.

Vance has taken a pass this year when he had a chance to vote for two pieces of legislation that purported to help stop fentanyl from coming over the southern border

One was the FEND off Fentanyl Act, which was introduced by Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, and cosponsored by Vance. Vance said he couldnt support final passage because it became part of a package that included funding for Ukraine.

Another was the bipartisan border security bill, that included funding for additional customs officer and new technology. It was poised to pass, when Trump tanked it by telling Republicans not to give President Joe Biden a political win by voting for it.

The consensus among experts is that the great majority of illicit fentanyl is coming in vehicles driven through the ports of entry  and most of it is being driven by U.S. citizens. But some on the right are trying to blame the evolving opioid crisis on migrants  and to hammer Biden.

1.2 million undocumented illegal immigrants have slipped through CBP under the Biden Admin, Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose said on X last year. Fentanyl overdose deaths continue to rise, including in our Ohio communities. We cant have immigration reform expect to curb fentanyl overdoses until we secure our southern border.

Falsely blaming migrants for Ohios opioid epidemic could subject them and others who look like them to violence, such as the 2019 massacre at an El Paso Walmart that killed 23.

The Dangerous Speech Project studies how rhetoric can whip up violence between groups of people. It says that speech that incites fear is especially dangerous. And its not hard to see how loading blame for the presence of dangerous drugs onto the backs of migrants might incite fear.

A defining feature of dangerous speech is that it often promotes fear, as much as it expresses or promotes hatred, the group says on its website. For example, one can assert that another group is planning to attack ones own group without expressing hatred, yet that message might easily convince people to condone or commit violence, ostensibly to fend off the attack. Violence would seem defensive, and therefore justified.

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A Pomona man who shot and killed a police officer in 2018 while barricaded behind a door was sentenced Monday to life in prison without the possibility of parole, according to the office of Superior Court Judge Mike Camacho.

Isaias De Jesus Valencia, 45, was found guilty in May of first-degree murder and several counts of attempted murder, court records show. On top of a life sentence, Camacho gave Valencia a separate sentence of 278 years to life.

In March 2018, two Pomona Police Department officers responded to reports of reckless driving and pursued the vehicle involved for a short distance after it failed to pull over. The vehicle crashed into a parked car near the 1400 block of South Palomares Street, where Valencia exited and led the officers inside an apartment building.

Valencia barricaded himself behind the door of a unit as the officers tried to detain him. He fired six shots, striking Officer Gregory Casillas in the head and Officer Alex Nguyen in the cheek. Both were rushed to the hospital, where Casillas died after just six months on the job, the Pomona Police Department said.

Read more: Man charged with capital murder in death of Pomona officer

My scars run deeper than my face, Nguyen said at the sentencing hearing , according to CBS News. Not a day goes by that I don't see, feel or think about my partner."

Casillas was a 30-year-old father from Upland.

The shootings led to a 15-hour standoff between Valencia and authorities, which ended when Los Angeles County sheriffs deputies took him into custody.

Valencia has a history of arrests in the Pomona area, public records obtained by The Times show. He was sent to state prison roughly nine years ago for illegally possessing a firearm and discharging a gun in a school zone, as well as destruction of jail property, according to a California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation spokesperson. He was released on probation around a year later.

According to CBS News, Valencia refused to go to court for his sentencing Monday and appeared on camera from his jail cell.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
105 comedians from 15 countries have been invited to an audience with the pope on Friday, June 14

Stefano Costantino/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Pope Francis

Pope Francis is bringing together comedians from around the world to "celebrate the beauty of human diversity," news of which came as he was accused of once again using a homophobic slur, which prompted an apology from the Vatican just two weeks ago.

On June 11, the Italian news agency ANSA reported that the pope, 87, used a derogatory term for gay people while speaking with Roman priests in a closed door meeting, per CNN and NBC News.

According to ANSA, which cited unnamed sources, the religious leader allegedly used a word in Italian, which translates as a derogatory term for gay people, while suggesting that gay men should be welcomed into the Church, but not necessarily seminaries, the outlets reported.



Vatican Media via Vatican Pool/Getty Pope Francis in 2023

The Vatican has not issued a statement on the new allegations, but in May, director of the Holy See Press Office Matteo Bruni told PEOPLE that the pope is aware of the articles that have recently been published about a conversation held behind closed doors, with members of the Italian Bishops Conference."

"As he has had the opportunity to say on several occasions: 'There is room for everyone, for everyone in the Church! No one is useless, no one is superfluous, there is room for everyone. Just in the way that we are, all of us,' " Bruni added. "The Pope has never intended to offend or express himself in homophobic terms, and he apologizes to those who have felt offended by the use of a term, reported by others."

Related: Pope Francis Apologizes Following Reports of Him Saying Offensive Term Toward Gay People

News of the pope being accused of using the derogatory term again comes just days after it was announced that more than 100 comedians from 15 countries will be visiting with the pope at the Vatican on June 15.

Among the stars expected to make their way to Italy for the gathering are Whoopi Goldberg, Stephen Colbert, Jim Gaffigan, Conan OBrien, Tig Notaro, Chris Rock, Jimmy Fallon and Stephen Merchant.

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.

Per Reuters, the Vatican said in a statement that the purpose for the meeting is "to celebrate the beauty of human diversity and to promote a message of peace, love and solidarity."

Related: Pope Francis Clarifies Blessing Same-Sex Unions  'That Cannot Be Done'  But Says 'Everyone' Can Be Blessed (Exclusive)

On the June 12 episode of The View, Goldberg spoke about the upcoming trip. So Pope Francis, as you may or may not know, has invited a whole bunch of funny people from all over the world to celebrate the beauty of human diversity and recognize the significant impact that the art of comedy has on the world of contemporary culture," the star said.

The Sister Act actress continued, "Im especially interested in speaking with people from around the world, since we dont get to do that very often.

A rep for Goldberg did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's request for comment about making the trip in light of the allegations against the pope.

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Read the original article on People.
Pope Francis meets with priests at the Salesian Pontifical University in Rome, Italy, on June 11, 2024. Credit - Vatican Media Pool/Getty Images

Oops. He did it again.

Weeks after apologizing for using an Italian word which roughly translates to f-ggotry, Pope Francis reportedly used the same term again in a closed-door meeting with Roman priests on Tuesdayright in the middle of Pride Month.

There is an air of [the slur] in the Vatican, the head of the Catholic Church said, according to Italian news agency Agenzia Nazionale Stampa Associata (ANSA), which cited sources present at the meeting at Salesian Pontifical University in Rome. Francis had used the controversial term during a closed-door discussion with Italian bishops last month, during which he also repeated his stance against the Church permitting openly gay men to become priests.

The Vatican Press Office issued a news bulletin summarizing the latest hour-and-a-half meeting with around 160 priests. According to the bulletin and ANSAs reporting, the 87-year-old pontiff spoke with the group about a range of topics, including the wars in Ukraine and Gaza as well as artificial intelligence. He ended the discussion by returning to the topic of admitting men with homosexual tendencies into seminariesemphasizing that everyone should be welcomed into the Church, while at the same time reiterating the Churchs official opposition to gay men entering the priesthood.

Francis use of a homophobic slur, which local Italian media outlets said last month may have been a misunderstanding based on the fact that his native language is Spanish, highlights his complicated legacy on LGBTQ issues. While he is regarded to have ushered in a new era of acceptance and inclusion, including by allowing same-sex couples to be blessed by priests, he has steadfastly resisted approving of gay clergymen or same-sex marriage.

Vatican Press Office director Matteo Bruni issued a statement in late May after Francis first use of the derogatory word that said the Pope never intended to offend or express himself in homophobic terms and apologizes to those who felt offended.

Many observers, however, have responded less by taking offense and more by making humor of the situation. The Popes seeming inability to stop himself from using the word has particularly tickled the internet.

But while Francis allies insist his recent comments are simply gaffes and arent reflective of his true colors, others over the years have cited his record to claim: hes not that innocent.

Contact us at letters@time.com.
BEIJING, June 12 (Xinhua) -- China's National Meteorological Center on Wednesday evening continued to issue an orange alert for high temperatures as multiple regions in the country are experiencing sweltering heat.

During the daytime on Thursday, some areas in Shaanxi, Shanxi, Beijing, Tianjin, Hebei, Shandong, Henan, Jiangsu, Anhui, Hubei, Inner Mongolia, Xinjiang, Guangdong, Guangxi and Hainan are expected to see temperatures as high as 35 degrees Celsius, according to the center.

It forecasts that maximum temperatures will reach 37 to 39 degrees Celsius in parts of Shaanxi, Shanxi, Hebei, Beijing, Tianjin, Shandong, Henan, Anhui, Jiangsu and Hubei. Some areas may even experience scorching highs between 40 and 42 degrees.

Outdoor activities should be avoided during the high temperatures, and precautionary measures should be taken to protect vulnerable groups such as children and older people, the center said.

China has a three-tier warning system for high temperatures, with red representing the most severe warning, followed by orange and yellow. 
Pope reportedly used homophobic slur again after apologizing for it

Rome  Just weeks after apologizing for using a homophobic slur, Pope Francis used the same word again during a closed-door meeting on Tuesday, according to Italian news agency ANSA.

ANSA, citing unnamed sources at the meeting, reports the pope used the offensive term during a discussion with nearly 200 Roman priests at Rome's Salesian Pontifical University.

Francis, 87, had used the same derogatory language for gay men once before, during a meeting with Italian bishops on May 20. At issue then was whether gay men should be allowed to enter the seminary.

Eight days later, the Director of the Holy See Press Office, Matteo Bruni, issued a rare apology, saying the pope had "never intended to offend or express himself in homophobic terms, and he apologizes to those who felt offended by the use of a term reported by others."

Pope Francis delivers his speech during his weekly general audience in St. Peter's Square, at the Vatican, June 12, 2024. / Credit: Alessandra Tarantino/AP

On Tuesday, Bruni issued a statement summarizing the pope's comments at the meeting with the Roman priests, saying he'd spoken on topics ranging from Ukraine and the war in Gaza to artificial intelligence.

Bruni said the pontiff "reiterated the need to welcome and accompany in the church those with homosexual tendencies," but that the pope had also urged prudence in admitting gays into the seminary. Bruni's statement made no mention of the pope's purported use of the offensive remark.

In both of the relevant meetings, Francis was clear in his stance that gay men should not be ordained. Although Francis has been credited with welcoming members of the LBGTQ community into the church during his 11 year papacy, he has not been welcoming of gay priests.

In 2005, the Vatican released a document stating that the church cannot "admit to the seminary or to holy orders those who practice homosexuality, present deep-seated homosexual tendencies or support the so-called 'gay culture.'"

In 2016, Pope Francis upheld that position.

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(AP)  Popular soda brand Poppi is facing a class-action lawsuit filed by a consumer who says its products dont improve gut health as much as their marketing suggests.

In a lawsuit filed last week in U.S. District Court in San Francisco, Kristin Cobbs said she purchased Poppi drinks on multiple occasions because of their labels, which say they are prebiotic sodas and feature the slogan, Be Gut Happy. Be Gut Healthy.

But Cobbs later found that Poppi drinks contain only around 2 grams of prebiotic agave inulin fiber, which she said is insufficient to provide any real benefit. Cobbs cited research showing that consuming 7.5 grams of agave inulin daily for three weeks was insufficient to confer any meaningful prebiotic benefit.

If consumers drink more Poppi, any prebiotic benefits would be outweighed by increased sugar consumption, the lawsuit said.

Cobbs is seeking monetary relief for herself and similar customers.

Austin, Texas-based Poppi said in a statement Monday that it stands behind its products.

We are on a mission to revolutionize soda for the next generation of soda drinkers, and we have diligently innovated to provide a tasting experience that millions of people have come to enjoy, the company said. We believe the lawsuit is baseless, and we will vigorously defend against these allegations.

The Associated Press sent an email message seeking comment to Poppi, which is based in Austin, Texas.

Poppi is one of dozens of brands in the exploding category of functional beverages, which claim to improve health and wellness. U.S. sales of prebiotic and probiotic drinks more than tripled last year, according to data compiled by consulting firm AlixPartners.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News.
BALTIMORE - Maryland Gov. Wes Moore joined U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and other leaders Wednesday to celebrate the full reopening of the Port of Baltimore nearly three months after the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge.

Now that the main federal channel in the Patapsco River is back to its full dimensions, shipping traffic can return in full force to and from the port.

The focus now turns to rebuilding the bridge.

"The Port of Baltimore is reopened for business," Moore said.

The full-width Ft. McHenry Channel reopened on Monday at 50 feet deep and 700 feet wide, which allows a two-way passageway for all vessels to and from one of the nation's largest port facilities.

More than 50,000 tons of bridge wreckage were removed from the river and taken to Sparrows Point in the southeastern part of Baltimore County.

Salvage crews spent the final days before the federal channel reopened sweeping the wreckage site with sonar, LIDAR and magnetometer to identify and investigate any high spots to ensure no residual hazard to navigation.

"This team did the unimaginable by man, and instead of 11 months, they did it in 11 weeks," Moore said.

Port leadership said it would take time before full shipping traffic returns, however, they noted certain types, such as roll-on/roll-off cargo, were getting back to the levels they were at before the collapse.

"This moment was earned"

Unions representing port workers thanked the partnerships that helped keep those impacted by the port closure employed and paid.

"The governor made a commitment to me and to the men and women of the International Longshoremen Association that he was going to take care of us," Scott Cowan, president of ILA Local 333, said. "Sir, your word is good."

Moore noted partnerships were critical to getting to this point, not only to clear the Key Bridge wreckage but also to care for the families of the six construction workers killed in the bridge collapse and help thousands of port workers who could have missed out on pay.

"The Ft. McHenry Channel is fully cleared, and the Port of Baltimore is reopened for business," Moore said. "While this moment is historic, it was not given. This moment was earned and we are here this afternoon to recognize the people who brought us to this moment."

Buttigieg said the federal response was made possible "largely through the work of the White House Supply Chain Disruptions Task Force, as well as the lessons we learned in recent years, especially from COVID."

"We've got to get moving"

The Maryland Transportation Administration is taking bids until June 24 to get a new Key Bridge built.

MDOT Secretary Paul Wiedefeld said hundreds of companies across the world have shown interest in the bridge rebuild, which is expected to cost from $1.7 to $1.9 billion.

The White House has pledged to fully fund it, while the Maryland congressional delegation is working to get the Baltimore BRIDGE Relief Act, which would allow for full federal funding of the rebuild, passed, or to at least secure funding through an amendment in another bill.

"We've got to get moving," Moore said. "We know that we have to get this on time, on budget and with speed. That's the importance of getting the Baltimore BRIDGE Act passed."

Moore is also confident pending legal battles and insurance claims will help with the costs of a new bridge.

The goal is to have a new bridge built by fall 2028.

"We're going to keep working with President Biden," Moore said. "We're going to keep working with members of Congress from both sides of the aisle and we are going to make that vision a reality. That is the push. That's the promise. And we don't break our promises. We're going to get it done."

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Port of Kennewick officials are thrilled that a Western Washington development team wants to build 300 homes at Vista Field, its prized urban development near Columbia Center mall.

The commission voted 3-0 on Tuesday to spend up to three months working out terms for a deal to sell home sites at the former municipal airport to BlueChart Homes LLC

BlueChart, a joint venture of Chartwell Land Co. of Silverdale and Blue Fern Development of Redmond, wants to buy virtually all of the current and future single-family home lots flanking the former runway.

If the deal proceeds, BlueChart will build more or less continuously over seven to eight phases.

In April, it proposed paying $2.2 million for the initial 28 lots in the first phase and $1.65 million for 20 more in the second.

The math gets less certain in future phases, but 300 lots at $80,000 apiece translates to a $24 million pricetag.

Tim Arntzen, the ports executive director, said BlueCharts residential plans are the perfect complement to the bridal shop and two other commercial businesses that have deals to buy individual sites at Vista Field.

None have closed on their purchases or initiated construction. BlueCharts neighborhoods will add customers to the mix.

For commercial to be successful, you have to have the people there. With 300 residences, thats a lot of people that will be patronizing these businesses, he said.

New urbanism

In BlueChart, ports elected commission and staff see a partner that shares its new urbanism vision of a walkable district blending commercial and residential development with sidewalks, a stream, open space and other visitor amenities.

Its the vision the port embraced more than a decade ago after Kennewick residents said that if the airport had to close, they didnt want its 103 acres to become a subdivision or a strip mall.

The airport closed to airplanes at the end of 2013. Ineligible for Federal Aviation Administration funding, it became too costly to keep open.

In practical terms, the redevelopment vision looks like an Italian village with Tuscan touches.

Its resolve was tested in the intervening years.

It invested $4.9 million to build a road, linear water feature and other amenities to kick-start the process. It put 21 parcels on 20 acres on the market, hoping to woo buyers willing to adhere to its design process.

The reception has been tepid.

To date, it has signed deals with a Japanese restaurant, a bridal boutique and a mixed-use residential and retail building.

Long wait worth it?

In BlueChart, port leaders see a payoff for the long wait for a serious developer.

Its vision of charming homes on smaller lots  5,000 square feet is the maximum under current zoning  offers the chance to realize the Vista Field vision.

BlueChart would create a library of potential designs that buyers could choose from. The ports design consultant would have final say to ensure its work is consistent with the overall vision.

Arntzen said it proves there is a role for government agencies such as the port to aim higher and hold out for something special.

If you three dont do it, I promise you that no one else will, he said told the commission.

Skip Novakovich, the commissions president, called the BlueChart vision fabulous.

This is what weve wanted to see at Vista Field since we made the decision to close the airfield a long, long time ago, he said.

If negotiations lead to a sales agreement, BlueChart would buy home sites in phases. The port would use the money to develop infrastructure and amenities to support the next phases.

The entire process could take 10 years or fewer. Sales would determine how fast BlueChart would build.

Go to vistafield.com

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Port Orange police ask public for any information on suspected bank robber

Port Orange police are asking for the publics help in tracking down a bank robber.

On Tuesday, police responded to the Vystar Credit Union, located at 750 Dunlawton Avenue around 3:15 p.m. for a bank robbery.

Police said the suspect was last seen leaving the area on foot.

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After and extensive search including assistance from several agencies including the New Smyrna Beach Police Department, Edgewater Police Department, and the Volusia Sheriffs Office, the suspect was not located.

If you have any information about the suspect or this investigation, call Port Orange Police Department Detective Fischetti at 386-506-5897.

Read: She just turned it over to God: Prayer halted assault on 91-year-old, family says

Port Orange police have released these pictures of the suspect:

Port Orange police ask public for any information on suspected bank robber

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Portlanders in need urged to apply for free air conditioning units ahead of summer weather

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  The City of Portland is encouraging community members to apply for free cooling units from the Cooling Portland program ahead of the warmer summer months.

On Tuesday, the city announced the Portland Clean Energy Community Benefits Fund is partnering with PDX 311 to expand the Cooling Portland program  which connects community members with free, efficient, and portable cooling and heating units.

Heat is happening sooner these days. So, we have to just always be ready and I think this is part of the new normal, Portland Commissioner Carmen Rubio said.

Under the program, Portlanders can call 3-1-1 or apply online for a free cooling unit ahead of summer.

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Integrating PDX 311 allows us to connect with Portlanders in need and keep people safe ahead of the next heat wave or cold snap, said PCEF Strategic Partnership and Policy Manager Jaimes Valdez. Portlanders who need a cooling unit should get on the list before summer starts to heat up.

The Cooling Portland program started in June 2022 in response to the deadly heat dome in June 2021.

We are seeing the real time effects of climate change right now with wildfires, extreme heat, ice storms. It makes it all that more critical that we get the word out today, Rubio said.

Under the program, the city aims to install 15,000 efficient cooling units in low-income homes  prioritizing homes of people over 60 years old, people with medical needs, and people who live alone.

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So far, the city has installed more than 8,000 units in Portland.

Because Cooling Portland is not an emergency response program during heat waves, people are encouraged to apply as soon as possible, Valdez said. This gives the program partners time to verify eligibility, order cooling units, and schedule installation to their homes.

Portlanders can apply for the units by calling 3-1-1 (or 503-823-4000 if using VOIP phones) or by filling out a form online.

Cooling Portland can also connect community members with other programs to reduce utility bills such as PGEs income-qualified bill discount, Pacific Powers income-qualified bill discount, Northwest Naturals Bill Discount Program, and the Portland Water Bureaus financial assistance program.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com.
PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY)  Portsmouths council members and mayor will see a significant raise next summer, their first since the 1990s.

Council voted 7-0 on Tuesday night to approve raising the cap on council members salaries to $43,000 annually from the current $23,000, and the mayors salary to $47,000 from the current $25,000. The raises wouldnt take effect until July 1, 2025, after election season for several members of council and Mayor Shannon Glover.

The vote came after the Virginia General Assembly passed House Bill 456 this past session. The bill authorized an increase in city council and mayoral salaries in the commonwealth for the first time since 1996. The caps on salaries for public officials under the bill are based on a municipalitys population.

Most of the citizen speakers at Tuesdays event said they believed council and the mayor should get raises, but several were skeptical about the amount of the salary increases and their rollout.

Portsmouth chose to approve the maximum increase under the state law. A motion from Council Mark Hugel to just increase pay for mayor to $37,000 and for council members to $33,000 was shot down.

Several on council said they believed the increases were fair based on the amount of work required, including speaking with constituents by phone and in-person and at events outside of city council meetings.

I do believe this council deserves the increase. It has been 30 years since this council has received an increase, said Vice Mayor Lisa Lucas-Burke, whos running for mayor. And Ive often thought in my mind that this council should at least get a two or three percent increase when city officials, or city staff, got an increase. Cause that would be fair. But we never did and we never complained. We continued to do the work we were elected to do.

Councilman Bill Moody said he was not ashamed of it in voting yes, citing the inflationary changes since 1996.

Everybody up here, in the extra curricular stuff that we do, and attending meetings and civic functions, we put a lot of hours in. We put a lot of hours in at home, answering calls, looking over the agenda package. So I think its long overdue and hopefully it wont go another 30 years where a council has to be faced with a large amount, which seems like a large amount, but when you index it for inflation, again its keeping up, not even keeping up with inflation.

Hampton City Council is set to take up a similar measure about council and mayor pay raises on Wednesday night.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WAVY.com.
Post-Trump, WA politics have been turned upside down. Pierce County is no exception | Opinion

Throughout my 44 years in Washington state politics, three things have almost always been true: The state leaned Democratic, but Republicans had a fighting chance to win statewide offices, congressional seats and legislative majorities; Republicans controlled Eastern Washington and the suburbs, while Democrats dominated the cities and rural western Washington; and both parties were led by moderates.

The 2024 election is already showing us that none of that is still true today. The political world has been turned upside down, including in Pierce County.

Not long ago, Washington was a competitive purple state. Before Donald Trumps 2016 victory, Republicans had a one-seat majority in the state Senate and were within two seats in the state House. The party also held two statewide offices and four seats in Congress.

Today, Republicans hold only two seats in Congress, zero statewide offices and are deeply in the minority in the state Legislature.

The tectonic realigning of our politics  in which Democrats have lost rural and blue-collar voters, but gained college-educated suburbanites  will once again be on display this election.

Republicans used to dominate upper-income suburban districts, now they are virtually extinct there.

At the same time, Republicans now firmly control the rural areas.

Repercussions in Pierce County

This shift has been playing out locally.

Until 2006, Pierce Countys rural 2nd Legislative District, encompassing the southeast part of the county, was represented in the state Senate by Democrat Marilyn Rasmussen. Now it is unthinkable that a Democrat could win there. On the other hand, the suburban 28th District  which includes Lakewood and University Place)  was until recently Republican. Now the its represented by Democrats.

The problem for Washington state Republicans is there are far, far more suburban voters and suburban districts than there are rural districts that they dont already control. In fact, suburban growth in Clark and Snohomish counties, and court-ordered redistricting in eastern Washington, are putting more currently Republican legislative districts at risk.

As a result, with the possible exception of the governors race, Republicans are not threatening to make progress this year in statewide or legislative elections. The GOP does have a chance to flip a Democratic congressional seat in southwest Washingtons 3rd district. Republican Joe Kent lost to Democratic Rep. Marie Perez by less than 1% in 2022. But this is a district that should be safe for Republicans, and electing super MAGA Kent would not the kind of victory that alters Republican fortunes.

The great establishment Republican hope this year lies in the governors race, where they are counting on former King County Sheriff and U.S> Congressman Dave Reichert to defeat Attorney General Bob Ferguson. Polling does show the race is close, but many questions hang over Reicherts campaign.

Reicherts own party has endorsed someone more acceptable to the Trump base, Semi Bird, of the Tri-Cities. If Reichert survives the primary, can he unite the party? Can he compete with the massive financial advantage currently enjoyed by Ferguson? And most importantly, can any Republican get elected governor in Washington , particularly with Donald Trump at the top of the ticket?

If the governors race is close, Pierce County will be crucial. Rob McKenna won Pierce County in 2012, and other statewide Republicans have come close. To offset the Democratic landslide in King County, Reichert must win something approaching 55% of the vote in this neck of the woods.

Disappearing moderates

Washington states tradition of bipartisan, moderate politics continues to be challenged.

For decades, moderate Democrats like Patty Murray, Gary Locke and Booth Gardner, and moderate Republicans like Slade Gorton, Rob McKenna, and Jennifer Dunn, led their two parties in Washington.

This year, we see numerous contested primary races based on ideology up and down the ballot.

On the Democratic side, it is Clinton/Obama/Biden moderates vs Bernie Sanders progressives. Examples include moderate State Senator Kevin Van De Weges face off with progressive King County Councilmember Dave Upthegrove in the Lands Commissioner race and moderate Nick Brown battling progressive State Senator Manka Dhingra in the Attorney General race.

On the Republican side, the fight is between enthusiastic Trump supporters and establishment types who wish Trump would just go away, desplite the fact that no Republican candidate dares to openly oppose Trump.

Reicherts battle with Bird in the governors race tops that list. Establishment Congressman Dan Newhouses struggle to hold onto his central Washington district against MAGAites Tiffany Smiley and Jerrod Sessler is another example.

Again, this trend affects races in Pierce County. In the open seat race for the Tacoma-based 6th Congressional District, moderate Lands Commissioner Hilary Franz is facing off against progressive State Senator Emily Randall, while in the 31st legislative district  which includes Sumner and Bonney Lake  MAGAite Brandon Beynon is battling moderate Joshua Penner for an open, safely Republican state House seat.

Washington state politics has changed, and the change continues.

The results of the August primary will give us more information on how far that change has progressed.

Chris Vance is a former Republican state legislator, King County Council member and State Party Chairman. He left the GOP in 2017. Vance writes a monthly opinion column for The News Tribune.
KIGALI, June 12 (Xinhua) -- Rwanda on Tuesday denied allegations that it is endangering the lives of asylum seekers, accusing the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) of "fabricating" claims aimed at undermining the country's welcoming policy.

This came after the UN Refugee Agency warned British judges it may have new evidence from 2024 that Rwanda has endangered asylum seekers, despite the British Parliament passing a law declaring the East African country safe.

In the latest intervention against the British policy of sending migrants to Rwanda, the UNHCR told the British High Court Monday that it is investigating new allegations of abuses, including allegations of individuals potentially being sent to countries where they could be tortured.

A judge has granted the UN agency permission to prepare a dossier before a flight of asylum seekers can leave the United Kingdom.

A statement issued late Tuesday by the office of the Rwandan government spokesperson said the "UNHCR is lying."

"The organization seems intent on presenting fabricated allegations to UK courts about the country's treatment of asylum seekers, while still partnering with us to bring African migrants from Libya to safety in Rwanda through the emergency transit mechanism," read the statement.

It said one of the cases that the UNHCR has referred to relates to a man who was denied asylum in the Seychelles, and the UN agency in South Africa unilaterally decided he should be given asylum in Rwanda without consulting the government.

"As we have said time and again Rwanda does not refoule asylum seekers. The UNHCR seems intent on undermining the safety of Rwanda within UK courts," the statement added.

It said Rwanda remains committed to upholding all its obligations as a signatory to the Refugee Convention.

"We will continue to provide safety and opportunity to those fleeing conflict."

Britain reached a deal with Rwanda in April 2022 that would enable sending some migrants who arrive in the UK across the English Channel to the East African country, where their asylum claims would be processed.

In April, UK lawmakers passed the Safety of Rwanda Bill, paving the way for Britain to send asylum seekers who arrive without permission to Rwanda. 
UPDATE: Shortly after 7:10 p.m. power was restored to all customers in Mesquite.

LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  Residents in Mesquite were left without power however, it was not expected to impact election day for voters on Tuesday evening.

The outage occurred around 4 p.m. after a car crash in the area, according to Overton Power District #5s (OPD5) post on X. The power district asked residents to turn off their air conditioning units until power was restored which was anticipated to take about two hours.

According to Clark County, the voting locations had backup batteries, and no voting was affected.

Shortly after 6:30 p.m., OPD5 posted another update to residents which stated that it had re-energized the transformer and would start processing of restoring power.

We are hoping to have power restored in approximately 45 minutes, OPD5 stated on X shortly before 7 p.m.

Residents were invited to stop by OPD5s boardroom on 731 Turtleback Road to cool down if needed.

Mesquite is located more than 80 miles northeast of Las Vegas.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
He prayed with man being executed in Missouri. What happened in the death chamber

Shortly before 5:45 p.m. Tuesday, the Rev. Jeff Hood was escorted through a maze of halls and security checks at the prison in Bonne Terre, Missouri, leading him into the states execution chamber.

Big door after big door closes, he said. Every time one of the doors closes, you can ... feel it in your soul.

He was taken into the chamber where he sat down and put his right hand on David Hosiers shoulder.

The death warrant for Hosier would go into effect in 15 minutes.

The 69-year-old was laid out on a gurney with a white sheet up to his shoulders and was wearing his glasses.

Hood said his stomach felt like it was in his throat. He first noticed that the chamber had one-way mirrors on all four sides of the room. It felt like a hall of mirrors  disorienting. But also poetic in that no matter which direction you try to look away from who you are or whats happening, you cant look away, Hood said.

Hood also noticed the clear tube that was connected to Hosier. It ran from behind one of the walls into, presumably, a room containing the execution team.

Hood became Hosiers spiritual adviser in February, after the Missouri Supreme Court handed down the June 11 execution date. A 2022 U.S. Supreme Court ruling gave the condemned the right to have a spiritual adviser with them in the execution chamber.

Around 5:45 p.m., witnesses were led into three separate, darkened rooms surrounding the chamber. Once corrections officers opened the curtains, they could see Hood speaking to Hosier.

At 6 p.m., Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey notified the Missouri Department of Corrections that there were no legal impediments, DOC spokeswoman Karen Pojmann said.

Missouri Gov. Mike Parsons office was asked if there was any reason to stop the execution.

The answer was to proceed, Pojmann said.

At 6:01 p.m., the execution team administered five grams of pentobarbital through the tube in the wall.

Desperate for him to hear love

On the gurney, Hood said Hosier told him, I love you. Though Hood had said that many times, it was the first time Hosier had spoken those words to him.

I love you, too, Hood replied.

He read scripture. Psalm 23: The Lord is my shepherd and Psalm 59: Deliver me from mine enemies.

He told Hosier he was forgiven.

As Hosier died, Hood was reading the crucifixion narrative of Jesus: Into your hands I commend my spirit.

Hood told Hosier that love was going to carry him through and meet him on the other side.

I was just desperate for him to hear love, Hood said. I wanted the last thing that he heard on earth to be love. And I just told him over and over again: I love you, David.

That was very important for me for him to know that because David lived a life that made love very hard.

In his life, Hosier had multiple altercations with women, serving time for an assault, and was estranged from his children.

In 2013, he was sentenced to death for the murder of Angela Gilpin, 45. She and her husband, Rodney Gilpin, 61, were found dead Sept. 28, 2009, in the hallway of her Jefferson City apartment building.

Angela Gilpin and Hosier had been in a relationship before she ended up reconciling with her husband.

Hosier was convicted on circumstantial evidence and maintained that he was innocent. Hood said he was not convinced he was innocent.

But I am not a trier of fact, Im a giver of love, Hood said.

Hosiers legal team had said there was no evidence that offered a path to exoneration.

In the end, Hood wasnt sure it mattered. The Gilpins were dead. Hosier was now dead.

But he died having experienced a love he likely would not have, had he not been executed.

I think that the liberation of David Hosier is one of answering the question of love, Hood said.

Give em hell

One other thing Hosier said to Hood in the execution chamber was Give em hell.

While the two didnt see eye to eye on many topics, they easily found common ground when it came to the death penalty.

I cannot honestly say that I believe in capital punishment, Hosier said during an interview last month. The state says its illegal for us to kill somebody or for somebody to kill somebody, but yet they want to justify murdering somebody and thats all this is, an execution is state-sanctioned murder. And call it legal.

Moments after the lethal injection was administered, Hosier took several visible breaths. His head gently slumped to the right and then he was still.

Hood said Missouris process was bizarre because it wasnt clear what was happening when. In some other states, medical staff are present in the room or an official describes the steps.

The Missouri Department of Corrections also prohibits political speech in the execution chamber. Hood said his focus was on Hosier in the chamber, but he believes prohibiting speech is a violation of the First Amendment.

A couple hours after Hosier was pronounced dead, Hood is conflicted. Did his presence make it easier for the state to carry out the execution? Could he have done more to stop it?

But he also knows this is a system thats not gonna be stopped.

The best thing you can do in a society determined to kill is to resist, he said.

He said, for him, that means writing, protesting, speaking and raising hell. It means continuing to advise men on death row and getting in the dirt with those considered by society to be outcasts, the throwaways, the caged and forgotten, and the guilty.

On Wednesday, it meant sitting by a swimming pool surrounded by trees in Little Rock, Arkansas, while his five children, who he said he imparts his values to every day, splashed around the shimmering teal water. And it means remembering Hosier.

These executions, they haunt me forever, Hood said. David will never leave me.
"We should either say it out loud, that pregnant people arent going to have rights  and thats how were doing it  or we need to make sure pregnant folks have rights," author Grace E. Howard told HuffPost. Illustration: HuffPost; Photo: Getty

For decades, pregnantpeople have been arrested, charged with various crimes and jailed for their pregnancy outcomes.

A 27-year-old white woman from Tennessee attempted suicide while pregnant in 1986. She survived, but the fetus was stillborn. She was arrested, charged with criminal abortion and held on a $5,000 bond. She pleaded not guilty for reasons of insanity.

In 1999, Regina McKnight, a 22-year-old Black woman from South Carolina, gave birth to a five-pound stillborn baby. McKnight was drug tested after the birth and arrested in the hospital for homicide by child abuse because she tested positive for cocaine. Although it was not conclusive that the cause of the stillbirth was due to her drug use, McKnight was sentenced to 20 years in prison after the jury deliberated for only 15 minutes.

Gabriela Flores, a 22-year-old woman from Mexico, managed her own abortion using pills in 2004 in South Carolina because she couldnt afford a fourth child or the $700 in-clinic abortion on the $1.50 an hour she earned picking lettuce. Her neighbor found out about her abortion and called the cops, who initially wanted to charge Flores with homicide and seek the death penalty. Flores eventually pleaded guilty to an illegal abortion and spent a total of seven months in jail.

These are just a few of the stories included in Grace E. Howards new book, The Pregnancy Police: Conceiving Crime, Arresting Personhood, in which she analyzes 1,116 pregnancy-related arrests that happened between 1973 and 2022 in Tennessee, South Carolina and Alabama. Although the cases vary from self-managed abortion to substance use and miscarriage, each person was arrested for crimes against their own pregnancy.

The criminal prosecution of pregnant people for crimes against the fertilized eggs, embryos, and fetuses they carry relies on a legal understanding that pregnant people occupy a different, lower space in the United States system of law, Howard, who uses she/they pronouns, writes in her book.

Howard, an associate professor of justice studies at San Jose State University, traces pregnancy-related prosecutions throughout history, specifically highlighting the intersections between drug use, race and class.

Weve been taking rights away from folks because of their pregnancies, but we havent been naming it, they told HuffPost. What I try to do in the book is to trace out the places where pregnancy has been considered an exception to the norms.

HuffPost spoke with Howard by phoneabout pregnancy criminalization throughout history, and how the threat is likely to increase in a post-Roe world.

Who are the pregnancy police included in your book title?

They dont exist as an actual department or agency. I hope they never will. Right now, the pregnancy police are made up of people in a bunch of different networks and agencies. I would argue that the pregnancy police even exist in our own minds. Sometimes we police one another, just as friends or family or random people who decide to weigh in. But the pregnancy police are mainly health care providers: 75% of these cases go to law enforcement because health care providers make a report. Theyre also social workers, child protective service agents, law enforcement, prosecutors, judges, and sometimes its our neighbors telling on us, sometimes its our boyfriend telling on us.

It really could be almost anyone. To me, that speaks to just how pervasive it is to socially police the behaviors of folks who are pregnant. Strangers who come up and say, Thats decaf, isnt it? when youre drinking a coffee. Or people who put their hand on your belly without asking first. Society feels a sense of ownership and entitlement over pregnant bodies.

Weve been seeing more and more right-wing rhetoric around fetal personhood  defining a fertilized egg, embryo or fetus as a person. Some states have written personhood into abortion bans post-Dobbs, while others are threatening fertility treatments like in vitro fertilization because of fetal personhood ideology.

How does fetal personhood play into pregnancy criminalization?

Currently, fetal personhood seems to be the primary motivating factor or at least the justification for criminalizing pregnancy. This idea that we need to protect these unborn children from their mothers who dont love them, who wont take care of them, who wont do right by them  fetal personhood is a big part of that.

Now that Roe v. Wade is gone and there is no federal protection that maintains a pregnant persons rights before viability [around 24 weeks of pregnancy], its so much easier to put fetal personhood in the law when you dont have to worry about viability being the determining factor.

You looked at 1,116 arrests of pregnant people for crimes against embryos and fetuses in South Carolina, Alabama and Tennessee between 1973 and 2022. Are there any stories that really stick with you to this day?

Theres the Marshae Jones case, where she was shot in the abdomen when she was pregnant. Marshae was going to be charged with manslaughter but the shooter wasnt. National outrage eventually killed that case. But I am haunted by that case. I cant help but think about what the precedent they were trying to set in that case could mean for victims of intimate partner violence.

This idea that we need to protect these unborn children from their mothers who don't love them, who won't take care of them, who won't do right by them  fetal personhood is a big part of that.

Abusers use pregnancy to control you, keep you in a relationship. They use children to create a legal bond, even after the relationship ends. So the idea that your abuser can beat you up and you get in trouble for it because you didnt protect your pregnancy, and now you have even fewer options, because youre charged with a crime? Terrifying.

A large part of your book focuses on the criminalization of pregnant people for drug use during their pregnancies.

Yes, most of the cases in my book do involve drugs. I know this will be hard for some people, the idea of a pregnant person using drugs. Weve also been taught some very misleading, if not completely false things, about what certain substances will do to a pregnancy.

But I feel compelled to carve out the distinction Im making: Im not saying that pregnant women have special rights to do drugs. Im saying that people who arent pregnant dont get charged with crimes for testing positive for drugs and pregnant people do  and that is a distinction.

If were arresting you for possession or sales or manufacturing, thats something we do all the time. Were not charging pregnant people with those things, or at least not those things exclusively. Were charging them with things like child abuse, homicide, delivery of drugs to a minor, in some cases manslaughter. Many of these are felonies. There are people spending decades in prison because of these kinds of cases.

Can you talk to me about how substance use has been weaponized against pregnant people?

Weve been weird about substances for a long time. Thats something I learned while reading the history and literature for this book. Our concerns about substances are almost always tied to other, broader social concerns. Its never just: This is bad for you. Its almost always: This is bad for you because these people are the ones doing it.

A wing of the prohibition of alcohol movement was doing it because slaves had been emancipated and people believed they were going to get drunk and rape white women. That has been true in our modern drug crisis as well. A lot of people are familiar with how the war on drugs and the focus on crack, in particular, was a big part of mass incarceration in the United States.

A story that has been less explored  though there are wonderful feminist academics who have looked at it  is how much of the crack panic was about pregnant people and babies. It really was understood as these uncaring women who are irresponsible and selfish are birthing hordes of monsters that are going to ruin the United States. The way they described it with crack was that these children would be inherently violent, they wouldnt be able to hold down a job, theyd be antisocial.

It was interesting to read about the link between pregnancy criminalization and, as you wrote, the three periods of radicalized drug panic: South Carolinas crack cocaine crisis, Alabamas methamphetamine crisis and Tennessees opioid crisis.

Right. After the crack crisis, it happened all over again in Alabama. During that time, they were really focused on meth. It was understood, at least in the Southeast, as a poor white trash drug. So, instead of poor Black inner-city people, now its poor white people in trailers. These babies were also described as theyre going to grow up and be psychotic and violent and cost a lot of money. And we [society] are going to have to pay for it because these selfish women wont just love their babies enough to stop doing drugs.

Then we see it repeated again in Tennessee with opioids. The way that weve talked about opioids has been somewhat different from the way weve talked about other modern drug crises. Part of that is because so many of the people that are addicted to opioids are folks who got injured on the job and now theyre hooked to these pills that they initially got through a medical prescription. So we have sympathy because theyre white and employed and it started as a medical thing instead of a fun or social thing. That, somehow, makes it better or more moral.

Unfortunately, that understanding has not included pregnant folks. The talk about folks who are pregnant and use opioids is generally just as punitive, and the policy responses have been really punitive, too. It being considered a white working-class or middle-class drug hasnt been enough to insulate the pregnant folks who are using it, too.

You include a great quote from professor and author Michele Goodwin  whose work you note has been instructive to your book  about how the criminalization of poor, pregnant women of color was perceived as a race issue  something too remote for feminist discourse and activism.

I love that Michele Goodwin quote. Ive been thinking about it since the recent IVF case out of Alabama. There was so much national and international outrage  rightful outrage  that embryos are defined as extra-uterine children.

There are 38 states that have laws in their criminal codes that define either fertilized eggs, embryos or fetuses as crime victims, potentially.

That was an outrageous moment, and we should be angry. And also, most of those people have no idea that fertilized eggs, embryos and fetuses have been considered legal children in Alabama since 2013, really. Then theres the question of: Why dont they know that? Why didnt they care then? Where was the outrage then?

To me, I cant help but think its because of who can access IVF versus who is mostly getting arrested and put in jail. Theres not a lot of overlap there. Maybe if we [had] cared a little more then, we wouldnt be where we are now.

How did decades of ignoring pregnancy criminalization impact todays landscape, now that were in a post-Roe world?

There are 38 states that have laws in their criminal codes that define either fertilized eggs, embryos or fetuses as crime victims, potentially. It varies by state, but thats a lot of states.

Most of these bills were, typically, created in response to a really awful murder case of a pregnant person. These laws almost never get into the meat of it, which is that peoples intimate partners are the ones who are doing the harm to them, and maybe we need to approach it from that aspect. But these are all white women who are victims, who are murdered or lose their pregnancies because they are attacked, and they want some kind of legal recognition of the pregnancy loss so the person who hurt them gets heightened charges.

So, 38 states have those laws, and in cases where weve had arrests in those states  which is all before Roe v. Wade was overturned  those arrests always happen after we recognize the fetus as a crime victim.

Heres how it goes: We established the fetus as a crime victim because a white, respectable woman got attacked. Then a non-respectable woman does something bad and we use that protective law to punish that bad woman. It is so easy for a state court to turn the fetus as a crime victim of third-party harm into a fetus that is now a victim of an abortion provider or the person who is gestating it. States are exploring this right now.

Clarence Thomas pointed this out at the oral arguments for Dobbs. He didnt name the case, but he referenced it. He asked, hey, if were allowed to punish women for using drugs during their pregnancy based on the idea that a fetus is a person, how in the hell is it legal for people to intentionally terminate their pregnancies?

And you know what? Fair. If were being consistent, that doesnt make sense. For me, we should either say it out loud, that pregnant people arent going to have rights  and thats how were doing it  or we need to make sure pregnant folks have rights.

So, do you think were on a path where more people will be criminalized for their pregnancy outcomes?

I think so, for a few reasons. Yes, more states are exploring criminalization now. Most recently, Texas Republicans said theyre possibly going to pursue the death penalty for people who get abortions.

Were also seeing people taking greater legal risks to access abortion care. Because of the legal changes that have happened in states with abortion access, in particular, people are being put into positions where they are taking legal risks that they might not have had to before. You might have been able to go and get your first-trimester abortion in North Carolina, but now you have to order pills through the mail and hope you dont get in trouble later. That is very scary to me.

This interview has been condensed and lightly edited for clarity.

University of California Press

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A pair of bills passed by the Rhode Island General Assembly would help people who take drugs scheduled by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), by making their prescriptions easier to access via adoption of a 2023 DEA regulation. Seen here is methylphenidate, a Schedule II drug and ADHD med that has seen frequent supply issues in the last few years (Alexander Castro/Rhode Island Current)

Want to transfer your Adderall prescription from one pharmacy to another?

Legislation passed by the Rhode Island General Assembly Tuesday night would allow just that. The bills by Democrats Sen. Alana DiMario of Narragansett and Rep. Kathleen Fogarty of South Kingstown now head to Gov. Dan McKee for final approval, and would take effect January 1, 2025.

The legislation authorizes the Rhode Island Department of Health to adopt a new federal rule that allows patients to request their medicine be transferred from one pharmacy to another. DiMarios bill was motivated specifically by the stimulants used to treat ADHD, which have been in shortage since 2022.

This is one of those no-cost changes that can improve quality of life for people in our communities, DiMario previously told Rhode Island Current.

The bill is currently under review by McKees legislative and policy teams, Olivia DaRocha, a spokesperson for the governor, said via email Wednesday, and added: We will make a determination in the coming days.

People with ADHD can use stimulants to achieve calm or get through daily activities more reliably. But stimulants are also notorious as drugs of abuse, which means they are controlled substances, subject to a strict regulatory scheme known as scheduling, which limits the quantity and frequency of their prescription. Opioids, sleeping pills and muscle relaxants are all examples of controlled substances.

Most stimulants fall under Schedule II, the second-most restrictive tier. Until recently, the federal Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) required that these scripts be filled at the receiving pharmacy. If the drug was out of stock, a doctor would need to issue a new prescription at a different pharmacy.

DEA revised its rules in July 2023 to allow the electronic transfer of controlled substance scripts after determining it could reduce costs and frustration for patients and providers alike. The DEA projected an annual net cost savings of $29.0 million over five years.

Could handwritten prescriptions solve the problem? If one pharmacy cant fill a prescription, a paper slip could always be carried to a different location. But prescription pads are becoming antiques  94% of prescriptions nationwide were filed electronically in 2021  and a doctors chicken scratch cant be used to dispense controlled substances in Rhode Island anymore. In 2020, Rhode Island became one of what are now 35 states that require digitally sent scripts for controlled substances. Some states strap this restraint onto opioids alone, given their role in the ongoing overdose crisis, but Rhode Island applies the rule to all controlled substances.

That can leave patients scripts held hostage at a pharmacy that cant fill them that day or even that week. So people with ADHD, or the parents of kids with ADHD, have to pick up the phone and call pharmacies until they find a location that has ample stock. Services like Insito Medfinder can find the drug for you: $50 for a one-time search, which is costlier than a months supply of even high doses of generic amphetamines.

People arent able to get their medications at one place, and then have to go through a lot of song and dance and a lot of time to get their prescription, and some people need it that day, Fogarty said when she introduced the bill at a Feb. 29 committee hearing.

Maura Cotoia, a constituent of DiMario who testified on the senators bill at a March 5 Senate Committee on Health and Human Services hearing, said her 10-year-old sons meds are commonly out-of-stock due to shortages. Sometimes the pharmacist calls to let her know, sometimes they dont.

When I am notified, Im then directed to my sons doctor to have them call the medication to a new pharmacy, Cotoia testified. I work full-time. I have two kids. So typically I run my errands on Saturdays and Sundays. Im not finding my doctor in the office on either of these days. So then we wait.

Some manufacturers ADHD meds have made it off shortage lists, while other companies supplies remain on backorder with little explanation offered. The origins of the supply issues are intricate, with the DEA directing blame at manufacturers for not filling production quotas set by the agency. But pharma companies like Novartis and Teva shot back and alleged the DEA was inconsistent in its approval of quota increases, Bloomberg reported in 2023.

One more federal barrier walls off patients from quicker access, something the health department noted in written testimony on Fogartys bill. The health department said it wasnt a problem to embrace the new DEA rule, but it cant be implemented yet because of another federal agency, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), which sets the technological standards for digital prescribing.

CMS currently uses an older version of a standard called SCRIPT that doesnt allow transfer of controlled prescriptions. A CMS spokesperson wrote in a June 3 email to Rhode Island Current that the Medicare overseer proposed a rule change in November 2023 that included a provision to retire the old SCRIPT and adopt the new version which allows the transfer of controlled prescriptions.

If the proposal is finalized, there would be a transition period in which prescribers could use either version of SCRIPT until Jan. 1, 2027, when the new version would become standard.

Thats well after DiMarios and Fogartys bill would take effect, but if and when the federal change is approved, Rhode Island is one step closer to being ready.

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CEDAR PARK, Texas (KXAN)  Leaders from the Church of the Savior said theyve had to get creative to outsmart thieves that have targeted its LGBTQ+ pride flag in recent weeks.

The church bills itself as a progressive congregation that affirms people from diverse backgrounds including gender identity and sexual orientation.

Damon Smith, church trustee, said he joined the church just a few months ago and was disappointed it didnt display a pride flag because theyd been frequently stolen in the past.

Smith said he purchased a flag and mounting kit, affixing both to the churchs main sign off Little Elm Trail about a month ago. Since then, the flag has been stolen four times, the latest taking place just this week.

The Cedar Park Police Department confirmed this last theft was reported and it is aware of the repeat flag thefts at the church.

Smith said the flag has been recovered each time thanks to new measures he put in place, but declined to say just how he tracks the flags once theyre taken. He did say he uses motion-activated security cameras to catch thieves when they strike.

Ive got a flag recovery rate of 100%, Smith said.

Upon those recoveries, Smith and Rev. Dr. Mark Dowell said the motivations behind the thefts have been different each time.

Smith said one was a group of boys that stole the flag on a dare, another was an adult man that took it because he disagrees with what the flag represents and said it clashes with his Christian beliefs.

Still from security camera footage of a boy stealing a Pride flag from church and running back to a car. (Viewer-submitted photo)

Pride flag mounted to the Church of the Savior sign in Cedar Park (KXAN Photo/Mercedez Hernandez)

Leander Police speak with alleged thief of Church of the Saviors Pride flag. (Viewer-submitted photo)

Pride flag repeatedly stolen from outside Cedar Park church (KXAN Photo/Mercedez Hernandez)

Dowell said hed like the thefts to stop, but ultimately wants to ensure the churchs progressive message isnt overshadowed by hate.

You are welcome here. So its not about us just being this or that, its about everybody is welcome, Dowell said.

Dowell and Smith said they think thefts have picked up in recent weeks because of the visibility created for the LGBTQ community during Pride month.

Dowell said the church has been vandalized in the past for its beliefs, and if that happens again or these thefts dont stop, the church will consider pressing criminal charges.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin.
Officials have pressed charges against an Idaho prisoner who escaped from custody following an ambush at a Boise hospital and his accomplice in connection to the death of a North Idaho man.

Nicholas Umphenour, 28, and Skylar Meade, 31, were indicted by a Nez Perce grand jury Tuesday and charged with first-degree murder in the death of 83-year-old James Mauney, of Juliaetta, according to a news release from the Nez Perce County Prosecutors Office.

If prosecutors find there are aggravating factors, they could plan to seek the death penalty in the mens cases.

Mauney didnt return home after a morning walk with his dogs, which prompted the Nez Perce County Sheriffs Office to issue a missing person alert. Police said they later found his body in a desolate area near Leland, about 10 miles east of Juliaetta, north of Lewiston.

Police have said they suspect Umphenour and Meade of being involved in two homicides after they found Mauney and another North Idaho man killed while the two suspects were at large. Authorities said Umphenour and Meade coordinated an attack on correction officers at Saint Alphonsus Regional Medical Center, where Meade had been transported to treat self-inflicted injuries. The two men escaped in a vehicle and had driven through North Idaho, where the two homicides occurred, before they were caught in the Twin Falls area, police said.

These indictments are the first step in the process of seeking justice for James Mauney, Nez Perce Prosecutor Justin Coleman said in a news release. We have a long way to go to reach the conclusion we want and will continue to work diligently with law enforcement agencies throughout the state to ensure we have the strongest case possible to present.

Liliia Mauney holds a picture of her husband, James Mauney, from 1980 in their Juliaetta home in March 2024. James Mauney, 83, was killed after he disappeared on a dog walk in Juliaetta. Police say two men involved in a Boise prison escape are suspects in his death.

Three Idaho Department of Correction officers transported Meade to the Boise hospital in the evening of March 19. By 2 a.m. the next morning, the officers were taking Meade back into the prison van when Umphenour approached them and began shooting, striking two of the officers, Boise Police Violent Crimes Detective Matthew Canfield said during a preliminary hearing.

A third correction officer was shot and injured by a 12-year veteran of the Boise Police Department, according to the police agency. All three officers have since been released from the hospital and are recovering.

Police searched for Umphenour and Meade for 36 hours as they traveled nearly 1,000 miles in an almost full circle around the state, then drove through Missoula, Montana, before authorities found them in Twin Falls County by surveilling a residential area in Filer, about 15 minutes west, according to prior reporting and an affidavit of probable cause filed by the Twin Falls Police Department.

Nicholas Umphenour and Skylar Meade are under investigation for several crimes including the homicides of two men.

The pair were spotted in separate cars leaving the neighborhood when an FBI agent began pursuing Meade and the driver of the vehicle, 52-year-old Twin Falls resident Tonia Huber. Huber was charged with several felonies, including harboring a fugitive. Meade and Huber were arrested at a Walgreens parking lot in Twin Falls following a pursuit. Umphenour, who was driving one of the homicide victims vehicles, was also arrested in the area, state police said.

A fourth suspect, 27-year-old Tia Garcia, of Twin Falls, was arrested roughly a week later and accused of aiding and abetting the mens escape.

Both Umphenour and Meade who are members of the white supremacist gang Aryan Knights, were served the indictments Wednesday, according to the prosecutions release. They will be held on the charges without bond and brought to the 2nd Judicial Court in Nez Perce County to answer for the murder at a later date, the release said. In the past few months, Meade and Umphenour have been in custody at the Ada County Jail on several charges related to the prison escape.

Meade pleaded guilty to felony escape and a persistent violator enhancement but didnt enter pleas on two other enhancements, prompting the judge to schedule a hearing later this month on how to proceed, the Idaho Statesman previously reported.

Umphenour has been scheduled for an Oct. 21 jury trial on seven charges after 4th District Judge Nancy Baskin entered a plea of not guilty on his behalf, the Statesman reported. Hes facing a persistent violator enhancement along with six felonies: three counts of an aggravated assault or battery upon certain personnel; one count of escaping prison; one count of unlawful possession of a firearm by a convicted felon; and an enhancement for using that weapon in the commission of a felony, court records showed.

Nicholas Umphenour, the man who is accused of helping an Idaho inmate escape from prison at a local hospital, appears in 4th District Court for his arraignment at the Ada County Courthouse in Boise.

Idaho State Police in a news release said troopers are still investigating the killing of 72-year-old Gerald Don Henderson. The man was found in his cabin near Orofino after his partner asked for a welfare check around 8 p.m. March 20, the same day of the ambush. Idaho State Police spokesperson Aaron Snell declined to comment on specifics related to Hendersons investigation.

ISP extends gratitude to the involved agencies supporting the investigations and the public for their support, the release said.
SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4)  Fifteen degree-seeking students who are incarcerated at the Utah State Correctional Facility will be admitted into the Utah Prison Education Program at the University of Utah.

The students will be pursuing a bachelors degree in university studies (BUS) and a certificate in professional and technical writing. The BUS degree is offered through the universitys College of Humanities.

READ NEXT: Changed my future: 31 Utah inmates earn associates degrees through SLCC

The inmates in the cohort will receive the opportunity to serve as tutors and mentors for other incarcerated students who are pursuing higher education at Davis Technical College or Salt Lake Community College. That opportunity will come through the University of Utah Reading Clinic.

Associate Dean and Associate Professor Erin Castro said the inaugural cohort represents a bold expression of the university presidents commitment to social impact.

Dr. Erin Castros dedication to UPEP over the last eight years is a shining example of scholarship with real societal impact, Dean of the College of Education Dr. Frankie Laanan said. Due in large part to her foundational work with UPEP, I firmly believe that Utah can become a national leader in postsecondary education in prison.

Castro and 12 undergraduate honors students co-founded the initiative in 2016, according to the university.

This is the first time in our universitys history that we have allowed a currently incarcerated cohort to apply to the U, Senior Associate Vice President of Academic Affairs and Dean of Undergraduate Studies T. Chase Hagood said.

Castro and her team are set to launch the only national center dedicated to prison higher education research and leadership in 2025 at the University of Utah.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah.
NEW YORK  Pro-Palestinian protesters vandalized the homes of Brooklyn Museum director Anne Pasternak and several Jewish board members early Wednesday in what local elected officials are calling an act of vile antisemitism.

Vandals defaced the front of the homes with red paint and also painted inverted red triangles on the doors, which Jewish advocate Aviva Klompas described as a symbol used by terrorists to mark targets they want to take out.

New York Mayor Eric Adams denounced the hateful actions.

This is not peaceful protest or free speech. This is a crime, and its overt, unacceptable antisemitism, he stated on X. These actions will never be tolerated in New York City for any reason. Im sorry to Anne Pasternak and members of @brooklynmuseums board who woke up to hatred like this.

Adams words were echoed by Gov. Kathy Hochul, who called the vandalism an abhorrent act of antisemitism.

Outside of Pasternaks home in Brooklyn Heights, protesters tied a banner peppered with red handprints reading Anne Pasternak Brooklyn Museum White-Supremacist Zionist.

The cowards who did this are way over the line into antisemitism, harming the cause they claim to care about, and making everyone less safe, New York City Comptroller Brad Lander tweeted Wednesday.

At least one of the addresses hit was an apartment building on Fifth Avenue on the Upper East Side, Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine said.

This is not legitimate protest. This is not free speech. This is vile antisemitism making Jews unsafe, he wrote on X. We cannot turn a blind eye to this.

Local residents said they were outraged by the hate display.

Its terrible what happened, said Kenneth Albert, 69, a neighbor. it looks like its antisemitic because the word zionist is in it and then they had a flag here. I have a front apartment, but I didnt hear anything last night.

A cleaning crew washed away some of the paint.

Its very uncommon, another neighbor said. I never seen any like this happen in this neighborhood.

We are deeply troubled by these horrible acts, museum spokesman Taylor Maatman said.

Councilman Lincoln Restler, a Brooklyn Democrat, said there is video capturing the vandalism and that police are investigating.

This vandalism and attack on peoples homes is indefensible and counterproductive, he wrote.

Homes in both Brooklyn and Manhattan were hit between 2 a.m. and 5 a.m. Wednesday, police confirmed. Detectives were in the process of linking all of the vandalism to the same group.

At a Cobble Hill residence on Wednesday afternoon, workers were seen power-washing red paint splattered across the front door, the first-floor facade and first- and second-floor windows. A resident said a person connected to the Brooklyn Museum lived there.

Slogans including Blood on your hands were stenciled on the residence.

This is terrorism. Youre literally threatening someone and making them feel vulnerable, said local resident Robert Shlederer, 52.

Around 6:15 a.m. Wednesday, 15 protesters splattered the front of the Permanent Observer Mission of the State of Palestine to the United Nations with red paint.

Those vandals fled the scene in a white U-Haul truck.

Hundreds of pro-Palestinian protesters rallied outside the Brooklyn Museum on May 31, with some getting into the building and setting up tents. NYPD cops arrested 34 protesters during the raucous rally.

There has been a steady stream of protests in the city and across the nation since Hamas attacked Israel on Oct. 7, sparking a ferocious war in Gaza.

On Monday, protesters rallied outside the Nova Exhibition, a memorial created to honor the victims of Hamas attack that killed some 1,200 Israelis and took hundreds hostage.

Some protesters waved a flag with Hamas emblem, as well as a sign lauding the massacre.

Adams and relatives of those killed during the Oct. 7 terror attack visited the exhibition Tuesday, calling the previous days protest despicable.

I cannot describe what I felt, said Menashe Manzuri, the father of Roya Manzuri, 22, and Norelle Manzuri, 25, who were among the Israelis killed in the Oct. 7 massacre. Manzuri was at the exhibition when the protest broke out Monday.

It was like they killed me again and again and again.
Judith Suminwa Tuluka attends the swearing-in ceremony in Kinshasa, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), June 11, 2024. Judith Suminwa Tuluka was sworn in early Wednesday as the first female prime minister of the DRC, with an "ambitious and detailed" action plan that will cost 92.9 billion U.S. dollars over the next five years. (Str/Xinhua)

by Xinhua writers Shi Yu, Alain Uyakani

KINSHASA, June 12 (Xinhua) -- Judith Suminwa Tuluka was sworn in early Wednesday as the first female prime minister of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), with an "ambitious and detailed" action plan that will cost 92.9 billion U.S. dollars over the next five years.

Before the National Assembly, the lower house of parliament, Tuluka and the other 54 new Cabinet members officially took office after deputies adopted Tuluka's action plan with an absolute majority.

A total of 397 deputies voted in favor of the new government's program, after hours of debating.

BREAKING THE GLASS CEILING

Tuluka, while presenting her action plan, said she was proud to have broken the "glass ceiling" to be the first Congolese woman to serve as prime minister. Out of the new government's 55 members, 18 are female.

"By assuming this position, I am fully aware of the historical importance of this moment and the symbolism of this appointment for the Congolese nation," she said. "I feel both the weight of the responsibility on me and an immense pride in the idea of representing within the republic, the culmination of the efforts of all Congolese men and women tending to break the famous glass ceiling to produce equality."

This new government, unveiled at the end of May 2024, consists of 55 members, including the prime minister, six deputy prime ministers, and 10 state ministers.

Apart from the prime minister, there are 54 members in the Cabinet, and 30 of them are new faces. Fifteen ministers from the previous government were reappointed to their original positions, and nine others were reappointed but reassigned to different functions.

With a master's degree in applied economics from the Universite Libre de Bruxelles of Belgium, Tuluka was appointed state minister for planning in March 2023.

From 2020 to 2023, she also served as deputy coordinator of the Presidential Strategic Monitoring Council, an entity affiliated with the DRC presidential office.

Tuluka, 56, was one of the targets of the foiled coup attempt on May 19. The coup plotters could not identify her residence and then turned to that of Vital Kamerhe, the current president of the National Assembly who inaugurated Tuluka Tuesday.

AMBITIOUS PLAN

The "ambitious and detailed" action plan of the new government "will be a valuable tool to guide policies," with an estimated cost of 92.9 billion dollars for her five-year term, according to Tuluka.

In the action plan, she promised to "create more jobs and protect the purchasing power of households" in the DRC, a country ranked as the fourth-poorest country in the world by the World Bank, despite its wealth in strategic minerals.

Tuluka pledged to ensure macroeconomic stability and improve the business climate, to "promote the image of the DRC as a reliable destination for foreign investment in the mining and hydrocarbon sectors," to better "redistribute the fruits of economic growth," and ensure that energy sources "meet the needs of the population."

She promised the new government would lay the groundwork for an "emerging Congo" by creating around 2.6 million jobs and an academy of mathematics and artificial intelligence in Kinshasa, the capital of the DRC.

Faced with chronic conflicts, notably the resurgence of the Movement of March 23 rebellion in the eastern part of the country, Tuluka said the government remains committed to securing its people with better-funded and equipped defense forces, as well as proactive diplomacy, to eradicate armed groups operating in the country.

National security constitutes the second pillar of her agenda and represents 20 percent of the overall costs of the government plan.

"To you, who are in the east of the country who live the afflictions of war, fear in the stomach, I would like to express here our firm willingness to work for the return of lasting peace in the eastern part," Tuluka said.

The new prime minister also promised to build 3,750 km of priority roads and 400 ports, including the deep water port of Banana, and lay 50,000 km of fiber-optic network across the country.

Tuluka pledged to ensure access to social services, strengthen the efficiency of public services, combat climate change, including raising the Inga hydropower project's productivity, pursue universal healthcare coverage, and finalize a biometric census of public servants.

COMPROMISES

The formation of the new government was unveiled in the early hours of May 29, more than four months after President Felix Tshisekedi's inauguration.

In the general elections held in December 2023, Tshisekedi was reelected for a second term, with the Sacred Union coalition, composed of the Union for Democracy and Social Progress of the president and his allied parties, winning the majority in the 500-seat National Assembly.

After her appointment, Tuluka, tasked with forming her government team, proposed a slimmer government, cutting its size to 45 members, including ministers and deputy ministers.

"It's a coalition of different parties, there were discussions... compromises," said Erik Nyindu, director of communications for the presidency, explaining why the government formation took so long.

After the long-awaited installation of this government, the race for the presidency of the Senate, the upper house, is expected to be intense, with the election scheduled for June 15. Tuluka's predecessor, Jean-Michel Sama Lukonde, is running for the position.

Tuluka's inauguration was somewhat marred by a stampede at the entrance to the People's Palace, where the DRC parliament is located.

At least five people, including a police officer, were injured in the stampede, which occurred as activists, parliamentarians and journalists tried to access the venue, according to local media. 

Judith Suminwa Tuluka speaks at the swearing-in ceremony in Kinshasa, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), June 11, 2024. Judith Suminwa Tuluka was sworn in early Wednesday as the first female prime minister of the DRC, with an "ambitious and detailed" action plan that will cost 92.9 billion U.S. dollars over the next five years. (Str/Xinhua)

Judith Suminwa Tuluka prepares to give a speech while attending the swearing-in ceremony in Kinshasa, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), June 11, 2024. Judith Suminwa Tuluka was sworn in early Wednesday as the first female prime minister of the DRC, with an "ambitious and detailed" action plan that will cost 92.9 billion U.S. dollars over the next five years. (Str/Xinhua)
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As a for-profit nursing school proposes to open a campus in Milwaukee, existing nursing school operators and community activists are campaigning to thwart the project.

The Arizona College of Nursing (AZCN) says its proposal would contribute to reducing a shortage of nurses in Southeastern Wisconsin.

We have a long history of connecting aspiring nurses with quality educational opportunities, including first time pass rates that are in alignment with the national average as well as the Wisconsin average for the past year on the [nurses] licensure exam, said Tamara Poole, an AZCN associate provost, at a Milwaukee city council zoning committee hearing earlier this month.

But a coalition of organizations have publicly urged officials to block the college based on what they argue are predatory practices of for-profit colleges.

The presence of such an institution threatens to erode the standards of nursing education, potentially compromising the care that future nurses will provide to our community. Milwaukee deserves institutions that uplift and empower its residents, not those that jeopardize their futures, said Quinton Cotton of the MKE Black Grassroots Network for Health Equity at the same zoning meeting, held June 4.

The critics have been focusing on trying to stop a technical zoning change that city officials said was necessary for the college to occupy the building where it plans to operate.

Despite objections, the colleges plans advanced Tuesday as the Milwaukee Common Council approved the zoning change. Several alders who voted for the change said they agreed with critics of for-profit higher education, but took seriously the threat of a lawsuit if the city rejected the change.

Health care worker shortage

The schools bid to enter the Wisconsin market comes amid a national shortage of health care workers. Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers earlier this year established a task force to examine ways to boost the number of people entering nursing and other health care professions.

It also follows a series of for-profit colleges that have entered the Milwaukee market and, critics say, fallen short of promises to students. Most notable of those was Everest College, which shut down in Milwaukee in 2013 after three years and left countless students in debt and without the degrees they had hoped to earn.

For-profit colleges flooded into Milwaukee during the great recession, Michael Rosen, a retired economics professor and union leader at Milwaukee Area Technical College and one of those organizing the opposition, told the Wisconsin Examiner. These groups prey on poor peoples aspirations.

The coalition opposing the nursing school includes a number of health-related groups. For-profit colleges like the Arizona College of Nursing have a history of targeting Black and Latino students and military veterans with little experience in higher education falsely promising well-paying careers, job placement, transferable credits, and affordable tuition, states a petition circulated online by the Wisconsin Federation of Nurses and Health Professionals, a coalition member.

The petition cites research showing students at for-profit schools borrow more, default at a higher rate, and have lower likelihood of employment than their counterparts in comparable nonprofit schools.

A group of existing nursing training programs, including MATC and the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, wrote to city council members in March asking them to oppose the school.

We do not need greater capacity, as the current Nursing and Health Sciences educators have sufficient capacity to increase Nursing and health related graduates, the letter states. The limiting factor is availability of staffing for sufficient clinical placements in the region.

Arizona College of Nursing is under a consent decree with the Arizona State Board of Nursing based on 14 complaints filed with the agency. The order is in place until 2025.

Among the complaints cited in the agreement were non-compliance with program policies and standards, a high number of program and course changes without adequate notice to students [and] inadequate clinical faculty, according to the agreement.

Twenty campuses in 13 states

College executives have defended the institutions record. Arizona college graduates are performing in line with the national average and better than Wisconsins average, CEO Nick Mansour told the zoning committee hearing.

According to the companys website, the school was founded in 1991 as a private pharmacy-training school. In 1996 it became part of Eduvision Inc., an educational services company, and was renamed the Arizona College of Applied Health. The college was renamed again in 2012 as Arizona College, operating two campuses in the greater Phoenix area.

(The for-profit college is unrelated to either the University of Arizona or Arizona State University, both public universities.)

Arizona College launched a separate Arizona College of Nursing in 2013 and with it a bachelor of science in nursing program the college says can be completed in three years. The nursing college now has 20 campuses in 13 states.

The Wisconsin nursing board gave initial approval for the schools entry into the state in late 2022.

Rosen subsequently filed a complaint with the nursing board against the school based on its record, including the Arizona consent decree. He said in an interview he was told that since the school had not harmed anyone in Wisconsin and had not broken any Wisconsin laws, there were no grounds for the board to take action.

The college took out development permits in September 2023 and signed a 10-year lease on 25,000 square feet of space in an office building on Milwaukees far west side.

When the building was first developed more than two decades ago in the citys comprehensive plan, it was approved for uses including office, retail, business services and personal instruction schools  trade schools that dont grant degrees, Sam Leichtling, city planning manager, told the zoning committee at the June 4 meeting.

Because the list doesnt include a degree-granting college, the planning department prescribed a minor modification to the detailed planned development, requiring approval by the council.

Coalition campaigns in opposition

Opponents of the school organized to block the change. In February, the city plan commission recommended rejection of the change after an outpouring of criticism of the college and of for-profit colleges generally.

The college launched a web page to garner public support. The page includes an electronic message that visitors, who give their names and email addresses, can fill out to be shared with public officials.

The sample text on the message concludes, We have an opportunity now to address the nursing shortage, and I urge you to support more Milwaukee nursing education opportunities with AZCN to keep up with Wisconsins health care needs.

The councils zoning committee put off acting on the zoning change in March. Alders said they were advised in later closed-door sessions that the for-profit college was likely to sue if the change was rejected.

At the committees June 4 meeting, which included testimony from opponents of the college as well as from college officials and supporters, the committee voted 4-1 to approve the change.

On Tuesday, the council voted to accept the committees recommendation, but a number of alders expressed their opposition to the project.

You have individuals that are paying $70-80,000 just to get a piece of paper and sometimes not even a credit, said Ald. Mark Chambers Jr., whose district is on the far northwest side of the city. The city has had multiple colleges come into this location, come to the city and fleece our residents  plain and simple.

Ald. Sharlen Moore, whose district includes the planned Arizona College site, said during Tuesdays council vote that she disliked for-profit colleges, but the decision centered on how the property would appropriately be used  not on whether a particular business that would qualify met with the councils approval.

If it was a college that we did like, we will be voting yes. Its something that we dont like, well be voting no  Im looking at the precedent, on being fair, Moore said.

East Side Ald. Jonathon Brostoff agreed. With the extremely narrow set of criteria were allowed to look at for this minor modification, legally speaking  its a pretty cut-and-dried situation, Brostoff said. But that in no way takes away the sentiments shared earlier by critics of the school, he added.

Rosen said that by Tuesdays council vote opponents knew they would not succeed in blocking the zoning change. But he said that the critics were not ready to give up and were looking at various strategies at stopping the school.

Its clear that there are elected officials who were not happy about this, and they felt they were having to make a pretty tough choice [in] approving a zoning change to allow what they acknowledge is a predatory institution, Rosen said.

The post For-profit nursing school advances in Milwaukee, but critics say they wont stop fighting project appeared first on Wisconsin Examiner.
Pensacola State College unveiled its Fairchild Merlin IV Metroliner at ST Engineering at Pensacola International Airport on Tuesday, showing off the airplane that will be a main component of the College's new Aviation Airframe Mechanics and Aviation Power Plant Mechanic (A&P Mechanics) program that is expected to launch in August.

The retired aircraft, constructed in 1982 and appraised at $900,000, was given to PSC by Don Bishop, CEO and President of InDyne, and chairman of the board of InDyne's Reliance Test & Technology. InDyne and InDyne Reliance Test and Technology support the U.S. Department of Defense and military branches in various functions, from major ground test and operation facilities to radar capability and warfighter training, testing and evaluation. InDyne has a facility in Crestview.

"This aircraft will give students access to aircraft maintenance logs and training opportunities unlike those seen in traditional college programs," said PSC President Ed Meadows at Tuesday's press conference at ST Engineering's airframe maintenance facility. "It will give students the opportunity to build their confidence and the skills needed to pursue a gratifying high-wage career. Thanks to Mr. Bishop's donation, we now have an invaluable resource for aspiring aircraft technicians."

InDyne President and CEO Don Bishop presents Pensacola State College with an aircraft donation during a ceremony at ST Engineering on Tuesday, June 11, 2024. The donated twin-engine plane will be a teaching aid for students enrolled in the PSC's aviation programs.

PSC will keep the plane at ST Engineering, which has partnered with the college to establish an A&P Mechanics program. PSC also has several small planes, in varying functional status, that will be used in the 18-month certification program that is aligned with Federal Aviation Administration regulations. Classes will be held at ST Engineering facilities, though construction of a new 25,000-square-foot program facility, which will include classroom and hangar/lab space, is expected to break ground on Pensacola International Airport grounds in August, coinciding with the start of the program.

"I can't stress enough how supportive ST Engineering has been in working with us to establish this program," said Michael Listau, PSC's Dean of Workforce Education, who went on to thank Bishop for the aircraft. "This donation allows PSC to give future technicians hands-on experience with aircraft maintenance and flight line operations with the same type of aircraft they will see in the industry." That includes giving the students chances to witness procedures and operations on some of the larger aircraft worked on at ST Engineering, Listau said.

Last week, ST Engineering broke ground on a new 167,000-square-foot hangar at the Pensacola International Airport. The company has set a goal of creating 1,725 new jobs in the community, with the construction of the first hangar beginning in 2017, and many of those new jobs will be aviation mechanics.

Bishop said the gift of the low-wing turboprop aircraft will help in the College's mission to create jobs, benefiting Pensacola and Northwest Florida.

"It will bring a new dimension to the opportunities afforded PSC and its students for years to come," said Bishop, who gave Meadows and others a chance to tour the aircraft.

Related: Pensacola breaks ground on 3rd ST Engineering hangar, keeps pushing toward 1700+ new jobs

PSC A&P Mechanics instructor Bocephus Hinson washed the plane for the ceremony.

"We're excited to get the program going," said Hinson, who was a U.S. Marine Corps aviation mechanic, as well as working in the commercial industry. "Students will learn everything they need to know to get that certification. This plane will give them a chance to work on something they might see in the field. It's real-life experience and you can't beat that.''

Hinson said the aircraft is in good shape for its age, but needs some work before it is flight ready  not that PSC will use the aircraft for flying purposes.

"It's going to be a great tool," he said. "We'll get it ready."

This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: PSC's new aviation mechanics program unveils new (to them) aircraft.
CLIFTON TWP. LACKAWANNA COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU)  PSP say they arrested six people after troopers shut down an underage drinking party.

According to PSP, troopers were called to a report of an underage drinking party in the Big Bass Lake Community on June 12 around 12:00 a.m.

6 businesses cited for alleged liquor violations

The community security arrived at the scene before troopers and numerous partygoers fled into the streets of the community, police stated.

Troopers said they were able to arrest multiple underage drinkers ranging in the ages of 17-19. All six were left in the custody of adults and cited with underage drinking.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Chris Madison, director of the Arkansas State Board of Election Commissioners, prepares to start a meeting on June 12 in Little Rock. Former state Sen. Joyce Elliott and Lauren Cowles with the ACLU of Arkansas talk in the foreground. (Mary Hennigan/Arkansas Advocate)

The 30-day public comment period related to a rule requiring wet signatures on Arkansas voter registration forms is expected to start Friday, following action by the state Board of Election Commissioners Wednesday.

Commissioners offered minimal discussion before approving the proposed permanent rule, which mirrors an emergency rule the group and the state Legislature approved earlier this year. The rule would require Arkansans to physically touch pen to paper unless registration forms were completed at certain state agencies, such as the DMV.

Director Chris Madison told reporters afterward that the goal of the rule is to ensure consistency among counties under Amendment 51 of the Arkansas Constitution. Wednesdays approval marks another step toward promulgating the rule, which includes a public comment period.

Starting June 14 and extending through July 14, Arkansans can submit their comments to the commission either by mail at 501 Woodlane, Suite 112 South Little Rock, Arkansas 72201 or email at info.SBEC@arkansas.gov. A public hearing was also tentatively scheduled for July 11.

If this timeline is followed, a state legislative committee is expected to review the rule in August, Madison said.

The whole process of adopting a rule is to allow the public comments, Madison said. People out in the field, people that are doing this, are going to have different perspectives. Theyre going to raise an issue that we may not think about.

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Madison said he expects to hear comments about electronic signatures done with a stylus.

Well, let me ask you this: Have you signed with a stylus and does it look like your ink signature? he said. Not necessarily because sometimes people with a stylus will scribble versus [forming letters.]

Electronic signatures complicate the process of verifying a voters signature when counting absentee ballots, Madison said. Others view the wet signature rule as a form of voter suppression.

Recent lawsuit

Get Loud Arkansas  a voter advocacy nonprofit championed by former state Sen. Joyce Elliott  filed a lawsuit last week that challenges the emergency rule thats currently in effect and asks a judge to block its enforcement.

Elliott, the nonprofits attorney and a member of the American Civil Liberties Union of Arkansas sat front and center at the board meeting Wednesday.

There is nothing we can say about the lawsuit at this point because its ongoing, Elliott said. Our reasoning for being here this morning is that weve made this commitment about protecting our fundamental right to vote.

Joyce Elliott, former state senator and leader of Get Loud Arkansas, talks about voter suppression as attorney Peter Shults observes. The pair attended a State Board of Election Commissioners meeting on June 12 in Little Rock. (Mary Hennigan/Arkansas Advocate)

The lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Arkansas against Secretary of State John Thurston, the Arkansas State Board of Election Commissioners and the county clerks of Benton, Pulaski and Washington counties.

Plaintiffs include Get Loud, Vote.org, and Nikki Pastor and Trinity Blake Loper  two Arkansans who had their voter registration forms rejected because of electronic signatures.

On Wednesday, Elliott highlighted the importance of the public comment period and urged residents to participate whether that be through speaking their concerns or attending the hearing to understand the civil process.

Arkansas historically has one of the lowest voter turnouts in the nation. The mission of Get Loud Arkansas small staff is to educate more people about their voter rights and advocate for access.

Prior to the temporary rule, Get Loud was operating an online registration portal that was particularly popular among young people. The forms were printed out and physical copies were sent to the Secretary of States office, but officials later raised concerns about the process, which included electronic signatures.

Madison said the board is aware of the recent lawsuit and is working on getting lawyers lined up to file an answer defending the rule and the boards authority.

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CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WCIA)  A date has been set to discuss potential water utility bill increases for Champaign-area residents.

The Illinois Commerce Commission said they will host a public hearing on July 23 at the Champaign Public Library at 7 p.m. for general rate increases for Illinois American Water. In their January filing, the company estimated the average customer would see a $24 increase in residential monthly water service bills if approved.

Illinois American Water, Citizens Utility Board at odds over rate hike

At the hearing, representatives from Illinois American Water will present their case before written and verbal comments are heard from consumers. Additionally, ICC staff will be available to answer customers questions.

The ICC also has planned hearings with Illinois American Water in Bolingbrook and Jerseyville.

In a statement issued in February, officials with Illinois American Water said the money from the rate increase will fund replacements to aging infrastructure and water quality improvements.

By making prudent, ongoing investments, Illinois American Water is committed to protecting public health and safety in the communities we serve, Illinois American Water President Rebecca Losli said. At the same time, we remain committed to addressing the needs of our most vulnerable customers.

Aqua files to raise water utility rates in Illinois

Meanwhile, utility watchdog group Citizens Utility Board called the companys new rate proposal severe and greedy in a February news release and urged customers to write to the ICC.

While water customers struggle, Illinois Americans parent company has pulled in about $1.6 billion in profits over the last two years, said CUB Executive Director Sarah Moskowitz. This punishing rate hike will be a hardship to consumers who depend on the utility for a vital service.

The ICCs ruling will not be issued until later this year. If any changes are approved, customers will not see the rate increases until early 2025.

Anyone who wishes to comment but is unable to attend the meeting can leave comments on the ICCs website or by calling 1-800-524-0795 on Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

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Russian energy giant Gazprom has been ordered to pay 13bn (11bn) to Germanys Uniper after it failed to fulfil gas orders since the war in Ukraine.

The ruling was announced by Uniper on Wednesday, allowing the business to formally sever long-standing ties with Gazprom.

It brings an end to the dispute between Gazprom and Uniper, as the latter was largely reliant on Russian gas until supplies were disrupted in the wake of Vladimir Putins invasion two years ago.

The business was only saved thanks to an 8bn bailout by the German government in September 2022, which led to it being nationalised.

Uniper is a power generator with assets across Europe, including in the UK where it is responsible for 7pc of the countrys electricity.

The 13bn award stems from an arbitration hearing earlier this month, during which Gazprom was accused of breaching gas supply contracts.

European gas prices rose by 2.6pc following the decision, as energy traders signalled fears of disruption to Russian deliveries of gas elsewhere in Europe.

In a statement on Wednesday, Uniper said: Uniper decided today to terminate its long-term Russian gas supply contracts and thus legally ended the long-term gas supply relationship with the Russian state-owned company Gazprom Export.

The decision was made possible after an arbitration tribunal awarded Uniper the right to terminate the contracts and awarded it an amount of more than 13bn in damages for the gas volumes not supplied by Gazprom Export since mid-2022.

Since both companies are owned by their respective governments, some have seen the legal battle as more than a traditional corporate dispute.

However, there are doubts as to whether Putin will ever allow Gazprom to pay the money owed to Uniper  especially as it would be passed to the German federal government.

Michael Lewis, the Briton last year appointed as Unipers chief executive, said: This ruling provides legal clarity for Uniper.

With the right of termination that we received in the arbitration ruling, we are ending the contracts with Gazprom Export. Unipers legal position was also confirmed on the issue of damages. Any amounts would flow to the German federal government.

From todays perspective, it is not yet clear whether significant amounts are to be expected.

Uniper operates roughly 22.5 gigawatts of generation capacity across Germany, Holland, Sweden and Hungary, making it one of the worlds largest power producers.

Well over half its generation comes from gas and coal, although Uniper has pledged to become carbon neutral by 2040.

Its assets include Ratcliffe-on-Soar, Britains last coal-fired power station, sited just south of Nottingham.

The station is expected to close in September, finally ending the UKs reliance on burning coal  the dirtiest of fossil fuels  to generate electricity.

Ratcliffe-on-Soar's closure marks the end of the UK's reliance on burning coal - Andrew Fox

They also own a large but ageing power station at Connahs Quay in North Wales and another of similar size on the Isle of Grain in Kent.

Mr Lewis said Russias attack on Ukraine and consequent cuts in gas supplies to Europe, had forced Uniper to seek gas on global markets at inflated prices  prompting the companys state bailout.

He said: Our termination of the contracts with Gazprom Export is the latest in a series of consistent decisions over the last three years.

During this time, Uniper has written off its share in the financing of the Nordstream 2 pipeline, its stake in the Russian subsidiary Unipro and allowed its coal supply contracts with Russia to expire.

Since then, Uniper has worked hard to diversify its gas business and is now well positioned with its global LNG portfolio and pipeline gas supplies from various regions.

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CARACAS, June 11 (Xinhua) -- The BRICS bloc of emerging economies is destined to be "the driving force for the democratization of the global economy," Venezuelan Foreign Affairs Minister Yvan Gil was quoted by the Venezuelan press as saying on Tuesday.

"Venezuela recognizes in BRICS a seed that is growing healthy and strong to advance in building a multicentric and pluripolar world," said Gil while addressing the BRICS Foreign Ministers' Dialogue with Developing Countries (BRICS+) in the Russian city of Nizhny Novgorod.

Venezuela is willing to join the expanded BRICS as a full member and share its experience in promoting Latin American integration, he said.

Venezuela is ready to contribute its "extensive natural resources," including one of the world's largest oil and gas reserves, to this model of integration, said Gil.

The South American country is a "reliable partner, with the strength and political determination to promote inclusive multilateralism" and "the defense of international law," he added.

Venezuela supports the "demand for greater representation of emerging countries and developing economies in the United Nations system," said Gil.

Venezuela is participating as a guest in the ministerial meeting of BRICS+, which saw participation from the BRICS countries and 12 major developing countries with regional influence. 
Rapper Quavo has partnered with Vice President Kamala Harris and the White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention for the inaugural Rocket Foundation Summit, taking place in Atlanta, GA on June 18.

The event is set to honor Quavos former Migos group member and nephew Takeoff, who was killed in 2022, on the late rappers 30th birthday, and pay homage to the countless victims of gun violence in an effort to make Quavos hometown of Atlanta a model for gun violence reduction.

More from Variety

During the summit, Quavo will sit down with Harris for a fireside chat to discuss the methods and approaches that must be taken to decrease gun violence and protect communities. The two last met in September to discuss gun control through Quavo and his familys involvement in the Congressional Black Caucus in Washington, D.C. The next day, the White House launched the Office of Gun Violence Prevention, and its Deputy Director Greg Jackson is slated to moderate the fireside chat.

The summit will also feature two panels. The first will be led by Community Justice Action Fund, LIVE FREE and Cities United in a discussion about the gun violence crisis in the United States and how community violence intervention can help solve it. The second will be led by Youth Over Guns, Offenders Alumni Association and H.O.P.E. Hustlers and will focus on how supporting and investing in youth programs can reduce gun violence and improve community safety.

Beyond the panels, patrons can attend a lunchtime roundtable to connect with families of victims and survivors in a conversation about what actions can be taken to improve gun control. The day will conclude with local and state officials honoring Quavos philanthropic efforts and celebrating Takeoffs life.

Quavo launched the Rocket Foundation in 2022 after Takeoff was shot and killed as an innocent bystander outside a Houston bowling alley, committing $2 million to invest in community violence intervention. In March, he announced the SPARK Grants program to award $10,000 to 10 Atlanta-focused organizations in assisting communities and promoting the foundations message, totaling $100,000 in grants.

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QUEENS, N.Y. (PIX11)  A Queens man who fatally shot his brother before turning the gun on himself was embroiled in family turmoil over money and jealousy over a failed grocery store, authorities said.

Karamjit Multani, 33, allegedly shot his brother, Vipanpal Multani, 27, nine times and his mother, 52, twice when she threw herself on her son to protect him inside the home on 94-42 111th St. in Queens Village at around 10:30 p.m. Saturday, according to the NYPD.

The shooter had been ridiculed after opening an unsuccessful grocery store in Indiana while his brothers deli in Valley Stream, New York, thrived, police said. The father, a prominent deli owner, had given his sons money after COVID-19 to open their businesses.

More Local News

Due to COVID, the grocery store fails miserably. He goes bankrupt and is forced to move back home. A lot of tension between him and the brother over snide comments about how hes a failure and his father giving him a hard time about the store not being successful, NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny said at a press briefing Tuesday.

The gunman detailed the abuse in a long manifesto after his father told him he wanted him, his wife, and three kids out of the home, police said. After a fight at a family dinner, the older Multani went to his brothers room armed with two pistols and shot him multiple times, with the bullet piercing his lung, eventually killing him, according to Kenny.

The mother threw herself on top of her younger son during the gunfire and was shot twice, police said. She survived her injuries.

More Crime News

Multani was then captured on video leaving the family home and taking off his turban before fatally shooting himself in the head, according to Kenny.

As hes running, he drops the gun, picks it up, has an accidental discharge, runs a few more steps, stops, and just shoots himself in the head, Kenny said.

The manifesto, a long text message to his wife about the abuse, did not mention suicide, police said.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11.
Race for new York County sheriff headed to runoff; council vice-chair ousted

YORK, S.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS)  The new York County sheriff is still unknown and a County Council member was defeated a day after the South Carolina primary election Tuesday.

Out of the five Republican candidates to take the reins from Sheriff Kevin Tolson, none received more than 30 percent of the vote. A candidate needs at least 50 to win outright.

The two candidates moving to the runoff are Michael Belk, who had 6,536 votes cast for 26.6 percent, and Tony Breeden, who gained 25.8 percent.

There were 24,601 votes cast for sheriff.

York County sheriff candidates answer voter questions

Tolsons wife, Beth Tolson, was third on Tuesday with 18.3 percent.

Belk is the sheriffs offices chief deputy, Beth Tolson is a former York County investigator, and Breeden is a retired Rock Hill Police lieutenant.

The current sheriff had filed to run for re-election, but withdrew his name on the deadline day.

In the runoff, the candidate with the highest number of votes wins. It is scheduled for June 25 with early voting days for June 20 and 21.

Love ousted from council

Allison Love has served on the York County Council for more than seven years. (Photo: York County Government)

Andy Litten defeated incumbent Allison Love Tuesday, meaning there will be a new District 2 representative on the York County Council.

Litten defeated the four-term councilwoman with 68 percent of the vote. Love had 25.5 percent, with Jason Amentler picking up 6.3 percent. District 2 covers the Lake Wyle and Clover communities.

Love also serves as council vice-chair, and will complete her term in December.

Congratulations to Andy Litten on his sweeping opportunity to be the next District 2 Councilman, she posted on her Facebook page. I feel liberated and able to speak more freely than I have in 7 and a half years. The past 2 years have been especially hard both behind the scenes and out in front of a community I care deeply for. I am happy for the chance to be less politically correct.

On Littens campaign website, he says hes lived in York County since 2003 and works as the engineering and operations manager for the Chester Metropolitan District.

Neither race had any Democratic candidates. The general election is Nov. 4.

In South Carolina, a separate primary is held for the presidential race in March.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News.
NATO Chief Jens Stoltenberg on June 12 described the "ongoing adaptation" of the military alliance's nuclear arsenal, in a rare reference to the weapons which he described as the "ultimate security guarantee."

Speaking to reporters ahead of a two-day meeting of the bloc's defense ministers in Brussels, Stoltenberg highlighted escalating tensions and increasing rhetoric from the Kremlin.

"What we have seen over the last years and months is dangerous nuclear rhetoric from the Russian side.... We also see some more exercises, nuclear exercises on the Russian side," he said in comments reported by Reuters.

NATO officials rarely comment on the alliance's nuclear arsenal, but Stoltenberg said the U.S. was modernizing its nuclear weapons stationed in Europe.

He also referenced announcement in May that F-35 fighter jets had taken over the nuclear role of the Netherlands within NATO from the F-16.

The comments come as tension continue to rise between Russia and the West.

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.

Russia and Belarus launched the second stage of tactical weapons nuclear drills this month, the Kremlin's Defense Ministry said on June 11.

"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.

Read also: Russias Su-57  hype vs. reality

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TULLAHOMA, Tenn. (WKRN)  An effort to alter the city of Tullahomas election cycle through a total rewrite of its city charter failed.

At its Monday, June 10, meeting, the Tullahoma Board of Mayor and Aldermen failed to reach the necessary two-thirds vote necessary to ratify a private act to rewrite the city charter.

The effort to alter the citys elections to match the state and federal general election cycles began in 2023. The city put together a charter committee to come up with a revision, according to Alderman Derick Mann, and the first resolution with the new charter language was passed Dec. 20, 2023.

Mann said when he first became an alderman, he attended an elected officials course as part of his training. During that training, the Municipal Technical Advisory Service (MTAS) used Tullahomas charter as an example of how not to frame a charter, which is what prompted him to take action on the citys core governing document.

Tullahoma alderman indicted for official misconduct

There were some pretty archaic things in our charter, and this [resolution] takes care of that, he said during the June 10 meeting.

If the charter change was approved, it would have moved the citys general election from August to November. That move would have forced all the candidates who have currently turned in qualifying petitions to run in August to pull new petitions and start their campaigns over.

(WKRN screenshot from TUA LightTube)

The qualifying deadline for the August city elections passed in April, according to information from the Coffee County Election Commission. If the city elections were moved to November, the new qualifying deadline would be in August, according to the Tennessee Secretary of States Office.

According to state law, private act charters like the city of Tullahomas requires a three-step process for approval.

First, the city must pass a resolution in support of the charter change by a simple majority. Second, the resolution is sent to the Tennessee General Assembly for passage by state lawmakers. Once the general assembly approves the measure, the resolution is then sent back to the city for ratification by a two-thirds majority vote.

The last step is where the charter rewrite failed, as it did not receive the necessary vote for approval.

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Mayor Ray Knowis announced early on in discussion that he had heavy objections to some of the changes proposed in the new charter and would be voting against approval. He added while he agreed that some of the more archaic measures needed changing, the totality of the change was not something he would support.

Alderman Jenna Amacher said she was a proponent of all the changes, but she took issue with the July 1, 2024, effective date of the change.

I like the charter changes, I think they are for whats best for the city; I think there are also some things that need some polishing, she said. I do think it was rushed. I have to say I think the efforts of Mr. Mann were to be commendable, to be honest, as well as Mr. Berry. I think they worked their tails off on this, and I dont think this is a dig at them. I think that the finished product is something to be very proud of. However, is it perfect? No, its not. And the timing is not good.

Mann said he understood Amachers point, but throwing the baby out with the bath water was not the way to go.

Certainly, those of us who chose not to put our name out there for reelection are probably just as ready to leave in August as we are in November, Mann said. For me, its never been about that. Theres too much else in this to just narrow it down to one or two things. There are things I would like to change here tonight, but overall its something we can all be proud of.

None of the three current aldermen up for reelection in the August filed paperwork to run again, meaning come August, the Tullahoma city board will have at least three new faces on it. Amacher, Mann and Alderman Daniel Berry will all leave the city board in two months time. Mayor Ray Knowis will also not seek reelection.

Alderman Kurt Glick, who is currently involved in a lawsuit against the city over the end of his employment as the former director of Parks and Recreation and was also indicted for official misconduct last July, filed paperwork to run for mayor.

Berry said he didnt feel the process was rushed, but he agreed that some compromises made werent his favorite.

 Read todays top stories on wkrn.com

We all compromised, and I think what were supposed to do as a board is you dont get everything you want, but you find some common ground, and I think that we did that throughout this process, he said. Im proud of that.

He added there were things in the current charter that he felt tied the boards hands unnecessarily, and he was proud of this boards gumption to tackle the 1950s-era document the way they did.

However it turns out, I thank you for your work on it, he said.

A two-thirds vote in favor would mean five board members would need to vote to approve. However, when it came time to vote, only three aldermen voted in favor of the resolution: Berry, Mann and Mayor Pro Tem Jerry Mathis.

Knowis, Amacher, Glick and Alderman Bobbie Wilson all opposed, and the motion failed, meaning the city elections will remain on Aug. 1.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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Ratio of Ukrainian volunteer soldiers to conscripts is 1 to 3  Ukraine's Ministry of Defence

The Ministry of Defence reported that the ratio of volunteers to conscripts who joined the Ukrainian forces is 1 to 3.

Source: Nataliia Kalmykova, Deputy Minister of Defence, at the conference The Ministry of Defence and Partnership with the Public: Cooperation, Achievements, Challenges

Quote: "We are implementing systemic changes in the defence forces, creating a new personnel policy system and developing a network of enlistment offices. There are already 22 of them. This week, we plan to open three more.

The results are impressive. As of May, the ratio of volunteer soldiers to mobilised people who joined the forces was 1 to 3. This means that we still have the potential to defend Ukraine."

Details: According to the Ministry of Defence, the digitalisation of the Armed Forces has improved the efficiency of these processes.

The ministry stressed that 1.4 million Ukrainians have already used the Reserve+, a government-run app which allows users to update their military service records, and the next step is to launch the Army+ app for the military, which should simplify bureaucratic processes in the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

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Are you ready if your car or home floods? What to know for Miamis miserable weather

With heavy rain swamping South Florida this week, we could be dealing with flooded cars, boats and homes.

That could lead to insurance claims for your soaked property.

Here are some questions and answers about flooded property and insurance coverage in bad weather:

Dont have flood insurance? Will your home insurance cover damage?

Residents at Northwest 16th Avenue and Sunrise Boulevard get their belongings out of their house on Thursday April 13, 2023, as many Fort Lauderdale streets remained flooded due to the heavy rains in Broward County. Fort Lauderdale got more than 2 feet of rain on Wednesday, April 12, 2023..

Flood insurance, like the name suggests, covers damage due to floods and flooding. And while not everyone is required to get flood insurance in Florida  mandates are generally for those who live in designated flood zones  insurance experts say its a good idea to buy flood insurance even if you dont live in a flood zone, given the flooding South Florida has had in recent years.

Jennifer Jurado, Browards chief resilience officer, said not enough people in Broward County have flood insurance. As of 2017, only around 200,000 people had policies with the National Flood Insurance Program, the biggest provider in the nation. About 1.9 million people live in Broward.

Its really something we should all have in Florida and especially in Southeast Florida, she said.

Homeowners insurance typically covers damage from fire, theft, wind and falling trees. It provides some coverage for water damage, but usually not from rising water. If a storm causes a leak in your roof, for example, your homeowners insurance will likely cover it, according to Ochoa and Perri. Pipe bursts and overflowing toilets are usually covered too.

But if water seeps in through the bottom of the door and floods your living room? Thats a flood insurance claim.

Its also worth noting that the Florida Legislature passed an insurance bill in 2022 that makes flood insurance mandatory for any homeowners with hurricane wind policies from Citizens Insurance. Current Citizens policyholders who live in designated flood zones are now required to have flood insurance  a switch that affected about 295,000 policies, according to Citizens.

As of Jan. 1, 2024, anyone with a Citizens home insurance policy for coverage over $600,000 is required to have flood insurance. Thats about 15,000 policies, according to Citizens. Next year, 2025, the policy applies to all Citizens-insured homes with coverage over $500,000  about 27,000 more policies.

READ MORE: Got hurricane insurance from Citizens? Heres a new reason your bill may rise in Florida

TIPS:

 Check your homeowner insurance policy to see what it covers. And make sure your coverage includes contents insurance, also known as personal property coverage. This type of coverage helps pay to replace or repair your personal belongings, like laptops, clothing and furniture if theyre waterlogged.

 Keep receipts. Most homeowners insurance policies will cover some additional living expenses for loss of use of a property, meaning its uninhabitable until its repaired or completely rebuilt. This could include the cost of a hotel, or even renting an apartment if repairs take awhile. Insurance may also cover things like the cost of dining out because you dont have a home kitchen, insurance experts say. Use one credit card, not cash, to keep track of all your receipts.

Do most insurance policies cover mold damage?

Most policies dont cover mold damage, but they do cover mitigation activities such as purchasing fans to dry out a room and cutting out drywall to prevent mold from spreading, according to Ochoa. Check your policy for details.

Should you hire a public adjuster?

Whether you hire a public adjuster or just rely on the insurance companys adjuster is up to you. If you hire a public adjuster, they can help guide you through the claim process, with the goal of getting you the best payout.

However, keep in mind that you dont need to hire an adjuster for every claim. Some adjusters might not take a case if the claim is too small. Also public adjusters charge from 5% to 20% of the total settlement or they may charge a flat or hourly rate, according to NerdWallet.

TIP: If you need help, only public adjusters and lawyers are authorized, under Florida law, to negotiate a claim with your insurance company. To verify whether youre working with a licensed adjuster, go to beclaimsmart.com.

READ MORE: Hiring a contractor for home repair? How to check the license and complaints in Florida

What to do if your car has water damage

Vehicles on flooded West Perimeter Road in Fort Lauderdale on Thursday, April 13, 2023.

AAA and State Farm have some tips on what to do if your car got flooded:

 Take photos of the water damage. However, if the flood waters reach above the doors sill, only take photos from the exterior of the car. You dont want water to get inside the car and cause more damage. Once the water recedes, you can open the car doors to air out the vehicle and take interior photos.

 Dont try to turn on the car. This could cause more damage if there is water in the engine. Call a towing service and wait for the vehicle to be inspected by a qualified mechanic to make sure its safe to turn on the car.

 Check your auto insurance policy to see if it covers flood damage. Then contact your insurance company to file a claim. If your current auto insurance doesnt cover flood damage, consider changing policies for future incidents. Comprehensive coverage, for example, usually covers flood damage to vehicles.

READ MORE: Will car insurance cover frozen iguana damage in South Florida?

What should you do if your boat gets damaged?

Just like with auto and home insurance, if your boat has insurance, youll want to take photos and videos of the damage and file a claim immediately. Youll also want to bail out any standing water in the boat, and clean and dry the boat to reduce the risk of mildew. Cover damaged areas with a tarp and if your boat engines got wet, pickle them.

This process involves flushing them with fresh water and then filling them back up with kerosene or diesel fuel. Pickling your engine can significantly increase the chance of saving it, according to Maritime Insurance International. Engines can be expensive to replace and difficult to move. So if you can save yours by pickling it, this can prevent major hassles.

Depending on your coverage levels, taking this step could free up funds to allow other damaged areas of your boat to be included in your boat insurance claim.

What about flood insurance?

A property that is for sale is seen partially submerged in the Edgewood neighborhood on Thursday, April 13, 2023, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. A torrential downpour severely flooded streets partially submerging houses and cars across South Florida.

If you live in an area thats prone to flooding, it might be a good idea to buy flood insurance for future storms and hurricanes.

For years, people could only purchase flood insurance through the Federal Emergency Management Administrations National Flood Insurance Program. Now, you can also purchase flood insurance directly from private insurance companies.

Whats better? Depends on what you need.

Private policies, for example, are often cheaper and sometimes offer more coverage, especially if your property is an area with a lower flood risk, according to an article that had appeared in Money magazine.

However, private policies are less dependable than federal policies. Where the NFIP guarantees renewal of its policies, a private insurer may elect not to renew a policy or even to cancel it, reads the 2021 Money article. And since private flood policies are new products, theres uncertainty even by insurance standards, about what policies might cost in the future and which companies may still be writing them.

The solution? Shop around and compare insurance policies.

What are resources for assistance?

Cars wade through the floodwaters at Northwest Seventh Street and 15th Avenue in Fort Lauderdale on Thursday April 13, 2023.

If you need additional assistance, here are some resources:

 The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity has activated the private sector hotline at 850-815-4925 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. for businesses to inquire about response and recovery resources available to them. You can also email ESF18@em.myflorida.com.

 The American Red Cross has a hotline available around the clock. If you were displaced and need assistance, call 1-800-RED-CROSS (1-800-733-2767).

 Visit PrepareFL.com for recovery resources and insurance assistance.

 You also have to be wary of fraud when hiring someone to repair your home. If you think youre a victim of fraud, call the Insurance Fraud Hotline at 800-378-0445 or visit FraudFreeFlorida.com.

Miami Herald staff writer Alex Harris contributed to this report.
June is traditionally the last month of the Supreme Courts annual term, and every year brings with it a flurry of major rulings on the most consequential cases of the day. This year, however, just as much attention is being paid to the justices extracurricular activities.

The latest episode in this saga comes from twin reports, by documentary filmmaker and activist Lauren Windsor and Rolling Stone magazine. Windsor surreptitiously recorded two of the courts members, Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Samuel Alito, at a recent Supreme Court Historical Society dinner. The society is one of the few events where members of the public can interact with the justices, albeit only through donating at least a few hundred dollars to the charity.

In the recordings, Windsor asked the two justices about their views on religious liberty, political polarization, and the courts role in it all. Alito and Roberts gave answers that were uncharacteristically blunt, especially in the latters case. They represent a rare unguarded window into the justices thinkingfor probably the last time.

To start with, the edited recordings do not reveal anything particularly dramatic. In her conversation with Alito, Windsor pressed him on the state of polarization in the country. One side or the other is going to win, he replied. 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 continued to press her point. I think that the solution really is like winning the moral argument, she went on to say. 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. Alitos reply was supportive: I agree with you.

Rolling Stone, which exclusively published Windsors recordings, put an explosive title on the encounter: Justice Alito Caught on Tape Discussing How Battle for America Cant Be Compromised. A casual reader might get the impression from that headline that Alito was secretly laying out culture-war battle plans to an ideological sympathizer at a private gala. In context, however, his comments seem more descriptive about the state of the country than prescriptive about what should be done about it.

In a later portion of the recording that was posted online by Windsor, Alito also expressly disclaims a role in the culture wars. When asked by Windsor how to bridge that gap between the two sides, Alito replied, I wish I knew. I dont know. I dont think its something we can do, referring to the court. After Windsor asked him more directly, he replied, 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. I wish I knew the answer.

Make no mistake that Alito is a culture warrior. He is not particularly quiet about his views. You can read his 2020 speech to the Federalist Society, where he aired a series of grievances against the courts critics and ideological foes, mostly centered around religious liberty. Or his remarks two years later on religious liberty at a University of Notre Dame event in Rome, where he lamented the increasingly secular turn in Western countries.

The problem that looms is not just indifference to religion, its not just ignorance about religion, theres also growing hostility to religion, or at least the traditional religious beliefs that are contrary to the new moral code that is ascendant in some sectors, he said in his 2022 speech in Rome. The challenge for those who want to protect religious liberty in the United States, Europe, and other similar places is to convince people who are not religious that religious liberty is worth special protection.

The more interesting portion of the recordings, at least to me, came from Windsors interactions with Roberts. The chief justice is a somewhat enigmatic figure, even by Supreme Court standards. He hasnt written a book and infrequently gives speeches. When he speaks, it is only to the most anodyne of audiences, like law schools and non-ideological legal organizations, and only about the most neutral of subjects. He almost never writes concurring or dissenting opinions of his own. I cant remember the last on-record interview that he gave to a news outlet that wasnt C-SPAN.

So when someone gets Roberts to speak extemporaneously about the courts work and place in society, it stands out. Windsors questions for the chief justice hit upon similar themes to her questions for Alito, perhaps in anticipation of the side-by-side contrast. Its a very tumultuous time in the country, and Im just curious, like from your perspective on the court, how do we start to repair the polarization? she asked. Roberts immediately challenged the premise of her question.

You know, the first thing I think is to tell me when the non-tumultuous time has been here, he replied. I mean, youre looking at the court, what the court was doing in the 1960s, what the court was doing during the New Deal, what the court was doing, you know, after Dred Scott and all this. Its kind of a regular thing. People think its so different and special. Its been pretty tumultuous for a long time. He referenced how split the country was during the Vietnam War.

Robertss claim that this era is more or less normal when it comes to American political stability explains a lot about his approach to Trump v. Anderson, the disqualification clause case that the court decided earlier this term. While I dont doubt that Roberts abhorred January 6 itself, if he also sees it as just the latest chapter in the long American history of political violence, it may explain why he apparently thought the cure of disqualification was excessive for the disease of insurrection.

Another intriguing moment came when Windsor brought up religious liberty. I believe that the Founders were godly, were Christians, and I think that we live in a Christian nation, and that our Supreme Court should be guiding us in that path, she began, before Roberts interjected. I dont know if thats true, he replied. I dont know that we live in a Christian nation. I know a lot of Jewish and Muslim friends who would say maybe not, and its not our job to do that. Its our job to decide the cases as best we can.

The Roberts court is renowned for its friendliness to religious freedom claims. A study by legal scholars two years ago found that the court was substantially more likely to side with religious organizations than under Robertss immediate three predecessors. In those cases, the study reported, the court sided with such plaintiffs a whopping 83 percent of the time.

Roberts himself has been a semi-consistent vote alongside the rest of the courts conservatives in those cases. His comments shed new light on why and when he might diverge from them. For many on the American right, Americas identity as a Christian nation is self-evident. When Alito speaks about religious freedom in his speeches, he does not disclaim it for other faiths. But it is also clear that he has one particular denomination in mind.

Weve seen hints of this divide in some of the courts opinions, as well. During the Covid-19 pandemic, Roberts sided with state public health officials on multiple occasions on whether they could restrict the size of religious gatherings to reduce the viruss spread. Those decisions drew furious dissents from Alito and the other conservative justices, who lamented that churches were being treated like other public gathering places.

In the 2021 case Fulton v. City of Philadelphia, the court unanimously sided with a Catholic foster-care agency that declined to work with same-sex couples on religious freedom grounds. Roberts wrote the majority opinion where he held that the citys restrictions unfairly targeted religious beliefs. Alito, Thomas, and Gorsuch again parted ways in a pointed concurring opinion. They argued that the court should have gone further and reversed a major precedent that limits free exercise clause claims against otherwise neutral laws and policies that affect religious practices.



The dissent characterized its frustration in almost personal terms. After receiving more than 2,500 pages of briefing and after more than a half-year of post-argument cogitation, the Court has emitted a wisp of a decision that leaves religious liberty in a confused and vulnerable state, Alito wrote, referring to Robertss majority opinion. Those who count on this Court to stand up for the First Amendment have every right to be disappointedas am I.

This divide is also reflected in how Roberts disclaimed a culture-war approach to the courts work. You dont think theres like a role for the court in, like, guiding us toward a more moral path? Windsor asked. No, I think the role of the court is deciding the cases, Roberts immediately replied. Would you want me to be in charge of guiding us toward a more moral path? Thats for the people we elect. Thats not for lawyers. Though Alito made a similar disclaimer, Robertss version is more emphatic and lacks the tinge of regret in his colleagues answer.

When we speak about Supreme Court justices, we often describe them with the labels of conservative and liberal. These terms are generally useful but can often smooth over crucial differences within each camp. Roberts and Alito illustrated, via these off-the-cuff remarks, how subtle differences in perspective can lead to substantial differences in outcomes.

Given how these recordings were gathered and published, I wouldnt hold out hope for similarly unguarded moments from the justices in the future.
La. Democrats ignoring Cancer Alley

In this photo from Oct. 23, 2019, the Rev. William Barber, co-chair of the Poor People's Campaign -- A National Call For a Moral Revival, addresses a crowd protesting environmental racism in St. James Parish and the rest of the Mississippi River corridor known as "Cancer Alley." Standing behind Barber in the red shirt and clerical collar is Rev. Dr. Liz Theoharis, the other co-chair of the Poor People's Campaign. (Photo courtesy of Steve Pavey).

Since the 1980s, the 85-mile stretch of the Mississippi River that connects New Orleans and Baton Rouge has been known as Cancer Alley. The name stems from the fact that the areas residents have a 95% greater chance of developing cancer than the average American.

A big reason for this is the concentration of industrial facilities along the corridor  particularly petrochemical manufacturing plants, many of which emit ethylene oxide, an extremely potent toxin that is considered a carcinogen by the Environmental Protection Agency and has been linked to breast and lung cancers.

But even though the general risks of living in the region have been clear for decades, the exact dangers are still coming into focus  and the latest data show that the EPAs modeling has dramatically underestimated the levels of ethylene oxide in southeastern Louisiana. On average, according to a new study published Tuesday, ethylene oxide levels in the heart of Cancer Alley are more than double the threshold above which the EPA considers cancer risk to be unacceptable.

This story was originally published by Grist. Sign up for Grists weekly newsletter here.

To gather the new data, researchers from Johns Hopkins University drove highly sensitive air monitors along a planned route where a concentration of industrial facilities known to emit ethylene oxide are situated. The monitors detected levels that were as many as 10 times higher than EPA thresholds, and the researchers were able to detect plumes of the toxin spewing from the facilities from as many as seven miles away. The resulting measurements were significantly higher than the EPA and state environmental agencys modeled emissions values for the area.

From over two decades of doing these measurements, weve always found that the measured concentrations of pretty much every pollutant is higher than what we expect, said Peter DeCarlo, an associate professor at Johns Hopkins University and an author of the study. In the case of ethylene oxide, this is particularly important because of the health risks associated with it at such low levels.

There is no safe level of ethylene oxide exposure. The EPA calculates exposure thresholds for various chemicals by assessing the level at which it causes an increased incidence of cancer. For ethylene oxide, the EPA has determined that breathing in nearly 11 parts per trillion of the chemical for a lifetime can result in one additional case of cancer per 10,000 people. The higher the concentration, the higher the risk of cancer.

DeCarlo and his team found that, in three quarters of the regions where they collected data, ethylene oxide levels were above the 11 parts per trillion threshold. On average, the level was roughly 31 parts per trillion. In some extreme cases, they observed area averages above 109 parts per trillion. The findings were published in the peer-reviewed academic journal Environmental Science & Technology. The study was funded in part by Bloomberg Philanthropies, which launched a campaign in 2022 to block the construction and expansion of new petrochemical facilities.

We definitely saw parts per billion levels at the fence line of some of these facilities, which means people inside the fence line  workers, for example  are getting exposed to much, much higher concentrations over the course of their day, DeCarlo said.

Ethylene oxide is emitted from petrochemical manufacturing and plants that sterilize medical equipment. Earlier this year, the EPA finalized rules for ethylene oxide emissions from both types of facilities. The rule that applies to the manufacturing facilities in Louisiana requires companies to install monitors and report data to the EPA and state environmental agency. If the monitors record concentrations above a certain action level, companies will be required to make repairs. The rule is expected to reduce emissions of ethylene oxide and chloroprene, another toxic chemical, by 80 percent. Companies have two years to comply.

Heather McTeer Toney, who heads the campaign against petrochemical facilities at Bloomberg Philanthropies, told Grist in an email that the new measurements provide a baseline understanding as the EPAs new regulations take effect. The EPAs new rule was necessary but should only be the start of how we begin to make things right here, she said. Im hopeful to see levels go down, but the data suggest we have a long way to go.

Tracey Woodruff, a professor studying the impact of chemicals on health at the University of California in San Francisco, said that the study affirms that EPA is doing the right thing to regulate ethylene oxide and that the agency needs to improve their modeling data. The levels identified by the researchers are 9 times higher than those estimated by the EPAs models.

For residents in the area, the studys findings confirm their lived experience. Sharon Lavigne, the founder of Rise St. James, a community organization battling the expansion of the petrochemical industry in St. James Parish, told Grist that the study is a step in the right direction and helps the community get a deeper understanding of what theyre being exposed to. But ultimately, without accountability and follow-through, monitoring data will do little to help her family and neighbors.

These monitors are good, but in the meantime, people are dying, she said.

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This article originally appeared in Grist, a nonprofit, independent media organization dedicated to telling stories of climate solutions and a just future. Learn more at Grist.org

The post Real-time data show the air in Louisianas Cancer Alley is even worse than expected appeared first on Louisiana Illuminator.
As part of her trip to Belarus, Speaker of Milli Majlis Sahiba Gafarova met with the Chairperson of the Council of the Republic of the National Assembly of Belarus, Natalya Kochanova, and the Chairman of the House of Representatives, Igor Sergeyenko, Azernews reports.

The parties first held a one-on-one meeting, followed by the meeting in an expanded format with the participation of the two countries delegations.

Expressing her optimism that the visit would give a new impetus to the relations, Natalya Kochanova underlined that Azerbaijan and Belarus enjoy fruitful relations based on the principles of friendship and brotherhood. Igor Sergeyenko hailed the current level of relations between the two countries and parliaments, mentioning the deep rooted historical ties between the two nations.

The sides highlighted the pivotal role of high-level relations between the heads of state in the current development of Azerbaijan-Belarus relations. They emphasized that up to now, about 150 documents spanning political, economic, social, humanitarian, scientific-technical and regional cooperation issues had been signed between Azerbaijan and Belarus.

The parties also underscored the importance of cooperation on international platforms.

Highlighting high level of relations between the two countries and peoples based on mutual respect and trust, Speaker of Milli Majlis Sahiba Gafarova noted that the interparliamentary ties are also based on these foundations.

The parties hailed the successful cooperation of the legislative bodies both on a bilateral basis and within international parliamentary organizations. Sahiba Gafarova also emphasized the importance of cooperation in the Parliamentary Network of the Non-Aligned Movement, describing the network as a key platform for developing cooperation among the parliaments.

Mentioning the signed Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation between the parliaments, the sides noted that the document contributed to developing relations between the legislative bodies.

Speaker Sahiba Gafarova also provided an insight into the restoration of the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Azerbaijan, and the ongoing reconstruction works in the liberated territories. Gafarova emphasized that Azerbaijan commends the agreement reached regarding the participation of Belarusian companies in the reconstruction projects in the Azerbaijan`s liberated territories.

The parties also discussed the high-level ties in the humanitarian and cultural fields.

The meeting also focused on COP29, set to be held in Baku this November. Sahiba Gafarova invited the Belarusian side to participate in the parliamentary session planned to be held jointly by the Inter-Parliamentary Union and the Milli Majlis as part of the session.
Russian nuclear-powered submarine Kazan arrives at the port of Havana, Cuba, June 12, 2024. A detachment of Russian warships arrived at the port of Havana, Cuba, on Wednesday after completing exercises on using high-precision weapons, the Russian Defense Ministry said.

The ministry said these ships, belonging to the Northern Fleet, have arrived at the port on an "unofficial visit." They include a nuclear-powered submarine and a frigate with modern weapons on board. (Xinhua/Li Zijian)

MOSCOW, June 12 (Xinhua) -- A detachment of Russian warships arrived at the port of Havana, Cuba, on Wednesday after completing exercises on using high-precision weapons, the Russian Defense Ministry said.

The ministry said these ships, belonging to the Northern Fleet, have arrived at the port on an "unofficial visit." They include a nuclear-powered submarine and a frigate with modern weapons on board.

Before entering the Havana port, the ships conducted computer-simulated exercises, practicing high-precision missile strikes against naval targets representing a mock enemy over 600 km away, according to the ministry.

In the coming days, the crews of the ships and support vessels will participate in several protocol events, have the opportunity to rest, and explore local attractions, the ministry said.

The Cuban Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday that the Russian warships would visit the port of Havana from Wednesday to Monday, and the visit is within the framework of "historically friendly relations between Cuba and Russia." 

Russian nuclear-powered submarine Kazan arrives at the port of Havana, Cuba, June 12, 2024. A detachment of Russian warships arrived at the port of Havana, Cuba, on Wednesday after completing exercises on using high-precision weapons, the Russian Defense Ministry said.

The ministry said these ships, belonging to the Northern Fleet, have arrived at the port on an "unofficial visit." They include a nuclear-powered submarine and a frigate with modern weapons on board. (Xinhua/Li Zijian)

Russian frigate Admiral Gorshkov arrives at the port of Havana, Cuba, June 12, 2024. A detachment of Russian warships arrived at the port of Havana, Cuba, on Wednesday after completing exercises on using high-precision weapons, the Russian Defense Ministry said.

The ministry said these ships, belonging to the Northern Fleet, have arrived at the port on an "unofficial visit." They include a nuclear-powered submarine and a frigate with modern weapons on board. (Xinhua/Li Zijian)

This photo taken on June 12, 2024 shows Russian nuclear-powered submarine Kazan at the port of Havana, Cuba. A detachment of Russian warships arrived at the port of Havana, Cuba, on Wednesday after completing exercises on using high-precision weapons, the Russian Defense Ministry said.

The ministry said these ships, belonging to the Northern Fleet, have arrived at the port on an "unofficial visit." (Photo by Joaquin Hernandez/Xinhua)

This photo taken on June 12, 2024 shows Russian rescue tug Nikolai Chiker at the port of Havana, Cuba. A detachment of Russian warships arrived at the port of Havana, Cuba, on Wednesday after completing exercises on using high-precision weapons, the Russian Defense Ministry said.

The ministry said these ships, belonging to the Northern Fleet, have arrived at the port on an "unofficial visit." (Photo by Joaquin Hernandez/Xinhua)

People takes photos of Russian frigate Admiral Gorshkov at the port of Havana, Cuba, June 12, 2024. A detachment of Russian warships arrived at the port of Havana, Cuba, on Wednesday after completing exercises on using high-precision weapons, the Russian Defense Ministry said.

The ministry said these ships, belonging to the Northern Fleet, have arrived at the port on an "unofficial visit." (Photo by Joaquin Hernandez/Xinhua)

This photo taken on June 12, 2024 shows Russian frigate Admiral Gorshkov at the port of Havana, Cuba. A detachment of Russian warships arrived at the port of Havana, Cuba, on Wednesday after completing exercises on using high-precision weapons, the Russian Defense Ministry said.

The ministry said these ships, belonging to the Northern Fleet, have arrived at the port on an "unofficial visit." (Photo by Joaquin Hernandez/Xinhua)

This photo taken on June 12, 2024 shows Russian frigate Admiral Gorshkov at the port of Havana, Cuba. A detachment of Russian warships arrived at the port of Havana, Cuba, on Wednesday after completing exercises on using high-precision weapons, the Russian Defense Ministry said.

The ministry said these ships, belonging to the Northern Fleet, have arrived at the port on an "unofficial visit." (Photo by Joaquin Hernandez/Xinhua)

People takes photos of Russian nuclear-powered submarine Kazan at the port of Havana, Cuba, June 12, 2024. A detachment of Russian warships arrived at the port of Havana, Cuba, on Wednesday after completing exercises on using high-precision weapons, the Russian Defense Ministry said.

The ministry said these ships, belonging to the Northern Fleet, have arrived at the port on an "unofficial visit." (Photo by Joaquin Hernandez/Xinhua)

This photo taken on June 12, 2024 shows Russian frigate Admiral Gorshkov at the port of Havana, Cuba. A detachment of Russian warships arrived at the port of Havana, Cuba, on Wednesday after completing exercises on using high-precision weapons, the Russian Defense Ministry said.

The ministry said these ships, belonging to the Northern Fleet, have arrived at the port on an "unofficial visit." (Photo by Joaquin Hernandez/Xinhua)
Mild Danish classics like fldeboller marshmallow cookies and creamy cheese danishes do not necessarily indicate a low spice tolerance nationwide. But this hasn't deterred health officials in Denmark from pulling three Buldak instant ramen flavors from shelves across the country. The reason why? They're simply too spicy (yes, really).

The recalled trio includes the Buldak Hot Chicken Ramen 3x Spicy (13,000 SHU), Buldak Hot Chicken Ramen 2x Spicy (10,000 SHU), and Hot Chicken Stew. For the record, Buldak Chicken 2x spicy noodles came in first place in our ranking of spiciest instant noodles. According to an official statement by the Danish Veterinary and Food Administration released on June 11, these flavors contain such intense capsaicin spiciness that they have the potential to be dangerous to consumers. The statement even mentioned that the spiciness was so extreme that it could cause "acute poisoning" for some consumers, particularly children.

The quality of the actual ramen is not under attack. Still, the Administration is calling for stores to pull Buldak from shelves immediately and for folks who have purchased the product to throw it out. Needless to say, Danish Buldak fans aren't stoked about the recall. As Copenhagen college student Jakob Krogh Schultz told news outlet The Korea Times, "I'm still left wondering if there isn't another way we can keep the product in Denmark while not allowing kids to buy it, like we do with energy drinks and alcohol."

Read more: 25 Most Popular Snacks In America Ranked Worst To Best

Buldak Spicy Noodles Are Facing The Heat In Northern Europe

Container of buldak spicy ramen - SiljeAO/Shutterstock

It might seem like a lot of hype, but the ramen's legendary spiciness has inspired a tidal wave of internet content. Videos of foodies making Buldak's carbonara ramen accrued hundreds of thousands of views on TikTok earlier this year. Before that, the "fire noodle challenge" featuring Buldak went viral on YouTube, as folks sweated through bowls of the spicy noodle soup.

Thanks to chili pepper powder, red pepper powder, red pepper seed oil, garlic, decolorized chili extract, paprika extract, and black pepper powder, Buldak delivers building layers of capsaicin burn. The heat intensifies with every bite from sweet to sweaty and lingers after you've swallowed. The original Buldak flavor clocks in at roughly 8,706 SHU on the Scoville Scale (SHU). For reference, a jalapeno pepper totes 2,500-8,000 SHU.

Buldak, the word for "fire chicken" in Korean, was launched in 2012 by Samyang Foods, the country's first instant noodle manufacturer. Today, Samyang exports Buldak noodles to an estimated 80 countries around the world. As Samyang Foods told the BBC, "The products are being exported globally. But this is the first time they have been recalled for the above reason." The company also told the outlet that it plans to "closely look into the local regulations."

Read the original article on Tasting Table
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR)  Emails obtained by News 4 indicate Oklahoma State Department of Education (OSDE) Chief Policy Advisor Matt Langston had a business and personal relationship dating back more than a decade with the president of a company OSDE awarded a contract worth tens of thousands of dollars.

As far back as 2011, News 4 uncovered records indicating Langston appeared to have a close enough relationship with the now-President of OSDE contractor Vought Strategies, that he sought to use her as a professional reference when seeking new employment.

Republican lawmakers seek AG investigation of OSDE advisor Langston

News 4 recently reported several Republican state lawmakers, led by State Representative Mark McBride (R-Moore), requested Attorney General Gentner Drummond Investigate Langstons Employment Status with OSDE, as well as his possible connections with Vought Strategies.



I mean, the guys making 100,000 over $100,000 a year, and theres no job description for what hes supposed to do, McBride told News 4 after having to subpoena State Superintendent Ryan Walters to turn over Langstons employment records. The A.G. needs to look into it and see what was there. Is there something there?



While Langston has worked at OSDE since January 2023, not a lot is known about him.

McBride claims Langston holds a lot of power and influence over OSDE.

Matt Langston is the puppeteer, McBride said. Hes the guy that pulls Ryan Walters strings.



Langston is no stranger to politics. Hes worked as a political consultant for the better part of two decades.



Public records show he owns Texas-based political consulting firm Engage Right, LLC.

OSDE paying Texas-based company $50k+ to make social media videos

News 4 has found Langston has a lot of connections with a lot of people in politicsincluding a woman named Mary Vought.



Shes the president of Vought Strategies.



News 4 obtained emails between Langston and Vought, sent from both their personal and business accounts, dating back 13 years.

The emails appear to show Langston and Vought did business with each throughout those years.



In a July 2019 email obtained by News 4, Vought appeared to send Langston a link to an op-ed written on his behalf.



In another email eight years earlier2011Langston seemed to ask Vought to put in a good word for him with the staff of a Kentucky congressmanwith whom hed apparently had a job interview.



Do you know of anyone that could drop me a good note, the email appearing written by Langston to Vought says.



If you send me the [chief of staffs] email Ill drop them a note, Vought appeared to write in response.

LOCAL NEWS: Hes the guy that pulls Ryan Walters strings: Subpoena reveals highly-paid OSDE advisor has no formal employment contract

Fast forward to more than a decade. In 2022, here in Oklahoma, Ryan Walters announced he was running for the position of state superintendent.



Records show Walters campaign hired Langstons companyEngage Rightfor consulting.



After the November 2022 election  and Walters swearing in as state superintendent in January 2023  Langston became the Chief Policy Advisor for OSDE.

State payroll records show Langston draws at least a six-figure salary from the state annually.

On top of that, Oklahoma Ethics Commission records show Langstons company, Engage Right, is also still getting paid thousands of dollars every few months by Walters campaign for consulting work.

Last fall, OSDE put out a Request for Proposals (RFP) seeking a company to help do public relations work for the department.



The RFP required the winning bidder to be a company that had at least 10 years experience in booking national media appearances.

EV00000340-1WATERMARKEDDownload





There was only one company that ended up bidding, and subsequently winning, that contract: Vought Strategies.

For the past six months, Vought Strategies has been helping Ryan Walters book national talk show appearances, writing him op-eds, creating social media content for his accounts, and other activities helping to raise Walters national political profileall on Oklahoma taxpayers dime.

Vought_Bid-Docs-Combined_RedactedWATERMARKEDDownload

Vought-contract-1WATERMARKEDDownload

Recommendation-Fully-Executed.pdf-WATERMARKEDDownload





It gives a bad appearance, said former Assistant Oklahoma Attorney General Tim Gilpin.



Gilpin saidgiven all the heat already on Langston from lawmakersthe documentation uncovered by News 4 indicating he had an existing business and personal relationship with the President of Vought Strategies is, minimally, not a good look.



I think most of our politicians try to avoid this like the plague because it is a serious business if the State A.G., County D.A. or the State Auditor Inspector looks into it, Gilpin said. You lay yourself open for indictment or investigation or an audit.



Oklahomas Ethics Commission has strict rules governing possible conflicts of interest between state employees and contractors.

LOCAL NEWS: Lawmakers concerned with OSDE after report on skewed rankings

Those rules say, if a state employee knows someone they have a previous or existing business relationship with who is entering into a contract with the state, that employee must disqualify from participation in the matter.



I would look atwas there a competitive bidding process, or was it a setup, Gilpin said. Whos being paid what?

Vought Strategies website says the company was founded in 2013exactly 10 years before OSDE issued the RFP, which required bidders to have 10 years of experience, that it ultimately awarded Vought Strategies.

Gilpin says, while that may be a coincidence, it again raises red flags for him.

Youre supposed to outline what youre looking for and catch as many people or entities as you can to bid so you get the best price for the best bang for your buck, Gilpin said. Now, I would imagine if a politician or an officeholder made it so narrow that only one group or individual could meet those requirementsthat theyd lay themselves open to an investigation or an auditthat it really wasnt a competitive opening.



Its been hard getting direct answers as to what official role Langston played, if any, in awarding Vought Strategies that contract.

LOCAL NEWS: State Supreme Court: OSDE does not have authority over public school library books

News 4 asked OSDE spokesperson Dan Isett the following questions on multiple occasions:

Was Supt. Walters aware Langston had this existing relationship with an OSDE vendor? Did Langston disclose this relationship to OSDE or the State of Oklahoma before OSDE awarded Vought Strategies its contract? (Please provide documentation, if yes) Does Supt. Walters still believe the bidding process was fair, given this information?

Each time News 4 asked those questions, Isett chose not to answer them.

Isett only told News 4: the State of Oklahoma has a rigorous RFP system which is following to the letter of the law in all our contracts, including this one.

News 4 also asked both Langston and Vought individually: did you disclose your business relationship?

Vought never responded. Langston didnt answer the question, and instead told News 4 all questions would need to be sent to Isett.

Legislature subpoenas State Superintendent over unanswered budget committee questions

With News 4s findings in mind, Gilpin saysif he still worked at the A.G.s officehed be paying very close attention.



If youre hiring an employee for the Department of Education, particularly a high ranking one, then they should disclose any conflicts they have at current or in the recent past, Gilpin said. If youre hiring consultants, really the same thing and you want to make sure that there arent any lines crossed because again, you open yourself up to a criminal investigation or a very serious audit.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Regents Exams set to be dropped as graduation requirement; when and how?

Regents Exams set to be dropped as graduation requirement; when and how?

PARK SLOPE, Brooklyn (PIX11)  Its been a requirement for graduation for most of New York State public school students for generations, but now, the Regents Exams are on course to be dropped from their mandatory status.

That was the result of an announcement made by the New York State Education Department on Monday, and now families from around the citys five boroughs, Long Island, the suburbs north of the city, and all across the state are trying to figure out what this change will mean for them.

More Local News

Its not just a wide-ranging potential change. It would also be a massive break in tradition if its adopted  the first Regents Exam was administered in 1866.

Ilan Greenberg, a senior at Millennium Brooklyn High School, passed his Regents exams a couple of years ago, and said that the proposed change is welcome.

Its a step in the right direction, he said while waiting to meet his dad in front of the Park Slope school, because learning for the sake of educating is way more important than learning for passing a test.

Annissa Johnson, a teachers aide at Millennium Brooklyn, both helps students prepare for the exams, and remembers taking them herself a few years back. She said that her experience shows that a change in the requirement would be helpful.

[Students] dont have to be so stressed about what will be on the test, she said.

Brooklyn Boatworks fosters STEM education during Fleet Week

It was in response to concerns like that that a 64-member group of parents and educators, called the Blue Ribbon Commission, set up by the State Department of Education, considered in meetings over the course of the last 18 months. Their consultations with students, colleges, potential employers and others resulted in the new recommendations.

They were unveiled on Monday. Each of the main proposed changes is called a transformative action.

The first instructs school districts across the state to establish what are called portraits of a graduate. According to the commission, it means that each student statewide will have to demonstrate that they are critical thinkers, innovative problem solvers, literate across all content areas, culturally competent, socially-emotionally competent, effective communicators, and global citizens, according to the state education department.

Queens teacher wins $25K for excellence and innovation in the classroom

Other new, transformative actions include:

class credits being based on proficiency in material, rather than by the amount of time spent on it

Regents Exams no longer being required for graduation, although the exams will also still be available, as a tool to help assess proficiency

reducing the number of available diplomas. Rather than the three diplomas available now, there will one one diploma only

Sheree Gibson is one of the members of the Blue Ribbon commission.

This is not a dumb down of the system, she said in an interview. In truth, if you look at it, it is raising the bar.

Thats carried out, she and some other supporters say, because the transformative actions look at more than just the exams for graduation.

NJ parents say town should show more support for Pride Month

Considering wider factors is what 36 schools in the five boroughs, as well as two more upstate, already do. Those schools, called consortium public schools, include the P-tech- and other early college schools, as well as international, 6  12 grade, and career and technical education programs.

Kemala Karmen, a public education advocate, has had two children graduate from consortium public schools.

Those schools have been able to produce students who attend and persist college, Karmen said in an interview, at rates greater than their counterparts.

She said that both of her children have now gone on to rigorous college and masters degree programs.

Starting next month through October, the state education department will hold a series of meetings that it calls Blue Ribbon Commission Ambassador Forums.

Sheree Gibson, one of the commission members, said that shell be in attendance. Shes encouraging as many people as possible to also attend.

Sign up, show up, she said. Bring the kids, let them contribute.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Earlier this week, the Lib Dems finally gave voice to the policy that dare not speak its name. There is a part of the British centre (and it is generally them rather than the hard-Left, who are either in retreat or going full crank) that harbours a deep hankering for one particular objective: rejoining the European Union. Mostly they limit themselves to moaning about passport queues. But they are quietly beginning to speak about it as an actual policy, or rather as a series of policies incrementally bringing Britain back into the EU orbit.

What Sir Ed Davey will say out loud, many in Labour will be quietly salivating about, especially if they win the expected super-majority next month.

Closer relations may not be on the horizon immediately, but recent changes in Europe would make it grimly amusing if this lofty aim came to pass. Those who advocate reunion invariably have a view of the EU as preserved in aspic around 2016, an abstract ideal much preferred to the messy reality of continental politics. On Monday, Davey seemed taken aback when a journalist mentioned Europes Right-wing surge. All this ignores how the tectonic plates have shifted since the Brexit vote.

And shifted they have, in an election where Giorgia Melonis Brothers of Italy cruised ahead with almost 30 per cent of the vote, Olaf Scholzs centre-Left coalition suffered a stinging defeat, and the Greens took a battering across the board.

Especially striking are the voting habits of young people. An astonishing 40 per cent of 18-24-year-olds in France plumped for Marine Le Pens National Rally. The German Bundestag recently voted to allow 16- and 17-year-olds to participate in the Euro elections, some supporters no doubt hoping this would play into their hands.

In the event, the extreme AfD (who resisted the change) topped the table among 16-24-year-olds; tied with the centre-Right CDU on 17 per cent. The Greens, the runaway winners of the youth vote in previous Euro elections, were shunted into third place on a measly 11 per cent.

Following the EU referendum, some commentators announced they would be moving to continental Europe to escape far-Right Britain. You wonder how they are doing now. Probably with heads still in the sand. At the heart of this mindset is to see Brexit Britain as backward, a pariah state.

Never mind that remarkably similar policies to those pursued here are being put into practice on the Continent. Meloni recently struck a Rwanda-esque deal with Albania, expected to be operational within a couple of months. But its not just the milder face of European populism; the EU itself has funded a scheme moving asylum seekers from Libya to Rwanda.

Social Democratic Denmark, meanwhile, has pursued some of the toughest immigration policies in Europe in recent years. Danish lawmakers insist on integration in ways that would be anathema to leftish British sensibilities; migrants who commit serious crimes can lose their social housing, for instance. Interestingly, Denmarks harder line on migration appears to have shielded its government from the fate of many other centre-Left parties. Its almost as if voters reward you for listening to them.

Perhaps a certain level of America brain leaves us more fixated on events across the pond than on the changing shape of politics across the Channel; the farmers protests, the bitter internal wrangling about migration policy, and support for Ukraine  whose future, sadly, looks less assured following the Euro elections.

Whatever the cause, our view of our own place in the world can feel parochial and self-contradictory. The NHS, for instance, is often branded world-beating and our greatest national achievement, while being so creaky and dysfunctional that other countries (Australia) actively feature it as a cautionary tale in political adverts. On migration we are monstrous outliers, even when other countries are actively copying our policy  and sometimes going further. We are Schrodingers island to these people: admirable and awful at the same time.

Amusingly, the social-media accounts of the Labour frontbench are full of disobliging messages about politicians with whom they will soon be geopolitically involved. David Lammy, our probable next foreign secretary, has particular form here; accusing Boris Johnson of twisted priorities for hosting Viktor Orban at No 10 in 2021.

In 2017, he tweeted: First America, now Le Pen. This virus is contagious, just as it was in the 1930s [sic]. Itll be interesting to see how Lammy the statesman will conduct relations with the woman he declared a political anthrax; especially in vital areas such as the small-boats crisis.

Many of those sweeping to power in Europe despise the equivalent political class in their own countries. The idea that they will turn into fluffy liberal technocrats when a Brit arrives in a nice suit is delusional.

Europe might well prove important for Britains next government, but perhaps not in the way that those who lust after rejoining a long-vanished Europe think. First past the post insulates our politics from extremes, but at the cost of insulating politicians from voters true sentiments. The European body politic is already being reshaped by populism. How long that will continue to be resisted here remains to be seen.

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The Scoop

A top US energy company said it will prioritize Ukraine for the delivery of vital, backlogged hardware as the country fights to keep the lights on after losing half of its power capacity due to Russian attacks.

At a Ukraine recovery conference in Berlin on Tuesday GE Vernova signed an agreement with Ukrainian Energy Minister German Galushchenko, committing to sell the country critical electricity hardware including small mobile gas turbines, microgrids, renewables, and utility-scale batteries.

We have years and years of backlogs for a lot of this equipment, Roger Martella, the companys chief sustainability officer, told Semafor. Instead of just answering the phones in the order in which they ring, were having very serious conversations at the highest levels of the company about how we can move equipment around and reallocate it so that were putting Ukraine first and foremost.

GE Vernovas deal with Kyiv represents one of the biggest forays by a foreign energy company into Ukraine since Russias 2022 full-scale invasion. Blackouts are increasingly common in Kyiv and other cities, and promise only to worsen once temperatures rise in the summer, requiring increased use of air conditioning, before they begin to plummet again and force a surge in demand for heating.

Reconstruction work on the damaged grid is being held back by a combination of factors including labor and equipment shortages; insufficient defensive rockets to protect infrastructure from repeat attacks; electricity market policies that private project developers say deter investment; and cold feet by many foreign energy companies about operating in a war zone.

For GE Vernova, those challenges arent enough to deter it from the opportunity to pilot its vision of the clean energy system in Ukraine.

This will probably be one of the biggest infrastructure projects of our generation, and really set the tone for the rest of the world about what a sustainable energy ecosystem looks like, Martella said.

Tims view

Before Ukraine can reach a clean energy future, its going to need a lot more fossil fuels, and moving past them will require some big policy changes that the government has so far been unwilling to make.

Russias strikes on the energy network are designed to wear down Ukrainian morale. The situation in Kyiv was particularly strained over the last week, as some of the countrys nuclear power plants, which are the only remaining source of steady baseload power, were taken offline for routine maintenance. Even as those come back online, the din of diesel generators is now a fixture of the citys soundscape, and home batteries that can at least keep phones charged and some lights on are growing harder to find. Beyond the daily annoyance of blackouts, a stable energy supply is critical for Ukraines military readiness and economic recovery.

The countrys pre-war power generating capacity, about 18 gigawatts, is now down to half that number because of Russian strikes on gas- and coal-fired power plants, substations, and other grid infrastructure. Analysts expect no more than 3 gigawatts to be recovered this year; if consumption rises during the summer, blackouts of 20 hours or more could become routine, a top grid official warned last week. Russia is also now increasingly targeting infrastructure that had previously gone unharmed, including solar farms and natural gas storage facilities and pipelines. Officials fear that transformers near nuclear plants may be next, with the risk of catastrophic meltdowns if missiles strike the plants themselves.

These losses are really unprecedented in any energy system, Galushchenko told the Berlin conference. Ukrainian engineers have been deployed to comb Europe for disused hardware, he said, and the country is desperate to attract more aid and investment from abroad. All the [energy] equipment we can get becomes our weapon to win the war.

Ukraines energy recovery has two phases, the immediate and the long-term. Long-term, the country has incredible renewable energy potential; a report this week from the consulting firm Berlin Economics projected that, in a scenario with no war, the country is capable of adding 14 gigawatts of solar by 2030, nearly equal to Ukraines total generating capacity today.

Rebuilding destroyed Soviet-era fossil power plants makes little sense and in any case would probably be impossible to finance as banks raise their ESG standards, said Andrian Prokip, director of energy at the Ukrainian Institute for the Future, a think tank. Excess clean power could also become a lucrative export commodity to Europe.

But in the immediate term, theres little chance that renewables can be built fast enough, with the necessary storage and grid transmission capabilities, to make them effective. We shouldnt care too much about pollution and everything, because the priority is just to have power, Prokip said.Speaking in Berlin, top German climate official Robert Habeck said the fastest stop-gap solution will be a fleet of hundreds or thousands of small gas turbines that can be easily transported and set up to supply individual facilities like hospitals or small clusters of homes and businesses. Martella agreed: For this winter, theres a prioritization and focus on conventional power.

Whatever the source, Ukraines energy recovery and transition are held back by its byzantine, government-controlled wholesale market and project finance rules. Electricity prices are kept artificially low, which the government sees as a crucial lifeline for embattled households but which deters investment, Igor Tynnyi, a developer of solar, hydro, storage, and biogas projects and co-founder of the Ukrainian Association of Renewable Energy trade group, said. The state-controlled grid operator is chronically late with payments and currently owes at least $500 million to renewable energy developers, according to the Berlin Economics report. Banks require steep collateral commitments and third-party guarantees on renewables projects that make them nearly impossible to finance, Tynnyi said. If you want private businesses to quickly develop those hundreds and thousands of small stations to replace what has been destroyed, you need to lose all these requirements, he said.

Officials in President Volodymyr Zelenskyys administration occasionally talk about liberalizing the energy sector and building a new decentralized system, Prokip said, but remain reluctant to cede control during wartime. A spokesperson for the Energy Ministry didnt return a request for comment by deadline.

Last year they built something like 500 megawatts, Prokip said. Thats not success.

Room for Disagreement

The bureaucracy that frustrates Tynnyi is comforting to Martella, who said that the level of coordination between the US and Ukrainian governments with private energy companies has been the best example of public-private partnership in the 30 years of my career. In Ukraines chaotic situation, companies like GE Vernova are best suited to deliver what the government asks for, rather than initiate projects on their own, Martella said.

One other concern with the gas turbine strategy is that Ukraines gas supply is also tenuous. Last year the country survived on its own supply but increasing demand for small turbines and the destruction of gas storage facilities may require it to start importing gas this winter, Prokip said  something the country can scarcely afford.

The View From Baku

Meanwhile, European officials are scrambling to decide how to address a December deadline by which Russian gas that continues to flow to Europe through pipelines in Ukraine will likely be cut off. The pipeline flows are a curious artifact of the pre-war period, a case in which Ukraine and Russia effectively collaborate to serve Europes gas needs, and both profit well from doing so. But Europe and Ukraine are desperate to cut off Russias fossil fuel revenue. Instead, Bloomberg reported, officials may work out a deal to replace Russias gas in the pipelines with imports from Azerbaijan.

Notable

Russia is also scrambling to find new customers for its sanctioned oil exports, and getting help in building out its shadow fleet of oil tankers from an unusual ally: Gabon.
A sign directing voters to a polling site in Durham. (Emma Davis/ Maine Morning Star)

Three of the four open seats on the RSU 40 school board were filled by candidates who expressed disappointment over the bodys recent decision to revoke protections for transgender students.

We did it. Every vote mattered. Thank you so very much for showing up for our kids, wrote write-in candidate Leah Shipps, who won one of the open seats in Waldoboro.

The RSU 40 school board has 16 members who each represent one of the five towns the district spans  Union, Friendship, Waldoboro, Warren and Washington.

Alongside Shipps, voters selected Ben Stickney for the other open seat in Waldoboro. Warren voters picked incumbent Naomi Aho for another term. And in Union, voters chose Rachel Wilcox by a narrow margin of just nine votes.

In a Facebook post after the results were tallied, Wilcox said her race was a perfect example that every single vote counts. She added that the narrow margin is not lost on her.

Steve Karp lost his race to represent Waldoboro and said it was a sad day for our children because the board flipped back the other way. Karp led a failed attempt last year to have the book Gender Queer removed from school library shelves and applauded the decision to repeal the policy protecting trans students.

The board now has a thin margin of more progressive members. Aho was one of the eight members who voted to repeal the policy known as ACAAA that contained guidance on pronoun use, bathroom access and other safety procedures for trans students. But the other three victors from Tuesdays election replaced two members who supported the policy and flipped one of the seats whose representative voted to rescind it.

Though the board was split 8 to 8 in its vote, the policy was ultimately revoked because certain members votes carry more weight because of the size of the community they represent.

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Bank of North Dakota Chief Business Development Officer Kelvin Hullet, pictured at the 2024 Williston Basin Petroleum Conference, presented a report to lawmakers Wednesday about ways North Dakota can navigate industry and government trends related to environmentally conscious investing. (Amy Dalrymple/North Dakota Monitor)

The Bank of North Dakota on Wednesday released a long-anticipated report analyzing how a popular investment strategy that emphasizes environmental sustainability is affecting North Dakotas state government and economy.

The concept of using environmental, social and governance criteria  commonly referred to as ESG  to guide business decisions was first popularized in the 2000s by the United Nations.

Amid fears that ESG-based investing and policymaking disproportionately harms North Dakotas energy and agriculture-dependent economy, the Legislature in 2023 passed a law asking the Bank of North Dakota to study the framework.

In testimony submitted in favor of the bill, the Western Dakota Energy Association called ESG woke capitalism.

The report, made public Wednesday, recommends ways for North Dakota to navigate various ESG-related political and economic forces  especially those related to the environment.

The goal is to strike a balance between supporting its agriculture and energy industries while still making North Dakota marketable to carbon-conscious investors, insurers and governments, officials who worked on the report told a panel of lawmakers in a Wednesday morning presentation.

Sen. Dale Patten, R-Watford City, said while North Dakota lawmakers may not agree with every recommendation in the report, he hopes it spurs in-depth conversation about ESG ahead of the 2025 legislative session.

Its the baseline from which we form the discussion, he told the Legislatures Energy Development and Transmission Committee during the presentation.

Recommendations in the report include:

Budgeting more state money for fighting federal energy and agriculture regulations in court.

Adopting statewide building code standards to make buildings safer and reduce property insurance costs.

Creating a new state program to incentivize more effective land management and conservation of North Dakota grasslands.

Creating a multi-state insurance pool for the coal industry.

Creating a tax exemption for transmission line infrastructure.

Expanding natural gas pipeline infrastructure.

The Bank of North Dakota established a 27-person committee of state government officials and industry representatives to guide the reports development.

The bank convened eight workgroups in the areas of agriculture, carbon monetization, electrical transmission, finance, hydrocarbon, insurance, procurement, state fund investments and water. The workgroups made most of the recommendations included in the study, according to the report.

The authors of the study also conducted interviews with 80 different agencies, companies and organizations.

This was a substantial undertaking, Kelvin Hullet, chief business development officer for the Bank of North Dakota, said at the hearing.

The Bank of North Dakota did not budget any money for the study, according to Janel Schmitz, the Banks communications and marketing manager.

The report was not North Dakotas first attempt at addressing ESG-style business practices.

In 2021, the state adopted a law forbidding the State Investment Board from investing public money solely for social reasons, unless that investment would make at least as much money as a similar investment that does not come with the same social benefits.

The 2023 Legislature expanded on this language to apply to all state agencies.

That session, in the same bill that approved the ESG study, North Dakota lawmakers also added language barring insurers from refusing coverage or charging different coverage rates to clients due to ESG criteria.

The post Report explores ways to make North Dakota appeal to environmentally conscious investors appeared first on North Dakota Monitor.
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD)  A community assessment has identified the four most urgent health concerns in Kent County, the health department says.

Every three years, the Kent County Health Department and several health care partners conduct a Community Health Needs Assessment, which involves community surveys, focus groups, phone interviews and prioritization sessions.

The health department on Wednesday announced the final results of the 2023 CHNA. It identified four top health-related priorities: housing, health insurance, access to medical care and access to healthy food.

Around one-third of Kent County residents live in housing that is unaffordable, meaning that they spend over 30% of their income on housing costs, according to the CHNA. The report says renters are more impacted than homeowners: Median housing costs for Kent County homeowners increased by 15% from 2017 to 2022, but for renters, these costs increased by 36%. The report also notes that more Black and Hispanic adults in Kent County reported struggling to afford housing expenses in 2023 than in 2020. For instance, in 2020, 13% of Black adults said they had been unable to pay mortgage, rent or utilities in the past year. In 2023, that figure jumped to 25%.

New dashboard shows realities of Kent County housing crisis

Health insurance was another top priority. Adults without insurance or adults with Medicaid are significantly more likely than adults with private insurance to not seek the care they need because of the cost, according to the CHNA. People also reported issues with navigating insurance and difficulty finding providers that accept public health insurance.

Next, the CHNA revealed access to medical care as a pressing concern. The report says 25% of survey respondents reported challenges in getting health care, with refugees, immigrants, people in the LGBTQ+ community and people with disabilities especially likely to report these barriers. Common challenges included paying for medical care, physically getting to medical care, navigating the system and having negative interactions with health care staff, according to the report.

Corewell Health service helps LGBTQ+ patients find care

Finally, the assessment identified access to healthy food as a top issue in Kent County. Eighteen percent of adults reported running out of food and not being able to buy more in the past year  and according to the CHNA, women, Black adults and Hispanic adults are especially likely to experience food insecurity. The report notes that one-third of people who experience food insecurity make too much money to qualify for food assistance benefits, creating a gap.

Other significant health-related concerns in Kent County included chronic health conditions, community safety, dental care, mental health, sexual and reproductive health and substance use, according to the report.

The health department says the results of the CHNA will be used to develop a Community Health Improvement plan.

To read the full 2023 report, you can visit kentcountyhealthconnect.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 WOODTV.com.
CHENGDU, June 12 (Xinhua) -- The ongoing Silk Road culture exhibition held in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province, has captivated visitors with a collection of artifacts that tell the story of how silk became a key international trade commodity, tracing its journey back to the Western Han Dynasty (202 BC-25 AD) about 2,000 years ago.

The Jinsha Site Museum showcases silk artifacts, a replica of a Han Dynasty loom, and ancient silk-woven texts excavated from various sites along the Silk Road. This captivating collection has sparked visitors' curiosity about the early mastery of silkworm domestication, silk utilization, and the creation of vibrant brocades by the Chinese.

Centuries ago, civilizations around the globe developed distinct textile traditions. While silk, wool, cotton, and linen are all nature's gifts, silk stands out as a unique Chinese innovation that spread globally via the Silk Road.

"Chinese silk has a 5,000-year history, characterized by its origins, evolution, dissemination, and exchange," explained Zhou Yang, deputy director of the China National Silk Museum.

Chinese silk not only is crafted through ingenious technological inventions but also embodies profound philosophical ideologies, reflecting the Chinese interpretation of life, death, and the harmony between humans and nature, Zhou noted.

The transformative life cycle of a silkworm, with its four distinct stages, inspired ancient Chinese thinkers to ponder profound cosmic and existential questions. Historical records reveal that silk played a vital role in ancient Chinese rituals, symbolizing the connection between heaven and earth.

While historical records serve as valuable references, recent archaeological discoveries have provided tangible evidence of early silk production in China, predating the Silk Road by millennia, as Zhou pointed out.

Although limited archaeological finds directly related to the early origins of silk in China, due to the decomposition of most ancient silk into residue or microtraces, recent technological advancements have shed light on these ancient origins.

Over the past decade, with support from the State Administration of Cultural Heritage of China and various research institutions, the China National Silk Museum has developed an affordable and convenient silk micro trace detection technology based on immunology. This breakthrough enables the detection of ancient silk traces within approximately 15 minutes.

Utilizing this technology, Chinese experts have discovered significant amounts of silk in the ash of sacrificial pits at the Sanxingdui Ruins, marking the earliest silk found in the upper Yangtze River region. The technology has also been effectively applied to the South China Sea No. 1 shipwreck site, challenging the notion that maritime Silk Road sites lacked silk and providing new archaeological evidence for World Heritage applications.

"We are continuously refining our silk microtrace detection technology, enhancing its sensitivity. Now we can confidently state that if silk was present, we can detect its traces," Zhou said.

Looking forward, Zhou plans to collaborate closely with archaeologists, applying this technology to prehistoric sites to further expand the temporal and spatial boundaries of silk's origins. 
Washington Democratic U.S. Sen. Patty Murray speaks Wednesday during a press conference on in vitro fertilization outside the U.S. Capitol. Also pictured are supporters of Senate Democrats IVF access bill as well as New Jersey Democratic Sen. Cory Booker and Illinois Democratic Sen. Tammy Duckworth. (Jennifer Shutt/States Newsroom)

WASHINGTON  Alabama Republican Sen. Katie Britts efforts to pass legislation that would block Medicaid funding from going to states that ban in vitro fertilization were unsuccessful Wednesday when Democrats blocked the bill from advancing.

Britt, who introduced the legislation earlier this year alongside Texas Republican Sen. Ted Cruz, said during brief debate the bill would assuage concerns about couples losing access to IVF, though Democrats said the measure fell short of providing real protections.

Debate took place shortly after the Southern Baptist Convention, the United States largest Protestant religious organization and one with significant influence in conservative politics, voted to condemn IVF.

It also came one day before the entire U.S. Senate is set to vote on a bill from Democrats that would provide nationwide protections for IVF. That measure also lacks the bipartisan backing needed to advance to final passage.

For the millions of Americans who face infertility every year, IVF provides the hope of a pathway to parenthood, Britt said on the floor. We all have loved ones  whether theyre family members or friends  who have become parents or grandparents through IVF.

Britt said that ensuring access to IVF is fundamentally pro-family and that the legislation should provide couples with certainty and peace of mind that IVF will remain legal and available in every single state.

Washington Democratic Sen. Patty Murray said the Britt-Cruz bill would still allow states to enact burdensome and unnecessary regulations on IVF that could lead to the kind of legal uncertainty and risk that forced IVF clinics in Alabama to close temporarily earlier this year.

Even though it is an inherent part of the IVF process that families will make more embryos than they need, Murray said. This bill does absolutely nothing  not a single thing  to ensure families who use IVF can have their clinics dispose of unused embryos without facing legal threats for a standard medical procedure.

Murray said GOP senators were completely ignoring the issue of what happens to frozen embryos and using the bill as a PR tool.

The stone-cold reality is that you cannot protect IVF and champion fetal personhood, Murray said.

State access

The Britt-Cruz legislation would prevent a state from receiving Medicaid funding if it barred access to IVF, though the bill didnt say anything about states that define life as beginning at fertilization.

The Alabama state Supreme Court ruling earlier this year that frozen embryos constituted children didnt explicitly ban IVF, but all of the states clinics stopped operating until the legislature provided civil and criminal protections.

Cruz sought to pass the bill using the unanimous consent process, where any one senator can ask for approval and any one senator can block that legislation from moving forward. Murray blocked Cruzs request.

Unanimous consent requests dont include a recorded vote.

The legislation had three additional co-sponsors  Cynthia Lummis of Wyoming, Roger Wicker of Mississippi and Roger Marshall of Kansas.

Democratic bill

The Senate is set to take a procedural vote as soon as Thursday on legislation from Democrats that would bolster protections for IVF, though that bill isnt expected to get the GOP support needed to move forward.

That bill is more detailed and broader than the Britt-Cruz bill, which has received criticism from Democrats as being insufficient.

New Jersey Democratic Sen. Cory Booker said Wednesday during a press conference that access to IVF shouldnt be turned into a political issue and called on GOP senators to back the bill.

We cant make this seem like a left-right issue. Its absolutely not, Booker said. This is an issue thats overwhelmingly supported in America by Republican families, Democratic families and independent families. And so trying to make this into some kind of typical political debate in Washington is just wrong.

Booker said protecting access to IVF is, instead, about protecting fundamental rights, expanding opportunity, taking care of our military families.

Illinois Democratic Sen. Tammy Duckworth, the bills lead co-sponsor who has been open about using IVF to have her two daughters, threw cool water on working with Republicans on a bipartisan bill when asked about the possibility during the press conference.

Well, theyre welcome to join ours and make it bipartisan. Weve got 47 co-sponsors thus far and its a very simple piece of legislation, Duckworth said. I cant see why they wouldnt join it.

In contrast, 90% of Republicans have not signed on to Senator Britts bill, Duckworth added.

Southern Baptists resolution

Senate debate on in vitro fertilization is taking place the same week the Southern Baptist Convention meets in Indiana for its annual convention.

During that two-day gathering more than 10,000 Baptists, called messengers, voted on official policies of the SBC, which included objecting to how IVF is practiced now.

The SBC wrote in its resolution that IVF most often engages in the destruction of embryonic human life and increasingly engages in dehumanizing methods for determining suitability for life and genetic sorting, based on notions of genetic fitness and parental preferences.

The resolution on IVF resolved that members of the SBC should only utilize reproductive technologies consistent with that affirmation as well as several other affirmations within the document.

The resolution was titled, On the Ethical Realities of Reproductive Technologies and the Dignity of the Human Embryo.

Kristen Ferguson, from 11th Street Baptist Church in Upland, California, who announced the resolution before the vote, opposed an amendment that would have made several changes to the text.

Ferguson said during a brief debate the committee that wrote the resolutions for the SBC to vote on wanted to make sure it addressed IVF with the utmost sensitivity.

She added that members of the resolutions committee did not take this topic lightly and we want to make sure that were speaking carefully about it.

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The post Republican IVF bill fails in U.S. Senate appeared first on Missouri Independent.
Washington Democratic U.S. Sen. Patty Murray speaks during a press conference on in vitro fertilization outside the U.S. Capitol on June 12, 2024. Also pictured are supporters of Senate Democrats IVF access bill as well as New Jersey Democratic Sen. Cory Booker and Illinois Democratic Sen. Tammy Duckworth. (Photo by Jennifer Shutt/States Newsroom)

WASHINGTON  Alabama Republican Sen. Katie Britts efforts to pass legislation that would block Medicaid funding from going to states that ban in vitro fertilization were unsuccessful Wednesday when Democrats blocked the bill from advancing.

Britt, who introduced the legislation earlier this year alongside Texas Republican Sen. Ted Cruz, said during brief debate the bill would assuage concerns about couples losing access to IVF, though Democrats said the measure fell short of providing real protections.

Debate took place shortly after the Southern Baptist Convention, the United States largest Protestant religious organization and one with significant influence in conservative politics, voted to condemn IVF.

It also came one day before the entire U.S. Senate is set to vote on a bill from Democrats that would provide nationwide protections for IVF. That measure also lacks the bipartisan backing needed to advance to final passage.

For the millions of Americans who face infertility every year, IVF provides the hope of a pathway to parenthood, Britt said on the floor. We all have loved ones  whether theyre family members or friends  who have become parents or grandparents through IVF.

Britt said ensuring access to IVF is fundamentally pro-family and that the legislation should provide couples with certainty and peace of mind that IVF will remain legal and available in every single state.

Washington Democratic Sen. Patty Murray said the Britt-Cruz bill would still allow states to enact burdensome and unnecessary regulations on IVF that could lead to the kind of legal uncertainty and risk that forced IVF clinics in Alabama to close temporarily earlier this year.

Even though it is an inherent part of the IVF process that families will make more embryos than they need, Murray said. This bill does absolutely nothing  not a single thing  to ensure families who use IVF can have their clinics dispose of unused embryos without facing legal threats for a standard medical procedure.

Murray said GOP senators were completely ignoring the issue of what happens to frozen embryos and using the bill as a PR tool.

The stone-cold reality is that you cannot protect IVF and champion fetal personhood, Murray said.

State access

The Britt-Cruz legislation would prevent a state from receiving Medicaid funding if it barred access to IVF, though the bill didnt say anything about states that define life as beginning at fertilization.

The Alabama state Supreme Court ruling earlier this year that frozen embryos constituted children didnt explicitly ban IVF, but all of the states clinics stopped operating until the legislature provided civil and criminal protections.

Cruz sought to pass the bill using the unanimous consent process, where any one senator can ask for approval and any one senator can block that legislation from moving forward. Murray blocked Cruzs request.

Unanimous consent requests dont include a recorded vote.

The legislation had three additional co-sponsors  Cynthia Lummis of Wyoming, Roger Wicker of Mississippi and Roger Marshall of Kansas.

Democrat bill

The Senate is set to take a procedural vote as soon as Thursday on legislation from Democrats that would bolster protections for IVF, though that bill isnt expected to get the GOP support needed to move forward.

That bill is more detailed and broader than the Britt-Cruz bill, which has received criticism from Democrats as being insufficient.

New Jersey Democratic Sen. Cory Booker said Wednesday during a press conference that access to IVF shouldnt be turned into a political issue and called on GOP senators to back the bill.

We cant make this seem like a left-right issue. Its absolutely not, Booker said. This is an issue thats overwhelmingly supported in America by Republican families, Democratic families and independent families. And so trying to make this into some kind of typical political debate in Washington is just wrong.

Booker said protecting access to IVF is, instead, about protecting fundamental rights, expanding opportunity, taking care of our military families.

Illinois Democratic Sen. Tammy Duckworth, the bills lead co-sponsor who has been open about using IVF to have her two daughters, threw cool water on working with Republicans on a bipartisan bill when asked about the possibility during the press conference.

Well, theyre welcome to join ours and make it bipartisan. Weve got 47 co-sponsors thus far and its a very simple piece of legislation, Duckworth said. I cant see why they wouldnt join it.

In contrast, 90% of Republicans have not signed on to Senator Britts bill, Duckworth added.

Southern Baptists resolution

Senate debate on in vitro fertilization is taking place the same week the Southern Baptist Convention meets in Indiana for its annual convention.

During that two-day gathering more than 10,000 Baptists, called messengers, voted on official policies of the SBC, which included objecting to how IVF is practiced now.

The SBC wrote in its resolution that IVF most often engages in the destruction of embryonic human life and increasingly engages in dehumanizing methods for determining suitability for life and genetic sorting, based on notions of genetic fitness and parental preferences.

The resolution on IVF resolved that members of the SBC should only utilize reproductive technologies consistent with that affirmation as well as several other affirmations within the document.

The resolution was titled, On the Ethical Realities of Reproductive Technologies and the Dignity of the Human Embryo.

Kristen Ferguson, from 11th Street Baptist Church in Upland, California, who announced the resolution before the vote, opposed an amendment that would have made several changes to the text.

Ferguson said during a brief debate the committee that wrote the resolutions for the SBC to vote on wanted to make sure it addressed IVF with the utmost sensitivity.

She added that members of the resolutions committee did not take this topic lightly and we want to make sure that were speaking carefully about it.

The post Republican IVF bill fails in U.S. Senate appeared first on Iowa Capital Dispatch.
Washington Democratic U.S. Sen. Patty Murray speaks during a press conference on in vitro fertilization outside the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday, June 12, 2024. Also pictured are supporters of Senate Democrats IVF access bill as well as New Jersey Democratic Sen. Cory Booker and Illinois Democratic Sen. Tammy Duckworth. (Photo by Jennifer Shutt/States Newsroom)

Washington Democratic U.S. Sen. Patty Murray speaks during a press conference on in vitro fertilization outside the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday, June 12, 2024. Also pictured are supporters of Senate Democrats IVF access bill as well as New Jersey Democratic Sen. Cory Booker and Illinois Democratic Sen. Tammy Duckworth. (Photo by Jennifer Shutt/States Newsroom)

WASHINGTON  Alabama Republican Sen. Katie Britts efforts to pass legislation that would block Medicaid funding from going to states that ban in vitro fertilization were unsuccessful Wednesday when Democrats blocked the bill from advancing.

Britt, who introduced the legislation earlier this year alongside Texas Republican Sen. Ted Cruz, said during brief debate the bill would assuage concerns about couples losing access to IVF, though Democrats said the measure fell short of providing real protections.

Debate took place shortly after the Southern Baptist Convention, the United States largest Protestant religious organization and one with significant influence in conservative politics, voted to condemn IVF.

It also came one day before the entire U.S. Senate is set to vote on a bill from Democrats that would provide nationwide protections for IVF. That measure also lacks the bipartisan backing needed to advance to final passage.

For the millions of Americans who face infertility every year, IVF provides the hope of a pathway to parenthood, Britt said on the floor. We all have loved ones  whether theyre family members or friends  who have become parents or grandparents through IVF.

Britt said that ensuring access to IVF is fundamentally pro-family and that the legislation should provide couples with certainty and peace of mind that IVF will remain legal and available in every single state.

Washington Democratic Sen. Patty Murray said the Britt-Cruz bill would still allow states to enact burdensome and unnecessary regulations on IVF that could lead to the kind of legal uncertainty and risk that forced IVF clinics in Alabama to close temporarily earlier this year.

Even though it is an inherent part of the IVF process that families will make more embryos than they need, Murray said. This bill does absolutely nothing  not a single thing  to ensure families who use IVF can have their clinics dispose of unused embryos without facing legal threats for a standard medical procedure.

Murray said GOP senators were completely ignoring the issue of what happens to frozen embryos and using the bill as a PR tool.

The stone-cold reality is that you cannot protect IVF and champion fetal personhood, Murray said.

State access

The Britt-Cruz legislation would prevent a state from receiving Medicaid funding if it barred access to IVF, though the bill didnt say anything about states that define life as beginning at fertilization.

The Alabama state Supreme Court ruling earlier this year that frozen embryos constituted children didnt explicitly ban IVF, but all of the states clinics stopped operating until the legislature provided civil and criminal protections.

Cruz sought to pass the bill using the unanimous consent process, where any one senator can ask for approval and any one senator can block that legislation from moving forward. Murray blocked Cruzs request.

Unanimous consent requests dont include a recorded vote.

The legislation had three additional co-sponsors  Cynthia Lummis of Wyoming, Roger Wicker of Mississippi and Roger Marshall of Kansas.

Democrat bill

The Senate is set to take a procedural vote as soon as Thursday on legislation from Democrats that would bolster protections for IVF, though that bill isnt expected to get the GOP support needed to move forward.

That bill is more detailed and broader than the Britt-Cruz bill, which has received criticism from Democrats as being insufficient.

New Jersey Democratic Sen. Cory Booker said Wednesday during a press conference that access to IVF shouldnt be turned into a political issue and called on GOP senators to back the bill.

We cant make this seem like a left-right issue. Its absolutely not, Booker said. This is an issue thats overwhelmingly supported in America by Republican families, Democratic families and independent families. And so trying to make this into some kind of typical political debate in Washington is just wrong.

Booker said protecting access to IVF is, instead, about protecting fundamental rights, expanding opportunity, taking care of our military families.

Illinois Democratic Sen. Tammy Duckworth, the bills lead co-sponsor who has been open about using IVF to have her two daughters, threw cool water on working with Republicans on a bipartisan bill when asked about the possibility during the press conference.

Well, theyre welcome to join ours and make it bipartisan. Weve got 47 co-sponsors thus far and its a very simple piece of legislation, Duckworth said. I cant see why they wouldnt join it.

In contrast, 90% of Republicans have not signed on to Senator Britts bill, Duckworth added.

Southern Baptists resolution

Senate debate on in vitro fertilization is taking place the same week the Southern Baptist Convention meets in Indiana for its annual convention.

During that two-day gathering more than 10,000 Baptists, called messengers, voted on official policies of the SBC, which included objecting to how IVF is practiced now.

The SBC wrote in its resolution that IVF most often engages in the destruction of embryonic human life and increasingly engages in dehumanizing methods for determining suitability for life and genetic sorting, based on notions of genetic fitness and parental preferences.

The resolution on IVF resolved that members of the SBC should only utilize reproductive technologies consistent with that affirmation as well as several other affirmations within the document.

The resolution was titled, On the Ethical Realities of Reproductive Technologies and the Dignity of the Human Embryo.

Kristen Ferguson, from 11th Street Baptist Church in Upland, California, who announced the resolution before the vote, opposed an amendment that would have made several changes to the text.

Ferguson said during a brief debate the committee that wrote the resolutions for the SBC to vote on wanted to make sure it addressed IVF with the utmost sensitivity.

She added that members of the resolutions committee did not take this topic lightly and we want to make sure that were speaking carefully about it.

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The post Republican IVF bill fails in U.S. Senate appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
Washington Democratic U.S. Sen. Patty Murray speaks during a press conference on in vitro fertilization outside the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday, June 12, 2024. Also pictured are supporters of Senate Democrats IVF access bill as well as New Jersey Democratic Sen. Cory Booker and Illinois Democratic Sen. Tammy Duckworth. (Photo by Jennifer Shutt/States Newsroom)

WASHINGTON  Alabama Republican Sen. Katie Britts efforts to pass legislation that would block Medicaid funding from going to states that ban in vitro fertilization were unsuccessful Wednesday when Democrats blocked the bill from advancing.

Britt, who introduced the legislation earlier this year alongside Texas Republican Sen. Ted Cruz, said during brief debate the bill would assuage concerns about couples losing access to IVF, though Democrats said the measure fell short of providing real protections.

Debate took place shortly after the Southern Baptist Convention, the United States largest Protestant religious organization and one with significant influence in conservative politics, voted to condemn IVF.

It also came one day before the entire U.S. Senate is set to vote on a bill from Democrats that would provide nationwide protections for IVF. That measure also lacks the bipartisan backing needed to advance to final passage.

For the millions of Americans who face infertility every year, IVF provides the hope of a pathway to parenthood, Britt said on the floor. We all have loved ones  whether theyre family members or friends  who have become parents or grandparents through IVF.

Britt said that ensuring access to IVF is fundamentally pro-family and that the legislation should provide couples with certainty and peace of mind that IVF will remain legal and available in every single state.

Washington Democratic Sen. Patty Murray said the Britt-Cruz bill would still allow states to enact burdensome and unnecessary regulations on IVF that could lead to the kind of legal uncertainty and risk that forced IVF clinics in Alabama to close temporarily earlier this year.

Even though it is an inherent part of the IVF process that families will make more embryos than they need, Murray said. This bill does absolutely nothing  not a single thing  to ensure families who use IVF can have their clinics dispose of unused embryos without facing legal threats for a standard medical procedure.

Murray said GOP senators were completely ignoring the issue of what happens to frozen embryos and using the bill as a PR tool.

The stone-cold reality is that you cannot protect IVF and champion fetal personhood, Murray said.

State access

The Britt-Cruz legislation would prevent a state from receiving Medicaid funding if it barred access to IVF, though the bill didnt say anything about states that define life as beginning at fertilization.

The Alabama state Supreme Court ruling earlier this year that frozen embryos constituted children didnt explicitly ban IVF, but all of the states clinics stopped operating until the legislature provided civil and criminal protections.

Cruz sought to pass the bill using the unanimous consent process, where any one senator can ask for approval and any one senator can block that legislation from moving forward. Murray blocked Cruzs request.

Unanimous consent requests dont include a recorded vote.

The legislation had three additional co-sponsors  Cynthia Lummis of Wyoming, Roger Wicker of Mississippi and Roger Marshall of Kansas.

Democrat bill

The Senate is set to take a procedural vote as soon as Thursday on legislation from Democrats that would bolster protections for IVF, though that bill isnt expected to get the GOP support needed to move forward.

That bill is more detailed and broader than the Britt-Cruz bill, which has received criticism from Democrats as being insufficient.

New Jersey Democratic Sen. Cory Booker said Wednesday during a press conference that access to IVF shouldnt be turned into a political issue and called on GOP senators to back the bill.

We cant make this seem like a left-right issue. Its absolutely not, Booker said. This is an issue thats overwhelmingly supported in America by Republican families, Democratic families and independent families. And so trying to make this into some kind of typical political debate in Washington is just wrong.

Booker said protecting access to IVF is, instead, about protecting fundamental rights, expanding opportunity, taking care of our military families.

Illinois Democratic Sen. Tammy Duckworth, the bills lead co-sponsor who has been open about using IVF to have her two daughters, threw cool water on working with Republicans on a bipartisan bill when asked about the possibility during the press conference.

Well, theyre welcome to join ours and make it bipartisan. Weve got 47 co-sponsors thus far and its a very simple piece of legislation, Duckworth said. I cant see why they wouldnt join it.

In contrast, 90% of Republicans have not signed on to Senator Britts bill, Duckworth added.

Southern Baptists resolution

Senate debate on in vitro fertilization is taking place the same week the Southern Baptist Convention meets in Indiana for its annual convention.

During that two-day gathering more than 10,000 Baptists, called messengers, voted on official policies of the SBC, which included objecting to how IVF is practiced now.

The SBC wrote in its resolution that IVF most often engages in the destruction of embryonic human life and increasingly engages in dehumanizing methods for determining suitability for life and genetic sorting, based on notions of genetic fitness and parental preferences.

The resolution on IVF resolved that members of the SBC should only utilize reproductive technologies consistent with that affirmation as well as several other affirmations within the document.

The resolution was titled, On the Ethical Realities of Reproductive Technologies and the Dignity of the Human Embryo.

Kristen Ferguson, from 11th Street Baptist Church in Upland, California, who announced the resolution before the vote, opposed an amendment that would have made several changes to the text.

Ferguson said during a brief debate the committee that wrote the resolutions for the SBC to vote on wanted to make sure it addressed IVF with the utmost sensitivity.

She added that members of the resolutions committee did not take this topic lightly and we want to make sure that were speaking carefully about it.

The post Republican IVF bill fails in U.S. Senate appeared first on North Dakota Monitor.
Washington Democratic U.S. Sen. Patty Murray speaks during a press conference on in vitro fertilization outside the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday, June 12, 2024. Also pictured are supporters of Senate Democrats IVF access bill as well as New Jersey Democratic Sen. Cory Booker and Illinois Democratic Sen. Tammy Duckworth. (Jennifer Shutt | States Newsroom)

WASHINGTON  Alabama Republican Sen. Katie Britts efforts to pass legislation that would block Medicaid funding from going to states that ban in vitro fertilization were unsuccessful Wednesday when Democrats blocked the bill from advancing.

Britt, who introduced the legislation earlier this year alongside Texas Republican Sen. Ted Cruz, said during brief debate the bill would assuage concerns about couples losing access to IVF, though Democrats said the measure fell short of providing real protections.

Debate took place shortly after the Southern Baptist Convention, the United States largest Protestant religious organization and one with significant influence in conservative politics, voted to condemn IVF.

It also came one day before the entire U.S. Senate is set to vote on a bill from Democrats that would provide nationwide protections for IVF. That measure also lacks the bipartisan backing needed to advance to final passage.

For the millions of Americans who face infertility every year, IVF provides the hope of a pathway to parenthood, Britt said on the floor. We all have loved ones  whether theyre family members or friends  who have become parents or grandparents through IVF.

Britt said that ensuring access to IVF is fundamentally pro-family and that the legislation should provide couples with certainty and peace of mind that IVF will remain legal and available in every single state.

Washington Democratic Sen. Patty Murray said the Britt-Cruz bill would still allow states to enact burdensome and unnecessary regulations on IVF that could lead to the kind of legal uncertainty and risk that forced IVF clinics in Alabama to close temporarily earlier this year.

Even though it is an inherent part of the IVF process that families will make more embryos than they need, Murray said. This bill does absolutely nothing  not a single thing  to ensure families who use IVF can have their clinics dispose of unused embryos without facing legal threats for a standard medical procedure.

Murray said GOP senators were completely ignoring the issue of what happens to frozen embryos and using the bill as a PR tool.

The stone-cold reality is that you cannot protect IVF and champion fetal personhood, Murray said.

State access

The Britt-Cruz legislation would prevent a state from receiving Medicaid funding if it barred access to IVF, though the bill didnt say anything about states that define life as beginning at fertilization.

The Alabama state Supreme Court ruling earlier this year that frozen embryos constituted children didnt explicitly ban IVF, but all of the states clinics stopped operating until the legislature provided civil and criminal protections.

Cruz sought to pass the bill using the unanimous consent process, where any one senator can ask for approval and any one senator can block that legislation from moving forward. Murray blocked Cruzs request.

Unanimous consent requests dont include a recorded vote.

The legislation had three additional co-sponsors  Cynthia Lummis of Wyoming, Roger Wicker of Mississippi, and Roger Marshall of Kansas.

Democrat bill

The Senate is set to take a procedural vote as soon as Thursday on legislation from Democrats that would bolster protections for IVF, though that bill isnt expected to get the GOP support needed to move forward.

That bill is more detailed and broader than the Britt-Cruz bill, which has received criticism from Democrats as being insufficient.

New Jersey Democratic Sen. Cory Booker said Wednesday during a press conference that access to IVF shouldnt be turned into a political issue and called on GOP senators to back the bill.

We cant make this seem like a left-right issue. Its absolutely not, Booker said. This is an issue thats overwhelmingly supported in America by Republican families, Democratic families, and independent families. And so trying to make this into some kind of typical political debate in Washington is just wrong.

Booker said protecting access to IVF is, instead, about protecting fundamental rights, expanding opportunity, taking care of our military families.

Illinois Democratic Sen. Tammy Duckworth, the bills lead co-sponsor who has been open about using IVF to have her two daughters, threw cool water on working with Republicans on a bipartisan bill when asked about the possibility during the press conference.

Well, theyre welcome to join ours and make it bipartisan. Weve got 47 co-sponsors thus far and its a very simple piece of legislation, Duckworth said. I cant see why they wouldnt join it.

In contrast, 90 percent of Republicans have not signed on to Senator Britts bill, Duckworth added.

Southern Baptists resolution

Senate debate on in vitro fertilization is taking place the same week the Southern Baptist Convention meets in Indiana for its annual convention.

During that two-day gathering more than 10,000 Baptists, called messengers, voted on official policies of the SBC, which included objecting to how IVF is practiced now.

The SBC wrote in its resolution that IVF most often engages in the destruction of embryonic human life and increasingly engages in dehumanizing methods for determining suitability for life and genetic sorting, based on notions of genetic fitness and parental preferences.

The resolution on IVF resolved that members of the SBC should only utilize reproductive technologies consistent with that affirmation as well as several other affirmations within the document.

The resolution was titled, On the Ethical Realities of Reproductive Technologies and the Dignity of the Human Embryo.

Kristen Ferguson, from 11th Street Baptist Church in Upland, California, who announced the resolution before the vote, opposed an amendment that would have made several changes to the text.

Ferguson said during a brief debate the committee that wrote the resolutions for the SBC to vote on wanted to make sure it addressed IVF with the utmost sensitivity.

She added that members of the resolutions committee did not take this topic lightly and we want to make sure that were speaking carefully about it.

The post Republican IVF bill fails in U.S. Senate appeared first on New Hampshire Bulletin.
Republican snaps at rival for reminding him Trump was found guilty by a jury: So rude!

Republican Representative Ralph Norman reprimanded his Democratic colleague Jerry Nadler after he interrupted to correct him about Donald Trumps conviction during a House Rules Committee meeting on Tuesday.

During his allotted time, Norman said that he spent hours of the hearing listening to these smokescreens from Democrats about Trumps New York criminal trial where the former president was found guilty on 34 counts of falsifying business records.

They bring up the trial of Donald Trump, a convicted felony. Really? By a judge that is a known anti-Trumper, Norman said.

At that moment, Nadler interrupted to correct his colleague that he was not found guilty by a judge, a lie that Trump has amplified, but rather by a jury.

A jury. A jury. Not by a judge, Nadler said.

Democratic Rep Jerry Nadler corrected Republican Ralph Norman during a House Rules hearing on Tuesday (House Rules / YouTube)

Norman angrily responded: Mr. Nadler, Ive got the floor. If youre going to interrupt  Mr Chairman call him down when he interrupts. Its my time and Ill let you respond but Im tired of this. You talk over everybody, its so rude.

Tuesdays hearing was to discuss potential rules for debate when considering a resolution to hold Attorney General Merrick Garland in contempt of Congress for refusing to turn over audio clips of President Joe Bidens interview with Special Counsel Robert Hur.

Earlier this year, Hur released a summarized report of his investigation into President Bidens handling of classified documents which were found at his home and office after leaving the White House in 2012.

Hurs report included highly scrutinized accounts of President Bidens memory after he insinuated the president was extremely forgetful.

Republican Rep Ralph Norman reprimands his colleague for interrupting him during a House Rules hearing (House Rules /YouTube)

During the hearing, Democrats accused Republicans of using the contempt of Congress accusation to distract the public from Trumps recent conviction.

This resolution may boost Donald Trumps spirits before his sentencing for his conviction of 34 felonies, but it will certainly not convince the Department of Justice to produce the one remaining file in question, Nadler told his colleagues.

Democratic Representative Jim McGovern said that his Republican colleagues were unfairly criticizing the Justice Department for targeting the former president despite that same agency investigating, indicting and trying the presidents son, Hunter Biden, on gun charges.

How can any Republican in their right mind argue that the Biden administration is weaponizing the DOJ to hurt Republicans and to help Democrats? They just convicted the presidents own son, McGovern said.
Republicans voted on Wednesday to hold Attorney General Merrick Garland in contempt of Congress over the Justice Departments refusal to turn over audio recordings of interviews President Joe Biden gave to Special Counsel Robert Hur. The 216-207 vote came down largely on party lines.

In January of last year, Garland appointed Hur, a Donald Trump appointee, to lead the DOJs investigation into classified documents found at Bidens home and office. The investigation took place amid a parallel probe into Trumps own retention of classified documents that resulted in a criminal indictment against the former president. In February, Hur announced that the Justice Department would not be pursuing criminal charges against President Biden, with Hur describing him as a sympathetic, well-meaning, elderly man with a poor memory.

Hur claimed that Biden could not remember when he was vice president, forgetting on the first day of the interview when his term ended (if it was 2013  when did I stop being Vice President?), and forgetting on the second day of the interview when his term began (in 2009, am I still Vice President?). Hur also wrote that Biden did not remember even within several years when his son Beau died.

The Biden administration condemned Hurs characterizations of the presidents interviews, with Special Counsel to the President Richard Sauber and Bidens personal attorney Bob Bauer writing that they do not believe that the reports treatment of President Bidens memory is accurate or appropriate.

While House Republicans were provided full transcripts of Bidens interviews with Hur, the Republican-controlled Judiciary Committee demanded access to the full audio  a request the Justice Department refused. Certain members of this committee, and the Oversight Committee, are seeking contempt as a means of obtaining  for no legitimate purpose  sensitive law enforcement information that could harm the integrity of future investigations, Garland told the committee in testimony earlier this month.

I will not be intimidated, Garland told Republicans. The Justice Department will not be intimidated. We will continue to do our jobs free from political influence. And we will not back down from defending our democracy.

During floor debate ahead of Wednesdays vote, Democrats pointed out that Republicans on the House Oversight Committee were themselves perfectly comfortable flouting subpoenas. Its rich beyond measure  like billionaire rich  to be asked to hold the attorney general in contempt by people who themselves received subpoenas to testify before the Jan. 6 Committee who never rendered a single document or a single minute to the testimony, Rep. Jamie Raskin (R-Md.) told the floor, referencing a series of subpoenas the Jan 6. Committee issued to former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, as well as Reps. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), Andy Biggs (R-Ariz.), and Scott Perry (R-Pa.).

Raskin: Its rich beyond measure to hold the Attorney General in contempt by people who received subpoenas to testify who never rendered a single document or a single minute to the testimony of the January 6 committee.



Jordan: I never said I wouldnt testify pic.twitter.com/Hghb39FF7D  Acyn (@Acyn) June 12, 2024

Two of your last speakers are 750-plus days in defiance of a subpoena, Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.) said. So get real when [Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) and Rep. Andy Biggs (R-Ariz.)] come to this floor and want to talk and get all righteous about subpoenas.

You start honoring your subpoenas, and we can talk about anyone elses subpoenas, Swalwell added.

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Republicans vote to hold Garland in contempt of Congress. Here's what that means

FILE - Attorney General Merrick Garland listens to a question while testifying during a House Judiciary Committee hearing on the Department of Justice, June 4, 2024, on Capitol Hill in Washington. The House is expected to vote on a resolution holding Attorney General Merrick Garland in contempt of Congress for refusing to turn over audio of President Joe Bidens interview in his classified documents case. The contempt action represents House Republicans latest and strongest rebuke of the Justice Department and of Garlands leadership. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin, File)

WASHINGTON (AP)  Merrick Garland became the third attorney general in U.S. history to be held in contempt of Congress Wednesday as Republicans moved to punish the Justice Department for refusing to turn over audio related to President Joe Bidens handling of classified documents.

Contempt is one of U.S. lawmakers politically messiest and, until recent years, least-used powers. It is a tool that the House and the Senate can employ either to coerce compliance with a subpoena or to remove any obstruction from an ongoing investigation.

By approving a contempt resolution, the House effectively recommended that Garland be prosecuted. And recent cases against allies of former President Donald Trump including Steve Bannon and Peter Navarro have proved that a contempt resolution is far from symbolic, creating the basis for a case that can sometimes hold up in court.

Here's what to know about the contempt fight with Garland and the turmoil ahead.

Why are Republicans pushing to hold Attorney General Merrick Garland in contempt?

Successfully holding Garland in contempt is just the latest broadside by Republicans against the Justice Department.

GOP lawmakers  led by Reps. Jim Jordan and James Comer  decided to move ahead with holding Garland in contempt for refusing to fully comply with a congressional subpoena issued as part of their probe into special counsel Robert Hurs decision not to charge the Democratic president with any crimes. Hur investigated Biden's handling of classified documents.

The House Judiciary and Oversight & Accountability committees' chairmen had ordered the Justice Department to turn over audio of Hurs interviews with Biden by early April. But officials provided only some of the records, leaving out the audio of the Biden interview and warning of the precedent that would be set for future investigations if the audio was provided.

On the last day to comply with the subpoena, the White House blocked the release of the audio by invoking executive privilege. It said Republicans in Congress only wanted the recordings to chop them up and use them for political purposes.

Executive privilege gives presidents the right to keep information from the courts, Congress and the public to protect the confidentiality of their decision-making, though it can be challenged in court.

Garland has defended the Justice Department, saying it has gone to extraordinary lengths to provide information to lawmakers.

There have been a series of unprecedented and frankly unfounded attacks on the Justice Department, Garland said in a press conference last month. This request, this effort to use contempt as a method of obtaining our sensitive law enforcement files, is just most recent.

What is contempt of Congress?

Contempt of Congress is an enforcement mechanism for lawmakers that is enshrined in the legal code.

Under U.S. law, it is considered a misdemeanor criminal offense to willfully fail to comply with a valid congressional subpoena for producing documents or testimony, according to a report from the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service.

But what amounts to contempt of Congress is often in dispute, which means that a contempt vote by the House or the Senate is only the beginning of a potential legal process. It is up to prosecutors to turn a contempt resolution into a case, and it is up to a jury to decide whether a person is guilty of a crime. Some contempt resolutions are never acted upon.

What is the process for holding someone in contempt?

Contempt usually begins with the introduction of a resolution in the committee of jurisdiction. In the case of Garland, the House Judiciary and Oversight & Accountability committees advanced dual contempt reports out of the committees in back-to-back party line votes.

The next step would be for the full House of Representatives to adopt the report through a majority vote, similar to how the chamber did on Wednesday in a 216-207 vote. The referral is then sent to the Justice Department. The Senate does not have to approve the resolution, as each chamber of Congress has its own enforcement power.

The last time an attorney general was held in contempt was in 2019. That was when the Democratically controlled House voted to make then-Attorney General Bill Barr the second sitting Cabinet member to be held in contempt of Congress for refusing to turn over documents related to a special counsel investigation into Trump, a Republican.

Years before that, during the administration of President Barack Obama, a Democrat, then-Attorney General Eric Holder was held in contempt related to the gun-running operation known as Operation Fast and Furious.

In each of those instances, the Justice Department took no action against the attorney general.

Administrations of both major political parties have long held the position that officials who assert a presidents claim of executive privilege cant be prosecuted for contempt of Congress, a Justice Department official told Republicans last month.

Assistant Attorney General Carlos Felipe Uriarte cited a committees decision in 2008 to back down from a contempt effort after President George W. Bush, a Republican, asserted executive privilege to keep Congress from getting records involving Vice President Dick Cheney.

What are the penalties for being held in contempt?

Contempt votes have become more frequent in recent years, with serious repercussions for the defendants.

If the Justice Department decides to take up the contempt resolution and pursue a case, violations can be punishable by a fine of up $100,000 and imprisonment for not less than one month nor more than twelve months," according to the CRS.

Bannon, a longtime ally and aide of Trump, was held in contempt of Congress in 2021 for refusing to comply with a subpoena from the House Jan. 6 committee and was convicted by a jury in the summer of 2022. Bannon was recently ordered to report to prison by July 1 to serve a four-month sentence.

Navarro, a Trump trade adviser, was also convicted of contempt of Congress after defying the Jan. 6 panel. He reported to prison in March to serve his four-month sentence.

Even for those who escape prosecution, a contempt of Congress resolution remains a mark on their record.

___

Associated Press writer Alanna Durkin Richer contributed to this report.
Congressional Republicans have introduced a bill to ban diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs and funding in the federal government.

The Dismantle DEI Act, introduced Wednesday by Sen. JD Vance (R-Ohio), would eliminate all federal DEI programs and end DEI-related funding for agencies, contractors, organizations and educational accreditation agencies that receive federal funding.

The DEI agenda is a destructive ideology that breeds hatred and racial division, Vance said in a statement. It has no place in our federal government or anywhere else in our society. Im proud to introduce this legislation, which would root out DEI from our federal bureaucracy by eliminating such programs and stripping funding for DEI policies anywhere it exists. Americans tax dollars should not be co-opted to spread this radical and divisive ideology  this bill would ensure they are not.

In 2021, President Biden issued an executive order that created a policy to cultivate a workforce that draws from the full diversity of the Nation.

The order also called for removing structural barriers to opportunities underserved and minority communities face.

Rep. Michael Cloud (R-Texas), the measures lead sponsor in the House, said DEI initiatives present as promoting fairness but have instead fostered division and racial bias within our institutions and culture.

This bill is a necessary step to restore merit and equality, not equity, in Americas government institutions, and eliminate the DEI bureaucracy that sows division and wastes taxpayer money, Cloud said. Its absurd to fund these divisive policies, especially using Americans tax dollars, and its time for Congress to put an end to them once and for all.

In all, 15 House Republicans have backed the bill.

Republicans have pushed back on DEI for some time, calling it another component of a woke agenda.

Last year, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) signed a bill into law prohibiting public universities in the state from funding diversity, equity and inclusion programs and requiring commitments to diversity in statements during hiring. The legislation also eliminated majors and minors that delve into critical race theory and radical feminist or gender theories.

In February, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) instructed public universities in the state to stop considering DEI statements in their hiring practices.

Overall, legislation in a dozen states aimed at cutting DEI spending and rewriting hiring guidelines at colleges and universities have been introduced in legislatures around the nation.

The Dismantle DEI Act is the latest step to ban such programs at the federal level.

In March, the House Office of Diversity and Inclusion was disbanded as part of a government spending bill.

But Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.), who joined Vance in introducing the act, said Democrats under Biden have pushed far-left policy that throws merit away for radical ideology.

Americans have had enough, said Scott. Taxpayers shouldnt be forced to foot the bill for federal government agencies to push their woke DEI agenda, and that is why I am proud to join my colleagues in introducing the Dismantle DEI Act to put an end to this misuse of taxpayer dollars once and for all.

In addition to rescinding Bidens 2021 executive order, the act would also eliminate the Office of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility of the Office of Personnel Management as well as the Chief Diversity Officers Executive Council.

Sen. Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.), a co-sponsor for the act, called DEI rhetoric and programs poisonous ideology.

Dismantling DEI that resides deep within government agencies has been a priority of mine from day one  Im proud to join Senator Vance in this crucial effort to rid our federal institutions of DEI programs once and for all, he said.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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Ever vigilant about stoking fears among their constituents regarding the threat of governmental overreach, Republican leaders, as a form of political strategy, frequently crow about all the things liberals allegedly want to take away from working Americans. The White House is coming for their guns, they say, or perhaps their gas stoves  or even pints of raw milk that have potentially been contaminated with bird flu.

In early December, Sonoma County, California, declared an agricultural disaster when two poultry farms had to kill their entire flocks to try to stop highly pathogenic avian influenza  or bird flu  from spreading. This particular strain of bird flu, H5N1, had first been reported in the United States in early 2022 and since then, tens of millions of turkey and chickens at commercial farms have since been killed to try to suppress the outbreak.

While the transmission of bird flu to other mammals is rare, it is occurring currently.

As of June 9, ten states, including North Carolina, Ohio, Michigan and Texas, have reported outbreaks among dairy cattle and an estimated 85 dairy herds nationwide have been infected; however, there isnt a federal requirement for dairy farms to test their herds outside interstate movements of milking cows, so many farmers are opting out. This opened the door for human exposure and as of now, there have been three documented cases of H5N1 in humans. As Kay Russo, a dairy-poultry veterinarian, wrote for Scientific American on Tuesday, one of the cases presented with respiratory issues, which means theres potential for human-to-human spread through coughing.

With the virus crossing species barriers, the specter of human exposure and emergence of a human-adapted strain is rapidly intensifying, Russo, along with co-authors Michelle Kromm and Carol Cardona, continued. This outbreak in dairy cows has the potential to spiral into a human epidemic or even a catastrophic pandemic  the signals of which we may already be seeing.

Many experts, including Dr. Scott Roberts, a Yale New Haven Hospital Infectious Disease specialist and assistant professor in infectious diseases at Yale School of Medicine, believe the milk available at supermarkets is largely safe to drink because the pasteurization process it undergoes would kill any lingering traces of infection. Conversely, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) warn that consuming raw, unpasteurized milk could come with big health risks.

"There is concern that consumption of unpasteurized milk and products made from unpasteurized milk contaminated with HPAI A(H5N1) virus could transmit HPAI A(H5N1) virus to people; however, the risk of human infection is unknown at this time," the agency writes.

However, in recent weeks, as the number of bird flu cases have climbed, so have sales of raw milk. This is because numerous Republican public figures have decried what they perceive to be attempts from the government and Big Milk to infringe on their right to consume the beverage, regardless of whether it contributes to the human-to-human spread of bird flu. Its an attitude that closely mimics the partys approach to the COVID-19 pandemic and the ways in which their members refused to participate in even basic public health and safety measures.

Essentially, for Republicans, it seems like avoiding raw milk is the new masking  and theyre just not going to do it in order to prove a point.

For instance, in April, Infowars host Owen Shroyer called the Food and Drug Administration a gangster mafia who wanted to make raw milk illegal.

So, now that more people are going to local farms and farmers markets and consuming raw milk, this angers the FDA, Shroyer said. This angers Big Milk. Say, No, you need to pasteurize milk, its a lot less healthy for you. See, eventually, theyll just make it illegal. Theyll just make raw milk illegal. Thats what this is all about.

That same month, as Media Matters reported, right-wing media outlet TheBlaze published an article titled Blaze News Investigates: The truth about raw milk the government doesn't want you to know: Close to a perfect food, which told readers that the so-called experts are not telling you the full story and that unfortunately, the potential benefits of raw dairy are a secret to most Americans.

Now, the conservative youth organization Turning Point USA is selling a plain white t-shirt emblazoned with a line illustration of a dairy cow. The caption reads: got raw milk?

However, raw milk hasnt just been drafted into the culture wars; it is the subject of several new policies under consideration, notably a bill in Louisiana which would legalize the sale of raw milk in the state. HB467, which is set to become law, passed unanimously in the House to a chorus of mooing lawmakers last month, reported NOLA.com, though the bill was watered down in the Senate after the Louisiana Department of Health estimated it would take roughly $900,000 a year and seven employees to regulate raw milk for human consumption.

Eventually, legislators agreed raw milk could be sold, but only with labels that say "not for human consumption" and warn of the potential for harmful bacteria, the report continued. Lawmakers acknowledged that the label likely would not prevent people from drinking it, which is legal.

"I don't care what you do with it after you get it," said Sen. Stewart Cathey, R-Monroe, during a Senate Agriculture meeting.
Jens Stoltenberg (L), North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) secretary general, shakes hands with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban during a joint press conference in Budapest, Hungary on June 12, 2024. Hungary will not participate in North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) efforts in Ukraine, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said here on Wednesday.

The Hungarian government has received guarantees that in the case of the Russia-Ukraine armed conflict, Hungary would not have to participate in military actions outside NATO's territory, Orban said during a joint press conference with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg. (Photo by Attila Volgyi/Xinhua)

BUDAPEST, June 12 (Xinhua) -- Hungary will not participate in North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) efforts in Ukraine, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said here on Wednesday.

The Hungarian government has received guarantees that in the case of the Russia-Ukraine armed conflict, Hungary would not have to participate in military actions outside NATO's territory, Orban said during a joint press conference with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg.

"We received everything needed to address the current issues. This was a difficult but constructive negotiation with the Secretary-General," Orban said.

Stoltenberg said that both sides reached a consensus where Hungary would refrain from blocking NATO's decisions.

On the subject of Ukraine, Stoltenberg said that Orban has clarified Hungary's stance: "No Hungarian personnel is to be deployed in these activities, and no Hungarian funds will be used to support them."

Despite this, Hungary will allow other NATO allies to move forward with their initiatives. "At the same time, the prime minister has assured me that although Hungary will not support these efforts, it will enable other allies to move forward," Stoltenberg added.

Although Hungary is a member of both NATO and the European Union, Orban has maintained strong diplomatic and economic ties with Russia since the beginning of the Russia-Ukraine conflict and has been a vocal critic of Brussels and Washington.

In an interview with Hungarian local media recently, Orban said that everything must be done to stop the spread of war. "If a major war breaks out in Europe, we will all lose." 

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban attends a joint press conference with Jens Stoltenberg, North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) secretary general, in Budapest, Hungary on June 12, 2024. Hungary will not participate in North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) efforts in Ukraine, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said here on Wednesday.

The Hungarian government has received guarantees that in the case of the Russia-Ukraine armed conflict, Hungary would not have to participate in military actions outside NATO's territory, Orban said during a joint press conference with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg. (Photo by Attila Volgyi/Xinhua)

Jens Stoltenberg, North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) secretary general, attends a joint press conference with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban in Budapest, Hungary on June 12, 2024. Hungary will not participate in North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) efforts in Ukraine, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said here on Wednesday.

The Hungarian government has received guarantees that in the case of the Russia-Ukraine armed conflict, Hungary would not have to participate in military actions outside NATO's territory, Orban said during a joint press conference with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg. (Photo by Attila Volgyi/Xinhua)

Jens Stoltenberg (front), North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) secretary general, attends a joint press conference with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban in Budapest, Hungary on June 12, 2024. Hungary will not participate in North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) efforts in Ukraine, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said here on Wednesday.

The Hungarian government has received guarantees that in the case of the Russia-Ukraine armed conflict, Hungary would not have to participate in military actions outside NATO's territory, Orban said during a joint press conference with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg. (Photo by Attila Volgyi/Xinhua)

Jens Stoltenberg (L), North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) secretary general, speaks during a joint press conference with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban in Budapest, Hungary on June 12, 2024. Hungary will not participate in North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) efforts in Ukraine, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said here on Wednesday.

The Hungarian government has received guarantees that in the case of the Russia-Ukraine armed conflict, Hungary would not have to participate in military actions outside NATO's territory, Orban said during a joint press conference with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg. (Photo by Attila Volgyi/Xinhua)
The German arms company Rheinmetall and the Ukrainian government agreed on the sidelines of the Ukraine Recovery Conference in Berlin to begin production of the modern Lynx armored vehicles in Ukraine this year, officials confirmed for the media on June 12.

"The first such vehicle will be produced in Ukraine by the end of the year," Strategic Industries Minister Alexander Kamyshin told Ukrinform in Berlin.

The news comes shortly after Rheinmetall opened its first plant in Ukraine. The factory will repair and later also produce armored vehicles jointly with the Ukrainian state-owned enterprise Ukroboronprom.

Its opening is part of Kyiv's efforts to localize arms production and develop a more independent arms industry.

The location of the plant was not disclosed due to security reasons.

Last December, Rheinmetall announced its plans to start producing Fuchs armored personnel carriers in Ukraine by late summer of 2024 and Lynx vehicles by late 2024, or "12 to 13 months" after signing the contract.

Rheinmetall's Lynx was first presented in 2016. It has a modular design, meaning it can be equipped with different armaments and function as an infantry fighting vehicle, an anti-aircraft platform with a 30-35 mm weapon, or even to operate a 120 mm cannon of the Leopard tank.

Apart from Ukraine, the Hungarian government also signed a contract for 218 Lynx vehicles in 2020.

Rheinmetall provides weapons and equipment to Ukraine under contracts with the German government, such as Leopard 1 tanks, mortar shells, and drone surveillance systems. The company previously said it plans to open at least four production plants in Ukraine.

Read also: First Rheinmetall-Ukraine joint production and repair plant becomes operational

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
UPDATE, June 13: Memphis Police saw two people in the car in the North Memphis area. They tried to do a traffic stop, but the car fled. Eventually, they were captured.

Cadairo Harris, 18, was charged with Aggravated Robbery, Attempted First-Degree Murder, Intentionally Evading Arrest in an Automobile, Theft of Property $10,000-$60,000, Evading Arrest on Foot, No Drivers License, Reckless Driving, and Possession of a Prohibited Weapon.

Bobby Martin, 18, was charged with Theft of Property $10,000-$60,000 and Evading Arrest on Foot.

**

MEMPHIS, Tenn.  A man fired a shot at a woman and stole her Dodge Challenger on Rhodes Colleges campus Wednesday, according to Memphis Police.

3 juveniles, 1 adult shot on I-240; 2 detained after chase

At around 2 a.m., officers responded to a carjacking at Rhodes Colleges security office.

The victim said she was inside the office when she saw a light on in her 2023 Dodge Challenger. When she went outside to look, she saw someone sitting in her car and tried to initiate the killswitch.

When the suspect saw the victim, he got out of the car and fired a shot at her. He then followed her into the security office, police say.

According to reports, the suspect pointed the gun at the victim and stated, Give me the keys [expletive]. The victim complied, and the suspect drove away in her car.

The victim told MPD that her Dell work laptop, work phone, phone, subwoofer speakers valued at $800, and wallet were all inside her car when it was taken.

MPD made the scene and saw that the gunshot had struck the building.

WREG reached out to Rhodes. They provided the following statement:

We can confirm that a campus safety dispatchers car, a dark blue Dodge Challenger, was stolen overnight on Tutwiler just west of University. We sent a notification to our campus community shortly after the incident. The suspect fired one shot and demanded keys. We are thankful that no one was injured. Rhodes is working with the Memphis Police Department to increase its patrols in the area and will be continuing its on-campus and campus perimeter safety patrols.

Feagins: Email not an error; 1,100 MSCS jobs affected

Many people living in near Tutwiler Avenue and University Street by Rhodes College told WREG they have a steady morning routine. They wake up, walk their dogs, and then check their cars to see if they have been broken into or stolen as this is common in the area.

Someone had just gone up and down the block and just broken every car window, said Madeleine Edwards who lives nearby.

Edwards said shes always felt some comfort with Rhodes College Security patrolling the area, but that may change now. Now it sounds like theyre victims as well.

No arrests have been made at this time. Anyone with information is urged to call CrimeStoppers at 901-528-CASH.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  Robert Telles, the former public official accused in the September 2022 stabbing death of Las Vegas Review-Journal investigative reporter Jeff German, filed a court motion on June 3 seeking the dismissal of a civil lawsuit filed by women who worked in his office.

In a 135-page motion to dismiss, Telles characterizes the complaints against him as lies, offering text messages and office communications to prove he was succeeding in turning around a broken office operation.

His accusers, he says, each have their own motivation for their claims alleging discrimination, sexual harassment and hostile work conditions.

Jessica Coleman, Aleisha Goodwin, Noraine Pagdanganan and Rita Reid filed a federal lawsuit on May 17. Telles request for dismissal was filed on June 3. He is scheduled to go to trial on criminal charges in Germans death in early August.

Telles, 47, ran the Clark County Public Administrators Office (PAO), supervising a team that administers the estates of residents who die without an executor or next of kin to handle the tasks.

After a series of articles about the work environment at PAO, Telles lost his re-election bid. One of the articles exposed a possible inappropriate relationship with a subordinate. Telles lost in the primary election to Reid in June of 2022. Prosecutors say he blamed his loss on Germans negative news coverage.

Telles says he was framed, and the motion to dismiss disparages his accusers. He also argues some of the claims exceed statutes of limitations.

The court document describes Reid  who went on to win election as PAO after beating Telles in the primary  as a micromanager who couldnt stand seeing Telles change policies she created. He argues that Reid failed to offer sufficient evidence of age and sex discrimination complaints.

Pagdanganan earned almost double her salary by working overtime before Telles took over the office and shut that down, according to exhibits Telles offers from the Transparent Nevada website. Telles argues she failed to offer proof that workplace retaliation for limiting overtime opportunities occurred. He was just making the office efficient, he said.

Colemans allegations of sex discrimination and race discrimination dont meet legal requirements, according to the motion to dismiss.

And Goodwins claims of sex discrimination and religious discrimination arent proven, the motion stated.

It all boils down to office politics, professional jealousy and a workplace strained by the COVID shutdown, according to the motion to dismiss.

Exhibits show Telles didnt want negativity in the workplace. He includes text message exchanges, office memos and other documents that describe his direction to the staff.

What do you want to be your legacy? Will someone who causes discord and dissatisfaction be happy looking back? I should hope not. In any case, we cannot tolerate poor attitudes. Our work is too important for that, according to a staff memo dated Saturday, July 10, 2021.

If you are the subject of any negative behavior or you see any such behavior, it should be reported to me immediately to be addressed.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
The U.S. Armys Robotic Combat Vehicles will fight with the opposing force in an upcoming training rotation, according to Maj. Gen. Geoff Norman, who is in charge of the services combat vehicle modernization efforts.

While the Army has experimented a great deal with RCV surrogates and prototypes in recent years, including a major event that evaluated how humans and machines will fight together on a future battlefield, the opportunity to evaluate how the service will fight an opposing force with similar robotic capability has been limited until now.

Norman told Defense News in an interview that there will be two National Training Center rotations this summer. A unit out of Fort Stewart in Georgia will go up against an RCV platoon. The next unit out of Fort Riley in Kansas will take the same RCV platoon and attach it to blue force.

Thats going to be really exciting to do another round of learning and experimentation at the premier training event for those units, Norman said.

Also this summer, the Army will receive two prototypes each from four teams competing to build the Armys Robotic Combat Vehicle program-of-record platform. The service will then kick off a competition and pick the best of breed, Norman said.

The prototypes will undergo automotive testing at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, and Yuma Proving Ground, Arizona, beginning in August.

The government can choose one or more of those prototypes to go forward into phase two of the program of record effort, Norman said. The downselect decision to one or more happens in the springtime, of next year, he added.

The Army selected last year McQ, Textron Systems, General Dynamics Land Systems and Oshkosh Defense to build the light RCV prototypes.

The service is aiming to field to the first unit in fiscal 2028 following a production decision slated for FY27.

The Army is also trying to get one platoon set of RCVs to an Army Forces Command unit to continue more experimentation, but it is currently still working on resourcing the effort. Were hopeful that materializes but thats an open issue that were working through, Norman said.

At the same time, Normans team is working closely with the armor commandants office, the Maneuver Capability Development and Integration Directorate at Fort Moore, Georgia, to refine the organizational designs for what an RCV platoon might look like and what other equipment it might have.

Theyve taken the RCV playbook that weve developed at a couple of different experiments and theyre now taking that to work on some initial doctrine or probably standing operating procedure, to standardize some of the tactics, techniques and procedures that robotic autonomous systems operators need, Norman said.

The Army is also working prototyping control vehicles for the RCVs using an Armored Multipurpose Vehicle and a Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicle. The service has already developed a Stryker control vehicle prototype, according to Norman. The Joint Light Tactical Vehicle will also be configured as a control vehicle; that prototyping will follow work on the AMPV and Bradley.

Key to that will be soldier touch points to get their feedback because thats been essential to get it right up to this point, Norman said.
BERWICK, Maine  A Rochester, New Hampshire, man is expected to enter guilty pleas Friday in Maine for his actions that resulted in the death of a Berwick man last year.

Daniel LaFrenier, 33, initially faced a murder charge in connection with the death of Mark Forest, 37, who died after sustaining a gunshot wound to his head at a Katabel Lane home in Berwick on Jan. 12, 2023. LaFrenier is set to plead guilty to charges of manslaughter and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

Daniel Lefrenier, of Rochester, New Hampshire, is set to plead guilty to manslaughter and being a felon in possession of a firearm.

Danna Hayes, spokesperson for the Maine attorney general's office, said the court will set a later sentencing date for LaFrenier. The case will be heard by Justice James Martemucci at the York Judicial Center in Biddeford.

Details of the sentencing agreement were not yet available, but Maine law sets the parameters for manslaughter at up to 30 years, with the possibility of probation, Hayes said. The possession of a firearm conviction is punishable by up to five years.

LaFrenier was previously convicted of domestic violence terrorizing

According to court documents, LaFrenier was convicted in Maine in 2019 on a domestic violence terrorizing charge, a Class C felony. In May 2019, he pleaded guilty to the felony charge and a lesser charge of terrorizing. The case was out of Eliot, Maine, and involved an adult and a child. Court documents indicate he had previously violated a protective order issued in 2018.

LaFrenier was sentenced at that time to three years for the felony and 70 days for the misdemeanor. All but 70 days of the sentence was suspended for two years. Among the terms of his release were no contact orders, no alcohol or substance use, taking part in a batterers program and no firearms/dangerous weapons in his possession.

Details of Berwick shooting death allegations

The three-count indictment against LaFrenier alleges he fatally shot Forest. According to police reports, the Berwick Police Department received a report of a man who had sustained a gunshot wound to his head at a Katabel Lane home. When police arrived, they found Forest severely injured.

Forest was taken to Wentworth-Douglass Hospital in Dover, New Hampshire, where he was pronounced dead. The New Hampshire medical examiner ruled Forest's death a homicide.

LaFrenier was arrested for the shooting without incident by York police after he allegedly attempted to break into a house in that town.

Daniel LaFrenier was arrested by York, Maine, police in January 2023 after allegedly shooting a man in Berwick, Maine.

LaFrenier has been held since his arrest, said Hayes.

LaFrenier is represented by Maine Attorney Lara Nomani. She could not be immediately reached for comment.

This article originally appeared on Fosters Daily Democrat: Rochester man to plead guilty to manslaughter after Berwick shooting
Rock Hill Schools bring graduation to student who could not attend

ROCK HILL, SC (QUEEN CITY NEWS)  One Rock Hill graduate got to mark the accomplishment a little late.

On Friday, June 7, Rock Hill High held its graduation, but Exceptional Education student Daniel Steelman could not attend due to sensory sensitivity. He is one of about 1,000 people diagnosed with Kleefstra Syndrome, a rare chromosome disorder.

 Click here for more heartwarming news across the Carolinas

On Monday, June 10, graduation came to Daniel, who celebrated with family, teachers, Rock Hill Schools administrators and school board members.

Wow. I didnt even know they provided this, but it means so much to him. This is so sweet, said Daniel s mother, Amber Kamke.

Nearly 1,000 graduates celebrated on Friday; among those was Northwestern High Schools Natalie Bentos-Pereira. In fifth grade, Natalie received a spinal injury which left her paralyzed from the neck down.

Doctors said she would never walk again, but, after much hard work in physical therapy, Natalie walked across the stage to receive her diploma.

We are just proud, Natalies mother, Margaret Bentos-Pereira, said. Natalie is reserved and shy. It was nice to see her want to do this. Were proud of how far she has come.

For the first time, Catawba Nation students were allowed to wear an eagle feather or beadwork with their tassel. An eagle feather is often a marker of achievement.

Wearing the eagle feather symbolizes the amazing work our Native American students have achieved, Rock Hill Schools wrote. We are incredibly grateful to be a part of this honorable tradition.

Rock Hill Schools

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
CEDAR SPRINGS, Mich. (WOOD)  Hes not even 2 years old, but a little boy from Michigan has gone through more than most people will see in a lifetime.

Roman DiLeo isnt named after the WWE wrestler Roman Reigns, but his parents and doctors at University of Michigan C.S. Mott Childrens Hospital in Ann Arbor know he has the strength of the six-time WWE champion, and then some.

She said Roman, and I was like, the wrestler? Hes a strong dude. I like that. Im having a boy. I want a strong name, father Tony DiLeo remembered.

Before he was even born, Roman was fighting for his life  which is pretty hard to imagine as today the little boy is bursting with energy and life.

After we found out something was wrong with his heart, the cardiologist we worked with  she made the comment that Roman is clearly not concerned with any of our concerns, and not listening to anything that were saying, said Ashley DiLeo.

Romans heart condition was discovered while in utero at 25 weeks. Ashley DiLeo and her husband traveled to Ann Arbor for Roman to be born at C.S. Mott Childrens Hospital. As soon as he was born, he was whisked away by specialists.

It was intense, Tony DiLeo said.

It was a lot of emotions but we stayed in the moment and did what we needed to do to get through each second, Ashley DiLeo agreed.

Good to be alive: Man celebrates 2 years with new lungs, 3D-printed stent

Its that state of mind, vibe and outlook on life that has enabled the DiLeos to get through Romans birth and everything since.

From day one we decided, hey, it is what it is. Control what we can control and keep positive and think good things will end up happening, Tony DiLeo said.

Roman needed a new heart, so the DiLeos lived at the Ronald McDonald House of Ann Arbor waiting for the day he would get one. That day came when Roman wasnt even 6 months old. Someone elses loss became Romans chance at life: a new tiny heart transplanted into Romans tiny body.

This is where this happy story should end. But Romans fight wasnt over yet.

The transplant team does a very good job of preparing you for the good, the bad and the ugly, Ashley DiLeo said.

Roman was diagnosed with post-transplant lymphoma. About 10 percent of transplant patients come down with it.

DJ shares recovery journey for Stroke Awareness Month

This fighter was going to have to fight again. But once more, Roman surprised all doctors and his parents.

His first round of chemo, (he) went from physically being sick to we put him in the car and he was yelling and happy and playing with his toys, Tony DiLeo said.

Which brings us to the present time, just days away from his second birthday.

The world is his oyster, Ashley DiLeo said.

Roman is always energetic  and hes going to need it to keep up with a new baby sister this fall.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Gov. Ron DeSantis laughs while tossing one of the pens he used to sign three bills, including a highly controversial one to ban state funding for diversity, equity and inclusion programs at Florida public universities, during a May 15, 2023, signing ceremony on the New College of Florida campus in Sarasota.

DeSantis living in alternative reality

During the early days of Gov. Ron DeSantis first term, it seemed that he was a relatively normal conservative and governed as such. His early days of environmental protection were a sweet surprise.

The last two years of his first term took a major twist. Labeling Florida a Freedom State while limiting the freedom of many constituents proved mean-spirited, bigoted and misogynistic.

The 2023 legislative push by the governor led to restrictive laws that harmed the LGBTQ+ community, the Black community and the reproductive rights of women.

Woke and diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) became dirty words.

Hundreds of LGBTQ residents and allies gathered on Sarasota's Ringling Bridge for a February 2022 rally to protest the Florida Legislature's Parental Rights in Education bill. The controversial legislation - which critics call Florida's "Don't Say Gay" bill - was openly supported and signed into law by Gov. Ron DeSantis.

This year, the governor decided that climate change is a dirty phrase and banished it from our laws. African American history is being rewritten and whitewashed. So if things are written a different way, does that make the revision the new truth? No!

This alternative reality has been crossing the country like a contagious disease. I dont know if it started here, but I can only hope that someday soon, we have a brave governor who can cure it.

Beryl Lipoff, Sarasota

Dont fool around with campaign signs

Campaign season is in full swing and signs are already disappearing off lawns.

Its a state crime to steal, vandalize or deface campaign signs, according to Florida Statute 812.014.

And this year you might get caught. Last week, two teens were arrested on charges of stealing campaign signs in Brevard County. The candidate had placed AirTag tracking devices in the signs!

Campaign signs line Riverwood Avenue outside the polling place at Trinity United Methodist Church in Sarasota on Nov. 8, 2022.

In 2020, a Haines City man stole a front-end loader and used it to dig up lawns and destroy Biden-Harris signs, according to police. The victims responded by replacing the sod and putting up more signs.

Today, most homeowners have great little cameras to document crime.

Signs are an important part of any campaign. Big signs near busy streets are an enviable asset for any candidate. The location is also a tell. Real estate moguls may be more willing to give sign space to candidates who will back their big projects, often ignoring smart growth practices.

Voting for the candidates with the biggest signs in the best locations could lead to more traffic and less regulation for developers. Its, you know, that old quid-pro-quo thing.

Good luck and may the best candidates win. (Not the ones with the biggest signs.)

Wendy Rosen, Sarasota

Loyalty lies with U.S. judicial system

Where do my loyalties lie?

With a felon ex-president convicted by a jury of his peers? With hospital board member Victor Rohe, a conservative who flies his flag upside down to protest former President Donald Trumps conviction  the week of Memorial Day, no less, when we fly the flag right side up to honor the memory of Americans who gave their lives for this country?

An upside-down U.S. flag is seen June 1 at the home of Victor Rohe, a member of the Sarasota County Public Hospital Board. Neighbors say Rohe put up the flag May 31, the day after Donald Trump was convicted in his New York hush-money trial. It has since been removed.

More: We're free to hang American flags upside-down. But its against what it stands for.

With a millionaire developer (Hugh Culverhouse Jr.) who has the nerve to say the judicial system "cannot be used as a political tool  Democrats crossed the line in this persecution?" My, oh, my!

Somehow Democrats convinced a jury of 12 to vote guilty on 34 felony charges? Wow! Wonder how they were able to do that?

No. My loyalties lie with this great country where I can be judged by a jury of my peers instead of being hauled off and shot. Where I honor the sacrifices of citizens who defended our country in war. Where I am taught to love my neighbors even if I disagree with them.

To vote for men and women who respect our way of life and want to maintain it.

So sorry, Trump supporters: Time to grow up and acknowledge the truth.

Bob Griffiths, Sarasota

Plan for your end-of-life care

A letter June 3 (Rehab centers fall short of quality care) is a reminder of how much our resources for near-end-of-life care have changed.

Spending your last days in a hospital used to be common. Today, hospitals have a huge financial incentive to assure that you die elsewhere.

Rehab centers arose to meet the needs for care during recovery. Now they are increasingly being taxed with providing what is essentially hospice care.

Meanwhile, more and more folks are choosing to spend their final years in CCRCs (Continuing Care Retirement Communities). They know they will never be kicked out, whatever their medical needs or if they run out of money.

But folks not living in a CCRC may be sent to one or a nursing home by a hospital, a decision in which they have no voice. As the letter writer notes from her own experience, the quality of care can vary widely.

Two lessons here. One, if you are considering moving to a CCRC, find out as much as you can about their end-of-life care. Two, advocate for funding of training and support for those who choose to work in a profession of which you may have critical need.

Kenneth H. Bradt, Sarasota

Write to us: How to send a letter to the editor

This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Ron DeSantis has morphed from moderate conservative of first term
Sen. Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.) took a swipe at Republican Senate candidate Sam Brown for his stance on abortion, arguing in a new campaign ad the retired Army captain would eliminate constituents reproductive rights if put in office.

The 30-second ad, titled Valerie, features a Nevada woman who said she could not receive the necessary medical care to terminate a pregnancy while living in Texas due to the states abortion restrictions.

Brown, who was running for a Texas state House seat in 2014, said he supported the law, which banned abortion after 20 weeks gestation, unless a patient is at risk of death or the fetus has a severe medical problem.

Because of the law Sam Brown pushed for, I had to leave Texas to get the care that I needed, the woman, Valerie Peterson, said in the ad, which was released Wednesday. Now I live in Nevada, and I cant watch Sam Brown take away our rights here, too.

The ads release came just hours after Brown clinched the Republican nomination in Nevadas Senate GOP primary on Tuesday, defeating several challengers, including former U.S. Ambassador to Iceland Jeff Gunter, who served under former President Trump.

Browns win tees up for a race against first-term Rosen in November.

Brown received the last-minute backing of Trump earlier this week, though his win in Tuesdays primary was already largely expected.

GOP averts disaster in Ohio shocker: 5 takeaways from Tuesdays primaries

Following his primary win, the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC) pushed out a one-minute ad digging into the retired Army captain. The ad highlights his previous comments related to Yucca Mountain, in which he indicated openness to consider using it as a nuclear waste storage site.

Brown has since taken back those comments and said on the social platform X it should not, and will not, be revived as a nuclear waste repository.

The ad also targeted Browns positions on abortion, Social Security and Medicare.

Sam Brown is a MAGA extremist, with a self-serving political agenda that would hurt hard working Nevadans: banning abortion, phasing out Social Security and Medicare, and even re-opening Yucca Mountain as a nuclear waste repository, DSCC spokesperson Amanda Sherman Baity said in a statement. Hes shown Nevadans that his plans are too extreme and too dangerous for him to be anywhere near the U.S. Senate.

The nonpartisan Cook Political Report rates the seat as a toss up.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Rep. Ralph Norman, R-S.C., snapped at a Democratic colleague Tuesday after being interrupted during a meeting of the the House Rules Committee.

Listening to these smokescreens that my friends on the other side of the aisle are saying, they bring up the trial of Donald Trump, convicted felon. Really? By a judge that is a known anti-Trumper?" Norman said before Rep. Jerrold Nadler, D-N.Y., interrupted him.

A jury, a jury, not by a judge, Nadler corrected.

Mr. Nadler, Ive got the floor! Norman shouted. If you gonna interrupt  Mr. Chairman, calm him down when he interrupts. Its my time and Ill let you respond, but Im tired of this. You talk over everybody. Its so rude of you!"

After Trump was found guilty on 34 counts of falsying of business records last month, Democrats have been quick to remind everyone that Trump is, in their words, a "convicted felon."

Republicans, however, have criticized the judge who oversaw Trumps trial for donating a total of $35 to the Democratic Party in 2020, including $15 to the Biden-Harris campaign.

In the meeting, Norman brought up Hunter Biden, who was found guilty of three felony counts on Tuesday and faces up to 25 years in prison for lying about his drug addiction when he purchased a firearm. Norman said it was strange Biden was prosecuted for those charges but not some of Bidens business dealings; despite months of investigations, Republicans have failed to uncover any evidence of criminality.

Im tired of these smokescreens, youre talking about miscarriage of justice, it really is, Norman said.

In the same meeting, Rep. Jim McGovern, D-Mass., slammed Republicans for similar accusations, namely that Democrats have weaponized the justice system after Trumps felony convictions. Some Republicans have gone so far as to claim Biden orchestrated his sons guilty verdict to create an equal illusion of justice, MSNBC reported.

That is how you think when youre in a cult, McGovern said of the GOP conspiracy theories. He also contrasted Republican leaders reaction to Trumps conviction with Bidens reaction to his sons conviction; the president has said he accepts the outcome of his sons trial and will continue to respect the judicial process.

Its a great reminder that one political party remains committed to the rule of law and the other doesnt, McGovern said.
BEIJING, June 12 (Xinhua) -- China strongly opposes and condemns the United States' fabricating and spreading disinformation about Xinjiang, urging it to revoke its illegal and unilateral sanctions against Chinese companies, foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said on Wednesday. 
Republican State Sen. Michael Rulli answers questions at Inner Circle Pizza in Canfield as results begin to come in for a special election to fill the remainder of former U.S. Rep. Bill Johnson's term in the 6th Congressional District. Rulli won the race, beating Democrat Michael Kripchak.

Voters have picked Republican State Sen. Michael Rulli of Salem Township in Columbiana County to be the next congressman for the 6th Congressional District.

With all precincts reporting, Rulli won nearly 55% of the votes, 32,627 to 27,062, in all 11 Ohio counties in the district, according to the Ohio Secretary of State.

The unofficial results include all tabulated early votes, votes on ballots received by mail or dropped off by 7:30 p.m. Tuesday and votes cast at polling locations Tuesday. The results do not include votes on mail ballots received from Wednesday to Saturday and validated provisional ballots.

In Stark County, Rulli beat Michael L. Kripchak 3,384 to 3,122.

Rulli won nine of the 11 counties in the district. Rulli and Kripchak were almost tied in Kripchak's home county of Mahoning County where Rulli's family owns two grocery stores. It was 11,661 for Kripchak and 11,647 for Rulli. The only county where Kripchak won solidly was the northeastern portion of Tuscarawas County, including Dover and New Philadelphia, where Kripchak won 56% of the nearly 3,000 votes cast there.

Rulli was not able to return a request for comment late Tuesday. A spokesman said he was seeking to make Rulli available for a phone interview as he was inundated with congratulatory messages and media requests.

Rulli told the Youngstown Vindicator he will resign from his state Senate seat after todays session and give a goodbye speech. He plans to be sworn in July 25 to his congressional seat.

Im very excited and Im very humbled, Rulli told the Vindicator.

The (Republican) primary was the hardest fight of my life. Its a rough life, but Im honored that people have faith in me.

Poll worker Carol Shaw readies an Ohio Voted sticker at Perry Christian Church during Tuesday's 6th District congressional race special election.

Michael Rulli and Michael L. Kripchak will rematch in November

Kripchak, who was at Westside Bowl in Youngstown, said he called Rulli to concede.

Kripchak and Rulli remain their party's nominees for the Nov. 3 election to determine the 6th District congressman to serve the full two-year term starting Jan. 3.

Republican Michael Rulli looks over a computer Tuesday at Inner Circle Pizza in Canfield with general consultant David Spencer as results begin to come in for a special election to fill the remainder of former U.S. Rep. Bill Johnson's term in the 6th Congressional District. Rulli won the race.

And despite the loss Tuesday, Kripchak didn't sound dismayed about his prospects for November.

Time to man up for November," said Kripchak. "We have more time to inform the voters about our plans. We have more time to inform the voters about the lack of his plan and to better see who he serves whereas Im here for the people.

The election of Rulli provides House Republicans in Washington, D.C., a crucial vote with the GOP caucus holding a slim majority that's often divided. Currently without Rulli, the U.S. House of Representatives has 218 Republicans, 213 Democrats and four vacancies. Rulli is expected to take office in July after the Ohio Secretary of State certifies the outcome. The deadline for county boards of election to certify the official results of the special election is July 2.

Ohio special election scheduled for November

Tina Riley of Perry Township casts her vote Tuesday at Perry Christian Church for the 6th District congressional race special election.

The 6th District includes eastern Stark County, southern Stark County and nearly all of Perry Township.

Rulli and Kripchak will face off again in the Nov. 3 election to decide who serves as congressman for the district in the next full two-year term that starts Jan. 3. Tuesday was a special election to decide who would serve as congressman for the rest of the current term ending on Jan. 3.

The seat became vacant in January when longtime Republican Congressman Bill Johnson resigned to be the president of Youngstown State University. Gov. Mike DeWine scheduled a rare June special general election to fill the seat for Tuesday.

Ralph Gearhart of Perry Township votes Tuesday at Perry Christian Church for the 6th District congressional special election.

The 6th District leans strongly Republican, so Rulli was favored to win Tuesday and in November.

Voting at Reedurban Presbyterian Church on Perry Drive, Perry Township resident Gary Hornack said he received a mailer from Kripchak's campaign. He said he and his wife agreed with the viewpoints such as on the issue of abortion. So after his wife reminded him to vote, he arrived at the church after 5:30 p.m. to cast his ballot for Kripchak.

Hornack said it was important "allowing people to have a say in what they do with their body."

Republican State Sen. Michael Rulli, right, looks over a computer at Inner Circle Pizza in Canfield with general consultant David Spencer as results begin to come in for a special election to fill the remainder of former U.S. Rep. Bill Johnson's term in the 6th Congressional District.

Todd Livengood of Perry Township said he voted for the Republican candidate because "I'm interested in lower taxes and less government."

The 6th District in Stark County includes Marlboro Township, Lexington Township, Alliance, Washington Township, Louisville, Nimishillen Township, nearly all of Perry Township, Canton Township, Bethlehem Township, Paris Township, Minerva, Sandy Township, Waynesburg, Magnolia, Pike Township, East Sparta, Sugar Creek Township, Brewster, Navarre, Beach /City and Wilmot.

Boards of elections for the 11 counties entirely or partially in the district, which spans from Mahoning County south to Washington County are expected to approve unofficial results late Tuesday or early Wednesday after the preliminary vote count is complete. Election officials are then expected to count absentee votes that arrive in the mail by this Saturday and validated provisional ballots.

Reach Robert at robert.wang@cantonrep.com. X formerly Twitter: @rwangREP.

Sonia Kennedy and Tex Fischer of Boardman, general consultant David Spencer, of East Liverpool and Republican State Sen. Michael Rulli, right, wait as results begin to come in for a special election to fill the remainder of former U.S. Rep. Bill Johnson's term in the 6th Congressional District. Rulli defeated Democrat Michael Kripchak.

This article originally appeared on The Repository: Ohio 6th Congressional District special election results
Russia deployed the largest number of assault units from eight strike brigades in the Pokrovsk and Kurakhove sectors in Donetsk Oblast, Commander-in-Chief of Ukraine's Armed Forces Oleksandr Syrskyi said on June 12.

The two directions have reportedly been the scene of fierce fighting for several months, making the battlefield situation in Donetsk Oblast the most difficult.

Fighting is also ongoing near Klishchiivka, Kalynivka, and Chasiv Yar, an elevated town that potentially opens the way to further advances into Donetsk Oblast, Syrskyi said after visiting the eastern front.

Russia reportedly continues to storm Bilohorivka in Luhansk Oblast and is trying to attack Siversk, a town north of Bakhmut in Donetsk Oblast, from two directions.

In the Kharkiv sector, Moscow's troops are trying to advance and create a so-called "security belt" but are not succeeding, according to the general. Russia is "bogged down" in the embattled town of Vovchansk but is constantly replenishing its forces with units from other directions, he added.

According to Syrskyi, Russian forces are pushing toward Staromaiorske and Robotyne in the Zaporizhzhia sector "but without any success." Russia claimed the capture of the two villages, which Kyiv denied.

"In these conditions, it is very important for us to hold the captured positions to prevent a breakthrough of our defenses, to inflict maximum damage to enemy manpower and equipment," the commander said.

"We need to achieve superiority over the enemy, reduce losses, and most importantly, change the defensive and offensive psychology, which will be an important step towards our victory."

Read also: With all eyes on Kharkiv, Russian troops take one Donbas village after another

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
The Yasen-M class nuclear-powered cruise missile submarine Kazan, one of the most advanced types in Russian Navy service today, has now made its hotly anticipated debut appearance in the Cuban capital Havana. Kazan is one of a group of four Russian naval vessels now in the Caribbean, which had been closely shadowed by U.S. and allied warships and aircraft. Footage of the arrival of the Russian Project 22350 frigate "Admiral Gorshkov" and the Project 885M Yasen-M class nuclear-powered cruise missile carrying submarine Kazan at the port of Havana, Republic of Cuba. pic.twitter.com/2v6UnW5IkD Mehdi H. (@mhmiranusa) June 12, 2024 Another footage of K-561 Kazan RuNAVY arriving in Havana (Cuba).Courtesy: @rianru https://t.co/onfi5QjYe3 pic.twitter.com/4dbUDCudVn KURYER (@RSS_40) June 12, 2024 The nuclear power submarine Kazan arriving in Havana. Cubans telling me its the first time they have seen a sub come into the city like this. pic.twitter.com/XRBHtSjHAJ Patrick Oppmann CNN (@CNN_Oppmann) June 12, 2024 Along with the Kazan, the Project 22350 frigate Admiral Gorshkov, the heavy ocean-going tug Nikolai Chiker (also sometimes written Nikolay Chiker), and the Project 23130 replenishment oiler Academic Pashin also sailed into the port of Havana earlier today. Gorshkov was greeted by a 21-gun salute. The Admiral Gorshkov receives the 21 gun salute pic.twitter.com/MpkycvBwOn Ruaridh Nicoll (@Ruaridhnicoll) June 12, 2024 In the next few days, the crews [of the vessels]  will take part in a number of protocol events, have the opportunity to relax and get acquainted with local attractions, according to a statement from the Russian Ministry of Defense on the Telegram social media network. Cuban authorities had announced last week that the vessels would be in Havana from June 12 to June 17. The Russian nuclear-powered submarine Kazan and the frigate Admiral Gorshkov, part of the Russian naval detachment visiting Cuba, arrive at the port of Havana, on June 12, 2024. Photo by ADALBERTO ROQUE/AFP via Getty Images The Russian frigate Admiral Gorshkov, part of the Russian naval detachment visiting Cuba. Note the V marking on the smokestack, a reference to the symbol used by Russian forces in the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Photo by ADALBERTO ROQUE/AFP via Getty Images The rescue and tugboat Nikolai Chiker, part of the Russian naval detachment visiting Cuba. Photo by ADALBERTO ROQUE/AFP via Getty Images The fleet oil tanker Pashin, part of the Russian naval detachment visiting Cuba, arrives in the harbor of Havana, on June 12, 2024. Photo by ADALBERTO ROQUE/AFP via Getty Images The Russian naval task groups visit to Cuba is also just one component of its long-distance deployment, Admiral Alexander Moiseev, head of the countrys navy, told state-run media outlet RIA Novosti today. This aligns with previous statements from U.S. military officials, who have said they expect additional Russian naval activity in the region as part of this deployment, which could also see the flotilla make a port call in Venezuela. Like Cuba, Venezuela is another Russian ally in the region. While thats still unconfirmed, a Venezuelan training ship, the AB Simon Bolivar is scheduled to visit Santiago de Cuba, the island nations second-largest city, between June 15 and 19. On its way to Cuba, the Russian flotilla already took part in simulated anti-ship missile strikes against mock enemy naval targets while sailing in the Atlantic, according to the Russian Ministry of Defense. However, no missiles were live-fired. MoD RF: A few hours before entering the port of the capital of the Republic of Cuba, the crews of the Admiral Gorshkov frigate and the Project 885M Yasen-M class SSGN "Kazan" completed an exercise on the use of high-precision missile weapons. https://t.co/tNaYYndZjt pic.twitter.com/chj6pU9wHq Massimo Frantarelli (@MrFrantarelli) June 12, 2024 Gorshkov, specifically, also engaged in air defense drills during the transit, which included mock targeting of actual foreign military aircraft flying overhead, including a P-8A belonging to an unknown operator, as seen in the video below. A significant number of American and allied warships and aircraft have been closely monitoring the task groups progress since it first departed Russia back in May, as you can read more about in TWZs recent reporting here. A trio of U.S. Navy Arleigh Burke class destroyers  the USS Truxtun, USS Donald Cook, and USS Delbert D. Black  along with the U.S. Coast Guards Legend class cutter USCGC Stone and the Royal Canadian Navys Halifax class frigate HMCS Ville de Quebec were close behind when the Russian vessels arrived in Cuba. U.S. Navy P-8A Poseidon and Royal Canadian Air Force CP-140 Aurora (a derivative of the P-3 Orion) maritime patrol aircraft had been flying overhead. Miami Herald: US deployed destroyers USS Truxtun, USS Donald Cook and USS Delbert D. Black, as well as cutter Stone and a P-8A Poseidon to track Russian naval flotilla. Russian vessels sailed less than 30 miles off South Floridas coast on June 11.https://t.co/EQSXGhuW17 https://t.co/wjEc3wHvw1 pic.twitter.com/9GuCilUGDz Ryan Chan  (@ryankakiuchan) June 12, 2024 In accordance with standard procedures, weve been actively monitoring the Russian ships as they transit the Atlantic Ocean within international waters, U.S. Northern Command told TWZ in a statement yesterday. 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. The Canadian Armed Forces, alongside its U.S. counterparts, routinely carries out operations (including maritime and air operations) in support of continental defense, the Canadian Department of National Defense said in a separate statement to TWZ. As highlighted in Canadas recent defense policy update, Our North, Strong, and Free, defending North America is one of the Canadian Armed Forces top priorities. Routinely monitoring the approaches to North America is part of defending our nation and ensuring the continued safety and security of Canadians and all North Americans. Its interesting to note here that Havana will also be hosting a Royal Canadian Navy vessel, the Harry DeWolf class patrol vessel HMCS Margaret Brooke, this month. That ship is set to arrive on Friday and remain there until June 17. His Majestys Canadian Ship (HMCS) Margaret Brooke will conduct a port visit to Havana from June 14 to 17, 2024, in recognition of the long-standing bilateral relationship between Canada and Cuba. 1/2 Canadian Joint Operations Command (@CJOC_COIC) June 12, 2024 Cubas state-run newspaper Granma said the Royal Canadian Navy visit highlights the 50th anniversary of cooperation ties with Canada and the bilateral collaboration for the maintenance of peace in our region. Despite the attention the U.S. military has been paying to the arrival of the Kazan and the other Russian naval vessels in the Western hemisphere, U.S. authorities have largely downplayed the task groups visit. However, sending a nuclear-powered submarine to the region, and especially a first-of-its-kind deployment of one of the most modern and capable available to the Russian Navy today that is packed with cruise missiles, is clearly meant to be a significant statement. American authorities have previously described the Yasen-M class boats as being on par with current-generation U.S. types and capable of presenting a persistent proximate threat to the U.S. homeland. A stock picture of the Kazan. Russian MoD The Kazan and the other members of its class are armed with Kalibr long-range cruise missiles, which can be used for anti-ship strike and land attack, as well as Oniks supersonic anti-ship cruise missiles that also have a secondary land attack capability. In the future, it is expected that its vertical launch system cells will also be loaded with new Zircon hypersonic cruise missiles. All of these weapons can carry nuclear warheads as an option, although officials from Cuba, Russia, and the United States have been at pains to clarify that no nuclear weapons are being deployed on either the Kazan or the Admiral Gorshkov. Gorshkov, which has visited Cuba before, is also one of Russias most modern and capable surface warships. Russian officials claimed last year that Zircon hypersonic cruise missiles had been deployed on the ship, though it is unknown if it is carrying any of them now with the vessels primary strike weapon being the Kalibr cruise missile. The Russian Navy frigate Admiral Gorshkov frigate arrives in Havana for its previous port visit, on June 24, 2019. ADALBERTO ROQUE/AFP via Getty Images The Russian naval vessels have also arrived in Havana amid a particular spike in geopolitical friction between Russia and the West, including the United States, over continued support to Ukraine. The Kremlins ire has been particularly focused recently on statements from various countries that Ukraine is free to use weapons theyve supplied to attack Russian territory. Last week, Russian President Vladimir Putin threatened to supply long-range weapons to regions from which they could potentially be used to strike Western targets in retaliation. Whatever is next for the Russian Navy flotilla in the Caribbean, the U.S. military, and potentially some of its allies in the region, will continue to monitor their movements closely. An American classic car passes in front of the Russian nuclear-powered submarine Kazan, part of the Russian naval detachment visiting Cuba, as it arrives to Havanas harbour, June 12, 2024. (Photo by ADALBERTO ROQUE / AFP) (Photo by ADALBERTO ROQUE/AFP via Getty Images) Contact the author: thomas@thewarzone.com

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Editor's Note: This is a developing story and is being updated.

Russian forces launched missile attacks overnight on June 12, targeting multiple Ukrainian regions.

In the capital, Kyiv, multiple Kyiv Independent journalists reported hearing explosions around 4 a.m. local time.

All targets aimed against the capital were intercepted, the city's military administration reported, but falling debris caused damage in the region.

One person suffered leg lacerations as a result of falling debris in Kyiv Oblast, the regional military administration reported.

A fire broke out in an industrial facility in Kyiv Oblast as a result of the attack. The falling debris damaged a house, a gas station, and a garage in the oblast, and another fire broke out elsewhere in a warehouse.

Ukrainian defenses downed all the 24 Shahed-type drones launched by Russia, as well as one Kinzhal Kh-47M2 air-launched ballistic missile and four Kh-101/555 cruise missiles over Kyiv, Dnipropetrovsk, Zaporizhzhia, Poltava, Kharkiv, and Vinnytsia oblasts, the Air Force said.

Russia also reportedly launched an Iskander-M ballistic missile, but the Air Force did not report that it was intercepted.

Eleven of the Shahed-type drones were shot down in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, where the attacks resulted in damage and injured two people: a 39-year-old man and a 40-year-old woman. Their 13-year-old son suffered shock, Governor Serhii Lysak said.

In Sumy Oblast, a Russian drone attack damaged an energy facility, leaving 14 settlements without power, Ukraine's energy operator Ukrenergo said.

Polish and other allied aircraft were scrambled to protect the country's own airspace in response to reports of the Russian missile attacks, the Operational Command of Poland's Armed Forces said on X.

Air raid alerts were turned off for most of the country at 4:45 a.m, and the remaining regions around 5:15 a.m. An hour later, around 6:15 a.m., air raid alerts were once again activated across the country as Ukraine's Air Force warned of the threat of missile attacks launched by Russian MiG-31 fighter jets.

In recent months, Russia has intensified its attacks against Ukraine's critical infrastructure in a renewed assault against the country's energy grid.

As a result of the attacks on energy infrastructure, Ukraine began implementing rolling shutdowns on May 15, but they have dramatically increased in recent days.

Read also: Worst-case scenario in Ukraines energy system very close to realistic, largest private energy company says

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Russia uses Cuba to make a point to the U.S.: Remember the 1962 missile crisis? | Opinion

The arrival at Havana harbor this week of three Russian military ships and a nuclear-powered submarine to take part in exercises in the Caribbean should set off alarm in Washington.

Officials told reporters that the exercises arent considered a threat to the U.S., but American ships have been deployed to shadow the Russian mini fleet.

Its a good idea because Cuba and Russia watchers know the only exercise being staged in Cuban waters this week is a show-and-tell meant to remind the U.S. of what can happen when Cuba and Russia play together. Flashback to the Cuban Missile Crisis of October 1962.

The naval training mission is a clear message and reminder to the U.S. of Moscows foothold in or own hemisphere  thanks to Cuba, just 90 miles away from Florida.

These war games come at a time when the U.S. is considering continued financial support for Ukraines war against Russia. There have been reports that Ukraine has used U.S. weapons to strike inside Russia, according to the Associated Press. Putin is said to be livid.

So the Ukrainian war has now tangentially come to our hemisphere, thanks to Cubas government and by way of these military exercises.

With its ships and sub, Moscow, no doubt, hopes to rattle American leaders by flexing its muscles near Floridas coastline, or by having its war ships brush up too close to our shores, as occurred Tuesday. The Russians are metaphorically firing a shot across the U.S.s bow for its involvement in Ukraine.

Putin is big on messaging. We have seen him do it over and over in the dramatic murder and disappearances of his political enemies via poisonings and exploding airplanes.

While Russian-Cuban ties, and military exercises, are nothing new, the geopolitical context of these latest naval maneuvers is deeply concerning and recall the gravest days of the Cold War, when we came close to nuclear war because the Soviet Union had hidden missiles in Cuba.

The Cuban Missile Crisis brought the U.S. and Soviet Union to the brink of nuclear Armageddon. School kids in Florida were taught to hide under their metal desks to protect themselves from a nuclear fallout.

Back then, the discovery of Russian ballistic missiles in Cuba threatened Americas security and demonstrated how the Castro regime was willing to aid Moscows geopolitical aims regardless of the risks.

Now, in 2024, as tensions with Russia reach new heights over Ukraine, Cuba once again opens its doors to Russian warships with intention.

One can only assume these naval visits  there have been others involving nuclear submarines  serve as a strategic show of strength and proximity to the U.S.

For Cuba, its proximity to the U.S. is a strategic home run. So, the calculus is clear: enhance relations with Russia to make the U.S. nervous and get the Russians to help in Cubas neverending dire economy. They need oil, food and necessities.

In recent months, Putin reaffirmed his military support for the Cuban regime through a series of agreements that included oil supplies, wheat sales and the reestablishment of flights between Russia and Cuba. President Miguel Diaz-Canel and other Cuba officials have recently visited Russia.

And the Kremlin recently finalized a loan for Cubas steel factory and pledged to finance the completion of three new thermoelectric plants using Russian technology. Interesting.

Just as it did in the 1960s, the Cuban government became the third wheel in a U.S.-Russia dispute. We hope the Biden administrations cool tone is an act.

America must make it clear to both Russia and Cuba that proxy confrontations and naval power plays in our hemisphere will not be tolerated.

Click here to send the letter.
Russian attacks across Ukraine over the past day injured at least eight civilians, regional authorities reported early on June 12.

Ukrainian air defenses intercepted all Russian missiles and drones launched against the capital, but the fallen debris caused damage in Kyiv Oblast and injured one person, the regional military administration said.

Eleven Shahed-type drones were shot down in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, where the attacks resulted in damage and injured a couple: a 39-year-old man and a 40-year-old woman. Their 13-year-old son suffered shock, Governor Serhii Lysak said.

Russian attacks against Kharkiv Oblast injured one man in Vovchansk on the evening of June 11 and a woman in the village of Kutkivka in the Kupiansk district in the morning of the following day, according to Governor Oleh Syniehubov.

In Kherson Oblast, three people were injured in Russian attacks over the past day, according to Governor Oleksandr Prokudin.

Luhansk, Mykolaiv, Cherkasy, Sumy, Poltava, Vinnytsia, and Zaporizhzhia oblasts were also attacked, but no casualties were reported. Explosions were also reported in the port city of Odesa during an air raid alert.

Ukrainian defenses downed all the 24 Shahed-type drones launched by Russia, as well as one Kinzhal Kh-47M2 air-launched ballistic missile and four Kh-101/555 cruise missiles, the Air Force said.

Russia also reportedly launched an Iskander-M ballistic missile, but the Air Force did not report that it was intercepted.

Read also: Updated: Russia launches missile attacks on Ukraine, fires break out in Kyiv Oblast

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By Anastasiia Malenko

KYIV (Reuters) - When the power goes down and the elevator stops working, Ukrainian couple Maryna and Valeriy Tkalich leave the pushchair on the ground floor and carry their two-month-old son up the 12 flights of stairs to their apartment instead.

And once authorities in Kyiv have notified residents of upcoming scheduled electricity outages, the Tkaliches rush to bathe little Marian and prepare food for the family before the lights go out and taps run dry.

Such disruptions are becoming increasingly common for the city's population of about three million people, after Russia began pummelling the country's energy system in late March, cutting out half of its generating capacity.

In scenes reminiscent of the winter of 2023, streets are frequently plunged into darkness, the hum of private generators can be heard again across Kyiv streets and people carry flashlights to get around.

"The main challenge is the lack of water," said Valeriy Tkalich, 34, speaking to Reuters at his Kyiv home where water pumps can't reach the higher floors without electricity.

"For cooking, we also had to adjust and purchase a small gas camping stove to heat stuff up," said the IT product manager. "With the baby, it seriously complicates our reality."

Many Ukrainians fear things will get worse as winter approaches, with Russian forces seizing the initiative on the battlefield and intensifying missile and drone attacks on thermal and hydropower stations.

Moscow says Ukraine's energy infrastructure is a legitimate military objective and denies targeting civilians. Thousands of Ukrainians have been killed in attacks on residential buildings, schools and hospitals since early 2022.

Marian spent his first nights at home sleeping in the apartment hallway instead of a bedroom, to reduce the risk of harm should the building be struck.

"Even the air strikes, which we have got used to and which present huge risks for the family - made worse by the presence of the baby - bother me less than the blackouts do," Tkalich said. "Blackouts are the worst."

Warnings about upcoming power cut set off a flurry of activity in the household: "You have to fill up the water bottles, wash the baby, and cook food."

He and his wife, who has a jewellery business, are planning for the fall and winter in case the power cuts continue, but they are also considering moving further to the west where disruptions from missile attacks are typically less frequent.

LONG-TERM DAMAGE

Just as Russia has stepped up its assault on Ukraine's power generating capacity, Kyiv has struggled to secure enough air defence systems from its Western allies to protect itself.

As the country eagerly pleaded for additional air defences and awaited delayed military aid from the United States, Russian drones and missiles caused over $1 billion worth of damage.

Ukrainian authorities say the spring attacks have taken out about half of the country's generation capacity - 9,000 out of 18,000 Mwh - and that they have caused long-term damage that may mean power cuts for years to come.

Some Kyiv residents went without power more than five hours a day last week due to deficits in the energy system, the worst situation in the capital since last winter.

For artist Yevhen Klymenko, a friend of the Tkaliches who also lives in Kyiv, power outages have brought a change in the way he works.

The 29-year-old now wakes up at dawn in order to paint in natural light, ditching his nocturnal working hours now that disruptions are so frequent.

He recently returned to an unfinished portrait of Ukraine's popular former commander-in-chief Valeriy Zaluzhnyi, and hopes the proceeds from it will help raise funds to buy equipment to support the country's military.

On visits close to the front lines, Klymenko said he had met Ukrainians who lived in far worst conditions than him.

"You understand everything here is insignificant," he said. "(At the front), it is far more difficult. So you come back, see that there is no power, and you say 'screw it'."

(Reporting by Anastasiia Malenko; Editing by Mike Collett-White and William Maclean)
Oleksandr Syrskyi, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, has reported that the Russians are engaged in unsuccessful actions on the Kharkiv front, attempting to advance deep into Ukrainian combat lines and create a so-called "security belt".

Source: Syrskyi on social media

Quote: "The enemy has been stalled in Vovchansk, despite deploying significant personnel and assets, which are continually reinforced by units from other areas."

Details: Syrskyi stated that he had been working for several days in a row in military units defending the most intense spots on the Eastern front. The commander-in-chief has reported on the situation in these areas.

Syrskyi says Russian forces are conducting active offensive actions of varying intensity along the entire combat zone, focusing their main efforts on the Pokrovsk and Kurakhove fronts. The Russians have built up the largest number of their assault units from eight attack brigades there.

Fierce fighting in these areas has been going on for several months now, and Ukrainian defenders have been bravely holding back the Russian offensive.

Fighting continues near the settlements of Chasiv Yar, Klishchiivka and Kalynivka. The Russians are seeking to capture these settlements to expand the scope of their advance towards the towns of Kramatorsk and Sloviansk.

Russian troops are unsuccessfully storming the village of Bilohorivka (Luhansk Oblast).

Russian forces are rushing to the town of Siversk from two directions, but each time they are being driven back, Syrskyi explained.

On the Zaporizhzhia front, the Russians are mounting an offensive near the settlements of Staromaiorske and Robotyne, though with little success.

The commander-in-chief reported that fighting for control of the bridgehead and the islands persists near the village of Krynky, with no significant changes for either side.

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The Russians on the outskirts of Chasiv Yar. Photo: Screenshot

UK Defence Intelligence has reported that Russia's Ground Forces (RGF) have conducted a limited breakthrough into the eastern suburbs of the town of Chasiv Yar (Donetsk Oblast), though their casualty rate is high.

Source: UK Defence Intelligence review dated 12 June on X (Twitter), as reported by European Pravda

Details: UK intelligence noted that the Russians have also likely taken control of the village of Ivanivske, located southeast of Chasiv Yar.

Fierce fighting has been reported in urban areas where Ukrainian forces are trying to stop the Russian advance.

Quote: "Russian forces likely remain on the east side of a canal that runs through the city which presents an obstacle to their advance.

It is highly likely that the RGF is employing a dismounted infantry approach to clearing the suburbs, and that the Russian casualty rate is high.

The UAF [Ukrainian Armed Forces] report an artillery-centric assault on the city with thermobaric munitions in use. Chasiv Yar is likely of value to Russia due to its strategic position on a plateau, as well as its historic use as a logistics hub for the UAF."

Background:

Analysts at the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) believe that the Russians are seeking to capture the cities of Chasiv Yar and Vovchansk.

Russian forces have been trying to amass troops in the outer houses of the Kanal neighbourhood in Chasiv Yar since around 3 June. This is the part of the city that lies closest to the Russian-occupied city of Bakhmut.

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BEIJING, June 12 (Xinhua) -- The European Union's anti-subsidy probe into Chinese electric vehicles is typical protectionism, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said on Wednesday, urging the EU to act on its commitment to supporting free trade and opposing protectionism.

Lin made the remarks at a regular press briefing when answering a query concerning the investigation and planned additional tariffs on the electric vehicles imported from China.

Lin said that to levy additional tariffs violates market economy principles and international trade rules, disrupts China-EU economic and trade cooperation and the global automotive industrial and supply chains, and will eventually hurt Europe's own interests.

According to Lin, senior officials and business leaders in multiple European countries recently stated opposition to the European Commission's probe and said that imposing more tariffs on Chinese EVs to protect the European industry would be a wrong approach.

"We urge the EU to act on its commitment to supporting free trade and opposing protectionism, and work with us to uphold the overall economic and trade cooperation between the two sides," Lin said, noting that protectionism has no future, and open cooperation is the right way forward.

"China will take all measures necessary to firmly defend our lawful rights and interests," the spokesperson said. 
LATEST: At least 8 dead, 21 injured in Russian missile strike on Kryvyi Rih

A Russian missile struck a residential area in the central Ukrainian city of Kryvyi Rih in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, regional authorities reported on June 12.

"There are victims. We are clarifying the details," Governor Serhii Lysak said in a post on Telegram.

There are no further details of the attack at this time but Lysak said an air raid alert was still in place and urged people to stay in shelters.

The attack comes just a few hours after Russian forces launched a mass missile attack overnight on June 12, targeting multiple Ukrainian regions.

Ukrainian defenses downed all the 24 Shahed-type drones launched by Russia, as well as one Kinzhal Kh-47M2 air-launched ballistic missile and four Kh-101/555 cruise missiles over Kyiv, Dnipropetrovsk, Zaporizhzhia, Poltava, Kharkiv, and Vinnytsia oblasts, the Air Force said.

Russia also reportedly launched an Iskander-M ballistic missile, but the Air Force did not report that it was intercepted.

Eleven of the Shahed-type drones were shot down in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, where the attacks resulted in damage and injured two people: a 39-year-old man and a 40-year-old woman. Their 13-year-old son suffered shock, Governor Serhii Lysak said.

In Sumy Oblast, a Russian drone attack damaged an energy facility, leaving 14 settlements without power, Ukraine's energy operator Ukrenergo said.

Polish and other allied aircraft were scrambled to protect the country's own airspace in response to reports of the Russian missile attacks, the Operational Command of Poland's Armed Forces said on X.

Air raid alerts were turned off for most of the country at 4:45 a.m, and the remaining regions around 5:15 a.m.

An hour later, around 6:15 a.m., air raid alerts were once again activated across the country as Ukraine's Air Force warned of the threat of missile attacks launched by Russian MiG-31 fighter jets.

In recent months, Russia has intensified its attacks against Ukraine's critical infrastructure in a renewed assault against the country's energy grid.

Read also: Updated: Russia launches attacks on Ukraine, all missiles targeting Kyiv intercepted

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The withdrawal of a Russian "peacekeeping" contingent from Nagorno-Karabakh concluded on June 12, Azerbaijan's Defense Ministry said.

Several thousand Russian "peacekeepers" were deployed to Nagorno-Karabakh in the fall of 2020 following an escalation of the years-long Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict over the region.

Nagorno-Karabakh has been de facto controlled by unrecognized ethnic Armenian authorities since the first war in the early 1990s but was internationally recognized as Azerbaijani territory.

The withdrawal of Russian peacekeepers began in April, several months after Azerbaijan captured the region in a military offensive in September 2023.

"The personnel, weapons, and equipment of the peacekeeping contingent have completely left our territory," the Azerbaijani ministry said.

Armenia has experienced heightened tensions with Russia after the Russian "peacekeepers" did nothing to prevent Azerbaijan's September offensive. The campaign ended in less than 24 hours with Azerbaijan's victory and the dissolution of the self-declared Nagorno-Karabakh Republic.

After Nagorno-Karabakh's surrender, around 100,000 Armenians, the majority of the population, left the region for Armenia.

In March, Armenia asked Russian "peacekeepers" stationed at Yerevan's international airport since the country's independence to leave.

Armenian Prime Minister Pashinyan said in February that Armenia had "frozen" its participation in the Russian-led Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) because it failed to uphold its objectives regarding Armenia. Yerevan is also not planning to partake in the financing of the CSTO.

The CSTO did not intervene during Azerbaijan's 2023 offensive. Armenia is also considering applying for membership in the European Union, aiming to strengthen ties with Western countries amid growing tensions with Russia.

Read also: Moscow issues protest note to Yerevan after Armenian delegation visits Bucha

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Russian sub deployment off Florida worries Pentagon that Moscow will stalk U.S. coasts

Russias deployment of a naval flotilla to Cuba on Wednesday was generally consistent with routine military posturing by Moscow  with one exceptional detail, Jake Sullivan, the U.S. national security advisor, told reporters aboard Air Force One on Wednesday.

There are elements of this one that are different, that are distinct, he said. They have a submarine associated with this port visit that they have not had before.

The first deployment of a nuclear submarine to Cuba since the end of the Cold War has served not only as a message to the Biden administration of Moscows displeasure with continued U.S. support for Ukraine, but also of its increasing ability to stalk U.S. coastlines with stealth submersibles  a growing concern for the U.S. military, multiple officials familiar with the matter told McClatchy and the Miami Herald.

Just last month, the head of the U.S. Northern Command warned Congress that Moscow could soon deploy 12 similarly advanced nuclear submarines split evenly between the Pacific and Atlantic, creating a persistent conventional threat to the United States.

The threat will only become more acute later in the decade, Air Force Gen. Gregory Guillot said, once the Yasen-class submarines are regularly armed with hypersonic missiles capable of traveling many times the speed of sound.

U.S. officials are now assessing whether the current Russian deployment, which will culminate in military exercises in the Caribbean, could be the beginning of a pattern of Russian submarine activity that will require a more sustained change in U.S. force posture.

The Kazan, a Yasen-class sub, joined three other Russian combat vessels that U.S. officials characterized as routine visitors to Cubas shores.

The deployment is something we watch closely, carefully, Sullivan said.

THEY WILL DEFINITELY LOSE HER

As the Kazan breached the waters of the port of Havana on Wednesday, Russian state media reported that the vessel had demonstrated it is capable of quietly approaching U.S. shores within 50 kilometers, or about 30 miles. U.S. officials acknowledged to McClatchy on Tuesday that the Russian fleet had skirted the coast of Florida by a similar distance on its approach to Cuba.

If she wants to hide, they will definitely lose her, she will break away, said Mikhail Budnichenko, director of the submarine program, as quoted by TASS, a Russian state-run media organization. This is a very secretive ship, this is the latest achievement of Russian science and technology.

The Kazan, a nuclear-powered vessel capable of carrying and firing nuclear cruise missiles, is a state-of-the-art submersible that is part of a newly designed fleet intended to replace Russias aging Soviet-era nuclear submarines.

Russian navy submarine Kazan

A U.S. official told McClatchy and the Herald that U.S. military assets never lost track of the Kazan on its approach to Havana. McClatchy confirmed on Tuesday that the U.S. Northern Command had dispatched three guided-missile destroyers  the USS Truxtun, USS Donald Cook and USS Delbert D. Black  as well as a Coast Guard cutter and a Boeing P-8 maritime patrol aircraft to patrol the Russian military movements.

But Moscows advancements in submarine technology have accelerated in recent years. Last year, Guillots predecessor warned Congress that Yasen-class submarines like the Kazan could begin routinely patrolling U.S. coasts this year or next.

The threat is absolutely increasing, Gen. Glen VanHerck told lawmakers, referring to the Russian submarine deployments, now not only the Atlantic, but we also have them in the Pacific.

Its just a matter of time  probably a year or two  before thats a persistent threat, 24 hours a day, VanHerck added. That impact has reduced decision space for a national senior leader in a time of crisis.

Last month, Guillot told the Senate that Moscows intent to deploy a dozen submarines across the Pacific and Atlantic would enable the Russian Navy to pose a persistent conventional threat to critical infrastructure throughout most of North America.

The threat will only become more acute later in the decade when [Russian submarines] are armed with the Tsirkon hypersonic missile, Guillot said.

U.S. officials told McClatchy and the Herald that the Kazan is not known to be carrying hypersonic missiles on its current deployment.

But TASS quoted another unnamed Russian official on Wednesday stating the Kazan and its escorts could be equipped with such powerful weapons that a close approach to the U.S. coast would not even be necessary.

A sub wouldnt need to come as close as 50 kilometers to the U.S. shore, TASS quoted the official as saying, but in principle, it can.

Miami Herald staff writer Nora Gamez Torres contributed to this story.
The Russian submarine that just showed up off Cuba is one of a new class of subs that has worried the US and NATO for years

Russian naval ships arrived in Cuba Wednesday ahead of military exercises in the Caribbean.

One of the vessels, the submarine Kazan, is one of a new class that has worried the US and NATO.

The Yasen-class subs are hard to track and armed for attacks against land- and sea-based targets.

One of Russia's most advanced new submarines has pulled up off the coast of Cuba ahead of planned military exercises in the area.

The Kazan, a nuclear-powered cruise missile submarine, is one of a relatively new class of subs that has worried the US and Western militaries for years because of its stealth and strike capabilities.

Three Russian ships, along with the Kazan, arrived in Cuba Wednesday for a five-day official visit before a large, simultaneous air and maritime exercise in the Caribbean. The deployment includes the Admiral Gorshkov frigate, which is armed with Zircon hypersonic missiles, another challenge for Western militaries.

While US officials have said they're monitoring the vessels and don't anticipate any imminent danger in the region, the Kazan's arrival is notable. US and NATO officials have long expressed concern over the capabilities of the Kazan and other subs like it.

The Russian Yasen-class nuclear-powered submarine Kazan off the Arctic coast in 2021. Lev Fedoseyev\TASS via Getty Images

Russia's Yasen-class submarines, like the Kazan, are formidable threats within Russia's navy, which has long boasted a rather capable submarine fleet. The Russians began work on the class during the Cold War, and the first sub in the class, the Severodvinsk, was commissioned late in 2013.

Around the time the Severodvinsk was commissioned, a Naval Sea Systems Command officer said at a symposium that going forward, the US would "be facing tough potential opponents," adding that "one only has to look at the Severodvinsk."

Later submarines featured updated designs and were designated as Yasen-M class vessels. The Kazan was the second sub of the Yasen class but the first of the new, upgraded subs. It is noticeably smaller and features a quieter nuclear reactor. Western officials have said that their naval forces have had trouble finding these subs or have at times lost track of them at sea.

The subs' newer, more advanced features make them difficult to track, and they're heavily armed and capable of attacks against land- and sea-based targets with little to no warning. These boats can carry Oniks and Kalibr cruise missiles and, eventually, the new Zircon missiles.

Submarine crew undergoing basic training in 2018. Lev Fedoseyev\TASS via Getty Images

The shift in capability with the emergence of the Yasen-M class submarines suggested a change in use. Per a 2021 Royal United Services Institute analysis, the Kazan's "capacity to launch a range of anti-ship and land attack missiles" suggests that "long-range strike missions appear to be superseding sea lines of communication (SLOC) interdiction as a primary task."

In 2021, US Air Force Gen. Glen VanHerck, the head of US Northern Command and North American Aerospace Defense Command, said that the subs "are designed to deploy undetected within cruise-missile range of our coastlines to threaten critical infrastructure during an escalating crisis."

VanHerck, along with other US officials, have said that the Yasen-class subs are a concern and "on par with ours" and repeatedly warned about the increasing presence of these vessels off of the US coast. A US naval intelligence official previously said that the Russian subs are "holding the United States at risk in some of their patrol areas."

Russia plans to build at least nine Yasen submarines in total, but there are indications that more could be on the way in the future.

The Russian nuclear-powered submarine Kazan, part of the Russian naval detachment visiting Cuba, arrived at Havana's harbor Wednesday. YAMIL LAGE/AFP via Getty Images

Russia's deployment in Cuba serves multiple purposes. It comes before Caribbean air and maritime exercises, the first Russia has held in the area since 2019. It serves to strengthen Russia-Cuba ties, and it demonstrates a show of force to the US amid the war in Ukraine.

Tensions are particularly high after the US hesitantly agreed to allow Ukraine to use its long-range weapons to strike targets in Russian territory.

US officials have said that the appearance of these vessels in the area is not a direct response to those developments or an escalation, noting that Cuba has hosted Russian ships every year from 2013 to 2020, and the Russian exercises are routine.

The vessels in this group, however, are among Russia's most advanced or carrying newer weapons. In the past, NATO officials have flagged the Yasen-class submarines as "one of the big strategic challenges" the alliance faces.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Russian naval vessels including a warship and nuclear-powered submarine arrived in Cuba on June 12, on their way to conduct military exercises in the Caribbean.

The submarine Kazan and the Admiral Gorshkov frigate were accompanied by a tugboat and fuel ship, which were met with a cannon fire salute from the harbor.

Officials from both Cuba and the U.S. have said none of the vessels are carrying nuclear weapons, Reuters reports.

The Russian defense ministry said they had conducted training with "high-precision missile weapons" before arriving in Cuba.

The naval vessels have been closely tracked in recent days by the U.S. which said last week the exercise was likely an attempt by Russia to demonstrate it could still project naval strength globally in the wake of Ukraine's multiple successful strikes on Moscow's Black Sea Fleet.

The Ukrainian Navy claimed in March to have destroyed one-third of the fleet since the start of the full-scale invasion.

Speaking on June 12, White House National Security Adviser, Jake Sullivan, said the exercises were routine.

"We have seen this kind of thing before and we expect to see this kind of thing again, and I'm not going to read into it any particular motives," Sullivan said in comments reported by Reuters.

Russian President Vladimir Putin on June 5 said Moscow could supply advanced weapons to certain regions to enable strikes against "sensitive" Western targets as a response if Ukraine strikes Russia with Western arms.

Read also: Russias Su-57  hype vs. reality

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A warship armed with hypersonic missiles docked in Cuba as the Russian navy carried out missile drills in the Atlantic in a show of force amid rising global tensions.

The Admiral Gorshkov frigate was accompanied by the nuclear-powered submarine Kazan and two supply vessels, one a military tug and the other a fuel carrier, as it sailed within 30 miles of Florida.

Washington responded with submarine-hunter spy planes and sea drones to track the most significant Russian deployment to the Caribbean island in years.

The arrival of the warships in Cuba has echoes of the Cold War, when the Communist regimes in Moscow and Havana competed with the West for geopolitical power  and the 1962 Cuban missile crisis almost triggered nuclear Armageddon.

But the Biden administration downplayed the significance of the visit from the Gorshkov and the Kazan, emphasising that neither vessel was carrying nuclear weapons and Moscow had the right to hold war games in international waters.

The crew of the frigate stood to attention - Alexandre Meneghini/Reuters

Russias deployments are part of routine naval activity which pose no direct threat or concern to the United States, an official from US Northern Command told The Telegraph.

However, the Pentagon sent three guided-missile destroyers and several Boeing P-8 maritime reconnaissance planes to shadow the convoy, as it skirted close to the Florida coast.

US intelligence has assessed that the Gorshkov may be armed with Zircon hypersonic missiles. One of Russias most modern weapons, with a range of just over 600 miles, they can hit both land and sea targets.

That means that southern Florida, including Miami  just 230 miles from Havana  is well within range.

But Evan Ellis, a professor at the US Army war college, dismissed flotillas presence in Cuba as pure kabuki theatre, with symbolic rather than strategic significance, aimed largely at the domestic audience in Russia.

Washington used spy planes and sea drones to track the flotilla - Yamil Lage/AFP

The Admiral Gorshkov fired a 21-gun salute as it entered the port of Havana on Wednesday morning. Cuban forces reciprocated by discharging canons from an 18th-century Spanish fort overlooking the harbour.

The deployment allows Vladimir Putin to project strength on the world stage  even as the Russian military has become bogged down in a war of attrition in Ukraine that has exacted a huge toll in lives and hardware and shown up its combat limitations.

Its clear that Russia doesnt have the sustainable capability to project significant military force into the Western Hemisphere, Dr Ellis said, noting that the deployment was a protest response to the Biden administration authorising Ukraine to use US-supplied weapons to strike inside Russia.

Analyst Steffan Watkins said: I think its as much for domestic audiences as sabre-rattling. Its still a tiny fraction of the sort of naval activity the Soviets had in the Atlantic during the Cold War, based on declassified CIA reports from the time.

The Admiral Gorshkov gave a gun salute as it entered the harbour - Adalberto Roque/AFP

Dr Ellis also highlighted that the frigate and submarine were accompanied by a tug. That, he said, revealed the dilapidated state of the Russian navy, which has fared disastrously in the war in Ukraine, with even Russias Black Sea flagship Moskva being sunk in 2022.

The fact that they are sending a tug tells you everything. They cant even rely on the Cubans or the Venezuelans if their ships break down, he added.

The two vessels are expected to stay in Havana for five days, with civilians allowed to tour the frigate. They will then take part in war games with the Cuban navy.

They may also visit Venezuela, another of Russias handful of allies, all with floundering economies, in Latin America.

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Russian warships came close by. How some Floridians were monitoring them in real time

When a flotilla of Russian warships passed close to South Floridas shores Tuesday on their way to Havana, some Floridians were keeping close track, using services that allow the tracking of ships globally.

Maps taken from services such Marinetraffick and Fleetmon, among others, began circulating through social media soon after the Russian ships were spotted traveling about 30 miles off Key Largo. The ships, which included one missile frigate and two support vessels, could be tracked almost on real time thanks to signals sent by their transponders, which these companies track as part of their services. The transponders are part of a global safety network called the Automatic Identification System

Because they are military ships, Russian vessels could have turned off their transponders had they wanted to run undetected, but an expert said they were likely kept on to inform commercial ships and civilian vessels in the area of their presence as an added safety measure to avoid the risk of accidental collisions.

The position of the flotilla so close to the southern U.S. coast on Tuesday was mesmerizing for many people on social media, although the information circulating was at times overblown or inaccurate.

The Russian dis/mis-info channels are running amok with the Russians are in Cuba nonsense. Absolute nonsense, commented X user@NatalkaKyiv in one of the many threads still running on Wednesday. Yep. They are presenting this as if the second Cuban missile crisis is a-brewin.

Luis Dominguez, a Cuban exile who lives in Miami and was monitoring the Russian ships and a submarine as they headed towards Havana, said that some of the people were nervously tracking the vessels under the misconception that the nuclear-powered sub Kazan had nuclear weapons aboard.

The threat that the ships represent to the U.S. are overblown, said Dominguez, who has a website dedicated to following the movements of Cuban officials, and at times blogs about their air travel. Any of the U.S. destroyers assigned by the Navy to track the frigate is much more powerful, and being a nuclear submarine just means that it uses nuclear power to move, he said.

Just as the maps were circulating on Tuesday and Wednesday, social media was inundated by videos of the Kazan surfacing in Havana Harbor.

Regardless of where the Russian ships go next, it is highly likely that their travels will continue to be monitored through the ship tracking services.

Well continue watching, Dominguez said.
TEHRAN, June 12 (Xinhua) -- Iran and Qatar on Wednesday signed an agreement on legal assistance in criminal matters as well as a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on judicial cooperation between their governments, the Mizan news agency of the Iranian judiciary reported.

The documents were signed in the Qatari capital Doha between Qatar's Attorney General Issa bin Saad Al Jafali Al Nuaimi and an Iranian delegation led by Judiciary Chief Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Ejei, Mizan said.

Under the agreement, which had 14 articles, the two sides vowed to have maximum legal and judicial cooperation in criminal matters, Mizan added.

They agreed to, upon the submission of a request, send at least once a year to each other the data pertaining to the final rulings against the other country's nationals.

The two sides also promised to submit and handle bilateral legal assistance requests and letters rogatory in criminal matters.

The MoU, comprising 11 clauses, pertains to the exchange of experiences, discussing judicial and legal issues of common interests as well as cooperation in the area of holding educational courses for judges and officials of justice departments and courts, Mizan said.

In remarks at his meeting with the Qatari attorney general, the Iranian judiciary chief called for taking longer steps towards the implementation of the bilateral agreements, and implementing more joint measures in the areas of legal assistance and extradition of convicts.

The Qatari official, for his part, said the ground was fully prepared for cooperation between his country and Iran, voicing Doha's willingness to promote relations with Tehran.

He pointed to the two agreements signed between Qatar and Iran in the preceding years on judicial cooperation and the one inked on Wednesday, stressing that "we seek to implement these agreements as soon as possible."

Heading a delegation, Mohseni-Ejei arrived in Doha on Tuesday and met with Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani on Wednesday on bilateral legal and judicial relations. 
By Dave Sherwood

HAVANA (Reuters) -A Russian navy frigate and a nuclear-powered submarine churned into Havana harbor on Wednesday, a stopover the U.S. and Cuba said posed no threat but which was widely seen as a Russian show of force as tensions rise over the Ukraine war.

Curious onlookers, fishermen and police lined the Malecon seafront boulevard under gray skies to welcome the ships as they passed the 400-year old Morro castle at the harbor's entrance.

Cuba - a long-time ally of Russia - saluted the ships' arrival with cannon fire from the harbor, while Russian diplomats waved small Russian flags and took selfies as the vessels passed the harbor's historic fortresses.

The Admiral Gorshkov frigate, and later the nuclear-powered submarine Kazan, half submerged with its crew on deck, were accompanied by a tugboat and fuel ship that had arrived earlier in the morning.

The four Russian vessels sailed to Cuba on Wednesday after conducting "high-precision missile weapons" training in the Atlantic Ocean, Russia's defence ministry said Wednesday.

The submarine and frigate carry Zircon hypersonic missiles, Kalibr cruise missiles and Onyx anti-ship missiles, the ministry said.

Cuba said last week that the visit was standard practice by naval vessels from countries friendly to Havana. The communist-run government's foreign ministry said the fleet carried no nuclear weapons, something echoed by U.S. officials.

The U.S. has been monitoring the Russian vessels as they skirted the nearby Florida coast, but has said they pose no threat.

White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan told reporters on Wednesday such naval exercises were routine.

"We have seen this kind of thing before and we expect to see this kind of thing again, and I'm not going to read into it any particular motives," Sullivan said.

Sullivan said there was no evidence of Russia transferring any missiles to Cuba, but the U.S. would remain vigilant.

"We do not expect anything like that to occur."

POWER PLAY

Havana is just 100 miles (160 km) from Key West, Florida, home to a U.S. Naval Air Station. The timing of the visit - as the Biden administration ponders how far to go in helping defend Ukraine against Russia - suggests more than "standard practice," said William Leogrande, a professor at American University.

"The visiting Russian warships are Putin's way of reminding Biden that Moscow can challenge Washington in its own sphere of influence," Leogrande said.

The stopover coincides with Cuba's worst social and economic crisis in decades, with shortages of everything from food, medicine and fuel and growing discontent on the streets.

"This ... has echoes of the Cold War, but unlike the first Cold War, the Cubans are drawn to Moscow not by ideological affinity but by economic necessity," Leogrande said.

History looms large in Cuba, especially when it comes to Russia and its predecessor the Soviet Union.

The Cuban missile crisis erupted in 1962 when the Soviet Union responded to a U.S. missile deployment in Turkey by sending ballistic missiles to Cuba, sparking a standoff that brought the world to the brink of nuclear war.

The two countries are once again strengthening ties.

Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel visited Russian President Vladimir Putin for the fourth time in May, when he attended a military parade, wished Russian forces well in Ukraine and said Moscow could always count on Havana's support.

Russia in March delivered 90,000 metric tons of Russian oil to Cuba to help alleviate shortages, and has promised to help Havana in projects ranging from sugar production to infrastructure, renewable energy and tourism.

The history between the two nations was not lost on many of the Cubans who watched the Russian ships' arrival.

"I have never seen a ship of that size so close," said Maria Isabel Quesada, 50, of nearby Old Havana. "As a Cuban I feel safe, I feel satisfied ... confident in having a very beautiful relationship between our countries."

The Russian ships are expected to remain in Havana until June 17.

(Reporting by Dave Sherwood; Additional reporting by Matt Spetalnick in Washington, Andrea Shalal aboard Air Force One and Felix Light in Tbilisi; Editing by Daniel Wallis)
Are Russian warships in Havana a flashback to the Cuban Missile Crisis? Take a look

The presence of a Russian military flotilla passing by South Florida and conducting military exercises just miles from the coast is evoking for some the 13 days of white-knuckle tension in October 1962 when the Soviet Union placed nuclear weapons in Cuba, right at the doorstep of the United States.

What become known as the Cuban Missile Crisis was the closest the Cold War between the U.S. and Soviet Union ever became of turning hot.

MORE: Russian warships, nuclear submarine enter Havana Harbor under watch of U.S. destroyers

What it looked like in 1962

10/25/1962: Navy destroyers at dockside in Key West.

10/25/1962: Destroyer sits silently off Keys. (DD 465 was the USS Saufley.) Herald reporter Gene Miller, aboard a small seaplane with the photographer, wrote that he believed the front turret gun was pointing at them.

11/1/1962: A 50,000-watt Voice of America Standard broadcasting station to be beamed at Latin America in Spanish is underway post haste. Equipment awaits assembly at Marathon.

Published 10/24/1962: Carrier Enterprise crew stretches legs during a break at Palm Beach International Airport; brief stopover, then on to the Caribbean. The Navy landed six transport planes rushing crew members of the aircraft carrier Enterprise to their ship. The Navy planes, twin engine Gruman TFs, modified versions of anti-submarine patrol planes, refueled and left.

Published 10/28/1962: Key West kids make bicycle-ride inspection of military installations at beach.

Published 10/24/1962: Air Force contingent to stay -- awhile, anyway. Big plane, fueling equipment. Palm Beach International Airport became a center of military activity Tuesday as the U.S. began to deploy its forces for the Cuban quarantine. The Air Force moved in a trio of B-47 jet bombers and a pair of KC-97s along with about 40 officers and men.

12/6/1962: Fuselages of IL28 jet bombers lined up on Soviet vessel Krasnograd. In the wake of the Cuban missile crisis the Soviet Union removed the planes from Cuba. This photo was published in The Miami Herald December 7, 1962.

10/25/1962: Navy destroyers at dockside in Key West.

MORE: Russian warships, nuclear submarine enter Havana Harbor under watch of U.S. destroyers

How the crisis unfolded

The agreement between Soviet premier Nikita Khrushchev and his Cuban counterpart Fidel Castro in July 1962, to place nuclear missiles and bombers on the communist island nation was a response to the failed U.S.-backed Bay of Pigs invasion to overthrow Castro 16 months earlier.

The U.S. became aware of the weapons buildup in September 1962 following routine surveillance flights. President John F. Kennedy issued a warning to the Soviets that the introduction of nuclear weapons in Cuba was not acceptable.

Despite the proclamation, on Oct. 14, 1962, a U-2 spy plane photographed medium- and intermediate-range ballistic missile sites under construction.

The images were sent to the White House, prompting an immediate response from the Kennedy administration, starting with a naval blockade of Cuba, which the government called a quarantine in an effort not to use war terminology.

The same day the blockade was ordered, Oct. 22, Kennedy also sent a letter to Khrushchev demanding no more nuclear weapons be shipped to Cuba, and that the existing arms be dismantled and removed.

MORE: U.S. deploys warships as Russian fleet makes close pass to Florida in approach to Cuba

Meanwhile, the president was trying to tamp down a growing appetite among some of his advisers, including the Joint Chiefs of Staff, for airstrikes to take out the weapons, and then a U.S. military invasion of Cuba.

But as the president was attempting to calm that factions push for armed conflict behind the scenes, he went on television that night to publicly warn the Soviets that the U.S. was fully prepared for war should the crisis escalate.

It shall be the policy of this nation to regard any nuclear missile launched from Cuba against any nation in the Western Hemisphere as an attack by the Soviet Union on the United States, requiring a full retaliatory response upon the Soviet Union.

Khrushchevs response was that the blockade was an act of aggression, and ordered the ships to continue going to Cuba. The U.S. Navy was blocking some of the vessels, but, since they were not found to be hauling weapons, they were allowed to proceed. Some Soviet ships were deterred by the blockade and turned back.

Nevertheless, photos from reconnaissance flights showed the missile sites were near completion and U.S. armed forces were placed in DEFCON 2, the brink of war. While Kennedy had been trying to assuage the intentions of his more hawkish advisers throughout most of the crisis, on Oct. 26, he told his team that the use of force was now likely the only way to get the weapons out of Cuba.

The end of the crisis

That night, however, Khrushchev sent a message to Kennedy that he hoped an agreement could be reached to avoid war. The Soviets would remove the missiles if the U.S. promised not to invade Cuba.

If there is no intention to doom the world to the catastrophe of thermonuclear war, then let us not only relax the forces pulling on the ends of the rope, let us take measures to untie that knot. We are ready for this, Khrushchevs message read.

That spirit of detente seemed to only last through the night, though. The next day, not only did Khrushchev say any deal must also include the U.S. removing nuclear missiles from Turkey, a U-2 spy plane was shot down over Cuba, killing Air Force Maj. Rudolf Anderson  the only U.S. casualty of enemy fire during the crisis.

Now, as war with the Soviets appeared imminent, Attorney General Robert Kennedy met with Anatoly Dobrynin, Soviet Ambassador to the U.S., and told him that Washington was intending to remove the missiles from Turkey before the crisis emerged  and still planned to do so  but, that development could not be part of any resolution to the situation in Cuba.

The next day, Khrushchev publicly announced the nuclear weapons in Cuba would be dismantled and removed.

Source material for this story comes from the U.S. State Departments Office of the Historian
A group of Russian warships that sailed close to Florida shores, closely watched by U.S. destroyers, entered the port of Havana on Wednesday morning ahead of Russian military exercises in the Caribbean.

Cuban Revolutionary Armed Forces officials, including the deputy commander of the Revolutionary Navy of Cuba, Capt. Jose Luis Souto Galindo, the Russian ambassador to Cuba Victor Koronelli and a crowd of Russian tourists and curious Cubans gathered at the Malecon, the famous Havana seaside promenade, to watch the Russian missile frigate Admiral Gorshkov enter the port amid a 21-gun salute.

Early on Wednesday, the top of the nuclear-powered submarine Kazan was visible outside Havana Harbor before it submerged again, Cuban independent media 14ymedio reported.

The official Russian government news agency Tass reported Wednesday that the Kazan, a modern nuclear submarine, is capable of quietly approaching U.S. shores within 50 km and carrying out assigned combat missions, according to Mikhail Budnichenko, the head of Sevmash, the company that built it.

Open-source satellite data placed the Russian warships just 26 nautical miles from Key Largo on Tuesday morning.

According to Tass and Interfax, a private Russian news agency, the submarine is equipped with Zircon hypersonic missiles. Zircons travel so fast  nine times the speed of sound, or close to 7,000 miles per hour  that one could hit the United States in seconds from Havana.

However, it is unclear if the Kazan carried Zircons while visiting Cuba. Cuban authorities have said the Russian combat vessels do not carry nuclear weapons and do not represent a threat to the regions security.

The presence of the Russian warships in Cuba just 90 miles from U.S. shores, is seen as a gesture of defiance by Vladimir Putin, who last week warned about taking asymmetrical steps and the possibility of sending long-range weapons to third countries to attack Western targets after President Joe Biden allowed Ukraine to use U.S. weapons to strike inside Russia.

Speaking to reporters Wednesday, National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said the U.S. government has not seen evidence that Russia is placing in or delivering missiles to Cuba.

We have not seen anything like that, he said.

The senior official said Russian ships have also been sailing to Havana under past administrations, though this visit has elements...that are different, that are distinct, he said in a reference to the Kazan submarine.

The presence of Russian warships in Cuba is something we watch closely, carefully, he added. We will see how this unfolds in the coming days, but we have seen this kind of thing before.

The Biden administration has dismissed the Russian naval movements as a messaging tactic in response to U.S. support for Ukraine. But the U.S. Navy nevertheless deployed a powerful flotilla in response, sending three destroyers, a Coast Guard cutter and a maritime surveillance plane to stalk the Russian vessels.

U.S. deploys warships as Russian fleet makes close pass to Florida in approach to Cuba

U.S. officials confirmed to McClatchy and the Miami Herald on Tuesday that the U.S. warships were deployed 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, an official with U.S. Northern Command said.

But last year Air Force Gen. Glen Van Herck, at the time the chief of the U.S. Northern Command, told Congress that the Russian deployment off the U.S. coasts of Yasen-class cruise-missile submarines like the Kazan is causing growing concern.

Now not only the Atlantic, but we also have them in the Pacific, and its just a matter of time  probably a year or two  before thats a persistent threat, 24 hours a day, Van Herck told a congressional hearing.

People wearing Russian flags watch as the Russian nuclear-powered submarine Kazan, part of the Russian naval detachment visiting Cuba, arrives at Havana Harbor on June 12, 2024. Photo by YAMIL LAGE / AFP) (Photo by YAMIL LAGE/AFP via Getty Images)

Russian warships, including nuclear sub, missile frigate, will arrive in Cuba next week

The Cuban military said last week that the Russian fleet, including the oil tanker Pashin and the salvage tug Nikolai Chiker, will stay for a week. A Canadian ship will also dock at the port of Havana on Friday, coinciding with the Russian combat vessels.

U.S. officials said the Russian ships may also make a stop at a Venezuelan port. A Venezuelan ship, the AB Simon Bolivar, will also visit Santiago de Cuba, the islands second-largest city, between June 15 and 19.

The Tass news agency said the Russian delegation is headed by Vice Admiral Mikhail Neupokoev, head of the operational department of the Russian navy.

Russia has strengthened its military alliance with Cuba in recent years, with high-ranking military and intelligence officials making frequent visits to Havana. For many years, Russia operated a spy base near Havana in Lourdes, but the facility was dismantled in the early 2000s.

While the Russian ships were entering Cuban waters Wednesday morning, Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez was meeting his Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov, in Moscow. The two men vowed to continue supporting each others agenda but did not mention the ships arrival in Havana.
Russian warships pass close to US while heading to Cuba for drills

Three Russian warships reached Cuban waters Wednesday, at one point passing less than 30 miles off the coast of Florida ahead of planned military exercises in the region, according to multiple reports.

The Kremlin fleet of warships and small boats crossed the mouth of the Havana Bay and was greeted by 21 cannon salutes and Cuban sailors in dress uniform standing in formation, The Associated Press reported.

A Russian nuclear-powered submarine known as the Kazan  not assessed to be carrying nuclear weapons  followed the Russian ships, which are seen as a show of strength amid tensions over Western aid to Ukraine.

The fleet  comprising a Russian frigate known as Gorshkov, fleet oil tanker Pashin and a rescue tug Nikolay Chiker, according to the Cuban Foreign Ministry  are expected to stay in Cuba until Monday. The ships are then anticipated to take part in air and naval exercises in the Caribbean in the coming weeks, the first Kremlin military drills in the region since 2019.

The U.S. military also believes the Russian ships and support vessels could stop in Venezuela, another longtime ally of Moscow, and are likely to remain in the region through the summer.

U.S. officials have said the war drills are not considered a threat to America, but U.S. ships earlier this week were deployed to shadow the Russians. Those include two Navy destroyers and two ships towing sonar equipment meant to track the submarine, and another destroyer, a Coast Guard cutter and P-8 maritime patrol aircraft shadowing the Russian ships, a U.S. official told CBS News.

Moscow, meanwhile, has said it is merely conducting routine military drills with its Cuban allies.

Ahead of reaching Cuba, the Gorshkov and Kazan conducted simulated missile drills in the Atlantic, practicing a strike on a group of enemy ships from more than 370 miles away, according to the Russian Defense Ministry.

The perceived show of strength comes less than two weeks after Washington gave Ukraine partial permission to use its weapons to strike targets within Russia in order to protect Ukraines second-largest city, Kharkiv.

Russian President Vladimir Putin quickly thereafter suggested his forces could respond with asymmetrical steps elsewhere in the world.

A State Department spokesperson told the AP that while Russias Cuban port calls are routine naval visits, they also acknowledged its military exercises have ratcheted up because of U.S. support to Ukraine and exercise activity in support of our NATO allies.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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Russian troops attacked a fire station in the village of Lyptsi, Kharkiv Oblast on the night of 11-12 June. A fire broke out as a result of the attack, but no firefighters were injured.

Source: State Emergency Service of Ukraine

Details: The fire station in the frontline village of Lyptsi, Kharkiv Oblast, was damaged in a night attack. A fire broke out there.

It is noted that the personnel there were not injured and the equipment was not damaged.

Quote: "The fire station building, rebuilt in 2009, was first destroyed by the occupiers in 2022. In the same year, after the liberation of the village of Lyptsi, it was fully rebuilt, and the State Emergency Service unit was put on combat duty. Today, the building has been destroyed for the second time."

Photo: Kharkivs State Emergency Service of Ukraine

Background: Over the night of 11-12 June, Ukraine's air defence shot down 29 Russian air targets out of 30 launched, including 5 missiles and 24 kamikaze drones.

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The Russian military attacked the village of Kurylivka in Kharkiv Oblast on the morning of 12 June, injuring two men.

Source: Kharkiv Oblast Military Administration

Quote: "At 09:30, the occupiers attacked Kurylivka in the Kupiansk district. Two civilian men were injured as a result of the attack."

Details: The Oblast Military Administration also added that information on the damage is currently being ascertained.

Background:

On the night of 11-12 June, Russian troops attacked a fire station in the village of Lyptsi, Kharkiv Oblast. A fire broke out as a result of the attack. No rescue workers were injured.

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Russians launch combined attack on Kyiv at night: all air targets downed

Russian forces launched a combined attack on the city of Kyiv on the night of 11-12 June, targeting it with cruise missiles, drones and ballistic weapons.

Source: Kyiv City Military Administration

Quote: "The enemy has launched another missile strike on the capital! The attack was a combined one, using various types of weapons. The enemy launched Kh-101/Kh-555/Kh-55 cruise missiles from Tu-95MS strategic bombers.

These missiles approached Kyiv from the south in several waves. Almost simultaneously with the missiles, enemy attack UAVs also moved toward the capital from the same southerly direction.

As early reports indicate the enemy also launched ballistic missiles on the capital while [air defence systems] were responding to the attack [by cruise missiles and attack UAVs]."

Details: The Kyiv City Military Administration reported that an air-raid warning was in effect in Kyiv for almost two hours.

Assets and personnel of the Air Force destroyed all aerial targets.

Early reports indicate that there were no casualties or damage in the capital. Operational summary data is being updated and confirmed.

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The Russians have reported new "seizures" of Ukrainian properties in Crimea, including assets belonging to Arsenii Yatseniuk, former Prime Minister of Ukraine; Susana Dzhamaladinova, better known as Jamala, the winner of the 2016 Eurovision Song Contest; and Kyivmiskbud, a Kyiv-based large construction company.

Source: Kremlin-aligned Russian news agency RIA Novosti, citing Russian occupying authorities in Crimea

Details: The Russians reported that Yatseniuks assets nationalised in Crimea include an educational building, a garage, and a large plot of land in the city of Yalta, Vladimir Konstantinov, Russian-installed "head" of the Crimean parliament, told RIA Novosti.

The "nationalisation" also targeted Jamala's property. The Russians said movable and immovable property, as well as two land plots in the settlement of Alushta, had been seized.

In addition, a flat belonging to the family of politician Vitalii Khomutynnik, a former member of the pro-Russian Party of Regions and co-chairman of the Renaissance group in the Ukrainian parliament, has been "nationalised" in the village of Livadiia on the southern coast of Crimea.

Property belonging to the family of former Ukrainian MP Lidiia Koteliak (the Fatherland party), the Dolphin Therapy Centre in Alushta (its beneficiary is a member of the Brovary District Council of Kyiv Oblast), assets belonging to the Kyivmiskbud company, and the Porto Mare Park Hotel (founded by Ukrainian citizen Vadym Vaispapir) have also been seized.

Property belonging to the private company Yalta Film Studio, the Bristol Hotel in Yalta, and Platinum Bank have also been "nationalised" by the Russian occupying authorities.

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Sacramento State was asked to improve how it handles Title IX, sexual misconduct. Did it?

Reality Check is a Bee series holding officials and organizations accountable and shining a light on their decisions. Have a tip? Email realitycheck@sacbee.com.

In the summer of 2023, Sacramento State was given recommendations to improve its handling of sexual misconduct and Title IX gender-based issues.

Sacramento State was told to improve resourcing strategies campus wide after an uptick in Title IX reports in fall 2022. The university was instructed to increase awareness of its Title IX office, improve coordination with other campus entities and refine documentation and record keeping.

These recommendations were given by Cozen OConnor, an international law firm based in Pennsylvania who assessed sexual misconduct and the handling of Title IX across the California State Universitys 23 campuses. The California State University systems mishandlings were classified as an institutional failure, the audit stated.

The Cozen OConnor audit was prompted by multiple issues of sexual misconduct and Title IX across the California State University system.

A year later  where is Sacramento State in addressing these issues?

In 2022, multiple sexual assaults caused significant concern across Sacramento States student body. Addressing those anxieties was also recommended in the report. When it comes to the combined total of assaults and rapes, nothing has changed, data from Sacramento State Police Department showed. During the 2022-23 academic year, Sacramento State reported 11 assaults and seven rapes. Sacramento State has had 13 assaults and five rapes this year. In total: the university has had 18 crimes that was either assaults or rapes.

This year, Skip Bishop, the executive director of equal opportunity and the universitys Title IX coordinator, said his office has seen an increase in reports. Bishop said this increase shows the Title IX process is working, and that the campus community is becoming more aware of resources.

Bishop could not clarify the exact increase of reports his office has received. He said collecting that data would be a project that (he) just dont have time to do.

Sacramento State was given six specific recommendations from the Cozen OConnor report intended to improve on.

Awareness and visibility of the Office of Equal Opportunity

Bishop said OEO has included added additional signage on campus to let people know where (the office is) at. Bishop said the office has also increased its social media presence.

He added OEO has done more than 50 in-person or virtual events related to Title IX in partnership with other campus partners.

I got a six person office, and we still pulled that off, Bishop said. I would put that up against any of the universities in the country to put that level of programming out in front an entire campus.

Internal OEO processes and coordination with campus partners

To improve the universitys report intake progress, the report recommended Sacramento State create a formal multidisciplinary team to meet on a regular basis. Within that team, Cozen OConnor recommended there be discussions of all student, staff and faculty reports related to Title IX and DHR.

But Bishop said that process wont work for the university.

We dont do it like that. We probably wont do it like that, Bishop said Since Ive been here, weve created separate teams because certain information just cant be shared across the board. Its more efficient to do it this way.

OEO meets regularly  either biweekly or twice a month  with three separate teams to discuss academic labor relations and academic affairs. Bishop said these teams do the exact thing (Cozen OConnor) recommended in the report.

Bishop said his staff will meet with campus officials like the faculty and university police biweekly to do exactly what recommend in the report and discuss cases that come in and where theyre going.

Bishop said there are now two separate teams to discuss Title IX issues with faculty and students.

Prevention and education, improving infrastructure

The report also described OEO as under resourced to serve the needs of the university. Due to issues with staffing and resources, approaches to prevention and education were minimal. To solve this, the auditors recommended Sacramento State build a formal prevention and education program, hire a dedicated prevention coordinator and establish a prevention and education oversight committee.

Bishop declined to comment these recommendations because it has a financial component and is connected to the Chancellors Office.

Documentation and record keeping

Sacramento State had inconsistent documentation and record keeping practices, the report stated. Information was not always maintained centrally or was accessible to OEO and other campus departments. Documentation was described as inconsistent, and as a result of the systems inefficiency, the university over relied on individual and institutional memories, the report stated.

Sacramento State was instructed to develop specific protocols, consistent collection and retention of data that could be shared and tracked accessibly.

Since 2013, when Bishop arrived, OEO used an Excel spreadsheet. Now the university has a case management system.

The case management system is just that: it manages the entire case documents, Bishop said. If I sent a letter to someone or an email to someone in the case management system, thats how we keep track of everything.

Addressing other conduct of concern

In response to concerns over student safety, Sacramento State rolled out an action plan to prevent sexual violence on campus.

In the time Sacramento State has had this plan, the university has hired two confidential advocates contracted out through WEAVE, a Sacramento nonprofit that specializes in supporting sexual assault survivors. These two advocates are located in student housing, said Lara Falkenstein, the universitys associate director of health and wellness.

Falkenstein said Sacramento State has focused on sexual assault prevention awareness. In the month of April, the university has ran sexual assault prevention and awareness events. She said the university supplies students with information on ways to report a sexual assault.

During their audit, Cozen OConnor found significant confusion among the Sacramento State between OEO and other campus entities. Bishop said to provide clarity, OEO requires mandatory training for faculty, staff and students on the office annually.

The university will send out campus notices at the end of each semester, as well as a designated course of OEO for students online.

Were doing that, and hopefully that catches on, Bishop said. Then our partners, our colleagues have this information and they share it as well.
BEIJING, June 12 (Xinhua) -- China is strongly dissatisfied with the European Union's plan to impose provisional duties on imports of Chinese electric vehicles (EVs), the commerce ministry said Wednesday, noting the move has ignored facts and World Trade Organization (WTO) rules.

The EU side has ignored China's repeated strong objections, as well as the appeals and dissuasions from the governments and industry in EU member states, said a spokesperson with the Ministry of Commerce (MOC).

"China is deeply concerned and strongly dissatisfied with this development. China's related industries are profoundly disappointed and firmly oppose this," said the spokesperson.

The findings by the European side in the pre-disclosure lacks both factual and legal basis, the spokesperson said, adding that the European Commission has ignored the fact that the Chinese EV industry's advantages stem from openness and competition. The European Commission also disregarded WTO rules, and failed to acknowledge the full cooperation of relevant Chinese enterprises during the investigation, said the spokesperson.

The European Commission, by arbitrarily creating and exaggerating China's "subsidy items" as well as abusing the "facts available," ruled that China offered subsidies at excessively high levels, according to the spokesperson.

Such an action is "blatant protectionism" that will create and escalate trade frictions, said the spokesperson, adding that the move not only undermines the legitimate rights and interests of China's EV industry, but also disrupts and distorts the global automotive industrial and supply chains, including those in the EU.

While holding high the banner of green development in one hand, the European Commission wields the stick of trade protectionism in the other, politicizing economic and trade issues and using them as tools, said the spokesperson. "This violates the consensuses reached by the leaders of China and the EU countries to strengthen cooperation, and will affect the atmosphere of bilateral economic and trade cooperation between China and the EU. It does no good to the interests of EU consumers, and will eventually undermine the overall progress of the EU's green transformation and global cooperation on climate change."

China urges the EU to rectify its wrong-doing immediately, implement the important consensuses reached during the recent China-France-EU trilateral meeting, and address economic and trade frictions through dialogue.

The spokesperson said that China will take all necessary measures to defend the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese enterprises. 
SAN FRANCISCO (KRON)  The San Francisco Police Department is searching for a suspect who attacked a man Tuesday evening near the Mission District.

At approximately 6 p.m., San Francisco police responded to a reported stabbing at 15th and Valencia streets. Officers found a man with an apparent stab wound and provided aid at the scene until medics arrived.

Man injured in Potrero Hill shooting early Tuesday

The victim was transported to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries and is expected to survive, according to SFPD.

The suspect in the attack fled the scene and is still at large, police say.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the San Francisco Police Department at (415)-575-4444 or text a tip to TIP411 and start the message with SFPD.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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Sandy Hook shooting survivors set to graduate from HS with mixed feelings: A whole chunk of our class missing

Sandy Hook shooting survivors are set to graduate from Newtown High School on Wednesday with mixed feelings knowing 20 of their slain classmates wont be walking across the stage with them.

About 60 of the 330 graduating seniors from the Connecticut high school were in Sandy Hook Elementary School when a deranged gunman opened fire on Dec. 14, 2012, killing 20 first graders and another six staffers.

While the victims of one of the worst school shootings in US history will be honored during the ceremony, it hasnt been revealed how.

Emma Ehrens, (C), a survivor of the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting, speaks as she stands with other survivors during a rally against gun violence on June 7, 2024, in Newtown, Conn. AP

I am definitely going to be feeling a lot of mixed emotions, said Emma Ehrens, 17, who was one of the 11 children from Classroom 10 to survive the attack.

Im super excited to be, like, done with high school and moving on to the next chapter of my life. But Im also so  mournful, I guess, to have to be walking across that stage alone.  I like to think that theyll be there with us and walking across that stage with us.

Ehrens was one of five students who talked to the Associated Press about the big day ahead and the emotional burden associated with it.

Lilly Wasilnak, 17, said she thinks everyone is super excited for graduation.

But I think we cant forget  that there is a whole chunk of our class missing, said Wasilnak, who was in a classroom down the hall from the gunfire.

Police and ambulance at the scene in the aftermath of a school shooting at the scene of Sandy Hook Elementary School on Dec. 14, 2012. AFP via Getty Images

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.

Another student, Grace Fischer, acknowledged graduating students from Sandy Hook didnt have a typical school experience.

As much as weve tried to have that normal, like, childhood and normal high school experience, it wasnt totally normal, Fischer, 18, said.

Members of Junior Newtown Action Alliance hold signs during a rally against gun violence on June 7, 2024, in Newtown, Conn. AP

But even though we are missing  such a big chunk of our class, like Lilly said, we are still graduating.  We want to be those regular teenagers who walk across the stage that day and feel that, like, celebratory feeling in ourselves, knowing that weve come this far.

Students hope moving onto the next chapters of their lives give them an opportunity for a fresh start.

In Sandy Hook, what happened is always kind of looming over us, said Matt Holden, 17, who was in a classroom down the hall from the shooting.

Ehrens hugs a family friend during a rally against gun violence on Friday in Newtown, Conn. AP

I think leaving and being able to make new memories and meet new people, even if well be more isolated away from people who have stories like us, well be more free to kind of write our own story.  And kind of, you know, not let this one event that happened because we were very young define our lifetimes.

For me, I feel like its definitely going to get better and be able to break free of that system and just be able to become my own person rather than, again, the Sandy Hook kid, Ehrens added.

The students have been involved in the Junior Newtown Action Alliance and in anti-gun violence efforts in a bid to prevent other tragic mass shootings.

People gather for a prayer vigil at St Rose Church following an elementary school shooting in Newtown, Connecticut, Dec. 14, 2012. AFP via Getty Images

Ella Seaver, 18, said she plans on studying psychology in college to become a therapist to give back to others.

Putting my voice out there and working with all of these amazing people to try and create change really puts a meaning to the trauma that we all were forced to experience, Seaver said.

Its a way to feel like youre doing something. Because we are. Were fighting for change and were really not going to stop until we get it.

With Post wires
Our friends, those who should be here ... their loss doesn't go in vain, Matt Holden tells PEOPLE

Anjelica Jardiel From left: Sandy Hook 2012 shooting survivors and 2024 high school graduates Henry Terifay, Grace Fischer, Emma Ehrens, Matt Holden, Ella Seaver and Lilly Wasilnak.

The first graders who survived the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in 2012 are now graduating from high school and entering young adulthood

The emotionally complicated milestone is marked by both joy and sadness, they say

Here, some of the survivors and new grads reflect and look ahead to their future; read more in next week's issue of PEOPLE

Twelve years after the Sandy Hook Elementary mass shooting killed 20 children and six educators in Newtown, Connecticut, the first-grade students who survived that day are graduating high school.

The happiness and hope of their achievement  marking their passage into adulthood  is intertwined, forever, with loss. As it should be, the students say.

"Its kind of yin and yang, 18-year-old Ella Seaver told PEOPLE in an interview before she received her diploma from Newtown High School on Wednesday, June 12.

In recent weeks, PEOPLE spoke with 10 of the student survivors of the mass shooting who are either graduating on Wednesday or graduated last year.

Some of these teenagers  who heard and watched their classmates being killed and then had to flee the threat of violence themselves  want to go on to become therapists, after their years of therapy as they coped with trauma; or they would like to be politicians and attorneys, having become involved with the anti-gun violence Jr. Newtown Action Alliance.

The slain students and the memories of that day are not ever truly out of mind; neither is the desire to speak out, to remember and to heal themselves and their communities, day by day.

Anjelica Jardiel From left: Sandy Hook 2012 shooting survivors and 2024 high school graduates Henry Terifay, Grace Fischer, Emma Ehrens, Matt Holden, Ella Seaver and Lilly Wasilnak.

"This lives with us," says 17-year-old Emma Ehrens, who grappled with intense survivor's guilt in her childhood and plans to work in civil rights. "For the people that think that it just disappears, it doesn't. It's going to be with us until we die."

Below, some of the Sandy Hook graduates reflect on that fateful day, how their lives have unfolded since and their hopes for the future.

For more from these students and other community members, including parents of those who were killed, read next week's issue of PEOPLE, on newsstands June 21.

Related: Sandy Hook 10 Years Later: Remembering the 89 Students Killed in School Shootings From that Day Until Now

Ella Seaver, 18

Anjelica Jardiel Ella Seaver

Ella Seaver first realized she and her classmates were in danger when her late principal, Dawn Hochsprung, came on the loudspeaker on the morning of Dec. 14, 2012.

She came on the intercom and I vividly remember her saying, Get to your safe spot,  Seaver, whose class was around the corner from those that were attacked, tells PEOPLE. And then literally being able to hear a phone drop and hit the ground.

While the teen admits finding joy in life has been kind of hard since the shooting, she has learned to leave space for both happiness and heartache: Specifically with graduation, people are like, Oh my God, youre graduating high school, this is a monumental moment in your life. Yes, but it has that touch of sorrow when you realize what's missing.

Speaking of her experience and what she hopes others impacted by gun violence will learn from her, Seaver says, You can still find the joy in life and try and work to not only make this happen less but also show how grief doesn't have to be so consuming. You can still have that loss and feel it but not let it overtake you. You can still keep growing.

Henry Terifay, 18

Anjelica Jardiel Henry Terifay

Like Seaver, Henry Terifay remembers the moment of his principal's interrupted warning at the start of the shooting. I can't remember what she was saying exactly, but the loudspeaker comes on and then you can hear him go in there and shoot her and shoot the rest of the front office, Terifay recalls.

While the 18-year-old made it out of the building alive, one of his closest friends, Chase Kowalski, did not. I have his name tattooed on my back with a green heart at the end of E for the Sandy Hook colors, Terifay tells PEOPLE. In the wrestling section of the yearbook, you can see his tattoo in a close-up picture of me. I sent it to his mom and she was like, Thank you. I was afraid he wouldnt be in [the yearbook]. I appreciate you.

I just really want things to be different, Terifay says now. I want more commonsense gun laws, universal background checks and more bannings on high power assault rifles  I just want things to be done.

Emma Ehrens, 17

Anjelica Jardiel Emma Ehrens

In room 10 of Sandy Hook Elementary, Emma Ehrens and her class were sitting together reading a book. The banging noises heard in the hallways didnt alarm the group as there was construction happening at the time. We didnt think much of it until a guy walked into my classroom with a gun, Ehrens says.

While most of Ehrens memories of the day come from the statements she gave to the police, what she recounted 12 years ago was clear: He just started shooting all of my friends and classmates, Ehrens tells PEOPLE. He shot my teacher [Victoria Soto] and then he was going to shoot me, but [Jesse Lewis] who did not make it screamed at us that either his gun was jammed or he needed to reload, and that we needed to get out of there and run. So thats what five of us did. I bumped into him on the way out.

Related: 9 Years After Sandy Hook, Families Share Sorrow and How They're Keeping Victims' Legacies Alive

With only one month off of school and not really being given work up until third grade, Ehrens says growing up was very hard.

You never really got the option to have a normal childhood, the 17-year-old says. I kind of needed one person to just see me as a kid and not someone who was through a very traumatic event.

Ehrens  who has struggled really badly with survivors' guilt  spends a lot of time at the memorial built for her classmates near where their elementary school once stood. If I have nothing to do, if I'm feeling down or anything, I'll just walk down to the memorial and see all my friends, she says. Maybe, this sounds lame, talk to them, I guess. But not always.

Matt Holden, 17

Anjelica Jardiel Matt Holden

Matt Holdens strongest memories come from being reunited with his mom in the immediate aftermath of the shooting.

My mom came running up to me crying, held my head in her hands, and I had never seen my mom cry before, he tells PEOPLE. So seeing my mom in such raw, raw emotion was what really told me, Oh no, something's gone horribly wrong. 

Holden, who also remembers hiding in cubbies in his classroom in the school not far from the gunman while a custodian told them to shut the door, strives to keep his friends' memories alive, especially at graduation.

Seeing how we're here and they're not, it really does remind you of what we might have lost, he says. That's why we do this all, so that our friends, those who should be here right now, their loss doesn't go in vain.

Related: Sandy Hook Dad Responds to Texas School Shooting: 'Sadly, I Know the Unspeakable Pain'

Grace Fischer, 18

Anjelica Jardiel Grace Fischer

For Grace Fischer, healing hasnt been linear.

I definitely had some issues with really loud noises, the 18-year-old tells PEOPLE. In seventh grade, there was a bomb threat or some kind of threat to the [new] Sandy Hook Elementary School on the anniversary and so they had to evacuate. So things like that trigger me and make me emotional.

While she continues to recover, still, Fischer is grateful for the community she has in Newtown. Were all there for each other, even people that werent at the school. Everyone being there for each other, everyone understanding what people have been through, it's a very tight community and I'm definitely happy that we have that here.

Lilly Wasilnak, 17

Anjelica Jardiel Lilly Wasilnak

Lily Wasilnak shared a classroom with Fischer when the shooting occurred, and for the 17-year-old, that has led to a deeper bond. Theres just a different connection you have with the people who were there, especially Grace being in the same room we both know what the other one went through," she says.

It is hard for Wasilnak to put a finger on what changed that day. For me, this is all Ive ever known, she tells PEOPLE. Obviously there was some stuff to be worked out in therapy, but theres some things you cant undo.

Graduating involves complicated feelings, too.

"Even with graduation it is happy, but it's sad," she says. "I think it's hard too because a lot of adults especially are telling us how we're supposed to feel and it's about you, you're supposed to be happy, but it's like, no  it's happy, but you can't forget about this."

Wasilnak has turned her sorrow into action against gun violence: It was really hard for me as a kid growing up being like, Why did I survive and they didn't?  when they had these fantastic lives ahead of them, but I learned how to turn that around and be like, Okay, well I did survive, so I need to do something with this and I can't just die with them  Everything I do is for them.



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"To graduate and miss 20 kids out of your class, there's no way to go about it without remembering them," one student tells PEOPLE

Anjelica Jardiel From left: Sandy Hook 2012 shooting survivors and 2024 high school graduates Henry Terifay, Grace Fischer, Emma Ehrens, Matt Holden, Ella Seaver and Lilly Wasilnak

Its been 12 years since the massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown, Connecticut, left 20 first graders and six educators dead before the gunman took his own life.

Now the surviving first graders are graduating and entering adulthood, a major and emotionally complicated milestone, they say.

"A lot of it has been like, 'Oh my God, you're graduating high school, this is kind of a monumental moment in your life,' but it always kind of has that touch of sorrow when you realize what's missing," 18-year-old Ella Seaver told PEOPLE in an interview in the days before receiving her diploma from Newtown High School along with 333 other students on the afternoon of Wednesday, June 12.

More than a decade after the shooting, Seaver and other kids at school that December morning in 2012 can vividly recall how the chaos unfolded  and the long shadow it cast over their lives.

For more from the Sandy Hook survivors and new grads, read next week's issue of PEOPLE, on newsstands June 21.

Seaver was just "two classrooms down from the two classrooms that were attacked," she says.

Lilly Wasilnak, 17, was another student in Seaver's class. In some ways, the shooting defined her entire life: "I think it's hard to exactly know what changed, because for me, this is all I've ever known."

That also pushed her and some of the other new graduates to action to prevent more bloodshed.

Survivors including Wasilnak, Matt Holden, Emma Ehrens and others are members of the anti-gun violence Jr. Newtown Action Alliance.



"For me, everything I do is for them [the shooting's victims]," Wasilnak says.



Related: Sandy Hook Survivor, 17, Tells Her Story for First Time Since Tragedy 10 Years Ago: 'I Thought I Was Going to Die'

Anjelica Jardiel Survivors of the 2012 Sandy Hook shooting and now Newtown High School 2024 graduates including Ella Seaver (center)

Wednesday's graduation ceremony was closed to the press "due to the sensitive nature of the event and the varied perspectives of each individual student and family," the district's superintendent, Christopher Melillo, said.

But special time was reserved for the 20 students killed in 2012: Their names were read aloud in tribute.

Graduates also wore green ribbons emblazoned with "Forever in Our Hearts."

"To graduate and miss 20 kids out of your class, there's no way to go about it without remembering them," Wasilnak says.

Never miss a story  sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

The shooting was seen by many as a turning point in the country's ongoing problems with gun violence  a feeling shared by some of the survivors and graduates.

"I just don't want to hear 'our prayers are with you,' because unfortunately your prayers don't really do anything for me," Henry Terifay, 18, told PEOPLE. "I just really want things to be different."

In 2022, on the 10th anniversary of the shooting, former President Barack Obama reflected on Sandy Hook, describing it as the single darkest day of my presidency.

Robert Nickelsberg/Getty The Sandy Hook 2012 school shooting

"The news from Sandy Hook Elementary was devastating, a visceral blow, and like so many others, I felt not just sorrow but anger at a world that could allow such things to happen," he said at the time.

Obama also said the families impacted by the shooting have "borne that weight with strength and grace," adding that they've "drawn purpose from tragedy  doing everything in their power to make sure other children and families never have to experience what they and their loved ones did."



Related: Barack Obama Reflects on 'Single Darkest Day of My Presidency' on 10-Year Anniversary of Sandy Hook Shooting

President Joe Biden, who was the vice president at the time of the Sandy Hook shooting, in 2022 signed the first major piece of anti-gun violence legislation in the country in years after it overwhelmingly passed Congress.

The Bipartisan Safer Communities Act "enhances certain restrictions and penalties on firearms purchases; promotes evidence-based best practices for school safety; authorizes grants to expand access to mental health services; and appropriates emergency funding for mental health resources and school safety measures," according to the White House.

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(KRON)  A Santa Rosa high school student was sent to the hospital last week after he was jumped by two other students, the Santa Rosa Police Department said. The students injuries are considered to be minor, and both suspects were arrested.

The attack happened at Elsie Allen High School, located at 599 Bellevue Ave., at about noon on June 7. Video of the assault was sent anonymously to a school administrator, and police were called to the scene just after 3 p.m.

Suspect in fatal Lake Berryessa shooting arrested, charged with murder

According to police, the suspects jumped the victim in a school bathroom and took his belt. The 16-year-old victim was taken to a hospital by his parents for pain and minor injuries to his face.

Two 17-year-olds were identified as the suspects. Police believe the assault may have been gang-related.

On Monday, police served search warrants at the suspects homes on the 100 block of Gio Drive and the 100 block of Bellevue Avenue. Both were arrested.

Clothing and other items associated with criminal gangs were found at both homes. The suspects were arrested on the following counts:

Felony robbery

Misdemeanor battery

Felony participation in a criminal street gang with an enhancement of promoting/assisting a criminal street gang

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Former Rep. George Santos (R-N.Y.) will be able to take summer trips to the Poconos while he awaits his federal fraud trial this fall, according to new court documents.

U.S. District Court Judge Joanna Seybert granted Santoss request to make trips to Mount Pocono in Pennsylvania, specifically to Tobyhanna, Pa., per a court document filed Tuesday.

The former congressman is also allowed to travel within New York City, Long Island and Washington, D.C., along with other places if he gives the government advanced notice, per the documents.

The Hill reached out to Santoss attorney for further comment.

The New York Republican is facing 23 federal felony counts of wire fraud, identify theft and other campaign finance charges. He has pleaded not guilty to all the charges and is slated to stand trial in September.

Santos was expelled from the House last year, making history as the sixth lawmaker to be booted from the lower chamber. His departure followed a scathing report from the House Ethics Committee that found he violated federal criminal laws.

Despite his fall from the House, the embattled Republican briefly launched an independent House bid against Rep. Nick LaLota (R) in New Yorks 1st Congressional District but has since dropped 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 The Hill.
Insights from Bloomberg, Americas Quarterly, Al Jazeera, and Atlantic Council

The News

Saudi officials meet with Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva this week at a summit aimed at building closer ties between the two countries.

Brazil and Saudi Arabia have a long-standing relationship, and exchanged trade worth $7 billion in 2023. A Saudi non-profit estimates that the market will grow to $10 billion by 2030, Bloomberg reported, but the oil-rich Middle Eastern kingdoms ambitions in the region are not limited to Brazil.

SIGNALS

Semafor Signals: Global insights on today's biggest stories.

Brazil is just the start for Riyadh

Source: Americas Quarterly

The summit in Brazil is a first step for the Saudis push into Latin America as a whole, Americas Quarterly noted. The kingdom wants to diversify its economy away from oil under its ambitious Vision 2030 plan, including by setting up new trade partnerships and global initiatives. To fund some of these projects, it recently sold shares of its national oil company, Aramco. Strengthening ties with Latin America is part of that diversification strategy. The kingdom is considering opening an embassy in Colombia and striking a deal to build or assemble Brazilian airliners in Saudi Arabia. Aramco also recently acquired a Chilean fuel retailer. They want all of Latin America close to them, an analyst told Americas Quarterly.

Brazil wants investment in infrastructure and industry

Sources: Bloomberg, Al Jazeera

Brazil has a lot to gain from deepening ties with the Saudis, and it hopes to attract more investment in industry and infrastructure, as well as get its hands on fertilizer from the Gulf for agriculture, Al Jazeera reported. Other potential areas of collaboration include food security, climate, and energy  talks with Saudi investors to launch a $600 million fund to invest in the sector are reportedly underway, Bloomberg reported  and defense cooperation. So far, Riyadh is pouring a lot more money into Brazil than the other way around, Bloomberg added, about $1 billion versus $300 million in 2022. It may take a few years before Brazil starts investing more in the kingdom, an analyst said.

China and Russia are also building clout in Latin America to challenge the US

Source: Atlantic Council

The United States, Russia, and China have ramped up their efforts to bolster their own relations across South America, but their approach and goals vary, the Atlantic Council noted. China and Russia are both trying to challenge the US dominance and create a more multipolar world. China is taking a more comprehensive approach thats focused on economic investment, particularly through its Belt and Road Initiative, while Russia has so far prioritized military cooperation and security pacts with autocratic regimes like those of Cuba, Nicaragua, and Venezuela  which are all major customers for Russian military equipment sales, too.
WHO says many people in Gaza facing 'famine-like conditions'

Displaced Palestinians take shelter at the border with Egypt, during an Israeli military operation, in Rafah

GENEVA (Reuters) - The head of the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Wednesday that many people in Gaza were facing "catastrophic hunger and famine-like conditions".

"A significant proportion of Gaza's population is now facing catastrophic hunger and famine-like conditions," said WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

"Despite reports of increased delivery of food, there is currently no evidence that those who need it most are receiving sufficient quantity and quality of food."

Tedros said there were more than 8,000 children under five years old who been diagnosed and treated for acute malnutrition, including 1,600 children with severe acute malnutrition.

"However, due to insecurity and lack of access, only two stabilisation centres for severely malnourished patients can operate," he added.

"Our inability to provide health services safely, combined with the lack of clean water and sanitation, significantly increases the risk of malnourished children."

The war in Gaza began on Oct. 7 when militants led by Hamas killed 1,200 Israelis and took more than 250 hostage, according to Israeli tallies.

Israel's response has caused the deaths of more than 37,000 Palestinians, according to the Gazan health ministry, displaced most of Gaza's population of 2.3 million and caused widespread hunger and destruction.

A U.N. inquiry on Wednesday found that both Israel and Hamas had committed war crimes early in the Gaza war, and that Israel's actions also constituted crimes against humanity because of the immense civilian losses.

Tedros also highlighted a separate health crisis in the West Bank, where he said healthcare had been targeted by nearly 500 attacks since Oct. 7.

"While the world's focus has been on Gaza, there is also an escalating health crisis in the West Bank, where attacks on healthcare and restrictions on movement of people are obstructing access to health services," he said.

"In most areas of the West Bank, clinics are only operating two days a week and hospitals are operating at about 70% capacity."

(Reporting by Gabrielle Tetrault-Farber; Editing by Alex Richardson)
The state Department of Education has discontinued advanced placement African American Studies in the states public schools, a decision that has left many civil rights leaders upset and one state representative accusing the state agency of attempting to whitewash history.

In a June 4 memo to school district leaders, the education department announced that schools could no longer offer African American Studies as an AP class, although individual high schools may teach it as an elective.

The pilot course, a college-level class that gave students the ability to earn college credit while still in high school, was created two years ago by the College Board. It is a rigorous, interdisciplinary approach to examining the African American experience. From the African diaspora to the civil rights movement of the twentieth century, students use history, literature and data while learning to analyze and synthesize information.

It was added to some schools offerings for students who wanted to participate two years ago, before current state education Superintendent Ellen Weaver took office. The official course will be launched nationwide during the upcoming 2024-25 school year, and many expected it to launch in South Carolina too.

The states social studies standards are due for a routine review, the education department said, and the agency is working to ensure offerings are aligned with soon-to-be-updated standards and state law. And the department cited significant controversy surrounding the AP African American Studies course that has been addressed by the General Assembly in a budget proviso and pending legislation.

The state education department maintains its unwavering commitment to teaching the factual historical experience of African Americans to our students, C. Matthew Ferguson, deputy state superintendent, wrote in last weeks memo. 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.

The department said in a memo that some African American history is being taught in public schools. The current curriculum being taught in schools from fifth grade through high school includes the factual historical experience of African Americans, the memo said, including lessons on the slave trade, Reconstruction and the Jim Crow era.

A budget proviso, which was first enacted several years ago, dictates that state funds cannot be used to teach certain concepts about the race and sex of an individual. The proviso is set to be a part of the states upcoming budget as well.

H. 3728, the South Carolina Transparency and Integrity in Education Act, that would prohibit certain topics from being taught in public schools, is in conference committee.

The American Civil Liberties Union of South Carolina was joined by the South Carolina Education Association, the state NAACP and others on Tuesday to criticize the departments decision and to call for the class to be reinstated in the states public schools.

The ACLU said that by citing the budget proviso and the classroom censorship bill, the department is appealing to manufactured controversy and a law that is not on the books.

Theres nothing to be gained by denying history being taught on the advanced placement level, Bianca Woodard, a history teacher, said.

Black history and the history of South Carolina are inextricably intertwined, Woodard said, and its impossible to divorce the two. After teaching African American Studies as a prep class for four years at Midland Valley High School in Graniteville, she was excited to teach the AP course when officially launched in the fall. Now that wont happen.

People are being deprived of their right to a free education, said Rep. Jermaine Johnson, D-Richland. We cannot stand for this. We must teach the truth. If they remove this class, they are effectively whitewashing history. We cannot allow that to happen.

High schools are still allowed to offer African American Studies as a locally-approved honors course, if they so desire, the state education department said.

Those who do not know their past are bound to repeat it, Tiffany James, president of the National Action Network of Columbia, said. The South Carolina Department of Educations decision to deny credits for AP African American Studies indicates that they plan to repeat the past by making South Carolina great only for a select few. Learning SC history in its totality includes learning about Black history. Taking away that choice is intentional and irresponsible. Our children deserve better.

A spokesman for the state Education Department did not comment on the claims, but sent The State a document with background information on the decision.

Some have used this decision to promote a false narrative that South Carolina is avoiding the teaching of African American history thereby denying historical fact and dishonoring African Americans and their rich contributions to our state, the document read. This is simply not so.
TEHRAN, June 12 (Xinhua) -- Iran's Caretaker Foreign Minister Ali Bagheri Kani and Venezuela's Foreign Minister Yvan Gil Pinto highlighted the necessity to further expand bilateral relations and cooperation, especially in the face of the U.S. sanctions.

The two sides met on the sidelines of the BRICS Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Nizhny Novgorod, Russia, and stressed the need to support Palestinians and condemn Israel for its attacks on the Gaza Strip, according to a statement released by the Iranian Foreign Ministry on Wednesday.

Bagheri Kani pointed to the "diverse and numerous" projects for bilateral cooperation, calling for more continuous interactions and communications between Iranian and Venezuelan officials in different areas to further develop bilateral relations.

While turning to the war in Gaza, Bagheri Kani urged that the international community should make greater efforts to stop the Israeli "war and crimes" and facilitate humanitarian aid delivery to the "oppressed" people of the Palestinian coastal enclave.

The Venezuelan foreign minister, for his part, extended condolences and sympathy over the deaths of former Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian in a helicopter crash on May 19, underscoring the important and influential roles the two played in supporting the deepening and expansion of all-out relations between Tehran and Caracas.

Pinto said given that the two countries were under the U.S. "cruel" sanctions, it was important that they follow up on the implementation of the joint projects more seriously and further promote cooperation to counter the embargoes.

He added that the Venezuelan people and government have been making efforts to defend the Palestinians' rights, and use all its capabilities and political capacities to condemn the Israeli "crimes." 
Tuesdays primary elections are in the books as the major parties picked their nominees.

In State House elections we saw how conservative the General Assembly could get and whether fights against abortion bans hurt certain Republicans.

Here are six takeaways from Tuesdays primaries.

How did the Freedom Caucus vs. GOP caucus battle turnout?

In what has been brewing for two years, the battle between the state House GOP Caucus and the Freedom Caucus played out in 32 districts. And Freedom Caucus appeared to have had the better night.

The Freedom Caucus ousted state Rep. Jay West, R-Anderson, who serves as the assistant majority leader. West lost to Freedom Caucus aligned candidate Lee Gilreath in the Upstate House District 7. State Rep. Bill Sandifer, R-Oconee, appears to have narrowly lost to Adam Duncan in the Upstate House District 2. Sandifer serves as the House Labor, Commerce and Industry Committee chairman and has served in the House since 1995.

In House District 34, which is currently represented by state Rep. Roger Nutt, R-Spartanburg, who chose to run for state Senate, Freedom Caucus aligned candidate Sarita Edgerton finished first in the primary with 40.43% of the vote. GOP aligned candidate Joanne LaBounty was in second place with 33.76% of the vote.

The ranks of the current sister senators take a hit

The South Carolina sister senators took a few hits Tuesday. The Senate has six female senators, five of whom were members of the chamber in the spring 2023 and banded together to filibuster against the states fetal heartbeat abortion ban.

The group already was slated to lose a member when state Sen. Mia McLeod, a Richland County independent, opted not to run for reelection.

First-term state Sen. Penry Gustafson, R-Kershaw, was blown out in the Republican primary in District 27. Allen Blackmon received 6,095 votes. Gustafson received 1,331 votes.

State Sen. Sandy Senn, R-Charleston, was in a close race with state Rep. Matt Leber in Senate District 41. Leber finished with 31 more votes than Senn as the race is headed for a recount.

State Sen. Katrina Shealy, R-Lexington finished first in her primary, but did not receive a big enough share of the vote to clinch the nomination. Shealy, who received 40.02% of the vote, will face Carlisle Kennedy in a runoff. Kennedy finished with 36.22%. Zoe Warren finished in third placed with 23.75% of the vote.

How did Trump endorsed candidates do in Congressional races?

Former President Donald Trump endorsed in four Republican primary congressional races. All four of his endorsed candidates finished first in their primaries including three who outright won their races.

U.S. Rep. Joe Wilson in the 2nd Congressional District and U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace in the 1st Congressional District defeated their GOP challengers and now head into the general election.

In the 4th Congressional District with 97% of the vote counted, U.S. Rep. William Timmons, who was endorsed by Trump, defeated state Rep. Adam Morgan, R-Greenville, who serves as the state House Freedom Caucus chairman.

Mark Burns who was endorsed by Trump in the 3rd Congressional District will go into a runoff against Sheri Biggs for the GOP nomination to replace U.S. Rep. Jeff Duncan, R-Laurens.

Bauer and Finlay get their rematch

State Rep. Heather Bauer, D-Richland, will have to beat former state Rep. Kirkman Finlay again if she wants to keep her seat for another two-year term in House District 75. Finlay, a Richland County Republican, served in the state House for five terms before being upset by Bauer in 2022 by 235 votes in one of the few toss up districts in the state.

Bauer centered her campaign solely around abortion access, and was the lone bright spot for South Carolina Democrats in 2022 in what was a rough election year for the party in the minority.

Finlay received more than 65% of the vote in Tuesdays Republican primary and defeated Tracy Robins.

Others former lawmakers tried to return

Other former lawmakers are looking to comeback. Former state Rep. Jerry Govan, who was redistricted into a seat with state Rep. Russell Ott, D-Calhoun, finished first in his House District 93 Democratic primary and will head to a runoff against Johnny Felder .

Former state Sen. Lee Bright advanced to a Republican runoff in Senate District 12 to replace current state Sen. Scott Talley, R-Spartanburg who chose not to run for reelection. With all precinct reporting, state Rep. Roger Nutt, R-Spartanburg, led Hope Blackley by 137 votes for second place.

Former state Rep. Vic Dabney lost his Republican primary bid in House District 45 against state Rep. Brandon Newton, R-Lancaster, who serves a House whip.

Walkers late start didnt hurt

Getting into the race late didnt hinder Richland County Council member Overture Walker. Walker entered District 22 Senate race on the last day of filing and quickly raised nearly $116,000 through May 22. Walker finished in second place in the primary and advances to a Democratic runoff against state Rep. Ivory Thigpen, D-Richland, who raised $49,000 through May 22.

Richland 2 school board member Monica Elkins finished third.

Walker and Thigpen are vying to succeed state Sen. Mia McLeod, a Richland County independent, who chose not to run for reelection.
Scams tied to Ozempic and other new weight-loss drugs are surging. How to protect yourself

Ozempic, Wegovy and other new weight-loss drugs have proved so good at helping users shed pounds, they've quickly become a multibillion-dollar industry.

The prescription-only medications have also been in consistently short supply, which is why they've grown increasingly popular  with scammers.

Online con artists are luring victims with discount offers of Ozempic and similar drugs with no prescription required. After they take the money, however, they deliver something their clients didn't order  fake drugs, perhaps, or just the disappointment that comes when people realize they've been taken.

A new report by threat researchers at McAfee found 176,871 phishing emails and 449 malicious websites tied to offers of Ozempic, Wegovy and semaglutide, the generic name for these drugs, from January to April 2024. Phishing attempts were almost 200% higher during the period than they were from October to December, the internet security company reported.

In addition, the researchers found that scammers were creating fake profiles on Facebook so they could run weight-loss-drug swindles there. Others took hundreds of fake offers to Craigslist  including 207 of them in a single day in April.

Read more: Millions of Americans need drugs like Ozempic. Will it bankrupt the healthcare system?

Novo Nordisk originally developed the semaglutide it dubbed Ozempic as a treatment for Type 2 diabetes, but clinicians found that semaglutide could help people lose significant amounts of weight by suppressing appetite. The Food and Drug Administration approved Novo Nordisk's Wegovy as a weight-loss drug in 2021; since then, it has approved an alternative drug, Eli Lilly's Zepbound, which is based on its diabetes treatment Mounjaro.

Although Ozempic costs nearly $1,000 a month without insurance, the demand for these drugs has grown rapidly. Sales of Ozempic alone are projected to reach $11 billion this year, according to one analysis.

The combination of high prices and insufficient supply has proved irresistible to scammers.

Abhishek Karnik, head of threat research at McAfee, said the fraudsters typically have two types of victims: people who can't get a prescription for Ozempic, and people who have a prescription but can't find it at their local pharmacies.

The scams can be personalized and targeted at people who've shown some interest in weight-loss drugs, using information collected about them and their browsing habits, said Iskander Sanchez-Rola, director of privacy innovation for the internet security company Norton. The pitches may come through email or ads placed on search engines or websites, he said, including sites that are well-established and trustworthy.

"Anywhere a human can have their eyes on, they will be there," Sanchez-Rola said of the scammers. Just because a website is legitimate, he added, that's no guarantee that the ads there will be.

To pull off the scam, Karnik said, the fraudsters will often interact with the prospective buyer through a social media network or platform such as Telegram to win their trust. That could include offering over-the-top testimonials to their legitimacy and to the quality of the products. "You'll have people claiming they had huge success with these drugs," he said, "but none of it is true."

Scam sellers may also pose as doctors or pharmacists, often from foreign countries, and claim they can sell Ozempic without having to examine you or see a prescription. That may seem sketchy, but many Americans have imported real medications such as insulin illicitly from Canada and Mexico for years because the prices are so much lower outside the U.S.

Read more: Boba Fett, blue fish, and fettuccine: How L.A. fentanyl sales boomed on Craigslist

"One example on Facebook Marketplace included a 'Doctor Melissa' based in Canada who could provide Mounjaro and Ozempic without a prescription, with payment available through bitcoin, Zelle, Venmo and Cash App  all of which are nonstandard payment methods for prescription drugs and should be red flags for consumers," McAfee said.

According to McAfee, some scammers just take your money and disappear, possibly after getting you to share sensitive personal information (unwittingly, in many cases). Others will deliver an injection pen  the typical format for these weight-loss drugs  filled with something other than the advertised medication; they may be insulin injectors, EpiPens or even injectors loaded with salt water, McAfee said.

That sort of counterfeit shipment poses a significant health risk. For example, McAfee said, one person who used Ozempic to help manage her diabetes bought some injectors online after local pharmacies ran out, only to discover that the pens she received were filled with insulin. Had she not been tipped off by the flimsy packaging and different appearance, McAfee said, she could have injected herself with a fatal dose.

Another type of con, Sanchez-Rola said, is when the scammer will deliver a bottle of aspirin or some other drug you didn't order, then make it so burdensome for you to obtain a refund that you give up.

How to detect Ozempic scams

The first rule, McAfee said, is never to buy one of these drugs without a prescription. After all, doing so is illegal in the United States.

Sticking to licensed pharmacies is wise too. You can check whether a California pharmacy is licensed at the State Board of Pharmacy website; for other states, consult the FDA's website.

But scammers also target people who have prescriptions they can't fill locally, as well as offering medications they tout as nonprescription alternatives that are just as good as Ozempic. And to make their products more attractive, they may use AI tools to produce eye-popping before-and-after images that are persuasively realistic.

Here are more red flags to look for before buying a weight-loss drug online:

Strikingly deep discounts. Fraud experts say that if a price looks too good to be true, it almost certainly is. Another thing to bear in mind, Sanchez-Rola said: "You didn't find the best deal, the best deal found you, which is already a big red flag."

Misleading claims. McAfee warns that overly rosy promises of results are a sign of a scam. Be especially wary if the site offers none of the usual disclaimers about side effects, possible negative reactions or details about how the product should be used.

Payment methods other than credit cards. Scammers prefer systems that act more like cash, such as Zelle, Cash App or gift cards, or are untraceable, such as cryptocurrency. Sanchez-Rola said sometimes scammers will also offer a credit card option that looks real, but it's designed to display an error message when you try to use it so you'll be forced to use a different, sketchier payment method.

A mix of 5-star and 1-star reviews. Sanchez-Rola said that fraudsters' websites often try to bury the actual reviews posted by unhappy customers under a slew of bot-generated praise. If you see a lot of 5-star reviews that were posted within a short period of time, that's a huge red flag, he said, especially if the reviews have no comments attached.

Deep discounts that expire soon. Con artists will try to override your reservations about a transaction by giving it a false sense of urgency.

Boilerplate company information. Scammers' websites often provide phone numbers, addresses, contact information and descriptions that they copy from legitimate sites, Sanchez-Rola said. You should paste the phone number and other information into a Google search to see if they're used by other, unrelated businesses  for example, he said, one scam site copied its physical address from an ice cream parlor, assuming that its customers wouldn't bother to check.

Use security software that helps detect scams. McAfee and Norton, among other companies, offer programs that can alert you when you're about to navigate to a suspicious website.

Read more: TikTok to crack down on content that promotes disordered eating and dangerous weight-loss habits

What to do if you've fallen for an Ozempic scam

If you're fortunate enough to have used a credit card, you can dispute the charge and eventually obtain a refund. You can get similar results if you make your purchase using PayPal or Venmo with the buyer protection feature enabled.

If not  for example, if you used Zelle or paid with gift cards  you can at least report the fraud to try to protect other potential victims. The federal government has an online tool to help you find the right law enforcement agency to file your report with. You can also file a complaint with the FTC's site and the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center.

Beyond that, Sanchez-Rola said, if you were conned on a social network, you should report the fraudster's profile to the network's administrators. For example, Facebook explains how to report fraudulent Marketplace sellers in its help section, and TikTok walks through how to report a problematic account in its support section.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Anna Beaumont was just 13 years old when she died in Florida - Wales News Service

A schoolgirl drowned in a swimming pool in Florida after suffering a suspected epileptic seizure, an inquest has heard.

Anna Beaumont, 13, was found unconscious in a pool at the Discovery Cove resort in Orlando while on holiday with her parents Peter and Elizabeth and brother Jake.

The inquest in Pontypridd, South Wales, heard she had been in the resort on May 28 when her father heard the lifeguards whistle just after 10.30am.

The hearing was told that Annas father realised his daughter was in trouble and rushed to the scene where lifeguards were attempting to resuscitate her.

She was taken to Arnold Palmer hospital in Florida but died on May 31.

The court heard that following a post-mortem examination at the hospital, the cause of death was given as drowning and seizure disorder, another term for epilepsy.

Anna was taken to hospital and died the next day - PA

Patricia Morgan, coroner for South Wales Central, said a date would be set for a full inquest once further investigations into the circumstances of Annas death and her past medical history had been undertaken.

The coroner said this may take some time given her officer will need to get information from authorities in Florida.

I wish to take this opportunity to express my condolences to Annas family at this sad time, the coroner told the court.

Anna was a keen cyclist and had raised 900 for the Noahs Ark childrens hospital with an Ironman ride next to her father.

A beautiful soul

Her family, of St Fagans, Cardiff, said in a statement: Anna was a beautiful soul who has been taken from us in a tragic accident. We are devastated by her loss, but she will never be forgotten.

We would like to thank the emergency response teams and hospital staff in Orlando who tried so hard to save Annas life.

Anna attended Radyr Comprehensive, where the headteacher Andrew Williams called Anna a cherished member of our school family.

Mr Williams: The very thought of losing a child is an unimaginable journey and I know I speak on behalf of the whole school community when I say that our thoughts are with Annas family as they try to come to terms with their loss.

Anna was a cherished member of our school family, and her absence will be profoundly felt by pupils, staff and all who had the privilege of knowing her. Her spirit, kindness and presence touched so many lives.

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.
Sea turtle stuck in rocks along Florida beach gets help from deputies

Sea turtle stuck in rocks along Florida beach gets help from deputies

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA)  A sea turtle found stuck in coquina rocks at a Florida beach on Monday received a little push from deputies.

Flagler County officials received a report of the animal in distress just south of Marineland.

Sarasota sets record for most rainfall in 1 hour

The very large turtle was found along the sand dunes, having trouble getting back into the ocean.

With the help of the countys Fire Rescue, crews were able to dislodge and safely hoist the turtle out of the rocks.

Three members carried it back into the ocean, where officials said it swam off into the sunrise.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Second foster care leader in West Virginia to exit in last two weeks

Jeff Pack will transition to commissioner of the West Virginia Bureau of Senior Services, the governor announced Wednesday. (Office of the Gov. Jim Justice | Courtesy photo)

Jeff Pack, head of the states foster care system within the Department of Human Services, will transition into another government role, according to the governor.

Pack is the second foster care leader to announce theyll exit their role in the last two weeks as DoHS has faced intense scrutiny for its handling of and communication around the death of 14-year-old Kyneddi Miller.

On Wednesday, Gov. Jim Justice announced during a virtual press briefing that Pack will step down as commissioner for the Bureau of Social Services once his replacement is found.

Hell serve next as commissioner of the West Virginia Bureau of Senior Services.

Jeff does a great job, he continues to do good work, the governor said. This is a superstar in my book.

Pack took on the role in 2021.

I am deeply honored to have served as the first commissioner for the Bureau for Social Services, he said in a statement. I am immensely grateful for the opportunity to work alongside such passionate and committed professionals. Together, we have made a significant impact on the lives of West Virginia families, and I look forward to continuing to serve our community in my new role.

Pack previously served in the House of Delegates, where he represented Raleigh County. While being a lawmaker, he raised concerns about issues in the foster system, including missing payments meant for adoption agencies in 2021.

Justice touted Packs accomplishments, including addressing long-standing Child Protective Services staffing shortages amid the states foster care crisis.

DoHS and Justice are facing a sweeping class-action lawsuit that alleges the mistreatment of thousands of children in foster care as well as inadequate CPS staffing.

Under Packs leadership, the administration raised CPS salaries and developed comprehensive trauma response and mental health support for field staff.

More than 80% of CPS positions are currently filled.

Pack also saw the implementation of the states online Child Welfare Dashboard in an effort to provide transparency and information about the foster care system.

[Packs] leadership has brought about significant positive changes, and his collaborative spirit has strengthened our initiatives, DoHS Secretary Cynthia Persily said in a statement. While we will miss his expertise and vision in this role, we are thrilled that he will continue to serve the people of West Virginia in his new capacity in the governors office.

The states first foster care ombudsman, Pamela Woodman-Kaehler, submitted a letter of resignation on May 29. Woodman-Kaehler was tasked with overseeing the states troubled foster care system and advocating for the rights of children and families.

In response to a question from West Virginia Watch about the timing of the foster care leaders resignations, Justice said his administration is continuing to improve the system.

With all in me, I think were not being fair completely  If you dont watch out, you can catch too big a net and all the sudden before you know it, you leave the focus [off] what a grandmother and a mom did to a child, he said.

Law enforcement found Kyneddi, who was being homeschooled, in a skeletal state on the floor of her Boone County home in April. Her mother and two grandparents have also been charged related to the girls death.

Justice admin continues to face allegations in Kyneddis case

The girls death sparked concerns about the states response to children in crisis. Media outlets were stonewalled in their efforts to gain information about whether CPS had known about the child prior to her death.

West Virginia State Police shared a document and audio saying that they made a referral to a local CPS office about the girl in March 2023, and a GPS tracker verified that his cruiser traveled there. CPS said there was no record of the referral.

After conflicting responses and non-answers, the Justice administration last week admitted that they mishandled communication about the high-profile case..

On Tuesday, WCHS reported that Boone Countys prosecuting attorney asked a judge to determine if Justice or DoHS were in contempt of court in the case for emailing documents that likely contained statements from Kyneddis mother, Julie Miller and others. DoHS had been barred from sharing parts of Millers testimony that were taken last week without her attorney present.

Brian Abraham, the governors chief of staff, said during Wednesdays press conference that the Justice administration is not involved in the ongoing criminal case in Boone County.

Im advised that the material was provided to the prosecutor  thats normal protocol. But, the prosecutor doing the right thing wanted to make sure that he didnt get information he shouldnt have, he said.. I think everything worked out.

Justice continued to tout his administrations transparency in the case.

Lets be really fair I think what weve found is ways that we can make things better, but I dont think weve found anything where Jim Justices office  has been trying to hide things from you, he said.

Correction: The headline of this story has been updated. Only one leader was in Department of Human Services.

The post Second foster care leader in West Virginia to exit in last two weeks appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Selling lots of stuff online? You could be required to share your personal info in California

Good morning and welcome to the A.M. Alert!

BILL TO TARGET HIGH-VOLUME FENCES GETS HEARING

High-volume sellers on third-party websites, such as CraigsList, Facebook Marketplace and NextDoor, soon could be required to provide information to those sites to verify their identity, including potentially sensitive information such as bank account details, Social Security numbers or drivers licenses.

SB 1144, by Sen. Nancy Skinner, D-Berkeley, is part of a broader legislative effort to tackle retail theft in the state. Skinners bill specifically aims to crack down on organized retail theft operations, which use sites like Craigslist to peddle stolen merchandise.

The bill only applies to sellers who have more than 200 transactions on the site.

Skinner in 2022 successfully passed SB 301 to establish regulations for online marketplaces to verify the legality of sellers.

However, we also have marketplaces where the actual money doesnt change hands on the sites, Skinner said as she presented her bill to the Assembly Judiciary Committee on Tuesday morning.

Skinner said her bill aims to get at the organized retail theft rings which are the real source of the large volume of stolen goods.

However, Jose Torres Casillas, of the tech industry lobbying organization TechNet, argued in opposition testimony that there is significant ambiguity about how to implement the bill that will impose hardship on both sites and sellers.

It was a deliberate policy choice, not a loophole, to exclude off-platform sales, he said, adding that with SB 1144, sites like NextDoor would have to consider all sellers to be high-volume sellers, because sites are not always aware of when sellers and buyers meet up or how much money changes hands.

Despite tech industry pushback, the bill was well-received by most of the committee members.

If we are going to confront the retail theft challenge we have, we have to undercut their ability to make this so profitable, Assemblyman Matt Haney, D-San Francisco, said.

Committee Chair Ash Kalra, D-San Jose, added that At some point, the flow, especially online  which is the toughest area to regulate  needs to stop.

The bill also was heard Tuesday morning by the Assembly Privacy and Consumer Protection Committee.

NINTH CIRCUIT UPHOLDS STATE GUN SHOW BAN

The federal Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals on Tuesday upheld SB 915, the 2022 bill by Sen. Dave Min, D-Irvine, that bans gun shows from being held at state-owned fairgrounds.

The courts decision overturned a lower court ruling enjoining the ban, as well as a separate law banning shows specifically in Orange County, from going into effect.

In a statement Tuesday, Min called the decision a win for Orange County and California families who are sick and tired of gun violence.

The restoration of my ban on gun shows on state properties  including most of the county fairgrounds sites that are owned by the state  will make us all safer, Min said in a statement.

Min added that he was saddened by the fact that gun shows were allowed to continue taking place while the laws were enjoined, meaning that many thousands more guns poured into our communities in laxly regulated circumstances.

A spokesman for the California Rifle and Pistol Association could not immediately be reached for comment.

I hope that in my lifetime, we will return to being a society where peoples lives are valued more than guns, and where gun violence incidents are rare and shocking rather than commonplace as they are today. Todays ruling is a step in the right direction, Min said.

QUOTE OF THE DAY

Workers in California will never, ever stop fighting wage theft, misclassification and overall disrespect from these massive corporations. Never.

- California Labor Federation boss Lorena Gonzalez, responding to news that the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that rideshare and delivery drivers are employees, not independent contractors, via X.

Best of The Bee:

California budget battle continues over increasing the number of subsidized child care slots, via Vik Jolly .

California Democrats cry hogwash on Republican criticism of retail theft bills, Prop. 47, via Lindsey Holden and Stephen Hobbs .

Placer County school board member warns of witchcraft, child sacrifice in bizarre speech, via Jenavieve Hatch.
Democrats are increasing their scrutiny of Jared Kushners business activities.

Senate Finance Committee chair Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) asked Kushners firm, Affinity Partners, for details about its investors on Wednesday, including the $2 billion it received from the Saudi Arabian governments Public Investment Fund in 2021.

Mr. Kushners limited track record as an investor, including his nonexistent experience in private equity or hedge funds, raise questions regarding the investment strategy behind the seeding investments and lucrative compensation that Affinity received from the Saudi PIF and other sovereign wealth funds, Wyden wrote.

A panel that screens investments for the Saudi sovereign wealth fund warned against investing with Kushner, given his inexperience in finance, but the full board, led by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, overruled the panel, The New York Times reported in 2022.

Kushner advised Trump on foreign affairs, guided his administration to embrace Saudi Arabia as an ally, and remained in close contact with the crown prince even after he was implicated in the dismembering of American journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

The Saudi PIFs decision to invest $2 billion in Affinity so soon after Kushners departure from the Trump White House raises concerns that the investment was a reward for official actions Kushner took to benefit the Saudi government, including preventing accountability for the Saudi government ordering the brutal murder of journalist and American citizen Jamal Khashoggi, Wyden wrote.

Wydens letter asked Affinity Partners for details about its seeding investments, the investments made by the firm, as well as the fees it has received, and the amount Kushner has been paid. The company did not immediately respond to requests for comment made through its website.

Wydens letter represents an escalation of Democratic scrutiny of Kushners business activities, which have been controversial from the start. Even House Oversight Committee chair James Comer (R-Ky.), an aggressive defender of Donald Trump, said last year that he thought Kushner crossed the line of ethics with his Saudi deal.

Comer has overseen Republicans impeachment inquiry against Joe Biden, which has largely focused on business deals by the presidents son. Republicans have said he improperly traded on his fathers former position as vice president during the Obama administration.

Democrats on Comers committee have highlighted the millions Trumps business received from foreign governments while he was president and also questioned Kushners Saudi payday. Unlike Wyden, however, House Democrats dont have subpoena power because Democrats dont have a majority in the chamber.

Related...
Jared Kushners Saudi Arabiafunded investment firm is finally being seriously examined. Senate Democrats have launched an investigation into Kushners firm, Affinity Partners, seeking information about the companys investmentsafter it received $2 billion of its $2.5 billion in investments from Saudi Arabia.

Senate Finance Committee Chair Ron Wyden is leading the investigation, noting the peculiarities of nepobaby Kushners involvement in business dealings he has next to no experience doing. In a letter Wednesday asking Kushners firm to respond to queries about its investors, Wyden wrote:

Mr. Kushners limited track record as an investor, including his nonexistent experience in private equity or hedge funds, raise questions regarding the investment strategy behind the seeding investments and lucrative compensation that Affinity received from the Saudi PIF and other sovereign wealth funds.

Virginia Canter, former Treasury Department chief ethics counsel, told Salon that Kushners shady business dealings with Saudi Arabia, so soon after he and his father-in-law left the White House, raise serious national security concerns. Its one of the most egregious situations Ive ever seen in decades of working in the federal government as an ethics official, she said. It appears to be a payoff as much as a potential investment.

Kushners firm launched in 2021 and immediately received a majority of its funds from Saudi Arabias crown prince, with a whopping 99 percent coming from foreign sources. Kushner defended the flood of cash by pointing out that Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salmans fund also invests in Nintendo, Uber, and Microsoftwhich is more of an insult to those companies than it is a vouch for Kushner.

The Saudi PIFs decision to invest $2 billion in Affinity so soon after Kushners departure from the Trump White House raises concerns that the investment was a reward for official actions Kushner took to benefit the Saudi government, including preventing accountability for the Saudi government ordering the brutal murder of journalist and American citizen Jamal Khashoggi, Wyden wrote.

In 2018, MBS oversaw the brutal assassination of Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi. Trumps White House paid no mind to the murder, instead releasing a shocking statement expressing support for Saudi Arabia and sowing doubt that MBS ordered Khashoggis murder, despite a CIA analysis finding that was certainly the case. Trump himself has curious ties to MBS, which during his presidency raised concerns of foreign influence.

This isnt the first time Congress has sought answers about Kushners firm. In 2023, the stench of corruption was so putrid, Congress subpoenaed the company over its ties to Saudi Arabia, with even Republican James Comer saying Kushners Saudi blood money crossed the line of ethics.
WELLINGTON, June 13 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Li Qiang arrived here Thursday for an official visit to New Zealand, the first leg of his three-nation tour from June 13 to 20.

Li said upon arrival that he looks forward to having in-depth exchanges of views with New Zealand leaders and people from all walks of life on China-New Zealand relations and issues of common concern, to further deepening exchanges and cooperation in various fields, and to updating the China-New Zealand comprehensive strategic partnership.

This year marks the 10th anniversary of Chinese President Xi Jinping's state visit to New Zealand, as well as the establishment of the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and New Zealand, Li said, noting that his visit to New Zealand is intended to continue traditional friendship, promote mutually beneficial cooperation, and drive common development.

During his stay, Li will hold in-depth exchanges of views with Governor-General Cindy Kiro, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and other officials on China-New Zealand relations as well as international and regional issues of common concern.

Li will also pay official visits to Australia and Malaysia, and will co-chair the ninth China-Australia Annual Leaders' Meeting with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. 
Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Dick Durbin, D-Ill., speaks during a hearing on combating the rise of illegal electronic cigarettes, on Capitol Hill, Wednesday, June 12, 2024, in Washington. ( AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)

WASHINGTON (AP)  Senators on Wednesday blasted top health and law enforcement officials for not doing more to combat the rise of illegal electronic cigarettes in the U.S., a multibillion-dollar business that has flourished amid haphazard enforcement.

Democrats and Republicans on the Senate Judiciary Committee expressed frustration and exasperation while questioning officials from the Food and Drug Administration and Justice Department about attempts to stay on top of the vaping industry, which has grown to include thousands of flavored, unauthorized e-cigarettes originating in China.

Those products, including brands like Elf Bar, have become the most popular choice among American teens who vape.

I simply do not understand how FDA and DOJ have permitted thousands of products to remain on store shelves when their manufacturers have not received authorization, or, in some cases, even filed an application, said the committee's chairman, Dick Durbin.

The Illinois Democrat displayed a photo of a shelf stocked with brightly colored e-cigarettes, including ones in dragon fruit and watermelon bubblegum flavors, which he said a Senate staffer took at a vape shop near the FDA's Maryland campus.

These illegal products, clearly designed for children by their flavors, are being sold in the shadow of FDAs building," Durbin said. "How is that allowed to happen?

FDA's tobacco chief, Brian King, said the agency has been slowed by a backlog of applications submitted by vape companies seeking U.S. approval, which regulators are legally required to review.

The sheer volume of this product landscape requires that we take the time to conduct scientifically and legally defensible reviews of the 27 million applications, King said.

The FDA has OKd a handful of e-cigarettes as alternatives for adult smokers. All other products on the market, including major sellers like Juul, are pending review or considered illegal by regulators.

An industry lobbyist told the committee that the FDA has created an untenable marketplace by rejecting more than 99% of applications submitted by companies.

Lawmakers also heard from a high school senior who said she became addicted to nicotine after trying a blueberry ice vape in ninth grade.

I thought I was just enjoying the flavors but soon my 14-year-old brain craved the nicotine more and more, said Josie Shapiro of Seattle. Ive tried to quit vaping over and over again, but its really, really hard.

The FDA and DOJ have legally barred about a half-dozen vaping companies for selling products that can appeal to youngsters, but many more manufacturers continue launching new products, primarily disposable vapes that cant be refilled and are thrown in the trash.

Deputy Assistant Attorney General Arun Rao told senators that regulators at the Justice Department and other agencies have signaled that the vaping issue is a priority across the executive branch.

I'm against signals, Durbin said. Do something!

On Monday, the FDA and DOJ announced a new government task force, which will include the U.S. Postal Service and other agencies, to try and tackle the problem. That step was recommended in 2022 by an outside panel that reviewed longstanding complaints about the FDAs tobacco program.

Republican Senator Thom Tillis called the timing of the announcement a political stunt, and criticized the absence of other federal agencies from the initiative, including Customs and Border Protection.

If the timing of the task force formation wasnt evidence of how unserious the FDA is about tackling the flood of illicit e-cigarettes, FDAs exclusion of CBP from the task force makes it crystal clear, said Tillis, who represents North Carolina, the nation's leading tobacco producer. He urged officials to concentrate enforcement on Chinese brands, rather than large domestic manufacturers like Reynolds American.

The FDA can conduct investigations and recommend cases, but only the Justice Department can bring lawsuits. Federal prosecutors may decline to pursue cases for any number of reasons, including competing priorities, weaknesses in the case or the potential repercussions of losing in court.

Using its own authorities, the FDA has sent hundreds of warning letters to vape shops and e-cigarette manufacturers in recent years. But the letters have done little to dissuade companies from flouting FDA rules and introducing new vapes.

Industry analysts estimate disposable vapes make up 30% to 40% of the roughly $7 billion-dollar vaping market. The two best-selling disposables  Breeze and Elf Bar  generated more than $500 million in sales last year, according to Nielsen retail sales data analyzed by Goldman Sachs.

Both brands have been sanctioned by FDA regulators but remain widely available, in some cases with new names, logos and flavors. More than half of the 2.8 million U.S. teens and adolescents who vaped last year said they used Elf Bar.

King noted that products like Elf Bar cannot legally be sold in China because the government there has banned non-tobacco flavored e-cigarettes.

You cant sell them in China but you can sell them in the United States? Sen. John Cornyn of Texas responded. The Republican vowed to introduce legislation addressing what he called an outrageous and unacceptable status quo.

Overall, teen vaping has fallen 60% since its all-time high in 2019, following the COVID-19 pandemic and new age restrictions and flavor bans on e-cigarettes and other tobacco products.

___

The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institutes Science and Educational Media Group. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
Monique Payne was just 14 years old when she was placed in a youth residential treatment facility (RTF) in Massachusetts. Her mother sent her there to get mental health treatment.

>> U.S. House votes to hold Attorney General Garland in contempt

Tragically, Monique died while in the facilitys care in 2006 from an untreated brain tumor that swelled.

I sent my child to get the care she needed, and she was brought back in a casket to me. How does that happen? Moniques mother, Theresa Payne, told our Washington News Bureau.

An investigation found Monique had been complaining for days about headaches, but 911 was only called after she stopped breathing and turned blue.

Her family came to Capitol Hill to spread awareness about Moniques story this week and to shine a light about dangers inside RTFs that are supposed to help kids and teens.

Theyre children being treated as animals, said Miriah Payne, Moniques twin sister. Theyre treated as if theyre disposable.

I want change, said Ashley Sweatman, Moniques sister. I think less money should go in the pockets of the CEOs and more into the institution around rehabilitation These kids need clinical intervention and they need adequate care.

They shared their story alongside other family members, survivors and advocates as new findings were released from a two-year-long Senate investigation led by Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Oregon), Senate Finance Committee chairman.

Wyden said the investigation included reviews of four big companies: Universal Health Services, Acadia Healthcare, Devereux Advanced Behavioral Health, and Vivant Behavioral Health Services. Wyden said staff examined more than 25,000 pages of company documents, conducted dozens of conversations with experts, and toured some facilities first-hand.

The Committees investigation found that children at RTFs suffer harms such as the risk of physical, sexual, and emotional abuse at the hands of staff and peers, improperly executed and overused restraint and seclusion, inadequate treatment and supervision, and non-homelike environments, the report said. These harms amount to acute safety concerns and have long-term effects, including suffering, trauma and even death.

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The report points to cases of unqualified or poorly trained staff.

Children at RTFs are often supervised by staff who are ill-equipped to address their complex behavioral health needs and, in some cases, children interact with staff who pose a direct threat to their wellbeing, the report said. Poor staffing leads to elopements from facilities, self-harm attempts by children, and child fatalities.

The report said children often dont get the mental or behavioral care they need, despite these facilities getting federal taxpayer dollars to provide those services.

That means that American tax dollars are funding the kind of abuse our investigators found, said Wyden during a hearing on Wednesday.

Hardworking taxpayers should not be funding anything less than superior care, said Sen. Mike Crapo (R-Idaho).

The report calls for Congress to require higher standards of care at youth RTFs and increased oversight of the companies running them.

The facility where Monique Payne was sent closed in 2017 after multiple patient safety incidents. Her family took their case to court. While a jury did find there was some negligence, it did not find that negligence caused Moniques death.

Monique Payne was 14 when she was placed in a youth residential treatment facility (RTF) in Massachusetts. Her mother sent her there to get mental health treatment. Monique died while in the facilitys care in 2006 from an untreated brain tumor that swelled. Her story was the focus of a Senate investigation of abuses at federally funded youth treatment centers. (Courtesy: Payne family)

Her family says theyre now calling for more accountability as they honor Moniques memory.

She doesnt get to get married, said Theresa Payne. She doesnt get to have children. I cant see what she was going to be.

The companies highlighted in the report who responded to our request for comment said they disputed the characterization of the Senate investigations findings.

In a statement, a spokesperson for Universal Health Services (UHS) said:

We recognize the importance of the Senate Committees work in this area and share their concerns regarding the treatment of children at Residential Treatment Facilities (RTFs) across the country. We regret that, despite our cooperation with the Committee throughout the course of a two-year investigation of RTFs, the report is incomplete and misleading and provides an inaccurate depiction of the care and treatment provided at UHS RTFs, as well as the safety of the residents at those facilities. The report attempts to extrapolate certain incidents and survey reports into a false narrative regarding the treatment provided, environment of care and regulatory compliance at our facilities. We vehemently dispute this characterization of our facilities.

We acknowledge that there have been incidents over our many years of dedicated service at some of our facilities where the treatment of residents has not met our expectations and have suffered harm. Such incidents belie our commitment to provide a safe and therapeutic environment as well as the policies, procedures, protocols and training for our facilities. There is no place for any such incidents in our facilities and we are committed to ensuring such events are reduced with a goal of zero. Whenever such incidents occur, remedial action is taken.

A spokesperson for Devereux Advanced Behavioral Health said in part:

Its unfortunate that Devereux has been lumped together in this report with three other for-profit companies that do not operate in a similar manner, but the facts on the ground tell the truth. We were saddened that during an otherwise very productive two-year partnership, the committee did not visit a single Devereux program. That said, we heartily endorse their recommendations for strengthening the overall system of residential care across the nation.




















Interim Rhode Island Department of Corrections Director Wayne Salisbury, Jr. testifies before the Senate Committee on Judiciary on Tuesday, June 11, 2024. Salisbury has served as interim director since January 2023. He was tapped by Gov. Dan McKee in May to lead the state's prisons on a permanent basis. (Christopher Shea/Rhode Island Current)

Despite alleged ethics violations by the state correctional officers union, the Senate Committee on Judiciary voted 10-1 Tuesday to advance Gov. Dan McKees nomination of Wayne T. Salisbury, Jr. as permanent director for the Rhode Island Department of Corrections (RIDOC).

Salisbury, whose fiscal year 2024 salary was $150,930, has served as acting director of the department since January 2023, following the departure of Patricia Coyne-Fague. He was hired at RIDOC in 2016 as deputy warden and was named deputy director in November 2020, according to his resume. He served as acting warden from March 2017 to February 2018.

I have grown to appreciate the great history and complexities of this storied organization, he told the committee, Salisbury told the committee. In corrections, we are faced with a myriad of complex, nuanced matters that must be addressed thoroughly and collaboratively to ensure the safety of our staff and those who are entrusted to our care.

Sen. Leonidas Raptakis, a Coventry Democrat, cast the lone vote against Salisburys nomination. The full Senate is expected to take up the confirmation vote Thursday, said spokesperson Greg Pare.

Union ramps up opposition

If approved, Salisbury pledged to make transparency the centerpiece of his administration at the Adult Correctional Institutions in Cranston.

At this time, when change is taking place, it is important that our staff, the legislature and the public know our intentions and our plans to move forward, he said.

But the Rhode Island Brotherhood of Correctional Officers, which blasted Salisburys nomination even before it was announced in May, claims Salisbury has been anything but transparent.

The union on Monday filed a pair of complaints against Salisbury with the Rhode Island Ethics Commission alleging nepotism and omission of required, out-of-state trips on Salisburys annual financial statement to the state ethics panel.

Wayne Salisburys past should have disqualified him from ever holding a position of this importance in the first place, Richard Ferruccio, union president, said during the confirmation hearing.

The first complaint is based on Salisburys stepdaughter, Amanda Novo, getting a job at RIDOC in probation and parole, according to Ferruccio. A copy of the complaint was not immediately available.

RIDOC spokesperson J.R. Ventura said in an email Tuesday afternoon that Salisbury was not involved in Novos hiring, nor did she directly report to him. Novo also no longer works for the state, Ventura said.

The union also accused Salisbury of failing to disclose multiple out-of-state trips funded by third-party organizations to places like London  something that was first reported by WPRI-12 on June 6. Under state law, government officials must report compensated out-of-state trips worth more than $250 that are paid for based on their public position.

Ventura said the trip to the U.K. was at no cost to RI taxpayers as it was paid in full by the British Consulate. He did not speak on the other trips mentioned in the unions complaint.

It is in Rhode Islands best interest for RIDOCs leadership to maintain the Departments ongoing presence at these conferences and trainings with fellow Directors and Commissioners from around the country to understand, discuss, and bring best practices to the Rhode Island Department of Corrections, Ventura said.

Upon receiving clarification and guidance from the Ethics Commission, Salisbury updated his disclosure form.

I was thoroughly embarrassed when I got the call and needed to report that on my ethics form, he told the Senate committee.

The cost of the London trip is not included on the updated financial statement, and is still being determined, Ventura said.

Olivia DaRocha, a spokesperson for McKees office, did not respond to multiple requests for comment on the ethics complaints on Tuesday.

The state ethics panel has not held a meeting since the complaints were filed. It can decide to investigate the allegations, if warranted, with the potential for up to $25,000 in resulting fines, or dismiss the complaints altogether.

Rhode Island Brotherhood of Correctional Officers President Richard Ferruccio is seen on Capitol TV speaking in opposition of making Wayne Salisbury, Jr. the permanent leader of the states Department of Corrections. (Christopher Shea/Rhode Island Current)

Advocates praise Salisbury for vision, leadership

In stark contrast to the union critics, prison advocacy groups have thrown their weight behind Salisbury.

We believe that Interim Director Wayne Salisbury has demonstrated leadership, dedication, and commitment to improving the corrections system in Rhode Island, Stop Torture R.I. Coalition campaign manager Brandon Robinson wrote in a letter signed by nine other groups Monday. His vision for a safer and more rehabilitative environment aligns with our values and goals for a fair and effective corrections system.

James Monteiro, founder of the Providence-based Reentry Campus Program, called Salisbury an integral piece to reducing recidivism in Rhode Islands prisons.

I see balance, Monteiro said during Tuesdays hearing. Thats what we really want in a director  someone who understands corrections, someone who understands safety.

Lawmakers peppered Salisbury with questions during the Tuesday hearing, including over the departments decision last year to limit disciplinary confinement to a maximum of 30 days. Ferruccio previously blamed the policy change for creating the unsafe conditions at the state prison.

Salisbury acknowledged there was a spike in incidents following the change, but said problems have since leveled off.

With that, it is a correctional facility, he said, noting there are six facilities at the ACI. When incidents happen, we need to look at facilities separately and not look at the entire organization and kind of lump those together.

Sen. David Tikoian, a Smithfield Democrat, questioned how Salisbury intends to maintain a professional relationship with the correctional officers union.

Salisburys response: We dont always have to see eye-to-eye, but we do have to compromise.

If his nomination is approved, Salisbury will earn a $174,593 annual salary based on cabinet raises pitched by McKee, which took effect in May.

The post Senate panel advances McKees pick to permanently lead R.I. Department of Corrections appeared first on Rhode Island Current.
A Minnesota Senate ethics panel weighing a complaint against state Sen. Nicole Mitchell stemming from her felony burglary charge is postponing action until next month.

Members of the Senate Subcommittee on Ethics who met Wednesday agreed to table the issue until after Mitchells July 1 court date.

The Woodbury Democratic-Farmer-Labor senator faces a criminal charge after allegedly breaking into her estranged stepmothers Detroit Lakes home in April.

Mitchells attorney Bruce Ringstrom Jr. told the ethics panel the senator may enter a not guilty plea at next months hearing, and that the case likely wont be resolved until later this year.

Minority Senate Republicans who brought the ethics complaint say the seriousness of the charge as well as contradictions in Mitchells accounts of events warranted an investigation.

While some DFLers have said Mitchells case should be resolved in court before the Senate takes any action, a number, including the state party chair Ken Martin, Gov. Tim Walz and her DFL Senate colleagues, have called for her resignation. Mitchell has said she does not plan to step down.

Mitchells criminal case caused disruptions in the final month of this years legislative session, delaying votes and prompting Republican floor motions including one aimed at stripping Mitchell of her ability to vote. Her vote was key in the Senate DFL passing legislation, as the party controls a one-seat majority in the Senate.

Members of the ethics committee planned to meet after her first court hearing which was originally scheduled for June 10. That hearing was pushed back, so the two DFL and two Republican committee members agreed to meet again on July 25.

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Precisely at noon Wednesday, the Oklahoma Senate opened the fourth special session of the 59th Oklahoma Legislature.

Eleven minutes later, the Senate adjourned to the call of the chair.

Wednesday's brief session was the latest move in a long-running game of political chess between the 48-member Senate and Republican Gov. Kevin Stitt over political appointments, policy and the state's budget. Last December, following an earlier special session in the fall and another in 2022, the governor called a third special session to address tax cuts.

And, as in the first two, little was accomplished.

This spring, during budget negotiations, Stitt and House Speaker Charles McCall hammered Senate Pro Tempore Greg Treat about the need for a cut to the personal income tax, asking repeatedly if Treat would bring a tax cut bill up for a vote in the Senate.

Treat repeated the same answer he'd given for months: No.

President Pro Tempore listens during a Senate special session convenes for a special session at the state Capitol in Oklahoma City, Wednesday, June 12, 2024.

More: Gov. Stitt's pushback against the Senate is personal, leader Greg Treat says

Since then the rhetoric and the tension have continued. Stitt's latest move, his fourth special session called in two years, comes just two days before the governor is required to act  by either signing or vetoing  the state's FY 2025 budget. On Monday, Stitt nominated the 75-year-old Mike Holder to the Oklahoma A&M Board of Regents. At the same time, the governor called the Senate into special session strictly to consider his selection. Stitt said he would look forward to the Senate promptly confirming him."

Holder was nominated to the board after the Senate rejected the governor's previous nominee for the post, Norman businesswoman Susan Bergen. She was turned down by a 32-13 vote, even after the Senate Education Committee voted 12-0 to confirm her nomination. Eight committee members whod approved Bergen voted against her confirmation on the Senate floor.

During a news briefing following Wednesday's session, Treat said he warned the governor that a special session was premature. "He didn't take my counsel, so we're here today," Treat said. "I think the governor on Sunday was of the impression that we would just come in and rubber stamp whoever he appointed."

Treat said several groups, including agriculture organizations and Oklahoma State University alumni, have raised questions about whether Holder was qualified to serve on the A&M board.

"We've got to investigate that, like anything we look at to vet," he said. "There is some pretty specific statutory language dealing with the OSU board, or as it's referred to legally, the Oklahoma Agricultural and Mechanical Colleges. (There is language) about employment income derived there, and there also [is] a requirement for a majority of the board members to derive a majority of their income from agriculture."

Because of those concerns, Treat said, the Senate was still investigating Holder.

The Oklahoma Senate convenes Wednesday for a special session at the state Capitol.

He said the Senate would take its time to "be diligent" and would schedule meetings soon. "We got the paperwork Monday afternoon, so we're trying to figure out more information," Treat said. "We've been told that he may have recently purchased some type of ag activity down in Texas, but we don't know if that fits the requirement or not."

In his executive order calling the Senate into session, Stitt said the order was solely for the Senate to advise and consent to the nomination of James Michael Holder as a member of the Board of Regents of the Oklahoma Agricultural and Mechanical colleges. Holder would suceed Rick Davis, whose term has expired.

Treat said he didn't think the situation surrounding the nomination constituted one needed quick, one-day action.

"I'm not aware of an emergency at the OSU board that would require us to act swiftly," he said. "Mr. Davis, who is currently serving in that role, and his term has expired, though a couple of AG opinions  one in the early '80s and one in the late '90s and then statutory and constitutional language, it's clear that he is legally allowed to serve until someone is confirmed by the Senate."

Treat said he was unaware of any pressing issue, but had his suspicions about why the governor wanted quick action.

"I'm not aware of why we're in this sense of urgency but I have my suspicions that it may have to do with bills still on the governor's desk until Friday and some angst on the board about leadership at OSU, but that's all conjecture on my part," he said.

No date has been announced for the next step in the Holder confirmation process.

State Sen. Lonnie Paxton speaks Wednesday during a Senate special session at the state Capitol.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Senate convenes, then quickly adjourns special session on Holder nomination
There are new efforts underway to get e-cigarettes out of the hands of middle and high school students. More than two million teens are currently using e-cigarettes, according to the 2023 National Youth Tobacco Survey.

Josephine Shapiro from Seattle, Washington, said shes one of them.

>> Judge addresses teen who ran onto field during Reds game

My first vape that I ever tried was a blueberry ice vape and I was 13 at the time, said Shapiro, now a senior at Lincoln High School. She initially didnt think vaping was bad because some flavors tasted like candy.

Its like that motion, the flavor, the taste, thats what youre craving, Shapiro said. And so the constant rush or the flavor is what you want, you know, so its like, youre hitting it maybe I dont know 100 times a day.

After years of vaping, shes trying to quit.

Its really hard because its everywhere and like honestly, I havent been clean for more than two months since I decided to quit, Shapiro said.

Wednesday, she shared her struggles with nicotine products directly with Congress during a Senate hearing about the youth vaping.

I was already addicted, and little did I know it was about to get worse, Shapiro said during the hearing. She wants lawmakers to ban all flavored tobacco products.

My friends have started with vapes, the flavored tobacco product and transformed into cigarettes and transformed into other drugs, because its a gateway, she said.

Tony Abboud with the Vaping Technology Association told Congress he agrees that teens shouldnt be using these products.

We dont want any kids doing this. Thats why we raised the age to 21 and we advocated for that and thats why weve made this product illegal, Abboud said. Thats why weve worked hard doing the other things making more commonsense regulation to ensure these products dont get into their hands.

Abboud believes Congress should consider tougher restrictions for marketing.

We can get to those concerns, we can get to access restrictions, and do things that doesnt require removing all the products that adults are using, he said.

This week, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Justice Department announced a task force to target illegal sales and distribution of e-cigarettes. The task force will include officials from the US Marshals Service, US Postal Inspection Service, the Federal Trade Commission and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).

>> Senate investigation reveals abuses at federally funded youth treatment centers

But both Democrats and Republicans slammed these agencies for what they call years of inaction on the issue.

The FDA and the Justice Department have the tools to prevent this epidemic. They have failed to use them, said Sen. Dick Durbin, (D-Illinois)

The FDAs refusal to follow congressional intent and implement the Tobacco Control Act has led to disastrous consequences for public health and American jobs, said Sen. Thom Tillis, (R-North Carolina).

Now FDA officials say its stepping up enforcement over illegal products.

We participated in a landmark joint operation with Customs and Border Protection resulting in the seizure of $18 million worth of unauthorized e-cigs, said Brian King, director of the FDAs Center for Tobacco Products. The agency is also asking Congress for more support to help address a backlog in tobacco product application approvals.

We seek authorization for FDA to collect user fees from e-cigarette manufacturers, all of whom are paying no fees, to increase collections by $114 million to account for increased workload, King said.

With graduation on the horizon, Shapiro said shell continue her quitting journey.

I want to be a doctor; I want to be successful. I want to live a full life without nicotine products, she said.

Recently, FDA officials said the agency has also issued more than 1,100 warnings to several distributors, manufacturers, and retailers for illegally selling unauthorized tobacco products like e-cigarettes.
There are new efforts underway to get e-cigarettes out of the hands of middle and high school students. More than two million teens are currently using e-cigarettes, according to the 2023 National Youth Tobacco Survey.

Josephine Shapiro from Seattle, Washington said shes one of them.

My first vape that I ever tried was a blueberry ice vape and I was 13 at the time, she said.

Shapiro is now a senior at Lincoln High School. She said initially she didnt think vaping was bad because some flavors tasted like candy.

Its like that motion, the flavor, the taste, thats what youre craving, said Shapiro. And so the constant rush or the flavor is what you want, you know, so its like, youre hitting it maybe I dont know 100 times a day.

Now after years of vaping, shes trying to quit.

Its really hard because its everywhere and like honestly, I havent been clean for more than two months since I decided to quit, said Shapiro.

Wednesday, she shared her struggles with nicotine products directly with Congress during a Senate hearing about youth vaping.

I was already addicted, and little did I know it was about to get worse, said Shapiro during the hearing.

She wants lawmakers to ban all flavored tobacco products.

My friends have started with vapes, the flavored tobacco product, and transformed into cigarettes and transformed into other drugs because its a gateway, she said.

Tony Abboud with the Vaping Technology Association told Congress he agrees that teens shouldnt be using these products.

We dont want any kids doing this. Thats why we raised the age to 21 and we advocated for that and thats why weve made this product illegal, said Abboud. Thats why weve worked hard doing the other things making more commonsense regulations to ensure these products dont get into their hands.

Abboud believes Congress should consider tougher restrictions for marketing.

We can get to those concerns, we can get to access restrictions and do things that doesnt require removing all the products that adults are using, he said.

This week, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Justice Department announced a new task force to target illegal sales and distribution of e-cigarettes. The task force will include officials from the US Marshals Service, the US Postal Inspection Service, the Federal Trade Commission, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).

But both Democrats and Republicans slammed these agencies for what they call years of inaction on the issue.

The FDA and the Justice Department have the tools to prevent this epidemic. They have failed to use them, said Sen. Dick Durbin, D  Illinois.

The FDAs refusal to follow congressional intent and implement the Tobacco Control Act has led to disastrous consequences for public health and American jobs, said Sen. Thom Tillis, R  North Carolina.

Now FDA officials say its stepping up enforcement over illegal products.

We participated in a landmark joint operation with Customs and Border Protection resulting in the seizure of $18 million worth of unauthorized e-cigs, said Brian King, director of the FDAs Center for Tobacco Products.

King said the agency is also asking Congress for more support to help address a backlog in tobacco product application approvals.

We seek authorization for FDA to collect user fees from e-cigarette manufacturers, all of whom are paying no fees, to increase collections by $114 million to account for increased workload, said King.

With graduation on the horizon, Shapiro said shell continue her quitting journey.

I want to be a doctor; I want to be successful. I want to live a full life without nicotine products, said Shapiro.

Recently, the FDA said it has also issued more than 1,100 warnings to several distributors, manufacturers, and retailers for illegally selling unauthorized tobacco products like e-cigarettes.
Senators on Tuesday grilled Adm. Linda Fagan, the first female head of the Coast Guard, on an alleged culture of cover-ups amid a congressional investigation into the branchs response to sexual assault.

Nearly 6 months ago when we began this investigation we were assured that sexual assault was a thing of the past, Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) said at the hearing. We have found the opposite to be true.

At the center of the Coast Guard controversy is Operation Fouled Anchor  an internal probe led by the branch investigating sexual misconduct at the Coast Guard Academy between 1988 and 2006. The investigation, which closed in 2020, was not voluntarily disclosed to Congress by the Coast Guard until 2023,

Our failure to share the report with Congress was a mistake, Fagan acknowledged during the hearing.

The Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Subcommittee on Investigations questioned Fagan on the actions the Coast Guard has taken since the public disclosure of Operation Fouled Anchor

Among the points of contention was the Coast Guards failure to disclose documents to aid the subcommittees own oversight investigation, which began in September of 2023.

The senators reported receiving some 1,000 pages of documents on Monday, the day before the hearing was scheduled. Blumenthal, the chair of the subcommittee, characterized it as a document dump and said he would like to see more cooperation from the guard.

Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), ranking member of the subcommittee, at one point held up several documents shared by the Coast Guard, paging through them to reveal substantial redactions throughout the provided materials.

I am totally unsatisfied without a more straightforward commitment to disclosure, Blumenthal told The Hill following the hearing. There is no reason that these documents would be concealed and withheld without more action to stop sexual assault and retaliation.

The days before the hearing were marked by growing controversy. On Sunday,

Sharon Norenberg, the Coast Guard Academys head of sexual assault prevention, announced her resignation, denouncing higher ups in the process. She was present in the audience at Tuesdays hearing.

The Coast Guard lied to me, she wrote in a public statement also sent to the investigations subcommittee. 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 about their assaults and about the Coast Guards investigation of their cases.

Blumenthal said the Coast Guard had yet to change its ways.

Our investigation also very sadly has shown that the Coast Guard is continuing to suffer from a culture of concealment and cover-up, he said at a press conference ahead of the hearing.

Approximately 40 whistleblowers have come forward since the beginning of the congressional probe, according to Blumenthal. Three survivors of sexual assault and misconduct during their time in the Coast Guard came forward publicly at a subcommittee hearing in December.

Senators repeatedly pushed Fagan on Tuesday to commit to disclosing documents and taking action against officers who played a part in retaliatory actions against survivors, noting that she was not implicated in the cover-up of Operation Fouled Anchor.

Fagan consistently declined to directly answer questions, pointing to the ongoing investigation into Coast Guard practices by the Office of the Inspector General (IG).

The IG investigation cannot be used as an excuse for inaction, Blumenthal said to Fagan.

Johnson called on Fagan to make use of the Department of Homeland Securitys resources in investigating her department, while Blumenthal pressed her to make the branchs needs known as Congress embarks on its appropriations process this summer.

As the senators pried into the hows and whens of the Coast Guards plans to curb sexual assault, harrasment, and retaliation among their ranks, Fagan reiterated her commitment to the survivors and ensuring safety for all members.

That is unacceptable. Not in my Coast Guard, she said.

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WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR)  Senate Republicans and Democrats agree they need to deal with what they call a vaping epidemic impacting kids in the U.S.

If they could just hook a child at a young age, they had a customer for life, Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) said.

Durbin is furious. He says the FDA and the Justice Department are not cracking down on illegal e-cigarettes.

23 e-cigarette brands have been authorized for sale in the United States. Yet, there are more than 6000 e-cigarette brands on the market today, Durbin said.

Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) challenged a witness from the FDA after Durbin showcased a picture: a shelf filled with e-cigs without authorization. The store the picture came from is right near the FDAs headquarters.

I cant go through every single product on that chart, Brian King, FDA Tobacco Chief, said.

The point here is this is a shelf full of potentially dangerous substances in a store in the shadow of the FDA building, Tillis said.

According to a CDC report, e-cig usage went down among high school students between 2022 and 2023 but lawmakers know many kids are already addicted to vaping.

I couldnt spend quality time with my friends without thinking about when we were going to get our next hit, high school student Josie Shapiro said.

Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) is concerned about the overwhelming number of e-cigs sold in the U.S. that are marketed toward kids and come from China.

They pose a threat? Could they pose a threat? Booker asked. Would say that any of the products, regardless of whether theyre coming from China, or not could, King answered.

The FDA says it has a system to review whats in the e-cigs that come from abroad but is overwhelmed by millions of applications for product approval.

Were making progress getting the applications done, ramping up enforcement. We need more resources and we need more people at the table, King said.

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ADEN, Yemen, June 12 (Xinhua) -- A commercial cargo ship was struck twice in attacks in the Red Sea off Yemen's western coast on Wednesday, leaving one crew member missing and the vessel adrift, Yemeni and maritime officials reported.

An official at the government's Coast Guard forces, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that the Greek-owned bulk carrier Tutor came under assault approximately 67.7 nautical miles southwest of Hodeidah, when an explosives-laden boat detonated at the stern, causing hull breach and flooding.

Of the 21 crew members of different nationalities aboard the ship, one has been declared missing in the first attack, the official said.

"The ship is currently adrift and taking on water," the official said, adding the vessel had issued a distress call over VHF radio shortly after the first strike.

Meanwhile, the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) confirmed that it has received a report of the incident near Hodeidah, adding that the captain reported the vessel was leaking and not under the crew's control.

In a second attack, the stricken and disabled ship was hit again by "an unknown airborne projectile," the UKMTO said, citing a report from the ship's master.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility from the Houthi group which controls the Hodeidah area. However, the group has launched numerous attacks in recent months against commercial shipping in the Red Sea.

Since November last year, the Houthi group has launched anti-ship ballistic missiles and drones targeting what they said were Israeli-linked ships transiting the Red Sea, to show solidarity with Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.

In response, the U.S.-British naval coalition stationed in the region has conducted air raids and missile strikes against Houthi targets since January to deter the group, but only led to an expansion of Houthi attacks to include U.S. and British commercial vessels and naval ships. 
LANETT, Ala. (WRBL)  The Lanett Police Department (LPD) are currently investigating a series of armed robberies that occurred in the City of Lanett on May 12.

Authorities say four robberies have occurred in the city and all of them have been against members of Lanetts Hispanic community. The suspects appear to be between the ages of 16 and 25.













According to police the suspects were armed with various firearms at the time of the robberies and in one robbery a 2014 red KIA Forte was stolen.

LPD says on they executed a search and arrest warrant on a juvenile connected to the case Friday. Police say, due to the use of a firearm in the robbery the juvenile is being charged as an adult.

Investigators say more suspects may be involved.

Lanett Police Department is asking anyone with information to call the Lanett Police Department Criminal Investigation Division at 334-644-5295 or Central Alabama Crime Stoppers at 334-215-STOP or www.215stop.com

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WRBL.
Children's advocates and the Oregon Department of Human Services are waiting for a judge to pick a neutral expert to guide a class-action settlement forward. (Getty Images)

The Oregon Department of Human Services and child advocacy groups who sued the state agency over its poor management of foster care are unable to agree on who should oversee a historic settlement that requires the state to overhaul its child welfare system.

Both sides proposed a neutral expert, and federal Judge Ann Aiken will pick the person who will guide the work of the settlement in a class-action lawsuit for years to come. The settlement, which could last for up to 12 years, requires the state to improve its foster care system, with the neutral expert playing a key role in setting benchmarks and determining whether the agency is making adequate progress.

The two sides agreed the state needs to make improvements in areas that include that rate at which children exit and re-enter foster care, ideal living situations for children and appropriate medical, dental and mental health care.

The settlement, announced in May, ended a class-action lawsuit filed in 2019 in U.S. District Court in Eugene based on the experiences of 10 current or former foster children. Disability Rights Oregon and the national nonprofit A Better Childhood filed the lawsuit in an effort to bring systemic improvements in the foster care system, which cares for more than 4,600 children.

The lawsuit, which gained class action status in 2022, sought to better the foster care system, which has drawn scrutiny for shuffling children from home to home, using inappropriate out-of-state placements and bunking children in hotels amid a shortage of adequate housing.

Under the terms of the settlement, the two sides are to submit names to the court if they cannot agree on an expert. That has quickly happened since the signing of the settlement, records show.

In court papers filed Monday, Disability Rights Oregon and A Better Childhood nominated Kevin Ryan, who has served as a neutral expert in similar cases in Florida, Michigan, Oklahoma and Texas.

Ryans career in child welfare started in 2002 in New Jersey, where he was that states first child advocate, a watchdog role in child welfare issues. Ryan was New Jerseys human services commissioner and worked to reorganize that states system into what has now become one of the best child welfare systems in the country, the filing said.

In 2008, he left state service and now works solely as a neutral expert to monitor child welfare cases and settlement work.

Attorneys for the Oregon Department of Human Services nominated Julie Farber, who has 30 years of child welfare experience. From 2015 until 2022, Farber was a deputy commissioner for the New York City Administration for Childrens Services, the agencys court filing said. That role included reducing the number of children in foster care.

Ms. Farber has dedicated her career to advocating for systemic change to improve outcomes for children and families, the agencys filing said.

Farber also has experience coordinating child welfare reforms in the Washington, D.C. child welfare system under a court agreement and served for five years as the policy director at Childrens Rights, Inc., an organization that has filed child welfare class-action lawsuits nationwide.

The post After settlement, Disability Rights Oregon and DHS wait for neutral expert pick appeared first on Oregon Capital Chronicle.
Eight people with suspected ties to the Islamic State have been arrested in the United States.

The arrests took place in New York, Philadelphia and Los Angeles, and the individuals entered the country through the southern border, anonymous sources told The Associated Press.

Their connections to the Islamic State group were not immediately clear, but the individuals were being tracked by the FBIs Joint Terrorism Task Force. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement was working with the task force and made the arrests and is working to remove the individuals from the country.

The individuals were from Tajikistan and passed through the U.S. governments screening process after entering the country last spring, the AP reported.

The AP noted that the FBI and Department of Homeland Security issued a statement confirming the arrests of several non-citizens and said the U.S. has been in a heightened threat environment.

CBS News reported that there was no active terror plot but the information was of concern. At the time of their entry, the individuals were vetted by law enforcement and there was no indication they had ties to ISIS.

The individuals crossed the border without proper documents and were released into the U.S. with notices to appear in immigration court. Law enforcement then became concerned with their presence and took action.

They are now in detention and face deportation proceedings, but an official told CBS News that its difficult to deport people to Tajikistan due to operational and diplomatic reasons.

The arrests were first reported by the New York Post.

The FBI task force has been made aware of a potential terrorist threat originating in central Europe and began watching the individuals as part of that investigation, NBC News reported.

In April, FBI Director Christopher Wray said the U.S. is facing more threats from violent extremists, particularly in the aftermath of the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel. He said officials are concerned about terrorism implications by people targeting vulnerabilities at the southern border.

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Several people with alleged Islamic State ties arrested in US, country in heightened threat environment

(The Hill)  Eight people in the U.S. with suspected ties to the Islamic State have been detained, according to reports.

The arrests took place in New York, Philadelphia, and Los Angeles and the individuals entered the country through the southern border, anonymous sources told The Associated Press. They had been vetted by law enforcement upon their entry, sources said, and there was no indication of their ties to the Islamic State at the time.

Their connection to the Islamic State group is not immediately clear but the individuals were being tracked by the FBIs Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF). U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement was working with the JTTF and made the arrests, Its now working to remove them from the country, per the sources.

The individuals were from Tajikistan and passed through the U.S. governments screening process after entering the country last spring, the AP reported.

The news service noted that the FBI and Department of Homeland Security issued a statement confirming the arrests of several non-citizens and said the U.S. has been in a heightened threat environment.

CBS News reported that there was no active terror plot but the information was of concern. At the time of their entry, the individuals were vetted by law enforcement and there was no indication they held ties to the group, more commonly known as ISIS.

The individuals crossed the border without proper documents and were released into the U.S. with notices to appear in immigration court. Law enforcement later became concerned with their presence and took action.

They are in detention and face deportation proceedings now, but an official told CBS that its difficult to deport people to Tajikistan due to operational and diplomatic reasons.

The arrests were first reported by the New York Post.

The JTTF has been made aware of a potential terrorist threat originating in central Europe and began watching the individuals as part of that investigation, NBC News reported.

In April, FBI Director Christopher Wray said the U.S. is facing more threats from violent extremists, particularly in the aftermath of the Oct. 7 terrorist attack on Israel by Hamas. He said officials are concerned about terrorism implications by people targeting vulnerabilities at the southern border.

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COLDWATER, Mich. (WOOD)  A man accused of sexually assaulting two children in Union City has been brought back to Michigan from Mexico to face charges.

Anthony Cuyler was arraigned Wednesday on three counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct with victims under the age of 13, one count of delivering meth to a minor, one count of possession of meth and one count of being a felon in possession of ammunition as a third-time habitual offender.

The charges date back to 2019 and allege Cuyler sexually assaulted two girls, one of whom he gave meth to, court documents show.

The victims were elated when we told them we were still looking into this. Ill be honest, I think they thought that at some point in time, since this was from 2019, that really the opportunity for justice had gone, Branch County Prosecutor Zachary Stempien said.

The Branch County Prosecutors Office says after the charges were filed in 2019, police couldnt find Cuyler. Eventually, they got word that he might be in Mexico. The prosecutors office ultimately called in the FBI to try to track him down.

Unbeknownst to us, the U.S. Marshal and the (Michigan Attorney Generals Office) have a program called Operation Survivor Justice, Stempien said. That is a program that is designed to get justice for survivors of sexual assault and victims of sexual assault.

The Marshals found Cuyler in Mexico and arrested him in March, the prosecutors office said.

They were able to go down and apprehend the individual and then extradite him back to the United States and then back here to Detroit, Stempien said. Hes been in custody for about a month now, but finally got back to Detroit yesterday.

The village of Union City posted a photo on social media Tuesday showing a Union City officer on the tarmac as Cuyler arrived on a Marshals prisoner plane.

A Union City police officer awaits the arrival of a suspect extradited from Mexico at an airport in Detroit. (Courtesy Village of Union City)

Stempien said his office was able to keep moving on the case because it used COVID-19 grant money to hire an investigator to go through old felony cases and find the defendants.

There was a point in time, interestingly enough, that he was arrested in Mexico back in 2020. He was actually deported from Mexico to Texas, Stempien said. From our understanding, he then returned back to Mexico where the US Marshals were able to locate him.

Stempien said the arrest would not have been possible without the Marshals.

When it comes to extradition of individuals from places like Mexico, frankly, my budget would not have the funds available to be able to do that, he said. If the U.S. Marshals were not involved, it would have been very difficult for us to get boots on the ground to be able to apprehend somebody in a different country.

The Branch County prosecutor says it is working with the Michigan Attorney Generals Office to shepherd the case through the courts.

The benefit of the AG leading the prosecution, they have much more resources to bring in extra witnesses, they have their own investigator and then they have attorneys who are assigned to this specific class of case, Stempien explained.

In a statement included in a release from Stepmpiens office, Attorney General Dana Nessel touted the success of Operation Survivor Justice and promised the partnership would continue to bring resolutions to the victims of cases that have gone cold. Stempien said his office has three other cases that the AG and federal investigators are also looking into.

If convicted of the CSC charges, Cuyler could spend the rest of his life in prison.

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As he ended his near six-hour questioning of Detective Michael Proctor, the lead investigator into John OKeefes death, defense attorney Alan Jackson chided the State Police trooper for his crude and vulgar language regarding Karen Read, the woman on trial for his death.

Court video, updates: New State Police detective takes the stand in Karen Read Murder Trial

After recapping what Proctor wrote in texts, where he described Read as a babe and a b**ch, Jackson criticized Proctor for sharing details of the investigation with friends and family and for appearing to single out Karen Read as responsible for OKeefes death less than 24 hours after his body was found.

It was a figure of speech. My emotions got the best of me, Proctor said.

Shame on you, Jackson hurled towards Proctor, drawing a rebuke from the judge.

Massachusetts State Trooper Michael Proctor also acknowledged that he was friends with several witnesses, including the brother of the man who hosted the house party where John OKeefes body was found outside in January 2022. Prosecutors say Read dropped OKeefe off at the home of a fellow officer after a night of drinking and struck him while making a three-point turn. They say she then drove away. Her defense team argues that she has been framed and has questioned law enforcements handling of the investigation.

Karen Read reacts to he attorney Alan Jackson as he cross examines state trooper Michael Proctor during her trial, Wednesday, June 12, 2024, in Norfolk Super Court in Dedham, Mass. Read is facing charges, including second degree murder, in the 2022 death of her boyfriend Boston Officer John OKeefe. (Greg Derr/The Patriot Ledger via AP, Pool)

Defendant Karen Read listens to her lawyer Alan Jackson question witness Massachusetts State trooper Michael Proctor during her, Wednesday, June 12, 2024, in Norfolk Super Court in Dedham, Mass. Read is facing charges, including second degree murder, in the 2022 death of her boyfriend Boston Officer John OKeefe. (Greg Derr/The Patriot Ledger via AP, Pool)

Mass State Police Trooper Michael Proctor listens on the witness stand during the Karen Read murder trial, Wednesday, June 12, 2024, in Norfolk Super Court in Dedham, Mass. Read is facing charges, including second degree murder, in the 2022 death of her boyfriend Boston Officer John OKeefe. (Greg Derr/The Patriot Ledger via AP, Pool)

Massachusetts State Trooper Michael Proctor testifies during Karen Read's trial, Wednesday, June 12, 2024, in Norfolk Super Court in Dedham, Mass. Read is facing charges, including second degree murder, in the 2022 death of her boyfriend Boston Officer John OKeefe. (Greg Derr/The Patriot Ledger via AP, Pool)

Massachusetts State Trooper Michael Proctor testifies during Karen Read's trial, Wednesday, June 12, 2024 in Norfolk Super Court in Dedham, Mass. (Greg Derr/The Patriot Ledger via AP, Pool)

Defense lawyer Alan Jackson cross examines cross examines witness Massachusetts State Trooper Michael Proctor during Karen Read's trial, Wednesday, June 12, 2024, in Norfolk Super Court in Dedham, Mass. Read is facing charges, including second degree murder, in the 2022 death of her boyfriend Boston Officer John OKeefe. (Greg Derr/The Patriot Ledger via AP, Pool)

Massachusetts State Trooper Michael Proctor testifies during Karen Read's trial, Wednesday, June 12, 2024, in Norfolk Super Court in Dedham, Mass. Read is facing charges, including second degree murder, in the 2022 death of her boyfriend Boston Officer John OKeefe. (Greg Derr/The Patriot Ledger via AP, Pool)

Attorney Alan Jackson questions trooper Michael Proctor about text messages to his sister during the Karen Read murder trial in Norfolk Superior Court in Dedham, Mass., Wednesday June 12, 2024. (Greg Derr/The Patriot Ledger via AP, Pool)

Karen Read and attorney David Yannetti listen during her trial, Wednesday, June 12, 2024, in Norfolk Super Court in Dedham, Mass. Read is facing charges, including second degree murder, in the 2022 death of her boyfriend Boston Officer John OKeefe. (Greg Derr/The Patriot Ledger via AP, Pool)

Massachusetts State Police Detective Lt. Brian Tully listens on the witness stand during the Karen Read murder trial in Norfolk Superior Court in Dedham, Mass., Wednesday, June 12, 2024. (Greg Derr/The Patriot Ledger via AP, Pool)

A copy of text messages between trooper Michael Proctor and his sister Courtney Elberg related to a thank you gift appears on a screen during the Karen Read murder trial in Norfolk Superior Court in Dedham, Mass., Wednesday June 12, 2024. (Greg Derr/The Patriot Ledger via AP, Pool)

Michael Proctor

Massachusetts State Police Trooper Michael Proctor opens an evidence box to show the jury a broken tail light while testifying, Monday, June 10, 2024, at Norfolk Superior Court, in Dedham, Mass., during the trial for Karen Read. Read is accused of killing her boyfriend, Boston police Officer John O'Keefe, in 2022. (Kayla Bartkowski/The Boston Globe via AP, Pool)

Massachusetts State Police Trooper Michael Proctor shows the jury a broken tail light while testifying, Monday, June 10, 2024, at Norfolk Superior Court, in Dedham, Mass., during the trial for Karen Read. Read is accused of killing her boyfriend, Boston police Officer John O'Keefe, in 2022. (Kayla Bartkowski/The Boston Globe via AP, Pool)

Karen Read, center right, is seated Monday, June 10, 2024, in Norfolk Super Court, in Dedham, Mass., during her trial on charges in connection with the 2022 death of her boyfriend, Boston police Officer John O'Keefe. (Kayla Bartkowski/The Boston Globe via AP, Pool)

Karen Read is seated Monday, June 10, 2024, in Norfolk Super Court, in Dedham, Mass., during her trial on charges in connection with the 2022 death of her boyfriend, Boston police Officer John O'Keefe. (Kayla Bartkowski/The Boston Globe via AP, Pool)

Expert: Trooper Proctors testimony extraordinarily damaging for prosecution in Karen Read trial

Before you ever went into the house, only having interviewed three folks, you had this case nice and wrapped up didnt you? Jackson asked Proctor.

Proctor responded that his text comments were based on what investigators had found that first day, including OKeefes injuries, witness statements, an interview with Read, a shoe and pieces of clear and red plastic. Prosecutors argue that the pieces are from a broken taillight on Reads SUV that they argue was damaged when she hit OKeefe.

Jackson also questioned Proctor about texts that appear to show him criticizing the medical examiner who ruled that OKeefes death could not be determined based on his injuries.

Jackson: Have you ever in your experience seen a vehicle-pedestrian incident in which the pedestrian has no bruises?

Lally: Objection.

Judge: Have you seen that?

Proctor: I cant recall.

Proctor called his messages about Read juvenile and regretful but told the jury Read is responsible for OKeefes death. Proctor told the jury his emotions got the best of him in part because the defense accused him of being conflicted and corrupt.

Based on all the physical evidence and facts  Mr. OKeefe got out of that vehicle holding that cocktail glasss. Ms. Read pulled ahead and struck him with her vehicle and left, Proctor said.

You have the lead investigator, who is so questioned now...The integrity, that character, the truthfulness of what hes saying, unprofessionalism, Elikann said. The problem with that is it if the jury starts to think that the lead investigator may not be doing things properly and professionally, then they start looking at the whole investigation.

Reads lawyers have alleged that OKeefe was beaten inside the home, bitten by a family dog and then left outside. They have portrayed the investigation as shoddy and undermined by the relationship investigators had with the law enforcement agents at the house party. They also have suggested pieces of glass found on the bumper of Reads SUV and a hair found on the vehicles exterior may have been planted.

Proctor acknowledged in his testimony that he is friends with the brother of Brian Albert and his wife  though he insisted it had no influence on the investigation and had never been to their house before OKeefes death. Brian Albert is a Boston police officer who hosted the house party in Canton where OKeefes body was found in the front yard.

Jackson got Proctor to acknowledge that he was drinking buddies with Alberts brother, Kevin Albert, who is a Canton police officer. He acknowledged they went out drinking several months after OKeefe died, worked on a cold case together and communicated about coordinating aspects of the OKeefe case even though the Canton Police Department recused itself from the investigation due to the Albert brothers connection to the case.

You knew that he, above everybody else, should be completely removed from any contact with the investigation or the investigators, Jackson asked Proctor. Yet when you wanted to coordinate witnesses for interviews in this case, who did you turn to?

Proctor acknowledged he texted Kevin Albert about coordinating those interviews, something experts also said could also hurt prosecutors.

Proctor was finally called to the stand on Monday where he had a lot of explaining to do when his personal text messages about OKeefes girlfriend were revealed in court.

On Tuesday, Boston 25s Mark Ockerbloom asked criminal defense attorney Peter Elikann about what Proctors testimony means in the eyes of jurors as the trial moves forward.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

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What is Shavuot? When is it? Everything to know about the Jewish holiday, the Feast of Weeks

Hanukkah, Passover, Rosh Hashanah ... most non-Jewish people have at least a vague idea of what those Jewish holidays commemorate, celebrate or honor. But how about Shavuot, the "Feast of Weeks?"

Shavuot, which means "weeks" in Hebrew, is probably the most important Jewish holiday non-Jews have never heard of, commemorating the single most important event in Israel's history.

Here's what you need to know.

What is Shavuot?

Rabbi Craig Mayers with Temple Beth Sholom, reads from the new Torah the temple has received. The temple held their inauguration for the new Torah on June 5th which is Shavuot Vot, the Feast of Weeks, the celebration of the original giving of the Torah on Mount Sinai.

According to the Jewish faith, Shavuot celebrates the time when Moses received the 10 Commandments and the Torah by divine revelation  for Christians, in this case, the Torah would be considered the first five books of the Hebrew Bible, or the Old Testament  on Mount Sinai.

The two-day holiday marks the end of a seven-week count called the Omer that starts during Passover, the holiday where Jews partake in seders and remember how they were freed from Egyptian slavery.

Shavuot coincides with the grain harvest of early summer and is one of three pilgrimage festivals mentioned in the Torah, "when Israelite males were commanded to appear before God in Jerusalem, bringing offerings of the first fruits of their harvest," according to MyJewishLearning.com. The other two are Passover and Sukkot.

In English, it also has been spelled Shavuos, Shavuoth or Shabuoth.

"The giving of the Torah was a far-reaching spiritual event  one that touched the essence of the Jewish soul for all times," explains Chabad.org. "Shavuot also means oaths, for on this day Gd swore eternal devotion to us, and we in turn pledged everlasting loyalty to Him."

Jews who observe the holiday of Shavuot typically self-reflect during the 49-day "Counting of the Omer" period and work on their spiritual growth.

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When is Shavuot 2024?

Shavuot in 2024 (Hebrew Year 5784) begins at sundown on Tuesday, June 11, 2024, and ends at sundown on Friday, June 14, 2024.

It always falls on the Hebrew calendar 6 Sivan through 7 Sivan. The Hebrew and Gregorian calendars don't match up, so dates will vary each year in the U.S. but this century it's generally between May 15 and June 14 on the Gregorian calendar.

In Israel it is a one-day holiday, ending at nightfall on 6 Sivan.

How do you pronounce Shavuot?

Good question. Shavuot can be pronounced either shuh-voo-oht or shuh-voo-ohs, since the last letter in the word, in Hebrew, can be pronounced as either an "s" or a "t."

How is Shavuot celebrated?

Shavuot is observed by lighting candles both nights, staying up the first night to study Torah, decorating homes with flowers and other plants, attending synagogue services to hear the 10 Commandments, reading the Book of Ruth, and eating festive meals, generally including dairy foods.

Why is it traditional to eat dairy on Shavuot?

Load up the cheesecake and ice cream! Shavuot stands apart from other Jewish holidays with the emphasis on dairy, but there are differences of opinion as to why.

Some believe it's tied to Moses, as with the revelation of the Torah came the kosher laws. "As the Torah was given on Shabbat, no cattle could be slaughtered nor could utensils be koshered, and thus on that day they ate dairy," according to Chabad.org.

Some say it's to symbolize the "land flowing with milk and honey" (Exodus 3:8) promised to the Israelites, or because Israelites at Mount Sinari were considered to be as innocent as newborns, according to MyJewishLearning.com. Dairy dishes also were common at spring harvest festivals, and there are kabbalistic (mystical) meanings as well.

Cantor Donna Azu, left, and Nic Mikkelson pack cheese cake for Temple Shalom of Naples members during a Shavuot Cheesecake Drive-Thru event for the Jewish Community on Thursday, May, 28, 2020.

Jews traditionally eat two meals on Shavuot, a dairy meal, often including stuffed blintzes and cheesecake, and later the holiday meat meal.

Can you work on Shavuot?

No, with exceptions.

Shavuot is Yom Tov ("a good day"), when the Torah requires the Jewish people to sanctify the day by refraining from work. Just as on Shabbat, that means no switching on or off electrical appliances, no going to work, no driving a car, no handling money, no writing. Unlike Shabbat, Jews are permitted during Shavuot to cook and bake, light a fire from a pre-existing flame, and perform some forms of work necessary for eating and drinking, because Yom Tov days are days of rejoicing.

There are six days of the year called Yom Tov: the first day of Passover, the seventh day of Passover, Shavuot, Rosh Hashanah, the first day of Sukkot, Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah. Each lasts one day in Israel but is celebrated for two days elsewhere, originally because before fixed calendars it was more difficult to be sure you were celebrating the correct day.

What is the difference between Shavuot and Pentecost?

Both holidays celebrate the end of a 50-day season in the spring, but there are definitely some differences.

Shavuot comes 49 or 50 days after Passover and celebrates when Jews received the Torah and became a nation. Pentecost comes 50 days after Easter, the day many Christians believe that the Holy Spirit descended on the followers of Jesus after his death, resurrection and ascension, which became the birth of the Church.

Jesus' Jewish followers were gathered together at the time for a festival, likely Shavout, when the Bible says the Holy Ghost descended on them. Pentecost comes from pentekoste, which means fiftieth, and was the ancient Greek term for Shavuot.

How would you greet someone celebrating Shavuot?

Chag Sameach! (Happy holiday!) Pronounced CHAG sah-MAY-ach, this works for any celebratory Jewish holiday. You can say Chag Shavuot Sameach to be more specific, or you can just say Happy Shavuot.

This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Shavuot: What is the Jewish holiday? When is it? Why all the dairy?
A pride flag is seen hanging from Providence City Hall on Tuesday, June 11, 2024, hours before the Rhode Island House of Representatives passed two bills that would protect doctors against potential out-of-state litigation for providing gender-affirming care. The pink and blue chevrons represent trans pride and were added to the pride flag around 2018. (Alexander Castro/Rhode Island Current)

Picture this: A person comes to Rhode Island to get an abortion, or receive hormone therapy so they can transition. This hypothetical person lives in a state that has banned those services. The patient gets the care they want  and the Rhode Island doctor who provided that care gets a lawsuit from the patients home state.

Should Rhode Island preempt the possibility of such interstate litigation? The Senate thought so when it approved a bill, the Healthcare Provider Shield Act, by Newport Democrat Sen. Dawn Euer on May 2.

Tuesday evening, the Rhode Island House agreed with its Senate colleagues and passed Euers bill as well as its House sibling by Rep. John Edwards, a Tiverton Democrat. Euers bill passed 50-14 and Edwards passed 50-15.

If we dont stand up and shield our doctors and nurses from foreign legal attacks, then they will go to the other 13 states who have already passed this bill and provided that protection, said Rep. Robert Craven, a North Kingstown Democrat, as he introduced the bill on the House floor.

Nearby states like Massachusetts, Maine, Connecticut, Vermont, New York and New Jersey have all enacted shield laws relating to either or both transgender care and abortion.

The bill is a little different since it triumphed on the Senate floor: Euers version was amended for the second time to match Edwards amended bill, which was OKd by a House Committee meeting Monday. Some of the revisions include giving courts discretion in how or whether to enforce subpoenaed documents, and giving the governor discretion to enforce interstate extradition, in the event an interstate lawsuit were to occur.

The no votes on each bill were identical (excepting Rep. Brian Newberry, a North Smithfield Republican, whose vote was not recorded on Euers bill). Eight of the Houses nine Republicans, six Democrats and the Houses sole independent, Jon D. Brien of Woonsocket, comprised the nays. Ten representatives did not vote, including one Republican, Cranstons Barbara Ann Fenton-Fung.

One Republican was eager to speak up  so eager, in fact, that House Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi felt he had to offer an ultimatum.

Rep. Morgan, I have been Speaker for four years. Ive never had to cut anyones mic off, and I dont want to do it today, but I will, Shekarchi told Rep. Patricia Morgan, a West Warwick Republican.

This bill does not protect children, Morgan said. Litigation and threat of litigation, does, and this removes from any doctor, any provider, the threat of litigation.

Morgan cited Englands recent discontinuation of puberty blockers for youth as one reason she did not support the shield bills. Puberty blockers are drugs that delay secondary sex characteristics by suppressing hormones like estrogen or testosterone, meaning trans youth can explore different gender identities. The drugs comprise a major part of gender-affirming care, but they are reversible and can be used in conjunction with other therapies or forms of affirmation.

As far as Edwards was concerned, Morgan wasnt discussing the content of his bill anyway. The House floor manager boomed a point of order from his seat at the back of the chamber: The Rep. is not being germane, Edwards said. Shes talking about malpractice.

Shekarchi agreed, and Morgans mic went quiet on the session broadcast. Shortly afterward, at 7:01 p.m., Shekarchi noted the time and the session paused for dinner.

The Senate still needs to stamp Edwards bill  a process known as concurrence  before the legislation heads to Gov. Dan McKees desk.

The two-pronged bills  part abortion rights, part transgender health care  seemed bound to invite discussion as they had in both chambers Judiciary Committees. But after three hours of spirited discussions on casinos, human remains and retirement accounts earlier in the night, the discourse seemed tame. The shield bill was the last to be discussed before the House took a break for dinner, which the reps approved 37-30.

Survey shows trans youths afraid to attend school

Even when transgender kids do receive care, external pressures remain. June 1 kicked off LGBTQ Pride Month, but the Rhode Island Department of Health seemed to start two days early by drawing attention to issues facing young trans people. On May 30, the health department shared a report that had been published sans fanfare nearly two months earlier.

An estimated 3.5% of the statewide youth population, or about 1,500 individuals, identify as transgender, according to Health and Safety of Transgender High School Students in Rhode Island, which relies on 2021 and 2023 state surveys.

The data brief noted upfront that someones gender identity doesnt cause mental or physical health issues. Rather, trans youth experience bullying, violence, and rejection from family or peers at higher rates than cisgender kids (those who identify as their birth-assigned gender).

The numbers supported that argument, with obvious disparities between transgender and cisgender students. Some of the deeper rifts involved being forced into having sex  reported among 27% of trans youth, but only 6% of cis students  and feeling too afraid to attend school. In a state with a chronic absenteeism problem, 29% of trans students skipped school because they felt unsafe, compared to only 9% of cisgender kids. Alcohol, nicotine and pot use were all more prevalent among transgender kids.

Also significant was data on suicidal ideation. Among trans kids, 56% had seriously considered suicide, 45% had made a suicide plan and 36% had attempted to die by suicide. Among cisgender students, those rates were 14%, 12% and 8% respectively.

The health department participated in the Rhode Island Trans Health Conference on June 1 at Rhode Island College. Two sets of programming  one tailored for the trans community, and one for health care providers  focused on the wellbeing of transgender people at levels both personal and systematic. One presentation in the provider track covered the importance of shield laws.

Doctors and providers often want a more interdisciplinary understanding of their trans patients and trans issues in general, said Syd Loiselle, a clinical social worker who coordinated the conference. But those resources arent always easy to find or access in a comprehensive way.

We had a lot of public health speakers, which was helpful, that were able to talk specific clinical issues but through a bigger lens, which I think is sometimes missing from direct clinical education that people get, Loiselle said of this years conference.

A research abstract co-authored by Loiselle in March pointed to the value of gender-affirming care for youths self-confidence. After receiving some form of gender-affirming care, the studys participants were observed to be more comfortable talking to their caregivers about their gender.

A supportive family or community might help fill in gaps policy cant directly provide. According to the health department data, 71% of trans students felt so sad or hopeless that they stopped doing things they normally loved.

The post Shield bills could soon be forged into R.I. law appeared first on Rhode Island Current.
By Gabriela Sanabria and Lizbeth Diaz

YAJALON, Mexico (Reuters) - Thousands of residents deserted the small Mexican town of Tila, fleeing an intensive three-day siege by heavily armed men and leaving it a ghost town, and are still too afraid to return despite government troops now patrolling the empty streets.

"All night we listened to bullets go by," said Maria, a resident of the southern Mexican town of Tila, some 140 miles (230 km) from the Chiapas state capital of Tuxtla Gutierrez.

On the night of June 4 dozens of heavily armed men arrived in Tila in trucks and began shooting at houses, businesses and setting buildings on fire, witnesses told Reuters.

A man who did not identify himself for safety reasons said armed men returned in the next day with high-caliber weapons and military outfits.

The violence in Tila lasted three days until June 7, when the army arrived. State authorities have since said some 5,000 troops have been deployed to the area and six suspects detained.

All of Tila's inhabitants, some 4,000 people, fled their homes, some taking government busses to nearby shelters, where many remain today, sleeping on mats on the ground.

"We are not going back," said a 60-year-old merchant, who identified himself as Saul. "Until we know that when we leave our houses, they are not going to kill us."

A dozen residents who fled the area told Reuters that the attackers, many who covered their faces and some of whom appeared to be underage, looted stores, set cars on fire and tried to break into houses.

Footage from after the attack shows a still-deserted town, streets littered with charred vehicles, shattered windows and bullet holes.

Many Mexican communities have become ghost towns as people seek safety from gang violence by applying for asylum in the United States.

While the government maintains the violence in Tila resulted from a local land dispute, its residents say organized crime groups had long been extorting them and would punish those who did not pay up.

"For months, anyone who did not pay was killed," said Maria, speaking from a shelter in Yajalon, some 20 miles (30 km) away.

"They threatened to recruit young people, to rape women, and that's why we left."

Residents reported growing violence over recent years, as well as an increase in drug trafficking and extortion.

Mexico's President-elect Claudia Sheinbaum, who will take power in October, has pledged to fight extortion in the country, the site of expanding battlegrounds between criminal cartels trafficking drugs largely to U.S. markets.

While the U.S. government has pushed Mexico to clamp down harder on drug crime, Mexico has been pressuring the U.S. to do more to prevent firearms from crossing its southern border.

Once relatively untouched by gang violence, Chiapas is now the site of a turf war between the powerful Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) and Sinaloa Cartel and people are increasingly fleeing the violence and extortion.

"They burned both of my houses," another Tila resident said. "We are waiting for the authorities to take serious measures."

(Reporting by Gabriela Sanabria in Yajalon and Lizbeth Diaz in Mexico City; Writing by Sarah Morland; Editing by Michael Perry)
Have you shopped at these SoCal ALDIs? Your credit card may be compromised

Have you shopped at these SoCal ALDIs? Your credit card may be compromised

SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI)  Recent shoppers at three ALDI locations in Southern California may want to check with their credit card provider for potential fraud, according to the popular grocery chain.

In a recent notice posted to ALDIs website, the chain warned customers that five stores, including three in Southern California, were targeted by an unauthorized party who placed card-skimming devices at their checkout terminals for a brief period. This includes ALDIs at:

Vista (1750 University Dr.)

Murrieta (28230 Clinton Keith Rd.)

Buena Park (8351 La Palma Ave.)

Two locations in New Jersey also had the skimming devices, ALDI said. The devices installed at the impacted locations were designed to acquire certain customer payment card information, the chain said.

ALDI cutting prices on more than 250 items to help combat stubborn inflation

Based on their investigation, all of the California stores targeted with the card skimmers had the devices there for short periods in November of last year, according to ALDI:

The Vista locations card skimmer was there between Nov. 15 and Nov. 17, 2023.

The Murrieta location had a card skimmer on Nov. 15 and Nov. 16, 2023.

The Buena Park location only had a card skimmer for one day, on Nov. 22, 2023.

The card skimmers at the New Jersey stores were observed in late December and early January,, ALDI said.

After learning of the issue, we quickly removed the devices from the affected terminal at each of the five stores, and took steps to secure our systems and determine the nature and scope of the issue, ALDI said in its notice, adding they reported it to card brands and local law enforcement. The grocery store also conducted reviews of other ALDI stores for any skimmers.

If you shopped at one of the affected ALDIs when the skimmers were there, ALDI encourages people to contact their credit card companies. The chain also encourages customers who have questions about the data breach to reach out to ALDI customer service at 800-325-7894, Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. EST.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
By Farman Aydin, AZERNEWS

The discrediting of the opposition and clergy in Armenia in the political arena has a significant impact on the Armenian lobby, which is testing various unsuccessful scenarios in Yerevan with financial support from abroad. This can be seen most often in the position of Western organisations, which decorate their headlines every time with the bribes given by the Armenian lobby and diaspora.

Thus, the Freedom House organisation, which is located in Washington, the capital of the United States, and claims to deal with issues of human rights, last time put itself in a ridiculous position like other players with its baseless comment against Azerbaijan.

This organisation, which criticises preparations related to COP29 in Azerbaijan on the social network and deliberately wants to draw attention to Azerbaijan, does not even understand what it wants to criticise or deal with. Just like Bagrat Galstanyan, who crawled on the streets of Yerevan in the hands of the local police. It is interesting that while he was creating chaos in Yerevan, he told the people about something else before, and now his views refute the previous ones. Poor Bagrat says he doesn't even know what to do next. To put it more clearly, the script written for him is unfinished.

Freedom House, which has no knowledge of the South Caucasus, walks in Bagrat style. Based on the instructions of the Armenian lobby, he voiced mixed opinions against Azerbaijan in order to stir up the situation ahead of COP29.

For example, Freedom House talks about unrelenting dependence on fossil fuels and limited plans to reduce emissions. At the same time, they neglect the projects that will generate electricity using wind and solar, which have been launched in a number of territories in Azerbaijan. Hydroelectric power stations are also being created, including in areas liberated from occupation. This demonstrates the serious plans and investments that are being made to decarbonise and accelerate the green transition. However, Freedom House experts did not consider it necessary as it was beyond the scope of their interests. There is only one reason for this: if they were to admit these truths, then all their arguments would be in vain.

Let's assume that we understand that the organisation has confused the issues because they are not related to the green energy sector. However, after this, claiming that human rights are violated in Azerbaijan is nothing more than pretending to blind oneself in the truest sense of the word.

The question is this: Doesn't Freedom House, which describes itself as the most "ideal defender" of human rights, see how the protesters who are handcuffed by police are crawling on the ground in Yerevan? If the organisation considers the freedom of the protestors acceptable, then it should also comment on this issue, saying a few words.

Probably a larger piece that the Armenian lobby shoved in their mouths was so big that they could not talk about it. They better shut up, or that piece will be stuck in their throats.

For the organisation Freedom House, we can only advise that it is better for them to spend their time on the streets of Yerevan. This good-for-nothing organisation may have responded to the cry of the protesters who were crushed under the police baton. Or maybe we are wrong about the news footage; it is perhaps a joke between the police and the protesters. We are sure that if the rich Armenian lobbyists in America offer a little more bribe, Freedom House will turn back and say that the images are just a movie.
DOHA, June 12 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said here on Wednesday that some of the changes requested by Hamas regarding the latest ceasefire proposal are "workable," while some are not.

Hamas had not explicitly agreed to the proposal, and "we are determined to try to bridge the gaps," Blinken said in a press conference after meeting with Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani.

During the meeting, the two sides discussed Hamas' response to the latest truce deal, the latest developments in Gaza, and the latest updates in the joint mediation efforts to end the war, according to a statement by the Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Qatar and Egypt announced on Tuesday that they have received a response from Hamas regarding the ceasefire proposal.

The mediators "will examine the response and coordinate with the parties concerned regarding the next steps," according to a previous statement by the ministry on Tuesday. 
The White House does not want to see a third ballistic missile interceptor site created on the East Coast in addition to the ones already in operation in Alaska and California. There is no operational need for such a site to protect the Homeland against potential ballistic missiles originating from Iran or the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea (DPRK), the White said in its Statement on Administration Policy. North Korea Solid Fuel HWASONG18 ICBM. KCNA KCNA The Biden administration is strongly opposing a measure in the House Armed Services Committees (HASC) Fiscal Year 2025 National Defense Authorization Act legislation calling for the establishment by December 2030 of an additional continental United States interceptor site, located at the Department of Defenses conditionally designated preferred site of Fort Drum, New York. In arguing for the Fort Drum site, HASC had an opposite take from the White House, stating that it is needed to enhance the protection of the United States homeland against potential long-range ballistic missiles originating from Iran or North Korea. HASC also mandated that the Missile Defense Agency (MDA) begin providing an annual report, starting no later than Dec. 31, about the status of the planning and design, construction, development, and equipment requirements for the interceptor site. In addition, the committee wants to know plans for deploying additional missile defense sensor discrimination capabilities there. The HASC legislation does not include a price tag, but last year, then-Joint Chiefs Chairman Mark Milley told Congress it would take billions; I dont know exact cost figures, but take billions, to build the Fort Drum interceptor site. The U.S. now has two launch sites already established to counter long-range ballistic missile threats; the primary one at Fort Greely, Alaska, and a smaller one at Vandenberg Air Force Base, California. The missiles are Ground-Based Interceptors or GBIs. A Ground-Based Interceptor. US Army GBIs are part of the U.S. militarys Ground-based Midcourse Defense missile defense system (GMD). GMD is designed to physically knock out long-range ballistic missile threats to the U.S. homeland while they are still in space. The entire GMD system architecture ties into a network of ground-, sea-, and space-based sensors and command and control systems. You can read all about how midcourse intercept works in this past explainer of ours. The White House said that the existing sites will be sufficient to counter threats under the planned Next Generation Interceptor (NGI) program, which will ultimately replace the GBI. You can read much more about that program in our deep dive that questioned its exorbitant nearly $20 billion price tag here. An infographic from Lockheed Martin on its NGI design., Lockheed Martin The Pentagon has prioritized improving the probability of successfully intercepting missile threats by completing development of NGI,  which will begin fielding in 20 available silos in Alaska in 2028, the White House stated. The NGI will protect all 50 states, the District of Columbia, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico against existing threats from the DPRK and potential future threats. The Department will continue to monitor developments in these threats and evolutions in the capability of the nations Ballistic Missile Defense System. The NGI is a multiple-kill vehicle interceptor hit-to-kill kinetic weapon designed to destroy its targets by smashing into them outside the Earths atmosphere. By contrast, the GBI features a single Exoatmospheric Kill Vehicle (EKV) that engages a single target. You can see a successful test of a GBI last year in the video below. Multiple kill vehicles allow the NGI to engage more than one target at a time or assign more than one kill vehicle to an incoming target. Thats a big advantage over single-kill vehicle interceptors like the GBI, especially given the very limited numbers being produced. This will allow for better effectiveness defending against multiple missile attacks. This all relies on a multitude of sensors, from the sea to space, to help detect, classify and guide the warhead to the target or targets. The Pentagons developing satellite-based space tracking layer, which provides global indications, warning, tracking, and targeting of advanced missile threats, should eventually help make these engagements more seamless and less reliant on terrestrial sensors. The Pentagon is asking for more than $2.5 billion in the Fiscal Year 2025 budget for the GMD program. That includes continuing NGI All-Up Round (AUR) development to enhance homeland defense interceptor capability and capacity to increase current fleet size to 64 interceptors (44 GBIs and 20 NGIs) as early as the end of the decade. NGI funding provides for the analysis, design, development, prototyping, integration and relevant environment testing to mature the booster, payload, sensor, and design-specific critical technologies and technology elements, of the weapon, according to the Pentagon. It also upgrades and consolidates ground testing infrastructure and facilities as well as upgrades and replaces ground system infrastructure fire control/kill vehicle software to improve the reliability and cybersecurity resiliency of the GMD weapon system. In addition, it funds Ground, Cyber and Flight testing to support the Integrated Master Test Plan. A notional rendering of the Next Generation Interceptor. Lockheed Martin Lockheed Martin rendering In April, the Missile Defense Agency (MDA) downselected Lockheed Martin to be the prime contractor on the $17.8 billion NGI program. That was after MDA awarded development contracts for NGI to Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman in March 2021. Thats a very large price tag for a program that, as of now, includes just delivered 20 interceptors. As it sits, NGI will augment GBI, but there are hopes that it would replace the latter entirely as those older interceptors age out and become less operationally relevant. While existing North Korean ballistic missile technology can reach the entirety of the United States, the reliability of its reentry vehicles and nuclear warheads remains in question. North Koreas rapid expansion of its nuclear arsenal and long-range missile inventory has also drawn concerns that it could numerically outpace the GMD system in the not too distant future. As for Iran, it is developing its long-range ballistic capabilities as well but has yet to design one that can reach more than 1,200 miles. Some have argued that a greater amount of focus is needed on securing the homeland against lower-end conventional threats, like long-range attack drones and cruise missiles, than against ICBMs. Americas GMD capability can only work against low-volume nuclear missile attacks by rogue states, not major powers like China and Russia. NGI, which wont come online until 2028 at the earliest, has yet to be flight-tested. The U.S. has made a huge bet that it will be able to add to and possibly replace GBI to meet North Korean and Iranian threats. Contact the author: howard@thewarzone.com

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Six years after the Parkland school massacre, the bloodstained building will finally be demolished

Related video: Parkland shooting 6 years later. What went wrong and whats being done to fix it

PARKLAND, Fla. (AP)  The three-story building where 17 people died in the 2018 mass shooting at Parklands Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School looms over campus behind a screened fence, a horrific and constant reminder to students, teachers, the victims families and passersby.

But now after serving as evidence at the murderers trial, the buildings destruction starts Thursday as crews begin bringing it down piece by piece  implosion would have damaged nearby structures. Officials plan to complete the weekslong project before the schools 3,300 students return in August from summer vacation. Most were in elementary school when the shooting happened.

Whenever I would walk past it, it was just kind of eerie, said Aisha Hashmi, who graduated this month. She was in sixth grade in February 2018, but her older siblings were on campus.

She said when the wind blew back the fences screening, students would get a glimpse through windows into the empty classrooms and corridors. It is heartbreaking to see and then have to go sit in your English class.

The victims families have been invited to witness the first blows to the building and hammer off a piece if they wish. They have divergent views about the demolition.

I want the building gone, said Lori Alhadeff, whose 14-year-old daughter Alyssa died there. Alhadeff was elected to the Broward County school board after the massacre and now serves as its chair. Its one more step in the healing process for me and my family. My son still goes to school there and he has to walk past that building where his sister died.

But other parents, like Max Schachter and Tony Montalto, hoped the building would be preserved. Over the last year, they, Alhadeff and others have led Vice President Kamala Harris, members of Congress, school officials, police officers and about 500 other invitees from around the country on tours of it. They mostly demonstrated how improved safety measures like bullet-resistant glass in door windows, a better alarm system and doors that lock from the inside could have saved lives.

Those who have taken the tour have called it gut-wrenching as something of a time capsule of Feb. 14, 2018, with bullet-pocked walls and bloodstained floors. Textbooks and laptops sat open on desks, and wilted Valentines Day flowers, deflated balloons and abandoned teddy bears were scattered amid broken glass. Those objects have now been removed.

Schachter, whose 14-year-old son Alex died, said that while each tour was excruciatingly painful, he believes the safety improvements that visitors implemented elsewhere made keeping the building worthwhile. For example, Utah approved a $200 million school safety program after its officials visited.

FILE  A security agent walks alongside a barrier surrounding Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, July 5, 2023, in Parkland, Fla. Demolition of the building where 17 people died in the 2018 Parkland school shooting is set to begin, as crews will begin tearing down the three-story building at the high school on Thursday, June 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell, File)

We have museums and we have (historic) sites that that have stood for individuals to learn and to understand what happened, Schachter said.

Broward is not alone in taking down a school building after a mass shooting. In Connecticut, Sandy Hook Elementary School was torn down after the 2012 shooting and replaced. In Texas, officials closed Robb Elementary in Uvalde after the 2022 shooting there and plan to demolish it. Colorados Columbine High had its library demolished after the 1999 shooting.

The Broward school board has not decided what the building will be replaced with. Teachers suggested a practice field for the band, Junior ROTC and other groups, connected by a landscaped pathway to a nearby memorial that was erected a few years ago. Several of the students killed belonged to the band or JROTC.

Montalto, whose 14-year-old daughter Gina died in the shooting, would like to see a memorial take over the space, replacing the earlier one, which he said was supposed to be temporary.

We are part of the community, too, he said.

The building, erected about 20 years ago, couldnt be demolished earlier because prosecutors had jurors tour it during the shooters 2022 penalty trial. The jurors were warned it would be emotionally difficult, and at least one left the building in tears.

The murderer had a long history of bizarre and sometimes violent behavior that spurred numerous home visits by Broward sheriffs deputies. He was spared the death penalty, receiving a sentence of life without parole.

Prosecutors also wanted jurors to tour part of the building during last years trial of Scot Peterson, the on-campus sheriffs deputy who was accused of child abuse for failing to enter it and confront the shooter. He told investigators that because of echoes, he couldnt pinpoint the shooters location. The judge rejected the prosecutions request as too prejudicial and unnecessary.

Peterson, who told investigators that because of echoes, he couldnt pinpoint the shooters location, was acquitted, but the families and survivors are still suing him and the Broward Sheriffs Office.

When Im there Thursday, Im going to be thinking about all of the failures from that day that contributed to the Parkland murderer coming on that campus, Valentines Day 2018, and murdering Alex and 16 others, Schachter said.

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The U.S. Department of Homeland Security revealed Tuesday that it has added a Skechers supplier to a list of Chinese firms whose products can no longer enter the United States on suspicion of abetting the persecution of Uyghur and other Turkic Muslims in China through their participation in forced labor transfer schemes.

In a further sign that the DHS-led Forced Labor Enforcement Task Force is expanding the scope of the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act, or UFLPA, beyond the borders of the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, Dongguan Oasis Shoes Co. is housed in Guangdong, nearly 5,000 miles southeast of the controversy-riddled province, where allegations of crimes against humanity and even genocide have continued to proliferate despite Beijings fervid protestations that they are untrue. Products made in whole or in part in Xinjiang are automatically excluded until the law.

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According to information by FLETF, the footwear manufacturer also known as Dongguan Luzhou Shoes Co. and Dongguan Lvzhou Shoes Co., cooperated with the paramilitary Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps to recruit, transfer and employ Uyghurs from Xinjiang at its factory.

A July 2022 report from the Helena Kennedy Centre for International Justice at Sheffield-Hallam University noted that the XPCC started dispatching Uyghur and Kyrgyz farmers, herdsmen and industrial workers to Dongguan Oasis in 2016 as part of a Xinjiang Aid pairing between the cities of Tumshuq and Dongguan. By 2019, the factory had facilitated at least 270 such transfers. The same year, the Dongguan Human Resources Bureau reported that Tumshuqs deputy mayor visited the facility to remind its Uyghur employees that integration, hard work and Chinese language skills would lead their families out of poverty.

When Globe and Mail journalist Nathan VanderKlippe and BBC journalist John Sudworth visited Dongguan Oasis in the spring of 2021, they found Uyghur workers housing fenced by barbed wire and patrolled by men in police-style uniforms who appeared to restrict access to the dormitories. Uyghur workers were also kept apart from Han and Hui employees, with their own line bosses, they found.

Skechers was first linked with Dongguan Oasis, then referred to as Dongguan Lv Zhou, in a February 2020 Australian Strategic Policy Institute report about the mass transfer of Uyghurs to factories in other parts of China under conditions that strongly suggested forced labor.

In a statement published in March 2021, Skechers said that it was unaware of the allegations before the ASPI report was made public but that it reviewed its internal records and confirmed that the supplier, which it referred to as Dong Guan Lu Zhou, had acknowledged its supplier code of conduct. Multiple audits, both announced and unannounced, between 2017 and 2020 also showed no signs of forced labor or other concerning labor conditions, it said at the time.

And while Uyghurs comprise a portion of its workforce, Dongguan Luzhou told the California-based shoemaker, they are employed on the same terms and conditions as all other factory employees. It was based on these facts, Skechers said, that it had no reason to believe that the factory was using any forced labor, though it would continue its monitoring.

Dongguan Oasis Footwear is a primary supplier for @SkechersUSA. They also make @kswiss, @brooksrunning. They report a combined annual production of 40 million shoes across their factories. https://t.co/WkZEwnsVCW  Laura Murphy (@LauraTMurphy) September 28, 2020

Of Dongguan Oasiss inclusion on the Entity List, a Skechers spokesperson said it was aware of the announcement and that as always, it will respect and follow DHSs decision, though it does not expect the move to have a material impact on our business. The company declined to answer follow-up questions about whether it would be dropping Dongguan Oasis as a supplier, its production volume and if there were shipments that were already en route to the United States that might be diverted elsewhere.

Skecherss ties with Dongguan Oasis have come back to haunt it before. It was the subject of a 2021 complaint that a group of nonprofits and a former Uyghur detainee filed with the public prosecutors office in Paris. Together with Zara owner Inditex, Uniqlo and Sandro and Maje parent SCMP, Skechers was accused of encouraging and profiting from Uyghur forced labor, whether directly or indirectly. The office dropped the investigation in 2023, citing its lack of jurisdiction.

In 2022, the Chinese Communist Party-run tabloid Global Times claimed that Customs and Border Protection had seized a Skechers shipment over a possible breach of the UFLPA. Skechers denied this.

Brooks Running also produced shoes at Dongguan Luzhou, though it ended its relationship at the close of 2022. A spokesperson declined to give a reason, saying only that the shoemaker has zero tolerance for forced labor and continuously evaluates its policies and practices in response to global issues related to worker well-being and responsible sourcing.

Speaking at a fireside chat with risk assessment firm Kharon on Wednesday, Robert Silvers, DHS undersecretary for policy and FLETF chair, said that the Entity List will keep growing. With Dongguan Oasiss addition, it currently stands at 68 names. Uyghur forced labor, whether it occurs in or outside of Xinjiang, falls within FLETFs purview, he said. Scrutiny buoyed by the work of a very vibrant community of NGOs and civil society organizations, plus supply-chain mapping software providers such as Kharon, will only become more intense.

We have a very active and vibrant pipeline of additional referred cases that the Forced Labor Enforcement Task Force is reviewing closely and I would certainly expect more designations, Silvers said. Unfortunately, the problems of forced labor, of forced transfers of persecuted ethnic minorities in the Peoples Republic of China continues and so our work will be unyielding [and] unrelenting until those conditions change, and they havent changed yet.

Silvers warned companies of creating bifurcated supply chains that include a clean one for the U.S. market and an unclean one for everywhere else, a state of affairs that experts say will prevail unless other countries step up and adopt equally stringent forced labor rules. A similar situation could arise when brands source non-tainted materials or products from firms that also produce items that involve modern slavery.

Where we see bifurcated supply chains, we ask a lot of questions, and we ask for really solid proof that theres not commingling between the supply chains, Silvers said. And when youre dealing with a supplier that is doing dirty work, but assuring you that youre not part of that dirty work, thats a red flag.
Slovakia's defense minister has accused his predecessor of "treason" for sending fighter jets to Ukraine, and announced on June 12 he had filed a criminal complaint regarding the matter.

"Weakening the armed forces in this way, contrary to the constitution, cannot be described in our political dictionary as anything other than treason," Robert Kalinak said in comments reported by the Czech news outlet iROZHLAS.

"I don't know if it legally constitutes a crime, but he is a person who betrayed national values."

Kalinak was taking aim at his predecessor, Jaroslav Nagy, who while serving as defense minister from March 2020 and May 2023, sent Ukraine several MiG-29 fighter jets to help the country fend off Russia's full-scale invasion.

At the time, Nagy said the Soviet-era fighter jets were "unusable" for his country and therefore it was "the right thing" to provide them to Ukraine.

When Kalinak took office in October 2023 as part of Prime Minister Robert Fico's new government, Slovakia said it would no longer send arms to Ukraine from its own military stocks, though it does still allow commercial arms sales.

Nagy responded to Kalinak's accusation on June 12, saying that all legal considerations had been taken into account before the signing of the deal to hand over the fighter jets.

"Based on that, the government made a decision as a collective body and approved the signing of an international agreement, which it had the right to do," he said.

He added that another similar criminal report regarding the MiG-29 transfer had been "swept off the table."

While the Slovak government has made its disdain for support for Ukraine clear, some of the country's people took matters into their own hands and launched a fundraising drive to purchase artillery shells for Kyiv.

Slovak citizens started their campaign "Ammunition for Ukraine" on April 16 to raise additional funds for the Czech-led initiative to procure shells around the world after the Slovak government refused to participate.

Within less than a month, over 65,000 people donated 4 million euros ($4.3 million), with one donor giving a single donation of 100,000 euros ($107,000).

Read also: On a knife-edge: Slovak PM shooting widens societal rift, feeds disinformation

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Slovakia's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence Robert Kalioak speaks during a press conference after the Cabinet meeting. Jaroslav Novak/TASR/dpa

The Slovakian government plans to increase personal protection for politicians as well as stricter rules for protests in the wake of the assassination attempt on Prime Minister Robert Fico last month.

The plans affect not only members of the government, but also the leaders of the opposition parties, according to amendments to the law passed by the three-party Cabinet in Bratislava on Wednesday.

They still have to be approved by parliament, where the coalition parties have a sufficient majority.

Left-wing populist Fico was seriously injured after he was shot several times by an opponent of the government on May 15. Deputy Prime Minister Robert Kalinak has taken over his official duties for the time being.

The new legal provisions also include stricter rules for protest rallies. Demonstrators are no longer allowed to take place directly in front of the government or presidential office, parliament or court buildings, but must keep a minimum distance of 50 metres.

The private sphere of public officials is to be more strongly protected.

In the past, parts of the opposition had repeatedly organized protests directly in front of Fico's private residence in Bratislava. There have also been individual protests in front of the private residence of President Zuzana Caputova and other politicians.

In future, a minimum distance will also apply here.

Protests in front of hospitals and the private residences of doctors, journalists and other people who have become the target of public criticism due to their professional activities will be banned.

Slovakia's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence Robert Kalioak (L) and Minister of Labour, Social Affairs and Family of the Slovak Republic Erik Toma during a press conference after the Cabinet meeting. Jaroslav Novak/TASR/dpa
Signage for early voting is shown at Galleria Mall Thursday, May 30, 2024, in Henderson. (Ronda Churchill/Nevada Current)

Policy, politics and progressive commentary

Nevadas primary election day was marked by low turnout, excessive heat in the states most populous county, and a smooth execution of universal mail-in voting across the state.

Early voting ran smoothly, and Election Day went well, said Nevada Secretary of State Cisco Aguilar.

County election workers will still accept mail-in ballots until June 15, but unofficial returns put turnout for the primary at about 14% of registered voters as of Tuesday night. Thats lower than previous primary elections, which have ranged from 18% to 30% since 2000, according to States United Action.

I cant give you a reason for the low turnout. Obviously, you know, everybody has a lot going on, said Aguilar during a press conference after polls closed. I can say the November election is going to be super competitive,and that Nevada is going to have a significant role in the national election.

The race between Democratic Sen. Jacky Rosen and Republican Sam Brown is expected to figure largely in determining which party will control the Senate. Nevadas U.S. House races are also likely to receive national attention.

Nevada voters showed their preference for mail-in voting, which accounted for nearly 60% of ballots cast by voters as of late Tuesday. Election day voting  which was hampered by a high temperature of 108 degrees in Clark County  accounted for about 20% of total votes. In-person early voting attracted slightly more voters, making up about 21% of ballots cast.

Aguilar attributed the smooth election process to his offices Voter Registration and Election Management Solution (VREMS) project, which establishes a centralized statewide voter registration database and election management system.

While the system has not been implemented statewide yet, Clark County has used the system for the past two elections. The system will go statewide in the general election, said Aguilar.

We were able to see the poll pads work in Clark County as they should. It was great to talk with poll workers using the poll pads and talk about their experience today versus previous elections when they did not have the system, and seeing where it built in efficiencies that made their job easier, Aguilar said.

Were excited to see that expand statewide, Agular said. Im confident that the rest of the state will really appreciate the system as well.

Aguilar acknowledged that, as with any election, there will be opportunities to smooth out wrinkles as local election officials provide feedback to state officials.

Thats the big question after every election. Stepping back and saying, Where can we improve? How do we build that communication flow so were all on the same page consistently?

Aguilar vowed to work with county clerks to improve the election process and voter turnout ahead of Novembers general election. Otherwise, Aguilar said, the primary had a good flow overall.

I hope Nevadans recognize the value of their vote. That is a significant, powerful vote here in Nevada, and we have to have to talk to voters about the power of that vote, Aguilar said.

Editor note: An earlier version of this article incorrectly stated that vote tabulation streamlining was part of the Voter Registration and Election Management Solution (VREMS) project. Vote tabulation streamlining is a different process.

The post Smooth primary election day bodes well for general, but low turnout a concern, says SOS appeared first on Nevada Current.
Towanda Mullins spent the morning of May 29 praying rainy weather would subside in time for the unveiling of a plaza and statue in honor of activist Sojourner Truth. Mullins, chairperson of the Sojourner Truth Project-Akron, had been working on the project for more than five years. As an Akron, Ohio, native however, shes been aware of Truths legacy and the historic impact of the abolitionists Aint I A Woman? speech for much of her life.

Truth delivered the speech on May 29, 1851, at the Womens Rights Convention in Akron, just a stones throw away from the location of the new Sojourner Truth Legacy Plaza. Although the specifics of the speech have been debated  and some believe the famous Aint I A Woman? refrain wasnt even uttered by Truth  it has endured as a seminal moment in history because of the unabashed way in which she advocated for racial and gender equality during a time when Black women were largely left out of the womens suffrage movement.

The United Way of Summit and Medina, which owns the space where the new plaza was constructed, stated that this is the first historic space in the city that directly reflects and honors the Black womans experience.

On May 29, Akron Beacon Journal reported several hundred people attended the unveiling to honor Truth. Mullins had spent years dreaming of this moment and, thankfully, the rain stopped in time to let her truly enjoy it.

Mullins says local activists have been hoping to honor Truth near the site of her historic speech for decades, although efforts were most recently renewed in 2018. This has been long overdue, she says. She credits the support of the National Trust for Historic Preservation and its African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund with expanding the footprint of the project. The Sojourner Truth Legacy Plaza is just one of more than 200 preservation projects the action fund has supported since launching in 2017. Nearly $100 million has been raised to ensure that sites honoring activism, achievement and resilience of African Americans are recognized throughout the country.

Originally intended to only include a statue of Truth, the 10,000 square-foot plaza now also includes a timeline of the activists life, 10-foot pillars representing the pillars of the Old Stone Church where she gave her speech, and a metal sculpture of a tree that displays Ghanas national flower, the impala lily. (Mullins says Truths paternal family has roots in the African country.)

Dating at least back to the 90s, Mullins predecessors at the Sojourner Truth Project-Akron had engaged Akron-born sculptor Woodrow Nash to create a statue in the image of the historic figure. The prototype was still in his workshop when Mullins group originally renewed plans to honor Truth. It just sat on the shelf and collected dust until a few years ago when Towanda and them reorganized, and it really got traction and took off, Nash says. The finished 6-foot statue depicts Truth holding a Bible.

Brent Leggs, executive director of the African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund, says the National Trust worked with the Knight Foundation and local organizations including United Way of Summit and Medina and the Sojourner Truth Project-Akron to offer technical advice, project management, and financial resources for the plaza. We help to affirm the local communitys vision for their history. And we can validate the significance of a place and help harness the power of historic preservation to expand American history and to highlight these projects as placemaking and economic development, he says.

Leggs says they worked with Akron-based landscape architect Dion Harris and Nash to design a space that infused international, national and local histories. This was done through the inclusion of the impala lilies, but also by etching the names of local Black women who have been impactful civic leaders into the plaza. Willia B. Player, the first Black woman in the country to serve as the president of a four-year college; Dr. Eleanor Smith Bozeman, the first Black woman to work as a physician in Akron; and Dorothy Jackson, the first Black woman to serve as the citys deputy mayor, are among the local women honored alongside Truth within the plaza.

Leggs says he hopes the space will invite both locals and visitors to honor a 173-year-old speech that has reverberated throughout American history.

This memorial and plaza is both a repository of public memory and a beautiful expression of Black history and Akron, the executive director and preservationist says. Its really at the front door of Main Street in downtown Akron. Its placement in essence helps to welcome visitors and it signals for any newcomer or any visitor to the city, in downtown, the diversity of Akrons civic identity.

The post Sojourner Truth Finds a Permanent Home In Akron appeared first on Capital B News.
Someone knows what happened. Ky. State Police use cadaver dogs to look for missing baby

Dogs were being used Tuesday to search for a missing baby from Ohio County whose parents and grandparents have been arrested since her disappearance.

Kentucky State Police said they were using cadaver dogs to look for 8-month-old Miya (Tucker) Rudd, WFIE, an NBC affiliate out of Evansville, Ind., reported.

We have no evidence that shes deceased, but we dont have evidence that shes alive either, KSP Trooper Corey King said in an interview with the television station.

King said the dogs were being used to search a cemetery and a wooded area behind the familys home in Reynolds Station. He said state police planned to bring in specialized equipment from the medical examiners office later in the week if the dogs did not find anything.

We are hopeful, King said in the interview. But, he added, the longer this goes, the more grim of an outcome this will be.

Miyas family contacted state police to report that they had not seen her since late April, and when state police found her parents, Cage Rudd, 30, and Tesla Tucker, 29, at an Owensboro motel last Wednesday, the baby was not with them, court records show.

The parents are not cooperating with the police investigation, WHAS reported King said.

Both parents have been arrested and charged with child abandonment, as well as other charges including first-degree child abuse, trafficking in a controlled substance (greater than two grams of methamphetamine), trafficking marijuana, trafficking of legend drugs, engaging in organized crime, possession of fentanyl and possession of drug paraphernalia..

Miyas grandfather, Ricky Smith, 56, was arrested Friday and charged with first-degree child abuse, abandonment of a minor, engaging in organized crime and numerous drug-related charges.

And when police went to the babys grandmothers home looking for the baby, the grandmother, Billie Smith, 49, was arrested on an outstanding warrant for second-degree assault  domestic violence, which was unrelated to Miya.

Another man, Timothy Roach, 37, was also arrested when troopers went to Smiths residence to conduct the welfare check. State police said that as they were pulling in, they saw Roach throw suboxone that had not been prescribed to him under his vehicle. He was charged with second-degree possession of a controlled substance and first-degree prescription controlled substance not in proper container.

King told the television stations illicit drugs are at the heart of the case.

He told WFIE Miyas three siblings had been removed from the parents home by the Department for Community Based Services some time ago and were being cared for by other family members.

He said DCBS had planned to remove Miya as well, after her umbilical cord blood tested positive for meth, according to WHAS.

State police have not received any information indicating the baby was sold, abducted or being cared for by someone else, King said in the interview with WFIE. If someone is holding the baby for the family, he said they should come forward, and you will not be in trouble.

State police have said Miya has brown hair and green eyes. She was born in October 2023.

Someone knows what happened to this baby, King said Tuesday in the interview with WFIE.

Anyone with information about the case has been asked to contact state police at (270) 826-3312.
TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA)  The son of a fallen Tampa police officer graduated high school and had the entire departments K-9 unit rooting him on at graduation.

Adam Roberts, the son of Cpl. Michael Roberts who was killed in the line of duty in 2009, graduated from high school on May 18.

Pinellas man accused of trying to sell victims boat trailer on Facebook Marketplace after saying hed repair it

Even 15 years after his fathers death, Adam was reminded of the support from the K-9 unit.

We are so proud of what Adam has achieved after losing his father at such a young age, Brandon Barclay, the president of the Tampa Police Benevolent Association said. Its not just our brave officers who are part of the PBA community, but their family members as well. We were thrilled to be on hand to celebrate Adams high school graduation, and we know hell go on to do great things.

Courtesy: Tampa Police Benevolent Association

Courtesy: Tampa Police Benevolent Association

Courtesy: Tampa Police Benevolent AssociationCourtesy: Tampa Police Benevolent Association

Adam was just three years old when he lost his dad.

Tampa PBA has kept in contact with Roberts family since his fathers death when he was shot and killed while investigating a former U.S. Virgin Islands police officer Humberto Delgado, who fired an AR-15, fatally striking him in the chest.

Delgado was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to death before getting a reduced sentence of life in prison.

Adam is currently deciding which university to attend.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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(Bloomberg) -- Hive Hydrogen South Africa is seeking to lure some of Japans biggest companies to invest in a $5.9 billion green ammonia project.

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Senior officials from units of Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group Inc., Itochu Corp., Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd. and Mitsui OSK Lines Ltd. will visit the proposed site of the plant in Eastern Cape province next week to assess whether to lend it money or take equity investments, according to Hive Hydrogen. Officials from the International Finance Corp. and Japanese government agencies will also attend.

This is the most senior delegation Japan has ever sent to South Africa in terms of business investment, said Colin Loubser, Hive Hydrogens general manager in Gqeberha, where the company plans to open the plant in 2029.

Hive Hydrogen, a unit of Hive Energy Ltd., is the biggest and most advanced of major projects to produce green hydrogen in South Africa. Advocates of the fuel say it has the potential to decarbonize heavy industry and shipping.

ArcelorMittal SA is considering a 69 billion rand ($3.7 billion) steel project that would use the fuel, while Sasol Ltd. may develop a plant on the northwest coast if a new port is built.

While projects planned in neighboring Namibia are targeting exports to Europe, Hive  at least initially  is intending to sell much of its output to Japan and South Korea.

Officials from government agencies including the Japan Organization for Metals and Energy Security, or Jogmec, the Japan International Cooperation Agency and the Japan External Trade Organization will also assess the project next week, Hive said.

Jogmec said it sends officials to projects to gather information without being more specific. Mitsubishi UFJ declined to comment. Mitsui OSK and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries didnt respond to requests for comment. Itochu last year signed a memorandum of understanding with Hive on developing the plant.

The IFC said its giving input on a dozen green hydrogen projects globally, without mentioning Hive.

The Hive plant envisages using the Ngqura deepwater port to ship ammonia  a more easily transportable derivative of green hydrogen  to export markets. A final decision is expected next year.

If it gets the go ahead, it will use 3,700 megawatts of renewable power generation capacity to split water to produce 1 million tons of hydrogen a year. That will then be converted into ammonia.

Hive has already approached oil majors and development finance institutions in Germany, Denmark and the Netherlands for funding, Loubser said.

The plant could in theory be quadrupled in size over time if demand materializes.

Ammonia is seen as a potential way to decarbonize shipping and heavy industry, and could also be used to fire power plants. While its currently more expensive to make than other fuels like diesel and so-called blue hydrogen thats made using natural gas, costs may fall as technology improves and regulators impose penalties on the use of fossil fuels.

--With assistance from Shoko Oda.

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MOGADISHU, June 12 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) said Wednesday that Somalia is hosting 39,286 registered refugees and asylum seekers as of May.

The UNHCR said in its latest update released in Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia, that 66 percent of the refugees and asylum seekers are women and children mainly from neighboring Ethiopia, followed by Yemen refugees.

According to the UNHCR, most of the refugees and asylum seekers reside in urban or peri-urban settings across the Woqooyi Galbeed and Bari regions in the northern part of the country.

UNHCR said 47 percent or 18,559 persons are refugees while 20,727 are asylum seekers who are living in Somalia which has been facing increased attacks from the al-Shabab militant group.

The UNHCR also said it has assisted 95,181 Somali refugees to return home since December 2014 while 43,897 arrived back spontaneously, bringing the total number of refugee returnees in Somalia to 130,078.

More than 800,000 Somali refugees and asylum seekers are also hosted in the neighboring countries, according to the UNHCR.

It said a further 215,000 persons were internally displaced inside Somalia in the first five months of 2024 while 2.9 million were internally displaced in 2023 due to conflict and natural disasters. 
South Africa records first mpox death after five cases in past month

By Tannur Anders

JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) -A 37-year-old man has died in South Africa from the viral infection mpox, becoming the first fatality in the country after five laboratory-confirmed cases were recorded over the past month, the health minister said on Wednesday.

The man died in Tembisa Hospital on Monday, Health Minister Joe Phaahla told a news conference.

"One death is too many, especially from a preventable and manageable disease like mpox," he said.

Mpox, which causes flu-like symptoms and pus-filled lesions, spreads through close physical contact. Most cases are mild but it can kill.

Unlike with COVID, "there must have been contact between people on a skin-to-skin contact level," Phaahla said.

South Africa's five confirmed mpox cases between May and June were in men aged 30 to 39 years old without travel history to countries experiencing an outbreak, suggesting local transmission, the minister said.

The five cases were severe and required hospitalisation, he said, adding "the cases have co-morbidities and have been identified as key populations, men who have sex with men".

Two of those patients remain in hospital, he said.

Sequencing of three of the cases found the strain mpox clade IIb, which began to spread globally in 2022.

Mpox was first detected in humans in the Democratic Republic of Congo in 1970, and the DRC accounted for more than 99% of cases of mpox reported in Africa in April, according to the World Health Organization.

South Africa recorded five mpox cases in 2022 and no deaths, with no cases in 2023, the health ministry said.

(Reporting by Tannur Anders; Editing by Alexander Winning, Hugh Lawson and Bernadette Baum)
Rep. William Timmons (R-S.C.) has won the Republican primary for his House seat representing South Carolinas 4th Congressional District, Decision Desk HQ projects.

The conservative former prosecutor is trying for a fourth term in the lower chamber, but faced a primary challenge from state Rep. Adam Morgan.

Morgan, who founded the South Carolina state Houses Freedom Caucus, had the backing of the U.S. Freedom Caucus chair Bob Good (Va.), as well as Republican Reps. Matt Gaetz (Florida) and Scott Perry (Pa.)  some of the most conservative members of the lower chamber.

Timmons boasts a conservative voting record and endorsements from former President Trump and Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), but his rival worked to paint him as moderate and criticized him for voting for ex-Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) before his historic ouster from the House leadership role.

The incumbent, though, outraised Morgan, and now inches closer to securing another term.

In the fall, hell go up against Kathryn Harvey, the Spartanburg County Democratic party chair, who ran unopposed on the Democrat side. But its a safe GOP seat, and a forecast from Decision Desk HQ/The Hill puts Timmons with a 99 percent chance of winning a head-to-head with Harvey.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
An early June deluge has once again turned South Floridas roads and parks into rivers and lakes, snarling traffic, stalling cars and sending residents sloshing through streets, shoes in hand. And its not done yet.

By Wednesday afternoon, the flooding had grown so severe that authorities closed parts of southbound Interstate 95 in Broward near the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International airport, an area that was walloped by intense rain later in the day. Hundreds of flights were delayed there and at Miami International Airport.

Early reports from Accuweather stations show that more than 17 inches of rain fell on Hollywood, Hallandale Beach and Aventura from Tuesday night to Wednesday night.

Roads and intersections were rendered impassable in Aventura, Sunny Isles Beach, Hollywood, Miami Beach, Fort Lauderdale and across South Florida. Flash flood warnings blinkered on and off all afternoon, and social media video showed floodwater so deep in Hallandale Beach that cars were floating.

One of the many stranded drivers was Mike Viesel, who was caught on his way home in Hollywood in several feet of floodwater. As he slowed, and stopped, other cars surged past him, sending even more water into his car  up to his calves. Then the engine wouldnt start.

Viesel and his dog, Humi, were stuck inside his tan Lincoln Continental waiting for a tow on Wednesday afternoon.

Id walk out of my car, but [Humi] has a problem with water, he said.

Mike Viesel kisses his dog, Humi, as they wait in their flooded Lincoln Continental for a tow truck after their car stalled out on Taft Street due to heavy fain flooding the neighborhood on Wednesday, June 12, 2024, in Hollywood, Fla.

While authorities reported no major failures in county-wide drainage protections, the continued downpours on Wednesday quickly overwhelmed the weak spots in the system  neighborhoods, streets and even homes that routinely flood during heavy rainstorms.

Alfredo Rodriguez moved into St. Edwards Apartments in the Edgewater neighborhood of Miami a year ago, and he said its flooded five times since he got here. The lobby of his building had a half inch of water puddled inside on Wednesday morning, during a brief respite from the rain.

It was a surprise to me. I want to leave this place in the next three months. This is horrible. I cant pull my car around, he said.

A City of Miami Public Works employee waves towards a vehicle driving through a flooded street in Edgewater along N.E. 23 Street in Miami, Florida on Wednesday, June 12, 2024.

Outside, a city of Miami employee manned a loud, sputtering piece of machinery designed for these situations, a temporary stormwater pump. The employee noted the pump was doing its job, yet cars on the bay front street sat in water up to their front bumper.

Miami deployed 12 of its 14 temporary pumps for this flood event, including the one on Rodriguez street, in addition to the citys 13 permanent pump stations. Miami also sicced a squad of ten roving vactor trucks on the flooding hot spots, large trucks that suck up excess water on the street.

TELL US: Has your home or street flooded in South Florida? We want to hear about it

Oscar Gonzalez rides his motorcycle to avoid the flooded street along N.E. 23 Street in Miami, Florida on Wednesday, June 12, 2024.

Miami saw about 4 to 6 inches of rain on Tuesday alone, according to preliminary results from the Miami office of the National Weather Service. Miami Beach saw even more, at nearly 7 inches.

In response, the city deployed six temporary pumps in flood-prone spots, in addition to Miami Beachs 48 permanent pump stations. Seven vactor trucks are roaming the city, hunting for any flooding issues.

In anticipation of the rainfall, the stormwater team cleaned the entire storm drain system earlier this week, including pump stations. Additional resources are available around the clock for the next several days, said Miami Beach spokesperson Melissa Berthier in a statement.

By late afternoon Wednesday, Miami Beach streets were under several feet of water. Motorcycles were nearly wholly underwater on some streets, and parts of Collins Ave were knee-deep in floodwater.

Victor Corone, 66, pushes his wife Maria Diaz, 64, in a wheelchair through more than a foot of flood water on 84th street in Miami Beach on Wednesday, June 12, 2024. Diaz had a doctors appointment, and they had to ditch the car in the parking lot on Collins Ave and walk more than 20 minutes to get home.

Victor Corone, 66, forded nearly two feet of floodwater while pushing his wife, 64-year-old Maria Diaz, in a wheelchair. Maria had a doctors appointment earlier in the day, and the couple had to ditch their car in a parking lot to make it home.

Corone pushed her through the floodwater for more than a mile before they arrived, safely, at home.

It was a long way, he said.

Some of the sunken cars in Miami Beach were taking a beating from the wakes of passing cars whose engines still worked.

Christian B, 20, and his friends were scrambling to protect his car Wednesday evening, which kept smashing into the car next to it with every passing wave. They used a blue-striped towel and the top of a toilet plunger to try and separate the cars, but said they couldnt move them because the water was already past the engine block.

Christian B. and his two friends Claudia and Barbara tried to pull his car with a rope to keep it from crashing in the neighboring car to no avail in Miami Beach, Florida on Wednesday, June 12, 2024.

Broken records in Broward

The scene was similar in Broward, with around 6 inches in Hallandale Beach and 5 inches in Hollywood. The Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport set a new record for June 11 at 3.3 inches in a single day, beating a record of 3.1 inches in 1997. Along U.S. 1 in Fort Lauderdale, cars crept through rising waters, sending wakes that covered sidewalks.

Broward Sheriff Office Battalion Chief Michael Kane said Wednesday afternoon calls for rescues from the high water started coming in around 11:30 a.m. By early evening, about 50 people were rescued from flooded cars. No injuries or structural damage have been reported so far, he said.

I think we hit the peak at about 2 p.m., but that remains to be seen, Kane said. Weve been able to keep up with the high volume of requests for victim removals from the high water.

Laura Collinhofer holds an umbrella after moving her cars to higher ground after heavy rain flooded her neighborhood near the corner of Arthur Street and 14th Avenue on Wednesday, June 12, 2024, in Hollywood, Fla.

In Hollywood, some streets began to fill up with abandoned or stalled cars as floodwater rose in the early afternoon under a fresh outburst of heavy rain.

Laura Collinhofer said she and her neighbors had to move their cars to save them from the floodwaters. Its insane, she said.

A few blocks away, despite more than a foot of water on the streets, a FedEx delivery driver continued to make his deliveries. Rico Torres, 33, said hes experienced conditions like this many times before.

No matter what, unless its a Category 3 hurricane, we are out here every day, he said. This is Hollywood for you.

FedEx driver Rico Torres, 33, delivers a package to a home near Hayes Street as heavy rain flooded the neighborhood on Wednesday, June 12, 2024, in Hollywood, Fla.

And it wasnt just coastal spots flooding. The Holiday Acres mobile home park in Hialeah had nearly two feet of accumulated floodwater by Wednesday afternoon.

Davie Moreno, who moved into the park a few months ago, said he decided to walk the 18 minutes to work in this weather, rather than chance losing his car. He carried his uniform in a backpack wrapped in plastic.

Id prefer to leave the car than take it out in this, he said.

Davie Moreno walks through a flooded street at Holiday Acres Mobile Home Park in Hialeah, Florida on Wednesday, June 12, 2024.

More to come

Shawn Bhatti, a meteorologist at the NWSs Miami office, said Miami-Dade is expected to see another 5 to 7 inches of rain through Saturday morning, and Broward could see 4 to 6.5 inches.

While its unclear where, exactly, the brunt of that rain may fall, it could be a double whammy of water to places like Brickell, Downtown Miami and Miami Beach, which were hit the hardest in the first round of rain on Tuesday.

Theyre going to be pretty sensitive to more flooding in the next few days, Bhatti said.

That additional rain total could strain drainage efforts in South Florida even further, but as of Wednesday afternoon, authorities said the rain was still manageable.

The South Florida Water Management District, the main government agency in charge of flood control, said it worked before the storm to lower canals and test its pumps and gates to make sure they were ready. So far, no problems have been reported, said District Spokesperson Jason Schultz.

The district has used some of the pumps in its system to move water closer to the coast, but so far it hasnt needed to store water in the C-4 Emergency Detention Basin, a 900-acre space officials can use to hold extra water to prevent flooding.

The Districts regional flood control system is working as rainfall continues with no reports of problems, Schultz said in a statement.

If a few more inches of rain fall over the next few days, it could be an event that rivals other recent widespread flooding in South Florida.

In 2022, a soggy system that would later become Tropical Storm Alex passed over South Florida and dropped 15 inches of rain in just a few days. Hundreds of cars were stalled out in the floodwaters, and more than a hundred people called Miami-Dades 311 line with flood complaints.

READ MORE: Flood of troubles: Why Miami-Dades drainage problems wont be fixed anytime soon

A driver blinks their hazard lights on Arthur Street as heavy rain floods the surrounding neighborhood on Wednesday, June 12, 2024, in Hollywood, Fla.

This time, the conditions are similar. The National Hurricane Center is tracking a disturbance thats crossing the state, dumping a veritable rain train of water. The hurricane center gives it a low chance of strengthening into a tropical depression  just 20%  by the time it emerges on the east coast.

But, for now, South Floridas rainfall isnt classified as a tropical system. Its just rain, except at levels usually only seen with tropical storms or hurricanes.

It is fairly unusual, especially to see this wide of a swath over the region, Bhatti said.
A North Carolina pastor will be the next president of the Southern Baptist Convention.

The Rev. Clint Pressley's election to the leadership post was announced on Wednesday as the nation's largest Protestant denomination gathered for its annual meeting in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Also Wednesday, the Rev. Brad Graves, senior pastor of First Baptist Church of Ada, was elected as the faith group's first vice president.

Mike Keahbone

The Rev. Mike Keahbone, senior pastor of First Baptist Church of Lawton, was one of six men nominated for the denomination's president on Tuesday evening, but he did not receive enough votes to be placed in the first of two runoffs.

With 7,562 delegates, called messengers, voting in the second runoff on Wednesday, Pressley emerged with the most votes, topping the Rev. Dan Spencer, senior pastor of First Baptist Church, Sevierville, Tennessee.

Pressley is senior pastor of Hickory Grove Baptist Church in Charlotte, North Carolina. He will succeed current president Bart Barber, who has served two one-year terms in the denomination's top post, which is standard.

Though he was not elected to the president's post, Keahbone currently holds a leadership position in the Southern Baptist Convention. He is a member of the denomination's executive committee, which is made up of a board of more than 80 elected representatives and almost two dozen staff members tasked with managing Southern Baptist Convention business outside of the denomination's annual meeting.

SBC President Bart Barber gives a speech on June 11 during the Southern Baptist Convention at the Indiana Convention Center.

He also served on the denomination's Sex Abuse Task Force and as a member of the faith group's Abuse Reform Implementation Task Force appointed to implement sex abuse reforms approved by Southern Baptist delegates, called messengers, at the faith group's 2022 annual meeting.

During his president's address to messengers on Tuesday morning, Barber alluded to the relatively large number of presidential candidates. The Farmersville, Texas, pastor said he had previously said "any one of you can serve as president of the Southern Baptist Convention."

"I do need to clarify I did not mean that each and every one of you had to run this year  but I'm thankful for the people that God has moved to put their names into nomination," Barber said, drawing laughter from the crowd.

Besides Keahbone, Pressley and Spencer, other candidates for the leadership post included the Rev. David Allen, of Texas, a former longtime faculty member of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary; Bruce Frank, lead pastor at Biltmore Baptist Church in North Carolina; and Jared Moore, senior pastor of Homesteads Baptist Church in Crossville, Tennessee. Moore was nominated for the leadership position by Oklahoma Sen. Dusty Deevers, R-Elgin, who serves as pastor of Grace Reformed Baptist Church in Elgin.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Southern Baptist Convention elects North Carolina pastor as president
The Southern Baptist Convention passed a resolution Wednesday opposing the use of in vitro fertilization to conceive children, suggesting it is not a God-honoring process and that the U.S. government should thus work to restrain it.

The move is notable amid the ongoing right-wing war against reproductive health care. Since the rightward-leaning Supreme Court abolished nationwide abortion rights two years ago, conservatives have sought to limit access to medication that helps prevent pregnancies and medication that helps end them, even though the drugs have long been shown to be safe and effective.

Southern Baptists are the largest protestant denomination in the country. As a demographic, they skew white and Republican.

The vote was held at an annual pastors conference, which took place this year in Indianapolis.

One attendee, Daniel Taylor of Charity Baptist Church in Paris, Michigan, stood to recount how difficult  but ultimately fulfilling  it was for a Christian couple he knew to conceive their child through IVF.

The child who was born was a gift from God, Taylor said. His life has so enriched us all ... because of him, I thank God for IVF.

But attendees rejected Taylors proposed amendment to the resolution that would allow the procedure under certain circumstances in which embryos were not destroyed.

The process of IVF involves fertilizing an egg in a laboratory setting; the resulting embryo can then be frozen for transfer into a patients uterus if it is deemed viable. Some religious conservatives, particularly those who believe life begins from the moment an egg is fertilized, have voiced opposition to the IVF process because it results in some embryos being either destroyed or used for medical research.

As a nation, though, Americans overwhelmingly support the widespread availability of IVF treatments.

Southern Baptists skew white and conservative. Here, messengers are seen raising their ballots in support of a motion put up for vote at the Indianapolis conference this week. Doug McSchooler via Associated Press

Earlier this year, Alabamas Supreme Court sparked a crisis in the Republican Party when it ruled that fertilized embryos are living children under state law  forcing Alabama lawmakers to clarify in a bill that providers of IVF treatments have civil and criminal immunity.

The Southern Baptists vote indicates that religious opposition to IVF is not dissipating.

Couples who experience the searing pain of infertility can turn to God, look to Scripture for numerous examples of infertility, and know that their lament is heard by the Lord, who offers compassion and grace to those deeply afflicted by such realities, the measure states.

Though all children are to be fully respected and protected, not all technological means of assisting human reproduction are equally God-honoring or morally justified, it says.

The Southern Baptists resolved to reaffirm the unconditional value and right to life of every human being, including those in an embryonic stage, and to only utilize reproductive technologies consistent with that affirmation.

They also called on congregants to advocate for the government to restrain actions inconsistent with the dignity and value of every human being, which necessarily includes frozen embryonic human beings.

The resolution offered adoption as an alternative to IVF.

Southern Baptists also narrowly rejected a proposal that would have cemented in their constitution a ban on churches led by women pastors.

Related...
INDIANAPOLIS  Southern Baptists on Wednesday condemned the use of in vitro fertilization in a proclamation that will add to the intense debates over reproductive rights raging across the U.S.

Southern Baptist Convention delegates, known as messengers, at this year's annual meeting here in Indianapolis approved a resolution criticizing IVF, a non-binding proclamation that could help popularize an idea once considered fringe throughout American Christianity.

The resolution 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 reinforces an increasingly popular stance among anti-abortion groups 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.

Debate on the floor of the convention over the resolution exhibited divisions within the nations largest Protestant denomination over the issue. The statement is the first of its kind for the SBC but could reverberate across other conservative denominations.

This resolution would castigate and condemn the entirely moral and ethical actions of these two friends of mine calling their faithful sacrifice, struggle and blessing a wicked thing, Michigan messenger Daniel Taylor said during the floor debate, alluding to friends who used IVF to have children. "It would also unnecessarily make it more difficult for all of us to reach those who have gone through IVF as parents or children."

Role of women: Southern Baptist ban on women pastors fails in historic vote

Taylor proposed an amendment to the resolution to soften certain language. Messengers overwhelmingly voted against the amendment, leading to a vote immediately after to adopt the resolution in its original form.

Kentucky messenger Monica Hall spoke against Taylor's amendment, referencing her own experience with embryo adoption. Hall said the embryos were left over by someone else who started the IVF process and that the embryos ultimately didn't reach viability.

"There is no way to describe the treatment of embryos at any point in the IVF process as ethical or dignified," Hall said during the floor debate. "Nothing in the process of IVF upholds the sanctity of life."

The resolutions committee recommended the full convention adopt the statement after receiving a draft authored by Al Mohler, president of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, and Southern seminary professor Andrew Walker.

Tuesday updates SBC live updates: Virginia church ousted over woman pastor

Mohler, a leading contemporary evangelical Christian voice in the U.S., has opposed IVF for two decades and has cited what he views as other potentially problematic components, such as how IVF can allow same-sex couples or a single woman to have children.

In our churches, we have compromise on this issue, said Mohler during an address at a luncheon Monday ahead of the convention's expected vote on the resolution. "A lot of evangelicals dont want to state the proposition clearly.

Many conservatives, even those who oppose abortion, have supported IVF and how it has allowed countless Americans to start families who might otherwise be unable to do so. In the wake of the Alabama court's rulings, many in the GOP voiced their support and state lawmakers approved a legislative fix to protect IVF providers.

About 2% of births a year involve IVF, a process by which multiple eggs are harvested, fertilized and implanted to create a pregnancy. The Alabama ruling and the stance by the SBC raise questions about what should happen with unused embryos.

A Pew Research Center report in May said 63% of white evangelical Protestants believe IVF is good and 28% were unsure. The percentages were similar those of Catholics, a religious group that is more well-known for opposing IVF and surrogacy.

A woman raises her hand in praise during the Southern Baptist Convention, Tuesday, June 11, 2024 at the Indiana Convention Center.

The SBC's resolution contends that IVF "most often engages in the destruction of embryonic human life and increasingly engages in dehumanizing methods for determining suitability for life."

It calls on Southern Baptists to "advocate for the government to restrain actions inconsistent with the dignity and value of every human being, which necessarily includes frozen embryonic human beings."

The debate on Wednesday echoed one from two years ago, when the convention fought over Southern Baptists' commitment to pro-life ideals. Opposition conservatives supported an abolitionist anti-abortion stance that supports charging women with crimes for having abortions. Proponents of the abolitionist stance decried Southern Baptists who align with an incrementalist anti-abortion view as insufficiently pro-life.

The 2022 SBC annual meeting also included an ultimately unsuccessful push to abolish the denominations public policy arm, the Nashville-based Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission, for rejecting abolitionist proposals.

But with IVF, the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission drew a line in the sand in a May 24 letter urging Congress to limit access and funding for the medical procedure.

A similar attempt to abolish the public policy arm at this year's SBC annual meeting failed on Wednesday morning.

Background: Southern Baptists to debate measure opposing IVF following Alabama court ruling

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: Southern Baptists condemn use of in vitro fertilization
INDIANAPOLIS (AP)  Southern Baptists narrowly rejected a proposal Wednesday to enshrine a ban on churches with women pastors in their constitution after opponents argued it was unnecessary because the denomination already has a way of ousting such churches.

The measure received support from 61% of the delegates, but it failed to get the required two-thirds supermajority. The action reversed a preliminary vote last year in favor of the official ban.

But it still leaves the Southern Baptist Convention with its official doctrinal statement saying the office of pastor is limited to men. Even the opponents of the ban said they favored that doctrinal statement but didnt think it was necessary to reinforce it in the constitution.

Opponents noted that the SBC already can oust churches that assert women can serve as pastors  as it did last year and again Tuesday night.

The vote was perhaps the most highly anticipated of the annual meeting, reflecting years of debate in the United States largest Protestant denomination. It was the final day of the SBCs two-day annual meeting in Indianapolis where Southern Baptists have also elected a new convention president and approved a nonbinding resolution, cautioning couples about using in vitro fertilization.

In the resolution, messengers urged couples to consider the ethical implications of reproductive technologies like IVF. It has become a prominent issue in the wake of a IVF controversy in Alabama, which shielded IVF providers from prosecution and civil lawsuits after a state Supreme Court ruling said frozen embryos are children.

The SBC resolution agrees that embryos are children, regardless of location in or outside the womb. The resolution expressed alarm over the fact that IVF treatment commonly produces surplus embryos that are frozen, with most unquestionably destined for eventual destruction.

While not outright opposing IVF, the resolution also denounces medical experimentation on frozen embryos as well as any use of dehumanizing methods for determining suitability for life and genetic sorting.

It expresses sympathy with couples struggling with infertility but urges them to weigh the issues. It also encourages couples to adopt frozen embryos.

Some messengers gave impassioned defenses of the technology, saying it helped couples bring children into the world, but others said the destruction of frozen embryos outweighs any benefits from IVF.

Right now were trying to open the conversation, remind Southern Baptists of our long-held beliefs of the sanctity of human life, said Kristen Ferguson, chair of the committee on resolutions. So in the future, we fully anticipate that you may see much stronger language ... but we are not speaking to that at this time, because Southern Baptists arent ready to speak to that yet

Earlier in the day, the much-watched proposed amendment, which received preliminary approval last year, would have formally excluded churches that have women in any pastoral positions, from lead pastor to associates, or even affirms them in that role. Supporters believe it is biblically necessary, estimating hundreds of Southern Baptist churches have women in those roles.

Since 2000, the SBCs nonbinding statement of faith has declared that only men are qualified for the role of pastor. Its interpreted differently across the denomination, with some believing it doesnt apply to associate pastors so long as the senior pastor is male.

The rejected amendment would have said any church deemed in friendly cooperation  the official term for SBC affiliation  must be one that affirms, appoints, or employs only men as any kind of pastor or elder as qualified by Scripture.

Opponents argued the convention already has the power to remove churches over this issue, and the amendment will have unintended consequences, including disproportionately affecting Black Southern Baptist congregations, which tend to have women on their pastoral staffs.

But the motion went swiftly to a vote after only brief debate.

Ryan Fullerton, pastor of Immanuel Baptist Church in Louisville, Kentucky, said the measure is not about preventing women from exercising their gifts in the church, in roles on church staff such as childrens ministers. But he said the Bible is clear that the office of pastor is for men.

Spence Shelton, pastor of Mercy Church in Charlotte, North Carolina, argued the measure was unnecessary.

He noted that the convention voted to affirm the ouster of a historic Virginia church Tuesday and two other churches last year, including the California megachurch Saddleback, which all have women pastors and affirmed they could hold top pastoral positions.

The stated citation for ousting those churches was an existing part of the constitution  that they dont have a faith and practice that closely identifies with the Baptist Faith and Message, the document approved in 2000 that includes the affirmation that the pastoral position is reserved for men.

Yall, we have shown the mechanisms we currently have are sufficient to deal with this question, Shelton said.

Mike Law, pastor of Arlington Baptist Church in Virginia and author of the amendment, cited a report that there are about 1,800 women pastors working in the denomination. He cited Bible verses limiting the pastoral office to men while saying women can serve in other roles.

Our culture may see this prohibition as harsh, but our God is all wise, and wrote this word for the flourishing of both men and women, he said.

Law said in a statement afterward that while the result is disappointing, he took heart that supporters were in the majority, and that is something we can build on.

Dwight McKissic, a Black pastor from Arlington, Texas, who supports women in ministry under a male pastor's leadership, applauded the rejection of the amendment.

In a post on X, formerly Twitter, he said that God loves women too much to allow unbiblical restrictions, that violates local church autonomy, to disallow women from receiving and deploying spiritual gifts. ... Male supremacy didnt rule the order of the day.

The denomination cant tell its independent churches what to do or whom to appoint as a pastor. But they can say which churches are in and which are out.

Last year, Southern Baptists refused to take back Saddleback, one of the conventions largest congregations, and a small Kentucky church after the denomination's Executive Committee ousted them over the issue.

Both churches, which had women in top pastoral positions, appealed their ouster to the 2023 annual meeting and were overwhelmingly rejected by the delegates. A similar scenario played out in Indianapolis on Tuesday, when messengers voted overwhelmingly to kick out First Baptist Church of Alexandria in Virginia, which has a woman in an associate position and also asserted that women can hold the top job.

Delegates also elected a North Carolina pastor and longtime denominational statesman to be the next president of their convention in a contest between six candidates that went into two run-off votes.

Clint Pressley, who is senior pastor of Hickory Grove Baptist Church in Charlotte, will be the next Southern Baptist Convention president after winning 56% of votes in the final run-off race.

The SBC president  one of the most prominent faces of the conservative evangelical network of churches  presides over the annual meeting and appoints members to the denominations committees.

Pressley earned a master of divinity from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisiana, one of the SBCs official seminaries. He has led Hickory Grove since 2011 after pastoring churches in Alabama and Mississippi. Pressley was first vice president of the SBC in 2014-15 and served on numerous other denominational boards.

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Meyer reported from Nashville, Tennessee.

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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.
Southern Baptists have voted to expel a historic Virginia congregation from its ranks after it affirmed that women can serve in any pastoral role, including as senior pastor.

Delegates to the Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting voted 6,759 to 563 on Tuesday to oust First Baptist Church of Alexandria after the denominations credentials committee deemed the church to be not in friendly cooperation on the grounds that it conflicts with the Baptist Faith and Message.

That statement of Southern Baptist doctrine declares that only men are qualified for the role of pastor.

We find no joy in making this recommendation, but have formed the opinion that the churchs egalitarian beliefs regarding the office of pastor do not closely identify with the conventions adopted statement of faith, said Jonathan Sams, chair of the credentials committee.

Two congregations, including a California megachurch, were expelled last year from the convention for the same reason.

The Alexandria church, which has been involved in the nations largest Protestant denomination since its 19th century founding and has contributed millions toward denominational causes, is currently led by a man, Robert Stephens, but the church has made clear it believes women can serve as senior pastors, too.

Stephens said his church has had women in ministry for more than 44 years and wants to continue cooperating with Southern Baptists who disagreed on this issue.

First Alexandria stands before you today as a testament that we can maintain a fruitful partnership with churches that take a different stance on women in ministry, he said. We at First Baptist are advancing the gospel, and we hope that we will continue to work alongside you all.

He continued: This is a sad moment for us, but we also recognize that God has a future for First Baptist Church.

We have good news to share with the world, and we will keep doing that, added Kim Eskridge, the pastor for children and women.

Following the vote, Southern Baptist held a vote to enshrine a ban on churches with any women pastors in the organizations constitution. On Wednesday, delegates voted to reject the ban.

Early Tuesday, a small group of women stood outside the Indiana Convention Center in a low-key demonstration in support of women in ministry.

I hope that people know women have equal value and can be pastors, said the Rev Meredith Stone, executive director of Baptist Women in Ministry.

Among the women was Christa Brown, who has long advocated for fellow survivors of sexual abuse in Southern Baptist churches and criticized the denominations resistance to reforms, an effort she has chronicled in a new memoir, Baptistland.

She said that there is a direct connection between issues of abuse and the equality of women in ministry. When you squash some people, it sets up a lot more people to be squashed, she said.

The SBC recently settled a high profile lawsuits that accused a former leader of sexual assault,

The Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) is a collection of loosely affiliated member churches, boasting just under 15 million members, and is dominated by white members, who are usually deeply socially conservative. The convention has often been a powerful tool for rightwing organizing in recent years, especially on issues around abortion.
Southern Baptists narrowly rejected a proposal Wednesday to enshrine a ban on churches with women pastors in the denominations constitution after opponents argued it was unnecessary because the denomination already has a way of ousting such churches.

The vote received support from 61% of the delegates but failed to get the required two-thirds supermajority. The action reversed a preliminary vote last year in favor of the official ban.

But it still leaves the Southern Baptist Convention with its official doctrinal statement saying the office of pastor is limited to men. Even the opponents of the ban said they favored that doctrinal statement but didnt think it was necessary to reinforce it in the constitution.

Opponents noted that the SBC already can oust churches that assert women can serve as pastors  as it did last year and again Tuesday night.

The vote was perhaps the most highly anticipated of the annual meeting, reflecting years of debate in the United States largest Protestant denomination. It is the final day of the SBCs two-day annual meeting in Indianapolis.

Since 2000, the SBCs nonbinding statement of faith has declared that only men are qualified for the role of pastor. Its interpreted differently across the denomination, with some believing it doesnt apply to associate pastors so long as the senior pastor is male.

The proposed amendment, which received preliminary approval last year, would formally exclude churches that have women in any pastoral positions, from lead pastor to associates, or even affirms them in that role. Supporters believe it is biblically necessary, estimating hundreds of Southern Baptist churches have women in those roles.

The rejected amendment would have said any church deemed in friendly cooperation  the official term for SBC affiliation  must be one that affirms, appoints, or employs only men as any kind of pastor or elder as qualified by Scripture.

Opponents argued the convention already has the power to remove churches over this issue, and the amendment will have unintended consequences, including disproportionately affecting Black Southern Baptist congregations, which tend to have women on their pastoral staffs.

But the motion went swiftly to a vote after only brief debate.

Ryan Fullerton, pastor of Immanuel Baptist Church in Louisville, Kentucky, said the measure is not about preventing women from exercising their gifts in the church, in roles on church staff such as childrens ministers. But he said the Bible is clear that the office of pastor is for men.

He said there is confusion about gender in the wider culture and cited what he called the ravages of the LGBTQIA agenda.

But Spence Shelton, pastor of Mercy Church in Charlotte, North Carolina, argued that it was unnecessary.

He said there is no doubt that Southern Baptists are complementarian, as they describe the view that men and women have equal value but different roles that complement one another.

But he noted that the convention voted to affirm the ouster of a historic Virginia church Tuesday and two other churches last year, including the California megachurch Saddleback, which all have women pastors and affirmed they could hold top pastoral positions.

The reason for ousting them was that they didnt have a faith and practice consistent with the Baptist Faith and Message, the document approved in 2000 that includes the affirmation that the pastoral position is reserved for men.

Yall, we have shown the mechanisms we currently have are sufficient to deal with this question, Shelton said.

Mike Law, pastor of Arlington Baptist Church in Virginia and author of the amendment, cited a report that there are about 1,800 women pastors working in the denomination. He cited Bible verses limiting the pastoral office to men.

Our culture may see this prohibition as harsh, but our God is all wise, and wrote this word for the flourishing of both men and women, he said.

This amendment is not about women in ministry, Law added. Its specifically about women in the pastoral office. He did not spell out the difference in his brief floor speech.

The denomination cant tell its independent churches what to do or whom to appoint as a pastor. But they can say which churches are in and which are out.

Last year, Southern Baptists refused to take back Saddleback, one of the conventions largest congregations, and a small Kentucky church over the issue.

Both churches, which had women in top pastoral positions, appealed their ouster to the 2023 annual meeting and were overwhelmingly rejected by the delegates. A similar scenario played out in Indianapolis on Tuesday, when messengers voted overwhelmingly to kick out First Baptist Church of Alexandria in Virginia, which has a woman in an associate position and also asserted that women can hold the top job.

Supporters of the amendment say it probably wont result in an immediate, large-scale purge, but opponents expressed concern it would burden SBC volunteers and staff with numerous investigations of churches.

Delegates also elected a North Carolina pastor and longtime denominational statesman to be the next president of their convention in a contest between six candidates that went into two run-off votes.

Clint Pressley, who is senior pastor of Hickory Grove Baptist Church in Charlotte, will be the next Southern Baptist Convention president after winning 56% of votes in the final run-off race.

The SBC president  one of the most prominent faces of the conservative evangelical network of churches  presides over the annual meeting and appoints members to the denominations committees.

Pressleys nearest opponent, Tennessee pastor, Dan Spencer, received 44 percent of the votes after four other candidates were eliminated in earlier rounds.

Pressley has said he favors a measure being voted on later Wednesday to amend the SBC constitution to ban churches with women pastors.

Pressley earned a master of divinity from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisiana, one of the SBCs official seminaries. He has led Hickory Grove since 2011 after pastoring churches in Alabama and Mississippi. Pressley was first vice president of the SBC in 2014-15 and served on numerous other denominational boards.

Messengers early Wednesday rejected a proposal to abolish the SBCs public policy agency, the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission. The measure reflected the views of some that the staunchly conservative commission wasnt conservative enough.

This story has been updated with additional information.

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Messengers raise their ballots in support of a motion put up for vote during a Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting Tuesday, June 11, 2024, in Indianapolis Credit - (AP Photo/Doug McSchooler)

The Southern Baptist Convention signaled their disapproval of in vitro fertilization (IVF) in a Wednesday vote, asking the government to restrain the procedure.

The vote took place during the churchs annual two-day meeting, where delegates also voted for a new president and on whether women should be able to hold pastoral positions (the latter of which also failed to secure support).

In February, Alabama hospitals paused IVF treatments after the state supreme court ruled that frozen embryos are considered children under Alabama state law. Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle signaled support for passing legal protections for IVF, though many Republicans were more tepid in their statements following the court decision.

Now, Democrats are considering a vote on legislation that would provide a right to assisted reproductive technology like IVF, per Axios. The vote would put pressure on Republican legislators reconciling their pro-life stances with possible support for the procedure in a post-Roe world. Seventy percent of Americans say that they support access to IVFwith broader support of the practice even being recorded among religious groups, according to the Pew Research Center.

Read More: Lawmakers in Both Parties Call to Protect IVF After Alabama Ruling

IVF is a medical procedure people with fertility issues undergo to facilitate pregnancy. During the process, an egg is removed from a womans ovaries and fertilized with sperm in a lab. The fertilized egg is then known as an embryo, and is implanted back into a persons uterus, per the National Health Service (NHS).

Southern Baptists believe that personhood begins at the moment of conception. Following the Alabama court ruling, Southern Baptists said that they were opposed to the willful destruction or even donating to scientific experimentation of non-implanted human embryos wantonly created in the typical IVF process in a May 2024 press release.

The church has multiple grievances with the procedure, including the over fertilization of eggs without a clear plan for implantation, freezing of leftover embryos, and even the destruction of these human embryos once a couple has succeeded in getting pregnant or no longer desires to keep them. The church says that the destruction of fertilized embryos is similar to an abortion procedure.

Southern Baptists also said that the practice removes the act of procreation from the sexual union between a couple.

The Wednesday vote does not create a binding resolution within the Southern Baptist church, but does declare that IVF most often participates in the destruction of embryonic human life.

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WASHINGTON, June 12 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Wednesday that Hamas' response to a U.S.-backed ceasefire-for-hostages proposal included "numerous changes" to what was originally presented, some of which were unacceptable.

Blinken told a news conference in Doha, Qatar, that the United States received a response from Hamas through Qatari and Egyptian mediators to a three-phased roadmap to a permanent ceasefire in Gaza that U.S. President Joe Biden announced at the end of May. The proposal was designed also to secure the release of all hostages held by Hamas.

"Hamas has proposed numerous changes to the proposal that was on the table. We discussed those changes last night with Egyptian colleagues and today with the prime minister" of Qatar, Blinken said. "Some of the changes are workable; some are not."

Blinken said that the current proposal was "virtually identical" to what Hamas laid out in their own proposal put forward on May 6, yet Hamas had made "a number of" changes that "go beyond positions it had previously taken and accepted."

He reiterated that the current deal was "accepted" by Israel, despite the apparent fact that some in the hard-right faction of the Israeli government were opposed to it. "Hamas could have answered with a single word: yes," Blinken added.

Blinken's avoidance of explicitly saying Hamas rejected the potential deal drew what appeared to be a clear contrast to the Israeli perception of Hamas' attitude. In a report Tuesday, U.S. news outlet Axios quoted two Israeli officials as saying that Hamas had rejected the proposal.

"In the days ahead, we are going to continue to push on an urgent basis -- with our partners, with Qatar, with Egypt -- to try to close this deal," Blinken said at the news conference. 
A 25-year-old man from Ventura County has been sentenced to 30 years to life in state prison for a DUI crash four years ago that claimed the life of a grandmother and her 7-year-old granddaughter, authorities announced Tuesday.

The tragic crash occurred on June 22, 2020, as Jacob Anthony Caliboso, a resident of Oxnard, was driving westbound on Pleasant Valley Road under the combined influence of Xanax and marijuana when he crossed into oncoming traffic and collided head-on with the victims motorcycle, according to a news release from the Ventura County District Attorneys Office.

Prosecutors say Caliboso, who was driving over the posted speed limit, never activated his brakes during the deadly collision.

Elva Andrade died at the scene. Her granddaughter, Nevaeh Gomez, died a day later at Childrens Hospital in Los Angeles.

Man gets 30 to life in DUI crash that killed 2 in SoCal

On the day of the fatal traffic collision, Caliboso posted nearly a dozen photos or videos of his drug use on Snapchat, prosecutors said.

Investigators with the California Highway Patrol also obtained more than 1,000 Snapchat videos and photos of the 25-year-old using large amounts of drugs and driving in the weeks leading up to the crash, all of which were presented to the jury during his trial.

Brutal road-rage stabbing on Southern California freeway ends in arrest

Seven members of Andrades and Gomezs family provided impact statements to the court.

Caliboso was convicted by the jury on April 30. His sentence of 30 years to life was the maximum allowed by law.

The defendants callous conduct took the lives of two innocent people, and he deserved the maximum sentence, said Deputy District Attorney Stephanie Leija, who prosecuted the case. No amount of time will bring back Nevaeh and Elva, but it is my hope that this sentence brings their families a sense of justice and closure.

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CHICAGO  A southwest suburban tax preparer has been convicted on federal charges for his role in a COVID relief scheme in 2020.

On Monday, 42-year-old Hadi Isbaih, a Palos Heights resident, was convicted on four counts of wire fraud, a spokesperson for the U.S. Attorneys Office of the Northern District of Illinois said.

According to prosecutors, Isbaih owned and operated a tax preparation business in Bridgeview by the name of Flash Tax Service Inc.

Illinois State Museum seeking to record, share personal stories about Route 66 for highways 100th anniversary

Between August and May 2020, Isbaih submitted fraudulent Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program (EIDL) applications that contained false statements and misrepresentations about the customers businesses, such as revenues and number of employees, prosecutors said. He also prepared and submitted tax returns with the loan applications that contained fraudulent information about the number of employees, monthly payroll, gross revenues, and annual income.

The Paycheck Protection Program and the Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program, which were established by the CARES Act in 2020, offered relief to qualifying small businesses in the form of low-interest, government-backed loans that were intended to cover a temporary loss of revenue during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Authorities search for 5 wanted in connection with armed robbery on Blue Line train

Prosecutors said Isbaih charged his customers several hundred dollars upfront before submitting the fraudulent applications. If the customers received the loans, he would then charge them additional fees.

It is currently unclear when Isbaih will appear for sentencing, but each count is punishable by up to 20 years in prison.

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A tight race in Spartanburg County Council District 4 ended in a runoff between challenger Grant DeShields and incumbent Justin McCorkle during the statewide primary on June 11.

District 4 Republican DeShields received 1,994 votes, Republican McCorkle closely trailed with 1,957 votes, and Republican Frank Tiller received 1,529 votes.

The outcome remains uncertain because none of the candidates received the required 50% of the votes. A runoff election will be on Tuesday, June 25.

Voters came to the polls on Tuesday, June 11, 2024 for the South Carolina primary election. Ballots were casted for candidates seeking congressional, state, and county offices. Sabra Morrow of Spartanburg votes at Mount Moriah Baptist Church with her grandson. Morrow said, OEvery vote and voice counts. Voting is a right and a privilege; in some counties they do not enjoy this.O

How runoff elections work

John Baucom, director of Voter Registration and Elections, said some people have misconceptions about how runoff elections work.

"It's any fraction above 50%," Baucom said. "For example, if 1,001 ballots were cast in an office, and one person got 500 votes and the other person got 501 votes, the person with 501 votes will advance. A lot of people have a misconception that it's 50% plus one, but it's any portion above 50%."

Total votes for Spartanburg County District 4 were 5,480, and half of that would be 2,740 votes.

"Since no one received greater than 2,741, then there is a runoff between the top two candidates," Baucom said.

District 4 candidates speak about election results

This is DeShields' inaugural bid for public office. He thanked everyone who came out and gave him support.

"This is the first political office that I've ever ran for and I was very nervous as the results came out," DeShields said. "We are hoping that in the runoff we get strong support and can get into office to make change. I was born and raised in the Reidville area, lived here most my life, and have the unique perspective on infrastructure needs and fixing them for our district."

McCorkle, shy of 37 votes for a tie, said more voters turned out than expected, and he wants to continue to be more proactive than reactive.

"There was more turnout at the primary than I expected, and I'm glad people came out," McCorkle said. "I figured it was going to be a tight race, but it was tighter than I thought. I want to continue to do these things that may not grab the headlines, but they're important to the people who rely directly. We need to fix what we have and not just temporarily fix it."

McCorkle is running for his second term as District 4 representative.

"I'm not a career politician and I didn't go into this with the intention to stay in the position forever," McCorkle said. "But I want to serve my community."

Voters came to the polls on Tuesday, June 11, 2024 for the South Carolina primary election. Ballots were casted for candidates seeking congressional, state, and county offices. Former past Vice Chair and a District One Representative at Spartanburg County Council, Michael Brown, votes at Jesse Bobo Elementary School.

What to know about runoff elections June 25

On Tuesday, June 25, voters can return to the polls to vote for their District 4 representative. Polls open at 7 a.m. and close at 7 p.m.

Early voting will take place June 19 until June 21, open from 8:30 a.m. until 5 p.m. Any voter eligible to vote during the election is eligible for early voting.

Voters who participated in the Democratic primaries on June 11 will not be able to participate in the Republican runoff elections on June 25.

"This runoff is an extension of the primary," Baucom said. "Voters have to have meet the primary voter registration deadline, which would have been May 12."

Any voter who needs to request an absentee ballot in the runoff has to do so no later than 5 p.m. on Friday, June 14. Contact the Voter Registration and Elections Office if you need to request an absentee ballot.

Be sure to check the South Carolina Voting website to know what to bring, where your precinct is located, sample ballots and more.

Joanna Johnson covers community news and education for the Herald-Journal. Reach her via email at jjohnson@shj.com.

This article originally appeared on Herald-Journal: DeShields and McCorkle face runoff race in County Council District 4
Haliskia peterseni as imagined by artist Gabriel Ugueto. The newly identified species of pterosaur was a fearsome flying reptile from the mid-Cretaceous period. Image by Gabriel Ugueto/Curtin University

June 12 (UPI) -- Researchers in Australia say a set of 100-million-year-old fossilized bones found in western Queensland are from a newly identified species of pterosaur, a fearsome flying reptile from the mid-Cretaceous period when dinosaurs still ruled the Earth.

The team from Western Australia's Curtin University discovered that the fossilized remains, unearthed in 2021 by Kronosaurus Korner museum curator Kevin Petersen, belong to Haliskia peterseni, a new genus and species of anhanguerian pterosaur, the university said Wednesday in a news release.

The specimen was identified as an anhanguerian by the Curtin School of Earth and Planetary Sciences researchers from the shape of its skull, arrangement of teeth and shape of the shoulder bone, according to the peer-reviewed study published in the journal Scientific Reports/Springer Nature.

Anhanguerian is a genus of pterosaurs known to have inhabited large areas of the world in what is now Brazil, Britain, Morocco, China, Spain and the United States.

"With a wingspan of approximately 15 feet, Haliskia would have been a fearsome predator around 100 million years ago when much of central western Queensland was underwater, covered by a vast inland sea and globally positioned about where Victoria's southern coastline is today," said lead author Adele Pentland, a doctoral student at Curtin.

"Careful preparation by Mr. Petersen has provided the remains of the most complete specimen of an anhanguerian, and of any pterosaur, discovered in Australia to date.

"Haliskia is 22% complete, making it more than twice as complete as the only other known partial pterosaur skeleton found in Australia.

"The specimen includes complete lower jaws, the tip of the upper jaw, 43 teeth, vertebrae, ribs, bones from both wings and part of a leg. Also present are very thin and delicate throat bones, indicating a muscular tongue, which helped during feeding on fish and cephalopods."

Haliskia peterseni joins several significant marine fossil specimens on display at Kronosaurus Korner, located in northern Queensland midway between Cairns and Mount Isa, including the biggest marine reptile, Kronosaurus queenslandicus, which has a skull almost 8 feet long.

The museum is also home to the most complete plesiosaur found in Australia and bones from the plesiosaur Eromangasaurus and the ichthyosaur Platypterygius.

Petersen said the Haliskia discovery would deliver strong benefits for science, education and regional tourism.

"I'm thrilled that my discovery is a new species, as my passion lies in helping shape our modern knowledge of prehistoric species."
Spring Hill road reopened after closure due to crack in bridge

SPRING HILL, Tenn. (WKRN)  Port Royal Road south of Saturn Parkway in Spring Hill is back open after being closed due to a crack in the bridge over Rutherford Creek.

A Facebook post from the City of Spring Hill stated that inspectors determined that the bridge was safe to travel on and that the crack is a cosmetic issue.

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The City of Spring Hill had posted on their Facebook page that there was a visible crack in the bridge. Crews were on scene working to determine the severity of the damage.

Southbound traffic was being detoured onto Tom Lunn Road toward Kedron Road.

Anyone driving northbound on Port Royal Road had to turn around and take Kedron Road to proceed north.

 Read todays top stories on wkrn.com

No other information was released.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2.
ST. LOUIS  A Highland Park, Illinois, man who was arrested in St. Louis City last week agreed to waive extradition proceedings and return home to face charges for the murders of his two brothers.

A St. Louis Circuit Court judge signed an extradition waiver Wednesday to send Jeffrey Austwick, 54, back to Lake County, Illinois.

Austwick was arrested on the morning of June 7 near the Gateway Arch.

8-year-old girl dies after emergency aboard flight to Chicago

The National Park Service contacted the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department after spotting Austwick on surveillance cameras. Police located and took Austwick into custody a short time later, near Walnut and 7th streets. Police said Austwick was armed.

Investigators in Lake County claim Austwick had been living in Highland Park with his mother, who recently died. Last week, Austwicks older brothers, Marc and John, came to the home to discuss the property. Investigators claim Jeffrey shot them both outside the home and then set the property on fire.

The brothers were found dead outside the home in the early morning hours of Wednesday, June 5.

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St. Pete woman, 24, left dog in hot car for over an hour to attend community meeting: affidavit

St. Pete woman, 24, left dog in hot car for over an hour to attend community meeting: affidavit

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA)  A 24-year-old St. Petersburg woman was charged with animal cruelty after she left a dog inside a hot car for over an hour Monday evening, an arrest report shows.

Melissa Major, 24, is accused of leaving the dog inside her vehicle for approximately an hour and a half while she attended a community meeting nearby, an affidavit from the St. Petersburg Police Department states.

Dog left in hot U-Haul for nearly an hour while owners went to Florida beach, police say

According to the report, the womans vehicle was turned off and the windows were only cracked about 1/2 an inch. The outside temperature was 89 degrees, but felt like 95, police said.

Melissa Majors mugshot courtesy of the Pinellas County Sheriffs Office

When officers arrived around 5:15 p.m., they found the dog panting heavily inside the car at Mirror Lake Drive North and 5th Street North.

According to the police department, Major admitted to leaving the dog in the car.

The 24-year-old was taken into custody on a $500 bond. Jail records show she was released on Tuesday.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA.
From the Dispatch Politics on The Dispatch

Happy Wednesday! Were sending well-wishes to Sen. John Fetterman and his wife, Gisele, who were involved in a car accident Sundayon their 16th wedding anniversary, no less. Both of them are doing all right.

Up to Speed

Former President Donald Trump will speak to the House Republican conference on Thursday at the Capitol Hill Club, according to Politico. Trump also will meet with the Senates GOP conference the same day at the National Republican Senatorial Committee headquarters, per NBC News. Present at the latter meeting will be Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, who has not spoken to Trump in person in years, despite having given a grudging endorsement of the former president after Super Tuesday in March, saying he had always planned to support his partys nominee.

Members of the hardline House Freedom Caucus (HFC) openly complained about Trumps endorsements in Republican primaries in comments to Punchbowl News in a story published Monday. He is endorsing moderates in most races if theres a conservative in the race, Rep. Warren Davidson of Ohio told the outlet. We cant send the swamp any people that are just going to keep funding the status quo. Trump has endorsed incumbents critical of the caucus, including Rep. Austin Scott of Georgia. Recently, he endorsed Virginia state Sen. John McGuire in his primary bid against Freedom Caucus Chair Rep. Bob Good.

One Trump-endorsed incumbent with whom the Freedom Caucus was displeased had a close call in his primary Tuesday. South Carolina Rep. William Timmons defeated his challengerstate Rep. Adam Morgan, who chairs the states House Freedom Caucusby just more than 3 points. In the same state, Rep. Nancy Mace easily fended off a challenge in her GOP primary against Catherine Templeton, winning by about 27 points Tuesday. Templeton attempted to oust Mace after the incumbent voted with multiple populist Republicans to eject then-Speaker Kevin McCarthy from his post. McCarthy had backed Templetons unsuccessful bid.

President Joe Bidens campaign is launching Seniors for Biden, which will attempt to turn out older voters for the president in swing states. Programming includes a bingo night, pickleball tournament, and pancake breakfast, The Hill reported Tuesday. The campaign will run TV ads on programs popular with older age groups, such as Jeopardy!, Wheel of Fortune, and daytime news shows. The news comes after Hollywood creators teamed up with former Biden campaign staff to launch Wont PAC Down, a super PAC meant to pitch the presidents record to young voters.

Ahead of a June 25 primary, Rep. Jamaal Bowman of New York appears to be in serious trouble in his effort to win the Democratic nomination in his House district. A new poll from Emerson College has the two-term incumbent trailing primary challenger George Latimer, 48 percent to Bowmans 31 percent. Twenty-one percent of respondents said they were undecided. Bowman has struggled with embarrassing headlines about a bizarre incident last year when he pulled a House office building fire alarm on his way to the Capitol for a vote. Bowmans progressive colleagues are backing him, but Latimer has earned support from the center-left, including former Rep. Mondaire Jones, who is running in another New York House district. Bowmans opposition to U.S. support for Israel in its war against Hamas also has drawn the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) into the race, with the group backing Latimer and running ads to boost him. Bowman has criticized AIPACs involvement in the race.

Republicans Designs on Nevada Come Into Focus

Republican Senate candidate Sam Brown, seen here during his unsuccessful 2022 primary race, will take on incumbent Democratic Sen. Jacky Rosen in November. (Photo by Josh Edelson/Getty Images)

Retired Army Capt. Sam Brown emerged victorious in Tuesdays Republican primary for Nevadas Senate seat, setting up a highly anticipated matchup with incumbent Democratic Sen. Jacky Rosen in November.

Riding a recent endorsement from Donald Trump, Brown took almost 60 percent of the vote to defeat Jeff Gunter, the former presidents ambassador to Iceland, and Jim Marchant, who lost his 2022 race for Nevada secretary of state. Republicans are counting on Brown, who received a Purple Heart after sustaining burns all over his body in Afghanistan, to defeat Rosen in a race that will help determine which party controls the Senate in the next Congress.

While Republicans have not had much success this decade in Nevada Senate racesthe GOP has won just two Senate elections there in the last 40 yearsthe Silver States residents appear to be shifting red. In 2022 the GOP defeated an incumbent Democratic governor, and Republican Senate nominee Adam Laxaltto whom Brown finished second in that years primarylost by less than 1 point, about 8,000 votes, to incumbent Democratic Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto.

With former President Donald Trump running ahead of President Joe Biden in FiveThirtyEights Nevada polling average, outside observers and Rosen herself see the threat. The Cook Political Report changed its rating for the race to a toss-up two months ago, and Rosen invested in a record-breaking $14 million ad buy around the same time. The race is likely to see no shortage of money. In their latest filings with the Federal Election Commission, Brown had just less than $2.5 million on hand, while Rosen had more than $10.2 million.

Polling has thus far tilted in Rosens favor. In a Cook poll from two weeks ago, while Trump led Biden by 9 points in Nevada, Rosen led a generic Republican nominee by 7 points.

Democrats will likely focus in no small part on abortion to turn Rosens polling lead into an election win. A Monday press release from the state party principally attacked Brown over his previous position on the issue, including his support for a 20-week restriction in Texas, where Brown ran unsuccessfully for the state legislature in 2014. The release also noted his service as leader of the Nevada branch of the Faith and Freedom Coalition, a conservative evangelical group, between runs for Senate in 2022 and 2024.

Browns campaign website says he will not interfere with Nevada law, which permits abortion until 24 weeks. Nevada voters have made it clear where they stand on this issue, by enshrining protections for abortion in our state law, the section on abortion reads. As a U.S. Senator, I will not vote to overturn the decision of NevadansI will not support a national abortion ban.

But Brown has also taken the issue head-on in a personal manner. His wife, Amy, shared her experience of having an abortion when she was 24 in an on-camera interview with NBC News in February. When I made my choice, I was under the impression that I was choosing freedom, but I did not receive freedom, she said. I received a five-year sentence to living with regret and shame and just having my life wrecked.

In response to Browns win, the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC) issued a release announcing an ad calling him a MAGA extremist.

Sam Brown is a MAGA extremist, with a self-serving political agenda that would hurt hard working Nevadans: banning abortion, phasing out Social Security and Medicare, and even re-opening Yucca Mountain as a nuclear waste repository, DSCC spokeswoman Amanda Sherman Baity said in the release. Hes shown Nevadans that his plans are too extreme and too dangerous for him to be anywhere near the U.S. Senate.

Joe Biden, Hunter Biden, and a Criminal Conviction

Joe Bidens son Hunter was convicted on three felony gun charges in federal court Tuesday. A special edition of The Collision newsletter has the details:

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.

While the president released a brief statement expressing his love and support for his son as well as calling for respect for the judicial process, a Trump campaign spokeswoman blasted the trial as a distraction from the real crimes of the Biden Crime Family.

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, said the Trump campaigns Karoline Leavitt.

Be sure to subscribe to The Collision to keep up to date with all of the developments at the place where presidential politics and the law collide.

Notable and Quotable

The Hunter Biden gun conviction is kinda dumb tbh. GOP Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida in a tweet, June 11, 2024

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Steve Grove in March 2020, when he was commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development. Photo by Ricardo Lopez/Minnesota Reformer.

Steve Grove, the top executive at the Star Tribune and former commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development, offered advice and compliments to Gov. Tim Walzs office after his departure from the governors cabinet, according to texts obtained by the Minnesota Reformer.

Two weeks before his official start date at the Star Tribune, Grove reached out to his friend and Walzs chief of staff Chris Schmitter to discuss who should succeed Grove as the head of DEED.

Hows the DEED commissioner search coming along? Anything I can do to help? Hope youre well  lots of great work lately. Love those budget targets for economic development, Grove wrote.

A couple days later, Schmitter said the hiring process was in a lull as they waited for Walz to interview candidates.

Got it. Good to hear. Some strong candidates. Here if I can be helpful. Keep up the great work! Grove replied.

Groves first day at the Star Tribune was April 17, 2023. Three days later, he texted Schmitter to compliment Walzs State of the State address and wish the administration well in the last month of the legislative session: Thought the Gov did a really nice job with the speech, both in content and delivery  he read from a script! Good luck down the home stretch.

The two then discussed the DEED commissioner selection in a phone call on April 24, according to the messages.

The following week, Grove sent Schmitter his public apology for publishing an editorial cartoon he called very troubling and in horrible taste, and asked that the governor and lieutenant governor be informed that he did not approve of the image.

The Reformer obtained the texts, which span from April 3, 2023, through Oct. 25, through a public records request with the governors office. Some words, lines and pages are redacted. A second request for texts and emails between Grove and the governors office from November through April did not produce any additional communications.

The exchanges between the governors office and the publisher of the states largest newspaper raise ethical concerns, said Jane Kirtley, director of the Silha Center for the Study of Media Ethics and Law at the University of Minnesota.

Its not his role to be a kingmaker for DEED, which is basically whats happening if hes providing advice about who they should hire, Kirtley said, adding that it would have been appropriate to offer his thoughts publicly in the form of an editorial.

If youre going to be involved in vetting, commenting on, advising government, then I think you have to be transparent about it, and then the public can make its own decision about whether that taints the reporting in the news organization, Kirtley said.

A statement provided to the Reformer by a Star Tribune spokesperson stated that Grove provided feedback and advice to his former employer like any departing executive would.

These personal texts were between two friends of nearly 20 years, and have no bearing on the business or editorial decisions of the Star Tribune. The Star Tribunes continued independence is our top priority as we continue to produce quality journalism for Minnesota, the statement continued.

A spokesperson for Walz said it is standard practice for agency heads and executives in any industry to participate in succession planning and ensure a smooth transition. Steve led DEED for four years and his input was critical.

When Walz announced on May 25 that hed selected Matt Varilek as the new DEED commissioner, Grove sent congratulations to Schmitter.

Publishers and newspaper owners  like the Star Tribunes Glen Taylor, a billionaire former Republican senator and a major player in state politics  are often not held to the same conflict-of-interest standards that guide their employees. Newsroom policies and professional ethics standards instruct journalists to avoid conflicts of interest, real or perceived and to abstain from political involvement.

A position paper compiled by the Society of Professional Journalists Ethics Committee states that when newspaper owners and publishers are deeply involved in politics, Its at best a double standard, and a questionable practice.

Star Tribune reporter Brooks Johnson asked Grove about the potential conflicts of interest in an article announcing Groves hiring.

Grove said his mission will be to carry on the Star Tribunes commitment to accountability in government, Johnson wrote.

The Star Tribune has published articles during Groves tenure that are critical of state government, including a series on the failures of Minnesotas child protection system and a story about the botched process that led to Walzs appointment of Erin DuPree to lead the state cannabis agency; she resigned one day after the Star Tribune reported her businesses were selling illegal products.

Grove wanted Walz to know he didnt approve troubling editorial cartoon

Grove faced a public outcry in his first week as publisher when the paper ran a cartoon by newly hired editorial cartoonist Mike Thompson in response to the Minneapolis City Councils decision allowing Islamic calls to prayer to be broadcast at any time of day. The cartoon depicted a man telling a woman, Broadcasting the Muslim call to prayer will make Minneapolis too noisy, while hooded and masked men shot guns outside the window.

What? the woman replied, unable to hear the man over the gunshots.

A group of DFL Muslim lawmakers called the cartoon racist and Islamophobic, and Grove apologized publicly in a statement.

Its clear to me that the intent of the cartoon did not match its impact. While the cartoonist was trying to support the decision of the Minneapolis City Council, the piece drew many  particularly those in the Muslim community  to feel disrespected by its depictions, Grove said in a statement posted to social media. Im sorry that the Star Tribune published it.

Grove texted a link to the statement to Schmitter.

Good statement; nice work, Schmitter replied.

Just as a heads up. If the Gov or (lieutenant governor) ask, would appreciate you letting them know, not as an excuse but as context, that I didnt see or approve of that cartoon at all and thought it was very troubling and in horrible taste, Grove wrote.

I shared with them, thanks, Schmitter responded.

In October, the Star Tribune eliminated Thompsons position.

Kirtley said she found the exchange between Grove and Schmitter about the editorial cartoon problematic.

I dont think news organizations should be in a position of feeling like they have to apologize to government for the editorial choices that they make, Kirtley said. It sets a really unfortunate precedent, because it suggests that if I dont have government approval, Im not going to do it, or if I have government disapproval, Im not going to do it.

Before joining the Star Tribune, Grove led DEED for four years. He grew up in Northfield, and wrote for the Northfield News and Boston Globe before joining YouTube in 2007, where he created the companys news and politics team. He later founded and led the Google News Lab, which connects news organizations with Google tools.

The Star Tribune hired Grove to reinvent the paper for the digital era. He announced a reorganization of the paper in August and launched a Today Desk earlier this year to more quickly respond to breaking and trending stories. In January, he announced the hiring of six new reporters and a Greater Minnesota columnist.

He was also the keynote speaker at the 2023 Page One awards hosted by the Minnesota Society of Professional Journalists.

The post Star Tribune publisher weighed in on DEED commissioner hire appeared first on Minnesota Reformer.
NEW YORK  Defense attorneys spent all day Tuesday working to undermine one of federal prosecutors star witnesses in their corruption case again Sen. Bob Menendez.

The witness, Jose Uribe, a New Jersey trucking and insurance industry figure who pleaded guilty earlier this year to bribing the senator and his wife, was repeatedly asked about his criminal record, which includes a history of fraud and lying to authorities. Uribe testified in vivid detail on Monday about a series of meetings with the senator, including a backyard gathering where they shared brandy.

Uribe has said he bought the New Jersey Democrats now-wife, Nadine, a new Mercedes-Benz in 2019 to gain the senators power and influence. Uribe wanted Menendez to disrupt a New Jersey state prosecution and investigation circling Uribes insurance business. The government has charged two other businesspeople with bribing the senator, but the car-related bribery charges may rest largely on how jurors view Uribe's testimony.

What a jury will make of his credibility, of course, remains to be seen. But Uribe remained calm and at times exceedingly precise in his answers during cross-examination Tuesday, even as he admitted to a troubled past full of wrongdoing.



When Uribe was called to the stand and questioned by federal prosecutors on Friday and Monday, they tried to inoculate him from some of the coming attacks by asking their own questions about a series of crimes he has pleaded guilty to, including some unrelated to his interactions with the Menendezes.

Adam Fee, an attorney for Menendez, tried to drive home what those crimes were, at times using questions that were stricken from the record by the judge  though obviously said in front of jurors.

Youre a very good liar, arent you? Fee asked at one point, while going through a litany of wrongdoing Uribe has admitted to.

Those activities include submitting false documents to get a bank loan; using figures from those false documents to get a separate pandemic-era loan from the federal Small Business Administration; failing to file taxes; lying on his taxes; and providing dud insurance policies to trucking companies.

Fee pointed out that Uribe operated an insurance business in New Jersey for over a decade even though Uribe had lost his state insurance license in 2011. Even though Uribe actually ran it, on paper it was registered to a friend of Uribes daughter who, according to Fees questions, had come to Uribe for help when she was a pregnant teenager.



Because Uribe was not allowed to operate the business, he agreed with Fee that this arrangement meant Uribe had broken the law every day from 2011 until Uribe agreed to cooperate with Menendezs prosecutors earlier this year and stepped down from the company.

Fee worked to distance Uribe from his client, the senator. Though Uribe testified earlier about a series of meetings with the senator, Uribe never had any written communication with Menendez. Unless Menendez testifies in the trial, that means Uribe's account is the only one likely to be available to jurors about face-to-face meetings the senator had with Uribe, as well as a phone call.

Fee also asked questions that tried to highlight Uribes interactions with the senators wife, Nadine Menendez. Fee, for instance, asked Uribe if he knew Nadine would be helping Uribe in manipulating or trying to deceive the senator.

Elements of this strategy, known colloquially among trial watchers as the throw-her-under-the-bus defense, was used by the senator's legal team in opening arguments and suggested in other questions Menendezs attorneys have asked during the trial, which began last month and is expected to run through the end of this month.

Fee also asked repeated questions trying to establish that Uribe wanted the senator to think of him as a legitimate businessperson. The purpose of these questions, it seems, were to suggest that Menendez was deceived by Uribe.

At times, Uribe would correct Fee and an attorney for Menendez co-defendant Wael Will Hana about Uribe's own previous testimony. Hana is also accused of bribing the Menendezes.

At other times, Uribe did not recall things that, had he said them in front of jurors, might have damaged him further  like the specifics of the 2011 case that cost him his insurance license or whether he issued a dud insurance policies to specific people, including Hana, that ended up hurting their businesses.

But Uribe also did not recall interactions that, had they occurred, would have presumably hurt the senators case. Uribe said, for instance, that he and Menendez never discussed the car he bought for Nadine at all.

Fee and Hanas attorney who questioned Uribe, Ricardo Solano Jr., also probed the fact that Uribe has a lot on the line. For the crimes hes pleaded guilty to, Uribe faces up to 95 years in prison. Uribe said hes hoping for a more lenient sentence or to avoid jail time following his cooperation with the government.

During cross-examination, Uribe was also questioned about whether he was trying to cooperate with the government to spare his family, which was involved in his businesses, at least on paper, and could presumably be investigated or prosecuted too.

I had lied in the past to protect my family, yes, Uribe said.

Defense attorneys had hoped to use even more of Uribes past against him. But, without jurors present, the judge denied moves to introduce evidence or ask about Uribes failure to pay child support for what was described as a limited period of time or about a matter referred to by the judge as the strip clubs.

Those two lines of cross-examination could have undermined things Uribe said about his family values. He said he bribed the Menendezes to protect his family or close friends and talked about how he set aside Sundays for church, visiting his mothers grave and his father in a nursing home and having family dinners.

An attorney for Hana, Larry Lustberg, said Uribe had been left in tatters after the cross-examination, and he doesnt think Uribes testimony established guilt beyond a reasonable doubt  the standard jurors must use when they evaluate the defendants.

The testimony speaks for itself, Bob Menendez said leaving the courtroom.
BEIJING, June 12 (Xinhua) -- A group of young people from China and the United States kicked off a cultural exchange visit in Beijing on Wednesday.

The event is part of the "Bridge of the Future" China-U.S. Youth Exchange Program, a collaboration effort of the All-China Youth Federation and the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries.

During the activity, the young delegates immersed themselves in China's rich heritage by visiting iconic sites like the Great Wall and the Forbidden City. They also ventured into suburban villages, gaining firsthand insights into the country's rural revitalization efforts, according to organizers.

Over the next two days, the group will engage in dialogues with young civil servants and scholars at various Chinese government bodies and think tanks. Additionally, they will visit enterprises and economic development zones to understand business operations and urban development in China.

The "Bridge of the Future" China-U.S. Youth Exchange Program aims to foster communication, understanding, friendship and cooperation between Chinese and American youths, contributing to a healthy, stable and sustainable China-U.S. relationship. 
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD)  The Michigan State Board of Education has approved a motion to request that the Legislature conduct an independent review of the deadly attack at Oxford High School in 2021.

The vote comes weeks after parents of the four deceased students shared their thoughts and recommendations with the board. SBE President Pamela Pugh says the victims and their families deserve more answers.

ABC News set to release documentary on Crumbley trials

Parents of Oxford students who died in this terrible tragedy have made it clear they want an independent state review of the shooting and events before and after, Pugh said in a statement. We owe it to the parents to do what we can to have the mass shooting thoroughly reviewed so that schools can learn from what happened and Oxford parents can get more answers.

The SBE credits the 2024 fiscal budget that allocated $456 million for spending on childrens mental health resources and school safety for providing more pathways to help school districts statewide, including hiring additional social workers, guidance counselors, nurses and psychologists.

Much has been done in the last two and a half years to improve school safety and childrens mental health in the state, State Superintendent Michael Rice said in a statement. That said, more needs to be done, and the state boards resolution is in the spirit of continuing to improve the safety and security of our schools.

The SBE has also requested that the state conduct an independent investigation whenever a student dies from a safety-related event.

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Ethan Crumbley was 15 years old when he opened fire on Nov. 30, 2021, at Oxford High School. He killed four students  Madisyn Baldwin, Tate Myre, Justin Shilling and Hana St. Juliana  and injured six others and a teacher.

Crumbley pleaded guilty to 24 criminal charges, including murder. He was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole in December 2023, but he is now appealing.

The case also marked the first time in U.S. history that a school shooters parents were criminally convicted for their role. Both James and Jennifer Crumbley were convicted of involuntary manslaughter and sentenced to at least 10 years in prison.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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TOPEKA (KSNT)  The Kansas Board of Education is settling a land dispute between two rural school districts in northeast Kansas.

USD 115 Nemaha Central Schools filed a petition with the state board asking for approximately 81 square miles of land currently belonging to the USD 113 Prairie Hills school district.

Nemaha argues the vast majority of students residing in the area have attended their schools for over a decade, but the families have had no school board representation or voting rights in the district their children attend.

27 News spoke with USD 115 board of education president Amy Sudbeck, who says the issue dates back all the way to a multi-district merger in 2010.

Sudbeck says there was an agreement between USD 113 and nearby Bern schools as part of the merger. She says the agreement promised the land would follow Bern residents to whichever district they moved to in the event Bern schools closed.

Bern schools closed in 2012 and according to Sudbeck an overwhelming majority of those students began attending Nemaha Central Schools, but the land stayed with USD 113.

Over a decade is certainly long enough, Sudbeck said, for somebody to say no this is settled and this is where we go to school now, so our land needs to be moved with us.'

Sudbeck says USD 115 has made several attempts to negotiate a deal with USD 113 since 2012, but that Prairie Hills isnt willing to play ball. She says thats why decided to file the petition with the state board.

27 News also reached out to the Todd Evans, the superintendent of USD 113. He said their lawyers advised them not to speak with the press, and provided a statement indicating Prairie Hills believes the Kansas Board of Education will reject the petition.

Sudbeck, on the other hand, believes the facts favor Nemaha Central. She says its all about the families affected.

Its all in the interest of the fairness to those families and those kids, Sudbeck said. When we live in rural Kansas all these student matter. And these kids matter, and theyve been treated like they dont matter. Theyve been asking for ever ten years for their land to be transferred.

The Kansas Board of Education is expected to make their determination at a June 12 hearing, but their deadline is 90 days from the initial public hearing that took place March 22.

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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BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB)  A New York State corrections officer who was on administrative leave was arrested and charged by criminal complaint on gun charges, the U.S. Attorneys Office announced Wednesday.

Officials said Matthew Zamborowski, 48 and of Hamburg, was charged by criminal complaint with possession of a firearm or ammunition by a person under a qualifying domestic violence order of protection. The charge carries a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

According to the complaint, on May 6, an Erie County Sheriffs Deputy conducted a traffic stop on Route 219 after determining the vehicle had a surrendered plate. Zamborowski then allegedly told the deputy he was concealing a firearm on his right hip and said he was a NYS corrections officer, the attorneys office said.

Officials said when the sheriff asked for his license, Zamborowski said he did not have one and that there may be issues with it due to unpaid tickets in court.

When the deputy returned to his vehicle and confirmed Zamborowskis license status, he saw that he was served an order of protection, which mandated him to surrender all firearms in his possession, officials said.

Zamborowski was then arrested. The complaint also said that he allegedly had five additional firearms in the trunk of his vehicle.

The attorneys office said a check with the NYS Albion Correctional Facility determined that Zamborowski was on administrative leave since February, and that he should have returned his badge and state ID.

He was then taken to the Erie County Holding Center.

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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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David Hosier, a 69-year-old veteran convicted of killing a former lover, was executed by lethal injection Tuesday evening in Missouri.

He was pronounced dead at 6:11 p.m. at Eastern Reception, Diagnostic and Correctional Center in Bonne Terre, about an hour south of St. Louis.

The state uses the drug pentobarbital in its executions.

In a last statement, Hosier quoted a Bible verse from Timothy, which read in part: The time of my departure is at hand. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day.

In another statement from Hosier, provided by his spiritual adviser, Rev. Jeff Hood, Hosier said, Im the luckiest man on earth. Just in the last few weeks... Ive been able to speak the truth of my innocence ... Ive been able to reminisce with family and friends new and old. Ive been able to learn to be, the fullest version of me ... Now, I get to go to heaven. Dont cry for me. Just join me when your time comes.

His last meal included a New York strip steak, baked potato with butter and sour cream, Texas toast, Dutch apple pie, orange juice and milk, the Missouri Department of Corrections said.

In 2013, Hosier was sentenced to death for the murder of Angela Gilpin, 45. She and her husband, Rodney Gilpin, 61, were found dead Sept. 28, 2009, in the hallway of her Jefferson City apartment building.

Angela Gilpin and Hosier had been in a relationship before she ended up reconciling with her husband.

In a 19-page clemency petition, Hosiers legal team argued his life should be spared because he suffered a life-changing trauma as a teen when his father was killed in the line of duty as a police officer. They also noted that Hosier had a record of public service, including serving in the U.S. Navy, and had been hospitalized for a heart problem in May.

Gov. Mike Parson denied clemency on Monday.

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, the governor said in a statement.
SALISBURY, Pa. (WHTM)  Pennsylvania State Police are investigating a bomb threat made last week at a Lancaster County Wawa.

State Police say on June 2, Troopers responded to the gas station/convenience store on Route 41 in Salisbury Township. Troopers were told a man reported plans to bring a bomb to the business.

Changes coming to Pennsylvania Turnpike tolling

State Police say through the investigation a phone number was traced to a 16-year-old in West Islip, New York.

The incident caused a large police presence, evacuation of the business, and forced the area to be shut down for several hours, troopers said.

State Police are investigating and did not identify the teen or say if hes facing charges.

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California regulators Wednesday disclosed which areas of the state insurers will have to cover if they want to take advantage of financial incentives intended to resolve the homeowners' insurance crisis.

In Los Angeles County, those areas include ZIP Codes in the Santa Monica Mountains, the San Gabriel Mountains and parts of the Santa Clarita Valley, according to draft regulations released by the Department of Insurance.

Read more: California's home insurance crisis: What went wrong, how it can be fixed and what owners can do

Last fall, amid the pullback of insurers from wildfire neighborhoods, state Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara announced his Sustainable Insurance Strategy. It was the biggest overhaul of industry regulations since the 1988 passage of Proposition 103, which gave an elected insurance commissioner the authority to review and reject requests for rate hikes by insurers offering homeowners, auto and other lines of coverage. The new regulations are expected to be in place by the end of the year.

"We are well on our way to enacting the state's largest insurance reform," Lara said Wednesday. "We are being driven by data and by the meetings we have held with thousands of Californians across the state."

Elements of the reform are predicated on a deal he reached with the industry that would allow insurers to include in their premiums the cost of reinsurance they buy to protect themselves from disasters  and to use computer models that project future claims risks, a concern due to massive wildfires caused by drought and climate change. Currently, historical claims data are used in preparing rate hike requests.

That agreement requires large insurers to provide coverage in wildfire risk areas that is equivalent to 85% of their statewide market share. That means, theoretically, if an insurer has a 20% market share statewide, it would have to insure 17 out of 100 homes in such neighborhoods.

Smaller insurers are also targeted by the regulations, but instead of having to increase market share in distressed areas by the 85% metric, they would have to increase the number of policies they write by 5%. All companies also would have to increase their commercial policies in such areas by 5%.

The regulations released Wednesday detail how that goal would be achieved, and take a three-part "hybrid" approach that aims to maximize coverage and account for the state's geographic diversity that includes mountainous rural areas, coastal zones and suburban neighborhoods.

One set of regulations would apply the 85% threshold to entire counties if 20% or more of properties are in "high" risk areas, as defined by maps created by the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.

Another set would apply the threshold to "high" and "very high" fire-risk ZIP Codes if 15% or more of policyholders are being covered by the state FAIR Plan, an insurer of last resort that offers policies with minimum benefits. ZIP Codes would also be included if it is found that coverage is unaffordable based on a median-income or premium-cost calculation. The idea is to protect those with limited or fixed incomes.

The regulations also aim to capture high fire-risk neighborhoods sprinkled in nearly every county that are not captured by the other rules.

The department plans to review coverage by insurers that seek to include the cost of reinsurance and use the new computer models to ensure they are writing insurance in distressed areas. Those that are not could face rate reductions and having to rebate premiums.

"Insurance companies need to commit to writing more policies, and my department will need to verify those commitments to hold companies accountable," Lara said.

Carmen Balber, executive director of Consumer Watchdog, a Los Angeles consumer advocacy group, said in a statement that the draft regulations give insurers too much time to meet the coverage targets and provide affordable insurance, while giving regulators too much leeway to provide exceptions.

Insurance Commissioner Laras plan gives insurance companies two years to comply but they can start to charge more immediately. After two years, insurance companies can say they cant meet their goals and the commissioner can just move the goal posts. This was the one consumer benefit in Laras proposal but the exceptions swallow the rule, she said.

Rex Frazier, president of the Personal Insurance Federation of California, a trade group of property and casualty insurers, welcomed the move.

"We are encouraged to see continued progress on the commissioners Sustainable Insurance Strategy. This proposal is complex, with many trade-offs, including insurer commitments that no other state requires. However, we remain committed to working with all stakeholders to increase insurance availability and restore the health of the insurance market," he said in written remarks.

After the announcement, Gov. Gavin Newsom, who has thrown his support behind Lara's reform plan, said in a written statement that the regulations were "another critical action to help fix California's decades-old insurance crisis."

The department issued on Wednesday a state map and a list of ZIP Codes affected by the proposed regulations. The department will hold a June 26 hearing to take testimony from insurers, consumer advocates, policyholders and others.

The ZIP Codes include neighborhoods in Malibu, Beverly Hills, Topanga, Bel-Air, Beverly Glen, Duarte, Castaic and Catalina Island.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
More than 90 dogs were surrendered by Paris Puppies Paradise of Ogen, Iowa, on Sept. 22, 2023. One of the dogs (inset photo) is seen here getting a bath at the Boone Area Humane Society after being turned over. (Main photo via Google Earth; inset photo courtesy of the Boone Area Humane Society)

State officials renewed the license of a Boone County dog breeder earlier this year while the man was facing multiple criminal charges of animal neglect.

Now, those same state officials say they are attempting to have the man surrender that license and relinquish the dogs in his care.

Last September, a Boone County deputy was sent to Paris Puppies Paradise in Ogden, a state-licensed dog breeding operation owned by 58-year-old Joel Paris. The deputy was there to conduct a welfare check on a woman who was reported to be missing.

While there, the deputy noticed there were many dogs on the property that appeared to show signs of neglect. Representatives of the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship  the state agency that oversees breeders  were then summoned to assess the animals and conditions inside the facility. Paris then agreed to surrender 93 of his 119 dogs.

Among the 93 animals Paris surrendered was a female poodle who was found to be in heart failure and had a severely distended stomach. The poodle had to be euthanized.

The report of IDALS visit indicates state officials observed a build-up of feces, hair and grime in both kennel buildings, including the floors, the walls of the kennel buildings and along the edges of buildings in the outdoor runs.

Some of the organic debris appeared to have fungus or mold growing on it, the inspectors observed, and in some areas, the outdoor concrete appeared stained with urine and feces.

One poodle-mix puppy had an untreated injury and had been left overnight in one of the kennel buildings. It was found tangled in some hanging blankets the next day, inspectors reported.

An adult golden retriever was observed to be very thin, with a veterinarian scoring its body condition as a 2 on a scale of 1 to 9. The inspector informed Paris that he needed to provide the dog with immediate, same-day veterinary care.

Criminal charges filed, license renewed

After Paris surrendered many of his dogs, Mindi Callison, founder and executive director of the animal-welfare organization Bailing Out Benji, asked the Boone County sheriff and county attorney to investigate Paris for violations of Iowas animal-cruelty laws.

On Oct. 10, 2023, the county charged Paris with three counts of animal neglect with injury and one count of animal neglect resulting in death. In April, after pleading guilty to all four charges, Paris was given a two-year suspended prison sentence and fined $2,145.

IDALS Communications Director Don McDowell acknowledged Wednesday that between the time Paris was criminally charged and he submitted his guilty plea to the court, the state agency renewed his license to operate.

McDowell said the renewal allowed IDALS the ability to enter the facility, conduct inspections and maintain oversight while the neglect case was pending  Without a license, IDALS lacks the authority to enter into a facility.

McDowell noted that before the criminal charges were imposed in the case, IDALS had fined Paris and suspended his license. Paris then became compliant with state regulations, paid his fine and the suspension was lifted, McDowell said.

Now that he has plead guilty to animal neglect charges, we are working within state law to ensure the dispersal of his dogs and the relinquishment of his license, McDowell said in an email to Iowa Capital Dispatch.

Callison said Wednesday she understands the need for IDALS to keep a breeder licensed for oversight reasons, but what does it take to revoke a license in the state of Iowa? How bad does it have to be?

A history of past violations

Prior to the visit last fall, IDALS inspected Paris breeding operation in April 2023. At that time, there was the same build-up of grime noted in previous inspections and during the subsequent September visit.

In January 2023, an IDALS inspector made note of the odor of ammonia in all of the buildings at the business as Paris was in the process of cleaning the facility when the inspector arrived. Appears to be several days worth of feces in outdoor runs, the inspector noted.

On four prior occasions  in August, October, November and December 2022  IDALS reported that it had attempted to inspect Paris Puppies Paradise but failed. Typically, that indicates an inspector arrived on scene but couldnt gain entry to the business.

Last year, police were summoned to the Squeaky Clean Laundromat in the city of Boone, where the owner reported someone had entered their establishment, washed blankets filled with animal waste, and then left a mess in the business. This had happened more than once, the owner complained.

I arrived to find what appeared to be dog waste all over the floors and in the machines, an officer reported, adding there was a strong odor of a dog kennel inside the laundromat. I also found contaminated water spilled over on several machines and the floor. There were pieces of torn blankets spread throughout the store as well.

Security-camera footage suggested the suspects were Sara Stanfield  the missing woman who was the subject of the welfare check last fall  and Paris, police reported. Court records indicate the two were later convicted of trespassing and were each fined $260.

The Iowa Capital Dispatch was unable to reach Paris for comment.

The post State renewed dog breeders license while neglect charges were pending appeared first on Iowa Capital Dispatch.
MEMPHIS, Tenn.  A West Tennessee sheriff allegedly set up a staffing agency and directed more than $1.4 million worth of inmate wage fees and deductions to his company in a scheme to enrich himself and investors, according to details released Wednesday by the state comptrollers office.

Gibson County Sheriff Paul Thomas surrendered to authorities in Nashville on Wednesday, Metro Nashville Police said.

Thomas was indicted on 18 counts of official misconduct by a Gibson County grand jury and surrendered to authorities there Tuesday. Additionally, the state says he faced four more charges of theft, forgery, computer crimes, and official misconduct out of Davidson County.

Gibson County, TN sheriff indicted on 18 counts of official misconduct

The comptrollers office said Thomas had a 20% ownership stake in a group of three companies he and other investors founded, collectively called the Alliance Group. These companies provided labor from local and state inmates to businesses.

At least 170 inmates were employed by these companies. They were housed at a transitional facility called Orchard House, and were provided work release transportation, the state said.

Alliance Group received $18 a day for transportation, and inmates at Orchard House were charged $40 a day.

The state says inmates from the Gibson County Jail were housed at Orchard House without proper approval by a judge, but Thomas allegedly continued to tell the state the inmates were in the county jail, resulting in more than $507,000 in TDOC funding.

He then allegedly deposited nearly $450,000 in inmate wages into a private account owned and controlled by the Alliance Group.

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Thomas, who was prohibited by state law from profiting or benefiting from the labor of inmates, received $181,644.50 in compensation, payroll benefits, and legal representation services from Alliance, the state said. The money was derived from inmate labor.

We also learned that Sheriff Thomas failed to disclose his ownership interest in Alliance in his annual filings with the Tennessee Ethics Commission and violated his duty to secure and properly guard inmates until they were lawfully discharged, State Comptroller Jason Mumpower said in a news release.

Thomas has been sheriff in Gibson County since 2014. The FBI raided his home and other locations in connection with this case in 2022.

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State superintendent challenger to campaign on change over stability

Jason Heitkamp, a former state senator running for superintendent of public instruction, stands in Memorial Hall at the North Dakota Capitol on May 23, 2024. (Mary Steurer/North Dakota Monitor)

Former state senator Jason Heitkamp said hell be working to win over change-averse voters as he prepares to face off against incumbent Kirsten Baesler for superintendent of public instruction in November.

With incumbency, people feel theres stability there, he said.

Baesler finished with a significant lead over challengers in the four-way primary Tuesday, earning 55% of the vote in unofficial results with all precincts reporting.

Heitkamp earned 22% of the vote, narrowly beating NDGOP-endorsed Jim Bartlett of Bottineau, who received 20%.

Former higher ed administrator Darko Draganic took home 3% of votes.

Since superintendent is a nonpartisan position, the top two vote-earners in the primary  in this case, Baesler and Heitkamp  proceed to the general election.

Heitkamp said hes very happy with the election results, even if he only beat Bartlett by a couple of percentage points. After all, the general election is a separate contest, he said.

The election started again this morning, Heitkamp said Wednesday.

The Wyndmere resident is campaigning heavily on property tax reform. If elected, one of his major goals would be to make public schools entirely funded by state money, as opposed to local revenue. Another priority is increasing pay for teachers, he said.

Heitkamp said he worries some voters seem to have formed an image of him as someone who wants to overhaul North Dakotas education system.

He said while he wants to make significant structural changes, he wants voters to know hes not going to destroy whats there already.

Heitkamp served as a Republican state senator in 2021-22. He didnt seek letters of endorsement from either party in the superintendent race.

Baesler has mostly campaigned on her track record as superintendent. A resident of Mandan, she counts the creation of a teacher apprenticeship program, cutting the size of the Department of Public Instruction, and establishing an online school funding dashboard among her main accomplishments while in office.

Baesler said in a Tuesday evening statement she is committed to working hard for her supporters to secure a victory in November.

Our students, families and teachers deserve nothing less, she said.

The post State superintendent challenger to campaign on change over stability appeared first on North Dakota Monitor.
MOGADISHU, June 12 (Xinhua) -- The World Health Organization (WHO) announced Wednesday that it has launched a new project to reach nearly 900,000 people with life-saving interventions by 2024.

The WHO said the project is targeting people in Somalia who are still living with the impacts of extreme climate events such as floods and drought.

"The project will also strengthen referral linkages between communities and health facilities to improve quality, access, and coverage of critical care. This includes in-patient treatment at stabilization centers for children with severe acute malnutrition with medical complications," the UN health agency said in a statement issued in Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia.

The WHO said the new project follows the completion of an earlier project that benefited more than 3 million people affected by drought and floods in Somalia with integrated health and nutrition services. "It targets 15 flood- and drought-affected districts across the country."

The WHO said it aims to mitigate the health impacts of recurrent climate shocks, food insecurity, and disease outbreaks, especially cholera, while strengthening health system resilience.

According to the WHO, Somalia has an ongoing cholera outbreak, which has been made worse since the floods of December 2023, which destroyed sanitation facilities and caused further displacements.

Forecasts predict that the outbreak will continue due to the heavy Gu (April-to-June) rains, potentially leading to flash floods.

The WHO said it will also assist Somalia's Ministry of Health and Human Services in strengthening prevention, early detection, and prompt response to disease outbreaks, including cholera, at the district level. 
Pharmacist George Tadross takes care of a customer at MAC Pharmacy in Cleveland in May 2024. Insurance companies, and the pharmacy benefit management companies that handle prescriptions for them, often refuse to cover a specific drug until after the patient has tried cheaper alternatives, a process known as step therapy. Sue Ogrocki/The Associated Press

Cassidy Yermal, 32, began experiencing debilitating migraines when she was 17 years old. As a teenager growing up in northeastern Pennsylvania, she saw numerous neurologists and tried a variety of medications before finding one that provided relief.

In 2022, her new insurer asked her to prove it.

Yermal now lives in Marlboro, Maryland, where shes a sales representative at a furniture store. She is married and receives health care coverage through her husbands employer. In 2022, their new insurer told Yermal that it wouldnt pay for her medication unless she tried several less expensive drugs first  or could prove that she already had.

I was like, I dont know why theyre asking for this documentation now. My other insurance company didnt ask for it, Yermal told Stateline. It was really frustrating to me to have to dig up the kind of things that I knew didnt work.

Millions of Americans have experienced similar frustrations under protocols known as step therapy, or fail-first policies. Insurance companies, and the pharmacy benefit management companies that handle prescriptions for them, often refuse to cover a specific drug until after the patient has tried cheaper alternatives. Insurers argue that step therapy  taking drug treatment one step a time  prevents wasteful spending by directing patients to less expensive, but still effective, treatments.

But patient advocacy groups and physicians say doctors, not insurers, are best qualified to know which drug or treatment is likely to be most effective. Delaying the implementation of that decision, they say, often harms patients.

At least 36 states  including Maryland, where Yermal lives  have laws that are supposed to limit insurers use of step therapy. But most only apply in certain cases, and enforcement has been spotty. Most important, states do not have the power to regulate the self-funded insurance policies that large employers typically offer to their workers  and 65% of Americans are covered that way.

Only Congress has the power to curb the use of step therapy in self-funded plans; a bill that would do just that is pending on Capitol Hill. In the meantime, legislatures in several states, including Illinois, Kentucky and New Mexico, this year approved measures designed to close loopholes in their step therapy laws and extend protections to more people. The Kentucky and New Mexico bills are now law.

States are really where the action is on health care. Changes and reforms depend on the state.

 Kaye Pestaina, vice president and director of patient and consumer protections at KFF

The Illinois measure, which is awaiting the signature of Democratic Gov. JB Pritzker, is especially far-reaching: It would ban any insurers regulated by the state, including Medicaid, from using step therapy. But because states cant regulate self-funded insurers, many Illinois residents wouldnt be covered.

Knowing that our hospitals have hundreds of employees on staff just to deal with the insurance companies really says something, Democratic state Rep. Anna Moeller, chief sponsor of the bill, told Stateline. Nobody should be turned away in the middle of a mental health crisis or spend months potentially failing on other drugs while the doctors know they wont work. No one should have to go through that.

Illinois Democratic state Sen. Laura Fine, another sponsor of the bill, acknowledged that forcing large insurance companies to abide by the ban would be a challenge.

Our Department of Insurance is going to have to come in. This is where we are going to have to make rules. How do we make sure that these laws are being carried out as written? she said.

Nevertheless, Fine said, the ban almost certainly would be a huge improvement over the current step therapy law in Illinois. That law is so weak, she said, that for most people subjected to step therapy rules, you could complain about it, but there was nothing that could be done about it.

Now, were saying, No, this is not [allowed], Fine said. And so, you can complain about it, and something can get done.

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In Maryland, Yermal had to wait two months for her insurer to approve her preferred migraine medication, Emgality, which has no generic form and can cost more than $700 for the once-a-month dose. During that time, she suffered pounding headaches; it was hard to live my life, and it was hard to do basic things, she said.

She also said that taking medications that dont work can have long-lasting effects. More than a decade later, she said, she is still feeling the impact of her time on a migraine drug that didnt help her.

I still cant think straight. I used to be a really fast learner and pick up on stuff really quickly, Yermal said. I took that medication over 10 years ago and I still feel that I never recovered.

Increasing use

Insurers argue that by preventing excessive spending, step therapy yields savings for consumers in the form of lower insurance premiums and less expensive prescriptions for everyone on the plan.

James Swann, a spokesperson for AHIP, a trade group formerly known as Americas Health Insurance Plans, said step therapy protects patients from potentially harmful or unnecessary care, and that legislation to restrict it would lead to clinically inappropriate care and could raise costs for all consumers and purchasers.

Swann also suggested that insurers have a holistic perspective on the health care system that even doctors lack.

But Dr. Jack Resneck, former president of the American Medical Association, rejected that idea.

I would make an argument that physicians who have gone to medical school and have the patients entire medical record can help keep patients way more safe, Resneck said. [Insurers] are often recommending things to me that are frankly unsafe.

He added: Is it true that we have seen some drug prices go up astronomically? Absolutely. The solution is to fix drug pricing. Its not to tell patients that the drug theyve been on thats been great for them is one they cant be on anymore.

Recent research suggests that the use of step therapy by insurance companies and pharmacy benefit managers is increasing  and that it is often divorced from clinical evidence.

In a study published earlier this year in the journal Health Affairs, researchers looked at about 10 years worth of Medicare Part D plan data and found that insurers increasingly imposed restrictions on patient access to medications. They did so through step therapy, requiring doctors to get insurers permission before prescribing a drug, or by excluding drugs from coverage.

The percentage of drugs restricted by the policies increased from 32% in 2011 to 44% in 2020.

While plans justify the use of these tools as a means to control costs, restricting access to an increasing number of drugs raises concerns that these policies may adversely affect patients health, Geoffrey Joyce, chair of the Department of Pharmaceutical and Health Economics at the University of Southern California and an author of the study said in an interview.

A study published in Health Affairs in 2021 found that 17 of the largest commercial health plans applied step therapy policies about 40% of the time for treatments related to 10 diseases. The researchers found that there was wide variation among the companies use of step therapy, and that the policies requirements often departed from clinical guidelines. The protocols were more rigid than clinical guidelines at least half the time for patients with hepatitis C, multiple sclerosis and psoriatic arthritis. For psoriasis, the step therapy protocols were stricter more than 99% of the time.

James Chambers, an associate professor at the Tufts Medical Center Institute for Clinical Research and Health Policy Studies and an author of the study, told Stateline that the inconsistency maybe raises a red flag about how these protocols were developed and for what reason.

From experience, we see very different step therapy protocols across plans for the same drugs for the same uses, Chambers said. Its not just subtle differences, but impactful differences for patients.

Current laws limited

The loopholes in existing state laws  and the fact that the laws dont apply to people with the most common form of insurance  frustrate patient advocacy groups. Dozens of them have been involved in lobbying for tougher state rules and the stalled federal bill.

We have a ton of inflammatory arthritis and autoimmune patients in our network. And this population typically has to undergo step therapy, which causes major delays in treatment, said Zoe Rothblatt, director of community outreach at the Global Healthy Living Foundation, which advocates for patients with chronic diseases such as migraines, arthritis, osteoporosis and psoriasis.

Patients can spend a lot of time  months  in pain, not able to work, Rothblatt said. They could have disease progression.

Joyce said it wont be easy to further restrict the use of step therapy, either at the state or the federal level. He noted the country is spending more than $4 trillion annually on health care, and the reason its so hard to change things is because that money is somebodys income  whether its yours, or a doctors or a pharma companys.

And the health care companies, he said, dont want reform.

They all fight it tooth and nail, and they all have lobbyists in Washington fighting for their interests, he said.

Kaye Pestaina, vice president and director of patient and consumer protections at KFF, a health research organization, said innovative approaches to regulating insurance companies are more likely to occur on the state level, and that civil lawsuits are a powerful enforcement tool.

States are really where the action is on health care. Changes and reforms depend on the state, Pestaina told Stateline. The state law says how much the civil penalty is, what the circumstances are, when a government investigates, what makes something a violation and what doesnt.

Fine, the Illinois senator, said the measure set to be signed by the governor is evidence of a growing legislative appetite to regulate insurers, a change that is shifting state government.

I feel our Department of Insurance now is very consumer-focused, Fine told Stateline. For a long, long time, everything was sort of slanted towards industry. And now, you know, the scale is kind of changing. And were slanting towards, How is this helping the consumer?

Yermal, meanwhile, says shes doing fine now, although she still suffers from some headaches. Shes happy she can at least get the medication she needs to deal with them, she said.

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STATESVILLE, NC (QUEEN CITY NEWS)  Statesville Police say they have responded to 38 commercial breaking and entering so far this year.

Seven of those break-ins happened in the last two weeks, officials announced Tuesday. Authorities are working to determine if the incidents are connected.

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As a result, police patrols have increased, and business checks continue. Business owners can meet with an SPD Crime Prevention Officer to give feedback or suggestions on how to prevent these incidents.

Statesville Police provided the following crime prevention tips:

Install an alarm system and post warnings of the alarm system in clear view.

Install security cameras with a battery backup for continuous surveillance.

Increase lighting and add motion detection lights.

Secure all possible entry points when leaving the building, and that windows are securely locked.

Install heavy-duty deadbolts and reinforce door jams.

Check landscaping and outdoor features to determine if landscaping provides cover for potential thieves.

Remove expensive items from display windows.

Always take cash out of registers overnight.

Business owners and employees are urged to stay alert. If you see suspicious activity, call the Statesville Police Department at 704-878-3406.

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Let me introduce you to Steve. Hes a bit of a recluse, but really dazzles when he does show up. Perhaps most importantly, hes actually not a person, but a stripe of purple light in the evening sky. And according to new research, it looks like he has a twin. The name STEVE is actually an acronym for strong thermal emission velocity enhancement, a technical term used to describe this brief purple-pink splash across the sky. Although he might look like one, Steve isnt an aurora either. Hes pink and purple and only appears briefly, unlike the better known aurora borealis, which usually comes in shades of red, blue, and green and goes on for hours. Auroraeincluding the one that stunned viewers as far south as Florida last monthare generally caused by electrons funneled along Earths magnetic field lines into the atmosphere. Steve, however, is his own weird thing: this phenomenon is caused by a rapidly moving stream of ultra-hot gas rushing through Earths atmosphere. In the evening, when Steve shows up, this gas stream is moving westward. Scientists know theres a similar stream moving eastward in the morning, but hadnt spotted the corresponding visuals of purple and pinkuntil now. A portrait of the infamous STEVE arc of hot flowing gas associated with an active aurora, here showing his distinctive pink colour and the fleeting appearance of the green picket fence fingers that often show up hanging down from the main arc. On this night the green fingers lasted no more than two minutes. STEVE = Strong Thermal Emission Velocity Enhancement, and is a river of hot gas flowing east to west equatorward of the main aurora band. This is a tracked single image looking straight up, and framing the Summer Triangle stars at right and the Milky Way. Moonlight from the setting waxing gibbous Moon lights the sky, as does the bright aurora to the north. Credit: Alan Dyer/VW Pics/Universal Images Group via Getty Images VW Pics An international team of scientists and photographers recently imaged Steves long-lost twin: a similar purple streak in the sky that happens at dawn instead of dusk. This discovery, published in the journal Earth, Planets, and Space, continues the mystery of Steve, as scientists are still trying to figure out the exact mechanism that causes these atmospheric lights. This work clearly demonstrates that Steve-like emissions are not exclusive to the evening side but also occur on the morning side, explains Boston University space physicist Toshi Nishimura, who is not affiliated with the new work. Steve and company are still relatively newly known phenomenathe original Steve was first spotted less than a decade ago in 2016, by the Alberta Aurora Chasers citizen science group in Canada. Steves early-riser twin was first noticed by Norwegian photographer Gabriel Arne Hofstra, using a large archive of data available online. From: Post-midnight purple arc and patches appeared on the high latitude part of the auroral oval: Dawnside counterpart of STEVE? (Top) Close-up of the keogram shown in Fig. 1g. Panels ah correspond to the derived time of the bottom eight snapshots. ah Snapshots from the all-sky digital camera in Troms. The top is north, and the right is east. The yellow arrow in a is the apparent trajectory of Swarm B. The yellow diamond indicates the location at 00:32:00 UT. The white arrows in panels bc guide the eastward motion of the discrete aurora. The bottom left in panel e is a close-up of the dashed small square region in the east. Credit: Sota Nanjo, et al. I developed this website to help photographers and tourists, explains lead author Sota Nanjo, a space scientist at Japans University of Electro-Communications. It was personally exciting to know that people were actually using it, and that a new aspect of atmospheric phenomena was discovered through it. In addition to the twin, Nanjo and collaborators noticed an unexplained patchy glow, potentially revealing a wider family of Steve, says Nishimura. How to see Steve And if youre hoping to spot Steve yourself, you might even be able to see him between sunset and midnight if you live in the so-called subauroral zone, a little bit south of where youd traditionally go for the aurora borealis in southern Canada or the northern U.S. Steve can be seen with the naked eye, but it may look more beautiful when captured by a digital camera, says Nanjo. The impression of auroras is very different in photographs compared to seeing them with the naked eye, so I believe the same applies to Steve. His twin, on the other hand, is only visible farther north, and between midnight and dawn. I think the twins shy nature, appearing in less populated areas after people have gone to bed, might be why its discovery was delayed compared to Steve, adds Nanjo. With this discovery, citizen scientists have once again spotted something unusual, says Elizabeth MacDonald, a space plasma physicist at NASAs Goddard Space Flight Center, emphasizing the role of public participation in this work and her related effort, Aurorasaurus, where you can report any aurorae you see. I have confidence that citizen scientists will eagerly keep an eye out now, she adds, excited to uncover the mysteries of Steves entire family and how they can inform our understanding of Earths complex atmosphere.

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Hungary will not join NATO's planned steps in support of Ukraine, but it will not obstruct them either, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said on June 12 after talks with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban.

Stoltenberg visited Budapest less than a month before the allied summit in Washington, where NATO members plan to decide on long-term support for Kyiv in the face of Russian aggression.

"I expect allies will agree on a leading role for NATO in coordinating and providing security assistance and training for Ukraine. I also expect allies will agree on a long-term financial pledge to provide military support," Stoltenberg said.

"Prime Minister Orban has made it clear that Hungary will not participate in these NATO efforts, and I accept this position, and I'm glad that today the prime minister and I have agreed on modalities for Hungary's nonparticipation in NATO's support to Ukraine."

Budapest will not contribute any funds or personnel to these efforts. At the same time, Stoltenberg said Orban assured him that "Hungary will not oppose these efforts, enabling other allies to move forward."

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.

Hungary has also criticized NATO's initiative in support of Ukraine, calling the alliance's long-term plan a "crazy mission." Orban said in an interview in late May that Budapest is looking for ways to opt-out from any actions outside of the alliance's territory, allegedly fearing an escalation with Russia.

Stoltenberg said on June 11 that during the upcoming summit, NATO allies must decide to take a leading role in the support for Ukraine and called on the members to maintain the level of assistance, which amounts to 40 billion euros ($43 billion) per year.

Read also: FT: NATOs B9 group considers barring Hungary from meetings

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VALPARAISO, Ind.  A 9-year-old Northwest Indiana macaw known for communicating how he feels went missing over the weekend but has since been found, the family told WGN News Tuesday evening.

The male talking bird named Joanna disappeared Saturday from Valparaiso and was last spotted Sunday at Foxwood Court.

Described by family as the sweetest boy ever, Joanna voices commands such as stop it! when he doesnt like something.

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Hell also say, Hello, bye-bye, and hot when hes eating something he likes and step up when he wants to be picked up, the family added. Joannas wings were also unclipped.

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Family told WGN News just after 7:30 p.m. Tuesday that Joanna had been located.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WGN-TV.
Photo illustration by Getty Images.

No ones health should be held hostage by private companies that reward investors with the money we pay for care. Yet thats exactly what UnitedHealth Group and other for-profit insurers do every day, all across the country. And they will keep doing it until we stop them.

Private insurers deny and delay care to hundreds of millions of policyholders every year. Why? To boost profits. They force people like you and me to wait or die while their executives and shareholders get rich. Theyd rather pay penalties than pay for care when doctors say we need it.

Thats why we celebrate Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor lawmakers recent vote to ban for-profit insurers from offering HMO policies through Medicaid and the State Employee Group Insurance Program. This bold move sets an example for the nation and partially restores Minnesotas longstanding ban on for-profit HMOs.

As long as we allow private insurers to find new ways to extract profits from health care, they will. Minnesota should lead the nation, and fully ban for-profit insurers from the state.

Minnesotans have long agreed that for-profit insurers should never be allowed to decide whether we live or die. Thats why, for 40 years, we banned for-profit HMOs from offering policies here. Then in 2017, the Republican-controlled Legislature allowed for-profit health insurance corporations to offer HMO services under the guise that doing so would benefit patients, even though they would have to charge more or deliver less services to meet their legal obligation to maximize profit for their shareholders. Private, for-profit companies like UnitedHealth, Humana and Aetna have been chomping at the bit to expand their involvement in Minnesotas public programs like theyve already done with Medicare Advantage.

From Minnesota-based UnitedHealth to Connecticut-based Aetna and other large insurers across the country, Medicare Advantage and Medicaid managed care programs have proven to be huge profit centers for health insurers, which is why they want to expand into Minnesotas public health programs as well.

The U.S. Department of Labor sued a UnitedHealth subsidiary last July for wrongfully denying thousands of claims, and they were sued again in November for using faulty artificial intelligence to deny coverage for Medicare patients. They use data analytics to cut reimbursements to the bone, which helps UnitedHealth keep an extra $1 billion in fees every year, according to reporting in the New York Times. Then they sue policyholders  Allina even created a subsidiary to go after its own members.

Who gets hurt when private insurers deny claims? We all do. Doctors, nurses and people who need care are all increasingly fed up. Thats why we recently risked arrest in a peaceful protest at UnitedHealths headquarters to demand they stop these denials of care, along with Peoples Action members who came from all across the country and allies from the Minnesota Nurses Association, the AFL-CIO Retirees, Physicians for a National Health Plan, Healthcare for All Minnesota, Be A Hero and the Labor Campaign for Single Payer. We then confronted UnitedHealths CEO  Sir Andrew Witty  on Capitol Hill, where he was called to testify to Congress about a data breach at a UnitedHealth subsidiary, Change Healthcare, which violated the personal data of as many as 152 million people.

This outage disrupted care for patients at 74% of hospitals nationwide, as many providers were forced to stop processing or switch to paper claims, which can take six months to approve. For Witty and UnitedHealth, this disruption was just another day at the office  one more opportunity to collect premiums while they delay and deny care.

Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison was right to oppose UnitedHealths takeover of Change Healthcare in 2022, recognizing the risks to our health if we allow private insurers to become too big to fail. Private insurers like UnitedHealth, which took in $22.3 billion in profit last year alone, are already too big, and they fail to provide care when we need it most.

While the new ban blocks Minnesotas Department of Human Services from awarding contracts to for-profit HMOs and prevents these companies from offering new policies to state employees, HMOs run by UnitedHealth, Humana and Allina Health Aetna are still able to offer plans to groups and individuals, including through Medicare Advantage.

Minnesotans have an opportunity to lead the nation by telling for-profit insurers that their greed stops here. Our lives are at stake. Thats why we must prevent private insurers from taking a bigger bite of our health care, before its too late.

The post Stop for-profit insurers from taking over our health care appeared first on Minnesota Reformer.
DENVER (KDVR)  Arapahoe County is dealing with an increase in storage unit thefts, with nearly 60 reported so far this year.

After a rapid increase in thefts, Arapahoe County Sheriffs Office deputies are warning the public.

Weve never seen it happen at this level before. The uptick started during COVID and hasnt stopped. We need to educate the public and take away the opportunity for these types of crimes. Its the only way its going to stop, said Investigations Sgt. Brett Cohn.

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In 2024 so far, there have been 59 reported storage thefts in Arapahoe County. Since 2020, the numbers have been increasing substantially, according to the department.

2020  115 thefts

2021  150 thefts

2022  144 thefts

2023  138 thefts

How thieves get inside units

Investigators are warning renters about the many ways thieves can obtain access to a storage unit.

According to the sheriffs office, the most common way is by renting a unit online using a fake or stolen identity and then using that unit to store property that has been stolen from nearby units.

The department also said suspects will park their cars near a fence and throw over the stolen goods before selling them online.

Recent investigations

The Arapahoe County Sheriffs Office said it is currently investigating two cases.

The first case happened on April 19 at the Greenbox Self Storage at 8115 S. Chester St. in Centennial. According to deputies, a male and female allegedly burglarized a storage unit and then returned on May 14 to receive the victims computer.

The sheriffs office said the male suspect stored the computer in a rented unit that he allegedly obtained through a stolen drivers license.

Deputies have released surveillance footage in the hope that they can identify the suspects.

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The second case happened on April 30 when investigators served a search warrant at the Public Storage located at 9600 E. Costilla Ave. in Greenwood Village. The suspect in this case allegedly burglarized two units and stole more than $50,000 worth of property, according to the sheriffs office.

The thief reportedly put the stolen goods inside a rented unit nearby.

Photos and video of the investigation have been released.

Tips on how to protect your unit and property

The Arapahoe County Sheriffs Office said storage unit thefts are difficult to solve because there are rarely any witnesses or surveillance footage.

The department has offered these tips on how you can protect your property from thieves:

Dont put anything sentimental or meaningful in a storage unit

Never put anything with personal information like ID cards or checkbooks, inside the unit

Photograph and document all your belongings

Check on your storage unit once a week at a minimum

Get an insurance policy for the value of your belongings in case your unit gets swiped

Think of installing a camera inside your unit

Consider an Apple AirTag so your property can be tracked

Install a motion sensor on the door so you can be alerted if someone tries to enter

The best advice we can give people is, only use a storage facility for furniture and large items. Never store anything meaningful or valuable inside. If you look closely, it states that on the contracts you sign before you rent, said Investigator Nelson Trumbull.

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The Arapahoe County Sheriffs Office said its also important to ask questions before signing a lease and renting a storage unit.

Be sure to ask about the safety features, if there are any video cameras and if there is a guard on site.

The sheriffs office said that those caught burglarizing a storage unit can face charges of felony burglary, criminal mischief or trespassing.

Shawn Hill recently learned the hard way about how crooks are getting full access to storage facilities after thieves broke into his locked unit.

I had a bunch of servers and electronic equipment and surveillance cameras stolen, because thats the industry that I work in. Approximately about $50,000 worth, Hill told FOX31s Nicole Fierro. I ended up getting about $10,000 of it back. Insurance will only cover up to $5,000, and they wouldnt cover any of it.

To avoid having this happen to him again, or to others, he looked at how the thieves broke into his locked unit and invented a device to try to offset their tactics.

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Theres a strange history of white journalists trying to better understand the Black experience by becoming Black

A peculiar desire seems to still haunt some white people: I wish I knew what it was like to be Black.

This wish is different from wanting to cosplay the coolness of Blackness  mimicking style, aping music and parroting vernacular.

This is a presumptive, racially imaginative desire, one that covets not just the rhythm of Black life, but also its blues.

While he doesnt want to admit it, Canadian-American journalist Sam Forster is one of those white people.

Three years after hearing George Floyd cry Mama so desperately that it brought a country out of quarantine, Forster donned a synthetic Afro wig and brown contacts, tinted his eyebrows and smeared his face with CVS-bought Maybelline liquid foundation in the shade of Mocha. Though Forster did not achieve a movie-grade transformation, he became, in his words, Believably Black.

He went on to attempt a racial experiment no one asked for, one that he wrote about in his recently published memoir, Seven Shoulders: Taxonomizing Racism in Modern America.

For two weeks in September 2023, Forster pretended to hitchhike on the shoulder of a highway in seven different U.S. cities: Nashville, Tennessee; Atlanta; Birmingham, Alabama; Los Angeles; Las Vegas; Chicago and Detroit. On the first day in town, he would stand on the side of the road as his white self, seeing who, if anyone, would stop and offer him a ride. On the second day, he stuck out his thumb on the same shoulder, but this time in what Id describe as mochaface.

Since September is hot, he set a two-hour limit for his experiments. During his seven white days, he was offered, but did not take, seven rides. On seven subsequent Black days, he was offered, but did not take, one ride. He speculated that day was a fluke.

Forster is not the first white person to center themselves in the discussion of American racism by pretending to be Black.

His wish mirrors that of the white people featured in my 2017 book, Black for a Day: White Fantasies of Race and Empathy. The book tells the history of what I call empathetic racial impersonation, in which white people indulge in their fantasies of being Black under the guise of empathizing with the Black experience.

To me, these endeavors are futile. They end up reinforcing stereotypes and failing to address systemic racism, while conferring a false sense of racial authority.

Going undercover in the South

Journalist Ray Sprigles 1949 memoir wasnt well-received. Burnside Rare Books/eBay

The genealogy begins in the late 1940s with Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Ray Sprigle.

Sprigle, a white reporter at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, decided he wanted to experience postwar racism by becoming a Black man. After unsuccessfully trying to darken his skin beyond a tan, Sprigle shaved his head, put on giant glasses and traded his signature, 10-gallon hat for an unassuming cap. For four weeks beginning in May 1948, Sprigle navigated the Jim Crow South as a light-skinned Black man named James Rayel Crawford.

Sprigle documented dilapidated sharecroppers cabins, segregated schools and women widowed by lynching. What he witnessed  but did not experience  informed his 21-part series of front page articles for the Post-Gazette. He followed up the series by publishing a widely panned 1949 memoir, In the Land of Jim Crow.

Sprigle never won that second Pulitzer.

Cosplaying as Black

Sprigles more famous successor, John Howard Griffin, published his memoir, Black Like Me, in 1961.

Like Sprigle, Griffin explored the South as a temporary Black man, darkening his skin with pills intended to treat vitiligo, a skin disease that causes splotchy losses of pigmentation. He also used stains to even his skin tone and spent time under a tanning lamp.

During his weeks as Joseph Franklin, Griffin encountered racism on a number of occasions: White thugs chased him, bus drivers refused to let him disembark to pee, store managers denied him work, closeted, gay white men aggressively hit on him, and otherwise nice-seeming white people grilled him with what Griffin called the hate stare. Once Griffin resumed being white and news broke about his racial experiment, his white neighbors from his hometown in Mansfield, Texas, hanged him in effigy.

For his work, Griffin was lauded as an icon in empathy. Since, unlike Sprigle, he experienced racist incidents himself, Griffin showed skeptical white readers what they refused to believe: Racism was real. The book became a bestseller and a movie, and is still included in school curricula  at the expense, I might add, of African-American literature.

Griffins importance to this genealogy extends beyond middle-schoolers reading Black Like Me, to his successor and mentee, Grace Halsell.

Halsell, a freelance journalist and former staff writer for Lyndon B. Johnsons administration, decided to become a Black woman  first in Harlem in New York City, and then in Mississippi.

Without consulting any Black woman before baking herself caramel in tropical suns and using Griffins doctors to administer vitiligo-corrective medication, Halsell initially planned to be Black for a year. But after alleging someone attempted to sexually assault her while she was working as a Black domestic worker, Halsell ended her stint as a Black woman early.

Although her experiment only lasted six months, she still claimed to be someone who could authentically represent her darker sisters in her 1969 memoir, Soul Sister.

Turn-of-the-century race switching

Forster writes that his 2024 memoir is the fourth act  after Sprigle, Griffin and Halsell  of what he calls journalistic blackface.

However, he is not, as he claims, the first person to earnestly cross the color barrier in over half a century.

In a 174-page book self-described as gonzo with only 17 citations, Forster failed to finish his homework.

In 1994, Joshua Solomon, a white college student, medically dyed his skin to become a Black man after reading Black Like Me. His originally planned, monthlong experiment in Georgia only lasted a few days. But he nonetheless detailed his experiences in an article for The Washington Post and netted an appearance on The Oprah Winfrey Show.

Then, in 2006, FX released, Black. White., a six-part reality television series advertised as the ultimate racial experiment.

Two families  one white, the other Black  switched their races to perform versions of each-otherness while living together in Los Angeles. While the makeup team won a Primetime Emmy Award, the families said goodbye seething with resentment instead of understanding.

A masterclass of white arrogance

Believing it would distract from the findings of his experiment, Forster refuses to show readers his mochaface.

Even after confronting evidence forcing him to question his projects appropriateness, like the multiple articles condemning wearing makeup to imitate the appearance of a Black person, he insists his insights into American racism justify his methods and are different from the harmful legacies of blackface. As he stands on the side of the road, sun and sweat compromising whatever care he took to paint his face, Forster concludes that racism can be divided into two broad taxonomies: institutional and interpersonal.

The former, he believes, is effectively dead, and the latter is most often experienced as shoulder, like the subtle refusal to pick up a mocha-faced hitchhiker.

Forsters Amazon book description touts Seven Shoulders as the most important book on American race relations that has ever been written.

Indeed, it is a masterclass  but one on the arrogance of white assumptions about Blackness.

To believe that the richness of Black identity can be understood through a temporary costume trivializes the lifelong trauma of racism. It turns the complexity of Black life into a stunt.

Whether its Forsters premise that Black people are ill-equipped to testify about their own experiences, his sketchy citations, the hubris of his caricature or the venom with which he speaks about the Black Lives Matter movement, Forster offers an important reminder that liberation cant be bought at the drugstore.

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: Alisha Gaines, Florida State University

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Alisha Gaines 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.
Jennifer Pippin, president of the local Moms for Liberty chapter, pictured with several books. She advocated to ban Ban This Book by Alan Gratz in the Indian River County School District (AFP via Getty Images)

Florida schools are making headlines once again after a local school board banned a book about banning books.

Ban This Book by Alan Gratz tells the story of a fictional fourth grader who runs a secret banned book library out of her locker as her school takes titles off the shelves. Now, Gratzs book has met the same fate in the Indian River County School District  thanks to a local Moms for Liberty leader.

Moms for Liberty is an anti-government extremist organization that promotes anti-student inclusion activities and self-identifies as part of the modern parental rights movement, according to the Southern Poverty Law Center.

Jennifer Pippin, president of the local Moms for Liberty chapter, led the ironic charge against the book, The Tallahassee Democrat reports.

Opponents of the book said it was inappropriate for children because it teaches rebellion of school board authority, according to the Democrat. Pippin told The Independent she believes the book promotes other banned books she says contain sexual content. As a result, Pippin and her allies argue that Ban This Book has no place in schools either.

Jennifer Pippin, president of the local Moms for Liberty chapter, pictured with several books. She advocated to ban Ban This Book by Alan Gratz in the Indian River County School District (AFP via Getty Images)

But several others on the board and in the community disagree with that interpretation.

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, according to the Democrat.

BooksLooks.org, a website with ties to Moms for Liberty that is often cited by those pushing to ban books, even takes a mild view of the story, rating it only one out of five for inappropriateness. The site lists its main concern as encourages activism of young children.

They banned the book because it talks about the books that they have banned and because it talks about book banning, Gratz told USA Today. It feels like they know exactly what theyre doing and theyre somewhat ashamed of what theyre doing and they dont want a book on the shelves that calls them out.

The book was removed in a 3-2 vote by the Indian River County School Board last month. The tie-breaking vote came from board member Kevin McDonald, who was recently appointed by Governor Ron DeSantis.

But earlier this year, even DeSantis admitted that book bans in his state had gone too far.

In 2022, he signed the curriculum transparency law which enabled any state resident to challenge the books available to students and led to countless bans. Then, in April, he signed a new law limiting the number of challenges a resident without children can bring forward to one per month.

You have some people who are taking the curriculum transparency, and they are trying to weaponize that for political purposes, DeSantis said earlier this year. That involves objecting to normal books, like some of the books that I saw in the teachers lounge, these classic books.

The original 2022 law, many experts have argued, was fueled by right-wing activists and targeted the LGBTQ+ community, as well as limited discussion about Black history.

The Independent has contacted the Indian River County School District for comment.
KUWAIT CITY, June 12 (Xinhua) -- The death toll from a fire early Wednesday morning in a residential building in the Mangaf area, south of Kuwait City, rose to 49, according to a statement released by the Interior Ministry.

Emir of Kuwait Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah ordered an immediate investigation into the cause of the fire, and vowed to hold those responsible accountable, Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) reported.

The emir, Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Sabah, and Prime Minister Sheikh Ahmad Al-Abdullah Al-Sabah have sent condolence messages to the families of the victims, the KUNA said.

Sheikh Fahad Yusuf Al-Sabah, Kuwait's first deputy prime minister, defense minister, and interior minister, ordered the detention of individuals involved, including the building owner, until the forensic evidence team completes its investigation.

He also instructed relevant government departments to inspect and address violations in the construction sector to avoid similar accidents.

Local newspaper, citing anonymous sources, reported that the fire started in the guard's room, spread to a lounge on the first floor, followed by a storage area containing gas cylinders, and eventually engulfed the rest of the building. A large number of residents near the building had been evacuated.

According to the sources, around 160 workers were inside the building, with many of the fatalities being of Indian nationality. 
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  Barring a last minute deal, the largest nurses strike in Oregon is expected to get underway in one week when thousands of nurses at several Providence hospitals walk off the job.

The planned 3-day strike is set to begin at 6 a.m. June 18. Providence officials told KOIN 6 News that all their hospitals in Oregon will remain open, including the Emergency Departments staffed with professional substitute nurses brought in during the strike.

Providence Portland Medical Center in Northeast Portland is not part of the strike. Doctors offices at Providence locations will remain open and staffed.

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But six hospitals  Providence St. Vincent, Providence Newberg, Willamette Falls, Milwaukie, Hood River and Medford  failed to reach a deal while bargaining with a mediator over issues such as competitive pay and affordable health care plans.

Providence labor and delivery nurse Beth Lepire, June 11, 2024 (KOIN)

Providence Oregon CEO Jennifer Burrows, June 11, 2024 (KOIN)

But the biggest issue is nurse-to-patient staffing ratios.

We want to be able to hire enough nurses so that we can basically take care of our community without worrying, being stretched too thin, said Beth Lepire, a labor and delivery nurse. Being able to take breaks and take lunches so that we can take care of our patients.

We need to meet the intent of the law and were leaning into that, absolutely, said Providence Oregon CEO Jennifer Burrows. I think the challenge can be at times ensuring that we have, you know, live to our staffing law to make sure that were doing the right thing for meals and break relief.

Oregons Safe Staffing Law, which went into effect June 1, set a minimum for nurse-patient ratios and for managers and workers to work together to agree on a plan.

KOIN 6 News will continue to follow this story.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com.
WASHINGTON (KFOR)  The latest data by The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) shows a majority of public schools agree that traffic patterns around their school pose a threat to students.

NCES, a principal agency of the U.S. Federal Statistical System, is the statistical center of the U.S. Department of Education and the primary federal entity for collecting and analyzing data related to education in the U.S. and other nations. NCES fulfills a congressional mandate to collect, collate, analyze, and report complete statistics on the condition and progress of American education; conduct and publish reports; and review and report on education activities internationally.

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NCES data also provided information showcasing the majority of public schools have a behavioral threat assessment team to identify potential risk for violent or harmful behavior from students.

According to NCES, thirty-eight percent of public school leaders reported they moderately or strongly agreed that traffic patterns around their schools pose a threat to students physical safety while commuting to school, according to data released on Wednesday from the National Center for Education Statistics.

The new data NCES says, sheds light on public school emergency preparedness and safety procedures.

Eighty-five percent of public schools have a behavioral threat assessment team or other formal group to identify students who might be a potential risk for violent or harmful behavior toward themselves or others, an increase from 82 percent in the 202223 school year.

These new data highlight two important issues facing schools: transportation and school emergency preparedness, said NCES Commissioner Peggy G. Carr. In the latest School Pulse Panel survey, public school leaders agreed with the statement that traffic patterns (38 percent) and crime (11 percent) around their school pose a threat to their students physical safety while commuting to school. Both transportation and the safety of students are vital to providing learning environments that supports students. These data explore experiences of schools and the challenges they face, and should spark important conversations.

Here are some highlights of the recent NCES released data:

Eighty-three percent of public schools have school zones in the area immediately surrounding their school.

Forty-one percent of public schools have crossing guards working on the streets immediately surrounding the school.

Ninety-two percent of public schools reported that they update their emergency operations plan (EOP) annually or more frequently.

Local community partners from which public schools most commonly reported having received input on their EOPs are law enforcement groups (94 percent), local emergency management services (67 percent), and local or state department of health representatives (52 percent).

Additional key findings from the 50 states and Washington, D.C., are provided below.

The findings released today are part of an experimental data product from the School Pulse Panel, which is NCESs innovative approach to delivering timely information regarding the

COVID-19 pandemics impact on public K12 schools in the U.S. NCES confirmed the data, was collected between April 9 and 23 of 2024, came from 1,718 participating public K12 schools from every state and the District of Columbia.

NCES says results from this collection include the finding that 44 percent of outlying area public school leaders reported they moderately or strongly agreed that traffic patterns around their schools pose a threat to students physical safety while commuting to school.

All data released today can be found on the School Pulse Panel dashboard here.

Key Findings released by NCESs are as follows:

Transportation:

The following percentages of public schools reported that these modes of transportation are available for their students to travel to and from school:

Being dropped off/picked up by car (98 percent)

School bus (87 percent)

Walking (87 percent)

Bike, scooter, skateboard, or other similar means (78 percent)

Driving their own car (34 percent)

Of high/secondary schools, the rate was 91 percent

Public transportation (31 percent)

On average, the percentage of students who travel using those modes of transportation on a typical school day, as reported by public schools, were:

School bus (40 percent)

Being dropped off/picked up by car (33 percent)

Walking (13 percent)

Driving their own car (6 percent)

Of high/secondary schools, the rate was 17 percent

Bike, scooter, skateboard, or other similar means (4 percent)

Public transportation (3 percent)

Eighty-three percent of public schools have school zones in the area immediately surrounding their school.

Compared to the national estimate (41 percent), a higher percentage of schools with the following characteristics have crossing guard(s) working on the streets immediately surrounding the school:

With 500999 students (56 percent)

Elementary schools (51 percent)

In suburban areas (50 percent)

In the Northeast (50 percent)

In cities (49 percent)

With 300499 students (48 percent)

With a student body made up of 76 percent or more students of color (47 percent)

Compared to the national estimate (41 percent), a lower percentage of schools with the following characteristics have crossing guard(s) working on the streets immediately surrounding the school:

High/secondary schools (19 percent)

In rural areas (21 percent)

With fewer than 300 students (25 percent)

With 1,000 or more students (26 percent)

With a student body made up of 25 percent or less students of color (29 percent)

Concerning all or some of the streets immediately surrounding the school, 79 percent of public schools reported having sidewalks; 35 percent reported having traffic calming measures, such as speed bumps; and 19 percent reported having bike lanes.

When asked whether parents have reported certain barriers to students using non-automotive modes of transportation (e.g., walking, biking) to commute to school, the following percentages of schools reported hearing the following barriers:

Distance from home to school (46 percent)

Weather (41 percent)

Traffic conditions on the commute (39 percent)

Childs age (38 percent)

Lack of safety measures (26 percent)

Crime around school (11 percent)

School Emergency Preparedness and Safety Procedures

Thirty-eight percent of public school leaders moderately or strongly agreed with the statement, Traffic patterns around my school pose a threat to my students physical safety while commuting to school. Eleven percent moderately or strongly agreed with the statement, Crime around my school poses a threat to my students physical safety while commuting to school.

Ninety-two percent of public schools report that they update their emergency operations plan (EOP) annually or more frequently.

Local community partners from which public schools most commonly report receiving input on their EOPs are law enforcement groups (94 percent), local emergency management services (67 percent), and local or state department of health representatives (52 percent).

For the 202324 school year, most public schools report that they practiced (or had plans to practice) lockdown (97 percent), evacuation (95 percent), or shelter-in-place (95 percent) drills.

Among schools with each of these types of drills, the percentages of those that held them three or more times per year were 43 percent for lockdown drills, 70 percent for evacuation drills, and 37 percent for shelter-in-place drills.

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Among the 59 percent of schools that perform active assailant drills (significantly fewer schools than those previously mentioned), 31 percent conduct them three or more times per year.

Eighty-five percent of public schools have a behavioral threat assessment team or other formal group of persons to identify students who might be a potential risk for violent or harmful behavior toward themselves or others, an increase from 82 percent in the 202223 school year.

Among these schools, 71 percent reported that they have had students who were found to be a potential risk for violent or harmful behavior toward themselves. Among these schools, 49 percent reported that they have had students who were found to be a potential risk for violent or harmful behavior toward others.

More than three-quarters of public schools reported implementing each of the following safety-related practices during the 202324 school year:

Require visitors to sign or check in and wear badges (97 percent)

Control access to school buildings during school hours (97 percent)

Use one or more security cameras to monitor the school (95 percent)

Provide two-way radios to all or select staff (90 percent)

Provide an electronic notification system that notifies parents in case of a school-wide emergency (85 percent)

Equip classrooms with locks so that doors can be locked from the inside (83 percent)

Additional details regarding the methodology, including the survey questionnaire, may found on the School Pulse Panel methodology webpage.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
From the The Morning Dispatch on The Dispatch

Happy Wednesday! Well be honest: We did not expect to spend as much time as we did yesterday digging into the bylaws of Major League Eatings (MLE) annual Nathans Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest.

Joey Chestnut, the contests 16-time champ, will reportedly not compete this Fourth of July after he inked a deal with rival, plant-based meat brand, Impossible Foods, in violation of basic hot dog exclusivity provisions of his relationship with Nathans. It seems Joey and his managers have prioritized a new partnership with a different hot dog brand over our long-time relationship, MLE said in a statement.

Impossible Foods, meanwhile, issued a statement of its own: Its OK to experiment with a new dog. Meat eaters shouldnt have to be exclusive to just one wiener.

Quick Hits: Todays Top Stories

A jury on Tuesday found Hunter Biden guilty on all three federal felony gun charges related to his purchase and possession of a gun while addicted to cocaine. The jury deliberated for just under three hours before returning a verdict, which also found the younger Biden guilty of lying on a federal form about his drug usage. President Joe Biden said Tuesday following the verdict that he would accept the outcome of the trial, and has previously said he would not pardon his son in the case of a guilty verdict. Hunter Biden has vowed to appeal the conviction, and the judge overseeing the case did not schedule a date for the sentencing.

South Koreas Joint Chiefs of Staff said Tuesday that South Korean soldiers had fired warning shots this week at North Korean troops who briefly crossed into the Demilitarized Zone between the two countries. The northern soldiers immediately returned to their side of the border, and a spokesman for the Joint Chiefs suggested the incursion seemed unintentional. The last few weeks have seen North Korea float manure- and trash-filled balloons over the border and South Korea retaliate by playing South Korean pop music and propaganda materials over a loudspeaker into the North.

Four instructors from Cornell College in Iowa were stabbed in a public park in Jilin City in northeast China on Monday, local authorities and representatives of the college said. The four, who are expected to recover from their injuries, were attacked by a suspect in his 50s. The manwho has been arrestedalso stabbed a bystander who tried to intervene. The motive of the attack was unclear, but the Chinese Foreign Ministry described it as an isolated incident. No Cornell students were taking part in the program with a local Chinese university at the time of the stabbing.

Malawis president, Lazarus Chakwera, announced on Tuesday that the countrys Vice President Saulos Chilima and nine others died in a plane crash in an uninhabited forested region of the east African nation on Monday. An initial investigation indicated that the plane crashed as a result of bad weather. Chilima was expected to run for president in 2025.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security on Tuesday banned imports from three Chinese companies over violations of the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act, which aims to keep goods out of U.S. supply chains that were produced with forced labor in Chinas Xinjiang province. The three companiesa seafood processor, aluminum manufacturer, and shoe producerjoin more than 60 companies on the forced labor blacklist.

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Braggwho successfully prosecuted former President Donald Trump for falsifying business records to cover up an affair with a porn starsaid Tuesday he intends to comply with a request from the Republican-controlled House Judiciary Committee to testify before Congress on July 12, just one day after Trumps sentencing hearing. Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio, chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, called on Bragg and prosecutor Michael Colangelowho worked as a lawyer for the Justice Department before joining the D.A.s officeto testify following Trumps conviction late last month, saying the proceedings were a kangaroo court.

GOP Rep. Nancy Mace of South Carolina won her Republican primary on Tuesday, fending off challenger Catherine Templeton, backed by former House Speaker Kevin McCarthywhom Mace helped to oust from the leadership position in October. Meanwhile, in Nevada, a Trump-backed Republican Senate candidate, Army veteran Sam Brown, easily clinched the GOP nomination to set up a tight general election contest with Democratic Sen. Jacky Rosen in November.

Were Talking About Almost a Failed Region

Sudanese men who have fled from the war in their country line up on February 15, 2024, during a cash assistance program at a Transit Centre for refugees in Renk, South Sudan. (Photo by LUIS TATO/AFP via Getty Images)

Covering slow-rolling conflicts can be challenging, as crises slide from bad, to terrible, to unthinkable. Foreign correspondents file invaluable dispatches from war-torn regions that have become black boxes to the outside world, shedding light on atrocities and humanitarian disasters, but international attention and action can prove fleeting even as conditions worsen on the ground. Such has been the case with Sudan.

Fourteen months into the countrys civil war, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF)a paramilitary group allied with mostly Arab militiasand the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) are wreaking havoc on the country in a seemingly intractable conflict.

But with international focus trained on the wars in Gaza and Ukraine, comparatively little attention has been paid to what has become the largest displacement and food crisis in the world. Neglect of the conflict has driven international media to continually label Sudan the forgotten crisis.

Theres no shortage of suffering. There have been credible reports of war crimes from both sides, rape as a weapon of war, and ethnic cleansing. Some of the same people who escaped genocide in Darfur, a region of Western Sudan, in 2003 are once again fleeing for their lives. Now, a huge swath of the country faces famine and starvationsome families have reportedly resorted to eating balls of wet dirt to stave off hunger.

More than 10 million people are internally displaced inside Sudan and more than 2 million refugees have fled the country to neighboring Chad, as well as to Egypt and South Sudan, according to the United Nations International Organization for Migration. The death toll is difficult to estimate: The lower bound, likely a dramatic undercount, is some 15,000 deaths. Tom Perriello, the U.S. Special Envoy for Sudan appointed in February, recently estimated that as many as 150,000 people have been killed.

As the countrys humanitarian nightmare continues, U.S. officials and international agencies warn that Sudan is now nearing a total catastrophe that could result in a decades-long security fallout with far-reaching consequences. The worst-case scenario in Sudan is a 20-, 25-year version of Somalia on steroids, Perriello told Foreign Policy last week.

How did Sudan fall into such dire straits? The civil war began in April 2023 when fighting for control of the East African country broke out in the wake of a popular uprising against long-time dictator Omar al-Bashir. The SAF and the RSF are led by Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and Mohamed Hamdan Hemedti Dagalo, respectively. As we explained last year:

Burhan and Hemedti joined forces to help oust Bashir following widespread protests in 2019 and participated in discussions with a civilian transitional governmentbefore executing a coup in 2021 and cracking down on protests. Both assented to a United Nations-backed framework for restoring civilian rule in December 2022, but they clashed over combining forces.

When the conflict kicked off, the two generals forces clashed in Khartoum, the capital in central Sudan, turning the city into a warzone. The U.S.which evacuated embassy staff early in the conflicthas pushed for ceasefires and negotiations, but both generals have refused to commit to a peace process and have repeatedly broken temporary ceasefires.

The RSF is currently strongest in the southwest, controlling almost all of Darfur, and the SAF holds most of northern Sudan, including Port Sudan along the coast of the Red Sea. Fighting continues in Khartoum and the neighboring city of Omdurman, as well as in al-Fashira city in northwestern Darfur to which hundreds of thousands of Sudanese civilians have fled. In recent weeks, RSF forces have encircled al-Fashir, the last SAF stronghold in all of Darfur. If it falls, the RSF would have full control of Darfur and most of western Sudan.

It seems almost inevitable the RSF will continue its pattern of atrocities in al-Fashirbut at a much larger scale. Last week, the RSF slaughtered some 150 civilians and injured 200the exact numbers have yet to be confirmedin a village approximately 100 miles south of Khartoum. According to unconfirmed eyewitness testimony and video footage, RSF forces opened fire on the village with heavy machine guns and anti-aircraft guns, despite there being no SAF forces present. The result? Indiscriminate killing of civilians, including women and children. Last June, RSF forces went house by house in Geneina, the capital of West Darfur, killing men and boys from the Masalit tribe in what Reuters journalists described as a rolling ethnic killing campaign that lasted for weeks.

The RSF has al-Fashir surrounded, but thats not the only threat to civilians. All these people are already facing famine conditions, so even if they were to try to move, they would probably perish just of exposure, said Cameron Hudson, a former chief of staff to successive special envoys to Sudan and a current senior associate of the Africa Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

The humanitarian disaster seems to be the point: Large areas of Sudan have become inaccessible to international aid groups in what appears to be part of an intentional war strategy by both RSF and SAF to deprive each other of supplies. It has devolved into a conflict that is as much about the civilian harm as it is about actual conflict between two belligerents, Hudson told TMD. In many respects, this is a war on civilians.

Cindy McCain, the executive director of the U.N. World Food Programme, said Sunday that we can barely get food inwe certainly arent getting it in at scale. Likewise, Isobel Colemanthe deputy administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Developmentargued that Burhan and Hemedti are directly to blame for blocking aid. This looming threat of famine hangs on them, she said in late April. People are literally dying by the day because of lack of access to food and other essentials.

Some of the country is probably already experiencing famine conditions. While data is difficult to come by, the Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FEWS NET) put large parts of the country at risk of Phase 5 faminestarvation, death, destitution, and extremely critical acute malnutrition levels are evidentin March projections for the summer months.

The situation is likely to deteriorate as the country enters the rainy season, making transporting aid to many areas difficult, and the lean seasona window between harvests where food runs low, even during peacetime. Plus, the RSF has plundered farms, jeopardizing the food supply for future seasons. We have a situation where [it is] highly likely we will have up to 5 million Sudanese people at risk of famine when the next report comes in, Martin Griffiths, the U.N. undersecretary for humanitarian affairs and emergency relief coordinator, said last week. I dont think weve ever had that kind of number.

Despite the growing need, international aid efforts have been underfunded since the conflict began. The U.N.having received only 16 percent of the $2.7 billion it said it needed from donors as of March 31has had to cut back humanitarian aid to support refugees and, at multiple points in the last year, almost halted operations altogether.

The U.S. has been the largest funder of aid to Sudan and pushed other countries to donate more. In April, Perriellothe U.S. Special Envoydescribed the international response to the crisis as pitiful. However, the U.S. has also faced criticism for not exerting more pressure to distribute aid more effectively. Washington could be doing a lot more to put its shoulder into breaking down the obstacles to delivering food aid, Hudson told TMD. Sudan has been a country where we have done airdrops, where we have done cross-border humanitarian delivery without the consent of the government.  We have this very long track record of these kinds of interventions in Sudan, and were not doing any of them right now.

Perriello has emphasized the importance of renewing peace talks in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, between the RSF and SAF, but neither party seems interested. We will not go to Jeddah, and whoever wants us to should kill us in our country and take our bodies there, a spokesman for the SAF said in late May. This reluctance to negotiate has likely been driven by both sides of the conflict receiving weapons and support from countries looking to gain a foothold in Sudan. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has provided significant backing to the RSF, while Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and Iran have offered more limited support to the SAF.

Democratic and Republican lawmakers have called on the Biden administration to take more action. Democratic Sen. Chris Coonsa close ally of the presidentsaid last month that the U.S. needs to do more to support a transition to a civilian-led government. The Republican chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Rep. Michael McCaul, pointed to Sudan as a perfect example of the White House neglecting conflicts in Africa.

But the White House may be hesitant to confront Egypt or Saudi Arabia and risk their cooperation on other foreign policy issues, particularly Israels war against Hamas in Gaza. Plus, the U.S. is reportedly close to finalizing a major security pact with Saudi Arabia tied to normalizing relations with Israel. When you rack and stack your foreign policy priorities, sadly, Sudan falls further down on the list, Colin Clarkethe director of research at the Soufan Group focused on global securitytold TMD.

While resolving the conflict in Gaza may be a more pressing priority for Biden, security analystsand even currently serving U.S. officialssee the crisis in Sudan as potentially detrimental to U.S. interests in the long run. The strategic costs are massive, Hudson argued, pointing to Libya as an example of how a failed state can produce cascading consequences for a region. Whether its terrorism, whether its illegal migration, whether its gun trafficking, drug trafficking, piracy, you name it, all flowing out of Libya [in the last decade], Hudson said. And of course, now, Islamic extremism.

The Office of the Director of National Intelligences annual threat assessment from March found that Sudan could become an ideal environment for terrorism. And Islamic terror groups and militias have contributed to the downfall of governments in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger. Those are all a direct reflection and response to the state failure in Libya, Hudson said. If a country of 5 million can have that kind of ripple effect across Central Africa and Central Europe, what is a country of 50 million people that dissolves? What is the effect that that is going to have on all of those kinds of transnational threats?

And there doesnt seem to be an off-ramp to the war in the near term. Were talking not really even about a failed state, Clarke told TMD. Were talking about almost a failed region.

Worth Your Time

Government officials are starting to sound like they did in the weeks, months, and years before the 9/11 attacks, Graham Allison and Michael J. Morell warned in Foreign Affairs. The wax and wane of terrorism warnings over the years has generally corresponded with the level of actual risk, they wrote. Given the stakes, complacency is a greater risk than alarmism. Combined, the stated intentions of terrorist groups, the growing capabilities they have demonstrated in recent successful and failed attacks around the world, and the fact that several serious plots in the United States have been foiled point to an uncomfortable but unavoidable conclusion. Put simply, the United States faces a serious threat of a terrorist attack in the months ahead.  For the past two decades, under both Republican and Democratic administrations, the efforts of thousands of Americans in the military and intelligence communities have spared the country a second 9/11or worse. This is an extraordinary achievement, but the work is not done. A terrorist attack is a preventable catastrophe. As the threat increases, policymakers must rise to the challenge to protect the U.S. homeland.

Are Americans lonely because we dont have dining rooms anymore? That could be one piece of the puzzle, M. Nolan Gray wrote in The Atlantic. In many new apartments, even a space to put a table and chairs is absent, he wrote. Eating is relegated to couches and bedrooms, and hosting a meal has become virtually impossible. This isnt 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.  As households and dining spaces have contracted, the number of people eating alone has grown. According to a 2015 report by the Food Marketing Institute, nearly half the time we spend eating is spent in isolation, a central factor in Americas loneliness epidemic and a correlate to a range of physical- and mental-health problems. Do we want to live this wayor do we have to, thanks to Americas housing supply? Its a chicken-and-an-egg problem, Bobby Fijan, a real-estate developer and floor-plan expert, said. How many more dinners would be shared if we had the space to host guests?

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When it comes to hunting for the explosive deaths of massive stars in the early universe, the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) is quite the cosmic detective. This celestial Sherlock Holmes has found evidence of 80 new early supernovas in a patch of sky as wide as a grain of rice held at arm's length.

Not only is this 10 times more supernovas than have been uncovered before in such early cosmic history, but the sample also includes the earliest and furthest supernova ever seen. It's one that exploded when the 13.8 billion-year-old universe was just 1.8 billion years old.

Data from the JWST Advanced Deep Extragalactic Survey (JADES) program helped a team of scientists find this unprecedented clutch of supernovas, which further includes Type Ia blasts that astronomers call "standard candles" and can use to measure cosmic distances.

Prior to the JWST commencing operations in the summer of 2022, only a handful of supernovas had been found dating back to when the universe was only 3.3 billion years old, equal to around 25% its current age. The JADES sample, however, contains many supernovas that exploded even further back in the past. In fact, some erupted when the universe was less than 2 billion years old.

Related: Peer inside remnants of an 800-year-old supernova and see a 'zombie' star

"The JWST is a supernova discovery machine," team member Christa DeCoursey, a third-year graduate student at the Steward Observatory and the University of Arizona in Tucson, said in a statement. "The sheer number of detections plus the great distances to these supernovas are the two most exciting outcomes from our survey."

The unparalleled infrared sensitivity of the JWST means it is discovering supernovas almost everywhere it looks in the cosmos.

The supernova detective

When light wavelengths travel through the cosmos, the expansion of the very fabric of space stretches out those wavelengths. This causes the light to move further down the electromagnetic spectrum in terms of classification, inching from the bluer end towards the redder end. This phenomenon is known as "redshift."

The longer that light has been traveling through space, the more extreme the degree of redshift it undergoes. Thus, light from bodies located around 12 billion light-years away, like these supernovas, has experienced extreme wavelength lengthening, or "cosmological redshift."

That shifts this supernova light down into the infrared region of the electromagnetic spectrum, a region the JWST is adept at viewing the universe in.

a double ended arrow with types of light indicated above a colored arrow and a wavelength that decreases in frequency

The Hubble Space Telescope had previously allowed astronomers to view supernovas so distant they existed when the universe was in its "young adult" phase. With JADES and the JWST, however, astronomers can observe supernovas when the cosmos is in its "teens" or even "pre-teens."

In the future, scientists hope to look back to the "toddler" phase of the universe  or even back to its cosmic infancy, ideally stumbling upon the deaths of the first generation of massive stars.

To obtain this new cavalcade of supernova observations, the JADES team took multiple images of the same patch of the sky at year-long intervals. Then, they compared the images. Because supernovas are "transients," meaning they brighten and fade over time, observing changes in the images allowed the scientists to distinguish which points of light were indeed exploding stars and which were probably some other phenomena.

"This is really our first sample of what the high-redshift universe looks like for transient science," JADES team member Justin Pierel, a NASA Einstein Fellow at the Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI) in Baltimore, Maryland, said in the statement. "We are trying to identify whether distant supernovas are fundamentally different from or very much like what we see in the nearby universe."

A white orb illustration surrounded by a trail of orange gas leading to a glowing star toward the top right of the scene.

Not all of the supernovas seen by the JADES team were "core collapse" supernovas, triggered when massive stars run out of the fuel supply needed for nuclear fusion in their cores and collapse under their own gravity, birthing a black hole or a neutron star.

As mentioned, some were Type Ia supernovas triggered when stellar corpses called "white dwarfs" cannibalistically feed on material stripped from a companion, or donor, star. This material piles on the white dwarf's surface until it triggers a runaway thermonuclear explosion that completely obliterates the white dwarf.

The light outputs of these events are uniform with the same intrinsic brightness, seemingly regardless of distance. This means they can be used as cosmic rulers to measure distance and also serve as markers to gauge the rate at which the fabric of space is expanding. However, should the intrinsic brightness of Type Ia supernovas change at high redshifts, their utility at measuring large cosmic distances would be limited.

The team's observations of a Type Ia that erupted around 11 billion years ago indicated that its brightness had not varied despite its light undergoing cosmological redshift.

Related stories:

 Aftermath of 2 star explosions captured in breathtaking new NASA image

 Astronomers catch rare glimpse of oldest known supernova, which dates back to Year 185

 These supernovas are whipping up a storm, contributing to cosmic life and death

The "pre-teen" universe was a vastly different place than we see today, with far more extreme environments. Additionally, because the universe was mostly hydrogen and helium at these times, astronomers expect to see ancient supernovas triggered by the deaths of stars that contain far fewer heavy chemical elements, or "metals," than the current generation of "metal-rich" stars like the sun.

Thus, comparing these ancient supernovas with massive stars exploding in the local universe could help scientists better understand how stars are enriched during their formation by metals forged by early stars and spread through the cosmos as they died.

"We're essentially opening a new window on the transient universe," Matthew Siebert, leader of the spectroscopic analysis of the JADES supernovas. "Historically, whenever we've done that, we've found extremely exciting things  things that we didn't expect."

The team's findings were presented at a press conference at the 244th meeting of the American Astronomical Society in Madison, Wisconsin, on Monday (June 10).
As important as Donald Trumps conviction in Manhattan for corrupting the 2016 election is, justice demands that Trump be brought to trial in the most important of the three remaining cases against him: the federal indictment charging him with conspiracy to interfere with the lawful transfer of power after the last presidential election, culminating in the Jan. 6, 2021 attacks on the Capitol. But with only a few weeks left before Trump becomes the Republican presidential nominee, his trial for attempting to block Joe Bidens 2020 election remains stalled due to the nations highest court.

Sadly, history is repeating, or at least rhyming. It happened once before that the Supreme Courts fingerprints, or at least those of one justice, were on the denial of justice in a case involving the leader of a failed attempt to overthrow our constitutional order. If Trump is not tried for his conduct leading up to the Jan. 6 attacks, there will be empty pages in American history books to rival the absence of any trial of Jefferson Davis for treason against the U.S.

It is remarkable that neither Davis, the president of the Confederacy, nor any other Confederate was ever tried for a secession and Civil War that took 700,000 lives  more American lives lost than lost in all other American wars combined. The Union side lost some 335,000.

While memories of that carnage were still raw, in May 1866 a federal grand jury sitting in Virginia indicted Davis on charges of treason. Delays then set in and a new federal jury again indicted Davis for treason in March of 1868. Six of the 18 grand jurors were Black, the first time Black people had ever been allowed to serve on a grand jury in the South.

But on February 15, 1869, the prosecution walked into a Richmond, Virginia court and asked to have all charges against Davis and other leading Confederates dismissed. Instead of a jury verdict, all our history books record are the words nolle prosequi, for abandonment of the case. This left Henry Wirz, commandant of the dread Andersonville prison, as the only Confederate found guilty (and hanged)  and it was for war crimes in the treatment of prisoners, not for treason itself.

Of note, one Supreme Court justice helped to stymie the trial of Davis, just as some current justices today appear poised to delay or delete the federal election interference trial of Trump. At the time of Daviss indictment, Chief Justice Salmon Chase was also assigned as the Circuit Judge for the federal district of Virginia and thus would have co-presided over Daviss trial. The chief justice was also trying to secure the Democratic nomination for president at the same time.

While novel legal issues needed to be resolved before Davis could be brought to trial, the case fell apart for reasons of politics rather than law. Chase appears to have held private consultations with Daviss legal team, a clear legal violation. Historian Robert Icenhauer-Ramirez quotes Chase writing to his friend Horace Greeley that I desire to avoid all causes of irritation and controversy and a treason trial of Davis could not be held without irritation or controversy. Icenhauer-Ramirezs 2019 book concludes that the political ambitions of Salmon Chase motivated him to have nothing to do with allowing Davis to be brought to trial.

Like Davis, Trump was indicted by a federal grand jury. The indictment was issued on August 1, 2023, and alleged Trumps unlawful attempts to disrupt the official congressional count of electoral votes on Jan. 6.

Although the trial was scheduled to begin on March 4 of this year, thanks to delays from the Supreme Court, it is now unlikely to start in time to reach a verdict before voters must decide the November presidential election. We are witnesses to historic justice delayed becoming justice denied.

Just as Chief Justice Chase helped delay and kill off any trial of Davis, the current Supreme Court is coming to Trumps rescue. It is not just Justice Samuel Alito and his two different Alito family homes that flew two different flags symbolizing support for the Jan. 6 attacks (it was my wife not me, he lamely defends). It is that a majority of the court appears to take seriously Trumps claim that a former president enjoys nearly absolute immunity from criminal prosecution for his conduct in office. This claim has no basis in the Constitutions text and flies in the face of the most basic of constitutional principles  that no one is above the law.

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Both presiding trial judge Tanya Chutkan and a panel of appellate judges rejected Trumps claim of immunity with dispatch. But the Supreme Court declined to accept special counsel Jack Smiths December request to accept the case, waiting until February to hear Trumps appeal. The court then took its time scheduling the case for oral argument, finally heard argument on April 25, and has yet to issue a decision. The justices have nearly doubled the 25 days it took them to overturn the Colorado Supreme Courts decision applying the 14th Amendment to keep Trump off the states ballot for being an insurrectionist.

This delay already gives Trump a victory because the clock is running out on trying his January 6 case to a verdict before the election. If he wins in November, he will have the Justice Department dismiss the case outright. If he loses, we will see what kind of limited criminal prosecution of a former president the Supreme Courts pending immunity decision will allow.

The absence from the annals of American law of a trial of Jefferson Davis or any other Confederate leader for treason means we are a nation with a haunting hole in our historical record. The Court appears to be making the same mistake twice, now by failing to bring to trial before November the only president who threatened to stay in power after losing an election. We, the people, deserve to know before casting our ballots whether a jury of his peers finds Trump innocent of 2020 election interference, or whether we might be re-electing a man who is guilty as charged of conspiring to obstruct the lawful transition of power in January 2021.
The Mediterranean Sea is home to many small but determined surf communities who live along its coast, making the most of the wind swells that travel short distances but become rideable as they collide with the coastlines that entrap them. The Med is also a highly politicized area, with the haves and the have nots divided by this patch of blue, changes on one side having profound impacts on those on the other. One community of surfers stands out as overcoming all odds to exist  the Palestinian surfers of Gaza.

Gazas coast is just over 40 kms long, and despite having lived under siege since 2007 and occupation since 1967, the coastal dwellers of Gaza have found freedom in the waves. Gazas first female surfer Rawand Abu Ghanem has shared updates on social media, having fled her home in Al Remal when violence broke out in October last year. Rawand is from a surfing family, her grandfather Yousef was a fisherman who made a surfboard using his simple tools and her father Gawad also surfs.

When I started surfing I feel that my dream became real, Rawand says, because when I was seeing my father surf I felt that its difficult to practice, but when I held the surfboard and started surfing I felt Im like a bird enjoying in the sea, full of comfort and freedom, she says.

Gazas first female surfer Rawand Abu Ghanem and fellow surfers Rawand Abu Ghanem

Rawand is now in Khan Yunis, the coastal city 10 kms north of Rafah, I would be lying if I said I was safe, she says, there is no place safe anywhere in the Strip from the north to the south. They are bombing everywhere, by air and by sea - the situation is very difficult and getting worse day by day.

Rawands story resonated with French surfer Lee-Ann Curren, who last month teamed up with Margaux Arramon-Tunco, organizer of Queens Classic Surf Festival, an inclusive annual womens surf festival held in Biarritz, to establish a fundraiser for Rawand. Lee-Ann is shaping a surfboard that will be raffled, with proceeds going to Rawand and her family to help them leave Gaza to safety.

Related: Gaza Surfers Caught In Crossfire Of Israel-Hamas War

You connect through surfing, but it's more like all humans who are over there right now going through something, Lee-Ann says, surfing is how you find a connection with some people and then its a community effort to really try to change things.

Everyone has some influence in their own community and then it adds up to a massive effort from everyone around the world. I think if you connect to something you really know, it's a start - a lot of surfers have been on a surf trip, taking a plane somewhere. It's crazy to think how close [Gaza] is to Europe and what's going on right there.

"Surfing is how you find a connection with some people and then its a community effort to really try to change things."  Curren

We can willingly disconnect from it and feel like it's super far away, like it doesn't concern us, but at the same time were able to jump on a plane and surf in Bali, Lee-Ann says.

Lee-Anns fundraiser is part of an effort by surfers to help those in Palestine, with more than 600 surfers signing a statement in solidarity in November last year. The statement reads, As a global community of surfers, we stand in solidarity with the surfers of Gaza whose lives are under threat and who are being forcibly displaced from their access to the Mediterranean Sea.

Lee-Ann's self-shaped board up for grabs Curren

The support efforts are being built from various pockets of surf communities across the world. In early May this year, a group of surfers called Surfers for Ceasefire in South Australia, delivered over 100 letters to Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong, calling for Australia to withdraw support for the violence, while dressed in wetsuits and carrying surfboards. In the North Sea surf community of Tynemouth in England, surfers gathered on the beach in late 2023 to watch the documentary "Gaza Surf Club" that shares the story of Gazan surfers and hold a vigil for those currently facing violence. In Ireland, big wave surfer and academic Easkey Britton has emblazoned the word solidarity on her surfboard, and South African freesurfer and artist Ricky Basnett has painted murals in support of Palestine across Durban. Australian photographer Anrielle Hunt has organized a giveaway of surf photo print, with those who donate to Gaza asked to send her their receipt to go into the draw, and surfers in Margaret River wrote Free Gaza in seaweed on the beach during the Margaret River Pro.

In Southern California, a group called PaliSurferChicks has brought Palestinian women living in diaspora together to surf. The past nine months have been filled with sadness, anger, love, and betrayal, founder Banna Bazzarie says. Palestinians in the diaspora surf community are well aware of the privileges they have by being able to surf and enjoy the water as millions of Palestinians are cut off from their ancestral waters.

Every Palestinian diaspora has their own story of their grandparents or parents displacement by the Israeli occupation and being stripped of the chance to thrive on their own land. As descendants of Nakba survivors, being able to surf together as Palestinians is the most powerful and special feeling, Banna says.

Using your platform (whether big or small) to spread awareness is the bare minimum," Banna continue. "Despite the heavy presence of silence felt in the surf community in our region, it gave me so much hope to see community members on an international scale putting in the work for change. Weve never had this many eyes on Palestine - we still havent gotten used to people educating themselves and openly showing their support but were eternally grateful for it.

In New York City, surfers have gathered for paddle outs for Palestine at Rockaway Beach as part of a group called Surfers in Solidarity. Caleb Winship, a surfer from NYC who has been involved in these actions says, I am Jewish and had the honor of being invited, along with my family, to a Palestinian wedding when I was in high school. It was a shattering experience as we were overwhelmed by the brutality of Israeli apartheid that dominated every aspect of our hosts lives in Bethlehem.

The surf community of Tynemouth in England, gathered on the beach in late 2023 to watch the documentary Gaza Surf Club

I love that many surfers have mobilized to take action and stand in solidarity with Palestinian liberation, but I think if more of them saw the connections to climate justice and preserving the communities we cherish in surf culture, many more would get involved. The same imperialism, as a form of capitalism, that incentives the manufacture of more bombs to kill and maim Palestinian kids in Gaza is at work in destroying our oceans and coastlines.

I am a firm believer that you do not need a personal connection to care about Palestinian liberation. You just need eyes and a heart. Caleb says.

"When I think of the great solidarity from the surfers around the world I am happy and it gives me hope. When I see how people are in solidarity with us and how they know me as the first girl surfer in Gaza, I feel so proud and I hope to have the power to continue to meet other surfers around the world.  Rawand

Surfing has a long history of activism, with one of the most famous moments occurring in 1985 when Australian ASP rankings leader and dual World Champion Tom Carroll announced he would boycott the South African leg of the tour due to the apartheid. This move was soon followed by Lee-Anns dad Tom Curren, Cheyne Horan and Martin Potter and eventually almost the entire World Tour refused to compete in South Africa before the apartheid was dismantled in 1994.

Related: Gaza Surfer Unable To Locate Family Month After Fighting Breaks Out

This is what I am most proud of from my dads career, Lee-Ann explains, Like, hes an amazing surfer, one of the best, you know, winning World Titles  but doing that at that moment, where he had the most to lose too  when youve got everything to lose and you're like it's not worth it, it's pretty cool. Lee-Ann says.

The actions from the global surf community are being felt in Gaza, with Rawand saying: when I think of the great solidarity from the surfers around the world I am happy and it gives me hope. When I see how people are in solidarity with us and how they know me as the first girl surfer in Gaza, I feel so proud and I hope to have the power to continue to meet other surfers around the world.



A link to enter the draw to win the surfboard Lee-Ann is shaping can be found here.
New survey shows U.S. Senate race in Florida is getting closer

Screenshot of Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Debbie Mucarsel-Powell on a Zoom conference call on April 19, 2024.

Quality Journalism for Critical Times

The Florida Democratic Party is extolling a new public opinion survey that shows Debbie Mucarsel-Powell, their likely candidate to challenge U.S. Sen. Rick Scott this fall, just 2 percentage points behind the Republican incumbent.

But Florida Republicans immediately denounced the survey as far out of line with every other poll published about the race.

The survey of 878 adults conducted by Mainstreet Research for Florida Atlantic University last weekend showed that if the election were held today among likely voters, Scott would have just a 2-percentage point lead, 45%-43%, by far the closest that any major poll conducted on the likely matchup has shown to date.

Rick Scotts toxic plans to enact a national abortion ban, slash Social Security and Medicare, and raise taxes on working families are out-of-step with Floridians. In November, theyll fire Scott once and for all, said Florida Democratic Party spokesperson Alex Wood in a press release.

Its no secret that Floridians are fed up with Rick Scott and his extreme policies  weve been hearing it from voters in every corner of the state for months, added Mucarsel-Powell campaign manager Ben Waldron. Todays poll confirms what the Debbie For Florida campaign has know all along: the more Debbie Mucarsel-Powell travels the state and shows Florida voters what she stands for, the tighter this race will become.

But Florida Republicans immediately dismissed the poll as an outlier.

Yes, Ive seen the poll, Scott spokesperson Chris Hartline said on X. No, I have no comment. Yes, I think youre an idiot if you believe those numbers are anything but a funny prank on Florida political reporters. Now back to our regularly scheduled Wednesday.

Poll has a D+4 sample, FL is R+6 (turnout will be better) so Scott is up 12; consistent with other polling, said Evan Power, the Republican Party of Florida chair, on X.

A similar FAU poll in April had Scott up by 17 percentage points over Mucarsel-Powell.

Becoming known

Mucarsel-Powell was largely unknown in earlier surveys, said Luzmarina Garcia, assistant professor of political science at FAU, in a statement. However, as voters have been introduced to her, she has been gaining in the race. If this trend holds, it could be close in November.

The FAU poll found that former President Donald Trump continues to lead President Joe Biden in Florida. Among likely voters, Trump was 49% to 43% for Biden, a lead of 6 percentage points.

The poll of 878 adults in Florida was conducted completely online and has a margin of error of +/- 3.3%.

The post New survey shows U.S. Senate race in Florida is getting closer appeared first on Florida Phoenix.
GAZA, June 12 (Xinhua) -- Hamas on Wednesday denied claims that it has proposed new ideas for the UN-backed ceasefire proposal in the Gaza Strip, a source said.

A source close to Hamas, who required anonymity, told Xinhua that "all we did was reaffirming our commitment to what was presented on May 5 by the mediators, and we did not discuss any new ideas or proposals."

The source claimed that the proposal includes clauses allowing Israel to resume the war after the second phase if the negotiations do not yield positive results.

"We requested official international guarantees to prevent Israel from resuming the war and to commit to the terms of the agreement phases," the source said.

The source noted that the movement seeks a permanent ceasefire, the withdrawal of the Israeli army from the Gaza Strip, the return of displaced people to their homes, the reconstruction of Gaza, and the end of the blockade.

This came in response to a statement by U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken who said Hamas had suggested numerous "changes" to the ceasefire and hostage deal.

Earlier in the day, Blinken said in a press conference in Qatar that some of the changes Hamas proposed are "workable," and some are not, without providing additional details on the changes requested by Hamas. 
A suspect was arrested after shots were reportedly fired at a popular Downey shopping center on Tuesday afternoon.

The suspect was identified as Scott Hoover, 46, from Glendora, according to the Downey Police Department.

Officers responded to the Downey Landing shopping plaza located in the 12100 Block

of Lakewood Boulevard at around 2:40 p.m.

Witnesses said a man had reportedly fired shots at a vehicle in the parking lot.

Police responded to the scene where the suspect believed to be involved in the shooting was taken into custody. A firearm was also discovered nearby.

Its unclear what prompted the shooting, however, witness video from the scene showed a large portion of the parking lot directly outside Marshalls cordoned off by police tape.

Police cordon off a parking lot after shots were reportedly fired at the Downey Landing shopping center in Downey on June 11, 2024. (Citizen)

Police investigate after shots were reportedly fired at the Downey Landing shopping center in Downey on June 11, 2024. (Citizen)

No injuries were reported during the incident and police said no cars or buildings appeared to have been struck by bullets.

The incident remains under investigation.

Anyone with information on the case can call Detective Chaidez at 562-904-2391 or email bchaidez@downeyca.org.

Anonymous tips can be provided to L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or online at lacrimestoppers.org.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA.
KANSAS CITY, Mo.  A Kansas City, Missouri man is facing charges following a stabbing at a bus stop that left another man dead.

Jackson County prosecutors have charged 51-year-old Ronald E. Moore with first-degree assault and armed criminal action. The prosecutors office said the case will be evaluated for further charges.

Independence bank robbed twice within 24 hours

The incident was reported just after 8 a.m. on Sunday, June 2, in the area of E. 70th Street and Prospect Avenue.

When KCPD officers arrived on scene they located the victim suffering from stab wounds. The victim was taken to the hospital where he died from his injuries on Friday, June 7.

Police have not released the victims ID at this time.

Court documents say Moore was located by officers at the scene, with blood on his clothing and hands. Moore had a laceration to his left hand in the palm.

A witness stated the victim, and others, were at the bus stop when Moore came out of nowhere and just started attacking the victim, according to court documents. The witness aid there was no argument and no words said between the victim and Moore before the stabbing.

The witness states Moore stabbed the victim multiple times in the head, walked away, then returned and stabbed the victim some more.

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Court documents say the witness yelled to Moore, youre gonna kill him! and Moore replied, I want him to die!.

Moore was taken into custody at the scene.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
From the Boiling Frogs on The Dispatch

The presidents son was convicted of three felonies on Tuesday, and his party was quietly ecstatic about it.

It was the opposition party that was crestfallen by the verdict.

The strange rooting interests in Hunter Bidens trial on gun charges in Delaware reflect how deranged our politics has grown under the influence of populism. The right is now compelled to spin obvious institutional successes as failures while the left is compelled to spin obvious failures as successes.

The funny thing about Hunters conviction is that it gave each side ammunition for its position.

In that sense, and in several others, it resembled Donald Trumps conviction in Manhattan last month. In both cases, it seemed likely that the defendant wouldnt have been charged if not for his political celebrity. In both cases, political sympathizers bankrolled the defense. In both cases, the prosecution engaged in irregularities that deepened suspicions of a secret political motive. And in both cases, despite being put through a legal wringer over offenses that just werent very serious, the defendant foolishly refused to seek a plea deal.

That was to be expected in Trumps case, as hes incapable of admitting fault. But it was lunacy for Hunter Biden to go to trial once his initial plea agreement fell apart, as our own Sarah Isgur recently explained in an op-ed. Biden had no defense to the charges that he lied about his addiction when purchasing a firearm, and he must have recognized that a trial would create an emotional and political ordeal for his family.

Selfish as ever, he insisted on one anyway. One can sympathize with him for his addiction while recognizing the truth of what National Review wrote on Wednesday about the verdict: Hunter has been given singular advantages and opportunities. He has squandered thema living, breathing wrecking ball of arrogance, substance abuse, betrayal of his duties to his children, not to mention trading his fathers political influence for big paydays from agents of corrupt and anti-American regimes.

Thats another thing the two defendants have in common. Theyre both sons of immense privilege and yet, in starkly different ways, grew up to be lowlifes anyway.

And now here we are, with Democrats thrilled to see both men convicted and Republicans just as displeased. Both sides are wrong, as they often are.

Hunter Bidens conviction was not an institutional success. On the contrary, the Justice Department managed the neat trick of being too easy on him and too hard.

According to a New York Times report published last year, at one point in 2023 special counsel David Weiss appeared willing to forgo any prosecution of Mr. Biden at all, and his office came close to agreeing to end the investigation without requiring a guilty plea on any charges. Eventually Weiss changed his mind, but not because new evidence of Hunters guilt emerged.

What changed was the politics. Per the Times, Weiss got spooked when two IRS whistleblowers came forward and accused the DOJ of slow-walking the tax case against Hunter Biden. With that allegation of impropriety now hanging over his head, Weiss suddenly demanded that Hunter plead guilty to the tax charges pending against him.

In a principled law enforcement institution, the terms of plea deals shouldnt depend on bad publicity.

Even so, Weiss office remained willing to let Biden off without prison time. The deal the two sides eventually negotiated required him to plead guilty to misdemeanor tax charges and accept a deferred prosecution on the gun chargesbut that deal was rejected by Judge Maryellen Noreika. In questioning lawyers for the two sides, Noreika discovered that Biden believed the terms of the deal immunized him from future charges related to his many dubious overseas business dealings whereas the DOJ insisted it did not.

Again, suspicions of impropriety hung over Weiss. Republicans speculated that the Justice Department had tried to pull a fast one in the plea deal by quietly gifting the presidents son with an all-purpose get out of jail free card but was foiled when Noreika exposed it. So Weiss did the same thing he did the first time his office received bad publicity for going easy on Hunter: He went hard on him, dragging him to trial on the tax and gun charges.

Tuesdays conviction was the result. Listening to Democrats on Capitol Hill celebrate the verdict as a reminder that no one is above the law, you would never have known that the DOJ was prepared to let Hunter Biden off with the gentlest of wrist slapsall but placing him above the lawuntil a federal judge and two IRS employees publicly embarrassed them over it.

Ironically, in their desperation to show that they hadnt been unduly lenient with Biden, Weiss office ended up being unduly harsh. Thats because its unusual for the Justice Department to charge someone for lying about their drug addiction on a federal background-check form unless theyre also suspected of having committed more serious crimes. After nearly getting off effectively scot-free, Hunter Biden ended up on trial for a comparatively minor offense that likely wouldnt have been brought against the average joe.

Thats another parallel with Trump. Prosecutors in New York charge people with falsifying business records all the timebut rarely if thats the most serious offense theyve committed, as was true in Trumps case.

In short, in the course of a single prosecution, the presidents son was treated unusually well and unusually strictly by the agency his father oversees and likely for reasons related to public opinion, not to the evidence against him. Not a banner day for American institutions.

Thats not the only dubious element of the case either.

Last May, while Weiss office was busy trying to decide whether to strike a deal with Hunter Biden, Joe Biden declared on national television that my son has done nothing wrong. Its not often that the supervising officer of a law enforcement agency publicly vouches for the innocence of a criminal defendant his agency is prosecuting.

Its not often either that that supervising officer pays a personal visit to a key witness on the eve of trial. But that happened in this matter as well.

And thanks to two people close to the president, it was revealed by Politico a few months back that Joe Biden had privately denounced how long the probe into his son was taking, telling aides and outside allies that he believed the stress could send Hunter Biden spiraling back into addiction. How regularly does the attorney general open a newspaper and discover that his boss is unhappy with how hes handling a particular pending case?

As you weigh the institutional merits of this case, consider too Hunter Bidens curious decision not to accept a plea deal and instead to proceed to trial despite the open-and-shut nature of the gun charges against him. One wonders if he secretly believed that no jury in a Delaware court would convict a relative of Joe Bidens, especially one with a compelling sob story about addiction. Hunter may have assumed that, at least in his fathers home state, he really was above the law.

That also resembles the Trump trial. In that case, the defendant suspected that his political notoriety guaranteed that a jury in a very liberal jurisdiction would convict him. In Hunter Bidens case, the defendant seems to have suspected the same bias at work except in his favor. How nice to think that both of these very prominent Americans regard the institutional integrity of the jury system as so much political hackery.

In fact, one wonders whether Democrats would have sounded like this on Tuesday 

.@AOC is spot on here re: Hunter Biden outcome and Republicans pic.twitter.com/Oucs4qV5qa  Adam Parkhomenko (@AdamParkhomenko) June 11, 2024

 if Trump had been acquitted in Manhattan and then Hunter Biden had been convicted. Do Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and her colleagues respect the judicial process because they believe in that process, or do they respect it in these two cases only because that process happened to produce two outcomes that are, on balance, politically favorable to Democrats?

Because, as weve seen, the process in both prosecutions did not cover itself in glory.

One more thing. What of the possibility that Joe Biden will eventually pardon Hunter?

The president has stated for the record that he wont do it but I simply dont believe him. The day-to-day welfare of Hunter Biden is one of the consuming interests of his life and after November 5 hell never again need to worry what American voters think of him. I cant imagine him allowing his perpetually fragile son to stew in a prison cell, even for a few months.

I think hell grant clemency. And when he does, hell ratify the Trumpist impulse to bestow criminal impunity on friends and cronies for no better reason than that theyre friends and cronies. A leader who means it when he says that our justice system  literally is the cornerstone of America wouldnt dream of undermining public confidence in that system by handing out hall passes as filial favors.

What should we conclude about Joe Bidens respect for institutions if, or when, he does?

Democrats are treating the institutional failure in Hunter Bidens case as a success because his conviction strengthens their argument that Donald Trumps conviction was just. Its harder for Trump and his minions to accuse the justice system of partisan bias if the sitting Democratic presidents son is facing prison.

Apart from Joe Biden himself, most liberals will regard ongoing legal misery for Hunter Biden as a price worth paying if it helps convince swing voters that Trump was fairly convicted and is unfit to govern.

For the opposite reason, most Republicans are irritated by the verdict. Many Trump allies had been secretly rooting for an acquittal, the Times reported. The talking points wrote themselves: It would have been yet more evidence that the United States justice system was rigged in favor of the Bidens and against the Trumps. Tuesdays guilty verdict was inconvenient to that narrative. Trump campaign staffers allegedly even discussed how much a not guilty verdict for Hunter might bring them in new donations from outraged populists.

To turbocharge their argument that the former presidents conviction in Manhattan was unfair, they needed another unfair outcome in Hunter Bidens case. They didnt get one.

Republicans are, of course, free to make any or all of the points I made above about how the justice system almost failed by letting Biden off unfairly easily. If not for Noreika, a Trump appointee, it probably would have. But to claim that the system almost failed would amount to claiming that its flawed, and populist critiques rarely bother with flawed.

Its too restrained. A flawed system can be repaired and reformed through normal political channels, after all. And flaws can result from well-meaning mistakes rather than deliberate misconduct. David Weiss might have sought leniency for Hunter Biden initially not because hes a liberal hackhe too was appointed by Trump, rememberbut because, in point of fact, people whove committed the same offenses as Hunter are typically treated leniently.

The post-liberal narrative spun by populists rejects the idea that the liberal order is flawed. Their movement aims to usurp that order entirely with something more authoritarian, and the only way to build popular will for a project as ambitious as that is to insist that the system is corrupt, and irredeemably so.

Its not flawed, its malign. Its too rotten to be repaired. Nothing short of replacing it will do.

That belief explains how we ended up with this raft of insanity on Tuesday afternoon from eminent Trump toadies who had, rest assured, been praying harder than anyone outside the Biden family for Hunters acquittal:

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

The Hunter Biden prosecution is a fake distraction, designed to deflect attention from the real crimes of using Joe Biden to make $$ for his family in Ukraine & to create the artifice of nonpartisanship in the DOJ after the Trump conviction. Dont fall for the trick. pic.twitter.com/CuVXC9ibM1  Vivek Ramaswamy (@VivekGRamaswamy) June 6, 2024

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

Trumps campaign made a similar point. 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, spokesman Karoline Leavitt said in a statement.

A hallmark of conspiracy theories is that theyre unfalsifiable. When evidence emerges that undermines the theory, that evidence is incorporated and offered as further confirmation of the theorys validity. The way the dregs of the MAGA brain trust coped with Hunter Bidens conviction is a stellar example: A guilty verdict that undercut their claims about a rigged system was instantly converted into evidence that the system is more rigged than anyone thought, with evil genius Joe Biden orchestrating the conviction of his own son to distract from his own corruption.

The spin about a distraction will be the same, I assume, if the Biden administration successfully prosecutes a sitting U.S. senator from his own party, as its attempting to do at this very moment. Every example of the criminal justice system behaving evenhandedly in cases where politics figures significantly can and will be dismissed as a Potemkin prosecution designed to instill unwarranted public confidence in the legitimacy of the four criminal cases against Trump.

Its ridiculous. But itll probably work.

According to a new CBS News poll, no less than 80 percent of Republicans believe that the charges on which Trump was convicted in Manhattan were filed because of directions that came from the Biden administration. That belief is awfully hard to reconcile with Hunter Bidens conviction given that the DOJ answers directly to Joe Biden while the Manhattan district attorney does notunless you resort, a la Charlie Kirk and company, to outlandish theories that the president wanted his son convicted for political reasons and connived somehow to ensure that he would be.

Soon the Republican position will be that the deep state wasnt after Hunter Biden, its after you. He was just in the way.

Its ridiculous, but itll probably work. When you have a consensus-building propaganda machine at your beck and call, youd be amazed at the things you can get people to believe. The system is still rigged now that the presidents son is headed to prison, you seemore so than ever, really.

Right-wing messaging on Bidens conviction is ultimately a matter of cope. Cope with respect to their own leaders rampant criminality, of course, but also cope with the fact that House Republicans threw everything they had at proving Joe Bidens corruption over the last 18 months and came up goose eggs.

Theyre now attempting to convince their base that Hunters guilty verdict was designed to distract from a mega-scandal that their own representatives failed to substantiate despite having had ample resources and opportunity to do so. And the base will probably buy it. Along, perhaps, with a meaningful number of swing voters.

It would be nice to think that Hunter Bidens conviction will boost public confidence in the merits of Trumps conviction but Im too cynical for that. In the end, I think the only good things to come from this matter will be the enjoyable parodies of memes that circulated after Trump was found guilty and the slight chance that Bidens conviction will be reversed on Second Amendment grounds.

If you think the partisan politics of the verdict are scrambled now, wait until that decision is handed down.

In the meantime, for the foreseeable future, well be stuck in bizarro land watching left-wingers strain to defend the integrity of criminal convictions while law and order right-wingers strain to impugn them. Lord, let me live long enough to see the populist era end.

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Tallahassee Classical principal forced out as school transitions to new oversight

The governing board of Tallahassee Classical School, which went viral last year after a controversy involving Michelangelo's "David" statue being used in an art lesson, has removed yet another principal.

Headmaster Cara Wynn was asked to resign from her position Monday, according to an email obtained by the Tallahassee Democrat that was sent to parents.

Cara Wynn, principal of Tallahassee Classical School was asked to resign Monday, June 11. She joined the school as principal in May 2023.

"We want to thank Mrs. Wynn for her service to Tallahassee Classical School," wrote Tallahassee attorney Tim Qualls, the board chair. Qualls has not responded to messages seeking comment. An effort to reach Wynn was unsuccessful.

Wynn led the school only since May 2023. That's when her predecessor, Hope Carrasquilla, was ousted after the "David" uproar, which sparked news headlines internationally. Carrasquilla was asked to resign amid pushback from the Renaissance art lesson; a handful of parents raised concerns over the famed sculpture's nudity.

Tallahassee Classical School is a tuition-free, public charter school under the Leon County Schools umbrella. It was founded in 2020 by two local mothers, Jana Sayler and Adrienne Campbell, now a deputy secretary at the Department of Juvenile Justice. They both wanted their children to receive a classical education.

Classical schooling is designed to provide students with a holistic approach to education in science and liberal arts. Tallahassee Classical upholds virtues including kindness, courage, respect and gratitude, and ties each one into academic lesson plans.

The school board recently adjusted its charter to require a governing board of three, instead of five. The three current members are Qualls; Louis Jean-Baptiste, another local attorney, and Pamela Griggs, senior director of finance and compliance for the Foundation for Excellence in Education (ExcelinEd), the charter school advocacy nonprofit founded by former Gov. Jeb Bush.

Back Story: Controversy over Tallahassee Classical art lesson sparks teacher, global backlash

The school is currently seeking an interim leader as it begins a yearlong transition to be affiliated with Great Hearts Academies, a classical charter company with schools in Arizona, Louisiana, Texas and soon, Florida.

The circumstances leading to Wynn's forced resignation are unknown, though the school board held an emergency meeting June 10, the same day she resigned. Before joining Tallahassee Classical, Wynn was principal of North Florida Christian School.

Tallahassee Classical opened in 2020 with 403 students. It started this school year with 424 students. But during a March 25 board meeting, Wynn told the board 387 students were enrolled. Its most recent school grade for the 2022-23 academic year was a C.

Alaijah Brown covers children & families for the Tallahassee Democrat. She can be reached at ABrown1@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter/X: @AlaijahBrown3.

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Tallahassee Classical School principal ousted after only a year
New Tallest Skyscraper in America Has Officially Been Approved to Be Built at an Unlimited Height

AO is delighted that the Oklahoma City Council has approved the development teams request for unlimited height, the architecture firm says in a statement

AO Renderings for the Boardwalk at Bricktown

The tallest skyscraper in America is coming to Oklahoma City  and its reaching even bigger heights!

A spokesperson for AO  the firm leading the development of the building  confirmed to PEOPLE on Tuesday, June 11, that the Oklahoma City Council has officially signed off on the history-making Legends Tower to be built without any height restrictions.

AO is delighted that the Oklahoma City Council has approved the development teams request for unlimited height for the Boardwalk at Bricktown, AO says in a statement. We are grateful that the City Council has embraced the vision of Matteson Capital and the entire design team to transform the City into a global destination.

The company is teaming up with real estate developers Matteson Capital to bring the towering structure to life in the up-and-coming neighborhood of Bricktown.

Related: A New Tallest Building in America Has Been Proposed  and It Isnt in New York or Chicago

AO Rendering of Legends Tower

AO and Matteson Capital eagerly anticipate the commencement of construction on the first buildings this Fall, and subsequent groundbreaking on the Legends Tower, poised to be the tallest building in the U.S, they continue.

Once completed, the impact of the Boardwalk at Bricktown will be significant, felt locally in Oklahoma City and resonating across the globe. It will set a new standard for urban innovation and architectural excellence.

Oklahoma Citys Public Information Officer Kristy Yager issued a statement to PEOPLE, writing, The Boardwalk development is planned for Oklahoma Citys historic Bricktown District."

It continued, "Downtown is experiencing unprecedented growth right now. Construction is slated to begin in 2025 on a $41 million multipurpose stadium that will be located next to the Boardwalk. Work on a new $900 million arena, which will be the new home of the Oklahoma City Thunder, will start nearby in the next few years as well.

Related: Construction of the Worlds Tallest Skyscraper to Resume After Five-Year Hiatus

Getty One World Trade Center (left) and the Burj Khalifa (right)

While the structure can be built without any height restrictions, Legends Tower is still set to stand tall at 1,907 feet in honor of the year that Oklahoma officially became Americas 46th state in 1907. The record-breaking building will also stand among three additional 345-foot structures.

The tallest building in the U.S. is currently One World Trade Center in New York City. It opened in 2014 and stands at 1,776 feet, a nod to the year the Declaration of Independence was signed.

The tallest building in the world, the Burj Khalifa, towers over Dubai at 2,716.5 feet. The Legends Tower in Oklahoma City will officially become the fifth tallest building in the world once completed.

Never miss a story  sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

AO The Boardwalk at Bricktown

The base of the developing Boardwalk at Bricktown will also offer a vibrant retail and restaurant scene with over 110,000 square feet of space, per the press release.

Additionally, there will be 1,776 residential units available at the site that range from affordable housing to luxury condos. The entire development will be spread out over three acres across five million square feet, while its location will be in close proximity to the Bricktown Canal and Oklahoma River.



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Read the original article on People.
TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA)  Alisha Harper gave birth to her son Chase seven years ago, self-admittedly unprepared for what would come over those years.

Chase was born with Down syndrome and nine heart defects. After they were corrected, he was diagnosed with leukemia at four years old and went through two-and-a-half years of chemotherapy.

Avelo Airlines first flight out of Lakeland Linder International Airport departs Thursday

On Wednesday, the Harper family and Chase flew out of Tampa International Airport, Washington, D.C.-bound.

I just hope to share our story, Harper said. Have Congress hear how important it is for parents and families to have that support in the hospital.

The end goal of the Harpers trip is to get legislation passed to increase access to behavioral health care.

We get to take what weve been through and really show Congress and talk to legislators and really share with them, Harper said. This is what weve been through as a family, this is where we are now and this is all of the things that we want to see happen.

New nonstop Allegiant flight begins service from Sarasota airport

His family is traveling to Capitol Hill as part of the Childrens Hospital Associations annual Family Advocacy Day. The trip includes meetings with U.S. Representatives Gus Bilirakis, Vern Buchanan, Kathy Castor, Laurel Lee and U.S. Senator Marco Rubio, and meetings with staff from the office of Reps. Anna Paulina Luna, Scott Franklin and U.S. Senator Rick Scott.

Being in St. Joes for that amount of time, Harper explained. I got involved with a lot of different volunteer efforts and wanting to do more for kids who have medical complexities and are going through cancer treatment.

Chase spent about 300 days in St. Josephs Childrens Hospital.

While at St. Josephs Childrens Hospital, we are fortunate to have a licensed clinical social worker on staff, said Jason Rodriguez. We want to make sure that all kids have access to similar resources.

State orders Liberty Mutual to repay $4.7 million to Florida consumers after overcharging

Jason Rodriguez is the Director of Government Relations for BayCare Health System and is traveling to D.C. with the Harpers to help lobby Congress.

It will allow for more support for early intervention, more resources, Rodriguez said. So kids can come in and get help before the last step.

The Harper family plans on being in D.C. through next week and will have their Capitol Hill meetings in the coming days.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA.
Tarrants Republican and Democratic chairs spoke at an NAACP meeting. Heres how it went.

The leaders of Tarrant Countys Republican and Democratic parties talked abortion, jail deaths and election integrity at a political forum Tuesday hosted by the Arlington branch of the NAACP.

The event took place at the Greater Community Missionary Baptist Church with a conversation between GOP chair Bo French and Democrat Crystal Gayden, moderated by Jason E. Shelton, professor of sociology and director of the center for African American studies at UT Arlington.

The forum was advertised as neighbors engaged in good conversation, and the phrase held true, for the most part.

Democrats in the crowd were the most vocal  clapping, booing and laughing while French spoke, to the point that the crowd needed to be reminded of decorum.

Despite the reactions, French and Gayden remained friendly, even cracking jokes between their responses.

When asked about the recent jail deaths, French opted not to get into specifics at the Tarrant County jail but broadened the question.

When you talk about people dying in jail, this actually kind of goes on not just inside of jail, but outside of jail. We have a problem in our country where people dont respect other people, and they dont respect laws, and they dont respect police, French said. This is not a racial thing, it is a societal thing. And I think we have a breakdown in our society where people dont understand how to be a member of the civil society.

French said that there are examples of people of all races not respecting law enforcement.

You can get on YouTube and watch videos all day long  white people, Black people, Mexican people, whatever race you want to call it, getting shot by the police or beat up by the police because theyre not listening to the police, French said. I think if people had more respect for the authorities, wed have fewer accidents.

Gaydens response focused on Tarrant Countys jail and the need for expanded mental health services. She also said there needs to be accountability for the recent deaths, such as Anthony Johnson Jr. in April.

The accountability, that falls on the sheriff, period and point blank. There needs to be some type of jail reform to address what is happening. Whatever the culture is that is taking place in our jail system, it needs to be addressed, Gayden said.

The candidates also spoke on abortion. Gayden defending the Democratic Partys stance that it should be a womans right to choose and that abortions are a form of health care.

French explained how his religious and political views shape his stance against abortion and said that abortion was explicitly started by racists who were trying to exterminate Black people, which earned an averse reaction from the crowd.

There are people that in this room that ought to take offense to that, because I take offense to that, I think thats wrong, French said in response.

The chairs also discussed the Tarrant County election integrity unit, which has received 70 complaints and investigated 12 in the past 17 months. There have been no prosecutions.

Gayden said that she did not think the integrity of Tarrant elections was an issue, but that voter suppression was, bringing up Crystal Mason, a Black woman who illegally cast a provisional ballot in 2016 and was prosecuted in 2018.

In March, the Texas Second Court of Appeals found Masons conviction should be overturned because she didnt have actual knowledge that she couldnt vote while on federal supervised release in a tax fraud case.

Im also concerned about voter intimidation. We all know the story of Crystal Mason, and the continued attack on trying to prosecute her, her case. For what reason is that? And other than an attempt to intimidate persons who look like her, who may come from similar backgrounds as her, Gayden said.

French said he wasnt privy to Masons case, which has received national attention.

I dont know all the details, but as I recall, in that one particular case, was she a felon, maybe, or something like that and she tried to vote? You know, youre not allowed to vote if youre a felon, French said.

French attended and spoke at a May 8 Commissioners Court meeting when District Attorney Phil Sorrells briefed commissioners on why his office was seeking to reverse the appellate ruling.

Gayden also said that the election integrity unit was not looking into a fairly well-documented case in Mansfield, where conservative-backed Angel Hidalgo unsuccessfully ran for school board despite not being eligible.

We do know about Angel Hidalgo and the fact that he basically lied. He was not eligible to vote, he put his name on the ballot, and yet theres been no, to my understanding, investigation or prosecution attempts to address that particular issue, Gayden said.

In April, the Star-Telegram reported that Hidalgo was ineligible to run for the seat because he was not registered to vote in the district by the deadline.

Hidalgo also cast a ballot in the Republican primary before his voter registration was active, which Mansfield residents reported to the election integrity unit.

French did not say anything on the topic of Hidalgo but has previously taken aim on social media at Jandel Crutchfield, who beat Hidalgo in the Mansfield school board election, saying she is known for her radical racial activism, in a thread where he sought to uncover radical leftism in our local governments and all over the county.

Someone in the audience asked the chairs whether they supported Americas involvement in international conflict.

Gayden said the question goes beyond the scope of Tarrant County issues but that she backs President Bidens policy decision on the war in Gaza. Her response received a light, scattered applause.

French said he was opposed to America sending money to Ukraine and instead would rather see funding used to build a wall on the U.S. southern border, which received a wide applause. He did not address the Gaza war.

The forum lasted nearly two hours and roughly 100 people attended from both sides of the political aisle, filling the church aisles and pews.

The churchs pastor, Kennedy Jones, has been a critic of Republican County Judge Tim OHare, most recently for his comments to Democratic Commissioner Alisa Simmons  who represents Arlington  when the judge told her youll sit there and be quiet during a contentious exchange at an April meeting. But he preached bipartisanship Tuesday night.

We have to look past our differences to work toward a common goal, a better life for all of us. We need to build trust in each other. For a better future for our children, Jones said.

Jones also serves as president of the Arlington branch of the NAACP.

Jones closed the ceremony thanking both chairs and the attendees, adding we are all Tarrant County citizens, no one lesser than the other.

Nearly everyone in attendance gave French and Gayden a standing ovation.
TEA awarded over $290 million as part of teacher incentive program last school year

AUSTIN (KXAN)  The Texas Education Agency (TEA) announced Tuesday over $290 million in Teacher Incentive Allotment (TIA) funds were awarded to nearly 25,000 designated Texas teachers during the 2023-24 school year.

TEA said 481 school systems participated in the TIA program, and 306 of them were fully approved to grant teacher designations. To gain full approval, these school systems had to go through a comprehensive application process that assessed data from classroom observations and student academic growth, the release said.

The TIA programs goal is to retain top teachers in Texas and offer them a chance to earn up to six-figure salaries, the release said.

According to a recent TEA study from the 2023-24 school year, the retention rate for designated teachers was eight percentage points higher than the statewide average.

Teachers have been working together. The things our designated teachers are doing in their classes, non-designated teachers are modeling. Its been a great benefit for our teachers and our kids. Martinsville ISD Principal Keith Martin said in the release

There are currently 17 school districts and/or charter school systems in Central Texas participating in TIA, according to the release. TEA estimated around 600 districts will be involved in the program next school 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 KXAN Austin.
UNITED NATIONS, June 12 (Xinhua) -- UN peacekeepers have been deployed to protect civilians from fighting between armed groups in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), a UN spokesman said on Wednesday.

Farhan Haq, the deputy spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, said members of the Zaire and CODECO armed groups clashed at a mining site about 40km from Bunia in Ituri province. Peacekeepers from the UN mission in the DRC, known as MONUSCO, were dispatched to protect civilians.

Several civilian casualties were reported, Haq said.

"A team comprising civilian and military staff also conducted a mission to the Bikima area, about 65km southwest of Bunia, to engage with community members and displaced civilians impacted by attacks from the ADF (Allied Democratic Forces)," he said. "Over 700 families fled their homes due to ADF attacks in March and April."

The spokesman said that since May 25, a series of ADF attacks in Ituri and North Kivu provinces claimed the lives of more than 100 civilians.

The eastern DRC has been wracked for years by attacks from various armed groups, some allegedly financed by neighboring countries, in apparent attempts to reap benefits from the rich mineral wealth in the region. 
(FOX40.COM)  An elementary school teacher in Northern California will not face charges after being accused of drinking and teaching.

The 57-year-old second grade teacher was arrested at Nuestro Elementary School on October 2, 2023, after she was reported for drinking alcohol while on the job. She faced charges of driving under the influence and child endangerment.

Sutter County elementary teacher arrested on suspicion of DUI

During the investigation, it could not be established that (the teacher) was under the influence when she drove to the school, as opposed to drinking only after arriving there, Sutter County District Attorneys Office said. Additionally, the requirements for child endangerment cannot be met, as 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.

The DA added that mere potential that a situation could arise is insufficient to meet the requirements under the law. While the District Attorneys Office agrees that it is highly inappropriate to teach while intoxicated, it is, unfortunately, not illegal.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX40.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN)  A 16-year-old who was shot at a park in Madison Wednesday afternoon has died from his injuries.

The shooting happened just after 2 p.m. Wednesday, June 12 in the 500 block of North Dupont Avenue near the Madison Community Center.

Metro police reported Justin Robinson, 16, died from his injuries at TriStar Skyline Medical Center.

 Read todays top stories on wkrn.com

(Courtesy: Metro Nashville Police Department)

Witnesses at the scene told officers there was a group of six minors in the park and two of them shot at each other. However, the teen who was shot was not at the scene when officers arrived.

Man charged after teen killed in shooting inside Edgehill apartment, police say

Investigators believe the victim got into a gold-colored car and left. Officers found the car and got behind it as it was approaching TriStar Skyline Medical Center, according to investigators.

The gold colored vehicle and the people inside the vehicle are currently were detained at the hospital. Officers at the park searched for the other minors who ran away after the shooting.

CRIME TRACKER | Read the latest crime news from Middle Tennessee

Tonight we mourn the loss of another teenager to gun violence  this time in Madison, a statement from Nashville mayor Freddie OConnell read. I am grateful to our first responders, Parks staff, and witnesses who assisted the victim and kept others safe. Theres no one answer, but we have many partners committed to improving safety for our young people.

The investigation is still ongoing, per the post, and MNPD urged anyone with information to come forward.

No additional information was 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 WKRN News 2.
A voter walks past an election sign on his way to vote at Cavazos Middle School in Lubbock on Nov. 8, 2022. Credit: Mark Rogers for The Texas Tribune

This coverage is made possible through Votebeat, a nonpartisan news organization covering local election administration and voting access. Sign up for Votebeat Texas free newsletters here.

A long-running conservative push to get rid of countywide polling places is winning growing interest from state lawmakers, as well as a spot on the state Republican partys list of legislative priorities for next year.

But election officials are warning that if legislators scrap the states countywide voting program, they will struggle to pull off the changes that would be required  beginning with increasing their numbers of polling places. That means paying for hard-to-find additional locations, recruiting and paying workers to staff them and obtaining more voting equipment.

Election officials also worry that confused voters could be disenfranchised by the shift.

Currently, 96 counties allow voters to cast ballots anywhere in their county on election day, according to the Texas Secretary of States Office. The list includes counties in every part of the state, collectively encompassing roughly 14.9 million, or 83%, of the states registered voters.

Banning the program would force those voters to again cast their ballots only at their assigned precinct, after years of allowing them to go to any voting site in the county.

Voters who mistakenly go to the wrong site would be offered a provisional ballot, said Roxzine Stinson, the Lubbock County elections administrator, and if they arent able to instead go to their assigned precinct, then thats their only option. And voting provisionally, that's no guarantee that that vote is going to count, because they'd be voting outside of their assigned polling location.

Critics of countywide voting  who testified before a Senate State Affairs Committee hearing last month  allege without evidence that it makes elections less secure because it allows people to double or triple vote. Countywide voting relies on using electronic voting equipment, and critics also say that election officials manipulate such equipment to change votes and sway election outcomes, but they havent shown evidence to back up those claims, and experts say they are false.

Local election officials who have overseen countywide voting for years say they have yet to see any such fraud occur. State election officials, too, have for years deemed countywide voting successful and say it is well-liked by voters who use it.

Election administrators say they are already struggling to comply with legislation passed last year requiring them to increase the number of polling locations they operate and to increase the number of hours and days of early voting. Some have had trouble finding public buildings that comply with access requirements for voting sites. In other areas, where funding cant stretch to pay for the additional required hours, election officials have had to shut down early voting sites, resulting in less access for voters.

In Lubbock County, Stinson estimates eliminating countywide voting will require spending at least $300,000 more on elections and thats just a start. Because itll take more workers, more training and more equipment.

Eliminating countywide voting would require more sites, workers

Texas is among 18 states offering countywide voting or vote centers, including Arizona, Arkansas, Indiana, and Tennessee.

Created in 2003 by an election official in Larimer County, Colorado, the vote center model was designed to meet accessibility requirements stipulated in the Help America Vote Act of 2002. The federal law set aside funds to address issues with outdated voting technology and voting access problems after the 2000 presidential election. The requirements were costly, and some counties would have had to provide additional voting equipment at hundreds of locations. The vote center model allowed counties to offer fewer locations, but gave voters access to cast their ballots at all of them. State officials must approve counties participation in the program.

Texas began offering the option in 2006, after a Republican state representative introduced a bill setting up a pilot program. The bill won bipartisan support; participating counties were required to have electronic poll books and other voter registration management tools necessary to ensure voters only cast a single ballot.

Lubbock County, a Republican stronghold, was the first to sign up. County commissioners and community leaders were involved in selecting the vote center locations and ensuring that they were easily accessible to all voters, Stinson said, and residents have become accustomed to voting wherever is most convenient for them.

Stinson said she and her staff already have trouble recruiting enough election workers for the county's 40-plus vote centers. Shes not certain whether shed be able to recruit the minimum of three election workers per location for the additional 40 locations shed need to open if the county is required to return to precinct voting.

If we're struggling now, what makes you think we're going to be able to just open up that many more locations and that we're going to get that many more workers? Stinson said.

Election officials also note that the countywide system provides more options for voters if something goes wrong on the day of an election.

For example, during this years primary runoff election in May, a storm forced at least a dozen polling locations in Harris County to shut down after losing power. And in North Texas, at least 76 polling places in four counties closed after the weather left hundreds of thousands of residents without power.

Counties in those affected areas use vote centers. Although some polling sites closed, voters in those areas were still able to cast a ballot at open locations across their counties.

Shannon Lackey, the Randall County elections administrator, said that if those counties were precinct-based, they would potentially have to turn away voters, there would be no way for them to cast a ballot.

The same alternative is useful, she pointed out, if a water main breaks at a particular location, equipment goes down or paper jams.

For Texans with disabilities, voting at a precinct polling location, which would typically be located within a neighborhood, isnt always the most accessible option, said Chase Bearden, deputy executive director of the Coalition of Texans with Disabilities.

Sometimes streets and sidewalks are torn up and arent paved. If you dont have a vehicle, public transportation is necessary and some neighborhood locations may not be near a bus stop, Bearden said. A lot of people with disabilities, once they find a location that is accessible and meets their needs, they continue going back to it. That wasnt always the case with precinct-based locations.

Critics make unsupported allegations about vulnerabilities

The programs most vocal critics have for years falsely claimed the use of electronic voting equipment in counties that participate in the program has led to malfeasance by election officials. Some Republican lawmakers have paid attention.

Last year, Senate Bill 990, authored by North Texas Republican state Sen. Bob Hall, aimed to eliminate the countywide voting program and require residents to vote at their assigned precinct. The bill, which passed the Senate but did not advance in the House, would have still permitted use of vote centers during early voting.

At the time Hall alleged countywide voting creates unexplainable inconsistencies, though he didnt supply details or evidence. He said his measure would prevent inaccurate vote totals and that it would also prevent people from voting more than once. During Senate floor debates, Democrats who opposed the bill pressed him for evidence that countywide polling had allowed voters to cast ballots at more than one location. He didnt provide any.

At the Senate State Affairs Committee hearing last month, chair Bryan Hughes, a Republican who has championed some of the states most restrictive voting laws, had invited testimony from Beth Biesel, a Dallas County Republican poll watcher and proponent of hand-counting ballots. Experts have said time and time again that hand counting is not accurate, and is far more costly than using voting machines to tabulate results.

At the hearing, Biesel falsely claimed voting machines were connected to the internet. She also falsely claimed that the program had contributed to a recent problem where people could use a series of public records requests to pierce ballot secrecy and figure out how certain people voted. In fact, that problem stems from Texas push to make almost all election records public, allowing researchers, in some limited instances, to cross-reference different public records and find a specific voters ballot image. (The state recently moved to eliminate that possibility, following reporting by Votebeat and The Texas Tribune.) Biesel proposed that lawmakers eliminate countywide voting, get rid of electronic voting equipment, have everyone vote at their assigned precinct, and hand-count ballots.

The hearing witness list signals the preferred approach of committee leadership, said Brandon Rottinghaus, a professor of political science at the University of Houston.

Specifically, you'll see allies are going to get softball questions, Rottinghaus said. Putative enemies often become strawman arguments in favor of whatever lawmakers preferred point is.

Some lawmakers who heard Beisels concerns then turned to one official with the Secretary of States Office for clarity. If I'm voting for Mickey Mouse for President, can that be manipulated? state Sen. Charles Perry, a Republican of West Texas, asked.

Elections division director Christina Adkins promised that no voting machines in the state are connected to the internet. We do not allow wireless connectivity on our voting devices, we test that in the certification process, said Adkins, who was also invited by Hughes to testify.

She added that, although concerns over ballot secrecy are valid, those problems are not exclusive to countywide voting. It extends to early voting. It extends to voting by mail, Adkins said.

Adkins added that countywide voting could be improved by finding more efficient ways to reconcile election results in order to make post-election auditing easier for election officials, and lawmakers at the hearing agreed. However, its too soon to tell the kind of legislation theyll propose. Lawmakers are expected to begin filing legislation after the November presidential election.

Natalia Contreras covers election administration and voting access for Votebeat in partnership with the Texas Tribune. Contact Natalia at ncontreras@votebeat.org.

Disclosure: Coalition of Texans with Disabilities, Texas Secretary of State and University of Houston have been financial supporters of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors. Financial supporters play no role in the Tribune's journalism. Find a complete list of them here.

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!
A Houston man has pleaded guilty to murdering his wife in 2020 in exchange for a 10-year prison sentence.

Curtis Allen Holliday, 62, took a plea deal just before jury selection was set to begin Monday morning. Holliday was convicted of murdering his wife and hiding her body in a freezer.

The plea deal grants Holliday a 10-year prison sentence, including credit for the two years Holliday spent in the Harris County Jail before he posted bond.

"Curtis decided it was in his best interest, instead of risking a life sentence if the jury didn't agree with us, to take what was offered," Holliday's defense attorney, Dick DeGuerin, told ABC13. "He'll be out in time to continue to raise his daughter."

Curtis Allen Holliday

Holliday had assaulted now-deceased wife, records show

On May 5, 2020, Curtis Allen Holliday was arrested on charges of violating a bond on a protective order and committing continuous violence against a family member.

Court records reveal Holliday had assaulted his wife, 29-year-old Chi Thi Lien Le, on Nov. 28 and Dec. 25, 2019. He'd been arrested for the assault and was given a no-contact order in January 2020.

'Please check my husband,' alleged letter from victim reads

Family members reported Le missing in late April 2020 after several days without contact from her, according to the Harris County sheriff's office. A witness told investigators Le had last been seen on April 3.

In May, law enforcement searched Holliday's business in the 5800 block of North Sam Houston Parkway West. Le's body, which had been wrapped in plastic, was recovered from a commercial freezer on the property. The autopsy report described the body as "frozen with frost on the skin."

Investigators also found a letter, believed to have been typed by Le, which reads, "If suddenly nobody can find me, or find me dead, please check my husband." The letter also explained Holliday had threatened Le "many times" and said "he will murder (Le)." This fear had escalated amid the process of a divorce.

After Le's death was ruled a homicide by a medical examiner, Holliday was charged for her murder. Prosecutors believe Holliday violated his no-contact order, choked Le to death and stuffed her body in the freezer. Investigators have photographed evidence of Holliday purchasing the freezer, according to PEOPLE magazine.

However, defense attorney DeGuerin told ABC13 the plea was "guilty with an asterisk," claiming his team had evidence suggesting Le had taken her own life.

"We believe this was actually suicide, but he panicked after he found her. Instead of calling police, he put her in a freezer and that's bizarre," DeGuerin said. "And I don't know if a jury would have liked that too much."

Holliday is scheduled to be formally sentenced on July 19.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Texas man pleads guilty to wife's murder, hiding body in freezer
Texas Mom Was Found Hanging from a Dock. Police Believe It Was a Staged Suicide and Suspect Foul Play

Giselle Tapia-Salazar, a 30-year-old mother of four children, was found dead and hanging from a dock on May 31

Gofundme Giselle Salazar

Giselle Tapia-Salazar, a mother of four, was found dead, hanging from a dock on May 31 in League City, Texas. Now, the 30-year-old's death is being investigated as suspected foul play, according to multiple reports.

As of June 11, KHOU, KTRK and The Daily News of Galveston County report that police are investigating Tapia-Salazar's death as a possible homicide and identified two persons of interest. Police told the outlets they believe the victim was killed before being placed in that position, and The Daily News, citing police, reported the scene was staged to look like a suicide.

On May 31, The League City Police Department confirmed in a news release posted to Facebook that they were notified about a woman [who] appeared to have been lifeless as she hung by a rope from the dock in the afternoon.



Gofundme

Tapia-Salazar was found near her boyfriend's boat, where she was living at the time of her death. The boyfriend, James Hart, told KHOU, "This is the worst thing that has ever happened to me."

Hart added, "It feels like a nightmare you can't wake up from. I didn't have anything to do with it and I never would have. I loved Giselle more than anything in the world. We were together 24/7 [and] I want justice for Giselle and for myself."

League City Police said in the agency's release that when Hart was notified of Tapia-Salazar's death, he "became very distraught and would not come out of his boat.

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Christian Allen, Tapia-Salazar and Harts neighbor at the marina, told KHOU that he found Tapia-Salazar's body partially submerged in the water. with one of her arms in an awkward position.

Because of the position of her arm, we believe she probably passed away somewhere else, League City Police Lieutenant Eric Cox told KHOU. Rigor Mortis set in and then when she was moved, her arms stayed in that position.

Said Allen, "At first, I thought it was a mannequin and then we realized ... we recognized her."

Allen added, "I didn't buy the whole suicide thing. I want them to catch them because my kids are here and I don't want to live near a murderer."

Authorities are still awaiting an official cause of death. The victim's brother, Nathan Paz started a GoFundMe to help pay for her funeral expenses and to support her four children.

"Giselle was the most charismatic person you could ever meet, sharing a smile and making a friend of everyone she came across" Paz wrote on the GoFundMe page. "Giselle always looked for the best in people, even when they didn't deserve her kindness."

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Read the original article on People.
Texas Senate panel asks officials about Operation Lone Star: 'How long can we do this?'

Texas has invested $11 billion since 2021 in Operation Lone Star to help stem the tide of migrant arrivals to the state's southern border with Mexico, but the leading Republican in the state Senate Committee on Border Security is questioning how much longer will Texans be asked to front the cost for the operation.

"How long can we do this?" Sen. Brian Birdwell, R-Granbury, who has chaired the Border Security Committee since its inception in 2023, asked officials tasked with the day-to-day oversight of the border initiative during a committee hearing Tuesday. "Because the day will come when the comptroller is going to tell us there's a (budget) shortfall; that means some tough decisions here."

Gov. Greg Abbott's Operation Lone Star has funded construction of roughly 100 miles of unconnected portions of border wall, installed razor wire along parts of the Texas shore of the Rio Grande and placed a buoy barrier in a section of the river, and in April began construction on a military base camp in Eagle Pass, which is expected to house about 1,800 Texas National Guard troops and could cost upward of $400 million by September 2026.

Birdwell implored Operation Lone Star leaders to detail their outlook on the continued need for a constant state law enforcement presence along the border, alluding to fears that a Democratic victory for the U.S. presidency in November will necessitate further state border security investments.

"Where do you make the reductions?" Birdwell asked. "That day is going to come."

Sen. Brian Birdwell, R-Granbury, right, shown speaking last year to Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, is chair of the Senate Border Security Committee. "Where do you make the reductions" to rising state border security spending, Birdwell asked this week. "That day is going to come."

In touting the construction of the new military operating base, efficient law enforcement operations along the border and high morale among troops on the ground, Abbott's "border czar" Mike Banks and Texas Department of Public Safety Director Steven McCraw shared Birdwell's political concerns, but they simply said the operation will have to continue for the foreseeable future.

"As we continue to gain operational control of our border with Mexico, we will maintain that control as we expand to control new areas," Banks said.

As for President Joe Biden's recent executive order to allow border officials to turn away migrants who enter the country without legal permission, McCraw said the order's effect has been negligible and is expected to remain minimal in keeping migrant arrivals at bay.

"I wish that it would have some impact, but at the end of the day, it has little or no impact," McCraw said. "The numbers haven't changed in that regard."

'We deserve respect, and we demand respect'

During the wide-ranging committee hearing, in which law enforcement officials and state agency leaders highlighted Operation Lone Star's effect on discouraging illegal border crossings and influencing immigration patterns, residents from several border communities painted the situation on the ground as an unwelcome, militarized invasion of their homes.

Samantha Singleton, a policy director with the Border Network for Human Rights, accused lawmakers of draining state resources to construct the border apparatus from Brownsville to El Paso while ignoring the humanitarian concerns that drive migrants to Texas.

"The decision of this legislative body, as well as Gov. Abbott, has disrupted the lives of thousands of border residents," Singleton said of Operation Lone Star.

More: 26 migrants found, 7 arrested in human smuggling operation near San Antonio

In the first of two interim hearings for the committee, lawmakers took no deliberative action Tuesday but received updates on various border-related legal proceedings, which were prompted by Texas placing concertina wire along the Rio Grande, defensive buoys in the river and instituting Senate Bill 4  Texas' sweeping immigration law granting state officers authority to arrest, detain and deport people who are believed to have entered the country illegally, an enforcement authority that has historically been under the federal government's purview.

Aaron Nielson, solicitor general in the Texas attorney general's office, testified that both the buoys and concertina wire remain in place as federal lawsuits against the state challenging those border enforcement measures await further adjudication.

As for SB 4, Nielson predicts a lengthy legal battle ahead. The law is currently on hold after the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas in February issued an injunction, keeping SB 4 from taking effect while constitutional challenges are adjudicated. The state immediately filed an appeal to the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, and the New Orleans-based appellate court in April heard oral arguments over the injunction, but it has not yet issued a ruling.

Gov. Greg Abbott greets National Guard troops at a February news conference at Shelby Park in Eagle Pass. The Texas Senate Committee on Border Security has raised questions about the ongoing costs of Abbott's Operation Lone Star on the border. Texas has spent $11 billion since 2021 on Operation Lone Star.

"We expect a ruling in the coming months on that, but that is again just on the preliminary injunction phase," Nielson said "But that could itself also go to the Supreme Court before there's any merit trial."

Regardless of the outcomes in federal court, residents who live along the border explained to the panel that the increase in military presence, loss of access to local public spaces, permanent road closures and hyperpartisan rhetoric is making it more difficult to feel comfortable in their changed communities.

A longtime resident of Eagle Pass, Jessie Fuentes, said the state has shown local residents no respect in becoming new neighbors.

More: Judge asks for more evidence to support dismissal of Travis County DA removal suit

Voicing similar concerns over the prolonged financial obligation of Operation Lone Star, Fuentes and others blasted lawmakers for commandeering highly used public spaces such as Shelby Park in Eagle Pass, which was taken by the state earlier this year to serve as a makeshift base in the border city.

"We as Hispanics, we deserve respect, and we demand respect," Fuentes said. "The way the people with brown skin are being treated is appalling."

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Texas Border Security Committee focuses on Operation Lone Star, SB 4
By Panarat Thepgumpanat and Panu Wongcha-um

BANGKOK (Reuters) -Thai courts will convene on a trio of politically charged cases next week, including one that could potentially lead to the prime minister's dismissal, increasing the prospect of more government instability in the Southeast Asian country.

In a statement on Wednesday, the Constitutional Court said it would hear a case against Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin on June 18. It stems from a complaint by 40 military appointed senators in May, who alleged that he breached the constitution by making a cabinet appointment.

The court also said it would hold a hearing next Tuesday in a case brought by the country's election commission that is seeking to disband the opposition Move Forward Party.

The party was the surprise winner of last year's general election, but failed to form a government after it was blocked by the conservative-royalist establishment.

The court has yet to set a date for the verdicts in both cases.

Meanwhile, influential former premier Thaksin Shinawatra - who returned to Thailand last August after 15 years of self-imposed exile is scheduled to be formally indicted in a criminal court for allegedly insulting the royalty and computer crime on Tuesday.

The court cases have ramped up political uncertainty in Southeast Asia's second-largest economy and roiled its markets.

Srettha, Thaksin and the Move Forward Party deny any wrong doing.

A government spokesperson declined to comment on the court proceedings.

DECADES-LONG STRUGGLE

Thailand's politics has been defined for decades by a struggle between the powerful conservative, royalist camp and their rivals, which initially centered around Thaksin and his political parties but now also includes Move Forward.

A real estate tycoon, Srettha entered politics with the Thaksin-backed Pheu Thai party and has struggled to implement election promises, including firing up the country's laggard economy and a cash handout scheme for 50 million Thais.

Deputy Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai told reporters on Tuesday that Srettha was continue to work in "full capacity".

"There is no problem at all," he said.

The main opposition Move Forward party is also under scrutiny from the same court that is considering Srettha's case for a campaign to reform the country's royal insult - or lese majeste - law.

The law, which protects the monarchy from insult and defamation, carries a punishment of up to 15 years jail for each perceived offense. It has been applied to prosecute over 270 people since 2020, according to a legal aid group.

Move Forward won massive youth support with its lively progressive agenda that was amplified by a sophisticated social media campaign, brushing aside military-backed parties in the 2023 polls and securing 30% of the seats in the lower house.

If it is found in breach of the constitution, the party could be dissolved and its executives banned from politics for a decade.

A party spokesman did not respond to a call seeking comment.

In January, the Constitutional Court ruled in an earlier case that Move Forward's plan to amend lese majeste laws was a hidden effort to undermine the monarchy. The court ordered the party to stop its campaign, which Move Forward did.

In 2020, the Move Forward's predecessor party, Future Forward, was dissolved over a campaign funding violation.

Future Forward's dissolution was among the factors that triggered massive anti-government street protests in 2020, calling for the removal of then Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha and reform of the monarchy.

(Reporting by Panarat Thepgumpanat, Panu Wongcha-um and Chayut Setboonsarng, Editing by Devjyot Ghoshal, Michael Perry, Ed Davies and Miral Fahmy)
FILE PHOTO: Thailand's Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin looks on during an interview with Reuters in Koh Samui

BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thailand's Constitutional Court said on Wednesday that it will hear a case on June 18 that could lead to the dismissal of Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin related to a cabinet appointment that is alleged to have violated the constitution.

The case against Srettha was launched following a complaint by 40 military appointed senators in May, which was subsequently accepted by the constitutional court.

The Constitutional Court on Wednesday also set June 18 to hear a case seeking to disband the opposition Move Forward Party.

The hearings are part of a trio of sensitive court cases that have ramped up political uncertainty in Southeast Asia's second-largest economy.

(Reporting by Panarat Thepgumpanat, Chayut Setboonsarng and Panu Wongcha-um; Editing by Ed Davies)
PARIS, June 12 (Xinhua) -- Former Director-General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Irina Bokova said in a recent interview with Xinhua that intercultural dialogue becomes ever more important as the world today is confronted with "numerous challenges" to peace and sustainable development.

On June 7, the 78th session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA) unanimously adopted a China-proposed resolution to designate June 10 as the International Day for Dialogue among Civilizations.

The UN itself was created in the belief that dialogue can triumph over discord, and UNESCO has actively worked to promote "fruitful diversity of cultures," Bokova said.

Dialogue is "a key driver of human civilization, a continuous force for creativity, for the development of new ideas and for the sharing of knowledge," she said, citing history of the Silk Road as an example.

"Over millennia, the wondrous story of the Silk Road has been one of encounters -- between people, cultures, religions and knowledge. These encounters have shaped civilizations over the ages ... catalyzing inventions ... fertilizing intellectual scholarship," Bokova said.

They also gave birth to literary and scientific treasures, to traditions and artistic practices that have been passed across generations, she added.

The Silk Road tells a story of human progress driven by mutual learning, and "they remind us no culture has ever flourished in isolation. Civilizations influence and enrich each other, growing stronger as they are more inclusive," Bokova said.

Bokova expressed hope that the International Day for Dialogue among Civilizations will strengthen the UN and UNESCO's activity in this area, and increase mutual understanding and knowledge among cultures around the world. 
Thief steals unlocked Lamborghini from SLC Intl Airport, police ask for help

SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4)  Police are asking for the publics help to identify a man they believe stole an unlocked Lamborghini from the Salt Lake International Airport.

The Salt Lake City Police said the owner of the 2023 blue Lamborghini Urus parked the car at the Salt Lake International Airport on Saturday, June 1. When the owner returned on Sunday, June 9, the car was missing.

Based on a preliminary investigation, police believe the suspect flew into Salt Lake City on Monday, June 3, and started checking car doors in the airports parking garage.

When the suspect came across the Lamborghini, he found the car unlocked with the keys inside, allowing him to steal the car, SLCPD said in a press release.

The Lamborghini is valued at about $234,000.

Detectives with the Salt Lake City Police Departments Airport Division and Auto Theft Unit are asking community members for their help in identifying the suspect. Anyone with information on the case is asked to contact the Salt Lake City Police Department at 801-799-3000.

Police also remind the public to always lock their cars, roll up windows, and never leave valuables or keys inside their car.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Thieves caught on camera breaking into Carrick home, driving off in owners car

A brazen crime was caught on camera early Tuesday morning. Thieves are seen breaking into a home in Pittsburghs Carrick neighborhood and driving off in the owners car.

Disturbing Ring doorbell video shows four kids in masks and hoodies walking up to the home on Antenor Avenue. One of them appears to be holding a gun as he opens the front door. It happened at 5 a.m. when it was still dark outside.

They were very brazen and bold in what they were doing, said Alyssa Wolfgang, the homeowners daughter.

No one was home at the time. A neighbor alerted the homeowner after noticing a window had been opened.

They looked directly at cameras, Wolfgang said. There are very bright lights shining down and none of that deterred them.

Surveillance cameras then captured the thieves scoping out the cars in the driveway. A short time after, theyre seen standing on the sidewalk, talking with the gun still in hand.

Moments later, the thieves are shown walking down the driveway and up the steps of the back deck. Thats where one of them allegedly opened a back window and went in.

The sheer amount of time that they kind of hung out, walking around, I think once or twice you can see them, said Wolfgang. They kind of huddle up and discuss things. They took their time.

Wolfgang said they were at the house for about 15 minutes.

One of the boys is seen standing by in the driveway as two others keep a lookout in the street. The fourth boy is inside.

You can see in the surveillance video he has a gun, and he cocks it before he goes up the steps, Wolfgang said.

A short time later, the thieves are seen opening the car door. One of them gets in and drives off.

They have masks on; theyre wearing all black, Wolfgang said. This doesnt look like this is the first time theyve done this.

The homeowner believes the thieves are the same four people who broke into his car and a handful of others a few months earlier and stole a handgun.

Wolfgang is hopeful this time theyll be caught.

One of these houses they enter, there might not be an empty house theyre walking into, so someone could get hurt and thats really scary.

The family filed a police report and said police are investigating.

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South Carolina state Rep. Ivory Thigpen won the most votes over two well-known contenders in the District 22 state Senate Democratic primary Tuesday, but by a very slight margin.

Democratic voters looked to replace state Sen. Mia McLeod, who did not seek reelection, from three contenders: Thigpen, first elected in 2016 to the House; Richland School District Two board member Monica Elkins; and Richland County Council member Overture Walker.

As of 10:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Thigpen led the race with 42.89% of votes, with 100% of precincts reporting. Walker received 40.34% of the vote and Elkins had received 16.77%.

Because no one gained more than 50% of the vote, Thigpen and Walker will compete in a runoff election on June 25. The winning candidate will face off with Workers Party candidate Gary Votour in November during the general election. Republican Lee Blatt withdrew from the race.

Whoever wins in November will receive a four-year term in the state Senate, which pays $10,400 a year plus a $1,000 a month district stipend.

Senate District 22 is in northeast Richland County.

Ivory Thigpen





A chiropractor and pastor of Rehoboth Baptist Church, Thigpen was elected to the South Carolina House of Representatives in 2016, serving District 79. He currently serves on the House Judiciary and Rules committees, and is chairman for the Legislative Black Caucus.

Thigpen told the State that before deciding to enter the Senate race, he spoke with McLeod and Elkins, separately, for hours.

We need someone who will be bold in making courageous decisions, who will talk about common sense legislation, who will provide leadership not simply through the words they say, but the actions that they take, Thigpen said.

Ivory Thigpen

Overture Walker

Walker, a small business owner and former municipal judge, was elected to the Richland County Council in 2020. While on the council, he served as chair for two years.

Walker was the Democratic nominee for County Council against Forward Party candidate Jim Andreen in November. But if he wins the senate primary, Walker has vowed to immediately withdraw as the Democratic County Council nominee to allow ample time for the voters to choose my successor.

Walker told The State that he only considered the senate seat after learning that my Senator, Mia McLeod (whom I have long supported), announced she would not seek reelection. And he added that should he win the senate nomination, he would withdraw immediately as the Democratic County Council nominee to allow ample time for the voters to choose my successor.

Overture Walker

Monica Elkins

A former teacher and elementary school principal, Elkins is well-known figure among the public education community in Richland County. Following her time as a school administrator, she was elected to the Richland Two school board in 2012.

Although well-regarded, Elkins was arrested and charged with disorderly conduct after shoving McLeods sister after a school board meeting in 2019. She underwent a diversion program for first-time offenders rather than face a trial.

Since that time, Elkins told The State that she will not entertain any discussion or distractions that dont align with what God has in store for my future.

Monica Elkins
Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Samuel Alito joined the Supreme Court in the mid-2000s as near-clones of each other in all the ways that seemed to matter, voting in lockstep to march the law steadily rightward. A lot has changed since then: As Adam Liptak notes in the New York Times, the two men have drifted apart, with Roberts assuming a more institutionalist role and Alito veering to the fringe-right flank. Much of this divergence has to do with style; the chief justice tries to sound like a reasonable moderate (though he often isnt), while Alito comes across as an aggrieved and paranoid culture warrior (which he really is). But there are, of course, real substantive differences as well, many of which seem to flow from each mans worldview.

Last week, progressive activist Lauren Windsor secretly taped the two justices opining, separately, about the Supreme Courts duty to push the nation down a more moral or divine path. These recordings perfectly crystalize a key distinction between Roberts and Alito, a rift that also divides todays MAGA-aligned judges from older-school conservatives. This chasm is currently vexing the lower courts that Donald Trump stacked with partisan activists. It will likely be resolvedin sharp favor of Alito and his alliesif the former president wins a second term.

Some background and caveats are necessary when discussing this audio. Windsor, attending a gala for the Supreme Court Historical Society, posed as an evangelical advocate eager to hear the justices views on religions role in the law. Secret recordings like these are certainly not traditional journalism, and people may not be 100 percent honest when trying to get a stranger to stop pestering them. Yet Roberts and Alitos comments to Windsor ring true because they mirror the justices past statements on this very issue. Windsor told Alito that, as a Catholic, I dont know that we can negotiate with the left in the way that needs to happen for the polarization to end. I think that its a matter of, like, winning. Alito responded: I think youre probably right. One side or the other, 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 knowbecause there are differences on fundamental things that really cant be compromised, so its not like youre going to split the difference. When Windsor added that the solution is winning the moral argument and fighting to return our country to a place of godliness, Alito said: I agree with you.

The justices reply maps perfectly onto a notorious speech he delivered in Rome two years ago at a religious liberty summit. At the time, his remarks drew headlines because he mocked foreign leaders who criticized his then recent decision overruling Roe v. Wade. But his words had a deeper, darker message: that a secular, liberal world order poses an existential threat to Christianity. The faithful, Alito declared, must fight the new moral code that is ascendent in secular society and allegedly breeds hostility toward traditional religious beliefs.

What, exactly, is this ascendant moral code that Alito decries? He had previously provided some details in a 2020 speech that condemned reproductive choice, same-sex marriage, and even COVID-related safety measures as persecution against religious conservatives. And in his own judicial opinions, Alito hits this same theme hard, warning that the expansion of rights for women and LGBTQ people necessitates the contraction of rights for Christians.

Now compare Alitos remarks with those of the chief justice. When Windsor asked Roberts whether he thought there was a role for the court in guiding us toward a more moral path, he did not take the bait. No, I think the role for the court is deciding the cases, he told Windsor. Would you want me to be in charge of guiding us toward a more moral path? Thats for the people we elect. Thats not the lawyers. Windsor pressed him, stating that we live in a Christian nation and the Supreme Court should be guiding us in that path. Roberts, though, resisted again. Yeah, I dont know that we live in a Christian nation, he said. I know a lot of Jewish and Muslim friends who would say maybe not. And its not our job to do that. Its our job to decide the cases as best we can. Its a much more modest job than I think people realize.

Viewed side-by-side, these exchanges reveal a dynamic familiar to anyone who has read their opinions: Roberts the institutionalist and Alito the culture warrior, as the Bulwarks Andrew Egger put it. Alito agrees that the country must be returned to a place of godliness, and obviously believes he, as a justice, has an important role to play in this course-correction. The chief justice, by contrast, says he wants to leave moral decisionmaking to elected representatives, and keep the courts agnostic about the proper role of Christian morality in the law. On the bench, Roberts does not always abide by this precept, sometimes overriding the peoples refusal to subsidize Christianity. But Matt Ford, writing in the New Republic, is surely correct that there is a real and meaningful gap between the two mens positions, one that occasionally manifests in important votes and opinions.

This is the same rift that cleaves the courts conservative supermajority. Justice Clarence Thomas shares Alitos Christianity-infused MAGA jurisprudence; Justices Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett, meanwhile, lean toward Roberts side of the divide. (Justice Neil Gorsuch is a chaos agent who does not seem personally pious but takes an alarmingly totalizing view of religious freedom.) Rumors of a 333 court have been greatly exaggerated, yet there is a part-time alliance between Roberts, Kavanaugh, and Barrett to stave off Trumpist extremism in a subset of cases. This coalition is mirrored in the lower courtswhere, as Voxs Ian Millhiser has written, traditional conservatives sometimes join with Democratic appointees to beat back the MAGA insurgency.)

The simplest way to think about this split is through the lens of partisanship: Some old-school, right-leaning judges are willing to vote in ways that do not benefit the Republican Party, and clash with Trumps vision of the courts as a means to ram through hard-right policy, punish enemies, and reward allies. The distinction, though, can also be seen through the lens of religion. MAGA judges tend to see America the way Windsor pretended toas a Christian nation whose Constitution is rooted in specific notions of Christian morality. (The Framers themselves did not see it this way.) When Clarence Thomas draws from natural law, for example, he is interpreting Americas founding documents as a divine legal code designed to guide the nation along a path toward, yes, godliness.

The conservative legal movement has increasingly embraced a Christianity-centered vision of constitutional law over recent years, sometimes even at the expense of the pro-business, anti-government roots of the movement itself. Its especially prominent on Trump-stacked courts like the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit, now dominated by trolls auditioning for the next Supreme Court opening. Judge James Ho, for instance, has quoted the Bible four times in opinions with zero religious valence. As Texas lawyer David Coale has noted, some of these citations are coupled with the pronouns us and we, as if Ho simply assumes all of us already know and believe that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.

Hos rhetoric is indicative of his substantive views, too: In April, he endorsed the Texas Legislatures book-banning crusade, a fixation grounded in Christian nationalism. (A fellow Trump appointee, Judge Don Willett, bucked his party to strike down a state book-banning law.) Ho also openly derides abortion as a moral tragedy and attacks reproductive freedom with inherently religious oratory. He shares this trait with a fellow Trump appointee, Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk, who drew heavily from the language of conservative Christian activists when attempting to ban the abortion pill last year. In another case, Kacsmaryk upheld a colleges prohibition of a drag performance on the grounds that the need to maintain public morality limits the scope of the First Amendment. The courts, Kacsmaryk asserted, may limit a persons right to express ideas about sexuality and gender based on their own subjective sense of licentiousness that might offend the (presumptively Christian) public.

If Trump wins in November, Ho and Kacsmaryk are the future of the Supreme Court. John Roberts description of a court that respects pluralistic society through compromise and restraint was never in fashion with MAGA judges. Alitos vision of a court that plays an activist role in securing Christian supremacy by joining one side of the culture war? Thats the future of the judiciary under Republican rule. The two visions cannot be reconciled, because the latter is unyielding and absolute. As Alito agreed, one side has to win. He hopes it will be his. The next election will determine if hes right.
Thousands of starving Palestinian children in southern Gaza are at risk of dying before their families eyes, according to the United Nations  a stark warning as Israels continued assault on Rafah cuts off access to the regions health care facilities and life-saving treatment for malnutrition.

The nearly 3,000 affected children make up about three-quarters of the Palestinian youth in southern Gaza who were estimated to have been receiving care for moderate to severe acute malnutrition before Israel expanded its military offensive into Rafah, according to reporting from nutrition partners working with the United Nations Childrens Fund, or UNICEF.

Horrific images continue to emerge from Gaza of children dying before their families eyes due to the continued lack of food, nutrition supplies and the destruction of healthcare services, Adele Khodr, UNICEFs regional director for the Middle East and North Africa, said in a statement on Tuesday.

Unless treatment can be quickly resumed for these 3,000 children, they are at immediate and serious risk of becoming critically ill, acquiring life-threatening complications, and joining the growing list of boys and girls who have been killed by this senseless, man-made deprivation, she continued.

Israels deadly military offensive in Gaza has entered its ninth month after Hamas militants attacked Israel on Oct. 7, killing about 1,200 people and taking about 250 hostages, roughly half of whom were released late last year. Since then, Israeli forces have killed more than 37,000 people  mostly women and children, according to the Gaza Health Ministry  displaced most of Gazas population, destroyed hospitals and blocked humanitarian assistance like food and clean water from entering the enclave.

Numbers are numbing. Seeing this on the news over and over again, there is a kind of normalization that happens because people feel helpless, Dr. Audrey McMahon, a pediatric psychiatrist who worked with Gazas children, told Doctors Without Borders. But these children are human beings that have the same right to have a life lived in peace, to have access to good food, to grow healthy. They should have a right to have dreams and hope for the future.

Children are born where theyre born, and it doesnt make them belong to any type of group, she continued. They are just children.

Amjad Al-Qanoo, a 3-year-old Palestinian child whose health is deteriorating due to malnutrition, pictured in Gaza City's Jabalia district on June 9, 2024. Mahmoud Issa/Anadolu via Getty Images

Initially, images of child starvation in northern Gaza shocked the world as Palestinians grew desperate for humanitarian aid that was not arriving. Visibly emaciated babies and small children were shown clinging on to life while some families spoke of having to resort to eating animal feed and grass.

Humanitarian groups say that the aid situation has slightly improved in the north, but with Israeli forces still attacking Rafah and blocking major aid routes in the area, children in south and central Gaza are becoming malnourished, with virtually no access to proper health care.

Due to their metabolism, children are more susceptible to malnutrition, which leads to dangerously low blood sugar levels and stunts their growth, according to Dr. Tanya Haj-Hasan, a Doctors Without Borders pediatrician who has worked with Gazas youth.

As adults, we need to eat so that we have energy, but our brains are fully developed. So if we are malnourished for some period of time, its very unlikely to impact our cognitive ability in the long term. Whereas in children, thats not true at all, she told the group earlier this month. We know that starvation over time will eventually not only stunt the growth of their bodies, but also the growth of their brains and lead to developmental delays later in life and an inability to reach their full cognitive potential.

Hana Abdelrahaman al-Rai, a 4-year-old child suffering from malnutrition, is pictured in a tent in Zawayda in central Gaza on June 4, 2024. She was displaced from Gaza City's eastern suburb of Shujaiya. Bashar Taleb/AFP via Getty Images

Recent malnutrition screenings in Gazas southern and central governorates show that cases of moderate and severe malnutrition have risen since the second week of May, when Israels assault on Rafah drastically cut off aid access, according to UNICEF.

Treating a malnourished child usually takes between six and eight weeks of uninterrupted care, the agency said, and requires special therapeutic food and formula  items that are rare at a time when Palestinians also face infection and disease due to collapsed water and health care systems.

Malnourished children also have compromised immune systems. So a simple infection like a virus or a diarrheal illness that would be totally recoverable in a healthy person could actually lead to a malnourished childs death, Haj-Hasan told Doctors Without Borders.

You end up in this vicious cycle where, as a consequence of recurrent bouts of diarrhea, illness and malnutrition, they have atrophy of the lining of their intestines, which affects their ability to absorb nutrients, she continued. So they have malabsorption, they lose more weight, their immunitys worse, and it just keeps going until the child dies.

Israel stands accused before the International Court of Justice of committing genocide against Palestinians, an allegation it and the U.S. have vehemently denied. Francesca Albanese, the U.N. special rapporteur for the region, published a detailed report earlier this year concluding that Israels actions against Palestinians, particularly since October, amount to genocide.
THP apprehends two 12-year-olds after they allegedly stole their teachers SUV

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN)  Two seventh grade students were apprehended by THP Tuesday after they allegedly stole a teachers SUV.

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According to the Metro Nashville Police Department (MNPD), the students were apprehended by THP troopers off Interstate 40 exit 152 at Bucksnort.

The 12-year-olds reportedly saw that the teacher left the key to her 2024 Honda CRV on her desk and took it.

Officials said the students were then seen leaving the Two Rivers Middle School parking lot at 2:50 p.m. on Tuesday, June 11. Parents of one of the students tracked their sons iPad until THP found them just off exit 152.

 Read todays top stories on wkrn.com

THP took the students into custody. Police said they will face charges in Davidson County Juvenile Court.

No other information was 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 WKRN News 2.
Election Day came and went Tuesday in a slew of South Carolina congressional, state and county races, leaving the campaign trail littered with celebratory confetti and its sad counterpart: the torn victory speeches of those who didnt win. Statewide, candidate signs are suddenly showing their age  or just as quickly being repurposed for a June 25 runoff or the Nov. 5 winner-take-all election.

If you voted, thank you. You did something that the vast majority of your fellow South Carolinians dont do: Vote in a political party primary. Neither Republicans nor Democrats surpassed 20% turnout in South Carolinas 13 nonpresidential primary elections from 1998 to 2022, according to South Carolina Election Commission voter participation data. This year, total turnout was less than 14%.

Republican primaries have eclipsed 15% voter turnout in only three recent elections, in 2002, 2004 and 2010. Democratic primaries have been unable to hit that mark, surpassing 10% just twice, in 1998 and 2018. Overall, the best turnout in a nonpresidential primary election was 26.7% in 1998 when nearly three out of four voters chose not to vote for South Carolinas public servants. Those were the days.

Its sad because so much is at stake in elections, from health care to schools to roads, and because Tuesdays winners will surely cast some major public policy votes.

Here are the three biggest takeaways from election night.

3. Nancy Mace had a big night.

U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace easily defeated two Republican challengers, avoiding a runoff election that seemed possible because of the millions of dollars being poured into the campaign against her. Now she is all but assured of returning to Washington, D.C., next year to represent her solidly Republican coastal congressional district.

In victory, she survived questions new and old, about whether she had abused a government reimbursement program and whether former House Speaker Kevin McCarthys animosity about the role she had played in ending his political career would now end hers.

None of that mattered. She won on the strength of two years of TV time, an endorsement from former president Donald Trump and last-minute hustle; she posted a video of herself placing campaign signs by polling places in the rain and in heels on Monday night. She is likely to remain the states only female member of Congress, which is especially notable when women are so underrepresented at the South Carolina Statehouse.

Mace doubled up the vote count of Catherine Templeton, a former director of two state agencies, and quadrupled the tally of Marine veteran Bill Young in the Republican primary. Shell face Democrat Michael B. Moore on Nov. 5 because he defeated Mac Deford in the Democratic primary. Of interest, Maces district was the only one of South Carolinas seven congressional districts in which former Gov. Nikki Haley defeated Trump in Februarys Republican presidential primary. But there was no Trump fatigue evident in Maces race.

South Carolina is still Trump Country, and Mace will still be on your TV for at least two more years.

2. The Freedom Caucus struck back.

Despite the efforts of Gov. Henry McMaster, the Post and Courier Editorial Board and others to get out the vote against hardline Freedom Caucus members, all of the groups 11 incumbents won their Republican primaries Tuesday night.

McMaster had taken the unusual step for him of endorsing challengers against three incumbent Freedom Caucus members, and the Post and Courier Editorial Board had taken an unprecedented step for it of publishing an anti-endorsement against all 32 Freedom Caucus candidates on the June 11 ballot. McMasters targets  Reps. April Cromer, Rob Harris and Josiah Magnuson  each won easily.

The Freedom Caucus, known for its stunts and shenanigans at the Statehouse as much as its chaotic, unapologetic targeting of status quo Republicans, picked up two additional seats at the expense of two prominent incumbents, Rep. Bill Sandifer, the chair of the House Labor, Commerce and Industry Committee, and Rep. Jay West, the assistant majority leader.

Two other Freedom Caucus candidates  Chris Huff and Sarita Edgerton  made June 25 runoff elections after placing first in the primary. In addition, two other Freedom Caucus members  Reps. Melissa Oremus and Jordan Pace  will almost assuredly retain their seats next year because they didnt draw a primary or a general election challenger.

So dont expect the caucus to ease up on its antics or approach any time soon. If anything, it may be even more emboldened.

It wasnt all good news for the Freedom Caucus, though. Efforts to pick up even more House seats failed as another 10 Freedom Caucus candidates were unsuccessful. And two of the more well known members of the caucus who relinquished their seats to run for Congress fell short. Stewart Jones finished third and failed to make a top-two runoff election in the 3rd congressional district GOP primary, and Adam Morgan lost by less than 2,300 votes out of nearly 71,000 cast in the 4th congressional district GOP primary.

There are real issues to be addressed at the Statehouse next session, only starting with energy, education and the environment. Its possible that the Freedom Caucus unsuccessful attempts at higher office will cause some self-reflection among its members at the Statehouse and maybe lower the temperature in the rooms off Gervais Street. But dont hold your breath.

1. Is this it for the sister senators?

In 2023, a bipartisan group of five female South Carolina state senators were recognized and revered nationwide as sister senators after they drew a line against a near-total ban on abortion in the state. South Carolinians remain divided on abortion, but the three Republican women in the group all faced serious primary election challenges on Tuesday. None had the evening they envisioned.

One was defeated easily, another lost by just 31 votes but will get an automatic recount, and a third faces a runoff election in two weeks against an opponent she barely outpolled when the tallying was done Tuesday. If she loses that runoff, the five sister senators could be down to a single sister senator just months after they all received the John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage award in October.

Mia McLeod, a Democrat turned independent in Richland Countys Senate District 22, did not run again for her seat. Margie Bright Matthews, a Democrat in Senate District 45, which stretches through Allendale, Beaufort, Charleston, Colleton, Hampton and Jasper counties, is assured of holding onto hers because she drew no election challenger this year. But she may be the last of the quintet.

Sister Sen. Penry Gustafson, R-Kershaw, is certainly gone. Allen Blackmon, a two-term Lancaster County Council member, easily won the pairs Republican primary, capturing four out of every five votes. He will now face Democrat Yokima Cureton in safely Republican Senate District 27 in Chesterfield, Kershaw and Lancaster counties. Cureton lost her last election, the 2022 Lancaster mayors race.

Sister Sen. Sandy Senn, R-Charleston, will also likely lose her seat. State Rep. Matt Leber, R-Johns Island, is ahead of her by four-tenths of a percentage point in Senate District 41 in Chesterfield, Kershaw and Lancaster counties, close enough to trigger an automatic recount but far enough ahead for him to be breathing easier than her. If Leber is ultimately victorious by defeating Democrat Rita Adkins in the fall, South Carolinas 46-member senate, which has only six women now, could be even more dominated by men.

Columbia Sen. Tameika Isaac Devine, who won a Senate seat in a January special election following the incumbents death, easily won her Democratic primary Tuesday and is a safe bet for re-election this fall in Senate District 19. So she at least will join Matthews in the senate. Will sister Sen. Katrina Shealy, R-Lexington, also return to the Statehouse? Its not looking good.

Shealy finished first in a three-person race on Tuesday, but by a thin margin, and now heads to a June 25 runoff election against lawyer Carlisle Kennedy. When the votes were tallied, she had won only four of every 10, an uncomfortable position for an incumbent to be in, but not the first or the worst discomfort for her in this race. Shealys tires were slashed while she was at church in March and someone broke a window at her house in April, possibly with a pellet gun, an act that prompted her to call the sheriffs department.

Shealy stated she wasnt worried at first, but due to election season, she has been dealing with various forms of harassment, the sheriffs report reads. [She] preferred the incident be documented in case anything further happens in the future.

No one should be threatened for their political views, especially when they are trying to find a compromise on a complex issue.

But elections have consequences. And the people spoke in this one. At least the ones who voted did.
Comments are taken directly from the latest Thurston County Public Health and Social Services (PHSS) inspection reports, which are available for each food establishment, at the Thurston County Environmental Health Office and their website. For questions concerning these reports, contact the health office at 360-867-2667.

Report restaurant, grocery store, deli or bakery complaints online via the complaint form here: https://www.thurstoncountywa.gov/phss/Pages/eh-problem.aspx.

Reading inspection scores:

Attention should be given to the type of violation (red versus blue) and whether the establishment has a history of red violations or repeat violations.

Red violations are those most likely to cause food-borne illness and must be corrected immediately if feasible or according to a compliance schedule established by the health officer. Example: not keeping food at the right temperature.

Blue violations relate to the overall cleanliness and condition of operation and must be corrected according to a compliance schedule established by the health officer. Example: a worn floor that needs replacing.

If red points exceed 45, the county will require a reinspection within 10 business days. A reinspection also is required if total red and blue points exceed 65.

If red points exceed 100 and theres a lack of managerial control, the county will shut down the establishment for at least 72 hours. The establishment may reopen after management and employees complete retraining and demonstrate corrective action during a reinspection.

Some common abbreviations: PHF/TCS is potentially hazardous food/time control for safety; RTE is ready to eat; PIC is person in charge; FWC is food worker card; CDI is corrected during inspection.

Tacos California  Westside #2

1302 Tracey St. SE, Lacey

Mobile Food Truck

June 6: 15 red points; 5 blue points.

Comments:

Raw chicken was stored over raw beef. Raw meet must be stored according to a hierarchy of storage.

Shredded lettuce and cooked tripe was cold held at 46 degrees rather than at or below 41 degrees.

An in-use chlorine solution was too weak as prepared.

Revel Lacey

333 Hoh St. SE, Lacey

Food Service Establishment

June 4: 5 red points; 5 red points.

Comments:

Food worker cards were not available or expired.

A ware washing machine did not surpass 120 degrees.

Fiesta Taco 1

2400 Harrison Ave. NW, Olympia

Mobile Food Unit

June 4: 5 red points; 0 blue points.

Comments:

Food worker cards were not available upon request.

SK Market LLC

221 Washington St. NE, Olympia

Grocery Stores and Confectioneries

June 3: 5 red points; 0 blue points.

Comments:

Multiple cold hold units had temperatures above 41 degrees.

Camp Solomon Schechter

1627 73rd Ave. SE, Olympia

Food Service Establishment

June 3: 5 red points; 0 blue points.

Comments:

Multiple cold hold units lacked internal thermometers.

No violations

Hands on Children Museum , 414 Jefferson St. NE, Olympia

Well 80 Artesian Brewing Company, 514 Fourth Ave. E., Olympia
Former House Speaker Michael Madigans longtime chief of staff is now a federal inmate, the highest-ranking associate of Americas longest-serving speaker to go to prison  so far.

Tim Mapes, 69, Madigans fierce gatekeeper for decades, reported Tuesday to a medium-security federal prison in Pensacola, Florida, to begin serving his 30-month sentence for perjury, according to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons.

Under federal rules, Mapes must serve 85% of his sentence, meaning with good behavior, he can expect to be released sometime in July 2026. An official release date will be set later by the prisons bureau.

Its the latest stop on a downward slide for a man who served for years as Madigans chief of staff, House clerk and executive director of the Madigan-run Illinois Democratic Party. The penitentiary is also a huge comedown for a guy who used to march throughout the House and bark orders to lawmakers at will  all with Madigans imprimatur.

Records show Mapes has at least one familiar face behind bars. The same Pensacola prison currently houses former state Rep. Luis Arroyo, a Chicago Democrat convicted in an unrelated bribery scheme involving sweepstakes gaming legislation. Arroyo was sentenced to 57 months last year and is due to be released in December 2025.

Mapes was convicted by a jury in August of perjury and attempted obstruction of justice charges alleging he lied to a grand jury in 2021 in a failed attempt to protect Madigan from a widening political corruption investigation.

When he went in for his interview, Mapes had been immunized by the U.S. attorneys office, meaning he could not be prosecuted for what he said as long as it was the truth.

In its decision, the jury found Mapes had lied on every occasion alleged by prosecutors in the indictment, which consisted mostly of a series of I dont recall answers to questions about assignments Madigan handed down to his longtime confidant, Michael McClain.

In May 2023, McClain was found guilty along with three others in a bribery conspiracy to funnel payments from Commonwealth Edison to Madigan associates in hopes of gaining the speakers influence over the utilitys legislative agenda in Springfield.

Madigan lost the speakership and resigned his House seat in 2021, a year before being indicted along with McClain in a separate racketeering case alleging Madigan ran a criminal enterprise that used his power of elected office to shake down ComEd and AT&T and a real estate developer in Chinatown.

The trial for Madigan and McClain was supposed to start in April but was delayed six months after the U.S. Supreme Court decided to review an Indiana case involving the same federal bribery statute.

rlong@chicagotribune.com

jmeisner@chicagotribune.com
On June 12, 2016, a gunman opened fire at the Pulse nightclub, a gay establishment in Orlando, Florida, leaving 49 people dead and 53 wounded; Omar Mateen pledged allegiance to the Islamic State group during a three-hour standoff before being killed in a shootout with police.

On this date:

In 1630, Englishman John Winthrop, leading a fleet carrying Puritan refugees, arrived at the Massachusetts Bay Colony, where he became its governor.

In 1776, Virginias colonial legislature adopted a Declaration of Rights.

In 1942, Anne Frank, a German-born Jewish girl living in Amsterdam, received a diary for her 13th birthday, less than a month before she and her family went into hiding from the Nazis.

In 1963, civil rights leader Medgar Evers, 37, was shot and killed outside his home in Jackson, Mississippi. (In 1994, Byron De La Beckwith was convicted of murdering Evers and sentenced to life in prison; he died in 2001.)

In 1964, South African Black nationalist Nelson Mandela was sentenced to life in prison along with seven other people, including Walter Sisulu, for committing sabotage against the apartheid regime (all were eventually released, Mandela in 1990).

In 1967, the U.S. Supreme Court, in Loving v. Virginia, unanimously struck down state laws prohibiting interracial marriages.

In 1978, David Berkowitz was sentenced to 25 years to life in prison for each of the six Son of Sam .44-caliber killings that terrified New Yorkers.

In 1987, President Ronald Reagan, during a visit to the divided German city of Berlin, exhorted Soviet leader Mikhail S. Gorbachev to tear down this wall.

In 1991, Russians went to the polls to elect Boris N. Yeltsin president of their republic.

In 1994, Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald Goldman were slashed to death outside her Los Angeles home. (O.J. Simpson was later acquitted of the killings in a criminal trial but was eventually held liable in a civil action.)

In 2004, former President Ronald Reagans body was sealed inside a tomb at his presidential library in Simi Valley, California, following a week of mourning and remembrance by world leaders and regular Americans.

In 2020, Rayshard Brooks, a 27-year-old Black man, was shot and killed by one of the two white officers who responded after he was found asleep in his car in the drive-thru lane of a Wendys restaurant in Atlanta; police body camera video showed Brooks struggling with the officers and grabbing a Taser from one of them, firing it as he fled.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
URUMQI, June 12 (Xinhua) -- The International Forum on the History and Future of Xinjiang, China was held on Wednesday in Kashgar, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, aiming to promote research on Xinjiang's cultural unity in diversity, and to deepen cross-cultural exchange and learning between China and the world.

Pan Yue, director of the National Ethnic Affairs Commission, delivered remarks at the forum's opening ceremony. He urged efforts to study Xinjiang based on the history of the community of the Chinese nation, and based on the pluralistic and integrated pattern of the Chinese nation, so that research can fully grasp how Xinjiang's various ethnic cultures are rooted in the Chinese civilization.

Addressing the event, Erkin Tuniyaz, chairman of the regional government of Xinjiang, noted Xinjiang's past progress in the preservation and passing down of its cultural heritage. He pledged comprehensive efforts in the future to tap into the cultural values and intellectual connotations of the region's historical and cultural heritage, engage actively in international exchange and cooperation, and break new ground on that front.

Diplomatic envoys of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan also delivered remarks at the opening ceremony, praising Xinjiang's role in their countries' cooperation with China.

During a roundtable discussion of the forum, more than 100 experts and scholars from China, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Australia, Egypt, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Mongolia, Russia, the United States and other countries exchanged views on such topics as Xinjiang's archaeology, history and development.

The forum was co-hosted by Minzu University of China, Peking University and Kashi University. 
Town of Franklin votes no on tax override for schools in special election

Town officials confirm a tax override that would assist in raising money for Franklin schools was shot down in a special election on Tuesday night.

Donna Grady, President of the Franklin Education Association, says the tax override lost by about 200 votes.

The override was designed to increase taxes on residents to help Franklin Schools recover from a $6.8 million shortfall in their budget.

On Monday, more than one hundred people gathered in support of the override, with Grady saying at the time a no vote would decimate the school system.

As of Friday, about 40 teachers received a pink slip, warning them of layoffs if the override failed.

Now that a no vote has become a reality, more layoffs for teachers and program cuts are expected in the near future.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

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A white, trad-wife TikToker was fired from her job after she casually used the N-word in a cooking video that quickly went viral on social media.

Lilly Gaddis recorded herself cooking in her kitchen, where she aired her grievances about the male community and the perception of women as gold diggers. She then referred to such women as dumb whores and immigrants fresh off the boat looking for a green card before her next talking point about her married friends.

She mentioned those she knows are married to broke-ass n***as, and we dont give a f**k about your money, in the nearly two-minute clip as she casually used the racial slur.

immigrants fresh off the boat broke ass niggas WHAT!!??? she dont give a fuck omg  pic.twitter.com/NpHMxzhTp0  rain (@ilyreinn) June 10, 2024

The clip quickly went viral on Monday, amassing millions of views across TikTok and various social media platforms. However, The Daily Beast reported that Gaddis TikTok page was suspended Tuesday evening after she posted a new video showing no remorse for her language.

All the backlash just really made me do a deep dive and soul search, and after all that, I still couldnt find a care, she said in the clip, sparking many user responses on the post.

Her former employer, Rophe of the Carolinas, a home health care company, became aware of the racist video and promptly terminated her employment, effective Tuesday. The company further confirmed this decision on its official X, formerly Twitter, account.

In a statement, Rophe refrained from mentioning the womans name but referred to her as a newly hired employee. The company emphasized that her views do not align with its mission, mainly as it is owned and operated by African American female and immigrant-owned business.

According to the New York Post, Gaddis worked as a marketing and sales manager at Rophe in Wilmington, North Carolina. She then posted about it on her X account just hours after receiving the news.

Oh no, I just got fired! #mob, she tweeted.

Gaddis relished the newfound attention she has received since the viral video. She also mentioned starting a new career because of it.

Thanks black community, for helping to launch my new career in conservative media! she wrote on the platform. You all played your role well like the puppets you are .

Thanks black community for helping to launch my new career in conservative media! You all played your role well like the puppets you are  Lilly (@llddiiss) June 11, 2024
(Bloomberg) -- Canadas federal government is looking to sell a 30% stake in the newly expanded Trans Mountain pipeline system to indigenous owners, Albertas premier said.

Most Read from Bloomberg

Most debt on the government-owned oil pipeline system can be financed through tolls charged to companies that ship on the line, Premier Danielle Smith said at a press conference in Calgary. The equity the government will need to raise to get the system into private hands was C$10 billion ($7.3 billion) as of a few months ago, she said.

They wanted to get the indigenous partners to own 30%, with the government possibly offering a loan guarantee to First Nations, she said. Its going to be a great source of income for the Indigenous partners.

The government sent a letter to First Nations groups last year proposing a special-purpose vehicle that would hold a stake in the pipeline, and individual groups would be able to choose whether to opt in. For those that want a piece of the action, the government intends to provide risk-free access to capital, the letter said, without providing details such as how big of a stake it would sell.

The sales process has since stalled, with Indigenous leaders earlier this year complaining of no further contact from the federal government.

The Trans Mountain system began operation in May, nearly tripling the capacity of Alberta oil producers to export crude off the Pacific Coast. The government  which bought the pipeline in 2018 to save it from cancellation amid fierce opposition in British Columbia  has pledged to sell the line and provide a stake in it to First Nations. But cost overruns that have quadrupled the projects price tag to C$34 billion have posed a challenge to the Trudeau governments plans.

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2024 Bloomberg L.P.
AUSTIN (KXAN)  A Travis County judge dismissed a lawsuit from Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton over the City of Austins voter-approved marijuana ordinance, according to Ground Game Texas and court documents.

Ground Games campaign in Austin is what got this organization started. We took our victory here and expanded to five more cities and have only grown from there. By protecting our first policy victory, we keep our statewide momentum going, and encourage more cities to follow suit, said Catina Voellinger, Executive Director of Ground Game Texas.

In 2022, voters in the City of Austin passed Proposition A, which effectively decriminalized low-level possession of marijuana. Ground Game Texas led that effort.

It codified rules that were already in practice. In 2020, the Austin Police Department issued a general order that prohibited arrests and citations for misdemeanor marijuana possession unless it would be a part of a violent or narcotics-related felony, KXAN previously reported.

Both rules still permit APD officers to seize any substance they believe to be marijuana.

This unconstitutional action by municipalities demonstrates why Texas must have a law to follow the law. Its quite simple: the legislature passes every law after a full debate on the issues, and we dont allow cities the ability to create anarchy by picking and choosing the laws they enforce, said Paxton in the release when the lawsuit was announced.

We appreciate the courts time and careful consideration and are pleased with the outcome. The ordinance challenged by the now-dismissed lawsuit reflects the will of the voters, who sent a clear message that law enforcement should prioritize resources to focus on critical public safety issues, rather than low-level marijuana possession. At its core, the ordinance does exactly that, without removing reasonable discretion from police officers to enforce the law. -City of Austin Spokesperson

AG Paxton sues Austin, four other Texas cities over marijuana policies

The Republican-controlled Texas Capitol has actively pushed back against decriminalization of marijuana. Thats why groups like Ground Game Texas have pushed local ballot measures to send a message to lawmakers and activate voters.

I just dont understand why, given the vacancy levels that we have in the police department, we would want to use our officers time arresting people or citing people for possessing small amounts of marijuana, Austin City Council Member Chito Vela said. I dont know why we would want to use our Travis County prosecutors time prosecuting people for having just a small amount of marijuana.

Other Texas cities like Denton, Elgin and San Marcos have also made the decision to decriminalize having small amounts of marijuana.

KXAN has reached out to Attorney General Ken Paxton. This is a developing story 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 KXAN Austin.
Attorneys for Donald Trump on Monday filed a motion to dismiss charges filed against the former president based on the documentation of evidence seized from his Mar-a-Lago estate during an August 2022 raid. Photo by Gary I Rothstein/UPI

June 12 (UPI) -- Donald Trump has again asked a federal judge to dismiss his classified documents case, this time on the grounds that the FBI "destroyed exculpatory evidence" during its raid of the former president's Mar-a-Lago estate.

Trump's defense argued in a filing made late Monday but announced by the former president's campaign Tuesday that FBI agents who raided Mar-a-Lago in August of 2022 mishandled the documenting of evidence, which could have been used to fight against the government's accusation that the former president was aware he was in possession of the classified records.

"The government was more interested in staging -- and leaking -- manipulated photographs to the press than preserving key exculpatory evidence that has now been lost forever," Trump's defense said in the filing.

Trump has pleaded not guilty to 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.

It was during the raid that the FBI seized tens of boxes containing classified documents and personal possessions, and Trump's defense on Tuesday is accusing the agents of not maintaining the order in which the documents were seized and properly documenting exactly where they were seized from.

His lawyers argue that they now don't know if boxes contained items such as newspaper and letters dated before Trump was in office along with confidential information, which "would have been potentially useful, and likely powerful in some instances, for the defense to be able to use this proximity to show how long the allegedly classified documents had resided in those boxes."

"The fact that the allegedly classified documents were buried in boxes and commingled with President Trump's personal effects from his first term in office strongly supported the defense argument that he lacked knowledge and culpable criminal intent with respect to the documents at issue," they said in the filing.

"Any proximity between allegedly classified documents and other dated materials from years before the move, such as letters and newspapers, would have further strengthened this argument."

These claims have been raised by Trump's team during the court case before. And special counsel Jack Smith, who filed the charges against the former president, acknowledged potential discrepancies between when the documents were seized from Mar-a-Lago and when they were scanned to create inventories of the evidence.

In a May filing, Smith said there are some boxes where the order of items within is not the same as the associated scans, stating this is because of when the boxes were accessed as well as the size and shape of items in the boxes.

"The boxes contain items smaller than standard paper such as index cards, books and stationary, which shift easily when the boxes are carried, especially because many of the boxes are not full," he said.

Walt Nauta, Trump's former valet, and former Mar-a-Lago maintenance worker Carlos De Oliveira are co-defendants in the case.

The filing late Monday came on the heels of District Judge Aileen Cannon rejecting Trump's request to dismiss several charges filed against him in the case.

While rejecting the move, she did remove a single paragraph from the indictment, calling it prejudicial.

In their filing Monday night, Trump's attorneys asked Cannon to throw out all evidence seized in the Mar-a-Lago raid.
Trump Is Allegedly Banned from 37 Counties as a Felon. Here's What We Know

On May 30, 2024, a New York jury found former U.S. President Donald Trump guilty on all 34 counts of falsifying business records stemming from a hush-money payment to porn star Stormy Daniels, who claimed she had an affair with Trump, ahead of the 2016 presidential election. The judgment inspired a flood of questions online, including: Is Trump banned from entering certain countries as a felon?

Multiple social media accounts and news outlets claimed that he was, including People magazine. Other outlets, including Time magazine and CBS News, said Trump "may" face travel bans. The claim also spread on social media.

FUN FACT: As a convicted felon, trump is BANNED from entering 37 countries, including some of our major allies like the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, Egypt, India, Ireland, Japan, South Korea...



We can't have a criminal representing us, America.  BrooklynDad_Defiant! (@mmpadellan) June 4, 2024

One of our readers submitted the following image and asked whether there was any truth to the claim:

(Reader Submission)

We looked into the claim and found that it requires context. We are in uncharted territory, given that Trump is the first former U.S. president convicted of any crime (let alone 34 felonies), and there are diplomatic privileges afforded to dignitaries that are otherwise unavailable to most felons. Therefore, the claim Trump is automatically banned from entering 37 countries as a felon are inaccurate.

If Trump Became President, Would Countries Allow an Exception?

In 2000, then-presidential candidate George W. Bush publicly admitted that he had pleaded guilty to a DUI charge from 1976, which complicated his entry into Canada. According to Canada's Criminal Code at the time, Bush was an "inadmissible" person, in violation of Section 19 (2) (a.1) of the Immigration Act of Canada. However, because the charge was more than 5 years old and Bush applied for a special waiver, Canada ultimately granted him permission to enter.

Although Bush's DUI charge was only a misdemeanor and a jury convicted Trump of 34 felonies, this is the only available precedent in American presidential history. Trump may be able to apply for special waivers as well. But it is unclear as of this writing which countries, if any, would consider approving a waiver or making special accommodations.

"If Trump is elected president this year, I would expect him to be able to travel under a diplomatic passport to any country whose leadership would like him to visit," Christopher Adolph, professor of political science at the University of Washington, told Snopes via email. "I do not know (in general or in specific cases) whether those privileges would grant immunity from laws barring felons from visiting a specific country, but I also cannot imagine that if a foreign government wanted the president of the United States to visit, that they would find a way to use the diplomatic visa process to ensure his entry."

Essentially, if Trump won the 2024 presidential election, his ability to travel to certain countries would likely entirely depend on each nation's willingness to allow him entry.

Which Countries Ban Felons from Entering?

Multiple sources, including Time and People magazines, cited World Population Review [archived here], which claims that 38 countries (including the United States) technically ban felons from acquiring visas. The site lists 16 countries that reserve the right to deny applicants up front, 22 that deny applicants if a felony is "discovered" (meaning that they do not actively screen applicants' criminal records) and 26 countries that actively allow entry to felons.

(World Population Review)

However, we looked into the sources cited by World Population Review and found them to be far from definitive. The website cites five sources, one of which is a Wikipedia page and four of which are blog-style legal advice articles; three display legal disclaimers clarifying that information provided may not be accurate.

On the World Population Review "About" page, the website describes itself as an "independent for-profit organization committed to delivering up-to-date global population data and demographics" with a staff that consists of "nine professionals." We reached out to World Population Review for comment and have not received a response as of this writing. We will update this story if they respond.

To continue, it is also somewhat of an oversimplification to claim that these countries will deny entry to felons; in reality, each country's parameters for handling felons differs in specific ways.

For example, Australia allows criminals in on a case-by-case basis using a process that assesses the character of the applicant. If you hold a "substantial criminal record"  based on the "length of a sentence imposed by a court of law"  you will not pass the character test. Similarly, Canada allows criminals in on the basis of their being "rehabilitated," which depends on the crime, whether enough time has passed since the end of the sentence and whether the person has committed more than one crime, according to the Government of Canada website.

"[Thirty-seven countries] may be accurate, but I suspect no country is going to bar (assuming he is elected) the President of the U.S. from visiting if that government invites him," David Bachman, professor of international studies at the University of Washington, told Snopes via email. "Only if a country really, really wants to make the U.S. (and Trump) angry, would they deny him access to that country."

In sum, without significant context, it is not accurate to say that 37 countries will ban Trump  should he win the presidency  from entering as a felon. Given the lack of precedent and the fact that each country maintains its own policies pertaining to the admission of felons, there are more questions than answers concerning the claim.

"The more interesting question, in my mind, is what will happen to Trump's ability to travel if he does *not* win the presidency back," wrote Adolph.

Sources:

About | World Population Review. https://worldpopulationreview.com/about. Accessed 7 June 2024.

Countries That Don't Allow Felons 2024. https://worldpopulationreview.com/country-rankings/countries-that-dont-allow-felons. Accessed 7 June 2024.

'Claims That Donald Trump Is No Longer Able to Visit 37 Countries Now That He's a Convicted Felon Need Context'. Verifythis.Com, 5 June 2024, https://www.verifythis.com/article/news/verify/donald-trump/claims-that-donald-trump-is-no-longer-able-to-visit-37-countries-now-that-hes-a-convicted-felon-need-context/536-7d6b43aa-4962-43a6-8c26-f1221e1bbd42.

'Diplomatic Immunity'. LII / Legal Information Institute, https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/diplomatic_immunity. Accessed 7 June 2024.

'Donald Trump Is Banned from 37 Countries as Convicted Felon, Including Major Allies Like Canada and U.K.' Peoplemag, https://people.com/donald-trump-barred-entering-37-countries-convicted-felon-8657038. Accessed 7 June 2024.

'Donald Trump Is Banned from 37 Countries as Convicted Felon, Including Major Allies Like Canada and U.K.' Yahoo News, 2 June 2024, https://ca.news.yahoo.com/donald-trump-banned-37-countries-144904689.html.

'Donald Trump Now Banned from Countries Including Canada and UK as Convicted Felon'. The Independent, 6 June 2024, https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/trump-banned-uk-canada-felony-conviction-b2556887.html.

'Entering the UK'. GOV.UK, https://www.gov.uk/uk-border-control. Accessed 7 June 2024.

Ewe, Koh. 'Here Are Other Countries That Have Convicted Ex-Leaders'. TIME, 31 May 2024, https://time.com/6984228/trump-convicted-world-leaders/.

Government of Canada; Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada. I Was Convicted of Driving While Impaired by Alcohol or Drugs. Can I Enter Canada? 7 Nov. 2012, https://ircc.canada.ca/english/helpcentre/answer.asp?qnum=152&top=8.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada. Overcome Criminal Convictions. 9 July 2010, https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/immigrate-canada/inadmissibility/overcome-criminal-convictions.html.

News, A. B. C. 'DUI Stops Bush From Freely Entering Canada'. ABC News, https://abcnews.go.com/International/story?id=82199&page=1. Accessed 7 June 2024.

Popli, Nik. 'How Trump's Life Will Change Now That He's a Convicted Felon'. TIME, 3 June 2024, https://time.com/6985067/donald-trump-felon-travel-guns-voting/.

Reporter, Marni Rose McFall Live News. 'Donald Trump Faces Travel Ban to 37 Countries'. Newsweek, 31 May 2024, https://www.newsweek.com/donald-trump-travel-ban-1906686.

Watson, Kathryn. Trump May Face Travel Restrictions in Some Countries after His New York Conviction - CBS News. 31 May 2024, https://www.cbsnews.com/news/can-trump-felon-international-travel/.
A federal appeals court has cleared the way for a lawsuit to proceed against a since-repealed vaccine mandate by Los Angeles schools. The suit is backed in part by an Idaho group. (Photo by Stephen Zenner/Getty Images)

Even though Los Angeles Unified dropped its COVID vaccine mandate for school staff almost a year ago, a lawsuit accusing the district of violating workers rights can still move forward, the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled.

The 2-1 ruling by a pair of federal judges appointed by former President Donald Trump revives a case that a lower court had dismissed. It also counters recent rulings by courts  including the 9th Circuit  that tossed lawsuits challenging expired COVID-19 rules on the grounds that the policies were no longer in effect.

The judges in the majority wrote this case was different because they found L.A. Unified demonstrated a pattern of withdrawing and reinstating its vaccination policies over the course of the lawsuit.

Accordingly, LAUSD has not carried its heavy burden to show that there is no reasonable possibility that it will again revert to imposing a similar policy, reads the opinion, issued Friday.

They also indicated they were open to arguments over the effectiveness of the vaccine, which the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention describes as a safe way to build immunity against COVID-19.

At this stage, we must accept Plaintiffs allegations that the vaccine does not prevent the spread of COVID-19 as true, Judge Ryan Nelson wrote. The opinion characterizes that aspect of the ruling as preliminary, and something that would be argued at a lower court.

In a concurring opinion, Judge Daniel Collins invoked Supreme Court precedent that compulsory treatment for the health benefit of the person treated  as opposed to compulsory treatment for the health benefit of others  implicates the fundamental right to refuse medical treatment.

The plaintiffs alleged that the vaccines do not prevent someone from becoming infected with COVID-19 and characterized it as a treatment rather than a traditional vaccine.

They argued that by requiring employees to get the COVID shot, the school district was interfering with workers right to refuse medical treatment.

No one with any credibility would tell you that the vaccine prevented COVID or stopped the spread, said John Howard, a San Diego attorney who argued the case on behalf of a handful of Los Angeles Unified employees and an Idaho-based group called the Health Freedom Defense Fund thats filed several other COVID vaccine lawsuits.

But when the hysteria was going on, thats exactly what pharmaceutical companies and others said, Howard said. It was false.

The CDC says: COVID-19 vaccines are effective at protecting people from getting seriously ill, being hospitalized, and dying.

A 2022 study published in the medical journal Lancet found COVID vaccines reduced symptoms in infected people, but did not necessarily slow transmission, although previous research indicated vaccines were effective in slowing the spread of early COVID variants. The Johns Hopkins University Coronavirus Resource Center states that COVID vaccines likely reduce the risk of virus transmission but probably not completely in everyone.

The school district can appeal the ruling to a larger panel of judges on the 9th Circuit, which covers nine states and has been considered the most liberal of the nations appellate circuits. If the new ruling stands, the lawsuit would return to the U.S. District Court for Central Central California in Los Angeles court for further arguments.

We are reviewing the 9th Circuit ruling and assessing the districts options, a spokesperson for the district said late Friday.

Lindsay Wiley, a law professor at UCLA and director of the schools Health Law and Policy Program, said the judges finding against a government intervention is extremely rare.

Judges applying this test are supposed to be highly deferential to the governments rationale and scientific findings, Wiley said. Its also notable that the judges in the majority went out of their way to reach the merits of the plaintiffs claim.

Perhaps most importantly, she said, the judges in the majority said the century-old law that upholds vaccine requirements does not apply unless the vaccine is effective in protecting others, not just the vaccinated person. This analysis is surprising and, I think, misguided.

The ruling could have a chilling effect on government attempts to require vaccines in the future, Wiley said. Governments should be careful to build the evidence base for their vaccination requirements, which are increasingly challenged by well-financed anti-vaccination groups in court.

Courts toss lawsuits over expired COVID rules

Courts recently have dismissed similar complaints because Californias COVID public health emergency expired a year ago, ending state measures such as mask mandates and lockdowns.

In 2022, a 9th Circuit panel of 11 judges ruled that a lawsuit against Gov. Gavin Newsom over COVID-related school closures couldnt move forward since schools had reopened and there was no longer a live controversy. Another ruling, last month in a California state appeals court, drew a similar conclusion in a lawsuit against Newsom over COVID safety guidelines.

In a dissenting opinion to the L.A. case, 9th Circuit Judge Michael Hawkins extensively cited the 2022 ruling on California school closures. He was appointed to the court by former President Clinton

This case is over, he wrote. We cannot grant the sole relief sought by the Plaintiffs, an injunction against enforcement of the school districts now rescinded COVID-19 vaccination policy.

L.A. Unifieds COVID vaccine mandate

The lawsuit against L.A. Unified stems from the districts initial policy from March 2021 requiring all employees to show proof of having the COVID vaccine or risk losing their jobs. A group of employees sued, and the district tweaked the policy to allow employees to show a negative COVID test if they didnt want to get the vaccine.

A judge dismissed that suit, but in August 2021 the district re-instated the vaccine mandate as schools re-opened for in-person instruction. The employees filed another suit, this time with the Health Freedom Defense Fund.

L.A. Unified, the nations second largest school district with more than 600,000 students, closed for in-person instruction for more than a year during the pandemic, like most school districts in California. Los Angeles was hit hard by the disease. As of last week, nearly 36,000 people in Los Angeles County have died of COVID, one of the highest per-capita mortality rates in California and far above the national average, according to public health data.

In August 2021, the United Teachers of Los Angeles union voted to support the districts vaccine mandate. Still, some district employees lost their jobs due to the districts mandate, Howard said.

People lost their homes, their careers. Some people had to leave the state. They had literally gone broke because of what L.A. Unified did to them, he said. It was appalling.

This story was originally published by CalMatters, our content partner in California.

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The post Trump-appointed judges revive lawsuit against Los Angeles schools COVID vaccine mandate appeared first on Idaho Capital Sun.
The process of withdrawing the Russian Federation's peacekeeping contingent, which was temporarily deployed in the territory of Azerbaijan after the Patriotic War, from the territory of our country ended on June 12, Azernews reports, citing the Defence Ministry.

The peacekeeping contingents personnel, weapons, and equipment have completely left the Azerbaijani territory.

Recall that since the signing of the act of capitulation between Azerbaijan and Armenia with the mediation of Russia on November 10, 2020, according to the agreement between Moscow and Baku, Russian peacekeepers have been deployed in Garabagh. At that time, because Armenians still lived in Garabagh, a peacekeeping contingent was operating in order to prevent tension between the parties. On September 19, 2023, after the successful anti-terrorist measures carried out by Azerbaijan, a group of separatist elements were completely neutralised in the Khankendi, Aghdara, Asgaran, and Khojavand regions.

After the prevention of the illegal Armenian armed military formations in Garabakh, mass migration of Armenians from Garabagh to Yerevan began. Although Azerbaijan offered citizenship to the Armenians in Garabagh, they found Yerevan more suitable. The population, who left Garabagh on their own volition, easily passed through the Lachin border crossing point and entered the territory of Armenia.

Currently, there are neither Armenian military formations nor populations in the territory of Garabagh, so there is no need for Russian peacekeeping forces to operate there. Therefore, the last group of peacekeepers in Khojaly, which is of historical importance for Azerbaijan, left the territory of Azerbaijan today.

Now the tricolour flag of Azerbaijan is flying proudly in Khojaly.




This photo provided by Government Communication and Information System (GCIS) of South Africa shows South African Minister of Health Joe Phaahla speaking during a media briefing in Pretoria, South Africa, on June 12, 2024. (GCIS/Handout via Xinhua)

JOHANNESBURG, June 12 (Xinhua) -- South Africa is on high alert following the outbreak of monkeypox in May, with five laboratory-confirmed cases including one death, Minister of Health Joe Phaahla said on Wednesday.

Phaahla told the media that all five patients diagnosed with monkeypox, also known as Mpox, three from KwaZulu-Natal Province and two from Gauteng Province, were men between the ages of 30 and 39 with no history of travel. Two remain hospitalized, two have been discharged, and one died on Monday in a hospital in Johannesburg.

"All five cases were classified as severe cases as per the World Health Organization (WHO) definition requiring hospitalization. Since the beginning of 2024, the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) has received 12 Mpox test requests, with three testing positive. The other two cases were diagnosed by private laboratories," said the minister. "Guidelines have been updated and shared widely across networks of healthcare workers using various platforms."

According to him, the outbreak response team, consisting of experts from various government sectors, the WHO, and other stakeholders, has embarked on contact tracing and case finding in the affected provinces of Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal.

"We can disrupt the local transmission by supporting those diagnosed with this disease in taking their treatment to prevent infecting others. We can prevent avoidable deaths by cooperating with health officials when they conduct contact tracing and case finding," Phaahla said, adding that they have held webinars about Mpox disease with more than 500 healthcare workers.

Fabian Ndenzako, a doctor with the WHO in South Africa, said they are working with the South African government to provide medicine for those infected with Mpox. A total of 10 doses of vaccine have been packaged in Geneva, Switzerland, and are awaiting paperwork to be processed and then shipped to South Africa.

The WHO defines an outbreak of monkeypox when two cases are confirmed. Ndenzako noted that since all five cases have no travel history, the country could be sitting on a high number of Mpox cases.

Monkeypox is an infectious disease caused by the monkeypox virus. Most people fully recover, but some get very sick. The virus can be transmitted to humans through physical contact with someone infectious, with contaminated materials, or with infected animals. Symptoms of monkeypox include an unexplained acute rash and back pain, swollen lymph nodes, acute onset of fever, headache, muscle and body aches, and low energy.

According to the WHO, from Jan. 1, 2022, to May 31, 2024, a total of 97,208 laboratory-confirmed cases of monkeypox were reported, including 186 deaths from 117 countries. South Africa recorded five cases of monkeypox in 2022, with no cases reported in 2023. Enditem.
An Army veteran who got a last-minute Donald Trump endorsement won the Nevada Senate Republican primary late Tuesday after another GOP Senate hopeful claimed the endorsement had been bought for cash.

Former Army Capt. Sam Brown had been backed by the National Republican Senatorial Committee throughout the race, and he was widely seen as a shoo-in even before he clinched 59.6 percent of the vote on Tuesday night. But the race was not without turbulence within the GOP, as Browns opponent, Trumps former ambassador to Iceland, Jeffrey Gunter, alleged on social media that a big check had been behind the former presidents belated endorsement of Brown.

Trump announced his endorsement on Sunday night after his rally in Las Vegas, just two days before the primary, praising Brown as a fearless American patriot. Gunter claimed, without providing evidence, that the swamp had swayed Trump with a check, an allegation the Trump campaign has denied.

Gunter lost to Brown by more than 40 points.

Thank you all for your resounding support tonight. Now were on to Novemberto bring accountability to DC, and finally retire Joe Biden and Jacky Rosen, Brown said in a statement on X after his win.

Wife of GOP Senate Candidate Speaks Out About Her Abortion

Brown will now face off against Democratic Sen. Jacky Rosen, who has already released her first ad hitting the former Army captain on abortion. The 30-second ad tells the story of a woman who says she was forced to leave Texas when she needed an abortion due to devastating complications in her pregnancy.

Before Sam Brown ran for office in Nevada, he ran in Texas, where he pushed one of the most extreme abortion bans, a narrator says in the ad released Monday. The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee has dubbed Brown a MAGA extremist.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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A waiter serves drinks outside a restaurant in July 2020 in New York City. Low-wage workers in many states saw a big boost in their pay during the COVID-19 pandemic, between 2019 and 2022. Jeenah Moon/Getty Images

A waiter serves drinks outside a restaurant in July 2020 in New York City. Low-wage workers in many states saw a big boost in their pay during the COVID-19 pandemic, between 2019 and 2022. Jeenah Moon/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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Trump, Former Crypto Skeptic, Is Going All Out to Win the Bitcoin Bro Vote

Donald Trump made another attempt to burnish his crypto-friendly credentials on Tuesday, meeting several Bitcoin miners at Mar-a-Lago and publicly denouncing President Joe Bidens supposed hatred of the technology.

Matthew Schultz, the executive chairman of crypto mining firm CleanSpark, told Bloomberg that Trump talked up his love and understanding of cryptocurrency at the event in Florida. He also vowed to become an advocate for miners in the White House, according to Schultz.

Trumps Shark-Phobia Gets the Best of Him During Meandering Rally Rant

VOTE FOR TRUMP! Bitcoin mining may be our last line of defense against a CBDC, Trump wrote in a post on his Truth Social account Tuesday, referring to a central bank digital currency. Bidens hatred of Bitcoin only helps China, Russia, and the Radical Communist Left, Trump added. We want all the remaining Bitcoin to be MADE IN THE USA!!! It will help us be ENERGY DOMINANT!!!

Its not clear how Trump believes large-scale Bitcoin miningwhich notoriously involves the consumption of astonishing amounts of powerwill help American energy dominance, though Schultz claimed Trump said Bitcoin miners would help stabilize energy supply from the grid. Its also uncertain how near a CBDC is to becoming a reality, with Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell saying in March that nothing like a CBDC is remotely close to happening anytime soon.

So. I just ran into a guy thats a huge fan of #bitcoin and LOVES what were doing at @CleanSpark_Inc in #georgia and #mississippi and #wyoming. pic.twitter.com/ofSXJGWWfn  S Matthew Schultz (@smatthewschultz) June 11, 2024

The presumptive GOP nominee, who is recently reported to have promised to become the crypto president if he wins re-election, appears to have had a total change of heart about Bitcoin, which he likened to a a scam just three years ago. Trump also said he was not a fan of Bitcoin and other Cryptocurrencies in 2019, saying they are not money, and whose value is highly volatile and based on thin air.

Last month, his campaign announced a new website where his supporters could make crypto donations to his joint fundraising committees. As our President, Donald J. Trump has reduced regulations and championed innovation in financial technology, while Democrats, like Biden and his official surrogate Elizabeth Warren, continue to believe only government has the answers to how our nation leads the world, his campaign said.

Sen. Warren (D-MA) has become an outspoken critic of the risks that crypto investing can pose to ordinary Americans as well as the technologys use in unlawful activitiesa concern that Trump, now a convicted felon, once shared. Last week, while meeting tech investors at a San Francisco fundraiser, Trump reportedly denounced Warrens efforts going after crypto while referring to her as Pocahontas.

Trump has even sought to marry his newfound fondness for crypto with his ongoing legal troubles. He held a Mar-a-Lago dinner in May for people who bought at least 47 of his Mugshot Edition non-fungible tokens (NFTs), which he sold for $99 apiece.

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Former President Trump took to the Democratic bastion of San Francisco last week to meet with a growing cohort of conservative technology executives, as the GOP appears to be making inroads in traditionally deep blue Silicon Valley.

At a fundraiser hosted Thursday night by venture capitalists David Sacks and Chamath Palihapitiya, Trump raked in millions as he courted prominent figures in the tech and cryptocurrency industries.

While some in Silicon Valley have long supported Republicans, a growing number who once donated to Democrats are now backing Trumps bid against President Biden.

Shaun Maguire, a partner at the venture capital firm Sequoia Capital, came out in support of the former president last month, after he was convicted on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records.

I just donated $300k to President Trump, Maguire wrote in a post on the social platform X. The timing isnt a coincidence.

Maguire noted in a lengthy post explaining his decision that he previously donated to and voted for Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton.

While he said he was disillusioned and didnt vote in 2020, records show the venture capitalist continued to financially support Democratic candidates in lower-level races during that election cycle, according to the campaign finance tracker OpenSecrets.

Now, in 2024, I believe this is one of the most important elections of my lifetime, and Im supporting Trump, Maguire added.

Tech adviser Jacob Helberg, who attended last Thursdays fundraiser, was also once a prominent Democratic donor, contributing to Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, Vice President Harris and even Biden as they vied for 2020 Democratic nomination.

However, the tides appear to have turned in late 2021, when Helberg began donating to several Republicans, including Arizona Senate candidate Blake Masters, Sen. Ted Cruz (Texas) and Sen. Tom Cotton (Ark.), according to OpenSecrets.

Helberg has since donated $1 million to the Trump campaign, according to The Washington Post.

Last night, there was energy and excitement for a Republican presidential candidate unlike anything Ive ever seen in Silicon Valley, Helberg said in a statement following the fundraiser for the former president in San Francisco.

This event was proof that President Trumps campaign is creating a generational realignment among technology founders, Millennials, gays, and Jewish Americans that transcends party lines and makes him more competitive in even the most traditionally blue communities, he added.

Wealthy tech entrepreneurs have previously been very left-wing on most issues other than regulation, said Neil Malhotra, a professor of political economy at the Stanford Graduate School of Business who surveyed hundreds of tech leaders for a 2017 paper.

Theres been prominent people, both in the venture capital community and the founder community, that have kind of had a right-wing turn since around 2020, Malhotra told The Hill.

But we dont know if this is representative of the broader group of people, or its just a small, prominent group of people that may or may not reflect kind of a canary in the coal mine, he added.

The Biden administrations aggressive regulation of big tech companies, as well as its hesitant approach toward crypto, may be contributing to this shift among some tech leaders, Malhotra said.

The Department of Justice and the Federal Trade Commission have brought massive antitrust lawsuits against Google, Amazon and Apple under Biden. However, the antitrust push started under Trump, who also brought cases against Google and Meta.

Biden has also angered some in the tech world with his administrations approach toward crypto regulation.

The president recently vetoed a congressional resolution seeking to overturn a Securities and Exchange Commission rule that was opposed by the crypto industry.

He also declined to support the Financial Innovation and Technology for the 21st Century Act, which sought to redefine the classification of digital assets, although Biden did not explicitly say he would veto the legislation.

There has always been a vibe in Silicon Valley  Let us create, let us produce and leave us alone. We dont believe that we should answer, or we dont believe that we need to answer to some of the more problematic consequences of our tech creations, Democratic strategist Rodell Mollineau told The Hill.

In Trump, I think they see someone whos just going to leave them alone, let them do what they will, let them continue to create without any interference, he said.

Despite Trumps antitrust efforts in his first term, Mollineau noted that the former president has recently sought to lure corporate leaders back to his camp with promises of lighter regulation and tax cuts.

Republican lawmakers are preparing a legislative sprint to extend key provisions of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, Trumps landmark tax-cut bill, which expire at the end of 2025.

A full GOP sweep of the White House and Congress would give Republicans the chance to renew several aspects of the law heavily supported by big business and the financial sector, including a 21-percent corporate tax rate.

The TCJA also lowered personal income taxes across the board, meaning tax bills for high earners could shoot up if Democrats stave off a red wave.

Thats pretty much his pitch to corporate America, so it wouldnt surprise me if this is his pitch to Silicon Valley, Hey, support me and Im just going to leave you alone, Mollineau said.

While some money in Silicon Valley may have shifted toward Trump, a substantial amount of money is still betting on Biden, he added.

Venture capitalists Vinod Khosla and Michael Moritz, Microsoft vice chair and President Brad Smith, LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman, former Meta Chief Operating Officer Sheryl Sandberg and former Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer are among those in Silicon Valley supporting the presidents bid for reelection, according to the Post and Yahoo Finance.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Former President Trump has a 2-3 chance of winning the White House in November, according to The Economists election forecast model launched Wednesday.

The model predicts Trump has a 66-100 chance of winning, while President Biden has a 33-100 chance of winning.

The results are similar to a forecast model from Decision Desk HQ and The Hill released late last month. In that models most recent update, Trump holds a 56-100 chance of winning the presidency, while Biden has a 44-100 chance.

The Economists forecast model, which is set to be updated daily, puts the likelihood of a Trump victory at the highest level since the beginning of March  the earliest daily prediction The Economist included retroactively in its forecast model.

For about three months, Trumps chances of winning were in the mid-to-high 50s, occasionally reaching 60 or 61. Bidens chances, conversely, were mostly in the low-to-mid 40s, occasionally dropping down to 39 or 40.

As opposed to national polling averages  which suggest a toss-up race between Trump and Biden  the forecast model looks at the electoral college vote map and calculates the likelihood of a candidate reaching the necessary 270 votes to win.

The Economist model identifies six battleground states, worth 77 electoral votes, that will be decisive in November, noting Trump won five of the six in 2016, and Biden won all six in 2020.

Four states are categorized as uncertain, meaning the likelihood of a Trump victory in the state is less than 65 in 100: Nevada (64 in 100), Pennsylvania (63 in 100), Wisconsin (59 in 100) and Michigan (56 in 100).

The model predicts a Trump victory is likely  meaning 65-85 in 100  in Georgia (76 in 100) and in Arizona (69 in 100).

The Economist notes that each of those six states has a varying degree of importance to each candidate. The model predicts the likelihood of Pennsylvania deciding the election outcome is 24 percent, and the likelihood for Michigan is 14 percent. The other states are below 10 percent.

For Biden, victories in Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin are especially important to win the electoral college. The model predicts Biden has a 5-100 chance of reelection if he loses Michigan, a 7-100 shot if he loses Pennsylvania and a 9-100 shot if he loses Wisconsin.

A loss in Arizona or Nevada would bring Bidens chances down to 20 in 100, while a loss in Georgia would bring his chances to 24 in 100.

Pennsylvania will be key for a Trump victory as well. A loss in Pennsylvania brings the likelihood of his victory down from 66 in 100 to 21 in 100. A loss in either Michigan or Wisconsin would bring the likelihood down to 30 in 100. An Arizona loss would mean he still has a 35-100 shot, a Georgia loss gives him a 37-100 shot, and a Nevada loss would give him a 42-100 shot.

The model combines national and state-level polls with various other data points  including historical voting patterns, economic indicators and demographic information  which have proven to be predictive in previous presidential election cycles.

The model then runs 10,001 scenarios, which each contain different vote shares in each state and different values for the impact of polling biases and other characteristics. The final determination reflects the percentage of scenarios each candidates won.

This story was updated at 11:49 a.m.

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Former President Trump is leading President Biden by 2 points in a hypothetical race among Pennsylvania voters, according to a new poll.

The Marist Poll survey, released Wednesday, found Trump received 47 percent support to President Bidens 45 percent. Independent candidate Robert F. Kennedy garnered only 3 percent, while 2 percent said they were still undecided.

The 2-point lead falls within the polls margin of error.

Trump edges Biden by a similar margin among independent voters in the Keystone State, with 42 percent supporting the presumptive GOP nominee, 40 percent supporting Biden and 8 percent supporting Kennedy, per the survey.

Pennsylvania, which Biden narrowly won in 2020, will be a critical battleground state for the candidates to secure their victory in the November rematch.

The poll also notes the incumbents drop in support among Black voters, although he is still leading Trump by a significant margin  68 percent to 23 percent. In 2020, however, Black voters in the state overwhelming voted for Biden over the former president, 92 percent to 7 percent.

Biden similarly lost support among voters younger than 45  a group he won in 2020 by 24 percentage points. Now, he leads by 2 points, 46 percent to Trumps 44 percent.

At the same time, the former president won voters 45 and older by 12 percentage points in 2020. In this poll, however, he leads by just 3 points, 48 percent to Bidens 45 percent.

Once a Democratic stronghold, Pennsylvanias 19 electoral votes are up for grabs, said Lee Miringoff, director of the Marist Institute for Public Opinion, in a statement.

Although Obama carried Pennsylvania handily in 2008 and 2012, Trump broke the blue wall in 2016 against Clinton before Biden held serve for the Democrats in 2020. Now, there are no guarantees for either candidate, Miringoff added.

The Hill/Decision Desk HQs national polling average echoes the Pennsylvania poll, with Biden trailing Trump by 2 points  41.8 percent to 39.8 percent  and Kennedy bringing in 8 percent of the vote. The polling index in Pennsylvania has the incumbent and former president virtually tied with Trump at 41.6 percent, Biden at 41.3 percent and Kennedy at 8.1 percent.

The Marist Poll survey, conducted from June 3-6, included 1,181 registered voters in Pennsylvania and had a margin of error of 3.6 percentage points.

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Former President Trump on Wednesday pushed for all remaining Bitcoin to be mined in the United States, marking his latest shift in support for the crypto industry.

We want all the remaining Bitcoin to be MADE IN THE USA!!! It will help us be ENERGY DOMINANT!!! Trump wrote Wednesday on Truth Social.

The former president argued domestic Bitcoin, which is acquired through an energy-intensive computational process called mining, could be the last line of defense against a CBDC, or central bank digital currency. The worlds largest CBDC pilot is currently being led by China.

Other countries are also planning domestic digital currencies, however the U.S. House last month passed a bill barring the Federal Reserve from issuing a CBDC unless it has explicit authorization from Congress.

Trumps Truth Social post also went after President Biden, claiming his hatred of Bitcoin only helps China, Russia and the Radical Communist Left.

The Biden administration has been cautious in its approach to cryptocurrency, during a period in which the sector has largely been defined by high-profile scandals that have hurt investors.

Biden signed an executive order in 2022 calling for government agencies to evaluate the risks and benefits of cryptocurrencies as it pertains to consumer protection, financial stability and illicit activity.

Trumps post came a day after he met with leaders of several Bitcoin mining companies at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida.

His latest court of support from the cryptocurrency industry comes after years of his own skepticism over digital currencies

Trump, in 2019, said he was not a fan of Bitcoin and other Cryptocurrencies, which are not money, and whose value is highly volatile and based on thin air. Unregulated Crypto Assets can facilitate unlawful behavior, including drug trade and other illegal activity.

Earlier this year, the former president said he would not allow the creation of a central bank digital currency if elected, calling it a dangerous threat to freedom.

The Hill reached out to the White House for further comment.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Donald Trump  and establishment Republicans not named Kevin McCarthy  mostly got what they wanted on Tuesday night.

Elections across five states Tuesday were largely low-turnout affairs, but theyll help shape the future of Congress. Voters who cast their ballots helped select a new U.S. representative in Ohio, picked battleground contenders whose races could help determine control of Congress in 2025 and settled safe seat grudge matches in a long-running fight over the makeup of the House GOP conference. But there was one constant across the Republican primaries: Trump remains the kingmaker.

Some of the races set Tuesday night are already drawing high levels of spending, including the huge Senate race between Democratic Sen. Jacky Rosen and Republican Sam Brown in Nevada and a trio of battleground House seats in the state. And Rep. Jared Golden of Maine, the rare Trump-seat Democrat, also learned his general election opponent on Tuesday in another race where outside groups have already reserved millions of dollars in ad time for the general election.

Here are three takeaways from Tuesdays down-ballot elections.

McCarthys revenge tour is off to a bumpy start

Millions of dollars werent enough to take down Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.), the first of the Gaetz Eight to face a primary.

Outside groups affiliated with McCarthy, whom Mace and seven others voted to oust from the speakership, invested heavily in Tuesdays primary to give Mace some payback. But that jockeying couldnt even force her into a runoff: She easily earned a majority of the vote, finishing with an almost 30-point margin over her biggest challenger, former gubernatorial candidate Catherine Templeton.



The next stop on McCarthys revenge tour is next week in Virginias 5th District, where Rep. Bob Good is fighting for his political life against state Sen. John McGuire. And although Maces win in the face of such significant opposition could be a reassuring sign for the rest of the McCarthy detractors, Good doesnt have one of Maces key assets: a Trump endorsement.

The former president threw his backing behind McGuire, shunning Good after he initially endorsed Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis for president. Plenty of Goods colleagues arent on his side, either, due in part to the House Freedom Caucus chairs habit of supporting primary challengers to incumbents. McGuire has a fundraising advantage over Good, and there is heavy spending from outside groups to oust the incumbent.



But Good does have the support of the Club for Growth  which played a part in boosting Mace to victory on Tuesday. Maces win also demonstrated how difficult it is to remove an incumbent: No member of Congress has been defeated by a non-incumbent challenger yet this cycle.

Republican Reps. Eli Crane (Ariz.) and Matt Gaetz (Fla.), who also voted to strip McCarthy of the gavel, also have primary challengers later this summer. Those races have yet to see any significant activity, although a group in McCarthys orbit has begun advertising against the incumbents.

Trump  and establishment Republicans  had a good night

Candidates who got the coveted Trump endorsement all won their races on Tuesday. And it was a good night for the national party committees, which have sought to get the former president on board with their preferred candidates.

In Nevada, Brown  an Army veteran  coasted to the GOP nomination for Senate, besting Jeffrey Gunter, the former Iceland ambassador under Trump. Brown came up short in the states Republican Senate primary in 2022 but was endorsed by the National Republican Senatorial Committee this time, and  after a push from Chair Steve Daines (R-Mont.)  got the Trump endorsement in a Truth Social post after the former presidents Las Vegas rally on Sunday.

Gunters campaign never got much momentum, and the easy win means Brown comes out of the primary with few bruises and $2.5 million in his campaign account as of a few weeks ago. He will face Rosen in the general election.



In addition to Maces victory, another endangered South Carolina Republican who was endorsed by Trump eked out a win on Tuesday. Rep. William Timmons narrowly defeated a primary challenge from state Rep. Adam Morgan, who ran to his right. Timmons benefited from more than $1 million in ads from establishment-aligned groups and relied on Trumps backing in the closing stretch of the campaign.

In Maines 2nd Congressional District, where Republicans are again seeking to knock off Golden, former NASCAR driver-turned-state Rep. Austin Theriault cruised to victory over fellow state Rep. Mike Soboleski. Theriault was endorsed by both Trump and Speaker Mike Johnson. He will face Golden in a district that Trump won handily in 2020, but where Republicans have struggled to mount a close congressional campaign.

In North Dakota, the Trump-endorsed Rep. Kelly Armstrong won big over Lt. Gov. Tammy Miller in the Republican gubernatorial primary. Miller had the endorsement of North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, who has been floated as a possible vice presidential pick for Trump. But Armstrong, who has experience winning statewide in the at-large congressional seat, had the backing of Trump and the state Republican Party.

And in the race to succeed Armstrong, Trump and Burgum both backed Public Service Commissioner Julie Fedorchak, who defeated Rick Becker, a former state legislator. He was supported by the Club for Growth and the House Freedom Caucus political arm, and was on the opposite end of spending from a super PAC looking to block potential rabble-rousers.

Democrats continue to overperform in special elections

Few expected much of a contest out of Tuesdays special election in the deep-red Ohios 6th Congressional District, where Trump won by nearly 29 points in 2020.

Republican state Sen. Michael Rulli and Democrat Michael Kripchak  an Air Force veteran recently working as a waiter  faced off for the chance to replace former Rep. Bill Johnson, who stepped down earlier this year to helm Youngstown State University.

But the race looked close for several hours after the polls closed. Rulli ultimately won, with the final margin likely to be a bit more than 9 points  a Democratic overperformance of nearly 20 points.



It is the latest example of Democratic candidates dramatically exceeding expectations in down-ballot special elections this cycle. In April, now-Rep. Tim Kennedy (D-N.Y.) won a special election in New Yorks 26th Congressional District running about 6 points ahead of Bidens 2020 performance in the district. In February, now-Rep. Tom Suozzi (D-N.Y.) flipped a seat previously held by disgraced former GOP Rep. George Santos. And Democrats have pointed to other special state legislative victories in states such as Pennsylvania and Alabama as signs of party momentum.

Of course, special elections are very different from general elections. Turnout is far lower: in Ohios election on Tuesday, about 60,000 votes were cast, compared with 280,000 in the same district in November 2022. Still, Ohio is a pivotal state for control of the U.S. Senate this year, as Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown faces a tough reelection battle on the ballot in a presidential year.

Democrats will take any positive signs in the state, and they certainly got one on Tuesday.
KIGALI, June 12 (Xinhua) -- Rwanda has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the International Vaccine Institute (IVI) on the establishment of the African Regional Office of the institute in the Rwandan capital city of Kigali.

The MoU was signed by Rwanda's Minister of Health Sabin Nsanzimana and the director general of the IVI Jerome Kim Tuesday in Kigali, the ministry said in a statement.

The new office, which will open later this year, will act as a hub for global health research, innovation, and collaboration, the IVI said.

The IVI, headquartered in Seoul, the Republic of Korea, was established in 1997 at the initiative of the United Nations Development Program, with a mission to discover, develop, and deliver safe, effective, and affordable vaccines for global health, according to the statement.

Rwanda was selected by the IVI Board of Trustees after a detailed evaluation of proposals from five African countries that had expressed interest in hosting the regional office. 
When former President Donald Trump agreed to address a conference hosted by an organization that opposes abortion in all circumstances, President Joe Biden's campaign cited the appearance as evidence of Trump's extremism on the issue. But in his brief recorded remarks at the Danbury Institute's Life & Liberty Forum in Indianapolis on Monday, Trump did not explicitly mention abortion at all, although he paid lip service to the value of "innocent life."

That episode reflects the dilemma Trump faces as he tries to retain the support of pro-life activists without alienating voters who reject the hardline position of groups like the Danbury Institute. Trump has staked out a mushy middle ground that is more consistent with public opinion, even as he brags about his role in overturning Roe v. Wade and describes himself as "the most pro-life president in American history."

The Danbury Institute's understanding of "pro-life" is clear. "The greatest atrocity facing our generation today is the practice of abortionchild sacrifice on the altar of self," it declares. "Abortion must be ended. We will not rest until it is eradicated entirely."

The group emphatically opposes exceptions that Trump supports. "Abortion is never medically necessary to save the life of a mother," it says, adding that "aborting an innocent child conceived in rape or incest only compounds the injustice and pain caused by the initial crime."

Whatever their moral logic, those views are wildly unpopular, even among Republicans. And according to recent polling, voters who are dissatisfied with current abortion policies overwhelmingly say they are too strict, while 63 percent of Americans think "abortion should be legal in all or most cases."

The latter view could be consistent with banning abortion after 15 weeks of gestation, since around 96 percent of abortions are performed before that cutoff. But Trump, after floating the possibility of a 15-week federal ban, reconsidered the idea.

Trump's now says abortion regulation should be left to the states, which jibes with the federalist critique of Roe. Biden, by contrast, supports national legislation that would codify Roe's limits, without much regard to the constitutional rationale for overriding state legislators in this area.

Roe is often described as recognizing a right to abortion prior to fetal "viability," which nowadays is said to occur around 24 weeks. But Roe and its progeny also required that post-viability abortions be allowed when pregnancies "endanger the woman's life or health"a potentially sweeping exception that arguably mandates "abortion access for all pregnancies."

That broad interpretation of the health exception underlies Trump's charge that Democrats are "radically out of touch with the majority of Americans in their support for abortion up until birth." Beyond his rejection of abortion on demand, however, Trump is cagey about which restrictions he favors.

Trump has said "heartbeat" laws, which apply around six weeks into a pregnancy and rule out most abortions, are "a terrible thing and a terrible mistake." But the mistake that Trump perceives seems to be more political than moral.

After Republicans' disappointing performance in the 2022 midterm elections, Trump complained that his party's candidates had "lost large numbers of Voters" because they "poorly handled" the "abortion issue," especially when they "firmly insisted on No Exceptions." Republican politicians who share Trump's concern were relieved when he helped neutralize this electoral liability by accepting a wide range of state policies.

Although Trump's federalist approach has a sound constitutional basis, his apparent agnosticism regarding exactly how abortion should be regulated suggests he has no firm convictions on the subject. Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, was "deeply disappointed" by Trump's position, while Live Action founder Lila Rose flatly declared that "President Trump is not a pro-life candidate."

When push comes to shove, Trump is betting, such critics will swallow their reservations and turn out for the man who ensured Roe's demise. But as his triangulation shows, that victory was just the beginning of the struggle to persuade Americans that "abortion must be ended."

 Copyright 2024 by Creators Syndicate Inc.

The post Trump's Abortion Dilemma appeared first on Reason.com.
Trump's campaign was rooting for Hunter Biden to be acquitted. Now, it's changing tactics.

Trump's campaign was rooting for Hunter Biden to be acquitted. Now, it's changing tactics.

Hunter Biden's conviction disrupts Donald Trump's claims of a rigged justice system favoring the Bidens.

Now, the Trump campaign is changing its attack strategy.

Trump's campaign had hoped an acquittal would support his narrative of political persecution.

Hunter Biden can now be called a convicted felon  just like former President Donald Trump.

But that throws a wrench into the Trump campaign's messaging that the justice system is rigged against him in favor of the Biden family.

Insiders within the Trump campaign had talked about how a Hunter Biden acquittal would help Trump raise millions of dollars because it would help prove his narrative that he's a victim of political persecution, The New York Times reported, citing a person with knowledge of the campaign.

Trump has been able to turn his own legal struggles into a massive fundraising bone for his campaign. In 24 hours after Trump's Manhattan verdict, his campaign claimed it raised more than $50 million in online donations. Trump was convicted of all 34 criminal counts related to a scheme to help falsify business records to cover up a hush money payment to adult film actress Stormy Daniels before the 2016 election.

A Politico analysis previously found that Trump's most successful fundraising days during the 2024 cycle were related to his legal woes.

But the guilty verdict against Hunter Biden has raised an uncomfortable question: If the justice system is rigged by Joe Biden against Trump, why would the system also convict the president's son?

A GOP strategist told Politico the decision had thrown "a bit of sand in the gears" of those echoing Trump's lines of attack.

Now that Hunter Biden has been convicted of three felony counts related to obtaining a gun while addicted to drugs, Trump's campaign is shifting its attack strategy.

Instead, the campaign is painting the conviction as a distraction from what it says, without any evidence, are greater crimes.

"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 Biden's reign over the Biden Family Criminal Empire is all coming to an end on November 5, and never again will a Biden sell government access for personal profit," Leavitt added.

Republicans, led by the House GOP, have tried to argue that President Biden directly benefited from an alleged influence-peddling scheme. Despite years of investigations, they have not produced direct evidence of the president's wrongdoing.

Trump himself said in a private meeting last year that Republicans shouldn't "go overboard" attacking the president's son because it could backfire against him by making the president seem like a sympathetic father, The Times reported, citing a person who was present at the meeting.

The Times noted that references to Hunter Biden had quietly been scaled back in Trump's campaign speeches.

Biden, meanwhile, vowed not to pardon his son and said he'd respect the jury's verdict.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Today (June 12), the New York Times revealed that the Oklahoma Supreme Court dismissed a lawsuit filed by the last survivors of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre. The decision dealt a blow to advocates seeking justice for one of the most egregious acts of violence against Black Americans in United States history. The ruling, which upheld a district court judge's previous decision, concluded that while the grievances of the plaintiffs were valid, they did not align with the parameters outlined in the state's public nuisance statute.

Lessie Benningfield Randle and Viola Fletcher, both of whom are over 100 years of age, aimed to hold the city of Tulsa and other entities accountable for the devastation wrought upon the once-thriving Black community of Greenwood. This district, often referred to as Black Wall Street, was ravaged by a white mob on May 31 and June 1, 1921. The violence, which saw the looting and burning of businesses and homes, resulted in the deaths of up to 300 Black residents, with thousands more forced into internment camps under National Guard supervision.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aib7nexeTno

For Randle and Fletcher, along with now-deceased plaintiff Hughes Van Ellis, the lawsuit represented a final quest for justice within their lifetimes. Its past time," Randle stated before the states decision. I would like to see this all cleared up and we go down the right road. But I do not know if I will ever see that.

District Court Judge Caroline Wall previously ruled in May 2022 that the case could proceed before dismissing it a year later. As reported by REVOLT, she sided with city lawyers, who argued that simply being connected to a historical event does not provide a person with unlimited rights to seek compensation from any project in any way related to that historical event. In August 2023, the Oklahoma Supreme Court agreed to hear an appeal of the lower courts dismissal.

We were forced to plead this case beyond what is required under Oklahoma standards, which is certainly a familiar circumstance when Black Americans ask the American legal system to work for them, read a statement by the survivors' attorney, Damario Solomon-Simmons, after Judge Wall's dismissal. Like so many Black Americans, we carry the weight of intergenerational racial trauma day in and day out."
On Wednesday, the Oklahoma Supreme Court ruled to dismiss a case brought by the last known survivors of the Tulsa Race Massacre. The lawsuit, which sought reparations for two women who survived the massacre as children, was seen as a final effort to achieve justice for the victims of the attack.

Lawsuit represented last survivors sued for 1921 massacre

The Oklahoma Supreme Courts ruling upheld a July 2023 lower court judgment that dismissed the case of Lessie Benningfield Randle, 109, and Viola Ford Fletcher, 110. Both plaintiffs were children in 1921 living in Tulsas thriving Greenwood District, also known as Black Wall Street, when a white mob attacked, supported by aerial bombardment. The massacre killed up to 300 people and destroyed the neighborhood. In 2020, Randle and Fletcher joined Fletchers brother, Hughes Van Ellis, to sue the Tulsa County Sheriff, as well as county commissioners and the Oklahoma Military Department, for reparations for the massacre. Van Ellis died in October at 102, leaving Randle and Fletcher as the last two known survivors of the massacre.

Public nuisance claim thrown out by court

In an 8-1 ruling, the court declared that with respect to their public nuisance claim, though Plaintiffs grievances are legitimate, they do not fall within the scope of our States public nuisance statute. The court also ruled that Plaintiffs allegations do not sufficiently support a claim for unjust enrichment under the states relevant statute.

After the ruling, the City of Tulsa issued a statement saying that it respects the courts decision and affirms the significance of the work the City continues to do in the North Tulsa and Greenwood communities, citing various initiatives and projects and demonstration that the City remains committed to working with residents and providing resources to support the North Tulsa and Greenwood communities.

This is it

In an April interview with CNN, the survivors lawyer, Damario Solomon-Simmons, told the network that the appeal to the Oklahoma Supreme Court was the last step in his clients case.

There is no going to the United States Supreme Court. There is no going to the federal court system, Solomon-Simmons told the news network. This is it.

Journalist Nikole Hannah-Jones tweeted that the decision demonstrated the need for reparations that included descendants of victims.

These survivors for more than a century have stubbornly refused to die, only to be denied justice again and again, adding that when it comes to descendants of slavery, this country has always engaged in the tactic of delay until death.

Dont ever talk to me about how Black people arent owed reparations because no one alive has suffered what the reparations are for. These survivors for more than a century have stubbornly refused to die, only to be denied justice again and again. That is despite the fact that https://t.co/Qdp7SpeBFV  Ida Bae Wells (@nhannahjones) June 12, 2024

It appears that justice will be permanently delayed for Randle and Fletcher. With reparations movements continuing in some states and localities across the U.S. but being stifled in others, the fight to achieve justice for anti-Black racism and violence remains a long, hard struggle.
Turkey is anchored in the West despite split on Gaza, US envoy says

FILE PHOTO: U.S. Ambassador to Turkey Flake speaks during an interview with Reuters in Ankara

By Jonathan Spicer and Tuvan Gumrukcu

ANKARA (Reuters) - Turkey remains firmly anchored in the West and its partnership with the United States has never been stronger even as the sides remain split on Israel's war in Gaza, U.S. Ambassador to Ankara Jeff Flake told Reuters.

Flake, set to leave his post this autumn, said Turkey's endorsement of NATO enlargement and a deal to sell U.S. F-16s signalled Ankara's tilt to the West this year and set the stage for lasting momentum in trade and investment.

"The strategic partnership has never been stronger and we're in a good place," Flake, 61, said in the interview at his residence in Ankara.

A former Republican senator nominated by Democratic President Joe Biden, Flake's posting began in early 2022 and has been dominated by fallout from Russia's invasion of Ukraine, which happened six weeks after he arrived in Turkey.

Washington has pressed Ankara to clamp down on any evasions of its sanctions on Moscow, and also to endorse NATO enlargement, which resolved in January with Turkey's blessing of Sweden's membership after a 20-month delay.

Flake said that despite Turkey's strong economic, commercial and energy ties with Russia, the war in Ukraine highlighted its commitment to NATO and the West.

Turkey "has been pitch perfect in its support for Ukraine's territorial integrity and sovereignty," Flake said, citing its halting Russian warships transiting to the Black Sea and its supplying drones to Kyiv.

He added that bipartisan sentiment toward Turkey in the U.S. Congress had turned positive this year, and that would continue irrespective of the U.S. election outcome in November.

"They're firmly anchored in the West."

ISRAEL-GAZA SPLIT

The main strains on U.S.-Turkey ties in recent years are the U.S. alliance with Syrian Kurds that Turkey deems terrorists, and over Turkey's purchase of Russian S-400 defences that prompted U.S. sanctions and removal from a F-35 jet programme.

The latest divergence is over the Gaza war, for which Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan has sharply criticised what he calls Israeli war crimes and U.S. support for the operation against Palestinian militant group Hamas.

The U.S. envoy said that while Erdogan's planned visit with Biden at the White House last month was cancelled due to scheduling problems, it also happened at a time that the situation in Gaza cast a "tough political backdrop".

"Obviously there's going to be differences with the Gaza situation, that's a tough one," he said.

But Flake added that Ankara's close ties with Hamas political leaders provided a valuable conduit during the conflict and in ceasefire talks, and that Washington sometimes asks it to deliver messages to them.

A North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) leaders meeting in Washington next month presents an opportunity for a Biden-Erdogan meeting given "there's some desire on both sides," he said.

RUSSIAN-TURKISH TIES

In his 2-1/2 years in Turkey, Flake sought to use his ties with U.S. Congress to overcome some members' concerns over Turkey's commitment to the West and over Erdogan's record on human rights.

The sale of F-16 jets and modernisation kits to Turkey - just after the endorsement of Sweden's NATO bid - shows growing trust between the sides, Flake said, and helped "unlock" cooperation in manufacturing and other direct investments.

Flake's comments come after Ankara said last week it could consider joining the BRICS group of nations - comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, and others.

Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan met President Vladimir Putin in Russia this week and attended a BRICS meeting. Fidan was later cited by state media as saying that Turkish-Russian ties "are truly going fantastically well."

Putin said on Tuesday Erdogan would attend a Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in July and he hoped to meet him there.

Flake said that while he hoped Turkey would not join BRICS, such a move would not change its alignment with the West.

"I think that they realize that Russia's economy is turning to a wartime economy. There's not much future there, particularly with the sanctions that have been imposed by the West," he said, adding Washington was working with Ankara to ease its energy reliance on Russia.

(Reporting by Jonathan Spicer and Tuvan Gumrukcu, Editing by William Maclean)
TUSCOLA, Ill. (WCIA)  The Tuscola Fire Department got to tour its new firehouse on Tuesday and they did so with a beloved member of their department.

Captain Bill Schweighart has been battling brain cancer since December. After surgery in Chicago, followed by two months of chemotherapy and radiation, he returned home in March.

Because of his cancer and treatment, Schweighart has mobility issues, but that didnt stop him from touring the new firehouse with his coworkers. The Tuscola Fire Department said a member of the Tuscola community allowed them to use a bus to bring Schweighart to the firehouse.

Photo courtesy of the Tuscola Fire Departments Facebook page

Tonight was the first time Capt. Schweighart was able to come and see the new station and judging by all of his smiles, I think he liked it, a department official posted on Facebook.

Tuscola business gets structural upgrades, shuts down streets

In addition to his coworkers, the current firefighters of Tuscola, Schweighart was joined by several retired employees in touring the firehouse.

The department said in a prior Facebook post that they will be posting information about a community open house event in the future. They have not shared any further details about the event yet.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WCIA.com.
BECKLEY, WV (WVNS)  A woman was arrested on Tuesday, June 11, 2024 in relation to the death of two twin toddlers.

30-year-old Olivia Moore, was arrested on Tuesday, June 11, 2024 for two counts of child neglect causing death.

West Virginia State Police investigating deaths of twin toddlers in Raleigh County

According to the criminal complaint, troopers responded to reports of unresponsive twin babies in Raleigh County on Wednesday, February 28, 2024. Once troopers arrived on the scene, they found that the twins were dead with foam coming from their mouths.

Troopers reported that the twins were moved from a back bedroom to a couch in the living room by Moore before members of law enforcement arrived on scene. The scene was secured by members of the West Virginia State Police, who then contacted the West Virginia State police Crime Scene Team so that the crime scene could be processed.

The home was tested for carbon monoxide by the Bradley Volunteer Fire Department, which came back negative.

Deadly shooting in Mercer County under investigation

Moore was interviewed by a trooper at the Beckley Detachment of the West Virginia State Police while the scene was being processed by the crime scene team. The criminal complaint stated that according to Moore, she was looking after the twins the previous night and that morning. During the interview, Moore told troopers that something appeared off with the twins at around 2:00 a.m. in the morning, but they were still alive.

When the investigating trooper received the death certificates for the babies, they made note of ethanol and fentanyl intoxication, as well as carfentanil, acetylfentanyl, lidocane, quinine, and diphenhydramine intoxication.

Troopers proceeded to contact Moore on Monday, June 10, 2024 and requested a meeting with a trooper at the West Virginia State Police Beckley Detachment. Moore was arrested following another interview on Tuesday, June 11, 2024

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WVNS.
A major two-month detour is beginning in Adams County on Thursday, PennDOT said in a press release.

Weather permitting, beginning on Thursday, June 13, 2024, Baltimore Pike, also known as Route 97, south of Littlestown, will be detoured while crews replace a box culvert and retaining wall in Germany Township, Adams County.

Those heading south out of Littlestown are advised to take Route 194 in Littlestown east towards Pine Grove Road, then head south on Pine Grove Road until the road turns into Old Hanover Road and continues until Route 97 south of the closure.

A map shows the route of a detour due to roadwork, circled in red, on Route 97 south of Littlestown in Adams County.

Drivers heading north towards Littlestown out of Maryland should do the opposite, taking Old Hanover Road until it turns into Pine Grove Road, continuing north until they get to Route 194, then west into Littlestown Borough

The two-month detour is expected to be lifted by around Friday, Aug. 16, 2024, PennDOT said.

The work is part of a $2,737,247 project being done by JVI Group, Inc., of York Springs, which will entail paving, base repair, guiderail and drainage replacement, ADA ramps, markings, signs, and other construction.

While the detour will end in August, all work is expected to be completed by Oct. 17, 2024.

This article originally appeared on Hanover Evening Sun: Two-month detour beginning south of Littlestown, Adams County
A representative of the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine (DIU), Andriy Yusov, has said that two Russian Su-57 aircraft were hit on Russian territory simultaneously.

Source: Yusov on air of national joint 24/7 newscast

Quote from Yusov: "As for the downing of the Su-57 on the territory of the aggressor state, it was almost 600 km from our border.

We have not officially commented on whose operation it is, but analysts can make their own assumptions. So, in terms of confirmation of the damage, we can say that one Su-57 is heavily damaged, while the other took less damage, and it is likely to be repaired in a shorter time.

Nevertheless, it is a fact that for the first time Su-57s have been hit, and for the first time, two of these brand new Russian fighter jets, the pride of the ruscist [aero]space forces - have been hit at once."

Details: Yusov said the Russians have less than ten such aircraft.

For reference: A Su-57 is Moscow's most advanced fighter jet capable of using missiles and bombs for various kinds of tasks.

Background:

A cutting-edge Russian Su-57 multi-purpose fighter jet was struck at the Akhtubinsk airfield in Russia's Astrakhan Oblast, 589 kilometres from the war zone in Ukraine, on 8 June.

Earlier, the DIU dod not confirm that there were two damaged aircrafts.

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California laws prohibiting the sales of firearms and ammunition on state property are constitutional, the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled Tuesday.

The ruling stems from a case titled B&L Productions Inc. v. Newsom that challenged recent state laws that barred the sale of firearms and ammunition at fairgrounds and other state property.

Gov. Gavin Newsom signed the legislation into law between 2019 and 2023.

California bill could force some stores to close self-checkout lanes

The plaintiffs, a group of firearms sellers and gun advocacy groups including a show promoter named B&L Productions, argued that the legislation violated their First and Second Amendments.

B&L Productions operates gun shows in California under the name Crossroads of the West, and it has held shows in Bakersfield, San Bernardino, Costa Mesa and Ontario.

Guns should not be sold on property owned by the state; it is that simple, Attorney General Rob Bonta said in a statement.

Sales of illegal firearms and ammunition, and sales of firearms and ammunition to prohibited persons, have happened on state property and these laws will further help to prevent that going forward.

The latest decision resolves two cases in which lower courts were split on the issue.

California lawmakers approve bills to ban grocery, retail stores from offering reusable plastic bags

Judge Richard R. Clifton, who wrote for a unanimous three-judge panel, wrote that the laws dont violate the First Amendment because they solely restrict non-expressive conduct  contracting for the sale of firearms and dont violate the Second Amendment because they do not meaningfully constrain anyones ability to keep and bear arms.

Tiffany D. Cheuvront  an attorney for the gun sellers and advocacy groups, including B&L Productions Inc.  told the Los Angeles Times that the decision was extremely disappointing and that she plans to appeal.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA.
The Biden administration announced hundreds of new measures Wednesday aimed at choking off Russias ability to fund its war against Ukraine, more than two years since it launched a full-scale invasion.

The announcement comes as President Biden is set to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at a leaders summit of the Group of Seven (G7) nations this week. The global grouping has been at the forefront of working to financially choke off Russian President Vladimir Putins ability to wage war.

We are increasing the risk for financial institutions dealing with Russias war economy and eliminating paths for evasion, and diminishing Russias ability to benefit from access to foreign technology, equipment, software, and IT services, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said in a statement.

Every day, Russia continues to mortgage its future to sustain its unjust war of choice against Ukraine.

5 things to watch for Bidens G7 trip to Italy

Still, its unclear the impact the sanctions will have on harming Russias ability to wage war.

Independent analyses of Russias wartime economy have found that Putin has managed to implement deft policies to circumvent the punishment of sanctions.

High revenue from continued, and some illicit, oil sales is a major financial stream. Putins focus on domestic production and trade with countries like China, and others that have not joined sanctions, are key avenues for Russia to circumvent sanctions on certain blocked materials.

The Treasury Department and State Department said Wednesday about 300 sanctions were issued on individuals and entities whose products and services enable Russia to sustain its war effort and evade sanctions, according to a statement from Treasury.

The sanctions target individuals and entities in Russia and across the world, including in Asia, the Middle East, Europe, Africa, Central Asia and the Caribbean.

The actions taken Wednesday also include new guidelines for foreign financial institutions, warning them of the risk of being sanctioned for transacting with Russias war economy. The Treasury identified foreign branches of Russian banks as sanctioned  citing branches in China, India and Kyrgyzstan.

The Treasury Department is also taking steps to impede the Russian governments ability to employ IT consultancy services and design services, with these restrictions taking effect in September. The measures are meant to target the Russian government specifically, and not individuals, the agency said in its statement.

Despite the new prohibitions, OFAC [Office of Foreign Assets Control] continues to maintain authorizations for certain telecommunication and internet-related transactions, as well as humanitarian transactions, the Treasury said in a statement.

Further sanctions target Russias pursuit of liquified natural gas exports. The sanctions also seek to disrupt Russias efforts to circumvent sanctions, by designating 90 individuals and entities across the world that are identified as part of the supply chains fueling the Russian military. The individuals and entities are identified as being located in Russia, Belarus, the British Virgin Islands, Bulgaria, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, the Peoples Republic of China, Serbia, South Africa, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
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
Syrian-American Majd Kamalmaz was last seen February 2017, when he was stopped at a Syrian government checkpoint in the Damascus suburb of Mezzeh. The U.S. government on Tuesday formally acknowledge that Kamalmaz died while in Syrian custody. Photo courtesy FBI/Release

June 11 (UPI) -- The United States on Tuesday formally recognized the death of Majd Kamalmaz, an American psychologist who disappeared in Syria in 2017.

Kamalmaz was a Syrian-American who took his services to the Middle Eastern country to treat traumatized refugees of the civil war. According to the FBI, he was last seen February 2017, when he was stopped at a Syrian government checkpoint in the Damascus suburb of Mezzeh.

He had traveled to the city a day prior to visit an elderly relative. He was also looking to establish a clinic in the Syrian capital, the FBI said.

Since his disappearance, his family and the U.S. government have tried to secure his release, but the Syrian regime of President Bashar al-Assad has never acknowledged its detention of Kamalmaz.

"Today, we honor Majd Kamalmaz, an American who died while being held in Syria," Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Tuesday in a statement.

In honor of Kamalmaz, the hostage and wrongful detainee flag was flown on several federal buildings, including the White House, on Tuesday.

Kamalmaz's family participated in the flag-raising ceremony at the State Department's Washington, D.C., headquarters, according to the Syrian Emergency Task Force.

"He is and he was the kind of person we need more of in our nation and communities around the world," Acting Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs John Bass said of Kamalmaz during the ceremony, according to the Syrian Emergency Task Force, which was live tweeting the event.

"This is a call to action that reminds us all of the commitment to all Americans who have been taken like Majd held hostage overseas."

We are at the Hostages and wrongful detainees flag raising at State Department honoring Majd Kamalmaz, live tweeting quotes from family, loved ones and officials. @MKamalmaz @BOFHcampaign pic.twitter.com/LkiZQLkUYI Syrian Emergency Task Force (@syrianetf) June 11, 2024

The announcement comes after his family announced last month that Kamalmaz had died. The New York Times reported May 18 that his family was informed of his death in Syria's prison system by national security officials.

"We support Majd's family and the families of all those who are missing or unjustly detained in Syria in their quest for accountability," Blinken said in the statement. "Even as we pay tribute to Majd today, we will keep fighting for all Americans held hostage or wrongfully detained abroad."

The Syrian Emergency Task Force, a Washington-based organization that seeks the end of the civil war and supports those who stand against the Syrian regime, is now demanding the United States open a criminal investigation "into the horrors Majd endured in Assad's dungeons," it said.

The Syrian regime "must definitely answer for what happened to Majd, but this will not happen if the USG does not demonstrate interest and outrage for the killing of an American citizen and open a criminal investigation immediately," it said on X.

Kamalmaz is one of several Americans who have disappeared in Syria over the years.

Journalist Austin Tice disappeared in Syria in August of 2012 while covering the civil conflict.

In marking the grim 10-year anniversary of his disappearance in 2022, President Joe Biden said that the U.S. government knows "with certainty" that Tice was being held by the Syrian regime -- an accusation that al-Bashar's government has rejected.
U.S. House GOP votes to hold attorney general in contempt in dispute over audio recording

U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland speaks during a news conference at the Justice Department to announce the appointment of a Special Counsel to investigate the discovery of classified documents held by President Joe Biden at an office and his home on Jan. 12, 2023 in Washington, D.C.(Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland speaks during a news conference at the Justice Department to announce the appointment of a Special Counsel to investigate the discovery of classified documents held by President Joe Biden at an office and his home on Jan. 12, 2023 in Washington, D.C.(Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON  U.S. House Republicans voted Wednesday to hold Attorney General Merrick Garland in contempt of Congress for his refusal to release audio recordings of President Joe Bidens interviews with Department of Justice officials.

The GOP lawmakers maintain the audio is valuable for their monthslong impeachment inquiry into Biden.

House Republicans brought the contempt citation against Garland after he agreed with Bidens assertion of executive privilege over the recordings of his interviews during special counsel Robert Hurs investigation into his handling of classified material. Hur ultimately did not recommend criminal charges against Biden.

The House voted 216-207 to pass the resolution. Rep. Dave Joyce of Ohio was the only Republican to vote no.

Congress cannot serve as a necessary check on the presidency if the executive branch is free to defy duly authorized, legal subpoenas, Rep. James Comer, R-Ky., chair of the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability, said in a statement following the vote. House Republicans rightfully held Attorney General Merrick Garland accountable today for his failure to comply with lawful subpoenas issued by the Oversight and Judiciary Committees.

Garland released a statement denouncing the vote as deeply disappointing and accusing House Republicans of turning a serious Congressional authority into a partisan weapon.

Todays vote disregards the constitutional separation of powers, the Justice Departments need to protect its investigations, and the substantial amount of information we have provided to the committees, Garland said in the statement.

The Justice Department provided a transcript of Hurs interviews with Biden to both committees.

But GOP committee leaders subpoenaed the audio because they maintain transcripts are not sufficient.

Were in the midst of an impeachment inquiry, were entitled to the best evidence, and thats why we want the tapes, Judiciary Committee Chair Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, said on the floor Wednesday morning during debate of the contempt resolution.

Jordan accused the White House of a history of changing transcripts, seeming to refer to a late April report by the right-wing publication the Daily Caller that highlighted transcript corrections issued by White House communications staff. The White House routinely publishes transcripts of speeches and comments by Biden.

The audio recording is the best evidence of the words that President Biden actually spoke, Jordan continued on the floor.

News organizations are also in pursuit of the audio. Several, including CNN and NBC, have sued for the recordings under the Freedom of Information Act.

Rep. Jamie Raskin, ranking member of the House Oversight and Accountability Committee, criticized Republicans on the floor Wednesday for seeking to hold Garland in contempt over an ongoing impeachment inquiry that he described as a madcap wild goose chase.

House GOP lawmakers already have access to a verbatim transcript, the Maryland Democrat said.

Do they think that the holy grail of the 118th Congress  evidence of a presidential high crime and misdemeanor  is lurking in the pauses or the background throat clearings and sneezes on the audio tape? Raskin continued.  They literally dont even know what theyre looking for anymore.

House lawmakers voted along party lines in December to proceed with an impeachment inquiry into whether Biden, during his time as vice president, benefited from his son Hunters foreign business dealings.

Trump, Biden and classified documents

In response to Raskins accusation, Jordan said on the floor Wednesday that Republicans know what theyre after: Were looking for equal treatment under the law, he said.

The committees need the audio recordings to determine whether the Justice Department appropriately carried out justice by not prosecuting the president, Jordan said.

They told us were going to operate independently of the White House  OK, maybe so, but what we do know is this: One former president is being charged. Joe Bidens not being (charged), Jordan continued on the floor.

Trump faces federal criminal charges in Florida related to his storage of classified materials at Mar-a-Lago, his Palm Beach estate, after he lost the 2020 presidential election to Biden. The case has been postponed indefinitely by trial Judge Aileen Cannon.

In early February, Hur declined to bring criminal charges against Biden for his handling of the classified information. Hur described Biden in his report as a sympathetic, well-meaning elderly man with a poor memory, a comment Biden vehemently rebuked.

Hur interviewed Biden in October 2023 as part of his inquiry into classified documents dating back to Bidens time as vice president. The documents were found at the presidents office at the Penn Biden Center in Washington, D.C., and later at his private Wilmington home, respectively in November 2022 and January 2023.

Recent criminal contempt trend

Criminal contempt is a tool Congress can use as leverage to obtain compliance with subpoenas. The citation carries a penalty of a fine up to $100,000 or imprisonment of at least one month but no longer than 12 months if the Department of Justice pursues charges.

While the tool is historically rarely used in Congress, its becoming more common. Since 2019, the House has approved six such citations. So far, the Justice Department has declined to pursue charges against executive branch officials held in contempt. The statute of limitations is five years.

The Justice Department did not respond to requests for comment on whether it would pursue charges against Garland, an unlikely scenario.

Garland is not the first U.S. attorney general to be held in contempt.

The Democratic-led House held former President Donald Trumps Attorney General William Barr in contempt of Congress in 2019 after he refused to turn over documents related to the 2020 Census and his order to a Department of Justice employee to ignore a deposition subpoena.

The Department of Justice did not pursue charges against Barr, who was held in contempt alongside then-Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross.

Former Attorney General Eric Holder, who served in the Obama administration, was held in contempt of Congress in June 2012 for refusing to provide documents related to Operation Fast and Furious, an investigation into gun trafficking along the U.S.-Mexico border.

The Department of Justice declined to prosecute Holder. Holder was the first-ever sitting U.S. Cabinet member to be held in criminal contempt of Congress.

Congress also held Holder in civil contempt over the botched operation, leading to a yearslong lawsuit that ended in a settlement in 2019.

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The post U.S. House GOP votes to hold attorney general in contempt in dispute over audio recording appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
U.S. House GOP votes to hold attorney general in contempt in dispute over audio recording

U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland speaks during a news conference at the Justice Department to announce the appointment of a Special Counsel to investigate the discovery of classified documents held by President Joe Biden at an office and his home on Jan. 12, 2023 in Washington, D.C. (Courtesy of Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON  U.S. House Republicans voted Wednesday to hold Attorney General Merrick Garland in contempt of Congress for his refusal to release audio recordings of President Joe Bidens interviews with Department of Justice officials.

The GOP lawmakers maintain the audio is valuable for their monthslong impeachment inquiry into Biden.

House Republicans brought the contempt citation against Garland after he agreed with Bidens assertion of executive privilege over the recordings of his interviews during special counsel Robert Hurs investigation into his handling of classified material. Hur ultimately did not recommend criminal charges against Biden.

The House voted 216-207 to pass the resolution. Rep. Dave Joyce of Ohio was the only Republican to vote no.

Congress cannot serve as a necessary check on the presidency if the executive branch is free to defy duly authorized, legal subpoenas, Rep. James Comer, R-Ky., chair of the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability, said in a statement following the vote. House Republicans rightfully held Attorney General Merrick Garland accountable today for his failure to comply with lawful subpoenas issued by the Oversight and Judiciary Committees.

Garland released a statement denouncing the vote as deeply disappointing and accusing House Republicans of turning a serious Congressional authority into a partisan weapon.

Todays vote disregards the constitutional separation of powers, the Justice Departments need to protect its investigations, and the substantial amount of information we have provided to the committees, Garland said in the statement.

The Justice Department provided a transcript of Hurs interviews with Biden to both committees.

But GOP committee leaders subpoenaed the audio because they maintain transcripts are not sufficient.

Were in the midst of an impeachment inquiry, were entitled to the best evidence, and thats why we want the tapes, Judiciary Committee Chair Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, said on the floor Wednesday morning during debate of the contempt resolution.

Jordan accused the White House of a history of changing transcripts, seeming to refer to a late April report by the right-wing publication the Daily Caller that highlighted transcript corrections issued by White House communications staff. The White House routinely publishes transcripts of speeches and comments by Biden.

The audio recording is the best evidence of the words that President Biden actually spoke, Jordan continued on the floor.

News organizations are also in pursuit of the audio. Several, including CNN and NBC, have sued for the recordings under the Freedom of Information Act.

Rep. Jamie Raskin, ranking member of the House Oversight and Accountability Committee, criticized Republicans on the floor Wednesday for seeking to hold Garland in contempt over an ongoing impeachment inquiry that he described as a madcap wild goose chase.

House GOP lawmakers already have access to a verbatim transcript, the Maryland Democrat said.

Do they think that the holy grail of the 118th Congress  evidence of a presidential high crime and misdemeanor  is lurking in the pauses or the background throat clearings and sneezes on the audio tape? Raskin continued.  They literally dont even know what theyre looking for anymore.

House lawmakers voted along party lines in December to proceed with an impeachment inquiry into whether Biden, during his time as vice president, benefited from his son Hunters foreign business dealings.

Trump, Biden and classified documents

In response to Raskins accusation, Jordan said on the floor Wednesday that Republicans know what theyre after: Were looking for equal treatment under the law, he said.

The committees need the audio recordings to determine whether the Justice Department appropriately carried out justice by not prosecuting the president, Jordan said.

They told us were going to operate independently of the White House  OK, maybe so, but what we do know is this: One former president is being charged. Joe Bidens not being (charged), Jordan continued on the floor.

Trump faces federal criminal charges in Florida related to his storage of classified materials at Mar-a-Lago, his Palm Beach estate, after he lost the 2020 presidential election to Biden. The case has been postponed indefinitely by trial Judge Aileen Cannon.

In early February, Hur declined to bring criminal charges against Biden for his handling of the classified information. Hur described Biden in his report as a sympathetic, well-meaning elderly man with a poor memory, a comment Biden vehemently rebuked.

Hur interviewed Biden in October 2023 as part of his inquiry into classified documents dating back to Bidens time as vice president. The documents were found at the presidents office at the Penn Biden Center in Washington, D.C., and later at his private Wilmington home, respectively in November 2022 and January 2023.

Recent criminal contempt trend

Criminal contempt is a tool Congress can use as leverage to obtain compliance with subpoenas. The citation carries a penalty of a fine up to $100,000 or imprisonment of at least one month but no longer than 12 months if the Department of Justice pursues charges.

While the tool is historically rarely used in Congress, its becoming more common. Since 2019, the House has approved six such citations. So far, the Justice Department has declined to pursue charges against executive branch officials held in contempt. The statute of limitations is five years.

The Justice Department did not respond to requests for comment on whether it would pursue charges against Garland, an unlikely scenario.

Garland is not the first U.S. attorney general to be held in contempt.

The Democratic-led House held former President Donald Trumps Attorney General William Barr in contempt of Congress in 2019 after he refused to turn over documents related to the 2020 Census and his order to a Department of Justice employee to ignore a deposition subpoena.

The Department of Justice did not pursue charges against Barr, who was held in contempt alongside then-Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross.

Former Attorney General Eric Holder, who served in the Obama administration, was held in contempt of Congress in June 2012 for refusing to provide documents related to Operation Fast and Furious, an investigation into gun trafficking along the U.S.-Mexico border.

The Department of Justice declined to prosecute Holder. Holder was the first-ever sitting U.S. Cabinet member to be held in criminal contempt of Congress.

Congress also held Holder in civil contempt over the botched operation, leading to a yearslong lawsuit that ended in a settlement in 2019.

The post U.S. House GOP votes to hold attorney general in contempt in dispute over audio recording appeared first on Nebraska Examiner.
U.S. House GOP votes to hold attorney general in contempt in dispute over audio recording

U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland speaks during a news conference at the Justice Department to announce the appointment of a Special Counsel to investigate the discovery of classified documents held by President Joe Biden at an office and his home on Jan. 12, 2023 in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON  U.S. House Republicans voted Wednesday to hold Attorney General Merrick Garland in contempt of Congress for his refusal to release audio recordings of President Joe Bidens interviews with Department of Justice officials.

The GOP lawmakers maintain the audio is valuable for their monthslong impeachment inquiry into Biden.

House Republicans brought the contempt citation against Garland after he agreed with Bidens assertion of executive privilege over the recordings of his interviews during special counsel Robert Hurs investigation into his handling of classified material. Hur ultimately did not recommend criminal charges against Biden.

The House voted 216-207 to pass the resolution, with all four of Iowas representatives voting for the measure. Rep. Dave Joyce of Ohio was the only Republican to vote no.

Congress cannot serve as a necessary check on the presidency if the executive branch is free to defy duly authorized, legal subpoenas, Rep. James Comer, R-Ky., chair of the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability, said in a statement following the vote. House Republicans rightfully held Attorney General Merrick Garland accountable today for his failure to comply with lawful subpoenas issued by the Oversight and Judiciary Committees.

Garland released a statement denouncing the vote as deeply disappointing and accusing House Republicans of turning a serious Congressional authority into a partisan weapon.

Todays vote disregards the constitutional separation of powers, the Justice Departments need to protect its investigations, and the substantial amount of information we have provided to the committees, Garland said in the statement.

The Justice Department provided a transcript of Hurs interviews with Biden to both committees.

But GOP committee leaders subpoenaed the audio because they maintain transcripts are not sufficient.

Were in the midst of an impeachment inquiry, were entitled to the best evidence, and thats why we want the tapes, Judiciary Committee Chair Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, said on the floor Wednesday morning during debate of the contempt resolution.

Jordan accused the White House of a history of changing transcripts, seeming to refer to a late April report by the right-wing publication the Daily Caller that highlighted transcript corrections issued by White House communications staff. The White House routinely publishes transcripts of speeches and comments by Biden.

The audio recording is the best evidence of the words that President Biden actually spoke, Jordan continued on the floor.

News organizations are also in pursuit of the audio. Several, including CNN and NBC, have sued for the recordings under the Freedom of Information Act.

Rep. Jamie Raskin, ranking member of the House Oversight and Accountability Committee, criticized Republicans on the floor Wednesday for seeking to hold Garland in contempt over an ongoing impeachment inquiry that he described as a madcap wild goose chase.

House GOP lawmakers already have access to a verbatim transcript, the Maryland Democrat said.

Do they think that the holy grail of the 118th Congress  evidence of a presidential high crime and misdemeanor  is lurking in the pauses or the background throat clearings and sneezes on the audio tape? Raskin continued.  They literally dont even know what theyre looking for anymore.

House lawmakers voted along party lines in December to proceed with an impeachment inquiry into whether Biden, during his time as vice president, benefited from his son Hunters foreign business dealings.

Trump, Biden and classified documents

In response to Raskins accusation, Jordan said on the floor Wednesday that Republicans know what theyre after: Were looking for equal treatment under the law, he said.

The committees need the audio recordings to determine whether the Justice Department appropriately carried out justice by not prosecuting the president, Jordan said.

They told us were going to operate independently of the White House  OK, maybe so, but what we do know is this: One former president is being charged. Joe Bidens not being (charged), Jordan continued on the floor.

Trump faces federal criminal charges in Florida related to his storage of classified materials at Mar-a-Lago, his Palm Beach estate, after he lost the 2020 presidential election to Biden. The case has been postponed indefinitely by trial Judge Aileen Cannon.

In early February, Hur declined to bring criminal charges against Biden for his handling of the classified information. Hur described Biden in his report as a sympathetic, well-meaning elderly man with a poor memory, a comment Biden vehemently rebuked.

Hur interviewed Biden in October 2023 as part of his inquiry into classified documents dating back to Bidens time as vice president. The documents were found at the presidents office at the Penn Biden Center in Washington, D.C., and later at his private Wilmington home, respectively in November 2022 and January 2023.

Recent criminal contempt trend

Criminal contempt is a tool Congress can use as leverage to obtain compliance with subpoenas. The citation carries a penalty of a fine up to $100,000 or imprisonment of at least one month but no longer than 12 months if the Department of Justice pursues charges.

While the tool is historically rarely used in Congress, its becoming more common. Since 2019, the House has approved six such citations. So far, the Justice Department has declined to pursue charges against executive branch officials held in contempt. The statute of limitations is five years.

The Justice Department did not respond to requests for comment on whether it would pursue charges against Garland, an unlikely scenario.

Garland is not the first U.S. attorney general to be held in contempt.

The Democratic-led House held former President Donald Trumps Attorney General William Barr in contempt of Congress in 2019 after he refused to turn over documents related to the 2020 Census and his order to a Department of Justice employee to ignore a deposition subpoena.

The Department of Justice did not pursue charges against Barr, who was held in contempt alongside then-Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross.

Former Attorney General Eric Holder, who served in the Obama administration, was held in contempt of Congress in June 2012 for refusing to provide documents related to Operation Fast and Furious, an investigation into gun trafficking along the U.S.-Mexico border.

The Department of Justice declined to prosecute Holder. Holder was the first-ever sitting U.S. Cabinet member to be held in criminal contempt of Congress.

Congress also held Holder in civil contempt over the botched operation, leading to a yearslong lawsuit that ended in a settlement in 2019.

The post U.S. House GOP votes to hold attorney general in contempt in dispute over audio recording appeared first on Iowa Capital Dispatch.
U.S. House GOP votes to hold attorney general in contempt in dispute over audio recording

Attorney General Merrick Garland denounced the vote as deeply disappointing and accused House Republicans of turning a serious Congressional authority into a partisan weapon. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON  U.S. House Republicans voted Wednesday to hold Attorney General Merrick Garland in contempt of Congress for his refusal to release audio recordings of President Joe Bidens interviews with Department of Justice officials.

The GOP lawmakers maintain the audio is valuable for their monthslong impeachment inquiry into Biden.

House Republicans brought the contempt citation against Garland after he agreed with Bidens assertion of executive privilege over the recordings of his interviews during special counsel Robert Hurs investigation into his handling of classified material. Hur ultimately did not recommend criminal charges against Biden.

The House voted 216-207 to pass the resolution. Rep. Dave Joyce of Ohio was the only Republican to vote no.

Congress cannot serve as a necessary check on the presidency if the executive branch is free to defy duly authorized, legal subpoenas, Rep. James Comer, R-Ky., chair of the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability, said in a statement following the vote. House Republicans rightfully held Attorney General Merrick Garland accountable today for his failure to comply with lawful subpoenas issued by the Oversight and Judiciary Committees.

Garland released a statement denouncing the vote as deeply disappointing and accusing House Republicans of turning a serious Congressional authority into a partisan weapon.

Todays vote disregards the constitutional separation of powers, the Justice Departments need to protect its investigations, and the substantial amount of information we have provided to the committees, Garland said in the statement.

The Justice Department provided a transcript of Hurs interviews with Biden to both committees.

But GOP committee leaders subpoenaed the audio because they maintain transcripts are not sufficient.

Were in the midst of an impeachment inquiry, were entitled to the best evidence, and thats why we want the tapes, Judiciary Committee Chair Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, said on the floor Wednesday morning during debate of the contempt resolution.

Jordan accused the White House of a history of changing transcripts, seeming to refer to a late April report by the right-wing publication the Daily Caller that highlighted transcript corrections issued by White House communications staff. The White House routinely publishes transcripts of speeches and comments by Biden.

The audio recording is the best evidence of the words that President Biden actually spoke, Jordan continued on the floor.

News organizations are also in pursuit of the audio. Several, including CNN and NBC, have sued for the recordings under the Freedom of Information Act.

Rep. Jamie Raskin, ranking member of the House Oversight and Accountability Committee, criticized Republicans on the floor Wednesday for seeking to hold Garland in contempt over an ongoing impeachment inquiry that he described as a madcap wild goose chase.

House GOP lawmakers already have access to a verbatim transcript, the Maryland Democrat said.

Do they think that the holy grail of the 118th Congress  evidence of a presidential high crime and misdemeanor  is lurking in the pauses or the background throat clearings and sneezes on the audio tape? Raskin continued.  They literally dont even know what theyre looking for anymore.

House lawmakers voted along party lines in December to proceed with an impeachment inquiry into whether Biden, during his time as vice president, benefited from his son Hunters foreign business dealings.

Trump, Biden and classified documents

In response to Raskins accusation, Jordan said on the floor Wednesday that Republicans know what theyre after: Were looking for equal treatment under the law, he said.

The committees need the audio recordings to determine whether the Justice Department appropriately carried out justice by not prosecuting the president, Jordan said.

They told us were going to operate independently of the White House  OK, maybe so, but what we do know is this: One former president is being charged. Joe Bidens not being (charged), Jordan continued on the floor.

Trump faces federal criminal charges in Florida related to his storage of classified materials at Mar-a-Lago, his Palm Beach estate, after he lost the 2020 presidential election to Biden. The case has been postponed indefinitely by trial Judge Aileen Cannon.

In early February, Hur declined to bring criminal charges against Biden for his handling of the classified information. Hur described Biden in his report as a sympathetic, well-meaning elderly man with a poor memory, a comment Biden vehemently rebuked.

Hur interviewed Biden in October 2023 as part of his inquiry into classified documents dating back to Bidens time as vice president. The documents were found at the presidents office at the Penn Biden Center in Washington, D.C., and later at his private Wilmington home, respectively in November 2022 and January 2023.

Recent criminal contempt trend

Criminal contempt is a tool Congress can use as leverage to obtain compliance with subpoenas. The citation carries a penalty of a fine up to $100,000 or imprisonment of at least one month but no longer than 12 months if the Department of Justice pursues charges.

While the tool is historically rarely used in Congress, its becoming more common. Since 2019, the House has approved six such citations. So far, the Justice Department has declined to pursue charges against executive branch officials held in contempt. The statute of limitations is five years.

The Justice Department did not respond to requests for comment on whether it would pursue charges against Garland, an unlikely scenario.

Garland is not the first U.S. attorney general to be held in contempt.

The Democratic-led House held former President Donald Trumps Attorney General William Barr in contempt of Congress in 2019 after he refused to turn over documents related to the 2020 Census and his order to a Department of Justice employee to ignore a deposition subpoena.

The Department of Justice did not pursue charges against Barr, who was held in contempt alongside then-Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross.

Former Attorney General Eric Holder, who served in the Obama administration, was held in contempt of Congress in June 2012 for refusing to provide documents related to Operation Fast and Furious, an investigation into gun trafficking along the U.S.-Mexico border.

The Department of Justice declined to prosecute Holder. Holder was the first-ever sitting U.S. Cabinet member to be held in criminal contempt of Congress.

Congress also held Holder in civil contempt over the botched operation, leading to a yearslong lawsuit that ended in a settlement in 2019.

The post U.S. House GOP votes to hold attorney general in contempt in dispute over audio recording appeared first on New Jersey Monitor.
TRIPOLI, June 12 (Xinhua) -- The International Organization for Migration (IOM) said Wednesday that it had assisted 163 migrants to return to their home country, Bangladesh, from Libya this week.

"IOM's Voluntary Humanitarian Return (VHR) Program continues to assist stranded and vulnerable migrants who request assistance to return from Libya to their home countries. This week, a flight to Bangladesh with 163 migrants was facilitated from Benghazi to Dhaka," IOM tweeted.

Ever since the fall of the late leader Muammar Gaddafi's regime in 2011, Libya has become a preferred point of departure for thousands of migrants who attempt to cross the Mediterranean Sea to reach European shores.

The Voluntary Humanitarian Return program, run by IOM, arranges the return of migrants stranded in Libya to their homeland.

According to IOM, the VHR Program has helped 80,000 migrants return to their countries of origin voluntarily from Libya since 2015. 
U.S. Man, 41, Dead After Experiencing 'Medical Condition' on Fiji Airways Flight to San Francisco

The individual "encountered a medical condition" when the aircraft was about 90 minutes away from arriving in the U.S., the airline said

Getty A Fiji Airways aircraft

An American man has died after experiencing what the airline has described as a medical condition during an international flight bound for the U.S.

The 41-year-old passenger was aboard Fiji Airways flight FJ870 from Nadi International Airport in Fiji on Saturday, June 9 when he encountered a medical condition" about 90 minutes before arriving at San Francisco International Airport, the airline said in a news release.

Crew members and a doctor who was onboard provided immediate assistance before the unidentified man unfortunately passed away, Fiji Airways said, adding that "our flight crew promptly declared a medical emergency, and we were given priority for landing by the SFO authorities."

Related: Wreckage of Jet That Went Missing in 1971 with 5 Passengers Reportedly Found in Lake Champlain

Our thoughts and heartfelt condolences go out to the family and friends of the deceased during this difficult time, the airline said, while also applauding the cabin crew and assisting doctor for their swift and professional response to this emergency.

Fiji Airways remains committed to the safety and well-being of our passengers and crew, and we are cooperating fully with the authorities as they manage this situation, the airline continued.

Never miss a story  sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.



Related: 2 Hospitalized After Seaplane Crashes into Oncoming Boat  See the Jaw-Dropping Video

This incident comes about three months after a 41-year-old American woman died after she fell ill while flying to the Dominican Republic on an American Airlines flight.

Stefanie Smith was heading to Charlotte, N.C,. in March when she became unwell, and later died at a hospital in Turks and Caicos.

Smiths brother, Chris Volz, said authorities later determined his sister died of a carotid artery dissection in her neck, according to ABC News. It was truly a tragic medical event that happened, he told the outlet.



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Read the original article on People.
Razor wire along the Rio Grande on the Texas side of the U.S.-Mexico border. (Photo by Ariana Figueroa/States Newsroom)

EL PASO, Texas  Seventeen-year-old Karina Parababire gently rocked her 3-month-old daughter as they waited in a migrant shelter before a Friday night bus ride to Chicago.

I want my daughter to have everything that I didnt have, Parababire, who traveled up the extremely dangerous route of the Darien Gap while pregnant, said in Spanish.

The Venezuelan, who is traveling with her family, had to stop in Honduras to give birth to her daughter, Avis, before continuing to the United States. Once in Mexico, she and her family were granted an appointment through the CBP One app  a tool the Biden administration uses to grant migrants a meeting with an asylum officer.

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 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.

The post On the U.S.-Mexico border, hopes and fears after Bidens order limiting asylum appeared first on Rhode Island Current.
ST. LOUIS  The U.S. Department of Justice and the owner of a Festus pain management clinic reached a civil settlement Tuesday over allegations the owner submitted doctored claims to Medicare and Missouri Medicaid.

Prosecutors with the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Eastern District of Missouri said Dr. Nehal Modh owned and served as president of Progressive Pain Management in Festus.

Under the settlement, Modh acknowledged that he and PPM lied to both federal health care programs that ultrasound guidance was used on certain pain management injections, that they submitted false claims for payment for facet joint injections that didnt meet billing requirements, and that they improperly coded claims in order to receive larger reimbursements.

A former PPM employee alerted the authorities to the fraud under the whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act (FCA). Under those provisions, a whistleblower can be eligible to receive a portion of the recovered funds.

As part of the settlement, Modh and PPM must repay restitution in the form of $600,000 each. The whistleblower will receive $177,707 of that settlement.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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UCLA names new chancellor as campus is still reeling from protests over Israel-Hamas war

Demonstrators march on the UCLA campus Wednesday, June 12, 2024, in Los Angeles. The president of the University of Miami has been chosen to become the next chancellor of the University of California, Los Angeles, where the retiring incumbent is leaving a campus roiled by protests against Israel's war in Gaza. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)

LOS ANGELES (AP)  The president of the University of Miami was chosen Wednesday to become the next chancellor of the University of California, Los Angeles, where the retiring incumbent leaves a campus roiled by protests over Israels war against Hamas in Gaza.

Dr. Julio Frenk, a Mexico City-born global public health researcher, was selected by regents of the University of California system at a meeting on the UCLA campus, where there were a swarm of security officers.

Frenk will succeed Gene Block, who has been chancellor for 17 years and announced his planned retirement long before UCLA became a national flashpoint for U.S. campus protests. This spring, pro-Palestinian encampments were built and cleared by police with many arrests, and again this week, there were more arrests.

Frenk has led the 17,000-student University of Miami since 2015 and previously served as dean of the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and as Mexicos national health secretary, among other positions.

In a brief press conference, Frenk said he was approaching the appointment with excitement and humility.

The first thing I plan to do is listen very carefully, Frenk said. This is a complex organization. It is, as I mentioned, a really consequential moment in the history of higher education.

Frenk did not comment on specific protests at UCLA this spring or the current administration's response, which initially tolerated an encampment but ultimately used police to clear it and keep new camps from forming.

During public comment in the regents meeting, speakers criticized UC administrators, alleged police brutality, complained of a lack of transparency in UC endowments and called for divestment from companies with ties to Israel or in weapons manufacturing.

Speakers also talked about experiencing antisemitism on campus and called for an increased law enforcement response to protesters.

Later, about 200 people rallied, including members of an academic student workers union and the Faculty for Justice for Palestine group as well as students from other UC campuses. Participants held signs calling for charges to be dropped against protesters who have been arrested.

Block departs UCLA on July 31. Darnell Hunt, executive vice president and provost, will serve as interim chancellor until Frenk becomes UCLAs seventh chancellor on Jan. 1, 2025.

In previous roles, Frenk was founding director of Mexicos National Institute of Public Health, held positions at the World Health Organization and the nonprofit Mexican Health Foundation, and was a senior fellow with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundations global health program.

Frenk received his medical degree from the National University of Mexico in 1979. He then attended the University of Michigan, where he earned masters degrees in public health and sociology, and a joint doctorate in medical care organization and sociology.



Associated Press writer John Antczak contributed to this report.
The University of California, Los Angeles has its next chancellor, and its the first Latino to hold the role.

Dr. Julio Frenk, a former member of the cabinet of Mexico, former dean of the school of public health at Harvard and current president of the University of Miami, was unanimously approved for the job by the UC Board of Regents on Wednesday, as reported by the Los Angeles Times.

Frenk, 70, replaces Chancellor Gene Block, who ends a 17-year run in the role when he steps down on July 31. Frenks salary will be just under $979,000, the Times reports.

Frenks term as chancellor will officially begin on Jan. 1, 2025, the school said in a news release. Between July and January, UCLA Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost Darnell Hunt will serve as interim chancellor, the school said.

In the schools release, Frenk noted that hes leaving the private Miami to return to public education.

At this crucial moment for higher education, returning to the public sector to lead one of the top research universities in the world  including one of the 10 largest academic health systems  is an exciting opportunity and a great honor for me, Frenk said in the schools statement. I look forward to adding my lifelong commitment to public service in education and health care to the vibrant, diverse and cosmopolitan community that is Los Angeles.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Ukraine on Tuesday launched its Unmanned Systems Forces, a new branch of its military focused on drone warfare that officials said was the first of its kind.

"Ukraine is the only country in the world that has created the Unmanned Systems Forces, and this gives hope for the creation of a coalition of countries," said Ivan Havryliuk, deputy minister of Defense of Ukraine.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had announced the creation of the new branch in February, saying that Ukrainian military drones "have proven their effectiveness in battles on land, in the sky and at sea."

The new branch's commander -- Col. Vadym Sukharevskyi, 39 -- was appointed to the position just a day before Tuesday's launch. He has been fighting against Russia since 2014. The commander goes by the callsign "Borsuk," which translates to "Badger," and has been referred to as a legend of the Russian-Ukrainian war. He was the first to give an order to open fire on the Russian militants in April 2014 as they were seizing the Donetsk region.

PHOTO: Ukrainian Col. Vadym Sukharevskyi unveils the emblem for the Unmanned Systems Forces in Kyiv, Ukraine, on Tuesday, June 11, 2024. (Natalia Kushnir/ABC News)

MORE: Inside the northern Ukraine training center where units learn to fight Russian drones

Drones have became a key piece of new technology for both sides in the Russia-Ukraine war. At first the Ukrainian Air Force used small commercial drones, like the DJI Mavic, for reconnaissance and dropping grenades. Then they switched to first-person view drones to attack enemy personnel and vehicles. And during the last two years Ukrainians have developed a series of different kinds of aerial, land and water drones to help to fight against the Russians when Ukraine doesn't have enough heavy weapons, artillery and jets.

"We have everything to win the war against the Russian Federation. Everything to replace a person in the trench, at sea, in the air and underwater," Havryliuk said.

"This is the future. No one has yet used maritime drones before Ukraine," Ukrainian MP Vadym Ivchenko said, adding that Ukraine managed to defeat the Russian Black Sea fleet without having its own fully fledged sea fleet.

PHOTO: An uncrewed drone is seen in Kyiv, Ukraine, on Tuesday as the country's military launches its Unmanned Systems Forces, a new branch of its military focused on drone warfare. (Natalia Kushnir/ABC News)

MORE: Ukraines 24/7 battlefield drone operation: 'Whoever wins the tech race, will win the war': Reporter's Notebook

Oleksandr Yarmak, platoon unrewed aerial vehicle commander, called the new branch a historical one of a global scale.

"This is an absolutely new structure in which nothing needs to be changed, instead we can create new approaches," he said.

The branch's emblem -- an iron swallow -- was created by AI. "It is a tender swallow that turns into a revenge machine," Yarmak said, adding that the swallow is among Ukrainian's favorite birds and is featured in the song "Shchedryk," a traditional New Year's Eve song.

Sukharevskyi, the commander, said that the launch of the new branch Ukraine showed the whole world that they have moved away from conservative approaches in the Armed Forces. "By creating the USF, we began to prepare for the war of the future, not for the war of the past," he said.

When asked by ABC News about American involvement, Sukharevskyi said, "The United States is one of our main strategic partners, and they are involved in many directions -- from reconnaissance to drones production".

"Coalition of drones works and it`s pretty efficient," he said, referring to an organization of countries participating in the production and transfer of drones to Ukraine that consists of Latvia, Great Britain, Sweden, Estonia, Germany, Netherlands, Lithuania, Denmark, Canada, Australia.

The commander explained that those forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, which already have UAV control units, will not be subordinated to the new command, so as not to disrupt the established system of work and not to create chaos.

Sukharevskyi said that during the first five months of 2024, the state supplied the Armed Forces of Ukraine with six times more drones than for the entire year of 2023.

As Ukraine focuses on drone warfare, its military creates new Unmanned Systems Forces branch originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
Dutch Defence Minister Kajsa Ollongren has stated that her country will deliver the first F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine this summer.

Source: Ollongren in an interview with European Pravda

Details: The minister noted that the first F-16s would be delivered to Ukraine as early as this summer and that the supply of these combat aircraft will be put on a "constant flow" from then on, "increasing the number and strengthening the Ukrainian Air Force".

"I cannot be exact, but that's why I say this summer. That is the path that we are on now. Denmark will be the first country to provide airframes. And we will follow after Denmark, but it's a joint effort," Ollongren said.

As for the readiness of Ukraine's infrastructure to receive the aircraft, the minister noted that Ukraine is "on track".

"Ukraine is on track, and that's very important because, like you said, it's about the pilots, it's about maintenance personnel, it's about the airframes themselves, and the equipment that they need, but it's also about the infrastructure in your country.

But, like I said, this is a partnership and it's a joint effort. Ukraine is also on track for receiving the F-16s," Ollongren added.

The minister suggested that the F-16s alone will not change the course of the war, but they will "make your Air Force and also your air defence much stronger".

"The jets will be phased in. You have to first use them to see the effect. And at some point, it will make the Air Force much stronger, and it might also create air superiority.

But it's not something that can happen overnight when you get your first F-16s. So, if people expect that, I think we have to be a little bit more realistic," the minister said.

The Dutch defence minister further said that her country is considering supplying Ukraine with an additional Patriot air defence system.

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Ukraine struck Russian air defenses in Crimea with a barrage of US-supplied ATACMS, reports say

Ukraine struck Russian air defenses in Crimea with a barrage of US-supplied ATACMS, reports say

Ukraine used at least 10 US-supplied ATACMS to hit Russian air defenses in Crimea, per reports.

Ukraine's Army General Staff said it hit an S-400 "Triumf" and two S-300 air-defense missile systems.

This would be one of the first strikes Ukraine launched against Crimea using the US-supplied weapons.

Ukraine used at least 10 US-supplied Army Tactical Missile Systems, known as ATACMS, to hit Russian air defenses in Crimea on Monday, according to reports.

Ten missiles hit the 31st Air Defense Division of the Russian Defense Ministry in occupied Crimea, Russian independent Telegram channel Astra reported on Monday, citing unnamed sources.

The strikes killed one soldier, wounded six, and damaged two S-300 missile systems and four radars, the outlet reported.

Prominent Russian blogger Rybar went further, saying Ukraine launched at least 12 ATACMS from the Mykolaiv region, which hit Chernomorsky, Yevpatoria, and Dzhankoy on Monday.

Schemes, part of Radio Liberty, shared satellite images of what it said were before and aftermath images of a military facility in the city of Dzhankoy in occupied Crimea on Monday.

The images, which the outlet dated April 27, May 20, and June 10, show an air-defense system in the area in May, with fortifications being built later, it said.

Satellite imagery before strike damage on Dzhankoy in Crimea, on May 20, 2024. Image  Planet Labs PBC

It said the quality of the satellite images did not allow it to identify the type of equipment that was hit.

One image of the aftermath shows a trail of burned land.

Satellite imagery of strike damage on Dzhankoy in Crimea, on June 10, 2024. Image  Planet Labs PBC

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine appeared to confirm some of the details in a Facebook post on Monday.

It said it launched strikes on a Russian S-400 "Triumf" missile system and two S-300 missile systems overnight on Monday.

It said none of its missiles were intercepted, but did not specify which type of missiles were used.

In a report on Monday, Washington DC-based think tank the Institute for the Study of War said Ukraine likely used ATACMS in the attack.

Business Insider couldn't independently verify details of the attack or the type of missile launched in the strike. The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine declined to comment.

If true, this would be one of the first ATACMS strikes Ukraine has launched against Crimea since the US secretly sent the country about 100 ATACMS in April.

Ukraine has already reportedly used one of the missiles to take out more than 100 Russian soldiers stationed 50 miles from the front line in occupied Luhansk Oblast, showcasing the missile's range and power.

Philip Karber, a military analyst with expertise on Ukraine, told Radio Free Europe in April that the weapons "could basically make Crimea militarily worthless."

On Wednesday, Ukraine said its troops launched another missile strike on Crimea overnight, on an S-300 missile system and two S-400 missile systems.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Key developments on June 12:

Ukraine destroyed Russian S-300, S-400 systems' radars in occupied Crimea, military says

Netherlands to provide its first F-16s to Ukraine in summer, Dutch minister says

Military intelligence confirms 2 Russian Su-57 aircraft hit in recent strike

At least 9 dead, 29 injured in Russian missile strike on Kryvyi Rih

Rheinmetall, Kyiv agree to start producing Lynx armored vehicles in Ukraine in 2024

Police find evidence of Russian cluster munitions in Kyiv Oblast

Ukrainian forces destroyed two radars of S-300 and S-400 air defense systems in several areas in occupied Crimea overnight on June 12, Ukraine's General Staff reported.

Explosions were reported in multiple towns across the peninsula, as well as in Russia's Krasnodar Krai at night.

One Russian S-300 anti-aircraft missile system near the Russian Belbek military airfield and two S-400 anti-aircraft missile systems near Belbek and occupied Sevastopol came under Ukraine's missile strike, the military said.

Information on the scale of damage to the third radar is being specified, according to the General Staff.

"In addition, further detonations of ammunition were spotted in all three areas where Russian anti-aircraft missile divisions were deployed," the military said.

The General Staff did not provide further details on the consequences of the attack or what weaponry was used.

The Russian-installed proxy head of Sevastopol, Mikhail Razvozhayev, claimed that there was no damage or casualties as a result of the attack.

This appears to be the second attack on Russia's air defenses in Crimea in a week. Ukraine reportedly hit one S-400 anti-aircraft missile unit near Dzhankoi, and two more S-300 anti-aircraft missile units were attacked near occupied Chornomorske and Yevpatoria overnight on June 10.

Ukraine has carried out a number of successful attacks against Russian targets in Crimea and its vicinity, heavily degrading the Russian Black Sea Fleet.

Read also: AFP: 16 Sri Lankans reportedly killed, dozens wounded fighting in Ukraine

Netherlands to provide its first F-16s to Ukraine in summer, Dutch minister says

The Netherlands will deliver its first F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine already this summer, shortly after Denmark, Dutch Defense Minister Kajsa Ollongren said in an interview with European Pravda published on June 12.

The minister presented a more pessimistic timeframe in May when she said that the first Dutch F-16s would start flowing to Ukraine only in autumn.

The Netherlands has pledged to deliver 24 of its fourth-generation U.S.-made jets to Ukraine as Kyiv seeks to bolster its Air Force, in addition to F-16s promised by Denmark, Belgium, and Norway.

As Ollongren explained, the joint plan evinsages Denmark supplying its aircraft first and the Netherlands starting its continuous deliveries right afterward, as early as this summer. She did not provide a more specific timeframe.

The minister said that everything is "moving according to plan" regarding the preparation of Ukrainian infrastructure and technical personnel needed to operate the aircraft.

Ollongren reiterated her country's position that Ukraine will be able to use Dutch-supplied F-16s "to target military targets  when necessary for self-defense  that are on the other side of the border" with Russia.

In turn, Belgium previously said that its F-16s may be used by Ukraine only within Ukrainian territory.

According to Politico, Kyiv is growing frustrated with the slow pace of training Ukrainian pilots in the U.S. and elsewhere, which threatens to further delay the supply of F-16s.

Ollongren also added during the interview that this was her last visit to Ukraine as the Dutch defense minister, a position she held in Mark Rutte's decisively pro-Kyiv cabinet since January 2022.

The largest party in the incoming coalition government is the far-right Party for Freedom (PVV), which has often been critical of the support for Ukraine. The leaders of the new coalition issued a statement in May where they pledged to maintain their support for Kyiv.

Read also: Slovak defense minister says sending fighter jets to Ukraine was treason, files criminal complaint

Military intelligence confirms 2 Russian Su-57 aircraft hit in recent strike

Ukraine's military intelligence (HUR) can confirm that two of the Russian Su-57 fighter jets were hit during a strike on the Akhtubinsk airfield in Astrakhan Oblast, but one of them suffered only light damage, the agency's spokesperson, Andrii Yusov, said on air on June 12.

"We can now say that one Su-57 suffered significant damage, and the other one suffered lighter damage and may be possible to restore," Yusov said.

The military intelligence agency reported on the attack on June 9, marking the first hit against this model of aircraft. The Su-57 is Russia's most modern fighter jet, with only a few units in service in the Russian Air Force.

Satellite imagery published after the attack seemed to have confirmed a successful strike against the Akhtubinsk airfield in southern Russia, lying around 590 kilometers (over 360 miles) from the front line.

Already on June 10, Yusov said that according to preliminary information, two Su-57s may have been hit.

Military intelligence does not usually claim public responsibility for attacks on Russian territory, but sources told the Kyiv Independent that Ukraine has carried out a number of long-range strikes against military and industrial targets deep inside the Russian borders.

Read also: Zelensky inspects Patriot battery pledged to Ukraine during Germany visit

At least 9 dead, 29 injured in Russian missile strike on Kryvyi Rih

A Russian missile struck a residential area in the central-eastern Ukrainian city of Kryvyi Rih in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, killing at least nine people and injuring 29 others, the authorities reported on June 12.

According to Ukraine's Prosecutor Generals Office, five of the injured are children.

"The police are documenting another Russian war crime," Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko said in a post on Telegram.

An explosion was initially reported in the city by Kryvyi Rih mayor Oleksandr Vilkul at 3:51 p.m. local time.

Soon after, Dnipropetrovsk Oblast Governor Serhii Lysak reported that a missile had struck a residential area in the city.

The attack comes just a few hours after Russian forces launched a mass missile attack overnight on June 12, targeting multiple Ukrainian regions.

Ukrainian defenses downed all the 24 Shahed-type drones launched by Russia, as well as one Kinzhal Kh-47M2 air-launched ballistic missile and four Kh-101/555 cruise missiles over Kyiv, Dnipropetrovsk, Zaporizhzhia, Poltava, Kharkiv, and Vinnytsia oblasts, the Air Force said.

Eleven of the Shahed-type drones were shot down in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, where the attacks resulted in damage and injured two people: a 39-year-old man and a 40-year-old woman. Their 13-year-old son suffered shock, Lysak said.

Russia also reportedly launched an Iskander-M ballistic missile, but the Air Force did not report that it was intercepted.

Read also: Norway to allocate $257 million to bolster Ukraines air defenses

Rheinmetall, Kyiv agree to start producing Lynx armored vehicles in Ukraine in 2024

The German arms company Rheinmetall and the Ukrainian government agreed on the sidelines of the Ukraine Recovery Conference in Berlin to begin production of the modern Lynx armored vehicles in Ukraine this year, officials confirmed to the media on June 12.

"The first such vehicle will be produced in Ukraine by the end of the year," Strategic Industries Minister Alexander Kamyshin told Ukrinform in Berlin.

The news comes shortly after Rheinmetall opened its first plant in Ukraine. The factory will repair and later also produce armored vehicles jointly with the Ukrainian state-owned enterprise Ukroboronprom.

Its opening is part of Kyiv's efforts to localize arms production and develop a more independent arms industry.

The location of the plant was not disclosed due to security reasons.

Last December, Rheinmetall announced its plans to start producing Fuchs armored personnel carriers in Ukraine by late summer of 2024 and Lynx vehicles by late 2024, or "12 to 13 months" after signing the contract.

Rheinmetall's Lynx was first presented in 2016. It has a modular design, meaning it can be equipped with different armaments and function as an infantry fighting vehicle, an anti-aircraft platform with a 30-35 mm weapon, or even to operate a 120 mm cannon of the Leopard tank.

Apart from Ukraine, the Hungarian government also signed a contract for 218 Lynx vehicles in 2020.

Rheinmetall provides weapons and equipment to Ukraine under contracts with the German government, such as Leopard 1 tanks, mortar shells, and drone surveillance systems. The company previously said it plans to open at least four production plants in Ukraine.

Read also: Widened US sanctions against Russia to target semiconductor flow, Bloomberg reports

Police find evidence of Russian cluster munitions in Kyiv Oblast

Cluster munitions have been found at the site of a Russian missile attack in Kyiv Oblast, the region's police reported on June 12.

Kyiv and the surrounding region came under a Russian drone and missile attack in the early hours of June 12. There were no reports of casualties, but falling debris from intercepted missiles caused damage in Kyiv Oblast.

While documenting the impact of the attack on the morning of June 12, "law enforcement officers discovered fragments of dangerous cluster submunitions," the Kyiv Oblast Police said.

"Explosive objects pose a threat to human life and health and can detonate at the slightest movement," the police warned, advising civilians to refrain from visiting the site of an attack.

"Specialists are conducting an inspection and research for the presence of similar fragments," the police said.

Russia attacked Odesa on April 29 with an Iskander missile armed with a cluster munition warhead, killing at least five people and injuring around 30, including children.

Ukrainian officials have repeatedly accused Russia of using cluster munitions to target civilian areas. These weapons "spray" small bomblets across a wide area, with some of them detonating long after the attack, posing a continued danger to the local population.

Read also: Stoltenberg: Hungary wont join NATO initiatives for Ukraine but wont block them either

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ALGIERS, June 12 (Xinhua) -- Algeria and Oman on Wednesday signed two agreements to boost cooperation in social, scientific, legal, and environment fields, as well as two programs related to youth, sports, and archives, Algeria's official APS news agency reported.

The agreements were signed on the sidelines of the 8th session of the Algerian-Omani Joint Commission, witnessed by Algerian Foreign Minister Ahmed Attaf and his Omani counterpart Sayyid Badr Hamad al-Busaidi.

During a joint press conference with al-Busaidi, Attaf stated that the session of the joint commission had achieved its desired goals on multiple levels.

He noted that the two countries agreed to complete negotiations on several important draft agreements that will be signed before the end of the year.

The Omani foreign minister, for his part, hailed the strong bilateral relations and expressed confidence that the two sides would increase cooperation across all sectors in the next stage. 
Ukraine's air defence downs 29 Russian targets out of 30 launched, including Kinzhal aeroballistic missile

Ukraine's air defence shot down 29 Russian air targets out of 30 launched, including 5 missiles and 24 kamikaze drones, on the night of 11-12 June.

Source: Lieutenant General Mykola Oleshchuk, Commander of the Air Force, on Telegram

Details: The Russians launched a missile strike and drone strike against Ukraine, using air- and ground-launched missiles, as well as attack UAVs.

In total, Russian forces launched 30 air attack weapons:

- four Kh-101/Kh-555 cruise missiles from Tu-95 MS strategic aircraft (launch area  Russias Saratov Oblast);

- one Iskander-M ballistic missile (launch area  temporarily occupied Crimea);

- one Kh-47M2 Kinzhal aeroballistic missile (launch area  Russias Tambov Oblast);

- 24 Shahed-131/136 attack UAVs (launch area  Yeysk and Primorsko-Akhtarsk in Russia).

Anti-aircraft missile units of the Air Force and mobile firing groups and electronic warfare units of the Ukrainian defence forces were involved in repelling the Russian air attack.

As a result of combat efforts, 29 air targets were shot down:

- one Kh-47M2 Kinzhal aeroballistic missile;

- four Kh-101/Kh-555 cruise missiles;

- 24 Shahed-131/136 attack UAVs.

The targets were downed within Kyiv, Dnipropetrovsk, Zaporizhzhia, Poltava, Kharkiv and Vinnytsia oblasts.

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Commanders and heads of units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine are now obliged to coordinate talking points for comments, blogs and interviews with the Strategic Communications Department of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (StratCom).

Source: Detector Media with reference to the relevant order, the veracity of which has been confirmed by two sources from communications units of Ukraines Armed Forces

Details: Commanders and heads of structural units within Ukraines defence forces, as well as military training facilities, institutions and organisations, have reportedly been obliged to coordinate talking points for interviews, briefings, blogs and comments "concerning the deployment of the Armed Forces of Ukraine" with the Strategic Communications Department  the structural unit of Ukraines Armed Forces that is responsible for organising strategic communications in Ukraines military.

The order applies to "the heads (commanders and chiefs) of structural units of the Office of the Commander-in-Chief and the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, military management bodies, formations, military units, higher military training institutions, military training units within higher education establishments, institutions and organisations of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and other bodies of the defence forces of Ukraine".

The order also says that any such materials, along with the minutes of the meeting of the expert commission on classified information, must be emailed to the Strategic Communications Department for consideration at least three days before publication.

The expert commission on classified information operates according to a resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine (No. 939 dated 18 December 2013) entitled On the Procedure for the Organisation and Facilitation of the Confidentiality Regime in State Agencies, Local Authorities, Enterprises, Institutions and Organisations. The resolution itself is stamped "For official use".

Detector Medias sources said the order requiring the military to obtain approval for talking points was signed recently, although StratCom drafted it some time ago.

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Ukraine's Azov Brigade, a unit with a controversial past, can now use American weapons to fight the Russians

Ukraine's Azov Brigade, a unit with a controversial past, can now use American weapons to fight the Russians

The US lifted a ban on Azov Brigade, allowing it to receive American weapon shipments.

The Azov Brigade, part of Ukraine's National Guard, has faced scrutiny for its past far-right ties.

The State Department found no evidence of human rights violations after vetting the brigade.

The US State Department announced Monday that it has lifted a ban on the Azov Brigade, a former Ukrainian militia group with an ultranationalist history, allowing the current National Guard unit to receive American weapon shipments and training.

A State Department spokesperson told BBC on Tuesday that following a vetting of the brigade, there was "no evidence of gross violations of human rights."

The group was established in 2014 as the Azov Battalion by a figure linked to far-right hate groups in Ukraine. The unit's members' alleged far-right ties led the US to bar the group from receiving assistance.

Now known as the Azov Brigade, the unit became part of the Ukrainian National Guard in 2015. The unit sought to distance itself from its checkered past, yet it has also been banned from receiving US assistance for years, since the passing of a 2018 congressional spending bill.

The State Department has dismissed the congressional ban and said the Azov Brigade "passed Leahy vetting," referring to Leahy Law, which prevents the US from supporting foreign entities that have committed major human rights violations.

A Ukrainian soldier inside the ruined Azovstal steel plant stands under a sunlight ray in his shelter in Mariupol, Ukraine, on May 7, 2022. Dmytro Kozatski/Azov Special Forces Regiment of the Ukrainian National Guard Press Office via AP

"Understanding by our allies how important it is to help each of these units is another important step on the way of our struggle for independence," Ukrainian National Guard spokesperson Ruslan Muzychuk told The Washington Post following the State Department announcement.

The Kremlin has used the Azov Brigade as a talking point in justifying Russia's invasion of Ukraine, as President Vladimir Putin has previously stated that his objectives of the war include the "demilitarization and de-Nazification of Ukraine."

The Azov Brigade has claimed that it has evolved from its problematic past and that its leadership has changed since its inception.

In a response to the decision on Instagram, the unit wrote that "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."

"This is a new page in our unit's history," the brigade said, adding that "Azov is becoming even more powerful, even more professional and even more dangerous for occupiers."

The brigade is closely associated with its significant, albeit costly, defense of Mariupol in 2022 at the start of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, where it was eventually forced to surrender its fight from the Azovstal steel mill. The unit's soldiers have been celebrated as heroes and symbol of Ukrainian resistance.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Ukraine's big strike on Crimea shows how its older missiles can take out Russia's most advanced air defenses

Ukraine's big strike on Crimea shows how its older missiles can take out Russia's most advanced air defenses

Ukraine appeared to take out a Russian S-400 system in Crimea with Western ATACMS missiles.

The S-400 air-defense system is more advanced than the older ATACMS.

Experts told BI that S-400s are Russia's best, but their performance in Ukraine has been mixed.

Ukraine's latest claimed strike on Crimea is likely another example of how its older, Western-supplied missiles can foil even Russia's most advanced air-defense systems.

Ukraine's General Staff said Ukrainian forces targeted two Russian S-400 antiaircraft missile units and an S-300 antiaircraft missile unit on the Russia-annexed peninsula overnight on Sunday into Monday, damaging at least two of the units significantly.

It did not say what type of missiles were used, but Washington DC-based think tank the Institute for the Study of War said it was "likely with ATACMS"  US-made tactical ballistic missiles.

Rybar, an influential Russian military blogger, said on Monday that Ukraine had attacked Crimea with at least 12 ATACMS missiles.

The S-400 is Russia's most advanced air defense system. It first became operational in 2007, more than two decades after the ATACMS, which have been in service since 1986.

Ukraine said none of its missiles were downed in the attack, while mocking Russia's descriptions of its own air defenses.

"None of our missiles fired were intercepted by the enemy's 'highly effective' air defense," Ukraine's General Staff said.

The S-400 is Russia's best

Rajan Menon, director of the Grand Strategy program at the US think tank Defense Priorities, described the S-400 to BI earlier this year as Russia's "top-of-the-line air defense system."

But he said its performance in Ukraine has been "mixed," with Ukraine able to take some out.

Ukraine's General Staff said on Wednesday that it destroyed another S-400 and another S-300 in Crimea, without detailing what it used in the attack.

A rocket launches from a S-400 missile system at the Ashuluk military base in Russia in September 2020. DIMITAR DILKOFF/AFP via Getty Images

The S-400 was developed as a rival to the US' Patriot system, and the head of Rosoboronexport, the Russian state-owned military company that oversees much of Russia's military exports, has called it the "best long-range air defense system in the world."

Experts told BI that the system is clearly very capable and feared by Ukraine.

But they said it has proved vulnerable in Russia's ongoing invasion, and credited Ukraine with using skilled and creative tactics to go after the weapons.

Last November, the UK Ministry of Defence said that Ukraine had likely destroyed at least four Russian long-range air-defense systems in a week, with Russian reports saying three of them were S-400s.

A Russian Telegram channel that claims to have sources in Russia's police and military agencies said at the time that ATACMS were used.

Ian Williams, the former deputy director of the Missile Defense Project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, said last year that the S-400s "seem to have struggled against Storm Shadows," referring to missiles supplied to Ukraine by the UK and France, which were first used in 2003.

Fredrik Mertens, an analyst at the Hague Center for Strategic Studies, told BI that "we clearly know that Ukrainian missiles are getting through and at rates that they really pose a problem for the Russians."

S-400 Triumph systems rehearse before the World War II anniversary in Moscow in 2017. REUTERS/Maxim Shemetov

Meanwhile, George Barros, a Russia analyst at the Institute for the Study of War, told BI this week that the problem could actually become worse for Russia.

He said that new permissions given by some allies to allow Ukraine to use Western-donated weapons to strike military targets in Russia will put its S-400s and other air defenses  those once outside Ukraine's strike range  at risk.

Crimea at renewed risk

At the same time, Ukraine said last month that it used Western-supplied ATACMS to strike the Russian Kerch ferry crossing into Crimea.

Russia annexed Crimea in 2014, before the full-scale invasion of Ukraine began, in a move that was condemned around the world. Most countries do not recognize the territory as part of Russia.

Ukraine has vowed to retake the region, which Russia uses to launch attacks on Ukraine.



Philip Karber, a military analyst with expertise on Ukraine, said in April that Ukraine is now in a position to use ATACMS to make Crimea "militarily worthless."

Correction  June 13, 2024: A previous version of the text misidentified what antiaircraft units Ukraine said were targeted overnight on Sunday. It was two Russian S-400s and one S-300, with at least two of the units reportedly damaged. In addition, the UK Ministry of Defence said in November that Ukraine had likely destroyed at least four Russian long-range air defense systems in a week, but it was Russian reports that identified three of them as being S-400s.

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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Wednesday landed in Saudi Arabia, days before a planned peace summit for Ukraine in Switzerland.

Zelensky arrived in the Saudi port city of Jeddah and met Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the monarchys de facto ruler, according to the Saudi state news agency SPA.

They discussed ties between the two countries and developments in the Ukraine-Russia crisis, the agency added without giving details.

Mohammed stressed at the meeting the kingdom's backing for all efforts to solve the crisis and mitigate its humanitarian effects, it added.

Saudi Arabia does not want want to take part in the June 15-16 conference as Russia will not attend, sources in Riyadh said earlier this month on condition of anonymity.

There has since been no official confirmation in Riyadh.

Switzerland has invited around 160 countries to the upcoming event to discuss possible ways to achieve a lasting peace in Ukraine.

Russia, which invaded Ukraine more than two years ago, has not received an invitation. The Kremlin has dismissed the talks as meaningless.

Saudi Arabia has tried to maintain a neutral stance in the Ukraine war.

The oil-rich kingdom, a traditional ally of the United States, also maintains good ties with Moscow, and has repeatedly offered to mediate between Russia and Ukraine.

Last August, Saudi Arabia hosted international security talks on Ukraine.

In May last year, Zelensky attended an annual Arab League summit also held in Saudi Arabia.
Ukrainian Defence Industry to create joint venture with US Amentum Services

Ukrainian Defence Industry JSC (also known as Ukroboronprom, a strategic manufacturer of weapons and military hardware in Ukraine) has signed a Memorandum of Intent to form a joint venture with American Amentum Services, Inc, a leading company in the field of global design, project management, and solution integration.

Source: Ukrainian Defence Industry on Telegram

Details: The corporation indicated that this is concerned with future cooperation on the restoration and maintenance of armoured vehicles built in America.

"Earlier, officials from Amentum Services, Inc visited Ukroboronprom firms to examine their current skills, technical basis and potential.

Domestic arms manufacturers anticipate that new partners will assist them in getting technical documentation, equipment and replacement parts for the repair and maintenance of armoured combat vehicles built in the United States," according to the statement.

The memorandum between Ukrainian Defence Industry and Amentum Services, Inc. was signed by CEO Herman Smetanin and Joe Dunaway, President of Executive Operations of the Critical Missions Division.

Background: Ukrainian Defence Industry and German Rheinmetall opened Ukraine's first combined workshop for the repair and production of armoured vehicles.

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(Reuters) - British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak will announce up to 242 million pounds ($309.69 million) in bilateral assistance to Ukraine in the G7 summit, his office said on Wednesday, to support immediate humanitarian, energy and stabilisation needs for Ukraine.

"We must be decisive and creative in our efforts to support Ukraine and end Putin's illegal war at this critical moment," Sunak said ahead of the summit.

The Group of Seven nations and the European Union are also considering how to use profits generated by Russian assets immobilized in the West to provide Ukraine with a large up-front loan to secure Kyiv's financing for 2025.

($1 = 0.7814 pounds)

(Reporting by Nilutpal Timsina in Bengaluru; editing by Diane Craft)
Human rights experts backed by the United Nations issued a report Wednesday that said the Israeli military and Hamas both committed war crimes in the first months of the ongoing war in Gaza.

The group of independent experts said Israeli forces and Palestinian militants engaged in war crimes, including sexual and gender-based violence. Israel is also said to have committed crimes against humanity for the expansive civilian loss, The Associated Press reported.

The report examined media reports from the start of Hamass Oct. 7 attack on Israel until the end of 2023, and it argued both sides in the war have committed crimes.

Israel, which has rejected the allegations, is said to have committed acts like forced starvation, murder or willful killing, collective punishment and intentional attacks on civilians.

Hamas and other armed Palestinian groups performed deliberate killings and mistreatment of civilians and hostages, the report authors alleged.

Hamas has denied committing sexual violence against Israeli women, but the report outlined documented cases that occurred at the site of the Nova Music Festival and other places.

The AP noted the independent group was established in 2021 to examine rights violations in the area and does not speak for the U.N.

Israel said it was outrageous for the group to equate Israeli military soldiers and Hamas.

The report follows the recovery of four Israeli hostages. The special operation conducted to rescue the hostages killed at least 210 Palestinians, a Gaza health official said.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to continue the war until all hostages are freed, even as international pressure for a cease-fire increases.

The Biden administration said Tuesday it is evaluating a response from Hamas to a proposal for a temporary, cease-fire that would stop the fighting in Gaza.

It came just after the U.N. Security Council passed a U.S.-drafted resolution that laid out three phases of a cease-fire deal.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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NAIROBI, June 12 (Xinhua) -- The African Union (AU) in partnership with the Nairobi-based International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) said Wednesday that the development of new guidelines to boost food safety in the continent's informal markets has gathered steam.

In a joint statement released in Nairobi, the Kenyan capital, the two organizations observed that nearly 70 percent of Africa's urban households purchase food from informal markets, including street vendors and kiosks, warranting enforcement of quality controls to protect consumers from food poisoning.

"Food and nutrition security is a human right and yet unsafe food undermines this right for millions of Africans every year," said John Oppong-Otoo, the Food Safety officer at the Nairobi-based African Union Inter African Bureau for Animal Resources (AU-IBAR). "We believe these new guidelines will provide realistic and practical guidance to help governments work with the informal sector and gradually transform it to safely and sustainably sustain the population."

According to the AU, food safety in Africa's informal markets has been historically neglected or mismanaged, with some 90 million people in the continent affected by foodborne illnesses annually, leading to an estimated 16 billion U.S. dollars in productivity losses.

In addition, the AU said that the international community invests only 55 million dollars annually on food safety projects in the continent, hence the urgency for domestic resources mobilization to tackle food poisoning.

The new guidelines are expected to inject vitality into domestic efforts to enhance food safety in Africa by involving policymakers, traders, and consumers as part of the continent's agenda to end hunger, poverty, and disease, the AU noted.

Developed after the AU's continental-wide Food Safety Strategy for Africa 2022-2036, the new guidelines were first published in 2021 and seek to enhance hygiene in handling edible products, said the Pan-African bloc.

It added that while compliance with food safety standards has improved in Africa's exported food crops, progress has been lethargic in the fragmented and under-resourced domestic informal markets.

Silvia Alonso Alvarez, a senior scientist and epidemiologist at ILRI, said that African countries should develop and enforce food safety guidelines that suit the continent's socioeconomic and cultural environment.

"The reality is that most African consumers buy food from the informal sector, which requires different approaches for food safety management," Alonso said. "With the right support, governments can unlock the informal food sector as a vehicle for healthy and safe foods for all, and a source of decent and dignified employment for men and women, especially youth, in Africa."

Both the AU and ILRI will consult informal sector actors to refine food safety guidelines in June while consultations with member states will continue throughout 2024 and 2025, paving the way for the framework to be presented to the AU policy bodies for approval in 2025. 
UN inquiry says Israel and Hamas have both committed war crimes since October 7

A United Nations inquiry into the first few months of the war in Gaza has found both Israel and Hamas committed war crimes and grave violations of international law, in the bodys first in-depth investigation into the October 7 attacks and the ensuing conflict.

The damning reports released Wednesday, which cover events up to the end of 2023, paint an alarming picture of both sides routinely disregarding international law in a devastating conflict that has now raged for more than eight months, bitterly dividing global opinion and sending tensions soaring across the Middle East. The findings were strongly disputed by Israel.

The United Nations Commission of Inquirys reports begin on October 7, the day Hamas and other Palestinian armed groups launched a murder and kidnapping spree in southern Israel which killed more than 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and saw some 250 people taken hostage.

War crimes cited by the commission that day included intentionally directing attacks against civilians, murder or willful killing, torture, inhuman or cruel treatment, outrages upon personal dignity, and taking hostages, including children.

The massacres that day prompted Israel to declare war on Hamas and launch an assault on Gaza that has destroyed much of the heavily populated enclave and killed more than 37,000 people, according to Gaza health authorities.

Rockets are launched by Hamas from the Gaza Strip towards Israel on October 7, 2023. - Hatem Moussa/AP

Palestinians transport an Israeli citizen to Gaza after kidnapping her from a kibbutz in Israel near the Gaza border, on Oct. 7, 2023. - Hatem Ali/AP/File

In the first 2.5 months of the conflict, the commission found, Israel committed war crimes as well as crimes against humanity  the latter defined as a widespread, systemic attack directed at a civilian population. Israels alleged war crimes include starvation, arbitrary detention, and killing and maiming tens of thousands of children.

Both Israel and Hamas committed sexual violence and torture, and intentionally attacked civilians, according to the reports, which span more than 200 pages.

The commission said its findings were based on interviews with victims and witnesses, thousands of open-source items verified through forensic analysis, hundreds of submissions, satellite imagery, forensic medical reports and media coverage, including several key CNN investigations. Israel previously announced its refusal to cooperate with the inquiry.

CNN is reaching out Hamas for comment.

In response to the report, Israel accused the fact-finding mission of attempting to justify Hamas actions, of showing systematic anti-Israeli discrimination, and contextualizing the attacks through the lens of the Palestinian narrative.

Israels mission to the UN said Wednesday that the report did not mention continuous rocket fire on the country and claimed that it outrageously and repugnantly attempts to draw a false equivalence between IDF (Israel Defense Forces) soldiers and Hamas terrorists with regards to acts of sexual violence, adding that the Israeli military conducts itself in accordance to international law, including international humanitarian law.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Wednesday that the United States continues to do the work to make our own assessments on whether there have been violations of human rights and international humanitarian law in the war in Gaza.

Speaking at a news conference in Doha, the top US diplomat said he had not seen the new UN findings, but said that of course well look at that.

The reports released Wednesday add to previous allegations made against Israel by other major international bodies.

The International Criminal Court announced last month it was seeking arrest warrants for several top Hamas and Israeli leaders, including Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity.

At the time, both Hamas and Israel decried the charges  with Hamas describing it as an attempt to equate victims with aggressors, and Netanyahu calling it a political outrage.

And in February, the Israeli military denied accusations by UN experts of human rights violations against Palestinian girls and women in Gaza and the West Bank  calling the claims despicable and unfounded.

October 7 attacks

The report examined Hamas actions during the October 7 attacks, which it described as unprecedented in scale in (Israels) modern history invoking painful trauma of past persecution not only for Israeli Jews but for Jewish people everywhere.

Hamas militants abducted hostages without regard for age or gender, with some shot at, killed, and paraded around, the report said. In particular, they targeted women, whose bodies were used as victory trophies by male perpetrators (and) put on public display, either on the streets of the Gaza Strip or online, it found.

The commission said it had documented evidence of sexual violence carried out by Palestinian armed groups in several locations in southern Israel on October 7.

The commission had also reviewed rape testimonies collected by journalists and Israeli police but said it was unable to independently verify these due to lack of access to the victims or crime sites, and because Israel obstructed its investigations.

The report authors singled out the toll on Israeli children  many of whom witnessed the murders of their parents and siblings, and were targeted for abduction.

Israeli forces inflicting maximum damage

In Israels subsequent attack on Hamas, the commission wrote, its forces aimed to inflict maximum damage without taking enough precautions  which led to a staggering death toll in Gaza, devastating injuries, and destruction of civilian infrastructure.

The deliberate use of heavy weaponry by Israeli security forces with large destructive capabilities in densely populated areas constitutes an intentional and direct attack on the civilian population, particularly affecting women and children, the commission said.

It also referenced CNN reporting that found that nearly half of the air-to-ground munitions Israel used in Gaza were unguided, meaning they were less precise and posed a greater threat to civilians in the densely populated strip.

Palestinians inspect the destruction around residential buildings following Israeli air strikes in the Rafah refugee camp in southern Gaza on December 1, 2023. - Said Khatib/AFP/Getty Images

Palestinians mourn their relatives, killed in an overnight Israeli strike on the Al-Maghazi refugee camp, during a mass funeral at the Al-Aqsa hospital in Gaza on December 25, 2023. - Mahmud Hams/AFP/Getty Images

Asked for comment at the time, IDF spokesperson Nir Dinar told CNN: We do not address the type of munitions used.

The UNs report cited two other CNN investigations that showed Israeli forces intentionally killing civilians who posed no threat, often along evacuation routes and in designated safe areas.

The siege of Gaza represents a collective punishment against the civilian population, according to the UN report  which accused Israel of withholding critical goods like water, food, electricity, fuel and humanitarian aid for strategic and political gains.

Sexual violence and inflammatory rhetoric

The report detailed allegations of Israeli forces carrying out sexual violence in both Gaza and the Israel-occupied West Bank  intended to drive home the subordination of an occupied people.

Victims were allegedly interrogated or abused while naked or partially dressed, blindfolded, and made to kneel or keep their hands tied behind their backs, the report found.

Many were forced to strip in public and walk while being sexually harassed, with their family members forced to watch. While both men and women were victims of sexual violence, men and boys were targeted in particular.

The report also highlighted the inflammatory rhetoric used by senior Israeli officials, including the president and prime minister, which the UN commission said amounted to incitement and may constitute other serious international crimes.

Some Israeli officials had called for violence and the killing of Palestinians, the erasure of the Gaza Strip, vengeance, collective punishment, noting that there are no innocent civilians in the Gaza Strip, planning for new Israeli settlements on the rubble of the Gaza Strip and calling for the removal of Palestinians from Gaza to third states, the report said, without attributing to specific officials.

Some of the most extreme statements in Israels deeply divided cabinet have come from far-right members like National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich.

They are often condemned by other cabinet members like Benny Gantz, who resigned on Sunday, and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant.

UN-Israel tensions

The commission, which was set up by the UN Human Rights Council in 2021 after an 11-day conflict that killed more than 200 people in both Israel and Gaza, said Israel had obstructed its access to both Israel and Palestinian territories during the investigation.

It said Israeli officials had barred medical professionals and other personnel from speaking to investigators, and did not respond to any UN requests for information.

The commission also requested information from the Palestinian Authority, which governs the West Bank, it said. The Palestinian Authority provided extensive comments and indicated they would welcome a visit by the UN, the commission said.

Hamas, a rival to the Palestinian Authority, governs Gaza and it was not clear from the report whether the authors had also contacted the militant group.

In December, Israeli Ambassador to the UN Gilad Erdan accused the UNs Human Rights Council of being morally distorted and antisemitic. Erdan called its investigation 100% biased against Israel, and said Israel would not cooperate.

The UN and Israels long-strained relations have sunk to a historic low in recent months, with senior UN officials highly critical of Israels war conduct in Gaza.

The UN Security Council  which Israel is not part of  tried for months after October 7 to pass a resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire. The US, Israels closest ally and its main weapons supplier, consistently used its veto power to block such a move  until it finally abstained in March, allowing the resolution to pass, which was immediately lambasted by Israel.

And last month, a non-binding vote at the UN General Assembly showed overwhelming international support for an independent Palestinian state  leaving the US and Israels allies isolated. Israel and the US maintain that a Palestinian state should only be established through a negotiated settlement.

An employee at the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) lowers the UN flag on the roof of the organization's regional offices in the Lebanese capital Beirut on November 13, 2023. - Anwar Amro/AFP/Getty Images

Another sticking point is UNRWA, the UNs agency for Palestinian refugees, which plays a central role in feeding and sheltering hundreds of thousands of Palestinian refugees.

Israeli officials have long criticized UNRWA, accusing it of diverting aid to Hamas as well as having Hamas members in its ranks. More than a dozen countries suspended funding to the agency after Israel accused at least 12 UNRWA staffers of being involved in the October 7 terrorist attacks. Most have since resumed funding.

In March, the agency accused Israel of detaining and torturing some of its staffers, coercing them into making false confessions about the agencys ties to Hamas.

In recent months, UNRWA has faced threats, harassment and violence perpetrated by Israelis  with the East Jerusalem headquarters set on fire while staff were inside.

CNN cannot confirm the allegations by Israel or UNRWA.

In their report on Wednesday, the commission authors urged Israel to immediately call a ceasefire, for Hamas to release hostages, for Israel to end its practices of sexual abuse against Palestinians, and to allow access for further investigations.

It is imperative that all those who have committed crimes be held accountable, said commission chair Navi Pillay.

The only way to stop the recurring cycles of violence, including aggression and retribution by both sides, is to ensure strict adherence to international law.

This story has been updated.

CNNs Benjamin Brown and Nadeen Ebrahim contributed to this report.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
Insights from The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, and Al Jazeera

The News

A United Nations inquiry found that both Israel and Hamas have committed war crimes since the latters Oct. 7 attacks and the ensuing war in Gaza, covering a period up to the end of 2023.

The findings from two parallel reports said both sides had committed war crimes during the ongoing conflict including torture, murder, and inhuman treatment. Israel had additionally carried out crimes against humanity in Gaza, including starvation, the inquiry found.

The UN report raises troubling questions and suggests both the Israeli government and Hamas leadership hold the lives of [Palestinians and Israelis] in contempt, Uri Weltmann, an organizer with the Israeli-Palestinian peace advocacy movement, Standing Together, told Semafor.

SIGNALS

Semafor Signals: Global insights on today's biggest stories.

Israels collective punishment of Gaza is not new

Source: The Washington Post

Israel has often blamed civilian deaths in Gaza on Hamas. One Israeli defense spokesperson told media this weekend that every civilian life lost in this war is a result of how Hamas has operated, The Washington Post noted. But legal analysts and international watchdogs have increasingly found evidence that Israel is carrying out war crimes  and it is presently facing a genocide trial in the UNs top court. The desire for collective punishment on the residents of Gaza, where Hamas has held sway for more than a decade and a half, existed in Israel well before Oct. 7, the Posts Ishaan Tharoor wrote.

Hamas leader disregards civilian casualties

Source: The Wall Street Journal

Much like Israel has blamed civilian deaths on Hamas, the militant groups chief, Yahya Sinwar, has shown disregard for Gazans caught in the wars crossfire, The Wall Street Journal reported. In one message to Hamas representatives in Doha, Sinwar likened the thousands of Palestinian casualties to necessary sacrifices, according to messages reviewed by the Journal. Sinwar has stuck to a simple playbook. Backed into a corner, he looks to violence for a way out. The current fight in Gaza is no exception, the paper noted.

Civilian deaths seen as collateral damage

Source: Al Jazeera

In an operation to rescue four hostages from Gaza on June 9, Israeli troops killed at least 274 Palestinians, according to Gazas health authorities. The high death toll of the operation has prompted condemnation around the world. As Al Jazeera columnist Belen Fernandez argued: Israels perpetual bloodbath in Gaza would seem to confirm that, as per Israeli military logic, 200-plus dead Palestinians is perfectly acceptable collateral damage in the recuperation of four live Israelis.
The author says the UNC System's new "institutional neutrality" policy will have negative consequences for equality and academic freedom. Image: UNC System

In the late 1990s and early 2000s, I occasionally taught workshops for local nonprofit organizations whose members wanted to learn how unconscious biases could lead to discriminatory behavior that maintains racial and gender inequalities. This was right down my alley as a sociologist. For years, I studied, taught about, and published about these matters, drawing on and contributing to a large body of knowledge social scientists had created over decades.

I never charged for these workshops. As a professor at North Carolina State University, I felt obliged to share my knowledge with any North Carolinians who thought it might be of value to them. If I could also help to make life fairer for people who had been historically marginalized or excluded, so much the better. I dont think this desire to do good was unusual. Most professors in public universities hope to make the world a better place through their teaching, scholarship, and outreach work.

But under a new institutional neutrality policy adopted last month by the UNC System Board of Governors, the kind of outreach work I once did as a professor might now be prohibited. So might other kinds of faculty work aimed at remediating social problems. For example, the policy could also be interpreted as prohibiting a group of faculty members from creating, say, a center for climate change education and providing curriculum consulting to North Carolina public schools. All it would take to make the policy apply in this way is to define climate change as a matter of contemporary political debate.

The new policy can be found in Section 300.8.5 of the UNC Policy Manual. Subsection VII of this policy is titled Maintaining Institutional Neutrality. Here is what it says:

Every employing subdivision of the University in both its organization and operation shall adhere to and comply with the strictures of institutional neutrality required by G.S. 116-300 (3a). Accordingly, no employing subdivision or employment position with the University shall be organized, be operated, speak on behalf of the University, or contract with third parties to provide training or consulting services regarding: matters of contemporary political debate or social action as those terms are used in Section 300.5.1 of the UNC Policy Manual; any prescribed view of social policy or political controversies of the day, as those terms are used in G.S. 116-300 (3) and (3a); or in furtherance of the concepts listed in G.S. 126-14.6(c)(1)-(13).

This sort of bureaucratic language can make ones eyes glaze over. Which is why it can be hard to see the potential implications of these policy changes. An example might help.

Suppose a branch of state government in North Carolina paid me to teach a workshop on how to combat unconscious racial biases that impair employee mentoring. Further suppose that in this workshop I used the concept of privilege to refer to the many large and small benefitsusually taken for granted and thus invisibleenjoyed by members of a dominant group. This could be construed as furtherance of a concept that G.S. 126-14.6(c)(1)-13 forbids in the context of state employee training. The verboten idea, according to the statute, is that, Particular character traits, values, moral or ethical codes, privileges, or beliefs should be ascribed to a race or sex or to an individual because of the individuals race or sex.

Depending on how this part of the statute is interpreted, it could be seen as a violation to say that white people enjoy any kind of privileges simply by virtue of being whiteeven in a society where so-called white people are dominant culturally, politically, and economically. Of course, no one who teaches about these matters would say that unearned privileges should be enjoyed by members of a dominant group; the claim, as made by social scientists, is descriptive, not prescriptive. If there is a moral principle lurking here, it is that no one deserves unearned privileges.

But today its easy to imagine that claims which should be uncontroversialwhite privilege exists and causes tangible harmswill cause discomfort and lead to complaints. In fact, it seems likely that this kind of whitelash, as it has been called, is one reason the idea of white privilege is on the list of Forbidden Concepts. The irony of this proscription is no doubt lost on right-wing legislators and members of the UNC Board of Governors. In trying to rid educational discourse of anything smacking of critical race theory, they have provided a useful example of what critical race theory seeks to highlight: how the rules by which institutions operate can protect white supremacy.

What about my workshop example? Is it plausible? A defender of the institutional neutrality policy might say its not meant to apply to the speech of individual faculty members, either in the classroom, in public statements (op-eds, for instance), or in workshop settings. It is meant only to forbid the university, or any of its constituent units, from taking a position on matters of current political debate. Perhaps so, yet in the event that a professors use of a proscribed concept elicited complaints, fearful administrators might very well try to quash this potentially troublesome activity. Speech is free, as recent pro-Palestinian protests have shown, only when it does not upset powerful groups.

What seems certain, however, is that organized efforts by faculty, efforts to address contemporary social problems, would be the targets of repression. We dont need to speculate about this possibility; its happened before. In 2015 the Board of Governors shut down UNCs Center for Poverty, Work, and Opportunity. In 2017 the same board barred the UNC Center for Civil Rights from engaging in litigation. Board members said these centers, which took the moderately liberal stands of fighting poverty and defending civil rights, were improperly partisan, though most observers understood that their real sin was being thorns in the side of right-wing Republican legislators in North Carolina.

The recently enacted and more explicit policy of institutional neutrality could be used to clamp down on other politically disfavored faculty efforts. Earlier, I used the example of a hypothetical center for climate change education. Would such a center, if the collective work of its members advanced the ideaas a matter of fact, not opinionthat global warming is happening and is caused by human activity, run afoul of the neutrality policy? Some Board of Governors members, in the grip of energy industry propaganda, might see it that way.

There are many matters of contemporary political debate on which faculty might seek to promote understandings, based on disciplinary knowledge and expertise, that some might see as partisan. To note a few obvious examples: gun control, drug legalization, police violence, abortion, the death penalty, racial disparities in health care, gains in productivity and innovation yielded by diversity. Faculty centers, institutes, or other units that sought to educate the public and weigh in on policy options in these areas could, if powerful groups found their work threatening, be muzzled on the grounds of violating the institutional neutrality policy.

According to UNC System President Peter Hans, speaking at the Board of Governors meeting at which the neutrality policy was adopted, Our public universities are here to serve everyone and ideally to challenge everyone. Thats the job. Because were meant to host a wide range of ideas, concepts and theories, to be an intellectually rich forum for big and difficult questions, our public universities must take a stance of principled neutrality on matters of political controversy. Hans reportedly said that he arrived at this position after hearing from students, parents, alumni, and legislators. But not faculty, apparently.

Hans went on to say that higher education isnt about settling debates. Our role, he said, referring to the university, is to host those debates, to inform them to make them richer and more constructive . [W]e cant fulfill it if our institutions are seen as partisan actors in one direction or another.

Part of the problem, it seems, is that Hans sees faculty contributions to public debate as mere views. Evidence, rigorous analysis, peer review, accumulated knowledge, and scientific consensus appear to carry no special weight for the universitys overseers. If climate scientists say anthropogenic climate change is real, while others say its a hoax, well, these are just competing views deserving equal respect. The universitys role is to provide a neutral platform for these views, not to say which is right. Turn back the clock a few years and Hans, channeling his inner Jesse Helms, might have accused university scientists of being unacceptably partisan for saying that smoking causes heart disease, emphysema, and cancer.

The deeper problem is that societal institutions are never truly neutral. This is especially clear when power is concentrated at the top, as it is in most universities. It is at the top that decisions are made about what is controversial or not, about which ideas and forms of expression will be celebrated or chilled, and about what kind of public-facing work faculty will be allowed to do. These decisions tend to be made in ways that protect the interests of politically and economically dominant groups. Under these conditions, an official policy of institutional neutrality serves mainly to mask imbalances of power.

A policy of institutional neutrality that discourages university administrators from pontificating about every social issue of the day makes sense. There is no reason to think chancellors and provosts, let alone members of boards of governors or trustees, have profound insights to offer on all matters of public concern. But the new UNC System policy goes beyond reining-in chancellors. By potentially impeding the ability of faculty to draw on disciplinary knowledge and expertise to put some debates to rest, or to use concepts that unsettle powerful groups, or to do work on behalf of marginalized people, a policy of institutional neutrality will serve mainly to protect an unequal status quo.

The post The UNC Systems institutional neutrality policy will promote inequality appeared first on NC Newsline.
Good morning!  Did you sign a petition to support independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr.? A Democratic super PAC says some voters were misled about what they were signing. Heres what you need to know about North Carolina politics today from our team and correspondent Stephanie Loder.

CLEAR CHOICE ACTION CHALLENGES RFK JR. PETITIONS

Are the backers of Robert F. Kennedy Jr.s presidential campaign misleading voters so they can get Kennedy on the ballot in North Carolina?

A Democratic super PAC thinks so.

The group, Clear Choice Action, filed a challenge with the State Board of Elections claiming voters who signed petitions for ballot access were made to believe their signatures would put independent candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on the November general election ballot.

Instead, voters signatures went to support a spot on the ballot for We The People, a new political party expected to nominate Kennedy.

In a letter to the Board of Elections, attorneys representing the super PAC said the petitions were an unlawful effort by Kennedy to evade the requirements for an unaffiliated candidacy creating a sham political party.

Kennedy, the son of Robert F. Kennedy and Ethel Kennedy, had been a Democrat until 2023.

Get the full story from Vivienne Serret here.

MASKING, CAMPAIGN FINANCE BILL HEADS TO GOV. COOPERS DESK

A bill on mask restrictions  revised last week by legislative Republicans to include a contentious campaign finance provision  is heading to Gov. Roy Coopers office after a Tuesday vote.

A compromise between House and Senate Republicans, House Bill 237 rewrites a provision in state law that allows people to wear masks in public for health and safety reasons.

As reported by Avi Bajpai, state law prohibiting mask wearing in public has been in place since the 1950s after North Carolina lawmakers passed the ban to crack down on the Ku Klux Klan.

The compromise bill limits mask wearing to only allow medical and surgical grade masks to prevent the spread of disease. The bill also targets people who wear masks to hide their identity while committing a crime or during protests.

Democrats say the campaign finance changes open the door to difficult-to-trace contributions from wealthy donors ahead of the November election.

Cooper is expected to veto the bill. If that happens, it would set up override votes in both chambers.

Get the full story from Avi Bajpai and Luciana Perez Uribe Guinassi here.

NO NEW BUDGET, BUT STATE WORKERS TO GET RAISES

When will North Carolina lawmakers pass a budget? The answer is not anytime soon.

Republican House Speaker Tim Moore said negotiations have broken down with Republican Senate leader Phil Berger regarding a compromise budget adjustment.

Instead, the House is poised to release its own budget proposal.

However, even if the General Assembly doesnt pass a new bill, the 2023 budget that became law in October will allow for raises this year for many state workers. Read the details of who gets what in this story from Dawn Baumgartner Vaughan.

The 2023 budget is a two-year spending plan covering the fiscal years of July 1, 2023, through June 30, 2025.

Berger says House Republican leaders want to spend about $1 billion from the states reserves in their districts, but Senate Republican leaders are not in favor of the plan.

Moore said he wants to give state employees more raises and retirees a cost of living adjustment in this years budget bill, but he and Berger are far apart on budget spending. Read more from Vaughan here.

$100 MILLION IN NC BUDGET MAY BE HOUSE SPEAKERS ROAD TO REELECTION

House Speaker Tim Moore fast-tracked a state highway project to fix a bottleneck and add lanes to the interchange of I-85 and I-485 in western Mecklenburg County by using part of a $100 million discretionary fund.

The road project near Charlotte Douglas International Airport  which state officials werent going to tackle until 2033  was a good look for Moore when he made the announcement last fall.

Why?

Because the project will take place no later than 2025 in the newly formed congressional district where Moore is running for a House seat.

The $100 million was inside a 786-page supplement to a 625-page compromise budget bill. Moore is allocating $45 million to accelerate the redesign of the congested interchange.

At a news conference on Nov. 2, Moore said: We had the funds, simple as that.

Get the full story from Dan Kane and David Raynor here.

Thats all for today. Check your inbox tomorrow for more #ncpol news.

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United Airlines is adding two new nonstop flights at Dayton International Airport.

Travelers will now have more options to fly to Washington, D.C. with two new nonstop flights to Washington Dulles International Airport.

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We are pleased United Airlines has continued to invest in the Dayton region by expanding their air service with us, Gil Turner, City of Dayton Director of Aviation, said.

These two new flights are in addition to an existing flight to Washington Dulles International Airport. The departure times for the three flights to Washington, D.C. are 6 a.m., 10:25 a.m., and 2:50 p.m.

>> WATCH: Camels escape from petting zoo at Ohio amusement park

United also offers one flight to Denver International Airport, a service that started last September, and four daily flights to Chicago OHare International Airport.

Weve seen a strong response from the Miami Valley after we introduced nonstop service to Denver and are excited to provide this new service to the nations capital thanks to our collaborative partners at the Dayton International Airport and the greater community, Mark Weithofer, Uniteds managing director of domestic network planning, said.




Julio Frenk stepped down as president of the University of Miami on Wednesday to go on a six-month sabbatical before joining the University of California, Los Angeles in January. Joe Echevarria, UMs CEO, has been promoted to acting president.

The University of California Board of Regents unanimously selected Frenk as chancellor of UCLA on Wednesday morning, agreeing to pay him an annual salary of $978,904, according to the LA Times.

FROM 2020: He advised the world during four pandemics. Now he leads UM during coronavirus crisis

Julio Frenk, president of University of Miami, right, speaks while Madeline Pumariega, president of Miami Dade College, listens during a Trustee Luncheon hosted by Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce to talk with leaders in higher education about adjusting to a post-pandemic world on Wednesday, April 5, 2023, at the Jungle Island Bloom Ballroom.

Frenk, 70, will become the first Latino in the post in the universitys 105-year history when he takes over on Jan. 1, 2025, UCLA announced.

Frenk didnt immediately respond to an emailed request for comment.

At the University of California, a chancellor oversees one of the universitys 10 campuses and reports to the president of the university. Frenk will manage a $7.5-billion budget, as well as more than 43,000 students and 46,000 employees. He will also face a greater degree of public scrutiny there than at UM, because UC is a public institution.

At UM, South Floridas largest private university, Frenk supervised 19,000 students and 17,000 employees. Frenks total compensation added up to about 2.1 million for the academic year ending in 2022, according to UMs filings with Guidestar. The university does not disclose financial data as a private entity.

Frenks departure marks another leadership change at UM. Last summer, both the provost and the COO left.

READ MORE: University of Miami Board of Trustees gets new leadership. Heres who will be in charge

Manny Kadre, the chair of UMs Board of Trustees, announced Wednesday afternoon that the board had appointed Echevarria, the current universitys CEO, as the acting president effective immediately. Kadre said Wednesday that Frenk left the post immediately instead of waiting until January to to focus on his transition.

Kadre, the chairman and CEO of MBB Auto Group, a company that owns luxury car dealerships, as well as an executive at other companies, became the boards chair earlier this month.

On behalf of the entire University of Miami Board of Trustees, please join me in wishing Julio the very best as he prepares to take the helm at UCLA and thanking Joe for his willingness to serve the U again at this crucial moment, Kadre said in his note.

Echevarria, hired by UM in February 2021 as the CEO of UHealth, UMs medical arm, also became the universitys CEO in April 2022.

READ MORE: Another slap on the face for faculty. UM hires a CEO as professors fight for raises

Kadre didnt provide a specific timeline for a presidential search, a process that can often take months, but said that over the next several months, the Board of Trustees will engage in a thoughtful and robust discussion with faculty and other important stakeholders to initiate the process of identifying the next President of the University of Miami.

Frenk, a physician, has previously served as Mexicos secretary of health, an executive at the World Health Organization, senior fellow for global health at the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and dean of Harvards T.H. Chan School of Public Health.

UCLA was ranked No. 1 among public university and No. 15 among private and public universities by US News and World Report this year. UM was ranked No. 36 among private universities and No. 67 this year among private and public universities.

READ MORE: How high is your college ranked? US News list shows changes for FIU, UM, UF and others
Updated Parentage Act, which guarantees equal rights for LGBTQ+ parents, passes in the House

The Massachusetts House of Representatives passed a bill that updates parentage laws to reflect modern-day families on Wednesday.

An Act to ensure legal parentage equality passed the House with a 156-0 vote and will now go to the Senate for consideration.

Parentage laws in the state, which involve the legal parent-child relationship, are broad. The rights and responsibilities include the ability to make decisions during medical appointments, manage a childs finances, and participate in educational decision-making.

Families fight for equal rights under MA parentage laws

For some LGBTQ+ families in the Commonwealth, who utilize assisted reproductive treatments or surrogacy, theres a grey area around their legal rights. Many advocacy groups are pushing for updated laws to clarify how people who build their families through assisted reproduction and/or surrogacy can secure legal parenting rights.

Ensuring that the Commonwealths laws reflect an evolving society, along with the implications of modern technology, is a key responsibility that we have as elected officials, said House Speaker Ronald J. Mariano (D-Quincy). By bolstering protections for children born through assisted reproduction, surrogacy, and to same-sex parents, we are doing just that.

Lawmakers say this bill establishes a clear path to parentage for families or couples who fall into the legal grey area. They also say the bill safeguards against abuse and protections for domestic violence survivors and military parents.

It is unclear when the bill will be put to vote in the Senate.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

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Julianne Smith, US Permanent Representative to NATO, has commented on a recent statement by US President Joe Biden, saying that Washingtons position on Ukraines NATO membership has not changed.

Source: Smith at an online briefing on 12 June, as reported by European Pravda

Details: In an interview for TIME published last week, US President Joe Biden stated that peace in Ukraine means the guarantee that Russia will never be able to occupy Ukraine. He believes that NATO membership is not needed for this.

Smith stressed that NATO leaders confirmed last year that Ukraine would become a member of the Alliance.

"I do believe what the President was referencing in that particular interview, though, was the fact that we, the United States, believe that the Ukrainians still have some work to do on meeting the criteria and implementing the reforms that are required for NATO membership," she added.

Smith stressed that Ukraine is working on the necessary reforms jointly with its allies, and the US welcomes the progress that Kyiv has made on this.

"So, the goal remains the same. The commitment remains the same. And that is why at the summit you will hear us talking a lot about building a bridge to membership for our friends in Ukraine," Smith concluded.

Smith said last month that important changes in the wording regarding Ukraine's membership prospects would be made at the NATO leaders upcoming meeting in Washington.

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An American college instructor has recounted the horror of surviving a stabbing attack in China, offering the first personal account of an incident that has been given limited media coverage within the country.

David Zabner is one of four Cornell College instructors attacked Monday while visiting a busy public park in the northeast Chinese city of Jilin, where they were teaching on a partnership program with a local university.

Police in Jilin said they quickly arrived at the scene and swiftly apprehended a 55-year-old man. The suspect, identified by his surname Cui, collided with a foreigner while walking, then stabbed the victim, according to a police statement. Three other foreigners and a Chinese person who attempted to intervene were also stabbed by the suspect, police said.

The statement did not address the suspects motive for the attack and said the investigation was ongoing. Chinas Foreign Ministry said police believe the stabbing was an isolated incident, based on preliminary assessment.

Police told us that he was unemployed and down on his luck, and that somebody in our group bumped into the man, Zabner told Iowa Public Radio News from his hospital room. And he decided to respond in the way he responded.

Cornell College instructor David Zabner survived the stabbing attack in Jilin, China. - Courtesy Adam Zabner

Zabner said he first realized something was wrong when he heard a scream while descending a hill in Beishan Park, a popular green space in Jilin city center.

I turned around to find a man brandishing a knife at me. I didnt immediately realize what was happening. I thought my coworkers had been pushed, and he, for some reason was trying to push me, Zabner said.

And then I looked down at my shoulder and realized, Im bleeding. Ive been stabbed.

Zabner was stabbed in the arm 6 inches below his shoulder, and paramedics arrived roughly 20 minutes later, he told Iowa Public Radio News.

Chinese police said the five victims were immediately rushed to hospital and did not suffer life-threatening injuries.

In online footage and photos purportedly showing the aftermath of the attack, Zabner was lying on his side and using his phone in between two other wounded instructors, with the back of his shirt soaked in blood.

The videos and photos emerged on Chinese social media on Monday but were swiftly erased by censors, along with any discussions about the stabbing.

There were no visible signs of increased security at Beishan Park when a CNN team visited the scene of the attack at around dusk on Tuesday. The scenic spot was busy with families and retirees alike, with many gathering on the banks of its lake while others danced in a square.

Limited coverage

The attack comes at a delicate moment for China, which has been seeking to lure back foreign visitors following three years of stringent Covid-19 border controls. It also comes amid efforts to boost educational exchanges with the US as the two countries try to stabilize their fraught relationship.

Following an initial silence, Chinese state media later briefly reported on statements provided by the Foreign Ministry and Jilin police  while adhering closely to the official account.

On social media, some users expressed concerns about the attacks potential impact on Chinas global image and the willingness of foreigners to visit the country. Others appeared to question the official account, and blamed anti-Western and anti-foreigner propaganda as well as the rise of nationalism, for the incident.

Three of the instructors are US citizens, and the other is a non-citizen resident of Iowa, according to the US State Department.

US Ambassador Nicholas Burns said Monday he was angered and deeply troubled by the stabbing.

A US consular Officer visited the 4 in Jilin Hospital today where they are receiving treatment. We are doing all we can to help them (and) hope for their full recovery, he said in a post on X.

This was Zabners second trip to China with Cornell College, which has partnered with Beihua University in Jilin since 2018. Zabner joined the program in November 2019 to teach computer science courses at Beihua University, according to Iowa Public Radio News.

I was really excited to get to see it in the summer, he told the radio station.

Zabners brother, Iowa state Rep. Adam Zabner, told CNN that his sibling was doing well and has been stitched up and seems to be recovering, after speaking to him on Tuesday.

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.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
ABUJA, June 12 (Xinhua) -- Nigerian President Bola Tinubu said on Wednesday that the African country's democratic journey had become "steadied" since breaking the yoke of dreadful military rule in 1999 and paving the way for successive civilian administrations.

Delivering a national broadcast commemorating the 25th anniversary of unbroken democracy in Nigeria Wednesday morning, Tinubu described the West African nation as "the most populous democracy on African soil," noting that it has also become "the beacon of democratic self-determination for the black race and one of the largest democracies in the world."

Nigeria exited military rule on May 29, 1999. "Democracy Day" is a national public holiday in the country to commemorate the restoration of democracy in 1999, celebrated on June 12 in remembrance of the 1993 general elections adjudged as the freest and fairest in the nation's history. Until 2018, Democracy Day was celebrated annually on May 29 -- a tradition held annually, beginning in 2000.

"Democracy is neither a foreign nor abstract concept devoid of real-life meaning for us," the Nigerian leader said in his televised address. "This change stands as a pivotal moment in human history. From this change, we shall never turn, nor shall the annals of mankind's progress forget the sublime meaning of this great moment. Today, 25 years later, we celebrate the silver anniversary of our journey in democracy."

While elections attract dramatic attention, they make up only one aspect of democracy, according to Tinubu. He noted that despite the steep and multiple challenges since he became president over a year ago, he was grateful to lead Nigeria at this moment in history and point in the democratic journey.

"I come before you also to declare that our most important work remains before us. This real test has never been whether we would rise to challenge the slings of misfortune and grievous pain of dictatorship. The real test is whether we shall lower our guards as the shadow of despotism and its evident physical danger fade," he said.

While acknowledging the economic difficulties Nigerians are currently facing, the president said the economy had been in desperate need of reform for decades and had been unbalanced because it was built on the flawed foundation of over-reliance on revenues from oil, its mainstay, adding that the reforms initiated by his administration were intended to create a stronger, better foundation for future growth.

"There is no doubt the reforms have occasioned hardship. Yet, they are necessary repairs required to fix the economy over the long run so that everyone has access to economic opportunity, fair pay, and compensation for his endeavor and labor," he said. 
The United States will provide Ukraine with an additional Patriot missile system, senior administration and military officials told the New York Times on June 11.

The decision, approved by President Joe Biden, comes in response to Ukraine's urgent plea for enhanced air defenses amid a fierce Russian assault on the northeastern Kharkiv Oblast. This will be the second Patriot system supplied by the U.S. to Ukraine, alongside a routine but undisclosed supply of missiles for the system.

Bidens decision reportedly came last week, according to the officials, after a series of high-level meetings and an internal debate over how to meet Ukraines pressing needs for bolstered air defense without jeopardizing U.S. combat readiness. Other allies, including Germany, have also contributed air defense systems and munitions to support Ukraine.

Officials stated that the new Patriot system, the second one the United States is sending to Ukraine, will be sourced from Poland, where it has been safeguarding a rotational force of American troops set to return to the United States. The system could be deployed to Ukraine's front lines within the next few days, contingent upon any required maintenance or modifications.

In April, President Volodymyr Zelensky said that "to cover Ukraine completely in the future, it is preferable to have 25 Patriot systems, with 6-8 batteries each." All the international partners are aware of Ukraine's need for air defense systems, Zelensky said, adding that some of the allies even know where systems must be set.

Read also: Ukraine war latest: Major reconstruction aid announced at Ukraine Recovery Conference

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
US impose sanctions on over 90 foreign individuals and companies that help Russia

The US Department of the Treasury has identified more than a dozen schemes to evade sanctions against Russias military-industrial base and imposed restrictions on over 90 foreign individuals and companies, mainly from China and Turkyie.

Source: European Pravda with reference to the statement by the US Department of the Treasury

Details: The US Treasury states that Russia relies on "complex transnational supply chains" in order to "feed its war machine and enable production of materiel to sustain its war effort".

The sanctions decree lists over 90 individuals and legal entities from Russia, Belarus, the British Virgin Islands, Bulgaria, Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, China, Serbia, South Africa, Turkiye and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

The US Treasury separately describes two networks of sanctions evasion located in China and Turkiye.

The Chinese network includes almost 10 companies that have supplied Russia with electronic integrated circuits, metalworking machines, semiconductor devices, transformers, etc. These companies and their executives were sanctioned.

About 10 legal entities are a part of the Turkish network that have supplied customers in Russia with machine tools, metalworking tools, electronic integrated circuits, welding equipment, drones and other things worth tens of millions of dollars despite the sanctions.

The statement of the US Treasury also mentions the Russian organisation Silk Way Rally, which is reportedly being used by Russian intelligence as a cover, and two citizens of South Africa who helped train the terrorists from the Wagner Private Military Company in 2013.

The US Department of Treasury also announced the extension of the secondary sanctions mechanism against Russia.

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US imposes raft of sanctions targeting Russia for war in Ukraine

US President Joe Biden walks back after a break from the meeting with outreach states on the sidelines of the 48th G7 Summit. Peter Kneffel/dpa

The United States said on Wednesday it was imposing sanctions on more than 300 individuals and entities connected to Russia's war on Ukraine, including Chinese companies.

The announcement came a day before US President Joe Biden joins other Group of Seven (G7) leaders for a summit in the Italian city of Bari, in which the war in Ukraine was expected to feature prominently.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the sanctions hit "across multiple sectors essential to Russia's war effort," including energy, metals and mining production.

China was singled out for its support of Moscow.

"The United States remains concerned by the scale and breadth of exports from the Peoples Republic of China that supply Russias military-industrial base," Blinken's statement said.

To that end, the US is sanctioning Chinese companies that provide goods that "fill critical gaps in Russias defence production cycle," he said.
US imposes sanctions on over 100 companies in Russia's defence sector

The US Department of the Treasury has added over 100 Russian companies, which are part of the Russian military-industrial complex, to the sanctions list on 12 June.

Source: European Pravda with reference to the statement by the US Treasury

Details: The US Treasury stated that "Russia has transformed into a war economy in which companies across the spectrum of Russian industry contribute to Russias war effort".

Legal entities, listed in the latest decree of the Treasury, "operate or have operated in the defence and related materiel, manufacturing, technology, transportation, or financial services sectors of the Russian Federation economy".

Most of these are Russian manufacturers of military equipment  from drones to ships  and components for it, components of explosives, ammunition, electronics, and military equipment repair plants.

The decree separately mentions the Bank Tochka, founded in 2023, for providing financial services to "an organisation that provides ammunition to Russian military personnel" and the Russian company Ekodor that transports Russian military cargoes.

Background:

The US Department of the Treasury also announced the extension of the mechanism of secondary sanctions against Russia and the sanctions against over 90 foreign companies and individuals that help Moscow evade sanctions.

In addition to this, the US announced sanctions against the Moscow Exchange, which trades shares of companies, and the National Clearing Centre, which acts as a mediator in foreign exchange trading.

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Fire following over border rockets launching to Israel from Lebanon, amid ongoing cross-border hostilities between Hezbollah and Israeli forces, in northrn Israel

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. military on Wednesday urged a de-escalation in rising tensions between Israel and Lebanon, and said U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin raised the matter in a call with his Israeli counterpart on Tuesday.

"We don't want to see a wider regional conflict and we do want to see a de-escalation of tensions in the region," Pentagon spokesperson Sabrina Singh told a news briefing.

Hezbollah fired the most rockets it has launched at Israel in a single day since cross-border hostilities broke out eight months ago, as part of its retaliation on Wednesday for an Israeli strike which killed a senior Hezbollah field commander.

(Reporting by Idrees Ali and Phil Stewart; editing by Jonathan Oatis)
Chief Petty Officer Peter "Pete" Lagosh, who graduated from high school in Cudahy, Wis., died on June 4, 2024, during a training evolution in Jacksonville, Fla.

A U.S. Navy sailor who graduated from high school in Cudahy died last week during training.

Chief Petty Officer Peter "Pete" Lagosh, 41, died Tuesday, June 4, while training onboard Naval Air Station Jacksonville in Jacksonville, Fla., Cmdr. Dawn Stankus, public affairs officer at Naval Air Force Atlantic in Norfolk, Va., confirmed.

"The service member was in an on-duty status and enrolled in the Navy's Surface Rescue Swimmer School Category II refresher course ...," Stankus said in an email. "We offer our deepest condolences and sympathies to the family, friends and shipmates of the Sailor during this difficult time."

Lagosh was on an intermediate stop at Naval Air Station Jacksonville during a permanent change of station orders to Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 12 in Japan.

The circumstances surrounding Lagosh's death are currently being investigated by the Naval Criminal Investigative Service. It is "very typical" for NCIS to be involved in all deaths involving U.S. Navy personnel, Stankus said.

Lagosh was born on April 8, 1983. According to a Facebook post on the school's page, he graduated from Holy Family School in Cudahy in 1997. Lagosh graduated from high school in Cudahy in 2001 and joined the Navy in February 2007, according to a GoFundMe campaign raising money for his wife Kristin and their children.

Lagosh completed his initial recruit training in Great Lakes, Ill., and trained to become a Navy rescue swimmer and helicopter aircrewman in Pensacola, Fla. He served two tours of duty as an MH-60S Aircrewman at Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 28, where he completed multiple deployments. He also served as a fleet replacement instructor at Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 2.

According to the fundraiser, most recently, Lagosh served as the Warrior Challenge Coordinator at the Navy Talent Acquisition Group in Richmond, Va., which oversees recruiting and retention programs for the Navy. He "inspired many to take the same oath he took 17 years ago."

"Pete was a loving father and husband, who always had a smile and was ready to lend a hand to anyone that needed it," the GoFundMe said.

The fundraiser has already raised close to $50,000 for Lagosh's family and aims to raise $150,000 for living, housing, childcare and education expenses. You can donate here: bit.ly/lagoshfundraiser.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Cudahy native dies during Navy training exercise in Florida
NEW DELHI, June 12 (Xinhua) -- Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday expressed sadness at the death of more than 40 Indian nationals in a devastating fire in Kuwait.

Over 50 Indians were also injured in the mishap.

Modi said that the Indian Embassy in Kuwait was closely monitoring the situation while working with the Kuwaiti authorities to assist those affected in the deadly fire.

The fire in Kuwait was saddening, "My thoughts are with all those who have lost their near and dear ones. I pray that the injured recover at the earliest," Modi said on social media.

A fire broke out Wednesday morning in Mangaf area in southern Kuwait.

According to Kuwaiti sources, around 160 workers were inside the affected building, with many of fatalities being of Indian nationality. 
US officially says it will sign security agreement with Ukraine on 13 June

Jake Sullivan, US National Security Adviser, has confirmed that Kyiv and Washington will sign a bilateral security agreement on Thursday, 13 June.

Source: Sullivan at a press briefing, as reported by European Pravda

Details: Sullivan confirmed that US President Joe Biden and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will meet on the sidelines of the Group of Seven summit in Italy on Thursday.

Quote: "Following that meeting, the leaders will sign a bilateral security agreement, making clear that our support will last long into the future and pledging continued cooperation, particularly in the defence and security space," he added.

According to Bidens adviser, the security agreement intends to reaffirm support for Ukraine and includes terms that would help Ukraine develop its military forces.

"By signing this, we would also be sending Russia a signal of our resolve. If Vladimir Putin thinks he can outlast the coalition supporting Ukraine, hes wrong," Sullivan asserted.

Last week, the White House confirmed a meeting between US President Joe Biden and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the G7 summit in Italy.

CNN was the first to report that Kyiv and Washington would sign a security treaty on 13 June, and provided the specifics of the agreement.

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The US is said to be sending a second Patriot to Ukraine, where it's played havoc with Russian jets and missiles

The US is said to be sending a second Patriot to Ukraine, where it's played havoc with Russian jets and missiles

The US has agreed to send a second Patriot system to Ukraine, according to reports.

Ukraine has been given a handful of the missile systems from its allies, but says it needs more.

Patriots help stop Russian attacks, but Ukraine's allies are reluctant to reduce their own arsenals.

A second US Patriot system is headed for Ukraine following appeals for further air defenses, according to reports.

The MIM-104 Patriot missile system has been hailed as a major success in Ukraine, shooting down Russian missiles and aircraft as Ukraine fights back against Russia's invasion.

But Ukraine says it does not have enough of them, or enough air defense systems in general.

Ukraine currently has at least three, and possibly five, Patriots, supplied by the Netherlands, Germany, and the US.

Their exact number and deployment has not been disclosed.

But US President Joe Biden approved the transfer of a second battery from the US last week, unnamed senior military and administration officials told The New York Times.

The system is to be relocated from Poland, where it has been protecting US troops in training who are due to return home, officials told the outlet.

Two unnamed officials confirmed the matter to the Associated Press.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in April that Ukraine needs 25 Patriot systems, with between six and eight batteries each, to protect its skies.

Patriots are expensive, and it takes a long time to produce new ones, meaning many of Ukraine's allies have been reluctant to part with ones from their own arsenals.

But Ukraine's foreign minister, Dmytro Kuleba, said in April that his team had identified more than 100 Patriot air-defense systems that its allies could spare, and said he couldn't understand why its allies were not willing to give Ukraine at least one of their existing systems.

While expressing gratitude for US aid, Kuleba said: "Do you sincerely believe that the whole US Army does not have one spare battery of Patriots that is not on combat duty and that cannot be given to Ukraine? I don't."

Patriots have performed so well in Ukraine that it has dispelled doubts about the effectiveness of the weapons system, which lingered before Russia's full-scale invasion, experts previously told Business Insider.

Germany said in April that it would send Ukraine another Patriot battery, and Ukraine is also set to get more Patriot missiles from other countries.

Germany's defense minister said on Tuesday that 32 Patriot missiles had been delivered to Ukraine from its European allies, and that 68 more would be delivered soon.

He announced the delivery "after I saw how critical Ukraine's air defense is for its survival," he said.

News of further Patriot support comes as Russia continues its attacks across Ukraine.

Kuleba said in May that Ukraine urgently needed two Patriot batteries to help protect the Kharkiv region in the northeast of the country, the Times reported.

The additional defenses come after Ukraine started to run critically low on air defenses and other weaponry, after Republicans stalled further US aid to the country for six months, before finally agreeing to resume it in April.

Read the original article on Business Insider
The U.S. has imposed sanctions on Evghenia Gutul, the governor of Moldova's Gagauzia region, for her ties to pro-Russian oligarch and politician Ilan Shor, the U.S. Treasury announced on June 12.

Shor has been repeatedly accused of trying to destabilize Moldova, which he fled in 2019. He has been under U.S. sanctions since October 2022, as has his pro-Russian political party of the same name.

Gutul was elected governor of Gagauzia, an autonomous territory in southern Moldova that partly borders Ukraine's Odesa Oblast, in July 2023 as a Shor party candidate.

Gutul traveled to Russia in March 2024, where she was pictured shaking hands with Russian President Vladimir Putin, and attended the St. Petersburg Economic International Economic Forum in early June.

Moldova's Prime Minister Dorin Recean said he was "grateful for the U.S.'s commitment to support us in combating corruption and countering Kremlin interference."

"We'll continue to work with our partners to deny criminals the resources to perpetuate fraud in Moldova and beyond," Recean said.

The sanctions follow reports earlier 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.

Days later, Moldovan President Maia Sandu approved changes to the country's treason laws, allowing some wartime treason laws to apply to peacetime, as well as extending punishments and creating a new category of laws for assisting a foreign state.

Sandu, a pro-European and pro-Ukrainian politician, has been president since 2020 but faces reelection and a referendum on Moldova's accession to the EU in October.

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.

Read also: G7 agrees on transfer of $50 billion in profits from frozen Russian assets to Ukraine

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
By Timothy Gardner

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The U.S. Senate on Wednesday confirmed David Rosner, a Democrat, and Lindsay See, a Republican, as members of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

The tally on Rosner, a FERC energy industry analyst currently an aide with the U.S. Senate energy committee, was 68 to 26 in the 100-member Senate. His term is set to run through June 30, 2027.

The vote on See was 83 to 12. See, the solicitor general of West Virginia, was recommended by Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell. Her term expires June 30, 2028.

FERC, which has a maximum of five members, regulates the power grid, liquefied natural gas projects and interstate transportation of oil and natural gas.

In May, FERC approved the first major electric transmission policy update in more than a decade that aims to speed up new interregional lines to move more power from wind and solar farms to meet growing demand amid the boom in electric vehicles, data centers and artificial intelligence.

The Senate on Wednesday also began an initial vote on Judy Chang, a Democrat. A final vote on Chang is expected as early as Thursday.

Chang is an energy economics and policy expert and former undersecretary of energy and climate solutions for Massachusetts.

Before the Senate confirmed Rosner, FERC had two Democrats and one Republican. In February, President Joe Biden promoted Willie Phillips, a Democrat, to head FERC. Shortly afterwards, Allison Clements, the other Democrat, said she would not seek a second term. Her current one expires June 30.

(Reporting by Timothy Gardner; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama and Josie Kao)
The U.S. and Ukraine will sign a long-awaited bilateral security agreement on June 13 during the Group of Seven (G7) summit in Italy, U.S. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan told the press on June 12.

Ukraine and the U.S. have held multiple rounds of negotiations on the bilateral security agreement, which follows the pledge made by the G7 during the NATO summit in Vilnius in July 2023 to commit to Ukraine's long-term defense.

"Our negotiations have concluded, and we will sign this agreement tomorrow," Sullivan said, describing the deal as a "signal of our resolve."

"We want to demonstrate that the U.S. supports the people of Ukraine, that we stand with them, and that we will continue to help address their security needs, not just tomorrow but out into the future," Sullivan said.

According to Sullivan, the agreement outlines a vision of how to strengthen Ukraine's defense and deterrence capabilities, together with U.S. allies and partners.

The agreement also secures "commitments from Ukraine on reforms" and on "end-use monitoring" for U.S.-provided weapons, Sullivan added. The U.S. will, in turn, benefit from Ukraine's "insights and experience, its battlefield innovations, and its lessons learned from the front."

Read also: Russian attacks pushing Ukraines energy system toward worst-case scenario, largest private energy company says

"This agreement does not include any commitment to using our own forces to defend Ukraine, it is a pledge to ensure Ukraine can defend itself," Sullivan said. Peace in Ukraine will depend largely on "Ukraine's own ability to protect itself and deter future aggression."

Two sources told CNN that the pledge also does not "make a specific monetary pledge to support Ukraine's defense."

The agreement is "expected to commit the U.S. for 10 years to continued training of Ukraine's armed forces, more cooperation in the production of weapons and military equipment, the continued provision of military assistance, and greater intelligence sharing," CNN said.

According to CNN's sources, the agreement paves the way for the U.S. to have a long-term security relationship with Kyiv, but could also be undone by future presidential administrations.

The security agreement will therefore be "less formal than a treaty and not necessarily binding for any future presidents," CNN said.

If signed, the U.S. would join 14 other countries including the U.K., Germany, France, Canada, and the Netherlands, which have signed similar deals to help Ukraine repel Russia's aggression based on a pledge made by G7 at the NATO summit in Vilnius in July 2023.

Most recently, President Volodymyr Zelensky and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez signed a 10-year bilateral security agreement between Ukraine and Spain on May 27.

Read also: Ukraine war latest: Major reconstruction aid announced at Ukraine Recovery Conference

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The supreme court justices sit for a new portrait. Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas are mired in ethics scandals.

The supreme court justices sit for a new portrait. Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas are mired in ethics scandals. Photograph: J Scott Applewhite/AP

The US supreme court has been captured and corrupted by money and extremism, provoking a crisis of legitimacy that threatens the stability of US democracy, warned Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.

Speaking during a round table on Capitol Hill, the New York Democratic representative accused the court of delegitimizing itself through its conduct.

A group of anti-democratic billionaires with their own ideological and economic agenda has been working one of the three co-equal branches of government, she said.

Sustained scrutiny of the justices prompted the court to adopt its first code of ethics last year, but it lacks any form of enforcement. Meanwhile, public confidence in the court has plummeted to near historic lows.

In the two years since it overturned Roe v Wade, eliminating the constitutional right to abortion, a decision that sparked fierce political backlash from voters across the ideological spectrum, the court has been rocked by ethics scandals involving two of the benchs most conservative justices, Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito.

Related: Trust in US institutions has never been lower  heres why that matters

The highest court in the land today has the lowest ethical standards, said Jamie Raskin, a Democratic congressman from Maryland, and the ranking member of the House oversight committee, who joined Ocasio-Cortez in convening the discussion.

Together they sought to connect the dots between what they described as a web of dark money and the events that led to a conservative super-majority, cemented by Donald Trump. Only Democrats attended.

Dark money is the rot in our democracy right now, said Sheldon Whitehouse, a Rhode Island senator and longtime crusader against secret spending in politics, who appeared as a witness.

Last week, Thomas officially disclosed that he took luxury vacations paid for by the conservative billionaire, Harlan Crow. The Republican mega-donor also paid private school tuition for Thomass grandnephew, ProPublica reported as part of a blockbuster series of revelations about the supreme court justices that won a Pulitzer Prize for public service.

ProPublica also reported that Alito flew on a private jet and vacationed with a billionaire who later had business before the court.

Alito is facing fresh scrutiny in the wake of reports in the New York Times that his wife flew an upside-down US flag outside his home in Virginia days after the attack on the US Capitol by extremist Trump supporters, as well as an Appeal to Heaven flag that flew outside a beach home in New Jersey. The upside down flag is associated with the January 6 attack on the Capitol and the latter with Christian nationalism.

In response to the flag incidents, Democrats in Congress have called for Alito to recuse himself from cases involving Trump and January 6 defendants.

He declined.

Democrats have introduced a myriad of bills such as one to establish an independent ethics office and internal investigations counsel within the supreme court. Other ideas include limiting the justices to 18 year-terms rather than lifetime appointments and expanding the seats on the court. But reforms are unlikely to happen without Republicans, who have spent decades building the courts conservative majority.

Thomas has also declined calls to recuse himself from cases involving Trump because his wife, Ginni, a well-known conservative activist, supported the former presidents false claims of election fraud and helped lead the campaign to overturn the results of the 2020 election.

During Tuesdays roundtable, Ocasio-Cortez questioned why justices arent subject to the same ethical standards as the branches of government. As an example, she said members of Congress are prohibited from accepting gifts valued at more than $50.

Americans are losing fundamental rights in the process, reproductive health care, civil liberties, voting rights, the right to organize clean air and water because the court has been captured and corrupted by money and extremism, she said.

Without a binding code of conduct, Raskin said, there was nothing to rein-in the justices.

If you can decide presidential elections with five or four votes in Bush v Gore, if you can pack, stack and gerrymander, not just Congress, but the supreme court itself by denying the other party even a hearing, why cant you have some friend of the court  some amicus curiae  fly you to Bali for vacation, or pay for your family members private school tuition or buy you a recreational vehicle or send you on a lavish, all-expense paid vacation, why the hell not?
Rescue operations have been launched on the Greek island of Amorgos after a retired US police officer disappeared while out on a solo hike - days after the death of TV doctor Michael Mosley in similar circumstances.

Eric Albert Calibet, 59  known to friends as Albert  had been vacationing on the island but was reported missing by a friend on Tuesday afternoon.

Calibet left for the challenging four-hour hike, from Aegiali to Katapola around 7am, according to local outlets. The friend reported the disappearance to Amorgos police after he had not returned eight hours later. Authorities have not been able to contact Calibet via either of his two cell phones.

Albert Calibet, 59, had been vacationing on the island but was reported missing by a friend on Tuesday afternoon (Municipality of Amorgos)

According to The Greek Reporter, the last message sent by the man was to his sister, and was a picture of a trail sign.

A rescue operation was launched on Tuesday afternoon and resumed on Wednesday morning with reinforcements from the nearby Naxos island.

Police have requested data from mobile operators to determine Calibets last known location on the island, which has a population of roughly 2,000.

The American tourists disappearance comes after prominent TV Dr Michael Mosley was found dead on the neighboring Greek island of Symi, following an extensive five-day search. The two islands are about 200 miles apart.

Mosley, the author and presenter who revolutionized the way Britain fights the obesity crisis, disappeared on June 5, also after heading off on his own  returning to the home his family was vacationing in.

A major search effort was launched to find the esteemed BBC Radio 4 and This Morning presenter on Wednesday after he disappeared while holidaying on the Greek island of Symi.

The 67-year-old had attempted to return to the house in searing heat, with an umbrella but no mobile phone. He was seen on surivelance video in the village of Pedi 30 minutes later, shortly before entering a treacherous mountain path.

The US mans disappearance comes shortly after British TV doctor Michael Mosley was found dead following similar circumstances on the Greek island of Symi (Tony Ward/ITV/Shutterstock)

Mosleys body was eventually discovered on Sunday morning after being spotted by television cameras from a boat carrying the islands mayor.

Confirming the death of her wonderful, funny, kind and brilliant husband, Dr Clare Bailey Mosley said: Were taking comfort in the fact that he so very nearly made it. He did an incredible climb, took the wrong route and collapsed where he couldnt be easily seen by the extensive search team.

Michael was an adventurous man, its part of what made him so special ... I feel so lucky to have our children and my amazing friends. Most of all, I feel so lucky to have had this life with Michael.
US and Ukraine to sign security agreement on 13 June

The United States and Ukraine are set to sign a bilateral security agreement on the sidelines of the Group of Seven summit in Italy on Thursday 13 June. The agreement, like previous similar agreements, will not entail ratification.

Source: CNN with reference to informed sources, as reported by European Pravda

Details: According to CNN, the security agreement will require the US to continue training Ukraine's armed forces for ten years, extend cooperation in the development of weapons and military equipment, continue to offer military aid, and strengthen intelligence sharing.

Within the terms of the agreement, the United States promises to hold consultations with Ukraine immediately following Russia's attack in the future to consider next steps. As with earlier accords, there will be no mutual defence commitments, such as NATO's collective security clause.

According to CNN sources, the US-Ukraine security agreement would not include specific monetary promises to bolster Ukraine's defence efforts.

At the same time, the annexe to the agreement will detail how the Joe Biden administration intends to cooperate with the US Congress to satisfy security commitments, particularly long-term funding for Ukraine's defence.

CNN sources also stated that the US-Ukraine security agreement will be a so-called executive agreement that does not require ratification and is "not necessarily binding for any future presidents."

Last week, the White House confirmed a meeting between US President Joe Biden and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the G7 summit in Italy.

Prior to this, the media reported that leaders would sign a bilateral security agreement during the meeting.

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NEW DELHI, June 12 (Xinhua) -- Police in the northern Indian city of Chandigarh said Wednesday that a bomb threat received by the mental health institute of Government Medical College and Hospital was fake and nothing suspicious was found in and outside the site.

The institute's administration informed police that they received an email about the bomb threat on the hospital premises. The building was evacuated immediately and all the people were moved to safe places.

Police personnel, a bomb disposal squad and fire department officials rushed to the hospital to carry out searches and nothing was found, a senior police officer told media, adding that "after getting permission from senior officers, the hospital will be reopened."

The incident was the latest among a series of hoax bomb threats that have been sent to schools, airports and hospitals in the country. 
By David Brunnstrom and Kanishka Singh

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States wishes India well in its efforts to improve strained ties with China, the number-two U.S. diplomat said on Wednesday, while cautioning that Chinese leader Xi Jinping finds it very hard to show any flexibility on territorial issues.

Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar said on Tuesday after assuming office for a second straight term that India would focus on finding solutions to border issues with China, that have long strained ties between the neighbors.

U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell, who has led U.S. efforts to boost ties with India to push back against China's growing power, was asked at a Washington think tank about Jaishankar's comments.

"I think the truth is that anytime two countries can find a degree of the common space to reduce tensions, I think we have to support that," he said.

"I think we wish the Indians well in deliberations," he added, before going on to say that Washington was "very confident and comfortable" about its own bilateral relationship with India "and we want that to continue going forward."

Campbell said he would be in India next week with Jake Sullivan, the U.S. national security adviser, to "advance areas of coordination."

"I think we feel very good about this partnership," he said, while adding: "I think there are some structural issues between China and India that frankly will be difficult to resolve."

Campbell said he believed that for any rapprochement, or substantial improvement in relations with China, India would expect changes in how Beijing treats their contested borders.

"One of the things that we've seen under Xi Jinping on anything that bridges, or touches, territorial matters, I think it's very hard for the Chinese to show any flexibility, or any desire to find common ground," he said.

India and China share a 3,800 km (2,400 mile) border - much of it poorly demarcated - over which the nuclear-armed nations fought a war in 1962. They have engaged in a military standoff since July 2020 when at least 20 Indian soldiers and four Chinese troops were killed in the worst clashes in five decades.

Washington has sought to develop its ties with India in spite of some differences over issues including human rights.

(Reporting by David Brunnstrom, Kanishka Singh and Michael Martina; Editing by Alistair Bell)
Secretary of State Antony Blinken placed the blame on Hamas for dragging out negotiations to implement a cease-fire with Israel, but he said the U.S. would work to address some changes that were proposed by the armed-group that controls the Gaza Strip.

Blinken made his comments alongside the Qatari prime minister after discussions in Doha evaluating a response provided by Hamas, which was delivered 12 days after the group initially received the U.S.-led cease-fire proposal.

If one side continues to change its demands and is insisting on changes it had already accepted, you have to question if its in good faith, Blinken said, speaking to the frustrations of negotiating with Hamas.

Its time for the haggling to stop and the cease-fire to start. Its as simple as that, he added.

President Biden laid out a three-phase proposal late last month that would begin with an immediate, temporary, cease-fire to last for six-weeks. The U.S. has said Israel already accepted the proposal and put the responsibility on Hamas to deliver an answer to begin implementing the deal.

A major sticking point appears to be between Hamass insistence on guaranteeing a lasting cease-fire to a permanent end to hostilities and Israel only agreeing to the potential of negotiations for extending a cease-fire.

Blinken said Wednesday that Hamas responded with numerous changes to the original proposal and that the U.S. is committed to working with Qatar and Egypt to resolve differences.

Some of the changes are workable, some are not, he said.

Israel accepted the proposal, as it was and as it is. Hamas didnt. I think its pretty clear what needs to happen, and were determined to make, in the coming days, we will work this with urgency and see if the gaps that are workable we can actually work and bring to conclusion, the secretary continued.

Blinken added, It may be that Hamas continues to say no. I think it will be clear to everyone around the world that its on them and they have made a choice to continue a war that they started.

Qatars Prime Minister, Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, said Israel has sent contradictory statements over its commitment to the proposal that also requires pressure on them, as well as the other party.

Qatar is the main interlocutor talking with Hamas, with the groups political wing allowed to hold offices in the capital Doha. Al Thani said that the impetus for allowing Hamas to maintain a political office in Qatar is to keep open lines of communication, and that the reason for keeping it open still is valid.

As a mediator, we try our best to respect our role, to bridge the gaps and not to make judgments on one party over another. And our biggest concern is that its taking too long to bridge these gaps, he said. We need to get this to an end as soon as possible. Thats where our focus is.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Then-Democratic vice presidential candidate California Sen. Kamala Harris is greeted by her husband, Douglas Emhoff, at the end of the vice presidential debate, moderated by Susan Page, at Kingsbury Hall at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2020. Vice President Harris will visit Utah in late June, an individual with knowledge of the plans said. | Spenser Heaps, Deseret News

Vice President Kamala Harris will visit Utah in late June, marking her first appearance in the state since 2020.

Harris is expected to participate in a fundraiser for the Biden-Harris campaign on June 28. It is unclear whether she will hold a public event during her visit. Further details will be released as the date approaches, said Scott Howell, the former Utah State Senate minority leader and the Biden-Harris surrogate in Utah.

We are honored and thrilled to welcome Vice President Harris back to Utah, Howell added.

Harris last visit to Salt Lake City was a month before the 2020 election. She participated in a vice presidential debate at the University of Utah and toured This Is the Place Heritage Park.

Lets put our shoulders to the wheel, Harris said while visiting the park. Lets do the work that is necessary, and continue to fight for our ideals and our values, and in this case what (the Latter-day Saint pioneers) fought for so many years ago, which was for freedom and to hold our country accountable for the values we say we hold dear.

The fundraiser will be the Biden-Harris campaigns third in Utah this cycle. In August, participated in a fundraiser at the Park City home of Nancy and Mark Gilbert, the former U.S. ambassador to New Zealand. Earlier in the day, Biden delivered a speech on veterans health care at the Wahlen VA Medical Center in Salt Lake City.

In January, first lady Jill Biden visited Hunter High School in West Valley City before attending a Park City fundraiser.

To date, the Biden campaign has raised more money in Utah than former President Donald Trump, thanks in large part to the two fundraisers. Trump has yet to visit Utah this cycle, after an event scheduled for June 27 in Park City  the day before Harris planned visit  was scrapped to accommodate a CNN debate on the same date. Fundraiser organizers are now hoping to bring Trump to Park City in late July or late August, a person with knowledge of the event said.

In Utah, Harris will find an electorate deeply dissatisfied with her performance. In the latest Deseret News/Hinckley Institute of Politics poll conducted in early June, 22% of Utahns said they have a favorable view of Harris, while 70% said they view her unfavorably.

We are thrilled that Vice-President Harris is returning to Utah, Diane Lewis, chair of the Utah Democratic Party, said in a statement. The Biden-Harris administration continues to support Utah families by making investments in our infrastructure and environment, including a recent $20.5 million water conservancy grant to Washington County. Utahns know that the Biden-Harris administration is good for our state  thats why President Biden has raised over $250,000 more from Utah than Donald Trump.
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET)  Twenty-one years after he murdered his wife, mother-in-law and three of his children, Vincent Brothers on Wednesday was once again the topic of discussion in a Kern County courtroom.

Brothers, arguably the most infamous killer in Kerns history, has appealed his death penalty conviction to the California Supreme Court. The case has been postponed numerous times over the years.

Man arrested after hours-long standoff in NE Bakersfield

The subject of Wednesdays hearing was the transcript from Brothers 2007 trial.

The appellate court has decertified the transcript  requiring Kern County Superior Court staff to compile information, make corrections and determine what else the appellate court needs before sending back a new, complete record for further review, prosecutors say.

Among the items missing from the record are notes sent from the jury to the court, said an attorney appearing on behalf of Supervising Deputy State Public Defender Robin Kallman, who is representing Brothers.

Judge Michael G. Bush noted several difficulties in completing the record. For one, both attorneys who represented Brothers at trial have died. Additionally, former District Attorney Lisa Green, who prosecuted Brothers, has retired and moved.

Likewise, the court reporters who transcribed the trial have retired.

Nevertheless, most of the requested items have either been found and sent to the appellate court or are in the process of being sent, prosecutor Samantha Allen said in an email after the hearing.

There are currently no other hearings set locally. Allen said the remaining items will be provided through email or a written motion.

Once all items are either provided, or determined to no longer be in existence, the transcript will be finalized, she said.

Brothers was the vice principal of Fremont Elementary School when his wife, Joanie, 39, sons Marques, 4, and Marshall, 6 weeks, daughter Lyndsey, 2, and mother-in-law, Earnestine Harper, 70, were fatally shot or stabbed July 6, 2003.

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His trial drew national attention due to his standing in the community as an educator, the number of people killed and the sheer brutality of the crime.

Brothers claimed he was in Ohio when the killings occurred but had no receipts or other paperwork to prove it. The Dodge Neon he rented received close scrutiny.

Expert witnesses testified insect remains found on the cars radiator were only found in the Western U.S., damaging Brothers assertion he didnt travel by car between Ohio and California.

Prosecutors argued he flew to Ohio, rented the car and drove it to Bakersfield. He then killed his family before returning to Ohio.

On May 15, 2007, Brothers was found guilty of five counts of murder and sentenced to death. Now 62, hes housed at a facility in Stockton.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
(Getty Images)

Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares signed a letter with 20 of his Republican counterparts asking the American Bar Association to drop its diversity and inclusion standards for law schools.

DEI efforts implemented in the schools directs their administrators to violate both the Constitution and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, which prohibits employment discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex and national origin, the states argued.

The letter comes a year after the U.S. Supreme Courts decision in a lawsuit against Harvard College that dictated students must be considered based on their experiences as an individual and not on their race. The decision led higher institutions to stop affirmative action policies, and many states since then have passed laws restricting DEI programs.

The diversity and inclusion standard of the American Bar Association, which is currently under revision, seemingly asks law schools to defy the Courts clear directive. In its current form, the Standard all but compels law schools to consider race in both the admissions and employment contexts, according to the letter led by Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti.

The standard establishes that law schools should demonstrate by concrete action a commitment to diversity and inclusion by providing full opportunities for the study of law and entry into the profession by members of underrepresented groups, particularly racial and ethnic minorities, and a commitment to having a student body that is diverse with respect to gender, race, and ethnicity.

The same diversity and inclusion commitment should also be extended to faculty and staff.

The issue with this guidance, the attorneys wrote, is that it suggests schools undertake concrete actions such as special recruitment efforts and considerations, in addition to special financial assistance programs. But, the standard and its accompanying recommendations dont mention how to take those suggested actions without unlawfully using race-based means.

If race-based admissions cannot satisfy strict scrutiny (), then neither can racially motivated recruitment or financial aid, according to the letter.

A demand to show a commitment to have a body of faculty and staff thats diverse with respect to race and ethnicity, is also an explicit demand to make hiring decisions based on race, the attorneys argued.

By maintaining the standard, the attorneys continued, the American Bar Association would burden every law school in the country with litigation.

Further, if American legal culture internalizes the ABAs determination to ignore unwanted legal obligations, our profession, and our country, may never recover, the letter reads.

The proposed revisions for the American Bar Association include that the access commitment must be extended to all persons, including those who have faced disadvantages or exclusion because of their identity traits.

Faculty and staff should also be diverse with respect to different characteristics, such as race, religion, gender and socioeconomic background, among others.

But, those changes do little to solve these problems, according to the letter, as bundling race with other permissibly considered characteristics does not somehow make (the standard) requirements any more constitutionally sound.

The issue is concerning, the attorneys said, because accreditation rests on a tightrope walk between federal law, on one hand, and (the standard) contrary demands on the other.

pr24-47-letter

This story originally appeared in the Utah News Dispatch, which, like the Virginia Mercury, is part of States Newsroom.

The post Virginia joins request to American Bar Association to drop its DEI standards appeared first on Virginia Mercury.
Voice of America receives confirmation from US State Department about lifting of ban on providing arms for Azov

The US Department of State has confirmed that the long-standing ban on the provision of US-supplied weapons to the Azov Brigade has been lifted.

Source: Holos Ameryky (Voice of America) with reference to an anonymous State Department official

Details: The source said that the US had lifted the ban on the transfer of US weapons to Azov after a Department of State inspection found no evidence of gross human rights violations by the National Guard unit.

In the comment, the Department of State noted that Russian disinformation has been working actively to discredit the Azov National Guard Brigade.

Since 2017, Azov has been prohibited from receiving weapons and other assistance provided by the US to Ukraine as part of military aid packages and from participating in US exercises. The restrictions were imposed under the 1961 law, which prohibits the US government from using funds to assist foreign forces if there is reliable information that the unit is involved in gross human rights violations.

Later, the Azov press service said it had received confirmation from the US Embassy in Ukraine that the brigade was now eligible to receive US aid.

"This was the result of long and thorough work that Azov soldiers have systematically carried out to combat the successful results of Russian propaganda. Receiving Western weapons and training from the United States will not only increase the combat capability of Azov, but, most importantly, will help save the lives and health of the brigade's personnel," the Azov press service said, adding that it would like to thank everyone involved in this result.

Background:

Earlier, The Washington Post reported that the United States was lifting a long-standing ban on arms supplies to Azov, citing a comment from the State Department.

Recently, Denys Prokopenko, the commander of the 12th Azov Special Forces Brigade of the National Guard of Ukraine, called for the removal of Azov from any blacklists that prohibit the receipt of Western weapons in a blog post for Ukrainska Pravda. He noted that there was no evidence or confirmation of the accusations that Russian propaganda had been levelling against Azov for 10 years.

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Vol State Community College in Middle Tennessee to welcome new president next month

Volunteer State Community College is set to welcome a new president next month.

Wendi W. Tostenson is expected to take office July 1. She last served as vice chancellor of education and student services at Louisiana Delta Community College.

Tostenson was chosen by the Tennessee Board of Regents after months of candidate interviews and reviews for the Gallatin-based community college, according to a press release.

I am deeply honored and humbled to accept the position of president of Volunteer State Community College. Joining the Tennessee Board of Regents system and the Volunteer State family fills me with immense gratitude and excitement, Tostenson said in the release.

I am committed to fostering an environment where every student can thrive, where faculty and staff are supported and where our community's needs are met. Together, we will continue to uphold the values of excellence, inclusivity and innovation that define Volunteer State Community College. I look forward to working collaboratively with all stakeholders to ensure a bright future for our institution and the students we serve.

Volunteer State Community College in Gallatin.

The Tennessee Board of Regents met on May 6 to finalize Tostenson's appointment after they conducted interviews with her and the other two finalists, Mayland Community College President John C. Boyd and Arkansas State University Three Rivers Chancellor Steve Rook.

The finalists participated in open forums held by the Board of Regents search advisory committee with faculty, staff, students and the public in the Gallatin schools Wemyss Auditorium of Caudill Hall between April 24-26, according to a press release.

The search advisory committee was made up of four board members, representatives of the colleges students, faculty, staff and alumni and community leaders.

Once she takes office, Tostenson will serve as the fifth person to lead Vol State in its 53-year history, succeeding Dr. Orinthia T. Montague, the colleges fourth president, who died on Sept. 22, 2023.

Volunteer State Community College campus in Gallatin.

Tostenson joined Louisiana Delta Community College in 2019 as its executive director of workforce/economic development. Two years later, she moved into her current role as the schools vice chancellor of education and student services.

She previously served in administrative roles at Southern Regional Technical College in Georgia between 2011-2019 and has served as an adjunct online professor of American government for the tech school since 2007.

Tostenson earned a Doctor of Public Administration from Valdosta State University, a Master of Business Administration from the University of West Georgia and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of Georgia.

Dr. Orinthia T. Montague served as Volunteer State Community College's fourth president in its 50-year history.

Volunteer State Community College had selected Montague to lead the school in 2021, just two years before her sudden death.

More: Vol State community mourns untimely death of president

She succeeded Jerry Faulkner, who stepped down after serving as the college's president for more than nine years.

Since Montague's death, Tennessee Board of Regents Executive Vice Chancellor for Policy and Strategy and Volunteer State Community College Chief Executive Officer Dr. Russ Deaton has served as interim president, the release said.

Criteria for the next president was approved by the board during a special called meeting on Oct. 20, 2023. In January, the search advisory committee was appointed, followed by an initial public forum about the search process on Jan. 26.

The three finalists were recommended to the board on April 19.

For more information about the search process, visit the TBR website at tbr.edu/hr/executivesearches/president-volunteer-state-community-college.

Katie Nixon can be reached at knixon@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Learn more about Volunteer State Community College's new president
HANOI, June 12 (Xinhua) -- Vietnamese authorities are ramping up tax supervision on individuals who earn income from livestreaming sales on e-commerce and social media platforms to ensure they comply with tax regulations, Vietnam News reported Wednesday.

Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has directed the finance ministry to closely monitor livestream sales conducted through e-commerce platforms.

Individuals who earn over 100 million Vietnamese dong (3,930 U.S. dollars) annually are required to declare and pay taxes under Vietnam's personal income tax law.

According to Nguyen Duc Chi, deputy finance minister, many content creators, such as YouTubers, have faced hefty back taxes for failing to disclose their earnings in past years. Those in fields such as marketing, IT, services, digital commerce, and social media are among those identified as owing significant amounts in taxes.

In capital Hanoi, more than 460 individuals with substantial earnings from these platforms have already been identified, with additional names expected to be added to the list.

Authorities in Ho Chi Minh City are reaching out to sellers on platforms such as Google, Facebook, and YouTube who have not reported their income or paid taxes, warning them of potential fines for tax evasion.

According to the Ministry of Industry and Trade, e-commerce, with a growth rate of about 25 percent per year, has significantly contributed to the country's digital transformation and economic growth. 
A 56-year-old Bremerton man accused of stealing more than $44,000 in merchandise from Safeway stores in nearly two dozen thefts has been charged by the Washington State Attorney Generals Office with organized retail theft.

Between late July 2023 and January this year, Rogelle Muhammed Harris allegedly stole health and beauty products from 13 different stores in Pierce, Thurston, Kitsap and King counties to resell them.

The Attorney Generals Office charged Harris on June 7 in Thurston County Superior Court with first-degree organized retail theft, a felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison. The prosecution is the third to come out of the offices task force focused on organized retail crimes, which often span multiple cities and counties.

Harris is set to be arraigned June 25. He does not appear to be in custody in Thurston or Pierce counties, according to jail records. An attorney for the defendant was not listed in Thurston County court records.

Albertsons Companies, which owns Safeway, is a participant in the task force, and, according to charging documents, it indicated that Harris had committed more than 45 thefts with losses totaling more than $76,606.80. Harris was reportedly charged in several jurisdictions, but he continued to steal from their stores.

An investigator for the Attorney Generals Office reviewed numerous hours of security footage shared by Albertsons senior organized crime investigator along with police and loss reports to tie the thefts to Harris.

A distinctive pattern emerged, according to court records. Harris would grab a shopping cart to put a tote bag in, then walk to where the store kept paper towels or diapers and place a large package of them in his cart, in what investigators believed was an attempt to hide the tote bag. He would then put eye drops and other health and beauty products in his bag before going to a different part of the store, where he would abandon his cart and leave.

Harris typically made off with $1,000 to $3,000 worth of merchandise, according to court records. The largest theft was Sept. 27 at the Tacoma Safeway on 72nd Street, allegedly taking $4,354.33 in products. Altogether, the thefts totaled $44,284.12 in losses.

He sometimes hit multiple stores in a single day, allegedly stealing from stores in Gig Harbor, Silverdale and Poulsbo on Nov. 9. Records show he often returned to the same store again and again, most frequently to the Gig Harbor Safeway on Point Fosdick Drive, which he allegedly stole $7,763.69-worth of merchandise from in five thefts between July and November last year.

Harris was twice confronted by loss-prevention employees or outside security, which resulted in $4,233.21-worth of products being recovered, according to court records. The first was Sept. 29 at a Bremerton Safeway. Harris was walking out the front door when an employee confronted him, and he dropped his tote bags and fled out an emergency exit.

The next day Harris allegedly tried to steal more eye-care products from a Safeway in Olympia on Harrison Avenue. An employee from Vigilant Asset Protection was reportedly watching a live camera feed while Harris concealed items in a tote bag and left the store. When he left, two other security guards detained him and brought him to a back room.

There, Harris allegedly admitted to the employees that he was stealing and reselling items to a fence, someone who knowingly buys stolen goods, in Seattles International District. He reportedly said he received 50 cents for each product he stole and that he was doing it to pay off a gambling debt.

Harris was then taken into custody by the Olympia Police Department, records state. Less than a month later, Oct. 22, Harris was allegedly pulling off thefts again at a Safeway in Parkland.
Hundreds of demonstrators took to the White House in Washington, D.C. for the Free Leonard Peltier 79th Birthday Action on September 12, 2023. (Jourdan Bennett-Begaye, ICT)

Hundreds of demonstrators took to the White House in Washington, D.C. for the Free Leonard Peltier 79th Birthday Action on September 12, 2023. (Jourdan Bennett-Begaye, ICT)

This story was originally co-published by the Rapid City Journal and ICT, through a news partnership that covers Indigenous communities in the South Dakota area.

RAPID CITY, S.D.  By July 1, a decision will be made regarding what could be Anishinaabe AIM activist and now elder Leonard Peltiers last shot at freedom.

The Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians citizens parole hearing lasted about seven hours on June 10. This was Peltiers first parole hearing in over a decade. His last hearing in 2009 ended in rejection, as did a 2017 request to President Barack Obama for clemency.

Peltier is currently serving two consecutive life sentences at Coleman Maximum Security in Florida after being convicted of aiding and abetting in the murder of two FBI agents on June 26, 1975, at the Jumping Bull Ranch in South Dakota.

Peltier is 79 years old and has been struggling with health concerns for years. Hes had trouble managing his diabetes while incarcerated, experienced the loss of vision in one eye, had open heart surgery, an aortic aneurysm, and is dealing with the lingering effects of contracting COVID-19.

Often referred to as a political prisoner, Peltier was the only one out of three AIM members charged in the murders of the two FBI agents who was not acquitted of the charges. Two other AIM members who were present, Robert Robideau and Dino Butler, were both acquitted following a trial in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

After fleeing to Canada and being extradited back to the United States, Peltier was tried in Fargo, North Dakota, and found guilty of both murders. Federal prosecutors later changed his charges to aiding and abetting in the two murders.

Peltier has already served a longer sentence than most principals in murder convictions.

After fleeing to Canada and being extradited to the United States, Peltier was convicted and sentenced in 1977 to life in prison, despite defense claims that evidence against him had been falsified.

A long list of people, tribes, and organizations that have called for Peltiers freedom including the former prosecutor in the case, members of Congress, Amnesty International USA, Pope John Francis, the Dalai Lama, the National Congress of American Indians and dozens of tribal nations, Peltiers own tribe, the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians has also called for his release.

On June 7, FBI Director Christopher Wray released a letter he penned to Patricia Cushwa, acting chair of the U.S. Parole Commission in opposition of paroling Peliter.

Over the past 45 years, no fewer than 22 federal judges have evaluated the evidence and considered Peltiers legal arguments, Wray said in the letter. Each has reached the same conclusion: Peltiers claims are meritless, and his convictions and sentence must stand. Despite the overwhelming and consistent court rulings, Peltier has refused to accept any responsibility for his violent crimes and persists in advancing spurious claims that judges have repeatedly examined and exposed as false.

The FBI Agents Association, which represents active agents, also sent a letter to the parole commission claiming that paroling Peltier would be a cruel act of betrayal.

Prayers nationwide

Across the United States and beyond, Indigenous activists held prayer ceremonies for Peltiers release.

Jean Roach, a Mnicouju Lakota woman who was 14 during the Jumping Bull Ranch shootout, remembers the day vividly.

You know how prairie is, there was nothing, so some of those bullets came pretty close to us, Roach said. At one moment I froze up running up the hills, I threw myself to the ground because the bullets they were all around me. I looked up and I saw Dino Butler and he waved for me to go.

Hundreds of rounds of ammunition had been fired during the shootout. In that time, Roach said she jumped up and ran as fast as she could away from the area until she got somewhere that she and her brother could hide.

By the time the shootout ended three men were dead  FBI Agents Ronald Arthur Williams and Jack Ross Coler and 23-year-old AIM member Joseph Bedell Schultz, a citizen of the Couer dAlene Tribe. Williams and Coler were dead within the first 10 minutes of the shootout.

There were 11 of us that escaped, Roach said. When we ran from the wooded area where we were camped at by the sweat lodge we had to go maybe a mile to the tree tops of the pines to get out of the area they were surrounding. We hid in the trees along lakeside road and we were watching the cops fly by. They had no idea we were up there in those trees watching them until after they left.

Roach, who now works with the International Leonard Peltier Defense Committee, said she held a prayer ceremony on June 10 in Phoenix with the Phoenix AIM division. While she said shes holding out hope for Peltiers release, she worries nothing will change.

Were holding prayer that he will be released because anybody thats been in prison really has a hard time dealing with it, Roach said. I cant imagine being in prison for 49 years, not being able to see your loved ones, your children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Hes been suffering for a long time.

In South Dakota, Oglala Lakota elder Norma Rendons nonprofit organization Where All Women Are Honored held a ceremony at Bear Butte State Park, a sacred site.

Bear Butte was an excellent place to have the prayer vigil because of the ancestors there, Rendon said. We prayed that they watch over him and guide the hearts and minds of the people making the decisions.

During the event, longtime AIM leader Bill Means spoke about Leonard and the struggles hes faced while incarcerated.

He (Peltier) is a political prisoner, Rendon said. Theres been so much evidence that he did not commit those murders. He should have never been charged for that.

Rendon said over 30 individuals came to Bear Butte on the afternoon of June 10 for prayer and a meal.

If parole is granted, Peltier will begin the process for release. If denied, he could file an appeal to a federal district court.

The commission has until July 1 to make a decision.

The post The wait begins for Leonard Peltier appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
LITTLE ROCK, Ark.  A recent study found Arkansas ranking near the bottom of U.S. states for working fathers.

The consumer finance site WalletHub ranked Arkansas 44 out of 50 states and the District of Columbia for working dads. The study developed its scores by examining 21 key indicators, such as the length of the workday and child care costs.

High-paying remote work jobs fading fast: Study

The indicators were divided into four categories: economic and social well-being, work-life balance, child care, and health.

Economic and social well-being looked at things like median family income and the unemployment rate of fathers with children up to 17 years old, leaving Arkansas with a 43 score. The work-life balance category included parental leave policies and the states quality for working from home, ending with a 33 score for Arkansas.

The Child care ranking used indicators such as child care costs and the quality of the school system, rendering Arkansas with a 32 score. Executive director of the Gordon Career Center at Wesleyan University Sharon Belden Castonguay said child care is the biggest challenge for working families.

This one factor [child care] affects several decisions, such as how much leave parents will take, who will take it, the length of a reasonable commute, and whether they are going to stay with or leave their employers, Castonguay said. While historically seen as problems for mothers alone, modern families see this as a puzzle to solve as a family unit.

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The study noted one of the largest challenges for Arkansas was children living in poverty, where the state ranked 49 out of a possible 51.

Finally, the health category looked at factors such as male uninsured rate and mens life expectancy, generating a 50 rank for Arkansas, its lowest score in all categories and one above the lowest possible ranking.

Five Arkansas employers among best in America, according to Forbes

Arkansas does provide child care assistance for low-income families through its Division of Elementary and Secondary Education.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
SUMMIT COUNTY, Ohio (WJW)  A 36-year-old Summit County man who was wanted on several felony warrants had a New Franklin neighborhood on high alert after running from a traffic stop, and according to police reports, later, took off in a stolen Hummer through Coventry Township and the City of Green where the victim gave chase.

The series of events started to unfold at about 2:40 p.m. on Wednesday, June 5.

According to a New Franklin police report, an officer attempted to pull over a small pick-up truck on Manchester Road that was hauling a homemade trailer without working brake lights or turn signals. The officer reported the suspect pulled into a driveway at 4946 Manchester Road, then jumped out of the still-moving vehicle and started running.

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As the suspect ran across Manchester Road, police said a driver had to slam on her brakes and sound her horn in an attempt not to hit the man.

The officer continued the chase and reported the suspect was seen running through several backyards along Pamela Drive.

More officers arrived to assist with the search.

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According to the report, a woman who lives on Pamela Drive reported the man may have entered her home. Police searched the house. They did not find the suspect but located the shirt he was wearing in the driveway.

New Franklin police reported several phone calls throughout the day from residents who believed they spotted the man running behind their homes and in nearby woods but, police never found the man.

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Meanwhile, back at the scene off Manchester Road, where the suspect ditched the truck and homemade trailer, officers reported three other people in the cab and trunk of the truck. Two of which were wanted on warrants.

According to the report, both the truck and trailer were displaying fictitious license plates. Police reported finding a used glass pipe in the drivers side door, as well as phones, tablets, laptops, security cameras, tools, batteries, and knives within the truck.

The following day, and just about 24 hours later, a man in Coventry Township reported his red 2006 Hummer was stolen from a driveway on Parnell Drive. The victim told police he hopped into another vehicle and followed the stolen Hummer while calling the Summit County Sheriffs Office.

This embedded content is not available in your region.

Its not clear for how long or how far the victim followed the vehicle, but it was soon spotted by deputies along S. Main Street in the City of Green. Again, as police attempted to pull over the man, he took off. Police said the suspect switched from the drivers seat to the passengers seat, jumped out of the passenger door, and ran into nearby woods.

A K-9 was used to track the suspect and bring him into custody.

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In both cases, the suspect was identified as 36-year-old Ronald G. Karl. He is now facing charges of grand theft, resisting arrest, and possessing drug abuse instruments. In addition to several citations for not having a valid drivers license, working brake lights, or turn signals.

Summit County Court records show Karl was previously indicted on felony charges of aggravated drug trafficking and failure to comply with a police 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 Fox 8 Cleveland WJW.
SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4)  A heat advisory is in effect for much of the Wasatch Front as temperatures are expected to climb near, or even above, 100 degrees over the next 48 hours.

The National Weather Service said the advisory  which covers Salt Lake City, Ogden and the west desert  is in effect from Wednesday morning until Friday morning.

Heat islands: Maps reveal hottest neighborhoods in Salt Lake City

ABC4 meteorologist Nate Larsen said mercury could rise to 100 degrees Wednesday in Salt Lake City and hit 102 on Thursday, which could tie the daily record set back in 2021.

With a strong southerly flow in place, temperatures usually climb higher than what computer models forecast, Larsen said. So, while your phones may be forecasting upper 90s for Salt Lake City, we could easily spike to 101-102 Thursday afternoon.

Overnight lows over the period will only drop into the mid-70s. Under such conditions, people can suffer heat-related illness, including potentially deadly heat stroke.

Extreme heat at Glen Canyon

An excessive heat warning is also in effect in southern Utah, near the Glen Canyon Recreation Area, where temperatures could reach up to 105 degrees.

Dangerously hot conditions are expected in the cities of Bullfrog and Big Water. The warning is set to last until late Thursday night.

St. George, while not under a heat advisory or warning, will also see temperatures climb near 105 degrees both Wednesday and Thursday.

The daily heat records for June 13 and June 14 in the southwestern Utah city were set back in 1918, when temperatures hit 115 degrees and 110 degrees, respectively.

How to avoid heat-related illness

Extreme heat is the most deadly weather-related event in the U.S. An average of 1,200 Americans die each year due to heat-related illness, According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

During a heat wave, people are advised to limit strenuous activity outside and drink plenty of water. If possible, find relief in air-conditioned buildings or stay in the shade. People are urged to check those who are most at risk, such as the elderly or those with high blood pressure.

Pets can get heat stroke, too. But some breeds are more at risk

Symptoms of heat stroke, the most serious heat-related illness, include profuse sweating, loss of consciousness, confusion, slurred speech, and seizures. According to the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention, heat stroke can be deadly if treatment is delayed.



Those looking for relief in Salt Lake County can go to designated cooling zones, mainly libraries and senior centers where water and other resources are provided. A map of these zones can be found here. One of them is the Salt Lake City Public Library.



Anyone, no matter what their residency status is or their library card status, is welcome to stop by, said Bryton Sampson, spokesperson for the Salt Lake City Public Library. We have air conditioning, we have places to sit, we have a roof over our heads, and you can stay as long as you want.

Relief this weekend

Over the weekend, temperatures are expected to moderate on the Wasatch Front, with daily highs dropping into the low 80s by Monday, which is about average this time of year

As the workweek continues, however, temperatures look to dip even further, dropping below average and into the low 70s. Overnight lows by the middle of next week could hit the low 50s.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
By James Oliphant

(Reuters) -The two oldest candidates ever to run for U.S. president meet on Thursday for a televised debate unlike any other. One accuses his rival of being unhinged and a danger to democracy, while the other accuses his opponent of being senile and corrupt.

President Joe Biden, 81, and former President Donald Trump, 78, are essentially tied in national opinion polls with fewer than five months until the Nov. 5 election.

But many voters remain undecided, raising the stakes of a debate that will be viewed more for possible moments of drama than for policy discussions between the Democratic president and his Republican challenger.

Here is what to watch for in the first 2024 presidential debate broadcast from Atlanta on CNN at 9 p.m. EDT on Thursday (0100 GMT on Friday):

THE FITNESS QUESTION

Both candidates may face questions about their fitness to serve in ways previous presidential hopefuls have not.

Trump claims Biden is physically and mentally unfit for office, while Biden has called his predecessor "unhinged" and a danger to democratic norms.

Democrats point to Trump's role in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol by his supporters, his other efforts to overturn the 2020 election and his conviction on May 30 on 34 felony counts for his involvement in a hush money scheme to keep an alleged sexual encounter with a porn star from the public.

Bidens mental and physical strength has been the subject of scrutiny and speculation as he seeks a second four-year term. Critics say he is slowing down and point to a series of verbal slip-ups. Allies maintain he is as sharp as ever.

Trump has regularly mocked Biden at rallies, suggesting hes not up to the job.

The presidents age is also on most voters' minds, including Democrats, and many viewers will be on alert for any sign that Biden - or Trump - is not up to the task.

Trump has not faced the same questions about his stamina but has raised eyebrows with his tendency to go off on extended tangents and occasionally mixing up names and misidentifying Biden as former President Barack Obama.

THE TEMPERAMENT TEST

Both candidates are known for their tempers and impatience. They are used to commanding the stage and getting their way. Both have been president and likely see little reason to yield to the other.

"There is a lot of bad blood," said Tevi Troy, a former George W. Bush official who helped that Republican president prepare for the 2004 debates against Democrat John Kerry.

Biden rattled Trump during their first debate in the 2020 race, leading Trump into what was viewed as a poor performance as the Republican repeatedly interrupted and bickered with the moderator. Biden went on to beat Trump handily.

Trump may try to get under Bidens skin by mentioning the legal problems of the president's son, Hunter, who was convicted of lying about his drug use to illegally buy a gun.

Trump has to be careful, too, not to turn off moderate voters with a bullying approach.

You cant be so aggressive that you are rude, and you seem to be trampling your opponent, said Brett ODonnell, a veteran Republican debate consultant.

Both Biden and Trump could be rusty. Trump refused to participate in the 2024 Republican primary debates, a decision that did him no harm as he easily beat all his rivals for the party's nomination. Biden also has not been on a debate stage in almost four years.

Trump and his team were working ahead of the debate to temper expectations over his performance, arguing - without evidence - that CNN and its moderators, Dana Bash and Jake Tapper, are biased in Biden's favor.

DISINFORMATION DANGER

Trump is notorious for injecting falsehoods and exaggerated boasts into his remarks, typically requiring a legion of fact-checkers to verify his claims. Biden, too, has been known to tell a few tall tales on the stump.

But there is peril for the opposing candidate in trying to correct the record on stage. "You have limited time," Troy said. "You have to get your points out."

He said fact-checking is a task better left to campaign aides who can quickly send out statements challenging the opponent's assertions. Many news organizations also will assess the veracity of the candidates' statements.

THE NARRATIVE TRAP

There will be a strong temptation for Biden to lean into Trumps conviction in New York. ODonnell said that would be a bad idea because it would further Trumps unsupported contention that Biden was involved in bringing the charges and that Trump is a victim of political persecution.

The Biden campaign recently launched a $50 million ad campaign highlighting Trump's guilty verdict, suggesting the president's team views it as a winning issue.

For Trump, the danger lies in saying things that underscore Bidens argument that he is a threat to democratic norms. Trump, for example, has suggested he will use the Justice Department to target his political enemies.

"Trump has to seem presidential, said Aaron Kall, a University of Michigan expert on presidential debates.

Trump may also be tempted to complain, as he frequently does on social media, about forces working against him or cast himself as a victim of a political conspiracy.

But undecided voters dont care about Trumps grievances, ODonnell said. "Folks arent interested in the candidates problems, they are interested in their problems."

Political experts said the candidates should emphasize cost-of-living issues - such as high grocery, housing and energy prices - to show they are in touch with voters' sentiments.

Biden has been trying to reassure voters about the economy for months with mixed results, and Reuters/Ipsos polls have shown Trump with an edge over Biden as the candidate voters trust to handle the economy.

Democratic pollster Brad Bannon said Biden needs to acknowledge that voters are still having a tough time.

"He must couple his boast of accomplishments with an acknowledgement that consumers still struggle with high prices for gas and groceries," Bannon said.

Biden, he said, "does empathy well. He needs to do much more of it."

NO AUDIENCE FEEDBACK

In a sharp departure from previous presidential debates, there will be no studio audience. That could pose problems for both candidates, but perhaps particularly for Trump, who draws energy from a boisterous crowd.

The candidates might be somewhat at sea, getting no real-time feedback as to how their arguments and attacks are being received, Kall said. With no voters in the room to pander to, the candidates also may be more substantive and less histrionic.

Another danger for Trump: CNN has said a candidate's microphone will be turned off to prevent interruptions when the other is speaking. Trump may decide to try to be heard anyway, risking alienating some viewers in the process.

As a former reality TV star, Trump has deep experience in studio settings while Biden has delivered speeches from the White House without an audience. A key to debate success may be which candidate makes the format work best by connecting viscerally with viewers at home.

Trump will get the final word in the debate, CNN said last week. The Biden campaign won a coin toss to determine podium placement and the order of closing statements, and chose to have Biden on the right side of viewers screens during the debate.

The Trump campaign then opted to have Trump deliver the last closing statement.

(Reporting by James Oliphant; Additional reporting by Helen Coster; Editing by Colleen Jenkins, Ross Colvin, Jonathan Oatis and Lisa Shumaker)
U.S. Rep. Debbie Lesko, a Republican from Arizona, speaks Wednesday at a press conference opposing earmarks. (Lia Chien/States Newsroom)

WASHINGTON  A group opposed to wasteful government spending and a handful of U.S. House Republicans warned at a Wednesday press event that project-specific spending known as earmarks was contributing to an increase in the national debt.

The event to discuss the Citizens Against Government Wastes latest annual report, titled the 2024 Congressional Pig Book and released Wednesday, highlighted congressional earmarks and called on lawmakers to rein in government spending.

Leaders of the nonpartisan organization, which works to oppose waste, fraud, abuse, and mismanagement in government, according to its website, were joined by Republican House members and a live potbelly pig to address earmarks and rising debt limits.

The organizations annual pig book highlights earmarks, often called pork. An earmark is a project-specific funding allocation approved by Congress through the annual appropriations process.

The group identified 8,222 earmarks for fiscal year 2024, totaling $22.7 billion. Thats 13% less than fiscal year 2023 but still the fifth-highest spending year for earmarks since the CAGW began releasing its annual report in 1991.

Republicans ended the controversial spending practice in 2011 after winning control of the House. A decade later, Democrats and Republicans voted to allow earmarked spending again.

Defenders of the practice say it allows members of Congress, who know the needs of their states and districts, to respond with specific funding. The projects comprise a small portion of total federal spending. And lawmakers have a chance to vote on them as part of appropriations bills.

But some Republicans continue to oppose them. Four members on Wednesday gave a similar rationale Wednesday as Republicans did when they eliminated earmarks in 2011, calling them a form of wasteful government spending thats adding to a rising national debt.

Rep. Bob Good, a Republican from Virginia, stressed how much debt the country continues to accumulate.

Here we are with $35 trillion in debt, he said. After it took us about 200 years to accumulate the first trillion, now were accumulating a trillion every four months or so.

Data from the U.S. Department of the Treasury and a CNBC analysis confirms these amounts.

Good, the chair of the far-right House Freedom Caucus, criticized his party for passing a 2023 law to suspend the debt limit. The measure allowed Congress to appropriate as much as we can joyfully, gleefully spend together, Good said.

Speakers at the event, which included Reps. Debbie Lesko of Arizona, Ralph Norman of South Carolina and Tom McClintock of California as well as Good, shared the sentiment that permanently ditching earmarks would help restore Republicans reputation as the fiscally responsible party.

Republicans cannot reclaim the mantle of fiscal responsibility until we end once and for all this reckless and self-indulgent practice, McClintock said.

Maine and Alaska benefit

Members also spoke to the disproportionate allocation of earmarked spending in Congress.

CAGW President Tom Schatz opened Wednesdays event by highlighting who in Congress received the most funding in earmarks this fiscal year. Earmarks are required to have a sponsor in the House and Senate.

Sen. Susan Collins, a Republican from Maine and ranking member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, took home the most bacon this year with 231 earmarks totaling $576 million.

That total was almost 24% more than the legislator with the second-highest number of earmarks, Sen. Lisa Murkowski, a Republican from Alaska who is also on the Appropriations Committee. Murkowskis 185 earmarks amounted to $466 million.

Members of the appropriations committees in the House and Senate, which write the annual spending laws, gained much more in earmarks than the average member, the report notes.

Earmarks continue to provide the most benefit to the most powerful legislators, Schatz said.

The rest of the top five were Sen. Angus King of Maine, Democratic Sen. Brian Schatz of Hawaii and Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y. King caucuses with Democrats, though he is an independent.

Together, these five senators received 10.3% of all earmark spending in fiscal 2024, but make up less than 1% of all members of Congress.

Senators generally won more earmarked spending than their House counterparts, with 37 of the top 40 lawmakers by dollar amount coming from the Senate.

Schatz also spoke to the differences between the parties. Nearly all  99.6%  congressional Democrats took advantage of the spending practice, while only 62.4% of Republicans did.

The CAGW president also noted an uneven distribution of funding among states and territories.

States with smaller populations receive more pork per capita, with Alaska taking the top spot at $645 in earmark spending per person. Maine, with $434 per person, and Hawaii at $336, followed.

The bottom three jurisdictions included Indiana at $4.32 per person, Puerto Rico at $3.67 per person and North Dakota, which received no earmarks.

Legalized bribery

McClintock pointed to earmarks as a cause of corruption in Congress. He said if a project is worthy of funding, it will receive the money under open, competitive bidding.

Worthy projects in open, competitive bidding dont need earmarks, he said. They rise or fall on their merits.

Good further supported McClintocks claim of corruption, saying earmarks entice members to vote on legislation to benefit their districts.

Make no mistake about it, Good said. Earmarks are used to buy bad votes for bad bills.

He added that committee chairs often find earmarks much more rewarding. Appropriations subcommittee chairs can add earmarked funds into spending bills to entice their colleagues to pass a bill, Good said.

Folks, this is nothing but legalized bribery, Norman said.

Lesko said celebrating legislators that bring home earmarks makes government spending increase.

The people like Tom [McClintock] and I and others that actually want to reduce government spending, so its responsible, arent celebrated at all, she said.

She pointed the finger at her fellow Arizona representative, Democrat Greg Stanton, after he secured a $700,000 earmark to renovate an economics and business finance program for fourth, fifth and sixth graders.

Now, is this coming from his bank account? said Lesko. No, its coming from your bank account.

Asked Wednesday about Leskos comment, a spokesperson for Stanton replied with a written statement from last months earmark announcement.

In the release, Stanton said the funding is an investment in the future of Arizonas children.

McClintock closed the press conference by advocating to once again put an end to earmarks.

He referred to former House Speaker John Boehner, an Ohio Republican who was instrumental in banning earmarks in 2011.

It can be done, he said. It has been done, it will need to be done again.

The post Watchdog group, GOP U.S. House members blast reckless earmark spending appeared first on North Dakota Monitor.
Who watched the eclipse in Erie? Tourists from Nepal, Germany, more

Organizers feared gridlock as crowds descended on Erie for the solar eclipse on April 8.

But the reality, according to a new report from VisitErie, Erie County's tourism promotion agency, looked a lot more like the empty-streets desolation of the COVID-19 lockdown.

It wasn't that the crowds didn't come. But the cancellation of school for thousands of local students and the fact that many employees worked from home helped to keep traffic off the street.

And when visitors did arrive  as roughly 100,000 did  they spread out, flocking not to one single spot, but to vistas and events across the county.

Visitors to Presque Isle State Park's Beach 1 take in the sunset on April 8 as the sun hid temporarily behind the moon.

Even then, a new report released Wednesday by VisitErie determined that the gray skies and light rains might have kept some at home while others headed west in search of better weather.

"It wasn't just Erie," said John Oliver, CEO of VisitErie. "We noted that, along with others along the path of totality, that attendance still wasn't as high as we thought it might have gone. The weather was a factor."

A manageable crowd

Although skies cleared and the sun came out, Oliver said he went home that day without a clear sense of the crowd.

But thousands of motorists, especially those heading south on Interstate 79, drove home with a pretty good perception that the crowd in Erie County had been substantial. Traffic, which began to slow down in southern Erie County, remained slow until somewhere near the Slippery Rock exit, according to witnesses. In some cases, Oliver said, two-hour drives back to Pittsburgh took five hours or more.

A solar eclipse is viewed from the north patio of the Bayfront Convention Center in Erie on April 8.

Ultimately, VisitErie didn't have to guess at the attendance numbers.

Data provided by Adara, a platform that tracked credit card usage, found that more than 30,000 people who lived 50 miles or more from Erie, used their credit cards in Erie County between April 5-8. Based on an estimated 2.5 travelers per cardholder, VisitErie determined there were about 100,000 visitors. Ultimately, the number of visitors would include those who paid cash or didn't buy anything.

There is another way to measure the economic impact that eclipse-chasing visitors had on the local economy.

Based on VisitErie's share of the local hotel bed tax  the tourism promotion agency collects 3%, while ErieEvents receives 4%,  Erie County tallied $9.2 million in hotel receipts during April.

People watch a total solar eclipse from the north patio of the Bayfront Convention Center.

VisitErie's share of the hotel tax was about $90,000 more than in April of the year before. And while April's total hotel receipts fell short of a busy July or August, Oliver said April's numbers were built on the strength of a few days, not 31 days of prime vacation season.

Where's the crowd?

Matt Greene, operations director for Presque Isle State Park, said the park counted 6,550 cars on the day of the eclipse, roughly 23,000 people.

It was a manageable number and the reason why most people were able to drive out of the park in about an hour. But Greene was prepared for more.

So where did those extra 100,000 people spend the roughly four minutes when the moon blocked the sun?

Erie was often identified as the only Pennsylvania city in the path of totality. But unfettered views of the eclipse could be found all over the area.

The VisitErie report suggests visitors spent time in every corner of the county at more than 40 different watch events, including 3,000 at Pennwest Edinboro, 2,500 at Penn State Behrend, more than 1,500 at the Erie Zoo, 2,200 at Port Farms near Waterford, 1,300 at Lake Erie Speedway, 630 at UPMC Park and 500 at Liberty Park.

"With 100,000 people, if they were all at the park we would have had massive congestion," Oliver said. "But the fact that they were in North East all the way to Edinboro showed how we were able to have the crowds dispersed. You didn't have to be in one location. You could be virtually anywhere. Local people could watch from their back yard."

18 months of planning

The eclipse did not not sneak up on Erie.

Led by VisitErie, a broad range of community members, including law enforcement, municipalities, schools and universities, tourism-focused companies and the media took part in an extensive planning process that sought to prepare for every contingency.

In some cases, that might have led to being over prepared. Consider, for instance the matter of eclipse glasses.

VisitErie bought 30,000 pair to distribute. That's on top of large orders placed by Penn State Behrend, Country Fair, Pennsylvania State Police, PennWest University Edinboro and Gannon University.

In the end, VisitErie reported, there were more than enough to go around.

New markets for Erie

VisitiErie, which advertises heavily in the Pittsburgh market, saw those efforts pay dividends. Data from credit card sales shows that Pittsburgh accounted for more than a third of all visitor spending between April 5-8.

Other leading markets, in order of the amount they spent, were Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., Buffalo and Harrisburg.

John Oliver, CEO of VisitErie.

And while Oliver talked to visitors from Nepal, plenty of other businesses welcomed visitors to Erie County for the first time.

A small business in Corry saw new customers from as far away as Las Vegas. A restaurant in western Erie County welcomed visitors from six states. One businesses reported visitors from California, Oklahoma, Poland, Germany and Canada.

Data from Zartico, a national research company that uses cell phone data to track visitor activity, showed a 104% increase in visitor spending during a four-day period.

Oliver said he hopes that the eclipse will provide benefits to Erie that extend well beyond a few days in April.

"That's one of the things that really bodes well for us in the future," he said. "There were a lot of new markets that we never had exposure to in the past."

Contact Jim Martin at jmartin@timesnews.com

This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Eclipse 2024: April hotel taxes in Erie closer to summer month
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)  A sinkhole displaced close to 20 residents early Wednesday morning, June 12 in Central El Paso, according to the El Paso Fire Department.

The Fire Department says they responded to a water main break at the 3700 block of Tularosa Avenue at around 11 p.m. Tuesday, June 12.

At around midnight, residents were being evacuated from the area. No injuries have been reported.

Sun Metro is assisting families with transportation. Red Cross also assisted at the scene, according to the Fire Department.

KTSM spoke with a spokesperson with El Paso Water who said the water main break is 24 inches, and the sinkhole has swallowed two cars.

The spokesperson says the water line was previously identified as one that needed to be replaced and will be replaced soon.

Once crews finish repairing the line and it is back in service, an investigation into why the water main broke will be conducted.

EP water has contracted with a local contractor who is going to replace this main from the intersection of Copia all the way to U.S.-54. The contract is barely getting started. Were waiting for a notice to proceed for the contractor to begin operation, said utility operations officer Felipe Lopez.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News.
Laman Ismayilova

President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev has received Azerbaijan Culture Minister Adil Karimli, who was visiting Tashkent, Azernews reports.

Adil Karimli conveyed the greetings and good wishes of the President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, to the head of state.

The issues of strategic partnership and expansion of humanitarian relations between Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan were discussed at the meeting.

Azerbaijan Culture Minister Adil Karimli previously met with his Uzbek counterpart Ozodbek Nazarbekov to discuss prospects for cooperation. A proposal was made to produce a film dedicated to the prominent Uzbek and Azerbaijani poets Alisher Navai and Muhammad Fuzuli.

Note that Uzbek and Azerbaijani peoples are united by similar national customs and traditions, a common language group, and culture.

Since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1995 between the two countries, bilateral ties have forged deep bonds. Over 100 documents have been signed between the two countries until today.

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 presentations, exhibitions, and other events that aimed to highlight Azerbaijani-Uzbek relations.

The Days of Azerbaijani Culture, which are underway in Tashkent, open a new page in the history of cultural ties between the two countries.

From musical numbers to theatre plays, the Days of Azerbaijani Culture feature a large-scale program, which became another celebration of Azerbaijani culture and art in the fraternal country.
This photo taken on June 11, 2024 shows a livestock market in Kabul, capital of Afghanistan. Afghans are preparing to celebrate the largest annual religious festival Eid al-Adha. Ahead of this festival, local farmers brought their sheep and cattle to the livestock market in Kabul. This year, Eid al-Adha will be celebrated in Afghanistan from June 17 to 19. (Photo by Saifurahman Safi/Xinhua)

This photo taken on June 11, 2024 shows goats to be sacrificed for Eid al-Adha in Kabul, capital of Afghanistan. Afghans are preparing to celebrate the largest annual religious festival Eid al-Adha. Ahead of this festival, local farmers brought their sheep and cattle to the livestock market in Kabul. This year, Eid al-Adha will be celebrated in Afghanistan from June 17 to 19. (Photo by Saifurahman Safi/Xinhua)

This photo taken on June 11, 2024 shows a goat to be sacrificed for Eid al-Adha in Kabul, capital of Afghanistan. Afghans are preparing to celebrate the largest annual religious festival Eid al-Adha. Ahead of this festival, local farmers brought their sheep and cattle to the livestock market in Kabul. This year, Eid al-Adha will be celebrated in Afghanistan from June 17 to 19. (Photo by Saifurahman Safi/Xinhua)

This photo taken on June 11, 2024 shows the livestock to be sacrificed for Eid al-Adha in Kabul, capital of Afghanistan. Afghans are preparing to celebrate the largest annual religious festival Eid al-Adha. Ahead of this festival, local farmers brought their sheep and cattle to the livestock market in Kabul. This year, Eid al-Adha will be celebrated in Afghanistan from June 17 to 19. (Photo by Saifurahman Safi/Xinhua)

This photo taken on June 11, 2024 shows a goat to be sacrificed for Eid al-Adha in Kabul, capital of Afghanistan. Afghans are preparing to celebrate the largest annual religious festival Eid al-Adha. Ahead of this festival, local farmers brought their sheep and cattle to the livestock market in Kabul. This year, Eid al-Adha will be celebrated in Afghanistan from June 17 to 19. (Photo by Saifurahman Safi/Xinhua)

This photo taken on June 11, 2024 shows a livestock market in Kabul, capital of Afghanistan. Afghans are preparing to celebrate the largest annual religious festival Eid al-Adha. Ahead of this festival, local farmers brought their sheep and cattle to the livestock market in Kabul. This year, Eid al-Adha will be celebrated in Afghanistan from June 17 to 19. (Photo by Saifurahman Safi/Xinhua)
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD)  New Holland Brewing Co. is the largest craft brewer in West Michigan, according to data from the Brewers Association.

The data provided to News 8 by the Brewers Association  which excludes Founders and Bells, as a large brewing company has at least a 25% ownership stake in both  looks at the amount of barrels breweries produced in 2023.

New Holland was the largest craft brewer in the area by far, with a barrel production of 37,266 in 2023. The second was Saugatuck Brewing Co. in Douglas at 12,244 barrels.

The rest of the list drops down to four digits, with Odd Side Ales in Grand Haven coming in third after producing 4,787 barrels.

W MI craft breweries 2023 barrel production

Infogram

What do changing tastes mean for Grand Rapids craft brew industry?

In the entire state, Shorts Brewing Co. in Elk Rapids is the only craft brewer that produced more than New Holland in 2023, according to the Brewers Association, coming in at 43,870 barrels.

For West Michigan commercial breweries, Bells beat out Founders, producing 467,000 barrels in 2023, compared to 408,896 barrels from Founders. Atwater, which is also not considered a craft brewer as a large brewing company has at least a 25% ownership stake in it, produced 15,000 barrels.

W MI commercial breweries 2023 barrel production

Infogram

All together, those three breweries and the West Michigan craft breweries on the list produced close to 1 million barrels in 2023.

Citing Brewbound, which used data from the Brewers Association, News 8 partner Crains reported this is the first time Bells was the largest brewery in the state in six years after it saw a 5% increase in production last year over 2022.

However, it still made less than the 489,000 barrels it produced in 2021, Crains reports.

Film explores the art of Bells iconic Two Hearted Ale

Other local craft breweries saw a decrease, Crains reported, as Founders dropped 10%, New Holland dropped 9%, Atwater Brewery dropped 3% and Saugatuck Brewing dropped 1%.

Bells growth comes a few years after it was sold to an Australian brewer and merged with New Belgium Brewing. Known for beers like Oberon and Two Hearted, the brewery was founded in Kalamazoo in 1985.

Its growth comes as other breweries fight to survive, faced with changing tastes and a shift in what young people want.

Theres been a generational shift in what people want to drink, and that might be a fact of wanting to drink less alcohol or might be wanting to drink different types of alcohol. Every generation wants to be a little different than the generation before it, economic expert Paul Isely, an associate dean in the Seidman College of Business at Grand Valley State University, previously told News 8. Millennials were so highly tied to the craft brewing industry that its not unusual to see this happen.

Why DNR, Saugatuck Brewing are partnering during trout fishing season

Theres been a drop in beer output in cities throughout the country known for microbreweries. In Kent County, the beer output dropped by nearly half between 2017 and 2020 when measured in dollars, Isely said.

Breweries have responded to the industrys shift in different ways. Broad Leaf Brewery & Spirits in Kentwood has added pickleball courts as another way to draw people in; Founders recently finished a $1 million renovation to its taproom, allowing it to expand its menu and switch to table service; Saugatuck Brewing, seeing a shift toward fruity, easy-drinking beers, launched a new Shandy Variety Pack.

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WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW)  The Kansas wheat harvest is now stretched across almost half of Kansas. The Kansas Wheat website shows that on Tuesday, Day 2 of its harvest reports, combines were rolling as far north as Lincoln County.

The areas covered by golden wheat are the counties that were harvesting on June 11, 2024. (Map courtesy KSWheat.com)

A lot of farmers are getting excellent yields and proteins. Grain merchandiser Doug Zeller at the Scoular Grain elevator in Wellington said test weights are averaging 62 to 63 pounds per bushel, and proteins are staying steady at 11 to 12.5%.

AGCO Hesston sending some work to Mexico

This year is much better than expected on both spectrums, he told Kansas Wheat. With higher yields, we typically see lower protein and test weights. This year, that isnt the case.

Tim Turk farms near South Haven. He started cutting wheat at least a week earlier than usual. His yields have ranged from 40 bushels to above 70 bushels per acre. Test weights are hitting 62 pounds per bushel, with proteins between 10-12%. He has been especially pleased with the AP Prolific, AP18 AX, AP24 AX and Bob Dole varieties.

There is no comparison to last year, Turek said, Honestly, I cant believe the recovery weve had with the whirlwind weather this year. You have to attribute it to the progress of the genetics over the past several years because when I was a kid, wheat wouldnt have survived what this wheat has been through.

Kansas Wheat Harvest Reports are a joint effort of the Kansas Wheat Commission, Kansas Association of Wheat Growers, Kansas Grain and Feed Association and the Kansas Cooperative Council.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSN-TV.
Where can you use Colorados Digital ID?

DENVER (KDVR)  Coloradans have had access to a digital ID to use in place of their physical drivers licenses or other ID cards since 2019, but how useful are they in 2024?

Around 1.15 million state residents have downloaded the myColorado app, which allows people to scan their IDs and register them with the app, among other things.

Guns, deepfakes and occupancy limits: 16 new Colorado laws go into effect in July

The IDs are accepted in many places across the state, but not everywhere, which is why the state urges people to still carry around their physical ID even if they have the digital one on their phone.

Where they can be used

After Gov. Jared Polis issued an executive order in 2019, digital IDs became an acceptable form of identification across the state, so businesses across the state can accept them.

Businesses are not necessarily required to accept digital IDs in all circumstances. However, verified digital IDs are considered a valid form of age identification when it comes to alcohol and marijuana purchases, meaning they must be accepted.

The Transportation Security Administration accepts digital IDs at TSA PreCheck lanes at certain airports, including Denver International Airport.

Download the FOX31 App: Breaking news alerts & Pinpoint Weather

Police departments in the following cities accept digital IDs: Avon, Brighton, Broomfield, Cherry Hills Village, Denver, Durango, Johnstown, Lakewood, Loveland, Morrison, Parker, Thornton, Vail and Windsor.

Colorado State Patrol and the Douglas County Sheriffs Office also accept digital IDs.

Where they cant be used

There is no system in place for Colorado Digital IDs to be used in other states.

Additionally, not every law enforcement agency in the state accepts them and isnt required to.

So, if an officer stops you in a city or jurisdiction that doesnt accept it, youll have to show your physical ID. This is why the state urges people to continue carrying them just in case.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver.
White House declines to say if Joe Biden would commute Hunters sentence after felony gun conviction

President Joe Biden may yet act to keep his only surviving son from serving time in prison after a jury in Delaware convicted him of three felony charges relating to his purchase of a firearm while addicted to drugs.

Aboard Air Force One, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre would not say whether Biden would use his authority as president to commute any custodial sentence that may be imposed on his son, Hunter Biden, as a result of his conviction.

Jean-Pierre said it was premature to make any pronouncements on the subject, since she hasnt spoken to President Biden about it and Hunter has yet to be sentenced.

As we all know, the sentencing hasnt even been scheduled yet, she said.

The White House press secretary also noted that Biden has ruled out using his power to pardon his son, which would have the effect of absolving him of any consequences for the felony convictions. But a commutation, which would leave the conviction intact, was not something she would address.

He was very clear, very upfront, obviously very definitive, she said about Bidens prior promise not to pardon Hunter.

But when pressed on a commutation she replied: I just dont have anything beyond that.

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 (AFP via Getty Images)

In a statement on Tuesday, Biden said he accepted the outcome of the case after Hunter was found guilty of three charges related to his purchase and possession of a handgun in 2018.

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 White House condemned the pro-Palestine protest outside of the Nova exhibit in New York, which honors the victims of the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel.

In a statement Tuesday, White House spokesperson Andrew Bates called the demonstrations horrifying behavior.

The events at yesterdays memorial to those murdered at the Nova music festival are outrageous and heartbreaking, Bates said.

Profane banners of terrorist organizations should not be flown anywhere, especially not on American streets. Antisemitism has no place in the United States. This horrifying behavior is all the more reason for Americans to stand united against antisemitism and hate in all its forms, like President Biden urgently called for at the Holocaust Memorial Museum last month, he added.

The protests took place Monday night; a large crowd gathered outside the exhibit, where they lit flares and chanted long live the intifada, CBS reported. New York City Mayor Eric Adams on Tuesday said he was extremely troubled by the protesters, adding, you cannot call for peace while youre celebrating what happened on October 7, The Jerusalem Post reported.

The White House has condemned antisemitism seen in protests across the U.S., including when Biden noted that some protests on college campuses in May crossed the line toward antisemitism.

During remarks at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museums Annual Days of Remembrance in May, he called on Americans who are ignoring the events of the Holocaust and the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks on Israel to stop.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
The White House is not ruling out the possibility of President Joe Biden considering commuting his sons federal gun conviction.

I have not spoken to the President about this. And what Im saying is he was asked about a pardon, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters on Air Force One on Wednesday while en route with Biden to the Group of Seven summit in Italy, according to a pool report obtained by The Daily Beast.

He was asked about the trial specifically. And he answered it very clearly, very forthright. As we know, the sentencing hasnt even been scheduled yet. I dont have anything beyond what the president said. Hes been very clear about this, she added.

Hunter Biden, 54, was found guilty of three federal charges after lying on a federal firearms application in October 2018 about using drugs.

While the president told ABC last week that he will not grant his son a pardonwhich would exonerate him of all guilt of a crimehe has not spoken publicly about the possibility of commuting Hunter Bidens sentence, which would keep the conviction but reduce the sentence.

Jill and I love our son, and we are so proud of the man he is today, Biden wrote in a Tuesday statement after the verdict. 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.

Jean-Pierre stressed to reporters on Wednesday that though the president was very clear on his stance on the presidential pardon, she does not have anything beyond that on the commutation question. She also declined to speak about Bidens private time with his family on Tuesday after the verdict. Photos of Biden arriving in Delaware, however, showed the president giving his son, his daughter-in-law, and his grandson a hug before leaving for the familys home.

The President and the First Lady support their son. They love their son. Im not going to get intointo time that he spent with his family. Thats something that we never do, and Im not going to do that today, Jean-Pierre said, according to the pool report.

Hunter Biden faces up to 25 years in prison and a $750,000 fine for the three convicted charges. Legal experts, however, told The Daily Beast that he will likely receive a shorter sentence given he is a nonviolent, first-time offender.

If the special prosecutor asks for jail, his politics is showing, Duncan Levin, a criminal defense attorney and former federal prosecutor, told The Daily Beast on Wednesday. This case does not merit any jail time.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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Brazen corruption: Donald Trump is selling policies for a second term to the highest bidders

Donald Trump is increasingly shaping and reversing his policies to match the desires of donors (The Independent/Getty)

Donald Trump is no stranger to a quid pro quo  he was impeached for one, after all. But while campaigning for a second term in the White House, he has gone further than perhaps any other candidate in recent history to shape his policies in return for cash.

Trump is not making these bargains behind closed doors or in smoky back rooms, but at fundraisers and events attended by dozens of influential and extremely wealthy people.

On several occasions he has made explicit offers to reward donors by enacting or dismantling policy on their behalf should he win in November, often reversing his own previously held positions.

Democrat Jamie Raskin, ranking member of the House committee on oversight and accountability, accused Trump of treating the presidency as a for-profit business enterprise and money-making venture.

He told The Independent that the former president was brazenly offering to sell out US policy to any corporate and billionaire campaign donors ready to make a deal, including telling Big Oil he will sign their executive orders in exchange for a cool one billion dollars.

Donald Trump will literally sell out the future of humanity for another billion dollars, he added.

Donald and Melania Trump arrive at the Florida home of billionaire investor John Paulson (Getty)

The Campaign Legal Center, a non-profit watchdog that focuses on campaign finance laws, called Trumps actions brazen, quid pro quo corruption.

"It is deeply concerning and problematic to see a presidential candidate solicit millions of dollars from wealthy donors in exchange for promised policies or actions that cater to the donors wishes, said Saurav Ghosh, the groups director of federal campaign finance reform.

Ghosh told The Independent that years of deregulatory court decisions have fostered a culture of big money in US elections that allows Trump to act with impunity, pushing legal boundaries or even breaking them outright.

Trumps bargaining began almost the moment he left office, and has continued to this day.

Here are the policies he is selling to donors.

$1bn from oil companies

At a lavish dinner at Mar-a-Lago in April, the former president gathered with around two dozen executives from the biggest oil companies in the country. His campaign was facing a sizeable cash shortfall against his opponent, President Joe Biden, and he was desperate to make up the difference.

As the executives complained about how the Biden administrations environmental regulations were hurting their business, Trump made a starkly transactional pitch: raise $1bn to send me back to the White House.

If he won, he said he would immediately reverse dozens of Bidens environmental rules and policies. The $1bn would be a deal for the companies, he added, because of the money they would save from deregulation.

The account of the meeting, first reported by the Washington Post , came from several people who attended. Among them were 20 executives from ExxonMobil, EQT Corporation and the American Petroleum Institute, which lobbies for the oil industry. It was reportedly organized by oil billionaire Harold Hamm.

Trump speaks to city officials and employees of Double Eagle Energy on the site of an oil rig in Midland, Texas (Getty)

Specifically, Trump vowed to undo a Biden administration freeze on permits for new liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports on the first day of entering office, one attendee told the Post.

The meeting prompted a furious response from Democrats in the House and Senate.

Representative Raskin wrote to the CEOs of nine of the oil companies that attended the meeting to demand answers, calling it an unvarnished quid pro quo.

He said that reports that oil companies are working on potential executive orders for Trump suggest that certain oil and gas companies, which have a track record of using deceitful tactics to undermine effective climate policy, may have already accepted or facilitated Mr Trumps explicit corrupt bargain.

The crypto president

Trump once called Bitcoin a scam " and argued that it threatened the supremacy of the US dollar. A few years later, in desperate need of campaign cash, he is pitching himself to Silicon Valley as the crypto president.

Trump used the term to describe himself at a fundraiser hosted by tech investors David Sacks and Chamath Palihapitiya at the formers home in San Francisco this month.

Both Sacks and Palihapitiya have spoken publicly about their investments in crypto, and the event was attended by a number of other notable crypto investors, including executives from Coinbase and twins Tyler and Cameron Winklevoss, who own the crypto company Gemini.

Trump has not always been popular in Silicon Valley. In 2020, the tech industry spent big to make him a one-term president. But this time around, there has been a slight yet notable shift among a certain set of crypto-loving tech billionaires.

Trump once called Bitcoin a scam but is pitching himself to Silicon Valley as a crypto champion (Associated Press)

The crypto industry has spent tens of millions of dollars in an effort to influence the 2024 elections, funneling money to help elect lawmakers who will undo regulatory moves by the Biden administration. The industry hopes that deregulation will lead to huge profits for crypto investors.

Trumps message appeared to land: He came away with $12m in donations from that fundraiser in San Francisco, and the promise of much more.

TikTok flip-flop

As president, Trump spearheaded efforts to ban TikTok.

As far as TikTok is concerned, were banning them from the United States, the then-president declared to reporters aboard Air Force One in July 2020.

Indeed, he signed an executive order in his last year in office that would have effectively prohibited the video app, which is majority-owned by a Chinese company. But just this month he joined TikTok himself. And more recently he has spoken out against efforts from both the Biden administration and his own party to regulate it.

On March 7, a House committee advanced a bill that would ban the app if it didnt divest, even as TikTok users flooded congressional lines with thousands of calls urging lawmakers to back off.

That same day, Trump wrote on Truth Social that if you get rid of TikTok, (then) Facebook and Zuckerschmuck will double their business, referring to Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg.

TikTok supporters protest at the hush-money trial of Donald Trump in New York in April (Associated Press)

I dont want Facebook, who cheated in the last election, doing better, wrote Trump, echoing a baseless conspiracy theory that social media platforms rigged elections against him. They are a true Enemy of the People!

What prompted this dramatic change ?

Some clues may be derived from the fact that his words came swiftly after a very public rapprochement with Republican mega-donor Jeff Yass. Yass has a $20bn stake in TikToks parent company, ByteDance, and is the largest donor in this election campaign cycle.

At the request of Yass, Trump spoke at a conference of the influential right-wing Club for Growth, which the former president previously blasted as Club for No Growth.

Yass has given $61m to the group since 2010 but it backed Floridas Ron DeSantis in the Republican primary against Trump.

At the conference, Trump told donors that he and the organizations president, David McIntosh, are now back in love.

West Bank-rolling

Perhaps the most brazen quid pro quo of Trumps first term came with a giant donation from casino mogul Sheldon Adelson, the Republican Partys biggest funder over the past decade.

According to New York Times writer Maggie Haberman in her book Confidence Man: The Making of Donald Trump and the Breaking of America, Adelson made a $20m donation to a political action committee to pressure then-president Trump to adopt the highly controversial decision to move the US embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.

For his second term, Trump may be poised to sell another controversial policy to the Adelson family.

Sheldon died in 2021, but his wife Miriam has continued his cause and may even surpass Yass to become Trumps biggest patron in this election cycle.

A New York Magazine profile of Miriam, published last month, suggested that Trumps support for the Israeli annexation of the West Bank was top of her wish list for a second term.

Miriam Adelson listens as Trump addresses an Israeli American Council summit in Hollywood in 2019 (Associated Press)

The West Bank is considered Palestinian territory and would form the basis of a future Palestinian state. Annexing it would be against international law.

By March, Mrs Adelson had not yet opened her checkbook to fund Trumps campaign. That month, after he won the Republican primary, he invited her to a Shabbat dinner at Mar-a-Lago, according to the magazine, during which his courting of the donor appears to have begun in earnest. He gave an interview to the Adelson-owned newspaper Israel Hayom in which he described himself as a very loyal person.

Ive been the best president in history to Israel by a factor of ten because of all the things I do. The embassy, Jerusalem being the capital. Then you have Golan Heights  Nobody even thought that was going to be possible. I did that, he said.

Ten days after the publication of the New York Magazine profile, Politico reported that Adelson would fund a massive political action committee for Trumps re-election.

Trickle-up tax cuts

During his presidency, Trump implemented sweeping tax cuts for the top 1 per cent of earners and cut the maximum corporation tax rate from 35 per cent to 21 per cent. His cuts were one factor helping the fortunes of US billionaires grow by a collective $1 trillion during the pandemic, from March 18 to December 7, 2020, according to the non-partisan group, Americans for Tax Fairness.

The group said that an analysis of donations to Trump found that he was enabled with a total of almost a quarter billion dollars in campaign contributions from 134 of Americas billionaires during his short, violent political career.

Trump is looking to replicate that windfall by promising even more tax cuts for the wealthy, should he win a second term. Several billionaire donors backed off following the riot on January 6, 2021  they are now finding their way back to Trump , largely thanks to that promise.

Speaking at a donor event at the luxury Pierre Hotel in New York last month, Trump warned the wealthy attendees that taxes would go up unless he wins in November because Biden has vowed to let his tax cuts expire at the end of 2025.

Youre going to have the biggest tax increase in history, he said. So whatever you guys can do, I appreciate it.

The comments are part of a pattern of offers to wealthy donors from Trump. Donate to me, he says, and Ill make you richer.

Speaking at Mar-a-Lago in December last year, Trump drew laughs as he described the audience as rich as hell before declaring: Were gonna give you tax cuts!

Money has always played a role in presidential campaigns, but the scale and brazenness of Trumps policy firesale could have a dramatic impact on future elections. If it works, the US government could become even more in thrall to the billionaire class.
FRESNO COUNTY, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE)  A food truck in Fresno County has been impounded by officials with the Fresno County Health Department and shut down until further notice. But what is the reason behind the sudden closure and impoundment of the Ring Your Bell food truck?

On Tuesday, officials with the Fresno County Public Health Department told YourCentralValley.com that the food truck was impounded after the owner of the truck did not comply with an inspection from the Environmental Health Division on multiple occasions.

The Fresno County Department of Public Health, Environmental Health division responds to non-compliant food vendors in accordance with the state health statues. The Environmental Health inspector provided multiple opportunities for the food operator to comply before impounding the Ring Your Bell food trailer. The Fresno County Department of Public Health, Environmental Health Division.

Officials say, however, that a permit will be issued to the owner once again after passing inspections by the Health Department and complying with the state law.

The Environmental Health inspectors will issue a permit once the operators facility complies with the state law and passes inspection. Ensuring food vendors are permitted and following Environmental Health regulations are essential for protecting the publics health from foodborne illnesses. The Fresno County Department of Public Health, Environmental Health Division.

It is unknown as of Tuesday when or if the food truck will be open to the public once again. YourCentralValley.com has reached out to the operator of the food truck for comment in response.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to YourCentralValley.com | KSEE24 and CBS47.
Why Did Tony Evans Resign & What Sin Did He Commit?

Social media users were left baffled after the announcement of Evangelical pastor and author Tony Evans resigning from his Dallas Megachurch came out. He didnt specifically convey the reason he chose to step down from his position. However, Evans did confess to committing a sin that led to such a decision.

Here is everything fans need to know about Tony Evans resignation and what led him to take this decision.

Why did Tony Evans resign?

Tony Evans confessed he committed a sin and resigned from Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship Church.

Tony Evans has served as the leader and founder of the Christian Bible teaching ministry, The Urban Alternative for over four decades. Thus, the celebrated authors decision to resign has left him and the Christian community distraught. As per Christianity Today, he provided the Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship Church with a statement to announce his resignation.

Evans shared, When we fall short of that standard due to sin, we are required to repent and restore our relationship with God. 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.

Furthermore, the Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship Church stated that Tony Evans decision to resign was made after constant thought. Moreover, they asserted that multiple meetings were conducted with him before the announcement.

What sin did Tony Evans commit?

Tony Evans has not specified the details of the reason for resigning from Oak Cliff Fellowship Church.

In his statement, Tony Evans opened up about sinning but didnt mention its details. However, he did reveal the nature of the sin. Evans stated, While I have committed no crime, I did not use righteous judgment in my actions.

Asserting he is ready to resign from his position, Evans conveyed, 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.

The post Why Did Tony Evans Resign & What Sin Did He Commit? appeared first on ComingSoon.net - Movie Trailers, TV & Streaming News, and More.
A local villager shows a maleo egg at Lore Lindu National Park in Central Sulawesi, Indonesia, June 10, 2024. The maleo (Macrocephalon maleo) is endemic to the Indonesian island of Sulawesi and the nearby island of Buton, where it lives in tropical lowland and mountain forests.

To protect this critically endangered species, a group of local villagers are creating a better living environment for the maleo by building habitats and incubators near its nesting sites, collecting and protecting eggs, and releasing chicks into the wild. (Photo by Deden Isman/Xinhua)

A local villager releases a maleo chick at Lore Lindu National Park in Central Sulawesi, Indonesia, June 10, 2024. The maleo (Macrocephalon maleo) is endemic to the Indonesian island of Sulawesi and the nearby island of Buton, where it lives in tropical lowland and mountain forests.

To protect this critically endangered species, a group of local villagers are creating a better living environment for the maleo by building habitats and incubators near its nesting sites, collecting and protecting eggs, and releasing chicks into the wild. (Photo by Deden Isman/Xinhua)

A maleo is pictured at Lore Lindu National Park in Central Sulawesi, Indonesia, June 10, 2024. The maleo (Macrocephalon maleo) is endemic to the Indonesian island of Sulawesi and the nearby island of Buton, where it lives in tropical lowland and mountain forests.

To protect this critically endangered species, a group of local villagers are creating a better living environment for the maleo by building habitats and incubators near its nesting sites, collecting and protecting eggs, and releasing chicks into the wild. (Photo by Deden Isman/Xinhua)
Why are flags half-staff in Florida on Wednesday?

Why are flags half-staff in Florida on Wednesday?

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA)  Gov. Ron DeSantis ordered flags to be at half-staff in Florida on Wednesday.

DeSantis ordered flags at half-staff in honor of Pulse Remembrance Day.

Wednesday marks eight years since a shooter, who claimed allegiance to ISIS, entered Pulse Nightclub in Orlando and killed 49 people, which was the deadliest mass shooting in the U.S. at the time. The shooting also left 53 people injured.

DeSantis called the shooting a horrific act of terrorism against the LGBTQ and Hispanic communities.

As a mark of respect for the victims, their families, and the many affected by this tragedy, I hereby direct the flags of the United States and the State of Florida to be flown at half-staff at all local and state buildings, installations, and grounds throughout the State of Florida from sunrise to sunset on Wednesday, June 12, 2024, DeSantis wrote.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
"Apples to ORANGE," read a text back from one campaign staffer for President Joe Biden reacting to news that Hunter Biden, the president's only surviving son, had been found guilty on all three felony gun charges on Wednesday.

It was a dig at former President Donald Trump, mocking his fake tan. But also a clear summary of how the Biden campaign viewed this new verdict. In a campaign punctuated by courtroom trials, their job was to show this one was different from that of the former president, who was found guilty two weeks ago in a Manhattan criminal court on 34 felony counts of falsifying business documents.

And it is different.

MORE: Hunter Biden conviction likely to have muted impact on election: Experts

PHOTO: Hunter Biden, son of US President Joe Biden, joined by his mother US First Lady Jill Biden (L), exits the J. Caleb Boggs Federal Building in Wilmington, Delaware, June 11, 2024, after he was found guilty. (Ryan Collerd/AFP via Getty Images)

First, Hunter Biden is not running for anything. His name will not be on any ballot in November. But more, this case could be harder for Republicans to exploit for partisan gain.

Whereas Republicans had no doubt planned to have a field day should Hunter have been acquitted, his guilty conviction cut against their narrative that the legal system is rigged against them. Plus, the spotlight on addiction in Hunter's case is both sensitive and salient for millions of American families.

Sources and allies to the president tell ABC News that he sees this less as a political liability, and more as a deeply personal issue. The president flew to Delaware after the verdict on Tuesday and was seen embracing his son on the tarmac in Wilmington.

PHOTO: US President Joe Biden hugs his son Hunter Biden upon arrival at Delaware Air National Guard Base in New Castle, Delaware, June 11, 2024, as he travels to Wilmington, Delaware. (Andrew Caballero-reynolds/AFP via Getty Images)

Unlike Trump, Biden has said repeatedly he will respect the jury's decision even if it was devastating for his family. He has consistently urged all Americans to respect the country's legal system during his volatile election season.

Hunter Biden was convicted for lying about his drug use when filling out a federal form to purchase a gun and then for possessing that gun while an addict. But the fact of his dark struggle with addiction was not a surprise, salacious discovery or something anyone in the Biden family has not talked about already at length. Just the opposite -- Hunter has been brutally honest in the past about his dependence on illegal drugs and effort to get clean.

More than 40 million Americans, one in six adults over 12, reported a substance use disorder, according to the 2022 United States National Survey on Drug Use and Health. Of those, more than 22% had severe cases characterized by "impairment caused by the recurrent use of alcohol or other drugs (or both), including health problems, disability, and failure to meet major responsibilities at work, school, or home."

Nearly 108,000 people in the U.S. died from drug-involved overdoses in 2022, including from illicit or prescription drugs, according to the National Institutes of Health.

MORE: Biden shows support for son Hunter after conviction, says he will respect verdict

This reality means Republican attempts to bash the Bidens over this conviction could backfire in the court of public opinion. American voters know their country is drowning in addiction and have loved ones struggling too. They are looking for leaders who sympathize and have solutions.

Speaking to the public after the verdict, special counsel David Weiss said, "Ultimately this case was not just about addiction, a disease that haunts families across the United States, including Hunter Biden's family. 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."

That might be true in terms of the law, the jury findings and Hunter Biden's eventual sentencing. But even the Trump campaign seemed to acknowledge that politically this case was tricky for them.

Normally, quick to speak and verbose, Trump himself was noticeably more muted on Tuesday. He posted nothing about Hunter Biden, who has long been a Republican punching bag, on Truth Social.

PHOTO: Former President Donald Trump speaks at a rally at Sunset Park Sunday, June 9, 2024, in Las Vegas. (Madeline Carter/Las Vegas Review-Journal/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)

In one short statement Trump's campaign called this case against Hunter "a distraction." If it were up to them, Hunter Biden and his father would be investigated further based on Hunter's business practices instead. Republicans have long accused Hunter of illegal influence peddling abroad.

Of course, special counsel Weiss, who was originally nominated by Trump, has looked into Hunter Biden's finances extensively and so far, found no evidence of foreign corruption. Though he has charged Hunter on misdemeanor tax-related crimes. That trial is set to start in September

A Republican-led House impeachment inquiry launched 10 months ago also has produced no evidence of wrongdoing by President Biden.

MORE: Trump campaign, Republicans seize on Hunter Biden verdict to ramp up attacks on father

"The politics of this are not going to be clean for Donald Trump and for the Republicans," Kate Bedingfield, former Biden White House communications director, said on CNN on Wednesday after Hunter Biden's verdict. "You have somebody here who has been very vocal and eloquent about his struggles with addiction, in Hunter  I do think for people who have this struggle in their family seeing this play out in this way, I think gives them a link to the Biden family in a way that I think is powerful."

Last week, during an interview with Fox's Sean Hannity, Trump said of Hunter Biden, "I feel very badly for him in terms of the addiction part of what they have right now, because I understand the addiction world." Trump has shared personal stories of his experience with addiction through his brother Fred, who struggled with alcohol.

One of the jurors who handed down the guilty verdict, told ABC News' Terry Moran, "I just think [Hunter] needs help. He needs rehab. In my opinion this is a waste of taxpayers' dollars. They should have fined him."

PHOTO: US President Joe Biden delivers remarks during a campaign event at Girard College in Philadelphia, PA Wednesday May 29, 2024. (Demetrius Freeman/The Washington Post via Getty Images)

Ironically, not only do Republicans talk often on the campaign trail about the prevalence of drugs and addiction in the country, but have also pushed for looser restrictions on guns. Many conservatives would like to see courts scrap those federal regulations Hunter Biden violated.

And there is the matter of whether or not to trust and respect the justice system.

The case against Hunter was a federal one, brought by a prosecutor who does actually report to Attorney General Merrick Garland. Even if as a special prosecutor, he is given more leeway and latitude. The hush-money case against Trump was brought and prosecuted locally in New York state court.

As Biden has said, "you can't only respect the results when you win." Or, in this case, it is harder for Republicans to argue the system is fundamentally broken only when their candidates loses.

Why Hunter Biden's conviction will be harder for Republicans politically: ANALYSIS originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
President Joe Biden's son Hunter was found guilty in federal court of failing to properly fill out a form to buy a gun that he had in his possession for 11 days and never fired. Fair enough. What he did was against the law and a jury of his peers found him guilty. The case was solid. Biden was a drug addict back in 2018 at the time of his crime and he should have admitted it on that form. But people in the midst of an addiction crisis make bad decisions and often get on the wrong side of the law.

Hunter Biden's response to the verdict was to say that he was more grateful for the support of his family, friends and community than he was disappointed in the verdict. And he added, "recovery is a gift from God and I am blessed to receive that gift one day at a time." Joe Biden reiterated that he loves his son and always will and that he is proud of his recovery. He also said that he respects the outcome of the case and the judicial system. Both Bidens were restrained and solemn in the face of a serious legal outcome which, until recently, was simply expected from a president and his family.

Some Democrats and legal observers wondered about the prosecutorial discretion in bringing the case which is very seldom done in circumstances like this,(as did a couple of the jurors) but across the board, they all respected the verdict and the judicial system. Nobody threatened anyone or vowed to take vengeance on them. Nobody accused the prosecutors, the judge or the jurors of being corrupt. Nobody said the proceedings were rigged.

Well, actually, a lot of people said it was rigged  but they were all Republicans who simply couldn't take "guilty" for an answer. You can understand why. They've been sobbing and whining and rending their garments for weeks now over Donald Trump's guilty verdict in his Manhattan hush-money trial insisting that the Biden Justice Department (DOJ) had implemented a two-tiered system of justice to target Republicans, specifically Trump. And here you have that same DOJ prosecuting the president's only living son over a crime that Republicans insist is a violation of the Second Amendment. In fact, if it had been anyone else, much less the son of a GOP president, the NRA would have been holding vigils outside the courthouse. If Republicans still required logic and consistency to persuade their voters this whole thing would have been terribly confusing for them. Lucky for them, all they need is lies and demagoguery.

It's pretty obvious that talking points were prepared in advance considering the uniformity of most of the commentary. The main complaint was that the trial was orchestrated as a "distraction" from the real crimes of the "Biden Crime Family" and the nefarious deeds of the "Big Guy", President Biden. The same phrases were repeated by one Republican after another. The responses were not quite as hysterical as the ones we were subjected to in the wake of the Trump conviction but they came close. Former Trump administration official Stephen Miller slammed the verdict and the DOJ as "Bidens election protection racket," a sentiment echoed by Republicans in Congress

Biden DOJ is trying to distract Americans from the $20 million the Biden family raked in from China, Russia, Ukraine, etc.



Can Joe Biden explain what the money was for? https://t.co/4JE4PoeIbR  Senator Bill Hagerty (@SenatorHagerty) June 11, 2024

Do you see the op now? Charge Hunter with a minor gun violation and NOT his conduct as an unregistered foreign agent or illicit foreign business dealings in order to protect the BIG GUY before the election. DOJ is Bidens election protection racket. https://t.co/Nahe3O7k48  Stephen Miller (@StephenM) June 11, 2024

Trump himself has not made a comment as of late Tuesday night (although he did fire off one of his rambling, disjointed attacks on the Manhattan district attorney and remonstrated against his own conviction. ) But his campaign put out a statement immediately after the verdict:

"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."

Minutes later they sent a corrected version striking that last sentence. We don't know who may have been upset by that small gesture of human decency but it's not hard to guess.

Want a daily wrap-up of all the news and commentary Salon has to offer? Subscribe to our morning newsletter, Crash Course.

The fact is that President Biden could have replaced the prosecutor in the case, David Weiss, when he took office as he did all the other U.S. Attorneys and as is customary at the beginning of any new administration. He could have ordered the case be withdrawn or he could have pre-emptively pardoned his son. He did not do any of that so as to avoid any appearance of conflict and to allow the Justice Department to maintain its independence as it has been tasked to do for the past half-century. He didn't do it out of respect for the rule of law, something that the Republicans under Trump have completely abandoned, not that they ever had a surfeit of it to begin with.

Taking a page from their leader's political manual, right-wing media and GOP officials at every level have adopted a manic, overwrought posture that's verging on demented. Obviously, it's hard for them to rationalize this guilty verdict in light of their recent frenzied insistence that Biden is rigging the judicial system to take down Trump but you'd think they would have at least tried to maintain a tiny bit of dignity. But then, they've completely abandoned any pretense of that as well, haven't they?

According to the New York Times, the Trump campaign is disappointed in the guilty verdict because they thought it was going to be a fundraising bonanza for them if Hunter Biden was acquitted. Even their loyal followers aren't likely to open their wallets over an alleged two-tiered system that just convicted the president's beloved son on federal gun charges. How disappointing for them.

Having convinced themselves that Joe Biden is a basket case, they were doubtless even more disappointed that he didn't break down as they expected him to do. Immediately after the verdict was reached, Biden gave a scheduled speech before gun safety advocates (a coincidence since they couldn't know the verdict would come down at the same time.) He was composed, professional and strong despite the fact that he was talking about the pain of losing loved ones and had to emotionally grapple with the fact that his troubled son was facing even more challenges to his sobriety, something that any parent dreads.

All the Republicans got was this hug:

President Biden hugs son Hunter Biden when he sees him for the first time after the verdict. pic.twitter.com/Utj4JIGawb  Mike Sington (@MikeSington) June 11, 2024

Normal people find that to be a sign of love and empathy. The MAGA cult sees it as a sign of weakness. They are wrong.
Why wont Tarrant County see summer burn bans? The answer is obvious. Heres what to know

Residents shouldnt be surprised to know that no burn bans are being issued this summer, according to Tarrant County Deputy Fire Marshal David Butler.

He is basing his assessment on the record breaking wet spring season North Texas has had. The ground is saturated and a little outdoor burning would not be a problem.

The Tarrant County Fire Marshals Office uses the Keetch-Byram Drought Index as a guide when enacting a burn ban, Butler told the Star-Telegram. This index, administered by the Texas Forest Service, determines wildfire potential in each county in Texas.

Burn bans are when the commissioners court regulates outdoor burning. Outdoor burning includes trash fires, fireworks, or prescribed burning of fields. The county issues a burn ban if it feels that the drought conditions combined with outdoor burning poses a danger of igniting a wildfire.

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Heres how burn bans are decided in Tarrant County, Texas

The Keetch-Byram Drought Index measures daily water content, precipitation, and soil moisture measurements. The index ranks municipalities on a score out of 800, Tarrant County currently ranks low. If Tarrant County reaches a higher score, the chances of a burn ban increases.

Once the index reaches 575, we will consider asking the commissioners court to enact a burn ban, Butler said. As of today, we are only at 142 due to all the rain.

For all the fireworks aficionados out there, your Fourth of July pyrotechnics plans are not in jeopardy, thanks to the recent June gloom. In past years when the threat of wildfires was greater, where one can light up fireworks matters.

To burn in Tarrant County, these conditions must be met

But also, burn bans simply dont apply to fireworks. Butler explains that the Local Government Code does not even mention fireworks. There is a specific statute that gives very limited circumstances for the polytechnics to be banned. Fireworks can be sold starting June 24, until July 4 in the county.

So what is allowed? The Tarrant County Commissioners Office has guidelines in place for those who do want to participate in outdoor burning. They recommend that you call the Tarrant County Regional Communication Center, 817-232-980, to register your address and learn about the allowable burn days.

Wind Speed must be under 23 mph.

The person who started the fire must be present for the entirety of the burn with water ready and a phone in hand.

Burning must happen during the day between these times: one hour after sunrise, and one hour before sunset.

Any fire must be lit 300 feet from the nearest neighboring structures or road. Burn must be downwind of the nearby structures and road.

Only brush, tree limbs, grass clippings or leaves generated from your property can be burned. No chemicals, construction material, or heavy oils are allowed in the burn.

A prescribed burn must have a permit and county approval.

Under any burn ban, gas-fired stoves and fire pits are allowed to operate. North Texans dont have to give up their grill in a drought. As long as flames are in an enclosed, contained area, with water or a fire extinguisher nearby, you are in the clear.
Why the US spy community is busier than ever thwarting foreign election interference

U.S. intelligence officials say the spy community's Foreign Malign Influence Center has been busier than ever this election cycle. Russia, they claim, remains most active in targeting U.S. elections, but China and Cuba are likely to try their hand at influencing American voters.

Iran is also interested in influencing the cycle, as it has in the past. But it's more focused on sowing chaos, and possibly even violence, than in promoting a particular candidate, according to two officials from the Office of the Director of National Intelligence who briefed reporters Wednesday afternoon.

And foreign adversaries are likely to target "down ballot" local and state races in addition to the presidential race, the two officials said.

Man Lurking Behind the American Flag

That race likely will be a rematch between President Joe Biden and the presumptive Republican nominee, former President Donald Trump.

Both officials spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss ongoing operations.

This summer, election security officials from throughout the U.S. intelligence community will be gaming out how to respond to threats at election time. Those include how to identify and respond to foreign interference in real time and how to determine whether to warn campaigns or other targets privately or issue a public warning to the entire electorate if authorities believe the influence campaign has the potential to actually sway the outcome of a race.

Those officials are also focusing on how to rapidly determine if information potential voters are viewing is legitimate or if it is artificially altered or generated. Combatting deep fakes and other "synthetic media" created purely to confuse or influence voters is among the top priorities of U.S. election security efforts, the two officials said.

The Foreign Malign Influence Center focuses on election interference

The center the officials were discussing is tucked away on a tree-lined street in the Washington, D.C. suburb of Bethesda, Md. It is the U.S. intelligence communitys nerve center for trying to stop Russia, China, Iran, Israel or other foreign adversaries from meddling in U.S. elections. Known as the FMIC, it brings together officials from across the U.S. intelligence community to work on foreign election meddling threats.

The FMIC is following "a range of actors," including those tied to U.S. allies that also have an interest in who wins election on Nov. 5, one of the officials said.

Given the top-secret work that goes on there, intelligence officials who briefed reporters on the center's activities Wednesday did so from an undisclosed location, and they spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss its operations. No cameras, smart watches or even tape recorders are allowed in the building.

The center, part of the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, was established in 2022 to turbocharge U.S. intelligence efforts to stop foreigners from interfering in U.S. elections after authorities concluded the past two presidential campaigns had been affected by Russia and others.

Its director, Jessica Brandt, came onboard in late 2023 after serving for years in the think tank world on global disinformation and election-meddling activities.

Years worth of warnings about foreign meddling in US elections

Its not news that Brandt and other intelligence officials are worried about the upcoming election. Brandts boss, Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines, testified about her deep concerns about election meddling at House and Senate worldwide threats hearings in May.

FBI Director Christopher Wray and other intelligence and law enforcement officials also have warned of possible meddling in this election cycle, especially from artificial intelligence and other fast-evolving technologies that can be used to manipulate video and audio that can then go viral at warp speed and influence potential voters.

The U.S. has confronted foreign malign influence threats in the past, Wray told Congress. But this election cycle, the U.S. will face more adversaries, moving at a faster pace and enabled by new technology.

Haines, who oversees all 18 U.S. intelligence agencies, told lawmakers that Russia, by far, is the foreign government most significantly attempting to influence the U.S. election, followed by China and, increasingly, Iran.

More: Senate warns of unprecedented foreign interference in 2024 election

Russia relies on a vast multimedia influence apparatus, which consists of its intelligence services, cyber actors, state media proxies and social media trolls in order to sow chaos in the U.S. and undermine confidence in the integrity of its elections, Haines said.

China also has a sophisticated influence apparatus through which they leverage AI and other emerging technologies, Haines said, but it is too fearful of possible blowback to actually try to affect the outcome of the upcoming U.S. presidential election.

Last December, the National Security Agency, CIA and other intelligence agencies released the latest in a series of reports on the subject. This one said the Russian government  and hackers and other proxies under its control  tried to sway voters away from Democratic candidates in the 2022 midterm election cycle. Russia also deployed hackers and social media trolls and ads on behalf of Donald Trump's campaign in 2016. Trump and his allies in the Republican Party are less supportive of Ukrainian resistance to the Russian invasion launched in 2022.

As they have in the past, Russian President Vladimir Putins forces also worked to sow chaos and undermine confidence in the overall American electoral process, the report said.

A background in the think tank world

Brandt is described in an ODNI statement as a formidable expert on all things election-meddling related, and as someone who brings an intellectual command of foreign influence, information operations, and digital authoritarianism that will move the ICs foreign malign influence mission forward.

Her deputy cant be identified publicly because that person, whose title is Election Threats Executive, is a long-service career intelligence community employee, officials said Wednesday.

What is foreign malign influence?

Congress defines foreign malign influence as a hostile effort undertaken by, at the direction of, or on behalf of, or with the substantial support of foreign countries to influence U.S. public opinion, politics, or policy.

Congress created the Foreign Malign Influence Center in 2019 for policymakers to better understand and respond to such threats. Its one five mission centers within the ODNI; others focus on identifying and thwarting spies, terrorists, weapons proliferators and hackers, information warfare and other cyber threats.

One key mission of the Foreign Malign Influence Center is to provide indications, real-time warning and strategic assessments of new and and ongoing threats. To carry out its functions, the center is staffed with analysts from across the intelligence community who analyze data from all the different agencies to produce reports, assessments and alerts.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: What US spies are doing to thwart foreign election interference
The U.S. will on June 12 announce a widening of sanctions against Russia aimed at cutting off the supply of semiconductors to Moscow's war industry, Bloomberg reported, citing people familiar with the move.

According to the news outlet, Moscow is still able to obtain U.S.-branded versions of the technology from third-party sellers in countries including China, which it then uses in the manufacture of weapons such as the missiles that regularly target Ukraine.

Existing export controls and restrictions are to be widened to include the products of U.S. semiconductor companies even if they are not made domestically.

Speaking on June 11 in comments reported by Reuters, White House spokesman John Kirby 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 plans to strengthen sanctions against Russia.

Read also: Inside Ukraines prison recruitment efforts to bolster front-line troops

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
The Wisconsin Supreme Court chambers. (Henry Redman | Wisconsin Examiner)

The Wisconsin Supreme Court on Tuesday issued an order granting a partial stay in a case over the legality of Racine using mobile voting vans as in-person absentee voting locations during the 2022 August primary election.

A Racine County man brought the lawsuit, with the help of conservative law firm, the Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty, last year, challenging the citys use of the van and alleging that the van visited more Democratic parts of the city. In January, a Racine County judge agreed, ruling that state law only allows municipal clerks to set up alternate early voting sites at physical structures.

The judge, Eugene Gasiorkiewicz, denied a motion for a stay of his decision pending an appeal. Last month, the state Supreme Court voted to accept an appeal of the case, bypassing the appellate court.

On Tuesday, in a mixed decision with multiple partial concurrences, the Court ruled that it would keep Gasiorkiewiczs decision about mobile voting vans in place. However the Court did grant a stay on a part of the circuit court decision about the designation of absentee ballot sites.

The majority decision states that Gasiorkiewiczs decision could be read to declare that municipalities can only set up in-person voting sites in wards that have voting patterns that exactly match the ward in which the clerks office is in.

This view could have dramatic effects across the state as few municipalities, especially large cities, possess multiple wards with political demographics that match those of the ward in which the clerks office is located, the decision states.

Justices Rebecca Grassl Bradley and Brian Hagedorn dissented in part of the decision because it issued a stay against Gasiorkiewiczs reasoning and not the actual order he made. Bradley, as she has frequently done since conservatives on the Court lost their majority last August, accused the majority of making decisions to benefit the Democratic party.

In its ongoing effort to resolve cases in a manner benefitting its preferred political party, the majority enters a bewildering order heretofore unheard of in the legal realm, Bradley writes. While the majority (correctly) denies the motion to stay the circuit courts order, the majority stays a portion of the circuit courts legal analysis. This is not a thing under the law.

The post Wisconsin Supreme Court issues partial stay in case over Racine in-person absentee voting appeared first on Wisconsin Examiner.
Woman, 22, stabbed to death in spat with woman near NYC Port Authority Bus Terminal

A 22-year-old woman was stabbed to death by a woman she was arguing with across the street across from Manhattans Port Authority Bus Terminal, police said Wednesday.

The victim was stabbed in the chest on W. 40th St. near Eighth Ave. in Midtown about 10:15 p.m. Tuesday, cops said.

Medics rushed the victim to Bellevue Hospital but she could not be saved. Her name was not immediately released.

Her killer got away and is being sought.

Its not yet clear to cops what sparked the argument between the two women. A man who knows the victim and was at the scene refused to cooperate with cops, police sources said.

Just over two hours earlier, a shooting erupted half a mile away after at least five men got into an argument near W. 33rd St. and Broadway.

One of the people involved in the fracas pulled out a gun and fired off a shot, striking a 33-year-old man in the left leg just before 8 p.m., cops and witnesses said.

Pedestrians scrambled when the gunshot rang out, according to an ice cream vendor who was in the area.

[The victim] was sitting on the floor shirtless and bleeding, said Mike Larry, 32. He was saying, You shot me in the leg! I want my money!

Medics rushed the victim to Bellevue Hospital in stable condition.

Police arrested Mamadou Diallo, 34, and Mamadou Balde, 31, charging both with second degree assault. While they were involved in the brawl, its not believed they were involved in the shooting, cops said.

Two other men were being sought Wednesday.
YORK COUNTY, Pa. (WHTM) A woman is facing charges after police say she robbed two people in a York County hotel Friday.

Patricia Gilmer, 33, of Maryland, allegedly robbed two guests inside their room at the Fairfield Inn and Suites, located at 185 Beacon Hill Boulevard, Fairview Township Police said in a criminal complaint.

An employee reported the robbery to police just after 9:30 p.m. and they described the suspect who they said left on foot from the hotel.

Police say Gilmer entered the guests room, stated she had a gun, and that she would shoot them if they did not give her their purses. During the robbery, Gilmer was holding her waistband with one hand, making it seem like she had a gun, police said.

Woman charged with arson after starting fire at exs York County home: police

Police found Gilmer in a parking lot at another hotel inside a Subaru Outback, which was discovered to have been stolen, according to the complaint. Inside the vehicle, police said they saw the purses that were reported stolen.

Credit cards and a drivers license from the one hotel guest and the owner of the vehicle were found in Gilmers possession, along with marijuana, police said.

Gilmer claimed she was staying with a relative at the hotel but when she gave a room number, police said that room was actually occupied by other people.

Police say Gilmer was also seen on surveillance video from the Fairfield Inn and Suites that she was inside the hotel during the time of the robbery.

Gilmer faces felony charges of robbery, receiving stolen property, and burglary along with a misdemeanor charge of possession of marijuana.

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Gilmer is locked up in York County Prison with bail set at $50,000 and a preliminary hearing is scheduled for June 21.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Woman accused of stealing nearly $20K from Texas police union, depositing money at Las Vegas bank

LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  Police suspect a woman stole nearly $20,000 from a Texas police officers union by intercepting a check, rewriting one with the same amount in her name, and then depositing it at a Las Vegas bank, according to documents the 8 News Now Investigators obtained.

Shaqualle Martin, 30, faces charges of burglary of a business, forgery and theft, records said.

On Jan. 6, 2023, Martin allegedly cashed the forged check at a northwest valley ATM, a bank employee told a Clark County grand jury. Martin later withdrew nearly $18,000 from the account.

The treasurer for the Houston Officers Union told the grand jury he wrote a check to an oil ranch club in October 2022 for nearly $17,000. The treasurer described the check Martin allegedly cashed as fraudulent and said the copy of the check he saw from the bank had different handwriting.

Shaqualle Martin, 30, faces charges of burglary of a business, forgery and theft, records said. (LVMPD/KLAS)

As part of their investigation, police in Houston discovered a surveillance image, which they said showed Martin holding both the real check and the fraudulent check in her hand. They suspect Martin intercepted the check in the mail, documents said.

Police later found Martins California drivers license and a Fresno, California, address for her. It was unclear how exactly investigators believe Martin intercepted the check and where nor why she was in Las Vegas.

During Martins initial arraignment in Clark County District Court on Tuesday, Martins public defender noted the case was tracked to the wrong department. A new hearing date was not scheduled as of Wednesday.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS.
VIENTIANE, June 12 (Xinhua) -- Continuous rainfall over several days has caused severe waterlogging of streets and traffic disruptions in Lao capital Vientiane.

"I faced prolonged traffic congestion when I drove back home yesterday as the rainfall had flooded the streets," Bounsap, a Vientiane resident, told Xinhua on Tuesday.

"I think we need to do more to clean up our roads to prevent floods as plastic bags and dust clog the drains, and when there's a storm, the streets are flooded," said Bounsap.

The Department of Meteorology and Hydrology under the Lao Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment on Tuesday issued a warning, advising people to be vigilant and wary of potential flooding, particularly in the central and northern provinces.

Sidavone, a Vientiane resident, said "Of course, I want to stay at home because the severe waterlogging has led to the virtual paralysis of the city's road traffic. But I have a job to do, and my kids need to go to school."

"I think the problem is poor drainage management. It's essential to clear away the dust and mud from main roads. And I urge people not to sweep soil and waste into drains because it obstructs the flow of water."

Many Lao people shared videos and images of waterlogged roads through social media platforms, showing knee-level flooding and cars struggling to navigate the flood in the city. 
A woman is now in custody after an armed standoff inside the Seattle FBI building 110 Third Avenue, according to a source at the FBI.

At about 3:04 p.m., she came into the offices with the gun but only got as far as the lobby until agents stopped her.

According to the Seattle Police Department, the woman entered the lobby and was pointing a gun at her chest for unknown reasons.

There were no hostages.

Seattle police cordoned off a block of streets near the FBI building for the standoff.

For more than an hour, negotiators talked to the woman until she was safely put into custody.

VIDEO | Footage of police surrounding the FBI building in Seattle at gunpoint



They have shut down the roads#breaking #seattle #washington



pic.twitter.com/Zmi1XuInsS  Bobby Ellison (@BobbyEllisonKY) June 12, 2024




Woman dies after being pulled out of Rio Grande River

EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)  A young woman has died after she was pulled out of the Rio Grande River early Wednesday morning, June 12, in Sunland Park, according to the Sunland Park Fire Department.

The Fire Department says just after 6:30 a.m., Border Patrol agents pulled the woman out of the Rio Grande River behind the Rio Grande power plant located on Doniphan Drive in Sunland Park.

Fire officials and Border Patrol agents performed CPR on the woman, but she didnt survive.

The Fire Department says the woman was in her 20s.

No further information has been released.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News.
BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB)  The University at Buffalo says a woman who was killed in a Monroe County crash earlier this month was a student at the school.

Maria Eichas was 18 years old on June 2 when her vehicle was struck by another driver on Burritt Road in Parma. She was pronounced dead at the scene, our Rochester sister station WROC reports.

The Spencerport High School graduate was a student in UBs School of Engineering and Applied Sciences. UB says she was studying within the schools Industrial and Systems Engineering Department.

The university community is very sad to learn of the tragic death of UB undergraduate student Maria Eichas  We have reached out to Marias family to provide whatever support we can during this very difficult time, said UB Vice President for Student Life Brian Hamluk in a statement. On behalf of the entire UB community, we extend our sincere and heartfelt condolences to Marias family, friends and fellow students.

Eichas funeral service was held Monday in Rochester and grief counseling has been made available to faculty, staff and students.

The driver charged with killing Eichas, 33-year-old Alexander Hackett, has been accused of second-degree vehicular manslaughter and driving while intoxicated, according to WROC.

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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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to News 4 Buffalo.
DENVER (KDVR)  A woman who admitted in April to hitting a parked vehicle, killing two in October 2023, was sentenced to serve over two decades in the Department of Corrections.

On April 18, Dusti Arensdorf pleaded guilty to two counts of vehicular homicide while driving under the influence and vehicular assault while driving under the influence. On May 31, she was sentenced to serve 24 years in the Department of Corrections, followed by three years of parole.

Woman identified in deadly Arvada plane crash that hurt 3 others

Arensdorf, 43, was reportedly driving erratically on Interstate 25 in Broomfield on Oct. 6, 2023, according to the 17th Judicial District Attorneys Office. Witnesses reported she was weaving in and out of traffic, driving aggressively and reaching speeds of over 100 mph.

Meanwhile, Shuangyue Chen, 71, and his son were changing a flat tire on the shoulder of I-25 near milepost 228. Inside the vehicle was Yajing Liu, 35, who was married to Chens son, as well as the couples 3-year-old.

According to police, Arensdorf plowed into the car and the people standing outside. Chen was struck and killed, and Liu was ejected from the parked vehicle as it rolled into a field near the interstate. She was also pronounced dead on scene.

Lius husband and 3-year-old son survived, but both were seriously injured in the crash, according to the 17th Judicial District Attorneys Office.

The defendants choices to drink and drive have completely destroyed an innocent family, said District Attorney Brian Mason in a release. This was a horrific, unspeakable crime  and it was a horrific crime scene, that no one should have to see. A mother and a grandfather were taken from a small child as a result of the egregious actions of this defendant.

Let this serve as another horrifying example of the dangers of drunk driving. Its imperative that we strengthen our vehicular homicide laws and increase the penalty for those who drink and drive and, in the process, kill other human beings, as happened here. My sincere, heartfelt condolences go out to the family of these innocent victims, Mason wrote in a release.

Arson suspect wanted in Thornton fires

Witnesses are reported to have pulled Arensdorf from her car after she stopped and said her breath smelled of alcohol. Arensdorf admitted to drinking a couple of hard seltzers that night, but her blood alcohol level taken by the hospital that night was a .343. The legal limit is .08. Arensdorf also has three prior DUI convictions.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver.
A dead person took a circuitous journey after leaving a Fort Worth hospital late Tuesday when a woman stole the van in which the corpse was being transported.

An employee of a mortuary service arrived in a transport van at John Peter Smith Hospital to retrieve a body. The driver parked the van, in which there already was a body, in the ambulance bay and went into the hospital.

About 7 p.m., while the driver was inside, Valerie Traglor-Ellis got into the van and drove off, Fort Worth police said.

Traglor-Ellis drove the van and body to the Fort Worth Zoo, in the 2600 block of Park Place Avenue, where she left the vehicle, police said.

Officers found Traglor-Ellis a short time later and took her into custody on suspicion of auto theft and abuse of corpse.

The van and body were released to the mortuary service driver.
UPDATE, June 13: Cortasia Wheeler, 25, has been taken into custody. She is charged with Attempted First-Degree Murder, Aggravated Assault, and Employing a Firearm With the Intent to Commit a Felony.

MEMPHIS, Tenn.  The Memphis Police Department is currently looking for a woman accused of a shooting during a road rage incident on I-240 Tuesday morning.

According to police, on June 11 around 11:25 a.m., officers responded to an aggravated assault at I-240 and Lamar Avenue.

The victim stated she was driving home when she was involved in a road rage incident with a woman in a black Chevrolet Cobalt.

That was the saddest most terrifying event I have ever been in in my life, the victim said. I was initially thinking something was going on with the car, let me see whats wrong. I said, Its ok, lets just go on and I continued driving. Next thing you know they have pulled up on the drivers side, a clear shot to my head. If she would have shot, I would have been dead.

4 kids, 1 adult shot on I-240; 2 detained after chase with shots fired

MPD says the suspect pointed a black handgun at the victim, firing multiple shots. The victims car was struck by gunfire twice, police say.

I started hearing pop, pop and I looked and they were out the window shooting, the victim said.

At that time, the victim says she was forced to exit the interstate and the suspect followed her onto South Third Street.

When the victims car became immobile, she parked at the Lota Burger and ran for her life.

The suspect allegedly started chasing her around the building until she was able to get away in a bystanders vehicle for help.

Im like somebody please help me and it was a guy who helped me, he was my angel, she said.

This is still an ongoing investigation.

If you have any information regarding this incident, call Memphis CrimeStoppers at 901-528-CASH.

You can also contact Detective J. Tremmel at the Violent Crimes Unit at 901-636-1920.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WREG.com.
LULING, Texas (KXAN)  Travelers and residents can now visit the largest Buc-ees travel center in the world.

The new convenience store is located in Luling, Texas, and opened its doors to the public Monday morning, according to a news release from the company.

Largest Buc-ees in the country opens in Luling, Texas on June 10, 2024. (KXAN Photo/Todd Bailey)

Largest Buc-ees in the country opens in Luling, Texas on June 10, 2024. (KXAN Photo/Todd Bailey)

Patrons get Buc-ees merchandise on the day of the opening of the largest Buc-ees in the country in Luling, Texas on June 10, 2024. (KXAN Photo/Todd Bailey)

Patrons get Buc-ees merchandise on the day of the opening of the largest Buc-ees in the country in Luling, Texas on June 10, 2024. (KXAN Photo/Todd Bailey)

Largest Buc-ees in the country opens in Luling, Texas on June 10, 2024. (KXAN Photo/Todd Bailey)

Ribbon cutting held for the new Buc-ees travel center in Luling, Texas, on June 10, 2024. (KXAN Photo/Ed Zavala)

Gov. Greg Abbott attends the ribbon cutting ceremony for a new Buc-ees travel center in Luling, Texas, on June 10, 2024. (KXAN Photo/Ed Zavala)

Ribbon cutting held for the new Buc-ees travel center in Luling, Texas, on June 10, 2024. (KXAN Photo/Ed Zavala)

Ribbon cutting held for the new Buc-ees travel center in Luling, Texas, on June 10, 2024. (KXAN Photo/Ed Zavala)

The new 75,000-square-foot center is symbolic for the Luling community, replacing the citys current Buc-ees store, the first one built in 2003.

We are thrilled to open the doors to the worlds largest Buc-ees travel center right here in the Great State of Texas, Stan Beard, of Buc-ees, said in a statement. Its particularly exciting, considering this is the Buc-ees that started it all, so we are really looking forward to celebrating with the incredible people of Luling.

Before the opening of the Luling store, the largest Buc-ees was in Tennessee.

The new travel center was expected to add at least 200 jobs to the Luling area. Now that the center is open, Buc-ees has 50 stores across Texas and the South.

This store provides 250 full-time jobs; minimum wage is $18 an hour, so its a great wage, its a great place to work, said Josh Smith, the Southeast director of operations, and then we get to turn around and put that money back into Caldwell County and Luling, and, you know, its just a win-win for everybody.

The new Buc-ees can be found along I-10 in Luling. Local leaders, including Gov. Greg Abbott, attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony.

Son of Buc-ees co-founder indicted after invasive visual recording accusations

Buc-ees, which has set records for the worlds largest convenience store and the worlds longest car wash, is open 24 hours, seven days a week. It also boasts having the cleanest restrooms in America, winning a Cintas nationwide restroom contest in 2012.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Wreckage of Jet That Went Missing in 1971 with 5 Passengers Reportedly Found in Lake Champlain

"I'm feeling relieved that I know where the plane is now but unfortunately its opening other questions," said the son of one of the passengers

Getty Stock image of a small plane

The wreckage of a private corporate jet that disappeared after departing Burlington, Vermont, on Jan. 27, 1971, has been found over 50 years later in Lake Champlain, experts believe.

According to the Associated Press, underwater researcher Garry Kozak said he and his team found the wreckage of a jet with the same custom paint job last month using a remotely operated vehicle. The wreckage was discovered submerged 200 feet below water near an area where a radio control tower had last tracked it before its disappearance, Kozak said.

The findings come 53 years after the 10-seat Jet Commander carrying two crew members and three employees of the development company Cousins Properties went missing while en route to Providence, Rhode Island. While debris from the small plane was found after the ice melted that spring, the wreckage was never found after 17 additional search attempts.

Getty Stock image of a small jet plane

Related: American Tourist, 16, Dead After Falling Over 300 Feet from Popular Walking Trail in Switzerland

The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating to confirm that the wreckage is that of the missing jet, per the AP.

"We will be evaluating the specifics of what was found, and the degree of certainty to which we are able to positively link it back to the wreckage that was located," an NTSB spokesperson told NBC Boston. "Following that, if and when any of that wreckage were recovered, we would determine what level of examination would be appropriate given what is recovered and what condition it is in."

Kozak told the AP that he is "99% absolutely sure" that the wreckage belongs to the missing jet and hopes that the families of the deceased have "some closure and answers a lot of the questions they had."

In an interview with WCAX, Kozak added that it may have taken a long time to find the wreckage because of how a jet looks when it breaks apart.

Getty Aerial view of Lake Champlain

Related: 19-Year-Old Hiker Found Dead After Cellphone Captured Her Going into River

"A jet, it looks like a pile of rocks, literally. So, to most people looking at sonar data, they can overlook it because theyll go, Oh, that looks like geology,'" he told the outlet.

Frank Wilder, whose father Frank was a passenger on the plate, told the AP that he is "relieved."



"Spending 53 years not knowing if the plane was in the lake or maybe on a mountainside around there somewhere was distressing. And again, Im feeling relieved that I know where the plane is now but unfortunately its opening other questions and we have to work on those now," said Wilder.

Getty View of Lake Champlain

Barbara Nikitas, niece of pilot George Nikita, echoed similar sentiments, telling the Associated Press that "its peaceful feeling, at the same time its a very sad feeling."

Never miss a story  sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

"We know what happened. Weve seen a couple of photos. Were struggling I think with that now," said Nikitas.



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CANBERRA, June 12 (Xinhua) -- The Australian government has committed additional funding for humanitarian aid in Gaza.

The federal government on Wednesday announced an extra 10 million Australian dollars (6.6 million U.S. dollars) to help the World Food Programme address urgent needs in Gaza amid the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong, International Development Minister Pat Conroy and Youth Minister Anne Aly, who is representing Australia at an international conference on the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, said in a statement that the funds would provide life-saving food assistance. 
CHARLESTON, WV (WVNS)  The West Virginia Infrastructure and Jobs Development Council announced $40 million in funding for sewer and water projects around the state at a meeting on June 5, 2024. Below are the details of the projects these funds will go to.

Hancock County Public Service District (PSD)

The council approved a grant of $6.5 million to the Hancock County PSD for renovations and improvements to its sewer system as well as the Newell system. The funds, along with funding from the Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF), the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the Hancock County Commission and other funding sources, provide $25.6 million for the projects.

City of Kenova

The council approved a grant of $165,000 and a loan of $2.6 million to the city of Kenova in Wayne County for water system improvements. The funds, along with funds from the U.S. Economic Development Authority (USEDA), the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), the Wayne County Commission and other programs, provide $8.6 million for the improvement project.

Town of Masontown

The council approved a grant of $602,500 to the town of Masontown in Preston County for improvements to the Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP). The funds, along with funds from the CWSRF and Preston County Commission, provide $1.3 million for the project.

Senator Manchin announces more than $1 million for arts and music initiatives in West Virginia

Mingo County PSD

The council approved a grant of $500,00 to the Mingo County PSD for improvements to the Chattaroy sewer system. The funds, along with funds from the USACE, the CWSRF and other programs, provide $5.9 million for this project.

Town of Paw Paw

The council approved a grant of $1 million to the town of Paw Paw in Morgan County for improvements to its water system. The funds, along with those from the Drinking Water Treatment Revolving Fund (DWTRF), provide $3.7 million for the project.

Town of Pineville

The council approved a grant of $1 million and a loan of $632,000 to the town of Pineville in Wyoming County for improvements to its water system and an extension to Brenton and Baileysville to serve 254 homes. The funds, along with funds from the DWTRF, the USEDA, the Abandoned Mine Lands (AML), the Wyoming County Commission, the town of Pineville and other funding sources, provide $18.3 million for the projects.

Tomlinson PSD

The council approved a grant of $403,643 to the Tomlinson PSD in Hancock County for improvements to the Newell water system. The funds, along with those from the DWTRF, the Hancock County Commission and other funding programs, provide $12.7 million for the project.

City of Weirton

The council approved a grant of $165,000 and a loan of $14.7 million to the City of Weirton in Hancock County for improvements to the Water Treatment Plant (WTP). The funds, along with funding from the Congressionally Directed Spending (CDS), CDS Match, the Hancock County Commission, the city of Weirton, and other programs, provide $44.3 million for the project.

More than $35 million announced by Senator Manchin for projects in West Virginia

Town of West Union

The council approved a grant of $1 million to the town of West Union for improvements to the water system. The funds, along with funding from the DWTRF, Doddridge County Commission, the town of West Union and other programs, provide $24.5 million for the project.

Big Bend PSD

The council approved a grant of $454,000 to the Big Bend PSD in Summers County for improvements to its sewer system. The funding, along with funds from the CWSRF, provide $2.8 million for this project.

Town of Capon Bridge

The council approved a grant of $875,000 to the town of Capon Bridge in Hampshire County for improvements to the sewer system. The funds, along with funding from the CWSRF, provide $1.8 million for the project.

Central Hampshire PSD

The council approved a grant of $1 million to the Central Hampshire PSD in Hampshire County for improvements to its sewer system. The funds, along with funding received by the USDA, the CWSRF, the Hampshire County Commission and other programs, provide $9.9 million for the project.

Town of Grant Town

The council approved a grant of $1 million to the town of Grant Town in Marion County for improvements to its water system. The funds, along with those from the DWTRF, provide $2.6 million for the project.

Manchin announces nearly $1 million in funding for improvements for Greenbrier County Economic Development and BridgeValley Community and Technical College

Greater Harrison PSD

The council approved a grant of $1 million and a loan of $7.2 million to the Greater Harrison PSD in Harrison County for an extension of their sewer system to 415 homes in or near the community of Quiet Dell. These funds, along with funds from CWSRF, Harrison County Commission, and other programs, provide $25 million for this project.

City of Kingwood

The council approved a grant of $500,000 to the city of Kingwood in Preston County for improvements to the sewer system. The funds, along with funding from the USACE, the CWSRF, the city of Kingwood and other programs, provide $7.7 million for the project.

Logan County PSD

The council approved a $200,000 grant and a loan of $200,000 to the Logan County PSD for a telemetry system replacement for its water system.

Town of Nutter Fort

The council approved a grant of $1 million to the town of Nutter Fort in Harrison County for an extension of their sewer system, to 100 homes in or near the community of Chub Run. The Funds, along with funds from CWSRF and other programs, provide $5.5 million for this project.

More than $1 million provided to April disaster survivors in West Virginia

City of Pennsboro

The council approved a grant of $1 million to the city of Pennsboro for improvements to the water system. The funds, along with funding from the DWTRF and other programs, provide $5.5 million for the project

Sun Valley PSD

The council approved a grant of $500,000 grant to the Sun Valley PSD in Harrison County for an extension of sewer service to 295 homes in Marion and Fletcher Heights. The funds, along with funding sourced from CWSRF and other funding programs, provide $5 million for the project.

City of Wheeling

The council approved a loan of $3 million to the city of Wheeling in Ohio County for rehabilitation of the sewer system due to flooding.

In addition to funding for these projects, the council also approved reviews and requests to pursue funds for five more sewer and water projects. The granting of these reviews and requests assists cities, municipalities, and public service districts save taxpayer money and keep projects moving. The five projects that were approved are as follows:

Buffalo Creek PSD: Greeville/Landville extension and WWTP improvements estimated to cost $14.5 million

Flatwoods Canoe Run PSD: Water system renovations project to cost $2.4 million

Town of Terra Alta: Water system improvements projected to cost $2 million

Town of Worthington: Water system improvements estimated to cost $4.8 million

City of Thomas: Water system improvements estimated to cost $5.5 million

The council will meet once more on July 3, 2024. For more information, visit their website.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WVNS.
Years of layoffs and closures were always personal. Reshoring is a start in the other direction.

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reporter Rick Barrett is shown near the SpaceX launch facility on the Gulf of Mexico about a 20 minute drive from downtown Brownsville, Texas, on March 20, 2023.

For years, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel photographer Mark Hoffman and I had seen and covered mass layoffs and plant closures at manufacturing companies in Wisconsin. Over that time, tens of thousands of people lost their jobs and communities were devastated.

One company spokesman I called for comment said it wasnt anything personal, and he couldnt even find the plant location on a map.

Actually, it's always very personal for anyone who lost their job, whether it was part of a large-scale layoff or an individual one. Some start over with another manufacturer, often at lower pay and benefits. Some bail out of the field and never look back. Others retire early, although it wasn't what they wanted.

A couple of years ago, we noticed positive changes even as COVID temporarily shuttered remaining plants.

Companies were moving production back to the U.S. after shipping it overseas years earlier. And there were cases like Stoughton Trailers resurrecting it from devastating losses to foreign competitors.

Mark Hoffman

The recovery was more like a trickle than a flood, and the reality is that reshoring of American manufacturing will take many years, if it even pans out as a long-term trend. However, whether it's because of supply chain problems, trade wars, infrastructure spending, or just a realization that it's better to make things closer to home, reshoring has been happening.

Our reporting on this project started with Wisconsin metal foundries and continued with manufacturers of household products, electronics, boots and furniture.

With support from the Pulitzer Center and the Richard C. Longworth Media Fellowship, we went to Mexico, Honduras and Puerto Rico. The trips were relatively short, a few days each, but deeply informative.

In Mexico, we visited two Foxconn electronics plants across the U.S. border from El Paso, Texas, and Santa Teresa, New Mexico. Together, they employ about 12,500 people. One of the plants, with 10,000 employees, was located only a few hundred yards from the border for easy access to the U.S. marketplace.

About 800 miles south, in Matamoros, Mexico, we visited the NovaLink manufacturing plant run by brothers Jason and Brad Wolfe, originally from Anderson, Indiana. Its a Swiss Army knife of manufacturing that makes everything from apparel to automotive parts, often for U.S. clients.

In Choloma, Honduras, we toured textiles and apparel plants, along with a company-supported medical clinic and affordable single-family housing under construction for plant employees. In nearby San Pedro Sula, we visited the Altia Smart Center, a business technology hub with customer call centers that provided jobs for college students.

In Puerto Rico, we visited startup companies engaged in gene-cell therapy and advanced biopharmaceuticals. The island was once known as the Medicine Cabinet of America, and some say it can still claim that title, even as much of the pharmaceutical industry has moved overseas.

What are the takeaways from all this?

Our reporting showed that U.S. manufacturing was on the mend even if the number of jobs never returns to what it was years ago. Mexico probably stands to gain more than the United States from work coming from China. Central American countries also could benefit from the return of apparel manufacturing to the Western Hemisphere; they have a young workforce in desperate need of the jobs.

China will likely remain the factory of the world, at least for the foreseeable future, but it was encouraging to see increased competition. Bringing manufacturing back to the U.S., or at least closer to home, will definitely benefit millions of people, not all equally, but its a start.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Reporting on job losses was grim. Reshoring feels like a fresh start.
ABOARD THE USS LABOON IN THE RED SEA (AP)  Yemen's Houthi rebels launched a boat-borne bomb attack against a commercial ship in the Red Sea on Wednesday, authorities said, the latest escalation despite a U.S.-led campaign trying to protect the vital waterway.

The use of a boat loaded with explosives raised the specter of 2000's USS Cole attack, a suicide assault by al-Qaida on the warship when it was at port in Aden, killing 17 on board. Associated Press journalists saw the Cole in the Red Sea on Wednesday, now taking part in the U.S. campaign while visiting one of her sister ships, the USS Laboon.

Yemen's military spokesman Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree claimed responsibility for the attack, identifying the vessel targeted as the Liberian-flagged, Greek-owned bulk carrier Tutor. He described the attack as using a drone boat, as well as drones and ballistic missiles.

In a warning to shippers, the British military's United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations center described the vessel as being hit in its stern by a small white craft southwest of the Houthi-controlled port city of Hodeida.

The captain reports the vessel is taking on water, and not under command of the crew, the UKMTO said. He also reports the vessel was hit for a second time by an unknown airborne projectile."

The U.S. military's Central Command also acknowledged the attack, saying the Tutor most recently docked in Russia.

The impact of the (drone boat) caused severe flooding and damage to the engine room, it added.

The U.S. military separately destroyed three anti-ship cruise missile launchers in Houthi-held Yemen, as well as one rebel drone over the Red Sea. The Houthis launched two anti-ship ballistic missiles over the Red Sea, but they caused no damage, Central Command said.

The Houthis, who seized Yemens capital nearly a decade ago and have been fighting a Saudi-led coalition since shortly after, have been targeting shipping throughout the Red Sea corridor over the Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip.

They say the attacks are aimed at stopping the war and supporting the Palestinians, though the attacks often target vessels that have nothing to do with the conflict.

The war in Gaza has killed more than 36,000 Palestinians there, while hundreds of others have been killed in Israeli operations in the West Bank. It began after Hamas-led militants attacked Israel on Oct. 7, killing about 1,200 people and taking around 250 hostage.

The Houthis have launched more than 50 attacks on shipping, killed three sailors, seized one vessel and sunk another since November, according to the U.S. Maritime Administration. A U.S.-led airstrike campaign has targeted the Houthis since January, with a series of strikes May 30 killing at least 16 people and wounding 42 others, the rebels say.

Associated Press journalists on an embark with the U.S. Navy were interviewing Cmdr. Eric Blomberg, the commanding officer of the Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer Laboon, when the alert came in on the attack. Blomberg took multiple calls from sailors on board the vessel, giving updates on the apparent attack.

The Laboon is one of the destroyers accompanying the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower aircraft carrier and both has shot down Houthi fire and escorted vessels through the region. Though Blomberg and others stressed they were still investigating the attack, he said it appeared the vessel targeted had nothing to do with the Israel-Hamas war.

The Houthis hit ships that are completely not associated or tied to the U.S. or Israel at all, Blomberg said.

These are just innocent merchant sailors carrying goods through the Red Sea, trying to get it through the least-expensive route, and they're paying for it, he said.
The New York Times Guild is urging management to reconsider cutting 9 of the 16 positions from its art-production department, expressing concerns over what the union says amounts to an AI-based replacement, according to an internal memo obtained by TheWrap.

Last month, the Times announced the 9-staffer reduction in the art production department as it ramps up the use of AI technology. The cuts would mark one of the more significant AI-driven staff reductions for the company, though management denies a direct connection between the cuts and the Timess AI initiatives.

We are saddened by these cuts, and urge the company to reconsider its rush to sacrifice quality for profits, the union writes. These cost-cutting moves reflect a broader mindset that puts cost savings over people and the quality of our work.

The Times Guild argues that much of the work in the art department cant simply be replicated by existing AI tech.

They work on every editorial image that appears in the print newspaper, which earns more than 30 percent of this companys revenue, the union writes in the memo. Cutting nine human roles and expecting that work to be done by software is a troubling instance of our members being replaced by technology, at a moment when the companys dabbling in A.I. threatens the security of other essential jobs.

A spokesman for the Times said the affected employees are being offered a buyout, and have nothing to do with the use of AI.

Last month, The Timess newsroom made the difficult decision to reduce the size of its art production team with workflow changes to make photo toning and color correction work more efficient, Charlie Stadtlander told TheWrap.On May 30th, we offered generous voluntary buyouts for 9 employees to accept. These changes involve the adoption of new workflows and the expanded use of industry-standard tools that have been in use for years  they are not related to The Timess AI efforts.

The guild also noted that masthead editor Steve Duenes called Claro (Pixometry)  the technology the union claims is being used to replace the departments staffers impacted by reductions  the current industry standard in art automation. The Times did not deny that the latest art department cuts are related to the use of Claro.

Claro has developed highly professional server based automatic image enhancement, image workflow and image management solutions, according to the companys website. The About Us tab of the website adds that Claro technology uses Applied AI image intelligence, within its software.

However, the guild pushed back saying Just because something is the industry standard doesnt mean its good. And while the union acknowledges that the art production team already uses this software to aid their work, it is optional and a human oversees the final product.

The union also noted that the Times recently won nine gold medals from the Society for News Design, three of which were for the newspapers photo series, speaking to the impact of the art departments work.

The Times has staked its reputation on being a standard bearer for honest visual and print journalism, staff editor Chris Kahley  who has worked in the art department for 25 years  said in a statement. The trained professionals in our department have played a vital role in these efforts, and Claro is not up to the task.

Discarding dedicated staff who constantly help make the New York Times the visual showcase it is, is cruel, Art director for Print Hub Audrey Razgaitis added. I thought we were better than this.

The cuts come as the media industry is reckoning with advanced AI technology integration in the journalism space, with many companies making deals with AI firms to license their content or supercharge digital products with new features.

The New York Times has also notably launched an ambitious lawsuit against both Microsoft and OpenAI for scraping copyrighted content without permission to train LLMs. As the newspaper seeks damages for content used without knowledge, the paper is already spending $1 million on fees related to the lawsuit against OpenAI and Microsoft, the company said during its first-quarter earnings.

The post New York Times Union Urges Management to Reconsider 9 Art Department Cuts as Paper Ramps Up AI Tools | Exclusive appeared first on TheWrap.
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky will meet with his American counterpart Joe Biden on the sidelines of the Group of Seven (G7) summit in Italy on June 13, U.S. National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said on June 11.

The summit will be held between June 13-15 in Apulia, a southern region of Italy. At least fifteen guest countries and institutions are expected to attend, in addition to the leaders of the Group of Seven.

Zelensky and Biden will discuss "strong support for Ukraine now and into the future," Kirby said.

Following the meeting, the two leaders are expected to hold a news conference.

The last time the Ukrainian and American leaders met was last week during a visit to France for the 80th D-Day commemorations, where Biden announced a new aid package for Kyiv worth $225 million.

Read also: Politico: Biden against Macrons proposal to send military trainers to Ukraine

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Zelensky to Europe: A Russian victory in Ukraine would lead to the unthinkable

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky speaks in Berlin this week at a conference to gather support for Ukraine's recovery from the destruction wreaked by Russia's invasion. (Ebrahim Noroozi / Associated Press)

First came Frances D-day beaches, then the heart of the once-divided German capital. Starting Thursday: a walled resort in southern Italy, then on to the mountain-ringed shores of Switzerlands Lake Lucerne.

In Europe this month, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky seems to be everywhere.

Theres a steely calculus behind that ubiquity: nearly 28 months into a brutal war with Russia, as Ukraine is struggling to hold its own against a far more powerful foe, maintaining European backing is considered nothing short of mission-critical.

The Ukrainian leaders message has been unvarying: His countrys bloody confrontation with Russian President Vladimir Putin is Europes fight, too. If Russia were allowed to triumph, Zelensky warned, the continent would face unthinkable consequences.

"It is in our common interest that Putin personally lose this war," he told German lawmakers in an emotional address Tuesday in the cool-gray-toned chambers of the Bundestag, Germanys federal parliament.

As always, Zelensky leaned heavily into venue-specific symbolism, invoking Germanys painful Cold War past.

Read more: In Europe, even if 'center is holding,' far right ascends

Only a short distance from the snaking path of the Berlin Wall, which fell almost 35 years ago, he appealed to lawmakers not to accept Russias territorial grab in Ukraine, where Moscow lays claim to four provinces and the Crimean peninsula.

"You can understand why we are fighting so hard against Russia's attempts to divide us, to divide Ukraine  why we are doing absolutely everything to prevent a wall between parts of our country," the Ukrainian leader said. He received a sustained standing ovation at the speechs end.

At first glance, European support for Ukraine seems solid. Together with the United States, EU member governments and the NATO alliance have thrown billions of dollars worth of weaponry and other aid into the battle. Since the start of this extended visit, the Ukrainian leader has been met with pledges of solidarity  and new infusions of cash.

Read more: Russia tries to breach Ukraine's defenses in the Kharkiv region

But some cracks have emerged. In the run-up to European Parliament elections last week, far-right political parties denounced expenditures for the Ukraine war as fruitless, counterproductive and warmongering  and found a measure of electoral success with that refrain.

In Berlin, Zelenskys Bundestag speech was boycotted by two parties  the far-right Alternative for Germany, or AfD, which became the countrys second-ranked political party in the European elections, and the populist Bundnis Sahra Wagenknecht, or BSW.

The AfDs national leaders  noting Zelenskys attendance this week at Berlin conference focused on reconstruction and other assistance for Ukraine  derided him as a begging president. The BSW, meanwhile, accused him of abetting a highly dangerous spiral of escalation that could lead to nuclear disaster.

For some of Ukraines most important European supporters, these are not the best of times. National leaders in Europes two most influential states  Frances President Emmanuel Macron and Germanys Chancellor Olaf Scholz  suffered stinging setbacks in the European vote.

Read more: It's Russia versus the West again, this time playing out in tiny Georgia

Macron called snap national parliamentary elections in response to a big defeat for his party at the hands of the far-right National Rally. Scholz declined to accelerate next years parliamentary election timetable after his party was more narrowly outpolled by AfD, and much more substantially by his main conservative opponents, but he faced needling from rivals who demanded a fresh start.

On Ukraine, we could start to see indecision in both Paris and Berlin, said Matthias Matthijs of Johns Hopkins Universitys School of Advanced International Studies. Macron is going to be preoccupied. Scholz is going to be preoccupied.

For Ukraine, not all the news coming out of polling across the 27-member European Union was bad. The far-right party of autocratic-minded Prime Minister Viktor Orban of Hungary, who has consistently sought to undermine support for Ukraine, fared poorly.

But Hungary next month assumes the rotating presidency of the EU Council, giving Orban an opportunity to throw anti-Ukraine spanners into the blocs policymaking process.

Beginning Thursday in Italy, Zelensky is in attendance as a guest at the Group of 7 summit in Puglia, in southern Italy. During their meeting at the plush resort of Borgo Egnazia, the G-7 leaders were reportedly set to unveil loans to Ukraine that make use of profits from frozen Russian assets, a plan that has already drawn howls of protest from Moscow.

Read more: News analysis: Why Putin is raising the specter of nuclear weapons again

On the sidelines of the Italy meeting, President Biden and Zelensky were to sign a bilateral security agreement, but national security advisor Jake Sullivan told reporters traveling with the president that the pact would not directly commit any U.S. troops to Ukraine's defense.

Unlike at the G-7, where participants will be dealing with a range of issues including immigration, China, and the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza, Ukraine will be center stage at a weekend Swiss-hosted peace summit, held at the initiative of Zelenskys government.

Switzerland said representatives of nearly 90 countries and organizations would be in attendance  but not Russia's. Putin's government was not invited, but said it wouldnt have come anyway, because the conferences main underpinning is a list of Ukrainian peace proposals it has spurned.

Despite Ukrainian hopes, though, little of real substance was expected to emerge from the Swiss gathering.

In all likelihood, the emotional center of gravity of Zelenskys European sojourn came at its onset. The Ukrainian president joined leaders gathered in Normandy, France, last week to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the D-Day invasion, a key turning point in the Allied battle against Nazi Germany.

At Omaha Beach, Biden drew an explicit linkage between that long-ago fight for freedom and democracy and Ukraines struggle for survival today.

Read more: Biden pledges solidarity with Ukraine at D-day anniversary ceremony in Normandy

"The autocrats of the world are watching closely to see what happens in Ukraine," Biden said.

On the ceremonys sidelines came a moment that was captured by cameras and subsequently went viral online. Zelensky encountered an 99-year-old American World War II military veteran, identified by a relative as Melvin Hurwitz of Frederick, Md., who reached out to the Ukrainian leader from his wheelchair.

Grasping Zelenskys hand, Hurwitz made as if to kiss it, calling him the savior of the people. Leaning in and bending down for a warm embrace, Zelensky demurred.

No, no, no, he responded. You saved Europe.

Read more: Super spy or paper pusher? How Putin's KGB years in East Germany helped shape him

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
President Volodymyr Zelensky on June 11 visited the 21st Surface-to-Air Missile Group in Sanitz, Germany, and met Ukrainian soldiers trained there to operate Patriot air defense systems.

Accompanied by German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius, Zelensky also inspected the Patriot battery that is planned to be handed over to Ukraine.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said earlier the same day that Berlin would deliver its third Patriot system to Ukraine in the coming weeks or months, bolstering Ukraine's air defenses in the face of Russian aerial attacks.

Ukraine operates at least two Patriot systems supplied by Germany and one sent by the U.S. The Netherlands previously supplied two launchers and founded an initiative to jointly supply a full new system in cooperation with other partners.

Washington also decided to provide Ukraine with an additional battery, the New York Times reported on June 11, citing senior administration and military officials.

"I am grateful to our partners, Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Defense Minister Boris Pistorius, Germany, and all German people for their steadfast defense support for Ukraine, including our defenders' training," Zelensky said on X.

"I thank our warriors for their service. We believe in you. And we are doing our utmost to strengthen our defense."

Zelensky visited Germany earlier on June 11 to attend the Ukraine Recovery Forum in Berlin and hold talks with the country leaders. Speaking at the conference, the president called on international partners to provide additional air defenses and energy aid to help the country withstand Russian attacks.

Read also: Ukraine war latest: Major reconstruction aid announced at Ukraine Recovery Conference

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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin are straining to keep bodies on the battlefield amid political pressures at home around mobilization.

More than two years into the war and with tens of thousands of military casualties on both sides, the situation on the front remains shaky, with roughly a fifth of Ukrainian territory still under Russian occupation and no breakthroughs on the horizon.

Now, both leaders must face the particular domestic demands of their countries to maintain boots on the ground.

Zelensky is contending with fierce blowback to lowering the draft age. And Putin, though working with a larger population, is looking to mitigate political pain by focusing conscription efforts on small and rural towns versus major cities.

If Ukraine really wanted to have the ability to go on the offensive, theyd probably have to lower the draft age to 18, and they clearly dont want to do that, said Michael OHanlon, a Brookings Institution senior fellow.

Kyiv in May implemented a divisive mobilization law following a new Russia ground offensive in Ukraines northeast, putting further strains on the embattled countrys overstretched forces.

The legislation  which was passed in mid-April and makes it easier to identify those who can be conscripted  came into effect a month after Ukraine also lowered the draft age for men from 27 to 25.

Ukraine Parliament member Oleksandr Fedienko said at the time that the bill, which could help add around 50,000 troops to Kyivs military, would send a message to our partners that we are ready to retake our territory.

In addition, Zelensky has signed two other laws that allow prisoners to join the army and greatly increase fines for those who skip out on the draft, both controversial measures as they mirror Russias early move to enlist its prisoners.

Meant to address the growing strain on the battlefield, experts say it still wont be enough to turn the tide of the conflict and more extreme options must be implemented, a reality that could fray Zelenskys popularity.

This has not been sufficient to deal with the military problem, so the pressure to do more is already being felt, and I expect Zelensky will do more, John Herbst, senior director of the Atlantic Councils Eurasia Center and a former ambassador to Ukraine, said of the draft age drop.

Herbst explained that there is, by American standards, a peculiar Ukrainian cultural attitude on the draft. Young men are not expected to be conscripted before their late 20s, as the population wants to make sure it has a chance to procreate before people go off to war. This has been true for Ukraine since its independence in 1991, so you have to fight the culture, [but] fighting the culture is not great for ones political ratings, Herbst told The Hill.

Zelensky, while aware that reducing the draft age will address battlefield constraints, is reluctant to act due to concerns about what this might do to his popularity, he added.

Instead, he has turned to other methods to rev up his forces, which Russia reportedly outnumbers by seven to 10 times.

Among those ways are clawing back some military-aged men who have fled the country in the wake of Russias February 2022 invasion.

In late April, Ukrainian embassies temporarily suspended consular services, such as passport renewals, for men aged 18-64, putting new pressures on them to return home to fight.

There will be no restrictions or forced return of Ukrainian citizens of any gender or age to a country that is at war, Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Olha Stefanishyna said in remarks published by Deutsche Welle on April 30. [But] there are no easy solutions to war issues, and lets not forget that the war is ongoing, and we have to win it.

In a nightly video address in early April, Zelensky urged that May and June should be a time of activity for the sake of Ukraine, for the sake of achieving our goals in this war.

Kyiv has also prohibited men younger than 60 from leaving the country since the start of the war. But on June 1, the country closed a residence abroad loophole for dual citizens, causing the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv to warn dual U.S.-Ukrainian citizens that they will no longer be able to depart the war-torn nation if they are otherwise eligible for conscription.

In Russia, meanwhile, a newly reelected Putin is facing his own pressure.

Putin last week gave a rare update on casualty and prisoner-of-war figures, asserting that Moscow has only lost one soldier for every five that Kyiv has.

U.S. battlefield estimates, in comparison, put the latest Russian casualties at 515,000, including more than 50,000 deaths, since the war began.

Those losses likely prompted Moscow to ready a new wave of military mobilization, estimated to come this month, that seeks to enlist up to 300,000 new troops to bolster its forces already in Ukraine, according to Zelensky.

The move, reported to have come about due to the dwindling number of people willing to go into battle, would follow Putins shaky past efforts in mobilization.

In September 2022, when he announced a partial mobilization  just short of an all-out draft  tens of thousands of Russian men fled across country borders to avoid conscription and widespread protests erupted.

Putin was avoiding trying too hard to get people from St. Petersburg and Moscow to serve, OHanlon told The Hill. He didnt want to lose his popularity with the elite, and yet he knew that if he made this great appeal to Russian nationalism in small towns and distant areas and, of course, prisoners, that he has a larger population base on his side.

But even as the numbers, time and recent battlefield momentum all seem to be on his side, the effort has not seemed to be generating a truly war winning capability for him, he added.

One of Ukraines biggest advantages in the war is that, by and large, its people understand why they are fighting and they believe that they have to fight, Herbst said. In Russia, in comparison, the polls may show substantial support for the war but there never have been many Russians volunteering to fight.

You dont have the true public support for the war, which translates into enough members, enough men, signing up to fight, Herbst said. And Putin is reluctant to actually conscript, at least in the large Russian cities, because in those Russian cities it would be very unpopular and doing a large city enables opposition to form.

This is not the Russian Peoples War where it is the Ukrainian Peoples War, he added.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
KIEV, June 12 (Xinhua) -- Several explosions were heard on Wednesday morning in the Ukrainian capital, as Russia launched missile attacks against the country.

The Kiev city military administration said air defense is operating in the city. 
President Volodymyr Zelensky delivered his first in-person address to German lawmakers in the Bundestag on June 11, expressing Ukraine's gratitude for Germany's support in resisting Russia's invasion.

His address comes as more than 2,000 representatives from 60 countries are in Berlin for the Ukraine Recovery Conference. Germany is the second-largest supporter of Ukraine after the U.S. and the biggest supporter in Europe.

In 2024 alone, Germany provided approximately 7.1 billion euro for military assistance to Ukraine. Over 10,000 Ukrainian soldiers have received military training in Germany.

Zelensky told German lawmakers that Russia must pay for the damage inflicted on his country. "Those who started the war have to be held responsible," he said. "They have to be brought to justice for every war crime committed," adding that the time for compromises is over.

"As soon as [Russian President Vladimir] Putin started to burn our cities  as soon as he started to pursue murder instead of agreements and contracts, the time for compromise ended," Zelensky noted, according to Deutsche Welle.

"Putin will lose this war," the Ukrainian president stressed. "We will not allow Russia to continue to march through Europe with its contempt for life. (...) We will not pass on this war to the next generation. We will end it. We will end it in the interest of Ukraine and the interest of Europe as a whole."

Zelensky also referenced Germany's history in his address, recalling the decades the country was divided by the Berlin Wall: "You can understand us in Ukraine, you can understand why we are fighting so hard against Russia's attempts to divide Ukraine, why we are doing everything we can to make sure there is not a new wall in our country."

"Russia is standing against all of us alone, so we all have to force Russia to change, and it is possible, because there is no wall that cannot be brought down."

Read also: Ukraine war latest: Major reconstruction aid announced at Ukraine Recovery Conference

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President Volodymyr Zelensky announced on social media on the evening of June 12 that he had arrived in Saudi Arabia on a previously unannounced visit.

Zelensky said on social media that he had a "meaningful and energetic meeting with His Highness Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman al Saud."

The two discussed bilateral relations and the preparations for the peace summit, Zelensky said, noting "the good dynamics of the implementation of our previous agreements."

German news agency DPA reported on June 2 that Saudi Arabia was not planning to attend the upcoming peace summit in Switzerland on June 15-16 due to Russia not attending.

Diplomatic sources reportedly told the agency that Zelensky had postponed an earlier planned visit to Saudi Arabia, which he hoped would rally support for the summit, until after the summit took place.

Saudi Arabia hosted an international summit on the peace formula in August 2023. The country has also played an important role in negotiating prisoner exchanges with Russia, allowing Ukraine to achieve a major exchange involving nearly 300 people in September 2022.

At the same time, Saudi Arabia has maintained close economic ties with Russia, which have strengthened following the beginning of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine and Russia's subsequent economic isolation from the West.

The previous meeting between Zelensky and bin Salman was held in February.

Read also: Explainer: What is the global peace summit in Switzerland, and what does Ukraine hope to achieve?

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During his working visit to Germany, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has inspected a Patriot system, which Germany will send to Ukraine after the crew have completed their training.

Source: Ukrainian Presidents Office, as reported by European Pravda

Details: Zelenskyy, along with Federal Minister of Defence Boris Pistorius, visited the 21st Surface-to-Air Missile Group in the city of Zanitz. Ukrainian defenders are undergoing training on how to operate the Patriot system at its base.

Zelenskyy thanked Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Germany and the German people for the new defence package totalling over 700 million.

He also expressed his gratitude for the provision of another Patriot system by Germany and high-quality German IRIS-T systems.

Quote: "A very important aspect is that you have reduced the time for production and training on these systems. Because today this time is measured in the lives of our people. And your reduction of days, sometimes weeks, will be remembered for decades."

Pistorius announced that the new package includes reconnaissance and attack drones, small arms and sniper rifles, rocket-propelled grenades and 100 additional missiles for the Patriot systems, which Germany will provide together with Denmark, Norway and the Netherlands.

Zelensky also familiarised himself with the training process, interacted with Ukrainian defenders and gave them state awards.

Background:

In May, Germany announced the start of training for Ukrainian crews on the third Patriot air defence system to be delivered to Kyiv.

In addition, according to reports, US President Joe Biden has approved the provision of another Patriot system to Ukraine.

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AI for the rest of us. Thats how Apple Intelligence was described at WWDC 2024, in a clear shot toward Microsofts recently announced Copilot+ PCs. Not to be left behind in the rapidly evolving world of AI, Apple announced a suite of features that turn your Mac  as well as your iPhone and iPad  into a true AI computer.

Apple isnt just wandering the trail that Microsoft blazed, though.

Microsoft may hold the keys to the AI kingdom with its massive data centers and deep partnership with OpenAI, but Apple is already coming out ahead in the AI race. Even before Ive touched a single feature in Apple Intelligence, Im confident in saying that it will offer more to users than Copilot+ could ever hope to.

New software, not new hardware

Apple

The biggest thing Apple Intelligence has going for it is that you dont need to buy a new laptop. Although the AI features coming to Copilot+ PCs are exciting, they also require you to spend at least $1,000 on a supported laptop. And even when we get a stream of AMD and Intel laptops meeting the requirements for Copilot+, they wont have the AI features available to them. Apples approach is completely different. You dont need to buy a damn thing.

Apple made a point that its M-series chips, as well as the A17 Bionic, already have AI hardware built-in. You dont need to buy a specific MacBook or trade in your iPhone. Apple has built up its hardware stack over the last several years so you can access Apple Intelligence with the devices you already own. Even if Copilot+ came with better features  spoiler: it doesnt  the fact that Apple gives you access to these features with devices you already own is huge.

Luke Larsen / Digital Trends

With Apple Intelligence, youre not investing in a new, unproven category of device. You dont have anything to lose by engaging with Apples AI features, or at the very least, youre not out any money. If you already have a MacBook, Mac desktop, iPad, or iPhone, you just get Apple Intelligence as a system update for free. This approach means you might actually use the AI features that Apple has been working on.

Theres no doubt that some early adopters will buy a Copilot+ PC and take advantage of Microsofts new AI features. Itll take months, and maybe even years, before the features catch on more broadly, however. Despite the fact that Apple is seemingly late to the AI party, there will be far more users taking advantage of Apples AI features out of the gate, which is huge for a technology that still hasnt proven how it will impact our daily lives.

The ecosystem

Apple

Outside of the fact that Apple Intelligence is a free update, its also a free update to three categories of devices. Its coming to Macs, iPhones, and iPads, and theyll work together. Copilot+ just works on laptops. Microsoft just cant compete, regardless of how impressive Copilot+ may be.

Apples ecosystem of devices is already something that the rest of the tech industry has struggled to keep up with. Weve seen various forms of screen mirroring and notification sharing from Intel and Microsoft on Windows, but none of it comes close to what Apple currently offers  or what it will offer with macOS 15s iPhone Mirroring feature. Once we bring AI into the mix, Apple has an advantage that Microsoft cant answer regardless of how hard it tries.

You can take photos on your iPhone, pull them up with AI search on your Mac, and generate new versions of them on your iPad. These devices working in tandem show how powerful AI can truly be. Apple is bringing AI to users, not asking them to go find it.

Luke Larsen / Digital Trends

Microsoft, on the other hand, is doing the exact opposite. You not only need to buy a new laptop, but you also need to buy a laptop that specifically meets its requirements for Copilot+. And, once you have that device, you can only use the AI features on it. Your phone, tablet, and desktop arent even part of the conversation.

Real AI features, systemwide

Microsoft

Even from the jump, Apple Intelligence has a big lead over Copilot+, but thats before we bring the actual AI features into the mix. With Copilot+, the main feature Microsoft has is Recall. This is basically an AI-powered search within Windows that allows you to reference everything you do on your PC, from viewing webpages to sending messages to looking at photos. It joins a few other AI features already available across Windows PCs, such as Copilot on your desktop and in Microsoft Edge, Live Captions, and image generation in Microsoft Paint.

Apple is matching a lot of these features. Apple Intelligence can proofread and rewrite text, similar to Copilot, and it can generate images like Microsoft Designer. You can tap Siri to answer questions about your system and troubleshoot, similar to Copilot on your desktop. Apple has a few additional goodies  Ill get to them later  but thats not what important here. Whats important is that Apple Intelligence is available across your system.

Apple

For instance, Apples writing features work across all of Apples apps and third-party apps automatically. You dont need to copy your text over or write it directly through one of Apples first-party apps  Apple Intelligence can pick up on the text wherever you are.

Similarly, Siri has deeper integration with your apps compared to Recall. Apple introduced the App Intents feature, which isnt just limited to Apples own apps. The API is available for any developer to add support in their app. This basically allows Siri to move information between devices and apps seamlessly.

As an example, Apple showed Siri filling out a form with your ID info. Instead of searching up the photo, Siri can automatically find the photo, scan it, and enter that information for you. Just like Recall, theres on-screen awareness with Siri, so you can reference whatever you have pulled up when entering prompts as well.

Apple

Systemwide access to Apple Intelligence is big enough, but Apple also has more features. Genmoji allows you to generate an emoji to use as a sticker or within a message. Image Wand can turn a rough sketch into an AI-generated image. You can even ask Apple Intelligence to generate a movie from your photos and videos, using a prompt to narrow down which media to use.

Apple has more features, no doubt, but the big change is that you dont need to seek them out. Microsofts approach with Copilot+ is different. Youre not engaging with AI throughout your device. Youre not prompting an app to take advantage of AI features.

What no one wants to talk about

Apple

The biggest win for Apple on the AI front, though, is privacy. Apple didnt shy away from the privacy conversation at WWDC, stating that Apple Intelligence works on your device, so its not being processed in the cloud. As Apple said during its presentation in a clear shot at Microsoft: You should not have to hand over all your details to be processed in someones warehouse AI cloud.

Apple says that the AI features can scale up to the cloud, but theyll use the Private Cloud Compute architecture. Basically, Apple says that data for these cloud requests is never stored, and that independent security researchers can verify that data isnt stored. In fact, Apple claims that Intelligence will refuse to communicate with a server if it doesnt meet this criteria.

Microsoft has talked about privacy with Copilot+, too, especially after the wave of backlash it received when Recall was announced. With Copilot+, all of the processing happens on your PC. There are still some features that go out to the cloud, such as image generation, but all of your private, sensitive data is kept locally. It sounds like Apple and Microsoft are on even footing with AI privacy, but they really arent.

Jacob Roach / Digital Trends

Apple has the trust of its users. Microsoft doesnt. Its a point that Windows Centrals Zac Bowden raised about a week ago, writing: Had Apple announced a feature like Recall, there would have been much less backlash, as Apple has done a great job building loyalty and trust with its users  Microsoft, on the other hand, has done a lot to degrade the Windows user experience over the last few years.

From tricking users into using Microsoft Edge over Chrome, stuffing ads in the Start menu, and forcing OneDrive at all points, Microsoft has established an expectation with its audience that its word isnt to be trusted. Apple has instead established privacy and security principles and stuck with them. All things being equal, Im willing to put more faith in Apple with my data security than Microsoft  and I dont even use Apple products in my personal life.

In reality, both Apple and Microsoft have a lot of privacy and security risks with their AI features, and theyre addressing them in a similar way. Apple Intelligence isnt better than Copilot+ on that front. But when you look at how both companies have historically treated privacy and security, its clear that Apple comes out ahead.

AI for the rest of us

Apple

Theres a good reason Apple called Intelligence AI for the rest of us at WWDC. Apple is approaching AI as a feature, and nothing more than that. Its showing the ways AI can enhance the user experience and make it easier, instead of asking customers to buy a new device, explore uncharted territory in features that have questionable security practices, and constantly check that the privacy conditions are still what they expected them to be.

Microsoft may sit on top of the AI world, and for some aspects of its business  such as the data center  Apple doesnt have any answers. But when it comes to consumer devices, Apple is beating Microsoft at its own game.
Apple fans were not happy to hear that the company's new AI features won't work on various iPhones, even new ones. The company says there are purely technical reasons for this. Bernd Diekjobst/dpa

Apple has defended its decision to leave most iPhone owners behind when it pushes ahead with newly announced AI-powered features, set to roll out later this year only on future iPhones and premium models from the most recent generation.

AI boss John Giannandrea said this move had purely technical reasons, explaining in a live interview on The Talk Show podcast on Tuesday, that the AI software required more powerful hardware.

The AI models could theoretically also run on older phones, he admitted, but argued they would be too slow to be useful.

Apple announced an AI offensive earlier in the week with a wide array of "Apple Intelligence" features for iPhone users, notably editing help in emails, individual emojis and an upgraded Siri that harnsesses the smarts of ChatGPT.

However Apple is only bringing the features to future iPhones and the more expensive models of the iPhone 15 from late last year.

There is more leeway with Mac computers, and any of the in-house M-series chips, which Apple has been using to replace Intel processors since 2020, will suffice.

The AI features will also run on iPads with M chip systems. In addition to the chip, the RAM memory capacity also plays a role, software boss Craig Federighi said.

Apple, marketing itself as a privacy-focussed company, says it has sought to do as much computational work as possible on the devices for data protection reasons. This also increases the demands on their performance, however.

At the same time, the company has developed a procedure with which the tasks are forwarded to Apple's servers in encrypted form. The data should then disappear completely from the cloud. "We don't utilize user data to train our models," Giannandrea said.

Arriving in updates like iOS 18 in the second half of 2024, the new features will also be able to generate images from text prompts. Unlike many other services, however, Apple AI does not generate artificial photos out of concerns users might create deepfakes.
Update: Apple's revealed more about the hardware requirements for Apple Intelligence that means older iPhones won't run it properly.

Toward the end of Apple's WWDC 2004 keynote, as Apple was wrapping up its segment on the new Apple Intelligence feaatures, senior vice president of software engineering Craig Federighi stood in front of a graphic that said "AI for the rest of us." While it was a nice shoutout to the original Mac slogan  "a computer for the rest of us," in case you've forgotten  it may have been more accurate to say "AI for the rest of us... though probably not you."

That's a reflection of the Apple Intelligence system requirements, which are a bit restrictive, especially on the iPhone. While iOS 18 will work on devices released and 2019 and later, Apple Intelligence features on the iPhone are compatible with Apple handsets dating all the way back to... nine months again. And even then, not every iPhone released last fall can join the party.

Specifically, Apple Intelligence will require either an iPhone 15 Pro or iPhone 15 Pro Max. The iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus released at the same time don't have the necessary processing power to support these new capabilities.

So if you're like me and you're using an older iPhone  and not even one that's all that old in the case of the iPhone 14 or iPhone 15  you can't help but feel a little deflated by the very end of Apple's keynote.

Yes, Apple Intelligence sounds promising  the new Siri may be worth the price of admission, and I'd be interested to see if the promised writing and imaging tools fit into my workflow (or better yet, improve it). But unless one of two specific iPhone models falls into my lap in the next little while, those features are beyond my reach.

Apple looks forward with Apple Intelligence

iPhones showing Apple Intelligence features

Apple's hands are tied here, to a certain extent. Faced with the choice of offering a diminished product or making sure its foray into AI delivered greater value even at the expense of cutting off more users, it opted for the latter approach. And as gifted as the engineers Apple has hired, they can't go back in time and bolster the neural capabilities of the iPhone 13's system-on-chip. (By that same token, I'm not sure there was anyone twisting Apple's arm and forcing them to put A16 Bionic chips on the standard iPhone 15 last fall instead of more powerful A17 silicon that power the Pro models.)

Besides this speaks to Apple's vision for Apple Intelligence as a way of moving the company forward rather than ret-conning its current lineup with new features. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman put it more succinctly in his WWDC preview column a couple days ago: "The push into AI isnt just about Apples current lineup  it will help enable a new generation of hardware products."

That's good news for Future Phil when it's time to buy the next Apple device, but Phil in his current iteration is finding that to be pretty thin gruel.

That may also be part of Apple's calculus here, as it's got new iPhones to sell in the fall. With all of those devices likely to feature A18 chips  yes, even the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus  that will expand the number of Apple devices capable of running Apple Intelligence features and give more people a crack at trying these new capabilities.

Apple Intelligence: Upgrade your iPhone or not?

Unofficial renders of the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max from the front and back

I'm just not sure that I'll be among them, not just to make sure I have a device with Apple Intelligence support. While I'd love to give Apple Intelligence a go if my current iPhone supported it, I'm not ready to pay at least $799  the rumored starting price of an iPhone 16  for the privilege of testing things out.

Like I said earlier, there are some impressive new tools that are coming through Apple Intelligence, not the least of which is a smarter version of Siri able to better understand context. Features like assembling a photo gallery using a text prompt could be worth spending time with and since I really enjoy Magic Eraser when I use it on Pixel phones, I'm sure I'll enjoy doing the same thing with Apple's iteration of the same feature (which is called Clean Up.)

But I'd describe most of those capabilities as "nice to try," rather than "must have." And honestly, there are enough "must avoid" tools in Apple Intelligence that would put me off an upgrade until I find out more about how they work. Genmoji's a clever name, but I can't imagine a scenario on earth where I need to generate a custom-made emoji on the fly. And to paraphrase the late P.J. O'Rourke, I'd sooner hand over my car keys and a bottle of whiskey to teenagers than I would hand over my iPhone to OpenAI and its ChatGPT tool, which is going to be integrated into the new Siri.

I may be singing a new tune once Apple Intelligence lands in the hands of users who do have the supported devices and can detail more reliably on which of these features is a true game-changer. Of course, with reports that initial versions of the AI features could be quite buggy, it's possible that we may need some time to fairly assess Apple Intelligence  to the point where the likely iPhone 16 release date may come and go before a consensus verdict emerges.

I don't think the lack of wider device support for Apple Intelligence should undercut Apple's efforts to make its phones, tablets and Macs smarter. Ultimately, it's probably the wiser move for Apple to do things this way. But if you're feeling a lack of enthusiasm about some of the changes Apple announced  even as exciting as those changes could be  it's certainly understandable.

More from Tom's Guide
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You might be used to take-offs and landings, but you soon might need to get ready to float, foil and fly.

Those are the three phases of a journey aboard a seaglider, a new type of fully electric boat-plane hybrid that could become a mainstay of coastal communities the world over, according to its maker, Rhode Island-based startup REGENT.

Just like a boat, a seaglider initially floats, then as it picks up speed it foils  gliding over the surface of the water using wing-like structures called hydrofoils, which retract as the vehicle finally takes off for the flying phase. It never reaches the sky, but rather flies up to 30 feet (nine metres) above the water, to leverage a principle called ground effect, which promises a smooth ride with reduced drag compared to a normal flight.

Were going to put humans on board a full-scale, 15,000-pound (6,800-kilogram) prototype later this year, says Billy Thalheimer, co-founder and CEO of REGENT, adding that the first seagliders will carry up to 12 passengers and will have a range of about 180 miles (290 kilometers), which would put them in direct competition with small ferries and seaplanes.

More than 600 seagliders have already been sold for a total of over $9 billion, according to Thalheimer. The vehicles will be manufactured in North America, but REGENT recently signed a deal with the government of Abu Dhabi to build a second plant in the United Arab Emirates, to serve clients in the region and across Europe and Asia.

Once operational, seagliders will then connect Abu Dhabi to Dubai, as well as island communities that are currently underserved by existing services.

We want to prove to the world that this is possible, says Thalheimer, specifically that in one vehicle you can float, foil and fly.

A prototype of a seaglider taking flight - Regent

A classic concept

The ground effect principle that the seagliders use isnt new; it was extensively tested by the Soviet Union in the 1960s, leading to some prominent examples of ekranoplans  large planes designed to fly at low altitude over water, ice or land  the most famous of which is the Caspian Sea Monster.

Technically, everything that flies leverages the ground effect during take-off and landing, so everyone has experienced it  they just dont really realize it, explains Thalheimer. When youre coming in on a bumpy approach, then sort of get right over the runway, and the plane just sort of floats for a second before landing  thats the ground effect at work. Wouldnt that be a great place to spend the entire flight, that nice calm state over the runway?

The United States and Germany also experimented with ground effect vehicles, but ultimately the concept never took off. For the seagliders, the reduced drag allows for more range with existing battery technology, and smoothes the transition with the other phases of the journey, in the harbor, that are more akin to sailing than flying.

To create a modern and viable ground-effect vessel, REGENT had to solve several problems. First, Thalheimer says, seagliders are better at dealing with waves than vintage ekranoplans. These things were skipping off the sea surface. At best, they were uncomfortable and really bumpy. At worst, you couldnt operate them at all. We solved the wave tolerance problem with the hydrofoils, he says, with full-scale seagliders able to tolerate waves up to five feet high.

The second challenge was maneuverability in a harbor; because ekranoplans didnt have any waterborne steering mechanism, they were unsafe in a crowded harbor environment. The hydrofoils help, as do the three modes of operation. Rather than going directly from floating to flying, we have this intermediate mode, foil. That foiling mode allows us to get through the harbor, it allows us to be a boat where it makes sense to be a boat, he says. And then once we get into the open water, where the traffic is truly dispersed, thats when we take off onto the wing and settle into the ground effect.

The last improvement is about safety, Thalheimer says. Old ground effect vehicles were more akin to aircraft, with pilots controlling them at all times. From the pilots point of view thats basically like landing a plane for the entire time youre flying it  too mentally demanding. But now we have these incredible flight control sensors and software systems that let humans do what humans are good at, which is navigating, communicating, planning, and strategizing. Were going to let the vessel fly itself and the only thing that the captain is doing now is boat controls: left and right, fast and slow. Its a highly automated system that is still controlled by a human captain.

Seagliders are technically maritime vessels, which REGENT says will speed up certification and entry into service. - Regent

Island hopping

In the summer of 2022, REGENT tested a quarter-scale prototype of its seaglider  a remotely operated version weighing 400 pounds, with a wingspan of 18 feet. The full-scale commercial vehicle, named Viceroy, will have a wingspan of 65 feet and fly between 20 and 30 feet off the sea surface

Among the first customers to operate seagliders, Thalheimer says, will be Surf Air Mobility, a commuter airline that will use the vehicles to connect islands in Hawaii, and along the coastline of Miami, through Key West and out to the Bahamas. In Europe, Brittany Ferries has long expressed interest in the seagliders to connect the UK and France across the English Channel, and Thalheimer says deals are in place across the Mediterranean to connect the South of France and Italy, as well as the Greek islands. Japan Airlines and New Zealand startup Ocean Flyer will also be among the first operators, Thalheimer adds.

In Abu Dhabi, the seagliders will not just support tourism operations, but existing public transport bottlenecks. Specifically, the Abu Dhabi Department of Transport is looking to increase connections to more distant emirates like Ras Al Khaimah, which are many hours away by car today, as well as underserviced Island communities in the Gulf, like Dalma Island, he says. Were actually seeing this kind of model apply to many other island communities around the world.

100 passengers?

Once Viceroy is up and running, REGENT plans to put into service an even bigger seaglider, called Monarch, which will have capacity for up to 100 passengers and, Thalheimer says, will enter service at the end of the decade. However, he adds, an improvement in battery technology would be required to support the hypothetical vehicles projected range of 300 to 500 miles.

According to Darren Biddlecombe, head of data at aviation consultancy firm AviationValues, REGENTs plan is possible from a technological standpoint. However, there are also regulatory and commercial barriers to bringing a new product to any market, and further challenges to becoming financially sustainable. Regents ability to turn its order book into actual deliveries will depend largely on how well it can attract  and retain  the necessary capital and expertise to overcome those challenges, he says.

A potentially convenient and environmentally friendly form of travel certainly looks to be an interesting prospect, Biddlecombe adds, but it will come down to REGENTs ability to produce and support the vehicles in such a way that operators can use them safely, reliably and at a cost that passengers are willing to pay. That goes well beyond the vessels themselves to the training, infrastructure, parts and maintenance support, and regulatory approval, he says. If REGENT can navigate those waters, they may well have a shot.

This story has been updated to clarify that REGENT is based in Rhode Island.

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Elon Musk, Tesla CEO, at the opening of the Tesla factory Berlin Brandenburg in Gruenheide, Germany, in 2022. (Patrick Pleul / Associated Press)

When Apple holds its annual Worldwide Developers Conference, its software announcements typically elicit cheers and excitement from tech enthusiasts.

But there was one notable exception this year  Elon Musk.

The Tesla and SpaceX chief executive threatened to ban all Apple devices from his companies, alleging a new partnership between Apple and Microsoft-backed startup OpenAI could pose security risks. As part of its new operating system update, Apple said users who ask Siri a question could opt in for Siri to pull additional information from ChatGPT.

"Apple has no clue what's actually going on once they hand your data over to OpenAI," Musk wrote on X. "They're selling you down the river."

The partnership allows Siri to ask iPhone, Mac and iPad users if the digital assistant can surface answers from OpenAI's ChatGPT to help address a question. The new feature, which will be available on certain Apple devices, is part of the company's operating system update due later this year.

"If Apple integrates OpenAI at the OS level, then Apple devices will be banned at my companies," Musk wrote on X. "That is an unacceptable security violation."

Read more: Apple announces deal with OpenAI. Will it be a game-changer?

Representatives for Musk and Apple did not respond to a request for comment.

In a keynote presentation at its developers conference on Monday, Apple said ChatGPT would be free for iPhone, Mac and iPad users. Under the partnership, Apple device users would not need to set up a ChatGPT account to use it with Siri.

"Privacy protections are built in for users who access ChatGPT  their IP addresses are obscured, and OpenAI wont store requests," Apple said on its website. "ChatGPTs data-use policies apply for users who choose to connect their account."

Many of Apple's AI models and features, which the company collectively calls "Apple Intelligence," run on the device itself, but some inquiries will require information to be sent through the cloud. Apple said that data is not stored or made accessible to Apple and that independent experts can inspect the code that runs on the servers to verify this.

Apple Intelligence will be available for certain models of Apple devices, such as the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max and iPad and Mac with M1 and later.

So does Musk have a point? Technology and security experts who spoke to The Times offered mixed opinions.

Some pushed back on Musk's assertion that Apple's OpenAI deal poses security risks, citing a lack of evidence.

"Like a lot of things that Elon Musk says, it's not based upon any kind of technical reality now, it's really just based upon his political beliefs," said Alex Stamos, chief trust officer at Mountain View, Calif.-based cybersecurity company SentinelOne. "There's no real factual basis for what he said."

Stamos, who is also a computer science lecturer at Stanford University and a former chief security officer at Facebook, said he was impressed with Apple's data protection efforts, adding, "They're promising a level of transparency that nobody's really ever provided.

"It's hard to totally prove at this point, but what they've laid out is about the best you could do to provide this level of AI services running on people's private data while protecting their privacy," Stamos said.

"To do the things that people have become accustomed to from ChatGPT, you just can't do that on phones yet," Stamos added. "We're years away from being able to run those kinds of models on something that fits in your pocket and doesn't burn a hole in your jeans from the amount of power it burns."

Read more: AI companies are courting Hollywood. Do they come in peace?

Musk has been critical of OpenAI. He sued the company in February for breach of contract and fiduciary duty, alleging it had shifted its focus from an agreement to develop artificial general intelligence "for the benefit of humanity, not for a for-profit company seeking to maximize shareholder profits." On Tuesday, Musk, who was a co-founder of and investor in OpenAI, withdrew his lawsuit. Musk's San Francisco company, xAI, is a competitor to OpenAI in the fast-growing field of artificial intelligence.

Musk has taken aim at Apple in the past, calling it a "Tesla graveyard," because, according to him, Apple had hired people that Tesla had fired. If you dont make it at Tesla, you go work at Apple," Musk said in an interview with German newspaper Handelsblatt in 2015. "Im not kidding.

Still, Rayid Ghani, a machine learning and public policy professor at Carnegie Mellon University, said that, at a high level, he thinks the concerns Musk raised about the OpenAI-Apple partnership should be raised.

While Apple said that OpenAI is not storing Siri requests, "I don't think we should just take that at face value," Ghani said. "I think we need to ask for evidence of that. How does Apple ensure that processes are there in place? What is the recourse if it doesn't happen? Who's liable, Apple or OpenAI, and how do we deal with issues?"

Some industry observers also have raised questions about the option for Apple users who have a ChatGPT subscription to link their accounts with their iPhone, and what information is collected by OpenAI in that case.

"We have to be careful with that one  linking your account on your mobile phone is a big deal," said Pam Dixon, executive director of the World Privacy Forum. "I personally would not link until there is a lot more clarity about what happens to the data."

Read more: Scarlett Johansson also thinks OpenAI's new voice sounds like her. She's not happy about it

OpenAI pointed to a statement on its website that says, "Users can also choose to connect their ChatGPT account, which means their data preferences will apply under ChatGPTs policies." The company declined further comment.

Under OpenAI's privacy policy, the company says it collects personal information that is included in the input, file uploads or feedback when account holders use its service. ChatGPT has a way for users to opt out of having their inquiries used to train AI models.

As the use of AI becomes more entwined with people's lives, industry observers say that it will be crucial to provide transparency for customers and test the trustworthiness of the AI tools.

"Were going to have to understand something about AI. Its going to be a lot like plumbing. Its going to be built into our devices and our lives everywhere," Dixon said. "The AI is going to have to be trustworthy and were going to need to be able to test that trustworthiness."

Night Archiving Supervisor Valerie Hood contributed to this report.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Patrick Pleul/Getty Images; Chelsea Jia Feng/BI

Elon Musk is facing a growing number of legal fights.

BI scoured the dockets to find the biggest court cases and investigations posing a threat to the billionaire.

If Musk throws his support behind Donald Trump, he stands to gain if Trump wins the presidency.

It's not unusual for a high-profile business figure to attract a lot of lawsuits. But by any standard, Elon Musk is spending a lot of time and money on lawsuits.

Musk and his companies  especially Tesla, SpaceX, and X (formerly known as Twitter)  keep running into controversies, whether it's over whether the products actually work as well as they're supposed to, the billionaire's pay structure, his hiring practices, and even his firing practices.

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He has also become a magnet for personal lawsuits. Musk is involved in messy litigation with Claire Boucher, aka Grimes, the mother of three of Musk's children. He has also launched lawsuits of his own through his companies, wading into arguments about free speech on the internet. Musk often relies on Alex Spiro, his longtime personal lawyer, to fight and coordinate the cases.

Business Insider has combed through court records and created a list of the most significant legal challenges on Musk's docket.

The lawsuits and government investigations into Musk and his companies range from discriminatory hiring practices to allegations that some of Tesla's features don't work as advertised.

Some of his highest-profile battles  such as Musk's court victories over Musk's "funding secured" tweet and "pedo guy" tweets, his losses against an anti-hate group and the SEC over a "Twitter sitter," and his settlement with a Black Tesla employee who was the victim of racist discrimination  have been resolved, and aren't included on this list.

With his vast wealth, Musk could stand to gain from supporting Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump in the 2024 election. Over the past several years, Musk's politics have drifted rightward, and there were reports he was being considered for an advisory role in a second Trump administration if the former president wins the election.

Story continues

As the leader of the executive branch, Trump  who in his first term used the levers of the federal government for his own benefit  could seek to force agencies to drop investigations and ongoing cases against Musk and his companies.

Spiro and representatives for Musk did not respond to requests for comment from BI.

Elon Musk is CEO of Tesla. Anna Webber/Variety/Getty Images

Lawsuits brought by Musk

Musk v. Media Matters

The issue: Musk's company X Corp. filed a lawsuit in Texas against the liberal advocacy group Media Matters in November, alleging the group launched a "blatant smear campaign" against X.

What's going on: Last year, Media Matters published a report that indicated X was placing advertising content next to pro-Nazi posts on the social media site. The nonprofit's report appeared to launch another advertising exodus from Musk's social media site.

Musk claims in his lawsuit that the group manipulated its findings and cherry-picked information. In response, Media Matters president Angelo Carusone called it "a frivolous lawsuit meant to bully X's critics into silence."

The issue has broadened into investigations from right-wing state attorneys general in Texas and Missouri, who are examining whether Media Matters broke civil laws with its reporting on Musk's social media company.

Media Matters laid off several employees in May, blaming the "legal assault" that it says restricted its resources.

What's next: Media Matters lost an attempt to force the judge in the case, US District Judge Reed O'Connor, to recuse himself, after he stepped aside from another lawsuit by X following reports that he owned Tesla stock. The trial is ongoing.

Gina Carano v. Disney

The issues: Actress Gina Carano is suing Disney after it fired her from "The Mandalorian" after she made posts on X comparing the treatment of conservatives in America to Jews in Nazi Germany. One post also engaged in Holocaust denial, claiming "thousands" of Jews were "rounded up," rather than millions. X is funding the lawsuit, and Musk has championed it on the platform.

What's going on: Musk has promised to back lawsuits supporting people who were fired because of their X posts, and Carano's is a test case for that project, which Musk says is meant to protect free speech.

The lawsuit, crafted by boutique conservative law firm Schaerr Jaffe, focuses on California labor laws that protect political activism outside the workplace.

In July, the judge overseeing the case rejected Disney's motion to dismiss the lawsuit. Disney argued the company has a First Amendment right not to associate with Carano's views, which also include criticism of vaccine mandates and questioning the results of the 2020 election.

What's next: The lawsuit now seems likely to move onto a trial after the judge declined to dismiss the suit.

Musk v. NLRB

The issues: Musk's Tesla is fighting a decision by the National Labor Relations Board that the electric-car company CEO violated labor laws back in 2018 when he tweeted that Tesla employees could lose their stock options if they unionized.

What's going on: A three-judge panel of the 5th US Circuit Court of Appeals last year upheld the NLRB's finding that Musk's tweet unlawfully threatened Tesla employees' benefits. Musk's May 21, 2018 tweet at the center of the matter read: "Nothing stopping Tesla team at our car plant from voting union. Could do so tmrw if they wanted. But why pay union dues & give up stock options for nothing? Our safety record is 2X better than when plant was UAW & everybody already gets healthcare."

Attorneys for Tesla  which argued that Musk's tweet could not be interpreted as a threat  asked the federal appeals court to reconsider the ruling. That request was granted.

What's next: The full 5th Circuit heard oral arguments in the case earlier this year, and the 17-judge panel has yet to issue a ruling.

Musk vs Altman

The issues: After dropping his first lawsuit against OpenAI and its CEO Sam Altman in June, Musk filed a new lawsuit against the company and its cofounders Altman and Greg Brockman in August.

What's going on: In the new lawsuit, Musk argued he had been "deceived" into co-founding the company and "assiduously manipulated" by Altman and Brockman, who he says played on his fears that AI posed an existential risk to humanity.

The lawsuit again focuses on claims that OpenAI transitioned from a benign non-profit to a for-profit entity, which Musk's lawyers describe as "a vehicle for Altman and his partners' self-enrichment."

Musk founded OpenAI along with Altman and Brockman in 2015, before departing in 2018. The billionaire has set up his own AI startup, xAI, to compete with the ChatGPT creator.

What's next: The lawsuit is working its way through California's Northern District Court. OpenAI referred BI to Musk's emails, which the company publicly released in response to the first lawsuit.

Elon Musk and his companies face several lawsuits and investigations brought by the government. VCG/Getty

Government lawsuits and investigations

SEC investigation into Musk's Twitter takeover

The issues: The Securities and Exchange Commission is investigating Elon Musk's Twitter purchase.

What's going on: The SEC and Musk have a long history together. In October, the agency announced it had opened an investigation into his $44 billion purchase of the social media company. The SEC hasn't said specifically what it's looking into  only that the probe concerns his purchase of Twitter stock and his 2022 statements and SEC filings relating to his purchase.

What's next: In May, Musk agreed to testify in the investigation, which remains ongoing.

Tesla Autopilot investigation

The issues: Justice Department prosecutors  as well as regulators from other federal agencies  are looking into Tesla's claims of self-driving.

What's going on: Federal prosecutors are examining whether Tesla committed wire fraud or securities fraud with exaggerated claims of self-driving using the cars' "Autopilot" feature. The Securities and Exchange Commission is also looking into whether investors were misled by the claims, according to Reuters. And in a separate probe, the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is looking into reports of Tesla crashes involving the Autopilot feature.

What's next: Tesla has already issued recalls  which, in its case, just means a software update  to add more safeguards to its Autopilot feature. Tesla recalls are essentially just software updates, and the company already issued a recall on 2 million of its vehicles to add more safeguards to its Autopilot feature. The NHTSA is still looking into whether those updates were sufficient.

The company also recently settled a civil lawsuit over a crash that killed an Apple engineer while one of its cars was in Autopilot mode  one of several dozen Tesla deaths involving the feature.

Tesla steering loss investigation

The issues: The US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is investigating thousands of complaints that drivers of Tesla's Model Y and Model 3 vehicles suddenly lost steering control.

What's going on: The investigation began in 2023. Earlier this year, the agency advanced its investigation and sought more records from Tesla.

What's next: The probe's recent upgrade to the "engineering analysis" stage suggests the NHTSA may soon issue a Tesla recall.

NLRB v. SpaceX

The issues: In a complaint earlier this year, the NLRB accused Musk's SpaceX of illegally firing eight employees for criticizing Musk in an open letter.

What's going on: The former employees alleged that they were terminated in 2022 over their involvement in the open letter to SpaceX executives that called Musk's public behavior "a frequent source of distraction and embarrassment for us." The NLRB filed its complaint in connection with the matter earlier this year.

What's next: In response to the complaint, SpaceX sued the NLRB in federal court, alleging that the government agency's structure is unconstitutional. An appeals court handed Musk a legal win in May when it temporarily blocked the NLRB's case against the rocket company.

SpaceX lawsuit for not hiring refugees

The issues: The Justice Department's civil rights division filed a lawsuit alleging SpaceX illegally discriminated against asylees and refugees by refusing to hire them.

What's going on: The lawsuit, filed in August, pointed to Elon Musk's own social media posts where he claimed that US law requires "at least a green card" to be hired at SpaceX for national security reasons. That simply isn't true, the Justice Department alleged.

Instead of suing in a federal district court under a Senate-confirmed judge, the Justice Department brought the lawsuit through an administrative court, where the judges are appointed by the US Attorney General. SpaceX sued in a federal district court in Texas over this arrangement, and a judge agreed with the company, ruling in November that there were constitutional problems with the arrangement.

What's next: The case has been gummed up in the federal district court in Texas, as the Justice Department and SpaceX exchange volleys over the jurisdiction for different parts of the lawsuit. The US Supreme Court has also shown a willingness to reconsider the constitutionality of administrative law judges in different agencies, and pending decisions from the high court could continue to alter the trajectory of the SpaceX case.

Tesla racism lawsuit

The issues: The US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission sued Tesla in September, alleging Black employees at a California manufacturing facility have been subjected to racist harassment.

What's going on: The federal agency's lawsuit joined dozens of other cases from Tesla workers who've said they experienced racist abuse. One employee, Owen Diaz, won a major victory when Tesla was ordered to pay $3.2 million in a racial discrimination case.

What's next: A federal judge denied a motion to dismiss the EEOC lawsuit in March, putting it on the path for a trial.

Claire Boucher, AKA Grimes, and Elon Musk have each filed lawsuits in a custody dispute. Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images

Personal lawsuits against Musk

Tornetta v. Musk

The issues: Tesla shareholder Richard Tornetta sued Musk and Tesla in a class action lawsuit regarding Musk's compensation package, which was worth $55.8 billion at the time.

What's going on: In 2018, Tesla set up a pay plan for Musk that involved a 10-year grant of 12 tranches of stock options that would vest when Tesla hit certain targets tied to the automaker's market value and revenue. Musk was able to hit all 12 targets in 2023. With each milestone, Musk received stock equal to 1% of outstanding shares at the time of the grant.

Tornetta's lawsuit alleges that the pay package was "beyond the bounds of reasonable judgment" and says Musk had influenced the board's approval of the plan, including through his close personal relationships with board members such as his brother Kimbal Musk.

Tesla has argued that compensation was needed to maintain Musk's attention, and shareholders have benefited from the impact Musk's leadership has had on Tesla's stock, which has climbed dramatically since 2018.

The Delaware Court of Chancery struck down Musk's pay package in January. In June, Tesla shareholders voted to approve the package.

What's next: Musk is expected to use the recent shareholder vote to ask the Delaware Chancery Court to reconsider its decision, hoping their approval will help convince the judge that the pay package is sensible. He's also likely to continue appealing the case if he loses.

Boucher v. Musk

The issues: Claire Boucher, AKA Grimes, and Musk have each filed dueling lawsuits in a custody dispute in California and Texas, respectively.

What's going on: The Musk-Grimes custody battle began in September when the CEO sued his ex-partner to "establish the parent-child relationship" with their three kids: X  A-XII, Exa Dark Siderl, and Techno Mechanicus. In his petition, the billionaire said he filed the lawsuit after he realized Grimes "was not returning to Texas with their younger children." Three-year-old X has remained with Musk.

A few weeks later, Grimes sued Musk in San Francisco court, seeking primary physical custody and joint legal custody of the pair's three children.

What's next: The case was sealed in January and remained ongoing as of April, when Business Insider was last able to view the docket. Neither side has publicly indicated that the case has been resolved.

Benjamin Brody v. Musk

The issues: California man Benjamin Brody filed a defamation lawsuit against Musk in Texas last year, alleging that the billionaire amplified a conspiracy theory that falsely affiliated the college graduate with a neo-Nazi extremist group.

What's going on: Brody's lawsuit accuses Musk of boosting the claims on his X social media site and says Brody endured "severe personal harassment and permanent damage to his reputation." Musk's "personal endorsement of the false accusation against" Brody reverberated across the internet, transforming the accusation from anonymous rumor to gospel truth for many individuals, and causing others to use Musk's endorsement to justify their desire to harass Ben Brody and his family," the lawsuit says. In a deposition, Musk said he didn't know who Brody was.

What's next: Brody's lawsuit is seeking $1 million in damages and a trial by jury. Musk's attorneys have filed a motion to dismiss the lawsuit.

Neuralink monkey scratch lawsuit

The issues: Lindsay Short, a former employee in Musk's brain-chip-implantation company Neuralink, alleged in a lawsuit that the company fired her after she said she was pregnant. The suit also alleges she was repeatedly scratched by monkeys because the company didn't provide proper protective gear.

What's going on: The lawsuit, filed on June 14 in a California court, paints a portrait of a workplace with insufficient protections and dangerous conditions. On one occasion, the lawsuit alleges, a monkey carrying the Herpes B virus scratched Short and broke her skin, exposing her to the virus.

What's next: Neuralink hasn't yet responded to the lawsuit in court.

Twitter severance lawsuits

The issues: Hundreds of former Twitter employees are suing X for unpaid severance.

What's going on: When Elon Musk took over Twitter, he quickly fired thousands of employees  he claimed over 80%  and didn't pay any severance to many of them. In court filings, X claims the merger agreement that allowed Musk to control Twitter didn't require any payments and that the former employees have no standing to sue because they weren't part of the merger.

Even former Twitter executives have sued Musk over severance. Twitter's former chief accounting officer, Robert Kaiden, alleged that Musk falsely accused him of misconduct so he could fire him without paying out severance. Kaiden said he's owed $3.75 million in unpaid severance.

There are multiple different lawsuits in different districts. Musk's lawyers successfully convinced a judge to toss the biggest one, demanding $500 million in damages and class action certification, in July.

Several lawsuits also allege Musk discriminated against them because of their race, gender, or disability in choosing to fire them.

What's next: With the proposed class-action case in California dismissed, each lawsuit will now be decided on a piecemeal basis in the courts. Meanwhile, Twitter has considered settling some of the claims.

Agrawal v. Musk

The issues: Four former Twitter executives (ex-Twitter CEO Parag Agrawal, ex-Twitter CFO Ned Segal, ex-head of legal, policy, and trust at Twitter Vijaya Gadde, and ex-senior legal counsel at Twitter Sean Edgett) sued Musk and X in March, alleging the company failed to pay out millions of dollars in severance.

What's going on: After Musk took over Twitter in 2023, he terminated the four executives within minutes.

The executives were set to receive golden parachutes, but claim Musk and X have not paid them out. The group says X collectively owes them $128 million in severance.

Musk has said he fired the executives for cause and does not owe them anything. In August, Agrawal, Segal, and Gadde separately sued Twitter for over $1 million, alleging the social media company hadn't paid the legal fees they accrued during their time at Twitter.

What's next: The lawsuits are all in various stages, with judges having yet to rule on motions to dismiss them.

X vs Wiwynn

The issues: Taiwanese tech firm Wiwynn filed a lawsuit against X in August, seeking at least $61 million in damages over claims the social media firm refused to pay for server parts worth about $120 million after Musk took control in 2022.

What's going on: Nearly two years after Musk took over the company once known as Twitter, he's still dealing with the legal fallout. Wiwynn claims X violated a long-standing purchase agreement when it "abruptly stopped" making any payments to Wiwynn in November 2022, and failed to respond to requests for payment for completed products.

After Musk bought Twitter, he began aggressively cutting costs, laying off 80% of the workforce. The company also faced complaints from numerous vendors over unpaid bills, with Musk reportedly telling employees "let them sue."

What's next: X has not yet responded to the lawsuit, which was filed in the Northern District Court of California.

Read the original article on Business Insider
PARIS, June 12 (Xinhua) -- French President Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday called on voters to back his centrist Renaissance alliance in legislative elections set to take place in less than three weeks.

"I want as many elected members of the presidential majority as possible," Macron told a press conference in Paris. "I hope that when the time comes, before or after (the legislative elections), men and women of goodwill who have been able to say no to the extremes, and who are able to build a joint project that is sincere and useful to the country, will come together."

Macron dissolved the National Assembly and called for new legislative elections after the Renaissance alliance lost heavily to the far-right National Rally in the European Parliamentary elections on Sunday.

The National Rally won 31.5 percent of the vote, more than twice the share of Renaissance (15.2 percent), who came just ahead of the Socialists (14.3 percent).

Facing dozens of journalists, Macron defended the dissolution of the National Assembly, which many political observers view as a "great gamble." However, citing several surveys, Macron argued that "two thirds of French people understand and want this dissolution."

"Sunday's vote was clear. It is a vote on Europe, but the votes cast placed the far-right forces at almost 40 percent (of the vote) and the extremes (both right and left) at almost 50 percent. This is a fact that we cannot ignore. We must provide a democratic response. The return to the sovereign people is, in this context, the only republican decision," said the French president.

News of the snap elections has sent shockwaves through the French political ecosystem. On Monday, leaders of the left-wing parties, including the Greens and radical leftist Jean-Luc Melenchon's La France Insoumise, agreed to form a united "popular front" to present a single candidate in each constituency.

On Tuesday, Eric Ciotti, president of The Republicans, said he was in favor of an alliance with the National Rally. This announcement was criticized by many heavyweights in the traditional Gaullist party, who accused Ciotti of being a "traitor" and called for his resignation. An extraordinary session of the party's political bureau has been convened on Wednesday.

For Macron, an alliance of the left with the extreme left is "not natural", as parties within such an alliance have opposite views on key issues. Ciotti has "made a devil's pact" with the National Rally, he said.

Macron vowed to bring together all those who do not support extreme views to back his "central bloc". "We are ready to integrate proposals from the social democrats or the Republican right which would provide coherence," he said. "It is this restructuring of political life that I am now calling for."

The French president also recognized that his administration had failed to provide a rapid and radical enough response to the difficulties of the French people. "We are not perfect, we have not done everything well, but we have results," he said.

Macron presented major axes for new measures on security, immigration, youth, housing, and health and education.

When asked about the risk of placing the National Rally in power after the two rounds of elections for the lower house of parliament that will be held on June 30 and July 7, Macron said he refused to "hand the keys to power to the far right" in 2027 when he steps down after his second and last term. 
Inside the downfall of Henrik Fisker's second automotive startup, which just filed for bankruptcy

Henrik Fisker's second automotive startup filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on Monday.

Fisker was pitched as a Tesla rival, but workers say mismanagement led to compounding problems.

Business Insider spoke with 27 former and current Fisker staff that charted the startup's downfall.

Fisker's staff was in chaos as they prepared to deliver the company's first batch of electric cars to US customers.

It had been four years since famed automotive designer Henrik Fisker unveiled his Tesla rival, an SUV called the Ocean, and the vehicle still wasn't ready.

In the weeks leading up to the big June 2023 event, Fisker staff raced to fix faulty parts on at least four of the 22 EVs that were set to be delivered  even stripping parts off the CEO and CFO's personal cars to repair the vehicles, including door handles and seat sensors, according to 11 sources familiar with the incident.

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Two days later, Fisker board member Wendy Gruel's Ocean SUV, one of the cars that had been delivered at the event, shut off on a public road while going full speed, five sources said. Later, the same thing happened to Geeta Gupta-Fisker, Henrik's wife and the company's CFO and COO, workers said.

A Fisker spokesperson denied that workers used parts from pre-production vehicles for customer cars and said Gruel's car didn't stop on a public road. The company said Gupta-Fisker's vehicle had malfunctioned, but the issue was resolved.

When TechCrunch previously reported the incident with Gruel's car, the publication said the company had confirmed the incident and said the issue was fixed.

The issue was unrelated to Fisker's part swapping, but one thing was clear: the electric cars had barely hit the road and already the problems were piling up.

Henrik Fisker's EV startup seemed to be an easy sell at first. The 60-year-old automotive veteran boasts a long history in the industry, known for being the designer behind the Aston Martin V8, the BMW Z8 roadster that famously appeared in a 1999 James Bond film, and helping design Tesla's Model S.

Story continues

Even though it was Henrik's second automotive startup after his first company went out of business in 2013, some workers told Business Insider that it was easy to dismiss worries early on that his second company could meet the same fate.

For his part, Henrik said he planned to do things differently this time. He would follow Apple's model by outsourcing production through Magna International and he also aimed to target the middle of the market with a more affordable EV option that could compete with Tesla's best-selling Model Y. Fisker Inc emerged in 2016 and went public in 2020 via a SPAC backed by Apollo Global Management. At one point, the company's market value soared as high as $8 billion.

At the time, Fisker was one of several EV startups to burst onto the scene  Rivian, Lucid, and Lordstown all wanted the chance to compete with Tesla. Since then, production and market headwinds have pushed some EV startups to shutter and major players like Ford and GM to scale back their electric-vehicle operations. Even Tesla has struggled, seeing revenue decline and layoffs.

"I was hopeful at first," one former VP, who worked at both Fisker startups, said. "Initially, at least, it seemed like he'd learned from his mistakes. It became obvious later on that they hadn't."

A Fisker spokesperson said it would be "unfair" to compare the two companies.

On Monday, the company announced it had filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy after months of struggling to stay afloat. The company cited "various market and macroeconomic headwinds."

Business Insider spoke with over two dozen current and former Fisker employees who worked at the startup during various periods from its launch in 2016 to the present. The workers, whose identities are known to BI, requested anonymity as they were not authorized to comment on Fisker's behalf and feared professional reprisal.

A husband and wife duo who workers say mismanaged their way into a mess

Many of Fisker's woes can be traced back to the husband-wife duo that launched the brand, multiple former and current workers told BI.

They described a disorganized environment in which unqualified people were brought in to lead major programs and basic automotive standards were ignored.

While Henrik often served as a figurehead, Gupta-Fisker was heavily involved in everyday decisions, including on the engineering side, 11 workers said. Prior to taking on the role of CFO and COO at Fisker, Gupta-Fisker had served as an investment manager for the Fisker family office and as an advisor at a nonprofit. She had no prior experience in the automotive industry. But at Fisker, the workers said she managed deals with Magna and outside parts suppliers, frequently popped into engineering meetings, and weighed in on everything from parts purchases to software decisions.

A spokesperson for Magna declined to comment on Fisker. A Fisker spokesperson denied comments that Henrik took on a more passive role and said he was "deeply involved."

Henrik Fisker shows off the Fisker Karma. The car he produced under his first automotive venture, which filed for bankruptcy a decade ago. Reuters/Phil McCarten

49-year-old Gupta-Fisker quickly became known in the company for her shrewd cost-cutting abilities. But, her strategy meant that at times Fisker ended up using components that didn't match the correct specifications for the Ocean, five former and current workers said. Gupta-Fisker made several decisions to use cheaper parts against Fisker executive and Magana executives' advice, two workers said. The mismatches led to issues with over-the-air updates, the five workers said.

The company said Magna oversaw the majority of parts sourcing and a "significant" amount of the parts came from Magna and its suppliers.

In conversations with BI, staff blamed many of the Ocean's faults on the cost-cutting efforts.

Several workers said that in the months leading up to the vehicle's launch, they filed internal reports recommending that the product undergo further testing and development before its release. They said they were told the company planned to proceed anyway.

"The focus was on getting the car to market as soon as possible," one former worker said. "The overarching belief was we could fix things with updates later on."

A Fisker spokesperson said Magna was responsible for testing and releasing the Ocean and it had been fully certified by regulators in the US and Europe. The company has been sending out over-the-air updates since 2023, the company said.

Ahead of the release, Fisker engineers were aware of multiple issues with the vehicle, according to five current and former workers, as well as internal documents viewed by Business Insider. Engineers had identified issues with the effectiveness of the car's door handles, key fobs, and seat sensors.

Over the past year, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has launched four investigations into Fisker's SUV, including issues with inadvertent braking and flaws in the vehicle's door latch system. The company said it is cooperating with NHTSA.

Fisker has also faced dozens of lemon law lawsuits. Last week, Fisker issued a recall for a software-related issue that it said caused some of its vehicles to suddenly lose power.

Cutting corners led to compounding issues

In its haste to bring the car to market, Fisker failed to set up an effective system for processing repair orders and warranty claims, seven current and former workers said. Technicians were tasked with filling out the work orders and many of them said they hadn't been trained on the process.

In lieu of a working warranty system, some workers began processing the repairs without the proper California Bureau of Automotive Repair codes and EPA license numbers, using "123456" as a placeholder on a number of repairs, according to an internal document viewed by BI. In March, a VP at Fisker warned the issue made the company non-compliant with NHTSA protocols and unable to properly track and report safety concerns.

A Fisker spokesperson said the issue was "an internal error with only draft work orders early in the service process that was immediately corrected."

The Fisker Ocean hit US roads in June 2023. Fisker

Without a proper system to process warranties or repair orders, the majority of repairs went unaccounted for, seven current and former workers said. That meant there wasn't an adequate way for Fisker to keep track of which parts were being used for repairs for its own financial records. It also meant many customers did not get a record of their repairs, workers said.

Meanwhile, Fisker also struggled to find the necessary parts for all of the fixes. The company hadn't set up much inventory for aftersales parts, so some of the parts used for customer fixes either came directly off the factory line, meaning they were meant for production vehicles, or the parts were stripped off pre-production and production vehicles, 11 workers with knowledge of the issue said.

In one instance, Fisker stripped parts off an engineering test vehicle that had been shipped from Magna's facility in Graz, Austria under an import bond, according to three former workers and emails viewed by BI. The vehicle was supposed to be destroyed in its entirety shortly after it was delivered to comply with the terms of the import. This is typically within a year, according to NHTSA, but the period can be extended in one-year increments up to 3 years. The vehicle's parts were not intended to be used for customers' cars.

The company denied any test vehicles had been used for parts and said all vehicles that had been imported for testing were destroyed under NHTSA's supervision within the allotted time period.

The spokesperson also denied that Fisker had a shortage of after-sales parts: "The Service department made its own forecast for parts, based on their sector knowledge. The Purchasing department supported those requests."

Fisker staff also looked for clever ways to address the parts shortage. In some instances, workers who visited Graz were told by managers to bring parts back in their suitcases to avoid paying import fees, seven workers said. One worker recalled having to leave personal belongings behind to fit air vents and key fobs into their luggage; another said they packed a larger bag to fit trim panels.

Fisker declined to comment on the claims.

A sales scramble amid negative reviews and vanishing demand

Fisker was initially successful in generating interest in the Ocean, with over 65,000 reservations initially placed.

But in the year since the Ocean's release, the company has delivered around 7,000 vehicles, a Fisker spokesperson said. Negative reviews  including YouTuber MKBHD calling it the "worst care I've ever reviewed"  took a toll on the brand, driving thousands of would-be customers to cancel their reservations.

In November, Fisker moved to bring in hiring recruiters to help sell the vehicle, as well as orchestrate the delivery of the car after the sale had been processed, six former workers said. In many cases, the recruiters, who had initially been brought onto the human resources team, had zero experience in automotive sales.

A Fisker spokesperson said that recruiting staff did join the sales efforts, though the company said they were asked to stay because they were successful in the new role.

Marques Brownlee reviewed the Fisker Ocean and called it "the worst car I've ever reviewed." YouTube

Selling the car wasn't easy either. The recruiters found themselves directly competing with the company's established sales team and there weren't enough leads to go around. Four former workers said Fisker's reservation numbers included many duplicate names in its count and it was difficult to track which customers had connected with a sales worker. As a result, some people on the reservation list would find themselves getting multiple calls per day from different Fisker representatives.

At one point, sales workers were instructed to target customers who had canceled their orders and pepper them with calls in an attempt to get them to reverse their decision, three former workers said.

Fisker also began hosting pop-up events to boost sales, including events in partnership with fan blog Fiskerati, two former employees told BI. The events varied from meetups at Panera parking lots to larger-scale test drive events. In at least one instance, the event was shut down after Fisker failed to get permission from the owner of the location, the two sources said. Queues of Fisker owners that needed repairs also showed up at the events, three former workers said. Fisker told BI that the event hosted at Panera was not a company event.

"Sometimes it was hard to sell the cars when you'd take someone on a test drive and any number of error messages would pop up," one former worker from sales said. "As time went on and it became clear the writing was on the wall, we became even more honest with the customers on the risk," they added.

Fisker said it was aware of the ADAS issues but it was fixed with an update.

Meanwhile, some customers who'd canceled their orders and never paid for the car ended up mistakenly receiving delivery of the vehicle anyway, four former workers said. Former Fisker Ocean owner Kurt Mechling told BI he received delivery of the vehicle before he'd signed off on the order or had his payment successfully processed.

In March, TechCrunch reported that Fisker temporarily "lost track of millions of dollars in customer payments" for multiple months. Four workers with knowledge of the issue confirmed to BI the incident involving misplaced payments occurred.

When the carmaker conducted an internal audit in December over the issue, workers began scrambling to find the missing payments and bring some of the vehicles that had been mistakenly delivered back, the workers said. Some workers were encouraged by upper management to threaten the customers by saying they'd put them on a repossession list which could impact their credit score, the former workers said.

A Fisker spokesperson said the company had an "organized process" to address issues with vehicles that had not been paid for that was in line with industry standards.

Filing for bankruptcy  again

Fisker had been facing the possibility of bankruptcy for months.

Fisker warned in March that it might go out of business within the year. The stock was delisted from the New York Stock Exchange in April after it fell to 9 cents per share.

Fisker warned staff in an April filing that they could be laid off if the company couldn't find a buyer or additional investor. The company brought in a chief restructuring officer who was given "sole authority" over some financial matters, including a potential sale, as part of an agreement with one of its investors.

Fisker also dropped prices by as much as $24,000 for some versions of the vehicle and conducted a series of layoffs that whittled the company down to the bone.

Ahead of the bankruptcy filing, Fisker's workforce consisted of less than 100 people, according to two sources with knowledge of the issue. The remaining workers were involved in last-ditch efforts to offload the company's remaining inventory, the people said.

A week before the bankruptcy filing, Fisker denied it had less than 100 workers left and told BI it continues to sell vehicles in the US and in Europe. It declined to specify how many workers remained.

In its Chapter 11 filing, Fisker said that its manufacturing pause would remain in place but that it plans to file "customary motions" with the bankruptcy court to ensure it can continue to pay employee wages and its vendors.

Over the past few months, workers have expressed dissatisfaction with what they view as Henrik and Gupta-Fisker's inability to take accountability for their actions. A Fisker spokesperson pushed back on the comments questioning Henrik's business prowess.

For Henrik, whose earlier company, Fisker Automotive, filed for bankruptcy in 2013, his present predicament echoes the past.

"I think it's a story of ego. He wanted to make a car and stamp his name on it. Henrik is a great designer, but he doesn't have the business acumen beyond that," an individual who worked with Henrik at several companies, including his first automotive startup. "The lessons he should have learned from the first startup were never implemented and he rushed a car to market once again."

June 18, 2024: Updated to reflect that Fisker filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

June 12, 2024: Added clarification that NHTSA requires temporarily imported vehicles to be destroyed within 3 years and that Fisker said it had done so within the allotted time period.

Do you work for an EV company like Fisker or Tesla? Reach out to the reporter from a non-work email and device at gkay@businessinsider.com or 248-894-6012.

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A woman who met Elon Musk as a SpaceX intern says they had sex: report

A woman who met Elon Musk as a SpaceX intern says they had sex: report

The Wall Street Journal reported a former SpaceX intern's account of having sex with Elon Musk.

The woman, who met Musk during her internship, later joined his executive team, the report said.

The woman told the outlet she had no "romantic relationship" with Musk during her full-time role.

A new report by The Wall Street Journal includes a former SpaceX intern's story of having a brief relationship with Elon Musk that included sex.

Musk was said to have first met the woman in the early 2010s during her internship at the rocket company while she was still in college, according to the report. She told friends that she approached him with ideas for improving SpaceX and that it led to a date where the two bonded over "Star Wars" and kissed, the report said.

Musk later flew the woman to Sicily to visit him at a resort, the Journal reported, citing documents.

The report said Musk personally contacted the woman in 2017 to discuss a role on his executive staff.

The woman went on to work at SpaceX until 2019, leaving the company after an executive she reported to was included in a layoff, she told the Journal through her lawyers.

In affidavits provided to the outlet by the woman's lawyers, she said she had no "romantic relationship" with Musk during her employment at SpaceX from 2017 to 2019.

"Nothing that Elon Musk did towards me during either of my periods of employment at SpaceX was predatory or wrongful in any way," the woman said.

The woman's lawyers also represented Musk. The affidavits said she had previously had a romantic relationship with the SpaceX CEO.

People familiar with the matter and friends of the woman told the outlet she visited Musk at his home multiple times during her employment at SpaceX.

The woman was not named by the Journal. The newspaper said lawyers representing both her and Musk sent legal letters demanding her removal from the article. She also was said to have advised friends not to talk to reporters.

Representatives for Musk and SpaceX did not respond to requests for comment from Business Insider, made outside normal working hours, by the time of publication. BI was unable to contact the woman for comment.

SpaceX has been under scrutiny in recent years amid reports of sexual harassment at the company.

Earlier this year, seven former SpaceX employees claimed executives discriminated against women and joked about sexual harassment. They detailed the accusations in California civil-rights complaints.

Musk has also faced personal accusations of sexual misconduct. In May 2022, BI reported that SpaceX paid a former flight attendant $250,000 in 2018 after she accused Musk of sexually harassing her.

Musk denied the claims and claimed the story was false .

Read the original article on Business Insider
by Alessandra Cardone, Ren Yaoting

ROME, June 12 (Xinhua) -- Child labor is still widespread in Italy, although largely undetected, a study by Save the Children charity suggested on Wednesday.

An estimated 336,000 minors aged 7-15 have had at least one working experience in their life, equal to about 1 out of 15 children of that age in the country, according to the research.

Based on 82,000 interviews with teens living in Italy, the new data were released ahead of the United Nations' World Day against Child Labour, which is celebrated every June 12 since 2002.

Some 160 million minors are believed to be in child labor globally, according to the UN; although still high, their number dropped by some 85.5 million from 2000 to 2020.

In Italy, the minimum age for work is 16, and no public statistics on child labor are available.

Marking the event, Italian President Sergio Mattarella urged society to create "an environment in which girls and boys can grow up healthy, educated, and free."

"In order to do away with the deep-rooted causes of the phenomenon, and protect the rights of the child, we need an approach capable of engaging governments, organizations, companies, communities and individuals," Mattarella said.

SCHOOL DROPOUT

The Save the Children study suggested a strong link between child labor and early school-leaving in later years, which is a phenomenon that plagues Italy at a rate (11.5 percent) above the European Union average (9.6 percent), according to the latest available data by Eurostat.

It also stated that, among children aged 14-15 who admitted to doing or having done working activities, some 27.8 percent carried out jobs "detrimental to their education and psychophysical well-being."

Such jobs were deemed as harmful because "carried out at night, or during school time, or because the respondents themselves perceived them as dangerous," the authors explained.

At least 53.8 percent of minors involved in work started after the age of 13, while 6.6 percent before 11; also, some 65.4 percent of them were male, and 5.7 percent had migrant origins.

POVERTY, EXCLUSION

According to various experts separately interviewed by the same authors to analyze the findings, the root causes of child labor were family poverty and socio-educational contexts.

This matched the children's answers: the main reasons for them to work were "to have money for themselves" (56.3 percent), and "the desire or need to support their parents" (32.6 percent).

Finally, the authors urged a public debate on "the intergenerational transmission" of poverty and social exclusion in Italy. "The education level of parents -- especially of the mother -- is significantly associated with child labor," they said. 
BRUSSELS, June 12 (Xinhua) -- The European Commission said on Wednesday that it plans to impose provisional tariffs on imports of battery electric vehicles (EVs) from China starting from July 4.

The European side ignores the facts and WTO rules, and disregards the appeals and discouragement of the governments and industries of many EU member states, persisting with its trade protectionist actions. Such move not only violates the legitimate rights and interests of China's EV industry but also wreaks havoc on the global automotive supply chain, including within the EU.

The European Commission on Wednesday pre-disclosed the level of provisional duties it would impose on imports of battery electric vehicles from China, which range from 17.4 percent to 38.1 percent.

Many European political and business leaders voiced strong opposition to the Commission's plan. BMW CEO Oliver Zipse criticized the plan as "the wrong way to go," saying that imposing such tariffs is harming the development of European car-makers, as well as the European interests themselves.

Former EU Commissioner for Transport Violeta Bulc told Xinhua that rather than erecting trade barriers, it would be better to adopt a cooperative approach, allowing European consumers to benefit from the continuous improvements of Chinese EV technology.

Croatian political analyst Kresimir Macan told Xinhua that, from a long-term perspective, the Commission's move will negatively impact the further development of the European automobile industry.

The China Chamber of Commerce to the EU stated that the European Commission's move would not only impair the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese and European automobile manufacturers and related supply chain companies, and distort the fair competition environment for Chinese EV companies in the European market, but also negatively impact the normal bilateral economic and trade exchanges in automotive and relevant sectors.

The spillover effects will challenge China-EU economic and trade relations, as well as bilateral relations, the chamber added.

A spokesperson from China's Ministry of Commerce said that the European side ignores the facts and WTO rules, ignores China's repeated strong objections, disregards the appeals and discouragement of the governments and industries of many EU member states, and persists with its trade protectionist actions. China has expressed grave concern and strong dissatisfaction and the Chinese industrial sector is deeply disappointed with and resolutely opposed to the move.

The spokesperson urged the EU to immediately correct the wrongdoings, earnestly implement the important consensus reached in the recent trilateral meeting between Chinese, French and EU leaders, and properly resolve economic and trade frictions through dialogue and consultation.

China will closely monitor the subsequent actions from the EU, and will resolutely take all necessary measures to firmly defend the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese enterprises, the spokesperson added. 
Delhi-based tech giant, Transline Technologies Limited has raised an investment through private placement of shares where it was seen that many major investors took part.

Names like Ramesh Damani, Sanjay Kaul, Green Portfolio, TSG Global, Globe Capital and other major investors were seen in their private placement. This news comes right after bagging multiple award of contracts from the government and private clients of big magnitude.

Transline Technologies Limited is a company mainly working in Security Surveillance systems, IT Infrastructure, Software Solutions and other related industry works. They have major clients like The Indian Railways, TCIL, Indian Oil Corporation and many other giants.

Mr. Arun Gupta, Managing Director of Transline Technologies Limited said, We are thrilled to have such experienced names of the industry join hands with us and show us their love and support. It truly is a reflection of reward of our hard work over the years. We are truly thankful to our investors for putting their trust in us.

Support of Industry Titans for Transline Technologies Limited could prove to be a game changer in the time to come.
TS TET Result 2024: The Telangana School Education Department is set to release the TS TET result today, June 12. Candidates can check and download their rank card and result online if they took the Telangana Teacher Eligibility Test. The time of the TS TET 2024 results has not yet been released; candidates are advised to check the official website frequently for changes. In addition, the result will be made available on the third-party website Manabadi. Once the scorecard is available, applicants will need to log in with their date of birth and hall ticket number.

The dates of the TET tests were May 20 To 2 June. The total 2,86,381 applications were received, and 2,36,487 candidates appeared for exam.

TS TET Result 2024: Steps to download here

Visit the official website tstet2024.aptonline.in.

Click the link for the TS TET result on the homepage that displays.

A fresh login screen would appear.

Enter your birthdate and hall ticket number.

View and download the outcome.

Print this page off for your future reference.

The TS TET Results results for Papers 1 and 2 will be released together. The Department of School Education (DSE) will provide TS TET certificates to candidates who pass the exam. After passing the TS TET exam, candidates will be deemed qualified for Telangana teaching positions.
In Jammu and Kashmir, terrorists attacks have intensified since June 9. While terrorists fired upon a bus carrying pilgrims in Reasi on Sunday, two more attacks took place in Kathua and Doda. In the past 48 hours, there have been three terrorist incidents. On Tuesday, terrorists opened fire in the Kathua district of Jammu region, prompting the army to kill one terrorist in response. Additionally, terrorists attacked an army camp in the Chhatrakala area of Doda district.

Security forces have surrounded the terrorists in Kathua. One CRPF jawan of 121Bn who was injured in fresh contact with the militants succumbed to his injuries at Sub District Hospital, Hiranagar. ADGP Jammu has confirmed the killing of one terrorist, and the operation is ongoing. Earlier on Sunday, terrorists fired on a bus carrying pilgrims from Shiv Khodi Temple to Katra, resulting in the deaths of 9 people and injuries to 41 others.

Following a terrorist attack in Doda district of Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday night, a gunfight ensued between security forces and terrorists. ADGP Anand Jain reported that terrorists opened fire on a joint checkpoint of the 4th National Rifles and police in the Chhatrakala area. Security personnel retaliated, initiating the ongoing gunfight.

Earlier in the evening, terrorists attacked a village in the Kathua district of Jammu and Kashmir, where security forces killed a suspected Pakistani terrorist in an ensuing encounter. An extensive operation against the remaining hidden terrorists is underway. It is believed that these terrorists infiltrated from across the border. Three civilians were injured in the terrorist firing in Hiranagar.

A police spokesperson stated that terrorists attacked the village of Saida Sukhal near Koota Morh in the Hiranagar sector. During the subsequent search operation, one terrorist was killed. The spokesperson mentioned that the operation is still ongoing. Officials recovered an AK rifle and a bag from the deceased terrorist, whose identity and group affiliation are being investigated.

This incident in the Jammu region occurred shortly after terrorists fired on a 53-seater bus carrying pilgrims from Shiv Khori Temple to Katra in the Teryath village of Reasi districts Pouni area on Sunday. The bus fell into a gorge after the attack, resulting in the deaths of 9 people and injuries to 41 others.
Today, we kick off our news segment with an intriguing opinion poll. You might be wondering, "The election is over, the government has been formed, so what's this new poll about?" Well, this poll has been initiated by none other than Congress MP Rahul Gandhi. He invites you to participate and voice your opinion on whether he should continue as the MP from Wayanad or Rae Bareli.

After expressing his gratitude to the people of Rae Bareli, Rahul Gandhi visited Wayanad today to do the same. Prior to his visit to Wayanad, he held a roadshow in Malappuram. Perched atop a car, he led a victory procession, sparking a wave of excitement among Congress supporters. Following this, he held a public meeting where he reiterated his comments about Prime Minister Modi, first made in Rae Bareli. He also raised the question of whether to retain Rae Bareli and Wayanad, or to let one go, indicating his dilemma.

In today's DNA, Zee News' Saurabh Raaj Jain analysed Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's dilemma of whether to retain Wayanad or Rae Bareli Lok Sabha seat and who will replace him.

On the day of the election results, Rahul Gandhi had stated that he would consult his party before making a decision. Today, he announced that he would seek the public's opinion. There are several reasons why Rahul chose to retain the Rae Bareli seat. The next question that arises is, if he vacates the Wayanad seat, who will be the candidate in his place? Could it be Priyanka Gandhi Vadra?

On May 3, the final day for nominations in Amethi-Rae Bareli, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh described the ticket announcement as a surprising chess move. He said in the media, "There are a few chess moves left. Priyanka will reach the House by contesting any by-election."

Rahul Gandhi's statement in Rae Bareli yesterday hinted at a possible role for Priyanka. After concluding his speech, he took the mic again, thanked Priyanka, and mentioned that he had an idea, which he would reveal later

Watch tonight's DNA for a detailed analysis here:
New Delhi: A statue of Mahatma Gandhi, Indian Freedom Fighter also known as 'Father of the Nation' was vandalised in the Italian city of Brindisi by pro-Khalistani extremists on Wednesday. The incident took place a day before Prime Minister Narendra Modi scheduled to visit Italy for the G7 Summit.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Wednesday raised the issue of the vandalisation of Mahatma Gandhi's statue by Khalistani separatists in Italy.

"We have seen the reports and taken it up with the Italian authorities. We understand that a suitable rectification has already been made. The effort to vandalise the statue, which is, of course, deplorable, has been addressed and the necessary rectification is done," said Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra, IANS reported.

The incident comes just before PM Modi's visit to Italy for the G7 Summit's Outreach Sessions which is scheduled to be held on Friday.

Earlier, the Khalistani goons had defaced BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Sydney's Rosehill with anti-India graffiti just before PM Modi arrived in Australia after attending the G7 and Quad Leaders' Summit in Hiroshima.
In Jammu and Kashmir, a terrorist holed up in a border village in Kathua district was killed by security forces after a prolonged encounter lasting over 15 hours. The operation, which also resulted in the death of the terrorist's accomplice and a CRPF jawan, began on Tuesday night in Saida Sukhal village, officials reported. Despite bullets striking their vehicles, two senior officers escaped unhurt.

The operation began after two terrorists were spotted in Saida Sukhal village. Both terrorists have been neutralized since the commencement of the operation. Officials said both the slain terrorists are believed to be Pakistanis. A large quantity of arms, ammunition and over Rs 1 lakh in cash were seized from the encounter site, they said, adding the identity and group affiliation of the terrorists were being ascertained.

In a separate incident in the Doda district, five Rashtriya Rifles troopers and a special police officer (SPO) were injured when terrorists attacked a joint checkpost in the upper reaches of Chattergalla on the Bhaderwah-Pathankot road late Tuesday night. Traffic on the highway has been suspended as security forces launch an operation to track down the attackers.

These incidents come just days after terrorists targeted a bus carrying pilgrims from the Shiv Khori temple to Katra. The attack caused the bus to veer off the road and plunge into a deep gorge, killing nine people and injuring 41 others on Sunday evening.

In response to the bus attack, police have announced a Rs 20 lakh reward for information leading to the terrorists' capture and released a sketch of one of the suspects. Authorities attribute the increase in terror activities in the Jammu region to efforts by Pakistan to destabilize the area.

In Kathua's Saida Sukhal village, near the International Border, the second terrorist was killed on Wednesday noon following an intense gunfight. The joint security forces of the police, Army, and CRPF had cornered the terrorist, who attempted to escape by firing indiscriminately at around 3 a.m. CRPF jawan Kabir Dass, a resident of Madhya Pradesh, was critically injured in the exchange and later succumbed to his injuries in a hospital.

During the operation official vehicles of Deputy Inspector General of Police, Jammu-Samba-Kathua range, Sunil Gupta and Senior Superintendent of Police, Kathua, Anayat Ali Choudhary were hit by several bullets but the officers escaped unhurt. Additional Director General of Police (Jammu zone) Anand Jain, who supervised the operation, said, "Two terrorists, who appeared to have freshly infiltrated (from across the border), surfaced in the village around 8 pm on Tuesday and asked for water from a household. The people got frightened and as soon as they informed us, a police team rushed to the village." "One of the terrorists tried to hurl a grenade at the police team and was killed in the exchange of fire," he said.
There have been three terror incidents in Jammu and Kashmir since June 9. While around 11 people including a CRPF jawan lost their lives and several were injured, the search and combing operations to kill the terrorists are still underway. Two terrorists have been shot dead in the ongoing encounter. The security forces have recovered Pakistan-made hand grenades, one lakh Pakistani rupees, guns, medicines, chocolates and food items from the possession of the killed terrorists, indicating their Pakistan link. This comes after a series of targeted killings of Kashmiri pandits and migrant labourers in the last year.

Kashmir was showing the world its thriving democracy when people turned out in record numbers to vote in the first Lok Sabha elections held after the abrogation of Article 370. While Panchayat elections were held in Kashmir, the assembly elections are yet to be held after the abrogation of Article 370. Pakistan was expecting that people upset with the scrapping of Article 370 will not participate in the Lok Sabha polls. However, people turned out in record numbers and this made Islamabad anxious. Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar has already said that he was keen on holding the assembly polls in Jammu and Kashmir as soon as possible and thus, Pakistan decided to reactivate its terror network in the valley to disrupt peace, feel experts.

Major General (Retd) AK Siwach said that there are over ground workers who are helping these terrorists in carrying out the attacks and flee after that. He said that due to the hilly terrain and forest areas, combing operations become tough in the region.

"There is no doubt that Pakistan's ISI was involved in the Reasi terror attack. LeT commander Abu Hamza was involved in it. When normalcy returned to Jammu and Kashmir following the abrogation of Article 370, and even the Lok Sabha elections went very well, Pakisan now wants to reactivate the terror activities in Rajouri and Poonch region, south of Pir Panjal. Because this area has hilly terrain, and forests and touches the Pakistan border. Terror activities might spread to Reasi, Akhnoor, Kathua, Dodo and neighbouring areas. This is Pakistan's conspiracy to incite more and more terrorist attacks in Jammu and Kashmir before the assembly elections and show the world that the area is not peaceful," he said.

Lt Gen (Retd) Sanjay Kulkarni said that Pakistan wants to destabilize the region once again. "The Over Ground Workers act as eyes and ears of the terrorists. Local politicians promote this network when they rule out Pakistan's hand behind these attacks. Pakistan can be successful in this region only with the support of locals," said Kulkarni.
Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, the emir of Kuwait, vowed to hold those accountable for the tragedy that claimed at least 49 lives and on Wednesday gave the authorities an order to investigate the massive fire at an apartment block housing foreign workers, the majority of whom were Indians. According to the most recent reports, the fire that broke out early on Wednesday in a six-story building housing labourers in southern Kuwait killed about fifty people, most of them were Indians.



The majority of the dead, according to Maj Gen Eid Al-Owaihan, Director General of the Forensic Department, were Indian citizens from Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and northern Indian states.

In a condolence message sent to the families of the victims of the Mangaf fire incident, the Emir expressed his sincere sorrow and deep sympathy to the victims' families and wished the injured a speedy recovery. According to the official Kuwait News Agency (KUNA), the Emir ordered officials to investigate the causes of the fire outbreak and hold those responsible accountable.

Here are the top 10 developments on Kuwait fire incident:
A gansgter who was detained on suspicion of threatening Union Minister Nitin Gadkari and a senior IPS officer was reportedly thrashed inside the courtroom for raising Pro-Pakistan slogans on Wednesday in the Karnataka city of Belagavi. When brought before the district court, the arrested gangster Jayesh Pujari, who had threatened to blow up Union Minister Nitin Gadkari's Nagpur office and demanded a ransom from jail, shouted "Pakistan Zindabad," according to the police.

As soon as he raised the pro-Pakistan slogans, the advocates and other attendees in the court began thrashing him. With some difficulty, the police team that had brought him to court was able to rescue him and get him out of there. He was later taken to the APMC police station.

A video of the incident is increasingly going viral on social media. Jayesh Pujari appeared in court in connection with the death threat made against Karnataka IPS officer Alok Kumar.

Chaos erupted in the #BelagaviCourt on Wednesday when #JayeshPoojari from #Puttur, #Mangaluru, the accused who allegedly issued death threats to Union Minister #NitinGadkari and IPS officer #AlokKumar, shouted Pro-Pakistan slogans during his appearance.



The court premises, pic.twitter.com/wFcmGOn7NG  Hate Detector (@HateDetectors) June 12, 2024

News agency IANS quoting sources said that Jayesh Pujari raised pro-Pakistan slogans after being denied the right to present his case in court.Pujari is from Karnataka's Dakshina Kannada District and is currently imprisoned in Hindalga Central Prison. The police will file a separate case against him for raising pro-Pakistan slogans in court, IANS quoted sources as saying.
Joseph Csanyi (L), mayor of Kiskunfelegyhaza, attends the unveiling ceremony of the statue of Bai Mang in Kiskunfelegyhaza, Hungary, June 11, 2024. A statue was unveiled on Tuesday to honor Bai Mang, the Chinese translator of Hungary's most renowned poet: Sandor Petofi. (Photo by Attila Volgyi/Xinhua)

KISKUNFELEGYHAZA, Hungary, June 12 (Xinhua) -- A statue was unveiled on Tuesday to honor Bai Mang, the Chinese translator of Hungary's most renowned poet: Sandor Petofi.

"This event today is another bridge built between a very important country of the world, China, and Hungary, as Sandor Petofi's poems are well known there thanks to Bai Mang," Joseph Csanyi, mayor of Petofi's hometown Kiskunfelegyhaza, said in an interview with Xinhua.

Csanyi emphasized the significance of the memorial, which completes a series of monuments dedicated to the first translators of Petofi into various languages.

Jozsef Tarjanyi, a member of the National Petofi Society, told Xinhua: "Petofi introduced the term 'world freedom' in literature ... Bai Mang, who sacrificed his life for the freedom of the Chinese people, is the most worthy individual to be honored with this memorial."

Tarjanyi recalled an anecdote about the influence of Petofi's poetry in China. "In 2016, during a visit to China, I asked a tour guide if she knew Petofi. She wrote his poem 'Liberty and Love' on a paper napkin, demonstrating its resonance in Chinese education."

Wu Jiawei, deputy director of the Local Chronicles Office of Bai Mang's birthplace Xiangshan County, underlined the significance of the ceremony, saying that Tuesday marks Bai's 114th birthday.

Bai Mang is the pseudonym of Xu Xiaojie, the revolutionary writer and poet also known as Yin Fu in China.

Mayor Csanyi said at the end of the ceremony: "We trust that this bridge between Kiskunfelegyhaza and Bai Mang's birthplace will become an economic friendship too." 

This photo taken on June 11, 2024 shows the statue of Bai Mang in Kiskunfelegyhaza, Hungary. A statue was unveiled on Tuesday to honor Bai Mang, the Chinese translator of Hungary's most renowned poet: Sandor Petofi. (Photo by Attila Volgyi/Xinhua)
Doda Encounter: A policeman was hurt on Wednesday night when terrorists opened fire on a search party in a village in the Gandoh area of Jammu and Kashmir's Doda district, news agency PTI quoted officials as saying. Security forces retaliated after hearing reports of gunfire from Bhalesa's Kota top area at 7:41 p.m., they said. A fierce gunfight between the forces and the terrorists was going on when last reports were received.



In order to strengthen the cordon, reinforcements have been rushed to the location. This was the fourth terror-related incident in three days in Jammu and Kashmir, and the second in Doda in the previous 24 hours. Five members of the Rashtriya Rifles and a Special Police Officer were injued in a terrorist attack in Chattargalla Pass earlier on Tuesday evening.

Another incident occurred late on Tuesday in the Kathua district, where security forces killed a suspected terrorist from Pakistan. A second terrorist was shot and killed on Wednesday, ending the overnight encounter, but a CRPF jawan was killed in the process.



Terrorists attacked a pilgrimage bus on Sunday in Reasi, causing it to veer off the road and fall into a deep gorge, leaving nine people dead and 41 injured.
New Delhi: Lieutenant Governor Shri Manoj Sinha addressed the members of the artist community on Wednesday during the Jashn-e-Bahar Traditional Folk Festival at Tagore Hall of Srinagar and highlighted the collective stand against terrorism.

We stand united in the fight against terrorism. I have full faith in our Police and Security forces, who are working round the clock to ensure a safe and secure environment for the people. We will not rest until we eradicate terrorism and its supporters from J&K soil, LG Sinha said.

He said that the artists can play a crucial role by raising awareness and exposing individuals supporting the terror ecosystem.

The Lt Governor highlighted the society's significant role in thwarting the nefarious intentions of the terror ecosystem.

"Every section of society is distressed by the heinous crime committed by the terrorists in Reasi. We should work together to identify and isolate those attempting to disrupt peace," the Lt Governor said.

He urged the citizens to provide any crucial information they come across to law enforcement agencies to crush terrorism.

"Unity in diversity is our biggest strength. Each one of us must fulfil our responsibility in eliminating terror elements for a peaceful and prosperous future for Jammu Kashmir and the nation, he added.
TDP leader N Chandrababu Naidu today took oath of office as the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh today. Jana Sena Party chief Pawan Kalyan also took oath as the Deputy Chief Minister of the state. Along with these two, 23 more ministers took oath of office including two more legislators from the Jana Sena and one from BJP. Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended the oath ceremony besides Union Home Minister Amit Shah. However, several celebrities were also present during the high-profile event held at Kesarapalli IT Park near Gannavaram Airport, Vijayawada.

The ceremony was a star-studded affair featuring variety of guests, including several prominent actors from the South. Film actor and Padma Vibhushan awardee Konidela Chiranjeevi and actor Rajinikanth, actor-politician Nandamuri Balakrishna attended the oath-taking ceremony. Jana Sena leader Pawan Kalyanwho is going to be the deputy chief ministeris Chiranjeevi's youngest brother, while Ram Charan and Allu Arjun are Kalyan's nephews.

In addition, several chief ministers, including Bihar's Nitish Kumar, Rajasthan's Bhajan Lal Sharma, Uttarakhand's Pushkar Singh Dhami, and Maharashtra's Eknath Shinde, attended the ceremony. Chandrababu Naidu has also invited farmers who gave their lands for the construction of Andhra Capital. It's not yet clear whether former CM Jagan Mohan Reddy will attend the event or not.

The BJP-TDP-Jana Sena alliance swept the Andhra Pradesh assembly elections winning 164 seats out of the total 175. Naidu will become Chief Minister for the fourth time, breaking the record of Nandamuri Taraka Rama Rao who ruled the state for three terms.
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.
New Delhi: Countdown begins! With just two days left until its theatrical debut, Chandu Champion, jointly produced by Sajid Nadiadwala and Kabir Khan, is gearing up to be one of the most significant releases of the year.

Anticipation is reaching a fever pitch. Kartik Aaryan, who has stunned audiences with his remarkable transformation showcased in the trailer and songs, is pulling out all the stops in promoting the movie. During his recent visit to Ahmedabad,

the excitement among fans was palpable, as crowds of all ages clamored to catch a glimpse of the star.

In Ahmedabad, Kartik experienced an overwhelming response from fans during the Chandu Champion promotions. A massive crowd turned up to catch a glimpse of the actor, who truly stole hearts with his stylish demeanor.

From children to young adults, the enthusiasm for the champion was tangible and electric. The children's chants of 'Kartik' echoed throughout the event, adding to the magical atmosphere fueled by his presence.

Co-produced by Sajid Nadiadwala and Kabir Khan,' Chandu Champion' is slated for release on June 14, 2024. Directed by Kabir Khan, the film is expected to make a lasting impression on audiences around the globe.
NCRTC has recently collaborated with Ghaziabad City Transport Service (GCTS) for integration of RRTS stations on its electric bus routes. Bus stops have been developed near the entry-exit gates of RRTS stations for this purpose.

These buses will be available at designated stops near RRTS stations and will facilitates commuters to ensure easy planning and smooth transitions between buses and Namo Bharat trains. Currently, 7 different routes will be available for last mile connectivity for which around 50 electric buses are operational.

The commuters can also access details of routes and frequency of these electric buses through RRTS Connect Mobile App and on the official RRTS website (rrts.co.in). The integration covers key RRTS stations, including Sahibabad, Ghaziabad, Guldhar & Duhai. NCRTC is also in talks with the authorities to get Muradnagar, Modi Nagar South, and Modi Nagar North stations integrated with these city buses.

Residents from Mandola, Loni, Dadri, Masuri etc. can reach major urban centers like Delhi and Meerut more conveniently by accessing the nearest RRTS station through the use of these buses.

Additionally, NCRTC has also collaborated with RAPIDO for providing cab services at Sahibabad & Ghaziabad RRTS Stations including Auto-Rikshaws, 2-Wheeler Bike Taxies as well as 4-wheeler cabs.

NCRTC is also installing fast EV chargers in parking areas of RRTS stations to enhance last-mile connectivity. This will lead to increased use of both, Electric Vehicles and Namo Bharat trains, while also creating a sustainable and eco-friendly hub of public transport modes. 17 bus routes around Sahibabad, Ghaziabad and Guldhar stations have been identified by NCRTC for operations by State Authority or private bus operators and these routes have been notified by the UP-State Transport Authority as well. Once operational, these bus routes will further enhance ease of commute for local residents of Ghaziabad.

Further in this direction, Expression of Interests are also invited from other cab aggregators and bus operators for integration with all the 25 stations across the Delhi-Ghaziabad - Meerut RRTS Corridor, that will further enhance connectivity of urban nodes with RRTS stations, thereby creating a transport hub.



Presently, a 34 km section between Sahibabad and Modi Nagar North of the Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut RRTS corridor, which includes eight stations, namely Sahibabad, Ghaziabad, Guldhar, Duhai, Duhai Depot, Murad Nagar, Modi Nagar South & Modi Nagar North stations is operational for passengers. As construction progresses swiftly on the remaining stretches of the Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut RRTS corridor, NCRTC is expected to complete the entire system by the set timeline of June, 2025.
New Delhi: Elon Musk has dropped his lawsuit against OpenAI and its co-founders Sam Altman and Greg Brockman. The lawsuit which was filed in a california court this February alleged that OpenAI had breached its contract and deviated from its original mission of developing AI to benefit humanity. Elon Musk's decision to drop the lawsuit came just a day after he publicly criticised OpenAI's new partnership with Apple.

Musks lawsuit claimed that OpenAI has violated an agreement with its founding members which included a commitment to remain a non-profit and keep its technology open-source. However, OpenAI strongly denied all these accusations and argued that Musk wanted absolute control of the company and had even suggested merging it with Tesla. (Also Read: Xiaomi 14 CIVI Smartphone Launched In India With Free YouTube Premium Subscription; Check Specs, Price)

A lawsuit filed by Elon Musk was dismissed with prejudice, according to CNBC. Musk initiated the lawsuit in February and accused Open AI, its co-founders betrayal. He also claimed that Benchmark Capital had breached an agreement signed in 2019. The dismissal with prejudice means that the case cannot be refiled in the future. (Also Read: HMD 105 and HMD 110 Feature Phones Launched In India With Built-In UPI Feature; Check Specs, Price)

Elon Musk's withdrawal of the lawsuit prevented a hearing that was scheduled for Wednesday in San Francisco. During this hearing, the judge was set to decide whether to dismiss the case. "Seeing the remarkable technological advances OpenAI has achieved, Musk now wants that success for himself," stated OpenAI's attorneys. In an April filing, Musk argued that OpenAI was attempting to "advance arguments based on disputed facts" that were not relevant to the lawsuit.
New Delhi: Nokia phone maker HMD has launched its first HMD-branded feature phones in India. The new feature phone includes the HMD 105 and HMD 110 under its own identity. The company is offering a one-year replacement guarantee on both the newly launched feature phones in the market.

UPI Transactions Without Internet

The HMD 105 and HMD 110 mobile phones are equipped with a new built-in UPI functionality, which is said to allow users to make UPI transactions even without internet access. Both the feature phones come with a similar design, including a round camera module at the back, a curved frame and a textured finish. It also supports 9 input languages and 23 languages for text display.

HMD 105 And HMD 110 Colour Options

The HMD 105 comes with three colour options whereas the HMD 110 is offered in Black and Green colour options.

HMD 105 And HMD 110 Price And Availability

The HMD 105 feature phone carries a price tag of Rs 999 in India. Meanwhile, the HMD 110 is priced at Rs 1,199. Consumers can purchase the HMD 105 and HMD 110 feature phones across retail stores, e-commerce websites and HMD.com.

HMD 105 And HMD 110 Specifications

The HMD 105 And HMD 110 handsets are backed by a 1,000mAh battery each with extended standby time. The company claims that the devices offer a battery standby time of up to 18 days. Both the handsets are preloaded with features such as auto call recording, wired and wireless FM radio, MP3 player, dual LED Flashlight, and more. It also houses a rear camera within a circular camera module aligned centrally.
New Delhi: A massive fire broke out at a block housing workers in Kuwait's Mangaf on Wednesday, killing at least 40 Indians and injuring more than 50 others, Zee News TV reported.

The blaze broke out early Wednesday morning from a kitchen in the six-storey building near the Mangaf area of Kuwait's southern Ahmadi Governorate, officials said.

Approximately 160 individuals live in a building, reportedly all workers in the same company and many of them of Indian origins.

"In connection with the tragic fire-accident involving Indian workers today, Embassy has put in place an emergency helpline number: +965-65505246. All concerned are requested to connect over this helpline for updates. Embassy remains committed to render all possible assistance," the Indian Embassy in Kuwait said in a post on the microblogging site X.

As per reports, Indians constitute 21 per cent of the total population of Kuwait.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar informed that there are 40 deaths and over 50 have been hospitalized.

"Deeply shocked by the news of the fire incident in Kuwait City. There are reportedly over 40 deaths and over 50 have been hospitalized. Our Ambassador has gone to the camp. We are awaiting further information," EAM said.

"Deepest condolences to the families of those who tragically lost their lives. Wish early and full recovery to those who have been injured. Our Embassy will render the fullest assistance to all concerned in this regard," he added.

Kuwait Times reported that Kuwait's Interior Minister Sheikh Fahad Al-Yousuf Al-Sabah instructed police to detain the owner of the Mangaf building where the fire broke out.
BERLIN/BRUSSELS, June 12 (Xinhua) -- The European Commission on Wednesday revealed a list of protectionist duties it would levy on imports of battery electric vehicles (EVs) from China, sparking opposition and concerns from governments and businesses across Europe.

The provisional duties envisaged by the Commission on the imports of EVs from China would range from 17.4 percent to 38.1 percent.

Hungarian Minister for National Economy Marton Nagy condemned the move as overly protectionist. He said in a statement that "protectionism is not the solution," and the Commission's decision would unfairly discriminate against Chinese manufacturers and disrupt market competition, which had been vital for the European Union (EU).

Nagy pointed out the focus of the EU should be on enhancing the global competitiveness of the European EV industry, instead of imposing punitive tariffs, since such a move would stifle competition and hinder the growth of the EU market.

Volker Wissing, Germany's federal minister for Digital and Transport, said tariffs would affect German companies and their exports. "Vehicles must become cheaper through more competition, open markets and significantly better location conditions in the EU, not through trade wars and market isolation," he said on the social media platform X.

The EU's high additional tariffs would further deviate from the goals of global cooperation and could quickly have a negative impact in the event of a trade conflict. The potential fallout originating from these measures may be greater than their potential benefits for the European -- as well as the German -- automotive industry, Hildegard Mueller, president of the German Association of the Automotive Industry, told Xinhua in a written interview.

"The fact is that we need China to solve global problems, which applies, in particular, to successfully tackling the climate crises," Mueller said, stressing China's role in the transition towards electromobility and the digitalization of the global automotive industry.

BMW CEO Oliver Zipse criticized the Commission's plan as "the wrong way to go," stating that it would damage European companies and interests. "Protectionism risks starting a spiral: Tariffs lead to new tariffs, to isolation rather than cooperation," he said.

Other major German carmakers including Mercedes-Benz and Volkswagen also voiced their support for fair competition and free world trade, reported German media Handelsblatt. Europe's largest vehicle manufacturer Volkswagen rejected the planned tariffs, saying that "the negative effects of this decision outweigh any benefits for the European and especially the German automotive industry."

The Swedish government wants to know whether the European Commission has exhausted other options besides tariffs, Sweden's Minister for International Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Johan Forssell said. "We are generally skeptical of tariffs. Someone has to pay them, and in this case, it will sooner or later be the consumers," the Swedish TT news agency cited Forssell as saying.

The multinational carmaker Stellantis, in response to the EU announcement, also expressed its position by advocating free and fair competition in a global business environment and opposing measures that lead to "the fragmentation of the world." The company said through its affordable EVs and cooperation with Chinese electric carmaker Leapmotor, it has confidence in competing with Chinese products that have price advantages.

Hrvoje Prpic, president of the Croatian Electric Vehicle Drivers Association, said the high tariffs would fail to help European industry keep up the pace of Chinese car manufacturers, and moreover, the end users in Europe would front the increased cost.

"Businesses must be open, and tariffs are not beneficial for business exchanges," said Pavol Antalic, chairman of the Slovak-Chinese Joint Business Council. Recognizing the level of cooperation with Chinese companies in developing green energy, the Slovak business leader praised China's technological advancements in developing electric cars with excellent batteries and said "local customers are very interested in Chinese EVs."

As a non-EU member state, Norway said it will not follow the EU to increase tariffs on Chinese electric cars. The country's Finance Minister Trygve Slagsvold Vedum announced the decision on Wednesday. "Introducing tariffs on Chinese cars is neither relevant nor desirable for this government," Norwegian national broadcaster NRK cited Vedum as saying. 
Laman Ismayilova

President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev has addressed congratulations to the participants of the Azerbaijani Culture Days in Tashkent, Azernews reports.

"The Days of Culture of Azerbaijan are a logical continuation of the Days of Culture of Uzbekistan, held on the fraternal land of Azerbaijan," the message says.

Shavkat Mirziyoyev expressed confidence that Uzbeks will be able to become better acquainted with the ancient and rich culture, art, literature, national traditions, and values ??of the fraternal Azerbaijani people, and participants of the Azerbaijani Culture Days will be able to become more familiar with the transformations taking place in New Uzbekistan, as well as with its historical and cultural features .

Organised by the Azerbaijan Culture Ministry, the Azerbaijani Culture Days feature a large-scale program that became another celebration of Azerbaijani culture and art in the fraternal country.

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 the Azerbaijan State Yugh Theatre 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 Theatre will present this world-famous work at the Uzbekistan State Academic Theatre.

On June 13, the Azerbaijan Cultural Centre, named after Heydar Aliyev in Tashkent, will host a presentation of the book "The Sword and the Pen" by the well-known author of historical novels, Mammad Said Ordubadi.
NEW YORK, June 11 (Xinhua) -- The Biden administration made a "big mistake" in levying high tariffs on electric vehicles (EVs) imported from China, said a former U.S. envoy on Tuesday.

Speaking at a webinar organized by KraneShares, a U.S.-based asset management firm, Terry Branstad, former U.S. ambassador to China said U.S. President Joe Biden recently announced an extraordinary tariff on Chinese EVs in a bid to address concerns about U.S. dependence on China in this regard.

"But, I really think his policy was a big mistake and I think that the Trump campaign is going to try to really focus on that," said Branstad, who was posted in China from 2017 to 2020.

"It's really important to stay in touch with the constituents and that's where I think Biden is at a disadvantage because his electric vehicle mandate is not popular with the consumers. And I think it could hurt him," said Branstad, who served as Iowa governor for six terms in total.

Biden made a "huge mistake" in focusing on and trying to mandate EVs in the United States because consumers want a choice, he said.

With access to rare minerals, China has a huge advantage and could produce EVs at a lot less cost than the United States, according to Branstad.

It's critically important to maintain business ties between China and the United States, added Branstad. 
Latin American e-commerce leader MercadoLibre (NASDAQ: MELI) is a riddle. The broader stock market is near all-time highs, but this stock is down roughly 20% from its peak. What gives?

There's not an obvious problem with the company. Sometimes, the stock market acts irrationally, and we must take that at face value.

However, investors need not sit idly by while such an outstanding growth stock trades at a discount. I had to double-check the fundamentals to ensure I didn't miss something, and what I found was a stellar business trading at bargain prices.

Here is why investors should be all over MercadoLibre stock today.

When consumer needs and quality solutions come together

Latin America is a region with a massive (but economically underdeveloped) population of 670 million. Many people lack essential modern luxuries that others take for granted, such as e-commerce and basic banking services.

About 70% of them lack access to a banking/savings account or are underbanked, meaning they can't use lending or other complementary products and services.

MercadoLibre has worked to solve these problems since it started in 1999, and the company has mostly flown under the radar. It started with e-commerce, steadily building fulfillment centers and delivery networks. These physical assets take money and time to build up, and they help create a competitive advantage.

MercadoLibre also has a fintech business, Mercado Pago, that gives users access to several financial services, like digital payments, digital wallets, and basic banking.

Providing solutions to these consumer problems has resulted in stellar long-term growth:

MELI Revenue (TTM) Chart

The pandemic helped accelerate consumer migration to e-commerce and fintech, fueling MercadoLibre's growth. Revenue has multiplied several times over since 2020, so investors need to know whether the company still has room to grow. The answer: You bet.

There is abundant expansion space

The opportunity in Latin America is significant enough that it's hard to imagine growth falling off a cliff anytime soon. As of the first quarter this year, MercadoLibre had 53.5 million unique e-commerce buyers and 49 million fintech users -- a fraction of the total population in its market area. And growth could come from multiple sources.

Obviously, MercadoLibre will grow as more people use its e-commerce and fintech products and services. E-commerce could become an increasingly significant portion of total consumer spending, as it has in the U.S.

On the fintech side, there is bound to be more money flowing through it as the Latin American economy develops and consumers have more income and desire to borrow or invest.

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Analysts are very bullish on the company's long-term prospects. Their consensus is that total revenue will grow 34% from last year to over $19 billion in 2024. Estimates also call for MercadoLibre to double its revenue to over $39 billion by 2028, excellent growth for such a large business.

Shares are rarely this attractive

The fundamental evidence points to a very bright future for the company. But for some reason, the stock isn't enjoying a similar sentiment. If you measure the company by its enterprise value versus its revenue, the stock is near the cheapest it has ever been outside of the financial crisis in 2008-2009. But MercadoLibre was a much smaller, far less-proven business years ago.

It's a head-scratcher as to why the stock is valued so low today despite the apparent explosion in revenue and profits over the past four years and the likelihood that solid growth will carry it higher in the coming years.

MELI EV to Revenues Chart

The stock would double if it simply reverted to its average valuation from the past decade. I'm not going to go as far as calling for that.

Still, at the very least, it gives investors an idea of how undervalued MercadoLibre looks today and the potential margin of safety you can enjoy by owning the stock at these levels.

Should you invest $1,000 in MercadoLibre right now?

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1 Growth Stock Down 20% to Buy Right Now was originally published by The Motley Fool
Leon County Commissioner Brian Welch raised more than $40,000 combined through his re-election account and his political committee in April and May  more than any of the other candidates for local office.

Welch, whos seeking a second term in District 4, raised $35,724 through his local campaign account and another $5,000 via his political committee.

A Democrat running for a nonpartisan seat in the countys most conservative district, Welch also has stockpiled more money in his personal account  $176,457  than any of the other local candidates.

County Commissioner Brian Welch listens to public comment during the Blueprint meeting at City Hall on Thursday, Aug. 24, 2023.

His Republican opponent, Isaac Montilla, also has amassed a sizable war chest, raising $100,532, the third-highest amount of the local candidates.

Welch, a high school teacher, previously picked up checks from big developers and real estate firms, including Hadi Boulos and NAI TALCOR. In April and May, he continued that streak, getting five more $1,000 checks from TALCOR-related firms and at least three $1,000 checks from the Ghazvini family and development firms. He also refunded a $250 donation that Montilla gave him in 2023 before he decided to run against him.

Meanwhile, Montilla, a chiropractor, continued to get contributions from lawyers, doctors and others in the medical field, picking up an additional $3,850 at least from people in those professions.

Isaac Montilla, owner of Verity Health Center and a candidate for Leon County Commission District 4.

County Commissioner Christian Caban, who saw his lone opponent drop out of the race last week, remains the overall top local fundraiser when combining donations to his personal account, which total $38,225, and his political committee, where hes parked $139,573.

Here are more takeaways from the latest campaign finance reports for April and May, which were due June 10.

2024 sees rise of candidate-backed soft money committees

Political committees, which can raise and spend unlimited sums of money, have been active in Leon County politics for years. But unlike in past election cycles, the candidates are putting their names on their own committees now.

Caban, a former Republican turned Democrat, formed his committee in January, raking in big checks from local developers, Florida State University boosters and board members and backers of Gov. Ron DeSantis, among others.

Welch followed suit in February, creating the Forward Together Leon political committee, which he chairs. The committee has received a single donation for $5,000 from Securenet Solutions Group LLC.

The firm has ties to Summit Group Companies, whose corporate entities have given at least $1,500 to Welchs individual campaign account. Welchs committee has spent a little over $1,900, with most of it going to the Messer Caparello law firm for legal and administrative expenses.

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City Commissioner Jeremy Matlow, who isnt on the ballot this year, set up his political committee, One Tallahassee, in April. Its raised $5,000, all from a single check from Matlow. Its single biggest expense was a $1,000 check to the Florida Democratic Party.

City Commissioner Jeremy Matlow participates in a Blueprint meeting at City Hall on Thursday, Feb. 29, 2024.

Last week, he announced that the committee would support City Commissioner Jack Porter, his lone ally on the City Commission, who is up for re-election, Dot Inman-Johnson, whos trying to unseat City Commissioner Curtis Richardson, and Jeremy Rogers, whos challenging School Board member Laurie Lawson Cox.

While the old guard focuses on negativity and political smears, we will let our community know who is aligned with policies that serve the public good, Matlow said in a news release.

Aubrey Jewett, associate professor of political science at the University of South Florida, said political committees have become common for state lawmakers and are becoming more prevalent at the local level. Local candidates are limited to a maximum of $1,000 per donor through their own accounts but have no such limits on their committees.

You increasingly see candidates opening up their own political action committees because they can get unlimited amounts, he said. You can get huge sums if people and companies are willing to do it.

Meanwhile, Grow Tallahassee PC raised $77,000 over the two-month span with donations from developers and business people. Apartment builder Gordon Thames Arbor Properties and related firms gave $20,000. Sandco, a Ghazvini family business, and Kim Williams of Marpan each gave $10,000. The committee reported no expenses over the time frame.

Better Leon, a political committee chaired by Chauncy Haynes, aide to County Commissioner Carolyn Cummings, raised no money over April and May but still has $5,500 in its account. Its only donation this year came from The Recess Club of Tallahassee, which gave $2,000 in March.

Recess is owned by Wolf Hospitality Group, a business in which Caban serves as managing partner. Cummings is running for re-election against a lone challenger, David Hawkins.

Campaign money race neck and neck between Porter and Ferguson

Rudy Ferguson, a pastor whos trying to unseat Porter for City Commission Seat 1, raised more money than the incumbent during April and May. Ferguson brought in $18,260, while Porter collected $11,643.

Rev. Rudy Ferguson, chair of the Tallahassee Police Department's Citizens Advisory Committee, speaks during a press conference held by the city of Tallahassee and TPD to introduce the Tallahassee Bystander app at TPD Headquarters Tuesday, August 24, 2021.

Porter, however, remains ahead with a slight overall fundraising edge over Ferguson. Shes raised $84,405, and hes raised $83,802. Both have spent between $16,000 and $17,000.

Also running for Seat 1 are Louis Dilbert, whos raised $22,731 and spent nearly all of it, and Anthony DeMarco, who hasnt raised any money. DeMarco has moved out of the city and endorsed Ferguson in a June 9 Facebook post.

City Commissioner Jack Porter

Meanwhile, David Wamsley, who got into the race in April and vowed to raise a lot of money quickly, didnt receive a single check from a donor or supporter. Wamsley confirmed last week he plans to drop out of the race.

Wamsley himself gave $10,500 to his campaign and spent most of it by the end of the latest fundraising period. His biggest expenses were $3,900 on billboards attacking City Commissioner Jack Porter, $3,500 on office furniture and $2,000 on office rent.

Preston tops Akinyemi in donations in property appraiser race

Kenneth Ken Preston, whos challenging Leon County Property Appraiser Akin Akinyemi, raised $13,395 over the two-month period. The incumbent, meanwhile, collected just $1,100.

The difference was enough to push Preston to the front in total donations. Preston has raised $46,111 while Akinyemi has raised $41,670.

Preston has spent most of his money, some $45,291. Akinyemi has spent just under $16,000.

Preston, a former employee in the Property Appraisers Office, has been endorsed by Mayor John Dailey and City Commissioner Dianne Williams-Cox. Akinyemi has been critical of Dailey and the voting majority on the City Commission and spoken in support of Porter and Matlow.

Here's a list of state and local candidates and how much money they have raised through May via their individual campaign accounts.

State Senate District 3

Kimblin Eugene Nesmith (Democrat). Raised: $28,222. Spent: $27,996.

Daryl Parks (Democrat). Raised: $268,850. Spent: $31,583.

Corey Simon (incumbent, Republican). Raised: $523,291. Spent: $62,282.

State House District 7

Kenneth "Kenny" Beasley (Democrat. Raised: $2,170. Spent: $180.

Jason Shoaf (incumbent, Republican). Raised: $93,840. Spent: $58,364.

State House District 8

Grace Da'Nice Glass (Republican): Raised: None. Spent: None.

Gallop Franklin (incumbent, Democrat). Raised: $83,535. Spent: $45,306.

State House District 9

Allison Tant (incumbent, Democrat). Raised: $252,025. Spent: $40,039.

Leon County clerk of court

Gwen Marshall (incumbent). Raised: $3,500. Spent: $10.

Leon County property appraiser

Akin Akinyemi (incumbent). Raised: $41,670. Spent: $15,716.

Kenneth "Ken" Preston. Raised: $46,110. Spent: $45,291.

Leon County sheriff

Walt McNeil (incumbent, Democrat). Raised: $19,150. Spent: $239.

Leon County superintendent of schools

Joseph Lamar Burgess (no party affiliation). Raised: $52,286. Spent: $27,166.

Rocky Hanna (incumbent, Democrat). Raised: $143,130. Spent: $19,349.

Genleah Star Swain (Democrat). Raised: $7,685. Spent: $2,161.

Leon County supervisor of elections

Mark Earley (incumbent, Democrat). Raised: $12,100. Spent: $302.

Leon County tax collector

Doris Maloy (incumbent). Raised: $16,125. Spent: None.

Leon County judge Seat 4

Cydnee Brown . Raised: $29,875. Spent: $21,454.

Robert Churchill . Raised: $41,790. Spent: $18,621.

LaShawn Riggans. Raised: $42,960. Spent: $8,783.

Leon County Commission at-large

Carolyn Cummings (incumbent). Raised: $80,420. Spent: $27,096.

David Hawkins. Raised: $9,000. Spent: $4,373.

Leon County Commission District 2

Christian Caban (incumbent). Raised: $38,225. Spent: $1,662.

Leon County Commission District 4

Isaac Montilla . Raised: $100,532. Spent: $27,107.

Brian Welch (incumbent). Raised: $176,457. Spent: $23,138.

Leon County School Board District 2

Rosanne Wood (incumbent). Raised: $45,900. Spent: $3,883.

Daniel Zeruto. Raised: $4,596. Spent: $2,548.

Leon County School Board District 4

Laurie Lawson Cox (incumbent). Raised: $59,950. Spent: $20,641.

Jeremy Rogers. Raised: $33,725. Spent: $3,917.

Tallahassee City Commission Seat 1

Anthony DeMarco. Raised: None. Spent: None.

Louis Dilbert. Raised: $22,731. Spent: $22,682.

Rudy Ferguson Sr. Raised: $83,802. Spent: $16,814.

Jack Porter (incumbent). Raised: $84,405. Spent: $16,389.

David Wamsley. Raised: $10,500. Spent: $10,181.

Tallahassee City Commission Seat 2

Dorothy Inman-Johnson . Raised: $48,553. Spent: $17,372.

Donna Nyack. Raised: $1,500. Spent: $452.

Curtis Richardson (incumbent). Raised: $85,360. Spent: $10,385.

Bernard Stevens Jr. Raised: $250. Spent: $214.

Contact Jeff Burlew at jburlew@tallahassee.com or 850-599-2180.

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Tallahassee election 2024: Brian Welch ahead in fundraising race
Amidst a dynamic global retail landscape, innovations like Mastercard's AI-driven Shopping Muse are setting new benchmarks for consumer engagement and revenue growth. As market conditions evolve with such technological advancements, investors might consider the stability offered by high-yield dividend stocks on the SGX, which can provide consistent returns in a fluctuating economy.

Top 10 Dividend Stocks In Singapore

Name Dividend Yield Dividend Rating Civmec (SGX:P9D) 5.99%  Singapore Exchange (SGX:S68) 3.55%  UOB-Kay Hian Holdings (SGX:U10) 6.97%  China Sunsine Chemical Holdings (SGX:QES) 6.18%  UOL Group (SGX:U14) 3.77%  BRC Asia (SGX:BEC) 7.69%  Bumitama Agri (SGX:P8Z) 6.98%  Singapore Airlines (SGX:C6L) 7.10%  YHI International (SGX:BPF) 6.63%  Sing Investments & Finance (SGX:S35) 6.03% 

Click here to see the full list of 19 stocks from our Top SGX Dividend Stocks screener.

Let's explore several standout options from the results in the screener.

Simply Wall St Dividend Rating: 

Overview: Civmec Limited, an investment holding company based in Australia, offers construction and engineering services across sectors such as energy, resources, infrastructure, and marine and defense, with a market capitalization of approximately SGD 416.22 million.

Operations: Civmec Limited generates revenue from three primary segments: Energy (A$46.02 million), Resources (A$752.82 million), and Infrastructure, Marine & Defence (A$105.52 million).

Dividend Yield: 6%

Civmec, a Singapore-based company, has demonstrated reliable and stable dividend payments over the past decade with a growth in dividends during this period. Trading at 46.3% below its estimated fair value, it offers potential value. Dividends are well-supported by both earnings and cash flows, with payout ratios of 45.4% and 27% respectively. However, its dividend yield of 5.99% is slightly below the top quartile in the Singapore market.

SGX:P9D Dividend History as at Jun 2024

Simply Wall St Dividend Rating: 

Overview: China Sunsine Chemical Holdings Ltd. is an investment holding company that specializes in manufacturing and selling specialty chemicals across the Peoples Republic of China, other parts of Asia, the United States, and Europe, with a market capitalization of approximately SGD 377.83 million.

Operations: China Sunsine Chemical Holdings Ltd. generates revenue primarily through its Rubber Chemicals segment, which accounted for CN4.38 billion, followed by smaller contributions from Heating Power and Waste Treatment segments totaling CN221.29 million and CN29.76 million respectively.

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Dividend Yield: 6.2%

China Sunsine Chemical Holdings offers a dividend yield slightly above the top quartile in Singapore at 6.18%, signaling attractiveness to income-focused investors. Despite trading at 74.9% below its estimated fair value, suggesting potential undervaluation, the company has a history of unstable dividends over the past decade. Dividend sustainability is supported by a low payout ratio of 20.8% and cash flow coverage at 30.2%. Recent share buyback initiatives could indicate confidence from management but also reflect on its commitment to return value to shareholders.

SGX:QES Dividend History as at Jun 2024

Simply Wall St Dividend Rating: 

Overview: Singapore Exchange Limited operates as an integrated securities and derivatives exchange with related clearing houses in Singapore, boasting a market capitalization of SGD 10.26 billion.

Operations: Singapore Exchange Limited generates revenue primarily from segment adjustments, totaling SGD 843.68 million, and fixed income, currencies, and commodities activities, which contribute SGD 371.53 million.

Dividend Yield: 3.6%

Singapore Exchange (SGX) maintains a stable dividend profile with a 63% payout ratio and 79.1% cash payout ratio, ensuring dividends are well-covered by both earnings and cash flows. Although its dividend yield of 3.55% is lower compared to the top quartile in the Singapore market, SGX has consistently grown its dividends over the past decade. Recent trading suggests it is undervalued by approximately 8.6%, potentially offering value to investors seeking reliable income streams from dividends.

SGX:S68 Dividend History as at Jun 2024

Taking Advantage

Embark on your investment journey to our 19 Top SGX Dividend Stocks selection here.

Are any of these part of your asset mix? Tap into the analytical power of Simply Wall St's portfolio to get a 360-degree view on how they're shaping up.

Streamline your investment strategy with Simply Wall St's app for free and benefit from extensive research on stocks across all corners of the world.

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.

Companies discussed in this article include SGX:P9DSGX:QES and SGX:S68.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@simplywallst.com
ASHEVILLE - Today's burning question is about tax appraisals and how the owners of a vacant 126,000-square-foot building may not pay any taxes on it.

Have other questions for our staff? Email Executive Editor Karen Chavez at KChavez@citizentimes.com and your question could appear in an upcoming column.

The vacant Kmart store and strip mall at 1001 Patton Ave could be replaced by a new Ingles store and retail space.

Question: I was poking around Buncombe County's records on some of the big pieces of land Ingles owns in the area and saw that the 1001 Patton Ave. Kmart is only appraised at $0. Why?

Answer: According to Ben Franklin, there are two certainties in life: death and taxes. In the view of Answer Man, there are two certainties in Asheville: Beer and Ingles.

The 1001 Patton Ave. Kmart closed in 2019 and then was subsequently bought by the Black Mountain-based supermarket chain in 2019 for a whopping $8.5 million.

We've reported extensively about the former Kmart. It saw conditional rezoning in 2022 to be converted into an Ingles, a move that was considered an important development in bringing a new grocery store to the Emma-community. The building, which has seen numerous break-ins in recent months, would be torn down to do redevelop the property.

The vacant Kmart store and strip mall at 1001 Patton Ave could be replaced by a new Ingles store and retail space.

In 2021, the building, previously appraised at $953,200, saw a precipitous decrease to just $200.

County Tax Appraiser Keith Miller told me the evaluation of the building is connected to its long-term value as a commercial endeavor.

"The K-mart building has been vacant for many years, unmaintained, and has deteriorated to a state that is a burden more than a benefit to the owner/buyer," Miller wrote in an email to the Citizen Times.

Miller noted that when commercial appraisals happen "remaining economic life, use, building condition, and income, all contribute to the value of a building." Miller called the practice of setting building values at $0 common in commercial reappraisal when a building is at the "end of its useful life."

However, if a new owner intending to use the property were to come in, renovate the building and use it, Miller said it would "be assessed in relation to those updates and the most current general appraisal year."

"The building is at the end of its useful life. It doesnt matter the owner; the building would take major renovations to be useful," Miller said.

It should be noted that the 2021 commercial reappraisal also saw a nearly $3 million increase in the land value for the Kmart property, bringing the total land value from $5.7 million to $8.5 million, so they are paying taxes on the parcel, just not the building.

Ingles's property is currently appraised at over $270 million in the county. The company currently owns over 400 acres in mostly commercial property in various areas of Asheville and greater Buncombe County, including Merrimon Avenue's former Stein Mart and this Kmart location, which I reported on back in a November Answer Man.

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As for redevelopment, city of Asheville Principal Planner Will Palmquist told me that the new Ingles project still hasn't returned for final Technical Review Committee review, meaning "the project is still considered under review."

The building has seen better days, to be sure. While I was passing by earlier this week, it was adorned with paint that covered previous graffiti and the windows and doors of the former Asheville Sun Soo Matrial Arts and Kmart had been boarded up with wooden pallets. A security guard was patrolling the perimeter of the building.

Assessment Office Assistant Director Eric Cregger also explained the evaluation comes from the defunct Kmart having a "poor" condition on its property card, indicating the building is unsound to occupy. As far as the appraisal office is concerned, the "parcel is just land," Cregger said.

Another example of a property appraised at $0 is the former Sears building at 1 South Tunnel Road, which is also empty. This building has also seen redevelopment prospects, with a $45 million redevelopment project being proposed for the site in 2018. It was bought by Ingles in 2023.

Other Ingles properties reflect similar evaluations

The building is not the only Ingles property to receive a low evaluation.

The former Sears building at 1 South Tunnel Road, which is empty, is valued at $0. While I reported on another possible project for the site last year, the building sold to Ingles from Madison Capital Group, a Charlotte-based real estate and development investment firm, for $4.3 million in late 2023.

The former Stein Mart on Merrimon is yet another example of a building with a $0 appraisal. It's also owned by Ingles.

The Stein Mart on Merrimon Avenue was covered in "store closing" signs on Aug. 18, 2020. As part of a company-wide bankruptcy proceeding, Stein Mart will close its stores in Asheville and Hendersonville.

Cregger told me the calculation for the Stein Mart building is based on the "income approach" of evaluation, which means it's the "difference between the land value and the predicted income of the location."

"Our commercial team collects market data (income and rents) and uses that data for our commercial properties that are income-producing, to determine their market value," Cregger said, where the Sears and Kmart are deemed to be at the "end of their economic life" and the Stein Mart is evaluated at $0 using "income documents and analysis and applies an overall market value to the parcel itself."

Joe Minicozzi, who presented on the issue of property assessments in a 2022 Ad Hoc Reappraisal committee presentation, believes appraisals should be higher, where North Carolina state law requires appraisers to make sure they are properly appraising buildings based on location, commercial viability, age and replacement cost.

Other vacant buildings in Asheville are still appraised at a higher building value than the Patton Avenue Kmart, such as the former Car Quest located behind the Orange Peel at 100 South Lexington Ave, valued at nearly $300,000. Minicozzi wondered whether the Kmart, or other commercial buildings, could be used to justify their price.

"Back when the building wasn't broken into, it was only valued at $200?" Minicozzi said. "$300,000 is a long way from $200."

More: Edwards says Republicans are stabbing him in back, Biden lies about Trump tax cut reversal

More: Asheville Airport 'on schedule' to complete new north concourse as record growth continues

Will Hofmann is the Growth and Development Reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA Today Network. Got a tip? Email him at WHofmann@citizentimes.com. Please help support this type of journalism with a subscription to the Citizen Times.

This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Ingles-owned former Kmart and Sears locations tax appraised at $0?
Almost two years after OpenAI released its industry-changing GenAI chatbot ChatGPT, Apple unveiled a series of on-device AI offerings on Monday (10 June).

During Apple's annual Worldwide Developer Conference, the company announced plans to fit every new iPhone, iPad and iMac with on-device GenAI, under the umbrella of Apple Intelligence.

The new system will use machine learning (ML) to personalise messages and notifications depending on the users behaviours and preferences, as well as offering writing tools across every app to aid in proofreading and clarity.

AI has to understand you and be grounded in your personal context like your routine, your relationships, your communications and more. It is beyond AI. It is personal intelligence, said Cook.

Apple also revealed that ChatGPT will be integrated into its voice assistant Siri for responses that cannot be carried out solely by Apple Intelligence. According to the company, the technology will be free to use and will not require users to create an account. Apple also claimed users requests and data will not be logged.

How has Apple fallen behind in the AI race?

Apples announcements come amid concerns that the company and its devices had fallen behind in the AI race, trailing behind Google and Microsoft, which quickly reacted to ChatGPTs release with their own AI plans.

Microsoft surpassed Apple as the most valuable technology company in the world earlier this year, following the large AI Copilot push into all of its applications and multi-billion dollar investment into OpenAI.

Apple has also seen global sales of its devices, particularly of its iPhones, slow over the past year.

On-device AI privacy could set Apple apart

In an attempt to set itself apart from the rest, Apple CEO Tim Cooks keynote address kept privacy at the forefront of the companys announcements.

As AI grows and is rapidly deployed into more areas of society, business and industry, governments and regulators have rushed to govern the emerging technology.

At the beginning of April, the UK and US signed a memorandum of understanding in a partnership to tackle AI safety and ethics. Last month, OpenAI announced it had formed a safety committee ahead of training its biggest AI model yet.

This has set the stage for Apple to market itself as a responsible tech giant taking on AI and delivering a safer way for users to interact with language models.

Apple Intelligence will carry out most of its computer processing on-device rather than in data centres, where a users personal information is more susceptible to hackers and bad actors, the company said.

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For more advanced AI requests that require more computer processing, Apple has created a cloud network completely powered by semiconductors. According to the tech giant, this is a more private option as the data is not stored or accessible by anyone, including the company.

However, Sam Ward, head of research and development at enterprise AI company Enate, said it is not clear what processing will be done on the device itself and what will be sent to the cloud, especially with the implementation of OpenAI's technology in Siri.

"It could simply be some sort of data preparation or it could include features like anonymisation, which would elevate some privacy concerns," Ward said.

"Naturally there are concerns about the data that is being shared with OpenAI and Apple," he added.

Suneet Muru, associate analyst at research and analysis company GlobalData, told Verdict that Apple's competitive position in AI hinges on how well it can weave Apple Intelligence into existing user workflows.

"GenAI has typically felt like a stand-alone application, dropped into user interfaces without any real integration," Muru told Verdict. "The natural question was, therefore, which company would transition GenAI out of the demo phase and make it a more meaningful part of existing app ecosystems.

"With Intelligence, Apple might have done just that."

The future of GenAI with Apple in the race

According to forecasts from GlobalData, the global AI market will be worth more than $909bn by 2030.

In the GenAI space, revenues are expected to grow from $1.8bn in 2022 to $33bn in 2027, a compound annual growth rate of 80%. GenAI will impact every industry and become a catalyst for broader AI capabilities such as ML and computer vision, according to the research company.

Muru believes it is unlikely that GenAI features will be the sole reason to use a particular device for long periods of time. Discussing Apple's position in the AI race following its announcements, Muru said that Google will remain a competitive force.

"Gemini is tailored to Google's ecosystem the same way Apple Intelligence is tailored to Apple's ecosystem," Muru said. "It is unlikely that AI features will ever be the reason to use a particular device in the long run.

"GenAI integration, in its current state, simply complements the already existing user interface, so doesn't give users many reasons to jump ship."

Greg Hanson, group vice-president of EMEA North at Informatica, said that while the launch of Apple Intelligence will succeed in putting AI into the hands of consumers, a myriad of challenges remain for GenAI.

[Apple Intelligence is] set to change the way that users discover and consume data through simple conversational interactions, Hanson said.

However, it is important to remember that these are still the early green shoots of Gen AI," he added. "A lot still needs to be ironed out  users need to be educated on how to best ask questions that generate valuable answers and will want greater transparency about how their personal data will be used to feed and power AI models.

As companies continue to train more powerful large language models and bring new AI services to consumers, Hanson warned that there are no shortcuts in AI development.

"Consumers and regulators will demand transparency, interpretability and explainability from AI systems," Hanson said. "Developing an application that lives up to the promise of its name will require holistic, high-quality and well-governed data foundations with adequate data access management and privacy controls baked-in.

"Will Apples on-device AI put it ahead in the AI race?" was originally created and published by Verdict, a GlobalData owned brand.







The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site.
The Indian stock market has experienced a period of stability over the past week, maintaining its position after an impressive 44% growth over the past year, with earnings expected to grow by 16% annually. In this dynamic environment, dividend stocks like Bharat Petroleum stand out as potentially attractive options for investors looking for both income and growth opportunities.

Top 10 Dividend Stocks In India

Name Dividend Yield Dividend Rating Balmer Lawrie Investments (BSE:532485) 4.23%  Bhansali Engineering Polymers (BSE:500052) 4.02%  D. B (NSEI:DBCORP) 4.26%  Castrol India (BSE:500870) 3.75%  ITC (NSEI:ITC) 3.18%  HCL Technologies (NSEI:HCLTECH) 3.64%  Indian Oil (NSEI:IOC) 8.35%  PTC India (NSEI:PTC) 3.79%  VST Industries (BSE:509966) 3.44%  Redington (NSEI:REDINGTON) 3.34% 

Click here to see the full list of 19 stocks from our Top Dividend Stocks screener.

We'll examine a selection from our screener results.

Simply Wall St Dividend Rating: 

Overview: Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited operates primarily in refining crude oil and marketing petroleum products across India, with a market capitalization of approximately 1.31 trillion.

Operations: Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited generates 50.68 billion from its Downstream Petroleum operations and 1.88 billion from Exploration & Production of Hydrocarbons.

Dividend Yield: 6.9%

Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) recently proposed a final dividend of INR 21 per share pre-bonus, adjusting to INR 10.5 post-bonus, pending shareholder approval. Despite its volatile dividend history over the past decade, recent financials show robust earnings growth with a significant increase by 1160.4% this past year. However, forecasts predict an average earnings decline of about 35.6% annually over the next three years. BPCL maintains a low payout ratio at 33.3%, suggesting dividends are well-covered by earnings and cash flows (Cash Payout Ratio: 34.6%), yet it carries a high level of debt which may concern dividend sustainability amidst fluctuating market conditions.

NSEI:BPCL Dividend History as at Jun 2024

Simply Wall St Dividend Rating: 

Overview: Coal India Limited, along with its subsidiaries, engages in the production and marketing of coal and coal products across India, boasting a market capitalization of approximately 2.94 trillion.

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Operations: Coal India Limited generates revenue primarily from coal mining and services, totaling approximately 130.33 billion.

Dividend Yield: 5.4%

Coal India Limited, a major player in the Indian energy sector, has recently ventured into a joint venture focusing on coal gasification, highlighting its strategic diversification. Despite a robust dividend yield of 5.35%, which places it in the top quartile of Indian dividend payers, its dividend sustainability is under scrutiny due to a high cash payout ratio exceeding 1226%. The company's dividends have shown volatility over the past decade and are not adequately covered by cash flows. However, Coal India's earnings have grown significantly by 32.8% over the past year, and it trades at an attractive price-to-earnings ratio of 7.8x compared to its peers.

NSEI:COALINDIA Dividend History as at Jun 2024

Simply Wall St Dividend Rating: 

Overview: Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Limited (NSEI: ONGC) is a company that explores for, develops, and produces crude oil and natural gas both in India and internationally, with a market capitalization of approximately 3.26 trillion.

Operations: Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Limited generates revenue primarily through refining and marketing (56.75 billion), onshore exploration and production (4.39 billion), offshore exploration and production (9.43 billion) in India, and international operations (95.53 billion).

Dividend Yield: 4.5%

Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Limited (ONGC) has a dividend yield of 4.48%, ranking in the top 25% of Indian dividend payers. Despite a low price-to-earnings ratio of 7x, dividends have shown volatility over the past decade. The company's dividends are supported by earnings with a payout ratio of 31.3% and cash flows with a cash payout ratio of 32.5%. Recent strategic moves include bidding for renewable assets to decarbonize operations, aligning with its goal to reach a renewable capacity of 10 GW by 2030.

NSEI:ONGC Dividend History as at Jun 2024

Key Takeaways

Delve into our full catalog of 19 Top Dividend Stocks 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.

Companies discussed in this article include NSEI:BPCLNSEI:COALINDIA and NSEI:ONGC

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@simplywallst.com
About 25 pro-Palestinian protesters arrested after setting up new camp at UCLA

Xinhua) 08:55, June 12, 2024

Police officers detain a pro-Palestinian protester in the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), in Los Angeles, California, the United States, on June 10, 2024. Police arrested about 25 protesters at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), in the U.S. state of California Monday night after they set up a new campus encampment in support of the Palestinians amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza. (Xinhua)

LOS ANGELES, June 11 (Xinhua) -- Police arrested about 25 protesters at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), in the U.S. state of California Monday night after they set up a new campus encampment in support of the Palestinians amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza.

"The individuals are in the process of being cited, issued 14-day stay away orders from UCLA property, and released," said the UCLA police department in a news release Monday night.

"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," the news release added.

Over 100 protesters set up tents and barricades on the western end of the university's Dickson Plaza Monday 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.

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.

Manal, a graduate student in chemistry who did not give the last name, was quoted as saying by Daily Bruin that the UCLA administration should listen to student activists and answer the protesters' calls for divestment.

"I'm worried because last time it was bad -- we were attacked by both the police and the Zionists," the protester told the student newspaper, adding that "Many of us got arrested. Many of us are vulnerable because, among us, there are undocumented students, there are international students, there are students from different minority groups."

At 12:01 a.m. local time, police fired pepper bullets at a crowd between Bunche Hall and Perloff Hall. Crowds then dispersed in response, said the report.

This is the third campus encampment at UCLA in recent weeks. Over 200 pro-Palestinian protesters were arrested on May 2 as police moved to dismantle an encampment at the university. On May 23, a group of protesters briefly established a second encampment on campus before police moved in to disband the efforts.

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, including UCLA, 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."

People take part in a pro-Palestinian protest on campus of the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), in Los Angeles, California, the United States, on June 10, 2024. Police arrested about 25 protesters at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), in the U.S. state of California Monday night after they set up a new campus encampment in support of the Palestinians amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza. (Xinhua)

People take part in a pro-Palestinian protest as Police officers stand guard outside the Dodd Hall in the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), in Los Angeles, California, the United States, on June 10, 2024. Police arrested about 25 protesters at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), in the U.S. state of California Monday night after they set up a new campus encampment in support of the Palestinians amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza. (Xinhua)

Police officers detain a pro-Palestinian protester in the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), in Los Angeles, California, the United States, on June 10, 2024. Police arrested about 25 protesters at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), in the U.S. state of California Monday night after they set up a new campus encampment in support of the Palestinians amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza. (Xinhua)

A woman shouts slogans with a portable megaphone during a pro-Palestinian protest in front of the Dodd Hall in the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), in Los Angeles, California, the United States, on June 10, 2024. Police arrested about 25 protesters at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), in the U.S. state of California Monday night after they set up a new campus encampment in support of the Palestinians amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza. (Xinhua)

A pro-Palestinian protester confronts police officers outside Dodd Hall in the University of California Los Angeles in Los Angeles, California, the United States June 10, 2024. Police arrested about 25 protesters at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) Monday night after they set up a new campus encampment in support of the Palestinian amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza. (Xinhua)

A pro-Palestinian protester confronts police officers outside Dodd Hall in the University of California Los Angeles in Los Angeles, California, the United States June 10, 2024. Police arrested about 25 protesters at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) Monday night after they set up a new campus encampment in support of the Palestinian amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza. (Xinhua)

The pro-Palestinian protesters confront police officers outside Dodd Hall in the University of California Los Angeles in Los Angeles, California, the United States June 10, 2024. Police arrested about 25 protesters at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) Monday night after they set up a new campus encampment in support of the Palestinian amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza. (Xinhua)

Police officers face pro-Palestinian protesters outside Dodd Hall in the University of California Los Angeles in Los Angeles, California, the United States June 10, 2024. Police arrested about 25 protesters at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) Monday night after they set up a new campus encampment in support of the Palestinian amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza. (Xinhua)

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Key Insights

The projected fair value for United U-LI Corporation Berhad is RM1.71 based on 2 Stage Free Cash Flow to Equity

Current share price of RM1.96 suggests United U-LI Corporation Berhad is potentially trading close to its fair value

United U-LI Corporation Berhad's peers seem to be trading at a higher premium to fair value based onthe industry average of -96%

How far off is United U-LI Corporation Berhad (KLSE:ULICORP) from its intrinsic value? Using the most recent financial data, we'll take a look at whether the stock is fairly priced by projecting its future cash flows and then discounting them to today's value. We will use the Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model on this occasion. There's really not all that much to it, even though it might appear quite complex.

We generally believe that a company's value is the present value of all of the cash it will generate in the future. However, a DCF is just one valuation metric among many, and it is not without flaws. If you still have some burning questions about this type of valuation, take a look at the Simply Wall St analysis model.

Check out our latest analysis for United U-LI Corporation Berhad

Is United U-LI Corporation Berhad Fairly Valued?

We are going to use a two-stage DCF model, which, as the name states, takes into account two stages of growth. The first stage is generally a higher growth period which levels off heading towards the terminal value, captured in the second 'steady growth' period. To start off with, we need to estimate the next ten years of cash flows. Seeing as no analyst estimates of free cash flow are available to us, we have extrapolate the previous free cash flow (FCF) from the company's last reported value. We assume companies with shrinking free cash flow will slow their rate of shrinkage, and that companies with growing free cash flow will see their growth rate slow, over this period. We do this to reflect that growth tends to slow more in the early years than it does in later years.

A DCF is all about the idea that a dollar in the future is less valuable than a dollar today, so we discount the value of these future cash flows to their estimated value in today's dollars:

10-year free cash flow (FCF) forecast

2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 2031 2032 2033 Levered FCF (MYR, Millions) RM39.0m RM34.8m RM32.5m RM31.4m RM31.0m RM31.0m RM31.3m RM31.9m RM32.7m RM33.6m Growth Rate Estimate Source Est @ -16.94% Est @ -10.79% Est @ -6.49% Est @ -3.48% Est @ -1.37% Est @ 0.11% Est @ 1.14% Est @ 1.86% Est @ 2.37% Est @ 2.72% Present Value (MYR, Millions) Discounted @ 11% RM35.2 RM28.4 RM23.9 RM20.9 RM18.6 RM16.8 RM15.4 RM14.1 RM13.1 RM12.1

("Est" = FCF growth rate estimated by Simply Wall St)

Present Value of 10-year Cash Flow (PVCF) = RM198m

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We now need to calculate the Terminal Value, which accounts for all the future cash flows after this ten year period. For a number of reasons a very conservative growth rate is used that cannot exceed that of a country's GDP growth. In this case we have used the 5-year average of the 10-year government bond yield (3.6%) to estimate future growth. In the same way as with the 10-year 'growth' period, we discount future cash flows to today's value, using a cost of equity of 11%.

Terminal Value (TV)= FCF 2033  (1 + g)  (r  g) = RM34m (1 + 3.6%)  (11% 3.6%) = RM484m

Present Value of Terminal Value (PVTV)= TV / (1 + r)10= RM484m ( 1 + 11%)10= RM175m

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 RM373m. The last step is to then divide the equity value by the number of shares outstanding. Relative to the current share price of RM2.0, the company appears around fair value at the time of writing. Remember though, that this is just an approximate valuation, and like any complex formula - garbage in, garbage out.

dcf

The Assumptions

Now the most important inputs to a discounted cash flow are the discount rate, and of course, the actual cash flows. You don't have to agree with these inputs, I recommend redoing the calculations yourself and playing with them. The DCF also does not consider the possible cyclicality of an industry, or a company's future capital requirements, so it does not give a full picture of a company's potential performance. Given that we are looking at United U-LI Corporation Berhad as potential shareholders, the cost of equity is used as the discount rate, rather than the cost of capital (or weighted average cost of capital, WACC) which accounts for debt. In this calculation we've used 11%, which is based on a levered beta of 1.131. 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 United U-LI Corporation Berhad

Strength

Earnings growth over the past year exceeded the industry.

Debt is not viewed as a risk.

Dividends are covered by earnings and cash flows.

Dividend is in the top 25% of dividend payers in the market.

Weakness

Earnings growth over the past year is below its 5-year average.

Opportunity

Annual earnings are forecast to grow faster than the Malaysian market.

Good value based on P/E ratio compared to estimated Fair P/E ratio.

Threat

No apparent threats visible for ULICORP.

Next Steps:

Whilst important, the DCF calculation shouldn't be the only metric you look at when researching a company. DCF models are not the be-all and end-all of investment valuation. 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. If a company grows at a different rate, or if its cost of equity or risk free rate changes sharply, the output can look very different. For United U-LI Corporation Berhad, we've put together three pertinent factors you should assess:

Risks: We feel that you should assess the 2 warning signs for United U-LI Corporation Berhad we've flagged before making an investment in the company. Future Earnings: How does ULICORP'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 KLSE every day. If you want to find the calculation for other stocks just search here.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.
French confectionery group Carambar & Co. plans to shut its chocolate manufacturing plant in Villebarou.

Carambar's holding company CPK Group said it plans to make a formal announcement on the closure to employees this Thursday (13 June).

Some 109 people are expected to be affected.

Carambar said "none of the efforts made to find an industrial solution to ensure continued activity at the site had been successful".

The company noted the upcoming meeting with staff will allow the group to discuss "the economic reasons" for the shutdown, and "its impacts, support for employees and the search for buyers".

Carambar added the main focus of the meeting would be "to support each of the 109 employees concerned towards a new job".

Reports from local publication La Nouvelle Republique suggest the plant will close by the end of this year.

Just Food has asked Carambar to confirm the reasons for the closure, the date on which the company plans to shut the site and to where production could move.

The Poulain factory processes cocoa masses as well as Poulain chocolate bars and powder. It was also used for administrative purposes.

The chocolate brand has been on the market since 1848, when it was launched by its founder Victor Auguste Poulain in Blois. It has been produced at the Villebarou plant since 1991, according to La Nouvelle Republique.

Just Food has asked the company where production of the Poulain brand will move once Villebarou shuts up shop.

Founded in 2017, Carambar's confectionary range includes its namesake chewy caramels, Lutti sweets, Krema fruit cube candies, Terry's Chocolate Orange and Vichy mint pastilles, among other brands.

Aside from Poulain's Vallebarou site, the group manages five other plants in France.

CPK Group, which houses the Carambar & Co. brands, has been owned by European investment firm Eurazeo since 2017. It acquired CPK from Mondelez International.

"Carambar & Co. to close Poulain chocolate factory" was originally created and published by Just Food, 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.
The News

ADDIS ABABA  Ethiopias state-backed bid to drive industrialization and transform its economy over the last couple of decades has had plenty of support from Chinese investors and operators to create jobs and opportunities for a rapidly growing population.

While that support has been welcomed, its been rare for policymakers or civil society to take a step back and examine its impact on everything from local work culture to land rights.

A new documentary which premiered at New Yorks Tribeca Film Festival last week shines a light on the complexities of Chinese investment in the Horn of Africa nation. Made in Ethiopia focuses on the Eastern Industrial Park, about 100 kilometers outside the capital Addis Ababa. The film examines the forces driving the countrys attempt to become a manufacturing hub through the creation of industrial parks, of which there are now around 30. The film also highlights the friction that arises through the meeting of two different work cultures.





Know More

Ethiopias industrialization strategy has focused on attracting foreign direct investment. A push in recent years to attract investment led to the landlocked nation being one of the continents top recipients of foreign direct investment. Chinese investment in the country, which tripled in 2021 from the previous year, played a major role.

But the approach has been beset by problems in recent years, from the COVID-19 pandemic to the two year war in the northern Tigray region that ended in 2022. The US  a major destination of textile and garment exports  terminated Ethiopias participation in the AGOA Trade Preference Program in 2022 due to sanctions imposed after the Tigray war.

Investors say policy inconsistency on customs regulations and trade logistic issues are also major pain points for them according to Hibret Lemma, CEO of the Investors Association at Hawassa Industrial Park, the largest government-owned park.

Theres a tendency to divert attention to other sectors, as ours is high maintenance, he told Semafor Africa. The government should focus on retaining the investors it has instead of trying to attract new ones in a tough climate.

Other roadblocks to the success of the countrys strategy have been labor wage issues. The governments attempt to attract textile and garment manufacturers have hit a snag because wage issues have remained a source of high turnover. Ethiopia remains one of the three countries without a set minimum wage on the continent.

Mayas view

Made in Ethiopia has achieved a major feat in portraying the sacrifice paid by ordinary people in making the industrialization dream a reality for Ethiopia. We see Ethiopian workers who are employed yet unable to make ends meet, as well as their Chinese counterparts who have left their families behind in China to make a better life for themselves.

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It shows the pains of transitions and the unseen sacrifices that sometimes dont count toward development because of thieves in the middle  thats the phrase used by a farmer who never got paid compensation for their land after they made way for park expansion.

Investment is a good opportunity for citizens, but the problems start with, the way theyre invited in through the promise of cheap labor, according to Deribsa Legesse, of the Confederation of Trade Unions in Ethiopia.

Negotiating with companies across the parks in the country to set up trade unions has been challenging but, after years of struggle, the process is finally gaining momentum. This is an opportunity to ease tensions. It cultivates a culture of solving the problems through discussions, he said.

Room for Disagreement

Haregewoin Mirotaw, an investment advisor and director at the Ethiopian Investment Commission, says that while the past four years have been a turbulent time in the country, the fears of investors have been exaggerated. As a developing country, these obstacles are there, but there is encouraging work being done, she said, adding that the government has been taking steps to increase productivity and import substitution to reduce the trade imbalance and foreign currency shortages.
BEIJING (Reuters) -Chinese electric vehicle maker Nio strongly opposes the European Union's use of increased tariffs as a strategy to obstruct the normal global electric vehicle trade but its commitment to Europe's EV market is unwavering, it said on Wednesday.

Nio "will continue to serve our users and explore new opportunities within Europe despite protectionism", it said in a statement.

The EU has decided to apply additional duties of up to 38.1% on imported Chinese electric vehicles from July.

Nio, which is among what the EU identifies as cooperating companies that would be subject to a 21% additional duty rate, said it will closely monitor the situation and make decisions that align with the best interests of its business.

"As the ongoing investigation has yet to reach a conclusion, we remain hopeful for a solution," it said.

"The EU's provisional tariffs come basically within our expectations, which won't have much of an impact on the majority of Chinese firms," said Cui Dongshu, secretary general of the China Passenger Car Association.

Those exporting China-made EVs including Tesla, Geely and BYD still have huge potential for development in Europe in the future, he said.

Brussels said it would set tariffs of 17.4% for BYD and 20% for Geely, on top of the existing EU tariff of 10%.

Western producers such as Tesla and BMW that export cars from China to Europe were deemed cooperating companies.

(Reporting by Qiaoyi Li, Zhang Yan and Kim Miyoung, Editing by Louise Heavens, Kirsten Donovan)
Citi and Emirates NBD have collaborated to launch Citis first-of-its-kind 24/7 USD clearing service in the Middle East. This makes Emirates NBD the first bank to use Citis 24/7 USD clearing service to make cross-border USD payments available to their corporate and retail clients 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year, end to end across their branch network.

The service will be available in Emirates NBDs UAE and Kingdom of Saudi Arabia branch networks. The launch helps to remove barriers to the payment flow process in the region that stem from different weekend and early afternoon cut-off times in the UAE for executing transactions.

Emirates NBD to expand the service to all its branches in the Middle East and globally

The collaboration includes partnerships with Emirates NBDs third-party institutions.

Shahmir Khaliq, Head of Services, Citi, said: Consumers demand instant payment capabilities no matter where they are in the world. Our collaboration with Emirates NBD is an important step in our journey to create a multibank solution. One that is designed to deliver an end-to-end, always on experience for participant banks and their customers. Our 24/7 USD Clearing service is a clear differentiator in the market. It demonstrates the full value of our globally leading cross border payments and clearing capabilities. This enables our clients to make payments faster and in a more efficient and transparent manner.

Emirates NBD will fully utilise Citis 24/7 USD Clearing capabilities, including commercial payments and treasury payments execution.

Ahmed Al Qassim, Group Head of Wholesale Banking, Emirates NBD, added: Our collaboration with Citi to bring 24/7 USD Clearing to the region reflects our commitment to facilitate the payment needs of our clients in key trade corridors in which they operate. The introduction of 24/7 USD Clearing will support the growth ambitions of our clients. It gives them the ability to seamlessly transfer funds in a timely manner without having to worry about cutoffs and holidays.

"Citi, Emirates NBD, partner to launch first-of-it-kind 24/7 USD cross-border payments in Middle East" was originally created and published by Electronic Payments International, a GlobalData owned brand.







The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site.
Members of the Chicago Booth MBA Class of 2023 during graduation a year ago. The Booth School, which has a long history of promoting diversity and breaking barriers, will be the 25th member of the Consortium for Graduate Study in Management, effective July 1. File photo

U.S. business schools have long been focused on achieving and maintaining the kind of diverse environment demanded by applicant pools and employers alike. A big part of the reason for that is the work done for the last 58 years by The Consortium for Graduate Study in Management.

About a year ago, B-schools lost one of their most effective tools to achieving and maintaining diversity in their MBA classes. But in the wake of the Supreme Court decision striking down affirmative action in college admissions, the storied nonprofit is stepping into the vacuum.

On Tuesday (June 11), The Consortium announced that it has expanded its membership for a second time in 2024, admitting the University of Chicagos Booth School of Business to its rolls. Booths induction  the 25th school to join The Consortium since its founding in 1966  comes a little less than two months after the announcement that Duke Universitys Fuqua School of Business had joined the academic and business network that works with top-ranked MBA programs around the country to increase the number of under-represented minorities in business education and corporate leadership.

After many years of static membership, The Consortium has more than doubled in size in the two decades since Peter Aranda became executive director and CEO, with among the most significant additions happening in the last four years as The Consortium has added five new member schools  including four of the elite M7 group of B-schools: Columbia University, Stanford Graduate School of Business, Northwestern Kellogg School of Management, and now Chicago Booth.

BOOTH: A NATURAL CHOICE FOR CONSORTIUM MEMBERSHIP

Peter Aranda, executive director and CEO of The Consortium for Graduate Study in Management: Booth leadership understand(s) the importance of diversity to fostering robust inquiry

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in June 2023 that race-based admissions, which had been practiced since 1978 and survived three previous high court challenges, violate the Equal Protections Clause of the 14th Amendment.

The decision had been telegraphed long before, so it was not a shock. And it could not slow the growth of The Consortium, whose original mission to boost African-American men in the countrys top MBA programs long ago expanded to include women, Latinos, and Native Americans. From three schools in the mid-1960s  the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Washington University in St. Louis, and Indiana University-Bloomington  the nonprofit had doubled in size by the time Aranda took the helm in 2003; by 2016, when The Consortium celebrated its 50th year, it had grown from around 200 to about 680 students per year. Its annual class size now is over 700. Revenue has quadrupled in the last two decades, from $14 million to $56 million; in nearly six decades, more than $600 million total has been secured to further its mission. More than 100 Fortune 500 companies back The Consortium.

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Chicago Booth is a natural choice for membership in an organization dedicated to the principle that diversity is a strength at the highest levels of graduate business education. In 1964, Booth became the first B-school to establish a minority scholarship program; in 1970, Booth MBA students founded the National Black MBA Association. In 1985 Booth became the first B-school to establish an office dedicated to supporting under-represented students.

JOINING FORCES

Chicago Booths membership in The Consortium was approved in April and becomes effective July 1.

We are thrilled to welcome the University of Chicago Booth School of Business as our 25th member school, as it carries on its historic legacy of inclusion, Aranda says in a statement accompanying the announcement, praising Booth for its continued commitment to prioritizing diversity and inclusion. Dean (Mahav) Rajan and his team understand the importance of diversity to fostering robust inquiry and to addressing some of todays most complex business challenges. We look forward to joining forces to help them have even greater impact while advancing The Consortiums mission to ensure equal opportunity in graduate management education and American business.

Rajan adds: As a member school, Booth hopes to enhance our efforts to increase the diversity of our student body and support the aspirations of our students so they can become successful leaders in business and government.

WHAT PREVIOUS NEW CONSORTIUM MEMBERS HAVE SAID

Weve been having conversations internally for many years, and membership was a goal of mine when I joined Fuqua given my affiliation with them during my time at Georgetown, Fuqua Associate Dean of Admissions Shari Hubert said in April when Duke became the 24th Consortium member school. Hubert joined Fuqua from the McDonough school of Business  another Consortium member  in 2017, four years after Georgetown became the organizations 18th member school. So we were very excited when the opportunity arose this year to be invited.

We are thrilled to partner with The Consortium to advance its mission, which reflects our commitment to fostering an environment of exemplary diversity, equity and inclusion, Northwestern Kellogg Dean Francesca Cornelli said in November 2022 when Kellogg became The Consortiums 23rd member school. Kellogg has a great responsibility  and a distinctive ability  to shape inclusive leaders who demonstrate empathy and lead with principle. This begins with ensuring Kelloggs community encompasses diverse backgrounds and that our school is a place where students are empowered to bring their full selves.

As an institution, we want to help shape a future where individuals have the same opportunity to thrive regardless of their background, Stanford GSB Dean Jonathan Levin said in February 2022. Stanford at the time was The Consortiums 22nd member school. We believe in attracting and supporting outstanding students from diverse backgrounds to enhance the learning environment at the GSB, and ultimately, to contribute principled and purposeful leadership to organizations around the world. We are excited to support and collaborate with The Consortium in the advancement of these goals.

Business schools like Columbia have a number of essential responsibilities when it comes to enhancing and improving diversity, equity, and inclusion, Dean Costis Maglaras said when Columbia became The Consortiums 21st member school in April 2021. We must endeavor to diversify our own communities with the goal of building a student body reflective of what we want to see in the business world. We must teach students to recognize the value that diversity adds to business. And we must enhance their abilities to lead in a more inclusive and equitable manner. All of these efforts will be strengthened considerably through our partnership with The Consortium, and we are extremely proud and humbled to be a part of their efforts.

DONT MISS THE CONSORTIUM, BORN IN A TURBULENT TIME, MARKS 50 YEARS and THE M7 B-SCHOOLS: EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW

The post Consortium Welcomes Its 4th Member From The M7 In The Last 4 Years appeared first on Poets&Quants.
US-based Critical Metals has entered a binding heads of agreement with Rimbal to purchase a controlling stake in the Tanbreez Rare Earth Mine (REE) in Greenland.

Critical Metals will acquire the stake in a $211m deal from a company controlled by geologist Gregory Barnes.

Commenting on the deal, Critical Metals CEO and chairman Tony Sage said: Tanbreez is a game-changing rare earth mine for the West, and is a key step towards positioning Critical Metals Corp as the preeminent critical minerals supplier with a diversified, multi-asset portfolio that spans multiple geographies.

With Tanbreez expected to be under the Critical Metals Corp banner, we will have the ability to further support our commercial network in Europe while simultaneously being able to evaluate additional opportunities to tap into the upside potential of the North American market.

Critical Metals Corp continues to capitalise on macro-economic tailwinds and government support which are accelerating the demand for critical minerals as we play an essential role in supporting the green energy transition.

The Tanbreez Project is a globally significant critical minerals asset with an exploitation licence issued by the Greenland Government.

With an estimated resource of 4.7 billion tonnes, the Tanbreez Project is one of the largest rare earth deposits globally. It is located near the transportation facilities and has minimal environmental impact.

It is poised to meet the growing demand for REEs in North America and Europe. REEs are vital for the production of next-generation technologies and defence industry applications.

The project holds over 27% heavy rare earth elements, which are more valuable than light rare earth elements.

Financial advisors Jett Capital Advisors and Cohen & Company Capital Markets, along with legal advisers White & Case, are supporting Critical Metals in this transaction.

Critical Metals was established following the business combination of European Lithium and Sizzle.

"Critical Metals to acquire controlling stake in Greenland REE project" was originally created and published by Mining 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.
Lord James OShaughnessy, the former health minister, says real-time data sharing on commercial clinical activity in the UK will majorly improve the countrys clinical landscape.

At the Outsourcing in Clinical Trials conference, held from 11-12 June, experts in the clinical trial landscape congregated to hear about trends in the clinical research space. At a keynote session on the second day of the event, O'Shaughnessy highlighted a government target to quadruple UK clinical trial activity by 2027.

OShaughnessy cited data from an undisclosed pharmaceutical company that labelled the UK as the second slowest country in Europe for setting up clinical studies. Furthermore, another company reported a 60% decrease in patient recruitment for UK trials between 2019 and 2023. Meanwhile, other countries like Spain, Poland, and Australia have seen the opposite trend as their clinical trial industries grow due to favourable policies to reduce approval and set up times, and increase tax rebates amongst other things, says the former health minister.

Last year, as part of OShaughnessys May review on the UK commercial clinical landscape, he suggested that some key ways to improve the UK clinical landscape could be by providing real-time data on commercial clinical activity in the UK, and establishing a common approach to contacting patients about research. At the conference, he said these have been some of the most difficult measures to implement amongst the other suggested actions from the review.

OShaughnessy explained that in the current ecosystem, there is not enough data sharing between the public and private sectors for clinical research. Thus, it makes it difficult to track the progress of the space and identify areas of improvement. He adds that an established system for sharing patient data could improve measures such as patient recruitment and other parts of the trial design and set-up process, partially tackling the UKs problem with slower timelines.

On the data side, OShaughnessy says it will be necessary to provide full clarity on data-sharing agreements and proactive consenting models from the Health Research Authority. He also highlights essential plans to build a comprehensive real-time data portal for all UK trials.

"Data sharing will be key in repairing the UK clinical ecosystem" was originally created and published by Pharmaceutical 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.
Asian cuisine business DayDayCook has announced the acquisition of US-based peer Omsom.

Financial details of the deal were not revealed.

Hong Kong- and US-based DayDayCook said in a statement that the move, combined with its "expanding portfolio" would help it move closer to "[becoming] a leading force in the Asian food industry".

The transaction, a mixture of cash and stock, is to be paid over the next four years, and will be injected into Omsom's NPD to halve the time it takes to get a product from the stages of "idea to aisle", DayDayCook said.

"Operational synergies between the two companies will also streamline processes and improve financial metrics," the group added.

Omsom will become the sixth brand in DayDayCook's portfolio, which includes its namesake label and the Chinese brands Mengwei instant noodles and Yujia-Weng seafood products. It also owns two US Asian cuisine brands, Nona Lim and Yai's Thai, which were snapped up in the past 12 months.

DayDayCook founder Norma Chu said: "Having three notable Asian food brands in our portfolio will create enhanced synergies and resource integration, and make our operations more efficient and profitable.

"We look forward to collaboration across the three brands and to ensuring even more Asian-inspired and developed products reach more US kitchens in the future."

Reacting to the news in a LinkedIn post, Omsom co-founders Vanessa and Kim Pham wrote: "It is no secret that start-ups are facing tons of challenges right now  and as we always do, we centered in our values when we made the decision on how best to take agency over our future.

"As we considered what our team needed  a faster product innovation process [and] ability to scale into retail  we knew that an acquisition by DayDayCook would give us the resources to keep growing as a household name."

Omsom's range of cooking sauces and instant noodles are sold to retailers across the US including Whole Foods Market, Target and The Fresh Market.

In an interview with Just Food earlier this year, NYSE-listed DayDayCook said that building a roster of US brands was key to its growth strategy.

"Our growth strategy focuses first on growing our footprint internationally, with a primary focus on the US," DayDayCook founder Norma Chu said. "The second part is a multi-brand product portfolio. Theres a lot of terminology in this category but the focus is definitely to consolidate in the space of Asian convenient meal products."

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"DayDayCook snaps up US instant noodles brand Omsom" was originally created and published by Just Food, 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.
Even when a business is losing money, it's possible for shareholders to make money if they buy a good business at the right price. For example, although Amazon.com made losses for many years after listing, if you had bought and held the shares since 1999, you would have made a fortune. Having said that, unprofitable companies are risky because they could potentially burn through all their cash and become distressed.

So should Destiny Pharma (LON:DEST) shareholders be worried about its cash burn? For the purpose of this article, we'll define cash burn as the amount of cash the company is spending each year to fund its growth (also called its negative free cash flow). First, we'll determine its cash runway by comparing its cash burn with its cash reserves.

View our latest analysis for Destiny Pharma

Does Destiny Pharma Have A Long Cash Runway?

A company's cash runway is the amount of time it would take to burn through its cash reserves at its current cash burn rate. In December 2023, Destiny Pharma had UK6.4m in cash, and was debt-free. Looking at the last year, the company burnt through UK5.6m. That means it had a cash runway of around 14 months as of December 2023. While that cash runway isn't too concerning, sensible holders would be peering into the distance, and considering what happens if the company runs out of cash. You can see how its cash balance has changed over time in the image below.

How Is Destiny Pharma's Cash Burn Changing Over Time?

In the last year, Destiny Pharma did book revenue of UK832k, but its revenue from operations was less, at just UK832k. Given how low that operating leverage is, we think it's too early to put much weight on the revenue growth, so we'll focus on how the cash burn is changing, instead. With cash burn dropping by 5.7% it seems management feel the company is spending enough to advance its business plans at an appropriate pace. While the past is always worth studying, it is the future that matters most of all. For that reason, it makes a lot of sense to take a look at our analyst forecasts for the company.

Can Destiny Pharma Raise More Cash Easily?

While Destiny Pharma is showing a solid reduction in its cash burn, it's still worth considering how easily it could raise more cash, even just to fuel faster growth. Issuing new shares, or taking on debt, are the most common ways for a listed company to raise more money for its business. Commonly, a business will sell new shares in itself to raise cash and drive growth. By comparing a company's annual cash burn to its total market capitalisation, we can estimate roughly how many shares it would have to issue in order to run the company for another year (at the same burn rate).

Destiny Pharma has a market capitalisation of UK16m and burnt through UK5.6m last year, which is 34% of the company's market value. That's fairly notable cash burn, so if the company had to sell shares to cover the cost of another year's operations, shareholders would suffer some costly dilution.

Is Destiny Pharma's Cash Burn A Worry?

On this analysis of Destiny Pharma's cash burn, we think its cash runway was reassuring, while its cash burn relative to its market cap has us a bit worried. Looking at the factors mentioned in this short report, we do think that its cash burn is a bit risky, and it does make us slightly nervous about the stock. Separately, we looked at different risks affecting the company and spotted 5 warning signs for Destiny Pharma (of which 2 can't be ignored!) you should know about.

Of course, you might find a fantastic investment by looking elsewhere. So take a peek at this free list of interesting companies, and this list of stocks growth stocks (according to analyst forecasts)

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.
US-based uranium producer Energy Fuels has started commercial production of NdPr at its White Mesa Mill in Utah.

The NdPr produced meets the specifications required by rare earth element (REE) metal-makers for the manufacture of permanent magnets, essential for electric vehicles and hybrid power systems.

Energy Fuels has reached full design capacity of its new Phase 1 REE separation circuit, with commercial quantities of separated NdPr expected to be available for shipment by the end of June 2024.

This achievement is notable as it represents the first time in decades that a US company has produced on-spec separated REEs from monazite on a commercial scale.

Energy Fuels has been refining and separating NdPr from monazite sourced from the Chemours Company's operations in Florida and Georgia.

The construction of the Phase 1 REE Separation Circuit was completed in Q1 2024 for approximately $16m, lower than the original $25m budget.

Energy Fuels added that the integration of REE separation processes has not impacted the mill's uranium production capabilities, with a uranium processing campaign planned for Q3 2024.

In Q2 2024, the company anticipates producing 2535t of on-spec, separated NdPr.

The company also plans to produce a samarium-plus heavy REE concentrate and recover uranium from the monazite feedstocks.

Efforts are under way to pilot-scale dysprosium and terbium separation, aiming to produce these heavy REEs to meet metal and alloy-making specifications.

Following the NdPr production, Energy Fuels will focus on uranium production, with an expected output of 150,000500,000 pounds of triuranium octoxide (U3O8) in 2024, increasing in 2025.

Energy Fuels is securing monazite supply through acquisitions including the Bahia Project in Brazil, the Donald Project joint venture, and the pending acquisition of Base Resources and the Toliara Project in Madagascar.

Energy Fuels president and CEO Mark Chalmers said: We have achieved a significant milestone for the Energy Fuels, for Utah, and for the United States: the commercial production of separated rare earths that meet applicable product specifications, while simultaneously ramping up domestic uranium production aggressively.

With this announcement, Energy Fuels can confirm the return of separated rare earth production from monazite back to the US after a multi-decade absence, in addition to the return of technological know-how and expertise in this extremely important field that is critical to national and economic security.

"Energy Fuels starts commercial production of separated rare earths in Utah" was originally created and published by Mining Technology, 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.
Amidst a backdrop of economic normalization and shifting central bank policies, the Canadian market presents a unique landscape for investors, particularly in sectors less sensitive to commodity price fluctuations. In this context, growth companies with high insider ownership can offer compelling opportunities as they often signal confidence from those who know the business best.

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% Aritzia (TSX:ATZ) 19% 51.2% Allied Gold (TSX:AAUC) 22.5% 68.2% ROK Resources (TSXV:ROK) 16.6% 159.6% Aya Gold & Silver (TSX:AYA) 10.2% 51.6% Silver X Mining (TSXV:AGX) 14.2% 144.2% Ivanhoe Mines (TSX:IVN) 13.1% 65.3% Artemis Gold (TSXV:ARTG) 31.8% 48.8%

Click here to see the full list of 30 stocks from our Fast Growing TSX Companies With High Insider Ownership screener.

We're going to check out a few of the best picks from our screener tool.

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 segment.

Insider Ownership: 19%

Aritzia has shown a robust growth trajectory with expected annual revenue and profit increases outpacing the Canadian market average, projected at 11% and 51.2% respectively. Despite a recent dip in net profit margins from 8.5% to 3.4%, the company maintains strong insider ownership, enhancing its appeal as a growth-oriented investment. Additionally, Aritzia's strategic share repurchases underscore confidence in its valuation, currently deemed significantly below fair value by analysts.

TSX:ATZ Earnings and Revenue Growth as at Jun 2024

Simply Wall St Growth Rating: 

Overview: goeasy Ltd. operates in Canada, offering non-prime leasing and lending services through its easyhome, easyfinancial, and LendCare brands with a market cap of CA$3.22 billion.

Operations: The company generates revenue through its leasing services branded as easyhome, which brought in CA$153.99 million, and its lending services under easyfinancial, contributing CA$1.17 billion.

Insider Ownership: 21.7%

goeasy Ltd. has demonstrated substantial growth, with a recent earnings increase of 54.3% year-over-year and revenue growth projected at 32.7% annually, outpacing the Canadian market's 7.1%. Despite challenges in covering debt with operating cash flow, the company benefits from high insider ownership and strategic leadership changes, including appointing Patrick Ens to enhance its consumer credit divisions. This positions goeasy as an attractive entity in the high-growth sector, though it trades at 39.6% below estimated fair value.

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TSX:GSY Earnings and Revenue Growth as at Jun 2024

Simply Wall St Growth Rating: 

Overview: Ivanhoe Mines Ltd. is a company focused on the mining, development, and exploration of minerals and precious metals primarily in Africa, with a market capitalization of approximately CA$23.26 billion.

Operations: The firm primarily generates revenue through the mining, development, and exploration of minerals and precious metals in Africa.

Insider Ownership: 13.1%

Ivanhoe Mines showcases robust growth prospects, with earnings expected to rise by 65.3% annually, outpacing the Canadian market significantly. Despite generating less than US$1m in revenue currently, forecasts indicate an 83.6% yearly increase in revenue, well above the market average. Insider transactions have not been substantial recently; however, more shares were purchased than sold by insiders over the past three months. The company's recent completion of the Phase 3 concentrator at Kamoa-Kakula ahead of schedule enhances its production capabilities and positions it for increased output and efficiency.

TSX:IVN Earnings and Revenue Growth as at Jun 2024

Seize The Opportunity

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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 TSX:ATZ TSX:GSY and TSX:IVN.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@simplywallst.com
Mistral AI, a French artificial intelligence (AI) startup, has raised 600m ($642m) in a series B funding round.

The investment values Mistral AI at 5.8bn, reported Reuters, citing sources.

The funding round was led by General Catalyst and joined by existing investors such as Lightspeed, Andreessen Horowitz, Bpifrance, and BNP Paribas.

Corporate backers including Nvidia, Salesforce, Samsung, and IBM also participated in the latest investment round.

As per the Financial Times (FT) report, DST Global, headed by Yuri Milner, joined the AI company as a new investor.

Despite Microsoft's previous 15m investment through a commercial partnership, the technology company did not contribute to this latest round.

Mistral, which was founded in mid-2023, has now secured more than 1bn to fund its growth.

The Paris-based company, often seen as Europe's answer to OpenAI, plans to use the new funds to increase computing capacity, hire more staff, and expand its operations, particularly in the US.

Its most recent investment consists of 468m in stock and 132m in debt, the FT said, citing sources.

Mistral's co-founders, Timothee Lacroix, Guillaume Lample, and Mensch, who have backgrounds at Google's DeepMind and Meta, retain the majority stake.

Mensch stated that Mistral had invested "just a few dozen millions" of euros and utilised "a little more than 1,000" of the powerful graphics processing units required to train AI systems in order to create products that can compete with those made by some of the world's wealthiest firms, such as OpenAI, Google, and Meta.

The French startups most recent funding round comes shortly after Elon Musk raised $6bn for his July 2023 founded AI startup xAI.

"French AI startup Mistral raises 600m at 5.8bn valuation " was originally created and published by Verdict, a GlobalData owned brand.







The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site.
The partnership will see AWWG becoming the agent for G-III Apparel's renowned brands, including DKNY, Donna Karan, and Karl Lagerfeld, across Spain and Portugal. This strategic move capitalises on AWWG's strong presence and expertise in the Iberian market, unlocking new growth opportunities for G-III's brands in these key European regions.

G-III Apparel plans to leverage AWWGs presence in India to expand its key brands, led by DKNY, in one of the fastest-growing fashion markets in the world. In turn, AWWG will benefit from G-IIIs best-in-class operations in North America to expand its footprint in the market.

Based in Madrid, AWWG is owned by M1 Group, L*Catterton, and founder Carlos Ortega. The group boasts a large portfolio of international brands, including Hackett, Pepe Jeans, and Faconnable, generating over $650m in revenues across over 3,500 points of sale in 86 countries globally, whilst managing the Iberian business for PVH Corp.

Morris Goldfarb, G-III Apparel's chairman and CEO commented: This partnership with AWWG helps us accelerate a number of our strategic priorities. It not only affords us the opportunity to meaningfully invest in a company with iconic brands but also represents a sizable international presence with a strong infrastructure and talented leadership team that will benefit our efforts to scale our European business. At the same time, we look forward to supporting AWWGs overall growth and advancement of their brands here in North America.

Marcella Wartenbergh, CEO of AWWG, added: We look forward to partnering to propel the growth and European expansion of DKNY, Donna Karan and Karl Lagerfeld, leveraging our global brand platform, operational excellence and Indian market capabilities.

AWWG will also benefit from G-III Apparels expertise and investment as we seek to expand our brands Hackett, Pepe Jeans and Faconnable in North America and further solidify our operational platform during this critical moment of our growth journey.

G-III Apparel reported a 4% decrease in net sales from $3.23bn to $3.10bn for the fiscal year ended 31 January 2024 in its latest financial results reported in March, as it shared its plans to expand its brand portfolio with "flexible" finances in hand.

"G-III Apparel inks strategic deal with AWWG for global brand growth" was originally created and published by Just Style, 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.
DMK, the German dairy major, is to close a domestic facility and reduce capacity at three others amid declining milk production volumes.

The co-op's site in Dargun in north-eastern Germany is to be shuttered, while facilities in Edewecht, Hohenwestedt and Everswinkel are to be scaled down.

Some 150 employees will be impacted by the measures, which are due to be implemented by spring 2025.

DMK, Germanys largest dairy cooperative, said it had no alternative but to make the changes. It said it mainly produces standard products at the affected sites as opposed to higher value lines. That make-up of products, combined with an expected decrease in milk volumes, has led to the adjustment plans.

In a statement, DMK said it is reacting to regionally changing raw material volumes and is also taking aspects of value-adding product range development into account in this planning.

It added: The decision was preceded by a renewed, extensive examination of the planned measures by means of an independent expert opinion on behalf of the employee representatives. This, however, did not allow any other conclusions to be drawn regarding the sustainable and economic continuation of the areas in question.

DMK said it is aiming to optimise its network of production facilities.

These capacities are determined by the interplay of three factors: the volume of milk per region as well as demand and capacity at plant level. Depending on these factors, the plant structure and product portfolio must be constantly optimised to achieve the highest possible value for the processed raw milk. This also includes strengthening products with higher added value and reducing those with lower returns, it said.

The co-op, which has around 7,000 employees, said it will enter into talks with the affected employees to discuss their options.

The DMK Group thus has a strong interest in retaining good employees and deploying them in other functions, it said.

Just Food has asked the trade union NGG, which represents workers at the sites, for its reaction to DMKs announcement.

"German dairy group DMK to shake up production" was originally created and published by Just Food, 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.
Tensions in Rudy Giulianis bankruptcy case are coming to a head, with his creditors hoping for the drastic remedy of having a third party take control of the former New York City mayors finances.

Since Giuliani filed for bankruptcy protection, spurred by a $148 million defamation verdict, his creditors have accused him of hiding assets and a coffee deal, spending egregiously, and failing to timely file required paperwork.

They have now had enough. On Monday, lawyers representing Giulianis creditors will return to bankruptcy court in New York, hoping to convince a judge that the time has come for a trustee to step in.

Simply put, Mr. Giuliani and his bankruptcy case have reached an impasse, the unsecured creditors committee wrote in their motion.

In December, Giuliani hastily filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy after a jury ordered him to pay two Georgia election workers $148 million for defaming them by spreading a baseless conspiracy on behalf of former President Trump in 2020 that they were involved in mass election fraud. He has vowed to appeal.

Bankruptcy automatically froze the poll workers efforts to collect the massive sum. And by filing for Chapter 11  as opposed to Chapter 7, a more common type of individual bankruptcy that would lead to liquidation  Giuliani has remained in control of his assets, for now.

Mr. Giuliani went into Chapter 11 because he wanted to retain control. This is the key to Mr. Giulianis bankruptcy, said Daniel Gielchinsky, a partner at DGIM Law who specializes in bankruptcy law.

That soon could change as the creditors hope to take the reins. For months, they have expressed concerns about Giulianis genuineness in filing for bankruptcy, casting it as a delay tactic. The election workers believe federal law prevents Giuliani from discharging their nine-figure award in bankruptcy.

U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Sean Lane, who oversees the case, expressed frustration at a hearing last month.

I am disturbed about the status of this case. The question is, as it always is in bankruptcy court, where do we go from here? Lane said.

In a scorching 55-page motion filed days later, Giulianis creditors told Lane that he should take the rare step of appointing an independent trustee, arguing Giuliani has shown a preference for theatrics over progress.

His creditors do not need to accept this as their plight, and the Committee refuses to do so. Accordingly, the time has come for the immediate appointment of a chapter 11 trustee to take control of the Debtors assets and financial affairs, including his wholly-owned businesses, the motion reads.

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If the judge agrees, the trustee could look to sell assets or prevent Giuliani from diverting assets to his companies, which have not filed for bankruptcy.

These incessant court filings are part of a larger effort to bully the mayor into silence through lawfare and a public smear campaign, Ted Goodman, an advisor to Giuliani, said in a statement. Mayor Rudy Giulianione of Americas most effective federal prosecutors in historywont be bullied into capitulation by a concerted effort by bad-faith actors to silence the mayor and anyone else willing to take on the permanent Washington political class.

Though Gielchinsky said he thinks the motion has merit, he added that the judge may wait so Giuliani can first propose a plan of reorganization to his creditors, which must be confirmed for Giuliani to emerge from bankruptcy. Court filings indicate Giuliani is seeking a third party to fund his plan so far without success.

The big question the judge is going to have to deal with at the hearing of this motion to convert is, do I do this now, or do I just wait and give you, essentially, the rope to hang yourself with when you propose a plan of reorganization that everybody rejects, Gielchinsky said.

Since Giuliani filed for bankruptcy, his finances have spilled out into public view.

He has disclosed $10.6 million in assets, including a Mercedes-Benz, two individual retirement accounts (IRAs), and three Yankees World Series rings. But the bulk comprises his homes in New York and Florida, and questions have swirled about Giuliani possibly selling them.

Creditors previously sought to compel Giuliani to sell his $3.5 million Palm Beach, Fla., condo. The judge did not order Giuliani to do so, but at a hearing, Lane noted it was a warning shot across the bow.

The debtor can succeed in fending off this motion only to be faced with far more draconian requests for relief by the committee in the future, Lane said at the time.

Last week, Lane authorized Giulianis application to retain a broker to sell his New York apartment, which he has valued at $5.6 million.

The bankruptcy bought him six months, its true, said Eric Snyder, a partner at Wilk Auslander who chairs the law firms bankruptcy department. But what did it really buy him, if he loses them anyway? Except now hes in a legal proceeding thats a lot more intrusive.

Giulianis income and spending have also come under scrutiny, including credit card statements showing he spent thousands to cover costs for his businesses as well as pay the credit card bill of Maria Ryan, one of his employees and Giulianis reported girlfriend.

Giulianis lawyers deny any wrongdoing, saying he transfers personal funds when business revenue is insufficient to cover his companys expenses.

As for his income, creditors have complained that many of Giulianis revenue streams flow to his company, which has not itself filed for bankruptcy, rather than a personal account.

The former mayor had indicated he lived off IRA withdrawals and income comprising social security payments and his radio show. But Giulianis network suspended his show last month after his Arizona indictment for his post-election efforts.

He is now starting a new venture called Rudy Coffee, with pre-orders set to ship out this month, according to the stores website. But that deal, too, has caused a ruckus.

Giuliani is set to receive 80 percent of net profits, court filings show, but creditors say the funds will similarly go to his company. They further claim Giulianis own lawyer was kept in the dark until the deal went public.

Some of them are not real grounds to put in a trustee, Snyder said. But the paying the bills of third parties, the not disclosing the coffee contract  those are real issues that might constitute what they call cause to put into trustee.

Giuliani should find a paying job that will help fund his plan of reorganization, creditors said, instead of kickbacks to his cronies and a personal slush fund, indicating they plan to investigate whether Giuliani is liable for bankruptcy crimes.

In court papers filed Monday, his lawyers said the comment was a stretch of facts, also noting Giuliani has possible lung disease after spending time at ground zero following 9/11.

Maybe the Committee also has a suggestion on who would employ an 80 year old disbarred attorney, Giulianis lawyers wrote.



Updated 2:09 p.m.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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Helsinn Healthcare S.A.

Helsinn Group and Chugai Pharma Europe sign a partnership agreement renewal to commercialize AKYNZEO in the UK and Ireland

Lugano, Switzerland  June 12, 2024  Helsinn Group (Helsinn), a global pharmaceutical company with a track record of over forty-five years of commercial execution and a strong focus in supportive care, oncology and dermato-oncology, and Chugai Pharma Europe Ltd (Chugai), the European subsidiary of Chugai Pharmaceutical Co, Ltd., one of Japans leading research-based pharmaceutical companies, today announced the signing of the Distribution and Licence Agreement renewal in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and the Republic of Ireland, for AKYNZEO (combination of netupitant-palonosetron), for the treatment of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) in adult patients.

Troy Robinson, Managing Director at Chugai Pharma Europe, commented: We are delighted to have signed this agreement with Helsinn and are proud to continue this collaboration. Oncology remains an important pillar of our Chugai business, and this agreement reflects our ongoing commitment to improving the quality of cancer care. Our joint efforts with Helsinn will ensure that we continue to support patients in the UK and Ireland throughout their cancer journey, providing access to AKYNZEO, a valuable supportive care product.

Dr. Melanie Rolli, Helsinn Group CEO, commented: This renewed partnership agreement with Chugai marks a significant milestone. Chugai has been an excellent partner for Helsinn over the past ten years. Our shared vision, values and unwavering dedication to supportive care will continue to fuel our collective journey in enhancing the quality of life for cancer patients in this crucial market. We look forward to exciting new opportunities that lie ahead with Chugai as we build upon our already robust and enduring foundation.

About AKYNZEO

AKYNZEO is the first and only 5-HT 3 and NK 1 receptor antagonist fixed combination approved in adults for the prevention of acute and delayed nausea and vomiting associated with highly and

moderately emetogenic chemotherapy.

For additional information please see the EU Summary of Product Characteristics.

About Chugai Pharma Europe

Chugai Pharma Europe (CPE) is a regional business and wholly owned subsidiary of Chugai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., one of Japans leading research-based pharmaceutical companies and a member of the Roche Group.

Established in 1993, CPE coordinates Chugais commercial, medical, and business activities in Europe, with a focus on oncology, rheumatology, and haematology. Headquartered in London, CPE also supports clinical research programmes for Japan, and explores co-development and in-licensing opportunities with an established network of partners.

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United by our purpose to shape a brighter, healthier future in Europe, our people are passionate about adding value to the medical community and human health. Supporting CPE to deliver advanced and sustainable patient-centric healthcare, and embody our core values to prioritize patient wellbeing, pursue innovation, and maintain the highest ethical and moral standards in everything we do.

For more information, please visit https://www.chugai.eu/ or follow us on LinkedIn and x.

About Helsinn

Helsinn is a global pharmaceutical company that builds, manufactures, launches, and commercializes products to improve the quality of life for patients with cancer and chronic disease, with a focus on supportive care, oncology and dermato-oncology. Helsinn, headquartered in Lugano, Switzerland, has direct commercial operations in the U.S. and an extensive network of long-standing trusted partners enabling a commercial presence in more than 90 countries.

Established in 1976, Helsinn is a third-generation family-owned company with broad pharmaceutical and technical expertise. Helsinn is proud of its history of operating with great integrity, passion and quality. The company is committed to continuously striving for innovation for its patients and embracing sustainable growth as a core element of its strategic vision.

To learn more about Helsinn, please visit www.helsinn.com or follow us on LinkedIn and X .

For more information:

Helsinn Group Media Contact:

Sabrina Perucchi

Group Communication Manager

Lugano, Switzerland

Tel: +41 (0) 91 985 21 21

Email: Info-hhc@helsinn.com

Chugai Pharma Europe:

Robert Mackichan

Senior PR & Communications Manager, Europe

London, UK

Tel: +44 (0) 20 8987 5600

Email: r.mackichan@chugai-pharm.co.uk




Michigan Democrats charged with crafting economic development policies sent to the state House floor on Tuesday bills to extend funding for the state's corporate subsidy program for another decade and launch a new transit fund to attract business and reverse sluggish population growth, fast-tracking a proposal heralded by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.

The main bill in the economic development package  House Bill 5768  proposes $550 million in new corporate income tax revenue earmarks annually through 2035. If corporate income tax revenues reach $1.2 billion, the first available $100 million would go to a housing and community development fund that would include $50 million in previously earmarked funding, the next $50 million would go to community revitalization, the next $200 million would go to a new mobility fund and the next $250 million would go to a corporate subsidy fund.

Transit authorities and economic development agencies around the state rallied around the legislation during a House Economic Development and Small Business Committee hearing on the bills last week.

"This is the biggest opportunity historically that transit has seen," Michigan Public Transit Association President Heidi Wenzel told lawmakers.

But state Rep. Dylan Wegela, D-Garden City  a vocal opponent of giving public funds to companies to create jobs  said he wants to see lawmakers invest in transit without providing the proposed $2.5 billion in corporate subsidies, noting that funding for Michigan's largest economic development program will expire next year.

"We have decades of evidence that this type of quote unquote economic development does not work and does not return the investment that is promised. And at some point, I implore all of us we have to stop gambling with taxpayer dollars, and we have to stop allowing corporations to hold us hostage and instead invest in the things that we believe in by putting public dollars in public spaces," Wegela told lawmakers during a committee hearing Tuesday.

Wegela's comments marked an extremely rare occurrence in Lansing: a lawmaker testifying in opposition to legislation introduced by members of their own party.

Democrats on the economic development committee sent the bills to the floor for a vote without the backing of any Republican members. Democrats hold a one-vote majority in the state House. To pass the bills, they will need the support of every member of their party if Republicans unite in opposition.

Michigan State Rep. Jason Hoskins, D-Southfield, speaks on the floor of the Michigan House of Representatives Feb. 14, 2024. Hoskins chairs the House Economic Development and Small Business Committee.

While Wegela has consistently leveled a critique of corporate subsidies from the political left, conservatives have concerns about the spending too. James Hohman, fiscal policy director for the Mackinac Center for Public Policy  a research organization that advocates for limited government  opposes the latest proposal from House Democrats. "These subsidy programs are demonstrated to be ineffective at creating jobs and expensive to taxpayers," he said.

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Debates over how best to bring jobs and people to Michigan have dominated the current legislative session. Democrats overcame GOP resistance to approve public support for economic projects Whitmer has touted to ensure the state maintains its competitive edge in the auto industry amid the transition to electric vehicles. She has routinely described the spending as critical to luring new jobs to the state.

Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer is introduced on stage by Ford Motor Company Executive Chairman Bill Ford before speaking about the BlueOval Battery Park Michigan to be built in Marshall during a press announcement at Ford Ion Park in Romulus on Monday, February 13, 2023.

In addition to the earmarks proposed in the House bills, the House Economic Development Committee also sent to the floor for a vote Senate bills that would add new criteria for economic development officials to consider before approving subsidies for companies and public funds to prepare their job sites such as whether the project will be located in a high-unemployment area.

Whitmer thanked state lawmakers for moving the bills forward. "Today's progress on economic development delivers on our comprehensive vision to invest in people, uplift places, and win projects," she said in a statement Tuesday.

Last year when Whitmer signed into law a tax cut for working families and seniors, she also approved earmarks of corporate income tax revenue for the housing, revitalization and corporate subsidy funds through 2025. The new tax policy marks the first state law to divert revenue the state collects from taxing companies to specific funds rather than the general fund, the state's pot of money for funding a wide range of government activities.

Michigan Housing Policy: Senate Dems eye giving Michigan renters right to form unions, deduct repairs from rent

Proponents of the new economic development proposal to extend similar earmarks for another 10 years  through 2035  argue the long-term funding will provide certainty for businesses eyeing Michigan and provide the largest sustained investment in transit in Michigan's history.

But lawmakers cannot guarantee the funding. They set the state's budget each year and lawmakers as soon as next year could decide not to allocate the funding proposed in the economic development package. If they move ahead with the funding, however, they restrict the amount of money for the general fund by limiting the amount of corporate income tax revenue for that pot of money. It's hard to identify specific funding hits from the proposed earmarks, said retired House Fiscal Agency Director Mitch Bean, because it's impossible to say how lawmakers would have otherwise chosen to spend the money.

But it could force some tough choices during budget negotiations next year.

The most recent state revenue forecast indicates that the proposed earmarks under the economic development legislation would eat up almost all of the anticipated revenue growth for the 2026 fiscal year, said Bob Schneider, senior research associate at the Citizens Research Council of Michigan. "All of the sudden it's like a zero growth budget and now anything you add needs to come out of something else," he said.

Contact Clara Hendrickson at chendrickson@freepress.com or 313-296-5743. Follow her on X, previously called Twitter, @clarajanehen.

Looking for more on Michigans elections this year? Subscribe to our elections newsletter and always feel free to share your thoughts in a letter to the editor.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan House Democrats advance economic development plan
JERUSALEM  The Israel Aerospace Industries workers union has reached an agreement with the governments Finance Ministry where so-called salary anomalies previously provided to company employees will be recognized as special retroactive grants, according to the union.

IAIs labor dispute came to light in early May after the ministry demanded the return of funds received by the companys employees over multiple years without governmental approval, contrary to what is customary in state-owned firms. The disagreement put the supply of the Arrow 3 air defense system to Germany under threat.

IAI is expected to distribute about a third of its $320 million profits from 2023 as bonuses to its approximately 15,000 employees. Half of IAIs profits are to go to the state as a dividend.

The apparent outline described will allow a time frame to try and regulate the alleged salary anomalies, while at the same time allowing salary promotions of employees, Yair Katz, chairman of the workers union, told Defense News. The new agreement should be signed in about three weeks. And with the signing of it, it will be possible to definitively state that the labor dispute threat has been removed from the table.

Despite the previous threat of business disruption, IAIs management supported its employees and form a united front with the union in its discussions with the ministry, claiming the funds were intended to retain its workers.

IAI declined to comment for this story. The ministry would also not go into details about the agreement, noting that the final approval for the outline has not yet been given.
We recently published a list titled Jim Cramer is Recommending These 10 Stocks in June. Since Ingersoll Rand Inc (NYSE:IR) ranks 9th in the list, it deserves a deeper look.

Jim Cramer in a latest program talked about the effect of inflation on US consumers and discussed how its impacting the Haves and the Have Nots. Cramer said while everyone is feeling the pinch of inflation, the Have Nots are feeling a heck of a lot more than the Haves. Cramer said that the difference between these two classes of consumers is very important for investment portfolios. He complained that many retailers dont even know their consumers and thats why they have a totally different reading of the current economic situation and its effects on consumers. Cramer criticized those who arent careful about the differences between consumers and use the consumer as a blanket term.

Cramer talked about several retail companies and how they are directly feeling the effects of inflation as consumers cut back on spending. The CNBC host said that Americans are making tough choices because of rising prices but we usually dont talk about it.

Jim Cramer said that many strategists demand several rate cuts because they want stocks higher.

I want higher stock prices too but if we get multiple rate cuts and inflation comes roaring back, its the Have Nots that will get hurt.

Jim Cramer said that while many people wont be happy to see a strong jobs report (because that decreases the chances of rate cuts), they should keep in mind the tough situation the Federal Reserve is in.

Jay Powell isnt worried about those of us with big portfolios. Hes worried about the tens of millions of people with almost nothing in the bank.

For this article we watched several latest programs of Jim Cramer aired recently and picked 10 stocks hes bullish about and recommending investors to buy or hold. With each stock we have mentioned the number of hedge fund investors. 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 Jim Cramer Recommending Ingersoll Rand Inc (NYSE:IR) Stock in June?

Ingersoll Rand Inc (NYSE:IR)

Number of Hedge Fund Investors: 32

Industrial products company Ingersoll Rand Inc (NYSE:IR) is one of the stocks Jim Cramer is recommending investors to hold on to. Cramer recently said in a program that lets just hold on to IR.

They are a reconstituted company that is doing a lot of things right.

Cramer said the fact the stock hasnt seen much movement tells him its about to reaccelerate.

In May, Ingersoll Rand Inc (NYSE:IR) posted Q1 results. Adjusted EPS in the period came in at $0.78, beating estimates by $0.09. Revenue in the quarter jumped 2.5% year over year to $1.67 billion but missed estimates by $30 million.

Ingersoll Rand Inc (NYSE:IR) is involved in producing mission-critical products in various industries including air, fluid, energy, specialty vehicle, and medical industries. Analysts believe Ingersoll Rand Incs (NYSE:IR) climate/energy-related business could see high growth as demand of these products increases. Ingersoll Rand Incs (NYSE:IR) energy efficiency solutions are supplied to life science, food & beverage, clean energy, general manufacturing, infrastructure, water, transport, electronics markets.

The companys management talked about guidance in the latest earnings call:

Given the solid performance in Q1, were raising our 2024 guidance. Total company revenue is expected to grow overall between 4% to 6%, which is down 100 basis points versus prior initial guidance, driven entirely by FX. We anticipate positive organic growth of 2% to 4%, consistent with prior guidance, where price and volume remains split at approximately 70/30. adjusted EPS is projected to be within the range of $3.20 and $3.30, which is up 2% versus prior guidance, and approximately 10% year-over-year at the midpoint. On the bottom right-hand side of the page, we have included a 2024 full-year guidance bridge, showing the changes in our latest guidance as compared to our initial guidance provided in February. [read the full earnings call transcript here]

IRs growth estimates set by Wall Street is 10% for the next year. Average analyst price target on the stock is $100, which presents a 10% upside potential from the current levels. Ingersoll Rand Inc (NYSE:IR) could be a rewarding investment for patient investors.

Overall, Ingersoll Rand Inc (NYSE:IR) ranks 9th on Insider Monkeys list of Jim Cramer is Recommending These 10 Stocks in June. You can visit Jim Cramer is Recommending These 10 Stocks in June to see other stocks in the list. While we acknowledge the potential of Ingersoll Rand Inc (NYSE:IR), 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 Ingersoll Rand Inc (NYSE:IR) 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, Lockheed Martin fair value estimate is US$647

Lockheed Martin's US$463 share price signals that it might be 28% undervalued

Analyst price target for LMT is US$489 which is 24% below our fair value estimate

Does the June share price for Lockheed Martin Corporation (NYSE:LMT) reflect what it's really worth? Today, we will estimate the stock's intrinsic value by taking the forecast future cash flows of the company and discounting them back to today's value. We will use the Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model on this occasion. It may sound complicated, but actually it is quite simple!

Remember though, that there are many ways to estimate a company's value, and a DCF is just one method. If you still have some burning questions about this type of valuation, take a look at the Simply Wall St analysis model.

View our latest analysis for Lockheed Martin

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 begin with, we have to get estimates of the next ten years of cash flows. Where possible we use analyst estimates, but when these aren't available we extrapolate the previous free cash flow (FCF) from the last estimate or reported value. We assume companies with shrinking free cash flow will slow their rate of shrinkage, and that companies with growing free cash flow will see their growth rate slow, over this period. We do this to reflect that growth tends to slow more in the early years than it does in later years.

A DCF is all about the idea that a dollar in the future is less valuable than a dollar today, so we need to discount the sum of these future cash flows to arrive at a present value estimate:

10-year free cash flow (FCF) estimate

2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 2031 2032 2033 Levered FCF ($, Millions) US$6.21b US$6.13b US$6.38b US$7.06b US$7.16b US$7.27b US$7.40b US$7.54b US$7.70b US$7.87b Growth Rate Estimate Source Analyst x9 Analyst x9 Analyst x5 Analyst x2 Analyst x1 Est @ 1.55% Est @ 1.80% Est @ 1.97% Est @ 2.09% Est @ 2.18% Present Value ($, Millions) Discounted @ 6.5% US$5.8k US$5.4k US$5.3k US$5.5k US$5.2k US$5.0k US$4.8k US$4.6k US$4.4k US$4.2k

("Est" = FCF growth rate estimated by Simply Wall St)

Present Value of 10-year Cash Flow (PVCF) = US$50b

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 (2.4%) to estimate future growth. In the same way as with the 10-year 'growth' period, we discount future cash flows to today's value, using a cost of equity of 6.5%.

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Terminal Value (TV)= FCF 2033  (1 + g)  (r  g) = US$7.9b (1 + 2.4%)  (6.5% 2.4%) = US$197b

Present Value of Terminal Value (PVTV)= TV / (1 + r)10= US$197b ( 1 + 6.5%)10= US$105b

The total value, or equity value, is then the sum of the present value of the future cash flows, which in this case is US$155b. To get the intrinsic value per share, we divide this by the total number of shares outstanding. Relative to the current share price of US$463, the company appears a touch undervalued at a 28% 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. You don't have to agree with these inputs, I recommend redoing the calculations yourself and playing with them. The DCF also does not consider the possible cyclicality of an industry, or a company's future capital requirements, so it does not give a full picture of a company's potential performance. Given that we are looking at Lockheed Martin as potential shareholders, the cost of equity is used as the discount rate, rather than the cost of capital (or weighted average cost of capital, WACC) which accounts for debt. In this calculation we've used 6.5%, which is based on a levered beta of 0.890. 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 Lockheed Martin

Strength

Earnings growth over the past year exceeded the industry.

Debt is well covered by earnings and cashflows.

Dividends are covered by earnings and cash flows.

Weakness

Dividend is low compared to the top 25% of dividend payers in the Aerospace & Defense market.

Opportunity

Annual earnings are forecast to grow for the next 3 years.

Good value based on P/E ratio and estimated fair value.

Threat

Annual earnings are forecast to grow slower than the American market.

Moving On:

Although the valuation of a company is important, it ideally won't be the sole piece of analysis you scrutinize for a company. The DCF model is not a perfect stock valuation tool. Instead the best use for a DCF model is to test certain assumptions and theories to see if they would lead to the company being undervalued or overvalued. If a company grows at a different rate, or if its cost of equity or risk free rate changes sharply, the output can look very different. Can we work out why the company is trading at a discount to intrinsic value? For Lockheed Martin, we've compiled three fundamental items you should further examine:

Risks: To that end, you should be aware of the 1 warning sign we've spotted with Lockheed Martin . Future Earnings: How does LMT's growth rate compare to its peers and the wider market? Dig deeper into the analyst consensus number for the upcoming years by interacting with our free analyst growth expectation chart. Other Solid Businesses: Low debt, high returns on equity and good past performance are fundamental to a strong business. Why not explore our interactive list of stocks with solid business fundamentals to see if there are other companies you may not have considered!

PS. Simply Wall St updates its DCF calculation for every American stock every day, so if you want to find the intrinsic value of any other stock just search here.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.
(Bloomberg) -- A London hospital is asking its own clinical workers for blood as it faces supply disruptions after a cyberattack last week paralyzed operations.

Most Read from Bloomberg

Kings College Hospital is calling on staff with the blood type O to schedule donations, according to an internal memo sent to staff and reviewed by Bloomberg News. The hospital declined to comment. National Health Service, the publicly funded health care system in England, didnt respond to a request for comment.

The letter followed a broader appeal issued by NHS England to the general public for blood donations and is only the latest fallout from a ransomware attack that has plagued several of the regions medical centers since June 4. The hack against Synnovis, a provider that helps manage blood transfusions and testing for the hospitals, has forced some facilities to delay medical operations, postpone blood samples and resort to handwritten records.

NHS Blood and Transplant is calling for O blood type donors (both positive and negative) to book appointments in order to support the response to the ransomware cyber attack incident, Julie Lowe, deputy chief executive of Kings College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, said in the internal memo. Staff are also encouraged to donate blood as well.

O type blood is particularly critical. O negative blood can be given to anyone regardless of their blood type, and O positive is the most common type. The attack has meant hospitals cant match patients blood at the same frequency as usual, NHS Blood and Transplant said Monday in a statement.

Continued Disruptions

The memo also warns that disruptions tied to the hack were expected to continue for the rest of the week, with the trust redirecting a small number of patients to other hospitals. Some planned operations and outpatient appointments will likely be canceled, Lowe said. We still do not know when Synnovis systems are likely to be restored, so we should expect to be dealing with this incident for the rest of this week, and beyond, she added.

The attack on Synnovis, a partnership between diagnostics company Synlab UK & Ireland and Guys and St Thomas NHS Foundation Trust and Kings College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, has primarily affected patients of Guys and St Thomas Hospital, Kings College Hospital and primary care in southeast London. The lab services provider has said it is working with NHS England to minimize the impact on patients.

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Why Ransomware Hacks Mean Your Money or Your Network: QuickTake

The fallout of the attack has rippled across to primary care providers whose practices rely on the affected hospitals for laboratory services.

Azeem Majeed, a physician in south London, said local practices and community services have historically ordered up 10,000 blood samples a day for testing. Providers are now restricted to requesting around 400 a day, he said.

Routine blood tests for patients with conditions including high blood pressure, diabetes and kidney diseases are facing delays, he said, while noting that patients with urgent issues are being prioritized.

Discarded Samples

Thousands of patient blood samples are set to go to waste because Synnovis is unable to export test results quickly via its own IT systems, most of which remain locked down, the company said in an update to clinicians on Monday.

Synnovis said it received around 8,000 blood samples last week and has processed about 3,000 of these. The process is taking longer than usual as staff are logging samples manually, typing the results into its systems and then relaying them over the phone.

It is very likely that most will need to be discarded because the sample will have degraded, making results unreliable, the company wrote. Of those tests processed, we have phoned through all results that sit outside of critical limits, however, we have been unable to return any results electronically and are unlikely to be able to do so.

No group has publicly taken credit for the ransomware attack, a type of hack that locks the victim out of their own systems or data until they pay the hackers to restore access.

Third Hack

Hacker groups generally avoid targeting health-care providers, according to Cian Heasley, a researcher at Adarma Security. He said Qilin, a Russian-speaking ransomware-as-a-service operation which has previously targeted health care providers directly or through affiliates, is one possible culprit.

Qilin took credit for a ransomware attack on the Neurology Center of Nevada and Dutch elder-care provider Attentive Care and Treatment in 2023.

Ransomware groups that are willing to target the health-care sector understand the value of the data, Heasley said. The potential leaking of stolen data is only part of the problem; the data itself is vital to patient treatment.

This ransomware attack is the third to hit Synlab AG in the last year. In June 2023, Synlab said its French branch was hit by attacker group Clop and in April a cyberattack paralyzed the groups Italian operation.

--With assistance from Jordan Robertson and Ryan Gallagher.

(Updates with further details starting from the 11th paragraph)

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2024 Bloomberg L.P.
We recently published a list titled Jim Cramer is Recommending These 10 Stocks in June. Since MasTec Inc (NYSE:MTZ) ranks 8th in the list, it deserves a deeper look.

Jim Cramer in a latest program talked about the effect of inflation on US consumers and discussed how its impacting the Haves and the Have Nots. Cramer said while everyone is feeling the pinch of inflation, the Have Nots are feeling a heck of a lot more than the Haves. Cramer said that the difference between these two classes of consumers is very important for investment portfolios. He complained that many retailers dont even know their consumers and thats why they have a totally different reading of the current economic situation and its effects on consumers. Cramer criticized those who arent careful about the differences between consumers and use the consumer as a blanket term.

Cramer talked about several retail companies and how they are directly feeling the effects of inflation as consumers cut back on spending. The CNBC host said that Americans are making tough choices because of rising prices but we usually dont talk about it.

Jim Cramer said that many strategists demand several rate cuts because they want stocks higher.

I want higher stock prices too but if we get multiple rate cuts and inflation comes roaring back, its the Have Nots that will get hurt.

Jay Powell Is Worried About Tens of Millions of People With Almost Nothing in the Bank, Cramer Says

Jim Cramer said that while many people wont be happy to see a strong jobs report (because that decreases the chances of rate cuts), they should keep in mind the tough situation the Federal Reserve is in.

Jay Powell isnt worried about those of us with big portfolios. Hes worried about the tens of millions of people with almost nothing in the bank.

For this article we watched several latest programs of Jim Cramer aired recently and picked 10 stocks hes bullish about and recommending investors to buy or hold. With each stock we have mentioned the number of hedge fund investors. 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 Jim Cramer Recommending MasTec Inc (NYSE:MTZ) Stock in June?

MasTec Inc (NYSE:MTZ)

Number of Hedge Fund Investors: 42

Florida-based infrastructure engineering and construction company MasTec Inc (NYSE:MTZ) is one of the best Jim Cramer stock recommendations in June. When asked about the stock, Cramer said MasTec Inc (NYSE:MTZ) is a great infrastructure play. Cramer said that MasTec Inc (NYSE:MTZ) is making a comeback.

People say its down and out. No! That is a very good company. Jose R. Mas (MasTec CEO) is doing a terrific job. We like MTZ, Cramer added.

Wall Street analysts are starting to talk about the stock, too. They believe despite low pricing power, the broader economic slowdown wont impact specialty builders like MasTec Inc (NYSE:MTZ). Last year MasTec Incs (NYSE:MTZ) revenue jumped 23% to $12.0 billion, compared to $9.8 billion for the prior year.

Over the past one year the stock has slipped 0.8%. Despite its strong performance this year, some believe MasTec Inc (NYSE:MTZ) is undervalued. While its forward P/E of 35 is higher than the industry average, based on Wall Streets estimates of a 49.70% earnings growth this year and 46% growth next year, the stock could be an attractive choice for long-term investors. Average analyst estimate for the stock is $121.69, which presents an 11% upside potential.

FPA Queens Road Small Cap Value Fund stated the following regarding MasTec, Inc. (NYSE:MTZ) in its first quarter 2024 investor letter:

MasTec, Inc. (NYSE:MTZ) is a contractor that builds and repairs infrastructure for telecoms, electric utilities, oil and gas pipelines and the clean energy industry. The company benefits from strong spending for 5G in telecom and government support (including the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act) for clean energy and the electrical grid.10 The Mas brothers have an impressive history of rolling up smaller players and growing earnings, most recently in the electrical and clean energy spaces. But we became uncomfortable with the low margins and competition in the electrical utility and clean energy businesses. On Aug 4, 2023, in its Q2 2023 earnings release, the company reduced guidance, and we began to exit our position, partially in Q3 2023 and fully by the end of Q4 2023.

Overall, MasTec Inc (NYSE:MTZ) ranks 8th on Insider Monkeys list of Jim Cramer is Recommending These 10 Stocks in June. You can visit Jim Cramer is Recommending These 10 Stocks in June to see other stocks in the list. While we acknowledge the potential of MasTec Inc (NYSE:MTZ), 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 MasTec Inc (NYSE:MTZ) 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.
Ukraines Ministry for Restoration and Mastercard have teamed up to promote regions of Ukraine as tourist destinations at both domestic and international levels.

Restoring the tourism industry is an essential aspect of the country's economic recovery. It aims to increase tax revenues and bolster the overall brand of Ukraine. Today, we need to work on developing inclusive and accessible tourism infrastructure, promoting domestic tourism among Ukrainian consumers, and creating conditions for legal employment in the tourism sector, said Serhiy Derkach, Deputy Minister for Communities, Territories and Infrastructure Development of Ukraine.

Collaborating with Mastercard, our primary focus will be on analytics and research within the Ukrainian tourism landscape. This will enable us to create a comprehensive strategy to position Ukraine as a desirable tourist destination. And foster the development of Ukrainian regions and communities based on emerging trends,

The Memorandum outlines cooperation in improving the quality of national tourism products. It promotes digitising the tourism industry and aiding in the advancement of digital services among micro, small and medium sized enterprises engaged in tourism. It also aims to facilitate the attraction of investments for the development of the tourism industry. Finally, it will analyse popular tourist destinations, trends, and travel experiences within Ukraine to develop and implement an effective tourism strategy for the country.

Public-private partnerships are essential for driving economic growth and innovation: Mastercard

At Mastercard, we believe public-private partnerships are essential for driving economic growth and innovation. For decades, we have supported governments in their digital transformation journeys. Today, we are committed to supporting Ukraine's reconstruction. We are proud to partner with the Ministry for Restoration and contribute to Ukraines tourism development by harnessing our global network, technologies, and data expertise. Through Mastercard's Tourism Innovation Hub, alongside our vast track record of partnerships in the travel and tourism space around the globe, we are furthering our commitment to support the reconstruction of the travel and tourism industry to become more sustainable, resilient, and inclusive. With this collaboration, our goal is to help Ukraine utilise its impressive potential and heritage, and, as soon as the situation allows, reopen to the world, says Nicola Villa, Executive Vice President, Public Sector, Strategic Growth, Mastercard.

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"Ministry for Restoration of Ukraine and Mastercard cooperate on restoring the tourism industry" was originally created and published by Electronic Payments International, a GlobalData owned brand.







The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site.
Moderna (MRNA) is on its way to getting a third mRNA-based vaccine approved by the FDA if the regulatory agency likes the data released Monday for a combination flu-COVID shot.

The company said the new combo vaccine provided better protection against both diseases than separate shots. It marks the first positive late-stage results of a combination vaccine.

The company's stock was trading slightly up on the news early Monday before falling after market open. Moderna is up almost 20% in the last month after the company received approval from the FDA for its RSV vaccine for older adults.

The biotech firm has enjoyed the spotlight as its brand-new platform became a frontrunner, and ultimately one of the two key vaccines, in addressing the pandemic. Since the multibillion-dollar COVID windfall, investors have been anxious about the near-term prospects of Moderna.

Will a new flu/Covid vaccine please Wall Street for Moderna? (REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration) (Reuters / Reuters)

In a note to investors in March, JPMorgan analysts said, "While we continue to struggle with MRNAs goal of break-even in 2026 based on our current top-line expectations over the next few years, we remain impressed with the platforms versatility and see the company laying the groundwork for the future."

That wariness has persisted.

In a note to investors Monday, JPMorgan analysts said that the news opens the door for incremental revenue in the 2025-2026 flu season, but they do not view the product as a way to renew a focus on COVID amid the waning interest in the vaccines post-pandemic.

"While we dont necessarily see the existence of a COVID/flu combo expanding the COVID opportunity, we do think having non-inferior data to FluZone HD could enable MRNA to capture some revenue in what we view as the more attractive segment of the flu market," the analysts wrote.

Moderna president Stephen Hoge knows investors are waiting to see the company grow in a big way and regain the momentum lost following outsized COVID-19 vaccine revenues.

"What we're kind of settling into now is what feels like more of the normal operations. It's actually been comforting, stabilizing. There was a lot of work last year to come down the mountain in terms of scaling the size of business. Making 2 billion doses per year is not the same as making 200 million per year," Hoge told Yahoo Finance at the Goldman Sachs annual healthcare event in Miami Beach Monday.

"I think all that work's paid off," he said.

But can Moderna convince investors to stay long-term as it works to avoid sinking back into "small biotech" territory?

Hoge said the company is already up to three vaccines in two years and has late-stage trial data expected for three more in the near term. But it's also important to note that Moderna's current pipeline is mainly respiratory vaccines, which will not provide the type of profits to make up for the loss in the COVID portfolio.

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In terms of volume in vaccination, flu impacts 150 million Americans every year, while COVID affects 50 million, Hoge said. The respiratory vaccines are priced lower than other vaccines, like Merck's (MRK) HPV vaccine, Gardasil, which has a list price of $300 or more. (List price for Moderna's COVID vaccine: $110.)

So while the Moderna vaccines "are good for public health, it means you have to sell more to get to the same revenue," Hoge said.

Still, he noted that much of the company's investment is now in clinical trials, and he expects the newer products to add to the company's revenues sooner rather than later.

"It will take a lot more time and maybe 10 products to get there, and that's appropriate," Hoge said.

Anjalee Khemlani is the senior health reporter at Yahoo Finance, covering all things pharma, insurance, care services, digital health, PBMs, and health policy and politics. Follow Anjalee on all social media platforms @AnjKhem.

Click here for in-depth analysis of the latest health industry news and events impacting stock prices

Read the latest financial and business news from Yahoo Finance
We recently compiled a list of the 12 Most Profitable Businesses to Start from Home in 2024 and in this article we will look at the most profitable business.

Entrepreneurs Making a Living from Their Homes

Freelancing has altered the landscape of work and entrepreneurship. As of 2023, 64 million people in the US were engaged in freelance work. Ali Rahmon is a Syrian refugee, residing in Romania and working as a graphic designer. On June 5, Business Insider covered Ali Rahmon's journey as an entrepreneur. Ali Rahmon shifted to Romania in 2014 and pivoted his freelancing career to create design templates for clients in web and 3D design. After 2 years of consistent hard work, Rahmon then chose sports templates as his niche. He made a professional website using $2,000 from his savings using WooCommerce to showcase his work. The site was launched in February 2016 and after a few weeks, Rahmon decided to enhance his presence on the internet using social media platforms including Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. His social media accounts linked back to his website. He also hired influencers on YouTube to promote his work. After a year of working towards his goal, ESPN reached out to Rahmon for a custom design template offering him $2,500 for the project. In 2020, he started to experiment with TikTok to grow his popularity. His content started getting engagement from NBA teams, contributing to his success. After establishing a strong online presence, Rohman started to earn somewhere between $10,000 to $15,000 per month.

Providing virtual fitness training services is another great business idea that can be started from home. On December 9, 2020, Business Insider quoted the story of BreeAnna Cox who made $450,000 a year as an online personal trainer. Cox is the founder of BodyByBree and has been working in the personal training business for more than 14 years now. She also published a range of podcasts on her website that talk about the physical and mental well-being of individuals. She also owns a BodyByBee training application that comes with a 14-day free trial. Cox's 100% online business grossed over $450,000 in 2020. As of June 12, BreeAnna Cox has over 104,000 followers on Instagram.

The keyword "affiliate marketing" had a global search volume of 744,600 in the past 30 days, as of June 12. People were also curious to know what affiliate marketing is, garnering 22,200 in global search volume. 5,400 searches prompted search engines to understand how to start affiliate marketing and 2,900 searches questioned the legitimacy of it. 27,100 searches came from the keyword, affiliate marketing programs, and 22,200 searches were in favor of Amazon's affiliate marketing program. Such explains why affiliate marketing is considered to be a popular business idea. On May 17, 2023, Business Insider brought Bruce Paulson's story to the limelight. The freelance SEO specialist made $203,000 in revenue from affiliate marketing in 2022. Before stepping into affiliate marketing, Paulson had been running an SEO agency since 2015. While he did have clients, growing his business was quite a challenge. In 2020, he ventured into affiliate marketing and learned how to build affiliate websites. He would get a small payout for every purchase of a product or service he recommended. He currently has six websites and plans to grow his business even more. He typically earns somewhere between 3% to 10% in commissions for every sale.

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Is Upwork the Best Freelancing Software?

Upwork Inc. (NASDAQ:UPWK) is one of the best freelancing platforms in the world. The platform is functional in more than 180 countries across the globe and offers over 125 categories of work to freelance workers. The company celebrated a milestone in the first quarter of 2023, logging over $20 billion in lifetime freelancer earnings, doubling from $10 billion within three years. In the first quarter of 2023, the company's clients reached 872,000, up 5% year-over-year. The company currently has the lowest take rate in the industry at 17.7%, strengthening its ability to produce opportunities for the platform with strong monetary returns.

Analysts and investors like the stock. In Q1, the number of hedge funds that held stakes in UPWK was 31, with total stakes amounting to $284.61 million. Ken Griffin's Citadel Investment Group grew its position in UPWK by 318% in Q1. Moreover, The median 1-year price target for the stock implies an upside of 77.24% from current levels of $10.72 and the stock has a consensus Buy rating.

Upwork Inc. (NASDAQ:UPWK) is making strides in product innovations, AI, and Machine Learning, increasing its gross sales value (GSV). The company reported 70% year-over-year growth in GSV in the AI and machine learning subcategory during the fourth quarter of 2023, and 50% year-over-year during the first quarter of 2024. Upwork's Freelancer Plus subscription, comprising AI-backed tools and features to enhance skills and visibility, had more than 100,000 active subscribers in the first quarter of 2024, driving 76% growth in revenue. Overall, innovation and investment in new products have been a primary driver of Upwork Inc.'s (NASDAQ:UPWK) financial success in 2023. The company hopes to keep the trend alive for the coming year.

The company is in the right direction when it comes to leveraging AI to its benefit. On April 30, Upwork Inc. (NASDAQ:UPWK) reported interesting updates to its AI segment helping businesses and freelancers hire and work more efficiently. Uma is Upwork's Mindful AI, developed using leading large language models. Uma is capable of enhancing the hiring and working process for businesses and freelancers, helping parties discover each other more efficiently. The tool can power Upwork's Best Match insights feature, which is available in beta. The feature allows businesses to find the right person for jobs instantaneously based on client reviews and the skills required. Uma is also capable of conversing with clients and freelancers on Upwork.

Upwork Inc. (NASDAQ:UPWK) is part of the industry that is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 16.5% and reach $14.39 billion by 2030, as per estimates by Grand View Research. We think UPWK may be worth exploring while it's trading at 2 times its sales, lower than its 5-year average P/S ratio of 6x. Over the past 5 years, Upwork Inc. (NASDAQ:UPWK) has grown its sales by a CAGR of 22%, and analysts anticipate a further 13% growth in sales in 2024.

While we acknowledge the potential of Upwork Inc. (NASDAQ:UPWK) to grow, our conviction lies in the belief that AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns, and doing so within a shorter timeframe. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than NVIDIA but that trades at less than 5 times its earnings, check out our report about the cheapest AI stock.

The Most Profitable Business to Start from Home in 2024

Jacob Lund/Shutterstock.com

Our Methodology

To gather a list of the 12 most profitable businesses to start from home in 2024, we consulted threads on Reddit and over 10 rankings and reports on the internet. We picked the business ideas that appeared in 50% of our sources and then ranked them.

At Insider Monkey we are obsessed with the stocks that hedge funds pile into. The reason is simple: our research has shown that we can outperform the market by imitating the top stock picks of the best hedge funds. Our quarterly newsletters strategy selects 14 small-cap and large-cap stocks every quarter and has returned 275% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 150 percentage points (see more details here).

The Most Profitable Business to Start from Home in 2024

1. Graphic Design and Editing

Starting a graphic design and editing business is the best business idea to start from home in 2024. On average, a graphic designer on Upwork earns somewhere between $15 to $150 per hour. Designers can also earn money on a per-project basis depending on the requirements of clients and recruiters. On May 18, 2022, Business Insider quoted Brett William's story as a freelance UX designer. Brett Williams, a self-taught graphic designer, started his career as a freelancer and eventually launched his design subscription service, Designjoy, bagging $150,000 per month. Clients were able to assign one task at a time and he would complete those as soon as possible. He submitted his landing page to Product Hunt to market his service and to his surprise, his website logged 40,000 unique visits on the first day of launch. As mentioned above, another freelancer Ali Rahmon from Romania went from freelancing to starting his own design brand on the web that was marketed well on social media. A few months into operation, Rahmon was able to make $10,000 to $15,000 in earnings per month.

To explore more profitable businesses that you can start from home now, check out our report on 12 Most Profitable Businesses to Start from Home in 2024.

At Insider Monkey, we delve into a variety of topics; however, our expertise lies in identifying the top-performing stocks. Currently, Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology stands out as one of the most promising fields. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than NVDA but that trades at less than 5 times its earnings, check out our report about the cheapest AI stock.

READ NEXT: 40 Best Places to Visit in South America That Are Beautiful and Safe and 26 Most Glamorous Cities in the US.

Disclosure: None. This article is originally published on Insider Monkey.
Nemiroff, the Ukraine-based distiller, has struck distribution deals in Egypt and Tunisia.

The company has appointed tobacco and spirits distributor Odyssey Group to handle its De Luxe and The Inked Collection vodkas.

The spirits will be available at outlets including Egypt Air Duty Free Shops and Misr Foreign Trade from the third quarter of the year.

Nemiroff said the agreement with Odyssey was the first time it had signed an official distribution deal in Africa. Its products have been on sale in markets including Nigeria and South Africa through wholesalers and traders.

Yuriy Sorochynskiy, Nemiroffs CEO, said Egypt and Tunisia offer tremendous potential.

He added: Egypt, in particular, is poised for substantial growth in the alcoholic beverages sector, driven by rising demand from younger adults and the market is expected to expand due to new product developments and retail expansions.

Nemiroff does not disclose revenue figures but said its total volume sales rose 42% in 2022 to 3.4m cases.

Nohra Ramzi, the companys area manager for the Middle East, Africa and Asia, told Just Drinks the distiller saw remarkable growth in the UK, Finland, and France, without disclosing figures.

Ramzi added sales of De Luxe at travel-retail outlets almost doubled in Germany, Cyprus, Poland and France.

Earlier this year, Nemiroff announced it was entering India through a distribution deal with Amistad Spirits.

Nemiroffs main production facilities are located in central Ukraine near the town of Nemyriv.

"Nemiroff adds to Africa presence" was originally created and published by Just Drinks, 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.
Novuna Business Finance, a specialist in providing asset finance solutions for SMEs and larger corporations across the UK, has reported pre-tax profits of 23.4 million, marking a 5.9% increase from the previous year.

This achievement comes despite a significant 29.2 million rise in funding costs due to unprecedented rate hikes over the past 12 months. The company's performance contributed to the overall Group pre-tax profits of 126 million.

The company, known for its asset finance, stocking, block discounting, and sustainable project finance solutions, saw a 27.1 million increase in net earning assets, bringing the total to 1.8 billion. This cements its position as the largest non-bank asset finance provider in the UK.

Facing an 80% increase in funding costs from 36.4 million to 65.6 million in FY23/24, Novuna Business Finance managed to maintain its operating costs at the previous year's level. The company also improved the quality of its portfolio, reducing bad debt by over 3 million. These measures, along with pricing adjustments on new business, led to a 23.1% revenue increase, generating an additional 25.8 million and achieving 860 million in total new business volumes.

The company's emerging Project Finance channel secured over 100 million in new facilities, focusing on energy storage and infrastructure projects through tailored financing. This channel has become the fastest-growing market route for Novuna, supporting Mitsubishi HC Capital UK PLCs goal of having 20% of Group assets connected to climate action and affordable clean energy by March 2025.

Novunas direct market routes, offering larger transactions and credit lines, saw a 20% increase in business volumes in FY23/24. The manufacturer and dealer channel also experienced significant growth, with a 21% increase in the stocking portfolio and a 6% growth in B2B finance new business volume.

The broker channel, a long-standing route to market, achieved 422 million in new business volume in FY23/24, maintaining its position as Novuna Business Finances largest market route.

Investments in the Mercury customer application and management portal have enhanced customer support, providing quick quotes and enabling introducers to manage the full lifecycle of their applications, resulting in faster underwriting processes.

Geoff Maleham, Managing Director at Novuna Business Finance, stated, Despite grappling with a turbulent trading period with unprecedented margin pressures, our business has demonstrated its resilience by maintaining a low-cost base and successfully leveraging our diversified portfolio with three distinct routes to market. We achieved rapid growth in the project finance channel, a testament to the divisions efforts to become the go-to provider in the sustainability space."

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SMEs and the sustainability imperative: Q&A with Novuna Business Finance's Head of Insight

"Novuna Business Finance posts 23.4m pre-tax profits amid soaring costs" was originally created and published by Leasing Life, 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.
Amid the rise of artificial intelligence (AI), Nvidia has emerged as one of the premier stocks. Not only has it developed a technical lead in AI chips, but its chips support the functions of other AI companies, making it all the more essential.

Still, that focus may have induced investors to ignore other AI chip stocks, and one that may deserve more attention is Qualcomm (NASDAQ: QCOM). The leading designer of smartphone chipsets has brought AI innovation to the smartphone, as well as products such as IoT and automotive applications and, more recently, to the personal computer. Given such innovations, investors may want to give more attention to this stock before other prospective buyers take notice.

Qualcomm and AI

As the leading smartphone chipset company in the high-end market, Qualcomm has wholeheartedly embraced AI. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset has attracted strong demand, particularly in China. CFO Akash Palkhiwala said on the fiscal Q2 2024 earnings call that in the Chinese market, its smartphone sales increased by more than 40% yearly, likely due to these devices' generative AI capabilities.

However, as investors know, Qualcomm expanded beyond smartphone chipsets in recent years, and all of these applications incorporate AI. More recently, it has also broken into the CPU space, producing an AI-powered personal computer. To this end, Microsoft has aligned with Qualcomm to build an AI-powered PC, a move that could upend a segment of the industry long dominated by Intel and AMD.

How Qualcomm connects financially

Nonetheless, for all of its potential, the financials seem to better reflect the recent industry downturn than an AI-driven future. In the first six months of fiscal 2024 (ended March 24), its $19 billion in revenue rose by only 3% compared to the same period last year.

Although that is an improvement from the revenue declines of recent years, it is also a far cry from the triple-digit revenue growth of AI market leader Nvidia.

Nonetheless, profitability dramatically improved due to reduced operating expenses. The $5.1 billion net income for the first two quarters of fiscal 2024 grew 29% compared with the same year-ago period.

Fortunately for shareholders, investors seem to have focused more on Qualcomm's growth potential instead of past performance. Over the last year, the stock has risen by more than 85%, taking it to all-time highs.

Additionally, even though its 28 P/E ratio rose recently, its earnings multiple is lower than that of its primary manufacturer, Taiwan Semiconductor, and all of the largest AI chip companies. This includes Intel, which has struggled in recent years as it redefines itself.

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This dynamic remains true when measured by the forward P/E ratio, as it sells for 21 times forward earnings. Hence, despite the recent gains, it remains an attractive option for semiconductor stock investors, especially with its recent AI innovations.

QCOM PE Ratio (Forward) Chart

Buy Qualcomm stock

For shareholders wanting to invest in the AI chip industry at a low valuation, Qualcomm looks like one's best bet. Thanks to AI, it has reinforced its technical lead in its core industry, smartphone chipsets.

Moreover, AI plays a role in its newer industries, such as IoT and automotive. With the recent introduction of the company's AI PC chip, Qualcomm could become a major presence in another part of the tech industry. Considering its recent growth and relatively low valuation, the increases will likely continue for the foreseeable future.

Should you invest $1,000 in Qualcomm right now?

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Will Healy has positions in Advanced Micro Devices, Intel, and Qualcomm. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Advanced Micro Devices, Microsoft, Nvidia, Qualcomm, and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing. The Motley Fool recommends Intel and recommends the following options: long January 2025 $45 calls on Intel, long January 2026 $395 calls on Microsoft, short August 2024 $35 calls on Intel, and short January 2026 $405 calls on Microsoft. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Nvidia's Growth Is Explosive, but Here's Another Artificial Intelligence (AI) Stock That Could Be Worth Buying was originally published by The Motley Fool
US plant-based investor Ahimsa Companies is in talks with a clutch of brands to add to its portfolio.

Ahimsa Companies is a collection of investors formed in the US to back and grow plant-based food businesses operating in the country.

The investors first deal, announced last week, was to buy Wicked Kitchen, a brand of plant-based convenience foods and meals selling in the US and the UK.

Matt Tullman, one of Ahimsa Companies investors and its CEO, said the investor is weighing up half a dozen brands, all based and selling in the US.

Were in conversations with something like six, seven brands, Tullman told Just Food. I would imagine well get over the line with a handful of them by the end of the year. There's a lot of opportunity. These are great companies, they have great products and we hope to help them through this momentary sector turbulence.

Demand for plant-based products, particularly in meat alternatives, has eased in a number of markets, not least in the US and the UK, two countries seen as being at the forefront of the development of the sector in recent years.

The pressures facing suppliers have led to a number of businesses going to the wall on both sides of the Atlantic and to deals that have seen distressed assets bought out of administration.

Tullman said Ahimsa Companies believes there is an opportunity to support best-in-class businesses across the plant-based sector.

He said: In addition, [there is an] opportunity to support best-in-class businesses across the plant-based sector, which are experiencing this moment of turbulence. We think when there is a period of contraction, weve got to step up and try to help these companies survive and get to that next level, as opposed to seeing more headlines about the difficulties of the plant-based space.

The companies were looking at and looking to support are the changemakers. Society operates in these cycles, right? Our thesis is that three, five years down the road  maybe it takes ten years but we want to be on the right side of history  we think that supporting these companies today, supporting a movement towards a more just and I think sustainable food system will ultimately pay off for us in the end, whether it takes five years or ten years. Were going to stick with it.

Ahimsa Companies has also acquired a manufacturing facility in Ohio making plant-based products.

The site is manufacturing for unnamed clients on a private-label business and will take on some of Wicked Kitchens production, Tullman said.

"Plant-based investor Ahimsa Companies eyes more deals" was originally created and published by Just Food, 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.
Rio Tinto has agreed to buy an 11.65% stake in Boyne Smelters Ltd (BSL), the owner and operator of the Boyne Island aluminium smelter in Gladstone, Australia, from Japanese trading house Mitsubishi Corporation.

Financial details of the acquisition remain undisclosed.

This deal is subject to standard conditions, including clearance of Australia's Foreign Investment Review Board.

The sale, due to close in the second half of 2024, forms part of Mitsubishis efforts to reshuffle its aluminium portfolio.

Upon completion of the deal, Mitsubishi will remain active in the aluminium business, including trading and investment in bauxite assets, reported Reuters citing a spokesperson.

Last month, Rio signed a deal to acquire a 2.46% stake in BSL from Sumitomo Chemical.

The two deals are expected to bolster Rio Tinto's ownership in BSL to 73.5%.

Rio Tinto has expressed its commitment to working with the remaining BSL joint venture partners and stakeholders on securing a competitive low-carbon future for the Gladstone operations.

Following the completion of the two deals, the BSL joint venture will include Rio Tinto with a majority stake of 73.5%, YKK Aluminium holding 9.5%, UACJ Australia with a 9.29% stake, and Southern Cross Aluminium having a 7.71% interest.

Operating since 1982, BSL is said to be Australias second-largest aluminium smelter.

Located at Boyne Island in Central Queensland, the smelter includes manufacturing carbon anodes in the carbon plant, aluminium production (smelting) in reduction lines, and casting of molten metal into aluminium products ready to ship.

The smelter is connected to the Queensland Alumina Limited Refinery, via a conveyor belt, for the alumina supply.

"Rio Tinto to acquire Mitsubishis 11.65% stake in Boyne Smelters" was originally created and published by Mining 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.
By Joyce Lee and Max A. Cherney

SEOUL/SAN JOSE (Reuters) -Samsung Electronics said its contract manufacturing business plans to offer a one-stop shop for clients to get their AI chips made faster, integrating its global No. 1 memory chip, foundry, and chip packaging services, to harness the AI boom.

With clients working with a single channel of communication that directs Samsung's memory chip, foundry and chip packaging teams at once, the time it takes to produce AI chips - usually weeks - has been cut by around 20%, Samsung said on Wednesday.

"We are truly living in the age of AI - the emergence of generative AI is completely changing the technology landscape," said Siyoung Choi, President and General Manager, Foundry Business, at a Samsung event in San Jose, California.

Samsung expects global chip industry revenue to grow to $778 billion by 2028, boosted by AI chips, Choi said.

At a briefing with reporters ahead of the event, Executive Vice President of Foundry Sales and Marketing Marco Chisari said the company believes OpenAI CEO Sam Altman's loose projections on soaring demand for AI chips are realistic.

Altman has told executives at contract chipmaker TSMC he wanted to build roughly three dozen new chip factories, Reuters has previously reported.

Samsung is one of the few companies that sells memory chips, offers foundry services and designs chips under the same roof. That combination has often worked against it in the past, as some clients were nervous that doing business with its foundry might benefit Samsung as a competitor in another field.

However, with skyrocketing demand for AI chips and the need for all the chip parts to be highly integrated to train or infer huge amounts of data fast by using less power, Samsung believes its turnkey approach will be a strength going forward.

The South Korean tech giant also touted its cutting-edge chip architecture known as gate all-around (GAA), a type of transistor architecture that helps improve chip performance and reduces power consumption.

GAA is seen as important to keep making more powerful chips for AI as chips become finer to the point of pushing the boundaries of physics.

Although competitors such as global foundry No. 1 TSMC are also working on chips using GAA, Samsung started applying GAA earlier, and said it plans to mass produce its second-generation 3-nanometre chips using GAA in the second half of this year.

Samsung also announced its latest 2-nanometre chipmaking process for high-performance computing chips, which places power rails on the backside of the wafer to improve power delivery. Mass production is slated for 2027.

(Reporting by Joyce Lee in Seoul and Max A. Cherney in San Jose; editing by Diane Craft and Sonali Paul)
Dr. Yooni Kim, the vice president of clinical services at Novotech, says Australia and South Korea are emerging as bubbling clinical research hubs in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region.

At the ongoing Outsourcing in Clinical Trials UK and Ireland conference, Kim led a session on Unlocking APAC potential to enhance your clinical program. The event, held 11  12 June, gathered clinical trial professionals to debate issues within the sector. At Kims talk, she highlighted the 142 European biotech companies that have conducted single-country or multinational clinical trials in the APAC region between 2019 and 2023, saying that the region has become the fastest-growing global market for pharmaceutical sales.

In particular, Kim highlighted South Koreas attractive government frameworks for clinical research. For example, the Korea Health Industry Development Institute (KHIDI) has created a national artificial intelligence (AI) platform that integrates data from several healthcare institutes to support clinical trials, match patients with studies, and monitor trial progress. Moreover, Samsung Medical Center is also growing partnerships with AI startups for data analysis and patient outreach, she adds.

Australia also has a very streamlined process, says Kim, calling attention to the regions six  eight-week trial start-up timeline for private sites. This includes the period needed for an application to go from an Ethics committee submission to approval. Furthermore, the country does not require a clinical trial application (CTA) or an investigational new drug (IND) application to conduct a study. Several biotech companies begin clinical trials in Australia as they simultaneously prepare US IND submissions, and choose to run their earlier phase studies in Australia before transitioning to the US for the later stages, said Kim. This makes the country particularly attractive as the US agencies accept clinical data from Australia for subsequent regulatory submissions, she adds.

In 2024, the Australian government initiated its Clinical Trials Activity Initiative that aimed to provide $750m over 10 years between 2024/2025 and 2033/2034. The government plans to aid clinical trials addressing rare cancers, rare diseases, unmet needs, and bring investigator-led international clinical studies to Australia, as per the government website. The country has been taking actions to improve its global appeal as a clinical research superpower for several years, introducing a research and development (R&D) refund scheme with up to 43.5% cash refunds that was launched in July 2021.

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"South Korea and Australia on the rise as clinical research hubs" was originally created and published by Pharmaceutical 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.
Six years ago this month, the CEO of what was then Fiat Chrysler Automobiles spoke to an audience of analysts, journalists and investors at the companys historic Balocco Proving Grounds in Italy.

It was one of Sergio Marchionnes last major public appearances before his death that summer.

Marchionne, a legendary figure in the automotive world, had spoken of dark days and resilience for both Fiat and Chrysler and the people who worked to save them as he set an ambitious course for the coming years. The presentations and discussions for FCA's Capital Markets Day offered a forward-looking vision for growing sales and margins, bolstering electrification and designating Jeep, Ram, Alfa Romeo and Maserati as so-called global brands.

On Thursday, the future will once again be a key focus for what is now the successor to FCA, Stellantis, the company formed less than three years after that day at Balocco from the merger with Peugeot maker PSA Group.

Stellantis will host its Investor Day on Thursday in Auburn Hills.

Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares and Chief Financial Officer Natalie Knight, who are scheduled to lead the companys Investor Day presentation in Auburn Hills, will share Stellantis view on the dynamic, challenging market and how the company is well-positioned to compete for industry leadership, according to the company. The presentation is slated to be livestreamed, beginning at 8 a.m., on the company's website.

The message on Thursday is likely to be fairly positive.

Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares, pictured in a December file photo.

Knight, the CFO, said in April that the company is in a transition period where we are getting ready to show you the true color of Stellantis. At that time, the company also confirmed its financial guidance of a double-digit adjusted operating income margin for the full year, a sign of confidence from an automaker that has reported extremely healthy profits in recent periods.

Its an interesting time for the automaker that counts 14 brands in its stable, and, as of last year, almost 251,000 employees worldwide.

All isn't rosy, however.

Several personnel changes

The companys sales and market share in the United States, for example, have been down in recent reporting periods, and it will bear watching what happens when second-quarter sales results are released next month.

The company also has made a slew of executive changes, including new leadership in the key North American region, with Carlos Zarlenga replacing Mark Stewart, who left to lead Goodyear earlier this year, and at the Dodge, Ram and Jeep brands.

The sales leadership side has seen significant shuffling, too, with Matt Thompson replacing Jason Stoicevich as senior vice president of U.S. retail sales less than three months after Stoicevich, who has left the company, took over the position in a reorganization.

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Sam Fiorani, vice president of global vehicle forecasting for AutoForecast Solutions, said some of the people who have left recently seem to have bumped up against the ceiling, and he noted that Tavares isnt going anywhere. Plus, auto executives have opportunities for senior positions elsewhere, he said.

Changes dont stop with the executive class, however. Cuts to temporary worker ranks and other workers in the months following the ratification late last year of the current UAW contract have also prompted criticism, particularly from the union.

Part of the transition that Knight referenced involves the companys plans to roll out 25 new models globally this year, including 18 battery electric vehicles (eight in the United States). A more complicated EV market with some automakers readjusting their plans could play to some of Stellantis strengths. The company is partnering with Leapmotor to sell Chinese-made EVs in Europe and other parts of the globe, and the automaker is in the midst of launching its STLA vehicle platforms, which might be tailor-made for this moment.

Natalie Knight is chief financial officer for Stellantis.

The platforms are dynamic enough, Fiorani said, that it looks like the company is ahead of the curve because they can accommodate different powertrains, providing Stellantis the continuing ability to offer gas-powered, electric or hybrid models.

The company, he said, has lots of changes to make in the coming years, with excess capacity at plants around the world and managing its many brands, but with the products and personnel in place, its primed for the future.

Contact Eric D. Lawrence: elawrence@freepress.com. Become a subscriber. Submit a letter to the editor at freep.com/letters.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Stellantis Investor Day gives Tavares chance to lay out company plans
There has been limited innovation in how prescribed drugs are labelled. But as the awareness around accessibility and patients individual needs gain traction, novel strategies can make a significant difference for both patient safety and economic savings.

There are an estimated 237 million medication errors every year in England. However, this isnt just a country-specific problem. Many countries have bilingual communities, and patients with complex learning needs. However, not many have specific legislation when it comes to the information that is provided on drug boxes, experts discussed at the ongoing NHS ConfedExpo conference in Manchester, UK.

In 2012, Ghalib Khan, an NHS innovation accelerator fellow, developed a solution called Written Medicine. Described as your online pharmacist, the service provides bilingual dispensing labels in patients language of choice, and pictograms to better understand how the drugs are taken.

Written Medicines Digital Technology Assessment Criteria (DTAC) accredited software is used by pharmacies and hospitals to translate and print medication information, instructions, and warnings. Drawn from a dataset of 3,500 phrases, printed labels are available in fifteen different languages.

According to Adam Khimji, deputy chief pharmacist at Birmingham Womens and Childrens NHS Foundation Trust, the bilingual labels are supporting patients to take ownership of their treatment  giving them a better understanding of how to take their prescribed medications. The solution is helping to reduce errors, improve medication adherence, and enhance patient safety and experience.

For me, written medicine wasn't simply a piece of software. It gave us a paradigm shift, shifted the way we looked at things, and allowed us to understand patients in a way that they needed us to understand them in, said Khimji.

Khimji described specific cases that can benefit from Written Medicine: Some languages don't have words for suppository or pessary. And actually, they are taboo words as well. Explaining those in the appropriate way is so important. That's not something you're going to get off Google Translate in any way, shape, or form.

Michael Brady, national advisor, LGBT Health, NHS England, and deputy director of patient equalities at NHS England highlighted the implications of proper labelling for HIV patients: Adherence, like in any other chronic condition is essential. The information that we give to patients, both verbally, and on the labels that we give them is crucial.

The software is already used by several NHS trusts, such as University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, and East London NHS Foundation Trust.

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"Thinking outside of the box: Digitising pharmacy dispensing labels" was originally created and published by Pharmaceutical 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.
Consulting and engineering company Wood has secured a $46m (36.06m) engineering contract with Frances TotalEnergies for a gas project in Iraq.

The initiative is part of the first phase of the Associated Gas Upstream Project, which falls under the broader GGIP in Southern Iraq.

Under the three-year contract, Wood will be responsible for range of services including front-end engineering design, detailed design, procurement support, and construction and commissioning assistance.

The GGIP aims to harness gas that is currently being flared in the Basra region. The project's objectives include supplying power generation plants, constructing a seawater treatment unit and developing a 1GW solar power plant.

These efforts are expected to contribute to the region's energy sustainability and economic development.

Woods teams in Basra and Dubai will execute the contract, which is expected to create 100 jobs.

Wood Middle East and Africa operations senior vice-president Shaun Dewar said: We are proud to support TotalEnergies on this project, which aligns with our shared commitment to pursue a secure and sustainable energy supply.

We have a long-standing history of delivering engineering and consulting services in the region and this contract reaffirms our reputation for excellence.

This project will improve environmental sustainability through emissions reduction efforts. As part of this agreement, Wood will also continue to invest in local employment and skills development in the Basra region.

In April 2023, QatarEnergy signed a deal to take a 25% stake in the GGIP project.

TotalEnergies holds a 45% share in the project while Iraqs state-backed Basra Oil Company owns a 30% interest.

Under the 25-year GGIP deal, TotalEnergies will build four oil, gas and renewable energy projects in southern Iraq with an initial investment of $10bn (9.3bn).

"TotalEnergies awards $46m engineering contract to Wood in Iraq" was originally created and published by Offshore 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.
Toyota Motor Corporation's TM cutting-edge hydrogen fuel cell Hilux project has reached a crucial milestone, moving into the final demonstration phase. This represents significant progress in Toyota's quest for a zero-carbon future. Since unveiling the initial prototype in September 2023, Toyota and its consortium partners, with support from UK Government funding, have transitioned into an intensive evaluation and demonstration phase.



At Toyota Motor Manufacturing UK in Derby, England, 10 fuel cell Hilux prototypes have been constructed. Five of these prototypes are undergoing rigorous field testing to evaluate safety, performance, functionality and durability. The other five are being used for customer and media demonstrations, including appearances at the upcoming Olympic and Paralympic Games in Paris in 2024. This initiative aims to familiarize customers with hydrogen fuel cell technology, laying the foundation for a successful hydrogen transport sector.

Dimension & Specifications of Fuel Cell Hilux

Based on the well-known Toyota Hilux, celebrated for its quality, durability and reliability, the hydrogen fuel cell prototype maintains its rugged look and dimensions (5325 mm in length, 1855 mm in width and 1810 mm in height) in the extra-cab format. However, the distinguishing feature is the integration of Toyotas fuel cell technology derived from the Toyota Mirai.



The hydrogen fuel cell Hilux offers a driving range of up to 600 km, exceeding the capabilities of a battery electric system. The lightweight nature of hydrogen enables a higher payload and towing capacity compared with other zero-emission alternatives. Hydrogen is stored in fuel tanks with a total capacity of 7.8 kg, mounted within the ladder frame chassis. The fuel cell stack, comprising 330 cells, is situated above the front axle.



Power is supplied by an e-motor on the rear axle, delivering 134 kW and 300 Nm of torque. The system emits no tailpipe emissions, only pure water. A lithium-ion hybrid battery, which stores electricity generated by the fuel cell, is placed in the rear load deck, ensuring no loss of cabin space.



The hydrogen fuel cell Hilux demonstrates how fuel cell technology can be seamlessly integrated into a pickup, showcasing Toyota's commitment to innovative and sustainable transportation solutions.

Zacks Rank & Key Picks

TM currently carries a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell).



Some better-ranked stocks in the auto space are Blue Bird Corporation BLBD, Oshkosh Corporation OSK and Geely Automobile Holdings Limited GELYY, each sporting a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) at present. You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.



The consensus estimate for BLBDs 2024 sales and earnings suggests year-over-year growth of 17.29% and 155.14%, respectively. The EPS estimates for 2024 and 2025 have improved 63 cents and 69 cents, respectively, in the past 30 days.



The Zacks Consensus Estimate for OSKs 2024 sales and earnings suggests year-over-year growth of 9.86% and 11.92%, respectively. The EPS estimates for 2024 and 2025 have improved 12 cents and 10 cents, respectively, in the past 30 days.



The Zacks Consensus Estimate for GELYYs 2024 sales suggests year-over-year growth of 36.6%. The EPS estimates for 2024 and 2025 have moved up 21 cents and 34 cents, respectively, in the past 60 days.

Story continues

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U.S. Homeownership Expenses Up 26% Over Four Years

According to a recent study, the average cost of owning and maintaining a single-family home in the U.S. is 26% higher than it was four years ago.

Bankrates Hidden Costs of Homeownership Study reveals that the cost of property taxes, homeowners insurance, home maintenance costs, electricity, internet and cable bills averages $18,118 annually for a typical single-family home valued at $436,291 in all 50 states, excluding Washington, D.C. That's an average of $1,510 per month on top of a mortgage payment.

Bankrate analyst Jeff Ostrowski said maintenance and insurance costs are the main reasons for increasing homeownership expenses. Home insurance rates rose 11.3% nationally last year. According to S&P Global Ratings, the insurance industry lost $101.3 billion as severe storms, hurricanes, and wildfires destroyed homes.

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Jennifer Schauer, who bought her California home in 2021, told CNN that her homeowners insurance doubled without notice and some of her neighbors lost their coverage altogether due to the threat of wildfires in the region.

"My neighbors said I was lucky our insurance just doubled and it wasn't canceled," Schauer said.

She also recently discovered that her house needs about $10,000 for plumbing repairs.

"The housing market was so competitive when we bought that to get this house we waived the home inspection. We bought it as is," she said. "We knew the plumbing was old, but it's falling apart."

States With The Lowest Hidden Homeownership Costs





Rank State Average hidden homeownership costs 1. Kentucky $11,559 2. Arkansas $11,692 3. Mississippi $11,881 4. Alabama $12,258 5. Indiana $12,259

Source: Bankrate

The biggest percentage increases from 2020 to 2024 occurred in Utah (44%), Idaho (39%) and Hawaii (38%). The states with the smallest increases were Alaska (14%), Texas (14%) and Louisiana (15%).

Trending: Boomers and Gen Z agree they need a salary of around $125,000 a year to be happy, but millennials say they need how much?

"Homeownership is an important wealth-builder for many Americans, but it ain't cheap," Ostrowski said. "These numbers show that the costs of owning a home are at the same level as buying a used car every year. While homeownership is worth the financial sacrifice, homeowners also need to be aware of the ongoing expenses that go along with owning a property."

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Assuming owners of single-family homes allocate 2% of their home's value for maintenance annually, Hawaii and California have the highest home maintenance costs nationwide, with expenses of $19,860 and $16,966, respectively.

"No matter where you live, make sure you include some cushion in your monthly budget to absorb the shock of unplanned expenses," Ostrowski said. "After you achieve homeownership, you need to bolster your emergency savings account for all those surprise repairs."

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This article U.S. Homeownership Expenses Up 26% Over Four Years originally appeared on Benzinga.com

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(Bloomberg) -- President Joe Bidens administration is expanding the use of secondary sanctions on Russia with an eye toward curtailing the sale of semiconductor chips and other goods to Russia, targeting third-party sellers in China and elsewhere as it looks to further choke off Vladimir Putins war machine in Ukraine.

Most Read from Bloomberg

The new measures include all Russian companies, people and entities that have been previously sanctioned, including banks Sberbank and VTB, increasing the risk to third-country financial institutions or companies who do business in the Russian economy. The measures also include sanctions on new Russian natural gas projects and Russias main stock exchange, the MOEX, as well as the National Clearing Center and the countrys main settlement depository.

We are increasing the risk for financial institutions dealing with Russias war economy and eliminating paths for evasion, and diminishing Russias ability to benefit from access to foreign technology, equipment, software, and IT services, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said in a statement. Every day, Russia continues to mortgage its future to sustain its unjust war of choice against Ukraine.

On the energy front, new measures target Russias planned liquefied natural gas projects, including Obsky LNG, Arctic LNG 1, Arctic LNG 3 and Murmansk LNG. The measures also target seven LNG tankers at Russian shipyard Zvezda, including three vessels for an Arctic LNG 2 project hit by an earlier round of sanctions that prevented the start of exports from Russias newest LNG export plant.

New sanctions also target RusGazDobycha, which is Gazprom PJSCs partner in a project to produce liquefied natural gas and other products at Ust-Luga on the Baltic Sea, and insurer Sogaz. General licenses permitting trade in agriculture, medicine and other forms of energy, including oil, remain in effect.

Chips are another key target of the expanded sanctions. Russia is still managing to source chips from third-party countries for use in missiles and other inputs critical to the battlefield despite a push to curb Moscows access to technologies supporting its war effort. To counter this, the administration is broadening the scope of existing export controls and restrictions to target US-branded goods even if theyre not made domestically.

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These actions heighten the risk for financial institutions dealing with Russias war economy, closes down avenues for evasion, while diminishing Russias ability to benefit from access to foreign technology, equipment, software and IT services, National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan told reporters Wednesday.

The move comes as Biden prepares to join Group of Seven leaders for a summit in Italy, where one of their top concerns will be securing new ways to bolster aid to Ukraine and further constrain Russia. Biden will meet Thursday with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy.

Russias war, now in its third year, has seen a renewed offensive and intensified aerial bombardment of Ukrainian cities as Moscow seeks to capitalize on a months-long delay in US aid that hampered Ukraines defenses.

Third-Party Sellers

One of the biggest changes in the expanded sanctions relates to how the US enforces requirements that require an export license for manufacturers or third-party sellers to sell chips and other goods to Russian military entities, according the people familiar with the moves, who spoke on condition of anonymity ahead of the formal announcement.

US regulators aim to curb sales of chips made abroad, and sold abroad, if theyre US-branded or if theyre made based on US technology or with US-linked equipment, and thus subject to sanctions. Previously, enforcement has focused more on US-origin goods. The US will identify third-party sellers and warn them that they are restricted from sending US-branded chips to Russia, a person familiar with the matter said. The resellers are often based in China.

The US is also publishing addresses  without a known company name  on its list of sanctioned entities for the first time, according to the people. That includes eight addresses in Hong Kong that the American government says are linked to reshipments of chips to Russia.

Resellers can apply for a license for sale if its for a legitimate, non-military purpose, people familiar with the matter said. Companies violating sanctions could be subject to criminal penalties or restrictions on their own inputs, one of the people said.

The Biden Administration is also detailing so-called temporary denial orders related to firms they accuse of flouting restrictions and selling goods, particularly related to Russias aviation sector, one of the people said. And the US is expanding restrictions on enterprise software used in Russia, which would have the practical effect of halting updates for that software.

Technology Access

The move to expand enforcement to cover chips made abroad is the latest step in a long-running push by the US and European Union to curb Russias access to technologies used for its war effort. Despite multiple rounds of trade restrictions, Russia has in part circumvented restrictions by importing what it needs through third countries or networks of intermediaries.

Last year, Russia imported more than $1 billion of advanced chips. Some of those shipments were built by subsidiaries and subcontractors of US and European firms and moved by resellers and intermediaries.

Earlier: Most of Russias War Chips Are Made by US and European Companies

The European Union is currently discussing proposals demanding companies enhance checks and making them responsible for the actions of firms they control. Several member states are pushing to water down these proposals, however, over concerns they place too heavy a burden on companies and are difficult to enforce.

The EU is discussing sanctions on banks in third-party countries that are enabling some of these transactions by using Russian alternatives to the SWIFT payments system, which processes many international money transfers.

--With assistance from Alberto Nardelli, Anna Shiryaevskaya and Olga Tanas.

(Updates with additional details on LNG projects in paragraphs 4-5, adds comment from Sullivan in 7th paragraph)

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2024 Bloomberg L.P.
By Andrea Shalal

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The U.S. government plans on Wednesday to announce wider sanctions on the sale of semiconductor chips and other goods to Russia, with the goal of targeting third-party sellers in China, sources familiar with the plans said late on Tuesday.

The moves are part of a broad push by the Biden administration to respond to Russia's efforts to circumvent Western sanctions and choke off its war effort against Ukraine.

The administration will announce it is broadening existing export controls to include U.S.-branded goods, not just those made in the United States, the sources said. It will identify certain Hong Kong entities it says are shipping goods to Moscow.

The White House and Commerce Department had no immediate comment on the changes, which were first reported by Bloomberg.

White House spokesperson John Kirby told reporters earlier Tuesday that Washington would announce new sanctions and export controls against Russia.

The news came as U.S. President Joe Biden prepared to depart early Wednesday for a summit in southern Italy with leaders from other Group of Seven democracies.

One of the top priorities for the G7 leaders is boosting support for Ukraine, now in the third year of resisting Russia's invasion, and disarming the Russian war machine, one of the sources said.

U.S. officials have expressed growing frustration about China's burgeoning trade with Russia, which they say is allowing Moscow to keep arming its military. Exports from China and other countries of machine tools and other manufacturing equipment are helping it to produce weapons it previously imported, two sources familiar with the matter said.

Changes are needed to broaden the definition of U.S. goods covered by the export controls, they argue, given that Moscow has now shifted its entire economy to focus on the war.

Daleep Singh, White House deputy national security adviser for international economics, told the Center for a New American Security last week that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy was to meet with G7 leaders to underscore the dire situation facing Ukrainian forces in their battle against Russia.

Washington is also poised to announce significant new sanctions against financial institutions and non-banks that are part of the "technology and goods channels" that are supplying the Russian military, the sources said.

(Reporting by Andrea Shalal; Editing by Jacqueline Wong and Christopher Cushing)
Vietnam's newly elected leader To Lam says relations with China are a priority but that the two nations need to respect each other's maritime rights and interests.

Lam, who took office three weeks ago, made the remarks during a meeting with Chinese ambassador Xiong Bo in Hanoi on Tuesday.

Lam also called on China to further open its market for Vietnamese produce and said Hanoi stands ready to boost bilateral exchanges, including between high-ranking officials.

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"Vietnam regards friendly relations and cooperation with China as a strategic choice and priority in its foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, multilateralisation and diversification," Lam said, according to the foreign ministry's official news agency The World & Vietnam Report.

The Vietnamese president said the "traditional friendship" between the two neighbours was characterised by comradeship and brotherhood, which should be preserved, inherited and promoted.

To Lam (right) told Xiong Bo that the two sides should "better control and resolve disagreements at sea". Photo: Vietnam News Agency alt=To Lam (right) told Xiong Bo that the two sides should "better control and resolve disagreements at sea". Photo: Vietnam News Agency>

Beijing and Hanoi have long clashed over their rival claims to the South China Sea. In the latest flare-up, Vietnam's foreign ministry on Thursday said it was deeply concerned over the presence of a Chinese survey vessel in its exclusive economic zone.

"Both sides need to strictly implement high-level agreements and common perceptions, better control and resolve disagreements at sea, respect each other's legitimate rights and interests," Lam told Xiong, referring to their territorial claims in the South China Sea, which Hanoi calls the East Sea.

He said the two sides should "actively seek satisfactory solutions in accordance with international law, especially the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea".

A recent report from the Washington-based Centre for Strategic and International Studies claimed that Vietnam had rapidly expanded its dredging and landfill operations in the South China Sea over the past six months.

In April, Chinese President Xi Jinping urged Hanoi to use " p olitical wisdom" to manage its ties with Beijing, during talks with Vuong Dinh Hue, chairman of the National Assembly of Vietnam. Hue said Hanoi would stick to an independent and autonomous foreign policy.

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During Tuesday's meeting, Xiong said China would "work to better control and resolve disagreements at sea" and that it anticipated the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership between the two nations would develop in a "healthy and stable manner" and bring "practical benefits" to their people.

"China will strive to properly implement the high-level common perceptions, effectively deploy cooperation measures devised by the two countries, further promote win-win cooperation across regions, and better control and resolve sea-related differences," Xiong said, according to the Vietnamese report.

During the Chinese president's visit to Hanoi in December, some 37 cooperation agreements were signed, spanning trade, security and infrastructure. Lam on Tuesday said he expected to push forward cross-border railway links and to work with China to develop standard-gauge railway lines in the northern provinces of Vietnam.

Lam was previously deputy head of Hanoi's steering committee on anti-corruption, playing a central role in a crackdown known as "Blazing Furnace", which observers have said was inspired by Beijing's own anti-graft campaign.

With next year marking the 75th anniversary of diplomatic ties between China and Vietnam, Lam on Tuesday also urged the two sides to elevate relations to new heights.

This article originally appeared in the South China Morning Post (SCMP), the most authoritative voice reporting on China and Asia for more than a century. For more SCMP stories, please explore the SCMP app or visit the SCMP's Facebook and Twitter pages. Copyright  2024 South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved.

Copyright (c) 2024. South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved.
A July 17 preliminary hearing has been scheduled for a Spotsylvania woman accused of killing three of her housemates last week.

Alyssa Jane Venable, 23, was arraigned Wednesday in Spotsylvania General District Court, court records show. Attorney Ghislaine Storr Burks was named to represent her. Venable is charged with three counts of second-degree murder and using a firearm in the commission of a felony.

The July 17 date is hardly set in stone. Numerous cases, especially higher profile ones such as this one, are often postponed at least once before a hearing is actually held.

Venable is accused of killing Gregory Scott Powell, 60, Carol Anne Reese, 65, and Robert John McGuire, 77, on June 4 at a residence on White Street Court in Spotsylvania that they all shared. Police have not yet released a motive for the slayings.

Another housemate called the Sheriffs Office after arriving home late that night and finding one of the victims on a couch with a pillow over his bleeding head. The housemate immediately left the home and called the police.

Deputies found the other two victims after responding to the call. All three had been shot to death.

Venable was apprehended in upstate New York two days later following a high-speed chase and crash on Interstate 86 in Steuben County. She was brought back to Virginia on Tuesday following an extradition hearing in New York. She is being held in the Rappahannock Regional Jail.

Venables criminal record in Virginia consists of just one misdemeanor conviction in 2019 for shoplifting, though she does have pending cases in Spotsylvania on misdemeanor charges of assault and battery and reckless driving. Both of those alleged offenses took place earlier this year, court records show.
A Spotsylvania man has been charged with robbery as the result of an April 26 incident in Dumfries in which he allegedly ran off with a computer and a cellphone during an arranged sale, police said.

Quinton Frederick Washington, 24, was arrested Thursday in Stafford County, according to a news release from the Prince William Police Department.

Police said the heist occurred in the 3300 block of Cape May Court in Dumfries. The victim had met the would-be purchaser there to complete a sale that was started online.

The suspect was holding the sale items when he pushed the victim and ran away. The 32-year-old victim suffered minor injuries during the altercation.

Detectives later identified Washington as the suspect and caught up with him last week.

Washingtons criminal record includes Spotsylvania convictions for shooting into occupied buildings on two different days in September of 2018. He was convicted in October and December of the following year and was ordered to serve a total of four years in prison, court records show.
State transportation departments in Nebraska and Iowa have scheduled public meetings to take input on the future of the Decatur-Onawa Bridge.

A meeting will be held in Onawa on June 26, 2024, 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., at the Onawa Community and Recreation Center at 320 10th Street.

The same meeting will be held the next day in Decatur, 5-7 p.m., at Decatur City Hall.

The open house-style meetings will center on the proposed Decatur Bridge project which would improve the bridge that has joined Nebraska Highway 51 and Iowa Highway 175 for more than 70 years.

The meetings are designed to provide information regarding the project, currently in the study phase, and to receive the publics input. Attendees will have the opportunity to learn about the project and discuss the matter with the project team. No formal presentation is planned and both meetings will present the same information.

The Decatur Bridge project planning and design would occur over three phases and multiple years. Construction would be dependent on available funding but could begin as early as 2029.

According to the Nebraska Department of Transportation, which is taking the lead in the project, the project includes early concept, preliminary and final design of a preferred alignment that may include removal and replacement of the bridge..

The public is encouraged to comment on the proposed project. Additional comments will be taken in addition to the more than 1,110 community surveys that were received on the project earlier this spring.

Comments will be collected through July 15, 2024, and should be submitted to Sarah Fisher, NDOT Public Involvement P.O. Box 94759, Lincoln, NE 68509-4759 or sarah.fisher@nebraska.gov.

Meeting information will be available on the project Web site after the meetings at ndot.info/32395. For those without internet access, information may be obtained at NDOT Headquarters, 1500 Nebraska Parkway, Lincoln, NE 68502 or by contacting: NDOT District 3 Engineer Kevin Domogalla at 402-370-3470.
Visit Colorado Springs Crafts & Drafts Passport is back for its eighth year, to support the local craft community by baiting the hook with an array of discounts and freebies.
After the U.S. Supreme Court clarified on Tuesday that Colorado's law criminalizing stalking fails to account for a defendant's intent in making threatening comments, state policymakers suggested legislation may be warranted to balance the need to protect victims with the constitutional requirement to respect free speech.
Teller County commissioner slams GOP chair Dave Williams; DPS to create 'guardrails' when recommending school closures; history shows parallels, differences in protests | WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
The second day of Linda Stanley's disciplinary hearing saw her No. 2 prosecutor grilled over why the team investigated the presiding judge in the case in the month leading up to trial.

Stanley, who is the sitting 11th Judicial District Attorney until January 2025, is being investigated by the arm of the Colorado Supreme Court that oversees attorney misconduct, mostly in regard to her work on Barry Morphew's murder trial. She could be disbarred if she is found to have violated ethics rules.

She is accused of professional misconduct. Complaints filed against her claim she spoke too freely with the media, specifically YouTubers, had "continual discovery violations, and was a poor leader."

The state's Office of Attorney Regulation Counsel brought the charges against Stanley after it discovered enough evidence to possibly support ethical violations. Complaints were made by a sheriff, a concerned citizen who participated in the search for missing mom Suzanne Morphew, and Morphew's defense attorney. Another of those complaints was filed by the judge who presided over the case in its final months.

In an earlier interview with The Denver Gazette, former 11th Judicial District Judge Ramsey Lama said of the experience, It was shocking to me. These were flagrant bullying and retaliatory actions, and I thought the public needed to know.

During an almost full day of testimony, 11th Judicial District Deputy District Attorney Mark Hurlbert told a different story. He said that in 30 years of practicing law, he had never been treated as poorly as he was by then-Judge Lama. It was so far beyond the pale that Ive never seen before, said Hurlbert.

Lama disallowed domestic violence testimony in the Morphew case, which hinged on domestic abuse as the cornerstone of motive into Suzanne Morphews death. It was a ruling that perplexed and frustrated the prosecution team. Lamas rulings "were so off the mark, it felt like he was biased against the prosecutions case, Hurlbert testified.

Responding to rumors and a Change.org petition that implied Lama's ex-wife was a victim of domestic violence, the prosecution team set out to interview her to see if the accusations were valid.

Office of Attorney Regulation Counsel lawyer Erin Kristofco interviewed Hurlbert about text messages between Hurlbert, Bob Weiner and Stanley as they debated whether to interview Iris Diaz Lama as to whether Ramsey Lama spoke of the case to her or if there was truth to rumors that there was domestic violence in the marriage.

The text messages were read in court.

Stanley  "I think we should but Im not sure how true it is. It could definitely explain why he hates us so much."

Bob Weiner  "Holy crap. He should have disclosed this. Yes lets go after him. We need to confirm ASAP."

A DA investigator interviewed Iris Diaz Lama two weeks before trial was to start, according to testimony from Tuesday's hearing. She denied any abuse in her marriage to Ramsey Lama and said there was no conversation between them about Mrs. Morphew's case.

When Linda Stanley informed Hurlbert that there appeared to be no conflict of interest, he texted "Bummer."

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That response prompted pointed questions by OARC attorney Kristofco. Did that response mean he was disappointed that Diaz Lama had not been abused?

At this point I was pulling 15 hours days and I have no idea why I said that. I could have said awesome," said Hurlbert.

Stanley's attorney Steve Jensen countered that the prosecution's quest was not outrageous since Diaz Lama was a director of an organization called Alliance Against Domestic Abuse" and also put up a fundraiser on a social media page for missing person's network using a photo of Suzanne Morphew to advertise it.

Hurlbert admitted that what started off as an attempt to recuse Lama became a moot point.

A month after former judge Lama dismissed the case without prejudice, he stepped down from the judiciary, citing health reasons.

The term without prejudice means that the case can be retried if enough evidence comes in to bring charges.

Suzanne Morphew was reported missing on Mother's Day, May 10, 2020. Her husband, Barry Morphew, was the last known person to see her alive, according to an arrest affidavit.

The bones of the 49-year-old mother of two were found scattered in a desert brush-studded field in Saguache County by a team of Colorado Bureau of Investigation investigators on Sept. 22, 2022.

The four-year-old case is no longer being prosecuted by Stanley's 11th Judicial District. It is now being investigated by the Colorado Bureau of Investigation and the prosecution work is now in the 12th Judicial District of the San Luis Valley, where Morphew's remains were found.

Hurlbert testified that because of the discovery, the case is "in much better shape" now.

Stanley's hearing is expected to last two weeks.

The disciplinary hearing is run like a trial with testimony from witnesses called by the OARC and by Stanleys attorney, except there is no jury and it is overseen by a three-person panel that is allowed to ask questions.

Among the witnesses yet to testify are criminal defense attorney Stan Garnett, former U.S. Attorney John Suthers, Lama and Stanley herself. On Stanleys witness list is Mike King, host of the "Profiling Evil" video podcast with whom shes accused of exchanging extra judicial statements.

Once the hearing is over, the three-person panel has at least 56 days to decide whether Stanley will be sanctioned.
In response to Colorado Republican Chairman Dave Williams anti-LGBTQ+ email from the state party he sent last week to supporters titled, God Hates Pride, members of First Congregational United Church of Christ in Colorado Springs enthusiastically chanted God Loves Pride, as they marched as a group in this past Sundays Pride parade.

They and hundreds of others who attended this years annual event that celebrates the LGBTQ+ community carried rainbow-colored Pride flags; the state GOP also recently posted a call on social media to Burn all the #pride flags this June.

We felt compelled to speak out and to profess our belief of an inclusive God who loves everyone, said the Rev. Lee Ann Bryce, lead minister of First Congregational in Colorado Springs, which is part of the progressive United Church of Christ.

The mainline Protestant denomination in 1972 became the first Christian church to ordain openly gay pastors.

Bryce was hired to lead First Congregational in 2022, which she does so as an openly gay woman.

There are many different ways to image God, she said Tuesday. When we heard the statement, God hates Pride, and that called for the burning of Pride flags, that is just not the God we envision in our congregation.

Bryce is one of many members of United Church of Christ churches in the Rocky Mountain Conference in Colorado, Wyoming and Utah who have signed a statement objecting to Williams diatribe of derogatory comments about the nationwide observance of June as Pride month.

When word spread of the Colorado Republican Partys messaging, there was an immediate and strong sense that a faithful response was needed, said the Rev. Allyson Sawtell, a retired clergyperson with the United Church of Christ.

Created at the denominations regional annual meeting that was held last weekend, the statement denounced this call to violence and dehumanization, which is incompatible with God's expansive love.

Church members decry the virulent and hateful rhetoric of the Republican Party of Colorado, the statement reads. God marches with us in Pride. God journeys with all of us as we seek to live lives of justice and inclusion.

The United Church of Christ teaches that all people, regardless of sexuality, gender, family structure, age, ability, race, ethnicity, political identity or any other identity, are created in the image of God and worthy of respect and dignity.

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The Rev. Anne Cubbage, lead minister at Broadmoor Community United Church of Christ, also signed the statement because she said the words from the GOP are contrary to what her church embodies.

We believe that Christ stood for love, and that we are called to that as well, she said Tuesday. We also stand for those who are often sent to the margins, and LGBTQ folks are often those who are sent to the edges, they're told that they are 'less-than.' We think we are called to inclusion and justice in whatever form we can do.

The list of groups and individuals now demanding Williams to relinquish his role as the GOP leader in Colorado has been growing since the social media posts began appearing shortly after Pride month started and Williams sent the mass email.

The communication is the latest controversy to besiege Colorados fractured Republican Party, which has been divided over extremist vs. moderate political views.

Elected officials from the conservative-leaning Teller County renounced Williams' actions and language in a letter issued Monday and signed by leaders from Teller County and its cities of Woodland Park, Cripple Creek and Victor.

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, the letter states.

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, it concludes.

Jefferson County GOP Chairwoman Nancy Pallozzi last Friday launched a petition to oust Williams as the state party chair, telling The Gazette, He is not speaking on behalf of the Republican Party. He is speaking for himself.

She wants to force a vote to fire Williams from the role as the top party official. A recall movement to remove him now is underway. Williams has said he will not step down.

Said the Rev. Darlene Avery, lead minister at Church in the Wildwood in Green Mountain Falls, who also signed the United Church of Christ objection, "God does not hate. Period. To assert so is blasphemy. Period."

Williams is a Republican primary candidate for the congressional seat being vacated by retiring U.S. Rep. Doug Lamborn.

The seat represents the 5th Congressional district, which covers the El Paso County communities of Colorado Springs, Fountain, Monument, Manitou Springs, Palmer Lake, Peyton, Falcon, Security, Widefield and Cimarron Hills.
The Colorado Bureau of Investigation announced on Wednesday that it was investigating an apparent murder-suicide that left four dead in La Junta on Tuesday night.

The release from the CBI states that at 11:30 p.m. La Junta police were called to the 1100 block of Smithland Avenue where officers discovered two adults and two children who had been shot.

The two adults and one of the children were found dead on scene, and the second child was transported to a Denver-area hospital where they were later pronounced dead, according to the release.

The CBI has yet to release the names of the deceased.

Anyone with information about the homicide is asked to contact the La Junta Police Department at 719-384-2525.
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.
Cardinal Sako Reinstated As Chaldean Patriarch in Iraq

(AFP) -- 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.
Estes Park saw an unprecedented number of elk attacks that within a cluster of days sent three people  two of them children  to the hospital.

The Colorado Parks and Wildlife said aggressive behavior from elk is quite common during calving season. But their geographical proximity, the nature of the attacks and the fact that they happened in such brief successions made them unprecedented, a wildlife officer said.

The first attack occurred in the afternoon of May 30, when an eight-year-old girl was riding her bike in Estes Park and a female elk, who was about 60 yards away, charged at and stomped on her multiple times.

The girl sustained injuries that sent her to the hospital.

Less than a week later, on June 3, an elk attacked an even younger child, a four-year-old boy playing near Stanley Park. There were two elk hidden nearby, and one of them charged at the boy and stomped on him multiple times. He, too, went to the hospital.

Then on Friday, a woman walking her dog attempted to run behind a tree when an elk from about 20 yards away began charging at her. The elk stomped and kicked her several times. The woman sought medical treatment.

Our thoughts are with the individuals after these very frightening experiences, said Kate Miller, a spokesperson for Estes Park.

Aggressive behavior from elk is quite common during calving season, when female the mothers become highly protective of their calves that are not yet able to stand, said Kara Van Hoose, a spokesperson for the state wildlife agency.

They tend to be overprotective, oversensitive, and they can be the aggressors in a situation to protect their calves, Van Hoose said.

So what made the attacks unprecedented?

We typically see cases where elk charge when people are getting too close or taking pictures of the elk, but in these particular cases, the people attacked were not even aware of the elk nearby, Van Hoose noted.

Its unprecedented in that we had three stompings in eight days, all of which were not due to people deliberately trying to get closer, added Jason Duetsch, an area wildlife manager for Colorado Parks and Wildlife.

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A combination of factors might be causing the elk to be more aggressive than usual, the wildlife officers said.

We have a lot of wildlife, and we have a lot of people, and we all have to occupy the same space, Van Hoose said.

Estes Park Mayor Gary Hall cautioned against using the word unprecedented, saying he would rather call the attacks happenstance.

I wouldnt say theres fears for the town or anyone in it. The time of birthing is almost over and the aggression subsides quickly after that, Hall told The Denver Gazette in an email.

Hall also said the town has been pushing out information to local residents and visitors to Estes Park about safety around elk and other wild animals.

The Estes Park Police Department carefully monitors the area for potentially dangerous situations with elk and the officers take every opportunity to speak to people about safety, Miller, the town spokesperson, said.

The local police department does not keep official statistics of elk attacks, as it does with bear attacks, but authorities noticed the number of attacks in rapid succession. They also noted that the attacks occurred within just a few miles  the second and third attacks were less than a mile apart.

Wildlife officials said authorities regularly close some trails or spaces during calving season to allow the elk enough space and keep the public safe.

Meanwhile, the state wildlife agency has placed warning signs throughout the town to let people know about aggressive elk in the area.

If you see a doe, cow elk, or cow moose, give them plenty of space because calves are often nearby, and their mothers hide them extremely well, said Duetsch. We cannot predict the extent to which a wild animal will react to protect young.

Its really key when youre in Estes Park and in the Front Range to have a heightened awareness of elk that might be nearby, added Van Hoose. Know that attacks are a possibility when youre out and be on the defensive.
Novice scientists are familiar with the most updated materials and thus conduct their research with knowledge of more modern approaches and theories.

Experienced scientists do not keep themselves informed of updated approaches and research methods.

Experimental scientists are often awarded grants based on how much research experience they have, and how successful their previously published papers regarding that research have been.It is unfortunate for the future of scientific knowledge that these novice researchers are denied access to grants because of what amounts to a seniority system.Which of the following serves as an assumption in the argument above?A. Most novice scientists believe that the seniority system has a negative effect on scientific knowledge.B. Most experienced scientists have no serious interest in adding to general scientific knowledge.C. Novice researchers should be given their fair share of grant money.D.E. The future of scientific knowledge relies only on the research of scientists.Good question. If you stay close to the argument the assumption is there, fairly easy to spot.D is the answer. The others are out of scope or far apart_________________
Elite097

In legislative elections in Country Z, the incumbent usually wins re-election when the economy in that legislator's district is doing well. However, when the economy is doing poorly, or when a majority of citizens in a legislator's district express concerns about the strength of the economy, simply being the incumbent no longer provides an advantage.



The statements above are logically structured to lead to which of the following conclusions?



A. In Country Z, if the economy in a district is doing poorly in an election year, the incumbent legislator in that district probably will not be reelected.



B. In Country Z, the economic expertise of a legislator is the factor that has the most impact on whether that legislator will be reelected.



C. In Country Z, any incumbents who have been reelected when economic conditions have been poor must have been in "safe" districts structured to make it easier for incumbents to win.



D. In Country Z, when economic conditions are poor, the impact on electoral outcomes of candidates' qualifications will tend to be greater than it will be when economic conditions

are strong.



E. Voter turnout in Country Z can be expected to be greater for elections held when the economy is doing poorly than for those held when the economy is doing well.



Posted from my mobile device

The incumbent usually wins if economy is doing well. However, being incumbent is of no advantage when the ecoomy is poor or majority have a perception that economy is not doing well.

The argument just suggest being incumbent does not give any advantage in that situation.

Too extreme. There is no relation between legislator's expertise and his election.

Again,

he argument just suggest being incumbent does not give any advantage in that situation.

If economic conditions are good, the incumbent will usually win irrespective of the qualifications. But may be qualification and other issues will be more important when economic conditions are poor.

However, slightly far fetched as we exactly do not know what will matter more in times of poor economic conditions. Is it educational qualifications, is it his track record, is his age, is his knowledge or some other issue that WILL affect the outcome.

Not best of the choices. But best what we have till now.

Out of context.



D

The argument can be rephrased as:-A. In Country Z, if the economy in a district is doing poorly in an election year, the incumbent legislator in that district probably will not be reelected.B. In Country Z, the economic expertise of a legislator is the factor that has the most impact on whether that legislator will be reelected.C. In Country Z, any incumbents who have been reelected when economic conditions have been poor must have been in "safe" districts structured to make it easier for incumbents to win.D. In Country Z, when economic conditions are poor, the impact on electoral outcomes of candidates' qualifications will tend to be greater than it will be when economic conditions are strong.E. Voter turnout in Country Z can be expected to be greater for elections held when the economy is doing poorly than for those held when the economy is doing well._________________
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KEMMERER  State dignitaries, local residents, nuclear physicists and the worlds sixth-richest man gathered in Kemmerer on Monday for the groundbreaking celebration of nuclear technology company TerraPowers Natrium reactor demonstration project. When completed, Kemmerer will be home to the nations first commercial advanced nuclear reactormeaning the historic coal town, population 2,393, is poised to be in the vanguard of the global race for next generation nuclear energy production.

The groundbreaking comes about two years after plans were first announced, marking the project's move from design to construction. Though completion is still a half-decade away, local residents expressed excitement about the prospect of a boost in economic activity.

Im a little excited, and a little nervous. I hope it will be a good thing because this town needs something, said Cherie Paulson, a former elementary school teacher in Kemmerer.

The project has been closely watched by policy makers and energy advocates who believe nuclear power is an indispensable piece of national energy security.

In contrast to traditional light water reactors, the Natrium design is fueled with high-assay low-enriched uranium thats up to five times as potent as traditional nuclear power plant fuel. It also uses liquid sodium metal to maintain reactor temperatures rather than water, making the design more sustainable and safe while allowing for unique heat storage able to boost output and better match demand.

This groundbreaking represents the beginning of the next era of nuclear energy. The Natrium reactor is more than a design, its a plant coming to life that will support both the clean energy transition and our historic energy communities, said Chris Levesque, TerraPower president and CEO. Our innovative Natrium technology will provide dispatchable carbon-free energy, gigawatt-scale energy storage, and long-term jobs to the Lincoln County community.

Still, the project is years from deployment and is only one piece of a larger nuclear energy supply chain that scientists and policymakers are pushing aggressively to onshore. The groundbreaking comes less than a month after the U.S. banned imports of Russian uranium, the globes the number one source of enriched uranium. The ban was led by Wyoming Sen. John Barrasso and championed by TerraPower, which called Russian uranium supplies untenable following the invasion of Ukraine, even as it forced the company to delay its deployment date by years while waiting for new enrichment suppliers to fill the gap.

In the meantime, local leaders and community members are celebrating a first phase thats already begun to spur growth in a small Wyoming community.

"Today we celebrate a trifecta. This first-of-its-kind project is good for the community of Kemmerer-Diamondville, the State of Wyoming, and our nation. As Natrium moves boldly toward establishing a new domestic energy source, it offers the promise of hundreds of jobs, enhanced careers, and renewed vitality, said Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon during the ceremony. This project also demonstrates how good things can happen when the private and public sectors work together to solve problems. Advances made here will bolster Wyomings ability to produce another source of dispatchable power securely. In Wyoming we know energy  and we will continue to provide it to help keep our nation competitive and safe."
The Russell County Board of Supervisors emerged from a closed session Monday night and unanimously rejected a proposed agreement that could have led to a landfill being established on a former coal site.

Board members voted 7-0 to approve a resolution to terminate negotiations with NOVA, Inc., on its plans to establish a private landfill on the Moss 3 site. That resolution was part of the public packet posted on the boards website prior to the meeting.

The county has worked with NOVA since August 2023 on the proposed host agreement and exchanged multiple drafts, according to the resolution adopted by the board. The most recent version contained terms adverse to the countys best interests and referenced its concern about how the host fee of funds coming to the county would be structured.

County officials previously said the landfill could mean as much as $205 million in host fees over a 40-year period, based on the volume of waste coming into the landfill.

The ordinance went on to say the county determined the host agreement will not succeed.

The 7-0 vote prompted loud cheering from a large crowd gathered inside the county Government Center, a video recording of the meeting shows. The proposed landfill has faced stiff public opposition for many months.

Residents have expressed concerns ranging from the probable stench to potential harm to the countys environment and protected wildlife in the nearby Clinch River.

The Scott County Board of Supervisors recently voted to send a letter to their Russell counterparts, asking them to reject the landfill proposal, citing potential environmental impacts and a negative impact on tourism and travel in the region.

NOVA, Inc., was seeking approval to try and establish a landfill at the former Moss 3 coal preparation plant. Russell County Reclamation, which owns over 1,200 acres of the former Moss 3 site, has expressed interest in developing a private landfill at the site.

It could only proceed to a state environmental review if the county signed the host agreement.

The packet also included a letter to John Matney of NOVA outlining the boards decision.

Nova provided its most recent draft of the proposed host agreement on May 18, 2024. The most recent draft provided by Nova proposes new terms adverse to the interests of Russell County and fails to address fundamental terms of a host agreement, including how the host fee amount would be determined and how the host fee would be structured, according to the letter signed by County Administrator Lonzo Lester. Russell County has determined to terminate negotiations of the proposed host agreement.

The packet also contained a letter to the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality Director Michael Rollband.

To the extent required; Russell County cannot certify that the proposed location and operation of the facility are consistent with all applicable ordinances. Nova has not requested such certification from Russell County. Russell County cannot certify that the Board of Supervisors has held a public hearing in accordance with the applicable provisions of Va. Code, according to the letter. Nova has not requested such certification from Russell County. Russell County cannot certify that a host agreement has been reached between Nova and Russell County.
A third human case of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) A(H5) virus infection related to dairy cattle was reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention last Thursday, May 30. This person is from Michigan and works on a farm where cows had tested positive for HPAI. The two previous cases, one in Texas and another in Michigan, also involved workers on dairies where cows were sick with the virus.

There have only been four human cases of avian influenza reported in the United States. The first occurred in 2022 in a person in Colorado who had direct exposure to poultry being depopulated during the outbreak in birds. General symptoms of avian influenza in humans include fever, cough, muscle aches, general fatigue, sore throat, nausea or vomiting, and shortness of breath.

The current risk to the general public remains low; people at greatest risk for contracting HPAI appear to be those who have direct contact with infected animals. This includes milkers or other workers in direct contact with unpasteurized milk from infected cows. Thats because USDA analysis from nasal swabs, tissue, and milk samples showed that the highest concentration of virus shedding is found in milk prior to pasteurization, and virus replication in the dairy cow occurs mainly in the udder.



In a Michigan State University Extension article, dairy extension educator Martin Carrasquillo-Mangual explained that exposure could happen during forestripping, milk testing, or from cows leaking milk. Milk can also be found on equipment, used towels, work clothes, the parlor floor, and more, elevating the risk for contact. People feeding raw milk to calves can also be exposed.

However, many of these processes are vital for the optimal functioning of a dairy farm, Carrasquillo-Mangual recognized. This highlights the importance of increasing awareness and implementing strategies to reduce the risk to dairy farm workers.

Protection starts with thorough handwashing before and after working with cows. After a milking shift, Carrasquillo-Mangual recommended showering or at least washing the hands and face with water and soap.

A good line of defense is the use of personal protective equipment. He said gloves should be worn at all times in the parlor and replaced if torn. This includes cow pushers who step into the milking pit, he added.

Clothes worn during milking should be washed after each shift or at least kept separate from other clothing. Boots should be cleaned before a milking shift and cleaned and disinfected afterwards. Carrasquillo-Mangual encouraged farm owners to provide a container with chlorinated water nearby so milkers can step in it to clean their boots every time they leave the milking area. It is important to rinse the boots to remove manure and sand prior to disinfection, Carrasquillo-Mangual noted.

If a herd is confirmed positive, further steps can be taken to avoid exposure, such as wearing safety glasses to protect eyes from milk splashes, not touching the face, eyes, and nose when working, and disposing gloves when leaving the milking area. Any equipment that protects the worker from milk droplets can aid in reducing the risk of infection, Carrasquillo-Mangual said.



If HPAI is detected on the premise, Carrasquillo-Mangual advised against feeding raw milk to cats or other animals, as this can lead to further spreading of the disease.

Although current information suggests that HPAI presents a low risk to humans and those affected have recovered successfully without any major setback, we should still employ methods to reduce the risk of infection and limit the spread of this disease, Carrasquillo-Mangual concluded. HPAI still presents clinical symptoms in humans that may vary in severity and length. Therefore, any action to mitigate the risk of infection will lead to a safer work environment.

To comment, email your remarks to intel@hoards.com.

(c) Hoard's Dairyman Intel 2024

June 6, 2024
Hunter Biden found guilty on three felony gun charges

Xinhua) 08:59, June 12, 2024

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)

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Every morning when I rise, I see this miniature condiment jar on my dresser. Its filled with sand from Omaha Beach in Normandy.

My bucket list trip was extremely emotional, especially viewing the large red, white and blue flag waving over the American cemetery overlooking Omaha Beach. 9,400 crosses symbolize young Americans memorialized there. After a brief ceremony, our National Anthem played and many of us joined in singing along. But pride quickly turned to tears when the bugler played taps.

On the 20th anniversary of D-Day, CBS anchor Walter Cronkite toured Normandy with former President Dwight Eisenhower, who was then the Allied Supreme Commander. As the two rode a Jeep along the shoreline, visited Nazi artillery bunkers and viewed maps displaying the plan of attack for British, Canadian and American troops, you are struck by the magnitude of two years of meticulous strategizing. Even though the TV broadcast is in black and white and of generally poor quality, it was stirring. You can view Eisenhowers emotional return to D-Day beaches.

At the end of the roughly two-hour program Eisenhower offered some reflections. He told Cronkite that American forces came to Normandy for one purpose only. Not to gain anything for themselves, not to fulfill any ambitions America had for conquest, but just to preserve freedom  systems of self-government in the world. Many thousands of men died for ideals such as these.

He recounted that these young boys were cut off in their prime. Looking out over Omaha beach, he mused, I devoutly hope that we will never again have such scenes as these. I think and hope and pray that humanity has learned more. But these people gave us a chance, they bought time for us, so we could do better than we had before. So, every time I come back to these beaches, or any day when I think about that day twenty years ago, I say once more we must find some way to work for peace and to gain an eternal peace for this world.

I was struck by the reality that these soldiers werent Republicans or Democrats. Not liberals or conservatives. Northerners or Southerners. They were Americans, willing to fight for our country. We were united. Rosie the riveter was created, and our part was to help the cause by accepting rations on gas, tires, nylons and other commodities.

Today, about the only thing we are united on is that the country is heading in the wrong direction, even though we might disagree how we got here. New York Times columnist Tom Friedman says weve lost our moorings as a society.

Friedman remembers a trip to the Atlantic Forest in Brazil, where guides pointed out thickets of trees that often live underwater along tropical coastlines. Those mangrove trees provide buffers to protect the forest from giant waves, hold the shoreline in place and are nurseries for young fish to mature.

Shame used to be a mangrove, Friedman stated. When someone falsified business records, committed moral infidelity or violated accepted societal norms they would hang their heads in shame and resign, or at least retreat from positions of responsibility.

Our society itself has lost so many of its social, normative and political mangroves as well  all those things that used to filter toxic behaviors, buffer political extremism and nurture healthy communities and trusted institutions for young people to grow up in and which hold our society together, lamented Friedman.

Over the past two or three decades the concept of shame has almost evaporated, along with other socially accepted norms like infidelity, business integrity, honest dealings, truth telling and civil behavior. The lack of them has just about become the norm.

Im not sure whether weve become an amoral or morally corrupt society, but dont you wonder why so many things we were raised to believe are not correct or not acceptable just seem to go by without protest or consequences?

Either our morals have changed, or we have lost our voices. We have become so sheepish in standing up for whats right that we even tolerate some who label these crooks, liars, philanderers and thieves as heroes. But thousands have given their lives serving this nation to preserve those values.

Are we afraid that rising up will cost us something? Do we fear for our safety, friendships or jobs? Have we become a go along to get along nation? Or are we just waiting for somebody else to stand up and speak out, i.e. have we become cowards?

Just days ago, we observed Memorial Day. On June 6th we remembered the 80th anniversary of D-Day and soon we will be observing July 4th. They are reminders of who we were once upon a time. Hopefully, they will spur us to once again be people who stand for democracy, justice and for human rights.

What will become of us if we dont?
With almost one in every two firewalls being a Fortinet product, the company knows what the bad guys are up to, and has a serious mission to keep them out.

FortiGuard Labs ANZ Director threat intelligence Glenn Maiden spoke to iTWire about the challenges FortiGuard Labs, the research arm of Fortinet, faces, along with the victories it enjoys.

Maiden explains that Fortinet products make nearly half of all firewall devices around the world - "in every industry vertical, in every country," he says. It means FortiGuard Labs has unrivalled samples of the attacks hitting every organisation every day.

This information is incredibly valuable in aiding the organisation in its mission to prevent these attacks from landing. Cybersecurity is a war, and Maiden likens his work to Sun Tzu's saying, "If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles. If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat. If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle."

On the other side of the cybersecurity divide are the "bad guys" - the malicious actors, sometimes state-sponsored, who are trying to breach defences, whether to steal secrets, to hold data to ransom, for political activism, or for other reasons. And they're increasingly targetting newly discovered vulnerabilities. FortiGuard Labs has seen an increase in the weaponisation of vulnerabilities, Maiden said. In the first half of 2023 the time from when a vulnerability is disclosed - whether by a vendor or a conference paper - to when it is actively used against victims has dropped to a mere eight days.

Yet, for a lot of businesses, the mean time to detection is still measured in months, if not years.

Then, Maiden says, it dropped again by another 43% with newly disclosed vulnerabilities now being weaponised in an average of 4.7 days. Part of this is AI - not ChatGPT but specialised GPTs with names such as FraudGPT and LearnGPT. These lack the guardrails OpenAI has put in place on their tools.

While the conventional wisdom is to keep systems patched - and rightly so - it's not always so simple for the beleaguered, cautious systems administrator who has to download a patch, test it, roll it out to production, all in a couple of days. With multitudes of systems and applications, this can be an aggressive timeline at best. And not all vulnerabilities have a resolution anyway; "some n-day vulnerabilities remain unpatched for over 15 years," he said.

Here's where FortiGuard Labs comes in; "Through our software lifecycle we're always rigorously looking for vulnerabilities, testing, finding them ourselves," Maiden said. "We'll work proactively with customers and partners to ensure we know patches are coming out before they're publicly known."

Fortinet has over 50 products and its systems can intelligently alert users to problem traffic, or block it outright.

"Attackers will use n-day vulnerabilities aggressively within 4.5 days to compromise a victim," Maiden explains. It's a different story once they're inside. FortiGuard Labs observes the attackers being more subtle, quieter, to move sideways through the network probing servers, seeking to exploit different kinds of vulnerabilities as they perform reconnaisance and gain privileges throughout.

"What this tells me is some interesting intelligence in terms of prioritisation," Maiden said. "Internet-facing systems cannot wait; you can't waste time to patch them."

Additionally, "from a security viewpoint, we're looking out for reconnaissance activities" [on the internal network traffic]. "We're detecting this much more comprehensively these days."

An ongoing challenge, Maiden explained, is when an IT admin is compromised. "We call it 'living off the land'," he said. This is when the bad guys "use legitimate mechanisms needed for systems administration and use the same tools and processes to move around the network. It's harder to tell if someone connecting to the corporate LDAP server, using RDP, opening shares is a service account or sysadmin vs. a bad guy."

Another insight from FortiGuard Labs is that while you might think "Australia down in our corner of the world is removed from conflict in Ukraine or the Middle East, or politics in the Northern Hemisphere," Maiden said, "we saw 38 state-sponsored groups active here. When it comes to cyber espionage we're right in the firing line."

Whether it is cyber criminals or nation states, they're not limited by geography. "They can attack us as much as the United States or Europe. We're absolutely part of it."

Whatever the nature, whatever the motivation, "it's vitally important where we see advanced persistent threats we bake all the behaviours, the signatures, the indicators into our rules and push these out."

"We bake them into our fabric and ecosystem, and share them with Interpol, Europol, and the Australian cybersecurity centre."

This coordination and communication extend to other firewall and security product vendors too. "In the back end, we all work in good faith collaboratively. Nobody wants to see anyone compromised."

Nevertheless, it's a picture of a world under constant threat - or so one might think, with attackers getting increasingly sophisticated. Yet, the reality, Maiden said, is "as defenders, we're getting more sophisticated too. There's FUD (fear, uncertainty, and doubt) created in the industry by the emergence of AI and deep fakes. Things are changing rapidly, but we're baking AI into a lot of tools to make them easier to use."

For example, he explained, FortiGuard Labs has been leveraging AI and ML for over a decade to gain a better understanding of what's a threat and what's not. And, "with nearly one in two firewalls being a Fortinet we have a good understanding of finding - and finding at scale, then baking tools and techniques into our products and getting better all the time."

Detection is one thing; "we're pushing harder for breaking the network into little bits to make sure we have visibility in the ingress and egress points at each segment, then push into a SIEM and normalise all the logs. When we see something not usual we can push an alert to an analyst."

Further, "we can push into orchestration, again, all supported by AI, so, for example, if we see something in Glenn's box we can make sure it's a bad guy then isolate that machine from the Internet and not let it back on until it's cleaned up," he said.

One thing's for certain; no matter how much the malicious actors may be rising to breach systems, FortiGuard Labs is watching, learning, gathering data, and continually feeding this data back into its products to be your first point of defence.

"We're getting much better with smart products to help humans," Maiden said.
Microsoft has patched 49 CVEs in its June 2024 Patch Tuesday release, with this being the second successive month in which less than 60 CVEs were patched.

Satnam Narang, senior staff research engineer at security firm Tenable, said the company had not patched any zero-day vulnerabilities exploited in the wild this month.

He added that typically, Microsoft Patch Tuesday releases skewed towards being mostly remote code execution vulnerabilities.

In 2023, remote code execution flaws accounted for over one-third (35.1%) of all CVEs patched," Narang noted. "However, this Patch Tuesday release was dominated by elevation of privilege flaws, accounting for nearly half of the CVEs patched (49%)."

He said Microsoft had patched CVE-2024-30089, an elevation of privilege flaw in the Microsoft Streaming Service. "Like many of the elevation of privilege flaws patched as part of Patch Tuesday, Microsoft labelled this one as 'Exploitation More Likely'," he added.

Narang pointed out that these types of flaws were notoriously useful for cyber criminals seeking to elevate privileges on a compromised system.

"When exploited in the wild as a zero-day, they are typically associated with more advanced persistent threat actors or as part of targeted attacks," he elaborated.

"This vulnerability was disclosed to Microsoft by the same security researcher who disclosed CVE-2023-36802, another Microsoft Streaming Service elevation of privilege flaw, which was patched in the September 2023 Patch Tuesday.

"Curiously, that flaw was disclosed by the researcher, but it was Microsoft themselves that noted it as being exploited in the wild. Another Microsoft Streaming Service flaw was patched this month (CVE-2024-30090), but unlike CVE-2024-30089, this one is labelled as 'Exploitation Less Likely'.

Mike Walters, president and co-founder of patch management software vendor Action1, said Microsoft had also patched a critical vulnerability in Microsoft Message Queuing, which could permit remote code execution.

"This issue (CVE-2024-30080) stems from a Use After Free (CWE-416) flaw and is assigned a CVSS score of 9.8, indicating an extremely high severity level," he said.

"The vulnerability is accessible through the network with low attack complexity, requires no privileges, and no user interaction, with the scope of the vulnerability remaining unchanged. However, it carries high impacts on confidentiality, integrity, and availability.

"An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by sending a specially crafted malicious MSMQ packet to a server, potentially resulting in remote code execution on that server. While no exploit code or proof-of-concept for this vulnerability has been verified, the likelihood of exploitation is considered high.

"The affected component, Windows Message Queuing Service, must be enabled for the vulnerability to be exploitable. This service can be added via the Control Panel. To check vulnerability, confirm whether the Message Queuing service is running and if TCP port 1801 is open on the system."

Walters said another vulnerability of note was an RCE in Microsoft Office (CVE-2024-30101). "This important vulnerability in Microsoft Office permits remote code execution and is associated with a Use After Free (CWE-416) flaw, earning a CVSS score of 7.5, which is considerably high," he elaborated.

"It presents a network attack vector and high attack complexity, requires no privileges but necessitates user interaction. The vulnerabilitys scope remains unchanged, yet it poses high impacts on confidentiality, integrity, and availability.

"An attacker could exploit this by sending a malicious email to a user with an affected version of Microsoft Outlook. To trigger the vulnerability, the user must open the email and engage in specific actions.

"While no exploit code or proof-of-concept is verified and the likelihood of exploitation is considered low, successful exploitation depends on the attacker winning a race condition. The Preview Pane is a potential attack vector, though further user interaction is needed."

Adam Barnett, lead software engineer at security firm Rapid7, said Microsoft had issued a patch for SharePoint RCE CVE-2024-30100. "The advisory is sparing on details, and the context of code exploitation is not clear," he noted. "The weakness is described as CWE-426: Untrusted Search Path; many (but not all) vulnerabilities associated with CWE-426 lead to elevation of privilege."

He highlighted CVE-2023-50868, which describes a denial of service vulnerability in DNSSEC. "This vulnerability is present in the DNSSEC spec itself, and the CVE was assigned by MITRE on behalf of DNSSEC," Barnett explained. "Microsofts implementation of DNSSEC is thus subject to the same attack as other implementations.

"An attacker can exhaust CPU resources on a DNSSEC-validating DNS resolver by demanding responses from a DNSSEC-signed zone, if the resolver uses NSEC3 to respond to the request. NSEC3 is designed to provide a safe way for a DNSSEC-validating DNS resolver to indicate that a requested resource does not exist.

"Under certain circumstances, the DNS resolver must perform thousands of iterations of a hash function to calculate an NSEC3 response, and this is the foundation on which this DoS exploit rests. All current versions of Windows Server receive a patch today.

"Typically, when Microsoft publishes a security advisory and describes the vulnerability as publicly disclosed, that public disclosure would have been recent. However, in the case of CVE-2023-50868, the flaw in DNSSEC was first publicly disclosed on 2024-02-13. The advisory acknowledges four academics from the German National Research Centre for Applied Cybersecurity (ATHENE), which is perhaps of interest since these same researchers are authors on a March 2024 academic paper that downplays the DoS potential of CVE-2024-50868.

"Those same researchers published another DNSSEC flaw CVE-2023-50387 (also known as KeyTrap) in January 2024, which they describe as having potentially serious implications; Microsoft patched that one at the next scheduled opportunity in February.

"The CVE-2023-50868 advisory published today does not provide further insight as to why this vulnerability wasnt patched sooner; a reasonable assumption might be that Microsoft assesses CVE-2023-50868 as less urgent/critical than CVE-2023-50387, although both receive a rating of Important on Microsofts proprietary severity ranking scale. Its also possible that Microsoft does not wish to be the only major server OS vendor without a patch."
COMPANY NEWS: Showcasing their ongoing dedication to fostering positive change in the local community, Blue Connections IT and Dell Technologies have once again partnered, this time in support of Anglicare Victorias mission to take hunger off the table for vulnerable Victorians.

The recent third annual Giving Day, held at Blue Connection ITs headquarters, featured employees from both organisations coming together to pack and donate 400 food hampers, brimming with 4,400 essential food items and special gifts, to support Anglicare Victorias initiative.

Gordon Brownell, chief executive officer, Blue Connections IT, said, Amidst the cost-of-living crisis, thousands of Victorian families are regularly forced to choose between eating meals or paying essential bills. The surge in visits to Anglicare Victoria's emergency relief sites over the past year underscores the pressing need for assistance, with supplies dwindling. This year, the teams from Blue Connections IT and Dell Technologies, alongside key vendors and distributors, endeavoured to relieve this burden by assembling food hampers with necessary staples. The businesses are proud to support hundreds of families as they brace for the harsh winter ahead.

During the event, each participant packed essential food supplies, including pantry staples like corn flakes, long-life milk, pasta, rice, tinned tomatoes, and pancake mix, while adding a personal touch by including a special gift such as a teddy bear or a pencil case, along with a heartfelt message for the receiving family. These food hampers have already been swiftly distributed across Victoria, underscoring the urgent need for assistance.

Kirsty Simpson, director of strategic communications and marketing, Anglicare Victoria, said, Right now, many Victorians are only one weeks salary away from requiring extra support. No family should ever face the dilemma of heating their homes or filling their plates. As the states largest provider of emergency relief, Anglicare Victoria deeply appreciates the support of Blue Connections IT and Dell Technologies in putting together these vital supplies, with each hamper already relieving a familys unbearable stress of not knowing where their next meal will come from.

Shant Soghomonian, senior director & general manager, channel sales, ANZ, Dell Technologies, said, Working alongside Blue Connections IT and Anglicare Victoria to address the most pressing needs of vulnerable Victorians is a privilege. Giving back to the community is integral to the culture at Dell Technologies, and the company is proud to partner with other like-minded organisations to make meaningful contributions.

Last year, Blue Connections IT and Dell Technologies Giving Day focused on children and young people supported by Anglicare Victoria in out of home settings including foster care, kinship care, and residential care. More than 400 backpacks filled with essential resources such as lunch boxes, drink bottles, and a teddy bear for comfort were donated, which aimed to ease transition to a new home or school for these young individuals.

The partnership between Blue Connections IT, Dell Technologies, and Anglicare Victoria first began in 2018, when the businesses collaborated to refresh Anglicare Victorias technology through device lifecycle management. This support was extended throughout the COVID-19 pandemic while Anglicare Victoria and its staff continued to provide critical services to families and children. Since its inception in 2022, Giving Day has evolved into a cherished tradition, symbolising the profound impact achieved when companies collaborate with charities to effect positive change.

About Anglicare Victoria

Anglicare Victoria (AV) works with children, young people, and families to prevent harm and empower people to overcome challenges and achieve their full potential.

Supporting tens of thousands of Victorians every year, its 1,700+ staff and volunteers operate from more than 45 sites across the state, as well as delivering assistance online, at home, and in the community. AV is Victorias largest provider of Out of Home Care and Family Services, and one of Australias most innovative agencies in working with vulnerable children youth and families. To find out more about the services that AV provides, visit the website at www.anglicarevic.org.au.

About Blue Connections IT

Blue Connections IT is a leading Australian owned provider of best-in-class IT solutions and managed services. Its clients include some of Australias best known and established businesses as well as organisations navigating the challenges of business growth.
COMPANY NEWS: Zscaler, Inc. (NASDAQ: ZS), the leader in cloud security, has doubled down on their partnership with Google to help organisations simplify and strengthen their approach to Zero Trust. The integration with Chrome Enterprise will provide hundreds of millions of enterprise users with advanced threat and data protection without the need for legacy VPNs or requiring additional browsers. In addition, the integration of Zscaler with Google Workspace helps prevent the exfiltration of sensitive enterprise data from apps like Gmail and Drive. And the sharing of Zscalers rich security telemetry with Google Security Operations enables organisations to strengthen their security operations, all from the cloud. This work with Google further strengthens Zscalers Zero Trust Exchange platform.

Legacy security approaches like VPNs create a massive attack surface allowing adversaries to move laterally across networks and exfiltrate sensitive data. In fact, in the recent Zscaler ThreatLabz 2024 VPN Risk Report the research team found that 56% of organizations experienced one or more VPN-related cyberattacks in the last year and 91% of respondents expressed concerns about VPNs compromising their IT security environment. The Google and Zscaler partnership provides enterprises with secure access to private applications without the need for remote access VPNs.

When third parties or employees use their personal devices (BYOD) to access corporate applications, cyber-threats and data loss become a concern. Traditionally, organisations have used endpoint security agents and virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) products to address this, but they are costly, complex and deliver a poor user experience. Recently, some companies have promoted purpose-built web browsers as an alternative, but installing and managing yet another browser only adds complexity and frustration for end-users and enterprises. The integrated solution from Zscaler and Google reduces VDI reliance, without forcing users to adopt a new browser.

Benefits of Google Chrome Enterprise with Zscaler Private Access

Zscaler will ingest signals from Chrome Enterprise, including device posture, user identity and device attributes. This will enable organisations to enhance their security posture, improve threat detection, and make informed access control decisions. Organisations will also be able to ensure that corporate access is limited to Chrome Enterprise browsers. This will provide employees, partners and contractors with flexibility across devices to access private applications on-premises or in the cloud, while ensuring best-in-class security and performance.

Preventing Exfiltration of Sensitive Data with Zscaler and Google Workspace

Zscaler integration with Workspace productivity and collaboration apps enables organisations to maintain a stricter control of their sensitive emails and documents. For example, Data Loss Prevention (DLP) capabilities help to prevent the exfiltration of sensitive data from Gmail, Google Drive, Sheets, Slides, and Docs. Tenant restrictions and granular instance controls help keep work and personal data separate with different levels of user access to personal vs work Gmail. In addition, the integration with Google Drive Labels API allows organisations to apply labels to files for classification, audit, and data protection purposes.

Granular Cloud Security Insights with Zscalers Security Telemetry and Google Security Operations

Zscaler integration with Google Security Operations enables organisations to more effectively detect, investigate, hunt and respond to threats. The integration provides actionable data within Google Security Operations, reducing the need to pivot across product consoles during investigations.

We are thrilled to partner with Google to deliver a comprehensive zero trust security solution through Chrome Enterprise that enables secure access to applications without the need for VPNs or new enterprise browsers," said Punit Minocha, EVP Business and Corporate Development, Zscaler. "In addition, by combining Zscaler's industry-leading Zero Trust Exchange with Google's powerful cloud services, we are providing enterprises with seamless data protection for Google Workspace and valuable security insights from Google Security Operations.

Google has been a pioneer in enterprise zero trust access and has enabled secure access to corporate resources for Google employees around the world, without the need for VPNs, stated Mayank Upadhyay, VP Engineering, Google Cloud Security. Zscaler shares our vision for a zero trust model, and we are excited to work with them in delivering browser-based threat and data protection through Chrome Enterprise. This collaboration accelerates enterprise users zero trust journeys, enabling them to move away from legacy VPN approaches and embrace the future of secure access.

To learn more about Zscalers collaboration with Google Chrome Enterprise Premium read the blog by Google, or the detailed Zscaler Solution Guide.

Forward Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements that are based on our management's beliefs and assumptions and on information currently available to our management. These forward-looking statements include the expected benefits of the integration to Zscalers product offerings and to our customers. These forward-looking statements are subject to the safe harbor provisions created by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. A significant number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from statements made in this press release, including those factors related to our ability to successfully integrate Googles technology and operations. Additional risks and uncertainties are set forth in our most recent Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on June 7, 2024, which is available on our website at ir.zscaler.com and on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. Any forward-looking statements in this release are based on the limited information currently available to Zscaler as of the date hereof, which is subject to change, and Zscaler will not necessarily update the information, even if new information becomes available in the future.

For more details, please see Zscaler with Google Chrome Enterprise.



About Zscaler

Zscaler (NASDAQ: ZS) accelerates digital transformation so customers can be more agile, efficient, resilient, and secure. The Zscaler Zero Trust Exchange platform protects thousands of customers from cyberattacks and data loss by securely connecting users, devices, and applications in any location. Distributed across more than 150 data centers globally, the SASE-based Zero Trust Exchange is the worlds largest in-line cloud security platform.

Zscaler and the other trademarks listed at https://www.zscaler.com/legal/trademarks are either (i) registered trademarks or service marks or (ii) trademarks or service marks of Zscaler, Inc. in the United States and/or other countries. Any other trademarks are the properties of their respective owners.
CHICAGO  Thousands of Chicago police officers received an unwelcome letter from their pension fund this week: Thanks to a payroll error spurred by officers latest contract, approximately 3,000 are required to cut a check to their pension fund, plus interest.

The Fraternal Order of Police, Lodge 7, which represents most rank-and-file cops, said it planned on filing a grievance over the error so that the city would have to pay that interest charge instead of workers.

The flub is hitting Tier 2 members of the Policemens Annuity and Benefit Fund of Chicago, those who started working for the CPD on or after Jan. 1, 2011. Those members make up roughly half of the more than 12,000 active members of the fund. Sworn officers contribute 9% of their salary to their pension, which is automatically withdrawn from paychecks.

PABF, in a letter to members, said the error was because of a fiscal year discrepancy with the city.

This letter serves to inform you of a payment shortfall in your pension contributions, the message from PABF Executive Director Kevin Reichart reads. Due to a fiscal year discrepancy with the City of Chicago, the retroactive salary contract payment you received 1/1/2022 was counted by the City toward your 2022 annual salary cap.

As part of the new contract for Chicago police officers approved by the City Council in late 2023, union members received a 2.5% base salary increase that applied retroactively to the start of 2022.

The city did not withhold the correct 9% of members salary and duty availability pay for the required payment, according to a post on the funds website.

Reichart did not respond to a request for comment, nor did the citys Finance Department.

Per state law, the fund must receive the required contributions, plus 3% interest. Members are asked to sign a letter of acknowledgement and cut a check to the PABF for the salary cap correction.

Failure to pay up by Aug. 31 means that original amount  plus interest  would be withheld from pensioners annuity payments when they retire. The union says the charge for some members is as low as about $80, and for others as high as $1,300.

I know nobody likes to get a bill, and it should have never happened, FOP President John Catanzara said in a video posted to the unions YouTube page Monday. He blamed incompetence in CPDs Finance Department and chastised the pension fund for not bringing the issue to the members attention earlier.

The union will be filing a class-action grievance demanding the city pay the 3% interest charge that the pension fund is looking to hammer our officers with, Catanzara said.

Given that those workers paid state and federal income tax on those earnings, Catanzara said the city should also refund the equivalent of the taxes charged on that income.

I dont know where this all ends up. Its pretty disappointing where were at with this department and this administration, Catanzara said.

The PABF is among the lowest-funded city pension funds, with enough assets to cover 21.76% of its obligations through the end of 2022.
Winston-Salem police and city firefighters worked Tuesday with the High Point Fire Departments dive team and the State Bureau of Investigation to search Quarry Park again for a missing teenager.

Searchers hadnt found Kaedian Tyshaun Allen, 19, of East 24th Street by late Tuesday. Allen was last seen May 31 at Quarry Park, and his family reported him missing on June 2.

Police closed Quarry Park at 9 a.m. Tuesday to conduct their search, a city official said. The park has since reopened.

Local and state authorities conducted the search without receiving a new tip about Allens whereabouts, said Annie Sims, a police spokeswoman.

Allens information has also been placed in the National Crime Information Network, Sims said, which is standard procedure when police are looking for missing people.

Allen is not being investigated for any crimes, police said.

At this point, no foul play is suspected, regarding Allens disappearance, police said. We are working diligently and expending all resources possible to bring Kaedian home safely to his family.

Winston-Salem firefighters are participating in the search, working with the dive team from the High Point Fire Department, said Tabetha Childress, a WSFD spokeswoman.

An SBI spokeswoman couldnt be immediately reached Tuesday for comment about her agencys role in the search.

No one has apparently heard from Allen since he got out of a car at Quarry Park on May 31, police said last Wednesday.

Police received a lead over the June 1-2 weekend about Allens whereabouts, but Allen remains missing.

Officers searched Quarry Park on June 2 and June 3 with drones, a police dog and divers. Throughout the last week, officers continued to check the park, looking for Allen.

Allen was last seen at 11:50 p.m. May 31 near 1790 Quarry Road, police said.

Allen stands 6 feet tall and weighs 170 pounds, police said. He was last seen wearing a black and red Nike jacket, dark pants and slides.

The incident began when officers attempted to stop a vehicles driver for traffic violations about 11:30 p.m. May 31 in the 1000 block of Bowman Gray Drive, police said.

Those violations included a fictitious registration for the vehicle, police Capt. Michael Knight said during Wednesdays news briefing.

The vehicles driver failed to stop, resulting in the officers losing sight of it, police said.

The Winston-Salem Police Departments real-time crime center found the vehicle about 11:50 p.m. May 31 in Quarry Park, police said. After officers arrived at the park, they found the vehicle abandoned in the parking lot.

Officers then found the driver, Tyrone M. Eldridge Jr., 20, of Efird Street and charged with him with felony fleeing to elude, driving with a fictitious registration number plate and three counts of failing to stop at stop signs, according to an arrest warrant.

Eldridge has been released from custody after he posted a $5,000 bond, court records show.

Officers didnt find Allen, the vehicles passenger, despite using a drone.

On Sunday, June 2, Allens family told police that he had not returned home, police said. Officers then returned to Quarry Park and searched with a police dog and a drone.

Police also checked local hospitals and city firefighters searched the water.

Anyone with information about Allens whereabouts can call Winston-Salem police at 336-773-7700, Crime Stoppers at 336-727-2800 or its Spanish line at 336-728-3904.

The Text-A-Tip program at 336-276-1717 allows people to text tips, photos and videos to the police.
A surge of harder-to-trace out-of-state money flowing into North Carolinas high-profile 2024 election races  foremost for governor  would be allowed in a revamped state House bill that cleared the legislature Tuesday.

The latest Republican-sponsored revamping of House Bill 237 was passed by the House by a 69-43 vote along party lines.

HB237 cleared the Senate by a 28-0 vote Thursday within three hours of the posting of the new version. All Republicans present voted in favor, while the 12 Democrats present withheld their vote by walking out in protest of having limited time to examine the campaign finance language.

The bill goes to Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper, who has 10 days to sign HB237, veto it or allow it to become law without his signature.

"Gov. Cooper opposes Republicans changing campaign donation rules behind closed doors just months before an election to let out-of-state billionaires rescue their extreme right-wing statewide candidates," Cooper spokesman Jordan Monaghan said in a statement to Raleigh TV station WRAL.

"This goes against the guidance of the State Board of Elections. And political donations should be more transparent, not less."

The insertion of state campaign finance law changes into HB237 has being pitched as either leveling the playing field on corporate and union donations, or opening another floodgate for out-of-state dark money into high-profile 2024 election races.

Lauren Horsch, spokeswoman for Senate leader Phil Berger, R-Rockingham, said the campaign finance language looks to undo a collusive decision the partisan Board of Elections made during the 2020 election that benefited certain political organizations that were aligned with Democratic groups.

Current state law prohibits corporations, unions, other business entities, professional associations and insurance companies from providing funding directly to a political candidate or campaign. The latest version of HB237 does not change that.

However, those groups can provide such funds to federal political fund-raising committees known as 527 groups  the number representing the federal tax code. Among 527 organizations are the Democratic and Republican governors associations.

Those 527 groups are allowed to accept unlimited donations as well as provide unlimited amounts to their candidates. As such, the 527 groups can serve as funding middlemen for corporations, unions and other groups.

Under the provision in the law being considered, these 527 groups could make donations to the North Carolina Republican party or North Carolina Democratic Party, which can in turn use these funds to benefit Republican and Democratic candidates for governor or other state offices, said John Dinan, a political science professor at Wake Forest University.

The Democratic and Republican associations have different procedures for handling funding contributions.

The Democratic association separates donations into different accounts, particularly those from corporations and labor unions.

By doing so, according to Raleigh TV station WRAL, the Democratic association can use its non-corporate/union accounts to send money to the state Democratic Party, which can pass those funds along to individual candidates.

Because the Republican association does not separate out such donations, it has additional state campaign-finance requirements to meet.

Floor debate

Rep. Grey Mills, R-Iredell, said the campaign finance language in HB237 does not set new ground, it doesnt create something this state hasnt seen before.

All it does is clarify that it resets our campaign finance law to where they were in 2020 ... that applied equally and balanced to both parties.

It doesnt allow North Carolina candidates for political office or committees to accept corporate contributions and it doesnt open the door to any dark money because the money must come from segregated accounts.

However, Rep. Pricey Harrison, D-Guilford, said of changes in HB237 that concern her, it doesnt look good for a federal PAC to be able to dump a ton of money to whoever is in leadership on the same day as a vote, or guaranteeing a vote.

Theres too much of an optic of pay to play here, and the public is very concerned about that.

Harrison said there could be an explosion of federal PACs in North Carolina as state PACs reorganize because of HB237.

The public has a right to know who is donating and how they could be influencing our elections, and now they wont be able to find out that information without a whole lot of digging, Harrison said.

NC governors race

The impetus for inserting the campaign finance language into HB237 appears to be the high-profile governor race between Democrat Josh Stein, the states attorney general, and Republican Mark Robinson, the states lieutenant governor.

Political analysts expect North Carolina to be flooded with out-of-state contributions since the governors race is projected to be one of the closest in the country.

According to the four most recent polls for N.C. listed on www.538.com, Robinson holds either a 2- or 1-point lead in two polls, Stein with a 1-point lead in a poll and a tie in the fourth.

WRAL reported that as of February, Stein had raised $19.1 million with $12.7 million left to spend, while Robinson had raised $10.7 million with $4.5 million left to spend.

Stein launched recently a statewide ad campaign targeting some of Robinsons controversial statements on race, gender, abortion and the economy.

Rep. Robert Reives, D-Chatham, and House minority leader, said the campaign financing language represents the evisceration of individual campaign finance limits and allows billionaires from out of state to funnel unlimited money into a committee.

This is a seismic change. They are changing the rules in the middle of an election that is already underway in an attempt to buy the governors mansion in North Carolina.

Reives said HB237 allows for the opening of the floodgates for those billionaires who want to buy North Carolina elections. Something unflattering happened in one of the Council of State races a couple of weeks ago, and daggone were changing (the campaign finance) laws right now.

Reives accused Republicans of cynically inserting the campaign finance language into the public masking bill in order to use it as a campaign issue, and then saying Democrats voted against HB237 because they want criminals to be able to rob banks with a mask.

Perhaps someone who doesnt want to be identified with some of the Council of State folks, well, now, they can give all kinds of money ... and the money cant be tracked until after the election.

Thats a problem because youre seeing primary opponents ... who all of a sudden are sitting on $1 million when they couldnt even raise any money last time. They can run attack ads and your own solution is to come up with enough money to counter them.

You think thats a coincidence. Sorry, I dont believe in coincidences in this body.
A neighborhood spat involving dog poop, a missing stuffed duck, alleged anonymous calls to animal control and doxing ended up in a Lancaster County Courtroom this week.

Judge Susan Strong ultimately decided to dismiss a protection order that had earlier been granted against a Nebraska State Patrol trooper whose neighbor accused him of not cleaning up after his dogs and then trying to intimidate her. He in turn said the neighbor had left bags of feces in his yard and driveway.

"Believe it or not, in the last week, this isn't the only case I had where neighbors are arguing over dog poop," Strong said Monday.

The spat began more than a month ago when the troopers neighbor saw her name and address posted to a private neighborhood Facebook group. The post alleged she was reporting the trooper's dogs to animal control. The woman was initially granted a protection order on May 10 and Mondays hearing was to determine if it would be continued.

The Journal Star is not naming the trooper because he was not charged with a crime.

The trooper testified at the hearing that the neighbor had come to his house in January to ask about a stuffed duck that was missing from her yard. The backyards of both homes are adjacent to each other without a fence separating them.

The neighbor alleged one of the troopers two dogs had crossed into her yard and taken the duck. Neither the trooper nor his spouse could recall finding any ducks on their property, he testified Monday.

The trooper said he posted the neighbor's name and address on Facebook because he thought she had anonymously reported his dogs to animal control, and he wanted to warn neighbors she might do the same to them.

In filing for the protection order, the woman said she felt intimidated and "did not feel safe in my own neighborhood and home."

The hearing on Monday was to determine if the protection order would continue.

The neighbor said she called the State Patrol to leave a message for the troopers supervisor. A dispatcher, who testified at the hearing, said the neighbor called but asked to speak with the trooper and not a supervisor.

The neighbor said the trooper called back from his personal cellphone. It made her and her mother, who is the owner of the home, feel harassed and threatened, according to her request for the original protection order.

The trooper told the court that bags of dog feces began appearing in his yard and driveway after the Facebook post.

The neighbor admitted to the judge she was leaving the bags. She said she did it because the distance between her garbage can and their yard was the same.

"Instead of picking up his dog's poop in my yard, I decided to leave it on his corner as a gentle reminder his dog is pooping in yards," she said.

The neighbor asked the judge to maintain the protection order, saying she felt the trooper was abusing his authority.

Strong said it was a close call but ultimately dismissed the order.

Top Journal Star photos for June 2024
A Nebraska nonprofit filed a lawsuit Tuesday against two state Department of Health and Human Services officials, accusing them of terminating a North Platte woman's Medicaid coverage without adequate notice in what the nonprofit alleges was an "unconstitutional deprivation of (her) due process rights."

Nebraska Appleseed, a criminal and social justice advocacy group, filed the lawsuit in federal court Tuesday on behalf of Gillian Filyaw, a 23-year-old mother of two whose Medicaid coverage was terminated May 1  less than two weeks after she received notice of the termination, the nonprofit alleged.

Medicaid enrollees and applicants are allowed up to 90 days to appeal such actions under state code.

In its termination letter to Filyaw, HHS provided "only a conclusory reason for her termination  that 'income exceeds standards,'" according to the lawsuit. The notice did not identify Filyaw's household income, size or the income limit used in determining her family's ineligibility.

In the 16-page lawsuit, lawyers for Nebraska Appleseed said the notice the state sent to Filyaw  identical to the notices issued to more than 22,000 Medicaid enrollees in Nebraska since March 2023, according to the complaint  does "not satisfy due process requirements and are therefore unconstitutional."

The complaint also alleges Filyaw is experiencing emotional distress and "great harm because of the unconstitutional deprivation of her Medicaid coverage without adequate notice."

"Due process requires DHHS to ensure that all Nebraskans who are being terminated receive adequate notice of DHHSs decision to end their Medicaid coverage  and the opportunity to challenge that decision before coverage ends, Kelsey Arends, a staff attorney at Nebraska Appleseed, said in a news release Tuesday. As we have seen statewide, that is not happening.

"Low-income individuals are losing their Medicaid coverage and have no way of knowing whether DHHS is making the right decision, or whether they should challenge their loss of coverage.

The nonprofit will seek to convince a federal judge that the complaint against HHS Director Steve Corsi and Matt Ahern, the interim director of HHS's Division of Medicaid and Long-Term Care, should be a class-action lawsuit.

The class of plaintiffs would include anyone who has been or will be issued a Nebraska Medicaid termination notice over their income eligibility since March 2023, when pandemic-era federal protections for Medicaid enrollees ended and HHS began reexamining Medicaid eligibility for more than 390,000 Nebraskans.

In the year since, more than 100,000 pandemic-era enrollees are no longer enrolled, 38,685 of whom did not meet Medicaid eligibility or financial requirements, according to HHS data.

The lawsuit alleges more than 22,000 of those enrollees had received notice that their coverage would end due to their income. More than 48,000 enrollees have yet to have their eligibility reexamined, according to HHS data  "many of whom are at risk of also being issued an" income termination notice, the nonprofit alleged.

Lawyers for the state have not yet filed a response to the complaint, which was filed in the U.S. District Court's District of Nebraska.

In an email Wednesday, an HHS spokesman said the department "strictly follows all governing regulations and guidelines and requirements ... to complete the federally required Medicaid unwind." HHS "does not comment on pending litigation," the spokesman said.

In its suit against Corsi and Ahern, Nebraska Appleseed is seeking both a preliminary and permanent injunction against unlawful income-based Medicaid terminations until HHS provides timely, adequate and specific termination notices.

The nonprofit is also asking Nebraskans who have lost Medicaid coverage over income standards since March 2023 to contact the advocacy group at neappleseed.org/medicaidhelp.

Top Journal Star photos for June 2024
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

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Adam Fravel will not face a jury composed of his Winona County peers on four charges of homicide related to the death of the mother of Fravel's children, Madeline Kingsbury.

Judge Nancy Buytendorp granted Wednesday a change of venue request filed by Fravel's legal team, moving the case to another, undetermined, Minnesota county as the case moves toward trial.

Fravel's legal team filed the request due to its concern about the high level of media coverage and the impact it could have on a jury pool, among other factors.

A research firm hired by the defense team found that of 100 people surveyed in Winona County, 89 had read, seen or heard news about Kingsbury's disappearance. Sixty-six of respondents had formed opinions about who was responsible for Kingsbury's death.

Only one of those 66 people did not believe that Fravel caused Kingsbury's death, the report found.

The number of people involved in mass searches for Kingsbury after her disappearance was also cited as possibly tainting the jury pool, as well as the high interest in the case on social media.

"Considering the extensive pretrial publicity and the substantial involvement of the Winona community in this case, a change of venue is warranted. The Defendants motion for such a change is hereby granted," Buytendorp wrote Wednesday. "It is evident to this Court that a fair trial cannot be ensured within this county. Therefore, it falls upon this Court to determine which county within the state can best ensure the impartiality necessary for a fair trial. To facilitate this process, this Court will collaborate closely with both district and state court administration to identify a suitable county capable of accommodating this Winona County case."

Buytendorp also denied a request from Fravel and his legal team Wednesday to dismiss the murder in the first degree with premeditation charge against Fravel.

The defense claimed in its request that the evidence presented to the grand jury that indicted Fravel was not sufficient to support the charge.

"After thoroughly examining all pertinent facts and circumstances related to the indictment, this Court found that the State presented ample admissible evidence to substantiate the Grand Jury's determination of probable cause for issuing the indictment," Buytendorp wrote in court documents Wednesday.

Buytendorp also granted Wednesday the state's motion to submit an aggravated departure notice to a jury.

The defense had wanted the motion to be dismissed, citing insufficient probable cause.

"This Court found that the factual basis upon which the State relies in support of an aggravated sentence is sufficient to support submitting the question of an aggravated sentence to a jury in this case," Buytendorp wrote.

Buyentorp also denied the defense's request to suppress statements Fravel made to law enforcement on April 2, 2023.

The defense argued Fravel was not notified of his Miranda rights during the conversation.

"After thoroughly examining all pertinent facts and circumstances related to the statement made to law enforcement, this Court determined that the Defendant was not subjected to a custodial interrogation necessitating a formal Miranda warning. Consequently, the Court found no grounds to suppress these statements and Defendants Motion to Suppress was denied," Buytendorp wrote.

Fravel faces four charges in the case, including murder in the first degree while committing domestic abuse with a past pattern of domestic abuse, murder in the first degree premeditated, murder in the second degree and murder in the second degree without intent while committing a felony.

Fravel has been in custody since June 7, when the body of Kingsbury was found north of Mabel in a rural culvert. Kingsbury, the mother of Fravel's two children, went missing on March 31, 2023.
It is a usual school day for third graders at Mount Vernon Community School in Alexandria, Virginia. On one side of the classroom, students surround teacher Maria Fletcher and work on making vowel sounds. On the other side, children read together from a book. In another part of the room, students sit at computers and get reading help from online tutors.

Such activities have become normal for the students. Teachers at Mount Vernon and around the country are racing to get students to learn more, faster. The hope is to get past learning problems that have continued to affect students since schools closed for the COVID-19 pandemic four years ago.

Slow, uneven improvement

Americas schools have started getting back on track. But improvement has been slow and uneven. Millions of students  often poor or from minority groups are making up little or no progress.

Nationally, students made up one-third of their pandemic losses in math during the past school year and one-quarter of the losses in reading. Those findings come from the Education Recovery Scorecard. That is an examination of state and national test scores by researchers at Harvard University and Stanford University.

But in nine states, including Virginia, reading scores continued to fall during the 2022-2023 school year. And the $190 billion in federal pandemic relief money for schools runs out later this year.

Thomas Kane is a Harvard economist who helped create the scorecard. The recovery is not finished, and it wont be finished without state action, he said. States need to start planning for what theyre going to do when the federal money runs out in September.

Virginia lawmakers approved an extra $418 million last year to quicken the recovery. Officials in the state of Massachusetts set aside $3.2 million to provide math tutoring for fourth and eighth grade students who are behind grade level, along with $8 million for reading help. But among other states with slow progress, few said they were spending more to speed up improvement.

In Virginia, the Alexandria school district received $2.3 million in additional state money to expand tutoring.

Ana Marisela Ventura Moreno said her 9-year-old daughter, Sabrina, greatly benefited from extra reading help last year during second grade. But she is still catching up, her mother said.

She needs to get better. Shes not at the level she should be, the mother said in Spanish. She noted the school did not offer the tutoring help this year, but she did not know why.

Alexandria education officials say students scoring below proficient receive high-intensity tutoring help. They also said they help students with the greatest needs. Among poorer students at Mount Vernon, just 24 percent scored proficient in math. Just 28 percent of them scored proficient in reading. That is far lower than the rates among wealthier students. And the divide is growing wider.

Failing to get students back on track could have serious effects. The researchers at Harvard and Stanford found communities with higher test scores have higher wages and lower rates of arrest and imprisonment. If pandemic learning losses become permanent, it could follow students for life.

Few recovered to pre-pandemic levels

The Education Recovery Scorecard tracks about 30 states. All of the states saw at least some improvement in math from 2022 to 2023. Nine states saw reading scores drop during that time.

Only a few states have recovered to pre-pandemic testing levels.

In Chicago Public Schools, the average reading score went up by the equivalent of 70 percent of a grade level from 2022 to 2023. Math gains increased less, with students still behind almost half a grade level compared with 2019.

Chicago officials say the improvements were made possible because of the nearly $3 billion in federal relief money. With the funds, the district trained hundreds of people in Chicago to work as tutors. Every school building got an interventionist, an educator who centers on helping struggling students.

The district also used federal money for home visits and expanded arts education.

At Wells Preparatory Elementary on the city's South Side, just 3 percent of students met state reading standards in 2021. Last year, 30 percent met state standards. Federal relief funds permitted the school to hire an interventionist for the first time. Teachers get paid to work on student academic recovery outside working hours.

Vincent Izuegbu is the principal at Wells. He said, We do not let 10 minutes go by without a teacher giving students the opportunity to engage with the subject.

Thats very, very important in terms of the growth that weve seen, Izuegbu added.

Im Dan Novak.

And I'm Caty Weaver.

Dan Novak adapted this story for VOA Learning English based on reporting by The Associated Press.

Quiz - US Students Slowly Recover from Pandemic Setbacks Start the Quiz to find out Start Quiz

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Words in This Story

tutor  n. a teacher who works with one student

on track  v. happening the way that you expect or want things to happen

relief  n. things that are given to help people who are victims of a war, earthquake, flood, etc.

district  n. an area or section of a country, city, or town

benefit  v. to be useful or helpful to

proficient  adj. good at doing something

wage  n. an amount of money that a worker is paid based on the number of hours, days, etc., that are worked

equivalent  n. having the same value, use, meaning, etc.

standard  n. a level of quality, achievement, etc., that is considered acceptable or desirable

opportunity  n. an amount of time or a situation in which something can be done
The Lexington Public Library, in collaboration with Nebraska Public Media, hosted an engaging and educational PBS Kids Family Fun Night on Friday. The event featured workshops and activities designed to promote critical thinking and creativity among children, inspired by the PBS Kids show Almas Way.

Almas Way is an animated childrens television series that premiered in October 2021. The show was created by Sonia Manzano, known for her longtime role as Maria on Sesame Street, and it is produced by Fred Rogers Productions.

Almas Way follows the adventures of Alma Rivera, a confident and witty 6-year-old Puerto Rican girl living in the Bronx with her family.

The series focuses on Almas experiences and everyday challenges, allowing her to think through problems and come up with solutions. This thought process is a central theme of the show.

The primary message of Almas Way is to encourage critical thinking and problem-solving skills in young children. The show aims to promote cognitive and emotional development by modeling reflective thinking, celebrate cultural diversity and the importance of family and community, and empower children to voice their ideas and feelings and understand the value of their own and others perspectives.

Upon arrival at the Lexington Public Library, attendees were warmly greeted by Kim Rogers, senior communication specialist at Nebraska Public Media. Rogers provided an overview of the evenings events, distributing free materials such as stickers and coloring sheets to children.

The event officially commenced with welcoming remarks delivered by Lexington Public Library staff members and by Jessica Mitchell-McCollough, director of education for Nebraska Public Media.

Addressing the crowd in both English and Spanish, Mitchell-McCollough expressed her heartfelt gratitude to the community members for their participation.

The event was recorded by a filming crew from Nebraska Public Media for later broadcast distribution on television and the internet. Community members were informed that their participation implied consent to be recorded, with the understanding that Nebraska Public Media would use their images responsibly and respectfully.

The filming crew of the event featured production graphic specialist Kayla Solorzano, videographer/editor Sam Brodersen and audio engineer Ryan Messman.

Following the opening remarks, families enjoyed a free dinner featuring hot dogs and chips. The casual meal provided an opportunity for socializing and set a relaxed atmosphere for the activities that followed.

A highlight of the evening was the arrival of Alma from Almas Way. Almas presence delighted the children, who eagerly lined up to take a picture with her

For privacy reasons, Mitchell-McCollough informed the Clipper-Herald that the true identity of Alma cannot be disclosed to the public. However, Mitchell-McCollough emphasized the significant effort and dedication Alma has invested in organizing events for Nebraska Public Media.

The event featured several workshops, each designed to stimulate critical thinking and creativity in different ways.

Amy Cassner, early childhood education specialist for Nebraska Public Media, led a session that involved constructing towers using various types of paper. The challenge required children to build the tallest possible structure without using tape, glue or any strong adhesive.

Cassner encouraged parents and guardians to engage their children in critical thinking by asking probing questions about the building process. This activity not only fostered creativity but also promoted problem-solving skills and teamwork.

In another session, Matt Heusman, K-12 education specialist for Nebraska Public Media, guided children in creating pop-up maps using geometric shapes. Heusman encouraged participants to depict familiar locations such as their home, the library and their favorite stores.

By thinking creatively about their surroundings, children can develop awareness and artistic skills. Conversation starters provided by Heusman facilitated meaningful dialogue between parents and their children.

Linda Mitchell, a volunteer for Nebraska Public Media, led a workshop focused on making musical instruments from everyday materials like tape, cups and straws. Children were challenged to create instruments that could produce three or more distinct sounds or notes.

This hands-on activity not only sparked creativity but also introduced basic principles of sound and music. Adults were encouraged to discuss with their children the different types of instruments they enjoy and explore various ways to produce sounds.

In addition to the structured workshops, children could engage in free-form artistic activities. They could draw and color in the library hallway or create sidewalk art with chalk outside, taking advantage of the 70-degree weather.

Photo sessions with Alma were offered near the front entrance of the Lexington Public Library.

The events of the PBS Kids Family Fun Night were bolstered by the support of other individuals from Nebraska Public Media such as Molly Delaney, chief strategy officer, and Melanie Eirich, executive producer.

As the event drew to a close, Alma waved goodbye to the Lexington community. Speaking on her behalf in both English and Spanish, Mitchell-McCollough thanked the crowd for attending the event.
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.

There was no immediate comment from Chinese authorities about these 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.

Chinese 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 MDT/AP
Chinese Premier Li Qiang will visit New Zealand, Australia and Malaysia starting tomorrow, officials said.

Li will visit the three countries from June 13 to 20, a Chinese Foreign Ministry statement said yesterday.

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 Lis itinerary in their countries.

Lis 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 hasnt 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 nations 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.MDT/AP
Derek Hatton, the controversial deputy leader of Liverpool Council, has been thrown out of the Labour Party for belonging to the left-wing Militant faction.

Mr Hatton, who refused to attend his disciplinary hearing in London, condemned the move as disgraceful and scandalous.

Labour leader Neil Kinnock missed Prime Ministers Questions in the Commons to lead the charges against Mr Hatton at a meeting of the partys national executive, winning the vote to expel the radical socialist by 12 to six.

The decision came after a day of frantic legal attempts by Militant supporters to prevent the hearing from going ahead.

They failed, and the outspoken 38-year-old was found guilty of membership of the Militant Tendency and of manipulating the rules of the district Labour Party.

Speaking after the vote, Mr Kinnock said party members had a duty to uphold Labours constitution.

When it can be demonstrated that people are contradicting that constitution in serious forms then they have to be dealt with, he said.

But a defiant Mr Hatton insisted his expulsion would not be recognised by rank-and-file party members, and vowed to continue his fight against spending cuts in Liverpool.

Hundreds of thousands of people throughout the country are saying they are sick and tired of Neil Kinnock and other members of the national executive committee taking on socialists in the party, he said.

They are sick and tired of Neil Kinnock being more concerned about the millionaire tendency who control the press, than he is about the rank and file of the labour and trade union movement.

Further disciplinary hearings are due to take place, in what supporters of Militant are describing as a witch-hunt of socialists within the party.

Courtesy BBC News

In context

Militant, a faction inside the Labour Party advocating Trotskyist policies, emerged in the 1970s. In 1982 it was judged to have broken party rules, paving the way for the purge of 1986.

A year earlier Labour leader Neil Kinnock used his conference speech to launch a furious attack on Militant, and particularly Liverpool Council, which had clashed with the Conservative government over its budget.

Mr Kinnock feared the Labour-controlled council was harming the partys image and his attempts to win a general election.

After his explusion from Labour, Derek Hatton pursued a career in the media, hosting a Liverpool radio phone-in and appearing on various TV talk shows. He also became an after-dinner speaker and at one time even modelled menswear.
The Dragon Boat Festival holiday period saw a significant influx of visitors to Macau, according to the citys Public Security Police.

Between June 8 and June 10, 342,843 visitors entered Macau, representing a daily average of 114,280 arrivals.

June 9 saw the highest single-day visitor count, with 138,413 people arriving in the city.

June 10 was the actual Dragon Boat Festival public holiday, also known as Tuen Ng Festival, in Macau, Hong Kong and mainland China.

The local authorities did not provide any year-over-year comparison for the figures.

The Border Gate land crossing with neighboring Zhuhai in Guangdong province was the busiest entry point, accounting for 141,290 arrivals or 41.2% of the three-day total.

Another 80,086 visitors, or 23.4% of the total, crossed into Macau via the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge. HT
The impacts of excessive use of smartphones by the younger generations were debated at the Legislative Assembly (AL) yesterday.

By the initiative of the lawmaker Leong Sun Iok, the topic was brought to a plenary session solely dedicated to a Q&A between lawmakers and government officials.

In the inquiry, Leong said the excessive use of smartphones by young people is problematic and can result in an addiction that disturbs both their social and educational development.

Although noting that smartphones are considered a vital tool nowadays, Leong said, Society and those in charge of education pay a lot of attention to the physical and mental health of young people, especially the so-called Cyber-Natives who, with the widespread use of smartphones, have formed the habit of not letting go of their cell phones, ignoring the benefits of reading on paper, which has gone digital, and cell phone addiction is a danger to young peoples learning, life and health.

The lawmaker added that in addition to paying attention and carrying out studies to understand the influences of cell phone addiction on the learning and lives of young people, the government must implement the principle of giving priority to prevention and importance to education, defining measures to prevent young people from becoming addicted to their cell phones and having access to harmful information.

The Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture, Elsie Ao Ieong, said the Education and Youth Development Bureau (DSEDJ) is developing leaflets and other forms of communication to teach parents how to control what kind of content their children access via their cell phones, as well as to block certain types of content.

The Secretary also said mobile service operators in Macau can provide paid filtering services that parents can use to prevent their children from accessing unwanted content.

She said the DSEDJ is organizing a series of outdoor activities to boost young peoples interest in physical and recreational activities, to restrict the time they use their cell phones.

Lawmaker Leong found the Secretarys proposals too simple and ineffective noting that just to create leaflets and information disclosure will not make any difference.

He said the issue is very serious and can be aggravated in cases where the youngsters not only access harmful content but are also targets of threats and bullying.

Leong said the possibility of parents filtering their childrens access to content on the internet should not be a paid service; she wants the government to study the possibility of providing these services free of charge.

Ao Ieong said that if parents suspect their children are at risk of addiction, they should bring them to a hospital or healthcare center to seek professional advice on whether their children need to receive counseling.

After the insistence of several lawmakers on the same topic that spread the debate, the Secretary also said the DSEDJ is reviewing the local basic academic curriculum to include topics such as the correct use of the internet in subjects such as Moral and Civic Education as well as general knowledge of Information Technology to increase students internet literacy.

She said that when concluded, teaching staff should also attend training courses and receive guidance on how to proceed regarding matters related to the use of the internet.

Several lawmakers, including Jose Pereira Coutinho, noted that young people are using mobile phones to browse and acquire products and services and so are also subject to being targeted by scams and other problems.

Lawmakers noted that more than restricting or inspecting, the government should provide help to parents to educate their children on the risks of the internet.
The Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture, Elsie Ao Ieong has said that the government has been working hard to improve support to children with special needs and that this can be seen in the services provided by the recently opened Center for Jointed Pediatric Evaluation (CACP).

According to the Secretary, in response to two inquiries from lawmakers Ngan Iek Hang and Ma Io Fong at the Legislative Assembly, the Center has enabled a significant reduction of the waiting time for several services and particularly for a first evaluation appointment.

Currently, the waiting time for a first appointment at the CACP is about four weeks. After assessment, children in need will receive occupational therapy or speech therapy according to the clinical priority mechanism. For urgent cases there is no need to wait. For non-urgent and common cases, the waiting time for occupational therapy is around three to seven weeks and around eight to nine weeks for speech therapy, which represents a significant reduction in waiting time compared to 12 to 18 months before the creation of the CACP, Ao Ieong said.

She said the health bureau has been committed to further reducing waiting times for medical treatment by extending their opening hours, increasing services on weekends as well as by acquiring early intervention services from other non-profit institutions which can provide them immediately.

The Secretary also noted the development of speech therapy via Artificial Intelligence, a service launched a little over two years ago and which allows children to receive training at home with the help of their parents.

She said this system is already implemented in several institutions that provide early intervention to children in need and that offer 3,000 slots for child rehabilitation.

Until April this year, there were more than 1,600 children and more than 30,000 utilizations of this system, the same official said.

She also said that from the upcoming 2024-2025 academic year, the government will expand speech therapy services through the participation of parents and guardians together with the support of online language training and support measures to schools.

In the same academic year, she said the expected waiting time for physiotherapy or occupational therapy would be reduced from the current time of about six months to two to three months.
Authorities have busted a drug trafficking operation, seizing over 119 grams of methamphetamine and arresting two Filipino suspects.

The suspects, identified as Pene, 42, and Bagaan, 37, were caught smuggling the drugs from Hong Kong into Macau on June 10, according to the Judiciary Police (PJ).

Pene, a non-permanent resident with a job in animal husbandry, was found with 88.8 grams of meth hidden in his underwear. Bagaan, a non-resident cleaner, had 30.6 grams concealed on his person.

The bureau had received intelligence a Filipino drug trafficking group was operating in the area. An investigation led them to the two men, who had traveled to Hong Kong to purchase the narcotics for resale in Macau, primarily targeting the Filipino community.

The drug bust took a substantial amount of dangerous drugs off the streets and will help disrupt drug trafficking networks, protecting the community.

Both suspects have admitted to drug use and trafficking during questioning, though they have refused to provide further information. Urine tests confirmed the presence of methamphetamine.

Pene will be charged with drug trafficking and possession. Bagaan faces an additional charge of improper possession of drug paraphernalia. The case has been handed over to the Public Prosecutions Office.

Authorities said they will trace the source of the drugs and investigate any other individuals involved in the operation. Staff Reporter
Macaus Chief Executive, Ho Iat Seng, praised the exemplary nature of Sino-Portuguese relations and the Portuguese communitys unwavering support in driving the SARs economic development during a reception celebrating Portugal and Camoes Day Monday.

The event, hosted by Portuguese Minister of Justice Rita Judice Alarcao and Consul General Alexandre Leitao brought together top officials from Portugal, Macau and mainland China.

In his address, Ho highlighted the strong ties between Macau and Portugal as an exemplary model of cooperation and exchange between two countries with different social systems, historic backgrounds, and territorial dimensions.

He also noted the two sides have collaborated in each others development across various fields, including: trade, economy, scientific innovation, medicine, education and culture.

Ho emphasized the SARs economic diversification, which has already shown promising results, and expressed gratitude for the Portuguese communitys support and cooperation with the Macau SAR Governments initiatives.

The Portuguese Consul General, Alexandre Leitao, commended the Portuguese community for its law-abiding nature, high productivity, and significant contributions to economic development.

He noted the number of people with Portuguese nationality in Macau has increased, making the city an attractive destination for those seeking work and a better life.

The number of people with Portuguese nationality in Macau registered with the consulate has clearly increasedMacau continues to be an attractive city, where more and more people from outside come to work and enjoy life here to create more opportunities and invest, Leitao said.

Encouraging mutual cultural exchange in the two communities, he added, helps maintain a deeper understanding and appreciation that will preserve the unique cultural heritage of Macau.

The visiting Portuguese Minister of Justice, Rita Alarcao Judice, emphasized Lisbons commitment to supporting the Portuguese community in Macau and the importance it places on its relations with China and Macau. She expressed the desire to encourage more Portuguese to move to Macau and more Macau residents to visit Portugal.

The event marked the second ministerial-level visit by a member of Portugals new cabinet this year, following Economy Minister Pedro Reiss participation in the Forum Macau Ministerial Meeting in April.

The visit underscored the strong ties between Portugal and Macau.

Celebrations started at 9:30 a.m. with a ceremonial flag raising at the Portuguese Consulate, followed by the traditional pilgrimage to the Camoes Grotto, honoring Portugals national poet, before concluding with a reception in late afternoon.

This year, the celebration marks a significant milestone, as it is the 500th anniversary of Camoes birth.

PSD-MACAU DEMANDS LEITAOS RESIGNATION

The Macau section of the Social Democratic Party (PSD) has called for the resignation of Leitao amid the controversial saga of the Portuguese School of Macau.

The party has accused him of orchestrating an attack on the Portuguese School of Macau Foundation, involving members and supporters of the Socialist Party.

In a letter to Lusa signed by Antonio Sousa de Bessa Almeida, spokesperson for the PSD in Macau, the party called for the resignation before the celebration of Portugal Day, where the Portuguese Minister of Justice was present.

This comes after a wave of dismissals of several teachers was announced in recent weeks from the Portuguese school, which the PSD refused to believe is considered a normal operation.

The allegations also include innuendos about recently hired teachers who are friends and the girlfriend of the EPM director.

In this communication we repudiate the recent statements made by the consul general of Portugal in Macau and Hong Kong, Alexandre Leitao, former socialist councilor of Coimbra, to TDM regarding the falsehood that the bodies of the Portuguese School of Macau Foundation are functioning normally, also denouncing the brazen assault by socialists including Alexandre Leitao on the Portuguese School of Macau Foundation without mandate or instructions from the Government of Portugal.

Therefore, Alexandre Leitao must resign from the post of consul general of Portugal in Macau with immediate effect, remembering that the socialist era ended a few months ago, it added.

Over the weekend, the consul general has defended the school on internal hiring and restructuring allegations.

Speaking to TDM over the weekend, Leitao argued that there is a mandate for the Portuguese School of Macau Foundation, there are corporate bodies, they have the responsibility to make decisions and they are responsible for the results. When we get to the moment of analyzing the results, we will be here, in the appropriate place, to ask questions, ask about the results and make the assessment that needs to be made. Lynzy Valles & Nadia Shaw

AD most voted in European elections in Macau constituency

The Democratic Alliance (AD) emerged as the dominant political force in Macau during the European Elections, securing 31.33% of the votes. The center-right coalition, comprising of the Social Democratic Party (PSD), the Popular Party (CDSPP), and the Popular Monarchist Party (PPM), collectively received 172 votes.

Official data reveals that the Socialist Party came in second with 129 votes, accounting for 23.5% of the total.

The far-right Chega party secured the third position with 66 votes, equivalent to 12.02%.

The Liberal Initiative obtained 10.92% of the votes with 60 votes, while LIVRE (Free) and Bloco de Esquerda (Left Block) received 33 and 28 votes respectively, falling below the 10% threshold.

Out of the 549 voters, the Communist CDU obtained 24 votes (4.37%) and the PAN received five votes. Additionally, there were nine blank or invalid votes.

According to Lusa News Agency, Macaus electoral universe shrank by over 17,000 voters, compared to previous European elections.

Data provided to the Times by the Portuguese Consulate General in Macau shows that there are a total of 53,318 registered voters in Macau for this election. This poll marks the inaugural opportunity for voters worldwide to cast their votes at the Consulate, provided they are registered.

At national level, PS won the elections in Portugal, grabbing 8 seats at the European Parliament, one more than the ruling AD. (See p8)
Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni hosts this weeks summit of the Group of Seven industrialized nations as the most stable European Union leader.

Melonis German and French counterparts were shaken by European parliamentary elections that fortified Melonis far-right Brothers of Italy as the strongest in Italy, setting her up as a possible bridge maker, if not kingmaker, in Europe.

Melonis solid results create a rare stability in Italian politics, as far-right parties rattled both French President Emmanuel Macron, who called snap elections after his party was eclipsed by Marine Le Pens National Rally, and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, whose authority suffered a jolt after the far-right Alternative for German finished second, beating his Social Democrats.

I am proud that this nation presents itself at the G7, and in Europe, as the strongest government of all, Meloni told supporters early Monday. This is something that has never happened in the past, and which is happening now. It is a satisfaction, and also a great responsibility.

Though the leader of a far-right party, Meloni continues to hew to the center, particularly on foreign policy, which has made her a reassuring trans-Atlantic partner as wars rage in Ukraine and Gaza.

She will solidify the role this week, leading the G7 meeting in the southern Puglia region from June 13-15, focusing on global conflicts, the spread of AI and on Africa, with a view in particular to Italys longstanding concern about uncontrolled migration and human traffickers.

Meloni is the moderate face of this right-wing bunch, said analyst Matteo Villa of the IPSI think tank in Milan. Meloni is poised as a moderate center-right party now that has much consensus that can act as a bridge between the far right and the center right. Meloni is narrating herself as a much more moderate leader.

While Meloni won office with a campaign the promised a full naval blockade of charity ships rescuing migrants from drowning in the Mediterranean, Villa noted that she moderated her policy in office and has instead directed the rescue ships to northern ports far from the search-and-rescue area. Such a policy is still protested by charities but is far from a blockade.

These policies have changed, they have become more pragmatic, Villa said.

As a result, Meloni is winning support from voters that dont necessarily identify as far-right.

Brothers of Italy won 28.8% of the Italian vote in two days of polling in Italy that boosted their majority from national elections less than two years ago. The results also confirmed Melonis dominance in the governing coalition with right-wing anti-migrant Lega, led by Matteo Salvini, and the center-right Forza Italia party, led by Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani since founder Silvio Berlusconis death last year. Forza Italia won 9.6% of the vote, and Lega plunged to 9%.

The opposition Democratic Party also was strengthened, finishing with 24% of the vote and significantly narrowing the gap with Brothers of Italy. The result re-establishes the Democratic Party as the main opposition party, as the 5-Star Movement, which launched 15 years ago as a protest movement and headed the government in 2018-21, continued its downward trajectory to 10% of the vote.

We continue like a hammer every day to nail the Meloni government on social and wage issues that it ignores, PD leader Elly Schlein said Monday. Of course, we will do so by working stubbornly, in a united way, to build an alternative that this country needs to this right.

Giorgia Meloni, we are coming, Schlein said.

MACRONS PARTY DEBACLE

The surge of the far right in France in elections for the European Parliament was widely expected. What came next was not.

French President Emmanuel Macron called for a snap legislative election, saying he could not ignore the new political reality after his pro-European party was handed a chastening defeat and projected to garner less than half the support of Marine Le Pens National Rally.

He hopes that voters will band together to contain the far right in national elections in a way they didnt in European ones.

But Sundays decision to dissolve parliament and send to the polls voters who just expressed their discontent with Macrons politics was a risky move that could result in the French far right leading a government for the first time since World War II.

Macron, who has three years left on his second and final presidential term, would then have to find a way to work with a prime minister from a party that deeply opposes most of his policies.

Despite the rise of the far-right across the 27-union block, the majority of MEPs belong to the pro-European main groups of center-right (PPE) and center-left (S&D) that have been in charge of the EU since its establishment.

On the other hand, the 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. MDT/AP
The Judiciary Police (PJ) has arrested four suspects from mainland China for gang-related theft.

The suspects aged 38, 49, 57, and 50  all reportedly farmers from mainland China  allegedly targeted a male employee and his colleague in a meticulously planned street heist near a hotel in the central district, stealing a substantial amount of cash.

The incident occurred June 8 at approximately 5:30 p.m., when assailants with umbrellas attacked the two men near a hotel.

The victims were targeted as they made their way down the street, with the culprits using the opened umbrellas as a cover to execute their plan.

Despite failing to rob the victims on the spot, the criminals successfully pilfered MOP80,000 from the male employees right pocket as he entered the hotel.

Following a thorough investigation, the PJs Crime Scene Investigation Division apprehended the four suspects allegedly involved in the crime.

It is alleged the suspects had been closely tailing the victims before carrying out their plan.

The first suspect created a diversion while the second discreetly stole the cash.

On June 10, the investigation team located the suspects in the same room, seizing the umbrella allegedly used during the crime and recovering MOP17,000, RMB1,900 and HKD1,100.

The four suspects have refused to cooperate with the investigation, displaying a high degree of counter-surveillance skills.

They are known to operate as a criminal gang, employing a systematic approach to their criminal activities. The investigation team believes the gang targeted the victims on the street and in hotels, coordinating their actions and quickly dispersing after the successful execution of their plan.

Police are urging citizens and tourists to be vigilant and safeguard their personal belongings to avoid falling victim to similar crimes. They have encouraged anyone who witnesses suspicious activities or who suspects theft on the streets or in hotels to promptly report it.

The police have said the four suspects are uncooperative, hindering the investigation.

However, they will charge the suspects with organized crime and domestic theft and seek justice through legal proceedings.

As the investigation continues, the authorities are determined to trace the whereabouts of the stolen funds and will explore all possible avenues. Staff Reporter
A former chief justice of the Supreme Court of Canada is stepping down from Hong Kongs 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 Kongs 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.

Jonathan Sumption, who had served as a non-permanent overseas judge on Hong Kongs Court of Final Appeal, said that judges are being intimidated by a darkening political mood in the Asian financial hub in an article published by the Financial Times on Monday.

McLachlin and Sumption were the latest of several overseas judges who have quit Hong Kongs highest court in recent years.

The city government expressed its strong disagreement with Sumptions comments in a lengthy statement yesterday. It insisted the citys 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 Kongs 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 peoples 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.

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. MDT/AP
* Look whos talking!

 Lawmaker Song Pek Kei wants local teachers to go training abroad while demanding the govt allow non-resident students to enroll in Macau schools

* Events | Childrens art festival to feature over 45 activities

* Day of Portugal | Ho Iat Seng praises Portuguese communitys support

* Casino GGR to drop in June due to a combination of wet weather and the impact of Chinas university admission exams, Citigroup says

* Organized crime gang arrested for street heist

* Macau payload specialist selected for manned space mission

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Wednesday, June 12, 2024  edition no. 4500
The first Chinese Film Week in Iraq's semi-autonomous Kurdistan region kicked off Tuesday in Sulaymaniyah city, with nearly 100 representatives attending the opening ceremony.

Liu Jun, Chinese consul general in Erbil, said in his opening speech that the Chinese Film Week signified not only the deepening of cultural exchanges between China and Iraq, but also the enrichment of the strategic partnership between the two sides.

Governor of Sulaymaniyah Province Haval Abubakir said more and more people in the Kurdistan region wanted to learn more about China, its economic development, history, and culture, expressing hope that the Chinese Film Week would serve as a window for the people of the Kurdistan region to better understand China and promote people-to-people exchanges.

The Chinese Film Week, co-organized by the Chinese Consulate General in Erbil and China Movie Channel, and hosted by Kurdsat Broadcasting Corporation, is one of the cultural activities to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China.

During the event, five Chinese films will be shown, including Beginning Of the Great Revival, and The Bugle from Gutian.
First lady Jill Biden will return to Wisconsin on Thursday for a stop in Green Bay, where she will seek to drum up support from area seniors for President Joe Bidens re-election campaign heading into his November matchup with former President Donald Trump.

The first lady will attend a 1:30 p.m. event in Green Bay with local seniors, according to Bidens campaign. Additional details were not immediately available Wednesday.

Jill Bidens visit is part of the Biden-Harris campaigns push to engage senior voters across the country and draw a contrast between Biden and Trump on a range of issues important to older Americans.

Biden and Trump appear locked in a neck-and-neck matchup in the battleground state heading into the Nov. 5 election, according to a Marquette Law School poll released in April.

The poll showed 51% of respondents  including both registered and likely voters  backed Trump, while 49% supported Biden, well within the polls 4.8% margin of error.

Trump has visited the state twice so far this campaign cycle, while Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris and several surrogates have made multiple trips to Wisconsin this year. Biden and Harris have each visited the state four times this year.

Thursdays event will be the first ladys fourth trip to Wisconsin this year, following a May 31 visit to Milwaukees Festa Italiana. She was previously in Green Bay in February.

Where each Trump case stands Classified documents case Election interference Hush-money scheme Georgia election indictment Arizona election indictment Civil cases
Wisconsin attorney Jim Troupis, who was charged last week for his involvement in the effort to falsely report to Congress that Donald Trump won the states 2020 presidential election, has been suspended from a committee that advises judges on judicial conduct.

The Wisconsin Supreme Court on Tuesday temporarily suspended Troupis from the Judicial Conduct Advisory Committee  a little over a year into his second term, which runs through March 7, 2026.

The order does not indicate which justices supported the measure or provide a reasoning for Troupis suspension. Conservative Justice Rebecca Grassl Bradley did not participate in the decision, according to the order.

Troupis did not respond to requests for comment Tuesday.

The decision comes about a week after Democratic Attorney General Josh Kaul filed felony charges against Troupis, who represented Trump in a failed effort to overturn the states 2020 election results, for his involvement in the fake elector scheme, in which 10 Republicans signed official-looking documents on Dec. 14, 2020, seeking to award the states 10 electoral votes to Trump even though he lost the election.

Trump campaign adviser Kenneth Chesebro and Michael Roman, a former Trump campaign staffer and onetime White House aide, have also been charged in the state Department of Justice probe.

The charges were filed in Dane County Circuit Court. An initial appearance has been scheduled for Sept. 19. All three face one felony count punishable by up to six years of combined prison and extended supervision, and fines of up to $10,000.

Kauls complaint details communications between Troupis, Chesebro and Roman, as well as other unnamed individuals, between Nov. 17, 2020, and Jan. 6, 2021, when the unappointed electors attempted to deliver the document to then-Vice President Mike Pence. Pence refused to go along with the scheme, which occurred after Trumps advisers told the former president there was no evidence of widespread fraud in the 2020 election.

In March 2023, the state Supreme Courts then-four conservative justices  Bradley, Annette Ziegler, Patience Roggensack and Brian Hagedorn  approved Troupis reappointment to the committee. The courts three liberal justices  Ann Walsh Bradley, Rebecca Dallet and Jill Karofsky  dissented in that decision.

At the time, Dallet described Troupis as a divisive pick made by the courts then-conservative majority. Dallet declined to comment on the courts decision to suspend Troupis Tuesday.

The court has since shifted to a 4-3 liberal majority, with Justice Janet Protasiewicz joining the court last August after Roggensacks retirement.

Members of the nine-member advisory committee are limited to two successive three-year terms. The committee last rendered an opinion more than five years ago, in March 2019, according to the committees website.

The charge against Troupis prompted some liberal groups to repeat their call to have the former Dane County Circuit Court judge removed from the committee, which was created to render formal advisory opinions and give informal advice to judges and judicial officers governed by the Code of Judicial Conduct concerning the compliance of their contemplated or proposed conduct regarding the code, according to the Wisconsin courts website.

Mike Browne, deputy director of the liberal A Better Wisconsin Together, said Troupis suspension is another step forward in holding him and his fellow conspirators accountable for what they did.

Where each Trump case stands Classified documents case Election interference Hush-money scheme Georgia election indictment Arizona election indictment Civil cases
Metro Pacific Tollways Corp. aims to finalize the acquisition of a 35-percent stake in an Indonesian state-owned toll road operator by July.

The transaction is crucial to the planned merger with San Miguel Corp.s tollway business.

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What were waiting for there, the last major piece is the closing of the Trans-Java toll road because its big. So, from an evaluation standpoint, its important to us because its valuable, MPTC chairman Manuel Pangilinan said when asked about the planned merger with SMCs tollway business.

The deal with San Miguel is 50-50. So hopefully by July, it will be closed. Sign the definitive agreement. Then it will be part [of the negotiation with SMC], he said.

Pangilinan said SMC and MPTC are exchanging data, and the numbers are already formed. It will be done. Its just a question of time, he said.

MPTC chief finance officer Chris Lizo earlier said the estimated value of the 35-percent stake in the Jasamarga Transjawa Tol (JTT) that owns 13 toll roads is between $1 billion and $1.5 billion.

JTI has the largest connected toll road network in Java. It operates 13 toll sections spanning 676 kilometers.

MPTC teamed up with Singapore sovereign fund GIC for the acquisition of the stake in Jasamarga.

Under the proposed partnership, MPTCs Indonesian subsidiary will acquire 20.3 percent of the 35 percent to be purchased, while GIC will own 10.3 percent. MPTC-led PT Margautama Nusantara will take the remaining 4.2 percent.

GIC recently invested in MPTCs toll road unit in Indonesia, acquiring 33 percent.

MPTC also bagged a new concession project in Indonesia last year, which involves a 21.5-kilometer elevated toll road worth $1.4 billion.

The project will commence this month and will be completed by January 2028. It will have a concession life of 45 years.
Bogota, Colombia  Colombia said Tuesday some 12,000 security personnel will be deployed in October for the major UN biodiversity meeting in Cali, as the region faces a wave of guerrilla violence.

A total of 1,600 soldiers and 4,000 police will be sent to the city to join some 6,000 already deployed to fight guerrillas that have carried out a recent spate of bombings and gun attacks in the area, deputy defense minister Daniela Gomez told reporters.

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The city of Cali, associated with a particularly violent chapter of Colombias deadly drug conflict, is due to host the 16th meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP16) of the Convention on Biological Diversity from October 21 to November 1.

But a recent spate of attacks blamed on fighters of the Central General Staff (EMC)  a splinter group of the FARC guerrilla army which signed a peace deal with the government in 2016  has authorities on edge.

The EMC is estimated to have about 3,500 armed fighters involved in the drug trade and illegal mining, as well as fighting both the military and criminal groups competing for trafficking routes and territory.

Last month, officials said EMC militants opened fire and set off cylinder bombs at a police station in the town of Morales, some 100 kilometers (60 miles) from Cali, killing two officers and two detainees in a terrorist attack.

On the same day as the Morales assault, three children and a civilian adult were injured when a motorcycle laden with explosives was detonated in the nearby municipality of Jamundi.

We are very aware of the risks Various operations have been carried out in recent months to prevent these threats from materializing, said Gomez.

She added nearly half the armed personnel will be deployed in the Cali urban area for the conference.

Ana Maria Sanclemente, secretary for security of the Valle del Cauca department where the EMC is particularly active, said the military will carry out operations in the groups zones of influence ahead of the COP.

The event hopes to attract some 12,000 delegates and exhibitors from around the world, as well as heads of state, to one of the worlds most biodiverse countries.
Reverend Charles Brown, the papal nuncio to the Philippines, emphasized the importance of patient, serious dialogue and respect for international law to avoid a catastrophe of escalation during the traditional Independence Day reception inside Malacanang.

Brown, also the dean of the diplomatic corps, made his remarks before an audience of government officials and diplomats, including Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xilian.

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In this situation, if we want to make a world of safety and prosperity for our children, the way forward for all of us is the same path that has brought the hope of peace to the people of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), and that is the path of dialogue. Patient, serious, dialogue, he stated.

Together with a respect for international law and a respect for genuine diversity, engaging with others, in particular with those with whom we profoundly disagree, is the surest way of avoiding the catastrophe of escalation, Brown added.

Brown likened the ongoing geopolitical tensions between states in the Indo-Pacific region to the Cold War in the 1960s.

When President (Diosdado) Macapagal gave his speech in June of 1962 proposing the change of the date of the Independence Day of the Philippines, the world was experiencing dangerous polarization, which indeed came to a crisis point only a few months later in October of that year, said Brown.

Regrettably, our geopolitical situation in 2024 is not so different. The end of history did not arrive in the 1990s. History has continued, he stated

While he did not mention any countries, his comments come amid rising tensions between the Philippines and China over the West Philippine Sea.
While the Philippines actually falls under the Bean Beltan equatorial zone of the biggest coffee-growing countries in the worldit still lags behind the emergence of a revolutionary movement that reshapes the peoples connection to a cup of Joe.

Nevertheless, its not too late for this nation to firmly establish its own coffee culture, wherein majority, if not the entire populace, have a general knowledge and appreciation of this well-loved drink, coupled with their strong familiarity, exposure and use of available technologies in the market to make a cuppa.

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With this in mind, IAJ Wellness Corporation (IAJWC), the exclusive distributor of Breville in the Philippines, has officially signed up multi-awarded barista and famed content creator Vanessa Maclang Caceres as the countrys ambassadress of the leading small kitchen appliances brand from Australia.

Impressed by the rich and mature coffee culture of various countries, IAJWC President Cris Llamo dreams of replicating such trends locally, where Filipinos do not merely drink coffee but dive deep into the art and appreciation of its unique flavors and origins.

Hence, our partnership is aimed at raising more awareness on coffee culture and appreciation in the country, she said during their contract signing held recently in Makati City.

We want to be in the forefront of educating the people about Third Wave Coffee. Thats why we really want Vanessa to become our ambassadress because her vast knowledge of the industry will be of big help to elevate the peoples understanding of specialty coffee, added Elijah Marie Cortez-Flores, Food & Beverage (F&B) Business Unit Manager at Breville Philippines.

Breville Philippines PR Agency Partner CatPR Head Nadine Tan, Breville Philippines Food and Beverage (F&B) Business Unit Manager Elijah Marie Cortez-Flores, Breville Philippines Ambassadress Vanessa Maclang Caceres and and IAJWC President Ma. Cristina S. Llamo



Being an ambassadress, Ms. V (her online moniker) or Mamita (as fondly called by her colleagues) will mainly help promote the brands coffee category, plus other kitchen appliances through her social media contents. With her new role, she will also work closely with the brand in equipping the frontliners, which include promo merchandisers, with the most up-to-date knowledge about specialty coffee in order for them to effectively sell Breville products to customers.

Transfer of knowledge should not go wrong. We want to make sure that our people who interact with the customers are saying the right things about coffee and how best to enjoy it using Breville products. So its important to have somebody like Ms. Vanessa, whos been in the industry for a long time19 years to be exact. Theres a wealth of information and experience that we can learn from her, Llamo said.

Through her hands-on training, we also believe that we will be able to foster a deeper appreciation for Breville products, especially the espresso machine category, Flores added.

Elated by their confidence, Caceres is very thankful of their partnership. She quipped: Im happy that they trust me with this partnership. Im really grateful to train their frontliners and share my knowledge on Third Wave Coffee to other people.

Breville Philippines started to tap her in March 2023 for Womens Month using the Breville Bambino Plus. Little did she know that her first encounter with this small espresso machine would make her a firm believer and, eventually, ambassadress of the brand. She said: Its not like other similar products, wherein everyone can pull a shot of espresso. No one can do steamed milk that is much better than Breville.

What Caceres loves about the brand is its innovative wide array of products that do not only address the complications of coffee-making processes, but the whole kitchen concerns as well. Their designs go hand-in-hand with functionalities, befitting the requirement of each client.

Although Breville is positioned as a premium brand, its worth the investment given the endless possibilities it can do for the buyers. No wonder its now Vanessas constant kitchen companion.

Its really a part of my daily life. Once you have it in your kitchen, you cannot stop using it. Thats why you really get your moneys worth, she stressed.
Ethiopian authorities seek to borrow 3.5 billion dollars from the IMF and a similar amount from the World Bank to meet its hard currency needs, according to a UN report.

Negotiations are underway with the two financial institutions to secure the loan, which observers expect to be conditioned on currency reforms, The World Food Programme said in a report on currency reform and food security.

The issuance of this directive may be a step taken by the Ethiopian government to open up the economy to obtain loans from international financial institutions. This measure is considered as a way to ease to secure foreign exchange, reads the report.

Ethiopia has been negotiating with the IMF and bilateral creditors in a bid to restructure its existing external debt stock as well as secure fresh disbursements.

One of the alternatives to boosting the forex reserve and achieving the target is devaluing the Birr or floating the forex regime.

Devaluing the Birr may be part of the strategy to achieve these targets, and this may have implications on the food security of vulnerable people, states the WFP document.

It notes that the IMF, WB, and other experts are in favor of devaluation.
At the recent Cultural and Natural Heritage Day celebration in Beijing, multiple tourism routes featuring elements of intangible cultural heritage were unveiled, marking a collaborative effort between the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Culture and Tourism and the city's Tongzhou district.

These innovative routes aim to pique visitors' interest in intangible cultural heritage and the rich cultural tapestry of the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal region. By integrating intangible cultural heritage into tourist destinations, resorts and leisure areas, the initiative seeks to elevate the cultural significance and immersive experience of these spaces.

The event also featured a vibrant cultural fair showcasing intangible cultural heritage treasures from seven provinces and cities along the canal, such as the art of incense making from Hebei and intricate silk embroidery from Zhejiang, offering attendees a glimpse into the diverse and time-honored traditions along this historic waterway.
At least 80 civilians have been killed by suspected Islamic State-affiliated rebels in the Democratic Republic of Congos (DRC) North Kivu province in the space of a month, prompting renewed calls by local politicians for the government to make security a priority.

The Ugandas Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), which has pledged allegiance to the Islamic State, is blamed to be behind a series of attacks on villages in the restive North Kivu province The most recent attacks by the ADF in the Masala, Mapasana and Mahini villages between 4-7 May claimed another 41 lives, taking the total to around 80 civilians in the space of a month. The ADF mounts frequent attacks, forcing populations of entire entities flee their homes, thus further destabilizing a region where many militant groups, including the infamous M23 rebels, are active.

Amid mounting criticism of the DRC government for failing to deal with the quickly deteriorating security situation in the region, the Ministry of Communication and Media has vowed the countrys military would not stop until it tracked down the attackers and freed all the hostages taken by the rebels. The senator for North Kivu, Papy Machozi, said in a statement that the DRC government should make security a short-term priority to definitively resolve this suffering of innocent populations which has lasted too long.

Meanwhile, in a related but separate development, three Americans were reported to have appeared in a military court over last months botched coup attempt in the central African country, facing a number of charges, including terrorism, murder, and criminal association.
Malawis Vice President Saulos Chilima, aged 51, and nine other individuals lost their lives when the small military aircraft they were traveling in crashed in a mountainous area near Mzuzu, in the north of the country. President Lazarus Chakwera announced the discovery of the wreckage after an extensive search operation lasting more than 24 hours in dense forests and hilly terrain. The plane had been destroyed, and all on board were killed on impact.

The group was en route to attend a former government ministers funeral when air traffic controllers advised against attempting a landing at Mzuzus airport due to inclement weather and poor visibility. The plane disappeared from radar shortly after being asked to return to Lilongwe. The wreckage was eventually located in the Chikangawa Forest, south of Mzuzu.

Chilima and Chakwera had formed an unlikely alliance, challenging election results in court and winning the rerun election in 2019. However, recent tensions have emerged between the two leaders. Chilima had also faced corruption charges, which were dropped last month.

The search for the plane involved international assistance from the U.S., the U.K., Norway, and Israel, as well as neighboring countries Zambia and Tanzania. Malawi, one of the worlds poorest nations, is now mourning the loss of its vice president and the other victims of this tragic accident.
Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a Sudanese paramilitary group, attacked the main hospital in El Fasher, North Darfur, on Saturday, forcing the suspension of all medical activities at the facility. The attack, reported by Doctors Without Borders (MSF), involved RSF soldiers storming the hospital, opening fire, and looting vital medical supplies, including an MSF ambulance.

The South Hospital, a joint operation between MSF and the Ministry of Health, was the only facility in the region equipped to handle mass casualties and served as the primary referral hospital for treating war-wounded patients. It was also one of only two hospitals in El Fasher with surgical capacity. As a result of the attack, patients are being transferred to Paediatric and Saudi hospitals, which are unprepared for the sudden influx of patients.

MSF reported that most patients and the remaining medical team, including all MSF staff, managed to escape the violence. However, due to the chaos, they cannot confirm if there were any casualties. The hospital had already been targeted multiple times in the preceding weeks, resulting in two deaths and 14 injuries among patients and caretakers.

Michel Lacharite, MSFs Head of Emergencies, condemned the attack, stating that warring parties must halt attacks on medical care, as hospitals are closing and the remaining facilities are unable to handle mass casualties. The European Union also expressed its outrage at the assault, reminding the RSF to show restraint and respect International Humanitarian Law.

The attack on the hospital comes amid an ongoing civil war between the RSF and the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), which began in April 2023. The United Nations has reported that El Fasher hosts around 1.8 million people who are at imminent risk of famine, and the fighting has displaced nearly 130,000 people in April and May alone.
As Nigeria celebrates 25 years of democracy, the nation remains divided on the success of civilian rule. While the country has made progress since the end of military rule in 1999, many Nigerians are dissatisfied with the current state of affairs. A 2022 survey by Afrobarometer found that over three-quarters of respondents were not satisfied with democracy, primarily due to economic struggles and rising prices.

However, the majority still prefer democracy to any other system of governance, likely due to the painful memories of military rule that lasted for most of the period between independence in 1960 and 1999. The military regimes were characterized by oppression, economic collapse, and human rights violations.

President Bola Tinubu, in power for just over a year, faces the challenge of winning over young Nigerians who did not experience military rule firsthand. His economic reforms have led to rising prices, causing some to express a desire for a return to military rule on social media. However, the military leadership has stated that it has no interest in retaking power and is committed to protecting democracy.

While Nigeria has made progress in the past 25 years, many believe that more work needs to be done to strengthen democracy and ensure that it delivers benefits to the Nigerian people. For those who remember military rule, there is no choice  democracy, with its freedoms, is the only way forward.
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Cartoon summary of experiential age-associated DNA methylation programs that delineate longevity versus malignancy among T cells. Credit: Nature Aging (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s43587-024-00649-5

While most cell types experience a functional decline after years of proliferation and replication, T cells can proliferate seemingly indefinitely and without detriment.

Scientists at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital and the University of Minnesota investigated the unique 'epigenetic clock' of T cell aging, demonstrating that T cells can outlive an organism through at least four lifetimes. In addition, the researchers showed that healthy T cell age was uncoupled from the organism's chronologic age.

Furthermore, they determined that malignant T cells from pediatric patients with T cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) appeared to have aged up to 200 years. The findings were published in Nature Aging.

As researchers explore the process of cellular aging through repeat replicative cycles of growth, some peculiar patterns have emerged regarding T cells.

"The immune system by nature must mount a rapid proliferative response to a pathogen or a tumor," said co-corresponding author Ben Youngblood, Ph.D., St. Jude Department of Immunology. "And in some settings, such as endemic pathogens or chronic viral infections, this happens over and over again. That's a lot of proliferation that these T cells undergo in the lifespan of a human."

This raised the question as to why, despite these accelerated rates of proliferation, this immune response doesn't trigger cancer development.

The answer lies in a T cell's unique ability to defy aging.

Epigenetic markers offer more accurate metrics for age

To study this phenomenon, the researchers made use of specific biomarkers known as epigenetic markers that accumulate over time. Like counting the rings on a tree stump in a forest, this 'epigenetic clock' tells a retrospective story about the life cycle of a cell independent of the organism itself. The accumulation of genetic mutations, the shortening of telomeres (the protective caps on chromosomes) and methylation patterns are currently regarded as the most accurate ways to interrogate the process of aging.

The researchers saw this as an ideal way to investigate the curious case of T cell aging. "We started asking questions about what the hallmarks of aging are, specifically the epigenetic hallmarks, and how these can be applied to long-lived T cells," he said. "One of the big questions we had was whether these epigenetic clocks are bound by the lifespan of the organism or not."

Model shows T cells can outlive their origin organism

Through a collaboration with co-corresponding author David Masopust, Ph.D., University of Minnesota, the researchers found the perfect model to address their questions. This model used the same line of T cells through several mouse life cycles.

"Dr. Masopust started this model assuming the cells would eventually decline, but they didn't, they just kept going," explains Youngblood. "This led to his foundational 10-year mouse study which we subsequently used to address whether organismal lifespan limits constrain epigenetic clocks."

Using this model and an epigenetic clock they developed for T cells, the researchers explored the DNA methylation patterns of T cell lineage. They found that age is just a number, and death is not the end.

"Humans don't live forever. But in this case, we could test that concept for T cells," Youngblood said. "Is there an end to an epigenetic clock? Does it plateau? And it didn't for up to four lifetimes, it just kept counting, which was incredible. These cells are not bound by the reasonable limits of organism lifespan."

Cancerous T cells appear hundreds of years old

Next, the researchers determined what happened under conditions of rapid and prolonged proliferation such as in cancer. The team interrogated the T cells of patients with pediatric T-ALL to investigate what happens to their epigenetic clock.

"If epigenetic clocks were linked to the host's chronologic age, then you would expect the T cells from pediatric T-ALL patients to appear young in age," said co-corresponding author Caitlin Zebley, MD, Ph.D., St. Jude Department of Bone Marrow Transplantation & Cellular Therapy. "But our clock predicted these cells to be very old."

From an experiential perspective, the T cells of T-ALL patients appeared to range from 100 to 200 years old. "We think this was related to the fact that they were proliferating so rapidly," Zebley concluded. The T-ALL model offered invaluable insight into the aging process of leukemia cells.

"We were able to use this as a subtraction model from all other programs in leukemia to identify ones that are associated with normal aging and proliferation versus ones that are distinct to leukemia," Youngblood said. "We gained a better idea of which epigenetic programs are associated with leukemia and which are just normal hyperproliferation and aging."

T cell survival is vital to our survival

Considering how active our immune system is, T cell survival is vital to our overall survival. "T cells have so many opportunities to turn cancerous," Youngblood said, "But they can't, otherwise humanity wouldn't exist."

Youngblood, Zebley and Masopust are continuing to study the checks and balances that prevent T cells from undergoing malignant transformation. Through this work, potential therapies that halt, or even reverse, age-related impairments can begin to be considered.

More information: Tian Mi et al, Conserved epigenetic hallmarks of T cell aging during immunity and malignancy, Nature Aging (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s43587-024-00649-5 Journal information: Nature Aging
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An outbreak of mpox has killed one person and infected four more in South Africa, the government said on Wednesday, adding it was trying to secure more treatment drugs as a precaution.

The five cases, reported between May 8 and June 7, were the first recorded in the country since 2022, Health Minister Joe Phaahla told reporters.

"One death is too many, especially from a preventable and manageable disease," Phaahla said, urging those with suspected symptoms to seek medical attention and help trace contacts.

Previously known as monkeypox, mpox is a viral illness transmitted through close contact with infected humans or animals, as well as via materials such as contaminated sheets.

The disease causes painful and scarring lesions, principally to the face, anus and genitals.

Common symptoms include a skin rash, fever, headache, muscle aches and swollen lymph nodes, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

Mpox was first discovered in humans in 1970 in the Democratic Republic of Congo, with the spread since then mainly limited to certain West and Central African nations.

But in May 2022, infections surged worldwide, mostly among men who have sex with men, leading the WHO to declare it a global health emergency.

The UN agency ended the alert last year but low-level transmission of mpox continues across the world.

More than 97,000 cases and 186 deaths were reported across 117 countries in the first four months of 2024, according to the WHO.

Phaahla said that all those recently infected in South Africa were men in their 30s.

Their cases were classified as severe. Two remain in hospital, he said.

"Our intention is to obtain a stockpile of Tecovirimat treatment for rapid deployment in case the current situation leads to a wider outbreak," Phaahla said, referring to an antiviral drug.

 2024 AFP
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A new study published in the International Journal of Nursing Studies showed that individuals with COVID-19 were more likely to die in hospitals that were chronically understaffed before the pandemic. This study is one of the first to document the continuing public health dangers of permitting so many U.S. hospitals to ration nursing care by understaffing nursing services.

The study, conducted by researchers at the Center for Health Outcomes and Policy Research (CHOPR) at the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing (Penn Nursing) explains why rates of COVID-19 mortality varied across U.S. hospitals.

"In 2020, roughly one in three individuals who were hospitalized with COVID-19 died within 30 days of admission. Our study found that individuals' likelihood of surviving was related to hospitals' investments in nursing services prior to the pandemicin terms of hiring sufficient numbers of RNs, employing nurses with bachelor's educational preparation, and sustaining favorable work environments," said lead author Karen Lasater, Ph.D., RN, Associate Professor, the Jessie M. Scott Term Chair in Nursing and Health Policy.

The researchers studied the outcomes of over 87,000 Medicare patients admitted with COVID-19 from April-December 2020 in 237 general acute care hospitals in New York and Illinois. They found that:

Patients with COVID-19 admitted to hospitals with better nurse staffing prior to and during the COVID-19 pandemic were more likely to survive. Each additional patient a nurse typically cared for in their hospital prior to the pandemic was associated with 20% higher odds of patients dying in their hospital during the pandemic.

Patients in hospitals with higher proportions of bachelors-prepared registered nurses had 8% lower odds of dying.

More favorable nurse work environments and Magnet designated hospitals were also associated with lower odds of dying.

"These findings demonstrate that hospital nursing resources are a cornerstone of public health emergency-preparedness that need to be well-funded in usual times in order for hospitals to be prepared for emergencies like the next pandemic," said senior author Linda Aiken, Ph.D., RN, Professor of Nursing and Founding Director of CHOPR.

"It is in the public's interest to establish state and federal policies that guarantee a minimum safe standard of hospital nurse staffing at all times," said Lasater. "Our team's work shows that U.S. hospitals were already chronically understaffed prior to the pandemic and staffing worsened during the pandemic."

The study projected that if hospitals had been staffing nurses at an average of 4 patients per nurse on medical-surgical units prior to the pandemic (rather than the observed average of 5.6 patients per nurse), thousands of deaths following COVID-19 hospitalizations may have been prevented. These research findings coincide with policy initiatives in both study states (New York, Illinois) that would require hospitals to staff enough nurses to safely care for patients.

Other recent publications by the Center for Health Outcomes and Policy Research, University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing show that:

Establishing minimum hospital nurse staffing standards is in the public's interest.

Poor hospital nurse work environments pre-dated the pandemic and were strongly associated with nurse burnout and intent to leave their employer.

The study was carried out by the Center for Health Outcomes and Policy Research at the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing.

More information: Karen B. Lasater et al, Hospital nurse staffing variation and Covid-19 deaths: A cross-sectional study, International Journal of Nursing Studies (2024). DOI: 10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2024.104830
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People with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) tend to have different trajectoriesboth in how the disease evolves, and how disease states may improve over time. The frequency of pain patterns at diagnosis and over timeand their relationship with inflammationalso represents a gap in our knowledge. EULARThe European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatologyrecommends early identification and management for people with early arthritis. But understanding disease evolution and its influencing factors is important to identify opportunities to improve management and patient outcomes.

The 2024 EULAR congress in Vienna included a clinical abstract session focusing on pain and prognosis in RA, where two groups presented their research into ways to characterize early RA.

The first looked at dissecting early RA patient trajectories through time-independent disease state patterns of inflammation in blood or joints. Presenting the work, Nils Steinz said, "Previous studies have identified smooth time trajectories of rapid, slow, or no progression of disease activity, assessed through DAS28. In real life, we observe more chaotic disease evolvementsand particularly the detours could indicate a lack of adequate treatment."

To address this, the researchers set out to discern trajectories of disease states of early RA over 1.5 years from the first outpatient clinic visit in real-world data from 1,237 patients with 5,017 visits to the Leiden rheumatology outpatient clinic. This was achieved using pseudo-time graph-based analyses of clustered visit data. Subsequently, patient trajectories were identified using a matching algorithm. To validate the findings, the pipeline was applied to data from the TACERA cohort, representing 244 patients with early seropositive RA.

The results showed eight disease states, with swollen and tender joint count, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), and leukocytes as the major discriminating factors. One cluster was the clinically optimal disease state with the least inflammation overall. The sequence of disease states experienced by patients was grouped together to form four distinct trajectories.

Some people had high ESR clusters at start and end. Others showed rapid progression towards the ideal cluster, no disease activity. The third group transitioned through a high leucocyte state, and the fourth were classed as poor prognosis. In the TACERA analysis, the team found similar clusters and trajectories. These revealed interesting differences in age, gender, and serostatuseven though these variables were not included in the clustering.

The differences were not driven by inclusion date, follow-up duration, symptom duration, or time to methotrexate initiation. But with the exception of the people with high ESR clusters at start and end, the trajectories could not be predicted by baseline variables.

These trajectories draw a more granular picture than previously described, and show early RA patients stranded in suboptimal disease states, with inflammation and poor response the main discriminatory factors. This approach provides insights into opportunities for improving care, such as more intensive treatment at an earlier stage. Work is ongoing, and the next step will be to characterize the immune profiles of the different disease states, and discern the impact of treatment decisions.

The second work also looked at patterns, but with a focus on non-articular painan issue which is common in early RA, and associated with lower remission rates. "Understanding common phenotypes of regional non-articular pain and the role of RA-related joint inflammation could help better personalize RA care," said Charis Mengpresenter of the work from the Canadian Early Arthritis Cohort Study.

Data from 392 early RA patients were used to describe common non-articular pain presentations around the time of early RA diagnosis, as well as evolution over the first year of treatment, and associations with active inflammation. Prespecified pain patterns were classified based on non-articular pain reported in the four body quadrants and axial region, excluding hands and feet, and grouped as no pain, regional, or widespread. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize the frequency and evolution of different patterns at baseline and over a 12-month follow-up.

Over half of patients reported prevalent non-articular pain at baseline, of which nearly three-quarters were classed as regional. The most frequent patterns were axial (34%), pain in both upper quadrants (20%), and both lower quadrants (10%). Of those with prevalent regional pain, it persisted or worsened in 42% over 1 year. But for those with prevalent widespread pain, 73% resolved or improved to a regional pattern.

Joint inflammation tended to be more frequently reported in corresponding locations with non-articular pain, and often persisted over follow-up. These findings suggest that non-articular pain is common in early RA and throughout the first year after diagnosis. The significantly higher frequency of tender or swollen joints within most areas of non-articular pain over time suggests RA activity may be a contributing factor

More studies are needed, but early intervention to prevent and treat non-articular pain in early RA is recommended.

More information: N. Steinz et al, OP0018 Dissecting early RA patient trajectories through time-independent disease state identification identifies distinct patterns dissected by inflammation in blood or joints, Scientific Abstracts (2024). DOI: 10.1136/annrheumdis-2024-eular.1512 C. Meng et al, OP0064 Characterizing Prevalent Non-Articular Pain at Early RA Diagnosis and Evolution Over the First Year of RA Treatment: Results from the Canadian Early Arthritis Cohort Study, Scientific Abstracts (2024). DOI: 10.1136/annrheumdis-2024-eular.5946

Provided by European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology (EULAR)
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One of the big headlines from a major scientific meeting recently: The HPV vaccine not only prevents cervical cancer but reduces the risk of multiple other cancers and even pre-malignant lesions.

Researchers reported that they followed 1.7 million females and males who received the HPV vaccine between 2010 and 2023 as either children or young adults.

It was already known that the HPV vaccine can potentially prevent more than 90% of HPV-related cancers in womenmost often cervical cancerand now scientists have discovered a 50% risk reduction in all HPV-associated cancers in men, including head and neck cancers.

Data from the latest groundbreaking study at the American Society of Clinical Oncology annual meeting was the first to show a significant benefit for men to prevent oropharyngeal cancer (throat, tonsils, back of the tongue) for which there is no screening.

A nationwide goal is to have 80% of teens vaccinated against HPV by 2030. Currently, however, in the U.S., just below 63% of adolescents ages 13 to 17 are up to date on this vaccine. New York state is slightly higher at 69%.

What is the HPV vaccine? Who should get it? And what is being done to address immunization challenges?

Cynthia Rand, MD, MPH, division chief of General Pediatrics at UR Medicine's Golisano Children's Hospital and a member of the Wilmot Cancer Institute, is studying how to boost immunizations.

"There is a need to get the word out about this vaccine," Rand said. "It's very effective and very safe, and it prevents cancer."

What Is the HPV vaccine?

The vaccine prevents infection of several HPV subtypes, including HPV-16 and HPV-18, which causes 70% of cervical cancer as well as other cancers in the genital area, and more rarely, in the throat or tongue.

Known as Gardasil 9, the vaccine is a series of either two or three shots available to all children. It works best before exposure to an HPV infection. Doctors recommend starting the immunizations before the teenage years.

Australia, which has among the highest vaccination rates in the world, gives children the vaccine through public health services and in schools, Rand said, adding, "Australia is well on their way to eliminating cervical cancer."

Scientists at the University of Rochester made pivotal research contributions to the pioneering vaccine, which was first recommended in 2006 for females and in 2010 for males.

Why do young children need to get the HPV vaccine?

The simple answer is that the immune response is better at a younger age. When a child's body makes antibodies against HPV infection, it provides the strongest long-lasting protection.

The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests starting the vaccine between ages nine and 12.

Some physicians and parents, however, are concerned about talking to younger children about sex in connection with the vaccine. Skin-to-skin intimate contact spreads HPV infections. Because of that and for other reasons, many children are vaccinated between ages 13 and 17.

But the vaccine is not as effective if someone has already acquired an HPV infection.

"We find that by focusing on a message about cancer prevention, it removes the discussion about age," Rand said. "I really want people to be vaccinated before they are even thinking about having sex."

Can older teens and young adults benefit from the HPV vaccine?

Sexually active people in their teens and 20s transmit HPV infections. Evidence shows that most individuals will get HPV during that period, but many will have no symptoms and may not know they have an infection. Only a relatively small percentage of people will go on to develop cancer.

Researchers have studied vaccine effectiveness for people up to age 45, and so far, it appears to be beneficial for some.

The U.S. Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommends that people up to age 26 who did not receive the vaccine earlier should still get it. Adults ages 27 to 45 should discuss the vaccine with their doctors, as certain populations are more likely to benefit than others. Learn more.

Why are HPV vaccination rates lower than desired?

Vaccine hesitancy in the U.S. is a problem, despite compelling evidence that the HPV vaccine is safe and effective, Rand said.

Factors in recent years that caused a decline in vaccination rates, according to Rand:

The COVID pandemic resulted in fewer visits to doctor's offices for routine services, including pediatric immunizations.

Misinformation about the COVID vaccine flowed to other vaccines.

Some people lack trust in medical providers and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Despite the lag time required to study HPV-related cancer incidence and outcomes, researchers can compare data from the pre-vaccine era to more recent years. When they do, Rand said, rates of HPV infections have declined dramatically in vaccinated young women, and scientists are seeing reductions in HPV-related pre-cancers as well.

How to increase HPV vaccinations

To better understand obstacles from the perspective of medical providers, Rand and her research team interviewed 20 people at pediatric and family medicine practices and studied 150 surveys that had been distributed throughout a 16-county region in Rochester and central and western New York.

They learned, for example:

It is important to have a clearly defined vaccine champion in the primary care office.

A vaccination reminder via electronic medical record would help.

It may be most effective to have a lead doctor issue standing orders for the HPV vaccine, like they do with flu vaccines, so that nurses can give the shot when a child comes in for another required vaccine for school.

Staffing shortages and being too busy can be a barrier to implementing something new.

In December 2024, Rand said, her group will begin to test interventions designed to improve vaccine uptake. These include using standing orders and training modules to help providers communicate with patients about the HPV vaccine and answer questions from patients and families.

"There is work to do, but in general, primary care physicians, nurses, and staff are motivated to improve upon vaccine rates," Rand said.

More information: Jefferson DeKloe et al, Effects of HPV vaccination on the development of HPV-related cancers: A retrospective analysis of a United States-based cohort., Journal of Clinical Oncology (2024). DOI: 10.1200/JCO.2024.42.16_suppl.10507 Journal information: Journal of Clinical Oncology
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Model of sex-dependent regulation of organismal aging in vertebrates by germ cells. Credit: Osaka University

Women live longer than men. This isn't unique to humans, either; we see this trend in a wide range of other animals. Biologists have theorized that the discrepancy in life expectancy between sexes might be partly related to reproduction, but how?

In a study published in Science Advances, researchers from Osaka University have discovered for the first time that germ cells, the cells that develop into eggs in females and sperm in males, drive sex-dependent lifespan differences in vertebrate animals.

The researchers examined aging in the turquoise killifish, a small, fast-growing freshwater fish with a lifespan of only a few months. As in humans, female killifish live longer than males. However, when the researchers removed the germ cells from these fish, they found that males and females had similar lifespans.

"After removing the germ cells, male killifish lived longer than usual and female lifespans became shorter," explains lead author Kota Abe. "We wanted to understand how germ cells could affect males and females so differently. Our next step was to investigate the factors responsible."

The team found that hormonal signaling was very different in females than in males. Female killifish without germ cells had significantly less estrogen signaling, which can shorten lifespan by increasing cardiovascular disease risk. The females also had significantly more growth factor signaling (insulin-like growth factor 1). This made the females grow larger while also suppressing signals within the body important for maintaining health and slowing aging.

Germ-cell-removal shortens the lifespan in females, but extends that in males.(A) Germ-cell-removed turquoise killifish and their gonads. (B) Lifespan of germ-cell-removed animals. Credit: 2024 Ishitani et al., Sex-dependent regulation of vertebrate somatic growth and aging by germ cells., Science Advances

Treatment of vitamin D extends the lifespan in both sexes. Credit: 2024 Ishitani et al., Sex-dependent regulation of vertebrate somatic growth and aging by germ cells., Science Advances

In contrast, male killifish without germ cells had improved muscle, skin, and bone health. Interestingly, these fish had increased amounts of a substance that activates vitamin D, as well as evidence of vitamin D signaling in their muscles and skin.

Vitamin D can also be considered a hormone; while well known for keeping bones strong and healthy, it also seems to have wider positive effects throughout the body. The team's results pointed to the possibility that vitamin D can improve longevity, leading them to test whether a vitamin D supplement could increase the lifespan of the fish.

"When we administered active vitamin D, we found that the lifespans of both males and females were significantly extended, suggesting that vitamin D signaling provides health benefits throughout the body," explains senior author Tohru Ishitani.

"Our work suggests that vitamin D signaling could influence the longevity of other vertebrates, including humans."

The discovery that germ cells affect male and female longevity in opposing ways is an important clue in unraveling the mysterious interactions between reproduction, aging, and lifespan. It's unclear exactly how vitamin D fits into this puzzle, but it could be part of future strategies to extend healthy lifespans.

More information: Kota Abe et al, Sex-dependent regulation of vertebrate somatic growth and aging by germ cells, Science Advances (2024). DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adi1621. www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.adi1621 Journal information: Science Advances
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.
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Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

New work presented at the 2024 congress of EULARThe European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatologyassesses the power of multi-modal analysis of synovial tissue inflammation in treatment-naive patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The hope is to identify predictive biomarkers for treatment response.

The synovial tissue inflammation seen in RA shows a high degree of heterogeneitywhich may be a factor in people's variable response to treatments. We also know that distinct synovial tissue macrophage subsets regulate inflammation and remission in rheumatoid arthritis. The potential of high-throughput analyses has been shown, and these technologies can help dissect disease heterogeneity and identify novel biomarkers that could be used in prognosis.

To explore this further, 373 treatment-naive RA patients were enrolled and given an ultrasound-guided synovial tissue biopsy. The synovitis degree and synovial pathotype were then determined for each individual. A subset of 45 samples was used for synovial tissue macrophage phenotyping and profiling in order to measure the abundance of distinct macrophage populations. Moreover, the transcriptomic profile of CD68pos cells in distinct regions of interest within the synovial tissue was determined using spatial technology. After study entry, patients were managed with a treat-to-target strategy.

The findings showed that those patients who reached disease remission at 6 months had lower Krenn Synovitis Score (KSS) at baseline compared to people who did not achieve this outcome. People who had been stratified based on synovial pathotype as lympho-myeloid or diffuse-myeloid pathotype had a lower response to conventional synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (csDMARD) compared to people with a pauci-immune pathotype. However, further analysis suggested that at an individual level, baseline KSS has limited capacity to distinguish between responders and non-responders, which highlights the need for multi-modal tissue deconvolution.

Flow cytometry analysis revealed that those with lympho-myeloid or diffuse-myeloid pathotypes showed comparable enrichment of two distinct synovial tissue macrophage populations (MerTKposCD206pos and MerTKnegCD206neg), while patients with the pauci-immune pathotype showed a predominance of MerTKposCD206pos. The enrichment of MerTKposCD206pos synovial tissue macrophages was also higher in people who achieved remission at 6 months. Notably, enrichment of these MerTKpos synovial tissue macrophages greater than 44.3% from baseline was shown to be an independent factor associated with achieving remission at 6 months.

Digital spatial profiling of synovial tissue biopsies revealed differential gene networks activating the macrophages in distinct tissue locations. This method was also able to identify transcriptomic signatures of synovial tissue macrophages in the lining and sublining location that were associated with response to csDMARD. Integration of sequencing and transcriptomic data resulted in the group being able to map synovial tissue macrophage clusters and stratify them based on treatment response.

Such multi-modal analysis of synovitis could enable differentiation of treatment-naive RA patients at their first medical evaluation, and the data strongly support the predictive value as a patient-based decision test tool.

More information: S. Alivernini et al, OP0062 Multi-modal analysis of synovial tissue macrophages informs on treatment response in naive to treatment Rheumatoid Arthritis, Scientific Abstracts (2024). DOI: 10.1136/annrheumdis-2024-eular.2383

Provided by European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology (EULAR)
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Credit: CC0 Public Domain

Ubiquitous wearable technologies, like smartwatches, could help researchers better understand progressive neurological disorders like Parkinson's disease and speed up the approval of new therapies, a critical need given that no drugs exist to slow progression of the world's fastest growing brain disease.

New research appearing in the journal npj Parkinson's Disease adds to growing evidence that widely used and user-friendly consumer devices, in this instance an Apple Watch paired with an iPhone, can detect changes in Parkinson's symptoms over time in individuals in the early stages of the disease.

"Digital measures hold the promise to provide objective, sensitive, real-world measures of disease progression in Parkinson's disease," said Jamie Adams, MD, an associate professor of Neurology at the University of Rochester Medical Center, the Center for Health and Technology, and lead author of the study.

"This study shows that data generated by smartwatches and smartphones can remotely monitor and detect changes in multiple domains of the disease. These digital assessments could help evaluate the efficacy of future therapies."

"On behalf of Critical Path Institute, we are delighted to see the astounding progress of this unique project," said Diane Stephenson, Ph.D., executive director of Critical Path for Parkinson's consortium and co-author of the study.

"The early and often feedback from regulators have shaped this study in ways that now can link the clinical meaningfulness of symptoms measured by digital health technologies to the voice of people with lived experience. By partnering with patients, regulators, industry, and academic experts, this project is serving as a precedent for other disease areas to follow."

Parkinson's is a complex disease, and the onset and severity of symptoms and progression varies widely from patient to patient. Traditional tools employed to track the disease are often subjective and collect information episodically during clinic visits. As a result, these tools do not adequately portray the day-to-day experience of individuals with Parkinson's, limitations that have contributed to the slow pace of new therapies.

In contrast, smartwatches and smartphones can passively monitor many of the symptoms of the disease, such as gait and tremor. Additional information can be collected through tasks such as finger tapping and voice recording to measure speech-related symptoms.

Adams and her colleagues recently demonstrated the devices could detect differences between individuals with early, untreated Parkson's and age-matched controls.

In the new study, called WATCH-PD, the researchers followed participants with early-stage Parkinson's for 12 months.

Over the course of the year, the data collected by the devices showed that participants with early Parkinson's experienced significant declines in measures of gait, an increase in tremor, and modest changes in speech. The smartwatch was able to detect decreases in arm swing, a common clinical feature of the disease, and activity in the form of the number of daily steps. The progression of symptoms in individuals in the study was consistent with other long-term studies of the disease.

The study was designed to replicate a multi-center clinical trial in individuals with early and untreated Parkinson's disease and involved the participation and input from the pharmaceutical industry, regulators, investigators, and individuals with disease. The WATCH-PD study has recently been extended and will follow participants for an additional 18 months.

"This study brings us closer to having meaningful digital measures for future use in Parkinson's clinical trials, which may speed up therapeutic development and get treatments to our patients faster," said Adams.

More information: Using a Smartwatch and Smartphone to Assess Early Parkinson's Disease in the WATCH-PD Study12 month results, npj Parkinson's Disease (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41531-024-00721-2 Journal information: npj Parkinson's Disease
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Mutations are changes in the molecular "letters" that make up the DNA code, the blueprint for all living cells. Some of these changes can have little effect, but others can lead to diseases, including cancer. Now, a new study introduces an original technique, called HiDEF-seq, that can accurately detect the early molecular changes in DNA code that precede mutations.

The authors of the study, published in Nature, say their techniqueHiDEF-seq, short for Hairpin Duplex Enhanced Fidelity Sequencingcould advance our understanding of the basic causes of mutations, in both healthy cells and in cancer, and how genetic changes naturally accumulate in human cells as people age.

Led by a team of researchers at NYU Langone Health, with collaborators across North America and in Denmark, the work helps to resolve the earliest steps in how mutations occur in DNA.

The new study is based on the understanding that DNA is made up of two strands of molecular letters, or bases. Each strand is composed of four types of letters: adenine (A), thymine (T), guanine (G), and cytosine (C). The bases of each strand pair with bases in the other strand in a specific pattern, with As pairing with Ts and Gs pairing with Cs. This allows the DNA code to be replicated and passed down accurately from one generation of cells to the next.

Importantly, mutations are changes in the DNA code that are present in both strands of DNA. For example, a base pair of G and C, with a G on one strand paired with a C on the other strand, can mutate to an A and T base pair.

However, researchers say, most mutations have their origins in DNA changes that are present in only one of the two DNA strands, and these single-strand changes, such as a mismatched G and T base pair, cannot be accurately identified using previous testing techniques.

These changes can occur when a DNA strand is not copied correctly during replication, as a cell divides into two cells, or when one of the two DNA strands is damaged by heat or by other chemicals in the body. If these single-strand DNA changes are not repaired by the cell, then the changes are at risk of becoming permanent double-strand mutations.

The HiDEF-seq technique was shown to detect double-strand mutations with extremely high accuracy, with an estimate of one recording error per 100 trillion base pairs analyzed. Moreover, HiDEF-seq detected changes in the DNA letter code while they were present on just one of the two strands of DNA, before they become permanent double-strand mutations.

"Our new HiDEF-seq sequencing technique allows us to see the earliest fingerprints of molecular changes in DNA when the changes are only in single strands of DNA," said senior study author Gilad Evrony, MD, Ph.D., a core member of the Center for Human Genetics & Genomics at NYU Grossman School of Medicine.

Because people with genetic syndromes linked to cancer are known to have higher rates of mutations in their cells than cells in people with no cancer predisposition, researchers began their experiments by describing the DNA changes in healthy cells from people with these syndromes.

Specifically, investigators worked with healthy cells from people with polymerase proofreading-associated polyposis (PPAP), a hereditary condition linked to an increased risk for colorectal cancer, and congenital mismatch repair deficiency (CMMRD), another hereditary condition that increases the likelihood of several cancers in children.

Using HiDEF-seq, researchers found a higher number of single-strand DNA changes in their cells, such as a T paired with a C in place of the original G paired with a C, than in the cells from people who did not have either syndrome. Moreover, the pattern of these single-strand changes was similar to the pattern observed in the double-strand DNA mutations for people with either syndrome.

Subsequent experiments were performed in human sperm, which are known to have among the lowest double-strand mutation rates of any human cell type.

Researchers found that the pattern of chemical damage, called cytosine deamination, observed by HiDEF-seq in single stands of DNA in sperm, closely matched the damage observed in blood DNA intentionally damaged by heat. This, the researchers say, suggests that the two patterns of chemical damage to DNA, one natural and the other induced, occur through a similar process.

"Our study lays the foundation for using the HiDEF-seq technique in future experiments to transform our understanding of how DNA damage and mutations arise," said Evrony, who is also an assistant professor in the Department of Pediatrics and the Department of Neuroscience and Physiology at NYU Grossman School of Medicine.

Single-strand changes in DNA occur continually as cells divide and multiply, and while layers of repair mechanisms fix most changes, some get through and become mutations.

"Our long-term goal is to use HiDEF-seq to create a comprehensive catalog of single-strand DNA mismatch and damage patterns that will help explain the known double-strand mutation patterns," said Evrony.

"In the future, we hope to combine profiling of single-strand DNA lesions, as obtained from HiDEF-seq, with the lesions' resulting double-strand mutations to better understand and monitor the everyday effects on DNA from environmental exposures."

Geneticists estimate that there are approximately 12 billion bases or individual DNA letters that can be damaged or mismatched in each human cell, as there are two copies of the genetic code, with one copy inherited from each parent.

Each of these copies comprise a double-stranded DNA spanning 3 billion base pairs. Evrony says that every base position in the genetic code is likely damaged or mutated at some point during an individual's lifetime in at least some cells.

More information: Gilad Evrony, DNA mismatch and damage patterns revealed by single-molecule sequencing, Nature (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41586-024-07532-8. www.nature.com/articles/s41586-024-07532-8 Journal information: Nature
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Credit: CC0 Public Domain

In patients with axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) and persistent disease activity for which adapting treatment is recommended, treatment intensification should be considered for patients with persistently high disease activity. EULARThe European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatologyin collaboration with the Assessment of SpondyloArthritis international Society (ASAS), states that high disease activity should be based on a composite score, the Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Score (ASDAS) with a cutoff 2.1.

However, this recommendation is not always followed in practice. This could be because the ASDAS was developed for research, and it is not known how well it performs in daily practice. Possibly, the cutoff of 2.1 as currently endorsed may be too strict in an everyday setting. To address this, researcher Casper Webers and colleagues set out to investigate which ASDAS cutoff values correspond best with treatment intensification in practice.

Data were taken from a prospective multi-center registry for SpA, and treatment intensification was defined as either higher dose or frequency of the same drug, switch to another drug, or addition of a new drug to the regimenall due to inefficacy. Analyses were conducted both with all observations, and again with only the first observation per patient per calendar year, in order to achieve a balanced number of observations per patient by follow-up duration. Overall, 350 patients with 2,265 ASDAS measurements were includedand approximately two-thirds received a biologic or targeted synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (b/tsDMARD) at some point during follow-up.

The results, presented at the 2024 EULAR congress in Vienna, show that treatment intensification was applied after 10.4% of ASDAS measurementsand at the time of intensification, patients were often already on anti-inflammatory treatment. Treatment intensification often involved switching to another drugtypically within the same drug classor adding a drug, and the use of conventional synthetic DMARD and corticosteroids was limited.

The mean ASDAS and proportion with ASDAS 2.1 was higher at intensification timepoints than at non-intensification timepoints. When all ASDAS measurements were included for analysis, the optimal ASDAS cutoff related to treatment intensification was 2.7, and results were similar when only one measurement was used per patient and calendar year. Of note, over the years, the optimal ASDAS cutoff varied substantiallyfrom 2.3 to 2.8but was consistently higher than 2.1.

The researchers conclude that in daily practice, treatment intensification is associated with a higher ASDAS cutoff value than the recommended one of 2.1. This could be because rheumatologists believe the recommended cutoff is too stringent, or consider factors other than disease activity when making treatment decisions. EULAR and ASAS recommend that treatment of axSpA should be individualized according to the current signs and symptoms of the disease, including axial, peripheral, and extramusculoskeletal manifestationsas well as each person's characteristics, such as comorbidities and psychosocial factors.

More information: C. Webers et al, OP0060 Which ASDAS Cut-Off Corresponds Best To Treatment Intensification In Patients With Axial Spondyloarthritis In Daily Practice?, Scientific Abstracts (2024). DOI: 10.1136/annrheumdis-2024-eular.2612

Provided by European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology (EULAR)
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Study design to create a database of transcripts, called TRAILS (TRAnscriptomic resource of Immune cells using Long-read Sequencing), from different human immune cell subsets and downstream analysis. Credit: Department of Genomic Function and Diversity, TMDU

Alternative splicing, a process where a single gene can give rise to multiple different proteins via inclusion or exclusion of certain segments of the gene sequence, is known to occur in over 90% of human genes. This leads to the production of numerous transcript isoforms (splice variants of an expressed gene) crucial for protein function and cellular processes. Despite previous research on mechanisms underlying alternative splicing and genetic variants affecting splicing, understanding the complete diversity of isoforms has been challenging.

In a study published on 28 May 2024 in Nature Communications, researchers from Tokyo Medical and Dental University (TMDU) in Japan revealed significant new insights into alternative splicing and its association with complex diseases, especially immune-mediated diseases. This research highlights the limitations of traditional short-read sequencing methods in capturing the full spectrum of isoform diversity, emphasizing the revolutionary potential of long-read sequencing technology.

The study employed long-read RNA sequencing (RNA-seq), a technique that can determine the base sequence of long regions of RNA molecules, to map RNA transcripts in 29 immune cell subsets from a healthy individual. Long-read sequencing technology, compared to widely-used short-read sequencing technology, can improve mapping accuracy, genome assembly, and structural variation detection.

This approach allowed for the identification of novel isoforms, the understanding of cell-type-specific splicing patterns, and the exploration of the role of repetitive DNA sequences in isoform diversity. It involved a comprehensive characterization of transcript isoforms within the purified immune cell subsets, followed by validation with additional peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs).

Researchers compiled this information into a database, which they named TRAILS. Put simply, TRAILS is a database that contains the full-length structure of expressed genes in human immune cells.

One of the study's significant findings was the identification of numerous readthrough transcripts, such as a novel isoform at the TOMM40-APOE locus linked to Alzheimer's disease. This highlights the importance of these understudied isoforms in disease genetics. Additionally, the research revealed cell-type-specific splicing patterns and their impact on gene function, particularly through 3'-UTR regions, along with the relationship between transcript features and translational efficiency.

Furthermore, using TRAILS, researchers performed an integrated analysis of paired RNA-seq and genotype data and identified several transcripts associated with the risk of developing immune-related diseases. The number of disease-linked transcripts identified by TRAILS was greater than that of the widely used public atlas, GENCODE, indicating the utility of TRAILS specifically for immune cells.

Professor Yuta Kochi, the senior author of the study, explains, "We leveraged integrative genetic analyses to identify isoforms associated with specific diseases. These disease-associated transcripts include previously unknown transcripts that, combined with the detailed transcript information in our extensive database, allowed us to infer the mechanism of the disease."

Dr. Jun Inamo, the first author, says, "These findings advance our understanding of the association between alternative splicing and disease genetics. By uncovering previously unknown isoforms and exploring their implications in disease pathways, our study could pave the way for more targeted and effective interventions for complex diseases."

This study marks a crucial milestone in genomic research, emphasizing the importance of understanding alternative splicing in unraveling the complexities of human genetics. It advances our understanding of immune system complexities and disease mechanisms and provides insights into human genome evolution and immune system functions. By linking genomic data with functional analysis, TRAILS aids in our understanding of the pathology of immune-mediated diseases and other conditions such as Alzheimer's disease.

The discoveries made in this research thus have the potential to revolutionize the genomic field, offering hope for improved diagnostic and therapeutic strategies in the future.

More information: Jun Inamo et al, Long-read sequencing for 29 immune cell subsets reveals disease-linked isoforms, Nature Communications (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-48615-4 Journal information: Nature Communications
Deaths outpaced births in Montana for the third year in a row, according to the 2022 Vital Statistics Report recently released by the Department of Public Health and Human Services.

While 11,174 babies were born to Montana residents in 2022, the latest period for which annual data is available, 11,665 died. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, Montana had been experiencing whats known as natural increase  when the population grows over time due to there being more babies born than people dying.

Most states experienced higher death rates and lower birth rates during the pandemic. But Montanas population patterns have rebounded more slowly than others in its wake. More deaths than births over time can lead to an aging community that might exacerbate workforce shortages and strain public resources such as the health care system. It can also lead to overall population decrease if the population isnt bolstered by people moving into a community from elsewhere.

DPHHS maintains a permanent public record of every birth, death and fetal death filed in Montana. Its annual Vital Statistics report lags behind to allow more complete collection of things like birth and death certificates from counties all across the state. The report serves as a valuable tool in tracking population change as well as identifying disparities or trends that should inform policymaking.

Infants

Montanas birth rate has declined significantly since the early 1980s, reaching 10 per 1,000 residents in 2022. Thats lower than the national rate. Over 60% of people who gave birth were between the ages of 25 and 34. American Indians are more likely to get pregnant and give birth than their white peers, the report found.

Looking at fertility rate  which evaluates births among women of reproductive age as opposed to the general population  there were 64.5 live births per 1,000 Native American women as opposed to 52.8 live births per 1,000 white women. Among teens, the gap grows even further to 31.9 and 10.2 for American Indian and white teens, respectively. That said, teenage birth rates have been declining among both groups over time.

The perinatal period  or 22 weeks gestation until 28 days after birth  continues to be one of the most dangerous times for babies. About 40% of infant deaths in 2022 came during this timeframe. Most commonly, deaths in the perinatal period were due to preterm birth, maternal infections and complications of pregnancy, labor or delivery.

Low birth weight is considered one of the most telling risk factors for infant death. While Montana has consistently outperformed the national average for low birth weights, it has been increasing in recent decades. The rate of low birth weight in Montana was 75.1 per 1,000 live births in 2022 as compared to 61.7 in 1990.

Research shows that access to health care improves perinatal outcomes. About half of the counties in Montana are considered maternity care deserts, meaning there is no hospital or birth center that provides obstetric services, and 18% of women had to drive more than 30 minutes to access such care.

Deaths

The death rate adjusted for age in 2022 moved closer to pre-pandemic baseline levels in Montana after skyrocketing during the two years prior.

Montanans were most likely to die from heart disease or cancer in 2022. COVID-19 was the third most frequent cause of death. Heart disease and cancer are more common among 45 year olds and older.

While heart disease is the primary cause of death in Montana, its incidence rate is actually lower in the state than it is nationally. But Montana residents face far greater risks than the rest of the nation when it comes to chronic lower respiratory diseases such as asthma or emphysema as well as chronic liver disease and cirrhosis.

Native Americans continued to die much earlier than white people, even across similar socioeconomic statuses. The median age at death among American Indian women was 18 years younger than white women and 15 years younger than white men, largely due to a long list of systemic barriers that make accessing care and equitable resources hard.

Suicide continues to be a massive public health risk in Montana with 29 of every 100,000 people in the state died by suicide in 2022. With the exception of 2021, thats the highest since 2019. Its also about the same as the death rate due to diabetes as an underlying cause last year.

Montanas suicide rate has consistently been about twice the national figure for most of the past decade.

DPHHS estimates the average Montanan who dies by suicide loses nearly 35 years of life. Potential years lost are particularly severe among American Indians, who are estimated to lose over 40 if suicide is the cause of death.

Counties with the most recorded suicide deaths in 2022 were Flathead, Gallatin, Missoula and Yellowstone.

According to the Rural Health Information Hub, all but five of Montanas 56 counties are designated as mental health provider shortage areas.
Xizang Story: World's highest peak elevates lives at its foot

Xinhua) 09:22, June 12, 2024

LHASA, June 11 (Xinhua) -- It was already 10 at night, but Tsering Geden and his wife were still bustling around their restaurant filled with tourists from all over the world. The warm atmosphere inside formed a stark contrast to the chilly air outside at the foot of the world's highest peak -- the 8,848-meter Mount Qomolangma.

As Xizang Autonomous Region in southwest China enters its peak tourism season, the couple's three-story hotel located at a gateway to Mt. Qomolangma in Dingri County is often fully booked.

The mountain deep in the Himalayas is not only a dream destination for climbers and tourists, but also serves as a source of hope of prosperity for locals.

Tsering Geden grew up in Basong Village at the foot of Mt. Qomolangma. When he was young, his family relied mainly on herding to make a living. Tsering Geden and his father also served as guides for climbers to earn extra income.

Tsering Geden recalled that in the past, visitors could only stay in the county seat located more than 100 km away from the base camp, due to a lack of adequate infrastructure closer to Mt. Qomolangma. Back then, travelers would often stop at Tsering Geden's home asking if there was a place to stay over.

To cater to travelers' needs, Tsering Geden's father converted their two-story Tibetan house into the village's first homestay.

"Although there was only a single light bulb for illumination and a stairway with only one person's width leading to the second floor, the homestay was the best in the village for a long time," said Tsering Geden, now 32.

In recent years, Xizang has developed rapidly, and improved infrastructure has brought more tourists to Mt. Qomolangma. As the old homestay could no longer accommodate the growing number of guests, in 2019 Tsering Geden built a new three-story building with 35 guest rooms.

The rooms are equipped with underfloor heating, as well as tap water, bringing an end to the days when only a yak dung stove was available for heating.

"Every time I come to Xizang, there are new changes. The development at the foot of Mt. Qomolangma is rapid," said Mike Thomsen, a tourist from Denmark, who was on his fourth trip to Xizang.

Thomsen, 49, rode a motorcycle there from the regional capital Lhasa along with his pals and checked in at Tsering Geden's hotel.

"It's incredible that in such a remote, high-altitude place, our hotel can provide underfloor heating and laundry services," he said.

In 2023, the hotel earned the family 3 million yuan (about 422,000 U.S. dollars) in revenue.

Figures show that from Jan. 1 to May 20 this year, the Mt. Qomolangma scenic area received more than 136,000 tourists, a 27 percent year-on-year increase.

To protect the ecosystem, the scenic area banned fuel cars in 2018 to reduce emissions, and has been offering electric shuttle bus services for tourists ever since. The fleet has grown from 20 to 84 vehicles and nearby villages have started investing in the shuttle bus business this year as well, with more buses purchased to boost transport options for tourists.

Over the years, Basong Village has transformed into a hot destination with ample tourist accommodation, and almost every household is running homestays or hotels. Tsering Geden's hotel is no longer the best one in the village.

The ambitious Tsering Geden plans to further expand his business this year by building a high-end Tibetan-style hotel with an investment of 9 million yuan. Thanks to support from the government, he will be able to borrow 4 million yuan from a bank.

"With more visitors expected, I am confident in the prospects of my business," he said.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
A recruiting representative (R) talks with job seekers at a job fair dedicated to the modern service sector in Hangzhou, east China's Zhejiang Province, June 5, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]

China's Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security on Tuesday launched a 100-day recruitment campaign aiming to provide more than 10 million jobs to recent college graduates.

The first week of the campaign will see four online job fairs, during which approximately 26,000 employers will offer 259,000 job opportunities in the internet, health care, finance, energy and manufacturing fields, the ministry said.

Various online platforms will be leveraged to publish real-time recruitment information, host livestreamed job fairs, and provide lectures on finding employment.

In-person events will also be held as part of the campaign, particularly for those seeking work in emerging industries and for those in areas with large numbers of recent college graduates.

Over 11.7 million college students are due to graduate in China this year. The 2024 government work report said, "We must do more to promote employment for young people, and provide better guidance and services to help them secure jobs or start businesses."
Accidental shooting

An accidental shooting reportedly took place last weekend on the 10 block of East Broadway Street.

A woman arrived at Intermountain Health St. James Hospital on Saturday at about 5:30 a.m. with a gunshot wound. The unidentified woman told officers she was sitting in the front seat of a car when a man exiting the car shot her when his gun went off.

The bullet went through the front seat and struck the woman just above the right hip. The woman told the police the shooting was accidental.

Garage accident

At 2:30 a.m. Monday, Harold K. Walker Jr., 25, of Butte was the driver of a Ford Explorer with three passengers when he allegedly hit a cement wall on the fourth floor of the Park Street parking garage.

A 17-year-old was transported to St. James with an injury to her face. A 20-year-old man also inside the SUV was reportedly highly intoxicated.

Walker was arrested for driving under the influence (second offense), two counts of selling or providing alcohol to persons under age 21, reckless driving, and three counts of criminal endangerment.

Escapee caught

Larry M. Morris, 39, of Butte was arrested early Wednesday for felony escape and parole violation. Morris was reported as a walk away from the Community Corrections Program. He left the facility by the back door just before 10 p.m. Monday.

Out on a call, an officer saw Morris walking out the back gate of a residence in the 1900 block of Silver Bow Boulevard at around 2:45 a.m. He was taken into custody without incident.

Police car hit

The drivers side door of a police car was hit during an investigation just before 1:30 a.m. Sunday.

The drivers side door of the officers SUV was damaged while in the 300 block of South Montana Street.

Stephen Thompson, 54, of Butte was driving a 2010 Chevy pickup when he hit the door with his truck mirror. Thompson was arrested for driving under the influence (second offense).

Unwelcome advice

David D. Russo, 43, of Kalispell had been advised a few times by police and staff at Town Pump, 531 S. Montana St., to leave the premises and not come back.

Russo decided to stay and about 3:20 a.m. Monday morning he was taken into custody for criminal trespass to property.

Arrested for intimidation

On Saturday, a trooper with the Montana Highway Patrol arrested Keaton D. Burk, 24, of Butte for intimidation.

Criminal trespass

Laurie L. Catalino, 62, of Clancy was told by Intermountain Health St. James Hospital security staff and police officers to leave the facility at 11 p.m. Friday, but she decided to stay.

Her decision led officers into taking her into custody for criminal trespass to property.

Not welcome

Joshua V. Wobig, 49, of Butte, who had been previously told he was not welcome at Walmart, was arrested in the store's parking lot on Friday for criminal trespass to property.

Outstanding warrant

Officers were investigating a disturbance in the 1100 block of Farrell Street on Monday. At the scene was Travis L. Price, 42, of Butte who had an outstanding warrant for his arrest for driving under the influence (fourth or subsequent offense).

Two counts

Timothy L. Holley, 45, of Butte was taken into custody Monday on two counts of revocation of sentence.

Criminal mischief

A man living in the 2200 block of Pine Street reported that an unknown person put sugar or salt in his gas tank last Friday.

Camry stolen

A guest at the Best Western Butte Plaza Inn, 2900 Harrison Ave., found his 2015 gray Toyota Camry had been stolen on Saturday morning.

False alarm

A call came into dispatch late Saturday night about a suspicious package in the 600 block of East Platinum Street. Turns out the package contained old electrical equipment with wires hanging out.

Baggie of Adderall

Early Wednesday near the intersection of Florence Avenue and Majors Street, Edwin C. Ruark, 20, of Butte was sitting on the side of the road when an officer stopped to check on him.

Ruark was arrested for criminal possession of dangerous drugs. He allegedly had a baggie of Adderall in his possession.

Double arrest

Two men were arrested late Tuesday night in the 900 block of South Montana Street, both for criminal possession of dangerous drugs, criminal possession of drug paraphernalia, and probation violation.

Daniel L. Wieglenda, 31, of Lewistown had in his possession suspected methamphetamine, while Kenneth M. Balog, 29, of Butte had in his possession suspected fentanyl.

The men were transported to the Butte Detention Center.
On Tuesday, Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua and his spouse, Pastor Dorcas Rigathi, hosted Princess Angel, the 11-year-old girl who boldly recited a poem during the Akorinu National Prayers Conference at Nakuru High School, Nakuru County, last Sunday.

The Deputy President described Princess Angel as gifted and vowed to take care of her education to help her achieve her career dream.

We cant allow that talent to go to waste. We have secured admission at Utawala Academy; she will join immediately, the Deputy President said.

Mr. Gachagua emphasized the importance of identifying and supporting talent to fruition in uplifting those at the bottom of the socio-economic pyramid.

The young, elated youngster appreciated the kind gesture of the Deputy President in hosting her alongside her mother, Ann Kariuki, for breakfast and offering to support her education.

I am very excited to meet Riggy G. I had longed for this moment. I say thank you, Deputy President, for identifying my talent. I promise to work hard and become a heavyweight lawyer, to support young talent from underprivileged backgrounds, Angel said.

Angel encouraged other children to come out and showcase their talent, as it may propel them to their destiny.

The mother expressed deep gratitude to the Deputy President and his spouse for hosting them, saying the visit to the Residence is a dream come true.

Angel is very sharp. She asked me to work with her in drafting the poem on the President and his Deputy. Within minutes, she had perfected and mastered it. My input was negligible; she led the process. I am grateful the Deputy President has offered to help us, she said.

Angel stole the show on Sunday by profusely reciting a poem during the church event, attended by President Ruto, Deputy Gachagua, Nakuru Governor Susana Kihika, among other prominent politicians and the Akorinu faithful.
On Tuesday, Kanu party leader Gideon Moi warned that President William Rutos tax proposals contained in the Finance Bill 2024 will push more Kenyans into poverty.

The former Baringo senator noted that economic experts and the general public have highlighted the Bills pain points. He cautioned that, if enacted in its current form, it will disproportionately reduce Kenyans purchasing power by cutting into their disposable incomes.

Therefore, the National Assembly Finance and Planning Committee must ensure that its final report reflects the opinions, concerns, and aspirations of Kenyans on the Bill, Moi said.

Gideon Moi said the National Assembly holds the key to amending the Bill and alleviating the burden of over-taxation on Kenyans.

Moi mentioned that the committee has an opportunity to redeem itself from the superficial public participation exercises it conducted in the 2023/2024 financial year, where public input was largely disregarded in the final report presented to the National Assembly.

He asserted that the governments approach to aggressively exacting tax beyond the point of elasticity during an economic downturn will inevitably reduce tax revenue.

The Finance Bill, 2024 will be self-defeatist as evidenced in the National Treasurys report in May that KRA fell short of its projected tax revenue collections, Moi opined.

Moi highlighted the proposal to impose excise duty and VAT on essential financial services, stating it contradicts the countrys goal of financial inclusion to combat poverty and inequality.

Many Kenyans rely on services like Mpesa to transfer money to their dependents for their basic needs. It is a dent in our national conscience to erroneously treat these transfers as taxable incomes, he added.

Gideon Moi advised the government to shift its focus from taxation to industrialization through manufacturing to achieve sustainable, private-sector-led economic growth.

With value addition, more jobs will be created across the value chain, reducing unemployment and creating more incomes, effectively expanding the tax base and increasing tax revenue to fund public programs, he explained.

He emphasized that the government must work on improving the ease of doing business, simplifying tax regimes, and combating public-sector corruption.
In a statement on June 11, 2024, Kenya Airways (KQ) clarified the reason for the closure of the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) runway following an incident involving one of its aircraft.

The national carrier stated that the incident occurred due to debris from a tire suspected to be from one of its aircraft.

The airline explained that one of the aircrafts tires failed while braking and slowing down, causing it to become immobilized on the runway.

Kenya Airways confirms that on Tuesday, 11th June 2024, our operations control team received a report from the Sharjah Airport Authorities that there was tire debris on the runway suspected to be from one of our aircraft, a Boeing 737 Freighter, on a routine operation from Sharjah to Juba, read part of the statement.

Kenya Airways stated that upon receiving this report, its operations control team diverted the aircraft to Nairobi instead of proceeding to Juba.

Upon arrival in Nairobi, the aircraft did an overflight, and our team ascertained that the aircraft had adequate wheels for a safe landing as only one out of six wheels was damaged.

According to Kenya Airways, the aircraft touched down safely at around 12:55 p.m. local time.

In close collaboration with the airport authority and regulator KCAA, Kenya Airways replaced the tires and towed the aircraft to safety.

The aircraft was successfully towed from the runway at 2:12 p.m.

We apologize for any inconvenience caused and reiterate the safety of our crew and customers is our number one priority, added KQ.
Members of Parliament have summoned State House representatives to explain why Former President Uhuru Kenyattas office has been operating without funding.

Implementation Committee Chair Raphael Wanjala stated on Tuesday, We are instructing our clerks to write to the State House Comptroller to come and appear before the committee to explain why the former presidents office is not receiving its perks.

The Committee expressed concerns regarding remarks by Kanze Dena, spokesperson to the Office of the 4th President, indicating that retired President Uhuru Kenyatta has been financing his own official office.

We are not going to allow that to happen yet we appropriate money as Parliament, added Wanjala.

The MPs want State House Comptroller Katoo Ole Metito and other State House representatives to appear before them to ensure the allocated funds are made available for the retired President.

Meanwhile, President William Ruto and Uhuru Kenyatta reportedly held talks on Tuesday regarding the disbursement of funds allocated to Kenyattas office.

State House spokesperson Hussein Mohamed stated that following the talks, President Ruto appointed a team led by Head of Public Service Felix Koskei to address the grievances the former Presidents office raised on Monday.

The team will address issues including the location of the retired Presidents office and the associated staff establishment.
First Lady Rachel Ruto inaugurated a drone initiative at Huruma Sub-County Hospital, aimed at collecting medical samples from facilities across Uasin Gishu County for analysis.

This initiative is a collaboration between Uasin Gishu County, Israeli, and German organizations, leveraging technology to provide diagnosis before treatment.

I have received information that the drone will transport medical samples from the Chagia Health Centre in Ainabkoi Constituency, the furthest health care centre in the county, to Huruma Sub-County Hospital in just seven minutes, she announced during the launch on June 11.

The First Lady explained that the results would be electronically relayed to specific health centers once the samples were analyzed at a central facility.

Rachel Ruto emphasized that this initiative would enhance healthcare access, particularly for those in remote areas who previously had to travel to main towns for quality laboratory services.

Additionally, she commissioned the first maternity hospital for maternal and neonatal services in Uasin Gishu County, now renamed in her honor.

With a capacity of 70 beds, this specialized maternity facility will ensure the safety and well-being of mothers and children, advancing the countrys capacity to offer maternal, neonatal, prenatal, and pediatric care in the county and the larger North Rift region, she stated.

According to the Kenya Demographic Health Survey 2022, 14.4 percent of women in Uasin Gishu cannot access a health facility within an hour when in need of healthcare services.

The newly launched facility is equipped with a fully equipped theater, a stocked pharmacy, modern diagnostic ultrasound, an x-ray unit, and an ICT center.

The First Lady added that the facilitys operation would enhance maternal and neonatal healthcare services and serve as a referral center for mother and baby emergency cases, aiming to reduce the mortality rate.
Giant panda Fu Bao is seen at the Shenshuping giant panda base in Wolong National Nature Reserve in southwest China's Sichuan Province, May 27, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]

Fu Bao, the first giant panda born in the Republic of Korea (ROK), met the public on Wednesday morning after returning to southwest China's Sichuan Province, the hometown of pandas.

Fu Bao turned up at the second hall of the panda nursery in the Shenshuping giant panda base of Wolong National Nature Reserve, following two months of inspection, quarantine and adaptation.

She returned to China in early April. According to Wei Rongping, deputy director of the center, the biggest challenge for her was how to fit into the "panda family" there.

"During the transitional period, Fu Bao could interact and get acquainted with her pals through odor and sound, or visit her neighbors, so as to adapt to the new environment quickly," said Cheng Jianbin, Fu Bao's breeder.

Born in July 2020, Fu Bao, meaning "lucky treasure" in English, is the first cub of giant pandas Ai Bao and Le Bao, who were sent to ROK from China in 2016 on a 15-year lease. She quickly became an online sensation among netizens in ROK after her birth, becoming a source of joy for people during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Chinese President Xi Jinping has encouraged Andrew Chi-Chih Yao, a professor of Tsinghua University, to further contribute to the nation's talent development and sci-tech innovation.

Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks in a reply letter recently sent to Yao, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences who returned to China and commenced his teaching career at Tsinghua 20 years ago.

In the reply letter, Xi conveyed greetings to Yao, acknowledging his unwavering dedication and remarkable achievements in the realms of teaching and scientific innovation over the past two decades, during which Yao channeled his love for the nation into a commitment to serve it.

Xi expressed the hope that Yao could adhere to his original aspiration and leverage his strengths to further explore approaches to the cultivation of innovative talent, and foster interdisciplinary integration and frontier innovation, in order to make more contributions to achieving high-level self-reliance and strength in science and technology and the building of a strong nation in both education and science and technology.

Yao, who taught at U.S. universities for a long time, returned to China in 2004 to join the faculty at Tsinghua. In a recent letter addressed to Xi, he detailed his work in talent cultivation and scientific innovation during his two-decade tenure, and expressed his determination to contribute to the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.

Yao, 78, is dean of College of AI and also dean of the Institute for Interdisciplinary Information Sciences under Tsinghua University.
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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 South African Foreign Minister Naledi Pandor in Nizhny Novgorod, Russia, on June 11, 2024. [Photo/Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs]

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.
Peoples mental wellbeing has been worsening. In the last 10 years the number of people expressing stress, sadness, anxiety, anger or worry has been on the rise, reaching its highest levels since the Gallup surveys began. --2023/2024 Human Development Report, United Nations Development Programme

The global deterioration of mental health is concerning -- some worry were spiraling out of control. At the beginning of the U.N. General Assembly meeting, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said, Our world is becoming unhinged.

Perhaps hes being overly pessimistic. After all, were living in the best time in human history. As Harvard professor Steven Pinker famously stated, Human progress is an observable fact.

But what if both are true? If humanitys mental health is rapidly declining during a golden era of progress and prosperity, it would present one of the most fascinating paradoxes of our time.

Even if our collective mood hasnt soured to historic proportions, its soured enough to impact our daily lives. Rising stress is causing a rapid increase in incivility at work, according to Georgetown University professor Christine Porath. This is particularly worrying considering we spend most of our lives working, second only to sleeping.

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In the latest State of the Global Workplace report, 41% of employees report experiencing a lot of stress. Yet stress varies significantly depending on how the organizations are run. Those working in companies with bad management practices (actively disengaged employees) are 60% more likely to be stressed than those working in environments with good management practices (engaged employees). In fact, experiencing "a lot of stress is reported 30% more frequently by employees working under bad management than by the unemployed.

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Leaders know workplace stress is a problem -- theyve seen the data, heard it from their colleagues and experienced it themselves. A quarter of leaders feel burned out often or always, and two-thirds feel it at least sometimes. Many are trying to address it, but often in ineffective ways.

Popular solutions include wellbeing apps or stress management training. Yet recent research by the University of Oxford finds little evidence in support of any benefits from these interventions with even some small indication of harm. Mindfulness apps or meditation can be effective for individuals, but they can be counterproductive in workplaces with poor management or a negative culture.

In short, a meditation app cant fix a bad manager.

So, what works better? According to the Oxford study, organisation-level initiatives such as improvements in scheduling change, management practices, staff resources or tailored job design. In other words, organizations need better management practices.

The global workplace can play a significant role in addressing the worlds mental health crisis. As detailed in this years State of the Global Workplace: 2024 Report, transforming our management approaches is critical for alleviating many of the unnecessary stressors in the world of work.

To learn more about Gallup workplace science and the latest trends in the global workforce, including engagement data in your own country, download the State of the Global Workplace report now.

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The opposition party's assertion came after Bhagwat's remarks on a host of issues, including on the Manipur violence and the just-concluded Lok Sabha polls.





Congress' media and publicity head Pawan Khera said, "Mohan Bhagwat ji, you reap what you sow. The fault is not of the soil, the fault is of the gardener."





"When farmers were facing the wrath of the weather and police just outside the capital, you were silent. When a Dalit girl was raped and murdered in Hathras, you were silent. When the rapists of Bilkis Bano were released and your ideological brothers welcomed them, you were silent. When Dalits were being urinated upon, you were silent. When Pehlu Khan and Akhlaq were killed, you were silent. When Kanhaiya Lal's killers' links with the BJP were exposed, you were silent," Khera said of Bhagwat.





"Your silence and Narendra Modi have made you and the Sangh irrelevant. You've been made irrelevant by Amit Shah and the BJP. Your last chance was when the BJP leaders were talking about changing the Constitution, you should have spoken out but you remained silent," the Congress leader said. "What is the use of speaking now?" Khera added.





The Constitution, democracy and this society does not need the RSS or Bhagwat as they can "protect and reboot" themselves, he asserted.





Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh also hit out at Bhagwat and posted on X a Hindi couplet by Kabir -- "'Karta raha so kyon kiya, ab kari kyon pachtaye, boye pedh babool ka, amua kahan se paye' (loosely translating to 'you shall reap what you shall sow')." Bhagwat had on Monday expressed concern over peace eluding Manipur even after one year and said the situation in the strife-torn north eastern state must be considered with priority.





Addressing a gathering of the RSS trainees at the concluding programme of organisation's 'Karyakarta Vikas Varg- Dwitiya' at the Dr Hedgewar Smriti Bhavan premises in Reshimbagh in Nagpur, he said the conflict in various places and in the society is not good. Bhagwat stressed on unity among all communities in the country, which he said was very diverse though people understand it is one and not separate.





He emphasised the need to get over with election rhetoric and focus on problems facing the nation. Speaking about the recently held Lok Sabha polls, Bhagwat said the results were out and a government had been formed so unnecessary talk on what and how it happened etc. can be avoided. The RSS does not get involved in such discussions of "kaise hua, kya hua", he said, adding that the organisation only does its duty of creating awareness on the need to vote.

The Congress on Wednesday claimed the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) has become "irrelevant" and said the Constitution, democracy and society do not need the Sangh or its chief Mohan Bhagwat as they can protect themselves.
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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.
One terrorist has been killed in an ongoing gunfight in the border area of Hiranagar in Kathua district after ultras attacked a house in Saida Sukhal village here, a senior police officer said. The search operation is on to nab the other terrorist, said Anand Jain, Additional Director General of Police (ADGP), Jammu. "They also fired at civilians. One terrorist has been killed and a search for the other one is going on," he said. The Jammu ADGP further said that the attack seems to be a ploy to disturb the Amarnath Yatra. "As Amarnath yatra is approaching, this seems to be a ploy to disturb the yatra. One civilian is injured and there is no hostage situation," Jain said. Meanwhile, Union Minister Jitendra Singh also took to his official X handle and posted, "I am in continuous online contact with DC Kathua 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. The owner of the house that was attacked (name not to be disclosed) is also in touch on mobile phone. A joint police and para-military operation are going on. One terrorist neutralised so far. I and my office are in constant touch and keeping a close watch on the developments." Earlier, after gunshots were heard in the village Saida Sukhal near Koota Mode under the Hiranagar police station area of Kathua in late Tuesday evening, Station house officer (SHO) Hiranagar and Sub-divisional police officer (SDPO) rushed to the spot. As per the police, the terrorists had asked for water from a few houses to which villagers grew suspicious and slammed the doors on them. The terrorists panicked and fired randomly in the air and also at villagers who were passing by. One terrorist got killed while lobbing a grenade at the police party while the search for the other terrorist was on, police said. Meanwhile, two civilians injured in firing by terrorists in Hiranagar were initially brought to the Hiranagar hospital for treatment. However, they were shifted to Kathua Government Medical College (GMC) for further treatment. Police with the help of CRPF have cordoned the area. A search party is clearing the houses one by one. So far, one family of husband and wife has been evacuated to hospital. The Jammu & Kashmir police also urged the citizens to wait for authentic information and not indulge in spreading different narratives that are unverified. Citing it as a national security challenge posed by hostile elements from across, the police said in a statement, "Citizens are requested to assist and cooperate with the police in completing the operation logically and successfully so that the terrorists are killed and simultaneously the injured (if found) are evacuated for treatment. Notably, two encounters going on right now, one in Kathua's Hiranagar and the other one in Chattergala Baderwah in Doda district. "#Army and #Police joint Naka has engaged #terrorist in area of Chattargala area of #Doda . Firefight is going on. More details to follow," the ADGP said in a post on X. (ANI)
Two Indian nationals who had been recruited by the Russian Army have recently been killed in the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, according to the Ministry of External Affairs. The Indian Embassy in Moscow is pressing for the mortal remains of the deceased Indians to be repatriated to the country as soon as possible. "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," the MEA said in an official release on Tuesday. As per the release, MEA has taken up the matter of early release and return of all Indian nationals who are with 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," the MEA said. The MEA, in its release, has clearly urged Indian nationals to exercise caution while seeking employment opportunities in Russia. "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," it said. "We also urge Indian nationals to exercise caution while seeking employment opportunities in Russia," the MEA added. In March this year, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal had said that India is constantly in touch with Russian authorities to have Indian nationals released and discharged from the Russian army as early as possible. On being asked about update on Indians who were duped by agents and sent to Russia to join the military, Randhir Jaiswal stated, "Regarding Russia, as I told you earlier also, we are constantly in touch with Russian authorities. We have taken it up strongly for them to have our nationals released and discharged as early as possible." Recently, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), busted a major human trafficking network running across the country targeting Indian nationals on the promise of offering lucrative jobs abroad but allegedly sending them to the Russia-Ukraine war zone. The central agency has conducted simultaneous searches at around 13 locations in Delhi, Trivandrum, Mumbai, Ambala, Chandigarh, Madurai and Chennai. The CBI stated that these traffickers have been operating as an organised network and were luring Indian nationals through social media channels like YouTube, etc., and also through their local contacts/agents for highly paid jobs in Russia. (ANI)
The Utah Attorney Generals office at the Capitol in Salt Lake City on Friday, Jan. 27, 2023. Michelle Quist, the United Utah Party nominee for attorney general, received two endorsements from former Utah Supreme Court justices on Tuesday, June 11, 2024. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News

Michelle Quist, United Utah Party nominee for attorney general, has received two endorsements from former Utah Supreme Court justices.

Former Utah Supreme Court Justices Deno Himonas and Christine Durham both announced their endorsement of Quist on Tuesday.

Quist will be on the ballot for the general election alongside the Democratic nominee Rudy J. Bautista, the Libertarian candidate Andrew McCullough and Austin Hepworth, an unaffiliated candidate. Utah Republican voters will decide which GOP candidate will be on the ballot: Derek Brown, Frank Mylar or Rachel Terry.

Michelle is an extremely qualified candidate. Her commitment to justice and integrity, along with her practical experience, is why I have chosen to support her, said Himonas.

We need an attorney general whose only priority is the residents of Utah and upholding the law. Michelle is that person, Durham said. With Michelle, Utah will have integrity in the Attorney Generals Office.

Im thrilled to have the trust and support of former Justices Durham and Himonas, who are both role models, said Quist. She praised Himonas for disrupting the legal technology space in order to innovate the delivery of legal services and increase access to justice.

Quist also was complimentary of Durham  the first woman appointed to Utahs district court and the Utah Supreme Court  for championing causes they share in common.

What has been missing from the Utah Attorneys Generals Office over the past few decades is leadership brave enough to stand up for the integrity of the institution and regular Utahns. Integrity matters even more now, more than ever, said Quist. I am the best candidate in this race that is not beholden to a political party but to everyday Utahns. Im proud to have the endorsement of both former Justices, and will work every day to earn the vote of regular Utahns.
Over three dozen students graduated from the Bucks County Intermediate Unit in a ceremony celebrating their achievements at Delaware Valley University in Doylestown.

The Bucks IU offers educational programs for students across Pennsylvania with learning and mental disabilities, often working with some students from kindergarten through their high school graduation. Students from Bucks, Montgomery, and Philadelphia counties are able to receive services, with older students able to focus on community-based instruction, volunteer opportunities, and supervised work experiences, according to the agency.

More: Look for your school in our collection of Bucks County 2024 high school graduation photos

A photo from the Bucks County Intermediate Unit commencement ceremony on June 4th.

One graduating student, Mary Baltes, was the commencement speaker, officials said in a press release. She told the graduates to stay strong in the face of challenges.

My goal for the Class of 2024 is to never give up and push through any challenges in your life, she said.

Another graduating student, Brooke Rosenburg, received multiple job offers upon her completion of the program.

We have witnessed so much remarkable growth and resilience in these students, said Gina Meissler, the Bucks IU program director of related services, according to the release. Students, you have taught us the importance of perseverance. You will conquer whatever lies ahead. Congratulations to the Class of 2024.

Kevin Hearn, a graduate of the Bucks IU STEP program, and his family celebrate Bucks IU graduation.Kevins older brother, Joey, pledged to support him along his life path. I hope Kevin becomes more independent and he finds something that hes interested in and happy doing in the future, Joey Hearn said.

This article originally appeared on Bucks County Courier Times: Bucks County Intermediate Unit students celebrate graduation
Johnson & Johnson will pay $700 million to settle a lawsuit by dozens of states that accused the pharmaceutical industry giant of intentionally misleading customers about the safety of its talc-based baby powder, officials announced.

J&J sold products with talc for more than 100 years before discontinuing them globally in 2023 after facing thousands of lawsuits. The coalition of 43 attorneys general found Johnson & Johnson failed to disclose that the talc sometimes contained asbestos and that asbestos is harmful and can lead to cancer.

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.

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, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton said in a statement Tuesday. Im proud to lead this coalition of 43 attorneys general to stand up for consumers health and truth in marketing.

Attorneys general for Texas, Florida and North Carolina led the multistate litigation. Judicial approval of the settlement is still pending.

As part of the settlement, Johnson u0026 Johnson agreed to stop producing and selling baby powder products containing talc in the U.S.

The talcum powder lawsuit was joined by Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Washington D.C., 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 state, West Virginia and Wisconsin.

"This is a major advancement for consumer product safety," Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody said in a statement Tuesday.

Johnson & Johnson faces slew of other lawsuits

The payout announced Tuesday is the latest J&J has agreed to in a yearslong string of lawsuits alleging its products caused serious  sometimes deadly  illnesses.

A Chicago jury in April awarded $45 million to the family of a woman who died from mesothelioma, a cancer linked to asbestos exposure. Theresa Garcias family said her frequent use of J&J's talc-based products led to the fatal diagnosis.

In New Jersey, Johnson & Johnson was ordered to pay $186 million to four plaintiffs in a 2020 lawsuit that claimed baby powder caused their cancer.

And earlier this month, an Oregon woman who said she developed mesothelioma from using J&Js talc-based products was awarded $260 million in damages, WTVR reported.

Johnson & Johnson still faces tens of thousands of individual lawsuits alleging that talc-containing products led consumers to develop severe health problems, 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 earmarked for potential payments, but courts have not approved such 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, said in a 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.

Lawsuit: Johnson & Johnson marketed baby powder to Black women amid cancer concerns

Are talc-based products safe?

Talc is a naturally occurring mineral used in cosmetics and personal care products such as baby powder and blush, according to the Food and Drug Administration. It is used to absorb moisture or improve the feel of a product.

The mineral is sometimes found in mines with asbestos, which can lead to contamination. Inhalation of asbestos has been linked to cancer, the FDA warns. Questions about potential contamination have been raised since the 1970s.

Talc that contains asbestos is "generally accepted as being able to cause cancer if it is inhaled," the American Cancer Society said. But the link between asbestos-free talc and cancer is unclear. The FDA said researchers have suggested a possible connection between talc-based powders used in the genital area and development of ovarian cancer since the 1960s, but studies have not conclusively determined whether they are related.

Johnson & Johnson has denied its baby powder contains asbestos.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Johnson & Johnson to pay $700 million to settle baby powder suit
A Kentucky resident has been convicted of providing support to a terrorist organization, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.

A jury convicted Mirsad Hariz Adem Ramic, 34, of Bowling Green, this week on charges of providing material support to the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham, known as ISIS; conspiracy to support the organization; and receiving military training.

The U.S. government classifies ISIS as a terrorist organization and says it carries out attacks around the world.

Ramic came to the U.S. as a refugee from Bosnia when he was about 10 years old and has dual U.S.-Bosnian citizenship, according to federal authorities.

He and two other men, who had been students at Western Kentucky University, allegedly left Kentucky in June 2014, traveled to Turkey and then crossed into Syria and joined ISIS.

Evidence shows Ramic got training from ISIS

The evidence showed that Ramic received military-type training at an ISIS camp and later took part in fighting for the group in Syria.

Federal authorities charged that Mirsad Ramic, of Bowling Green, Ky., went to Syria to fight for the ISIS terrorist group. Prosecutors said he sent this photo to his mother. The government included it in a court document.

For instance, prosecutors said in one motion that in July 2014, Ramic sent a message to one of the men who had gone to Syria with him describing how he had used an anti-aircraft weapons to shoot at airplanes.

Federal authorities said there also was a photo of Ramic on social media that showed him wearing camouflage clothing and standing in front of a truck that had an anti-aircraft gun on it and an ISIS flag.

Messages between Ramic and one of the men who traveled with him indicated the third man was killed in 2015, according to a prosecution motion.

A 2016 criminal complaint from FBI

An FBI agent swore out a criminal complaint against him in 2016, but the case took years to prosecute because Ramic was in prison in Turkey.

He has been in custody since he was sent back to the U.S. in December 2021.

Ramic is to be sentenced in September. He faces up to 50 years in prison, according to the Department of Justice.
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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Lithuania is the happiest place in the world for under-30s  Gen Zs say low rent, free university, and good nightlife are to thank

Bars and restaurants in the old town of Vilnius, Lithuania. George Pachantouris/Getty Images

Lithuania was ranked the happiest place for under-30s in the World Happiness Report 2024.

Lithuania was ranked 19th on the overall list but secured the top spot in the under-30 rankings.

Factors in its favor included free education, low rent, and opportunities in tech and creative fields.

Lithuania is the happiest place in the world for children and those under 30, according to the World Happiness Report 2024.

And the Guardian reports that factors such as low rent, free education, and a vibrant nightlife are to thank.

The World Happiness Report ranks countries based on a happiness measurement survey conducted by Gallup, where respondents evaluate the quality of their lives.

Lithuania was ranked 19th on the overall happiness list, but secured the top spot in the under-30 rankings.

Lithuania's under-30s rated themselves 7.76 out of 10 on the happiness scale. In comparison, those in the same age group in the US rated themselves 6.392 out of 10, placing it 62nd globally.

The Guardian looked into why Lithuanian Gen Zs and younger millennials are so satisfied with their quality of life.

One reason young Lithuanians are happier is that university is free for a large chunk of the population.

Gantas Bendikas, 23, told The Guardian that he will graduate with no debt. Meanwhile, in the US the average student debt is about $39,000, according to Experian.

Rents are also low  according to Eurostat, Lithuania is one of the cheapest places in Europe to rent.

Jolita Vaitkute, 28, told The Guardian that this also extends to renting studio space. "When I talk to friends in other places  Paris, Tokyo, London  I realize how lucky I am to have my own space," she said.

According to The Guardian, studio spaces in Vaitkute's building costs the equivalent of $109 to $544 a month.

This allows those in the arts to thrive in Lithuania.

Artists feel like they can "still make it" in Lithuania, filmmaker Marija Kavtaradze told the newspaper.

In comparison, the nonprofit news outlet Prism reported that unaffordable housing, expensive studio spaces, and unsteady incomes make working in the arts a challenging prospect in the US.

In an as-told-to essay earlier this year, Ricardo Sergio Schmitz, a Brazilian consultant in Vilnius, told Business Insider that young people have ample career opportunities and that money goes further in Lithuania than in many other places.

He also noted Vilnius's "startup mentality," with tech unicorns like Vinted and Nord Security emerging out of the city.

Beyond economic opportunities, a Gen-Z resident of Vilnius said Lithuania also offers a vibrant nightlife.

"I would rate the nightlife one of the best in Europe," Daniil Svager, 21, told The Guardian.

Read the original article on Business Insider
A bill passed by the New York legislature last week intended to increase retail worker safety and prevent workplace violence is causing a stir, as one major retailer has already said it heartily opposes it.

In a certain section of the Retail Worker Safety Act, which has yet to be signed into law by Gov. Kathy Hochul, access to panic buttons in New York locations of retail stores with 500 or more employees nationwide is required.

The panic button would either be a physical button installed throughout the workplace or a wearable or mobile phone-based button installed on employee equipment which, when pressed, would immediately contact local emergency services, provide the employee's location information and dispatch local law enforcement to the store, according to the bill's text.

The wearable or mobile buttons would only track employee locations when triggered.

Walmart, the Arkansas-based retail giant, opposed this element of the legislation because the company believes there's likely to be too many false alarms, according to Reuters' conversation with Walmart executive vice president of corporate affairs, Dan Bartlett.

Here's what to know about the bill.

Walmart officials say the company is against the use of panic buttons in their stores after a bill passed by the New York legislature last week would require them in big retail stores throughout New York.

What else would the NY retail safety bill require?

In addition to the panic button component, the Retail Worker Safety Act requires retail employers to implement programs to prevent workplace violence and provide training on such programs for employees.

The New York State Department of Labor would create a model workplace violence prevention policy for employers to use, which includes a list of factors or situations that might place retail employees at risk of workplace violence and methods employers may use to prevent incidents of workplace violence. The policy will be reevaluated every four years and updated as needed.

Employers would also utilize a training program created by the Department of Labor, which includes de-escalation tactics, active shooter drills and instruction on the use of security alarms, panic buttons and other related emergency devices. The training would be provided to all retail employees upon hire and on an annual basis after.

Would this retail safety bill apply to grocery stores?

The bill's defines "retail store" as a store that "sells consumer commodities at retail and which is not primarily engaged in the sale of food for consumption on the premises."

It's unclear whether this definition would exclude grocery stores like Wegmans or Tops from the bill's requirements  a question New Yorkers may have, given the 2022 shooting where a gunman killed 10 people inside a Buffalo Tops store.

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What supporters and opponents are saying

Some retail groups are pointing to the price tag of installation being too hefty, Reuters said, while others are worried it lacks clarity.

"We remain concerned with the panic button mandate and its effectiveness to help protect retail workers and consumers," Food Industry Alliance of New York State president and CEO Mike Durant said. "As employee and public safety are of paramount importance to our industry, we are going to be discussing the provisions within this legislation with our members further and work to ensure any mandate will be an effective approach."

But the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU), which represents over 100,000 workers throughout the U.S., says it will help protect retail workers from workplace violence.

Retail worker safety WINS today in New York! The #RetailWorkerSafety Act has now PASSED the @NYSenate! Thanks to our bill sponsors @jessicaramosqns and @KarinesReyes87 for their leadership on this important issue. The bill now moves to @GovKathyHochul's desk! pic.twitter.com/t7ftXt9hhK  RWDSU (@RWDSU) June 7, 2024

A survey conducted of RWDSU members related to workplace violence found over 80% of respondents are worried about an active shooter coming into their workplace and nearly three fourths of respondents would feel safer if they received regular training on how to be safe in the workplace.

"(Friday)s 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," RWDSU president Stuart Appelbaum said in a press release Friday. "Retail workers should not go to work every day in fear. Lets tackle the issue of retail workplace safety and swiftly sign the Retail Worker Safety Act into law now!"

What's behind the about-face?: Hochul wants to delay congestion pricing days before start

When NY retail safety bill would go into effect

The bill, if signed by Hochul, would go into effect 180 days after it becomes law. However, the panic button part of the legislation would not go into effect until Jan. 1, 2027.

Emily Barnes is the New York State Team consumer advocate reporter for the USA TODAY Network. Contact Barnes at ebarnes@gannett.com or on Twitter @byemilybarnes.

This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Major retailer speaks out against NY panic button legislation. Why?
 Flash

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, meets with Thai Foreign Minister Maris Sangiampongsa in Nizhny Novgorod, Russia, on June 11, 2024. [Photo/Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs]

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.
The area that makes up Senate District 13 stretches from Wetumka, south to Allen. The district wraps around Ada, Stratford, Pauls Valley, Maysville and Lindsay, and runs all the way down to Sulphur and Roff.

Most voters would consider it rural.

But Senate District 13 is actually ground zero in one of the state's high-profile legislative contests this year  the fight between incumbent Sen. Greg McCortney, the pro tempore-elect, and his opponent, Jonathan Wingard, a 42-year-old member of the Oklahoma Army National Guard.

The fight for SD 13 seat initially had three candidates, but Rob Crowley, an Ada gas station owner, withdrew shortly after filing for the office. The race entered the high-profile category after Gov. Kevin Stitt targeted McCortney and other members of the Senate who opposed his proposals.

Listen, Im never going to shy away from limited government, smaller government, the freedoms that we believe in, the free market principles, the school choice, the smaller taxes, Stitt said in early March. So, absolutely, I mean, if theres candidates that I think are going to line up with Oklahoma values, and theres candidates that dont, then I 100 percent will play in the primaries and get involved and try to let Oklahomans know what I think.

The campaign has drawn at least one special interest group, the Advance Right PAC, which has distributed flyers and targeted text messages against McCortney. Federal Election Commission filings show the group lists offices in both Washington, D.C., and Edmond. Campaign reports indicate that McCortney has raised more than $305,000 for the race. Wingard is a distant second, reporting just over $21,000 raised. The Oklahoman could not determine how much Advance Right has spent in the race.

McCortney survived his first fight  a difficult caucus battle to be named the Senate's next leader, but he still had to stand for reelection, and the outcome of that June 18 battle could change the face of the Oklahoma Senate.

Jonathan Wingard is pictured with Ashley Wilson and the couple's son, Brian. Wingard is seeking the Republican nomination for Senate District 13.

Wingard: Time for a change

A longtime employee of the Oklahoma National Guard Wingard, now retired, said federal rules initially prevented him from running for office. He said seeking public office was something he'd wanted to do for a long time.

"I worked full time for the Oklahoma National Guard, and as a government employee I wasn't eligible to run for office," he said. "And this election cycle is the first election cycle I'm eligible to run."

Wingard said he wanted to seek office because he was concerned by some of McCortney's actions as a member of the Legislature. He cited McCortney's work as Senate floor leader as an example.

"He's not allowing bills to be heard on the floor," Wingard said. He also criticized McCortney for voting against Phase Two funding for a new Department of Public Safety Tactical Training Center.

Jonathan Wingard, a Republican candidate for Senate District 13, is pictured with Ashley Wilson and the couple's son, Brian.

"To me, that's the biggest thing," he said. "Not allowing bills to be heard. I don't feel like it's true representation. We elect representatives across the state. When you have one person who is unilaterally deciding what does and does not get heard, they are more less unilaterally deciding what bills get passed in the state of Oklahoma, and it's not intended that way."

Records show that, over the two-year cycle of the Oklahoma Legislature, several thousand bills and resolutions are filed by lawmakers. Fewer than 10% are sent to the governor's desk, and even fewer become law.

Wingard also criticized McCortney for not supporting Stitt's call for a cut in the personal income tax. From 2022 onward, Stitt called the Legislature into special session three times for tax cuts. And though state lawmakers did finalize and pass a cut to the grocery sales tax this year, a second tax cut  a reduction in the personal income tax rate  has not been taken up in the Senate. Current Senate Leader Greg Treat, R-Oklahoma City, who is term-limited from running again, said state data showed the second cut would cost too much revenue.

While Wingard, a member of the Choctaw Nation, said he was pleased by term limits and by the fact that lawmakers had held back billions in state revenue for savings, he said more could be done to work with outside groups, including tribal nations.

"We need the tribes," he said. "The Chickasaw Nation is really big; they've done a lot for the area. I like a lot of things that the tribes are doing, but the only thing that I would say is that I don't want to bend over to the tribes at the loss of the state. We need to work together and make a better state. We share this state."

Wingard said he didn't agree with every action taken by Gov. Stitt on tribal matters. He said Stitt should take the approach of working with the tribes. "But the tribes should take the approach of working with the state, too," he said. "I'd love to see us work together."

Wingard said the Legislature should spend more money on infrastructure, but that the money spent should be spent properly.

"My experience in the military, working full time at the warehouse where property came through all the time, you would see poor spending. You would see waste of money," he said.

Wingard said agencies from transportation to education need to be careful how they spend money. He said the education system needs to look at how money is being spent. "Not only fiscally responsible, but in a way that will help students," he said. "We have too many students graduating from high school that can't read, and I don't like that. It's not good for the state."

He said education and a diversified economy are the keys to the state's future.

McCortney: Building on the success of the present

Incumbent state Sen. McCortney said he isn't afraid of the problems associated with community service. He runs toward them. And though McCortney has his share of critics, he said he is seeking office again because, "I've started something, and I want to finish it."

Oklahoma, McCortney said, is in a good spot. And he wants to make the state stronger.

"I understand how to represent my district and how to represent it well, and I don't want to lose that knowledge," he said.

Senate President Pro Tempore Greg Treat, left, and Majority Floor Leader Greg McCortney talk with Sen. Julie Daniels, assistant majority whip of the Senate, on Jan. 3, 2023, at the state Capitol.

But that doesn't mean this campaign has been easy.

In fact, McCortney said this year's campaign has been incredibly negative  and untrue. "No one ever thinks how the candidate's mom takes that," he said. "I feel like my mom has had to sacrifice a lot, going to her mailbox and seeing what people say about her son. That's not easy on her."

He said the next legislative session presents a chance for lawmakers and the state government. "With the House and the Senate both having new leadership, I think we have an incredible opportunity, but we also are going to have a whole lot of work to do to make sure we get the right people in the right places to be successful as a state."

McCortney said he expected the Senate to have a "pretty large crop of new senators" and that, along with new House members and new leaders in both bodies, the Legislature will have new challenges and the need for new relationships. As an example, he pointed to the governor's difficult relationship with the state's tribal leaders.

"Unfortunately, the relationship between the tribes and the executive branch is near an all-time low, at least for my lifetime," he said. "It's a real difficulty for my district, and it makes my job at the Capitol harder than it ought to be."

McCortney said mending the relationship between the state, the governor and tribal nations was necessary. "I think it's really important to Oklahoma that we all come back together and start pulling on the same rope again."

He said he's hopeful that once the primary election is over, the governor will be willing to "start over and at least start trying to mend fences."

"I hope we don't have to wait two more years until we get another governor," he said. "I think there's been a lot of opportunities for us to start coming back together, and we've missed every one of them."

McCortney, however, remains an optimist.

While quick to praise the Senate's outgoing leader Treat, he's also just as quick to talk about the differences between the two men. Where Treat is a skilled politician, McCortney said he is at his best going deep on a policy issue.

"I'm not the politician he (Treat) is," McCortney said. "But I'm a much bigger spreadsheet nerd than he is. I don't mind wading into the weeds."

He said he's also disappointed by the influx of outside money in the campaign.

"I've been the majority leader of the Oklahoma Senate for three years," he said. "Oklahoma's Legislature is considered the second-most conservative Legislature in the country, and they're painting me to the left of Joe Biden. It's just hogwash. I hope the voters of this district know a falsehood when they see it."

Oklahoma's primary election is set for June 18. Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Early voting  at each county's election board office  is scheduled from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday and Friday, and 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahoma primary: What to know about Senate District 13 candidates
Lawmakers have advanced legislation to require photo identification without exception at polling places in New Hampshire  and to mandate that new voters provide hard evidence of citizenship in order to register.

But Secretary of State Dave Scanlan says some aspects of the bill could be difficult for his office to implement.

In remarks to a committee tasked with identifying voter confidence in elections Monday, Scanlan said a proposal to empower the Secretary of States Office to set up a hotline to verify voters citizenship status using state records would be challenging to implement.

It could be done, but not without challenges, he said. To start, he said, there would not be a lot of time to implement it before the next statewide elections in September. The Secretary of States Office would have to race to train town and city election officials in how to deal with the new documentary requirements, and they would need to reach out to voters to explain the changes, too, he said.

The Legislature has pushed forward two bills that would tighten voter registration and identification requirements. Here, voters in Dover fill out their ballots in November 2022.

Scanlan also told reporters he talked frankly with Gov. Chris Sununu Monday about the bills, in which he relayed his concerns.

I said basically the same thing that I said right here: It is something we can administer, but it will have its challenges, he said, recounting the conversation.

The Legislature has pushed forward two bills that would tighten voter registration and identification requirements. The first, House Bill 1569, would eliminate the affidavits that allow people to vote on Election Day if they do not have identification on them  under penalty of perjury. HB 1569 would also require voters to provide documentation of their citizenship with a birth certificate, passport, naturalization papers, or other proof, in order to register to vote for the first time. Currently, voters may attest to their citizenship without those papers.

The second bill, House Bill 1370, would create the same requirement as HB 1569 but would also allow Scanlans office to set up a call line that would allow local election officials to call state officials and seek proof of a voters citizenship. The Secretary of States Office could collaborate with the Division of Motor Vehicles and the Attorney Generals Office to do so, the bill states.

HB 1569 has passed both Republican-led chambers and is heading to the governors desk. HB 1370 is not yet heading to Sununu but is instead awaiting a final vote by the House and Senate on Thursday.

Republicans have said the two bills are efforts to increase confidence in New Hampshires elections by providing strong verification that every voter meets the citizenship, age, and domicile requirements.

But Democrats and voting rights groups argue the bills will block off voting for people who do meet those requirements but who dont have all the documentation on hand  particularly citizenship documents that can be hard to replace.

The governors office did not immediately respond to a request for comment about his conversations with Scanlan. In press conferences, Sununu has not directly stated whether he would sign or veto the bill, but he has said he does not see a need for more changes to election laws this year.

If signed by Sununu, both HB 1569 and HB 1370 would take effect immediately, meaning that they would affect the upcoming state primary on Sept. 10 and the general election on Nov. 5.

Scanlan said that immediate implementation would be difficult. We would have to start right away, he said.

Scanlan said he has had superficial conversations with other agencies about the bill, but that he did not know exactly how the hotline would work should the bill become law.

Republicans have argued that the call line could provide citizenship information for most voters who lacked documentation.

It is estimated that using the databases that we came up with in meetings with the Secretary of State, the Attorney Generals Office, and the DMV, that there will be very, very few people who will not be able to answer the questions about citizenship, about age, and about domicile, Sen. James Gray, a Rochester Republican, said on the Senate floor on May 16.

But Scanlan seemed more skeptical Monday. There is no central citizenship database, he said.

The secretary made his comments before the Special Committee on Voter Confidence. That committee, convened by Scanlan to look into voter concerns about New Hampshires election process after the 2020 presidential election, finished its work and issued recommendations in 2022. It reconvened Monday to hear a report from Scanlan detailing how his office has attempted to implement the recommendations.

Scanlan made clear he has not taken a formal position on the bill, noting that if signed, his office could be a defendant to any lawsuit filed to strike it down.

I fully expect it is going to be litigated, he said.

This story was originally published by the New Hampshire Bulletin.

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: NH secretary of state predicts lawsuits if voter ID bill becomes law
A tribal police car drives past a boarded up apartment complex on Main Street of Eagle Butte, South Dakota on the Cheyenne River Indian Reservation. (Makenzie Huber, South Dakota Searchlight)

A tribal police car drives past a boarded up apartment complex on Main Street of Eagle Butte, South Dakota on the Cheyenne River Indian Reservation. (Makenzie Huber, South Dakota Searchlight)

EDITORS NOTE: This story is the second in a series exploring the influence of drug cartels in South Dakota, on and off the states reservations. The first story can be found at this link.

For months, Gov. Kristi Noem has stoked controversy by calling on tribal leaders to banish the cartels.

But Noem has never mentioned 18-pound methamphetamine shipments from Arizona to Trent, population 218, by way of Mexico.

She hasnt publicly spoken about the Mexican nationals convicted recently for their roles in a locally led, Sioux Falls-based drug ring, or in a similar, larger ring investigated in Rapid City.

Nor has she talked about the California prison inmate who used an illegal cell phone to orchestrate the sale of more than 200 pounds of meth and 80,000 fentanyl pills  all cartel-sourced  in South Dakota.

Nobody is safe, said Ron Parsons, who served as U.S. attorney for the District of South Dakota under former President Donald Trump. The cartels are everywhere. They have distribution networks everywhere, and the end distributors are not from Mexico. Theyre usually from the local communities. Its in Sioux Falls, its in Rapid City, its in Aberdeen, its in the rural areas, and its in the tribal areas.

Save a handful of mentions of cartel narcotics as a statewide issue, Noem has focused her comments about drug cartels on tribal areas, painting the states reservations as lawless safe havens for criminals, made so by federal inaction at the U.S.-Mexico border and tribal corruption.

Tribal leaders have described feeling targeted and scapegoated for a statewide problem, and the monthslong episode scratched a generational wound. Tribes have struggled for decades to secure public safety dollars but remain underfunded, their leaders say, even as treaties obligate the federal government to provide adequate resources.

Tribal areas do have vulnerabilities other parts of the state do not, such as fewer law enforcement officers, jurisdictional challenges that can stop tribal police from arresting non-Natives, and high rates of poverty and drug abuse.

But Noems comments, including those accusing tribal leadership of personally benefiting from cartels, have soured relations with the states nine Native nations. Leaders from all nine have voted to ban Noem from their lands.

Tribal leaders have rejected allegations that tribal council members are benefitting from cartel activity. Lower Brule Tribal Chair Clyde Estes told South Dakota Searchlight that if theres evidence of collusion between drug dealers and tribal leaders, that evidence ought to be given to law enforcement so those leaders can be held accountable.

Other leaders have called out the governor for using stereotypes to build a narrative for political purposes.

Standing Rock Sioux Tribal Chairwoman Janet Alkire, in an April press release, called Noems remarks a sad reflection of her fear-based politics that do nothing to bring people together and solve problems.

Rosebud Sioux Tribal Chairman Scott Herman said in a March statement that Noems remarks were made from ignorance and with the intention to fuel a racially based and discriminatory narrative towards the Native people of South Dakota.

Crow Creek leader: My people are targeted

Some tribal leaders have long acknowledged a flow of drugs from cartels or affiliates to their communities and have decried a dearth of federal funding for tribal police. Theyve pointed out that the drugs come to reservations from larger cities.

Others have denied any direct cartel presence, though they acknowledge the impact of illegal narcotics.

Peter Lengkeek, chairman of the Crow Creek Sioux Tribe, said Noems comments carry a real-world impact for Native Americans, as they paint tribal citizens who already face racism as agents of crime based solely on their address.

Shes really created a dangerous environment for us by putting that out there, because now my people are targeted when we leave the reservation, Lengkeek said. Targeted by police, targeted by Trumpers, and targeted by South Dakotans who are blaming us now for the fentanyl issue here in the state of South Dakota.

The Crow Creek Sioux Tribe administration building in Ft. Thompson, SD. (John Hult/South Dakota Searchlight)

For Chase Iron Eyes, director of the Lakota Peoples Law Project, the trouble with the governors focus on tribes isnt about whether communities like his are at risk.

Its about whether pointing fingers hinders the kind of cooperation necessary to address the problem.

I agree in substance with what Kristi Noem is saying, Iron Eyes said. We do have to address this violence and the capacity of the cartels. But when she says things that truly hurt my children or piss my wife off, it becomes a standoff.

Noem has continued to press for cooperation amid the backlash and has taken a handful of tangible steps. Her office pushed for a tribal law enforcement training course in Pierre to help tribal recruits sidestep what would otherwise be a 13-week course in New Mexico. The Pierre training started this month. She also appointed Algin Young, former police chief for the Oglala Sioux Tribe, as tribal law enforcement liaison.

Most recently, she announced a Tribal Public Safety Crisis Summit and said shed invited leaders from tribal governments and law enforcement agencies to the event, although its unclear how many of the invited leaders will attend. Its set for June 24, the day after the 32nd annual reenactment of the Battle of Little Bighorn in Montana, an event thats often attended by South Dakota tribal representatives. Attorney General Marty Jackley, among the invitees, has a previous engagement.

Audits over funding

Ross Garelick Bell has lobbied in Pierre and Washington, D.C., for the Yankton Sioux and Rosebud Sioux tribes, often with the goal of boosting law enforcement funding.

Every year, he said, there are calls to fully fund law enforcement. Tribal leaders from across the U.S. again testified about their needs to the House Appropriations Interior Subcommittee on May 8.

Acting Oglala Sioux Tribal Police Chief John Pettigrew said his department is funded at about 15% of its needs. He asked for enough money to bring his officers pay and benefits on par with their federal and state counterparts.

To be real, I know this will never happen, Pettigrew said.

Noem sent a letter to the U.S. Senate Committee on Indian Affairs in February, asking the federal government to improve law enforcement funding and address wage disparities.

While in Congress, Garelick Bell said, Noem also talked about the policing needs of reservation communities. But then, as now, that talk was coupled with calls for audits, which he said leave tribes in the lurch as crime proliferates.

Her motto in Congress a lot of the time was, lets audit, audit, audit instead of fund, Garelick Bell said. And thats a delay tactic. You can audit while also funding.

John Pettigrew, acting police chief for the Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety. (courtesy U.S. House of Representatives Interior Appropriations)

He called Noems comments about tribes and cartels absurd.

It just didnt make sense, he said. And if youre saying that the tribes are the gateway cities, thats every city in the country. Because if youre talking about cartels, they run the drug business. You cant say its one area, not the other.

Tribal officers: More staff, coordination needed

Bob Ecoffey of Rapid City retired as the police chief of the Oglala Sioux Tribe in 2021 after more than four decades in tribal policing. Prior to his most recent stint as OST police chief, hed been a U.S. marshal and a Bureau of Indian Affairs supervisor.

Ecoffey draws a line between cartels and the drugs trafficked by individuals on tribal land.

I truly dont believe theres any cartels on any of the reservations, Ecoffey said. I think theres drugs that are coming in, probably from the cartels, from the bigger cities, Denver, Minneapolis, on through Rapid here down to the reservations.

Staffing for police agencies and jurisdictional challenges have been and remain the largest barriers to combating the drug epidemic, he said. Tribal police cant hold a non-tribal member, which has always created issues when wed catch someone.

Tribal members, meanwhile, can evade tribal authorities by leaving reservations.

People would be running back and forth on to the rez, either bringing drugs or taking drugs off, and coordination between tribal law enforcement and state was somewhat questionable, he said.

Its no secret. Theyre around. Theyve got their foothold in places, not just Indian Country, but also in South Dakota.

 Gary Gaikowski, police chief for Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate

Gary Gaikowski has an even greater need for coordination. Hes served as Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate police chief in northeastern South Dakota since 1997, and is currently a member of the states Law Enforcement Officers Standards and Training Commission.

Gaikowskis reservation is checkerboarded, meaning private, state and tribal lands intermingle across hundreds of thousands of acres in South Dakota, Minnesota and North Dakota. The same is true in South Dakota of the Flandreau Santee and Yankton Sioux tribes.

Working together needs to happen around here, Gaikowski said.

Cartels have had a presence in his area for a while, Gaikowski said. Ten years ago, he recalls drug activity around the regions dairy farms. That activity continues, he said, with his officers mostly dealing with foot soldiers who sell to undercover officers.

Dealers dont admit connections to larger networks, he said, but we know who theyre working for.

Its no secret. Theyre around, he said. Theyve got their foothold in places, not just Indian Country, but also in South Dakota.

Gaikowskis glad the issue is getting attention. But as far as tribal officials protecting dealers, Gaikowski said, he doesnt see that from his own tribal council.

Our tribal people hold their feet to the fire very well, Gaikowski said. They really cant get away with too much around here.

Lengkeek, the Crow Creek Tribal chairman, got so fed up with long response times and low staffing from the federal Bureau of Indian Affairs  Crow Creek relies on the BIA for law enforcement  that he pushed to set up an ad hoc security task force of tribal citizens to respond to public safety incidents. The tribal council ratified the task force last summer after a shooting in Fort Thompson.

The group responds to incidents and works to de-escalate situations, but its members do not carry firearms or have the ability to arrest people. Theyve received training in self-defense, mental health response and first aid.

Our task force has the tools to address those things in the middle of the night. Whatever they come across, they can handle it, Lengkeek said.

Tribes: Congress fails to act

Talk of cartel influence from tribal leaders at hearings in Washington, D.C., has emerged amid criticism of federal funding for law enforcement in Indian Country  or the lack thereof.

If we cannot stop the flow of drugs and the movement of the cartel on federal land under federal jurisdiction, something is very wrong with our current system, Oglala Sioux Tribal President Frank Star Comes Out told the U.S. Senate Committee on Indian Affairs in December.

The Oglala Sioux Tribe has twice sued the federal government for its alleged failure to adequately fund policing within the borders of its reservation, which encompasses a land area larger than Rhode Island and Delaware combined.

The Bureau of Indian Affairs uses what the tribe says are outdated population statistics to calculate its law enforcement needs, with a goal of placing 2.8 officers for every 1,000 reservation residents.

The tribe says it has more than 53,000 residents. The BIA uses a figure closer to 40,000, but still misses its officer coverage target.

Oglala Sioux Tribe President Frank Star Comes speaks to reporters Feb. 2023 after the first day of hearings in Oglala Sioux Tribe v. United States. The tribe alleges that the United States has failed their treaty obligations by providing inadequate law enforcement funding. (Photo by Shalom Baer Gee, Rapid City Journal)

At the BIAs lower population tally, the tribe should have 112 officers.

The United States currently only provides enough funding to employ 33 police officers and 8 criminal investigators, one of the tribes lawsuits states.

Solutions: Band-Aids vs. reform

U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds, R-South Dakota, has pushed for the placement of a permanent BIA academy in South Dakota.

Rounds has seen the issue from the perspective of a governor and U.S. senator. As with discussions of problems in the Indian Health Service (IHS), Rounds said, theres a lack of political will to tackle the problem.

This isnt a new issue, Rounds said in a statement to South Dakota Searchlight. For decades, weve made the case that the tribes are underfunded and suffer from bureaucratic roadblocks whether thats IHS, roads or public safety. This challenge dates back to the start of the treaties  and it doesnt matter which party is having lunch in the White House.

U.S. Rep. Dusty Johnson, R-South Dakota, pushed for the BIA to help out with this summers new law enforcement training course in Pierre for tribal recruits. Johnson has also co-sponsored bills to boost funding and benefits for tribes, including the Tribal COPS Act and the Invest to Protect Act.

Both those bills were submitted in the fall of 2022. Neither has made it to the House floor.

The bills help make the case for appropriations, he argued, but support is difficult to come by when youre $34 trillion in debt.

We do need to make the size of the whole pie bigger. But I also think we need to acknowledge that South Dakota tribes are not getting a fair share of the existing pie.

 U.S. Rep. Dusty Johnson, R-South Dakota

At a minimum, Johnson said, hed like to set up a congressional field hearing so elected officials can see the sheer size of South Dakotas tribal areas.

The BIA, he said needs to do a better job of prioritizing large-area tribes like Oglala and Rosebud.

We do need to make the size of the whole pie bigger, Johnson said. But I also think we need to acknowledge that South Dakota tribes are not getting a fair share of the existing pie.

Garelick Bell isnt surprised about how difficult its been to secure funding. Tribal areas simply dont have the representation in Congress to secure support.

Crow Creek Sioux Tribe Chairman Peter Lengkeek, left, and Lower Brule Sioux Tribe Chairman Clyde Estes, right, with U.S. Rep. Dusty Johnson, R-South Dakota, in November 2023. (Courtesy of Rep. Johnsons office)

The state training academy news was welcome, he said, inasmuch as its a win in an arena where tribes usually lose.

New York City issues may be more priority than South Dakota tribes, he said. Thats where it gets difficult to push for an increase.

Ecoffey said Congress could do a world of good with the stroke of a pen for large land-area tribes.

If you wrote an act that would say, OK, any tribe that has over 500,000 acres, were going to double their budget for law enforcement, he said, that would have a huge impact.

As for state and tribal cooperation, Iron Eyes said it will take a lot of bridge-building to reestablish good relations between the Noem administration and tribes.

It will be difficult, he said, but not impossible.

I think everyones redeemable, Iron Eyes said. We have to be willing to forgive each other and engage each other. Otherwise, things just stay the same.

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The post Noems banish the cartels obscures statewide drug problem, tribal leaders say appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
Southeast New Mexico leaders warned state lawmakers against overregulating the regions booming oil and gas economy via proposed statewide setbacks from oil and gas sites, which could define required distances between fossil fuel sites and homes, schools, bodies of water and other sensitive areas.

Local officials cautioned during a recent legislative meeting that such regulations intended to address environmental harm caused by fossil fuel production could stymie the states economy-defining industry.

Such setbacks were proposed during the 2024 Legislative Session concluding in February. Language was contained in House 133 which failed to pass even after the setbacks were stripped out during negotiations. Democrats signaled they could target new legislation to do so in the upcoming 2025 Legislative Session starting next January.

More: Oil spills down in New Mexico last year, study says, amid tougher regulations

Carlsbad Mayor Rick Lopez said the City of Carlsbad already put in place its own setbacks that he said were designed via collaboration with the industry and successfully mitigated environmental and public safety concerns in the Permian Basin oilfield city.

Carlsbad Mayor Rick Lopez address the Legislative Finance Committee during a meeting, June 11, 2024 at the Pecos River Village Conference Center in Carlsbad.

The Permian is the U.S. busiest oilfield is situated in the southeast corner of New Mexico, in Eddy and Lea counties, and West Texas. Its where New Mexicos oil and gas industry is centered and was credited with providing $13.9 billion to the states economy in Fiscal Year 2023, according to a report from the New Mexico Oil and Gas Association (NMOGA).

Lopez said oil and gas production must continue long-term in New Mexico, amid calls from environmental groups and lawmakers throughout the state to crack down on pollution purportedly caused by recent growth in fossil fuel operations.

Our community has crafted setbacks for oil and gas facilities, he said during a June 11 meeting of the Legislative Finance Committee in Carlsbad. We must continue to support and regulate this sector wisely and ensure it continues to be a pillar in our community and a partner in our growth.

Rep. Cathrynn Brown (R-55) of Carlsbad opposed a statewide setback rule as she said the effects of certain air quality issues differed based on the locality. She said such regulations should be left up to municipalities and local jurisdictions.

"I think we all want to be healthy. But what I see here is a true lack of science. To even think about doing this as a statewide rule doesnt make any sense to me," Brown said during the meeting. "If there is going to be any action taken it needs to be per locality. I question whether these setbacks are necessary based on the data."

New Mexico Rep. Cathrynn Brown (R-55) speaks during a meeting of Legislative Finance Committee, June 11, 2024 at the Pecos River Village Conference Center in Carlsbad.

More: Oil drilling, mining blocked from southeast New Mexico cave system

Oil and gas setbacks intended to limit health problems

Legislative Finance Committee Analyst Austin Davidson said the committee planned to hold another hearing on setbacks in September as the proposal was being considered. He said risks were higher for several health impacts like asthma, cancer and other respiratory problems for people living near oil and gas sites.

Davidson said 144,000 New Mexicans live less than a mile of oil and gas facilities, and that the state did not have statutory laws for setbacks that could address the concerns for those in frontline communities.

Setbacks are meant to alleviate the risks of diseases for people living near those facilities, Davidson said. Proximity has been associated with health risks.

Members of the New Mexico Legislative Finance Committee meet for an interim meeting, June 11, 2024 at the Pecos River Village Conference Center in Carlsbad.

Rep. Debra Sarinana (D-21) said the setbacks were intended to prevent vulnerable populations including children from breathing air pollutants associated with oil and gas. She said in some communities, like Eunice along New Mexicos eastern border to Texas, entire school districts are surrounded by oil and gas facilities, meaning students breathe in chemicals like benzene every day.

Its constant. And its happening here, Sarinana said.

Gunnar Schade, professor of atmospheric sciences at Texas A&M University detailed the findings of a study conducted in collaboration with ConocoPhillips in recent years of air quality in Loving, south of Carlsbad and surrounded by Permian Basin oilfields. He said there was a sharp increase in oil and gas production in this area since 2015, causing an increase in air pollution emissions tied to the industry.

Schade said pollutants included ethane, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which form ground-level ozone or smog when interacting with sunlight, along with nitrogen oxides and methane. Schade said all the pollutants discovered in the study were caused by oil and gas drilling operations the burning of excess natural gas known as flaring.

Pollutant levels in Loving were substantially higher, Schade said, than what the study found using similar monitoring in Colorado. Schade said this was because the New Mexico monitor was closer to oil and gas facilities and there was a higher number in the immediate area.

The main reason for this difference is that at our site in Loving we are surrounded by oil and gas sites, he said. Proximity and density make a large difference in what you are exposed to if you live there. And there are people living in the middle of the oilfield.

Adrian Hedden can be reached at achedden@currentargus.com or @AdrianHedden on the social media platform X.

This article originally appeared on Carlsbad Current-Argus: New Mexico oil and gas industry opposes setbacks for fossil fuel sites
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.
CHIBA, Jun 12 (News On Japan) - An 80-year-old man has been arrested in Chiba Prefecture for keeping weakened cats in deplorable conditions with accumulated feces and failing to provide proper care.

Katsunori Ito, a resident of Kisarazu City, is suspected of violating the Animal Welfare Act by keeping injured and weakened cats in a building owned by a relative in Futtsu City. The building was found to be in deplorable conditions with accumulated feces and abandoned cat carcasses.

A contractor, who had been asked by relatives to enter the building, discovered emaciated cats and the skeletal remains of a cat.

The contractor who entered the building said, The moment I opened the door, there was an overwhelming stench and a pile of garbage. There were also containers for drinking water, but they were filled with moss and insects. Underneath a cardboard box, I found the skeletal remains of a cat. Most of the cats appeared to be emaciated.

Ito denies the allegations, stating, I didn't intend to abuse them.

Source: ANN
HOKKAIDO, Jun 12 (News On Japan) - Two women, aged 21 and 19, were arrested for the murder of a high school girl from Rumoi City, Hokkaido, after allegedly pushing her off a bridge in Asahikawa City.

In April, 17-year-old Tsuki Murayama from Rumoi City went missing, prompting her family to file a report. Police found her body late last month near the Ishikari River in Asahikawa City.

Following the investigation, police arrested Riko Uchida, 21, and another 19-year-old unemployed woman on June 12 on suspicion of murder. They are accused of pushing Murayama off the Kamui Bridge in the Kamui Kotan district, upstream of the river.

The two suspects had already been arrested for confining Murayama in a car with other teenagers from April 18 to 19. Uchida was also arrested on April 24 on extortion charges against Murayama.

Murayama had reportedly been involved in a dispute with Uchida over social media images and was called out on the day of the incident.

Source: ANN
AICHI, Jun 12 (News On Japan) - A university student has been arrested on suspicion of trespassing at a junior high school in Inuyama City, Aichi Prefecture, after a shocked staff member found the man in a closet wrapped in a futon.

In the room where the man was discovered on June 6, there were signs that tea had been drunk and desks had been rifled through, suggesting he may have been living in the school building for several days.

Makki Kotake, the principal of Inuyama Municipal East Middle School, said, 'We have no idea about his motives or who he is.'

At a parent briefing, the school disclosed that the security camera at the main gate was malfunctioning and acknowledged the security lapse.

One parent commented, 'I am shocked by the lack of proper management. I want to know if there was any harm to the children.'

The school stated that it would take thorough measures to prevent a recurrence.

Source: ANN
TOKYO, Jun 12 (News On Japan) - Japan Airlines has submitted measures to prevent a recurrence of safety incidents, including prohibiting staff from drinking alcohol while staying overnight.

Japan Airlines President Mitsuko Tottori said, 'We sincerely apologize to society and our customers for the inconvenience caused.'

On June 11th, Tottori visited the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport, and Tourism to submit recurrence prevention measures following five safety incidents since November of last year, including collisions between aircraft wings at Haneda Airport.

Due to incidents involving pilots drinking with colleagues, the prevention measures include a temporary ban on all pilots and cabin crew from drinking alcohol while staying overnight.

Japan Airlines also plans to reinforce the safety awareness of its management and to enhance employee education.

Source: ANN
 Flash

The BRICS Foreign Ministers' Dialogue with Developing Countries (BRICS+) was held in the Russian city of Nizhny Novgorod on June 11, 2024. [Photo/Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs]

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Tuesday attended the BRICS Foreign Ministers' Dialogue with Developing Countries (BRICS+) in the Russian city of Nizhny Novgorod.

The dialogue saw participation from the BRICS countries and 12 major developing countries with regional influence, including Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Kazakhstan, Belarus, Turkiye, Mauritania, Cuba, Venezuela and Bahrain.

Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, stated that BRICS+ serves as a vital dialogue platform for the BRICS nations towards the broader emerging markets and developing countries. It has long been a dynamic force for BRICS development and has become a flag of South-South cooperation.

The Chinese foreign minister noted that we are in an era of turmoil and chaos. The Ukraine crisis and Gaza conflict are protracted, challenges like cybersecurity and climate change are emerging one after another, and a certain country, in order to maintain its unipolar hegemony, is rallying allies for unilateral sanctions, erecting protectionist walls, and weaponizing economic and financial measures. In addition, the North-South divide is widening, and the global economic recovery has faced setbacks.

Meanwhile, the collective rise of emerging markets and developing countries significantly drives the process towards a multipolar world. A new wave of technological and industrial revolutions is emerging, propelling numerous countries onto a fast development track, Wang pointed out.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi attends the BRICS Foreign Ministers' Dialogue with Developing Countries (BRICS+) in the Russian city of Nizhny Novgorod on June 11, 2024. [Photo/Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs]

The Global South is no longer a silent majority but a new awakened force, he stressed.

The Chinese foreign minister made a three-point proposal on how developing countries can create new opportunities amidst these changes: uphold universal security and jointly address challenges; prioritize development and join hands with progressive forces; and uphold fairness and justice, and improve global governance.

During the meeting, the participants highly praised the strategic significance of the BRICS Foreign Ministers' Dialogue with Developing Countries, noting that the BRICS+ model facilitates unity and cooperation among developing countries, enhancing the Global South's influence and building a more just and reasonable international order.

They agreed to uphold the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter, oppose unilateralism and hegemonism, insist on resolving conflicts and differences through dialogue and consultation, promote political solutions to international hotspots, and achieve a ceasefire in Gaza as soon as possible.

They also called for reforms to the international financial system, enhanced cooperation in digital economy, infrastructure and other areas, safeguarding the stability of the global industrial supply chain, narrowing the development gap, and achieving shared progress.

On Tuesday, Wang also met with Thai Foreign Minister Maris Sangiampongsa, and exchanged views with other foreign ministers attending the dialogue.
OSAKA, Jun 12 (News On Japan) - Former President of Presance Corporation, Shinobu Yamagishi (61), who was acquitted of embezzlement charges, has filed a lawsuit seeking 770 million yen in compensation from the government, claiming illegal interrogation by the Osaka District Public Prosecutors Office.

Witness testimony in the case was heard on June 11 at the Osaka District Court. In the courtroom, a video was shown of former Osaka prosecutor Daisuke Tabuchi (52), now with the Tokyo High Public Prosecutors Office, interrogating a former subordinate of Yamagishi. The video captured Tabuchi accusing the subordinate of being 'a great sinner who tarnished Presance's reputation.'

Source: Kyodo
TOKYO, Jun 12 (News On Japan) - A woman died after being trapped by her neck in an escalator at a Tokyo supermarket on Wednesday morning, highlighting the need for improved safety measures in the wake of similar incidents.

The incident occurred at the OK Higashifushimi store in Nishitokyo. The accident happened on an escalator leading to the basement floor.

Footage and photos taken immediately after the incident show emergency responders at the scene. An eyewitness who took the footage described the scene.

Eyewitness: 'More than 10 paramedics were performing emergency procedures. It was terrifying. Later, I found out the woman was in her 80s, which made me think of my mother and feel very sorry for her.'

The accident occurred at around 10:30 a.m. on June 12th. The 119 emergency call reported that the woman had been 'trapped by her neck' in the escalator.

User: '(Q. Where does the escalator lead to?) It leads to the lower store. They said, 'The escalator is not usable now.''

The woman, in her 80s, was using a pushcart. She was found lying on her back near the bottom of the escalator, with her neck caught in the left side of the handrail intake.

She was taken to the hospital in cardiopulmonary arrest but was later confirmed dead.

In March this year, a similar incident occurred at JR Mito Station, making this the second escalator accident this year. We spoke to a maintenance specialist to understand more.

Sano Eiji, Kyoto Elevator Maintenance Specialist: 'I didn't expect such incidents to happen consecutively. I wonder if we will see more of these.'

The incident raises questions about escalator safety mechanisms, such as the safety devices designed to activate when foreign objects are caught.

The supermarket where the accident occurred opened in March this year. A user described the speed of the escalator.

User: 'It's very slow, almost annoyingly so. They have implemented safety measures.'

According to the Metropolitan Police Department, the woman is believed to have fallen for some reason just before the accident.

The safety device should stop the escalator when foreign objects are caught. Could there be a scenario where it doesn't activate?

Sano Eiji, Kyoto Elevator Maintenance Specialist: 'The switch will activate for large objects, but there is a possibility that thin items, clothing, or scarves could slip into the gaps.'

Source: ANN
Federal, state and local agencies  working in conjunction with farming industry groups  will host a one-day Agriculture Recovery Center in Pottawattamie County on Thursday to help Iowans recover from spring tornado and storm damage.

The walk-through event, designed as resource fair, will provide information on addressing agricultural or rural needs that are not covered by standard programs offered by Federal Emergency Management Agency or the state government, according to a news release.

The Pottawattamie County center will run noon to 8 p.m. at the Treynor Community Center, 11 W. Main St. Additional Agriculture Recovery Centers are planned for Union and Polk counties.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Iowa Insurance Division and other government agencies are working with industry organizations such as Iowa Pork Producers, Iowa Soybean and Iowa Cattlemen to ensure unmet needs are identified and resources are shared.

Find the Iowa Disaster Agriculture Resource Guide at iowa.gov/agricultural-resources.
Whether the luck of the Irish was with them or if a divine power intervened, emergency personnel are thankful that no injuries were reported in an explosion that rocked ONeill before sunrise on Monday.
Region 11 emergency management is encouraging safe driving with the fall changes that drivers are experiencing. From the end of daylight saving time to active wildlife to Halloween, there are many things that drivers need to be on the lookout for.
Morocco, under the leadership of King Mohammed VI, firmly supports all initiatives aimed at establishing a lasting ceasefire in Gaza, delivering humanitarian aid, and protecting civilians, said head of the Moroccan Government Aziz Akhannouch on Tuesday.

Akhannouch who was addressing the high-level International Conference on the Urgent Humanitarian Response to Gaza, hosted by Jordan, emphasized Moroccos call for a serious and constructive approach to these initiatives, advocating for the necessary conditions to achieve a two-state solution.

The situation in Gaza cannot be summarized by the shocking numbers of civilian casualties, the massive destruction, or the reports of on-the-ground horrors. It is an unprecedented humanitarian tragedy, with over 2.3 million people in Gaza living in unbearable conditions, Akhannouch stated.

The head of government highlighted the dire conditions in Gaza, exacerbated by the ongoing blockade and restricted access to aid. Life in the Gaza Strip, the most densely populated area in the world, has become a living hell, marked by insecurity and lack of access to water, food, and medicine, he added.

Akhannouch recalled the directives of King Mohammed VI, Chairman of the Al-Quds Committee, who ordered the urgent dispatch of humanitarian aid to Palestinians in Gaza and Al-Quds, along with additional scholarships for Palestinian students to attend Moroccan institutions.

Reiterating Moroccos commitment, Akhannouch stated, the Kingdom of Morocco is fully prepared to continue providing assistance and support to the Palestinians. Aid aimed at saving lives and alleviating suffering should never be held hostage by political conflicts.

He emphasized the necessity of ensuring the smooth and unrestricted delivery of humanitarian aid through all crossing points, an argument consistently stressed by King Mohammed VI.

Morocco also insists that UN agencies, particularly UNRWA, must be allowed to conduct their humanitarian missions without obstacles. Akhannouch condemned any attempts at forced displacement and targeting of civilians, regardless of the reasons and justifications.

Military solutions, he noted, will not bring peace or stability. Managing this conflict without a reasonable prospect for a solution will not ensure lasting security, Akhannouch warned.

Akhannouch, who reaffirmed Moroccos longstanding position, reiterated the justness of the Palestinian cause and support for the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people to establish an independent state within the June 4, 1967 borders, with East Al-Quds as its capital, based on the two-state solution. Dialogue and negotiation, he emphasized, are the only means to achieve a lasting, just, and comprehensive peace to prevent further humanitarian catastrophes.

The conference, organized jointly by Jordan, Egypt, and the United Nations under the theme Call to Action: Urgent Humanitarian Aid for Gaza, aims to bolster the international communitys response to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. The event saw the attendance of UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, heads of state and government from over 75 countries, and representatives of humanitarian organizations and international financial institutions.

World leaders participating at the conference called on both Israel and Hamas to back a ceasefire proposal endorsed at the UN Security Council, saying it is the best way to alleviate suffering.

Actually, the conference was held on the morrow of the adoption by the UN Security Council of a resolution endorsing a US-backed ceasefire proposal that aims to end Israels eight-month assault on Gaza.

Fourteen countries voted for the United States-sponsored resolution, with Russia abstaining.

The resolution welcomes a three-phase ceasefire proposal announced by US President Joe Biden on may 31. The proposal calls for an initial six-week ceasefire and the exchange of some Israeli captives held in Gaza for Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails, the withdrawal of Israeli forces from populated areas in Gaza and the return of Palestinian civilians to all areas in the territory.

The second phase would include a permanent ceasefire and the release of the remaining captives. The third phase would involve a reconstruction effort for the devastated Gaza Strip.

The proposal urges Israel and Hamas to fully implement its terms without delay and without condition.
Morocco and Slovenia agreed to strengthen their political and economic partnership and decided to open embassies in their respective capitals, Rabat and Ljubljana.

The decision was made Tuesday in Rabat during talks between visiting Slovenian Foreign Minister Tanja Fajon and her Moroccan peer Nasser Bourita.

We welcome Slovenias decision to open an embassy in Rabat. This is also an opportunity for the Kingdom to announce its decision to open an embassy in Ljubljana, said Nasser Bourita, at a press briefing following the talks.

Bourita, who noted that bilateral relations have developed over the past ten years, expressed hope that the two embassies will open at the beginning of 2025, at the latest, and pointed out that the move will give new momentum to bilateral ties that have existed for over 30 years and strengthen the political dialogue between the two parties.

These relations have always been based on mutual respect and fruitful partnership, he said, recalling that King Mohammed VI has always called for the diversification of Moroccos partnerships within the European Union, and relations with Slovenia are part of this diversification. He also welcomed the fact that Slovenia is among Moroccos credible partners.

Nasser Bourita noted that the two capitals share a convergence of views on regional and international issues, particularly at multilateral meetings and regarding the strengthening of consultation. However, on the economic front, he lamented the insufficiency of exchanges and stressed the importance of further strengthening bilateral cooperation and making the most of economic potential particularly in the automotive, aeronautics, industry, tourism, food security, and pharmaceutical sectors.

In this connection, the Foreign Minister proposed the holding of a business forum for economic operators from both countries.

He also highlighted Slovenias role in promoting Moroccos relations with the European Union, reaffirming that the country has always been an active player in the development of the Kingdoms relations with the EU, in favor of a balanced and mutually beneficial partnership based on common interests and understanding of each partys priorities.

Echoing Bourita, the Slovenian Foreign Minister, who is also Deputy Prime Minister, described relations between Morocco and Slovenia as excellent and expressed her countrys desire to develop bilateral relations and strengthen cooperation with the Kingdom in various areas of common interest.

Morocco is one of Slovenias most important trade partners at the African and Mediterranean levels, she said, expressing the wish to see this momentum extended to other key sectors, including economy, tourism, culture, and education.

With regard to relations between Morocco and the EU, Fajon welcomed the Kingdoms role in its important and balanced partnership with the EU.

As highlighted in the joint communique issued at the end of the meeting, the Slovenian official also addressed the resolution of the dispute over the Moroccan Sahara based on the autonomy initiative and Moroccan sovereignty.

In this regard, she stated that Slovenia welcomes the Moroccan autonomy plan as a good basis for reaching a definitive and consensual solution to the regional dispute over the Sahara, under the auspices of the United Nations Secretary-General and his personal envoy.

The minister also praised Moroccos serious and credible efforts to achieve a political, realistic, pragmatic, durable, mutually acceptable solution based on compromise to the Sahara issue.

The two ministers insisted on the UN-exclusive role in the political process engaged for the settlement of the Sahara conflict on the basis of the UN Security Council resolutions, including resolution 2703 of October 30, 2023.

Slovenia is the 16th European Union country that supports the serious and credible Autonomy Plan presented by Morocco in 2007 as the only acceptable and doable solution to the Sahara regional conflict.

The Slovenian Foreign Minister is paying an official visit to Morocco, at the invitation of Bourita, to mark the 32nd anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
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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.
The European Unions migration deals with Tunisia and Mauritania have proved to be controversial, with the former strongly criticized for fundamental rights violations of migrants stranded in the north African country, while the latter has not discouraged thousands of Africans from increasingly going through Mauritania to reach European shores.

In July 2023, the EU signed with Tunisia a Memorandum of Understanding on a Strategic and Global Partnership, mainly aimed at stemming migration in exchange for strengthened cooperation in other policy areas.

In April 2024, the EU granted 210 million in aid to Mauritania, nearly 60 million of which was earmarked to fight illegal migrants trying to reach the Canary Islands in a bid to eventually reach continental Europe.

But both deals were met with strong criticism from both civil society and institutional bodies such as the European Parliament, the European Ombudsman, and several EU member states. As a recent analysis in the Netherlands International Law Review points out, the EU policy trend of externalizing migration control through partnerships with third countries generate concerns about EUs complicity in the fundamental rights violations of migrants.

While fewer people landing on Italian shores looks like a success, critics point to the ensuing logjam on the Tunisian coastline that is feeding anger and despair among migrants and Tunisians. The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (UNHCR) said recently it was very concerned by the increased targeting in Tunisia of migrants, mostly from south of the Sahara, and individuals and organizations working to assist them. The UNHCR also highlighted a rise in the use of dehumanizing and racist rhetoric against Black migrants and Black Tunisians.

Meanwhile, though the EU-Mauritania deal sought to discourage the illegal migrants to take the treacherous journey by small boats from Mauritanias coast to Spains Canary Islands, the reality is that migrants are increasingly going through the west African country. As the EU is struggling to secure more migration deals with countries like Niger, this has not deterred flows of migrants, mostly from the Central Sahel and the Gulf of Guinea, from heading to Nouadhibou in Mauritanias northwest, making it a migratory crossroads and transit hub.
Cash-strapped Tunisia will get 450 million euros from the European Investment Bank to fund small and medium-sized enterprises and infrastructure projects, the bank said.

The financing deal will be signed on Thursday at the Tunisia Investment, the bank said in a statement, adding that the loan will benefit high-impact projects for the population and the countrys economic and social development.

The funding will play a crucial role in the creation of jobs, stimulating innovation and promoting balanced development to benefit all Tunisians, the EIBs new vice-president in charge of financing in the Maghreb region, Ioannis Tsakiris, said in the statement.

The financing includes a line of credit worth 170 million euros for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises, which make up 90 percent of the countrys businesses and employ 60 percent of the workforce, according to the bank.

It will also provide 210 million euros to develop the strategic route between Tunisias second city of Sfax on its eastern coast and the remote, underserved Kasserine area in the west.

A loan of 45 million euros will be granted to finance the ELMED electricity linkage project between Tunisia and Italy.

Tunisia has struggled to access funding by international financial institutions following the power grab of President Kais Saied who objected to carry out reforms preconditioned to receive a $2bln lifeline from the IMF.
South Africas ANC, which ruled the country for three decades, seeks to join a coalition government after it obtained only 40% of the votes in the May 29 elections.

The debacle of ANC was expected as polls showed a falling popularity of the party that ruled what used to be Africas richest country since the fall of apartheid regime.

ANCs quest to stay in power through entering into coalition is a rocky road that could force it to negotiate an alliance with the second largest party in the vote, The Democratic Alliance (DA) which won 22% of the ballot.

However, an alliance with DA would mean a huge compromise for ANC to co-rule with a party that does not share the same anti-white slogans.

In South Africa, the whites still dominate the economy, despite black empowerment measures enacted during the ANC rule, which left a legacy of corruption and nepotism with many ANC ministers charged with corruption.

After the defense minister, who underwent trials for graft, Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture Zizi Kodwa, another ANC member, was arrested and charged with taking bribes.

Government corruption was seen as one of the issues that prompted a majority of South Africans to turn away from the ANC in the election.

South Africans also blame the ANC for failing public services, notably dry taps and long power outages that undermined the competitiveness of the South African economy and worsened living conditions.

Under the ANC, South Africa became notorious for a surge in criminality making its cities ones of the most insecure in Africa.
Moroccos tourism sector is poised to outperform last years record with the arrival of 6 million tourists in the first five months of this year, tourism minister Fatima Ezzahra Ammour said.

The number of arrivals was 770,000 higher compared to the same period last year, as Morocco continues to attract international hotel brands to invest in the country, the minister told members of the Upper House.

In 2023, she said, 135 international hotels opened branches in Morocco, bolstering the countrys offer.

The minister, who is also in charge of handicrafts, noted that Moroccan craftsmen shed Covid-19 dust as the sector registered 11 billion dirhams in exports last year.

Tourism continues to represent 7% of Moroccos GDP and employs 2.5 million people directly and indirectly, she said.

Morocco has a tourism promotion roadmap that aims to invest 6.1 billion dirhams to attract 17.5 million tourists in 2026 and 26 million tourists by 2030.

In two years the sector should be able to generate revenue worth 120 billion dirhams in hard currency, she said.
Iran bought 300 tons of uranium from Niger to be used for its nuclear program in exchange of drones and surface-to-air missiles, London-based media Iran International reported.

The news came in a long report earlier this month by Iranian-American reporter Banafsheh Zand, echoing an earlier report on Africa Intelligence that raised secret talks between Tehran and Niamey to acquire uranium.

Niger military junta denied the transaction, reportedly worth $56 million, as Iran seeks the concentrated yellow uranium substance to speed up its nuclear weapons program.

French Le Monde also confirmed the deal between Iran and Niger, noting the mine in Arlit where concentrated uranium is abundant is extracted by French company Orano.

Members of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) rebuked Iran for its lack of cooperation with agency inspectors and the UK, France and Germany wrote to the UN Security Council denouncing Irans violations of the 2015 nuclear deal.

Although Nigers authorities denied the deal, Niamey has been surfing on anti-western rhetoric and has been at loggerheads with France while asking the US to withdraw its troops. Meanwhile Niger tilts closer to Russia as does its neighbors.
Morocco has warmly welcomed the adoption by the UN Security Council of Resolution 2735, which calls for a three-phase ceasefire in Gaza and outlines a significant multi-year reconstruction plan for the Palestinian territory, as a positive step.

Moroccos response to the adoption of the US-sponsored resolution was expressed by Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita, during a joint press conference in Rabat on Tuesday with his Slovenian peer Tanja Fajon.

The resolution, adopted on Monday, urges an immediate, total, and complete ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, a full withdrawal of Israeli forces, and the return of displaced persons.

Bourita expressed Moroccos approval of the UN call for peace and reconstruction.

Morocco considers this resolution a positive step towards halting the war, said Bourita. He emphasized that this aligns with the call made by King Mohammed VI, Chairman of the Al-Quds Committee, for an immediate, total, and enduring end to hostilities. The Sovereign has also pleaded for the unimpeded delivery of humanitarian aid through all crossing points into Gaza and rejected any form of population displacement, while underscoring that Gaza is an integral part of the Palestinian territories.

Bourita highlighted that the resolution fits within the broader vision of King Mohammed VI to resolve a long-standing conflict through adherence to international law and the resolutions of international legitimacy, supporting a two-state solution. He stressed that negotiations remain the only viable path to achieving this goal.

The Minister expressed hope that all parties involved will adhere to the resolutions terms to alleviate the suffering of civilian populations, who have endured eight months of destructive warfare with devastating humanitarian impacts.

Bourita also reaffirmed Moroccos support for the proposals made by U.S. President Joseph Biden on May 31, which aim to establish a lasting ceasefire in Gaza, facilitate humanitarian aid access, protect civilians, enable the return of displaced persons, and rebuild the war-torn areas.

This endorsement of Resolution 2735 reflects Moroccos ongoing commitment to peace and stability in the region, advocating for international cooperation to address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and work towards a sustainable resolution.

The UN Security Council adopted on Monday the resolution endorsing a US-backed ceasefire proposal that aims to end Israels eight-month assault on Gaza.

Fourteen countries voted for the United States-sponsored resolution, with Russia abstaining.
Photo-Illustration: Intelligencer; Photos: Getty Images

Since the U.S. Supreme Court reversed Roe v. Wade about two years ago, voters in seven states (Kansas, Kentucky, California, Michigan, Vermont, Montana, and Ohio) have been given an opportunity to weigh in on abortion policy. Pro-choice forces have won all seven. With Republican-controlled state legislatures imposing forced-birth regimes in large swaths of the country and Democrats envisioning a blue wave of voters seeking to restore abortion rights, efforts to secure November 2024 ballot measures have multiplied. And while its unclear at this juncture exactly how many states will hold votes on abortion policy, the odds of a continued pro-choice winning streak remain pretty good, according to the available polling.

Four states will definitely hold ballot tests on the issue. Two are in safely blue states  Colorado and Maryland  though Colorados will require a 55 percent supermajority. Both initiatives would establish a straightforward state-constitutional right to an abortion without reference to any gestational stage (e.g., the viability standard set out by Roe and Casey), and Colorados would also repeal a prior ban on state funding of abortions. Though no public polling on these initiatives is available, Marylands is considered a slam dunk and Colorados is expected to win.

Two abortion-right initiatives in red states are also likely to be approved; the most abundant polling is on Floridas; the proposed constitutional amendment would overturn the states current six-week abortion ban and restore the Roe/Casey standard allowing pre-viability abortions. As FiveThirtyEight notes, all five polls on the amendment show it leading by a significant margin, with the average being 56 percent in favor, 26 percent opposing, and 17 percent undecided. The most recent survey, an early June poll from Fox News, gives the initiative a 69 to 27 percent lead. A 60 percent supermajority is required.

South Dakotas proposed constitutional amendment would restore Roes original trimester scheme governing abortion restrictions (which was later eliminated by Casey in favor of a simple viability standard), allowing health-related restrictions in the second trimester of pregnancy and a ban in the third trimester (with a life-and-health-of-the-mother exception). This measure is so distant from an abortion-rights guarantee that several major reproductive-rights advocacy groups arent backing it. But its proponents are marketing it as a compromise measure, and the one public poll available (from the University of South Dakota in late May) shows it leading by a 53 to 35 percent margin.

Many eyes are on likely abortion-rights measures in the presidential and U.S. Senate battlegrounds of Arizona and Nevada. Arizonas proposed state-constitutional amendment restoring the Roe/Casey viability standard picked up steam in April when the states Supreme Court restored a harsh and total 19th-century abortion ban; the Republican-controlled legislature quickly overrode it with a 15-week ban, but alarms went off in the electorate. A May CBS News poll showed the proposed amendment leading by a three-to-one margin (65 to 21 percent), and an early June Fox News poll gave the initiative an even bigger lead of 70 to 27. Nevada has not enacted any abortion restrictions since Roe fell, but a measure to enshrine a right to pre-viability abortions in the state constitution is expected to make it to the ballot. A June Fox News poll showed it leading by a huge 73 to 22 percent margin. Nevada law requires that constitutional amendments offered via ballot initiatives pass twice before becoming effective, so the issue is likely to come up again in 2026.

There are four other states where a November ballot initiative could appear if petition signature collections meet the standards set out in each jurisdiction. Like the South Dakota initiative, a proposed constitutional amendment in Arkansas would fall short of a full restoration of protection of pre-viability abortions, much less an unconditional right to choose, and has thus been denied full support from some reproductive rights advocates. But in a deep-red state with a near-total abortion ban, it remains highly controversial. Theres no specific public polling available on the initiative, but past surveys have shown a slim pro-choice majority in Arkansas despite the universal opposition of Republican statewide election officials.

Proponents of a state constitutional amendment in Missouri protecting pre-viability abortions claim far more petitions than they need for ballot access. A February 2024 poll from St. Louis University showed 44 percent of Missouri voters favoring the amendment and 37 percent opposing it.

In Montana, a state where voters defeated a restrictive ballot measure in 2022, abortion is legal as Republicans seek ways to circumvent pro-choice court decisions. Its unclear whether proponents of a constitutional amendment to establish a clear right to pre-viability abortions will succeed in placing it on the ballot. If they do, a 2023 survey from Middle Forks Strategies shows 60 percent support for abortion rights, but significant resistance to constitutional amendments.

The most complicated situation over abortion ballot initiatives is in Nebraska, where two competing constitutional amendments seem likely to make the ballot. One would enshrine the current state ban on abortions after 12 weeks of pregnancy while enabling further restrictions by the legislature. The other would re-establish a right to pre-viability abortions. Both measures could pass, in which case the one securing the most votes would be added to the constitution. Polling by the ACLU in late 2022 showed a solid majority of Nebraskans opposing a total ban on abortion, though its unclear how well the more limited ban likely to be on the 2024 ballot would fare.

All in all, pro-choice ballot wins seem likely in Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Maryland, Montana, Nevada, and South Dakota, while the situation is iffier (in terms of ballot access, voter passage, or both) in Arkansas, Missouri, and Nebraska. You could argue, of course, that presidential, congressional, and state elections in November will in part be ballot measures on abortion rights given the partisan polarization that exists on this issue. A sweep for pro-choice Democrats in those offices is less likely.
A South Carolina man armed with a knife was shot and killed in an officer-involved shooting on Tuesday in Opelika, Opelika police has announced.

Lee County Coroner Daniel Sexton confirmed that Damion Ladeal Jones, 31, of Easley, S.C., was pronounced dead at 2:54 p.m. on Tuesday near exit 58 on Interstate 85.

Police say on Tuesday at approximately 2:35 p.m., the Opelika Police Department received a call regarding a vehicle crash on Interstate 85 involving an 18-wheeler and a passenger car. Opelika officers responded to the scene and they were confronted by a subject, later identified as Jones, armed with a knife, authorities said.

OPD said that the incident ultimately led to an officer-involved shooting and Jones was pronounced dead at the scene.

Sexton said that Jones' body has been transported to the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences' Montgomery Medical Facility for postmortem examination.

The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency/State Bureau of Investigations was called in to investigate the incident, in accordance with department protocol. OPD said that all evidence and videos will be turned over to SBI for their investigation.

Once SBI has completed a full and thorough investigation, the results will be turned over to the Lee County District Attorneys Office who will present the findings to a Lee County Grand Jury, authorities said. OPD said any further inquiries about the investigation should be directed to SBI or the Lee County District Attorneys office.

This is a developing story. The Opelika-Auburn News will update this news article as soon as we learn more.
The search for broadband internet access for unserved Loachapoka residents continues as the Lee County Commission re-opened the Loachapoka project for applications from internet service providers.

On Monday, the Lee County Commission had to effectively restart the Loachapoka Broadband project after Point Broadband, who had initially been awarded the project, said they would be unable to complete it. The commission voted unanimously to rescind the ARPA Broadband Grant award and reissue the Loachapoka project application.

"I think we were all blindsided by Point Broadband not going through with what they agreed to do," District 2 Commissioner Ross Morris said during the meeting. "I just want the people of Loachapoka served. I think if we act quickly we can get a new bid out there and get a contractor that will actually follow through what they say they're going to do and we'll get them some service."

In 2023, the Lee County Commission voted to spend up to $4.3 million of American Rescue Plan Act funds on broadband internet access for Lee County residents. In November 2023, the commission awarded the first three grants to companies to provide broadband access to unserved areas of Lee County. The grants were awarded to Point Broadband for the Loachapoka region, R.M. Greene, Inc. for the Salem region and BEAM for the South Central region.

Shortly after those grants were awarded, it was discovered that some areas in Loachapoka had already been served by Spectrum, and the commission would have to rework the project with Point Broadband to serve new areas. During the last meeting of May, County Administrator Holly Leverette explained that Point Broadband said they would not be able to complete the project. During that meeting, the commission voted to give the company until June 10 to provide a signed contract or a written notice that said they could not do the project.

Leverette said on Monday that the commission received an official letter from Point Broadband saying they could not complete the project.

"The people basically at Point that bid on this project, that did all the paperwork and put the numbers together are no longer there. So there's new people, new eyes looking at this project. And they've just said they could not agree to the terms that their other employees had presented," Leverette said.

Leverette said there are two main providers in the area, Point Broadband and Spectrum. She said she heard from Spectrum and that the company is interested in applying. Morris said he and District 1 Commissioner Doug Cannon spoke with Point Broadband before Monday's meeting and that they said they would be interested in applying if the project was re-opened.

There were some questions raised from Commission Chairman and Lee County Probate Judge Bill English regarding if Point Broadband could even reapply due to bid law. English asked if they were prohibited from re-applying due to failing to meet the first bid, but Leverette said she believed that was the case in official bid law and that this instance was not an official bid.

During the discussions, Leverette confirmed that some houses in the original project area that have since been served by Point Broadband. English referred to that as cherry picking.

District 5 Commissioner Richard LaGrand Sr. expressed his frustration at the entire situation, particularly that he felt blindsided by the change from Point Broadband and would like to be more informed. Additionally, LaGrand said after all of the progress made for getting unserved residents access to broadband internet, it felt like they were right back where they started.

"They say life is a great big circle where you end right back where you started. It looks like we're right back where we started with children having to go to Burger King to do their homework," LaGrand said. "I've been telling them 'OK, you're gonna have some internet,'...now all of a sudden, this is what I got to go back and tell the folks, 'Nope we've got to redo it."

Not just for recreation

Lakiesha Young-Hicks, a Loachapoka resident, says she feels the same way. Young-Hicks has spoken at several commission meetings about the need for broadband internet access in Loachapoka and as a resident, she is still without broadband.

"It's frustrating, very frustrating to say we're going to get internet, then you don't know if you're going to get internet to maybe today we might possibly get it," Young-Hicks said. "But the thing is, the money has to be allocated by December of this year. But it could be 2026 before we get anything. So we're in this waiting period. But it's really frustrating."

Young-Hicks said some of her cousins did not have internet during the Covid-19 pandemic and she saw how that affected them during school. Beyond even that, she said broadband internet could help with security. She is hoping to set up security cameras at her home but would need broadband to do it, and she had a friend that lived in Beauregard during the 2019 tornadoes that did not have broadband internet.

"She didn't have internet. So once the TV went out, you couldn't see the news. You had to rely on your phone. Well, if your cell phone isn't picking up, and all you have is your weather radio, maybe everybody didn't have a weather radio," Young-Hicks said. "That's why it's important. Not that we want to stream and watch movies and all that but security, safety, education. We need broadband. This is 2024. We're not in the 1800s anymore. Let's get technology where it should be."

Other commission business

The commission unanimously voted to hold a work session following the June 24 meeting to discuss dirt road paving funding as well as discussing their contract with Arrow Disposal Services and the GSF landfill contract. There was a discussion on the dirt road paving led by Cannon, who suggested pulling the funds from SSUT funding.

The commission heard from Lee County Sheriff Jay Jones regarding a bid for one or more interview room systems. Jones said they received three bids, but they decided to reject the bids and prepared a concise bid with corrected specifications, which will then be published to the vendors.

The commission unanimously approved a resolution for a widening, turn lane installation, leveling, resurfacing, and traffic striping on Lee Road 10 from Wire Road to Cox Road, approximately 3.25 miles. The project will be funded through an 80/20 split with 80% coming from federal funds through the Auburn-Opelika MPO and 20% from Lee County.

The commission approved awarding a bid for a 2024 Chevrolet 2500 with a service body to Larry Puckett in the amount of $60,245.
So they went from "Go Go" with a positive implication to "Go Go" as in "Get Out!"



I think the comics are winding down, too? Or maybe they're just rebooting again.

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the original blue ranger billy he was one of my first crushes ever i was 3

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thank god, Netflix would have cancelled it after 1 or 2 seasons anyway

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This sort of makes me sad. I have wrote a lot of PR fanfiction over the years and I met so many awesome people over the years.



Maybe, give it a rest for a bit then reboot it (like they do everything else in a few years)

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meanwhile, ever since PR and super sentai have dissolved their relationship, the latter has been getting more adventurous with their suits and concepts. PR has been doing so much MMPR nostalgia dipping that i have zero confidence that hasbro would have tried anything beyond that so i'm not extremely bummed about this.

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My favorite part about this is that very few people realize it's not from MMPR lol

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Miserable. I wonder if they feel like todays kids wouldnt be bothered? Which to that I say, if you have little kids and they dont like Power Rangers, that's a you being a whack parent issue. Stop letting them watching jumpscare shit on youtube and put them onto the REAL shit!! Anyway though.



Honestly I've always wondered..why not just dub over Kamen Rider??? Whether it be the older ones or I think its Kamen Rider "Gotchard" currently-I mean I get that jdramas can be OUTTT THERE but still idk just an idea, just an idea.

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I'm amazed that there were still new iterations/seasons all along, lol. It's crazy to me that Power Rangers persisted longer than Pokemon since I don't ever see any type of news or promo for it. I'm no longer the demographic for Pokemon either but Pokemon Go really put it back on the map (lol)

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I could rewatch the Disney era seasons forever.

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Did you hear about the Ritas Rewind game?

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they should go for an animation studio

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It was either the poor response to Cosmic Rangers (which I feel like was only what was was due to lingering brand constraints), Netflix continued to challenge them on story elements, oooor Netflix refusd to foot the bill for the more toy-ic asks.





It had a decent enough team!! like the person above, just let this shit go to animation



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I wonder if Hasbro has a clear vision of what they want the franchise to be. Maybe they'll end up selling the rights to someone else

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China strongly opposes and condemns the United States' fabricating and spreading disinformation about Xinjiang, and urges it to revoke its illegal and unilateral sanctions against Chinese companies, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said on Wednesday.

Lin made the remarks at a regular press briefing in response to a notice from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, in which Washington added three Chinese companies to a list that bars imports from those firms on the grounds of alleged "forced labor."

He noted that the remarkable achievements in Xinjiang's development are evident, and the central government's policies have deeply resonated with the people.

"We have repeatedly cited a wealth of figures and facts to refute the baseless narratives of 'forced labor' and 'genocide,'" Lin said, adding that those narratives are lies concocted by a small number of anti-China individuals to disrupt Xinjiang, smear China and impede China's development.

The United States insists on implementing unjust laws related to Xinjiang, and adding Chinese companies to sanction lists based on lies, which severely interferes in China's internal affairs, disrupts the normal order of the market, and grossly violates international trade rules and the basic norms of international relations, Lin said.

It is, in fact, an attempt to create "forced unemployment" in Xinjiang, using human rights as a pretext to infringe upon the rights to survival, employment and development of the people in Xinjiang, and its ulterior motives of containing China are glaringly evident, Lin added.

He said that the United States is facing a multitude of domestic issues, such as racial discrimination, gun violence and drug abuse. If the country really cares about human rights, it should take measures to address these chronic problems, rather than interfering in other countries' affairs and abusing sanctions, Lin added.

"We urge the U.S. side to immediately stop smearing China, revoke its illegal unilateral sanctions against Chinese companies, and cease interfering in China's internal affairs and undermining China's interests under the guise of human rights," said the spokesperson.

Lin added that China will continue to take resolute measures to firmly safeguard the legitimate and lawful rights and interests of Chinese companies.




Every cat deserves this

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Hes just like Harvard graduate Tyra Banks.

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At least the cat was on campus for a longer time.

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aww how cute

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A doctorate in 4 years?! Was he living off of the nip?

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btw, tag your babies!! I have a cream tabby and a tortie & white.



https://instagram.com/p/C7Z9oy2StII He is a good boy and deserves everything good in life. btw, tag your babies!! I have a cream tabby and a tortie & white.

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My little boy is titanium white lol. With pink paws and blue eyes, but no hearing problems.



Edited at 2024-06-12 08:47 pm (UTC) My little boy is titanium white lol. With pink paws and blue eyes, but no hearing problems.

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here she is engaged in shrimp mode 



I have a brown-gray tabby tuxiehere she is engaged in shrimp mode 

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Tabbi and torti for me

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Dilute tortie & cream tabby here

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Solid black and orange tabby

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my son is a cream tabby, I suspect he has the worlds singular orange cat brain cell about 30% of the time and hes a naughty boy but I love him 

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Hahah my girl is half orange boi and half tortie (and white), so she has the occasional brain cell AND tortitude. And I love her so much.

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Pretty sure mine is a tabby, but a coworker says hes not a cat but a wild animal since it hunted and caught a whole possum and delivered it to my mom.

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Solid black and solid gray

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I have a brown tabby. My family cat growing up was a muted tortie.

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I have a gray tabby boy, he has a white belly with a little bit of tan shading. Hes a gorgeous baby!



My other cat - her pattern is kind of like the harlequin but shes tricolor! Shes mostly white with brown and light tan.

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i have a seal point!

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I have a tri-colour, which according to this chart is dilute calico

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1) this is adorable! he is very deserving of this honor.



2) don't let your cat outside without a collar. that is bad idea.



3) don't let your cat outside at all. they are basically invasive species and terrible for the environment.

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these are my bois from top to bottom Murph, Johnny Dogs and G

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I pinch and zoomed on the creatures next to that potted plant when you named only 3

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love that name Johnny dogs like that is so cool

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DESERVED

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miss Buffy taking over the pillows, AS IS HER RIGHT

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Try the ONTD University and then meow me back 

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Sometimes I really love the world we live in



but only sometimes

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aww this is so cute!



I was supposed to get a cat a couple of months ago but unfortunately it didn't work out :( but it's okay, after my summer travels, I am going to browse a shelter page and look for a sweet friend <3

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Awhhh so cute!



Meanwhile my cat can't even find a treat if I put it right in front of her and nudge it. Not a single thought in that little head.

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My orange boi could never. He's the cat equivalent of Kenough.

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The Intertwined Worlds of Safety and Quality

Safety has historically received a lot more attention and mindshare on projects than quality.

Despite tight schedules and shrinking margins, everyone can agree on one thing: that the most important thing on any construction project is that everyone goes home safe at the end of the day. Attend a meeting on any construction site, and the word safety is bound to come up at least a few times; in the context of on-site practices and procedures, upcoming trainings and toolbox talks, supervisory responsibilities and reports... the list goes on.



Safety also has a cousin that has only recently moved into the limelight. It's a cousin that for far too long faded into the shadowspresumed to be doing just fineor perhaps was someone elses responsibility. In fact, he was sometimes deprioritized altogether since he is never one to make a fuss or cause a scene, except for when things go wrong. That cousin is quality.



Safety and quality are two intimately intertwined yet distinct elements of any construction project. Both are important. Yet safety has historically received a lot more attention and mindshare on projects. Thats not to say that quality isnt a focus, because it certainly is but in a different way. Just ask any of the many hard-working quality personnel in the industry who are working their tails off to make sure projects are delivered on time, on budget and according to specifications.



Yet, despite the impressive effort and best of intentions, serious quality issues persist. Boeing has made headlines for its poor quality practices leading to Alaska Airlines door plug incident in January 2024. Rework rates on construction projects exceed 30 percent and add nearly a trillion dollars to global project costs, according to published studies. Without a massive shift in culture and the way the industry thinks about quality, it will continue fighting an uphill battle.

So what exactly is the difference between safety and quality, and as an industry, what can be done to better elevate quality?

Safety and Quality: Apples and Oranges?

At its core, construction safety can be defined as protecting workers and surrounding communities from any type of injury or health-related risk. By contrast, quality is responsible for ensuring adherence with pre-defined procedures relating to materials, labor and design. At the risk of over-simplifying, safety is about people, and quality is about the final deliverable.



Comparing safety and quality at face value might lead to the assumption that they operate as completely separate functions. After all, they have distinct teams with dedicated roles that are tasked with achieving different goals. Further, safety is often considered a collective goal by everyone on a project, while quality personnel and goals are more isolated. But classifying safety and quality as distinctly as apples and oranges would be a big mistake.
It is somewhat surprising (but also not surprising given energy scarcity fears) that after two-and-a-half years of war, hundreds of thousands of lives tragically lost, and brutal grinding warfare which has also killed many civilians on both sides... that the oldest and biggest economic link between Russia and Europe is still in place: the transit of Russian gas through Ukrainian territory.

A five-year agreement which is set to expire by the end of 2024 has remained uninterrupted, though the share of Russias pipeline gas in EU imports has steadily diminished. Yet the reality is that if Europe hopes to diversify away from dependency on Russian LNG, establishing the necessary alternate infrastructure is a costly and lengthy process.

Bloomberg reported Monday that European officials are currently discussing plans to keep the gas flowing through a key Russia-Ukraine pipeline, and that Ukraine - which has hit desperation given its dire wartime energy needs and situation - favors it.

At this point from Kiev's perspective there are equally bad options which requires pragmatically seeking the least worst-case scenario.

Bloomberg acknowledges that Ukraine's "transit revenue amounted to about $1 billion in 2021  providing crucial funding for the war-ravaged economy." If pipelines and supporting infrastructure aren't used then they are likely to fall derelict or also can more easily become military targets for Russia.

Oleksiy Chernyshov, chief executive of Ukraines state-run Naftogaz, was quoted in the report as saying it must be remembered that "Ukraine has incredible infrastructure of transit and storage gas, which should be used, and Ukraine is predisposed to use this infrastructure because it brings a lot of advantages."

Main buyers of Russian gas continue to be Hungary, Austria, Slovakia and Italy  all of which have continued to put ideological questions related to the war in the back-seat compared to the pressing and vital energy needs of the population and of industry.

On the Russian side too, Gazprom has taken deep hits due to the war. "Gazprom is unlikely to recover gas sales lost as a result of Vladimir Putins full-scale invasion of Ukraine for at least a decade, according to a report commissioned for the Russian energy groups leaders," a recent FT report has indicated. "The companys exports to Europe will average 50bn-75bn cubic metres a year by 2035, barely a third of prewar levels, the research predicted."

Ukraine national media reports earlier in the conflict strongly hinted that the contract for Russian gas would not be renewed. The position of the Ukrainian side is clear: the transportation contract ends at the end of this year, we are not going to negotiate with the Russians and renew the contract. This is what the Prime Minister of Ukraine informed his Slovak counterpart, RBC-Ukraine said in January [machine translation].

But even upon that announcement, there were key caveats and exceptions given: "To extend transit, an option is possible when the Slovak company itself leases the capacity of the Ukrainian gas transportation system. In this case, gas transit can be continued after 2024. But this is still only an assumption," the publication said at the time. As Bloomberg is now subsequently reporting, this leaves things open for significant wiggle room, 'discussion' and compromise.

By Zerohedge.com

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The OPEC+ alliance, which includes Saudi Arabia and Russia, two of the worlds Top 3 oil producing countries, met in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia at the 37th OPEC and non-OPEC Ministerial Meeting. The group reaffirmed their commitment to the Declaration of Cooperation (DoC) and extended oil production levels until the end of 2025. They will continue using independent sources to guide 2026 production levels.

Although the decision extends voluntary production cuts of 2.2 million BPD announced last November into the next year, it gradually eases some reductions starting in October 2024.

This decision, aimed at stabilizing crude prices and balancing market demands, reflects Saudi Arabias efforts to reconcile diverse member interests. The alliance will continue to monitor market conditions and adjust strategies accordingly. Notably, the UAE will see a ~10% boost in its production target next year, following intense negotiations.

The Joint Ministerial Monitoring Committee (JMMC) will meet bi-monthly to monitor market conditions and compliance, with the authority to call additional meetings if necessary. The importance of full conformity to production agreements was emphasized, and the next OPEC and non-OPEC Ministerial Meeting is scheduled for December 1, 2024.

Although OPEC+ cuts and Middle Eastern tensions reduced global crude supply by nearly 6%, oil prices have dropped roughly 10% since peaking in early April. Brent crude, the global benchmark, has fallen from $91 in April to $82 per barrel, while West Texas Intermediate (WTI) dropped from nearly $87 to $78.

According to the International Monetary Fund, Saudi Arabia needs Brent crude at around $81 per barrel to balance its budget. But OPEC has had an increasingly difficult time controlling prices due to the ongoing expansion of U.S. crude production.

In a press release from S&P Global Commodity Insights, Bhushan Bahree, Executive Director, S&P Global Commodity Insights said, Two years ago, at this time OPEC+ output was 2.2 million b/d higher than it is now. Total non-OPEC+ crude oil output is 3.1 million higher now, with more than half that growth coming from the United States alone. Put another way, OPEC+ has had to make room for the rising output of others or face downward pressure on prices.

In addition to record U.S. oil output increasing supply, weak demand concerns in China and other major economies have also contributed to falling oil prices.

By Robert Rapier

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The 13 August 2020 U.S.-brokered relationship normalisation deal between Israel and the United Arab Emirates (U.A.E.) underlined how important the Emirate was to Washington at that point, both as a key Middle Eastern ally, and by extension as critical link in its plans to use India as a counterbalance to Chinas dominance in the Asia-Pacific region. Following the U.S.s withdrawal from several major Middle Eastern positions after that, including further military drawdowns from Syria, its pullout from Afghanistan in May 2021, and its end of combat mission in Iraq in December 2021, evidence emerged that the U.A.E. had been much less willing to play the role that Washington had envisioned for it. The most dramatic was the revelation over the Christmas period of 2021 that U.S. intelligence sources had identified that China had been building a secret military facility in and around the big U.A.E. port of Khalifa. Based on classified satellite imagery and human intelligence data, U.S. officials stated that China had been working for several months to establish a military foothold in the U.A.E.. Now, though, in tandem with renewed efforts to increase its influence in the newly-won third term of Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, the U.S. is looking to redouble its efforts to do the same in the U.A.E., according to senior Washington-based energy security sources spoken to exclusively by OilPrice.com last week.

India is still regarded by the U.S. as its best hope to provide an economic, political, and military counterpoint to China in Asia for two key reasons, as analysed in my new book on the new global oil market order. First, the two countries have a long-running regional rivalry, which back in 2020 when the decision was made in Washington to further exploit this relationship fissure had just seen another bloody eruption. On 15 June that year, in the disputed territory of the Galwan Valley in the Himalayas, troops of China and India had clashed in what the U.S. thought marked a new push back strategy from India against Chinas policy of seeking to increase its economic and military alliances through its multi-generational power-grab project, One Belt, One Road (now rebranded as the less autocratic-sounding Belt and Road Initiative, BRI). The U.S. believed that this military push back might also be echoed in Indias economic desire to finally make substantive progress on its Neighbourhood First policy as an alternative to Chinas BRI programme. Second, Indias rapid economic development was accompanied by the corollary expansion of its demand for oil and gas, with its huge potential as a global energy demand powerhouse underlined in the first quarter of 2021 by the International Energy Agency (IEA). This showed that India would make up the biggest share of energy demand growth at 25 percent over the next two decades, as it overtook the European Union as the worlds third-biggest energy consumer by 2030.

Related: OPECs Oil Production Edged Higher Ahead of Key Policy Meeting

Oddly to many, perhaps, the U.A.E. has a uniquely close relationship with India in the field of energy, as also detailed in my new book. Following the awarding of the U.A.E.s Onshore Block 1 to Indias Bharat Petroleum Corporation in May 2019, the chief executive officer of the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, highlighted that he looked forward to exploring partnerships with even more Indian companies across the energy giants hydrocarbon value chain. He added that he wanted this to include expanding the commercial scale and scope of Indias vitally-important Strategic Petroleum Reserves (SPR) partnership. This was in line with ADNOC already being the only overseas company allowed at that stage to hold and store the countrys SPR. At that point, Indias government approved a proposal that would allow ADNOC to export oil from the SPR if there was no domestic demand for it. In the first instance this would be done from the Mangalore strategic storage facility, with the other major SPR pool being at Padur. This decision marked a major shift in the policy of India in the handling of these vital energy reserves, with the country having previously banned all oil exports from the SPR storage facilities.

A further sign of this relationship between the U.A.E. and India moving up a gear was the likelihood of ADNOC being top of the list of foreign companies that would be considered for the purchase of a substantial stake in the high-profile privatisation of major Indian refiner, Bharat Petroleum. At that time, Russian state corporate proxy, Rosneft, expressed an interest in buying the Indian governments 53.29 percent in the company - following a visit to New Delhi by Rosnefts chief executive officer, Igor Sechin  but these overtures were side-lined by India. This was underlined by Al Jabber at the end of 2020 when he said: Today, Indian companies represent some of Abu Dhabis key concession and exploration partners [and] As we continue to work together, I see significant new opportunities for enhanced partnerships, particularly across our downstream portfolio. He added: We have launched an ambitious plan to expand our chemicals, petrochemicals, derivatives and industrial base in Abu Dhabi and I look forward to exploring partnerships with even more Indian companies across our hydrocarbon value chain. This longer-term view accorded with the outlook given at around the same time by Indias minister of petroleum and natural gas, Dharmendra Pradhan, who stated that his countrys demand for refined products was expected to rise dramatically, requiring a 40 percent increase in its refining capacity to 350 million tonnes a year, or 7 million barrels per day (bpd), by 2030. Part of the policy to accommodate this increase was the plan to build a 1.2 million bpd refinery and petrochemical plant on Indias west coast through a joint venture comprised of Indian state refiners and ADNOC.

The U.S. also had  and still does  key players on the ground in the U.A.E., in the shape of energy giants ExxonMobil and Occidental Petroleum. The former has been a major investor in the U.A.E.s oil hub of Abu Dhabi and is still working closely with ADNOC on the worlds second largest offshore oil field, Upper Zakum. The latter has an ongoing 30-year joint venture with ADNOC in Al Hosn Gas, a 35- year concession for onshore Block 3, and another 35- year concession to explore and develop onshore Block 5. It is also a partner with Mubadala and Frances TotalEnergies on Dolphin Energy Limited, which supplies natural gas produced in Qatar to markets in Oman and the U.A.E. and is working on major new renewable energy projects in the Emirate as well. However, after the recriminations following the U.S. intelligence report in 2021 of the U.A.E.s alleged collusion with China to build a secret military facility around Khalifa port, it appeared that the Emirates willingness to cooperate with Washington was to be limited from that point to business only. From the U.S. side, the U.A.E.s statement that it was not aware of such an extraordinary amount of activity being conducted by China at one of its biggest ports, including month after month of extremely high levels of movement of enormous Chinese ships in and out of it day and night, was not credible. Washingtons jitteriness surrounding this apparent drift of the U.A.E. to China was compounded by a broader feeling that this shift of allegiances was occurring more widely across the region, as further evidenced at around the same time by news that U.S. intelligence agencies had also found that Saudi Arabia had started to manufacture its own ballistic missiles with the help of China.

As it now stands, according to senior Washington-based energy security sources spoken to by OilPrice.com, the U.S. believes that its efforts to effect a lasting agreement to end the ongoing Israel-Hamas War might also allow for the beginning of a broader rapprochement with the U.A.E. that may allow it to regain some measure of political influence there. The U.A.E. is embarking on a big investment programme in its gas operations [US$13 billion on the next five years], so we might be able to do something there, said one of the U.S. sources last week. This is linked to a big push to boost its LNG [liquefied natural gas] capacity, and theyve asked India to invest in a big new plant [in Ruwais] connected to this, so we might be able to work something there as well, he concluded. This said, such a rapprochement may be a long process, as early February saw the U.A.E. inform the U.S. that it would no longer allow its warplanes and drones based at the Al Dhafra air base to carry out strikes in Yemen and Iraq without notifying Emirati officials ahead of time. This prompted Washington to move its key fighting air assets to nearby Qatar, which is now the U.S.s major non-NATO ally in the Middle East, according to President Joe Biden, as also detailed in full in my new book.

By Simon Watkins for Oilprice.com

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The Uzbek government appears willing to loosen its control over the flow of information within Central Asias most populous nation as part of a comprehensive reform initiative to enhance its membership qualifications for the World Trade Organization.

President Shavkat Mirziyoyev has expressed a desire for Uzbekistan to gain WTO membership as soon as 2026. WTO membership status is granted after a lengthy negotiation process overseen on the organizations side by what is known as a working party. A working party was established to consider Uzbekistan's qualifications in 1994, but not much progress has been made toward membership since then.

WTO membership agreements are negotiated individually with each aspiring member, but all entail requirements to create a liberal trade framework, founded upon open, fair and transparent policies. Such requirements werent so appealing to former Uzbek leader Islam Karimov, whose regime maintained rigid control over all facets of economic and political activity in Uzbekistan. Since replacing Karimov, who died in 2016, Mirziyoyev has moved steadily to liberalize the economy.

Now, he seems ready to make the big leap towards WTO membership.

On June 3, Mirziyoyev issued a decree authorizing a broad array of economic reforms intended to bring Uzbekistans trade rules into closer alignment with WTO standards. Perhaps the reform with the most far-reaching ramifications for Uzbekistan is a provision to loosen the states iron grip on citizens access to information.

Since Uzbekistan gained independence following the collapse of the former Soviet Union in 1991, rights watchdog groups have routinely ranked Uzbekistan as among the globes most repressive states, strictly limiting the circulation of news and information not conforming to government viewpoints. Such poor watchdog evaluations have continued under Mirziyoyevs administration. For example, Freedom Houses most recent annual report on Internet freedom, titled Freedom of the Net 2023, ranked Uzbekistan as one of the most closed information environments in the world, keeping company with the likes of Russia, China and Iran.

Mirziyoyevs June 3 decree could radically change Uzbekistans information environment. He directs the countrys Ministry of Digital Technologies to develop procedures by October 1 to enable telecom operators and Internet service providers to connect with international Internet networks. At the same time, the decree indicates the government would retain the ability to require providers to provide authorities with information about individuals usage and search habits. The decree also emphasizes that the liberalization of Internet access is experimental.

Telecommunications operators with mobile and (or) wired telecommunications networks operating on the territory of the Republic of Uzbekistan, as an experiment, are granted the right to directly connect to international Internet networks for their own commercial needs, in full compliance with the requirements of operational investigative activities, information and cyber security systems, the decree states.

Preparations for WTO membership will likely deliver some substantial shocks to Uzbek companies. Another provision in the presidential decree mandates the Trade Ministry to develop a draft bill covering the abolition of subsidies and preferences provided to support exports. The lifting of such state support for exporters is envisioned to go into effect January 1, 2025.

The decree authorizes several steps by January 1 to promote transparency, aiming to ensure a healthy competitive environment in public procurement. It also enumerates action to be taken before the end of 2024 to bring the current customs duties, fees and costs in the republic into compliance with the requirements of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade.

To demonstrate Uzbekistans commitment to the reform process, Mirziyoyev ordered the creation of an interdepartmental working group to report each month on the implementation of provisions contained in the decree. It also names Prime Minister Abdulla Aripov as having control over the implementation of the decree.

By Eurasianet.org

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Ahead of a meeting later this week with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the Group of 7 nations leadership summit, the Biden administration has slapped 300 new sanctions on Russia in a further attempt to squeeze the war coffers as Moscow continues to circumvent sanctions most significantly, via China.

Sanctions announced by the U.S. Department of Treasury on Wednesday added approximately 300 new sanctions on individuals and entities helping the Kremlin continue its war against Ukraine and enabling sanctions evasion.

We are increasing the risk for financial institutions dealing with Russias war economy and eliminating paths for evasion, and diminishing Russias ability to benefit from access to foreign technology, equipment, software, and IT services, Secretary of the Treasury Janet Yellen said in a statement on Wednesday.

The Treasury Department's new round of sanctions also provides updated guidelines for foreign financial outfits that risk being caught up in sanctions evasion cases, cautioning against transactions with foreign branches of Russian banks. Other IT-consultancy-related restrictions have also been added to the roster.

Earlier this week, Bloomberg reported that a Russian tanker had attempted to circumvent U.S. sanctions by surreptitiously transferring its oil cargo to another vessel offshore Singapore. Earlier this year, the United States sanctioned Sovcomflot and 14 individual tankers for their participation in Russian crude oil exports amid the G7 price cap regime.

On Wednesday, coinciding with Washingtons announcement of 300 new sanctions on Russian targets, the European Union also said it was mulling sanctions for Sovcomflot, Russia's oil-shipping giant which has been central to Russias continued crude oil exports after the EU/G7 price cap and sanctions. The company also ships liquefied natural gas, according to Bloomberg.

In February this year, the U.S. Treasury and State targeted Sovcomflot and more than a dozen tankers linked to the Russian state-owned firm in a new wave of sanctions that targeted about 500 entities.

By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com

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Albertas government has shut down a so-called energy war room, officially known as the Canadian Energy Centre, five years after it first floated the idea.

After careful consideration, we will be integrating the mandate of the CEC into Intergovernmental Relations (IGR). Resources such as CEC assets, intellectual property, and researchers will now be supporting IGR in order to seamlessly continue this important work, the Albertan government said in a statement, as quoted by Global News.

The idea of the Canadian Energy Centre was conceived in 2019 by the conservative government of the oil province in a bid to improve the public image of the crucial industry.

For too long, the reputation of Albertas energy sector has been damaged by a deceitful campaign to landlock the oil sands, Albertas energy minister Sonya Savage said at the time. The Canadian Energy Center will focus on improving perceptions about the oil and gas industry, Savage added and said the center would apply a fact-based approach to counteracting the misinformation about our industry.

The Global News report mentions the energy war room had a budget of some $16 million for fiscal 2021/22, which it used for ad campaigns at home and abroad. Details about the outcome of those campaigns were not available.

Meanwhile, earlier this year a member of the Canadian parliament proposed a bill that would ban advertising for the oil and gas industry. The MP, Charlie Angus, claimed that the oil and gas industry is causing more harm to people than smoking so following the logic that saw tobacco advertising banned, the same treatment should be applied to oil and gas.

Big Oil has always relied on the Big Tobacco playbook of delay and disinformation and so to tackle this immense threat to human health, we need to use many of the strategies that finally took down Big Tobacco, Angus said earlier this year.

The rest of Canadas legislative representatives, however, seem to have misgivings about such a bill, notably members of the same part as Angus, the NDP, from oil-producing provinces.

By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com

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The European Union is mulling over sanctions for Sovcomflot, Russias shipping giant, in its latest attempt to squeeze government revenues.

Sovcomflot has been central to Russias continued crude oil exports after the EU/G7 price cap and sanctions, which makes it a natural target for more sanction action from the West. The company also ships liquefied natural gas, Bloomberg noted in a report on the news that cited an EU document seen by the publication.

Earlier this year, the United States sanctioned Sovcomflot and 14 individual tankers for their participation in Russian crude oil exports amid the G7 price cap regime.

The new sanction package needs to get the approval of all 27 members of the European Union.

The move follows a sanctions update from May when the European Union set its sights on Russian LNG. The planthe 14th sanction package by the EUsaw three LNG projects added to the blacklist, including Arctic LNG 2, Ust-Luga, and Murmansk, Energy Commissioner Kadri Simson told S&P Global Commodity Insights in early June, adding that this sanctions package would be the first one where we cover also partially LNG trade and specifically transshipments.

The EUs 14th sanctions package is far from a done deal, however, with all EU member states required to be on board with the deal, and some clear outliers waiting on the sidelines to scupper the package.

While these sanctions are being discussed, the European Union is somewhat paradoxically trying to find a way to keep pipeline gas flowing via Ukraine after the expiry of the current contract, which Kiyv has said it would not renew. The reason: Central European EU members feel they would compromise their energy security if they give up this natural gas. The Ukraine itself is very much in favor of continued gas transit, which earned it some $1 billion back in 2021.

By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com

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Europes benchmark natural gas prices jumped by 3% on Wednesday morning after German energy giant Uniper terminated its Russian gas supply contracts, leaving the market concerned about the remaining flows of gas from Russia to Europe.

Uniper said today it had decided to terminate its long-term Russian gas supply contracts and thus legally ended the long-term gas supply relationship with the Russian state-owned company Gazprom Export.

The decision was made possible after an arbitration tribunal last week awarded Uniper the right to terminate the contracts and awarded it more than $14 billion (13 billion euros) in damages for the gas volumes that Gazprom Export has not supplied since the middle of 2022.

This ruling provides legal clarity for Uniper. With the right of termination that we received in the arbitration ruling, we are ending the contracts with Gazprom Export, said Unipers CEO Michael Lewis.

Uniper's legal position was also confirmed on the issue of damages.

Germany had to nationalize Uniper in 2022 to avoid its collapse amid soaring gas prices and a lack of Russian supply in the wake of the Ukraine invasion and the EU sanction barrage. The total bill for the nationalization came in at $53 billion.

Last month, Uniper appealed an injunction by a Russian court that says that the German energy giant needs to pay as much as $15 billion (14 billion euros) if it seeks to continue arbitration against Gazprom, which was Unipers main natural gas provider before the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Todays announcement from Uniper and the recent warning from OMV that Gazprom could halt gas supply to Austria due to a foreign court ruling that could interrupt OMV payments to Gazprom Export, rekindled concerns in the European gas market about whether Russian supply would be further limited by Gazprom.

As a result, Dutch TTF Natural Gas Futures, the benchmark for Europes gas trading, jumped by 3% at $38 (35.315 euros) per megawatt-hour (MWh) as of 11:19 a.m. in Amsterdam.

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

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